Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson in Only Humans[/caption]
The 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF), scheduled to take place November 7 – 11, announced its Narrative and Documentary Feature Film lineups in core competition today.
The 18 films in NVFF’s core competition categories will vie for the titles of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the juries. The directors of these 18 films will participate in NVFF’s unique Artists-in-Residence (AIR) Program that includes a six-night stay at the luxury resort Meadowood Napa Valley. The residency includes master classes and breakout sessions with industry leaders as well as social and networking opportunities at special events throughout the festival.
“We are thrilled to be sharing with our audiences another diverse set of expertly-crafted real and imagined stories at the upcoming 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival,” said Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Once again, we are pleased to see strong representation of female filmmakers, with the number growing each year. We look forward to hosting all the wonderful filmmakers as our Artists-in-Residence this year in beautiful Napa Valley.”
Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF)
The annual Napa Valley Film Festival presents special film programs throughout the year, and bring the power of cinematic storytelling to local students through Education and Outreach. This year’s films include narrative and documentary features and short films from established and emerging filmmakers across the US.
Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) started in 2011 and takes place in Napa, California, USA
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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces 2018 Narrative and Doc Feature Competition Films
[caption id="attachment_31396" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson in Only Humans[/caption]
The 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF), scheduled to take place November 7 – 11, announced its Narrative and Documentary Feature Film lineups in core competition today.
The 18 films in NVFF’s core competition categories will vie for the titles of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the juries. The directors of these 18 films will participate in NVFF’s unique Artists-in-Residence (AIR) Program that includes a six-night stay at the luxury resort Meadowood Napa Valley. The residency includes master classes and breakout sessions with industry leaders as well as social and networking opportunities at special events throughout the festival.
“We are thrilled to be sharing with our audiences another diverse set of expertly-crafted real and imagined stories at the upcoming 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival,” said Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Once again, we are pleased to see strong representation of female filmmakers, with the number growing each year. We look forward to hosting all the wonderful filmmakers as our Artists-in-Residence this year in beautiful Napa Valley.”
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SKID ROW MARATHON and STUCK Win Top Prizes at Napa Valley Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_22793" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Skid Row Marathon[/caption]
The 7th Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced this year’s juried and audience award winners at the Uptown Theatre in Napa on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Stuck, and Skid Row Marathon snagged both the Jury and Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature .
“We applaud our award winners and thank all of this year’s filmmakers for sharing their beautiful stories with us,” said Festival Co-Founder and Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “It has been a tough road getting to this year’s festival, but what a perfect way to celebrate great storytelling in all its forms and to showcase the strength and resilience of our Napa Valley community.”
2017 Napa Valley Film Festival Juried Awards
Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature: Stuck. Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature: Skid Row Marathon. Jury Award for Best Screenplay: The House of Tomorrow. Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast: The Boy Downstairs. Jury Award for Best Narrative Short: The Dam. Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: The Tables. Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature: Quest. Jury Award for Best Lounge Short: The Arrival. Special Jury Award – For Depth and Grace in Documentary Filmmaking: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin. Special Jury Award – Best Breakout Performance in a Lounge Feature Film: Mackenzie Davis for her work in the film Izzy Gets the Fuck Across Town.2017 Napa Valley Film Festival Audience Awards
Audience Award for Favorite Actor: Gregory Kasyan for his work in the film Quest. Audience Award for Favorite Actress: Olivia Holt for her work in the film Class Rank. Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature: Skid Row Marathon. Honorable Mention goes to 40 years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short: Make It Work: The Idea. Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature: Quest. Honorable Mention goes to Stuck. Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Short: The Final Show Honorable Mentions go to Life Boat and Brothers. Audience Award for Favorite Short Feature: Taming Wild: A Girl and a Mustang.
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Actress Tessa Thompson to be Honored at Napa Valley Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_25392" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Tessa Thompson in Thor: Ragnarok (2017)[/caption]
Actress Tessa Thompson will receive the JCB Collection Trailblazer Tribute at this year’s Celebrity Tributes presentation at the seventh annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF). Thompson will join the festival’s already announced line-up of honorees including Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker Nancy Meyers, Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer Michael Shannon, Charles Krug Spotlight Tribute honoree Michael Stuhlbarg and the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch Humanitarian Tribute honorees Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder.
Thompson is best known for her roles in Creed and Dear White People, as well as her performance on HBO’s acclaimed drama series Westworld. She is also starring as the female lead in the highly-anticipated third installment of the Thor franchise, Thor: Ragnarok. In 2018, Thompson can also be found co-starring in the sci-fi thriller Annihilation and the fantasy/comedy Sorry to Bother You.
“Tessa is an actress who has demonstrated in her career the ability to take on unique, dynamic roles that demonstrate her remarkable range and ability to bring her humanity to each performance. As a “trailblazer,” she is the embodiment of someone who is undaunted by taking risks and in doing so, achieves great success,” said Marc Lhormer, co-founder of the Napa Valley Film Festival.
