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The 2019 film adaptation of “Cats” has been called many things: a disaster, a nightmare, a $95 million hairball. But one of its stars, Jennifer Hudson, thinks “cult classic” will be added to that list one day.

In an interview published Wednesday, the singer-actress sat down with Total Film to discuss her latest project, the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.” She was pleasantly surprised when the interviewer also asked her about the world’s less-than-positive reaction to her last music-filled film.

“I loved that you asked about ‘Cats!’” Hudson exclaimed.

“You know what? I think it was a bit overwhelming,” she told the outlet about the movie’s reception. “It’s unfortunate that it was misunderstood. I think later down the line, people will see it differently. But it is something I am still very proud of and grateful to have been a part of.”

Hudson went on to explain that she cherished...

Ben Mendelsohn has played his fair share of blockbuster baddies. From Rogue One, to Ready Player One, to the upcoming Robin Hood: Origins, to Captain Marvel— if there’s a buttoned up villain with salt-and-pepper hair, you can almost always expect him to have Ben Mendelsohn’s face. Though that’s not entirely the case for Captain Marvel, which sees Mendelsohn donning […]

The post Of Course Ben Mendelsohn Thinks ‘Captain Marvel’ Skrulls Are Just “Misunderstood” appeared first on /Film.

This is a reprint of our review from the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. There’s something irresistibly hip about Asia Argento, even as a concept. The sultry, pouty daughter of trash-horror maestro Dario Argento, her public image as a wild child jack-of-all-trades-as-long-as-they’re-kinda-glamorous (actress, singer, model, director) does make her something of a poster girl for tough, troubled, attitude-y cool (just check out her Cannes red carpet pic or her Twitter account for that matter). But after her first two forays into directing, “Scarlet Diva” (in which she also starred as a self-destructive starlet) and child abuse chronicle “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things,” she has shifted gears in several ways with her third: she makes a brief, Hitchcock-level cameo, but doesn’t star, and most welcome, she moves from straight-up miserablism to a beguiling cockeyed whimsy. However, “Misunderstood” ("Incompresa"), which played in the Un Certain Regard sidebar in...

Three years ago, a remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria seemed to be ready to go ahead. So what happened to it? Its former director explains.

Visually and aurally sumptuous, Dario Argento's Suspiria was one of the most striking horror movies of its age. The soundtrack was cacophonous, the cinematography drenched in colour and often beautiful - even when Argento was spattering the screen with claret.

In 2008, director David Gordon Green risked the ire of horror fans everywhere when he revealed to MTV that he planned to remake Argento's nightmare classic. It could have been a starry affair, too, with Natalie Portman on board as producer and star. That incarnation of the movie appeared to fall apart, though, and Portman ultimately went on to make Black Swan with Darren Aronofsky - a film about a ballet dancer with more than a touch of Argento's delirious brand of storytelling running through it.

Director Asia Argento's startling new work Incompresa was one of my very favorite films from last year (check out my review) and a new international trailer has surfaced that does a really nice job of hinting at the film's youthful anarchy. It's missing some of the movie's pathos, but since Incompresa is a film that also celebrates the ups that accompany the downs of adolescence, it feels appropriate to post. I urge you to check out this movie (I rarely lay down my affection for a film that hard in a review) when it gets a Us release date. It's probably closer to The 400 Blows than Welcome to the Dollhouse, but viewing it though either of those aesthetic lenses should suit you just fine. Check out the Incompresa trailer below. The film stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Giulia Salerno and Gabriel Garko. We'll let you know about the Us release...

The Riviera Maya Film Festival was created in 2012 with the goal to meet one of the greatest needs of the film industry in Mexico and perhaps in the entire world: the distribution of quality international cinema. This festival is free and that is why they revitalized the film fest experience of screening and watching a film in all kinds of stages and contexts, such as at the beach or in public squares.More than 70 Films from Around the World, Including the Critically Acclaimed ‘Burying the Ex’ and Asia Argento’s ‘Incompresa,’ Have Been Selected To Screen During the 2015 Riviera […]...

The fourth edition of the festival, set to run in Mexico from April 23-29, will feature three world premieres of Mexican productions and 53 international premieres.

The competitive sections of the festival are Mexican Platform with two 300,000 Mexican pesos (around $19,700) juried Kukulkan Awards and a 100,000 Mexican pesos (around $6,565) Kukulkan Youth Jury Award.

The schedule includes the RivieraLAB/Co-production Forum where two selected projects will receive a financial incentive of 200,000 Mexican pesos ($13,130) each.

The RivieraLAB/Work in Progress selects two projects to receive a financial incentive of 100,000 Mexican pesos each. In total, the Festival grants 1,300,000 Mexican pesos ($85,351).

Gala screenings are Joe Dante’s Burying The Ex (Us), Manolo Caro’s Elvira, Te Daría Mi Vida Pero La Estoy Usando (Mexico) and Asia Argento’s Incompresa (Italy-France).

Mexican Platform entries of 14 local films from 71 submissions include world premieres of Roberto Olivares Ruiz’s El Señor De Las 3 Caídas and Raúl Rico’s Noche De Resurrecciones, as well as...

AwardsDaily has been invited to attend the Riviera Maya Film Festival for the first time since the fest began in 2012. It features more than 70 films from around the world, and...

Earlier today, fellow film nerd Marc Heuck tweeted the following: Incompresa, the moving new @AsiaArgento film, still has no U.S. distributor. Wtf? Dozens of boutique labels here yet nobody's stepping up? — Marc Edward Heuck (@the_hoyk) February 17, 2015 I reached out to "Doctor Strange" director Scott Derrickson, who is a producer on the film and who talked to me about it before the Cannes Film Festival, where it absolutely flattened me. I asked him if it's true that the film is still without a distributor, and he told me they haven't been able to figure out anything. Not theatrical. Not VOD. Not even a basic DVD release. This is wrong. This is a mistake. Are you seriously going to tell me that there's not a single distributor out there who sees the merit in the film? Am I supposed to believe that there's no marketing hook you can craft around...

Back in May, the New York Times' Manohla Dargis spoke with Asia Argento about her third feature, Misunderstood (Incompresa), "a funny, free, tough-minded film… Set in the 1980s, it centers on a 9-year-old, Aria (Giulia Salerno), the underloved daughter of two monstrous narcissists, an actor (Gabriel Garko) and a pianist (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Soon after it opens, the parents separate and Aria–Ms. Argento’s original name–starts toggling between them even as they reject her, often brutally. Cast aside, she takes refuge in her love of a cat and in her imagination, which soars movingly both in her writing and in some wild fantasies." We're collecting more reviews and have posted the trailer and two clips. » - David Hudson...

Back in May, the New York Times' Manohla Dargis spoke with Asia Argento about her third feature, Misunderstood (Incompresa), "a funny, free, tough-minded film… Set in the 1980s, it centers on a 9-year-old, Aria (Giulia Salerno), the underloved daughter of two monstrous narcissists, an actor (Gabriel Garko) and a pianist (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Soon after it opens, the parents separate and Aria–Ms. Argento’s original name–starts toggling between them even as they reject her, often brutally. Cast aside, she takes refuge in her love of a cat and in her imagination, which soars movingly both in her writing and in some wild fantasies." We're collecting more reviews and have posted the trailer and two clips. » - David Hudson...

[Incompresa has been titled Misunderstood in the U.S. For the purposes of this review I will be referring to it by its original title.] In 1993 Hole’s Courtney Love was asked about the differences between their then-impending masterpiece Live Through This and their prior album, the cathartic but formally messy Pretty on the Inside. She replied, “it’s leaps and bounds different. It’s so different there should have been an album in between.” The same sentiment could be used to describe the vast gulf between writer/director Asia Argento’s last feature film, the undeniably visceral The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, and her new work Incompresa, which carries a sustained and palpable ache that could only be achieved by someone working at the top of their craft. That shared DNA with Live Through This doesn’t end there, as Incompresa also provides the singularly indelible experience of walking a mile in someone else’s disintegrating shoes. But that’s only a gateway comparison, this film is its own beast entirely. Incompresa...

Early predictions have emerged for most Academy Award categories. As the studios reveal their hopeful offers to be released in the final months of the year, the speculation increases. But despite all the information available on the centerpiece awards, other more obscure races remain a complete mystery at this point. Among these, the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar is almost certainly the most complex to prognosticate. The lengthy process that precedes the announcement of the final nominees makes for a competition that begins months in advance in nations around the globe.Having the opportunity to submit only one film, each country must carry out its own selection process. Once these decisions have been made, their chosen works will compete to make it to the nine-film shortlist, and eventually into the final five slots. Although this procedure allows for a certain degree of democracy, it also excludes all those other films that were left behind in their homelands. This, in turn, gives us a narrow view of what is being produced abroad.

