New Artistic Director Mark Adams announced this morning at Filmhouse in Edinburgh details of the programme for the 69th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). This year the Festival, which runs from 17 to 28 June, will showcase 164 features from 36 countries, including 24 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 16 European Premieres, 84 UK Premieres and 2 Scottish Premieres.

The Festival boasts 134 new features, with highlights including the UK premiere of Asif Kapadia’s striking documentary AMY, about the life of music legend Amy Winehouse; the latest Disney-Pixar animated sensation INSIDE OUT, screening as the Festival’s Family Gala; Arnold Schwarzenegger as a tormented father tending his zombie daughter in MAGGIE; Andrew Mogel & Jarrad Paul’s THE D-TRAIN, starring Jack Black and James Marsden; while John Cusack and Paul Dano play different aged versions of Beach Boys legend Brian Walker in masterful music film LOVE & MERCY. Classic Screenings will include a rare outing for Noel Marshall’s ROAR, a legendary bizarre cult 1981 big cat movie.

This year’s EIFF will also be presenting a series of In-Person events, which will see illustrious names from the world of film interviewed live on stage at the Festival, including local hero Ewan McGregor, who will attend with his new film LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT; Jane Seymour and Malcolm McDowell, both in Edinburgh for their starring roles in BEREAVE; cult Hong-Kong director Johnnie To, with his accompanying feature EXILED (supported by Create Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Fund; and Brand Hong Kong and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office), and EIFF Honorary Patron Seamus McGarvey who returns with his cinematography ‘In Conversation’ series with two-time Academy Award® winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

A special In-Person talk celebrates the 60th birthday of one of Britain’s eminent animators, Barry Purves, and multi-talented musician, writer and comedian, Neil Innes will present A Half of Innes, a live In-conversation event with musical accompaniment.

Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director, said:  “We are delighted to be presenting such a thrilling, fun, challenging, provocative, exciting and balanced programme. There really is something for everyone and we hope that filmgoers will get a lot of pleasure out of this year’s festival.”

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, said: “The Edinburgh International Film Festival has produced another excellent programme in 2015, showcasing Scottish talent alongside some of the best of world cinema. The film festival attracts visitors to Edinburgh and Scotland, as well as giving local residents the opportunity to see wonderfully diverse and creative films on their doorstep. It also invests in the future of filmmaking though the important delegate programme as well as the Festival Short Film Challenge, and Talent and Animation Labs. By nurturing talent within the industry the EIFF has an important role to play in developing skills to support the future of Scottish filmmaking. The Scottish Government is pleased to support the EIFF with Expo funding of £115,000 in 2015.”

British films in competition for the Michael Powell Award (for Best British Feature Film and Best Performance in a British Feature Film) include 10 World Premieres and 3 UK Premieres. Among the contenders are Andrew Haigh’s beautiful portrait of a fractured relationship, 45 YEARS, with award-winning performances from Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; relationship comedy BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS from Jamie Adams which was shot in just five days on the Black Mountains of Wales; Joseph Bull and Luke Seomore’s BLOOD CELLS about a farmer’s son and his nomadic lifestyle which he is forced to leave behind; the World Premiere of clever and complex sci-fi thriller BRAND NEW-U from acclaimed documentary-maker Simon Pummell; Jake Gavin’s HECTOR starring Peter Mullan as an affable homeless man; Martin Radich’s NORFOLK, a haunting and atmospheric film starring Denis Ménochet; Steven Nesbit’s Romeo and Juliet style drama NORTH v SOUTH   starring Greta Scacchi, Steven Berkoff and Bernard Hill;  BAFTA-Scotland award-winner Colin Kennedy’s directorial debut feature SWUNG;  Jane Linfoot’s powerful psychological drama THE INCIDENT, which also receives its World Premiere, starring Ruta Gedmintas and Tom Hughes as a young couple whose comfortable life is disrupted when a troubled teenage girls enters their life and Ludwig and Paul Shammasian’s THE PYRAMID TEXTS starring James Cosmo, plus author Helen Walsh’s debut as writer/director, THE VIOLATORS, which follows two young girls from radically different backgrounds who meet and set off on a course which has profound implications. THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON, EIFF Honorary Patron Robert Carlyle’s directorial debut and the Festival’s Opening Gala, and IONA, Scott Graham’s striking family drama and the Closing Night Gala are also in contention for the Michael Powell Award. 

The International Feature Film Competition highlights filmmaking from around the world that is imaginative, innovative and deserving of wider recognition. This selection includes World Premiere LEN AND COMPANY from Tim Godsall; Rick Famuyiwa’s coming of age tale for the post hip-hop generation DOPE; Oliver Hirschbiegel’s tense World War II drama 13 MINUTES; I STAY WITH YOU by Artemio Narro, provocatively addressing the notions of power and control; and Niki Karimi’s enthralling drama NIGHT SHIFT. The UK Premiere of Marielle Heller’s THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL stars rising star Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård; Doze Niu Chen-Zer’s PARADISE IN SERVICE, a non-judgemental portrait of life in a military-run Taiwanese brothel; YOU’RE UGLY TOO, from Irish director Mark Noonan; Ole Giæver and Marte Vold’s OUT OF NATURE, set in the great Norwegian outdoors; 600 MILES, a moody crime thriller from Mexican director Gabriel Ripstein starring Tim Roth; THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT from former EIFF Award Winner Kyle Patrick Alvarez, examining a psychology professor’s experiment gone wrong, and MANSON FAMILY VACATION, a boldly original look at family relationships from J Davis, round out the International Feature Film Competition.

This year’s Festival hosts the Award for Best Documentary Feature Film, as well as introducing ‘Doc of the Day’, with each featured film supported by an associated event. Documentaries from around the globe include PROPHET’S PREY from Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg, looking at the megalomaniacal leader of a fundamentalist church; Tiller Russell’s gripping PRECINCT SEVEN FIVE examining police corruption out of control; Marah Strauch’s vertiginous tribute to founding father of BASE jumping Carl Boenish SUNSHINE SUPERMAN; Ross Sutherland’s STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK-UP, based on his live Edinburgh Fringe show in 2014; and the World Premiere of WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT, an eye-opening spotlight on Britain’s ties to the illicit trade in Congolese conflict minerals, directed by Michael Ramsdell. Included in the line-up are Crystal Moselle’s Sundance sensation THE WOLFPACK, documenting an extraordinary family of film lovers who rarely leave their Manhattan home; ABOVE AND BELOW, a dazzling portrait of existence lived on the fringes of American society, directed by Nicolas Steiner; Ilinca Calugareanu’s CHUCK NORRIS vs COMMUNISM, which charts an opportunistic hustler creating a videotheque resistance in the face of 1980s Romanian communism; Damon Gameau’s devastating look at our everyday inadvertent sugar intake in THAT SUGAR FILM; and DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON by Douglas Tirola. Rounding out the Documentaries, including those announced previously, are David Nicholas Wilkinson’s enthralling journey into the origins of cinema THE FIRST FILM; a delve into the delights of sherry in José Luis López-Linares’ SHERRY & THE MYSTERY OF PALO CORTADO; Paul Goodwin’s entertaining look at the British sci-fi comic institution FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD; a love song to the rip-off Turkish pop cinema of the 60’s and 70’s REMAKE, REMIX, RIP-OFF directed by Cem Kaya; an insight into the Bedouin traditions of camel pageants and auctions, with one woman breaking taboos in NEARBY SKY by Nujoom Alghanem; THE IRON MINISTRY’s engrossing portrait of China’s railways by JP Sniadecki; Kevin Pollack’s ode what makes comedians tick in MISERY LOVES COMEDY, and the topical and enthralling THE NEWSROOM – OFF THE RECORD directed by Mikala Krogh. Also screening in the Documentary strand are Asif Kapadia’s critically acclaimed AMY and Grant McPhee’s BIG GOLD DREAM: SCOTTISH POST-PUNK AND INFILTRATING THE MAINSTREAM.

EIFF will also host the World Premiere of the English-language version of UNDER MILK WOOD from Kevin Allen, a beautiful film adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ iconic classic starring Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church and a contender for EIFF’s Audience Award. Other Audience Award nominees include Jon Watts’ thrilling COP CAR starring Kevin Bacon who plays a sheriff with plenty to hide and Patrick Brice’s smart and funny sex comedy THE OVERNIGHT starring Jason Schwartzman and Taylor Schilling; DESERT DANCER starring Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in the truly inspirational story of choreographer Afshin Ghaffarian; the World Premiere of actress Talulah Riley’s debut as writer/director, SCOTTISH MUSSEL; David Blair’s supernatural thriller THE MESSENGER and Isabel Coixet’s LEARNING TO DRIVE starring Patricia Clarkson and Sir Ben Kingsley. Also nominated for The Audience Award are THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, AMY, BIG GOLD DREAM: SCOTTISH POST-PUNK AND INFILTRATING THE MAINSTREAM, YOU’RE UGLY TOO and THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT.

The American Dreams strand looks at the very best new works from American independent cinema and showcases an exciting and varied group of films.  Highlights include Gina Prince-Bythewood’s enthralling musical melodrama BEYOND THE LIGHTS starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover and the UK Premiere of FRANNY starring Dakota Fanning, Theo James and featuring a powerhouse performance from Richard Gere as a billionaire philanthropist.

