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As a magic fanatic, I consider the Seth Gordon-produced Make Believe to be one of my favorite documentaries of the last decade. The film followed six of the world’s best young magicians own their road to the Teen World Championship in Las Vegas. If you haven’t seen the film, you should (here is the trailer). One of the […]

The post What Ever Happened To The Teen Magicians Profiled In The Documentary ‘Make Believe’? appeared first on /Film.

Clay Tweel is a name that should be known to any documentary fan. After serving as an associate producer on Seth Gordon‘s The King of Kong, he went on to direct his first feature, the surprisingly sharp teen-magician film Make Believe, which is better than its conventional competition-doc surface indicates, and then he co-directed last year’s riveting exploration of the 3D printer market, Print the Legend, which in a way is also a competition doc only with very high, entrepreneurial stakes. For the most part, those two are dissimilar animals, though together they’d hinted that Tweel could maybe do no wrong with clean, non-complex subject matter of any sort. He has a talent for delivering reality in an entertaining yet not sensationalistic way. His latest, co-directed with Bryan Carberry (a multitasked intern on Make Believe) and produced by Gordon, is called Finders Keepers, and it’s his closest to the line of sensational exploitation...

Netflix has acquired the rights to South by the Southwest award-winning feature documentary, “Print the Legend.” The recipient of the Special Jury Recognition Award for Editing and Storytelling, “Print the Legend” will premiere exclusively on Netflix later this year. Directed, shot, and edited by Luis Lopez and Clay Tweel (“Make Believe,” “The King of Kong”) and produced by Steven Klein (“Make Believe”), “Print the Legend” goes behind-the-scenes of the top American 3D printing brands as they fight for dominance in the rapidly developing, groundbreaking field of 3D printing. Also read: Disney to Film Marvel Netflix Series in NYC as Part of Massive New.

The technological possibilities of 3D printing may provide ideal fodder for the imagination, but that doesn't necessarily make for great drama. The chief accomplishment of "Print the Legend," the lively overview of various leading figures invested in advancing the 3D printer revolution from directors Luis Lopez ("Chevolution") and J. Clay Tweel ("Make Believe"), involves its capacity to do more than just show off the fancy new toys. Instead, "Print the Legend" delves into the industrial challenges facing the printer's development in addition to the numerous personal and professional hurdles that the field has already encountered. In short, it's less a movie about the gadget than the cutthroat business around it. However, the filmmakers expertly illustrate the dazzling possibilities of 3D printing from the swift opening, when a number of visionaries sing the praises of the device's progressive abilities. "If the last evolution was about bits," one inventor says, "this one's about.

Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. "Finders Keepers" Tweetable Logline: Man finds leg in grill. Amputee wants leg back. Man sues amputee for leg. Things get ugly, go viral, are documented in "Finders Keepers." Elevator Pitch: "Finders Keepers" follows recovering addict and amputee John Wood in his stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction. Production Team:Director Bryan Carberry learned the finer points of documentary filmmaking with Ed Cunningham and the rest of the 'King of Kong' team on their film 'Make Believe,' Bryan's first project after graduating from USC's film program. The other points he picked...

Disney is already working on a trip to the Magic Kingdom with Jon Favreau (which also has Pixar involved now), but now 20th Century Fox is taking a journey to the Magic Castle in Hollywood.  It's a historic mansion built in 1909 that serves as the headquarters for the Academy of Magical Arts Inc. (which you might have seen featured in the documentary Make Believe, now on Netflix Instant) and features performances for aspiring and famous magicians. And if you think that just sounds like a huge nerd fest, celebrity magic enthusiasts like Cary Grant, Steve Martin, Johnny Carson and more are in the club. In fact, Neil Patrick Harris is the president of the Academy. THR reports The Magic Castle has just gained agency representation in order to create a brand for TV, video games, digital media and more. The one we care about is a feature film surrounding the...

Katy Perry, who I think has a rather dubious relationship with the gay community, is set to be honored with the Hero Award from The Trevor Project. “Everyone deserves a wonderful, fulfilled life. Our sexual orientation or gender identity doesn’t change the spark and beauty within. I’m honoured that The Trevor Project has selected me to receive the Trevor Hero Award. Their work has inspired me since 2010, and I know they help save lives.”

ABC has given full season orders to shows I don't watch, with Scandal and The Neighbors getting the nod.

