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BIRDS OF PASSAGE
A Film by CIRO GUERRA (EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT ) & CRISTINA GALLEGO Written by Maria Camila Arias, Jacques Toulemonde Produced by Ciudad Lunar, Blond Indian Films, Pimienta Films, Films Boutique, Snowglobe Delivery: 2018 - Drama - Colombia - 35mm with Carmiña Martínez, Jose Acosta, Jhon Narvaez, Natalia Reyes
1ST TEASER AVAILABLE
THE HOWLING MILLER A Film by YANN LE QUELLEC
Based on the bestselling novel by Arto Paasilinna Original title song by Iggy Pop Produced by Agat Films (THE YOUNG KARL MARX, THE TOGETHER PROJECT) Delivery: 2018 - Drama - France - 2.35 - 105 min with Bonaventure Gacon, Anais Demoustier, Gustave Kervern, Denis Lavant
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BORDER
A Film by ALI ABBASI (SHELLEY ) Based on the novel Border by John Ajvide Lindqvist (LET THE RIGHT ONE IN) Written by Ali Abbasi (SHELLEY), Isabella Eklöf (HOLIDAY), John Ajvide Lindqvist (LET THE RIGHT ONE IN) VFX by Peter Hjorth (THE NEON DEMON, NYMPHOMANIAC) Delivery: 2018 - Nordic Noir - Sweden/Denmark
SCRIPT AVAILABLE
ONCE UPON A TIME IN JERUSALEM A Film by DAVID MUÑOZ & ADRIÁN CARDONA
From the twisted minds behind THE FIST OF JESUS Delivery: 2018 - Biblical/Zombie - Spain/France/Roman Empire with Jesus, Judas, John The Baptist, Barabas, Salome
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ALL THE GODS IN THE SKY A Film by QUARXX
Based on the short film A NEARLY PERFECT BLUE SKY (Sundance / Fantasia Fest) Produced by TBC Prod & Tobina Films (LET THE CORPSES TAN, THE STRANGE COLOR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS, AMER) Delivery: 2018 - Drama/Science Fiction - France with Jean-Luc Couchard, Mélanie Gaydos, Thierry Frémont
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AFM 2017
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European sales exec reveals sexual assault BY ANDREAS WISEMAN It has taken the recent testimonies of dozens of brave women for the film industry to confront a systemic sexual harassment problem. Today, Daniela Elstner, managing director of Paris-based Doc & Film International and president of French sales organisation ADEF, becomes the first executive from the European sales and distribution business to detail her experience of harassment in the business. Twenty years ago, while attending a festival for cinema promotion agency Unifrance, Elstner was sexually assaulted by a well-known figure in the French film sector who is still in the industry today. Elstner has declined to name the culprit but said she narrowly avoided being raped. Shaken at the time, a then26-year-old Elstner confided in senior colleagues and other members of the industry but was dismayed by many of their responses. “There is nothing worse than being laughed at after someone has tried to rape you,” said Elstner. “That haunts you even more than the incident itself.” With her complaints dismissed and her sense of self-worth rocked, Elstner did not go to the police. The German national, now 46, still sees her would-be attacker on the circuit. She ignores him. While she has not experienced an incident as serious since, she has felt uncomfortable on a number of occasions. “I have had other experiences at festivals, since then, with guys being inappropriate or where you have to physically defend yourself,” she confided. Later in her career while working at Les Films du Losange, Elstner arrived at a hotel for a meeting in the lobby, only to be » continued, page 6…
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Harassment: what steps can the industry take? BY ANDREAS WISEMAN
As reports of harassment within the industry grow by the day, a number of US and international business leaders are weighing up potential solutions. In just one example, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy suggested the establishment of a commission to help change the culture of Hollywood and provide a safe place for victims to report abuse. Screen canvassed key executives in the US and international industry about concrete steps that can now be taken. Gabrielle Carteris, president, SAGAFTRA “Collaborate with industry
partners to evaluate policies and practises to assess the structures in place to protect people facing these situations and to ascertain where gaps need to be addressed. Strengthen the available tools for people to report harassment, anonymously if necessary.”
Amanda Nevill, CEO, British Film Institute “At the BFI, we have
make it clear that if a client asks you to come up to his room for a discussion, you have the right to say no and you should report this: not only telling your best friend, but your boss.”
asked for guidance from ACAS [the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service] to lead us and a larger industry group we have convened, to jointly develop and agree a new set of principles and a clear, transparent system as fast as we can.”
David Andrews, partner and head of Employment Group, Lee & Thompson “The industry has to
Jean Prewitt, president, Independent Film & Television Alliance “Eliminate the imbalance
stop seeing preventative measures (such as non-harassment training) as too expensive and too burdensome.”
of economic power so that financial and creative power over the production process is held across the spectrum of gender, race and other differences. This is the only fix for this conduct in the long run.” Daniela Elstner, MD of Doc & Film International and president of French sales organisation ADEF
“We should teach the younger generation what is acceptable. To
Anna Serner, CEO, Swedish Film Institute “Make clear rules of
what is acceptable behaviour and communicate them from top management. Start sincere conversations with all employees about the climate at the workplace, and do this in smaller groups. If it turns out that there are problems, make action plans about how to get rid of them.”
» Full interviews on ScreenDaily.com
Allure
NEWS Alluring deal Seville closes a US deal on Allure starring Evan Rachel Wood » Page 4
FEATURE Turning Japanese Hot projects, from a new Godzilla to a samurai-era manga adaptation » Page 10
SCREENINGS
» Page 32
Buyers raid Arclight’s Tomb BY JEREMY KAY
Arclight Films has struck North American and UK deals for Kimble Rendall’s action adventure Guardians Of The Tomb starring Li Bingbing, Kellan Lutz, Kelsey Grammer and Chinese popstar Wu Chun. Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights to the China-Australia co-production and Signature Entertainment will distribute in the UK. The Nest Holdings and Sleeping Otters Productions’ film will open wide in 3D in China through coproducer Grand Canal Pictures and China Film Group on January 19.
Sébastien Raymond, ©Earthlings Productions, Belga Film 2017
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TODAY
This exclusive first look at The Hummingbird Project shows Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgard as cousins who dream of building a fibre-optic cable across the US. Kim Nguyen’s drama is shooting now through mid-December in Quebec. HanWay handles international sales, CAA handles US and Elevation Pictures will release in Canada.
Arrow fights for Unknown Soldier Arrow Films has taken UK/Ireland rights to Unknown Soldier from Beta Cinema, acquiring both the feature-film version and a new 5x50mins TV series. Aku Louhimies’s Second World War epic, the most expensive Finnish film ever made at an estimated $8.2m, recently broke the opening weekend record for a local-language film at the Finnish box office. Beta’s Thorsten Ritter said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Tom Stewart and Arrow Films, who made Generation War such a success in the UK.” Andreas Wiseman
NEWS
EFP/Aaron Perez
(From left) In The Fade director Fatih Akin, Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing, producer Nurhan SekerciPorst of Bombero International and Thania Dimitrakopoulou from The Match Factory at the European Film Promotion (EFP)/Unifrance/German Films reception at AFM on Wednesday. Sixteen sales companies are part of the EFP umbrella office at AFM.
AFM BRIEFS Netflix captures Tau Netflix has acquired worldwide rights (excluding China) from Bloom to sci-fi thriller Tau, starring Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein and Gary Oldman. Federico D’Alessandro directed from a screenplay by Noga Landau about a former con artist held captive in a smart house as part of a deadly experiment. Bloom, together with Endeavor Content, brokered the deal with Netflix.
Chan’s Steel deal Swen Asia and WME|IMG China have acquired worldwide rights (excluding China) to the Jackie Chan sci-fi thriller Bleeding Steel. It was produced by China’s Heyi Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures Asia.
Mode books Passenger Film Mode is selling The Ninth Passenger from Corey Large, the executive producer of It Follows. Jesse Metcalfe stars in the story of students on a yacht trip who encounter a mysterious passenger.
» Full stories on ScreenDaily.com
China JV gets animated BY WENDY MITCHELL
China’s Original Force, Lian Ray Pictures and Bravo Entertainment have joined forces to launch Cheng Zhe Co Ltd, the first Chinese theatrical distributor dedicated to animated films. The joint venture will acquire both Chinese and international animated family movies. Most of its releases will launch on 5,00010,000 screens. Cheng Zhe plans to acquire four or five films in 2018; the company
will acquire all distribution rights for China, exploiting VoD, new media and TV rights after theatrical. Harley Zhao, CEO and founder of Original Force; Yuan Cai, CEO and founder of Lian Ray; and Wenbo Zhang, CEO and founder of Bravo, will head the company. The team will also include Adam Zhang, SVP corporate strategy and international business, Original Force; Xinran Li, COO of Lian Ray Pictures; and Hao Chen, COO of Bravo.
Animation studio Original Force released its first CGI movie, Lord, last year. Its first original family animation feature, Duck Duck Goose, will receive a wide release in China via Wanda in spring 2018. GFM Animation partners with Original Force on Duck Duck Goose and is screening the film at AFM. GFM will also work with Original Force to source independently produced animations as well as studio films that fell outside the quota system.
Goldwyn takes Wood’s Allure BY JEREMY KAY
Samuel Goldwyn has acquired US rights from Seville International to Allure (formerly titled A Worthy Companion) starring Emmy nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld). Carlos and Jason Sanchez wrote and directed the drama, which premiered in Toronto and stars Wood as an emotionally unstable woman who starts a relationship with an unhappy teenager. “The Sanchez brothers have a rare eye that allows the great performance of Evan Rachel Wood to play to thrilling heights,” said Peter Goldwyn, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films. Kim McCraw and Luc Déry’s micro_scope produced the film, which also screened in Busan. “Allure is engaging and visually striking. Carlos and Jason are visionaries and we are excited to partner with Samuel Goldwyn Films,” said Anick Poirier, senior VP of sales at Seville International. Goldwyn and Poirier negotiated the deal.
EXECUTIVE FOCUS NEGEEN YAZDI AND JOE HIPPS, ENDEAVOR CONTENT WME|IMG’s film and scripted television finance and sales groups were recently brought together under label Endeavor Content, steered by co-presidents and WME partners Graham Taylor and Chris Rice. Among newcomers to the group are London-based Negeen Yazdi, former president of international acquisitions at The Weinstein Company, who has joined as SVP, film; and Los Angeles-based Joe Hipps, former SVP, television, for House Of Cards producer MRC, who has joined as SVP, television. Screen got the first interview with both about their roles, new projects and their forecasts for the future of independent film and TV companies. This is a change of pace for each of you. Why did it make sense now? Joe Hipps I admired what Graham and Chris were building over at WME|IMG, from both the artists they were working with and the deals they were putting together. The Night Manager represented a big step forward in the co-production arena to me. I wanted to be a part of what they were building. Negeen Yazdi Having worked at a studio and a mini-major, I was excited about the
4 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
and Facebook, what’s the outlook for the independent movie business? NY The future is bright. The emergence of new platforms with a thirst for content, and who want to be creatively forwardthinking, can only be great news for our industry.
Negeen Yazdi
idea of doing something bolder and a little disruptive. I’ve known Graham and Chris and their teams for years, mainly from trying desperately to buy their product from the other side of the fence, so I knew it would be a good fit personality-wise. What projects are you working on now? JH We are in early pre-production on The Eddy for Netflix. Jack Thorne is writing, Alan Poul and Fifty Fathoms are producing, and Damien Chazelle is directing. You
Joe Hipps
can’t ask for a better project to start with. NY We are in production on a wonderful coming-of-age drama, Hala, by the talented young Muslim-American female filmmaker Minhal Baig. Overbrook is producing for us. I’m most excited and encouraged by the fact all of Minhal’s heads of department are women — a great achievement and important statement, particularly in the current climate. Given the growth of Netflix and Amazon, and the arrival of super-platforms Apple
What type of stories does the market want to finance today? JH Global is a word you hear a lot. That can mean a lot of different things, so I think it’s our job to try and best figure out what will resonate with a global audience and how to approach this new way of setting up projects. NY I also think it’s our job to create stories for underserved voices and audiences, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s also good business. Is the high-end TV drama bubble about to burst? JH I don’t think so. When Stranger Things 2 dropped on Netflix, it felt like this was the first time a television ‘opening’ rivalled the feeling of a movie opening. I think you will continue to see that. Andreas Wiseman
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NEWS
Buyers Speak to Little Big
Epic flips over Dolphin
BY JEAN NOH
BY JEREMY KAY
South Korean sales company Patrick Ewald and Shaked BerenLittle Big Pictures has sold the son’s Epic Pictures, celebrating its heartwarming comedy I Can 10th anniversary at AFM, has Speak to Australia and New Zea- introduced international buyers land (JBG Pictures), the US and here to Aristar Entertainment’s Canada (CJ America & Landmark family adventure Dolphin Kick. Asia), Taiwan (Eagle), Vietnam Axle McCoy and Tyler Jade (Lumix) and Hong Kong and Nixon star in the Bahamas-shot Dolphin Kick Macau (Megaton). tale of talented former competiThe film stars Na Moon-hee tive swimmer Luke Mahoney, Luke joins his father and sister on (Miss Granny) as a cranky old lady who lost his passion for the water a vacation to a Bahamas resort and Lee Je-hoon (Anarchist From after his mother died of cancer. where he meets an orphaned baby Colony) as a local district office employee. He gives her English lessons so she can go to the US to testify about the experiences of sex slaves to the Japanese army during Medyavizyon has taken rights for BY TOM GRATER the Second World War. “What the buyers all had in Russian animation studio Wizart Turkey and Kinoswiat has common was that they liked the has scored a trio of deals on its boarded for Poland. Robert Lence will direct the balance of laughter and emotion animated feature The Snow in the film and Na Moon-hee’s Queen: Wonderland, which is the project alongside Alexey Tsitsilin. The Snow Queen: Wonderland is performance,” said Jamie Shin, fourth entry in the franchise. Cinema Republic has picked up still in the early stages of producinternational department manthe film for South Korea, tion. Wizart will be presenting 10 ager at Little Big Pictures. ScreenDaily - Half Page 218x150.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/17 11:28 Pagina 1
dolphin separated from its pod, and must find a way to reunite the animal with its family before human trappers reach it. Philip Marlatt directed from a screenplay by Travis McCoy and Jordan Pedreira. “We wanted to make a movie where the audience felt like they are taking a vacation themselves,” said producer Derek Nixon, who is planning a slate of family films with McCoy.
