When Greta Gerwig’s already-lauded “Lady Bird” hits limited release later this week, the actress-writer-director will join a long line of other female filmmakers who used their directorial debut (this one is Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, just for clarity’s sake) to not only launch their careers, but make a huge mark while doing it. Gerwig’s Saoirse Ronan-starring coming-of-age tale is an instant classic, and one that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who has enjoyed Gerwig’s charming work as a screenwriter in recent years, bolstered by her ear for dialogue and her love of complicated and complex leading ladies.
While Hollywood still lags when it comes to offering up opportunities to its most talented female filmmakers, many of them have overcome the dismal stats to deliver compelling, interesting, and unique first features. In short, they’re good filmmakers who made good movies,...
While Hollywood still lags when it comes to offering up opportunities to its most talented female filmmakers, many of them have overcome the dismal stats to deliver compelling, interesting, and unique first features. In short, they’re good filmmakers who made good movies,...
- 11/1/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Here’s the thing: The idea of a “strong female character” is not a moral determination. Katniss Everdeen, protagonist of the “Hunger Games” saga, may be a strong female character, but that’s not because she’s a hero — it’s not because she’s possessed with an infallible sense of virtue and a Christ-like selflessness that defies any reasonable human standard. By the same token, slathering Scarlett Johansson in spandex and having her fight alongside Iron Man doesn’t make Black Widow a strong female character either, no matter how many asses she kicks.
The strength of a role has nothing to do with decency, and everything to do with depth.
What makes “Equity” such a vital feminist film, even when its other qualities are often few and far between, is how defiantly it internalizes that idea. At a time when someone can be a mother and a professional (or,...
The strength of a role has nothing to do with decency, and everything to do with depth.
What makes “Equity” such a vital feminist film, even when its other qualities are often few and far between, is how defiantly it internalizes that idea. At a time when someone can be a mother and a professional (or,...
- 7/29/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
When producers Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas cooked up the idea to make the first female-driven Wall Street movie, their mandate for the feature was clear: It would be written by female screenwriter, directed by a female director and lead by a very strong female cast. The duo put years of work into researching the feature, shoring up investors and making sure that what would become “Equity” retained their original vision from top to bottom.
The film follows hard-driving investment banker Naomi Bishop (Anna Gunn) as she embarks on the biggest deal of her career – shepherding a rising Silicon Valley company that smacks of Facebook and Snapchat to its initial public offering – a task she’s made her speciality during a mostly successful career. Burnt by a previous deal that went awry and newly passed over for a major promotion, Naomi is dedicated to doing her job flawlessly. But...
The film follows hard-driving investment banker Naomi Bishop (Anna Gunn) as she embarks on the biggest deal of her career – shepherding a rising Silicon Valley company that smacks of Facebook and Snapchat to its initial public offering – a task she’s made her speciality during a mostly successful career. Burnt by a previous deal that went awry and newly passed over for a major promotion, Naomi is dedicated to doing her job flawlessly. But...
- 7/29/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Greed is God: Menon Crafts Terse, Uneven Femme-Centric Wall Street Noir
Meera Menon follows up her 2013 road-trip comedy Farah Goes Bang with a low-fi neo noir, Equity, a thriller which often seems to get lost in its marketing thrust as the “first female driven Wall Street movie.” Such distinctions often lends material a false sense of heightened expectation or originality (such as something like “the first gay horror movie” yoking 2004’s Hellbent), as is the case here with a narrative concerning a seasoned senior investment banker irrevocably tarnished by the type of financial scandal she’s seen sink countless male counterparts.
Continue reading...
Meera Menon follows up her 2013 road-trip comedy Farah Goes Bang with a low-fi neo noir, Equity, a thriller which often seems to get lost in its marketing thrust as the “first female driven Wall Street movie.” Such distinctions often lends material a false sense of heightened expectation or originality (such as something like “the first gay horror movie” yoking 2004’s Hellbent), as is the case here with a narrative concerning a seasoned senior investment banker irrevocably tarnished by the type of financial scandal she’s seen sink countless male counterparts.
Continue reading...
- 7/27/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
My second trip to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah promises to be much colder, though no less exciting than last year’s unseasonably-warm introduction. You could barely hear yourself think over the constant roar of snow cannons trying to preserve the anemic ski slopes. This year finds a return to freezing temperatures and the emergence of female directors. Over 40 feature films are helmed by women.
My personal approach to this year’s festival will be to focus on diversity. Rather than plunging into one particular Section, I will sample generously from each, with no regard to the obscurity of the title. Last year’s Next Section, for example, produce three of my favorite films of 2015, including H., James White, and Tangerine. With that in mind, here are my 10 most anticipated films from Sundance 2016.
The Lure
Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska
Section: World Dramatic Competition
What to make of a film that promises mermaids,...
My personal approach to this year’s festival will be to focus on diversity. Rather than plunging into one particular Section, I will sample generously from each, with no regard to the obscurity of the title. Last year’s Next Section, for example, produce three of my favorite films of 2015, including H., James White, and Tangerine. With that in mind, here are my 10 most anticipated films from Sundance 2016.
The Lure
Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska
Section: World Dramatic Competition
What to make of a film that promises mermaids,...
- 1/14/2016
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
There’s a metaphor I like to use about what I see as my feminist imperative in filmmaking: our culture tells women that there are only so many rungs on the ladder for us, wrongly framing female ambition as a zero-sum game, encouraging us to knock each other down in order to ascend. My every cell has always rejected that premise, and never more than now: because I’ve spent the last five years building a new ladder with some of the most incredible women I know. That ladder is a feature film called "Farah Goes Bang," distributed in partnership with a company called Seed&Spark, and as a proliferation of women-led ventures, we’re here to recruit you. As a writer, producer, and general mover and shaker, I often feel like about 70% of my email traffic exists somewhere in the favor economy: a friend asking me for an introduction to another friend,...
- 4/10/2015
- by Laura Goode
- Thompson on Hollywood
Impeach My Bush: Menon’s Debut a Spirited Period Road Trip
Exploring a provocative dark chapter in the voting tendencies of the United States general public by revisiting the 2004 presidential elections, where incumbent George W. Bush defeated Senator John Kerry for a second term, director Meera Menon’s debut, Farah Goes Bang is clearly not meant to appease denizens of those red states. Instead, it perhaps recalls a distinct moment in time for those that valiantly fought against a tide of regression to support an unlikely candidate, as seen through the eyes of a woman of Iranian heritage on a spirited road trip to garner last minute votes in the swing state of Ohio. Much more than a mere political statement, Menon crafts a low-key character arc around an impressionable two week period that feels much less detrimental in retrospect.
Three friends drop what they’re doing to go on...
Exploring a provocative dark chapter in the voting tendencies of the United States general public by revisiting the 2004 presidential elections, where incumbent George W. Bush defeated Senator John Kerry for a second term, director Meera Menon’s debut, Farah Goes Bang is clearly not meant to appease denizens of those red states. Instead, it perhaps recalls a distinct moment in time for those that valiantly fought against a tide of regression to support an unlikely candidate, as seen through the eyes of a woman of Iranian heritage on a spirited road trip to garner last minute votes in the swing state of Ohio. Much more than a mere political statement, Menon crafts a low-key character arc around an impressionable two week period that feels much less detrimental in retrospect.
Three friends drop what they’re doing to go on...