Therefore, after lots of research and arduous educated guessing to put it together, the list below offers a more insightful look at this race before the actual individual selections are announced. For the sake of time, the amount of films is limited to five per country, but in some cases the choices are scarcer and less films are listed. While trying to speculate is always an uncertain endeavor, the factors taken into account to determine which are some of this year’s most important films in each country and their prospects of being chosen as their representative at the Academy Awards, were varied. Festival exposure, release date, the country’s previous submissions, and even the thematic elements of a few of them were considered to create this piece.

Clearly nothing is definitive at this point, but at the very least, this compilation will provide a sense of what the film industries in these territories are putting out and sharing with the world.

Read More: Oscars 2015 : Best Foreign Language Film Contenders - The Americas

Here is the first part of the list on Europe (Albania -Lithuania)

Albania

Last year the Balkan state had one of its strongest contenders in recent history, Robert Budina’s “Agon,” a powerful drama dealing with the ethnic identity of the region. This time around, there are three films that qualify to be selected. The front-runner is “ Amsterdam Express, ” which has the highest international profile of the three being a co-production between Albania, U.K The Netherlands and Germany. The film explores the sociopolitical situation of the country through the eyes of an Albanian man who immigrates to Dutch territory illegally. Following along are two other dramas, “The Last Wish” (Amaneti) and “Ada.” Having three clearly viable options, it is almost certain that Albania will compete once again this year.

1. "Amsterdam Express" PC: F&Me

2. "The Last Wish" (Amaneti) PC: Media Vision

3. "Ada" PC: Concordia Pictures

Armenia

Having submitted only four times as an independent nation, it is difficult to predict whether Armenia will decide to participate this year. However, they do have a few films that could represent them at the Academy Awards. Even though the country’s film industry is still precarious and struggling, they have their own annual awards and consistently complete feature length works. Since many of them don’t fulfill the quality standards of major festivals, few of their offers ever get passed their border. The most feasible candidate this year is “Tevanik,” a film about the Karabakh war that screened at the Cannes film market and that has also screened theatrically in its home country. Another possible selection is dark comedy “The Romanticists,” which won the Best Screenplay award at the Hayak National Cinema Awards and had some international exposure. Drama “From Two Worlds as a Keepsake, ” could also be a good candidate as it premiered last year at the World Film Festival in Montreal. Less likely are comedy “The Heart in the House ,” a Russian co-production, and Hayak Best Film nominee “Caucho,” which might be a bit too avant-garde to be chosen.

1. "Tevanik" PC: Fish Eye Art

2. "The Romanticists" (Rromantiknery) PC: Aysor-Plus Film Productions

3. "From Two Worlds as a Keepsake" (Yerku ashkharhic i hishatak) PC: National Film Centr of Armenia

4. "The Heart in the House" (Domik v serdtse) PC: Berg Sound

5. "Caucho"

Austria

Since Austrian productions are heavily influenced by the German film industry and often intertwined with it, it is no surprise that the major winner at the German Film Awards was the co-production “The Dark Valley.” But given that the director Andreas Prochaska is Austrian, as well as most of the creative control and resources, the Germans couldn’t claim it as their own. This, and the fact that Sam Riley is in it, make it an ideal, high profile candidate to be Austria’s Oscar submission. Nominated for five awards in the past Austrian Film Awards, “October November” is also a descent candidate. A close third followed is “The Last Dance” the latest film by Houchang Allahyari, whose film “I Love Vienna” represented the country a couple decades ago. Then we have “ Soldier Jane,” which also nominated for Best Film at the National Awards. Lastly, “The Silent Mountain, “ an epic period piece about World War I is not entirely far fetched. Other films that have had positive receptions at festivals such as “Macondo,” or “Amour Fou” will be released closer to the end of the year.

1. "The Dark Valley" (Das Fisntere Tal) Isa: Films Distribution

2. "October November" (Oktober November) Isa: The Match Factory

3. "The Last Dance" (Der letzte Tanz) PC: Allahyari Filmproduktion

4. "Soldier Jane" (Soldate Jeannette) Isa: Premium Films

5. "The Silent Mountain" ( Der Stille Berg) Isa: Premiere Entertainment Group

Azerbaijan

It's always great to see a country like Azerbaijan submitting a film and making an attempt at getting exposure for their filmmakers and industry. Their films rarely make it to the world stage of glamorous festivals, thus they remain mostly obscure and inaccessible outside their homeland. Nevertheless, this year an Azerbaijani film, “Nabat,” could change that as it will screen at the Venice Film festival. This war film has already screened in the country at least at a special event, it is difficult to know if it will qualify this time around. If it does, it is their best bet. Should they decide to save it for next year, the country has another option of mild prestige. “Chameleon,” a small drama set in a remote village, screened last year at Locarno and that alone could help its chances. Lastly, there is “Down by the River,” which was part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival selection. It will almost certainly be released until past the deadline, but might be a strong contender in the future. Two other dramas, one of epic proportions and a biopic could get in the mix but there is hardly any information available besides the fact that they have been screened in the capital city of Baku.

1. "Nabat" Isa: Dreamlab Films

2. "Chameleon" (Buqälämun) PC: Arizona Productions

3. "Down the River" (Axinla ashagi) PC: Azerbaijanfilm

Belarus

The small ex-Soviet state has been mostly producing documentaries for local viewing. Their output of material that can be successful abroad is minimal, and even when they have been presented with a great opportunity to participate at the Academy Awards, they simply don’t. This was the case of Sergey Loznitsa's “In the Fog” a couple years back, which could have represented them but was not entered. In fact, they have only participated on two occasions, the last one being in 1996. Although it is unlikely they will show interest, the country has a couple of promising choices. Belarus’ best bet would be the international coproduction “ The Role,” a solemn period piece that was nominated for five Nika Awards (the Russian Oscars) and actually won for Best Screenplay. Highly improbable, but given their small number of contenders, the country could also choose to send “BaBu,” an Azerbaijani coproduction about the kidnapping of a businessman’s daughter.

1. "The Role" (Rol) Isa: Reflexion Films

2. "BaBu"

Belgium

With the return to Cannes of the country’s most iconic filmmakers, the Dardenne Brothers, Belgium has an easy decision to make. Starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night” looks like the obvious favorite. Nevertheless, the Dardennes have been overlooked before, as it was the case two years ago when the Belgians decided to send “Bullhead” over the duo’s “The Kid with a Bike.” The only real threat could be “Marina” by Stijn Coninx, who was nominated for an Oscar in this category back in 1992 with “Daens.“ His latest work is a period piece about Rocco Granata’s life, an Italian singer who lived in Belgium in his youth. A more audacious decision, but not entirely impossible, would be to select the beautifully nightmarish “The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears,” which has had noticeable international presence. Two other titles, “ The Verdict” and “The Treatment” have been well received at home but since they are facing works by revered filmmakers, their chances are slight.

1. "Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit) Isa: Wild Bunch

2. "Marina" Isa: Media Luna New Films

3. "The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears" (L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) Isa: Bac Films International

4. "The Verdict" (Het Vonnis) Isa: Media Luna New Films

5. "The Treatment" (De Behandeling) Isa: Be for Films

Bosnia & Herzegovina

The last film by the poster child for Bosnian cinema, Danis Tanovic, managed to make it to the 9-film shortlist last December. This year, the country doesn’t have such a prominent candidate. Based on release date, festival exposure, and language, their safest selection would be the family drama “ With Mom.” Another title that could qualify is “Krivina,” which is technically a 2012 film, but did not premier in Bosnia until late last year. If eligible, it would definitively be a great runner-up. In third place is the incredibly small local film “ Krajina: Life or Death,” and it’s in that position simply because it meets all the minimum requirements to qualify - language included. The last two films mentioned here are longer shots not due to lack of quality, but because of their production details. One, “Bridges of Sarajevo,” is an anthology film created by over a dozen filmmakers from around the world. Even though one of the filmmakers is Bosnian and all sections are in a language other than English, it will be hard to consider it an actual Bosnian film. The other, “For Those Who Can Tell No Tales,” is a Bosnian production directed by Jasmila Zbanic, but the dialogue seems to be mostly in English, which would make it ineligible.

