Vincent Maraval’s Goodfellas has seized the worldwide sales rights to Galapagos adventure doc “Lions of the Sea,” which wrapped principal photography in mid-January.
“Sea” is the latest from Italian-Ecuadorian explorer-filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico, best known by his nom de cinéma, Jamaicanoproblem, and whose film “A Son of Man” was Ecuador’s official selection for the 2019 Academy Awards.
Described by the filmmaker as “a fictional account grounded in science,” “Lions of the Sea” is set in the Galapagos Islands where a young sea lion struggles to fend for himself in the face of food scarcity and after losing his mother while fleeing from illegal fishermen. Determined, he sets out to find a new sanctuary. “I hope to call attention to the problems that beset the islands, not only from climate change but from over-fishing on the perimeters of the archipelago and other factors that have led to the...
“Sea” is the latest from Italian-Ecuadorian explorer-filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico, best known by his nom de cinéma, Jamaicanoproblem, and whose film “A Son of Man” was Ecuador’s official selection for the 2019 Academy Awards.
Described by the filmmaker as “a fictional account grounded in science,” “Lions of the Sea” is set in the Galapagos Islands where a young sea lion struggles to fend for himself in the face of food scarcity and after losing his mother while fleeing from illegal fishermen. Determined, he sets out to find a new sanctuary. “I hope to call attention to the problems that beset the islands, not only from climate change but from over-fishing on the perimeters of the archipelago and other factors that have led to the...
- 2/15/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Production is underway in the Galápagos Islands on Lions of the Sea, a documentary described as “an immersive journey into the compelling lives of sea lions in their unique environment.”
The film is being directed by Jamaicanoproblem, the nom de cinéma of Ecuadorian explorer and filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico. The all-star lineup of talent behind the scenes includes producer Adam Leipzig, former president of National Geographic Documentary Films, who led the acquisition of March of the Penguins – one of the most successful documentaries of all time.
L-r Guillermo Navarro, Adam Leipzig and Jamaicanoproblem
Guillermo Navarro, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of Pan’s Labyrinth, is heading a team of photographers described as “the world’s best nature and underwater documentarians.” He is also an executive producer of Lions of the Sea. Fellow Oscar winner Nicolas Becker (Sound of Metal) serves as sound designer on the project.
According to a release,...
The film is being directed by Jamaicanoproblem, the nom de cinéma of Ecuadorian explorer and filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico. The all-star lineup of talent behind the scenes includes producer Adam Leipzig, former president of National Geographic Documentary Films, who led the acquisition of March of the Penguins – one of the most successful documentaries of all time.
L-r Guillermo Navarro, Adam Leipzig and Jamaicanoproblem
Guillermo Navarro, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of Pan’s Labyrinth, is heading a team of photographers described as “the world’s best nature and underwater documentarians.” He is also an executive producer of Lions of the Sea. Fellow Oscar winner Nicolas Becker (Sound of Metal) serves as sound designer on the project.
According to a release,...
- 12/11/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Italian director and producer Michela Scolari’s English-language fiction feature debut Sicilian Holiday has wrapped shooting and is now headed into post-production.
The film stars rising acting talents Lilly Englert and Francesco Leone as an actress and a sculptor who meet on a Southern Italian island.
Other cast members include Claudia Gerini, Rocco Ancarola, Ivo Romagnoli, Felix Maximillian, Tony Schiena, Fuschia Kate Sumner, Lee Levi, Nicoleta Nuca, Jerry Ying, and Marcia Sedoc.
The film marks Scolari’s first fiction feature after the award-winning documentary Paolo Rossi, The Heart of a Champion and the upcoming Romania-shot documentary The Jokers.
Scolari also takes producer credits with her company Filmin’ Italy, alongside its CEO and cast member Romagnoli; American producer Adam Leipzig under the banner of his Credential Media Venture, Attilio de Razza at Italian company Tramp Limited.
The film stars rising acting talents Lilly Englert and Francesco Leone as an actress and a sculptor who meet on a Southern Italian island.
Other cast members include Claudia Gerini, Rocco Ancarola, Ivo Romagnoli, Felix Maximillian, Tony Schiena, Fuschia Kate Sumner, Lee Levi, Nicoleta Nuca, Jerry Ying, and Marcia Sedoc.
The film marks Scolari’s first fiction feature after the award-winning documentary Paolo Rossi, The Heart of a Champion and the upcoming Romania-shot documentary The Jokers.
Scolari also takes producer credits with her company Filmin’ Italy, alongside its CEO and cast member Romagnoli; American producer Adam Leipzig under the banner of his Credential Media Venture, Attilio de Razza at Italian company Tramp Limited.
- 12/12/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
As Italy’s film and TV industries start to bounce back from the pandemic with a verve reminiscent of the country’s postwar economic boom, the fourth edition of the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival is pulling out all the stops to support this effort.