Justin Beiber wants to the world to know he's a good boy, a role model. Even though he's hanging out with One Direction and The Wanted, he doesn't drink. I still want people to think I’m a good person, a good influence. I want to be around tomorrow.”

For Halloween, Raising Hope is headed to a gay bar.

Why not fold documentaries into my list of the "Best Films of 2011?" After all, a movie is a movie, right? Yes, and some years I've thrown them all into the same mixture. But all of these year-end Best lists serve one useful purpose: They tell you about good movies you may not have seen or heard about. The more films on my list that aren't on yours, the better job I've done.

That's particularly true were you to depend on the "short list" released by the Academy's Documentary Branch of 15 films they deem eligible for nomination. The branch has been through turmoil in the past and its procedures were "reformed" at one point. But this year it has made a particularly scandalous sin of

omission. It doesn't include "The Interrupters" (currently scoring 99% on the Tomatometer), which has received better reviews and been on more critic's Best lists than any other.

In the age of reality TV, this true-life chronicle about the efforts of teen magicians to make a name for themselves by winning a prestigious competition is not only trendy but heartfelt as well. The young cast of Make Believe are not your usual, annoying reality-show pests. These people are such a likeable bunch, you’ll be rooting for each and every one of them.

The documentary, directed by J. Clay Tweel, follows a group of talented teens who have set their sights on becoming the world’s next great magician. The magic teens ranch from 13-19 in age but they are all equally passionate and committed to their goal. The story focuses on five teens who have attained enough recognition and reached a level of talent that allows them to enter the World Magic Seminar, which culminates in a stage performance where the winner will be crowned as the world’s greatest teen magician.

On Monday, we presented you with the 9 Most Devastatingly Sad Documentaries of All Time, a list that was topped by Dear Zachary. It seems like, whenever we mention Dear Zachary and how devastatingly sad it is, a few people see it as a challenge. They think, "Nooooo. How sad can it really be?"

It's not a challenge you will win, folks. Dear Zachary will pummel you every single time. But, if you're recently watched it, or for another reason feel as though the world has stacked its deck against you, we've got you covered. Choose one or more among these 9 documentaries, and the air that life knocked out of you will re-enter and flow through your lungs again. Or at least, put a smile on your face and a lump in your throat.

9. Paper Heart: Finally the hipsters have gone full circle and consumed themselves like an ouroborus recycled from an old Pac-Man t-shirt.

Stage-magic documentary Make Believe screened to a packed house at Alamo Drafthouse earlier this week, so it's coming back this weekend for two afternoon screenings at the Alamo Ritz. The movie won an audience award at Austin Film Festival last year.

Quoth the Alamo synopsis:

"This amazing documentary exposes the steamy and high-stakes world of teenage magic competitions as it follows six adolescent outsiders who all share an extraordinary passion for the art of trickery. Armed with great skill and a dazzling array of illusions, these teenagers embark from all over the world to attend the annual World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, where they each hope to be named Teen World Champion by master magician Lance Burton.  From the producers of the fabulous King Of Kong, this film will leave you inspired and dumbfounded, as it showcases some of the most incredible, eccentric young performers working today."

I'm assured...

When Seth Gordon directed The King of Kong, a story of two men battling for the title of master of a classic arcade game, gaming whiz Billy Mitchell came across as the moustache twirling villain to Steve Wiebe’s devoted and entirely sympathetic hero. Was the characterization entirely fair? No, but it made for an incredibly compelling and entertaining documentary. With Make Believe, the Gordon-produced documentary directed by J. Clay Tweel, the feature avoids vilifying any of its subjects while still managing to give us a great film about the battle of human wills and the admirable human desire to be the best. The fact that it’s six teenagers fighting for the title of best teen magician just makes it that much more entertaining.

Read more...

Make Believe Directed by: J. Clay Tweel Written by: Cleven S. Loham Starring: Lance Burton, Bill Koch, Krystyn Lambert, Derek McKee The art of magic has been around for centuries, and while the promise of seeing someone perform seemingly impossible feats will probably always draw a crowd, today's audiences are more wise, savvy and cynical than ever before. Nowadays, I think a lot of people take magic for granted, which is why modern magicians like Criss Angel and David Blaine need to put on a rock and roll attitude in order to get some attention. Still, with talented new magicians coming out of the woodwork all the time, it poses an interesting question: where do all these magicians get their start and how do they hone their skills? Make Believe is a documentary that purports to answer that question by focusing on the Teen Championship at the World Magic Seminar,...

