The programming for the LA Muse section was also announced today. Passes are now on sale to the general public. The Los Angeles Film Festival runs June 10 through June 18 and the full Festival line up will be announced on May 5.

“Under the leadership of Roya Rastegar and Jennifer Cochis, the programmers have assembled a slate of films that embody Film Independent’s mission of diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision with a special emphasis on world premieres, first time directors and, of course, films inspired by Los Angeles,” said Elvis Mitchell, Film Independent Curator.

“Zeitgeist is a curated section of bold films that captures a vital picture of independent storytelling today,” said Roya Rastegar, Associate Director of Programming and Curated Content. “As programmers, we see key trends emerge in the thousands of films we watch every year. Stylish and defiant, the films in our inaugural Zeitgeist lineup are structured around a pivotal juncture in the lives of young people, after which there is no going back.”

Zeitgeist (6)

Zeitgeist is a competitive section of six curated films that embody key trends. 2015 captures hard knock, coming of age stories.

• Band of Robbers, dir. Aaron Nee & Adam Nee, USA, World Premiere
• A Girl Like Grace, dir. Ty Hodges, USA, World Premiere
• In the Treetops, dir. Matthew Brown, USA, World Premiere
• Manifest Destiny, dir. Michael Dwyer, Kaitlin McLaughlin, USA, World Premiere
• Stealing Cars, dir. Bradley Kaplan, USA, World Premiere
• What Lola Wants, dir. Rupert Glasson, USA, World Premiere

Jennifer Cochis, Senior Programmer had this to say about the Nightfall section: “We created Nightfall to celebrate films that will make audiences squirm. Ranging from the creepy to the sinister, homages to 80s and 90s era horror, psychodramas and waking nightmares.”

Nightfall (8)

From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark. Films premiering for the first time in the U.S. are nominated for the Nightfall Award. 

• Caught, dir. Maggie Kiley, USA, World Premiere
• The Confines, dir. Eytan Rockaway, USA, World Premiere
• Crumbs, dir. Miguel Llansó, Spain/Ethiopia/Finland, North American Premiere
• Crush the Skull, dir. Viet Nguyen, USA, World Premiere
• Dude Bro Party Massacre III, dir. Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, Jon Salmon, USA, World Premiere
• Plan Sexenal, dir. Santiago Cendejas, Mexico, North American Premiere
• Ratter, dir. Branden Kramer, USA, LA Premiere
• Shut In, dir. Adam Schindler, USA, World Premiere

Back for its second year, LA Muse is a competitive section of curated, independent films that are quintessentially Los Angeles. Films that premiered in last year’s LA Muse played to sold out crowds and six titles found distribution after their world premieres at LA Film Fest.

“LA is one of the most creative cities in the world –it’s where stars and rebels are born,” said Rastegar. “From Inglewood to Laurel Canyon, Venice Beach to Little Armenia, the films in the LA Muse section feature the triumphs and tribulations of ballet dancers, Hollywood actresses and improv comedians, alongside long legacies of social justice organizing and community activism. Whether inspired by Chicana lawyers spearheading a reproductive justice movement, or a renegade gardener leading a food revolution in South Central, these films showcase our city’s vibrant communities and its tenacious people.”

The 2015 LA Muse line up consists of three documentaries and seven fiction films; five films are by first time directors. All the films are having their world premiere at the Festival.

LA Muse (10)

The LA Muse section is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that are set, shot or inspired by Los Angeles.

• Aram, Aram, dir. Christopher Chambers, USA, World Premiere
• A Beautiful Now, dir. Daniela Amavia, USA, World Premiere
• Can You Dig This, dir. Delila Vallot, USA, World Premiere
• Day Out of Days, dir. Zoe R. Cassavetes, USA, World Premiere
• The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce, dir. Baron Davis, Chad Gordon, USA, World Premiere
• The Escort, dir. Will Slocombe, USA, World Premiere
• Flock of Dudes, dir. Bob Castrone, USA, World Premiere
• French Dirty, dir. Wade Allain-Marcus & Jesse Allain-Marcus, USA, World Premiere
• No Más Bebés, dir. Renee Tajima-Peña, USA, World Premiere
• Weepah Way for Now, dir. Stephen Ringer, USA, World Premiere

View/download 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Programming Addendum (PDF)

Passes are available to the general public as of today, Tuesday, April 21. The full line-up will be announced on Tuesday, May 5. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide access to a series of networking receptions and entry to the Festival Lounge, where Festival pass holders can interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Thursday, May 14 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 19. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfest.com.

Now in its 21st year, the Los Angeles Film Festival offers unparalleled access to creative voices through energetic film programming, master classes, live performances and conversations with the most compelling artists working today. The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts, web series and music videos, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film at The GRAMMY Museum® and Master Classes.

The Los Angeles Film Festival team is comprised of Festival Director Stephanie Allain, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell, Associate Director of Programming Roya Rastegar, Senior Programmer Jennifer Cochis, Programmers Jenn Wilson and Drea Clark, Head Shorts Programmer Landon Zakheim, Festival Consultant Maggie Mackay, Manager of Industry Relations Mel Jones, Senior Director of Film Education María Raquel Bozzi, Director of Event Production Shawn Davis and Director of Event Operations Ralph Rivera.  In addition, the Festival’s Associate Feature Film Programmers include Julie Anderson, Christine Davila, Samuel Douek, Steven Jacobson, Lee Jameson, Mark Maynard, Lucy Mukerjee-Brown, Stephanie Owens, Ray Price and So Yun Um; and Short Film Programmers Ernesto Foronda, Carlos Hatcher, Meghan McWilliams, Atsuko Okatsuka, Paul Sbrizzi, Cedar Sherber and Jacques Thelemaque.

Only a few weeks away from FEST – Training Ground, FEST announced the return of one of the festival's all time star speakers: Academy Award Winning Actress MELISSA LEO!

Melissa Leo is one of the most in demand actresses in the world right now, Winner of an Oscar for her performance on The Fighter Melissa is surely one of the great actresses of our time, and is step by step also becoming one of the most awarded actresses in activity.

Melissa Leo starred as the mother of boxer Mickey Ward in the 2010 film The Fighter, also starring Mark Wahlberg. The role garnered her both Golden Globe (best supporting actress) and Oscar awards. Other accolades include award nominations for the film Frozen River and the HBO series Mildred Pierce.

Leo’s breakthrough role came in 1993, when she began playing Detective Sergeant Kay Howard on the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street. 

Leo went on to win acclaim for her performance as a struggling mother in the heralded film Frozen River (2008), most notably Independent Spirit Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations—all in the best actress category.
More films followed, including Everybody’s Fine (2009) with Robert DeNiro, Conviction (2010) with Hilary Swank and The Fighter (2010) with Mark Wahlberg. In the latter film, she garnered wide acclaim for her performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, both in the best supporting actress category. 

Leo went on to work on several projects, including Oblivion (2013), with Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman, which show us Melissa in a different genre, but always keeping it faithful to her choice for strong and captivating women, who immediately jump from the screen.
Also in 2013 she starred in the highly praised Prisioners alongside Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. She was also part of the cast of highly praised tv show Treme.

In 2014 we saw her in The Equalizer alongside Denzel Washington and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn alongside Robin Williams.

In 2015 Melissa will reprise her role of Madam Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan in London has Fallen, and star in the biopic Snowden directed by Oliver Stone.

Wayward Pines, the highly anticipated M. Night Shyamalan tv series, has Melissa playing Nurse Pam, a surely unforgettable character in the peculiar tv show.

Melissa Leo will join FEST's Training Ground for an awesome Masterclass on Acting. 

*From Official Press Release. 

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> Annecy International Animated Film Festival 15th to 20th June 2015

Masterclass by Guillermo García Carsí and Keynotes announced

Masterclas by Acclaimed creator, Guillermo García Carsi  Guillermo García Carsi will talk about creation and character design according to his particular style where the key is not only the visual part, but also specially building the personalities of the characters. His creative process will be explained in detail, from his influences to practical examples. Creator and director of the internationally popular series "Pocoyo" - Cristal...

 

Feature Films out of competition at Annecy 2015

Desterrada Colombia - Diego GUERRA   Feature Films out of competition Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn China - Soong YUEFENG     Feature Films out of competition Eden's Edge Austria, USA - Gerhard TREML, Leo CALICE   Feature Films out of competition Extraordinary Tales Belgium, Spain, USA, Luxembourg - Raúl GARCÍA   Feature...

 

Features Films competing at Annecy

 Feature films in competition Adama France - Simon ROUBY   Feature films in competition Avril et le Monde truqué France, Canada, Belgium - Franck EKINCI, Christian DESMARES   Feature films in competition Mune France - Alexandre HEBOYAN, Benoît PHILIPPON ...

 

Happy Birthday to you MIFA ! Animation stars are celebrating Mifa's 30th!

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...

 

Annecy 2015 Juries

The juries Features films Marge Dean Director, Production, USA Valérie Schermann Producer, France Guillemette Odicino Journalist, Film Critic, France Short films Isabel Herguera Director, Journalist, Spain Bonnie Arnold Producer, USA Niki Lindroth Von Bahr Director, Sweden ...

> Los Angeles Film Festival June  10 - 18, 2015

Free Community Screenings to take place during the 21st edition of the LA Festival

Free Community Screenings to take place during the 21st edition of the Festival including the 15th anniversary screening of Love & Basketball, The LXD: The Uprising Begins and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The Festival’s Social Impact Free Screenings include American DREAMers, Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and The Politics of Race and HBO’s Requiem for the Dead: American Spring 2014. Also announced today, the annual Coffee Talks Panels f...

 

Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin will open LA Fest June10

Opening Night film will be the Los Angeles Premiere of Paul Weitz’s Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer and Laverne Cox, Grandma is being released by Sony Pictures Classics. Also announced today, Rodrigo García was named Guest Director of the Festival, Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award and Lily Tomlin will receive this year’s Spirit of Independence Award. Film Independent also a...

 

The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and int

As the primary exhibition arm of Film Independent, The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and international cinema. We are inspired by Los Angeles, a city of abundant creativity, and our programming reflects our city-muse through fil...

> CANNES and CANNES MARKET DAILIES   

VIDEO INTERVIEWS: WE HAVE WINNERS

IFFLA alumni at Cannes 2015

IFFLA alumni at Cannes 2015 MASAAN, AMY and more A number of Indian films -- and IFFLA alumni -- made a strong impression this year at the recently wrapped Cannes Film Festival. Neeraj Ghaywan's MASAAN, a gritty drama shot in Benaras by Avinash Arun and starring Shweta Tripathi, bowed in the Un ...

 

OUR LAST TANGO was sold to several territories including Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Greece, Switzerland.

