Jessica Hausner on the references to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby: “The idea behind Hotel [starring Franziska Weisz] was to use all those classical horror film elements on purpose, to put them together but to not lift the secret.”
In the second instalment with Jessica Hausner on three of her feature films before her latest, the bewitching Club Zero (European Film Award Best Original Score to Markus Binder), we move the conversation to Hotel, starring Franziska Weisz with Birgit Minichmayr (Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon) and Lovely Rita with Barbara Osika as Rita, Wolfgang Kostal and Karina Brandlmayer as her parents, and Peter Fiala as her man of interest. The two films have the costumes, as always, designed by Tanja Hausner, cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, sound design by Erik Mischijew (Maren Ade’s multiple European Film...
In the second instalment with Jessica Hausner on three of her feature films before her latest, the bewitching Club Zero (European Film Award Best Original Score to Markus Binder), we move the conversation to Hotel, starring Franziska Weisz with Birgit Minichmayr (Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon) and Lovely Rita with Barbara Osika as Rita, Wolfgang Kostal and Karina Brandlmayer as her parents, and Peter Fiala as her man of interest. The two films have the costumes, as always, designed by Tanja Hausner, cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, sound design by Erik Mischijew (Maren Ade’s multiple European Film...
- 5/11/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Drake and Kendrick beef took a fun turn yesterday when everyone’s favorite God of War weighed in. Drake has a lot to worry about these days, so a call out from the Ghost of Sparta himself is the last thing he needs.
A series of fake reaction posts have come out on Twitter/X, and the most recent involves Kratos’ iconic speech from God of War 3.
The Fires Were Stoked When The Ghost of Sparta Weighed In
The fake tweet caught the ire of the Ghost of Sparta and he unleashed his rage at Drake.
In a post from Radec on Twitter/X, the popular rapper is shown watching in concern as Kratos pontificates to his father Zeus about his journey to reach him and his forthcoming revenge.
The sharing of this meme in relation to the ongoing beef is obvious, and over the past month, fans believe...
A series of fake reaction posts have come out on Twitter/X, and the most recent involves Kratos’ iconic speech from God of War 3.
The Fires Were Stoked When The Ghost of Sparta Weighed In
The fake tweet caught the ire of the Ghost of Sparta and he unleashed his rage at Drake.
In a post from Radec on Twitter/X, the popular rapper is shown watching in concern as Kratos pontificates to his father Zeus about his journey to reach him and his forthcoming revenge.
The sharing of this meme in relation to the ongoing beef is obvious, and over the past month, fans believe...
- 5/9/2024
- by Dustin.C
- FandomWire
Jessica Hausner with Anne-Katrin Titze on Sylvie Testud’s Christine, Léa Seydoux’s Maria, Bruno Todeschini’s Kuno, and Gilette Barbier’s Frau Hartl in Lourdes: “I was thinking about the story of Heidi [by Johanna Spyri].”
In the first installment with Jessica Hausner on three of her feature films before her latest, the bewitching Club Zero (European Film Award Best Original Score to Markus Binder), we start the conversation with Lourdes, costumes, as always, designed by Tanja Hausner, cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, sound design by Erik Mischijew, and production design by Katharina Wöppermann (Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari’s Women Without Men).
Kuno (Bruno Todeschini) with Christine (Sylvie Testud), Frau Hartl (Gilette Barbier) and Cécile (Elina Löwensohn)
Maria (Léa Seydoux), a newcomer to the...
In the first installment with Jessica Hausner on three of her feature films before her latest, the bewitching Club Zero (European Film Award Best Original Score to Markus Binder), we start the conversation with Lourdes, costumes, as always, designed by Tanja Hausner, cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, sound design by Erik Mischijew, and production design by Katharina Wöppermann (Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari’s Women Without Men).
Kuno (Bruno Todeschini) with Christine (Sylvie Testud), Frau Hartl (Gilette Barbier) and Cécile (Elina Löwensohn)
Maria (Léa Seydoux), a newcomer to the...
- 4/26/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Ms Novak’s (Mia Wasikowska) students Fred (Luke Barker), Ragna (Florence Baker), Helen (Gwen Currant), Elsa (Ksenia Devriendt), and Ben (Samuel D Anderson) in Jessica Hausner’s bewitching Club Zero
In the second installment with Jessica Hausner on Club Zero (co-written with Geraldine Bajard) and scored by Markus Binder (European Film Award winner), starring Mia Wasikowska (as Conscious Eating instructor Ms Novak), we discussed her longtime collaborators, costume designer Tanja Hausner and cinematographer Martin Gschlacht plus Sidse Babett Knudsen and Peter & The Wolf.
Jessica Hausner on using Peter & The Wolf in Club Zero: “It’s a very common fairytale and we found out that it’s really very well known …” Photo: Anne Katrin Titze
The parents of the students are played by Elsa Zylberstein (Simone Veil in Olivier Dahan’s all-embracing portrait Simone: Woman Of The Century) Mathieu Demy, Camilla Rutherford...
In the second installment with Jessica Hausner on Club Zero (co-written with Geraldine Bajard) and scored by Markus Binder (European Film Award winner), starring Mia Wasikowska (as Conscious Eating instructor Ms Novak), we discussed her longtime collaborators, costume designer Tanja Hausner and cinematographer Martin Gschlacht plus Sidse Babett Knudsen and Peter & The Wolf.
