Set in San Francisco on the eve of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Dogfight is pitched on the precipice of a massive sea change in American life. The post-war boom of the 1950s is waning, and the civil rights era and the Vietnam War are right around the corner. The film’s protagonists exist, then, in a kind of liminal space, uncomfortable in their own skin and riddled with anxieties and uncertainties about their immediate futures.
Released in 1991, when nostalgia for the ’60s was near its peak, Nancy Savoca’s film takes a distinctly feminine perspective on the era, challenging the unbridled machismo and ritualistic behaviors that were often celebrated, or at least unexamined, in the male-directed films of the time. For the opening 20 minutes, we bear witness to an especially cruel competition in which Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix), an 18-year-old Marine, and several of his jarhead buddies, all on...
Released in 1991, when nostalgia for the ’60s was near its peak, Nancy Savoca’s film takes a distinctly feminine perspective on the era, challenging the unbridled machismo and ritualistic behaviors that were often celebrated, or at least unexamined, in the male-directed films of the time. For the opening 20 minutes, we bear witness to an especially cruel competition in which Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix), an 18-year-old Marine, and several of his jarhead buddies, all on...
- 5/7/2024
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.
Today we speak to Nancy Savoca, the great filmmaker whose sophomore feature Dogfight is now available via Criterion. The digitally-restored, director-approved Blu-Ray includes new commentary from Savoca and producer Richard Guay, a new interview with Savoca and actor Lili Taylor conducted by filmmaker Mary Harron, and a great essay by film critic Christina Newland, among other features.
We speak with Savoca about Missing Movies, her mentors John Sayles and Maggie Renzi, her first film True Love, directing singular performers like River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, and the HBO creativity boom of the mid-to-late ‘90s (including Carl Franklin’s Laurel Avenue and Cher and Savoca’s If These Walls Could Talk), and lesser-seen gems of Savoca’s that...
Today we speak to Nancy Savoca, the great filmmaker whose sophomore feature Dogfight is now available via Criterion. The digitally-restored, director-approved Blu-Ray includes new commentary from Savoca and producer Richard Guay, a new interview with Savoca and actor Lili Taylor conducted by filmmaker Mary Harron, and a great essay by film critic Christina Newland, among other features.
We speak with Savoca about Missing Movies, her mentors John Sayles and Maggie Renzi, her first film True Love, directing singular performers like River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, and the HBO creativity boom of the mid-to-late ‘90s (including Carl Franklin’s Laurel Avenue and Cher and Savoca’s If These Walls Could Talk), and lesser-seen gems of Savoca’s that...
- 5/2/2024
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
A good movie hug, one that’s more than a neat tie-up, can pack a wallop, especially in the final stretch of a gripping story. The proportions of bittersweet angst and healthy schmaltz vary. The situation might be a charged reunion, a heartrending goodbye or a romantic declaration. Films as unalike as It’s a Wonderful Life, E.T. and Reds offer memorable clinches. But I can’t think of a screen embrace as packed with complex emotion and metaphoric zing as the one that closes Dogfight.
Nancy Savoca’s 1991 drama, digitally restored and arriving April 30 in a Blu-ray special edition from the Criterion Collection, defies genre expectations at every turn. In certain ways — beautiful ways — it’s as winningly awkward as its protagonists, portrayed by two of the most gifted risk-takers of their generation, River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. Thoroughly cinematic yet also endearingly stagy (no wonder it inspired a...
Nancy Savoca’s 1991 drama, digitally restored and arriving April 30 in a Blu-ray special edition from the Criterion Collection, defies genre expectations at every turn. In certain ways — beautiful ways — it’s as winningly awkward as its protagonists, portrayed by two of the most gifted risk-takers of their generation, River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. Thoroughly cinematic yet also endearingly stagy (no wonder it inspired a...
- 4/30/2024
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Through the lens of 2024, “Dogfight” plays like a subtle, personal film you would expect from indie director Nancy Savoca (“Household Saints”), but that’s not what Warner Bros. thought they were making.
“They were thinking ‘Porky’s.’ They thought it was a comedy,” said director Nancy Savoca while on IndieWire’s Toolkit podcast to discuss “Dogfight,” which is entering the Criterion Collection on April 30.
At the end of the 1980s headed into the early ’90s, when Warners was developing Bob Comfort’s “Dogfight” screenplay, teen comedies were big business for the studios. Alongside the wild success of the classic slate of teen comedies John Hughes wrote, directed, or produced, the “Porky’s” trilogy came to define the sex comedies of the era. It’s through this lens the studio saw the dogfight competition in Comfort’s script: A group of young soldiers pick up the “ugliest” woman they can find, bring her to a bar,...
“They were thinking ‘Porky’s.’ They thought it was a comedy,” said director Nancy Savoca while on IndieWire’s Toolkit podcast to discuss “Dogfight,” which is entering the Criterion Collection on April 30.
At the end of the 1980s headed into the early ’90s, when Warners was developing Bob Comfort’s “Dogfight” screenplay, teen comedies were big business for the studios. Alongside the wild success of the classic slate of teen comedies John Hughes wrote, directed, or produced, the “Porky’s” trilogy came to define the sex comedies of the era. It’s through this lens the studio saw the dogfight competition in Comfort’s script: A group of young soldiers pick up the “ugliest” woman they can find, bring her to a bar,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Well, it’s over. Now that the 2024 film awards season is in the rearview mirror, the onslaught of prestige titles hitting digital platforms will come to a temporary halt. Thankfully, this week still brings a pretty decent crop of new releases.
The contender to watch this week: “Drive-Away Dolls“
Ethan Coen‘s second movie without Joel — his first was the documentary “Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind,” which is streaming exclusively on Prime Video — has posted modest box-office returns, but the breezy road comedy seems destined for cult-favorite status. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan play friends who get caught up in a band of maladroit criminals during a road trip down South. Co-written with Tricia Cooke, who edited “The Big Lebowski” and other Coen-brother movies, “Drive-Away Dolls” also features Beanie Feldstein, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, and newly minted Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. It’s available to rent or purchase on VOD.
The contender to watch this week: “Drive-Away Dolls“
Ethan Coen‘s second movie without Joel — his first was the documentary “Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind,” which is streaming exclusively on Prime Video — has posted modest box-office returns, but the breezy road comedy seems destined for cult-favorite status. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan play friends who get caught up in a band of maladroit criminals during a road trip down South. Co-written with Tricia Cooke, who edited “The Big Lebowski” and other Coen-brother movies, “Drive-Away Dolls” also features Beanie Feldstein, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, and newly minted Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. It’s available to rent or purchase on VOD.
- 3/16/2024
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
The Animal Kingdom (Thomas Cailley)
In The Animal Kingdom, an Un Certain Regard-selected science-fiction romp from France, human-animal mutations are the new norm. Director Thomas Cailley begins things in media res with a familiar disaster-movie scene: François (Romain Duris) and Émile (Paul Kircher)––father and son, respectively––are stuck in traffic, making chit-chat, when something slowly begins capturing the attention of other drivers. An ambulance across the way begins to rumble. Then a man with a large winged arm bursts out, causing some damage before scurrying down a tunnel. Only mildly ruffled, François exchanges a jaded aphorism with another driver over: “Strange times.” – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
Dream Scenario (Kristoffer Borgli)
The ever-evolving nature of fame and infamy gets examined in Dream Scenario,...
The Animal Kingdom (Thomas Cailley)
In The Animal Kingdom, an Un Certain Regard-selected science-fiction romp from France, human-animal mutations are the new norm. Director Thomas Cailley begins things in media res with a familiar disaster-movie scene: François (Romain Duris) and Émile (Paul Kircher)––father and son, respectively––are stuck in traffic, making chit-chat, when something slowly begins capturing the attention of other drivers. An ambulance across the way begins to rumble. Then a man with a large winged arm bursts out, causing some damage before scurrying down a tunnel. Only mildly ruffled, François exchanges a jaded aphorism with another driver over: “Strange times.” – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
Dream Scenario (Kristoffer Borgli)
The ever-evolving nature of fame and infamy gets examined in Dream Scenario,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
With no new bust-out limited releases, repertory continues to do its part for the specialty box office, the latest a 4k restoration of Nostalghia. Kino Lorber said the Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1983 film, which opened Wednesday, will gross an estimated $22.87k at Film Forum in NYC for the five days.
