Fest News Round-Up: Coens, Chung to Toronto

Lee Isaac Chung, headed to Toronto with his feature debut Munyurangabo (Photo: Almond Tree Films)

By S.T. VanAirsdale

We finally got a look at a few odds and ends that have trickled over the festival transom in the last few days, and while I didn't think I'd have much to write about the Toronto International Film Festival prior to the line-up announcement next week, it looks like New York-based Lee Isaac Chung, who wowed Cannes with his Rwandan justice saga Munyurangabo (Liberation Day), will bring the film to TIFF for its North American premiere. The Coens are also set to deliver No Country For Old Men at a "special screening" that I presume keeps it all virginal and pure for the New York Film Festival, which is said to already have it on the program for 2007.

Meanwhile, in other news:

--The New York International Latino Film Festival announced its own premieres line-up on Tuesday, with the opener Trade locked in for July 24 and the Jennifer Lopez-produced/Mark Anthony-starring El Cantante set to close the fest July 29. In between, look for the comics adaptation El Muerto, the indie drama Bella and Alfredo de Villa's Adrift in Manhattan (profiled here on The Reeler prior to its Sundance '07 world premiere). Tickets went on sale Monday; check the fest's site for more information.

--If you thought the Upper West Side was a long way to go to check out screenings at the Tribeca Film Festival, try catching a train to Beijing, where the festival is partnering with the William Morris Agency and something called the "China Interactive Media Group" to present the Tribeca 798 Film Festival Beijing. The event will host the Chinese premiere (!!) of Benson Lee's Planet B-Boy among other TFF selections, and while I usually don't cop out with press-release excerpts, I really can't describe the whole thing any better than this:

The event, designed to give Beijing a small taste of the Tribeca Film Festival, will comprise an opening reception, free community outdoor screenings of the film and a block party on opening night that will take place in the 798 district, an artist-friendly neighborhood similar to Tribeca, for which the event has been named.

Yes, yes -- I know what you're thinking. But don't assume the Tribeca Tiananmen Film Festival Beijing didn't cross anyone's mind; it's obviously a dynamite location for cultural gatherings and is no doubt on the short list for the Tribeca Drive-In to expand in 2008.

Posted at June 27, 2007 12:01 PM