Jessica Hausner on using Peter & The Wolf in Club Zero: “It’s a very common fairytale and we found out that it’s really very well known …” Photo: Anne Katrin Titze
The parents of the students are played by Elsa Zylberstein (Simone Veil in Olivier Dahan’s all-embracing portrait Simone: Woman Of The Century) Mathieu Demy, Camilla Rutherford...
- 4/2/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Club Zero director Jessica Hausner with Anne-Katrin Titze (in Batsheva): “I do see the film in connection to a fairy tale. I think in all my films there is a connection to one fairy tale or the other.”
Jessica Hausner’s bewitching Club Zero (co-written with Geraldine Bajard), shot by Martin Gschlacht, scored by Markus Binder (European Film Award winner) with costumes by the ever surprising Tanja Hausner, starts off with students Fred (Luke Barker), Elsa (Ksenia Devriendt), Ragna (Florence Baker), Ben (Samuel D Anderson), Helen (Gwen Currant), Joan (Sade McNichols-Thomas), and Corbinian (Andrei Hozoc), all dressed in gender-neutral pale yellow polo shirts, beige skorts, and purple knee socks, gathering insect-like chairs for a Conscious Eating class, led by recently hired instructor Ms Novak (Mia Wasikowska). Ms Dorset (Sidse Babett Knudsen), the head mistress of this elite and very expensive international boarding school, is well-meaning and oblivious of...
Jessica Hausner’s bewitching Club Zero (co-written with Geraldine Bajard), shot by Martin Gschlacht, scored by Markus Binder (European Film Award winner) with costumes by the ever surprising Tanja Hausner, starts off with students Fred (Luke Barker), Elsa (Ksenia Devriendt), Ragna (Florence Baker), Ben (Samuel D Anderson), Helen (Gwen Currant), Joan (Sade McNichols-Thomas), and Corbinian (Andrei Hozoc), all dressed in gender-neutral pale yellow polo shirts, beige skorts, and purple knee socks, gathering insect-like chairs for a Conscious Eating class, led by recently hired instructor Ms Novak (Mia Wasikowska). Ms Dorset (Sidse Babett Knudsen), the head mistress of this elite and very expensive international boarding school, is well-meaning and oblivious of...
- 3/14/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Top 10 Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2024 article and video were written by Mike Holtz.
We happen to be lucky enough to live in a timeline where horror is unquestionably crushing at the box office and otherwise. People are lining up in droves not only to see men in tights throwing down to save the universe in superhero flicks but to see monsters and ghouls doing horrible and heinous things to human beings. And no, I’m not talking about congress. I’m talking about some good old-fashioned wear your brown pants to the theater and leave the kids at home (or don’t I don’t judge) , horror flicks. I can’t promise you everything is going to be okay in 2024. Not with Ezra Miller roaming the streets, but I can promise you this… we’ve got a lot of great horror flicks headed our way. Probably. Well, they sound cool.
We happen to be lucky enough to live in a timeline where horror is unquestionably crushing at the box office and otherwise. People are lining up in droves not only to see men in tights throwing down to save the universe in superhero flicks but to see monsters and ghouls doing horrible and heinous things to human beings. And no, I’m not talking about congress. I’m talking about some good old-fashioned wear your brown pants to the theater and leave the kids at home (or don’t I don’t judge) , horror flicks. I can’t promise you everything is going to be okay in 2024. Not with Ezra Miller roaming the streets, but I can promise you this… we’ve got a lot of great horror flicks headed our way. Probably. Well, they sound cool.
- 1/24/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
John Waters isn’t afraid to name Ari Aster’s existential dark comedy “Beau Is Afraid” as the best film of 2023.
The “Pink Flamingos” director shared his annual list of favorite movies of the year with Vulture, crowning the A24 film as his number one pick.
“A superlong, super-crazy, super-funny movie about one man’s mental breakdown with a cast better than ‘Around the World in 80 Days’: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Parker Posey, Nathan Lane, and Amy Ryan,” Waters wrote. “It’s a laugh riot from hell you’ll never forget, even if you want to.”
Pierre Croton’s “A Prince,” Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener,” “Fallen Leaves,” “Do Not Expect Too Much of the End of the World,” “Last Summer,” and “Strange Way of Life,” the short film directed by Pedro Almodóvar, were all included in Waters’ list. The director additionally included Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which Waters...
The “Pink Flamingos” director shared his annual list of favorite movies of the year with Vulture, crowning the A24 film as his number one pick.
“A superlong, super-crazy, super-funny movie about one man’s mental breakdown with a cast better than ‘Around the World in 80 Days’: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Parker Posey, Nathan Lane, and Amy Ryan,” Waters wrote. “It’s a laugh riot from hell you’ll never forget, even if you want to.”
Pierre Croton’s “A Prince,” Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener,” “Fallen Leaves,” “Do Not Expect Too Much of the End of the World,” “Last Summer,” and “Strange Way of Life,” the short film directed by Pedro Almodóvar, were all included in Waters’ list. The director additionally included Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which Waters...
- 12/7/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
One of our favorite traditions in best-of-the-year festivities is a lineup that tends to find a more interesting path than any guilds or critics groups. The wonderfully eccentric John Waters, whose tastes always includes a mix of the unexpected and underseen, hasn’t let us down with his top 10 films of 2023.
Published at Vulture, where one should click over to read thoughts on each, his top 10 is capped by Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid. Other selections include Paul Schrader’s Master Gardener, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, plus the latest from Pedro Almodóvar, Aki Kaurismäki, Radu Jude, and Catherine Breillat, as well as the overlooked Full Time.
