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Jewish horror certainly isn’t new. ‘The Dybbuk,’ a play by S. Ansky about the Jewish folkloric demon, was first performed in 1920. Since, there have been many stories of the mythological nightmare, from stage to screen and otherwise. The dybbuk is named for the word “to cleave” or “to cling,” referencing the demon’s way of latching onto a living body. It’s a soul of a dead person that takes up a living host, possessing them until it is able to accomplish its goal.

Unlike Christian demons we’re used to seeing in films, dybbuks aren’t cohorts of the devil, but souls of the dead who are unable or unwilling to move on due to unfinished business. Movies like The Unborn (2009), The Possession (2012), and Ezra (2017) used the dybbuk, but each fell into a common trap. We won’t spend time tackling the 2003 created “dybbuk box,” but suffice it...

Marcin Wrona's Demon first made a splash when it had its Us premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2015 and it has continued to make the festival rounds since then, eventually landing at Tiff in 2016 before being picked up for distribution.

Now, nearly 2 years since it first made its appearance in North America, Wrona's thriller is finally getting a release and with it comes an amazing trailer.

Described as a "clever take" on a Jewish legend, Demon is the story of a man who finds human remains while renovating his summer house and then becomes possessed by an evil spirit on his wedding day to somewhat horrific results.

At least the trailer suggests horrific though by all accounts, this is more of a psychological thriller than an all out horror movie and wh [Continued ...]...

To call 2016 a good year for horror would be an understatement. It was a fantastic year with a little something for every genre taste. You didn’t have to venture very far to find something that was absolutely fantastic. With great television shows like Channel Zero: Candle Cove or The Exorcist, wonderful films like The Witch and Green Room, and music from labels like Waxwork Records and Death Waltz Recording, the horror genre was finely taken care of. Here are few of the standouts for me in 2016.

Twin Peaks Vinyl Soundtrack (Death Waltz Recording / Mondo): Every single year, Death Waltz comes out with a release that makes me absolutely overjoyed. David Lynch’s films are stunning genre works. The lurid imagery, the bold characters, and the music composition within his films give Lynch’s work a unique quality. The Twin Peaks soundtrack, lovingly released by Death Waltz, comes...

Polish filmmaker Marcin Wrona’s Demon, one of last year’s Tiff Vanguard selections, started quietly making its way into theaters just before this year’s edition of the festival, and has drawn a number of warm reviews in the last month. The scary-sounding title may have put off otherwise likely viewers, but it really shouldn’t: as Manohla Dargis puts it, Demon is “ready-made for the art house even if its mystical flourishes — an otherworldly claw, an undead bride — are the sort of woo-woo pleasures more often scared up in genre stories.” Michael Nordine has more at the Village Voice:Demon, while not straight horror, has one foot in the genre (the other, of course, is in the grave). It opens on an enigmatic river-crossing sequence, the body that gets dragged from the water serving as a harbinger of what Wrona has in store. His tale concerns a groom-to-be who,...

Everything that happened after the vows on my wedding day is a bit of blur. The whirlwind reception of meet-and-greets with family and friends went by in a flash, so whenever a newly engaged couple asks me for advice about their wedding day, I tell them to remember to eat their dinner.

A wedding is the setting for director Marcin Wrona’s Demon, a satire as well as a horror film that evokes Polish history and culture to compose a remarkable genre-bending feature.

Piotr (Itay Tiran) is traveling from London to a small Polish town to meet his bride, Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska). Piotr and Zaneta are in a relatively new relationship, and their quick move towards marriage has made Zaneta’s father, Zygmunt (Andrzej Grabowski) cautious. The young couple plans on living in the dilapidated house of Zaneta’s grandfather, where they are also holding the wedding in a nearby barn.

Review by Stephen Tronicek

Demon is an anticlimactic piece of filmmaking, but it’s a film where that might actually be the point. A wedding is a big event that requires a lot of planning, and when something goes wrong, it doesn’t just go away. When something goes really wrong, it pops the thin veneer of happiness that the band and plastered smiles provides and sticks there forever tainting the chances of true fun and happiness. For all intents and purposes, the monster of Demon doesn’t seem to be the “monster,” but the effect of that ever annoying fleck sitting on the side of happiness.

