By Maria Esteves – August 7, 2015

The 38th Asian American International Film Festival 2015 (AAIFF15) Closing Night Awards Ceremony hosted by executive director John Woo and festival director Judy Lei, Asian Cinevision, honoring the best independent cinema and emerging directors by Asian and Asian American descent was held at the Museum of Moving Images, Queens, New York, Saturday, August 1, 8:30pm. LIVE FROM UB received two awards including Emerging Director LAUREN KNAPP. AAIFF15 jurors included Theresa Navarro, Patrick Wang and John Woo.

The Asian American International Film Festival founded Asian Cinevision, Inc. (ACV) in 1987, is a national media arts organization that annually presents independent cinema by Asian and Asian Americans, panel discussions, special events, screenplay competition readings, gala receptions and after parties. This year’s festival showcased over 50 films from 9 different countries, 2 World Premieres, and 15 New York Premieres.

AAIFF15 Best Short Award winner, director
Steve Maing, THE SURRENDER.

AAIFF15 One To Watch Award winner, director
Adler Yang, IF THERE IS A REASON TO STUDY.

The AAIFF 2015 winners by category are:

Audience Choice Award

FACTORY BOSS, directed by Zhang Wei (Narrative)

LIVE FROM UB, directed by Lauren Knapp (Documentary)

Emerging Director

JUAN MARTIN HSU for La Salada (Narrative)

JULY JUNG for A Girl at my Door (Narrative)

LAUREN KNAPP for Live From UB (Documentary)

Best Short

THE SURRENDER, directed by Stephen Maing

The Surrender from stephen maing on Vimeo.

One To Watch Award

IF THERE IS A REASON TO STUDY, directed by Adler Yang (Shorts, For Youth By Youth)

Screenplay Competition Award

TIMOTHY DRAIN for East of Western

Piazza Grande Events, 9 August

Pardo d'onore Swisscom to Michael Cimino
Screening of FLORIDE by Philippe Le Guay 
Screening of THE DEER HUNTER by Michael Cimino 


Special Events/Conversations with guest

Conversation with Catherine Corsini, Cécile de France and Philippe Le Guay at 11.00 at the Magnolia (Spazio RSI) hosted by Pierre-Philippe Cadert.

StepIn, Hotel Belvedere, 14.30 – 16.30
Open plenary session on the future of distribution of art-house films in Europe and abroad. In collaboration with Europa International, Europa Distribution, Europa Cinemas and FERA

Alliance For Development, Hotel Belvedere, 17.00 – 18.00
Presentation on new development schemes launched by neighbouring countries of Switzerland (France, Germany, Italy). With a special focus on the bilateral initiatives. In presence of the Federal Office of Culture, Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo, CNC Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée, and Filmföderungsanstalt.


Press Screenings (Teatro Kursaal)

9 August, 09.00, Concorso internazionale
BELLA PERDUTA by Pietro Marcello

9 August, 14.00, Concorso internazionale
NO HOME MOVIE  by Chantal Akerman 

9 August, 16.00, Concorso Cineasti del presente
OLMO & THE SEAGULL by Petra Costa, Lea Glob 

9 August, 18.00, Concorso Cineasti del presente
SIEMBRA by Ángela Osorio Rojas, Santiago Lozano Álvarez 

9 August, 21.00, Piazza Grande
ERLKÖNIG by Georges Schwizgebel 
GUIBORD S’EN VA-T-EN GUERRE by Philippe Falardeau 


Press Conferences (Press Center, Largo Zorzi)

9 August,11.00, Concorso internazionale
BELLA E PERDUTA by Pietro Marcello 

9 August,11.30, Concorso internazionale
TE PROMETO ANARQUÍA by Julio Hernández Cordón 

9 August,12.00, Piazza Grande
FLORIDE by Philippe Le Guay

9 August,12.30, Concorso internazionale
CHANT D'HIVER by Otar Iosselliani


Parallel Events

Magnolia (Spazio RSI), 14.30 
SVFJ/ACJC Panel, Festivals: which space for sponsors?
Participants: Marco Solari, President Festival del film Locarno; Philippe Clivaz, Managing Director Visions du réel, President of the Conférence des festivals; Patrick Cotting, CEO and Chairman of CCI Cotting Consulting Limited; Nadja Schildknecht, Co-Director Zurich Film Festival; Res Strehle, Editor in Chief Tages-Anzeiger. Moderated by: Philippa de Roten, RTS Journalist 

Additional screenings

JAMES WHITE by Josh Mond: Rialto 1 at 18.15
PARDI DI DOMANI INTERNAZIONALE 1: L'Altra Sala at 22.30


Piazza Grande Events, 10 August

Pardo alla carriera to Bulle Ogier
Screening of ERLKÖNIG by Georges Schwizgebel
Screening of GUIBORD S’EN VA-T-EN GUERRE by Philippe Falardeau 


Special Events/Conversations with guest

Round Table Retrospettiva Sam Peckinpah at 10.00 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum) hosted by Roberto Turigliatto with Jean Douchet, Chris Fujiwara, Fernando Ganzo, Katy Haber, Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons

Conversation with Michael Cimino, Pardo d’onore Swisscom, at 13.30 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum) hosted by Stéphane Gobbo

First Look Award Ceremony, at 19.00 at the Sport Café 


Press Screenings (Teatro Kursaal)

10 August, 09.00, Concorso internazionale
HEIMATLAND by Lisa Blatter, Gregor Frei, Jan Gassmann, Benny Jaberg, Carmen Jaquier, Michael Krummenacher, Jonas Meier, Tobias Nölle, Lionel Rupp, Mike Scheiwiller

10 August, 14.00, Concorso internazionale
TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan

10 August, 16.15, Concorso Cineasti del presente
LU BIAN YE CAN (Kaili Blues) by BI Gan

10 August, 18.15, Concorso Cineasti del presente
DEAD SLOW AHEAD by Mauro Herce

10 August, 21.00, Piazza Grande
BOMBAY VELVET by Anurag Kashyap


Press Conference (Press Center, Largo Zorzi)

10 August, 11.00, Concorso internazionale
NO HOME MOVIE by Chantal Akerman 

10 August, 11.30, Concorso internazionale
HEIMATLAND by Lisa Blatter, Gregor Frei, Jan Gassmann, Benny Jaberg, Carmen Jaquier, Michael Krummenacher, Jonas Meier, Tobias Nölle, Lionel Rupp, Mike Scheiwiller

10 August, 12.00, Piazza Grande
ERLKÖNIG by Georges Schwizgebel 

10 August, 12.30, Piazza Grande
GUIBORD S’EN VA-T-EN GUERRE by Philippe Falardeau

Additional screenings

EL MOVIMIENTO by Benjamin Naishtat: Rialto 2 at 09.30
MA DAR BEHESHT by Sina Ataeian Dena: Rialto 1 at 09.00
K2. TOUCHING THE SKY by Eliza Kubarska: Rialto 2 at 17.30 


Piazza Grande Events, 11 August

Open Doors presentation
Screening of BOMBAY VELVET by Anurag Kashyap


Special Events/Conversations with guest

Open Doors Awards Ceremony at 12.00 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum)  hosted by Tiziana Mona

Conversation with Bulle Ogier, Pardo alla Carriera,  at 13.30 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum) hosted by Jean-Michel Frodon.


Press Screenings (Teatro Kursaal)

11 August, 09.00, Concorso internazionale
ENTERTAINMENT by Rick Alverson 

11 August, 14.00, Concorso internazionale
CHEVALIER by Athina Rachel Tsangari

11 August, 16.00, Concorso internazionale
O FUTEBOL by Sergio Oksman 

11 August, 17.30, Concorso Cineasti del presente
LES ÊTRES CHERS by Anne Émond 

11 August, 19.30, Concorso Cineasti del presente
MOJ BRATE – MIO FRATELLO by Nazareno Manuel Nicoletti 

11 August, 21.00, Piazza Grande
PASTORALE CILENTANA  by Mario Martone 
AMNESIA by Barbet Schroeder 


Press Conferences (Press Center, Largo Zorzi)

11 August, 11.00, Concorso internazionale
TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan

11 August, 11.30, Concorso internazionale
ENTERTAINMENT by Rick Alverson 

11 August, 12.00, Piazza Grande
BOMBAY VELVET by Anurag Kashyap


Survey about services and organization

http://survey.pardo.ch/lime/index.php/975977?lang=en


Parallel Events

Rendez-vous du cinéma suisse, Swiss Film Talk, at 14.30 at the Magnolia (Spazio RSI):
International film critics Peter Debruge («Variety»), Boyd van Hoeij («The Hollywood Reporter») and Anne Thompson («Indiewire») take a closer look at Swiss cinematographic works in this programme at the Festival del Film Locarno. Moderated by Catherine Ann Berger (Director, SWISS FILMS), the critics will discuss the following films:

HEIMATLAND by multiple directors (Concorso internazionale)
LA VANITE by Lionel Baier (Piazza Grande)
THE DAY THE SUN FELL by Aya Domenig (Semaine de la Critique)
ABOVE AND BELOW by Nicolas Steiner (Panorama Suisse)

The program is open to the public and organized by SWISS FILMS, in collaboration with the Solothurn Film Festival and the Festival del Film Locarno.

 

Celebrating its 40h anniversary Asian CineVision presented from July 23 to August 1 the 38th edition of the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) with more than 50 features and shorts from different countries by and about Asian and Asian Americans. Broadly speaking the productions dealt with migration, cultural and social Asian American identities, labor and political issues, the experience of Asian groups in different countries, and the problems of education and growing up.

As distinct from many other film festivals considering their primary function as connecting film makers with theatrical or non-theatrical distribution or new electronic plat forms,  AAIFF is  clearly a community oriented enterprise providing its niche audience with the best films and documentaries from various Asian countries and  services aimed at the Asian American community.   Asian CineVision will prepare again a circulating package of films for communities and other non-theatrical viewing venues. Broader exposure may be problematic anyhow because few theatrical venues would be open to Asian American films. 

Most titles screened were sponsored by community organization and institutions such as The Asia Society, Asian American Association of Time Inc. Tea & Milk, Pan Asian Repertory Theater, Interference Archive, Filipino American National Historical Society, HKETO, New York Asian Women’s Center, and Network of Indian Professionals.

As a new expansion AAIFF staged a significant part of its program in Flushing, a section of Queens which has had a rapid growth of its Asian American population. Chinese, Korean, Indian and other Asian groups now amount to more than half of Flushing's residents. Four days of screening and exhibitions at the Flushing Town Hall were tied to concerns of the Asian American community living there. They covered health and food themes but also local film productions. Asian CineVision is also managing all of the cultural programs of the Flushing Town Hall. As some of the festival was funded by Kickstarter donors, the costs of screening free films in Flushing were raised at the Asia Society opening gala. Most appropriately, the opening night film in Flushing SEOUL SEARCHING by award winning Benson Lee (USA, South Korea, 2015) covered a summer program in Seoul for young Koreans from different countries. Based on true events the film overcomes the stereotypes of the Korean individual and enlightens about the problems of a bi-cultural identity, of connecting to the past and finding a firm sense of self.

Among the special events of the festival were seminars with Arthur Dong, filmmaker of noted documentaries on Asian Americans such as FORBIDDEN USA, 1989 and THE KILLING FIELDS OF DR. HAING S. NGOR, 2015 as well as Dr. Ruby Yang the director of the opening film MY VOICE, MY LIFE;  a Comic Book Master Class with Greg Pak, an acclaimed author and producer, and the screening of the Taiwanese film There is a Reason TO STUDY on an alternative schooling approach by Alden Young  who started this film as a fourteen year old student. For the Screenplay reading EAST OF WESTERN by Tim Drain was selected, a story of a Hispanic outsider who is involved with the Korean mob. Drain’s script was ranked first in the 2015 International Screen Play competition sponsored by AAIFF and SAG-AFTRA.

MY VOICE, MY LIFE, Ruby Yeng, Hong Kong, 2015. The Oscar winning film maker Ruby Yeng directed this documentary which opened the film festival at the Asia Society and synched with the mission of the fest, audience engagement and community orientation through the coverage of important issues.  High school students were recruited from underperforming low ranked Band 3 schools in Hong Kong to participate over several months in a training program for a publicly performed musical. Their close cooperation and rigorous schooling in music, dance, and acting generated a community of young artists who performed well beyond their own expectations.  Several years ago HBO sponsored the SOUND OF BOMBAY project in which lower class Indian high school students were trained to stage with the Bombay Symphony orchestra the Indian version of the Sound of Music.  Ruby Yeng’s project encompassing visually impaired students, withdrawn and troubled ones, and those who had fallen behind their education focused on this venture as an alternative to traditional education which had neglected these students. Whereas the Sound of Bombay resulted in a temporary lift of the participants’ self-esteem, MY VOICE MY LIFE emancipated as a confidence and character building enterprise the high school students providing them with a sense of autonomy and control. As reported by Ruby Yeng consequences ranged from improved relation with the parents, going back to school or planning for college, and plans for their future occupation. In the most touching example a blind student makes his parents accept without fear and shame his condition.

