Film Festivals

3 New Films Including World Premiere of MANHUNT by John Woo Added to Venice International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_23516" align="aligncenter" width="805"] John Woo[/caption] The world premieres of Manhunt by John Woo; L’ordine delle cose by Andrea Segre; L’Enigma di Jean Rouch a Torino by Marco di Castri, Paolo Favaro, Daniele Pianciola have been added to the lineup of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, taking place August 30 to September 9, 2017. MANHUNT (ZHUIBU) The much-awaited return of John Woo to the crime thriller movies which made him famous, The Killer and Hardboiled. A contemporary remake of a Japanese classic of the genre, it’s the story of a Chinese man who is framed for murder in Japan; he tries to clear his name as he dodges a manhunt organized by the Japanese police and the attacks of mysterious killers. John Woo (A Better Tomorrow, Face/Off) received the Golden Lion for Career Achievement in Venice in 2010. The film will be presented Out of Competition. L’ORDINE DELLE COSE The film by Andrea Segre (Shun Li and the Poet, First Snowfall) tells the story of Corrado, a policeman who is a member of a task force running the system which controls the flow of immigrants. Corrado is sent to coordinate a delicate mission in Libya, where he meets Swada, a young Somali woman who is trying to rejoin her husband in Finland. The film will be presented in Special Screenings. L’ENIGMA DI JEAN ROUCH A TORINO – CRONACA DI UN FILM RATÉ The film by Marco di Castri, Paolo Favaro and Daniele Pianciola is a documentary about a true “laboratory of ideas” and the film it generated: Enigma. The documentary reconstructs the two years between the arrival of Jean Rouch and the project’s conclusion, and is told through the voices of its protagonists as they dialogue with extraordinary material: over 20 hours of making-of. The film will be presented in the competitive section Venezia Classici – Documentaries.
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First 2 Films Announced for Miami Film Festival’s 2017 GEMS Festival

[caption id="attachment_22969" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] SUMMER 1993[/caption] Son of Sofia and Summer 1993 are the first two films announced for Miami Film Festival’s 2017 GEMS Festival taking place October 12 to 15, 2017.
Son of Sofia
Son of Sofia world premiered at 2017 Tribeca Film Festival where it won the award for Best International Narrative Feature. The film is a fantastical journey through an 11-year-old Russian boy’s fraught collision with the bewildering logic of the world of adults. It’s 2004 and Misha’s mother Sofia has been in Athens for two years making the living that she could not back home in Russia, and she finally sends for Misha to join her. Upon arrival, Misha discovers he has a harsh new elderly Greek stepfather, adding to the already overwhelming sense of alienation he feels in Greece, with its language that he doesn’t speak and its obsession with hosting the upcoming Olympic Games. Psykou creates something unique: a fairytale forged out of elements of messy, thorny realism. The visual and aural design of the film quickly casts a fevered spell. Psykou crowds her frames with pop imagery of huge toy plushies, intricate Old World artifacts, lifesize animal costumes, dreamy nocturnal cinematography and heart-piercing, strange lullabies that at intervals overtake the dialogue and the action, working like siren songs to drown our dreams in the hypnotic reverie. And then in counterpoint, Psykou introduces a brash, sexy 18-year-old Ukrainian hustler working the streets of Athens who becomes a kind of Fagin to Misha’s Oliver Twist. In awarding the top prize to Son of Sofia, the Tribeca jury stated: “We unanimously agree that one film challenged us to see in a new way, and we were seduced by the surprising humanity of its difficult characters. The direction was assured, and its tone unique.”

Summer 1993
Like Son of Sofia, Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón‘s first feature, Summer 1993 (original Catalan language title is Estiu 1993), is a period piece set in the recent past that likewise asks us to examine our adult foibles, as we look at them through the perspective of a young protagonist – in this case, wary six-year-old Frida, who leaves the city life in Barcelona after both of her parents pass away, to live in the countryside with her aunt and uncle. Based on her own childhood experiences in Catalonia’s la Garrotxa region, Simón’s film was invited to the prestigious 67th Berlin Film Festival this past February for its world premiere, and triumphed by winning the high-profile Best First Feature Award (and a cash prize of €50,000). The film then went on to Malaga Film Festival in March, where it won the top prize – Best Spanish Film – one of Spain’s most important annual film awards. Summer 1993 was a time when fear, uncertainty, panic and taboo of the AIDS virus was at a zenith point, and in Summer 1993, it’s the secret truth about the death of Frida’s parents that is always being obliquely referred to but never named by the nervous adults who have taken over Frida’s care. Simón has an unusual gift for capturing not only the visual field-of-reference of a young person’s world (giving the sense of a fully-formed universe) but the way a young person hears ideas for the first time, and begins the process of learning about adult masks, games and secrets. In one sun-dappled, perfect summer, Frida will grow up more than any six-year-old should ever be expected to, as her new young step-parents struggle with the smiles and the tears. Summer 1993 has a touch of truth that even many personal screen memoirs don’t hit, thanks in no small part to Simón’s brilliant casting and work with actors, Bruna Cusi, David Verdaguer and the most incredible child actor discovery in years, Laia Artigas as Frida.
