News

Sos This Week is now The News Reel! In our latest episode, guest Caroline Siede from The Av Club discusses her article about Return of the Jedi and how the cuddly Ewoks and fandom may be a perfect example of understanding feminist criticism. Siede also gives other examples of films that have feminist undertones, but why they are not perfect in their representation. We also have new trailers for The Jungle Book, news on a Mary Poppins sequel, and the latest film from the director of In Bruges. Be sure to subscribe to The News Reel on iTunes.

Top Stories:

First trailer for The Jungle Book asks you to stay close to the jungle Tiff 2015: Watch the full trailer for the family drama, Louder Than Bombs Mary Poppins reboot planned, Rob Marshall to direct Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Oliver Stone’s Snowden pushed from Christmas release Frances McDormand to headline next...

This tingle I feel from Louder than Bombs is overshadowed somewhat by the bummer of realizing the 50-second teaser is better than almost every movie at the All-American multiplex right now.

Ioncinema.com’s 2015 Cannes Film Festival coverage.

Standing Tall – Nicholas Bell

Tale of Tales – Blake Williams

Our Little Sister – Nicholas Bell

One Floor Review – Blake Williams

Son of Saul – Nicholas Bell

In the Shadow of Women – Blake Williams

Carol – Nicholas Bell

The Lobster – Nicholas Bell

The Sea of Trees – Nicholas Bell

Mia Madre – Nicholas Bell

Louder than Bombs – Nicholas Bell

Cemetery of Splendor – Blake Williams

Sicario – Nicholas Bell

Youth – Nicholas Bell

Love – Nicholas Bell

Chronic – Nicholas Bell

Valley of Love – Nicholas Bell

The Treasure – Blake Williams

Arabian Nights Volume 1: The Restless One – Blake Williams

Arabian Nights Volume 2: The Desolate One – Blake Williams

Arabian Nights Volume 3: The Enchanted One – Blake Williams

Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 2: Our Little Sister

Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 2: Tale of Tales

Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 3: The Lobster

Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 3: Son of Saul

Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 4: Mia Madre...

Cannes — We finally have a Palme d'Or winner (Jacques Audiard's "Dheepan"), but what are our major takeaways from the entire 2015 Cannes Film Festival? Overall, the competition slate was slightly mediocre, with festival programmers really finding only three stellar films. There were a number of major disappointments (“The Sea of Trees”) and true surprises (“Son of Saul,” “Amy”). The Un Certain Regard and Critics’ Week selections didn’t generate much buzz and we missed the textbook over-the-top publicity stunts for Hollywood releases looking to make a mark with the 4,000+ members of the global media credentialed for the festival. The biggest buzz actually came from a Midnight screening (“Love”), a ladies' shoe controversy and attendees questioning why “Mad Max: Fury Road” or “Inside Out” weren't in competition. The question remains, however: Should either film been eligible for a jury prize? We’ll dive into that in our Best and Worst story...

The executive most recently served at Memento Films International, where he served four years as the New York-based rep working on English-language productions and acquisitions.

At UTA Independent Film Group Shumaker will focus on packaging, co-production, finance and sales strategies for the agency’s clients. He will remain in New York.

“Nick brings vast knowledge and insight from his career as an executive working in both production and international distribution and those assets will be invaluable to our business on a worldwide basis,” said group head Rena Ronson.

At Memento Films International Shumaker acquired such films as the acclaimed recent Toronto selection Still Alice starring Julianne Moore, as well as Compliance, Short Term 12 and S-vhs.

He also served as executive producer on and/or set up financing on Still Alice, Blue Ruin, We Are What We Are, Cold In July and the forthcoming Louder Than Bombs, among others.

Prior to Memento he produced Another Earth, HBO’s...

Film exec Nick Shumaker has joined UTA’s Independent Film Group as an agent after departing his post at Paris-based Memento Films International. Shumaker will focus on film packaging, co-production, finance, and sales based out of UTA’s New York outpost. He left Memento earlier this month after working on acclaimed indies including Compliance, Short Term 12, and Still Alice. “What both Memento and UTA have in common is a commitment to directors and director-driven voices,” Shumaker said. A veteran of production and international distribution, Shumaker also exec produced and helped finance Blue Ruin, We Are What We Are, Cold in July, and the forthcoming Louder Than Bombs.

He’ll work under UTA’s Independent Film Group head Rena Ronson, who also recently added film exec Alex Brunner to the division. “Nick brings vast knowledge and insight from his career as an executive working in both production and international distribution,...

Jenny Stjernströmer Björk appointed new evp acquisition and co-production at Scandinavian major Svensk Filmindustri

Scandinavian major Svensk Filmindustri has increased its acquisition and Nordic co-production activities by appointing Jenny Stjernstömer Björk evp acquisition and co-production, effective immediately.

Stjernströmer Björk has previously worked in book publishing, as an agent and running her own publishing agency. Five years ago she joined production company Tre Vänner, first by taking responsibility for the acquisition of book rights like A Man Called Ove (currently in production) and the Karin Fossum Inspector Sejer series. She then took on the position as head of development at the company.

When the company was acquired by Svensk Filmindustri in autumn 2013 she moved with the Tre Vänner team to Svensk.

