FOX SEARCHLIGHT
I'm continuing my look at the "independent" type production/distribution firms that have had a significant presence at the Teluuride Film Festival over the past few years in order to look at their possible offerings for this year's fest. Today's company is Fox Searchlight.
FS has had a number of high profile films over the past several years at T-ride including:
As distributor and/or production company:
2011: Shame, The Descendants
2010: 127 Hours, Never Let Me Go, Black Swan
2008: Slumdog Millionaire
2007: Juno, The Savages
2006: The Namesake, The Last King of Scotland
2004: Kinsey
2000: Quills
Take note of three things:
1) FS plays most years (especially since 2006)
2) FS averages 2 films per year when they play
3) FS does NOT always play...ex. 2009
4) When they do have offerings, they're almost always a part of the year end awards conversation.
So what's the takeaway?
Fox Searchlight's slate this year is not particularly large nor Telluride friendly.
Chan-wook Park's "Stoker" has been getting a lot of buzz, but doesn't seem particularly Telluride-like.
Ben Lewin's "Sessions" premiered at Sundance...
Benh Zeitlin's "Beasts of the Southern Wild" opened today in New York and L.A.
Jonathan Dayton and Valeire Faris' "Ruby Sparks" opens July 25.
Nothing else listed at the FS page on IMDb seems likely in terms of content or time frame.
Now, there is "The East" from director Zal Batmanglij that is NOT currently listed with Fox Searchlight on IMDb but is reported as an FS project in the media. "The East" has no announced release date and is listed as being post-production. It was written by (and also stars) indie rising star Batmanglij and Brit Marling who also co-wrote "Sound of My Voice". Marling also penned and starred in 2011 Sundance sensation "Another Earth".
"The East" co-writer/star Brit Marling
"The East" also stars Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Patricia Clarkson and Julia Ormand
So, ultimately, "The East" becomes Fox Searchlight's best Telluride option by default. That's why I have it listed on this week's (and the summer's first) "Ten Bets" list posted Monday.
I'm still hoping (and nagging) that "Sessions" gets on the Telluride program despite having had its premiere at Sundance.
Fox Searchlight's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0028932/
"The East's" IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1869716/
Tomorrow a look at Sony Pictures Classics.
BEST ACTOR
Take a look at Gold Derby's 8 editor's picks for likely Best Actor nominations here:
http://www.goldderby.com/awardshows/editors/oscars-2012-nominations-nominations/best-actor.html#
Taken collectively the Gold Derby folks shake out this way:
1) Daniel Day-Lewis/Lincoln
2) Philip Seymour Hoffman/The Master
3) Bill Murray/Hyde Park on Hudson
4) Leonardo DiCaprio/Great Gatsby
5) Hugh Jackman/Les Miserables
with John Hawkes/Sessions just on the outside.
Outliers: Joaquin Pheonix, Jamie Foxx, Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer and Mads Mikkelsen (for The Hunt which I believe has a shot at TFF #39)
And then look at them through the prism of Telluride's recent record of providing the springboard for the eventual winner: Jean Dujardin, Colin Firth, Daniel Day-Lewis, Forest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
You have to wonder if this provides some programming insights.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
On a related note, here's a link to Rope of Silicon's early line on Best supporting Actor:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/early-list-2013-best-supporting-actor-oscar-contenders/
And finally, a note of condolence and memory for Nora Ephron (1941-2012): She penned Silkwood, Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Julie and Julia as well as directed.
More later...
Follow me on Twitter @Gort2
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