Bad Genius[/caption]
The 16th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) will take place from June 30 to July 13 at the Film Society and July 14 to 16 at the SVA Theatre. North America’s leading festival of popular Asian cinema will showcase 57 feature films, including 3 International Premieres, 21 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, and 15 films making their New York City debuts.
This year, all three of NYAFF’s Gala screenings are brilliant reinventions of the thriller genre. The Opening Gala will be the International Premiere of Nattawut Poonpiriya’s Bad Genius, the first Southeast Asian film to open the festival, with the director and stars in attendance. In this exhilarating high school thriller, straightA students Lynn (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) and Bank (Chanon Santinatornkul) stage a heist that will undermine the U.S. university entrance system after they lose their own scholarships. The Centerpiece Gala of the festival will be the North American Premiere of Mikhail Red’s Birdshot, a continuation of the festival programmers’ efforts to champion films from Southeast Asia, and the Philippines in particular. The Closing Gala is the U.S. Premiere of Jung Byunggil’s The Villainess, fresh from its Midnight screening in Cannes. The adrenaline soaked action film stars Kim Okvin as a ruthless female assassin trained in China who starts a new life with South Korea’s Intelligence Agency.
New to NYAFF in 2017 is the Main Competition section, featuring seven diverse works by first or second time directors that are all having their North American premieres at the festival. Competing are Bad Genius (Thailand), Birdshot (Philippines), A Double Life (Japan), The Gangster’s Daughter (Taiwan), Kfc (Vietnam), Jane (South Korea), and With Prisoners (Hong Kong). The competition jury will be announced at a later date, with winners revealed on the festival’s final night at Film Society of Lincoln Center on July 13.
More now than ever, Hong Kong cinema is at the core of the festival’s programming: faithful to its Chinatown origins, this year’s edition celebrates the best filmmaking from the Special Administrative Region with a central Hong Kong Panorama section, commemorating the 20th anniversary of its establishment, with major support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York. Over the past two decades, Hong Kong cinema has continuously influenced and inspired many filmmakers in Asia and in the world. This year’s lineup proves the originality and excellence of its production is intact: from a powerful condemnation of life inside the territory’s juvenile detention centers (With Prisoners), to a wartime epic about resistance heroes during the Japanese occupation (Our Time Will Come), to a tale of corruption and redemption set in the underbelly of 1960s Hong Kong (Dealer/Healer), the films bear testimony to the city’s rich cinema history.
The core of the panorama will be a special (and first of its kind) focus on the exciting new generation of directors, titled Young Blood Hong Kong. As part of the 20th anniversary, the festival is looking to the future of Hong Kong cinema, rather than its past: these recent Hong Kong directors are working in various genres, tackling a range of social issues, and paying homage to the film traditions they grew up with, from tenement dramas to vampire comedies. Meanwhile, NYAFF continues to bring established, major filmmakers from the region: Lawrence Lau, who, along with Ann Hui, is one of Hong Kong’s best neorealist directors, will be introducing his star studded crime action drama Dealer/Healer; the Panorama will spotlight the new generation from the region with guest filmmaker Wong Chun and screenwriter Florence Chan with Mad World, Derek Hui with This Is Not What I Expected, and Alan Lo with Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight. Other films by first time Hong Kong directors in this year’s lineup are Derek Tsang’s Soul Mate, Yan Pakwing and Chiu Sinhang’s Vampire Cleanup Department, and Andrew Wong’s With Prisoners.
The 2017 lineup also includes five LGBTQ themed films: two dramas with transsexual protagonists, Naoko Ogigami’s CloseKnit from Japan, and Cho Hyunhoon’s drama Jane from South Korea; two coming of age high school youth dramas, Ahn Jungmin’s Fantasy of the Girls from South Korea, and Leste Chen’s 2006 Eternal Summer from Taiwan, which merits a second look a decade on; and Lee Sangil’s wild and violent mystery thriller Rage, featuring Go Ayano (NYAFF 2016 Rising Star Asia awardee) as a homeless stranger invited into the home of a semi closeted salaryman (Satoshi Tsumabuki) as his live in lover.
Another highlight of this year’s festival are three films that celebrate Japan’s unique “Roman Porno” genre, each having their North American premieres: Aroused by Gymnopedies, Dawn of the Felines, and Wet Woman in the Wind. Nikkatsu, Japan’s oldest film studio, is celebrating 45 years since they birthed the soft core Roman Porno genre (roman derives from the French word for novel). Invented to save a dying industry, they gave carte blanche to directors with minimal rules: keep it under 80 minutes with a sex scene every ten. This allowed for wild stream of consciousness works of both the highest and lowest caliber. Now, Nikkatsu has enlisted top contemporary talent for the Roman Porno Reboot Project, taking the provocative, envelope pushing format to a whole new level.
In addition to the festival’s screenings, the NYAFF awards a number of honorees each year, including this year’s recipients:
The 2017 NYAFF Lifetime Achievement Award goes to veteran Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Kafai, who will attend a three film tribute, including Johnnie To’s Election, Longman Leung & Sunny Luk’s Cold War 2 and Tsui’s Hark’s The Taking of Tiger Mountain 3D. In a career spanning 35 years, Leung has worked with the iconic directors Li Hanhsiang, Wong Karwai, Stanley Kwan, and JeanJacques Annaud, and starred opposite the screen legends Jackie Chan, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Jet Li, and Fan Bingbing. Leung was arguably the first Hong Kong star to become an international heartthrob, in JeanJacques Annaud’s The Lover.
THe Star Asia Award recipient is Korean movie star Gang Dongwon, whose charisma and emotional investment in his performances gives his films a unique edge. His most iconic films include Lee Myungse’s Duelist, Park Jinpyo’s Voice of a Murderer, and Jang Hoon’s Secret Reunion. Last year, NYAFF presented two of his films, The Priests and A Violent Prosecutor, and in 2017, the festival will be joined by Gang to present a special screening of the magical fable Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned.
The Screen International Rising Star Asia Award will be given to Thailand’s Chutimon “Aokbab” Chuengcharoensukying. The 21 year old model, who is still a student at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, found fame last year in Thank You for Sharing, an eight minute, viral short about cyberbullying. The NYAFF is opening with her feature debut, Bad Genius, in which she stars as a high school student who masterminds an ambitious heist of the American university entrance exam system. It’s a demanding role, in which her quick witted character must navigate a complex moral universe where parents and teachers don’t always know best.
Film Festivals
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2017 New York Asian Film Festival Unveils Lineup, BAD GENIUS, BIRDSHOT, THE VILLAINESS and More
[caption id="attachment_22573" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Bad Genius[/caption]
The 16th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) will take place from June 30 to July 13 at the Film Society and July 14 to 16 at the SVA Theatre. North America’s leading festival of popular Asian cinema will showcase 57 feature films, including 3 International Premieres, 21 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, and 15 films making their New York City debuts.
This year, all three of NYAFF’s Gala screenings are brilliant reinventions of the thriller genre. The Opening Gala will be the International Premiere of Nattawut Poonpiriya’s Bad Genius, the first Southeast Asian film to open the festival, with the director and stars in attendance. In this exhilarating high school thriller, straightA students Lynn (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) and Bank (Chanon Santinatornkul) stage a heist that will undermine the U.S. university entrance system after they lose their own scholarships. The Centerpiece Gala of the festival will be the North American Premiere of Mikhail Red’s Birdshot, a continuation of the festival programmers’ efforts to champion films from Southeast Asia, and the Philippines in particular. The Closing Gala is the U.S. Premiere of Jung Byunggil’s The Villainess, fresh from its Midnight screening in Cannes. The adrenaline soaked action film stars Kim Okvin as a ruthless female assassin trained in China who starts a new life with South Korea’s Intelligence Agency.
New to NYAFF in 2017 is the Main Competition section, featuring seven diverse works by first or second time directors that are all having their North American premieres at the festival. Competing are Bad Genius (Thailand), Birdshot (Philippines), A Double Life (Japan), The Gangster’s Daughter (Taiwan), Kfc (Vietnam), Jane (South Korea), and With Prisoners (Hong Kong). The competition jury will be announced at a later date, with winners revealed on the festival’s final night at Film Society of Lincoln Center on July 13.
More now than ever, Hong Kong cinema is at the core of the festival’s programming: faithful to its Chinatown origins, this year’s edition celebrates the best filmmaking from the Special Administrative Region with a central Hong Kong Panorama section, commemorating the 20th anniversary of its establishment, with major support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York. Over the past two decades, Hong Kong cinema has continuously influenced and inspired many filmmakers in Asia and in the world. This year’s lineup proves the originality and excellence of its production is intact: from a powerful condemnation of life inside the territory’s juvenile detention centers (With Prisoners), to a wartime epic about resistance heroes during the Japanese occupation (Our Time Will Come), to a tale of corruption and redemption set in the underbelly of 1960s Hong Kong (Dealer/Healer), the films bear testimony to the city’s rich cinema history.