That’s getting a little ahead, though. The focus of Demon is the wedding of Piotr and Zaneta, a couple who is brought together under hinted at unusual circumstances. Piotr, in the effort to fix the house on Zaneta’s grandfather’s land,...

Demon Opens in St. Louis at Landmark’s The Tivoli Theater (6350 Delmar Blvd) on September 23rd

Starring Itay Tiran (Lebanon), Agnieszka Zulewska (Chemo) and Andrzej Grabowski, Demon was the 2015 Best Horror Feature Winner at Fantastic Fest!

Newly arrived from England to marry his fiancee Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska, Chemo), Peter (Israeli actor Itay Tiran, Lebanon) has been given a gift of her family’s ramshackle country house in rural Poland. It’s a total fixer-upper, and while inspecting the premises on the eve of the wedding, he falls into a pile of human remains. The ceremony proceeds, but strange things begin to happen…During the wild reception, Peter begins to come undone, and a dybbuk, the iconic ancient figure from Jewish folklore, takes a toehold in this present-day celebration-for a very particular reason, as it turns out. The final work by Marcin Wrona, who died just as Demon was set to premiere in Poland,...

On Friday, September 7th, The Orchard released Marcin Wrona’s final film, Demon, which explores the dybbuk folklore amidst the chaos of a modern Polish wedding. Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to speak with Demon producer Olga Szymanska about the film’s theatrical origins, sociopolitical leanings, the challenges of shooting Wrona’s ambitious story, and more.

Great to speak with you today, Olga, and congrats on Demon. Can you discuss the process you and Marcin went through in order to get this made, and how he went about adapting the original stage play for the film version?

Olga Szymanska: I will begin with the inspiration that we had. It was just before the first movie about the Polish-Jewish connections came out, and that aftermath was the idea that Marcin wanted to explore. We felt the subject of our two nations living together was unexplored. At first, he was...

In a day and age where we see dozens (upon dozens) of possession films released every year, Marcin Wrona’s Demon manages to stand out as a truly special cinematic experience. The film consistently defies expectations from beginning to end by going against genre conventions, playing up the scenario’s more darkly comedic elements, and creating a haunting allegory that reflects how even though we often think we can bury our past, it will always find a way to rear its ugly head. Demon also soars due to the stunning performance from Itay Tiran, whose harrowing transformation is a marvel to behold.

At the beginning of Demon, we meet Piotr (Tiran), who arrives in a small village in Poland to marry the lovely Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska) and meet his new family for the very first time. The plan is for the lovebirds to get hitched on the estate of Zaneta’s family,...

In the case of director Marcin Wrona, it’s hard to begin any review of his latest film, Demon, without first discussing how it became his last. After the film debuted to high praise at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Wrona would go on to take his own life just prior to the film’s Polish debut. A filmmaker long described as the next Roman Polanski, Wrona’s last film is finally arriving in theaters, and with roots set firmly in both Polish cinema and horror cinema more broadly, Demon is a pitch black comedy that moonlights as one of the year’s most tense horror/thrillers.

Set ostensibly over the span of one wedding, the film introduces us to Piotr (Itay Tiran) as he arrives in a small Polish village to marry the sister of a close friend, a beautiful blonde named Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska). Hoping to...

Less than a week after his third film, Demon, premiered to positive reviews at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, director Marcin Wrona committed suicide in a hotel room just before its Polish premiere at the Gdynia Film Festival. It was a promising career cut short, as Wrona—who directed two films in Poland before making his international breakthrough with Demon—would not live to see himself hailed as the heir to Roman Polanski’s existentially unsettling art-horror throne.

It may seem morbid to ask viewers to go into a movie with the director’s untimely death in mind. But to fail to do so would be to ignore the lesson of Demon, a film where refusing to confront the past leads to the past coming back to confront us. The film takes place in a small Polish village, where Piotr (Itay Tiran)—a.k.a. Pyton—a laborer...

