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Exclusive: Vincent Cassel has built a reputation over his 30-year career for playing bad and good guys with a menacing, violent edge from Vinz in La Haine, to ruthless gangster Jacques Mesrine, or a tough-talking mercenary in the Apple TV+ series Liaison.

It is a surprise then to discover the French star in the role of the Greek mythology figure of Charon, the ferryman of the underworld, reimagined as a gentlemanly taxi driver, with charmingly accented but grammatically perfect English in The Opera!, which world premieres in the Rome Film Festival on Friday evening.

Based loosely on tragic love story Orpheus and Eurydice, Davide Livermore and creative director Paolo Gep Cucco’s original telling of the ancient legend mixes opera arias from Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Mozart, Vivaldi, Boito and Gluck with pop classics such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “The Power of Love.”

Cassel tops a cast also featuring Caterina Murino,...

In einem Interview mit indiewire hat Luca Guadagnino angekündigt, Thomas Manns „Buddenbrooks“ verfilmen zu wollen. Obwohl unklar ist, wer das Projekt finanzieren und/oder produzieren soll, arbeitet der italienische Regisseur bereits mit Francesca Manieri an einem Drehbuch.

Luca Guadagnino (Credit: Imago/Gruppo LiveMedia)

Wenn Luca Guadagnino etwas nicht ist, dann untätig. Nach der Fertigstellung von „Queer“ hat der italienische Regisseur neben einer Doku über sein Idol Bernardo Bertolucci für kommendes Jahr bereits zwei weitere Spielfilmprojekte geplant: zunächst den Thriller „After the Rain“ mit Julia Roberts und Andrew Garfield, dann eine Adaption des Romans „Getrennte Räume“ des 1991 an Aids gestorbenen Schriftstellers Pier Vittorio Tondelli, deren Drehbuch von Francesca Manieri geschrieben wird, mit der Guadagnino an der HBO-Serie „We Are Who We Are“ gearbeitet hatte.

In einem Interview hat der Italiener nun erklärt, er wolle in naher Zukunft auch Thomas Manns „Buddenbrooks“ verfilmen, dessen Drehbuch ebenfalls Manieri schreiben soll. Tatsächlich erklärt er: „Ich glaube,...

Bei der 50. César-Verleihung am 28. Februar wird der 91-jährige Filmemacher für sein Lebenswerk geehrt.

Costa-Gavras, hier beim Filmfestival in San Sebastian im September, wird bei der César-Verleihung im kommenden Jahr für sein Lebenswerk geehrt (Credit: Imago / Sopa Images)

Der 1933 geborene griechisch-französische Filmemacher Costa-Gavras wird bei der 50. César-Verleihung am 28. Februar für sein Lebenswerk geehrt. Das gab die César-Akademie jetzt bekannt. 2003 war Costa-Gavras zusammen mit Jean-Claude Grumberg für das Drehbuch zu „Der Stellvertreter“ mit Ulrich Tukur in einer der Hauptrollen mit dem César ausgezeichnet worden.

Costa-Gavras war 1983 zusammen mit Donald E. Stewart für das Drehbuch zu „Vermisst“, in dem ein idealistischer amerikanischer Schriftsteller während des Staatsstreichs in Chile im Jahr 1973 vermisst und von seiner Frau und seinem Vater gesucht wird, mit dem Oscar ausgezeichnet worden.

Bereits 1970 war er für die Regie von „Z: Anatomie eines politischen Mordes“ für einen Oscar nominiert gewesen. Das Politdrama um einen Ermittler, der den Mord an einem prominenten Linken aufzuklären versucht,...

The French Film Academy will honor legendary political filmmaker Costa-Gavras with its lifetime achievement award at the upcoming 2025 César Awards.

The 91-year-old auteur, born in Greece before fleeing to exile in Paris, is best known for his politically-charged cinema, including Oscar winners Z (1969) — a thinly fictionalized account of the assassination of democratic Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis in 1963 that led to the country’s long military dictatorship — and English-language feature Missing (1982), about the disappearance of an American journalist in the aftermath of the United States-backed Chilean coup of 1973.

Z was the first film to be nominated both for best picture and best international feature at the Academy Awards, winning the latter, as well as the Oscar for best film editing for Françoise Bonnot. Missing, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, won the Palme d’Or in Cannes and was nominated for four Oscars, winning for best adapted screenplay.

Costa-Gavras’ other notable...

Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn in DaddioPhoto: Sony Pictures Classics

Maybe it’s the metaphor. The transition, the feeling of getting caught in between two places while not really being in either one. Moving characters from Point A to Point B, internally and externally. There is room to grow in the back of a taxi.

German acting legend Hanna Schygulla will be honored this year with a lifetime achievement award at the German Film Awards.

Best known for her work with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, including The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980), and Lili Marleen (1981), Schygulla’s career has included collaborations with the likes of Wim Wenders (1975’s Wrong Move), Jean-Luc Godard (1982’s Passion) and Fatih Akin (2007’s The Edge of Heaven). More recently, the 80-year-old actress has a scene-stealing cameo in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar-winner Poor Things as Martha von Kurtzroc, the eccentric woman Emma Stone’s character befriends on the cruise ship.

“Hanna Schygulla is an institution of German and European cinema,” said Alexandra Maria Lara, president of the German Film Academy, explaining the decision of the honorary jury. “Through her long-standing collaboration with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, she wrote herself into film history. She became an icon of German auteur cinema with international appeal.

There’s an infamous anecdote about a scientist who was presenting a lecture on how earth and other celestial bodies orbit around larger bodies. When he finished the lecture, an old lady supposedly stood up and claimed that the scientist was wrong because the world wasn’t floating in outer space but was in fact supported on the back of a giant turtle. When asked what was supporting the turtle, the old lady replied: “it’s turtles all the way down.”

While this story is often used to explain the concept of an infinite regress, it’s also a great example of how the simulation hypothesis – the idea that the universe as we know it is a kind of virtual reality – is actually much older than the modern concept of computers.

