DA Y
2
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 2018
AT THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET www.ScreenDaily.com
Editorial +1 416 599 843 ext 333
Advertising +1 213 447 5120
TODAY
SCREENINGS
» Page 36
Oct 31 - Nov 5 Meet us @ Le Merigot
SANTA MONICA 2018
SALES - Jean-Christophe Simon simon@filmsboutique.com +49 173 5915767 SALES - Louis Balsan louis@filmsboutique.com +49 1525 4525769
TOP END WEDDING A Film by WAYNE BLAIR (THE SAPPHIRES) Written by Miranda Tapsell, Joshua Tyler Delivery: 2019 - Comedy - Australia with Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox Engaged and in love Lauren and Ned have just 10 days to reunite her newly separated parents and pull off their dream Top End Wedding. But Lauren’s mother has gone missing, experiencing a midlife crisis. In order to find her, the couple go on a fantastic road trip across northern Australia. Along the way they find fulfilment for their own personal journeys through the wild beauty of the landscapes and the unbeatable charm of the characters that they meet along the way. But will they final recover Lauren’s mother and pursue their dream wedding?
SCRIPT & PROMO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
ALL THE GODS IN THE SKY
WHITE FIRE
2018 - Drama/Science Fiction - France - 2.39 - 97 min
1984 - Action Adventure - France/Turkey/UK - 1.85 - 98 min
A Film by QUARXX
Thu Nov 1st
1:30 pm ARCLIGHT 10 MARKET PREMIERE
(RESTORED VERSION)
A Film by JEAN-MARIE PALLARDY
Fri
Nov 2nd 3:30 pm ARCLIGHT 4 MARKET PREMIERE
CÓMPRAME UN REVÓLVER
SEXTAPE
(BUY ME A GUN) 2018 - Drama - Mexico/Colombia - 2.35 - 84 min
2018 - Comedy - France - 1.85 - 98 min
A Film by JULIO HERNÁNDEZ CORDÓN (GASOLINA, POLVO)
Sat Nov 3rd
9:00 am BROADWAY CINEPLEX 3 MARKET
A Film by ANTOINE DESROSIÈRES (HARAMISTE)
Fri
Nov 2nd 1:30 pm AMC SANTA MONICA 6 MARKET
ELDORADO
A BLUEBIRD IN MY HEART
2018 - Documentary - Switzerland/Germany - 1.85 - 92 min
2018 - France - Drama - 85 min
A Film by MARKUS IMHOOF (MORE THAN HONEY)
LA SCREENINGS - OSCAR ENTRIES FROM EUROPE
Thu Nov 8th 2:00 pm DICK CLARK SCREENING ROOM Wed Nov 14th 7:30 pm LAEMMLE, MONICA FILM CENTER
A Film by JEREMIE GUEZ
SCREENER AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
DA Y
2
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 2018
AT THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET www.ScreenDaily.com
Editorial +1 416 599 843 ext 333
Advertising +1 213 447 5120
Netflix pivots on awards BY JEREMY KAY
Vicky Krieps in harmony with Alma & Oskar BY TOM GRATER
Phantom Thread star Vicky Krieps has signed up to play Vienna-born composer Alma Mahler in Dieter Berner’s period feature Alma & Oskar. The film will depict a tumultuous three-year relationship between Mahler and Austrian artist Oskar Kokoschka in the early 1900s. Berlin-based Picture Tree International is at AFM handling sales on the project, which is in preproduction. Producers are Novotny & Novotny Filmproduktion with Amour FOU Luxembourg and Wüste Film. Picture Tree’s slate also includes market premieres for Swedish box-office hit Kingdom Of Sweden and all-female German zombie thriller Endzeit — Ever After, which bowed in Toronto.
journalism drama The Laundromat and Dee Rees’s crime mystery The Last Thing He Wanted. In the US, Netflix will work mostly outside the major circuits, with whom it maintains an uneasy relationship. Alfonso Cuaron’s Venice Golden Lion winner ROMA will screen in 20 territories including 70mm presentations, and opens in exclusive limited theatrical engagements on November 21 in Los Angeles, New York and Mexico. It expands in the US and London on November 29, and heads into Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and Japan, among others, starting on December 7.
The Netflix launch is December 14. Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs will get exclusive limited theatrical engagements starting on November 8 in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London. It will expand internationally and launches on Netflix on November 16. Susanne Bier’s horror-thriller Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock will get exclusive limited theatrical engagements starting on December 13 in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London before expanding internationally and in the US. It launches on Netflix on December 21.
F LO IRS OK T
Vicky Krieps
In a significant strategy shift as it seeks a coveted first best picture Oscar nomination, Netflix has unveiled global theatrical release plans on awards contenders ROMA, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs and Bird Box. All three will open in theatres across the US and select international markets ahead of their global debuts on Netflix, and the goal is to remain in theatres for three to six weeks. Last night speculation turned to which titles would receive similar treatment in 2019, with the focus on Martin Scorsese’s mob epic The Irishman, Steven Soderbergh’s
Showbox is Unstoppable South Korean outfit Showbox has sold Kim Min-ho’s action film Unstoppable to a raft of territories led by North America (Well Go USA) and Japan (New Select). Don Lee plays a once-legendary gangster who has settled down, but comes home one day to find his wife has been kidnapped. Unstoppable has also sold to Australia and NZ (JBG Pictures), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Hong Kong (Edko), Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia (MM2), the Philippines (MVP Viva), Cambodia (Westec) and worldwide in-flight (Kairos). It is set for local release on November 22. Jean Noh
Jessica Chastain stars in action thriller Eve. Voltage Pictures fully financed and handles worldwide sales, jointly representing the US with CAA. Buyers were shown first footage on Tuesday.
Goode crowned Medieval king BY JEREMY KAY
Matthew Goode has joined the cast of historical epic Medieval, which is currently shooting in and around Prague. Petr Jakl directs and produces the JBJ Film and Elevated Films feature alongside Cassian Elwes, who represents US rights with UTA Independent Film Group. Highland Film Group is in talks with international buyers
here. Double Tree Entertainment also produces. Medieval is based on the legend of 14th-century warlord Jan Zizka of Trocnov (Ben Foster), a Hussite commander and former mercenary regarded by the Czechs as a national hero. Goode will portray King Sigismund of Hungary and Croatia. Michael Caine and Til Schweiger also star.
The film is being produced with the support of private investors and public funding institutions including the Czech Film Fund and the Prague Film Fund. Highland’s AFM sales slate includes Joe Carnahan’s Boss Level, Marc Meyer’s thriller We Summon The Darkness and Shawn Ku’s action thriller A Score To Settle.
TODAY
Calm With Horses, page 30
NEWS Political party Adrian Grenier thriller Affairs Of State moves for 13 Films » Page 10
FEATURES China’s shifting sands Recent crackdowns put the brakes on growth » Page 14
Young guns Calm With Horses is rife with rising UK talent » Page 30
SCREENINGS
» Page 36
Hummingbird Project flies for HanWay Kim Nguyen’s The Hummingbird Project is racking up international sales for HanWay Films following its premiere as a Special Presentation in Toronto. Jesse Eisenberg, Alexander Skarsgard and Salma Hayek star in the film about two men who decide to lay a fibre-optic cable between Kansas and New Jersey to give them an edge in the world of highfrequency trading. The film has now sold to the UK (Vertigo Releasing), Germany and Austria (Concorde Film/TMG), Australia and NZ (Madman), Spain (DeAPlaneta), Japan (Hakuhodo DY MaP), the Middle East (Front Row), China (Leomus), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania (Prorom), Baltics (HEA FILM), former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Switzerland (Ascot Elite), Israel (Shoval), CIS (Luxor), Portugal (NOS), Turkey (Sinema), Greece (Odeon), airlines (Cinesky), Southeast Asia TV (Fox Networks Group Asia), Taiwan (Shenghua Entertainment), Thailand (M Pictures) and Singapore (Shaw). Those deals join the US (The Orchard), Canada (Elevation) and Benelux (Belga). Pierre Even of Montreal-based Item 7 produced the film, with Automatik’s Brian KavanaughJones and Fred Berger among the executive producers. Tom Grater
FilmSharks wants the best for Her Buenos Aires-based FilmSharks has commenced sales here on Spanish rom-com Get Her… If You Can (Que Te Juegas), which marks the first original film by Spanish telco giant Telefonica’s pay-TV division Movistar+. FilmSharks chief Guido Rud reunites with leading Spanish comedy star and producer Santiago Segura and his Bowfinger International Pictures partner Maria Luisa Gutierrez on the project. Rud is also touting remake rights on the story, which Telefonica’s film production head Gabriel Arias-Salgado described as a “My Fair Ladystyle romantic comedy”. Get Her… If You Can centres on a struggling comedian and two pompous shipping heirs who encounter a shaman from the Amazon interior, a maritime captain and two actors. Leticia Dolera stars alongside Javier Rey and Amaia Salamanca. Jeremy Kay
F LO IRS OK T
NEWS
Wasikowska shows she can Punch BY TOM GRATER
Screen International can unveil a first look of Mia Wasikowska in Australian actress Mirrah Foulkes’ feature directing debut Judy And Punch. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales and is showing footage here at AFM.
The film is a fictional origin story that turns the classic puppet show on its head. It is a subversive interpretation that sees puppeteers Judy and her husband Punch try to resurrect their marionette show in an anarchic town on the brink of mob rule.
The Seaside Productions and Vice Studios feature is now in post-production. Producers are Michele Bennett alongside BlueTongue Films’ Nash Edgerton and Vice’s Danny Gabai. Madman Entertainment will distribute in Australia and New Zealand.
Screen Australia backed the project, in association with Film Victoria and Create NSW. Cornerstone’s AFM slate also features Dirt Music, starring Kelly Macdonald and Garrett Hedlund, and After The Wedding, with Julianne Moore.
K-Movie right on Chang’s Target Littlest Reindeer rides out for DDI BY JEAN NOH
S o u t h K o r e a ’s K - M o v i e Entertainment has picked up worldwide sales rights for a trio of projects including the latest from director Chang, whose thriller The Target played Cannes’ Midnight section and who is in pre-production on the Korean remake of 2003 French thriller Body To Body. Body Snatch (working title) follows a stripper who changes her life for a man who turns out to be a twisted transplant doctor.
Produced by BA Entertainment, the film is due to start shooting early next year. K-Movie Entertainment, which launched at Busan’s Asian Film Market, has also picked up crime thriller The Outlaws 2, reuniting with the director of the original, Kang Yun-sung. The first film in the series starred Don Lee as a relentless detective leading a crime sweep after gangsters wreak chaos in his city. It took nearly $50m at the local box office
last year. Produced by Hong Film and BA Entertainment, the sequel is set to shoot in summer 2019. K-Movie Entertainment has also picked up fantasy action film Out Of Body (working title), directed by Yoon Jae-keun (Heartbeat) and starring Yoon Kyesang as a man who has lost his memory and wakes up in the body of a different person every day. Produced by BA Entertainment and Saram Entertainment, it is set to shoot at the end of the year.
New Europe wrangles Norwegian hit Cattle Hill BY TOM GRATER
Warsaw-based New Europe Film Sales has racked up early deals on family animation Cattle Hill, which recently opened top of the box office in its native Norway. The film has sold to the UK (Kaleidoscope), Middle East (Empire), Benelux (Just Film),
Russia (Ten Letters) and South Korea (L Company), with further territories likely to be inked in the coming days. Released by Nordisk Film in Norway on October 19, the film topped the likes of A Star Is Born and Venom with a $400,000 debut. Local gross stands at
4 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
$660,000 after two weeks. Produced by Nordic animation outfit Qvisten Animation, the film is directed by Lise I Osvoll from a script by Anne Elvedal. The story follows a young cow who lives with her mother in the city and dreams of becoming a pop star.
