Strouse to write, direct 'Season'

Film News: Film stars Rockwell as girls basketball coach -- "Grace Is Gone" helmer James Strouse is set to write and direct "The Winning Season, " an indie comedy centering on a high school girls basketball coach.

Arizona reports possible recruiting violation

The University of Arizona has reported a possible NCAA recruiting violation by men's basketball coach Lute Olson, who called it "an unfortunate and regrettable error."

Hedlund to star in 'Tron' sequel

Film News: Credits include 'Friday Night Lights, ' 'Troy' -- Disney has inked Garrett Hedlund to star in "Tron" its sequel to the pioneering 1982 computer-graphics action pic of the same name. Hedlund's credits include "Friday Night Lights, " "Four Brothers" and "Troy."

Deakins nabs two ASC nominations

Film News: 'Reader, ' 'Revolutionary' on award shortlist -- For the second year in a row, the American Society of Cinematographers has given two feature nominations to Roger Deakins, this time for “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.”

Polanski to return to Los Angeles?

Film News: Debate continues over misconduct charges -- Does Roman Polanski have to return to L.A. in order to get 32-year-old sexual misconduct charges dismissed? L.A. County's D.A. office says he does, but his attorneys don't agree.

Rotterdam festival favors new talent

Film News: Event picks 14 first, second films for award -- Fourteen first and second features compete for the VPRO Tiger Awards at this year's International Film Festival Rotterdam.
The three winners of the fest's top honor will be announced Jan. 30.

BAFTA unveils foreign film shortlist

Film News: Nominations include two animated films -- The noms for the foreign-language pic BAFTA have gone to German terrorist thriller “The Baader Meinhof Complex, ” Italian mafia drama “Gomorrah, ” French family drama “I’ve Loved You So Long, ” and innovative animated pics “Persepolis” and “Waltz With Bashir.”

Berlin Panorama nabs 'Garapa'

Film News: Julie Delpy's 'Countess' also picked -- New works by Jose Padilha, who won the Golden Bear last year with “The Elite Squad, ” Julie Delpy and cult filmmaker Ulli Lommel are among the films selected for the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section this year, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

'Watchmen' fate goes to federal judge

Film News: Fox, WB forego jury trial on legal tussle -- Fox and Warner Bros. have decided to forego a jury trial in their legal tussle over which studio has distribution rights to "Watchmen" and agreed to let a federal judge decide the case on Jan. 20.

Palm Springs rolls out red carpet

Film News: Eastwood receives career achievement award -- The world economy is in dire straits, but you sure wouldn't know it from the red carpet at the 20th-annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.

Welsh agency boosts local films

Film News: FAW puts $2.6 milllion into projects -- The Film Agency of Wales invested $2.6 million (£1.7 million) in local pics last year, its first in operation.

Image Awards unveil nominations

Film News: NAACP honors to be handed out on Feb. 12 -- The NAACP has named “Cadillac Records, ” “The Secret Life of Bees, ” “Miracle at St. Anna, ” “Seven Pounds” and “Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" as best pic contenders for its 40th annual Image Awards.