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It Ends with Us is a romantic drama film directed by Justin Baldoni from a screenplay by Christy Hall. Based on a 2016 novel of the same name by author Colleen Hoover, the romantic drama film follows the story of Lily Bloom as she moves to Boston to achieve her lifelong dream of opening a business. While running her business she meets Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon, and falls in love with him. But when she sees a side of Ryle that reminds her of her parent’s relationship, their relationship begins to crumble and that’s when her first love Atlas reenters her life. It Ends with Us stars Blake Lively in the lead role with Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Isabela Ferrer, Jenny Slate, Alex Neustaedter, and Hasan Minhaj starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the drama and romance in Blake Lively’s It Ends with Us here are...

Exclusive: Karsen Liotta (Blackbird), daughter of the late Ray Liotta, is headlining an anthology indie pic that has been handed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.

Liotta is leading Sunfish (& Other Stories On Green Lake), the debut feature from short film writer-director Sierra Falconer, alongside Marceline Hugot (Julia & Julie) and Wayne Duvall.

The anthology follows the residents of a small town and the lake that binds them together. The four stories weave together themes of belonging, coming of age, and rural lake life, exploring a deeper commentary about community, the collateral damage that ensues from the changes in our lives, and how it can reverberate in relationships and the process of maturation.

Also featuring in Sunfish are Adam Lefevre (Ozark), Dominic Bogart (American Primeval), Emily Hall (Lumina), Maren Heary (She Said), Tenley Kellogg (Faith Under Fire) and Jim Kaplan (Marry Me) in leading roles. Supporting...

In the early part of the 20th century, “miracle cures” were all the rage, though no substance captivated Americans quite so much as radium, a mined element that was used in everything from luminescent paints to what was essentially marketed as an early version of an energy drink (one that supposedly cured impotence!). Radium was everywhere, with not just little regard for its inherent radioactive properties and the attendant danger, but even knowledge of how deadly the seemingly wondrous “elixir” really was. Lydia Dean Pilcher and Ginny Mohler’s “Radium Girls” smartly opens with such information on quick display: archival footage and publications tout radium’s properties, while familiar character actor Adam LeFevre appears as a carnival barker selling “the most beneficial of elements” to an eager crowd.

But while consumers might have been hyped up on radium’s alleged wonders, it was another class altogether that paid mightily for...

The 2019 Sundance Film Festival has announced its Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events slate, which will include series executive produced by people like Jordan Peele and Steven Soderbergh, as well as episodic content starring Rosamund Pike.

The Untitled Amy Berg Documentary, directed and produced by Berg, will also be heading to the festival, as will Kyra Sedgwick’s “Girls Weekend,” starring Amy Landecker and Ali Liebegott.

Overall, 12 episodic works, 73 short films from 33 countries and four special events have joined the festival slate that was first announced last week. Of the projects announced on Monday, 53 percent were directed or created by one or more women, 51 percent were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 26 percent were created or directed by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia.

Also Read: Sundance Documentary 'Ask Dr. Ruth' Picked Up by Hulu and Magnolia

“Our newly-expanded programming team took in...

In only its second year of bringing independent television to Park City as part of its Indie Episodics section, Sundance has picked a dozen series that could include the next big TV hit. Among the announced independent shows include works by Nick Hornby, Richie Mehta, and Kyra Sedgwick, which range from comedies about start-ups to dating comedies about trans relationships to dramas about race. Sundance is also bringing in some other TV projects under its Special Events banner, including the newest season of IFC’s ongoing doc parody series “Documentary Now!” and Gregg Araki’s upcoming Starz series “Now Apocalypse,” executive produced by Steven Soderbergh.

The Special Events section will also play home to a brand new (and as yet untitled) documentary from Sundance regular Amy Berg, which tracks the creation of the Women’s March and what followed.

In an announcement, Sundance director of programming Kim Yutani said that...

Special Events include Gregg Araki’s Now Apocalypse.

The second year of the Indie Episodic section at Sundance Film Festival brings world premieres of the Nick Hornby marriage therapy comedy State Of The Union directed by Stephen Frears and starring Rosamund Pike and Chris O’Dowd, and Kyra Sedgwick’s Girls Weekend, about a queer daughter who returns for a family gathering in Las Vegas.