HELL ON WHEELS, AMC, John Wirth, USA 2015.  The inclusion of a cable television program was another new feature of the 2015 AAIFF. Episodes 1 and 3 of the fifth season of HELL ON WHEELS from the AMC cable network were selected coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Chinese building the West-East section of the Central Pacific railroad. On the basis of extensive research the series presented detailed insights into the everyday life and problems of the Chinese working communities. Without the Chinese immigrant labor the rail road would not have been built because other ethnic groups like the Irish could not endure the heavy task. Yet of the 15,000 laborers no traces were left behind and only one has been identified by name thus far. The episodes were most instructive showing the life style of the Chinese in the rail road camps and the antagonism they faced. The similarities between minority issues of that period and today’s conflicts with Latin American workers are startling. The acting performance of the principals was noteworthy.  Given the diversity and segmentation of the US television audience other series focusing on the Chinese community are now feasible.

FOR HERE OR TO GO? Rucha Humnabadkar, USA, 2014. Focusing on the high tech west coast communities this feature illustrates the impact of the recession in the USA on students and interns from India whose jobs and visas are no longer secure. They are forced to stay in their employment and cannot switch jobs and if they change need new sponsors. If they registered for a college that is not accredited their visa can be voided. Immigration authorities have little sympathy and some consider going back to India. Yet if they have lived for years in the United States it is difficult to readjust and to return to a setting no longer closely familiar to them, not knowing if they actually fit in.

THE KILLING FIELDS OF DR. HAING S. NGOR, Arthur Dong, USA, 2015.   When he received in 1984 an Oscar for his supporting role in The Killing Fields Haing Ngor came into national attention and used this platform to educate many Americans about the Khmer Rouge and their devastating role in the Cambodian genocide that killed millions of people. This documentary by Arthur Dong uses Ngor’s autobiography as the backbone for telling his story from early childhood in Cambodia’s capital. Raised by an upscale family he has a comfortable life without worries and becomes a physician. He experiences no concerns about the future until the Khmer Rouge occupied Pnomh Penh in 1975 and evacuated the city’s population for forced labor in the country side. Since the Khmer Rouge killed all educated people Ngor did not reveal his background and was able to survive. In other parts of the film his escape from Cambodia is shown, work in border refugee camps, eventual passage and settlement in the United States and his establishment of a foundation to help orphans and the rebuilding of Cambodia. From 1984 - 1996 he worked as actor in film and television. He was murdered in 1996 because he refused to surrender to street criminals a gold locket with the image of his wife who had been killed in the Cambodian, his only remaining memento.  Arthur Dong’s documentary is a superb achievement, given its unique construction, comprehensive research, and faithful representation of Cambodia’s history. Haing Dhor literally speaks to us through the film because there is an abundance of his spoken reflections from many interviews and speeches, complemented by rare archival footage of Cambodia.  Animation covers the gaps for which there is no visual material and sections from his book are voiced over.  This film is one of the best and most accessible introductions to recent Cambodian history because of the personalization of the tragedy. 

FACTORY BOSS, Wei Zhang, China 2014. Connecting issues in China’s slow shift towards a value added and service oriented economy the feature FACTORY BOSS is an important part of the festival. It depicts the struggle of a traditional plastic toy factory owner to preserve his company and the jobs of his large labor force.  Wei Zhang worked on this film for seven years basing the story on news reports. Overcoming the obstacles of a changing global economy and export driven production is an unchartered theme in Chinese features. Facing competition from lower labor cost countries, the increase in the cost of raw materials and a likely raise of the mandated minimum wage Lin Dalin never the less is forced to agree to a contract with an American corporation with a razor thin profit. As he argues in court proceedings he could have sold the company but decided instead to keep his workers employed. Compelling the workers to overtime, an accident in the factory, a lawyer promising workers rich rewards if they sue the factory owner, failure to pass an international inspection, an undercover journalist reporting the sweat shop conditions of the factory, and labor unrest create a crisis Lin Dalin cannot overcome. As he puts it “How long will made in China last? If all factories close where will the workers go” His company goes bankrupt because the contract is cancelled by the US corporation. He argues in court proceedings that he could have sold the company but decided instead to keep his workers employed. FACTORY BOSS sheds a new perspective on the turmoil of Chinese economic development in a film that has no winners. The outstanding script and acting by Anlian Yao in the complex role of Lin Dalin has already received several awards. Though the Factory Boss story goes back to 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported in August 2015 that the Ever Force Toys & Electronics factory in Dongguan which supplies the US Mattel Corporation closed down under similar circumstances.
A YOUNG PATRIOT, Hainin Du China, 2015. Premiering in the United States after receiving the Jury Prize at the Hong Kong film festival this documentary tracks the life story of a young Chinese man from the post eighties on. We follow the transformation from being a firm believer in communism parading the streets in old army cloth and a Chinese flag shouting political slogans to a grown up photographer who has turned critical if not cynical of the government, questioning the integrity of officials. Coming from a poor background his family takes out loans to fund his studies, and he follows the patriotic route of becoming a student union leader and working as a volunteer teacher in a remote area. Patriotism stays for the most part a virtue, yet exposure to poverty and the contrast of dogmatism of the university instructors glorifying the government and the conditions he observes sobers his political views. His work as a photographer generates an objective close rapport to actual reality, the way things are rather as they are supposed to be. Publicly he does not dissent overtly, yet privately he voices opposition. His views are reinforced when his home is demolished through an urban renewal project. The stress leads to his grandfather’s death. When filming the destruction from the roof of his home he shouts “You are killing the people” The film closes after the funeral with an image of a white statue of Mao whose head is covered, a symbolic statement about the film. In contrast with past filmmaking, this feature and FACTORY BOSS present critical views of contemporary China without being hampered by censorship.

The 2015 edition of the Asian American International Film Festival provided a stimulating selection of quality productions and a convincing case for the community.

Claus Mueller

filmexchange@gmail.com

Savage Cinema presents its largest and most diverse selection of titles to date.

In this year’s line-up, the section announces six movies and two shorts, including the first Spanish production in the section and state of the art films about sports such as kayaking, car racing and climbing.

The first films on sporting feats in natural settings were the European tales of mountain climbing in the early 20th century; those stories gained popularity and soon spread the desire to immortalise challenges and passions in other sports. Savage Cinema, in collaboration with Red Bull Media House, was created to bring these films to a broader public. This year’s selection for “Savage Cinema” demonstrates the excellent health and broad variety of Adventure and Action Sports movies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional screening

COSMOS by Andrzej Zulawski: Rialto 1 at 09.00
BRACIA (BROTHERS) by Wojciech Staroń: Rialto 2 at 16.45


Piazza Grande Events, 12 August

Premio Cinema Ticino to Teco Celio
Screening of PASTORALE CILENTANA by Mario Martone 
Screening of AMNESIA by Barbet Schroeder 


Press Screenings (Teatro Kursaal)

12 August, 09.00, Concorso internazionale
THE SKY TREMBLES AND THE EARTH IS AFRAID AND THE TWO EYES ARE NOT BROTHERS by Ben Rivers

12 August, 14.00, Concorso internazionale
JIGEUMEUN MATGO GEUTTAENEUN TEULLIDA (Right Now, Wrong Then) by HONG Sangsoo  

12 August, 21.00, Piazza Grande
LA VANITÉ by Lionel Baier

12 August, 23.00, Piazza Grande
QING TIAN JIE YI HAO (The Laundryman) by LEE Chung


Press Conferences (Press Center, Largo Zorzi)

12 August, 11.00, Concorso internazionale
CHEVALIER by Athina Rachel Tsangari

12 August, 11.30, Concorso internazionale
THE SKY TREMBLES AND THE EARTH IS AFRAID AND THE TWO EYES ARE NOT BROTHERS by Ben Rivers 

12 August, 12.00, Concorso internazionale
O FUTEBOL by Sergio Oksman 

12 August, 12.30, Piazza Grande
AMNESIA by Barbet Schroeder 

12 August, 13.00, Piazza Grande
PASTORALE CILENTANA  by Mario Martone 

The Montreal World Film Festival is proud to announce the line-up of its World Competition as well as First Feature Competition. Members of both Juries are also public as of today. “Over the decades, the MWFF has achieved its cultural and an economic mission by offering audiences and professionals a multitude of films, of all genres and provenances,” stated Serge Losique who added “An institution recognized by cineastes the world over, this great cinematic institution has always worked hard to assure its perenniality. It has always been about bringing to Montreal screens the new and interesting films that constitute the best showcase of essential cinema culture.”

This year the number of entries to the MWFF sections has overtaken those of previous years : over 2000 feature and short films (in equal proportion) have been screened by the selection commitee not mentioning the other films viewed during festivals abroad. The number of countries within the selection highlights this increase as 86 countries will be representred during the 39th edition of the Festival. There are 36 World Premieres in those competitions.

World Competition

26 Feature films from 31 pays will compete for the Grand Prize of the Americas.

2 Nights Till Morning by Mikko Kuparinen (Finland-Lithuania) 84 mins

A Havana Moment by Guillermo Ivàn Duenas (USA – Cuba - Mexico – Colombia)

A Matter of Courage byRoberto Gervitz (Brazil – Uruguay) 90 mins

Chucks by Sabine Hiebler, Gerhard Ertl (Austria) 93 mins

Demimonde by Attila  Szàsz (Hungary) 88 mins

Gassoh by Tatsuo Kobayashi  (Japan) 87 mins

Getaway of Love by Tonino Zangardi (Italy) 90 mins

Grey and Black byLuís Filipe Rocha (Portugal – Brazil)

Happy 140 by Gracia Querejeta (Spain) 98 mins

John Hron by Jon Pettersson (Sweden) 127 mins

L’Accabadora by Enrico Pau (Italy – Ireland) 97 mins

Mad Love by Philippe Ramos (France) 96 mins

Memories of the Wind by Özcan Alper (Turkey - Germany - France – Georgia) 140 mins

My Enemies by Stéphane Géhami (Canada) 106 mins

On the Road to Berlin by Sergei Popov (Russia) 82 mins

The Montreal World Film Festival is proud to announce the line-up of its World Competition as well as First Feature Competition. Members of both Juries are also public as of today. “Over the decades, the MWFF has achieved its cultural and an economic mission by offering audiences and professionals a multitude of films, of all genres and provenances,” stated Serge Losique who added “An institution recognized by cineastes the world over, this great cinematic institution has always worked hard to assure its perenniality. It has always been about bringing to Montreal screens the new and interesting films that constitute the best showcase of essential cinema culture.”

This year the number of entries to the MWFF sections has overtaken those of previous years : over 2000 feature and short films (in equal proportion) have been screened by the selection commitee not mentioning the other films viewed during festivals abroad. The number of countries within the selection highlights this increase as 86 countries will be representred during the 39th edition of the Festival. There are 36 World Premieres in those competitions.

World Competition

26 Feature films from 31 pays will compete for the Grand Prize of the Americas.

2 Nights Till Morning by Mikko Kuparinen (Finland-Lithuania) 84 mins

A Havana Moment by Guillermo Ivàn Duenas (USA – Cuba - Mexico – Colombia)

A Matter of Courage by Roberto Gervitz (Brazil – Uruguay) 90 mins

Chucks by Sabine Hiebler, Gerhard Ertl (Austria) 93 mins

Demimonde by Attila  Szàsz (Hungary) 88 mins

Gassoh by Tatsuo Kobayashi  (Japan) 87 mins

Getaway of Love by Tonino Zangardi (Italy) 90 mins

Grey and Black byLuís Filipe Rocha (Portugal – Brazil)

Happy 140 by Gracia Querejeta (Spain) 98 mins

John Hron by Jon Pettersson (Sweden) 127 mins

L’Accabadora by Enrico Pau (Italy – Ireland) 97 mins

Mad Love by Philippe Ramos (France) 96 mins

Memories of the Wind by Özcan Alper (Turkey - Germany - France – Georgia) 140 mins

My Enemies by Stéphane Géhami (Canada) 106 mins

On the Road to Berlin by Sergei Popov (Russia) 82 mins

Outliving Emily by Eric Weber (USA) 88 mins

Rider Jack by This Lüscher (Switzerland) 90 mins

Secret by Selim Evci (Turkey) 102 mins

Seven Days by Xing Jian (China) 73 mins

Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski (Poland – Germany) 95 mins

Taboo by Khosro Masoumi (Iran) 108 mins

The Invisible Artery by Pere Vilà Barcelo (Spain) 119 mins

The Midnight Orchestra by Jérôme Cohen Olivar (Morocco) 114 mins

The Petrov File by Georgi Balabanov (Bulgaria – Germany) 90 mins

The Soul of a Spy by Vladimir Bortko (Russia) 110 mins

The Visitor by Mehmet Erylimaz (Turkey) 127 mins

First Feature Competition 

The 39th Montreal World Film Festival and its International Film Market will take place from August 27th to September 7th 2015.

