Kino Lorber Acquires US and Canadian Rights to Kim Mordaunt's THE ROCKET   Date: May 17, 2013 Winner of top prizes at last month's Tribeca Film Festival and 2013 Berlinale to open across the U.S. and Canada this Fall CANNES - May 17, 2013 - Kino Lorber is pleased to announce that it has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to THE ROCKET, the critically acclaimed first feature film by director and writer Kim Mordaunt focused on a boy's journey to escape his poor circumstances by entering a rocket building contest in Laos. A still from The Rocket Produced by Sylvia Wilczynski at Red Lamp Films, with funding from Screen Australia, the film had its US premiere at this year's Tribeca Film Festival and won the festival's top three narrative accolades: Best Narrative Feature prize, the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film and the Best Actor in a Narrative Feature award (given to 10-year-old Sitthiphon Disamoe). At this year's Berlinale, THE ROCKET also won the "Crystal Bear" (Generation Kplus prize for Best Film) as well as the Best First Feature award and The Amnesty International Award. After a run of prestigious festival dates, Kino Lorber is planning a national theatrical release for this critics and crowd-pleasing film during the fall, followed by a digital, VOD and home media release in 2014.KinoLorber CEO Richard Lorber negotiated the deal for the film with Natja Noviani Rosner, LevelK's Sales Director. A co-production between Australia, Laos and Thailand, THE ROCKET is set in contemporary Laos and tells the story of a boy named Ahlo (beautifully played by Sitthiphon Disamoe) who is believed to be a bearer of bad luck and is therefore blamed for a string of disasters - including his mother's death. When his family loses their home and is forced to move, Ahlo meets the spirited orphan Kia and her eccentric uncle Purple: an ex-soldier with a purple suit, a rice-wine habit and an unbridled love for James Brown. Struggling to hang onto his father's trust, Ahlo leads his family, Purple and Kia through a land scarred by war in search of a new home. But bad luck seems to follow Ahlo, and in a last plea to prove he's not cursed, Ahlo builds a giant explosive rocket to enter the most lucrative but dangerous competition of the year: The Rocket Festival. Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber commented: "The Rocket's first-class filmmaking delivers its rare sense of heart with breathtaking originality. Given its thrilling response during the Tribeca Film Festival, I'm certain that American audiences everywhere will fall in love with this uniquely beautiful and powerful film. We believe a Rocket like this can shoot as high as the Oscars." Tine Klint, CEO of LevelK added: We are extremely proud of "The Rocket"and thankful to Tribeca for helping us promoting the film. Kino Lorber is a stong distributor with great visions for our film and we are looking forward to working with their passionate team.  ABOUT KINO LORBER With a library of over 700 titles, KINO LORBER INC. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for over 30 years, releasing over 20 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Classics, and Alive Mind Cinema banners, including four Academy Award nominated films in the last six years. In addition, the company brings over 60 titles each year to the home entertainment market with DVD and Blu-ray releases as well as digital distribution on all platforms. Some of its upcoming theatrical releases are the documentary MORE THAN HONEY, directed by Markus Imhoof, and the Sundance hit COMPUTER CHESS, directed by Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha).

 

New York, NY (May 10, 2013) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today their FREE Summer Talks series, kicking off next week with BEFORE MIDNIGHT director Richard Linklater, actors Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke on Thursday, May 16^th at 8PM at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center’s Amphitheater. Moderated by Film Comment contributor Phillip Lopate, the evening will be free to the public and will include a selection of clips and questions from the audience.
 
As an extension of the NYFF LIVE talks during the festival, the Film Society of Lincoln Center will host live, free talks throughout the Summer. The lineup will also include director Sofia Coppola for THE BLING RING on June 10 at 7:30PM, director Jem Cohen for MUSEUM HOURS on Wednesday June 26^th at 6:00PM, who will also screen a short film as a way of describing how he came to make MUSEUM HOURS and director Ryan Coogler for FRUITVALE STATION on Thursday July 11^th at 6:00PM. The Jem Cohen and Ryan Coogler talks will be moderated by the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s, Director of Digital Strategy, Eugene Hernandez.
 
The following directors will also participate in the Film Society Summer Talks - the date/time to be announced shortly – director Sebastián Silva for CRYSTAL FAIRY in July and in August director David Lowery for AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS and Joe Swanberg for DRINKING BUDDIES. Additional talks will be announced at a later date so stay tuned and visit Filmlinc.com for more information.    
 
Free tickets will be available at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (144 West 65^th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam) box office on a first-come, first-served basis one hour prior to the conversations. For those unable to attend in person, video from the event will be available online at FilmLinc.com.

 
 
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Director: Richard Linklater
Nine years after we last saw Celine and Jesse (Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke), the couple are together in Greece. Richard Linklater's latest collaboration with Hawke and Delpy picks up the story that began nearly two decades ago in Before Sunrise (1995) and then continued with Before Sunset (2004). In the new film, Before Midnight, Celine and Jesse are now in their 40s and grappling with the past, present and future of their relationship.  
*Thursday, May 16: 8PM 
Summer Talk with director Richard Linklater, actors Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. All share in a writing credit for the film also. 
Moderator: Film Comment Contributor, Phillip Lopate.
 
