This morning, Netflix has officially announced the renewal of their adult animated show “Big Mouth” for a second season. The show was created by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin, and Season 2 is slated for 2018.
This vulgar yet introspective original series is a hilarious coming-of-age story that follows the adolescent experiences of three best friends as they navigate their teenage crises: Nick (voiced by Nick Kroll), Andrew (John Mulaney), and Jessi (Jessi Klein).
Related:‘Big Mouth’ Cast and Creators on How the Very Adult Netflix Show Can Really Help Kids
Season 1 was met with enthusiastically positive reviews and earned a Critic’s Pick from IndieWire’s TV Critic, Ben Travers. “There are story arcs on first crushes, friends who become more than friends, the sliding scale of human sexuality, love versus lust, peer pressure, growing up too fast, and getting your first period,” said Travers in his Season 1 review.
This vulgar yet introspective original series is a hilarious coming-of-age story that follows the adolescent experiences of three best friends as they navigate their teenage crises: Nick (voiced by Nick Kroll), Andrew (John Mulaney), and Jessi (Jessi Klein).
Related:‘Big Mouth’ Cast and Creators on How the Very Adult Netflix Show Can Really Help Kids
Season 1 was met with enthusiastically positive reviews and earned a Critic’s Pick from IndieWire’s TV Critic, Ben Travers. “There are story arcs on first crushes, friends who become more than friends, the sliding scale of human sexuality, love versus lust, peer pressure, growing up too fast, and getting your first period,” said Travers in his Season 1 review.
- 10/24/2017
- by Alberto Achar
- Indiewire
“Big Mouth” creators Nick Kroll (“Kroll Show,” “The League”) and Andrew Goldberg (“Family Guy”) have known each other since the first grade, and became best friends in middle school — right when the hormone monster began its attack.
Well, at least his attack on Goldberg. Kroll was a late bloomer — and it was that awkward puberty that inspired Kroll, Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett to come up with “Big Mouth.” The animated series stars Kroll as Nick and John Mulaney as Andrew, and centers on their friendship as puberty — personified on the show as the hormone monster — puts it through the test.
Maya Rudolph, Jason Mantzoukas, Jordan Peele, Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate and Jessi Klein also star on the show, which IndieWire TV critic Ben Travers touted as a show that honestly captures the horrors of adolescence: “The show is unafraid to tell the embarrassing truths of pubescence, but knows...
Well, at least his attack on Goldberg. Kroll was a late bloomer — and it was that awkward puberty that inspired Kroll, Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett to come up with “Big Mouth.” The animated series stars Kroll as Nick and John Mulaney as Andrew, and centers on their friendship as puberty — personified on the show as the hormone monster — puts it through the test.
Maya Rudolph, Jason Mantzoukas, Jordan Peele, Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate and Jessi Klein also star on the show, which IndieWire TV critic Ben Travers touted as a show that honestly captures the horrors of adolescence: “The show is unafraid to tell the embarrassing truths of pubescence, but knows...
- 10/12/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
'Top of the Lake: China Girl' will make its Australian debut at Miff.
The Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) has unveiled the first 30 films on its line-up ahead of the full program launch in July..
Among the highlights at this year.s festival, to be held August 3-20, is actually a television series: the Australian premiere of Jane Campion.s series Top of the Lake: China Girl, fresh from Cannes..
All six episodes of the show, starring Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman, will play in three concurrent two-hour sessions, before the show goes on to air on Foxtel.s BBC First.
Another Aussie highlight will be documentary The Silent Eye, from director Amiel Courtin-Wilson (Hail, Ruin), which follows free jazz pioneer Cecil Taylor and modern dance artist Min Tanaka..
Many of the Aussie films that are screening at Sydney Film Festival will also head south for Miff, including a double bill froom Kriv Stenders,...
The Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) has unveiled the first 30 films on its line-up ahead of the full program launch in July..
Among the highlights at this year.s festival, to be held August 3-20, is actually a television series: the Australian premiere of Jane Campion.s series Top of the Lake: China Girl, fresh from Cannes..
All six episodes of the show, starring Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman, will play in three concurrent two-hour sessions, before the show goes on to air on Foxtel.s BBC First.
Another Aussie highlight will be documentary The Silent Eye, from director Amiel Courtin-Wilson (Hail, Ruin), which follows free jazz pioneer Cecil Taylor and modern dance artist Min Tanaka..
Many of the Aussie films that are screening at Sydney Film Festival will also head south for Miff, including a double bill froom Kriv Stenders,...
- 6/6/2017
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Update:
Winners are now indicated. I correctly guessed 11 out of the 24 categories, which is slightly better than last year, when I guessed 10 out of 24.
Previous 02.26.17:
I’ve now seen as many of the nominated films as I will be able to before tonight’s ceremony, and here finally are my educated guesses about who will take home each award — projected winners are Xed at the lefthand side. Keep in mind: those Xes don’t represent whom I think should win Oscars but whom I think will win, based on what little I can grasp about how the Academy thinks. I’ve also noted which nominees I think should win. Kindly note that this is not necessarily my take on who did the best performance/writing/FX/whatever of the year, but whom I think is best among the nominees.
I have not noted a “should win” for the feature documentary category,...
Winners are now indicated. I correctly guessed 11 out of the 24 categories, which is slightly better than last year, when I guessed 10 out of 24.
Previous 02.26.17:
I’ve now seen as many of the nominated films as I will be able to before tonight’s ceremony, and here finally are my educated guesses about who will take home each award — projected winners are Xed at the lefthand side. Keep in mind: those Xes don’t represent whom I think should win Oscars but whom I think will win, based on what little I can grasp about how the Academy thinks. I’ve also noted which nominees I think should win. Kindly note that this is not necessarily my take on who did the best performance/writing/FX/whatever of the year, but whom I think is best among the nominees.
I have not noted a “should win” for the feature documentary category,...
- 2/27/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
The 89th Annual Academy Awards kicked off Sunday at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center, and as expected, the A-Listers came dressed to impress.
La La Land star Emma Stone wowed in a classy, custom-created Givenchy gown, while Hidden Figures star Taraji P. Henson opted for a blue velvet Alberta Ferretti dress, which featured a thigh-high slit. The men looked just as handsome, with Stone's co-star, Ryan Gosling, sporting a Gucci suit, and Fifty Shades Darker star Jamie Dornan in a cream-colored tuxedo jacket.
And while the red carpet looks were undoubtedly fabulous, all eyes were on the night's big winners. See the full list of everyone who took home a shiny statuette and check back throughout the night for updates!
Best Picture
Moonlight
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Fences
Arrival
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
Hacksaw Ridge
Best Actor
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea *Winner*
Denzel Washington, [link...
La La Land star Emma Stone wowed in a classy, custom-created Givenchy gown, while Hidden Figures star Taraji P. Henson opted for a blue velvet Alberta Ferretti dress, which featured a thigh-high slit. The men looked just as handsome, with Stone's co-star, Ryan Gosling, sporting a Gucci suit, and Fifty Shades Darker star Jamie Dornan in a cream-colored tuxedo jacket.
And while the red carpet looks were undoubtedly fabulous, all eyes were on the night's big winners. See the full list of everyone who took home a shiny statuette and check back throughout the night for updates!
Best Picture
Moonlight
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Fences
Arrival
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
Hacksaw Ridge
Best Actor
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea *Winner*
Denzel Washington, [link...
- 2/27/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The nominations for the 89th Academy Awards are in and La La Land leads the pack with 14 nominations! I knew La La Land was going to explode at this event, and it's probably going to end up taking home many of the awards is was nominated for. The 14 nominations ties the record with 1997's Titanic and 1950's All About Eve.