Once again, recently closed Fantasia International Film Festival (19th edition, July 14 - August 5, Montreal 2015), the largest genre film festival in North America, has offered an incredible program. Among 22 world premieres, a special place belongs to She Who Must Burn, a “burning” piece by legendary iconoclastic filmmaker Larry Kent, pioneer of Canadian independent scene since early 1960ies. Unfortunately, Kent is not so widely known even in Canada, yet he made more than a dozen features (plus shorts and documentaries), including his controversial debut The Bitter Ash (1963). Some of his movies were banned in many countries around the world. He has influenced and inspired a number of filmmakers, including David Cronenberg. And in this particular case, it should be emphasized that although She Who Must Burn is the work of a filmmaker in his early 80ies, the energy this intelligent piece emits is such, that many young maverick filmmakers should be a bit jealous of.

She Who Must Burn is a profound, thought-provoking and, above all, an honest movie that brilliantly speaks about our flawed human nature. This is a story about an influential group of religious fanatics that fights against abortion rights in a little rural town. During the course of the movie, their main target, or She from the title, becomes a young woman who runs an abortion counseling service, and soon enough, she would be even blamed for miscarriages. The ominous atmosphere that skillfully grows throughout the movie culminates in an uncompromising ending of (literally) biblical proportions – a devastating storm! Personally, the most disturbing is the very end, where the local sheriff (as representative of our law and order) is peeking into the tragic events and doing nothing, defeated by both, laws of nature and superstition, i.e. conquered by our pagan heritage without any resistance.

Questioning our primal fears and essential powerlessness, this parable is like a slap in the face to our contemporary society. The great script (written by Larry Kent and Shane Twerdun who plays the local pastor), the very precise directing, the convincing performances, the intriguing music score, the micro-budget, altogether lift this piece up to a higher level, making She Who Must Burn an important Canadian movie, well deserved winner of a newly established award – Barry Convex Award for best Canadian Feature or Co-Production (yes, that Barry, the master manipulator from the Cronenberg’s cult classic Videodrome). Very powerful!

Press Conference of the Official Juries

This year the press conference of the official juries awards will take place tomorrow, August 15, at 15.00 at the Press Center, without embargo. The press conference will be live streamed at this addess:

http://pardolive.ch/pardo/pardo-live/today-at-festival/live-article

The press release will follow and will include the independent juries awards. 

The award ceremony will take place at 21.00 on the Piazza Grande.
The independent juries ceremony will be at 17.00 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum). 


Additional screenings

HEIMATLAND by Lisa Blatter, Gregor Frei, Jan Gassmann, Benny Jaberg, Carmen Jaquier, Michael Krummenacher, Jonas Meier, Tobias Nölle, Lionel Rupp, Mike Scheiwiller: Rialto 3 at 11.00
LES ÊTRES CHERS by Anne Émond: Rialto 1 at 11.00
CHEVALIER by Athina Rachel Tsangari: Rialto 1 at 13.15
BELLA E PERDUTA by Pietro Marcello: Rialto 1 at 15.15
TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan: Rialto 1 at 17.00
LAMPEDUSA IN WINTER by Jakob Brossmann: Rialto 2 at 17.00 


Piazza Grande Events, 15 August

Official Awards Ceremony
Screening of HELIOPOLIS by Sérgio Machado


Special Events/Conversations with guest

Conversation with Marco Bellocchio, Pardo d'onore Swisscom at 10.30 at Spazio Cinema (Forum) hosted by Carlo Chatrian

Independent Jury Awards Cerenomy at 17.00 at the Spazio Cinema (Forum) hosted by Tiziana Mona.


Press Conferences (Press Center, Largo Zorzi)

15 August, 15.00
Palmarès Press Conference with Official Jury Members

15 August, 12.00
ASINO VOLA by Marcello Fonte, Paolo Tripodi 

HONG Sangsoo, Pardo d’oro 2015 
© Festival del film Locarno

 

Saturday August 15 saw the awards ceremony at the 68th Festival del film Locarno. The 2015 edition, the third under Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, was highly successful and was crowned with the award of the Pardo d’oro to the film RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN by the South Korean director HONG Sangsoo.

The Festival’s President Marco Solari officially closed the 68th edition with the statement: “The Festival’s 2015 edition consolidates its national and internationfal position in qualitative terms. A Festival that looks forward, with humility and faith in its own strengths, but knowing it can afford no mistakes. A Festival that uncompromisingly defends the freedom of choice, autonomy and independence of the Artistic Directorate and the juries, an artistic freedom that is the very rationale for the Locarno event.”

Carlo Chatrian comments “For eleven days Locarno has been the home for cinema that we promised in our presentations. I salute the generosity of the guests of this 68th edition, who have, through their presence, not only propelled this celebration of cinema but have also verbally illuminated the program. I am happy with the prize-list but also with all those directors, actors and professionals who have offered us such a range of emotions, entertainment, passion and amazement. Finally I want to thank this Festival’s extraordinary audience, their curiosity and pertinence: their untiring loyalty and passion constitutes Locarno’s real treasure trove.”

COO Mario Timbal made an initial analysis of the figures: “We are assuredly more than satisfied with the way the Festival has gone. The weather, with sweltering heat at the start and then rain in the last few days, once again demonstrated the Festival audience’s generosity and attachment to the event. A generosity that is reflected in the warmth of their response to the screenings and events. Attendance was high, in line with that of the previous edition: the Festival’s eleven days recorded 164,000 viewers (2014: 166,800). The Piazza Grande saw a slight increase (c. 66,000 = + c. 1%), while in the cinemas there was a slight fluctuation, a positive outcome if one takes into consideration that last year the rainy weather led to a record number of viewers at the cinema venues during the day. There were 4,209 (2014: 4,232) accreditations, while the number of journalists and photographers attending Locarno was 937 (2014: 962); a slight decrease, mainly involving professionals from Europe and affected by by the rise in the Swiss franc, which did not, however, have such a generally adverse effect as had been expected. The number of film industry representatives who participated in the Festival, however rose, with 1,105 Industry accreditations (2014: 1’049).”

The 2015 Festival’s list of prize-winners, along with press articles, the photo gallery and the “In Conversation” sessions with honored guests, are available on www.pardo.ch

The 69th Festival del film Locarno will take August 3 –13, 2016.

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> Locarno Dailies August 5 - 15, 2015 

Locarno awards, Zulawski best director

  Concorso internazionale Pardo d’oro JIGEUMEUN MATGO GEUTTAENEUN TEULLIDA (Right Now, Wrong Then) by HONG Sangsoo, South Korea Premio speciale della giuria (Special Jury Prize) TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan, Israel Pardo per la miglior regia (Best direction) ANDRZEJ ZULAWSKI for COSMOS, France/Portugal Pardo per la miglior interpretazione femminile (Best actress) TANAKA SACHIE, KIKUCHI HAZUKI, MIHARA MAIKO, KAWAMURA RIRA for HAPPY HOUR by HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke, Japan Pardo...

 

68th Locarno wrapped up

Locarno has just drawn to a close. HONG Sangsoo, Pardo d’oro 2015  © Festival del film Locarno     Saturday August 15 saw the awards ceremony at the 68th Festival del film Locarno. The 2015 edition, the third under Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, was highly successful and was crowned with the award of the Pardo d’oro to the film RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN by...

 

 

 

Locarno Awards for Open Doors 2015 announced

Today saw the announcement of the awards for the Open Doors Co-production Lab, organized with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The 2015 session of Open Doors is devoted to films from the four Maghreb countries Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. The Co-production Lab (August 8 – 11) aims to bring together the finalist directors and producers with potential ...

 

First Look Award 2015

The fifth edition of First Look — the Festival del film Locarno initiative aiming to showcase films in post-production — has presented six Israeli films. Each one was introduced by its producer to various world sales agents and festival programmers attending the Industry Days. The jury for First Look 2015, comprising Karel Och (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Artistic Director), J...

 

Michael Cimino Award acceptance video

American director, screenwriter and producer, Michael Cimino received a Pardo d'onore Swisscom. Born in New York City, he had a classical education, graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts. After the Army, he embarked on a successful career in advertising commercials. He moved to Hollywood where he wrote his first original screenplay (and made his directorial debut) with Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), starri...

 

Luc Besson and Melanie Griffith video capture

 

Luc Besson and Melanie Griffith on the Red Carpet of the 67° Festival del film Locarno. On August 6, 2015.   ...

 

 

Carlo Chatrian, Locarno Artistic Director, introduces the festival in a few words

Locarno: The home of images Carlo Chatrian words of introduction to the festival Let’s start with the Piazza Grande films: Ricki and the Flash tells a story that is extraordinary for American cinema, to wit, a mother who, having abandoned the home (the classical luxury villa) for a modest apartment to pursue her independent dreams, returns when it is in crisis, and, even if walking on eggshells, animates it with her personality, her look, her spirit. A family home, solid as a rock, is...

 

Women in the Industry: Spotlight on Success Stories in Locarno (10 August, 2:30pm, Hotel Belvedere)

 

This panel investigates the success of films made by women directors, producers, screenwriters, etc. Are women films doing well in box-office figures, awards, return on investment? Do they tell new stories? How do experienced women filmmakers reflect on their success? International experts will present their findings in a moderated debate with the audience.  This interactive panel investigates the success of films made by women directors, producers, screenwriters, camerawomen, etc....

 

Doc Alliance Selection Award (August 8, 11:30am, Hotel Belvedere)

The aim of the Doc Alliance initiative, a creative partnership of seven key European documentary film festivals: CPH:DOX Copenhagen, Doclisboa, Docs Against Gravity FF, DOK Leipzig, FID Marseille, Jihlava IDFF, Visions du Réel Nyon, is to advance the documentary genre, support its diversity and continuously promote quality creative documentary films. The Doc Alliance platform awards the best European Documentary nominated independently by each of the platform’s festival members a...

 

PUENTES – Europe: Latin America Producers Workshop in Locarno (August 6 – 10)

 

Throughout the 6 years of its existence, PUENTES has become the most relevant and successful training programme for developing European-Latin American co-production. The programme will bring together fourteen producers and other professionals from Europe and Latin America to work on feature film projects in development. They will be working together throughout the year with leading experts from both continents on script development, pitching, co-production, financing, legal aspects, marketing...

 

Bridging the Dragon (bridging the European and Chinese film industries)

Bridging the Dragon (August 4 – 10, Hotel Monteverità) The process of bridging the European and Chinese film industries is related to the need to find content that can be appealing to both audiences, and which can overcome the differences in terms of culture, language and market. With this in mind, Bridging the Dragon is organising the first Sino-European content lab programme, taking place in Songjiang/Shanghai and Locarno. The labs gather 10 teams (director/producer) ...

 

Panel on the Visibility of Swiss Films on VOD Platforms August 8

 

Horizontes de Eileen Hofer à Locarno

 

Horizontes de Eileen Hofer continue sa belle ascension en festival. Après avoir fait sa première mondiale à Visions du Réel et sa première internationale à Karlovy Vary Le documentaire sera projeté à Locarno (section Panorama Suisse) le vendredi 7 août à 11h au FEVI  Après sa première mondiale à Visions du Réel et sa première internationale à Karlovy Va...

 

Edward Norton opens Locarno 68th edition with the screening of Fight Club

    Edward Norton, the screening of Fight Club The 68th edition of the Festival del film Locarno will open with Edward Norton, who will introduce Fight Club at the Auditorium FEVI at 14.00, before receiving the Excellence Award Moët & Chandon on the Piazza Grande. As per tradition, the opening day will be characterized by a series of screenings in the sections Histoire(s) du cinéma, the Retrospettiva Sam Peckinpah and Open Doors. At 14.00, at the Audito...

