Amy Berg News

From Academy Award-nominated director Amy Berg, in collaboration with first time producers Damien Echols and Lorri Davis along with acclaimed Academy Award-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh comes WEST OF MEMPHIS - a powerful examination of a catastrophic failure of justice in Arkansas.

The American Film Institute's annual festival announced the line up for its Centerpiece Galas today. Featured in the top spots will be Ang Lee's Life Of Pi, Walter Salles' On The Road, DreamWorks Animation's Rise Of The Guardians and Jacques Audiard's Rust And Bone starring Marion Cotillard. Also included will be the world premiere of HITCHCOCK, starring Anthony Hopkins in the title role.

Minneapolis-based private investment firm EBF & Associates and Kevin Frakes' PalmStar Media Capital announced today the formation of Merced Media Partners, a strategic partnership that is targeting investments in approximately 15 films per year.

West of Memphis is a 2012 documentary film produced by Peter Jackson and Damien Echols, and directed by Amy J. Berg. Following from the original Paradise Lost film and its two sequels, West of Memphis follows the events of the West Memphis Three, a case in which three teenagers-Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley-were arrested for the murders of three 8-year old children; Christopher Byers, Steven Branch, and Michael Moore. The West Memphis Three were subsequently convicted of murder and remained in prison for more than 18 years, being released just prior to the third Paradise Lost film. The film just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and you can check out photos from the event below!

A new documentary written and directed by Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Amy Berg (Deliver us From Evil) in collaboration with the multiple Academy Award winning team of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, WEST OF MEMPHIS tells the untold story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. The film's world premiere will be held at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, January 20.

Variety reports that actress Reese Witherspoon is set to star in the upcoming film DEVIL'S KNOT: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WEST, based on the book by Mara Leveritt.

Sundance Institute announced today the films selected to screen in the out-of-competition Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Included in this year's line-up is Price Check, featuring Cheyenne Jackson, Parker Posey, and Annie Parisse.The Festival will be held January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The complete list of films is available at www.sundance.org/festival.