It’s currently the top performer at the theater and will take in more than all other films screening there combined over that period. Two additional shows at the Roxie in San Francisco and the Austin Film Society bring combined grosses to about $29.4k. Expands next week to Philadelphia and Montreal with additional markets coming later. The film about a Russian poet and his interpreter, who travel to Italy researching the life of an 18th-century composer, stars Oleg Yankovskiy, Andrei Gorchakov, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano and Patrizia Terreno.
Kino Lorber had success with the restored 4k re-release of Bernardo Bertolucci’s...
It’s currently the top performer at the theater and will take in more than all other films screening there combined over that period. Two additional shows at the Roxie in San Francisco and the Austin Film Society bring combined grosses to about $29.4k. Expands next week to Philadelphia and Montreal with additional markets coming later. The film about a Russian poet and his interpreter, who travel to Italy researching the life of an 18th-century composer, stars Oleg Yankovskiy, Andrei Gorchakov, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano and Patrizia Terreno.
Kino Lorber had success with the restored 4k re-release of Bernardo Bertolucci’s...
- 2/25/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Film Festival is regarded as one of the most prestigious independent film festivals, where filmmakers have been premiering their movies and documentaries since 1984.
The festival was founded in 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen, the head of Robert Redford’s company Wildwood, and John Earle of the Utah Film Commission under the name Utah/US Film Festival to attract more filmmakers to Utah.
Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 to foster independence, risk-taking, and new voices in American film. That year, 10 emerging filmmakers were invited to the Sundance Resort in the mountains of Utah, where they worked with leading writers, directors and actors to develop their original independent projects.
By 1984, the festival had established itself and was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival after Redford’s character in his 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. That year, the Grand Jury Prize in Dramatics was awarded to Old Enough, an...
The festival was founded in 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen, the head of Robert Redford’s company Wildwood, and John Earle of the Utah Film Commission under the name Utah/US Film Festival to attract more filmmakers to Utah.
Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 to foster independence, risk-taking, and new voices in American film. That year, 10 emerging filmmakers were invited to the Sundance Resort in the mountains of Utah, where they worked with leading writers, directors and actors to develop their original independent projects.
By 1984, the festival had established itself and was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival after Redford’s character in his 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. That year, the Grand Jury Prize in Dramatics was awarded to Old Enough, an...
- 1/26/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
The Criterion Collection reaches out to encompass more radical works of cinema in April 2024, led by Mathieu Kassovitz's completely unsettling La Haine (1995); the seminal Werckmeister Harmonies (2000), described by Criterion as "a hypnotic parable of societal collapse from auteur Béla Tarr and codirector-editor Ágnes Hranitzky;" the remarkable I Am Cuba (1964) from director Mikhail Kalatozov; Nancy Savoca's under-appreciated Dogfight, starring Lili Taylor and River Phoenix; and Peter Weir's dreamy and mysterious Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), available in 4K. La Haine, Werckmeister Harmonies, and I Am Cuba are also being issued in 4K, so it's a splendid time for world cinema fans to dust off their wallets and indulge. (I say that knowing that April 15 is also looming as an important date...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/16/2024
- Screen Anarchy
While the year remains young, Criterion’s already looking to Q2 2024. April’s a notable month for its 4K haul: Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky’s Werckmeister Harmonies, having played in a dazzling restoration last year, will be the filmmakers’ first time in the collection (and come packaged with Tarr’s debut feature Family Nest). Mikhail Kalatozov’s less of a stranger, but his I Am Cuba continues the much-welcomed growth of Latin American cinema (notwithstanding its Soviet connections) on physical media.
Meanwhile, La Haine and Picnic at Hanging Rock get upgrades, and Nancy Savoca’s lesser-seen Dogfight enters on Blu-ray.
See artwork below and more details at Criterion:
The post The Criterion Collection’s April Lineup Includes Werckmeister Harmonies and I Am Cuba on 4K first appeared on The Film Stage.
Meanwhile, La Haine and Picnic at Hanging Rock get upgrades, and Nancy Savoca’s lesser-seen Dogfight enters on Blu-ray.
See artwork below and more details at Criterion:
The post The Criterion Collection’s April Lineup Includes Werckmeister Harmonies and I Am Cuba on 4K first appeared on The Film Stage.
- 1/16/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
"Please keep me from giving birth to a chicken." Kino Lorber has revealed a new trailer for a 4K restoration of this 1990s indie film called Household Saints, made by NYC-native filmmaker Nancy Savoca. This originally premiered at the 1993 Toronto Film Festival, and it screened again at this year's New York Film Festival for its 30th anniversary. Adapted from Francine Prose's novel of the same name, it's an unsettling drama about three generations of Italian-American women struggling to get by in post-wwii New York's Little Italy. Kino Lorber and Milestone Films are proud to present a new 4K restoration of Nancy Savoca's Household Saints, featuring a cast inclduing Tracey Ullman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Judith Malina, and Michael Imperioli. The film has been digitally restored and remastered by Lightbox Film Center at University of the Arts (Philadelphia) in collaboration with Milestone Films with support from Ron and Suzanne Naples.
- 12/18/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of the great restorations of the last year––in the sense that not only is it of pristine quality, but that it invites an underseen gem back into the conversation––is that of Nancy Savoca’s 1993 drama Household Saints, which was executive-produced by Jonathan Demme. Led by Tracey Ullman, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Judith Malina, Illeana Douglas, and Michael Imperioli, the ambitious, carefully observed drama follows the courtship of an Italian-American family before expanding into a tale of religious conviction. Scripted by Savoca and Richard Guay based on Francine Prose’s novel, the new 4K restoration premiered at New York Film Festival and now Kino Lorber and Milestone Films will open it theatrically on January 12 at the IFC Center. Ahead of the release, we’re pleased to exclusively premiere the new trailer.
Here’s the synopsis: “Based on Francine Prose’s fifth novel, Nancy Savoca’s comic chronicle of...
Here’s the synopsis: “Based on Francine Prose’s fifth novel, Nancy Savoca’s comic chronicle of...
- 12/18/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Kino Lorber, at the Lumiére Festival and International Classic Film Market (Mifc) in Lyon with a number of new restorations, including Stanley Kubrick’s “Fear and Desire,” will next release Bridgett M. Davis’ 1996 drama “Naked Acts” and a complete retrospective of Oscar Micheaux, the first black filmmaker.
Also headed for release is “The Dragon Painter,” a rare, 1919 silent film with an all Asian cast, with the feel of an old Japanese film but entirely shot in the San Francisco area. It stars Sessue Hayakawa, who produced it himself, as well as his real-life wife Tsuru Aoki.
Kino Lorber is partnering with Milestone Films to release “The Dragon Painter” in 4K in 2024 with a new score.
Likewise set for a 4K release next year in partnership with Milestone is “Naked Acts,” which follows young Black actress Cicely, who is about to make her acting debut in a low budget film. As...
Also headed for release is “The Dragon Painter,” a rare, 1919 silent film with an all Asian cast, with the feel of an old Japanese film but entirely shot in the San Francisco area. It stars Sessue Hayakawa, who produced it himself, as well as his real-life wife Tsuru Aoki.
Kino Lorber is partnering with Milestone Films to release “The Dragon Painter” in 4K in 2024 with a new score.
Likewise set for a 4K release next year in partnership with Milestone is “Naked Acts,” which follows young Black actress Cicely, who is about to make her acting debut in a low budget film. As...