Wizart’s Wonderland breaks ice
Incontrol
Screening Sat 4th Nov 3:30 PM Theatre AMC Santa Monica - 2
minutes of footage to buyers here at AFM. The story for the latest entry follows long-running character Gerda as she is forced to co-operate with her old nemesis the Snow Queen in order to prevent a fairytale world from disappearing.
» Daniela Elstner continued… told the buyer wanted to do the meeting in his room; she declined. She said apathy towards such behaviour is still too frequent. “This is an industry that deals in seduction in many ways,” said Elstner. “We all play with that. But you can play within safe limits. The limits are important.” Elstner supports the idea of introducing mechanisms such as anonymous hotlines where victims could discuss their experiences. “Who is going to listen to the story of a junior sales person going forward?” she asked. Speaking out brings with it a real fear of being ostracised. That goes for people at any level of the business. For now, Elstner is telling her story in the hope it can prove useful to others who have had similar experiences and for the future generations who want to work in the business. » Full story on ScreenDaily.com
Sight and Sound: “An increasingly paranoid sci-fi thriller!”
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AFM BRIEFS
FlixHouse rolls
Premiere peddles Sin
BY ELBERT WYCHE
Los Angeles-based Premiere Entertainment Group (PEG) arrives at the market with worldwide rights to female thriller Body Of Sin starring Elisha Kriis and Ellie Patrikios. Brothers Amariah Olson and Obin Olson (The Shadow Effect) direct from a screenplay by Rod Spence about two women who steal from straying men. PEG president and CEO Elias Axume and Carlos Rincon negotiated the deal with Amariah Olson.
Sales agent and film producer Tony Kandah has launched FlixHouse, a genre-oriented North American distribution label. The company will use all avenues of distribution from theatrical to its own VoD channel. FlixHouse will also handle international sales for the films it acquires under FlixHouse Global.
Brands goes Big and global
Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights for Big Foot-inspired thriller Primal Rage. Creature creator and effects expert Patrick Magee makes his directorial debut. Blue Fox’s AFM slate also includes Big Bear, Rift, Imperfections, Unleashed and Lion’s Den.
BY JEREMY KAY
Finecut hot for Burning
Veterans scale New Castle
BY JEAN NOH
Sales and distribution executives Lyndon Golin, Peter Elson and Ray Price have joined forces to launch US-based distribution company New Castle Pictures. They are attending AFM for acquisitions and will specialise in English and foreign-language films, with plans to release four to six titles in the first year theatrically and on VoD.
Finecut has picked up international sales rights to Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong’s upcoming film Burning. Set for a 2018 release, this will be his first film since 2010’s Poetry, winner of Cannes’ best screenplay award. Lee’s credits also include Oasis, which picked up the Silver Lion for best direction at Venice in 2002, and Secret Sunshine, which
8 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
took the best actress prize for Jeon Do-yeon at Cannes in 2007. Co-written by Lee and Oh Jungmi, Burning is based on the short story Barn Burning by bestselling Ja p a n e s e n o v e l i s t Ha r u k i Murakami. The story follows two men and a woman in their twenties as they encounter one another and experience a mysterious incident. The cast features Yoo Ah-in (Veteran) and Steven Yuen (Okja).
Pinehouse Film’s Lee Joon-dong is producing. His credits include July Jung’s A Girl At My Door, Jang Joon-hwan’s Hwayi: A Monster Boy and Ounie Lecomte’s A Brand New Life, as well as Poetry. Currently in production, Burning will be released widely “around mid2018” by CGV Arthouse in Korea. Finecut previously repped Lee Chang-dong’s Peppermint Candy, Oasis and Poetry.
Moscow-based animation studio Licensing Brands has launched its international sales division at AFM, with Juraj Barabas on board as president of international distribution. Barabas is at AFM and will be showing footage from panda story The Big Trip 3D, which is written by Madagascar co-screenwriter Billy Frolick. The Licensing Brands slate includes animated action-adventure Two Tails, about a beaver and a cat on a dangerous mission; Princess In Wonderland, about a book that transports a princess to a magical place; and Enchanted Princess, a family comedy about a prince on the hunt for a missing princess. “We hope our universal stories, animation style and techniques are well received all over the world,” said Licensing Brands co-founder and producer Maxim Rogalsky.
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30/10/17 09:07
HOT PROJECTS JAPAN
Electric avenue A samurai-era manga adaptation, the ladies of the ‘pink’ industry and Godzilla feature in the Japanese titles vying for attention at AFM. Liz Shackleton reports
Spark
The Blood Of Wolves
Laughing Under The Clouds
Dir Kazuya Shiraishi
Dir Katsuyuki Motohiro
Koji Yakusho (The Third Murder) and Tori Matsuzaka (Birds Without Names) star in this crime-action title, based on a bestselling novel by Yuko Yuzuki. The story follows a rookie policeman who teams up with a veteran detective, rumoured to be working with the mob, to investigate a company that appears to be a front for organised crime. Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi (Twisted Justice, Birds Without Names), the film is scheduled for Japanese release on May 12, 2018. Contact Daichi Yashiki, Toei dai_yashiki@toei.co.jp
Godzilla Dirs Kobun Shizuno, Hiroyuki Seshita Following the success of Shin Godzilla, last year’s reboot of the iconic Godzilla
An adaptation of a manga that sold more than 1.2 million copies, this samurai-era action title follows three brothers who are guardians of a sacred tomb and who unite to tackle a giant serpent and an evil ninja clan. Directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, whose credits include the blockbuster Bayside Shakedown series, the film stars Sota Fukushi, Yuma Nakayama and Kirato Wakayama. The Japanese release is scheduled for March 21, 2018.
The Lowlife
series, Toho is now preparing a 3D CGI animation trilogy based around the firebreathing, Tokyo-stomping monster. Produced by leading Japanese animation house Polygon Pictures, the three films are scripted by Gen Urobuchi
10 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
Contact Shion Komatsu, Shochiku shion_komatsu@shochiku.co.jp
(Fate/Zero) and co-directed by Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita. The first part of the trilogy will be released theatrically in Japan this month. Contact Akihiro Takeda, Toho a_takeda@toho.co.jp
The Lowlife Dir Takahisa Zeze Based on a novel by adult video (AV) actress Mana Sakura, this drama »
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HOT PROJECTS JAPAN
follows three women working in Japan’s porn industry and their relationships with family and friends. Once also a ‘pink’ film director, Takahisa Zeze (see page 14) now makes more mainstream fare such as Rush!, Dog Star and recent two-parter 64. Starring Ayano Moriguchi, Kokone Sasaki and Aina Yamada, The Lowlife recently premiered in competition at Tokyo International Film Festival. Contact Asako Suzuki, Kadokawa Corp suzuki-as@kadokawa.jp
Mori, The Artist’s Habitat Dir Shuichi Okita Tsutomu Yamazaki plays reclusive 20thcentury artist Morikazu Kumagai in this biopic directed by Shuichi Okita, whose credits include Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday and The Woodsman And The Rain. Also starring veteran actress Kirin Kiki, the film is currently in post-production for a 2018 release in Japan. Yamazaki worked regularly with Akira Kurosawa and later starred in films such as Juzo Itami’s Tampopo.
recently premiered at Busan International Film Festival and will be released next year in Japan.
Contact Emico Kawai, Nikkatsu kawai@nikkatsu.co.jp
Contact Kayo Yoshida, Asmik Ace kayo@asmik-ace.co.jp
Recall
Spark
Dir Katsuhide Motoki
Dir Itsuji Itao
Tomoya Nagase, Dean Fujioka and Issei Takahashi head the cast of this story of corporate conspiracy, based on Jun Ikeido’s bestselling novel Sora Tobu Taiya, which has also been adapted into a hit TV series by Wowow. Directed by Katsuhide Motoki (Samurai Hustle Returns), the film is currently in postproduction for release in Japan in 2018.
A serious drama about funny people, Spark is based on Naoki Matayoshi’s bestselling novel Hibana, which was also been adapted into a — unrelated — 10-part TV series by Netflix in 2016. Masaki Suda and Kenta Kiritani star in the feature version as two comedians, the older one mentoring the younger, as they face the fact that they might never become successful. Produced by Toho and Yoshimoto Creative Agency, the film will be released in Japan this month, on November 23.
Contact Emico Kawai, Nikkatsu kawai@nikkatsu.co.jp
The Scythian Lamb
©2018 “Recall” Film Partners
Dir Daihachi Yoshida Produced by Asmik Ace, this quirky drama follows six ex-cons who live in a sleepy coastal town as part of a secret government programme. Directed by Daihachi Yoshida (A Beautiful Star, Pale Moon), the film’s ensemble cast includes Ryo Nishikido, Ryuhei Matsuda and Fumino Kimura. The Scythian Lamb (Right) Recall
12 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
©2018 “Mori, The Artist’s Habitat” Film Partners
The Scythian Lamb
Mori, The Artist’s Habitat
Contact Miyuki Takamatsu, Free Stone Productions miyuki. takamatsu@freestone.jp
Tonight, At The Movies (working title) Dir Hideki Takeuchi Starring Haruka Ayase (Our Little Sister) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Narratage), this romantic drama imagines what happens when a young director gets to meet the woman of his dreams when she steps out of the frame of a 1960s black-and-white movie. Directed by Hideki Takeuchi, whose credits include Thermae Romae and Nodame Cantabile, the film is scheduled
We Make Antiques!