Arrival ended up with eight nominations as did Moonlight, while Hacksaw Ridge, Lion, and Manchester by the Sea all got six. Deadpool ended up with zero nominations. I was hoping to see it somewhere on the list, but it looks like all that hype didn't work.
Every film and actor who was nominated for their work deserves to be on this list, so congratulations to them all! There are so many great films and actors to root for, but there can be only one winner in each category.
Jimmy Kimmel...
Arrival ended up with eight nominations as did Moonlight, while Hacksaw Ridge, Lion, and Manchester by the Sea all got six. Deadpool ended up with zero nominations. I was hoping to see it somewhere on the list, but it looks like all that hype didn't work.
Every film and actor who was nominated for their work deserves to be on this list, so congratulations to them all! There are so many great films and actors to root for, but there can be only one winner in each category.
Jimmy Kimmel...
- 1/24/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The 89th Academy Awards nominees were revealed on Tuesday morning, and as expected, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's musical movie, La La Land, earned the most nominations.
La La Land earned 14 nominations, making the film tied with Titanic (1997) and All About Eve (1950) for the most Oscar nods in history.
Previous Oscar-winning and nominated actors -- including Jennifer Hudson, Brie Larson, Emmanuel Lubezki, Jason Reitman and Ken Watanabe -- read off the nominees in the pre-taped Oscars announcement.
Watch: The Most Stunning Beauty Trends of the 2016 Oscars
Here's the full list of nominees:
Best Picture:
Moonlight
La La Land
Lion
Manchester By the Sea
Fences
Arrival
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
Hacksaw Ridge
Best Actor:
Casey Affleck, Manchester By the Sea
Denzel Washington, Fences
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Vigo Mortenson, Captain Fantastic
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Best Supporting Actor:
Dev Patel, Lion
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
[link...
La La Land earned 14 nominations, making the film tied with Titanic (1997) and All About Eve (1950) for the most Oscar nods in history.
Previous Oscar-winning and nominated actors -- including Jennifer Hudson, Brie Larson, Emmanuel Lubezki, Jason Reitman and Ken Watanabe -- read off the nominees in the pre-taped Oscars announcement.
Watch: The Most Stunning Beauty Trends of the 2016 Oscars
Here's the full list of nominees:
Best Picture:
Moonlight
La La Land
Lion
Manchester By the Sea
Fences
Arrival
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
Hacksaw Ridge
Best Actor:
Casey Affleck, Manchester By the Sea
Denzel Washington, Fences
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Vigo Mortenson, Captain Fantastic
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Best Supporting Actor:
Dev Patel, Lion
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
[link...
- 1/24/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Shaun Gladwell and Leo Faber, co-founders of Badfaith. . Producer Leo Faber and mixed media artist Shaun Gladwell have founded Badfaith, a new Vr collective with members based out of Australia, London and Los Angeles.. . Its first project, Gladwell.s Orbital Vanitas, had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival over the weekend. The six minute Vr experience, which places the viewer in the Earth.s orbit, will continue to screen at Sundance this week as part of the New Frontier Showcase. The project is said to set the tone for Badfaith's future endeavours and ethos, which "prioritises creative over the commercial... . As well as Gladwell (The Lacrima Chair, Apology to Roadkill) and Faber, Badfaith consists of video artist Daniel Crooks (Hamilton.s Path, So Long As You Move), writer-director Natasha Pincus (Love.s Labour, Arietta), Amiel Courtin-Wilson (Hail, Ruin) and Luci Schroder (Slapper, Nick Knight.s .Fashion Fetish), Indigenous artist Tony Albert (Unalienable,...
- 1/23/2017
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia has provided $170,000 funding for eight filmmakers to work as .attachments. on a range of screen projects..
The investment will help develop the skills, contacts and expertise of some of Australia.s gifted screen practitioners, and connect them into the local and international film industry.
Screen Australia senior development executive, Nerida Moore, said talent development was one of the most important aspects Screen Australia's work.
"It.s wonderful to be able to support it in a tangible and meaningful way," she said..
"This funding is very specific . it will enable particular people to work on projects that suit their unique talents and pathways..
"Film is a global industry and it.s important that we help Australian filmmakers find opportunities here and internationally. We look forward to seeing where these opportunities take them!.
Producer Michael Cody (Ruin, Hail) will work across the development, financing, production and distribution slate of Plan B Entertainment (The Departed,...
The investment will help develop the skills, contacts and expertise of some of Australia.s gifted screen practitioners, and connect them into the local and international film industry.
Screen Australia senior development executive, Nerida Moore, said talent development was one of the most important aspects Screen Australia's work.
"It.s wonderful to be able to support it in a tangible and meaningful way," she said..
"This funding is very specific . it will enable particular people to work on projects that suit their unique talents and pathways..
"Film is a global industry and it.s important that we help Australian filmmakers find opportunities here and internationally. We look forward to seeing where these opportunities take them!.
Producer Michael Cody (Ruin, Hail) will work across the development, financing, production and distribution slate of Plan B Entertainment (The Departed,...
- 7/30/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Production, post and distribution company Curious has announced a ramped up production slate across both Australian and Nz projects, including Pat Nalin.s highly anticipated Beyond the Known World due for completion in mid-2015.
Set in The Himalayas, the Nz-India co-production follows an estranged couple who journey to India in order to search for their missing daughter. The cast includes David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, 300, Top of the Lake), Sia Trokenheim (Step Dave, Everything We Loved), and Emmanuelle Beart (8 Femmes) and is currently in post-production at Curious Auckland.
Matthew Horrocks and Kristian Eek will produce while Matt Noonan and Sarah Noonan are the EPs. Arclight Films is handling international sales. Curious will distribute in Australia and Nz.
Director Taika Watiti of Boy and What We Do in The Shadows has a new comic adventure up his sleeve, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople commencing production on May 18, 2015 in New Zealand.
Set in The Himalayas, the Nz-India co-production follows an estranged couple who journey to India in order to search for their missing daughter. The cast includes David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, 300, Top of the Lake), Sia Trokenheim (Step Dave, Everything We Loved), and Emmanuelle Beart (8 Femmes) and is currently in post-production at Curious Auckland.
Matthew Horrocks and Kristian Eek will produce while Matt Noonan and Sarah Noonan are the EPs. Arclight Films is handling international sales. Curious will distribute in Australia and Nz.
Director Taika Watiti of Boy and What We Do in The Shadows has a new comic adventure up his sleeve, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople commencing production on May 18, 2015 in New Zealand.
- 5/18/2015
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
The Sessions writer-director Ben Lewin is attached to helm Blue Rose, a biopic about the self-described .sex crazed. Australian composer and pianist Percy Grainger.
La-based Jeffrey Walker will return to Oz a to direct Dance Academy: The Comeback., a spin-off of Werner Film Productions. popular TV series, which will follow a young ballerina who dreams of being a star.
Following Ruin and Hail, Amiel Courtin-Wilson is to write, produce and direct Hawkwood, a thriller set in the backwaters of Africa which tells of ageing mercenary.s journey from chaos to grace.
These are among 16 feature projects which are receiving more than $620,000 in development funding from Screen Australia.
Lewin will write Blue Rose with Wain Fimeri for producers Chryssy Tintner, Jan Eymann, Judi Levine and Arclight.s Mark Lazarus and Gary Hamilton. His next film is Us indie romantic drama Purple Hearts, which will star Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez...
La-based Jeffrey Walker will return to Oz a to direct Dance Academy: The Comeback., a spin-off of Werner Film Productions. popular TV series, which will follow a young ballerina who dreams of being a star.
Following Ruin and Hail, Amiel Courtin-Wilson is to write, produce and direct Hawkwood, a thriller set in the backwaters of Africa which tells of ageing mercenary.s journey from chaos to grace.