Lionsgate UK and Roadshow in Australia have acquired animated holiday feature Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer in a slew of deals struck before AFM by Toronto-based DDI International. Rights to the family film have also gone to Germany (Splendid), Latin America (California Filmes), Scandinavia (Scanbox), France (Koba), Italy (Notorious), Canada (Elevation), South Korea (Green Narae) and Indonesia (Prima Cinema). As previously announced, Screen Media acquired US rights, and the voice cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Samantha Bee, Martin Short, Morena Baccarin, Jeff Dunham and John Cleese. Deals have also closed in the Middle East (Selim Ramia), CIS (Focus Entity Capital), Greece (Tanweer), former Yugoslavia (Blitz), India (MVP),
Romania (Programs4Media), Philippines (CrystalSky), Turkey (Siyah Beyaz), South Africa (Times Media), China (Jetsen), Vietnam (Skyline), pan-Asia TV (Fox), the West Indies (ATM) and airlines (Skeye Inflight). Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer centres on the miniature titular reindeer who gets a shot at joining Santa’s sleigh team. Jennifer Westcott directs and Lucas Lynette-Krech of Awesometown Entertainment serves as producer. Dan Krech of Awesometown is among the executive producers alongside Victoria Westcott of Elgin Road Productions, DDI CEO Jason Moring, Mike Sears and Michael S Emerson of M3, Jackie Lynette and Active Media Services Inc. Jeremy Kay
www.screendaily.com
MASTERS & TALENTS
MARKET PREMIERE NOV 2ND | 11:00 AM AMC SANTA MONICA 3
AFM | LOEWS # 627 | www.arrimedia.de
CL AE S
HENRIK
RSIN NSSON DO Z AN N E Å U S M N R O E S T E E P UTER ULV SANNA DALLE RE BJÖRN DQVIST N U R S U O N FSSON A T S U G I A EL-REF JOhAN
Directed by
CAROLINA HELLSGÅRD Based on a Graphic Novel by
OLIVIA VIEWEG
A FILM BY
PETER DALLE
ʺENDZEIT – EVER AFTER IS A SUPERIOR GERMAN-LANGUAGE PULP THRILLER.ʺ Stephen Dalton THR
MARKET PREMIERE Friday / November 2nd / 9:30 AM Broadway Cineplex - 4 / TOMORROW
MARKET SCREENING Thursday / November 1st / 1:00 PM Arclight - 3 / TODAY
American Film Market Loews Hotel / 6th Floor, Suite #626 Sales Contact: Yuan Rothbauer / Phone: +49 151 5061 7388 yuan@picturetree-international.com / www.picturetree-international.com
BORYS LANKOSZ BASED ON THE BESTSELLING NOVEL BY JOANNA BATOR A FILM BY
PRIVATE SCREENING Thursday / November 1st / 3:00 PM / Arclight - 5 / TODAY
NEWS
Day begins for Instrum’s Night
Reason8 finds Humor
BY JEREMY KAY
BY TOM GRATER
Ryan Keller’s US-based Instrum International has launched international sales here at AFM on the coming-of-age drama Summer Night, which UTA Independent Film Group represents for North America. Joseph Cross directs from a screenplay by Jordan Jolliff about the complexities of young relationships. The film stars Lana Condor, Analeigh Tipton, Justin Chatwin and Victoria Justice. Tara Ansley, Cross and Audrey Tommassini served as producers. “This story of falling in and out of love when you’re young and vulnerable is universal but the ensemble cast expertly takes Joseph’s direction to offer a fresh approach,” said Keller. Instrum recently signed on to handle international sales on historical drama The Iron Orchard directed by Ty Roberts and starring Lane Garrison.
UK sales outfit Reason8 has scored a raft of deals on three of the films on its AFM slate. Humor Me, the comedy starring Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould, has now sold to Australia/New Zealand (Madman), Scandinavia (Smile Ent), Central and Eastern Europe premium pay (HBO CEE) and the Middle East (Front Row Entertainment). Written and directed by Sam Hoffman, Humor Me premiered at
last year’s Los Angeles Film Festival and played Edinburgh in the UK this year. Shout! Factory handled the US release. Reason8 has also inked new deals on upcoming suspense thriller Stray. The film is based on an original story by Anna Starobinets and is about a couple who adopt an orphan. Olga Gorodetskaya is directing. It has sold to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore (Suraya Filem)
and Taiwan (AV Jet). 20 th Century Fox will release in Russia in March 2019. Reason8 is screening select footage in AFM. The company has also scored deals on fantasy thriller A Rough Draft, which has gone to China (Red Apollo), Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore airlines (AV Jet), and Central and Eastern Europe premium pay (HBO CEE). The film played at Fantasia and Sitges this year. Sony/Columbia released in Russia in March.
Rock Salt falls for Loveland Rock Salt Releasing, the independent sales and distribution label launched by TriCoast Worldwide, has boarded sales on US-Australia romantic sci-fi Loveland, written and directed by Ivan Sen, featuring Hugo Weaving. In pre-production, the film centres on a fictitious Chinese mega city where an assassin and a nightclub singer have a life-changing encounter. Jeremy Kay
Arrow blasts off with Swedish sci-fi Aniara BY TOM GRATER
Swedish sci-fi epic Aniara has been picked up for UK distribution by Arrow Films. The film premiered in Toronto’s Discovery strand. Written and directed by Pella Kagerman and
8 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
Hugo Lilja, Aniara follows the story of a ship carrying settlers to Mars. When knocked off course, the consumption- obsessed passengers are left to consider their place in the universe. It is an adaptation of a work by Swedish
Nobel Prize-winning writer Harry Martinson. London-based Film Constellation is handling sales excluding Scandinavia. Magnolia previously bought US rights. The film stars Emelie Jonsson, Arvin Kananian
and Bianca Cruzeiro. Producers are Annika Rogell and Markus Walta. The film is a Meta Film Stockholm Production, and backers include the Swedish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Creative Europe and STHLM Debut.
www.screendaily.com
2018 ScreenAD.pdf 1 10/10/2018 下午4:51
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
NEWS
Netflix digs British thriller Two Graves BY WENDY MITCHELL
BY JEAN NOH
Korean sales agent Finecut has scored deals on Hong Sangsoo’s latest film Hotel By The River, period creature feature Monstrum and comedy Too Hot To Die. Hotel By The River made its world premiere at Locarno Festival where lead Ki Joo-bong won the Golden Leopard for best actor
for his performance as an old poet who, feeling he is going to die, summons his two estranged sons to a riverside hotel. The film sold to France (Les Acacias), China (Time-In-Portrait Entertainment) and Taiwan (AV Jet International). The Cinema Guild took US distribution rights to Hotel By The River, which will
also screen at AFI Fest in the World Cinema section later this month. Finecut also sold Huh Jongho’s Monstrum to Japan (Inter Film) and Park Jin-young’s feature debut Too Hot To Die to Taiwan (Apex Success Global) and Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong (Clover Films).
Affairs Of State alluring for 13 Films BY JEREMY KAY
Adrian Grenier and Thora Birch political thriller Affairs Of State has been drawing more buyers as 13 Films screens the film at AFM. The School Pictures and Cubb Films production has gone to the Middle East (Eagle), South Korea
(Jaye Entertainment) and China (Enjoy Pictures). Grindstone holds US rights to the film about a young campaign aide (David Corenswet) who gets in way over his head by sleeping with the wife (Mimi Rogers) and daughter of a presidential candi-
date. Grenier and Birch play manipulative political operatives. Eric Bross directed Affairs Of State from a screenplay by Tom Cudworth. Stephen Israel produced. Tannaz Anisi of 13 Films is continuing talks with buyers at the market.
Wizart hunts down early deals for Wolves sequel Moscow-based Wizart has sealed a couple of AFM deals on family sequel Sheep And Wolves: Pig Deal, which has sold to Poland (Kino Swiat) and Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Koch Films). The film is a Wizart Animation production. Wizart is also talking up The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands in the market, the fourth feature in the Snow Queen franchise.
10,000 screens for sixth Boonie Bears Fantawild Animation has shown AFM buyers a new trailer for Blast Into The Past, which will open on more than 10,000 screens over Chinese New Year in early 2019. It is the sixth film in the company’s Boonie Bears franchise to open during the spring festival. The most recent entry, The Big Shrink, grossed more than $97m in China.
SUMMERSIDE INTERNATIONAL
Netflix has acquired SVoD rights to all English-speaking territories for Gary Young’s UK thriller Two Graves, which it will launch on the service in May. Front Row has acquired MENA rights. Moviehouse Entertainment handles international sales. Young wrote and directed Two Graves as his feature directorial debut; he previously wrote the Michael Caine-starrer Harry Brown. The revenge thriller stars Katie Jarvis, Cathy Tyson and Dave Johns. Two Graves is produced by Shantelle Rochester for Ida Rose Ltd and Lorianne Hall. Rochester will also produce Young’s second feature, action thriller Stolen, which will be a UK-South Africa co-production. Uzanenkosi from Johannesburg-based Ants Multimedia co-produces.
Hotel By The River opens doors to buyers
AFM BRIEFS
LOEWS SUITE 617/619
Info: f.manno@summerside-international.com 10 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
w w w. s u m m e r s i d e - i n t e r n a t i o n a l . c o m www.screendaily.com
WELCOME ABOARD
P R O MO AVAIL AB L E For sales inquiries, please contact : Tim Grohne, President, International tim@carnabyinternational.com Jonathan Walik, Sales Executive jonathan@carnabyinternational.com Office: UK Film Centre, Zuma Room, 7th Floor, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
+44 (0)797 354 3537 +44 (0)779 365 4713
AP/Shutterstock
IN FOCUS CHINA
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have traded tit-for-tat tariffs
China’s clampdown China’s film market may be booming, but a trade war with the US and the government’s tax and censorship shake-ups suggest rockier times are to come. Liz Shackleton reports
I
n mid-September, US president Donald Trump made good on his promise to slap extra import duties on $200bn worth of Chinese goods, following several rounds of tariffs on a combined $50bn of Chinese imports earlier in the year. China was quick to retaliate, imposing tariffs on $60bn of US goods. Stock markets around the world were rattled and the International Monetary Fund has cut its global growth forecasts for the coming year. Since then, the relationship between the US and China has deteriorated further, with Trump accusing China of meddling in the US mid-term elections, and Chinese president Xi Jinping preaching his nation’s need for self-reliance. While Trump has been citing a trade deficit and China’s “unfair policies and practices” as justification for the tariffs, China sees this as a simple matter of the US attempting to contain its economic rise. None of this has had a direct impact on either the US or Chinese film indus-
tries. Although “35mm film and sound recordings on motion picture film” were mentioned in the US list of Chinese goods subject to tariffs, the US has a trade surplus with China when it comes to film, rather than a deficit. So far in 2018, the biggest US import in China, Avengers: Infinity War, grossed $360m, while the biggest Chinese film in the US, Detective Chinatown 2, took only $1.98m. Some industry observers believe it is unlikely China will target Hollywood films as they bring in revenue for Chinese state-owned companies as well as the US studios. However, others believe there is a possibility China will feel it has to resort to targeting the US film and TV industries as (Right) Detective Chinatown 2
14 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
the trade war escalates. “Fundamentally, the US imports far more Chinese goods than China import US goods,” says Adams Lee, an attorney and trade specialist at international law firm Harris Bricken. “China is running out of products it can impose tariffs on, so it now needs to consider other ways to retaliate against the US without harming its own interests.” There are also indirect ways in which the trade war could impact the film industry. Firstly, it has derailed negotiations between the US and Chinese authorities on import quotas and other business practices surrounding the distribution of US films in China, which were meant to replace an existing agreement that expired in February 2017.
‘China now needs to consider other ways to retaliate against the US without harming its own interests’ Adams Lee, Harris Bricken
It is understood the US was close to a new agreement earlier this year, which would have expanded the present quota of 34 revenue-sharing films per year, but talks are now on hold, not just because of the trade war, but also because of China’s recent restructuring of its regulatory framework (see sidebar, page 16). “The two sides are still in contact, but everyone thinks it’s not appropriate to apply pressure in this environment,” says one US studio executive who prefers not to be named. “The Chinese side is aware that the studios don’t necessarily support Trump, but we’re an exporter and a soft target, and it could create some painful »
www.screendaily.com
2018AFM_Screen_day2_EntertainingPower.pdf 1 24/10/2018 下午3:59
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
By The World Images / Alamy
IN FOCUS CHINA
Fan Bingbing was fined $129m for tax evasion
‘Fan Bingbing is the perfect target to use to reiterate the Party is serious about cleaning up the industry’ Bill Bishop, China watcher
headlines for Trump to be told your films can’t come in.” Secondly, the trade war is dragging down the Chinese economy. That will have a knock-on effect for Chinese companies, particularly China’s technology giants, who are now also deeply invested in the country’s content industries through production, online ticket sales and streaming. Indeed, some observers have described the ongoing spat between the US and China as a tech war, rather than a trade war, with Trump accusing Chinese tech companies of stealing US intellectual property and attempting to restrict their investment into US firms. Again, China sees these accusations as an attempt to block its rise as a technology superpower in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and quantum computing. The country’s Made In China 2025 initiative — an attempt to make China a major competitor in advanced manufacturing — has been described by US think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, as a “real existential threat to US technological leadership”. Ironically, the main headache for China’s tech giants so far in 2018 has not been worsening US-China relations, but the regulatory environment in its own backyard. Since around March this year, Tencent, and to a lesser extent Baidu and Alibaba, have seen their stocks pummelled, and while China’s slowing economy has been a factor, a bigger issue has been the government’s new regulatory structures and tighter rules.
