Montreal at TIFF 2016 - Programming Animated short and long films

EUROPE-LATIN AMERICA CO-PRODUCTION FORUM AWARD 2015 FOR THE BEST PROJECT

• LA OMISIÓN / THE OMISSION directed by Sebastián Schjaer and produced by Trapecio Cine (Argentina – Germany – France)

SPECIAL MENTION TO THE PROYECT

• MEMORIAS DEL CALABOZO directed by Álvaro Brechner and Tornasol Films (Spain - Uruguay)

Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. Ranked one of the top 25 film festivals in the World worth the submission by Movie Maker Magazine. Ranked one of the best by Film International. MBIFF billed as "The East Coast's answer to the Sundance Film Festival" is in the call for entry stage which will end January 1st 2016. The 11th annual MBIFF will take place April 20th - 23rd 2016.   

This marks the 11th year for the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. The MBIFF has continued to grow every year. We are open to all genres, and believe in the independent spirit of film . MBIFF also has a budget category, so a film with a 10 thousand dollar budget does not compete against a project with a 10 million dollar budget (with the exception of the overall winner). Selected by Movie as Maker Magazine one of the top 25 film festivals worth the submission, one of the top festivals in the world by Film International, and touted by many as one of the most important indendepent film festivals in the festival circuit . We are passionate about film and it shows!

We have selected what we feel to be the most diverse panel in the film festival circuit. From professionals to film makers, liberals to conservatives. If a panel member has a problem with the content it will be placed with a panel member that does not find a problem with content. We are looking for projects that have, a vision, a story, and are done with passion.

The MBIFF screens projects in a multi-million dollar theater, housing state of the art technology.

We look forward to viewing your film /project!

Submit your work now !

Rules and regulations:

Films must be submitted on DVD or Blu-ray disc.
Only complete entries (including fee payment and DVD/Blu-ray screener) will be considered.
Entrants are permitted to submit works-in-progress (i.e., without final color correction or sound mixing), but please note that the programming committee will only consider the version submitted. Subsequent cuts or replacement copies will only be accepted at the request of the programming committee.
Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry. 

We are open to all genres and do not judge on content, only quality. MBIFF also has a budget category, so a film with a 10 thousand dollar budget does not compete against a project with a 10 million dollar budget (with the exception of the overall winner).

This year's categories will be:

Get onboard with the show that TIME MAGAZINE called last season's “secret weapon” during this NYTVF Opening Night Special Event featuring a debut of an episode from the second season of WGN America’s MANHATTAN, produced by Lionsgate Television, Skydance Television and Tribune Studios. Screening followed by a talkback featuring cast members John Benjamin Hickey, Rachel Brosnahan, Ashley Zukerman, Michael Chernus, Katja Herbers and Mamie Gummer, along with series creator, writer and executive producer Sam Shaw and director and executive producer Thomas Schlamme. 

When? Monday, October 19

Doors open at 6:30 PM for pre-event open bar hosted by Anheuser-Busch

Screening of MANHATTAN begins at 7:00pm

Where? SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street) 

Free ticket registration via NYTVF.com: http://filmguide.nytvf.com/tixSYS/2015/films/4101

From left: Kohei OGURI, Yoshihiro NAKAMURA, Yuko TAKEUCHI,

The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) today held the press conference to announce lineup of the all sections, jury members, recipients of SAMURAI Award, and related special events at Tower Hall, Roppongi Academyhills in Tokyo.

Following a welcoming address from Yasushi SHIINA, Director General of TIFF, programing directors introduced the whole lineup of the each section in addition to the earlier announcement of Opening film, “The Walk”
(Director: Robert ZEMECKIS) and Closing film, “TERMINAL” (Director: Tetsuo SHINOHARA)

Cellar Door Film Festival Offers Audiences a World Tour of Speculative Cinema!

Festival returns with a mix of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films from around the world.

29 September, 2015

For Immediate release

OTTAWA, ON – Cellar Door Film Festival (CDFF) returns for a second year of strange and unusual cinema. After a successful first year featuring a sold-out opening night and enthusiastic audiences, Ottawa’s first film festival devoted to films in the speculative genres is opening up the cellar again to showcase sinister and supernatural films to Ottawa audiences November 5-7.