OUR LAST TANGO   DCP - HD – 2015 – 85 min – Germany, Argentina - DRAMA/DOCUMENTARY   Directed by German Kral Produced by German Kral Filmproduktion, Lailaps Pictures From Executive Producer Wim Wenders, Rodrigo Furth, Jakob Abrahamsson Original Language Spanish ...

 

Cannes Film Festival, CineXpert and French CST: IT security and advanced monitoring.

CineXpert and the French CST (Commission Supérieure Technique de l’image et du son), gathered their skills and strengths during the Cannes Film Festival, through an advanced technical monitoring solution of the projection equipment of the famous Palais des Festival.   CineXpert NOC Tools have been integrated within the hyper-secured IT infrastructure empowering the operational team with an innovative tool offering state of the art technological control of the eq...

 

In Cannes, 3D Stereo MEDIA promotes again the unique magic and power of 3D!

3D Workshop of Cannes: big success once more! 3D Stereo MEDIA held its by-now traditional 3D Workshop at Festival de Cannes, on the American Pavilion, on 15 May 2015. Fully booked several days before its start, the event undoubtedly featured the highest concentration of 3D experts and 3D information for the whole 12 days of the world-renown fes...

 

Video Interview with Jacqueline Journey for Hidden Assets

Jacqueline Journey (Hidden Assets) with Gregory von Hausch at his annual FLIFF Cannes Beach Party ...

 

Serena Dykman in Cannes at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Party on the Beach

  ...

 

Mark Fishkin explains his new pilot project for filmmakers

Mark Fishkin at the FLIFF annual Beach Party in Cannes ...

 

Video Interview with Justin Daly in Cannes to celebrate the work of his grandmother Ingrid Bergman

Justin Daly celebrating the work of his grandmother Ingrid Bergman in Cannes  on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of her birth. Pictured here with Bruno Chatelin. ...

 

FLIFF Annual Beach Party in Cannes sponsored by filmfestivals.com

Gregory von Hausch with Jacqueline Journey Hidden Assets With Vincent de Paul and Carol Bruno Chatelin and Justin Daly Mark Fishkin Mill Valley Film Festival Director Serena Dykman: Ann Frank Diary of a Young Girl     ...

 

Ampav Cannes 2015 - Queer Night Hosted By John Cameron Mitchell (May 17)

...

 

Inaugural World Trailer Award to debut in London October 16th, 2015, to a worldwide audience.

It was announced at the Boat Party in Cannes that  The Golden Trailer Awards, announcing that THE WORLD TRAILER AWARDS, will debut in London on October 16th Pictured: left to right: Evelyn Watters, Executive Director GTA, Monica Brady, Executive Producer GTA, Prakash P Hinduja, Hinduja Bank, Erik Bardin, Associate Producer GTA Bruno Chatelin, Volker Schlöndorff, Monica Brady Fresh on the heels of the successful 16th Annual Golden Tr...

 

Ellen Page (“Juno,” “Inception”) and Allison Janney (Spy, CBS’ “Mom”) to star in the dramatic comedy Tallulah by Sian Heder

Allison Janney  Academy Award® nominee Ellen Page (“Juno,” “Inception”) and Emmy® winner Allison Janney (Spy, CBS’ “Mom”) have signed on to star in the dramatic comedy “Tallulah.” Sian Heder (Netflix’ “Orange is the New Black”) wrote the screenplay and will direct the film.  Route One Entertainment is financing the film, and Heather Rae (“Frozen River”) is producing along with Route One&rsqu...

 

Producers Workshop: facts and figures from Cannes 2015

300 up-and-coming producers attended the fifth go-round of the popular Producers Workshop program at the 2015 Marché du Film (May 13-22 2015) in Cannes. The four-day get-together drew top industry executives to lead a range of seminars, designed to educate new producers on the ins-and-outs of the global film industry. An initiative of the Marché du Film, the program was sold out long in advance of the market this year. The Workshop ran from May 13-15, with two additional sessio...

 

Cannes 2015 workshop - A Fistful of Euros - The Future of Film Financing in Europe

The European Audiovisual Observatory's 2015 Cannes Marché du Film workshop looked at the status quo of film funding in Europe before speculating on future models.   ...

 

Edge secures Disorder

Edge Entertainment wraps up Cannes with the acquisition of Disorder, screened in Un Certain Regard during the festival. Disorder (Maryland, International sales: Indie Sales) from director Alice Winocour, is centered on Vincent a French ex-soldier struggling with PTSD who is hired to protect the wife and child of a wealthy Lebanese businessman while he is out of town. Despite the apparent tranquility, Vincent perceives an external threat. Starring Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone...

 

Powerful Cothing Documentary "The True Cost" Featured at Cannes Market

Powerful Cothing Documentary "The True Cost" Featured at the Cannes market this month. This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who real...

 

ANIMATION DAY IN CANNES

 

Red carpet for The little prince (Le petit prince) with André Dussollier, Florence Foresti, Mark Osborne, Camille, Dimitri Rassa

...

 

ANIMA BUENOS AIRES Best film at Animaze celebrated in Cannes

Celebration in Cannes with Patricia Primon and Festival director Laurie Gordon www.lemiaff.com ...

 

Animation Day in Cannes 2015, Year one : It's a wrap!

Can Animation save the world? Our panel answered that question with positivity and creative new ideas. Panelists Laurie Gordon, Octavio Nadal, and Bruno Chatelin happily took on the challenge in answering a rather large and interesting question.In the theme of Horyou.coms mission is to make change through the social good. The panel therefore took a life of its oen in a free flow of thought an dexperience opening up the dialogue to the audience. Two top prizes from ANIMAZE MIAFF the Montreal I...

 

The New Audience: a keynote by John Lasseter

John Lasseter Academy Award winner John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and principal creative advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering, at the Academy event "The New Audience: Moviegoing in a Connected World." ...

 

Meet PAB, you will see his performance during our next edition of The Animation Day in Cannes

PAB NOMAD STUDIO https://www.facebook.com/Pabnomadstudio Paintings on Movie Posters Encounter with PAB, on the ground painter. His interpretations of Movie Posters have been selling on the Croisette for the last 13 yeras, during the Cannes Film Festival. Rencontre avecPAB sur la croisette et prélude à la seconde édition de Animation Day in Cannes organisée par Filmfestivals.com et Animaze   https://www.facebook.com/Pabnomadstudio   ...

 

Trailers of Winning Films Animation Day in Cannes 2015

Selected from submissions from around the world. With still a few more to be uploaded here are a few of the final films chosen at Animation Day in Cannes 2015 Animaze Director Laurie Gordon, Editor in Chief filmfestivals.com Bruno Chatelin, Octavio Nadal Aura Films Distribution at Horyou Village Grand Hotel  Presenting the inaugural initiviative of Animaze Daze Competition at Cannes Film Festival 2015. Here are the trailers to some of our successful entrants. Learn more about these fresh...

 

ANIMATION WINS at Cannes 2015 BEST SHORT Ely Dagher's Waves 98 - Why are we NOT surprised!

  Waves 98 The Palme d'Or winner short 68th Festival de Cannes for Short Film was awarded by the Cannes jury to animated short Waves 98. Directed by Ely Dagher, the 15-minute short animation explores the filmmaker’s current relationship with his homeland, as told through the story of a teenager who has become disillusioned with his life in the segregated suburbs of Beirut. Omar, voiced by Elie Bassila, is lured into the depths of the city after an unusual discovery....

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS  

The World of Film Festival October 1-4 2015

June 20, 2015 Regular Deadline

The World of Film Festival, formerly known as Commonwealth Film & Theatre Festival Glasgow is coming back for its second edition October 1-4 2015. In four days full of film screenings, theatre performances, live events, panel discussions and networking receptions WoFF will bring new, more vibrant and youthful vibe to the city’s emerging film and theatre scene.

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.

WoFF Glasgow's blog on filmfestivals.com I Website: www.woffglasgow.com I Submit 

The Montreal World Film Festival 
August 27, September 7

The regulations and entry forms to submit a film to the 2015 edition of the MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL are available for download. Please follow the links to get a copy. 
- 2015 REGULATIONS
- ENTRY FORM FOR THE 2015 MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
- ENTRY FORM FOR THE 2015 CANADIAN STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

The Montreal World Film Festival's blog I Website http://www.ffm-montreal.org/  I SUBMIT

Hollyshorts 
August 13-22, 2015

The 11th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 13-22, 2015 at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre and Roosevelt Hotel, is now accepting submissions. (www.withoutabox.com/login/4655)   2014 HSFF, 3 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.  HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $50,000 in post services courtesy of COMPANY 3 and METHOD STUDIOS for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial. Shorts HD distribution deals for winners and Final Draft prizes for Screenplay Contest winners.  

Hollyshorts's blog  I Website http://hollyshorts.com/ I SUBMIT SHORTS I SUBMIT SCREENPLAYS

> FILMS IN FOCUS  

For festival consideration: 

Pseudonym, for festival consideration

First feature by french actor director Thierry Sebban. Produced by la Petite Reine (The Artist) and Diabolo Films (The Suicide Shop).
Synopsis:  Alex is a divorced father, a stressed executive. His daily routine is work, work, work. Tonight he's in a hurry, he's due to meet a beautiful young stranger... who contacted him via the internet. But this blind date will flip him into a downward spiral and disrupt forever the course of his life.  Thriller, 75 min., Scope, Dolby 5.1  Directed by Thierry Sebban  Starring: Simon Abkarian, Igor Skreblin, Perrine Tourneux... Email us for a screener

Rooted in Peace by Greg Reitman

ROOTED in PEACE, 97 minutes - 2015

Documentary by SUNDANCE alum GREG REITMAN (Sundance Audience Award Winner for fhis first documentary 'Fuel')

Starring: Deepak Chopra, Donovan, Mike Love, David Lynch, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Pete Seeger, Ted Turner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"ROOTED in PEACE challenges viewers to examine their values as Americans and human beings. Today we are at war within ourselves, with our environment, and with the world. Director and award-winning filmmaker Greg Reitman invites viewers on a film journey to take notice of the world we live in, proactively seek ways to find personal and ecological peace, and stop the cycle of violence".

www.filmfestivals.com/blog/greg_reitman/ 

June Selection of Films for your consideration

Ester Brym's New Documentary 1 Day With Chinaski Premieres In USA

Director/editor Ester Brym shot her latest project in collaboration with the very popular band Chinaski. She co-directed 1 DAY WITH CHINASKI (Netoč Nás, Natoč Sebe) with musician Ondra Skoch. This is Brym's first International production and first short film after two successfull Award winning features (Butterflies & Autumn of Route 66). 1 Day With Chinaski premiered in Europe at the end of 2014 and will have its USA Premiere at this year's Action on Film International Fes...

