Adam Elliot’s animated feature Memoir Of A Snail featuring Sarah Snook in its voice cast has sealed deals for key international territories, ahead of its world premiere at Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week, for Anton and Charades.
The film has sold to Benelux (Bantam), Spain (Madfer), Switzerland (Pathe), Austria (Polyfilm), Denmark (Angel Film), Norway (Arthaus), Iceland (Bio Paradis), Sweden and remaining Scandinavian territories (Folkets Bio), Taiwan (Hooray Films), Cis (Magic Films), Israel (Lev Cinema), Turkey (Bir Film), Adriatics (McF Megacom), Thailand (Sahamongkol), India (Pictureworks) and airlines (Aardwolf).
Anton and Charades are co-representing sales on the stop-motion feature,...
The film has sold to Benelux (Bantam), Spain (Madfer), Switzerland (Pathe), Austria (Polyfilm), Denmark (Angel Film), Norway (Arthaus), Iceland (Bio Paradis), Sweden and remaining Scandinavian territories (Folkets Bio), Taiwan (Hooray Films), Cis (Magic Films), Israel (Lev Cinema), Turkey (Bir Film), Adriatics (McF Megacom), Thailand (Sahamongkol), India (Pictureworks) and airlines (Aardwolf).
Anton and Charades are co-representing sales on the stop-motion feature,...
- 6/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
Writer-director S. Craig Zahler (“Bone Tomahawk”) is set to reunite with his “Dragged Across Concrete” and “Brawl in Cell Block 99” star Vince Vaughn and Oscar winner Adrien Brody (“The Pianist”) for upcoming crime thriller “The Bookie & the Bruiser.”
Anton will introduce the film to international distributors at the upcoming Marche du Film in Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Media Partners arranged the financing and will be representing the North American distribution rights.
Set in 1959 New York, “The Bookie & the Bruiser” follows a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo from the Lower East Side, both of whom served overseas during WWII and returned changed men who no longer fit inside the lives they’d left behind. Uninterested in taking orders from bosses or playing by the rules of polite society, the two friends partner up as a bookmaker and an enforcer and...
Anton will introduce the film to international distributors at the upcoming Marche du Film in Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Media Partners arranged the financing and will be representing the North American distribution rights.
Set in 1959 New York, “The Bookie & the Bruiser” follows a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo from the Lower East Side, both of whom served overseas during WWII and returned changed men who no longer fit inside the lives they’d left behind. Uninterested in taking orders from bosses or playing by the rules of polite society, the two friends partner up as a bookmaker and an enforcer and...
- 5/8/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The in-demand Sarah Snook has boarded Oscar-winning Australian director Adam Elliot’s upcoming stop-motion drama Memoir of a Snail as the lead voice and narrator.
Snook will voice the feature animation’s protagonist Grace Puddle, a lonely misfit who hoards ornamental snails and is addicted to romance novels.
Paris-based sales and production company Charades and London-based production and financing studio Anton, which announced last Cannes that they were co-selling the movie, have released a fresh image for the production in the lead-up to the EFM where they will show a new promo.
Memoir of a Snail (c) Arenamedia
News of Snook’s casting comes as the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Succession star sets forth on a 14-week run of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray at London’s Theatre Royal in which she plays all 26 characters.
Memoir of a Snail marks Snook’s first lead voice role in a feature animation.
Snook will voice the feature animation’s protagonist Grace Puddle, a lonely misfit who hoards ornamental snails and is addicted to romance novels.
Paris-based sales and production company Charades and London-based production and financing studio Anton, which announced last Cannes that they were co-selling the movie, have released a fresh image for the production in the lead-up to the EFM where they will show a new promo.
Memoir of a Snail (c) Arenamedia
News of Snook’s casting comes as the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Succession star sets forth on a 14-week run of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray at London’s Theatre Royal in which she plays all 26 characters.
Memoir of a Snail marks Snook’s first lead voice role in a feature animation.
- 2/9/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Paris-based sales and production company Charades and London-based production and financing studio Anton are partnering on the worldwide sales of Oscar-winning Australian director Adam Elliot’s upcoming stop-motion drama Memoir Of A Snail.
The poignant tale of a young lonely misfit is the second feature after the award-winning 2019 animation Mary And Max for Elliot, who won an Oscar for the 2004 short Harvey Krumpet.
The partners have unveiled a first image as well as some first members of international voice cast featuring Jacki Weaver (Yellowstone), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis), Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, and Eric Bana (The Dry).
The lead cast has yet to be announced.
The animated feature is produced by Arenamedia, with Liz Kearney (Paper Planes) as producer, and Robert Connolly (The Dry) and Robert Patterson as Executive Producers.
The film is currently shooting in Melbourne, Australia, with an expected release date...
The poignant tale of a young lonely misfit is the second feature after the award-winning 2019 animation Mary And Max for Elliot, who won an Oscar for the 2004 short Harvey Krumpet.
The partners have unveiled a first image as well as some first members of international voice cast featuring Jacki Weaver (Yellowstone), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis), Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, and Eric Bana (The Dry).
The lead cast has yet to be announced.
The animated feature is produced by Arenamedia, with Liz Kearney (Paper Planes) as producer, and Robert Connolly (The Dry) and Robert Patterson as Executive Producers.
The film is currently shooting in Melbourne, Australia, with an expected release date...
- 5/4/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Australian satirist Barry Humphries, known for his onstage and TV drag persona Edna Everage and for his character Sir Les Patterson, has died. He was 89.
The BBC reported that Humphries had been in hospital in Sydney, Australia, and had been suffering from complications following surgery in March.
“A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following the news of Humphries’ death.
“Rip Barry Humphries – one of the greatest ever Australians – and a comic genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, to say the otherwise unsayable. Also an infallibly brilliant Spectator contributor. What a loss,” said former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Twitter.
Rip Barry Humphries – one of the greatest ever Australians – and a comic genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson,...
The BBC reported that Humphries had been in hospital in Sydney, Australia, and had been suffering from complications following surgery in March.
“A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following the news of Humphries’ death.
“Rip Barry Humphries – one of the greatest ever Australians – and a comic genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, to say the otherwise unsayable. Also an infallibly brilliant Spectator contributor. What a loss,” said former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Twitter.
Rip Barry Humphries – one of the greatest ever Australians – and a comic genius who used his exuberant alter egos, Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson,...
- 4/22/2023
- by Carmel Dagan and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to Animation Celebration, a recurring feature where we explore the limitless possibilities of animation as a medium. In this edition: "Mary & Max.")
The internet allows us the ability to connect with people in ways that were previously unthinkable, and while it is still ridiculously difficult to make a true, human connection, the lack of geographical or physical barriers has certainly made it a heck of a lot easier. Social media has given us the opportunity to "reach out and touch" people from opposite ends of the globe, which for many people, can be the difference between life and death. Sometimes I find myself absorbed by the existential worry of how marginalized, disabled, or isolated individuals found community before the advent of the internet. Did they ever feel seen? Did they ever feel like someone else truly understood them for who they are? Did they ever know that they weren't alone in the world?...
The internet allows us the ability to connect with people in ways that were previously unthinkable, and while it is still ridiculously difficult to make a true, human connection, the lack of geographical or physical barriers has certainly made it a heck of a lot easier. Social media has given us the opportunity to "reach out and touch" people from opposite ends of the globe, which for many people, can be the difference between life and death. Sometimes I find myself absorbed by the existential worry of how marginalized, disabled, or isolated individuals found community before the advent of the internet. Did they ever feel seen? Did they ever feel like someone else truly understood them for who they are? Did they ever know that they weren't alone in the world?...
- 2/22/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The validity of animation as a medium is one that's repeatedly been called into question for all the wrong reasons. From recent comments by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, it's clear that some high-level authorities in the industry have an archaic way of looking at animation. The beautiful medium of animation has led to plenty of powerful and moving stories for all ages, and the ability artists and storytellers have to push the limits of storytelling that conventional live-action stories cannot make animated projects that much more potent.
