Tribeca Film Festival Leadership Change; Broadway Musicals Headed to the Big Screen: Biz Break

Also in Thursday afternoon's round-up of news briefs, Strand Releasing and Cinema Guild pick up films for U.S. release. Ashely Judd and Robert Forster take on roles in an upcoming action-thriller and Universal sets a release for The Man with the Iron Fists.

Nancy Schafer Departs Tribeca Film Festival
Schafer has served in various posts with the festival since its beginning in 2002, including the post of executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival which she assumed in 2009. She will continue in a consultation capacity going forward while she pursues other interests. "Nancy has been a key part of Tribeca since the festival was founded in 2002," Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal said. "She helped grow the festival into the international showcase it is today and was instrumental in the formation of Tribeca Enterprises, the festival's parent company. We will miss her immensely--she will always be considered family."

Strand Takes Rights to Dreams of a Life
The doc centers on the death of 38 year-old Joyce Vincent who passed away in North London in 2003. Her skeleton was discovered three years later with her heating and television still on. Newspaper reports knew little about her and director Carol Morley seeks to find out who she is and how someone can be so forgotten today. Strand plans to open the film it picked up from Entertainment One August 3rd.

Cinema Guild Picks Up The Law in These Parts
The distributor nabbed U.S. distribution rights to Ra’anan Alexandrowicz’s Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury Prize winner The Law in These Parts, which it will open in November. The film explores the four-decade-old Israeli military legal system in the Occupied Territories. 

Around the 'net…

Big Movie Musicals are Coming
Universal is moving forward to adapt the hit musical Wicked while Jon Favreau is in negotiations to direct Jersey Boys, Deadline reports.

Ashley Judd, Robert Forster Board Olympus Has Fallen
They join the White House-set action thriller starring Gerard Butler, which is being directed by Antoine Fuqua. Judd plays the first lady, while Butler will play a Secret Service agent trying to stop Korean terrorists who have taken over the White House, THR reports.

Universal Sets Date for The Man with the Iron Fists
The action-adventure, produced by Quentin Tarantino will be released by Universal on November 2nd. Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA is directing the project starring Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu, Deadline reports.