In her new role, she will head the acquisition and Nordic co-production activities and also supervise the company’s new business intelligence department.

Stjernströmer Björk is also on the Svensk Filmindustri Nordic Management team.

Current Nordic...

Talent is currently being sought for the short film “Dude, Where’s My Sister?” This student film California State University, Dominguez Hills is casting seven lead and supporting roles, as well as background roles. Hopefuls should bring headshots, and include a reels in submissions if possible. Auditions will be held July 14 in Carson, Calif. For more details, check out the casting notice for “Louder Than Bombs” here, and be sure to check out the rest of our Los Angeles audition listings!

Good news on the Scandi film front as Joachim Trier's Louder than Bombs (an English language film to be shot in the U.S) appears to have gained some traction as Cineuropa confirms that Sigve Endresen's prod co. Motlys As will be working alongside Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa's Bona Fide Productions with a fall start date being eyed. Bona Fide is the production company behind the soon to be released He Loves Me (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris) and is in pre-prod with Nebraska (Alexander Payne) and the Blacklist favorite, The Only Living Boy in New York (Seth Gordon). Briefly discussed in our interview with the filmmaker back in May, the project which some industry folk describe as a cross between Ordinary People and Don't Look Now (Roeg's influential classic happens to second as the name of Trier's production company) and we should be hearing some casting...

After his acclaimed Reprise got a small run here, Joachim Trier hits American shores for the first time in five years this coming spring, when Sony Pictures Classics will distribute his next acclaimed drama Oslo, August 31st. With that gap between his previous and current feature in mind, take this report from Cineuropa (via Twitch) as good news — they say that he’s almost finished writing his next film, Louder Than Bombs, with frequent collaborator Eskil Vogt. Norwegian producer Sigve Endresen will move forward with Bona Fide Productions.

More interesting — for myself — is the mention that Bombs will be his first English-language feature. The jump from native tongue to English isn’t a big deal for a lot of foreign filmmakers — it’s expected of many nowadays, even — but this will only be his third feature. Kind of soon, no? And, what’s more, this was supposed to be the follow-up to his first film,...

While Joachim Trier made audiences wait five years between his debut feature, Reprise, and his sophomore effort, Oslo August 31, the wait won't be nearly as long for his third effort.Trier is planning a Norwegian-American co-production titled Louder Than Bombs. Co-writter by Trier and his regular writing partner Eskil Vogt, the film was initially intended to be Trier's second film but when production was delayed he moved on to Oslo instead. Though plot details are being kept under wraps the plan is to shoot the film in American in the autumn....

The British playwright and screenwriter who inspired songs by the Beatles and The Smiths has died.

Shelagh Delaney was 71.

The writer's image appears on The Smiths Louder Than Bombs compilation and frontman Morrissey has often paid tribute to her in the lyrics and titles of his songs - The Smiths' song This Night Has Opened My Eyes reimagines Delaney's first play, A Taste Of Honey, which became a cult film starring Rita Tushingham.

The Beatles were such big fans of Delaney and A Taste Of Honey they recorded their own version of the theme for the 1961 film.

A stylistic departure from his breakout international debut film Reprise, Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31st is a mature sophomore effort knee deep in the search for the meaning and purpose of life in contemporary Norway. With a stunningly well-calibrated and nuanced performance from his muse Anders Danielsen Lie, viewers are treated to a dawn till sundown journey of a just released former drug addict who during the last day of summer makes unsuccessful small attempts at regaining his footing among friends and navigating the social norms that society has built for protection. But is this protagonist truly doomed or is the structure around him prolonging its inevitable destruction? Currently working on several scripts including a U.S-based, English-language family drama with spurts of comedy entitled Louder than Bombs, Joachim Trier returns to the Toronto Int. Film Festival with a titled film that is one week film and which was...

Achievements. They make your heart go pitter-patter when you see them become unlocked through play. Rest easy, fellow gamer, the achievement list for Green Day: Rock Band has been unveiled, and you too can become enamored with the love of unlocking these sacred items of gaming history. It’s a good bet that these achievements will double as the trophies for PS3 gamers, so nobody’s getting left out.

You Had the Time of Your Life — Five-star every song in Green Day: Rock Band with any instrument. 50G We’ve Come So Far — Earn at least 3 stars on all songs in Green Day: Rock Band with any instrument. 25G It All Keeps Adding Up — Score 1,000,000 points in a single song. 20G I Threw My Crutches in the River — Earn at least 3 stars on any song in Expert difficulty. 15G Hysteria, Mass Hysteria! — Get a Unison Bonus on...

Chicago – We’re back with our look at week two of the The 12th Annual EU Film Festival at the Siskel Film Center, one of the best film events of the year in the Windy City. If you missed part one and want to relive the best of the first seven days of the fest, check it out here. On to week two…

This year’s edition, running from March 6th to April 2nd, includes high profile films from world renowned filmmakers like Peter Greenaway, Francois Ozon, Agnes Varda, Nicholas Roeg, Shane Meadows, Olga Malea, and Olivier Assayas, along with some movies that probably won’t be seen outside of the EU in the Windy City.

The 12th Annual European Union Film Festival includes 59 feature films, all of which are making their Chicago premiere. If you’re interested in seeing something off the beaten path, the EU is the fest for you.