Film Festivals

Brian Bolsters film THE LOOKOUT and Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE Win Top Awards at 2012 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_2337" align="alignnone"]Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE[/caption]

The 9th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival announced this year’s award winning films in the four competitive categories: Best Feature, Big Sky Award, Best Short Film and Best Mini Doc (under 15 minutes) on Thursday evening at a ceremony at The Loft in downtown Missoula. Each category winner will receive $500, courtesy of The Documentary Channel.

FEATURE FILM COMPETITION The Best Feature prize was awarded to Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE, about National Geographic environmental photographer James Blalog. Jurors Amy Shattsky and Ben Fowlie called the film, an extremely timely and important documentary about one man’s journey to demonstrate global warming in action by photographing the recession of the glaciers. Touching, terrifying and informative, we feel the highs, lows, frustrations and joys of the ultimate success of his experiment. Through a patient and thoughtful filmmaking approach, the director vividly captures the power and awe of the glaciers falling apart. As they recede into the ocean, the glaciers cry out, warning us of the peril that our planet is in.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION Reva Goldberg and Caveh Zahedi awarded the Short Film prize to Matt Leighs BLUE RINSE, a sweet observational film set in a Dublin hair salon. They also awarded an Artistic Vision Award to KUDZU VINE by Josh Gibson.

MINI-DOC COMPETITION Yance Ford awarded the Mini Doc awarded to MR SMITHS PEACH SEEDS, Stewart Copelands beautifully realized portrait of Tennessee folk artist Roger Smith.

BIG SKY AWARD Brian Bolsters film THE LOOKOUT received the Big Sky Award, presented by filmmakers Marshall Curry and Beth Harrington. In addition, Audrey Halls film about portrait artist Hugh Wilson was give an Artistic Excellence Award.

All awarded films will re-screen the final weekend of the festival.
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Bailout and It’s in the Blood Among Winners of 2012 Derby City Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_2486" align="alignnone" width="549"]It’s in the Blood[/caption]

Louisville natives Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot, and Frankfort filmmakers Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, & Scott Stafford are among the winners of the top prizes at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival which took place February 17th through the 19th.

“It’s in the Blood” written by Downey & Elliot, took home the awards for Best US Feature Film, Audience Choice, and Best Actor (Elliot). The film was directed by Downey and also stars Lance Henriksen who received a Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the film screening. Sheene, Martin, & Stafford took home the award for Best US Short Film for their film “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic”

The full list of 2012 Award winners:

Videoblocks & The Footage Firm Award for Technical Achievement: “Grounded”
Audience Choice: “It’s in the Blood”
Lifetime Achievement: Lance Henriksen
Best Actor: Sean Elliot – “It’s in the Blood”
Best Actress: Kristen Booth – “Below Zero”
Best Student Short Film: “Thin Air”
Best International Short Film: “Donkey”
Best US Short Film: “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic
Best Documentary: “Bailout”
Best Feature Film: “It’s in the Blood”

Dates for the 2013 Derby City Film Festival and call for entries will be announced later this Spring.

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2012 Phoenix Film Festival Announces Ten Films in this year’s Feature Film Competition

[caption id="attachment_2484" align="alignnone" width="550"]How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song[/caption]

The 2012 Phoenix Film Festival has announced the ten films scheduled to compete in this year’s Feature Film Competition. In addition to featuring some of the brightest new talent that the industry has to offer, the competition films are also rife with established Hollywood names and former festival favorites, including ‘Friday Night Lights’ alum, starlet Minka Kelly (Searching for Sonny), and 2008 Arizona Filmmaker of the Year Bivas Biswas (Paranoia). See the full list of titles from the genre bending slate below.

Connected – This acclaimed Sundance feature documentary offers an exhilarating stream-of-consciousness ride through the interconnectedness of humankind, nature, progress and morality at the dawn of the 21st century.

Hollywood to Dollywood – On the fumes of a dream, twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane have written a script with a plum roll for one of their idols, Dolly Parton. Having had no luck getting the screenplay into her hands, they embark on a cross-country journey to personally deliver it to her.

How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song – After landing an opportunity to write for an Off-Broadway musical, Joe is forced to cast either the love of his life or his newly discovered muse. The realities of show business prove to Joe that writing is easy, living is hard.

