News

Yen Press, LLC announced a slate of upcoming releases that includes manga (Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet; Kowloon Generic Romance;and Tales of the Kingdom), novels, and the highly anticipated release of the Delicious in Dungeon guidebook titled Delicious in Dungeon: The Adventurer’s Bible. All announced titles are scheduled for July 2022 release.

Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet

Story and Art by Mika Yamamori

Fumi Oono, second-year high school student. Stuck with the debts of her father, she needs a job—fast. While she did indeed manage to find one as a housekeeper for The Akatsuki Kibikino, it leaves much to be desired. After all, the novelist has a mean glare and an even worse attitude…And on top of that, she has to live with him?!

From Mika Yamamori, the creator of shojo favorite Daytime Shooting Star, comes Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, a comedic tale filled with gorgeous artwork that is sure to please fans of the category.

I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am rich. I am that b*tch. Yung Baby Tate's "I Am" serves as the motivating soundtrack for millions of TikTok users, and it all started with her own personal affirmations. The 24-year-old rapper from Georgia intentionally infused her After the Rain track (featuring Flo Milli) with positivity and power, hoping to set herself apart from the negativity of the world and the industry in 2021. She accomplished this goal and more, giving listeners seemingly therapeutic experiences that they recorded and shared on social media.

Yung Baby Tate puts in the work, both personally and professionally, to accomplish her aspirations. Popsugar recently chatted with the rapper otherwise known as "Ybt" about "I Am," the joys of manifestation, and other ways she practices self-care during tumultuous times. A spiritual person by nature, Ybt is humbled by the success of her song but not incredibly surprised.

ShortsTV has partnered with over 60 indie theaters in the U.S. and Asia to launch an initiative that will support independent theaters impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The cable TV channel dedicated to short films has created an online cinema release series that will be made available to viewers starting June 26.

Each feature-length compilation of the world’s best short films will be released to audiences every two weeks on Vimeo Ott, where each theater will have their own page to distribute locally. The releases will be available to rent on-demand for three days for the cost of $7.99.

“For fifteen years, these independent theaters have been the biggest supporters of the Oscar-nominated Short Films and the nominees who made them,” said ShortsTV CEO and Founder Carter Pilcher. We are grateful for their dedication to our artform which has given these fabulous films a platform and a national audience. We are...

Syfy will have a huge presence at this year's Comic-Con, with special screenings of Channel Zero: No-End House and Blood Drive, as well as a plethora of panels, including Sharknado 5: Global Swarming:

Press Release: New York, NY – July 5, 2017 – As Syfy celebrates its 25th anniversary and its recent brand reboot, the network is headed to San Diego Comic-Con bigger and better than ever before. In addition to 15 Syfy series panels or screenings, the network is rolling out a host of events, activations and parties designed to leave no fan behind. And Syfy will once again extend the fun to fans nationwide, with a three-night live TV event, Syfy Live From Comic-con, hosted by Zachary Levi.

“San Diego Comic-Con is the pinnacle event of the year for sci-fi enthusiasts, and as the only network dedicated to the genre 24/7, we can’t wait to celebrate in a big way,” said Alexandra Shapiro,...

One episode was provided for reviewing purposes prior to broadcast.

It took me approximately five minutes to estimate the kind of Syfy series that Dark Matter would be. None would call the network’s track record unblemished, exactly, so deciding to give a new Syfy show a chance is sometimes a crap shoot. You could win big (last year’s Ascension sure came close), or you could lose even bigger. Dark Matter, the network’s new series based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name, fits rightfully on brand with Syfy’s pivot away from quirky ephemerality (Eureka, Warehouse 13) and into the grittier deep space shenanigans of yesteryear – or, you know, when Battlestar Galactica made them a lot of money.

But now, thanks to Dark Matter‘s dramatically preposterous mishandling of both its “adult” themes and that elusive grittiness, Syfy is even further away from the quality...

The Collider Weekly TV Guide is a rundown of notable episodes, premieres, returns, finales, and opportunities to catch up on great shows (or cast an eye to the occasional TV train wreck). Prepare thyselves for another round of summer premieres, and check out the list for the week beginning Monday, June 8th: Monday 6/8 UnReal, “Relapse” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) — Lifetime’s new scripted series about the behind-the-scenes of a competition dating reality show had a great premiere and an excellent performance from star Shiri Appleby. With guarded optimism, we approach the second episode, which finds family tragedy striking one of the girls, and a new competition among the crew to find “Everlasting’s” villain. [caption id="attachment_462081" align="alignright" width="350"] Image via The History Channel/caption] Texas Rising, “Vengeance Is Mine” (History, 9 p.m.) — General Houston and his Rangers finally face Santa Anna’s Mexican Army in a surprise attack. The miniseries has proved to be...

The French-born artist Abdelkader “Kader” Benchamma (b. 1975) is the first to use the stairwell at Soho's Drawing Center as his sketch pad. He finished a huge India-ink doodle in April. Seen obtained this exclusive time-lapse video of him making it. “I changed my first proposal because I wanted to fill everything,” Benchamma said, standing at the top of the stairs and looking at his swirling Representation of Dark Matter. “It’s very difficult to completely finish a drawing like that.” According to the museum, the work is “comprised of a series of linear abstractions and nebulous, inkblot forms [and] the work is a highly articulated depiction of the complexity of the solar system and its nearly imperceptible dark matter,” resulting in “an occult mapping of time and space.” Which sounds pretty trippy. “I wanted the technique to be very simple,” Benchamma explained. “In fact, it’s just line most of the...

Iceberg Interactive has announced a large Steam sale up to 80% off! Check them out!

From now until Sunday May 17th, 2015 Iceberg Interactive games are on sale.

The Cool As Ice Bundle is available for $24.99 (80% off). It contains StarDrive, Starpoint Gemini 2, Horizon, Gas Guzzlers Extreme and Nuclear Dawn.

Along with this sale they have also announced the following:

Adam’s Venture Episode 1: The Search For The Lost Garden - $1.24 (75% discount) Adam’s Venture Episode 2: Solomon’s Secret - $1.24 (75% discount) Adam’s Venture Episode 3: Revelations - $1.24 (75% discount) Adam’s Venture Pack - $3.24 (75% discount) Armada 2526 - $3.74 (75% discount) Armada 2526 Gold Edition - $4.99 (75% discount) Dark Fall: Lost Souls - $3.24 (75% discount) Dark Matter - $2.49 (75% discount) Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder - $1.99 (75% discount) Darkness Within 2: The Dark Lineage Director’s Cut Edition - $2.49 (75% discount) Gas Guzzlers Extreme: $6.24 (75% discount) Gas Guzzlers Extreme: Full Metal Frenzy - $1.24 (75% discount) Gas Guzzlers Extreme: Full Metal...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, Sneak Peek the Toronto Film Production Update for May 2015, including "Bravo 14" (aka "Suicide Squad"):

11-22-63Mini Series

May 25/15

Anne Of Green Gables

TV Movie

May 25 – Jun 17/15

Beyond Skyline

Feature

May 04 - May 16/15

Bravo 14

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Damien Season 1

TV Series

Mar 16 - June 23/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hello, It's Me

TV Movie

May 11 – Jun 1 / 15

Heroes: Reborn Season 1

TV Series

Apr 6 - Sept 18/15

Love Of My Life

Feature

Apr 13 - May 08/15

Max And Shred - Season 2

TV Series

Apr 20 - Jun 26/15

Murdoch Mysteries Season 9

TV Series

May 19 – Nov 20/15

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Feature

May 11 - June 26/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

Rupture

Feature

Jun 1 – Jul 8/15

Sensitive Skin Season 2

TV Series

May 14 - Jun 30/15

Shadowhunters Season 1

TV Series

May 19 - Oct 14/15

Special Correspondents

Feature

May 19 - Jun 30/15

Suits Season 5

TV Series

Apr 6 2015 -...