From the works of acclaimed filmmaker Satoshi Kon to stop-motion animated projects like Adam Elliot's Mary and Max and Guillermo del Toro's upcoming adaptation of "Pinocchio," it's clear that animation should not be overlooked. However, Andrew Stanton, director of Pixar films like "Finding Nemo" and "Wall-e," believes that the medium is sorely underestimated in its potential to tell stories that resonate with viewers of all ages.
From the works of acclaimed filmmaker Satoshi Kon to stop-motion animated projects like Adam Elliot's Mary and Max and Guillermo del Toro's upcoming adaptation of "Pinocchio," it's clear that animation should not be overlooked. However, Andrew Stanton, director of Pixar films like "Finding Nemo" and "Wall-e," believes that the medium is sorely underestimated in its potential to tell stories that resonate with viewers of all ages.
- 11/8/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Art-House Animation
If your eyes are tired of the latest cookie-cutter animation from the Hollywood mill, Criterion is featuring quite a line-up of inventive arthouse offerings in the field. With works by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more, the series includes The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1962), Belladonna of Sadness (1973), Fantastic Planet (1973), Watership Down (1978), Son of the White Mare (1981), Alice (1988), Millennium Actress (2001), Mind Game (2004), Paprika (2006), Persepolis (2007), Waltz with Bashir (2008), Mary and Max (2009), It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012), Tower (2016), The Wolf House (2018), No. 7 Cherry Lane (2019), and more.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Neo-Noir
One of the greatest series to arrive on the Criterion Channel thus far is this selection of neo-noir offerings, including Brian De Palma’s masterpieces Blow Out and Body Double,...
Art-House Animation
If your eyes are tired of the latest cookie-cutter animation from the Hollywood mill, Criterion is featuring quite a line-up of inventive arthouse offerings in the field. With works by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more, the series includes The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1962), Belladonna of Sadness (1973), Fantastic Planet (1973), Watership Down (1978), Son of the White Mare (1981), Alice (1988), Millennium Actress (2001), Mind Game (2004), Paprika (2006), Persepolis (2007), Waltz with Bashir (2008), Mary and Max (2009), It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012), Tower (2016), The Wolf House (2018), No. 7 Cherry Lane (2019), and more.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Neo-Noir
One of the greatest series to arrive on the Criterion Channel thus far is this selection of neo-noir offerings, including Brian De Palma’s masterpieces Blow Out and Body Double,...
- 7/2/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Criterion Channel’s July 2021 Lineup Includes Wong Kar Wai, Neo-Noir, Art-House Animation & More
The July lineup at The Criterion Channel has been revealed, most notably featuring the new Wong Kar Wai restorations from the recent box set release, including As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, 2046, and his shorts Hua yang de nian hua and The Hand.
Also among the lineup is a series on neo-noir with Body Double, Manhunter, Thief, The Last Seduction, Cutter’s Way, Brick, Night Moves, The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, and more. The channel will also feature a spotlight on art-house animation with work by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more.
With Jodie Mack’s delightful The Grand Bizarre, the landmark doc Hoop Dreams, Orson Welles’ take on Othello, the recent Oscar entries Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time and You Will Die at Twenty, and much more,...
Also among the lineup is a series on neo-noir with Body Double, Manhunter, Thief, The Last Seduction, Cutter’s Way, Brick, Night Moves, The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, and more. The channel will also feature a spotlight on art-house animation with work by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more.
With Jodie Mack’s delightful The Grand Bizarre, the landmark doc Hoop Dreams, Orson Welles’ take on Othello, the recent Oscar entries Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time and You Will Die at Twenty, and much more,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
(L-r) Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell, John Polson (Photo credit: Shutterstock)
Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell and John Polson have joined the cast of Robert Connolly’s The Dry, the crime thriller which is now shooting in Victoria.
Adapted by Connolly and Harry Cripps from the Jane Harper novel, the film stars Eric Bana as Aaron Falk, a federal cop who returns to his country hometown to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Luke.
The local cops believe Luke killed his wife and child before taking his own life. Falk reluctantly agrees to look into the crime but the investigation opens an old wound — the death of Ellie Deacon, Aaron and Luke’s childhood friend.
When he starts to suspect these two crimes, two decades apart, are connected, he finds himself pitted against the prejudice and pent-up rage of a terrified community.
Irish-born O’Reilly, who plays Falk’s childhood friend Gretchen,...
Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell and John Polson have joined the cast of Robert Connolly’s The Dry, the crime thriller which is now shooting in Victoria.
Adapted by Connolly and Harry Cripps from the Jane Harper novel, the film stars Eric Bana as Aaron Falk, a federal cop who returns to his country hometown to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Luke.
The local cops believe Luke killed his wife and child before taking his own life. Falk reluctantly agrees to look into the crime but the investigation opens an old wound — the death of Ellie Deacon, Aaron and Luke’s childhood friend.
When he starts to suspect these two crimes, two decades apart, are connected, he finds himself pitted against the prejudice and pent-up rage of a terrified community.
Irish-born O’Reilly, who plays Falk’s childhood friend Gretchen,...
- 3/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Eric Bana and Robert Connolly. (Photo: Rebecca Bana)
Eleven years since they first collaborated on Romulus, My Father, Eric Bana and Robert Connolly are teaming up again for The Dry, the feature film adaptation of Jane Harper’s bestselling novel.
Bana will play Aaron Falk, a federal cop who returns to his drought-ravaged hometown after an absence of 20 years to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Luke, whom the local police believe killed his wife and child before taking his own life.
Falk reluctantly agrees to investigate the crime to determine whether it was more than a murder-suicide, which opens an old wound — the death of teenager Ellie Deacon, who was a friend of Falk and Luke.
He begins to suspect these two crimes are connected but as he struggles to prove Luke’s innocence and his own he faces the community’s prejudice and pent-up rage.
Connolly co-wrote...
Eleven years since they first collaborated on Romulus, My Father, Eric Bana and Robert Connolly are teaming up again for The Dry, the feature film adaptation of Jane Harper’s bestselling novel.
Bana will play Aaron Falk, a federal cop who returns to his drought-ravaged hometown after an absence of 20 years to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Luke, whom the local police believe killed his wife and child before taking his own life.
Falk reluctantly agrees to investigate the crime to determine whether it was more than a murder-suicide, which opens an old wound — the death of teenager Ellie Deacon, who was a friend of Falk and Luke.
He begins to suspect these two crimes are connected but as he struggles to prove Luke’s innocence and his own he faces the community’s prejudice and pent-up rage.
Connolly co-wrote...
- 11/29/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
You may remember Chris Massey from his role as Michael Barret from the popular teen’s show “Zoey 101.”He was a favorite on the Nickelodeon TV series. Chris also appeared in the series “That’s So Raven” in 2004, “Everybody Hates Chris” (2006), “Mary and Max” (2009) and other TV series appearances. He went on to develop his career in music as a songwriter and rapper. He has had some interesting developments recently. His life has been anything but calm. Here are five things that you may not know about Chris Massey. 1. He has a daughter Chris has a two year
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Chris Massey...
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Chris Massey...
- 8/16/2017
- by Dana Hanson-Firestone
- TVovermind.com
Indie feature Choir Girl is set to go into production in early April on location around Melbourne..
The film marks the debut of writer-director Michael Wormald, a former editor who directed shorts.The Death and Life of John Vaughan in 2008 and Legacy in 2014.
Choir Girl is a drama set in the 90s about a lonely photographer, Eugene, who becomes obsessed with a fifteen year-old girl who is trapped in the illegal sex trade.
The film, to be shot entirely in black-and-white, is produced by Ivan Malekin of Nexus Production Group and Lucinda Bruce. Daniela Ercoli is the associate producer.
