The Academy will bestow Honorary Awards on James Earl Jones, Dick Smith...and Oprah Winfrey?

That's what this press release has to say:

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted tonight to present Honorary Awards to actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to philanthropist Oprah Winfrey. All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 3rd Annual Governors Awards dinner on Saturday, November 12, at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” In 1970, he earned an Academy Award® nomination for his role as boxer Jack Jefferson in “The Great White Hope.” Jones has appeared in more than 50 feature films including “Claudine,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “Field of Dreams,” “Coming to America” and, as Vice Admiral James Greer, “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger.” Additionally, Jones has also voiced some of the most iconic characters in motion pictures including Darth Vader in the Star Wars trilogy and Mustafa in “The Lion King.”
Known as the “godfather of makeup,” Smith began his career in 1945 as NBC’s first makeup man. He is known for his makeup artistry on such films as “The Godfather,” “The Exorcist” and “Taxi Driver.” In 1984 he won an Oscar® for his work on “Amadeus,” and received a nomination for “Dad” (1989). As an educator, Smith helped train many of today’s Academy Award-winning and nominated makeup artists including Rick Baker, Greg Cannom, Kevin Haney, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Mike Elizalde and Carl Fullerton.
Since receiving her Oscar nomination for her debut film performance in “The Color Purple,” actress, television host and producer Winfrey has gone on to establish herself as one of the most influential figures in entertainment and philanthropy. She has been especially dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and raising awareness of issues that affect women and children,
both in the United States and around the globe. Her philanthropic efforts have included Oprah’s Angel Network, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in South Africa in 2007.
The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.
The Governors Awards presentation will be produced for the Academy by writer-director Phil Robinson with Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare of Don Mischer Productions.

-Joey's Two Cents: One of these things is not like the other...thoughts?

Just what is Lars Von Trier planning for his next movie?

Well, read this from Collider:

Before today, if I were forced to take a wild guess as to what the subject of filmmaker Lars Von Trier’s next project would be, there is probably like a 60 percent chance that I would have said nymphomania. As it turns out, I would have likely guessed correctly. It’s believed that the controversial writer/director/producer has began researching his next film, currently entitled Nymphomaniac, with a mind to begin shooting the pic during Summer 2012. If you’re at all familiar with Von Trier’s previous work and the compulsive condition sometimes referred to as nymphomania, there’s a great chance you can already fill in the blanks regarding the film’s plot and its inevitably graphic nature. Nevertheless, for more on the project, hit the jump.

Screen Daily spoke with Von Trier’s business partner and producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen who confirmed that Von Trier’s next project will very likely beNymphomaniac. According to Jensen, the film will center around “the erotic life of a woman from the age of zero to the age of 50.” Per the report, the film will be shot in English and the filmmaker is planning two cuts. One will, as you may imagine, push the boundaries of censorship via graphic depictions of intercourse whereas the other will be tailored to play in “more mainstream cinemas.”

The qualifier “more” is definitely important here as I can’t imagine any truly mainstream theater company (at least here in the States) coming within ten feet of a film that follows the sexual exploits of a woman beginning with age zero. Especially not one from Von Trier who seems to cause fear and trembling from censors simply by getting out of bed in the morning.

In terms of the film’s arrangement, it is believed that it will play out over eight chapters while relying heavily on dialogue. Jensen expressed his outlook for the pic saying he expects it to be “a very amusing film, very erotic but very funny also.” While I can’t claim to be a huge fan of Von Trier’s previous output, I will say that I’m usually interested by his work if for no other reason than its uncanny lack of regard for what people (namely, censors) will think of it. Von Trier’s next film, Melancholia, is set to release in the U.S. on November 11th.

-Joey's Two Cents: I remember reading rumors of this a few months back, but apparently it's actually happening...thoughts?

Nicolas Winding Refn is being considered for the next Die Hard film...

...along with some other choices, according to Deadline:

20th Century Fox is turning up the heat on Die Hard 5, even though its attached director, Noam Murro, left the picture after he got the job helming300: Battle Of Artemisia for Warner Bros. I'm told that the studio has come up with a short list of directors to helm the film scripted by Skip Woods. They are: Joe Cornish (who directed Attack the Block), Fast Five helmer Justin Lin, Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn and Max Payne helmer John Moore. The film brings the always in the wrong place cop John McLane to Russia. Bruce Willis is ready to reprise his signature role.