Check out the list below, along with our reviews where available.
1. Beau Is Afraid (Ari Aster)
2. A Prince (Pierre Creton)
3. Master Gardener (Paul Schrader)
4. Full Time (Éric Gravel)
5. Last Summer (Catherine Breillat)
6. Sparta (Ulrich Seidl)
7. Fallen Leaves (Aki Kaurismäki)
8. Strange Way of Life...
Published at Vulture, where one should click over to read thoughts on each, his top 10 is capped by Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid. Other selections include Paul Schrader’s Master Gardener, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, plus the latest from Pedro Almodóvar, Aki Kaurismäki, Radu Jude, and Catherine Breillat, as well as the overlooked Full Time.
Check out the list below, along with our reviews where available.
1. Beau Is Afraid (Ari Aster)
2. A Prince (Pierre Creton)
3. Master Gardener (Paul Schrader)
4. Full Time (Éric Gravel)
5. Last Summer (Catherine Breillat)
6. Sparta (Ulrich Seidl)
7. Fallen Leaves (Aki Kaurismäki)
8. Strange Way of Life...
- 12/7/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Actor Gerard Butler received one of his career’s biggest roles when Zack Snyder cast him in 300. Snyder had a feeling Butler would be the right actor for his adaptation based on how crazy Butler came across as.
Zack Snyder on meeting Gerard Butler Gerard Butler | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Snyder brought Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300 to the big screen in 2007. The successful movie was about a group of 300 Spartan soldiers battling an invading Persian army with superior numbers. The movie was a huge success at the box office, and was praised for its performances and striking visuals.
Butler would end up portraying the Spartan king Leonidas in the film. Despite not being too big of a name at the time, Snyder was sold on Butler in their first meeting.
“You know, when I first met Gerry we met in this coffee shop and he was immediately insane,...
Zack Snyder on meeting Gerard Butler Gerard Butler | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Snyder brought Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300 to the big screen in 2007. The successful movie was about a group of 300 Spartan soldiers battling an invading Persian army with superior numbers. The movie was a huge success at the box office, and was praised for its performances and striking visuals.
Butler would end up portraying the Spartan king Leonidas in the film. Despite not being too big of a name at the time, Snyder was sold on Butler in their first meeting.
“You know, when I first met Gerry we met in this coffee shop and he was immediately insane,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Diane Kruger is set to receive the Golden Eye Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival. Famed for working with directors including Quentin Tarantino, Wolfgang Peterson and Robert Zemeckis, the 47-year-old is renowned as one of Hollywood’s finest character actresses and is probably best known for her roles as Helen of Sparta in 2004’s ‘Troy’, Bridget von Hammersmark in Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and Anna in 2009’s ‘Mr. Nobody’. She said: “Thank you Zurich Film Festival for this wonderful recognition. I’m honoured and proud to be part of the impressive list of past honourees. “I look forward to return to Zurich and celebrate with all of you in October!” Diane will receive the Golden Eye Award on 2 October, with the Zurich Film Festival taking place from 28 September to 8 October. Christian Jungen, Zurich Film Festival’s artistic director, said in a statement: “Diane Kruger is one of cinema’s most versatile character actresses.
- 8/3/2023
- by BANG Showbiz Reporter
- Bang Showbiz
Russell Crowe is standing on a stage, playing an electric guitar. He’s singing “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, accompanied by a trumpetist, a drummer, someone at a keyboard, another guitarist, and even four backing singers. He starts rocking out to the instrumental section. The crowd, full of Czech film industry insiders, international critics, and fans, is undoubtedly entertained.
This is not yet another remake of “A Star Is Born,” but simply the kind of event you can expect to witness at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, taking place every summer in the Czech city and welcoming talent from all over the world.
First established in 1946, Kviff went through a transformation in the early 1990s following the fall of communism. Karel Och, working at the festival since 2001 and its artistic director since 2011, thinks this shift explains how spectators themselves have changed.
“They didn’t really react at Q&a’s,...
This is not yet another remake of “A Star Is Born,” but simply the kind of event you can expect to witness at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, taking place every summer in the Czech city and welcoming talent from all over the world.
First established in 1946, Kviff went through a transformation in the early 1990s following the fall of communism. Karel Och, working at the festival since 2001 and its artistic director since 2011, thinks this shift explains how spectators themselves have changed.
“They didn’t really react at Q&a’s,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Manuela Lazic
- Indiewire
It’s been a rocky year for Ulrich Seidl. As far back as last February, Rimini was winning over critics at the Berlinale (us included) with its bleak beauty and frankly stunning central turn from Michel Thomas as the washed-up troubadour Richie Bravo. The director’s follow-up, titled Sparta and focusing on Bravo’s brother, was selected to open at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. A week before its premiere, allegations against Seidl emerged from an article published in Der Spiegel. In Sparta, Bravo’s brother (a pedophile played brilliantly by Georg Friedrich) travels to Romania and opens a judo school for young boys. The article alleged, amongst other things, that the child actors in Sparta had not been sufficiently protected on set and that their families had not been made aware of the film’s themes.
Seidl denied any wrongdoing; TIFF pulled the film the morning it was due to premiere.
Seidl denied any wrongdoing; TIFF pulled the film the morning it was due to premiere.
- 4/6/2023
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl has said it was always his intention to make “a single, long film encompassing the entire story” of his two previous projects, “Rimini” and “Sparta.”
The resulting film, “Wicked Games Rimini Sparta,” had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and is a combined version of his 2022 diptych “Rimini” and “Sparta,” which follows brothers Richie (Michael Thomas) and Ewald (Georg Friedrich), respectively.