 

Locarno Events, 15 August

Locarno Events, 14 August

Locarno Events, 13 August

Locarno Events, 12 August

Locarno Events, 10 August

locarno Events, 11 August

Locarno Events, 10 August

Locarno Events, 9 August

Locarno Events, 7 August
Locarno Events, 6 August

Locarno Events, 5 August

 

 

 

>  Mostra Internazionale d Arte Cinematografica Venice September 2 -12, 2015

Jonathan Demme to preside over the International Jury of the Orizzonti section

The members of the international Jury of the Orizzonti section, in addition to its president, American director Jonathan Demme, are: · French director and screenwriter Alix Delaporte, in competition in Venice in 2014 with Le dernier coup de marteau (The Last Hammer Blow), for whichRomain Paul won the “Marcello Mastroianni” Prize · Spanish actress Paz Vega, who rose to international stardom in 20...

 

>  Toronto Film Festival Dailies September 10 - 20, 2015

2015 TIFF Industry Conference confirms special guests: ...

BILL HADER, ASIF KAPADIA, JIA ZHANG-KE, GIGI PRITZKER AND NICOLAS CHARTIER JOIN TIFF INDUSTRY CONFERENCE AT THE 2015 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TORONTO ─ TIFF unveiled today special guests confirmed for the 2015 TIFF Industry Conference. The seven-day conference will feature 200 speakers and will include intimate conversations with industry powerhouse Gigi Pritzker and financing mogul Nicolas Chartier, and an Asian Film Summit Master Class with acclaimed filmmaker Jia Zhangke. Actor,...

 

The Toronto International Film Festival Names Its Inaugural Platform Jury: JIA ZHANG-KE. CLAIRE DENIS. AGNIESZKA HOLLAND.

The Toronto International Film Festival® today announced the inaugural jury for Platform, the new programme to champion directors’ cinema from around the world. This year, the three-person international jury is composed of acclaimed filmmakers Jia Zhang-ke, Claire Denis and Agnieszka Holland. Together, they will award a prize of $25,000 to the best film in the programme, to be announced at the Awards Ceremony on September 20, 2015.  ...

 

First round of titles premiering in the Galas and Special Presentations at TIFF40

Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, announced the first round of titles premiering in the Galas and Special Presentations programmes of the 40th Toronto International Film Festival®. Of the 15 Galas and 34 Special Presentations announced, this initial lineup includes films from such acclaimed directors as Ridley Scott, Michael Moore, Deepa Mehta, Lenny Abrahamson, Brian Helgeland, Charlie Kaufman and D...

 

Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition will open the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition will open the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis, Demolition will have its world premiere on September 10 at Roy Thomson Hall. “Over the years the Festival has been proud to present Jean-Marc Vallée’s feature films including Black List, C.R.A.Z.Y., Café de Flore, The Young Victoria, Dallas Buyers Club and Wild,” said Piers Handling, Director and C...

> San Sebastian Dailies September 18-26, 2015 

''Regression'', by Alejandro Amenábar, will open the 63rd San Sebastian Festival

Alejandro Amenábar’s latest film, Regression, will open the coming edition of the San Sebastian Festival. The world premiere of the film, presented in the Official Selection out of competition, will take place on September 18 in the Kursaal Auditorium.   Regression has an international cast headlining Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, David Thewlis and David Dencik. In his sixth feature fi...

 

"London Road" a musical to close San Sebastian fest

The film ''London Road'', by Rufus Norris, will close the San Sebastian Festival The 63rd San Sebastian Festival will come to a close on September 26 with the out of competition screening of the British film London Road, fresh from the Toronto Festival. Produced by BBC Films, the British Film Institute and the National Theatre and directed by Rufus Norris with a screenplay by Alecky Blythe and music by Adam Cork, the film is a big-screen adaptation of the musical of the sam...

 

Savage Cinema films announced

 Savage Cinema presents its largest and most diverse selection of titles to date. In this year’s line-up, the section announces six movies and two shorts, including the first Spanish production in the section and state of the art films about sports such as kayaking, car racing and climbing....

 

Official Selection at the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian Festival

Terence Davies, Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Mamoru Hosoda, Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu, Philippe Lesage, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Levan Tutberidze and Ben Wheatley to compete in the Official Selection at the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian Festival Terence Davies, Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Mamoru Hosoda, Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu, Philippe Lesage, Rúnar Rúnarsson, Levan Tutberidze and Ben Wheatley to compete in the Official Selection at the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian ...

 

16 projects in development from 17 countries will be presented at the IV Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum

The Forum will run on September 21, 22 and 23 at the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian Festival   Fifteen projects, the majority as yet unseen at international co-production gatherings, have been selected from among the total of 173 projects submitted from 21 countries. Furthermore, in the framework of the Festival’s collaboration with the Ibermedia Programme, one project, selected at the Workshop to develop film projects from Central America and the Caribbean, will participate in...

> Montreal Dailies August 27 - September 7, 2015

The 39th MWFF unveils the lineup of its World Competition and first feature competition

The Montreal World Film Festival is proud to announce the line-up of its World Competition as well as First Feature Competition. Members of both Juries are also public as of today. “Over the decades, the MWFF has achieved its cultural and an economic mission by offering audiences and professionals a multitude of films, of all genres and provenances,” stated Serge Losique who added “An institution recognized by cineastes the world over, this great cinematic institution has alw...

 

Jury of the First Feature Prize Montreal 2015

  Pierre-Henri Deleau Pierre-Henri Deleau began his career as an assistant director to Jacques Doniol-Valcroze and Pierre Kast and then as a director in educational television. He directed a short, Virginie ou la double rupture, in 1969.  He is the co-founder of the FILMOBLIC production house which produced or co-produced films by Hugo Santiago, Jean-Louis Comolli, Jean-François Dion, Claude Miller, Edouardo de Gregorio and Jean-Pierre Lefebvre. In 1969, he co-founded the Di...

 

Muhammad by Iranian director Majid Majidi will open Montreal FFM 2015

The latest film by renowned Iranian director Majid Majidi (3-time winner of the Grand Prix des Amériques) will open the festival and have its world premiere at the 39th Montreal World Film Festival, it was announced. This 171-minute epic on the early years of the prophet of Islam is, with a budget of over $50 million, the most expensive film ever made in Iran, and has been in production for five years. “The Festival is very proud to be able to host the premiere of this imp...

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS  

World Trailer Awards - London October 16

Early Bird Deadline July 30th, 2015

Announcing Call for Entry for the Inaugural World Trailer Awards in partnership with filmfestivals.com

Kicks off in London this fall.

Earlybird Deadline is July 30th

For more information and to submit your trailer, please visit to www.Worldtrailerawards.com

Website I Submit I  Facebook I Twitter I Contact Evelyn Waters

MANHATTAN SHORT 2015  September 25 to October 4, 2015 

Final Call For Entries: Deadline July 31.

Filmmakers have until July 31st to get their films and screenplays into NYC if they hope to be part of the 18th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival to take place in over 250 cinemas across 6 continents. MANHATTAN SHORT is more than just one of the largest short film festivals in the world today, it’s the world’s first and only global film festival.

Manhattan Short on Filmfestivals.com I Website I Submit on Filmfreeway I Submit on Manhattan Short I Facebook I Twitter I Contact Nick Mason

The World of Film Festival October 1-4 2015

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 

> 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/ 

Selection of Films for your consideration

38th Asian American International Film Festival Awards

By Maria Esteves – August 7, 2015 The 38th Asian American International Film Festival 2015 (AAIFF15) Closing Night Awards Ceremony hosted by executive director John Woo and festival director Judy Lei, Asian Cinevision, honoring the best independent cinema and emerging directors by Asian and Asian American descent was held at the Museum of Moving Images, Queens, New York, Saturday, August 1, 8:30pm. LIVE FROM UB received two awards including Emerging Director LAUREN KNAPP. AAIFF15 jurors i...

 

AMY to Become Biggest Ever British Documentary at the UK Box Office

Altitude Film Distribution’s AMY is poised to overtake director Asif Kapadia’s 2010 film SENNA to become the highest-grossing British documentary of all time, at the UK box office. With AMY currently sitting on £3.16million, SENNA’s lifetime box office total of £3.17million will undoubtedly be surpassed in the next 24 hours.   Following AMY’s July 3rd release, the documentary, about the late Amy Winehouse, received the biggest ever opening weekend for a...

Revolution will screen at Life Sciences Film Festival

The Life Sciences Film Festival (LSFF, 12–17 October, 2015), an international festival of documentary films on natural and agricultural sciences and sustainable development, has started accepting film entries! The LIFE SCIENCES FILM FESTIVAL was founded in 2010 on the basis of the initiative of former and current students of CULS in Prague, in reaction to the deficit in the presentation of audiovisual works focusing on natural and agricultural sciences.   The festival is parti...

 

Revolution selected at 8th Boston Green Fest this month

Do not miss the 8th Annual Boston GreenFest ! This is the region's largest multicultural environmental music festival. Boston GreenFest is a celebration of life and possibility, providing you with ideas and experiences that can shape your life and the life of your community. Our goal is to inform EVERYONE as to the many ways green living can make a positive impact on our world, city, neighborhoods and each of us. The three days have something of value for everyone - the fes...

 

Revolution to screen at American Conservation Film Festival

OCTOBER 23-25 & NOV 1, 2015   The American Conservation Film Festival is an annual event held in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a vibrant arts community 70 miles west of the nation’s capital.  The ACFF features films from a diverse group of conservation filmmakers around the world. As part of our mission, the ACFF: Provides a venue for a diverse range of conservation films that rarely recei...

 

50 films lined up at the Milan Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte

50 films in the final 21 Countries bring the world to the screen     Cifra tonda per la selezione del Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte: sono 50 i film finalisti, provengono da 21 Nazioni! Il comitato di selezione li ha scelti tra le oltre 500 opere ricevute in concorso per la 14° edizione del Festival. ...

 

Zurich Film Festival Announces First Gala Films

The Zurich Film Festival has revealed the first batch of galas! Details Below! Among them: KILL YOUR FRIENDS by Owen Harris; MISTRESS AMERICA by Noah Baumbach; the dramas MISS YOU ALREADY by Catherine Hardwicke, HIGH-RISE by Ben Wheatley and MON ROI by Maïwenn and the biopic thriller THE PROGRAM by Stephen Frears….   COMEDIC, DRAMATIC, BIOGRAPHIC  ZFF ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST GALA PREMIERES Zurich, August 4th, 2015     The 11th Zurich Film Festival ann...

 

International Cast Joins Jude Law And Diane Keaton In Paolo Sorrentino-Directed The Young Pope

Further details of the international cast of The Young Pope have been revealed following the announcement of two-time Academy Award® nominee Jude Law in the title role, and Academy Award®-winning female lead Diane Keaton.   Production on the series, which is a joint production of Sky, HBO and Canal +, began last week.  All eight episodes will be directed by Paolo Sorrentino, director of the Academy Award®-winning film “The Great Beauty” as well as ...

 

“We Come As Friends” -South Sudan / Oil and Natural Gas

In 2011, the majority of people living in South Sudan voted to secede, gaining independence from the predominantly Muslim population of Sudan, following traditional religions, Christianity, and Jesus Christ. In 2013, when the South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, fired his entire cabinet and his deputy president, confrontations with the former Civil War foe, Sudan, over oil and corruption ensued, violence between government troops and rebel factions broke out, hundreds of...

 

EFA acknowledges a Growing Number of Excellent Documentaries from Europe

  Among the changes for this year's 28th European Film Awards is the introduction of an EFA Documentary Selection, a list of films recommended to the EFA Members for a nomination (in the past, the nominations were decided by a committee).  The change follows a decision by the EFA Board to “acknowledge the growing importance of European documentary cinema,” says Israeli producer Marek Rozenbaum, EFA Board Member on the documentary committee, “there is a g...

 

“He Named Me Malala” October 2015

Take a first look at “He Named Me Malala,” a documentary about Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai’s life, story and personal journey as an education activist. Pledge to see the film in theaters this October at http://bit.ly/1IlDIMg Directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth...)

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

SHE WHO MUST BURN (d: Larry Kent, Canada, 2015) - World premiere at Montreal's Fantasia

Once again, recently closed Fantasia International Film Festival (19th edition, July 14 - August 5, Montreal 2015), the largest genre film festival in North America, has offered an incredible program. Among 22 world premieres, a special place belongs to She Who Must Burn, a “burning” piece by legendary iconoclastic filmmaker Larry Kent, pioneer of Canadian independent scene since early 1960ies. Unfortunately, Kent is not so widely known even in Canada, yet he made more than a dozen...

