Los Angeles has long had a passionate love affair with French cinema, dating back more than 60 years ago when there were lines around the block to get into theaters showing the latest works from cinema masters such as François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and others.  Local cineastes later got their French film fixes every year […]

It takes a village to make a movie, but when it comes to producers, at best they’re stereotyped as the money people — at worst, their efforts are nullified by honorary titles handed out like Halloween candy among anyone in need of recognition. It can be difficult to discern what producers do because unlike regulated […]

Amy Poehler is ready to laugh. Poehler, who will be honored with Variety’s Legends and Groundbreakers Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Oct. 20, notes there is a running joke around the offices of her production company, Paper Kite. “You know how people talk about living in unprecedented times? We’re like, ‘Let’s get […]

Any director would love to land Mahershala Ali for their film. Now imagine getting the two-time Oscar-winner for your first feature. That’s what happened to Daniel Klein in 2000 when he hired the young actor to star in his film, which was never released or even formally presented outside screenings at a small regional film […]

Margaret Qualley and Bobby Cannavale are among the names being added to the starry line-up of honorees at the Newport Beach Film Festival, which runs Oct. 17-24. In addition, the fest announced a screening of “The Last Showgirl” on Oct. 20 that will be followed by a Q&A with director Gia Coppola, writer Kate Gersten […]