Speaking to Variety, Seidl went on to explain how the original single project was split into two separate films: “During the extremely long process of editing, I wasn’t entirely satisfied and thought it’d be interesting to explore the idea of making two different films out of it, using the same material. So we attempted to do just that as I wasn’t convinced the extended version gave the best possible artistic results given the material. We made two films out...
The resulting film, “Wicked Games Rimini Sparta,” had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and is a combined version of his 2022 diptych “Rimini” and “Sparta,” which follows brothers Richie (Michael Thomas) and Ewald (Georg Friedrich), respectively.
Speaking to Variety, Seidl went on to explain how the original single project was split into two separate films: “During the extremely long process of editing, I wasn’t entirely satisfied and thought it’d be interesting to explore the idea of making two different films out of it, using the same material. So we attempted to do just that as I wasn’t convinced the extended version gave the best possible artistic results given the material. We made two films out...
- 1/31/2023
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
Ulrich Seidl is a director of curiosities, of shabby characters, pursued with an uncompromising and sometimes unfashionable gaze. Yet Sparta arrives in competition at the San Sebastian film festival at the head of considerable controversy not from its disturbing themes of pedophilia, but from incidents off-screen.
The Spanish event debuts the movie after the Toronto film festival scrapped its world premiere at the last minute in the fallout of allegations made in Germany’s Der Spiegel. The weekly magazine’s lengthy investigation said Seidl didn’t tell the underage cast and their guardians of the story’s themes and that he underprepared his mainly non-professional performers of the film’s nudity, alcoholism, and violence. Seidl denies the accusations, but canceled his appearance and the accompanying press conference in the Basque Country to support the film.
As to the charges against Sparta, on screen there is adult nudity in the space...
The Spanish event debuts the movie after the Toronto film festival scrapped its world premiere at the last minute in the fallout of allegations made in Germany’s Der Spiegel. The weekly magazine’s lengthy investigation said Seidl didn’t tell the underage cast and their guardians of the story’s themes and that he underprepared his mainly non-professional performers of the film’s nudity, alcoholism, and violence. Seidl denies the accusations, but canceled his appearance and the accompanying press conference in the Basque Country to support the film.
As to the charges against Sparta, on screen there is adult nudity in the space...
- 9/20/2022
- by Ed Frankl
- The Film Stage
The controversial film is playing in competition at the festival.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl will no longer travel to San Sebastián to present his film Sparta, which is screening in competition at the festival.
The move comes after the film was pulled by the Toronto International Film Festival following an article in the German magazine Der Spiegel which alleged the Romanian child actors in the film were not protected enough on set.
In particular the article alleged the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl will no longer travel to San Sebastián to present his film Sparta, which is screening in competition at the festival.
The move comes after the film was pulled by the Toronto International Film Festival following an article in the German magazine Der Spiegel which alleged the Romanian child actors in the film were not protected enough on set.
In particular the article alleged the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
- 9/17/2022
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
Ulrich Seidl has canceled his trip to San Sebastian for the premiere of his latest film Sparta following a report in German magazine Der Spiegel that raised concerns about the treatment of younger cast members during the production.
In a statement, Seidl said: “I am very grateful to José Luis Rebordinos for standing by Sparta from the beginning, despite the media pressure and despite the great turmoil that suddenly accompanied it. It means a lot to me. The initial impulse to come to San Sebastian was not to leave alone the film that my team and I have worked on for so many years. However, I realized that my presence at the premiere might overshadow the film’s reception whereas it is now time for Sparta to speak for itself.”
Sparta will still screen at the festival in competition on September 18 as scheduled. The film was pulled from TIFF following the allegations.
In a statement, Seidl said: “I am very grateful to José Luis Rebordinos for standing by Sparta from the beginning, despite the media pressure and despite the great turmoil that suddenly accompanied it. It means a lot to me. The initial impulse to come to San Sebastian was not to leave alone the film that my team and I have worked on for so many years. However, I realized that my presence at the premiere might overshadow the film’s reception whereas it is now time for Sparta to speak for itself.”
Sparta will still screen at the festival in competition on September 18 as scheduled. The film was pulled from TIFF following the allegations.
- 9/17/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl has cancelled his visit to San Sebastian for the Sept. 18 world premiere of “Sparta,” amid allegations of impropriety and child exploitation made against the director.
The world premiere will still go ahead at San Sebastian with the film playing in main competition contending for San Sebastian’s Gold Shell.
Seidl’s decision comes after the Toronto Film Festival pulled “Sparta” and on Sept. 14, FilmFest Hamburg announced that it would no longer be giving Seidl its Douglas Sirk Award, though it would be screening “Sparta.”
“I am very grateful to [San Sebastian director] José Luis Rebordinos for supporting “Sparta” from the beginning, despite the media pressure and the sudden and unexpected polemics it has created. It means a lot to me,” Seidl said via a written statement transmitted on Saturday by Spanish SVOD platform Filmin, which distributes the film in Spain.
“My initial impulse was to attend San Sebastian and...
The world premiere will still go ahead at San Sebastian with the film playing in main competition contending for San Sebastian’s Gold Shell.
Seidl’s decision comes after the Toronto Film Festival pulled “Sparta” and on Sept. 14, FilmFest Hamburg announced that it would no longer be giving Seidl its Douglas Sirk Award, though it would be screening “Sparta.”
