Film Festivals

Antonio Morabito’s “The Medicine” Seller Wins the NICE City of Florence Award

Antonio Morabito’s The Medicine Seller (Il venditore di medicine) was selected as the winner of the NICE City of Florence Award at San Francisco Film Society’s New Italian Cinema. The five-day New Italian Cinema festival is dedicated to celebrating the rich cinematic tradition of Italy and bringing the country’s newest directors and films to audiences in San Francisco. The NICE City of Florence Award was decided by audience ballots from San Francisco screenings of films in competition.

A scathing indictment of the pharmaceutical industry, Antonio Morabito’s powerful drama depicts a stressed-out salesman using increasingly scurrilous means to sell his company’s product. At the start, Bruno (Claudio Santamaria) is the Zafer corporation’s golden boy, wheedling doctors and administrators to select his firm’s treatments through various perks and his own charms. When he’s told to push a controversial new medicine, he meets with resistance and is given an ultimatum—get a notoriously difficult hospital administrator to prescribe the drug or lose his job. Compounding the problem is his girlfriend’s desire to have a child and his own increasing substance abuse. The Medicine Seller fearlessly indicts the whole pharmaceutical chain from the companies pushing the pills to the medical establishment’s capitulation toward an increasingly narcotized society to suffering consumers who are ill-informed and often ill-advised about the potentially harmful drugs they are being prescribed. [San Francisco Film Society’s New Italian Cinema]

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“What We Do in the Shadows” Wins Leeds International Film Festival’s Audience Award

What We Do in the Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows was voted by 28th Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF28) audiences as overall favorite and X+Y, starring Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins, came second. In What We Do in the Shadows, Viago, Deacon, Vladislav and Peter are four vampires sharing a house in Wellington, trying to balance being undead with everyday problems like whose turn it is to wash up, where to find virgin blood and how to dress for a night out when you don’t have a reflection. As a documentary film crew follows them round we learn about each of their histories and what it means to be hundreds of years old in the 21st century. Co-written and starring Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows balances comedy, horror and social commentary perfectly in this hilarious film.

Overall the vote was incredibly close for the top 5 films, and the top 20 winners in the LIFF28 Audience Award for Best Film are: 1) What We Do in the Shadows 2) X+Y 3) Song of the Sea 4) The Possibilities are Endless 5) The Imitation Game 6) Heaven Adores You 7) Giovanni’s Island 8) Seventh Heaven 9) Housebound 10) Birdman 11) Poverty Inc 12) Brasil Bam Bam Bam 13) Testament of Youth 14) Everybody Street 15) Kingdom of Dreams and Madness 16) Vessel 17) No One’s Child 18) Rurouni Kenshin 2 19) The House at the End of Time 20) #chicagoGirl – The Social Network

28th Leeds International Film Festival also announced its winning short films

Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition 2014

Winner: Art (Arta) (Dir. Adrian Sitaru, Romania)
Special Mentions: Chorus (Dir. Tiago Guedes, Portugal) + Greenland (Dir. Oren Garner, Israel)

Jury statement on Art:
‘An engaging, accomplished and technically superb film about manipulation.’

World Animation Award 2014

Winner: Walk the Dog (Dir. Sonja Rohleder, Germany)
Special Mentions: Zepo (Dir. César Díaz Meléndez, Spain) + Baths (Lanzi) (Dir. Tomek Ducki, Poland + UK)

Jury statement on Walk the Dog:
‘Immersive, cinematic and a graphic joy.’

British Short Film Competition 2014

Winner: Exchange and Mart (Dir. Cara Connolly, Martin Clark, UK)
Special Mentions: Goes to the actor Oliver Woolford for A Generation of Vipers + Alice (Thomas McNaught, UK)

Jury statement on Exchange and Mart:
‘A beautifully executed coming of age film.’

Yorkshire Short Film Competition

Winner: Cushy (Dir. Fliss Buckles, Cat Jones, UK)
Special Mention: Rare (Dir. Jim Morgan, UK)

Jury Statement on Cushy:
‘Cushy featured a demanding lead performance that was excellently portrayed by James Cooney. Superb writing of spoken word by Cat Jones and slick camera direction by Fliss Buckles provided the audience with a unique insight into the world of modern day imprisonment.’

Leeds International Screendance Competition

Winning Film: Amauros (Dir. Nicole Seiler, Switzerland)
Special Mentions: Black Tape (Michelle and Uri Kranot, Denmark, 2014) + Memorias (Ponciano Almeida & Bertie, Brazil+ UK, 2014)

Jury Statement on Amouros:
‘The film creates the visualization of a dance in detail without ever featuring a moving body on screen. The medium of film provides the perfect vehicle to create new dialogues about memory and perception which are present in the original stage piece, Pina Bausch’s Cafe Müller. A work which mines the potentials and conventions of screendance making.’

Short Film Audience Award
For films under ten minutes in length, voted for by the audience.

Winner: Carpark (Dir: Anthony Blades, UK)
Special Mentions: Voluntario (Javier Marco, Spain) + Manny Gets Censored (Graeme Robertson, Australia)

The Silver Méliès Short Film Competition 2014

The European Fantastic Film Festivals’ Federation exists to raise the profile of European fantastic films through its Méliès competition, which is hosted by numerous film festivals across Europe. Leeds International Film Festival has been a member since 2005 and this year has allowed the audience to pick which film should win the Leeds Méliès d’Argent and go forward to compete for the coveted Méliès d’Or at Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival next year.