These are among 16 feature projects which are receiving more than $620,000 in development funding from Screen Australia.
Lewin will write Blue Rose with Wain Fimeri for producers Chryssy Tintner, Jan Eymann, Judi Levine and Arclight.s Mark Lazarus and Gary Hamilton. His next film is Us indie romantic drama Purple Hearts, which will star Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez...
- 4/21/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The Water Diviner and The Babadook share top film honours and ABC’s The Code is the biggest TV winner. All the red carpet glitz, gossip and gongs from Sydney
Water Diviner and Babadook tie, but at least they’re AussieAactas red carpet: the stars arrive – in pictures
8.58pm Aest
The big winners? The Water Diviner and The Babadook for film, and The Code for its multiple awards in the telly categories.
Plenty more to celebrate and debate in the coming days. We’ll be back on Friday with the best quotes and pictures. Not to mention our weekly film column that sees Luke Buckmaster re-watching the cult classics of Australian cinema, week in week out, for your reading/viewing pleasure.
8.39pm Aest
And, breathe, we’re almost there. Cate and Debs are back on stage to lead into the final and biggest gong of the night: the award for...
Water Diviner and Babadook tie, but at least they’re AussieAactas red carpet: the stars arrive – in pictures
8.58pm Aest
The big winners? The Water Diviner and The Babadook for film, and The Code for its multiple awards in the telly categories.
Plenty more to celebrate and debate in the coming days. We’ll be back on Friday with the best quotes and pictures. Not to mention our weekly film column that sees Luke Buckmaster re-watching the cult classics of Australian cinema, week in week out, for your reading/viewing pleasure.
8.39pm Aest
And, breathe, we’re almost there. Cate and Debs are back on stage to lead into the final and biggest gong of the night: the award for...
- 1/29/2015
- by Nancy Groves and Alexandra Spring in Sydney
- The Guardian - Film News
Jennifer Kent.s The Babadook and Russell Crowe.s The Water Diviner tied for best film at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) awards in Sydney.
That.s the first joint award for best film in AFI/Aacta history. Kent also collected the awards for best director (Crowe wasn't nominated in that category) and original screenplay.
Telecast on Network Ten, the awards drew just 297,000 viewers in the five metro cities last night, proving more popular in Melbourne (107,000) than Sydney (80,000).
Playmaker Media.s conspiracy thriller The Code collared the awards for best TV drama, lead actor in a TV drama (Ashley Zukerman), supporting actress (Chelsie Preston Crayford) and direction in a TV drama or comedy (Shawn Seet). The Longford Lyell Award, named for Australian cinema pioneers Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, went to screenwriter Andrew Knight, whose credits as head writer or co-writer include Fast Forward, Full Frontal,...
That.s the first joint award for best film in AFI/Aacta history. Kent also collected the awards for best director (Crowe wasn't nominated in that category) and original screenplay.
Telecast on Network Ten, the awards drew just 297,000 viewers in the five metro cities last night, proving more popular in Melbourne (107,000) than Sydney (80,000).
Playmaker Media.s conspiracy thriller The Code collared the awards for best TV drama, lead actor in a TV drama (Ashley Zukerman), supporting actress (Chelsie Preston Crayford) and direction in a TV drama or comedy (Shawn Seet). The Longford Lyell Award, named for Australian cinema pioneers Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, went to screenwriter Andrew Knight, whose credits as head writer or co-writer include Fast Forward, Full Frontal,...
- 1/29/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Direct from its world-premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival, Sff and Vivid Ideas are proud to present the Australian Premiere of the highly anticipated futuristic thriller The Rover and host director David Michôd, actors Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson and producer Liz Watts at the State Theatre on Saturday 7 June. The Rover screens as part of Sff’s Official Competition. Michôd, Pearce, Pattinson and Watts will also give a talk as part of Vivid Ideas at Town Hall on Sunday 8 June.
Actor Cate Blanchett will attend the Festival to introduce a special screening of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 the second chapter of the epic trilogy in which Blanchett is the voice of the character Valka. The screening is held at 2pm on Public Holiday Monday, 9 June, at Event Cinemas George Street.
UK visual artists and film directors Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard introduce Sff’s Opening Night Film,...
Actor Cate Blanchett will attend the Festival to introduce a special screening of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 the second chapter of the epic trilogy in which Blanchett is the voice of the character Valka. The screening is held at 2pm on Public Holiday Monday, 9 June, at Event Cinemas George Street.
UK visual artists and film directors Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard introduce Sff’s Opening Night Film,...
- 5/30/2014
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
The 61st Sydney Film Festival today announced 32 films to be featured in this year.s event (June 4-15) in advance of the full program launch on May 7.
The line-up includes the world premiere of The Redfern Story, 19 Australian premieres, 13 features, 11 documentaries and an eight-film retrospective on maverick American filmmaker Robert Altman. Altman.s son, filmmaker Michael Altman, will attend festival and introduce several of the Altman screenings.
Darlene Johnson.s The Redfern Story chronicles the volatile birth of the first all-Indigenous theatre company, the National Black Theatre. It features interviews with indigenous media pioneer Lester Bostock, writer Gerry Bostock, actor Lillian Crombie, activist-academic Gary Foley, academic Marcia Langton, actors Rachael Maza, Bryan Brown and Bindi Williams. .We are pleased to present this sneak preview of 32 of the 180-plus films in this year.s program,. said Festival Director Nashen Moodley. .We have gathered a selection of the best films from the...
The line-up includes the world premiere of The Redfern Story, 19 Australian premieres, 13 features, 11 documentaries and an eight-film retrospective on maverick American filmmaker Robert Altman. Altman.s son, filmmaker Michael Altman, will attend festival and introduce several of the Altman screenings.
Darlene Johnson.s The Redfern Story chronicles the volatile birth of the first all-Indigenous theatre company, the National Black Theatre. It features interviews with indigenous media pioneer Lester Bostock, writer Gerry Bostock, actor Lillian Crombie, activist-academic Gary Foley, academic Marcia Langton, actors Rachael Maza, Bryan Brown and Bindi Williams. .We are pleased to present this sneak preview of 32 of the 180-plus films in this year.s program,. said Festival Director Nashen Moodley. .We have gathered a selection of the best films from the...
- 4/1/2014
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
★★★★☆ Showing in the Orizzonti sidebar at the 70th Venice Film Festival, Ruin (2013) is by turns a gritty and dazzling lovers-on-the-run tale set in modern day Cambodia. Directed by Michael Cody and Amiel Courtin-Wilson, the film tells the story of two of society's worst-off down-and-outs. Sang Malen plays Sovanna, a young prostitute who is beaten and mistreated by her pimp when she feigns illness to escape work. She manages to escape, but Phnom Penh - and Cambodia, for that mater - is no place for a young girl on her own. Fortunately she meets Phirun (Rous Mony), an aggressive young local factory worker.
A vague spark of affection is ignited and Phirun promises to shelter the girl, but following a murder they are forced to flee the city and look to survive on the road. The obvious model here is Terrence Malick's 1973 classic Badlands, with moments of down-to-earth social realism...
A vague spark of affection is ignited and Phirun promises to shelter the girl, but following a murder they are forced to flee the city and look to survive on the road. The obvious model here is Terrence Malick's 1973 classic Badlands, with moments of down-to-earth social realism...
- 9/10/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
The initial reactions to Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Michael Cody.s Cambodian-set romantic drama Ruin after the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival are decidedly mixed.
Billed as an impressionistic fable about a disgruntled factory worker who hooks up with a prostitute on a road trip after a murder, the low-budget film screened in the festival.s Horizon section dedicated to new, distinctive films from rising talents.