The core of the panorama will be a special (and first of its kind) focus on the exciting new generation of directors, titled Young Blood Hong Kong. As part of the 20th anniversary, the festival is looking to the future of Hong Kong cinema, rather than its past: these recent Hong Kong directors are working in various genres, tackling a range of social issues, and paying homage to the film traditions they grew up with, from tenement dramas to vampire comedies. Meanwhile, NYAFF continues to bring established, major filmmakers from the region: Lawrence Lau, who, along with Ann Hui, is one of Hong Kong’s best neorealist directors, will be introducing his star studded crime action drama Dealer/Healer; the Panorama will spotlight the new generation from the region with guest filmmaker Wong Chun and screenwriter Florence Chan with Mad World, Derek Hui with This Is Not What I Expected, and Alan Lo with Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight. Other films by first time Hong Kong directors in this year’s lineup are Derek Tsang’s Soul Mate, Yan Pakwing and Chiu Sinhang’s Vampire Cleanup Department, and Andrew Wong’s With Prisoners.
The 2017 lineup also includes five LGBTQ themed films: two dramas with transsexual protagonists, Naoko Ogigami’s CloseKnit from Japan, and Cho Hyunhoon’s drama Jane from South Korea; two coming of age high school youth dramas, Ahn Jungmin’s Fantasy of the Girls from South Korea, and Leste Chen’s 2006 Eternal Summer from Taiwan, which merits a second look a decade on; and Lee Sangil’s wild and violent mystery thriller Rage, featuring Go Ayano (NYAFF 2016 Rising Star Asia awardee) as a homeless stranger invited into the home of a semi closeted salaryman (Satoshi Tsumabuki) as his live in lover.
Another highlight of this year’s festival are three films that celebrate Japan’s unique “Roman Porno” genre, each having their North American premieres: Aroused by Gymnopedies, Dawn of the Felines, and Wet Woman in the Wind. Nikkatsu, Japan’s oldest film studio, is celebrating 45 years since they birthed the soft core Roman Porno genre (roman derives from the French word for novel). Invented to save a dying industry, they gave carte blanche to directors with minimal rules: keep it under 80 minutes with a sex scene every ten. This allowed for wild stream of consciousness works of both the highest and lowest caliber. Now, Nikkatsu has enlisted top contemporary talent for the Roman Porno Reboot Project, taking the provocative, envelope pushing format to a whole new level.
In addition to the festival’s screenings, the NYAFF awards a number of honorees each year, including this year’s recipients:
The 2017 NYAFF Lifetime Achievement Award goes to veteran Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Kafai, who will attend a three film tribute, including Johnnie To’s Election, Longman Leung & Sunny Luk’s Cold War 2 and Tsui’s Hark’s The Taking of Tiger Mountain 3D. In a career spanning 35 years, Leung has worked with the iconic directors Li Hanhsiang, Wong Karwai, Stanley Kwan, and JeanJacques Annaud, and starred opposite the screen legends Jackie Chan, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Jet Li, and Fan Bingbing. Leung was arguably the first Hong Kong star to become an international heartthrob, in JeanJacques Annaud’s The Lover.
THe Star Asia Award recipient is Korean movie star Gang Dongwon, whose charisma and emotional investment in his performances gives his films a unique edge. His most iconic films include Lee Myungse’s Duelist, Park Jinpyo’s Voice of a Murderer, and Jang Hoon’s Secret Reunion. Last year, NYAFF presented two of his films, The Priests and A Violent Prosecutor, and in 2017, the festival will be joined by Gang to present a special screening of the magical fable Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned.
The Screen International Rising Star Asia Award will be given to Thailand’s Chutimon “Aokbab” Chuengcharoensukying. The 21 year old model, who is still a student at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, found fame last year in Thank You for Sharing, an eight minute, viral short about cyberbullying. The NYAFF is opening with her feature debut, Bad Genius, in which she stars as a high school student who masterminds an ambitious heist of the American university entrance exam system. It’s a demanding role, in which her quick witted character must navigate a complex moral universe where parents and teachers don’t always know best.
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Catya Plate Returns to 2017 Brooklyn Film Festival with World Premiere of MEETING MACGUFFIN | Trailer
[caption id="attachment_22516" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller[/caption]
Award winning Brooklyn filmmaker and artist Catya Plate, whose film “Hanging By A Thread” won the Spirit Award for Animation at the Brooklyn Film Festival in 2014, is back with the World Premiere of the stop motion animated film Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller at this year’s 20th Brooklyn Film Festival which runs from June 2 to 11, 2017.
“Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller” was successfully crowd funded via Hatchfund and features the remarkable voices of Hollywood celebrities Richard Horvitz and Misty Lee.
“Meeting MacGuffin” continues the tale which began in a post-apocalyptic future where humankind had fallen apart. A new breed of scientists, the Clothespin Freaks, had been reassembling human fragments to create an alternate form of humanity. Guided by LF, an animated sign, they travel with the nearly-finished new humans called Homeys, through underground caverns to complete their reconstitution and meet Gormal MacGuffin, a wise, blue-eyed groundhog climatologist with expertise in water renewal who prepares the Homeys for their mission to restore balance to decimated Earth.
Born in Barcelona, Spain, and raised in Germany, Catya completed her BFA at the Werkkunstschule, Köln, before coming to New York on a Fulbright Scholarship for post-graduate studies at School of Visual Arts. She has been exhibiting regularly and internationally since the mid-1980’s. Her work can be found in many public and private collections worldwide, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art Library in New York City. Articles and reviews of Plate’s films, exhibition and installation projects have appeared, among others, in Film Threat, The New York Times and The Independent.
Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller Screenings at Brooklyn Film Festival:
Monday, June 5th, 6:30pm, Syndicated Cinema, 40 Bogart St., Brooklyn, NY 11206
Saturday, June 10, 7pm, NY Media Center, 30 John St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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Matt Knudsen’s Western CASSIDY RED to World Premiere at Dances With Films | Trailer
[caption id="attachment_22541" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Cassidy Red[/caption]
“Cassidy Red,” a Western ballad of love and hate, written and directed by Matt Knudsen, a UCLA MFA student, will World Premiere as an Official Selection in Competition Features at Dances With Films on Friday, June 2, 2017, at 7:15 p.m., at the TCL Chinese Theatres (6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California).
Set against the backdrop of the 19th century American Southwest, the story follows “Josephine Cassidy,” the headstrong daughter of a prostitute and gunslinger, who returns to her hometown seeking vengeance against the corrupt lawman she believes murdered her lover.
Director Matt Knudsen says, “I wanted to acknowledge all of the iconic ingredients that made us fall in love with Westerns in the first place. But I conceived of the character Josephine Cassidy to represent the kind of progressive heroine that could help push the genre into a more interesting, contemporary place.”
The 92-minute film from Cassidy Red, LLC was shot at Old Tucson Studios (a historic location home to dozens of John Wayne classics) in Southern Arizona. Knudsen’s inspiration was the Spaghetti Westerns of his personal hero, the famed Sergio Leone, and the result owes much to the Italian classics he grew up watching. With the recent successes of Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” Antoine Fuqua’s remake of “The Magnificent Seven”, and HBO’s “Westworld,” Knudsen has tapped into a nostalgic desire for the genre at a key moment.
Knudsen adds, “Like Leone often did for his films, I examined the genre and saw that there were stories, characters and themes not being represented. The superstructure of ‘Cassidy Red’ is forged from familiar elements we associate with the Western: the untamed frontier, the constant threat of violence, outlaws, betrayal, corruption, saloons, jail cells, livestock, prostitution, bloodshed… But, at its core, the film examines elements underrepresented in classic Westerns: strong, complex, proactive female characters, familial ties, heartbreak, sacrifice, choice, and star-crossed love.”
This love letter by Knudsen to the Western takes the audience on a journey through the American Southwest where two brothers fall for the same woman, resulting in a deadly love triangle.
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WELCOME TO GERMANY to Open, TEXT FOR YOU to Close 2017 Stony Brook Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_22536" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Text for You[/caption]
A highly selective slate of new independent films will screen at the 22nd Annual Stony Brook Film Festival taking place July 20 to 29, at Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University. Many filmmakers are expected to attend throughout the Festival to represent their films at screenings and Q&As.