- 4/9/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Currently in set up mode with her sophomore feature, after having premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and winning the inaugural Nora Ephron Award, Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang finally drops on iTunes and VOD next week (April 10th). Set during the pre 2014 United States presidential election era, Nikohl Boosheri (of Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance fame) stars in the titular role of Farah. In the exclusive clip below, she meets an enlightened Walter (Lyman Ward) who offers philosophical front porch insight on family, lineage and hope.
- 4/2/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Summer blockbuster season is just around the corner, but there's no need to wait until then to see a great movie. April brings us a wide variety of women-centric projects, as well as quite a few films helmed and/or written by women.
The month starts off with "Woman in Gold," starring Helen Mirren as a Jewish woman on a journey to recover her family's heirlooms, which was stolen by the Nazis. It's based on a true story, and Mirren roots the film with her powerful presence. "Closer to the Moon" is another WWII-era drama set for an April release, this one based on the crime capers of a group of Jewish resistance fighters a few years after the end of the war. "Marie's Story" is another period piece, centering around the efforts of a 19th-century nun to help a girl born blind and deaf.
There are a few more women-focused dramas being released in April, including the much-buzzed "Clouds of Sils Maria," which garnered Kristen Stewart the prestigious Cesar Award for supporting actress. Stewart has made waves for being the first American actress to win the French award, and the film looks to capitalize on that with its American release. “Félix & Meira" is another award-winner coming out this month. The Best Canadian Feature from the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival aims to make its mark with the story of an unconventional and radical love affair, one that reaches across racial and religious lines. "About Elly" also confronts cultural biases with its depiction of Iran's upper middle class.
"Effie Gray" tackles the sexual politics of the Victorian era, and with a screenplay from Emma Thompson, it's sure to be intriguing as well as quick-witted. Speaking of intriguing, "The Age of Adaline" follows a woman who mysteriously stopped aging eight decades ago. Blake Lively centers the film as Adaline, struggling with love and trust and all the other things that might follow when one lives seemingly forever.
Courteney Cox makes her big-screen directorial debut (the actress has previously directed episodes of "Cougar Town," which she stars in) with "Just Before I Go," and screenwiter Gren Wells makes hers as well with "The Road Within." Director Mia Hansen-løve ("Goodbye First Love") directs Greta Gerwig in "Eden," a look at the rise of French electronic music in the 90s.
The month will also see the release of a few very different documentaries. "The Hand That Feeds" focuses on undocumented immigrants struggling to form an independent union, while "Iris" follows 93-year-old Iris Apfel, a flamboyant New York City fashion icon. "Antarctic Edge: 70° South" is focused on the changing climate of the Antarctic's Peninsula and was made with the collaboration of Rutgers University students and scientists.
We'll also see comedic projects featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Alex of Venice") and Rose Byrne ("Adult Beginners"). Nia Vardalos returns to the screen with a role in "Helicopter Mom," which promises an outrageous performance from the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star. "Sweet Lorraine" and "Farah Goes Bang" round out the women-centric comedy offerings of the month.
Here are all the women-centric films opening in the month of April. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
April 1
Woman in Gold
"Woman in Gold" is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle, which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
April 3
The Hand That Feeds (doc) - Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Lears
At a popular bakery café, residents of New York’s Upper East Side get bagels and coffee served with a smile 24 hours a day. But behind the scenes, undocumented immigrant workers face sub-legal wages, dangerous machinery, and abusive managers who will fire them for calling in sick. Mild-mannered sandwich maker Mahoma López has never been interested in politics, but in January 2012 he convinces a small group of his co-workers to fight back.
Risking deportation and the loss of their livelihood, the workers team up with a diverse crew of innovative young organizers and take the unusual step of forming their own independent union, launching themselves on a journey that will test the limits of their resolve. In one roller-coaster year, they must overcome a shocking betrayal and a two-month lockout. Lawyers will battle in back rooms, Occupy Wall Street protesters will take over the restaurant, and a picket line will divide the neighborhood. If they can win a contract, it will set a historic precedent for low-wage workers across the country. But whatever happens, Mahoma and his coworkers will never be exploited again.
Effie Gray - Written by Emma Thompson
In her original screenplay “Effie Gray,” Emma Thompson takes a bold look at the real-life story of the Effie Gray-John Ruskin marriage, while courageously exposing what was truly hiding behind the veil of their public life. Set in a time when neither divorce nor gay marriage were an option, “Effie Gray” is the story of a young woman (Dakota Fanning) coming of age and finding her own voice in a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard. “Effie Gray” explores the roots of sexual intolerance, which continue to have a stronghold today, while shedding light on the marital politics of the Victorian era.
April 8
About Elly
As with director Asghar Farhadi's better-known films, “About Elly” concerns the affluent, well-educated, cultured, and only marginally religious members of Iran's upper-middle class. Elly (Taraneh Alidoosti), a pretty young woman invited as a possible romantic interest for one of the newly single men among this group, disappears suddenly without a trace. The festive atmosphere quickly turns frantic as friends accuse one another of responsibility. Plot-wise, Farhadi's drama has been compared to “L’Avventura”; but the film is less concerned with Elly's disappearance per se than with exploring the intricate mechanisms of deceit, brutality, and betrayal which come into play when ordinary circumstances take a tragic turn.
April 10
Clouds of Sils Maria
At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then, she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria; a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloë Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.
The Sisterhood of Night - Directed by Caryn Waechter and Written by Marilyn Fu
Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser, "The Sisterhood of Night" is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods. The tale begins when Emily Parris (Kara Hayward) exposes a secret society of teenage girls. Accusing them of committing sexually deviant acts, Emily’s allegations throw their small American town into the national media spotlight. The mystery deepens when each of the accused takes a vow of silence. What follows is a chronicle of three girls’ unique and provocative alternative to the loneliness of adolescence, revealing the tragedy and humor of teenage years changed forever by the Internet age.
Farah Goes Bang - Directed by Meera Menon, Written by Laura Goode and Meera Menon
A road-trip comedy that centers on Farah (Nikohl Boosheri), a twenty-something woman who tries to lose her virginity while campaigning for John Kerry in 2004. Farah and her friends K.J. and Roopa follow the campaign trail to Ohio, seizing this charged moment in their lives and the life of their country.
April 17
Closer to the Moon
Set in 1959 Bucharest, “Closer to the Moon” opens as the crime is hatched and executed by old friends from the WWII Jewish Resistance, who seek to recapture the excitement of their glory days. Led by a chief police inspector (Mark Strong) and a political academic (Vera Farmiga), the quintet also includes a respected history professor (Christian McKay), a hotshot reporter (Joe Armstrong), and a space scientist (Tim Plester). Their postwar influence fading amid an ongoing Stalinist purge of Jews and intellectuals, the disillusioned gang retaliates by hijacking a van delivering cash to the Romanian National Bank, staging the robbery to make it look like a movie shoot. Caught and convicted in a kangaroo court, the culprits, with help from an eyewitness (Harry Lloyd) to the robbery, are forced to reenact their crime in a devious anti-Semitic propaganda film.
Felix & Meira
Winner of Best Canadian Feature at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, “Félix & Meira” is the story of an unconventional romance between two people living vastly different realities mere blocks away from one another. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother, and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a Secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal's Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira's eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix.
Alex of Venice - Co-Written by Jessica Goldberg and Katie Nehra
In “Alex of Venice,” workaholic environmental attorney Alex Vedder (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Chris Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Don Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Katie Nehra), and an extremely shy son (Skylar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to lean on. Realizing she will thrive with or without her husband, Alex discovers her hidden vulnerability as well as her inner strength as she fights to keep her family intact in the midst of the most demanding and important case of her career.