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4 Indie Films Selected for Tallgrass International Film Festival Stubbornly Independent Competition

[caption id="attachment_23490" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 20 WEEKS[/caption] Four independent films have been selected to compete in this year’s 2017 Tallgrass International Film Festival Stubbornly Independent competition. Selections include Leena Pendharkar’s 20 WEEKS, Chris Hansen’s BLUR CIRCLE, Jameson Brooks’s BOMB CITY, and Dustin Cook’s I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT. The award is given to honor an independent film or filmmaker who takes risks and isn’t afraid to tell important stories, and does all of this within the ultra-low budget of $500,000 or less. The winner will be featured as the Stubbornly Independent Gala Spotlight selection on Saturday, October 21st, will receive the Jake Euker Stubbornly Independent Award, and a $5,000 cash prize. The three runners up will be included as official selections in the festival and will be eligible for the Audience Award for Narrative Feature and $2,500 cash prize. “This year’s selections feature stories and characters that are both timely and easily relatable, while delivering a unique and bold take, leading to films that feel anything but familiar,” said Tallgrass Film Festival’s Programing Director Nick Pope. “Ultimately these are films about redemption and self-discovery in a world that can be messy and unpredictable, but also rewarding and surprising. We’re honored to be showcasing these stories to Wichita audiences.” This year marks the 6th year of the SI competition, where eligible films must be domestic narrative feature films made for $500,000 or less without traditional, theatrical, domestic distribution at the time of the festival screening. Finalists will be juried by a panel of industry professionals including Rebecca Celli (Cargo Films), Nancy Gerstman (Zeitgeist Films) and Jeffrey Winter (Film Collaborative.) The Stubbornly Independent competition winner will be announced with the Tallgrass Film Festival’s lineup next month. 20 WEEKS Director: Leena Pendharkar Country: USA, Running Time: 89min 20 WEEKS is a romantic drama about love, science and how prenatal and genetic testing impacts everyday people. Against the backdrop of modern-day Los Angeles, the story follows Maya and Ronan’s journey – interweaving their past and present – after learning that their baby has a serious health issue at their 20-week scan. Inspired, in part, by writer/director Leena’s Pendharkar’s real life experiences with her second daughter, the film seeks to explore an intimate issue that isn’t often talked about. BLUR CIRCLE Director: Chris Hansen Country: USA, Running Time: 92min BLUR CIRLCE is the story of Jill Temple, a single mother still grieving the loss of her young son after he disappeared two years ago. Unable to face the possibility that she has lost him forever, she pursues every lead and meets Burton Rose, a man with a mysterious past. The details of that past – and how Burton has responded to it – force Jill to look at her life in a completely new way. BOMB CITY Director, Jameson Brooks Country: USA, Running Time: 95min Based on the true story of Brian Deneke, BOMB CITY is a crime-drama about the cultural aversion of teenage punks in a conservative Texas town. Their ongoing battle with a rival, more-affluent group of jocks, leads to a controversial hate crime that questions the morality of American justice I HATE THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT Director, Dustin Cook Country: USA, Running Time: 103min Lonely and isolated, Claude is still grieving the murder of his wife. When he’s reluctantly coerced by his obnoxious co-worker to join him for some salsa lessons, Claude develops an unexpected crush on his instructor Kyra. Unfortunately, he’s not sure how to move forward with this budding romance since he still has an unconventional situation in his basement…
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First Wave of Films Announced for 2017 Calgary International Film Festival, BORG/MCENROE and More

[caption id="attachment_23378" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] BORG/MCENROE[/caption] The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) announced the First Wave of Films playing at the 2017 festival. The first 10 films include BORG/MCENROE which opens the Toronto International Film Festival just weeks before Calgary Film begins. Based on a true story, this film recounts the legendary 1980 Wimbledon match between fierce rivals Björn Borg and John McEnroe. “We’re always looking for standout films that are buzzing on the circuit, but we handpick for Calgary, with themes that do particularly well with our audiences,” said Brenda Lieberman, Programming Manager of the Calgary International Film Festival. “It’s one of the best parts of our job when we find the perfect combination of titles that excite our festival fans.”
FIRST WAVE FILMS – 2017 Calgary International Film Festival
BORG/MCENROE – Directed by Janus Metz This highly-anticipated biopic about one of the world’s greatest sports rivalries will have its world premiere as the Opening Night Film of the Toronto International Film Festival, mere weeks before it’s on screen in Calgary. THE DIVINE ORDER – Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe Even though this Swiss suffrage story takes place in the 1970s, it still feels relevant today. Lighthearted with a powerful message, women’s voices are at the centre of the narrative and behind the lens. A FANTASTIC WOMAN – Directed by Sebastián Lelio When Marina’s much older boyfriend dies, she must confront the taboo of their relationship to his family and society. Just announced as part of TIFF’s Galas & Special Presentations, this Spanish film was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear for Best Picture and took home the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin International Film Festival. FÉLICITÉ – Directed by Alain Gomis With a mesmerizing soundtrack featuring the Kinshasa Symphonic Orchestra, the Congo-set film won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. THE LIGHT OF THE MOON – Directed by Jessica Thompson A woman struggles to regain control of her life after being sexually assaulted. Audience Award Winner for at SXSW, this first-time feature filmmaker casts BROOKLYN NINE-NINE’s Stephanie Beatriz in a revelatory performance. LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA – Directed by AlanKrita Shrivastava This narrative feature from India, packed with humour and plenty of heart, features four women united in their yearning for freedom from society’s restrictive framework. NOBODY’S WATCHING – Directed by Julia Solomonoff An Argentine actor’s failure to establish himself in New York City mirrors the struggle of many immigrants who stumble in their new setting. Star Guillermo Pfening won the Best Actor at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in the International Narrative Feature category. SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY – Directed by Matt Schrader Some of Hollywood’s greatest film score composers come together to give viewers an unparalleled, behind the scenes look at the creative process, resulting in this fascinating celebration of some of the most iconic scores of all time. SMALL TOWN CRIME – Directed by Ian Nelms This critically-acclaimed, noir-ish thriller features a powerful cast, including Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes (WINTER’S BONE, DEADWOOD), Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer (THE HELP, HIDDEN FIGURES) and Academy Award Nominee Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN). A SWINGERS WEEKEND – Directed by Jonathan Cohen Packed with recognizable Canadian actors, including Erin Karpluk from Calgary and Jonas Chernick from previous Calgary Film Selections including MY AWKWARD SEXUAL ADVENTURE and HOW TO PLAN AN ORGY IN A SMALL TOWN, this sex comedy explores the relationships and kinks of three couples, who are all swinging for different reasons. What could possibly go wrong?