- 10/18/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
With its digital restoration world premiering at the 61st New York Film Festival tomorrow, we are publishing online for the first time Noam Christopher’s interview with writer/director Nancy Savoca about her Household Saints from our Fall, 1993 edition. Originally released by Fine Line Features, the new restoration is a Milestone Films release. — Editor Nancy Savoca made her directorial debut with True Love, an unsentimental, widely acclaimed look at love and marriage in the Bronx. The winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1989 United States Film Festival, the film not only launched Savoca’s career, but the career of […]
The post “Sometimes I Think We Romanticize Not Having Enough Money for a Film”: Nancy Savoca on Household Saints first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Sometimes I Think We Romanticize Not Having Enough Money for a Film”: Nancy Savoca on Household Saints first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 10/6/2023
- by Noam Christopher
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
With its digital restoration world premiering at the 61st New York Film Festival tomorrow, we are publishing online for the first time Noam Christopher’s interview with writer/director Nancy Savoca about her Household Saints from our Fall, 1993 edition. Originally released by Fine Line Features, the new restoration is a Milestone Films release. — Editor Nancy Savoca made her directorial debut with True Love, an unsentimental, widely acclaimed look at love and marriage in the Bronx. The winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1989 United States Film Festival, the film not only launched Savoca’s career, but the career of […]
The post “Sometimes I Think We Romanticize Not Having Enough Money for a Film”: Nancy Savoca on Household Saints first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Sometimes I Think We Romanticize Not Having Enough Money for a Film”: Nancy Savoca on Household Saints first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 10/6/2023
- by Noam Christopher
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
While it’s understandable that many’s most-anticipated films at a festival are also some of the biggest titles of the season––evidenced by the instant sell-outs of the latest from Hayao Miyazaki, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sofia Coppola, Andrew Haigh, Jonathan Glazer, and more at the 61st New York Film Festival––one of the true joys of the experience is seeing work one may never find again. For this year’s edition of Film at Lincoln Center’s annual celebration of world cinema, we’ve gathered eight recommendations that currently don’t have U.S. distribution. While we imagine news will be announced soon for some of these selections, a release might not occur until next year, so be sure to catch them if you can.
We should also make a special note for Revivals, NYFF’s lineup of restorations, which features Paul Vecchiali’s haunting, captivating portrait of alienation The Strangler...
We should also make a special note for Revivals, NYFF’s lineup of restorations, which features Paul Vecchiali’s haunting, captivating portrait of alienation The Strangler...
- 9/26/2023
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Following Main Slate and Spotlight, the 61st New York Film Festival has unveiled its Revivals lineup, featuring new restorations of classic and overlooked films. Highlights include Manoel de Oliveira’s Abraham’s Valley, Jean Renoir‘s The Woman on the Beach, Bahram Beyzaie’s The Stranger and the Fog, Abel Gance’s La Roue, Paul Vecchiali’s The Strangler, Lee Grant’s Tell Me a Riddle, Nancy Savoca’s Household Saints, Horace Ové’s Pressure, and more.
“This year’s edition of Revivals is a thrilling showcase of cinema history, packed with groundbreaking discoveries and long unseen classics alike, all in outstanding restorations,” said Florence Almozini, Senior Director of Programming at Film at Lincoln Center and NYFF Revivals Programmer. “We never cease to be amazed at the lasting influence of these cinematic gems on our collective sense of cinema, with the way they have tackled cultural, societal, or political issues with such modernity and artistry.
“This year’s edition of Revivals is a thrilling showcase of cinema history, packed with groundbreaking discoveries and long unseen classics alike, all in outstanding restorations,” said Florence Almozini, Senior Director of Programming at Film at Lincoln Center and NYFF Revivals Programmer. “We never cease to be amazed at the lasting influence of these cinematic gems on our collective sense of cinema, with the way they have tackled cultural, societal, or political issues with such modernity and artistry.
- 8/21/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The production of the “Flowers in the Attic” movie series started in 2014 with Lifetime pictures. This drama, romance, and thriller series is based on the best-selling cult-classic novel “Flowers in the Attic” by writer V.C. Andrews started in 1979.
“Flowers in the Attic” and its three sequels, directed by Deborah Chow, Karen Moncrieff, Nancy Savoca, and Shawn Ku, performed well for Lifetime and are welcomed with tremendous success.
Now, in 2022, owing to the success and fame achieved by these movie series, Lifetime has decided to dwell further into Andrews’ Dollanganger Saga.
This blog post will help you with complete information on “Flowers in the Attic” movies in order and the new series.
All the “Flowers in the Attic” Movies in Order of Release Date Flowers in the Attic (2014) Flowers in the Attic 2: Petals on the Wind (2014) If There Be Thorns (2015) Seeds of Yesterday (2015) Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (2022) Flowers in the Attic (2014)
This romance,...
“Flowers in the Attic” and its three sequels, directed by Deborah Chow, Karen Moncrieff, Nancy Savoca, and Shawn Ku, performed well for Lifetime and are welcomed with tremendous success.
Now, in 2022, owing to the success and fame achieved by these movie series, Lifetime has decided to dwell further into Andrews’ Dollanganger Saga.
This blog post will help you with complete information on “Flowers in the Attic” movies in order and the new series.
All the “Flowers in the Attic” Movies in Order of Release Date Flowers in the Attic (2014) Flowers in the Attic 2: Petals on the Wind (2014) If There Be Thorns (2015) Seeds of Yesterday (2015) Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (2022) Flowers in the Attic (2014)
This romance,...
- 12/30/2022
- by Israr
- buddytv.com
Brendan Fraser is very passionate about acting — just ask his doctors. The actor has sustained over a dozen injuries throughout his career. Getting your first opportunity in such a competitive field is rarely easy, and for Fraser, it was clear from the beginning that the actor was ready to do whatever it took to kickstart his Hollywood career.
Before his role in "The Mummy" franchise that made Brendan Fraser a certified action star, the actor was still crashing into things, willing to go to dizzying, dangerous heights to get a role in a movie. And he suffered the consequences from the very beginning. "The Mummy" may have given Fraser injuries to keep him in and out of the hospital for seven long years, but the performer also sustained a rib injury in his very first acting role, all the way back in 1991.
Fraser Put His Body On The Line To...
Before his role in "The Mummy" franchise that made Brendan Fraser a certified action star, the actor was still crashing into things, willing to go to dizzying, dangerous heights to get a role in a movie. And he suffered the consequences from the very beginning. "The Mummy" may have given Fraser injuries to keep him in and out of the hospital for seven long years, but the performer also sustained a rib injury in his very first acting role, all the way back in 1991.
Fraser Put His Body On The Line To...
- 10/8/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade has given new poignancy to If These Walls Could Talk, HBO’s 1996 anthology film about three women in different eras — the 1950s, the 1970s and the 1990s — and their experiences with abortion.
Demi Moore, Sissy Spacek and Cher each starred in a segment, with Cher directing her portion. Cher and Moore also served as executive producers on the project. Co-writer and co-director Nancy Savoca recalls how the film broke new ground but was also met with backlash.
“We were always nervous,” Savoca says of anticipating the reaction to the movie, noting, “there were protesters while we were shooting.” She adds that one of the film’s actors lost a longtime commercial job because of their work on the film, and says it was the only project she’s ever done where there was no...
The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade has given new poignancy to If These Walls Could Talk, HBO’s 1996 anthology film about three women in different eras — the 1950s, the 1970s and the 1990s — and their experiences with abortion.
Demi Moore, Sissy Spacek and Cher each starred in a segment, with Cher directing her portion. Cher and Moore also served as executive producers on the project. Co-writer and co-director Nancy Savoca recalls how the film broke new ground but was also met with backlash.
“We were always nervous,” Savoca says of anticipating the reaction to the movie, noting, “there were protesters while we were shooting.” She adds that one of the film’s actors lost a longtime commercial job because of their work on the film, and says it was the only project she’s ever done where there was no...
- 8/22/2022
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Annabella Sciorra (The Sopranos) has joined the cast of the Paramount+ series Tulsa King from executive producers Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter, who also serves as writer and showrunner.
She will play Joanne, Dwight’s (Sylvester Stallone) younger sister who lives in Brooklyn. Sciorra and Stallone previously co-starred in the James Mangold film Cop Land released in 1997.