CDFF originated from a small cinema club whose members gathered to share their love and curiosity for strange and unusual films, and has grown to include an opening night at Ottawa’s historic Mayfair Theatre and screenings at the new arts venue LIVE! on Elgin on Friday and Saturday. “We’re very excited with the scope of this year’s line-up,” said Pat Mullen, Senior Programming Coordinator. “Our team received over three times the submissions from our previous year with films coming in from 45 countries across 6 continents, and the range of films was equally diverse.”

This year’s festival opens with Liza, The Fox Fairy (dir. Károly Ujj Mészáros), an enchanting Hungarian fantasy/comedy that’s been winning acclaim on the festival circuit with prizes from festivals including Fantasporto, Seattle, and Madrid’s Nocturna Festival where it won every prize in the Official Selection competition. Friday night includes “We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes,” a global selection of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films, and the Russian/German horror film III (dir. Pavel Khavleev). Saturday offers two feature film presentations with the Canadian premiere of the Greek arthouse horror film Norway (dir. Yannis Veslemes), followed by the Closing Night screening of the acclaimed Mexican sci-fi film The Incident(dir. Isaac Ezban), which comes to Cellar Door after screening at festivals such as Busan, Fantastic Fest, and Sitges.

CDFF 2015 includes the premieres of three films that showcase the talent of the Ottawa film scene. CDFF screens the local horror/comedy Boots(dir. Magill Foote) and the sci-fi film Odd One Out (dir. Christopher Rohde), the latter of which won the prize for Best Experimental Film at the inaugural Ottawa Independent Video Awards earlier this year. The shorts selection also includes the Toronto-made horror film George (dir. Jullian Ablaza), which boasts writing and producing credits from Ottawa native/Algonquin grad Alix Van Pelt. The filmmakers of all three films will attend the festival and engage audiences in post-screening Q&As. The films were curated by the CDFF programming team of Patrick Mullen, Ramin Khanjani, and Renuka Bauri.

FEATURE FILMS

Liza, the Fox Fairy (Liza, a rókatündér)

Dir. Károly Ujj Mészáros Hungary | Fantasy/comedy | 2015 | Ottawa Premiere

Liza, the Fox-Fairy is a sarcastic fairy tale for grown-ups. Still single at thirty, Liza (Mónika Balsai) has only her imaginary friend, Tomy Tani (David Sakurai), the ghost of a Japanese crooner from the 50s, to guide her. Some bizarre dating games ensue, but as Liza’s beaus pile up in a comical body count, it seems that love isn’t for her. This offbeat film takes a flight of the imagination as Liza’s she sees herself becoming a fox-fairy, which is a demon of Japanese folklore that takes the lives of men. Liza’s power becomes deadlier the more she blossoms from dowdy old-maid to foxy lady. Dark, strange, and sexy, Liza, the Fox-Fairy enchants with its black humour and magical aesthetics as director Károly Ujj Mészáros dresses Liza’s frisky world in vibrant colours and fixings tailor-made for the Mad Men crowd. This smart, sophisticated fairy tale opens a door to a world one never wants to leave.

III

Dir. Pavel Khvaleev | Russia/Germany | Horror | 2015 | Ottawa Premiere

When a mysterious epidemic devastates a village in an unnamed European country, sisters Ayia and Mirra promise to look after each other to the end of their lives. When Mirra, the younger sister, falls victim to the disease, Ayia turns to the local priest for guidance. Ayia soon discovers a collection of Shamanic books containing a series of mystic drawings that she deciphers as a ritual for spiritual healing, which she believes will save her sister. The Shamanic cure involves a complete immersion into the patient’s mind, a journey into the deepest most hidden depths of their subconscious where terrifying monsters and demons roam. III channels layers of the subconscious world in a fever dream of nightmares as Ayia plunges into the depths of Mirra’s mind. This visionary first feature by Pavel Khavleev, co-founder of the electronic music project Moonbeam, intertwines myth, folklore, and religion to shake the foundation of the narratives that create our innermost fears. The film creates a visceral and all-consuming dream world with spectacular visuals and affecting score as Ayia confronts the dark demons that live within her sister and herself. The closer to the bottom of the ocean, the darker it gets…

Norway (Norviyia)