The event is being held mostly in person July 21-25 on the emerald island that is becoming a prime destination for international shoots, such as the George Clooney-directed TV series “Catch-22,” and more recently Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” It aims to serve as a catalyst for the local industry’s restart, while also fostering the formation of new talents and professionals. The fest will also serve as a campus of sorts for 2,000 ltalian film students.
As for well-established talents Tiziana Rocca, the former Taormina Film Festival chief who three years ago launched this international shindig combining film and TV with a...
The event is being held mostly in person July 21-25 on the emerald island that is becoming a prime destination for international shoots, such as the George Clooney-directed TV series “Catch-22,” and more recently Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” It aims to serve as a catalyst for the local industry’s restart, while also fostering the formation of new talents and professionals. The fest will also serve as a campus of sorts for 2,000 ltalian film students.
As for well-established talents Tiziana Rocca, the former Taormina Film Festival chief who three years ago launched this international shindig combining film and TV with a...
- 7/20/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Read More: Sundance 2015 Infographic: Most Festival Films Will Land Distribution Deals The annual Sundance infographic is back to shed some light into how the films from last year's festival performed over the past 12 months, and many of the statistics reveal disheartening information. One notable highlight rapidly occurring in the film industry is the fact that while many feature films get picked up for distribution, they will ultimately fail to see a significant financial return. Could this statistic be attributed to piracy? The infographic, created by Adam Leipzig, includes the cost of illegally downloading previous Sundance features this year. The graph includes Oscar winners and nominees like "Whiplash," "Boyhood" and "Brooklyn." The statistic hopes to encourage viewers to support indie filmmakers by buying movies instead of illegally downloading them. IFC Films and Sundance Selects President Jonathan Sehring, a producer of...
- 1/20/2016
- by Kristen Santer
- Indiewire
HBO has given a greenlight to six-hour miniseries “Lewis and Clark” and added Matthias Schoenaerts to star with Casey Affleck, the premium cable network announced Friday.
Production will begin in the summer with Affleck in the role of Meriwether Lewis and Schoenaerts as William Clark, telling the story of America’s first contact with the land and native tribes of the country west of the Mississippi River.
Also Read: 10 ‘True Detective’ Acting Teams We Want to See Next (Photos)
The miniseries is executive produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Tim Kelly and Adam Leipzig.
Production will begin in the summer with Affleck in the role of Meriwether Lewis and Schoenaerts as William Clark, telling the story of America’s first contact with the land and native tribes of the country west of the Mississippi River.
Also Read: 10 ‘True Detective’ Acting Teams We Want to See Next (Photos)
The miniseries is executive produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Tim Kelly and Adam Leipzig.
- 1/30/2015
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
Good news for filmmakers heading to Sundance next week. A new infographic from Entertainment Media Partners highlights some key data associated with The Sundance Film Festival and estimates that four out of five of the Sundance films (or 100 out of 124 features) will land a distribution deal. "By analyzing big data related to Sundance, the festival's continued importance to the independent film community is obvious," said Adam Leipzig, CEO of Entertainment Media Partners, "and we are able to identify key trends and opportunities in independent filmmaking." Entertainment Media Partners has visualized data for how many films are submitted and accepted, investment levels in films, how many people work on Sundance films, box office numbers with films that have sold for the most money at Sundance, how much money opening night films made at the box office and more. In a news release, Leipzig highlighted key findings (via Entertainment Media Partners): --.
- 1/16/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Emerging digital and bespoke theatrical platforms give filmmakers and distributors a fighting chance of success in the new era, attendees at the Afm’s distribution panel heard on Tuesday (November 11).
Moderator Russell Schwartz, president of domestic marketing at Relativity Europa Distribution, and five panellists discussed the opportunities that await those who embrace new paradigms and warned of over-reliance on the old model for those outside the studio system.
“I’m not looking to compete with studio films,” said Abramorama president Richard Abramowitz. “I’m looking for well defined films that can find a core audience.”
Abramowitz spoke of the success of the documentary Awake (pictured), a documentary about the life of the guru Yoganada.
“Very little money is being spent but because it has a defined audiences people are showing up in record numbers and we will ultimately have a theatrical gross of over $1m. It’s at half a million now, it has been...
Moderator Russell Schwartz, president of domestic marketing at Relativity Europa Distribution, and five panellists discussed the opportunities that await those who embrace new paradigms and warned of over-reliance on the old model for those outside the studio system.
“I’m not looking to compete with studio films,” said Abramorama president Richard Abramowitz. “I’m looking for well defined films that can find a core audience.”
Abramowitz spoke of the success of the documentary Awake (pictured), a documentary about the life of the guru Yoganada.
“Very little money is being spent but because it has a defined audiences people are showing up in record numbers and we will ultimately have a theatrical gross of over $1m. It’s at half a million now, it has been...
- 11/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
I hope film fans everywhere find my book and dig it. It is so hard to get the word out that I am particularly grateful whenever anyone writes something good about the book. Evidently it makes a huge difference when someone posts a five-star Amazon review. Hopefully those of you who read this blog and recognize how much effort has gone into it over the years, might just want to return the favor and post such a review. Or even better yet, start a blog and post the review there too.
