The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky (USA) Directed by: Darren Aronofsky Written by: Robert Siegel Produced by: Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky Executive produced by: Vincent Maraval, Agnes Mentre, Jennifer Roth Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood   Synopsis:  Back in the late ‘80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of die...

Gommorrah by Matteo Garrone is one of the 8 FILMFESTIVALS.COM's nominees of Festival Film of Year by filmfestivals.comthe other nominees are:Frost/Nixon by Ron Howard London, Golden Globes, Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild AwardsSlumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle Toronto, London, Austin, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award, Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild AwardsChangeling by Clint EastwoodCannes, New York, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award, Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild A...

By Maria Esteves - November 18, 2008 The 46th New York Film Festival (NYFF46), presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Closing Night Premiere of THE WRESTLER, directed by Darren Aronofsky was held at Avery Fisher Hall, Sunday, October 12, 2008, 8:30 PM. A special Q&A with director Darren Aronofsky, producer Scott Franklin, actor Mickey Rourke, and actress Marisa Tomei, moderated by NYFF selection committee chairman, Richard Pena, program director, Film Society of Lincoln Cent...

Faithful to its annual date with cinephiles, the 49th Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece's grandest and most prestigious event for the 7th art, opens its doors on November the 14th, 2008, bringing about the transformation of the city of Thessaloniki to a youthful hive of life and creative association. Multi-awarded Belgian auteurs Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, heretical Japanese actor and director Takeshi Kitano, unconventional English director Terence Davies, internationally renowned and ...

It was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, that Mickey Rourke, star of the upcoming “The Wrestler,” will be honored with the American Riviera Award on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Fox Searchlight Pictures will release the film, directed by Darren Aronofsky, in select theaters on December 17th. Past recipients include Tommy Lee Jones, Forrest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. “Amer...

Hey, sports fans, today is your day at the movies. Up tonight: AFI FEST's Centerpiece Gala for Darren Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER and our Special Screening of TRUTH IN 24, which takes you to the racetrack for 24 Hours of LeMans. Not so sporty? Our Argentine Showcase today includes the excellent films LIVERPOOL, LA RABIA and THE HEADLESS WOMAN. Feeling short-y? The Festival's Amuse Bouche program will straighten you up and put a smile on your face. And, of course, there's a full ...

49TH THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALATHENS, Greece: November 14-23, 2008THE WRESTLER - OPENING FILMDaren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, winner of this year’s Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, will open the 49th TIFF on Friday, November 14th. An evocative drama that has justifiably been hailed as Mickey Rourke’s triumphant (and somewhat autobiographical) comeback to the big screen, The Wrestler will be presented in Thessaloniki by Evan Rachel Wood. The young actress, who has been...

  Sunday, October 12-----Every generation deserves its own Rocky.....a reminder that guts can lead to glory. In 1976, Sylvester Stallone's sentimental tale of a past-his-prime boxer who finds love and redemption both in and out of the ring, was an unlikely hit and major Oscar winner. In the next 30 years, films about bucking the odds have become their own uniquely American genre.   This year's Rocky is also the comeback story of the year....both for its lead actor an...

Clint Eastwood Brad Pitt and Angelina JolieMike LeighMickey Rourke, Darren Aronofsky and Marisa TomeiOliver Assayas ...

By Maria Esteves - October 2, 2008 The 46th New York Film Festival (NYFF46), presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, sponsored by Chopard, The New York Times, and Sardegna; standing room only press screening of THE WRESTLER, directed by Darren Aronofsky was held at the Walter Reade Theater, Wednesday, October 1, 10:00 AM. A special press conference immediately followed with director Darren Aronofsky, producer Scott Franklin, actor Mickey Rourke, and actress Marisa Tomei, moderate...

  Sunday, September 14-------For the first time in the past few years, the Toronto International Film Festival will be best remembered for its discoveries, rather than the bigger-budget entries that graced the Galas. Many of those films were critical and industry disappointments (including The Burning Plain, The Third Man, Miracle of St. Anna, The Brothers Bloom, Pride And Glory, The Duchess and several others). Of course, they delivered the necessary stardust that has now become de rigeu...

 Friday, September 12--------This year, Oscar didn't come to Toronto. Since the Academy Awards calendar was shortened in 2003, Toronto loomed large as the place to premiere Oscar contenders for the end-of-year awards season.In the past few years, films such as Atonement, No Country For Old Men and Last King of Scotland began their Oscar trajectories in Toronto.  Many of the Galas here, which have contained some past awards successes, have been poorly received (including The Burning Plain, T...

The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival awards have been selected by this year's jury. Twenty-five filmmakers from around the world were awarded more than $18,000, with experimental, documentary, narrative and animation all represented. To learn more about each awarded film, you can easily search on the festival website.Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival - $3,000The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) - Ellen KurasGus Van Sant Award for Best Experimental Film - $1,000Office Suite - Robert ToddMichael Moore Awar...

The jury of 2006 has spoken, and presents all of the winners at the 17th Stockholm International Film Festival. For the second time in festival history, the desirable honorary award for best film is presented to a female director. The Bronze Horse for Best Film 2006 goes to Sherrybaby by Laurie Collyer. Best film: Sherrybaby by Laurie Collyer The jury’s motivation: “A pure and heartbreaking work about survival and dignity. It takes you on a desperate quest for love, through a landscape of ...

The jury of 2006 has spoken, and presents all of the winners at the 17th Stockholm International Film Festival. For the second time in festival history, the desirable honorary award for best film is presented to a female director.The Bronze Horse for Best Film 2006 goes to Sherrybaby by Laurie Collyer.Best film: Sherrybaby by Laurie CollyerThe jury’s motivation: “A pure and heartbreaking work about survival and dignity. It takes you on a desperate quest for love, through a landscape of strug...

CINEMATEXAS INTERNATION SHORT FILM FESTIVAL CONCLUDES, ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERSCinematexas International Short Film Festival concluded its ninth year of cinematic emersion September 26th. Established by the Aronofsky family, the BARBARA ARONOFSKY LATHAM MEMORIAL AWARD is given each year to an exceptional emerging video artist to further their work, and to support excellence, diversity and vitality in the field of experimental video and electronic visualization art. This year’s winner is filmmak...