Magic is a quirky subculture where teens from all over the world, who would otherwise be considered outcasts by their peers, can meet with others that share their passion for the mysterious art form and bond in a way that closely resembles a family. Although they all compete against each other in the Teen Championship at the World Magic Seminar, they support each other for life and closely guard the secrets behind their tricks and illusions. This coming of age journey is documented in Make Believe, a new film from executive producers Ed Cunningham and Seth Gordon (the duo behind The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters), producer Steven Klein (who was a teen magician himself) and director J. Clay Tweel. At the film’s press day, which was held at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, four of the film’s six subjects talked about their life as dedicated...

Title: Make Believe: The Battle to Become the World’s Best Teen Magician Director: J. Clay Tweel Featuring: Krysten Lambert, Bill Koch, Hiroki Hara, Derek McKee, Siphiwe Fangase, Skumbuzo Nkonyana For all their amazing feats, athletes, even those of ferocious competitiveness and incredible and finely honed individual skill, sometimes evince a lack of joy, perhaps because their profession is dictated to some degree by body shape and size, pedigree, or simply the fact that it was drummed into their head long ago that their self-worth was entirely tied to this game or that. For me, that’s why amateur sports — particularly something like college basketball, where rivalries often span generations — possess...

Two new movies are opening wide this Memorial Day weekend:

Dreamworks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 directed by Jennifer Yuh and featuring the voice talent of Jack Black Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Gary Oldman, David Cross, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Dennis Haysbert, Victor Garber and Dustin Hoffman is opening in almost 4000 theaters. The film’s music is by Hans Zimmer and John Powell. A score album has been released by Varese Sarabande. For details and audio clips, visit our previous article. Also check out Film Music Magazine’s audio interview with Zimmer, in which he talks about his collaboration with Powell on the score among his other recent projects.

Also opening wide is the comedy sequel The Hangover Part II directed by Todd Phillips and starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong and Mike Tyson. The film’s score is by Christophe Beck.

The producers are behind this fascinating new documentary that takes viewers into the world of magic!

Ardent fans of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters have a new documentary to worship and obsess over. From the executive producers of that fan favorite comes the all-new masterpiece of fascination, Make Believe. This coming of age journey is set in the quirky subculture of magic, and it follows six of the world's best young magicians as they battle for the title of Teen World Champion.

Much as The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters pitted the heroic Steve Wiebe against douche supreme Billy Mitchell, Make Believe also find the perfect rivalry in lovable, self-taught magicianHiroki Hara, who hails from a small town in the middle of nowhere Japan. And his nemesis Krystyn Lambert, a seemingly privileged blonde haired beauty who is accused of coasting on her looks more than her skills as a magician.

The documentary Make Believe follows six young outsiders who all share an extraordinary skill and passion for the art of magic. Each with their own strengths and a dazzling array of tricks and illusions, these teenagers come from all over the country and various parts of the world to attend the annual World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, where they strive to be named Teen World Champion by magic icon Lance Burton. Inspired by his own history as a teen magician, producer Steven Klein brought the idea for Make Believe to executive producers Ed Cunningham and Seth Gordon (the duo behind the acclaimed documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters), and they all chose to enlist J. Clay Tweel to be at the helm of this unusual coming-of-age story. At the film’s press day, appropriately held at the famed Magic Castle, producer Steven Klein and director J. Clay Tweel...

By Khia Beauchesne

(May 2011)

Perched on top of a small hill just off Hollywood Boulevard, the magnificent Magic Castle waived its usual exclusivity policies recently and invited press into a few of its awe-inspiring rooms to meet some of the stars of J. Clay Tweel’s documentary “Make Believe.”

The basement lounge was draped in red velour, cluttered with vintage posters of the late greats and decorated with authentic props. The hushed and magical atmosphere became a bustling and electric place when four of the six teens from the film — Bill Koch, Derek McKee, Hiroki Hara and Krystyn Lambert — along with the director, producer and master magician Lance Burton himself walked in.

“Normally in life, being deceived isn’t a pleasant experience,” says Burton, explaining what takes place nightly on the Magic Castle stage. “We’re deceived by friends and lovers, politicians and used-car salesmen all the time, and it...

By Khia Beauchesne

(May 2011)

Perched on top of a small hill just off Hollywood Boulevard, the magnificent Magic Castle waived its usual exclusivity policies recently and invited press into a few of its awe-inspiring rooms to meet some of the stars of J. Clay Tweel’s documentary “Make Believe.”

