I don’t think we can get a clearer marker that times have fully changed in the Film Biz than James Schamus leaving Focus Features. And this is a curve that is not in a positive direction.
With his bow tie no longer the Focus brand, we can firmly say that the corporate suits see no business in art. James made money from beauty, found gold by reaching higher,
Check out IndieWire’s exclusive break here.
And here’s our press release:
Sundance Institute Artist Services Program Expands Self-Distribution Opportunities
to Filmmakers Supported by Six Additional Organizations
The Bertha Foundation │ BRITDOC │ Cinereach │ Film Independent Independent Filmmaker Project │ San Francisco Film Society
Artist Services Announces Collaboration with REELHOUSE, VHX, VIMEO and TUGG, Offering Filmmakers Additional Platforms and Tools
Los Angeles, CA — Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, today announced that the Institute’s Artist Services program – which provides Institute artists with exclusive opportunities for creative self-distribution, marketing and financing solutions for their work – has expanded to include selected films supported by one foundation and five nonprofit organizations. Additionally, these organizations will join with Sundance Institute in continuing to shape the program and the services it offers.
If we didn’t have the Indie Film support organizations, you wouldn’t have indie films in the theater. Cinereach, IFP, Film Independent, SxSW, Tribeca, Sundance, and yes, my new home, the San Francisco Film Society — it takes more than a village; it takes a freakin’ army.
The proof is in the pudding. Look at all the films in theaters this week. All these films were discovered at Sundance and supported by these various organizations. Where would they be without them? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. And just the start. If you don’t go see them — and soon — our very culture will be threatened!
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD written by Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar and directed by Benh Zeitlin
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/beastsofthesouthernwild/
HELLO I MUST BE GOING written by Sarah Koskoff and directed by Todd Louiso
http://hello.oscilloscope.net/
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias and directed by Ira Sachs
http://keepthelightsonfilm.com/
LITTLE BIRDS written and directed by Elgin James
SLEEPWALK WITH ME written by Mike Birbiglia, Seth Barrish, and Joe Birbiglia and directed by Mike Birbiglia and Seth Barrish
http://www.sleepwalkmovie.com/
COMPLIANCE written and directed by Craig Zobel
http://www.magpictures.com/compliance/
THE WORDS written and directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal
