• Ashland Independent Film Festival Rolls Out 2018 Program | ‘First Reformed’, ‘On Chesil Beach’, ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ and More ..

    [caption id="attachment_27690" align="aligncenter" width="1080"]On Chesil Beach On Chesil Beach[/caption] The Ashland Independent Film Festival announced its lineup for the five-day festival taking place April 12 to 16, 2018, and featuring over 120 films chosen from nearly a thousand films submitted to the festival, or specially selected by AIFF Artistic and Executive Director Richard Herskowitz. Special screenings include the upcoming features First Reformed (directed by Paul Schrader and starring Ethan Hawke), On Chesil Beach with Saoirse Ronan, Brett Haley’s Hearts Beat Loud with Nick Offerman, Andrew Haigh’s Oregon-filmed Lean on Pete, and Borg vs. McEnroe, starring Shia LeBoeuf, plus 2018 Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentaries Minding the Gap, On Her Shoulders, and Crime + Punishment.

    Award Recipients

    AIFF will present Rogue Awards to two special guests, Academy Award®-winning actor Chris Cooper and Seattle-based director Lynn Shelton. Cooper launched his film acting career with his role as a union organizer in Matewan, the first of five films he appeared in directed by John Sayles, and won the Academy Award in 2002 for his supporting role in Adaptation. In addition to participating in the TalkBack panel “Talking Acting with Chris Cooper,” Cooper will present on Opening Night the world premiere of a film he narrated and executive produced, Intelligent Lives, accompanied by director Dan Habib and executive producer Marianne Leone Cooper. Cooper met Marianne Leone in 1979 at an acting class in New York City. Their son, Jesse Lanier Cooper, was born three months prematurely in October 1987 and developed cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Chris and Marianne became advocates for inclusive education and champions of kids with special needs. Jesse was a mainstreamed student at Silver Lake Regional High School where he was an honor student. In 2005, Jesse died suddenly from a seizure at age 17. Intelligent Lives explores how our society’s narrow views of intelligence have led to the segregation of people with intellectual disabilities. AIFF will also present a Rogue Award to Lynn Shelton, who will present her sixth feature film, Outside In, starring Edie Falco and Jay Duplass and released by The Orchard. Shelton, proudly based in Seattle, has had a stellar career as an independent film director since winning the Grand Jury Award at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival with her debut feature, We Go Way Back. Since then, Shelton’s films, including Humpday (2009), Your Sister’s Sister (AIFF2012), and Laggies (2012) have garnered awards and acclaim at Sundance, the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the Gotham Independent Film Awards, as well as theatrical distribution from Magnolia and A24. Beginning with Mad Men in 2010, Lynn has directed over 25 episodes of television series including New Girl, Fresh Off the Boat, Master of None, Maron, and GLOW. The recipient of AIFF’s 2018 Pride Award, honoring filmmakers who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ media, is Zackary Drucker, an independent media artist and trans woman whose work crosses boundaries between the art world and popular culture. Drucker has performed and exhibited her work internationally in museums, galleries, and film festivals including the 2014 Whitney Biennial, MoMA PS1, Hammer Museum, and SF MoMA, among others. She is also a producer on the Golden Globe® and Emmy®-winning Amazon series Transparent. She will screen an episode of this series and two films featuring her late friend and mentor, Flawless Sabrina: Drucker’s video, She Gone Rogue and The Queen, Frank Simon’s rarely screened documentary of the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant. Other special guests attending this year’s Festival include James Ivory, recipient of AIFF2017’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2018 Academy Award for his screenplay of Call Me By Your Name. Ivory will return to present the restored classic Shakespeare Wallah and join in a conversation after the screening with Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Director Bill Rauch. AIFF is reaffirming its mission to promote independent filmmaking by honoring companies that have built the infrastructure of the independent film movement and challenged Hollywood’s dominance. This year, tribute will be paid to Milestone Films, which has gained an international reputation for releasing classic cinema masterpieces, groundbreaking documentaries, and American independent features. Since 2007, Milestone has concentrated on the restoration and worldwide distribution of films outside the Hollywood mainstream featuring “lost” films by and about African Americans, Native Americans, LGBTQ, and women. Milestone co-founders Dennis Doros and Amy Heller will present their recent restoration of No Maps on My Taps, accompanied by its director, George Nierenberg. The screening will be followed by a live performance and “tap-in” (with all audience members who bring tap shoes) led by dancer Suzanne Seiber. The second “Indie Institution” honoree will be the Independent Documentary Association (IDA). IDA’s educational, advocacy, production support, and exhibition programs, including the Pare Lorentz and Enterprise Documentary Funds and Documentary Magazine, provide resources, create community and defend rights and freedom for documentary artists, activists, and journalists. IDA’s Director of Programming and Policy, Claire Aguilar, joined by the films’ directors and subjects, will present The Blessing (an IDA Pare Lorentz Fund grantee) and Crime + Punishment (Enterprise Documentary Fund grantee, and winner of a jury prize at Sundance). Aguilar will also moderate the TalkBack panel “Seeking Justice in Documentary.” According to Festival director Richard Herskowitz, “The tribute to Milestone Films’ restoration and distribution is part of a larger programming focus this year on classic cinema that includes Shakespeare Wallah and No Maps on My Taps. Exposure to classic films, I believe, inspires indie film audiences and filmmakers (from James Ivory to Lynn Shelton) to question and reinvent filmmaking conventions.” The emphasis on classic film is highlighted in this year’s festival posters, based on images from the animated films of Stacey Steers. Steers’ sculptural media installations will be on view at the Schneider Museum of Art as part of an exhibition, The Animated Image ( April 12 – May 12) co-curated by Herskowitz and Schneider Museum director Scott Malbaurn. Also in this exhibition are animated media installations by Chris Doyle, Rick Silva, and Matt Bollinger. Steers’ trilogy of animated films featuring collages of silent film actresses in magical settings will be presented with new scores composed by Ashland-based composers Terry Longshore and Tessa Brinckman, which they will perform live on Saturday, April 14 at SOU Music Recital Hall. Also on that program will be a live performance accompanying the Russian silent film The Dying Swan, a Milestone Films release, with a score created by Ashland-based international opera and film score composer Joby Talbot. Talbot will perform on piano, joined by cellist Michal Palzewicz and violinist Jessica Lambert. Other classic film-themed screenings include Love, Cecil, the documentary on Academy Award-winning costume and set designer and photographer Cecil Beaton that will be accompanied by its director Lisa Immordino Vreeland. Film archivist Michael Zahs, the charismatic film archivist and subject of the documentary feature film Saving Brinton, will demonstrate an early Magic Lantern, a progenitor of the film projector, following Saving Brinton’s screening at the Historic Ashland Armory. Zahs will also demonstrate the Magic Lantern to kids during AIFF’s Family Day of film presentations and hands-on filmmaking activities at ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum on Saturday, April 14.

    2018Ashland Independent Film Festival Program Summary

    2018 Documentary Feature Selections

    América The Blessing Citizen Blue & The March Crime + Punishment Dark Money Five Seasons The Foreigner’s Home The Gospel of Eureka I Am Maris: Portrait of a Young Yogi Intelligent Lives Itzhak The King Liyana Love, Cecil Minding the Gap Modified Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End No Maps on My Taps On Her Shoulders One October The Queen The Reluctant Radical & Symphony for Nature: The Britt Orchestra at Crater Lake A River Below Saving Brinton Skid Row Marathon Sky and Ground A Tuba to Cuba Two Trains Runnin’

    2018 Narrative Feature Selections

    Back at the Staircase Borg v. McEnroe The Dying Swan First Reformed For Izzy Fort Maria Hearts Beat Loud The Last Hot Lick Lean on Pete On Chesil Beach Outside In People People The Rainbow Experiment Shakespeare Wallah Wild Honey

    SHORTS PROGRAMS

    Curated Programs CineSpace KidFlix: Best of the New York Children’s International Film Festival Animated Worlds: Stop-Motion Classics with Mark Shapiro Zackary Drucker: Trans Film Television Competition Program Short Stories 1: In the Light of Day Short Stories 2: After Hours Short Docs 1: About Work Short Docs 2: About Community Short Stories and Docs: About Family Locals Only Locals Only 1: Family Friendly – Launch Student Film Competition Locals Only 2: Ashland Roots Locals Only 3: On the River, On the Land

    PERFORMANCES

    Silent Scores: The Dying Swan and Stacey Steers’ Trilogy with Tessa Brinckman, Terry Longshore, and Joby Talbot Live Tap-in with Suzanne Seiber following No Maps on My Taps

    FAMILY DAY AT SCIENCEWORKS

    Saturday, April 14, 10am-5pm: Hands-on film activities and presentations by NASA’s Ralph Grau, archivist Michael Zahs, and LAIKA’s Mark Shapiro

    AIFF MEDFORD

    4 shows at Collaborative Theatre Project on March 21, April 14 and 16, and a special screening at Kids Unlimited of Dolores with Peter Bratt and Dolores Huerta (May 3)

    EXHIBITION AT SCHNEIDER MUSEUM OF ART: THE ANIMATED IMAGE

    Media installations by Stacey Steers, Chris Doyle, Matt Bollinger, and Rick Silva on view April 12 – May 12.

    TALKBACKS

    Talking Acting with Chris Cooper Seeking Justice in Documentary Composing Scores for Classic and Contemporary Films

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  • 2018 Miami Film Festival Award Winners – A SORT OF FAMILY Wins Best Film | Complete List

    2018 Miami Film Festival Award Winners Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival unveiled award winners this past weekend and Argentine Diego Lerman’s drama A Sort of Family (Una especie de familia) won the top award – the Grand Jury Prize for Best Film. The film is currently nominated for 8 Argentinian Academy Awards (Premios Sur), including Best Picture and Best Director. The Festival’s Audience Award for Best Feature went to the Argentina-Spain co-production The Last Suit (El último traje), written and directed by Argentine Pablo Solarz. The film is being released theatrically in the US by Outsider Pictures on March 23rd. “The Driver is Red”, a true crime documentary set in Argentina in 1960, directed by American filmmaker Randall Christopher, won the Audience Award for Best Short Film. The $10,000 Knight Documentary Achievement Award, voted on by the public, was split equally between three US films in a race that Festival Director Jaie Laplante said was simply “too close to call”. The winning films included two films that world premiered at the Festival: When The Beat Drops, directed by celebrity choreographer and first time filmmaker Jamal Sims; and Amigo Skate, Cuba, directed by first-time feature director Vanesa Wilkey-Escobar. The films share the cash award and title with a third film, Liyana (a co-production with Swaziland), directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp. Mateo Gil won the Knight Competition Best Director award and $5,000 cash for The Laws of Thermodynamics (Las leyes de la termodinámica), which world premiered at the Festival on the same day Netflix announced that it had acquired worldwide SVOD rights to the title. Rodrigo Sorogoyen, recent winner of Spain’s Goya (Academy Award) for Best Short Film with “Mother” (“Madre”), repeated that feat at Miami Film Festival as Grand Jury Winner of the IMDbPro Short Film Competition. The acclaimed Venezuelan feature La familia written and directed by Gustavo Rondón Córdova, won two awards: the $10,000 HBO Ibero-American Feature Film Award, and the Rene Rodriguez Critics Award. The $10,000 Jordan Ressler Screenwriting Award for best first-produced screenplay in the Festival went to France’s Xavier Legrand, for the film Custody (Jusqu’à la garde). The film will be released theatrically in the US by Kino Lorber. The $5,000 Knight Competition Best Performance Award went to Cesar Troncoso from Uruguay’s Another Story of the World (Otra historia del mundo). The Festival’s inaugural $10,000 Knight Made in MIA Competition, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, open to any film – short or feature, documentary or narrative – in the Festival’s Official Selection that features a qualitatively/quantitatively substantial portion of its content (story, setting and actual filming location) in South Florida, from West Palm Beach to the Florida Keys, and that most universally demonstrates a common ground of pride, emotion, and faith for the South Florida community, went to David Abel’s Gladesmen: The Last of the Sawgrass Cowboys. The $5,000 Zeno Mountain Award is a $5,000 cash prize established at Miami Film Festival’s 2017 edition and funded by Miami-based Fringe Partners, seeking to reward a film of any length or genre in the Festival’s Official Selection which helps break down barriers to our understanding of people living with disabilities, went to the short documentary about the legacy of a Miami Beach high school educator whose incredible achievements were undaunted by his affliction with multiple sclerosis: “Carry That Weight: A Rockumentary” by Brian J. Leitten. The Jordan Ressler Screenwriting Award, sponsored by the family of the late Jordan Alexander Ressler, an aspiring screenwriter and Cornell film studies graduate who died in a tragic hiking accident at the age of 23, before realizing his dream, was presented by Ressler family member Gary Ressler, after the winner was unveiled by jury members, filmmaker Matthew Porterfield (Sollers Point), international programmer Jane Schoettle, and Miami-based writer, actor and storyteller Rudi Goblen. The Jordan Ressler jury also elected to give an Honorable Mention for Audacity of Vision to Georgian screenwriter and filmmaker Ana Urushadze for her debut Scary Mother. Earlier in the week, the Festival’s CinemaSlam competition for work of undergraduate and graduate students in Miami/South Florida film schools was unveiled by jury members, artist Omilani Alarcón and filmmaker Michael Arcos, speaking on behalf of fellow jury member and filmmaker Jessica Kavana Dornbusch. This year’s winning film was “Rene de Dios and the South Beach Shark Club” by Miami Dade College student Robert Requejo Ramos.

    2018 Miami Film Festival Award Winners

    KNIGHT COMPETITION

    BEST FILM: $30,000 GRAND PRIZE – A Sort of Family (Una especie de familia) (ARGENTINA, Campo Cine – Directed by Diego Lerman) BEST DIRECTOR: $5,000 PRIZE– MATEO GIL for The Laws of Thermodynamics (Las leyes de la termodinámica) (SPAIN) BEST PERFORMANCE: $5,000 PRIZE – Cesar Troncoso for Another Story of the World (Otra historia del mundo) (URUGUAY)

    KNIGHT MADE IN MIA AWARD

    BEST FILM: $10,000 PRIZE – Gladesmen: The Last of the Sawgrass Cowboys (USA, directed by David Abel)

    HBO IBERO-AMERICAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

    BEST FILM: $10,000 PRIZE –  La familia (VENEZUELA/CHILE/NORWAY, La Pandilla Producciones, directed by Gustavo Rondón Córdova)

    JORDAN RESSLER SCREENWRITING COMPETITION

    BEST SCREENPLAY: $10,000 PRIZE –  XAVIER LEGRAND for Custody (FRANCE) Honorable Mention:  Ana Urushadze for Scary Mother (GEORGIA/ESTONIA)

    KNIGHT DOCUMENTARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

    BEST FILM: $10,000 PRIZE (3-WAY TIE):
    • When The Beat Drops (USA), directed by Jamal Sims
    • Amigo Skate, Cuba (USA) directed by Vanesa Wilkey-Escobar
    • Liyana (USA/Swaziland/Qatar), directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp

    ZENO MOUNTAIN AWARD:

    $5,000 Prize –  “Carry That Weight: A Rockumentary” (USA), directed by Brian J. Leitten

    AUDIENCE AWARD (FEATURE FILM):

    THE LAST SUIT (ARGENTINA/SPAIN), directed by Pablo Solarz

    IMDB PRO SHORT FILM AWARD:

    BEST FILM: $2,500 PRIZE – MOTHER (SPAIN), directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen

    AUDIENCE AWARD (SHORT FILM):

    THE DRIVER IS RED (USA) directed by Randall Christopher

    RENE RODRIGUEZ CRITICS AWARD:

    BEST FILM: La familia (VENEZUELA/CHILE/NORWAY, La Pandilla Producciones, directed by Gustavo Rondón Córdova)

    CINEMASLAM

    CINEMASLAM CHAMPION –RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College) Best Narrative Film: P.R.A. NATION – Jorge L. Martinez F. (University of Miami) Best Director: Robert Ramos  – RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College) Best Writing: Robert Ramos  – RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College) Best Actor: Jaydev Hemrajani – ZINDAGI (University of Miami) Best Actress: Samantha Miller – CHERRY (University of Miami) Best Technical Achievement: RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College) Cinemaslam Audience Award – Opposite Sex by Lidia Rosa Hernandez from Center of Cinematography, Arts, and Television

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  • Tribeca 2018: Fest to Celebrate Anniversaries of Schindler’s List, Scarface + Sam Rockwell, Steven Spielberg, and more on Tribeca Talks Lineup

    [caption id="attachment_27679" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Schindler’s List Schindler’s List[/caption] The 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival, running April 18-29,  will celebrate the anniversaries of Schindler’s List, Scarface, and In the Soup, bringing three classics back to the big screen, and the Tribeca Talks program returns this year featuring an exciting lineup of discussions with acclaimed filmmakers, artists, entertainers, and icons. Director Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, Schindler’s List, which won seven Oscars®, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special post-screening conversation with Spielberg and actors Liam Neeson, Sir Ben Kingsley, Embeth Davidtz, and more. Scarface, one of the most referenced films in pop culture, will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a screening and conversation with director Brian De Palma and actors Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Anniversary celebrations of Schindler’s List and Scarface will take place at the Beacon Theatre, tickets go on sale tomorrow, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. Director Alexandre Rockwell’s hidden treasure, In the Soup, celebrates its 25th anniversary with the exclusive world premiere 4K restoration, followed by a conversation with the director, actors Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Beals, Sam Rockwell, and cinematographer Phil Parmet. Groundbreaking filmmakers participating in the Tribeca Talks: Directors Series include Alexander Payne, Lesli Linka Glatter, Jason Reitman, Laura Poitras, and Nancy Meyers. Tribeca Talks: Storytellers, which spotlights pioneering creators who work across mediums to tell their stories, will feature an eclectic lineup of entertainers including Bradley Cooper, Alec Baldwin, Spike Lee, John Legend, Edward Burns, and Jamie Foxx. Debuting this year is Tribeca Talks: The Journey, which will feature a conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker about her career path across multiple endeavors. “As we welcome new filmmakers to the Tribeca community, it is a great time to pause and take a look back at master filmmakers and some of their singular works that have changed filmmaking and influenced popular culture,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. “Our anniversary screenings and our Talks allow a rare behind the scenes look at the creative process – be it director, actor, songwriter – we give our audiences a window into the thoughts and inspiration of the best story tellers working today.” The Tribeca Talks: Master Class, focuses on specific sectors of the filmmaking process and this year will present Writing & Showrunning for TV from the prolific creator duo Robert and Michelle King and Executive Producers from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Steve Bodow and Jennifer Flanz. There will also be a Sound & Music Design for Film Master Class with Glenn Kiser, Director of the Dolby Institute. Tribeca Talks: The Future of Film unveils the promising intersection of storytelling and technology and how innovations like Blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence are influencing the industry. Rounding out the Talks program, and part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, is a conversation with the team from the 30 for 30 podcast series on bikram yoga. “A key component of the creative community the Festival fosters is celebrating and learning from some of the all-time greats in our industry,” said Cara Cusumano, Tribeca’s Director of Programming. “Tribeca’s Talks and Reunions expand the movies beyond the screen through these illuminating live events with some of today’s most engaging cinematic voices.”

    REUNIONS

    Schindler’s List – 25th Anniversary Steven Spielberg’s 1993 epic masterpiece Schindler’s List, remains one of contemporary cinema’s most challenging and sensitive portraits on the human toll of the Holocaust. Anchored by stunning performances from Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Embeth Davidtz, the film received near universal acclaim, going on to win seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, with an additional five nominations. Twenty-five years later, Schindler’s List continues to be widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. A Universal Pictures release. After the Screening: a conversation with director Steven Spielberg and actors Liam NeesonSir Ben Kingsley and Embeth Davidtz. Moderated by New York Times critic Janet Maslin. DATE: Thursday, April 26 TIME: 6:30 PM LOCATION: Beacon Theatre Scarface – 35th Anniversary, Sponsored by Kia Brian De Palma’s modernization of Howard Hawks’ 1932 classic Scarface is a somber consideration for the humanizing motives of evil men. It went on to receive three Golden Globe nominations and became one of the most referenced films in pop culture. Al Pacino delivers his riskiest performance in a career-defining role, garnering a cult following for the film. Revisit the gangland masterpiece thirty-five years later, a rich, harrowing, eminently quotable ride to excess and self-destruction that laid the groundwork for all the anti-hero stories to come. A Universal Pictures release. After the Screening: a conversation with director Brian De Palma and actors Al Pacinoand Michelle Pfeiffer. DATE: Thursday, April 19 TIME: 7:00 PM LOCATION: Beacon Theatre In the Soup – Restoration; 25th Anniversary Directed by Alexandre Rockwell, In the Soup portrays the story of Adolpho (Steve Buscemi), who is writing a screenplay from his crumbling NYC apartment, and falling for the girl-next-door. In a desperate attempt to get his screenplay funded, he connects with Joe (Seymour Cassel), a shady high-roller willing to play dirty. After winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1992, the film all but disappeared and only one damaged archival print remained. Through the efforts of Factory 25 and a Kickstarter campaign, the film’s print has been restored. Join us in celebrating the world premiere of the 4K restoration of In the Soup, a hidden treasure of American cinema. A Factory 25 Release, After the Screening: a conversation with director Alexandre Rockwell, actors Steve BuscemiJennifer Beals, and Sam Rockwell, and cinematographer Phil Parmet. DATE: Tuesday, April 24 TIME: 7:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre

    TRIBECA TALKS: DIRECTORS SERIES

    Today’s most groundbreaking filmmakers discuss their careers and highlights. Alexander Payne Academy Award-winner Alexander Payne will discuss his career as the writer/director of notable satires and dark comedies (Election, Citizen Ruth and Downsizing), as well as family comedy-dramas (The DescendantsAbout Schmidt and Nebraska). DATE: Saturday, April 28 TIME: 3:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre Jason Reitman with Tamara Jenkins & New York Premiere of Tully Following the New York Premiere of his film Tully, writer, director, and producer Jason Reitman will sit down with revered writer/director Tamara Jenkins (The Savages, Slums of Beverly Hills)to discuss his latest film, as well as his eminent career as the writer/director of witty, satirical indie comedies such as Thank you For Smoking and Up in the Air. Reitman’s collaborations with screenwriter Diablo Cody have produced such memorable films as Young Adult and Juno, the latter of which was Roger Ebert’s favorite film of 2007. Nominated for four Academy Awards by the age of 32, and the winner of a Golden Globe for best screenplay for Up in the Air, Reitman has established himself as a formidable voice in independent filmmaking. Tully, directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody. Produced by Diablo Cody, A.J. Dix, Helen Estabrook, Aaron L. Gilbert, Beth Kono, Mason Novick, Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman. (USA) – A harried mother of three crosses paths with a free-spirited nanny named Tully in this charming, modern take on the fairy godmother story. With Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston. A release from Focus Features  DATE: Thursday, April 19 TIME: 5:15 PM LOCATION: BMCC Tribeca PAC Laura Poitras Academy Award-winning filmmaker, journalist and artist Laura Poitras has spent her career uncovering America’s hidden truths. Her film CITIZENFOUR won an Oscar for best documentary feature, and My Country, My Country was an Academy Award nominee in 2007. Poitras received the George Polk Award for National Security Journalism and in 2014 she shared the Pulitzer Prize for public service. She is the co-creator of the visual journalism project Field of Vision. DATE: Saturday, April 28 TIME: 4:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre Nancy Meyers with Carrie Rickey Trailblazing writer, director and producer Nancy Meyers will discuss her illustrious body of work with the astute and distinguished film critic and writer Carrie Rickey, whose body of work explores art that reflects the female experience. Together, they will walk through Nancy’s prolific career, from her auspicious debut as the co-screenwriter of the groundbreaking film Private Benjamin, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, to her landmark work as the writer/director of such films asIt’s Complicated, Something’s Gotta Give and The Intern. Meyers has the uncanny ability to tap into the very heart of modern relationships, and her films have chronicled women and men, at work and in love, in a singular fashion that makes each film instantly recognizable as a Nancy Meyers movie. DATE: Wednesday, April 25 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub Lesli Linka Glatter with Claire Danes Virtuosic filmmaker Lesli Linka Glatter is one of the most prolific television directors in the industry, with more than 100 hours of episodic television, seven Emmy nominations and 2 DGA Awards under her belt. Her impressive and innumerable directorial credits include: Twin Peaks, Freaks and Geeks, Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, Mad Men andHomeland, for which she is also an executive producer. To discuss her illustrious career, Lesli will be joined by her Homeland collaborator and esteemed actress Claire Danes, whose versatility and tenacity as a performer has garnered her three Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes and two SAG Awards. These two seminal and intrepid women will discuss their impressive careers and the trails they’ve blazed for women in a profession that continues to be dominated by men. DATE: Thursday, April 26 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub

    TRIBECA TALKS: STORYTELLERS

    Celebrating some of today’s most innovative creators who have broken from the mold and pioneered their own forms of storytelling, often mastering multiple mediums. Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper will sit down with Robert De Niro to discuss his career as an actor, producer and now director; from his early work in acclaimed comedies such as Wet Hot American SummerWedding Crashers and The Hangover trilogy, to his impactful dramatic turns in Silver Linings Playbook and American Sniper, which led to him becoming the tenth actor to receive an Academy Award nomination three years in a row. Most recently, Cooper has been working on his directorial debut, a modern adaptation of A Star is Born, which he also produced, co-wrote, and stars in alongside Lady Gaga. Cooper and De Niro have worked together on such films as Silver Linings PlaybookAmerican HustleJoy and Limitless which was their first picture together. DATE: Saturday, April 21 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub Alec Baldwin and Spike Lee Alec Baldwin and Spike Lee, two of the industry’s most prolific storytellers, will sit down and discuss in great detail their passionate and reverential relationship to film: their favorite movies of all time, the films that have influenced them as creators, and the power of storytelling. Spike Lee is an Academy Award-winning director, producer, writer, actor and activist and NYU Grad Film Tenured Professor, best known for his groundbreaking and acclaimed films, Do The Right ThingMalcolm X4 Little GirlsWhen The Levees Broke,25th Hour and Inside Man. Alec Baldwin is a critically acclaimed actor, writer, producer, and activist, most recognizable for his roles in BeetlejuiceThe Hunt for Red OctoberGlengarry Glen Ross30 Rock, and Saturday Night Live. He is also the hosts of his podcast, Here’s the Thing, for WNYC radio and is the author of three books. DATE: Tuesday, April 24 TIME: 8:30 PM LOCATION: The Festival Hub John Legend Celebrated singer, songwriter, actor, and producer, John Legend has been releasing billboard hits since his debut album Get Lifted in 2004. He’s earned a total of ten Grammy Awards. John Legend also formed a film and television production company, Get Lifted, in 2014, and executive produced and starred in La La Land and the hit television show, Underground. He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his song “Glory” in Selma. In addition to his work in music and film, Legend is also well known for his philanthropic work in education and criminal justice reform. He founded #FREEAMERICA, a campaign designed to change the national conversation of our country’s misguided policies and to make a change in America’s criminal justice system. DATE: Thursday, April 19 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre Edward Burns with Mike Vaccaro & World Premiere of Summertime In conjunction with the World Premiere of his film Summertime, actor, producer, writer, and director Edward Burns will sit down with award-winning journalist and lead sports columnist for The New York Post Mike Vaccaro to discuss his latest directorial effort, as well as his prolific career in front of and behind the camera. Burns launched his career as a writer/director/actor with The Brothers McMullen, the Grand Jury Prize winner at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, and went on to write, direct and act in She’s the OneSidewalks of New York, and Newlyweds. Burns is also known for his star-turning performance in Saving Private Ryan. Most recently, Burns made his mark in television, on the critically acclaimed series Public Morals for TNT and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, in which he wrote, directed, starred and executive produced. Summertime, directed and written by Edward Burns. Produced by Aaron Lubin, Edward Burns. (USA) – World Premiere. Set in the summer of 1983 in Rockaway Beach, the film follows a group of recent high school and college graduates as they work summer jobs, fall in and out of love, and prepare for their new worlds to begin after Labor Day weekend. With Pico Alexander, Edward Burns, Amadeus Serafini, Caitlin Stasey, Rita Volk, Lindsey Morgan, Anthony Ramos. DATE: Friday, April 27 TIME: 8:00 PM LOCATION: BMCC Tribeca PAC Jamie Foxx Prolific actor, musician, and comedian Jamie Foxx is a Hollywood triple threat. Perhaps his most iconic role as an actor, his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, landed him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA in 2005. The very same year, Foxx was nominated for a second Oscar for his acting in the film Collateral, making him only the second man in history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for two different roles. In addition to film, Foxx is a GRAMMY award-winning musician, producing four albums that have charted the top ten of the US Billboard 200. Recently, Foxx has taken on the dual role of host and executive producer for the game show Beat Shazam, which will have its second season premiere in May on FOX, and he will also be appearing in Robin Hood, scheduled for theatrical release in November. DATE: Monday, April 23 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: BMCC Tribeca PAC