Tencent, which makes a big chunk of its revenue from video games, had more than $250bn wiped off its market value after the government cracked down on the sector, due to concerns over inappropriate content and teenagers addicted to gaming. And while iQiyi’s stock has recovered following a bumpy IPO on the Nasdaq in March, all of China’s streaming platforms must now grapple with new restrictions on foreign content, along with heavier-handed censorship of locally produced TV shows and films. Likewise, China’s traditional production and distribution companies are in a state of panic following the government’s recent clampdown on tax evasion. In early October, leading Chinese actress Fan Bingbing reappeared in the public eye following a mysterious threemonth absence with a grovelling apology for her alleged tax evasion and a $129m fine. As China watcher Bill Bishop wrote recently in his Sinocism newsletter: “Penalising [Fan Bingbing] makes a lot of sense because so much money is involved, and also because she’s the perfect target to use to reiterate the Party’s point that it’s serious about cleaning up the entertainment industry both financially and ‘spiritually’.” Taxing times Until Fan made headlines, China’s film industry had been on a roll with local productions grossing a combined $4.5bn for a 66% market share in the first eight months of 2018, compared to a 53% share the previous year. China’s overall box office, including Hollywood and other international productions, has also continued to climb, sailing past the $7.3bn (RMB50bn) mark in early October, around two months earlier than in 2017. But now local production is grinding to a standstill as the tax bureau is insisting all entertainment firms — including production companies, talent agencies
16 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
CHINA’S NEW CENSORSHIP REGIME China’s local film and TV industries are still trying to figure out the impact of a massive overhaul of its regulatory infrastructure, initiated by the government in March. Two new regulatory bodies have been established. There is a new-look Film Bureau, headed by Wang Xiaohui, which oversees theatrical production and distribution, including co-productions, while the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), headed by Nie Chenxi, oversees the TV industry and also appears to have some oversight of online video platforms. The two bodies replace the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), which was abolished this year. The new Film Bureau sits directly under the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, suggesting much tighter supervision of the film industry. So far, it remains unclear what impact the restructure will have on film censorship — possibly the officials involved are still not clear — although the government has sent fairly clear messages that all content should uphold Party values. The US studios and other foreign distributors are now submitting their titles to censorship three months before the targeted release date — a whole month earlier than usual — to ensure they get cleared in time. “As nervous as we are, the local Chinese producers are even more nervous because, worst case scenario, we can either make cuts or distribute the film in other territories, but the risk profile for local producers goes up significantly,” says one US distributor, who prefers not to be named.
and celebrity-owned studios — submit tax filings from 2016 to 2018. Investors are pulling back, due to concerns over actors’ use of fake contracts and rumours that taxes on production investment will be increased. Film companies are fleeing tax havens such as Khorgos, a small city on the border of Kazakhstan in a remote corner of northwest China, that is unlikely to have ever seen many real film producers or stars. While the release schedule for the rest of 2018 and the early part of next year — including the lucrative Chinese New Year holidays in February — has mostly already been set, there may be a drought of new productions later in 2019. This in turn could impact Hollywood imports as the Chinese authorities always try to maintain a balance between the market share of foreign and local films.
Meanwhile, China has started clamping down much more tightly on the TV and online video sectors. In July, the government issued new rules restricting reality shows, particularly those that encourage “money worship”, and demanding more programmes that “spread positive energy” and “promote core socialist values”. In recent months, there has been an increase in the number of shows taken down from streaming sites — including Guardian (Zhen Hun) based on a gay-themed sci-fi novel and the Chinese version of Saturday Night Live. Then in September, China published draft legislation that increases restrictions on foreign content on Chinese TV and streaming services. Foreign content is banned completely during primetime hours and throughout the rest of the day is restricted to no more than 30% of total daily airtime on broadcast TV channels. Online platforms also have to limit foreign content to 30%. NRTA said the restrictions were necessary for the “protection of social stability” and to limit content that “deviates from core socialist values”. While the implementation of these rules is still being worked out, they are likely to have a serious impact on the broadcast and streaming of foreign films and TV shows in China. One of the new regulations requires NRTA to publish and maintain a catalogue of overseas programmes approved for streaming, a new development that could significantly slow down the censorship process for VoD platforms, at least in the early stages of applying the new rules. Liz Shackleton
None of which means foreign companies should give up trying to work with China — but more than ever they need to be aware of the shifting regulatory, economic and political sands. The issues surrounding China’s tax clampdown and more restrictive censorship climate are likely to grind on for some time, which might be painful in the short term, but could result in a cleaner, less over-heated and more professional film industry. As for the US-China trade war, at the time of writing in mid-October, it looked as if Trump and Xi would meet to discuss their differences at the G20 summit at the end of November. “If all goes well and there is a breakthrough, this may end early,” says William Perry, also an international trade expert at Harris Bricken. “If not, this war s will go on for a year at least.” ■
www.screendaily.com
Golden Network - Day 2 - 3rd DPS.pdf 1 26/10/2018 11:21:19
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
HOT PROJECTS HONG KONG & CHINA
The fight stuff
Despite dipping box office and a censorship process slowing up the production pipeline, there are some knockout titles to get excited about for Chinese New Year. Liz Shackleton reports
M
ainland China’s film industry is going through a turbulent period. Despite the success of Bona Film Group’s Project Gutenberg, Gutenberg which grossed nearly $160m over the National Day holidays, box office was on a downward trend in October 2018 compared to the previous year. In addition, the censorship process has slowed following the Chinese authorities’ overhaul of their regulatory infrastructure and the government’s recent request that talent and production companies pay their back taxes has sent the industry into a spin. As a result, production is expected to slow down in the last quarter of this year, which could result in a shortage of big titles in the second half of 2019, but there is still a large volume of films in production and post-production that are on offer at AFM. Big titles scheduled for release before the end of the year include Wanda Pictures’ fantasy drama Airpocalypse and Huayi Brothers’ action Valley. adventure Mojin: The Worm Valley Although it is still early days for scheduling, films jostling for release during the peak Chinese New Year holiday period in February 2019 include Mega-Vision Project Workshop’s Enter The Fat Dragon, starring Donnie Yen; Integrity, directed by Alan Mak Emperor Motion Pictures’ Integrity and starring Sean Lau and Nick Cheung; and Jackie Yang. Chan’s The Knight Of Shadows: Between Yin And Yang
Airpocalypse Dir Xiao Yang Xiao Yang is directing and heading the cast of this fantasy drama, about four gods who are relegated to living on Earth and create an environmental catastrophe in their attempts to get back into heaven. Jennifer Du and Xiao Shenyang also star in the film, which is scheduled for release on December 21. Xiao previously directed Old Boys: Way Of The Dragon and stars in both of the hit Detective Chinatown films.
Enter The Fat Dragon
actress who died in 2003 aged just 40. Produced by Edko Films and Irresistible Films, the drama also stars Terrance Lau and is due for release next year. Director Leung is co-director of hit action dramas Cold War and Cold War 2 with Sunny Luk.
Contact Wen Mengchen, Wanda Pictures wenmengchen@yeah. net
Anita Dir Longman Leung Currently in production, this long-awaited biopic of Anita Mui stars model Louise Wong, making her acting debut, as the hugely popular singer and
20 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
Contact Julian Chiu, Edko Films chiujulian@edkofilms. com.hk
Bodies At Rest Dir Renny Harlin Nick Cheung, Richie Jen and Yang Zi head the cast of Renny Harlin’s Chinese-language action thriller, which is in post-production for release in April 2019. Scripted by David Lesser, the film follows a group of masked thugs who break into a morgue demanding access to a body that contains evidence of a crime they committed. Wanda Pictures (Left) Airpocalypse
and Media Asia co-produce, with the latter also handling international sales. Contact Fred Tsui, Media Asia frederick_tsui@mediaasia.com
Chasing The Dragon II: Master Of Ransom Dirs Wong Jing, Jason Kwan In post-production, the second instalment in Wong Jing’s Chasing The Dragon series is based on a real-life spate of kidnappings that terrorised Hong Kong’s elite in the 1990s. Tony Leung Ka-fai plays the kidnap king, while Louis Koo is the undercover agent who infiltrates his gang. Wong and Kwan also co-directed Chasing The Dragon, based on the true story of drug dealer Ng Sek-ho, which was a hit in Hong Kong and China last year. Contact Angela Wong, Mega-Vision Project Workshop angelaolwong@mvphk.biz
A City Called Macau Dir Li Shaohong Fifth Generation filmmaker Li Shaohong (The Door, Stolen Life) directs this
Macau-set romantic drama from a script by Yan Geling (Youth). Bai Baihe, Huang Jue and Wu Gang head the cast of the film about a woman working as a VIP client servicing manager at a casino, who falls for a charismatic gambler. Produced by Bona Film Group, the film is currently in postproduction. Contact June Wu, Distribution Workshop june.wu@justcreative.studio
Enter The Fat Dragon Dir Kenji Tanigaki Donnie Yen and Wong Jing both produce and star in this action title about an overweight cop with emotional issues who is tasked with escorting a convict to Japan. Scheduled for release over the Chinese New Year holidays in February 2019, the film is directed by renowned action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki, whose credits include The Monkey King and Japanese manga adaptation Rurouni Kenshin. Contact Angela Wong, Mega-Vision Project Workshop angelaolwong@mvphk.biz
»
www.screendaily.com
STRAY - FOOTAGE SCREENING THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1ST STARTING AT 11:30 AM (ON LOOP EVERY 20 MINUTES) AT LAEMMLE MONICA CENTER 6
2:HRS
COMPLETED
CASTING BY
HUMOR ME
SHOUT! STUDIOS PRESENTS A FUGITIVE FILMS/SPITTING COBRA FILMS PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH HUMOROUS FILMS AND SUPERLATIVE FILMS A FILM BY SAM HOFFMAN JEMAINE CLEMENT INGRID MICHAELSON ANNIE POTTS ERICH BERGEN WITH BEBE NEUWIRTH AND ELLIOTT GOULD COSTUME DIRECTOR OF LINE COKERRY BARDEN AND PAUL SCHNEE MUSICBY GABRIEL MANN DESIGNER AMY ROTH EDITOR PAUL FRANK PRODUCTION DESIGNER TANIA BIJLANI PHOTOGRAPHY SEAMUS TIERNEY PRODUCER BECKY GLUPCZYNSKI PRODUCER SUSAN BROOKS EXECUTIVE PRODUCED PRODUCERS EMILY BLAVATNIK RUTH POMERANCE DANIELLE RENFREW BEHRENS FIONA RUDIN BY COURTNEY POTTS p.g.a. JAMIE GORDON p.g.a. SAM HOFFMAN p.g.a. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SAM HOFFMAN
COMPLETED
A ROUGH DRAFT COMPLETED
© 2017 Humor Me, LLC.
OFFICE LOCATION AFM 2018 : LOEWS HOTEL, 7TH FLOOR, ZUMA ROOM (UK FILM CENTER) CONTACT : ANNA KRUPNOVA | AK@REASON8FILMS.COM | +44 791 4621 232 | WWW. REASON8FILMS.COM
HOT PROJECTS HONG KONG & CHINA
Hotel Soul Good
Letter, the film is a romantic drama revolving around two generations of characters and a series of letters that fall into the wrong hands. Chinese release is scheduled for November 9. Japan’s Toho is producing a Japanese-language version, also directed by Iwai, which is due to start production next summer.
Dir Anthony Yan Pak-wing Produced by Hong Kong’s Plus One Motion Pictures, this romantic comedy features an ensemble cast of Hong Kong talents including Chrissie Chau (29+1), Louis Cheung (Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight), Eric Kot (Fantasia), Maggie Shiu (PTU) and Richard Ng (Vampire Cleanup Department). Chau plays an executive in the hospitality industry who opens a new hotel when she loses her job and boyfriend after a meteor shower enables her to see dead people. The film was released in Hong Kong on October 18.
Contact Andree Sham, We Distribution andree@wedistribution.com
A Lifetime Treasure Dirs Mak Kai Kwong, Andrew Lam Man Chung Produced by Teddy Robin, this comedy is set in an old people’s home where the peace of an eccentric group of retirees is about to be shattered by a gangster out for revenge. Co-director Lam plays the retired doctor who runs the home, while the cast also includes Robin, Ivana Wong (Golden Chickens), Sammo Hung (My Beloved Bodyguard), Lam Suet (Trivisa) and Louis Cheung (Keeper Of Darkness). The film is in production for release over Chinese New Year 2019.
Contact Tiffin Shing, Golden Dragon Pictures info@goldendragonpics.com Invincible Dragon
Integrity Dir Alan Mak Director Alan Mak and producers Felix Chong and Ronald Wong, who worked together on the Overheard trilogy, are reteaming on this crime thriller, which is in post-production for tentative release over Chinese New Year 2019. The story follows a leading anti-corruption agent who is forced to team up with his ex-wife to salvage an investigation in which both the defendant and the whistleblower have disappeared. Sean Lau, Nick Cheung and Karena Lam head the cast.
