Beasts in Estonia

The collapse of the Soviet Union almost saw the collapse of the Sõprus, but there were those determined to make sure it survived. Stories abound of people selling fur and kitchen appliances in the building, staging erotic cabaret acts and doing whatever else it took to make sure that Sõprus remained a movie theatre.

It's currently being run by Black Hand, a non-profit organisation that promises to "keep its fist clenched against the onslaught of mass culture that treats its subjects as statistical consumers". Which is nice. The crusading attitude has not only resulted in the aforementioned diverse programme but also in the publication of a regular cinema newspaper, La Strada, and a book and CD entitled Stalking Stalker exploring the classic Tarkovsky film (much of which was filmed in Tallinn). -- the Guardian

The oldest cinema in Estonia, Kino Sõprus translates literally Cinema Friendship.

A fitting site for Beasts to screen!  Find out how to see Beasts in Estonia at the Kino Sõprus website.

Bem vindos à Banheira, Rio!

Our newest bi-lingual Beast, Delila Fernandez, introduces herself with a guest post in Portuguese, English and images...

Acima, o Pantanal e Manguezais do Brasil. Esses são dois lugares que Beasts me faz lembrar, em particular. O Pantanal, no Mato Grosso, é a maior região inundada do mundo. Os Manguezais são ecossistemas de transição entre o ambiente marinho e terrestre, onde se realiza a pesca de caranguejos.

Olá meus conterrâneos e conterrâneas do Brasil!

Me chamo Dalila, sou mineira , apaixonada por cinema  e, entre  minhas andanças pelo mundo,  acabei parando aqui nos Estados Unidos, onde pude assistir de antemão Beasts of the Southern Wild.  Maravilhada pelo filme, e sem palavras exatas para descrevê-lo, gosto de pensar na obra como uma poesia que não pode ser escrita.  Me emocionei tanto que a primeira coisa que fiz foi buscar tudo o que podia sobre o filme na internet. Acabei descobrindo que Beasts  buscava aficionados  que quisessem ajudar a correr a voz sobre o longa em outros países, e enviei um email na mesma hora, sem hesitar! Foi assim que me juntei à equipe de comunicação de Beasts of the Southern Wild, preparada para espalhar aos quatro ventos sobre esta linda obra de arte, que, por sinal, está chegando ao Brasil!

A primeira aparição do filme em terras brasileiras será no Festival do Rio 2012. O Festival já acontece desde 27 de Setembro, e Beasts (ou Indomável Sonhadora, em sua tradução em português) será exibido nos dias 29 de Setembro, 3, 5 e 9 de Outubro. Mais informações sobre o evento e programação aqui.

É muito bacana ver a expectativa pelo filme já tomando forma no Brasil.  Entre vários artigos e resenhas que já estão na mídia, gosto especialmente da cobertura de Pedro Andrade no Manhattan Connection.  Fica a dica para aqueles que não podem esperar para ver o filme e estão curiosos para saber mais!

Agora, se você já é apaixonado por Beasts como eu, e também quer fazer parte do nosso grupo ajudando a divulgar o filme, conheça a página Be a Beast! Além disso, estou a disposição para quem quiser se envolver enviando ideias e sugestões para o meu email: dalila@beastsofthesouthernwild.com.

Não vejo a hora para Indomável Sonhadora estrear oficialmente em todo o Brasil. Já deixei amigos e família avisados: não podem perder!

Um grande abraço!

Dalila

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 Above, Panatal and Manguezais in Brazil. These are two particular places that Beasts reminds me of. Pantanal is a tropical wetland in Mato Grosso, and the world's largest flooded area; Manguezal is a flooded coastal area where people can catch crabs.

Hello my fellow Brazilians!

My name is Dalila, I’m from Minas Gerais, and I’ve been passionate about cinema all my life.  After traveling around the world, I came to live in the States some months ago and had the opportunity to watch Beasts Of The Southern Wild. Amazed by the film, I found it hard to choose the exact words to describe it.  I like to think of it as poetry that cannot be written. It moved me so much that the first thing I did was to look up everything I could about the movie on the internet. I soon discovered that Beasts were looking for people willing to help spread the word about the movie in foreign countries, and I sent them an email right away! That was how I joined the Beasts of The Southern Wild team as an Outreach Coordinator, prepared to spread the word about this beautiful masterpiece which, by the way, is coming to Brazil!

The first screening in Brazil will be at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. The event started on September 27th and Beasts (or Indomável Sonhadora, in its Portuguese translation) will be playing on September 29th, October 3rd, 5th and 9th. You can find more information about the event and schedule here.

It’s great to see all the hype for Beasts that is already happening in Brazil. Among several articles and reviews in the Brazilian press, I especially like Pedro Andrade’s article for Manhattan Connection.

There’s a hint for those who can’t wait to see the movie and want to know more about it!

If you too are already in love with Beasts like I am and also want to help spread the word, head over to our Be a Beast page! Additionally, I am available for anyone who wants to get involved at: dalila@beastsofthesouthernwild.com. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any question or want to send ideas and suggestions.

I cannot wait for Beasts of The Southern Wild to officially debut in Brazil. My friends and family have been warned: they cannot miss it!

Sincerely yours, Dalila Fernandes

Benh Zeitlin wins the Louisiana Film Society's Celluloid Hero Award

We're proud to announce that on September 27th, Director Benh Zeitlin had the honor of receiving the New Orleans Film Society's Celluloid Hero Award.  Gina Montana a.k.a Ms. Bathsheba was on the scene at the gala to document Benh, Dwight, and Quvenzhané accepting the award.

American Exotic - The Economist

Maybe that's how America should look on screen right now, I thought as I left the cinema. Maybe that’s the American genre now: magic realism. It used to be realism, at the movies as much as on the page, but the role of national chronicler has largely fallen to television these days. In another era, "Deadwood", "The Sopranos", "Mad Men", "Boardwalk Empire" and "Band of Brothers" would all have been movies, but the industry that would have made them is now largely dead. In a recent edition of the New York Times, Michael Cieply noted that of the20 biggest hits of last year, only two—"Bridesmaids" and "The Help"—were set in anything recognisable as North America. In 1992, it was 15 out of 20. It’s one reason the Academy has gone fishing overseas for its big winners in recent years—"The Artist", "The King's Speech", "Slumdog Millionaire"—always reserving a spot among the nominations for something flinty and homespun from the indie world: two years ago it was "Winter's Bone", which plunged audiences into the meth labs of the Ozarks. This year, it should be "Beasts of the Southern Wild". 

Read the full story at the Economist's More Intelligent Life.

Benh Zeitlin talks with the Sydney Morning Herald

Benh Zeitlin talks to Giles Hardie from the Sydney Morning Herald about showing the movie outside of Louisiana, the pigs, Miley Cyrus, and the "pile of movies" he wants to make.