News

Catherine Breillat to present Last Summer and do a Deep Focus Free Talk at the 61st New York Film Festival. Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Film at Lincoln Center has announced that Paul B Preciado, director of Orlando, My Political Biography (Main Slate selection) will deliver the third annual Amos Vogel Lecture during the 61st New York Film Festival. In Deep Focus: Todd Haynes will present his Image Book, Nikki Giovanni (featured in Joe Brewster’s Spotlight selection Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Story) will participate in a discussion moderated by Edwidge Danticat, Sandra Hüller, star of two Main Slate selections (Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall and Jonathan Glazer’s brilliant Cannes Grand Prix winner The Zone Of Interest), and Catherine Breillat.

Sandra Hüller to present The Zone Of Interest with Jonathan Glazer and Christian Friedel and do a Deep Focus Free Talk Photo:...

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LeVar Burton’s dream of hosting ‘Jeopardy’ has been a decade in the making, and it finally came true on Monday with Burton kicking off his run as guest host of the long-running quiz show. From “Reading Rainbow” to “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and now “Jeopardy,” the 64-year-old actor has been educating viewers for years — and he really loves books. No, seriously, he’s a book fanatic.

Besides helping millions of kids fall in love with reading, Burton has written several books of his own, including novels and children’s books such as, “The Rhino That Swallowed the Storm.” He’s also narrated books for other authors, hosted public book readings via the “LeVar Burton Reads” podcast,...

Produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Jigsaw Productions, “The New Yorker Presents,” which Amazon revealed in weekly installments starting in February, is unlike anything else. Each of the 10 half-hour episodes is a uniquely curated set of documentary and fiction shorts, comedy, poetry, animation, and cartoons drawn from the rich content of The New Yorker. Both unexpected and hugely entertaining, the series is up for Emmy consideration in the informational program category.

Look at the range of the first two shows. They include Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) on bull riding, Edwidge Danticat on the connection between Jacob Lawrence’s “Migration Series” and outbreaks of racist violence in America, Nick Paumgarten on closing the $2.4 billion Revel casino, cartoons by Roz Chast, Benjamin Schwartz, and Liana Finck, a look at The New Yorker’s archive library and fact-checking department, a beekeeper and a man who raises pigeons who work atop tall buildings, and...

Produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Jigsaw Productions, “The New Yorker Presents,” which Amazon revealed in weekly installments starting in February, is unlike anything else. Each of the 10 half-hour episodes is a uniquely curated set of documentary and fiction shorts, comedy, poetry, animation, and cartoons drawn from the rich content of The New Yorker. Both unexpected and hugely entertaining, the series is up for Emmy consideration in the informational program category.

Look at the range of the first two shows. They include Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) on bull riding, Edwidge Danticat on the connection between Jacob Lawrence’s “Migration Series” and outbreaks of racist violence in America, Nick Paumgarten on closing the $2.4 billion Revel casino, cartoons by Roz Chast, Benjamin Schwartz, and Liana Finck, a look at The New Yorker’s archive library and fact-checking department, a beekeeper and a man who raises pigeons who work atop tall buildings, and...

Ryan Coogler's "Creed" topped the NAACP Image Awards nomination which were revealed this morning. "Creed" received nods for best picture, director for Coogler, actor for Michael B. Jordan, writing for Coogler and Aaron Covington, and supporting actress noms for both Phylicia Rashad and Tessa Thompson.

We'll find out the winners on February 5 on the live airing of the ceremony on TV one.

Here is the full list of nominees of the 47th NAACP Image Awards:

Entertainer Of The Year

Michael B. Jordan

Misty Copeland

Pharrell Williams

Shonda Rhimes

Viola Davis

Television

Outstanding Comedy Series

.black-ish. (ABC)

.House of Lies. (Showtime)

.Key & Peele. (Comedy Central)

.Orange is the New Black. (Netflix)

.Survivor.s Remorse. (Starz)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher . .Brooklyn Nine-Nine. (Fox)

Anthony Anderson . .black-ish. (ABC)

Don Cheadle . .House of Lies. (Showtime)

Dwayne Johnson . .Ballers. (HBO)

RonReaco Lee . .Survivor.s Remorse. (Starz)

Outstanding Actress...