1. "With Mom" (Sa Mamom) PC: Scca/Pro.BA

2. "Krivina" Isa: Princ Films

3. "Krajina: Life and Death" (Ja sam iz Krajine, zemlje kestena) PC: Depo Production

4. "Bridges of Sarajevo" (Les Ponts de Sarajevo) Isa: Indie Sales

5."For Those Who Can Tell No Tales" (Za one koji ne mogu da govore) PC: Mpm

Bulgaria

In recent years the country has decided to send films that have won or have been nominated for their local film awards. This year the winner of the top award for Best Film was “Alienation,” seemingly making it the favorite to be submitted. This might actually not be the case. Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, “Viktoria,” an epic drama about a peculiar mother-daughter relationship, might actually be the frontrunner. The film has been rightfully hailed as the most important Bulgarian film of 2014 as it has been praised at several international festivals. The only concern was its release date, but that has been put to rest since the filmmakers have announced a one-week theatrical run of the film in Sofia this September. This might imply they are seriously considering the possibility of being chosen. Other less likely options are “Roseville,” another Best Film nominee at the local film awards, “Rat Poison,” which won Best Screenplay at those same awards, and the comedy “ Living Legends.” “The Judgement,” another important Bulgarian film that opened the Sofia International Film Festival in March, won’t opened theatrically until after the deadline.

1. "Viktoria" PC: Viktoria Films

2. "Alienation" PC: Red Carpet/ Bnt

3."Roseville" Isa: Wide

4. "Rat Poison" PC: Bulfilm Nfc

5. "Living Legends" PC: Euro Dialogue Productions

Croatia

Dominating last year’s Pula Film Festival with seven Golden Arena awards and presented at other international festivals, the drama “ A Stranger” is by far the most qualified choice. Bobo Jelcic’s film follows a man who returns to his hometown only to attend a funeral, but is forced to deal with several other issues from his past while there. Closely following is complex family drama “Hush…,” which also won several awards at the same festival. Other films that could come into play include “Vis-à-Vis,” a story about a film director and on his actor trying to write a screenplay, crime thriller “Not All About the Money, ”and the comedy “Handymen” by Dalibor Matanic, whose film “Fine Dead Girls” represented Croatia in 2002. It is important to note that three other relevant Croatian films, “The Bridge at the of the World,” "Number 55” and “The Reaper,” will probably be released in the next few months and will be in the running next year.

1. "A Stranger"(Obrana i zastita) Isa: Rendez-vous Pictures

2. "Hush..." (Šuti) PC: Kinorama

3. "Vis-a-Vis" PC: Copycat Production House

4. "Not All About the Money" (Nije sve u lovi) PC: Interfilm

5. "Handymen" (Majstori) PC: Hrvatska Radiotelevizija

Cyprus

As one of the few countries in Europe that has never submitted a film, it is likely they will continue on that path once again. Yet, if they decide otherwise, there is a film that could represent them. Crime drama “Stratos” directed by Cyprus-born Yannis Economides and produced with support from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture could actually be the island nation’s lucky charm. Another Cypriot production, the romantic comedy “ Committed,” would be listed here as a possibility if it wasn’t for the fact that it is entirely in English.

1. "Stratos" (To Mikro Psari) Isa: The Match Factory

Czech Republic

Last year was rough for the Czechs. The ambitious historical courtroom drama “Burning Bush” by acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, was disqualified as their submission because it was originally conceived as a TV miniseries. They were forced to select another film “The Don Juans,” which that didn’t do much them. This time around things are looking up with a wide array of films to choose from. Playing at Karlovy Vary recently and opening theatrically just in time to qualify is “Fair Play,” a sports drama about a sprinter attempting to make it to the Olympic Games in 1980. Then there is “Clownwise, ” a quirky dramedy that was nominated for Best Film and won Best Supporting actor at the local Czech Lion Awards. In the third spot is “Hany,” a film conformed of a single continuous shot depicting the madness occurring during a night out in the city. “The Way Out, ” a drama that screened in the Acid sidebar at Cannes, could also be picked based on that notable international exposure. Lastly, “Delight,” another Czech Lion Best Film nominee, could be the surprise selection, but it will probably prove to be a tad too abstract for voters.

1. "Fair Play" Isa: Intramovies

2. "Clownwise" (Klauni) Isa: Latido

3. "Hany" PC: Barletta

4. "The Way Out" (Cesta Ven) Isa: Premium Films

5. "Delight" (Rozkos) PC: Cineart TV Prague

Denmark

These days Denmark is a powerhouse in this category. After almost tasting glory once again with Vinterberg’s “The Hunt, ” the Danish will return to seek their third consecutive nomination. In order to continue their great streak, they need to choose wisely. “Someone in Love,” about a musician in crisis, has garnered praise from critics internationally, and will seem like the obvious choice. On the other hand, there is the mystery flick “ The Keeper of Lost Causes,” which opened in Denmark late last yearand was nominated for 4 Bodil Awards. Then there is “Sorrow and Joy” another powerful drama from Nils Malmros, whose film “Barbara” represented Denmark in 1992. Unique coming-of-age tale ”Speed Walking” could also be a contender. On the final slot there is the romantic drama “The Miracle,” a film that did well at the Montreal World Film Festival, unlikely but not impossible. Whichever it is, it will certainly be something to watch out for throughout the race.

1. "Someone You Love" (En du elsker) Isa: TrustNordisk

2. "The Keeper of Lost Causes" (Kvinden i buret) Isa: TrustNordisk

3. "Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde) PC: Nordisk Film Production

4. "Speed Walking" (Kapgang) PC: Nordisk Film Production

5. "The Miracle" (Miraklet) PC: Film i Vast

Estonia

This Baltic country’s film industry has increasingly become more consistent at delivering interesting films. Winning awards across festivals, their absolute frontrunner is “Tangerines, ” a Georgian coproduction about a Estonian man caught up in the middle of a war. Its biggest competition is the black and white historical film “In the Crosswind,” “which is a viable choice given that it deals with a painful episode in the region's history: the mass deportation of Baltic people to Siberia by Russia. Though it looks beautifully done, its particular visual aesthetic might seem to unconventional to some voters. It is still really possible they decide to send it regardless. Finally there is “ Kertu” a romantic drama about an unlikely relationship.

1. "Tangerines" (Mandariinid) Isa: Cinemavault

2. "In the Crosswind" (Risttuules) PC: Allfilm

3. "Kertu, Love is Blind" (Kertu) Isa: Paul Thiltges Distribution Sarl

Finland

Despite the countries long filmmaking tradition, the Finnish have only been nominated once for Aki Kaurismäki's “The Man Without a Past” in 2002. Fortunately for them, they have several great eligible films that will make for a difficult decision. Black and white philosophical drama “ Concrete Night” from Pirjo Honkasalo earned 6 Jussi Awards, given by Finland’s film professionals. Such overwhelming recognition will make it hard to ignore despite the serious competition. The film also had a great festival run. Right behind it are two films by prolific Dome Karukoski, who has represented his country at the Oscar previously. The first one is “The Grump,” a comedy based on the character created by Tuomas Kyro. It will screen at Tiff and will open locally just in time to qualify. Karukoski’s other film “Heart of a Lion,” tells a more serious story about a Neo-Nazi who reconsiders his views after falling in love. Either one of them could be picked as a way to honor the consistently great work this filmmaker puts out. Yet another interesting possibility is “Korso,” about a young man with big basketball dreams. The film was partially produced by the same company that created last year’s Oscar nominated short “Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?” There are several other plausible films, but from all those, the one that seems to have the best prospects is the historical comedy “August Fools.”

1. "Concrete Night" (Betoniyö) Isa: Film Republic

2. "The Grump" (Mielensäpahoittaja) Isa: The Yellow Affair

3. "Heart of a Lion" (Leijonasydän) Isa: The Yellow Affair

4. "Korso" PC: Bufo/Tuffi Films

5. "August Fools" (Mieletön elokuu) Isa: Insomnia World Sales

France

Narrowing down France’s possible selection to five titles is by far one of the must uncertain and difficult tasks. The French film industry releases a vast number of films every year in a variety of genres and sizes. This gives them endless possibilities. Yet, there are some indicators that provide insight to what they might end up choosing. First off, the Cesar Awards. This year’s big winner was Guillaume Gallienne's “Me, Myself and Mum, ” which is a delightfully funny film that shines with originality. It was released last November and could definitely be their selected entry. On the other hand, they could choose to honor legendary filmmaker Alain Resnais- who past away earlier this year - by submitting his last film “Life of Riley.” The film received mixed reactions, but won the Fipresci Prize and the Alfred Bauer Award in Berlin. If they want to go with some fresh young talent, there is Cannes Directors' Fortnight Winner “Love at First Sight, ” the debut feature by Thomas Cailley. Another award winner that qualifies is Katell Quillévéré’s “Suzanne” about a woman that loses it all for the love a deviant man. Last but not least, Mathieu Amalric’s latest directorial effort “The Blue Room” could be a surprise player given the actor’s prestige and talent both in front and behind the camera. It is still up in the air.

