Film Festivals

WE, AMARANTH, THE FIFTH SUN Win at 2018 Rome Independent Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32870" align="aligncenter" width="1201"] We (Wij) by Rene Eller[/caption] “We” by dutch director Rene Eller, an adaptation of the eponymous and controversial novel “Wij” by Elvis Peeters won the award for Best Feature Film at the 17th edition of the Rome Independent Film Festival – RIFF, which took place from November 16 to 23, 2018. A special mention went to Serban for the film Alone at my Wedding by Marta Bergman, starring Alina Serban as Pamela, a young Roma different from all the others in her community. A special mention for the best screenplay was given to Enrique Castro Rios for the film Decembers, “for the original script writing, telling the same story from three different optics of well-defined characters”. Decembers revolves around the American invasion of Panama in 1989 and the reconciliation among the survivors a decade later. For the Italian documentary section, Amaranto by Emanuela Moroni and Manuela Cannone and The Fifth Sun by Cristiana Pecci and Matteo Maggi tied for the award for Best Italian Documentary. On the international documentary front This is Love by John Alexander that tells the life of the obscure soul singer Rudy Love, an unknown author of one of the most played songs in the history of music won the award for Best International Documentary. The doc focuses on the power that has been exercised, for decades, by often unconscious listeners. His figure re-emerges thanks to the testimony of George Clinton and Jay Z and many others that reveal an unsung hero of the soul. Best Short Film in the Italian selection the winner is Aleksia by Loris di Pasquale focused on an adolescent struggling with the concerns of unwanted motherhood. A special mention went to Per Sempre by Alessio Di Cosimo with the participation of Lou Castel in the shoes of an old painter who lives in solitude in his small house facing the sea with a morning routine that breaks on a special and important day for him. That day has a task, like every year, always and forever its only reason for living. For the International short section, the prize went to Karla Lulić’s In the name of Strawberry the Chocolate and the Holy Spirit starring a devoted priest in a village full of Christian fanatics who, on Sunday, after Mass, wants an ice cream and will do anything for this simple pleasure, even at the cost of one’s faith. For the short films section realized by students, winner is Croste di Polenta by Emanuele Bonomi set in the South Tyrol of 1915: two friends want to desert the Imperial Army’s call to arms, but the conflict is getting closer and closer and the two boys will have to face the consequences. A story about lost innocence, forgotten traditions and choices that change life. Finally, for the Short Animation section, O’Neil Burgi’s Cat Noir, story of a letter, a broken heart, the sound of rain, a black cat and a piano, won the award.
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2018 IDFA Awards – REASON Wins Top Award for Best Documentary

[caption id="attachment_32856" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Anand Patwardhan (India), The IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary Film Reason, The film is a broad-ranging examination of Indian society, where secular rationalists are hunted down as they attempt to stem the rising tide of religious and nationalist fundamentalism.
Photo: Nichon Glerum International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam 2018, Award Show in de Stadsschouwburg.[/caption] Reason by Anand Patwardhan won the Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary at the awards ceremony of the 31st International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Los Reyes by Bettina Perut and Iván Osnovikoff won the Special Jury Award for FeatureLength Documentary. IDFA runs until Sunday November 25, 2018. Giacinto Scelsi. The First Motion of the Immovable by Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva was awarded the IDFA Award for Best First Appearance, and Kabul, City in the Wind by Aboozar Amini won the IDFA Special Jury Award for First Appearance. The Beeld en Geluid IDFA Award for Dutch Documentary went to ‘Now something is slowly changing’ by mint film office. But Now Is Perfect by Carin Goeijers received the IDFA Special Jury Award for Dutch Documentary. At the beginning of the evening, Reber Dosky presented the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Documentary Stipend (€ 50.000) to filmmaker Sophie Dros.
International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam 2018 Awards

IDFA Competition for Feature-Length Documentary
[caption id="attachment_32858" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Reason by Anand Patwardhan[/caption] Anand Patwardhan won the IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary (€ 15.000) with Reason (India). The film is a broad-ranging examination of Indian society, where secular rationalists are hunted down as they attempt to stem the rising tide of religious and nationalist fundamentalism. From the jury report: The IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary is unanimously given to Reason by Anand Patwardhan for the epic storytelling of the rise of the far right in one of the most populated countries of this planet, the violence of religious and ultranationalist militias with the support of authorities and dominant medias, the dignity of resistance in multiple forms, often at life-cost, in a way that acknowledges the complexity of the situation but put it in a very understandable shape. [caption id="attachment_32860" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Los Reyes by Bettina Perut and Iván Osnovikoff[/caption] In addition, the jury presented the IDFA Special Jury Award for Feature-Length Documentary (€ 2.500) to Los Reyes (Chile, Germany) by Bettina Perut and Iván Osnovikoff. In this almost fairytale-like film, the phenomenal, dreamlike camerawork centers almost entirely on the subtle interaction between two dogs, as they play with a ball, a stick, a stone, and each other. From the jury report: The IDFA Special Jury Award for Feature-Length Documentary goes to Los Reyes, by Bettina Perut and Iván Osnivikoff (Chile, Germany) for the creative and beautiful way it displaces the viewer gaze by associating a sensible look at non-human wonderful characters and the soundtrack that connects daily lives of animal and human stray dogs.
IDFA Competition for First Appearance
Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva won the IDFA Award for Best First Appearance (€ 10.000) for Giacinto Scelsi. The First Motion of the Immovable (France, Italy). Aboozar Amini won the IDFA Special Jury Award for First Appearance, in memory of Peter Wintonick (€ 2.500) for Kabul, City in the Wind (Netherlands, Afghanistan, Japan, Germany).
IDFA Competition for Mid-Length Documentary
The IDFA Award for Best Mid-Length Documentary (€ 10.000) was awarded to Andrei Kutsila for Summa (Poland, Belarus). The IDFA Special Jury Award for Mid-Length Documentary (€ 2.500) went to In Touch (Poland, Iceland) by Pawel Ziemilski.
IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling
Ross Goodwin won the IDFA DocLab Award for Digital Storytelling (€ 5.000) for 1 the Road (United States).
IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction
The IDFA DocLab Award for Immersive Non-Fiction (€ 5,000) went to Eat | Tech | Kitchen (Netherlands, United States) by Klasien van de Zandschulp & Emilie Baltz.
IDFA Competition for Dutch Documentary
The Beeld en Geluid IDFA Award for Dutch Documentary (€ 7.500) went to ‘Now something is slowly changing’ by mint film office. Carin Goeijers received the IDFA Special Jury Award for Dutch Documentary (€ 2.500) for But Now Is Perfect.
IDFA Competition for Short Documentary
I Signed the Petition (United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland) by Mahdi Fleifel won the IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary (€ 5.000). The IDFA Special Jury Award for Short Documentary (€ 2.500) went to And What Is the Summer Saying (India) by Payal Kapadia.
IDFA Competition for Student Documentary
Beryl Magoko won the IDFA Award for Best Student Documentary (€ 5.000) for In Search… (Germany, Kenya). The IDFA Special Jury Award for Student Documentary (€ 2.500) was presented to Dana Gelman for Backwards (Israel).
IDFA Competition for Kids & Docs
The IDFA Award for Best Children’s Documentary (€ 5.000) went to Dancing for You (Poland) by Katarzyna Lesisz. Martijn Blekendaal received the IDFA Special Jury Award for Children’s Documentary (€ 2.500) for The Man Who Looked Beyond the Horizon (the Netherlands).
Other Awards
At the beginning of the evening, Reber Dosky presented the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Documentary Stipend (€ 50.000) to filmmaker Sophie Dros. This € 50.000-Euro stipend towards the making of a new documentary was donated by an anonymous donor, who has made the stipend possible through the Cultuurfonds. The Amsterdam Human Rights Award (€ 25.000) was presented on Tuesday evening to Island of The Hungry Ghosts (Germany, United Kingdom, Australia) by Gabrielle Brady. The award was made possible by the City of Amsterdam.
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2018 Whistler Film Festival to Feature Record Number of Films Directed by Women

[caption id="attachment_29003" align="aligncenter" width="1214"] Birds Without Feathers[/caption] The Whistler Film Festival will present an unprecedented number of female focused films, talent, events, and awards throughout its 2018 programs. The Festival will screen 21 feature films and 18 short films directed or co-directed by women or non-binary individuals, which makes up 46% of this year’s film programming, the highest percentage for the festival to date. WFF will also have 41 Canadian females out of 80 (51%) participating in 11 different talent programs, including 16 directors, 5 producers, 3 screenwriters, 8 filmmakers, 1 actor, and 7 musicians in bands in the Music Showcase. “The Whistler Film Festival’s female focused initiatives are aligned with several industry wide mandates, and we are committed to promoting the shared goal of breaking the celluloid ceiling, increasing the number of women in the director’s chair, addressing the imbalance of industry diversity behind the camera, and supporting the collaborative efforts to bring more female written and directed narratives to screen, and more females on screen to reflect society,” says Shauna Hardy Mishaw, WFF Executive Director. “With strong representation both in front of and behind the camera in our films, and talent programs this year, Whistler is maintaining a timely leadership role for women in the industry, when the need is not only apparent, the collective is calling for it.“
2018 Whistler Film Festival Feature Films directed or co-directed by Women
A COLONY (Canada) Dir. Geneviève Dulude-De Celles AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS (Canada) Dir. Deanne Foley BELLA CIAO! (Canada) Dir. Carolyn Combs BIRDS WITHOUT FEATHERS (United States) Dir. Wendy McColm CIRCLE OF STEEL (Canada) Dir. Gillian McKercher ELIJAH AND THE ROCK CREATURE (Canada) Dir. Jen Walden FALLS AROUND HER (Canada) Dir. Darlene Naponse FAMILY FIRST (CHIEN DE GARDE) (Canada) Dir. Sophie Dupuis FREE SOLO (United States) Dir. E. Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin GIRLS OF THE SUN (France) Dir. Eva Husson HONEY BEE (Canada) Dir. Rama Rau HUGH HEFNER’S AFTER DARK: SPEAKING OUT IN AMERICA (Canada) Dir. Brigitte Berman IN GOD I TRUST (Canada) Dir. Maja Zdanowski INTO INVISIBLE LIGHT (Canada) Dir. Shelagh Carter ON THE BASIS OF SEX (United States) Dir. Mimi Leder LOVE, SCOTT (Canada) Dir. Laura Marie Wayne MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (United Kingdom) Dir. Josie Rourke THE NATURALLY WANTON PLEASURE OF SKIN (Canada) Dir. Renée Beaulieu SASHINKA (Canada) Dir. Kristina Wagenbauer TROUBLE IN THE GARDEN (Canada) Dir. Roz Owen UNTOGETHER (United States) Dir. Emma Forrest
2018 Whistler Film Festival Short Films directed or co-directed by Women
CEDAR TREE OF LIFE (Canada) Dir. Odessa Shuquaya MISS WORLD (Taiwan) Dir. Georgia Fu LITTLE WAVES (Canada) Dir. Ariane Louis-Seize LUNAR-ORBIT RENDEZVOUS (Canada) Dir. Mélanie Charbonneau THREE CENTIMETRES (Lebanon) Dir. Lara Zeidan THUNDERBIRD (Canada) Dir. Erin Collins HUNTING SEASON (Canada) Dir. Shannon Kohli THE FIELD (India) Dir. Sandhya Suri EMPTYING THE TANK (Canada) Dir. Caroline Monnet 20 MINUTES TO LIFE (Canada) Dir. Veronika Kurz EGG (France) Dir. Martina Scarpelli BROTHERHOOD (Canada) Dir. Meryam Joobeur CC (Canada) Dir. Kailey Spear and Sam Spear HOW LONG? (Canada) Dir. Ayden Ross GIRL IN THE GALACTIC SUN (Canada) Dir. Heather Perluzzo FANTASMAGORIA (Canada) Dir. Lilén Aimare I SEE STARS (Canada) Dir. Caid Dow I WILL KEEP YOUR LIGHT (Canada) Dir. Chelsea Xinyi Chen
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SHOPLIFTERS and MOANANUIĀKEA Win Audience Awards at Hawaii International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_30641" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Shoplifters[/caption] The ballots have been tabulated and the festival attendees of the 38th edition of the Hawaii International Film Festival voted SHOPLIFTERS directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda winner of Narrative Feature Audience Award, and MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN, ONE PEOPLE, ONE CANOE directed by Naalehu Anthony was voted winner of DocumentaryFeature Audience Award. The Audience Award for Short Film went to HAE HAWAI’I directed by Ty Sanga.