for Japanese release in February 2018 through Warner Bros. Contact Shinji Sakoda, Pony Canyon sakoda@ponycanyon.co.jp
We Make Antiques! Dir Masaharu Take Masaharu Take and Shin Adachi, the director and writer of award-winning
indie drama 100 Yen Love, are reteaming on this comedy about two con-men who have a score to settle with an authenticator of antiques. Kiichi Nakai (Railways) and Kuranosuke Sasaki (A Beautiful Star) head the cast of the film, which is scheduled for Japanese release in January 2018. Contact Haruko Watanabe, Gaga s watanabh@gaga.co.jp ■
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SPOTLIGHT TAKAHISA ZEZE
The Lowlife
Adult life skills Takahisa Zeze’s The Lowlife explores the world of adult-video actresses. As Kadokawa brings the film to AFM, Sten-Kristian Saluveer talks to the director
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akahisa Zeze, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Pink (the group of filmmakers who kept alive in the 1990s the Japanese softcore style known as ‘pink’), is one of the most original Japanese directors, who has worked across both independent and blockbuster filmmaking. Zeze began his career on low-budget pink films, injected with wit and humour, while his recent titles Heaven’s Story (2010), which screened at the Berlinale, and murder-mystery 64 (2016) have received acclaim from festival and mainstream audiences in Japan alike. His latest feature, The Lowlife, explores the everyday struggles of a group of women working in the Japanese adult video (AV) business, as they deal with family relationships and public disapproval. What inspired you to make the film? I was originally preparing another film, but it did not happen. We decided with the producer to make a film from a Kadokawa novel on the topic of adultvideo actresses. I liked that the novel focused on the everyday lives of the
actresses and not the insides of the industry. The novel had four short stories that were unrelated but I joined them into three connected storylines. Although adult video is a well-known industry and part of Japanese society, it is still publicly frowned on. How did that affect your portrayal of the film’s main characters? I started as a director in the pink film genre, which focuses on the portrayal of the erotic. During that time, I developed friendships with actresses in the pink industry. I did not have any prejudice nor was I looking down or disregarding the nature of their work. For me, pink film is just a special form of filmmaking. The current AV industry has a close relationship with everyday Japanese society, with regular men and women
14 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
‘Many actresses who we approached declined to join the cast. They were fine with the sex scenes but not portraying the life of an AV actress’ Takahisa Zeze
working as performers. It also has almost a 40-year history since the 1980s, with the older performers having become mothers and their daughters potentially becoming young AV actresses as well. I was interested to explore within the film what has remained the same and what has changed over the years for women in general. (Left) Takahisa Zeze
Family relationships are often at the core of your films. How are you approaching the theme in this film? The family is a small-scale substance of Japanese society and both are interconnected by looking at each other. When I was in my twenties [Zeze is now in his late fifties], violence started to increase in the Japanese home and school with households disintegrating. Therefore, I continuously think about the change and violence in the Japanese society and the family. The film features strong performances by its female cast. How did you discover them? Many of the actresses that we approached declined to join the cast as they were fine with the sex scenes but not portraying the life of an AV actress. I had collaborated with some of the leading performers before; for the roles of the young high-school girls and the housewives, we organised an audition. The main trait that I was looking for during the process was emotion and I based s my selection on that. ■
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SPOTLIGHT HISHOW
All The Money In The World
Foreign exchange From its early days handling foreign films in China to its present forays into investment and production, Beijing-based Hishow aims to broaden the tastes of Chinese audiences. Liz Shackleton talks to founders Wang Haiyi and Xu Bin
I
n a quiet lane in Shuangjing, the Beijing district where young filmmakers and actors tend to congregate, Hishow Entertainment is putting the finishing touches to its new office. When completed, the standalone, twostorey building will house a staff of around 30 and feature a lobby that can be transformed into a screening room — a fitting centrepiece for a company that aims to put cinema at the heart of everything it does. Showing off the new space, Hishow founder Wang Haiyi talks about his time studying in Paris. “I did a masters in economics of cinema at the École Normale Supérieure, which has probably influenced the kind of films I’m interested in,” says Wang, who followed that with a PhD in economics of media, also in Paris. “We handle big international movies but we also want to distribute arthouse films. They’re much more difficult, but I’ve retained an interest because of the time I spent in France.” After graduation and a stint working in sales at Lagardere in Paris, Wang returned to China and worked in the international departments of Chinese studios Le Vision Pictures and Pegasus Media. Sensing a gap for a company that was more internationally focused, he convinced Xu Bin, an old friend from his Paris student days who was working
in finance, to help him launch Hishow in 2014. Initially known as a buyer, Hishow has acquired and worked on the theatrical release of films such as The Imitation Game, 3D CGI animation Ballerina (aka Leap!) and action title Triple 9 — collaborating with China’s two official distributors of foreign movies, China Film and Huaxia. At this year’s Cannes, it also picked up two family comedies from Gaumont — Christmas & Co starring Audrey Tautou, and Gaston — as well as animated feature Tall Tales. Among these titles, The Imitation Game was a surprise success. Although it only took $430,000 (RMB2.86m) on its first day, it went on to gross $8m (RMB53m). “We kept pushing the film and it eventually picked up on word-of-mouth,” explains Xu. But as importing independent foreign films is a hit-andmiss business in mainland China, it was a logical step for Hishow to move into investment and production. The company started small, co-producing Dai Sijie’s 2015 romantic drama Night Pea(Right) Xu Bin and Wang Haiyi
16 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
‘We don’t want to be just a Chinese film company — we want to be a global company’ Wang Haiyi, Hishow
cock with Chinese and French partners, and later started investing in larger international films. At this year’s Berlinale, the company clinched a deal with Nu Image/Millennium to invest in two projects: actionthriller Hunter Killer, starring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman, and Loving Pablo, a biopic of Colombian drug lord
Pablo Escobar, starring Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. In both cases, Hishow retains Chinese rights. Wang sees such investments as the first step towards the company generating or taking a bigger share of international projects. “Our goal is to finance and produce movies for the international market and share international revenue. We don’t want to be just a Chinese film company — we want to be a global company,” he says. To facilitate that, Xu is currently setting up a fund in Hong Kong to finance international films. While Hishow will continue to board other people’s films as investor or co-producer, it is also developing its own projects, including an action film to be directed by Prachya Pinkaew (Ong Bak, Tom Yum Goong) and a co-production with a Japanese studio. Market diversity At the same time, the company will continue to look at specialist titles to bring to China (ahead of AFM, the company acquired Ridley Scott’s All The Money In The World). Wang says this decision is based on sound business sense, not just nostalgia for his Paris days, as the China market is showing signs of becoming more diverse. He points to the success of competitors’ titles since the beginning of 2017, such as La La Land, Manchester By The Sea, Indian drama Dangal and Chinese documentary Twenty Two. More recently, Spanish drama Invisible Guest (Contratiempo) grossed more than $25m in China. “The audience is becoming much more discerning — and the authorities want to see quality movies in the market to educate both the audience and local filmmakers,” says Wang. Specialist film distribution remains challenging, however. For every breakout hit, there are scores of titles that never pass censorship, or clear all the hurdles only to fail at the box office. And while it performed decently with a gross of $6m (RMB40m), Wang points to Ballerina as an example of the limitations: “The film worked well in Beijing and Shanghai, and we thought it could also work in cities like Chengdu and Zhengzhou, but in the end the audience in those second-tier cities regarded ballet as high art.” In general, Wang sees the China market trend becoming much more international: “It will take time but there are more distributors and producers like us who have studied in the US and Europe, then returned home and want to bring something new to the Chinese audience. And we should remember that China itself is also ethnically diverse. Not everything will work here, but we believe that in the next few s years the market will bloom.” ■
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
Screen International’s 2017 Stars of Tomorrow, photographed at the BFI Southbank, London
Generation of all talents Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2017 spotlights the hottest up-and-coming actors and filmmakers in the UK and Ireland
A
lthough it’s true to say the British film industry can seem to lean towards prestige period pieces as a default setting (this year having seen the likes of Victoria & Abdul and Goodbye Christopher Robin making their theatrical bows), the state of play in the UK and Ireland among young filmmakers has never felt so vibrant, dynamic and of-the-moment. In the past year, Lady Macbeth, God’s Own Country and Beast have played to huge acclaim at international festivals, with the first two going on to make their mark with UK moviegoers and the latter having been picked up for both UK and US distribution. Clio Barnard, Andrea Arnold and Lynne Ramsay
Everyone selected this year has a strong, significant voice have continued to rip up the rule sheet. Riz Ahmed has won a Primetime Emmy. You’ll recognise these names if you’ve followed Screen International’s talent-spotting initiative Stars of Tomorrow over the past 14 years. And 2017’s crop is no different: an exciting, diverse, energetic mix of talents from across the UK and Ireland. Everyone selected as a Star of Tomorrow this year has a strong, significant voice. The actors we have chosen to highlight aren’t just delivering
18 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
lines — from the power of Chewing Gum’s Michaela Coel, making her film debut at last in Been So Long, to the outspoken feminist Naomi Ackie, to writer/actor/director Nathaniel Martello-White, they are succeeding on every level. And as Ireland’s industry experiences an unprecedented surge, we feature four actors from the country who have made a strong impression: Jessie Buckley, Patrick Gibson, Seána Kerslake and Fionn O’Shea. This feature is full of vibrant characters, whether it be someone born into the industry like Harry Michell or a man who lost a boxing career to find his way on screen like Connor Swindells. They are all ready to be heard. Trust us, we have a track record. »
ScreenDaily.com Stars of Tomorrow 2017
UK & Ireland Stars of
TOMORROW 2017 Screen’s pick of the hottest acting
and filmmaking talent
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
THE ACTORS
Naomi Ackie
Michaela Coel
Jade Anouka
Jessie Buckley
Patrick Gibson
Harris Dickinson
Naomi Ackie
Michaela Coel
Jade Anouka
Naomi Ackie, who describes herself as a “normal working-class girl” from east London, trained at the city’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and focused on children’s theatre until winning the role of maid Anna in William Oldroyd’s stripped-back 2016 period drama Lady Macbeth. She will follow this with Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie, playing the girlfriend of the main adversary to the lead.
Writer/actress Michaela Coel is best known internationally for her E4/Channel 4 series Chewing Gum, the Bafta award-winning chronicle of a young woman’s late-ish sexual awakening on a London council estate. This year, Coel has stepped up to the big screen with her first feature, Been So Long, a musical set on the streets of Camden Town, and is also shooting the first of two topsecret projects for Netflix.
London-born Jade Anouka began acting at a Saturday morning drama club before joining a holiday programme at Greenwich Theatre and, later, graduating from Guildford School of Acting. A career in theatre followed, including performances in the all-female Shakespeare trilogy of The Tempest, Julius Caesar and Henry IV at the Donmar Warehouse and Cover My Tracks at the Old Vic. Anouka is next starring with John Simm and Adrian Lester in ITV miniseries Trauma.
Upcoming projects Yardie (Dir. Idris Elba)
Upcoming projects Been So Long (Dir. Tinge Krishnan)
Contact Sian Smyth, Hamilton Hodell sian@hamiltonhodell.co.uk
Contact Sophie Patterson, Julian Belfrage Associates sophie@julianbelfrage.co.uk
Jessie Buckley
Patrick Gibson
Growing up in Ireland as the oldest of five children, Jessie Buckley’s acting career has until this year focused on the theatre. Having starred in prestige BBC series War & Peace and Taboo, Buckley will soon be seen in The Last Post, a 1960s-set drama written by Peter Moffat for the BBC, and The Woman In White for Origin Pictures. Her first feature role is the lead in Michael Pearce’s Beast, about a young woman on the island of Jersey.
Dublin-born Patrick Gibson’s acting career took off while he was still at school, with roles in TV series such as The Tudors, Neverland and The Passing Bells, and films including What Richard Did and Gold. In February 2016, he left Ireland to shoot Netflix’s The OA in New York. He has also appeared in John Ridley’s 1970s-set political drama Guerrilla for Sky Atlantic and Starz’s historical drama The White Princess.
Upcoming projects Beast (Dir. Michael Pearce); Country Music (Dir. Tom Harper); The Last Post (TV, BBC); The Woman In White (TV, Origin Pictures/BBC)
Upcoming projects The Darkest Minds (Dir. Jennifer Yuh Nelson); In A Relationship (Dir. Sam Boyd); The OA season 2 (TV, Netflix)
Contact Lindy King, United Artists (mail to Julia Charteris) jcharteris@unitedagents.co.uk
Contact Claire Comiskey, Artists Rights Group (mail to Katherine Darke) katherine@argtalent.com
20 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
Upcoming projects The Dark Channel (Dir. Mark Davis); Trauma (TV, ITV) Contact Charlotte Davies, United Agents cdavies@unitedagents.co.uk
Harris Dickinson London-born Harris Dickinson has put a lot of time into learning the craft of acting and filmmaking. He attended the local RAW Academy, has completed all his technical Lamda exams, worked as a runner and made several short films. His performance in Angels, as part of the National Theatre’s Connections Festival, helped him to get an agent, and last year he was cast as the lead in Eliza Hittman’s Brooklyn-set feature drama Beach Rats. Upcoming projects The Darkest Minds (Dir. Jennifer Yuh Nelson); Trust (TV, FX); Postcards From London (Dir. Steve McLean) Contact Kristin Tarry, TCG Artists Management kristin@tcgam.co.uk
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
THE ACTORS
Tom Glynn-Carney
James Harkness
Sam Otto
Paapa Essiedu
Seána Kerslake
Olivia Vinall
Tom Glynn-Carney
James Harkness
Sam Otto
Salford-born Tom Glynn-Carney left his course at Guildhall School of Music & Drama a few months early to take the role of sailor Peter in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk — a part he won after auditioning while shooting BBC TV drama The Last Post in South Africa. He has also starred as Shane in Jez Butterworth’s hit stage play The Ferryman, directed by Sam Mendes, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in April.
Beginning his career at the Citizens Theatre’s Young Co in his hometown of Glasgow, James Harkness caught the eye of director Nicholas Hytner, who encouraged him to train at Lamda. Since graduating, Harkness has starred as Angus in Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, as Winston Churchill’s war secretary in Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour and as Private Basteren in Lucasfilm’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Sam Otto left Drama Centre London a few months early in 2016 for a part in Richard Wilson’s FRACKED! at Chichester Festival Theatre. Before the play had even started, the 25-year-old had secured the lead of a young British Muslim man who fights in Syria in Peter Kosminsky’s explosive Channel 4 drama The State. Small parts have followed in David Hare’s Collateral for the BBC, TV drama The Boy With The Top Knot and indie feature The Flood.