Syfy is joining with Steven Speilberg’s Amblin Television to adapt Aldous Huxley’s classic 1932 novel Brave New World into a scripted series. The project reunites the Emmy-winning team behind Syfy’s 2003 mini-series Taken.

Ranked fifth among the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th Century by Modern Library, Brave New World takes place in a world without war, poverty or disease. Though everyone is provided for, humans are given mind-altering drugs, rampant consumerism and free sex are the order of the day, and people no longer procreate. Instead, children are genetically engineered in “hatcheries.” All nonconformists are sent to “reservations” to protect the social order, until one of the “savages” decides to challenge the system.

“Brave New World is one of the most influential genre classics of all time. Its provocative vision of a future gone awry remains as powerful and as timeless as ever,” said Dave Howe, president of Syfy and Chiller.

Aziz Ansari, whose next show will be on Netflix.

MTV has cancelled the thriller Eye Candy after one season. Series star Victoria Justice made the announcement via twitter.

Hi everyone! I wanted you guys to hear it from me first, that the cast and I received news that Eye Candy will not be returning for season 2. Even though a lot of you are going to feel sad/angry, please know that playing Lindy Sampson, is something that I loved and I will hold dear to my heart. I couldn’t have asked for better cast mates to work with either. They are the most down to earth, talented and kind souls that I am so happy to have met. Then there’s our show runner @Christiantwit1 who is so awesomely talented and made a show that I am so incredibly proud to be a part of. A very special thank...

Syfy has officially announced the premieres of their summer programming. The shows include Defiance (season three, June 12th), Dark Matter (series debut, June 12th), Killjoys (series debut, June 19th), Dominion (season two, July 9th), Geeks Who Drink (series debut, July 16th), and Face Off (season nine, July 28th). Plus, there will be new Sharknado programming.

Here are the details:

Syfy Reveals 2015 Summer Programming Schedule

Lineup Includes Three New Series, Three Returning Series and Summertime's Must-Watch Event, 'Sharknado 3'

(more…)...

Syfy is debuting two new scripted series this summer, Killjoys, from the producers of Orphan Black, and Dark Matter, from the writers of Stargate Atlantis. Also slated is the new unscripted game show Geeks Who Drink, hosted and executive produced by Zachary Levi; and returning seasons of scripted originals Defiance and Dominion, as well as Face Off. And lest we forget Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! which anchors Syfy's second annual Sharknado Week this July. Its previously…...

Syfy is giving you fair warning: This summer will bring about an alien siege, an angelic war and even more sharks falling from the heavens.

The cable network has released its summer premiere dates

, which include the return of fan favorites like Defiance and Dominion and the third Sharnkado movie.

Related Cable Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?

Defiance‘s third season will bow with a two-hour opener on Friday, June 12, at 8/7c, followed by the new amnesiacs-on-a-broken-down-spaceship drama Dark Matter at 10 pm. The next week, following a regular episode of Defiance,...

Take another look @ the Toronto Film Production Update for April 2015, including "Bravo 14" (aka "Suicide Squad"), starting April 15:

Antibirth

Feature

Mar 18 - Apr 1/15

Bravo 14

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Cheerleader Death Squad

TV Pilot

Mar 18 - Apr 7/15

Damien Season 1

TV Series

Mar 16 - June 23/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Heroes: Reborn Season 1

TV Series

Apr 6 - Sept 18/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Girlfriend Experience Season 1

TV Series

Mar 9 - Jun 19/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for April 2015, including "Bravo 14" (aka "Suicide Squad"), starting April 15:

Antibirth

Feature

Mar 18 - Apr 1/15

Bravo 14

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Cheerleader Death Squad

TV Pilot

Mar 18 - Apr 7/15

Damien Season 1

TV Series

Mar 16 - June 23/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Heroes: Reborn Season 1

TV Series

Apr 6 - Sept 18/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Girlfriend Experience Season 1

TV Series

Mar 9 - Jun 19/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15...

Gza and Tom Morello hit up The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Tuesday night for the live debut of their one-off collaboration "The Mexican," the Wu-Tang Clan rapper's cover of Babe Ruth's 1972 single (the British rock band, not the New York Yankee). For this rendition of the flamenco-flavored, Morricone-inspired cut, Tonight Show house band the Roots fill in for Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who appear on the studio version that was released last month.

It's a routine performance until the three-minute mark, when the Rage Against the Machine guitarist unleashes one of his trademark,...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for March 2015, including "Bravo 14" (aka "Suicide Squad"), a TV pilot for "Minority Report", "The Strain" Season 2 and the new TV series "Time Vampire":

Bravo 14 (aka Suicide Squad)

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Damien Season 1

TV Series

Mar 16 - June 23/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Make It Pop Season 1

TV Series

Dec 8/14 – Mar 13/15

Minority Report

TV Series Pilot

Mar 15 – Mar 30/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Girlfriend Experience Season 1

TV Series

Mar 9 - Jun 19/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/14 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – Mar. 3/15

Warrior

Series Pilot

Mar 02 - Mar 16/15...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for March 2015, including "Bravo 14" (aka "Suicide Squad"), a TV pilot for "Minority Report", "The Strain" Season 2 and the new TV series "Time Vampire":

Bravo 14 (aka Suicide Squad)

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Damien Season 1

TV Series

Mar 16 - June 23/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Make It Pop Season 1

TV Series

Dec 8/14 – Mar 13/15

Minority Report

TV Series Pilot

Mar 15 – Mar 30/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Girlfriend Experience Season 1

TV Series

Mar 9 - Jun 19/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/14 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – Mar. 3/15

Warrior

Series Pilot

Mar 02 - Mar 16/15...

CBS’ The Big Bang Theory The Anxiety Optimization TV Show Review. The Big Bang Theory, Season 8, Episode 13: The Anxiety Optimization saw Sheldon (Jim Parsons) get it in his head that his creative juices as a scientist, solving the Dark Matter Theory of the Great Beyond, is [...]