This week brought me some pleasure when two friends who have blogs posted their review. I recognize the time commitment involved not just in reading the book but also choosing to write about it. I was really glad to see that both Adam and Brian both dug the book. I guess I just now need to find friends that...
This week brought me some pleasure when two friends who have blogs posted their review. I recognize the time commitment involved not just in reading the book but also choosing to write about it. I was really glad to see that both Adam and Brian both dug the book. I guess I just now need to find friends that...
- 9/5/2014
- by Ted Hope
- Hope for Film
Scoring a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival can be the difference between an indie movie making it to theaters or languishing in the can, but when it comes to acquiring festival favorites, it’s buyer beware. That’s the take-away from a new info-graphic released Tuesday by Entertainment Media Partners, a film consulting company run by Adam Leipzig, the former president of National Geographic Films. The company crunched the numbers on Sundance films that were sold for the most money and compared their price tags to their overall box office performance. Although a few films emerged as substantial moneymakers such as “The Kids.
- 1/7/2014
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Early on this Cannes we had drinks with Paul Federbush and Laura Kim at the Grand; Ryan Werner joined us, fresh out of his long time stint at IFC Films. As you would expect, talk turned to distribution, an always exciting topic especially with them because they are at the forefront of what is happening in this constantly changing universe.
Aside from running their own distribution company, Red Flag Releasing, Laura continues to do publicity for indies and Paul is heading the international side of the Sundance Labs. He will now be speaking at Bam (Bogata Audiovisual Market) along with a new acquaintance whom I met at a wonderful dinner in Cannes, Donald Rabinovitch (any relation to our buddy Mark, I wonder?). Donald is the co-founder of QUADFlix a "game changing" new distribution model for high quality Indie features and full length documentaries based at the Quad Theater in New York, a theater that has been there in Greenwich Village for over 40 years now. Now, they have created a unique distribution/ exhibition business called QUADFlix Select, a "new and amazingly successful program". Donald's business partner, Elliott Kanbar has just written a new book on the subject of distribution as well, So you Finished your Film.....Now What.
So Donald writes me today from Dominican Republic to tell me he is off on the 7th to Bam to speak on the panel "The Reality of Film Distribution..... and Finding an Audience in North America” with Paul Federbush from Sundance. Bam is an initiative of Claudia Triana de Vargas, the Director of Proimagenes Colombia. Colombia is on the move as one of the hottest countries for filmmakers along with Chile, and soon-to-be-there-too, Panama. You can see Claudia discuss the current Colombian film initiatives during the Berlinale 2013 here: Claudia Triana de Vargas.
Donald sent me his talking points which coincidently includes mention of Adam Leipzig, formerly President of National Geographic Feature Films and now Publisher and Managing Editor at Cultural Weekly and Guiding Entrepreneurs & Creatives whom I will see July 26 and 27th --- while we indulge ourselves at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival. We will have much to discuss and in the best place in the world to do it, so I just got over my envy.
Now back to the whole point of this name-dropping blog, here are Donald's talking points for the panel at the Bogota Audiovisual Market (Bam):
Subject: The Tough Job Of Marketing A Film
You're a talented filmmaker and you've just made an excellent film. That's for certain. But effectively and economically marketing the film is just as important and, Now, even more daunting than making the film. Adam Leipzig, a noted film producer, wrote the following in a recent column in The New York Times:
"The challenge isn't getting your movie made. All it takes is a personal time commitment to the process and access to a credit card, a digital video camera, and a computer loaded with editing software. The challenge is actually getting your movie seen." Leipzig also pointed out that of the 12,613 films submitted to this year's Sundance Film (2013) Festival, only 130 were selected and not more than 10 of these received significant distribution agreements for money. Following that, in April, we note that the Tribeca Film Festival, which has grown to be a 'hot market' in NYC received 3,150 submissions , granted 89 selections..... and had only 8 films finding distribution in 2013 for money.
Additionally, he then wrote something that we at the Quad have been saying over-and-over again, that "without the marketing push, awareness, and word-of-mouth generated by a theatrical release, it's not feasible for video chains [and digital platforms] to stock your picture."
But, alas, the question is, how best to market the film? This challenge can overwhelm even the savviest filmmaker. Often, what happens, is that a ton of money is spent, the wrong way, with very disappointing results.
One solution is to join the QUADflix Select Program. They will handle the entire job of marketing And releasing the film in North America. www.quadflixselect.com lists all the program features and the cost. The box office success is most determined by the reviews…especially the review from The New York Times. If the filmmakers do not think their film will receive good reviews, they should not book the QUADflix Select Program. QUADflix will make the same determination. They actually turn down 4 out of 5 films submitted. But some which have been accepted are Deadline, Bill W., One Day on Earth, Side by Side, Harvest of Empire, and Long Shot.