Upcoming projects The Last Post (TV, BBC)
Upcoming projects Phantom Thread (Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson); Country Music (Dir. Tom Harper)
Upcoming projects Snowpiercer (TV, TNT); The Flood (Dir. Anthony Woodley); Collateral (TV, BBC)
Contact Oliver Slinger and Natalie Day, Independent Talent oliverslinger@independenttalent.com natalieday@independenttalent.com
Contact Sam Turnbull and Oriana Elia, Curtis Brown sam.turnbull@curtisbrown.co.uk oriana@curtisbrown.co.uk
Contact Saskia Mulder, The Artists Partnership saskia@theartistspartnership.co.uk
Paapa Essiedu
Seána Kerslake
Olivia Vinall
Paapa Essiedu had been planning to study medicine before he had a last-minute change of heart and won a place at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. After graduation he focused on the theatre, becoming the first black actor to play Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford in 2016. Now turning his attention to the screen, Essiedu has wrapped a role in the BBC adaptation The Miniaturist.
Seána Kerslake had only just graduated with an anthropology degree when she won her first film role, in Kirsten Sheridan’s experimental drama Dollhouse — a project that inspired her to train at Sheridan’s Dublinbased The Factory. Small theatre parts, short films and BBC Three series Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope followed, before a breakout role in Darren Thornton’s festival favourite A Date For Mad Mary.
Olivia Vinall studied drama at the University of East Anglia before completing a one-year post-graduate course at the Drama Studio London. She spent several years working in theatre and taking small parts in TV shows such as the BBC’s Holby City and Apple Tree Yard. She will make her feature debut in Amma Asante’s next film, Second World War drama Where Hands Touch.
Upcoming projects Murder On The Orient Express (Dir. Kenneth Branagh); Kiri (TV, Channel 4); Press (TV, BBC)
Upcoming projects A Hole In The Ground (Dir. Lee Cronin); Dublin Oldschool (Dir. Dave Tynan)
Upcoming projects Where Hands Touch (Dir. Amma Asante); The Woman in White (TV, Origin Pictures/ BBC)
Contact Lara Beach, Curtis Brown lara@curtisbrown.co.uk
Contact Susannah Norris, The Agency susannah@tagency.ie
Contact Nicki van Gelder, Conway van Gelder Grant nicki@conwayvg.co.uk
22 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
THE ACTORS
Archie Madekwe
THE FILM-MAKERS
Fionn O’Shea
Farah Abushwesha
Archie Madekwe
Fionn O’Shea
Farah Abushwesha (producer)
Earlier this year, the coveted male lead in Max Minghella’s directorial debut Teen Spirit went to Lamda graduate Archie Madekwe, who will play opposite Elle Fanning’s would-be singer in the coming-of-age story set on the Isle of Wight. Previously, Madekwe’s most significant role has been on stage as Billy in Edward Albee’s The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Madekwe, who attended the prestigious Brit School in Croydon, south London from the age of 14, would now like to work on a high-end TV series.
As a child, Fionn (pronounced Fee-on) O’Shea adored his older sister and insisted on doing everything she did — including Saturday morning drama class. His first audition was for a short film called New Boy; he got the part, and the film went on to be nominated for an Oscar in 2007. Since then, he has starred in Richie Smyth’s The Siege Of Jadotville and John Butler’s Handsome Devil.
After producing several shorts, Farah Abushwesha started work as a production co-ordinator on Tom Harper’s The Scouting Book For Boys. Eventually came a move into line producing on projects including Tom Shkolnik’s The Comedian, before Jason Newmark offered her a job as co-producer on Pressure starring Danny Huston. Huston then asked her to be a producer on The Last Photograph, and she has also worked on Stephanie Laing’s Irreplaceable You starring Christopher Walken and Steve Coogan.
Upcoming projects Teen Spirit (Dir. Max Minghella)
Upcoming projects The Aftermath (Dir. James Kent); Hang Ups (TV, Channel 4); Innocent (TV, TXTV)
Upcoming projects Irreplaceable You (Dir. Stephanie Laing)
Contact Olivia Woodward, Curtis Brown woodwardoffice@curtisbrown.co.uk
Contact Frances Stevenson and Jessica Jackson, Curtis Brown frances@curtisbrown.co.uk jessica.jackson@curtisbrown.co.uk
Sophie Reid
Connor Swindells
Anwar Boulifa (director)
Brighton-based actress and musician Sophie Reid attended the National Youth Music Theatre before completing a three-year degree course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. A brief stint on Game Of Thrones followed, as well as performances at various open-mic nights and a role on the West End stage in Once. Her first major film role was as an American country music singer in Julia Halperin and Jason Cortlund’s Barracuda, which opened in the US in October.
When his dream of becoming a professional boxer ended following injury, West Sussex-born Connor Swindells began to lose himself in watching films, and decided to pursue acting. A stint followed in community theatre in Brighton, which introduced Swindells to his agent and landed him a couple of small TV jobs. Now he is starring in two highly anticipated UK features: Keepers, the big-screen debut of The Killing director Kristoffer Nyholm, and rap drama VS.
Anwar Boulifa cut his teeth working on television documentaries for the likes of BBC and Channel 4, and his self-funded first short, A Short Guide To ReEntry (2016), won Glasgow’s Bill Douglas Award. His next film, Templates (2016), was made with Film London as part of its London Calling initiative. He is currently developing the screenplay for his debut feature project, The Unwanted, which follows a Moroccan girl who becomes pregnant outside of wedlock.
Upcoming projects TBC
Upcoming projects Keepers (Dir. Kristoffer Nyholm); VS. (Dir. Ed Lilly)
Upcoming projects The Unwanted
Contact Sian Smyth, Hamilton Hodell sian@hamiltonhodell.co.uk
Contact Anwar Boulifa anwarboulifa@hotmail.com
Contact Gavin Denton-Jones and Suzy Brierley, Denton Brierley gavin@dentonbrierley.com suzy@dentonbrierley.com
Sophie Reid
26 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
Connor Swindells
Contact Farah Abushwesha farah@rocliffe.com
Anwar Boulifa
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
THE FILM-MAKERS
Loran Dunn
Ed Lilly
Sarmad Masud
Nathaniel Martello-White
Harry Michell
Loran Dunn (producer)
Nathaniel Martello-White
Sarmad Masud (director)
Recipient of a BFI Vision Award in 2016, Manchesterbased producer Loran Dunn has worked in a variety of production jobs and set up her own company, Delaval Film, after realising that going it alone was her most direct route into the industry. She is currently developing several projects including a feature version of her short film The Pig Child, a modern retelling of the Frankenstein story that came through Creative England’s iShorts scheme.
(writer/director/actor)
After graduating from Hull School of Art and Design, Sarmad Masud’s big break was 2009’s Adha Cup, a black-and-white comedy drama in the Urdu language funded by Channel 4’s Coming Up scheme. Following this he met Nikesh Shukla and together they wrote Masud’s next short, Two Dosas, which won the London Calling Jury Award in 2014. Masud’s first feature, My Pure Land, about three women in Pakistan forced to defend their home, is the UK’s foreign-language film submission for the 2018 Academy Awards.
Upcoming projects The Pig Child; Beckett (short); untitled Jason Barker documentary Contact Loran Dunn loran@delavalfilm.com
Ed Lilly (writer/director) Currently editing his first feature, rap drama VS., Ed Lilly studied film and radio at the University of Salford before becoming a short-film director. In 2010 he directed digital short The Hive with support from the UK Film Council, which was nominated for a Vimeo Award. He developed the script for VS. with co-writer Daniel Hayes; Silvertown Films and BBC Films have boarded the project, which Lilly plans to submit to early 2018 festivals. Upcoming projects VS.; Maids (TV, Working Title Television) Contact Ed Lilly ed@edlilly.com
28 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
London-born, Rada-educated Nathaniel MartelloWhite established a successful acting career on stage and screen, which has included roles in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play The Brothers Size at London’s Young Vic, features such as Red Tails and Daphne, and TV shows like BBC Two and Netflix’s upcoming crime series Collateral. Martello-White’s first play as a writer, 2012’s Blackta, was staged at the Young Vic and was directed by the theatre’s artistic director David Lan. Tempted to move behind the camera, and with a wealth of short film ideas, Martello-White set up Break Em Films with Joel Fry and Will Thorne. Their first short, Slap, which subverted audience expectations of gang violence, caught the attention of Creative England, which co-financed his next project, a 30-minute piece about gentrification called Cla’am, with BBC Films. The completed film, produced by Watson and starring Joel Fry, premiered at SXSW in March. Martello-White is now lining up his debut feature, Dumbarton Road, with independent producer (and 2016 Star of Tomorrow) Rob Watson along with Valentina Brazzini at The Bureau. He is working on the first draft of the screenplay — a partial adaptation of his play Torn, which was staged at the Royal Court in 2016. Upcoming projects Collateral (TV, The Forge); Dumbarton Road
Upcoming projects My Pure Land Contact Joe Phillips, Curtis Brown joe@curtisbrown.co.uk
Harry Michell (writer/director) Harry Michell was introduced to show business at a young age, having started out as a child actor in the likes of The Mother, which was directed by his father, Roger Michell. While at Cambridge University, he began to develop short-film concepts and teamed up with London-based kit rental company Aimimage to make short Guinea Pig. Adapting ideas from that, he set up debut feature Chubby Funny, which he wrote, directed and starred in. Upcoming projects Untitled second feature
Contact Roger Charteris and Zoe Stoker, The Artists Partnership email@theartistspartnership.co.uk
Contact Alec Drysdale, Independent Talent alecdrysdale@independenttalent.com
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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2017
THE FILM-MAKERS
Rungano Nyoni
Rory Alexander Stewart
Leanne Welham
Rubika Shah
Remi Weekes
Kat Wood
Rungano Nyoni (director)
Rory Alexander Stewart (writer/director)
Leanne Welham (director)
Despite studying drama at Central Saint Martins in London, Nyoni began making her own shorts (2009’s The List earned her a Bafta Cymru Award). In 2013, Nyoni was accepted into Cannes’ Cinéfondation residence, where she developed feature debut I Am Not A Witch, the story of a young Zambian girl accused of witchcraft. Premiering in Directors’ Fortnight at this year’s Cannes, it enjoyed a successful festival run before a UK release in October.
After studying film production at Bournemouth, Rory Alexander Stewart’s first major industry recognition came when he wrote Martin Smith’s short Liar, for which he won the Bafta New Talent writing award in 2013. Next up was no-budget improvised short Good Girl (2014), which won The Skinny/Innis & Gunn short film competition. His National Film and Television School (NFTS) graduation short Wild Horses, about a teenage girl with ME realising her independence, played in this year’s Cannes Cinéfondation strand.
After graduating with an arts degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, Leanne Welham took a job as an editor at a company that produces family home videos. She borrowed in-house cameras to make short films at the weekend. After winning funding from Spanish film festival Internacional de Cine Inedito de Islantilla to produce short Novio, Welham worked in Africa as a freelance filmmaker for charities, which inspired her debut feature Pili, which won the audience prize at Dinard. Upcoming projects Pili; Keep On Running; The Warning
Upcoming projects TBC Upcoming projects Organs In The Grass Contact Matthew Bates, Sayle Screen matthew@saylescreen.com
Rubika Shah (director)
Contact Camille McCurry, United Agents cmccurry@unitedagents.co.uk
During five years living in Australia, Rubika Shah produced news videos for network ABC News and newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald. After making short documentaries like Spike Lee: Do The Right Thing, 25 Years On (2014) for the BBC and Let’s Dance: Bowie Down Under, which premiered at Berlin in 2015, Shah and her producing partner Ed Gibbs are now working on a feature version of their short documentary White Riot, set in an immigration-divided Britain of 1977.
Remi Weekes (writer/director)
Upcoming projects White Riot (feature)
Upcoming projects His House
Contact Rubika Shah rubika.shah@gmail.com
Contact Roxana Adle, Independent Talent roxanaadle@independenttalent.com
30 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
After studying film and video at London College of Communication, Remi Weekes teamed up with fellow LCC graduate Luke White to launch Tell No One, a production outfit specialising in experimental short-form video content. Tickle Monster, produced for Film4’s Horror Bites, made it to SXSW in 2017. Weekes is now developing his feature script His House, which tells of an immigrant family who suspect their English home is haunted.