The basement lounge was draped in red velour, cluttered with vintage posters of the late greats and decorated with authentic props. The hushed and magical atmosphere became a bustling and electric place when four of the six teens from the film — Bill Koch, Derek McKee, Hiroki Hara and Krystyn Lambert — along with the director, producer and master magician Lance Burton himself walked in.

“Normally in life, being deceived isn’t a pleasant experience,” says Burton, explaining what takes place nightly on the Magic Castle stage. “We’re deceived by friends and lovers, politicians and used-car salesmen all the time, and it...

Firefly Inc. and Level 22 send us information about their upcoming summer DVD release of the documentry "Make Believe", which is from the creators of "The King of Kong". Press Release:In Make Believe, director J. Clay Tweel follows six adolescent outsiders who all share an extraordinary passion: the art of magic. Armed with great skill and a dazzling array of illusions, these teenagers embark...

Reviewed by Khia Beauchesne

(May 2011)

Directed by: J. Clay Tweel

Written by: Cleven S. Loham

Featuring: Krystyn Lambert, Bill Koch, Hiroki Hara, Derek McKee, Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbuzo Nkonyana

In “Make Believe,” documentarian J. Clay Tweel follows six teens from around the world who have been selected to participate in the annual World Magic Seminar for a chance at the title of Teen World Champion. Vague yet enticing opening scenes of one boy practicing card tricks on a city bus immediately intrigue, and from here, the audience begins to get to know these remarkable teens.

The first real introduction is to Krystyn Lambert, followed by Derek McKee, Hiroki Hara, Bill Koch, Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbuzo Nkonyana. Each has a unique story, with different reasons as to how and why magic has affected their lives for the better. As with most documentaries, “Make Believe” includes a series of interviews with family members,...

Reviewed by Khia Beauchesne

(May 2011)

Directed by: J. Clay Tweel

Written by: Cleven S. Loham

Featuring: Krystyn Lambert, Bill Koch, Hiroki Hara, Derek McKee, Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbuzo Nkonyana

In “Make Believe,” documentarian J. Clay Tweel follows six teens from around the world who have been selected to participate in the annual World Magic Seminar for a chance at the title of Teen World Champion. Vague yet enticing opening scenes of one boy practicing card tricks on a city bus immediately intrigue, and from here, the audience begins to get to know these remarkable teens.

The first real introduction is to Krystyn Lambert, followed by Derek McKee, Hiroki Hara, Bill Koch, Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbuzo Nkonyana. Each has a unique story, with different reasons as to how and why magic has affected their lives for the better. As with most documentaries, “Make Believe” includes a series of interviews with family members,...

At one point in "Make Believe," the mother of the aspiring 17-year-old magician Krystyn Lambert describes her daughter as finding a home in magic since "it's a little world of oddballs." Ordinarily, Krystyn wouldn't fit the profile. Compared at one point to Britney Spears for a combination of looks and talent, the blonde from Malibu who serves as student council president at her high school wouldn't appear to be an outsider, but in fact she's clearly set apart in her drive.

J. Clay Tweel's documentary tries its best to suggest otherwise, but "Make Believe" isn't so much about a group of teenagers trying to find their way in the world as it is about the fact that they already know where they're going. As older magicians such as Lance Burton and Ed Alonzo (best remembered as the Max's resident illusionist on "Saved by the Bell") explain throughout its 90-minute running time,...

MuMo Record has released a soundtrack album for the documentary Make Believe. The album includes the original score by Lucas Vidal, as well as a couple of tracks by Serialmusique. For audio clips and to download the soundtrack, visit iTunes. Make Believe follows six of the world’s best young magicians as they battle for the title of Teen World Champion. The documentary is directed by J. Clay Tweel and is executive produced by Seth Gordon & Ed Cunningham (The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters). The film won the Best Documentary Award at last year’s Los Angeles Film Festival and is set to be released in theaters on May 13, 2011 in New York and two weeks later in Los Angeles. To find out more about the film, visit the official movie webpage.

As previously reported, Vidal has two high profile feature projects coming up, both of which have received...

Steven Klein Hiroki Hara, one of the magicians in the movie

Without revealing any secrets of the trade, director J. Clay Tweel’s humorous and heartfelt documentary “Make Believe” pulled laughs and a few understanding sighs out of its hat—and out of an appreciative audience at the Independent Film Festival Boston. Part competition film, part coming-of-age story, it follows a motley group of aspiring magicians as they battle for the coveted title of Teen World Champion at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.