    TRIBECA TALKS: THE JOURNEY

    Industry stalwarts take the stage to discuss the bold choices they have made throughout their careers that have pushed them towards their achievements This new series will extend year-round with TUMI taking The Journey on the road throughout 2018 with the first Talk starting at the Festival. Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker will discuss her illustrious career across multiple platforms in Broadway, film, television, fashion and the literary world. From acting and producing with her Emmy Award-winning role in Sex & the City to her current show Divorce, for which she has been nominated for a Golden Globe. She has become synonymous with New York where she lives and runs her own production company Pretty Matches. She will speak to the path she has so boldly crafted for herself to forge such achievements. DATE: Friday, April 27 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub MASTER CLASS Supported by The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Tribeca Talks: Master Class events featuring conversations focusing on a specific sector of the filmmaking process. These programs are free. Writing & Showrunning for TV American television writing duo, Robert and Michelle King, will sit down with The Daily Show Executive Producers Steve Bodow and Jennifer Flanz, to discuss what it takes to write and produce a compelling show and the grit required to churn out episodes that feel timely and fresh. The Kings are a Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award-nominated writing team. Their work on their two major hit series The Good Wife and The Good Fighttouch on a wide range of issues, from political corruption to cyber-security — making their shows simultaneously gripping and true to life. Bodow and Flanz have collectively won over 20 Primetime Emmy Awards for The Daily Show’s hilariously cutting political satire, garnering remarkable success and notoriety for the show. DATE: Saturday, April 28 TIME: 2:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre Sound & Music Design for Film Since 1927, sound has transported film audiences from the theater to the alternate realities projected on the screen in front of them. From the haunting theme of Jaws to the lightsabers of Star Wars, filmmakers know that sound has the power to surprise, uplift, and terrify. But what if you’re a low-budget filmmaker working on a documentary or narrative film without access to big studio budgets or musicians and sound teams? Join festival film creators as they discuss the art of designing sound and music that will stick with people long after watching a movie, no matter the size of your budget. Moderated byGlenn Kiser, Director of the Dolby Institute. DATE: Friday, April 20 TIME: 5:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre

    TRIBECA TALKS: FUTURE OF FILM

    Tribeca Talks: The Future of Film is anchored to conversations around storytelling and technology. These programs are free. Artificial Intelligence and Augmented & Reality: The Future of Immersive Storytelling Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two tech advances with the potential to fundamentally change society. AR layers digital information onto our actual reality, while AI allows machines to learn in an unprecedented way. How are these innovative technologies being used to forge new methods of storytelling, and are they the future of immersive entertainment? Panelists include Fable Studios co-founder Edward Saatchi, and Asad Malik, the creator of Terminal 3, an interactive AR documentary which is world premiering in the Tribeca Immersive program. DATETuesday, April 24 TIME1:00 PM LOCATIONTribeca Festival Hub Education and Advocacy in VR Virtual Reality (VR) is creating new and unique opportunities for teachers, creators, advocates, and audiences to connect in meaningful ways. Leaders in the field will show how VR is forging new means to immerse its viewers in issues in order to inspire, educate, and effect change. Panelists include the creator of SPHERES: Pale Blue DotEliza McNitt, the co-creator of 1000 Cut JourneyCourtney Cogburn, Executive Producer of Oculus VR for GoodAmy Seidenwurm, and Elise Pearlstein, Executive Producer of This is Climate Change and SVP of and TV and Film at Participant Media.  DATETuesday, April 24 TIME2:00 PM LOCATIONTribeca Festival Hub Blockchain: Can Blockchain Breed Blockbusters? Blockchain was originally devised for the digital currency Bitcoin, but the tech community is now finding other potential uses for the technology, from feeding digital kittens to funding films. Blockchain-based funding has the potential to enable new and creative stories to be financed that might have otherwise been turned away by Hollywood studio executives. Blockchain technology is being positioned to disrupt the traditional method of financing and distribution in the film world, but what does this mean for the industry? Panelists include the writer/director of Braid, Mitzi Peirone. DATEMonday, April 23 TIME1:00 PM LOCATIONTribeca Festival Hub Interactive Technology in Storytelling  Entertainment media is finally evolving, and its technology which is revolutionizing it for the truly digital age. Join us in conversation with the world’s leading interactive video technology, Wirewax, and globally-renowned tastemakers Netflix, Digital Reign amongst others, to unveil how they’re poised to ride this new wave of digital entertainment. We’ll get inside the minds of those who are leading the march and using interactive video to deepen audience involvement and depart from passive video consumption. Panelists include David Shlafman, Interactive Originals at Netflix and Evette Vargas, CEO of Digital Reign. DATE: Friday, April 20 TIME: 1:00 PM  LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub The Game-Changer: Building Faster, Smarter Games on the Cloud  How can you game faster, build smarter and meet gamer demands through creating games on the cloud? Come and play games created by New York City game developers in a 48-hour game jam and join them as they discuss the process of designing and building games on the cloud inspired by the theme “Acceleration.” IBM will partner with Tribeca Games for a game jam for 15 of New York’s top independent game developers. The jam will bring together three teams of five developers to build three new games using IBM tools and technology. These games will be made available for play during the Festival in the Festival Lounge at theTribeca Festival Hub. DATE: Monday, April 21 TIME: 1:00 PM LOCATION: Tribeca Festival Hub

    TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL TALK

    Tribeca Talks: 30 for 30 Podcast – Bikram  ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts will premiere its first serialized season this spring: five episodes that delve deep into the complicated world of Bikram Yoga, a community grappling with its identity and survival and amid sexual assault allegations against its charismatic founder, Bikram Choudhury. Reporter and producer Julia Lowrie Henderson and host and editor Jody Avirgan will sit down to discuss their experience diving into this powerful story that offers timely lessons for how we think about sports, gender, power and community, as well as play an exclusive clip from the upcoming season. DATE: Friday, April 27 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theatre

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  • Faith-Based Documentary “Fragments of Truth” in Theaters One Night Only – April 24 | Trailer