Into the Wake – A psychological thriller that follows a man lured from the city to the remote river banks of his youth by a cryptic phone call. Caught in a violent clan war that he ran from years ago, his life unravels rapidly behind him as he descends further into his past.

Must Come Down – This film chronicles Holly and Ashley, two listless 20-Somethings, and their brief commiseration as grown-up children stumbling through life’s final bout of growing pains.

Paranoia – A classic “Whodunit” and psychological thriller from award winning director Bivas Biswas. An ambitious detective investigates the murder of his wife’s best friend’s husband. His wife’s best friend holds the key to the mystery but she struggles with reality and imagination.

Searching for Sunny – Sonny Bosco is missing under mysterious circumstances, and the investigation turns meta when it’s realized that everything happening seems eerily similar to a play performed in high school – a play Sonny wrote.

Shuffle – Part Twilight Zone-style mystery, part Frank Capra fantasy, SHUFFLE is the terrifying tale of a man who begins experiencing his life out of order; every day he wakes up at a different age, on a different day of his life, never knowing where or when he’s going to be once he falls asleep.

Small, Beautifully Moving Parts – A comic and poignant look at one woman’s coming-of-parenthood in the age of technology.

We Run Sh*t – This film examines the struggle of five veteran event producers who travel to Miami during it’s annual Winter Music Conference. It’s a never-before-seen expose into the darker side of nightlife entertainment.

The 12th Annual Phoenix Film Festival runs this year from Thursday, March 29th to Thursday, April 5th. The week long Festival will be held once again at Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theaters located at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054.

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KING ME Documentary to Screen at 2012 Cleveland International Film Festival

Think Media Studios said today that their 2011 documentary, KING ME, will screen at this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival. The documentary follows the story of one man’s struggle to elevate himself from his humble roots through a very unlikely game, world championship checkers.

Played by millions across the globe, most see checkers as simply a casual game. However, there is a competitive world of world-class checkers that features colorful characters, intense competition, and celebrated checkers champions. KING ME is the true story of a rare talent rising from obscurity and a gritty examination of South African post-apartheid race relations not seen before. The movie’s protagonist, Lubabalo Kondlo, is a South African township resident who faces many obstacles in his quest to become a World Champion. KING ME’s sometimes heart wrenching story is framed within the confines of the competitive checker scene and its slightly off center denizens deliver unforgettable and often hilarious moments.

King Me will have multiple showings during the festival that runs from March 22nd to April 1st. The 36th annual Cleveland International Film Festival features more than 100 feature films as well as more than 100 short subject films, from more than 50 countries. Last year’s festival took in nearly 80,000 movie enthusiasts

“We’re excited to be a part of the Cleveland International Film Festival,” said Think Producer and KING ME’s Director, Geoff Yaw. “King Me’s story takes place all over the globe from Africa to the Caribbean, and then ends up right here in Northeast Ohio. It was important to us to show the movie right here at home in Cleveland.”

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Louisville filmmakers, IT’S IN THE BLOOD, wins multiple awards at the Derby City Film Festival

Louisville natives Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot’s film It’s in the Blood was a big winner at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival. The film which had its Kentucky premier at the film festival in Louisville, KY was awarded Best Picture, Audience Choice Award, Grand Jury Prize, and Elliot was awarded Best Actor (October). Lead actor. Lance Henriksen (Russell) received a Lifetime Achievement Award in front of an audience of nearly 500.

Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is described as a wholly unique cinematic movement. At its core a father son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical “creature feature”, incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller. This new motion in film is called a Psyche-Saga. Lance Henriksen stars in this nightmarish descent into the wilderness, the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.

The Film premiered at the New Jersey Film Festival where it received Honorable Mention. At the Derby City Film Festival, Sean Elliot received Best Actor for his roll as October, the troubled son of Russell, portrayed by Lance Henriksen. The picture received every award it was nominated for, including the Audience Choice Award and the Grand Jury Prize.

