The Circuit

Stressing they're sticking to the same formula, Tom Luddy and new co-director Gary Meyer encouraged the small press group to take risks at this year's fest, stressing the work of guest director Edith Kramer, who brings a rare screening of Marco Ferreri's "Dillinger is Dead" and a George Kuchar retrospective.  Luddy also noted the Cannes-heavy lineup this year -- "it's impossible not to show all the great films from that festival."  Meyer remarked that while there will be fewer TBAs this year, they do have a number of special films in their back pocket.  Afterwards, Meyer introduced Eran Kolirin's film "The Band's Visit," where the director introduced his soft-spoken and at times hilarious meditation on loneliness.  About an Egyptian band lost in Israel, he also tried to soften the inherent political edges -- "Movies don't have to be real.  They can be a lament or grief for what could have been."

Tonight, select scenes from "There Will Be Blood" will screen during the Daniel Day-Lewis tribute, starting after the Opening Night Feed.