Festival programmers have lined up 12 Episodic works, alongside four special events, among them Gregg Araki’s half-hour Starz comedy series Now Apocalypse about the misadventures of four friends in Los Angeles. Steven Soderbergh is among the executive producers.

Exclusive: Martin Scorsese’s daughter makes her directorial debut on this comedy-drama.

The feature directorial debut of Domenica Cameron-Scorsese - daughter of Martin Scorsese - has its first trailer.

Click here to watch the trailer on mobile devices.

Almost Paris stars Susan Varon (Daredevil), Adam LeFevre (The Night Of), Adrian Martinez (Focus) and Abigail Hawk (Blue Bloods) in the story of a former banker who returns to his hometown where he is faced with theimpact of his actions. There, he reconnects with his friends and family and learns to give back to those he loves.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April this year. It was written by Wally Marzano-Lesnevich who also produces alongside Michael Sorvino.

UK sales and marketing outfit Coffee & Cigarettes currently represents worlwide rights.

Domenica Cameron-Scorsese commented: “I’m so excited for the film to have the opportunity to reach a larger audience. It has been a great pleasure to work...

In The Lifeguard, Kristen Bell plays a woman on the verge of 30 who has a meltdown, quits her reporter job in New York, then heads back to her hometown for some peace and quiet. But that escapism comes at price — from her parents’ short-lived appreciation of her homecoming, to her reconnecting with old friends who’ve changed (including best friend Mel, played by Mamie Gummer), to ultimately the titular summer job that defines her new life in the sleepy suburb.

The film is dark and shows a different side of the bubbly Bell. In the exclusive clip below, we see...

Title: The Lifeguard Director: Liz W. Garcia Starring: Kristen Bell, Mamie Gummer, Martin Starr, David Lambert, Alex Shaffer, Joshua Harto, John Finn, Paulie Litt, Adam Lefevre, Amy Madigan The seriocomic feature film debut of television director Liz W. Garcia, “The Lifeguard” offers up a contrived series of precious posed moments in telling the story of a young career woman who moves back home in an effort to shake off a low-lying cloud of personal and professional ambivalence. In her starring role, Kristen Bell delivers a charming, engaging performance, but the much sharper take on this same sort of thirtysomething ennui (even though Bell’s character is quick to point out that [ Read More ]

The post The Lifeguard Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Previously reviewed as part of JoBlo.com's Sundance 2013 coverage. Plot: Leigh (Kristen Bell) is an NYC journalist going through a crisis. She abandons her job, and heads back to her hometown, where she moves in with her parents (Amy Madigan & Adam LeFevre), and reconnects with her childhood friends (Martin Starr & Mamie Gummer). In a bid to recapture her youth, she takes her old high-school lifeguard job, and starts a flirtation with a local teenager (David Lambert). Review...

Sink or Swim: Garcia’s Debut a Glossy Derivative

Though featuring a handful of winning performances from an extremely likeable cast, writer/director Liz W. Garcia’s debut, The Lifeguard, is about as original and realistic as its metaphorical title is gauntly vague. Best known as a writer on that late 90s television series you may be familiar with, “Dawson’s Creek,” Garcia’s feature plays like a logical extension of her teen characters from over a decade ago, examining familiar themes of nostalgia in overtly familiar ways. Innately, we all seem to know that one can’t go home again, which doesn’t stop humans from doggedly attempting to recreate the past or filmmakers from mining the scenario for dramatic possibilities.

About to turn 30 and disappointed with her life in New York City, Leigh (Kristen Bell), seems to have prematurely reached her mid-life crisis. Romantically entangled with her married boss,...

On Tuesday, October 9, Primary Stages Executive Producer Casey Childs, Artistic Director Andrew Leynse, Managing Director Elliot Fox continued their celebration of the Foote Family legacy at the opening night of Him by Daisy Foote. This world-premiere production, the second of Primary Stages 28th season, features Tony Award nominee Hallie Foote Harrison, TX, Dividing the Estate Tim Hopper Present Laughter, The Dying Gaul, Steppenwolf, Adam LeFevre The Doctors Dilemma, and Adina Verson The Winters Tale at Yale Rep. Helmed by Obie Award-winning director Evan Yionoulis Three Days of Rain, Violet Hour, Him runs September 25 October 28 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters.