The Celebrity Tributes program will take place on Thursday, November 9 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and will include highlight reels and an intimate on-stage conversation with Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales.
NVFF announced their plans to move forward with this year’s programming following the wildfires that affected the region last month. The festival will be the first big event to take place since the fires, and will be both a celebration of the Valley itself, as well as an opportunity to support the rebuilding efforts of the community. NVFF will be donating 10% of all pass sales revenue from October 16 through the festival to the Napa Valley Disaster Relief Fund and Presenting Sponsor Lexus is generously donating 1,000 free tickets to select movies for those impacted by the fires.
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Napa Valley Film Festival Unveils 2017 Lineup, Opens with THE UPSIDE
[caption id="attachment_24918" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Upside[/caption]
The seventh annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films from November 8 to 12, 2017. The festival’s official opening night film is The Weinstein Company’s The Upside, directed by Neil Berger and starring Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman and Kevin Hart. Closing the festival will be the Molly’s Game, directed by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jessica Chastain, Kevin Costner and Idris Elba in the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.
This year’s line-up of Celebrity Tributes that salute the highest levels of cinematic achievement includes Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated, The Intern), Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer Michael Shannon (The Current War, The Shape of Water), and Spotlight Tribute honoree Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name; The Shape of Water). New this year, The Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch Humanitarian Tribute will be presented to Nikki Reed (Twilight, Ian Somerhalder Foundation) and Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder Foundation). The Celebrity Tributes program will take place on Thursday, November 9 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales.
In addition to the Celebrity Tributes program, Will Ferrell (Anchorman; Daddy’s Home 2) will be honored with the Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Tribute on Friday, November 10, and the first annual Rising Star Showcase at Materra | Cunat Vineyards on Saturday, November 11 will honor a handful of young talent including Ana de Armas (War Dogs; Blade Runner 2049), Odeya Rush, (Lady Bird, Goosebumps), Austin Stowell (Battle of the Sexes, Bridge of Spies), Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Faking It) and Alex Wolff (My Friend Dahmer; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle).
NVFF will kick off with their Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday, November 7 with a special presentation of Fox Searchlight Pictures’ The Shape of Water. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg, is an other-worldly tale of Elisa whose life is changed forever when she and a co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment at the hidden high-security government laboratory where they work.
The festival will also play host to an incredible selection of films, including many of this year’s award-contenders, such as:
78/52 – (IFC) An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), the “man behind the curtain,” and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe.
Call Me By Your Name – (Sony Pictures Classics) In 1983, the son of an American professor is enamored by the graduate student who comes to study and live with his family in their northern Italian home. Together, they share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will forever change them. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg. Michael Stuhlbarg is expected to attend.
Chappaquiddick – (Entertainment Studios) Ted Kennedy’s life and political career become derailed in the aftermath of a fatal car accident in 1969 that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne. Directed by John Curran and starring Jason Clarke, Bruce Dern, Ed Helms and Kate Mara.
Crown Heights – (Amazon Studios) When Colin Warner is wrongfully convicted of murder, his best friend Carl King devotes his life to proving Colin’s innocence. Directed by Matt Ruskin and starring Nnamdi Asomugha and Lakeith Stanfield. Nnamdi Asomugha is expected to attend.
The Current War – (The Weinstein Company) The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Shannon and Katherine Waterston. Michael Shannon is expected to attend.
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool – (Sony Pictures Classics) A romance sparks between a young actor and a Hollywood leading lady. Directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Jamie Bell and Annette Bening.
I, Tonya – (Neon) Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Allison Janney, Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan.
LA 92 – (NatGeo) A look at the events that led up to the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles following the Rodney King beating by the police. Directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin.