Contact Roxana Adle, Independent Talent roxanaadle@independenttalent.com
Kat Wood (writer/director) Previously a producer at BBC Radio, Kat Wood wrote the script for short film Mr Bojagi, which she gave to director and BBC colleague Marco van Belle. Wood then teamed with van Belle to write feature script The Burning Room, undertook a late rewrite on Van Belle’s directing debut Arthur & Merlin and made short film Home, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. Wood is now eyeing her debut feature as a director, Stine, a retelling of the Frankenstein story set in a near-future Newcastle. Upcoming projects Stine; Zero; Clandestine (dir: Michael J Bassett) Contact Kat Wood
s kat_ruth_wood@yahoo.co.uk n
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and even grandmother, as she submits herself to our gaze and allows us to understand what constitutes her mask. ArcLight 2
HIGHER POWER
MARKET 09:00 1%
Thriller. 92mins. Dir: Stephen McCallum. Scr: Matt Nable. Cast: Ryan Corr, Abbey Lee, Matt Nable. Celluloid Dreams. The story of brotherhood, loyalty and betrayal set within the primal underworld of outlaw motorcycle gangs. It follows Paddo, heir to the throne of the Copperheads MC, who has to betray his president to save his brother’s life. When this betrayal leads to a split in the club it results in civil war, forcing Paddo to choose between loyalty and blood. AMC SM 3
A QUESTION OF FAITH
Drama. 123mins. Dir: Kevan Otto. Scr: Ty Manns. Cast: Richard T Jones, C Thomas Howell, Jaci Velasquez, TC Stallings. Pure Flix/ Quality Flix. When tragedy strikes three families with very different lives, destiny forces them on a converging path of belief and redemption. AMC SM 4
Toledano, Olivier Nakache. Cast: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Gilles Lellouche, Suzanne Clement, Jean-Paul Rouve, Benjamin Lavernhe. Gaumont. A hectic wedding party held at a 17th-century French palace comes together with the help of the behind-the-scenes staff. ArcLight 4
09:00 THE ETERNAL ROAD
Drama, historical. 110mins. Dir: AJ Annila. Scr: Antti Tuuri, AJ Annila, Aku Louhimies. Cast: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Tommi Korpela, Ville Virtanen, Helen Soderqvist,
Lembit Ulfsak. TrustNordisk. Based on true events: an epic story of one man’s struggle for survival. Jussi Ketola returns to Finland from the Great Depression-struck America only to face growing political unrest.
ArcLight 11
ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS
Documentary. 135mins. Dir: Lili Fini Zanuck. Scr: Scooter Weintraub, Larry Yelen. Cast: Various. Altitude Film Sales. A look at the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton told by those who have known him best, including BB King, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison.
C’EST LA VIE!
ArcLight 8
Comedy. 115mins. Dir: Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache. Scr: Eric
THE ETERNAL ROAD See box, above
32 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
AMC SM 1
ArcLight 1
HUMAN TRACES
A mother and tireless worker, Hortense, hires Francine, a young orphan from the welfare services, to support her because her own daughter is reluctant to obey. Mutual respect and admiration flourish between Hortense and Francine. But to save the unity of her family, Hortense will have to sacrifice this girl and pay the price.
Thriller. 87mins. Dir: Nic Gorman. Scr: Nic Gorman. Cast: Sophie Henderson, Mark Mitchinson, Vinnie Bennett. Film Mode Entertainment. When a mysterious young man arrives on a remote Sub-Antarctic research station, and when contact to the outside world is cut off, secrets threaten the relationship of a married couple working on the island.
Broadway 4
Ocean
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI
IDEAL HOME
LES GARDIENNES
Drama. 134mins. Dir: Xavier Beauvois. Scr: Frederique Moidon, Xavier Beauvois, MarieJulie Maille. Cast: Nathalie Baye, Laura Smet, Iris Bry. Pathe International. 1915: the men are at the front and the women must take on the role of guardians of the farms.
Documentary, musical. 120mins. Dir: Sophie Fiennes. Cast: Grace Jones, Jean-Paul Goude, Sly and Robbie. WestEnd Films. Larger than life, wild, scary and androgynous — Grace Jones plays all these parts. Yet here we also discover her as a lover, daughter, mother, sister
COLD SKIN
Fantasy. 104mins. Dir: Xavier Gens. Scr: Jesus Olmo. Cast: Ray Stevenson, David Oakes, Aura Garrido. Kinology. Set in the early 20th century on a deserted island on the edge of the Antarctic Circle: a young man sent there will face an incredible discovery.
Sci-fi. 93mins. Dir: Matthew Santoro. Scr: Matthew Santoro. Cast: Ron Eldard, Colm Feore, Austin Stowell. Kew Media Group. The story of a true everyman who risks his life to save his daughter and ends up with powers beyond his wildest imagination.
FRONTIER
Action/adventure, sci-fi. 100mins. Dir: Dmitry Tyurin. Scr: Alexander Shevtsov. Cast: Pavel Priluchnyi. Central Partnership Sales House. Michael’s perfect life changes dramatically when he discovers a portal that allows him to travel in time. He travels back to the Second World War to find his one and only beloved. ArcLight 7
Comedy, Drama. 100mins. Dir: Andrew Fleming. Scr: Andrew Fleming. Cast: Paul Rudd, Steve Coogan. Fortitude International. A long-term gay couple bicker constantly but their successful cooking show prevents them from breaking up. However, when their wayward son lands in jail yet again,
» Screening times and venues are correct at time of press but subject to alteration. For late changes visit thefilmcatalogue.com
the grandson shows up at their door with nowhere left to go and the two take him in. A heartfelt, modern family comedy about family, love and cooking. Laemmle 1
IN DARKNESS
Psycho-drama, thriller. 110mins. Dir: Anthony Byrne. Scr: Anthony Byrne. Cast: Natalie Dormer, Ed Skrein, Emily Ratajkowski, Joely Richardson. XYZ Films. A psychological revenge thriller about a blind musician who gets pulled into London’s dark underbelly after she hears a murder committed in the apartment above her own. As she gets embroiled in the violent and murky world, it appears she is out of her depth but Sofia is following her own path of revenge. Broadway 1
THE LITTLE WITCH
Family. 104mins. Dir: Mike Schaerer. Scr: Matthias Pacht, Otfried Preussler. Cast: Karoline Herfurth, Suzanne von Borsody. Studiocanal. Follow the Little Witch as she embarks on a magical adventure and stirs up a whole lot of trouble along the way. ArcLight 5
MESSAGE MAN
Action/adventure. 91mins. Dir: Corey Pearson. Scr: Corey Pearson. Cast: Paul O’Brien. Premiere Entertainment Group. A retired assassin’s past catches up with him and his brutality surfaces as www.screendaily.com
AFM SCREENINGS
SCREENING TODAY
Friday, November 3rd | 1:00pm AMC Santa Monica 5
Saturday, Nov 4th | 9:30am Laemmle Monica Film Center 2
SCREENING TODAY
Friday, November 3rd | 3:00pm Laemmle Monica Film Center 3
Saturday, Nov 4th | 1:30pm Laemmle Monica Film Center 6
Saturday, Nov 4th | 3:30pm ArcLight 6
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SCREENINGS
Dir: Clara Laperrousaz, Laura Laperrousaz. Scr: Clara Laperrousaz, Laura Laperrousaz. Cast: Ana Girardot, Agathe Bonitzer, Clement Roussier. Alfama Films. For the holidays, Gabriel and Iris return to a family house in Portugal with their daughters Emma and Zoe, irresistible sixyear-old twins. In the heart of a solar landscape, between bathing in the river and their kids’ laughter, the couple’s past resurfaces
After meticulous planning and preparation, Lewis snatches Cathy off the busy streets and locks her away in a soundproofed room measuring 10 feet by 10 feet. His motive — to have Cathy confess to a dark secret that she is determined to keep hidden. But Cathy has no intention of giving up so easily and proves more than a match for her kidnapper.
Broadway 2
Action/adventure, comedy. 88mins. Dir: Joey Kern. Scr: Joey Kern. Cast: Pablo Schreiber, Tyler Labine, Adam Brody, Toby Huss, Zachary Knighton. Blue Fox Entertainment. When Joe is dumped by his fiancée, he reluctantly decides to go ahead with his bachelor party and heads up to Big Bear Mountain with three friends. Things take a turn for the worse when Joe discovers one of his friends has kidnapped the man his fiancée ran off.
UNDERCOVER PUNCH AND GUN
MARKET 09:00 TEENOSAURUS REX
Comedy, family. 91mins. Dir: Leander Haussmann. Scr: Leander Haussmann, Jan Weiler. Cast: Jan Josef Liefers, Heike Makatsch, Detlev Buck, Monika Gruber, Harriet Herbig-Matten, Justus von Dohnanyi. Picture Tree International. She was sweet, she was
cute. But just before her 14th birthday, Daddy’s little princess mutates into a petulant pubescent nightmare. Journalist Hannes Wenger decides to take a time-out from work to guide his daughter through this difficult phase in her life and, above all, to keep her away from alcohol, boys and other temptations. AMC SM 5
Drama. 119mins. Dir: Nabil Ayouch. Scr: Nabil Ayouch, Maryam Touzani. Cast: Maryam Touzani, Arieh Worthalter, Dounia Binebine. Playtime. Casablanca: vibrant and rough, inviting yet unforgiving. Thirty years after a passionate teacher was put to silence in the Atlas Mountains, Hakim, Salima, Joe and Ines struggle to free themselves from a conservative society and wander in search of truth. They embody the sparks that will light the city in flames.
Cast: Ricardo Darin, Dolores Fonzi, Erica Rivas. Film Factory Entertainment. At a summit for Latin American presidents in Chile, where the region’s geopolitical strategies and alliances are being discussed, Argentine president Hernan Blanco endures a political and family drama that will force him to face his own demons. He’ll have to come to two decisions that could change the course of his public and private life forever: one regarding a complicated emotional situation with his daughter; and the other, the most important political decision of his career.
ArcLight 10
Broadway 3
THE SUMMIT
TEA PETS
Suspense. 114mins. Dir: Santiago Mitre. Scr: Santiago Mitre.
Action/adventure, animation, children’s, comedy, family. 93mins.
he goes on a final killing spree to make things right. Laemmle 5
RAZZIA
34 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
Dir: Gary Wang. Scr: Gary Wang. Cast: Guanlin Ji. All Rights Entertainment. A group of tea pets — cute clay figurines that are good-luck charms for tea drinkers — embark on a magical animated adventure to find a fabled mystic.
leaves on a road trip to France, Lukas decides to join him as he has been trailing his charismatic brother for his entire life. But during this journey he discovers that he finally has to go his own way, not knowing this decision would be so allencompassing.
ArcLight 3
Laemmle 6
TEENOSAURUS REX
SUNBEAT
See box, left
Drama. 95mins.
Action/adventure. 87mins. Dir: Koon Lam Lui, Frankie Tam. Scr: Koon Lam Lui, Frankie Tam. Cast: Vanness Wu, Philip Ng, Andy On, WenJuan Feng, Jia Meng, Aka Chio. China 3D Digital Distribution. Centres on a police drug task force. Laemmle 4
11:00 10X10
Thriller. 87mins. Dir: Suzi Ewing. Scr: Noel Clarke. Cast: Luke Evans, Kelly Reilly. Altitude Film Sales.
ArcLight 7
BIG BEAR
Laemmle 5
CARBON
Thriller. 104mins. Dir: Olivier Marchal.
