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For the fans left bereft by his 2012 death, it's impossible to imagine a more exquisite, honest, and beautifully detailed documentary about the life of Levon Helm than Jacob Hatley's Ain't in It for My Health. This film seems as much man as it does movie, capturing the many sides of The Band's former drummer: his modesty, his humor, his anger about how his group fell apart. And, without getting all gooey, the doc shows how Helm handled the cancer that hovered over his final decade. Finally, this unassuming little flick makes a sham out of drugs-a-go-go melodramatic crap like Walk the Line—maybe because Hatley never forgets he's making a movie about a goddamn musician.

This is one of the most fully rounded, unsentimental portraits of an artist you'll ever ...

Film Independent has selected rising filmmakers Nicholas Greene, Jacob Hatley, Krisy Gosney, Aldo Velasco, Amber Sealey, Daniel Casey, Morna Ciraki, and Alex Moratto for its 2013 Directing Labs, an annual intensive program that helps promising directors develop new feature films, perfect their craft, and advance their careers.From now until mid-April, these eight filmmakers will work on their next projects with the aid of professional mentors, stipends, access to a variety of production resources including digital camera and sound packages, and more.James Ponsoldt (“The Spectacular Now,” “Smashed”), Karen Moncreiff (“The Trials of Cate McCall,” “The Dead Girl”), and Angela Robinson (“True Blood,” “The L Word”) are among the mentors who will help guide these filmmakers with script feedback, casting and workshopping scenes, and more.Greene, a New York-based British filmmaker whose short film “Salar” was shortlisted for the 2011 Oscars, will work on “A Death in the Andes,” his film about...

Music video accidental docu-helmer Jacob Hatley will get to see his debut film, Ain’t In It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm make the leap from the film fest circuit into theaters thanks to the folks at Kino Lorber. Originally assigned to make the music video for 2010′s Electric Dirt, Hatley ended up befriending the artist staying with the artist for the better part of three roller-coaster years. Here’s a SXSW interview with the filmmaker who describes just that process. An early/mid 2013 release is planned.

Gist: Hatley’s docu focuses on Helm, the founding member of The Band, after his 2007 resurgence following the release of his Grammy-winning “Dirt Farmer” folk album as he works on his new record at home in Woodstock, NY, amid financial and health problems. Helm died of cancer in April of 2012.

Worth Noting: Obviously his debut to the big screen began with The Last Waltz,...

Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to the documentary “Ain’t in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm,” directed by Jacob Hatley. The company plans a 2013 theatrical release followed by VOD and home video releases over the summer. Hatley’s film focuses on Helm, the founding member of The Band, after his 2007 resurgence following the release of his Grammy-winning “Dirt Farmer” folk album as he works on his new record at home in Woodstock, NY, amid financial and health problems. Helm died of cancer in April. Read More: Kino Lorber Takes 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet' Ahead of New York Film Festival Premiere "It was a privilege to meet Levon at one of his last Midnight Rambles and verify personally how insightfully this music-packed film captured the generosity of spirit, the humanity and the immense talent of one of America's greatest musical artists,” said Kino Lorber CEO.

Kino Lorber will distribute the Ain't in it for My Health: A Film about Levon Helm documentary from director Jacob Hatley. Variety reports that Kino Lorber have planned to release the film into theaters early next year, followed by a VOD and home entertainment release in the summer. The film includes Helm who died of cancer April 2012, as well as Billy Bob Thornton, Libby Titus and Larry Campbell. In Aint in it for My Health, Levon Helm finds himself thrust into the musical spotlight for the first time in a quarter century, as a Grammy nomination and ever-growing audiences force him to confront the dark times that have haunted him since The Band's demise: throat cancer, bankruptcy, drug addiction and the tragic loss of bandmates Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. Win or lose, Levon is an artist who will not go quietly into the night.

Kino Lorber will distribute the Ain't in it for My Health: A Film about Levon Helm documentary from director Jacob Hatley. Variety reports that Kino Lorber have planned to release the film into theaters early next year, followed by a VOD and home entertainment release in the summer. The film includes Helm who died of cancer April 2012, as well as Billy Bob Thornton, Libby Titus and Larry Campbell. In Aint in it for My Health, Levon Helm finds himself thrust into the musical spotlight for the first time in a quarter century, as a Grammy nomination and ever-growing audiences force him to confront the dark times that have haunted him since The Band's demise: throat cancer, bankruptcy, drug addiction and the tragic loss of bandmates Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. Win or lose, Levon is an artist who will not go quietly into the night.

The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival is set to run June 17-27 in a brand new location. Oh, it’s still in L.A, but it’s moving across town, from Westwood — where it’s been held the past few years — all the way over to Downtown.

The main “hub” for the fest will be the new L.A. Live complex, but there will also be screenings at other locations, such as the Downtown Independent and Redcat theaters. The city is really trying to build downtown up into a major arts and culture hub, so the festival moving there fits in with that agenda. Film Independent, the organization that runs Laff, also runs the annual Independent Spirit Awards, an event that also moved downtown — from Santa Monica — this year.

