Locally Shot 'Red White and Blue' Will Premiere in Rotterdam

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Red White and Blue Cast with Simon Rumley

It's hard to believe it's been almost six months since the slacker revenge film Red White and Blue wrapped shooting in Austin. An update in August from writer/director Simon Rumley revealed that he was hard at work editing the film. Simon and co-producer Bob Portal have now completed work with the last stages of post-production with their sound editors and Post house Prime Focus. The film is now fully color timed/graded and sound mixing is completed, ready for Hi Def delivery.

Great news, as it has been officially announced that Red White and Blue is having its world premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival in the Netherlands on January 29. Rotterdam is the festival where Simon first premiered his previous film The Living and the Dead, which had its American premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2008.  

Red White and Blue plans to announce its U.S. premiere soon. Negotiations are currently underway for a deal with a top sales representative for the movie, to work on a U.S. release and foreign sales.  

More information from co-producer Bob Portal of Fidelity Films:

"The film has so far had a very warm reception. The movie looks and sounds great, no small thanks to all of you who worked so hard and helped so generously to make it happen. The reaction so far has been strong from the few who have seen rough cut versions. There should be some reviews coming out of Rotterdam, which we'll post when we have them."

I also heard from Simon this week, and asked him to explain the importance of the Rotterdam Film Festival, and whether we could hope for the North American premiere to take place in Austin. Here's what he had to say via e-mail:

"Rotterdam is one of the main festivals on the circuit and is the first European one to start each year. It's been going a long time and champions both young and old directors. Unlike many festivals Rotterdam isn't afraid to show darker material hence having the likes of Takashi Miike or Werner Herzog's films gracing their line-up.

"My last film The Living and The Dead also premiered there. Rotterdam served as an excellent springboard to catapult the film onto the global consciousness since there are both programmers and industry professionals there from all around the world. It's a very social festival and enjoyable experience so it's with great excitement that we'll spreading a little bit of Austin in Holland!

"We're very much hoping that the film will have its North American premiere at the excellent SXSW for obvious reasons! The making of this film was such a communal effort and I really don't think we could have made it anywhere else; everyone was so friendly, enthusiastic and helpful that I think its a testament to the community of Austin's generous and warm spirit. It'd be a tragedy to have the first North American screening anywhere but Austin!"

Slackerwood will let local fans know the moment an Austin screening is confirmed.