Dir. Yannis Veslemes | Greece | Horror | 2014 | Canadian Premiere

The newest product of Greek underground culture of film and music (director Yannis Veslemes himself has a renown as a musician), Norway recruits staples of horror together with a dash of meta-narrative elements for an unusual experience in alternative horror. Though there are hints at a parallel between blood drinking as a kind of addiction and use of drugs in the manner of Abel Ferrara’s Addiction, this is not the central point of the film. Instead, the vampirism is tied metaphorically to the underground music. The zany vampire of the film—fittingly dubbed Zano —is characterised by his unabated dancing to the beats, which, as he claims, are his lifeblood. Correspondingly, the Athens presented in the film has nothing to do with our typical idea of the city. Instead of the touristic landmarks, it is materialised in nightclubs and suburbs thronged by hustlers. This is a minimalist view of the city’s nights reflected through the mirror of the cult scene. References to the local underground culture and events abound, adding to the quirky pleasure of the film as they enrich the mystery, enshrouding the capering Zano and equally curious folks he meets along the way

The Incident (El incidente)

Dir. Isaac Ezban | Mexico | Sci-fi/horror | 2014 | Ottawa Premiere

Rust Cohle’s musing “Time is a flat circle” gets a head-tripping spin in The Incident as director Isaac Ezban whirls a terrifying time loop. The film features two parallel storylines with characters trapped in endless cycles: A police officer and two brothers find themselves stuck in a stairwell that keeps going up and down, while a family on a road trip plays a frightening game of “Are we there yet?” The repetitions are absurdly funny and horrifying alike. In between these stories are images of aging bride who rides an around and around, much like the hamster who spins on a wheel and connects the fates of them all.

SHORT FILMS

Awakenings

Dir. Bhargav Saikia | India | Horror | 2015 | Ottawa Premiere

A governess confronts dark forces in this inspired re-imagining of Henry James’s timeless ghost story The Turn of the Screw.

Blade of the Maiden

Dir. Keith Sicat | The Philippines | Fantasy | 2015 |

The big day has arrived for every warrior across the land to square off and prove their prowess in combat that is half dance and half martial arts. What award awaits the victor of these ceremonial fights?

Boots

Dir. Magill Foote | Canada (Ottawa) | Horror/Comedy | 2015 | World Premiere

An impoverished worker takes the opportunity to have a modicum of luxury in his life in this fun send-up to Soviet cinema. Everything has its price though, where do you draw the line?

Cetaphobia

Dir. Erin Coates and Anna Nazzari | Australia | Horror | 2015 | Canadian Premiere

A couple invokes the ire of a ghost in their once viable whaling community. After inscribing onto one of the whale’s last remnants, a tooth, the cetacean spirit forces them into the murky depths where he once reigned.

Curl Up and DYE!

Dir. Duduzile Chinyenze | Zimbabwe | Horror/Experimental | 2014 | North American Premiere

Snips to one’s face, fat re-assignment surgery - whose perceptions of beauty are actually being created? This African experimental films puts a psychological twist on body-horror and questions to what point are we willing to let others manipulate us?

George

Dir. Jullian Ablaza | Canada | Horror | 2015 |

Egg and his friend George remind us that the scariest monsters can reside in ourselves with this chilling tale of bullying directed by Jullian Ablaza and produced/co-written by Algonquin grad Alix Van Pelt.

A Good Deal (Une bonne affaire)

Dir. Denis Larzillière | France | Fantasy/comedy | 2014 | Canadian Premiere

A factory worker in the daytime, Guillaume spends every evening obsessively scouring flyers and coupons. Imagine his dismay, then, when one day he finds all his treasured flyers already picked up. Dripping with a stellar dark humour, A Good Deal is a scathing glance at the culture of consumerism that trespasses into the territory of sci-fi.

Mr. Dentonn

Dir. Ivan Villamel | Spain | Horror | 2014 | Ottawa Premiere

Be leery of where you find your bedtime books, or else prepare to for an uninvited guest hailing from the realm of shadows!

Odd One Out

Dir. Christopher Rohde | Canada | Sci-fi/Experimental | 2014 | Ottawa Premiere

An odyssey six years in the making, Odd One Out envisions a thoroughly original universe built by practical effects. Winner of the Ottawa Independent Video Award for Best Experimental Film.