However, it was only with the technological advances of the 90s that this idea became prevalent in popular culture...

Steven Soderbergh’s “Mr. Kneff” is finally landing stateside.

The recut version of 1991’s “Kafka” stars Jeremy Irons as a writer in 1919 Prague; the film has had new iterations unveiled in 2013 and 2021, respectively. Now, Soderbergh is revealing the first ever U.S. screening of the 2021 recut “Kafka,” titled “Mr. Kneff.” The premiere will take place at Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park on November 9 at 7 p.m.

The official logline of “Mr. Kneff” reads: “A writer guy in 1919 Prague uses his dead-end job as inspiration for his fantastical fiction.” Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell, Joel Grey, Ian Holm, Jeroen Krabbé, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Alec Guinness star in the cult classic which marked Soderbergh’s sophomore directorial effort after “sex, lies, and videotape.” Soderbergh will participate in a Q&a following the U.S. premiere.

His liquor brand Singani 63 will also be sponsoring the evening, with a complimentary Singani speciality drink for ticket...

It’s been over fifteen years since the release of David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and despite rumours of a sequel for over a decade, it seems that Eastern Promises 2 is well and truly dead.

Eastern Promises told the story of Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife who delivers the baby of a young teenage prostitute who dies in childbirth. After learning that the teen had been forced into prostitution by the Russian mafia, she crosses paths with ruthless crime boss Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and his menacing driver Nikolai (Vincent Mortensen). The film also starred Vincent Cassel as Kirill, Semyon’s drunk and ruthless son, and he told The Independent that Eastern Promises 2 isn’t happening. “[Cronenberg] had a wonderful script,” Cassel said. “We were ready to do it and I don’t know why it collapsed. Now I don’t think it will happen any more.“

Related Viggo Mortensen...

Already missing Twitter trolling? Short on material to spark resentment since the midterm elections ended? Here’s a list that’ll get you in the Thanksgiving spirit. It’s not an exhaustive one, but if you really want to replicate the family feast experience, you can get liquored up and argue about it. There’s something here for every taste – even if your taste is on the “Dahmer” end of the spectrum.

“Home for the Holidays” (1995) Dylan McDermott and Holly Hunter liven up stuffy Cynthia Stevenson’s Thanksgiving in “Home for the Holidays” (Paramount)

More mischievous than mawkish, this minor masterpiece from director Jody Foster captures the spirit of family get-togethers and all their baggage. At her parents’ Baltimore home after losing her job and making out with her boss, Claudia (Holly Hunter) looks on as gay brother Tommy struggles to carve the turkey and launches it into the lap...

Sometimes, it takes a little while for a director to find their latest muse. David Cronenberg worked with many leading men throughout the 20th century — Jeff Goldblum, Jeremy Irons, James Spader — but since 2005, his go-to star has been Viggo Mortensen.

The director and actor pair have made four films together. Their first was "A History of Violence," a tale of murder infesting small town America à la the Hitchcock classic "Shadow of a Doubt." Next came "Eastern Promises," a Russian gangster drama set in London. Mortensen was just a supporting player in "A Dangerous Method," playing Sigmund Freud opposite Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung and Keira Knightly as Sabina Spielrein. For their latest collaboration "Crimes of the Future," released in 2022, Cronenberg went back to his body horror roots. Mortensen plays Saul Tenser, a man who spontaneously grows new organs and has his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux) surgically remove the aberrant organs in avant-garde art shows.

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“Just The Driver”

By Raymond Benson

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg has always managed to push the envelope with nearly every one of his striking pieces of work since he appeared on the scene in the mid-1970s. Known at first as primarily a director of unique “body-horror” films (The Brood, 1979, or The Fly; 1986), Cronenberg spread his wings in the 1990s and moved away from the genre to tackle more dramatic and varied subjects. His 2007 crime picture about the Russian mafia operating in London, Eastern Promises, stands as a milestone title in the director’s filmography.

Kino Lorber Classics has released a superb 2-disk (4K Ultra and Blu-ray) package of the film, and the results are impressive. The picture quality is so sharp and clear that it could be used as a demonstration product for high definition televisions.

Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts) is a...

This year’s TIFF has been a subdued affair compared to its pre-pandemic days, but the announcement of a new, secret Steven Soderbergh film built up a lot of interest and buzz for festival patrons. There were a few theories about what the project could be: a recut of one of the director’s older films, most likely, 1991’s “Kafka”; a sequel to his debut feature film “sex, lies, and videotape”; or “Kimi,” the mystery thriller Soderbergh has been working on with screenwriter David Koepp, starring Zoë Kravitz, set in a post-covid world and supposedly reminiscent of “The Conversation,” “Rear Window,” and “Panic Room.”

Of those three options, the least enticing was definitely a recut film, and that is exactly what TIFF’s secret screening ended up being. Soderbergh introduced a reimagining of his sophomore film “Kafka,” retitled “Mr. Kneff” and re-edited as if from the perspective of a “deranged critic/fan.

From Don’t Breathe 2, actor Brendan Sexton III discusses some of his favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante as viewed through that wondrous video home system format known as… VHS.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Dark (2015)

Gremlins (1984)

Infested (2002)

Don’t Breathe (2016)

Don’t Breathe 2 (2021)

Unforgiven (1992)

The Beguiled (1971)

The Beguiled (2017)

Welcome To The Dollhouse (1995)

Pecker (1998)

Hairspray (1988)

Pink Flamingos (1972)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

Session 9 (2001)

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Seven Psychopaths (2012)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

The Last Boy Scout (1991)

Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke (1978)

Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

48 Hrs. (1982)

Dumbo (1941)

Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)

Mickey And The Beanstalk (1947)

Grindhouse (2007)

Planet Terror (2007)

Death Proof (2007)

The Howling (1981)

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Game Of Death (1978)

Take A Hard Ride (1975)

Three The Hard Way (1974)

Death Promise (1977)

Piranha (1978)

Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

Yojimbo (1961)

Seven Samurai (1954)

Goodfellas (1990)

Hell In The Pacific (1968)

Grand Prix (1966)

The Red Balloon (1956)

Stowaway In The Sky (1960)

La Haine...