Adopt Films has acquired all U.S. rights to “Molly’s Theory of Relativity” from filmmaker Jeff Lipsky (“Flannel Pajamas”). The specialty distributor plans a March release. Lipsky’s drama follows a 28-year-old astronomer who has just lost her job as she encounters both family and strangers over a long Halloween night. Sophia Takal, Lawrence Michael Levine, Reed Birney, Daisy Tahan, Cady Huffman, Adam LeFevre, Rebecca Schull, Tom Morrissey and Nicholas Lampiasi star. Nick Athas and Inna Braude produced; Samuel Baumel and Wesley Wingo are executive producers. Adopt Films will next release Ursula Meier’s “Sister,” Christian Petzold’s “Barbara,” Miguel Gomes’ “Tabu” and the Taviani Brothers’ “Caesar Must Die.”...

Adopt Films has acquired all U.S. rights to Jeff Lipsky’s fifth feature film, “Molly’s Theory of Relativity.” “Molly’s Theory of Relativity” is a sexy, funny, surreal, and devastating portrait of a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old astronomer who, having unexpectedly lost her job, is poised to make perhaps the first reckless decision of her life. Her story unfolds during an eighteen hour period, on Halloween. Providing counsel on the fateful day are her husband, her father-in-law, three deceased relatives, a precocious nine-year-old trick-or-treater, her grandfather from Minot, North Dakota, and a six year old neighbor, who may or may not be imaginary. “Molly’s Theory of Relativity” is about the economy, how we value and measure the pride we take in what we choose to do for a living, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the notion that death is merely a relative thing. “Molly’s Theory of Relativity” stars Sophia Takal (“Green,...

Blu-ray Release Date: Aug. 28, 2012, DVD Release Date: Sept. 25, 2012

Price: DVD $28.98, Blu-ray $29.98

Studio: Warner Home Video

Nicholas Sparks is fast becoming one of the most-adapted of modern novelists, and The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron (New Year’s Eve), is another film based on Sparks’ books. Sparks, you might remember, also wrote the novels that spawned The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and others.

In The Lucky One, Sparks’ signature romantic drama abounds. The story follows Logan, a Marine who, while stationed in Iraq, found a photograph of a woman with the words “Keep Safe” written on the back. After Logan survives an attack, he credits the photo as his lucky charm. When he returns home, he travels to Louisiana to search for the woman in the photo to tell her how she saved him, but there are complications.

Rated PG-13, the film also stars Taylor Schilling (TV’s Mercy...

Box office loves Think Like a Man After a big $12 million Friday debut, Sony's Think Like a Man romantic comedy/drama went on to generated an estimated $33 million over the weekend, becoming the fourth number one opener for the distributor this year. Debuting in 2,015 locations, the -directed film scripted by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, averaged as hefty $16,377 per theater. Starring in the flick based on Steve Harvey's "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man," are Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good, Morris Chestnut, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Romany Malco, Jenifer Lewis, J.B. Smoove, Jerry Ferrara, Lala Vazquez and Kelly Rowland. Weekend Breakdown for Think Like a Man: - Friday: $12.15 million. - Saturday: $13.20 million. - Sunday: $7.65 million. In second, Warner Bros. Pictures' romantic drama The Lucky One performed well with a gross of $22.8 million from 3,155 theaters, making this another Nicholas Sparks-adapted strong performer.

Box office loves Think Like a Man After a big $12 million Friday debut, Sony's Think Like a Man romantic comedy/drama went on to generated an estimated $33 million over the weekend, becoming the fourth number one opener for the distributor this year. Debuting in 2,015 locations, the -directed film scripted by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, averaged as hefty $16,377 per theater. Starring in the flick based on Steve Harvey's "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man," are Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good, Morris Chestnut, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Romany Malco, Jenifer Lewis, J.B. Smoove, Jerry Ferrara, Lala Vazquez and Kelly Rowland. Weekend Breakdown for Think Like a Man: - Friday: $12.15 million. - Saturday: $13.20 million. - Sunday: $7.65 million. In second, Warner Bros. Pictures' romantic drama The Lucky One performed well with a gross of $22.8 million from 3,155 theaters, making this another Nicholas Sparks-adapted strong performer.

