Film Festivals

THE EXILE, MONSTERMAN, KEEP IN TOUCH, MULLY Win Top Awards at 2015 Austin Film Festival

The 2015 Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its Jury and Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners in Film, as well as the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners. The jury awarded The Exile, by Arturo Ruiz Serrano (pictured above) as Best Narrative Feature and Monsterman, directed by Antti Haase as Best Documentary Feature. The Audience voted Keep In Touch, written by Sam Kretchmar and Michael Covino as winner of the Hiscox Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and Mully directed by Scott Haze as winner of Hiscox Audience Award for Best Documentary. The following Jury award winners were selected by category: Narrative Feature: The Exile, written by Arturo Ruiz Serrano Documentary Feature: Monsterman, directed by Antti Haase Comedy Vanguard Feature: Baby, Baby, Baby, written by Brian Klugman Dark Matters Feature: Sunny Side Up, written by Willem Bosch Dark Matters Feature Honorable Mention: The Lion’s Path, written by Sophie-Anne Beaudry Narrative Short: Vainilla, written by Susana López Rubio Narrative Student Short: Kimi Kabuki, written by Yoko Okumura Documentary Short: Chau, Beyond the Lines, directed by Courtney Marsh Animated Short: The Meek, written by Joe Brumm Scripted Digital Series: School Nurse, created by Tom Beach, Laura Boersma, and John Stewart Muller After each Festival screening, audiences voted for the Hiscox Audience Awards, recognizing film favorites among the 2015 slate. The following Hiscox Audience Award winners were selected by category: Narrative Feature: Keep In Touch, written by Sam Kretchmar and Michael Covino Documentary Feature: Mully directed by Scott Haze Documentary Feature Honorable Mention: Of Dogs and Men directed by Michael Ozias Dark Matters Feature: Reparation written by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm Comedy Vanguard Feature: Baby, Baby, Baby written by Brian Klugman Narrative Short: Best Wishes from Millwood written by Max Baker Documentary Short: The Trials of Constance Baker Motley directed by Rick Rodgers Animated Short: The Present written by Fabio Cavalcanti and Jacob Frey Narrative Student Short: Amateur Dictator written by Zach Carver Scripted Digital Series: Master Class created by Justin Wright Neufeld Heart of Film: A Single Frame directed by Brandon Dickerson Stories From Abroad: El Jeremías written by Ana Sofía Clerici Texas Independent: Jack’s Apocalypse written by Will Moore Marquee Feature: Until 20 directed by Jamila Paksima and written by Geraldine Moriba One film was selected to receive the inaugural Hiscox Courage Award. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the film that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who best embraced the risk to share the story. The first ever Courage Award went to Jamila Paksima’s and Geraldine Moriba’s Until 20, the story of Texan James Ragan’s quest to live a full and meaningful life despite his terminal battle with osteosarcoma. “Hiscox was honored to support Austin Film Festival and all of the inspirational films, filmmakers and subjects that made the week so special,” said Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox USA. “We’re grateful to give the first Hiscox Courage Award to Until 20 and hope more people will be able to share the courageous life and story of James Ragan depicted in this film.” In continuation of AFF’s mission to find and support independent filmmakers, three films were already picked up for distribution at this year’s Festival including Comedy Vanguard 3rd Street Blackout, The Teller and the Truth picked up by FilmBuff, and James Franco’s Memoria which was acquired by Monterey Media. “Austin Film Festival is an exceptional source for a true audience reaction for independent films,” said Jere Rae-Mansfield, CFO & Managing Partner of Monterey Media. “We are so pleased to join them in our acquisition news.” The following Screenplay Competition winners were selected by category: Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Detroit by Robert Rue Comedy Screenplay Award: Maxwell 2.0 by Paul Sanford Enderby Entertainment Award: The Great Debate by David Hoffman Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Innkeeper by Michael Catinari Horror Award: 77 Minutes by Shani Grewal AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot Award: Friend of the Devil by Michael Ouellette Sitcom Teleplay Pilot Award: Newsperson by Michael Drake Short Screenplay Award: The New World by Brian Rawlins Scripted Digital Series Award: Creepypasta by Will Zech & Alex Cope One-Hour Teleplay Spec Award: The Americans: Custody by Larry Caldwell Sitcom Teleplay Spec Award: Workaholics: Bring Your Kid To Work Day by Greg Brainos
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Ewan McGregor to Receive Award at Los Cabos International Film Festival and Screen “Last Days in the Desert”