European Premieres include WELCOME TO ME starring Kristen Wiig who delivers a hilarious and outstanding performance as Alice Klieg, a woman with borderline personality disorder, and Jamie Babbit’s dark comedy about the life of a sex addict in FRESNO. Additional films include Alex Holdridge and Linnea Saasen’s comedy-romance MEET ME IN MONTENEGRO in which they also star alongside Rupert Friend; road trip drama THE ROAD WITHIN starring Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel and Zoe Kravitz and Leslye Headland’s hilarious SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE with Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie and Adam Scott, all of which receive their UK Premieres at the Festival.

A selection of new works from some of the world’s finest and established directors, Directors’ Showcase includes David Gordon Green’s tale of loneliness and longing, MANGLEHORN, with Al Pacino and Holly Hunter; Amy Berg’s gritty crime story EVERY SECRET THING starring Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks; Peter Bogdanovich’s old fashioned sex comedy SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY, plus Masaharu Take’s award-winning story of a young Japanese woman who morphs in to a boxer in 100 YEN LOVE and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s quirky offbeat romantic comedy LA LA LA AT ROCK BOTTOM.

Night Moves, a journey into the dark, thrilling and chilling side of cinema is guaranteed to delight horror fans with a selection of edge-of-your-seat cinematic gems. Feature films include multi-award winning director Bruce McDonald’s horrifying tale of evil trick-or-treaters, HELLIONS; Corin Hardy’s brilliantly terrifying debut feature THE HALLOW which screens in partnership with Scotland’s award-winning Horror festival, Dead by Dawn; Hungarian director Károly Ujj Meszáros’ fantasy film LIZA, THE FOX-FAIRY, and the World Premiere of British director Justin Trefgarne’s NARCOPOLIS starring Elliot Cowan as a troubled cop.  All late night screenings will take place at EIFF HQ in Filmhouse where audiences can mingle with Festival guests, and enjoy late night food, and specially themed events until 3am every evening of the Festival.

The Young and The Wild strand is brought to the Festival by EIFF’s intrepid Young Programmers, aged 15-19, who have selected the finest international shorts and features exploring the lives and issues of young people from around the world. Films include THE SISTERHOOD OF NIGHT, a compelling twist on teen fantasy as one girl’s lie leads to a small American town becoming the scene of a modern-day Salem Witch Trial, and inspiring documentary PIRATES OF SALÉ which follows four young performers in Morocco as they join the country’s first professional circus, plus a selection of Shorts. The FilmFest Junior strand is chosen for young audiences and includes exciting family film PAPER PLANES about a boy who wants to enter the world of junior paper planes championship and LABYRINTHUS, one for the gaming enthusiasts, which tells the story of a boy’s friends who are trapped inside a computer game. 

The New Perspectives strand offers exciting and challenging new works from talented and emerging filmmakers, including the International Premieres of INDEX ZERO by Italian filmmaker Lorenzo Sportiello, about a couple struggling to stay together in a futuristic Europe, and Emily Ting’s IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG, a Before Sunset-style romance set on the streets of Hong Kong. UK Premieres include touching and atmospheric romance SAND DOLLARS by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas; MELBOURNE, a gripping domestic drama set within a Tehran apartment by Nima Javidi, and Olympic boxing drama KOZA from Ivan Ostrochovský.

FOCUS ON MEXICO, in partnership with the Year of Mexico in the UK, showcases some of the very best in Mexican cinema including new feature films, classics and a short film programme, with a total of 13 feature films screening at the Festival. These include the European Premiere of Gabriela Dominguez Ruvalcaba’s fascinating documentary THE DANCE OF THE MEMORY; a sexually-charged, grown up study of infidelity, discontent and regeneration in Ernesto Contreras’ THE OBSCURE SPRING; and THE BEGINNING OF TIME by Bernardo Arellano which looks at ageing and survival during economic and social unrest in Mexico. A selection of Classic Mexican films will also screen as part of the Focus, including Roberto Gavaldón’s supernatural drama MACARIO, the first Mexican film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Carlos Enrique Taboada’s POISON FOR THE FAIRIES, an unusual gothic tale of witchcraft, told from a child’s point of view.  

As well as the usual focus on British shorts, the Animation strand features new and exciting work, plus some rarely-seen retrospective gems from across the world. This year’s programme features not just one, but two Masters of Animation; previously announced Barry Purves, and cult favourite Ralph Bakshi, who will appear via Skype after a screening of FRITZ THE CAT and will also present an exclusive work-in-progress preview of his new short LAST DAYS OF CONEY ISLAND. Now in its 26th Year, The McLaren Award for Best New British Animation continues to charm audiences with two programmes of the best new short animations from the UK.  Other highlights include Ralph Bakshi’s classic and ambitious translation of JRR Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS and his post-apocalyptic feature WIZARDS. There will also be an opportunity to explore the very best in international animation from around the world in INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION: PANORAMA. 

BLACK BOX returns with another round of thought-provoking and experimental films, plus the return for a third year of BLACK BOX LIVE that sees James Holcombe’s film, TYBURNIA accompanied by a live performance at the Traverse Theatre by Dead Rat Orchestra. Amongst the highlights are the World Premiere of Telemach’s Wiesinger KALEIDOSCOPE where he returns to Edinburgh for another idiosyncratic, feature-length film poem; a selection of shorts screenings in BLACK BOX SHORTS 1/2/3/4 and the UK Premiere of Félix Dufour-Laperrriè’s TRANSATLANTIC, an observational documentary essay about life on a cargo ship.

As previously announced, this year’s retrospective ‘LITTLE BIG SCREEN’, sponsored by American Airlines, celebrates the very best in 1960s and ‘70s American TV movies.  Classic titles screening in the strand include Michael Mann’s THE JERICHO MILE; Steven Spielberg’s DUEL and Tobe Hooper’s SALEM’S LOT.  The Festival also celebrates the multi-talented Walter Hill, one of the true great directors of the late 1960s and ‘70s in WALTER HILL: THE EARLY YEARS which will see screenings of some of his finest early works including 48 HRS; THE DRIVER; HARD TIMES; THE LONG RIDERS; SOUTHERN COMFORT; STREETS OF FIRE and THE WARRIORS.

A chance to revisit a selection of films with their own distinctive cinematic stamp, CLASSICS offers audiences a rare chance to see some of these cult hits on the big screen, including Mark Christopher’s belated director’s cut release of his cult disco film, 54: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT; a remastered version of Carol Reed’s classic film THE THIRD MAN starring Orson Welles, and a screening of Joseph Sargent’s THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE.

As the boundaries between cinema and television continue to blur, CINEMATIC TV presents two new exciting productions offering the very best in entertainment on TV. These include a sneak-peek at the second season of DOLL & EM, the hilarious comedy series following real-life friends Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells and acclaimed artist Jake Chapman’s THE MARRIAGE OF REASON & SQUALOR starring the brilliant Rhys Ifans in a stylish and surreal satire of the paperback romance.

A host of SPECIAL EVENTS also feature in the programme designed to complement the many films screening at the Festival.  These include EIFF Honorary Patron Mark Cousins’ documentary 6 DESIRES: DH LAWRENCE AND SARDINIA in which he explores a journey through Sardinia where Lawrence travelled with his wife in 1921. Cousins will be taking part in a Q&A session following the screening of the film on Monday 22 June.  Suitable for younger audiences, LIVE LIVE CINEMA: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS sees four talented performers create an entire live soundtrack to Roger Corman’s popular 1960 B-movie (THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS). Screening at Festival Theatre, it’s guaranteed to be a wild ride!  The Edinburgh Schools Film Competition, now in its seventh year, invites young people from Edinburgh nursery, primary, secondary and special schools to submit their short films to EIFF whose selected films are then screened during the Festival for all to see. Screenings take place at Filmhouse on Saturday 27 June (Primary schools) and on Sunday 28 June (Secondary schools).  As previously announced, EIFF presents a very special 30th anniversary screening of BACK TO THE FUTURE with live accompaniment from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Saturday 27 June from Festival Theatre.  Additional events also taking place include the prestigious Awards Ceremony on Friday 26 June at Filmhouse and free ticketed events to INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES 1: CINEMA AND THE SENSES and STUDIES 2: MUSIC FILMS, both of which take place at Filmhouse on Thursday 18 June and Friday 19 June respectively.

This year EIFF’s Short Film strand will screen 43 new short films from 12 countries. In addition to the animated shorts which screen in the Animation strand, the Festival continues to showcase a thrilling selection of shorts from UK and International filmmakers including the annual presentation of the Scottish Documentary Institute’s newest BRIDGING THE GAP collection. Shorts programmes include GROWING UP, GETTING BY, featuring some of the newest works from UK film academies: Screen Academy Scotland, National Film & Television School and the London Film School; SECRET CORNERS; THE ANATOMY OF MEMORY, EDGELANDS and SHADOWED LANDSCAPES.

As previously announced, the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival opens with the World Premiere of Robert Carlyle’s Glasgow-set THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON starring Robert Carlyle, Emma Thompson and Ray Winstone, and the Closing Gala is the World Premiere of Scott Graham’s IONA starring Ruth Negga (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Douglas Henshall (Shetland), Tom Brooke (The Boat That Rocked), Michelle Duncan (Atonement), Ben Gallagher and Sorcha Groundsell.

The oldest film festival in Scotland unveiled today line-up for its 2015 edition, set for June 17 - 28. With the highlights including the recent Cannes premiere Amy by Asif Kapadia and Andrew Haigh's 45 Years that received Golden bears for best actor and actress in this year's Berlinale, the expectations are growing. Browse the full programme below. 

