Rendition DVD has a release date! The Santa Fe Film Festival

Even though Rendition has barely left the theatres of the US and UK and is only now making its wave across Europe and other parts of the world, its DVD release has been revealed! According to Amazon, the DVD will be released in the UK on February 25, barely three months away. Although the date for its release in the US has yet to be made known, it will probably be either the same date, or perhaps even earlier.


As yet, there are no details of any extras but I'm demanding and I hope that a film with a message such as this one will give its cast and makers plenty of opportunities to express their opinions, in commentaries and features. The DVD would also provide a perfect opportunity to tell us more about the set up in Morocco as well as the North African and Israeli actors. I note, however, that Amazon has recorded this as a single DVD release. So, just weeks after the release of Zodiac's new DVD, we will be able to pause That Scene as much as we like.

This happy news is a direct result of Twisted Logic, winning her the Gyllenorder of Merit. Thanks TL!


But it appears the DVD is not all that's going. Many of us have been seduced by the music on the official Rendition website. The CD soundtrack featuring the music of Paul Hepker and Mark Kelier is available from both US and UK Amazon sites, but on the US site, you can tempt yourself with tantalising soundbites.

The Santa Fe Film Festival

Just one day after filming on Brothers begins next week (27 November) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Santa Fe Film Festival begins, running through to 2 December. Modelling itself to some degree perhaps on TIFF, the exceptionally fine Toronto Festival, the eighth Santa Fe Film Festival 'showcases more than 80 programs encompassing roughly 200 films, shorts and features of all genres, themes and topics. The festival is divided into seven series: Independent Spirits, Making it Reel, Eye on the World, Art Matters, Southwest Showcase and Gala films from the major distributors as well as retrospective titles drawn from the careers of our annual Luminaria Tributees. Last year, over 7,000 attendees from around the world purchased nearly 21,000 tickets.'


'Deputy Director, Stephen Rubin says “Our patrons will find the quality of our presentations amidst the backdrop of our beautiful city makes this among the top destination film festivals in the country. We’ve attracted many new national sponsors including Heineken and CBS and we will continue to attract more as we expand into the future. We are proud to say that this is our strongest slate yet, based on higher quality submissions, more interest from major and international distributors, and more interest in people attending. Thanks to Festivals like ours and the nearly 2,000 world-wide, a whole new quality of films can gain exposure and offer patrons a substantive and original alternative to mainstream theaters.”'


In previous years, one of the films to get an advance screening at Santa Fe was Brokeback Mountain and, of course, this time around, the organisers are well aware that they have a major Hollywood production on its doorstep. According to The Alburquerque Tribune: 'A major film, "Brothers," is scheduled to begin shooting in Santa Fe this week, and three of the hottest young actors in Hollywood might be kicking around town during the film festival. "Brothers" stars Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman. Festival Director Stephen Rubin isn't shying away from the celebrity factor. He says he has put out the word to other actors filming this month in New Mexico, including Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Kyra Sedgwick, that they are welcome to hang out.'

Here is a picture of a Santa Fe market from the New Mexico Tourism Department, for all those like myself who know too little about this beautiful city.


Without doubt, Santa Fe is the place to be next week - this guy's about!


Includes pictures from IHJ.