Fairfax Media.s Stephanie Bunbury described the film as .elliptical, full of sumptuous images that can be read as dreams or symbols more easily than as a real-world narrative, backed with a dense electronic score..
Bunbury observed, .The film may have a small audience, but it's an intensely committed one.. She noted there were a number of walk-outs and there were negative responses from trade magazine critics.
Perhaps, although none of the major trades has yet posted reviews. And Cody has a very different take on the responses,...
Billed as an impressionistic fable about a disgruntled factory worker who hooks up with a prostitute on a road trip after a murder, the low-budget film screened in the festival.s Horizon section dedicated to new, distinctive films from rising talents.
Fairfax Media.s Stephanie Bunbury described the film as .elliptical, full of sumptuous images that can be read as dreams or symbols more easily than as a real-world narrative, backed with a dense electronic score..
Bunbury observed, .The film may have a small audience, but it's an intensely committed one.. She noted there were a number of walk-outs and there were negative responses from trade magazine critics.
Perhaps, although none of the major trades has yet posted reviews. And Cody has a very different take on the responses,...
- 9/4/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Hail director Amiel Courtin-Wilson is in distinguished company, one of 70 filmmakers from around the world who have contributed to an innovative film marking the 70th anniversary of the Venice Film Festival.
Each director has made a short film of 60-90 seconds for Venezia 70 . Future Reloaded, which both celebrates the world.s oldest film festival and reflects on the future of cinema.
Among the filmmakers invited to participate are Bernardo Bertolucci, Paul Schrader, Walter Salles, Catherine Breillat, Shekhar Kapur, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Abbas Kiarostami, Monte Hellman and Peter Ho-Sun Chan. All have had films screened in Venice over the past 20 years.
Courtin-Wilson.s 90-second film is bound to be controversial as it features a couple having graphic, animalistic sex.
He told If it.s based on several Scandinavian creation myths, is set in a world of endless night and ends with a solar eclipse. Screen Australia and Film Victoria supported the project.
Each director has made a short film of 60-90 seconds for Venezia 70 . Future Reloaded, which both celebrates the world.s oldest film festival and reflects on the future of cinema.
Among the filmmakers invited to participate are Bernardo Bertolucci, Paul Schrader, Walter Salles, Catherine Breillat, Shekhar Kapur, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Abbas Kiarostami, Monte Hellman and Peter Ho-Sun Chan. All have had films screened in Venice over the past 20 years.
Courtin-Wilson.s 90-second film is bound to be controversial as it features a couple having graphic, animalistic sex.
He told If it.s based on several Scandinavian creation myths, is set in a world of endless night and ends with a solar eclipse. Screen Australia and Film Victoria supported the project.
- 7/27/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
John Curran.s Tracks. and Ruin, a Cambodian-set romantic drama from Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Michael Cody, will. compete at the 70th Venice Film Festival.
Based on the true story of Robyn Davidson's 2,700km trek across the Australian desert with four camels and her dog, Tracks is among the 19 films in official competition.
Producers/writers/directors Courtin-Wilson and Cody.s Ruin will screen in Orizzonti, a competition section dedicated to new distinctive films from international rising talents. This will be the team's second time in Venice as Hail screened in Orizzonti in 2011.
Screening out of competition are Greg Mclean.s Wolf Creek 2 and Ukraine is Not a Brothel, a feature documentary by Melbourne filmmaker Kitty Green, which profiles the Ukrainian feminist group Femen. The Wolf Creek sequel sees John Jarratt reprise his role as crazed serial killer Mick Taylor, alongside Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn and Phillipe Klaus.
The four titles...
Based on the true story of Robyn Davidson's 2,700km trek across the Australian desert with four camels and her dog, Tracks is among the 19 films in official competition.
Producers/writers/directors Courtin-Wilson and Cody.s Ruin will screen in Orizzonti, a competition section dedicated to new distinctive films from international rising talents. This will be the team's second time in Venice as Hail screened in Orizzonti in 2011.
Screening out of competition are Greg Mclean.s Wolf Creek 2 and Ukraine is Not a Brothel, a feature documentary by Melbourne filmmaker Kitty Green, which profiles the Ukrainian feminist group Femen. The Wolf Creek sequel sees John Jarratt reprise his role as crazed serial killer Mick Taylor, alongside Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn and Phillipe Klaus.
The four titles...
- 7/25/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Children.s movie Paper Planes, Cambodian-set romantic drama Ruin and art-house drama Partisan received investment from Screen Australia at Tuesday's board meeting.
The agency is investing almost $15.5 million in the three features, five adult drama series, one telemovie and three children.s series, triggering production worth almost $84 million.
Writer/director/producer Robert Connolly.s Paper Planes is a drama about a young boy from a small outback town who dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. The writers are Connolly and Steve Worland, produced by Maggie Miles and Liz Kearney.
Connolly told If, .We don.t make this kind of film any more in Australia, where the hero is an Australian kid. If kids don.t grow up watching Australian films we are not building a future..
The film will shoot in Perth later this year. Connolly and John Maynard.s Footprint Films will release in...
The agency is investing almost $15.5 million in the three features, five adult drama series, one telemovie and three children.s series, triggering production worth almost $84 million.
Writer/director/producer Robert Connolly.s Paper Planes is a drama about a young boy from a small outback town who dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. The writers are Connolly and Steve Worland, produced by Maggie Miles and Liz Kearney.
Connolly told If, .We don.t make this kind of film any more in Australia, where the hero is an Australian kid. If kids don.t grow up watching Australian films we are not building a future..
The film will shoot in Perth later this year. Connolly and John Maynard.s Footprint Films will release in...
- 6/26/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Hail is not a pleasant film - it is in fact alienating and dismisses the concept of an audience as the film is clearly not made for them. It immerses you into a mire of ugly imagery aided by scattershot and headache-inducing cinematography.An ex-con by the name of Dan (Daniel Jones) is reunited with the love of his life, Leanne (Leanne Campbell). It is quickly evident the film is based on the experiences of these not-really-actors and it feels real which is not a detriment to the film, however it did impact my enjoyment of it and I was unable to find it accessible in any way. Dan wants to go straight; he gets a simple job, screws that up and is lured back into the...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 5/14/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Update: Due to an overwhelming response from readers the competition is already closed and all DVD's claimed - with both Australian and New Zealand readers getting copies, which is great.One of the most acclaimed Australian films of last year and one of my favourite films from anywhere in the world in 2013 (see my end-of-year list on Twitch), Amiel Courtin-Wilson's Hail is now out on DVD in Australia and New Zealand. Fresh from a Melbourne jail, Dan is reunited with the love of his life, Leanne. Dan and Leanne celebrate, and when surrounded by friends he announces he has resolved to go straight. Believing he can change with Leanne by his side, Dan finds a job and slowly builds a new life. Unforeseen circumstances intervene and...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 4/30/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Wayne Blair
In this roundup from the Encore and Mumbrella Annual, we take a look at the top film and television directors in 2012.
1. Wayne Blair
Wayne Blair’s feature directing debut The Sapphires premiered at Cannes this year before being snapped up by Us production guru Harvey Weinstein. It went on to become the highest grossing Australian film of 2012. Blair also flexed his directing muscle on indigenous series Redfern Now. In 2013 he’ll work on the show’s second series as well as The Gods of Wheat Street, another indigenous drama for the ABC.
2. Glendyn Ivin
From Southern Star’s stable, Glendyn Ivin’s claustrophobic telemovie Beaconsfield rated 1.6m for Nine while his direction of Ten’s Puberty Blues was well received. The series has been picked up for a second season.
3. Peter Ots
Nine’s hugely successful The Voice, which wiped the shiny floor with competitor Australia’s Got Talent this year,...
In this roundup from the Encore and Mumbrella Annual, we take a look at the top film and television directors in 2012.
