In this issue: Box office news for We’re the Millers, a new release from Madman, Metallica at Imax, lineups announced for Austin Film Festival and Greek Film Festival, callouts for entries from Edge and Studio, watch Pandora’s Promise to meet Robert Stone, plus much more…
The Greek Film Festival is coming to town
The Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival has released it’s 2013 festival dates. This year marks the twentieth anniversary and befittingly, features a “best of” program. The festival opens at Palace Cinemas Wednesday 6th November in Sydney, and Thursday 7th November in Melbourne. Following one of their most successful years yet in 2012, 2013 looks to continue this trend showcasing the best in contemporary Greek cinema for Aussie audiences. Early program announcements include Thanos Anastopoulos‘s The Daughter, Ilias Yannakakis’ Joy and A.C.A.B. All Cats are Brilliant directed by Constantina Voulgaris.
Head to www.greekfilmfestival.com.au for more information and further program details.
We’re the Millers crosses $200 million mark
With Jason Sudeikis as a drug dealer and Jennifer Aniston as a stripper all the while playing happy families, We’re the Millers always had box office success written all over it. Having taken in an estimated $206 million internationally, the film has become the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, perhaps reflecting the general change in attitudes of the population.
It’s still set to be released in Spain, France and Brazil and continues climbing on the international box office. Go see it if you haven’t already, raise those revenues.
Madman gets Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods
Purveyor of mostly animated goods, Madman have acquired the latest feature in the Dragon Ball Z franchise, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods. The first Dragon Ball Z movie to receive a Japanese theatrical release in 17 years, this foray into film in the series is the first to be considered as part of the official manga storyline.
When Birus, The God of Destruction awakes from a long slumber, he learns of the defeat of the galactic overlord Freeza by the hands of Son Goku. Seeking an opponent worthy of his power, Birus, along with his companion Uis, travels to the North Quadrant of the universe to challenge Goku to a battle.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods will premiere at the 17th Japanese Film Festival, touring Australia Oct – Dec, 2013. For more information, visit www.japanesefilmfestival.net
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods will also screen in select Australian cinemas in 2014.
Metallica at Imax
For one week only, Metallica Through the Never 3D, will be at IMAX Darling Harbour, on 10 October 2013. From award-winning filmmaker Nimrod Antal, Metallica Through the Never 3D is a music-driven feature film that combines a bold narrative and spectacular live-performance footage of one of the most popular and influential rock bands in history.
Emerging young star Dane DeHaan portrays Trip, a young roadie sent on an urgent mission during Metallia’s roaring live set in front of a sold out arena. But what seems like a simple assignment turns into a surreal adventure.
Get your tickets from www.imax.com.au
2013 Austin Film Festival announces lineup
2013 marks the 20th anniversary for the Austin Film Festival. They’ve announced their lineup for the festival with Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis as the centrepiece. Starring Oscar Isaac (in attendance), Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, and Justin Timberlake, the film follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.
Additional films include: Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Chiwetel Ejiofor, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and featuring a powerful ensemble cast including Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts; Alexander Payne’s NEBRASKA starring Will Forté (in attendance) and Bruce Dern; biopic MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM starring Idris Elba; James Franco’s CHILD OF GOD; BIG SUR with Josh Lucas, Jean Marc-Barr and John Robbins in attendance; and the World Premiere of the romance drama LIGHT YEARS, starring Allison Janney and Clark Gregg. Also playing is PHILOMENA with Judi Dench and Steve Coogan; HBO’S WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY; COLD COMES THE NIGHT starring Alice Eve and Bryan Cranston; crime drama MYSTERY ROAD; AND WINTER IN THE BLOOD with cast in attendance.
Check out the full line-up and find more information at www.austinfilmfestival.com
Young filmmakers, get your foot in the door
Content marketing agency Edge is on the hunt for talented new short film makers with a new short film competition called “The New Wave”. From 9 September 2013 to 29 October 2013, the hunt is on for budding filmmakers and creatives between 18 to 25 to submit a short film centred around the theme “Play”. Up for grabs is a 6 month paid internship plus $3000 cash.