 

“3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2015

So many similar stories lately, Trayvon Martin, in Sanford, Florida, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri, Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, and the case that it is discussed in “3 and 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets,” Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Florida. “3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” goes into the courtroom of the trial for seventeen year old African American Jordan Davis was shot by Caucasian Michael Dunn, when ...

 

Universal Film Festival Mission

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 ...

 

Icelandic film RAMS wins top prize in Un Certain Regard

The Icelandic film Rams, by Grímur Hákonarson, has won the Prix Un Certain Regard, the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. This is the first time that an Icelandic feature film has won a prize at Cannes, so this is understandably a great honor for all involved in the making of the film and for the Icelandic film community in general. Rams is set in a remote Icelandic farming valley, where two brothers who haven't spoken in 40 years have to...

 

Maggie, Review: My daughter, the zombie!

Maggie, Review: My daughter, the zombie! First-time writer John Scott 3 and first-time director Henry Hobson’s humane zombie tale Maggie treats the genre differently and has many poignant moments. It is slow, hazy and morbid, though there are several interesting twists to this pandemic tale. Most of the world has been plagued by the Necroambulist virus that turns people into zombies/cannibals. Farmers have burnt down their fields and crops to prevent further contamination. Wade Vogel (...

 

Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis sets up Hercules Film Fund to finance 3 – 5 Hollywood wide release films per year

 

PARIS KASIDOKOSTAS-LATSIS SETS UP HERCULES FILM FUND & LONGTIME PARTNER TERRY DOUGAS SETS SAIL WITH RHEA FILMS   New banners to finance and produce Doug Liman’s MENA starring Tom Cruise Greek ship-owner Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis has set up the Luxembourg based Hercules Film Fund, to bring European investors to Hollywood to finance 3 – 5 wide release films per year.  In parallel, Terry Dougas has formed a new production banner called Rhea Films (the mother of ...

 

Edge secures Disorder

  Edge Entertainment wraps up Cannes with the acquisition of Disorder, screened in Un Certain Regard during the festival. Disorder (Maryland, International sales: Indie Sales) from director Alice Winocour, is centered on Vincent a French ex-soldier struggling with PTSD who is hired to protect the wife and child of a wealthy Lebanese businessman while he is out of town. Despite the apparent tranquility, Vincent perceives an external threat. Starring Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone...

 

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT     

Melissa Leo returns to FEST for Masterclass on Acting

Only a few weeks away from FEST – Training Ground, FEST announced the return of one of the festival's all time star speakers: Academy Award Winning Actress MELISSA LEO! Melissa Leo is one of the most in demand actresses in the world right now, Winner of an Oscar for her performance on The Fighter Melissa is surely one of the great actresses of our time, and is step by step also becoming one of the most awarded actresses in activity. Melissa Leo starred as the mother of boxer Mickey...

 

SIFF Honors the 25th Anniversary of Scorsese's Film Foundation

SIFF HONORS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCORSESE'S FILM FOUNDATION 8 restored classics screening throughout the Festival   Still from Alyam, Alyam (1978)     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 International Festival Signes de Nuit at Lisboa (Signos da Noite) kicked off

the International Festival Signes de Nuit (June 2-7 2015) goes to Lisbon. After getting binational in France and Germany in 2013, now the festival has a multinational form and is presented also in Bangkok and Lisboa....

 

FEST: New Directors, New Films Festival: Short Selection

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...

 

Israeli and Palestinian Film Makers Come Together at SERET 2015

  ...

 

Universal Film Festival Mission

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 ...

 

Edinburgh Film Festival unveils 2015 line-up

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.  ...

 

69th Edinburgh International Film Festival unveils program

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 Kap..

> AWARDS WATCH      

Down to Earth captured the Jury Prize at the second annual Illuminate Film Festival

Down to Earth, the story of a family who left the beaten path in order to find a new perspective on life, captured the Jury Prize at the second annual Illuminate Film Festival, the world’s premier festival for conscious cinema.             Directed by Rolf Winters and Renata Heinan, Down to Earth, which made its  U.S. debut at Illuminate, followed a family over five years across five continents as they sought out tribal sages n...

 

Patrick Doyle receives World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award

British composer Patrick Doyle receives World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award and Film Fest Gent launches crowdfunding campaign for a new Alan Silvestri album. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Patrick Doyle at the 15th World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent, following the festival’s focus on British Cinema. Artistic director of Film Fest Gent Patrick Duynslaegher on choosing the composer: “This year’...

 

Frat Dude Secret Gossip

Frat Dude Secret Gossip   Due to extreme high volume of requests and curiosity of the general public this blog/article has to be published. The “Fratmen Fratpad Tributes” are more than 100s of songs and more than 1000 music videos given as a tribute to all the  Fratmen of Arizona. Kindly note the songs are not random and they are about actual people. The setting of the music videos is Arizona. All the other States such as California, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Chicago, Wisc...

 

Inaugural World Trailer Award to debut in London October 16th, 2015, to a worldwide audience.

It was announced at the Boat Party in Cannes that  The Golden Trailer Awards, announcing that THE WORLD TRAILER AWARDS, will debut in London on October 16th Pictured: left to right: Evelyn Watters, Executive Director GTA, Monica Brady, Executive Producer GTA, Prakash P Hinduja, Hinduja Bank, Erik Bardin, Associate Producer GTA Bruno Chatelin, Volker Schlöndorff, Monica Brady Fresh on the heels of the successful 16th Annual Golden Tr...

 

Stockholm International Film Festival presents a new international film award

Stockholm International Film Festival presents a new international film award: Stockholm Impact Award with a prize sum of 1 million SEK (approx. 120 000 USD). The Stockholm Impact Award will be awarded for the first time during Stockholm Film Festival in November 2015. The Stockholm Film Festival presents a new competition for international film. Impact is a section for headstrong visionaries who reflect our contemporary world. We are proud to present this new award, which w...

 

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT      

Natalia Guzeeva: Animation lesson should be compulsory just like Physical Education lesson

Interview with children's writer, scriptwriter, member of the jury of the International Children’s Television Festival “Dytiatko” If it was up to me I would introduce animation lesson in every school at least for six months or a year just like a compulsory Physical Education lesson. Sport develops body, animation creates an individual. What does a child face while creating a one-minute film? A child faces creation of a whole world where a story takes place, analysis of its...

 

Annecy 2015 Juries

The juries Features films Marge Dean Director, Production, USA Valérie Schermann Producer, France Guillemette Odicino Journalist, Film Critic, France Short films Isabel Herguera Director, Journalist, Spain Bonnie Arnold Producer, USA Niki Lindroth Von Bahr Director, Sweden ...

 

Artist Piper O'Neill Creates Golden Space Needle Award For Third Year at The Seattle International Film Festival

The Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended festival in the United States, announced today that Seattle artist Piper O'Neill has been commissioned to create the Golden Space Needle Awards statue for the third year.   A Seattle-based artist, O'Neill boasts an impressive and diverse body of work ranging from neon installations to large inflatable public sculptures.   For the past 30 years, SIFF has celebrated its most popular films and film...

 

Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival, and NPS MedicineWise are pleased to announce a stellar judging panel for #savethescript—the industry-first short film competition created to help raise awareness and fight antibiotic resistance this cold and flu season.   NPS MedicineWise and Tropfest have partnered to encourage creative individuals or groups to help spread a vital health message to Australians that, through misuse and overuse, antibiotics are losing their pow... 

> STRICTLY BUSINESS   

Partner Film Festivals Calling. Fast-Approaching Deadlines
 

Need more and better film submissions for your festival? don't miss the one month booster

Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including  with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...  

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> UNE SEMAINE SUR LE CIRCUIT DES FESTIVALS FRANCOPHONES     

Lancement de Cadavres Exquis dans le 7ème Art de Marie Christine de Montbrial

Major Buzz Factory : Expérience du marketing Digital pour les films

Fort d'une expérience acquise dans la distribution de films pour deux Majors (Sony et Fox mariée sous a direction avec UGC) Bruno Chatelin propose une expérience pointue au service de votre stratégie digitale à Travers sa structure de Conseil MAJOR BUZZ FACTORY Le fondateur Bruno Chatelin : un Professionnel de la communication entouré de spécialistes, son expérience est ancrée sur trois univers La publicité, Le mark.eting et le digital.

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> PAST COVERAGE FROM CANNES

The exhaustive coverage of Cannes competitions as PDF

Your Cannes Market Dailies as PDF
Check videos of our Cannes ambiance coverage on our YouTube Channel

Guests from around the world will be attending the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), ranging from internationally acclaimed directors and producers through to some of film’s most recognisable actors, the Festival announced today. 

The Festival’s main Juries will judge five award categories: The Michael Powell Award for Best British Film; Best Performance in a British Feature; Best International Feature; Best Documentary; and Best Short Film.  Jurors include actress/director Karen Gillan (whose short film Coward shows at the Festival); actress Natascha McElhone; veteran film critic for the LA Times, Kenneth Turan; award-winning director Amy Berg (whose films Prophet’s Prey and Every Secret Thing screen at EIFF); actress Archie Panjabi; director Kyle Patrick Alvarez (whose feature The Stanford Prison Experiment shows at the Festival); actress Jessica Hynes; actor Denis Lawson; Jacqueline Lyanga, director of the AFI film festival in Los Angeles; and actress Dolly Wells (who stars in Black Mountain Poets, 45 Years and Doll & Em 2, all showing at this year’s EIFF).

Other awards include The Student Critics Jury Award, supported again this year by James and Morag Anderson; The McLaren Award for New British Animation, supported by the British Council; and the EIFF Audience Award.

EIFF Artistic Director Mark Adams said: “We very much look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world to help us celebrate this year’s fantastic programme of films and events. It’s a huge honour for us to welcome some amazing filmmakers and acting talent, and for us to be able to share this with our audiences throughout two fantastic weeks of cinema here in Edinburgh in June.”

This year’s Festival is also brimming with guests who will attend screenings of their films. These include: EIFF Honorary Patron Robert Carlyle, Ashley Jensen, Kevin Guthrie, Brian Pettifer, Martin Compston, James Cosmo and Tom Courtenay among the guests for the Opening Night World Premiere of The Legend of Barney Thomson, while Ruth Negga will be attending with other guests from the film for the Closing Night World Premiere of Iona.

As well as taking part in an In-Person on-stage interview with radio and television broadcaster Edith Bowman, actor Ewan McGregor, with director Rodrigo Garcia, will also introduce his new film Last Days in the Desert. Actor Rhys Ifans will be on hand at several films he features in, including the world premiere of drama Len and Company, Welsh film Under Milk Wood; and the world premiere of the feature cut of Sky Arts TV series The Marriage of Reason & Squalor.