The Leisure Seeker – (Sony Pictures Classics) A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker, traveling from Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end. Directed by Paolo Virzì and starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
The rest of the NVFF film line-up is as follows:
Core Competitions
Narrative Features:
American Folk, Directed by David Heinz The Boy Downstairs, Directed by Sophie Brooks The House of Tomorrow, Directed by Peter Livolsi I Can I Will I Did, Directed by Nadine Truong People You May Know, Directed by Shewin Shilati The Sounding, Directed by Catherine Eaton Stuck, Directed by Michael Berry Tater Tot & Patton, Directed by Andrew Kightlinger The Year of Spectacular Men, Directed by Lea ThompsonDocumentary Features:
ACORN and the Firestorm, Directed by Reuben Atlas and Samuel D. Pollard Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, Directed by Jennifer Townsend Coyote, Directed by Thomas Simmons A Fine Line, Directed by Joanna James The Gateway Bug, Directed by Johanna B. Kelly Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, Directed by Amanda Ladd-Jones Mighty Ground, Directed by Delila Vallot Skid Row Marathon, Directed by Mark Hayes The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, Directed by Jennifer M. KrootThe Lounge
Features:
Amanda & Jack Go Glamping, Directed by Brandon Dickerson Class Rank, Directed by Eric Stoltz Coup d’etat, Directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse Entanglement, Directed by Jason James A Happening of Monumental Proportions, Directed by Judy Greer Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town, Directed by Christian Papierniak Life Hack, Directed by Sloan Copeland Quest, Directed by Santiago Rizzo The Relationtrip, Directed by Renée Felice Smith and C.A. GabrielSpecial Presentations
40 Years in the Making – The Magic Music Movie, Directed by Lee Aronsohn The Ataxian, Directed by Zack Bennett and Kevin Schlanser Back to Burgundy, Directed by Cédric Klapisch Bernard and Huey, Directed by Dan Mirvish Breakable You, Directed by Andrew Wagner California Typewriter, Directed by Doug Nichol Constructing Albert, Directed by Laura Collado and Jim Loomis Dog Years, Directed by Adam Rifkin Don’t Shoot the Zebra Pony, Directed by Kathryn Lauritzen Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table, Directed by Leslie Iwerks Fermented, Directed by Jon Cianfrani Food Evolution, Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution, Directed by Jamie Redford Liyana, Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp Man In Red Bandana, Directed by Matthew Weiss Michelin Stars: Tales from the Kitchen, Directed by Rasmus Dinesen New Chefs on the Block, Directed by Dustin Harrison-Atlas Poisoning Paradise, Directed by Keely Shaye Brosnan Rebels On Pointe, Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart Served Like a Girl, Directed by Lysa Heslov Taming Wild: A Girl and a Mustang, Directed by Elsa Sinclair To the Edge of the Sky, Directed by Todd Wider and Jedd Wider Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, Directed by Anna Chai, Nari Kye
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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces Narrative and Documentary Feature Films in Competition
[caption id="attachment_23761" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
I Can I Will I Did[/caption]
The 7th annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF), scheduled to take place November 8 – 12, today announced its Narrative and Documentary Feature Film lineups in core competition.
The 18 films in NVFF’s core competition categories will vie for the titles of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the juries. The directors of these 18 films will participate in NVFF’s unique Artists-in-Residence (AIR) Program that includes a six-night stay at the luxury resort Meadowood Napa Valley. The residency includes master classes and break out sessions with industry leaders as well as social and networking opportunities at special events throughout the festival.
“We’re excited about the creative storytelling, diverse story lines, and inspirational themes represented in the narrative and documentary features in our core competition films this year,” said Marc Lhormer, NVFF Co-Founder and Artistic Director. “We look forward to hosting these talented filmmakers for the seventh installment of our unique Artists-in-Residence Program at Meadowood Napa Valley and introducing them and their films to our appreciative audiences.”
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION
American Folk – Two strangers, both folk musicians stranded in California, embark on a road trip to New York in the days following 9/11. Starring Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth. Directed by David Heinz. Northern California Premiere. The Boy Downstairs – A young woman is forced to reflect on a past relationship when she inadvertently moves into her ex-boyfriend’s apartment building. Starring Zosia Mamet and Matthew Shear. Directed by Sophie Brooks. Napa Premiere. The House of Tomorrow – The House of Tomorrow conveys the incredible story of futurist, architect, and inventor R. Buckminster through one teen’s quest to join a punk bank and survive high school. Starring Maude Apatow, Ellen Burstyn, Asa Butterfield, Nick Offerman, Alex Wolff. Directed by Peter Livolsi. Napa Premiere. I Can I Will I Did – Ben, a dejected young man in the foster system, finds himself immobilized after a horrible accident. His recovery process is slow until he meets a fellow patient at the hospital who breathes hope into his life and introduces him to her grandfather, Taekwondo Master Kang. Starring Mike Faist, Ik Jo Kang, Ellie Lee. Directed by Nadine Truong. Northern California Premiere People You May Know – People You May Know follows Jed, a 30-something introvert who has managed to abstain from social media, until he realizes that the life he can fake is much more interesting than the life he actually leads. Starring Nicholas Rutherford, Halston Sage, Kaily Smith Westbrook, Nick Thune and Usher. Directed by Sherwin Shilati. Napa Premiere. The Sounding – On a remote island off the coast of Maine, Liv, after years of silence, weaves a unique language out of Shakespeare’s words. A driven neurologist, brought to