Anything you try to bury will come back to haunt you. And as many times as you bury it, it will come back, and no doubt hurt those you least want to see hurt. The past can never be escaped, and its denial will only force you to deal with it over and over.  Such seems to be the moral of Marcin Wrona's haunting and surreal Demon, a strange ghost story set at an even stranger wedding. Mixing absurdist family comedy with the most terrifying of imagery, this is a family gathering that shakes the viewer to the core. Peter (Itay Tiran) has arrived from the UK to marry his Polish fiance Zaneta (Agnieska Zulewska). Zaneta's father has given them the old family homestead as...

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

Nothing’s allowed to derail the guests of a Polish wedding from having fun, not even the groom’s epileptic seizure. You just pick him up and cart him out. Send the ambulance away so it won’t scare the crowd, pump him full of meds to even him out, and simply bring out more vodka to spike the punch and confuse everyone’s equilibrium when the revelers start spreading rumors that he’s been possessed by a Jewish demon. We aren’t celebrating the union of man and wife after all, this is an excuse to go wild and revere the bride’s father as an unforgettable host. So what if those rumors are true and there’s at least one set of skeletal remains beneath our feet. We can worry about all that tomorrow.

This is Marcin Wrona‘s final film Demon in a nutshell: a tale of destiny,...

Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.

This Past Weekend:

As expected, Labor Day weekend wasn’t good for the two new wide releases at all, although the romantic drama The Light Between Oceans (DreamWorks), starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, ended up doing far better of the two. Also as expected, Fede Alvarez’s Don’t Breathe (Screen Gems) won the weekend with a four-day total of $19.7 million, a little less than I predicted. The Light Between Oceans ended up with slightly over $6 million, roughly the same as my original prediction but 20th Century Fox’s thriller Morgan, starring Kate Mara, bomb-bomb-bombed with a ridiculously bad four-day opening of just $2.5 million in its first four days. The Mexican comedy No Manches Frida (Lionsgate/Pantelion) ended up faring better in just 362 theaters,...

While Marcin Wrona has sadly passed away, his final film “Demon” cements the filmmaker’s worthy legacy. The horror flick earned plenty of buzz on the festival circuit, earning accolades including honors at last year’s Fantastic Fest. Earlier this year, the Playlist’s Kimber Myers enthused that it’s “a chilling, modern version of a folk tale.” Arriving in theaters this […]

The post Exclusive: Head Into The Cellar With Clip From Dybbuk Horror ‘Demon’ appeared first on The Playlist.

While the summer had a number of gems, our sights are now set on the majorly promising fall slate as we’ve highlighted 75 to keep on your radar. For a more specific breakdown, we now have our monthly rundown, which includes some Tiff and Venice films, and much more. It should also be noted that Michelangelo Antonioni‘s restored masterpiece La Notte will get a theatrical run starting on September 16 at NYC’s Film Forum, and will expand from there. Check out our recommendations below and let us know what you’re looking forward to.

Matinees to See: White Girl (9/2), Max Rose (9/2), The Academy of Muses (9/2), Zoom (9/2), Other People (9/9). Kicks (9/9), Dancer (9/9), London Road (9/9), Come What May (9/9), The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years (9/16), My Blind Brother (9/23), Girl Asleep (9/23), Goat (9/23), The Lovers and the Despot (9/23), The Magnificent Seven (9/23), Chronic (9/23), Sand Storm (9/28), Do Not Resist (9/30), Deepwater Horizon (9/30), Miss Peregrine’s...

"Buried for decades... silent until now." The Orchard has released an official Us trailer for a horror-comedy called Demon, from the late Polish filmmaker Marcin Wrona, who finished this film and died last year just before its initial release. Titled Ha'dibouk in Hebrew, the film is about a man possessed by an "unquiet" spirit in the midst of his own wedding. It's a new take on the Jewish legend of the dybbuk, described as "part absurdist comedy, part love story that scares, amuses, and charms in equal measure." Starring Agnieszka Zulewska and Itay Tiran, with Andrzej Grabowski and Tomasz Schuchardt. The film is actually partially in English, so dive right in, even though this trailer doesn't seem to show much of the comedic side. This looks quite chilling and unique, worth seeking out if you're a fan of possession horror or Polish cinema. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Marcin Wrona's Demon,...

