Sundance 2006

"Half" still good

The end of Sundance brought 2 things: a huge snow storm and a small deal for the well-received and strong word-of-mouth Dramatic Competition film Half Nelson. ThinkFilm, which came to the festival with the Beastie Boys concert doc Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That, picked up the Worldwide rights to the Ryan Gosling and newcomer Shareeka Epps starrer on Sunday.  Gosling and Epps performances have received a tremendous amount of positive buzz since the film's first screening at Sundance earlier in the week.

Listen to Wim Wenders and Sam Sheppard

On the occasion of Don't Come Knocking screening in Sunadance? listen to Wim Wenders and Sam Sheppard in a centerpiece panel recorded at the 2006 Festival The panel was moderated by Screen International editor.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MP3 file.
A treat for your iPod or MP3 player.

What will happen to Movie Going

Movie theater audiences have steadily shrunk over the past 50 years. This brings a very important concern to the forefront: will movie theaters continue to exist among all the new media and technology? With so many different ways to distribute a film, it is a matter of sociology as to why one would want to go into a dark movie theater and experience a film with a group of strangers or even alone in the dark.
Several of these topics were addressed at a recent Sundance Film Festival panel I attended called “Going, Going, Gone? The Culture of Movie-going”. By Tiffany Peckosh

Surprise Winners At Sundance

Several surprise winners dominated the Sundance Film Festival Awards, which were presented to a packed house of enthusiastic filmmakers, professionals and audience members at a gala ceremony held on Saturday night at the Park City Racquet Club. The concluding awards ceremony and party bring to an end a 10-day film bonanza that drew nearly 40,000 visitors to the Festival.

Interview with Kirby Dick

Industry Editor Sandy Mandelberger sat down with veteran documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick, whose lastest film, THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED, is one of the most talked about at the Festival. The film is an eye-opening investigation into the secret works of the Motion Picture Association of America, the official ratings board for films that are released in theaters.

Interview With Rex Bloomstein

Industry Editor Sandy Mandelberger sat down with documentary director Rex Bloomstein, whose film KZ screened in competition in the World Documentary section. KZ tells the story of the notorious concentration camp Mathausen, but in a new light....focusing on the present day residents and tourists who visit the memorial. How the lessons of history are passed down (or forgotten) is at the heart of Bloomstein's film.

Slamdance Award Winners

The Slamdance Film Festival came to a close on Friday evening with the announcement of the Sparky Awards at the edgy nighclub Suede. Winners were announced in over 20 categories. Over $200,000 in prizes were awarded. Following the ceremony, revelers partied into the wee hours with celebrity DJ's Swamp, C-Minus and Tito Plenty ramping up the techno music.

D.B.‘s “Dirt Nap” Awakes Success in Park City

D. B. Sweeney unveiled his feature film, “Dirt Nap,” to industry executives and filmmakers in Park City this week. A story of 3 buddies roadtrippin’ through mishaps and moments of reckoning toward the big Bowl game,” Dirt Nap” marks D.B.‘s debut as Writer, Director and Producer.
In a packed theatre with standing room only, the January 23rd screening began when D. B. cracked open a beer as part of his opening remarks and culminated in actual explosions of fireworks just outside. 

Bus Talk (Not)

As a follow up to Jeremy Platt’s entertaining BUS TALK, listing the Top Ten overheard snippets of conversations on the packed Sundance bus shuttles, Industry Editor Sandy Mandelberger weighs in with a Top Ten list of his own, of things that would NEVER be heard on the same Festival buses.

Business Buzz 3

As most distributors headed home after 10 days of furious film watching, a few last minute deals were announced in the waning days of the Sundance Film Festival. Several more announcements will accompany the excitement surrounding the Awards Ceremony on Saturday. A prize may tip the interest in films that have yet gone unsold.