Cinema

ANSELM at Cannes

The annual and invitation-only, elusive Cannes Film Festival will be the birthing grounds for Wim Wender’s new documentary “ANSELM”. The historical film festival will be held in Palais des Festivals et des Congrès as always, and a bubbling creative essence will be intertwined with the gentle French air once again.

"ANSELM", with Wim Wenders as the Director, Karsten Brünig as the Producer, and Franx Lustig as the Director of Photography is an exploration of Anselm Kiefer’s fascination with myth and history. The film delves deep into Kiefer’s work– showcasing his journey through life, inspirations, and creative process.

Taking advantage of the endless world of mixed media- the documentary posits a play between film and painting as well as past and present– the film experience created by Wenders breaks boundaries and transcends traditional notions of creative expression. "ANSELM", completed with meticulous attention in 3D over the course of two years will be screened at the 76th Edition of the Cannes Film Festival alongside other projects under the festival’s Special Screenings Category.

www.wim-wenders.com

Cinema

Fondazione Prada presents the Italian Premiere of “Small Axe”

From June 12th until June 26th, Fondazione Prada will premiere Steve McQueen’s complete television series “Small Axe” to Italian audiences at its Cinema in Milan. This anthology series comprises five original films by McQueen. Set from the late ‘60s until the mid-'80s, each film tells a different story involving London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their force of will, despite rampant racism and discrimination. McQueen has described the anthology as “a love letter to Black resilience, triumph, hope, music, joy, and love as well as friendship and family”. The Small Axe collection includes “Mangrove”, “Lovers Rock”, “Red, White, and Blue”, “Alex Wheatle”, and “Education”. Each of these films has the potential to be a stand-alone piece, but also work seamlessly as a collective. Despite all being set between the late ‘60s and mid-'80s, the issues being addressed are just as prevalent today, working as a commentary on where we were, where we are, and where we want to go. GH

www.fondazioneprada.org

Cinema

Saint Laurent on the Big Screen

Saint Laurent has now become the first-ever luxury brand to include full-fledged production of movies in the brand’s list of expertise. The debut of Saint Laurent Productions echoes the cinematic essence so often seen in the collections of the brand. This expansion, envisioned by Anthony Vaccarello, is intertwined with the narrative that the Creative Director has in mind for the future of the grandiose brand. Vaccarello expertly stated his aim and desire for the growth of Saint Laurent Productions, “I want to work with and provide a space for all the great film talents who have inspired me over the years,” showcasing a genuine interest in the elusive industry.

Further immersing itself in the life of cinema, Saint Laurent Productions will participate in the 76th Cannes Festival (16-27 May 2023), premiering “Strange Way of Life” by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. Committing to this new step forward, Saint Laurent Productions are already set to work with authors David Cronenberg and Paolo Sorrentino on future projects.

Pairing the alluring world of motion pictures with fashion, all of the company’s films feature costumes by Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, making this a unanimous step forward for the entire brand.

www.saintlaurent.com

This Was Hollywood

The Golden Age of Hollywood, the captivating lives of larger than life actors that graced the silver screen. From leading men and leading ladies like Carey Grant, Lana Turner or Joan Crawford, who infamously feigned illness and accepted her Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in ‘Mildred Pierce’ while confined to her bed, strange stories rise to the surface in this new book. The Golden Age of Hollywood is a time in history like no other. Writing about this history, Carla Valderrama, author of ‘This Was Fashion’, in collaboration with Turner Classic Movies has published a new book entitled ‘This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories’.

In the hard-cover book are former screen legends who have faded into obscurity as well as newly surfaced revelations about Hollywood’s biggest names. From Clark Gable’s secret love child to the film that almost brought Paul Newman’s whole career to an end, this one-of-a-kind history book is an enthralling mirage of yesteryear.

‘This Was Hollywood’ is Carla Valderrama's first book and is filled with a visually stunning catalogue of the lost history of Golden Age hollywood.

www.thiswashollywood.com

Cinema

Lilli Reinhart honored as Face of the Future

The Women in Film, Los Angeles (WIF) are an organization founded in 1973 that advocates and works for the advancement of the careers of all women in the film and screen industries. Since 1977, this group has hosted an annual award show, “The WIF HONORS”, to honor outstanding women in the field for their groundbreaking accomplishments. A formidable list of former recipients includes figures such as Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Meryl Streep, and many more exceptional women. For 19 years, Max Mara has supported this event as a Presenting Sponsor, using its platform to celebrate women it deems exceptional through its “Women in Film Max Mara Face of the Future Award”. The award is granted to actresses for their contributions to film as well as to greater society. This year the company has chosen to honor Lilli Reinhart. In celebration of its newest honoree, Max Mara hosted a cocktail party in Los Angeles in late October.