Every Friday, we’re recommending an older movie that’s available to stream or download and worth seeing again through the lens of our current moment. We’re calling the series “Revisiting Hours” — consider this Rolling Stone’s unofficial film club. This week: Keith Phipps on David Cronenberg’s pre-Putin evil-Russian crime-thriller Eastern Promises.

There are two Londons in David Cronenberg’s 2007 film Eastern Promises: the one on the surface and the one lurking below that same surface that threatens to devour it. Sometimes it’s hard to tell...

Noah Baumbach has never seen “Withnail and I.” Kenneth Lonergan has always wanted to see “Yi Yi.” Sandra Bernhard hasn’t had the chance to catch “Lola.” As part of New York City’s Quad Cinema’s newly announced “First Encounters” screening series, they (and more creative types) are going to finally remedy that — and they’d like you to join them.

The newly revamped four-screen theater — set to reopen in less than in a month — has announced the first lineup of their newest series, which sees notable New Yorkers (helped by programmers Christopher Wells and Gavin Smith) picking a film they’ve never seen (but have always wanted to) to show on the big screen, complete with a post-showing Q&A with the rest of audience.

Check out the first official lineup for First Encounters below, with descriptions and other information provided by Quad Cinema.

Read More: New York...

Cuba Gooding Jr. was feeling the love at the 69th Academy Awards in 1997. And for good reason! The then 29-year-old walked away with the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Jerry Maguire, beating Fargo's William H. Macy, Shine's Armin Mueller-Stahl, Primal Fear's Edward Norton and Ghosts of Mississippi's James Woods. From the moment presenter Mira Sorvino announced his name live from inside the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center, it was clear Gooding would be accepting the award on his own terms. And while he may not have had the longest speech of all time, he did have the longest speech over the show's exit music. After hugging Cruise on his way to the stage, an...

Get yer terrific long-suppressed film history right here, folks -- this is what it takes to get your movie banned in East Germany in 1965: Günter Stahnke makes a drama revealing forbidden capitalist-style competitiveness and dastardly backstabbing in a state-run industry. Think any of those Party censors would object? Spring Takes Time DVD Defa Film Library 1965 / B&W / 1:37 flat / 76 min. / Der Frühling braucht Zeit / Street Date March 2016 / available through The Defa Film Library / 29.95 Starring Eberhard Mellies, Günther Simon, Doris Abesser, Karla Runkehl, Rolf Hoppe, Erik S. Klein, Friedrich Richter, Elfriede Née. Cinematography Lothar Erdmann, Eckhardt Hartkopf, Hans-Jürgen Sasse, Kurt Schütt Film Editor Erika Lehmphul Original Music Gerhard Siebholz; 'The Sputniks' Written by Hermann O. Lauterbach, Konrad Schwalbe, Günter Stahnke Produced by Defa Directed by Günter Stahnke

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

So you think artists over Here have it bad... Günter Stahnke experienced some late-career fame at the 1990 Berlinale film festival,...

This week, after an absurdly long delay following its premiere at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival, Terrence Malick's "Knight of Cups" sighs, whispers and twirls its way into theaters. Love it, loathe it, or end up somewhere in between (our review), there is no doubt that, like every Malick movie that has come before, it is the Malickiest to date. It has as astonishing cast: Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Brian Dennehy, Wes Bentley, Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, Freida Pinto, Antonio Banderas, Isabel Lucas, Kevin Corrigan, Michael Wincott, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Clifton Collins Jr., Cherry Jones, Nick Offerman, and so on and so on — wait, is that Dan Harmon? In a world of colossal star egos, where A-list careers are defined by towering awards-bait roles, it's amazing that Malick gets even Z-listers to show up when the standard punchline is "Congratulations! You've been cast in a Terrence Malick outtake!

There are very few filmmakers with a more singular style out there than the one and only Terrence Malick. This week, he offers up another unique cinematic experience with Knight of Cups, sure to be a divisive little movie. This is part of his new, slightly grittier fare, and it’s certainly going to get a response out of you. I’ve had a hit or miss relationship with Malick flicks previously, though I can say without question that this is unlike anything he has ever done before, at least in terms of what he’s trying to accomplish. I’ll share my personal thoughts below, but Malick fans will have reason to anticipate this release, that’s for sure. The film follows a successful writer named Rick (Christian Bale) as he indulges in Hollywood excess and wanders around, pontificating about his life to himself, as well as the audience,...

His output is presently as prolific as it's ever been, but has Terrence Malick's work lost some of its focus as a result? That's one question many have been asking, as his films encounter more mixed reviews and less excitement than his previous efforts. Read More: Our Review Of Terrence Malick's 'Knight Of Cups' Plus Over 30 New Images From The Film And More So goes the unusually tepid reception for "Knight Of Cups," which opens this week and now has a new teaser powered by Diplo's "Express Yourself" —you know, for the kids! To recap, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Freida Pinto, Cherry Jones, Joe Manganiello, Haley Bennett, Imogen Poots, Ryan O’Neal, Joel Kinnaman, Jason Clarke, Shea Whigham, Jocelin Donahue, Sergey Bodrov, Nick Offerman and Ben Kingsley comprise the massive ensemble in a film that follows a.

"Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice" and "Captain America: Civil War" may be the big spectacles of the spring, but Terrence Malick's "Knight Of Cups" is sort of an arthouse parallel to those films, bringing its own massive star power to the movie about one man's searching for meaning in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Read More: New International Poster For Terrence Malick's 'Knight of Cups' Starring/featuring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Freida Pinto, Cherry Jones, Joe Manganiello, Haley Bennett, Imogen Poots, Ryan O’Neal, Joel Kinnaman, Jason Clarke, Shea Whigham, Jocelin Donahue, Sergey Bodrov, Nick Offerman and Ben Kingsley, this movie will have more celebrity drive-bys than "Zoolander 2." Here's the synopsis: Knight of Cups follows Rick (Christian Bale), an uninspired screenwriter living on the...