THE BLING RING
Director: Sofia Coppola
From Oscar award winning writer and director Sofia Coppola, THE BLING RING tells the story, based on actual events, of a group of teenagers obsessed with fashion and celebrity that burglarize celebrities’ homes in Los Angeles. Tracking their targets' whereabouts online, they break-in and steal their designer clothes and possessions. Reflecting on the naiveté of youth and the mistakes we all make when young, amplified by today's culture of celebrity and luxury brand obsession, we see through the members of the ‘Bling Ring’ temptations that almost any teenager would feel. What starts out as teenage fun spins out of control and leaves us with a sobering view of our culture today. 
*Monday, June 10: 7:30PM
Summer Talk with director Sofia Coppola. 
Moderator: TBC
 
MUSEUM HOURS
Director: Jem Cohen
Well known for his distinctive work in Super 8 and 16mm film, as well as numerous music videos for the likes of R.E.M., Fugazi, Vic Chestnutt, Jem Cohen has made a name for himself with a number of acclaimed feature films, including Instrument, Benjamin Smoke and Chain. His latest film, Museum Hours, observes the burgeoning relationship between a quiet Vienna museum guard (Bobby Sommer) who meets a lonesome American visitor (Mary Margaret O'Hara). Anchored within a grand gallery at Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum, Jem Cohen'sMuseum Hours is an examination of art, architecture and ultimately, contemporary humanity.
*Wednesday, June 26: 6PM
Summer Talk with director Jem Cohen. Will also include a screening of a short film as a way of describing how he came to make Museum Hours. 
Moderator: The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Director of Digital Strategy, Eugene Hernandez.
 
FRUITVALE STATION
Director: Ryan Coogler
Remember the name Ryan Coogler. If all goes according to plan, you should be hearing it a lot. The winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival for his first feature, Fruitvale Station, Coogler is a former college football player who eventually embraced filmmaking. In the film, Coogler examines the tragic story of Oscar Grant, a victim of excessive police force in Coogler's own Oakland neighborhood. Charming and inspiring, Ryan Coogler is one of the most celebrated new filmmakers of the year. 
*Thursday, July 11: 6PM
Summer Talk with director Ryan Coogler. 
Moderator: The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Director of Digital Strategy, Eugene Hernandez.
 
CRYSTAL FAIRY
Director: Sebastián Silva
New York based Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Silva took his cast and crew on a fun ride when making Crystal Fairy, one of two feature films he had at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Produced by Pablo Larraín, director of last year's No (NYFF 50), Crystal Fairy is based on a real road trip from Silva's youth. Michael Cera stars as an American tourist who encounters a wanderer (played by Gaby Hoffman) during a Chilean vacation. The two of them, along with a group of locals (played by Silva's real-life brothers) embark on a journey in search of an elusive hallucinogen cactus that leads them to unexpected places.
*July: Specific date TBC 
Summer Talk with Sebastián Silva. 
 
AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS
Director: David Lowery
An exciting discovery at this year's Sundance Film Festival, David Lowery is no stranger within American indie circles. Not only did he write and direct the upcoming Ain't Them Bodies Saints, but he edited Shane Carruth's recent Upstream Color and co-wrote Yen Tan's Pit Stop. Lowery's Texas drama, Ain't Them Bodies Saints, stars Rooney Mara, Ben Foster and Casey Affleck in a story of outlaws set in Texas.
*August: Specific date TBC
Summer Talk with David Lowery.
 
DRINKING BUDDIES
Director: Joe Swanberg
Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) work together at a craft brewery. They have one of those friendships that feels like it could be something more. But Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston), and Luke is with Jill (Anna Kendrick). And Jill wants to know if Luke is ready to talk about marriage. The answer to that question becomes crystal clear when Luke and Kate unexpectedly find themselves alone for a weekend. Drinking Buddies is written and directed by Joe Swanberg and stars Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, and Ron Livingston.
*August: Specific date TBC
Summer Talk with Joe Swanberg.
 
 
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
Founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center works to recognize and support new directors, and to enhance the awareness, accessibility and understanding of film. Among its yearly programming of film festivals, film series and special events, the Film Society presents two film festivals in particular that annually attract global attention: the New York Film Festival which just celebrated its 50th edition, and New Directors/New Films which, since its founding in 1972, has been produced in collaboration with MoMA. The Film Society also publishes the award-winning Film Comment Magazine and a year-round calendar of programming, panels, lectures, educational and transmedia programs and specialty film releases at the famous Walter Reade Theater and the new state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. 
 
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Royal Bank of Canada, Jaeger-LeCoultre, American Airlines, The New York Times, Stonehenge Partners, Stella Artois, the National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com and follow #filmlinc on Twitter.

	Thursday May 2nd, 2013