Contact Grace Chan, Entertaining Power Co gracechan@entertainingpower.com
Limbo Dir Soi Cheang
Contact Raymond Liu, Emperor Motion Pictures raymondliu@emperorgroup.com Limbo
Invincible Dragon Dir Fruit Chan Max Zhang (Ip Man 3) and mixed martial-arts expert Anderson Silva star in Fruit Chan’s $12m action film about an undercover agent who helps the police solve mysterious cases, but clashes with a Macau detective and a US army veteran with a secret link to his past. Scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2019, the film also features behind-the-scenes talent such as DoP Cheng Siu Keung (Election) and action director Stephen Tung Wei (Operation Mekong). Contact Kat Yeung, Mandarin Motion Pictures kathy.yeung@ mandarinmovie.com.hk
Ip Man 4 Dir Wilson Yip The fourth instalment in producer Raymond Wong’s blockbuster Ip Man franchise will again star Donnie Yen as the eponymous hero, along with Chan Kwok Kwan, Vanness Wu and Scott Adkins. In post-production, the $52m
film follows the eponymous kung-fu master to the US where his student Bruce Lee has upset the local martialarts community by opening a Wing Chun school. Yuen Wo Ping is again on board as action director. Contact Kat Yeung, Mandarin Motion Pictures kathy.yeung@ mandarinmovie.com.hk
The Knight Of Shadows: Between Yin And Yang
character encounters another demon hunter who is not fully human. In postproduction for release during Chinese New Year 2019, the film is produced by Kiefer Liu (The Monkey King series) and backed by iQiyi Pictures, Beijing Sparkle Roll Media and Golden Shore Films & Television. Contact Tiffin Shing, Golden Network Asia info@goldnetasia.com
Produced by Wilson Yip and Paco Wong, this $16m action drama stars Lam Ka Tung as a veteran detective and Mason Lee as a rookie cop, both on the trail of a serial killer. Cya Liu plays a woman who volunteers to work on the case as penance for killing the detective’s wife and child in an accident, although her embittered colleague can’t forgive her. The film is backed by Sun Entertainment Culture, Er Dong Pictures, Bona Film Group and Sil-Metropole Organization, and is in post-production. Contact Chiu Yi Leung, Bravos Pictures cy.leung@bravospictures.com
Li Na Dir Peter Ho-sun Chan
Last Letter
Dir Vash
Dir Shunji Iwai
Jackie Chan stars as a demon hunter defending humanity from an inhuman invasion in this period action comedy, which also stars Ethan Juan, Elane Zhong and Lin Peng. When a mysterious force starts kidnapping village girls to feast on their souls, Chan’s
Japanese director Shunji Iwai’s first foray into Chinese-language cinema is produced by Peter Ho-sun Chan’s We Pictures and stars Zhou Xun, Qin Hao, Du Jiang and Wu Yanshu. Exploring similar themes to Iwai’s 1995 drama Love
Chan’s highly anticipated biopic of mainland Chinese tennis champion Li Na is currently shooting in Wuhan for a tentative late 2019 or early 2020 release. The film is produced by Jojo Hui Yuetchun and scripted by Zhang Ji, who also wrote Chan’s Dearest and American Dreams In China. The identity of the actress playing Li — who has been in training for two years in order to realistically portray Asia’s first Grand Slam singles champion — is being kept under wraps.
(Left) A Lifetime Treasure
Contact Andree Sham, We Distribution andree@wedistribution.com »
22 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
www.screendaily.com
PREMIERE SCREENING THURSDAY, NOV. 1 - 1:30PM - ARCLIGHT 2 & SATURDAY, NOV. 3 - 1:30PM - ARCLIGHT 2
PROMO PREMIERES
sales@filmmodeentertainment.com • AFM Office: Loews, Suite 509 www.filmmodeentertainment.com
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
HOT PROJECTS HONG KONG & CHINA
Lost, Found Dir Lu Yue Yao Chen and Ma Yili star in this drama about a woman locked in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband, whose daughter is kidnapped by the seemingly helpful nanny. A renowned cinematographer, Lu also has directing credits including Locarno Golden Leopard winner Mr Zhao (1998) and Thirteen Princess Trees (2006), which won a special jury prize at Tokyo International Film Festival. Lost, Found premiered at Shanghai International Film Festival and is currently on release in mainland China, where it has grossed more than $30m. Contact Celia Hao, Huayi Brothers celia.hao@huayimedia.com
Mojin: The Worm Valley
Reborn
Dir Fei Xing
and is attempting to destroy his mentor’s boxing studio. In pre-production, the film has Chris Collins on board as action director and is set to star Ken Low (Paradox), Sun Zhen Feng, Zheng Zi Ping, Venus Wong and Fire Lee.
Enlight Media is producing two $40m action adventure films based on the popular Ghost Blows Out The Light series of online novels: Mojin: The Worm Valley, which is in post-production for release before the end of the year, and Mojin: The Dragon Ridge, scheduled for release in 2019. Both films are directed by Fei Xing (Silent Witness) and star newcomers Cai Heng, Yu Heng, Gu Xuan and Chen Yusi. Huayi Brothers is distributing in China and handling international sales.
Contact Grace Chan, Entertaining Power Co gracechan@entertainingpower.com
The Whistleblower Dir Xue Xiaolu
Contact Celia Hao, Huayi Brothers celia.hao@huayimedia.com
Reborn
The Whistleblower
Dir Li Hai Long Han Geng, Rhydian Vaughan, Li Yuan and Japan’s Tomohisa Yamashita star in this thriller about a geeky programmer who is forced to become an undercover agent when he is dragged into a dangerous cyber game. Produced by Andre Morgan and Zoe Chen, the film has Nick Powell (Resident Evil: Retribution) on board as action director.
are dragged into the world of international espionage and tasked with preventing a terrorist mastermind from using weapons of mass destruction.
Contact Chiu Yi Leung, Bravos Pictures cy.leung@bravospictures.com
Dir Herman Yau
The Rookies Dir Alan Yuen Produced by China’s New Classics Media and Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures, this action adventure from Firestorm director Alan Yuen filmed in China and Hungary with a cast including Wang Talu (Our Times), Sandrine Pinna (Legend Of The Demon Cat) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil series). The story follows an extreme sports enthusiast, a bumbling cop and her best friend who
Contact Raymond Liu, Emperor Motion Pictures raymondliu@emperorgroup.com
Shock Wave 2 working title Andy Lau and director Herman Yau are reteaming on a sequel to their hit action drama Shock Wave, which grossed $63m in mainland China last year. The sequel, which features completely new characters in a related story, revolves around a bomb disposal officer who is injured in a blast and then named as a suspect in a terrorist bombing. Currently in pre-production, the film is scheduled to start shooting early next year. Contact Mia Sin, Universe Films Distribution mia_sin@uih.com.hk
26 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
Silence Of Smoke Dir Yojiro Takita Best known as the director of Oscarwinning drama Departures, Japanese filmmaker Yojiro Takita is making his Chinese-language debut with this drama, co-produced by Media Asia and Magilm Pictures, which is currently shooting. Han Geng (So Young), Zhang Guoli (Back To 1942) and Summer Xu (Mr Six) head the cast of the film about a young cakemaker who takes over the family business but finds he can’t replicate his father’s success. Contact Fred Tsui, Media Asia frederick_tsui@mediaasia.com
Unleashed Dirs Kwok Ka Hei, Ambrose Kwok Produced by Paco Wong, this drama follows an underground boxer and his vendetta with a former champion, who has recently been released from prison
The director and star behind romantic comedy hit Finding Mr Right, Xue Xiaolu and Tang Wei, reunite for this China-Australia co-production, which is produced by Perfect Village Entertainment, Bill Kong’s Edko Films and Beijing Carving Films. Currently in post-production, The Whistleblower also stars Lei Jiayin (Guns And Roses) as a Chinese ex-pat in Australia who discovers a conspiracy at the company where he works. Contact Julian Chiu, Edko Films chiujulian@edkofilms.com.hk
The White Storm 2: Drug Lords working title Dir Herman Yau Following their collaboration on Shock Wave, director Herman Yau and actor/ producer Andy Lau are reteaming on a sequel to Benny Chan’s 2013 action drama The White Storm. In postproduction, the $25m film also stars Louis Koo, who starred in the original, Michael Miu, Karena Lam and Cherrie Ying. The story again revolves around cops battling drug dealers in the Hong Kong underworld. Contact Mia Sin, Universe Films s Distribution mia_sin@uih.com.hk ■
www.screendaily.com
PRODUCTION FOCUS CALM WITH HORSES
Grooming Horses Nick Rowland’s debut feature Calm With Horses — sold here by Altitude — was four years in the making. Tom Grater speaks to the director and his producer, Daniel Emmerson, on its journey to the big screen
T
A collaborative approach Rowland had met Daniel Emmerson while the young producer was cutting his teeth in development at UK powerhouse Working Title Films. When he set out on his own — “scrapping around”, as Emmerson puts it — he received a text from Rowland asking if he might be interested in optioning Young Skins. “Colin [Barrett] had a very distinctive and cinematic voice, and Calm With Horses had all the ingredients that would make a good film — genre elements, interesting characters, and it was doable on a first-time budget,” recalls Rowland. “Just doable,” Emmerson underlines. But Emmerson discovered they had competition for the rights, fortuitously from Rowland’s agent McCaughan. He had been sent the book separately and asked if he wanted to option it for his
Martin Maguire
he story of Nick Rowland’s feature debut Calm With Horses is one of strange coincidences, good timing and rapidly rising stars. The project’s genesis can be traced back to director Rowland’s time at the National Film and Television School in London, where he studied alongside writer Joseph Murtagh. The pair collaborated on four short-film projects, including the Bafta-nominated Slap, starring Joe Cole. The actor’s agent was Conor McCaughan at Troika, whose eye had been caught by Rowland’s short films, and he wasted no time in snapping up the director as a client. On graduating, Rowland voraciously consumed short stories in the hunt for something to develop. His eye was caught by a review in The Guardian newspaper of a debut collection of short stories, Young Skins, written by emerging Irish writer Colin Barrett. In particular, one story from the collection stood out. Calm With Horses was the tale of an exboxer who becomes a feared enforcer for a family of drug dealers while also trying to be a good father to his autistic fiveyear-old son. Rowland recognised parts of the story’s setting and characters in his own childhood growing up in Banff, a small village in the north of Scotland. “Each short story [in the collection] is about a trapped young soul who is stuck in this town,” he adds.
Martin Maguire
Nick Rowland (centre) on set
‘Trainspotting got me interested in filmmaking. I’ve always admired what Film4 represents’ Nick Rowland, director
(From left) Cosmo Jarvis and Barry Keoghan in Calm With Horses
production company DMC Film, which McCaughan had set up with Michael Fassbender. The situation was smoothed not just by McCaughan’s existing relationship with Rowland, but because he also knew Emmerson. The producer was developing a project called The Kitchen written by a then-emerging Daniel Kaluuya, another of McCaughan’s clients.
30 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
Young Skins became part of the reason Emmerson was soon offered a job as in-house producer at DMC, and the first thing he did when he joined the company was to option the book for Rowland to direct and Murtagh to write. “It all felt quite serendipitous,” remembers Rowland (Emmerson is now managing director of DMC Film). Emmerson secured early development
funding from Northern Ireland Screen (DMC is London-based but registered in Northern Ireland, meaning it could access funding for the development slate) to help create a “really detailed treatment” for the feature, which they took to Film4. “My dream was to make a Film4 film,” says Rowland. “Trainspotting got me interested in filmmaking. I’ve always admired what that company represents and its output.” Film4 had already been involved in Fassbender’s career, backing Hunger and Fish Tank (in which he starred) as well as DMC’s first feature Slow West. Film4 joined the project to fund the rest of »
www.screendaily.com
Alexandra Thompson
SET REPORT CALM WITH HORSES
‘It was Nick and Joe’s insight into the story and passion that convinced us it was a great idea for a film adaptation’ Sam Lavender, Film4
the development process and to majority finance the production. “We really loved Nick and Joe’s previous work together, and the combination of their vision and voice was the deciding factor. It was their insight into the story and passion that convinced us it was a great idea for a film adaptation,” recalls Film4’s deputy head of creative Sam Lavender. The team then raised money from Screen Ireland (then the Irish Film Board) — they would eventually shoot on Ireland’s west coast — and as such needed to attach an Irish co-producer, finding their match in Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe’s Element Pictures. Further funding came from Ireland’s regional WRAP fund, and the country’s Section 481 tax credit. Element also took Irish distribution rights, and Altitude came on board for UK distribution as well as international sales. During the four years it took from optioning the book to securing the finance, Rowland did not want to rest on his laurels — and needed to pay the bills. So he juggled television work with the ongoing development of Calm With Horses, working on high-end productions including BBC period drama Ripper Street, an experience that got him used to working on a production of scale and with established talent. A cast of rising stars When it came to casting Calm With Horses, Rowland had rising Irish star Barry Keoghan in mind from early in the process. Rowland knew the actor from his film school days when Keoghan used to visit the director’s flat, which he shared with another budding director who had cast him in a short film. “He’s incredibly talented, every role he’s done has surprised me,” says Rowland. Separately, Emmerson met Keoghan at Sundance in 2016, which Keoghan was attending as one of the stars of Rebecca Daly’s Mammal. “I told him about this wheeler-dealer character,” Emmerson recalls. “We had a good chat and at the end he walked away, turned around, and gave me back my wallet. He’d pinched it.”