Cas & Dylan - Written by Jessie Gabe
When 61-year-old self-proclaimed loner and terminally ill Dr. Cas Pepper (Richard Dreyfuss) reluctantly agrees to give 22-year-old social misfit Dyland Morgan (Tatiana Maslany) a very short lift home, the last thing he anticipates is that he will strike her angry boyfriend with his car, find himself on the lam, and ultimately drive across the country with an aspiring young writer determined to help him overcome his own bizarre case of suicide-note writer's block. But as fate would have it, that is exactly what happens. Suddenly Cas's solo one-way trip out West isn't so solo. With Dylan at his side, the two take off on an adventure that will open their eyes to some of life's lessons -- both big and small.
Antarctic Edge: 70° South (doc) - Directed by Dena Seidel
Dena Seidel’s documentary not only offers rare, beautifully shot footage of West Antarctic Pennisula's rapidly changing environment, studying the connections that reveal the concrete impact of climate change; it is also a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Rutgers University Film Bureau and the Rutgers Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and contains interviews and insights from some of the world’s leading ocean researchers. It is a fascinating look at their life’s work trying to understand how to maintain our planet.
The Road Within - Written and Directed by Gren Wells
Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, faces drastic changes after his mother dies. Because his politician father is too ashamed of the disorder to have Vincent accompany him on the campaign, Vincent is shuttled off to an unconventional clinic. There he finds unexpected community with an obsessive-compulsive roommate and an anorexic young woman, and romance eventually -- and uneasily -- follows.
One of Variety's "10 Directors to Watch," screenwriter Gren Wells makes her directorial debut with this ambitious yet light-hearted coming-of-age tale about the potent medicine we all carry within ourselves. The film is packed with a talented ensemble, from emerging talents Zoë Kravitz, Dev Patel, and Sheehan to beloved veterans Kyra Sedgwick and Robert Patrick.
April 23
Sweet Lorraine
The double life of a Methodist minister's wife (played by Tatum O'Neal) catches up to her, as her husband campaigns for mayor in a small New Jersey town.
April 24
Just Before I Go - Directed by Courtney Cox
Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) has been treading water for most of his life. After his wife leaves him, Ted realizes he has nothing left to live for. Summoning the courage for one last act, Ted decides to go home and face the people he feels are responsible for creating the shell of a person he has become. But life is tricky. The more determined Ted is to confront his demons, to get closure, and to withdraw from his family, the more Ted is yanked into the chaos of their lives. So, when Ted Morgan decides to kill himself, he finds a reason to live.
The Age of Adaline
After miraculously remaining 29-years-old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.
Adult Beginners - Co-Written by Liz Flahive (Simultaneously releasing to VOD)
A young, hipster entrepreneur (Nick Kroll) crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s big launch. With his entire life in disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister (Rose Byrne), brother-in-law (Bobby Cannavale), and three-year-old nephew in the suburbs – only to become their manny. Faced with real responsibility, he may finally have to grow up – but not without some bad behavior first.
Eden - Directed and Co-Written by Mia Hansen-løve
The film follows the life of a French DJ who's credited with inventing "French house" or the "French touch," a type of French electronic music that became popular in the 1990s. Greta Gerwig costars. (IMDb)
24 Days - Co-Written by Emilie Frèche
January 20, 2006: After dinner with his family, Ilan Halimi (Syrus Shahidi) gets a call from a beautiful girl who had approached him at work and makes plans to meet her for coffee. Ilan didn't suspect a thing. He was 23 and had his whole life ahead of him. The next time Ilan's family heard from him was through a cryptic online message from kidnappers demanding a ransom in exchange for their son's life. (IMDb)
Helicopter Mom - Directed by Salomé Breziner
An overbearing mom (Nia Vardalos) decides that college would be more affordable if her son were to win an Lgbt scholarship, so she outs him to his entire high school. However, he might not be gay. (Rotten Tomatoes)
April 29
Iris (doc) (Opening in New York City)
"Iris" pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris' dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. "Iris" portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art, and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression.
April 30
Marie’s Story
At the turn of the 19th century, a humble artisan and his wife have a daughter, Marie (Ariana Rivoire), who is born deaf and blind and unable to communicate with the world around her. Desperate to find a connection to their daughter and avoid sending her to an asylum, the Heurtins send fourteen-year-old Marie to the Larnay Institute in central France, where an order of Catholic nuns manage a school for deaf girls. There, the idealistic Sister Marguerite (Isabelle Carré) sees in Marie a unique potential, and despite her Mother Superior's (Brigitte Catillon) skepticism, vows to bring the wild young thing out of the darkness into which she was born. Based on true events, “Marie's Story” recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love. (Film Movement)...
The month starts off with "Woman in Gold," starring Helen Mirren as a Jewish woman on a journey to recover her family's heirlooms, which was stolen by the Nazis. It's based on a true story, and Mirren roots the film with her powerful presence. "Closer to the Moon" is another WWII-era drama set for an April release, this one based on the crime capers of a group of Jewish resistance fighters a few years after the end of the war. "Marie's Story" is another period piece, centering around the efforts of a 19th-century nun to help a girl born blind and deaf.
There are a few more women-focused dramas being released in April, including the much-buzzed "Clouds of Sils Maria," which garnered Kristen Stewart the prestigious Cesar Award for supporting actress. Stewart has made waves for being the first American actress to win the French award, and the film looks to capitalize on that with its American release. “Félix & Meira" is another award-winner coming out this month. The Best Canadian Feature from the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival aims to make its mark with the story of an unconventional and radical love affair, one that reaches across racial and religious lines. "About Elly" also confronts cultural biases with its depiction of Iran's upper middle class.
"Effie Gray" tackles the sexual politics of the Victorian era, and with a screenplay from Emma Thompson, it's sure to be intriguing as well as quick-witted. Speaking of intriguing, "The Age of Adaline" follows a woman who mysteriously stopped aging eight decades ago. Blake Lively centers the film as Adaline, struggling with love and trust and all the other things that might follow when one lives seemingly forever.
Courteney Cox makes her big-screen directorial debut (the actress has previously directed episodes of "Cougar Town," which she stars in) with "Just Before I Go," and screenwiter Gren Wells makes hers as well with "The Road Within." Director Mia Hansen-løve ("Goodbye First Love") directs Greta Gerwig in "Eden," a look at the rise of French electronic music in the 90s.
The month will also see the release of a few very different documentaries. "The Hand That Feeds" focuses on undocumented immigrants struggling to form an independent union, while "Iris" follows 93-year-old Iris Apfel, a flamboyant New York City fashion icon. "Antarctic Edge: 70° South" is focused on the changing climate of the Antarctic's Peninsula and was made with the collaboration of Rutgers University students and scientists.
We'll also see comedic projects featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Alex of Venice") and Rose Byrne ("Adult Beginners"). Nia Vardalos returns to the screen with a role in "Helicopter Mom," which promises an outrageous performance from the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star. "Sweet Lorraine" and "Farah Goes Bang" round out the women-centric comedy offerings of the month.
Here are all the women-centric films opening in the month of April. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
April 1
Woman in Gold
"Woman in Gold" is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle, which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
April 3
The Hand That Feeds (doc) - Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Lears
At a popular bakery café, residents of New York’s Upper East Side get bagels and coffee served with a smile 24 hours a day. But behind the scenes, undocumented immigrant workers face sub-legal wages, dangerous machinery, and abusive managers who will fire them for calling in sick. Mild-mannered sandwich maker Mahoma López has never been interested in politics, but in January 2012 he convinces a small group of his co-workers to fight back.