1. "Me, Myself and Mum" (Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table!) Isa: Gaumont

2. "Life of Riley" (Aimer, boire et chanter) PC: F Comme Film

3. "Love at First Sight" (Les Conbattants) PC: Nord-Ouest Productions

4. "Suzanne" Isa: Films Distribution

5. "The Blue Room" (La Chambre Bleue) Isa: Alfama Films

Georgia

Impressively on the rise, the Georgian film industry keeps on delivering great works that often make waves across international festivals. Last year’s submission “In Bloom,” was a great success and managed to get U.S. distribution for a small theatrical release. On this occasion, they have three films that have done well internationally. Out of the batch, the most successful has been Levan Koguashvili’s “Blind Dates, ” a charming story of a unique quest for love. A second strong competitor is “Brides,” a drama that screened both at the Berlinale and Tribeca this year. Then, just fresh from winning at Karlovy Vary, there is “Corn Island,” a poetic vision of life from the perspective of rural Georgia. It appears like all three titles will release at home in time to qualify. If that’s the case, Georgia has a tough decision to make

1. "Blind Dates" (Shemtkhveviti paemnebi) Isa: Films Boutique

2. "Brides" (Patardzlebi) Isa: Rezo

3. "Corn Island" (Simindis kundzuli) PC: Arizona Productions

Germany

After releasing a 15-film shortlist, Germany’s prospects look clearer. There are several titles on the list that won’t merit a nomination, but the prominent film that remain will make for a competitive final selection. Winning two prizes in Berlin, “Stations of the Cross,” a look at fundamentalist Catholicism, sounds like a front-runner. However, its subject matter might play against it. Feo Aladag’s latest film “Inbetween Worlds,” about a German soldier in Afghanistan, seems to be a powerful drama on the vein of Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World.” On the third slot is “West,” a moving film about a woman and her son escaping socialist East Germany to discover the other side also has its darkness. Then there is “Beloved Sisters,” a costume drama that seems like a safer choice. It might be too familiar to be selected, but not at all improbable. Lastly, “Home from Home,” which won several national awards. It'ss possible, but its narrative style and extensive running time (225 min.) might make it a much more harder sell.

1. "Stations of the Cross" (Kreuzweg) Isa: Beta Cinema

2. "Inbetween Worlds" (Zwischen Welten) Isa: The Match Factory

3. "West" (Westen) Isa: Picture Tree International

4. "Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern) PC: Bavaria Film

5. "Home from Home - Chronicle of a Vision" (Die andere Heimat - Chronik einer Sehnsucht) Isa: Arri Worldsales

Greece

Even though it not an absolute rule, the Greeks tend to select the Hellenic Awards Best Film winner as their submission. Taking that into account, the clear favorite and almost certain choice is “Little England,” a period piece that won big locally. It’s biggest flaw; however, is the lack of international exposure. If for some reason they wanted to make a bold move and reward an impressive festival run, then Alexandros Avranas’s marvelously perverse “Miss Violence” would be ideal. Another great festival darling is Elina Psikou‘s feature debut “The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas,” a sardonic exploration on fame and identity. On the fourth spot, there is “ The Enemy Within,” a tense crime drama about a family in the aftermath of a home invasion. The film was also honored at the Hellenic Awards. Finally, “Standing Aside, Watching,” about corruption, sexism, and intimidation in a small village, could also be a great entry. Un Certain Regard film “Xenia” by Panos H. Koutras, won’t open in Greece until October, but will be a possible option next year.

1. "Little England" (Mikra Anglia) PC: Black Orange

2."Miss Violence" Isa: Elle Driver

3."The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas" (I Aionia Epistrofi tou Antoni Paraskeva) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales

4."The Enemy Within" (O Ehthros Mou) Isa: Patra Spanou

5. "Standing Aside, Watching" (Na kathesai kai na koitas) Isa: Patra Spanou

Hungary

Hungary’s last submission “The Notebook” managed to make it into the highly competitive 9-film shortlist. This year they have even brighter hopes with a slate of titles that have done very well around the world. Un Certain Regard winner “White God” is undoubtedly the one to beat. It is a rare occasion for the country to win such a high profile prize, thus making it almost impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, if that is not enough to convince the selection committee, “Free Fall” the latest film György Pálfi - whose films “ Hukkie” and “Taxidermia” have represented Hungary in the past - would be the next best choice. It also won several awards recently at Karlovy Vary, which could be of help. Less likely is Virág Zomborácz‘s “Afterlife” another drama that screened at the renowned Czech festival. Other possible titles include Lgbt romantic drama “Land of Storms, “ which screened in Berlin, and dark “ “Heavenly Shift,” which descent international presence.

1. "White God" (Fehér isten) Isa: The Match Factory

2. "Free Fall" (Szabadesés) PC: Jiff Project

3. "Afterlife" (Utóélet) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund

4. "Land of Storms" (Viharsarok) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales

5. "Heavenly Shift" (Isteni müszak) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund

Iceland

This small Scandinavian nation seems to have a very easy decision to make. The film “Life in a Fishbowl” has been dubbed by local critics as “the best Icelandic” film ever made” and it has also been an absolute box-office hit in its homeland. The multi-narrative film is by far the most likely to be submitted. However, its closest competitor is Ragnar Bragason‘s “ Metalhead,” a drama about a girl coping with her brother’s death. It was released late last year and won several Edda Awards. With far less possibilities given the two frontrunners is the dramedy “Paris of the North, ” which screened at Karlovy Vary, and comedy “ The Grandad,” which lacks exposure and buzz.

1. "Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti) Isa: Films Boutique

2. "Metalhead" (Málmhaus) Isa: Picture Tree International

3. "Paris of the North" (París Norðursins) PC: Arizona Productions

4. "The Grandad" (Afinn) PC: Thorsson Productions

Ireland

Since most of country’s releases are in English rather than in the Irish language, most years the country doesn’t have any candidates for this category. Ireland has only submitted to films for consideration as foreign language films. It is unlikely they’ll enter the race this year, but if it manages to be released in time, Irish director Johnny O'Reilly‘s Russian-language film “Moscow Never Sleeps” could be their selected candidate. The film was produced with the help of the Irish Film Funs, a fact that could help claim it as an Irish production. Another film in the Irish language, “An Bronntanas” (The Gift), would be a great choice, but it seems to be originally envisioned for TV as a five part miniseries. It’s hard to know if it will manage to qualify.

1. "Moscow Never Sleeps" (Москва никогда не спит) PC: Snapshot Films

Italy

Returning as current champion, Italy - which is the most successful nation ever in this category – has two main contenders and a couple other minor players. At the top of the list is “Human Capital,” which beat out “The Great Beauty” at the local David di Donatello Awards. Added to that, the film has won almost every award at home and several others abroad. It would be shocking to see the film be ignored. The biggest threat to its flawless run is Cannes Competition film “The Wonders.” It received mixed reviews but the Cannes pedigree could play a big role. Local success “The Mafia Only Kills in Summer” is less likely to have a chance. However, it also received tons of praise at home, so it shouldn’t be entirely disqualified. “Misunderstood,” by Asia Argento, played in the Un Certain Regard section but faces tough competition. Rounding up these five possibilities is “Those Happy Years, ” a personal film by Daniele Luchetti, which received very positive reviews internationally.

1. "Human Capital" (Il capitale umano) PC: Indiana Production Company

2. "The Wonders" (Le meraviglie) Isa: The Match Factory

3. "The Mafia Only Kills in Summer" (La mafia uccide solo d'estate) Isa: Rai Com

4. "Misunderstood" (Incompresa) Isa: Other Angle Pictures

5. "Those Happy Years" (Anni felici) Isa: Celluloid Dreams/Nightmares

Kosovo

The surprise submission could come from the recently independent, war-torn Balkan state. They have a promising feature film by Isa Qosja's “Three Windows and a Hanging,” which has been called “the best film from Kosovo to date.” Dealing with the forced silence and shame rape victims experience in a small village ruled by patriarchal norms, the film seems to be a perfect candidate to be their first submission. It recently premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, so its biggest challenge would be qualifying based on its unknown release date at home.

1. "Three Windows and a Hanging"

Latvia

Unfortunately for Latvia, their possibilities are extremely limited this year. There are only two films that seem as possible candidates. One is the slasher horror film “The Man in the Orange Jacket.” It sports a great production value and might be an interesting offer, but it is hard to see it get far in the race. Nonetheless, it is still their best chance. The other film "Escaping Riga" is a documentary on historical figures Sergei Eisenstein and Sir Isaiah Berlin. Given its subject matter it wouldn’t be surprising if they chose to with this. Hopefully next year their output gives them more to pick from.