The 62nd Sydney Film Festival announces the Festival Hub’s full program, bringing a unique line-up  of talks, entertainment, parties, performances and art to enhance the Festival experience.  “The Hub is the nucleus of the Festival; a place to meet before or after screenings, discuss films, and  speak to Festival program specialists for recommendations,” said Festival Director Nashen Moodley.  “The Hub’s Herman Miller Lounge is particularly comfortable and stylish, with a bar and food on  offer, and a major video art exhibition created by emerging and established artists from around the  world. The Hub is a place for filmmakers, Festival guests, industry and audiences to mingle,” he said.  A lounge, gallery, bar and Festival party space, the Hub is open to the public every night and select  daytimes 4-13 June. The Hub hosts a full program of free talks and panels, and is the place to   connect with the Festival community between screenings.   The Hub’s opening festivities include the Fox Force Five VJs, an aural excursion through important   cine-soundtracks from Tarantino to Lynch, and Bond to Boogie Nights; and Film Trivia with   comedians Mark Humphries and Duncan Maclean, who will put film buffs to the test.   Themed parties at the Hub include Video Killed the Radio Star: Rage vs FBi Radio; the Golden Age   Cinema’s Live from the Golden Stage; Studio 54 Uncut, following the screening of 54: The Director’s   Cut at Event Cinemas; and the Beach Boys-themed Mercy Me! party following the Australian   Premiere of Love & Mercy at the State Theatre.   The National Film and Sound Archive will present The Vinyl Lounge, where experts share rare and   fascinating records from the Archive, and festivalgoers have the chance to show off some of their   own vinyl.  Daily highlights include the Sydney Contemporary video art exhibition, showcasing unique works by   Australian and internationally celebrated artists; Foxtel Movies Blue Screen, where clever   technology puts audiences in the picture; the Herman Miller Collection Lounge; and Program Gurus  to consult on Festival films and activities.  Talks in the Hub’s Treasury Room tackle diverse topics led by specialist Festival guests, from   filmmakers to programmers, industry, critics and media. Talks and panels include: Refugees on   Screen, The Making of Sherpa, Film Festivals Australia Brings Their Monthly Catch-Up to the Hub,   Human Rights Watch, The Return of Can Documentaries Change the World?, Why Do We Need to   Engage with Difficult Films?, The History of Animation, Horror Tragic Talkfest and a panel of Dendy   Awards Finalists.   Upstairs at Town Hall, the Ian McPherson Memorial Lecture returns with David Stratton and  producer Jan Chapman in conversation, Monday 8 June, 4pm; and Margaret Pomeranz and David  Stratton presenting The Films We Love: The Neglected and the Unexpected, Sunday 7 June,   3:30pm.  Vivid Ideas and Sydney Film Festival will co-present the special talk Alex Gibney: In Conversation  with the internationally acclaimed documentarian at Sydney Town Hall on Sunday 7 June, 11am. The   discussion will explore the nature of telling complex, real-world stories, with particular reference to   his new film Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, which premieres in Australia at the   Festival. Gibney is one of the world’s most prolific and controversial filmmakers (We Steal Secrets:   The Story of Wikileaks, SFF 2013). His film Mr Dynamite: The Story of James Brown, will also   premiere at the Festival.  The Festival Hub 2015 program:  EVENTS AT THE HUB DOWNSTAIRS IN LOWER TOWN HALL  · The Hub Opening Night Thursday 4 June, 8.30pm   Join comedians Mark Humphries (The Roast) and Duncan McLean (The Doctor of Movies) for   Film Trivia starting from 8:30pm. Gather your team and put your movie knowledge to the   test. If you know your Kurosawa from your Kiarostami and your Kidman from your Knightley,   then join comedians Humphries and McLean to flex some film-fact muscle and win some   great prizes.  Cap off the evening with VJs Fox Force Five, who will explore film soundtracks from  Tarantino to Lynch, from Bond to Boogie Nights. Expect a nostalgic evening packed with the   original videos of the film tunes we all know and love.  · Mercy Me! Sunday 7 June, 8:30pm  Following the Festival’s screening of Love & Mercy, the biopic of the Beach Boys’ Brian   Wilson, the Hub will be transformed into a ’60s hotspot filled with live music and DJs that   will take you on a nostalgic trip filled with sunny beachside optimism.  · The Vinyl Lounge Monday 8 June, 8:30pm  The National Film and Sound Archive’s sound guru Thorsten Kaeding plays rare and   fascinating records from the national collection, giving festivalgoers a chance to share (and   show off) some of their own vinyl. The Vinyl Lounge gives you the opportunity to listen to   music you have never heard before and long lost favourites that you never thought you   would hear again. You will hear a diverse selection of music from pop to rock, folk to funk   and everything in between. Bring along your records and play a track of your choice on our   pure analog sound system.   · Live from the Golden Stage Wednesday 10 June, 8:30pm  Sydney’s sublime Golden Age Cinema and Bar bring their Midas touch to the Hub, relocating   their unreal golden stage for an elegant night of cult movie soundtracks. Request a song   from an iconic film score and have it interpreted by the maestro Charlie Heart and our   hostess for the night. The Golden Age is upon us.  · Video Killed the Radio Star: Rage vs FBi Friday 12 June, 8:30pm  Join Rage and FBi Radio as they go head to head to find out if video truly did kill the radio   star. Rage curates music videos directed by filmmakers such as Jonathan Glazer, Kathryn   Bigelow and David Lynch. FBi will show off their vocal range with radio hosts Matt Roden   and Dee Jefferson from the film and TV program Shortcuts in a panel discussion. This audio- visual meeting of the minds explores the playful idea of image versus sound with some of   Sydney’s top musical influencers. Expect karaoke from these two organisations’ staffers and   a DJ battle to finally resolve this age-old question.  · Studio 54 Uncut Saturday 13 June, 9pm  To celebrate the restoration of 54: The Director’s Cut’s original vision, join Jonny Seymour   and friends in a disco party of epic proportions that will summon the spirit of the legendary   New York venue that inspired this cult classic film.  TALKS AND PANELS AT THE HUB UPSTAIRS IN THE TREASURY ROOM  · Micro-Talks Saturday 6 June, 3-4:30pm  This very popular session from Sydney University returns again this year with short and  informative 15-minute talks by leading film academics.  · The History of Animation Saturday 6 June, 5-6PM  Join Malcolm Turner, Sydney Film Festival programmer and animation researcher, as he talks  us through 100 years of Australian animation.  · Horror Tragic Talkfest Sunday 7 June, 6:15-7:15pm  Join Freak Me Out guest programmer Richard Kuipers and producer and horror aficionado  Ant Timpson (Deathgasm, Turbo Kid) for a freewheeling discussion about all things horror  shocking. Be part of the lively discussion on the past, present and future of the most   durable movie genre of them all.  · Refugees on Screen Monday 8 June, 6:30-7:30pm  Following the screening of Freedom Stories, OzDox will host a discussion on how refugees  are represented on Australian screens big and small. Chaired by Ruth Hessey, Steven   Thomas, Alana Alias, Mustafa Jawadi (Freedom Stories), Guido Gonzales (Riz), Tom Zubrycki,   and Ronan Sharkey.  · The Making of Sherpa Tuesday 9 June, 6:30-7:30pm  Join director Jennifer Peedom, producers Bridget Ikin and John Smithson (Touching the   Void), the filmmakers behind the extraordinary Official Competition documentary Sherpa.  · Film Festivals Australia Brings Their Monthly Catch-Up to the Hub Wednesday 10 June, 7-  8pm  Learn what it takes to run a film festival and their growing importance to filmmakers and the  industry.  · Why Do We Need to Engage with Difficult Films? Thursday 11 June, 6-7pm  Join ABC Radio National’s Jason di Rosso as he ponders this question with fellow critics  Margaret Pomeranz, Jack Sargeant and Dr. Sarinah Masukor.  · Human Rights Watch Thursday 11 June, 8-8:30pm  After the Festival’s screening of The Look of Silence, Joshua Oppenheimer will join us via  Skype to discuss his sequel to The Act of Killing (SFF 2013), moderated by Andreas Harsono,   Indonesian researcher from Human Rights Watch.  · The Return of Can Documentaries Change the World? Friday 12 June, 7-8pm  After last year’s full-house session it is clear there’s still much to discuss. Chaired by Mitzi   Goldman (Documentary Australia Foundation) with Violeta Ayala (The Bolivian Case), Andy   Schocken (The Song of Lahore), Laurent Becue-Renard (Of Men and War) and Leonie Quayl   (The Propeller Foundation).   · Panel: Dendy Awards Finalists Sunday 14 June, 1-3:30pm  Meet the Dendy Awards finalists for 2015 at this enlightening panel hosted by Metro Screen,  and grill them on what it took to bring their acclaimed short film from idea to red-carpet  premiere.  SPECIAL TALKS AT TOWN HALL (CENTENNIAL ROOM)  · Alex Gibney: In Conversation Sunday 7 June, 11am-12:30pm ($30 talk only; $40 talk + film,   including Saturday screening  Alex Gibney is one of the world’s most prolific and controversial filmmakers. Gibney is the   director behind contentious documentaries including We Steal Secrets: The Story of   Wikileaks, the Academy Award-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, the   Academy Award-winning Taxi to the Dark Side; and Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House   of God, which shook the Catholic Church. In his latest film, Going Clear: Scientology and the   Prison of Belief, Gibney is once again in the spotlight. Gibney joins us for this exclusive   discussion, exploring the nature of telling complex, real-world stories and explaining how the   film became one of the most-watched HBO documentaries in the past decade. This event is   a must-see for every filmmaker and storyteller.  · Margaret and David: The Films We Love – The Neglected and the Unexpected Sunday 7  June, 3:30pm at Sydney Town Hall ($15)  Australia’s favourite film critics join the Sydney Film Festival stage once more with an  entertaining overview of some of the films that they feel deserve our closer consideration.  After 28 years and one of the longest and most enduring partnerships on Australian  television, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton recorded the final episode of At the  Movies late last year. But fortunately for us, they can’t get enough of discussing the films  they really love. In this candid conversation at Sydney Town Hall, David will champion the   films he loves that were overlooked by critics or audiences, or both. Margaret will reveal   some of her unexpected pleasures, from The Fast and the Furious to even more surprising   selections. Their choices, and the reasons behind those choices, will make for a fascinating,   lively and thought-provoking event.  IAN MCPHERSON MEMORIAL LECTURE 2015  · Jan Chapman and David Stratton in Conversation Monday 8 June, 4pm, The Festival Hub at   Sydney Town Hall  David Stratton brings his consummate interviewing skills to bear as host of a special   discussion featuring one of the most respected and successful film producers in Australia,   Jan Chapman. Chapman has produced some of Australia’s most celebrated and popular   films, including the Academy Award-nominated Bright Star; Lantana, winner of the   Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film; and The Piano, which won three Academy   Awards. Her films have won over 38 AFI Awards along with numerous other honours around   the world. Chapman was Jury President at SFF 2010 and the 2012 Asia Pacific Screen   Awards; and has served on juries at the Berlinale, Istanbul and Rotterdam film festivals. In   2004 Jan was honoured for her outstanding contribution to Australian film as a recipient of   the Order of Australia; and is currently on the boards of the Australian Centre for the Moving   Image (ACMI) and SFF. She is producer, along with Nicole O’Donohue, of this year’s Official   Competition film The Daughter.  Register for free tickets at sff.org.au / 1300 733 733.  Sydney Film Festival runs 3 – 14 June 2015.  Tickets for Sydney Film Festival 2015 are on sale now. Please call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au  for more information.  ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL  From Wednesday 3 June to Sunday 14 June 2015, the 62nd Sydney Film Festival offers Sydneysiders   another exciting season of cinema amidst a whirlwind of premieres, red-carpet openings, panel   discussions, international guests and more. Each year the Festival’s programming team curates 12   days of cinema sourced from world-famous film festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and   the Berlinale; as well as Australia’s finest local productions.   Sydney Film Festival also presents an Official Competition of 12 films that vie for the Sydney Film   Prize, a highly respected honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of   international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize   winners are: Two Days, One Night (2014); Only God Forgives (2013); Alps (2012); A Separation  (2011), which went on to win an Academy Award; Heartbeats (2010); and Bronson (2009).  The Festival takes place across greater Sydney: at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street,   Dendy Opera Quays, Dendy Newtown, Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace   Cremorne, Casula Powerhouse, the Festival Hub at Sydney Town Hall and SFF Outdoor Screen.  The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s   longest-running film festivals. For more information visit: www.sff.org.au.  The 62nd Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW and   Destination NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia and the City of Sydney.     