Here are the highlights of the program:
(1) A full one-week, Guaranteed run at the prestigious Quad Cinema in New York, from 1:00Pm to midnight-typically 5 screenings daily.
(2) 100% of the box office income, payable within 7 days after the completion of the run.
(3) The services of the Quad's professional film publicist to set up press screenings for the critics, write and mail press releases, and compile and distribute production notes. The goal is to get the film reviewed in most of the major New York media. To date, every QUADflix Select film has been reviewed by The New York Times.
(4) With the filmmaker's approval, they will encode, package, and submit the film to 11 major digital platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HuluPlus, YouTube, Vudu, Sony Entertainment, XBox, and Google Play.
(5) With the filmmaker's approval, they will submit the film to the major Cable VOD stations like Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Verizon.
(6) They will market DVDs of the film to the major retail chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble, both in-store and online.
(7) They will market the film to the Institutional Market consisting of schools, colleges, universities, and libraries.
(8) They will include the film in the regular Quad ads in The New York Times and the Village Voice.
(9) They will qualify your documentary for consideration for an Oscar nomination.
(10) For a minimal cost, they will book the film nationally, in every major North American market.
The total cost for the entire package is $11,000.00. Remember this: since the filmmaker will be receiving 100% of the first week's box office income this cost will be reduced. Also, the cost of hiring a film publicist and encoding the film for the digital platforms would cost thousands of dollars on the open market. They accept credit cards and wire transfers.
Interested filmmakers can mail them a DVD screener (Ntsc only). Also, if the filmmaker includes an address, they will send an Information Kit, which includes comments from filmmakers, tips on self-distribution, past reviews, and much more.
Aside from running their own distribution company, Red Flag Releasing, Laura continues to do publicity for indies and Paul is heading the international side of the Sundance Labs. He will now be speaking at Bam (Bogata Audiovisual Market) along with a new acquaintance whom I met at a wonderful dinner in Cannes, Donald Rabinovitch (any relation to our buddy Mark, I wonder?). Donald is the co-founder of QUADFlix a "game changing" new distribution model for high quality Indie features and full length documentaries based at the Quad Theater in New York, a theater that has been there in Greenwich Village for over 40 years now. Now, they have created a unique distribution/ exhibition business called QUADFlix Select, a "new and amazingly successful program". Donald's business partner, Elliott Kanbar has just written a new book on the subject of distribution as well, So you Finished your Film.....Now What.
So Donald writes me today from Dominican Republic to tell me he is off on the 7th to Bam to speak on the panel "The Reality of Film Distribution..... and Finding an Audience in North America” with Paul Federbush from Sundance. Bam is an initiative of Claudia Triana de Vargas, the Director of Proimagenes Colombia. Colombia is on the move as one of the hottest countries for filmmakers along with Chile, and soon-to-be-there-too, Panama. You can see Claudia discuss the current Colombian film initiatives during the Berlinale 2013 here: Claudia Triana de Vargas.
Donald sent me his talking points which coincidently includes mention of Adam Leipzig, formerly President of National Geographic Feature Films and now Publisher and Managing Editor at Cultural Weekly and Guiding Entrepreneurs & Creatives whom I will see July 26 and 27th --- while we indulge ourselves at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival. We will have much to discuss and in the best place in the world to do it, so I just got over my envy.
Now back to the whole point of this name-dropping blog, here are Donald's talking points for the panel at the Bogota Audiovisual Market (Bam):
Subject: The Tough Job Of Marketing A Film
You're a talented filmmaker and you've just made an excellent film. That's for certain. But effectively and economically marketing the film is just as important and, Now, even more daunting than making the film. Adam Leipzig, a noted film producer, wrote the following in a recent column in The New York Times:
"The challenge isn't getting your movie made. All it takes is a personal time commitment to the process and access to a credit card, a digital video camera, and a computer loaded with editing software. The challenge is actually getting your movie seen." Leipzig also pointed out that of the 12,613 films submitted to this year's Sundance Film (2013) Festival, only 130 were selected and not more than 10 of these received significant distribution agreements for money. Following that, in April, we note that the Tribeca Film Festival, which has grown to be a 'hot market' in NYC received 3,150 submissions , granted 89 selections..... and had only 8 films finding distribution in 2013 for money.
Additionally, he then wrote something that we at the Quad have been saying over-and-over again, that "without the marketing push, awareness, and word-of-mouth generated by a theatrical release, it's not feasible for video chains [and digital platforms] to stock your picture."
But, alas, the question is, how best to market the film? This challenge can overwhelm even the savviest filmmaker. Often, what happens, is that a ton of money is spent, the wrong way, with very disappointing results.
One solution is to join the QUADflix Select Program. They will handle the entire job of marketing And releasing the film in North America. www.quadflixselect.com lists all the program features and the cost. The box office success is most determined by the reviews…especially the review from The New York Times. If the filmmakers do not think their film will receive good reviews, they should not book the QUADflix Select Program. QUADflix will make the same determination. They actually turn down 4 out of 5 films submitted. But some which have been accepted are Deadline, Bill W., One Day on Earth, Side by Side, Harvest of Empire, and Long Shot.