1. Wayne Blair
Wayne Blair’s feature directing debut The Sapphires premiered at Cannes this year before being snapped up by Us production guru Harvey Weinstein. It went on to become the highest grossing Australian film of 2012. Blair also flexed his directing muscle on indigenous series Redfern Now. In 2013 he’ll work on the show’s second series as well as The Gods of Wheat Street, another indigenous drama for the ABC.
2. Glendyn Ivin
From Southern Star’s stable, Glendyn Ivin’s claustrophobic telemovie Beaconsfield rated 1.6m for Nine while his direction of Ten’s Puberty Blues was well received. The series has been picked up for a second season.
3. Peter Ots
Nine’s hugely successful The Voice, which wiped the shiny floor with competitor Australia’s Got Talent this year,...
- 1/4/2013
- by Luke
- Encore Magazine
Fenech: Brain behind Housos
Housos Vs Authority, the feature film version of Paul Fenech’s Sbs TV series Housos has taken just over half a million dollars at the box office on its opening weekend.
Taking $526,000, according to official figures from the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, the film was shown across 151 screens for a moderate $3485 screen average.
Transmission Films released the film paying particular attention to “the heartland of the TV show’s fan base,” Courtney Botfield, general manager of Transmission Films told Encore.
With the film taking a screen average of around $3,485, Botfield said: “We’re very happy with how it’s opened. It has played really well to its core fan base. It shows what a fan base Paul Fenech and the show has.”
While Botfield said there was not a opening box office figure in mind, when Encore spoke with Transmission’s Richard Patyen last week,...
Housos Vs Authority, the feature film version of Paul Fenech’s Sbs TV series Housos has taken just over half a million dollars at the box office on its opening weekend.
Taking $526,000, according to official figures from the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, the film was shown across 151 screens for a moderate $3485 screen average.
Transmission Films released the film paying particular attention to “the heartland of the TV show’s fan base,” Courtney Botfield, general manager of Transmission Films told Encore.
With the film taking a screen average of around $3,485, Botfield said: “We’re very happy with how it’s opened. It has played really well to its core fan base. It shows what a fan base Paul Fenech and the show has.”
While Botfield said there was not a opening box office figure in mind, when Encore spoke with Transmission’s Richard Patyen last week,...
- 11/5/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
A documentary about Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly has added nearly another $94,000 to its earnings in its second weekend at the Australian box office.
Paul Kelly: Stories Of Me took $93,961 across seven screens for a $13,423 screen average, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia. Distributed by Madman Entertainment, it takes the documentary by Ian Darling to a box office total of $221,800.
Among the big studio releases, Argo led the box office in its first weekend . The film, distributed by Warner Bros, took $1.955m across 351 screens for a $5,570 screen average.
Comic-adaptation Dredd, distributed by Icon, took $809,000 across 198 screens for a $4,086 average while new French film The Intouchables, distributed by Roadshow, took $679,000 across 66 screens for a very respectable $10,291 screen average. Thanks to previews and festival screenings the film has taken $1.120m.
Meanwhile Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, distributed by Walt Disney, made $581,500 across 213 screens for a $2730 screen average.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson‘s Australian film Hail,...
Paul Kelly: Stories Of Me took $93,961 across seven screens for a $13,423 screen average, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia. Distributed by Madman Entertainment, it takes the documentary by Ian Darling to a box office total of $221,800.
Among the big studio releases, Argo led the box office in its first weekend . The film, distributed by Warner Bros, took $1.955m across 351 screens for a $5,570 screen average.
Comic-adaptation Dredd, distributed by Icon, took $809,000 across 198 screens for a $4,086 average while new French film The Intouchables, distributed by Roadshow, took $679,000 across 66 screens for a very respectable $10,291 screen average. Thanks to previews and festival screenings the film has taken $1.120m.
Meanwhile Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, distributed by Walt Disney, made $581,500 across 213 screens for a $2730 screen average.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson‘s Australian film Hail,...
- 10/30/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Muscular, raw, visceral: these are the words that keep coming up about incredible Australian crime revenge film Hail. I'd also add beautiful, touching, poignant and explosively real; this is real life that comes uncomfortably close, seeps into your soul and just when you think you have it in your grasp it grabs you instead and drags you into a deeply upsetting nightmare without flinching. When you stagger out the other side of the maelstrom you are left marked, moved and in awe of Amiel Courtin-Wilson's brilliant feature debut and Daniel P Jones' mesmerizing central performance. After playing festivals all over the world as diverse as Venice and Fantastic Fest, Hail opened in limited release in Australia over the weekend. Now Cinema Nova is having a special fundraising event run by non-government welfare...
- 10/29/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Director Amiel Courtin-Wilson is on a roll. His latest feature, Hail, is currently taking Australia by storm, and before that he built up an exciting array of observational documentaries, including Bastardy, a complex portrait of a complex man Jack Charles, which won awards and acclaim almost everywhere it played. In between Bastardy and Hail, but taking up a lot of the time during the making of both, was Catch My Disease, an epic documentary about the musician Ben lee, which Courtin-Wilson filmed over an epic span of the musician's life (something like eight years). The title comes from one of Lee's most famous songs. Featuring interviews with Clare Danes, Zooey Deschanel, Jason Schwartzman, Winona Ryder, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and others, Catch My Disease looks at the musician's...
- 10/26/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Amiel Courtin-Wilson
A Melbourne-based film director has formed a new production company with a team of directors, producers, composers, cinematographers and editors.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson, whose feature film Hail opened in limited release yesterday, has formed Flood Projects, a stable for directors with diverse skills, from cinema and visual art to performance-based projects, book publishing and album releases.
Joining Courtin-Wilson is Snowtown director Justin Kurzel and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, who shot Snowtown, Animal Kingdom and Top of the Lake.
Also part of the team is Hail’s producer Michael Cody, director Amy Gebhardt, composer Oren Ambachi, editor Peter Sciberras and composer Steve Benwell.
Courtin-Wilson said of Flood Project’s aim: “Over the last several years we have witnessed the beginnings of a renaissance in Australian film and Flood Projects is a hugely exciting collection of artists whose primary aim is to seek out new forms and continue to push boundaries in Australian cinema.
A Melbourne-based film director has formed a new production company with a team of directors, producers, composers, cinematographers and editors.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson, whose feature film Hail opened in limited release yesterday, has formed Flood Projects, a stable for directors with diverse skills, from cinema and visual art to performance-based projects, book publishing and album releases.
Joining Courtin-Wilson is Snowtown director Justin Kurzel and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, who shot Snowtown, Animal Kingdom and Top of the Lake.
Also part of the team is Hail’s producer Michael Cody, director Amy Gebhardt, composer Oren Ambachi, editor Peter Sciberras and composer Steve Benwell.
Courtin-Wilson said of Flood Project’s aim: “Over the last several years we have witnessed the beginnings of a renaissance in Australian film and Flood Projects is a hugely exciting collection of artists whose primary aim is to seek out new forms and continue to push boundaries in Australian cinema.
- 10/25/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Madman Entertainment has added Adelaide and Hobart to its limited run of Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Hail.
The announcement:
Madman Entertainment is proud to announce that the theatrical release of “Hail”, the acclaimed drama by Melbourne-based Amiel Courtin-Wilson, will expand to include Adelaide and Hobart, with more screens to be added in additional cities.
Initially slated for a Melbourne and Sydney release, the demand for “Hail” has grown based upon wide critical acclaim following its film festival screenings nationally and internationally. The Monthly’s Adrian Martin reviewed it under the banner, “The Best of Australian Film 2012”.
The first Australian feature to be screened at the Venice International Festival in ten years and winner of The Age Critics Award for Best Australian Feature at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival, “Hail” draws on the life experiences of ex-criminal and jail cell philosopher, Danny P. Jones, who stars in the film as himself, along with his real-life partner,...