1. "The Man in the Orange Jacket" (M.O.Zh.) Isa: Wide

2. "Escaping Riga" PC: Mistrus Media

Lithuania

Opposite to its Baltic neighbor mentioned above, Lithuania has several notable films that could represent them. After winning the top prizes at the Lithuanian Silver Crane’ awards, “The Gambler” became the clear favorite. However, it is important to mention that despite having narrative features to choose from, Lithuania decided to send a small documentary to represent them last year. This curious fact could play in favor of “ Cenotaphs,” a doc focusing on the search for the remains of dead soldiers from World War II. The film won Best Documentary and was nominated in other categories at the local awards. Then there are three other Silver Crane nominated films. Coming-of-age flick “ Non-Present Time,” family drama “Santa,” and crime thriller “Name in the Dark.” The winner of several of these awards, “The Excursionist” was released too early last year to be considered this time around. Local financial success “Redirected” is mostly in English, thus ineligible.

1. "The Gambler" (Losejas) Isa: Wide

2. "Cenotaph" (Kenotafas) PC: Studio Uljana Kim

3. "Non-Present Time" (Nesamasis laikas) PC: Just a Moment

4. "Santa" PC: Artbox

5. "Name in the Dark" (Vardas tamsoje) PC: Fralita Films...

Opening Night – World Premiere

Gone Girl

David Fincher, USA, 2014, Dcp, 150m

David Fincher’s film version of Gillian Flynn’s phenomenally successful best seller (adapted by the author) is one wild cinematic ride, a perfectly cast and intensely compressed portrait of a recession-era marriage contained within a devastating depiction of celebrity/media culture, shifting gears as smoothly as a Maserati 250F. Ben Affleck is Nick Dunne, whose wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on the day of their fifth anniversary. Neil Patrick Harris is Amy’s old boyfriend Desi, Carrie Coon (who played Honey in Tracy Letts’s acclaimed production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) is Nick’s sister Margo, Kim Dickens (Treme, Friday Night Lights) is Detective Rhonda Boney, and Tyler Perry is Nick’s superstar lawyer Tanner Bolt. At once a grand panoramic vision of middle America, a uniquely disturbing exploration of the fault lines in a marriage,...

The Film Society Of Lincoln Center announced on Wednesday (12) the 30 films that will comprise the main official selection of the 52nd New York Film Festival (Nyff), set to run from September 26-October 12.

The roster includes North American premieres of Asia Argento’s Misunderstood, Bertrand Bonello’s Saint Laurent and Alice Rohrwacher’s The Wonders.

There are Us premieres for, among others, Oren Moverman’s Time Out Of Mind, Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu, Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini and Martin Rejtman’s Two Shots Fired.

The line-up of New York premieres includes Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, Yann Demange’s ’71 and Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash.

As previously announced, the world premiere of David Fincher’s Gone Girl (pictured) will open Nyff, the world premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is the Centerpiece Gala Selection and the North American premiere of Birdman from Alejandro Iñárritu will close the event.

“Sometimes the sheer...

The Film Society Of Lincoln Center announced on Wednesday (12) the 30 films that will comprise the main official selection of the 52nd New York Film Festival (Nyff), set to run from September 26-October 12.

The roster includes North American premieres of Asia Argento’s Misunderstood, Bertrand Bonello’s Saint Laurent and Alice Rohrwacher’s The Wonders.

There are Us premieres for, among others, Oren Moverman’s Time Out Of Mind, Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu, Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini and Martin Rejtman’s Two Shots Fired.

The line-up of New York premieres includes Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, Yann Demange’s ’71 and Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash.

As previously announced, the world premiere of David Fincher’s Gone Girl (pictured) will open Nyff, the world premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is the Centerpiece Gala Selection and the North American premiere of Birdman from Alejandro Iñárritu will close the event.

“Sometimes the sheer...

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the full slate of this year's 52nd annual event, and as usual it's a tightly curated assortment of world cinema. World premieres previously announced include David Fincher's "Gone Girl" (opening night) and Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" (centerpiece), but in addition, there are a slew of North American premieres at the event. They include Dominik Graf's "Beloved Sisters," Mathieu Amalric's "The Blue Room," Asia Argento's "Misunderstood," Bertrand Bonello's "Saint Laurent" and Alice Rohrwacher's "The Wonders." Sony Classics will have a solid presence, bringing Sundance hit "Whiplash" and Cannes sensations "Foxcatcher" and "Mr. Turner." Also previously announced, Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Birdman" will serve as closing night presentation. Check out the full lineup below. The 52nd annual New York Film Festival runs Sept. 26 - Oct. 12. Opening Night Gala Selection "Gone Girl" Director: David Fincher Centerpiece Gala...

The New York Film Festival announced its Main Slate selection of films today, revealing the 27 movies that will join gala screenings of Gone Girl, Inherent Vice, and Birdman when the 52nd festival begins on Sept. 26. The list includes honored films from Cannes, including Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, David Cronenberg’s Map to the Stars, and Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, as well as Sundance’s big winner, Whiplash.

“In this year’s lineup, we have great big films alongside films made on the most intimate scale, personal epics and intricately constructed chamber pieces, films of great serenity and films that leave you dazed,...

While Sundance (Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash and Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip) and Berlin (Dominik Graf’s Beloved Sisters, Yann Demange’s ’71, Alain Resnais’ Life of Riley) titles are indeed present, the 52nd edition (much like previous years) is a Cannes heavy and slightly Venice lopsided affair/showcase for Manhattanites.

Also the lieu for subtitle friendly distrib companies to measure their summer purchases (IFC, Spc, Cinema Guild, Cohen Media), leading the pack in non Croisette or Lido items, we’re most curious about Pedro Costa’s Horse Money, Matías Piñeiro’s The Princess of France and Eugène Green’s La Sapienza and are looking forward to multi-volume Eden from Mia Hansen-Løve and Nick Broomfield’s (Telluride-tiff) Tales of the Grim Sleeper (see pic above) Added to Fincher’s Gone Girl, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice and Iñárritu’s Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance here are...

We already knew David Fincher's Gone Girl would be opening the 2014 New York Film Festival and that Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman will be closing it, but today we get a full look at the main line-up for this year's fest and it features a lot of familiar titles, though it appears Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice is still one their choosing to keep quiet even though it has all but been confirmed. Most of the recognizable titles playing the fest have already been seen at Cannes and will again be featured in Toronto including Clouds of Sils Maria, Foxcatcher, Goodbye to Language, Maps to the Stars, Mr. Turner, Two Days, One Night and Whiplash. Abel Ferrara's Pasolini and Mia Hansen-Love's Eden are two other high profile and anticipated films that will be playing Toronto and you can add Mathieu Amalric's The Blue Room, Hong Sang-soo's Hill of Freedom,...

The 52nd New York Film Festival will run from September 26th to October 12th, and as per usual, it’s set to be packed to the gills with promising movies. This year, the Film Society of Lincoln Center has managed to lock down a bevy of highly promising titles, including major Oscar contenders (Foxcatcher, Inherent Vice) and entries from acclaimed directors like David Cronenberg (Maps to the Stars) and Mike Leigh (Mr. Turner).

Nyff 2014 will see the world premiere of David Fincher’s mystery thriller Gone Girl, starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, as its opening night selection. The world premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson’s hotly anticipated detective film Inherent Vice will serve as the festival’s centerpiece film. And ambitiously shot drama Birdman, from director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, will make its U.S. premiere as the closing night selection.

Other huge titles making an appearance at Nyff 2014 include Foxcatcher,...

Boasting world premieres of two of the highest profile movies coming this fall —David Fincher's "Gone Girl" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice"— along with landing Alejandro G. Iñárritu's "Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance" for the closing night slot, the New York Film Festival had done enough to impress its cinephile constituency. But today the fest has unveiled their main slate, and attendees are going to have a lot to enjoy this year. Featuring both North American premieres along with buzzworthy festival titles, the lineup has a lot of quality to choose from with films from Asia Argento ("Incompresa"), Olivier Assayas ("Clouds Of Sils Maria"), Pedro Costa ("Horse Money"), David Cronenberg ("Maps To The Stars"), Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne ("Two Days, One Night"), Abel Ferrara ("Pasolini"), Jean- Luc Godard ("Goodbye To Language...

Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage resumed for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world (during and after the festival) and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.