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HollyShorts Film Festival Reveals Opening Night Lineup Featuring Salma Hayek, James Paxton and More

[caption id="attachment_23483" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 11th Hour[/caption] The 2017 HollyShorts unveiled it’s star studded opening lineup of eight short films featuring John Stamos, Salma Hayek, James Paxton and more. The 13th annual Academy Awards® Qualifying Festival kicks off next Thursday night August 10 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters. A record 4,000 films were submitted and 400 are screening in competition August 10 to 19. Below is the opening night program which will follow the special screening of Full Metal Jacket with Matthew Modine Q&A.
2017 HollyShorts Opening Night Shorts Program Lineup
Without Grace Directed by Deborah Kampmeier, written/produced by Angela Cohen, starring double-Emmy-nominee Ann Dowd (Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, HBO’s The Leftovers) and John Doman (HBO’s The Wire). InGenue-ish Written and Directed by John Stamos 11th Hour Directed by Jim Sheridan starring Salma Hayek. Graffiti by Brett Gursky starring Tanner Anderson, Cassie Scerbo Penny Sucker by Erin Elders starring James Paxton, and Debbon Ayer. HollyShorts 2016 Screenplay winner The Son, The Father by Lukas Hassel. Crowbar Smile by Jamie Mayer, Produced by Josh Hutcherson (Hunger Games), starring Tristan Lake Leabu, Serinda Swan (HBO’s Ballers), Emily Robinson, Tate Donovan Control by Kimmy Gatewood (Netflix Original Series GLOW), written and starring Alison Becker (Parks and Recreation)
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James Franco, Diego Lerman Among Filmmakers Competing for Golden Shell at 2017 San Sebastian Festival

[caption id="attachment_23476" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] THE DISASTER ARTIST, JAMES FRANCO[/caption] Films from some of the most important filmmakers will screen as Official Selections of the 2017 San Sebastian Festival, running from September 22 to 30. The Austrian filmmaker Barbara Albert, the Greek helmer Alexandros Avranas, the American James Franco and Matt Porterfield, the Argentine Diego Lerman, the Serbian Ivana Mladenovic, the French Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, and the Japanese Nobuhiro Suwa will compete alongside others for the Golden Shell. Una especie de familia, the film starring Bárbara Lennie, is the fifth feature by Diego Lerman (Buenos Aires, 1976), whose debut movie, Tan de repente (Suddenly), received, among many other acknowledgments, the Silver Leopard for Best Film at the Locarno Festival. His films have been selected for Venice, the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and the Horizontes Latinos section at San Sebastian, where his two previous films were screened, La mirada invisible (The Invisible Eye, 2010) and Refugiado (2014). The subject matter of Una especie de familia is similar to Love Me Not, the fourth film by Alexandros Avranas (Larissa, Greece, 1977) winner of the Best Director Silver Lion at Venice for Miss Violence (2013). After True Crimes (2016), starring Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Avranas now presents Love Me Not, a Greek-French co-production about a couple who hire a surrogate mother. James Franco (Palo Alto, California, USA, 1978) directs, produces and stars in the comedy The Disaster Artist, narrating the filming of what is considered to be the best worst movie ever made, The Room (Tommy Wiseau, 2003), which has now become a cult film. The Disaster Artist is based on the book of the same name written by the actor Greg Sestero, one of the leading actors in The Room. Franco (127 hours) plays Tommy Wiseau, director, screenwriter, actor and producer ofThe Room. Olivier Nakache (Suresnes, France, 1973) and Éric Toledano (Paris, 1971) closed the Festival in 2011 with the world premiere of Intouchables (The Intouchables), winner of 35 awards in its subsequent international career and the biggest French box-office success worldwide; they also closed the 2014 Festival with Samba. With their new collaboration, Le sens de la fête / C’est la vie!, a comedy set at a frenzied wedding in an 18th century French castle, they now compete for the first time for the Golden Shell. Soldaţii. Poveste din Ferentari / Soldiers. Story from Ferentari is the feature film debut by Ivana Mladenovic (Kladovo, Serbia, 1984). This Romanian, Serbian and Belgian co-production tells the tale of a young anthropologist who heads for Ferentari, the poorest district of Bucharest, to write a study on pop music among the Roma community. The Austrian actress, screenwriter, producer and director Barbara Albert (Vienna, 1970) returns to the Official Selection with Licht / Mademoiselle Paradis. Albert, who competed in Locarno with Böse Zellen / Free Radicals (2003), in Venice with Fallen (2006) and in San Sebastian with Die Lebenden / The Dead and the Living (2012), takes a closer look at the dramatic dilemma faced by a young blind pianist. Sollers Point is the latest film by Matt Porterfield (Baltimore, USA, 1977), author of Hamilton (2006), Putty Hill (2010) and I Used to Be Darker (2013), three films acclaimed by the critics and premiered respectively at the Wisconsin, Berlin and Sundance festivals. Starring McCaul Lombardi (American Honey), Sollers Point opens with the house arrest of a small-time drug dealer. Nobuhiro Suwa (Hiroshima, Japan, 1960) won the Fipresci Prize at Cannes for his second film, M/Other (1999) and the Jury Special Prize at Locarno for Un couple parfait (A Perfect Couple, 2005). He also wrote and co-directed, with Hippolyte Girardot, Yuki & Nina (2009), premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and selected for Zabaltegi-Pearls. His impossible remake of Hiroshima mon amour, H Story, was part of the Festival retrospective New Japanese Independent Cinema 2000-2015. In Le lion est mort ce soir / The Lion Sleeps Tonight he brings long-standing actor (Jean-Pierre Léaud) together with a group of children, apprentice filmmakers, in an abandoned house. These bring the number of confirmed titles for the