“I am very grateful to [San Sebastian director] José Luis Rebordinos for supporting “Sparta” from the beginning, despite the media pressure and the sudden and unexpected polemics it has created. It means a lot to me,” Seidl said via a written statement transmitted on Saturday by Spanish SVOD platform Filmin, which distributes the film in Spain.
“My initial impulse was to attend San Sebastian and...
- 9/17/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Bill Kinder, the subject of the Matthew McConaughey film “Dallas Sting” that was axed after an investigation uncovered allegations of misconduct, has denied the accusations, saying they were fabricated.
The Texan coach Kinder, 83, on Friday spoke with The Daily Mail and said that an anonymous letter was sent to the film’s studio, Skydance, accusing him of 40 years ago having “touched someone outside their clothes and referring to the female athletes he coached by inappropriate nicknames.” Kinder, in his interview with The Daily Mail, denied any misconduct and further said he was shocked at the news from earlier this week that the film will not move forward.
Kinder said he was contacted by investigators hired by Skydance after the letter was received and that he and the other subjects of the film, now all adult women, had informed him there was “nothing there” in terms of the investigations. He added...
The Texan coach Kinder, 83, on Friday spoke with The Daily Mail and said that an anonymous letter was sent to the film’s studio, Skydance, accusing him of 40 years ago having “touched someone outside their clothes and referring to the female athletes he coached by inappropriate nicknames.” Kinder, in his interview with The Daily Mail, denied any misconduct and further said he was shocked at the news from earlier this week that the film will not move forward.
Kinder said he was contacted by investigators hired by Skydance after the letter was received and that he and the other subjects of the film, now all adult women, had informed him there was “nothing there” in terms of the investigations. He added...
- 9/16/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
San Sebastian festival director José Luis Rebordinos: “It’s a sweet moment for the Spanish industry”
The San Sebastian festival director reflects on the innovations for the 70th anniversary
José Luis Rebordinos has been the director of the San Sebastian International Film Festival since 2011.
He talks to Screen about this year’s 70th anniversary edition which will celebrate San Sebastian’s history as well as the exciting present moment for Spanish cinema and host an expanded industry section.
The festival opens today, Friday September 16, and runs until September 24.
San Sebastian prides itself as a festival that showcases both new and established Spanish filmmakers. How would you describe the Spanish productions selected this year?
There’s a...
José Luis Rebordinos has been the director of the San Sebastian International Film Festival since 2011.
He talks to Screen about this year’s 70th anniversary edition which will celebrate San Sebastian’s history as well as the exciting present moment for Spanish cinema and host an expanded industry section.
The festival opens today, Friday September 16, and runs until September 24.
San Sebastian prides itself as a festival that showcases both new and established Spanish filmmakers. How would you describe the Spanish productions selected this year?
There’s a...
- 9/16/2022
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
German film festival Filmfest Hamburg has scrapped its plan to give the Douglas Sirk Prize to the Austrian director Ulrich Seidl, following allegations of on-set impropriety and child exploitation against him and his film “Sparta.”
However, the festival has decided to continue with its plan to show “Sparta,” a statement released Tuesday by festival director Albert Wiederspiel and program director Kathrin Kohlstedde explained.
The statement read: “The accusations against the production around the working conditions during the making of the film came up after our [festival program] was already in print.
“We included the film in the program because of its outstanding quality. It is a very sensitive film about a particularly difficult and taboo subject. The accusations against Ulrich Seidl are directed against the conditions during the shooting and explicitly not against his film.
“We have therefore decided to leave the film in the program.”
The statement added: “Regarding the Douglas Sirk Prize,...
However, the festival has decided to continue with its plan to show “Sparta,” a statement released Tuesday by festival director Albert Wiederspiel and program director Kathrin Kohlstedde explained.
The statement read: “The accusations against the production around the working conditions during the making of the film came up after our [festival program] was already in print.
“We included the film in the program because of its outstanding quality. It is a very sensitive film about a particularly difficult and taboo subject. The accusations against Ulrich Seidl are directed against the conditions during the shooting and explicitly not against his film.
“We have therefore decided to leave the film in the program.”
The statement added: “Regarding the Douglas Sirk Prize,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Filmfest Hamburg will no longer present Austrian filmmaker Ulrich Seidl with its prestigious Douglas Sirk Award following a report in German magazine Der Spiegel that raised concerns about the treatment of younger cast members during the production of his latest film Sparta.
The festival will, however, continue to screen Sparta as part of its program.
“Regarding the Douglas Sirk Prize, we have decided not to award the prize as the current allegations against the production would overshadow an award ceremony,” Filmfest Hamburg director Albert Wiederspiel and head of programming Kathrin Kohlstedde said in a statement.
The pair continued to say that the allegations against Seidl were published in Der Spiegel after the festival’s program brochure had been published.
“We included the film in the program because of its outstanding quality. It is a very sensitive film about a particularly difficult and taboo subject. The accusations against Ulrich Seidl are...
The festival will, however, continue to screen Sparta as part of its program.
“Regarding the Douglas Sirk Prize, we have decided not to award the prize as the current allegations against the production would overshadow an award ceremony,” Filmfest Hamburg director Albert Wiederspiel and head of programming Kathrin Kohlstedde said in a statement.
The pair continued to say that the allegations against Seidl were published in Der Spiegel after the festival’s program brochure had been published.
“We included the film in the program because of its outstanding quality. It is a very sensitive film about a particularly difficult and taboo subject. The accusations against Ulrich Seidl are...