From Friday May 29 through Sunday June 7: 109 Film Premieres from 32 Countries (all films are shown twice) 

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BFF Team

Brooklyn Film Festival: May 29 - June 7, 2015

http://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org

1st edition of FILMADRID: More than 80 films including the latest work of Pedro Costa; Jean-Luc Godard en 3D; up and coming talent in Spanish cinema; and the posthumous screening of Manoel de Oliveira's last film

• From the 5th to the 13th of June FILMADRID will fill the Spanish capital with films from all over the planet, screening a total of 30 films in the  open competition sections; Competición Internacionaland Competición Vanguardia.

• The first ever screening  in Spain,  of the recently deceased Manoel de Oliveira's last film, Visita ou Memórias e Confissões, accompanied by O velho do restelo, will close the festival.

• For the first time in Madrid, hosting a screening in 3D of Adiós al lenguaje by Jean-Luc Godard.

• Presenting the Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa in Madrid opening the festival with the screening of his latest film, Cavalo Dinheiro, selected for for the Competición Internacional.

• The section Focos, which is a section dedicated to filmmakers of international relevance, but whose works remains practically unknown in Madrid. This year the focus will be on the German Jan Soldat and the Philippine Lav Diaz.

• The section Vanguardias Live, which takes the cinema to the streets presenting special performances by the directors Salomé Lamas, Lois Patiño and Juan Barrero.

• Academic morning sessions, where the directors will meet up with film students and cinematic enthusiasts.

• The section Pasajes de Cine which dedicates a whole section to the support  ofthe up and coming talent in Spanish cinema

The mission of the Universal Film Festival is to create and provide a credible and accessible venue for aspiring and talented filmmakers. The Universal Film Festival offers a medium in which Independent Filmmakers may showcase their works nationally and internationally.

www.universalfilmfestival.com

New Artistic Director Mark Adams announced this morning at Filmhouse in Edinburgh details of the programme for the 69th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). This year the Festival, which runs from 17 to 28 June, will showcase 164 features from 36 countries, including 24 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 16 European Premieres, 84 UK Premieres and 2 Scottish Premieres.

The Festival boasts 134 new features, with highlights including the UK premiere of Asif Kapadia’s striking documentary AMY, about the life of music legend Amy Winehouse; the latest Disney-Pixar animated sensation INSIDE OUT, screening as the Festival’s Family Gala; Arnold Schwarzenegger as a tormented father tending his zombie daughter in MAGGIE; Andrew Mogel & Jarrad Paul’s THE D-TRAIN, starring Jack Black and James Marsden; while John Cusack and Paul Dano play different aged versions of Beach Boys legend Brian Walker in masterful music film LOVE & MERCY. Classic Screenings will include a rare outing for Noel Marshall’s ROAR, a legendary bizarre cult 1981 big cat movie.

This year’s EIFF will also be presenting a series of In-Person events, which will see illustrious names from the world of film interviewed live on stage at the Festival, including local hero Ewan McGregor, who will attend with his new film LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT; Jane Seymour and Malcolm McDowell, both in Edinburgh for their starring roles in BEREAVE; cult Hong-Kong director Johnnie To, with his accompanying feature EXILED (supported by Create Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Fund; and Brand Hong Kong and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office), and EIFF Honorary Patron Seamus McGarvey who returns with his cinematography ‘In Conversation’ series with two-time Academy Award® winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

A special In-Person talk celebrates the 60th birthday of one of Britain’s eminent animators, Barry Purves, and multi-talented musician, writer and comedian, Neil Innes will present A Half of Innes, a live In-conversation event with musical accompaniment.

Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director, said:  “We are delighted to be presenting such a thrilling, fun, challenging, provocative, exciting and balanced programme. There really is something for everyone and we hope that filmgoers will get a lot of pleasure out of this year’s festival.”

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, said: “The Edinburgh International Film Festival has produced another excellent programme in 2015, showcasing Scottish talent alongside some of the best of world cinema. The film festival attracts visitors to Edinburgh and Scotland, as well as giving local residents the opportunity to see wonderfully diverse and creative films on their doorstep. It also invests in the future of filmmaking though the important delegate programme as well as the Festival Short Film Challenge, and Talent and Animation Labs. By nurturing talent within the industry the EIFF has an important role to play in developing skills to support the future of Scottish filmmaking. The Scottish Government is pleased to support the EIFF with Expo funding of £115,000 in 2015.”

British films in competition for the Michael Powell Award (for Best British Feature Film and Best Performance in a British Feature Film) include 10 World Premieres and 3 UK Premieres. Among the contenders are Andrew Haigh’s beautiful portrait of a fractured relationship, 45 YEARS, with award-winning performances from Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; relationship comedy BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS from Jamie Adams which was shot in just five days on the Black Mountains of Wales; Joseph Bull and Luke Seomore’s BLOOD CELLS about a farmer’s son and his nomadic lifestyle which he is forced to leave behind; the World Premiere of clever and complex sci-fi thriller BRAND NEW-U from acclaimed documentary-maker Simon Pummell; Jake Gavin’s HECTOR starring Peter Mullan as an affable homeless man; Martin Radich’s NORFOLK, a haunting and atmospheric film starring Denis Ménochet; Steven Nesbit’s Romeo and Juliet style drama NORTH v SOUTH   starring Greta Scacchi, Steven Berkoff and Bernard Hill;  BAFTA-Scotland award-winner Colin Kennedy’s directorial debut feature SWUNG;  Jane Linfoot’s powerful psychological drama THE INCIDENT, which also receives its World Premiere, starring Ruta Gedmintas and Tom Hughes as a young couple whose comfortable life is disrupted when a troubled teenage girls enters their life and Ludwig and Paul Shammasian’s THE PYRAMID TEXTS starring James Cosmo, plus author Helen Walsh’s debut as writer/director, THE VIOLATORS, which follows two young girls from radically different backgrounds who meet and set off on a course which has profound implications. THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON, EIFF Honorary Patron Robert Carlyle’s directorial debut and the Festival’s Opening Gala, and IONA, Scott Graham’s striking family drama and the Closing Night Gala are also in contention for the Michael Powell Award. 