Continue reading: TV Review: The Big Bang Theory: Season 8, Episode 13: The Anxiety Optimization [CBS]...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for February 2015:

Beauty And The Beast

Season 3

Aug. 28 – Feb 06/15

Bravo 14 (aka "Suicide Squad")

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/15

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Marilyn

Mini Series

Dec 8/14 – Feb. 15/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Drop Season 1

TV Series

Dec 8/14 – Mar 13/15

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Good Witch Season One

TV Series

Oct. 15/14 – Feb. 13/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – Mar 3/15...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for January 2015:

Beauty And The Beast

Season 3

TV Series

Aug. 28 – Feb 06/15

Bravo 14 (aka 'Suicide Squad")

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/2015

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Marilyn

Mini Series

Dec 8/14 – Feb. 15/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Remedy Season 2

TV Series

Sep 14/14 – Jan 21/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Drop Season 1

TV Series

Dec 8/14 – Mar 13/15

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Good Witch Season One

TV Series

Oct. 15/14 – Feb. 13/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – March 3, 2015...

Prepare to meet the people who gave life to Girls‘ Shoshanna.

Ana Gasteyer (Suburgatory) and Anthony Edwards (ER) will guest-star on the HBO series as the mother and father of Zosia Mamet’s character, Variety reports.

Girls returns for Season 4 on Jan. 11.

Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…

* Comedienne Sarah Silverman will star in a half-hour comedy pilot for HBO, our sister site Deadline reports. Written by Secret Diary of a Call Girl creator Lucy Prebble, the untitled project is a comic look at a pathologically honest woman having a mid-life crisis.

* Arrow alum Manu Bennett has...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for January 2015:

Beauty And The Beast

Season 3

TV Series

Aug. 28 – Feb 06/15

Bravo 14

Feature

Apr 15 - Aug 30/15

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/2015

Defiance Season 3

TV Series

Feb 2 - Jun 11/15

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Marilyn

Mini Series

Dec 8/14 – Feb. 15/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Remedy Season 2

TV Series

Sep 14/14 – Jan 21/15

Rogue Season 3

TV Series

Feb 9 – Sept 14/15

The Drop Season 1

TV Series

Dec 8/14 – Mar 13/15

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Good Witch Season One

TV Series

Oct. 15/14 – Feb. 13/15

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – March 3, 2015...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for December 2014:

12 Monkeys Season 1

TV Series

Aug 6 – Dec 5/14

Adventures Of Napkin Man

TV Series

Dec 09 - Dec 19/14

Annedroids Season 4

TV Series

Jul 29 – Dec. 23/14

.

Beauty And The Beast Season 3

TV Series

Aug. 28 – Feb 06/15

Between Season 1

TV Series

Oct. 20 – Dec. 16/14

Dark Matter Season 1

TV Series

Jan 7 – May 15/2015

Hannibal Season 3

TV Series

Oct 20/14 - Apr 02/15

Hemlock Grove Season 3

TV Series

Dec 08/14 - Apr 30/15

Man Seeking Woman

TV Series

Oct 6 - Dec. 19/14

Marilyn

Mini Series

Dec 8/14 – Feb. 15/15

Reign Season 2

TV Series

Jul 07 - Apr 13/15

Room

Feature

Oct 14 – Dec 15/14

Saving Hope Season 3

TV Series

Jun 11 - Dec 15/14

Single Ladies Season 4

TV- Series

Nov 3 – Dec 23/14

The Expanse

TV Series

Oct 28/14 - Mar 27/15

The Good Witch Season One

TV Series

Oct. 15/14 – Feb. 13/15

The Steps

Feature

Nov 03 - Dec 05/14

The Strain Season 2

TV Series

Nov. 17/4 – Apr. 30/15

Time Vampire

TV Series

Oct-14/14 – March 3, 2015...

The 18th annual Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival takes place 23-28 October 2014. From over 2,800 submissions, the programming committee has selected over 200 films from 42 countries, including 57 world, international or European premieres. These premieres include 10 Czech films in competition in the Czech Joy section.

Over the course of its existence, the Jihlava festival has become an indispensable Czech and worldwide documentary event, and an active contributor to the promotion and distribution of documentary films. The Jihlava festival is a co-founder and member of Doc Alliance, a prestigious union of seven important European documentary festivals.

Program – Year Eighteen

As in past years, the largest celebration of original documentary film in Central and Eastern Europe will present a diverse range of Czech and foreign films, with many world, international, European, and Czech premieres.

“This year’s festival is a true tribute to the artistic and independent film scene. This tribute will take place in the presence of such special guests as Kidlat Tahimik (which translates to “Quiet Lightning”), founder of independent Filipino cinema, whose films from the 1970s were declared by Werner Herzog to be among the most free to come out during that time, and noted Chinese director Wang Bing, winner of awards at festivals in Venice, Rotterdam, Yamagata and Marseilles,” said festival director Marek Hovorka.

The Face Of The Festival

The central motif of the 18th festival is a stark black-and-white symbol of a factory. It’s not only the dominant visual feature of the festival, but has also found its way into the films themselves. The poster was designed by artist, educator and publisher Juraj Horváth. This year’s festival trailer was created by the legend of Czech and world cinematography Jan Němec. This was his very first experience with this format; the intensity of the final form, however, can be felt in his short statement on the trailer’s filming:

“There are no ‘small’ or ‘big’ films. Twenty seconds expresses concern about the possible demise of film. I sound the alarm myself and the shadow of my hand is my signature.”

1. Organization And Awards

The festival is organized by the Jsaf civic association. In 2013, the festival issued more than 2,900 festival passes. Of these, 782 were for film professionals and festival guests from the Czech Republic and abroad, and 156 were for journalists. The festival screenings were attended by a total of more than 30,000 viewers.

The following awards will be presented as part of the 2014 Jihlava Idff:

· 2014 Best International Documentary Film Award (Opus Bonum competition)

· 2014 Best Central and Eastern European Documentary Film Award (Between the Seas competition)

· 2014 Best Czech Documentary Film Award (Czech Joy competition)

· 2014 Best Experimental Documentary Film Award (Fascinations competition)

· 2014 Best Debut Film Award (First Lights competition)

· 2014 Best Short Film Award (Short Joy competition)

· 2014 Contribution to World Cinematography

2014 Spectators Prize 2014 Respekt Award for the best television or video reportage · Silver Eye Award in the categories of short, mid-length, and feature documentary

(part of the East Silver market organized by the Institute of Documentary Film)

· 2014 Award for the Most Beautiful Festival Poster

· 2014 Audience Award for the Most Beautiful Festival Poster

2. New At The 18th Jihlava Idff

This year’s festival brings two new competitions: the former non-competition section Short Joy, focusing on short films, has received competition status, and in the new competition First Lights, the jury will choose the best debut film from the Opus Bonum, Between the Seas and Czech Joy sections. And of course there’s our annual retrospective of distinctive personalities and unique thematic sections.

