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Alumni and current students of the Film Division at the School of the Arts (SoA) will have a major presence at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival (January 19-29) with five feature films -- including the festival's Opening Night film Friends with Money, directed by Nicole Holofcener (SoA Film '88) and produced by Anthony Bregman (SoA adjunct faculty) -- and five short films in competition. The ten festival selections represent a record year for Columbia University, further cementing its status as one of the premier universities for producing talented and accomplished film industry professionals.
Its presence at Sundance is only part of Columbia University Film Division's growing stature in the film world. Alumni of the program are making themselves known at all levels of the industry, routinely screening their films at international festivals like Cannes and Venice. Columbia alumni also have written, directed or produced many of the best recent releases, including Walk the Line, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Bee Season, Proof, and Ice Harvest. And notably, Columbia students have won the Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards seven times in the last ten years, and the Silver Medal twice.
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| Misu Kahn stars in Punching the Sun, by SoA student Tanuj Chopra. |
"Columbia film graduates and current students continue to set the standard for independent cinema with ten of their films screening at Sundance this year," said Film Director Bette Gordon, acting chair of the Film Division.
The Film Division program attracts a diverse and talented class of promising filmmakers whose works continue to garner critical acclaim, popular appeal and numerous awards. Its list of alumni include some of the most celebrated filmmakers in recent years, including: James Mangold (Walk the Line, Girl, Interrupted), Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (American Splendor), Kimberley Pierce (Boys Don't Cry), Lisa Cholodenko (Laurel Canyon, High Art), Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days), Sabrina Dhawan (Screenwriter, Monsoon Wedding), Simon Kinberg (Screenwriter, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, X Men 3), Ron Nyswaner (Screenwriter, Philadelphia), Albert Berger (Producer, Cold Mountain, Bee Season), Jeff Sharp (Producer, You Can Count On Me, Proof), and many others.
Columbia Film Division's slate of films at Sundance features some of the most sought-after talent in Hollywood and includes some of the most highly anticipated films of the festival. The line-up includes:
FEATURES:
- FRIENDS WITH MONEY (Opening Night)
Director Nicole Holofcener (SoA Film '88)
Producer Anthony Bregman (SoA adjunct faculty)
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances
McDormand, Jason Isaacs, Scott Caan.
- THE NIGHT LISTENER
Director and co-writer Patrick Stettner (SoA '95)
Producer Jeff Sharp (SoA '01)
Starring Robin Williams and Toni Collette.
- LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Producer Albert Berger (SoA '83)
Starring Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette.
- OFF THE BLACK
Director and writer James Ponsoldt (SoA '04)
Starring Nick Nolte and Timothy Hutton.
- PUNCHING AT THE SUN
Director and co-writer Tanuj Chopra (SoA student)
SHORTS:
- YOUR DARK HAIR IHSAN
Director and writer Tala Hadid (SoA '05) Silver Medal Winner, Student Academy Awards. Screened at New York Film Festival.
- BE QUIET
Director and writer Sameh Zoabi (SoA '05) Cinefondation Award Winner, Cannes Film Festival. Screened at New York Film Festival.
- DEALBREAKER
Directors Mary Wigmore (SoA '05) and Gwyneth Paltrow
- HOLD UP
Director and co-writer Madeleine Olnek (SoA student)
- LA MUERTA ES PEQUENA
Director and writer Fellipe Barbosa (SoA student)
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