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) after he is released from prison after 25 years and is unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a crew from a group of unlikely characters to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.
Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, Jay Will, A.C. Peterson with Garrett Hedlund,...
She will play Joanne, Dwight’s (Sylvester Stallone) younger sister who lives in Brooklyn. Sciorra and Stallone previously co-starred in the James Mangold film Cop Land released in 1997.
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) after he is released from prison after 25 years and is unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a crew from a group of unlikely characters to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.
Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, Jay Will, A.C. Peterson with Garrett Hedlund,...
- 8/15/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Although it may seem that films are now more accessible than ever, it’s simply not the case for independent film history.
“The truth is that movies are simply not as available today as they were during the heyday of VHS when some brick-and-mortar video stores carried tens of thousands of titles,” the manifesto for indie film preservation group Missing Movies states. “Now, with a few giant companies controlling the most popular streaming services and trying to outdo one another with original content, many older movies are being left behind.”
A collaborative effort between filmmakers and cinephiles, Missing Movies sets out to “empower filmmakers, distributors, archivists, and others to locate lost materials, clear rights, and advocate for policies and laws to make the full range of our cinema history available to all,” as IndieWire can exclusively share.
Founding Missing Movies filmmakers include Mary Harron, Shola Lynch, Nancy Savoca, Ira Deutchman,...
“The truth is that movies are simply not as available today as they were during the heyday of VHS when some brick-and-mortar video stores carried tens of thousands of titles,” the manifesto for indie film preservation group Missing Movies states. “Now, with a few giant companies controlling the most popular streaming services and trying to outdo one another with original content, many older movies are being left behind.”
A collaborative effort between filmmakers and cinephiles, Missing Movies sets out to “empower filmmakers, distributors, archivists, and others to locate lost materials, clear rights, and advocate for policies and laws to make the full range of our cinema history available to all,” as IndieWire can exclusively share.
Founding Missing Movies filmmakers include Mary Harron, Shola Lynch, Nancy Savoca, Ira Deutchman,...
- 2/4/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
When curating the recent retrospective “NY Indie Guy: Ira Deutchman and the Rise of Independent Film” – a Columbia University exhibit honoring the 40-year career of a leading American independent film producer, marketer, and distributor – programmers Rob King and Jack Lechner made an upsetting discovery: Many of the films they picked to screen were unavailable in any form.
This sent Deutchman into detective mode, to discover what happened to many of the films he helped introduce to the world. He walked away from his initial examination shocked by the situation and with a grim assessment: We are in danger of losing many of the films that defined recent movements in American independent film.
“During the height of in the independent boom back in the ’80s and into the 90s, it was always considered the holy grail for independent filmmakers that to be truly independent they would eventually get back the rights or control the rights,...
This sent Deutchman into detective mode, to discover what happened to many of the films he helped introduce to the world. He walked away from his initial examination shocked by the situation and with a grim assessment: We are in danger of losing many of the films that defined recent movements in American independent film.
“During the height of in the independent boom back in the ’80s and into the 90s, it was always considered the holy grail for independent filmmakers that to be truly independent they would eventually get back the rights or control the rights,...
- 9/25/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Read More: Interview with Nancy Savoca: Co-Writer and Director of 'Union Square' The University of Michigan has announced that filmmaker Nancy Savoca will donate her personal archives to the school's Mavericks and Makes Indie Film Collection. The archives will include a diverse range of her work, including drawings, budgets, research documents, drafts of screenplays, audio and video interviews, press photos, props and even a few notebooks from her high school film class. Savoca will be the first female "Maverick" in the collection, which houses an immense range of material from fellow filmmakers such as Orson Welles, Robert Altman, Alan Rudolph, John Sayles and Ira Deutchman. Savoca has been an independent filmmaker, working with her husband and partner Rich Guay, for more than 25 years. Her works includes "True Love" (which won the Grand Jury Prize at the inaugural 1989 Sundance Film Festival), "Household Saints,"...
- 2/4/2016
- by Mike Lown
- Indiewire
It has not been an easy week. At the start of the week, we had our editorial meeting here at HitFix, as we do every Monday, to talk about both the week ahead and longer-term projects as well. For fairly obvious reasons, there was a fair amount of talk about Valentine's Day content, and I mentioned a few different ideas that I might write about, including one that I'll end up publishing at some point about Steve Martin. But even as I pitched a few ideas, I found myself uncomfortable with the entire idea of writing about romantic films right now. Honestly, I was hoping to spend this week with my head down and then just sail right through this weekend without writing about love at all, because for the first time in my adult life, I am no longer sure what I think about it. After all, I was with my wife for 14 years.
- 2/14/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Lifetime is officially moving forward with a third film in the "Flowers in the Attic" series, based on the novels by V.C. Andrews.
Jason Lewis and Rachael Carpani take over the roles of Christopher and Cathy Dollanganger respectively in "If There Be Thorns". The pair now live together as man and wife in California with Cathy's two sons (one played by Mason Cook), who are unaware of the nature of their parents’ relationship.
It's unclear which, if any, other cast members from either previous movie will return for the film which will air in 2015. An adaptation of the fourth book, "Seeds of Yesterday," is still planned and that would air late in 2015.
Andy Cochran will pen the script which will be directed by Independent Spirit Award nominee Nancy Savoca ("If These Walls Could Talk").
Source: The Live Feed...
Jason Lewis and Rachael Carpani take over the roles of Christopher and Cathy Dollanganger respectively in "If There Be Thorns". The pair now live together as man and wife in California with Cathy's two sons (one played by Mason Cook), who are unaware of the nature of their parents’ relationship.
It's unclear which, if any, other cast members from either previous movie will return for the film which will air in 2015. An adaptation of the fourth book, "Seeds of Yesterday," is still planned and that would air late in 2015.
Andy Cochran will pen the script which will be directed by Independent Spirit Award nominee Nancy Savoca ("If These Walls Could Talk").
Source: The Live Feed...
- 9/4/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The Tribeca Film Institute (Tfi) has announced the winner of the 2014 Alfred P Sloan Foundation Student grand jury prize for screenwriting (27).
Laura Alsum of UCLA’s School Of Theatre, Film And Television prevailed in the competition with Survival Of The Fittest and will receive $50,000.
Jury members were filmmakers Deepa Mehta and Nancy Savoca, actors Amy Ryan, Rae Dawn Chong and Matthew Modine, The Wolf Of Wall Street producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher and physicist Gabriel Cwilich.
Alsum will also attend the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival that runs from April 16-27 and participate in the Tfi Filmmaker Industry Meetings.
Laura Alsum of UCLA’s School Of Theatre, Film And Television prevailed in the competition with Survival Of The Fittest and will receive $50,000.
Jury members were filmmakers Deepa Mehta and Nancy Savoca, actors Amy Ryan, Rae Dawn Chong and Matthew Modine, The Wolf Of Wall Street producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher and physicist Gabriel Cwilich.
Alsum will also attend the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival that runs from April 16-27 and participate in the Tfi Filmmaker Industry Meetings.
- 2/27/2014
- by [email protected] (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
"When I was coming up, making an independent film and trying to reach an audience was like, trying to hit a thrown baseball. This is like trying to hit a thrown baseball but with another thrown baseball." – Steven Soderbergh at the San Francisco International Film Festival, 2013 Did the Sundance Film Festival make "sex, lies and videotape" or did "sex, lies and videotape" put Sundance on the festival map? The debut feature by Steven Soderbergh, modestly budgeted at $1.2 million and starring a cast of recognizable but hardly famous actors on the rise, lost the Grand Jury Prize to Nancy Savoca's "True Love" (even as it eventually won the Palme d’Or at Cannes) but took home the Audience Award. More importantly, it landed a deal with Miramax, who broke the film out of the limited arthouse circuit and put it into suburban theaters. The confluence of Sundance and "sex" was...