The Complete Letters

This unique project is the brainchild of the Centre for Contemporary Culture in Barcelona, in which five pairs of world-renowned directors exchanged audio-visual “letters”. These letters will be presented at Jihlava in their Eastern European premiere. Filmmakers such as meditative artist Naomi Kawase, legend of the New York avant-garde Jonas Mekas, “lone wolf” Albert Serra and critical chronicler of contemporary China Wang Bing invite viewers into their private lives and into the secrets of their artistic poetics.

“It’s remarkable to see how much each letter reflects the personal style of each of the directors. Never have two directors with such radically different styles come together like this,” commented festival programmer David Čeněk.

Forgotten Filmmaker JIŘÍ PolÁK

This photographer, director and sensitive individual who escaped to the “place where dreams are made real” – the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf prior to the August occupation of Czechoslovakia – is one of the forgotten figures of Czech cinema. Jiří Polák was able to film Hospital in Kuks, but did not enjoy any domestic recognition. After his emigration and short stays in Vienna and Switzerland, he accepted film assignments in Iran.

Tribute: Alain Resnais

“Renowned French director passed away on 1 March 2014 at the age of 91. In memory of his work, we have prepared two screenings of his lesser-known or completely unknown films. He himself was instrumental to an unprecedented extent to the development of documentary filmmaking in France, and showed its new stylistic possibilities,” says festival programmer David Čeněk about this unique presentation of Resnais’ (mainly) early work. Alain Resnais The majority of Resnais’ works being presented at this year’s Jihlava Idff have been shown only a few times in France, and are being screened in the Czech Republic for the first time ever.

Retrospective: Kidlat Tahimik

A special guest at this year’s Jihlava festival will be the “father of Filipino independent film” – director, actor, screenwriter and producer Kidlat Tahimik, the founder of the so-called Filipino New Wave and an influential commentator on post-colonialism and power imbalances throughout the world, praised in the West by Werner Herzog when he said that [Tahimik’s] films from the 1970s are among some of the most free works on film of their time.

3. Jurors

The jury for the competition section Opus Bonum traditionally consists of just one person – a notable personality from world cinema. This year, this honour has been bestowed on a significant figure from the Yugoslav Black Wave – Želimir Žilnik.

The best film in the Between the Seas section will be chosen by:

· French film theoretician Raymond Bellour

· Spanish director Albert Serra

American artist Deborah Stratman Artist Kateřina Šedá Czech Joy Jury:

Poet Petr Hruška Former director of Czech Television Ivo Mathé Film historian Tereza Czesany Dvořáková Documentary filmmaker Bohdan Bláhovec The winner of the experimental competition Fascination will be determined by the Austrian master of found footage Peter Tscherkassky and his wife, filmmaker Eve Heller.

The historic first judging of the Short Joy section will be conducted by members of the art group Rafani.

4. Competition Sections

Czech Joy

Competition for the Best Czech Documentary Film 2014.

A prestigious selection of new Czech documentaries, including 10 world premieres. Films include Daniel’s World (Veronika Lišková), a look at the last taboo of modern society – paedophilia. The delightful film Long Live Hunting! (Jaroslav Kratochvíl) takes aim at Czech hunting. Shadows of the past are revealed in the film Pavel Wonka Commits to Cooperate ( Libuše Rudinská), which examines whether the last Communist prisoner was a dissident and symbol of the revolution – or an StB collaborator. The section also includes a pair of family portraits: Family Business / from Videodiary (Jakub Wagner), and Marislav Janek’s eagerly awaited new film The Gospel According to Brabenec, about Vratislav Brabenec of the Plastic People of the Universe.

World Premieres · Daniel’s World, Veronika Lišková, Czech Republic 2014, 75 min

· The Gospel According to Brabenec , Miroslav Janek, Czech Republic 2014, 85 min

· Long Live Hunting! , Jaroslav Kratochvíl, Czech Republic 2014, 62 min

· Pavel Wonka Commits to Cooperate , Libuše Rudínská, Czech Republic 2014, 73 min

· The Plan , Benjamin Tuček, Czech Republic 2014, 91 min

· The Czech Way , Martin Kohout, Czech Republic 2014, 90 min

· Family Business / from Videodiary , Jakub Wagner, Czech Republic 2014, 60 min

· František of His Own Kind , Jan Gogola Jr., Czech Republic 2014, 26 min

· Lets Block , Martina Malinová, Czech Republic 2014, 47 min

My Farm Is My Castle , Jiří Stejskal, Czech Republic 2014, 87 min

Opus Bonum

Competition for the 2014 Best World Documentary Film

Opus Bonum selects the best noteworthy documentaries representing diverse trends from around the world. Sixteen films are in the Opus Bonum competition for best world documentary film, including 5 world premieres, 5 international premieres and 1 European premiere. Films in this section include Rock On Bones, a personal view of the Russian independent music scene, and the film-poem Fovea Centralis, which skirts the fringe of video art, composed of multiplied images from the Fukushima nuclear power plant’s closed-circuit cameras.20 Cents shows what happens when public transportation fares in São Paulo are increased and the carnival atmosphere is replaced by one of guerrilla warfare.

World Premieres · Aged , Philip Hoffman, Canada 2014, 45 min

· Rock on Bones , Caroline Troubetzkoy, France 2014, 145 min

· I Am the People , Anna Roussillon, France 2014, 110 min

· In Your Eyes , Pietro Albino Di Pasquale, Italy 2014, 78 min

Fovea Centralis , Philippe Rouy, France 2014, 50 min International Premieres · Chasing After The Wind , Juan Camilo Olmos Feris, Colombia 2014, 60 min

· Water to Tabato , Paulo Carneiro, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal 2014, 45 min

· 20 Cents , Tiago Tambelli, Brazil 2014, 52 min

· Buenos Aires Free Party , Homero Cirelli, Argentina 2014, 74 min

The Shelter , Fernand Melgar, Switzerland 2014, 101 min European Premiere The Beijing Ants , Ryuji Otsuka, China 2014, 88 min

Between The Seas

Competition for the 2014 Best Documentary Film from Central and Eastern Europe.

Between the Seas is a competition section for the countries and nations of Central and Eastern Europe. Between the Seas presents 17 films, of which 4 are world premieres, 2 are international premieres, and 2 are European premieres. The Serbian Lawyer is one of the films seeing its world premiere at Jihlava – a film about the man who defended Slobodan Milošević and Radovan Karadžić, criminals from whom he had fled during the old regime. Another premiere in this section is Zuzana Piussi’s Transference , which sketches a dark picture of the state social care system for threatened children in Slovakia after the death of an abused child. Also in competition is the latest film by unsparing Austrian analyst Ulrich Seidl. In the Basement reveals that the basement is a rather important place for many Austrians, where you’ll find the usual hunting trophies and unusual bars, but also town council members and their swastikas, sadomasochism and other “hobbies”.

