Udy Epstein, principal of Los Angeles-based Seventh Art Releasing, has been screening films non-stop while visiting this year’s Toronto festival. Epstein hopes to pick up a title or two for u.s. distribution, and perhaps worldwide rights for the four-year-old company he…

Twenty years ago producer/ director Ira Wohl won the collective nod of every festival jury, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that screened Best Boy, a doc about his mentally retarded cousin. Last week he finished the sequel,…

U.S. director Lynn Hershman Leeson’s latest film is notable tech-wise not only for its digerati cameos (Timothy Leary’s last film turn, and Well-master John Perry Barlow as an encryption expert), but for its use – which producer Henry S. Rosenthal believes…

A cheque for $100,000 from Miramax Films is wending its way to the folks in Flint, Michigan….

*Same time, new place…

It is the last of three large film festivals in Canada, yet the Vancouver International Film Festival still manages to showcase a substantial number of premieres….

As the Toronto International Film Festival winds down, the Rogers Industry Centre is already looking ahead to next year’s prospects. Targeting presale opportunities will be the big push in ’98….

Word is quickly spreading about ‘no-budget’ indie film champion Peter Broderick’s new feature finishing fund, which is worth up to us$100,000 per project for films in the post stage….

Always a presence at tiff, Canadian distributor Malofilm has what senior vp and managing director Andy Myers calls their ‘strongest festival slate in history.’…

This column highlights titles that are attracting buyer interest….

The Planet of Junior Brown was produced by Toronto’s The Film Works, and Evergreen Releasing holds the worldwide rights. The production company and distributor were incorrectly identified in yesterday’s edition of Playback. We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may…

Although Motion International is buying and selling at this year’s festival table as a new player, it’s a company with a well-established pedigree….