Mike Leigh’s follow up to critical darling “Happy-Go-Lucky” is being co-produced by Focus Features International and added the film to its Cannes slate (Meaning Focus will try and sell the project there, it won’t be shown at Cannes to the public). While details on the film are sketchy, other than the cast, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton and Phil Davis, it is reportedly set to feature Leigh’s “unique improvisational techniques in his construction of intimate portraits of people’s lives” (gee, big shocker there). Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky” was nominated for the Best Screenplay Oscar, Best Comedy or Musical Golden Globe and saw lead Sally Hawkins take home the Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. [Screen Daily]
The Seattle Film Festival’s line up has been announced and will see the festival open with Armando Iannucci’s “In The Loop,” close with Michel Hazanavicius’ “OSS 117: Lost In Rio,” and feature films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s “Tetro,” Spike Lee’s “Passing Strange” and Lynn Shelton’s “Humpday.” The festival will also showcase a host of classics such as “Once Upon A Time In The West,” “The Third Man,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Wild Rose” and “The Conversation.” The festival will run from May 21 to June 14. [THR]
Richard Linklater will be honoured with the 2009 Maverick Award at the Woodstock Film Festival this year to be presented to him by his “Before Sunset” star Ethan Hawke. His latest film “Me And Orson Welles” will also screen. Previous recipients of the award include Kevin Smith, Tim Robbins, Woody Harrelson, Mira Nair and Steve Buscemi. The festival runs from September 30 to October 4. [Indiewire]
The winners from the Tribeca Film Festival have been announced: Iranian director Asghar Farhardi’s “About Elly” took home best narrative feature; Marshall Curry’s “Racing Dreams” took home best documentary, Rune Denstad Langlo’s took home best new narrative filmmaker for “North” while Ian Olds took home best new documentary filmmaker for “Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi.” Regarding the acting gongs, Ciaran Hinds won best actor for his role in Conor McPherson’s “The Eclipse” while Zoe Kazan won best actress for her role in Bradley Rust Gray’s “The Exploding Girl.” [Indiewire]