Actor and director Ewan McGregor will attend the upcoming Los Cabos International Film Festival where he will be presented with the Protagonist Award for Excellence in Acting. The award statuette was designed by acclaimed Mexican artist Gabriel Macotela. McGregor will also present the special screening of his film, Last Days in the Desert, accompanied by its director –and festival special guest– Rodrigo García. The film, widely praised by the critics when premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year, is an imaginative version of Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert. Ewan McGregor is mesmerizing as he takes on two of history’s most complicated and misunderstood characters: Jesus Christ and the Devil. Director Rodrigo Garcia reimagines Christ’s last days of fasting in the desert as he walks back to civilization. In the midst of the harsh landscape, fatigued and hallucinating, Christ is met by the Devil, who is eager to test and tempt the weary traveler. Their profound ruminations on faith and truth demonstrate Garcia’s power as a screenwriter and McGregor’s determination to portray Jesus in a different light. By focusing on Christ’s fallibility and innocence, new dimensions of the prophet and the man create a fascinating character study. But Christ’s real test comes when he befriends a family on his travels and is caught up in a dispute that forces a powerful confrontation with his own fate.
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Cate Blanchett to be Honored at Palm Springs International Film Festival

Two-time Academy Award Winning Actress Cate Blanchett will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress at the upcoming 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival for her amazing performances in “Carol” and “Truth”. The festival runs January 1 to 11, 2016. Carol, an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, follows two women from very different backgrounds, unhappily married Carol (Blanchett) and department store clerk Therese (Rooney Mara), who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. Directed by Todd Haynes from a script by Phyllis Nagy, Carol also stars Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy and Cory Michael Smith. The film is distributed by the Weinstein Company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4z7Px68ywk Truth examines the facts and the fallout surrounding a CBS investigative report on the military service record of then-President George W. Bush, aired on Sept. 8, 2004 just prior to the Bush/Kerry presidential election. As the subsequent story turned from the facts themselves to the reporting, however, CBS News producer Mary Mapes (played by Blanchett) and CBS News anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) would both soon lose their jobs and reputations. Written and directed by James Venderb based on the memoir Truth and Duty by Mary Mapes, Truth also stars Topher Grace, Elizabeth Moss and Dennis Quaid. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOz8-Sto1g Past actress recipients of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, include Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock, Natalie Portman, Halle Berry, Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams. Last year’s honoree, Julianne Moore, went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress. Blanchett was previously honored at the festival with the Career Achievement Award and Ensemble Performance Award for Babel.
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HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY to US Premiere at DOC NYC 2015 | TRAILER

HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY, which will have its US PREMIERE at the upcoming DOC NYC 2015. HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY is directed by Academy Award Nominee Daniel Raim, Executive Produced by Danny DeVito and features many familiar faces including Harold Michelson, Lillian Michelson, Danny DeVito, Francis Ford Coppola, Mel Brooks, Anahid Nazarian, Rick Carter, Tom Walsh, Jim Bissell, Marc Wanamaker, Bill Krohn, Norman Newberry, and Gene Allen. Academy Award®-nominated director Daniel Raim and Executive Producer Danny DeVito (Pulp Fiction, Man on the Moon) present HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY, a fascinating and deeply moving account of the romantic and creative partnership of storyboard artist Harold Michelson and his wife, film researcher Lillian Michelson—a talented couple once considered “the heart of Hollywood.” Harold and Lillian worked on hundreds of iconic films during Hollywood’s golden age including The Ten Commandments, The Apartment, The Birds, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Rosemary’s Baby, Fiddler On The Roof, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Scarface, Full Metal Jacket and more. Although the couple was responsible for some of Hollywood’s most iconic examples of visual storytelling, their contributions remain largely uncredited. Through an engaging mix of love letters, film clips and candid conversations with Harold and Lillian, Danny DeVito, Mel Brooks, Francis Coppola and others, this heartfelt documentary chronicles their remarkable relationship and two extraordinary careers spanning six decades of movie-making history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RuCqsZhkLE
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Dates Revealed for 2016 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Documentary Forum