the island to protect her, commits her to a psychiatric hospital where she fights for her voice and her freedom. Starring Catherine Eaton, Teddy Sears and Harris Yulin. Directed by Catherine Eaton. Napa Premiere. Stuck – A New York City subway train stops in the tunnel beneath the city with six complete strangers stuck inside the rear car. The emotions of the trapped, frustrated passengers explode, as the subway car becomes a kind of magical, musical, conduit cell. Starring Ashanti, Omar Chaparro, Arden Cho, Giancarlo Esposito and Amy Madigan. Directed by Michael Berry. Northern California Premiere. Tater Tot & Patton – A wayward millennial is sent into isolation on a South Dakota ranch, derailing her Uncle’s alcoholic spiral and forcing him to face his consuming grief. Starring Jessica Rothe, Forrest Weber and Bates Wilder. Directed by Andrew Kightlinger. Northern California Premiere Quest – Mills, an abused 12-year-old graffiti addict, and Tim, a humble middle school teacher, form an uneasy friendship when Tim recognizes that Mills poor behavior is merely a cry for help. Tim is willing to sacrifice his job, reputation and relationships in order to win the child’s trust. Starring Betsy Brandt, Dash Mihok, Lou Diamond Phillips and Lakeith Stanfield. Directed by Santiago Rizzo. West Coast PremiereDOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION
ACORN and the Firestorm – ACORN, America’s largest grassroots community organizing group, became a major player in the 2008 presidential election that resulted in Barack Obama’s victory. Big businesses, Republicans, and Right-wing activists took issue with the group and attempted to strike back. The ensuing political drama has served as a prescient foreshadowing of today’s political climate. Directed by Reuben Atlas and Samuel D. Pollard. California Premiere Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise – Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise investigates themes of female friendship, personal freedom, harassment, rape and empowerment. Our guides on this journey are female and male filmgoers who, in 1991, wrote letters sharing their thoughts and feelings about Thelma & Louise. They revisit their original impressions, comparing them with how they feel today. Directed by Jennifer Townsend. Northern California Premiere Coyote – Coyote documents the inspiring story of legendary American sailor, Mike Plant. Despite all that he accomplishes in sailing, Plant’s heart is never satisfied. His final creation, Coyote, a radically designed vessel built on the edge of speed and safety, symbolizes Plant’s course in life: running before the wind, always with an eye to the sea. Directed by Thomas Simmons. Northern California Premiere A Fine Line – A Fine Line explores why on 6% of head chefs and restaurant owners are women, when traditionally women have always held the central role in the kitchen and influenced many of the greatest male chefs. This opens a dialogue on gender inequality, motherhood and career balance, and how this inequity in the kitchen is representative of industries across the board. Directed by Joanna James. West Coast Premiere The Gateway Bug – Over 2 billion people on earth eat insects for protein. The Gateway Bug explores how changing daily eating habits can feed humanity in an uncertain age, one meal at a time. Directed by Johanna B. Kelly. Napa Premiere. Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies – The undisclosed story of Alan Ladd Jr., producer and former 20th Century Fox chairman, the movie mogul who green lit films such as Star Wars, Blade Runner and Alien. Directed by Amanda Ladd-Jones (Ladd’s daughter). Northern California Premiere Mighty Ground – With the help of unlikely friendships along the way, a homeless songwriter tries to kick a hard-core crack addiction and escape the grisly streets of skid row via his love of music. Directed by Delila Vallot. Northern California Premiere Skid Row Marathon – A criminal court judge starts a running club comprised of homeless drug addicts, a recovering single mom and a paroled murderer on L.A.’s notorious skid row. As they train together to run in international marathons, they learn to dream big as they are re-acquainted with their own dignity. Directed by Mark Hayes. Northern California Premiere The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin – The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin honors beloved storyteller Armistead Maupin, and chronicles his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer whose novels inspired millions to re-claim their lives. Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot. Napa Premiere.
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“The King of New Orleans” “Romeo is Bleeding” “Friends and Romans” “Landfillharmonic” Among Winners of Napa Valley Film Festival
The 5th Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) held from November 11 to 15, 2015, announced this year’s juried and audience award winners. The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to The King of New Orleans directed by Allen Frederic, and the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Romeo is Bleeding directed by Jason Zeldes.
The Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature went to Friends and Romans directed by Christopher Kublan, and the Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature went to Landfillharmonic directed by Graham Townsley and Brad Allgood.
THE FULL LIST OF JURIED AWARDS IS BELOW:
Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature – The King of New Orleans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cInH2E-Dfac
Jury Award for Best Screenplay – Tumbledown.
Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast – Jane Wants a Boyfriend.
Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature – Romeo is Bleeding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjdh-TmRQCQ
Jury Award for Best Narrative Short – It’s Perfect Here. Honorable Mention – Birthday.
Jury Award for Best Documentary Short – Elder. Honorable Mentions – Code Oakland, Une Passion d’or et de feu (A Passion of Gold and Fire), and Riding the Highline.
Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature – Night Owls.
Jury Award for Best Lounge Short – A Man Wakes Up.
Honorable Mention – CI: A Tedd Talkumentary.