 

New York: Asian American International Film Festival, 2015

Celebrating its 40h anniversary Asian CineVision presented from July 23 to August 1 the 38th edition of the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) with more than 50 features and shorts from different countries by and about Asian and Asian Americans. Broadly speaking the productions dealt with migration, cultural and social Asian American identities, labor and political issues, the experience of Asian groups in different countries, and the problems of education and gr...

 

Japan Cuts New York 2015

Japan Cuts is the largest annual festival of Japanese films in the United States celebrating its 9th edition from July 9-19 at New York’s Japan Society. It is no longer tied to the New York Asian Film Festival and offered a comprehensive survey of current Japanese cinema. The selection ranged from the bizarre, to the popular, to art house productions, films which were never shown before in New York with half of the titles North American premieres. The 2015 program had 28 features, i...

 

My Voice, My Life N.Y. Premiere Q&A

By Maria Esteves – July 31, 2015 The 38th Annual Asian American Film Festival 2015 (aaiff15) Opening Night New York Premiere documentary MY VOICE, MY LIFE http://www.myvoicemylifemovie.com, by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang, commenced Thursday, July 23, 7:00PM at Asia Society. The Q&A discussion with director Yang and cast members Coby Wong and Sio Fan Lam moderated by La Frances Hui, film curator, Asia Society, preceded the Opening Night Gala Reception. Questions posed to...

 

38th Annual Asian American International Film Festival Premiere of My Voice, My Life Photo Coverage

By Maria Esteves – July 30, 2015 The 38th Annual Asian American Film Festival 2015 (aaiff15) Opening Night New York Premiere documentary MY VOICE, MY LIFE, by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang, commenced Thursday, July 23, 7:00PM at Asia Society. The Q&A session with director Yang and cast members Coby Wong and Sio Fan Lam moderated by La Frances Hui, film curator, Asia Society, preceded the Opening Night Gala Reception. Questions posed to director Yang and cast members by ...

 

> AWARDS WATCH  

Locarno awards, Zulawski best director

  Concorso internazionale Pardo d’oro JIGEUMEUN MATGO GEUTTAENEUN TEULLIDA (Right Now, Wrong Then) by HONG Sangsoo, South Korea Premio speciale della giuria (Special Jury Prize) TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan, Israel Pardo per la miglior regia (Best direction) ANDRZEJ ZULAWSKI for COSMOS, France/Portugal Pardo per la miglior interpretazione femminile (Best actress) TANAKA SACHIE, KIKUCHI HAZUKI, MIHARA MAIKO, KAWAMURA RIRA for HAPPY HOUR by HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke, Japan Pardo...

First Look Award 2015

              The fifth edition of First Look — the Festival del film Locarno initiative aiming to showcase films in post-production — has presented six Israeli films. Each one was introduced by its producer to various world sales agents and festival programmers attending the Industry Days. The jury for First Look 2015, comprising Karel Och (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Artistic Director), J...

 

EFA awards the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa the title “Treasures of European Film Culture”

On the occasion of the Odessa International Film Festival, taking place from 10 – 18 July, the European Film Academy awarded the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa the title “Treasure of European Film Culture”. Sergei Eisenstein shot his master piece “Battleship Potemkin” 90 years ago at the Black Sea port. The Potemkin Stairs are undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous historical film locations. During a ceremony a special “Treasure of European Fil...

 

The Locarno Premio Raimondo Rezzonico 2015 goes to Office Kitano

  The Japanese company Office Kitano will be honored with a tribute that recognizes the most significant players on the international independent production scene. Founded in 1988 as a theatrical agency, Office Kitano was created to answer the need to manage the TV activities of Takeshi Kitano and a group of comic actors linked to him. In 1991 it became a production company with A Scene at the Sea, Kitano's third feature film, and since then has produced all of the actor-director'... 

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT     

Meet top execs from HBO, Vimeo, Paramount, Sky, and more at Zurich Summit: Save 20% with filmfestivals.com by Aug 15

2nd Annual Zurich Summit | September 26 - 27, 2015 | Zurich, Switzerland Zurich Summit, the biggest industry event within the framework of the Zurich Film Festival addresses innovative financing, marketing and distribution strategies and brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders and creativ...

 

Film Fest Gent welcomes new Managing Director Martijn Bal

The Board of Directors of Film Fest Gent has appointed Martijn Bal as Managing Director of the festival in Ghent. He will be assuming his duties officially on 1 October 2015. Chairperson Claire Tillekaerts is very happy that this crucial vacancy was successfully filled in time for the 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent. "The Board of Directors is confident that Martijn Bal, with his love of film and strong reputation within the industry, will be a tremendous asset for Film Fest Gent. The ent...

 

Amy Paffrath, host of VH1’s hit reality series Dating Naked, and Alicia Malone to Hhost the opening of Hollyshorts

 Amy Paffrath, host of VH1’s hit reality series Dating Naked, and Alicia Malone, Film Reporter, TV Host, Producer, Writer, Editor, and all around movie geek, are set to co-host the upcoming and highly anticipated HollyShorts opening night celebration on Thursday August 13.  The event takes place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. The star-studded HollyShorts opening night will feature short movies starring Rose McGowan, Jason Patric, Sharon Lawrence, Rose McIver, Beth G...

 

CHERYL BOONE ISAACS was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science

By Adrienne Papp   Cheryl Boone Isaacs was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday night (August 4) by the organization’s Board of Governors. In addition, Jeffrey Kurland was elected first vice president; John Bailey, Kathleen Kennedy and Bill Kroyer were elected to vice president posts; Jim Gianopulos was elected treasurer; and Phil Robinson was elected secretary. Boone Isaacs is beginning her third term as pres...

 

Tom Gilroy Awarded Unique One-Month Writer's Retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains to Develop His Script for Our Lady of the Snow

The San Francisco Film Society, in partnership with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, today announced that Tom Gilroy has been awarded the 2015 Djerassi Residency Award / San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship, for continuing development of his script Our Lady of the Snow. The Djerassi Residency Award / San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship provides uninterrupted time for work, reflection and collegial interaction, making this award unique in its capacity to pr...

 

MONTREAL AUTOCHTONE FEST. 25 YEARS, AT PLACE DES ARTS

Places des Arts in Montreal; RICHARD DESJARDINS in concert. One of the most popular singers,in Quebec and Canada; worldwide is well known for his music. 10.000 enjoyed live concert MUSIC NOMADE, AT PLACE DES ARTS    ...

 

A Sunday - on an Island

Early in June, the Croatian island of Ugljan in the Zadar archipelago became the place to take in a group of filmmakers escaping everyday life, curiously waiting to meet with their new (film) family members. Under the first beams of a hot summer sun, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, it was easy to leave everything behind on the mainland and get new inspiration from each other’s company.  Housed in Stocco Castle with meals served outside und...

 

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Co Productions Internationales au Marché International du Film de Montréal

MAHOMET du célèbre cinéaste Majid Majidi ouvrira le Festival de Montréal

Le plus récent long métrage du célèbre cinéaste Majid Majidi (trois fois lauréat du Grand Prix des Amériques du FFM) sera présenté en ouverture et en première mondiale au 39e Festival des films du monde. Ce film épique de 171 minutes produit en Iran et interprété par les plus grands acteurs de ce pays est l’événement cinématographique de l’année. Ce long m&eac...

 

Forte progression du nombre d inscriptions grace au partenariat avec Filmfestivals.com

La date limite d’inscription des courts métrages était le 14 juin 2015 et plus de 1200 inscriptions ont été soumises cette année au Festival des films du monde incluant les quelque 400 films étudiants canadiens et étrangers . Ceci représente une croissance de 42,68 % par rapport à l’année 2014.  Sur 726 films déjà visionnés on a répertorié 64 pays d‘origine pour ces c...

 

Louis L. Roquet siègera au conseil d’administration du Festival des films du monde.

Le Festival des films du monde est heureux d’annoncer que Louis L. Roquet, Président du conseil d’administration d’Investissement Québec ait accepté de siéger sur le conseil d’administration du Festival des films du monde.  « Je suis très honoré que Louis L. Roquet ait accepté mon invitation » a déclaré Serge Losique président du FFM qui précise « l’expertise de Lou...

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.

TOUTES LES NEWS EN FRANCAIS

"El club", by Pablo Larraín, will open the section

The San Sebastian Festival will once again present, in its 63rd edition, some of the most outstanding Latin American films of the year. The Horizontes Latinos programme includes fourteen productions from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Films that have competed or premiered at important international festivals, but which have not yet been screened at a Spanish festival or had their commercial release in our country.

The selected films compete for the Horizontes Award, decided by a specific jury and coming with €35,000, of which €10,000 will go to the director of the winning film, and the remaining €25,000 to its distributor in Spain.

The section will open with Pablo Larraín’s El club, Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the last Berlin Festival. The film tells the tale of four men who share a secluded house in a small beach town, sent there to purge the sins they have committed in the past.

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© San Sebastian International Film Festival | Castellano | Euskara | English |

 subject.

Film Festival recognizes 80+ of the best wildlife and nature films

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, (JHWFF) the premier event of its genre, has announced the 2015 finalists for its 13th biennial Festival. Winners will be unveiled in Jackson, Wy at the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday, October 1st, 2015. The awards are one part of a five-day industry conference hosted at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, September 28-October 2, 2015, that attracts the leading filmmakers, organizations, scientists, broadcasters, and visionaries engaged in conservation and wildlife media. This year’s submissions in the prestigious competition included nearly 1,000 category entries, a record number, competing for 23 special awards. This year’s finalists were selected by over 150 international judges who viewing 3200 hours of media. A distinguished panel of international judges immediately preceding the Festival will select the 2015 award winners. Finalists in Best Sound and Special Consideration will be announced shortly. Click attachment below to see full list of finalists: CONTENT CATEGORIES: Best Animal Behavior Program Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand Aquavision Television Productions Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Life Story – First Steps BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Best Wildlife Habitat Program Africa’s Giant Killers Icon Films in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana, BBC and Animal Planet Congo- Deep and Dangerous (Ep. 1) Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm; Blue Planet Film, NDR, ARTE, ORF, WDR and National Geographic WILD Vanishing Kings A co-production by ORF, Interspot Film, ARTE, Smithsonian Networks, into nature productions and Boksdocs Best Conservation Program (sponsored by Tangled Bank Studios) I Bought a Rainforest KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media The Messenger Songbirdsos Productions Inc. and Films À Cinq/ARTE France Best People & Nature Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) I Bought a Rainforest KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two India’s Wandering Lions Ammonite Ltd., Kosmik Global Pvt. Ltd., Earth Touch and Discovery Communications India Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico Windfall Films Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Best Science and Nature Program (Sponsored by Marco Polo Films) License to Krill DOX Productions Ltd, Films á Cinq, Arte France in association with NOVA/WGBH Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media THIN ICE—The Inside Story of Climate Science DOX Productions, Oxford University and Victoria University, Wellington Conservation Hero (Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund) E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico Windfall Films Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Tiger Tiger George Butler/White Mountain Films PROGRAM CATEGORIES: Best Educational/Institutional Program (Sponsored by North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences) An Elephants Tale: The Matriarch Wildlife Conservation Society Disneynature Monkey Kingdom -- A Conservation Story Disneynature Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds Howard Hughes Medical Institute Great Transitions: The Origin of Tetrapods Howard Hughes Medical Institute Best Limited Series—Long Form (Sponsored by Universum/ORF) Hidden Kingdoms BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, CCTV Life Story BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Your Inner Fish Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Best Limited Series—Short Form Deep Look KQED, PBS Digital Studios If Not Us Then Who? Handcrafted Films Power of Nature BBC Earth Productions Best Children’s Program (Sponsored by Boréales) Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature Series 2—Central American Coast BBC NATURE—A Sloth Named Velcro BelugaSmile Productions, LLC & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for the PBS Nature series Secrets of Bumblebees A co-production by ORF and Power of Earth Productions in association with ORFEnterprise, bm:ukk and Kultur NÖ The Marvelous Musical Report (of the Marine National Monuments) Open Boat Films, LLC, Sisbro Studios Best Hosted or Presenter-led Program David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Host: David Attenborough The Secret Life of Your House The Garden Productions Presenter: Dr. George McGavin Your Inner Fish, Episode 1 Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Presenter: Neil Shubin Best Short Program Animated Life: Pangea Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Sweet Fern Productions Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland Colossus Productions film in association with SKY 3D Return of the Cicadas Samuel Orr Best Short Short Elephant’s Tale: Matriarch Wildlife Conservation Society Power of Nature: Elephants BBC Earth Productions Pygmy Seahorses: Masters of Camouflage KQED and PBS Digital Studios Why Bears Wildlife Media & TriFilm Best Theatrical Program (Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios) Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Unbranded Fin & Fur Films, Cedar Creek Productions, Implement Productions Best Immersive (Sponsored by Sky-Skan) David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Habitat Earth California Academy of Sciences Humpback Whales MacGillivray Freeman Films, Pacific Life Tiny Giants 3D BBC Earth Productions Marian Zunz Newcomer (Sponsored by Disneynature) 16 Legs: Spider Love Bookend Trust Return of the River Elwafilm LLC Sirocco—How a Dud Became a Stud Ashwika Kapur, Centre for Science Communication- Otago University Best Interactive Media David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D App Atlantic Productions PLUM LANDING WGBH Educational Foundation The Evolution Lab NOVA/WGBH ZooMoo App ZooMoo Networks CRAFT CATEGORIES: Best Sound (Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories) Finalists in this category will be announced shortly. Best Visualization Hidden Kingdoms—Under Open Skies BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, and CCTV Cinematography: Rod Clarke, Jonathan Jones, Alastair MacEwen, Mark Payne-Gill and Keith Brust Life Story—First Steps BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Cinematography: Mateo Willis, Mark Payne-Gill and Jamie McPherson Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo Wild and Terra Mater Factual Studios Cinematography: John Shier, Dawson Dunning, Curt Morgan. Aerial Cinematography: Nel Boshoff, Richard Burton, Greg Wheeler, Nick Wolcott; Additional Cinematography: Howard Bourne, Jeff Hogan, Theo Jebb Best Editing (Sponsored by Sony Electronics) Jago: A Life Underwater Underdog Films Production in association with James Morgan Films, Fantomline Pictures and Vistaar Productions Editor: Sam Rogers NATURE—Touching the Wild Passion Planet & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for PBS Nature series Editor: Charles Davies Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo WILD and Terra Mater Factual Studios Editor: James Taggart Best Original Musical Score David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Composer: Ilan Eshkeri Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams Poached Ignite Channel and Doc Life Films Composer: Mark Orton Wonders of the Monsoon: The Drought BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide and Discovery Composer: Nitin Sawhney Best Writing E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS Writer: Graham Townsley Return of the River Elwafilm LLC Writer: Jessica Plumb Your Inner Fish, Episode 1 Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Writer: David Dugan The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and gala takes place during a week of critical importance in the industry: the Festival, The Elephant Summit and the Conservation Summit. The events of the JHWFF attract a world-class audience and participation from key influencers in the conservation community. Again this year, a series of community screenings in Jackson are planned. For information about the JHWFF, please visit WEBSITE, or call NUMBER. For tickets, sponsorship, or conference attendance, please call 307-733-7016 or visit http://www.jhfestival.org/2015-festival.html ### About JHWFF: Recognized as the premier event of its genre, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is an unparalleled biennial industry gathering. Hosted biennially in Grand Teton National Park, over 650 international delegates participate in an exceptional slate of leadingedge equipment presentations, seminars and state-of-the-art screenings. The Festival’s international board members include: Animal Planet, BBC Natural History Unit, Discovery Channel, Disneynature, FujiFilm Optical Devices, Gorongosa Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Tangled Bank Studios, National Geographic Channel International, National Geographic WILD, National Geographic Society, National Parks Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, Nature/WNET, Off the Fence Productions, PBS, Sony Electronics, Terra Mater Factual Studios and UNIVERSUM/ORF, Vulcan Productions, WGBH, and World Wildlife Fund

