Wes Anderson comedy to kick off N.Y. film fest

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-28 17:34

NEW YORK - Wes Anderson's comedy "The Darjeeling Limited" will kick off the 45th annual New York Film Festival on September 28, while Joel and Ethan Coen's drama "No Country for Old Men" will screen in the Centerpiece slot.

Two other features in the lineup -- Cristian Mungiu's Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" and Lee Chang-dong's's "Secret Sunshine" (which won the Cannes best actress award for Jeon Do-yeon) -- also were confirmed Wednesday, due in part to leaks about their inclusion.

Organizers will unveil the complete lineup by early August. The festival wraps October 14.

Anderson's "Darjeeling" follows three brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, who co-wrote the film with Anderson and Roman Coppola) who attempt to reconnect with one another on a journey through India.

"It represents a big step for Wes," said festival program director Richard Pena. "I hate to use the word 'matured,' but the humor and whimsy he uses is sharper, better focused and used more effectively."

Fox Searchlight will release the film in New York the day after its festival premiere.

Pena noted that the director has a long history with the fest, which premiered his 1998 breakthrough comedy "Rushmore."

"We're very proud we showed it at a moment it was almost ready to be shelved," he said. "With a little cajoling, the studio allowed us to screen it, and I'd like to think our showing it helped in getting it out there."

Although it was held back from the media, the festival committee screened the Coen brothers' adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's intense crime novel "No Country for Old Men" before its Cannes premiere in May. "It's their best movie in years, certainly my favorite since 'Miller's Crossing,"' Pena said. "I was a little surprised it didn't win (at Cannes)."

The Miramax Films/Paramount Vantage release will screen October 6 and hit theaters in November.

The acclaimed Romanian abortion drama "4 Months" will be given a day-and-date theatrical/video-on-demand domestic release by IFC First Take sometime after its to-be-determined festival slot. The South Korean romance "Sunshine" has no announced U.S. distributor.