A wedding is a big day for the bride and groom, a celebration of one’s love filled with friends, family, and most importantly, a sense of love and joy. But things can undoubtedly go wrong when the groom has been possessed by an unquiet spirit. That’s the case in the new Polish film “Demon,” which premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows Piotr (Itay Tiran), or “Python” as he’s called by his friends, who comes from England to a small Polish island to meet his bride, Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska). They plan to live in her family’s home, but it’s stood for decades and in need of restoration. The effort quickly unearths buried bones close to the house, and one day Piotr falls into the remains in the middle. Soon, he begins to be transformed by a presence that an aging Jewish professor labels a dybbuk,...

Your wedding was kind of a disaster, huh? Well remember, it could've been worse. A lot worse! Just look at this damn trailer and tell me it couldn't have been worse: Context: Demon is the final film from Polish director Marcin Wrona (The Christening), who died before the film was released in his native country. Described as a "chilling, modern version of a folk tale" mixed with a "comedy of manners" by The Playlist, the film -- which takes on the monstrous dybbuk legend from Jewish folklore -- centers on a groom who is "possessed by an unquiet spirit" during his wedding and then... well, terrible things happen.  It's terribly sad that Wrona didn't live to see Demon's release in Poland, but his acclaimed artistic legacy remains secure, as the film has received very positive reviews from a number of critics. It hits U.S. theaters on September 9, and I,...

The wedding and the subsequent reception are already fraught with no shortage of expectation and stress, so it kind of makes the perfect place to toss a dybbuk into the mix. Writer/director Marcin Wrona, who passed away before the film premiered in Poland, uses that backdrop to ramp things up in “Demon” to horrific effect. […]

The post An Evil Rises On Wedding Night In New Trailer For Polanski-Esque Horror ‘Demon’ appeared first on The Playlist.

I saw Marcin Wrona‘s Demon under what I’d consider ideal circumstances: as a blind viewing at the tail-end of last year’s Camerimage Film Festival, by which point I was a bit delirious from the week’s workload and, most of all, the jet lag that had never quite faded away. And so what, to me, was rather clearly a unique take on the demonic possession story grew all the more odd and terrifying as a result of my half-closed eyes and open mind. Total surprises are hard to come by in even the best of films, even though its wheels were a bit greased — and the experience is what it is.

I’d guess these are not the circumstances under which The Orchard would prefer you see their new release. Regardless of how the viewing happens, make time for Demon despite the extent to which a U.

Distribution label The Orchard acquired North American rights to Demon (review) out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, though Polish director Marcin Wrona tragically passed away shortly after the premiere. When can you see it? We’ve just gotten word… Continue Reading →

The post The Late Marcin Wrona’s Demon Arrives in September appeared first on Dread Central.

The marriage of a possession-driven horror film and a wedding comedy initially seems like an odd, opposites-attract union, especially when you add elements of the enduring legacy of the Holocaust in Poland. Theoretically, combining these elements shouldn’t work, leaving the audience in a state of whiplash as they’re thrown from one end of the genre spectrum to the other. But thanks to the talent of director Marcin Wrona, “Demon” combines these seemingly disparate threads to create an unsettling, oddly funny film with more to say than either the average horror film or comedy. Loosely based on Piotr Rowicki’s play “Adherence,” “Demon” quickly moves outside the confines of a stage production. It begins by traveling in a small town in Poland, where buildings and the bright yellow of a front loader are vivid against a backdrop of fog, the first evidence of the film's fine cinematography from Pawel Flis.