The young actress has rapidly risen as a figure in the public eye over the last few years especially through her role in the cult-TV show Riverdale, however her quickly expanding repertoire now boasts a whole range of films, such as Wanuri Kahiu’s coming-of-age “Look Both Ways,” and Lorene Scafaria’s feature film “Hustlers”. At just 26, Reinhart has even assumed the title of Executive Producer on the former film. Next to an impressive list of awards and accolades, the actress is also hailed as a force for good in the online community, especially using her platform to raise awareness on issues of mental health and body image. Through her candor and vulnerability online, Reinhart has opened the conversation on many occasions to address the media industry’s harmful effects on body image and beauty standards – shedding light on an issue that has permeated women’s lives everywhere. Reinhart is also leveraging her new role as producer to campaign for greater diversity and inclusivity. HZ

www.womeninfilm.org
www.maxmara.com

Cinema

Soggettiva 4 - Expressway Milano

Fondazione Prada’s Cinema presents the fourth chapter of the series “Soggettiva” with the title Expressway Milano made by Danish director Nicolas Winding. This chapter is a “cinematic journey into the rare and unknown” screening 13 forgotten American 1960’s/1970’s films from the online archive by Nicolas Winding Refn.

The oeuvre contains several genres from drive-in movies to lost avant-garde cinema, horror and gothic fantasy films to musicals, "nudie cutie" movies to religious and propaganda cinema. All are divided into 4 volumes: Volume 1 “Regional Renegades” constitutes: The Nest of The Cuckoo Birds (1965) by Bert Williams, Hot Thrills and Warm Chills (1967) by Dale Berry and Shanty Tramp (1967) by Joseph P. Mawra.

Volume 2 “Missing Links” covers: Night Tide (1961) by Curtis Harrington, If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (1972) by Ron Ormond, The Burning Hell (1974) by Ron Ormond and Spring Night, Summer Night (1967) by Joseph L. Anderson.

Volume 3 called "Hillbillies, Hustlers, and Fallen Idols" composes: Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers (1967) by Larry E. Jackson, Wild Guitar (1962) by Ray Dennis Steckler and House on Bare Mountain (1962) by Lee Frost.

And lastly Volume 4 “Smell of Female” span Chained Girls (1965) by Joseph P. Mawra, Satan in High Heels (1962) by Jerald Intrator and Maidens of Fetish Street (1966) by Saul Resnick.

On Friday 22 February 2019 the Fondazione Prada’s Cinema stages “Soggetiva Nicolas Winding Refn” and holds a special conversation between Nicolas Winding, Jimmy McDonough (Managing editor), David Frost (director of BUREAU) and film critic Manlio Gomarasca about Nicolas Winding Refn’s new adventure known as ’NWR’. This revolutionary online archive in form of a platform was presented in 2018 and developed in collaboration with London-based agency BUREAU.

"What we've created is not a film, TV, fashion, photography, lifestyle or political site. It's an installation, an online museum inclusive of everything. There's a movie presented each month, but that film is merely the jumping off point. It's the seed to inspire creativity, provoke a state of mind. The result isn't easy to explain in a soundbite, you have to experience it. byNWR comes with a mystery attached".

All the public screenings of "Soggettiva Nicolas Winding Refn," are taking place at Fondazione Prada’s Cinema on Fridays from 1 March to 24 May 2019, and will be free, but are only accessible on reservation.

www.fondazioneprada.org

Cinema

Cartier returns as the official partner of the Venice Film Festival

For the second year in a row, the French Maison Cartier returned as the official partner for the 79th Venice Film Festival “Biennale Cinema 2022”. This partnership, which started in the year 2021, manifests Cartier’s deep passion for art, in particular film. As part of its initiative, Cartier presented the “Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award”, which went to film director, writer, and producer Walter Hill. His new movie Dead For A Dollar, starring Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Rachel Brosnahan, and Benjamin Bratt premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Furthermore, Cartier is hosting the “Cartier Art Dialogues”, two master classes that highlight the interaction between film and music. Promoting art and culture is deeply rooted in the French Maison's history as Cartier pieces are featured in a variety of world-famous films and can be seen on red carpets around the world, worn by icons such as Grace Kelly and Josette Day. For this reason, Cartier decided to organize an exhibition, showcasing jewels from the Cartier Collection, during the Biennale. Beyond the borders of the Festival, Cartier also engages in other projects in Venice to not only preserve the cultural heritage of the glorious city but also to support the ongoing development of its cultural life. Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Arnaud Carrez explains: "Dialogues with the art world have always been a source of creative inspiration for the Maison. (...) Our collaboration with the Mostra is a new opportunity to bridge between all the artistic disciplines that are close to our hearts". JW

www.labiennale.org
www.cartier.com