LFS News:

Karim Bensalah selected for Sundance Directors Lab

2012-05-10T10:33:00.000Z

LFS Graduate Karim Bensalah has been selected for the prestigious Sundance Institute Directors Lab, following his participation in the Screenwriters Lab last year. Press release below.

Sundance Institute Selects 13 Projects for 2012 June Directors and Screenwriters Labs

Posted May 8, 2012

Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the 13 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 28 through June 28. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Institute’s Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year's program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Italy, Romania, Australia, Algeria, France, Chile and the UK.
Directors Lab Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors, professional actors and production crews to shoot and edit key scenes from their screenplays. Through this intense, hands-on process, the Fellows workshop their scripts, collaborate with actors and find a visual storytelling language for their films in an environment where experimentation and risk-taking is encouraged. Fellows also join in the week-long Screenwriters Lab with five additional projects to participate in individualized story sessions under the guidance of established screenwriters.
Projects supported through the Directors or Screenwriters Labs receive continued tailored support from the Feature Film Program, which can include ongoing creative and strategic advice, significant production and postproduction resources, a Screenplay Reading Series, a Work in Progress Screening Initiative and direct financial support through project-specific grants and artist fellowships.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “For independent artists in particular, it can be challenging to receive specialized support and encouragement. As our offerings for artists continue to grow our hope is that filmmakers have added incentive to remain true to their visions throughout the creative process.”
Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Feature Film Program, said, “Our Directors and Screenwriters Labs are a creative hotbed for innovation and collaboration, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with emerging artists on the leading edge of independent filmmaking. We look forward to helping their unique visions unfold in the inspired setting of the Utah mountains, as we have done for more than three decades.”
Gyula Gazdag returns as the Artistic Director for the Directors Lab. This year’s Creative Advisors for the Directors and Screenwriters Labs include Gregg Araki, Michael Arndt, Andrea Arnold, John August, Ramin Bahrani, Walter Bernstein, Mark Boal, Scott Z. Burns, Sebastian Cordero, Joan Darling, Caleb Deschanel, Suzy Elmiger, Robert Elswit, Billy Goldenberg, Deena Goldstone, Affonso Gonçalves, Ed Harris, Michael Hoffman, Azazel Jacobs, Christine Lahti, Kasi Lemmons, Peter Medak, John Cameron Mitchell, Walter Mosley, Jessie Nelson, Jeff Nichols, Robert Redford, Jennifer Salt, Susan Shilliday, Stewart Stern, Wesley Strick, Joan Tewkesbury, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Bill Wheeler, Tyger Williams and Doug Wright.

Karim Bensalah (writer/director) / Red Olive Tree (Algeria/France): Plagued by divided loyalties following the French-Algerian war, the recently deceased Ahmed miraculously arises to lead his bickering French family to his homeland, in a mysterious trip where they grapple with the consequences of the choices he made in life and allow him to find peace in death.
Karim Bensalah was born in Algeria. After spending his childhood in Algeria, Brazil, Haiti and Senegal, he went to study social sciences and philosophy in France. He next attended the London Film School. Bensalah directed the short Fatima’s Secret, then a segment of the feature film Paris La Métisse along with 15 other young directors. He has also directed the short films Chibanis and Construction(s) with the group Collectif Tribudom, and works as an actor in films and theatre.

Click here for more info.

