Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Martin Scorsese’s “SHINE A LIGHT” to Open the 58th Berlin International Film Festival

The 58th Belinale has selected the ultimate Rolling Stones concert film, “SHINE A LIGHT,” from Oscar®-winning director Martin Scorsese, to open the festival on February 7, 2008, with Scorsese and The Rolling Stones in attendance.

Scorsese assembled an award-winning camera team to capture the raw energy of the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll band in two concerts at the Beacon Theatre on October 29th and November 1st 2006. Using sixteen 35mm cameras and one Genesis Hi Def camera to shoot more than half-a-million feet of concert footage, Oscar®-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson (The Aviator, JFK) supervised a team which included several highly acclaimed directors of photography: Oscar® winner John Toll (The Last Samurai, Braveheart); Oscar® winner Andrew Lesnie (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong); Oscar® nominee Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano, The Painted Veil), Oscar® nominee Robert Elswit (Magnolia, Good Night and Good Luck); Oscar® nominee Emmanuel Lubezki (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Sleepy Hollow); and Ellen Kuras (Summer of Sam, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). The film was edited by David Tedeschi, who received an Emmy nomination for his work with Scorsese on the acclaimed Bob Dylan documentary, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

With special guest performances from Christina Aguilera, Buddy Guy and Jack White III of the White Stripes, the two Beacon concerts form the heart of the film. “SHINE A LIGHT” also features rarely seen archival footage and current behind the scenes footage and interviews shot using additional Hi Def, DV Cam, 16mm and 8mm cameras. With this extensive camera coverage and intimacy of the setting, Scorsese has created a extraordinary musical film event and given audiences unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones both on stage and off.

Produced and financed by Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment and long-time Stones tour promoter Michael Cohl's Concert Promotions International, producers are Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner and Steve Bing. Executive producers are Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, with Jane Rose as co-executive producer.

In making the announcement, Festival Director Dieter Kosslick said “We are extremely excited to have the World Premiere of this magnificent film as our opening gala. Martin Scorsese has again set the gold standard when it comes to capturing the pure essence of an iconic band on the big screen.”

The film will be released in North America on April 4th, 2008 by Paramount Classics.

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