Eye on the Mideast: Fest adds Africa-savvy curator

For Rasha Salti, the festival's newly created position of programmer for African and Middle Eastern Cinema in February couldn't have come her way at a more exciting time for the vast and varied cinematic region."With the revolutions across the Middle East, people are waiting to see how it's going to affect cinema," she says from her Beirut homebase. Despite a few key regional festivals canceled this year, Salti says, "There's a new political horizon for every country, and transformative conversations are happening within the state institutions that sponsor filmmaking and festivals."Salti has programmed a from-the-revolutionary-frontlines Egyptian omnibus pic slotted in Mavericks, an Iraqi docu, two from Morocco, two from Lebanon (including Variety's 2008 Director to Watch Nadine Labaki's sophomore pic "Where Do We Go Now?") and a Tunisian film that she considers a perfect example of the "crazy but completely captivating stories" she is encountering in Africa.In the world-preeming "Almost Brando," Tunisian cinema master Ridha Behi melds his story of finding young Brando look-alike Anis Raache -- "the spitting image of the man in his 20s," Salti asserts -- and encountering Brando himself at home (with ideas for a script and an oxygen tank) just a few months before the Hollywood legend's death."There is something really exciting going on in African cinema," Salti says. "I think it's a reaction that will be sustained -- as Europe stopped being interested in Africa and European producers turned their back on the industry, I suspect African filmmakers have started to make the films they want to make." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

First Look: 'Coriolanus' Poster Featuring Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler (Exclusive)

A new poster for The Weinstein Company's Coriolanus reveals a dramatic face off between two leading men, Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler. The film, based on a play by William Shakespeare, follows Caius Martius "Coriolanus" (Fiennes), a powerful Roman general, who is at odds with the city of Rome. When he seems the esteemed position of Consul, he lacks the votes and love of the public needed to win the title. His anger at the public's dislike of him causes a riot that leads to his expulsion from Rome. Coriolanus is forced to turn to his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Butler), for the help he needs to take revenge on the city. VIDEO: 'Coriolanus' Trailer: Ralph Fiennes Takes Shakespeare to Another Level Fiennes, who makes his directorial debut with Coriolanus, is familiar with the play because he was part of a stage production that was directed by Jonathan Kent. Gerard Butler The Weinstein Company Coriolanus Ralph Fiennes

Fragile Machine

Fragile Machine is an underground cg film about science, religion, and man's role in a new nature of which he has partial authorship. Through a unique combination of animation and music which some have likened to an 'electronic operetta' it tells the story of the first girl to be built in a factory instead of born from a womb. The questions abound regarding her creation. Why was she made? Does she have a soul? Where would she go if she died? These and other questions are all examined in a fractured and experimental way. As in opera, the story serves the music and visuals, whose style embodies the drama of the piece. It is intended for audiences who love film and animation for their own sake, who want to take time to dissect a massively layered and compressed work and extract meaning and underlying structure. The work draws upon conclusions from quantum physics about the structure of reality, and attempts to build a bridge between numerous philosophical and religious traditions including western existentialism, Buddhism, Zen nature-worship, Jungian Analysis and Christianity. Every frame has been imbued with meaning, and the loving attention to detail is almost heartbreaking, as Leda Nea asks the darkness who she is, and why. Featuring six chapters, it merges advanced computer animation and music in a wholly new method of postmodern storytelling. Woven into the film's hypnotic narrative are fractured and nonlinear examinations of humanity's roots and future.

Gerard Butler is The Bricklayer

The news that Gerard Butler is starring in a film called The Bricklayer initially conjures up the prospect of a ghastly, '70s sex comedy in which a leering Butler double entendres his way through the bedrooms of a string of bored housewives.Now we've planted that rather unpleasant image in your minds, you'll be happy to know that The Bricklayer is in fact an action-packed thriller, in which a former FBI agent returns to the bureau in order to help combat a gang with ever increasing ransom demands.The film is based on the novel of the same name by former FBI agent Noah Boyd, and Butler has reportedly signed on to play lead character Steve Vail.The title refers to Vail's new line of civilian work, so expect at least one scene in which Butler works up a sweat with his shirt off, before being called back to duty by his old employers.The script is currently being adapted by Enigma writer Hanna Weg, with no director attached as yet. Next to be cast will likely be a female deputy director at the FBI, who ends up tasked to work with Vail following his return to work. Sexual chemistry ahoy...Source: THRExcited by The Bricklayeror should Butler stick to the dodgy romcoms? Let us know.