The 39th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival gets with the times. A digital age requires a digital solution. Over 86 countries will be represented in its 2015 edition, a new record. We wanted to allow domestic and international media simultaneous access to the line-up of films in the World Competition and the First Films Competition. This announcement will be accompanied by an online discussion open to journalists from anywhere and the MWFF will respond directly via chat mode to questions. This virtual conference was held Tuesday August 11, 2015 beginning 11 am Eastern Time followed by Q & A until 1 pm.

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NEXT BLAST TO FILMMAKERS WITH FESTIVALS IN FOCUS LEAVES August 30 be on it

Filmfestivals.com to cover Montreal Fest Live with dailies Follow us online, meet our team in Montreal.

> Locarno Dailies August 5 - 15, 2015  

> Montreal Dailies August 27 - September 7, 2015 

The Montreal World Film Festival had added the world premiere of The Girl King, directed by Mika Kaurismäki to the competition

The Montreal World Film Festival had added the world premiere of The Girl King, directed by Mika Kaurismäki to its official competition, it was announced. Co-produced by Galafilm and Triptych Media(Canada), Marianna Films (Finland), Starhaus Filmproduktion (Germany) and Anagram (Sweden). “I was seduced by Michel-Marc Bouchard’s script,” says producer Arnie Gelbart. “It’s an unusual  story of an extraordinary woman. The characters are very cont...

 

Belgian Rhapsody by Vincent Bal selected as the MWFF closing film

  Belgian Rhapsody the MWFF closing film will be North-American Premiered (Out of Competition) it was announced. Produced by Peter Bouckaert for Eyeworks (Ben X, The Verdict, Marina presented and awarded at the MWFF) this comedy stars Amaryllis Ouitterlinden, Arthur Dupont, Jos Verbist, Marc Weiss, Koen Van Impe, Philippe Résimont. Two Belgian brass bands, the Flemish “Sint Cecilia” and the Walloon “En Avant”, have both been select...

 

24 films in the World Greats (out of competition) section of the MWFF 2015

THE WORLD GREATS SECTION OF THE MWFF PRESENTS NEW FILMS BY NOTED DIRECTORS     Twenty-four features from a score of countries are being shown in the World Greats (out of competition) section of the MWFF. “ Dedicated to experienced filmmakers, this selection offers the latest works by some of the best known directors from around the world, ” said Serge Losique.   Notable among the cineastes included are Majid Majidi whose Muhammad will be getting ...

 

Jury of MWFF competition 2015

 

39TH MWFF JURY   DANY LAFERRIÈRE, President Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1953, Dany Laferrière left his native country following the killing of his colleague and friend, journalist Gasner Raymond. His first novel, Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer was published in 1985 and became an overnight success, propelling him into the front ranks of the new generation of Quebec writers. The novel was later adapted into a sccreenplay by Laferri&e...

 

MWFF unveiled the line up with a virtual online press conference

 

The 39th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival gets with the times. A digital age requires a digital solution. Over 86 countries will be represented in its 2015 edition, a new record. We wanted to allow domestic and international media simultaneous access to the line-up of films in the World Competition and the First Films Competition. This announcement will be accompanied by an online discussion open to journalists from anywhere and the MWFF will respond directly via chat mode to ...

 

Montreal Native Subject of Film Premiering at Montreal World Film Festival

 

  TREE MAN, a feature documentary film, will have its world premiere at the 39th Montreal World Film Festival, with screenings on August 28th and 29th at the Cinéma Quartier Latin. Directed by Jon Reiner and Brad Rothschild, Tree Man focuses on Francois, a Montreal native who leaves his wife and children every holiday season to sell Christmas trees on a New York City sidewalk while living out of his van. Francois is one of hundreds of men and women from Quebec and elsewhere who, ove...

 

MİSAFİR "the visitor" will attend at world competition in montreal ff. from Turkey.

Some say about the fate of any girl ‘like mother, like daughter’. But, Mum, I swear to God that my little girl’s fate will be nothing like mine.” - NUR Ten years after being thrown out of her parental home, Nur hears that her mother is at death’s door. Taking her young daughter with her, Nurhurries back to her father’s world to see, and reconcile with her mother before it is too late. While the universal theme of mother-daughter relat...

 

An Ode to Italian Silent Film Love Among the Ruins Selected to 39th Montreal World Film Festival

The charming Italian faux documentary Love Among the Ruins (Amore tra le rovine) will screen among official selections at the Montreal World Film Festival on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30.   Following its European premiere at Valdarno Cinema Fedic Festival and North American premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, this enchanting mock-doc drama continues to delight festival audiences with its blend of earnest tutorial on film restoration and play...

 

Film "Now We're Alive" : First feature of the talented young french director Thibault Arbre at Montreal World Film Festival

The film started a promising festival circuit with 7 selections and several prizes so far: Montreal World Film Festival, Cleveland Intl. Film Festival, Shanghai Intl Film Festival, Rhode Island Intl Film Festival (Grand Prize for Best Feature), Worldfest Houston (Platinum Award for Best First Feature Film, and Gold Award for Best Original Music), California Film Awards (Orson Welles Award), Skyline Intl Film Festival. From producer Giles Daoust (ex...

 

3 INDIESTORY films are invited to the 39th Montreal World Film Festival!

 

2 features and 1 short from INDIESTORY are invited to the 39th Montreal World Film Festival which is held from August 27 to September 7 in Canada. The 1st feature is STRANGERS ON THE FIELD(Dir. KIM Myeong-joon) invited to ‘Documentaries of the World’ and it deals with Korean-Japanese baseball players in old times. The 2nd is HALF(Dir. KIM Se-yeon), selected for ‘Focus on World ...

 

>  Mostra Internazionale d Arte Cinematografica Venice September 2 -12, 2015

Brian De Palma to receive Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker 2015 Award

The award will be given on September 9th in the Palazzo del Cinema   the documentary De Palma by Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow to screen out of competition The Biennale di Venezia and Jaeger-LeCoultre are pleased to announce that the great American directorBrian De Palma wi...

 

MAD Solutions Offers an Award at Final Cut in Venice Workshop

 

MAD Solutions has announced a new award to be granted under its name at the Venice International Film Festival, through the 3rd Final Cut in Venice workshop that will be held at the festival's next round (2 - 12 September 2015). The award comprises promotional and distribution services in the Arab world offered to one of the contending film projects in the workshop.   On the new partnership, Alaa Karkouti, CEO at MAD Solutions, stated, "We are constantly looking for unconventiona...

 

Line-up of the 15 projects selected for the 2015 European Gap-Financing Market

 

The first edition met with considerable success and some of the titles presented last year have already had their world premiere at prestigious festivals. These positive results clearly indicate that the policy of the Venice Film Market and European Gap-Financing Market to help the completion of films, is evidently filling a void in the European film industry. As soon as a project shows a real potential for an audience, the increasing involvement of alternative international financing sources, s...

 

Venezia 72 Juries headed by Alfonso Cuarón

The selection is complete for the members of all three international Juries (Venezia 72, Orizzonti, “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for Best Debut Film) at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival (2-12 September 2015), directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by the Biennale di Veneziachaired by Paolo Baratta.     Venezia 72 The distinguished members of the Jury for the Venezia 72&nbs...

>  Toronto Film Festival Dailies September 10 - 20, 2015

> San Sebastian Dailies September 18-26, 2015  

Short films and Schools Selected at The 14th International Film Students Meeting

    The 14th International Film Students Meeting will take place on 22nd-25th September at the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian Festival and is going to have Tabakalera-Contemporary Culture International Centre as new headquarters   Yet another year the San Sebastian Festival and Tabakalera present the International Film Students Meeting, an event seeking to shed light on the work of students from film schools across the world. The pre-selection of works for this 1...

 

European Film Forum event on “Audiences in motion” planned for San Sebastian Fest

The San Sebastian International Film Festival and Creative Europe MEDIA organise a European Film Forum event on “Audiences in motion” in the framework of this year’s edition Donostia - San Sebastian. San Telmo Museum. Sunday, September 20 DEVELOPING AUDIENCES - Audiences in Motion The European Film Forum is a platform facilitated by the European Commission for a structured dialogue between policy makers and stakeholders in the audio-visual sector. The aim is to develop a s...

 

The programme of aid to Latin American cinema, Films in Progress 28, lines up 6 films

  Six films by Alejandro Fernández Almendras, Eliane Caffé, Daniel Hendler, Marialy Rivas, Pepa San Martín and Rober Calzadilla to be presented at Films in Progress 28 Films in Progress 28 will take place on September 21, 22 and 23 The Films in Progress 28 call for submissions received 113 films from 20 countries. The final selection includes the following titles: Aquí no ha pasado nada (Much Ado About Nothing) ...

 

Retrospective to directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack in San Sebastian Film Fest

  The 63rd San Sebastian Festival will dedicate a retrospective to directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack     Merian C. Cooper (1893-1973) and Ernest B. Schoedsack (1893-1979) were, in the golden age of Hollywood, one of the strangest and most exciting creative twosomes ever to come out of Hollywood. The coming edition of the San Sebastian Festival will recover their work in a cycle dedicated to th...