Official Selection to fifteen. In addition to those mentioned in this press release are the opening film and those announced in the Spanish cinema press conference last week: Submergence (Wim Wenders), El autor (Manuel Martín-Cuenca), Handia (Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi) and Life and Nothing More (Antonio Méndez Esparza), all contenders for the Golden Shell; Marrowbone (Sergio G. Sánchez) and the TV series La peste (Alberto Rodríguez), which will participate out of competition; and the special screening of Morir (Fernando Franco). The other films completing the Official Selection at the 65th edition will be announced in the coming weeks. LE LION EST MORT CE SOIR / THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT NOBUHIRO SUWA (FRANCE – JAPAN) Cast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Pauline Etienne South of France. Present day. Jean, an aging actor caught by the past, settles himself secretly in an abandoned house where Juliette, the great love of his life, once lived. A group of young friends discover the same house, the perfect set to shoot their next horror movie. Jean and the children will meet face to face eventually and share… LE SENS DE LA FÊTE / C’EST LA VIE! OLIVIER NAKACHE, ÉRIC TOLEDANO (FRANCE) Cast: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Gilles Lellouche, Suzanne Clément, Jean-Paul Rouve For the happy couple this is the biggest night of their lives. But it’s just another of many for Max, from the catering company, Guy the photographer, James the singer, and everyone else working at the event. Pierre and Hélène have decided to celebrate their marriage in a beautiful 18th century castle on the outskirts of Paris. We follow the occasion from its preparation until the sun comes up, almost in real time, but only seen through the eyes of those working at the marriage. This will be a night full of surprises. LICHT / MADEMOISELLE PARADIS BARBARA ALBERT (AUSTRIA – GERMANY) Cast: Maria Dragus, Devid Striesow, Katja Kolm, Lukas Miko, Maresi Riegner, Johanna Orsini-Rosenberg, Susanne Wuest, Stefanie Reinsperger, Christoph Luser Vienna, 1777. The blind 18-year-old ‘Wunderkind’ pianist Maria Theresia Paradis lost her eyesight overnight when she was three years old. After countless failed medical experiments, her parents take her to the estate of controversial ‘miracle doctor’ Franz Anton Mesmer, where she joins a group of outlandish patients. She enjoys the liberal household in a Rococo world and tastes freedom for the first time, but begins to notice that as Mesmer’s treatment brings back her eyesight, she is losing her cherished musical virtuosity… LOVE ME NOT ALEXANDROS AVRANAS (GREECE – FRANCE) Cast: Eleni Roussinou, Christos Loulis A couple hires a young migrant to be their surrogate mother and moves her to their beautiful villa. While the man is away for work, the woman and the girl start to bond and enjoy the couple’s wealthy way of life. But behind her forced cheerfulness, the woman seems more and more depressed. After a few drinks with the girl, she goes for a drive. The next morning, her husband gets a call: his wife is dead, her burned body was found in her wrecked car. SOLDAŢII. POVESTE DIN FERENTARI / SOLDIERS. STORY FROM FERENTARI IVANA MLADENOVIC (ROMANIA – SERBIA – BELGIUM) Cast: Adrian Schiop, Vasile Pavel-Digudai, Stefan Iancu, Nicolae Marin-Spaniolul, Kana Hashimoto, Dan Bursuc Adi (40), a young anthropologist recently left by his girlfriend, moves to Ferentari (the poorest neighborhood in Bucharest) to write a study on manele music (the pop music of the Roma community). While researching his subject, he meets Alberto, a Roma ex-convict who promises to help him. Soon, the two begin a romance in which Adi feeds Alberto improbable plans to escape poverty while Alberto reciprocates with well-concocted phrases of love. When the money runs out, both find themselves trapped in an apartment where they love and use each other, in a game of need and power that has no winners. SOLLERS POINT MATT PORTERFIELD (USA – FRANCE) Cast: McCaul Lombardi, Jim Belushi, Zazie Beetz On probation and living in his father’s house after a year of incarceration, 24-year-old Keith navigates his deeply stratified Baltimore neighborhood in search of work and something to give his life new meaning. Though the outside world provides its own share of threats, Keith’s greatest enemies are the demons he harbors within. THE DISASTER ARTIST JAMES FRANCO (USA) Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver, Ari Graynor, Jason Mantzoukas James Franco’s The Disaster Artist is the true story of the making of the film The Room, which has been called “the Citizen Kane of bad movies”. Tommy Wiseau’s cult classic has been screening to sold-out audiences nationwide for more than a decade. Franco directed The Disaster Artist from a screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, based on the book by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. Franco leads the cast, along with Dave Franco and Seth Rogen. The ensemble also features Alison Brie, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver, Ari Graynor, and Jason Mantzoukas. The film was produced by Franco, Vince Jolivette, Seth Rogen, James Weaver, and Evan Goldberg. The Disaster Artist is a New Line Cinema presentation in association with Good Universe and RatPac-Dune, a Point Grey production in association with Ramona Films. Warner Bros. Pictures will oversee international distribution. UNA ESPECIE DE FAMILIA (A SORT OF FAMILY) DIEGO LERMAN (ARGENTINA – BRAZIL – POLAND – FRANCE) Cast: Bárbara Lennie, Daniel Araoz, Claudio Tolcachir, Yanina Ávila Malena is a middle-class doctor in Buenos Aires. One afternoon she receives a call from Dr Costas, telling her she must leave immediately for the north of the country: the baby she was expecting is about to be born. Suddenly and almost without a thought, Malena decides to set out on an uncertain voyage, packed with crossroads at which she has to deal with all sorts of legal and moral obstacles to the extent that she constantly asks herself to what limits she is prepared to go to get the thing she wants most.