The surprise on the list is Cornish. While his feature directorial debut Attack the Blockhad a budget probably less than the catering bill on last weekend's other alien invasion film opener Cowboys & Aliens, the movie has become a critical darling as it opened to $130,000 in 8 theaters (it has grossed $4.3 million overseas). It would be a big jump to Die Hard 5, but remember the studio had attached Murro, whose debut was the 2008 character comedySmart People.

Lin is hot off Fast Five, and is expected to do another The Fast and the Furiousinstallment and is attached to the package to finish The Terminatorfranchise that was acquired by Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures.

Refn has much momentum for Drive, the drama that played Cannes and opens in September. Refn reteamed with Ryan Gosling for Only God Forgives,another action film that shoots late summer in Thailand, and which FilmDistrict acquired for U.S. distribution late last month. Refn is also booked to remake Logan's Run with Gosling. Then there is Moore, the Irish helmer who has directed all of his features--Max Payne, The Omen, Flight of the Phoenix and Behind Enemy Lines--for Fox. A web report indicated that Moore already had the job, but I'm told that the filmmaker meetings haven't started yet, so that might be jumping the gun.

This is certainly the big directing job of the moment. The last installment, 2007's Live Free Or Die Hard, showed there was still steam in the franchise when it grossed $384 million worldwide, not shabby considering the first installment, an action classic, came out in 1988.

-Joey's Two Cents: Refn or Cornish would be the out of the box choices, but with a less than "Die Hard" sounding plot to this one, I'm not sure how excited I am about the project yet...thoughts?

Curious who is doing the score to Cameron Crowe's new film We Bought a Zoo?

Well, wonder no further, according to The Playlist:

It was just over a week ago when director Cameron Crowe teased on his website that despite earlier indications that the soundtrack to his forthcoming “We Bought a Zoo” would contain lots of Neil Young and Eddie Vedder, another mystery artist was vying for the gig. “I think it’s going to lean heavily into one or two artists, but not necessarily either of them. We did play a lot of Eddie, Neil and PJ during the movie. It’s kind of revealing itself now,” Crowe explained. “There is another artist who is campaigning in the editing room with his music ala Cat Stevens in ‘Harold and Maude.’ We’ll see how far it gets.” Well, Crowe hasn’t taken too long to let the secret out.

Todd VanDerWerff, TV editor for The A.V. Club is currently attending the TV Critics Press Tour—where Crowe was on hand to promote “Pearl Jam Twenty” which hits PBS in the fall—and he broke the news over Twitter saying, “Jónsi from Sigur Rós is scoring We Bought A Zoo. Everybody add him to your Oscar predictions all at once.”

It’s definitely a name that’s a far cry from the likes of Young or Vedder, but this history between Crowe and Jónsi is significant. Sigur Rós licensed their first pieces of music for use in a film when they allowed Crowe to use “Svefn-G-Englar,” “Agaetis Byrjun” and a live version of “The Nothing Song” in “Vanilla Sky.” At the time, Jónsi joked that he thought it would be funny for Tom Cruise to act over their music, but also said “Almost Famous” made him want to be in a band.

As for Crowe, he had gushed, “Sigur Rós is one of the great bands to know this simple fact — the best music creates a movie in your mind. Making ‘Vanilla Sky,’ we played Sigur Rós constantly. It inspired us and gave us grooves that became part of the DNA of our own movie. But that’s just us. Play Sigur Rós yourself. In every sound and song, they will reach deep into your soul. Sigur Ros is some of the best filmmaking you’ll ever hear.”

And that positive spirit carried through to “We Bought A Zoo” as Crowe explained at TCA, “It was a music-filled experience. Matt Damon loves Sigur Ros. We played some of the music on his first day on set, and he said, ‘Keep it coming man, keep it coming.’”

Of course, any other details are unavailable and it’s unknown if Jónsi is creating new music, will be using some cuts from his solo album “Go” or perhaps will dip into the music he has created with his other side project, Riceboy Sleeps. Also unknown is if he’ll stand as the film’s lone voice or if Crowe will be adding any others to the mix.

Regardless, it’s a great twist to the upcoming film, adding an interesting dimension to the domestic drama. Based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, with a script from “The Devil Wears Prada” writer Aline Brosh McKenna, the story follows Mee (Matt Damon), a single father who attempts to fulfill his late wife’s wish of moving their family to the titular animal sanctuary. Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning and more co-star. There is definitely a big risk going with Jónsi whose voice in the right mix is deeply moving and in other’s can be somewhat treacly and perhaps over the top. But Crowe has proven himself to be a master of music and song placement, so we’ll definitely give him a huge benefit of the doubt.