    Fragments of Truth The debate over the reliability of the New Testament changes in “Fragments of Truth,” coming to U.S. movie theaters this April for a special one-night event. Famed evangelical New Testament scholar and author Dr. Craig Evans discusses new evidence concerning Gospel manuscripts that allegedly reinforce the New Testament’s authenticity. The feature content will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Reuben Evans and Dr. Craig Evans. Fathom Events and Faithlife Films partner to present “Fragments of Truth” in nearly 750 U.S. movie theaters on Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. local time, through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change). Is the Bible trustworthy? In this new documentary from Faithlife Films, narrated by actor John Rhys-Davies (“Indiana Jones,” “Lord of the Rings”), Dr. Craig Evans takes this question head on, traveling the globe to track down the most ancient New Testament manuscripts. Along the way, he highlights groundbreaking new evidence that is changing the debate. Audiences will hear from scholars who have devoted their lives to learning and discovering how the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament manuscripts is stronger than ever. “Questions regarding the reliability of the Bible have been debated by scholars worldwide for centuries,” Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. “‘Fragments of Truth’ will give audiences of all ages new understanding on the power of the New Testament and ultimately help strengthen their faith.” “The challenges to the reliability of the Gospels have never been greater,” said director Reuben Evans. “But when we heard about the latest research Dr. Craig Evans published, we knew this was a story that we had to tell.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GZrU7NT210

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  • BLINDSPOTTING Starring Daveed Diggs to Open 2018 Atlanta Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_27673" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal appear in Blindspotting by Carlos López Estrada Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal appear in Blindspotting by Carlos López Estrada[/caption] Blindspotting, the upcoming feature film debut from director Carlos López Estrada starring Daveed Diggs, will kick off the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) on Friday, April 13, 2018. Diggs, who co-wrote the film with lifelong friend Rafael Casal as a provocative yet challenging love letter to their hometown of Oakland, will attend the April 13 red carpet screening at the Plaza Theatre with Casal and will receive an ATLFF Innovator Award. This year, ATLFF will launch a new initiative to honor Originators, Innovators and Rebels in the film industry, a symbolic gesture in the spirit of key figures who have helped shape Atlanta’s story. Daveed Diggs will be the first recipient of the ATLFF Innovator Award.

    The Film

    BLINDSPOTTING Directed by Carlos López Estrada USA, 2018, English, 95 minutes Collin (Daveed Diggs) must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning.  He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles (Rafael Casal), work as movers and are forced to watch their old neighborhood become a trendy spot in the rapidly gentrifying Bay Area. When a life-altering event causes Collin to miss his mandatory curfew, the two men struggle to maintain their friendship as the changing social landscape exposes their differences. Lifelong friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in this timely and wildly entertaining story about friendship and the intersection of race and class set against the backdrop of Oakland.  Bursting with energy, style and humor, “Blindspotting,” boldly directed by Carlos López Estrada in his feature film debut, is a provocative hometown love letter that glistens with humanity.

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  • “Rock My Heart,” “Shadow Boxer,” and “The Witch Hunters” Win Prizes at 2018 TIFF Kids International Film Festival

    2018 TIFF Kids International Film Festival Young People's Jury
    2018 TIFF Kids International Film Festival Young People’s Jury

    Hanno Olderdissen’s coming-of-age tale Rock My Heart came out on top as the TIFF Kids Festival People’s Choice Favourite Feature Film award winner at this year’s 2018 TIFF Kids International Film Festival. 

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  • Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Bosworth Honored + “Outside In” “Nona” “Minding the Gap” Win at 2018 Sun Valley Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_27663" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]FILM: OUTSIDE IN. PRODUCERS: MEL ESLYN, LACEY LEAVITT; EX PRODUCERS JAY & MARK DUPLASS. DIRECTOR LYNN SHELTON. PHOTO CREDIT: LILA STREICHER/SVFF FILM: OUTSIDE IN. PRODUCERS: MEL ESLYN, LACEY LEAVITT; EX PRODUCERS JAY & MARK DUPLASS. DIRECTOR LYNN SHELTON. PHOTO CREDIT: LILA STREICHER/SVFF[/caption] An intimate dinner celebrating the diverse achievements of Academy Award winning actress, author and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow was followed last night by the Sun Valley Film Festival Awards Bash, where Science Fair, directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster won the festival’s top prize – Audience Award.   The Festival awarded over $22,500 in cash prizes and countless mentorship opportunities to independent filmmakers. Special guests Sir Sly brought down the house as filmmakers, attendees and special guests raised a glass to toast another successful Festival.

    Film Awards

    Audience Award WINNER: Science Fair, directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster Producer’s Vision Award – This award recognizes a producer’s ability to keep a dramatic, feature length film in focus during the journey of the project. WINNER: Outside In, produced by Mel Eslyn and Lacey Leavitt; executive produced by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass; directed by Lynn Shelton [caption id="attachment_27664" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]FILMS: NARRATIVE - MIND THE GAP. DIRECTOR BING LUI. DOCUMENTARY-NONA. DIRECTOR MICHAEL POLISH, PRODUCER KATE BOSWORTH. PHOTO: LILA STREICHER FILMS: NARRATIVE – MIND THE GAP. DIRECTOR BING LUI. DOCUMENTARY-NONA. DIRECTOR MICHAEL POLISH, PRODUCER KATE BOSWORTH. PHOTO: LILA STREICHER[/caption] One in a Million Awards – The One in a Million Awards honor feature length stories made for under one million dollars. One narrative and one documentary film are each awarded. NARRATIVE WINNER: Nona, directed by Michael Polish, produced by Kate Bosworth DOCUMENTARY WINNER: Minding the Gap, directed by Bing Liu The Shorty Award – The best short film across all categories. WINNER: Uzma the Greatest, directed by Christopher Hawthorne Gem State Award – presented by Festival sponsor Zions Bank, this $1,000 jury prize recognizes an Idaho filmmaker whose work best reflects the beauty and diversity of the Gem State. WINNER: Haymaker, directed by Robert Moncrief

    SVFF Film & Screenwriting Competition Winners

    Nat Geo WILD TO INSPIRE – The lucky winner will get to try their hand at filmmaking National Geographic style as they depart on an expedition to Africa to document wildlife for Nat Geo WILD viewers WINNER: The Embodiment of Hope, directed by Marvi Lacar and Benjamin Lowy High Scribe – The competition gives finalists an opportunity for one-on-one meetings with some of the industry’s finest to discuss their work; the winner receives mentoring from an experienced professional. The lab host was Jay Duplass and judge was Kevin Walsh. WINNER: Dark Horizons, by Carlo and Erin Carere 1 Potato Winner – The short screenplay competition awards the screenwriter a $5,000 stipend to help shoot their film in Idaho. WINNER: The Hole Truth, directed by Irish Johnston The Film Lab – Tito’s Handmade Vodka presented The Film Lab, hosted by Trevor Groth. Works-In-Progress films duked it out for $5,000 in finishing funds, and received the unique experience of a ‘soft launch’ as they work to finalize their film. WINNER: A Name Without a Place, written and directed by Kenny Riches Future Filmmaker Forum – showcases student-made films and encourages students in their craft, storytelling, and self-expression. The Sun Valley Film Festival Future Fimmakers Forum is presented by Bex Wilkinson & Peter Burke, with support from the Marshall Frankel Foundation and COX. WINNER: Aftershock, directed by Ryan Beard

