Jan
31
S.O.S.
Posted by: | Comments
Archive for January, 2009
Jan
31
38th International Film Festival Rotterdam Winners of Tiger Awards
Posted by: | Comments
The Tigers are out! The winning films of the 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam were announced and the three VPRO Tiger Awards were given to the Hubert Bals Fund-supported film Be Calm and Count to Seven (Aram bash va ta haft beshmar) by Ramtin Lavafipour (Iran), Breathless (Ddongpari) by Yang Ik-June (South Korea) and Wrong Rosary (Uzak ihtimal) by Mahmut Fazil Coskun (Turkey).
The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award went to The Land (Dadi) by He Jia (China, 2008). A Special Mention was awarded to Agrarian Utopia by Uruphong Raksasad (Thailand, 2009).
The FIPRESCI Jury gave the International Critics’ Prize to Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly (Babi buta yang ingin terbang) by Edwin (Indonesia, 2008). The winner of the KNF Award is Tony Manero by Pablo Larraín (Chile/Brazil, 2008).
Earlier in the festival, The three Tiger Awards for Short Film were granted to A Necessary Music by Beatrice Gibson (UK), Despair (Otchajanie) by Galina Myznikova & Sergey Provorov (Russia) and Bernadette by Duncan Campbell (UK).
Meanwhile, the MovieSquad Award, given by The Rotterdam young people’s jury, went to Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle & Loveleen Tandan (United Kingdom, 2008). The KPN Audience Award and the Dioraphte Award for Best Hubert Bals Fund-Supported Film 2009 will be announced later.
Jan
30
Kansas Silent Film Festival
Posted by: | Comments
The 13th annual Kansas Silent Film Festival will be held on February 27th and 28th, 2009 and will play host to both the U.S.A. Premiere of a restored ‘lost’ feature film and the Kansas Premiere of a new documentary on silent film star, Mary Pickford. Sponsored by Washburn University, this event will take place at White Concert Hall on campus. Admission is free and open to the public. For more current information, check out our website at www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
The U.S.A. Premiere is Barelys the Magnificent, a previously ‘lost’ MGM feature film from 1926 starring John Gilbert in a swashbuckling romantic adventure based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini. It’s a sumptuous, exciting tale set in 17th Century France with a cavalier lover who steals women’s hearts, but cannot find the words for the woman he truly loves. There’s a rousing climax that outdoes most of the adventures of Douglas Fairbanks, who was better known for these costume epics. Film restoration expert David Shepard (who worked on this film) will be in attendance to introduce it. The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra of Boulder, Colorado will be on hand to premiere their newly commissioned music score for Bardleys ‘live’ on the Concert Hall stage. Unlike previously rediscovered ‘lost’ films – Bardleys is not a disappointment. It’s a terrific Hollywood movie!
The Kansas Premiere is a new documentary entitled Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies and it celebrates the life and work of the greatest leading lady of silent films. Her Centennial year in the movies will be in 2009 (her first film appearance was in 1909 in a short film by D.W. Griffith). This documentary combines audio interviews with Ms. Pickford with on-camera interviews with many of her co-stars and friends including Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Lillian Gish and Buddy Rogers. The production is stylishly narrated by Michael York. Producer/Director Nicholas Eliopoulos will be introducing his documentary and fielding questions from the audience. The Pickford documentary will be preceded by the 1919 feature film, The Poor Little Rich Girl, one of Mary Pickford’s greatest successes.
Jan
29
Spokane International Film Festival Blasts Off With Movies From Around the Globe
Posted by: | Comments
Award-winning features, documentaries, and short films from over 20 countries, from Austria to Taiwan, Morocco to Russia, in Spokane, Washington, at the Spokane International Film Festival, February 5 through 15 .
The official lineup and schedule
Thursday February 5 @ 6 pm - AMC
The Desert Within
Rodrigo Plá • Mexico, 2008 • 110 mins.
In Spanish with English subtitles.
Preceded by Next Floor • Canada, 2008 • 10 mins.
Friday February 6 @ 6 pm - AMC
Tulpan
Sergey Dvortsevoy • Kazakhstan/Russia, 2008 • 100 mins.
In Kazakh with English subtitles.
Tulpan is the Best Foreign Language Academy Award submission from Kazakhstan.
Preceded by 48 Hour Film Festival Winners with filmmakers scheduled to attend.
Friday February 6 @ 9 pm - AMC
Let The Right One In
Tomas Alfredson • Sweden, 2008 • 114 mins.
In Swedish with English subtitles.
Preceded by Ouroboros • USA • 11 mins. with filmmakers scheduled to attend.
Saturday February 7 @ Noon - AMC
One Water
Sanjeev Chatterjee and Ali Habashi • USA, 2008 • 68 mins.
Ali Habashi is scheduled to attend.