Winner: Wind (Dir. Robert Löbel, Germany)
Special Mentions: Ghost Train (Dir. Lee Cronin, Finland + Ireland)

Dead Short Competition 2014

Winner: Cannibals and Carpet Fitters (James Bushe, UK)
Special Mentions: Safari Heat (Antti Lassko, Simo Ruotsalainen, Finland) + Liquid (Kaichi Sato, Japan)

Sci-Fi Shorts

Winner: The Nostalgist (Giacomo Cimini, UK)
Special Mentions: Metamorphosis (Rob Nevitt, UK) + Enfilade (David Coyle, Australia)
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Ukranian Sign Language Film “The Tribe” Wins Top Award at Cork Film Festival

The Tribe

The closing gala and awards ceremony of the 59th Cork Film Festival took place on Sunday night and the Gradam Spiorad na Féile (Spirit of the Festival Award), which was inaugurated at the Festival this year, was won by The Tribe, by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy (Ukraine). The Tribe is a powerful dramatic thriller, entirely in Ukrainian Sign Language, with no subtitles, yet made for a hearing audience.

The Festival Award Features Jury was comprised of filmmaker and photographer Conor Horgan (Ireland), the Cork Film Festival 2013 Grand Prix International Award winning filmmaker Martin Rath (Poland) and the Festival Director of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Gráinne Humphreys (Ireland), who chaired the jury.

The Spirit of the Festival Award honors films which take risks and push boundaries, and the first year of it saw The Tribe beat a very strong group of fellow nominees: Cherry Pie by Lorenz Merz (Switzerland), Hide and Seek by Joanna Coates (UK), El Futuro by Luis Lopez Carrasco (Spain), Yximalloo by Tadhg O’Sullivan and Feargal Ward (Ireland), and Manakamana by Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez (UK, Nepal).

Speaking about Gradam Spiorad na Féile, Mr Mullighan said: “The Cork Film Festival prides itself in celebrating filmmakers who find new and brave ways to tell great stories, and this award is the first of its kind at the Cork Film Festival to recognise exactly that. The calibre of films in this category was exceptional, and The Tribe is a well deserving winner.”

The Irish Shorts Jury comprised Ana David (Portugal), Julie Kelleher (Ireland, jury chair) and Niall McKay (USA), who chose the Grand Prix Irish Award and also the winner of the CorkShorts Award,Tadhg McSweeney, Painter – A Film Portrait, by Dónal Ó Céilleachair. Speaking of the winning CorkShorts film, the jury commented “We are delighted to award filmmaker Dónal Ó Céilleachair for the outstanding way in which he captures the talent and spirit of this artist.”

The International Shorts Jury comprised Frank Berry (Ireland), Fanny Corcelle (France) and John Kelleher (Ireland, jury chair), who chose the Cork Film Festival Nomination for the 2015 European Film Academy Awards, Field Study, and the Grand Prix International Award, More Than Two Hours. Speaking of More Than Two Hours, the jury commented: “The strength of this compelling film is its simplicity. The director skillfully builds tension as we share in the turmoil of a young couple caught in a human crisis.”

The winning films of the Grand Prix Irish Award and Grand Prix International Award at the Cork Film Festival will be eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short Film or Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards®, it was announced at the closing gala, as the festival has this very week achieved the status of Academy Awards® qualifying festival.

The Cork Film Festival Youth Jury Award was presented to 52 Tuesdays by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde.

The winner of the Audience Award was Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon.

Closing the festival, James Mullighan said: “The 59th Cork Film Festival displayed a previously unsurpassed depth of creativity and talent. It covered more than 180 films and events in just 10 days, bringing to Cork films of every genre, style and era. It has been a very successful festival, culminating in the announcement that it is now recognised as an Academy Awards® qualifying festival for the Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories.”

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year to celebrate the great occasion of the 60th year of the Cork Film Festival,” he added.
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Full Program Announced for the 2014 African-American Women In Cinema Film Festival

SEASONS OF LOVE

The full program line-up is released for this year’s 17th Annual African-American Women In Cinema Film Festival taking place November 19th to 22nd in New York City. The Opening Night selection is the New York premiere of Princess Monique’s SEASONS OF LOVE. Starring Gladys Knight, Taraji P. Henson, Method Man and LeToya Luckett, the film follows one couple’s romantic ups and downs, as they struggle to determine the things that matter most in life. The film also features Ana Isabella, a rising star from Puerto Rico. The film is a Lifetime Studios production and will premiere on Lifetime on November 23rd. The festival will close with an awards VIP reception that will take place at the United Nations and the Nigerian Embassy, respectively.

AAWIC also announced the premiere event entitled International Day presented by UNESCO NYS and African Women for Good Governance on November 22nd. There will be a panel discussion called Discussing the African Film Industry moderated by Winsome Sinclair (prominent casting director). Following the discussion there will be a special presentation organized by African Women for Good Governance and later a film screening hosted by producer Mohamed Dione.

Below are the full program details:

The 17th Annual AAWIC Film Festival Premiere Screenings

Opening Night Selection

SEASONS OF LOVE
Director: Princess Monique

Closing Night Selection 1

THE GRAND GESTURE
Director: Dana Verde

Closing Night Selection 2

Strings Attached
Director: Nelcie Souffrant

Closing Night Selection 3

On My Own
Director: Rachel Miller-Bradshaw

Afraid of Dark
Director: Mya B.