Alan Inkles, Stony Brook’s founder and director, notes, “U.S. Premieres from Germany open and close the Festival. Both are entertaining and timely, and were chosen for their ability to bring in the widest possible audience since they are definite crowd pleasers. The Opening Night feature, Welcome to Germany, (Willkommen bei den Hartmanns), from Picture Tree International, is a delightful comedy about politics, cultural identity, xenophobia and family issues. Closing Night’s feature, Text for You (SMS für Dich) is a romantic comedy directed, co-written and starring Karoline Herfurth, (Berlin ‘36, The Reader). From Beta Cinema, Text for You is about loss and finding love again. It’s the perfect film to end our ten day run.”
In addition to Karoline Herfurth’s Text for You, a notable number of films in the Stony Brook line up are by women filmmakers. Catherine Eaton of The Sounding is director, co-writer, producer, and the central actor in the drama from Corsetless Productions. The Sounding is a unique story about a woman who has chosen to remain silent for years and who suddenly begins to speak using only the words of Shakespeare.
Other women filmmakers whose work will be screened include Love is Thicker Than Water from Mulholland Pictures, co-directed by Emily Harris (with Ate de Jong), Menemsha Films’ Fanny’s Journey by Lola Doillon, director and co-writer, based on a true story of children escaping Nazis. Tonio is directed by Paula van der Oest, and was the Netherlands’ foreign-language Oscar submission this year. Others from women filmmakers are Media Luna Films Little Wing by Selma Vilhunen, and From the Land of the Moon, directed and co-written by Nicole Garcia from IFC Films. The documentary Purple Dreams by director Joanne Hock, along with producer, Robin Gray, a 1977 Stony Brook University alum, explores the story of the first high school permitted to perform the musical The Color Purple.
Shorts by female filmmakers include Speak by director, writer, actress Laura Seay. Game by Jeannie Donohoe; Snowgirl by Ilina Perianova; Who Sank Your Ships? by Ella Kohn; Oma by Daniella Rabbani, Real Artists by Cameo Wood, and Interrogation by YueCheng Liu are all films by women.
[caption id="attachment_22537" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
To the Edge of the Sky[/caption]
The Stony Brook Film Festival is presenting the World Premiere of To the Edge of the Sky, a riveting U.S. documentary directed by Long Island brothers Todd Wider and Jedd Wider known for their docs Client 9, and God Knows Where I Am. Todd and Jedd Wider were producers of the Academy Award winning film, Taxi to the Dark Side.
To the Edge of the Sky follows four families as they fight the FDA to gain access to a potentially lifesaving drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal disease the families’ sons suffer from and the number one genetic killer of boys in the world. The film focuses on the transformation of the mothers of four boys into “the rogue moms” as they become political activists during their righteous battle against time and the FDA. A Wider Film Projects film, it screens on Sunday, July 23 at 4:00 pm. To the Edge of the Sky will be preceded by a World Premiere of the short film Brothers by Zachary Fuhrer, also a Long Island filmmaker with roots in the community.
Stony Brook Film Festival is also presenting the U.S. Premiere of the documentary, The Second Act of Elliott Murphy. Originally from Rockville Centre, Murphy was an up-and- coming singer/songwriter who left for Paris three decades ago and who has become one of the most well known American rockers to tour regularly throughout Europe. The Second Act of Elliott Murphy follows his life on the road and includes interviews with Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, who both count themselves among his fans.
In addition to coming to the Stony Brook Film Festival and representing the documentary about his life and career, Elliott Murphy plans on playing a few tunes after his Q&A.
In addition to films from 19 foreign countries, the 22nd Annual Stony Brook Film Festival presented by Island Federal Credit Union has more American Independent features and shorts this year than ever before. 15,000 tickets are expected to be sold this summer.
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WOMEN & WINE, REFUGEE and PUSSY Win Seattle International Film Festival ShortsFest Jury Awards
[caption id="attachment_22532" align="aligncenter" width="1158"]
WOMEN & WINE[/caption]
ShortsFest Weekend, Seattle International Film Festival’s celebration of short films, that takes place every year over Memorial Day Weekend, announced this year’s Jury Award winners. This year’s Festival which runs May 18 to June 11, features 163 short films, including 22 World, 12 North American, and 19 US premieres.
2017 SIFF SHORTSFEST AWARD WINNERS
LIVE-ACTION
GRAND JURY PRIZE WOMEN & WINE (NORWAY), directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrøm JURY STATEMENT: For its honest depiction of friendship that, over a short period of time, authentically runs the spectrum from silly and beautiful to awkward and heartbreaking, we give the Jury Award for Best Live Action Short to Women&Wine, directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrom. SPECIAL JURY MENTION NOTHING EVER REALLY ENDS (NORWAY), directed by Jakob Rørvik JURY STATEMENT: For its exceptional craftsmanship in all areas of the filmmaking process we decided that Nothing Ever Really Ends could not go unmentioned. From the writing and directing to the editing and acting this film unfolds effortlessly. And all in the service of an incredibly entertaining and relatable story. SPECIAL JURY MENTION FANNY (NORWAY), directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel JURY STATEMENT: We’d also like to recognize a filmmaker who impressed us with an intimate and frank film about sexuality and loneliness. For his unique vision, heartbreaking honesty, and nuanced direction in the film Fanny, we’d like to award Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel a special jury award for emerging director.DOCUMENTARY
GRAND JURY PRIZE REFUGEE (USA), directed by Joyce Chen and Emily Moore JURY STATEMENT: For many refugees, getting to the United States is only the first step of a decades-long journey. Refugee is the moving and powerful story of a mother of five, Aicha Diop, whose journey to obtain asylum encapsulates the hope of life in America, as well as its harsh political realities. SPECIAL JURY MENTION WAITING FOR HASSANA (NIGERIA), directed by Ifunanya Maduka JURY STATEMENT: By bringing to light one young girl’s traumatic experience, this important documentary gives a voice to all 276 teenage girls whose lives were violently interrupted by Boko Haram in 2014. This film is a necessary reminder that an issue doesn’t vanish when its hashtag stops trending.ANIMATION
GRAND JURY PRIZE PUSSY (POLAND), directed by Renata Gasiorowska JURY STATEMENT: A witty and whimsical animated short about a girl and her body, Pussy quickly takes the audience on a wild ride through female sex positivity. SPECIAL JURY MENTION THE HEAD VANISHES (FRANCE), directed by Franck Dion JURY STATEMENT: Through its beautiful animation and unique perspective, The Head Vanishes poignantly captures the exceptional challenges, the hopeful glimmers, the peaceful moments, and the continual struggles of dealing with a mentally ill parent.FUTUREWAVE SHORTS AWARDS
WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE) $1000 prize supported by Amazon Battles (CANADA, QUEBEC), directed by Karen Pinette Fontaine JURY STATEMENT: For its richly composed visuals and poetic journey of self that takes the viewer from a hollow party atmosphere to a seemingly empty space that becomes filled with the narrator’s culture that is thriving within her. PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS Each winner will be awarded a $1250 scholarship to the Prodigy Camp. The Petition (USA), directed by Riley Goodwin and Kibiriti Majuto
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Provincetown International Film Festival to Honor INGRID GOES WEST’s Aubrey Plaza
[caption id="attachment_22529" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Aubrey Plaza as Ingrid Thorburn in INGRID GOES WEST[/caption]
The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) will honor actress Aubrey Plaza, with the festival’s inaugural Next Wave Award, which recognizes those who have exciting and distinctive voices, take artistic risks, and have a passionate commitment to independent film.
Plaza, who stars in and produced the festival’s Closing Night Film, INGRID GOES WEST, will receive the honor at a ceremony on Sunday, June 18 at Fishermen Hall in Provincetown. She will also star in THE LITTLE HOURS which she produced and has recently received critical acclaim for her role on the FX series, “Legion.”
Additionally, the festival will host a special presentation with Julie Klausner and Scott King, the creators of Hulu’s hit original series “Difficult People” and a special screening of a new documentary from acclaimed filmmakers Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested (with Junger in attendance), as well as daily breakfast panels and more.
