Wonderful news for all who can attend the 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival. From their site:

Sarajevo Film Festival has great pleasure in welcoming back Irish actor Liam Cunningham, well known for his roles in Ken Loach’s award winning THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY; as Sir Davos Seaworth in HBO’s hit series GAME OF THRONES; and Steve McQueen’s HUNGER (which Cunningham presented at SFF in 2008).

This year Cunningham is bringing his recent film, directed by Bradley Corbet, THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER, within the Special Screening program, on August 20th at Meeting Point Cinema, followed by a Q&A.

THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER is a chilling fable about the rise of authoritarianism in the 20th Century. It tells the story of a young boy living in France in 1918 whose father is working for Woodrow Wilson’s US government on the Treaty of Versailles, in the aftermath of WW1. What he witnesses helps to mold his beliefs – and we witness the birth of a terrifying ego.

Cunningham’s versatile career has made him at home in both leading and supporting roles, drama and comedy, on stage, screen and behind the camera. He also makes documentaries on current and key issues, and in 2011 added “Producer” to his credentials when Michael Fassbender and he both starred and co-produced the short film, PITCH BLACK HEIST, which won the 2012 BAFTA for short film.

 

This is a great interview with Brady from Adam Mulgrew at SeenSome.  Here’s the extract about Robert:

Robert Pattinson appears in the film as well in quite a crucial role. He’s done a lot of interesting films since the Twilight franchise came to an end and tends to generate interest from his fanbase in quite interesting, difficult films. Have you found that’s been the case with your film?

The film hasn’t been released in very many territories yet so it’s hard to say. But I know Rob and I were both very excited about this role and how surprising it would be in a way. Due to the size of it and the way that it’s used and ultimately what it communicates, it was important to have someone very recognizable in that role. It was kind of like a Janet Leigh in Psycho kind of thing, we needed to pull the rug out from everyone in a way. The role was created for a charismatic, handsome 30-year-old guy who was kind of the junior of the female lead and so for me, he was literally the first person my wife and I thought of. There was no-one that we could think of who would fit the bill who would be interested in a film like this but we knew Rob and knew his taste so we knew this would be something he would be interested in doing. We always try to offer roles to people who we think will like the material. I’ve never gone out of my way to offer Will Smith or Tom Cruise a role, ’cause it’s just not gonna happen.

Click on the link to read the full interview.

There is no Rob mention, but I like to hear what Brady’s expectations are from this amazing debut and you know my preference for video interviews over print.  I do agree with Brady – it really is a visceral experience.

Filmbeat

I’m so glad Brady used 35mm – I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of digital – for me it just doesn’t feel like I’m watching a film.

 

and their review

Thanks Posh.

 

Hey U Guys interviewed Brady Corbet for the upcoming UK release of “The Childhood of a Leader” and this is what Brady had to say about working with Robert:

“With Berenice Bejo and Liam Cunningham taking on starring roles, not to mention the breakthrough role for the young Tom Sweet – much attention will be placed on the supporting performance of Robert Pattinson, who continues to indulge in innovative, independent features that veer far away from the projected career many had expected after the Twilight Saga. Having spoken to Olivier Assayas following his collaboration with Kristen Stewart in Clouds of Sils Maria, the French auteur admitted the actresses’ ardent following was a strain on the production at times, with fans swarming around the set – but Corbet said he didn’t have any issues on that front.

“I think that’s changed a lot, and probably just three of four years ago that was a bigger problem for Robert,” he said. “Rob is working with most of the best directors in the world right now, and I think the more you do that, the less of the wrong kind of attention you’ll have. Everyone just grows up and hopefully lets it all go. I was in a funny position because I was in a kids movie called Thunderbirds when I was 13 years old, and if it had not been a box office failure then I’d have been associated with it, but I wasn’t so much because nobody really saw it, especially in the US. But I understand how it feels to have a very particular kind of interest but at a very young age become involved in something that is not necessarily representative of who you are, or what you want to make.”

Let’s hope so Brady, let’s hope so.

Click on the link above to read the whole exclusive interview.

Thanks Posh for the Brady pic.

 

From the Sunday Times – Culture

Robert Pattinson and Brady Corbet: Brothers in arms
The Twilight star and his director, an old pal, on their challenging new film — an intelligent movie that goes against the grain in modern Hollywood

The oddest thing about Robert Pattinson’s new film is, well, it’s all odd. From a tilt of the camera that barely shows the actors, to a story about fascism that you need to work really hard at even to know it’s about fascism, it is an understatement to say that The Childhood of a Leader is so far removed from its star’s huge vampire breakthrough, Twilight, that it will share absolutely none of the same fans.

It’s like Justin Bieber giving up chart-friendly pop hits to record an album of Indonesian electro. So, in a members’ club in London, over morning coffee, I ask the actor, why — why do something this peculiar?

“Because nothing else exists any more!” he says, laughing. He laughs a lot, a little nerdy, like a teenager at home watching a particularly good episode of South Park. The larger films, he explains, just aren’t that interesting. In the 1990s, there were the options of mainstream dramas or adult action films, but now… “Your only option is to do a superhero movie,” he says, referring to the 71 comic-book adaptations currently in the works. “You can do a superhero, or you can do indies. That’s it!” He sounds exasperated. “You cannot even do Nicolas Cage movies,” he says. “You can’t even do Con Air. I would love to do Con Air.”

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