A chilling, romantic, surprisingly humorous take on demonic possession. Admittedly, Marcin Wrona’s final project, Demon, garnered all the more attention following the director/writer’s untimely death, yet it’s a film that deserves all that attention, and so much more, based on its own merits. Despite the title, this Polish-Israeli co-production, written by Wrona and Pawel Maslona,…

The post Review: Marcin Wrona’s Chilling Demon appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center have announced the first eight titles lined up for the 45th edition of New Directors/New Films: Clément Cogitore's The Wakhan Front, Anna Rose Holmer's The Fits, Yaelle Kayam's Mountain, Pietro Marcello's Lost and Beautiful, Gabriel Mascaro's Neon Bull, Raam Reddy's Thithi, Marcin Wrona's Demon and Zhao Liang's Behemoth. Metrograph, New York City's new two-screen indie movie house, has announced its first season of programming, including Rainer Werner Fassbinder's top 10 films, a Jean Eustache retrospective, three films by Frederick Wiseman, Johnnie To's Office and much, much more. We're rounding up more goings on. » - David Hudson...

MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center have announced the first eight titles lined up for the 45th edition of New Directors/New Films: Clément Cogitore's The Wakhan Front, Anna Rose Holmer's The Fits, Yaelle Kayam's Mountain, Pietro Marcello's Lost and Beautiful, Gabriel Mascaro's Neon Bull, Raam Reddy's Thithi, Marcin Wrona's Demon and Zhao Liang's Behemoth. Metrograph, New York City's new two-screen indie movie house, has announced its first season of programming, including Rainer Werner Fassbinder's top 10 films, a Jean Eustache retrospective, three films by Frederick Wiseman, Johnnie To's Office and much, much more. We're rounding up more goings on. » - David Hudson...

Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and Fantastic Fest titles lead the first wave of official selections for the 2016 edition of New Directors/New Films, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art. Now in its 45th year, the festival has in recent years brought well-deserved attention to innovative works by the likes of Shane Carruth, Marielle Heller, Jennifer Kent, Joshua Oppenheimer, Sarah Polley, Dee Rees, and Justin Simien, among others. Read More: "Sundance Programmers Unveil, Discuss 2016 Competition, Next Lineups (Exclusive)" The eight initial selections—with the rest of the festival's slate to be announced in February—include the late Polish director Marcin Wrona's "Demon," which won Best Horror Feature at Fantastic Fest and was picked up by The Orchard after its Tiff debut. (Wrona, just 42, died one week after the world premiere.) Also on offer are Locarno prizewinners "Lost and Beautiful" (Pietro...

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...

Plus… Scream Factory and Chiller unveil cast on Fender Bender and The Orchard acquires DemonBlack Mass star Johnny Depp will receivethe renamed Maltin Modern Master Award at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 6, 2016. Shout! Factory genre label Scream Factory and the Chiller network have unveiled cast on Mark Pavia’s thriller Fender Bender. Makenzie Vega, Dre Davis and Cassidy Freeman head the cast and shooting has begun in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The Orchard has acquired North American rights to Demon by the late director Marcin Wrona. The film, about a haunted plot of land, premiered in Toronto and will open in 2016.Fairway Film Alliance has added Where The Road Runs Out to its Afm sales line-up. Isaach De Bankolé,Juliet Landau and Stelio Savante star in the drama about a professor who finds love after he returns to the jungles of Africa following the death of a friend.Streaming service...

Read More: Watch: Exclusive 'Demon' Trailer is Eerie, Bloody and Very Nsfw The Orchard has acquired North American distribution rights to "Demon," the Polish horror film from the late director Marcin Wrona. Wrona, who served as a director, producer and co-writer on "Demon," tragically passed away at 42 one week after the film had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival in the Vanguard Section. "Demon" follows the story of a young couple who receive a piece of land as a wedding gift to build a house and raise a family. However, while preparing to build the house, the groom discovers human bones buried beneath the house, setting off a chain of haunting events that recall the famous figure of Jewish folklore, the dybbuk, a spirit of a person not properly laid to rest. "'Demon' is its own unique monster of sorts – moody and creepy,...

Full line-up of the Stockholm film festival includes feature and documentary competition line-ups.Scroll down for full line-up

The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.

The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.

It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.

The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.

Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...

The East-West co-production market has selected 10 projects this year, down from 13 in 2014.

New films by Slovakia’s Ivan Ostrochovský, and Israel’s Evgeny Ruman are among 10 projects selected for a slimmed down version of Germany’s East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus (CoCo) (November 5-6).

Last year, the East-West co-production market presented 13 projects.