Farewell to Fernando Lopes

2012-05-03T11:19:00.002Z

Farewell to Fernando Lopes

by Vitor Pinto, Cineeuropa

02/05/2012 - Fernando Lopes, one of the leading directors in Portuguese New Cinema, died today in Lisbon aged 76.
Fernando Lopes’ career started in 1961 with As Pedras e o Tempo. After studying at the London Film School, he returned to Portugal, where he directed the documentary Belarmino (1964) about boxer Belarmino Fragoso, a film today considered to be one of his best and a reference in Portuguese New Cinema. During the next decades he continued to make important films within the national film scene, like the critically acclaimed A Bee in the Rain (1972), Nós Por Cá Todos Bem (1976), Crónica dos Bons Malandros (1983), Matar Saudades (1988), and On the Edge of the Horizon (1993). In 1998, he worked with Pina Bausch on Lissabon Wuppertal Lisboa, a documentary about Masurca Fogo, a show the German choreographer conceived in the Portuguese capital.
In the 21st century, Lopes continued filming, with the support of producer Paulo Branco, and co-wrote a couple of his films with film critic João Lopes. The Dolphin (2002), and Lá Fora (2006), both starring Alexandra Lencastre and Rogério Samora, are some of his best films towards the end of his life. In 2009, he shot Os sorrisos do destino, and this March he released what would would be his last film, Em cámara lenta.
In 2008, the Fantasporto Film Festival awarded him a Special Award in recognition for his career as a filmmaker.

Magnus Martens' JACKPOT at Tribeca Film Festival

2012-05-03T10:21:00.002Z

Magnus Martens, 1996 graduate, recently premiered his feature JACKPOT at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Norwegian Film Institute news

Norwegian Jackpot for Tribeca – the Nesbø book he never wrote

Norwegian director Magnus Martens’ Jackpot selected for the Cinemania section at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival between 18-29 April.

Based on a story by Norwegian Headhunters author Jo Nesbø, Norwegian director Magnus Martens’ Jackpot (Arme Riddere) has been selected for the Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place in New York between 18-29 April. The action-comedy will screen in the festivals Cinemania section, which should ”tempt audience to experience the most exciting genre films from all corners of the globe.”
"With Cinemania, our selections demonstrate the imagination and resourcefulness of filmmakers from around the world who push the boundaries of genre in order to entertain, thrill, and engage", said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic Director of the Tribeca Film Festival.

A hell of a shoot-out

Nesbø had not written the story, when he pitched it to the director – but Martens liked the outline, so I went home and started putting it down - finally a project where I could include things I had not seen on films but really wanted to, such as a hell of a shoot-out in a porn shop, he recalled. Martens composed the screenplay.

Produced by Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm for Fantefilm Fiksjon, otherwise credited for the Cold Prey/Fritt vilt franchise and upcoming Escape, Jackpot was launched at the Nordic Market in Gothenburg and the European Film Market during the recent Berlin International Film Festival, where Denmark’s TrustNordisk sold it to the UK (Metrodome) and Germany (NFP), later adding Poland (Vivarto) and Estonia (Estin Film).

Eight dead bodies

Starring Mads Ousdal, Kyrre Hellum, Arthur Berning and Andreas Cappelen, the film tells the story of four scruffy ex-criminals living in nowhere land between Norway and Sweden. They are also gamblers who never win – until they take a NOK 1,739,361 jackpot, which you cannot divide between four. Eventually one of them is found by the police with eight dead bodies.

Last year Tribeca awarded Norwegian director Jannicke Systad Jacobsen’s Turn Me On, Goddammit (Få meg på, for faen), the $5,000 first prize for Best Script in the World Narrative Competition. Founded and headed by US actor Robert De Niro, the festival will screen 250 films from all over the world.

Read an interview here.

Check out Martens' website at http://magnusmartens.com/

PIGGY, feature debut of Kieron Hawkes in cinemas May 4

2012-04-23T12:08:00.001Z

PIGGY, the feature debut of 2003 MA filmmaking graduate Kieron Hawkes opens in cinemas on 4th May. The cinematographer James Friend is also an LFS graduate.

Sweet Sixteen star Martin Compston is Joe, an ordinary, mild-mannered lad who is bored with his life in London.But he gets an unwelcome taste of drama when his beloved brother John, played by Neil Maskell, is murdered. At the height of his anger over the killing he meets the mysterious Piggy, who offers him friendship and the chance for revenge. But Piggy’s violent vengeance soon spirals out of control.