Preceded by Out In The Cold • Canada, 2008 • 30 mins. with performer Erroll Kinistino scheduled to attend.
Saturday February 7 @ 3 pm - AMC
Burned Hearts
Ahmed El Maanouni • Morocco, 2007 • 84 mins.
In Arabic with English subtitles.
Director Ahmed El Maanouni is scheduled to attend.
Preceded by The Painting • Iran, 2007 • 21 mins.
Saturday February 7 @ 6 pm - AMC
Il Divo
Paulo Sorrentino • Italy, 2008 • 110 mins.
In Italian with English subtitles.
Preceded by Power Lunch • USA, 2008 • 9 mins.
Saturday February 7 @ 9 pm - AMC
Revanche (Revenge)
Götz Spielmann • Austria, 2008 • 121 mins.
In German and Ukranian with English subtitles.
Revanche is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award.
Preceded by Space • USA, 2008 • 12 mins. with filmmakers scheduled to attend.
Sunday February 8 @ Noon - AMC
Chris & Don: A Love Story
Tina Mascara & Guido Santi • USA, 2008 • 90 mins.
Tina Mascara & Guido Santi are scheduled to attend.
Preceded by Awkward • Canada, 2008 • 7 mins.
Sunday February 8 @ 3 pm - AMC
The English Surgeon
Geoffrey Smith • UK, 2007 • 94 mins.
Preceded by Open Your Eyes • USA, 2008 • 13 mins.
Sunday February 8 @ 6 pm - AMC
A Secret
Claude Miller • France, 2007 • 105 mins.
In French with English subtitles.
Preceded by The Inquisitive Snail • Canada, 2008 • 1 min., with filmmaker scheduled to attend, and Comfort Woman (Wianbu) • USA, 2008 • 11 mins.
Monday February 9 @ 7 pm - Magic Lantern
Fix
Tao Ruspoli • USA, 2008 • 90 mins.
Tao Ruspoli is scheduled to attend.
Preceded by The Art of Getting Over It • USA, 2008 • 24 mins. with actor, producer, director Trevor St. John scheduled to attend, and Knock Knock Who’s There? • USA • 9 mins.
Tuesday February 10 @ 7 pm - Magic Lantern
Fighting Politics - World Premiere
David Vahey • USA, 2009 • 93 mins.
David Vahey and Matt Lindland are scheduled to attend.
Preceded by Interpretation • USA • 9 mins.
Wednesday February 11 @ 7 pm - Magic Lantern
Collector
Dempsey Tillman • USA, 2008 • 15 mins.
Screening with
Only Love • USA • 15 mins. Spotlight on Animation
Cigarettes and Fresh Air • USA • 24 mins. with filmmakers scheduled to attend.
2095 • USA • 20 mins.
Thursday February 12 @ 6 pm - AMC
The Rest Is Silence
Nae Caranfil • Romania, 2007 • 140 mins.
In Romanian and French with English subtitles.
The Rest is Silence is the Best Foreign Language Academy Award submission from Romania.
Preceded by Forever • USA, 2008 • 4 mins. with director Todd Tinkham scheduled to attend.
Valentine’s Party after the Show!
Friday February 13 @ 6 pm - AMC
Crossing
Tae-gyun Kim • South Korea, 2008 • 107 mins.
In Korean with English subtitles.
Crossing is the Best Foreign Language Academy Award submission from Korea.
Preceded by Dry Rain • USA, 2008 • 23 mins. with director Matthew J. Clark, writer Pete Fromm, and musical artists scheduled to attend.
Friday February 13 @ 9 pm - AMC
The Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite)
Fatih Akin • Germany/Turkey/Italy, 2007 • 122 mins.
In German, Turkish, and English with English subtitles.
Preceded by The Perfect Match • Canada, 2008 • 5 mins.
Saturday February 14 @ Noon - AMC
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
Lolis Eric Elie & Dawn Logsdon
USA, 2008 • 68 mins.
Preceded by Downstream • USA/Canada, 2008 • 35 mins.
Saturday February 14 @ 3 pm - AMC
Pachamama
Toshifumi Matsushita • Bolivia/Japan, 2008 • 104 mins.
In Quechua with English subtitles.
Toshifumi Matsushita is scheduled to attend.
Preceded by Baiana • Canada, 2008 • 6 mins.
Saturday February 14 @ 6 pm - AMC
Cherry Blossoms - Hanami
Doris Dörrie • Germany, 2008 • 127 mins.
In German and Japanese with English subtitles.
Preceded by Yellow Sticky Notes • Canada, 2008 • 6 mins. with director Jeff Chiba Stearns scheduled to attend.
Saturday February 14 @ 9 pm - AMC
Parking (Ting che)
Chung Mung-Hong • Taiwan, 2008 • 104 mins.
In Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese with English subtitles.
Preceded by C Block • Canada, 2008 • 4 mins.