The Prime of Life (La force de l’âge)

Dir. Quentin Lecocq | France | Thriller | 2014 | North American Premiere

Three young men, two employees and a nuisance of a trainee, are on their way to a new service assignment, but they are surprised by how they are received at their destination.

The Stomach

Dir. Dan Dixon | UK | Horror | 2014 | Ottawa Premiere

Body horror filters through Brit-gangster- flick fare in this tale about brotherhood and double-crossing. To recover a stashed sum of money the assistance of a ‘ventro-medium’ is sought, but the medium is already fed-up with ardour of his hosting experience.

The Urge 2: It Lies Within

Dir. Christopher Angus | Canada | Horror/Animated | 2014 | Ottawa Premiere

An inept vampire is foiled by his own uncontrollable flatulence when he tries to consume his victims in this animated send-up of horror films of yore. Trapped by a rising sun (and fierce woodland creatures), he finds freedom and redemption in the unlikeliest of places. Or is it?

Willa

Dir. Helena Hufnagel | Germany | Horror | 2015 | Canadian Premiere

Two lovers waiting for a train find themselves in limbo in this haunting adaptation of a short story by Stephen King. Willa culminates with a spectacular shot that freezes time, space, life, and death.

Advance tickets are $9 will be available online through Uniiverse or before each screening for $12 (cash only).

CDFF also offers festival passes for all 5 screenings for $40.

All screenings are generously supported by CDFF’s Major Sponsors The School for Studies in Art and Culture at Carleton University and Used Ottawa, as well as Supporting Sponsors the Alumni Association of Carleton University and The Haunted Walk of Ottawa, and Friend of the Festival Sponsors Stella Luna Gelato Café, The Odds and Sods Shoppe, Escape Manor, Bridgehead, Film Freeway, Can Con, and Ottawa Geek Market.

AboutCellar Door FilmFestival

Cellar Door Film Festival (CDFF) provides Ottawa with a showcase of speculative cinema: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and everything else in between! From celebrating the creativity of the local film scene, to spotlighting the City as a setting for the sinister and supernatural, CDFF is committed to film culture, education, and production on local, national, and international levels.

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For high-res stills and other press materials, please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bgfuxgj1u61dskk/AAAU1FSL_fgYEyP4JskYeXOsa?dl=0

www.cdff.ca| Facebook: /CellarDoorFF | Twitter: @CellarDoorFF | #CDFF15

TenUkrainiantelevisionstudiosandrepresentativesfromeightcountriesoftheworldhavewonprizes, Cups and diplomas of the VII International Children's Television Festival “Dytiatko”. Prizes will be sent to Canada, Belgium, the USA, Croatia, Australia, Singapore, Iran and Italy.

At the closing ceremony of the festival its mastermind and head of the organization committee, Chairman of Kharkiv Regional Council, Sergii Chernov stressed that “each year more and more people join “Dytiatko”, people united by the aspiration to make this world better, to develop children screen works, cultivate in young generation a taste for creativity, search of beauty in the surrounding world and in themselves”.

Progression of festival development in seven years of its existence impresses. “If the first “Dytiatko” festival received 149 works from 53 participants, this year the  organization committee had to choose 100 works from almost 1000 application forms which were sent from over 80 countries”, Sergii Chernov said.

Foreign participants in the 7th Television Festival won in the following nominations: best fiction and animated movie of the children studio; for television program, full-length, short-length and animated movies for children; for camerawork and acting technique.

At the same time Ukrainian members of a television crew became laureates in the following nominations: In juries opinion, children from studio “Our world” (“Nash Svit”) from Kharkiv have created the best fiction movie, and children from the workshop “Children television” were chosen as the best journalists; “Grani” from Zaporizhzhia has received prizes for the best television program, “School of radio presenters” from Chernihiv made the best radio program; participants from “Veselka TV” from Kyiv won in the nomination “The best TV presenter”; due to creativity and original approach children from Kherson and Poltava have won in the nomination of creative task.

Studio of author programs “Maiak” from Dnipropetrovsk has become an award winner in the nomination “We are the local self-government”. Now, thanks to the support of the office of the Council of Europe, members of the studio will have a chance to visit Strasbourg.

Iranian director Reza Fahimi has won the CIFEJ Prize.