Paul Anderson plays Piggy and Ed Skrein, soon to be seen in Plan B’s movie iLL Manors, is thug Jamie.

"With an electrifying performance from Paul Anderson in the title role, PIGGY signals the arrival of director Kieron Hawkes as a major new force in gritty British cinema". Front Row

View the trailer here

LFS partners with ENO on Mini Operas

2012-04-19T22:27:00.003Z

PRESS RELEASE
ENO announces Mini Operas: A Worldwide Online Talent Search to Inspire People to Create Opera
ENO announces Mini Operas, a world-wide, online search for composers, writers and film
makers that will seek out emerging opera talent of the future from across the world. Three
competitions to find future stars of all the components of creating an opera will be launched
online allowing everyone to submit entries for one or more categories.
Live from 26 March 2012, this groundbreaking and innovative worldwide search for new
talent will seek to create the future of opera. The hunt for exciting visionaries will take place
entirely online in conjunction with Mini Operas partners: Vimeo, Soundcloud, BFI, British
Council, Classic FM, Sound and Music and The London Film School.
The competition will run in three rounds dedicated to each discipline with renowned talent
judging the entries. Artists with strong connections to ENO; Will Self, Terry Gilliam and Nico
Muhly, will judge submissions for each relevant category. One participant will provide
inspiration for the next as each round will be activated by ten final entries from the previous
stage.
Existing and budding writers will be invited to create a script based on three example story
lines, provided by Will Self, AL Kennedy and Neil Gaiman. Later in the year, the ten
scriptwriter finalists will be put forward and composers will have the opportunity to compose
an original score to these unique stories. From here, ten composer finalists will be picked by
composer Nico Muhly and ENO Music Director Edward Gardner. The competition will then
open up for film makers to construct their vision for the complete Mini Opera. The film
section will be judged by film legend and director of ENO’s The Damnation of Faust, Terry
Gilliam.
Terry Gilliam said, ‘Opera is really, really hard to do well. I know. I want people to find it out
for themselves. I’ll be judging, and I want to find future stars who can work with this
ridiculous, stupefying, insane, wonderful artform. Good on ENO for trying to find anyone mad
enough to have a go.’
The finale to the contest will take place at the BFI, in autumn 2012. Terry Gilliam will pick
one winner from each category. Selected films, scripts and soundtracks will be showcased at
the event, and one person from each category will be chosen to be mentored by leaders in
their field: BAFTA Award winning composer, writer and director Jeremy Sams, who has
worked extensively in theatre both in the UK and New York and whose credits include Chitty
The Musical, Amour, and The Water Babies; Composer Nico Muhly, whose opera Two Boys
was premiered at ENO last year; and Leo Warner, whose productions include Waves and
War Horse at the National Theatre and who has also produced work for the National Theatre
of Scotland and the Metropolitan Opera.

www.minioperas.org

Kemal Akhtar's MANDELA'S CHILDREN at Brighton Film Festival

2012-04-19T19:57:00.000Z

Mandela's Children, co-directed and co-produced by LFS graduate Kemal Akhtar, screens at Brighton Film Festival with a special panel discussion. Other alumni involved in the film were Charles C.Meyer, Ralph Messer and Henrik Norrthon'

Book tickets at http://brightonfestival.org/event/662/mandelas_children/

Sun 6 May

Mandela’s Children

Film screening and panel discussion

Kweku Mandela film producer, grandson
Ndaba Mandela music producer, grandson
Kemal Akhtar director
Dame Janet Suzman actress
Kathi Scott CEO, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
David Westhead film producer
Mandela’s Children is a much anticipated new screen portrait of one of the great icons of the last century as seen through the eyes of his grandchildren. The documentary will have its worldwide theatrical release later this year. But for one night only the producers are offering Brighton Festival audiences a first chance to view and discuss selected highlights straight from the cutting room. A panel of speakers including two of Mandela’s grandchildren, the directors and producers, and Academy Award nominee Janet Suzman will discuss the film’s unique take on a well-documented subject, looking beyond Mandela as freedom-fighter and statesman to wider themes of family, inheritance and forgiveness.