The 2016 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Documentary Forum will be held in Camden, Rockport and Rockland from September 15 to 18, 2016. Filmmakers may submit their completed documentaries (features and shorts) to CIFF or their works-in-progress to the Points North Fellowship starting in January 2016.
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Johnny Depp to Be Honored at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Johnny Depp will receive the newly renamed Maltin Modern Master Award at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, taking place from Wednesday, February 3 to Saturday, February 13, 2016. Previously known as The Modern Master Award the honor was renamed this year to honor the famed film critic who has moderated the event for over 25 years. “Johnny Depp is a true embodiment of a modern master. He has had a long and storied career that has shown his commitment to taking on compelling and dynamic roles. But in the gripping film BLACK MASS under the skillful direction of Scott Cooper, Johnny Depp delivers his defining performance to date,” SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling stated. Depp can currently be seen in “Black Mass,” which tells of the unholy alliance between ruthless mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) and childhood friend-turned-FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). The bond, forged growing up on the streets of South Boston, would test the limits of loyalty in a town that answers to its own, unwritten code. Blinded by ambition, Connolly convinces Bulger to inform on their common enemy, the Italian Mafia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDjqLbh09E The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.
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“Sicilian Vampire” Starring James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino Opens NYC Big Apple Film Festival | TRAILER

Frank D’Angelo’s fourth feature film, Sicilian Vampire, has been chosen as an opening night feature at this year’s New York City Big Apple Film Festival which runs November 4th to 7th, 2015. Written, directed and produced by Frank D’Angelo, Sicilian Vampire stars James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino, Robert Loggia, Armand Assante, Robert Davi, Michael Paré, Eric Roberts, Daniel Baldwin, Tony Nardi and Frank D’Angelo. Sicilian Vampire is equal parts Goodfellas and Dusk till Dawn. It tells the story of reputed mobster Sonny Trafficante who was hoping to get away to the family hunting lodge for a little rest and relaxation and create some memories. Instead what he got was a night he will never forget. From there we’re taken on a journey of action, suspense and drama that can only come from the mind of Frank D’Angelo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QqR4TwZk8 Frank D’Angelo has written, produced, directed and acted in a total of four feature films in the last three years and is now in preproduction of his fifth film, The Red Maple Leaf, which is scheduled to begin shooting later this fall. His other films include Real Gangsters (the story of the Lo Giacomo family, one of the most successful crime syndicates in New York City), which is currently in worldwide release on Video-On-Demand networks. Another, The Big Fat Stone (a story of a homeless man who, simply by being at the right place at the right time, gets a chance at a new life), is now on VOD worldwide. And No Deposit (a story about a family man, who falls from grace through a series of downward spiraling events beyond his control), has been in theatres in Canada and USA and is available on Video on Demand.
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Award Winning Documentary BARGE to NY Premiere at 2015 DOC NYC | TRAILER