The announcement:
Madman Entertainment is proud to announce that the theatrical release of “Hail”, the acclaimed drama by Melbourne-based Amiel Courtin-Wilson, will expand to include Adelaide and Hobart, with more screens to be added in additional cities.
Initially slated for a Melbourne and Sydney release, the demand for “Hail” has grown based upon wide critical acclaim following its film festival screenings nationally and internationally. The Monthly’s Adrian Martin reviewed it under the banner, “The Best of Australian Film 2012”.
The first Australian feature to be screened at the Venice International Festival in ten years and winner of The Age Critics Award for Best Australian Feature at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival, “Hail” draws on the life experiences of ex-criminal and jail cell philosopher, Danny P. Jones, who stars in the film as himself, along with his real-life partner,...
- 10/15/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Austin, TX-Wednesday, September 12, 2012- Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors – Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Brandon Cronenberg, 110 mins
Syd March makes people sick, infecting them with viruses harvested to order from celebrities, but gets more than he bargained for when his most famous source dies from a virus Syd has just infected himself with.
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Peter Strickland, 92 mins
Strange things occur after a British audio technician is summoned to Italy to work on a gory giallo film.
Besties (2012)
World Premiere
Director – Rebecca Perry Cutter,...
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors – Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Brandon Cronenberg, 110 mins
Syd March makes people sick, infecting them with viruses harvested to order from celebrities, but gets more than he bargained for when his most famous source dies from a virus Syd has just infected himself with.
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Us Premiere
Director – Peter Strickland, 92 mins
Strange things occur after a British audio technician is summoned to Italy to work on a gory giallo film.
Besties (2012)
World Premiere
Director – Rebecca Perry Cutter,...
- 9/14/2012
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Wow! I literally just jumped up for joy hearing this final wave. I think that this might be my favorite selection of films since I have been attending. Films like American Mary, Antiviral, Berberian Sound Studio, the remake of Who Can Kill A Child? – Come Out and Play and the World Premiere of the sequel to The Collector! These films plus a few others just caps off what I’m sure will be my favorite Fantastic Fest yet!
Also, for those keeping score, Michael picked 7 movies that are definitely showing while I picked 6. However, this could change once the secret screenings show. Again, Fantastic Fest starts next Thursday and we plan to have reviews, interviews and possibly video & audio blogs. Anyway, here’s the announcement:
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection.
Also, for those keeping score, Michael picked 7 movies that are definitely showing while I picked 6. However, this could change once the secret screenings show. Again, Fantastic Fest starts next Thursday and we plan to have reviews, interviews and possibly video & audio blogs. Anyway, here’s the announcement:
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection.
- 9/12/2012
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
If the films announced so far weren't enough to get you to travel to Austin later this month, this last wave of programming should have you packing your bags immediately! Read on for details.
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest (official site here) will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas, at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: First Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Second Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Short Films Announced
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors - Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director - Brandon Cronenberg,...
From the Press Release:
Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce the final installment of programming for Fantastic Fest 2012, including the world premiere screening of The Collection. Fantastic Fest (official site here) will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas, at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: First Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Second Wave of Films Announced
Related Story: Fantastic Fest 2012: Short Films Announced
American Mary (2011)
Us Premiere
Directors - Jen and Sylvia Soska, 95 mins
Disillusioned with her chosen profession and perpetually broke, medical student Mary Mason finds herself drawn into a shady world of underground surgery and body modification.
Antiviral (2012)
Us Premiere
Director - Brandon Cronenberg,...
- 9/12/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has announced the first round of nominees for the 2012 Aacta Awards.
Among the nominees is a short list of 23 local feature films which screened in theatres across Australia in the last year, or due to screen in the coming months.The feature nominees cross a wide variety of genres, with films The Sapphires, Killer Elite, Mental, Iron Sky, Bait3D, Swerve and Burning Man.
The Australian Film Institute and Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella said: “The goal for a healthy Australian feature film industry has always been to combine festival and critical acclaim with audience appeal. The exceptional collection of Feature Films in Competition demonstrates that this year we are well on the way to achieving this mix, and that despite many challenges, we can celebrate a landmark year in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to see many of our former AFI Award-winning...
Among the nominees is a short list of 23 local feature films which screened in theatres across Australia in the last year, or due to screen in the coming months.The feature nominees cross a wide variety of genres, with films The Sapphires, Killer Elite, Mental, Iron Sky, Bait3D, Swerve and Burning Man.
The Australian Film Institute and Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella said: “The goal for a healthy Australian feature film industry has always been to combine festival and critical acclaim with audience appeal. The exceptional collection of Feature Films in Competition demonstrates that this year we are well on the way to achieving this mix, and that despite many challenges, we can celebrate a landmark year in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to see many of our former AFI Award-winning...
- 8/29/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
An Australian film based on the real lives of its two lead actors has won The Age Critics’ Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Selected by a panel of film critics, the award now in its second year, is for the best Australian feature film at Miff.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s first feature film Hail took the prize against a program that included The Sapphires, Dead Europe, Last Dance, Save Your Legs! 100 Bloody Acres, Errors of the Human Body and Jack Irish: Bad Debts.
Hail is about Dan, who on losing his love is reduced to savagery and violence. A mix of fact and fiction the story is based on lead actor Daniel Jones’ real life as an ex-con. Jones stars alongside real-life partner Leanne Letch.
Jones was the subject of Cicada, a short film by Courtin-Wilson.
The critics recognised Courtin-Wilson’s “visionary ambition” and “noted his emotional commitment to his subject-matter,...
Selected by a panel of film critics, the award now in its second year, is for the best Australian feature film at Miff.
Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s first feature film Hail took the prize against a program that included The Sapphires, Dead Europe, Last Dance, Save Your Legs! 100 Bloody Acres, Errors of the Human Body and Jack Irish: Bad Debts.
Hail is about Dan, who on losing his love is reduced to savagery and violence. A mix of fact and fiction the story is based on lead actor Daniel Jones’ real life as an ex-con. Jones stars alongside real-life partner Leanne Letch.
Jones was the subject of Cicada, a short film by Courtin-Wilson.
The critics recognised Courtin-Wilson’s “visionary ambition” and “noted his emotional commitment to his subject-matter,...
- 8/19/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Amiel Courtin-Wilson's latest journey with Daniel P. Jones - the autobiographical docu-drama Hail - has reached a significant milestone, with the movie taking out the top critics prize for best Australian feature in their hometown, at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The pair have been working together since they met the day after Daniel was released from prison, with their first on-screen collaboration - the incredible short film Cicada - screening in competition at Cannes in 2009. Hail is their first feature together, and Amiel's first foray into drama after making several critically-acclaimed documentaries. Michael Cody produced. To quote from the Miff programme: Both epic love story and autobiography, the audacious Hail is the culmination of six years of collaboration between director Amiel Courtin-Wilson (Bastardy, Miff 2008; Ben Lee: Catch...
- 8/18/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Visit Films announced today that it is partnering with GoDigital on the digital release of Amiel Courtin-Wilson's ("Bastardy," "Hail") documentary "Ben Lee: Catch My Disease" November 6. The documentary paints a playful portrait of the Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, with commentary from some of Hollywood's biggest stars who knew him, such as ex-girlfriend Claire Danes and old friends Jason Schwartzman, Michelle Williams, Zooey Deschanel, Winona Ryder, Thurston Moore and Beastie Boy Mike D. The 86-minute documentary took almost ten years to make, and Courtin-Wilson, in addition to writing, directing and producing the doc, also served as its cinematographer. An official synopsis from the press release follows: The focus of this documentary is charming, intelligent and iconoclastic Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, whose creative growth since his early adolescence has undergone almost relentless...