World Premieres · Transference , Zuzana Piussi, Slovakia/Czech Republic 2014, 57 min

· The Serbian Lawyer , Aleksandar Nikolić, Germany/Great Britain/Serbia 2014, 82 min

· Pill Junkies , Bartosz Staszewski, Poland 2014, 76 min

Ocean , Tamara Drakulić, Serbia 2014, 77 min International Premieres · 6 Degrees , Bartosz Dombrowski, Poland 2013, 81 min

A Last Year in 114 Minutes , Daniel Nicolae Djamo, Romania 2014, 114 min European Premieres Euromaidan: Rough Cut , Roman Bondarchuk et al., Ukraine 2014, 60 min Don’t Breathe, Nino Kirtadzé, France 2014, 86 min

Fascinations

Competition for the 2014 Best Experimental Documentary Film.

Fascinations is a competition screening of experimental films that offer us unique approaches to the depiction of reality. The section will present 33 films, including 7 world premieres, 6 international premieres, and 4 European premieres.

Premiere films include:

An animated work based on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philisophicus (Active Image O directed by Becky James); the unguided choreography of white points in black space (Fascinating Moments by Yoshiki Nishimura); a memorial to one’s father using old photographs and chemical manipulation of the film itself using salt and seaweed (Dark Matter by Karel Doing); and a journey through a digitally manipulated landscape (L by Jacques Perconte).

World Premieres

· Active Image O , Becky James, USA 2014, 8 min

· Dark Matter , Karel Doing, Netherlands/Great Britain 2014, 20 min

· Fascinating Moments , Yoshiki Nishimura, Japan 2014, 4 min

· L , Jacques Perconte, France 2014, 15 min

· Our Hands Are Empty , Sj Ramir, Australia/New Zealand 2014, 10 min

· Jupiter Lolopop , Charlotte Dunker, Belgium 2014, 5 min

Study of Synchromy , Patrick Bergeron, Canada 2014, 3 min International Premieres

· Cut Out , Guli Silberstein, Great Britain 2014, 4 min

· The Civilization Desire , Carolina Astudillo, Spain 2014, 7 min

· A.D.A.M. , Vladislav Knežević, Croatia 2014, 13 min

· Digital Landscaping , Sangsok Ko, South Korea 2013, 4 min

· Field , Yi Myun, South Korea 2014, 6 min

Salers , Fernando Dominguez, Argentina/France 2014, 9 min European Premieres

· Beep , Kyungman Kim, South Korea 2014, 10 min

· Callisto , Youjin Moon, USA 2014, 14 min

· Droga! , Miko Revereza, Philippines 2013, 7 min

Frame Walk , Hayoung Jeon, South Korea 2014, 6 min Short Joy

Competition for the Best Short Film 2014 .

This year, this originally non-competition section devoted to short films has been transformed into a new competition section. The fifteen competition entries include films from all over the world, dealing with a wide spectrum of topics, and representing many current trends in contemporary documentary filmmaking. The Czech entry, Arguments by Andran Abramjan (who received an honourable mention in last year’s Czech Joy competition), considers the possibilities of dialogue on the Ukrainian crisis from both the eastern and western points of view. The purely observational film The Limits of Europe, underscored by the noise and sounds of protests, explores the spontaneous architecture of seven Kiev barricades erected in the streets leading to Independence Square. The contemplative and imaginatively filmed The Length enters the world of jazz legend Ted Curson.

First Lights

Competition for the Best Debut of 2014

Further evidence of Jihlava’s mission to support the film industry and share in the discovery of new talents is the presentation of a new competition section that rewards the best first work. Debut films presented as part of the traditional competition sections Opus Bonum, Czech Joy and Between the Seas have the opportunity to “battle it out” in a space that is not limited by territory. Comparing Czech and other Eastern European documentaries with their competition from the rest of the world can be a valuable experience, an opportunity to see commonalities and differences. It can also provide mutual inspiration not only for the films’ creators, but also for producers and other film professionals.

5. Non-competition Sections

Exprmntl.Cz

Experimental films from the Czech lands

This section is a non-competition survey of contemporary trends in Czech experimental film. Screenings will include films by renowned artists as well as filmmakers who just starting out.The unsettling video art of Zbyňek Baladrán, who focuses primarily on “archaeological” work with found material, can be seen in Dead Reckoning, showing the sterility of modern man’s life in four sequences featuring statistics, psychoanalysis, income and paranoia in the leading roles. Alice Růžičková’s film Autonomous Calábek takes a look into the plant kingdom. Made from a montage of scientific and film experiments, her portrait of a pioneer in plant physiology takes on surrealistic qualities.

Special Event

New world and Czech films, pre-premieres and festival hits

Alice Nellis presents Adoption: A Piece of Fortune, a kaleidoscope of stories with the same ending – a longed-for child. This opening film of the Jihlava Idff is a documentary exploration of a complex topic. In contrast, American master Errol Morris’ film The Unknown Known is a chilling look at former Us Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld. The Last of the Unjust by Claude Lanzmann captures the testimony of Benjamin Murmelstein, the “puppet king” appointed at the end of the Nazi era to the position of the last “Ältester” of the Judenrat at a model Jewish ghetto. Also worth mentioning is Regarding Susan Sontag, director Nancy Kates’s portrait of one the most important intellectuals of the 20th century.

Doc-fi

Documentary and fiction are not opposites

Doc-fi expresses the conviction that the boundary between documentary and fiction is permeable. This year, three unusual films will be screened. Requiem for Beauty by Chinese author and Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian examines the space between film, poetry and painting. His multi-language monologues touch on themes that people do not speak about much anymore. In Beyond Icebergland, a man, a woman and a child occupy an invisible common film space, but not the same reality. It’s an ephemeral chronicle of a frozen time and a collage of images from a disappearing world, a film on the frontier of documentary, mystification and delightful genre games. Czech filmmaker Ondřej Vavrečka’s Among Us is an experimentally tinged love story that takes place during the time when the country was coming to grips with the death of Václav Havel.

6. Doc Alliance

Doc Alliance is the result of a creative partnership of seven key European documentary film festivals: Cph:dox Copenhagen, Doclisboa, Dok Leipzig, Fid Marseille, Jihlava Idff, Planete Doc Film Festival and Visions du Réel Nyon.

The aim of Doc Alliance is to help documentary films reach as many viewers as possible, and to systematically support their distribution through their festival markets and through the alliance’s online platform www.DAFilms.com.

The new season of Syfy’s Helix brings a new viral mystery to solve — and from the looks of this exclusive teaser video, Steven Weber‘s enigmatic cult leader may be at the crux of it.

Season 2 of the sci-fi drama finds Billy Campbell’s Dr. Alan Farragut and his Cdc team, still haunted by the Narvik crisis at Arctic Biosystems, investigating the outbreak of a new disease on a Windjammer. Clues lead them to an island inhabited by a cult that is dead-set on creating a utopian society.

Weber (Murder in the First, Studio 60) will heavily recur as Brother Michael,...

  Syfy to Make Television Adaptation of Dark Matter. Stargate franchise vets Joseph Mallozi and Paul Mullie are making a comeback to Syfy as the network has acquired the television rights for their comic book series Dark Matter, a space drama taking place in the outer reaches of space. The [...]

