Ringer HMS Surprise sends us this amazing tidbit: ‘I hope you are sitting down, because I nearly fell over when I heard. I have a friend who works for Comic Con and they just told me that ROTK:EE will premiere on Friday, July 23rd in the San Diego Convention Center’s brand new 6,000 person Rm H. I can’t wait!.’

While we can’t confirm this yet, it would be pretty sweet if it happens! (Well, for those of us going I guess!)

From Variety (thanks to Akabarlee): PRAGUE — With the scramble to bring in names heating up in the countdown to its July 2 opening night, Karlovy Vary is lining up a slate of stars…Stars already confirmed include Elijah Wood and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman for the screening of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”…Director John Irvin and actors Colm Meaney and Bernard Hill will accompany the opening-night showing of their “The Boys From County Clare.” [More]

From Variety:

PRAGUE — With the scramble to bring in names heating up in the countdown to its July 2 opening night, Karlovy Vary is lining up a slate of stars. Latest to join the parade are John Cleese, who will present the July 10 closing-night screening of “Shrek 2,” and Sherilyn Fenn, star of U.S. competition film “The Cavedweller.”

Stars already confirmed include Elijah Wood and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman for the screening of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”; Wood is filming “Everything is Illuminated” in Prague for actor-turned-director Liev Schreiber, who’s also expected in Karlovy Vary for the opening weekend.

Director John Irvin and actors Colm Meaney and Bernard Hill will accompany the opening-night showing of their “The Boys From County Clare.” “House of Sand and Fog” helmer Vadim Perelman is expected, and Harvey Keitel will turn up to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Accompanying a John Cassavetes retrospective are actors Ben Gazzara and Seymour Cassel, daughter Xan Cassavetes and producer-editor Al Ruban, who also heads up the main jury.

The 3-year-old Industry Office, which is a networking link for film professionals, particularly buyers, sellers and fest programmers, reports a 50% increase in the number of companies and representatives signed up for its services.

High on the list is Cannes market director Jerome Paillard, attending Karlovy Vary for the first time to discuss possible cooperation between the French market and the Czech fest. Miramax plans to send a rep, its first time at the fest. Also new on the list are theatrical distributors from Poland and Hungary.

Attendance from all regions is on the rise, with especially strong representation from France, Germany and the U.K.

Music from the Movies Talks LOTR
Click to enlarge

Irascian writes: Subscribers to “Music from the Movies” received an astonishing “LOTR” –dedicated issue today. Featuring EIGHTY-ONE pages of densely-packed interviews and information about the music from the trilogy this is one issue EVERY fan of Howard Shore’s score is going to want to own. More of a book than a magazine this issue includes many rare photo’s of scenes from the movie and the sheet music. I’ve sent you scans of the cover and a sample page. Subscription details can be found here.

Thanks to Bilbo, Thorin and company have escaped from the dungeons of the Elf-king of Mirkwood. But to what end? Do the dwarves finally consider Bilbo a worthy member of their company? The journey down the river is an unpleasant one for the dwarves, but the end makes up for it — or does it? [More]

Thanks to Bilbo, Thorin and company have escaped from the dungeons of the Elf-king of Mirkwood. But to what end? Do the dwarves finally consider Bilbo a worthy member of their company? The journey down the river is an unpleasant one for the dwarves, but the end makes up for it — or does it? [More]