Alexander Skarsgård and Bel Powley will be in Edinburgh for the UK premiere of the acclaimed drama The Diary of A Teenage Girl, while German director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) will attend the screening of his new film 13 Minutes.  Model and actress Sophie Kennedy Clark will attend for The Marriage of Reason and Squalor and Stephen Tompkinson and Keith Allen will attend with their film Hector.

Director Asif Kapadia (Senna) will attend the screening of his much-anticipated documentary Amy. Emily Mortimer, Alessandro Nivola and Dolly Wells will attend a special screening of the full season of their hit TV series Doll & Em, while actor Denis Menochet (Inglourious Basterds) will attend the UK premiere of Norfolk.

Singer/songwriter (and sometime actor) Fish, from rock band Marillion, will be in town for the premiere of documentary Polska. Director/actress Talulah Riley will attend the world premiere of her directorial debut Scottish Mussel, along with many of the cast and crew, while Scottish legend James Cosmo will also attend the world premiere of his new film The Pyramid Texts.

As previously announced Asian Film Awards Academy presents In Person: Johnnie To, financially supported by Create Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and supported by Brand Hong Kong and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London.  Malcolm McDowell, Neil Innes and Jane Seymour will also present In-Persons at the Festival, and acclaimed cinematographer and EIFF Honorary Patron Seamus McGarvey will be in conversation with two-time Oscar winner Haskell Wexler.

Scores of other cast and crew from many of the films screening at this year’s EIFF will also attend the Festival, allowing a rare opportunity for audiences to quiz them about their projects. Updates and full details of extra guests and events can be found on the EIFF website, www.edfilmfest.org.uk

The Festival’s main Juries will judge five award categories:

1. The Michael Powell Award for Best British Film
2. Best Performance in a British Feature
3. Best International Feature
4. Best Documentary
5. Best Short Film

Read more about our awards and the 2015 nominees.

Jurors

Jurors include actress/director Karen Gillan (whose short film Coward shows at the Festival); actress Natascha McElhone; veteran film critic for the LA Times, Kenneth Turan; award-winning director Amy Berg (whose films Prophet’s Prey and Every Secret Thing screen at EIFF).

Actress Archie Panjabi; director Kyle Patrick Alvarez (whose feature The Stanford Prison Experiment shows at the Festival); actress Jessica Hynes; actor Denis Lawson; Jacqueline Lyanga, director of the AFI film festival in Los Angeles; and actress Dolly Wells (who stars in Black Mountain Poets, 45 Years and Doll & Em 2, all showing at this year’s EIFF).

Other awards

Other awards include:

• The Student Critics Jury Award, supported again this year by James and Morag Anderson
• The McLaren Award for New British Animation, supported by the British Council
• The EIFF Audience Award.

EIFF Artistic Director Mark Adams:

“We very much look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world to help us celebrate this year’s fantastic programme of films and events. It’s a huge honour for us to welcome some amazing filmmakers and acting talent, and for us to be able to share this with our audiences throughout two fantastic weeks of cinema here in Edinburgh in June.”

Opening and Closing Night guests

This year’s Festival is brimming with guests who will attend screenings of their films. Guests attending the Opening Night World Premiere of The Legend of Barney Thomson include:

• EIFF Honorary Patron Robert Carlyle
• Ashley Jensen
• Kevin Guthrie
• Brian Pettifer
• Martin Compston
• James Cosmo
• Tom Courtenay

Ruth Negga will be attending with other guests from the film for the Closing Night World Premiere of Iona.

Notable guests

As well as taking part in an In-Person on-stage interview with radio and television broadcaster Edith Bowman, actor Ewan McGregor, with director Rodrigo Garcia, will also introduce his new film Last Days in the Desert.

Actor Rhys Ifans will be on hand at several films he features in, including the world premiere of drama Len and Company, Welsh film Under Milk Wood; and the world premiere of the feature cut of Sky Arts TV series The Marriage of Reason & Squalor.

Alexander Skarsgård and Bel Powley will be in Edinburgh for the UK premiere of the acclaimed drama The Diary of A Teenage Girl, while German director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) will attend the screening of his new film 13 Minutes.

Model and actress Sophie Kennedy Clark will attend for The Marriage of Reason and Squalor and Stephen Tompkinson and Keith Allen will attend with their film Hector.

Director Asif Kapadia (Senna) will attend the screening of his much-anticipated documentary Amy. Emily Mortimer, Alessandro Nivola and Dolly Wells will attend a special screening of the full season of their hit TV series Doll & Em, while actor Denis Menochet (Inglourious Basterds) will attend the UK premiere of Norfolk.

Chicken is an impressive feature debut for young British director Joe Stephenson who will be attending with star Scott Chambers.

Nora-Jane Noone will be here supporting Brand New-U and Reece Ritchie will be attending as he is starring in Desert Dancer.

Singer/songwriter (and sometime actor) Fish, from rock band Marillion, will be in town for the premiere of documentary Polska.

Director/actress Talulah Riley will attend the world premiere of her directorial debut Scottish Mussel with producer Noel Clarke along with many of the cast and crew, including Morgan Watkins who also appears in Chicken.

Scottish legend James Cosmo will also attend the world premiere of his new film The Pyramid Texts.

In Person events

As previously announced Asian Film Awards Academy presents In Person: Johnnie To, financially supported by Create Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and supported by Brand Hong Kong and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London.

Malcolm McDowell, Neil Innes and Jane Seymour will also present In-Persons at the Festival, and acclaimed cinematographer and EIFF Honorary Patron Seamus McGarvey will be in conversation with two-time Oscar winner Haskell Wexler.

Scores of other cast and crew from many of the films screening at this year’s EIFF will also attend the Festival, allowing a rare opportunity for audiences to quiz them about their projects. 

*From official press release. 

After a record breaking 2014, Revelation Perth International Film Festival has announced its expanded 2015 program.

 
Revelation is acclaimed as Western Australia’s leading international film festival and annual screen culture event and firmly established as Australia’s filmmakers’ festival. It is dedicated to presenting independent cinema from around the globe in a context that explores film’s great traditions, its contemporary movements and its future directions.

Curated once again by Jack Sargeant, the Revelation Perth International Film Festival sees a diverse selection of films drawn from across the world. Boasting Revelation's commitment to signature works, independent cinema, genre film, world cinema, and unique breathtaking movies, this year is no exception with a program drawn from Australia, Iceland, Israel, France, Ukraine , Japan and all points in between. Featuring award-winning movies, world, international and local premieres, new Australian works and live performances, Revelation is a celebration of the strength of all aspects of film culture.

Expanding across the city and wider community, Revelation plays a central role not just in the Perth calendar but also nationally and internationally. Featuring dedicated programs from the Iranian Film Festival, Polish Film Festival in Perth, Revel8 and ScreenWest, once again Revelation will entertain and inspire audiences, while RevCon will feature some of the festival's many guests exploring key aspects of the industry at dedicated panels and workshops. Meanwhile Revelation Academic sees scholars - both those from academic institutions and independent researchers - delivering papers and exploring cinema and visual culture, in the fourth instalment of this critical platform that remains utterly unique to any Australian film festival.

According to Program Director, Jack Sargeant"there's always a sense of discovery that informs the process of curating Revelation, searching for films and strands that reflect what is happening now, but also that suggest possible futures and forthcoming possibilities. Describing the process as curating - rather than simply programming - really serves to emphasise the nature of Revelation, which seeks to establish a sensibility and aesthetic that exceeds expectations. This year there's a selection of new, emergent road movies, some exciting science-fiction (or slip stream quasi-science fiction) documentaries and features, and of course a number of Australian movies that really showcase the talent here, as well as some excellent music documentaries, and films by genuine cinematic auteurs like Abel Ferrara, Guy Maddin and Peter Strickland, and much more besides. It is - as always - a pleasure to curate Revelation - to see movies and ask 'what really matters' and to invite everybody to join our trip through cinema.”
 
“While we've always been enormously proud of the event annually, this year we really feel has reached a whole other level of sophistication and maturity in its program and in its place on the calendar" says festival founder Richard Sowada. "We're constantly learning, moving and developing as an event and I feel that openness to the elements has really come together this year with a robust and distilled event.
 
Highlights of Revelation 2015 will also include industry guests and speakers, seminars and masterclasses; Last Cab To Darwin– an soon to be classic Australian road movie; The Tribe – a feature film whose entire dialogue is sign language; ScreenWest’s annual showcase of emerging WA filmmaking talent in Get Your Shorts On!; the return of hugely popular Iranian Film Festival; the debut of the Polish Film Festival in Perth; the Revel-8 super 8 short film festival and the WA Screen Awards.

Attracting audiences of over 10,000 people annually, Revelation continues to grow and has become the “go-to” event for independent filmmakers, distributors and discerning audiences. 2015 will feature 123 films, 4 world and international premieres and 38 Australian premieres.
 
Revelation is proudly supported by the Australian and West Australian governments through ScreenWest and Screen Australia.
 
The complete program is now online and tickets are on sale now from the Revelation website at revelationfilmfest.org and from Luna Palace Cinemas at lunapalace.com.au

Works in Progress showcase, photo by Mari Laukkarinen  

The Finnish Film Affair will be organized for the fourth time on Sept 22-24th as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival. This year's edition will introduce a Work-In-Progress award for the most promising project. Selected by a jury comopsed of international experts participating the event, the winner will receive an international marketing package. 

The Finnish Film Affair has become the leading industry platform for showcasing new projects to sales agents, buyers and programmers. The Finnish Film Affair will present between twenty to thirty projects in three categories (Works-In-Progress, one-minute pitch and the development clinic) and around 15-20 finished films will be screened.

• Opening Reception starts on Friday, June 19 at 6pm in the lobby of the Crest Theatre with Open Bar and Music / Opening film, SAMBA, starts at 8:30pm.
• Closing Night Champagne Party starts immediately after the closing film, TIMBUKTU, on Sunday, June 28, with Champagne, Desserts and Live Music.
• Breakfasts prior to the screening of L’IL QUINQUIN on Saturday, June 27, and after the Saturday Late Night Movies, June 20 & 27.
• Film Screenings all day on Saturdays & Sundays June 20-21 & 27-28. Evening screenings on Friday June 26.

THE 2015 SFFF FILM SELECTION

The 14th Sacramento French Film Festival will present a record of 18 feature films this year including 13 of the most acclaimed, awarded, and talked about recent Premieres -with the most prominent 2015 César (French Academy Awards) winners; three Classics; and two Late Night Movies. Our program will also include too many short films to count…
Our 2015 film selection includes every genre and style to please every cinephile:  romance, adventure, drama, comedy, thriller, fantasy …

OPENING FILM – Friday, June 20 – 8:30pm

• SAMBA (118 min) by Olivier Nakache & Éric Toledano – COMEDY/DRAMA
  Starring Omar Sy (Intouchables, Mood Indigo – this year at the SFFF), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Jacky in the Kingdom of Women – this year at the SFFF) & Tahar Rahim (A Prophet).
  The unlikely encounter between Samba (Omar Sy), an illegal immigrant on the verge of deportation, and Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a senior executive volunteering at an immigration center leads to a bumpy love story… Samba, the latest feature by the duo of directors who brought us Intouchables combines humor and heart to tell its topical story.