Continue reading: Dark Matter: Syfy to Adapt Comic Book Series to Television...

Syfy is jumping into the comic book-adaptation game, having acquired the rights to Dark Horse's Dark Matter graphic novel series. The network has picked up a 13-episode series based on Dark Matter, which actually only spawned four issues. The series will keep things in the Syfy family, as the original Dark Matter comics comes from Stargate writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie. The original comic tells the story of a spaceship crew who all wake up from stasis with no memory of their mission or even who they are. They begin to look for answers when the ship reaches its destination,...

Syfy have added another geek-friendly programme to their busy slate - an adaptation of the Dark Matter comics.

Along with 12 Monkeys, Dominion, Defiance, Five Ghosts, Hunters and Incorporated already on their slate, Syfy has recently announced it is working on another new series - an adaptation of Dark Matter.

Based on the Dark Horse graphic novels of the same name, Dark Matter will be a thirteen episode drama.

Stargate’s Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, who also created the comic, are leading the adaptation to the screen, with Prodigy Pictures helping Syfy out with the production.

As you may already know, Dark Matter was published across four parts in 2012, and sees the crew of an old spaceship wake from stasis memory-less. A twisty narrative stuffed with danger and deception follows. It was, we're told, originally intended for telly.

Sounds like an interesting project to us. We’ll be sure to pass on any updates.

Syfy has acquired the rights to the 2012 Dark Horse comic mini-series "Dark Matter" with Prodigy Pictures producing a thirteen-episode first season of the space opera to air in 2015.

"Stargate" series writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie created the comic which follows the crew of a derelict spaceship awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board.

Facing threats all around them, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with betrayal and hidden secrets.

The project is one of several comic adaptations in the works at Syfy. Others include the supernatural treasure hunting series "Five Ghosts," Frank Miller's samurai drama "Ronin" and the political space tale "Letter 44".

Source: The Live Feed...

(Cbr) TVLine has reported that Syfy has added "Dark Matter," a drama series based on the Dark Horse Comics limited series of the same name, to their 2015 schedule. The series was created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, a pair of writers and producers that have been associated with the "Stargate" franchise through it's evolution from "Sg-1" to "Universe." The duo will reportedly helm the thirteen episodes ordered by Syfy. The comic series, originally published in early 2012, tracks the advetures of a starship crew that wakes up from stasis with no clue as to who they are or what their mission is. The series featured art from Garry Brown and colors from Ryan Hill. "'Dark Matter' is a refreshing and entertaining space opera that blends an intriguing premise with fast-paced suspense," Syfy programming Svp Chris Regina told TVLine. "It will be a terrific addition to our primetime schedule next year.

Syfy has greenlit the drama series “Dark Matter,” which comes from Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, the writers behind “Stargate.” The 13 one-hour episodes will be based on the graphic novel of the same name. Prodigy Pictures, the team behind “Lost Girl” and “Xiii,” is set to produce. The series will premiere sometime in 2015. Also read: End of ‘Stargate': Syfy Cancels ‘Universe’ “Dark Matter” is based on the popular Dark Horse Comics series of the same name, which follows, “the crew of a derelict spaceship (that) is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on.

Syfy's space exploration continues. The NBCUniversal-owned cable network has acquired Dark Matter, a 13-episode drama based on the Dark Horse graphic novels. The series, a co-production with Lost Girl producers Prodigy Pictures, is created by Stargate's Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie. Dark Matter centers on the crew of a derelict spaceship that is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets. See more Faces of Fall 2014 Jay Firestone,

read more...

Syfy has acquired the original series Dark Matter, an adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novels by Stargate franchise vets Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Mallozzi and Mullie will helm the 13-episode series, which is being produced by Prodigy Pictures (Lost Girl, Xiii). Endemol will distribute the drama internationally. Prodigy’s Jay Firestone and Vanessa Piazza will also serve as executive producers.

In Dark Matter, the crew of a derelict spaceship is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to...

Syfy has picked up "Dark Matter," an original sci-fi show set in the far future, for a 13-episode season to air in 2015. The show will be produced by Prodigy Pictures -- the company behind "Lost Girl" -- and was created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, both of whom worked on "Stargate Sg-1," "Stargate Atlantis" and "Stargate Universe" for Syfy. In "Dark Matter," the crew of a derelict spaceship is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets. Mallozzi and Mullie will serve as executive producers, alongside Jay Firestone and Vanessa Piazza. "'Dark Matter' is a refreshing and entertaining space opera that blends an ...

Anime fan favourite Space Pirate Captain Harlock stars in a new movie... but is it worth the wait?

If you're a fan of manga, you probably already know Harlock, although his fan following is much larger in France, Quebec and Japan. Harlock is the brainchild of Leiji Matsumoto (creator of Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers). Harlock was created in the 50s, but his breakthrough came in 1978 with the release of the original television series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock. He has since then seen many incarnations, but he had been absent from our screens since 2002. Given the current trend of revisiting old franchise favourites, Harlock was bound to suffer the reboot treatment at one point. Harlock has already been rebooted several times over the years, long before the term "reboot" was actually coined, so it shouldn't have been a big deal, but some fans feared that Harlock's move to the big...

Production on Native, a UK sci-fi feature starring Rupert Graves and Ellie Kendrick, wrapped on July 16.

Jen Handorf, of Dark Matter Ltd co-produces with Liverpool-based, feature debutants, Neil Atkinson and Jim Fitzsimmons of Glasshouse Films.

Daniel Fitzsimmons directs from the screenplay he co-wrote the script with Atkinson.

Native is the story of two humanoids from a telepathic society hunting down a sound signal from a distant planet - Earth. It soon becomes clear that they are on more than just a voyage of discovery - their mission is to colonise.

However, for one of them the isolation and breaking away from the telepathic collective means they go through a series of changes that makes them more emotional, self aware - more human.

Handorf, a veteran of six horror features, says: “I’ve never done a science fiction film. The idea of creating a world, where you create your own rules and that you don’t have to...

As we rightfully celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' rockin'-vasion of America, it is also worth noting the 40th anniversaries of progressive rock albums released in 1974 -- a banner year for the genre.

In alphabetical rather than chronological order, here is just a short list, along with links to a representative composition from each album.

Enjoy!

Apostrophe (Frank Zappa)

Although Zappa had been "at it" since 1966 -- as one of the earliest progenitors of progressive rock -- and although he had already put out over a dozen important albums, Apostrophe (and the immediately prior album, Over-Nite Sensation) arguably brought him to the masses through his cross-over "hit," "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow," which, despite its length, received regular airplay on FM stations. It didn't hurt that the album also included two of his funniest, most fun songs, "Cozmik Debris" and "Stinkfoot."

Hamburger Concerto (Focus)

For those who only know Focus via their 1971 novelty mega-hit,...