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Tropfest Las Vegas to run June 1 thru June 3

[caption id="attachment_2471" align="alignnone"]Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan[/caption]

Tropfest and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are teaming up for Tropfest Las Vegas. The weekend-long event, which celebrates the short film festival’s 20th Anniversary will also feature indie spirited emerging musical performances, film-themed anniversary events and will culminate with a Tropfest “All-Star” competition featuring the best Tropfest films from the past 20 years.

Over the past two decades, dozens of successful directors, writers, actors and others got their start at Tropfest. Festival alumni include: Sam Worthington (Avatar, Last Night); Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby, Warrior, Animal Kingdom); Alister Grierson (director of the James Cameron-produced Sanctum); and Jason Gann and Tony Rogers, whose Tropfest short, Wilfred, was the genesis of the popular U.S. TV series of the same name starring Elijah Wood.

Tropfest Las Vegas Schedule of Events at the Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan:

Tropfest Las Vegas Kick-Off Party – Friday, June 1 – 8:00 PM

Tropfest 20th Anniversary Party – Saturday, June 2 – 8:00 PM

Tropfest All-Star Competition – Sunday, June 3 – 8:00 PM

Performance by Musical Artist LP – 11:00 PM

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Happy New Year and Awaken the Dragon Win at 2012 Beaufort International Film Festival

Happy New Year

New York filmmaker K. Lorrel Manning’s Happy New Year won the Best Feature Film award at the 6th Beaufort International Film Festival in Beaufort, South Carolina.

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High Ground and Monsieur Lazhar Win Top Awards at 2012 Boulder International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_1958" align="alignnone"]Monsieur Lazhar[/caption]

High Ground directed by Michael Brown won the People’s Choice Award at the 2012 Boulder International Film Festival. High Gound tells the story of 11 U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq whose road to recovery takes them to one of the guardians of Everest—the 20,075-foot Himalayan peak known as Lobuche.

The Academy Award nominated film, Monsieur Lazhar, directed by Phillippe Faiardeau won the award for Best Feature. Everyone has had some tough days in grade school, but few have had to deal with finding their teacher’s body hanging from their classroom ceiling. This is the class that Bachir Lazhar, a recent immigrant, faces on his first day as a substitute teacher in Canada. Monsieur Lazhar was a civil servant and restaurant owner in Algeria, but he’s a fish out of water in Canada and his religion is suspect. Moreover, he has a tragic past in Algeria. But in this grief-stricken classroom, Lazhar shines—he sings, he dances, he answers students’ questions about suicide with honesty and humor.

Chasing Ice won the award for Best Adventure Film. Produced in Boulder by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jerry Aronson (The Divided Trail) and Oscar-winning producer Paula DuPré Pesmen (The Cove), this breathtakingly beautiful film is one of the most anticipated documentaries of 2012. Famed National Geographic photographer James Balog deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras throughout the Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. His electrifying videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking—and rapidly accelerating—rate. Chasing Ice is a hair-raising adventure story as cinematographer and director Jeff Orlowski follows Balog and his team through brutal weather on three continents while Balog bravely documents the biggest story facing humanity.

And Wild Horse, Wild Ride directed by Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus won the Best Documentary award. This intimate film follows a handful of men and women trainers as they tame wild horses rounded up by the federal government to ready them for the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge.

2012 Boulder International Film Festival awards

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD:
“High Ground”

BEST ADVENTURE FILM:
“Chasing Ice” directed by Jeff Orlowski

BEST FEATURE:
“Monsieur Lazhar” directed by Phillippe Faiardeau

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
“Wild Horse, Wild Ride” directed by Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
“Incident in New Baghdad” directed by James Spione

BEST CALL 2 ACTION FILM:
“High Ground” directed by Michael Brown

BEST SHORT FILM:
“A Finger, Two Dots Then Me” directed by David and Daniel Holocheck

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Italian Documentary Caesar Must Die Wins Golden Bear at 2012 Berlin International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_2457" align="alignnone" width="550"]Paolo and Vittorio Taviani[/caption]

The Italian film, Caesar Must Die, (Cesare deve morire) by directors Paolo & Vittorio Taviani was awarded the top prize, the Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival.