Barry Keoghan on the set of Calm With Horses
The team was aware of Cosmo Jarvis from his breakout turn in Lady Macbeth and he impressed at his first audition. “He has a physicality, an imposing quality, but the moment he walked in the room he had an incredible vulnerability,” says Rowland. “He’s extremely sensitive and he was a perfect fit for the character.” “Cosmo connected with the material in a way no-one else did,” Emmerson adds. Jarvis threw himself into the role. Five weeks prior to shooting, he moved to the west coast of Ireland at his own expense to immerse himself in the culture and learn the local lingo. The Englishman was the only non-Irish actor in the film playing an Irish character, but performed such a convincing accent that not a single member of the crew realised he was English. This lasted until the wrap party when, after 28 solid shooting days, he broke character for the first time. “He suddenly started talking in his Devon accent and everyone freaked out,” remembers Rowland. A further key character in the film is played by another rising star, Irish actress and amateur boxer Niamh Algar. She was recently selected as a UK and Ireland Screen Star of Tomorrow for 2018 and Calm With Horses found her in
32 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
similarly illustrious territory: Jarvis was a Star of Tomorrow in 2013, Keoghan and Emmerson were both Screen Stars in 2015, and director Rowland and writer Murtagh were chosen in 2016. “What really struck me with Niamh was the layers of past she infused her performance with. You could feel the history of her character and her past relationship in all these micro details and choices she was making in the scenes,” says Rowland on Algar’s performance. The shoot was tight, with a fair amount of travel. “Every day there was an intense pressure to get everything done, we couldn’t go into overtime,” says Emmerson. “We had a few one-take wonders and it was a relief getting those in the can.” For Rowland, the highlight from the production was simply seeing it all come together after so many years of hard work. After wrapping in June, the film is now well into the edit process in London, and will lock before the end of the year. At DMC, Emmerson now has two projects moving towards production: The Kitchen with Kaluuya and Gentle In The Bones, the latter the writing debut of I, Daniel Blake star Hayley Squires. Transitioning from directing shorts at film school to television work and then
‘Every day there was an intense pressure to get everything done. We had a few one-take wonders’ Daniel Emmerson, producer
onto his first feature was a learning curve for Rowland, but he is now considering life after Calm With Horses. Particularly appealing to him is an idea for a project about rally driving. Between the ages of 13 and 21, the director was a professional race driver, competing in the British and Chinese rally championships before he was forced to change careers after the 2008 financial crisis meant funding dried up. “My mum was also really nervous [about the driving]. When I told her I wanted to be a film director, she said, ‘Thank god, something sensible,’” says Rowland. “The only mum in the world who describes a career in film as sensible,” s Emmerson adds, with a smile. n
www.screendaily.com
SCREENING TOMORROW 9:00 | LAEMMLE MONICA FILM CENTER 5
PRESENTS
RAVEN BANNER ENTERTAINMENT | LOEWS HOTEL | SUITE 601 James Fler +14164283537 jfler@ravenbanner.ca
Michaelangelo Masangkay +14169852544 michaelangelo@ravenbanner.ca
WWW.RAVENBANNERENTERTAINMENT.COM
SCREENINGS Edited by Paul Lindsell
paullindsell@gmail.com
AFM THEATRES AMC SANTA MONICA 1310 3rd Street Promenade, at Arizona Avenue ARCLIGHT SANTA MONICA Santa Monica Place, level 3 BROADWAY CINEPLEX 1441 3rd Street Promenade, just north of Broadway
SAY MY NAME See box, left
T-34
MARKET 09:00 70 BIG ONES
Thriller. 100mins. Dir: Koldo Serra. Scr: Javier Echaniz, Asier Guerricaechevarria, Juan Gil Bengoa. Cast: Emma Suarez, Nathalie Poza, Hugo Silva. Filmax. Raquel is a desperate woman. A series of unfortunate events in her personal life have forced her into debt and now she needs to come up with ¤35,000 in the next 24 hours. Her last hope is a bank loan. But just as Raquel is about to complete the transaction, two bank robbers storm the branch, complicating Raquel’s dire situation even further. ArcLight 1
CHARADES PROMO REEL
Animation, comedy, drama. 40mins. Dir: Ben Stassen, Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt, Carlo Mirabella-Davis, Anca Damian. Scr: Anca Damian. Cast: Haley Bennett. Charades. AMC Santa Monica 3
EDMOND
Comedy, historical. 112mins. Dir: Alexis Michalik. Scr: Alexis Michalik. Cast: Thomas Soliveres, Olivier Gourmet, Mathilde Seigner, Alice de Lencquesaing, Simon
Abkarian, Dominique Pinon, Tom Leeb. Gaumont. 1897, Paris in the ‘Belle Epoque’. Edmond Rostand is a playwright of potential genius. Unfortunately, all he has written until now has been a flop. He is paralysed by the sight of a blank page and his inspiration has dried up. Thanks to his admirer Sarah Bernhardt, he is approached by the greatest actor of the day, who insists on appearing in his next play. And he wants to premiere it in three weeks. The only problem: Edmond has not yet written it. AMC Santa Monica 1
THE FATAL RAID
Action/adventure. 90mins. Dir: Jacky Brother. Scr: Meng Wa Choi, Siu Fuu Lam, Jacky Brother. Cast: Patrick Tam, Michael Tong, Jeana Ho, Min-Chen Lin, Jade Leung. China 3D Digital Distribution. Twenty years ago, Inspector Tam was involved in a failed mission chasing a group of gangsters across the Hong Kong border, a mission that still gives him nightmares. Cut to the present day and he is sent on a new mission to Macau. Laemmle Monica Film Center 3
36 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
09:00 SAY MY NAME
Romantic comedy. 84mins. Dir: Jay Stern. Scr: Deborah FrancesWhite. Cast: Lisa Brenner, Nick Blood, Celyn Jones, Mark Bonnar, Peter Davison. Electric Entertainment. When a one-night stand gets interrupted by a
robbery, two complete strangers are forced to navigate the seedy underbelly of a sleepy Welsh isle in order to get back their stolen property. Along the way, their opposite personalities and differing outlooks on life bring them to boiling point.
Action/adventure. 133mins. Dir: Alexey Sidorov. Scr: Alexey Sidorov. Cast: Alexander Petrov, Vinzenz Kiefer, Irina Starshenbaum. Mars Media Entertainment. Every war has a legend. In 1944, a courageous group of Russian soldiers managed to escape from German captivity in a half-destroyed legendary T-34 tank. Those were the times of unforgettable bravery, fierce fighting, unbreakable love and legendary miracles. AMC Santa Monica 6
ArcLight 3
TELL IT TO THE BEES HOT AIR
MIA AND THE WHITE LION
Drama. 104mins. Dir: Frank Coraci. Scr: Will Reichel. Cast: Steve Coogan, Neve Campbell, Taylor Russell, Skylar Astin. Great Point. A right-wing radio host finds his world turned upside down when his niece shows up seeking help with a family crisis.
Action/adventure, family. 98mins. Dir: Gilles de Maistre. Scr: Prune de Maistre, William Davies. Cast: Melanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood, Daniah de Villers. Studiocanal. A young girl from London moves to Africa with her parents, where she befriends a lion cub.
ArcLight 5
Broadway Cineplex 3
Drama. 105mins. Dir: Annabel Jankel. Scr: Henrietta Ashworth, Jessica Ashworth. Cast: Anna Paquin, Holliday Grainger. Film Constellation. In post-Second World War rural Scotland, a single mother falls in love with the town’s new female doctor. AMC Santa Monica 5
TRUSTNORDISK PROMO REEL
Drama. 20mins. LIVING ON THE EDGE, THE WADDEN SEA
PRINCESS EMMY — THE MOVIE
Documentary. 93mins. Dir: Ruben Smit. Scr: Ruben Smit. Dutch Features Global Entertainment. The first 4K cinematic celebration of the Wadden Sea, one of the most extreme and unknown habitats remaining on the planet.
Animation, family. 75mins. Dir: Piet de Rycker. Scr: Piet de Rycker, Sergio Casci. Cast: Ruby Barnhill, John Hannah, Franka Potente. Studio 100 Film. A young princess is put to the test and risks everything in order to win the right to possess a truly remarkable gift.
Laemmle Monica Film Center 5
Broadway Cineplex 1
LAEMMLE’S MONICA FILM CENTER 1332 2nd Street AFM SCREENINGS ON DEMAND Loews Hotel, Room 334 » Screening times and venues are correct at time of press but subject to alteration. For late changes visit thefilmcatalogue.com
a no-man’s-land on the border. French captain Andre Gerval is called to lead a small team of elite snipers to secretly prepare an emergency rescue. When diplomacy fails and with time is running out, Gerval and his team take on the responsibility of carrying out a simultaneous fiveman sniper attack to get the children and their teacher out safely. Based on a true story. Broadway Cineplex 2
A YOUNG MAN WITH HIGH POTENTIAL
Suspense, thriller. 86mins. Dir: Linus De Paoli. Scr: Anna De Paoli. Cast: Adam Ild Rohweder, Paulina Galazka, Amanda Plummer. Raven Banner Entertainment. When the brilliant but sexually inexperienced computer science student Piet is turned down by bright and beautiful Klara, he is deeply hurt. He takes a dose of a sleep medication, leading to a tumultuous night during which he loses his innocence in more ways than one. Laemmle Monica Film Center 4
ArcLight 7
09:30 15 MINUTES OF WAR
Action/adventure. 95mins. Dir: Fred Grivois. Scr: Fred Grivois Jeremie Guez, Ileana Epsztaj. Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Alban Lenoir. Playtime. Djibouti, 1976: Somalian rebels hijack a school bus with 21 French children and an American teacher, and drive it to
THE BRAND NEW ADVENTURES OF ALADIN
Comedy. 98mins. Dir: Lionel Steketee. Scr: Daive Cohen. Cast: Kev Adams, Jamel Debbouze. Pathe International. After ridding Baghdad of its evil vizier, Aladin is bored at the palace and has still not made up his mind to propose to the princess. But a horrible www.screendaily.com
»
SCREENINGS
with a challenging patient who has grown frustrated with life due to her delicate and demanding medical condition. Broadway Cineplex 1
Scr: Billy Frolick, Alec Sokolow. Luminescence. New unseen footage from Luminescence’s latest productions and trailers of finished titles. AMC Santa Monica 3
KILLERMAN
Action/adventure. 105mins. Dir: Malik Bader. Scr: Malik Bader. Cast: Liam Hemsworth. The Solution Entertainment Group. After a car accident following a deal gone wrong, small-time money launderer Moe Diamond is suffering from amnesia, with vicious gangsters on his tail and dirty cops not far behind.
MINUSCULE — MANDIBLES FROM FAR AWAY
Animation, children’s, family. 85mins. Dir: Helene Giraud, Thomas Szabo. Scr: Helene Giraud. Futurikon. When a young ladybug gets trapped by accident in a cardboard box shipped to the Caribbean, his parents sets off for the paradise archipelago to find him. ArcLight 3
Broadway Cineplex 3
RIDE THE KLEPTOCRATS MARKET 09:30 DACHRA
Horror. 113mins. Dir: Abdelhamid Bouchnak. Scr: Abdelhamid Bouchnak. Cast: Yasmine Dimassi, Aziz Jebali, Bilel Slatnia. Celluloid Dreams. A journalism student and two male classmates set out on an assignment to solve the cold case of Mongia, a woman found mutilated 25 years ago and now imprisoned in an asylum, suspected of witchcraft. As they pursue
dictator, Shah Zaman, invites himself to the palace and announces that he has come to capture the city and marry the princess. Aladin has no other choice but to flee. He will try to find his old genie and return in force to free the city and win back his betrothed. ArcLight 2
THE CURRENT WAR
Biography, drama, historical. 105mins. Dir: Alfonso GomezRejon. Scr: Michael Mitnick. Cast: Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston. 13 Films. The dramatic story of the cut-throat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine
their investigation, the three friends stumble upon the archaic and ominous world of Dachra, an isolated countryside compound filled with goats, silent women, mysterious drying meat and steaming pots, which is home to a cult. When the cult’s jovial but menacing leader invites them to stay overnight, they are drawn into Dachra’s dark secrets and a desperate attempt to escape alive. AMC Santa Monica 2
whose electrical system would power the modern world. Laemmle Monica Film Center 6 By confirmed RSVP only
DACHRA See box, above
SAINT JUDY
Biography. 90mins. Dir: Sean Hanish. Scr: Dmitry Portnoy. Cast: Michelle Monaghan, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Common. Blue Fox Entertainment. The true story of immigration attorney Judy Wood, and how she singlehandedly changed the US law of asylum to save women’s lives. Laemmle Monica Film Center 2
UP AND AWAY
Animation, family.
38 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
81mins. Dir: Karsten Kiilerich. Scr: Karsten Kiilerich. Cast: Eoin McCormick. Sola Media. A village boy, his faithful goat, a power-seeking sultan, two hungry crocodiles, an unscrupulous villain, a streetwise city girl, an absentminded carpet dealer and, of course, a flying carpet all play their part in this adventure. The tale of a thousand-andone-nights-hillbilly who, against all odds, manages to travel the world, defeat his enemies, overcome his own fear, and who eventually returns home with an unexpected bonus.
Thanks to the dedicated members of social services, the paths of Alice and Theo will cross, blending the journey of Jean and the rest of the team along the way. Laemmle Monica Film Center 1
IN THE LIGHT
Drama. 86mins. Dir: Andres Valle, Carlos Valle. Scr: Andres Valle, Carlos Valle. Cast: Mario Cimmaro, Soccorro Bonilla, Silvana Arias, Jacqueline Salgado. Global Genesis Group. The story of a caregiver becoming close friends
Documentary. 84mins. Dir: Sam Hobkinson, Havana Marking. Scr: Louise Story. Dogwoof. A Malaysian wealth fund is looted of US$3.5 billion. With little to go on, dogged investigative reporters retrace the dirty money, via real estate deals and movie financing back to the top echelons of the Malaysian government. ArcLight 9
LANCASTER SKIES See box, below
LUMINESCENCE ANIMATION PROMO REEL
Animation. 85mins. Dir: Licensing Brands.