Dark Matter

Director: Andrzej Zulawski

Writer: Andrzej Zulwaski

Producer: Marcin Wierzchoslawski

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available

Cast: Unknown

We’re trying to keep hope alive on this project, which would be the first film helmed by Andrzej Zulawaki since 2000′s La Fidelite, which starred his then wife, Sophie Marceau. Twin 2012 retrospectives in New York and Los Angeles saw a resurgence in interest in Zulawski’s thrilling and overlooked filmography and some traction on this new project was underway that year. However, there’s been little else detailed about the status of the project, until the 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival honored Zulawski with a Lifetime Achievement Award where the director also participated in Fantasia’s Frontieres Co-Production Market. We’re sincerely hoping he got the backing he needed for Zulawski is true cinematic anomaly, a director whose strange visions are unlike any other.

Gist: A noir tinged plot featuring a metaphysical...

The Embrace

Director: Ludovic Bergery

Writer: Ludovic Bergery

Producers: Les Films Pelleas

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available

Cast: Isabelle Huppert

Heretofore known as a character actor, Ludovic Bergery has written and will direct a strange sounding feature starring none other than Isabelle Huppert in role that sounds tailor made for her. While it’s currently seeking a German co-producer and actor, this is set to film in summer of 2014, and we can’t wait to hear more about it.

Gist: The screenplay focuses on a woman who lost her husband two years ago. After a disappointing relationship, she starts having one night encounters that lack emotion before slowly giving in to an insatiable sexual desire that will expose her to all kinds of dangers and a violence through which her rebirth will however eventually take place.

Release Date: Headlining Huppert, we’re thinking this will bow in a Cannes sidebar,...

Exclusive: Tugg, Al-Jazeera, Netflix and Virgil Films to share rights.

Sarah McCarthy’s adoption documentary The Dark Matter of Love, which played at Toronto 2013, has landed several Us deals.

Tugg have picked up theatrical & non-theatrical rights, Al-Jazeera have TV broadcast rights, with a Netflix premiere to follow, and Virgil Films have taken all other ancillary rights.

McCarthy said: “After our Tiff premiere we had offers from traditional, all-rights distributors but the terms were so one-sided we decided to take the time to split the rights into multiple deals and find the right partners, offering the best deals. Kevin Iwashina & his team at Preferred have done a brilliant job of implementing our bespoke distribution strategy for Dark Matter.”

McCarthy also retains non-exclusive non-theatrical, digital download, DVD & educational rights via the film’s website.

The story follows some of the last Russian children adopted by Us parents before Putin’s ban.

“We are extremely pleased that we’ve found...

The Sundance Institute announced I Origins as the winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, as well as the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Lab Fellowship, which is presented through the Institute’s Feature Film Program.

These activities, as well as a panel at the Festival and the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant, are part of the Sundance Institute Science-in-Film Initiative, which is made possible by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The initiative supports the development and exhibition of new independent film projects that explore science and technology themes or that depict scientists, engineers and mathematicians in engaging and innovative ways.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Sundance Institute for the 11th year in a row and to recognize Mike Cahill’s original and compelling I Origins as the winner of this year’s Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize,” said Doron Weber, Vice President, Programs at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “With Academy Award-nominated films like this year’s Gravity and Her, I Origins—as well as new scripts we are developing with Sundance Institute Labs such as The Buried Life and Prodigal Summer—demonstrates that not only are science and technology central to understanding, engaging with and dramatizing modern life, but they also make for cracking good films that draw large audiences.”

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “Independent filmmakers offer unique perspectives on the role math, science and technology play in our world and culture. The Sundance Institute Science-in-Film Initiative, with critical support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, recognizes and encourages these projects as they make their way to audiences.”

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize

I Origins, directed and written by Mike Cahill, has been awarded the 2014 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize and will receive a $20,000 cash award by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The Prize is selected by a jury of film and science professionals and presented to outstanding feature films focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character.

In I Origins, a molecular biologist and his lab partner uncover startling evidence that could fundamentally change society as we know it and cause them to question their once-certain beliefs in science and spirituality. The cast includes Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, Archie Panjabi. The jury presented the award to the film for its “intelligent and nuanced portrayal of molecular biologists as central characters, and for dramatizing the power of the scientific process to explore fundamental questions about the human condition.”

Previous Alfred P. Sloan Prize Winners include: Andrew Bujalski, Computer Chess (2013); Jake Schreier, Christopher Ford, Robot & Frank (2012); Musa Syeed, Valley of Saints (2012); Mike Cahill and Brit Marling, Another Earth (2011); Diane Bell, Obselidia (2010); Max Mayer, Adam (2009); Alex Rivera, Sleep Dealer (2008); Shi-Zheng Chen, Dark Matter (2007); Andrucha Waddington, The House of Sand (2006); Werner Herzog, Grizzly Man (2005), Shane Carruth, Primer (2004) and Marc Decena, Dopamine (2003). Several past winners have also been awarded Jury Awards at the Festival, including the Grand Jury Prize for Primer, the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for Sleep Dealer and the Excellence in Cinematography Award for Obselidia.

This year’s Alfred P. Sloan jury members are:

Dr. Kevin Hand Dr. Kevin Hand is deputy chief scientist for Solar System Exploration at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research focuses on the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the solar system. His fieldwork involves exploring some of Earth’s most extreme environments from the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, to the depths of the Earth’s oceans, to the glaciers of Kilimanjaro.

Flora Lichtman Flora Lichtman is a science journalist living in New York. She has worked as a video journalist for the New York Times and National Public Radio’s Science Friday and writes regularly for Popular Science magazine. She is the coauthor of Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us.

Max Mayer Max Mayer is a founder and producing director of New York Stage and Film and has directed over 50 new plays by writers such as John Patrick Shanley, Lee Blessing, and Eric Overmyer. In addition to writing and directing Better Living and Adam, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and won the Sloan Prize, Mayer has directed As Cool as I Am and episodes of The West Wing, Alias, and Family Law and written three produced plays.

Jon Spaihts Jon Spaihts is the screenwriter of The Darkest Hour, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, and the upcoming Passengers and The Mummy. The one-time physics student and science writer continues to specialize in science fiction.

Jill Tarter Astronomer Jill Tarter, the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for the Seti Institute, has devoted her career to hunting for signs of sentient beings elsewhere. The lead for Project Phoenix, a decade-long Seti scrutiny of about 750 nearby star systems, she now leads Seti’s efforts to build and operate the Allen Telescope Array. A 2009 Ted prize recipient, she is also the real-life researcher upon whom the Jodie Foster character in Contact is largely based.

Sundance Institute / Alfred P. Sloan Lab Fellowship

The Buried Life (U.S.A.) Joan Stein Schimke and Averie Storck (co-writers/co-directors) An archaeologist risks her reputation for the dig of her career, but when her rock 'n' roll sister and overbearing father follow her to the excavation, she discovers her biggest challenge is facing what's above ground.

Joan Stein Schimke and Averie Storck have just attended the Institute’s January Screenwriters Lab with The Buried Life.