Christian Bale’s failed screenwriter experiences the throes of an existential crisis with today’s new clips for Knight of Cups, Terrence Malick’s latest creative effort that is now finally nearing a release early next month.

In fact, Malick’s spiritual parable has been completed for so long that the esteemed director has already wrapped up production for new drama Weightless – also starring Christian Bale – while his long-gestating documentary Voyage of Time is still motoring on in development.

For Knight of Cups, though, Malick will be tackling weighty and universal’s themes through the lens of Bale’s screenwriter, Rick. A slave to the Hollywood system, Rick sleepwalks through life indulging in rip-roaring parties and excess – both of which you can glimpse in the snippets below – leading him to strike up relationships with a stripper (Teresa Palmer), a model (Freida Pinto) and a married woman (Natalie Portman).

Rounding out...

There are few directors who could get Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Freida Pinto, Cherry Jones, Joe Manganiello, Haley Bennett, Imogen Poots, Ryan O’Neal, Joel Kinnaman, Jason Clarke, Shea Whigham, Jocelin Donahue, Sergey Bodrov, Nick Offerman and Ben Kingsley, into the same movie, but then again, there are few directors like Terrence Malick. And his upcoming "Knight Of Cups" is just over the horizon and a few more peeks at the picture have been revealed. Read More: Berlin Review: Terrence Malick's 'Knight Of Cups' Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman ComingSoon has a new batch of photos, along with a couple of new promo videos of Broad Green Pictures, which tease the ethereal picture, about one man's searching for meaning in Hollywood. Here's the official synopsis: Knight of Cups follows Rick (Christian Bale), an.

See Full Gallery Here

Terrence Malick, creative mind behind To The Wonder, Tree of Life and The Thin Red Line among many others, is on the verge of releasing another exercise in experimental filmmaking in Knight of Cups.

It’s been a long time coming, too, considering that production initially wrapped in the closing stages of 2014, before Malick’s spiritual feature had its worldwide premiere at last year’s Berlin Film Festival. Now, more than a year late, Broad Green Pictures is bringing the feature to theaters in little over two weeks’ time, and today’s new images give fans an early opportunity to get acquainted with the key characters.

Orbiting around Christian Bale’s depressed Hollywood screenwriter, Knight of Cups follows his character of Rick on a existential search for meaning, crossing paths with a stripper (Teresa Palmer), a model (Freida Pinto) and a married woman (Natalie Portman). That’s not all,...

Atom Egoyan and Robert Lantos with Anne-Katrin Titze at the Museum of Tolerance

Robert Lantos, the producer of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated films; David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises (Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Armin Mueller-Stahl); Richard J. Lewis's Barney’s Version (Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike); István Szabó's Being Julia (Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Michael Gambon) and Sunshine (Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz) joined Atom Egoyan for a post screening conversation on Remember. He is also the executive producer of Atom's double Oscar nominated The Sweet Hereafter (Ian Holm, Sarah Polley). Remember, written by Benjamin August, stars Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau with Bruno Ganz, Heinz Lieven, Dean Norris and Jürgen Prochnow.

Christopher Plummer as Zev Gutman: "I've worked with Chris on Ararat"

Wheelchair user Max Rosenbaum (Landau), who has a horrible cough, has prepared a letter for his friend Zev Gutman (Plummer), which is much more than a memory aide,...

Check out the official Us poster for Knight Of Cups.

The 7th film from director Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line, Tree of Life), Knight Of Cups (the title refers to the Tarot card depicting a romantic adventurer guided by his emotions) offers both a vision of modern life and an intensely personal experience of memory, family, and love.

Opening on March 4, watch the trailer below.

Knight Of Cups follows writer Rick (Christian Bale, The Fighter, American Hustle) on an odyssey through the playgrounds of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he undertakes a search for love and self. Even as he moves through a desire-laden landscape of mansions, resorts, beaches and clubs, Rick grapples over complicated relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). His quest to break the spell of his disenchantment takes him on a series of adventures with six alluring women: rebellious Della (Imogen Poots); his physician ex-wife,...

For Terrence Malik’s latest experimental film, Knight of Cups, Christian Bale is set to play Rick, a man in possession of everything and yet nothing. One who constantly chases after the next big thing as a screenwriter, yet yearns for something to paper over the crippling emptiness in his life. It’s a intriguing paradox for a lead character, and one that is illustrated to wonderful effect in today’s new poster for the film.

Turning Rick’s world upside-down in every sense of the word, the one-sheet arrives by way of Fandango, and is stylized in the vein of a tarot card. While they’re often associated with spiritual readings and impending doom, tarot cards are said to be “powerful sources of information [that] come from within; the Tarot aids in coming in contact with one’s Higher Self.” At least, that’s according to How Stuff Works.

Circling back to Knight of Cups,...

Now in its 26th year, Washington Jewish Film Festival (February 24 – March 6) explores gender, migration, the supernatural, Arab citizens of Israel, artists’ lives, and Lgbtq themes. In addition to the groundbreaking lineup of films, the Festival will host talkbacks and panel discussions with over 50 domestic and international filmmaker guests. The Festival is one of the region’s preeminent showcases for international and independent cinema.

A project of the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center (Dcjcc), the Washington Jewish Film Festival (Wjff) is the largest Jewish cultural event in the greater Washington, D.C. area. This year’s Festival includes 69 films and over 150 screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre, the Avalon Theatre, Bethesda Row Cinema, E Street Cinema, the Jcc of Greater Washington, the National Gallery of Art, West End Cinema, and the Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater at the Dcjcc.

