Latest news with #AustinFilmSociety
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
IndieWire Announces Inaugural Future of Filmmaking Summit at the American Pavilion at Cannes
IndieWire is proud to announce its inaugural Future of Filmmaking summit at the American Pavilion at Cannes, May 15-18. With four panels across four days, these lively conversations will speak to where the industry is going and the opportunities for emerging creatives at a time of unprecedented change. The summit is presented by United for Business. Richard Linklater will be our keynote chat in conversation with Eric Kohn, artistic director of Southampton Playhouse. The ultimate outsider-insider, Linklater has been a celebrated filmmaker for over 30 years. Before he became a Cannes regular, he was a cinephile who worked tirelessly to build a film culture in Austin, Texas. More from IndieWire 'Spring Breakers' Sequel Announced Sans Harmony Korine AMC Will Soon Offer Half-Off Pricing on Wednesdays, but Other Theaters Won't Follow Suit Just Yet The 'many hats' ethos he brought to the early days of the Austin Film Society — funding it with money earned on an offshore oil rig, and later as a bellhop — still reflects the kind of 'get 'er done' scrappiness that filmmaking demands today. With Linklater's new film debuting at Cannes, 'Nouvelle Vague,' he looks back to the start of the French New Wave, the legendary movement that reenergized cinema at another inflection point in the medium's history. He'll speak to why he's more excited about the future of film than he's been in years and why he believes that the Austin Film Society model can be exported to other cities to expand the film-culture footprint. Our panel on the future of international production will be a hot-button topic at a moment when Trump is tacking tariffs on 'foreign movies.' Harris-Bridson will lead a conversation with Watch This Ready executive vice president Emily Korteweg; Fabula North America head of film and TV, Andrew Hevia; Mandalay Pictures president Jason Michael Berman; and Oxbelly executive director Caroline von Kuhn. IndieWire editor at large Anne Thompson will also lead a one-on-one conversation with Mubi head of global distribution Arianna Bocco. She's one of the indie film world's most respected tastemakers and served as president of IFC Films, where she steered the release of major festival titles such as Venice Golden Lion winner 'Happening' as well as bold new visions from filmmakers making their feature debuts. Mubi broke through with last year's Cannes standout, 'The Substance'; with Bocco now at the helm and Mubi currently raising $100 million, the specialty streamer is poised for major expansion. We'll also host 'How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of AI,' moderated by former IndieWire editor Eric Kohn. It features Fable Studios CEO Edward Saatchi, Prezense/NVIDIA's Seth Piezas, DoubleEye Studios founder Kiira Benzing, Asteria Film Co. partner Paul Trillo, and Venice Immersive programmer Liz Rosenthal. The impact of this emerging technology on the future of filmmaking is the industry's favorite existential question and these are the people who can provide a sense of where it's going. Attendance for all panels requires a festival badge and American Pavilion membership, which can be purchased here. If you can't join us, we got you: Videos from the Future of Filmmaking summit will be published on IndieWire. Join us on the American Pavilion May 15-18. Dates and times follow. Thursday, May 1511:45amInternational Distribution: MUBI in Focus • Panelist: Arianna Bocco• Moderator: Anne Thompson Coming off a successful year that began with the launch of The Substance at the Cannes Film Festival, MUBI is riding high as the most promising international streaming entity with a global cinephile reach. The company recently hired veteran distribution executive Arianna Bocco, who ran acquisitions at IFC Films for nearly 20 years, as its SVP of Global Distribution. Bocco will share her insights on the increasing value of international territories in distribution strategy and how the landscape has changed. Friday, May 1611:00amThe Future of International Production• Panelists: Emily Korteweg (Producer, Splitsville), Andrew Hevia (Head of North American Production, Fabula), Jason Michael Berman (President, Mandalay Pictures), Caroline von Kuhn (Executive Director, Oxbelly)• Moderator: Dana Harris-Bridson As production faces increasing budgetary challenges in the U.S., more and more projects are migrating abroad. We will hear from veteran producers and financiers about how to navigate the opportunities and challenges of international co-productions. Saturday, May 172:30pmKeynote Chat: Richard Linklater• Moderator: Eric KohnSunday, May 1811:00amHow to Survive and Thrive in the Age of AI• Panelists: Edward Saatchi (Founder and CEO, Fable Studios), Kiira Benzing (Founder, DoubleEye Studios), Seth Piezas (Senior Product Manager, NVIDA/Founder, Prezense), Liz Rosenthal (Programmer, Venice Immersive), Paul Trillo (Partner, Asteria Film Co.)• Moderator: Eric Kohn The acceleration of artificial intelligence in recent years has led to rampant fears across the entertainment industry, some more founded than others. However, AI isn't going away – and its progress relates to broader changes to the future of storytelling as a whole. On this panel, we'll hear from creatives and executives about how to make the most of a new era defined by dramatic technological change. About United for Business: United's shared purpose is 'Connecting People. Uniting the World.' United offers the most diversified international route network among US airlines based on the number of international destinations served and is proud to offer a specialized travel product designed for the entertainment industry. United for Business comes with everything that will keep your production moving forward – reduced airfare, special rates for equipment, custom booking options, airport escort services and a dedicated entertainment support desk. For more information about United visit and to learn more about United for Business visit Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Axios