 

35 films lined up in the ''Japanese Independent Cinema 2000-2015'' retrospective

The 63rd San Sebastian Festival will dedicate a cycle to new Japanese independent cinema produced in Japan over the last fifteen years. Beyond the bounds of the films produced by the big studios, the phenomenon of independent cinema in Japan has generated an important source of cinematic creativity expressed in a series of films produced outside the industry. This category includes not only the first work...

 

The latest works by Liu Hao, Joachim Lafosse and Peter Sollett join the San Sebastian Festival Official Selection

The latest works by Liu Hao, Joachim Lafosse and Peter Sollett join the Official Selection in competition at the 63rd San Sebastian Festival Peter Grönlund’s film ''Tjuvheder / Thieves Honour'' closes the New Directors selection   Three new competing titles join those previously announced for the Official Selection at the coming San Sebastian Festival: the Chinese director Liu Hao returns to San Sebastian with Xiang bei fang / Back to the North, five years af...

 

Fourteen titles compete in Horizontes Latinos at the 63rd San Sebastian Festival

"El club", by Pablo Larraín, will open the section The San Sebastian Festival will once again present, in its 63rd edition, some of the most outstanding Latin American films of the year. The Horizontes Latinos programme includes fourteen productions from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Films that have competed or premiered at important international festivals, but which have not yet been screened at a Spanish festival or had th...

 

Best of Fests to screenat the Pearls section at the San Sebastian Festival

A selection of important titles presented at other international festivals will screen in the Pearls section at the San Sebastian Festival          Anomalisa Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson ...

 

24 titles to be presented in the Zabaltegi section of the San Sebastian Festival

Yet another year, the Zabaltegi section will become a privileged space at the San Sebastian Festival as it reveals some of the most difficult to classify and suggestive proposals in today’s movie scene. The Zabaltegi programme at the 63rd edition showcases the Spanish premieres of the latest works by reputed filmmakers (Laurie Anderson, Jem Cohen, Anca Damian, Andrés Di Tella, Eric Khoo, Corneliu Porumboiu, Walter Salles, Alexander Sokurov) alongside films selected for intern...

 

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS  

World Trailer Awards - London October 16

Early Bird Deadline July 30th, 2015

Announcing Call for Entry for the Inaugural World Trailer Awards in partnership with filmfestivals.com

Kicks off in London this fall.

Earlybird Deadline is July 30th

For more information and to submit your trailer, please visit to www.Worldtrailerawards.com

Website I Submit I  Facebook I Twitter I Contact Evelyn Waters

MANHATTAN SHORT 2015  September 25 to October 4, 2015 

Final Call For Entries: Deadline July 31.

Filmmakers have until July 31st to get their films and screenplays into NYC if they hope to be part of the 18th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival to take place in over 250 cinemas across 6 continents. MANHATTAN SHORT is more than just one of the largest short film festivals in the world today, it’s the world’s first and only global film festival.

Manhattan Short on Filmfestivals.com I Website I Submit on Filmfreeway I Submit on Manhattan Short I Facebook I Twitter I Contact Nick Mason

The World of Film Festival October 1-4 2015

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 

> 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/ 

Selection of Films for your consideration

Wim Wenders: Portraits Along The Road," a major touring retrospective

 

Janus Films announced today "Wim Wenders: Portraits Along The Road," a major touring retrospective of the legendary German director's work. It will launch at the IFC Center in New York (with Wenders present for select screenings) on August 28, and travel to a 15+-city tour of the nation's top art houses, with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Austin and Van... 

 

The 59th BFI London Film Festival Closing Night film will be STEVE JOBS.

Working from Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography, STEVE JOBS is directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle and written by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin. The film takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to create a revealing portrait of the man at its epicentre. STEVE JOBS stars Michael Fassbender in the title role, Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Michael  Stuhlbarg, and K...

 

Hollyshorts Lineup

HOLLYSHORTS ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LINEUP FOR 11TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL   OVER 400 SHORT MOVIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SET TO BE SHOWCASED HOLLYWOOD   $15,000 CASH PRIZE ON THE LINE FOR OVERALL WINNER FROM ZYPE   $60,000 POST PRODUCTION PRIZES SET TO BE AWARDED FROM COMPANY 3 AND METHOD STUDIOS...

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT 

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival announces finalists

> AWARDS WATCH  

Hollyshorts announces 2015 Winners

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT     

Kerem Ayan appointed to Head Istanbul Fest

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Istanbul Film Festival goes through a restructuring after 9 years. Azize Tan, Festival Director for the last 9 years, hands the post over to Assistant Director Kerem Ayan. As of October, Azize Tan is stepping down as Director of the Istanbul Film Festival, and the Istanbul Film Festival’s Assistant Director for the past 9 years, Kerem Ayan will be taking over the position. With the Istanbul Film F...

 

Film Fest Gent welcomes new Managing Director Martijn Bal

The Board of Directors of Film Fest Gent has appointed Martijn Bal as Managing Director of the festival in Ghent. He will be assuming his duties officially on 1 October 2015. Chairperson Claire Tillekaerts is very happy that this crucial vacancy was successfully filled in time for the 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent. "The Board of Directors is confident that Martijn Bal, with his love of film and strong reputation within the industry, will be a tremendous asset for Film Fest Gent. The ent...

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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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Advertise your festival in the next eBlast to our filmmakers.   

> UNE SEMAINE SUR LE CIRCUIT DES FESTIVALS FRANCOPHONES      

The Girl King de Mika Kaurismäki est rajouté à la sélection des films en compétition à Montréal

  Le FFM annonce que le film The Girl King d’Aki Kaurismaki fera partie de la compétition mondiale du 39e FFM en première mondiale. Le film est coproduit par Galafilm et Triptych Media (Canada), Marianna Films (Finlande), Starhaus Filmproduktion (Allemagne) et Anagram (Suède). « J'ai été séduit par le scénario de Michel-Marc Bouchard, l’histoire unique d’une femme extraordinaire. Les perso...

 

La Brabançonne de Vincent Bal en clôture du Festival de Montréal

Le FFM annonce que le film de clôture du 39e FMM sera La Brabançonne de Vincent Bal. Produit par Peter Bouckaert pour Eyeworks (producteur entre autres de Ben X, Le verdict, Marina presentés et primés au FFM) cette comédie met en vedette Amaryllis Ouitterlinden, Arthur Dupont, Jos Verbist, Marc Weiss, Koen Van Impe, Philippe Résimont.   L’harmonie flamande Sainte-Cécile et l’harmonie w...

Forte progression du nombre d inscriptions grace au partenariat avec Filmfestivals.com

La date limite d’inscription des courts métrages était le 14 juin 2015 et plus de 1200 inscriptions ont été soumises cette année au Festival des films du monde incluant les quelque 400 films étudiants canadiens et étrangers . Ceci représente une croissance de 42,68 % par rapport à l’année 2014.  Sur 726 films déjà visionnés on a répertorié 64 pays d‘origine pour ces c...

 

Louis L. Roquet siègera au conseil d’administration du Festival des films du monde.

Le Festival des films du monde est heureux d’annoncer que Louis L. Roquet, Président du conseil d’administration d’Investissement Québec ait accepté de siéger sur le conseil d’administration du Festival des films du monde.  « Je suis très honoré que Louis L. Roquet ait accepté mon invitation » a déclaré Serge Losique président du FFM qui précise « l’expertise de Lou...

Major Buzz Factory : Expérience de Bruno Chatelin 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.

TOUTES LES NEWS EN FRANCAIS

The Montreal World Film Festival had added the world premiere of The Girl King, directed by Mika Kaurismäki to its official competition, it was announced. Co-produced by Galafilm and Triptych Media(Canada), Marianna Films (Finland), Starhaus Filmproduktion (Germany) and Anagram (Sweden). “I was seduced by Michel-Marc Bouchard’s script,” says producer Arnie Gelbart. “It’s an unusual  story of an extraordinary woman. The characters are very contemporary, young, ambitious and full of passion, torn between duty and desire, and it’s all been brought to the screen by a great director.” The international cast features Swedish stars  Malin Buska and Michael Nyqvist, Canadians Sarah Gadon and Lucas Bryant, Finnish actress Laura Birn, French actor Hippolyte Girardot, veteran Belgian actor Patrick Bauchau and German actors Peter Lohmayer and Martina Gedeck. The Quebecer François Arnaud is also part of the cast and Guy Dufaux was the director of photography. The English version of the script has been written by award winning Linda Gaboriau.

The Girl King was scripted by Quebec playwright Michel-Marc Bouchard who had great success in 2012 with his play on the life of Queen Christina of Sweden when it was staged in Montreal TNM and later at the Stratford Festival.

It’s the 1600s and Queen Christina is set on making Sweden the most sophisticated country in Europe. Having been raised as a prince under strict Lutheran control, the enigmatic, flamboyant, and unpredictable queen faces powerful resistance in her quest to educate her subjects and end the bloody Thirty Years War between the Protestants and Catholics. Amidst all this, Christina struggles to come to terms with an irresistible passion for her lady in waiting, the stunning Countess Ebba Sparre. Her quest to understand love runs parallel with her quest to understand humanity and the violent and restrictive forces conspiring against her. Torn between the conflict of political and personal aspirations, Christina chooses to make one of the most controversial decisions in history.

Born in Orimattila, Finland in 1955, Mika Kaurismäki studied film in Germany and his first film, his graduation production, THE LIAR (1980), was an overnight sensation; it marked the beginning of the cinema of the Kaurismäki brothers and started a new era in the Finnish cinema. Eventually, Mika established a base and second home in Brazil and concentrated on international co-productions, among them, CONDITION RED (1995), L.A. WITHOUT A MAP (1998), HONEY BABY (2004), BRASILEIRINHO (2005, shown at the MWFF), THREE WISE MEN (2008), BROTHERS (2011) and ROAD NORTH (2012).

The 35th Atlantic Film Festival will run Sept. 17- 24 in Halifax, NS
 

The 35th annual Atlantic Film Festival announces its full festival program, featuring over 200 films and a full slate of special events, to be presented over eight days in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 17-24.

"Our audience will find that in this year’s program in particular the diversity of culture and community is on display like never before”, said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “As new technology changes allow filmmakers to create their stories in more austere circumstances the incredible effect is the ability to hear a broader range of voices from around the globe. "

The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night returns to the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Thursday, September 17. Sponsored by CTV, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the Opening Gala presentation of Hyena Road, written, directed and starring Paul Gross (Passchendaele).
 
A sniper (Rossif Sutherland) who has never allowed himself to think of his targets as human, becomes implicated in the life of one. An intelligence officer (Paul Gross) who has never contemplated killing, becomes the engine of a plot to kill. A legendary Mujahideen warrior (Neamat Arghandabi) who had put war behind him, is now the center of the battle zone. Three different men, three different worlds, three different conflicts – all stand at the intersection of modern warfare – a murky world of fluid morality where all is not as it seems. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Christine Horne, Allan Hawco and Clark Johnson, Hyena Road is, without a doubt, unlike any other film ever made in Canada and is a testament to the work that our nation’s soldiers do on a daily basis. Hyena Road is produced by Rhombus Media, Triple 7 Films, Buffalo Gal Pictures and Bron Creative, and is distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures. Both Paul Gross and Newfoundland actor Allan Hawco will be in attendance for the Opening Night festivities.
 
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is sponsored by CTV and will take place at The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites on Thursday, Sept. 17.
 
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 24 will be Beeba Boys, written and directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker, Deepa Mehta. Her latest feature film mixes guns, bhangra beats, bespoke suits, cocaine and betrayal in an adrenaline-charged look at Indo-Canadian gang war, and a violent clash of culture and crime. It is a gangster film by an internationally celebrated female director; a movie where stereotypes are intentionally challenged and which takes us right inside this Indo-Canadian world – a specific culture which no crime movie has explored before. Beeba Boys is produced by Hamilton-Mehta Productions and distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media. Deepa Mehta will be in attendance for the Closing Night Gala.

The Spotlight Gala is new this year to the Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala lineup. Into the Forest, written and directed by celebrated Canadian filmmaker, Patricia Rozema and starring Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood will be the inaugural Spotlight Gala on Saturday, September 19. Adapted from Jean Hegland’s inspiring novel of the same name, Into the Forest tells the story of two sisters living in a dense, remote forest, learning to survive and find hope in the wake of society’s sudden collapse. As a cloud of mystery surrounds them, sisters Nell (Ellen Page) and Eva (Evan Rachel Wood) find themselves shuttered in their home, surrounded by nothing but miles of dense forest in the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately, the sisters must work together to survive and learn to find comfort in each other and the happy family life they once shared. Into the Forest is produced by Bron Studios and Rhombus Media, and is distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.

