FIRST WEEKENDERS GROUP WEEKLY UPDATE

August 8th, 2008 by liz

www.moviesbywomen.com
FEATURES DIRECTED by WOMEN

>> HIGHLIGHTS

++ Elegy directed by Isabel Coixet
opens nationwide this weekend

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>> PREMIERING week of August 8, 2008

Buy opening weekend tickets for films directed by women.

++ Elegy directed by Isabel Coixet

++ Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 directed by Sanaa Hamri

++ Order of Myths directed by Margaret Brown
Opens in L.A.

Current but check your local listings.

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>> SPONSORSHIP

++ We don’t mean to get all public radio on you, but we’re in
GREAT NEED OF DONATIONS to keep the First Weekenders
Group Weekly Update, MoviesByWomen.com, our podcasts,
and all other content/programming going.

Please consider dropping a check (for $50, $25, even $10)
in the mail or donating online at:

http://moviesbywomen.com/donate.php

Please note: We are able to offer a tax-deductible contribution
via check or credit card, through the generosity of New York
Women in Film & Television. Write checks out to: NYWIFT
(New York Women In Film and Television).
Mail to: Tara Veneruso, 419 N. Larchmont Blvd. #90
Los Angeles, CA 90004.

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++ Check out our new IN PRODUCTION section (below)!

To add your own listings, please email info@moviesbywomen.com
the film title, director name, stage of production, genre, and URL.
No other info can be printed. A $10 donation is requested for listing.

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++ ENTER OUR CONTEST!
You could be one of five winners of a DVD of Stop-Loss. Visit
http://blog.moviesbywomen.com and take our quiz to enter.

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If you’re interested in placing an ad for sponsorship, please
email us for rates. If you have a newsworthy event that you’d
like to be considered for an upcoming blog listing, podcast, or
FWGroup event, simply reply to this email.

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This e-mail compiled and edited by: Elizabeth Barker &
Katie Lanegran. If you have information on new releases, please
email us (simply hit reply).

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>>MOVIE OF THE MONTH

++ Frozen River directed by Courtney Hunt
Info: http://www.sonyclassics.com/frozenriver/

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>>Special Event Screenings, NEW YORK

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>>Special Event Screenings, LOS ANGELES

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++ Dealing directed by Lena Dunham
What: short film screening as part of a showcase of new talent emerging
from the Slamdance Film Festival
When: August 9 at 7:30
Where: Engineering Cinematheque at Studio 1636 (1636 Wilcox Ave. in L.A.)

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>>Special Event Screenings, AROUND THE WORLD

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++ Because opening-weekend box office numbers in N.Y. and L.A.
can make or break whether a film will travel to the rest of the U.S.,
it’s crucial for us to boost ticket sales for women-directed movies
in those cities. If you live outside of N.Y. or L.A., please consider
buying tickets online to help support female directors.

++ Do you know of a special screening or film event in your city?
Tell us about it - we strive to make the First Weekenders Group an
international news blast. For listings, email news@moviesbywomen.com

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>>CO-SPONSORSHIP

-Get your ad placed here to reach over 3,000 readers!
Great for film publicity! Email: news@moviesbywomen.com

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>>IN THEATERS NOW week of August 8, 2008

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We can only make a change if we affect box
office sales! YOU can buy a ticket over the
phone in NYC or LA without actually being there.
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++ All in This Tea directed by Gina Leibrecht & Les Blank

++ American Teen directed by Nanette Burnstein

++ Blindsight directed by Lucy Walker

++ Brick Lane directed by Sarah Gavron

++ Chris & Don: A Love Story
directed by Tina Mascara & Guido Santi

++ Death Defying Acts directed by Gillian Armstrong

++ Expired directed by Cecilia Miniucchi

++ Flow directed by Irena Salina

++ Frozen River directed by Courtney Hunt

++ Holding Trevor directed by Rosser Goodman

++ How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer
directed by Georgina Garcia Reidel

++ Jellyfish directed by Shira Geffen & Etgar Keret

++ Kicking It directed by Susan Koch

++ Kit Kittredge: An American Girl directed by Patricia Rozema

++ The Last Mistress directed by Catherine Breillat

++ La Riviere Gentille directed by Brigitte Cornand

++ Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress, and the Tangerine
directed by Marion Cajori

++ Mamma Mia! Directed by Phyllida Lloyd

++ Meet Bill directed by Melisa Wallack & Bernie Goldmann

++ Operation Filmmaker directed by Nina Davenport

++ Order of Myths directed by Margaret Brown

++ Paraguayan Hammock directed by Paz Encina

++ A Previous Engagement directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin

++ Red Roses and Petrol directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs

++ Refusenik directed by Laura Bialis

++ Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
directed by Marina Zenovich

++ Stealing America: Vote by Vote directed by Dorothy Fadiman

++ The Stone Angel directed by Kari Skogland

++ Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon
directed by Penny Peyser and Doug McIntyre

++ Viva directed by Anna Biller

++ A Walk into the Sea directed by Esther Robinson

++ War Made Easy directed by Loretta Alper & Jeremy Earp

++ Water directed by Saida Medvedeva

++ Water Lilies directed by Celine Sciamma

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>> REVIEWS OF THE WEEK: WRITTEN BY YOU

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Written by you - simply reply to this email.
(Please be brief when responding)
Anonymous if not otherwise requested.
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When was the last time you saw a romantic comedy where the
lead lovebirds were over 40? “Over what?!” you say? When was
the last time you saw a film where you see real
“the teenager-buried-in-your-heart” passion brewing between
middle-aged people?? Not an affair between a man in his 60s and
a cute young thing in her 20s, but an actual, honest-to-goodness,
love affair between middle-aged attractive (but real-looking)
contemporaries. Got you interested?? It is definitely a novel thing in
films, but believe it or not there is a film out there today
where you can experience this rare phenomenon.

A Previous Engagement, written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin
and starring Juliet Stevenson, is a middle-aged woman’s story of love
and passion, regret and dreams. The 40-plus woman is the lead and
the whole core of the movie, and indeed, the very center moving the
storyline. The story of her struggle and transition. The struggle of her
facing her unfulfilled dreams and love, and the consequences she will
encounter when she finally decides whether to make those dreams come
true or to give them up. Whether you like or dislike the decision she
makes, in the end you know she did not make it easily. She dug deep,
deep, down and after much soul searching did what she thought
was best for her. And you have to love her for that.

It was a thought-provoking, gut-wrenching and hilarious ride to
making that decision, but it was one exciting journey. It woke her up
and brought her to life and that is a good thing - for all of us. AND it is
a well-written, well-executed, beautifully-acted roller coaster of a romantic
ride. Plus let’s add in a truly gorgeous romantic location. I thoroughly
enjoyed and bought the journey of this woman and the other characters
in this film. It resonated with me, as I know it will with you. Go see it
for yourself, and enjoy the ride as I did.

-Debbie Zipp, In the Trenches Productions
http://www.inthetrenchesproductions.com/

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Make your voice heard by sending us your reviews
of new women-directed films - simply hit reply to this email!

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>> COOL SITES/ARTICLES/HAPPENINGS

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Watch Rossana Jeran’s 6º GEMINI (a short film about the insatiable
drive for the power, wealth and domination of oil) online at
http://www.whendoesitstop.com or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ9e1nET88I

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Elevate is actively seeking talent to participate in its fifth festival of
conscious-uplifting media. Female filmmakers are especially
encouraged to apply - please visit www.elevateexperience.com
and click on “submissions.” Deadline is August 22, 2008.

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MoviesByWomen.com has added a message board!
To start sounding off about all that’s happening in
the world of female filmmakers, check it out now:

http://forum.moviesbywomen.com/

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>> Get inspired: Organize a home screening party!
We love the website www.filmstoseebeforeyouvote.com
so much that we’ve decided to start up our own home-screening
series. To throw your own home screening, invite over your
friends and colleagues to watch a film directed by a woman
(check our weekly DVD release section for ideas). Hold a
lively discussion or debate afterwards, just like you would
with a book group. Each month we’ll recommend a
DVD to view at your screening party.

This August we recommend American Zombie directed by Grace Lee.

Send us your feedback and let’s get rocking!
news@moviesbywomen.com

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>>COMING SOON

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++ Stealing America: Vote by Vote directed by Dorothy Fadiman
Opens August 15 in L.A.

++ Let Me Be Your Band directed by Heather & Derek Emerson
When: August 21 at 8 p.m.
++ Far Away Town from Dunedin to Nashville
directed by Bridget Sutherland
When: August 28 at 8 p.m.
Where: Don’t Knock the Rock at the Silent Movie Theatre in L.A.
Info: http://silentmovietheatre.com/calendar/thursday.html#july

++ College directed by Deb Hagan
Opens August 29

++ Ping Pong Playa directed by Jessica Yu

++ The Women directed by Diane English
Opens September 12

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>>DVD RELEASES

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++ Nim’s Island directed by Jennifer Flackett

++ Stop-Loss directed by Kimberly Peirce

++ Single directed by Jane Scandurra & Richard Atkinson
Info: http://www.singlefilm.com/

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>>TELEVISION/CABLE/MISC.