Here are the highlights of the program:
(1) A full one-week, Guaranteed run at the prestigious Quad Cinema in New York, from 1:00Pm to midnight-typically 5 screenings daily.
(2) 100% of the box office income, payable within 7 days after the completion of the run.
(3) The services of the Quad's professional film publicist to set up press screenings for the critics, write and mail press releases, and compile and distribute production notes. The goal is to get the film reviewed in most of the major New York media. To date, every QUADflix Select film has been reviewed by The New York Times.
(4) With the filmmaker's approval, they will encode, package, and submit the film to 11 major digital platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HuluPlus, YouTube, Vudu, Sony Entertainment, XBox, and Google Play.
(5) With the filmmaker's approval, they will submit the film to the major Cable VOD stations like Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Verizon.
(6) They will market DVDs of the film to the major retail chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble, both in-store and online.
(7) They will market the film to the Institutional Market consisting of schools, colleges, universities, and libraries.
(8) They will include the film in the regular Quad ads in The New York Times and the Village Voice.
(9) They will qualify your documentary for consideration for an Oscar nomination.
(10) For a minimal cost, they will book the film nationally, in every major North American market.
The total cost for the entire package is $11,000.00. Remember this: since the filmmaker will be receiving 100% of the first week's box office income this cost will be reduced. Also, the cost of hiring a film publicist and encoding the film for the digital platforms would cost thousands of dollars on the open market. They accept credit cards and wire transfers.
Interested filmmakers can mail them a DVD screener (Ntsc only). Also, if the filmmaker includes an address, they will send an Information Kit, which includes comments from filmmakers, tips on self-distribution, past reviews, and much more.
- 7/11/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
What is Page 2? Page 2 is a compilation of stories and news tidbits, which for whatever reason, didn’t make the front page of /Film. After the jump we’ve included 46 different items, fun images, videos, casting tidbits, articles of interest and more. It’s like a mystery grab bag of movie web related goodness. If you have any interesting items that we might've missed that you think should go in /Film's Page 2 - email us [1]! Header Photo: Brandon Bird has created [2] a Gran Torino Thermos-brand lunchbox. David Ehrlich [3] lists the 10 Criterion DVDs That Need To Be Released On Blu-Ray. [4] Sean Hartter has created [5] a series of posters for a big screen adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, starring Clint Eastwood. The New York Post reports [6] on the possible death of 3D television: Espn 3D may be forced to shut down, especially if sales of 3D televisions don’t pick up.
- 9/8/2011
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Veteran indie film executive and producer Adam Leipzig is ramping up the blog Cultural Weekly examining the intersection of culture, creativity, money, and entertainment. Here, the question is raised whether America needs a national film commission. This has been edited down and reprinted with permission: With the Toronto Film Festival getting underway this week, it’s worth pointing out the crucial role that national film commissions like Canada’s National Film Board and Telefilm Canada have played in the global film marketplace. These agencies of the Canadian government not only assist filmmakers in the production of their films, but also help global marketing, distribution and promotion of Canadian films in general. The result has been a boon for Canadian filmmakers and an important source of revenue for Canada. Like Canada, most nations recognize that films are a valuable export and that, in a competitive global marketplace, filmmakers need help in...
- 9/8/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Looks like Peter Weir’s film The Way Back will see a 2010 release. When the film premiered at the 37th Telluride Film Festival, A.O. Scott, of the New York Times wrote in early September:
The drama of human beings confronting the elemental power of nature figures in later work like “The Mosquito Coast” and “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” and also in his latest movie, “The Way Back.” … Mr. Weir’s style is stately, almost classical, and the astonishing story he has to tell in the new movie “about a group of men who escaped from a Soviet Labor camp in 1941 and walked from Siberia to India. has an old-fashioned gravity and grandeur. There are fine performances from Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Jim Sturgess as Janusz, the Polish prisoner who leads the trek toward freedom, and breathtaking images of tundra, desert forest and grassland.
Here...
The drama of human beings confronting the elemental power of nature figures in later work like “The Mosquito Coast” and “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” and also in his latest movie, “The Way Back.” … Mr. Weir’s style is stately, almost classical, and the astonishing story he has to tell in the new movie “about a group of men who escaped from a Soviet Labor camp in 1941 and walked from Siberia to India. has an old-fashioned gravity and grandeur. There are fine performances from Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Jim Sturgess as Janusz, the Polish prisoner who leads the trek toward freedom, and breathtaking images of tundra, desert forest and grassland.
Here...