“We Bought a Zoo” opens on December 23rd.

-Joey's Two Cents: Works for me...thoughts?

Could Leonardo DiCaprio be in Todd Field's long awaited next film?

The Playlist seems to think so:

As we mentioned in a Where Have They Been? feature we ran a few months ago, dramatist Todd Field has been missing from the world of cinema since 2006’s sardonic suburban drama, “Little Children.”

Consequentially, the three-time Academy Award-nominated director/writer (and actor) has been sorely missed; adaptations of Cormac McCarthy‘s “Blood Meridian” could never gain much traction even under the aegis of “The Social Network” producer Scott Rudin.

This could all change thanks to one of the most commercially viable actors on the planet who is said to be circling the project.

According to the LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio has suddenty sprouted interest in “The Creed of Violence,” a Western-ish project is based off Boston Teran‘s novel and takes place in Mexico 1910, during the Mexican Revolution and focuses on the American intervention in the war.

Whether Field remains attached to this project three years on is unclear, and calls to Universalspokespeople—where the project currently lays its head—have not been returned. However, a reader recently pointed us in the direction of the Lee Filters camera company Tumblr page that featured a page of photographs recently taken by Field during location scouting in Durango and Veracruz, Mexico. So it certainly seems that Field is deep into development.

Like Will Smith, DiCaprio is one of those rare breed of A-list actors who can convince almost any studio (save possibly Warner Bros.) to green light any relatively dormant project such as this one. Having him behind this project is certainly exciting.

However, this is isn’t all Todd Field has on his plate. He already has a second project set up over at Universal, the heist-gone-wrong picture “Hubris,” which focuses on a group of unfortunate would-be criminals that decide to rob the wrong mobster (Michael Mann is developing “Big Tuna,” a separate and different project that follows the same gangster). DiCaprio’s next big gig is Quentin Tarantino‘s “Django Unchained,” where he’ll play a malevolent and racist plantation owner opposite Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm just excited to see Field potentially back in action...thoughts?

The 'Entourage' movie is happening...

...according to Deadline:

More assurances that HBO's long-running comedy seriesEntourage will spill onto the big screen with a movie, following the end of its eight-season run this fall. "If I had to finance it myself, I would do it," executive producer Mark Wahlberg said during the TCA session dedicated to Entourage's final season. "I've been telling Doug, The Hangover is to me very much like Entourage, and look at all the recent success of R-rated movies." Doug would be Entourage creator/executive producer Doug Ellin. "We’re going to do a movie," he said. "We’re going to do it, the questing is when and how quickly. Hopefully we'll come down with an idea and make it happen."

-Joey's Two Cents: I enjoy the show for what it is, so I wouldn't mind a movie version...thoughts?

Who will get the Honorary Oscars this year...

...via Deadline:

Tuesday night is a big one for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They hold their annual election for president (expect current prexy Tom Sherak to be easily re-elected for his third and final one-year term) and they will choose the 2011 recipients of the Governors Awards, which will be some combination of Honorary Oscars, The Irving G. Thalberg Award and/or the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

At that meeting, Sherak could also tell the board who is going to produce the 84th Annual Academy Awards among the other things that may come up, including proposals to further regulate Oscar-season campaigning and parties (a move inspired by and initiated in part because of my Jan. 7 Deadline article on the issue, I am told by an Academy insider involved with the new proposals).

Even though recipients of last year's 2nd Annual Governors Awards, (Jean-Luc Godard, Eli Wallach, Kevin Brownlow and Thalberg winner Francis Ford Coppola) weren't announced until the last week in August a year ago, Sherak told me he is determined to get this done at the early August meeting this year in order to give Governors Awards producer Phil Robinson more time to put all the logistics of the event together; the ceremony is set for Saturday Nov. 12 and is not televised.

This all leads to the annual game of who will and who should get these prized awards, which were created in 2009 as their own separate show so more of them could be handed out and there would be more time to celebrate the careers of the recipients than during the time-crunched Oscar show. In the recent past, before the creation of the event, the Academy's board had been limiting presentation of the Honorary awards to one per show. The Jean Hersholt Award to Jerry Lewis was the last given, on the (81st) Oscar telecast. Since then, they have handed out the maximum of four of these honors at each Governors Awards dinner. Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman, cinematographer Gordon Willis and Thalberg winner John Calley received the inaugural awards.