Risking deportation and the loss of their livelihood, the workers team up with a diverse crew of innovative young organizers and take the unusual step of forming their own independent union, launching themselves on a journey that will test the limits of their resolve. In one roller-coaster year, they must overcome a shocking betrayal and a two-month lockout. Lawyers will battle in back rooms, Occupy Wall Street protesters will take over the restaurant, and a picket line will divide the neighborhood. If they can win a contract, it will set a historic precedent for low-wage workers across the country. But whatever happens, Mahoma and his coworkers will never be exploited again.
Effie Gray - Written by Emma Thompson
In her original screenplay “Effie Gray,” Emma Thompson takes a bold look at the real-life story of the Effie Gray-John Ruskin marriage, while courageously exposing what was truly hiding behind the veil of their public life. Set in a time when neither divorce nor gay marriage were an option, “Effie Gray” is the story of a young woman (Dakota Fanning) coming of age and finding her own voice in a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard. “Effie Gray” explores the roots of sexual intolerance, which continue to have a stronghold today, while shedding light on the marital politics of the Victorian era.
April 8
About Elly
As with director Asghar Farhadi's better-known films, “About Elly” concerns the affluent, well-educated, cultured, and only marginally religious members of Iran's upper-middle class. Elly (Taraneh Alidoosti), a pretty young woman invited as a possible romantic interest for one of the newly single men among this group, disappears suddenly without a trace. The festive atmosphere quickly turns frantic as friends accuse one another of responsibility. Plot-wise, Farhadi's drama has been compared to “L’Avventura”; but the film is less concerned with Elly's disappearance per se than with exploring the intricate mechanisms of deceit, brutality, and betrayal which come into play when ordinary circumstances take a tragic turn.
April 10
Clouds of Sils Maria
At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then, she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria; a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloë Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.
The Sisterhood of Night - Directed by Caryn Waechter and Written by Marilyn Fu
Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser, "The Sisterhood of Night" is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods. The tale begins when Emily Parris (Kara Hayward) exposes a secret society of teenage girls. Accusing them of committing sexually deviant acts, Emily’s allegations throw their small American town into the national media spotlight. The mystery deepens when each of the accused takes a vow of silence. What follows is a chronicle of three girls’ unique and provocative alternative to the loneliness of adolescence, revealing the tragedy and humor of teenage years changed forever by the Internet age.
Farah Goes Bang - Directed by Meera Menon, Written by Laura Goode and Meera Menon
A road-trip comedy that centers on Farah (Nikohl Boosheri), a twenty-something woman who tries to lose her virginity while campaigning for John Kerry in 2004. Farah and her friends K.J. and Roopa follow the campaign trail to Ohio, seizing this charged moment in their lives and the life of their country.
April 17
Closer to the Moon
Set in 1959 Bucharest, “Closer to the Moon” opens as the crime is hatched and executed by old friends from the WWII Jewish Resistance, who seek to recapture the excitement of their glory days. Led by a chief police inspector (Mark Strong) and a political academic (Vera Farmiga), the quintet also includes a respected history professor (Christian McKay), a hotshot reporter (Joe Armstrong), and a space scientist (Tim Plester). Their postwar influence fading amid an ongoing Stalinist purge of Jews and intellectuals, the disillusioned gang retaliates by hijacking a van delivering cash to the Romanian National Bank, staging the robbery to make it look like a movie shoot. Caught and convicted in a kangaroo court, the culprits, with help from an eyewitness (Harry Lloyd) to the robbery, are forced to reenact their crime in a devious anti-Semitic propaganda film.
Felix & Meira
Winner of Best Canadian Feature at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, “Félix & Meira” is the story of an unconventional romance between two people living vastly different realities mere blocks away from one another. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother, and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a Secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal's Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira's eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix.
Alex of Venice - Co-Written by Jessica Goldberg and Katie Nehra
In “Alex of Venice,” workaholic environmental attorney Alex Vedder (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Chris Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Dealing with an aging father (Don Johnson) who still aspires to succeed as an actor, an eccentric sister (Katie Nehra), and an extremely shy son (Skylar Gaertner), Alex is bombarded with everything from the mundane to hilariously catastrophic events without a shoulder to lean on. Realizing she will thrive with or without her husband, Alex discovers her hidden vulnerability as well as her inner strength as she fights to keep her family intact in the midst of the most demanding and important case of her career.
Cas & Dylan - Written by Jessie Gabe
When 61-year-old self-proclaimed loner and terminally ill Dr. Cas Pepper (Richard Dreyfuss) reluctantly agrees to give 22-year-old social misfit Dyland Morgan (Tatiana Maslany) a very short lift home, the last thing he anticipates is that he will strike her angry boyfriend with his car, find himself on the lam, and ultimately drive across the country with an aspiring young writer determined to help him overcome his own bizarre case of suicide-note writer's block. But as fate would have it, that is exactly what happens. Suddenly Cas's solo one-way trip out West isn't so solo. With Dylan at his side, the two take off on an adventure that will open their eyes to some of life's lessons -- both big and small.
Antarctic Edge: 70° South (doc) - Directed by Dena Seidel
Dena Seidel’s documentary not only offers rare, beautifully shot footage of West Antarctic Pennisula's rapidly changing environment, studying the connections that reveal the concrete impact of climate change; it is also a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Rutgers University Film Bureau and the Rutgers Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and contains interviews and insights from some of the world’s leading ocean researchers. It is a fascinating look at their life’s work trying to understand how to maintain our planet.
The Road Within - Written and Directed by Gren Wells
Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, faces drastic changes after his mother dies. Because his politician father is too ashamed of the disorder to have Vincent accompany him on the campaign, Vincent is shuttled off to an unconventional clinic. There he finds unexpected community with an obsessive-compulsive roommate and an anorexic young woman, and romance eventually -- and uneasily -- follows.
One of Variety's "10 Directors to Watch," screenwriter Gren Wells makes her directorial debut with this ambitious yet light-hearted coming-of-age tale about the potent medicine we all carry within ourselves. The film is packed with a talented ensemble, from emerging talents Zoë Kravitz, Dev Patel, and Sheehan to beloved veterans Kyra Sedgwick and Robert Patrick.
April 23
Sweet Lorraine
The double life of a Methodist minister's wife (played by Tatum O'Neal) catches up to her, as her husband campaigns for mayor in a small New Jersey town.
April 24
Just Before I Go - Directed by Courtney Cox
Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) has been treading water for most of his life. After his wife leaves him, Ted realizes he has nothing left to live for. Summoning the courage for one last act, Ted decides to go home and face the people he feels are responsible for creating the shell of a person he has become. But life is tricky. The more determined Ted is to confront his demons, to get closure, and to withdraw from his family, the more Ted is yanked into the chaos of their lives. So, when Ted Morgan decides to kill himself, he finds a reason to live.
The Age of Adaline
After miraculously remaining 29-years-old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.
Adult Beginners - Co-Written by Liz Flahive (Simultaneously releasing to VOD)
A young, hipster entrepreneur (Nick Kroll) crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s big launch. With his entire life in disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister (Rose Byrne), brother-in-law (Bobby Cannavale), and three-year-old nephew in the suburbs – only to become their manny. Faced with real responsibility, he may finally have to grow up – but not without some bad behavior first.