- 10/6/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
At Sundance this year, more than usual activity immediately kicked in among the international buyers and the international sales agents bulking up in preparation for the Berlinale's Efm even as the Us distributors were slow to show much energy in acquisitions. First out of the gate for the Americans was Lionsgate's acquisition of Buried . Next came extended discussions with CAA and Apparition and its ancillary distributor partner Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquistions for Splice for what is rumored $2.5 million while an independent source supplies $20 million P & A. Next came Newmarket's $1 million acquisition of Hesher. The Oprah Winfrey Network acquired Family Affair. Own's documentary film club is being done in partnership with doc film distributor Ro*co Films International. Own, a co-venture between Winfrey's Harpo Prods. and Discovery Communications slated for a January 2011 launch, is planning to create communities nationwide that can screen the films together and participate in a live, moderated panel discussion.
- 2/22/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
Daniel Battsek has been officially named president of National Geographic Films. He'll step into the new role on March 15.
Battsek was ousted as head of Disney specialty division Miramax Films late last year. His name surfaced in January at National Geographic in Adam Leipzig stepped down from the president's post to produce.
Battsek's appointment was announced Wednesday by David Beal, president of National Geographic Entertainment, to whom Battsek will report.
"We're proud of what we've accomplished so far with National Geographic Films, and we're thrilled to have Daniel Battsek, a true leader in the international film production and distribution community, take us to the next level," Beal said.
"Daniel knows the independent film world and knows how to develop great films associated with iconic brands, so we're excited to have him leading the National Geographic banner," Tim Kelly, president and CEO of the National Geographic Global Media Group, added.
Battsek was ousted as head of Disney specialty division Miramax Films late last year. His name surfaced in January at National Geographic in Adam Leipzig stepped down from the president's post to produce.
Battsek's appointment was announced Wednesday by David Beal, president of National Geographic Entertainment, to whom Battsek will report.
"We're proud of what we've accomplished so far with National Geographic Films, and we're thrilled to have Daniel Battsek, a true leader in the international film production and distribution community, take us to the next level," Beal said.
"Daniel knows the independent film world and knows how to develop great films associated with iconic brands, so we're excited to have him leading the National Geographic banner," Tim Kelly, president and CEO of the National Geographic Global Media Group, added.
- 1/20/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Wrap Staff
Former Miramax president Daniel Battsek reportedly is in talks to take over as president of National Geographic Films.
He would replace Adam Leipzig, who has held the post for six years.
Leipzig is moving over into an executive producer role on two films he had been overseeing for NatGeo: "Undaunted Courage," HBO's planned 10-hour miniseries about explorers Lewis and Clark, executive produced by Brad Pitt and Edward Norton; and writer-director Peter Weir's WWII drama "The Way Back," based on Slavomir Rawicz's memoir.
Former Miramax president Daniel Battsek reportedly is in talks to take over as president of National Geographic Films.
He would replace Adam Leipzig, who has held the post for six years.
Leipzig is moving over into an executive producer role on two films he had been overseeing for NatGeo: "Undaunted Courage," HBO's planned 10-hour miniseries about explorers Lewis and Clark, executive produced by Brad Pitt and Edward Norton; and writer-director Peter Weir's WWII drama "The Way Back," based on Slavomir Rawicz's memoir.
- 1/5/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
After six years as president of National Geographic Films, Adam Leipzig is moving into an executive producer role on two films he was shepherding at the company, says David Beal, President, National Geographic Entertainment. The first is HBO’s planned ten-hour Lewis & Clark mini-series Undaunted Courage, adapted by Michelle Ashford from the 1996 biography of Meriwether Lewis by Band of Brothers writer Stephen F. Ambrose. The film, set in the early 1800s, is also executive produced by Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The second is writer-director Peter Weir’s return to the screen, the World War II drama The Way Back, based on the memoir by Slavomir Rawicz, starring Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess and Saoirse Ronan, which is in post-production. It has no distributor. …...
- 1/5/2010
- Thompson on Hollywood
Updates Disney Shows Daniel Battsek The Door I don't have any official confirmation yet. But my sources tell me that Miramax president Daniel Battsek has landed. He has been in quiet negotiations to assume the top post at National Geographic Films because Adam Leipzig, who has been president for the past six years, wants to leave to return to his producing roots. And my sources say Battsek has just closed the deal to become president of National Geographic Films. Leipzig, who is staying until mid-March, leaves behind a rich legacy in addition to the 2nd highest grossing documentary of all time [...]...
- 1/5/2010
- by Nikki Finke
- Deadline Hollywood
Just a little more than two months after he was forced out as head of Disney's specialty label Miramax Films, Daniel Battsek is resurfacing at National Geographic Films.
The company would not confirm Battsek's move on Tuesday, but it acknowledged that Adam Leipzig, who currently serves as president of National Geographic Films, is shifting over to executive producer status on two of the company's current projects.
According to National Geographic president David Beal, "After six incredible years of setting the strategic course for National Geographic Films, Adam Leipzig's relationship transitions to executive producer of two in-process National Geographic Entertainment projects, Peter Weir's 'The Way Back' and the miniseries 'Undaunted Courage,' with HBO."
"The Way Back" is a drama about a group of soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and stars Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturges and Saoirse Ronan.
"Undaunted Courage," a mini-series about explorers Lewis and Clark,...