Ukrainian winners have received awards from Sergii Chernov and the jury. The head of the jury of this year's festival Andrii Kulykov said that great number of foreign winners triggered two-way feeling: on the one hand, it was sad that Ukrainian works still somewhat inferior in quality, on the other hand it was surprisingly nice that countries around the world compete for victory at the Television Festival “Dytiatko”.

Overall four days of the Television Festival “Dytiatko” have passed for its participants in a very fast, interesting and meaningful way. At the masterclasses children learned about the multiple-camera filming from a Belarusian director Angelica Averkova. The specific of children movies was explained by a Serbian playwright Dragan Milinkovich. Director of production at the Warsaw studio of short movies Eugeniusz Gordziejuk talked about animation production. This was possible thanks to the support of Culture.pl. The expert in mass media, television and radio presenter Andrii Kulykov shared the secrets of professionalism in radio-journalism. Ukrainian director Serhii Bukovskyi taught the basics of documentary.

Finalists of the festival who came to Kharkiv found out how to make effective still for photo reportage, transform main character of the movie with the help of make-up, edit video of a high quality and announce aloud about your project in social network.

The whole complex of necessary knowledge for young members of a television crew were complemented by the meeting with the star of the movie "Toreadors from Vasiukivka" Oleksandr Bartieniev and Ukrainian film critic Volodymyr Myslavskyi.

Movie screenings were conducted for children every evening, among them the program “Film it like Méliès” in cooperation with Children Kinofest and selection of one-minute social movies from UNICEF Ukraine.  

According to all the finalists of the 7th "Dytiatko" who four days in a row studied together and had fun, the most valuable heritage of the festival is new friends and a sense of shared television business, which shall be brought to a new level by this generation of domestic journalists in the foreseeable future.

International Children Television Festival "Dytiatko" will again bring together all its friends and those who care about the fate of children's movies and television in 2016. The festival will take place from September 21 to September 24.

The Best Live Action Film by Children's Studio

'The Battle',7'48''

Canada, 2014

Director: Peter Bundic, Joshua Costea

If you can't beat the competition, join them.

The Best Documentary by Children's Studio

'I am dancing',5'37''

Ukraine, 2015

Children TV Studio "Our world"

Director: Polina Kugeleva

Film is a self portrait of the author's admiration of ballroom dancing. The film tells about the first steps, difficulties, support of family and friends, victories and motivation.

The Best Television Program by Children's Studio

'Super-expert', 9'12''

Ukraine, 2014

Junior teleradiostudiia "the Verge"

Authors: Anastasia Verbovetskа, Elizabeth Kоlodnickа, Pavlo Ishchenko, Anastasia Budarina, Kateryna Timchenko

This program is dedicated to views of children of different age on structure of the Universe.

The Best Animated Cartoon by Children's Studio

'Oddbod', 6'11''

Belgium, 2014

Camera-etc

Coco the chick was born into a penguin family. It's hard to learn how to swim and to fish like his brother and sister...

The Best Radio Program by Children's Studio

 ‘We are Ukraine’, 11'33''

Ukraine, 2014

Studio "School radio"

On regional contest “I am the real Ukrainian”.

We Are Local Self-Government

'We are self-government!', 16'51''

Ukraine, 2015

Studio of author's programs "The Beacon"

Children talk about their civic position and their contribution to formation of a strong and independent Ukraine.

The Best Television Program for Children

 ‘Lost Treasure Hunt’, 28'46'

United States, 2014

Directors: Richard Bazley, Roque Ballesteros

A document from 1492 sends two teen treasure-seekers on an adventure to solve the mystery before the treasure falls into enemy hands. They discover multiple sides to the Columbus voyage while decoding clues and escaping from counterspies.

The Best Feature Film for Children

'The Ghost in the Swamp', 90'56''

Croatia, 2015

Director: Branko Istvancic

This film for children shows the efforts by a community to help animals survive the winter but they are confused when a child raves that he was attacked by a ghost in the swamp and begin searching for this mysterious attacker.

The Best Short Film for Children

'Bunny New Girl', 5'54''

Australia, 2015

Director: Natalie van den Dungen

7 year old Annabelle arrives for her first day at a new school wearing a home made rabbit mask. And despite the gentle reassurance of kindly teacher Mr Borbidge, her classmates are soon wondering what it is she’s hiding. When the class bully exposes her secret, the empathy of a new friend gives her the courage to by seen, just the way she is.