The magical magic documentary, Make Believe, follows six mostly awkward teenagers as they compete to be crowned Teen World Champion at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. And in Make Believe, director J. Clay Tweel does for magic what Jeffrey Blitz did for spelling bees in Spellbound: He humanizes these teenage outcasts, gives their devotion to dorkiness the the sheen of cool, and finds the sweetness in their awkward struggles to find themselves within their magic and use the art to help find a connection with other people. Along the way, they also perform a few exceptional, crowd-pleasing magic tricks.

The kids at the center of Make Believe are an impressive group of teens, each with an almost religious dedication to the craft of magic, eschewing "Gossip Girl" and time with their friends to fan cards and master the art of manipulation. Seventeen-year-old Krysten Lambert is a pretty high-school blonde from Malibu,...

"Makes you want to follow you dreams." How often do you hear that kind of praise for a film? Apple recently debuted a trailer for a documentary called Make Believe that follows a few young (teenage) magicians as they attend the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas and battle for the title of Teen World Champion... magician. I've been a lifelong lover of all things magic and the magical and this film looks like it has a bit of both. It seems to have received quite a bit of praise and will actually be hitting theaters right away. I always love finding great indies like this and I'm happy to feature it here, hopefully it'll be coming your way soon. Watch the official trailer for J. Clay Tweel's documentary Make Believe: You can also watch the Make Believe trailer in High Definition on Apple A coming of ...

I'm a sucker for magic, I freakin' love the stuff. I enjoy catching a magic show when ever the opportunity presents itself. It's amazing what these talented magicians can do. Unfortunately, I've never been able to do it myself. I've tried! But I don't have that whole sleight of Hand thing going for me.

This fantastic looking documentary called Make Believe follows six teenage kids who are aspiring magicians, who are really good at it, as they make their way to a competition in Las Vegas. This kind of stuff just amazes me. I can't wait to check out this doc. 

Synopsis:

n Make Believe, director J. Clay Tweel follows six adolescent outsiders who all share an extraordinary passion: the art of magic. Armed with great skill and a dazzling array of illusions, these teenagers embark from the varied hometowns of Malibu, California; Chicago, Illinois; Capetown, South Africa; Littleton, Colorado; and Kitayama,...

A trailer for Make Believe, the film which won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year, has been released. The film follows six teens as they make their way to Las Vegas to attend the World Magic Seminar and compete for the title of Teen World Champion. This of course is the very same seminar that launched some of the biggest names in magic into the spotlight including Chris Angel. Director J. Clay Tweel follows the adolescent outsiders who all share an extraordinary passion for the art of magic. Armed with great skill and a dazzling array of illusions, these teenagers embark from the varied hometowns, each with the hope to be named Teen World Champion by master magician Lance Burton.

-...

[1] Sure, Harry Potter [2] can drive away Dementors or summon his broomstick with a wave of a wand -- but he only exists in fantasies. The kids in Make Believe are the real deal. The film, which won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year, follows six teenagers as they journey to Las Vegas in order to attend the World Magic Seminar and compete for the title of Teen World Champion. Okay, so they're teen magicians, not teen wizards, but their tricks are all the more impressive for being the result of hard-earned finesse and not visual effects magic. Watch the trailer after the jump. [via Film School Rejects [3]] The kids represent a very diverse array of personalities and backgrounds, hailing from places as diverse as Malibu, Capetown, and Kitayama, Japan. Notable illusionist Lance Burton also appears, as does actor and real-life magician Neil Patrick Harris. Make Believe has drawn comparisons to Spellbound for obvious reasons,...

The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) kicks off this Wednesday, and has a number of impressive films in its line-up. The festival will take place at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and the Stuart Street Playhouse in downtown Boston. The festival, complete with over 110 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the best in current American and International cinema.

The opening night film of the festival is Being Elmo directed by Constance Marks will open the 9th annual festival on April 27th at the Somerville Theatre. This marks the first time the festival will open with a documentary. The film follows Kevin Clash, from humble upbringings as he follows his dream to become a puppeteer and one day work with his idol, Jim Henson, to the present day...