Christmas Wedding Baby
Director: Kiara Jones

Naturally Native
Director: Valerie Red-Horse

Hate Crimes in the Heartland
Director: Rachel Lyon

Special Short Film Screening Program

The Bully
Director: Jamie Burton-Oare

Synopsis: Two kids, who grew up in the same neighborhood where one bullied the other, have children later in life. Their children are now in the same situation as their parents, but the outcome is different.

Mani-Pedi
Director: Sandra Nixon

Synopsis: Have you ever wonder what the nail technicians are talking about, while you were getting your manicure & pedicure? This short comedy shows how a normal day at a nail salon turns out to be an amusing experience….when you get past the language barrier.

Lift Every Voice
Director: Monet Gray

Synopsis: This film examines how one teacher’s unconventional method of incorporating RAP and HIP-HOP music into her lessons was able to get her public school students motivated and interested in their education.

Buenos Aires Rap
Director: Diane Ghogomu

Synopsis: In a cosmopolitan city where class and color segregation are the norms, a group of minority kids are brought together through a shared love of music transcending that of political and economical deviations.

Greenhouse
Director: Ah-Keisha McCants

Synopsis: The short film follows eight-year-old twin boys from the New Jersey suburbs, who appear to be raising themselves in the absence of their parents. They both yearn for an escape, but it soon becomes apparent that “nobody and nothing is what it seems”.

Field Goal
Director: Tanesa Kassa

Synopsis: Monica Jones, a secretary at a law firm attending law school, is dedicated to her relationship with blue-collared and workaholic boyfriend, Darius Smith. The same can’t be said of Darius whose busy schedule has turned the relationship dull. This is their commitment story.

Fixed
Director: Ashley Ellis

Synopsis: After the funeral of Eric Ross, family and friends gather at the home of his mother to find comfort and answers. When a devious yet familiar face from the past shows up with details regarding Ross’s mysterious death, it may be more than his mother can handle.

Each year, AAWIC invites key industry players to participate in provocative panel discussions on the nature of the business and the course of African-American cinema in mainstream media. This year, no less, AAWIC offers an array of stimulating film conversations that make up the Panels Program.
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15 Films in 2014 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Feature-Length Documentary Competition

Those Who Feel the Fire Burning by Morgan Knibbe

15 films have been selected for the competition program for feature-length documentary in the upcoming IDFA, the 27th edition of which takes place from November 19 to 30, in Amsterdam. Two of these competitors are local Dutch productions: Around The World in 50 Concerts by Heddy Honigmann and Those Who Feel the Fire Burning by Morgan Knibbe. The jury, made up of Anne Aghion (USA), Talal Derki (Syria), Sandra den Hamer (the Netherlands), Joshua Oppenheimer (Denmark) and Alina Rudnitskaya (Russia) will present the VPRO IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary, with a cash prize of € 12,500.

35 Cows and a Kalashnikov by Oswald Richthofen (Germany)
Beautifully made triptych about warrior-farmers, colourful dandies and voodoo wrestlers in Ethiopia, Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa.

Around The World in 50 Concerts by Heddy Honigmann (the Netherlands)
Honigmann toured the world with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, speaking to music lovers about the role of music in their lives.

Chameleon by Ryan Mullins (Canada)
Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ appearance and unorthodox methods of bringing crimes to light are simultaneously famous and infamous.

Democrats by Camilla Nielsson (Denmark)
Intriguing look at an authoritarian state on the verge of democratization: how Zimbabwe got a new constitution.

The Forecaster by Marcus Vetter (Germany)
The extraordinary story of Martin Armstrong, who amazed friend and foe alike with highly accurate forecasts of the global economy based on a model he designed.

Franco’s Promise by Marc Weymuller (France/Spain)
The ruins of Belchite are a symbol of the collective amnesia that gripped Spain after the Civil War (1936-1939). Can you simply turn your back on the past?

Of Men and War by Laurent Bécue-Renard (France/Switzerland)
The stories of a group of American Iraq veterans with PTSS grow into a powerful anti-war protest.

The Queen of Silence by Agnieszka Zwiefka (Germany/Poland)
As a deaf mute Roma unwelcome in Poland, ten-year-old Denisa is excluded everywhere. She expresses her feelings by dancing like a Bollywood princess.

Somboon by Krisda Tipchaimeta (Thailand)
Love is not expressed through big words, but in the day-to-day care – shown in minute detail – of grandpa Somboon for his beloved, ailing wife.

Something Better to Come by Hanna Polak (Denmark/Poland)
For ten years, award-winning documentary maker Hanna Polak followed teenage girl Yula and her companions, who live on the biggest refuse tip in Europe.

That Sugar Film by Damon Gameau (UK/Australia)
Damon Gameau wants to experience first-hand the effects of sugar, so for sixty days he takes the amount consumed daily by the average Australian: forty teaspoons.

Those Who Feel the Fire Burning by Morgan Knibbe (the Netherlands)
Experimental, poetic documentary about a serious social problem: the many refugees who reach the borders of Europe in a hopeless situation.

Those Who Said No by Nima Sarvestani (Sweden)
From Sweden, a survivor of Iranian state terror follows the Iran Tribunal. He dreams of confronting the perpetrators with their crimes.

Uyghurs, Prisoners of the Absurd by Patricio Henriquez (Canada)
The shocking story of a group of Uyghurs, who spent years in Guantánamo Bay despite being innocent. How could this happen?

Wind on the Moon by Seung-Jun Yi (South Korea)
Yeji (19) was born deaf and blind. She has a deep bond with her mother, who helps her make the most of life.