    SVFF Special Awards

    [caption id="attachment_27662" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Bosworth receive awards at 2018 Sun Valley Film Festival Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Bosworth receive awards at 2018 Sun Valley Film Festival[/caption] SVFF VISION AWARD – pays tribute to an individual who has provided the keen insight, influence, and initiative to fulfill a creative vision. HONORED: Gwyneth Paltrow PIONEER AWARD – honors a producer or individual whose career choices are reflective of a true trailblazer. HONORED: Kate Bosworth HIGH SCRIBE AWARD – presented to a screenwriter who participates in a discussion on their current script and participates in a table read. HONORED: Jay Duplass and Lynn Shelton RISING STAR – presented to a breakthrough artist or filmmaker. HONORED: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II SNOW ANGEL AWARD – given for outstanding advocacy work with a focus on environmental sustainability. HONORED: Gregg Renfrew and Beautycounter

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  • I CAN ONLY IMAGINE Hits High Note As #1 New Indie Film At The Box Office | Trailer

    Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) and Amy Grant (Nicole DuPort) rehearse in the new film I CAN ONLY IMAGINE releasing March 16, 2018. Courtesy of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. Roadside Attractions is celebrating today – the Erwin Brothers faith-based family drama I Can Only Imagine shattered pre-weekend tracking expectations to become #3 at the box-office this weekend and the #1 faith-based movie of 2018.  The film took in an estimated $17,064,640 for a per-screen average of $10,475 from 1,629 locations in North America. The film received a rare A+ CinemaScore with an audience that was 67% female and 80% over 35. The weekend estimates include an exceptional $6,234,535 for Friday; $5,983,485 on Saturday; and a projected $4,846,620 for today. Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen commented, “When we first saw this incredibly well-crafted, emotional and moving film, we jumped on the opportunity to work with the Erwins and their team and our partners at Lionsgate on I Can Only Imagine. And we were not disappointed. This is Roadside’s highest grossing opening ever! With the trifecta of the song’s double platinum crossover appeal, the Erwin brothers success with such films as Moms’ Night Out and Woodlawn plus world-class talent like Dennis Quaid on board, we felt that the film’s inspiring story of hope and forgiveness made for a very compelling collaboration. With an A+ Cinemascore, we expect I Can Only Imagine will continue to play solidly through the Easter holiday and well into Spring.” “Howard, Eric, and the team at Roadside are incredibly talented and resourceful partners,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Joe Drake. “Their belief in this film, coupled with the vision of the filmmakers and our acquisition group’s ability to spot an amazing property, shows once again the vitality of the market for faith-based films.” Producer Kevin Downes said, “We are so thankful to our amazing team and all the partners who worked so hard alongside us to get this story out.” Andrew Erwin, co-director & co-editor added, “God’s hand has been on this song and on this story from the beginning. We are delighted to see a story about forgiveness and redemption connect with so many people. We are humbled for the privilege of telling Bart’s story.” Jon Erwin, co-director & co-screenwriter said, “We are amazed and humbled to see the response to this story. We set out to honor Bart Millard’s journey and the band’s amazing, life-changing song. It’s our privilege to watch this film engage in such a powerful way with the audience.” Word of mouth, media attention, grassroots marketing and social media sharing drove audiences to the theater this weekend. Campaign highlights included coordinated field marketing and talent PR with a number of initiatives, including a partnership targeting MercyMe’s latest tour. The company also promoted the forthcoming film strongly on Christian radio and at faith-based events. Heading into the weekend, there were more than 130 million combined views on the film’s trailers and marketing materials online. Additionally, the I Can Only Imagine trailer was featured ahead of screenings of Lionsgate’s box office hit Wonder, which grossed nearly $300 million worldwide. I Can Only Imagine is the latest faith-based film from Lionsgate following breakout successes including double Oscar® winner Hacksaw Ridge and The Shack. The film will be distributed through Lionsgate’s IDC joint venture in Latin America, where The Shack was a massive hit in Brazil. I Can Only Imagine is the fourth feature for the Erwin Brothers, whose previous films included October Baby, Moms’ Night Out and Woodlawn. The screenplay was written by Jon Erwin & Brent McCorkle from a story by Jon Erwin & Brent McCorkle and Alex Cramer. I Can Only Imagine was produced by Kevin Downes, Cindy Bond, Daryl Lefever, Mickey Liddell, and Pete Shilaimon. Travis Mann, Tony Young, Scott Brickell and Simon Swart served as executive producers. The film features an all-star cast including Golden-Globe® nominee Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow, The Rookie, Soul Surfer), Oscar®-winner Cloris Leachman (The Iron Giant, The Last Picture Show, Young Frankenstein), platinum-selling country music legend Trace Adkins, author and actress Priscilla Shirer (War Room), Madeline Carroll (Mr. Poppers Penguins) and Broadway’s J. Michael Finley (“Les Miserables”). I Can Only Imagine brings to life the true story behind the song of ultimate hope, “I Can Only Imagine.” A transformed relationship with his troubled father inspired Bart Millard, the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe, to write what is now the most-played radio single in Christian music history. A gripping reminder of the power of forgiveness, I Can Only Imagine beautifully illustrates that no one is ever too far from God’s love — or from an eternal home in Heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm_zzAMuvyQ Image credit: Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) and Amy Grant (Nicole DuPort) rehearse in the new film I CAN ONLY IMAGINE releasing March 16, 2018. Courtesy of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.

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  • “Yellow Fever” Starring Jenna Ushkowitz and Scott Patterson Held Its Star-Studded LA Premiere | Trailer

    [caption id="attachment_27648" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Jenna Ushkowtiz (L) and Kat Moon (R) at the LA Premiere of "Yellow Fever." Photo credit: Gillian Perry Jenna Ushkowtiz (L) and Kat Moon (R) at the LA Premiere of “Yellow Fever.” Photo credit: Gillian Perry[/caption] The Stars came out on Wednesday, March 14th for the Los Angeles premiere and Q&A of the feature film “Yellow Fever.” On hand were writer-director Kat Moon, the film’s star Jenna Ushkowitz (SAG Award winner for Glee), Producer Jan Daube, Josh Sussman (Glee), Emily Sandifer (The Tale), Nicole Bilderback (Good Girls), Elizabeth Carlisle (The Rich and the Ruthless), Michael Lowry (Emmy nominee and Yellow Fever Co-Star), Johnathan Tchaikovsky (Wolf of Wall Street and Yellow Fever Co-Star) and many more. The film was followed by a Q&A which was moderated by TV Host Katie Hope. [caption id="attachment_27649" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Glee reunion!! Josh Sussman (L) and Jenna Ushkowitz (R) share a laugh at the LA Premiere of "Yellow Fever." Photo credit: Gillian Perry. Glee reunion!! Josh Sussman (L) and Jenna Ushkowitz (R) share a laugh at the LA Premiere of “Yellow Fever.” Photo credit: Gillian Perry.[/caption]

    About the film

    Asia Bradford (Ushkowitz) was adopted from Korea by white people, so she doesn’t speak Korean. She apparently doesn’t speak New York either, because everyone seems to think she’s from somewhere else. “Stop asking me where I’m from! I get it .. I’m Yellow!” she angrily writes on her blog. It’s bad enough that everyone in New York seems to think she’s not American, but to top it all off, her “culturally sensitive,” whitebread parents decided to dress up in Korean hanboks for the annual Christmas card this year! Seriously. So, where does she actually fit in if she feels like she doesn’t belong in her family, New York or even her so-called “motherland?” Her salvation comes in an odd package – an “old ugly white dude,” (Patterson) who’s just moved back to New York after living in Korea for over a decade. “Yellow Fever” was written and directed by NYC native Kat Moon who pulled from her own experiences growing up in the US as an Asian woman struggling with her identity and hopes this film will be the first of many more to come to show strong Asian female characters on the screen as well as working behind the camera.