2018 Hawaii International Film Festival Audience Award Winners

NARRATIVE FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
SHOPLIFTERS directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda After one of their shoplifting sessions, a poor family come across a little girl freezing in the cold, and although initially reluctant, welcome her into their home. Though happy together, an unforeseen incident begins to unravel hidden secrets and test the bonds that unite them. From Palme d’Or-winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda, SHOPLIFTERS tells a breathtaking story of family and love told across four seasons on the streets of contemporary Tokyo. SHOPLIFTERS had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or, the grand prize. It is also Japan’s official entry to the foreign language Academy Awards category.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN, ONE PEOPLE, ONE CANOE directed by Naalehu Anthony In 1976, a voyaging canoe sparked a cultural revival that quickly spread throughout Polynesia, breathing life into ancient myths and legends. More than four decades later, Hōkūleʻa continues to inspire a new generation of navigators and voyagers to gather their courage and sail beyond the horizon of the Pacific. MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN. ONE PEOPLE. ONE CANOE. celebrates the historic Worldwide Voyage that connected countless communities from around the globe. A voyage that also represented the fulfillment of the vision of Nainoa Thompson and his contemporaries, the passing of the mantle to the next generation of kānaka maoli who will retain the skills of their ancestors and perpetuate this tradition for generations to come. MOANANUIĀKEA had its world premiere at HIFF as the Closing Night Film.
SHORT FILM AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
HAE HAWAI’I directed by Ty Sanga In 1893, a group of businessmen and sugar planters illegally overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy. The kingdom slowly dissolves as loyalists to the crown try to preserve what is left. A young Hawaiian thief is selected to safeguard the unifying symbol of the kingdom, the Hawaiian flag.
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BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE Wins Top Prize at 38th Hawaii International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32837" align="aligncenter" width="1050"] Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable[/caption] The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) presented their 2018 Jury awards with The Best Made In Hawaii Feature Award going to BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE directed by Aaron Lieber. The jurors also awarded a second place award to MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN, ONE CANOE, ONE PEOPLE, directed by Na’alehu Anthony. The Made In Hawaii competition film awards category was launched in 2017 to spotlight the flourishing local independent film scene on the Hawaiian Islands. The Jurors shared their thoughts on the winning films: “This year’s Made in Hawaii nominees showcase a beautifully diverse range of stories, that all share a common theme: the transformative impact of community and family. BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE quickly showed us that what we thought we knew, was just the beginning of the story. Emotional and inspiring, this film did what all great docs do – it captured defining moments you can’t believe were captured on film with twists and turns that defied expectations. This amazing story of a deeply relatable underdog was also complemented with epic cinematography and a final shot that has to be seen to be believed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dworl7UXMRU “This year’s second place awardee, MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN, ONE CANOE, ONE PEOPLE. honors a movie that captures a movement decades, and arguably centuries, in the making. Hokule’a isn’t just a canoe. It’s a compass that reconnects us to our past and points the way to a better future. Over the past 40 years it has not only sparked a Hawaiian renaissance, it has now, incredibly, connected cultures and communities from every point around the globe, a symbolic lei that encircles the world.” The Best Made In Hawaii Short Film Award winner is MAUKA TO MAKAI, directed by Jonah Okono and Alika Maikau, with the Second Prize in the Made in Hawaii Shorts program going to Erin Lau’s THE MOON AND THE NIGHT. All films in Shorts programs #1 – 4, plus PACIFIC SHOWCASE SHORTS and MADE IN HAWAII shorts programs are eligible for the overall HIFF BEST SHORT FILM award which was won by MAY 14th, directed by Boo Eunjoo. The jury also announced a Special Jury Mention, for Andre Hoermann and Anna Samo’s OBON; recognizing its striking animated retelling of one survivor’s account of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb attack. [caption id="attachment_28168" align="aligncenter" width="1180"] People’s Republic of Desire[/caption] HIFF also debuted the inaugural Ka’ū Ka Hōkū Filmmaker Award, presented to an emerging filmmaker who has completed their first or second feature film which went to PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE, directed by Hao Wu. The 2018 Halekulani Career Achievement Award was presented to actress Moon So-ri. Dubbed the “Meryl Streep” of South Korea, Moon is one of the most acclaimed Asian actresses of her generation. Moon recently directed the feature-length omnibus THE RUNNING ACTRESS. The Halekulani Maverick Award was given to an international cinema artist who has a unique and eclectic career trajectory, contributing to international cinema and the filmed arts in an innovative way. This year, HIFF presented the award to American actress, writer, and rapper Awkwafina. Awkwafina, whose given name is Nora Lum, brings an impressive range of talent peppered with her signature flair, and has become a major breakout talent this year with her co-starring roles in Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians. HIFF also presented the Halekulani Maverick Award to actor-turned-director Takumi Saito. As an actor, Saito is known for his breakout role in the wildly popular Japanese TV drama “Hirugao”. His feature film directorial debut, Blank 13, quietly evokes the enigma of discovering the private life of a loved one, whether dead or alive; and the elasticity of familial bonds. The Hawaii International Film Festival’s PIC Trailblazer Award was presented to a cinema artist of Pacific Islander heritage who broadens the scope of Pacific Islander stories onto the world stage, producing award winning work in independent and global cinema, becoming a trendsetter in their field and a cultural ambassador that shines a spotlight on Pacific islander culture in mainstream media. The 2018 HIFF Pacific Islanders in Communications Trailblazer Award was given to Heperi “Hepi” Mita. Mita’s career began in 2007, working in online journalism for the pulitzer prize winning Las Vegas Sun newspaper. He returned to his home country of Aotearoa / New Zealand in 2011, following the death of his mother — indigenous filmmaking pioneer Merata Mita (UTU). His directorial debut, Merata: How Mum Decolonised The Screen, world premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival this past summer. HIFF will present the Hawaii premiere of this film at Spring Showcase 2019. The NETPAC Award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Pusan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawaii. HIFF is the only film festival in North America given permission to present the NETPAC award. This year’s NETPAC Award winner is STILL HUMAN by Oliver Siu Kuen Chan. From the Jury: “The award for best narrative feature for an emerging filmmaker from the Asia Pacific region goes to STILL HUMAN by Oliver Siu Kuen Chan for its humane way of exploring racial and social class, the treatment of the disabled and the aged, and portraying the intersection of hopelessness and dreams.”