Other Angle Pictures is a fresh and energetic film sales and acquisitions company with a welcoming boutique approach and an unparalleled and eclectic slate. Based in Paris, it was started by the husband and wife team of Laurence Schonberg and Olivier Albou.

It's impressive that Other Angle Pictures has only been around for five years; this family style company has been on a steady climb and has scored great success with films that most thought would never succeed. At last year's Cannes Film Festival, cop comedy “On the Other Side of the Tracks" starring Omar Sy of "The Untouchables", sold to over 40 territories and was picked up by The Weinstein Co.

This year, sales have also been solid with Asia Argento’s Un Certain Regard entry "Incompresa" starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Babysitting", the second highest grossing French comedy of the year, and "Go Go Boys", a documentary about legendary producers Menachem Golam and Yoram Globus (which was in Cannes Classics and is getting ready for a solid international rollout).

Other Angle Pictures intends to develop its slate with more English language projects moving forward. The company is also producing its first film "The Beggars," which is in a similar vein as "The Band's Visit". It will star "Monsieur Lazar's" Fellag and will be directed by Daniel Cohen who directed "Le Chef" (recently released by Cohen Media).

General Manager Laurence Shonberg and head of Sales and Acquisitions Nathan Fischer took time to share their backgrounds, success and intentions moving forward...

Laurence: We decided to create our company because we had the vision of bringing something new to the market. Since then, we decided to focus on finding films that no one expected to break out. We started with a comedy called "The French Kissers", which was in the Cannes Director’s fortnight in 2009. It sold two million tickets in France and was distributed worldwide.

This year is a breakout year for us. We had three movies in Cannes. Two were chosen for Un Certain Regard, and one was a Cannes Classique. We're a small family company, and we're very excited and proud of this. It has a lot of heart, and that's what Other Angle is looking for - films with heart, films that aren't expected to do well in the beginning, films that are going to be something special to the audience, and films that are funny, moving and sincere. Our films speak to what's important in life.

We are leading in French comedies, but we're definitely moving towards more international, director-oriented films. We hope to be a magnet for international directors looking for co-production opportunities. I think that's really the way to evolve right now, and getting involved in sales at an early stage.

We also have French mainstream comedies that are great potential remake movies, like Babysitting, or "The Last Diamond", by Barbier Eric, which was recently acquired by Cohen Media. My First Star is a story of a family on a ski trip for the first time. It's based on a true story of a guy from Martinique who came from a poor family. We sold the remake rights to Chris Rock, and he's working on it right now. It's a very funny and moving story.

Nathan: I first lived in Los Angeles when I was 20 and worked as a production assistant for Anonymous Content. It was a great place, and I realized that I only wanted to be in film. I kept doing internships, and started doing international sales with Wild Bunch. They had "The Artist", "Polisse" and a number of great films that broke out of Cannes. This is how I learned how exciting international sales could be. After this time, I traveled in Asia for a year, before coming back to Los Angeles where I had stints with Endgame Entertainment, Voltage Pictures, and went on to work for the producers of The Lunchbox.

This gave me a better understanding of the leading markets. I think that international sales are great when you're passionate about film, but you also have to be passionate about your distributors and your territories.

Laurence: Olivier started with Ugc as the head of international sales, and sold "Amelie" worldwide. Following this, he was hired to work at Warner Bros as the director of international distribution in the Us for three years and then moved on to be the director of acquisitions at TF1 in France.

We care about our films. It's not just one more film; we have strong relationships with our producers, and keep them updated every step of the way. We form a community with our clients and treat them like family. It's more than a business for us; it's our life.

More about Other Angle Pictures:

Other Angle Pictures is an international sales and acquisitions company involved in features films from France and other countries. We are not handling more than 10 films a year for foreign sales, in order to provide filmmakers and our clients with the best possible care and service. We also acquire foreign films for France, and are involved in international co-productions...

There’s something irresistibly hip about Asia Argento, even as a concept. The sultry, pouty daughter of trash-horror maestro Dario Argento, her public image as a wild child jack-of-all-trades-as-long-as-they’re-kinda-glamorous (actress, singer, model, director) does make her something of a poster girl for tough, troubled, attitude-y cool (just check out her Cannes red carpet pic or her Twitter account for that matter). But after her first two forays into directing, “Scarlet Diva” (in which she also starred as a self-destructive starlet) and child abuse chronicle “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things,” she has shifted gears in several ways with her third: she makes a brief, Hitchcock-level cameo but doesn’t star, and most welcome, she moves from straight-up miserablism to a beguiling cockeyed whimsy. However “Misunderstood” ("Incompresa"), which played in the Un Certain Regard sidebar in Cannes, is unavoidably personal too. The lead 9-year-old is called Aria, Argento’s own.

Nearly 10 years after her second feature as a director, "The Heart Is Deceitful," Italian actress-turned-director Asia Argento -- who also happens to be the daughter of Italian cinema's giallo master Dario Argento -- finally returns to the director's chair for a second time with her new film, "Incompresa." Despite missing subtitles, the film's newly released trailer is captivating nonetheless. As The Playlist notes, "Incompresa," which translates to "Misunderstood" in English, appears to be a semi-autobiographical account of what it is like to grow up surrounded by fame and excess. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gabriel Garko star as the famous parents of a young girl played by newcomer Giulia Salerno. Given the vibrant color scheme, baroque costuming and decadent lifestyle of the characters, Argento seems to share the same aesthetic and thematic preoccupations as her directing contemporary Sofia Coppola -- which doesn't come as much of a surprise given the fact that they worked together.

Earlier today we dropped our list of the 15 Most Anticipated Film Of The 2014 Cannes Film Festival, and while it's the highest profile titles that get the attention, we're always hoping for something to break out unexpectedly. Could Asia Argento's "Incompresa" be such a film? Playing the Un Certain Regard section, the film is Argento's first feature since 2004's "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things," and is inspired by her childhood. As you know, she's the offspring of giallo master Dario Argento and actress Daria Nicolodi, and this film seems to be a look into a world of fame and celebrity through a child's eyes, with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gabriel Garko as the parental figures. And we're also intrigued by the soundtrack, which has been put together by Justin Pearson, Gabe Serbian and Luke Henshaw. Noise and punk fiends may know those names from bands such as The Locust,...

Kicking off this week in France is the Cannes Film Festival, with films from Ryan Gosling to Tommy Lee Jones. Another film premiering in the Un Certain Regard category is Asia Argento's latest feature, titled Incompresa, or Misunderstood, a sort of semi-autobiographical story about her own childhood as the daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento and actress Daria Nicolodi. This early trailer still doesn't have English subtitles, but presents a very bold, punk look at growing up. I'm down to see it, and hope it's as good as this looks. It's said to have "nuances of the cinema of Sophia Coppola and Paolo Sorrentino." Take a look below. Here's the first trailer for Asia Argento's Incompresa, or Misunderstood, found via The Film Stage: Incompresa, also known as Misunderstood in English, is co-written and directed by Italian actress Asia Argento, who has directed a few films previously including The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things...

The number of women directors who make it into the Cannes lineup is a source of yearly contention. And it makes sense. Over the past ten years, there's been virtually no consistent improvement in terms of women auteurs landing in the hallowed competition program. Un Certain Regard has gradually improved -- slightly. Indiewire's Women and Hollywood blog has created a handy if depressing chart, cleverly titled "No Cannes Do," to show the exact stats. Check it out, below. It should be noted that the numbers include women who directed and co-directed. This year, Alice Rohrwacher ("La Meraviglie") and Naomi Kawese ("Still the Water") are in competition, while Jessica Hausner ("Amour fou"), Asia Argento ("Incompresa"), Marie Amachoukeli and Claire Beuger (along with Samuel Theis for "Party Girl") and Keren Yadaya ("Harcheck mi headro") are in Un Certain Regard. (Full lineup here.) Meanwhile, this year's jury president Jane Campion (who recently revealed...

Exclusive: Paris-based sales company to hit Croisette with a trio of Official Selection titles, which also includes Keren Yedaya’s That Lovely Girl and The Go-Go Boys.

Other Angle Pictures has acquired international rights to Italian actress and director Asia Argento’s Incompresa ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.

The feature, Argento’s third, is loosely inspired by her childhood as the daughter of the genre maestro Dario Argento and actress Daria Nicolodi who collaborated on classics such as Suspiria and Inferno before going their separate ways.

French-Anglo actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, another child of famous parents who has been a friend of Argento since meeting on the set of the 2000 mini-series Les Misérables, plays the lead Italian-language role, based loosely on Nicolodi.

“We really believe in this film… it’s special, very emotional and personal, with nuances of the cinema of Sophia Coppola and Paolo Sorrentino,” said Other Angle co-chief Olivier Albou.