- 8/14/2012
- by Srimathi Sridhar
- Indiewire
The Fantasia International Film Festival is over for now, but don't be too sad; the 2013 dates have already been announced! Fantasia will be back from the 18th of July to the 6th of August 2013. In the meantime read on for the last news from the 2012 edition.
From the Press Release:
The festive atmosphere of Fantasia’s 16th edition will live on for several directors whose acquisition deals were announced during the festival: Boris Rodriguez, the Montreal director of Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal, is celebrating his new contract for a theatrical release in the United States with Music Box Films. As well, Kern Saxton’s Sushi Girl was recently picked up by Phase 4 and Magnolia, while Quentin Dupieux’s Wrong will be distributed by Drafthouse Films.
The last juries have finished deliberating on this year’s competitions and are pleased to announce the following winners:
Aqcc Jury – Asian Section
President: Daniel Racine,...
From the Press Release:
The festive atmosphere of Fantasia’s 16th edition will live on for several directors whose acquisition deals were announced during the festival: Boris Rodriguez, the Montreal director of Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal, is celebrating his new contract for a theatrical release in the United States with Music Box Films. As well, Kern Saxton’s Sushi Girl was recently picked up by Phase 4 and Magnolia, while Quentin Dupieux’s Wrong will be distributed by Drafthouse Films.
The last juries have finished deliberating on this year’s competitions and are pleased to announce the following winners:
Aqcc Jury – Asian Section
President: Daniel Racine,...
- 8/11/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
The Hive Lab, an initiative of the Adelaide Film Festival, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, ABC TV and the Australian Council, is closing its applications as of Monday 13 August.
The lab aims to bring together film-makers and artists to create screen-based creative content. Last year participants included Beaconsfield’s Glendyn Ivin, Dead Europe’s Tony Krawitz and Hail’s Amiel Courtin-Wilson.
The announcement:
The application deadline for Hive is Monday 13 August. Artists and filmmakers interested in cross collaboration should not miss the opportunity to participate in this inspiring event.
The second Hive Lab is an initiative of the Adelaide Film Festival, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, ABC TV and the Australia Council for the Arts and will take place from 11 – 14 October alongside the Melbourne Arts Festival.
The Hive Lab will bring talented filmmakers and artists together for four days to nurture screen-based creative ideas that cut across artistic boundaries.
The lab aims to bring together film-makers and artists to create screen-based creative content. Last year participants included Beaconsfield’s Glendyn Ivin, Dead Europe’s Tony Krawitz and Hail’s Amiel Courtin-Wilson.
The announcement:
The application deadline for Hive is Monday 13 August. Artists and filmmakers interested in cross collaboration should not miss the opportunity to participate in this inspiring event.
The second Hive Lab is an initiative of the Adelaide Film Festival, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, ABC TV and the Australia Council for the Arts and will take place from 11 – 14 October alongside the Melbourne Arts Festival.
The Hive Lab will bring talented filmmakers and artists together for four days to nurture screen-based creative ideas that cut across artistic boundaries.
- 8/9/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
The Melbourne International Film Festival will close on August 18 with P.J. Hogan.s Mental.
Mental reunites writer-director P.J. Hogan with his original leading lady Toni Collette for the first time since Muriel's Wedding. The film follows the story of the Moochmore family after mother Shirley (Rebecca Gibney), unable to cope with her five teenage daughters and philandering husband, Barry (Anthony Lapaglia), suffers a nervous breakdown. A hitchhiker named Shaz (Collette) then enters the family home as nanny.
.How wonderful that we are able to book-end the 2012 Miff with what will surely be two of the biggest Australian films of the year, in The Sapphires and Mental," Miff artistic director Michelle Carey said. "Featuring an incredible ensemble cast, P.J. Hogan.s new film is as outrageously fun as it is smart and moving."
The festival will also hold a world premiere screening of local cricket comedy Save Your Legs! which stars Stephen Curry,...
Mental reunites writer-director P.J. Hogan with his original leading lady Toni Collette for the first time since Muriel's Wedding. The film follows the story of the Moochmore family after mother Shirley (Rebecca Gibney), unable to cope with her five teenage daughters and philandering husband, Barry (Anthony Lapaglia), suffers a nervous breakdown. A hitchhiker named Shaz (Collette) then enters the family home as nanny.
.How wonderful that we are able to book-end the 2012 Miff with what will surely be two of the biggest Australian films of the year, in The Sapphires and Mental," Miff artistic director Michelle Carey said. "Featuring an incredible ensemble cast, P.J. Hogan.s new film is as outrageously fun as it is smart and moving."
The festival will also hold a world premiere screening of local cricket comedy Save Your Legs! which stars Stephen Curry,...
- 7/11/2012
- by Staff reporter
- IF.com.au
Amiel Courtin-Wilson.s new feature film, Hail, takes its inspiration from the lives of his two stars: Danny Jones and his partner Leanne Letch. They tell Brendan Swift about their journey and special relationship.
Daniel Jones If you believe in God . God created the world and made two really good hearts: he gave one to Mother Teresa and the other one was given to Leanne. Leanne.s got three children and their father died an untimely death. And instead of her calling back on the government, she thought, .if this is the best that the world.s got to offer me, I have to do something for myself..
So she took her children to the country, where there was open spaces and fresh air and, not only did she bring up those three, she went about finding street kids that had suffered some sort of abuse or couldn.t go...
Daniel Jones If you believe in God . God created the world and made two really good hearts: he gave one to Mother Teresa and the other one was given to Leanne. Leanne.s got three children and their father died an untimely death. And instead of her calling back on the government, she thought, .if this is the best that the world.s got to offer me, I have to do something for myself..
So she took her children to the country, where there was open spaces and fresh air and, not only did she bring up those three, she went about finding street kids that had suffered some sort of abuse or couldn.t go...
- 6/12/2012
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
I can't remember a time I went to the Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) press launch and looked over the list of films and saw so many I was interested in seeing. The claim to fame for over the years is to call it the largest and most-highly attended festival in the United States. This is a fact I've often taken issue with as I don't equate quantity with quality. Granted, there has been a large number of quality features to play the fest over the years, including Golden Space Needle (Best Film) winners such as Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), My Life as a Dog (1987), Trainspotting (1996), Run Lola Run (1999), Whale Rider (2003) and even recent Best Director winner, Michel Hazanavicius's Oss 117: Nest of Spies in 2006. That said, looking over this year's crop of films I see a lot of films I will be doing my absolute best to see.
- 4/27/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Until last week, the closest thing to Hollywood I'd seen in the ramshackle working class suburb of Preston in Melbourne's north was Hail lead actor (and ex-con) Daniel P. Jones driving around Preston Market carpark. Now that's gonna change with news that Mr 3D himself, James Cameron, has opened the first international office of his 3D production business in Preston (of all places) with cinematographer Vince Pace. To crib from the press release: Cameron said he hoped the company, Cameron Pace Group, would make it easier for television and filmmakers to adopt 3D technology. Andrew Wight, producer of 3D feature Sanctum, was appointed managing director of Cpg's Australian office. He said the company would allow filmmakers in Australia to use the same technology Cameron used in Avatar. He...
- 1/20/2012
- Screen Anarchy
We posted the cut-from-real-life short drama Cicada a fortnight ago, and now we have the teaser trailer for Amiel Courtin-Wilson's feature follow up, simply titled Hail. Hail is the evolved beast-cousin of Cicada, and is another docu-drama based on the real life stories of actor and ex-con Daniel P. Jones. The Hollywood Reporter describes it much better than I could: Daniel P. Jones is an artistically inclined ex-convict playing a lightly fictionalized version of himself in Aussie auteur Amiel Courtin-Wilson's out-there docu-drama. Dissonant and brutal, but also unexpectedly tender, Hail melds coarse reality, extreme close-ups, nightmarish montages - including one featuring a dead horse falling from the sky - and a soundtrack that's alternately jarring and lovely. Hail was the first Australian dramatic feature in nearly a decade to...
