indieWIRE released its Oscar predictions for 2011, the following are a few highlights: The Inside Job, edited and co-written by TEC alums Chad Beck and Adam Bolt, “… will be nominated for, and likely win, best documentary feature,” writes Peter Knegt. It is also brought up as a dark horse in the categories of Best Picture and Best Editing -- a category that is historically filled solely by narratives. indieWIRE suggests The Kids Are Alright, executively produced by alum Riva Marker, is a “safe bet” in the category of Best Picture, Best Actress, and Original Screenplay. Winter’s Bone, the project of the May 2009 class, is also a contender in several categories including: Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Of course we will all have to wait until the Academy releases its short-list in the months to come. To see the full list of predictions, visit indieWIRE.
The Winning Season Premieres in Theaters
The Winning Season, the November 2008 class project, will be released in theaters on September 3rd, 2010. The film was directed by James C. Strouse (Grace is Gone) and features Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon, Moon) as a washed-up former basketball coach, who is offered another chance to prove himself as the head of his local high school's girls varsity team. The supporting cast includes Rob Corddry (W., "The Daily Show"), Emma Roberts (Valentine's Day), and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The film was also co-produced by TEC alum Riva Marker.
For Once in My Life Featured in DocuWeeks Showcase
For Once in My Life, the project of the July 2009 6-week class, will be featured in the 2010 DocuWeeks Showcase. DocuWeeks is an annual event sponsored by the International Documentary Association, which helps independent documentaries screen in both NYC and LA, the two cities that films need to screen in in order to qualify for an Oscar nomination. For Once in My Life was edited by alum Amy Foote, and has won a number of accolades from film festivals, including the "Audience Award" at the South by Southwest Film Festival and the "Audience Award for Best Documentary" at both the Sarasota Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival, respectively. For more information on DocuWeeks and For Once in My Life screening times, click here.
Finishing Heaven Nominated for an Emmy Award
The project of the September 2007 six-week class, Finishing Heaven, has been nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of 'Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming.' The film was edited by TEC alum Amy Foote and acquired by HBO after premiering at the LA Film Festival. Variety Magazine's review of the film praised Amy's editing, referring to how she "smoothly weaves in and out of the new and old footage," and the film was featured in NY Magazine's "Approval Matrix" under the category "highbrow/brilliant." Click here for a complete list of Emmy nominees here.
Class Film Premieres at the New York International Latino Film Festival
Ilegales, the project of the September 2009 class, will premiere at the New York International Latino Film Festival on July 28th, with an additional screening on July 29th. The film interweaves the lives of five characters, all of whom are struggling with the issue of human trafficking across the Mexican-U.S. border. Co-producers Noah Workman and Patrick T. Rousseau hope that the film will promote healthy discussions on migration reform. More information on Ilegales, including a link to tickets for the New York International Latino Film Festival, can be found here.
Class Films Make indieWIRE's List for Top Films of 2010
Cold Weather and Winter's Bone, both 6-week class projects in 2009, have made CriticWIRE's mid-year list of "Top English-language Narrative Films of 2010." IndieWIRE's, CriticWIRE, aggregates letter grade scores from over 100 critics and bloggers as they watch films released in film festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and Tribeca, in addition to theatrical releases. Cold Weather, came in at number 1 with an "A-" rating. Only 11 of the films that have either premiered in 2010 or been released theatrically have achieved a score of "A-." Read more about the films that made the list here.
Rave Reviews for Winter's Bone
Winter's Bone, the project of the May 2009 class, is receiving great reviews across the board. Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal writes of Jennifer Lawrence who plays the heroine Ree, "...a professional actress who doesn't seem to act so much as achieve a state of grace that combines intelligence with fierce resolve." NY Mag's David Edelstein states that, "Winter's Bone is the year's most stirring film." Entertainment Weekly calls it, "One of the unshowiest and most true-blooded epics of Americana you're ever likely to see." The film was edited by TEC instructor Affonso Gonçalves who was assisted by TEC alums Naomi Goodman and Tory Stewart. Winter's Bone opens in theaters this weekend in NY and LA.
Summer 2009 Project Reviewed by Interview Magazine
Cold Weather, the project of the July 2009 class, was reviewed by Durga Chew-Bose for Interview Magazine. Of the film Durga writes, "At its center, Cold Weather is the rare portrayal of an adult brother sister relationship; always maturing, yet fixed to a childlike innocence and the shared memories of adventure." The film was picked up by IFC Films for North America and multiple foreign rights and will premiere in IFC theaters and be available in homes on the same day through the "IFC in Theaters" platform. You can read the entire review here.
Class Project Picked Up by IFC
Sorry, Thanks, the project of the January 2008 class, has been picked up by IFC for VOD launch in June. IFC Entertainment president, Jonathan Sehring, describes the film as "charming and hilarious." The film premiered at SXSW in 2009 and was directed by Dia Sokol and written by herself and Lauren Veloski.
Class Film, Dog Sweat, Premieres this Summer
Dog Sweat, a class project in 2008 & 2009, will premiere at this year's Los Angeles Film Festival in the Narrative Competition category. Shot clandestinely in Tehran, the subversive Dog Sweat intertwines the lives of six young Iranians as they struggle to satisfy their private desires in the face of conservative Islamic society. Alum/instructor, Mollie Goldstein edited the film and alum Simon Wheeldon was an associate editor.