Other additional programing includes
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
EPISODIC TV SPECIAL PRESENTATION: THE CREATIVE GENIUSES BEHIND “DIFFICULT PEOPLE,” PRESENTED BY HULU – Saturday, June 17, 2:30pm, Art House 2 Join Julie Klausner (creator, executive producer, writer, star) and Scott King (executive producer, showrunner) as they share clips from the upcoming third season and talk about their hilarious and wildly irreverent comedy series “Difficult People,” about two aspiring NYC comedians in their mid-30s (Klausner and “Billy on the Street” star Billy Eichner) who aren’t living up to their potential, hate just about everything and everyone – except for each other. Learn how the project caught the attention of executive producer Amy Poehler and is the stopping-place for a broad swath of guest stars from Nathan Lane to Kathie Lee Gifford to Seth Meyers and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Moderated by Kyle Turner, a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. His work has been featured in Paste Magazine, The Village Voice, Playboy, Slate, Vice, Brooklyn Magazine, and Indiewire’s /Bent. HELL ON EARTH: THE FALL OF SYRIA AND THE RISE OF ISIS (directed by Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested) – Sunday, June 18, 2pm, Art House 1 Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and best-selling author Sebastian Junger and his Emmy-winning filmmaking partner, Nick Quested, chronicle Syria’s descent into the unbridled chaos that allowed the rise of the Islamic State, better known as ISIS. This documentary delves into the real stories and persons in the conflict, giving a human face on the ground to what are just headlines and news clips to the rest of the world. Discovering the motivations, consequences and human toll from the war raises questions of how outside forces have influenced the situation, including the West. *Sebastian Junger will be in attendance.PIFFtalks
PIFFtalks: SCREEN ADAPTATIONS: FROM BOOKS AND FILMS – Thursday, June 15, 3pm, Harbor Lounge, 359 Commercial Street Join writer/producer Mark Protosevich (OLD BOY, I AM LEGEND, POSEIDON) and author Casey Sherman (Boston Strong, The Finest Hours) in a discussion about the challenges of adapting films from other original source material. Sherman’s telling of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings was most recently adapted to the screen in the 2017 film PATRIOT’S DAY directed by Peter Berg. Protosevich will speak to the creative undertaking of adapting among other classic films, the 2003 South Korean classic film OLD BOY, directed by auteur filmmaker Park Chan-wook, for Spike Lee and his current project FLASH GORDON with director Matthew Vaughn. Moderated by award-winning journalist Ari Karpel. PIFFtalks: WOMEN IN FILM AT PIFF – Friday, June 16, 10am, Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford Street It wasn’t long ago that women directors only accounted for 7% of the selections at the Cannes Film Festival. Meanwhile, 50% of PIFF’s 2017 narrative feature selections are directed by women, continuing the Festival’s long tradition of support. Join us for a conversation about being filmmakers, by directors and producers who just happen to be women. Panelists include: Noël Wells (MR. ROOSEVELT) and Katherine Dieckmann (STRANGE WEATHER). Moderated by Loren King, Boston Globe correspondent. PIFFtalks: SEBASTIAN JUNGER – Saturday, June 17, 10am, Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford Street Join us for a special conversation with award-winning writer, director, journalist Sebastian Junger. Known for his wide range of best-selling books, The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, and War. His documentary films include the Academy-Award nominated RESTREPO, WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT LINE FROM HERE?, and KORENGAL. His new film, HELL ON EARTH: THE FALL OF SYRIA AND THE RISE OF ISIS, is screening at this year’s festival. Moderated by journalist and author Mark Harris, former executive editor of Entertainment Weekly and author of Five Came Back. PIFFtalks: CAPTURING A TRUE STORY – Sunday, June 18, 10am, Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford Street Every documentary has a huge responsibility to its viewers – to tell the truth. Join us to discuss the magic and pitfalls of capturing real events in order to tell a true story with respect to the people who lived it. How does the camera, direction editing and other filmmaking tools affect reality? Panelists include festival directors: Hope Litoff (32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE), Trish Adlesic (I AM EVIDENCE), and Andrew Rossi (BRONX GOTHIC). Moderated by Steven Raphael, Founder/President, Required Viewing.PIFFplus
ANCHOR AWARD: JOHN AND GUI YINGLING – Wednesday, June 14, 6:30pm presentation before Opening Night Screening, Fishermen Hall, 12 Winslow Street Each year, we recognize one of our generous community business partners who provides extraordinary support for the festival and our other year-round programs. Through his services as a longtime member of the Provincetown Film Society board, John Yingling along with his son Gui with whom he operates several local establishments including Bubula’s, Local 186, Enzo’s, and Spiritus Pizza, represent a vital part of the Provincetown community and have a steadfast commitment to giving back in time and resources. John and Gui win special kudos from our staff and volunteers by providing free pizza from Spiritus and an annual thank you party for our amazing volunteers. BOOK SIGNING – MAKE TROUBLE: JOHN WATERS – Thursday, June15, 5pm-7pm, MAP, 220 Commercial Street Pop culture icon, New York Times bestselling author and renowned filmmaker of such cult masterpieces as HAIRSPRAY, PINK FLAMINGOS and SERIAL MOM advises the graduating class of the Rhode Island School of Design to ‘get busy and make trouble’ in his new graphic book Make Trouble. In the book, Waters uses his sly wisdom and wealth of experience to encourage the younger generation to embrace chaos, be nosy, and challenge the status quo, while simultaneously urging anyone embarking on a creative path to be both pragmatic and disciplined. Notable quotes include: “Remember, a ‘no’ is free. Ask for the world and pay no mind if you are initially turned down.” “Don’t hate all rich people. They’re not all awful. Believe me. I know some evil poor people, too.” “Use technology for transgression, not lazy social living.” Meet John Waters… EVAN LAWSON FILMMAKERS’ BRUNCH – CELEBRATING FILMMAKERS ON THE FRONT LINE – Sunday, June 18, 12pm, Sage at the Pilgrim House, 336 Commercial Street Recipient of the 2016 Freedom Award from the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund for his HBO film SUITED, director Jason Benjamin will share his experiences working with the transgender community and with veterans for his upcoming film RETURNING. A screening of the film will take place at AMP Gallery, 432 Commercial Street on Sunday, June 18 at 4:30pm. The Evan Lawson Filmmakers’ Benefit Brunch honors the legacy of former board president Evan Law- son, who was a longtime advocate for Provincetown and its artists. Tax-deductible tickets are $250 at the box office and online. SHORT FILM SCREENING: “RETURNING” (directed by Jason Benjamin) – Sunday, June 18, 4:30pm, AMP Gallery, 432 Commercial Street After studying technique and theory of documentary filmmaking, four Florida veterans apply what they’ve learned to examine the Sarasota County Veterans Treatment Court system. This short documentary illustrates how the judicial system works with, and not against, local veterans. Through the treatment court, veterans are provided mentoring, counseling and other tools that focus on rehabilitation instead of incarceration. The veterans court is led by a compassionate circuit court judge who takes on each case with considerate justice. Meet the filmmakers: director Jason Benjamin, executive producer John Secor, and the veterans featured in the film. 2017 HBO AWARDS PRESENTATION – HBO PRESENTS THE AUDIENCE AWARDS – presentation during Closing Night Party, Sunday, June 18, 9pm, The Waterford Inn – Spindler’s, 386 Commercial Street HBO has long been known for connecting audiences around the world to compelling content that is both groundbreaking and popular. Likewise, they are uniquely poised to present our discerning audiences picks for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature and Best Short Film. The 2016 Audience Awards went to: THE INNOCENTS directed by Anne Fontaine for Best Narrative Feature; THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE by Morgan Neville, and POLITICAL ANIMALS by Jonah Markowitz and Tracy Wares (tie) for Best Documentary Feature; and TERRITORY directed by Eleanor Mortimer for Short Documentary Award. JOHN SCHLESINGER AWARD FOR FIRST TIME DIRECTOR – presentation during Closing Night Party, Sunday, June 18, 9pm, The Waterford Inn – Spindler’s, 386 Commercial Street In memory of John Schlesinger, this special award is given to first-time doc/narrative feature film directors at our Closing Night Awards presentation. John Schlesinger’s (1926-2003) work includes such highly acclaimed films as MIDNIGHT COWBOY, MARATHON MAN, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST, SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY and COLD COMFORT FARM. Mr. Schlesinger’s films reveal a keen social awareness, a fascination with love’s complexities, and a penchant for drawing out big performances. An actor himself, he helped to make stars out of such performers as Julie Chris- tie, Dustin Ho man and John Voight, and has the distinction of directing eight different actors in Academy Award-nominated performances. 2016 winners include BLOOD STRIPE directed by Remy Auberjonois for Best Narrative Feature; OFF THE RAILS by Adam Irving for Best Documentary Feature. HERE MEDIA PRESENTS: QUEER SHORTS AWARD – presentation during Closing Night Party, Sunday, June 18, 9pm, The Waterford Inn – Spindler’s, 386 Commercial Street Debuting a new award for 2016, HERE MEDIA presented the Jury Award for Best QUEER SHORT, which was chosen from those shorts presented in our QUEER SHORTS program. Awarding it again in 2017, this award comes with recognition and distribution by HERE MEDIA, including streaming of the winning short across HERE MEDIA properties. JURIED SHORTS AWARDS – presentation during Closing Night Party, Sunday, June 18, 9pm, The Waterford Inn – Spindler’s, 386 Commercial Street A team of film industry professionals will also present awards for Best Narrative Short Film; Best Animated Short Film; Best New England Short Film; and Best Student Short Film. 2016 winners include THUNDER ROAD directed by Jim Cummings for Best Narrative Short Film; GLOVE directed by Alexa Haas and Bernardo Britto for Best Animated Short Film; BLACK CANARIES directed by Jesse Kreitzer for Best New England Short Film; THE MINK CATCHER directed by Samantha Buck for Best Student Short Film; and MAIS DURO! directed by Camila Saldarriaga. The 2017 jurors are: Dilcia Barrera, Sundance Film Festival Short Film Programmer; Bernardo Britto, director (PIFF 2016 Best Animated Short Film, GLOVE), and director Lauren Wolkstein (THE STRANGE ONES, PIFF 2017).