The Independent Film Festival of Boston [1] recently released their full line-up and it's a doozy. Sundance favorites such as The Future [2] and Submarine [3] will be there, along with awesome documentaries like Being Elmo [4] (With Elmo In Attendance!!!) and Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times [5]. I'm looking forward to films I wasn't able to catch at Sundance and SXSW, such as the legal documentary Hot Coffee, the heartbreaking How to Die in Oregon, and the new fascinating Conan O'Brien film. Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins [6] also looks like it will rock the house. The full line-up is below. The festival is April 27th through May 4th, and it's one of my favorite movie events of the year. If you live anywhere in New England, I invite you to come and check it out. You can follow IFFBoston on Facebook for updates [7] or buy your passes now [8]! Narrative Features 13 Assassins...

[1] Are magicians going to become the next big Hollywood obsession? Yesterday we reported [2] that writer Michael Chabon would be developing an HBO show about magicians, and now we have news that famous illusionist Lance Burton is in the middle of shooting an indie film about magic. Read more after the jump. Burton began performing professionally in 1980 at the age of twenty, and has since become a huge star in the magic world. Last fall, he ended a sixteen-year run at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, where he was such a big deal that the casino built a theatre specially for his show. The details of his sudden departure from the venue aren't clear -- he ended a six-year contract after just one year -- but since then, he's been keeping busy working on a new film project. Vegas Deluxe [3]'s Robin Leach (via Bleeding Cool [4]) writes: Lance told me that his entertainment partner,...

From director J. Clay Tweel, and the production team behind The King Of Kong, comes Make Believe, a coming of age journey set in the quirky subculture of magic, that follows 6 of the world’s best young magicians (from the Us, South Africa, and Japan) as the battle for the title of Teen World Champion in Las Vegas. The film is currently playing the festival circuit, with upcoming stops planned at the Virgina Film Festival on 11/6 and Doc NYC on 11/7. You can follow the film via its website Here. I’ll check it out!

Always one of the most enjoyable events of the year, the 17th Austin Film Festival is gearing up to kick-off next month.

The annual event takes place from October 21-28 in Austin, Texas with movies such as Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" on the docket.

With other films set to screen including "Meek's Cutoff," "127 Hours," and "Fair Game," the full lineup is as follows:

Marquee Screenings

"127 Hours" – Danny Boyle (Writer/Director), Simon Beaufoy (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Black Swan" – Darren Aronofsky (Director), Andres Heinz (Writer), John McLaughlin (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Peep World" – Barry W. Blaustein (Director), Peter Himmelstein (Writer) – (U.S. Premiere)

"Bloodworth" – Shane Dax Taylor (Director), W. Earl Brown (Writer) – (World Premiere)

"Blue Valentine" – Derek Cianfrance (Writer/Director), Joey Curtis (Writer), Camille DeLavigne (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Exporting Raymond" – Phil Rosenthal (Director) – (World Premiere)

"Fair Game" – Doug Liman (Director), Jez & John-Henry Butterworth (Writers) – (Regional Premiere)

"High School" – John Stalberg (Writer/Director...

The Austin Film Festival has unveiled the program for its 17th edition, which runs October 21-28.

"Black Swan," "127 Hours," "Peep World," "Meek's Cutoff," "Conviction," "Brother's Justice," "Fair Game," and many more, including 23 U.S. and world premieres and a handful of locally-made projects, will screen at the fest. The opening, centerpiece and closing night films have not yet been announced.

Festival line-up is below:

Marquee Screenings

"127 Hours" – Danny Boyle (Writer/Director), Simon Beaufoy (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Black Swan" – Darren Aronofsky (Director), Andres Heinz (Writer), John McLaughlin (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Peep World" – Barry W. Blaustein (Director), Peter Himmelstein (Writer) – (U.S. Premiere)

"Bloodworth" – Shane Dax Taylor (Director), W. Earl Brown (Writer) – (World Premiere)

"Blue Valentine" – Derek Cianfrance (Writer/Director), Joey Curtis (Writer), Camille DeLavigne (Writer) – (Regional Premiere)

"Exporting Raymond" – Phil Rosenthal (Director) – (World Premiere)

"Fair Game" – Doug Liman (Director), Jez & John-Henry Butterworth (Writers) – (Regional Premiere)

"High School" – John Stalberg (Writer/Director...

Rachel Weisz in The Whistleblower The Toronto International Film Festival has added even more films to their line-up today as the complete line-up was announced, which ended up causing the festival's server to crash, but I was lucky enough to get in and get out before missing out on the information.