“We are excited to present our most ambitious Festival yet,” said Ilya Tovbis, Director of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. “The Washington Jewish Film Festival is a highlight on our city’s cultural calendar. This has been a banner year for original cinematic visions hitting the screen. It is a genuine pleasure to share this crop of bold, independent, film voices that have been garnering praise at Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and elsewhere, with DC audiences. This year’s Festival simultaneously challenges and expands on our understanding of Jewish identity.”

The lineup includes new and classic films, encompassing a wide range of Jewish perspectives from the United States, Israel, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While the Festival touches a broad set of themes, this year’s lineup offers two programmatic focuses – one on the lives of artists (“Re-framing the Artists”) and the other on Lgbtq individuals (“Rated Lgbtq”). “Reframing the Artist” features an in-depth exploration of artists’ lives, accomplishments, and inspiration. The seven-film “Rated Lgbtq” series explores sexuality, gender, and identity on screen.

The Festival will also engage attendees with off-screen programming including “Story District Presents: God Loves You? True Stories about Faith and Sexuality,” an evening of true stories presented in partnership with Story District, and the 6th Annual Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel. Kicked off by a screening of "Women in Sink," this day features in-depth conversations with Reem Younis, co-founder of Nazareth-based global high-tech company Alpha Omega, and Tziona Koenig-Yair, Israel’s first Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner.

A full Festival schedule can be found at www.wjff.org . Select highlights are included below:

Opening Night: "Baba Joon"

Opening Night features Israel’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award®, "Baba Joon," a tender tale of a generational divide and the immigrant experience. Yitzhak (Navid Negahban of Showtime’s Emmy Award-winning original series “Homeland”) runs the turkey farm his father built after they emigrated from Iran to Israel.

When his son Moti turns 13, Yitzhak teaches him the trade in hopes that he will take over the family business — but Moti’s dreams lie elsewhere. The arrival of an uncle from America further ratchets up the tension and the family’s tight bonds are put to the test. Opening Night will be held at the AFI Silver Theatre on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. The Opening Night Party, with DirectorYuval Delshad, will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza immediately following the screening.

Closing Night : "A Tale of Love and Darkness"

Closing Night centers on Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman in her debut as a director (and screenwriter) in a hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Amos Oz’s best-selling memoir, "A Tale of Love and Darkness." In this dream-like tale, Portman inhabits Fania—Oz’s mother—who brings up her son in Jerusalem during the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel. Dissatisfied with her marriage, and disoriented by the foreign land surrounding her, Fania escapes into elaborate, fanciful stories of make-believe — bringing her adoring, wide-eyed son along. Closing Night will be held at the Dcjcc on Sunday, March 6 at 6:45 p.m. Followed by a Closing Night Reception and the Audience Award Ceremony.

Wjff Visionary Award Presented to Armin Mueller-Stahl

The Wjff’s Annual Visionary Award recognizes creativity and insight in presenting the full diversity of the Jewish experience through moving image. The 2016 honoree is Armin Mueller-Stahl, who will join us for a special extended Q&A and the presentation of the Wjff Visionary Award. The award will be presented alongside a screening of Barry Levinson’s 1990 film "Avalon," an evocative, nostalgic film that celebrates the virtues of family life. “Avalon” begins with Jewish immigrant Sam Krichinsky (portrayed by Armin Mueller-Stahl) arriving in America on July 4th. He settles in Baltimore with his brothers and raises a family. Director Barry Levinson traces various transitions within the Krichinsky family and conveys his appreciation for the anxieties that afflict the suburban middle-class – and multiple generations of immigrants in particular.

Armin Mueller-Stahl is a German actor, painter, writer and musician. He began acting in East Berlin in 1950, winning the Gdr State Prize for his film work. By 1977, however, he was blacklisted by the communist regime due to his persistent activism in protesting government suppression of the arts. After relocating to the West in 1980, he starred in groundbreaking independent European films, such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “Lola” and “Veronika Voss” and Agnieszka Holland’s “Angry Harvest.” He gained major recognition stateside with two radically different characterizations: an aging Nazi war criminal in Costa-Gavras’ “The Music Box” and Jewish grandpa Sam Krischinsky in Barry Levinson’s “Avalon.” He went on to earn an Oscar® nomination for his role in Scott Hicks’ Shine and appeared in such varied work as “Eastern Promises,” “The Game,” “The West Wing,” “The X Files” and “Knight of Cups.”

The Wjff Visionary Award program will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre on Thursday, March 3 at 6:45 p.m.

Spotlight Evening:

Compared to What? The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank

A polarizing, revolutionary, effective and a most-singular figure in American politics, Barney Frank shaped the debate around progressive values and gay rights in the U.S. Congress for over 40 years. A fresh and contemporary political drama with unparalleled access to one of Congress’ first openly gay Representatives and easily one of the most captivating public figures in recent memory.

Born Jewish, and a longtime friend to the Jewish community and supporter of Israel, Frank is refreshingly honest, likeable and passionate – a beacon of statesmanship that politicians and citizens alike, can look to for inspiration.

Screenings will take place on Tuesday, March 1st at the Avalon Theatre at 6:15 p.m. and Wednesday, March 2 at the Dcjcc at 6:15 p.m. Both screenings followed by a discussion with Barney Frank, husband Jim Ready and filmmakers Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler.

Spotlight Evening:

Gary Lucas’ Fleischerei: Music From Max Fleischer Cartoons

Celebrating the release of the titular album—on Silver Spring-based label Cuneiform—legendary guitarist Gary Lucas joins forces with Tony®-nominated singer and actress Sarah Stiles (Q Street,Hand to God) for a loving musical tribute to the swinging, jazzy soundtracks that adorned master animator Max Fleischer’s surreal, wacky and Yiddish-inflected "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons of the 1930’s.

Backed by the cartoons themselves, and the cream of NYC’s jazz performers (Jeff Lederer on reeds, Michael Bates on bass, Rob Garcia on drums and Mingus Big Band’s Joe Fiedler on trombone), Lucas and Stiles have a rare evening in store. Get ready for a swirling melting-pot of jungle-band jazz, Tin Pan Alley torch songs, raucous vaudeville turns, and Dixieland mixed with a pinch of Klezmer.

