Focus Features

On the heels of the NSA leaks and questions about the activities of Edward Snowden, Alex Gibney, the writer/director of WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, joined a distinguished panel at HuffPost Live (including journalist/filmmaker Jeremy Scahill, Prof. Jeff Jarvis, Jesselyn Radack, and Brett Kaufman) to discuss "Whistleblowing & Journalism." Watch.

Africa First kicks off its sixth year by starting to accept applications (with the application process ending on Monday August, 19). The groundbreaking program selects five filmmakers of African nationality and residence, awarding them $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there, as well as flying them to NYC for a summit with the Africa First advisory board and other filmmakers. Africa First is supervised by Executive Director and producer Kisha Cameron Dingle, who coordinates the Program's submissions and evaluations with Focus director of development & production Christopher Kopp and production coordinator Jess Kwan. Focus CEO James Schamus remarks,  "The Africa First Program's commitment to short films and new filmmakers continues into a new digital age, when it is particularly exciting to be moving the program forward and to help get these storytellers' works made and seen."

For complete information on applications and the Africa First program, see our official press release.

$10,000 in Financing Apiece Earmarked For New Filmmakers

IGN's Dan and Chris deconstruct scene-by-scene the UK trailer for THE WORLD'S END, looking for clues at every cut for what will happen to Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in their latest outing with director Edgar Wright. Watch it here.

In a special video for the ACLU, Ben Wizner, the Director of ACLU's Speech, Privacy & Technology Project, speaks with Alex Gibney about his film WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS and the wide range of crucial issues (happening in the news now) that it touches upon.  Watch.

Arik Korman from The Bob Rivers Show sat down with writer/director Alex Gibney to talk about WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, as well as all the breaking stories dealing with whistle blowing and national secrecy. Fascinating.

NEW YORK, May 31st, 2013 – To commence its sixth year, Focus Features’ Africa First Program will accept entries beginning Monday, June 10th and continuing through Monday, August 19th, with applications needing to be received by Thursday, August 29th. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement

Alex Gibney, the writer/director of the Focus World doc WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, joined Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report. A must watch.

With the Bradley Manning trial starting, Alex Gibney's Focus World doc WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS is providing the media a powerful and precise primer on the events and people that lead up to this moment. CNN's Jake Tapper had Alex Gibney, the writer/director of WE STEAL SECRETS, on to talk about the film, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange. Watch.

The Cannes Film Festival is over, and for Focus Features International it was a great success. Alison Thompson, co-president of Focus Features International (FFI), announced multi-territory sales for Asif Kapadia's upcoming, as-yet untitled documentary on Amy Winehouse. In addition there were strong sales on Mike Leigh's upcoming film about the great English painter J.MW. Turner (to be played by Timothy Spall).  For complete info on sales and territories, see our official press release.

Company also closes Italy for Jude Law Starrer Black Sea, Germany for Mike Flanagan’s Oculus London (June 3, 2013) – Alison Thompson, co-president of Focus Features International (FFI), announced multi-territory sales on director Asif Kapadia’s (Senna, The Warrior) untitled documentary on five-time Grammy awar

Edgar Wright, who co-wrote and directed, the upcoming THE WORLD'S END, the last of his trilogy with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, went on YahooMovies to answer tweeted questions about his life, his films, and, of course, what's up with ice cream. If you read on, you'll find out what connects THE WORLD'S END to The Big Chill and It's Always Fair Weather. Really fun.

This morning public radio listeners were treated to a fascinating story about Alex Gibney, the writer/director of WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, and his journey to get to the heart of Jullian Assange, Bradley Manning and others connected to the organization. Hear the NPR Morning Edition story here.

CBS News caught up with Alex Gibney, the Academy Award-winning writer/director of WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, to talk about the film and his filmmaking. Watch.

Alex Gibney, the Academy Award-winning writer/director of WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, went on the radio to speak about Julian Assnage, Bradley Manning and the nature of cyber leaks on The Leonard Lopate Show. Listen.  For more on the film, visit our Facebook page.

Alison Thompson, co-president of Focus Features International, announced numerous sales on BLACK SEA, director Kevin Macdonald's heist thriller, starring Jude Law. In the film, Law is a submarine captain pushed to dangerous depths as he steers an unseaworthy vessel into dangerous waters to rescue lost gold in the Black Sea.  In addition to other deals, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition (SPWA) acquired Germany, Austria, German speaking Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Latin America. Backup Media invested against distribution rights in France, Benelux and French speaking Switzerland; E-Stars acquired China; Top Films the CIS; E1 Australia and New Zealand; Lev Cinema Israel; Ster-Kinekor South Africa; and Focus Features International is currently fielding offers in several other territories.

For complete info, go to the official press release.

At Collider, Adam Chitwood talks to Simon Pegg about his upcoming film, THE WORLD'S END, which he co-wrote with Edgar Wright. Indeed having already written SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ with Wright, Pegg rolled up his sleeves to join forces for another adventure in which he would co-star with his pal Nick Frost. In the article Pegg talks his writing process and also their musical choices.

Back Lot Records will issue a digital release of the soundtrack for We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, the new documentary from Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, on Tuesday May 21st. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features new music by Fall On Your Sword. A world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks will be released by Focus World in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, May 24th and in select cities on Friday, May 31st; and on digital platforms including VOD beginning on Friday, June 7th. "I've been a fan of Alex [Gibney]'s work for a long time, so it was great to finally work together on such an important project," comments Will Bates, founder of Fall On Your Sword. "Alex really wanted the music to have a cinematic edge to it. The score is very thematic and character-driven, like the film itself. Composing for a movie where the story was unfolding in real time was a unique experience."

For full info and play list, go to our official press release.  For info on the film, see our Facebook page for WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS.

Back Lot Records will issue a digital release of the soundtrack for We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, the new documentary from Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, on Tuesday May 21st. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features new music by Fall On Your Sword.

Penn Badgley, who plays Jeff Buckley in Daniel Algrant's musical drama GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY, highlights his favorite Jeff Buckley songs for MTV. The film is out in select theaters, and available through iTunes and On Demand.