Joan Stein Schimke was nominated for an Academy Award® for her short film One Day Crossing, which won several other awards including the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Best Woman Student Filmmaker, Best Director, National Board of Review and the Student Academy Award® Gold Medal. Other directing credits include Law and Order and the short film Solidarity, which screened at over a dozen festivals including the New York Film Festival. Stein Schimke is an Mfa graduate of Columbia University’s Film Program and is currently an Associate Professor at Adelphi University in New York.

Averie Storck is an Mfa graduate of Columbia University’s Film Program. Her award-winning short films include Live at Five , which won the New Line Cinema Development Award and screened at more than 30 international film festivals. Prior to filmmaking, Storck worked for People and Vogue magazines, was a writer for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and studied improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC. She currently teaches and directs at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Founded in 1934, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a non-profit philanthropy that makes grants in science, technology and economic performance. This Sloan-Sundance partnership forms part of a broader national program by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to stimulate leading artists in film, television, and theater; to create more realistic and compelling stories about science and technology; and to challenge existing stereotypes about scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in the popular imagination. Over the past decade, the Foundation has partnered with some of the top film schools in the country – including AFI, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Nyu, UCLA, and USC – and established annual awards in screenwriting and film production and an annual first-feature award for alumni. The Foundation has also started an annual Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Hamptons International Film Festival and initiated new screenwriting and film production workshops at the Hamptons and Tribeca Film Festival and with Film Independent. As more finished films emerge from this developmental pipeline—four features were completed in 2013, with half a dozen more on deck—the foundation has also partnered with the Coolidge Corner Theater and the Arthouse Convergence to screen science films in up to 40 theaters nationwide. The Foundation also has an active theater program and commissions over a dozen science plays each year from the Ensemble Studio Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club and Playwright Horizons.

Phase Two of the Marvel initiative continues with Chris Hemsworth once again wielding the mighty hammer as Thor. As with all the Avengers flicks not starring Robert Downey Jr., this is a fun time, but nothing more. Natalie Portman returns as the mortal earthling Jane Foster, as does Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis. Anthony Hopkins keeps us invested with his "An Evening with Shakespeare" vibe as our hammy narrator, King Odin of Asgard. Oh, and Jane is annoyed that Thor didn't bother to drop by when he was saving New York from his stepbrother Loki. Speaking of, Loki is in lockdown (but not for long!) as Thor and his fellow Norse gods battle a band of Dark Elves obsessed with Dark Matter from the Dark...

Little Deaths contributor Sean Hogan is in pre-production on No Man's Land for production outfit Dark Matter.

The film is another war-horror film, this one set during World War I.

Here's a synopsis; we'll keep you posted on cast details as they come in...

The Western Front, 1916. The daily struggle for survival in the trenches is terrifying enough, but the battle-weary English troops soon discover a new foe lurks on the battlefield, one far more malignant than their German opponents. An ancient race of creatures have emerged from their subterranean lair to feast on the corpses of the fallen, and no mere soldier can stand in their way. 

Read more...

Legendary paranormal radio talk show host Art Bell began his latest broadcast endeavor with Sirius satellite radio several weeks ago. Entitled Dark Matter, the show was an instant hit with fans both new and old. Sadly, it seems as if Bell is now leaving the program. Read on for his comments.

We reached out to Bell for a statement regarding the situation, which has prompted some scathing reactions from fans who signed up for Sirius just to be able to listen to the king of paranormal talk radio once again.

"I started the show with the expectation that my listeners would be able to stream the show since most were coming from Am," Bell tells us. "They started the thirty-day trial and found that it was dropping out on them every few minutes. After the 30-day trial most did not renew; why would they? Faced with paying about 180 bucks a...

Ivan Sen.s Mystery Road posted solid results on 16 screens. while Mark Hartley.s Patrick had a limited opening at six cinemas in Australia last weekend.

A crime thriller starring Aaron Pedersen, Mystery Road raked in about $60,000, which brings the total to $105,000 including previews and festival screenings.

.You always hope for more but it.s a good result,. said producer David Jowsey, who self-distributed the film through Dark Matter, a company he owns with Sen and Michael Wrenn. Melbourne-based Backlot Studios is handling the bookings, distribution veteran Alan Finney is a consultant and Tracey Mair co-ordinated the national marketing and publicity campaign.

Jowsey tells If, .We had a very modest P&A spend, with no TV, and there was a lot of hard work in publicity at the grass roots level..

Backlot is now arranging to release the film at around 30 locations in regional areas. Well Go plans to launch...

UK-based Greenway Entertainment has struck a deal with Zss Entertainment in the Us to produce 12 films together over the next six years.

The new features to emerge from the co-production partnership will be shot mainly in the Us, UK, Morocco and Dubai.

Titles include:

Borley (Horror)The Dark Matter (Sci-Fi)Vision (Thriller)The Voice Of Silence (Drama)Zombie: The Musical (Musical)Haunted 2 (Horror)Tales Of The Supernatural 2 (Horror)The Loch (Thriller)The Book (Thriller)

Greenway Entertainment, run by Steven M Smith, has produced indie features for the past eight years. Upcoming films include Haunted, Tales of the Supernatural and portmanteau The Demon.

Smith said: “Options are in place to get our first film off the ground in early 2014 filming in London, La, Dubai and Morocco.”...

New York—July 30, 2013 – Sirius Xm Radio (Nasdaq: Siri) announced today it will be the exclusive home to legendary radio personality Art Bell, marking the return of the trailblazing late night host to radio with a new, expanded live, nightly call-in show on which he will explore the paranormal, unexplained and more with expert guests and listeners nationwide. Art Bell’s Dark Matter will debut in fall 2013 on Indie, SiriusXM channel 104, airing nightly from 10:00 pm – 1:00 am Et (7:00 – 10:00 pm Pt). Bell will host the show from his home studio in Pahrump, Nevada—near the storied Area 51—opening the phones lines and inviting listeners and expert guests to join his uncensored, unscripted nightly conversation about a wide variety of topics including: the paranormal, near-death experiences, quantum physics, extraterrestrial life and the unusual. A 2008 inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame, Bell was one of the top five most...

Summer in Montreal just wouldn’t be the same without The Fantasia Film Festival – the oldest and largest genre festival in the world. From July 18 – August 6, Montreal cinefiles will have a chance to see over 120 feature films from around the world, many accompanied with special guests and big events. This year marks the festival’s fifteen year, and the programmers and organizers have done another incredible job rounding up some of the most acclaimed genre works from this year’s Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, Berlin and Tribeca film festivals. The full lineup will be announced shortly, but the festival has released a small sampling of highlights to whet proverbial whistles.

Official Closing Film – Edgar Wright’s The World’s End (Canadian Premiere)

Fantasia 2013 will come wildly to a close on the night of August 6 with the Canadian premiere of UK filmmaker Edgar Wright’s hotly anticipated apocalyptic comedy The World’s End,...