The International Feature Film Competition highlights filmmaking from around the world that is imaginative, innovative and deserving of wider recognition. This selection includes World Premiere LEN AND COMPANY from Tim Godsall; Rick Famuyiwa’s coming of age tale for the post hip-hop generation DOPE; Oliver Hirschbiegel’s tense World War II drama 13 MINUTES; I STAY WITH YOU by Artemio Narro, provocatively addressing the notions of power and control; and Niki Karimi’s enthralling drama NIGHT SHIFT. The UK Premiere of Marielle Heller’s THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL stars rising star Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård; Doze Niu Chen-Zer’s PARADISE IN SERVICE, a non-judgemental portrait of life in a military-run Taiwanese brothel; YOU’RE UGLY TOO, from Irish director Mark Noonan; Ole Giæver and Marte Vold’s OUT OF NATURE, set in the great Norwegian outdoors; 600 MILES, a moody crime thriller from Mexican director Gabriel Ripstein starring Tim Roth; THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT from former EIFF Award Winner Kyle Patrick Alvarez, examining a psychology professor’s experiment gone wrong, and MANSON FAMILY VACATION, a boldly original look at family relationships from J Davis, round out the International Feature Film Competition.

This year’s Festival hosts the Award for Best Documentary Feature Film, as well as introducing ‘Doc of the Day’, with each featured film supported by an associated event. Documentaries from around the globe include PROPHET’S PREY from Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg, looking at the megalomaniacal leader of a fundamentalist church; Tiller Russell’s gripping PRECINCT SEVEN FIVE examining police corruption out of control; Marah Strauch’s vertiginous tribute to founding father of BASE jumping Carl Boenish SUNSHINE SUPERMAN; Ross Sutherland’s STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK-UP, based on his live Edinburgh Fringe show in 2014; and the World Premiere of WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT, an eye-opening spotlight on Britain’s ties to the illicit trade in Congolese conflict minerals, directed by Michael Ramsdell. Included in the line-up are Crystal Moselle’s Sundance sensation THE WOLFPACK, documenting an extraordinary family of film lovers who rarely leave their Manhattan home; ABOVE AND BELOW, a dazzling portrait of existence lived on the fringes of American society, directed by Nicolas Steiner; Ilinca Calugareanu’s CHUCK NORRIS vs COMMUNISM, which charts an opportunistic hustler creating a videotheque resistance in the face of 1980s Romanian communism; Damon Gameau’s devastating look at our everyday inadvertent sugar intake in THAT SUGAR FILM; and DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON by Douglas Tirola. Rounding out the Documentaries, including those announced previously, are David Nicholas Wilkinson’s enthralling journey into the origins of cinema THE FIRST FILM; a delve into the delights of sherry in José Luis López-Linares’ SHERRY & THE MYSTERY OF PALO CORTADO; Paul Goodwin’s entertaining look at the British sci-fi comic institution FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD; a love song to the rip-off Turkish pop cinema of the 60’s and 70’s REMAKE, REMIX, RIP-OFF directed by Cem Kaya; an insight into the Bedouin traditions of camel pageants and auctions, with one woman breaking taboos in NEARBY SKY by Nujoom Alghanem; THE IRON MINISTRY’s engrossing portrait of China’s railways by JP Sniadecki; Kevin Pollack’s ode what makes comedians tick in MISERY LOVES COMEDY, and the topical and enthralling THE NEWSROOM – OFF THE RECORD directed by Mikala Krogh. Also screening in the Documentary strand are Asif Kapadia’s critically acclaimed AMY and Grant McPhee’s BIG GOLD DREAM: SCOTTISH POST-PUNK AND INFILTRATING THE MAINSTREAM.

EIFF will also host the World Premiere of the English-language version of UNDER MILK WOOD from Kevin Allen, a beautiful film adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ iconic classic starring Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church and a contender for EIFF’s Audience Award. Other Audience Award nominees include Jon Watts’ thrilling COP CAR starring Kevin Bacon who plays a sheriff with plenty to hide and Patrick Brice’s smart and funny sex comedy THE OVERNIGHT starring Jason Schwartzman and Taylor Schilling; DESERT DANCER starring Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in the truly inspirational story of choreographer Afshin Ghaffarian; the World Premiere of actress Talulah Riley’s debut as writer/director, SCOTTISH MUSSEL; David Blair’s supernatural thriller THE MESSENGER and Isabel Coixet’s LEARNING TO DRIVE starring Patricia Clarkson and Sir Ben Kingsley. Also nominated for The Audience Award are THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, AMY, BIG GOLD DREAM: SCOTTISH POST-PUNK AND INFILTRATING THE MAINSTREAM, YOU’RE UGLY TOO and THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT.

The American Dreams strand looks at the very best new works from American independent cinema and showcases an exciting and varied group of films.  Highlights include Gina Prince-Bythewood’s enthralling musical melodrama BEYOND THE LIGHTS starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover and the UK Premiere of FRANNY starring Dakota Fanning, Theo James and featuring a powerhouse performance from Richard Gere as a billionaire philanthropist.

European Premieres include WELCOME TO ME starring Kristen Wiig who delivers a hilarious and outstanding performance as Alice Klieg, a woman with borderline personality disorder, and Jamie Babbit’s dark comedy about the life of a sex addict in FRESNO. Additional films include Alex Holdridge and Linnea Saasen’s comedy-romance MEET ME IN MONTENEGRO in which they also star alongside Rupert Friend; road trip drama THE ROAD WITHIN starring Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel and Zoe Kravitz and Leslye Headland’s hilarious SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE with Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie and Adam Scott, all of which receive their UK Premieres at the Festival.

A selection of new works from some of the world’s finest and established directors, Directors’ Showcase includes David Gordon Green’s tale of loneliness and longing, MANGLEHORN, with Al Pacino and Holly Hunter; Amy Berg’s gritty crime story EVERY SECRET THING starring Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks; Peter Bogdanovich’s old fashioned sex comedy SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY, plus Masaharu Take’s award-winning story of a young Japanese woman who morphs in to a boxer in 100 YEN LOVE and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s quirky offbeat romantic comedy LA LA LA AT ROCK BOTTOM.

Night Moves, a journey into the dark, thrilling and chilling side of cinema is guaranteed to delight horror fans with a selection of edge-of-your-seat cinematic gems. Feature films include multi-award winning director Bruce McDonald’s horrifying tale of evil trick-or-treaters, HELLIONS; Corin Hardy’s brilliantly terrifying debut feature THE HALLOW which screens in partnership with Scotland’s award-winning Horror festival, Dead by Dawn; Hungarian director Károly Ujj Meszáros’ fantasy film LIZA, THE FOX-FAIRY, and the World Premiere of British director Justin Trefgarne’s NARCOPOLIS starring Elliot Cowan as a troubled cop.  All late night screenings will take place at EIFF HQ in Filmhouse where audiences can mingle with Festival guests, and enjoy late night food, and specially themed events until 3am every evening of the Festival.

The Young and The Wild strand is brought to the Festival by EIFF’s intrepid Young Programmers, aged 15-19, who have selected the finest international shorts and features exploring the lives and issues of young people from around the world. Films include THE SISTERHOOD OF NIGHT, a compelling twist on teen fantasy as one girl’s lie leads to a small American town becoming the scene of a modern-day Salem Witch Trial, and inspiring documentary PIRATES OF SALÉ which follows four young performers in Morocco as they join the country’s first professional circus, plus a selection of Shorts. The FilmFest Junior strand is chosen for young audiences and includes exciting family film PAPER PLANES about a boy who wants to enter the world of junior paper planes championship and LABYRINTHUS, one for the gaming enthusiasts, which tells the story of a boy’s friends who are trapped inside a computer game. 

The New Perspectives strand offers exciting and challenging new works from talented and emerging filmmakers, including the International Premieres of INDEX ZERO by Italian filmmaker Lorenzo Sportiello, about a couple struggling to stay together in a futuristic Europe, and Emily Ting’s IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG, a Before Sunset-style romance set on the streets of Hong Kong. UK Premieres include touching and atmospheric romance SAND DOLLARS by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas; MELBOURNE, a gripping domestic drama set within a Tehran apartment by Nima Javidi, and Olympic boxing drama KOZA from Ivan Ostrochovský.

FOCUS ON MEXICO, in partnership with the Year of Mexico in the UK, showcases some of the very best in Mexican cinema including new feature films, classics and a short film programme, with a total of 13 feature films screening at the Festival. These include the European Premiere of Gabriela Dominguez Ruvalcaba’s fascinating documentary THE DANCE OF THE MEMORY; a sexually-charged, grown up study of infidelity, discontent and regeneration in Ernesto Contreras’ THE OBSCURE SPRING; and THE BEGINNING OF TIME by Bernardo Arellano which looks at ageing and survival during economic and social unrest in Mexico. A selection of Classic Mexican films will also screen as part of the Focus, including Roberto Gavaldón’s supernatural drama MACARIO, the first Mexican film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Carlos Enrique Taboada’s POISON FOR THE FAIRIES, an unusual gothic tale of witchcraft, told from a child’s point of view.  

As well as the usual focus on British shorts, the Animation strand features new and exciting work, plus some rarely-seen retrospective gems from across the world. This year’s programme features not just one, but two Masters of Animation; previously announced Barry Purves, and cult favourite Ralph Bakshi, who will appear via Skype after a screening of FRITZ THE CAT and will also present an exclusive work-in-progress preview of his new short LAST DAYS OF CONEY ISLAND. Now in its 26th Year, The McLaren Award for Best New British Animation continues to charm audiences with two programmes of the best new short animations from the UK.  Other highlights include Ralph Bakshi’s classic and ambitious translation of JRR Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS and his post-apocalyptic feature WIZARDS. There will also be an opportunity to explore the very best in international animation from around the world in INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION: PANORAMA. 