WHITE FANG (3D) PROMO REEL
Animation, family. 60mins. Dir: Alexandre Espigares. Scr: Jack London, Dominique Monfery, Philippe Lloret, Serge Frydman. SC Films International. The classic tale of a canine’s journey from life in the wild to domestication. Set in Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, the story explores themes of morality, redemption and love. Laemmle 3
09:30 BEAST See box, right
BROTHERS
Drama. 105mins. Dir: Bram Schouw. Scr: Marcel Roijaards. Cast: Jonas Smulders, Niels Gomperts, Christa Theret. Wide. When Alexander suddenly
MARKET 09:30 BEAST
Drama. 107mins. Dir: Michael Pearce. Scr: Michael Pearce. Cast: Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn. Protagonist Pictures. In a small island community, a troubled
young woman falls for a mysterious outsider who empowers her to escape her oppressive family. When he comes under suspicion for a series of brutal murders, she defends him at all costs and learns of what she is capable. Laemmle 2
»
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SCREENING TODAY
FRIDAY, NOV. 3 - 9:00AM - OCEAN SCREENING ROOM
FRIDAY, NOV. 3 - 3:00PM - OCEAN SCREENING ROOM
SCREENING TOMORROW
SATURDAY, NOV. 4 - 9:00AM - LAEMMLE 4
SATURDAY, NOV. 4 - 3:00PM - OCEAN SCREENING ROOM
SCREENING SUNDAY
SUNDAY, NOV. 5 - 11:00AM - OCEAN SCREENING ROOM
sales@filmmodeentertainment.com • AFM Office: Loews, Suite 509 www.filmmodeentertainment.com
SCREENINGS
Scr: Emmanuel Naccache, Olivier Marchal. Cast: Benoit Magimel, Gringe, Idir Chender, Gerard Depardieu, Michael Youn, Laura Smet, Dani, Patrick Catalifo, Moussa Maaskri. EuropaCorp. Facing the imminent loss of his company and abandoned by his own, Antoine Roca, an ordinary man, engineers a fraud that will become the heist of the century. AMC SM 5
CHRISTMAS & CO See box, left
MARKET 11:00 CHRISTMAS & CO
Comedy, family. 115mins. Dir: Alain Chabat. Scr: Alain Chabat. Cast: Alain Chabat, Pio Marmai, Golshifteh Farahani, Audrey Tautou. Gaumont. Christmas Eve is just around the corner, when everything goes haywire. Santa’s
FANTASTICA
92,000 elves all keel over, sick as dogs. That’s a harsh blow to jolly old St Nick. Now who’ll make the toys for all the kids? He’s got no choice. Santa and his reindeer must go to Earth in search of a cure. But once he gets there, Mr Claus will need some help to save the magic of Christmas. ArcLight 9
Animation. 105mins. Dir: Liang Ding. Scr: Liang Ding. Cast: Paul Rinehart. Fantawild Animation. Follows an elite team of thieves, sent by a notorious treasure hunter from the real world to
the animated realm to steal each universe’s most prized and powerful item. On learning of this evil plan that would destroy the cartoon world, the bear brothers, along with Logger Vick, join forces with a sassy archaeological robot and set out on a journey to save their world and find the Deer Clan’s legendary Golden Antlers before the villains do. AMC SM 3
HUNTSVILLE
Drama, thriller. 102mins. Dir: Eric England. Scr: Anthony Ragnone II. Cast: Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott, Jack Kilmer, Daeg Faerch. Lightning Entertainment Group. Centres on Hank, a mysterious loner with a haunting past, who befriends an alluring high school transfer student named Josie. Their
scandalous friendship not only raises eyebrows, but also reveals a darkness that he never imagined would surface. ArcLight 3
JUST DIVORCED
Comedy, romantic comedy. 90mins. Dir: Maxime Govare. Scr: Maxime Govare. Cast: Vincent Elbaz, Laurence Arne. Other Angle Pictures. A couple divorce but have to keep living together for financial purposes. The ex-husband finally makes the changes his wife has been desperately waiting for. Can the divorce save their marriage? ArcLight 11
LAST RAMPAGE: THE ESCAPE OF GARY TISON
Thriller, true story. 100mins. Dir: Dwight Little. Scr: Alvaro Rodriguez. Cast: Robert Patrick, Heather Graham,
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36 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
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Bruce Davison, John Heard. Little Film Company. The nightmare begins when convicted murderer Gary Tison’s three sons break him out of an Arizona prison. Tison and his gang murder six people before finally being stopped near the Mexican border. Ocean
MADEMOISELLE PARADIS
Drama. 97mins. Dir: Barbara Albert. Scr: Kathrin Resetarits. Cast: Maria-Victoria Dragus, Devid Striesow. Playtime. Eighteenth-century Vienna: the true story of Maria Theresia von Paradis, a gifted piano player and close friend of Mozart, who lost her eyesight as a child. Desperate to cure their talented daughter, the Paradis entrust Maria to Dr Mesmer, a forward-
thinking physician who gives her the care and attention that she requires. With the doctor’s innovative techniques, Maria slowly recovers her sight. But this miracle comes at a price as the woman progressively starts to lose her gift for music. Faced with a heavy dilemma, young Maria will have to choose: an ordinary life in the light or an extraordinary life in darkness, as a virtuoso. Laemmle 3
MARA
Horror, supernatural thriller. 95mins. Dir: Clive Tonge. Scr: Jonathan Frank. Cast: Olga Kurylenko. The Solution Entertainment Group. Focusing on the mythology surrounding sleep paralysis, the film follows a criminal psychologist who investigates the
murder of a man, apparently by his wife, and instead finds herself within the legend of a demon that kills people in their sleep. Laemmle 1
PLEASE STAND BY
Family. 93mins. Dir: Ben Lewin. Scr: Michael Golamco. Cast: Dakota Fanning, Toni Collette. Embankment Films. Wendy sees things differently: she’s fiercely independent, with a brilliant mind and a mischievous sense of hilarity. Wendy also has autism. To her, people are an indecipherable code and the world’s a confusing place. She’s always had a hard time figuring it all out and she just wants a chance to be accepted… just like everybody else. But inspired by no-nonsense carer Scottie, Wendy comes
of age and escapes from her care home on the road-trip of a lifetime to deliver her 500-page ‘Star Trek’ script to a Hollywood competition. Trailing chaos, with Scottie and her big sister Audrey in hurried pursuit, Wendy leads us on a captivating and heart-warming adventure showing the bravery it takes to be your own person. ArcLight 5
Fox, Maria Walker, Acacia Hapi, Ngapaki Moetara, Kararaina Rangihau, Amber Curreen, Awhina Rose-Ashby, Mary-Anne Mere. MPI Media Group. Comprised of eight vignettes that document the funeral of a young Maori boy: a formally complex reflection on tragedy, responsibility and the intimate grain of a community united in the face of grief. AMC SM 1
WARU
Drama. 86mins. Dir: Briar Grace-Smith, Ainsley Gardiner, Renae Maihi, Casey Kaa, Awanui Simich-Pene, Chelsea Cohen, Katie Wolfe, Paula Jones. Scr: Briar Grace-Smith, Ainsley Gardiner, Renae Maihi, Casey Kaa, Chelsea Cohen, Josephine Stewart-TeWhiu, Katie Wolfe, Paula Jones. Cast: Miriama McDowell, Tanea Heke, Roimata
11:30 AMERICAN DRESSER
Action/adventure. 93mins. Dir: Carmine Cangialosi. Scr: Carmine Cangialosi. Cast: Tom Berenger, Keith David, Gina Gershon. VMI Worldwide. When a recent widower consumed with regret seeks absolution in riding his motorcycle cross-country to confront the mistakes of his past, he unexpectedly
discovers that life is about moving forward, one mile at a time. Laemmle 6
ELLIOT THE LITTLEST REINDEER
Animation, family. 90mins. Dir: Jennifer Westcott. Scr: Jennifer Westcott. Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Samantha Bee, Martin Short, John Cleese, Morena Baccarin, Jeff Dunham. Double Dutch International. Get ready to fall in love with the miniature horse with a humongous heart. When one of Santa’s reindeer suddenly announces his retirement, he needs to find a replacement and fast. Against all odds, Elliot and his best friend Hazel set out to prove that he is the horse for the job. As Elliot and Hazel take on the North Pole reindeer try-outs, Hazel
» 11/1/17 1:38 PM
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November 3, 2017 Screen International at AFM 37
SCREENINGS
learns that Christmas as we know it may be headed for disaster. Meanwhile, back at the farm, a sinister lady threatens the lives of their friends. Elliot is faced with the biggest decision of his life: save his friends, or follow his dreams and save Christmas. Maybe he doesn’t have to choose; after all, big dreamers dream big. Laemmle 2
FLAMMABLE CHILDREN
Comedy. 110mins. Dir: Stephan Elliott. Scr: Stephan Elliott. Cast: Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Radha Mitchell. WestEnd Films. Australia, 1975: the beach suburb of Dee Why is a place that revolves around surf mats, baby oil, boxed wine and the new miracle of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fourteen-year-old Jeff tries to find his feet in a world changing faster
than his hormones, and deal with his crush on shy and sensitive girlnext-door Melly. When the beach town suddenly hits the spotlight after the body of a 200-ton whale is washed ashore, Jeff and Melly think its the biggest thing that ever happened in their lives. Meanwhile, their eccentric parents are catching up with the sexual revolution that has also washed up on Australia’s beaches. And just like the decaying whale, it’s all about to go spectacularly wrong. ArcLight 8 Private screening for buyers only
FOUR HANDS
Psycho-drama, thriller. 94mins. Dir: Oliver Kienle. Scr: Oliver Kienle. Cast: Frida-Lovisa Hamann, Friederike Becht, Christof Letkowski, Detlef Bothe. ARRI Media International. After losing her beloved
but paranoid sister in a fatal accident, Sophie is hoping finally to start a normal life. But soon she recognises that another person is controlling her spirit. How do you fight somebody who’s in your head? ArcLight 2
HERE COMES THE GRUMP
Animation, family, Fantasy. 90mins. Dir: Andres Couturier. Scr: Jim Hecht. Cast: TBA. GFM Films. Terry is a teenage boy who is magically transported to a far-away land where he must ward off a meanspirited wizard called The Grump. ArcLight 4
LUIS AND THE ALIENS
Animation. 85mins. Dir: Wolfgang Lauenstein. Scr: Wolfgang Lauenstein, Christoph Lauenstein. Global Screen.
An 11-year-old boy makes friends with three loveable little aliens, who crash their UFO into his house. In return for Luis’ help in finding the homeshopping channel stuff they came for, they save Luis from boarding school — and an exciting adventure follows. AMC SM 2
PERFECT STRANGERS
Black Comedy. 97mins. Dir: Alex de la Iglesia. Scr: Alex de la Iglesia. Cast: Belen Rueda, Eduard Fernandez, Ernesto Alterio. Film Factory Entertainment. A group of friends reunite at a house. One of them suggests a game: what would happen if we set our smartphones on the table and our texts and our calls out loud? Our entire lives exposed? An innocent amusement? Or a dangerous game? The truth is frightening when
you’ve got something to hide. Broadway 4
STORM BOY — PROMO REEL
Family. 10mins. Dir: Shawn Seet. Scr: Justin Monjo. Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney. Kathy Morgan International (KMI). A heartwarming tale about unusual friendships and unconditional love. Broadway 2
13:00 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Action/adventure, family. 115mins. Dir: Clovis Cornillac. Scr: Juliette Sales, Fabien Suarez. Cast: Felix Bossuet, Tcheky Karyo, Clovis Cornillac. Gaumont. This new adventure starts right where the last one ended. Belle is now a mother of three and Sebastian is 12 years old. While he refuses to follow
his father, who decided to move to Canada with Angelina, he will also have to face a new threat: Joseph, who claims to be Belle’s rightful owner. He wants to put his hands on Belle and her puppies… but Sebastian will do all it takes to protect his best friend and her little ones. ArcLight 5
THE COUSIN
Drama. 93mins. Dir: Tzahi Grad. Scr: Tzahi Grad. Cast: Tzahi Grad, Ala Dakka, Osnat Fishman. Bleiberg Entertainment. A well-intentioned ArabicMuslim handyman upends the day-to-day lives of the locals in a small Israeli village. Shortly after his arrival, a young woman is assaulted and the community quickly turns accusatory. His employer is the only one who believes him, but even those loyalties are tested as more
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38 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
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information and secrets are uncovered. Laemmle 4
THE CURED
Drama, Horror. 95mins. Dir: David Freyne. Scr: David Freyne. Cast: Ellen Page, Sam Keeley. BAC Films Distribution. For six years, Europe was plagued by a devastating virus that transformed humans into zombie-like monsters. As mankind struggled to control the pandemic, the great hope of a cure was found. Although an unforeseen enemy surfaces in its wake: the past. The cured are haunted with the memories of their actions while infected. As some try to readjust to a world that still fears them, the growing unrest threatens to plunge the world back into chaos.
Dir: William Collinson. Scr: Francois Bloemhof. Cast: Brandon Auret, Amalia Uys. Princ Films. Paul Mullan leaves the police force and becomes a drifter after mistakenly killing his partner. He accidentally lands a job as a chauffeur after meeting a mysterious and wealthy gentleman named Bernhard. Soon he gets involved in a passionate love affair with Bernhard’s lover, Michelle. Things start getting complicated for everybody when Bernhard’s daughter, Lindsey, gets kidnapped Trying to not involve the police, Bernhard asks Paul and Michelle to help rescue Lindsey. They manage to do so but they also discover that Lindsey isn’t so innocent after all. Laemmle 5
AMC SM 6
EDIE DOUBLE ECHO
Thriller. 89mins.
Drama. 102mins. Dir: Simon Hunter.