This event will take place at AFI Silver Theatre on Saturday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.

Additional Films of Note

The Wjff will present the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Barash." In the film, seventeen-year-old Naama Barash enjoys drugs, alcohol and hanging out with like-minded friends. Her activities are an escape from a strained home life where her parents fight and her rebellious, army-enrolled sister wreaks havoc by dating a Palestinian before going Awol all together. As her parents fret about their older daughter’s disappearance, Naama meets a wild girl in school and discovers the intoxicating rush of first love. “Barash” will be screened three times during the festival, on February 27 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema, on March 2 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema.

"Black Jews: The Roots of the Olive Tree" will have its World Premiere at Wjff. The documentary offers a fascinating exploration of African tribes with Jewish roots – in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon. Some claim to be descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes; others believe their ancestors were Jews who immigrated from Judea to Yemen. Far from a dry archaeological account, the film focuses on the modern-day personal and institutional practice of Judaism throughout Africa, as well as of recent African immigrants in Israel. This film will be screened on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.

The mid-Atlantic premiere of "Demon," from director Marcin Wrona, features a chilling, modern interpretation of the Dybbuk legend. Piotr’s joy at visiting his bride-to-be at her Polish home is quickly upended by his discovery of human bones on the property. Since his future father-in-law plans to gift the newlyweds the land, Piotr at first overlooks this ominous find. The disturbed spirit inhabiting these remains isn’t willing to let him off so easily however. Marcin Wrona’s wickedly sharp and creepy story of possession is set against a bacchanal celebration of blissful union. “Demon” will be screened on February 25th at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 1 at 9:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.

From Spain, the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Dirty Wolves" is a WWII thriller imbued with notes of magical realism. Director Simón Casal works in the Wolfram (aka tungsten) mines in rural Galicia. A ruthless Nazi brigade, intent on harvesting the rare metal to feed the Third Reich’s war machine, has captured the mines. When Manuela’s sister helps a Jewish prisoner cross the border to Portugal, they are unwittingly forced into a desperate test, which puts their survival squarely at odds with their sense of justice. “Dirty Wolves” will be screened on February 27 at 6:15 p.m. at West End Cinema, on March 1 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.

In "The Hebrew Superhero," directors Saul Betser and Asaf Galay examine how Israelis long shunned comics as something on the cultural fringe – they were deemed childish, trivial and, perhaps most cuttingly, un-Israeli. Shaul Betser and Asaf Galay (“The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer”) outline the medium’s origins, tracing its evolution from quirky upstart to an indelible reflection on the various forms of Israeli heroes. Featuring gorgeous animation and interviews with Daniella London Dekel, Etgar Keret and Dudu Geva, Wjff is presenting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary, which will be screened on February 25 at 7:15 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.

Simone Veil’s intrepid fight to legalize abortion in France is brilliantly brought to life in "The Law." In 1974, Veil was charged with decriminalizing abortion and easing access to contraceptives. Facing strong opposition from politicians, an enraged public and the Catholic Church, Veil— an Auschwitz survivor—refused to give up. Fighting for justice amidst a swirl of anti-Semitic sentiment, sexism and personal attacks, her perseverance struck at the heart of national bigotry in a rallying cry for a woman’s right to choose. Wjff will present the D.C. premiere of this French film. It will be screened on February 25 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema, on February 29 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Dcjcc.

At 90, Miriam Beerman is a survivor. This groundbreaking artist and Potomac, Maryland resident has overcome personal tragedy to inspire friends, family, peers, patrons and students about how to remain defiant, creative and strong. Miriam has struggled with her artistic demons to create haunting images that evoke the suffering of generations of victims. "Miriam Beerman: Expressing the Chaosis" a memorable profile of an artist who has elevated her empathy for the plight of the world’s cast-offs into powerful portrayals of dignity. The Wjff is hosting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary. Screenings will take place on March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at the Dcjcc.

Author and director David Bezmozgis brings his film "Natasha" to Wjff for its D.C. premiere. Adapting his prize-winning story collection,Natasha and Other Stories, to screen, Bezmogis delivers a tragic story of young love. Sixteen-year-old Mark Berman, the son of Latvian-Jewish immigrants, wiles away his hours reading Nietzsche, smoking pot and watching porn. His slacker lifestyle is upended when a 14-year-old hurricane, named Natasha, enters the picture. Drawn to her reckless ways and whispers of her promiscuous past, Mark enters an illicit romance with calamitous consequences. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:00 p.m. at West End Cinema, March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 5 at 6:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.

If you believe the fastest way to the heart is through the stomach, "In Search of Israeli Cuisine" offers a delectable, eye-popping culinary journey through Israel is your personal valentine. Weaving through bustling markets, restaurants, kitchens and farms, we meet cooks, vintners and cheese makers drawn from the wide gamut of cultures making up Israel today — Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian and Druze. With James Beard award-winning chef Michael Solomonov as your guide, get ready for a cinematic buffet that’s humorous, heady, and of course, delicious! Wjff will be showing the mid-Atlantic premiere of this new documentary. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:15 p.m. at E Street Cinema, March 1 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Dcjcc.

A complete festival schedule can be found online at www.wjff.org...

Broad Green Pictures has released two brief clips, more like seconds, from Knight Of Cups.

The never-before-seen footage was created by filmmaker Terrence Malick and his team.

The film opens in cinemas on March 4.

Knight Of Cups follows writer Rick (Christian Bale, The Fighter, American Hustle) on an odyssey through the playgrounds of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he undertakes a search for love and self.

Even as he moves through a desire-laden landscape of mansions, resorts, beaches and clubs, Rick grapples over complicated relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). His quest to break the spell of his disenchantment takes him on a series of adventures with six alluring women: rebellious Della (Imogen Poots); his physician ex-wife, Nancy (Cate Blanchett); a serene model Helen (Freida Pinto); a woman he wronged in the past Elizabeth (Natalie Portman); a spirited, playful stripper Karen (Teresa Palmer); and an...