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Former Vice President Al Gore to Present AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER at Zurich Film Festival

Former Vice President Gore will attend the 2017 Zurich Film Festival to present An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, the long awaited follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth, on Sunday October 8th at the Corso Cinema. A decade afterAn Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture, comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight traveling around the world training an army of climate champions and influencing international climate policy. Cameras follow him behind the scenes – in moments both private and public, funny and poignant – as he pursues the inspirational idea that while the stakes have never been higher, the perils of climate change can be overcome with human ingenuity and passion. ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri comment “We are proud to welcome Al Gore, one of the most globally influential politicians, environmental activists and Nobel Prize winners of recent years.An Inconvenient Truth was a truly powerful and impactful movie and we respect his continued efforts to inform and inspire audiences around the world. We are delighted to be able to screen An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huX1bmfdkyA
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2017 Rhode Island International Film Festival to Feature Over 300 Films, Kicks Off August 8th

The 2017 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) kicks-off with the Official Opening Night Gala Screening and Soirée on Tuesday, August 8th, at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The 21st edition of the festival will honor numerous individuals and organizations including: The RIIFF Screenplay Competition Award will be presented to Tannaz Hazemi from Brooklyn, NY for her screenplay entitled “Dean The Drummer.” The recipients of the 2017 Producer’s Circle Awards presented annually to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival include: The Champlin Foundation, for building the arts and film community; Angela Ryding, Rhode Island Actress and volunteer community leader; and, Anthony Ambrosino, Rhode Island Producer/Director and volunteer community leader. The 2017 Rhode Island International Film Festival kicks off with nine short films: Coin Operated | Nicholas Arioli, Director | 5 min. USA, 2017 Coin Operated is a 5 minute animated short that spans 70 years in the life of one naive explorer. This film was proudly made by independent artists. The Eleven O’Clock | Derin Seale, Director | 14 min. Australia, 2016 The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other, the session gets out of control. Girl of My Dreams | Johnny Wilson, Director | 19 min, USA, 2016 Edward Watson searches for the same thing that most people seek… answers. What he will find to be more important, though, are the questions he needs answers to. As an artist, Edward expresses himself with paintings that reflect his dreams. In those dreams, he sees a girl. She visits him every night, again and again. Awkward and full of insecurities, Edward has searched for the meaning of his dreams by reading books and visiting doctors, never looking in the right places until the day he finds a way to live in his dreams with full consciousness and an awareness that gives him the ability to search for meaning. Tonight, Edward will explore his own mind to find not only answers, but the questions that he needed to ask that can change his life forever. What the Eye Doesn’t See | Frédéric Mermoud, Director | 14 min. France, Switzerland, 2016 Alice, 15, has a date with Mathieu. Her friend Julie loans her a pretty red dress, which does not go with her old sneakers. They set out together in search of the perfect pair of shoes, but nothing turns out as expected. This little lesson in cinema looks into the function of match cut: in being shown what a person is looking at, one can understand what that person is feeling. Seeing Him | Chris Jones, Director | 9 min. United Kingdom, 2017 North American Premiere In the wake of an ultimatum a middle-aged woman is forced to confront personal boundaries and a disturbing truth, but risks losing her younger lover. Seeing Him is a bittersweet observation of the complexity of the human heart, explored through a deeply unconventional love affair. If you’ve ever loved someone, then this film is for you. Chris Jones premiered his award-winning short film, “Gone Fishing” at RIIFF in 2009. Mrs McCutcheon | John Sheedy, Director | 17 min. Australia, 2017 North American Premiere Mrs McCutcheon is a romantic comedy with a big heart. It’s a story about a little boy trying to get the world around him to accept who he is. The film’s central characters feel isolated and unsupported in environments that reflect the complete opposite, a schoolroom that is exploding in fairground colors of craft work, paintings, books and fish; a home that is saturated with fresh floral arrangements on a daily basis. Mrs McCutcheon is written by Ben Young (Hounds of Love) and directed by multi-award-winning theatre director John Sheedy, in his first foray into the world of film. Despite its short format and streamlined production, it features a stellar creative team and cast including Nadine Garner and Virginia Gay. But more important than that, Mrs McCutcheon aims to give voice to the thousands of trans and gender diverse children. Cast Off | Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers, Director | 20 min. Canada, 2016 Simon has to leave the island on which he lives to go to boarding school. One day, he plays with his sister and finds a beached little wooden boat. Through his attempts to repair it he will accept, or not, to cast off. Ray & Jenn | Colby Blanchet, Director | 4 min. USA, 2016 This film celebrates the Rhode Island director’s parents and the history of their relationship, and how one instance can spark a lifetime of memories. The Silent Child | Chris Overton, Director | 20 min. United Kingdom, 2017 World Premiere Set in rural England, we follow the story of profoundly deaf child Libby. Her middle-class family, consisting of two elder siblings, a constantly overwhelmed mother and a workaholic husband, seek out a quick fix to make their ‘broken’ child more equipped to handle the real world. But when they employ the help of a deaf-specialized social worker it becomes apparent that Libby is not the one who needs to be fixed. A number of events that RIIFF will hold during the week are targeted toward helping novice and professional filmmakers improve and refine their skills. One of the most popular events is the annual Rhode Island Film Forum, to be held on Thursday, August 10, at the Biltmore Hotel Ballroom in collaboration with the RI Film & Television Office, the University of Rhode Island’s Harrington School of Communication and Media, Johnson and Wales University, Providence College, and Roger Williams University. This year’s special guests are special effects artist, Johnny Wilson (IMDB: ) and legendary film icon, Douglas Trumbull. Trumbull will receive the inaugural Gilbert Stuart Visionary Artist Lifetime Achievement Award. The SCRIPTBIZ Screenplay Pitch Seminar returns on Friday, August 11 for its 18th edition, showcasing this year’s Grand Prize Screenplay Competition winner “Dean The Drummer,” by Tannaz Hazemi from Brooklyn, NY. The SCRIPTBIZ workshop is a great place for aspiring screenwriters looking to make an impact with their work by receiving constructive critique and advice from people with experience in the field. The director of the program, Andrew Lund, Esq. filmmaker and entertainment lawyer, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Integrated Media Arts MFA Program in the Film & Media Department at Hunter College of the City University of New York. The extensive list of panelists will include writer Chris Sparling, actor/director, John Inwood, Emmy nominated cinematographer and Director, and Tatiana Siegel from The Hollywood Reporter, among others. The popular Providence Backlot Walking Tour takes place on August 9, with the Rhode Island Historical Society exposing attendees to the beauty and potential of the Ocean State’s capital city as a significant location for film production. On Saturday, August 12th at 12:15, Metcalf Auditorium, RISD Museum, the Festival presents a powerful, thought-provoking and inspiring program entitled: The Power of Film: Can a Film Change the World? This special showcase centers on films that show how very brave people confront the challenges we all face in just living our lives. Discover how these challenges can push all boundaries. Learn how the power of our shared humanity – the daily struggles and fights we all have – can ultimately lead to a new and more empowering future. The focal point of the event is a presentation of two documentary films: the feature “Stumped” and the World Premiere short, “Life & Atrophy.” “Stumped” is the story of Will Lautzenheiser who was chasing the loves of his life. A year into a promising relationship, he landed a dream job teaching film. After his first two classes, he visited the hospital for a persistent pain that, unbeknownst to him, was being caused by a deadly infection. To save his life, doctors amputated his arms and legs. In an instant, Will’s life was derailed. Meanwhile, Brigham and Women’s Hospital was performing experimental full-face and arm transplants that restore bodies to unprecedented levels. Risking his life, Will signed up for the experimental transplant program in the hope of regaining his independence. Told as a deeply personal story, “Stumped” reveals how Will copes with the loss of his filmmaking career by pursuing stand-up comedy; navigates an evolving relationship with his partner Angel, who becomes Will’s lover and caregiver; and gradually transforms, physically and spiritually, with newly transplanted arms. Filmed over four years, “Stumped” explores the human spirit and our willingness to overcome challenges when daring to see what lies ahead. “Life & Atrophy” follows the journey of a family to find an experimental treatment for their son after he is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This disease impacts 1 in every 10,000 births and is the leading cause of genetic death in infants by causing progressive muscle weakness. Once children are diagnosed with the condition families are told to go home and love their children because there is no treatment and no cure. The McIntosh family fights to find an experimental treatment for their son Miles in an effort to save him from this debilitating condition. Long years of research have lead to promising clinical trials that might prove effective in combating SMA, giving families and patients hope. Families, scientists, and pharmaceutical companies work together to fix the genetic fate of SMA and provide life, hope, and strength to those affected by the condition. The families of SMA exemplify the fortitude of human strength and compassion, where together we can break out of our genetic shackles.
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Beth Barrett Named Seattle International Film Festival’s First Female Artistic Director

Congratulations, Beth Barrett, former Director of Programming, has been named Seattle International Film Festival’s new Artistic Director. With her advancement, Barrett becomes SIFF’s first female Artistic Director, one of only a select few women in the United States holding this position for a major film festival. Barrett assumed the mantle of Interim Artistic Director last October, leading the organization though a very successful 43rd Seattle International Film Festival. Barrett began her career at SIFF in 2003, in the Publications department as a volunteer Copy Editor. By 2006 she had worked her way up to Programming Manager, eventually moving into the role of Director of Programming in 2011. Since then has been responsible for managing all aspects of film programming, from overseeing the staff of film programmers, to securing films and guests for the Festival. Barrett has also been instrumental in the programming and management of SIFF Cinema and SIFF’s other year-round programs. An aficionado of short films, she helped secure SIFF’s status as an Academy Award® qualifying festival in 2008. “Beth has played a key role in SIFF’s growth for over a decade. Along with her artistic vision she brings a ton of passion and energy,” said Rich Fassio, SIFF Board President. “This is an exciting time for our organization; SIFF is experiencing consistent upward growth and we are about to conclude another record year. The Board looks forward to supporting Beth as she continues SIFF’s mission to bring the best of the world of cinema to Puget Sound and beyond.” “Beth is, without a doubt, the right person to lead SIFF’s artistic programming into the future. She has a deep knowledge of and commitment to film and our community that is expressed beautifully through her artistic choices. SIFF is very lucky to have her on our team,” said Sarah Wilke, SIFF’s Executive Director. Reflecting on her years at SIFF, Beth said, “Having been part of SIFF for the last 15 years, during times of growth and change, I am constantly amazed at the staff, board, and members’ commitment to the work we do and the community we have built. I am honored and excited to shepherd the organization into the next chapter.”
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World Premiere of THE DEATH OF STALIN Kicks Off Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Program Lineup

[caption id="attachment_23440" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Death of Stalin[/caption] The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival unveiled its lineup of 12 films for this year’s Platform program. The program will open with the world premiere of The Death of Stalin, from award winning director-writer Armando Iannucci. The historical epic follows the final days leading up to the Soviet dictator’s death. Sweet Country, a period western from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton will close the Platform section. The films will compete for the Platform Prize, to be awarded by a jury comprising award-winning filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska and Wim Wenders. Last year’s Platform included celebrated films such as William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth, Pablo Larrain’s Jackie and Barry Jenkins’s Academy Award Best Picture winner, Moonlight. Platform titles are eligible for the Toronto Platform Prize ($25,000 CAD) made possible by Air France.