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LIKE SUNDAY LIKE RAIN and BIG IN JAPAN Bookend Lineup for 2014 Bahamas International Film Festival

BIG IN JAPAN

The 11th edition of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), which takes place December 4-9, 2014 in Nassau and December 10-14, in Harbour Island, Eleuthera will showcase 95 films from 30 different countries, including 48 features and 47 short films of which several are international premieres and all are Bahamian premieres. “LIKE SUNDAY LIKE RAIN” starring, Starring Leighton Meester (Gossip Girls) and Debra Messing (Will And Grace) and Billy Joe Armstrong, will open the festival with a red carpet screening at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on Thursday, December 4th. American Comedy “BIG IN JAPAN” starring Phillip Peterson, Sean Lowry, David Drury, Alex Vincent, Adam Powers as Mans will close the festival with an evening screening on Sunday, December 7th – also at the Atlantis Theater.

The official BIFF lineup is comprised of the following films:

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)

Come to my voice (Turkey) Director: Ray Meirovitz
The Gift, An Bronntanas (Ireland) Director: Tom Collins
Four Corners (South Africa) Director: Ian Gabriel
Lake Los Angeles (US) Director: Mike Ott
Sombras De Azul (Mexico/Cuba) Director: Travis Pittman
Tu Seras Un Homme (France) Director: Benoit Cohen
Wheels (US) Director: Donavon Thomas
Love Me “Mehe”(Turkey/Ukraine) Director: Maryna Er Gorbach & Mehmet Bahadir

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (DOCUMENTARY)

Chimeras (China) Director: Mika Mattila
Mala Mala (USA) Director: Dan Sickles
N’Kisi Concorde (USA) Director: Nikki Sass
Obama Mama (USA) Director: Vivian Norris
Poverty Inc. (USA) Director: Mark Weber
Spit’ in Anger: Venom Of a Fatherless Son (USA) Director: Kenneth Braswell
Surviving Cliff Side (USA) Director: John Matthews
Vessel (USA) Director: Diana Whitten

NEW VISIONS

Beti and Amare (Ethiopia. Spain Canada, Germany, Romania USA) Andy Siege
Battered (USA) Director: Robert Madero
Copenhagen (USA) Director: Mark Raso
Cru (USA) Director: Alton Glass
Five Star (USA) Director: Luisa Conlon
Lawrence & Holloman – (Canada) Director: Matthew Kowalchuk
Leave To Remain (UK) Director: Bruce Goodison
Marussia (USA / France) Director: Eva Pervolvici
Mom Murder and Me (USA) Director: Heather Donnell
Still (UK) Director: Simon Blake
Sun Belt Express (USA) Director: Evan Buxbaum
The Boys Castaway (Australia) Director: Michael Kantor

CARIBBEAN SPOTLIGHT

Abo So (Aruba) Director: Juan Francisco
De Pez En Cuando (Dominican Republic) Director: Francisco Adolfo Valdez
Ring Di Alarm (Jamaica) Director: Storm Saulter, Michelle Serieux
The Current (Bahamas, Mexico Tonga, USA) Director: Kurt Miller, Hans Rosenwinkel
You Have His Eyes (US/Jamaica) Director: Chris Wilson

SPECIAL SCREENING

Like Sunday Like Rain (USA) Director: Frank Whaley
Night Of The Living Dead (USA) Director: Zebediah De Soto

WORLD CINEMA

Boundaries Of The Heart (China)
Free Fall (USA)
I Believe In Unicorns (USA) Director: Leah Meyerhoff
Sleepwalkers (USA) Director: Ryan Lightbourn)
Jingle Bell Rocks!! (USA) Director: Michael Kezin
Art Of Darkness (Canada) Director: David Parker
The Barefoot Bandit (USA, Bahamas) Director: Carly Bodmer
Oil & Water (USA) Director: Francine Strickwerda & Laurel Spellman Smith
Sand Wars (USA) Director: Denis Delestrac
Ice Bear (UK, Canada) Director: Oliver Parker
The Widowers (USA) Director: Katie Irish
Under the Same Sun (Israel) Director: Yelena Gyulkhanda