Ciné Institute, Haiti's only film school is at the helm of fostering a new generation of Haitian filmmakers. For those unfamiliar with the school which launched in 2008, Ciné Institute's mission “gives a powerful voice to Haiti's storytellers” bringing in local and international leaders and filmmakers to help build an emerging film industry. The non-profit film school's program includes creative and hands-on training, employment opportunities with international clients as well as workshops taught by luminaries like Paul Haggis, Edwidge Danticat, and Jonathan Demme. Offering a unique tuition free two-year college education made possible by private donations, the Institute is...

A tiny-budgeted, over-earnest shot at fashioning a Paul Haggis-Crash-like topical weave from the crisis of Haitian émigrés coming to New York in the late '80s, Patricia Benoit's indie has the lit-glam distinction of featuring novelist Edwidge Danticat in a key role. It doesn't help — like most of us non-pros, Danticat can't open up for the camera, and in any case Benoit gives her cast little to do besides bicker and glower over past violence, revisited in flashbacks. The story traces three small families in Brooklyn disheveled by the appearance of immigrating relatives: Danticat is the mopey sister dropping in on middle-class real estate broker/single mom Michele Marcelin; Wbai-ish activist radio pundit Thierry Saintine deals with his alkie politico-t...

Haitian American author and actress Edwidge Danticat has lent the rights for her short story "Caroline's Wedding" to be adapted into a feature film. New York based filmmaker and Nyu Cinema Studies graduate student Easmanie Michel recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to jumpstart production on the project, which is set to be her feature directorial debut. "Caroline's Wedding" is the last story in Danticat's collection Krik? Krak!, which was published in 1995 and centers on: The narrator and protagonist, Gracina (Grace) Azile, who, with her mother and sister Caroline, has immigrated to the United States from Haiti. It describes the cross-generational and cross-cultural...

Ciné Institute, Haiti's only film school is at the helm of fostering a new generation of Haitian filmmakers. For those unfamiliar with the school which launched in 2008, Ciné Institute's mission “gives a powerful voice to Haiti's storytellers” bringing in local and international leaders and filmmakers to help build an emerging film industry. The non-profit film school's program includes creative and hands-on training, employment opportunities with international clients as well as workshops taught by luminaries like Paul Haggis, Edwidge Danticat, and Jonathan Demme.Offering a unique tuition free two-year college education made possible by private donations, the Institute is building a...

Jerry Lamothe's latest work is shaping up quite nicely thus far, in terms of talent both in front of and behind the camera. We're big fans of Eric Ebouaney and Nonso Anozie, who might be joining an impressive cast that already includes S. Epatha Merkerson, Jamie Hector, Garcelle Beauvais, Edwidge Danticat, Jimmy-jean-Louis, and others. And also Mona Scott Young is now attached as executive producer, which she'll be doing via her Monami Entertainment banner. The full details via press release below: Casting News/Mona Scott-young To Executive Produce Jerry Lamothe’S The Promise Keeper Major talent, in front and behind the camera, continue to sign on to the...

If you're just joining us... as I come across material that I think would make good fodder for films, I'm sharing them here - from my Jackie Ormes piece, to The Black Count, to most recently, Ikire Jones: Lagos 2081 A.D. Today, I learned about this intriguing upcoming performance at the Underground Railway Theater in Cambridge, Ma, titled Roots of Liberty: The Haitian Revolution and the American Civil War. Danny Glover, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Edwidge Danticat all star in the Free May 4 performance, which is directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, and will feature music, dance, and puppetry. Roots of Liberty is part of Freedom Rising: The 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation...

The film Girl Rising has helped to highlight what aid workers have known for years: that educating young women helps them and their communities flourish and succeed

Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto are among the most watched women in the world. Now, with a handful of other stars, they have come together to tell the stories of nine unknown girls, all of whom struggled to acquire what should be a universal right: an education.

In a project launched to coincide with International Women's Day, the four actresses have been joined by Selena Gomez, Priyanka Chopra, Chloë Moretz, Salma Hayek, Kerry Washington and Alicia Keys. All have given time to make Girl Rising, which has its premiere in New York on Thursday.

The film, made by documentary director Richard E Robbins, began as an investigation into a fact universally acknowledged by international aid workers: that educating girls...