    Trailer

    https://vimeo.com/238186503 via

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  • 2018 Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival Winners – “Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story” Wins Audience Choice Award

    [caption id="attachment_27644" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story[/caption] Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story, that chronicles the life-changing journey of chef and outdoorsman Eduardo Garcia after being shocked by 2400 volts of electricity in a freak accident, won the big prize – Audience Choice Award at the 16th annual Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival. Eduardo lost his hand, ribs, muscle mass, and nearly his life while hiking in the remote back country of Montana, but more important than what he lost is what he found. Through sheer resilience, his former partner, Jennifer Jane, nursed Eduardo back to health and he learned to embrace his past, his family, and his future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg39oLUEacs My Dad Matthew, directed by John Schaffer, and Blood Road, directed by Nicholas Schrunk, won the Director’s Award. In the short film My Dad Matthew, Elijah tells the story of his dad, Matthew, who is a “pretty normal dad” but unlike most other dads, he has a significant disability. Born with cerebral palsy and unable to control most of his body, Matthew with the use of a wheelchair, a pointer on a helmet with a letter board, and the exceptional help of others, has become a university instructor, has several degrees from Berkley, Ca., and is father to a 14 year old boy. Blood Road follows the journey of ultra-endurance mountain bike athlete Rebecca Rusch and her Vietnamese riding partner, Huyen Nguyen, as they pedal 1,200 miles along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail through the dense jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Their goal: to reach the crash site and final resting place of Rebecca’s father, a U.S. Air Force pilot shot down over Laos some 40 years earlier. Undercover Tourist – Thailand’s Tiger Selfie Trade, a self-shot conservation series directed by David Marx and Gavin Henderson won the Ron Tuckman Youth Award. Posing as tourists and filming undercover, amateur wildlife activists travel to some of the world’s most popular holiday destinations to investigate the illegal wildlife trade. Armed with smartphones and digital cameras the filmmakers go behind closed doors to expose the cruel and sometimes criminal businesses that are illegally exploiting animals.

    2018 Award Winners

    Audience Choice Award: Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story Ron Tuckman Youth Award: Undercover Tourist Director’s Award: My Dad Matthew Director’s Award: Blood Road

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  • Eric Stoltz’s Coming-of-Age Comedy CLASS RANK to Open 2018 Sarasota Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_27641" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Class Rank, by Eric Stoltz Class Rank[/caption] The Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) has selected Golden Globe-nominated and Independent Spirit Award-nominated Eric Stoltz’s coming-of-age comedy Class Rank as its Opening Night film and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning Rory Kennedy’s Above and Beyond: NASA’S Journey to Tomorrow as its Closing Night film for the 20th anniversary edition.  The festival will also honor renowned actor Steve Guttenberg and Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen with Career Achievement Awards during the closing weekend. “We are very excited to bookend the festival with two unique and groundbreaking films from two brilliant and creative directors,” said Mark Famiglio, Chairman and President of the Sarasota Film Festival. “It is also an honor to recognize the contributions of Steve Guttenberg and Virginia Madsen to the film industry, and celebrate their work from over the years.” Class Rank will open the festival on Friday, April 13 at the Sarasota Opera House with a 7:30PM screening. In this light-hearted, quirky comedy, two teenagers (Olivia Holt, Skyler Gisondo) prepare for life after high school, teaming up to achieve their goals and make their dreams a reality. Kristin Chenoweth and Bruce Dern co-star. Director Eric Stoltz (Mask, Pulp Fiction) and producer Sandy Stern will be in attendance at the screening. Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy (Last Days In Vietman, Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton) will be in attendance for the festival’s Closing night film Above and Beyond: NASA’S Journey to Tomorrow, an intimate look at NASA’s accomplishments and their vital role in our future as the renowned institution celebrates its 60th Anniversary. The Discovery Documentary will screen at the Sarasota Opera House on Saturday, April 21 beginning at 6:00PM. Steve Guttenberg will be receiving a Career Achievement Award during the Closing Weekend. Guttenberg has starred in more than 60 films across an array of genres and is known for his roles in Diner, Cocoon, the Police Academy comedies, and Three Men And A Baby. Guttenberg costars in Chasing The Blues – a comedy-drama about the search for a rare but cursed blues record – screening at the 20th SFF. Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen will also receive the Career Achievement Award during the Closing Weekend. Madsen is known for her work in Alexander Payne’s Sideways, which garnered her an Oscar nomination, The Rainmaker, Ghosts of Mississippi, Joy, and many others. Madsen costars in the drama 1985 – about a young man’s fears of coming out to his family in the early days of the AIDS crisis – which will show at the 20th SFF. The 20th annual Sarasota Film Festival, will take place from April 13th to April 22nd, 2018.

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  • “First Match” “TransMilitary” “All Square” Among Winners of 2018 SXSW Audience Awards | Complete List

    First Match The results are in … today the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival announced the 2018 Audience Award winners. First Match directed by Olivia Newman took the Audience Award for Narrative Feature and TransMilitary directed by Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson, won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature. The Audience Awards follow the previously announced 2018 Jury Awards, which included Grand Jury Winners Thunder Road for Narrative Feature and People’s Republic of Desire for Documentary Feature.

    2018 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award Winners:

    NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION Audience Award Winner: First Match Director: Olivia Newman DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION  Audience Award Winner: TransMilitary Directors: Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT  Audience Award Winner:All Square Director: John Hyams DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT  Audience Award Winner: The Dawn Wall Director: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer VISIONS  Audience Award Winner: Profile Director: Timur Bekmambetov MIDNIGHTERS  Audience Award Winner: Upgrade Director: Leigh Whannell EPISODIC  Audience Award Winner: Vida Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios, So Yong Kim 24 BEATS PER SECOND  Audience Award Winner: Ruben Blades Is Not My Name Director: Abner Benaim GLOBAL  Audience Award Winner: Virus Tropical Director: Santiago Caicedo FESTIVAL FAVORITES  Audience Award Winner: Science Fair Director: Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster

    SXSW Film Design Awards

    EXCELLENCE IN TITLE DESIGN  Audience Award Winner: #19 – Offf Barcelona 2017 Directors: Eve Duhamel, Julien Vallee

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