SHORT FILMS

37/0 4 S (France) Director: Adriano Valerio
A Spring Has Passed By (Syria) Director: Eva Daoud
Animal Cookies (USA) Director: Matthew Temple
Bis Gleich (Till Then) Director: Benjamin Wolff
Bodies Of Irreversible Detriment (USA) Director: Ben Lazarus
Butterfly Fluttering (Russia) Director: Roman Kayumov
Choongshim, Soso (Korea) Director: Kim Jung in
Con Quein Suena Berta (Spain) Director: Francisco Javier Gomez Pinteno
Danny And The Wild Bunch –(USA) Director: Robert Rugan
Distance (US/ Spain) Director: Danny Langa
Dove On The Roof Голубь на крыше (Kazakhstan) Director: Olga Korotko
El Bostan El Saeed Street (Egypt) Director: Maysoon El Massry
El Tiempo Del Agua (Argent
na, Canada) Director: Shahriar Adham El Kosht
En Las Nubes (In The Clouds) (Argentina) Dir
ctor: Marcelo Mitnik
Festus (USA) Director: Shawn Snyder
Frank and Azalee Austin (USA) Director: Zachary Kerschberg
Forget Me Not (USA) Director: Christopher McKee
Helium (Denmark) Director: Andres Walter
Hotel Y (Argentina) Director: Geraldine Baron Visher
I Know You (Italy, UK) Director: Colin Gerrard
I’m In The Corner With Bluebells (UK) Ako Mitchell
Idyllwild 牧歌 (China) Director: Zenas Cao, Aisha Porter-Christie
Indian Summer (UK) Director: Toby Lomas
Into The Silent Sea (USA) Director: Andrej Landin
La Donna (Spain) Director: Nicolas Dolensky
La Gallina (Spain) Director: Manel Raga
Last Days Of Summer (Netherlands) Director: Feike Santbergen
Le Train Bleu (France) Director: Stephanie Assimacopoulo
Leave Keys In Car (USA) Director: Tessa Blake
Long Con (USA) Director: Kreimild Saunders
Love Me Haiti (Haiti, Poland, Sweden, USA) Director: Hugues Gentillion
Man Since Long Time (Egypt) Director: Mahmoud Yossry
Mr. Invisible (UK) Director: Greg Ash
Muted (USA) Director: Rachel Goldberg
One Armed Man (USA) Director: Tim Guinee
One night Only (USA) Direcor: Che Grant
Perfect day (USA) Director: Derrick L. Sanders
Salvatore (USA) Director: William Shermer
Second Act (USA) Director: Francesca De Sola
Somos Amigos (Spain) Director: Carlos Solano Perez
The Smut Locker (USA) Director: Harry Tarre
Tobacco Burn (USA) Director: Justin Liberman
Tribute (USA) Director: Neil Evans
Washingtonia (Greece) Director: Konstantina Kotzamani
When Pigs Swim (Bahamas) Director: Charlie Smith
Where Do We Go From Here (USA) Director: Matthew Szewczyk

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Mexican Film “Perpetual Sadness” Wins Top Prize at 2014 Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Perpetual Sadness

The Mexican film Perpetual Sadness directed by Jorge Perez Solano, took the top prize Best Feature Film Award – Golden Alexander Theo Angelopoulos at the 55th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Perpetual Sadness tells the story of women in a remote Mexican village in the desert, where they experience solitude and the sorrow of being abandoned. The film “Next to Her,” directed by Israeli Asaf Korman, won the “Silver Alexander.”

THE AWARDS

Best Feature Film Award – Golden Alexander Theo Angelopoulos
LA TIRISIA (PERPETUAL SADNESS) By JORGE PEREZ SOLANO, Producer César Gutiérrez Miranda, Screenwriter Jorge Pérez Solano, Mexico, 2014

Special Jury Award – Silver Alexander
AT LI LAYLA (NEXT TO HER) By ASAF KORMAN, Producers Haim Mecklberg, Estee Yacov-Mecklberg, Screenwriter Liron Ben Shlush, Israel, 2014

Special Jury Award for Originality and Innovation – Bronze Alexander
UROK (THE LESSON) By KRISTINA GROZEVA, PETAR VALCHANOV, Producers Magdalena Ilieva, Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Konstantina Stavrianou, Rena Vougioukalou, Screenwriter Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Bulgaria-Greece, 2014

Best Director Award
MYROSLAV SLABOSHPYTSKIY For PLEMYA (THE TRIBE), Producers Valentyn Vasyanovych, Iya Myslytska Screenwriter Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, Ukraine, 2014

Best Screenplay Award
KRISTINA GROZEVA, PETAR VALCHANOV For UROK (THE LESSON), Directors Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Producers Magdalena Ilieva, Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Konstantina Stavrianou, Rena Vougioukalou, Bulgaria-Greece, 2014

Best Actress Award
BROOKE BLOOM For SHE’S LOST CONTROL, Director & Screenwriter Anja Marquardt, Producers Kiara C. Jones, Mollye Asher, Anja Marquardt, USA, 2014

Best Actor Award
SVERRIR GUDNASON For FLUGPARKEN (BLOWFLY PARK), Director & screenwriter Jens Östberg, Producers Rebecka Lafrenz, Mimmi Späng, Sweden, 2014

Artistic Achievement Award
RISTTUULES (IN THE CROSSWIND) By MARTTI HELDE Producers Pille Rünk, Piret Tibbo-Hudgins, Screenwriter Martti Helde Estonia, 2014

FIPRESCI AWARDS

For a film in the International Competition to:
ICH SEH, ICH SEH (GOODNIGHT MOMMY) By VERONIKA FRANZ & SEVERIN FIALA, Producer Ulrich Seidl, Screenwriter Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, Austria, 2014

For a film in the Greek Films 2014 section to:
NORVIYIA (NORWAY) By YIANNIS VESLEMES, Producers Yorgos Tsourgiannis, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Screenwriter Yiannis Veslemes, Greece, 2014

Special mention to:
POLK By NIKOS NIKOLOPOULOS, VLADIMIROS NIKOLOUZOS, Producers & Screenwriters Nikos Nikolopoulos, Vladimiros Nikolouzos, Greece, 2014

HUMAN VALUES AWARD

The Hellenic Parliament TV Channel bestows its award to the film:
KLASS KORREKZII (CORRECTIONS CLASS) By IVAN I. TVERDOVSKY, Producers Natasha Mokritskaya, Uliana Savelieva, Mila Rozanova, Michael Kaczmarek, Markus Boehm Screenwriters Dmitry Lanchikhin, Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Russia-Germany, 2014

FISCHER AUDIENCE AWARDS

For a film in the International Competition section
KLASS KORREKZII (CORRECTIONS CLASS) By IVAN I. TVERDOVSKY, Producers Natasha Mokritskaya, Uliana Savelieva, Mila Rozanova, Michael Kaczmarek, Markus Boehm Screenwriters Dmitry Lanchikhin, Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Russia-Germany, 2014