CLOSING FILM – Sunday, June 28 – showtime TBA

• TIMBUKTU (97 min) by Abderrahmane Sissako – DRAMA
  The most awarded French film of the year, winner of seven 2015 César Awards, including Best Film, Best Director & Best Original Screenplay. Nominated for the 2015 Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
  The everyday life of a small village, not far from the ancient Malian city of Timbuktu, now ruled by religious fundamentalists, where people suffer, powerless but with dignity…

PREMIERES

• ALMOST FRIENDS (ON A FAILLI ETRE AMIES, 90 min) by ANNE LE NY – ROMANTIC COMEDY
  Starring Karin Viard, Emmanuelle Devos & Roschdy Zem.
  Marithé meets Carole. They could become friends, but Marithé falls in love with Carole’s husband, a renowned chef…
   
• GEMMA BOVERY (99 min) by ANNE FONTAINE – COMEDY/DRAMA
  Starring Fabrice Luchini (In the House – SFFF 2013, The Women on the 6th Floor – SFFF 2011) & Gemma Arterton (Tamara Drewe, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time).
  Bored baker Martin Joubert falls for his lovely new English neighbor whose name, Gemma Bovery, is so similar to Flaubert’s doomed heroine, Emma Bovary, that his wild imagination draws dangerous parallels between the literary and real-life women. Gemma Bovery will be paired with Claude Chabrol’s beautiful 1991 classic, Madame Bovary.
   
• GIRLHOOD (BANDE DE FILLES, 113 min) by CÉLINE SCIAMMA – DRAMA
  Fed up with her abusive family situation, lack of school prospects, and the "boys' law" in her neighborhood, shy Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls.
   
• HIPPOCRATES (HIPPOCRATE, 102 min) by THOMAS LILTI  – DRAMA/COMEDY
  Starring Vincent Lacoste (French Kissers – SFFF 2010, Jacky in the Kingdom of Women – this year at the SFFF), Reda Kateb (César 2015 winner for Best Supporting Actor) & Jacques Gamblin (The Names of Love – SFFF 2011).
  Benjamin, a young and eager medical intern in his first job, in his father’s ward, is confronted with his own limits and fears, as well as those of his patients, their families, fellow doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators. An experienced doctor, also interning because of his immigrant status in France, helps him find his way.
   
• IN THE COURTYARD (DANS LA COUR, 97 min) by Pierre Salvadori – DRAMA/COMEDY
  Starring Catherine Deneuve & Gustave Kervern (co-director of Le Grand Soir– SFFF 2012 & Louise Michel– SFFF 2010).  
  Antoine, an ex-musician who suffers from depression, is hired as the caretaker of an old residential building in Paris where Mathilde, recently retired, lives with her husband. Through a confusion of misfires and anxiety, the two develop an awkward friendship.

• THE KIDNAPPING OF MICHEL HOUELLEBECQ (L'ENLEVEMENT DE MICHEL HOUELLEBECQ, 96 min) by GUILLAUME NICLOUX – COMEDY
  France's most controversial and talented writer, Michel Houellebecq, plays himself in this quirky, absurd comedy from director Guillaume Nicloux.  Houellebecq, who in real life disappeared for a time and was rumored to have been kidnapped by Al Qaeda, helps perpetuate the legend surrounding what really happened to him during that time by participating in this fictionalized account of his kidnapping.  Instead of Al Qaeda, he is taken by a group of amateur and strangely likeable criminals, with whom he forms improbable friendships.

• LI’L QUINQUIN (P'TIT QUINQUIN, 200 min, shown in two parts) by BRUNO DUMONT – THRILLER/COMEDY
  French auteur Bruno Dumont, best known for uncompromising and austere dramas, proves with the comedy Li'l Quinquin that he is capable of shifting gears without conceding his signature style. This absurdist, metaphysical murder mystery, set -as most Dumont’s films- in the North of France, opens with the discovery of a human body stuffed inside a cow - a literal “bête humaine.” Originally made for TV,  Li'l Quinquin has been compared to Twin Peaks and True Detective. It is "a wonderfully weird and unexpectedly hilarious" (Scott Foundas, Variety) masterwork from one of France’s most important contemporary directors.
   
• LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT (LES COMBATTANTS, 98 min) by THOMAS CAILLEY – DRAMA/ROMANCE
  Starring Adèle Haenel & Kévin Azaïs. Winner of three 2015 César Awards: Best First Film, Best Actress (Adèle Haenel), Most Promising Actor (Kévin Azaïs).
  In a small French coastal town, Arnaud meets and falls for the apocalypse-obsessed Madeleine. Together, they join an army boot camp to learn military and survival skills to prepare for the upcoming environmental collapse.
   
• THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (UNE NOUVELLE AMIE, 108 min) by FRANÇOIS OZON – COMEDY/DRAMA
  Starring Romain Duris (The Beat That My Heart Skipped– SFFF 2005, Heartbreaker– SFFF 2010, Chinese Puzzle– SFFF 2014, Mood Indigo– this year at the SFFF), Anaïs Demoustier (Thérèse– SFFF 2013) & Raphaël Personnaz (Three Worlds– SFFF 2013, Marius, Fanny–  1st Mini Fall French Film Festival, Oct 2014).
  The New Girlfriend, the latest feature from prolific filmmaker Francois Ozon (Young & Beautiful - SFFF 2014, In the House - SFFF 2013), stars Anaïs Demoustier as Claire, a young woman whose best friend passes away leaving behind a husband, David (Romain Duris), and a newborn baby. One day she drops by David's house unexpectedly and finds him dressed in his dead wife's clothes.  As usual, Ozon manages to tackle sensitive social topics with flair, compassion, and a comedic touch.

• NUMBER ONE FAN (ELLE L’ADORE, 105 min) by JEANNE HERRY – COMEDY/THRILLER
  Starring Sandrine Kiberlain (9 Month Stretch – SFFF 2014), Laurent Lafitte (Bright Days Ahead – SFFF 2014).
  Muriel Bayen (another fantastic comical performance by Sandrine Kiberlain who was nominated for a 2015 César) is a huge fan of singer Vincent Lacroix, so when Vincent knocks on her door and asks for her help, she cannot refuse... A charming, laugh out loud comedy!

• PARTY GIRL (96 min) by MARIE AMACHOUKELI, CLAIRE BURGER, SAMUEL THEIS – DRAMA
  An aging nightclub hostess decides to settle down and get married. Angélique Litzenburger and her family play their own roles in this touching real life, docu-style drama directed by her son Samuel.

CLASSICS

• MADAME BOVARY (1991, 143 min) by CLAUDE CHABROL – DRAMA/ROMANCE
  Starring Isabelle Huppert. Based on one of France’s most iconic novels by Gustave Flaubert (1856).
  In nineteenth-century France, the romantic Emma Rouault marries Charles Bovary, a dull country doctor. To escape boredom, she throws herself into love affairs with a suave local landowner and a law student and runs up ruinous debts. Madame Bovary  will be paired with Anne Fontaine’s newest film, Gemma Bovery.

• THAT MAN FROM RIO (L’HOMME DE RIO – 1964, 112 min) by PHILIPPE De BROCA –ADVENTURE/COMEDY
  Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo (Breathless –  SFFF 2013, Pierrot Le Fou – SFFF 2011) & Françoise Dorléac (TheYoung Girls from Rochefort– SFFF 2011).  
  A young man comes to the rescue of his girlfriend, who has been abducted by thieves and brought to Rio. Extravagant adventures ensue in this fast-moving spoof of James Bond type movies. The film was a huge success upon its original release in France.

• THE BEAUTY AND THE DEVIL (LA BEAUTÉ DU DIABLE – 1950, 95min) by RENÉ CLAIR  –FANTASY/ROMANCE/COMEDY
  Starring Gérard Philipe & Michel Simon.
  The Faust story retold with a lighter touch. An aged alchemist accepts the gift of renewed youth from the devilish Mephistopheles, but refuses to fulfill his share of the bargain and to give his soul in exchange...

LATE NIGHT MOVIES

• JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN (JACKY AU ROYAUME DES FILMS, 90 min) by RIAD SATTOUF – FANTASY/COMEDY
  Starring Vincent Lacoste (French Kissers – SFFF 2010, Hippocrates– this year at the SFFF) & Charlotte Gainsbourg (Samba– this year at the SFFF).
  In the Kingdom of Bubunne, women are in power while men wear veils and do domestic tasks. When it is time for the daughter of the ruling Generale to find a husband, a ball is organized…

• MOOD INDIGO (L’ÉCUME DES JOURS, 125 min) by MICHEL GONDRY – FANTASY/ROMANCE/DRAMA
  Starring SFFF’s darling, Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris (The Beat That My Heart Skipped– SFFF 2005, Heartbreaker– SFFF 2010, Chinese Puzzle– SFFF 2014, The New Girlfriend– this year at the SFFF), Omar Sy (Intouchables, Samba–this year at the SFFF) & Gad Elmaleh (Priceless). Based on Boris Vian’s cult novel (1947).
  Colin and Chloe meet, fall in love, get married and live happily until Chloe is diagnosed with an unusual illness caused by a flower growing in her lungs. There couldn’t be a director better suited than the eminently inventive Michel Gondry (The Science of Sleep, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind) to adapt Boris Vian's visionary, surreal and romantic love story to the big screen. Shown in its Extended Cut version, never released in the U.S.

TICKET PRICES: from $11 (Single Tickets) to $95 (Full Festival Access)

PLEASE NOTE THAT STARTING THIS YEAR, THE CREST THEATRE ADDS A FACILITY FEE TO ALL SINGLE TICKETS AND PASSES SOLD, regardless of how/where they are purchased. NO EXCEPTION.

§  Single Ticket: $12 / $11 (Discount for Students & Seniors with ID, members of the deaf community, and members of the following organizations: EFSac, Sacramento Jewish Film Festival, Alliance Française, Club Français, with membership card).  Price includes a $0.75 facility fee.

§  Passes:

o   Bleu Opening Night Pass: $53 / Access to Opening Night Reception and Film - Valid June 19 only.  Includes a $3 facility fee.

o   Blanc First Weekend Pass: $42.50 / Access to All Screenings, Opening Reception not included - Valid June 19 (film only)-21.  Includes a $2.50 facility fee.

o   Rouge Second Weekend Pass: $47.50 / Access to All Screenings & Closing Party - Valid June 26-28.  Includes a $2.50 facility fee.