The Best Animated Film for Children

'Princess', 7'07''

Singapore, 2014

School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University

Directors: Andre Quek, Abdul Hadi Bin Abdul Wahab, Vivien Tan

Lucas, an average Singaporean boy, tries to take matters under his control. Upon realizing that sincerity comes from the heart, he finally breaks the ice with his neighbour, Angie.

The Special Prize of Jury

'Kaleidoscope', 9'23''

Ukraine, 2015

Lozova city Council of seniors "New wave", TRK "Sigma"

This program is dedicated to dance style “jumpstyle”.

CIFEJ Prize

'Cloudy Children', 18'05''

Islamic Republic of Iran, 2014

Director: Reza Fahimi

The story of two rural kids who have struggle over thing‘s that cannot be earned .Finally all of a sudden they share all their lacking.

The Best Director Work

'Story of a dog', 3'05''

Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 2014

Multitude "Magic lantern"

Authors: Liza Lenia, Katia Bondarenko

The film is dedicated to the dogs, the first four astronauts who paved the way into space.

The Best Camera Work

'Cloudy Children', 18'05''

Islamic Republic of Iran, 2014

Director: Reza Fahimi

The story of two rural kids who have struggle over thing‘s that cannot be earned .Finally all of a sudden they share all their lacking.

The Best TV Presenter

'Safetyrules – rulesoflife', 18'33''

Ukraine, 2015

Children's Studio of TV presenters "Veselka TV"

Upon hearing alarm call savers go to the places of emergency every day. Who are these brave people?

The Best Television Journalist

'Littlebreak', 5'51''

Ukraine, 2015

Studio "Children's television"

Games, entertainment and interesting stories of young broadcasters about their pets.

The Best Actor

Carlotta Ligalupo

'The Fly', 7'11''

Italy, 2015

Director: Marco Di Gerlando

Carlotta and her class have been assigned the task to draw animals starting with the M. While the rest of the kids have no problem drawing them, Carlotta is experiencing an artistic block.

For the creativity and originality of creative tasks

"Nessie", School TV Studio "TV SGT"

"A secret to Everyone. Everyone. Everyone". Studio of film and television "Alpha"

The 63rd San Sebastian Festival, which ended on September 26, had a total of 174,901 spectators, meaning a rise of 5,891 with respect to last year’s edition (3.5%) and of 19,841 spectators with respect to the 2010 edition (13%).

The total number of accredited guests this edition were 3,650, 252 more than last year. Of these accredited guests, 1,495 were professionals who participated in the Industry Club activities, 176 more than last year (meaning an increase of 13%) and 511 more than in 2010 (an increase of 51%).

On the other hand, 1,068 journalists covered this edition of the Festival for 569 media from 39 countries, i.e. the same figure as last year (with a slight increase of 17 accredited guests).

Welcome filmmakers to the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown.

We are excited about our 5th year coming up in April 1-3, 2016. For 5 years, we've been bringing in the finest films from around the world. The film festival became a 501(c)3 and launched in 2009 and now screens more then 70 films each year! Hollywood Director Joe Carnahan is our creative director. He has brought us such films as "The Grey" and "The A-Team" with Liam Neeson and now has Bad Boys 3 in pre-production. He also directs some of the hottest television shows like "The Blacklist." He has been a powerful partner in our festival! Most of our previous winners of Best Feature have obtained distribution. Last year's winner BEREAVE just signed a distribution deal and said, " I wish to take a moment to tell you that your hospitality and your wonderful festival helped our film stand out for distribution. Thank you for that and we'll be sending you more of our work in the future.” So join us! We look forward to having you screen at our 5th year anniversary!

The festival is conveniently located downtown, we're in the middle of the arts and entertainment district. And after the films we host some of the best after parties with live bands and fantastic food and drinks!
About the city of Hagerstown, MD:

Hagerstown, Maryland was founded in 1762 by Jonathan Hager and quickly transformed into an avant-garde community. It is not only a beautiful and historical city, but it is also conveniently located near some of the most spectacular and historical monuments in the United States. Situated just outside of Washington D.C., Hagerstown boasts many recreational and cultural events. It is the truly the perfect location for the artistically inclined to celebrate their achievements, camaraderie and films.

