BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, has announced its "longlists", a rather quaint annual exercise that reduces the number of potential candidates for BAFTA Awards to 15. At the moment, in one of the key races of the awards season, the historical epic THE KING'S SPEECH and the ballet-goes-mad BLACK SWAN are tied for most mentions (to be translated in a few weeks time to most nominations). Not far behind are the films INCEPTION and THE SOCIAL NETWORK. The Leading Actor candi...

There was a protest today about the Algerian movie, and the French people are concerned how this piece of history might reflect its point of view.  Passing through Paris there was news of a protest in the city which greatly effected traffic.   Last Monday meetings and flights were cancelled again for those flying in and out of Heathrow and Rotterdam, with renewed concern because of volcanic ash.  None of this stopped the artists, and producers from coming to Cannes to continue their wo...

                                                     The Palais at Cannes: photo by Marc Halperinby Marla Lewin There was a protest today about the Algerian movie, and the French people are concerned how this piece of history might reflect its point of view.  Passing through Paris there was news of a protest in the city which greatly effected traffic.  Last Monday meetings and flights were cancelled again for those flying in and out of Heathrow and Rotterdam, with ...

Focus Feature's new movie "Hanna" was sold to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group, which is quickly becoming a major buyer of independent films.  Sony made an aggressive move purchasing distribution rights for every territory that it could, except for the following places that Focus retains the rights for: US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Israel, Middle East, and CIS.  This marks the largest market deal so far here in Cannes, according to "The Variety."  &qu...

Director Mike Leigh discusses the idea of mortality in relation to his new film, Another Year, at the press conference here in Cannes.  ...

Six-time Oscar nominated writer and director Mike Leigh appeared disgruntled and gruff at the start of Saturday morning's press conference following the premiere of his in competition film, Another Year. Leigh abrubtly refused to answer the first reporter's question, shouting: "I'm not taking any questions from you, and you know why!" The audience, seeming both taken aback and amused at this sudden outburst, became noticeably more alert.Leigh and his cast, including Jim Broadbent, Lesl...

        The competitive film, Another Year, by Mike Leigh, received two thumbs up from the audience that walked out of the Grande Theatre Lumierethis Saturday morning. Leigh’s premier was an ensemble comedy drama that starredhis usual cast of Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Lesley Manville.Happiness and the passing of time are the themes that seem to percolate throughthe movie. One viewer expressed that Leigh seemed to display what doesn’tchange in our lives than w...