The award winning documentary BARGE directed by Ben Powell have its NY premiere at 2015 DOC NYC, where it will screen in the Viewfinders Section. BARGE had its World Premiere at SXSW 2015, and went on to win Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary Feature: Dallas International Film Festival 2015, Best Documentary Feature: Crossroads Film Festival 2015 and Honorable Mention, Best Documentary: Ashland Independent Film Festival 2015. BARGE evocatively depicts the lives of the Mississippi River’s ship workers over twenty-eight day shifts, shuttling cargo back and forth along America’s waterway. Dryland’s misfits, these men from all backgrounds and experience level fastidiously work to achieve their individual dreams while holding together our nation’s industrial backbone. A debut feature from Austin-based Ben Powell, BARGE is an intimate portrait of the machinery of American ambitions. A towboat drifts down the Mississippi River, on its way to the port of New Orleans. This is a barge whose life is the water, the banks, and the bright lights ahead. On board, dry land’s misfits find purpose and direction as the steady hands who move a few million tons of cargo up and down the river each year. A green deckhand; a former convict working his way up to first mate; an engineer with 38 years of experience, in no hurry to retire; and an ancient waterway pulling a double shift as the backbone of a national economy. As long as the boat is moving, they’re making money. Through the exquisitely observed details of modern river travel, this is a meditation on the importance of a meaningful job and the machinery of American ambitions. https://vimeo.com/121178742
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“Mediterranea” “Toto and His Sisters” “The Lesson” to Compete for 2015 LUX Film Prize at Cork Film Festival

Three films, Mediterranea (pictured above), Toto and His Sisters and The Lesson/UROK, will compete for the 2015 LUX Film Prize at the 60TH Cork Film Festival. The festival runs November 06 to 15, 2015, in Cork, Ireland. This European Parliament LUX Film Prize places a spotlight on films which go to the heart of European Public Debate. Cork Film Festival, along with the European Parliament, believe that cinema can be used as a medium to discuss and debate topical issues. Mediterranea tells the tale of Ayiva who travels from his native Burkina Faso to Italy in search of a way to provide for his sister and daughter. He takes advantage of his position in an illegal smuggling operation to get himself and his best friend off the continent. It is massively topical given the current refugee crisis. There will also be a Q & A with cast and crew live from the film’s Brussels presentation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A Toto and His Sisters is the compelling story of three siblings whose mother is imprisoned. During this time Toto passionately learns dancing, reading and writing all the while his sisters try to cope and keep the family together. The film explores topics like poverty, drugs and the importance of family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtjJbB1Oh4 Finally, The Lesson/UROK, is set in Bulgaria and centres around a young teacher searching for a robber in her class while at the same time she is falling into further debt with loan sharks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIQvmTMQr0
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DEMOLITION Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts to Open 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival ; Fest to Feature Retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s Films

The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival will honor Quebecois writer and director Jean-Marc Vallée for his exceptional career achievements. After having presented Dallas Buyers Club (Los Cabos 2013 Closing Gala) and Wild (Los Cabos 2014 Opening Gala) as Latin American premieres, the Festival will host the Latin American Premiere of Demolition as the Opening Gala of this fourth edition. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper, the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition to the opening night film “Demolition” the festival will also feature two of the Vallée’s cornerstone films, C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) and Café de Flore (2011), to complete the tribute and retrospective to his work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJ1qS7KOm4 The Festival launches a new program: Spotlight, to stress the Festival’s artistic focus and look at North America’s filmmakers, who have a central role in shaping contemporary cinema. This year the festival will feature a retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s work. In spite of his age, 31-year-old Perry has become known at film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin and Locarno, with all of them having selected at least one of his four feature films: Impolex (2009), The Color Wheel (2011), Listen Up Phillip (Los Cabos 2014 Official Selection) and Queen of Earth, which will have its Latin American Premiere at Los Cabos this year. He will be accompanied by his regular co-worker, Sean Price Williams, one of the key cinematographers in current American independent cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPgN8eEI-c
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“Noma: My Perfect Storm” Documentary on World’s Best Restaurant to Premiere at DOC NYC and Opens in Theaters on Dec. 18