First off, the festival's Mavericks line-up is quite interesting, which includes a series of guest presentations and this year will see Edward Norton interview Bruce Springsteen, NBA All-Star and native Canadian Steve Nash will present his hour-long film Into the Wind, Apichatpong Weerasethakul will talk with the audience as his Cannes Palm d'Or-winning film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall his Past Lives was just added to the Masters programme, Ken Loach and Paul Laverty will be interviewed by Michael Moore on politics and cinema and Philip Seymour Hoffman will have his own panel. Also on hand will be Bill Gates,...

The organizers at the Toronto International Film Festival have put together one hell of an impressive line-up that has grown significantly since my first list announcing the Galas and Special Presentations, a pair of lists that have also grown since then.

The lists have grown to include Massy Tadjedin's Last Night starring Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and Guillaume Canet, which will serve as the closing night film.

It's also grown to include Danny Boyle's 127 Hours starring James Franco. Boyle recently spoke about the film at Movie Con and told the audience there it may be a challenge to watch saying, "It's a lovely way of doing a new kind of filmmaking, really. We want it to be a challenge to you [the audience] to see if you can sit and watch it."

In the film Franco plays real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston who ended up trapped under a...

As I've said in the past, I am not someone to rush out and watch a ton of documentaries, even though I love nearly every single one I see. So, when today's list of 23 documentaries that will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival was announced I didn't exactly rush to check it out, although now upon giving it a once over I see there is a lot to look out for.

As for the obvious titles that are sure to generate the most buzz you have Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which follows Herzog inside the Chauvet caves of southern France where he uses 3D technology to take us back in time over 30,000 years. I saw most of Charles Ferguson's Inside Job at Cannes, but couldn't keep my eyes open and had to bail before it ended and I am anxious to check out Alex Gibney...

The Toronto International Film Festival will be celebrating its 35th year this September and we announced the first batch of big premieres last week. Some highlights included Darren Aronofsky‘s Black Swan, Robert Redford‘s The Conspirator, John Madden‘s The Debt, Tom Hooper‘s The King’s Speech, and Mark Romanek‘s Never Let Me Go. Today we get the documentary slate, which looks to have a fantastic line-up. Check out the press release below.

For Immediate Release

August 4, 2010

Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars

Toronto – The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who’s who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris explores a woman’s bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen’s creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto...

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: A dose of reality out of Toronto this morning as Tiff organizers verified a list of documentaries that would be playing this year’s film fest, scheduled for Sept. 9-19.

The full press release is below, but names that will jump out at you include Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, Alex Gibney, Charles Ferguson, Mark Hartley, and more.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to program a documentary line-up with so many acclaimed filmmakers this year,” said Thom Powers, Tiff programmer. “From Oscar winners and nominees to Emmy award-winners, these talented filmmakers have created works that will be debated and discussed for months to come. They reinvigorate our thinking about subjects like the war in Afghanistan, the banking crisis, and the future of energy.”

So far, this year’s Tiff is shaping up to be something special. Look for complete coverage of the festival on Hollywood News.

You want diversity? Look no farther than the documentary programs at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Freshly announced, the program includes premieres from some of the biggest names in the film world - Errol Morris, Naomi Kawase and Werner Herzog among them - alongside profiles of Bruce Springsteen and a heaping helping of Filipino B-film. Here's the full announcement:

Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And

Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars

Toronto - The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who's who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris

explores a woman's bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen's creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto tracks an Indian feminist group in Pink Saris, and Werner Herzog films humankind's earliest known images in 3-D in Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

Here’s the list of 25 documentaries announced today:

Galas

The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town

Thom Zimny, USA World Premiere

The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town takes us into the studio with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the recording of their fourth album. Grammy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny has collaborated with Springsteen on this documentary, gaining access to never before seen footage shot between 1976-1978, capturing home rehearsals and recording sessions that allow us to see Springsteen’s creative process at work.

Masters

Erotic Man

Jørgen Leth, Denmark

Danish master Jørgen Leth travels the globe in this sensual, provocative and sometimes autobiographical essay film about a man struggling to come to terms with his past choices and his decision to leave a lover.

Nostalgia for the Light

Patricio Guzmán, France/Germany/Chile North American Premiere

In Chile’s Atacama Desert,...

Toronto -- Tribeca may have offered a sneak peek, but the Toronto International Film Festival has the world premiere of Alex Gibney's "Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer" from Magnolia Pictures.

