R. Alverson Directs New Bonnie “Prince” Billy Video, New Jerusalem at SXSW

We are happy to announce following New Jerusalem‘s triumphant world premiere at Rotterdam Film Festival, R. Alverson’s second feature film starring Colm O’Leary and Will Oldham will make its North American debut at SXSW.

Alverson and co-star Will Oldham have just recently collaborated again for the video of Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang’s “New Wonder.” This song comes from the forthcoming 10″ Island Brothers aimed to benefit Edge Outreach’s efforts in Haiti.

“New Wonder” video directed by R. Alverson

The stunning video was seemingly filmed at a child’s wake, and like Alverson’s films, it is a slow-building and intimate look at an individual’s internal struggles and their devastating tangibility.

Filmmaker Magazine called New Jerusalem “a rare American indie film that dares to contend with spirituality and The Struggle For Meaning.”

R. Alverson’s ‘New Jerusalem’ Premiering at Int’l Film Festival Rotterdam

R. Alverson’s New Jerusalem, which features Will Oldham in his first leading role since 2006′s Old Joy, premiere’s on the 31st of this month at the 40th International Film Festival  Rotterdam. The film will premiere as part of the Bright Future selections. To boot, Alverson, Oldham and co-star Colm O’Leary will all be present at the festival.

A special press screening of New Jerusalem in Rotterdam will be at 16:00, Jan. 28th at Cinerama,

New Jerusalem Screening Dates at Int’l Film Festival Rotterdam:

Jan. 31 18:15 Pathe 3 (INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE)
Feb. 1   11:45  Cinerama 1
Feb. 2   13:45  Pathe 6

Sean (O’Leary), an  Irish Immigrant to America, returning from military service in Afghanistan, finds his heart and mind in dsarray. He befriends Ike (Oldham) a strong willed Evangelical Christian, who endeavors to ensure Sean’s salvation. Inundated by a relentless fragility, Sean is confronted by a choice  between the temptation of certainty and the chaos of the world around him. A meditation on friendship, need and frailty, New Jerusalem explores the allure and limitations of modern utopian belief.

R. Alverson’s New Jerusalem To Premiere At International Film Festival Rotterdam

New Jerusalem will make its world premiere at the 40th Annual International Film Festival Rotterdam in January!

This marks the second feature film from director R. Alverson. It stars Will Oldham, in his first leading role since Kelly Reichardt’s 2006 feature Old Joy, and Colm O’Leary (who co-wrote the film with Alverson).

Watch the trailer for New Jerusalem:

Alverson’s first film, The Builder, also starring Leary, marked Jagjaguwar’s first foray into releasing films.

The Builder is available on DVD now!

“The Builder” Screening on Nov. 15 at Espous Gallery in NY – RSVP NOW!

The Espous Foundation in NY, NY will be hosting a screening of The Builder on Monday, November 15th. The venue can only hold 50 seats, so you have to send in your RSVP in order to attend at space@esopusfoundation.org!

The Esopus Foundation Ltd.
64 West 3rd Street, #210
New York, New York 10012
Phone: (212) 473-0919
Fax: (212) 473-7212
info@esopusmag.com

The Builder DVD is available to buy here.

Watch the trailer for R. Alverson’s next film, New Jerusalem, starring Colm O’ Leary and Will Oldham after the jump.

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Screening Debut of The Builder in Brooklyn, Performance and New Song From Sharon Van Etten

Jagjaguwar’s first feature film release, The Builder, will have its New York debut on July 7, with a very special, free screening at Brooklyn’s Zebulon. The evening will also include a performance from songwriter Sharon Van Etten, who has contributed an original song to the film’s “foundtrack,” available digitally on the Jagjaguwar site. Listen to Van Etten’s stark, crushing “I Couldn’t Save You” HERE. The film’s director R. Alverson will also be in attendance.

To help announce the Zebulon screening, The Independent Film Channel recently ran pieces of a video interview with Alverson. These somewhat surreal interview clips find the director touching on the films of Cassavetes, rationality versus intuition, and his one and only visit to a psychiatrist. Alverson’s vision is one devoid of film gimmicks and set firmly on a celebration of humanity, be it unsettling or touching.

INTERVIEW 1:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzSsbM9zHgY&feature=channel

INTERVIEW 2:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7seG96TOMw&feature=channel