Hunger Games most-likely to stay on top over this week's upcoming movies. With Warner Bros. Pictures' The Lucky One being the widest opener this weekend, finding over 3,000 theaters, it's very probable that Lionsgate's Hunger Games will hold its first-placed position come weekend box office estimates. Still, don't count out pics based on Nicholas Sparks films, they often perform well, as was the case with 2010's Dear John, starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. Lucky One stars Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling the film helmed by Scott Hicks from the script by Will Fetters. The cast also includes Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Jillian Batherson and Courtney J. Clark. In The Lucky One, U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive—a photograph he found...

Hunger Games most-likely to stay on top over this week's upcoming movies. With Warner Bros. Pictures' The Lucky One being the widest opener this weekend, finding over 3,000 theaters, it's very probable that Lionsgate's Hunger Games will hold its first-placed position come weekend box office estimates. Still, don't count out pics based on Nicholas Sparks films, they often perform well, as was the case with 2010's Dear John, starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. Lucky One stars Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling the film helmed by Scott Hicks from the script by Will Fetters. The cast also includes Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Jillian Batherson and Courtney J. Clark. In The Lucky One, U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive—a photograph he...

In theaters Friday, April 20, Zac Efron stars with Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner in the romantic drama The Lucky One, directed by Academy Award®-nominated writer/director Scott Hicks (“Shine”), based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestseller The Lucky One.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive.a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Discovering her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.

Warner Bros Pictures and Wamg invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of The Lucky One.

Alter Egos Trailer. Jordan Galland‘s Alter Egos (2012) teaser trailer stars Kris Lemche, Brooke Nevin, Joey Kern, and Danny Masterson. Alter Egos’ plot synopsis: “At a time when superheroes have lost government funding and public support, a superhero meets a girl who can help him overcome his own emotional crisis.”

This film reminds me of Vs but without the edge. I can’t believe the main hero’s name is Fridge. That is almost as stupid as Splash Down from The Incredibles.

My favorite part of the Alter Egos teaser trailer:

You’ve got some nerve. Breaking up with me in an email. Who do you think you are? Batman?

So funny. His girlfriend was cheating on him with himself…his alter ego.

Alter Egos also stars Christine Evangelista, John Ventimiglia, Adam LeFevre, Kristina Klebe, Sean Lennon, Geneva Carr, Marina Squerciati, Carmen Goodine, Daniel Sauli, and Carlos Velazquez.

Watch the...

Christian Bale as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action thriller The Dark Knight Rises, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Tm and © DC Comics Photo by Ron Phillips

Just in time for the new year, Warner Bros. has released their slate of films scheduled from January 2012 through December 2012. Some noticeables on the list include Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, Wrath Of The Titans, The Gangster Squad, Ben Affleck’s Argo, The Untitled Jay Roach Comedy on August 10th, Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Below are a few new images, along with descriptions and trailers. From the lineup below, appears that Warner Bros. will be box office champs by year end.

Joyful Noise

(L-r) Dolly Parton as G.G. Sparrow and Queen Latifah as Vi Rose Hill in Alcon Entertainment’s “Joyful Noise,...

Trailer for adaptation of Nicolas Sparks' The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling Scott Hicks (The Boys Are Back, Hearts in Atlantis) directs the romantic drama from the script by Will Fetters, based on Sparks' novel. Also in the cast are Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Jillian Batherson and Courtney J. Clark The story tells of U.S. Marin Logan Thibault who, whilst on duty in Iraq, finds a photo of a young woman and feels that it brings him tons of luck. When his tour comes to an end, he returns to the U.S. and embarks on a trip to find the woman in the photo called Elizabeth. She is a divorced mother...

Trailer for adaptation of Nicolas Sparks' The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling Scott Hicks (The Boys Are Back, Hearts in Atlantis) directs the romantic drama from the script by Will Fetters, based on Sparks' novel. Also in the cast are Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Jillian Batherson and Courtney J. Clark The story tells of U.S. Marin Logan Thibault who, whilst on duty in Iraq, finds a photo of a young woman and feels that it brings him tons of luck. When his tour comes to an end, he returns to the U.S. and embarks on a trip to find the woman in the photo called Elizabeth. She is a divorced mother...