2018 Hawaii International Film Festival Award Winners
Made In Hawaii Best Feature: BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE directed by Aaron Lieber (1st Place); MOANANUIĀKEA: ONE OCEAN. ONE PEOPLE. ONE CANOE. Directed by Naalehu Anthony (2nd Place) Made In Hawaii Best Short: MAUKA TO MAKAI directed by Alika Maikau & Jonah Okano (1st Place); THE MOON AND THE NIGHT directed by Erin Lau (2nd Place) HIFF Best Overall Short Film: MAY 14th directed by Eunjoo Boo; OBON directed by Hoermann Andre & Anna Samo NETPAC Winner: STILL HUMAN directed by Oliver Siu Kuen Chan
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GREEN BOOK to Receive Vanguard Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32616" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] “Green Book” directed by Peter Farrelly[/caption] The cast and director of the film Green Book will be presented with the Vanguard Award at the annual Film Awards Gala at the upcoming 30th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). The Vanguard Award is a group honor distinguishing a film’s cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project. Actors Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali as well as director Peter Farrelly are expected to attend. Green Book joins previously announced honorees Glenn Close, Rami Malek and Melissa McCarthy. The Festival runs January 3-14. Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include The Shape of Water and La La Land. When Frank Anthony Vallelonga, aka Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a New York City bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive and protect Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a world-class black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on The Green Book — a travel guide to safe lodging, dining and business options for African Americans during the era of segregation and Jim Crow laws — to steer them to places where Shirley will not be refused service, humiliated, or threatened with violence. Set against the backdrop of a country grappling with the valor and volatility of the Civil Rights Movement, two men will be confronted with racism and danger and be comforted by generosity, kindness and their own unique senses of humor. Together, they will challenge long-held assumptions, push past their seemingly insurmountable differences, and embrace their shared humanity. The film, from Participant Media and DreamWorks Pictures, is directed by Peter Farrelly. “Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are an on-camera dream team in the crowd-pleasing film Green Book, inspired by a true friendship, about a New York City bouncer hired to drive and protect pianist Dr. Don Shirley on a concert tour in the Deep South,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “Director Peter Farrelly, who also co-wrote the script, delivers a heartfelt movie-going experience that is guaranteed to receive awards attention for the actors, its director and the film itself. It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to Green Book.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZxoko_HC0
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African Diaspora International Film Festival 2018 in NY to Showcase Caribbean Films

[caption id="attachment_32789" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Timeless: A Virgin Island Love Story[/caption] The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) 2018 will celebrate the Caribbean with films from the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Panama, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and T&T. The Caribbean is a rich reservoir of stories. Films from the region come in many languages. The characters have many origins and skin tones, and all the countries harbor a particular identity. Opening Night film Timeless: A Virgin Island Love Story travels in time from 19th Century Ghana to the modern day Caribbean. It is the story of Ajuwa, a Ghanaian warrior, who loses her soulmate to the slave trade; their souls reunite in contemporary US Virgin Islands. Angelica by Marisol Gómez-Mouakad is set in New York and Puerto Rico. Angelica has spent her whole life escaping from her mixed racial identity, but a family crisis forces her to return to Puerto Rico and rethink her life. Cimarronaje in Panama-Panama by Toshi Sakai explores how, two centuries before George Washington or Simon Bolivar dreamed of liberation from European tyranny, enslaved Africans in Panama fought for and gained their independence. The festival will feature two revealing documentaries: Barrow, Freedom Fighter by Marcia Weekes from Barbados and Every Cook Can Govern: Documenting the Life, Impact & Works of C.L.R. James by Ceri Dingle from T&T. Barrow is a passionate docu-drama about the courage of one man who relentlessly preached a gospel of economic self-reliance and self-respect to the people of his native country Barbados and beyond. The CLR James documentary, in a historical tour-de-force, interweaves never-before-seen footage of C.L.R. James with personal contributions from those who knew him. THE WINDRUSH AND THE BUMIDON The Black presence in Europe is not new, but with time, the ambitions of colonial powers and the increasing extreme right wing waves, being Black in Europe implied different connotations. Post-war UK experienced a massive arrival of people from the Caribbean, known as the Windrush. In the 1980’s arrived from Africa wealthy Nigerians and Ghanaians alongside rural migrants and refugees from Somalia and Zimbabwe. This massive presence of black people gave the UK a new flavor. ADIFF’s Windursh program illustrates Black life in the UK with the presentation of recent and classic films. In France, the Bumidon system, a structure implemented by the French government to bring folks from their overseas territories mostly Martinique and Guadeloupe to work in France, contributed to making France a multiracial society. ADIFF-NY 2018 will showcase a selection of films about the human experience of many men and women who left their native lands looking for a better life in the colonial metropolis. The Story of Lovers Rock and Time and Judgement, by internationally acclaimed Barbados/UK filmmaker Menelik Shabazz, explore the history of the Black UK life experience through the arts – music, spoken word – with performances, archival footage and testimonies. Playing Away by Horace Ove from T&T is one of the ten best Afro-British films of all times. Love story The Naked Poet by Jason Barrett – whose family is from Jamaica – is representative of the work and interests of a new generation of Black British filmmakers. The BUMIDOM system and its impact are described in They had a dream / Le Rêve Français which tells a story based on reality. It is both a social and a fictional saga, exploring the interconnected lives of two Guadeloupian families to reveal hidden and obscure aspects of French society. The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) celebrates its 26th anniversary from Nov. 23 to Dec. 9 with screenings to be held in five venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village, Riverside Church, The Dwyer Cultural Center and MIST Harlem.Screenings will be held in five venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village, Riverside Church, The Dwyer Cultural Center and MIST Harlem.