Eden - Directed and Co-Written by Mia Hansen-løve
The film follows the life of a French DJ who's credited with inventing "French house" or the "French touch," a type of French electronic music that became popular in the 1990s. Greta Gerwig costars. (IMDb)
24 Days - Co-Written by Emilie Frèche
January 20, 2006: After dinner with his family, Ilan Halimi (Syrus Shahidi) gets a call from a beautiful girl who had approached him at work and makes plans to meet her for coffee. Ilan didn't suspect a thing. He was 23 and had his whole life ahead of him. The next time Ilan's family heard from him was through a cryptic online message from kidnappers demanding a ransom in exchange for their son's life. (IMDb)
Helicopter Mom - Directed by Salomé Breziner
An overbearing mom (Nia Vardalos) decides that college would be more affordable if her son were to win an Lgbt scholarship, so she outs him to his entire high school. However, he might not be gay. (Rotten Tomatoes)
April 29
Iris (doc) (Opening in New York City)
"Iris" pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris' dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. "Iris" portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art, and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression.
April 30
Marie’s Story
At the turn of the 19th century, a humble artisan and his wife have a daughter, Marie (Ariana Rivoire), who is born deaf and blind and unable to communicate with the world around her. Desperate to find a connection to their daughter and avoid sending her to an asylum, the Heurtins send fourteen-year-old Marie to the Larnay Institute in central France, where an order of Catholic nuns manage a school for deaf girls. There, the idealistic Sister Marguerite (Isabelle Carré) sees in Marie a unique potential, and despite her Mother Superior's (Brigitte Catillon) skepticism, vows to bring the wild young thing out of the darkness into which she was born. Based on true events, “Marie's Story” recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love. (Film Movement)...
- 4/1/2015
- by Tory Kamen and Becca Rose
- Sydney's Buzz
Read More: Watch: Exclusive Trailer for 'Farah Goes Bang' Has Double Entendres to Spare The first time is always an awkward and clumsy moment, so it seems Farah (Nikohl Boosheri) is just like the rest of us when it comes to taking this very big first step. In the exclusive clip from "Farah Goes Bang" above, the eponymous twentysomething can't quite set the mood during one of her many attempts to lose her pesky virginity. Directed and co-written Meera Menon, the film follows Farah and her two best friends, hotheaded Kj (Kandis Erickson) and political junkie Roopa (Kiran Deol), as they road trip across Ohio while campaigning door-to-door for John Kerry. While the crux of their journey is for politics, the three embark on the ultimate quest to kick Farah's virginity to the curb. Michael Steger, Lyman Ward, Samrat Chakrabarti and Kate French also star. The comedy-drama won...
- 3/27/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Under their newly minted Broad Street Pictures label, Sarah Megan Thomas and Alysia Reiner will both star in and produce Equity, the sophomore feature from up-and-comer helmer Meera Menon. Variety reports that this first foray, billed as a female in power suits take of Wall Street, will begin lensing in New York and Philadelphia in July. After premiering at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival, Menon will see her feature, award-winning debut Farah Goes Bang receive its theatrical release next month.
Gist: Written by Amy Fox, this follows an investment banker who is threatened by a financial scandal and must untangle a web of corruption.
Worth Noting: Coming from a film background, Menon has worked as a curator for contemporary film and video art festivals in Paris, Miami, and New York.
Do We Care?: Among the buzz title items at TriBeCa Film Fest circa 2013, THR described her road movie debut as...
Gist: Written by Amy Fox, this follows an investment banker who is threatened by a financial scandal and must untangle a web of corruption.
Worth Noting: Coming from a film background, Menon has worked as a curator for contemporary film and video art festivals in Paris, Miami, and New York.
Do We Care?: Among the buzz title items at TriBeCa Film Fest circa 2013, THR described her road movie debut as...
- 3/19/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Set during the 2004 John Kerry presidential campaign, the Meera Menon-written and directed "Farah Goes Bang" follows three young women as they road trip their way through the swing states. It's a sweetly nostalgic period piece/charming road movie, with a healthy dose of coming of age thrown in. The title holds as much humorous double entendre as the rest of the film, which includes Farah's taunting friends shouting puns like, "Get your bush out of office!" As distributor Seed & Spark's first film, "Farah Goes Bang" is already creating quite the stir: It nabbed the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, which makes it a must-watch. Any film that has a symbolic posthumous stamp of approval from Ephron must be something special. "Farah Goes Bang" will be available on iTunes, Vimeo and other VOD platforms on April 10. Check out the exclusive new trailer and poster below for a sneak peek.
- 2/24/2015
- by Rosie Narasaki
- Indiewire
Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage resumed for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world (during and after the festival) and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.
Angel Grace Productions is based in Los Angeles, and was created with over night inspiration by Michael Fister, who has 22 years of experience in the film industry. His interest in international film sales and distribution is also influenced by his experience growing up around the world.
The Angel Grace VP of Acquisitions Linda Posivak notes, "One thing that sets Michael apart from many, is that it's not just a job. It's his passion. He knows in his heart that this is where he should be. He feels and breathes it. It's more than just a job to him."
Michael has kicked off the Angel Grace slate with the Nora Ephron prizewinner "Farah Goes Bang" by Meera Menon, and "Conspiracy of Silence" (by John Deery) starring Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot), and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey). Angel Grace is quickly expanding and will go from acquisitions to productions later this year.
Michael talks about how he started Angel Grace and more about his drive to share meaningful films:
How did you start Angel Grace?
I worked as an executive at ABC and Turner Pictures. I caught the festival and market bug back then, but went on a detour for several years, working on the creative agency side with the studios (doing one sheets and trailers). A few years ago, I realized I was really missing the craziness and excitement of festivals and markets, so I got my toes wet and came back to Cannes. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing.
I've been doing this work through various ways and means, but it was really just less than a year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I needed to do this on my own. Then then one day I just said, "I'm going to Berlin!" Within 24 hours, I had both of my films; 24 hours, I'm not kidding! Obviously, I had met the filmmakers prior (and the films were on my radar) but I just picked up the phone, called them and it all fell into place. It's great, and I'm happy to be here.
Please talk about the Angel Grace slate.
I brought two films to Cannes. One is "Farah Goes Bang", which had just won the Nora Ephron prize at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a fun and sweet "girl road comedy". The girls are best friends, and they're on the road campaigning for John Kerry. Two of the girls are also trying to get the third girl to lose her virginity during the road trip. The fact that it won the esteemed Norah Ephron prize says a lot, and you immediately know that it's not tacky or sleazy. Instead, it's witty, funny and very sweet.
The second film is "Conspiracy of Silence", with Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker, and Hugh Bonneville from Downtown Abbey. It was actually Chris O'Dowd's film debut. It's an older thriller that never got the release it deserved. It partially deals with things that have gone on in the Catholic Church. I had been talking to the director about his newer projects, and then I saw this film as a sample of his work and fell in love with it. It won a National Board of Review Award, and a few nominations at the Irish Film and Television Awards including Best Director. It's a powerful movie that is actually more relevant in today's society than when it was made.
Clearly, I'm not afraid of difficult films!
What do you consider when choosing films for Angel Grace?
I go with my gut feeling when I choose films, and gravitate more toward festival films, which tend to be more director or cast driven. It's really the niche that we'll stay in.