This year’s line-up includes Romanian director Bogdan Muranescu’s 1985, which was the winner of the CoCo Award at the Transilvania Pitch Stop during Cluj’s Transilvania International Festival in June, and Danyael Sugawara’s When Fucking Spring Is In The Air, to be produced by Trent of Oak Motion Pictures, as part of FilmFestival Cottbus’ Global East focus on The Netherlands.

Ostrochovský will be coming to Cottbus on the back of the success of his boxing drama Koza to pitch The Disciple about the extent aspiring priests were prepared to go in collaborating with the Communist regime in Slovakia of the 1980s, while Ruman will...

Summer may be over, but with this year marking the 35th anniversary of Friday the 13th, it's never too late to visit the lake. Ahead of the event's November 4th start date, the folks behind the Denver Film Festival have announced the first wave of programming, including a special November 13th 35mm screening of Sean S. Cunningham's monumental slasher film.

Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.

"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...

Other winners include Venice title Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me and documentary Rabin In His Own Words.

Elad Keidan’s debut feature Afterthought (Hayored Lemaala) was crowned Best Israeli Film at this year’s Haifa Film Festival (Sept 26-Oct 5).

London-based Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf presided over the jury that included Karlovy Vary artistic director Karel Och, MoMA’s former cinema curator Laurence Kardish, Israeli cinematographer-director-actress Yvonne Miklosh and director Julie Schlez.

Screened earlier this year in Cannes’ Special Screenings section, the film is a metaphor of Israel today, focusing on two characters, one going up and the other down the staircases crisscrossing Haifa’s Mount Carmel and was entirely shot on location in the city.

Back from Venice’s Horizons section, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me (Lama Azavtani), a gloomy portrait of a city slum and of a teenager living on the fringes of society who desperately tries to find his own identity, gained director...

Anything you try to bury will come back to haunt you. And as many times as you bury it, it will come back, and no doubt hurt those you least want to see hurt. The past can never be escaped, and its denial will only force you to deal with it over and over. Such seems to be the moral of Marcin Wrona's haunting and surreal Demon, a strange ghost story set at an even stranger wedding. Mixing absurdist family comedy with the most terrifying of imagery, this is a family gathering that shakes the viewer to the core.Peter (Itay Tiran) has arrived from the UK to marry his Polish fiance Zaneta (Agnieska Zulewska). Zaneta's father has given them the old family homestead as a wedding...

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

On September 19th, director Marcin Wrona was found dead at the age of 42 in an apparent suicide. It’s inevitable and unavoidable when discussing his final film Demon, especially when his death was so recent and fresh in memory. It lingers over the film and likely will be influential on all reviews coming out of Fantastic Fest. The thing is that the movie would have been a major breakthrough for Wrona after working in TV and shorts for most of his career. It’s full of a dread and an atmosphere that’s palpable from moment one. There’s such an assured directing hand that it becomes easy to imagine the demons that seemed to plague Wrona and became too strong to handle.

The story revolves around a couple on the eve of their wedding moving with a new property to begin their lives together. The man accidentally backs into a tree with a digger,...

Demon

Written by Pawel Maslona & Marcin Wrona

Directed by Marcin Wrona

Poland/Israel, 2015

Part ghost story, part social commentary, director Marcin Wrona’s Demon offers plenty of appeal while remaining frustratingly elusive. The stellar performance from Itay Tiran, a genuinely creepy aesthetic, and a healthy dose of dark humor keep this possession drama interesting throughout. Unfortunately, the final act is a mess, which makes for an arbitrary and unsatisfying conclusion.

Piotr (Tiran) is a young man in love. He has dreams of living happily-ever-after with his fiancée, Zaneta (Agnieszka Zulewska), and living on her father’s farm in the Polish countryside. Piotr arrives in town and immediately starts making renovations in advance of the massive wedding that Zaneta’s father, Zgmunt (Andrzej Grabowski), has meticulously planned. Things take a decidedly creepy turn, however, when some errant excavator work unearths a human skeleton in the backyard. Unwilling to upset Zaneta, Piotr...