Trailer for adaptation of Nicolas Sparks' The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling Scott Hicks (The Boys Are Back, Hearts in Atlantis) directs the romantic drama from the script by Will Fetters, based on Sparks' novel. Also in the cast are Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Jillian Batherson and Courtney J. Clark The story tells of U.S. Marin Logan Thibault who, whilst on duty in Iraq, finds a photo of a young woman and feels that it brings him tons of luck. When his tour comes to an end, he returns to the U.S. and embarks on a trip to find the woman in the photo called Elizabeth. She is a divorced mother...

The Lucky One Trailer , The Lucky One Poster. Scott Hicks‘ The Lucky One (2012) movie trailer, movie poster stars Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, and Riley Thomas Stewart. The Lucky One‘s plot synopsis: “U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive-a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Learning her name is Beth (Taylor Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.”

This looks better than I thought it would and I have read a few Nicholas Sparks books. This...

We have added the first trailer for Warner Brothers Pictures adaptation of Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) romantic drama, "The Lucky One." Directed by Scott Hicks, the film stars Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre, Courtney J. Clark, Jillian Batherson and Robert Hayes.Watch the new trailer for "The Lucky One" below;"The Lucky One" is released across the Us from April 20th and the UK from May 4th, 2012.Romantic drama follows the story of a soldier in Iraq who, for good luck, carries the photograph of a smiling woman he has never met. When he returns to America and seeks her out a plethora of secrets are revealed.

Kaboom

Opens: 2011

Cast: Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Juno Temple, Kelly Lynch, James Duval

Director: Gregg Araki

Summary: Smith's everyday life in the dorm - hanging out with his arty, sarcastic best friend Stella, hooking up with a beautiful free spirit named London, lusting for his gorgeous but dim surfer roommate Thor - all gets turned upside-down after one fateful, terrifying night.

Analysis: A year after "Thelma and Louise" came "The Living End", an independent film which had a similar premise but made the protagonists two gay HIV+ men. It was raw, intense and signalled the arrival of a new talent in the form of filmmaker Gregg Araki. In the subsequent two decades, he's delivered several trippy films involving young, good-looking omnisexual people having lots of graphic sex and dealing with some wacky cobbled together plot shenanigans.

The tone has ranged the light-hearted "Splendor" and "Nowhere" to the darker "Mysterious Skin...

A website called Nola (with a nod to our friends at Collider) have released the first couple of image of new Warner Bros. movie which stars Zac Efron called The Lucky One. The movie is is directed by Scott Hicks and also stars Blythe Danner, Taylor Schilling, Adam LeFevre, Sharon Morris, Joe Chrest, Riley Thomas Stewart and Courtney J. Clark.

IMDb tell us at that movie is expected 2012 and a short plotline:

A Marine returns to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.

More as we get it. Check out the images below:...

[1] Slamdance has officially announced the 2011 Feature Competition slate for the 17th Annual Slamdance Film Festival taking place January 21-27, 2011 in Park City, Utah. For those of you who don't know, the festival was founded in 1995 by filmmakers whose movies didn't get into Sundance, and has since become a yearly film festival spotlighting "emerging filmmaking talent and their new work." Slamdance touts that their festival is "programmed by filmmakers for filmmakers." While Sundance is still the big show in Park City, big filmmakers like Christopher Nolan (Memento), Marc Forster (Monster's Ball) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) are often mentioned as Slamdance discoveries. Hit the jump to read the full press release which includes the full line-up for the 2011 Festival. For Immediate Release Slamdance Film Festival Announces 2011 Feature Film Competition “All Is Not Lost” for Filmmakers in Park City and Commercially Year-Round Los Angeles - December 7, 2010 – Slamdance today announced the 2011 Feature Competition...

The Slamdance Film Festival wasn't that far behind The Sundance Film Festival in releasing their film line-up, and it's a compelling mix of titles. For those of you who don't know, Slamdance is another film festival that is going on at the exact same time, and in the exact same place as Sundance, and that's in Park City Ut, from January 21-28th. Slamdance focuses more on genre type indie films.

Check out the list below and tell us what you think! Do any of you plan on attending? I always try to catch a few of these films while up up in Park City.