I'm open to most genres; although I'm not interested in things like horror or slasher movies, especially with a name like Angel Grace. I'm open to anything that's good, and I want to put positivity out there through the films that we choose.
Personally and professionally speaking, I tend to lean more towards drama, art house, and poignant films. There are a lot of movies out there at festivals that deserve to be seen. Hopefully, I can help those films that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle--that's when I really feel I’m accomplishing something.
Aside from the business, why do you do this work?
Other than Tribeca, "Farah Goes Bang" has won several other festivals over the past few months. Women in the audience are actually saying they are finding their voice in this movie, and in this character of Farah. That means something, and I think it's important to share films that can impact people's lives like that.
Learn more about the Angel Grace Productions films here.
More about Angel Grace Productions:
Founded in 2013 by veteran film marketing executive Michael Fister, Angel Grace Productions (Agp) acquires and sells all rights with a focus on festival-driven feature films. Our business model is simple: “We only work on films we truly care about.”...
Angel Grace Productions is based in Los Angeles, and was created with over night inspiration by Michael Fister, who has 22 years of experience in the film industry. His interest in international film sales and distribution is also influenced by his experience growing up around the world.
The Angel Grace VP of Acquisitions Linda Posivak notes, "One thing that sets Michael apart from many, is that it's not just a job. It's his passion. He knows in his heart that this is where he should be. He feels and breathes it. It's more than just a job to him."
Michael has kicked off the Angel Grace slate with the Nora Ephron prizewinner "Farah Goes Bang" by Meera Menon, and "Conspiracy of Silence" (by John Deery) starring Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot), and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey). Angel Grace is quickly expanding and will go from acquisitions to productions later this year.
Michael talks about how he started Angel Grace and more about his drive to share meaningful films:
How did you start Angel Grace?
I worked as an executive at ABC and Turner Pictures. I caught the festival and market bug back then, but went on a detour for several years, working on the creative agency side with the studios (doing one sheets and trailers). A few years ago, I realized I was really missing the craziness and excitement of festivals and markets, so I got my toes wet and came back to Cannes. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing.
I've been doing this work through various ways and means, but it was really just less than a year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I needed to do this on my own. Then then one day I just said, "I'm going to Berlin!" Within 24 hours, I had both of my films; 24 hours, I'm not kidding! Obviously, I had met the filmmakers prior (and the films were on my radar) but I just picked up the phone, called them and it all fell into place. It's great, and I'm happy to be here.
Please talk about the Angel Grace slate.
I brought two films to Cannes. One is "Farah Goes Bang", which had just won the Nora Ephron prize at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a fun and sweet "girl road comedy". The girls are best friends, and they're on the road campaigning for John Kerry. Two of the girls are also trying to get the third girl to lose her virginity during the road trip. The fact that it won the esteemed Norah Ephron prize says a lot, and you immediately know that it's not tacky or sleazy. Instead, it's witty, funny and very sweet.
The second film is "Conspiracy of Silence", with Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker, and Hugh Bonneville from Downtown Abbey. It was actually Chris O'Dowd's film debut. It's an older thriller that never got the release it deserved. It partially deals with things that have gone on in the Catholic Church. I had been talking to the director about his newer projects, and then I saw this film as a sample of his work and fell in love with it. It won a National Board of Review Award, and a few nominations at the Irish Film and Television Awards including Best Director. It's a powerful movie that is actually more relevant in today's society than when it was made.
Clearly, I'm not afraid of difficult films!
What do you consider when choosing films for Angel Grace?
I go with my gut feeling when I choose films, and gravitate more toward festival films, which tend to be more director or cast driven. It's really the niche that we'll stay in.
I'm open to most genres; although I'm not interested in things like horror or slasher movies, especially with a name like Angel Grace. I'm open to anything that's good, and I want to put positivity out there through the films that we choose.
Personally and professionally speaking, I tend to lean more towards drama, art house, and poignant films. There are a lot of movies out there at festivals that deserve to be seen. Hopefully, I can help those films that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle--that's when I really feel I’m accomplishing something.
Aside from the business, why do you do this work?
Other than Tribeca, "Farah Goes Bang" has won several other festivals over the past few months. Women in the audience are actually saying they are finding their voice in this movie, and in this character of Farah. That means something, and I think it's important to share films that can impact people's lives like that.
Learn more about the Angel Grace Productions films here.
More about Angel Grace Productions:
Founded in 2013 by veteran film marketing executive Michael Fister, Angel Grace Productions (Agp) acquires and sells all rights with a focus on festival-driven feature films. Our business model is simple: “We only work on films we truly care about.”...
- 6/6/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
Us-based sales agency arrives with a slate including Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang.
Veteran marketing executive Michael Fister [pictured] has launched the Us-based sales agency Angel Grace Productions at the Efm.
Fister, a former Turner Pictures Worldwide and ABC Television network executive, arrives with a slate that includes Meera Menon’s Tribeca 2013 selection Farah Goes Bang.
The film is described as equal parts road movie and buddy comedy, sex farce and ‘chick flick.’ Menon co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Goode and makes her feature directorial debut. Nikohl Boosheri, Kandis Erickson and Kiran Deol star.
John Deery’s 2003 thriller Conspiracy Of Silence stars Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville, Chris O’Dowd and John Lynch.
The drama was developed at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and won the National Board Of Review’s Freedom of Expression Award.
Conspiracy Of Silence is inspired by real events concerning the death of a priest in a small town in Ireland that opens a can of...
Veteran marketing executive Michael Fister [pictured] has launched the Us-based sales agency Angel Grace Productions at the Efm.
Fister, a former Turner Pictures Worldwide and ABC Television network executive, arrives with a slate that includes Meera Menon’s Tribeca 2013 selection Farah Goes Bang.
The film is described as equal parts road movie and buddy comedy, sex farce and ‘chick flick.’ Menon co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Goode and makes her feature directorial debut. Nikohl Boosheri, Kandis Erickson and Kiran Deol star.
John Deery’s 2003 thriller Conspiracy Of Silence stars Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville, Chris O’Dowd and John Lynch.
The drama was developed at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and won the National Board Of Review’s Freedom of Expression Award.
Conspiracy Of Silence is inspired by real events concerning the death of a priest in a small town in Ireland that opens a can of...
- 2/6/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Belle
The 2014 Athena Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of narrative, documentary and short films.
The New York Premiere of Belle, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and directed by Amma Asante, is the Athena Film Festival’s Opening Film, screening on Thursday evening. Decoding Annie Parker, starring Helen Hunt and Samantha Morton and directed by Steven Bernstein, is the festival’s Centerpiece Film, and will be screened on Friday evening. Geraldine Ferraro: Paving The Way, directed by her daughter, Donna Zaccaro, is the festival’s Closing Film, screening on Sunday evening.
The festival honors extraordinary women in the film industry and showcases films that address women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world. Now in its fourth year, the festival runs from Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, February 9 on the Barnard College campus in Morningside Heights. Artemis Rising Foundation is the Founding Sponsor of the Festival.
The Book Thief
Among...
The 2014 Athena Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of narrative, documentary and short films.
The New York Premiere of Belle, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and directed by Amma Asante, is the Athena Film Festival’s Opening Film, screening on Thursday evening. Decoding Annie Parker, starring Helen Hunt and Samantha Morton and directed by Steven Bernstein, is the festival’s Centerpiece Film, and will be screened on Friday evening. Geraldine Ferraro: Paving The Way, directed by her daughter, Donna Zaccaro, is the festival’s Closing Film, screening on Sunday evening.