- 1/15/2014
- by Sean Axmaker
- Indiewire
Did you know that Heathers screened in competition at Sundance? Even I wasn’t aware of this (or I’d forgotten), and I swear I’m one of the movie’s biggest fans. It’s not a fact revealed on the DVD commentary, apparently. It’s not even listed among the release dates on IMDb or Wikipedia, both of which tend to include major film festival appearances. The dark teen movie classic didn’t premiere in Park City, but following its debut in Milan, Italy, at the Mifed film market in October 1988, it went on to Sundance (then still known as the U.S. Film Festival) in January 1989, where it faced such features as Steven Soderbergh’s sex, lies and videotape (winner of the inaugural audience award), Martin Donovan’s Apartment Zero and Nancy Savoca’s barely remembered True Love, which won the dramatic jury prize (nice going 1989 jury member Jodie Foster!). According...
- 1/5/2014
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
At the First Time Fest, there was a “First Exposure” series in which well known and accomplished directors would get their first directed films shown and have the chance to speak about the process. Some of these well known actors include Wes Anderson, Barbara Kopple, John Huston, Darren Aronofsky, Nancy Savoca, Michael Van Peebles, Hal Hartley, Sofia Coppola, Todd Solondz, and more.
In addition, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Ryan attended, speaking about their experiences while making Hoffman’s directorial debut, Jack Goes Boating. The film is about two adults (Hoffman and Ryan) having a crush on one another without taking any action to move forward in their relationship, all while they see the relationship of their friends ( John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega) fall. Curated by David Schwartz, the director of programming for the festival, here’s what they had to say about their film.
Amy Ryan: She’s...
In addition, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Ryan attended, speaking about their experiences while making Hoffman’s directorial debut, Jack Goes Boating. The film is about two adults (Hoffman and Ryan) having a crush on one another without taking any action to move forward in their relationship, all while they see the relationship of their friends ( John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega) fall. Curated by David Schwartz, the director of programming for the festival, here’s what they had to say about their film.
Amy Ryan: She’s...
- 3/18/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
The First Time Fest was created by Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward as a way to showcase new upcoming filmmakers and their works, and to get them a head start in their industry. The festival occurred on March 1st to 4th at The Players Club in New York, which was a club started by some well-known writers and actors, including Edwin Booth (John Wilkes Booth’s brother), Mark Twain, and more.
While the festival does support new filmmakers in their journey, it also awards previous filmmakers who have made names for themselves. Being that this is the first year of the festival, the first ever John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema went to Darren Aronofsky. The award is named in honor of John Huston as he was a esteemed member of The Players Club, as well as considered to be one of the most influential writer, actor, director and producers of all times.
While the festival does support new filmmakers in their journey, it also awards previous filmmakers who have made names for themselves. Being that this is the first year of the festival, the first ever John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema went to Darren Aronofsky. The award is named in honor of John Huston as he was a esteemed member of The Players Club, as well as considered to be one of the most influential writer, actor, director and producers of all times.
- 3/16/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
I support this new NYC Film Fest which a lot of our friends attended and also support. I went to their inaugural event in NYC a few weeks back and it felt good and I certainly like their Indie lineup. The following is from a recent press release:
Celebrating first-time filmmakers with a grand prize of theatrical distribution, hosted by the historic Players Club, First Time Fest also had additional participants to this year's unique event.
Harry Belafonte, Gay Talese, Michael Shannon & Ellen Burstyn have joined Christine Vachon, Fred Schneider, Sofia Coppola, Todd Solondz, Barbara Kopple, Scott Foundas, Eric Kohn, Emily Russo, Jenny Lumet, Darren Aronofsky, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Hartley, Peter Saraf, Nancy Savoca, Amy Ryan And Martin Scorsese participated In First Time Fest.
Belafonte & Shannon appeared onstage in the Ftf’s “Stand Alone! – Conversations With The Outstanding” series, one-on-one interview with notable cinema artists. Renowned author Gay Talese joined Christine Vachon and the B-52s Fred Schneider as another of the Ftf’s five jurors (the entire live audience at each of the 12 competition films was the 5th juror). Together, the jury and audience ultimately selected Grand Prize winner, Sal, a modern-day Western by Argentinian writer-director Diego Rougier which was offered theatrical distribution and full international sales representation from the renowned American film distributor, Cinema Libre Studio.
Acclaimed actress Ellen Burstyn, who worked with both Scorsese and Aronofsky served as the host of the Ftf Closing Night Awards program. As part of that festive evening, Martin Scorsese added his illustrious presence and belief in the art of cinema, presenting the first John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema to Darren Aronofsky. John Huston was one of the most prolific and versatile directors in the history of cinema. And with his mesmerizing debut film, Pi – made independently on black-and-white 16mm film – Darren Aronofsky was instantly recognized as a uniquely gifted new talent. His subsequent films: Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler and Black Swan, have more than fulfilled that promise.
In addition, Ftf had a special presentation of Andy Grieve and Lauren Lazin’s documentary about the band The Police, Can't Stand Losing You, featuring Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers.
On an exciting party note, and in conjunction with Ftf’s presentation of the Australian/Mongolian documentary Mongolian Bling, First Time Fest and Hip Hop Saves Lives presented “Project Haiti,” an album release party for Zing Experience at Webster Hall.
Representing a hybrid between a traditional film festival and a highly motivated audience participation event, Ftf presented a dozen Competition Films, which were judged by a panel of industry luminaries and the Ftf audience. All competition screenings were followed by “hot-seat” discussions between the jury and filmmakers, and all audience members then voted on the films. It was truly a contest of the best emerging filmmakers competing for the Ultimate Audience Award.
Competition Films – (please visit here for competition films & descriptions).
In addition to the Competition Films, Ftf presented First Exposure, a series of first films from now prominent filmmakers. Joining the line-up - and mostly attending the fest - was the exciting Opening Night presentation of Sofia Coppola with The Virgin Suicides, Todd Solondz with Welcome to the Dollhouse, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket, Barbara Kopple with Harlan County, USA, Melvin Van Peebles with The Story of a Three-Day Pass, Pi from Darren Aronofsky, The Maltese Falcon from director John Huston, Poison from Todd Haynes, Jack Goes Boating from director Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Hartley’s The Unbelievable Truth, and True Love from Nancy Savoca.
First Exposure Films – (please visit here, for First Exposure descriptions)
First Exposure also includes a 60th Anniversary Tribute to Morris Engel’s The Little Fugitive, a cinema vérité classic from 1953 that was shot on Coney Island and has inspired countless filmmakers, from Jean-Luc Godard to the Coen brothers. The tribute included a panel hosted by film historian Foster Hirsch including Mary Engel, daughter of Morris Engel and Ruth Orkin, and James Sanders, author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies. In addition there was a Special Presentation of Everardo Gout’s thrillingly over-the-top action thriller Days Of Grace (Dĺas De Gracia), which won the Mexican Academy of Film’s prestigious Ariel Award for Best First Feature and was nominated for the Camera d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
First Time Fest included a series of panels called “How They Did It,” in which a diverse group of award-winning filmmakers moderated filmmaking case studies and spotlighted some of the most successful and accomplished masters of the industry.
First Time Fest is a four-day, multi-faceted event hosted in New York City’s Gramercy Park by the celebrated Players (16 Gramercy Park South), the club founded by Edwin Booth, Mark Twain and John Singer Sargent, the oldest and most exclusive arts organization of its kind whose membership includes the greatest stars of stage and screen. Each of First Time Fest’s twelve finalists receive high-level industry mentorship and a one-year membership to The Players. The Players was the location for all Ftf panels and events as well as the Filmmaker and VIP Lounge. First Time Fest’s screenings were all held at the Loews Village VII on Third Avenue (on 11th St. & 3rd Ave).
Among the Fest’s terrific sponsors is the delicious Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. "The forward-thinking Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte draws its inspiration from the call of ‘faraway lands.’ One of the youngest and most fashionable Champagne brands, Nicolas Feuillatte has captured the world's imagination by sharing its passion for creativity and arts in a record 37 years, becoming the #1 Champagne in France. In its role as discoverer of talent, the brand awards its prestige cuvée Palmes d'Or to First Time Fest's winners to complement the celebration in style."