For a film in the Greek Films section – MICHAEL CACOYANNIS AWARD
DARK ILLUSION By MANOS KARYSTINOS, Producer Maria Paschalidou (President of Thessaloniki European Youth Capital 2014), Screenwriter Anastasia Kozimba, Greece, 2014

For a film in the Balkan Survey section
TRI DRITARE DHE NJË VARJE (THREE WINDOWS AND A HANGING) By ISA QOSJA, Producer Shkumbin Istrefi, Mentor Shala, Screenwriter Zymber Kelmendi, UNMI Kosovo – Germany, 2013

For a film in the Open Horizons section
THE LITTLE DEATH By JOSH LAWSON, Producers Jamie Hilton, Matt Reeder, Michael Petroni, Screenwriter Josh Lawson, Australia, 2014

AGORA AWARDS

I. The jury of the 10th Crossroads Co-production Forum, consisted of Ewa Puszczynska, (producer, Opus Film, Poland), Elise Jalladeau, (producer/Audiovisual Attachée of the Embassy of France in Greece, France), Thania Dimitrakopoulou, (sales agent, Match Factory, Germany) grants the Two Thirty Five co-production award (full post production image and sound) to the project: KIDS FROM THE EAST, Directed by: Aramisova, Produced by: Michal Kračmer, Cinedix, Czech Republic/Slovak Republic

The producer of the winning project will also be granted a free accreditation for the PRODUCERS NETWORK, Cannes Film Festival 2015 edition.

II. The jury also grants the French CNC (CENTRE NATIONAL DU CINEMA ET DE L’ IMAGE ANIMÉE) Development award of 7.000 euro to the project: TAILOR, Directed by: Sonia Liza Kenterman, Produced by: Fenia Cossovitsa, Greece

III. Annamaria Lodato grants the ARTE International Prize to the project of 6.000 euro to the project: TRAMONTANE, Directed by: Vatche Boulghourjian, Produced by: Georges Schoucair, Abbout Productions, Lebanon

IV. SCRIPT 2 FILM WORKSHOPS of the Mediterranean Film Institute (MFI) awards a scholarship to the film project KIDS FROM THE EAST, Director: Aramisova, Producer: Michal Kračmer, Cinedix, Czech Republic/Slovak Republic

V. For the fourth year, the consulting company in audiovisual development Initiative Film represented by Isabelle Fauvel will offer its services to a Greek project. The selected project is: ARK, Director: Aristotelis Marangos, Production: Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos, plays2place productions, Greece.

In addition she will offer one consultancy session to the Greek project: PACK OF SHEEP, Director: Dimitris Kanellopoulos, Production: Elina Psykou, Konstantina Stavrianou, Graal Films, Greece

VI. The AGORA WORKS IN PROGRESS jury consisted of Arnaud Gourmelen, (Festival Programmer – Directors’ Fortnight, France), Gabor Greiner, (Sales Agent – Films Boutique, Germany), Konstantina Vonorta, (Producer – Graal, Greece) grants the GRAAL co-production award with in kind services in image post-production up to 70.000 euro to the film: SUNTAN, Directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Produced by Phaedra Vokali, Marni Films, Argyris Papadimitropoulos Greece

THE GREEK FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (PEKK) AWARD

TO MIKRO PSARI (STRATOS) By YANNIS ECONOMIDES, Producers Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Panos Papachatzis, Michael Weber, Yannis Economides Screenwriters Yannis Economides, Thanos Xiros, Vangelis Mourikis, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Haris Lagousis, Greece-Germany-Cyprus, 2014
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Over 45 Films on Lineup for Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival

RETURN OF THE RIVER

The Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon, announced the line-up for its 41st annual survey of new work by regional media artists, the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival (formerly the Northwest Film & Video Festival), which takes place November 7-15, 2014. This year’s Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival (NWFest41) presents 45+ short and feature films from filmmakers across the Northwest, selected by guest Festival judge Christopher Rauschenberg, much lauded photographer and co-founder of Portland’s trailblazing Blue Sky Gallery. Festival film highlights include Vera Brenner-Sung’s “meditation on displacement and adaptation in the contemporary American West,” BELLA VISTA; John Gussman and Jessica Plumb’s ecologically-minded documentary RETURN OF THE RIVER, concerning water and tribal rights on the Elwha River; Beth Harrington’s THE WINDING STREAM, an examination of the enduring impact of the original Carter Family on the musical landscape; and Sue Arbuthnot and Richard Wilhelm’s family farming doc, DRYLAND.

In addition to features, the Festival offers three programs of short films. Shorts I— a collection of films from makers based in Portland, OR, Eugene, OR, Seattle, WA, Edmonds, WA, Belgrade, MT, Livingston, MT, and Vancouver, BC—will kick off the Festival on Opening Night at 7 p.m. with filmmakers in attendance. Shorts II and Shorts III are collections of films by makers throughout the NW region, ranging from the experimental to animation to narrative and non-fiction. All three shorts programs will screen twice during the Festival.

Beyond the numerous screenings on offer, the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival also provides opportunities for aspiring and working filmmakers to interact directly with peers and industry professionals through events such as the Northwest Filmmakers’ Un-Conference, previously BarCamp, an opportunity for the regional filmmaking community to gather together and explore the issues and challenges facing today’s independent filmmaker. Filmmakers whose work did not make it into the Festival have been invited to submit their short film into the popular program, “What’s Wrong with this Picture?,” hosted by Seattle curator Warren Etheredge for a program illuminating the pitfalls of selling your film to a programmer in 2 minutes or less.