Bob Balaban with Celia Weston at La Grenouille Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

At the La Grenouille celebration for David O. Russell's Joy with Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Isabella Rossellini, Elisabeth Röhm, Dascha Polanco, David O. Russell, Diane Ladd and Virginia Madsen, Bob Balaban, the narrator of Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom and Kent Jones' documentary Hitchcock/Truffaut shared memories of working with François Truffaut on Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters Of The Third Kind with me. Bob recalled meeting the Spanking the Monkey director, when he was filming The Last Good Time with Armin Mueller-Stahl and Maureen Stapleton and unfortunately, having never met Alfred Hitchcock.

When I told him that I was presenting Fantastic Mr. Fox at the Alliance Française later that afternoon, he exclaimed "Oh, mon dieu! I love that movie!"

Fantastic Mr. Fox event poster at the Alliance Française

Anne-Katrin Titze: I very much liked your narration in Hitchcock/Truffaut.

From Broad Green Pictures, watch the brand new trailer for Knight Of Cups .

The cast includes Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl and the voice of Ben Kingsley.

Earlier this year, Knight Of Cups had its World Premiere in the Competition Programme at the 65th Berlin Film Festival. Watch the press conference here.

Synopsis:

Rick is a slave to the Hollywood system. He is addicted to success but simultaneously despairs at the emptiness of his life. He is at home in a world of illusions but seeks real life. Like the tarot card of the title, Rick is easily bored and needs outside stimulation. But the Knight of Cups is also an artist, a romantic and an adventurer.

In Terrence Malick’s seventh film a gliding camera once again accompanies a tormented hero on his search for meaning.

German actor to receive Lifetime Achievement Award.

German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl is to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Zurich Film Festival (Sept 24-Oct 4).

Following the award ceremony, Mueller-Stahl will present Jim Jarmusch’s Night On Earth at the Arthouse Le Paris cinema on Sept 28.

Mueller-Stahl is one of the few German actors of distinction whose careers have spanned East Germany, West Germany and Hollywood. His most noteworthy films include Lola (1981), Oberst Redl (1985), Momo (1986), Music Box (1989), Night On Earth (1991), Das Geisterhaus (1993) and Shine (1996).

Zff co-directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri said: “We are proud to welcome 84-year-old Armin Mueller-Stahl as our guest to this year’s festival. He is, in our opinion, one of the most important German actors of all time. His skills as a polyglot performer oscillating effortlessly between stage and screen, Germany and the USA, have more than earned him this award.”

Raised in the German Democratic Republic (Gdr) and initially trained as a concert...

We may remember Independence Day, The Matrix, The Phantom Menace. But what about these forgotten 90s sci-fi films? And are any worth seeing?

Think back to the science fiction cinema of the 1990s, and some of the decade's biggest box-office hits will immediately spring to mind: The Phantom Menace, Jurassic Park, Independence Day, Men In Black, Armageddon and Terminator 2 were all in the top 20 most lucrative films of the era.

But what about the sci-fi films of the 1990s that failed to make even close to the same cultural and financial impact of those big hitters? These are the films this list is devoted to - the flops, the straight-to-video releases, the low-budget and critically-derided. We've picked 50 live-action films that fit these criteria, and dug them up to see whether they're still worth watching in the 21st century.

So here's a mix of everything from hidden classics to forgettable dreck,...

Sound on Sight undertook a massive project, compiling ranked lists of the most influential, unforgettable, and exciting action scenes in all of cinema. There were hundreds of nominees spread across ten different categories and a multi-week voting process from 11 of our writers. The results: 100 essential set pieces, sequences, and scenes from blockbusters to cult classics to arthouse obscurities.

Sword fights, like one-on-one fights, target the emotion and power of each individual fighter, but are amplified by the extension of their weapon. Whereas one-on-one fights test the might and bronze of our competitors, sword fights add an extra element of intelligence and skill. A fighter can scrape by through luck in a brawl of fists, but a sword (and knife) fight exposes the true strengths and weaknesses of its opponents.

10. Rob Roy (1995) – No quarter asked, no quarter given

Roger Ebert called the final duel between Rob Roy (Liam Neeson, in a...

I didn't particularly enjoyed either of the two previous Dan Brown novel adaptations, not The Da Vinci Code (a book that was so bad I had to stop reading it) or Angels and Demons (a book I actually enjoyed and a movie that was even worse than Da Vinci). Next up is Inferno, with Tom Hanks back to star as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and Ron Howard back to direct. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) was already announced as a co-star and today Sony announced three more names joining the cast and they are, in fact, reason to possibly get interested. First off, Jones will star opposite Hanks as Dr. Sienna Brooks, a doctor tending to Langdon at the beginning of the story after he's grazed by a bullet and eventually becomes mixed in his latest mystery drawing from Dante's dark epic poem. amz asin="B00AXIZ4TQ" size...

Here is the first trailer for Terrence Malick’s latest film project, called Knight of Cups, which stars Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett. I’m not the biggest fan of Malick's films, but this one seems to have a different energy about it. It seems a bit more fast-paced.

There’s no official synopsis for Knight of Cups, but if looks like Bale’s character looses himself in the tempting vices that life has to offer him. The cast also features Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and the voice of Ben Kingsley.

Sneak Peek footage from director Terrence Malick's Hollywood-set dramatic feature "Knight Of Cups", starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, Brian Dennehy, Isabel Lucas, Imogen Poots, Wes Bentley, Freida Pinto, Teresa Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl and the voice of Ben Kingsley:

"...once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep. 'Rick’ (Bale) had his father read this story to him as a boy. The road to the East stretches out before him. Will he set forth?..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Knight Of Cups"...