The world’s largest short film prize is a whopping £30,000 and is presented annually in Cardiff to the Best LGBT short film as decided by an independent jury, chaired this year by popular actress Lynn Hunter.

The Iris Prize, known to film aficionados as the Gay Short Film Oscars, is now in its 9th year and to some the best kept secret Cardiff has, opens on Wednesday 7 October.

As the organisers prepare for the 10th anniversary in 2016, they are determined that the 2015 festival will also make a mark! Taking place at the same time as the Rugby World Cup, the festival’s opening night film is a documentary called Scrum, which follows the trials and tribulations of three men competing during the Bingham Cup – the gay rugby world cup.

The fresh new slogan adopted by the festival team dictates “Watch films. Party nightly. Repeat.” - this is possibly why the festival is popular with both film makers and members of the public, with attendances last year hitting 7,000.

“Access to the film makers is a big part of the Iris appeal,” Festival Director Berwyn Rowlands feels.

“We have an access all areas policy, which basically means members of the public have easy access to the talent attending the festival. The VIP area is shared by everyone – because we don’t have one – every part of the festival is VIP and open to the public,” he added.

2015 is proving to be another popular year for attracting talent to Cardiff, with film makers attending from all over the world. These are just some of the film makers who will introducing their films at screenings in Cardiff:

Baggage, Dir: Sarah Ball (UK)
Bunker, Dir: Vibeke Heide (Norway)
Chance, Dir: Jake Graf (UK)
Charlie, Dir: Shawn Ryan (USA)
Charlie, Prod: John Ainsworth (USA)
Closets, Dir: Lloyd Eyre-Morgan (UK)
Daniel, Dir: Dean Loxton (UK)
An Afternoon (En Eftermiddag), Dir: Soren Green (Denmark)
Hora, Dir: Yoav Brill (Israel)
Intrinsic Moral Evil, Dir: Harm Weistra (The Netherlands)
Mirrors, Dir: Neil Ely (UK)
Quixotic Player, Dir: Jay Bedwani (UK)
Roxanne, Dir: Paul Frankl (UK)
Showboy, Dir: Samuel Leighton-Dore (Australia) (pictured above)
Sundar, Dir: Rohan Kanawade (India)
Sundar, Crew: Vikrant Pednekar (India)
Thirst, Dir: Guy Sahaf (Israel)
No Strings, Dir: Eoin Maher (Ireland)
Paper Thin, Dir: Nataly Leboulex (UK)
Morning is Broken, Dir: Simon Anderson (UK)
Morning is Broken, Prod: James Walker (UK)
Want it, Dir: Lee Haven Jones (UK) 

Montreal International Animation Film Festival - Animaze 2016 Calling for animation....yours?

The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) 
March 30 - April 3, 2016

Final deadline is February 2 2016.  Please submit via "Withoutabox"

Now in its 19th year, the Sonoma International Film Festival (March 30 - April 3, 2016) takes place in the heart of Northern California’s Wine Country and will feature more than 90 hand-selected films including independent features, documentaries, world cinema,  and short films. All films are shown at intimate venues within walking distance of Sonoma’s historic plaza. The Festival is dedicated to promoting independent film, supporting filmmakers around the world and inspiring film lovers.
 
This unique 5-day event offers world-class cuisine from local artisans and exceptional wine from Sonoma vintners. Renowned filmmakers, industry leaders and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams and Danny Glover have walked the festival red carpet and enjoyed its intimate ambiance.

The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) is presented by the Sonoma Film Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, as a welcoming, entertaining and inspiring cinematic experience that supports and promotes independent films, celebrates the cultural diversity in the Sonoma Valley through film, and funds visual arts in education.

Named one of America's "Top Ten Destination Film Festivals," Sonoma prides itself on giving every filmmaker the royal treatment. Celebrated as one of the friendliest and most uplifting festivals on the circuit. SUBMIT

Sonoma International Film Festival's blog I Website I Submit I Facebook I Twitter I Contact Kevin McNeely

Awards & Prizes

Rules & Terms

SUBMIT ON FILMFREEWAY

Near Nazareth Festival hospitably opens its doors to filmmakers. Festival participants from around the world will show their works. We believe that the best place for them to present their work - is Near Nazareth Festival. 