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Las Vegas Film Festival Opens and Closes with Sundance Hits LEMON and LANDLINE
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Lemon[/caption]
The 10th Las Vegas Film Festival kicks off on Tuesday, June 6 with “Lemon,” which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
In Lemon, Isaac Lachmann has seen better days. His acting career is tanking, while his colleagues succeed; his blind girlfriend of 10 years plans to leave him; and his own family singles him out as a constant disappointment at their latest reunion. Even as he takes a chance on new romance, Isaac struggles to define his place in a world that has seemingly turned against him. Director Janicza Bravo’s (the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Award winner for “Gregory Go Boom”) description-defying debut feature promises to delight and unsettle audiences in equal measure with its unique brand of discomforting humor. Bravo unflinchingly strips down her stellar lead and co-writer, Brett Gelman, to appalling levels of vulnerability, emphasized by idiosyncratic supporting turns from Michael Cera, Judy Greer, Nia Long, Martin Starr and Gillian Jacobs. Bursting with meticulous unease and loving contempt, Bravo questions what it means to truly unravel.
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Jenny Slate and Abby Quinn appear in Landline by Gillian Robespierre[/caption]
Closing out the Festival on Sunday, June 11 is another Sundance Film Festival 2017 premiere, “Landline,” starting Jenny Slate, John Turturro, Edie Falco, Abby Quinn, Jay Duplass and Finn Wittrock. The Manhattan of 1995: a land without cell phones, but abundant in CD listening stations, bar smoke, and family dysfunction. Enter the Jacobs. Eldest daughter Dana’s looming marriage to straight-laced Ben prompts a willful dive into her wild side, while her younger sister, Ali, is still in high school but leads a covert life of sex, drugs, and clubbing. After discovering love letters penned by their father, the sisters try to expose his apparent affair while keeping it from their all-too-composed mother. Director Gillian Robespierre’s follow-up to “Obvious Child” reprises her talent for subversive comedy and explores how family bonds grow sturdier through lying, cheating, and strife. Compelled by the emotional snarl of people’s poor choices, “Landline” relishes in the dark humor of life’s low points while basking in ’90s nostalgia. An honest, observant portrait of sibling rivalry stumbling awkwardly toward friendship, and of children realizing that parents are people too, there’s no attempt at concealing the indulgences and insecurities of its characters—all of which make them endearing and human.
Additional special screenings include:
Person to Person (part of CINEVEGAS PRESENTS AT LVFF) Friday, June 9 at 8 p.m. Director: Dustin Guy Defa During a single day in New York City, a variety of characters grapple with the mundane, the unexpected, and the larger questions permeating their lives. An investigative reporter struggles with her first day on the job, despite help from her misguided boss; a rebellious teen attempts to balance her feminist ideals with other desires; and a young man seeks to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, even as her brother threatens revenge. Meanwhile, an avid music lover traverses the city in search of a rare record for his vinyl collection. Director Dustin Guy Defa’s hotly-anticipated second feature (his first, “Bad Fever,” was named one of the best films of 2012 by The New Yorker), is a playful ode to the analog, the unassuming, and to New York itself. Shot entirely in 16mm, “Person to Person” effortlessly humanizes its characters, invoking an earnest realism in the performances of its ensemble cast: Michael Cera, Abbi Jacobson, Tavi Gevinson, Philip Baker Hall, George Sample III, and Bene Coopersmith. Are You Really My Friend? The Movie Saturday, June 10 at 2 p.m. Director: Robin Greenspun In 2011, photographer Tanja Hollander decided to visit each one of her Facebook “friends” (all 626 of them) in their homes and make formal portraits of each of them. Armed with her cameras and iPhone, Tanja traveled throughout the U.S. and around the world for 5 years, meticulously documenting her experiences in real time and creating a historical narrative, both visual and written, along the way. Her project is an exploration of friendships, the effects of social networks, the intimate places we call home and the communities in which we live. “Are You Really My Friend? The Movie” is part of Tanja Hollander’s current exhibition at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art which documents her entire project through photographs, portraits and ephemera The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Robin Greenspun and Tanja Hollander. Bright Lights Sunday, June 11 at 2 p.m. Directors: Fisher Stevens and Alexis Bloom The festival will also feature a special screening of the HBO documentary, “Bright Lights,” starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. The story of a family’s complicated love, this hilarious and heart-rending film is an intimate portrait of a unique mother/daughter relationship and Hollywood royalty in all its eccentricity. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Todd Fisher.FESTIVAL PANELS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS
LVFF Panels give movie-goers the opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories and invaluable insider insight from industry professionals. Stop by Festival HQ, located inside the Lounge at Palms Casino Resort, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday for panels paired with Festival mixers. Storytellers Panel and Mixer Wednesday, June 7 at 2 p.m. Prior to the 3 p.m. UNLV showcase screening, join screenwriter Marc May (former UNLV professor and current Towson University professor), producer and UNLV alumni Thomas Mahoney and Francisco Menendez (Artistic Director for the UNLV Department of Film) for a conversation focusing on inspiration, creativity and developing. Then, after the UNLV showcase screening, there will be an additional panel at 5 p.m. with UNLV professor David Waldman and Damien Stanford. Community Spark Panel and Mixer Thursday, June 8 at 3 p.m. A few rowdy filmmakers born in Las Vegas will share their filmmaking adventures in this panel with an emphasis on being a rebel and making films in Sin City. Panelists include Branden Christensen (director of the feature film “Still/Born” and director of the Music Video Lab), local producer Chuck Aiken, Brian Merrick (UNLV alumni and producer of the feature film “10 Days”) and Constanza Castro (producer of the short films “Joy Joy Nails” and “Cuddle Buddy”). Culture Panel and Mixer Saturday, June 10 at 2 p.m. Jury members from the 2013 LVFF will share their stories about filmmaking and the Festival mission. Panelists include director J.T. Gurzi, screenwriter Marika Cahn and producer Thomas Mahoney.PARTIES AND CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS
What would a film festival in Las Vegas be without some parties? On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the official Festival parties will be held inside Ghostbar at the Palms Casino Resort from 10 p.m. until close. All parties are open to the public, with a special VIP section for all passholders. Kick Off Mixer Tuesday, June 6; 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Festival HQ at “The Lounge” inside Palms Casino Resort Music Video Lab Party Friday, June 9; Doors open 9 p.m., with the Music Video Labs premiere at 10 p.m. “Moon” inside Palms Casino Resort Hard ticket is required (available for purchase for $10 at lvff.com/box-office) Closing Night Festival Party and Awards Ceremony Saturday, June 11; 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Palms Casino Resort Pool
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Four Friends Confront Turning Thirty in KATE CAN’T SWIM to East Coast Premiere at Brooklyn Film Festival
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Kate Can’t Swim[/caption]
Kate Can’t Swim, winner of the Jury’s Honorable Mention award at 2017 Slamdance Film Festival, and the Audience Award at the 2017 Sunscreen Film Festival will make its East Coast Premiere at the Brooklyn Film Festival.
Kate Can’t Swim starring Celeste Arias, Grayson DeJesus, Jennifer Allcott, and Josh Helman; is directed by Josh Helman, and written by Jennifer Allcott and Josh Helman.
The film features four compelling young actors as a group of friends struggling to come to terms with themselves as they move into their thirties.
KATE (Celeste Arias) is almost thirty, almost engaged, almost settled in her career as a writer—but is deeply dissatisfied. When Kate’s best friend EM (Jennifer Allcott) returns from Paris with a surprising new lover in tow (Josh Helman), Kate and her boyfriend PETE (Grayson DeJesus) spend a weekend in upstate New York with the new couple. As Kate struggles with her suspicions about Em’s new lover, dormant feelings about her own life arise, forcing her to decide whether to stay on her current life path or to burn it down and forge a new one.