Demon, from late director Marcin Wrona, among those in competition.Scroll down for full competition list

The 31st Warsaw Film Festival (Oct 8-19) has revealed the 16 films selected for its international competition, which will vye for the main award - Warsaw Grand Prix, Best Director Award and Special Jury Award.

The titles include Demon, from Marcin Wrona, the 42-year-old Polish who died in Gdynia on Saturday (Sept 19). The death was likely a suicide, according to reports.

Other films in competition include Hany Abu-Assad’s The Idol, Gabriel Mascaro’s Neon Bull and Alex van Warmerdam’s Schneider vs. Bax.

This year’s festival will include 111 full-length films from 57 countries, comprising 90 features, 18 documentaries and three animations as well as 66 short films.

The winners of Short Film Competition will be put forward to compete for the Oscar.

The festival will open with Men and Chicken by Anders Thomas Jensen, whose film Adam’s Apples won theAudience Award at Wff...

Marcin Wrona, the Polish director found dead in a Gdynia hotel, died by hanging in what was probably a suicide, a preliminary autopsy found, according to news reports Tuesday. Wrona's body was found Saturday morning by his newly wed wife, Olga Syzmanska, who had been at the Toronto film festival for the world premiere of the director's new horror film, Demon, a Polish-Israeli co-production Polish investigators have not yet ruled out the participation of any third parties in Wrona's death, although the indications are that it was suicide, said Polish newspaper Wyborcza.pl, quoting a reporter from Polish

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Marcin Wrona, the director of the Polish Horror film “Demon,” which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last week, was found dead in a hotel room in Poland on Friday night, according to his publicist. Wrona, who was born in the city of Tarnów in southern Poland in 1973, and was considered to be one of the brightest talents of his generation in the Polish film industry. Wrona was preparing for the Polish premiere of the film at the Gdynia Film Festival. The film was also slated to premiere at the upcoming Fantastic Fest in Austin and the Sitges Film Festival,...

Marcin Wrona, who debuted his Polish horror film Demon at the Toronto International Film Festival, was found dead on Friday night in a hotel room while preparing for a festival in Poland. He was 42. The news came from publicist and family friend Jim Dobson. "Marcin was a personal friend of mine and we are quite devastated at the news but his family wanted to me to announce his passing," he said in a statement on Saturday. Polish police are currently investigating the death and no further information is available. Wrona's death came ahead of the Polish premiere of

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A very sad bit of news as the Toronto Film Festival draws to a close. Marcin Wrona, the director of the Polish horror film Demon that made its World Premiere in the World Cinema competition at the Toronto Film Festival last week, was found dead in a hotel room in Poland on Friday night. This comes from a family friend, publicist Jim Dobson. Wrona was preparing for the Polish premiere of the film at the Gdynia Film Festival. The film was also slated to premiere at the…...

Marcin Wrona, director of the Polish horror film Demon, which just had its world premiere here in Toronto, has passed away suddenly back home in Poland. Below is a statement released by a personal friend of Marcin's, Jim Dobson, on behalf of the family.Urgent News: Tiff film director found dead following World Premiere in TorontoMarcin Wrona, the director of the Polish Horror film "Demon" which made its World Premiere in World Cinema competition at the Toronto Film Festival last week, was found dead in a hotel room in Poland on Friday night. Wrona was preparing for the Polish premiere of the film at the Gdynia Film Festival.  The film was also slated to premiere at the upcoming Fantastic Fest in Austin and the Sitges Film Festival,...

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

The body of Polish director, screenwriter and producer Marcin Wrona, whose third feature, Demon, has just seen its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been found in a hotel room in Gdynia, Poland. Demon is also screening in the film festival Wrona was attending. Today's awards ceremony will be shortened in his memory. "Highly touted in Poland since his award-winning short Magnet Man (2000)," Wrona "is now getting the international attention he deserves," wrote Neil Young in 2010. Wrona's second feature, The Christening won the Silver Lion for best film as well as best actor and best editing awards in Gdynia. » - David Hudson...