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++ Editor’s Note: Please visit www.withoutabox.com
for extended festival listings.
We do accept sponsorship listings.
Email us for inquiries - news@moviesbywomen.com

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>>Hey, directors! Send us your TV or cable releases.

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>> IN PRODUCTION

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++ To add your own listings, please email info@moviesbywomen.com
the film title, director name, stage of production, genre, and URL.
No other info can be printed. A $10 donation is requested for listing.

++ RISK: At-Risk Girls Behind the Camera / Feature Documentary
Directed by Tara Veneruso (also the founder of moviesbywomen.com)
Shooting in: Kansas City, Texas, and Los Angeles. 2007-2009.
Info: WWW.RISKTHEMOVIE.COM
Needs: Seeking PAs and volunteers to work on this special documentary. Or
help an at-risk teen girl by becoming a sponsor (see site for details).

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>> FILM FESTIVALS

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* For festival listings, please email info@moviesbywomen.com the festival
name, dates, city, and URL. No other info can be printed. A $35 donation
is required for fest listings. Please consider a $75 sponsorship 2 week
listing for best placement.

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>>MOVIES BY WOMEN NEWS

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Join in the conversation! Visit blog.moviesbywomen.com
for news from the front lines on women working in Hollywood.

Check out our three new podcast episodes, including
our video podcast with director Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary),
who discusses the making of 14 Women (her documentary on
the 14 women of the U.S. Senate). Plus, tune into Dr. Martha
Lauzen’s audio podcast on the statistics of women working in Hollywood.

YOU DON’T NEED AN iPOD TO LISTEN. Just tune in to the MBW
Podcast Channel from your desktop computer at
http://moviesbywomen.com/ OR subscribe on iTunes or
YouTube.com - all for FREE.

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>>SUBLETS IN N.Y. & L.A.

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>>MISC.

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>> If you’re a journalist interested in publishing your articles
on MoviesByWomen.com, please e-mail us at news@moviesbywomen.com

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Editorial & Technical Office:
Director: Tara Veneruso
419 N. Larchmont Blvd. #90
Los Angeles, CA 90004
EMAIL: movies@moviesbywomen.com

To advertise, contact:
Tara Veneruso
EMAIL: movies@moviesbywomen.com

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Donations Needed For First Weekenders Group.

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Please consider dropping something ($50, $25, even $10)
in the mail. To donate with
PAYPAL: www.moviesbywomen.com/member.html

Please note: The only way we are currently able to
offer a tax-deductible contribution is via check or
credit card, through the generosity of New York Women
in Film & Television. Write checks out to: NYWIFT
(New York Women In Film and Television).
Mail to: Tara Veneruso, 419 N. Larchmont Blvd. #90
Los Angeles, CA 90004.

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WHO WE ARE

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The First Weekenders Group supports features directed
by women the first weekend they arrive at the box office.
The service goes to over 3,000 people who are helping
raise the box office numbers for women directed features.
Buying tickets to women directed features is how we
can make a direct impact on the industry.

We attend features directed by women the first weekend
they arrive at the box office. To accomplish this we buy
tickets and go to the movies. Please purchase a ticket
even if you cannot attend the movie that week. The
list focuses on New York and Los Angeles.

We are not an organization, but rather a loose collective
seeking to attain equality for women in film and television,
and all media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide,
in perpetuity.

To recommend events reply to this email by Thursday
afternoons otherwise it cannot be listed until the
following week.

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CO-SPONSORS OF THE FIRST WEEKENDERS GROUP

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www.nywift.org

New York Women in Film & Television is a nonprofit membership
organization dedicated to helping women reach the highest
levels of achievement in the film, television and new media
industries, and to promoting equity for women in these industries.
In addition to providing services to members, NYWIFT plays an
important role in recognizing and encouraging the contributions
of women to the field. NYWIFT was founded in 1978 and now
numbers more than 1,200 professional members working in all
areas of the film, television and new media. Part of an
international network of Women in Film and Television
chapters representing 10,000 members worldwide, NYWIFT
produces more than fifty innovative educational programs
And special events each year, in which many highly distinguished
producers, directors, writers, craftspeople and industry leaders
participate as guest speakers and panelists.

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Posted in First Weekenders Group