Michael Jones is Film Festivals Managing Editor at Variety.com, covering the film festival beat from opening to closing night. en-us http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339.html?nid=3611 Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:10:27 PST http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/_Lz_O-JR7qQ/80039808.html As many of you are aware, the grim economy finally came knocking yesterday, taking many journalists off the roster and shuttering <em>The Circuit</em>.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> It was a great run and I thank everyone for their support and sentiments.&nbsp; Your emails have been overwhelming and very mo... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/_Lz_O-JR7qQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/80039808.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/o4FLYkCbDOI/700039670.html <a href="http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/" target="_blank">Scott at Filmmaker Mag</a> tuned us into a cool trailer for <strong>Gary Hustwit</strong>'s new <strong>docu &quot;Objectified</strong>,&quot; making its preem at <strong>SXSW</strong>.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <object height="344" width="... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/o4FLYkCbDOI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/700039670.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/hJNpMUDI7pE/360039636.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090122/INTHE.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <strong>IFC Films </strong>has bought U.S. rights to <strong>Armando Iannucci</strong>'s comedy &quot;<strong>In the Loop</strong>&quot; hours before its preem at the <strong>Sundance Film Fes... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/hJNpMUDI7pE" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/360039636.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/bfuCfAM5VHU/190039619.html <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2009_you_me_and_vod/"><img hspace="5" vspace="5" border="2" align="right" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090122/Pierson_and_Swanberg_thumb.jpg" alt="" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR111... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/bfuCfAM5VHU" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/190039619.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/znwWHLGf3JE/50039605.html The last noteworthy fight out of <strong>Sundance</strong> can be read about in any book or magazine timeline that charts the fest's history.&nbsp; <strong>Harvey Weinstein</strong> came to blows with producer <strong>Jonathan Taplin</strong> over &quot;<strong>Shine</strong>.&quot;&nbsp; That fight... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/znwWHLGf3JE" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/50039605.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/9P7XIGoMHz4/1430039543.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090121/DSCN2465.jpg" alt="" /><br /> The sudden death of <strong>Heath Ledger</strong> became a where-were-you-then moment at last year's <strong>Sundance</strong>.&nbsp; No one could escape the news.&nbsp; Blackberries and iP... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/9P7XIGoMHz4" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1430039543.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/VnfPvr_TWeg/1070039507.html <strong>Lionsgate </strong>has picked up North American and U.K. rights to James Strouse's comedy &quot;<strong>The Winning Season</strong>&quot; starring <strong>Sam Rockwell</strong> after the pic's Monday night screening.... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/VnfPvr_TWeg" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1070039507.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/GZFV6h3jclI/930039493.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090120/DSCN5184.jpg" alt="" /><br /> At the <strong>San Francisco Film Society</strong> party, exec director <strong>Graham Leggatt</strong> with the Kenneth Raimin Foundation's <strong>Jen Raimin</strong>, and Creative Capita... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/GZFV6h3jclI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/930039493.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/XANvSjYjg2w/840039484.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090120/DSCN5185.jpg" alt="" /><br /> New Sundance sponsor, the <strong>Service Employees International Union</strong>, hosted an inauguration party at <strong>Zoom</strong> complete with Obama buttons, posters, and big screen ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/XANvSjYjg2w" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/840039484.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/3z1y95XnKbU/550039455.html <img hspace="10" border="2" vspace="10" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090119/humpday.jpg" /><br /> <strong>Magnolia Pictures </strong>has spent mid-six figures for worldwide rights to <strong>Lynn Shelton</strong>'s &quot;<strong>Humpday</strong>.&quot; The lo-fi buddy comedy attracted si... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/3z1y95XnKbU" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/550039455.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/LYnQdYLyysI/410039441.html <span>Director <strong>James Toback</strong> introduces <strong>Mike Tyson</strong> at a dinner for the documentary, &quot;<strong>Tyson</strong>,&quot; at the <strong>Sundance Film Festival</strong>.&nbsp; </span><br /> <br /> Clearly moved by the growing interest in the docu since its <strong>Ca... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/LYnQdYLyysI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/410039441.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/raguXNY5JHQ/260039426.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090119/DSCN5180.jpg" alt="" /><br /> The annual <strong>Variety 10 Directors to Watch</strong> party not only was a better and lower-key affair than the Stein Eriksen blowouts of yesteryear, it was evacuated by the fire depart... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/raguXNY5JHQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/260039426.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/GqFUIBI3Y0M/220039422.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090119/20090119_blackdynamite.jpg" /><br /> <strong>Scott Sanders</strong>' blaxploitation comedy &quot;<strong>Black Dynamite</strong>&quot; has sold North American righs to <strong>Sony Pictures Worldwide</strong> for... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/GqFUIBI3Y0M" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/220039422.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/P7xr3875w5o/210039421.html <strong><br /> </strong><img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090119/DSCN5181.jpg" /><br /> <strong>IFC Films</strong> and the <strong>SXSW Film Festival</strong> will simultaneously world preem <strong>Joe Swamberg</strong>'s &quot;<strong>Alexander the L... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/P7xr3875w5o" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/210039421.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/agXvPXbUxR8/90039409.html <img vspace="5" hspace="5" border="2" align="right" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090119/ActorsEwa_Georg_56527651_400.jpg" />&quot;It was a dream come true,&quot; said <strong>Jim Carrey</strong>, when asked what it was like to kiss <strong>Ewan McGregor</strong>. &quot;I mean, just look a... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/agXvPXbUxR8" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/90039409.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/BH9nDvtlCO0/1860039386.html <p align="center"><img hspace="10" border="2" vspace="10" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090118/DSCN5172.jpg" alt="" /></p> <br /> <strong>&quot;Over the Hills and Far Away&quot;</strong> is a competition documentary about <strong>Rupert Isaacson</strong> (left) and his quest to find a cure for ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/BH9nDvtlCO0" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1860039386.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/MIr6h-EbOOI/1810039381.html <img vspace="5" hspace="5" align="right" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090117/brooklynsfinest_1.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Senator Distribution</strong> has nabbed North American rights to <strong>Antoine Fuqua</strong>'s cop drama &quot;<strong>Brooklyn's Finest</strong>,&quot; twenty-four hours afte... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/MIr6h-EbOOI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1810039381.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/UhruQkT5OHg/1770039377.html <span lang="EN"> <p><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><img width="400" vspace="10" hspace="10" height="338" border="0" src="http://www.variety.com/articles/blog/1390000339/20090117/september_wintour_cutler.jpg" alt="" /><br /> </span></span>Thoughout the Q&amp;A following &quot;<strong>The September... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/UhruQkT5OHg" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1770039377.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/gRVktLqpKkk/1760039376.html <span lang="EN"> <p><img height="159" hspace="10" width="125" align="left" vspace="10" alt="" src="http://www.variety.com/articles/blog/1390000339/20090117/fuqua_antoine.jpg" />Perhaps answering the fallout from last night's poor buyer reception to &quot;Brooklyn's Finest,&quot; there are reports o... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/gRVktLqpKkk" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1760039376.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/3Oq5ISM-yTw/1740039374.html After yesterday's noon screening, four buyers&nbsp;&quot;actively engaged&quot; in talks for&nbsp;<strong>Lynn Shelton</strong>'s &quot;<strong>Humpday</strong>,&quot; with a former offer coming this morning as negotiations begin.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> After Lee Daniel's &quot;<strong>Push</strong>&q... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/3Oq5ISM-yTw" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1740039374.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/frmHrTLGgns/1720039372.html Audience reaction is why many distribs are here.&nbsp; This year more than ever has shown that many Sundance pics have already screened for buyers -- either as rough cuts, select scenes, or multi generation screeners.&nbsp; Today proved that that practice can have wildly different results.<br /> <b... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/frmHrTLGgns" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1720039372.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/3o7FSV8dQGM/1370039337.html Dade Hayes reports today&nbsp;that B-Side has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&amp;jump=story&amp;id=2470&amp;articleid=VR1117998674&amp;cs=1">a bunch of money to distribute films</a>:<br /> <br /> <blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px"> <p>B-Sid... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/3o7FSV8dQGM" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1370039337.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/GVcgsYqBy6Q/1530039353.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090116/SEPTE.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <strong>Wild Bunch</strong> has taken on international sales duties for <strong>R.J. Cutler</strong>'s &quot;<strong>The September Issue</strong>,&quot; a docu on <strong>Anna Wintour</strong>... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/GVcgsYqBy6Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1530039353.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/RX75PLvXGw4/1140039314.html <img hspace="10" height="284" width="400" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090115/LRProd_Fred_56495517_400.jpg" alt="" /><br /> &quot;I chose this film because it's great,&quot; said <strong>Geoff Gilmore </strong>before introducing writer/director <strong>Adam Elliot </stron... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/RX75PLvXGw4" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1140039314.html?nid=3611 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/6Vc9TAZUk0Y/1080039308.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20090115/SundanceF_Georg_56494058_400.jpg" /><br /> Are <strong>Sundance</strong>'s Mideast plans on shaky ground?&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Just after <a target="_blank" href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998407.html... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/6Vc9TAZUk0Y" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1080039308.html?nid=3611