Other terrific sponsors of the fest include Brooklyn Brewery, Moscot, Marquis Vodka and Technicolor Postworks.
For additional Festival Information - Visit The Festival Website at www.FirstTimeFest.com
Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward are the co-founders of First Time Fest. As an accomplished philanthropist, actor and social entrepreneur, as well as the daughter of singer Tony Bennett, Johanna Bennett has immersed herself within the entertainment and artistic community her entire life. Mandy Ward has worked in the film industry for the past decade in varied capacities, namely as a film producer of several projects. Mitch Levine, CEO of The Film Festival Group, is producing the festival. Through his company, Mitch offers consulting services and expertise to film festivals, film commissions, distribution companies and filmmakers around the world, and was formerly the CEO and Executive Director of the renowned Palm Springs International Film Festival. The Festival’s Director of Programming is David Schwartz, the Chief Curator of Museum of the Moving Image.
Celebrating first-time filmmakers with a grand prize of theatrical distribution, hosted by the historic Players Club, First Time Fest also had additional participants to this year's unique event.
Harry Belafonte, Gay Talese, Michael Shannon & Ellen Burstyn have joined Christine Vachon, Fred Schneider, Sofia Coppola, Todd Solondz, Barbara Kopple, Scott Foundas, Eric Kohn, Emily Russo, Jenny Lumet, Darren Aronofsky, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Hartley, Peter Saraf, Nancy Savoca, Amy Ryan And Martin Scorsese participated In First Time Fest.
Belafonte & Shannon appeared onstage in the Ftf’s “Stand Alone! – Conversations With The Outstanding” series, one-on-one interview with notable cinema artists. Renowned author Gay Talese joined Christine Vachon and the B-52s Fred Schneider as another of the Ftf’s five jurors (the entire live audience at each of the 12 competition films was the 5th juror). Together, the jury and audience ultimately selected Grand Prize winner, Sal, a modern-day Western by Argentinian writer-director Diego Rougier which was offered theatrical distribution and full international sales representation from the renowned American film distributor, Cinema Libre Studio.
Acclaimed actress Ellen Burstyn, who worked with both Scorsese and Aronofsky served as the host of the Ftf Closing Night Awards program. As part of that festive evening, Martin Scorsese added his illustrious presence and belief in the art of cinema, presenting the first John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema to Darren Aronofsky. John Huston was one of the most prolific and versatile directors in the history of cinema. And with his mesmerizing debut film, Pi – made independently on black-and-white 16mm film – Darren Aronofsky was instantly recognized as a uniquely gifted new talent. His subsequent films: Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler and Black Swan, have more than fulfilled that promise.
In addition, Ftf had a special presentation of Andy Grieve and Lauren Lazin’s documentary about the band The Police, Can't Stand Losing You, featuring Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers.
On an exciting party note, and in conjunction with Ftf’s presentation of the Australian/Mongolian documentary Mongolian Bling, First Time Fest and Hip Hop Saves Lives presented “Project Haiti,” an album release party for Zing Experience at Webster Hall.
Representing a hybrid between a traditional film festival and a highly motivated audience participation event, Ftf presented a dozen Competition Films, which were judged by a panel of industry luminaries and the Ftf audience. All competition screenings were followed by “hot-seat” discussions between the jury and filmmakers, and all audience members then voted on the films. It was truly a contest of the best emerging filmmakers competing for the Ultimate Audience Award.
Competition Films – (please visit here for competition films & descriptions).
In addition to the Competition Films, Ftf presented First Exposure, a series of first films from now prominent filmmakers. Joining the line-up - and mostly attending the fest - was the exciting Opening Night presentation of Sofia Coppola with The Virgin Suicides, Todd Solondz with Welcome to the Dollhouse, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket, Barbara Kopple with Harlan County, USA, Melvin Van Peebles with The Story of a Three-Day Pass, Pi from Darren Aronofsky, The Maltese Falcon from director John Huston, Poison from Todd Haynes, Jack Goes Boating from director Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Hartley’s The Unbelievable Truth, and True Love from Nancy Savoca.
First Exposure Films – (please visit here, for First Exposure descriptions)
First Exposure also includes a 60th Anniversary Tribute to Morris Engel’s The Little Fugitive, a cinema vérité classic from 1953 that was shot on Coney Island and has inspired countless filmmakers, from Jean-Luc Godard to the Coen brothers. The tribute included a panel hosted by film historian Foster Hirsch including Mary Engel, daughter of Morris Engel and Ruth Orkin, and James Sanders, author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies. In addition there was a Special Presentation of Everardo Gout’s thrillingly over-the-top action thriller Days Of Grace (Dĺas De Gracia), which won the Mexican Academy of Film’s prestigious Ariel Award for Best First Feature and was nominated for the Camera d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
First Time Fest included a series of panels called “How They Did It,” in which a diverse group of award-winning filmmakers moderated filmmaking case studies and spotlighted some of the most successful and accomplished masters of the industry.
First Time Fest is a four-day, multi-faceted event hosted in New York City’s Gramercy Park by the celebrated Players (16 Gramercy Park South), the club founded by Edwin Booth, Mark Twain and John Singer Sargent, the oldest and most exclusive arts organization of its kind whose membership includes the greatest stars of stage and screen. Each of First Time Fest’s twelve finalists receive high-level industry mentorship and a one-year membership to The Players. The Players was the location for all Ftf panels and events as well as the Filmmaker and VIP Lounge. First Time Fest’s screenings were all held at the Loews Village VII on Third Avenue (on 11th St. & 3rd Ave).
Among the Fest’s terrific sponsors is the delicious Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. "The forward-thinking Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte draws its inspiration from the call of ‘faraway lands.’ One of the youngest and most fashionable Champagne brands, Nicolas Feuillatte has captured the world's imagination by sharing its passion for creativity and arts in a record 37 years, becoming the #1 Champagne in France. In its role as discoverer of talent, the brand awards its prestige cuvée Palmes d'Or to First Time Fest's winners to complement the celebration in style."
Other terrific sponsors of the fest include Brooklyn Brewery, Moscot, Marquis Vodka and Technicolor Postworks.
For additional Festival Information - Visit The Festival Website at www.FirstTimeFest.com
Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward are the co-founders of First Time Fest. As an accomplished philanthropist, actor and social entrepreneur, as well as the daughter of singer Tony Bennett, Johanna Bennett has immersed herself within the entertainment and artistic community her entire life. Mandy Ward has worked in the film industry for the past decade in varied capacities, namely as a film producer of several projects. Mitch Levine, CEO of The Film Festival Group, is producing the festival. Through his company, Mitch offers consulting services and expertise to film festivals, film commissions, distribution companies and filmmakers around the world, and was formerly the CEO and Executive Director of the renowned Palm Springs International Film Festival. The Festival’s Director of Programming is David Schwartz, the Chief Curator of Museum of the Moving Image.
- 3/11/2013
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
This past weekend, March 1st to 4th, marked the first ever First Time Fest at The Player’s Club in New York City. The festival is a celebration of the films of first time film makers which also features a competition in which 12 aspiring film makers get to debut their first film. These 12 filmmakers have competed for their chance to receive major distribution of their film and all competitors will receive advice from those in the industry.
The festival is to help those aspiring filmmakers in the industry obtain important information in making their films successful. There are twelve competition films that come from all over the world to compete against this wonderful grand prize of not only distribution by Sponsor Cinema Libre Studio, but knowledge- knowledge of how to make films and how people got their start.
The festival itself includes films from these 12 competition films as well as...
The festival is to help those aspiring filmmakers in the industry obtain important information in making their films successful. There are twelve competition films that come from all over the world to compete against this wonderful grand prize of not only distribution by Sponsor Cinema Libre Studio, but knowledge- knowledge of how to make films and how people got their start.
The festival itself includes films from these 12 competition films as well as...