§  Passes Combinations:

• Bleu + Blanc + Rouge = $98.50 / Two-Weekends Full Access to all Screenings & Parties - Valid June 19-28.  Includes a $3.50 facility fee.
• Bleu + Blanc = $78.50 / First-Weekend Full Access to All Screenings & Opening Reception – Valid June 19-21.  Includes a $3.50 facility fee.
• Blanc+ Rouge= $73.50 / Two-Weekend Experience, Access to All Screenings, Opening Reception not included - Valid June 19 (film only)-28.  Includes a $3.50 facility fee.

§  Closing Night Film & Reception: $17 / $16 (Discount for Students & Seniors with ID, members of the deaf community, and members of the following organizations: EFSac, Sacramento Jewish Film Festival, Alliance Française, Club Français, with membership card).  Includes a $1 facility fee.

The PAMA will run sept 25-27th, 2015.
The event will screen several blocks of shorts from all over the world, moreover from USA and France. Features and scripts are accepted too. 20 awards may be reward the best artists and filmmakers in a range of 10 categories.

All categories can be found on the festival's website.

All nominated movies, special events, french premiere and professional meetings will be held in the historical heart of Paris : Saint-Germain-des-Près.
Out of competition will screen a US independent feature, for french premiere with cast and crew attending, plus out of competition special documentary and short as a starting point to share movie making.

All news can be followed on twitter and liked on facebook.

We are welcoming in the first ever independent film playoff in which films will compete against each other to hold the crown in our championship series. The top awad is $1000 cash and the Glass Cannon trophy.

Submissions are open now!!!!!

2015 Program eBook

138 page Complete Festival Guide 
View Online >

Sunday 7th June at Sheffield Doc/Fest: the new Whicker’s World Foundation, whose principle aim is to give a much needed fillip to authored documentary storytelling in the UK, today launches three new documentary filmmaker awards worth a total of £100,000 for the promotion of curiosity in programme making, generously funded by a legacy left by the celebrated broadcast journalist Alan Whicker, who died in 2013. Details of the Whicker’s World Foundation and the awards will be announced by filmmaker Kim Longinotto at a special event at Doc/Fest, following the screening of Whicker’s World: Conflict in Kentucky.

Says Mark Atkin, Acting Festival Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest: “I am very enthused that this foundation aims to encourage authored documentary at a time when TV is becoming increasingly formatted and when most foundations have requirements to promote social issues. This is exactly what the industry needs right now”.

The three awards – the Funding Award (worth £80,000 / £10,000 runner up) to a debut filmmaker under 30 years of age; the Recognition Award (worth £4,000 / £1,000 runner up) to the finest industry newcomer aged 50 years of age or over; and the Best Audio Documentary (worth £4,000 / £1,000) to be awarded at the In The Dark audio festival, also part of Doc/Fest - will be looking for a spirit of inquisitiveness that will leave the viewer wanting more, and tell something new and unexpected about the world.

The panel of judges, chaired by Valerie Kleeman, photographer, programme consultant and Whicker’s partner for more than 40 years, will also be looking for projects that are playful with how the story is told, either breaking new ground, or taking a familiar path to come up with a new style.

The Alan Whicker Foundation consultant, top ranking international TV executive Jane Mote, says: “Whicker's World opened my eyes to the most amazing stories, people and places. Alan's unique style and sharp wit was inspirational and I am so excited to be part of creating a Foundation to nurture the future trailblazers for international documentary film-making”.

Jane Ray, the Consultant Artistic Director for the Foundation is a multi-award winning documentary maker and executive producer in radio and television with a journalistic background and nearly 28 years’ service at the BBC. Her awards range from the Sony Award for best news programme (2002) and the TRIC award for best children’s programme (1993) to China’s Golden Kapok award for best director (2014). She worked with Alan throughout the 90s on various projects for radio. She also wrote and directed Radio 4's archive programme about Alan: Around theWorld in 80 Years, presented by Michael Palin.

The first award winners will be announced by the Whicker’s World Foundation at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Award Ceremony, which will take place on the final day of the 2016 festival.

The Oldenburg International Film Festival takes place from September 16 – 20, 2015.

With worldwide entries from more than 70 countries the Festival is looking forward to an exciting and diverse 22nd issue of the event. The official Entry Deadline is coming up on Friday, June 12, by the end of this week.

Besides numerous international discoveries this year’s programming will present the world premiere of “Godless”, a crime drama based on real events, and Germany’s first TV series, that gives complete artistic freedom to its writer director, Thomas Stiller.

The first highlights:

GODLESS

by Thomas Stiller - Germany 2015

Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Stiller, “Godless” is a groundbreaking format in German television. With artistic freedom so far unique only to HBO or Netflix, the writer-director has been given complete license to create a crime drama based on real incidents and dares to show what usual crime shows rarely touch upon: the raw and inevitable energy of a conflict that draws the perpetrator and victim into crime. An adaptation of the Dutch format of the same title, “Godless” is produced and developed by Marc Conrad and his company Conradfilm for German broadcaster RTL II. Oldenburg will present the first three episodes, starring the high profile cast of Matthias Köberlin, Jule Ronstedt, and Ralph Herforth. World Premiere.

NEXT TIME I’LL AIM FOR THE HEART

by Cedric Anger - France 2014

Based on a true story, writer-director Cedric Anger’s thrilling crime drama has been likened to a French ‘Zodiac’, garnering 2015 César nods for both its director and star, Guillaume Canet, for his performance as a notorious serial killer and cop commissioned to investigate his own murders. Ripped from the headlines, Canet’s character is based on Alain Lamare, a real-life murderer who terrorized the inhabitants of the Oise region of France during a 10-month killing spree in 1978. German Premiere.

OBSERVANCE

by Joseph Sims-Dennet - Australia 2015

After his auspicious and award winning debut “Bad Behavior”, Joseph Sims-Dennett returns with a mind-bending journey into the psyche of man. He deftly locates his hero in the politically timely horrors of Snowden paranoia - mirroring Coppola’s “The Conversation”- as his private investigator hired to observe a hunted woman discovers the terrifying shadows observing him. Anchored by its mesmerizing lead actor, rising star Lindsay Farris in a one-man tour de force, ‘Observance’ is an electrifying discovery.  European Premiere.

TRAVELATOR

by Dusan Milic - Serbia 2014

When a 19 year-old ace sniper in the video game virtual world is hired by the Serbian mob to do a real life hit job, artificial worlds collide with explosive daring in Dusan Milic’s knockout thriller, “Travelator”. Oscillating between the tough reality of a Serbian refugee camp and the hyper-reality of a dreamlike Las Vegas, where ‘Blade Runner’ meets ‘Taxi Driver’, Milic breaks genre expectations, masterfully portraying the identity crisis of a young man caught in the kaleidoscope of avatars and artifice. As the teen assassin, European Shooting Star Nicola Rakocevic is a revelation. German Premiere.

CRUMBS

by Miguel Llansó – Ethiopia/Spain/Finland 2015

In the debut feature of Spanish writer/director Miguel Llansó, Ethiopia’s first sci-fi feature is also perhaps the most inspired homage to ‘The Wizard of Oz’ of the 21st Century. The pint-size superhero Candy takes us on an epic post-apocalyptic flight into surreal territory in quest of Santa Claus to grant him his hearts greatest wish. With the sci-fi poetic eye of Andrei Tarkovsky and joyful black humor, Llansó’s wasteland wonderland is a feast filled with re-interpreted and re-purposed symbols from the wealth and power obsessed 20th Century. German Premiere.

THE STRONGEST MAN

by Kenny Riches - USA 2015

Following its debut at Sundance, critics called Japanese-born writer-director Kenny Riches as “the one to watch”. With his hilarious oddball and irreverent tone, Riches unique style has been described as “Terrence Malick directing Napoleon Dynamite”. Exploring the façade of the American Dream, we ride through the less than glamorous streets of Miami with Beef, an angst driven Cuban-American construction worker with biceps as solid as his gold-painted BMX bike. But when his treasured wheels get stolen, the real ride begins. International Premiere.

SUMMERS DOWNSTAIRS

by Tom Sommerlatte - Germany 2015

Nominated for 2014s German Independence Award: Best Short, Tom Sommerlatte returns to Oldenburg with his critically acclaimed debut feature. In this twisted fraternal frolic at the family summerhouse in France, a bullying alpha brother is pitted against his pot-smoking slacker brother, in an upstairs/downstairs pecking order dance with a love triangle. With eleven siblings in real life, including his sister Iris who produced it, Sommerlatte is no stranger to the complexities of family rivalries, and his refreshing spin on a familiar theme is a painfully honest comedic delight.

WASTE LAND

by Pieter Van Hees - Belgium 2014

Set in the immigrant underbelly of Brussels, Pieter Van Hees completes his “Love and Pain” Trilogy with this neo-noir thriller. Named after T.S. Elliot’s poem, he weaves analogies to the costly wounds of colonialism and denial. The discovery of a murdered Congolese man sets in motion the investigation of more than a homicide, as its lead detective, grippingly captured by Jérémie Renier, descends on a journey into to the dark savagery of the soul. Having hosted both “Left Bank” and “Dirty Mind”, we welcome Van Hees back with the third chapter of his psychological voyage.

German Premiere.

MODEL HUNGER

by Debbie Rochon - USA 2015

Iconic scream-queen cult-star Debbie Rochon returns to Oldenburg with her feature debut as a director. Having starred in over 200 sub-genre films, she’s in familiar territory directing fellow scream-queen idol, Lynn Lowry, in this thought-provoking observation of the meaning of beauty. Slashing the mirror of political correctness, Rochon’s raw style resonates with the unfettered boldness of 70s New Hollywood, as “Mommy Dearest” meets “Rear Window” in a basement of horrors and psychological damage. International Premiere.