Other Angle expanding...

The Cannes Film Festival's lineup of films include the Competition titles of several legendary auteurs such as Jean-Luc Godard, David Cronenberg, The Dardenne Brothers, Atom Egoyan, Mike Leigh, and Ken Loach. In the Un Certain Regard section, the highly anticipated film by actor-turned-director Ryan Gosling. Those in the business will be happy to find Alison Thompson in her new company, Sunray Films, selling Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner. Two films out of 18 in Competition are by women, but across all sections there are 15 women directors. Further in Competition, three films are from Canada; two are from U.S. one film is from Latin America (Argentina); one is from Japan; one from Turkey; one from Russia and the rest are European.

Opening Night Film :

Grace of Monaco (Producer: Stone Angels/ U.S. The Weinstein Company) from France by Olivier Dahan

In Competition

Clouds of Sils Maria (Isa: MK2/ U.S. Distribution: IFC Films) from France/ Gremany/ Switzerland by Olivier Assayas

Saint Laurent (Isa: EuropaCorp) from France by Bertrand Bonello

Winter's Sleep aka Kis uykusu (Producer: Zeynofilm ) from Turkey by Nuri Bilge Ceylan who has a great website.

Maps to the Stars (Isa: Entertainment One) from Canada by David Cronenberg

Two Days, One Night (Isa: Wild Bunch/ U.S. Distribution: IFC Films) from Belgium and France by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

Mommy (Isa: Seville International) from Canada by Xavier Dolan

The Captive (Isa: Entertainment One) from Canada by Atom Egoyan. You can watch the trailer here.

Goodbye to Language aka Adieu au Langage (Isa: Wild Bunch) from France by Jean-Luc Godard

The Search (Isa: Wild Bunch/ U.S. Distribution: Worldview Entertainment) from France by Michel Hazanavivius

The Homesman (Isa: Europacorp) from U.S. by Tommy Lee Jones

Still the Water (Isa: MK2) from Japan and France by Naomi Kawase ♀

Mr. Turner (Isa: Sunray Films/ U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics) from U.K. by Mike Leigh. Sunray Films is Alison Thompson's new company and she brought the film over from her former employer Focus Features International when they left the international sales business.

Jimmy's Hall (Isa: Wild Bunch) from Ireland and U.K. by Ken Loach

Foxcatcher (Isa: Panorama Media/ U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics) from U.S. by Bennett Miller

Le Meraviglie (Isa: The Match Factory) from Italy, Switzerland and Germany by Alice Rohrwacher ♀

Timbuktu (Isa: Le Pacte) from France by Abderrahmane Sissako

Wild Tales (Isa: Film Factory Entertainment/ U.S. Distribution: Palmera International) from Argentina by Damian Szifron

Leviathan (Isa: Pyramide International) from Russia by Andrey Zvyagintsev

Un Certain Regard

Party Girl (Isa: Pyramide International) from France by Marie Amachoukeli ♀ , Claire Burger ♀ , Samuel Theis

Jauja (Isa: Ndm) from Argentina by Lisandro Alonso

The Blue Room (Isa: Alfama Films) from France by Mathieu Amalric

Misunderstood aka Incompresa aka L'Incomprise (Production: Paradis Films) from Italy by Asia Argento ♀

Titli (Isa: Westend Films) from India by Kanu Behl

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (Isa: Myriad Pictures/ U.S. Distribution: The Weinstein Company) from U.S. by Ned Benson

Bird People (Isa: Films Distribution) from France by Pascale Ferran ♀

Lost River (Isa: Sierra/Affinity) from U.S. by Ryan Gosling

Amour Fou (Isa: Coproduction Office Paris) from Austria by Jessica Hausner ♀

Charlie's Country (Isa: Visit Films) from Australia by Rolf de Heer

Snow in Paradise (Isa: The Match Factory) from U.K. by Andrew Hulme

A Girl at My Door (Isa: Cj Entertainment) from So. Korea by July Jung ♀

Xenia (Isa: Pyramide International) from Greece by Panos Koutras

Run (Isa: Bac) from France by Philippe Lacote

Turist from Sweden and Norway by Ruben Ostlund

Beautiful Youth aka Hermosa Juventud (Producer: Fresdeval Films) by Jaime Rosales

Fantasia by Wang Chao

The Salt of the Earth (Isa: Le Pacte) from Germany and Brazil by Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado

Away From His Absence (Isa: Bizibi) from Israel by Karen Yedaya ♀

Out of Competition

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Dreamworks Animation) from the U.S. by Dean Deblois

Coming Home aka Gui Lai (Isa: Wild Bunch) from China by Zhang Yimou

Special Screenings

Bridges of Sarajevo (Les Ponts de Sarajevo) from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Portugal, Germany, and France

Red Army from the U.S. and Russia by Gabe Polsky

Maidan (Isa: Atoms & Void Bv) from Belarus by Segei Loznitsa

Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait from Syria by Ossama Mohammed

Cartoonists - Foot Soldiers Of Democracy from France by Stephanie Valloatto

Directors' Fortnight

Opening Film: Girlhood aka Bande De Files (Isa: Films Distribution) from France by Céline Sciamma

Closing Film: Pride (Isa:Pathe International) from the U.K. by Matthew Warchus

Features

Alleluia (Isa:snd- Groupe M6) from Belgium and France by Fabrice Du Welz

Catch Me Daddy (Isa: Altitude Film Sales) from the U.K. by Daniel Wolfe

Next To Her aka At Li La Yla (Isa: Films Boutique) from Israel by Asaf Korman

Cold In July (Isa: Memento Films International) from the U.S. by Jim Mickle

Fighters aka Les Combattants (ISa: Bac Films) from France by Thomas Cailley

Gett — The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem (Isa: Films Distribution) from France, Germany, Israel by Ronit & Shlomi Elkabetz

The Tale of Princess Kaguya aka Kaguya-Hime No Monogatari (Isa: Wild Bunch) from Japan by Isao Takahata

Eat Your Bones aka Mange Tes Morts (Isa:Capricci Films) from France by Jean-Charles Hue

A Hard Day aka Kkeut-Kka-Ji-Kan-Da (Isa: Showbox/Mediaples, Inc.) from South Korea by Seong-Hun Kim

National Gallery (Isa: Doc & Film International) from France by Frederick Wiseman

Queen And Country (Isa: Le Pacte) from the U.K. and Ireland by John Boorman

Sheltered aka Refugiado (Isa: Backup Media Films) from Argentina, France, Poland, and Colombia by Diego Lerman

These Final Hours (Isa: Celluloid Dreams/Nightmares) from Australia by Zach Hilditch

Tu Dors Nicole (Isa: Seville International) from Canada by Stéphane Lafleur

Whiplash (Isa:Sierra /Affinity) from the U.S. by Damien Chazelle

Special Screening

P'tit Quinquin by Bruno Dumont

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre by Tobe Hooper (4K restoration)

Acid Program

Brooklyn (Produced by Les Enfants de la Dalle) from France by Pascal Tessaud

The Way Out aka Cesta Ven (Produced by Cinema de Facto) from France and the Czech Republic by Petr Vaclav

Challat of Tunis aka Le Challat the Tunis (Produced by Cinetelefilms ) from Tunisia and France by Kaouther Ben Hania

The Girls and the River aka La Fille et le Fleuve (Produced by 31 Juin Films) from France by Aurélia Georges

Mercuriales (Produced by Kazak Productions) from France by Virgil Vernier

New Territories (Produced by Paraiso Production Difussion) from France by Fabianny Deschamps

Insecure aka Qui Vive (Isa: Udi- Urban Distribution International ) from France by Marianne Tardieu

The Rules of the Game aka Les Regles du Jeu (Isa: Doc & Film International) from France by Claudine Bories and Patrice Chagnard

Spartacus & Cassandra (Produced by Morgane Productions) from France by Ioanis Nuguet

Critics' Week

Opening Night: Faire: L'Amour (Fla) from France by Djinn Carrénard

Closing Nigh: Hippocrates aka Hippocrate (Isa: Le Pacte) from France by Thomas Lilti

Features

Darker Than Midnight aka Piu' Buio di Mezzanotte (Isa: Rai Trade) from Italy by Sebastiano Riso

Gente de Bien (Isa: Versatile) from Colombia and France by Franco Lolli

Hope (Isa: Pyramide International) from France by Boris Lojkine

It Follows (Isa: Visit Films) from the U.S. by David Robert Mitchell

Self Made aka Boreg (Isa: Westend Films) from Israel by Shira Geffen

The Tribe aka Plemya (Isa: Alpha Violet) from Ukraine by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy

When Animals Dream aka Nar Dyrene Drommer (Produced by Gaumont) from Denmark by Jonas Alexander Arnby

Critics' Week: Special Screenings

Breathe aka Respire (Produced by Gaumont) from France by Mélanie Laurent

The Kindergarten Teacher aka Haganenet Teacher aka (Isa: Le Pacte) from Israel by Nadav Lapid...