- 9/14/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
His controversial film ’Sparta’ will still screen as part of the programme.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl will no longer be the recipient of the prestigious Douglas Sirk award at the 30th anniversary edition of the upcoming Filmfest Hamburg, although his film Sparta, which is drawing controversy following allegations about working conditions for its child actors during its shoot, will still be shown during the festival.
It will screen as part of the Kaleidoskop section, as a diptych with Rimini, Seidl’s first film of 2022, that debuted at the Berlinale in February.
The move comes following a report in German news...
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl will no longer be the recipient of the prestigious Douglas Sirk award at the 30th anniversary edition of the upcoming Filmfest Hamburg, although his film Sparta, which is drawing controversy following allegations about working conditions for its child actors during its shoot, will still be shown during the festival.
It will screen as part of the Kaleidoskop section, as a diptych with Rimini, Seidl’s first film of 2022, that debuted at the Berlinale in February.
The move comes following a report in German news...
- 9/14/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Glenn Close, who was due to serve as the jury president at the San Sebastian Film Festival, has canceled her trip due to a family emergency.
“I deeply regret that I will not be able to take part in the festival as there has been a family emergency for which I must stay home,” Close said in a statement. “I apologize to the festival, the jury, the filmmakers, the Donostia honorees and the festival audience, that I will not be there to celebrate with you all.”
Just last week, the star of “Fatal Attraction” and “Dangerous Liaisons” posted a video on her social media in which she expressed her enthusiasm about chairing the festival jury, describing it as “a new adventure I’ve never done before.” “I love San Sebastian, people are fantastic, I’m really looking forward to seeing some wonderful films and I’m very excited about meeting my fellow jury members,...
“I deeply regret that I will not be able to take part in the festival as there has been a family emergency for which I must stay home,” Close said in a statement. “I apologize to the festival, the jury, the filmmakers, the Donostia honorees and the festival audience, that I will not be there to celebrate with you all.”
Just last week, the star of “Fatal Attraction” and “Dangerous Liaisons” posted a video on her social media in which she expressed her enthusiasm about chairing the festival jury, describing it as “a new adventure I’ve never done before.” “I love San Sebastian, people are fantastic, I’m really looking forward to seeing some wonderful films and I’m very excited about meeting my fellow jury members,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
With the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear awarded to Spanish director Carla Simón and four of the country’s titles featuring in competition at Cannes, there’s a quiet air of confidence among Spanish industry professionals, including José Luis Rebordinos, director of the San Sebastian Film Festival.
“This has been the best year for Spanish cinema,” Rebordinos tells Deadline shortly after revealing the line-up for San Sebastian’s latest edition, running from September 16-24.
This year the prominent Spanish festival, celebrating its 70th edition, kicks into gear with some 200 films across its six competitive and seven non-competitive sections. The selection will be bookended by Friday night’s opening film Prison 77 (Modelo 77), from Spanish filmmaker Alberto Rodríguez, and Neil Jordan’s latest film Marlowe, starring Diane Kruger and Liam Neeson, which will close the festival. The full lineup includes the European Premiere of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder,...
“This has been the best year for Spanish cinema,” Rebordinos tells Deadline shortly after revealing the line-up for San Sebastian’s latest edition, running from September 16-24.
This year the prominent Spanish festival, celebrating its 70th edition, kicks into gear with some 200 films across its six competitive and seven non-competitive sections. The selection will be bookended by Friday night’s opening film Prison 77 (Modelo 77), from Spanish filmmaker Alberto Rodríguez, and Neil Jordan’s latest film Marlowe, starring Diane Kruger and Liam Neeson, which will close the festival. The full lineup includes the European Premiere of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Fifteen countries represented amongst the 18 individuals.
European producers platform Ace Producers has selected 18 producers for the latest edition of its Ace Producers’ Network programme, running in 2022 and 2023.
The 18 producers include Nadim Cheikhrouha of France’s Tanit Films, who will produce Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s next feature Mime. Cheikhrouha and Ben Hania secured an Oscar nomination for best international feature film last year for The Man Who Sold His Skin.
Scroll down for the full list of producers
Sara Laszlo, CEO at Hungary’s Campfilm, is another Ace Producers participant, through Denes Nagy’s The Vacation. Laszlo’s previous...
European producers platform Ace Producers has selected 18 producers for the latest edition of its Ace Producers’ Network programme, running in 2022 and 2023.
The 18 producers include Nadim Cheikhrouha of France’s Tanit Films, who will produce Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s next feature Mime. Cheikhrouha and Ben Hania secured an Oscar nomination for best international feature film last year for The Man Who Sold His Skin.
Scroll down for the full list of producers
Sara Laszlo, CEO at Hungary’s Campfilm, is another Ace Producers participant, through Denes Nagy’s The Vacation. Laszlo’s previous...
- 9/12/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Director denies wrongdoing after Toronto fest cites ‘Der Spiegel’ article alleging impropriety.
Ulrich Seidl’s controversial drama Sparta is understood to be going ahead as a San Sebastian Competition screening on September 18 despite being pulled late last week by TIFF over allegations of impropriety.
The Toronto festival made its move after an article in German publication Der Spiegel alleged child actors were insufficiently protected on set; in particular that the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
Siedl took to his website to refute...
Ulrich Seidl’s controversial drama Sparta is understood to be going ahead as a San Sebastian Competition screening on September 18 despite being pulled late last week by TIFF over allegations of impropriety.
The Toronto festival made its move after an article in German publication Der Spiegel alleged child actors were insufficiently protected on set; in particular that the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
Siedl took to his website to refute...