The festival honors extraordinary women in the film industry and showcases films that address women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world. Now in its fourth year, the festival runs from Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, February 9 on the Barnard College campus in Morningside Heights. Artemis Rising Foundation is the Founding Sponsor of the Festival.
The Book Thief
Among...
- 1/7/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Review by Dana Jung
The year is 2004. Three weeks before the presidential election, Farah (Nikohl Boosheri) leaves Los Angeles with her two best friends K.J. (Kandis Erickson) and Roopa (Kiran Deol) to hit the campaign trail for John Kerry. But there is a lot more going on than political idealism on this cross-country road trip, and all three young women will learn some life lessons before Election Day.
Farah Goes Bang, the funny and sometimes touching new film directed and co-written by Meera Menon, follows the conventions of the typical road movie while also perfectly capturing the sense of disenchantment that much of the country’s youth felt during the war in Iraq. Farah is a first-generation American of Persian heritage. Overly focused (some would say obsessed) with her face and body image, Farah has two main goals at this point in her young life: to help end the war by getting Kerry elected,...
The year is 2004. Three weeks before the presidential election, Farah (Nikohl Boosheri) leaves Los Angeles with her two best friends K.J. (Kandis Erickson) and Roopa (Kiran Deol) to hit the campaign trail for John Kerry. But there is a lot more going on than political idealism on this cross-country road trip, and all three young women will learn some life lessons before Election Day.
Farah Goes Bang, the funny and sometimes touching new film directed and co-written by Meera Menon, follows the conventions of the typical road movie while also perfectly capturing the sense of disenchantment that much of the country’s youth felt during the war in Iraq. Farah is a first-generation American of Persian heritage. Overly focused (some would say obsessed) with her face and body image, Farah has two main goals at this point in her young life: to help end the war by getting Kerry elected,...
- 11/22/2013
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Chicago South Asian Film Festival reveals the film lineup for its fourth annual event to be held between September 20 and 22nd. The festival, to be hosted at the Showplace Icon Theaters and Film Row Cinema at Columbia College will present over 24 films.
The festival will open with the Us premiere of Oass, a portrayal of the injustices faced by the many victims of child trafficking. Directed by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, the film follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she endeavors to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film is Shahid, by director Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap. The biographical piece recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010. The festival will close with the presentation of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair and winner of the Iffi Century Award,...
The festival will open with the Us premiere of Oass, a portrayal of the injustices faced by the many victims of child trafficking. Directed by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, the film follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she endeavors to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film is Shahid, by director Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap. The biographical piece recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010. The festival will close with the presentation of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair and winner of the Iffi Century Award,...
- 8/25/2013
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Still from Oass
Oass (The Dew Drop), a debut feature by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari will open the Chicago South Asian Film Festival that runs from September 20-22, 2013.
The film portrays the injustices faced by the victims of child trafficking. It follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she attempts to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film of the festival is Shahid directed by Hansal Mehta. The film recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010.
The festival will close with the The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair, tells the story of a Pakistani man whose American Dream is threatened by post 9/11 reactions.
Also included in the lineup are Sanjay Tripathy’s Club 60, Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang, Gajendra Ahire’s Touring Talkies, K Rajesh’s Chor Chor Super Chor,...
Oass (The Dew Drop), a debut feature by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari will open the Chicago South Asian Film Festival that runs from September 20-22, 2013.
The film portrays the injustices faced by the victims of child trafficking. It follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she attempts to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film of the festival is Shahid directed by Hansal Mehta. The film recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010.
The festival will close with the The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair, tells the story of a Pakistani man whose American Dream is threatened by post 9/11 reactions.
Also included in the lineup are Sanjay Tripathy’s Club 60, Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang, Gajendra Ahire’s Touring Talkies, K Rajesh’s Chor Chor Super Chor,...
- 8/22/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
New York — First-time writer/director Meera Menon (“Farah Goes Bang”) took home the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize at the 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday.
Menon was selected out of eight 2013 Tff filmmakers to receive a cash prize of $25,000 for work and talent that embody the spirit and vision of Ephron.
“We’re thrilled to highlight Meera’s work with this special award,” Co-Founder of the Tribeca Film Festival Jane Rosenthal said. “We were impressed with her fresh, witty, and smart take on a coming of age story about girlfriends, passions and politics. Her film captures the spirit and themes of Nora’s work. I’m proud to continue Nora’s legacy through this award and continue to encourage women filmmakers to create the work that inspires them.”
“Farah Goes Bang,” playing in the Festival’s Viewpoints section, is Menon’s feature debut. The film follows an awkward twenty-something...
Menon was selected out of eight 2013 Tff filmmakers to receive a cash prize of $25,000 for work and talent that embody the spirit and vision of Ephron.
“We’re thrilled to highlight Meera’s work with this special award,” Co-Founder of the Tribeca Film Festival Jane Rosenthal said. “We were impressed with her fresh, witty, and smart take on a coming of age story about girlfriends, passions and politics. Her film captures the spirit and themes of Nora’s work. I’m proud to continue Nora’s legacy through this award and continue to encourage women filmmakers to create the work that inspires them.”
“Farah Goes Bang,” playing in the Festival’s Viewpoints section, is Menon’s feature debut. The film follows an awkward twenty-something...
- 4/26/2013
- by Eric M. Armstrong
- The Moving Arts Journal
In this job, one of the most rewarding experiences is discovering a new filmmaker who bursts onto the scene with a film seemingly out of nowhere and one which exceeds all expectations.
This year, first time writer/director Meera Menon along with writer/producer Laura Goode debuted their film Farah Goes Bang to audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival. The verdict: a smart, modern coming-of-age tale that pleases on multiple levels.
The film tells the story of Farah, an introverted young woman who sets out on the road with her friends K.J. and Roopa to campaign for John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election. Farah, a virgin, struggles in her own skin and is unaware of her own natural beauty. Along the way, she finds things within herself and awakens a dormant confidence she never knew existed.
There’s a veracity to Farah that people seem to automatically connect with.
This year, first time writer/director Meera Menon along with writer/producer Laura Goode debuted their film Farah Goes Bang to audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival. The verdict: a smart, modern coming-of-age tale that pleases on multiple levels.
The film tells the story of Farah, an introverted young woman who sets out on the road with her friends K.J. and Roopa to campaign for John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election. Farah, a virgin, struggles in her own skin and is unaware of her own natural beauty. Along the way, she finds things within herself and awakens a dormant confidence she never knew existed.
There’s a veracity to Farah that people seem to automatically connect with.
- 4/26/2013
- by Damen Norton
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
New York — The Laos adventure "The Rocket" and the Afghanistan War documentary "The Kill Team" have taken top honors at the Tribeca Film Festival.
In an awards ceremony Thursday evening in New York, festival jurors selected Kim Mordaunt's "The Rocket" for best narrative film. Its 10-year-old star won best actor. The young Sitthiphon Disamoe stars as Aholo, who enters a rocket festival to help save his poverty-stricken family that's been uprooted for the construction of a dam.
Taking best documentary was Dan Krauss' "The Kill Team," an examination of the so-named group of U.S. soldiers charged with killing Afghan civilians.
Earlier Thursday, the festival awarded its first recipient of the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize, an award for female filmmakers. The prize went to writer-director Meera Menon. Her first film, "Farah Goes Bang," chronicles friends making a road trip to campaign for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election.