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“This is Spinal Tap” and “Reality Bites” to get Anniversary Tributes at 2019 Tribeca Film Fest

[caption id="attachment_32783" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] This Is Spinal Tap[/caption] This Is Spinal Tap will return to the big screen for the iconic mockumentary’s 35th anniversary at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival which runs April 24 to May. Generation X will also have a comeback for the 25th anniversary of Reality Bites. The storytellers behind the cult classics will be on hand for cast and creator reunions. This Is Spinal Tap stars and creators Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner, who also directed, will turn it up to eleven again with a one-night-only anniversary celebration 35 years in the making. Released in 1984, the mockumentary follows the fictional heavy metal rock band Spinal Tap on tour. After the screening, the four will pay tribute to the band with a special musical performance and a conversation to follow. [caption id="attachment_32784" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Reality Bites[/caption] Tribeca will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Reality Bites, a film that captured the zeitgeist of the 90s. Starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo, Steve Zahn, and Ben Stiller, who also directed, the film was released in 1994. A conversation will follow the screening to take a look back at the making of the film and the characters who have come to embody the spirit of Generation X. Rob Reiner and Ben Stiller brought these two cult classics to life both in front of the camera and from behind – This Is Spinal Tap and Reality Bites were their directorial debuts. “Spinal Tap proves there is definitely a fine line between stupid and clever,” said director, co-writer, and star Rob Reiner. “Reality Bites was a formative experience in my life. To have a 25 year anniversary screening is very exciting. Looking forward to seeing the whole cast, and possibly changing the ending so Michael gets Lelaina,” said director and star Ben Stiller. “From the heavy metal bands of the ‘80s to Generation X in the early ‘90s, This Is Spinal Tap and Reality Bites didn’t just capture the spirit of their respective times – they helped define them,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. “We’re excited to bring these two films back to the big screen for existing fans and also to introduce them to new audiences.” Tribeca has hosted reunions and anniversary events for some of the most iconic films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas, Scarface, Schindler’s List, Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, and more.
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Melissa McCarthy to Receive Spotlight Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_31589" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Melissa McCarthy in the film CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? Photo by Mary Cybulski. © 2018 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved[/caption] Melissa McCarthy will receive the Spotlight Award at the 30th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) annual Film Awards Gala for Can You Ever Forgive Me? The award will be presented by her co-star in the film Richard E. Grant. The Festival runs January 3-14. McCarthy joins previously announced honoree Glenn Close and Rami Malek. Past recipients of the Spotlight Award include Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield, Helen Hunt, Allison Janney, Rooney Mara, Julia Roberts and J.K. Simmons. All recipients received Academy Award® nominations in the year they were honored, with Simmons winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Janney receiving an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. In Fox Searchlight’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, the best-selling celebrity biographer, and cat lover, who made her living in the 70s and 80s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee found herself unable to get published because she had fallen out of step with the marketplace, she turned her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant). The Fox Searchlight film is directed by Marielle Heller and also stars Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin, Ben Falcone, Anna Deavere Smith and Stephen Spinella. Melissa McCarthy received an Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice and SAG Award nominations for her role in Bridesmaids. Her other film credits include Life of the Party, The Boss, St. Vincent, Tammy, The Heat, Identity Thief, This is 40, The Hangover Part III, Ghostbusters, The Back-Up Plan, Life As We Know It, Pretty Ugly People, Just Add Water, The Nines, White Oleander, Pumpkin, Go and The Life of David Gale. Her TV credits include Mike & Molly, Gilmore Girls, Samantha Who? and Nobodies. Her upcoming films include The Kitchen and Superintelligence. “Melissa McCarthy delivers a heartbreaking performance as author Lee Israel, perfectly portraying Israel’s loneliness as she struggles with her own relevance in society,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “McCarthy’s dramatic turn is truly captivating and deserving of awards recognition. It is our honor to present this year’s Spotlight Award to Melissa McCarthy.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvJIaNsf_bY
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AT ETERNITY’S GATE to Open 2018 Marrakech International Film Festival, Fest Unveils Official Selection

[caption id="attachment_31186" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] At Eternity’s Gate[/caption] From November 30 to December 8, 2018, festival-goers and cinema-lovers alike will discover no fewer than 80 films coming from 29 different countries at the 17th Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM). The Festival with open with At Eternity’s Gate directed by Julian Schnabel, the remarkable biopic that depicts the most celebrated period of the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh will open the Festival. The line-up is divided into several sections, the main ones including the Official Competition; Gala Screenings; Special Screenings; The 11th Continent; Moroccan Panorama; Jamaa El-Fna Square Screenings; Audio-described Cinema; and a Tribute section. International Film Festival. Fourteen (14) films, six directed by women, are in the running to win the Marrakech Etoile d’Or (or, the Gold Star), in the Official Competition. Tributes will be made to four great names in cinema, namely: Robert De Niro, Jillali Ferhati, Agnès Varda, and Robin Wright.