- 9/11/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Director denies wrongdoing after Toronto fest cites ‘Der Spiegel’ article alleging impropriety.
Ulrich Seidl’s controversial drama Sparta is understood to be going ahead as a San Sebastian Competition screening on September 18 despite being pulled late last week by TIFF over allegations of impropriety.
The Toronto festival made its move after an article in German publication Der Spiegel alleged child actors were insufficiently protected on set; in particular that the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
Siedl took to his website to refute...
Ulrich Seidl’s controversial drama Sparta is understood to be going ahead as a San Sebastian Competition screening on September 18 despite being pulled late last week by TIFF over allegations of impropriety.
The Toronto festival made its move after an article in German publication Der Spiegel alleged child actors were insufficiently protected on set; in particular that the filmmaker did not tell the youngsters or their guardians of the film’s themes before they were exposed to nudity, alcoholism and violence.
Siedl took to his website to refute...
- 9/11/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The San Sebastian Film Festival is pushing on with a competition screening of Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s new film Sparta, following a report in German magazine Der Spiegel raising concerns about the treatment of its young cast, saying only a court order would result in it dropping the film.
Deadline contacted San Sebastian following the Toronto Film Festival’s decision on Friday to pull the screening of the film in light of the Der Spiegel report. It was to have played in TIFF’S Contemporary World Cinema section on Friday afternoon.
San Sebastian, which runs September 16-24, confirmed in a statement that Sparta would make its European premiere in competition on September 18 as scheduled.
The statement reads:
“In response to the question of whether the San Sebastian Festival is going to screen the film Sparta, by Ulrich Seidl, in its Official Selection in Competition, as planned, and in view...
Deadline contacted San Sebastian following the Toronto Film Festival’s decision on Friday to pull the screening of the film in light of the Der Spiegel report. It was to have played in TIFF’S Contemporary World Cinema section on Friday afternoon.
San Sebastian, which runs September 16-24, confirmed in a statement that Sparta would make its European premiere in competition on September 18 as scheduled.
The statement reads:
“In response to the question of whether the San Sebastian Festival is going to screen the film Sparta, by Ulrich Seidl, in its Official Selection in Competition, as planned, and in view...
- 9/10/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Ulrich Seidl’s “Sparta” has been pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival amid allegations of impropriety and child exploitation against the director, but its premiere at next week’s San Sebastian Film Festival will continue as planned, Variety can reveal.
A spokesperson for the Spanish festival tells Variety on behalf of festival management that “Sparta” will remain in competition.
Providing a three-point list explaining their reasoning, San Sebastian said “the festival team assesses the films after their viewing according to their interest and quality” and that the event “does not have the ability to judge how a film has been shot and whether a crime has been committed in the course of the filming. If anyone has any evidence of a crime, they should report it to a judge.”
The statement concludes: “Only a court order would lead us to suspend a scheduled screening.”
This means that “Sparta” is...
A spokesperson for the Spanish festival tells Variety on behalf of festival management that “Sparta” will remain in competition.
Providing a three-point list explaining their reasoning, San Sebastian said “the festival team assesses the films after their viewing according to their interest and quality” and that the event “does not have the ability to judge how a film has been shot and whether a crime has been committed in the course of the filming. If anyone has any evidence of a crime, they should report it to a judge.”
The statement concludes: “Only a court order would lead us to suspend a scheduled screening.”
This means that “Sparta” is...
- 9/10/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Guy Maddin's Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux (1988/2022).Returning to the Toronto International Film Festival after a three-year personal pandemic pause—the event took place virtually in 2020 and in a hybrid edition last year—the promise of the end of summer event is as clear as it's ever been: a bounty of movies, 203 features in total, in theaters with audiences, and a hopeful return to moviegoing normality. The only major festival to simultaneously emphasize top-level highlights that premiered elsewhere during the year, along with its own selection of world premieres, the approach emphasizes the festival’s image as audience oriented, rather than prioritizing the industry. With so many films, a defined programming line is impossible and the main hope must be to try and be all things to all audiences. As an incredibly large and multifaceted cultural institution, such a broad remit is best suited to face the pressure to cater to diverse needs,...
- 9/10/2022
- MUBI
Updated with festival statement: Sparta, the German-Romanian drama from Austrian director Ulrich Seidl that is in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the Toronto Film Festival, has been pulled from the festival lineup.
The pic was scheduled to have its world premiere Friday at 12:15 p.m. local time at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
A TIFF representative tells Deadline tonight, “New information has been presented to TIFF about Sparta, directed by Ulrich Seidl. A recent investigative article published in the German magazine Der Spiegel has raised concerns that official guidelines established to protect children and keep their guardians informed when making films were not followed. Sparta had been scheduled to premiere in TIFF’s Contemporary World Cinema section, but given these allegations, we will no longer present the film. We consider Mr. Seidl to be an important contemporary filmmaker and we look forward to further clarity being brought to the issues...
The pic was scheduled to have its world premiere Friday at 12:15 p.m. local time at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
A TIFF representative tells Deadline tonight, “New information has been presented to TIFF about Sparta, directed by Ulrich Seidl. A recent investigative article published in the German magazine Der Spiegel has raised concerns that official guidelines established to protect children and keep their guardians informed when making films were not followed. Sparta had been scheduled to premiere in TIFF’s Contemporary World Cinema section, but given these allegations, we will no longer present the film. We consider Mr. Seidl to be an important contemporary filmmaker and we look forward to further clarity being brought to the issues...