The official selections for the 67th Cannes Film Festival have been announced with a more mainstream than expected selection this year featuring quite a few films you've probably heard of.

New films are on over from such esteemed directors as David Cronenberg, Jean-Luc Godard, Bennett Miller, Olivier Dahan, David Michod, Zhang Yimou, Atom Egoyan, Xavier Dolan, Ken Loach, Olivier Assayas, Rolf de Heer, Michel Hazanavicius, Mike Leigh, second-timer Tommy Lee Jones and first-timer Ryan Gosling.

Opening Film (Out of Competition):

"Grace of Monaco" – Olivier Dahan

Competition:

"The Captive" – Atom Egoyan

"Clouds of Sils Maria" – Olivier Assayas

"Two Days, One Night" – Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes

"Foxcatcher" – Bennett Miller

"Goodbye to Language" – Jean-Luc Godard

"The Homesman" – Tommy Lee Jones

"Jimmy's Hall" – Ken Loach

"Leviathan" – Andrey Zvyagintsev

"Le Meraviglie" – Alice Rohrwacher

"Maps to the Stars" – David Cronenberg

"Mommy" – Xavier Dolan

"Mr. Turner" – Mike Leigh

"Saint Laurent" – Bertrand Bonello

"The Search" – Michel Hazanavicius...

Croisette regulars veterans Jean Luc Godard, Ken Loach and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne will compete alongside Competition first-timers Alice Rohrwacher, Xavier Dolan and Damian Szifron at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

Artistic director Thierry Fremaux announced the Official Selection of the 67th edition on Thursday (17) at a packed press conference at the Normandie Cinema on the Champs Elysées in Paris.

“Anyone who makes a film of more than one hour in duration, has the right to submit a film to Cannes… this year we received some 1,800 films in total – all of which were screened,” said Fremaux.

He announced 49 titles in total from 28 countries and hinted a further two or three could be announced ahead of Cannes. [Click here for the full list.]

Fremaux, who tied up the line-up at 1am local time ahead of the announcement, said films were arriving later and later for consideration due to digitisation of filmmaking.

“It used to be that January was late,” he said. “Now...

The 2014 Cannes Film Festival lineup has been announced, and it has some heavy hitters. Technically, the biggest is How to Train Your Dragon 2, but Cannes has played host to DreamWorks Animation films in the past in an attempt to give the festival a wider appeal. Plus, that movie is playing out of competition. Among the indies, the one I'll be keeping an eye on is Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo. Other notable contenders include David Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars, David Michôd’s The Rover, Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner, Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman, Ryan Gosling's Lost River (formerly titled How to Catch a Monster), Zhang Yimou's Coming Home, and Atom Egoyan's The Captive. Hit the jump to check out the full lineup. The 2014 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 15 – 25th. Via Vulture. Opener Grace of Monaco,...

Best Director winner Mathieu Amalric moves down from the Main Comp, Ryan Gosling changes the title of his film, Ned Benson trims an hour to become a rare 2013 film added to the fest, Asia Argento adds a touch of eclectic while Pascale Ferran and Lisandro Alonso add a little auteur clout while our bets are on Ruben Ostlund to shake up the section. Thierry Frémaux’s Un Certain Regard section for ’14 has six Camera d’Or (first-time filmmakers) hopefuls including our tipped for Cannes bet in Kanu Behl’s Titli, and the female filmmaker presence (Jessica Hausner, Keren Yedaya) make up for the lack of in the Main Comp. With only 19 announced titles, expect there to be room to add at least two more items. Here are the Un Certain Regard selections:

Un Certain Regard

“Amour fou” (Jessica Hausner)

“Bird People” (Pascale Ferran)

“The Blue Room” (Mathieu Amalric)

“Charlie’s...

Cannes has announced the lineup for the Official Competition and Un Certain Regard section, as well as special screenings, for the 67th edition of the festival.

Competition

Opening Night: Grace de Monaco (Olivier Dahan)

Sils Maria (Olivier Assayas)

Maps to the Stars (David Cronenberg)

Saint Laurent (Bertrand Bonello)

Kis Uykusu (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

Deux jours, une nuit (Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne)

Mommy (Xavier Dolan)

Captives (Atom Egoyan)

Adieu au langage (Jean-Luc Godard)

The Search (Michel Hazanavicius)

The Homesman (Tommy Lee Jones)

Futatsume no Mado (Naomi Kawase)

Mr. Turner (Mike Leigh)

Jimmy's Hall (Ken Loach)

Fox Catcher (Bennett Miller)

Le Meraviglie (Alice Rohrwacher)

Timbuktu (Abderrahmane Sissako)

Relatos Salvajes (Damian Szifron)

Leviathan (Andrey Zvyagintsev)

Un Certain Regard

Opening Night: Party Girl (Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis)

Jauja (Lisandro Alonso)

La Chambre Bleue (Mathieu Amalric)

Incompresa (Asia Argento)

Titli (Kanu Behl)

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him and Her (Ned Benson)

Bird People...

This morning Cannes director Thierry Fremaux announced the films which will make up the 67th Cannes Film Festival lineup.

The announcement confirmed that the opening film, Olivier Dahan’s much-anticipated Grace of Monaco, is the only cut of the film, clearing up previous confusion on the matter. It is a strong opener, and the premiere screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2 to celebrate twenty years of Dreamworks Animation is a crowd-pleasing move certainly however it is the new films from Atom Egoyan, Jean-Luc Godard, Mike Leigh and David Cronenberg which have been warmly welcomed.

Tommy Lee Jones’ second feature film, The Homesman, plays in Compettion, up against the new Dardenne Brothers film, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall and many more. Every year the lineup is incredibly enticing, there is so much to explore, to anticipate (not least Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River – wisely retitled from...

The full lineup of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival has been announced.

Among the movies announced at today's press conference are directorial efforts from Ryan Gosling, Tommy Lee Jones, Olivier Assayas, Atom Egoyan, Jean-Luc Godard, Michel Hazanavicius, Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, David Cronenberg, Wim Wenders and the Dardenne brothers.

Read the full lineup below:

Main Competition:

Adieu au Langage (Farewell to Language) by Jean-Luc Godard

Captives by Atom Egoyan

Deux Jours, Une Nuit (Two Days, One Night) by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne

Foxcatcher by Bennett Miller

Futatsume No Mado (Deux Fenêtres) by Naomi Kawase

The Homesman by Tommy Lee Jones

Jimmy's Hall by Ken Loach

Kis Uykusu (Sommeil D'hiver) (Winter Sleep) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Le Meraviglie by Alice Rohrwacher

Leviathan by Andrey Zvyagintsev

Maps to the Stars by David Cronenberg

Mommy by Xavier Dolan

Mr Turner by Mike Leigh

Relatos Salvajes (Wild Tales) by Damian Szifron

Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello...

The Official Selection for the 66th Cannes Film Festival has been unveiled in Paris.

At a press conference at the Ugc Normandie movie theatre on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux is set to reveal the 49 features from 28 countries selected for inclusion in this year’s festival, which runs from May 14-25.

As previously announced, Olivier Dahan’s Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman, will be the opening film on May 14, out of competition.

Last week, Party Girl was named as the opening film of the Un Certain Regard strand. The debut feature is from co-directors Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis.

As previously announced, the competition jury will be presided over by New Zealand director, producer and scriptwriter Jane Campion.

Competition

Jury chair: Jane Campion

Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas

Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello

Kis Uykusu (Winter’S Sleep) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Maps To The Stars by David Cronenberg

Deux Jours...

The Official Selection for the 66th Cannes Film Festival has been unveiled in Paris.

At a press conference at the Ugc Normandie movie theatre on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux is set to reveal the 49 features from 28 countries selected for inclusion in this year’s festival, which runs from May 14-25.

As previously announced, Olivier Dahan’s Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman, will be the opening film on May 14, out of competition.

Last week, Party Girl was named as the opening film of the Un Certain Regard strand. The debut feature is from co-directors Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis.

As previously announced, the competition jury will be presided over by New Zealand director, producer and scriptwriter Jane Campion.

Competition

Jury chair: Jane Campion

Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas

Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello

Kis Uykusu (Sommeil D’Hiver) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Maps To The Stars by David Cronenberg

Deux Jours...