- 1/17/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Three Australian feature films and one short have been selected to screen at the 41st International Film Festival Rotterdam, 25 january – 5 February.
Two films, writer/director John Winter’s Black & White & Sex and writer/director Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Hail will feature in the Bright Future section of the festival which presents debut or second feature films.
Black & White & Sex stars Katherine Hicks, Anya Beyersdorf, Dina Panozzo, Saskia Burmeister and Matthew Holmes to explore sex and sexuality.
Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, Hail is the story of love and loss based on real life partners, and actors in the film, Daniel P Jones and Leanne Letch. Hail had its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival.
Selected to screen the festival’s closing night is The Hunter, produced by Vincent Sheehan and directed by Daniel Nettheim and written by Alice Addison, its the story of a mercenary (Willem Dafoe) hunting the last remaining Tasmanian Tiger.
Two films, writer/director John Winter’s Black & White & Sex and writer/director Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Hail will feature in the Bright Future section of the festival which presents debut or second feature films.
Black & White & Sex stars Katherine Hicks, Anya Beyersdorf, Dina Panozzo, Saskia Burmeister and Matthew Holmes to explore sex and sexuality.
Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, Hail is the story of love and loss based on real life partners, and actors in the film, Daniel P Jones and Leanne Letch. Hail had its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival.
Selected to screen the festival’s closing night is The Hunter, produced by Vincent Sheehan and directed by Daniel Nettheim and written by Alice Addison, its the story of a mercenary (Willem Dafoe) hunting the last remaining Tasmanian Tiger.
- 1/17/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Two Australian features have been chosen to screen at the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival. Hail, by Melbourne director Amiel Courtin-Wilson, will screen as part of the Spectrums selection (which celebrates powerful, innovative forms of cinema), while John Winter.s Black & White & Sex will be shown as part of the Bright Future program (which celebrates the stand out work of debut directors). The culmination of Courtin-Wilson.s six-year collaboration with ex-prison inmate turned actor, Daniel P. Jones, Hail is a semi-fictional narrative about Jones. attempts to return to society and his girlfriend (played by real-life partner, Leanne Letch) after his most recent stint in jail. .I was honoured when I heard the news as Rotterdam is...
- 1/17/2012
- by Danii Logue
- IF.com.au
Two Australian features have been chosen to screen at the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival. Hail, by Melbourne director Amiel Courtin-Wilson, will screen as part of the Spectrums selection (which celebrates powerful, innovative forms of cinema), while John Winter.s Black & White & Sex will be shown as part of the Bright Future program (which celebrates the stand out work of debut directors). The culmination of Courtin-Wilson.s six-year collaboration with ex-prison inmate turned actor, Daniel P. Jones, Hail is a semi-fictional narrative about Jones. attempts to return to society and his girlfriend (played by real-life partner, Leanne Letch) after his most recent stint in jail. .I was honoured when I heard the news as Rotterdam is...
- 1/17/2012
- by Danii Logue
- IF.com.au
Two Australian features have been chosen to screen at the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival. Hail, by Melbourne director Amiel Courtin-Wilson, will screen as part of the Spectrums selection (which celebrates powerful, innovative forms of cinema), while John Winter.s Black & White & Sex will be shown as part of the Bright Future program (which celebrates the stand out work of debut directors). The culmination of Courtin-Wilson.s six-year collaboration with ex-prison inmate turned actor, Daniel P. Jones, Hail is a semi-fictional narrative about Jones. attempts to return to society and his girlfriend (played by real-life partner, Leanne Letch) after his most recent stint in jail. .I was honoured when I heard the news as Rotterdam is...
- 1/17/2012
- by Danii Logue
- IF.com.au
Jessie French has joined the Melbourne-based production company SceneOn as marketing manager.
French was previously involved in the marketing of Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s feature film Hail, which was selected for this year’s Venice International Film Festival.
French said: “I find SceneOn’s approach of being a creative collective of directors with post facilities, an exciting prospect. There is a great energy at SceneOn, and I’m looking forward to building a strong future for the company.”
SceneOn’s executive director, Andrew Coyle said: “Jessie is the fifth new member to join the SceneOn team this year – we’ve had a fantastic year and we’re growing fast. 2012 is already looking busy.”
With directors in Sydney and Melbourne, SceneOn are a production house that offers an end to end solution.
French was previously involved in the marketing of Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s feature film Hail, which was selected for this year’s Venice International Film Festival.
French said: “I find SceneOn’s approach of being a creative collective of directors with post facilities, an exciting prospect. There is a great energy at SceneOn, and I’m looking forward to building a strong future for the company.”
SceneOn’s executive director, Andrew Coyle said: “Jessie is the fifth new member to join the SceneOn team this year – we’ve had a fantastic year and we’re growing fast. 2012 is already looking busy.”
With directors in Sydney and Melbourne, SceneOn are a production house that offers an end to end solution.
- 12/12/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Now that we've got an entry collecting trailers for the films competing at this year's Venice Film Festival, here's another gathering trailers for films screening in the other sections as well as in the two autonomous programs, Venice Days and International Critics' Week. What we've got here, obviously, is a pretty mixed bag, but here we go:
Out Of Competition
Rolando Colla's Giochi d'estate:
Ugo Gregoretti, Carlo Lizzani, Francesco Maselli and Nino Russo's Scossa:
Tomás Lunák's Alois Nebel:
Kike Maillo's Eva:
Takashi Shimizu's Tormented:
Tony Ching Siu-tung's The Sorcerer and the White Snake:
Steven Soderbergh's Contagion:
Orizzonti
Yves Caumon's L'Oiseau (The Bird):
Clarissa Campolina and Helvecio Marins Jr's Swirl:
Amiel Courtin-Wilson's Hail:
Jonathan Demme's I'm Carolyn Parker: The Good, the Mad and the Beautiful:
And here are a couple more clips.
Michael Glawogger...
Out Of Competition
Rolando Colla's Giochi d'estate:
Ugo Gregoretti, Carlo Lizzani, Francesco Maselli and Nino Russo's Scossa:
Tomás Lunák's Alois Nebel:
Kike Maillo's Eva:
Takashi Shimizu's Tormented:
Tony Ching Siu-tung's The Sorcerer and the White Snake:
Steven Soderbergh's Contagion:
Orizzonti
Yves Caumon's L'Oiseau (The Bird):
Clarissa Campolina and Helvecio Marins Jr's Swirl:
Amiel Courtin-Wilson's Hail:
Jonathan Demme's I'm Carolyn Parker: The Good, the Mad and the Beautiful:
And here are a couple more clips.
Michael Glawogger...
- 8/23/2011
- MUBI
Australian filmmaker Amiel Courtin-Wilson has made the leap from brilliant documentarian to visionary dramatic filmmaker, first with his short drama Cicada screening in competition at Cannes 2009 and now with his first dramatic feature Hail selected for Venice 2011. I've long thought of Amiel as the Werner Herzog of Australia, in the way he manages to extract deeply personal accounts or performances from his subjects, while enmeshing himself in the films themselves, not just as a behind-the-scenes auteur. Hail is no different, and sees Amiel collaborating again with ex-prison inmate turned actor Daniel Jones, who was the subject of and storyteller in the intense short Cicada, a dramatised monologue delivered direct to camera recounting Jones' first brutal memory as a child. Hail opens up the canvas, using Jones' life with...
- 8/19/2011
- Screen Anarchy
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