"Girl Rising" is a new film directed by Richard E. Robbins that is at the center of 10x10, a worldwide campaign to help educate and empower girls. The film previewed at the Sundance Film Festival in conjunction with the release of its trailer, shown below. The film focuses on the stories of nine girls around the world; each narrated by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloë Moretz, Liam Neeson, Frieda Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. Each story is written by a writer from their native country: Marie Arana, Edwidge Danticat, Mona Eltahawy, Aminatta Forna, Zarghuna Kargar, Maaza Mengiste, Sooni Taraporevala, Manjushree Thapa, and Loung Ung. Director Robbins states, “With Girl Rising, I wanted to make a beautiful film that met three distinct goals: change minds, change lives, and change policy, around educating girls. The stories of these amazing girls are at.

I must say this is shaping up to be quite an attractive, compelling project that we'll be watching closely in 2013, given the talent involved, both in front and behind the camera, as well as the subject matter/story that will be told. I'm definitey high on this, and look forward to see what develops eventually. We've learned that, in addition to the already cast Jimmy Jean-Louis, Jamie Hector and S Epatha Merkerson, Garcelle Beauvais, Edwidge Danticat and French actress Stana Roumillac, star of Mariette Monpierre's critically-acclaimed Guadalupean drama Elza (which played in New York earlier this month), are all in talks to join...

Cavu Pictures is releasing the documentary Let Fury Have the Hour in theaters December 14. This new film offers an intriguing look inside the creative process, with performers and artists explaining how their inner rage fuels their success, including street artist Shepard Fairey, director John Sayles, rapper Chuck D., guitarist Tom Morello, and comedian Lewis Black. To celebrate this new release, we're giving away posters and mini-posters designed by Shepard Fairey himself, along with a set of postcards. Take a look at how you can win from this innovative documentary.

Winners Receive:

Let Fury Have the Hour poster designed by Shepard FaireyLet Fury Have the Hour mini-poster designed by Shepard FaireyLet Fury Have the Hour postcards

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment...

Antonino D’Ambrosio's Let Fury Have the Hour documentary adds new poster Cavu Pictures release opens in New York on December 14th, and expands to Los Angeles on January 24th The film includes Eve Ensler, Lewis Black, John Sayles, Shepard Fairey, Chuck D, Van Jones, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Ian MacKaye, D.J. Spooky, Hari Kunzru, Tommy Guerrero, Edwidge Danticat and Suheir Hammad. Rough, raw and unapologetically inspirational, Let Fury Have the Hour is a charged journey into the heart of the creative counter-culture in 2012. In a time of global challenges, big questions and by-the-numbers politics, this upbeat, outspoken film tracks the story of the artists, writers, thinkers and musicians who have gone underground to re-imagine the world – honing in on equality, community and engaged creativity – in exuberantly paradigm-busting ways.

Antonino D’Ambrosio's Let Fury Have the Hour documentary adds new poster Cavu Pictures release opens in New York on December 14th, and expands to Los Angeles on January 24th The film includes Eve Ensler, Lewis Black, John Sayles, Shepard Fairey, Chuck D, Van Jones, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Ian MacKaye, D.J. Spooky, Hari Kunzru, Tommy Guerrero, Edwidge Danticat and Suheir Hammad. Rough, raw and unapologetically inspirational, Let Fury Have the Hour is a charged journey into the heart of the creative counter-culture in 2012. In a time of global challenges, big questions and by-the-numbers politics, this upbeat, outspoken film tracks the story of the artists, writers, thinkers and musicians who have gone underground to re-imagine the world – honing in on equality, community and engaged creativity – in exuberantly paradigm-busting ways.

Cavu Pictures has acquired rights to Antonino D’Ambrosio’s political documentary “Let Fury Have The Hour.” The New York-based distributor plans a theatrical release beginning December 14 at New York’s Quad Cinema, followed by an expanded rollout through January. Using subjects such as Eve Ensler, Lewis Black, John Sayles, Shepard Fairey, Tom Morello, Edwidge Danticat, Wayne Kramer and many others, “Fury” looks at the last 50 years of social history to make the case for activism and creative response as an antidote to cynicism. SnagFilms (Indiewire’s parent company) has VOD rights to “Fury,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, and will make the film available digitally mid-February. Read More: John Sayles, Antonino D'Ambrosio & DJ Spooky Discuss 'Let Fury Have the Hour' and the 'Post-Truth' Era at Paley Doc Fest “Building on the glowing reviews that ‘Let...