Sunday February 15 @ Noon - AMC
The Hollow (Yar)
Marina Razbezhkina • Russia, 2008 • 103 mins.
In Russian with English subtitles.
Preceded by My Inventions • Canada, 2008 • 15 mins. with director Robert Holbrook scheduled to attend.
Sunday February 15 @ 3 pm - AMC
Tricks (Sztuczki)
Andrzej Jakimowski • Poland, 2007 • 95 mins.
In Polish with English subtitles.
Tricks is the Best Foreign Language Academy Award submission from Poland.
Preceded by For a Few Marbles More • Netherlands, 2008 • 11 mins. in Dutch with English subtitles.
Sunday February 15 @ 6 pm - AMC
The Wrecking Crew
Denny Tedesco • USA, 2008 • 98 mins.
Denny Tedecsco is scheduled to attend.
Preceded by ctrl z • Canada, 2008 • 6 mins.
Jan
28
Between calls of peace from the Women of Liberia, archival footage of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, prison stories and actions of the sari soldiers, the 5th Tri-Continental Film Festival drew to a close. Breakthrough’s annual human rights documentary film festival, held this year in Mumbai from Jan 23-25, saw an engaged audience comprising of filmmakers, students, media professionals, housewives and human rights activists. Reaching out to over 1500 people in three days, the festival reinforced its identity as a platform to watch and engage in discussions on human rights issues, violations and victories. The festival is on a five-city circuit tour and was inaugurated in Delhi on January 15, 2009 by critically acclaimed actor and social activist, Nandita Das. In Mumbai, acclaimed film director Anurag Kashyap (pictured with Dewar sisters) opened this festival comprising of 26 award winning human rights documentary films from the Global South. The festival was presented in Mumbai in collaboration with the Jindal Arts Centre and National Theatre for Performing Arts (NCPA).
Every year Breakthrough has endeavoured towards expanding the visual platform for human rights issues from the global South. Breakthrough is an innovative, high-impact international organisation that uses popular culture, media, and education to promote values human rights. We are a non-profit organisation currently working in India and the USA. In India, Breakthrough curates the TCFF through a global call for entries, that are adjudged by an eminent international jury comprising leading filmmakers and academics, who also select the winning documentary. Visit www.triconfilm.com for more information.
The Tri Continental Film Festival (TCFF) is an annual event in the global south that promotes human rights and democratic principles through documentary and short feature-length films. Inaugurated in Argentina in September 2002, the festival travelled to South Africa in 2003, and was hosted in India by Breakthrough in 2004. Speaking on the selection of films, Alika Khosla, Festival Director, says, “This year’s selection of 28 films from more than 20 countries not just represent these protagonists but also gives them a voice that we are sure will resonate with our own circumstances close to home.”
Jan
28
The Edinburgh International Film Festival Introduces New International Awards for 2009
Posted by: | Comments
The Edinburgh International Film Festival Artistic Director Hannah McGill yesterday announced the introduction of two new significant international awards; Best New International Feature Award and Best International Short Film at this year’s Festival, 17 - 28 June 2009.
The Film Festival, now in its second year in June, has been long acclaimed for its discovery and recognition of outstanding British Film, awarding The Michael Powell Award to cinematic gems such as Control, Tsotsi and last years winner, Somers Town directed by Shane Meadows. These additional awards will broaden the appeal of the EIFF to international filmmakers and in turn offer audiences a greater opportunity to experience the best of global / world cinema.
The Best New International Feature Award will carry a cash prize of £5,000 and will be open to features, originating outside of the UK, in all sections of the programme receiving their world or international premiere at the Festival.
The films will be judged by a three person jury, separate to the jury presiding over The Michael Powell Award.
Edinburgh plays host to a number of short film awards, acknowledging filmmaking in a number of genres, including documentary and animation. The UK Film Council Award for Best British Short Film honours the finest on home soil however, the introduction of the Best International Short Film Award is a welcome addition and completes an impressive array of awards open to this important form of filmmaking.
All live-action shorts, no longer than 50 minutes, in the curated programme will be eligible for the cash prize of £1,000.
“Our raft of awards now represent the full breadth of our programme, and offer an additional boost in both publicity and prize money to filmmakers from all over the world. Prizes aren’t everything, of course, but we have seen our previous award-winners go from strength to strength after their EIFF premieres, and these new awards are intended to underline the festival’s most important work: supporting burgeoning careers, recognising excellence and innovation, and bringing exciting new work to worldwide attention” commented Hannah McGill, Artistic Director Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Jan
28
10 Filmmakers to Watch In 2009
Posted by: | CommentsFrom first-time directors to Fulbright Scholars and Oscar nominees these filmmakers should not be missed in 2009. With a flood of suggestions from peers, film scholars, critics and organizations such as the Sundance Institute and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, The Independent has compiled a list of "10 filmmakers to watch" with films slated for a 2009 release.