Horror, thriller. 103mins. Dir: Jacopo Rondinelli. Scr: Fabio Guaglione, Fabio Resinaro, Marco Sani. Cast: Ludovic Hughes, Lorenzo Richelmy, Matt Rippy. True Colours Glorious Films. Kyle and Max are two extreme sports athletes, two riders in continuous challenge and search of money. When they learn of a mysterious contest by an unknown organisation, Black Babylon, they can’t turn down the $250,000 prize. But the contest will turn out to be much darker and deadlier than expected, a game somewhere between an
Broadway Cineplex 4
11:00 IN SAFE HANDS
Drama. 115mins. Dir: Jeanne Herry. Scr: Jeanne Herry. Cast: Gilles Lellouche, Sandrine Kiberlain, Miou Miou, Elodie Bouchez. Studiocanal. Abandoned at birth, baby Theo’s uncertain future lies in the hands of the Child Welfare Services. Jean, who is no stranger to the foster system, is given the responsibility of temporarily looking after him. Alice, unable to have children of her own, has never stopped fighting to be a mother. After facing many setbacks, she is finally ready to welcome a child, just when the adoption service is seeking a home for Theo.
MARKET 11:00 LANCASTER SKIES
Action/adventure, drama. 98mins. Dir: Callum Burn. Scr: Sam Parsons, Callum Burn, Andrew Burn. Cast: Alfie Hammond, George Williams, Charlie
Moore. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution. In 1944, a broken, solitary Spitfire ace must overcome his past to lead a Lancaster bomber crew in the pivotal aerial war over Berlin. Laemmle Monica Film Center 5
www.screendaily.com
MARKET 11:30 MY MASTERPIECE
Comedy. 101mins. Dir: Gaston Duprat. Scr: Andres Duprat. Cast: Guillermo Francella, Luis Brandoni. Latido Films. Arturo is an unscrupulous art dealer evil reality show and a frightening ritual that will push them beyond the limits of extreme. AMC Santa Monica 5
STANO
Drama. 110mins. Dir: Raymond De Felitta. Scr: Robert Bruzio. Cast: Joe Manganiello, Sofia Vergara. Kathy Morgan International (KMI). An inspirational underdog story about a young rising star who lands himself in prison because of a terrible accident. After 17 years behind bars and trying to stay alive, he returns to society — and must fight to reclaim his career, his friendships and his love. ArcLight 1
11:30 CARGA
Drama. 113mins. Dir: Bruno Gascon. Scr: Bruno Gascon. Cast: Michalina Olszanska, Vitor Norte, Rita Blanco, Sara Sampaio. Wide. A truck driver tormented by the load he carries. A road that should lead to a better life. Human beings treated as goods for selling. In a capitalist society where each person focuses on their own needs, it is easy to forget about those around us and only do what is best for each of us. This is the story of Viktoriya, a young woman
www.screendaily.com
and Renzo his socially awkward painter and longtime friend. Willing to risk it all, they develop an extreme and ludicrous plan to save themselves. ArcLight 10
who throws everything away in search of a better life. From the moment the doors of the truck open up, Viktoriya is confronted with the cruel reality of human trafficking. Can she escape her fate? Laemmle Monica Film Center 4
CATS
Action/adventure, animation, comedy, family. 88mins. Dir: Gary Wang. Scr: Gary Wang. Cast: Animation. All Rights Entertainment. Cape, a restless and smart kitten, sets off on an adventure to find the wonderful place where cats can live freely. Obstacles, new encounters and friendship pave the way and help Cape grow up. Will he eventually find that happy land? ArcLight 4
THE FURIES
Horror. 80mins. Dir: Tony D’Aquino. Scr: Tony D’Aquino. Cast: Airlie Dodds, Linda Ngo, Taylor Ferguson, Danielle Horvat. Odin’s Eye Entertainment. Rebellious high-school students Kayla and Maddie are stalked and abducted by a sinister presence while out bombing their neighbourhood with graffiti. Waking up in the woods, bound and disoriented in a
claustrophobic coffin-like apparatus, Kayla’s first thought is of Maddie. Before she has a chance to ruminate on the dreadful fate that may have befallen her friend, Kayla notices a terrifying masked man fast approaching, armed with a razor-sharp axe. As a chase ensues, it soon becomes clear Kayla and her pursuer are not alone. There are six more young women, each with a masked stalker assigned to them. As the threat of more killers closes in, she races to save as many girls as she can. AMC Santa Monica 4
MY MASTERPIECE See box, above
NOMIS
Psycho-drama, thriller. 99mins. Dir: David Raymond. Scr: David Raymond. Cast: Henry Cavill, Alexandra Daddario, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci. Fortitude International. A weathered lieutenant, his police force and a local vigilante are all caught up in a dangerous scheme involving a recently arrested, troubled man who is linked to years of female abductions and murders. AMC Santa Monica 2
ORDINARY PEOPLE
Thriller. 99mins. Dir: Im Jin-soon.
»
November 1, 2018 Screen International at AFM 39
SCREENINGS
ENDZEIT — EVER AFTER
THE TOBACCONIST
See box, below
Drama. 113mins. Dir: Nikolaus Leytner. Scr: Klaus Richter, Nikolaus Leytner. Cast: Bruno Ganz, Johannes Krisch, Simon Morze, Emma Drogunova, Regina Fritsch. Beta Cinema. A tender, heartbreaking story about one young man and his friendship with Sigmund Freud during the Nazi occupation of Vienna.
MASTER Z: THE IP MAN LEGACY
Martial arts. 105mins. Dir: Wo Ping Yuen. Scr: Edmond Wong. Cast: Max Zhang, Dave Bautista, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa. Mandarin Motion Pictures. While keeping a low profile after his defeat at the hands of Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi gets himself into trouble after becoming involved in a fight with a powerful foreigner. ArcLight 7
SILENCIO
Children’s, documentary. 80mins. Dir: Guillaume Maidatchevsky. Gaumont. Follow the incredible odyssey of a newborn reindeer in Lapland.
that a seat in the local cinema is cursed and whoever takes it ends up dead. A group of highschool friends start to believe the legend when some mysterious deaths occur after a day of skipping school at the cinema. The police begin their investigation while the teenagers start to suspect each other.
Thriller. 98mins. Dir: Lorena Villarreal. Scr: Lorena Villarreal. Cast: Rupert Graves, John Noble. Octane Entertainment. In order to save her son’s life, Ana must find a mystical stone that her grandfather originally discovered in Mexico’s Zone of Silence. Throughout her desperate search, Ana stumbles upon family secrets and enemies who believe the stone’s power is worth killing for.
ArcLight 9
ArcLight 5
Broadway Cineplex 3
MARKET 13:00 THE CROSSING
Drama. 99mins. Dir: Bai Xue. Scr: Bai Xue. Cast: Huang Yao. Wanda Media. Sixteen-year-old Peipei crosses the border nearly every day, travelling from her mainland China home to her Hong Kong high school and back Scr: Im Jin-soon. Cast: Don Lee, Kim Sae-ron, Lee Sang-yeob. Contents Panda/NEW. A physical education teacher is transferred to a local high school after being dismissed. A student who catches his eye raises suspicions about the disappearence of her friend.
again. Customs officials glimpse her school uniform and innocent face and wave her through without a second thought. But Peipei is about to become involved in some illicit activities that will turn her routine into something highly dangerous. Broadway Cineplex 1
cousin who may uncover their secrets or steal their fortune. Broadway Cineplex 2
13:00 AILO’S JOURNEY
STRAY PROMO REEL
ANGELS NEVER CRY
Laemmle Monica Film Center 2
Horror, thriller. 105mins. Dir: Olga Gorodetskaya. Scr: Olga Grodetskaya. Cast: Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Elena Lyadova. Reason8 Films. Four years after the disappearance of their son, a couple adopts a young boy. Strangely, over time, the orphan begins to resemble their lost son more and more. While the mother believes the boy to be their lost son, the father is certain that their son is long dead, and they have adopted something sinister.
Thriller. 88mins. Dir: Lok Kwan Woo. Scr: John Cunningham. Cast: Eva Oskarsdottir, Jonathan Stoddard, Toni Hudson. Princ Films. Running from a marriage in trouble, Theresa meets James. He is an artist, he understands her, he sweeps her off her feet. But Theresa doesn’t know that James carefully planned their every encounter; he has been waiting, plotting, hoping — finally Theresa can be with him... again!
THE SONATA
Laemmle Monica Film Center 6
ArcLight 6
PLAYTIME PROMO REEL
115mins. Playtime.
Horror. 87mins. Dir: Andrew Desmond. Scr: Andrew Desmond, Arthur Morin. Cast: Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, Rutger Hauer. ARRI Media International. A young violinist unravels her long lost father’s past, triggering dark forces that reach beyond her imagination. ArcLight 2 By invitation only
Laemmle Monica Film Center 3
MARKET
THE CROSSING
ENDZEIT — EVER AFTER
WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE
See box, above
Drama, mystery, thriller. 95mins. Dir: Stacie Passon. Scr: Mark Kruger. Cast: Alexandra Daddario, Taissa Farmiga, Sebastian Stan, Crispin Glover. Great Point. After a family tragedy, an isolated family’s peace is disrupted by a distant
CURSED SEAT
Horror. 90mins. Dir: Carolina Hellsgard. Scr: Olivia Vieweg. Cast: Gro Swantje Kohlhof, Maja Lehrer, Trine Dyrholm, Barbara Philipp. Picture Tree International. Two years after zombies have overrun the planet, the German towns of Weimar and Jena are the last holdouts of human civilisation. Two young women flee the confines of the Weimar zombie-free community and must
40 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
Horror, thriller. 95mins. Dir: Nadezhda Mikhalkova. Scr: Oleg Presnyakov, Vladimir Presnyakov. Cast: Anna Mikhalkova, Alexey Dyakin. Planeta Inform Film Distribution. There is an urban legend
13:00
AMC Santa Monica 5
13:30 A VIOLENT SEPARATION
Drama, thriller. 106mins. Dir: Kevin Goetz, Michael Goetz. Scr: Michael Arkof. Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Ben Robson, Alycia Debnam-Carey. DDI (Double Dutch International). Two brothers struggle with a terrible truth behind a tragedy that aims to tear three generations of a family apart. Laemmle Monica Film Center 6
ALL THE GODS IN THE SKY
Sci-fi. 102mins. Dir: Quarxx. Scr: Quarxx. Cast: Jean-Luc Couchard, Melanie Gaydos, Thierry
involuntarily join forces. They develop a strong friendship fighting against the undead, while also being forced to confront the demons of their past. Their adventurous journey takes place in a lush and beautiful post-apocalyptic landscape; now that the humans are gone, nature is taking over. But nature knows no boundaries and soon the two young women must deal with a new and fantastic reality and the biggest test of their friendship. ArcLight 3
»
www.screendaily.com
AFM SCREENINGS SCREENING TOMORROW SCREENING TODAY
Thursday, Nov. 1 | 1:00pm Broadway Cineplex 3
Thursday, Nov. 1 | 3:30pm Broadway Cineplex 2
Friday, Nov. 2 | 11:30am Broadway Cineplex 2 Come visit us at AFM - Loews Suite 616 For Sales Inquiries, contact: Jack Campbell, President Kristen Bedno, Director Jack@OctaneEnt.com Kristen@OctaneEnt.com
www.octaneent.com
+1-310-458-6700 x616
SCREENINGS
Fremont. Playtime. Simon works at a factory and lives confined on a decrepit farm alone with his younger sister, Estelle, who is severely handicapped since a childhood game that took a disastrous turn. Despite his deep remorse and the violence of the world that surrounds him, Simon desperately hopes to save his sister by liberating her from the weight of the world. What if their salvation was coming from “them”?
CLARA
Animation, comedy, fantasy. 85mins. Dir: Oleksandr Klymenko. Scr: Oleksandr Klymenko, Sergiy Grabar. Image Pictures. A girl named Clara lives in an amazing fairy world inhabited by dwarfs, dragons and sorcerers. Astonishing adventures await Clara and her friends, and also the future of the whole world will fall into her hands. Broadway Cineplex 4
ArcLight 10
HAVANA KYRIE BEST INTENTIONS
Comedy. 104mins. Dir: Gilles Legrand. Scr: Gilles Legrand. Cast: Agnes Jaoui. Charades. Isabelle is addicted to charitable causes. She is always running from one humanitarian action to another. She often uses her philanthropy as a way to guilt-trip her family and friends. The arrival of a new charismatic benevolent at the social centre where Isabelle works threatens her position. As a way to restore her reputation, the relentless Isabelle decides to open up a driving school for refugees, whatever the costs may be. AMC Santa Monica 2
Drama, family, musical. 105mins. Dir: Paolo Consorti. Scr: Alfredo Mazzara. Cast: Franco Nero. Vedado Films. A lost man finds passion again in Cuba, aided by music and the son he never met. Laemmle Monica Film Center 2
LITTLE HERO
Action/adventure, animation, family. 106mins. Dir: William Fajito, Jason J Lewis. Scr: William Fajito, Antonius. Cast: Alex Hyde-White, Jason J Lewis, Aly Marianelli, Jillian Gomez.Global Genesis Group.
MARKET
A young boy’s quest to save his father from an ancient monster.