Special Jury Award – Courage in Documentary Feature Filmmaking – Life Under Siege: Exploring Gaza’s Secret Tunnels.
Special Jury Award – Authenticity in Narrative Feature Story-Telling – Life in Color.
Special Jury Award – Acting in a Lounge Feature Film goes to sisters Aly Michalka and AJ Michalka for their work in the film Weepah Way For Now.
A FULL LIST OF AUDIENCE AWARDS IS BELOW:
Audience Award for Favorite Actor – David Jensen for his work in the film The King of New Orleans.
Audience Award for Favorite Actress – Louisa Krause for her work in the film Jane Wants a Boyfriend.
Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature – Landfillharmonic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjbd21fYV8
Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short – Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball.
Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature – Friends and Romans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10FUAIp-zyw
Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Short – Sin Frontera.
The Runner-Ups for Narrative Shorts – Playdate and Birthday.
Audience Award for Favorite Short Feature – Sketch.
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4 FIlmmakers Win 2015 Lexus Short Films Series at Napa Valley Film Festival
Four filmmakers, Alexis Michalik, Byoung-Gon Moon, Damian Walshe-Howling and Pippa Bianco, are winners of the 2015 Lexus Short Films series, sponsored by Lexus and The Weinstein Company, at the Napa Valley Film Festival.
The four finalists will also receive promotional theatrical distribution for their short films, participate in a tour of top film festivals around the world and receive an at-home filmmaking and editing suite.
The Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said, “The Lexus Short Films series has been a fantastic partnership to help discover young filmmakers while shining a light on the short film format. This year’s Lexus Short Films series provided an opportunity to reach aspiring filmmakers around the world looking to gain exposure and experience through the chance to work with Lexus and The Weinstein Company. We have been truly impressed by the number and quality of submissions received with more than 4,000 submissions from over 100 countries. We look forward to helping the finalists turn their visions into truly great films.”
Lexus Short Films Season 3 Winners
1. Alexis Michalik (France, Europe)
Alexis is an actor and filmmaker who has starred in several television movies and series, such as Petits meurtres en famille, Terre de lumière and Kaboul Kitchen and feature films directed by Billy Zane, Diane Kurys, Safy Nebou, Yann Samuel, Fernando Colomo, Danièle Thompson and Alexandre Arcady. Alexis is also known for acting successfully in theater in the comedy Le Dindon, staged by Thomas Le Douarec, and Ibsen and Strindberg’s Les Fleurs Gelées. He is the founder of the theater company Los Figaros and after directing two short films, Au Sol, in 2013 and Pim-Poum le petit Panda, in 2014, Alexis continues to pursue his writing career and will direct his first feature film Escort Boys.
2. Byoung-Gon Moon (South Korea, Asia)
Moon is a filmmaker who graduated from Chung-Ang University in Seoul and is known for directing the short film No More Coffee Break, which was selected for the short film competition at the 2008 International College Peace Film Festival. Moon’s short film, Finis Operis, was a part of the short film competition of the critic’s week at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and in 2013, he directed his short film Safe, which was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
3. Damian Walshe-Howling (Australia, Oceania)
Damian is an acclaimed actor and filmmaker best known for his latest short film, Suspended, which recently screened in the official competition at international film festivals including St Kilda, Flickerfest, Nashville and Locarno in Switzerland. He is also known for his 2007 debut short film The Bloody Sweet Hit. Damian has a passion for storytelling which has taken him all over the world in pursuit of culturally diverse stories and roles. He received an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2008 for his performance of Melbourne’s “Most Loved Murderer”, Andrew Benji Veniamin, in the original Underbelly series.
4. Pippa Bianco (United States of America, North America)
Pippa is a filmmaker who studied photography at Yale University and is currently writing and producing at Beyoncè’s Parkwood Entertainment, directing a commission for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and a writing credit on the upcoming film Bleed For This. Pippa started her career by working in independent film – assisting on Braden King’s Here (Sundance 2011) and Leslye Headland’s Bachelorette (Sundance 2012). Since then, Pippa’s films have been selected and won awards at numerous festivals including Telluride and SXSW. Pippa was also chosen as one of nine filmmakers for the American Film Institute’s Women’s Directors Program fellowship in 2014, where her short film submission, Share, won the 1st Prize in the Cinéfondation category at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Continuing her success with AFI, she is a Yaddo Filmmaker-in-Residence for the 2015-2016 term.
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4th Napa Valley Film Festival Announces Film Lineup; Opens with “The Imitation Game”
The Imitation GameThe fourth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) returns with a five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films in the four postcard-perfect towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga, November 12 to 16, 2014. The Festival kicks off Opening Night, Wednesday, November 12, with a Red Carpet screening of The Imitation Game. Fresh off winning the audience award at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, The Imitation Game, stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. Director Morten Tyldum is expected to attend.
