Critics Agree: See STARLET This Weekend

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Check it:

LA Times: "One of the year's most arresting, heartfelt indies".

NY Times (Manhola Dargis): "The bright sun that blasts through “Starlet,” a thrillingly, unexpectedly good American movie about love and a moral awakening, bathes everything in a radiant light, even the small houses with thirsty lawns and dusty cars. This isn’t nowhere, but it’s right next door..."

Variety: "Though named after a party girl's pet Chihuahua, "Starlet" could just as easily describe the two exceptional first-timers making their debuts in this brittle, beautifully understated San Fernando Valley character study"

Village Voice: "An empathic, absorbing tale of the old and the beautiful, Starlet tracks an unlikely intergenerational friendship in the San Fernando Valley. Director Sean Baker's genuine admiration for these two women extends to their idiosyncrasies, yet they never become fools, whores, saints, or coots."

NPR: "Starlet represents a welcome throwback to the smoggy West Coast character studies of the 1970s"

The Onion AV Club: "Starlet is refreshingly unsentimental in its depiction of both youth and age. Starlet is an unusually subtle, quiet character study that builds to a quietly powerful climax"

And if you want something from the man on the street, how does @RealRonHoward grab you?  "We really enjoyed Starlet Excellent performances pic.twitter.com/nDyhQYqE"

Need I say more?  The 1st weekend of a film, as you know damn well, makes or breaks an indie.  Please check it out this weekend in New York or LA.

COLLABORATOR in Manchester, UK Next Week

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Yup.  You can see Martin Donovan's debut feature on the big screen next week (October 7th) if you are in Manchester, UK.  Yup, this is the very same film that David Morse won the Best Actor Award for in Karlovy Vary.  And it is the same one that I developed and Executive Produced.  Let me know if you go.  I think you'll dig it.  And if you don't like it, send me your receipt, and I will reimburse you!

http://gmffcollaborator.eventbrite.com/

First Peek At Double Hope's Next Film

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Vanessa has been filming a documentary on US/China diplomacy, tentatively entitled "The Forty Year Engagement". Part of it follows the former US Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman. She was just in Utah, to show Mr. Huntsman, the former Governor of Utah, where they are on the project. Suffice it to say it was a successful trip. The local television picked up on it. Check it out: http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_2247.shtml#.UGUFEeLvZUQ.twitter

Be Among The First To See Sean Baker's STARLET

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Yes, it's true: STARLET premiered in the USA in competition at SXSW (where it won Best Actor) , and just recently made it's international debut in competition at Locarno (where it won the Junior Jury Award), quickly followed by Oldenburg (Germany).  And it's been getting great reviews.  Music Box is set to release in the States late fall or early winter, and we have a whole long list of places you may be able to catch Starlet first.  In fact there are six more prestigious fests that are to screen it that I could not list because they have yet to announce their line-ups.   But check out all the places you can see it first:

Upcoming festival screenings for STARLET:

• Vancouver (Canada)
Section: Cinema of Our Time 
Attending: Sean
Sept. 29th: 6:15pm
Sept. 30th: 10:30am

• Reykjavik (Iceland)
Section: Main Competition
Attending: Radium
Oct 1st: 2pm
Oct 2nd: 8pm
Oct 3rd: 10pm
 
• Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Sept. 27-Oct. 11
Screening dates tbd

• BFI London (UK)
Section: Love
Attending: Sean
Oct 12th: 8:45pm
Oct 14th: 6pm
Oct 16th: 9pm
 
• Hamptons (NY)
Section: World Cinema
Oct. 6th: 5pm
Oct. 7th: 10:15pm
Attending: Kevin, Francesca, Dree, Allan, Radium, Chris Bergoch, Blake (tbd), Sean (tbd)
 
• Woodstock (NY)
Section: Narrative Features
Oct. 12th: 2pm
Oct. 14th: 3:45pm
Attending: Blake, Chris Bergoch, Shih-Ching (tbd), Radium (tbd)
 
• Hawaii 
Section: New American Filmmakers
Oct. 16th: 6:45pm
Oct. 20th: 1:15pm
Attending: Radium
 
• Mill Valley (CA)
Section: US Cinema
Oct. 4th: 9:45pm
Oct. 6th: 10pm
 
• Chicago (IL)
Section: World Cinema
Oct. 13th: 4:15pm
Oct. 20th: 9:30pm
Attending: tbd
 
You will be able to check it out soon, and I hope you do.  I had the good fortune of being able to lend a hand in getting it done, and have an Executive Producer credit as a result.

Todd Solondz's DARK HORSE Is Available On iTunes In America!

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I know that my true friends went to see my latest production in the theaters.  Okay maybe a few of them didn't but had great excuses, like watching their children.  Well, for all that missed it here is the film that the NYTimes, New York Magazine, and the New Yorker all raved about; now on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/dark-horse/id546590346

What else could you want to do this weekend?