BLACK BOX returns with another round of thought-provoking and experimental films, plus the return for a third year of BLACK BOX LIVE that sees James Holcombe’s film, TYBURNIA accompanied by a live performance at the Traverse Theatre by Dead Rat Orchestra. Amongst the highlights are the World Premiere of Telemach’s Wiesinger KALEIDOSCOPE where he returns to Edinburgh for another idiosyncratic, feature-length film poem; a selection of shorts screenings in BLACK BOX SHORTS 1/2/3/4 and the UK Premiere of Félix Dufour-Laperrriè’s TRANSATLANTIC, an observational documentary essay about life on a cargo ship.

As previously announced, this year’s retrospective ‘LITTLE BIG SCREEN’, sponsored by American Airlines, celebrates the very best in 1960s and ‘70s American TV movies.  Classic titles screening in the strand include Michael Mann’s THE JERICHO MILE; Steven Spielberg’s DUEL and Tobe Hooper’s SALEM’S LOT.  The Festival also celebrates the multi-talented Walter Hill, one of the true great directors of the late 1960s and ‘70s in WALTER HILL: THE EARLY YEARS which will see screenings of some of his finest early works including 48 HRS; THE DRIVER; HARD TIMES; THE LONG RIDERS; SOUTHERN COMFORT; STREETS OF FIRE and THE WARRIORS.

A chance to revisit a selection of films with their own distinctive cinematic stamp, CLASSICS offers audiences a rare chance to see some of these cult hits on the big screen, including Mark Christopher’s belated director’s cut release of his cult disco film, 54: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT; a remastered version of Carol Reed’s classic film THE THIRD MAN starring Orson Welles, and a screening of Joseph Sargent’s THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE.

As the boundaries between cinema and television continue to blur, CINEMATIC TV presents two new exciting productions offering the very best in entertainment on TV. These include a sneak-peek at the second season of DOLL & EM, the hilarious comedy series following real-life friends Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells and acclaimed artist Jake Chapman’s THE MARRIAGE OF REASON & SQUALOR starring the brilliant Rhys Ifans in a stylish and surreal satire of the paperback romance.

A host of SPECIAL EVENTS also feature in the programme designed to complement the many films screening at the Festival.  These include EIFF Honorary Patron Mark Cousins’ documentary 6 DESIRES: DH LAWRENCE AND SARDINIA in which he explores a journey through Sardinia where Lawrence travelled with his wife in 1921. Cousins will be taking part in a Q&A session following the screening of the film on Monday 22 June.  Suitable for younger audiences, LIVE LIVE CINEMA: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS sees four talented performers create an entire live soundtrack to Roger Corman’s popular 1960 B-movie (THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS). Screening at Festival Theatre, it’s guaranteed to be a wild ride!  The Edinburgh Schools Film Competition, now in its seventh year, invites young people from Edinburgh nursery, primary, secondary and special schools to submit their short films to EIFF whose selected films are then screened during the Festival for all to see. Screenings take place at Filmhouse on Saturday 27 June (Primary schools) and on Sunday 28 June (Secondary schools).  As previously announced, EIFF presents a very special 30th anniversary screening of BACK TO THE FUTURE with live accompaniment from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Saturday 27 June from Festival Theatre.  Additional events also taking place include the prestigious Awards Ceremony on Friday 26 June at Filmhouse and free ticketed events to INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES 1: CINEMA AND THE SENSES and STUDIES 2: MUSIC FILMS, both of which take place at Filmhouse on Thursday 18 June and Friday 19 June respectively.

This year EIFF’s Short Film strand will screen 43 new short films from 12 countries. In addition to the animated shorts which screen in the Animation strand, the Festival continues to showcase a thrilling selection of shorts from UK and International filmmakers including the annual presentation of the Scottish Documentary Institute’s newest BRIDGING THE GAP collection. Shorts programmes include GROWING UP, GETTING BY, featuring some of the newest works from UK film academies: Screen Academy Scotland, National Film & Television School and the London Film School; SECRET CORNERS; THE ANATOMY OF MEMORY, EDGELANDS and SHADOWED LANDSCAPES.

As previously announced, the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival opens with the World Premiere of Robert Carlyle’s Glasgow-set THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON starring Robert Carlyle, Emma Thompson and Ray Winstone, and the Closing Gala is the World Premiere of Scott Graham’s IONA starring Ruth Negga (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Douglas Henshall (Shetland), Tom Brooke (The Boat That Rocked), Michelle Duncan (Atonement), Ben Gallagher and Sorcha Groundsell.

In 2015 FEST is bringing to Portugal some of the most relevant short fiction films in the world. Thirty one films, from twenty one countries will be competing for the Best Short and Audience Awards.

With a wide array of styles and tendencies, the program includes some truly obligtory works, such as the much talked about Leidi, from colombian filmmaker Simon Mesa Soto, winner of the Palme D’Or in Cannes among many other awards, a film that shows us the daily life in a Colombian slum. Come and Play, from the russian artist Daria Belova, a film about the mysteries of time, garnered much praise and two awards at the Critic’s Week in Cannes.

Also from the Cannes Film Festival comes Fragments from polish director Agnieszka Woszczynska. This tale about a premiscuous couple in clear decline was a sucess in the Director’s Forthnight last year, quickly becoming one of the most talked about films in the short film festival circuit; while 37º4 S from italian director Adriano Valerio, was equally a success in the Cinéfondation Competition; German Patrick Vollrath also brings a disturbing vision of a divorce in Everything will be ok, a film that caused quite a debate at this year´s Directors´Fortnight.

From Germany, we also welcome Pale Blue Dot, a provocative and brave work that is bound to cause quite a stir amongst our audience. Equally fierce, but on another level, He Took His Skin off For Me, is a film that has been praised for its extraordinary make up detail, which serves as a starting point for an original love story.

Portuguese cinema is also highly represented as usual, with Portugal garneshing the most selections. Starting with the return of Pedro Almeida, and his new film Por Aqui Nada de Novo; Sara Marques Moite with Os Amantes and Francisco Lobo’s Serafim.

Official Fiction Short-film Selection:

Get ripped by Leonardo Van Dijl (Belgium)

Abrase byToshadeva Palani (USA)

Orpheus by Tina Smalcelj (Bosnia Herzegovina)

He took the bottle but left the girl by Reinis Kalvins (Latvia)

Pale Blue Dot by Pourya Ezzati Pour (Germany) 

It’s not about you anymore by Louise De Groef (Belgium)

Milky by Andrée-Anne Roussel (Canada) 

Everything will be ok by Patrick Vollrath (Germany) 

Meantime by Christian van Duuren (Holland) 

Fragments by Aga Woszczynska (Poland)

Por aqui nada de novo by Pedro Augusto Almeida (Portugal) 

A Hole In my Heart by Mees Peijnenburg (Holland)

Remains by Yotam Ben-David (Israel) 

Leidi by Simon Mesa Soto (Colombia/UK) 

Os Amantes by Sara Marques Moita (Portugal)

Playfellows by Ábel Visky (Hungary) 

Hurly-Burly by Kuba Czekaj (Poland) 

By Mutual Agreement by Rémy Cayuela (France)

Mercy all the way by Hannaleena Hauru (Finland) 

Serafim by Francisco Lobo (Portugal) 

Scrabble by Cristian Sulser (Switzerland) 

Sincerity by Andrea Casaseca Ferrer (Spain) 

Disintegration by Alvaro Martin (Spain) 

He took his skin off for me by Ben Aston (UK) 

I call it Love by Elsy Hajjar (Lebannon)

Come and play by Daria Belova (Germany/Russia)

The Collector by Dimitris Argyriou (Greece) 

SPECTRUM by Dimitris Gkotsis (Greece) 

37°4 S by Adriano Valerio (Italy)

Oh! My Princess by Heewook SA (South Korea)

The Cutting Room by Marco Velez (France)

(From Official Press Release) 

The festival will kick off on Wednesday, February 3rd, and will run through Saturday, February 13, 2016.

“After the Santa Barbara International Film Festival successfully celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, we couldn’t wait to start planning the next one,” noted SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling, “We are diligently working to continue bringing world class films to Santa Barbara.”

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival annually screens over 200 films, including over 50 US Premieres 25+ World Premieres. The festival is also known for its prestigious Tribute honor which counts Patricia Arquette, J.K. Simmons, Eddie Redmayne and Michael Keaton among recent recipients, as well as the acclaimed Panel series, where accomplished industry leaders come together for lively and revealing discussions, making the festival a key stop in the award season race.

In addition to events, screenings and film honors, the festival offers various programs to the community. These programs include Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, where Award winning filmmakers give interactive lessons to local low-income students, the AppleBox Screenings which show free family films over a four day period, and numerous film competitions like the 10-10-10 student competition.

Starting on July 27th, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival will again offer its highly popular festival passes and ticket packages at a reduced rate. Through August 31st, both will be exclusively available for a 25% discount at www.sbiff.org or 805-963-0023.

For more information, please visit www.sbiff.org.

About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. SBIFF offers 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums that transforms beautiful downtown Santa Barbara, CA into a rich destination for film lovers which attract more than 90,000 attendees. 

SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community through free programs like its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, National Film Studies Program, AppleBox Family Films, 3rd Weekend and educational seminars. In recent years SBIFF has expanded its year round presence with regular screenings and Q&As with programs like Cinema Society, The Showcase and its Wave Film Festivals. 