Film highlights include:
Alex of Venice – – In actor Chris Messina’s directorial debut feature, Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a workaholic environmental attorney is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Messina) suddenly leaves the family.
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me – An intimate, devastating, and inspiring look at the final tour of musical legend Glen Campbell as he faces the end of his career due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon – Mike Myers will attend the festival with Shep Gordon, the original mega talent manager and subject of Mike’s hilarious, touching and award-winning documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her & Him – A special presentation of a unique cinematic achievement: back-to-back screenings of Ned Benson’s two versions of a film about a marriage falling apart, one from the wife’s perspective and one from the husband’s, starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy.
Additional sneak previews include:
The Better Angels – Director A.J. Edwards’ debut feature tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood in the wilderness of Indiana. Starring Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling and Wes Bently
The Last 5 Years – Based on the 2002 off-Broadway musical, and adapted by writer/director Richard LaGravenese, The Last 5 Years is the story of a couple’s tumultuous relationship, from entanglement to denouement starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.
Match – A Seattle couple (Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard) travels to New York to interview an acclaimed former ballet star (Patrick Stewart) for a research project on the dance scene in the 1960’s.
Escobar: Paradise Lost – The debut feature from writer/director Andrea Di Stephano traces the journey of a young Canadian surfer (Josh Hutcherson) who falls under the spell of a beautiful young woman in Columbia. Unfortunately she also who happens to be the niece of international drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro). An edgy crime drama and a soul-searching love story about family ties and loyalty, the film is a look at a dark chapter in the war on drugs and the casualties.
Documentary Competition:
#chicagoGirl: The Social Network Takes On A Dictator, Director Joe Piscatella (California Premiere)
American Native, Director Steven Oritt (World Premiere)
An Honest Liar, Directors Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom (California Premiere)
Botso, Director Tom Walters (Bay Area Premiere)
Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank, Directors Sheila
Canavan and Michael Chandler (West Coast Premiere)
Flying The Feathered Edge; The Bob Hoover Project, Director Kim Furst (World Premiere)
Havana Curveball, Directors Ken Schneider and Marcia Jarmel
States of Grace, Directors Helen S. Cohen and Mark Lipman
Underwater Dreams, Director Mary Mazzio
What the F@#- is Cancer and Why Does Everybody Have It?, Director A.W. GryphonNarrative Competition:
Amira & Sam, Director Sean Mullin (California Premiere)
East Side Sushi, Director Anthony Lucero (World Premiere)
Fall To Rise, Director Jayce Bartok (California Premiere)
Kinderwald, Director Lise Raven
Like Sunday, Like Rain, Director Frank Whaley
Little Accidents, Director Sara Colangelo
Song One, Director Kate Barker-Froyland (West Coast Premiere)
Sun Belt Express, Director Evan Buxbaum (California Premiere)
Teacher of the Year, Director Jason Strouse
Thank You A Lot, Director Matt Muir (California Premiere)
The Road Within, Director Gren Wells
WildLike, Director Frank Hall Green (West Coast Premiere)Lounge Features:
All Stars, Director Lance Kinsey (West Coast Premiere)
Bar America, Director Matthew Jacobs
Big In Japan, Director John Jeffcoat (California Premiere)
Cheatin’, Director Bill Plympton
Gone Doggy Gone, Directors Brandon Walter and Kasi Brown
Goodbye To All That, Director Angus MacLachlan (West Coast Premiere)
Growing Up and Other Lies, Directors Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky
Mudbloods, Director Farzad Nikbakht (Bay Area Premiere)
Time Lapse, Director Bradley King (Northern California Premiere)
We’ll Never Have Paris, Directors Jocelyn Towne and Simon Helberg (California Premiere)Special Presentations:
#standwithme, Directors Patrick Moreau and Grant Peelle (World Premiere)
Big Dream, Director Kelly Cox (Special Sneak Preview)
Buscando A Gaston (Finding Gaston), Director Julia Patricia Perez (US Premiere)
Food Chains, Director Sanjay Rawal (West Coast Premiere)
Hairy Who & the Chicago Imagists, Director Leslie Buchbinder (West Coast Premiere)
Half The Road: The Passion, Pitfalls & Power of Women’s Professional Cycling, Director Kathryn Bertine
Harlem Street Singer, Directors Trevor Laurence and Simeon Hutner (West Coast Premiere)
Harmontown, Director Neil Berkeley
Last Days In Vietnam, Director Rory Kennedy
Stretch, Director Joe Carnahan (World Premiere)
True Son, Director Kevin Gordon