2017 Toronto International Film Festival Platform Lineup
Beast Michael Pearce, United Kingdom World Premiere Brad’s Status Mike White, USA World Premiere Custody Xavier Legrand, France North American Premiere Dark River Clio Barnard, United Kingdom World Premiere Platform Opening Film The Death of Stalin Armando Iannucci, France/United Kingdom/Belgium World Premiere Euphoria Lisa Langseth, Sweden/Germany World Premiere If You Saw His Heart Joan Chemla, France World Premiere Mademoiselle Paradis Barbara Albert, Austria/Germany World Premiere Razzia Nabil Ayouch, France World Premiere The Seen and Unseen Kamila Andini, Indonesia World Premiere Platform Closing Film . Sweet Country Warwick Thornton, Australia North American Premiere What Will People Say (Hva vil folk si) Iram Haq, Norway/Germany/Sweden World Premiere
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San Sebastian Film Festival Reveals First Titles in Pearls and Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Lineup

[caption id="attachment_22468" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Square by Ruben Östlund[/caption] The Pearls and Zabaltegi-Tabakalera sections of the 2017 San Sebastian Film Festival will feature some of the year’s most important films. The Square, winner of the Golden Palm at the last Cannes Film Festival, will open the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section. The Hungarian filmmaker Ilkidó Enyedi, winner of the Golden Bear with the fable Teströl és lékekröl / On Body and Soul, will compete for the City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award against the Jury Prize in Cannes, Nelyubov / Loveless, by Russian moviemaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Leviafan / Leviathan) and the Jury Grand Prix at the French festival, 120 battements par minute (120 BMP) / 120 Beats Per Minute by Robin Campillo, screenwriter of Foxfire, which competed in San Sebastian’s Official Selection in 2012. Also competing for the award decided by the audience are Wonderstruck, the adaptation of a story by Brian Selznick which competed at Cannes, in which Todd Haynes (Carol) directs Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams and child actors Oakes Fegley and Millicent Simmonds, and two films premiered at Sundance: The Big Sick, third film by Michael Showalter, about an interracial couple forced to deal with their cultural differences, and Call Me By Your Name by Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash), screened at the Berlinale following its stop at the North American Festival. Loving Pablo will close the Pearls section. Other titles in the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section include Philippe Garrel with L’amant d’un jour / Lover for a Day; and Tesnota / Closeness, the debut by Kantemir Balagov, presented in Un Certain Regard. Saura(s), helmed by Félix Viscarret, a film from the Cineastas contados series; the directorial debut of Gustavo Salmerón, Muchos hijos, un mono y un castillo / Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle, winner of Best Documentary at Karlovy Vary; the documentary No intenso agora / In the Intense Now, by the Brazilian filmmaker João Moreira Salles, which competed at Berlin; and the world premiere of Movistar+ series Vergüenza, written and helmed by Juan Cavestany and Álvaro Fernández Armero. This is the first time a television series will have competed for the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award. The remaining titles making up both sections will be announced in the coming weeks.
ZABALTEGI-TABAKALERA (PREVIEW)
THE SQUARE RUBEN ÖSTLUND (SWEDEN) Cast: Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Læssø OPENING NIGHT FILM Christian is a divorced father devoted to spending time with his two daughters. He’s a curator at a contemporary art museum, and the kind of guy who drives and electric car and supports the big humanitarian causes. He’s currently working on his next show, entitled The Square, an installation inviting passers-by to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes it’s hard to live up to your own ideals: Christian’s meltdown in response to the theft of his mobile phone doesn’t exactly leave him in the best light… Meanwhile, the museum’s PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for The Square. The response is overblown and propels Christian headlong into an existential crisis. Golden Palm at Cannes. L’AMANT D’UN JOUR / LOVER FOR A DAY PHILIPPE GARREL (FRANCE) Cast: Éric Caravaca, Esther Garrel A 23 year-old comes home after the breakdown of a relationship to find that a woman the same age as herself now features in her father’s life. MUCHOS HIJOS, UN MONO Y UN CASTILLO (LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY AND A CASTLE.) GUSTAVO SALMERÓN (SPAIN) Cast: Julia Salmerón, Antonio García Cabanes, Gustavo Salmerón, Nacho Salmerón, Ramón García Salmerón, David García Salmerón, Paloma García Cabanes This is the story about Julita, a matriarch whose three childhood wishes have been granted: lots of kids, a monkey, and a Spanish castle. At her 81 years old, one of her children needs to find the vertebra of his murdered great-grandmother, lost among the exorbitant amount of weird objects she has hoarded throughout her life, revealing a very picturesque family history. This unique old lady is about to find the meaning of life. Winner of the Award to the Best Documentary at Karlovy Vary. NO INTENSO AGORA / IN THE INTENSE NOW JOÃO MOREIRA SALLES (BRAZIL) Made following the discovery of amateur footage shot in China in 1966 during the first and most radical stage of the Cultural Revolution, No Intenso Agora / In the Intense Now speaks to the fleeting nature of moments of great intensity. Scenes of China are set alongside archival images of the events of 1968 in France, Czechoslovakia, and, to a lesser extent, Brazil. In keeping with the tradition of the film-essay, they serve to investigate how the people who took part in those events continued onward after passions had cooled. The footage, all of it archival, not only reveals the state of mind of those filmed – joy, enchantment, fear, disappointment, dismay – but also sheds light on the relationship between a document and its political context. What can one say of Paris, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, or Beijing by looking at the images of the period? Why did each of these cities produce a specific sort of record? SAURA(S) FÉLIX VISCARRET (SPAIN) Félix Viscarret is a young director. Carlos Saura is a living legend. United by the Cineastas contados initiative tribute to the genius from Aragon, Viscarret devises a plan for his personal portrayal of the veteran filmmaker. It’s brilliant. It will show the most intimate Saura through conversations between the master and his 7 children. All accept. Saura isn’t fond of talking about the past. Viscarret insists. Saura likes painting. And photography. TESNOTA / CLOSENESS KANTEMIR BALAGOV (RUSSIA) Cast: Darya Zhovner, Olga Dragunova, Artem Tsypin, Nazir Zhukov, Veniamin Kats 1998, Nalchik. A Jewish family is in a dangerous situation: a young man and his fiancée are kidnapped one night and the next morning his family receives a ransom note. The amount demanded is so high that the family is forced to sell its small business and seek help from the local community. Un Certain Regard FIPRESCI Prize. VERGÜENZA JUAN CAVESTANY, ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ ARMERO (SPAIN) Cast: Javier Gutiérrez, Malena Alterio, Vito Sanz Jesús and Nuria have a problem: no matter what they do, they’re always the laughing stock of their family and friends, stupidly making a fool of themselves. He is a wedding and christening photographer, but believes he has a calling to show his true talent in ‘artistic’ photography. She believes that after her temporary crises she’ll start to have a more interesting life. Together they must decide whether being so pathetic is just a passing virus or if they actually have a chronic disease. Vergüenza is a ten chapter television series.
PERLAS (PREVIEW)
LOVING PABLO FERNANDO LEÓN DE ARANOA (SPAIN – BULGARIA) Cast: Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz CLOSING NIGHT FILM Not in competition The true story of the notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who killed thousands, made billions and struck up an unlikely love affair with his polar opposite, a glamorous television host named Virginia Vallejo. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME LUCA GUADAGNINO (ITALY – FRANCE) Cast: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel North of Italy, Summer 1983. Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old American/French/Italian boy spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa lazily transcribing music and flirting with his friend Marzia. One day Oliver, an American 24-year-old, arrives to help Elio’s father in his academic activities while working on his doctorate on Heraclitus for a few weeks. Elio and Oliver will discover the beauty of desire slowly unfolding in the course of this unique summer. 120 BATTEMENTS PAR MINUTE (120 BPM) / 120 BEATS PER MINUTE ROBIN CAMPILLO (FRANCE) Cast: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Yves Heck, Emmanuel Ménard, Antoine Reinartz, François Rabette… Paris, in the early 1990s. A group of young activists multiply their actions to raise awareness of AIDS. Nathan, a newcomer to the group, has his world shaken up by the radical stance and energy of Sean, who throws the last of his strength into the struggle. Jury Grand Prix at Cannes. NELYUBOV / LOVELESS ANDREY ZVYAGINTSEV (RUSSIA – FRANCE – BELGIUM – GERMANY) Cast: Maryana Spivak, Alexey Rozin, Matvey Novikov A couple entangled in a messy divorce have no option but to join forces and search for their son when he disappears during one of their arguments. Jury Prize in Cannes. TESTRÖL ÉS LÉLEKRÖL / ON BODY AND SOUL ILDIKÓ ENYEDI (HUNGARY) Cast: Géza Morcsányi , Alexandra Borbély, Ervin Nagy, Pál Mácsai Two timid people make the chance discovery that they have the same dream every night. Confused and frightened by the revelation, they decide to accept the strange coincidence and set about recreating the experience in real life. A complicated task; the more they try, the further away their goal appears to be. In spite of it all, their clumsy attempts will topple their personal interior barriers and end up uniting them to one another. Golden Bear at Berlin. THE BIG SICK MICHAEL SHOWALTER (USA) Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano The Big Sick tells the real-life story of Kumail and Emily, a couple who meet after one of his comedy sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, despite their cultural differences. The situation complicates everyone’s lives given the expectations harboured by Kumail’s traditional Muslim parents. And to make matters worse, Emily is beset with a mysterious illness… SXSW Audience Award. WONDERSTRUCK TODD HAYNES (USA) Cast: Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Millicent Simmonds Ben and Rose are children from two different eras who secretly wish that their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he’s never known, while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue and Rose reads an enticing headline, they both set out on epic quests to find what they’re missing.
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FIlmmakers: Forbes Announces Second Under 30 Short Film Festival

Forbes is now accepting submissions from filmmakers for its second annual Under 30 Short Film Festival, a short film competition for filmmakers, under the age of 30, who are innovating and using a variety of techniques to accomplish a range of missions, from entertainment to advocacy. Submissions will be accepted beginning today through August 18, 2017. The next generation of great moviemakers will compete for the opportunity to show their short films at the 2017 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston, October 1 to 4, 2017. The summit is expected to bring together more than 6,000 of the world’s top entrepreneurs and game changers who are leading the way in industries such as media, technology, entertainment, social good and more. “Film is a notoriously tough industry to break into,” said Forbes’ media and entertainment reporter Madeline Berg. “But there are so many young filmmakers creating impressive and important—or just plain entertaining—content. This is our opportunity to highlight some of those.” Filmmakers can choose to submit their work in one of four categories: Animated, Live-Action/Theatrical, Documentary and Shot on Cellphone. Judges include industry insiders, as well as Forbes’ media and entertainment reporter Madeline Berg and associate editor Natalie Robehmed. The judges will select one winner from each of the four categories. These winners will be announced on September 15. All four category winners will receive complimentary attendance to the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston, which will feature 200 world-class speakers and include keynote addresses, panels, pitch competitions, a music festival, a food festival and opportunities to meet and network with mentors from the entertainment world and beyond. At the summit, the four winning films will be shown and the audience will vote for the grand prize winner. Last year’s Forbes Under 30 Short Film Festival received over 1,500 submissions, with live-action/theatrical short film , taking the grand prize. The animated Hum by Thomast Teller, the documentary Where Are We Now by Lucie Rachel and The Garbage, a cellphone filmed work by Kushtrim Aslanni, took the category prizes.
How to Apply for the 2017 Forbes Under 30 Short Film Festival Competition:
Filmmakers must be under 30 years of age at the time of the film festival (October 1, 2017) and will be required to provide proof of age with their submissions. All submissions must be under 10 minutes long, completed in 2016 or 2017, created by a filmmaker based in the United States and have subtitles if not in English. Please specify the category the film falls into at the time of submission. Films can be submitted through online or sent to Madeline Berg and Natalie Robehmed at Forbes Media, 499 Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310. Image via Forbes
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