SIFF HONORS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCORSESE'S FILM FOUNDATION

8 restored classics screening throughout the Festival

The 41st Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended film festival in the United States, is thrilled to present a series of eight classic films at this year's Festival (May 14 - June 7, 2015) from Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation.

Taking place during the final week of the Festival are the North American premieres of two restored films: 1966's Black Girl (La Noire de...) from "the father of African cinema" Ousmane Sembène on June 1 and 1978's Alyam, Alyam from Moroccan master Ahmed El Maanoui on June 7.

Established in 1990 by Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history and has helped to restore over 620 films in the last 25 years. SIFF is proud to partner with The Film Foundation to celebrate their 25th anniversary with 12 restoration titles - eight screened during the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival and four in partnership with STG and their Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays at the Paramount in June.

Carl Spence, SIFF's Artistic Director, says, "Martin Scorsese has been shining a light on the urgent work of film preservation through The Film Foundation for 25 years. Through his efforts, we are able to publicly showcase these films from around the world that audiences would not otherwise have a chance to see projected on a big screen. The enthusiastic response from SIFF audiences is a testament to our belief that movie lovers from all walks of life want to experience films in cinemas. It is also fitting that we are presenting the North American premieres of two films from Africa - it pairs nicely with the 12 contemporary features being presented in our African Pictures spotlight."

Jennifer Ahn, Managing Director of The Film Foundation, says, "We are delighted that the Seattle International Film Festival is focusing on the importance of film preservation with its tribute to The Film Foundation's 25th Anniversary. We're especially pleased that the festival is presenting two remarkable works of global cinema: Black Girl (1966), directed by Senegal's Ousmane Sembène and Alyam, Alyam (1978) by Moroccan filmmaker Ahmed El Maanouni. These films were restored through The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project, and we welcome this opportunity to collaborate with SIFF on their international premieres."

The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival’s International Project Discovery Forum (IPDF) head Araceli Lemos announced its selection for the 2015 development workshop that will take place during the LA Greek Film Festival, June 3rd-7th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

In its 3rd year, IPDF received a record number of submissions from over seven countries and expanded its outreach through collaboration with European development workshops such as MFI Script2Pitch Workshop, Sofia Meetings and Thessaloniki IFF’s Crossroads.

“We are thrilled to welcome the selected filmmakers to Los Angeles and we are proud to support their bold, risk-taking, culturally unique and emotionally universal projects. “Added Lemos.

The Selected Projects for the 2015 International Project Discovery Forum are:

DORA, from Bulgaria by 2nd time feature director Milko Lazarov, a heartbreaking drama about jealousy, beauty and the decay of the body;

HAMARAT APARTMENT, from Turkey, a tense political thriller based on true events from the 70s by acclaimed director Hüseyin Karabey;

IN THE ARENA, director Arsenis Polymenopoulos’ first feature, a gripping Greek drama about the dark side of success based on a crime news story;

SATELLITES, a Serbia/France co-production by first time feature director Nenad Mikalacki, exploring the past, present and future of two Serbian immigrants in Paris;

SEVENTEEN (17), director Nikolas Kyritsis’ first feature, a coming of age drama revolving around a young love triangle in the harsh reality of contemporary Greece;

THEBES, a France-Greece co-production by first time feature director Basile Doganis, the Odyssey of a man looking for his roots and struggling with commitment.

Over the 4 days of the Forum (June 4-7), the six selected filmmakers will work on their pitches and stories with distinguished Experts, such as Matthew Takata from the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, Kelly Thomas from Juntobox’s Incubator Initiative, Steven Bernstein and Alesia Weston.

As part of the Forum, the IPDF Team is proud to introduce their first programs open to the public and free of charge. A high energy Open Floor Pitching Session where creators will present their web-series idea in a short format pitch to a Jury of leading web content creators. IPDF jury members include Nic Bello, Charles Como (Underground.Net), Salil Mehta (Fox Filmed Entertainment) and George Strompolos (Fullscreen). The event will take place inside the Spielberg theatre at the Egyptian on Sat June 6 from 3-5 pm. There is still time for the public to register and participate.  Information can be found at http://lagff.org/festival/international-project-discovery-forum/industry-programs A roundtable on International Distribution with esteemed guests such as Orly Ravid (The Film Collaborative), Athena Nash (Nu Image/ Millennium Films) and Pau Brunet (LA Panda) will take place Sat 6 from 12-2 pm.

In addition to IPDF news, Monica Sandoval Perez, LAGFF’s Programming Manager announced the 2015 Features and Documentary Jury will include Executive Vice President of Production at 20th Century Fox Mark Roybal, Anastas Michos, ASC, Director of Photography (“Death To Smoochy”, “Man On The Moon”) and 3 Ring Circus founder John Sideropoulos. Short Film Jury members are Development Specialist, Ben Umstead, actor Parvesh Cheena (Arrested Development, Outsourced), tech Journalist David Heuring (Paralax View).

Perez added “We are honored to have such a diverse and respected jury this year.  Each member brings a different perspective and relationship with film to the table.  More than any jury in the past, our winners will have been judged on a broader criteria scale.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.lagff.org

LAGFF SPONSORS The 2015 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival is grateful for the support of numerous key sponsors.  

LAGFF is proud to receive the support of Greek National Tourism Organization. Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organization, where you’ll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more! (Link: http://www.visitgreece.gr/) 

Grants are received from the Elios Charitable Foundation and ELMA

Platinum Patron 

Hostess Brands and the Metropoulos Family 

We are very proud to once again welcome Hostess Brands and the Metropoulos Family Platinum Patrons of Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2015.  

Today, Hostess Brands, LLC, continues to delight snack fans everywhere with a variety of new and classic treats like Ding Dongs®, Ho Hos®, Donettes® and Fruit Pies. They make the original creme-filled cakes that so many consider an irreplaceable part of American life. 

Silver Patrons

Earth Friendly Products is the leader in the development and production of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for household and commercial use, with over 150 products manufactured, distributed, and sold in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. All Earth Friendly Products are created with only replenishable and sustainable plant based ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the planet. The Company proudly adheres to its strict “Freedom Code”, avoiding a list of harmful and toxic ingredients that are not found in any its products.  

Earth Friendly Products has proudly received the 2010 GEELA Award for Sustainable Business Practices, 2009 Green PatriotTM Green 100TM Designation and the Champion level recognition from the US EPA, through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative. The company’s solar division, Progressive Power Group, is just another example of how Earth Friendly Products is a sustainable business leader.  

The G.P. Kolovos & Associates 

With a history of success in the real estate world and philanthropy, the Kolovos Family have been with LAGFF since its inception, and have been instrumental in its growth. 

Bronze Patrons:  ANT 1, Aris Anagnos, Cinemax, Jim Gianopulos, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, West Coast Investors and Puritan Bakery.

Media Sponsors include: Cosmos FM, KPFK Radio, Greek Reporter, The Immigrant Magazine, The Tolucan Times

Nordicana Festival2015, taking place at the Troxy in East London, on Saturday June 6th and Sunday June 7th today announced new additions to the programme.

Following the huge success of Nordic television exports The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge, 1864 features one of the highest profile Scandinavian casts ever assembled. Reuniting Borgen’s Sidse Babett Knudsen and Pilou Asbæk (Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg and spin doctor Kasper Jull) on-screen for the first time, alongside Søren Malling (Sarah Lund’s partner Jan Meyer in the first season of The Killing and journalist Torben Friis in Borgen), Lars Mikkelsen (One of Denmark’s best-loved actors, starring in both The Killing and Borgen, he most recently played Francis Underwood’s Political nemesis Petrov in Season 3 of House Of Cards) and four of the hottest young Scandi actors, all tipped for big things on the international stage – Jakob Oftebro (animal rights activist Mads in The Bridge Season 2), Jens Sætter-Lassen, Marie Tourell Søderberg and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina. Danish Broadcaster DR’s most expansive project to date, 1864 is a truly epic and highly cinematic historical drama depicting some of the bloodiest battles in European history.

Also, added is the premiere of Episode 1, Season 2 of acclaimed drama “The Legacy”, ahead of its June 12 transmission on Sky Arts. Hugely popular in Denmark and winner of multiple awards, The Legacy centers on the death of a matriarch, bringing forgotten secrets out into the open and causing a prolonged battle for the family inheritance

Stars from both 1864 and The Legacy are now confirmed to attend including from 1864: Søren Malling (1864, Borgen, The Killing), Marie Tourell Søderberg, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Jakob Oftebro, Jens Sætter-Lassen and from The Legacy:  Trine Dyrholm (Festen, Love is All You Need, In A Better World, The Legacy), Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale, Spectre, Flame & Citron), Marie Bach Hansen (Borgen).

Nordicana is a celebration of Nordic film, television and culture. The festival, now in its third year, will feature signings, Q&As and panel discussions with the 1864 and The Legacy cast, as well as playing host to some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing) and Sofia Helin (The Bridge).

Nordicana 2015 will also be presenting the UK premiere of the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Nordic contemporary thriller, Jordskott on Saturday 6th June, ahead of its broadcast launch on ITV Encore in June. A smash hit success in its native Sweden, Nordicana will welcome JORDSKOTT star Moa Gammel (widely tipped to join Gråbøl and Helin as the third internationally recognized female Nordic detective) and series creator Henrik Björn. Each Jordskott episode will be available on iTunes the day after it TXs on ITV Encore, the full series releases on DVD in August. 

Tickets are available to buy now from nordicnoir.tv. Lots more names, activities and events taking place at Nordicana 2015 will be announced in the coming weeks.