Oscar-winning Gibney's latest documentary about the sex scandal that enveloped the former New York governor, and which includes an on-camera interview with Spitzer and some of the players that brought about his political downfall, was billed as a "work-in-progress" at Tribeca.

Now Toronto gets Gibney's finished doc ahead of a Nov. 5 theatrical release, and Spitzer getting a CNN primetime newshow gig this fall alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kathleen Parker.

"Client 9" also figured Wednesday among 25 factual films unveiled by fest organizers as part of Toronto's Real to Reel, Masters and Sprockets Family Zone sidebars.

The fest booked a gala world premiere at Roy Thomson Hall for "The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town,...

Just the other night, I was bowling with some high school kids I.m working with in a summer program. One of the girls decided to show some of the other kids a couple of card tricks she knew. Both tricks took about three minutes and ended with bright eyes and astonished looks on the faces of the kids whose cards the girl successfully revealed. Although the card tricks were fairly simple, it was impossible to deny how, for even 30 seconds, the flipping of a 10 of clubs could make the world seem so wonderful and mysterious. This, magnified by 1000, is the world that the kids in Make Believe live in. Following the lives of six Teen World Championship of Magic contestants, this upcoming documentary from J. Clay Tweel gives insight not only into the usually locked down world of magic but also six eccentric and talented school-aged kids. Following in...

After running for 10 days and showing over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival finally came to a close on Sunday. In my final write up you can read which films won the major prizes and my thoughts on the festival along with my mini-reviews on a couple of films including the Australian crime film Animal Kingdom, the documentary Freakonomics, the Chilean martial arts film Mandrill, the British comedy about suicide bombers Four Lions, the recently much buzzed about Monsters, and Welcome to the Rileys starring James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart. My write up after the jump:

The Winners

Jury Prize for Best Narrative film – A Family (En Familie) directed by Pernille Fischer

Jury Prize for Best Documentary – Make Believe directed by J. Clay Tweel

Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Performance in a Narrative – the ensemble cast of Hello Lonesome directed by Adam Reid...

Christopher Morris‘ Four Lions (top); Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith’s Presumed Guilty (middle); Marc Landsman‘s Thunder Soul (bottom) Christopher Morris‘ Four Lions, about a group of klutzy terrorists out to ruin the London Marathon, won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival. Four Lions features Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, and Nigel Lindsay, among others. Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith’s Mexican documentary Presumed Guilty took home the Audience Award for Best International Feature, while the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Marc Landsman’s Thunder Soul. Presumed Guilty takes a trip down Mexico’s putrid justice system; Thunder Soul remembers the 1970s high-school band Kashmere Stage Band. On Saturday, it was announced that Pernille Fisher Christensen’s Danish drama En Famille / A Family was the Los Angeles Film Festival Jury’s choice for Best Narrative Feature and J. Clay Tweel’s Make Believe,...

hollywoodnews.com: Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced its 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival audience award winners before the Closing Night film, “Despicable Me.” The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by The Los Angeles Times, with its central hub at L.A. Live, began Thursday, June 17 and ended today.

The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “Four Lions” directed by Christopher Morris and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to “Thunder Soul,” directed by Mark Landsman. Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith’s “Presumed Guilty won the Audience Award for Best International Feature.

The Audience Award for Best Short Film went to Dock Ellis & the LSD No-No, directed by James Blagden. The video for Ok Go’s This Too Shall Pass, directed by James Frost, Ok Go, and Syyn Labs won the Audience Award for Best Music Video.

Pernille Fischer Christensen's "A Family" (En Familie), about a Danish family facing the death of its patriarch, was awarded the narrative award at the Los Angeles Film Festival, which handed out its jury prizes Saturday at a brunch at Chaya Downtown.

The fest’s documentary award went to J. Clay Tweel's "Make Believe," which looks at young magicians vying for the title of Teen World Champion.

Each award includes a $50,000 cash prize, funded by Film Independent, which produces the festival.

The award for best ensemble performance was given to Sabrina Lloyd, James Urbaniak, Lynn Cohen, Harry Chase, Nate Smith and Kamel Boutros for their work in Adam Reid's "Hello Lonesome."

Pablo Larcuen's "My Invisible Friend" took the best narrative short film honors, while Tomasz Wolski's "The Lucky One”"was named best documentary short and Beomsik Shimbe Shim's "Wonder Hospital" was best animated short.

The fest,...