The 5th annual edition of the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival (HCSFF) will feature over 30 screenplays in competition as well as 130 comedic short films in various forms like Rom Coms, Dark Comedy, Web Series, Horror Comedy, Cringe, Spoof, among others. From the organizers behind the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, HCSFF will be virtual on Bitpix from December 11-18, 2020 and include screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, and a virtual awards gala.
Comedian/actor George López (No Man’s Land) will be honored at this year’s 2020 GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Los Angeles, with the Arbol de la Vida Lifetime Achievement Award for “his commitment to creating a more inclusive industry through the amplification of Latino voices in the U.S.” Past recipients include Gregory Nava, Patricia Riggen, and Kate Del Castillo. The award will be presented to López by Director Conor Allyn and co-star Jake Allyn (No Man’s Land) on Thursday, December 10th.
The UK premiere of director Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, starring Steven Yeun, will open 2021 Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) on Wednesday February 24. The award-winning autobiographical drama won the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and US Dramatic Audience Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
SF IndieFest announced the complete program for the 17th Another Hole In The Head Film Festival which takes place completely online, December 11 to 27.
Revelation Perth International Film Festival announced the nominees of the inaugural WA Screen Culture Awards set to place on Sunday December 13 hosted by self-proclaimed ‘Australia’s 1st Attractive Comedian’, Elouise Eftos.
Havel by Slávek Horák, inspired by the life of Václav Havel, prominent Czech playwright, dissident, and president, was awarded the top prize for Best Feature Film at 2020 Rome Independent Film Festival. The film focuses on Havel’s transformation from successful – later banned – playwright of the late 60s into human rights fighter in the 70s, leading to his presidency in the late 80’s. A Special mention went to La Fortaleza by Jorge Thielen-Armand.
Sundance Institute today unveiled plans for the seven-day 2021 Sundance Film Festival, offered digitally via a custom-designed online platform (festival.sundance.org) alongside drive-ins, independent arthouses, and a network of local community partnerships. The online expression of the Sundance Film Festival will provide global access for storytellers and audiences alike to come together, experience artists new work, connect with one another, and participate in conversation. All films in the program will be available online in the United States, with certain films opting for global availability. The full talks and events program, as well as the New Frontier section for XR and emerging media, will be available globally. The Festival runs January 28 through February 3, 2021.
On December 3rd, the RIFF – Rome Independent Film Festival online ends with the traditional Love & Pride Day – Il valore della diversità. For the third year, the whole day will be dedicated to the LGBTQ topic and, among others, the premiere of the out of competition film Asphalt Goddess by Julián Hernández (Mexico), winner of the Teddy Awards at the Berlin Film Festival in 2003 and 2009. Max, after becoming the lead singer of a rock band, returns to her shantytown. Once there, memories await her, but also news and truths that have remained silent for years.
GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Los Angeles set to run December 17-19, 2020, announced a 100% virtual 2020 program. Celebrating ten years since its premiere in Los Angeles, the festival, formerly known as FICG in LA also revealed its new name – GuadaLAjara Film Festival – as homage to the two cities in which it was founded.
Slamdance Film Festival announced the full lineup of 25 features along with 107 shorts and episodics for the 27th edition of the festival, a number that equals previous editions of the festival. This includes a new program titled Unstoppable, a showcase for creators with disabilities. Running February 12-25, 2021, this will also be Slamdance’s most accessible festival ever, with all films, Q&A’s and panels available on Slamdance.com, AppleTV, Roku, Firestick, and YouTube. In addition to a vibrant virtual experience, there will be a two-night drive-in presentation in Joshua Tree open to the public on February 13th and 14th as well as the closing night screening at a Los Angeles drive-in on February 25.
Waikiki directed by Christoper Kahunahana won the top prize for Best Feature Film along with a Special Mention (Cinematography) at the 40th Hawai’i International Film Festival. In the film described by the festival as a “cinematic allegory of love and loss,” a hula dancer fights for survival and her sanity in the shadows of Waikiki for an unflinching glimpse into paradise where there remains hope through human connection and re-connection to ʻaina (nature).
The 2020 Key West Film Festival wrapped with the annual awards ceremony, awarding prizes to the winning films. The top prizes including KWFF Critics’ Award went to I Carry You With Me, directed by Heidi Ewing and Best Florida Film went to Cuba, Reframed, directed by John Biffar. The Best LGBTQ Film went to Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation, directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland and Best Women’s Film went to 9 to 5: Story of a Movement, directed by Julia Reichert.