Kate Can’t Swim Screenings at the 2017 Brooklyn Film Festival
showtime: 6:00 pm | Sunday June 4 | Windmill Studios
showtime: 9:30 pm | Thursday June 8 | Wythe Hotel
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Kerry Film Festival Announces 2017 Dates, Now Accepting Filmmaker Submissions
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Maeve McGrath at Kerry Film Festival with Sundance winner, Jim Cummings and Oscar nominated Michael Creagh[/caption]
The 18th Kerry Film Festival will take place from October 19th to 22nd, 2017, and is now inviting filmmaker entries for short films in categories such as Best Irish Narrative, Best International Narrative, Best Original Score, Best Documentary, Best Student, Best Animated Film and Best Kerry Connection. For the first time, the Kerry Film Festival is accepting submissions for Feature Films to screen at the festival in 2017.
KFF has previously featured successful shorts such as the Oscar® short-listed “Head over Heels” and Oscar® winner “Mr Hublot” and 2016 Oscar® winner “STUTTERER”. Four short films that screened at KFF in 2016 were nominated for the IFTA awards in 2017.
Filmmakers will have the chance for their work to be seen by a prestigious panel of adjudicators which has in recent years included Academy Award winner Benjamin Cleary, Directors Lenny Abrahamson and Paul Greengrass and Producer Finola Dwyer.
KFF 2016 saw the introduction of the Short Film Market in Killarney which brought industry speakers and guests including Sundance Grand Jury prize winner, Jim Cummings to the festival.
Closing date for submissions to the 2017 competition is July 14th 2017.
Artistic Director of the Kerry Film Festival, Maeve McGrath said, “We are now accepting short film submissions under 20 minutes long and for the first time, KFF are accepting feature film submissions. The festival has recognized the increased production of feature films by national and international independent filmmakers and we are keen to provide a platform for screening these films”
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AMERIKA SQUARE to Open, SON OF SOFIA to Close 2017 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
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Amerika Square[/caption]
The West coast premiere of Yannis Sakaridis’ award-winning Amerika Square (Plateia Amerikis) will open the 11th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival on Wednesday, June 7. Nakos, a banal racist, had enough of the thousands of refugees in his neighborhood, Amerika Square in the center of Athens. Tarek, a Syrian ex-Military doctor, is looking for a deal to smuggle out of Greece with his daughter. Billy, a tattoo artist, falls in love with Tereza, an African singer who is also looking for an escape by the sea. The three stories merge, while time is running out for everyone. Amerika Square took the FIPRESCI award at the 2016 Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Thursday, June 8, has several films and documentaries including the world premiere of Anastasios Papapostolou’s short documentary The Greek that follows the story of one-armed Greek boxer Vaggelis ‘Cobra’ Chatzis.
Nikos Koundouros’ The Ogre of Athens (Oh Drakos) also screens on Thursday. The film, marked a departure role for comic actor Dinos Iliopoulos. Iliopoulos plays a mousy, timid man who, due to mistaken identity, becomes embroiled in a high crime life and death situation. THE OGRE OF ATHENS has been consistently voted the number one Greek film of all time by the Hellenic Film Critics’ Association. The screening is LAGFF’s homage to the director and his works following his passing this February at age 90. This screening is free to the public to attend.
Late night spot on Thursday belongs to the west coast premiere of Petros Charalambous’ Boy On The Bridge (To Agori Sti Gefyra”). The drama is based on a novel by the British-Cypriot Eve Makis who penned the script with Stavros Pamballis. The film is the true story of a boy whose idyllic life in a Mediterranean village is disturbed by a crime that claims his innocence.
Friday’s schedule includes the screening of – Michele Poulos’ documentary and Los Angeles premiere A Late Style Of Fire: Larry Levis, American Poet which chronicles the writer’s childhood, three marriages, friendships with other famous poets and self-destructive behavior.
Babis Tsokas’ documentary and west coast premiere Our Own Maria Callas, a voyage into the mythical world of the famous soprano, will also be shown, in a tribute to Callas’ passing away 40 years ago. Our Own Maria Callas is free and open to the public.
Saturday’s program includes a screening and Los Angeles premiere of writer-director Clio Fanouraki’s uplifting first feature Xamou. This second coming of age story finds Georges Corraface (A Touch Of Spice) an aging hotel promoter recently out of work and job prospects, fighting depression until his wife lures him outside of his self-imposed exile. He discovers a renewed life and career as his family and neighbors reintroduce him to the wonders and beauty of his home island of Crete. This spectacularly visual film is edited by Yorgos Mavropsaridis (The Lobster, Dogtooth).
Swing Away John O’Hurley, Shannon Elizabeth star in Michael A. Nickles drama about a professional golfer who travels to her grandparents in Greece to avoid the harsh spotlight and Sofia Exarchou’s new Greek Cinema feature PARK about Athens Olympic Village, ten years after the Games, where wilding youths, injured retired athletes and stray dogs roam among ruins and decaying sports venues.
Before each feature and throughout the festival is an array of short narratives and documentaries from up and coming as well as established filmmakers.
Shorts include Daphne Matziaraki’s Academy Award ® nominated 4.1 Miles which will play before Amerika Square opening night. Friday Giannis Ziogkase’s Ethnophobia will play with Boy On The Bridge. The west coast premiere of Phedon Papamichael’s dramatic short A Beautiful Day, written by Angeliki Giannakopoulos and starring James Brolin and Francis Fisher will screen with the U.S. premiere of Sotiris Tsafoulias’ feature crime thriller The Other Me.
Sunday ushers in a new documentary slot from 12:00 – 4:00 P.M. including well known sports filmmaker Constantine Papanicolaou’s U.S. premiere of Frozen Ambrosia about his skiing adventure on Greece’s Mount Olympus and about the little-known winter tourism in Greece and the world premiere of George Lagdaris’ With The Hoes And The Terrarium Forks chronicling evolution of the village of Zagora which developed cooperatively over the last 100 years and passes on this tradition from generation to generation.
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The family (Thanasis Papageorgiou, Valery Tscheplanow, Victor Khomut) watches TV in SON OF SOFIA. Photo credit: Dionysis Eftimiopoulos.[/caption]
Closing the Festival is the west coast premiere of Elina Psykou’s drama Son Of Sofia. In April, the film took Best Picture in the International Narrative Feature Competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. Psykou, known for The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas, has created a dark fairy tale featuring 11-year-old Misha, a young Russian boy who is brought to Athens by his mother to live and is surprised to learn she has remarried. Misha’s imagination soon takes over to protect him from his new life, and he creates a journey that puts make believe against stark reality.
The festival will finally wrap with the Orpheus Awards that honor the best of the Festival’s feature, short and documentary films as voted by the 2017 Jury with one film receiving the Orpheus Audience Award honor. Also, the festival selects one filmmaker or actor whose contributions to the entertainment industry have exceeded those of their peers. This year, the festival honoree is Oscar-winning writer/producer/director Alexander Payne. Payne will receive the Orpheus for his contributions to worldwide entertainment and the preservation of film itself.
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Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Announces 2017 Competition Lineup
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Birds Are Singing in Kigali[/caption]
The 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival today announced the lineup for the competition sections: Official Selection – Competition, East of the West – Competition and Documentary Films – Competition.
The films in the festival’s main section will include Birds Are Singing in Kigali. The last film of the deceased Krzysztof Krauze is depicting painful consequences of the Rwandan genocide and was completed by his co-director and wife Joanna Kos-Krauze. Three years after receiving the KVIFF‘s Crystal Globe for Corn Island George Ovashvili is returning to Karlovy Vary with no less unmistakably directed Khibula, an archetypal story inspired by journey of the newly independent Georgia’s first president. Competition will also present Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama Arrhythmia, Václav Kadrnka’s medieval cinematic pilgrimage Little Crusader, Peter Bebjak’s criminal thriller The Line, American unconventional romantic comedy about (ab)normality in love Keep the Change, remarkable debuts Ralang Road from India and Israeli-German Cakemaker, and More, the first directorial attempt by Turkish actor Onur Saylak.
This year, the East of the West – Competition will open with remarkable Azerbaijani drama Pomegranate Orchard by Ilgar Najaf. Eight of the dozen of premieres are debut films, including two strong films by female directors – Marina Stepanska will bring to Karlovy Vary Falling, fragile love story and a strong statement of the current young Ukrainian generation, while Mariam Khatchvani in Dede will take the audience to the rough Svanetia, region from which she comes from. Juraj Lehotský will return to KV after successful fiction debut Miracle with Slovak-Czech intimate drama Nina.
Three World premieres – The White World According to Daliborek by Vít Klusák, Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle by Gustavo Salmerón and Another News Story by Orban Wallace – will be presented to Karlovy Vary audience in the Documentary Films – Competition. Tarzan’s Testicles, a Romanian essay about a decrepit institute in Abchazia is also included among eleven selected films.