PARTY HARD, DIE YOUNG
Biography, drama. 92mins. Dir: Ondi Timoner. Scr: Ondi Timoner. Cast: Matt Smith. The Exchange. An intimate portrait of the life of Robert Mapplethorpe, one of the most controversial and influential photographers of the 20th century.
Horror. 92mins. Dir: Dominik Hartl. Scr: Karin Lomot, Robert Buchschwenter. Cast: Elisabeth Wabitsch, Michael Glantschnig, Michael Ostrowski. ARRI Media International. School’s over, let’s party! Julia and her clique travel to an island resort with the purpose of celebrating the “party of their lives”, but soon it turns out that “party of their deaths” would be a more fitting description.
Broadway Cineplex 2
AMC Santa Monica 4
ArcLight 6
MAPPLETHORPE
13:30 PROJECT ITHACA
Sci-fi. 90mins. Dir: Nicholas Humphries. Scr: Anthony Artibello, Kevin C Bjerkness. Cast: James Gallanders, Deragh Campbell, Daniel Fathers, Alex Woods. Film Mode Entertainment. Five strangers find themselves trapped aboard an alien mothership that seems to be harnessing their terror and emotions
PROJECT ITHACA See box, above
SF STUDIOS PROMO REEL
13:30 WOLF
Action/adventure, horror. 85mins. Dir: Stuart Brennan. Scr: Stuart Brennan. Cast: Stuart Brennan, George McClusky, Mark Paul
Wake, Adanna Oji. KSM. The Romans are at war with the Picts. Hadrian’s Wall is the last outpost of the Roman frontier and a small group of soldiers have left its safety to travel north, into Pict
42 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
territory, searching for missing men. As winter threatens and with no sign of the men, the group prepare to turn home when they encounter a beast that is hunting them. Laemmle Monica Film Center 4
ArcLight 2
them to bring a deadly danger, which can be overcome only if they work together.
Action/adventure, biography, comedy, drama. 90mins. Dir: Espen Sandberg, Tuva Novotny. Cast: Pal Sverre Hagen, Christian Rubeck, Katherine Waterston, Pernilla August. SF Studios. Promo screening of Amundsen and Britt-Marie Was Here.
AMC Santa Monica 6
ArcLight 4
Drama, true story. 119mins. Dir: Michael Herbig. Scr: Kit Hopkins, Thilo Roscheisen. Cast: Friedrich Mucke, Karoline Schuch, Thomas Kretschmann, David Kross, Alicia von Rittberg. Studiocanal. East Germany at the height of the Cold War: two ordinary families yearning for freedom secretly form an escape plan to get across to the West. With courage and ingenuity, they build »
SHEEP AND WOLVES: PIG DEAL
MARKET
to power the ship. They begin to understand that this alien species has been abducting humans for decades — and possibly centuries. Among the group is a young woman sent to the ship by the US military to destroy the mothership. After the grisly murder of one of their fellow prisoners, the group must learn to work together to escape and find a way home.
Animation. 80mins. Dir: Vladimir Nikolaev. Scr: Aleksey Tsitsilin, Robert Lence, Vladimir Nikolaev. Cast: Vladimir Nikolaev. Wizart. The united town of sheep and wolves live a peaceful and quiet life until two unexpected guests turn up — a polar fox and a tiny ewe. No one ever expected
WOLF See box, left
15:00 BAC FILMS PROMO REEL
100mins. BAC Films Distribution. AMC Santa Monica 3
BALLOON
www.screendaily.com
t e K r A M M l I F N A e P O eUr e.
r e H S t r A t S l l A It . t C E n n o C . E r Explo . s s E n i s u B Do 9 1 0 2 b e F 5 7– 1
Benefit from the early bird discount and register until November 30 Submit films until December 19 Special advertising rates and packages available WWW.EFM-BERLINALE.DE
EFM19_AFM_Screen_245x335_RZ.indd 1
18.10.18 18:17
SCREENINGS
Justin Cornwell. CineTel Films. Lives interwine and connect when Francesa navigates through the living world by encountering strangers at the exact moment she needs to, sending their lives on either a better course towards happiness or setting the wheels in motion towards a tragic end — all while she secretly searches for a loved one that she never had the chance to say goodbye to. Laemmle Monica Film Center 5
15:30 MARKET 15:00 ROSIE
Drama. 86mins. Dir: Paddy Breathnach. Scr: Roddy Doyle. Cast: Sarah Greene, Moe Dunford. a hot-air balloon with small pieces of cloth for their eight family members to fly over the border. But an initial failure threatens their entire plan, setting off a dangerous race against time for a second attempt, and the state police now hot on their heels. Broadway Cineplex 1
THE DEATH & LIFE OF JOHN F DONOVAN
Drama. 123mins. Dir: Xavier Dolan. Scr: Xavier Dolan, Jacob Tierney. Cast: Kit Harrington, Natalie Portman, Jacob Tremblay, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Thandie Newton. Seville International. A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces about the written correspondence he once shared with the former, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives. ArcLight 7
THE EMPEROR OF PARIS
Action/adventure, historical. 115mins. Dir: Jean-Francois Richet. Scr: Eric Besnard. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Olga Kurylenko, Freya Mavor, August Diehl,
Protagonist Pictures. The story of a mother trying to protect her family after her landlord sells their rented home and they become homeless. ArcLight 9
Fabrice Luchini, James Thierree. Gaumont. At the height of Napoleon’s reign, Vidocq — the only man who successfully broke out of prison 27 times — is a legend. Left for dead after his latest, dazzling escape, the ex-con is lying low as a modest cloth merchant. When his past catches up with him, he is framed by former cellmates for a murder he did not commit. To prove his innocence, he makes a deal with the police: in exchange for his freedom, he will hunt down all the thieves and murderers on the streets of Paris. From convict to sheriff — Vidocq becomes the ‘Emperor of Paris’. AMC Santa Monica 1
JT
Drama. 108mins. Dir: Justin Kelly. Scr: Justin Kelly. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Diane Kruger, Jim Sturgess. Fortitude International. This captivating true story goes behind the scenes of the hoax of JT LeRoy — a girl pretending to be a boy who identifies as transgender — duping the rich and famous in Hollywood, the fashion
44 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
world and elite literary circles. ArcLight 3
LEGEND OF HALLOWAIIAN
Action/adventure, animation, children’s, family, fantasy. 95mins. Dir: Sean Patrick O’Reilly. Scr: David Swift, Stephen Meier, Scott Owen. Cast: Tia Carerre, Noah Schnapp, Mark Hamill. SC Films International. An island paradise is all fun and games until someone awakens the maneating Pineapplehead. ArcLight 1
LOTAWANA
Drama, romance. 110mins. Dir: Trevor Hawkins. Scr: Trevor Hawkins. Cast: Nicole Collie, Todd Blubaugh. Moonrise Pictures. A monotonous life has pushed the unfulfilled Forrest to live among nature aboard his sailboat, Lorelei, in a beautiful Missouri lake town. Soon he catches wind of the rebellious and free-spirited Everly and their idealistic dreams align.
A US soccer star suffers a career-threatening injury in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup. As he strives to regain his once-promising career he finds love in the most unexpected place. Now he must not only fight to rebuild his career but find the woman who stole his heart. Laemmle Monica Film Center 3 By confirmed RSVP only
TRAUTMANN See box, below
WE ARE BOATS
Drama. 108mins. Dir: James Bird. Scr: James Bird. Cast: Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, Amanda Plummer, Adriana Mather,
7 REASONS TO RUN AWAY (FROM SOCIETY)
Black comedy. 75mins. Dir: Esteve Soler, Gerard Quinto, David Torras. Scr: Esteve Soler. Cast: Sergi Lopez, Emma Suarez, Lola Duenas, Alex Brendemuhl, Alain Hernandez. Filmax. The family, the poor kid who appears on TV, the sixth-floor neighbours, the tenant and the real estate agent, the business couple, the guy progress has runover and the couple about to get married. Seven stories that mix horror and comedy. Seven moments of black comedy as strange as unexpected. Seven surreal visions of a society that can’t progress. AMC Santa Monica 4
EL CHICANO
Action/adventure. 108mins. Dir: Ben Hernandez Bray. Scr: Joe Carnahan, Ben Hernandez Bray. Cast: Raul Castillo, George Lopez. The Exchange. A cop is drawn into his ex-con brother’s death while investigating the crime-fighting exploits of a mysterious vigilante known as ‘El Chicano’. ArcLight 4
THE CHINESE WIDOW
Romance. 97mins. Dir: Bille August. Scr: Greg Latter. Cast: Emile Hirsch, Yifei Liu. VMI Worldwide. It is 1941 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor has destroyed America’s morale. The US President, Franklin D Roosevelt decides to risk it all by bombing Tokyo. After completing its mission, a US Air Force unit is forced to make an emergency landing in China. Its commander is rescued by a local widow who will stop at nothing to hide him from the Japanese. Laemmle Monica Film Center 6
DIVISION 19
Action/adventure, sci-fi. 93mins. Dir: SA Halewood. Scr: SA Halewood. Cast: Lotte Verbeek, Linus Roache, Alison Doody. Octane Entertainment.
Broadway Cineplex 3
ROSIE See box, above
SEE YOU SOON
Drama, romance. 106mins. Dir: David Mahmoudieh. Scr: Jenia Tanaeva, Mike Cestari, Joe Ballarini. Cast: Harvey Keitel, Liam McIntyre, Oleg Taktarov, Poppy Drayton, Jenia Tanaeva. 13 Films.
MARKET 15:00 TRAUTMANN
Drama. 120mins. Dir: Marcus H Rosenmuller. Scr: Marcus H Rosenmuller, Nicholas Schofield. Cast: David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Henshaw, Harry Melling, Gary Lewis,
Dervla Kirwan. Beta Cinema. The true story of legendary Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, whose love for soccer, for England and for the love of his life, Margaret, saw him rise from Nazi ‘villain’ to British hero. AMC Santa Monica 5
www.screendaily.com
AFM SCREENINGS ON DEMAND The following titles are available to view during AFM at Loews Hotel, Room 334
ALL OR NOTHIN’
Drama, historical, suspense, true story. 88mins. Dir: Charles K Campbell, Charles K Campbell. Cast: Carl G Herrick, Brendan Alpiner. Michigan Pride. In 1853, 28 slaves escaped from Boone County, Kentucky. Unwilling to accept their departure, wealthy plantation owners set out to find them. MARKET 15:30 KARMA
Drama, horror, supernatural thriller. 88mins. Dir: Chung Wei-Heng. Scr: Chen Neng-Ming, Zeng Zhen, Su Da-Yi. Cast: Daniel Chan, Lorene Jen, Kurt Chou. Creative Century Entertainment Co. Newbie teacher Ling Shen’s first day at school coincides with a student’s accidental
In 2039, jails have been turned into online portals and prisoners have become virtual pawns. The general public determines what they eat, wear, watch and who they fight. So successful is Panopticon TV, it is about to be rolled out to a whole new town, providing subscribers with even more power. Broadway Cineplex 2
GOLDEN JOB
Action/adventure, heist. 99mins. Dir: Chin Ka-lok. Scr: Kim Dong-kyu, Kwok Kin-lok, Li Erica, Mak Heiward. Cast: Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Chin Ka-lok. Golden Dragon Pictures. Globe-trotting mercenaries stage the ultimate heist. The target? An intelligence agency that is hoarding life-saving medicine. Betrayal in their ranks reveals secrets in their past and sends them on a highspeed chase across Asia and Europe. Broadway Cineplex 4
www.screendaily.com
ANY ONE OF US
death at home. As Shen is dragged into one brutal ‘accidental’ death after another, she discovers that the HuaQing Student Club, a group of attractive and intelligent elite students, was involved in a bizarre series of murders years ago. And the real triggerpulling mastermind turns out to be someone Shen least expects. AMC Santa Monica 2
GUESTS
Horror. 100mins. Dir: Eugeniy Abyzov. Scr: Olga Ageeva. Cast: Yuri Chursin. Central Partnership Sales House. Katya meets a group of young people with a specific idea of fun — to throw parties in empty private houses. The dampness and dark atmosphere of the place does not scare them. The secluded house, which hosted spiritual seances in the early 1900s, seems like a great choice to everyone. In the midst of the party appears someone Katya wasn’t expecting to see at all — the mysterious owner of the house — the man she was in love with. Laemmle Monica Film Center 2
HANNA’S HOMECOMING
Mystery. 96mins. Dir: Esther Bialas. Scr: Lena Krumkamp. Cast: Valerie Stoll, Milena Tscharntke, Godehard Giese. ARRI Media International. Hanna just wants to
be a normal teenager. But with the mysterious disappearance of her mother in the marsh 10 years ago and the strange new girl in the village, things become more and more dangerous every day. ArcLight 2
KARMA
Documentary. 86mins. Dir: Fernando Villena. Cast: Paul Basagoitia, Nichole Munk. Red Bull Media House. After a devastating spinal cord injury, a driven champion chronicles his life as he battles body and mind in an inspiring story of resilience.