Cast includes Roger Ward (Mad Max), Peter Flaherty (The Leftovers), Krista Vendy (Neighbours), Andy McPhee (Ali.s Wedding), Kym Valentine (Neighbours) and Vca grad Sarah Timm.
Budget is around half a million, with shooting to take place over 24 days, including a stint at Docklands Studios.
Bridget Borgobello is the casting director...
The film marks the debut of writer-director Michael Wormald, a former editor who directed shorts.The Death and Life of John Vaughan in 2008 and Legacy in 2014.
Choir Girl is a drama set in the 90s about a lonely photographer, Eugene, who becomes obsessed with a fifteen year-old girl who is trapped in the illegal sex trade.
The film, to be shot entirely in black-and-white, is produced by Ivan Malekin of Nexus Production Group and Lucinda Bruce. Daniela Ercoli is the associate producer.
Cast includes Roger Ward (Mad Max), Peter Flaherty (The Leftovers), Krista Vendy (Neighbours), Andy McPhee (Ali.s Wedding), Kym Valentine (Neighbours) and Vca grad Sarah Timm.
Budget is around half a million, with shooting to take place over 24 days, including a stint at Docklands Studios.
Bridget Borgobello is the casting director...
- 3/20/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Sean Wilson Sep 16, 2016
With Kubo & The Two Strings now playing, we salute some of our favourite stop motion animated movies...
With Laika's visually sumptuous and breathtaking stop motion masterpiece Kubo And The Two Strings dazzling audiences throughout the country, what better time to celebrate this singular and remarkable art form?
The effect is created when an on-screen character or object is carefully manipulated one frame at a time, leading to an illusion of movement during playback - and such fiendishly intricate work, which takes years of dedication, deserves to be honoured. Here are the greatest examples of stop motion movie mastery.
The Humpty Dumpty Circus (1898)
What defines the elusive appeal of stop motion? Surely a great deal of it is down to the blend of the recognisable and the uncanny: an simulation of recognisably human movement that still has a touch of the fantastical about it. These contradictions were put...
With Kubo & The Two Strings now playing, we salute some of our favourite stop motion animated movies...
With Laika's visually sumptuous and breathtaking stop motion masterpiece Kubo And The Two Strings dazzling audiences throughout the country, what better time to celebrate this singular and remarkable art form?
The effect is created when an on-screen character or object is carefully manipulated one frame at a time, leading to an illusion of movement during playback - and such fiendishly intricate work, which takes years of dedication, deserves to be honoured. Here are the greatest examples of stop motion movie mastery.
The Humpty Dumpty Circus (1898)
What defines the elusive appeal of stop motion? Surely a great deal of it is down to the blend of the recognisable and the uncanny: an simulation of recognisably human movement that still has a touch of the fantastical about it. These contradictions were put...
- 9/8/2016
- Den of Geek
I love the art of stop-motion animation, and I couldn’t be happier that there’s a studio like Laika keeping the art form alive. They recently released the film Kubo and the Two Strings, which is easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year. As a tribute to the art of stop-motion, Vulgar Efendi created a wonderful video that shows us how stop-motion animation has evolved through the years. It starts with the year 1900 and takes us all the way through 2016. It’s 116 years of stop-motion awesomeness in only three minutes! You'll find a full list of films featured in the video below.
The films included are:
- The Enchanted Drawing (1900)
-Fun at the Bakery Shop (1902)
-El Hotel Electrico (1905)
-Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906)
-The Cameraman's Revenge (1912)
-The Night before Christmas (1913)
-Häxan (1922)
-The Lost World (1925)
-The Tale of Fox (1930 version)
-King Kong...
The films included are:
- The Enchanted Drawing (1900)
-Fun at the Bakery Shop (1902)
-El Hotel Electrico (1905)
-Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906)
-The Cameraman's Revenge (1912)
-The Night before Christmas (1913)
-Häxan (1922)
-The Lost World (1925)
-The Tale of Fox (1930 version)
-King Kong...
- 9/6/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The great Charlie Kaufman has made his first foray into the world of animation with the critically praised Anomalisa, which we named one of the best films of 2015. Finally expanding over the next few weeks, to celebrate, we’ve decided to look back at some of the finest animated films that one might not want to show the entire family.
Who said cartoons were just for kids? As this week’s list will demonstrate, some of the finest weren’t necessarily designed with undiscerning young audiences in mind. Crossing genres and styles, these fifteen amazing features should probably be watched after this kids have been put to bed. Of course, there are many great examples beyond these, so please suggest your own favorites in the comments.
Watership Down / The Plague Dogs (Martin Rosen)
Martin Rosen‘s dark adaptations of Richard Adams‘s classic novels, Watership Down and The Plague Dogs,...
Who said cartoons were just for kids? As this week’s list will demonstrate, some of the finest weren’t necessarily designed with undiscerning young audiences in mind. Crossing genres and styles, these fifteen amazing features should probably be watched after this kids have been put to bed. Of course, there are many great examples beyond these, so please suggest your own favorites in the comments.
Watership Down / The Plague Dogs (Martin Rosen)
Martin Rosen‘s dark adaptations of Richard Adams‘s classic novels, Watership Down and The Plague Dogs,...
- 1/13/2016
- by Tony Hinds
- The Film Stage
Ernie Biscuit
Adam Elliot has toured Ernie Biscuit, his latest stop-motion short, to over 70 festivals, and he's exhausted..
The story of a deaf Parisian taxidermist who accidentally gets on the wrong plane and winds up in the outback, Ernie Biscuit was originally meant to be a feature.
"Everyone really liked the feature script", said Elliot, "but we had a budget of 40 million at one stage (laughs). It's not family friendly enough at that budget."
Development funding from screen bodies ended when Ernie morphed from feature to short, so Elliot financed it himself..
He describes the result as "a bit of an experiment".
"Things have changed. Film's now gone and I've had to learn a lot of new skills. After Mary and Max.[Elliot's acclaimed 2009 feature] we knew we had to get our budget down because things were changing dramatically."
The finished film is a crowd-pleasing charmer. The Melbourne director describes it as a...
Adam Elliot has toured Ernie Biscuit, his latest stop-motion short, to over 70 festivals, and he's exhausted..
The story of a deaf Parisian taxidermist who accidentally gets on the wrong plane and winds up in the outback, Ernie Biscuit was originally meant to be a feature.
"Everyone really liked the feature script", said Elliot, "but we had a budget of 40 million at one stage (laughs). It's not family friendly enough at that budget."
Development funding from screen bodies ended when Ernie morphed from feature to short, so Elliot financed it himself..
He describes the result as "a bit of an experiment".
"Things have changed. Film's now gone and I've had to learn a lot of new skills. After Mary and Max.[Elliot's acclaimed 2009 feature] we knew we had to get our budget down because things were changing dramatically."
The finished film is a crowd-pleasing charmer. The Melbourne director describes it as a...
- 1/5/2016
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Ernie Biscuit
Adam Elliot has toured Ernie Biscuit, his latest stop-motion short, to over 70 festivals, and he's exhausted..
The story of a deaf Parisian taxidermist who accidentally gets on the wrong plane and winds up in the outback, Ernie Biscuit was originally meant to be a feature.
"Everyone really liked the feature script", said Elliot, "but we had a budget of 40 million at one stage (laughs). It's not family friendly enough at that budget."
Development funding from screen bodies ended when Ernie morphed from feature to short, so Elliot financed it himself..
He describes the result as "a bit of an experiment".
"Things have changed. Film's now gone and I've had to learn a lot of new skills. After Mary and Max.[Elliot's acclaimed 2009 feature] we knew we had to get our budget down because things were changing dramatically."
The finished film is a crowd-pleasing charmer. The Melbourne director describes it as a...
Adam Elliot has toured Ernie Biscuit, his latest stop-motion short, to over 70 festivals, and he's exhausted..