[caption id="attachment_2458" align="alignnone"]Caesar Must Die, (Cesare deve morire)[/caption]

Filmmakers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani spent six months following rehearsals for the stage production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar; their film demonstrates how the universality of Shakespeare’s language helps the actors to understand their roles and immerse themselves in the bard’s interplay of friendship and betrayal, power, dishonesty and violence. This documentary does not dwell on the crimes these men have committed in their ‘real’ lives; rather, it draws parallels between this classical drama and the world of today, describes the commitment displayed by all those involved and shows how their personal hopes and fears also flow into the performance.

All the awards – official and independent juries – of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival

GOLDEN BEAR FOR THE BEST FILM
Cesare deve morire (Caesar Must Die) by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani

JURY GRAND PRIX-SILVER BEAR
Csak a szél (Just The Wind) by Bence Fliegauf

SILVER BEAR FOR BEST DIRECTOR
Christian Petzold for Barbara (Barbara)

SILVER BEAR FOR BEST ACTRESS
Rachel Mwanza in Rebelle (War Witch) by Kim Nguyen

SILVER BEAR FOR BEST ACTOR
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in En Kongelig Affære (A Royal Affair) by Nikolaj Arcel

SILVER BEAR FOR AN OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION
Lutz Reitemeier for the photography in Bai lu yuan (White Deer Plain) by Wang Quan’an

SILVER BEAR FOR THE BEST SCRIPT
Nikolaj Arcel, Rasmus Heisterberg for En Kongelig Affære (A Royal Affair) by Nikolaj Arcel

ALFRED BAUER PRIZE, awarded in memory of the Festival founder, for a work of particular innovation
Tabu by Miguel Gomes

SPECIAL AWARD-SILVER BEAR
L’enfant d’en haut (Sister) by Ursula Meier

BEST FIRST FEATURE JURY

BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD, endowed with 50,000 Euros, funded by GWFF
Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole
(Generation Kplus)

SPECIAL MENTION
Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill) by Emin Alper
(Forum)

PRIZES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM JURY

GOLDEN BEAR
Rafa by João Salaviza

THE JURY PRIZE – SILVER BEAR
Gurehto Rabitto (The Great Rabbit) by Atsushi Wada

SPECIAL MENTION
Licuri Surf by Guile Martins

EFA SHORT FILM NOMINEE BERLIN
Vilaine Fille Mauvais Garçon (Two Ships) by Justine Triet

DAAD SHORT FILM PRIZE
The Man that Got Away by Trevor Anderson

PRIZES OF THE JURIES GENERATION
Children’s Jury Generation Kplus

CRYSTAL BEAR FOR THE BEST FILM
Arcadia by Olivia Silver

SPECIAL MENTION
Kikoeteru, furi wo sita dake (Just Pretended To Hear) by Kaori Imaizumi

CRYSTAL BEAR FOR THE BEST SHORT FILM
Julian by Matthew Moore

SPECIAL MENTION
B I N O by Billie Pleffer
Youth Jury Generation 14plus

CRYSTAL BEAR FOR THE BEST FILM
Lal Gece (Night of Silence) by Reis Çelik

SPECIAL MENTION
Kronjuvelerna (The Crown Jewels) by Ella Lemhagen

CRYSTAL BEAR FOR THE BEST SHORT FILM
Meathead by Sam Holst

SPECIAL MENTION
663114 by Isamu Hirabayashi

International Jury Generation Kplus

THE GRAND PRIX OF THE DEUTSCHES KINDERHILFSWERK FOR THE BEST FILM
Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole

SPECIAL MENTION
GATTU by Rajan Khosa

THE SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE DEUTSCHES KINDERHILFSWERK FOR THE BEST SHORT FILM
B I N O by Billie Pleffer

SPECIAL MENTION
L by Thais Fujinaga

PRIZES OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY
Competition: Cesare deve morire (Caesar Must Die), by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani
Special Mention: Rebelle (War Witch), by Kim Nguyen
Panorama: Die Wand (The Wall), by Julian Roman Pölsler
Special Mention: Parada (The Parade), by Srdjan Dragojevic
Forum: La demora (The Delay), by Rodrigo Plá

FIPRESCI PRIZES
Competition: Tabu (Tabu), by Miguel Gomes
Panorama: L’âge atomique (Atomic Age), by Héléna Klotz
Forum: Hemel (Hemel), by Sacha Polak