Slamdance Film Festival Announces 2011 Feature Film Competition

"All Is Not Lost" for Filmmakers in Park City and Commercially Year-Round

Los Angeles - December 7, 2010 - Slamdance today announced the 2011 Feature Competition slate for the 17th Annual Slamdance Film Festival taking place January 21-27, 2011 in Park City,...

The line-up has been announced for the 2011 Slamdance Film Festival, and while we found only one true horror film on the list, there are a few others that seem to be genre-bending enough to merit mention here on Dread Central.

Slamdance, which is being presented again by Kodak, runs concurrently with the Sundance Film Festival, January 21-27, 2011 in Park City, Utah. As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent and is dedicated to the nurturing and development of new independent artists and their vision. Slamdance lives by its mantra: "By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers." No other festival is fully programmed by filmmakers, and for the 2011 Festival Slamdance received a record number of over 5,000 submissions.

Here are the narrative films in competition that should appeal to genre fans:

Atrocious – directed by Fernando Barreda Luna. (Mexico, Spain) World Premiere, 75 min (See trailer below)

Recorded...

With the complete Sundance lineup now out in public you had to know that Slamdance couldn't be far behind. And it wasn't. The complete list of competition selections for Slamdance 2011 was announced today and it's a compelling mix of titles.

On the genre front Fernando Barreda Luna's found footage shocker Atrocious is the festival's one true horror entry while Simon Arthur's Silver Tongues also sounds like it could delve into dark thriller territory. Experimental effort The Beast Pageant is probably worth a look as well and I've been hearing growing buzz about inner city crime moc doc Snow On The Bluff as well.

On the real documentary side of things there are a couple music themed pieces - Road Dogs and Last Fast Ride - cranked up to 11. Stephan Wassman's Scrapper - the story of a group of men who collect scrap from a Us military bombing...

The Slamdance Film Festival which takes place each year in Utah at the same time as the Sundance Film Festival has just announced its program for the 2011 edition. The festival was founded in 1995 by Dan Mirvish, Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn and Peter Baxter and has since become a year-round organization championing emerging filmmaking talent and their new work. The aim is to provide what its supporters consider a truer representation of independent filmmaking).

The fest has earned a solid reputation for premiering films by first-time writers and directors working within the creative confines of limited budgets. Festival discoveries have included directors such as Christopher Nolan (Memento), Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite).

The 17th annual fest will screen 10 narrative films and eight documentary features in competition from Jan. 21-27. Fourteen of the movies are world premieres. As part of this year’s festival theme — “All Is...

You know, I can’t tell if Zach LeBeau’s “The Scientist” is a horror movie dressed up as sci-fi, or a drama dressed up as sci-fi, or if it is indeed a sci-fi concoction. Regardless of what it truly is, the trailer and clip (via Apple) have intrigued me. LeBeau has a pretty interesting resume himself. According to IMDb, “The Scientist” is his feature-film debut, but before that he was an actor on a couple of “Star Trek: Voyager” episodes. The Scientist follows a brilliant physicist, Dr. Marcus Ryan (Bill Sage), who anguishes over the tragic death of his wife and daughter while secretly constructing a mysterious energy generator in his basement. The multi—dimensional energy unleashed by the machine triggers a series of events that propels Ryan toward a higher level of consciousness. Starring Bill Sage, Adam LeFevre, Jamie Elman, Brittany Benjamin, Daniela Lavender, and directed by Zach LeBeau.

Chicago – People who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is on the autistic spectrum, are sometimes described as being “mind blind”. In other words, they often don’t understand what people are thinking.

Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy star in the film “Adam” to help audiences to visualize the condition, learn how to deal with it and metaphorically highlight it as just one way to understand typical misunderstandings in relationships.

“Adam” was released on DVD on Feb. 2, 2010. “Adam” star Rose Byrne is being buzzed about now with her return to TV’s “Damages” with Glenn Close. HollywoodChicago.com sat down with Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy in Chicago to discuss the film.

Rose Byrne (left) and Hugh Dancy in “Adam”.

Photo credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures

HollywoodChicago.com: What does it actually feel like to be “mind blind”?

Hugh Dancy: I think it’d feel incredibly exhausting, frustrating...