Our festival Near Nazareth NNF is the first of its kind. 
Our festival will serve to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the world. Through cooperation with movie lovers from around the world, we will make history. 
We do not limit the categories of participants. All films are presented in their original language. There is no need for subtitles in a foreign language different from the original. 
Every submitting will be reviewed by a qualified jury and the audience.

Awards & Prizes

Rules & Terms

(opening film still: How To stop a Wedding by Drazen Kuljanin) 

WoFF 2015 kicks off today with numerous filmmakers coming to Glasgow from Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Portugal and all around the UK to celebrate indendent cinema and a multistranded programme, counting more thna 40 short films and 5 feature films. 

For full programme visit the website: www.woffglasgow.com or the Box Office page. 

The festival's Opening Ceremony Red Carpet with the UK premiere of the opening film How To Stop A Wedding (trailer below) will start at 7 pm with talent arrival and the opening film's director Drazen Kuljanin in attendance. 

How To Stop A Wedding - TRAILER from Drazen Kuljanin on Vimeo.

Follow us for pictures from the opening and for instand coverage on Social media. 

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Twitter: @WoFFGlasgow 

Viva Mexico Film Festival will take place for the first time in Perth and Melbourne. The Festival will provide a showcase of the very best of contemporary Mexican cinema. The line-up will include an exciting mix of genres, including comedy and drama, all providing a glimpse into the life and issues that Mexico and Mexicans are facing today.

The timing will coincide around the famous Day of the Dead Festival, a Mexican tradition celebrated each year at the beginning of November.

SIFF and TV5MONDE present French Cinema Now, a celebration spotlighting the state of contemporary Francophone cinema, with 20 extraordinary features.

The Opening Night film is Dheepan,Winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. This powerful drama from director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust & Bone) follows a former Tamil Tiger soldier as he flees from the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war to begin a new life in a Parisian suburb. An after-party will take place at Bastille Café + Bar in Ballard. 

Half Sister, Full Love with director Marion Vernoux scheduled to attend and a post-film discussion with Director Lynn Shelton. The French adaptation of Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton's Your Sister's Sister (and the second of Shelton's films adapted à la française) introduces Pierre, a young man still suffering after his brother's recent death, who accepts his best friend Tessa's invitation to recuperate at her family home in the French countryside, only to find the house already occupied by her heart-broken sister.

In The Chef's Wife two of France's most versatile and accomplished actresses, Karin Viard

(Polisse,Delicatessen) and Emmannuelle Devos (Coco Before Chanel, Read My Lips), come together for this crowd-pleasing romantic comedy. Carole can no longer stand working alongside her talented Michelin-starred chef husband Sam, so she meets with Marithé, who helps people explore new career opportunities. The two become friends, but when Marithé meets Sam, their mutual attraction complicates her motives in helping Carole to start over.

Adama, a stunning animated feature combining traditional painted backgrounds with clay sculpted characters, follows 12 year-old Adama, who leaves his small West African village on a quest to rescue his brother from the frontlines of WWI. Adama travels to "the land of breaths" - the village's term for war-torn Europe - for a coming-of-age odyssey that is also a tale of outstanding love, courage, and humanity. Appropriate for ages 8+.

French Master Cédric Kahn's Wild Life is based on a true story, and produced by the Dardenne Brothers. This tale of a father's reckless but all-consuming love follows married couple Carole and Philippe (Céline Sallette and Mathieu Kassovitz, both giving riveting performances) who renounce civilization and lead a nomadic life in their caravan. But when Carole tires of their itinerant lifestyle and moves back to the city, Philippe refuses to allow his sons to be raised according to the societal codes he abhors.

Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director, says "We're very excited about this year's lineup, being able to bring such a diverse group of films to the Francophile Seattle audience. Our continued partnership with TV5 Monde has allowed French Cinema Now to reach not only the Seattle viewers, but nationally through the TV5 Monde channel."

This week long mini-festival showcases the diversity of Francophone cinema right now, with seasoned directors like Jacques Audiard and Cédric Kahn playing alongside relative newcomers like Elodie Namer and Julie Lopes-Curval. With spectacular performances from celebrated actors in diverse films, explosive dramas to unpredictable comedies, historical epics to family-friendly animation, this year's 20 feature mini-festival truly offers something for everybody.