The company would not confirm Battsek's move on Tuesday, but it acknowledged that Adam Leipzig, who currently serves as president of National Geographic Films, is shifting over to executive producer status on two of the company's current projects.
According to National Geographic president David Beal, "After six incredible years of setting the strategic course for National Geographic Films, Adam Leipzig's relationship transitions to executive producer of two in-process National Geographic Entertainment projects, Peter Weir's 'The Way Back' and the miniseries 'Undaunted Courage,' with HBO."
"The Way Back" is a drama about a group of soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and stars Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturges and Saoirse Ronan.
"Undaunted Courage," a mini-series about explorers Lewis and Clark,...
- 1/5/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
More Afm news
The dumb money has been flushed from the system, and going forward, the surviving players in the independent film sector will take a much more sober, financially sound approach.
That was the dominant sentiment that emerged from the American Film Market's annual Finance Conference that might well have been dubbed "The Morning After."
"There was too much easy money out there," Morgan Rector, president of Comerica Bank's Entertainment Group, said. "We had kind of our own sub-prime bubble in the film business."
With the worldwide economy just beginning to recover from a global economic recession and its accompanying credit crunch, the industry figures who assembled for two panels devoted to the state of the independent film business at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Friday struck a cautiously optimistic note. Of course, as attorney P. John Burke, who moderated the first session, noted, the panelists...
The dumb money has been flushed from the system, and going forward, the surviving players in the independent film sector will take a much more sober, financially sound approach.
That was the dominant sentiment that emerged from the American Film Market's annual Finance Conference that might well have been dubbed "The Morning After."
"There was too much easy money out there," Morgan Rector, president of Comerica Bank's Entertainment Group, said. "We had kind of our own sub-prime bubble in the film business."
With the worldwide economy just beginning to recover from a global economic recession and its accompanying credit crunch, the industry figures who assembled for two panels devoted to the state of the independent film business at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Friday struck a cautiously optimistic note. Of course, as attorney P. John Burke, who moderated the first session, noted, the panelists...
- 11/8/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Participant Media CEO Jim Berk, Fox International Productions president Sanford Panich and CBS Paramount Television Entertainment president Nancy Tellum are among the speakers scheduled to take part in the 2009 Circle Conference, which runs from Oct. 9-11 in Abu Dhabi.
Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, director of special projects for Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and David Shepheard, director of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, announced the full line-up on Tuesday.
The conference, which focuses on making films and TV for a global audience, will also hear from National Geographic Films president Adam Leipzig, BBC Worldwide head of co-production funding Stephen McDonogh, New Regency Pictures chairman Hutch Parker, Stadium International chair/CEO Stewart Till, producers Barbara DeFina, Walter Parkes, Fernando Sulichin, and Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah and directors Nawaf Al Janahi, Amin Matalqa and Malek Akkad.
The three-day event will devote more panels this year to the Middle East and the...
Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, director of special projects for Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and David Shepheard, director of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, announced the full line-up on Tuesday.
The conference, which focuses on making films and TV for a global audience, will also hear from National Geographic Films president Adam Leipzig, BBC Worldwide head of co-production funding Stephen McDonogh, New Regency Pictures chairman Hutch Parker, Stadium International chair/CEO Stewart Till, producers Barbara DeFina, Walter Parkes, Fernando Sulichin, and Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah and directors Nawaf Al Janahi, Amin Matalqa and Malek Akkad.
The three-day event will devote more panels this year to the Middle East and the...
- 9/30/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- National Geographic Entertainment and Imagenation Abu Dhabi is teaming with Exclusive Media Group and Spitfire Pictures to produce Peter Weir's “The Way Back.”
The high profile project, scripted by Weir from the story of a real-life escape from a Siberian gulag in the 1940s, marks the first movie to attract backing from the $100 million movie fund set up by National Geographic Entertainment and Imagenation Abu Dhabi in October last year.
The duo established the fund to develop, produce, finance and acquire 10 to 15 films in the next five years.
The adventure movie will star Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell and chronicles the escape of a small group of multi-national prisoners from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and their epic journey over thousands of miles across five hostile countries. It is currently shooting in Bulgaria.
L.A. based Spitfire Pictures is producing for parent company Exclusive Media Group,...
The high profile project, scripted by Weir from the story of a real-life escape from a Siberian gulag in the 1940s, marks the first movie to attract backing from the $100 million movie fund set up by National Geographic Entertainment and Imagenation Abu Dhabi in October last year.
The duo established the fund to develop, produce, finance and acquire 10 to 15 films in the next five years.
The adventure movie will star Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell and chronicles the escape of a small group of multi-national prisoners from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and their epic journey over thousands of miles across five hostile countries. It is currently shooting in Bulgaria.
L.A. based Spitfire Pictures is producing for parent company Exclusive Media Group,...
- 4/30/2009
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- The Sundance crowd-pleaser "Amreeka" has sealed a theatrical deal.
National Geographic Entertainment has bought all rights to the immigrant dramedy, including theatrical, and plans a fall release. William Morris Independent repped the filmmakers in the deal.