The story of a deaf Parisian taxidermist who accidentally gets on the wrong plane and winds up in the outback, Ernie Biscuit was originally meant to be a feature.
"Everyone really liked the feature script", said Elliot, "but we had a budget of 40 million at one stage (laughs). It's not family friendly enough at that budget."
Development funding from screen bodies ended when Ernie morphed from feature to short, so Elliot financed it himself..
He describes the result as "a bit of an experiment".
"Things have changed. Film's now gone and I've had to learn a lot of new skills. After Mary and Max.[Elliot's acclaimed 2009 feature] we knew we had to get our budget down because things were changing dramatically."
The finished film is a crowd-pleasing charmer. The Melbourne director describes it as a...
- 1/5/2016
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Re-Animators: Kaufman & Johnson Brilliantly Translates Kafkaesque ‘Sound Play’ From The Stage To Stop Motion
Springing from the mind that spewed an incredible string of transcendent work from Being John Malkovich to Synecdoche, New York, writer and co-director Charlie Kaufman‘s Anomalisa is yet another wholly original work, vastly different in form, but no less Kaufmanesque, narratively speaking. This go round he’s partnered with Duke Johnson, one of the creative minds behind the stop-motion production studio Starburns Industries (Moral Orel, Frankenhole), to rework a story he’d penned under the alias Francis Fregoli and produced for the stage as a ‘sound play’ back in 2005 for the Theater of the New Ear. The result is an inventive bit of stop-motion brilliance which seizes upon the inherent falsities of its chosen medium and employs them as a driving force in the examination of tedium and the apathetic perception of sameness as one grows old.
Springing from the mind that spewed an incredible string of transcendent work from Being John Malkovich to Synecdoche, New York, writer and co-director Charlie Kaufman‘s Anomalisa is yet another wholly original work, vastly different in form, but no less Kaufmanesque, narratively speaking. This go round he’s partnered with Duke Johnson, one of the creative minds behind the stop-motion production studio Starburns Industries (Moral Orel, Frankenhole), to rework a story he’d penned under the alias Francis Fregoli and produced for the stage as a ‘sound play’ back in 2005 for the Theater of the New Ear. The result is an inventive bit of stop-motion brilliance which seizes upon the inherent falsities of its chosen medium and employs them as a driving force in the examination of tedium and the apathetic perception of sameness as one grows old.
- 12/31/2015
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Adam Elliot, Oscar winner for the short film Harvie Krumpet and director of the beloved feature Mary And Max, has recently released his latest film Ernie Biscuit. I got the chance to chat with Adam about his films, his characters and his life.Hugo Ozman: Ernie Biscuit is the first film that you have made since Mary And Max came out in 2009. What took you so long to give audiences another film?Adam Elliot:There are quite a few reasons why it has taken me so long to make another film. The main reason is after Mary and Max, I was mentally and physically spent and despite the wonderful successes of the film, I lost my sense of self and became quite depressed. Having to live up...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 7/6/2015
- Screen Anarchy
He has a funny name. He's got a disability. He is terribly lonely... He is Ernie Biscuit, a deaf Parisian taxidermist. If you are thinking to yourself that his story couldn't be too interesting, you are mistaken. Great storytellers can bring the most unusual characters to life, put him or her in the most unexpected situations and create the most unforgettable stories. And Adam Elliot, director of the short film about Biscuit, is an amazing storyteller. After making his first short film trilogy (Uncle, Cousin and Brother), Elliot won an Academy Award for Harvie Krumpet, his 2003 short film about a man with Tourette's Syndrome. He followed that up with his only feature film to date, Mary And Max, which is about an unlikely friendship between...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
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- 6/28/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Australian animator Adam Elliot won an Oscar for his short film Harvie Krumpet and went on to direct his much loved feature film Mary And Max. It has since been five long years and Elliot is finally back with a new film - a short titled "Ernie Biscuit". Ernie Biscuit is a "deaf Parisian Taxidermist whose life gets turned upside down and back to front when a dead pigeon arrives on his doorstep". Mr Biscuit was first introduced to the world at the Sydney Film Festival. He then traveled to Europe for the Annecy International Animation Festival in France and Edinburgh International Film Festival in the UK. Next, he will continue his journey around the world by returning to Australia for the Melbourne International Film Festival before...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/24/2015
- Screen Anarchy
First-time writer/director Hugh Sullivan.s time travel comedy The Infinite Man opened at four cinemas- Dendy Newton, Melbourne.s Cinema Nova, Perth.s Cinema Paradiso and Adelaide.s Palace Nova Eastend- last Thursday.
The four-day gross is $10,640, which is in addition to the $21,000 generated by screenings at the Melbourne International Film Festival, CineféstOZ and the Dungog fest.
Executive producer Jonathan Page said, .It.s a good start and points to a new model of releasing smaller films, focussing on a few targeted sites and keeping costs low. I think The Infinite Man is building a cult following and will be watched on other platforms, so if we can make a bit of noise and a bit of money at the cinema then we are on track..
Produced by Hedone Productions. Kate Croser and Sandy Cameron, the film stars Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades in the tale of...
The four-day gross is $10,640, which is in addition to the $21,000 generated by screenings at the Melbourne International Film Festival, CineféstOZ and the Dungog fest.
Executive producer Jonathan Page said, .It.s a good start and points to a new model of releasing smaller films, focussing on a few targeted sites and keeping costs low. I think The Infinite Man is building a cult following and will be watched on other platforms, so if we can make a bit of noise and a bit of money at the cinema then we are on track..
Produced by Hedone Productions. Kate Croser and Sandy Cameron, the film stars Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades in the tale of...
- 9/22/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
An early pioneer in stop-motion animation, Ladislas Starevich's strange, touching films work still entertain today, Aliya writes...
Even in this age of digital manipulation, stop-motion animation holds a fascination for movie audiences, and there have been some brilliant examples through cinema’s history. From the year 2000 alone we’ve had Wallace And Gromit’s The Curse Of The Were Rabbit, Corpse Bride, Mary And Max, A Town Called Panic, and Fantastic Mr Fox, to name but a few, and The Boxtrolls is not far away. Not bad, for an animation technique that hasn’t changed much such it was first used in 1897.
Perhaps it has retained its popularity because it requires so much skill. Making a stop-motion movie has always taken months of precise, painstaking work. That’s not to say that modern filmmaking is a walk in the park, but I think we have a clear, romantic view of...
Even in this age of digital manipulation, stop-motion animation holds a fascination for movie audiences, and there have been some brilliant examples through cinema’s history. From the year 2000 alone we’ve had Wallace And Gromit’s The Curse Of The Were Rabbit, Corpse Bride, Mary And Max, A Town Called Panic, and Fantastic Mr Fox, to name but a few, and The Boxtrolls is not far away. Not bad, for an animation technique that hasn’t changed much such it was first used in 1897.
Perhaps it has retained its popularity because it requires so much skill. Making a stop-motion movie has always taken months of precise, painstaking work. That’s not to say that modern filmmaking is a walk in the park, but I think we have a clear, romantic view of...
- 8/29/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
First-time writer/director Hugh Sullivan.s time travel comedy The Infinite Man will be released in the Us by Invincible Pictures.
Sandy Cameron, who produced the film with his Hedone Productions partner Kate Croser, tells If that Invincible specialises in genre fare and has guaranteed a theatrical release in at least three cities, date to be fixed.
The deal was negotiated by international sales agent Shoreline Releasing. By If.s count, at least 20 Australian films have secured Us distribution. this year.
In Australia the comedy which stars Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades will open on September 18 via Infinite Releasing,. a new banner formed by the producers and Jonathan Page, executive producer of The Babadook, Mary and Max and 100 Bloody Acres.
Cameron says they are treating this release as a pilot before deciding whether to handle films from other producers. Madman Entertainment has acquired the DVD and VoD rights.