Hollywood Reacts to Stock Market Plunge

Hollywood is taking Washington to task for the nation's recent financial crises. Concerns have been mounting since credit ratings agency Standard & Poor downgraded the U.S. from its longtime AAA status on Friday to AA, resulting in both serious concerns and light-hearted jokes among Twitter users. STORY: Analysts Debate Entertainment Stocks, Debt Issues as US Market Drops Again Modern Family writer Danny Zuker suggested that Henry Winkler take a cue from his Happy Days character and hit Washington. "I feel like you need to go down to Wall Street, put on the old leather jacket, punch the stock market and fix it!" he suggested via Twitter. "So tempted," Winkler replied. "But the jacket is in Washington." Rapper Chamilionaire noted on Friday, "Yesterday @BeatBullies noticed how fast the stock market was falling & today we learn that the US lost its AAA credit rating. Crazy times." STORY: Could the Media Have Fueled Stock Market Crash? "Dear Stock Market, Please try to use something other than abject terror to motivate your movements. The world is actually not falling apart," wrote Eureka actor Colin Ferguson over the weekend. "Wow... Who knew all you had to do was to ask the stock market nicely.... (or all the e-traders gave themselves heart attacks and died.)" The Office star Rainn Wilson couldn't let the news pass without a joke. "If you sold your stocks today you're a p**sy. F**k S & P. America is AAAA in my economic book," he posted. Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane thought, "Somehow a double-A credit rating seems more American anyway." "The economy is so bad, P.Diddy had to change is name to P.Diddly Squat," wrote The Tonight Show host Jay Leno. Chelsea Lately comedian Chris Franjola joked, "I saw Uncle Sam shopping at the 99 cent store." STORY: Ashton Kutcher Makes National Debt Comment, Sings as He Accepts Teen Choice Award Ashton Kutcher attempted to draw attention to the debt crisis among teens while accepting a Teen Choice Award on Sunday. "Don't ever charge anything on a credit card unless you know you already have the money in the bank," Kutcher told the audience, deeming it the best piece of advice he had been given as a teenager. Related Topics Seth MacFarlane Jay Leno Rainn Wilson

Lionsgate dates 'Hunger Games' sequel

Lionsgate's first 'Hunger Games' pic bows March 23, 2012. Lionsgate has dated the second installment in "The Hunger Games" saga, "Catching Fire," for a Nov. 22, 2013, release.Sequel is timed to catch increased Thanksgiving moviegoing, then play through the holiday period.The franchise originator, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, kick-starts the series next year on March 23. Gary Ross helmed "Hunger Games" from a script he co-wrote with author Suzanne Collins, based on her popular teen-lit series.As it stands, "Catching Fire" has the Thanksgiving 2013 date to itself, though expect to see at least one other wide release -- likely a family-targeted counterprogrammer -- added to the weekend. In fact, Disney has dated an untitled Pixar toon to bow the following week on Wednesday, Nov. 27.Lionsgate looks to repeat similar success that Summit had with "The Twilight Saga" franchise -- both "Breaking Dawn" installments bow around Thanksgiving weekend starting Nov. 16."The magical thing about the 'Hunger Games' trilogy is that the books have such a vastly broad appeal," said Joe Drake, co-COO of Lionsgate and president of its Motion Picture Group. "The stories truly offer something for everyone, and the period around the Thanksgiving weekend is such an opportunity for families and friends to make an event of going to the movies.""The Hunger Games" is directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Golden Globes Trial: Witness List Includes CBS' L'ensemble des Moonves, NBC's Marc Graboff, and Dick Clark

Getty Images Lawyers for that Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions are planning to have an August 30 jury trial in California federal court over TV privileges towards the Golden Globe Honours. If your judge doesn't grant summary judgment for each side, the trial could showcase some interesting witnesses and testimony. The HFPA, for example, intends to call towards the stand CBS Corp leader and Boss Leslie Moonves, who definitely are requested to testify about discussions to create the Globes to CBS and exactly what the network was ready to offer. Meanwhile, 81-year-old Dick Clark themself, who hasn't made a lot of public looks since a 2004 stroke, might show on the witness stand. Before that occurs, each side are showing up beforeU.S. District Court JudgeValerie Baker Fairbank, and installing their arguments one further time. HFPA is again fighting that after it granted privileges to create and license a Globes broadcast nearly 2 decades ago, the agreement wasn't intended to reside in perpetuity. The Globes privileges-holder states its agreement with DCP survived a finite some time and only had 8 renewal options. In the papers towards the court, HFPA takes some swipes at DCP, stating that by declaring perpetual privileges towards the progressively popular and lucrative Golden Globe Honours, DCP Boss Francis La Maina could engineer a nine-figure purchase, a $14 million pay day for themself, and could incur $165 million of debt by giving junk bonds. When the situation reaches trial, HFPA intends to call towards the stand Moonves, Hollywood attorney Frederick Calabrese (to testify about discussions between HFPA and DCP), HFPA people Jorge Camara and Lorenzo Soria, NBCU TV leader of west coast business procedures Marc Graboff, La Maina, DCP Boss Mark Shapiro, Tennis Funnel CFO William Simon, former CAA mind of television business matters David Tenzer, yet others. STORY: Golden Globes Legal Fight Gets Hotter As Each Side Construct Arguments For his or her part, DCP has additionally organized its situation why the word what within the contracts between your parties props up theory it features a ongoing to produce and license the Globes and absolutely nothing the HFPA presents may take back that which was decided to in the negotiating table in 1994. DCP's own listing of possible witnesses includes Clark, former HFPA leader Philip Berk, producer Craig Adelman, attorneysJoel Behr and Bryan Freedman, and a number of people who're stated to become aware of what happened at various HFPA conferences contributing to certain internal HFPA communications. The showdown will even feature a number of Hollywood's greatest star litigators. For DCP, it's a team brought by Ron Olson and Marty Katz. For HFPA, it's a team brought by Serta Petrocelli. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner L'ensemble des Moonves Dick Clark Productions