2018 Marrakech International Film Festival Official Selections

COMPETITION
THE GOOD GIRLS (Las niñas bien) / Mexico By Alejandra Márquez Abella Cast: Ilse Salas, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Paulina Gaitán, Johanna Murillo, Flavio Medina JOY / Austria By Sudabeh Mortezai Cast: Joy Anwulika Alphonsus, Precious Mariam Sanusi, Angela Ekeleme Pius, Gift Igweh, Sandra John, Chika Kipo, Ella Osagie, Christian Ludwig, Mary Kreutzer DIANE / USA By Kent Jones Cast: Mary Kay Place, Jake Lacy, Andrea Martin, Estelle Parsons, Deirdre O’Connell, Joyce Van Patten, Phyllis Gallagher, Glynnis O’Connor et Paul McIsaac THE LOAD (Teret) / Serbia, France, Croatia, Iran, Qatar By Ognjen Glavonić Cast: Leon Lučev, Pavle Čemerikić THE CHAMBERMAID (La camarista) / Mexico By Lila Avilés Cast: Gabriela Cartol, Teresa Sánchez RED SNOW (Akai yuki) / Japan By Sayaka Kai Cast: Masotoshi Nagase, Nahana, Arata Lura, Yui Nastukawa, Koichi Sato LOOK AT ME (Fi ‘ainaya / Regarde-moi) / Tunisia By Nejib Belkhadhi Cast: Nidhal Saadi, Idryss Kharroubi, Sawssen Maalej, Aziz Jebali, Mouna Nourredine IRINA / Bulgaria By Nadejda Koseva Cast: Martina Apostolova, Hristo Ushev, Irini Jambonas, Kasiel Noah Asher, Krassimir Dokov, Alexander Kossev VANISHING DAYS (Màn yóu) / China By Zhu Xin Cast: Jlang Li, Huang Jing as, Qiu Xiaqiu, Chen Yan, Li Xiaoxing, Lu Jiahe URGENT (Tafaha al-kail / Une urgence ordinaire) / Morocco, Switzerland By Mohcine Besri Cast: Rachid Mustapha, Fatima Zahra Benacer, Youssef Alaoui, Saïd Bey, Ghalia Ben Zaouia, Ayoub Layoussifi, Younes Bouab. ROJO / Argentina, Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Germany By Benjamín Naishtat Cast: Dario Grandinetti, Andrea Frigerio, Alfredo Castro, Diego Cremonesi AKASHA / Sudan, South Africa, Germany, Qatar By hajooj kuka Cast: Ekram Marcus, Kamal Ramadan, Ganja Mohamed Chakado, Abdallah Alnur Najla Kamal THE GIRAFFE (La ahdun hunak) / Egypt By Ahmed Magdy Cast: Amr Hosny, Shaza Moharam, Haidy Koussa, Salma Hassan, Rasha Magdy ALL GOOD (Alles ist gut) / Germany By Eva Trobisch Cast: Aenne Schwarz, Andreas Döhler, Hans Löw, Tilo Nest, Lisa Hagmeister, Lina Wendel
Gala Screenings
AT ETERNITY’S GATE / USA, France By Julian Schnabel Cast: Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner EUFORIA / Italy By Valeria Golino Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Valerio Mastandrea, Isabella Ferrari, Valentina Cervi, Jasmine Trinca ROMA / Mexico, USA By Alfonso Cuarón Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira GREEN BOOK / USA By Peter Farrelly Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini YOMEDDINE / Egypt, USA, Austria By A.B.Shawky Cast: Rady Gamal, Ahmed Abdelhafiz, Shahira Fahmy CAPERNAUM (Capharnaüm) / Lebanon, USA By Nadine Labaki Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shifera, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawthar Al Haddad, Fadi Youssef, Nadine Labaki.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
THE ACCUSED (Acusada) / Argentina By Gonzalo Tobal Cast: Lali Espósito, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Inés Estévez, Daniel Fanego, Ferardo Romano, Gael García Bernal WILDLIFE /USA By Paul Dano Cast: Ed Oxenbould, Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal EXT. NIGHT (Leil kharigi) / Egypt By AhmadAbdalla Cast: Karim Kassem, Mona Hala, Sherief El Desouky, Ahmad Magdy, Aly Kassem HER SMELL / USA By Alex Ross Perry Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne, Dan Stevens, Amber Heard, Agyness Deyn THE TOWER / Norway By Mats Grorud Film d’animation LIONHEART / Nigeria By Genevieve Nnaji Cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu REAL LOVE (C’est ça l’amour) / France, Belgium By Claire Burger Cast: Bouli Lanners, Justine Lacroix, Sarah Henochsberg RAFIKI / Kenya By Wanuri Kahiu Cast: Samantha Mugatsia, Sheila Munyiva, Jimmi Gathu, Nini Wacera, Dennis Muskoya POISONOUS ROSES (Ward masmum) / Egypt By Fawzi Saleh Cast: Koky, Mahmoud Hemida, Ibrahim El Nagary BIRDS OF PASSAGE (Pájaros de verano) / Colombia, Denmark, Mexico By Cristina Gallego et Ciro Guerra Cast: Carmiña Martínez, Jose Acosta, Natalia Reyes, Jhon Narváez, Greider Meza, José Vicente Cote DIVINE WIND (Rih Rabbani) / Algeria By Merzak Allouache Cast: Sarah Layssac, Mohamed Oughlis, Messaouda Boukhira, Hacene Benzerari, Abdelatif Benahmed, Brahim Derris
THE 11th CONTINENT
VIEWS FROM MOROCCO AND THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE Presented by Jay Weissberg BURNING / South Korea By Lee Chang-dong Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-seo ANGELO / Austria, Luxembourg By Markus Schleinzer Cast: Makita Samba, Alba Rohrwacher, Larisa Faber, Kenny Nzogang, Lukas Miko NERVOUS TRANSLATION / The Philippines By Shireen Seno Cast: Jana Agoncillo, Angge Santos, Sid Lucero, Cocoy Lumbao HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING / USA By RaMell Ross Documentary THE DEAD AND THE OTHERS (Chuva é cantoria na aldeia dos mortos) / Brazil By João Salaviza, Renée Nader Messora Cast: Henrique Ihjãc Krahô, Raene Kôtô Krahô SRBENKA / Croatia By Nebojša Slijepčević Documentaire ERASED,ASCENTOFTHE INVISIBLE (Tirss, rihlat al sou’oud ila al mar’i) / Lebanon By Ghassan Halwani Documentary ENDLESS TAIL (Beskrajni Rep) / Croatia By Željka Suková Cast: Julie Suková, Kašpar Suk, Prolaznici Tokijom, Željka Suková, Aleš Suk MANTA RAY(Kraben rahu) / Thailand, France, China By Phuttiphong Aroonpheng Cast: Wanlop Rungkumjad, Aphisit Hama, Rasmee Wayrana THE SOUND OF MASKS / South Africa, Portugal By Sara CF de Gouveia Documentary YESTERDAY (Tegnap) / Hungary, France, the Netherlands, Morocco, Sweden, Germany By Kenyeres Bálint Cast: Vlad Ivanov, Djemel Barek, Jacques Weber, Gamil Ratib, Johanna Ter Steege STILL RECORDING (Lisah’am tsajil) / Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Germany By Saeed Al Batal, Ghiath Ayoub RENAULT 12 / France By Mohamed El Khatib Docu-fiction
MOROCCAN PANORAMA
