Danny Boyle, back in the Closing Slot

Two years ago, Danny Boyle closed the BFI London Film Festival with a little movie you may've heard of - Slumdog Millionaire. Ring any bells?

The Playlist has the news that Boyle will be back in the wrap-up spot, this time with the James Franco vehicle 127 HOURS, the story of climber Aron Ralston who get stuck under a boulder and is forced into extreme measures to survive. Don't remember this story? Brush up on Ralston here (or avoid the spoilers...whatever).

The film hits US theaters November 5, but will land for its world premiere at TIFF; BFI London - with Boyle and Franco in attendance - will be its European preem.

Things that make me smile

Emails like this from filmmakers.

This one's from Nick Igea, who made ENCUENTRO, our 2010 Best World Cinema Short Film. It's even more awesome given his choppy English. Read on:

Hi Lisa!!!

Just to let you know: A DVD will be edited in Spain with the 10 best Spanish short films of the year, and our short film will be included. The people in charge of it told me that the award wined in your festival was definitive for that. I thought you would like to know it

Thanks you very much for everything. I am very happy about that. It's the most important award I've ever wined

My best wishes,

Nick Igea.

My pleasure, Nick. My pleasure.

Trailer for THE ROMANTICS

One of the best parts of programming a festival is the crack research you get to do on movies your average Joe audience member haven't heard a peep about yet. There's something fun about being ahead of the curve like that.

Which was the case back in February when I discovered that Galt Niederhoffer had adapted her own novel, THE ROMANTICS, into a crisp, windy independent film starring Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel, Candice Bergen, Elijah Wood...the list goes on.

Back then, I'd just finished the book, about a group of college friends who reunite on the occasion of two of them getting married. Set at a seaside estate (and all the posh that implies), the single night these friends spend together before the wedding drums up all kinds of complicated history - the stuff that makes us human and our relationships interesting.

The book's also got one of the best last scenes I've read in recent memory, so when I discovered the movie'd been made, I knew immediately it was one I would've welcomed to the festival had they been interested in screening with us.

Alas, that part of the plan didn't work out. (But I think we managed to have a pretty stellar festival regardless.)

But now, an official movie site has been launched, and Apple's got the trailer up and running. The film's looking at a September 10 limited release, and after checking out the trailer (I had some initial doubts about the casting, I'll admit), the next month can't go buy quickly enough.

Fall Festivals announce line-ups

An email from the BFI London Film Festival landed in my inbox last night - they've announced that NEVER LET ME GO will open their annual festivities on October 13. The European premiere of the film, it stars fresh face Carey Mulligan alongside Keira Knightley - you might also recognize Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins in the trailer, which you can watch here.

Based on the trailer, the film looks to have a dash of sci-fi wrapped up in some pretty complicated relationships - it was adapted from the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. Amazon lists it under Psychological Thrillers, so...take that as you will. Right now, it's slated for a September 15 release date here in the states. It'll likely land in a few other festivals before then, and maybe make it's appearance in Indianapolis by October (if we're lucky).

Also in the news, Toronto's been touting their upcoming slate, with gala screenings including an opening with SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL (full disclosure - in typing that, I initially wrote "hokey." Which seems oddly appropriate); Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina; CASINO JACK, about schemer Jack Abramoff; and Ben Affleck's THE TOWN, his latest Boston-themed caper starring the under-utilized Rebecca Hall. IndieWire's got a great article with all the film's TIFF's announced to date. TIFF runs September 9 - 19.

Venice and New York have also announced some key slots in their line-ups, too. Julie Taymor re-imagined Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, casting Helen Mirren in the lead (which, in the play is Prospero, a Duke...Mirren is Prospera. She what they did there?), and snagged a centerpiece spot at the New York Film Festival (IndieWire article). Look for that screening in early October, following an opening night of David Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Meanwhile, Venice has placed Sofia Coppola's latest, SOMEWHERE, in competition - they've also got Black Swan, as well as Vincent Gallo's PROMISES WRITTEN IN WATER. The Italian festival runs September 1 - 11 - check out the whole line-up here.

It's an exciting time in the festival cycle, the fall - sure, January's got Sundance, but as the industry gears up for Academy voting and awards season at the box office, festivals certainly reap the benefits.

Trying to figure out what to see?

Then you've found the place. Here is a list of unbiased, 3rd party reviews of many of the films at this year's festival. So don't just take our word about the wonderful movies we have this year. Read all the glowing reviews at the following sites.

The Film Yap chats us up

Movie website www.thefilmyap.com has an interview with Lisa Trifone, our very own Program Director (and social media wiz!). You can listen to the interview right here.

The Film Fest is in Style!

Want to know all bout the Film Festival but find reading to be boring and tedious?

Well then, watch this clip where our own Executive Director Kelli Mirgeaux chats about the festival with the fine folks at Indy Style TV.

Gettin’ snap-happy

We're looking for a few good men (and women!) who fancy themselves shutterbugs. Are you looking to build your portfolio and check out the hottest film festival in the Midwest?

We'd love to give you the chance to hone your skills and help us capture the 2010 Indy Film Fest for posterity - from Opening Night to our day of Best Of screenings on July 25, we want the whole thing documented. And we need your help to do it.

If you're interested in being a volunteer photographer with the Indy Film Fest, fill out our Media Form (put Photographer in the "media outlet" field) and we'll be in touch. You bring the camera and the eye for framing a shot and we'll provide the all-access pass you need to get the best angles possible.

Any questions? Drop a note to info AT indyfilmfest DOT org

And we'll see you on the other side of the lens.