Susan Wrubel is stepping in as interim executive director of Aspen Film. Wrubel is a seasoned film industry executive, who has had a multi-faceted career in the global film industry, including film festivals and the non-profit arena.
Wrubel began her career in art house and foreign-language distribution, then moved into film acquisitions at New Yorker Films. She next became head of acquisitions and co-productions at Paramount Classics, overseeing both domestic and international projects. She eventually moved into development, sales and production as a consultant to several internationally focused companies.
After four years overseeing the panel and seminar program, and working with the Encuentros co-production market for the annual Miami International Film Festival, Wrubel spent the next four years curating, and as an industry liaison for the Independent Feature Project’s (IFP) No Borders international co-production market. She also produced the organization’s 2012 edition of the IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards. In addition, she has worked closely with the artistic director of the Rio International Film Festival, helping to bring American films to Rio de Janeiro. Most recently she has been an executive producer, sales representative and consultant on a number of U.S. and international independent film productions.
Aspen Film’s 39th edition of Filmfest, its flagship festival, runs October 3-8. The organization added Jane Schottle, a world class curator and program director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TiFF), as its program director for Aspen’s Filmfest and Academy Screenings. And now Wrubel steps in to guide the organization.
Ryan Brooks, chairman of Aspen Film’s Board of Trustees, stated, “Susan has a stellar reputation within the global film industry and a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in both film and non-profit that make her an ideal fit for the position. We feel extremely lucky to have her and could not be more excited about the future of Aspen Film.”
Wrubel takes the reigns from Aspen Film board member Elexa Ruth, who stepped into the temporary role in May of 2017.
“It’s been an honor to work with Aspen Film in a more direct capacity as interim director these last few months. I am thrilled now to pass the torch to Susan, whose track record will be so beneficial to our organization,” said Ruth.
“I could not be more excited to be joining the team at Aspen Film and to make this the next chapter of my diverse career,” said Wrubel. “Aspen Film’s goals to enlighten, enrich, educate and entertain are several of the reasons I got into, and have stayed in, the film industry, as that is what film does for me. Aspen is an inspiring town with so much to offer on so many levels.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More