VOLUBILIS (Walili) By Faouzi Bensaïdi Cast: Mouhcine Malzi, Nadia Kounda, Abdelhadi Taleb, Nezha Rahil, Faouzi Bensaidi, Mouna Fettou WE COULD BE HEROES By Hind Bensari Documentary THE HEALER (Mbarkaa) By Mohamed Zineddaine Cast: Ahmed Moustafid, Fatima Atif, Mehdi Laarroubi, Hanane Elkabani, Nosrine Adam SOFIA By Meryem Benm’Barek Cast: Maha Alemi, Lubna Azabal, Faouzi Bensaidi, Sarah Perles, Hamza Khafif, Raouia STATELESS (Bila mawtin) By Narjiss Nejjar Cast: El Ghalia Ben Zaouia, Avishay Benazra, Aziz Fadili, Nadia Niazi, Mohamed Nadif, Julie Gayet CATHARSYS, OR THE AFINA TALES OF THE LOST WORLD By Yassine Marco Marroccu Cast: Mohamed Zouaoui, Aziz Dadas, Sonia Okacha, Ljubisa Ristic JAHILIYA By Hicham Lasri Cast: Mostapha Houari, Salma Eddlimi, Hassan Ben Badida, Rami Fijjaj
CINEMA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
THE TOWER (Al borj) / Norway By Mats Grorud Animated film IQBAL, A TALE OF A FEARLESS CHILD / Italy, France By Michael Fuzellier, Babak Payami Animated film THE PRINCESS BRIDE / USA By Rob Reiner Cast: Robin Wright, Carey Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage THE BIG BAD FOX AND OTHER TALES (Le Grand Méchant Renard et autres contes) / France, Belgium By Benjamin Renner, Patrick Imbert Cast: Guillaume Darnault, Jules Bienvenu, Augustin Jahn Sani, Violette Samama, Céline Ronté Film d’animation THE BREADWINNER / Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg By Nora Twomey Animated film
LE CINÉMA EN AUDIODESCRIPTION POUR LES MALVOYANTS
FACES PLACES (Visages villages) / France By Agnès Varda et JR Documentary THE EAVESDROPPER (La Mécanique de l’ombre) / Belgium, France By Thomas Kruithof Cast: François Cluzet, Denis Polalydès, Sami Bouajila, Siman Akbarian, Alba Rohrwacher LAHNECH / Morocco By Driss Mrini Cast: Aziz Dades, Majdouline Idrissi, Fadila Benmoussa, Mouhcine Malzi, Abdelghani Sannak BLADE RUNNER 2049 / USA, United Kingdom, Hungary, Canada By Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, LADY BIRD / USA By Greta Gerwig Cast: Robin Wright, Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet
JEMAA EL FNA
KORSA / Morocco By Abdellah Toukouna Cast: Abdellah Ferkous, Bouchera Ahraich, Khouloud Batioui, Fadilla Ben Moussa, Omar Azzouzi AS LONG AS I LIVE (Jab tak hai jaan) / India By Yash Chopra Cast : Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma THE UNTOUCHABLES / USA By Brian De Palma Cast : Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery KUNDUN / USA By Martin Scorsese ALEXANDRIA AGAIN AND FOREVER (Iskandariyya Kaman wa Kaman) / Egypt, France By Youssef Chahine Cast: Youssra, Youssef Chahine, Hussein Fahmy, Hesham Selim, Taheya Cariocca FORREST GUMP / USA By Robert Zemeckis Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field BROOKS, MEADOWS AND LOVELY FACES (Al-ma’ wal-khodra wal-wajh al-hassan) / Egypt By Yousry Nasrallah Cast: Laila Elwi, Bassem Samra, Menna Shalabi, Zeina Mansour, Sabreen HUSBAND MATERIAL (Manmarziyaan) / India By Anurag Kashyap Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Abhishek Bachchan ANT-MAN AND THE WASP / USA By Peyton Reed Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Douglas ASTERIX & OBELIX: MISSION CLEOPATRA (Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléôpatre) / France, Italy By Alain Chabat Cast: Gérard Dépardieu, Christian Clavier, Jamel Debbouze, Monica Bellucci, Alain Chabat, Claude Rich, Gérard Darmon LAHNECH / Morocco By Driss Mrini Cast: Aziz Dades, Majdouline Idrissi, Fadila Benmoussa, Mouhcine Malzi, Abdelghani Sannak
Tributes

ROBERT DE NIRO
GOODFELLAS / USA By Martin Scorsese Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino THE UNTOUCHABLES / USA By Brian De Palma Cast: Robert De Niro,Kevin Costner, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery RAGING BULL / USA By Martin Scorsese Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto
AGNÈS VARDA
CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 (Cléo de 5 à 7) / France De Agnès Varda Interprétation: Georges de Beauregard, Carlo Ponti, Corinne Marchand, Antoine Bourseiller, Dominique Davray FACES PLACES (Visages villages) / France By Agnès Varda, JR Documentaire VAGABOND (Sans toit ni loi) / France By Agnès Varda Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Macha Méril, Stephane Freiss, Yolande Moreau, Patrick Lepczynski, Yahiaoui Assouna
ROBIN WRIGHT
THE PRINCESS BRIDE/ USA By Rob Reiner Cast: Robin Wright, Carey Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage SHE’S SO LOVELY / USA By Nick Cassavetes Cast: Sean Penn, Robin Wright, Harry Dean Stanton, James Gandolfini, John Travolta FORREST GUMP / USA By Robert Zemeckis Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field BLADE RUNNER 2049 / USA, United Kingdom, Hungary, Canada By Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks
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FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY, BORDER, BLACK SHEEP Win at 63rd Cork Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_31993" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Float Like a Butterfly[/caption] Float Like a Butterfly, written and directed by Carmel Winters, which had its European Premiere as the Opening Night Gala film at the 63rd Cork Film Festival, went on to win the The Audience Award at the festival. On winning the award, Carmel Winters said: “Winning the audience prize at the oldest and largest festival in Ireland is the greatest gift I could wish for. So many of us bared heart and soul to make this film. Thank you, thank you, thank you Cork for championing the right of all of us to be our truest and best selves.” The Gradam Spiorad Na Féile / Spirit of The Festival Award went to Ali Abbasi’s Border (Gräns). Based on a short story by John Ajvide Lindqvist, the author of Let the Right One In, Ali Abbasi’s second feature is one of the year’s great discoveries – an extraordinary, highly original work that melds modern Nordic noir with the region’s folklore. Irish short Stigma, directed by Helen Warner, won the prestigious award of Grand Prix Irish Short Award, and now join the longlist for the Academy Awards® in 2020 in the Live Action Short Film