News

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired all North American rights to co-writer/directors Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit’s euthanasia comedy The Farewell Party, represented by sales agent Beta Cinema. The film screened to enthusiastic audiences and critics in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the Toronto International Film Festival and had its world premiere this past summer at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Venice Days’ People’s Choice award.

“A poignant, provocative dramedy…boasting a dream cast, a finely honed visual sense and superbly ironic comic timing and dialogue…” (Variety)

“Anyone will be moved by this tender, unexpectedly charming tale… an original work of gentle militancy.” (THR)

The Farewell Party also won four Ophir Awards, the Israeli Academy Awards, including in the Best Actor category for acclaimed Israeli actor Ze’ev Revach, and received a total of 14 nominations, including for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay,...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired all North American rights to co-writer/directors Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit’s euthanasia comedy "The Farewell Party," a Toronto 2014 premiere that went on to win Venice Days' People's Choice award, and four Ophir Awards including Best Actor for acclaimed Israeli comedian Ze’ev Revach. Produced by Pie Films, 2Team production, in co-production with Pallas Film, Twenty Twenty Vision and United King Films, the film, per Goldwyn, tells "a unique, compassionate and unlikely funny story of a group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home who build a machine for self-euthanasia in order to help their terminally ill friend. When rumors of the machine begin to spread, more and more people ask for their help, and the friends are faced with a life and death dilemma." The cast includes Revach, Levana Finkelshtein, Aliza Rozen, Ilan Dar and Rafael Tabor. Dubbed "Mita Tova" in Hebrew, the...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has unveiled its 2015 line-up which includes films representing 54 countries, 23 world premieres and 53 U.S. premieres. The U.S. premiere of Niki Caro’s McFarland USA will close out the 30th fest. Based on the 1987 true story and starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello, the film follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. The unlikely band of runners overcomes the odds to forge not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well.

The festival runs from January 27-February 7.

Below is the list of World and U.S. Premiere films followed by the list of titles by sidebar categories.

World Premieres

A Better You, USA

Directed by Matt Walsh

Cast: Brian Huskey,...

A self-acknowledged "showcase for Academy Award frontrunners," the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is often overlooked for the actual films that earn it festival status. An amalgamation of international discoveries and ’merica’s circuit highlights, the Sbiff curates a week of best-of-the-best to pair with their star-praising. The 2015 edition offers another expansive selection, bookended by two films that aren’t on any radars just yet. Sbiff will open with "Desert Dancer," producer Richard Raymond’s directorial debut. Starring Reece Ritchie and Frieda Pinto, the drama follows a group of friends who wave off the harsh political climate of Iran’s 2009 presidential election in favor of forming a dance team, picking up moves from Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev thanks to the magic of YouTube. The festival will close with "McFarland, USA," starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello. Telling the 1987 true story of a Latino high school’s underdog cross-country team,...