Impossible Light, Director Jeremy Ambers2014 Festival Sidebar – Architecture (sponsored by Blue Homes):
Henry Hornbostel in Architecture and Legacy, Director Mark Fallone (California Premiere)
Lutah, Director Kum-Kum Bhavnani (Northern California Premiere)
Paolo Soleri: Beyond Form, Director Aimee Madsen (Northern California Premiere)
Robin Boyd: Australian Beauty, Director Kerry GardnerDocumentary Short Programs:
A Stroll the Park: An Asbury Symphony, Albie (World Premiere), Cab City (World Premiere),Crooked Candy (California Premiere), David Hockney in the Now: In Six Minutes, Slomo, The Bulletproof Stockings, The Lion’s Mouth Opens, The Ox, White Earth (Bay Area Premiere), The Invisible PeakWorld Cinema Shorts:
5 Tropoina Pethaneis (5 Ways 2 Die), Bis Gleich, Chronophobe (California Premiere), Into the Silent Sea, Lan Yen, Rez CarzNarrative Shorts:
His Keeper, Horrible Parents (World Premiere), Last Shot (Nor Cal Premiere), Mediation, My New Apartment, Pin It (Nor Cal Premiere), Snail (Nor Cal Premiere), Team Work (World Premiere), The Gunfighter, An Honorable Man (California Premiere), Care, Gift, Immaculate Reception, Looms, Be My Unfinished (World Premiere), New, One Foot In (World Premiere), Plain Clothes, Salvatore (Nor Cal Premiere), Selling Rosario (World Premiere), The Inheritance, Undercover, Bunion, Humpty (California Premiere), Leonard in Slow Motion, Neighbors, Sure Thing (Nor Cal Premiere), The Motion Picture Co. 1914 (Nor Cal Premiere),The OvenAnimated Shorts:
Collectors, Silent, Humanexus, John Doe, Prelude, Sticky, The Box, The Duck, The Missing Scarf, The Umbrella Factory
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HANK AND ASHA and ALICE WALKER: BEAUTY IN TRUTH Win Top Awards at 2013 Napa Valley Film Festival
HANK AND ASHA directed by James E. Duff won the Best Narrative Feature Film AwardHANK AND ASHA directed by James E. Duff won the Best Narrative Feature Film Award, and ALICE WALKER: BEAUTY IN TRUTH directed by Pratibha Parmar won the Best Feature Documentary Film Award at the third annual Napa Valley Film Festival. In the romantic comedy Hank And Asha, winner of the Audience Award at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, an Indian woman studying in Prague and a lonely New Yorker begin an unconventional correspondence through video letters – two strangers searching for human connection in a hyper-connected world. When their relationship deepens, they must decide whether or not to meet face to face. Alice Walker: Beauty In Truth is a feature documentary film which tells the compelling story of an extraordinary woman’s journey from her birth in a paper-thin shack in cotton fields of Putnam County, Georgia to her recognition as a key writer of the 20th Century.
JURIED AWARDS
Best Short Documentary: Sky Burial directed by Tad Fettig
Best Feature Documentary: Alice Walker: Beauty In Truth directed by Pratibha Parmar
Best Animated Short: Sleight of Hand directed by Michael Cusack
Honorable Mention:The Right Place directed by Jamie Gallant
Honorable Mention: Horespower directed by Olivia Lai Shetler
Best Narrative Short: King of Norway directed by Sylvia Sether
Honorable Mention: The Romantics directed by Ryan Daniel Dobson
Honorable Mention: The Listing Agent directed by Matthew Helfgott & Jared Hillman
Best Screenplay: The Girl on the Train, Screenwriter & Director Larry Brand
Best Ensemble Cast: The Bounceback, starring Zach Cregger, Sara Paxton, Ashley Bell, Michael Stahl-David
Best Narrative Feature: Hank and Asha directed by James E. Duff
Special Jury Prize for Best Cinematography:My Brother Jack directed by Stephen Dest
Special Jury Prize for Most Thought Provoking Film:The Last White Knight directed by Paul Saltzman
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Favorite Narrative Feature: The Little Tin Man directed by Matthew Perkins
Favorite Actor: Andrew Pastides, Hank & Asha
Favorite Actress: Mahira Kakkar, Hank & Asha
Favorite Documentary Feature: Finding Hillywood directed by Christopher Towey and Leah Warshawski
Favorite Documentary Short: Make Haste Slowly: The Kikkoman Story directed by Lucy Walker
Favorite Narrative Short: The Listing Agent directed by Mathew Helfgott and Jared Hillman
Favorite Animated Short: Horsepower directed by Olivia Lai Shetler
Favorite Lounge Feature: Starring Adam West directed by James Tooley
Favorite Lounge Short: The Romantics directed by Ryan Daniel Dobson
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Napa Valley Film Festival Unveils 10 Documentary Films and 10 Narrative Films Selected for 2013 Festival
The Napa Valley Film Festival in Napa, California, to be held this year from November 13 – 17, 2013, announced the 10 films selected to take part in the NVFF 2013 Narrative Feature Competition and the 10 films selected for the NVFF 2013 Documentary Feature Competition Films. Beyond partaking in the Narrative Feature Competition, the directors of each films will be participating in the NVFF 2013 Artists-In-Residence Program.