- 3/9/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
Afm 2012: Not quite Darren Aronofsky’s Noah in scope, but after mounting a career comeback with the Tiff preemed, critically appreciated Union Square, THR reports that filmmaker Nancy Savoca will be taking on the biblical figure of Mary Magdalene with the adaption of Ki Longfellow’s novel Secret Magdalene. Executive produced by Jack Lechner (The Fog of War, Blue Valentine) and Richard Guay (Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai , and Savoca’s Union Square), the 7 million dollar production looks at the character from a different vantage point that the Vatican will surely have something to say about.
Gist: Secret Magdalene is more a “what if” tale re-imagining the life of Mary Magdalene, one of the female followers of Jesus. The book synopsis refers to Longfellow’s novel as a radical retelling of Mary Magdalene to life-not as a prostitute or demon-possessed-but as an educated woman who was truly the “apostle to the apostles.
Gist: Secret Magdalene is more a “what if” tale re-imagining the life of Mary Magdalene, one of the female followers of Jesus. The book synopsis refers to Longfellow’s novel as a radical retelling of Mary Magdalene to life-not as a prostitute or demon-possessed-but as an educated woman who was truly the “apostle to the apostles.
- 11/1/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Director Nancy Savoca (Union Square, Dogfight) has joined Secret Magdalene, a $7 million biblical period drama based on the novel of the same name by Ki Longfellow. Jack Lechner (Blue Valentine) is on board to executive produce the feature together with Richard Guay. New Toronto-based international sales venture Double Dutch Media is handling international sales for the project at Afm. Story: 12 Major Film Markets Impacting Afm This Year Pitched as an alternative to traditional religious films with a more literal interpretation of the Bible, Secret Magdalene is more a "what if" tale re-imagining the life of Mary
read more...
read more...
- 10/31/2012
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A reunion of sisters leads to simmering tension, shocking revelations and cathartic healing and understanding of a pat sort in Union Square, a small-scale drama set largely in an apartment in Manhattan’s titular neighborhood. Nancy Savoca’s film wears its indie-ness on its sleeve, relegating itself to one primary location and a number of sequences shot on the streets of New York, a low-budget construction that concentrates squarely on the story’s two protagonists, Lucy (Mira Sorvino) and Jenny (Tammy Blanchard). Lucy is in town to meet up with a boyfriend, a plan that—involving going shopping for leopard-print dresses to impress her...
- 8/14/2012
- Pastemagazine.com
New York – Nancy Savoca’s underappreciated 1991 film Dogfight was an imperfect but poignant romance distinguished by achingly tender performances from Lili Taylor and River Phoenix. With help from ace director Joe Mantello (Wicked, Other Desert Cities) and a talented cast, the young writers have crafted a touching small-scale musical that mirrors many of the movie’s minor-key virtues. Further workshops or perhaps a regional production might be useful to smooth some nagging flaws, particularly in the uneven second act. But the potential is there. Photos: Broadway Musicals That Have Sung Their Way to the Big Screen Like Savoca’s
read more...
read more...
- 7/16/2012
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brief batch this week, but some really great reads!
This week’s Must Read is a sad one: The obituary for filmmaker and author Stephen Dwoskin that ran in the Guardian UK. He was born in NYC in 1948, began making films in the early ’60s whereupon he moved to England and helped co-found the London Film-makers’ Co-operative. He also wrote the influential book Film Is…, which was published in 1975, and made films pretty much up until the very end.Meant to put this up last week, but it’s still relevant: The blog We Love Perth interviewed Jack Sargeant about his job programming the Revelation Perth International Film Festival, which just wrapped up this year. Jack is one of those rare creatures who’s as great an interview subject as he is an actual interviewer himself.This link isn’t really about underground film, but I figure you’re a...
This week’s Must Read is a sad one: The obituary for filmmaker and author Stephen Dwoskin that ran in the Guardian UK. He was born in NYC in 1948, began making films in the early ’60s whereupon he moved to England and helped co-found the London Film-makers’ Co-operative. He also wrote the influential book Film Is…, which was published in 1975, and made films pretty much up until the very end.Meant to put this up last week, but it’s still relevant: The blog We Love Perth interviewed Jack Sargeant about his job programming the Revelation Perth International Film Festival, which just wrapped up this year. Jack is one of those rare creatures who’s as great an interview subject as he is an actual interviewer himself.This link isn’t really about underground film, but I figure you’re a...
- 7/15/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Title: Union Square Director: Nancy Savoca Starring: Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard, Mike Doyle, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Michael Rispoli, Patti Lupone A half-sketched tale of familial floundering, Nancy Savoca’s “Union Square” is a suffocating and pantomimed sisterly drama that makes an unconvincing and headlong dive into sentimentality for its finale, wasting a lot of effort and investment from lead actress Mira Sorvino. The “Mighty Aphrodite” Oscar winner stars as Lucy-from-the-Bronx, a self-involved, perpetually frazzled Loud Talker who, with Thanksgiving looming, hits New York City proper for some shopping and a rendezvous with a guy she believes to be her boyfriend. Spurned repeatedly over the phone, Lucy nearly undergoes a nervous breakdown, and shows up at the apartment of her estranged sister [ Read More ]...
- 7/13/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Nancy Savoca — who wrote the excellent guest blog entry “Waves of Rebel Visions” earlier this week — today releases her insightful latest feature Union Square. The following interview was originally published on the eve of the film’s Toronto Film Festival premiere.
Nancy Savoca’s True Love was an early high-water mark in the modern independent film movement. In fact, its storyline, newcomer casting and loose style is now the template for much current indie drama. So, it’s great to report that over 20 years later Savoca is back with another intimate drama realized on a low budget and entirely outside the industry. With a stellar cast (Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard and Patti Lupone), Savoca explores sister dynamics through the lens of a Canon 5D. The film, Union Square, premieres today at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Filmmaker: What were the origins of Union Square, and were the relationship dynamics of...
Nancy Savoca’s True Love was an early high-water mark in the modern independent film movement. In fact, its storyline, newcomer casting and loose style is now the template for much current indie drama. So, it’s great to report that over 20 years later Savoca is back with another intimate drama realized on a low budget and entirely outside the industry. With a stellar cast (Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard and Patti Lupone), Savoca explores sister dynamics through the lens of a Canon 5D. The film, Union Square, premieres today at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Filmmaker: What were the origins of Union Square, and were the relationship dynamics of...
- 7/12/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Dada Films is giving away a signed movie poster for the romantic comedy “Union Square!” The poster will be signed by actresses Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard and director Nancy Savoca. If you would like to win one of these signed “Union Square” movie, be sure to enter ShockYa’s Twitter giveaway. To be entered, follow @ShockYa and @Cine_Si on Twitter. Then, tweet us the phrase: “@Shockya and @Cine_Si Are Giving Away a Signed Poster For The Movie “Union Square!” Follow And Rt To Enter To Win! http://bit.ly/MTBWuK” For more info on “Union Square” please go to: http://www.theunionsquaremovie.com/ You have until Friday, July 13th to enter. We’ll randomly choose and notify the [ Read More ]...
- 7/10/2012
- by Rudie Obias
- ShockYa
You can’t choose your family. You can certainly choose to get away from them, but that doesn’t change who they are and that you’re truly stuck with them forever. In Nancy Savoca’s Union Square, Jenny (Tammy Blanchard) thinks she’s escaped her nutty family (including her sister Lucy and their mom, played by Patti LuPone) after years of estrangement, but when flighty Lucy (Mira Sorvino) suddenly shows up at Jenny’s apartment with some really unexpected news, that all changes. To remind you that, hey, everyone’s family is nuts, we’re giving away one (1) signed poster from Union Square. The standard one-sheet poster has been signed by Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard and director Nancy Savoca. To win one (1) signed poster from Nancy Savoca’s Union Square, all you have to do is jump down into the comments section and let us know the title of your favorite film about dysfunctional families (we...
- 7/9/2012
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Mighty Flighty: Nancy Savoca Gives Mira Sorvino a Role to Revel In
Nancy Savoca returns with Union Square, her first film in nearly a decade, and it’s mostly a well executed effort that showcases two talented actresses. While it may not top some of the greater titles in her filmography, this tale of two estranged sisters manages to delight and surprise, even if it does overextend itself during the slim running time.