In terms of who will win them this year, it's anybody's guess as each of the 43 Governors of every branch has an opportunity to put a name in contention if they wish and a simple majority is generally all that's required to make someone a winner. It's clear the Academy likes diversity, repping all corners of the motion picture arts and sciences, and it seems like they have been favoring people who are still active. Wallach may have been 95 when he finally got his Honorary Oscar last year, but he is also still working.

For years, every time the board set about voting for these honors some subtle (and not-so-subtle) lobbying would take place. Veteran stars like Glenn Ford and Richard Widmark were often mentioned but never got the call despite annual letters and pleas on their behalf. Doris Day's name always comes up in speculation about Honorary Oscars, but it's never happened and the reclusive 87-year-old star hasn't made a film since 1968. Director Jules Dassin had his supporters at one time on the board but went to his grave without getting the big honor. On the other hand, a large profile piece on producer Dino De Laurentiis that was (coincidentally?) placed in the L.A. Times on the morning of the selections in 2000 certainly couldn't have hurt his chances when he was voted the Thalberg later that day.

Should the Academy to decide to award the Thalberg, given strictly for excellence in producing, for a third year in row, names usually bandied about include Alan Ladd Jr and Brian Grazer. Scott Rudin certainly could qualify, but does he have enough supporters? Jerry Bruckheimer's output is probably too "popcorn" to join the join the elite list. As a way of honoring the eight-film Harry Potter they might think about David Heyman, who brought the most successful film series in movie history to fruition -- a true producing feat since there were multiple directors. And isn't it about time a woman was considered? No woman has ever won the Thalberg. Even though there is no precedent for voting these things posthumously, certainly the late Laura Ziskin might qualify. It doesn't hurt that she also produced two Academy Awards telecasts (she would also be a good candidate for the Hersholt for her very public work fighting cancer in recent years). Lauren Shuler Donner's films have made over $3 billion, nothing to sniff at. Kathleen Kennedy might be a consideration too since she has termed off the Board and is eligible this year. Current Board members and Officers do not qualify for Honorary Awards as long as they are serving.

For the actor slot (if there is one this year), un-Oscared names often mentioned are Max Von Sydow, Albert Finney and the incredibly never-even-once nominated quartet of Jeanne Moreau, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Sutherland and Christopher Lee. For my money, 83-year-old James Garner is completely deserving and well-liked even though he was only Oscar-nominated once in his long career (for 1985's Murphy's Romance). The 81-year-old Christopher Plummer, who received his first acting nomination for The Last Station just two years ago, is another name sometimes mentioned, but he has a shot to actually take Best Supporting Actor this year for Beginners so he's an unlikely choice here. In the dawn of the new Hudson era, I can think of no more appropiate and deserving recipient than 81-year-old Gena Rowlands, not only a greatly admired talent but someone who represents the true spirit of gutsy, independent filmmaking by way of the collaborations with her late husband John Cassavetes (Dawn Hudson's former Film Independent even had a special Spirit Award in the Cassavetes name). An Oscar for her would also be a tip of the hat to him. Previously, she has been Oscar nominated only twice and both times for Cassavetes films: Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence.

Director choices might include six-time nominee Peter Weir or three-time directing nominee James Ivory among others who have always been bridesmaids in the competition.

The last Honorary Oscar to a screenwriter was in 2000 to Ernest Lehman. The board might seriously consider the prolific 79-year-old Jean-Claude Carriere, whose numerous collaborations with Luis Bunuel alone would qualify him not to mention movies like The Return Of Martin Guerre, The Tin Drum, Cyrano De Bergerac, Taking Off, Borsalino, Viva Maria and many others. In fact, he has an astounding 136 writing credits listed on IMDb and three previous Oscar nominations shared with Bunuel on The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie andThat Obscure Object of Desire and with Philip Kaufman on The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Carriere actually did win a statuette near the beginning of his career in 1962 as co-producer (under the name J.C. Carriere) of a live-action short, Heureux Anniversaire, which he also wrote and directed.