Sandy Cameron, who produced the film with his Hedone Productions partner Kate Croser, tells If that Invincible specialises in genre fare and has guaranteed a theatrical release in at least three cities, date to be fixed.
The deal was negotiated by international sales agent Shoreline Releasing. By If.s count, at least 20 Australian films have secured Us distribution. this year.
In Australia the comedy which stars Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades will open on September 18 via Infinite Releasing,. a new banner formed by the producers and Jonathan Page, executive producer of The Babadook, Mary and Max and 100 Bloody Acres.
Cameron says they are treating this release as a pilot before deciding whether to handle films from other producers. Madman Entertainment has acquired the DVD and VoD rights.
- 8/12/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
In a way I am not sure I have ever felt before, for a figure I do not know personally, I am still trying to comprehend Philip Seymour Hoffman’s passing.
When we grow with artists, we do not just identify with them, or become “fans.” We love these artists, anticipate our experiences with them, and similarly better understand the potential of their means of an expression. Loving an artist indeed becomes a personal venture, especially if one is to believe that art, something that keeps us human, belongs to all of us just as much as it does the artist (to paraphrase a line actually said by Hugh Bonneville in this upcoming Friday’s The Monuments Men). My love for Philip Seymour Hoffman, an icon lost, is directly interwoven with how I began to truly watch films, and learn from them.
To quote A.O. Scott in a bold remark of perfect clarity,...
When we grow with artists, we do not just identify with them, or become “fans.” We love these artists, anticipate our experiences with them, and similarly better understand the potential of their means of an expression. Loving an artist indeed becomes a personal venture, especially if one is to believe that art, something that keeps us human, belongs to all of us just as much as it does the artist (to paraphrase a line actually said by Hugh Bonneville in this upcoming Friday’s The Monuments Men). My love for Philip Seymour Hoffman, an icon lost, is directly interwoven with how I began to truly watch films, and learn from them.
To quote A.O. Scott in a bold remark of perfect clarity,...
- 2/7/2014
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Several producers who have had the common experience of finding it hard to negotiate deals with increasingly risk-averse Australian distributors have taken the bold step of launching their own distribution company.
The partners in Infinite Releasing are Hedone Productions. Kate Croser and Sandy Cameron, and Jonathan Page, the executive producer of The Babadook, 100 Bloody Acres and Mary and Max.
Their first release will be Hedone.s The Infinite Man, a time-travel comedy-romance from first-time writer-director Hugh Sullivan, starring Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades.
Croser tells If they have been approached by five or six other producers who are interested in routing their films via Infinite Releasing. She says Page will use his contacts to negotiate home entertainment, free-tv and pay-tv deals for The Infinite Man.
The arrangement with Infinite Releasing means the production qualifies for the 40% producer offset, a vital element of the financing. The project was developed...
The partners in Infinite Releasing are Hedone Productions. Kate Croser and Sandy Cameron, and Jonathan Page, the executive producer of The Babadook, 100 Bloody Acres and Mary and Max.
Their first release will be Hedone.s The Infinite Man, a time-travel comedy-romance from first-time writer-director Hugh Sullivan, starring Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades.
Croser tells If they have been approached by five or six other producers who are interested in routing their films via Infinite Releasing. She says Page will use his contacts to negotiate home entertainment, free-tv and pay-tv deals for The Infinite Man.
The arrangement with Infinite Releasing means the production qualifies for the 40% producer offset, a vital element of the financing. The project was developed...
- 1/7/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Bradford Animation Festival | Cinecity Brighton Film Festival | Aldeburgh Documentary Festival | Korean Film Festival, China Image Film Festival | Russian Film Festival
Bradford Animation Festival
There's everything from CGI insects to lo-fi zombies on the screen at this inclusive event, which gives you features and shorts, for and by all ages, plus a dedicated gaming section. But there are also real, live people to recommend. Adam Buxton talks to anarchic image-mangler Cyriak, Steve Bell pays tribute to Roobarb creator Bob Godfrey, multi-disciplinary genius Dave McKean gives a masterclass, and stop-motion heroes Adam Elliot (of Mary And Max) and Lee "Claycat" Hardcastle are also here to talk about the finer points of plasticine.
National Media Museum, Tue to 16 Nov
Cinecity Brighton Film Festival
After 11 years, this festival knows what its citizens want: all things new and/or slightly leftfield. You'll get the hottest upcoming British and Us movies, led by Alexander Payne's latest,...
Bradford Animation Festival
There's everything from CGI insects to lo-fi zombies on the screen at this inclusive event, which gives you features and shorts, for and by all ages, plus a dedicated gaming section. But there are also real, live people to recommend. Adam Buxton talks to anarchic image-mangler Cyriak, Steve Bell pays tribute to Roobarb creator Bob Godfrey, multi-disciplinary genius Dave McKean gives a masterclass, and stop-motion heroes Adam Elliot (of Mary And Max) and Lee "Claycat" Hardcastle are also here to talk about the finer points of plasticine.
National Media Museum, Tue to 16 Nov
Cinecity Brighton Film Festival
After 11 years, this festival knows what its citizens want: all things new and/or slightly leftfield. You'll get the hottest upcoming British and Us movies, led by Alexander Payne's latest,...
- 11/9/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Australian horror comedy 100 Bloody Acres was watched by a handful of people in Us and Australian cinemas -- a tiny fraction of the number who have illegally downloaded the film.
The producer, Cyan Films. Julie Ryan, said two independent companies that work in the online area estimate the film has been downloaded at least 35,000 times.
.That is three times more than we had thought,. Ryan told If. .Torrent Tracker doesn't pick up all the bit torrent sites so this figure is on the conservative side.
.These sites can't be shut down and unfortunately we can't tell where in the world this activity has occurred. But we do know that the film was on Pirate Bay the second day of the Us release, and we have anecdotal evidence in Australia where people have admitted to downloading it illegally.
.I just hope that some of these people buy the DVD when it releases in their country.
The producer, Cyan Films. Julie Ryan, said two independent companies that work in the online area estimate the film has been downloaded at least 35,000 times.
.That is three times more than we had thought,. Ryan told If. .Torrent Tracker doesn't pick up all the bit torrent sites so this figure is on the conservative side.
.These sites can't be shut down and unfortunately we can't tell where in the world this activity has occurred. But we do know that the film was on Pirate Bay the second day of the Us release, and we have anecdotal evidence in Australia where people have admitted to downloading it illegally.
.I just hope that some of these people buy the DVD when it releases in their country.
- 8/13/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The cast of The Infinte Man (from left): Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall and Alex Dimitriades.
Principal photography ..has begun in Woomera, South Australia on time-travel comedy-romance The Infinite Man, starring Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall, and Alex Dimitriades.
The film follows unorthodox scientist Dean (McConville) and his attempts to change the past and fix his relationship with girlfriend Lana (Marshall), which.reveal him to be his own worst enemy. Dimitriades stars as Lana.s ex-boyfriend, the disgraced 1980s Olympian Terry.
The Infinite Man marks the feature film debut of writer/director Hugh Sullivan, whose short films have screened at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, Flickerfest and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
The film is being produced by Kate Croser (My Tehran For Sale, Danger 5) and Sandy Cameron while Cameron Rogers and Jonathan Page (Mary and Max, 100 Bloody Acres) are executive producing.
The Infinite Man was developed through the South Australian Film Corporation's FilmLab initiative,...
Principal photography ..has begun in Woomera, South Australia on time-travel comedy-romance The Infinite Man, starring Josh McConville, Hannah Marshall, and Alex Dimitriades.
The film follows unorthodox scientist Dean (McConville) and his attempts to change the past and fix his relationship with girlfriend Lana (Marshall), which.reveal him to be his own worst enemy. Dimitriades stars as Lana.s ex-boyfriend, the disgraced 1980s Olympian Terry.
