BANANAS!*

Oscilloscope Laboratories, a New York based film production and theatrical distribution company, has snapped up the US rights to BANANAS!*.

Oscilloscope was launched in 2008 by Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, who modeled the company after the indie record labels that he grew up around, choosing films and then marketing them with the same artistic integrity with which they were made. The company, which is an extension of Yauch’s recording studio of the same name, has an in-house DVD distribution and production arm, and the paper packaging is reminiscent of the heyday of LP record jackets. All of the company’s DVD packaging is (free of any plastic) printed on FSC Certified 80% post-consumer waste paper and produced in a carbon neutral, hydroelectric, ISO- 9001 and ISO- 14001 certified plant.

Other films on Oscilloscope include Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, directed by Stephen Kijak and Oscar nominee Burma VJ, directed by Anders Østergaard and co-produced by WG Film.

Oscilloscope website »

After months of silence, a new plaintiffs’ lawyer in the Tellez case has filed a motion in the California Superior Court which seriously contests Dole’s allegations of fraud in the Nicaraguan DBCP cases. The new lawyer, Steve Condie, writes that Judge Victoria Chaney’s dismissal of all upcoming DBCP cases was not only unfair, but also a distraction from the genuine claim involving Dole’s use of DBCP.

In the motion, Condie writes that at least four of the anonymous “John Doe” witnesses were paid by Dole and that four more had their own personal motives to slander American lawyers involved in DBCP litigation in Nicaragua. And since the “John Doe” witnesses were anonymous, it’s practically impossible to double check their statements, which is unfair.

Condie concludes that none of Dole’s evidence in the fraud case is reliable or unbiased: ”there is no credible evidence suggesting that any fraudulent activities engaged in Nicaragua by anyone had any impact or effect on the trial in this case“.

Further hearings in the case are scheduled for May 10-11.

Dowload the motion » (PDF)

Read more:
They’re Going Bananas! Lawyers Deny Cooking Up Stories About Dole
Amanda Bronstad, Law.com

BANANAS!* under fire – A timeline
www.bananasthemovie.com

Aside from the screenings of BANANAS!* scheduled in the Culinary Cinema programme, the film will be discussed in other events organised by the Berlinale involving filmmakers, journalists, lawyers, etc:

Sunday, 14th February

14:00 – 15:30, HAU1, Talent Campus
"Shooting Suspects: Trust and Risks in Documentary Cinema"
Experts: Fredrik Gertten, Laura Poitras, Anat Zuria.
Moderated by Jörg Taszman.

Monday, 15th February

11:00 – 12:30, HomeBase Lounge
"BANANAS!* vs DOLE", a case study: "How do we protect ourselves when we’re attacked? How do we support one another?"
Experts: Lincoln Bandlow, lawyer, Los Angeles (defended BANANAS!* against DOLE); Andreas Spieß, German media lawyer; Sabine Bubeck-Paaz, ZDF/ARTE; Fredrik Gertten, director BANANAS!*; Margarete Jangård, producer BANANAS!*.
Moderated by Ove Rishøj Jensen, European Documentary Network.

18.00, Konzerthaus Gendarmenmarkt
Cinema for Peace gala: the International Green Film Award will be presented by Leonardo di Caprio and Mikhail Gorbachev.

22:00, Martin Gropius Bau Cinema
Screening of BANANAS!* – in the Berlinale Culinary Cinema Programme.

Tuesday, 16th February

17:00 – 18:30, Gropius Mirror Restaurant
Fruit Salad: A discussion with Fredrik Gertten on his film BANANAS!* and the politics of food.

Wednesday, 17th February

BANANAS!* Event at the Swedish Embassy in Berlin:
17.00: Cocktail – at the invitation of the Ambassador of Sweden
17.45: Screening of BANANAS!*
19.15: Panel on freedom of speech: "When Corporate Lawyers Come Knocking on Your Door"
Experts: Mats Johansson (conservative member of the Swedish Parliament who presented BANANAS!* to the Parliament); Percy Bratt (civil rights defence lawyer (former Swedish Helsinki Committee); Sabine Bubeck-Paaz (commissioning editor ZDF/ARTE, co-producer of BANANAS!*); Fredrik Gertten (director of BANANAS!*); Margarete Jangård (producer of BANANAS!*); Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (German Minister of Justice, not yet confirmed).

Moderated by Benedikt Härlin (journalist and former politician of the Green Party).

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For press and interview request, please contact:
Kerstin Hamm / kainz + hamm filmcontact
kerstinhamm@filmcontact.de / www.filmcontact.de
Marienburger Straße 36 10405 Berlin
Phone: + 49 (0)30 27908 – 700, Fax: – 795, Cell: + 49 (0) 177 4024355

BANANAS!* has been nominated for the International Green Film Award 2010 at the Cinema For Peace Gala in Berlin on February 15th.

Words from the jury:
"With BANANAS!* you did not only chronicle a landmark court case. In realizing this upsetting feature you also carry a message for humanity: You intentionally provoke basic important questions about power relations in our globalized world."

The prize will be announced and handed out by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former president Mikhail Gorbachev. Dicaprio was awarded last year along with Gus Van Sant and his feature film Milk.

The 2010 International Green Film Award nominees are:
BANANAS!* 2009: Fredrik Gertten (director), Maragrete Jangård (producer).
Crude, 2009: Joe Berlinger (director), Michael Bonfiglio (producer).
Home, 2009: Yann Arthus Bertrand (director), Denis Carot (producer).
Into Enternity, 2010: Michael Madsen (Director), Lise Lense-Møller (Producer).
Avatar, 2009: James Cameron (director), Jon Landau (producer) For blockbuster entertainment with a green message.
Roland Emmerich: For blockbuster entertainment with a green message Robert Redford: For his lifelong dedication to environmental issues.

During the gala, the international film industry will meet to display and honour social and humanitarian achievements connected to the world of film. This is the ninth time the annual gala is held, and it will take place on Monday, February 15th, at the Konzerthaus Berlin.

Read more at www.cinemaforpeace.com
For ticket requests, send a mail to guest@cinemaforpeace.com