Find out more from www.thenewwave.com.au
Win $10,000 with Create Studio
Studio, Foxtel’s Arts and Entertainment channel returns again this year on the lookout for artistic talent to help create four new TV commercials. Give life to your ideas with your 30-second concept for a commercial that brings the Studio logo to life. In association with The Loop, this is an exciting opportunity for the next artist out there to dive into the next part of their career. Applications are now open and close at the end of October.
More information is available from www.studiotv.com.au/the-competition/
Ron Howard’s Heart of the Sea begins production
From the man that brought you A Beautiful Mind, Ron Howard’s newest film Heart of the Sea, has begun production in the UK. The action adventure film, based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s best-selling novel follows the dramatic true journey of a whaling ship, Essex.
In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. “Heart of the Sea” reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy and Ben Whishaw, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros.
Oldboy featurette released
Hype is building as the November 27, the release date for new film Oldboy, looms before excited fans. The thriller has found a fervent online audience and has released a featurette in anticipation of the release date.
Check it out here:
Meet Oscar-nominated director of Pandora’s Promise
Get the chance to meet Oscar-nominated director Robert Stone as he tours Australia promoting his new ground-breaking documentary, Pandora’s Promise. Stone will be presenting Q&A’s following special screenings of the film nationally. An official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Pandora’s Promise presents a topical and controversial argument that nuclear energy, the one technology we fear most, could save our planet from a climate catastrophe, while providing the energy needed to lift billions of people in the developing world out of poverty.
Go see him at the following:
Melbourne • Tuesday 8th October • Classic Cinema, Elsternwick
Adelaide • Wednesday 9th October • Mercury Cinema, Morphett St
Perth • Thursday 10th October • Luna Palace Cinemas, Nedlands
Canberra • Friday 11th October • The Arc Cinema, McCoy Circuit
Sydney • Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October • Hoyts, Moore Park
Brisbane • Tuesday 14th October • Bemac Cinema, Kangaroo Point
For bookings, head to www.cinemaventures.org/pandoras-promise/
Hunger Games releases soundtrack
The soundtrack has been released for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in a powerful, star-studded lineup featuring the likes of Coldplay, Sia and Christina Aguilera. The soundtrack will be available in stores and through all digital retailers on November 19, 2013 just before the film opens in Australia on November 21, 2013. Right now, the album can be pre-ordered via the film’s official online store. Those who pre-order the soundtrack by October 27th will have an opportunity to have their names printed on an exclusive The Hunger Games: Catching Fire poster (while supplies last). All pre-orders unlock an instant download of Coldplay’s “Atlas” as well.
Tracklisting
1. “Atlas” – Coldplay
2. “Silhouettes” – Of Monsters and Men
3. “Elastic Heart” – Sia (ft. The Weeknd & Diplo)
4. “Lean” – The National
5. “We Remain” – Christina Aguilera
6. “Devil May Cry” – The Weeknd
7. “Who We Are” – Imagine Dragons
8. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” – Lorde
9. “Gale Song” – The Lumineers
10. “Mirror” – Ellie Goulding
11. “Capital Letter” – Patti Smith
12. “Shooting Arrows At The Sky” – Santigold
13. “Place For Us” – Mikky Ekko
14. “Lights” – Phantogram
15. “Angel On Fire” – Antony and the Johnsons
Foxtel CEO confirmed for Screen Forever conference
Richard Freudenstein, the CEO and Managing Director of Australia’s biggest pay tv platform Foxtel, will be the guest in a special one-on-one conversation with Bob Campbell, Managing Director of Screentime, at the Screen Forever: SPAA Conference 2013.
Richard Freudenstein was appointed CEO of Foxtel in November 2011 and has continued the work of his predecessor Kim Williams in positioning the company at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly changing media landscape. Foxtel currently has a slate of 50 local productions commissioned from 30 independent production companies, with titles as varied as Wentworth, Australia’s Next Top Model, Selling Houses Australia, Paddock to the Plate, Outback Coroner and The Train.
Get more info on Screen Forever at www.screenforever.org.au
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