The Infinite Man marks the feature film debut of writer/director Hugh Sullivan, whose short films have screened at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, Flickerfest and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
The film is being produced by Kate Croser (My Tehran For Sale, Danger 5) and Sandy Cameron while Cameron Rogers and Jonathan Page (Mary and Max, 100 Bloody Acres) are executive producing.
The Infinite Man was developed through the South Australian Film Corporation's FilmLab initiative,...
- 2/18/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Director Isabel Peppard stands out from the crowd. She has even garnered the attention of director Tim Burton. He spotted her in costume at the opening of his recent exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (Acmi). Peppard was there with Adam Elliot who she worked with on Mary and Max.
.I scammed my way in - that.s another story - but I made this crazy headdress out of bones, with big ribcages on the sides, specially for that exhibition. I thought at the opening there would be a lot of people dressed up but because it was exclusive there were a lot of mayors and CEOs..
During the short time Burton was in Melbourne, they were able to catch up for drinks three times. .He was really nice, really down to earth,. Peppard says of the filmmaker, whose latest stop-motion feature Frankenweenie was just released.
Peppard...
.I scammed my way in - that.s another story - but I made this crazy headdress out of bones, with big ribcages on the sides, specially for that exhibition. I thought at the opening there would be a lot of people dressed up but because it was exclusive there were a lot of mayors and CEOs..
During the short time Burton was in Melbourne, they were able to catch up for drinks three times. .He was really nice, really down to earth,. Peppard says of the filmmaker, whose latest stop-motion feature Frankenweenie was just released.
Peppard...
- 11/2/2012
- by Candace Wise
- IF.com.au
A musing on the absence of animation from the Sight and Sound poll and a shameless attempt to shed light on a neglected gem from the genre.
The Sight and Sound poll is out and the dust has settled. A nun has sent Orson Welles plummeting from the top spot and a new film reigns supreme (Vertigo, not Sister Act). Almost everything that could be said has been said (Fall of Kane! Rise of Hitch! No Michael Bay?) but the poll was just as notable for it’s omissions as it was for the Top Ten.
Alongside the sharp pang I felt just above the left kidney when seeing the lack of Woody Allen in the top 50, another notable presence missing was that of animation. Just as Jim Emerson has noted the lack of funny in the list at his Scanners blog and Nick Goundry has used this very site...
The Sight and Sound poll is out and the dust has settled. A nun has sent Orson Welles plummeting from the top spot and a new film reigns supreme (Vertigo, not Sister Act). Almost everything that could be said has been said (Fall of Kane! Rise of Hitch! No Michael Bay?) but the poll was just as notable for it’s omissions as it was for the Top Ten.
Alongside the sharp pang I felt just above the left kidney when seeing the lack of Woody Allen in the top 50, another notable presence missing was that of animation. Just as Jim Emerson has noted the lack of funny in the list at his Scanners blog and Nick Goundry has used this very site...
- 8/9/2012
- by Billy Langsworthy
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The filmmakers behind Love and Fury have the blessing of producer Melanie Coombs (Mary and Max) for the documentary about the clandestine love affair between her grandfather, the influential public servant Nugget Coombs, and poet, environmentalist and Aboriginal rights campaigner Judith Wright.
.Grandpa was a public figure and for a lot of people this is a very interesting story,. Coombs told If Magazine.
.We all knew about it [the affair] but my grandmother was a very observant Catholic and while there was talk of them divorcing at some point early on in the Nugget/Judith affair I think that it was decided that it was best for the whole of both the Wright and Coombs families for it to be this secret..
Coombs was one of the first people the filmmakers . director John Hughes (What I Have Written), who wrote the script with Penelope Chai, and producer Philippa Campey (Murundak: Songs of...
.Grandpa was a public figure and for a lot of people this is a very interesting story,. Coombs told If Magazine.
.We all knew about it [the affair] but my grandmother was a very observant Catholic and while there was talk of them divorcing at some point early on in the Nugget/Judith affair I think that it was decided that it was best for the whole of both the Wright and Coombs families for it to be this secret..
Coombs was one of the first people the filmmakers . director John Hughes (What I Have Written), who wrote the script with Penelope Chai, and producer Philippa Campey (Murundak: Songs of...
- 7/4/2012
- by Sandy George
- IF.com.au
[Editor's Note: This will be the final Now Streaming column as creator Kristy Puchko is moving on to other opportunities. We wish her the best and have decided to discontinue this weekly feature since her skills here can't be matched! For more streaming recommendations we encourage you to check out Instant Watcher or the official Netflix Instant RSS feed]
Within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to Snow White and the Huntsman, Piranha 3Dd and Cat in Paris.
In this dark rendition of the tale of Snow White, the Huntsman charge to kill does not only take mercy on her, but also mentors her in her revolt against the evil queen. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron co-star; Rupert Sanders directs.
For more fantasy and fairy tales:
Grimm’s Snow White (2012) Stewart’s is not the only Snow White who is armed. In this spirited TV adaptation of the classic tale, Eliza Bennett plays a blond version of the ruby-lipped princess, whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. But will her new-found might be enough to face down the evil queen’s dragons? Rachel Goldenberg directs.
The Fall...
Within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to Snow White and the Huntsman, Piranha 3Dd and Cat in Paris.
In this dark rendition of the tale of Snow White, the Huntsman charge to kill does not only take mercy on her, but also mentors her in her revolt against the evil queen. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron co-star; Rupert Sanders directs.
For more fantasy and fairy tales:
Grimm’s Snow White (2012) Stewart’s is not the only Snow White who is armed. In this spirited TV adaptation of the classic tale, Eliza Bennett plays a blond version of the ruby-lipped princess, whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. But will her new-found might be enough to face down the evil queen’s dragons? Rachel Goldenberg directs.
The Fall...
- 5/31/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
Directed by Thierry Binisti
Written by Thierry Binisti and Valérie Zenatti
France/Canada/Israel, 2011
Friends who want to stay friends don’t discuss religion or politics. Contentious and divisive, discussions about these hot topic issues tend to lead to fiery debates, with interlockers entrenched in their predisposed ideologies. Verbal disputes that stem from these discussions tend to take focus away from, and overshadow, the genuine friendship underneath, and no case is more exemplary than in A Bottle in the Gaza Sea.
In Israel, a French expatriate, named Tal (Agathe Bonitzer), is irreversibly changed when she experiences a terrorist attack at her local café. In search of peace and understanding, she places a message of good will into an empty bottle, and has her brother, an Israeli soldier, throw it into the Gaza Sea.
NaÏm (Mahmud Shalaby), a teenager living in Palestine, receives the message,...
Directed by Thierry Binisti
Written by Thierry Binisti and Valérie Zenatti
France/Canada/Israel, 2011
Friends who want to stay friends don’t discuss religion or politics. Contentious and divisive, discussions about these hot topic issues tend to lead to fiery debates, with interlockers entrenched in their predisposed ideologies. Verbal disputes that stem from these discussions tend to take focus away from, and overshadow, the genuine friendship underneath, and no case is more exemplary than in A Bottle in the Gaza Sea.
In Israel, a French expatriate, named Tal (Agathe Bonitzer), is irreversibly changed when she experiences a terrorist attack at her local café. In search of peace and understanding, she places a message of good will into an empty bottle, and has her brother, an Israeli soldier, throw it into the Gaza Sea.
NaÏm (Mahmud Shalaby), a teenager living in Palestine, receives the message,...
- 5/3/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Last year, I wrote an article for Autism Awareness Month, covering three films that focus on this subject matter (those three being Mozart and the Whale, Chocolate and Temple Grandin).
Since last year’s article was well received, I thought that it would be good to do another one this year covering three new films from different countries and genres. If you are interested in reading the previous article, I have added a link at the bottom for you to enjoy.