Jayma Mays about the Pleasure of Smurfs and Way forward for Glee

Not counting her tiny blond counterpart Smurfette, Jayma Mays may be the female lead with what may yet turn to function as the past weekend’s number 1 film. But, like a phenomenon, the film adaptation from the Smurfs pales within the lengthy shadow of Mays’s other gig: Because the germophobic guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury about the megahit series Glee. Discuss striking a regular Double. Contributing to her profile a week ago, Mays became a member of co-stars Neil Patrick Harris and Hank Azaria and director Raja Gosnell on the whirlwind of “Smurfs Week” occasions that assisted prime audiences for among the greatest box-office surprises from the summer time. Movieline swept up together with her on the way to discuss becoming an adult Smurfy, the existential ride that's Glee, and just how she got her unusual accent. So! You have to be excited. My dear gosh, yeah. I'm able to’t believe I’m thing about this film, to tell the truth. I had been a large fan from the Smurfs becoming an adult, despite the fact that automatically — my mother accustomed to pressure me to look at because she would be a Smurfs fan. Once they sent the script and stated, “Would you choose to audition?”, I stated, “Yes, please!” They understood at that time that Neil could be playing the Patrick role, and that i could be who audition to experience his wife. I had been so looking forward to that. The Smurfs are type of polarizing, though, culturally. Both you and your mother were fans, but many people can’t stand them. It’s like Marmite. Marmite? Marmite! Towards the British? That’s their catchphrase: You can either like it or else you hate it. Like a fan, an amount you tell the anti-Smurf contingent that may persuade these phones check this out movie? From the Smurfs fan’s perspective? That’s hard when they didn’t such as the Smurfs becoming an adult. I actually do seem like a variety of it is… I don’t am getting at tongue-in-oral cavity, because that’s most likely the incorrect factor. However I think they had fun with the truth that those are the Smurfs. They poker fun at themselves in ways, plus they poker fun at all of the unique details. I am talking about, there’s a line about Passive-Aggressive Smurf. I seem like for those who have bad feelings toward The Smurfs, then you definitely’ll enjoy that some of it. However I don’t know. Should you hate it, it’s needed to affect you in some manner becoming an adult. Anyway, I chuckled the entire way through. I hadn’t even seen it until last evening [in the film’s premiere in New You are able to]. I needed to request you about this. I saw an extremely, very rough cut from it in December, and at that time, only 40 % from the animation ended. Therefore it really was tough to watch out for me I’d really get involved with the film, after which I’d type of be removed from it for some time. So last evening it had been a great deal more amusing than I believed it was likely to be. They added lots of funny lines for that Smurfs, and that i thought Gargamel and Azrael had an incredible relationship within the film. I loved it. I had been really, really happy — Personally i think proud. It’s a crucial role for you personally. How was pressure to accomplish it compounded through the crazy-making dynamics on set — acting opposite dots and marks and also the relaxation? It was challenging in a lot of ways. To begin with, Sophistication Winslow, the smoothness I performed, is most likely probably the most lower-to-earth character I’ve ever performed. Or at best she’s less cool than every other role I’ve ever performed before — even though she will see blue people running everywhere. It had been nice to experience somebody that was type of normal and achieving a parent. However it would be a challenge dealing with the dots — dealing with nothing there, or getting an earwig inside your ear with your partner reading through the lines and nobody can hear that however, you. It’s funny, since with doorways opening and bowls moving — such as the kitchen scene — these were using strings. Things were really getting around the area. It felt just a little Poltergeist-y sometimes. I believe the toughest part would be to make certain you’re be resourceful and getting married to that technical side from the process too. You’re which makes it look natural. It’s tricky. Celebrate you seem like you’re going insane.