category. The Festival’s second Academy Awards® qualifying award, for the Grand Prix International Short Award, was Maria Eriksson’s Schoolyard Blues (Skolstartssorg) a Swedish short film which the judges recognised as being “both uplifting and heart-breaking and prompts us to consider continuity and change, the struggle for survival on the margins and the enduring and potentially restorative power of love”. The Cork Film Festival Short Film Candidate for the 2019 European Film Awards is Black Sheep, directed by Ed Perkins, and produced by Academy Awards® winners Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. This short documentary is about a young man who finds himself the target of extreme racial abuse, and follows his decision to become more like the people who hated him. The award for Documentary Short went to Black Line, directed by Mark Olexa and Francesca Scalisi (Switzerland), and the Best Cork Short Award, proudly presented by Media Partner RedFM, was won by Megan K Fox for her film, The Shift, set in the final disco of the Gaeltacht, and one 15-year-old who is determined to get the shift against all odds. The new award for Best Director: Irish Short, supported by Screen Directors’ Guild Ireland, went to Oonagh Kearney, for her short Five Letters for the Stanger Who Will Dissect My Brain. The film provides an insight into the soul-searching journey of first-year medical student Viv, whose first encounter with a cadaver in the anatomy room sends her on a quest into the nature of what it means to be alive. Other prize winners announced at the Awards ceremony included Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross, which won the Gradam Na Féile Do Scannáin Faisnéise / Award for Cinematic Documentary. The film presents an intimate and heart-breaking depiction of the Southern African American experience and was the recipient of the Special Documentary Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year too. The Cork Film Festival Youth Jury Award went to Crystal Swan (Khrustal), directed by Darya Zhuk, who attended the Festival to present her debut film, a fascinating study of post-communist youth. Speaking on the 63rd edition of the Cork Film Festival, Cork Film Festival Producer and CEO Fiona Clark stated: “It has been an inspiring 10 days of exceptional cinema in Cork. From the high calibre of award winners, to the strength of the Opening and Closing Gala films, and with over 250 Irish and international features and shorts in between, this year’s Festival has been an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. We welcomed over 170 filmmakers and special guests to Cork this year and 18,000 people joined them for many sold-out screenings. “We look forward to building on this success for 2019 and beyond, and would like to thank all our funders, sponsors, partners, friends, jurors, filmmakers and audience who together make Cork Film Festival possible.”
63rd Cork Film Festival Award Winners
Stigma, directed by Helen Warner — Grand Prix Irish Short Award Schoolyard Blues (Skolstartssorg), directed by Maria Eriksson — Grand Prix International Short Award Float Like a Butterfly, written and directed by Carmel Winters — Audience Award Border (Gräns) , directed by Ali Abbasi — Gradam Spiorad na Féile (Spirit of the Festival Award) Black Sheep, directed by Ed Perkins — Cork Film Festival Candidate for the European Film Awards 2019 Black Line, directed by Mark Olexa and Francesca Scalisi — Documentary Short Award The Shift, directed by Megan K Fox — Best Cork Short Award Oonagh Kearney (Five Letters for the Stranger Who Will Dissect My Brain) — Best Director: Irish Short Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross — Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise (Award for Cinematic Documentary) Crystal Swan (Khrustal), directed by Darya Zhuk — Cork Film Festival Youth Jury Award
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FILM REVIEW: THE EYES OF ORSON WELLES – intimate conversation from the past

[caption id="attachment_32736" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Eyes of Orson Welles[/caption] How do you write a letter to someone who has been dead for over 30 years? Mark Cousins’ answer is to look at their sketches that date back from their teenage years all the way their last and create profile through their eyes. The Eyes of Orson Welles has all the potential to be another self aggrandizing portrait of the filmmaker. Diving into the “genius” of the prolific man who has made his name in film, theatre, radio, as well visual art. His legacy could stand alone on having wrote/starred/directed Citizen Kane (1941), noted by many to be the greatest film ever made. However, Mark Cousins, having made a 900-minute comprehensive visual survey of all of cinema up to 2011, has made a film that is not really a film at all. Orson Welles is dead, he has been since October 10, 1985. But hearing Cousins’ rich cadence describe the Moroccan travels Welles took as a teenager does more than conciliate a certain intimacy in the viewer. There is never a moment that Cousins’ narration addresses anybody that isn’t Welles, the film is literally a letter. This letter structure does more to give a materiality not just in seeing papers that are worn and yellowing but also to make Welles a present kind of living person within the film. The next question to ask about this film is who is going to see it. Obviously those who are fans of Welles’ or Cousins’ work will get to a screening whenever possible. As Cousins’ opens the box he says “this never before seen” sketches have been dormant for however many years. Perhaps this film can be seen as an unearthing of a past history in a political/social life of filmmaker. Outside of the curiosity to see something new, there is not much for a person outside of niche of film culture. A film for film lovers. That is what I’ll say because The Eyes of Orson Welles says a lot more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh7PqV-259k
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