After Thomas (dir. Simon Shore) – 2006
Based on the book A Friend Like Henry written by Nuala Gardner, this ITV drama focuses on the story of the married couple Rob Graham (Ben Miles) and Nicola Graham (Keeley Hawes) as they struggle to control the behavior of their six-year-old autistic son, Kyle (Andrew Byrne). As Kyle hates everyday social activity, Rob and Nicola have a hard time to communicate with him that also affects their relationship.
Since last year’s article was well received, I thought that it would be good to do another one this year covering three new films from different countries and genres. If you are interested in reading the previous article, I have added a link at the bottom for you to enjoy.
After Thomas (dir. Simon Shore) – 2006
Based on the book A Friend Like Henry written by Nuala Gardner, this ITV drama focuses on the story of the married couple Rob Graham (Ben Miles) and Nicola Graham (Keeley Hawes) as they struggle to control the behavior of their six-year-old autistic son, Kyle (Andrew Byrne). As Kyle hates everyday social activity, Rob and Nicola have a hard time to communicate with him that also affects their relationship.
- 4/10/2012
- by Martyn Warren
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Australian comedy A Few Best Men raked in almost $1.9 million at the local box office in its opening weekend.
Directed by Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), the film . about a wedding that goes wrong . grossed an impressive $1,834,283 across 235 screens. Opening on Australia Day, the comedy . in third position . posted a screen average of $7805.
Its weekend figures were bigger than last year's two biggest films Red Dog ($1.78 million, 245 screens) and Sanctum ($1.59 million, 252 screens).
Written by Death At A Funeral screenwriter Dean Craig, the Icon-distributed film excited exhibitors last year when it screened at the Australian International Movie Convention. It marked Icon's first local film since Oranges and Sunshine (102 screens) in June, last year. In 2010, Icon distributed South Solitary (36 screens) and Triangle (4 screens), while in 2009 it released Mary And Max (49 screens), Disgrace (24 screens) and Blessed (15 screens).
"Stephan set out to make a film to entertain an audience...
Directed by Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), the film . about a wedding that goes wrong . grossed an impressive $1,834,283 across 235 screens. Opening on Australia Day, the comedy . in third position . posted a screen average of $7805.
Its weekend figures were bigger than last year's two biggest films Red Dog ($1.78 million, 245 screens) and Sanctum ($1.59 million, 252 screens).
Written by Death At A Funeral screenwriter Dean Craig, the Icon-distributed film excited exhibitors last year when it screened at the Australian International Movie Convention. It marked Icon's first local film since Oranges and Sunshine (102 screens) in June, last year. In 2010, Icon distributed South Solitary (36 screens) and Triangle (4 screens), while in 2009 it released Mary And Max (49 screens), Disgrace (24 screens) and Blessed (15 screens).
"Stephan set out to make a film to entertain an audience...
- 1/30/2012
- by Sam Dallas
- IF.com.au
Much of our lurid film community is of the belief that America’s acting prowess died with its classic stars like Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly. However, I’m here to argue that America’s actors are stronger than ever and can match up toe to toe with the likes of both Europe and Asia.
The list will be split into two parts: in part one, I delve into the modern world of Hollywood actors with actresses soon to follow in part two.
Part one: Top Ten Actors Working In Hollywood Today
Actor With The Most Potential To Hit It Big: Paddy Considine
Before I begin the list, I want to take a moment to discuss an actor whom I believe has enormous potential. While not American born, British actor Paddy Considine has been in his fair share of American films like In America,...
The list will be split into two parts: in part one, I delve into the modern world of Hollywood actors with actresses soon to follow in part two.
Part one: Top Ten Actors Working In Hollywood Today
Actor With The Most Potential To Hit It Big: Paddy Considine
Before I begin the list, I want to take a moment to discuss an actor whom I believe has enormous potential. While not American born, British actor Paddy Considine has been in his fair share of American films like In America,...
- 12/17/2011
- by Connor Folse
- SoundOnSight
There aren't nearly enough animated films for adults, but I can't really think of any stop-motion animated films for adults. Does Mary And Max count? But have no fear- ShadowMachine Films ("Robot Chicken") is creating a feature comedy called Hell & Back, about two friends who have to rescue their buddy when he's accidentally dragged to hell. The R-rated film is set to start shooting in January. Deadline is reporting today that Nick Swardson ("Reno 911!", Bucky...
- 12/13/2011
- by Alex Riviello
- JoBlo.com
Coming off the recent announcement that Screen Australia has invested in the production of six features and a handful of other productions, they've just announced investment in the development of eight feature films. One of these sure to excite many who loved 2009's claymated Mary and Max is writer/director Adam Elliot's new script Ernee, an animated adventure romance, which has received single-draft development funding. Screen Australia has also given support to the development of two rock biopics. The first of these is director Eddie Martin's Bon Scott, a biopic of the life of the legendary AC/DC front man (pictured).
- 7/27/2011
- FilmInk.com.au
Screen Australia has provided funding for eight new feature films in development including projects by Bruce Beresford, Adam Elliot and Nadia Tass. Clayographer Adam Elliot's animated adventure-romance feature Ernee is among the projects to receive single-draft development funding. It is the follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2009 debut Mary and Max, which opened the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in that year.. Elliot recently told If that the project is loosely based on his own life (in common with his previous work) and is likely to be a co-production, possibly with a company in France, where Mary and Max received a strong reception. The project is set to be produced by Peter Kaufman and executive produced by Brian Rosen and Bryce Menzies. Screen Australia...
- 7/26/2011
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
I guess I really jumped the gun last week when I thought casting on Peter Jackson's The Hobbit was over because Peter Jackson took to Facebook on Sunday to offer a production update and announce a pair of new cast members, one of which will be playing a character not found in J.R.R. Tolkien's original novel.
Evangeline Lilly ("Lost") has joined the cast as the Woodland Elf, Tauriel, a name Peter Jackson says means "daughter of Mirkwood" and while he doesn't add any additional character details he is sure to stress there will be no romantic connection to Orlando Bloom's character Legolas. Additionally, Barry Humphries (Mary and Max) will play the Goblin King.
Jackson's complete note read as follows: Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We've finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon... But today,...
Evangeline Lilly ("Lost") has joined the cast as the Woodland Elf, Tauriel, a name Peter Jackson says means "daughter of Mirkwood" and while he doesn't add any additional character details he is sure to stress there will be no romantic connection to Orlando Bloom's character Legolas. Additionally, Barry Humphries (Mary and Max) will play the Goblin King.
Jackson's complete note read as follows: Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We've finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon... But today,...
- 6/20/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Doctor Who and Psychoville end, Mock The Week returns, and the marvellous Role Models is on the telly. Here's our UK TV week preview...
Saturday brings Doctor Who fans both great anticipation and a bit of reluctance for its arrival, as it means possible resolutions of some of our most fierce speculations about the show, at the same time as it leaves us for the entirety of the summer, returning in the autumn.
The mid-series finale, A Good Man Goes To War, airs at 6:40pm, Saturday, June 4th on BBC1. We've had video and images hinting at its contents, but nothing concrete has been revealed, leaving possibilities of Tardis interior proportions.
We'll have our review up as fast as fingers can make it happen, and we'll be anxious to read the comments of those, like us, who've followed this sixth series closely and are still mystified at what will happen Saturday.
Saturday brings Doctor Who fans both great anticipation and a bit of reluctance for its arrival, as it means possible resolutions of some of our most fierce speculations about the show, at the same time as it leaves us for the entirety of the summer, returning in the autumn.
The mid-series finale, A Good Man Goes To War, airs at 6:40pm, Saturday, June 4th on BBC1. We've had video and images hinting at its contents, but nothing concrete has been revealed, leaving possibilities of Tardis interior proportions.
We'll have our review up as fast as fingers can make it happen, and we'll be anxious to read the comments of those, like us, who've followed this sixth series closely and are still mystified at what will happen Saturday.