On Bad Lit, I tend to like to put up festival lineups that include days and times of screenings. However, since I...

Like the headline says, the complete lineup for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival has been announced and it's a fascinating, eclectic mix. How happy am I to see music doc Separado! in there? Pretty damn happy, as it's one of my absolute favorites of the year and has been resoundingly overlooked.  Read the complete announcement below!

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Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American...

Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American and international cinema and providing the movie-loving public with access to critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world.

The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 40 countries. This year, the Festival received more than 4,700 submissions from filmmakers around the world. The final selections represent 28 World, North American, and U.S. premieres, which more...

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- Focus Features' The Kids Are All Right to Kick Off Festival   -

- World Premiere of Universal Pictures' 3-D CGI Feature Despicable Me Selected for Closing Night   -

- Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Eclipse to have World Premiere -

- Galas include Animal Kingdom, Cyrus, Mahler on the Couch, Revolución,& Waiting for Superman   -

Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing...

Austin, Texas -- Distribution deals were never the point of the SXSW Film Festival, and that's still true at its 17th edition, which began this weekend.

But for filmmakers, actors, independent film aficionados and yes, sales executives, it's a laid-back Lone Star love-in.

"Audiences are more relaxed here," says Ron Yerxa, who with Albert Berger executive produced Jacob Hatley's "Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm," which held its world premiere Saturday afternoon. "Screenings at the Alamo Draft House have almost a party atmosphere, which is what I always thought festival screenings should be."

  Wedged as it is between Sundance and Tribeca, SXSW has continued to grow and draw a wider spectrum of North American and world premieres. (The sublime mid-March Texas weather may have something to do with that.) Though this has contributed to greater attendance, the festival remains a less pressurized destination for...

Bahman Ghobadi’s No One Knows About Persian Cats (Mij Films) The 2010 SXSW Film Festival will take place March 12-20 in Austin, Texas. Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm Director: Jacob Hatley In Ain’t In It For My Health Levon Helm finds himself thrust into the musical spotlight for the first time in a quarter century, but a Grammy nomination and ever-growing audiences force him to confront the dark times that have haunted him since The Band’s demise: Throat cancer, bankruptcy, drug addiction and the tragic loss of bandmates Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. Win or lose, Levon is an artist who [...]...

Less than a week worth of recovering from the Sundance Film Festival, and we are already looking forward to our next, big film fest coverage. That would be the South by Southwest Film Festival held annually in Austin, Texas. Last year, Scott and I brought you all kinds of coverage from the Lone Star State, and this year doesn’t look to be much different.

With that, the announcement came last night of the feature films that will be playing at the SXSW Film Festival. Previous announcement were already made about films like Cold Weather, Electra Luxx, Hubble 3D, Lemmy, Saturday Night, and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights making their debut. Kick-ass was recently announced as the opening night film, as well.

Among the other films being presented this year are some Sundance darlings, a few, highly anticipated premieres, and MacGruber.

Check out the full list...

I was so excited at seeing the SXSW line up last night that I completely forgot to post it and started searching the interwebs for cool content to go with it. Oops. Yes, I wish I was there but alas, it wasn’t mean to be (though don’t despair. We’ll be bringing you wicked awesome coverage).

But enough rambling, you want to know what’s all playing. Well, for a start there’s the much anticipated McGruber (trailer), the Duplass’ semi-mainstream comedy Cyrus, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs (trailer, review), Daniel Stamm’s horror flick Cotton and that’s on top of the previously announced titles which include Electra Luxx (Carla Gugino as a pregnant porn star? Bring. It. On.) and Kick-Ass (trailer). That’s already a great line-up but dear me, some of the other titles are pretty awesome too.

There’s Clay Liford scifi drama Earthling (trailer...

Late yesterday the SXSW Fim Festival, which runs from March 12-20 in Austin, TX, announced the full lineup of films that will be screening at this year’s event. And baby, it’s quite a list. Mixing big name films with intimate indie gems, the sheer number of films and the vast array of talented filmmakers is sure to be a hit with attendees and critics alike.

This lineup includes premieres of studio films such as Universal’s MacGruber, Lionsgate’s teen superhero actioneer Kick-Ass and smaller films like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart and Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine. With so many films to watch, it will be very difficult to find time to seem them all during the events nine days. But hell, we’re going to try.

For more on...

SXSW has released their feature lineup, and it looks like a great year for the festival. If you're going to be there, let me know. The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the complete features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 12 – 20, 2010 in Austin, Texas. Over the course of nine days, 119 features will screen at the festival, with 55 of those having their world premieres at SXSW 2010. These films were selected from a record 1,572 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,206 U.S. and 366 international feature-length films. Among the major films added to the lineup are: Rogue’s MacGruber, from director Jorma Taccone, Jay & Mark Duplass’ Cyrus, Bernard Rose’s Mr. Nice, Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart, Alexandre O. Philippe’s The People vs. George Lucas, Shane Meadows’ Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee, Steven Soderbergh...