Frank Langella, Alexander Payne Among 2012 Nantucket Film Fest Draws
Frank Langella will receive the Nantucket Film Festival’s 2012 Compass Rose Acting Award, described by fest organizers as "a unique honor that recognizes an outstanding performer whose contribution to the world of acting has been profound." Screenwriting duo Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt, Sideways) will also be showcased with a reading of their newest script The Lost Cause; the festival plans to announce the reading cast in the coming weeks.
Payne, Harvey Weinstein Honored at UCLA Fest
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) Film Festival has announced Alexander Payne as its Filmmaker of the Year Award honoree, while Harvey Weinstein is set to pick up TFT’s prestigious Champion Spirit Award. Both will receive their prizes at the Directors Guild on Thursday, June 14 during the Directors Showcase. The festival runs Friday, June 8 through Thursday, June 14.
Revenge For Jolly! Scores With SWAG
Sony Worldwide Acquisitions Group has acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Revenge for Jolly!, director Chadd Harbold's dark comedy "that examines the moral ambiguity of revenge." The film recently premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival; the acquisition marks the first for the newly-formed affiliate company of Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment.
Luc Besson Pacts With Relativity For a Pair
Relativity Media has struck a co-production and co-financing deal with Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp on the upcoming films Malavita and Three Days to Kill. Besson will direct Malavita, a "darkly comedic actioner" starring Robert De Niro and adapted by Besson from the book Badfellas by author Tonino Benacquista. Filming is set for August at La Cité du Cinéma, where the brand new Studios de Paris are located.
Sundance Selects Nabs Angels' Share
Sundance Selects has acquired all US rights to The Angels' Share, director Ken Loach's recent Cannes competition premiere. The film stars Paul Brannigan, Siobhan Reilly, John Henshaw, Gary Maitland, William Ruane, Jasmin Riggins and Roger Allam; read more about its Cannes coming-out party here.
Hong Sang-soo's English Debut Lands With Kino Lorber
The South Korean auteur's current Cannes competition entry In Another Country will come to America via Kino Lorber. The film features Isabelle Huppert playing "three different characters in three different story segments - all of them spanning from the imagination of a young film student called Wonju (Jung Yumi)."