Additionally, NWFest41 will cater to makers via two participatory workshops. On Sunday, November 9 from 2-4pm, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy winning director Irene Taylor Brodsky (HEAR AND NOW) will lead an intensive on “Developing the Doc-Maker’s Ear for Story,” which will be followed immediately after by a 4:30pm screening of her film ONE LAST HUG (…AND A FEW SMOOCHES): THREE DAYS AT GRIEF CAMP. Saturday, November 15 at 10am-3pm, musician/composer Mark Orton (NEBRASKA, BOXTROLLS) will enlighten in a workshop entitled “Inside the World of Film Composing.” Both workshops will take place at the Northwest Film Center’s School of Film, located at 934 SW Salmon Street.

Festival screenings will take place at NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, located in the Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue.
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“Finding Harmony” to Open International Family Film Festival in Hollywood

The feature film Finding Harmony will open the 2014 International Family Film Festival in Hollywood on Friday, November 7th, 2014. Finding Harmony, which was also an Official Selection at Indianapolis’ Heartland Film Festival, is the story of Sam (Alison Eastwood) who returns home after the passing of her estranged father and legendary music producer JT Grayson (Ed Bruce).

As if dealing with her rebellious teenage daughter, Harmony (Anna Margaret), wasn’t enough, upon arrival she discovers that her ex-husband, country rock star Casey Colter (Billy Zane), is already there and stirring things up. With the fate of JT’s legacy hanging in the balance this broken family must decide whether they will continue to live in the past or let the music and the beauty of the Alabama summer heal them.

The film, which was directed by Dagen Merrill, written by Judy Norton (The Walton’s Mary Ellen), produced by Once Upon A Dream Productions founder and Finding Harmony co-star Jeffery Patterson, was filmed on location at the legendary Fame Ranch in Alabama, USA.

http://youtu.be/4MMltgjxb28
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“Life in a Fishbowl” Wins NDR Film Prize, “HelloHello” Wins Audience Prize at 2014 Nordic Film Days Lübeck

“Life in a Fishbowl” (“Vonarstræti”) directed by Iceland’s Baldvin Z is the big winner at the 56th Nordic Film Days Lübeck. On behalf of the director, the film’s lead actor, Thorsteinn Bachmann, accepted the NDR Film Prize. Life in a Fishbowl, a multiple-narrative drama that follows three people — a struggling single mother, a former athlete trying to scale the corporate ladder, and a once-acclaimed author turned full-time drunk — whose lives intersect in surprising ways, premiered internationally at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and is Iceland’s entry for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Oscar selection.

The Baltic Film Award for best Nordic feature went to Swedish director Ronnie Sandahl for his debut “Underdog” (“Svenskjævel”) and the director was at the gala ceremony to accept his award. The winner of the Documentary Film Prize went to the Finnish film “Once I Dreamt of Life” (“Näin Unta Elämästä”) by Jukka Kärkkäinen and Sini Liimatainen. The Interfilm Church Prize, went to the opening film, “1001 Grams” by Bent Hamer, and the CineStar Prize for best short film in the Film Forum section went to German director Paul Spengemann for his film “Blue Beneath” (“Unter uns das Blau”).

Winners and Honorable Mentions:

NDR Film Prize:

LIFE IN A FISHBOWL (VONARSTRÆTI), Dir: Baldvin Z., Iceland

Honourable Mention to:

LETTER TO THE KING (BREV TIL KONGEN), Dir: Hisham Zaman, Norway

THEY HAVE ESCAPED (HE OVAT PAENNEET), Dir: J-P Valkeapää, Finland

Audience Prize of the “Lübecker Nachrichten”:

HELLOHELLO (HALLÅHALLÅ), Dir: Maria Blom, Sweden

Baltic Film Prize:

UNDERDOG (SVENSKJÆVEL) Dir: Ronnie Sandahl, Sweden

Interfilm Church Prize:

1001 GRAMS (1001 GRAM), Dir: Bent Hamer, Norway

Documentary Film Prize:

ONCE I DREAMT OF LIFE (NÄIN UNTA ELÄMÄSTÄ) Dir: Jukka Kärkkäinen / Sini Liimatainen, Finland

Children’s jury prize:

THE BOY WITH THE GOLDEN PANTS (POJKEN MED GULDBYXORNA) Dir: Ella Lemhagen, Sweden

Honourable Mention to:

KICK IT! (KULE KIDZ GRÅTER IKKE), Dir: Katarina Launing, Norway

THE CHRISTMAS OF SOLAN & LUDVIG (SOLAN OG LUDVIG – JUL I FLÅKLYPA), Dir: Rasmus A. Sivertsen, Norway

Children’s and Youth jury prize:

THE DISCIPLE (OPPIPOIKA), Dir: Ulrika Bengts, Finland

Honourable Mention to:
THE CHRISTMAS OF SOLAN & LUDVIG (SOLAN OG LUDVIG – JUL I FLÅKLYPA), Dir: Rasmus A. Sivertsen, Norway

CineStar Prize:
BLUE BENEATH (UNTER UNS DAS BLAU), Dir: Paul Spengemann, Germany
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NY’s 2014 South Asian International Film Festival to Open with DR. CABBIE, starring The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Navvar

DR. CABBIE

The Eleventh Annual South Asian International Film Festival runs from Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 to Sunday, November 23rd, 2014 in New York City, at the SVA Theater. SAIFF 2014 celebrates its Opening Night with the US premiere of DR. CABBIE, starring The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Navvar, Centerpiece title, is the World Premiere of Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.’s romantic comedy HAPPY ENDING, and on Closing Night, the festival hosts the World Premiere of X – a ten-part intertwining story from eleven of India’s most exciting directors… all of whom will be attending the festival.

