Edmonton International Film Festival Passes Discount

Just a reminder that until Midnight tonight, you can order Reel Deal Film Festival passes or 6-pack passes for the Edmonton International Film Festival at 30% off! From the industry mailout:

Before you blast away for the long weekend, be sure to purchase your all-access, Reel Deal Film Festival Pass or 6-Pack. Until midnight TONIGHT -- Friday, August 31st -- Reel Deal passes are just $70 (regularly $100) and 6-Packs are $45 (regularly $60).

Purchase at TIX on the Square, Princess/Garneau Theatres (during movie screening hours), Earth's General Store or by phone at EIFF offices: 780-423-0844.

You can check out the full line-up of films and other events surrounding the festival at the official website.

New Jesse James Trailer

Thanks to ComingSoon.net for the info about the new trailer for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The film stars Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, and Sam Rockwell.



Trailer courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and AOL Moviefone.

Alberta Group Looks To Boost TV Production

Playback features a story on the Alberta Film Advisory Council and the new mandate of developing long-term strategies for film, television, and interactive media in Alberta:

The 16-member AFAC, formerly called the Film Commission Advisory Council, is tasked with guiding Alberta's $165-million film and television industry by developing long-term strategies and advising the provincial government on ways to strengthen the industry.

Damian Petti, president of IATSE Local 212 in Calgary, was appointed new industry co-chair last week, serving alongside Conservative MLA Gary Mar (Calgary-Mackay) for a term of three years. One of their focuses will be to increase TV series production in the province.

"TV series generate more training opportunities and year-round employment. The government sees value in growing the industry through expanding production activity, which seems to be limited to warmer summer months," Petti says, noting business has continued to pick up despite the high loonie.

You can read the rest of the article at the link above.

Congratulations also go out to my good friend Ken Bautista, who was appointed to the Council, and to Luke Azevedo, who I've worked with at The Banff Centre, as he becomes the new Calgary Film Commissioner.

New Poster for Jesse James

Here's the new movie poster for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Easily, one of the nicer photo-style movie posters to come out of Hollywood's ad agencies. The story of the film is conveyed clearly through the ominous clouds and placement of James and Ford.



Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Jesse James Ready For Theatres

Alexandra Burroughs reports that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is ready for release in theatres beginning September 21:

The movie was recently selected for presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, a positive sign for many movie buffs. Furthermore, key critics who have seen early versions of the film are starting to get behind it.

“This is going to be one of the best films of all time or it’s just going to be something unique — to put it politely,” says filmjerk.com publisher Edward Havens, who went into a test screening of an unfinished version in June.

After seeing the movie, Havens led an online backlash against naysayers, claiming: “Yes, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is better than Unforgiven. Better than Silverado or Wyatt Earp or any other Western in the past 30 years.”

With a limited release date set for Sept. 21, audiences may yet see a film worth watching, say a growing number of online critics, who say performances by Pitt and co-star Casey Affleck are worthy of Oscars.

“Brad Pitt doesn’t use a lot of words in his performance, it’s all looks and internal turmoil, he is truly mesmerizing in this performance, showing a more mature actor then we have seen before,” said blogger Bronson on movie website Ain’t It Cool News.

Others say Roger Deakins’ cinematography is some of the best in decades, which will bode well for Alberta as the movie’s host. Although Havens says the setting “isn’t a love letter to the landscape like Brokeback Mountain,” it is so striking other moviemakers may start looking to Alberta for future films.

Head over to Canada.com to read the full article.

Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.