“Noma: My Perfect Storm,” the documentary on the World’s Best Restaurant will have its North American premiere at 2015 DOC NYC before being released in theaters, On Demand and on iTunes on Dec. 18 via Magnolia Pictures. The documentary directed by Pierre Deschamps, follows celebrated chef Rene Redzepi against the backdrop of his Copenhagen-based restaurant called Noma,which was voted The World’s Best Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. Inspired by two books written by celebrated chef René Redzepi, the film follows him on a culinary journey as he travels to find inspiration for creating novel dishes for travelers from around the world. Noma: My Perfect Storm is a creative journey into the mind of René Redzepi. How did he manage to revolutionize the entire world of gastronomy, inventing the alphabet and vocabulary that would infuse newfound pedigree to Nordic cuisine and establish a new edible world while radically changing the image of the modern chef? His story has the feel of a classic fairy tale: the ugly duckling transformed into a majestic swan, who now reigns over the realm of modern gourmet cuisine. But beneath the polished surface, cracks appear in the form of old wounds. 2013 stands as the worst year in René Redzepi’s career. We follow him as he fights his way back to the top, reinventing NOMA and reclaiming the title of best restaurant in the world in 2014 for the fourth time. https://vimeo.com/139779858
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2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival Reveals Films in Tastes, B-Side and American Specials Sections

The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival taking place 11th to the 15th of November, continues to impress with its film lineup. The festival revealed the lineup for Tastes – a new section in the film program focusing on culinary themed films, B-Side program – focusing on music themed films, and American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films. Tastes program includes outstanding films from the international circuit of culinary cinema, including Cooking Up a Tribute by Luis González and Andrea Gómez (Mexican Premiere), about El Celler de Can Roca, the world’s best restaurant, which decided to shut down temporarily to go on the road and tour America; Sergio Herman: F***ing Perfect by Willemiek Kluijfhout (Latin American Premiere), which portrays one of the 50 best chefs in the world, who is a perfectionist obsessed with culinary excellence; and Baja Tastes by Roberto Najera (World Premiere), a first work made in Tijuana that introduces us to the culinary delights, variety and fusion of the Baja California peninsula. The B-Side program will have the most outstanding films in which music is a delight for both the ear and the eye. The tuneful world of Arcade Fire in Reflektor Tapes come together with the hip-hop rhythms created by Pharrell Williams for Dope, along with Office, by the Hongkongese director, Johnnie To, who breathes fresh air to this program by bringing a beautiful, nimble, musical cinema. Dope (Mexican Premiere) Dir. Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar, Talk to Me) Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons Soundtrack by Pharrell Williams Premiered at Sundance. Arcade Fire: The Reflektor Tapes Dir. Hervé Martin-Delpierre (Daft Punk Unchained; Sport, mafia et corruption) Cast: Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Arcade Fire Office (Latin American Premiere) Dir. Johnnie To Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Wang Ziyi, Lang Yueting Premiered at Sundance. In the new Film Program section, American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films that have won critical acclaim and set box-office records, the Festival has recently confirmed the Mexican premiere for Black Mass and The Diary of a Teenage Girl. Additionally, the lineup will include the following premieres: The Hollow Point (World Premiere) Dir. Gonzalo López-Gallego (El Rey de la Montaña, Nómadas, Apolo 18) Cast: Ian McShane, Lynn Collins, Patrick Wilson Max Rose (Latin American Premiere) Dir. Daniel Noah (Twelve) Cast: Illeana Douglas, Kerry Bishé, Jerry Lewis. Premiered at Festival de Cannes in 2013 El Ganzo (Latin American Premiere) Dir. Steve Balderson (Hell Town, Occupying Ed, The Far Flung Star) Cast: Mark Booker, Magdalena del Rio, Anslem Richardson. The Festival also confirmed the Mexican talent that will take part in gala events and Industry activities, among them: Eugenio Derbez, José María Yazpik, Manolo Caro, Tenoch Huerta, José Carlos Ruíz, Sebastián Aguirre, Sophie Alexander-Katz, José María Torre, Sofía Espinosa, Ianis Guerrero, Rosa María Bianchi, Jaime Garza, Adriana Paz, and many others.
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