Opening Night Premiere: DR. CABBIE
Directed by Jean-François Pouliot. 2014. Canada/India. In English. US Premiere. 101 min.

An unemployed doctor turned cab driver becomes a local hero when he converts his taxi into a mobile clinic. DR. CABBIE is the heartwarming journey of a young Indian doctor who immigrates to Canada with the selfless ambition of healing others while beginning a new life in the land of opportunity. Dr. Cabbie discovers his true purpose and true love when he embarks upon this journey of a doctor turned cabbie.

Centerpiece World Premiere: HAPPY ENDING
Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.. 2014. India. In Hindi (with English subtitles). World Premiere. 135 min.

Yudi is a writer who hasn’t written anything in the last few years because he’s caught between finding inspiration and finding love. Armaan is a fading movie star is desperate to save his stardom. He went to Hollywood to get a Bollywood script written in the Hollywood style. His solution? Approach Yudi and ask him to write a film. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend thinks that she’s still in a relationship with him after they’ve broken up!

Closing Night World Premiere: X
Directed by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, Anu Menon, Hemant Gaba, Nalan Kumarasamy, Pratim D. Gupta, Q, Raja Sen, Rajshree Ojha, Sandeep Mohan, Sudhish Kamath, and Supran Verma. 2014. India. In Hindi (with English subtitles). World Premiere. 112 min.

X is a filmmaker’s journey through his past encounters with his 10 ex-girlfriends as he spends one surreal unforgettable night at a film festival after he meets a mysterious girl who intriguingly seems to have something to do with every woman in his life.

SAIFF 2014’s feature film lineup includes:

Dukhtar. Directed by Afia Serena Nathaniel. 2014. Pakistan/USA/Norway. In Urdu and Pashto (with English subtitles). New York Premiere. 93 min.

Ek Hazarachi Note. Directed by Shekhar Sathe. 2014. India. In Marathi (with English subtitles). New York Premiere. 89 min.

Killa. Directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware. 2014. India. In Marathi (with English subtitles). North American Premiere. 110 min.

Labour of Love. Directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. 2014. India. In Bengali (with English subtitles). New York Premiere. 93 min.

Titli. Directed by Kanu Behl. 2014. India. In Hindi (with English subtitles). New York Premiere. 127 min.
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“The Kings Surrender” “Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy” Among Austin Film Festival 2014 Screenplay, Teleplay, Film Competition & Audience Award Winners

The Kings Surrender

Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2014 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners, Jury and Audience Award Winners in Film. Awards recipients received an array of cash prizes, travel expenses, industry recognition and access. For the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners, a record number of 6,764 scripts were received this year and the Finalists were reviewed by an industry jury. For the Jury Award Winners The Kings Surrender written by Philipp Leinemann won the award for Best Narrative Feature and Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy directed by Sheldon Wilson won the award for Best Documentary Feature Jury Award.

The following winners were selected by category:

Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Dead River Girl by Morris Long

Comedy Screenplay Award: Three Months by Jared Frieder

Enderby Entertainment Award: Suicide Boy by Laura Hainke

Fade to Black Award: I Fucked James Bond by Josh Hallman

Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: The 700 Year Itch by Molly Stein & Moon Unit Zappa

Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Incomparable Donald Strange by James Fant & Zach Cannon

AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: Ascension by Wes Brown

Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: Great Points Park by Danny Sullivan

One-Hour Teleplay Spec: The Americans: Barium Meals by Adam Turner

Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Bob’s Burgers: Mr. Whiskers by Damir Konjicija & Dario Konjicija

The following Jury Award winners were selected by category:

Narrative Feature: The Kings Surrender written by Philipp Leinemann

Documentary Feature Jury Award: Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy directed by Sheldon Wilson

Dark Matters Feature: One Eyed Girl co-written by Nick Matthews and Craig Behenna,

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero co-written by Maz Jobrani and Amir Ohebsion

Narrative Short: Skunk written by Annie Silverstein

Documentary Short: The Next Part directed by Erin Sanger

Animated Short: Between Times co-written by Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter

Narrative Student Short: Luke written by Conor Hamill

Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize: Special Is Just a Word written by Abby Thompson

The following Audience Award winners were selected by category:

Narrative Feature: Terrible Love co-written by Luke Helmer and Christopher Thomas,

Documentary Feature: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young, co-directed by Annika Iltis and Timothy Kane

Dark Matters Feature: The Suicide Theory written by Michael J Kospiah

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero co-written by Maz Jobrani and Amir Ohebsion

Narrative Short: Mimi & Me written by Marly Reed

Documentary Short: Albert directed by Daniel Jaffe

Animated Short: TIE The Dam Keeper written by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi |The Last Resort written by Gillian Park

Student Short: Luke written by Conor Hamill

Heart of Film: Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West co-written by Mike Thompson, Jerry Thompson, and Gregory

Stories From Abroad: Taking it Back written by Andreas Schmied

Texas Independents: Flutter written by Eric Hueber

Marquee Feature: Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me directed by James Keach

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