Scr: Elizabeth O’Halloran. Cast: Sheila Hancock, Kevin Guthrie. Truffle Pictures. To try and overcome a lifetime of bitterness and resentment, an older lady decides to climb a mountain in Scotland. ArcLight 11
ERREMENTARI See box, right
THE FIXIES: TOP SECRET
Action/adventure, animation. 105mins. Dir: Vasiko Bedoshvili. Scr: Evgeniy Antropov, Georgiy Vasiliev. Cast: Dmitriy Nazarov. Central Partnership Sales House. Seen only by kids, the Fixies are tiny creatures who mend broken appliances, gadgets and electrical circuits. When one of the Fixies gets hold of special bracelets that transform him into a super-powered rascal, it’s up to his colourful little friends,
MARKET 13:00 ERREMENTARI
Action/adventure, fantasy, horror. 93mins. Dir: Paul Urkijo Alijo. Scr: Paul Urkijo Alijo, Asier Guerricaechevarria. Cast: Kandido Uranga, Uma Bracaglia, Eneko Sagardoy. Filmax International. A solitary blacksmith is being harassed
by a devil who is demanding his soul as payment for a deal they made years ago. But the devil has not delivered on his part and the blacksmith refuses to hand it over. These two characters, paralysed by hate and guilt, will find themselves transformed by a little girl who appears in their lives by chance. AMC SM 1
» 11/2/17 10:13 AM
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November 3, 2017 Screen International at AFM 39
SCREENINGS
looking, funny fellow and you can play the gusli. But you need to fight for your love, and not just anyone, but Barracuda the Undersea Witch herself. Still, love will win the day in the end. ArcLight 3
ULYSSES
Action/adventure, fantasy, sci-fi. 114mins. Dir: Federico Alotto. Cast: Danny Glover, Udo Kier, Andrea Zirio. Global Genesis Group. A wounded and tormented soldier goes on a fantastic odyssey in search of his lost wife, encountering psychedelic beauties, enchanting creatures and his own inner demons. Laemmle 1
13:30
MARKET 13:00 FOUR AGAINST THE BANK
Comedy. 96mins. Dir: Wolfgang Petersen. Scr: Tripper Clancy, Ralph Maloney. Cast: Til Schweiger, Matthias Schweighofer. Picture Tree International. Boxer Chris, washedup actor Peter and eccentric advertising
specialist Max have been saving for ages. Unfortunately bank manager Schumacher has deliberately let their investment accounts plummet to zero in order to get rid of neurotic investment adviser Tobias. So they come up with a crazy plan. Laemmle 3
a young boy and a lab professor to save the day.
THE LEGEND OF KING SOLOMON
AMC SM 3
Animation. 80mins. Dir: Albert Hanan Kaminski. Scr: Gyula Boszormenyi, Albert Hanan Kaminski. SC Films International. The ancient legends of King Solomon are humorously adapted for children, with a contemporary and fresh overtone. Adventure, magic, battles and love. The hopeful ending celebrates the crossing of borders between religions, nations and identities.
FOUR AGAINST THE BANK See box, above
HOLY CAMP!
Comedy, musical. 108mins. Dir: Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo. Scr: Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi. Cast: Macarena Garcia, Anna Castillo, Belen Cuesta. Film Factory Entertainment. Maria and Susana are two rebellious teens who spend their summer in a camp run by nuns. They live there with Mother Superior Bernarda, an older nun looking to modernise, and Sister Milagros, a young nun who’s filled with doubt. With music as their common denominator, teen rebellion and ecclesiastic order collide, creating a hymn to freedom and first love. Broadway 3
AMC SM 4
MATHILDE
Drama, historical, romance, thriller. 110mins. Dir: Alexey Uchitel. Scr: Alexander Alexandrov, Michael Katims, Alexey Uchitel. Cast: Lars Eidinger, Michalina Olszanska, Danila Kozlovsky, Luise Wolfram. Kinostar. The last Tsar and the danseuse who brought
40 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
fame to Russian ballet. Passion that could rewrite Russian history — love that has become a legend. Ocean
MAYHEM
Action/adventure, thriller. 87mins. Dir: Joe Lynch. Scr: Matias Caruso. Cast: Steven Yeun, Samara Weaving. Octane Entertainment. A virus infects a corporate law office on the day attorney Derek Saunders is framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired. Trapped in the quarantined building, our hero is forced to savagely fight tooth and nail for his life.
comedy, family. 85mins. Dir: Maksim Volkov, Vitaly Mukhametzianov. Scr: Alexander Arkhhipov, Dmitry Novoselov, Slava Se. FILMUA Group. You can run, but you can’t hide… from love. Even in the palace of the Prince of Novgorod. Even on the bottom of the ocean. Doubly so if your name is Sadko and you are a good-
BERLIN FALLING
Thriller. 91mins. Dir: Ken Duken. Scr: Christoph Mille. Cast: Ken Duken. Global Screen. Frank Balzer has retired from the German Green Berets and wants to start a quiet new life as a civilian. He finally gets to see his daughter Lily again and is on his way to Berlin’s main train station to pick her up for their first weekend
together in a long time. At a rest stop, he reluctantly gives a ride to hitchhiker Andreas. On the way, he discovers a bomb in Andreas’ backpack. Who is this hitchhiker really? A life-or-death battle of wits begins between the two men, showing us that fanatics come in all stripes and that a parent has to do what they’ve got to do when their child is in danger. ArcLight 4
THE CHASE
Thriller. 115mins. Dir: Kim Hong-sun. Scr: Park Won-jin. Cast: Baek Yoon-sik. Contents Panda. Deok-su is a grumpy landlord of a small apartment in Aridong who always pushes the tenants to pay their overdue rent. One day, people in the town — especially the elderly — start going missing one by one and are eventually found dead. Nobody, not even the police, has a clue who the criminal killer is. Then an old ex-detective, Pyung-dal, suddenly appears and asks Deoksu for help, saying they can catch the murderer together as he thinks
AMC SM 5
THE PERFECT GIRL See box, right
TEN: THE SECRET MISSION
Action/adventure, martial arts, thriller. 90mins. Dir: Helfi Kardit. Scr: Helfi Kardit. Cast: Karenina Maria, Roy Marten, Jeremy Thomas, Gibran Marten. Jinga Films. The Secret SIS hire an extraordinary team of female mercenaries to rescue the daughter of the US ambassador who is being held hostage on tropical island in Indonesia. ArcLight 1
THE UNDERWATER ADVENTURES OF SADKO
MARKET 13:00 THE PERFECT GIRL
Mystery, thriller. 98mins. Dir: Remus Kam. Scr: You Zhen Wang. Cast: Tia Lee, Bryant Chang. Creative Century Entertainment Co.
Yeh Hsin is a top student in criminal psychology while her father is a distinguished cardiologist. Her boyfriend, Lin Miao, is a young forensic specialist. Everything seems perfect for Yeh until
some human remains are discovered in her backyard one rainy night. Around the same time, Yeh receives a mysterious letter warning that her life is about to change drastically. ArcLight 9
Action/adventure,
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SCREENINGS
Cast: Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Garret Dillahunt, Jill Wagner. Highland Film Group. When Joe Braven, a humble logger residing along the US/Canadian border, is confronted by a group of deadly drug runners who have stashed heroin in his secluded cabin in the mountains, he must do everything in his power to protect his family. Little do the elite drug runners know the unassuming man they’ve encountered has an impressive bite colliding two dynamic forces — one fighting for the lives of his family, the other for the love of the kill.
there is already someone suspicious. ArcLight 10
CINDERELLA AND THE SECRET PRINCE
Action/adventure, animation, children’s, comedy, family. 85mins. Dir: Lynne Southerland. Scr: Francis Glebas. Cast: Stephanie Bursill. Gold Valley Films. During the Royal Ball, Cinderella and the mice discover a secret that could shake their world: the real prince has been turned into a mouse by the evil witch, and the “prince” from the Royal Ball is in fact a fraud. Now, Cinderella and her friends are going to begin a whole new adventure to save the real prince and help him defeat the evil forces. ArcLight 2
AMC SM 1
MARKET 13:30
GENESIS
WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY
Sci-fi, thriller. 114mins. Dir: Freddie HuttonMills, Bart Ruspoli. Scr: Freddie Hutton-Mills, Bart Ruspoli. Cast: Olivia Grant, Chike Okonkwo, John Hannah, Warren Brown. Double Dutch International. Explores the nature of free will and what it means to be human, against a post-apocalyptic backdrop where the remnants of mankind attempt to create AI to save them from extinction.
Drama. 106mins. Dir: Iram Haq. Scr: Iram Haq. Cast: Maria Mojdeh Nawabi Estanegzai, Adil Hussain. Beta Cinema. Fifteen-year-old Nisha lives a double life. At home in Oslo, she obeys the traditions and values of Pakistani family life, but outside with her friends she is just like any other Norwegian
Laemmle 4
GHOST STORIES
Supernatural thriller. 97mins. Dir: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman. Scr: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman. Cast: Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Alex Lawther, Paul Whitehouse. Altitude Film Sales. Arch skeptic Professor Phillip Goodman embarks upon a terror-filled quest when he stumbles across a long-lost file containing details of three cases of inexplicable hauntings. ArcLight 8
THE HUMANITY BUREAU
Action/adventure. 90mins. Dir: Rob King. Scr: Dave Schultz. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Lind, Jakob Davies, Hugh Dillon. VMI Worldwide.
The year is 2030: global warming has turned parts of the American Midwest into a desert. In its attempt to take hold of the economic recession, a government agency called The Humanity Bureau exiles members of society deemed unproductive and banishes them to a colony known as New Eden. An ambitious and impartial caseworker, Noah Kros, investigates a case appealed by a single mother and her son. Knowing the unjust fate of the innocent boy, Kross sets off to save the lives of the mother and child and to expose the truth about The Humanity Bureau’s secrets once and for all. Laemmle 6
THE KIDS ARE BACK
Comedy. 96mins. Dir: Hugo Lara. Scr: Claudia
42 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
COP HUNT
teenager. One day, Nisha’s two worlds collide brutally when her father catches her in bed with her white Norwegian boyfriend. Nisha is kidnapped by her parents and sent to live in Pakistan. At first, Nisha feels alone and afraid in the strange new land but then, slowly, she starts to discover her parents’ culture in a new way. AMC SM 4
Gonzalez-Rubio, Hugo Lara. Cast: Irene Azuela, Erik Elias, Francisco De La Reguera, Carmen Maura, Fernando Lujan, Cecilia Suarez. The Swen Group. A retired couple will have to defend their home against an unpredicted menace: their kids moving back. AMC SM 2
LET THE CORPSES TAN
Western. 92mins. Dir: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani. Scr: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani. Cast: Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Herve Sogne. BAC Films Distribution. The Mediterranean summer: blue sea, blazing sun… and 250kg of gold stolen by Rhino and his gang. They had found the perfect hideout: an
abandoned and remote hamlet now taken over by a woman artist in search for inspiration. Unfortunately surprise guests and two cops compromise their plan: the heavenly place where wild happenings and orgies used to take place turns into a gruesome battlefield. AMC SM 6
SELFIE FROM HELL
Horror. 75mins. Dir: Erdal Ceylan. Scr: Erdal Ceylan. Cast: Alyson Walker, Tony Giroux, Meelah Adams. IndustryWorks Pictures. Julia, an online vlogger from Germany, comes to the US to visit her cousin Hannah. Upon her arrival, Julia falls fatefully ill, prompting Hannah’s suspicion of the strange and sudden illness. When unusual happenings start taking place in her home, Hannah begins a relentless internet search to discover the cause. She comes across Julia’s blog entries and finds herself immersed deep in the web — too deep — in a place where terror knows no end. Broadway 2
THE WORKSHOP
Drama. 114mins. Dir: Laurent Cantet. Scr: Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo. Cast: Marina Fois, Matthieu Lucci. Playtime. La Ciotat, the south of
France. Antoine attends a summer writing workshop in which a few young people have been selected to write a crime thriller with the help of Olivia, a famous novelist. The creative process will recall the town’s industrial past, a form of nostalgia to which Antoine feels indifferent. More concerned with the fears of the modern world, the young man soon clashes with the group and Olivia, who seems at the same time alarmed and captivated by Antoin’es violence. Laemmle 2
WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY See box, above
ZOO
Action/adventure, family. 96mins. Dir: Colin McIvor. Scr: Colin McIvor, Colin McIvor. Cast: Penelope Wilton, Art Parkinson, Toby Jones. Metro International Entertainment. Based on a true story, 12 year old Tom and his misfit friends fight to save Buster the baby elephant during the air raids on Belfast in 1941. ArcLight 6
15:00 BRAVEN
Action/adventure. 94mins. Dir: Lin Oeding. Scr: Thomas Paa Sibbett.