Cavu Pictures have released the first trailer for Antonino D’Ambrosio's "Let Fury Have the Hour" documentary which includes Eve Ensler, Lewis Black, John Sayles and Shepard Fairey. The film opens in New York on December 14th, followed by a Los Angeles release date of January 25th and more cities to be announced. D'Ambrosio directs and writes the documentary which also has Chuck D, Van Jones, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Ian MacKaye, D.J. Spooky, Hari Kunzru, Tommy Guerrero, Edwidge Danticat and Suheir Hammad. Rough, raw and unapologetically inspirational, Let Fury Have the Hour is a charged journey into the heart of the creative counter-culture in 2012. In a time of global challenges, big questions and by-the-numbers politics, this upbeat, outspoken film tracks the story of the artists, writers, thinkers and musicians who have gone underground to re-imagine the world – honing in on equality, community and engaged creativity – in exuberantly paradigm-busting ways.

Cavu Pictures have released the first trailer for Antonino D’Ambrosio's "Let Fury Have the Hour" documentary which includes Eve Ensler, Lewis Black, John Sayles and Shepard Fairey. The film opens in New York on December 14th, followed by a Los Angeles release date of January 25th and more cities to be announced. D'Ambrosio directs and writes the documentary which also has Chuck D, Van Jones, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Ian MacKaye, D.J. Spooky, Hari Kunzru, Tommy Guerrero, Edwidge Danticat and Suheir Hammad. Rough, raw and unapologetically inspirational, Let Fury Have the Hour is a charged journey into the heart of the creative counter-culture in 2012. In a time of global challenges, big questions and by-the-numbers politics, this upbeat, outspoken film tracks the story of the artists, writers, thinkers and musicians who have gone underground to re-imagine the world – honing in on equality, community and engaged creativity – in exuberantly paradigm-busting ways.

One’s been having a great, multi-year run that nobody takes notice of, the other was able to use a TV show to stage a comeback. Now, Variety reports that Marisa Tomei and Joshua Jackson are starring in Inescapable, the newest feature from Cairo Time director Ruba Nadda, which also stars Alexander Siddig. The film follows “a Syrian expatriate (Siddig) whose journalist daughter goes missing in Damascus.” He returns home “to find her despite the risks and calls on a former love (Tomei) to help him,” and an “embassy official (Jackson) is at first helpful but may have an agenda of his own.”

Myriad will produce the and sell the project, which the company’s head, Kirk D’Amico, calls a “compelling and emotionally-charged story [which] should provide audiences with a unique view into an unstable and dangerous place that we only seem to know about from news headlines.” Being able...

Sworn to Silence

Neve Campbell is set to star in and produce "Sworn to Silence", a new Lifetime two-hour TV movie which could serve as a back door pilot and is based on the novel by Linda Castillo.

Campbell will play an Amish girl whose childhood was rocked by "brutal murders" in her quiet Amish farming community. Burkholder then returns to the community as the chief of police and investigates a new murder with the signature of the killer that haunted her youth. [Source: The Ib Times]

Les Miserables

Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat," "Bruno") has reportedly been cast as the villain Monsieur Thenardier in Tom Hooper's new film adaptation of the musical "Les Miserables".

Cohen joins a cast that includes Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter. Shooting kicks off in the New Year. [Source: The Press Association]

Dew Breaker

Danny Glover, Sophie Okonedo and Chiwetel Ejiofor are in negotiations to topline the Arsam...

Getty Oprah Winfrey

When I was in my late teens, I wrote a letter to Oprah Winfrey asking her if she could fly my parents to Paris for their 22nd wedding anniversary. I imagine mine was one of thousands of such letters she received, like novenas from all corners of the globe.

I told her about that letter, during a meal, more than a decade later when I was working on the set of “Beloved,” the film based on the Toni Morrison novel.

Opens

Friday, April 16

(Los Angeles)

Friday, April 23

(New York)

NEW YORK -- Filmmaker Jonathan Demme makes a compelling return to the nonfiction format with this moving portrait of Jean Dominique, the late Haitian radio pioneer who championed the cause of freedom in his country and who was assassinated for his troubles in 2000. More timely than ever with the latest outbreak of violence in this perennially troubled region, "The Agronomist", which has won acclaim at numerous film festivals, should attract significant art house business.