Official Selection – Competition
Arrhythmia / Arrhythmia / Arytmie Director: Boris Khlebnikov Russia, Finland, Germany, 2017, 90 min, International premiere Oleg is heading for his thirties. He works as a paramedic and, after a hard shift, he likes to take a few swigs. His wife Katya is also a doctor, working in the hospital’s emergency department. But her patience with Oleg is running thin, so she announces one day that she wants a divorce… One of the most intriguing filmmakers on the Russian scene today, Boris Khlebnikov returns to the big screen with a meticulous piece of direction. Along with precise performances from the cast, the film examines a relationship experiencing an arrhythmia similar to that affecting the hearts of the patients Oleg treats in his job as a paramedic. Breaking News / Breaking News / Breaking News Director: Iulia Rugină Romania, 2017, 81 min, International premiere A difficult assignment awaits TV reporter Alex. He must film a memorial portrait for a coworker who died in a tragic accident they both experienced but that only he survived. His colleague’s daughter becomes his guide, although her relationship to her father was more than complicated. Alex becomes an involuntary witness to the girl’s handling of her father’s death, and he also comes to believe that chronicling a person’s life involves more than just a short news report… The Cakemaker / The Cakemaker / Cukrář Director: Ofir Raul Graizer Israel, Germany, 2017, 104 min, World premiere After the death of his lover, Thomas heads to Israel – the birthplace of the man he adored. Despite prejudice at his German origins he becomes the pastry chef at a local café owned by the widow of the deceased Oran. Yet she hardly suspects that the unnamed sorrow that connects her to the stranger is for one and the same man. Čiara / The Line / Čára Director: Peter Bebjak Slovak Republic, Ukraine, 2017, 108 min, World premiere Adam Krajňák is head of the family and also boss of a gang of criminals smuggling cigarettes across the Slovak-Ukrainian border. The failure of one of the transports triggers an avalanche of consequences that compels him to question his own boundaries, none of which he had planned on crossing until now. Corporate / Corporate / Korporace Director: Nicolas Silhol France, 2016, 95 min, International premiere The life of an uncompromising HR manager named Emilie changes the instant she witnesses the suicide of one of the staff. The investigation of the case becomes a moral test for a woman whose actions, although motivated by her unlimited devotion to work, have caused grief for many an employee. Daha / More / Ještě víc Director: Onur Saylak Turkey, 2017, 115 min, World premiere Fourteen-year-old Gaza lives with his father Ahad on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The intelligent kid would like to continue his studies, but Ahad sees his son’s future differently. He gets Gaza to help with his side business – smuggling refugees from the Mideast. A directing tour de force, this disturbing psychological study of an adolescent boy’s transformation under the influence of those around him bears dark tidings about the contemporary world. Keep The Change / Keep The Change / Drobné si nechte Director: Rachel Israel USA, 2017, 94 min, International premiere Stylish but apathetic, David meets bundle of energy Sarah at a support group. While he’s just fulfilling a court-ordered obligation, she is thrilled to be there. But as they move past their initial conflicts, they become participants in an uncommon romance that won’t yield to convention. Keep the Change is a different kind of romantic comedy about people who are not the same – like most of us. Khibula / Khibula / Chibula Director: George Ovashvili Georgia, Germany, France, 2017, 98 min, World premiere Shortly after the first democratically elected president of Georgia came to power he was ousted in a military coup. He sets out for the mountains with a group of loyalists to regroup with his supporters. Set against an imposing Caucasus backdrop, we witness a man fighting for power while waging an internal struggle as he heads to meet his fate. The winner of KVIFF 2014 returns with an archetypal story told with light melancholy and an unmistakable visual poetic. Křižáček / Little Crusader / Křižáček Director: Václav Kadrnka Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Italy, 2017, 90 min, World premiere Little Jan, the only descendant of the knight Bořek (Karel Roden), has run away from home. His anxious father sets out to find him but his despair at the fruitless search gradually starts to overpower him. Václav Kadrnka has turned out a stylistically well-contoured adaptation of the poem by Jaroslav Vrchlický, where he employs a taciturn film form in order to encourage our imagination to engage in a poetic, cinematic pilgrimage. Muškarci ne plaču / Men Don’t Cry / Chlapi nepláčou Director: Alen Drljević Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, 2017, 98 min, World premiere When a diverse group of veterans gathers at a remote mountain hotel to undergo days of therapy less than two decades since the war ended in Yugoslavia, it’s hard to expect absolute harmony. This brilliantly directed drama, about the ability to forgive others only after we have forgiven ourselves, presents the pinnacle of the Balkan male acting scene. Ptaki śpiewają w Kigali / Birds Are Singing in Kigali / Ptáci zpívaji v Kigali Director: Joanna Kos-Krauze, Krzysztof Krauze Poland, 2017, 120 min, World premiere We meet ornithologist Anne in 1994 just as genocide is raging in Rwanda, perpetrated by the majority Hutus against the Tutsis. Anne manages to save the daughter of a colleague whose family has been murdered, and she takes her to Poland. But the woman returns to Rwanda to visit the graves of her loved ones. The director originally worked on the movie with her husband Krzysztof Krauze (My Nikifor – Crystal Globe, KVIFF 2004), but after his death in 2014 she eventually finished this challenging picture alone. Ralang Road / Ralang Road / Cesta do Ralangu Director: Karma Takapa India, 2017, 112 min, World premiere The stories of four individuals intertwine in a maze of Himalayan countryside, village buildings, and the local social microcosm. With a captivating internal rhythm and the stylistic elements taken firmly in hand, the film presents a narratively courageous look at the region’s social web and the influence of cultural immigration on local life.East of the West – Competition
Absence blízkosti / Absence of Closeness / Absence blízkosti Director: Josef Tuka Czech Republic, 2017, 65 min, World premiere After another failed relationship Hedvika takes her three-month-old daughter Adélka and her dog to stay with her mother and her mum’s boyfriend. Hedvika doesn’t get on all that well with her mother, nor are her feelings towards Adélka as maternal as they could be. One day she finds some diaries that her late father left behind… This small-scale psychological drama by debutant Josef Tuka is shored up by its realistic characters, an understated performance from Jana Plodková, and perceptive, discreet lensing. Blue Silence / Blue Silence / Modré ticho Director: Bülent Öztürk Turkey, Belgium, 2017, 93 min, International premiere After his release from the military hospital where he was receiving treatment for a past trauma, Hakan tries to resume a normal life and form a proper relationship with his daughter. Excelling for its mature performances and its stylisation of image and sound, the film foregrounds Hakan’s wounded soul and underlines his vehement efforts to break free from his own private prison. Dede / Dede / Dede Director: Mariam Khatchvani Georgia, United Kingdom, 2017, 97 min, World premiere It’s 1992. Young Dina lives in a remote mountain village where life is strictly governed by centuries of tradition. Is it possible to defy the firmly established order? And, if it is, what price must a person pay for doing so? Debut director Mariam Khatchvani set her first film in Svaneti, the stark mountainous region in northwestern Georgia where she herself was born, and she presents us with an authentic portrayal of a number of customs and traditions associated with this province. Kak Vitka Chesnok vez Lecha Shtyrya v dom invalidov / How Viktor “the Garlic” took Alexey “the Stud” to the Nursing Home / Jak Víťa Česnek vezl Ljochu Vrtáka do důchoďáku Director: Alexander Hant Russia, 2017, 90 min, World premiere This inventive road movie about a son and father finding their way to one another has none of the sentiment normally associated with this kind of subject matter. The film introduces an ensemble of wild characters from the lowest social strata, viewed through a lens that finds a balance between the work’s profoundly human dimension and its stylishly ironic commentary on contemporary society. Keti lõpp / The End of The Chain / Konec řetězce Director: Priit Pääsuke Estonia, 2017, 81 min, World premiere Have you ever had a bad day? Well, it would be difficult to top the catastrophe facing a waitress at a fast-food outlet, where people come not for a quick meal but simply to have a good cry. This high-spirited comedy, about the worst that can happen when you’re slaving from dawn to dusk, also examines existential dilemmas, unconcealed selfishness, and the essential desire for compassion. Mariţa / Mariţa / Mariţa Director: Cristi Iftime Romania, 2017, 100 min, World premiere Thirty-year-old Costi decides to spend a few days with his family. His parents have long since divorced, but Costi thinks it would be a great idea to arrange a surprise reunion, and he persuades his father to travel with him to meet up with his mother and siblings. Taking the old family car, affectionately known as Mariţa, they head out on a journey that will ultimately help to heal past wounds and allow Costi to finally understand not only his parents, but also himself. Minu näoga onu / The Man Who Looks Like Me / Muž, který vypadá jako já Director: Katrin Maimik, Andres Maimik Estonia, 2017, 100 min, World premiere Music critic Hugo is going through a post-divorce crisis and just wants some peace to finish writing his book. When his bohemian father suddenly appears on his doorstep, it becomes clear that the new life he has chosen for himself is about to go in quite a different direction. A