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Trump cuts hit Austin arts scene
At least 14 Austin-based arts groups recently learned that their previously approved grants from the National Endowment for the Arts will be terminated on May 31. Why it matters: The local arts organizations could lose millions of dollars in promised grants as the Trump administration makes sweeping cuts to federal spending, strips away diversity programs and reexamines the teaching of U.S. history. Driving the news: The groups include Zach Theatre; Grammy-winning vocal group Conspirare; Austin Film Festival; American Short Fiction magazine; Latinitas; and African drum and dance troupe Lannaya, per reporting from the Austin Chronicle. Austin Film Festival, Austin Film Society and Zach told the Chronicle they will be appealing the decision. Catch up quick: The administration in February said it would prioritize grants to arts organizations that "celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence." NEA gets about $200 million in federal funding each year, which it disburses to orchestras, theater groups, literary magazines, museums, painters and countless other cultural and state groups. What they're saying:"Losing this funding represents not just a financial challenge, but a blow to the arts ecosystem in Austin and to the cultural fabric of our country," Zach managing director Jamie Herlich said in a statement. "Government funding is a lifeline for the arts," Austin Film Society's Maury Sullivan told the Chronicle, adding that the group's $70,000 grant for the current fiscal year and the $35,000 grant for 2026 have been canceled.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elijah Wood says the 'Lord of the Rings' cast's low salaries on the multibillion-dollar trilogy were 'understandable'
Elijah Wood said it was understandable that "The Lord of the Rings" cast didn't get paid much. Last year, his costar Cate Blanchett joked she "basically got free sandwiches" to be in the film. Wood told BI he knows Blanchett's comments were in jest and none of them regret being in the movies. The classic 2001 film "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" may have launched a multibillion-dollar fantasy trilogy, but star Elijah Wood said the offer he got to play Frodo Baggins wasn't exactly the payday of a lifetime — and he's OK with that. "Because we weren't making one movie and then renegotiating a contract for the next, it wasn't the sort of lucrative scenario that you could sort of rest easy for the rest of your life," Wood told Business Insider on the red carpet for the 2025 Texas Film Awards hosted by the Austin Film Society. Wood described New Line Cinema's buy-in on three movies featuring a sprawling ensemble cast as "a real gamble," one that he said was mitigated by "not massive salaries." He called the trade-off understandable, especially given how life-changing the trilogy was for everyone involved. "The benefit of that was that we were also signing up for something that was going to be a part of our lives forever," he said. Of course, that gamble worked out for everyone involved in the end. The trilogy went on to make New Line nearly $3 billion at the box office, launch an equally lucrative prequel trilogy, and turbo-charge the careers of many of its stars — including Wood, who's currently starring in season two of the Starz psychological thriller "Yellowjackets" in addition to producing films through his company SpectreVision. Wood's comments come after Cate Blanchett, who played the elf Galadriel, made waves last year when she said she essentially got paid in free sandwiches to appear in the films. While Blanchett didn't share specific numbers, several other "LOTR" stars have disclosed their salaries. Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, said in 2019 that he got $175,000 for the three movies, but called it the "greatest gift" of his life and said he'd do it again for half that. Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee, said he got about $250,000 for the films and also hinted that the cast had agreed not to talk about their pay by the time the third film, "The Return of the King," came out in 2003. When asked about unconfirmed rumors that he was paid $250,000 for "The Fellowship of the Ring," Wood said that figure wasn't accurate but declined to elaborate. "It doesn't matter," he told BI. He added that while Blanchett's sandwiches comment was admittedly "hilarious," he knows that she and the rest of the cast were grateful to have been part of the film. "Statements like that are not made with any kind of ire," Wood said. "It's such an honor to have been a part of those films and they represent some of the best experiences of my life." Read the original article on Business Insider