The company also bought DVD and television rights but could, as a separate entity within National Geographic, sell the rights to another network or to its sister company.
Writer-director Cherien Dabis' feature debut tells of a Palestinian single mother who comes to the U.S. with dreams of a brighter future but winds up in rural illinois living with relatives and working at a White Castle restaurant while her son struggles to adjust in his homogenous high school. The movie, which also opens the upcoming New Directors/New Films festival in New York, earned some of the loudest cheers from audiences in Park City, who embraced its fish-out-of-water topicality.
Christina Piovesan and Paul Barkin produced,...
National Geographic Entertainment has bought all rights to the immigrant dramedy, including theatrical, and plans a fall release. William Morris Independent repped the filmmakers in the deal.
The company also bought DVD and television rights but could, as a separate entity within National Geographic, sell the rights to another network or to its sister company.
Writer-director Cherien Dabis' feature debut tells of a Palestinian single mother who comes to the U.S. with dreams of a brighter future but winds up in rural illinois living with relatives and working at a White Castle restaurant while her son struggles to adjust in his homogenous high school. The movie, which also opens the upcoming New Directors/New Films festival in New York, earned some of the loudest cheers from audiences in Park City, who embraced its fish-out-of-water topicality.
Christina Piovesan and Paul Barkin produced,...
- 3/17/2009
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- Following a star-sprinkled opening night, Saturday was down to business: National Geographic Entertainment and Imagenation Abu Dhabi announced a $100 million financing fund.
The companies stated the fund will be used to produce 10 to 15 feature films during the next five years. The new venture was announced on the first day of the second annual Middle East International Film Festival, during a press conference held at Emirates Palace.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the government-owned Abu Dhabi Media Company, Imagenation is the latest initiative aimed at making the capital a media hub to be reckoned with. Launched in September 2008 with a pot of more than $1 billion, Imagenation is dedicated to financing upwards of 20 films for Arabic and global markets over the next five years. A quarter of this has already been earmarked for use in conjunction with La-based Participant Media. Such financial incentives play a large part...
The companies stated the fund will be used to produce 10 to 15 feature films during the next five years. The new venture was announced on the first day of the second annual Middle East International Film Festival, during a press conference held at Emirates Palace.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the government-owned Abu Dhabi Media Company, Imagenation is the latest initiative aimed at making the capital a media hub to be reckoned with. Launched in September 2008 with a pot of more than $1 billion, Imagenation is dedicated to financing upwards of 20 films for Arabic and global markets over the next five years. A quarter of this has already been earmarked for use in conjunction with La-based Participant Media. Such financial incentives play a large part...
- 10/11/2008
- by By Jolanta Chudy
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
National Geographic Films has taken a partnership stake in Christopher Quinn's God Grew Tired of Us, which won this year's Sundance Film Festival grand jury prize and Audience Award for documentary feature. Unlike last year's Sundance docu smash March of the Penguins, which National Geographic Films presented with domestic distributor Warner Independent Pictures, NGF plans to be more involved in bringing "God" to international viewers. "We wanted to partner on this excellent film worldwide because we are able to offer both financial and all of the support of National Geographic at large to help audiences around the world to see it," NGF president Adam Leipzig said. Newmarket Films will release the film in North America early in first-quarter 2007. "(Newmarket's) Chris Ball is passionate about the movie, which means a lot to us," Leipzig said.
National Geographic Films has taken a partnership stake in Christopher Quinn's God Grew Tired of Us, which won this year's Sundance Film Festival grand jury prize and Audience Award for documentary feature. Unlike last year's Sundance docu smash March of the Penguins, which National Geographic Films presented with domestic distributor Warner Independent Pictures, NGF plans to be more involved in bringing "God" to international viewers. "We wanted to partner on this excellent film worldwide because we are able to offer both financial and all of the support of National Geographic at large to help audiences around the world to see it," NGF president Adam Leipzig said. Newmarket Films will release the film in North America early in first-quarter 2007. "(Newmarket's) Chris Ball is passionate about the movie, which means a lot to us," Leipzig said.
Writer-producer Michelle Ashford has been tapped as writer and co-executive producer of the 10-hour HBO miniseries revolving around the legendary journey across the western U.S. by explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt are executive producing the still-untitled miniseries, based on the book Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West by Stephen F. Ambrose. The project will be produced as a co-venture of HBO and National Geographic. National Geographic Feature Films president Adam Leipzig and National Geographic Ventures Tim Kelly are exec producing alongside Norton and Pitt. The book chronicles the historic three-year expedition Lewis and Clark began in 1803 at the behest of President Jefferson to map what was then largely untamed wilderness to facilitate the then-young nation's westward expansion. The project has been in development at HBO for nearly a year. Ashford's recent credits include serving as a writer-producer on the 2002-03 NBC drama series Boomtown and the 1998-99 CBS drama L.A. Doctors. She's repped by WMA.
- 5/31/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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