Fantasia Festival To Fete Nicolas Cage, Closing Night Film Revealed

Owen Wilson’s dream co-star “would love” to work with him.

Dennis Harvey Film Critic Watching Nicolas Cage add another notch to his belt of gonzo performances can be a movie’s main attraction. But it shouldn’t be all it has to offer — there ought to be some “there” there. Falling short in that regard is “Sympathy for the Devil,” a hazily familiar black comedy-cum-thriller with the star as a mystery man who carjacks Joel Kinnaman for a wild night’s ride.  Not wild enough, however, as Yuval Adler’s film seems to reprise elements from more distinctive road movies without settling on a consistent tone or persuasive narrative to call its own. Essentially a two-hander, Luke Paradise’s screenplay provides its leads with plenty of opportunity for histrionics; only a credible context and conviction are lacking. RLJE Films opens this just-passable diversion in limited U.S. theaters this Friday, July 28. 

Venice International Film Festival has announced which film will be closing the event in September.

The Venice Film Festival will close with the world premiere of J. A. Bayona’s Netflix survival thriller La Sociedad De La Nieve (Society Of The Snow).

Filmmaker James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” is in theaters now, and while it seemed to underwhelm at the global box office in its opening weekend, the film has grossed $305 million worldwide so far, so maybe there’s hope it can have some minor legs. If anything, it maybe shows how making a blockbuster with an 80-year-old star can only take you so far with audiences.

On-location filming in Los Angeles has plummeted during the ongoing Writers Guild strike to levels not seen since the dog days of the Covid pandemic, according to FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.

Oprah Winfrey has a very tight-knit inner circle and she previously said that she only has a few close friends.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Nicolas Cage has cancelled attendance at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival, North America’s biggest genre festival, where he was expected next weekend on July 22 for the world premiere of director Yuval Adler’s “Sympathy for the Devil,” where he was due to pick up Fantasia’s Cheval Noir career achievement award.  “We’re sad to announce that due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Nicolas Cage will no longer be able to attend the festival next weekend,” Fantasia has announced on its website.  “We’ll be updating our website regularly as we receive news from other announced guests while circumstances evolve. Our hearts are with the actors, as well as with the WGA, and we hope to see the unions get a fair deal soon,” the Festival added. 

Lisa Marie Presley‘s cause of death has finally been confirmed and revealed to the public.Lisa Marie Presley – the only daughter of Elvis Presley – died in January at the age of 54 from what was reported at the time as a cardiac arrest. However, a newly published report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office has confirmed that Presley died from a “sequelae of a small bowel obstruction.”Small bowel obstructions are defined as intestinal obstructions and complications that cut off the blood supply to the intestine.

It’s kinda nice to be at the point in Nicolas Cage’s career where the actor is willing to take truly batshit crazy roles. And a lot of the time, it feels as if the films he stars in are tailor-made for his own unique brand of acting.

It’s kinda nice to be at the point in Nicolas Cage’s career where the actor is willing to take truly batshit crazy roles. And a lot of the time, it feels as if the films he stars in are tailor-made for his own unique brand of acting.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Locarno Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Rotterdam”s IFFR and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival have joined forces in a new initiative called Launchpad which aims to nurture budding film professionals. The basic purpose of Launchpad is to facilitate the formative process of selected emerging film professionals working in international sales, marketing, traditional and online distribution, exhibition and programming, and funds and commissions. The idea is to give them facilitated access to a network of European film festivals spread throughout the yearly calendar.

EXCLUSIVE: VMI Worldwide has hired Scott Freije, former Vice President of Global Sales at XYZ Films, as President of Global Sales. 

Pedro Pascal, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in popular TV series and movies like “Narcos,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Last of Us,” credits his career transformation to his breakthrough role on the hit fantasy show “Game of Thrones.” In season four of the HBO series, Pascal portrayed the charismatic and memorable character Oberyn Martell  (via Far Out Magazine).Pascal describes his time on “Game of Thrones” as an incredible and ideal experience. Playing a beautifully written and iconic character allowed him to showcase his talent in a solid season of the series.

Since its inception in 1996, Quebec’s Fantasia International Film Festival has grown into the premiere festival for genre film. And the 2023 edition of the festival, set to kick off on July 20, now has a guest of honor that’s perfect for its niche.

Marta Balaga Nicolas Cage will pick up this year’s Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award at Fantasia. “He is one of the most individualistic and captivating screen presences in the last 40 years. Beyond his unique charisma, the kinds of atypical characters he’s been drawn to and what he can bring to them is so special and rare,” artistic director Mitch Davis told Variety. “Audiences lose their minds when he goes to these energetically extreme places: ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ was my first experience with that and I was absolutely floored. But they are also transfixed by the quiet, textured qualities he brings to more somber characters. He’s a one-of-a-kind treasure in American film.”

Once again, no scripted TV series are shooting on location in Los Angeles due to the ongoing Writers Guild strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.

Will Tizard Contributor Spa town Karlovy Vary is known for more than healing waters to emerging filmmakers and producers from Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Those on track to reach global audiences are well acquainted with the festival’s industry section, headlined by the Eastern Promises collection of development and marketing workshops and mentorship programs. Aside from packed panels and talks by international veterans, such as the masterclass by indie mogul Christine Vachon of Killer Films, one of the industry program’s most buzzworthy events is the regionally focused Midpoint Institute Feature Launch. This year-round training platform took off more than a decade ago to support emerging talents by helping them to integrate their projects into the marketplace. It provides them with international collaboration and networking opportunities which, as Sona Morgenthalova, Feature Launch program coordinator for Midpoint, says, have proven highly effective.

Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival concluded its 47th iteration on Saturday, June 24, with a screening of Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, directed by Oscar-winning duo Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet). The documentary feature about the titular performer’s singular spectacle was preceded by the Festival’s annual Award Ceremony, which reaffirmed the dynamic future of queer cinema.

While some parents couldn't bare the thought of taking children to Glastonbury Festival, one Manchester mum has headed to the event with four of her children.