2015 international competition

OFFICIAL SELECTION
TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH AL CENTRO DE LA TIERRA Daniel Rosenfeld Argentina / France / Germany / Netherlands, 2015, 86' International premiere		AND THE LIVING IS EASY Lamia Joreige France / Lebanon, 2014, 74' World premiere
THE MESH AND THE CIRCLE A TRAMA E O CÍRCULO Mariana Caló and Francisco Queimadela Portugal / Italy, 2014, 34' International premiere / first film		BY OUR SELVES Andrew Kotting United Kingdom, 2015, 80' World premiere
BUILDINGS Johannes Hammel Austria, 2015, 31' International premiere		ENTANGLED ENTRELAZADO Riccardo Giacconi Colombia, 2014, 37' World premiere
FIELD NIGGAS Khalik Allah United States of America, 2014, 60' International premiere / first film		HOME Rafat Alzakout Syria / Lebanon, 2015, 70' World premiere / first film
MAESTA Andy Guérif France, 2015, 46' World premiere		MEURTRIÈRE Philippe Grandrieux France, 2015, 60' World premiere
PAWEL AND WAWEL PAWEL i WAWEL Krzysztof Kaczmarek Poland / Austria, 2014, 63' International premiere		IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS RETRATOS DE IDENTIFICAÇÃO Anita Leandro Brazil, 2014, 73' European premiere
THE MONUMENT HUNTER RASTREADOR DE ESTATUAS Jerónimo Rodríguez Chile, 2015, 71' World premiere		SANTA TERESA & OTHER STORIES SANTA TERESA & OTRAS HISTORIAS Nelson De Los Santos Arias Mexico / United States of America / Dominican Republic , 2015, 65' World premiere
TOPONYMY TOPONIMIA Jonathan Perel Argentina, 2015, 82' International premiere

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> Los Angeles Film Festival June  10 - 18, 2015 

World Premiere of A GIRL LIKE GRACE at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the Zeitgeist Section

A GIRL LIKE GRACE is a story of a 17-year-old female growing up in a small, Southern community where notions of femininity, sexual identity and survival are starkly at odds. Grace (Ryan Destiny), high school senior, is mourning the suicide of her best friend, Andrea (Paige Hurd). Grace’s single mom, Lisa (Garcelle Beauvais), is too preoccupied with her own troubles to be the support her daughter needs. So when the bullies (led by Raven-Symone') make Grace the focus of their attacks, ...

 

World Premiere of WEEPAH WAY FOR NOW at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the L.A. Muse Section

LA Muse /  English (2014 , 90 min.) Directed by: Stephen Pierce Ringer Screenwriter: Stephen Pierce Ringer Producers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Stephen Pierce Ringer, Kerry Barden Cinematographer: Stephen Pierce Ringer Editor: Stephen Pierce Ringer Music: Michael Einziger Cast:  Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Mimi Rogers, Dan Byrd, Amanda Crew, Madeline Zima, Liam Aiken, Jon Heder, Tyler Labine, Gil Bellows, Ryan Donowho, Gale Harold,...

 

A Beautiful Now screens at LA Fest

(WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Daniela Amavia PRODUCERS Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel) – A group of five friends reunite for one night to save the woman, Romy (Abigail Spencer), at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses they struggle with their past relationships and finally truths are revealed as Romy, who has barricaded herself in the bathroom, tries to put the pieces of her life back together. This thrilling journey into the mind of a woman teetering on the edge of ...

 

LA Fest has OUT OF MY HAND as North American Premiere US Fiction Competition

Directed by: Takeshi Fukunaga Screenwriter: Takeshi Fukunaga, Donari Braxton Cinematographer: Ryo Murakami, Owen Donovan Editor: Eugene Yi, Takeshi Fukunaga Music: Tyondai Braxton Cast: Bishop Blay, Zenobia Taylor, Duke Murphy Dennis, David Roberts, Shelley Molad Working as tree tapper on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa, Cisco struggles to make a decent life for himself and his family. D...

 

Eli Roth will direct a Live Read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High to close LA Fest

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival announced a very special Closing Night. For the first time, the Festival will include a Live Read, a regular feature of Film Independent’s programming over the last four years.  For Closing Night, writer/director/producer/actor Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Grindhouse, Hostel, Inglorious Basterds) will direct a Live Read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Follow @LAFilmFest on twitter for cast announcements. The film, which came out in 1982, was directed b...

 

The Overnight A film by Patrick Brice premieres at LA Fest

  Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up.  Writer/director Patrick Bri...

 

Los Angeles Film Festival announces sponsors

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced its sponsors for the 2015 Festival. The Los Angeles Film Festival will run from Wednesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 18 in downtown Los Angeles. Joining the Festival as Premier Sponsor is Southern California BMW Centers and Jaeger-LeCoultre has returned to the Festival as the Principal Sponsor. American Airlines and Peroni Nas...

 

World Premiere debut at the LA FILM FESTIVAL for MAIKO- DANCING CHILD directed by Åse Svenheim Drivenes

MAIKO: DANCING CHILD  A FILM BY ÅSE SVENHEIM DRIVENES  THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 14th in Los Angeles   Maiko's destiny was decided before she was born. Her name Maiko means dancing child. Her mother, the driving force behind her career, sold their home to send 14-year-old Maiko to the most prestigious dancing schools in Europe. Maiko knew she couldn't return to Japan as a failure. Today she is 32 and on top of her career as a prima ballerina at the Norwegian National Bal...

 

Oriented by Director Jake Witzenfeld will premiere at LA Fest in Documentary Competition

  Oriented  Documentary Competition, Arabic, Hebrew, English, (2015 , 87 min. ) Directed by: Jake Witzenfeld Screenwriter:  Producers: Ruth Cats, Jake Witzenfeld Cinematographer: David Stragmeister, Omar Sawalha, Michael Miroshnik Editor: Nili Feller Music: Tamir Muskat, Zohar Barzilai Cast: Khader Abu Seif, Fadi Daeem, Naeem Jiryes In a place and time where conflict dictates everyda...

 

The Drew League will have its June 13th World Premiere at LA Fest

The Drew League.  The film will have its June 13th World Premiere as part of Los Angeles Film Festival’s Muse Section. 

Do not miss the LAFF 2015 World Premiere of FRENCH DIRTY by Wade Allain-Marcus

   USA, 72 minutes, Color, 2015, English Having never moved on from his parent’s divorce, Vincent hasn’t really found himself. Untethered to a job or any real responsibilities, he hangs out with Steve, his childhood best friend, and Jess, his girlfriend. That is until the moment he meets Roma. The chemistry is undeniable, but Vincent is still involved with Jess, so he introduces Roma to Steve and watches love bloom, forcing him to hide his deep feelings for her. When St...

 

World Premiere of The Escort at LAFF

  THE ESCORT begins as a story of two twenty-somethings using one another for professional gain. Mitch, a sex obsessed journalist, convinces Natalie, a Stanford-educated prostitute, to allow him to follow her around for an exposé he's writing for a magazine. While initially hesitant to allow him into her life, Natalie eventually sees an upside for herself, as she (unbeknownst to Mitch) starts using him as a bodyguard to protect her from the assorted personalities she deal...

 

Ian Edelman's new film PUERTO RICANS IN PARIS will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

Ian Edelman's new film PUERTO RICANS IN PARIS starring Luis Guzman, Edgar Garcia, Rosie Perez, and Rosario Dawson. The film will have its World Premiere this Friday, June 12th at LA Film Festival. Ian Edelman was one of the creators of HBO's hit show "How To Make It In America".  *   Puerto Rican brothers-in-law Eddie and Luis just happen to be NYC's two best counterfeit detectives. When the latest, must-have "It Bag" from celebrated Parisian fas...

 

FLOCK OF DUDES will have its world premiere at LA Fest

LA Muse English (2015 , 104 min. ) Directed by: Bob Castrone Screenwriter: Bob Castrone, Jason Zumwalt, Brian Levin Producers: Mark Manuel, Aaron Kaufman, Ted O'Neal, Brian Levin Cinematographer: Yaron Levy Editor: Lawrence Jordan Music: Jonathan Zalben Cast: Chris D'Elia, Hannah Simone, Bryan Greenberg, Eric Andre, Brett Gelman, Skylar Astin Adam and his friends have the perfect set up: all night house parties, elaborate drinking ...

 

BE HERE NOW at Los Angeles Film Festival 2015

BE HERE NOW (THE ANDY WHITFIELD STORY)   DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION **World Premiere*   LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 2:40 at Regal Theater 8 **WORLD PREMIERE** Monday, June 15, 2015 at 5:00pm at Regal Theater 10   Synopsis: An inspiring love story and gentle reminder that the journey may be more important than the destination, that follows the journey of the overnight sensation, actor and international sex symbol, Andy W...

 

LA Film Fest: International Premiere of Manolo Caro's Elvira, I’d Give You My Life, But I’m Using It

  The Witty and Delightful Comedy from Mexico Tells the Story of a Desperate Woman in Search of Her Husband, Who Went Out to Buy Cigarettes and Never Came Back   The comedy film Elvira, I’d Give You My Life, But I’m Using It (Elvira, te daría mi vida, pero la estoy usando) by Mexican writer-director Manolo Caro will have its International Premiere in the World Fiction Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, taking place June 10-18. This film marks the inte...

 

Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin will open LA Fest June10

Opening Night film will be the Los Angeles Premiere of Paul Weitz’s Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer and Laverne Cox, Grandma is being released by Sony Pictures Classics. Also announced today, Rodrigo García was named Guest Director of the Festival, Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award and Lily Tomlin will receive this year’s Spirit of Independence Award. Film Independent also a...

 

Funny or Die's Make 'em LAFF Showcase and afterparty june11th

  Funny Or Die is reteaming with the Festival this year to host a mash-up comedy extravaganza celebrating diverse, unique and authentic voices in the comedy world.This showcase of stand-up performances and comedy videos features comedians such as Kristen Schaal, Jermaine Fowler, Solomon Georgio, Ali Wong and host Chris Garcia, with additional performers to be announced. An after party for attendees will directly follow the showcase.   Select videos from the Make ‘e...

 

POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - an engaging story of a young woman caught in the cross hairs of life.

POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - DIRECTED BY MICHAEL DWYER & CO-DIRECTED BY KAITLIN MCLAUGHLIN  WORLD PREMIERE - ZEITGEIST COMPETITION In this gorgeously filmed crime thriller, first time feature filmmaker Michael Dwyer and his co-director Kiatlin Mclaughlin bring the intensity to POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - an engaging story of a young woman caught in the cross hairs of life.   Chasing the bling of the lux life, Claudia, a twenty-something Chicana, makes bad choices &n...

 

LA premiere of SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT written by Pras Michel from the Fugees and directed by Ben Patterson

LOS ANGELES PREMIERE - BUZZ SECTION - JUNE 11, 2015 8:30 PM SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT follows Pras Michel, Grammy award-winning rapper and founder of the hip-hop group The Fugees, as he returns to his homeland of Haiti post-earthquake and finds a corrupt government in paralysis. With no experience or money, Pras passionately mobilizes a presidential campaign for the unlikeliest of candidates: Michel Martelly, aka “Sweet Micky”, Haiti’s most popular and most outland...

 

The new 4K restoration of Carol Reed's classic: THE THIRD MAN screens in LA

LA/SF Press Screenings: 4k Restoration: THE THIRD MAN - With New Trailer The new 4K restoration of Carol Reed's THE THIRD MAN, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles, opens Friday June 26 at New York's Film Forum and Friday July 3 at Landmark's Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles! Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or, Oscar®-winner for Best Cinematography, and Oscar®-nominated for Best Director, THE THIRD MAN is regarded as one ...