The festival is designed to allow audiences the chance to explore the intoxicating realm of Nordic Noir and to get up close and personal, with an interactive collection of cultural activities to choose from. A tantalising range of food, drink, design and culture from partners such as House of Sverre, Grasilver and Totally Swedish will be available, combining the excitement of a cultural expo with the flair of a film and literary festival.

The evolution of the show continues in 2015 with a brand new team taking the concept into a fresh, revised format. All ticket holders will enjoy their own numbered seat for the day and can relax in-between talks and screenings.  

Check the website regularly for details of the stars in attendance, screenings, Q&A’s and other information – NordicNoir.tv/nordicana.

 The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), North America’s leading festival of popular Asian Cinema, is back for its 14th edition. Co-presented with Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema, the festival will run from June 26 to July 11. The festival takes place from June 26 to July 8 at the Film Society and July 9 to 11 at SVA Theatre (333 W. 23rd Street). Initial details include notable awards to be presented to director Ringo Lam, superstar Aaron Kwok, and actor Shota Sometani. The festival will also host a slew of North American film premieres, as well as spotlight the works of Korean female directors and honor the memory of Japanese legends Ken Takakura and Bunta Sugawara with a joint tribute.

Hong Kong’s legendary director Ringo Lam (City on Fire) will receive the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. One of Hong Kong’s most influential directors, Lam was directing comedies when City on Fire was released in 1987, fusing the social-protest movie with kinetic action filmmaking. It was followed by the massive hit Prison on Fire later that year, and then School on Fire, a movie so unblinking that nervous Hong Kong censors sliced it to ribbons. Lam became one of the city’s best action filmmakers, and one of the few local directors to be so deeply concerned with the price of progress, the corrosive influence of money on human relationships, and the lives of the little people crushed beneath the wheels of change. In 2003, he directed what was to be his final feature and went into semi-retirement, only to be lured out again in 2015 with Wild City, in which Lam’s tooth-and-claw vision of modern urban living remains untamed.

Hong Kong’s superstar actor-singer Aaron Kwok (Divergence, After This Our Exile, Cold War) will receive the festival’s 2015 Star Asia Award on June 26. One of Hong Kong’s Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop, Kwok has won dozens of awards for his chart-topping albums. For over 30 years, he has performed steadily both on television and in movies and is respected for his box-office star power as well as his outstanding acting chops. Kwok has worked with some of Hong Kong’s finest directors, like Johnnie To, Jacob Cheung, Andrew Lau, and Patrick Tam. His self-described Method acting was rewarded in 2005 and 2006 when he won back-to-back Golden Horse awards for Best Actor, a feat previously achieved only by Jackie Chan. Kwok was awarded his first Best Actor prize was for his performance in 2005’s Divergence, but it was his work in the 2006 After This Our Exile, for which he won his second award, that blew audiences away. In that film, Kwok’s fearless portrayal of a gambling addict exhibited a serious commitment to his craft as well as a complete lack of vanity. He then went on to give a series of startling performances in films like Yim Ho’s Floating City, the blockbuster Cold War, as well as his upcoming tour de force, Port of Call.

Japanese actor Shota Sometani will attend the festival on July 4, on the occasion of the New York premiere of Kabukicho Love Hotel, to receive the Screen International Rising Star Award. Director Ryuichi Hiroki will also be in attendance. This marks the second year of a partnership with Screen International, with whom the NYAFF will honor an emerging talent in the East Asian film world each year. At age 22, Sometani is already a leading man in both blockbusters and indie gems and has earned critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. In 2011, he received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in Himizu, along with his co-star Fumi Nikaido (last year’s recipient of the Screen International Rising Star Award).

Notable NYAFF titles this year will include the North American premieres of Nobuhiro Yamashita's La La La at Rock Bottom and Yim Soon-rye's The Whistleblower and the international premiere of Namewee’s Banglasia, which was banned in Malaysia, its home country.

The festival will also feature a section on Korea’s production company Myung Films, highlighting a few of their major works—Cart, The President’s Last Bang, The Isle, and Waikiki Brothers—as part of a greater focus on women who work behind the camera. Producer Shim Jae-myung and directors Yim Soon-rye (The Whistleblower) and Boo Ji-young (Cart) will be in attendance.

Japanese film legends Ken Takakura and Bunta Sugawara, both of whom passed away last November, will be the subject of the first joint tribute outside of Japan, which will feature the brand-new digital remaster of the 1973 classic Battles Without Honor and Humanity—screened for the time in North America—among others.

We’re deeply grateful for the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York, the Korean Cultural Service New York, the Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, The Korea Society, and Japan Foundation New York.

Subway Cinema receives generous year-round support from Kenneth A. Cowin Foundation.

We would also like to thank our sponsors: Hotel Beacon, The Kitano Hotel, Møsefund Farm, Manhattan Portage, Well Go USA, Mizu Shochu; and our media partners: Screen International and Chopsticks NY.

P&L Film Festival starts collaboration with the music- and film industry event Live at Heart – and their 4th film festival edition will take place in Örebro Aug 30 – Sept 4.

Having established, after only 3 years, a new international platform for young film makers from all over the world, it’s time for Peace & Love Film Festival to lay the foundation for their next steps to become one of Scandinavias most important international film festival for young film makers.

P&L Film Festival 2015 will become an integrated part of Live at Heart in Örebro, August 30 – September 4. In addition to the official film festival program they will present outdoor screenings of anniversary classics, open for all who want to enjoy a movie outside in the warm late summer night.

Many locations have been on the radar and there are a number of reasons why the film festival now picks Örebro as their new home – not least the city’s connection to Film Region Stockholm – Mälardalen where Örebro is one of the founding members. The city has clear film production ambitions, a strong international focus and growth in a beautiful historic town. The new partnership starts already this summer when film makers from all over the world are invited to discover, and be discovered, in this great part of Sweden.

P&L Film Festival sees the collaboration with Live at Heart and Örebro very positively, not least from their declared goal to become the Live Music Capital of Scandinavia.

– We see a natural connection between film and Örebro’s strong current art programming with Open Art and Live at Heart – they are truly on the way to become an important international meeting place for culture, says Holger Carlsson, festival manager at P&L Film Festival.

– We welcome Holger and Shumaï to Live at Heart, and with them we create new opportunities for the meeting between music and the movie business. With Peace and Love Film Festival we will become the first festival of it’s kind in Sweden, says Åke Lundström, CEO at Live at Heart AB.

More information will be presented after the Cannes film festival where P&L Film Festival participates and also represents Live at Heart and Örebro. Complete film program will be presented first week in August.
Anette Mattsson, CEO at Filmregion Stockholm-Mälardalen, greets the news; – This is a wonderful crescendo for the interaction between film and music! Two industries that puts Sweden and this region on the world map. A crystal clear engagement for us as a cooperation organization within the cultural and creative businesses.

– We at the community cinema Roxy are very pleased and proud to welcome Peace and Love Film Festival to Örebro and our theatre. Being a local art house cinema it’s an event that really means a lot to us. To get this opportunity to host a high ranking festival like PLFF helps us strengthen our position both locally and nationally, says Bo Emmerik at Bio Roxy.

– We are happy that Peace and Love Film Festival decided to come to us, it shows that Örebro is an attractive growing city with the ability to attract new events, says Björn Sundin, Mayor of Örebro.

– Örebrokompaniet are very proud to take part in developing the cultural program in Örebro with the already established Live at Heart as a base for this development. We look forward to a great film party for both locals and visitors, says Christer Wilén, CEO Örebrokompaniet.

Watch these cute videos celebrating 30 years of hared work towards ANIMATION

Angelo celebrates the Mifa!

Kaeloo and his friends celebrate the Mifa!

Mung, from Yomzeo and Caitory, wishes the Mifa a happy birthday!

All the stars from Zagtoon celebrate the Mifa!

All the stars from Method Animation celebrate the Mifa!

The Cherry Coco family from Variety Sum are also celebrating Mifa!

Spookiz, from Keyring Studio, wishes the Mifa a happy birthday!

Grizzly, Panda and Ice Bear from the animated series We Bare Bears, wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Pixar Animation Studios wishes the Mifa a happy 30th Anniversary!

The stars from Raining Cats and Frogs by Folimage studio celebrate the Mifa in a video!

Futurikon and Les Chronokids wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Maya the Bee and her friend Flip wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Vic the Viking and his father Halvar wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

ZOU, the star of the Cyber Group Studios series, wishes the Mifa a happy birthday!

The stars of the series Jungle Bunch wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Shaun and Bitzer Send Their Best Wishes to the Mifa

Molang and his friends from Millimages wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Hubert and Takako Dancing for the Mifa!

The stars of WAKFU and DOFUS of Ankama wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Jean from My Mummy is in America celebrates the Mifa!

Calimero wishes the Mifa a happy 30th!

The stars of the series Zip Zip of GO-N Productions wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

Heidi and her friends from Studio 100 Animation wish the Mifa a happy birthday!

The World of Film Festival October 1-4 2015

June 20, 2015 Regular Deadline

WoFF’s errand is to bring together audiences from Glasgow’s multi-stranded art scene, while at the same time engaging people with powerful background in film and theatre that will bring fresh ideas, filling the gaps in Glasgow’s film and theatre events’ agenda.

Submit your film via Film Freeway 

Awards & Prizes

WoFF Glasgow's blog on filmfestivals.com I Website: www.woffglasgow.com I Submit on Filmfreeway I Contact:  Martin Petrov