OK, so Madonna‘s first attempt behind the camera “Filth and Wisdom” was a bit of misfire, but damn if Ms. Ciccone isn’t raising the stakes for her for sophomore effort “W.E.“
The film tells the parallel stories of the love affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, which led to the royal’s abdication, and the contemporary story of a woman, Wally Winthrop, with romantic problems of her own, in addition to an obsession with the life of the Duchess of Windsor. Sort of think of it as a much more ambitious “Julie and Julia.” Starring Abbie Cornish, Oscar Isaac, Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy, filming on the project took place last summer and it looks like the Queen of Pop would like to earn the crown of the film festival circuit as well.
B.Z. reports that invitations have gone out to select distributors and cinema owners for a private screening of “W.E.” set to take place during the Berlin Film Festival. Additionally, the site adds that the film is gearing up for an official premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. No official date for the screening has been revealed, but according to Der Taggespiegel, it’s set for the first week of the festival. It’s not the first time Madonna has hit the festival circuit. In 2008 she hit Berlin with “Filth And Wisdom” with an after party that was apparently something legendary. But all of this will be happening unofficially, outside of any regular programming or events by the Berlin Film Festival.
“It is very likely that she will come to Berlin, but it has nothing to do with the festival. As far as we know, she is presenting her latest film on the sidelines of the festival,” said a Berlinale spokesman told the New York Post adding, “She has rented a cinema for a private screening at the European Film Market.”
The Berlin Film Festival and European Film Market kick off on February 10th and we’re sure there will be much buzz as people try snag tickets for what is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated, and hard to get into screenings.