See box, left
ASESINATO EN LA ISLA VERSUS
Drama. 75mins. Dir: Francois Valla. Scr: Francois Valla, Nicolas Journet, Sophie Kovess Brun, Erwan Augoyard. Cast: Jules Pelissier, Jeremie Duvall, Lola Le Lann, Karidja Toure. Wide. Inspired by a true story. Achille, a handsome young Parisian teenager from a wealthy family, is the victim of an ultra-violent attack. Sent to the seaside to recuperate, he meets Brian, a young man angry with the world at large. The encounter of these two men will create a murderer.
Drama, suspense, thriller. 90mins. Dir: Alyn Darnay. Cast: Jordi Vilasuso, Barbie Castro, Brian Gross, Brian Patrick Clark. Concord Films (US); Reel One Entertainment (international). ASTRAL See box, below
BETRAYED
Action/adventure. 98mins. Dir: Harley Wallen. Scr: Harley Wallen. Cast: John Savage, Richard Tyson, Blanca Blanco. Vision Films. When the Cartel comes to Detroit and tries to push the Russian Mafia out, things don’t go as planned. So now the mayor must do whatever it takes to get his kidnapped daughter back. BILLY GRAHAM: AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY
Documentary. 72mins. Dir: Vonda Harrell, Daniel Camenisch. Scr: Vonda Harrell, Daniel Camenisch. Cast: Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, George Bush. Mission Pictures International. Explores key moments in Billy Graham’s journey from dairy farmer’s son to evangelist.
Cast: Billy Flynn, Christa B Allen, Scottie Thompson. Vision Films. A sales rep visits a small town in Louisiana on business and 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. DIRTY DEAD CON MEN
Action/adventure. 85mins. Dir: MarieGrete Heinemann. Scr: Kevin Interdonato. Cast: Claudia Christian, Louis Mandylor, Peter Dobson. Princ Films. Mickey Rady, a rogue undercover cop, and Kook Packard, a smooth and charismatic con man, together rip off those operating outside of the law for their own gain. But things go awry when a heist sucks them deep into a city-wide conspiracy.
BUCKSHOT
Road movie. 80mins. Dir: Joshua J Smith. Scr: Joshua J Smith. Cast: Frank Collison, Tim DeZarn, Allan Wasserman. Princ Films. A struggling country singer journeys to Nashville in his father’s footsteps. DEAD ON ARRIVAL
Thriller. 97mins. Dir: Stephen C Sepher. Scr: Stephen C Sepher.
DORMITORYO: ENDLESS ROOM
Comedy, drama. 80mins. Dir: Emerson Reyes. Scr: Emerson Reyes. Cast: Ces Quesada, Charles Aaron Salazar, Vandolph Quizon. TBA Studios. Set one rainy evening in a dorm where the varied occupants are at some pivotal point in their lives, all tucked away in solitary rooms, talking
Laemmle Monica Film Center 4
WTFILMS PROMO REEL
Drama, thriller. 70mins. Dir: Jouri Smit, Zoe Wittock, Olivier Abbou. Scr: Jouri Smit, Aurelien Molas. Cast: Sophie Turner, Noemie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot, Adama Niane, Stephane Caillard. WTFilms. Promos include: Heavy; Heretiks; Get In; Av The Hunt, Jumbo; Adopt A Daddy; Smiley; and more.
AFM SCREENINGS ON DEMAND ASTRAL
Horror, thriller. 84mins. Dir: Chris Mul. Scr: Chris Mul. Cast: Frank Dillane, Vanessa Grasse, Damson Idris. Film Seekers.
A student cof metaphysics coming to terms with the death of his mother during his childhood turns to astral projection in an attempt to reconnect with her. Loews Hotel, Room 334
»
AMC Santa Monica 6
November 1, 2018 Screen International at AFM 45
SCREENINGS
about collective experiences, sharing a similar fate.
RISE OF THE SUPERHEROES
Documentary. 115mins. Dir: Tom O’Dell. Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Jackman, Chris Claremont. Vision Films. Story of how superheroes have conquered the world.
DREAM KILLER
Drama, musical, suspense, thriller. 90mins. Dir: Barbie Castro. Scr: David Chester, Doug Campbell. Cast: Christy Carlson Romano, Taylor Castro, Jacy King. Concord Films. When a rising teen singer is accused of murdering her producer, her supportive mother must save her.
THE STOP HIT
Action/adventure, martial arts, thriller. 100mins. Dir: Dr Z. Scr: Dr Z. Cast: Dr Z, Carter Wong. Reel Asian Films. Story of an international drug ring between Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS
Romance. 90mins. Dir: Terry Cunningham. Scr: Rick Garman, Catherine Fridey. Cast: Alexa PenaVega, Carlos PenaVega. Mission Pictures International. Returning to her hometown in Utah to restore a derelict hotel in time for Christmas, Laura Trudeau discovers old passions and true love can never be fully forgotten. FIDEL UP CLOSE
Documentary, historical. 90mins. Dir: Gabriel Beristain, Roberto Chile, Eduardo ‘Tato’ Flores. Scr: Hubert Barrero. Reveals the man behind the myth. HAVANA KYRIE
Drama, family, musical. 105mins. Dir: Paolo Confsorti. Scr: Alfredo Mazzara. Cast: Franco Nero. Vedado Films. A lost man finds passion again in Cuba, aided by music and the son he never met. HEAVY WATER
Documentary. 85mins. Dir: Michael Oblowitz. Scr: Michael Oblowitz. Cast: Nathan Fletcher, Makua Rothman, Danny Fuller, Herbie Fletcher. Red Bull Media House. A close look at Nathan Fletcher’s relationship with big-wave surfing. I’LL BE NEXT DOOR FOR CHRISTMAS
Comedy, family. 100mins. Dir: David Jay Willis. Scr: David Jay Willis, Jenna Park. Cast: Juliette Angelo, Atticus Shaffer, Nicole Sullivan. Vision Films. When 16-year-old Nickey’s long-distance boyfriend
AFM SCREENINGS ON DEMAND MY FOOLISH HEART
Drama. 83mins. Dir: Rolf van Eijk. Scr: Rolf van Eijk. Cast: Steve Wall, Gijs Naber, decides to visit for the holidays, she’s determined to spare him her family’s over-the-top Christmas obsession. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
Drama, family. 150mins. Dir: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin. Scr: Alex Cramer, Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle. Cast: Dennis Quaid, Cloris Leachman, J Michael Finley. Mission Pictures International. The true story of Bart Millard, lead singer of the band MercyMe. KILLER ISLAND
Drama, suspense, thriller. 90mins. Dir: Alyn Darnay. Scr: Christine Conradt. Cast: Barbie Castro, Jordi Vilasuso, Jackie Moore. Concord Films. While on a dream vacation, a woman becomes a target when she suspects one of the locals may have committed multiple murders. LIVING AMONG US
Horror. 82mins. Dir: Brian A Metcalf. Scr: Brian A Metcalf. Cast: Esme Bianco, John Heard, Thomas Ian Nicholas, William Sadler, Andrew Keegan. Vision Films. When vampires make themselves public, a group of documentarians granted access soon realise they are in for more than they bargained.
46 Screen International at AFM November 1, 2018
THE UNWILLING
Raymond Thiry. Media Luna New Films. The last day of jazz legendary trumpeter Chet Baker. Loews Hotel, Room 334
Little Film Company. Octav returns home to sell his childhood house. As he wanders through the estate, he relives joyful scenes from his childhood, eventually finding answers to the questions that have cast a shadow over his adult life.
MAKING BABIES
Romantic comedy. 88mins. Dir: Josh F Huber. Scr: Josh F Huber. Cast: Eliza Coupe, Steve Howey, Ed Begley Jr. Vision Films. A couple put their bodies, wallet and marriage through the ringer of modern infertility treatments.
THE OTHER STORY
Drama. 112mins. Dir: Avi Nesher. Scr: Avi Nesher, Noam Schpancer. Cast: Joy Rieger, Sasson Gabai. Foresight Unlimited. Two rebellious young women cross paths unexpectedly in Jerusalem, with startling consequences. THE OVAL
MARRIAGE KILLER
Drama, suspense, thriller. 90mins. Dir: Bernard Salzman. Scr: Doug Campbell, David Chester. Cast: Jason London, Barbie Castro, Kristen Renton. Concord Films. A married couple decide to explore a “member’s only night club” but soon realise the deadly consequences. MY FOOLISH HEART See box, above
NEOMANILA
Drama, suspense, thriller. 101mins. Dir: Mikhail Red. Cast: Eula Valdez, Timothy Castillo, Rocky Salumbides. TBA Studios. An orphan teenager is recruited by a notorious death squad. OCTAV
Drama, romance. 102mins. Dir: Serge Ioan Celebidachi. Scr: James Olivier, Serge Loan Celebidachi. Cast: Marcel Iures, Victor Rebengiuc.
Thriller. 85mins. Dir: John Safyurtlu. Scr: John Safyurtlu. Cast: Michael Shaffrey. Aegean Entertainment. An unstable president orders a nuclear strike in an attempt to retain power. PERSECUTED
Thriller. 100mins. Dir: Yesid Leone. Scr: Yesid Leone. Cast: Maria Gaviria, Roberto Escobar. Media Luna New Films. A journey through crime, corruption and the psychology of the human being. POINT MAN
Action/adventure, drama. 97mins. Dir: Phil Blattenberger. Scr: Phil Blattenberger. Cast: Christopher Long, Jacob Keohane, Chase Gutzmore. Vision Films. A trio of soldiers vow revenge on their platoon when they are left behind enemy lines.
Horror, thriller. 84mins. Dir: Jonathan Heap. Scr: Jonathan Heap, David Lipper. Cast: Dina Meyer, Lance Henriksen. Vision Films. After the death of a much-despised patriarch, a mysterious box shows up during the reading of the will.
THE DAILY AT AFM Suite 333, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90401 Tel +1 310 458 6700 (ext 333) Editorial Editor Matt Mueller, matt.mueller@screendaily.com, +44 7880 526 547 US editor Jeremy Kay, jeremykay67@gmail.com, +1 310 922 5908 Senior reporter Tom Grater, tom.grater@screendaily.com, +44 7436 096 420 Group head of production & art Mark Mowbray, mark.mowbray@screendaily.com, +44 7710 124 065 Group art director Peter Gingell Sub editors Willemijn Barker-Benfield, Paul Lindsell, Adam Richmond Advertising and publishing Publishing director Nadia Romdhani, nadia. romdhani@screendaily.com,
THE WAY WE WEREN’T
+44 7540 100 315
Romantic comedy. 93mins. Dir: Rick Hays. Scr: Brian DiMuccio, Aria Eisenstat, Rick Hays. Cast: Fiona Gubelmann, Ben Lawson, Tobin Bell. Vision Films. Two people who meet after their previous relationships have imploded, exaggerate, fib and outright lie to make themselves more appealing.
Commercial director
WE DIE YOUNG
Action/adventure. 96mins. Dir: Lior Geller. Scr: Lior Geller. Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme. Foresight Unlimited. A 14-year-old boy inducted into gang life is determined his 10-year-old brother won’t follow the same path. WHAT LIES AHEAD
Thriller. 88mins. Dir: Rob Gardner. Scr: William J Viglione. Cast: Rumer Willis, Emma Dumont, Kelly Blatz. Vision Films. When two young women embark on a road trip, an unseen peril emerges.
Scott Benfold, scott.benfold@ screendaily.com, +44 7765 257 260 President, North America Nigel Daly, nigeldalymail@gmail. com, +1 213 447 5120 US sales executives Danny De Lillo, danny.delillo@ screendaily.com, +1 917 818 8701 Nikki Tilmouth, nikki. screeninternational@gmail.com, +1 323 868 7633 International account managers Hettie Halden, hettie.halden@ screendaily.com, +44 7900 500 799 Ingrid Hammond, ingridhammond@mac.com Gunter Zerbich, gunter.zerbich@ screendaily.com, +44 7540 100 254 Production manager Jonathon Cooke, jonathon.cooke@mb-insight.com, +44 7584 335 148 Chief executive, MBI Conor Dignam Printer Sinclair Printing, Los Angeles Screen International, London MBI, Zetland House, 5-25 Scrutton Street, London EC2A
ZOOKS
Animation. 93mins. Dir: Kristoff Leue, Dimitri Leue. Scr: Kristoff Leue, Dimitri Leue. Media Luna New Films. A contemporary fairytale about people and nature.
4HJ, United Kingdom Subscription enquiries help@subscribe.screendaily.com +44 (0) 330 333 9414
www.screendaily.com
Exclusive AFM offer
subscribe from $199 | SAve 25% subs.screendaily.com/AFM @ScreenDaily
FEATURING SONGS BY
CYNDI LAUPER SIMPLE PLAN ROBBY JOHNSON ZAC LANE LARA FABIAN U2’s «BEAUTIFUL DAY» SUNG BY THE COOL KIDS WITH THE VOICE OF
LUCINDA DAVIS and NOEL FISHER
MEET US AT
LOEWS Hotel Office 837
SCREENING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND AT 9AM 20 minutes of selected scenes in continuity (looped)
BROADWAY CINEPLEX – 1
MARIE-CLAUDE BEAUCHAMP / PRESIDENT marie-claude@pinkparrotmedia.ca +1 514 575 5062 TANIA PINTO DA CUNHA / VICE-PRESIDENT tania@pinkparrotmedia.ca +34 629 459 075
WWW.PINKPARROTMEDIA.CA
© 2018 LCDT Inc.