tragicomic tale about parents and children and their shared mistakes and complexes. Nar baği / Pomegranate Orchard / Sad granátovníků Director: Ilgar Najaf Azerbaijan, 2017, 90 min, World premiere Gabil returns home to the humble family farmstead, surrounded by an orchard of venerable pomegranate trees; since his sudden departure twelve years ago he was never once in contact. However, the deep emotional scars he left behind cannot be erased from one day to the next. A private drama set in a picturesque landscape which tells of wrongdoings simmering below the surface of seeming innocence. Nina / Nina / Nina Director: Juraj Lehotský Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2017, 86 min, World premiere Nina is twelve years old and her world has just been shattered to smithereens: Her parents’ marriage has broken down and they are getting a divorce. After his internationally successful debut Miracle Juraj Lehotský now brings us an intimate drama in which the viewer looks upon the world and the selfish, visionless behaviour of adults through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl. A girl who is resilient and belligerent, but also vulnerable and just as fragile as the miniature world she creates for herself in the garden shed. Strimholov / Falling / Střemhlav Director: Marina Stepanska Ukraine, 2017, 105 min, World premiere Anton and Katia happen upon one another in night-time Kiev. Both are trying to find their bearings in life, and their encounter changes everything… This psychological drama by debuting Marina Stepanska offers up both a fragile love story and a strong statement on the current young generation as it searches for its place in post-revolutionary Ukraine. T’padashtun / Unwanted / Nechtění Director: Edon Rizvanolli Kosovo, Netherlands, 2017, 85 min, World premiere Teenager Alban lives in Amsterdam with his mother Zana, who left Kosovo during the war in the Balkans. When he starts going out with the sensitive Ana, neither of them has any idea that unresolved injustices and shadows from the past will make their way to the surface. This insightful, mature debut by a Kosovan director reminds us how difficult forgiveness and reconciliation can be. Taş / The Stone / Kámen Director: Orhan Eskiköy Turkey, 2017, 96 min, International premiere Emete would swear that the young man seeking refuge in her home is the son she lost long ago. But in her isolated, wasteland village it’s almost impossible to differentiate real hope from self-delusion. Especially since the only way to survive is to throw in with the collective myths and seek comfort in cold stone.DOCUMENTARY FILMS – COMPETITION
Another News Story / Another News Story / Další čerstvá zpráva Director: Orban Wallace United Kingdom, 2017, 90 min, World premiere In today’s chaotic era, what is the “who, how, and why” of news spewed forth on world conflicts and crises? A young British director turns his camera lens on the journalists sent by their employers to the Mediterranean to cover the unfolding humanitarian tragedy. When faced with immeasurable suffering, do they maintain a fundamental sensitivity or do they fall back on sensationalized treatments of human misfortune? Atelier de conversation / Atelier de conversation / Lekce francouzské konverzace Director: Bernhard Braunstein Austria, France, Lichtenstein, 2017, 72 min, International premiere One room, twelve red chairs, and a common language. Foreigners from all corners of the world meet each week for free lessons to hone their French. This formally minimalist documentary captures the fleeting moments in which grammatical fumblings or the painstaking search for the right word inadvertently open a window into the human soul. Avant la fin de l’été / Before Summer Ends / Než skončí léto Director: Maryam Goormaghtigh Switzerland, France, 2017, 80 min, International premiere Even after studying in France for five years, Arash hasn’t completely gotten used to the place, so he decides to return home to Iran. But friends Hossein and Ashkan are determined not to accept the loss of their closest pal. This documentary comedy, about a goodbye road trip across France, boasts beer chugging and French girls, but it’s also about cultural differences and the natural need to find and hold onto kindred spirits when living in a foreign land. A Campaign of Their Own / A Campaign of Their Own / Kampaň Director: Lionel Rupp Switzerland, 2017, 74 min, International premiere Partaking of the Direct Cinema documentary style, A Campaign of Their Own tells the story of the loyal supporters of democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, who lost to Clinton in the Democratic primaries. Subtly engagé and skillfully incorporated into a stylistic frame, the film lifts the lid on a newly-inflamed radical skepticism towards political representation in the United States and the general frustration at the breakdown of representative democracy itself. Land of the Free / Land of the Free / Země svobodných Director: Camilla Magid Denmark, Finland, 2017, 95 min, International premiere In the economically depressed neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles it’s far too easy to get on the wrong side of the law. One fateful day 42-year-old Brian, who has just been released from serving a long prison sentence, experiences it firsthand. The vicious cycle of social determination, however, also begins to effect the lives of teenager Juan and seven-year-old Gianni. The debuting director immerses herself in the depths of human vulnerability in order to draw out fragments of hope. A Memory in Khaki / A Memory in Khaki / Vzpomínky v barvě khaki Director: Alfoz Tanjour Qatar, 2016, 108 min, European premiere A Syrian director dusts off memories of the past, when people were persecuted for their political beliefs. A poetic portrait of people whose homes have been turned to rubble, and a story that tells us that a free life can never be monochromatic, let alone khaki. Moj život bez zraka / My Life without Air / Život bez vzduchu Director: Bojana Burnać Croatia, 2017, 72 min, European premiere The most important moments in the life of Goran, a Croatian free diving record-holder, take place exclusively underwater. This portrait of an extreme athlete features intentional dramatic minimalism in order to guide the viewer toward a shared physical experience of performances that push the boundaries of what is humanly possible. Between each inhalation and exhalation we experience an endless emotional fall into the depths of the deep blue sea. Muchos hijos, un mono y un castillo / Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle / Spousta dětí, opice a zámek Director: Gustavo Salmerón Spain, 2017, 90 min, World premiere Julita always wanted lots of kids, a monkey, and a castle. After finally realizing these wishes, however, her family loses their property in the economic crisis. But they have not lost the disarming ease and kindheartedness that mark their domestic squabbling. A film chronicle with elements of absurd humor that serves as a madcap allegory for the contemporary situation in Spain. Ouăle lui Tarzan / Tarzan’s Testicles / Tarzanova varlata Director: Alexandru Solomon Romania, France, 2017, 105 min, International premiere A research center in Sukhumi, the capital of today’s Abkhazia. Legend has it that it was built at the end of the 1920s to create a hybrid between man and monkey. The hypothetical creature never saw the light of day, but people and primates, like sad relics of the past, live together in the derelict wings of the medical institute to this very day. Richard Müller: Nespoznaný / Richard Müller: Unknown / Richard Müller: Nepoznaný Director: Miro Remo Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2016, 90 min, International premiere This uncompromising, sometimes painfully revealing but always deeply insightful portrait presents the life of Richard Müller from a fresh perspective. We get to know the famous Slovak singer as a still uncommonly charismatic man who has become exhausted by his struggles with addiction, mental illness, and the demands of show business. Svět podle Daliborka / The White World According to Daliborek / Svět podle Daliborka Director: Vít Klusák Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic, United Kingdom, 2017, 105 min, World premiere A stylized portrait of an authentic Czech neo-Nazi, who hates his life but doesn’t know what to change. Corrosively absurd and starkly chilling in equal measure, this tragicomedy investigates the radical worldview of “decent, ordinary people.” And just when it seems that its message can’t get any more urgent, the film culminates in a totally uncompromising way.
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Award-winning Documentary, A CAMBODIAN SPRING to US Premiere at Brooklyn Film Festival | Trailer
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A Cambodian Spring[/caption]
The award-winning documentary, A Cambodian Spring, from UK video journalist/filmmaker Chris Kelly, will have its US premiere at the Brooklyn Film Festival.
The film won the Special Jury Prize earlier this year at 2017 Hot Docs in Toronto.
A Cambodian Spring is an intimate and unique portrait of three people caught up in the chaotic and often violent development that is shaping modern-day Cambodia. Spending 9 years on the film (shooting for 6 of those years) the film charts the growing wave of land-rights protests that led to the ‘Cambodian Spring’ and the tragic events that followed. This film is about the complexities – both political and personal, of fighting for what you believe in.
“A Cambodian Spring is for me a deeply personal film, which took 9 years to complete,” says director Chris Kelly. “It is an exploration of what motivates us, what gives our lives meaning, and what happens when our personal desires colour and shape our actions. It is an unapologetically subjective portrait of my time in Cambodia, of the people who shared their lives with me and of the shifting landscapes, both physical and emotional, that I found there.”
The film also includes a riveting original soundtrack by the UK’s best known electronic music artist James Holden.
2017 Brooklyn Film Festival Screening Time and Location
showtime: 7:30 pm | Wednesday June 7 | Wythe Hotel
showtime: 8:30 pm | Sunday June 11 | Wythe Hotel