LFS/Time Out Live event with Mike Leigh & Lesley Manville on 25 April almost sold out

2012-04-19T19:26:00.000Z

Book now for our inaugural LFS/Time Out Live event. Tickets are selling fast.

LFS/Time Out present London Film Society Live

Mike Leigh and Lesley Manville "On Screen Acting"

London Film School and Time Out launch a new series of monthly events LONDON FILM SOCIETY LIVE, kicking off with Mike Leigh and Lesley Manville 'On Screen Acting' at Regent Street Cinema, the birthplace of British film.

Wednesday 25th April 7.30pm Regent Street Cinema, 309 Regent Street, London, W1B2UW

Writer-Director Mike Leigh and actress Lesley Manville have collaborated ten times, most recently on the Oscar-nominated 'Another Year' and on Mike's play 'Grief' at the National Theatre. Drawing on their joint and separate experiences, they will discuss film acting in all its aspects, as well as considering screen performance in the wider film context.

For more info and to book tickets click here

London Film Society members receive complimentary tickets for this event, as well as many other benefits. For information about the London Film Society click here

Oliver Hermanus's BEAUTY and Ryan Andrews' ELFIE HOPKINS open in UK cinemas this week

2012-04-19T19:21:00.000Z

There are features by two LFS grads opening in cinemas this week -

BEAUTY directed by Oliver Hermanus.

BBC Interview with Oliver http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00qjmk8

"Beauty is an impressively directed, superbly written and powerfully acted drama that's by turns haunting, shocking and ultimately heartbreaking. Highly recommended"

Read the full review at http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/beauty-film-review-42984.html -

ELFIE HOPKINS directed by Ryan Andrews, starring Ray and Jaime Winstone
Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/ElfieHopkins

Ann Hui's A SIMPLE LIFE wins five top prizes at Hong Kong Film Awards

2012-04-16T14:10:00.001Z

LFS graduate Ann Hui won five of the top prizes at the Hong Kong Film Awards. With this win, Ann Hui became the No.1 director in Hong Kong Film Awards history. She has received four best director gongs – previous three awards went to her "Boat People" (1982), "Summer Snow" (1994) and "The Way We Are" (2008). "A Simple Life" was also her fourth best film awards, the previous three being "Boat People" (1982), "Summer Snow" (1994) and "Ordinary Heroes" (1998).

From Screendaily..

A Simple Life sweeps Hong Kong Film Awards

16 April, 2012 |

Ann Hui’s A Simple Life continued its awards run at the Hong Kong Film Awards last night (April 15), scooping five of the top prizes including best film, best director, best actor and best actress for Deanie Ip.

Ip’s portrayal of a domestic servant who moves into a nursing home after suffering a stroke has already garnered best actress awards at the Venice Film Festival, Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards and the Asian Film Awards, which took place in Hong Kong last month.
Andy Lau picked up best actor for his portrayal of a film accountant who continues his friendship with Ip’s character after she stops working for him and moves into the nursing home. Lau’s Focus Films invested in A Simple Life alongside China’s Bona Film Group. The film also took the best screenplay award for Susan Chan’s script, based on Hong Kong producer Roger Lee’s real-life experiences.

George Siougas's feature TO GALA (Burning Heads) has been nominated for eleven awards by the Hellenic Film Academy

2012-04-16T13:21:00.000Z

George Siougas's feature TO GALA (aka "Burning Heads") has been nominated for an amazing number of awards by the Hellenic Film Academy - 11 in total. The ceremony will take place in Athens on the 7th of May 2012.

Best Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Editing
Best Sound Recording
Best Cinematography
Best Make-up
Best Production Design

http://www.odeon.gr/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=489%3Atogala&catid=24%3Acinenews&Itemid=99&lang=el