As the colorful and exuberant Lucy (Mira Sorvino) rides a train into Union Square one hectic afternoon, shopping for discount clothing and sending a barrage of persistent and tortuously written text messages to a mysterious man. We soon learn that she has popped into the city quite unexpectedly from the Bronx, much to the chagrin of her married lover, who firmly informs her that he has no time to fit her in until next week. Tonight is date night with the wife.
Nancy Savoca returns with Union Square, her first film in nearly a decade, and it’s mostly a well executed effort that showcases two talented actresses. While it may not top some of the greater titles in her filmography, this tale of two estranged sisters manages to delight and surprise, even if it does overextend itself during the slim running time.
As the colorful and exuberant Lucy (Mira Sorvino) rides a train into Union Square one hectic afternoon, shopping for discount clothing and sending a barrage of persistent and tortuously written text messages to a mysterious man. We soon learn that she has popped into the city quite unexpectedly from the Bronx, much to the chagrin of her married lover, who firmly informs her that he has no time to fit her in until next week. Tonight is date night with the wife.
- 7/9/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Union Square
Directed by Nancy Savoca
Written by Nancy Savoca
USA, 2011
In New York City, a shamelessly flamboyant Lucy (Mira Sorvino) arrives in Manhattan from the Bronx, hoping to escape a cascade of emotional problems. In search of an oasis amongst the vast concrete jungle, Lucy finds her way to the doorsteps of Jenny (Tammy Blanchard), her estranged sister of three years.
As Jenny reluctantly lets her in, old conflicts are reignited, forcing both women to look at their own and each other’s flaws.
Like Steve McQueen’s Shame, Nancy Savoca’s Union Square is about two siblings, with wildly divergent personalities, in a hopelessly impossible situation. As insidious as the respective premises are, McQueen is able to deftly handle the matter with enough grace under pressure to transcend and exceed our penitent expectations for mere banality. Savoca, however, doesn’t do quite as well.
The best way to...
Directed by Nancy Savoca
Written by Nancy Savoca
USA, 2011
In New York City, a shamelessly flamboyant Lucy (Mira Sorvino) arrives in Manhattan from the Bronx, hoping to escape a cascade of emotional problems. In search of an oasis amongst the vast concrete jungle, Lucy finds her way to the doorsteps of Jenny (Tammy Blanchard), her estranged sister of three years.
As Jenny reluctantly lets her in, old conflicts are reignited, forcing both women to look at their own and each other’s flaws.
Like Steve McQueen’s Shame, Nancy Savoca’s Union Square is about two siblings, with wildly divergent personalities, in a hopelessly impossible situation. As insidious as the respective premises are, McQueen is able to deftly handle the matter with enough grace under pressure to transcend and exceed our penitent expectations for mere banality. Savoca, however, doesn’t do quite as well.
The best way to...
- 6/21/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
This week on Dead Air Jeff Konopka is joined by Kristy Jett to tackle Chernobyl Diaries. Shawn Savage was on location in Russia sampling soil samples for a planned giveaway to celebrate this Geiger counter splitting new release. While I have not as of yet seen this movie it has been described to me by horror fans as a Hills Have Eyes with a different location and sans the superfluous gore. From what our beloved hosts have to say about the film I might just wait for it to come on Blu-Ray, but best to listen in and make that determination with all the facts.
Beyond our feature the crew discussed their recent viewing selection and some news which include:
- Jeff’s Starship Troopers annual Memorial Day viewing experience. This conversation always leads to a mention of Show Girls so please stay tuned.
- Jeff watched the Heckler which...
Beyond our feature the crew discussed their recent viewing selection and some news which include:
- Jeff’s Starship Troopers annual Memorial Day viewing experience. This conversation always leads to a mention of Show Girls so please stay tuned.
- Jeff watched the Heckler which...
- 6/12/2012
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Trailer for Union Square, starring Mira Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard The drama directed Nancy Savoca, who writes alongside Mary Tobler, opens exclusively in New York on July 13th, 2012. Michel Rispoli, Mike Doyle and Daphne Rubin-Vega and Patti LuPone form the remainder of the main cast NYC’s Union Square is the setting for an unexpected reunion between two estranged sisters, one on the verge of getting married, the other on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Lucy (Sorvino) attempts to shop while anxiously talking on her cell. When the news is not what she wants to hear, she has a complete meltdown. Unsure of her next move, she has an idea. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself somewhere she’s never been: her younger sister Jenny's (Blanchard) loft apartment in Union Square...
- 5/25/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Trailer for Union Square, starring Mira Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard The drama directed Nancy Savoca, who writes alongside Mary Tobler, opens exclusively in New York on July 13th, 2012. Michel Rispoli, Mike Doyle and Daphne Rubin-Vega and Patti LuPone form the remainder of the main cast NYC’s Union Square is the setting for an unexpected reunion between two estranged sisters, one on the verge of getting married, the other on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Lucy (Sorvino) attempts to shop while anxiously talking on her cell. When the news is not what she wants to hear, she has a complete meltdown. Unsure of her next move, she has an idea. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself somewhere she’s never been: her younger sister Jenny's (Blanchard) loft apartment in Union Square...
- 5/25/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Mira Sorvino To Star In CBS Pilot ‘Trooper’ Mira Sorvino has now closed her deal to star in CBS’ Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama pilot Trooper. This marks the first series for the Oscar winner, who had been approached for pilots a number of times over the years. Written by Aron Eli Coleite, Trooper centers on Kj Flaxton (Sorvino), a common-sense mother-turned-New York state trooper. Craig Gillespie is directing the pilot, which he is executive producing with Coleite, Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman. Sorvino, repped by ICM and Untitled, will next be seen in Nancy Savoca’s Union Square, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
- 2/29/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Mira Sorvino is in final negotiations to star in CBS’ Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama pilot Trooper. This would mark the first series for the Oscar winner, who had been approached for pilots several times over the years. Written by Aron Eli Coleite, Trooper centers on Kj Flaxton (Sorvino), a common-sense mother-turned-New York state trooper. Craig Gillespie is directing the pilot, which he is executive producing with Coleite, Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman. CBS and Bruckheimer have had success with procedural dramas fronted by feature actors making their series debuts, including CSI, starring William Petersen, and its offshoot CSI: NY, toplined by Gary Sinise. Sorvino, repped by ICM and Untitled, will next be seen in Nancy Savoca’s Union Square, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
- 2/23/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Austin Film Festival has just announced its opening-night, centerpiece, and closing-night films for the 2011 fest. The previously announced feature Jeff Who Lives at Home, directed by former Austinites Jay and Mark Duplass, will serve as the anchoring centerpiece selection, with Jay Duplass in attendance. Two newly announced titles will bookend eight days of films, starting in just two weeks.
The comedy Butter (pictured above) will open the fest on Thursday, October 20 at the Paramount. The feature film takes place in the "cutthroat" world of competitive butter sculpting, and stars Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Ty Burrell and Olivia Wilde.
Aff's closing-night movie is Union Square, with actress Mira Sorvino in attendance. Union Square is the story of a reluctant reunion between estranged sisters. It's directed and co-written by Nancy Savoca (Dogfight, Dirt), and the cast includes Sorvino and Daphne Rubin-Vega (nominated for a Spirit Award for her performance in Jack Goes Boating...
The comedy Butter (pictured above) will open the fest on Thursday, October 20 at the Paramount. The feature film takes place in the "cutthroat" world of competitive butter sculpting, and stars Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Ty Burrell and Olivia Wilde.
Aff's closing-night movie is Union Square, with actress Mira Sorvino in attendance. Union Square is the story of a reluctant reunion between estranged sisters. It's directed and co-written by Nancy Savoca (Dogfight, Dirt), and the cast includes Sorvino and Daphne Rubin-Vega (nominated for a Spirit Award for her performance in Jack Goes Boating...
- 10/5/2011
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
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