NVFF 2013 Narrative Feature Competition Films:
HANK AND ASHA directed by James E. Duff
DARK AROUND THE STARS directed by Derrick Borte
THE BOUNCEBACK directed by Bryan Poyser
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS directed by William Savage
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN directed by Larry Brand
PUTZEL directed Jason Chaet
MY BROTHER JACK directed by Stephen Dest
THE LITTLE TIN MAN directed by Matthew Perkins
DEAR SIDEWALK directed by Jake Oelman
ONE SMALL HITCH directed by John BurgessNVFF 2013 Documentary Feature Competition Films:
THE SINGULARITY by Doug Wolens
ALICE WALKER: BEAUTY IN TRUTH by Pratibha Parmar
BRAVE MISS WORLD by Cecilia Peck
IF YOU BUILD IT by Patrick Creadon
LORD MONTAGU by Luke Korem
BIDDER 70 by Beth Gage
16 ACRES by Richard Hankin
THE FABULOUS ICE AGE by Keri Pickett
SOLE SURVIVOR by Ky Dickens
LAST WHITE KNIGHT by Paul Saltzman
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Film Critic Leonard Maltin to Preside Over Jury for 2012 Napa Valley Film Festival
Film critic Leonard Maltin will serve as President of the Jury for the second annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) to be held November 7 – 11, 2012.
As President of the Jury at NVFF, Maltin will oversee the Judging process, providing leadership to the other Jurors grouped into three categories: Narrative Features, Narrative Shorts, and Documentary Features and Shorts. Mr. Maltin will participate most closely in the evaluation of films in the Narrative Features Competition. He will also preside over the festival’s Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, November 11, at which both Juried and Audience Awards are presented.“The NVFF is honored to have such an active member of the American film community accept the integral role of President of the Jury at the festival,” said NVFF Co-Founder/Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Mr. Maltin’s commitment to the festival reflects NVFF’s own commitment to make a name for itself – on a national and global scale – as a film festival on par with the likes of Sundance and Tribeca when it comes to the caliber of the films shown and the professionals involved in this momentous meeting of art, food, and wine this November in Napa.”
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Mamitas wins Best Film at Inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival
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Mamitas[/caption]Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced its Jury and Audience Awards for the inaugural film festival which ran November 9 – 13, 2011.
The coming-of-age film Mamitas, based on director Nicholas Ozeki’s award-winning short film of the same name took the top prize Best Narrative and the cash award of $10,000. In the film, cocky teenager and self-proclaimed Casanova Jordan Juarez thinks he knows everything about girls. But one day, while teaching his best friend how to pick up “hot mami chulas,” he learns just what it means to be a man who can truly connect with a woman.
The complete list of winners:
Jury Awards for Narrative Features:Best Narrative Feature ($10,000 Cash Prize presented by Meadowood Napa Valley; wine from Gustavo Thrace) Mamitas, directed by Nicolas Ozeki
Special Jury Award for Creative Excellence (wine from Hill Family) David, directed by Joel Fendleman and co-directed by Patric Daly
Mt. Veeder Peak Performance for Best Acting in a Narrative Feature ($1000 Cash Prize and wine from Mt. Veeder Appellation) Amber Jaeger in Take Me Home, directed by Sam Jaeger
Jury Awards for Documentary Films:Best Documentary Feature (wine from Peju) Kumare, directed by Vikram Gandhi
Special Jury Mention for Social Impact (wine from Trinitas) First Generation, directed by Adam and Jaye FendersonBest Documentary Subject (wine from Chappellet) Jack Sanderson in Becoming Santa, directed by Jeff Myers
Best Documentary Short Subject (wine from Chiarello) Sin Pais, directed by Theo Rigby
Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision (wine from Broman) Library of Dust, directed by Ondi Timoner and co-directed by Robert James
Jury Awards for Narrative Short Films:Best Narrative Short (wine from Laderra) Fatakra, directed by Soham Mehta
Special Jury Mention for Creative Achievement (wine from Hope and Grace) Grave Dawn, directed by DJ Turner
Audience Awards:Favorite Narrative Feature (wine from Jessup) Mamitas, directed by Nicholas Ozeki
Favorite Documentary Feature (wine from Cornerstone) Wild Horse, Wild Ride, directed by Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus
Favorite Documentary Short Subject (wine from Tallulah) Sin Pais, directed by Theo Rigby
Favorite Narrative Short (wine from Freemark Abbey) Grave Dawn, directed by DJ Turner
Favorite Lounge Feature (Narrative or Doc) (wine from Houdini) The Other F Word, directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
The second annual Napa Valley Film Festival will take place November 7 – 11, 2012.