Action/adventure. 110mins. Dir: Jozsef Kovalik. Scr: Jozsef Kovalik. Cast: Ivan Kamaras, Zsolt Anger. Princ Films. Budapest police investigate a series of ritual murders. The cops, exhausted by the investigation, are both the hunters and the game — the victims of the gruesome murders are all police officers. In such a stressed situation they are not entirely happy to be joined on the case by John Holdon, the newly arrived Interpol agent and expert in serial murders. Through rivalry and co-operation, Holdon and homicide Detective Captain Rezes are both desperately trying to find the killers. Racing against time and fighting their way through motor clubs, universities and secret fight clubs, they slowly start realising who they are really risking their lives for. Laemmle 5
DOMINION
Biography, Drama. 101mins. Dir: Steven Bernstein. Scr: Steven Bernstein. Cast: Rhys Ifans, Romola Garai, Rodrigo Santoro, John Malkovich, Zosia Mamet. Lightning Entertainment Group. The last days of the poet Dylan Thomas as he dreams and drinks. ArcLight 5
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SCREENINGS
WHO WE ARE NOW
Drama. 100mins. Dir: Matthew Newton. Scr: Matthew Newton. Cast: Julianne Nicholson, Emma Roberts, Zachary Quinto. Radiant Films International. An ex-con forms an unlikely alliance with an idealistic lawyer to regain custody of her young son. AMC SM 5
15:30 CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE
GANGSTER LAND
Action/adventure. 88mins. Dir: Timothy Woodward Jr. Scr: Ian Patrick Williams. Cast: Milo Gibson, Sean Faris, Jason Patric, Jamie Siegler. Film Mode Entertainment. The true story of Al Capone and his right-
THE FOUNDING OF AN ARMY
132mins. Dir: Andrew Lau. Scr: Sanping Han. Cast: Ye Liu, Yawen Zhu. Media Asia Distribution. In 1927, Zhou Enlai organised the Nanchang Uprising, which fired the first shot in the early morning of August 1, marking the beginning of a new army and the start of a long path to the formation of a mighty military force. For the next two decades, this formidable force would fight fierce battles that ultimately laid the foundation for a new republic. This is an army that China has never seen before. This is the People’s Liberation Army. AMC SM 3
GANGSTER LAND See box, above
THE GIRL IN THE FOG
Thriller. 128mins. Dir: Donato Carrisi.
hand man “Machine Gun” Jack McMurray, battling the Irish Mob led by George “Bugs” Moran. The gruesome gang battles culminated in the St Valentine’s Day Massacre ordered by Capone, which took place on February 14, 1929, and saw seven men die. Ocean
Scr: Donato Carrisi. Cast: Toni Servillo, Alessio Boni, Jean Reno, Lorenzo Richelmy, Greta Scacchi. Studiocanal. A gripping and chilling thriller that brings us to a hazy mountain village where enigmatic Detective Vogel is investigating on the sudden disappearance of 15-year-old Anna Lou. But with the case at the heart of a media storm, the fine line between the police and criminals begins to blur and soon everyone becomes a suspect. Broadway 3
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Comedy, drama, family. 78mins. Dir: Jack C Newell. Scr: Stephanie Mickus. Cast: Mia Rose Frampton, Stony Blyden, Beau Brooks, Lauren Giraldo, Pej Vahdat. Octane Entertainment. When 18-year-old Hope Gracin suddenly finds herself in remission from
44 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
end-stage cancer, she must learn to live without an expiration date. Laemmle 3
LOVE AND BULLETS
Musical. 134mins. Dir: Manetti Bros. Scr: Michelangelo La Neve, Manetti Bros. Cast: Giampaolo Morelli, Serena Rossi, Claudia Gerini, Carlo Buccirosso, Raiz. Rai Com Spa. Ciro is a feared killer. Together with Rosario, he is one of the two “tigers” who serve Don Vincenzo and his shrewd wife, Donna Maria. Fatima, a young nurse, is a dreamer. Their lives are worlds apart but destined to meet once again. One night, Fatima finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. As she has seen too much, Ciro is given the task of disposing of her but things don’t quite go to plan: the two protagonists find themselves face to face and, recognising each other, rekindle the love they had felt for each other in their youth. For Ciro there is only one way out: betray Don Vincenzo and Donna Maria and kill the people who are trying to kill him. Love conquers all. So begins a merciless struggle set in the splendid streets and Gulf of Naples. Let the music, action, love and bullets fly.
ArcLight 8
DEAD ON ARRIVAL
SAMSON
DEAD IN A WEEK (OR YOUR MONEY BACK)
Thriller. 97mins. Dir: Stephen C Stephen. Scr: Stephen C Stephen. Cast: Billy Flynn, Christa B Allen, Scottie Thompson, Lillo Brancato, DB Sweeney, Chris Mulkey. Vision Films. A pharmaceutical sales rep visits a small town in Louisiana on business. He finds himself in a dark world of corruption and murder, with 24 hours to live, running from the police, the mob and a sheriff who wants him dead.
See box, below
Comedy. 89mins.
Laemmle 6
MARKET 15:00
Biography, documentary, musical. 90mins. Dir: Thore Vollert. Scr: Jorg Sonntag. Cast: Ozzy Osbourne. Moonrise Pictures. Delves into the rich history of hard rock turned heavy metal music: from its origins in the 1960s to its heyday of 1980s; from its glam phase in the 1970s to its indestructible present in 2017. With exclusive interviews with living legends of metal and rock, this documentary features long-lost archive material of the stars like Led Zeppelin or Jimmy Hendrix before they were stars.
Dir: Tom Edmunds. Scr: Tom Edmunds. Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Aneurin Barnard, Marion Bailey, Freya Mavor, Christopher Eccleston. Altitude Film Sales. After seven unsuccessful suicide attempts, William outsources the task to Leslie, an ageing hitman on the brink of retirement. But with the contract signed and death assured within a week (or his money back) William finally discovers a reason to live. However, as far as Leslie is concerned, the contract is binding.
ON THE ROPES
Action/adventure, martial arts, thriller. 90mins. Dir: James Mark. Scr: James Mark. Cast: Can Aydin, Phong Giang, Yoon Cha-Lee. WTFilms. Two brothers fight over their family crime business.
ArcLight 10
Broadway 1
MARKET 15:00 SAMSON
Action/adventure. 126mins. Dir: Bruce Macdonald. Scr: Jason Baumgardner, Galen Gilbert, Timothy Ratajczak, Zach Smith. Cast: Billy Zane, Rutger Hauer, Lindsay Wagner, Jackson Rathbone, Taylor James, Caitlin Leahy. Pure Flix/Quality Flix. Out of the pages of ancient scripture
arises the first superhero saga — that of a child born with supernatural strength in bc1200 who, as an adult, leads his oppressed tribe against the mighty empire of his day. Though seduced by women and wine, his feats of might and valour strike fear into the heart of his enemies. In the end, only one God can stand in this tale of seduction and revenge. ArcLight 9
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ArcLight 11
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SCREENINGS
Editorial
little kid and free him. Once he finally makes it there, our hero finds himself entrusted with a double mission: find his offspring and save his new Caribbean ladybug friends’ home, which is being threatened by a human construction site.
Editor Matt Mueller,
ArcLight 2
THE DAILY AT AFM Suite 316, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90401 Tel +1 310 458 6700 (ext 316)
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OPERATION WOLF: THE DOCUMENTARY
News editor Wendy Mitchell, indiewendy@gmail.com US editor Jeremy Kay, jeremykay67@gmail.com, +1 310 922 5908 Deputy editor Andreas Wiseman, andreas.wiseman@screendaily. com, +44 7713 086 674 Group head of production & art Mark Mowbray, mark.mowbray@screendaily.com, +44 7710 124 065 Sub editors Paul Lindsell, Adam Richmond Advertising and publishing Publishing director Nadia Romdhani, nadia. romdhani@screendaily.com, +44 7540 100 315 Commercial director Scott Benfold, scott.benfold@ screendaily.com, +44 7765 257 260
MARKET 15:30 SOME FREAKS
Drama, romance. 97mins. Dir: Ian MacAllister-McDonald. Scr: Ian MacAllisterMcDonald. Cast: Thomas Mann, Lily Mae Harrington. Electric Entertainment.
LOCKDOWN
A charming romance develops between a boy with one eye and an overweight girl. When she loses weight after going to college, their relationship is tested in devastating ways they never dreamed would happen. AMC SM 6
VP business development, North America Nigel Daly,
DOWNRANGE
nigeldalymail@gmail.com,
jonathon.cooke@mb-insight.com,
Thriller. 90mins. Dir: Ryuhei Kitamura. Scr: Joey O’Bryan. Cast: Kelly Connaire, Stephanie Pearson, Rod HernandezFarella, Anthony Kirlew, Alexa Yeames, Jason Tobias, Aion Boyd. MPI Media Group. Stranded at the side of the road after a tyre blowout, a group of friends become targets for an enigmatic sniper.
+44 7584 335 148
AMC SM 2
+1 213 447 5120 International account manager Raphael Bechakjian, raphael. bechakjian@screendaily.com, +44 20 8102 0814 US sales and business development executive Nikki Tilmouth, nikki.screeninternational@gmail. com, +1 323 868 7633 Production manager Jonathon Cooke,
Sales co-ordinator Rebecca Moran, rebecca.moran@ screendaily.com, + 44 7834 902 528 Chief executive, MBI Conor Dignam Printer Sinclair Printing, Los Angeles Screen International, London MBI, Zetland House, 5-25 Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4HJ, United Kingdom Subscription enquiries help@subscribe.screendaily.com +44 (0) 330 333 9414
HOLLOW BODY
Thriller. 90mins. Dir: Alex Keledjian. Scr: Alex Keledjian. Cast: David Arquette, Luke Wilson. VMI Worldwide. A washed-up rock star is trying to regain his stardom by starting a new band called Hollow Body to score a record deal with a big shot music executive. All goes sour after a flopped show but when the band’s shy lead singer gets struck by lightning, she turns into an out-ofcontrol rock star seductress who seduces and kills to
46 Screen International at AFM November 3, 2017
push the band to the top. The band must decide if this is the road they wish to take to make it to the top. Laemmle 4
THE LEARS
Comedy, drama. 99mins. Dir: Carl Bessai. Scr: Carl Bessai. Cast: Bruce Dern, Sean Astin, Aly Michalka, Anthony Michael Hall, Victoria Smurfit, Nic Bishop. Cineville International. World-renowned architect Davenport Lear, nearing retirement, summons his dysfunctional children to a weekend family retreat in one of his architectural creations, a magnificent Malibu estate. When they learn that he has decided to marry his personal assistant the next day, and subsequently fakes his own death, it sets off an explosive and funny round of devious behaviour and conflict as each of them jockeys for position borne by self-interest, greed and jealousy. ArcLight 6
Thriller. 85mins. Dir: Bogdana Vera Lorenz. Scr: Max Permantier, Bogdana Vera Lorenz. Cast: Alice Dwyer, Gotz Schulte, Maximilian MeyerBretschneider. ARRI Media International. When Liv opens her eyes she finds herself lost in a strange room. Next to her, lying unconscious and heavily wounded, her fellow scientist Lex. Attempting to leave the room, her neighbour Veith blocks the door. Terrorists have just attacked the city via bio-warfare letting loose a deadly virus that is highly contagious. Veith tells her that, luckily, he has always been prepared and had built his apartment into a security-zone for the possibility of such an event. Liv has her doubts about the validity of the story as she keeps hearing noises on the outside. How can everyone be dead? AMC SM 4
MEN DON’T CRY
Drama. 100mins. Dir: Alen Drljevic. Scr: Alen Drljevic, Zoran Solomun. Cast: Boris Isakovic, Leon Lucev, Emir Hadzihafizbegovic. Picture Tree International. The armed conflicts of the 1990s not only visibly destroyed the land of the former Yugoslavia but also left the deepest wounds in
the memory of each of its belligerent nations. There are as many different interpretations of that bleak past as there are countries affected. It is therefore hard to expect absolute harmony when, less than two decades since the war ended, a diverse group of veterans gather at a remote mountain hotel for a therapy session. On the contrary, such a dangerously volatile situation can suddenly ignite by just one thoughtless word or a seemingly dirty look. That’s because the former soldiers, obstinately holding on to their fundamental masculinity and their prejudices, refuse to expose the inhumanity of the atrocities perpetrated — be it by them or by someone else.
Documentary. 90mins. Dir: Michael Helsley. Scr: Michael Helsley. Cast: Q’orianka Kilcher. Steel Shavings Productions. A secret look into a controversial world of wildlife conservation. Follow actress and activist Q’orianka Kilcher as she unveils the myth and legend surrounding the gray wolf. Broadway 4
ORCHESTRA CLASS
Family. 96mins. Dir: Rachid Hami. Scr: Rachid Hami, Guy Laurent, Valerie Zenatti. Cast: Kad Merad, Samir Guesmi. Gaumont. Simon is a distinguished, but disillusioned violinist. Arnold is a shy and chubby student who is fascinated by the violin and discovers he has a real talent for it. With Arnold’s raw talent and the joyous energy of his class, Simon gradually rediscovers the joys of music. Together, they will overcome many obstacles and succeed to enroll the class in an end-of-the-year concert at the prestigious Paris Philharmonic.
Broadway 2
ArcLight 4
MINUSCULE: MANDIBLES FROM FAR AWAY — PROMO REEL
SOME FREAKS
Animation, children’s, family. 90mins. Dir: Helene Giraud, Thomas Szabo. Scr: Helene Giraud. Futurikon. In the conditioning unit of a small chestnut can factory in a quiet little country village as winter slowly settles, a young ladybug gets trapped by accident in a cardboard box shipped to the Caribbean. His parent sets off for the paradise archipelago to find his
STILL/BORN
See box, above
Supernatural thriller. 90mins. Dir: Brandon Christensen. Scr: Brandon Christensen. Cast: Christie Burke, Jesse Moss, Rebecca Olson, Michael Ironside, Colin Minihan. Jinga Films. When Mary loses one of her twins in childbirth, she spirals into madness thinking her other child is in danger from an evil supernatural entity. Laemmle 2
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