The seeds of this project began more than a decade ago, when Demme began conducting filmed interviews with Dominique, who spent much of the 1990s in exile in New York. Largely composed of these interviews, shot in off-and-on fashion over a period of several years, this film also includes archival footage documenting the many political changes in Haiti during the past decade.

The film's title stems from Dominique's beginnings as an agricultural specialist, when his campaign for land reforms landed him in prison courtesy of Papa Doc Duvalier. But it was when he, along with his wife and partner Michele Montas, purchased and began to run the country's only independently operated radio station, one whose editorializing was frequently at odds with the various dictatorial governments, that he became a national figure.

The station was shut down several times, and Dominique was forced into exile not once but twice. He was once again running the station in April 2000, when, during a particularly tumultuous election period, he was gunned down outside its offices. Although his wife managed to keep it operating for a while, eventually it was once again shut down and she too was forced into exile.

Dominique, a cultured man of eclectic tastes who was also a filmmaker and the leader of Haiti's first cinema club, makes for a highly charismatic and articulate subject, and his jovial good humor prevents the proceedings from lapsing into solemnity. Although Demme might have been a little clearer in his account of the intricacies of Haitian politics, the film is an engrossing, entertaining and highly moving portrait of a man who was martyred for his strong beliefs.

As might be expected from a filmmaker known for his strong interest in world music, the film benefits mightily from the Haitian-flavored score, composed by Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis.

THE AGRONOMIST

A ThinkFilm release

Credits:

Director: Jonathan Demme

Producers: Jonathan Demme, Peter Saraf, Bevin McNamara

Editors: Lizi Gelber, Bevin McNamara

Original Music: Wyclef Jean, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis

Executive producer: Daniel Wolff

Associate producers: Edwidge Danticat, Lizi Gelber

Camera: Aboudja, Jonathan Demme, Peter Saraf, Bevin McNamara

Running time -- 90 minutes

No MPAA rating...

Opens

Friday, April 16

(Los Angeles)

Friday, April 23

(New York)

NEW YORK -- Filmmaker Jonathan Demme makes a compelling return to the nonfiction format with this moving portrait of Jean Dominique, the late Haitian radio pioneer who championed the cause of freedom in his country and who was assassinated for his troubles in 2000. More timely than ever with the latest outbreak of violence in this perennially troubled region, "The Agronomist", which has won acclaim at numerous film festivals, should attract significant art house business.

The seeds of this project began more than a decade ago, when Demme began conducting filmed interviews with Dominique, who spent much of the 1990s in exile in New York. Largely composed of these interviews, shot in off-and-on fashion over a period of several years, this film also includes archival footage documenting the many political changes in Haiti during the past decade.

The film's title stems from Dominique's beginnings as an agricultural specialist, when his campaign for land reforms landed him in prison courtesy of Papa Doc Duvalier. But it was when he, along with his wife and partner Michele Montas, purchased and began to run the country's only independently operated radio station, one whose editorializing was frequently at odds with the various dictatorial governments, that he became a national figure.

The station was shut down several times, and Dominique was forced into exile not once but twice. He was once again running the station in April 2000, when, during a particularly tumultuous election period, he was gunned down outside its offices. Although his wife managed to keep it operating for a while, eventually it was once again shut down and she too was forced into exile.

Dominique, a cultured man of eclectic tastes who was also a filmmaker and the leader of Haiti's first cinema club, makes for a highly charismatic and articulate subject, and his jovial good humor prevents the proceedings from lapsing into solemnity. Although Demme might have been a little clearer in his account of the intricacies of Haitian politics, the film is an engrossing, entertaining and highly moving portrait of a man who was martyred for his strong beliefs.

As might be expected from a filmmaker known for his strong interest in world music, the film benefits mightily from the Haitian-flavored score, composed by Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis.

THE AGRONOMIST

A ThinkFilm release

Credits:

Director: Jonathan Demme

Producers: Jonathan Demme, Peter Saraf, Bevin McNamara

Editors: Lizi Gelber, Bevin McNamara

Original Music: Wyclef Jean, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis

Executive producer: Daniel Wolff

Associate producers: Edwidge Danticat, Lizi Gelber

Camera: Aboudja, Jonathan Demme, Peter Saraf, Bevin McNamara

Running time -- 90 minutes

No MPAA rating...