Of course, being an Oscar winner already does not disqualify you from winning an Honorary Award. Sophia Loren got one in 1990 despite already having won Best Actress 29 years earlier for Two Women, as did 1963 Best Actor winner Sidney Poitier 10 years ago. Laurence Olivier received one in 1978 despite having won Best Actor forHamlet 30 years earlier. A very controversial Honorary Oscar was given to director Elia Kazan in 1998 even though he previously already had won two directing statuettes for Gentlemen's Agreement and On The Waterfront. Usually, though, the Honorarys are given to make up for egregious oversights as in the case of Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Kirk Douglas, Art director Robert Boyle, composers Alex North and Ennio Morricone, cinematographer Willis and on and on. Perhaps it is time to give one to a sound designer? Kevin O'Connell has had 20 nominations and not a single win (except as a governor of the Sound branch, he is disqualified this year).

Not everyone is thrilled when they get the call. Seven-time loser Peter O'Toole had to be talked into coming to get his in 2002 because he thought it meant he wouldn't have a chance to win one in the future ("Since I am still in the game, I would rather try to win one on my own," he said before finally agreeing to show up). Of course, that isn't always the case: O'Toole received his eighth nomination four years later for Venus (though not a win), and both Henry Fonda and Paul Newman won competitive Best Actor Oscars the year after the Academy jumped the gun and gave them Honorary Awards.

Despite the speculation of "who should" or "who shouldn't," the Academy's board is always capable of surprising us. All Sherak would tell me is "there are a lot of interesting names" coming up so far for the board vote Tuesday. When I asked for one example, he said he would tell me but he'd have to kill me.

OK, we'll just have to wait and see. Any suggestions to help the board in their quest?

-Joey's Two Cents: I have no clue who I'd pick, what about you?

Roman Polanski's film Carnage will open the New York Film Festival

Deadline has the story:

Roman Polanski's Carnage will make its North American premiere Sept. 30 as the opening-night film of the 49th New York Film Festival, the event that kicked off The Social Network's big awards-season run last year. The film, starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly, is an adaptation of Yasmina Reza's Broadway smash God of Carnage, which won the Tony in 2009 at best play -- making its New York return a kind of fitting homecoming. The plot revolves around the events of an evening when two Brooklyn couples are brought together after their children are involved in a playground fight. Said Ben Said produced the film; Sony Pictures Classics is releasing it. Of course, it's a safe bet that the festival, which runs Sept. 30-Oct. 16, won't have the director of its kickoff film walking the red carpet, as Polanski remains a fugitive in the U.S. after fleeing sentencing following a 1977 conviction for unlawful sex with a minor.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm always on the verge of going to the fest, and this might be the year. This particular film could be really interesting...thoughts?

The Duplass Brothers will see their new film Jeff Who Lives at Home hit in March...

...making it officially a 2012 release, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount Vantage will release Jay and Mark Duplass’ Jeff Who Lives at Homeon March 2, 2012.

The film, starring Jason Segel, will make its worldwide debut months before at the Toronto Film Film Festival, which gets underway in early September.

In Jeff Who Lives at Home, Segel plays a man searching for the meaning of life while on a mundane errand to buy some glue for his mother.

The film also stars Judy Greer, Ed Helms, Susan Sarnadon and Rae Dawn Chong.

Jeff Who Lives at Home was produced by Steven Rales’ prolific new production company Indian Paintbrush, run by Mark Roybal, formerly withScott Rudin’s company.

-Joey's Two Cents: I very much enjoyed Cyrus, so count me in...thoughts?

Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Kill Bin Laden’ film will come out on October 12, 2012!

The Playlist has the story:

Continuing to be developed well under the radar, almost to the point where we were wondering if it was still happening, Kathryn Bigelow‘s “The Hurt Locker” followup, her currently untitled Seal Team 6 flick now has a firm release date: October 12, 2012—right in the heart of awards season.

Since late last year, Bigelow and writer Mark Boal have been hard at work on the black ops thriller, the details of which, at the time, were being kept under wraps but was rumored to be about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Those rumors turned out be true but when the Al Qaeda leader was suddenly killed the spring, it was reported that Boal a former investigative reporter, shifted his research and resources and was already rewriting with a section covering the 40 minute firefight that resulted in Bin Laden’s death. Even more, Aussie actor Joel Edgerton was said to be a frontrunner for the untitled film—also referred to as “Kill Bin Laden”—and despite Columbia picking up the rights to the film, nothing has been heard on casting since. And considering Edgerton will be busy on Baz Luhrmann‘s “The Great Gatsby” this fall, we’d guess he’s no longer in the running.

Of course, any other details are being sealed (ha!) for now. But with a release date now looming just over a year away, updates should begin to trickle out soon. There is no other film slated for that weekend yet, but the film is now poised to be a major player on the fall festival circuit next year (you can bet Venice and TIFF folks are making calls now) and will be a strong contender to get Bigelow back on the podium in the Kodak Theater.