The AFF will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. initiative features two Gala Presentations. Philippe Falardeau’s Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre (My Internship in Canada) will be the Gala Français Canadien on Tuesday September 22. And Jacques Audiard’s Palme d’or winning Dheepan will be the Gala Français International on Wednesday, September 23. The Cinéma En Français S.V.P. initiative will also feature four additional French Canadian and four international French feature films scheduled throughout the Festival.

Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the ten films comprising the 2015 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: Born to be Blue, starring Ethan Hawke as jazz musician Chet Baker; Brooklyn, a moving Irish/American romance with a screenplay by Nick Hornby;The Daughter, a contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck starring Academy Award® winner Geoffrey Rush; Grandma, a raucous comedy starring Lilly Tomlin; I Saw the Light, the story of Hank Williams, played to perfection by Tom Hiddleston; The Lady in the Van, based on Alan Bennett’s celebrated memoir and starring Dame Maggie Smith; Natasha, Adapted by celebrated author David Bezmozgis from his own award-winning short story; Remember from Atom Egoyan and starring Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer; Room, from Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (Frank) and starring Brie Larson and William H. Macy; This Changes Everything, an adaptation by Avi Lewis of Naomi Klein’s best-selling book of the same name.

Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of films such as: animated features, The Boy and the Beast (Japan) and Avril et le monde truqué (France); Canadian films, Fire Song, No Men Beyond this Point, How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, The Saver and Guy Maddin’s The Forbidden Room; international award-winners, Son of Saul (Hungary), Rams (Iceland), The Lobster (Greece), Victoria (Germany) and Mountains May Depart (China); among many more.

Select documentaries include: mountain climbing epic Meru; an audience award winning look at blue collar British racehorse owners in Dark Horse; a look at the life of beloved jazz and gospel singer Mavis Staples in Mavis!; a look at the history of Greenpeace in How to Change the World; and a look at the history of the Women’s movement, past and present, in She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry; among many other captivating and enlightening titles.

Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, and film retrospectives celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the AFCOOP FILM 5 program and the 40th Anniversary of NIFCO.

The 2015 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and returning at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund, and the 35th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception, honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
 
Strategic Partners, a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television, and digital first fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of the 35th Atlantic Film Festival, Sept. 17-20. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 18th year, Strategic Partners 2015 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.

Keynote speakers for Strategic Partners 2015 include: Carol producer, Elizabeth Karlsen (Number 9 Films, UK), and Bernie Su, the Emmy award winning Producer of The Lizzie Bennett Diaries,Emma Approved and Vanity. In addition there will be a television case study of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a Canada/UK co-production success story.  Finally, watch and learn as producers and financiers untangle one of the most intricate content financing webs in recent years; in Navigating a Creative New Paradigm, panelists will explore the new life cycle of content financing and distribution.  

Financed with the support of Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Signature Partner, Bell Media, and Gold Partners: Canada Media Fund, Canadian Media Production Association, Shaw Media and Super Channel, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp.

Tickets for screenings and special events along with ticket packages, group tickets and passes are on sale today, August 26 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at atlanticfilm.com or ticketpro.ca. Tickets are also available at all Ticketpro outlets in Nova Scotia, including Video Difference (6086 Quinpool Road). Please note that Ticketpro outlets accept cash or debit only. Tickets will be available at the Festival Box Office in Park Lane Mall (5657 Spring Garden Road) beginning September 11th at noon. For hours of operation, visit: atlanticfilm.com.

Tickets for the Opening Night Film are available through The Dalhousie Arts Centre box office (6101 University Ave.), by phone at 1-800-874-1669 and online at arts-centre or atlanticfilm.com. Tickets for the Opening Night Party are available at atlanticfilm.com, ticketpro.ca or at the Festival Box Office.

Receive the most up-to-date information, including sneak peeks and Festival highlights at our website: atlanticfilm.com, our Facebook page: /atlanticfilmfestival, Twitter account: /thefilmfest and NEW this year, Instagram: thefilmfest. To support these online channels, the Festival will continue to offer our Atlantic Film Festival App for iPhone, before and throughout the event to help coordinate your festival experience.

Another way to be part of the action is by visiting the Reel East Coast Festival Lounge located in the Georgian Lounge, at the Lord Nelson Hotel (1515 South Park Street). Open from noon to midnight daily, this is a place for the industry and the public to connect. Large HDTV’s with Reel East Coast programming and plush leather couches are just a couple of the modern amenities within the charming comforts of the lounge.

“A Festival of this magnitude cannot happen without the generous support of our sponsors and donors,” added Carter. “Along with their support, the incredible efforts put forth by our staff and volunteers is what truly makes the Atlantic Film Festival experience happen, and on this special 35th birthday we would like to express a huge thank you to all.”

About the Atlantic Film Festival

The Atlantic Film Festival is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax, Nova Scotia – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event celebrates 35 years of the Festival and takes place from September 17-24.

Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Atlantic Film Festival attracts some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. A champion of local filmmakers, all of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together.

A not-for-profit organization, the Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through the celebration of film.

Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, AFF Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

Last week the official festival jury and the visual of the 42nd edition were announced as part of the British focus. Today Film Fest Gent releases its first 15 titles. Besides the best films from its own soil as well as international features, the programme also includes the closing event and anniversary of the 15th World Soundtrack Awards.

The official competition includes the French-Belgian co-production ‘Les Cowboys’ by Thomas Bidegain, also known as Jacques Audiard's screenwriter and ‘Our Little Sister’ by Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda. There are also two debuting features competing for Best Film and Best Music: British-New-Zealand ‘Slow West’ by John Maclean starring Michael Fassbender amongst others and Cannes sensation & Grand Prix winner ‘Son of Saul’ by László Nemes.‘The Lobster’, the first international production by Yorgos Lanthimos, features a dazzling cast including Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Léa Seydoux.

Besides the opening film ‘The Ardennes’ by Robin Pront, the section Galas & Specials consists of films that will be screened at the festival before being released in Belgian theatres. ‘Carol’ by Todd Haynes, an adaptation of ‘Price of Salt’, one of the most personal novels by Patricia Highsmith, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. 'The Assassin’ by Hou Hsiao-hsien proves once again why he remains the greatest director of Taiwan’s New Wave Cinema.

The section Global Cinema, which covers contemporary authors films, presents one of the most cinephile events at the last Cannes film festival: ‘Arabian Nights’, the monumental triptych by Portuguese director Miguel Gomes (‘Tabu’). Furthermore, there will a few intriguing portraits of artists and musicians such as ‘Mr Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown’ by doc guru Alex Gibney and actor Ethan Hawke delivers a touching homage to pianist and friend Seymour Bernstein in ‘Seymour: an Introduction’. For the 50th anniversary of one of the most well-known film books 'Hitchcock/Truffaut', Kent Jones asked A-list directors Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Wes Anderson among others how they were influenced by the director of ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Psycho’.

This year the festival’s focus is on UK Cinema, which will cover a wide variety of recent British films. ‘45 Years’ by Andrew Haigh (‘Weekend’) features Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay as a retired couple undergoing a crisis when celebreating their 45th wedding anniversary. The amusing ‘A Royal Night Out’ by Jullian Jarrold is an imaginary piece of history about a night on the town with a young Queen Elisabeth II. 

The film music concerts also remain a highlight of Film Fest Gent. The British focus will also be showcased at the Great British Film Music Concert on 22 October and for the past 15 years the festival has always closed with the annual World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert. This year, central guests are Alan Silvestri, Patrick Doyle and Discovery 2014 Daniel Pemberton, who will all be attending the event on 24 October. The best scores of Silvestri were performed by Brussels Philharmonic and the Flemish Radio Choir, conducted by Dirk Brossé and recorded at the Flagey Studios by Galaxy Studios. The CD will be released later this October. 

Film Fest Gent and Vooruit will join forces once again! During the festival there will be two unique audiovisual shows from artists like Nozinja and Jeruzalem in My Heart. The legendary composer Terry Riley will perform live music to a film of his choice, together with his son Gyan. With his ensemble Black Flower, Nathan Daems provided the score for ‘Love, Theft and Other Entanglements’, the latest film of Palestinian director Muayad Alayan. There will also be various art installations in Vooruit and the literary event ‘Uitgelezen’ will be tailored to a film-based theme.

The entire program will be announced on 24 September. The 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent takes place from 13 October until 24 October at Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, KASKcinema, Bijloke and ’t Kuipke. Info and tickets at www.filmfestival.be.

The listed films are divided throughout the various festival sections:

In competition:
- LES COWBOYS by Thomas Bidegam – Fr/Belgium
- THE LOBSTER by Yorgos Lanthimos – Griekenland/UK
- OUR LITTLE SISTER by Hirokazu Koreeda – Japan
- SLOW WEST by John Maclean – UK/New Zealand
- SON OF SAUL by László Nemes – Hungary

Galas & Specials
- THE ARDENNES by Robin Pront - Belgium
- THE ASSASSIN by Hou Hsiao-Hsien – Taiwan
- CAROL by Todd Haynes – UK/USA

Global Cinema
- ARABIAN NIGHTS I, II and III by Miguel Gomes – Port/Fr
- LOVE, THEFT AND OTHER ENTANGLEMENTS by Muayad Alayan – Palestine

UK Cinema
- 45 YEARS by Andrew Haigh – UK
- A ROYAL NIGHT OUT by Julian Jarrold – UK

Sound and Vision
- MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN by Alex Gibney – USA
- SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION by Ethan Hawke – USA

Artists on Film
- HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT by Kent Jones – USA

Just when you thought that the 2015 Broken Heel Festival couldn’t get any more spectacular, the party that celebrates Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s 21st Birthday has released its full programme and it’s sure to have your inner Ru Paul shivering with anticipation.

With over 15 Drag Queen and Drag King artists performing, cabaret, street parties, comedy, fireworks and live music over three jam-packed days, the outback has never looked this fabulous!

The Festival is on from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September and tickets are on sale now, so pack those heels and grab a ticket lovvies!

Expect hilarious banter, sharp-tongued wit and wigs that defy gravity on Friday 11th September because Queens of the Stuart Highway will be performing at the Palace Hotel. Nothing is out of bounds for the sassy Mon Cheri, Sianne Tate and Sherri lee Valor – if it’s a classic drag number these queens have got it covered. The troupe have travelled Australia and know how to raise important issues, like why are there never enough sequins? You may want to bring an umbrella for this show, there’s a high chance that it will start raining men.

The famous “Priscilla Bus” from the million dollar stage production will also be on display all weekend long. Get up close and personal with its gaudy tropical interior and imagine you’re one of the girls in the film. It won’t be hard to immerse yourself with bands like BAAB – Newcastle’s kookiest ABBA cover band - smashing out all the hits on Friday 11th September. 

Add some flair to that head of hair with the Sir Madam Salon pop-up interactive performance. Curl up and be a part of the salon chatter about fashion, art, culture, gender and remote Australia. Hairdresser and interdisciplinary extraordinaire, Mel Barkan, will be weaving a unique hairpin line through the anthropological tangle of “what is art” using hair, whilst Kate Fielding and Ben Fox will be cutting through the issue of social change in remote Australia and around the world. 

The lovely locks will continue to flow with the screening of Alex Kelly’s highly anticipated documentary, Starlady. Armed with pink extensions, painted on eyebrows, glitter stockings and superman hotpants, Starlady is a youth worker on a mission: to improve the lives of young indigenous people through the art of hairdressing.  Like a real life Priscilla, Starlady takes us on a Queen of the Desert journey to Areyonga, an indigenous community in Central Australia, where she’ll work with a group of curious and cheeky young people. The Screening on Sunday September 13th is not to be missed!

The fabulously talented Peter Goers will also be joining the pageantry on the Sunday of the Festival. The host of The Evening Show on 891 ABC Adelaide will be masters of ceremony for the Broken Heel Festivals intimate Q&A special, with a never before assembled collection of cast from Priscilla. Peter will also be a judge at the “Lap of the Main Drag” event on Saturday midday starting in the town square. Gentlemen start your Engines! And may the best woman win!

Broken Heel is organised by the Palace Hotel, in Priscilla’s spiritual home of Broken Hill. The Festival invites road-trippers, seekers of fun, and the outrageously spectacular to visit the quirky mining town on the western edge of NSW, just a mere 1,100kms from Sydney. What better time to visit than when Broken Hill will be at its most glamourous. The weekend will be jam-packed full of all laughs, lycra and levity.