 

THE CONFINES Directed by Eytan Rockaway will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

THE CONFINES  World Premiere in the Nightfall Category at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Saturday, June 13 at 10:45PM       Directed by Eytan Rockaway Starring Louisa Krause, Jason Patric, and Mark Margolis THE CONFINES is a claustrophobic thriller that follows a troubled young woman who, in a last-ditch effort at getting her life together, takes a job working nights as a security guard at an abandoned luxury apar...

 

MTV and Dimension TV’s “Scream” is based on the eponymous, international hit horror franchise.

MTV AND DIMENSION TV’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW THRILLER “SCREAM” TO PREMIERE AT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH   First time in Festival history, television series to participate in a gala event. “Scream” will air an extended version of pilot and Q&A with cast and executive producers 21st Los Angeles Film Festival Gala Screening of MTV and Dimension TV’s “SCREAM” Sunday, June 14, 2015 Executive Producers/Showrunner...

 

PEOPLE PLACES THINGS by Jim Strouse will screen at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival:

  PEOPLE PLACES THINGS Written and Directed by: Jim Strouse  IN THEATERS AUGUST 14, 2015 Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) is a graphic novelist and a professor in NYC.  At his adorable twin girls’ fifth birthday party, Will’s life is turned upside down when he walks in on the mother of his children, and longtime girlfriend, Charlie, (Stephanie Allynne) with their friend Gary (Michael Chernus).  One year later, Will is still alone and trying to put his life bac...

 

OUT OF MY HAND in Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

OUT OF MY HAND North American Premiere in Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival  Friday, June 12 at 6:00PM     Written and directed by Takeshi Fukunaga Working as tree tapper on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa, Cisco struggles to make a decent life for himself and his family. Despite his and his fellow workers’ attempt at unionizing, the rubber...

 

CAUGHT Premiere - Starring Anna Camp and Stefanie Scott - At LAFF June 12

SAM PAGE AND AMELIA ROSE BLAIRE JOIN FILMMAKERS TO CELEBRATE PREMIERE OF UPCOMING THRILLER STARRING ANNA CAMP AND STEFANIE SCOTT Debut Screening of the Fast-Paced, Deliciously Twisted Feature to take Place at Los Angeles Film Festival     Filmmakers and cast to gather to celebrate the premiere of Caught at the Los Angeles Film Festival in the Nightfall category.   Caught follows a jealous housewife who kidnaps her husband's teenage mistress as a pran...

 

LA Fest selection: MANSON FAMILY VACATION Starring: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Lenora Pitts

MANSON FAMILY VACATION (Netflix) Buzz   Written and Directed by J. Davis Featuring: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Leonora Pitts, Adam Chernick, Davie-Blue   **World Debut at SxSW 2015** ​ Synopsis: Nick Morgan (Jay Duplass) has it all: a loving family, a beautiful home and a successful law practice in Los Angeles. His estranged brother Conrad (Linas Phillips) has nothing but a backpack. When Conrad shows up for a surprise visit, all he wants to d...

 

Consumed by Daryl Wein will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

  Mister Lister Films presents CONSUMED  WORLD PREMIERE @ LA FILM FEST Monday, June 15th at 8:50pm at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live 8 (1000 W Olympic Blvd)   Directed by:                                    Daryl Wein Screenwriter & Producer:          Daryl Wein, ...

 

FAN GIRL Directed by Paul Jarret will have a Special Screening at 2015 Los Angeles Film Fest

FAN GIRL  Special Screening at 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival  on Monday, June 15 at 6:00PM Directed by Paul Jarret, Starring Kiernan Shipka, Kara Hayward, Meg Ryan, Josh Boone, Nicole Coulon, and Beanie Feldstein and featuring indie punk band All Time Low   FAN GIRL introduces Telulah Farrow (Kiernan Shipka), a 15 year-old ironic cool girl who has two obsessions in life: pop punk music and making film...

 

A NEW HIGH - LAFF Competition documentary Film

The film is about a homeless shelter and residential drug treatment facility in Seattle. Mike Johnson (the Expedition Team Leader who is featured in the film) has created a unique opportunity for residents to train for an epic hike to summit Mt. Rainier one year later. The hope is that the focus and commitment for the climb will give them the internal and external strength to help them maintain a lasting sobriety. This documentary is equal parts heart breaking and heart pounding… it&rsq...

 

3RD STREET BLACKOUT will have its world premiere in the US Fiction Competition at the LA Film Festival

3rd Street Blackout   US Fiction Competition English (2015 , 85 min.) Directed by: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf Screenwriter: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf Producers: Jeremy Redleaf, Andrew Mendelson, Ryan Cunningham, Negin Farsad Cinematographer: Eun-ah Lee Editor: Andrew Mendelson Music: Gaby Alter Cast: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf, Ed Weeks, Phyllis Somerville, Janeane Garofalo, John Hodgman, Sasheer Zamata, Jordan Carlos, Kati...

 

THE END OF THE TOUR selected at LA Fest

THE END OF THE TOUR tells the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter (and novelist) David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest.  As the days go on, a tenuous yet intense relationship seems to develop between journalist and subject.  The two men bob and weave around each other, ...

 

ARAM, ARAM, A Film by Christopher Chambers (LA Muse Selection)

ARAM, ARAM- the first ever Armenian film to screen at the LA Film Festival in its 20 year history. This ground breaking movie is special in more ways than one, as it’s also the first American independent drama to take viewers inside the Armenian Community of Los Angeles. Although the film centers on Little Armenia, the film’s director Christopher Chambers wanted the story to stay true to immigration as a whole and the importance of maintaining a cultural identity in a new world. &...

 

TOO LATE by Dennis Hauck will have a World Premiere at LA Film Fest 2015

TOO LATE  -  (U.S. Fiction Competition) Written and Directed by: Dennis Hauck,  Featuring:  John Hawkes, Crystal Reed, Natalie Zea, Vail Bloom, Joanna Cassidy... ​ Synopsis: Private investigator Mel Sampson (Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes) is tasked with tracking down the whereabouts of a missing woman from his own past.  With this familiar setup, TOO LATE takes the spine of the classic private eye genre and tears it to pieces, weaving it back toget...

 

A skate doc with a social conscience I AM THALENTE, world premiering at LAF

A skate doc with a social conscience I AM THALENTE, world premiering at LAFF on June 15th at 8:30pm.    An exuberant, action filled skate doc with a social conscience, it follows Thalente Biyela, a 17 year old homeless skateboard prodigy in South Africa who catches the eye of the professional skate-world when a DIY video of him skating goes viral. A group of top pro-skaters and figures in the skate world, including Kenny Anderson and legend Tony Hawk, offer Thalente ...

 

LAS MALAS LENGUAS (Sweet and Vicious) breaks the silence about abortion and homosexuality in Colombia

Check the Colombian filmmaker Juan Paulo Laserna, who recently graduated from the New York School of Visual Arts.  He graduated with honors and won several awards for his work, and now debuts his first feature LAS MALAS LENGUAS (“Sweet & Vicious”) at the 21st LAFF.  The film will to compete amongst eight films vying in the World Fiction Competition of the festival.   Public screening:  Saturday, June 13 at 1:50pm at Regal Cinemas #14 Press & Industry:...

 

THE CONFINES | World Premiere | Nightfall

THE CONFINES is a claustrophobic thriller that follows a troubled young woman who, in a last-ditch effort at getting her life together, takes a job working nights as a security guard at an abandoned luxury apartment building. Stuck with a brusque rent-a-cop as her partner, she struggles to keep her mind from playing tricks on her while she patrols the empty halls. But as the night progresses strange things begin to happen - and she realizes it may not all be in her head. Making his di...

 

The Babushkas of Chernobyl LAFF World Premiere

  A Film by Holly Morris & Anne Bogart ​ World Premiere Los Angeles Film Festival June 2015  Documentary Competition     "They lived through Stalin's Holodomor -- the genocide-by famine of the 1930s that wiped out millions of Ukrainians -- and the Nazis in the1940s.  Some of the women were shipped to Germany as forced labor.  When the Chernobyl&n...

 

A BEAUTIFUL NOW - World Premiere - LA Muse Section

Writer / Director: Daniela Amavia (Directorial Debut) Producers: Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel, Daniela Amavia Principal Cast: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Sonja Kinski, Collette Wolfe, Elena Satine, Patrick Heusinger Running Time: 98 minutes   Synopsis: A group of five friends reunite for one night to save the woman, Romy (Abigail Spencer), at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses they struggle with their past relationships and finally truths are ...

 

Band of Robbers LAFF World Premiere – Zeitgeist Category

Premiere:                  Saturday, June 13th at 7:15pm at Regal LA Live Cinemas Website:                     www.bandofrobbers.com Zeitgeist Spanish, English (2015 , 95 min.) Directed by: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee Screenwriter: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee Producers: John Will, Rick Rosentha...

 

CATCHING THE SUN is a documentary feature by award-winning filmmaker and eco-activist Shalini Kantayya

CATCHING THE SUN  is a documentary feature by award-winning filmmaker and eco-activist Shalini Kantayya about people daring to lead a massive global energy transition from dependence on fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.   The film will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 11, 2015 at 6:15 PM at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE 9.   The solar revolution is about much more than just saving energy; it is the intersection of environmental stewardship, social justice, an...

 

AYANDA AND THE MECHANIC selected at 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

  Aynada's director: Sara Blecher Fuelled by the electric energy and ethnic diversity of 21st century Johannesburg, AYANDA tells the story of a young woman whose dreams of running a retro car restoration business are threatened by dark family secrets, the complications of love and the challenges of day-to-day life in the sprawling African metropolis.   Set in the vibrant community of Yeoville, where African migrants from across the continent live among indigenous South...

 

IN THE TREETOPS will have its World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

IN THE TREETOPS World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 6:45 PM   Written and Directed by Matthew Brown Starring Emma Corley Geer, Matthew Brown, Cameron Morton,  Joshua Pagan, Gabriel Douglas   William, Alissa, Gary and Eric are close friends at different stages in their high school careers, but the social playing field levels out when they all pack into William’s hand me ...

 

MISSING PEOPLE (Documentary Competition) by former LAFF winner David Shapiro

Martina Batan in 1980 Work by Roy Ferdinand 81 min / USA/ color / 2015 / English / US premiere Friday, June 12, 8:45PM, Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Sunday, June 14, 8:55PM, Regal Cinemas...

 

The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and int

                            As the primary exhibition arm of Film Independent, The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and international cinema. We are inspired by Los Angeles, a city of abundant creativity, and our programming reflects our city-muse through fil...

2014 Annual Report.  SIFF 40th anniversary has shown great progress and outstanding opportunities in each area of SIFF: Festival, Cinema, and Education.

In this report, you will see a quick snapshot of the festival's accomplishments this past year, and hear from people just like you who make a difference to SIFF.

SIFF's 2014 annual report can be viewed at www.siff.net/annualreport