In an awards ceremony Thursday evening in New York, festival jurors selected Kim Mordaunt's "The Rocket" for best narrative film. Its 10-year-old star won best actor. The young Sitthiphon Disamoe stars as Aholo, who enters a rocket festival to help save his poverty-stricken family that's been uprooted for the construction of a dam.
Taking best documentary was Dan Krauss' "The Kill Team," an examination of the so-named group of U.S. soldiers charged with killing Afghan civilians.
Earlier Thursday, the festival awarded its first recipient of the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize, an award for female filmmakers. The prize went to writer-director Meera Menon. Her first film, "Farah Goes Bang," chronicles friends making a road trip to campaign for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election.
- 4/26/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
New York, April 26: Indian American filmmaker Meera Menon has been awarded the inaugural Nora Ephron Award at the 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival being held here.
Menon, who was selected out of eight contenders for her debut feature "Farah Goes Bang", was conferred with the award for embodying the spirit and vision of Nora Ephron, the legendary American filmmaker and writer, a festival statement said.
The award carries a cash prize of $25,000.
Set in 2004, "Farah Goes Bang" follows an awkward 20-something girl as she hits the road with her friends to stump for John Kerry in the presidential election. At the same time,.
Menon, who was selected out of eight contenders for her debut feature "Farah Goes Bang", was conferred with the award for embodying the spirit and vision of Nora Ephron, the legendary American filmmaker and writer, a festival statement said.
The award carries a cash prize of $25,000.
Set in 2004, "Farah Goes Bang" follows an awkward 20-something girl as she hits the road with her friends to stump for John Kerry in the presidential election. At the same time,.
- 4/26/2013
- by Leon David
- RealBollywood.com
The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival unveiled on Thursday the winners of its awards at a ceremony Thursday evening. Among the films juries selected for top prizes? Australian film The Rocket, Dutch-Belgian film The Broken Circle Breakdown, and American documentary The Kill Team.
The awards were announced as the festival heads into its second and last weekend. Films will screen through Sunday, and the winners of the Heineken Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the festival, will be announced on Saturday.
Though the juries for the festival were populated with several familiar names from the movie world — including Whoopi Goldberg,...
The awards were announced as the festival heads into its second and last weekend. Films will screen through Sunday, and the winners of the Heineken Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the festival, will be announced on Saturday.
Though the juries for the festival were populated with several familiar names from the movie world — including Whoopi Goldberg,...
- 4/26/2013
- by Emily Rome
- EW - Inside Movies
A recipient has been chosen for the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival's annual Women's Filmmaker Brunch. First-time writer/director Meera Menon (Farah Goes Bang) was selected out of eight contenders to receive the $25,000 cash prize. Menon was presented with her award by Tff co-founder Jane Rosenthal and Sally Singer, Vogue's creative digital director. "We're thrilled to highlight Meera's work with this special award. We were impressed with her fresh, witty and smart take on a coming of age story about girlfriends, passion and politics," said Rosenthal. "Her film captures the spirit and
read more...
read more...
- 4/25/2013
- by Sophie Schillaci
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tribeca Film Festival 2013 Nora Ephron Prize goes to first-time filmmaker Meera Menon for ‘Farah Goes Bang’ First-time writer/director Meera Menon has received the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize, which includes a $25,000 cash prize, for Farah Goes Bang, playing in the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival’s Viewpoints section. The Nora Ephron Prize is handed out to "work and talent that embody the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer." (Photo: Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang.) As described in the Tribeca festival’s press release, Farah Goes Bang "follows an awkward twenty-something who hits the road with her buddies to stump for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, hoping the trip will also be her opportunity to finally shed the long-unwanted virginity that still clings to her despite her best—and most uncomfortable—efforts. Crisscrossing the culturally divided nation at this decisive post-9/11 moment, these multicultural girls find themselves and...
- 4/25/2013
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Earlier today at the Women’s Filmmaker Brunch, the Tribeca Film Festival announced Meera Menon as the first recipient of The Nora Ephron Prize for her work on the film Farah Goes Bang. Selected out of eight filmmakers, Menon will receive $25,000 for “work and talent that embody the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer,” according to a press release. The award will be presented to her by Tff co-founder Jane Rosenthal and Vogue’s creative digital director, Sally Singer.
Menon is a first-time writer/director on Farah Goes Bang, a film that follows a 20-year-old who hops...
Menon is a first-time writer/director on Farah Goes Bang, a film that follows a 20-year-old who hops...
- 4/25/2013
- by Samantha Highfill
- EW - Inside Movies
The Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday awarded Meera Menon, whose feature debut "Farah Goes Bang" is an official selection, with the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize at the annual Women's Filmmaker Brunch. Anna Wintour, Glenn Close and Lily Tomlin were in attendance, among many more. The award endows Menon with $25,000 in honor of writer/director Nora Ephron, who died last year. "As a filmmaker I had always been inspired by Nora, she emblematized how to take pain and suffering and turn them into laughter and joy," Menon said when she received the prize. "Those qualities inspired me and my co-filmmakers. Receiving this incredible honor in her name means more than I could ever articulate." Hailed as "warm-hearted" and "engaging" by The Hollywood Reporter upon its Tribeca premiere, "Farah" tells the story of a floundering twenty-something who attempts to lose her virginity while on the campaign trail for John Kerry. Read an...
- 4/25/2013
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
After her family immigrated to the U.S. from India in the 1970s, Meera Menon split her time between Indian dance concerts, the mall and filming her friends in the backyard with her father's camcorders. She grew up in a house of artistsand now with "Farah Goes Bang," has finally finished her first feature film in the form of an extremely personal ode to adventurous youth. What it's about: "Farah Goes Bang is a road movie about a young woman in her early twenties hitting the campaign trail for John Kerry in 2004 with two of her best friends. Along the way, and encouraged by her friends, she tries to lose her long lingering virginity. Fgb is a valentine to the adventure of youth, female friendship, and political idealism." What else should audiences know: "Farah Goes Bang is about the humor and heartache that comes with the loss of innocence, for...
- 4/5/2013
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
In the new indie, "Farah Goes Bang," making its world premiere at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, "Circumstance" star Nikohl Boosheri plays the titular Farah, a woman trying to lose her virginity while on the road campaigning for John Kerry in 2004 with her friends. Farah and her friends K.J. and Roopa follow the campaign trail across historic Route 66 on their way to Ohio, the central battleground state of 2004, seizing control of this charged moment in their lives and the life of their country. According to its director Meera Menon, "'Farah' updates the American tradition of the Western, telling a new trail story, in a diverse, powerful and hilarious female way." Take a look at the trailer below, exclusive to Indiewire.
- 4/4/2013
- by Cristina A. Gonzalez
- Indiewire
Tribeca Film Festival organizers on Wednesday announced 46 of the 89 feature films screening at the New York-set festival starting next month, including selections in the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film sections, as well as out-of-competition Viewpoints screenings.
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
- 3/5/2013
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
The Tribeca Film Festival announced the first half of its 2013 movie slate today, including its World Narrative and Documentary Competition film categories, along with selections from the out-of-competition Viewpoints section, which highlights international and independent cinema. Festival organizers reviewed more than 6,000 submissions to select 89 feature-length films from 30 different countries for this year’s festival, which boasts 53 world premieres. “Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” said Frederic Boyer, Tribeca’s artistic director. “The cinematic proficiency that harnesses this lineup is remarkable and we’re looking forward to sharing these new perspectives, powerful performances,...
- 3/5/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.