The body of Polish director, screenwriter and producer Marcin Wrona, whose third feature, Demon, has just seen its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been found in a hotel room in Gdynia, Poland. Demon is also screening in the film festival Wrona was attending. Today's awards ceremony will be shortened in his memory. "Highly touted in Poland since his award-winning short Magnet Man (2000)," Wrona "is now getting the international attention he deserves," wrote Neil Young in 2010. Wrona's second feature, The Christening won the Silver Lion for best film as well as best actor and best editing awards in Gdynia. » - David Hudson...

Ida producer Opus Film and distributors Against Gravity and Next Film were among the winners at the 8th Polish Film Institute Awards.

The awards were presented at a gala ceremony last night during the Gdynia Film Festival (Sept 14-29).

Lodz-based Opus Film and the Acme PR agency won the prize for ¨International Promotion of Polish Cinema¨ for its Oscar campaign for Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida, which won Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards.

Next Film was recognised for its distribution of Jan Komasa’s Warsaw Uprising and Lukasz Palkowski’s Gods, the big winner at last year’s Gdynia Film Festival with admissions topping 2.2 million in Polish cinemas.

Against Gravity received the award for ¨Distribution of a Non-Commercial Foreign Film in Poland¨ for its release of Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar-nominated Leviathan.

In addition, the 41st Film Summer in Insk beat off competition from the 5th American Film Festival in Wroclaw and the 21st Nationwide...

It is time for me to make my peace with the fact that I will not be at Fantastic Fest this year. Last year's fest was one of my favorites ever, fitting for a tenth anniversary, and I would love to go this year. It's just not in the cards, though. It guts me, too. The event continues to grow and change and evolve, and it features one of the greatest programming teams in the business right now. There are films playing at the festival that I'll see in Toronto, and I'm sure I'll catch up with others, but that's not the point. Fantastic Fest is an experience, and an amazing one. If you want to go, you still can. "Daytime Only Badges, Fan Badges, and 2Nd Half Badges for Fantastic Fest 2015 are available for purchase here," today's press release urged. If you can go for the second half, you'll...

One of the greatest genre film festivals in the world (some say the best) has just announced its second wave of titles, including a few titles so anticipated you’ll wish you’re in Austin next month. Below are 35 more films to add to the 23 already announced in the first wave. They include Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster, Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s High-Rise and Jeremy Saulnier’s follow up to Blue Ruin, The Green Room. In addition to the films, Fantastic Fest is also delivering something special this year with a performance from Itchy-o – “a blazing, 32-member aural assault from the darkest depths of Colorado.” Fantastic Fest will also host the World Premiere of Lazer Team, the first feature film from web series gods Rooster Teeth. “This is a big year for genre cinema. We’re exceptionally proud to honor incredible filmmakers...

It’s hard to believe that we are a month away from what is possibly the best genre film festival in North America! After announcing a Kurt Russell included first wave, we get a wave that probably includes all the films I have the most interest in. The French remake of what I consider is one of Mario Bava’s best films, Rabid Dogs is included. Along with Jeremy Saulnier’s follow up from Blue Ruin, Green Room where Patrick Stewart plays a Neo-Nazi club owner, Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of High-Rise and the horror film that has some chilling buzz, The Witch, are all included. Check out the full listing below and wait with anticipation for our coverage of the festival!

Fantastic Fest is excited to announce the second wave of programming featuring the Us Premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster as the opening night film.

Austin, TX – Wednesday, August 26, 2015 — Fantastic Fest is excited to announce the second wave of programming featuring the Us Premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster as the opening night film. Lanthimos will be in attendance to share his wonderfully surreal examination of human connections. Joining The Lobster is a dazzling array of the year’s most anticipated genre films from heavyweight directors including Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic The Martian, Ben Wheatley’s High-rise and Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room. Fantastic Fest will also host the World Premiere of Lazer Team, the first feature film from web series gods Rooster Teeth. Lazer Team director Matt Hullum and cast members Burnie Burns, Alan Ritchson, Colton Dunn, Michael Jones, and Gavin Free will be in attendance to celebrate the highly anticipated sci-fi comedy and join Fantastic Fest’s official opening night party, presented by Rooster Teeth. “This is a big year for genre cinema.