- 9/9/2022
- by Patrick Hipes and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s Sparta, a drama about an Austrian man who is a non-offending pedophile and teaches judo to boys in Romania, has been pulled by the Toronto Film Festival ahead of its world premiere on Friday at Bell Lightbox.
“This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF customer relations with more information,” the Toronto film festival said in a statement on its website.
Pulling the drama follows an investigation in Germany by Der Spiegel that alleges children were exposed to violence and nudity on the film set.
“Der Spiegel reporting has found that Seidl is alleged to have intentionally left the underage amateur actors, who were between the ages of nine and 16 at the time of filming, in the dark about the fact that the film addresses pedophilia.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s Sparta, a drama about an Austrian man who is a non-offending pedophile and teaches judo to boys in Romania, has been pulled by the Toronto Film Festival ahead of its world premiere on Friday at Bell Lightbox.
“This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF customer relations with more information,” the Toronto film festival said in a statement on its website.
Pulling the drama follows an investigation in Germany by Der Spiegel that alleges children were exposed to violence and nudity on the film set.
“Der Spiegel reporting has found that Seidl is alleged to have intentionally left the underage amateur actors, who were between the ages of nine and 16 at the time of filming, in the dark about the fact that the film addresses pedophilia.
- 9/9/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival has officially cancelled the world premiere of Ulrich Seidl’s film “Sparta” after misconduct allegations emerged against the director.
Mere hours before the slated “Sparta” screening, TIFF withdrew the feature. German news outlet Der Spiegel previously published allegations of child exploitation against Seidl and the “Sparta” production on September 2.
A statement on the official TIFF festival page now reads: “This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF Customer Relations with more information.”
IndieWire has reached out to the Toronto International Film Festival for comment.
“Sparta” focuses on Ewald (Georg Friedrich), an Austrian judo teacher in Romania who is a non-offending pedophile. The film is a sequel to Seidl’s 2002 drama “Rimini,” focused on Ewald’s brother. According to Seidl, the film is based on a true story.
The Der Spiegel report alleged that...
Mere hours before the slated “Sparta” screening, TIFF withdrew the feature. German news outlet Der Spiegel previously published allegations of child exploitation against Seidl and the “Sparta” production on September 2.
A statement on the official TIFF festival page now reads: “This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF Customer Relations with more information.”
IndieWire has reached out to the Toronto International Film Festival for comment.
“Sparta” focuses on Ewald (Georg Friedrich), an Austrian judo teacher in Romania who is a non-offending pedophile. The film is a sequel to Seidl’s 2002 drama “Rimini,” focused on Ewald’s brother. According to Seidl, the film is based on a true story.
The Der Spiegel report alleged that...
- 9/9/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The Toronto International Film Festival abruptly withdrew the German-language drama “Sparta” from its lineup ahead of its planned Friday world premiere after the film’s Austrian director, Ulrich Seidl, was accused of child exploitation in connection to the film.
The festival apologized “for any inconvenience” and said ticket holders would receive an email with more information.
Last week, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported allegations children on the set of his film were exposed to violence and nudity — and were not notified in advance of the film’s pedophilia-themed storyline. “Sparta,” which has yet to screen publicly, follows the story of a pedophile who teaches judo to young boys in an abandoned school building.
TIFF said the article “raised concerns that official guidelines established to protect children and keep their guardians informed when making films were not followed.”
Also Read:
Why Making ‘Dalíland’ Was a Dream Come True for ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty...
The festival apologized “for any inconvenience” and said ticket holders would receive an email with more information.
Last week, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported allegations children on the set of his film were exposed to violence and nudity — and were not notified in advance of the film’s pedophilia-themed storyline. “Sparta,” which has yet to screen publicly, follows the story of a pedophile who teaches judo to young boys in an abandoned school building.
TIFF said the article “raised concerns that official guidelines established to protect children and keep their guardians informed when making films were not followed.”
Also Read:
Why Making ‘Dalíland’ Was a Dream Come True for ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty...
- 9/9/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The Toronto International Film Festival has withdrawn the film “Sparta” following allegations of on-set impropriety and child exploitation against Austrian director Ulrich Seidl.
“Sparta” was due to have its world premiere in Toronto on Friday afternoon. However, there had been speculation as to whether the film would remain in the festival after allegations against Seidl and the production were published on Sept. 2 in German news magazine Der Spiegel.
The investigation alleges that Seidl did not communicate the film’s theme of paedophilia to its young actors, who were between the ages of 9 and 16 and not from professional backgrounds. It’s also alleged that the actors were confronted with alcoholism, nudity and violence during the production without adequate preparation or support.
Der Spiegel says its journalists spent more than six months investigating the production of “Sparta” in Germany, Austria and Romania, and spoke to dozens of crew members, including some actors.
“Sparta” was due to have its world premiere in Toronto on Friday afternoon. However, there had been speculation as to whether the film would remain in the festival after allegations against Seidl and the production were published on Sept. 2 in German news magazine Der Spiegel.
The investigation alleges that Seidl did not communicate the film’s theme of paedophilia to its young actors, who were between the ages of 9 and 16 and not from professional backgrounds. It’s also alleged that the actors were confronted with alcoholism, nudity and violence during the production without adequate preparation or support.
Der Spiegel says its journalists spent more than six months investigating the production of “Sparta” in Germany, Austria and Romania, and spoke to dozens of crew members, including some actors.
- 9/9/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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