-Joey's Two Cents: I'm eager to see them back at work, as The Hurt Locker remains a modern day war classic to me...thoughts?

John Cusack will again star opposite Nicolas Cage?

So it seems, though they will be playing roles they're each less accustomed to, according to Collider:

Any day that involves a Con Air reunion is a good day. Nicolas Cage and John Cusack, who were the stars of the 1997 action film centering on a prison-hijacked plane (genius!), are in negotiations to reteam on The Frozen Ground. The film is based on the true story of an Alaskan family man who, for 12 years, abducted over 24 women and flew them to the wilderness where he hunted them for sport. Detective Glenn Flothe teamed up with the serial killer’s only escaped victim to eventually bring him to justice.

If you thought you knew who would play what role, you’re probably wrong. Deadline reports that Cage is eyeing the part of Detective Flothe while Cusack would play Robert Hansen, the serial killer. Scott Walker wrote and will make his directorial debut on the project. If both actors sign on, this’ll make for one hell of a creepy project.

-Joey's Two Cents: I like the idea of them playing against type...thoughts?

The Venice Film Festival officially announces its lineup!

The last few days have seen plenty of festival news, and here's the actual slate of films to be playing at Venice:

Venice 2011 Competition

The Ides Of March – George Clooney (US) [opening film]
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – Tomas Alfredson (UK, Germany)
Wuthering Heights – Andrea Arnold (UK)
Texas Killing Fields – Ami Canaan Maan (US)
Quando La Notte – Cristina Comencini (Italy)
Terraferma – Emanuele Crialese (Italy/France)
A Dangerous Method – David Cronenberg (Germany/Canada)
4:44 Last Day On Earth – Abel Ferrara (US)
Killer Joe – William Friedkin (US)
Un Ete Brulant – Philippe Garrel (France/Italy/Switzerland)
A Simple Life (Taojie) – Ann Hui (China/Hong Kong)
The Exchange (Hahithalfut) – Eran Kolirin (Israel)
Alps (Alpeis) -Yorgos Lanthimos (Greece)
Shame – Steve McQueen (UK)
L’ultimo Terrestre – Gian Alfonso Pacinotti (Italy)
Carnage – Roman Polanski (France/Germany/Spain/Poland)
Chicken With Plums – Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud (France/Belgium/Germany)
Faust – Aleksander Sokurov (Russia)
Dark Horse – Todd Solondz (US)
Himizu – Sion Sono (Japan)
Seediq Bale – Wei Te-Sheng (Taiwan)

Out of Competition

Vivan las Antipodas! – Victor Kossakovsky
(Germany/Argentina/Holland/Chile/Russia) [opening film]
Damsels In Distress – Whit Stillman (US) [closing film]
La Folie Almayer – Chantal Akerman (Belgium/France)
The Sorcerer And The White Snake (Baish Echuanshuo) – Tony Ching Siu-Tung (China/Hong Kong)
Giochi D’estate – Rolando Colla (Switzerland/Italy)
La Desintegration – Philippe Fauchon (Belgium)
The Moth Diaries – Mary Harron (Canada/Ireland)
Alois Nebel – Tomas Lunak (Czech Republic/Germany)
W.E. – Madonna (UK)
Eva – Kike Maillo (UK)
Scossa – Francesco Maselli, Carlo Lizzani, Ugo Gregoretti, Nino Russo (Italy)
La Cle Des Champs – Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perennou (France)
Il Villaggio Di Cartone – Ermanno Olmi (Italy)
Wilde Salome – Al Pacino (US)
Tormented – Takashi Shimizu (Japan)
Contagion – Steven Soderbergh (US)
La Meditazione Di Hayez – Mario Martone (Italy) (short)
Tahrir 2011 – Tamer Ezzat, Ahmad Abdalla, Ayten Amin, Amr Salama (Egypt)
The End – Collectif Abounaddara (Syria)
Vanguard – Colleftif Abounaddara (Syria)
Evolution (Megaplex)(3D – Marco Brambilla (US)

Out of Competition Events


Questa Storia Qua – Alessandro Paris, Sibylle Righetti (Italy)
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel – Lisa Immordino Vreeland (US)
Golden Career Lion – Nel Nome Del Padre – Marcho Bellocchio (Italy)

-Joey's Two Cents: A very interesting grouping of well known and under the radar auteurs...thoughts?