Sundance: ‘Kids’ Get Focus, Galella Gets Love

Lisa Cholodenko’s wonderful film “The Kids Are All Right” went to Focus Features in the end, and not to the studio that always produces Oscar winners and nominees, Fox Searchlight. Focus may have won the bidding war because they have a history with gay-oriented films like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Milk.” and “Taking Woodstock.” “Kids” does feature a lesbian couple, but Focus would be amiss to market it that way. Cholodenko’s film is completely mainstream, and very funny…

…Ron Galella was the original New York paparazzi photographer. He hounded Jackie Onassis, who took him to court twice. He chronicled celebrity life for what seemed like forever, taking pictures of everyone. Once he was a pariah. But he outlived everyone, and now has a huge archive and many books. He’s the celebrity now. Leon Gast has made a terrific documentary about Galella called “Smash His Camera” that deserves a wide viewing audience. It’s Galella warts and all, with lots of testimony from those who know him including legendary eatery owner’Elaine Kaufman and gossip queen extraordinaire Liz Smith…

…I really loved the magazine produced and distributed for free around Sundance by pr chief Brooks Addicott and edited by James Inverne. There are some nice interviews with Sundance regulars and great pics from past festivals. I hope they can make copies available to the public on the festival’s website. Film buffs will really dig it…