- 6/3/2011
- Den of Geek
Neil Gaiman's Doctor Who episode, Caprica finishing off its run in the UK, and South Park season 15 kicks off. Plus an animated feature worth checking out...
This weekend brings us what is likely to be the most eagerly anticipated episode of Doctor Who since the series relaunched or the then unknown property of Matt Smith's Time Lord talents were yet to be tested.
Saturday, May 14th delivers the fourth episode in the sixth series, and its intriguing title, The Doctor's Wife, is only a faint indicator of the real draw, and that's that the episode's been written by Neil Gaiman.
We have a spoiler-free review that may hold clues to just how excited we are about the episode, and even better, an interview with its author, Neil Gaiman, here.
We're as eager to hear what everyone thinks of it as to rewatch it again tomorrow night, and we'll...
This weekend brings us what is likely to be the most eagerly anticipated episode of Doctor Who since the series relaunched or the then unknown property of Matt Smith's Time Lord talents were yet to be tested.
Saturday, May 14th delivers the fourth episode in the sixth series, and its intriguing title, The Doctor's Wife, is only a faint indicator of the real draw, and that's that the episode's been written by Neil Gaiman.
We have a spoiler-free review that may hold clues to just how excited we are about the episode, and even better, an interview with its author, Neil Gaiman, here.
We're as eager to hear what everyone thinks of it as to rewatch it again tomorrow night, and we'll...
- 5/12/2011
- Den of Geek
Variety critic Leslie Felperin responded to her son's diagnosis by watching every movie about autism she could find
Some parents go into understandable denial when confronted with the evidence that their child is on the autism spectrum, and some become consumed with a zealous need to seek a cure or ameliorate the symptoms with therapies. Given my profession, my way of dealing with our three-year-old son's diagnosis of an autistic spectrum condition (Asc) has been to try and understand the condition as best I could through reading books and watching movies about people with autism. So for the last two years, my husband Tom and I have been working our way – frequently in tears, sometimes laughing with recognition – through as many features and documentaries about people with the condition as we could source. It seems to me from where I'm sitting (on the sofa and in the cinemas) that there are far more,...
Some parents go into understandable denial when confronted with the evidence that their child is on the autism spectrum, and some become consumed with a zealous need to seek a cure or ameliorate the symptoms with therapies. Given my profession, my way of dealing with our three-year-old son's diagnosis of an autistic spectrum condition (Asc) has been to try and understand the condition as best I could through reading books and watching movies about people with autism. So for the last two years, my husband Tom and I have been working our way – frequently in tears, sometimes laughing with recognition – through as many features and documentaries about people with the condition as we could source. It seems to me from where I'm sitting (on the sofa and in the cinemas) that there are far more,...
- 4/4/2011
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Program for first and only Australian Film Festival of India has been announced. Being held in collaboration with Frames 2011 (www.ficci-frames.com), the 5 day Aussie film festival in Mumbai comes packed with invitation only roundtables on investment and distribution, Australian speakers at various sessions, a Bill Bennett retrospective; some of the best recent Australian features including premieres; a selection of graduate shorts from Aftrs and Vca; and a much needed platform in India for Australian film industry to effectively promote itself in the worlds film industry. Media and Australian film industry representatives alike turned up in force to Fox Studios Australia this afternoon for the much anticipated program announcement for the first ever Australian Film Festival in India. Among the speakers was acclaimed film director Bill Bennett who's retrospective of films was announced as being part of the festival in Mumbai later this month. In addition recent Australian feature films...
- 3/17/2011
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Program for first and only Australian Film Festival of India has been announced. Being held in collaboration with Frames 2011 (www.ficci-frames.com), the 5 day Aussie film festival in Mumbai comes packed with invitation only roundtables on investment and distribution, Australian speakers at various sessions, a Bill Bennett retrospective; some of the best recent Australian features including premieres; a selection of graduate shorts from Aftrs and Vca; and a much needed platform in India for Australian film industry to effectively promote itself in the worlds film industry. Media and Australian film industry representatives alike turned up in force to Fox Studios Australia this afternoon for the much anticipated program announcement for the first ever Australian Film Festival in India. Among the speakers was acclaimed film director Bill Bennett who's retrospective of films was announced as being part of the festival in Mumbai later this month. In addition recent Australian feature films...
- 3/17/2011
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
According to the founders of the upcoming Australian Film Festival in India, Australia is yet to benefit from a relationship with non-traditional markets such as India, the Middle East and Latin America.
“I believe Australia is yet to properly benefit from its relationship with the world’s biggest film industry –India – and other non-traditional markest. This was the fundamental principle behind an Australian Film Initiative and it has been most encouraging to see the Australian Film Festival in India receive support from Australian government and industry alike within hours and days of the announcement. I hope this initiative grows in the coming years providing loads of commercial and creative benefit to our film industry in Australia,” said festival co-director Anupam Sharma.
The festival will feature an industry element, with invitation-only roundtables on investment and distribution and industry speakers at various sessions. It’s been conceived as a “much needed platform...
“I believe Australia is yet to properly benefit from its relationship with the world’s biggest film industry –India – and other non-traditional markest. This was the fundamental principle behind an Australian Film Initiative and it has been most encouraging to see the Australian Film Festival in India receive support from Australian government and industry alike within hours and days of the announcement. I hope this initiative grows in the coming years providing loads of commercial and creative benefit to our film industry in Australia,” said festival co-director Anupam Sharma.
The festival will feature an industry element, with invitation-only roundtables on investment and distribution and industry speakers at various sessions. It’s been conceived as a “much needed platform...
- 3/15/2011
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
In recent years, the output of clay animation films has been somewhat disappointing given the enormous increase in CGI animation films from Hollywood. The huge success of Disney Pixar titles such as Wall-e (2008), Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010) appear to have put an unfortunate end to the clay animation style, which enjoyed so much success in the past.
Not, that I am criticising the above mentioned films; on the contrary, I am a huge fan of each, all three being shining examples of just how charming and moving, high budget Hollywood CGI movies can be when placed in the right hands. However, it is still saddening to see such an imbalance of animation styles on our screens these days.
Adam Elliot’s latest clay animation (or ‘claymation’) Mary and Max (2009) thankfully goes someway to redressing this balance. A film of astonishing beauty, Mary and Max was undoubtedly one of the...
Not, that I am criticising the above mentioned films; on the contrary, I am a huge fan of each, all three being shining examples of just how charming and moving, high budget Hollywood CGI movies can be when placed in the right hands. However, it is still saddening to see such an imbalance of animation styles on our screens these days.
Adam Elliot’s latest clay animation (or ‘claymation’) Mary and Max (2009) thankfully goes someway to redressing this balance. A film of astonishing beauty, Mary and Max was undoubtedly one of the...
- 1/25/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
Another week, another list of DVDs and Blu-rays out to buy from today. It’s a mixed bag this week, with killer sharks, elevator accidents, blackploitation, scary homes and plenty of arse-kicking!
Black Dynamite (DVD)
When “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Michael Jai White stars as Black Dynamite, a gun-toting, nunchuck-wielding, ladies man and soul brother.
Circle Of Pain (DVD)
After a fight that went tragically wrong, Mma champion Dalton Hunt (former world karate champion Tony Schiena) retired from the ring vowing never to return. But when a ruthless promoter discovers there s one fight left on his contract, a clash is set up with The Brick, the fearsome new and undefeated title holder.
Black Dynamite (DVD)
When “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Michael Jai White stars as Black Dynamite, a gun-toting, nunchuck-wielding, ladies man and soul brother.
Circle Of Pain (DVD)
After a fight that went tragically wrong, Mma champion Dalton Hunt (former world karate champion Tony Schiena) retired from the ring vowing never to return. But when a ruthless promoter discovers there s one fight left on his contract, a clash is set up with The Brick, the fearsome new and undefeated title holder.
- 1/24/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
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