Terrence Malick has a beautiful way of shooting sun beams and people playing in water and the new trailer for Knight of Cups does a great job at backing that up. The film was shot back in 2012 and will debut at the Berlin Film Festival in February followed by a theatrical release sometime in 2015. I’m a fan of Malick, Tree of Life is one of my favorite movies of the past few years, so I’m always interested to see what he has coming out.

Here’s the synopsis:

Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep. Rick’s (Christian Bale) father used...

Terrence Malick's "Knight of Cups" will have its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. And now, FilmNation has unveiled the first trailer for the new film. Check it out below. Plot: Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep. Rick's (Christian Bale) father used to read this story to him as a boy. The road to the East stretches out before him. Will he set forth? In addition to Bale, "Knight of Cups" stars Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and the voice of Ben Kingsley. Trailer:...

“Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep.”

Written and directed by Terrence Malick, watch the first trailer for Knight Of Cups.

The cast includes Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl and the voice of Ben Kingsley.

Knight Of Cups will have its World Premiere in the Competition Programme at the 65th Berlin Film Festival in 2015.

Bale plays a man caught up in a life of Hollywood excess.

Malick recently produced the black and white film, The Better Angels, the story of President Abraham Lincoln’s days in Indiana.

The first trailer for Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups is as trippy as anything in The Tree of Life. The film stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl and the voice of Ben Kingsley. The official synopsis says everything that's essential about the movie: "'Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep.' "Rick's (Christian Bale) father used to read this story to him...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Terrence Malick’s forthcoming drama, Knight Of Cups, was first announced three years ago and now, in the space of a few hours, we’ve a wealth of new information on the highly-anticipated movie. Earlier today, the film appeared on the listing for next year’s Berlin Film Festival, signifying that its worldwide premiere will take place at some point during the festival’s run. Now, Film Nation has released a trailer to mark that imminent debut, along with a cryptic synopsis.

Malick’s notoriety surrounding his process – finding the film in the edit – has long-since left many actors disappointed to find their best work on the cutting room floor. However, this trailer suggests the auteur is making the most of his high-profile cast to demonstrate an ambitious piece that revolves around Christian Bale’s Rick.

Judging by this extensive preview alone, it’s perhaps his most un-Malick film content-wise,...

The Berlin Film Festival this morning announced that Terrence Malick’s Knight Of Cups would world premiere in competition there in February, offering up the most recent piece of official intel on the secrecy-shrouded film. A few short hours later, our cup just about runneth over with new information. FilmNation Entertainment has released the first trailer for the movie which stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman. (Watch it above).

We already knew the story dealt with temptations, celebrity, and excess. Now, we’ve gotten a look at Bale’s lead character, Rick, as he navigates those facets of the Hollywood fast-life, questioning who he’s become. We also have a somewhat cryptic synopsis to go with the fresh images: “Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup.

It was announced this morning that Terrence Malick's most recent, long-delayed feature Knight of Cups would be premiering at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival and on cue the first trailer has arrived online. The pic, which stars Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Jason Clarke, Wes Bentley, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Armin Mueller-Stahl and the voice of Ben Kingsley and so far there is no official synopsis though it is said to be a Los Angeles-based story, exploring current culture and people's ability to escape reality in a multitude of ways. Watch the trailer below and stay tuned for the first reactions as the Berlin Film Festival runs from February 5-15. sb id="1262405" height="360" width="640"...

The Dutch filmmaker best known stateside for The Vanishing and the River Phoenix Western Dark Blood died Saturday in Amsterdam. George Sluizer was 82. He won a Silver Bear at Berlin for his 1961 debut, the documentary short Hold Back The Sea, and returned to the festival four more times in the ensuing decades. Three of Sluizer’s films were nominated for the Golden Bear: The Commissioner (1998), John, The Knife And The River (1972) — both of which he also scripted — and Utz (1992). The latter won three awards at the Berlinale, including Best Actor for star Armin Mueller-Stahl. “We mourn the loss of a great filmmaker, who has been equally active in fiction and documentary film,” Berlin fest Director Dieter Kosslick said. “With his passion for filmmaking and exceptional versatility, George Sluizer will live on in our memories forever.”

Sluizer’s best known film remains The Vanishing (1988), about a man whose girlfriend goes missing...

Dutch director was best known for The Vanishing and River Phoenix’s last film, Dark Blood.

George Sluizer, the Dutch director best known for The Vanishing and Dark Blood, River Phoenix’s last film, died in Amsterdam on Saturday (Sept 20) following a long illness, according to Dutch media. He was 82.

“Sluizer had been ill for a long time. In 2007 he barely survived a ruptured artery and after that his health remained fragile,” according to Dutch public broadcaster Nos, quoting relatives.

The director, producer and screenwriter was born in Paris, where he attended the Idhec film academy.

He made his first film in 1961, Hold Back the Sea, a documentary that won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

Up until the early 1980s, Sluizer produced and directed many documentaries and TV specials. He also worked as a producer on numerous films, including Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo and Cancer Rising with Rutger Hauer.

As a writer...

Locarno director talks highlights and UK presence at the festival and looks to 2015.

Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with ScreenDaily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.

“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.

The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.

“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.

He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande when Agnes Varda...

Locarno director talks highlights and UK presence at the festival and looks to 2016.

Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with Screen Daily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.

“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.

The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.

“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.

He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande...

Above: Pedro Costa's Horse Money

The Locarno Film Festival has announced their lineup for the 67th edition, taking place this August between the 6th and 16th. It speaks for itself, but, um, wow...

"Every film festival, be it small or large, claims to offer, if not an account of the state of things, then an updated map of the art form and the world it seeks to represent. This cartography should show both the major routes and the byways, along with essential places to visit and those that are more unusual. The Festival del film Locarno is no exception to the rule, and I think that looking through the program you will be able to distinguish the route map for this edition." — Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director

Above: Matías Piñeiro's The Princess of France

Concorso Internazionale (Official Competition)

A Blast (Syllas Tzoumerkas, Greece/Germany/Netherlands)

Alive (Jungbum Park, South Korea)

Horse Money (Pedro Costa,...