PRIZE OF THE GUILD OF GERMAN ART HOUSE CINEMAS
À moi seule (Coming Home), by Frédéric Videau

C.I.C.A.E. PRIZE
Panorama Death: For Sale (Death for Sale), by Faouzi Bensaïdi
Forum: Kazoku no kuni (Our Homeland), by Yang Yonghi

LABEL EUROPA CINEMAS
My Brother The Devil (My Brother The Devil), by Sally El Hosaini

Special Mention
Dollhouse (Dollhouse), by Kirsten Sheridan

TEDDY AWARDS
Best Feature Film: Keep The Lights On (Keep The Lights On), by Ira Sachs
Best Documentary Film: Call Me Kuchu (Call Me Kuchu), by Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Katherine Fairfax Wright
Best Short: Film Loxoro (Loxoro), by Claudia Llosa
Teddy Jury Award: Jaurés (Jaurés), by Vincent Dieutre

MADE IN GERMANY – PERSPEKTIVE FELLOWSHIP, endowed with 15,000 Euros, funded by Glashütte Original
Annekatrin Hendel for Disko (Disco)

DIALOGUE EN PERSPECTIVE, funded by the German-French Youth Office
This Ain’t California (This Ain’t California), by Marten Persiel

CALIGARI FILM PRIZE
Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), by Emin Alper

Special Mentions
Bagrut Lochamim (Soldier / Citizen), by Silvina Landsmann
Escuela normal (Normal School), by Celina Murga
Jaurès (Jaurès), by Vincent Dieutre

NETPAC PRIZE
Paziraie Sadeh (Modest Reception), by Mani Haghighi

PEACE FILM AWARD
Csak a szél (Just The Wind), by Bence Fliegauf

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FILM PRIZE
Csak a szél (Just The Wind), by Bence Fliegauf

CINEMA FAIRBINDET PRIZE
Call Me Kuchu (Call Me Kuchu), by Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Katherine Fairfax Wright

READERS’ JURIES AND AUDIENCE AWARDS

PanoramaAudienceAward PPP – fiction film
Parada (The Parade), by Srdjan Dragojevic

PanoramaAudienceAward PPP – documentary film
Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present (Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present), by Matthew Akers

BERLINER MORGENPOST READERS’ PRIZE
Barbara (Barbara), by Christian Petzold

TAGESSPIEGEL READERS’ PRIZE
La demora (The Delay), by Rodrigo Plá

SIEGESSÄULE READERS’ AWARD
Parada (The Parade), by Srdjan Dragojevic

Special Mention
Call Me Kuchu (Call Me Kuchu), by Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Katherine Fairfax Wright

PRIZE OF THE BERLINALE TALENT CAMPUS

SCORE COMPETITION
Christoph Fleischmann (Germany)

BERLIN TODAY AWARD
Rafael Balulu (Israel) for Batman At The Checkpoint (Batman At The Checkpoint)

Special Mention
David Lalé (United Kingdom) for White Lobster (White Lobster)

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Awards to Return for 2012 Edinburgh International Film Festival

Chris Fujiwara, Artistic Director, Edinburgh International Film Festival, announced today that this year’s edition of the Festival will see the return of major awards.

Three awards including Best International Feature Film by an Emerging Director, Best Performance in a British Feature Film and The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature will all be available for 2012.

In previous years The Michael Powell Award honored the best British feature film selected from the British Gala section; in a significant change this year documentaries will also be eligible. The Award for Best Performance will be presented to an individual for his or her exceptional performance in a UK feature-length production.

The International Feature Film award will be bestowed on an emerging director at the helm of an international (non-UK) feature-length production, again either fiction or documentary.

Both the British and international competition sections will be judged by international juries.

Eligibility for the awards will be at the Artistic Director’s discretion. It will be possible for international and British features to screen as part of the programme but out of competition.

Chris Fujiwara commented, “I am delighted to re-introduce these awards for the Festival this year and am pleased to give both documentary and fiction films the opportunity to win the awards. I feel very strongly that having noteworthy awards is important for an international film festival. Awards can stimulate creative dialogue and above all help shine the spotlight on emerging talent, which is part of the mission of EIFF.”

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2012 Derby City Film Festival opens today
[caption id="attachment_2451" align="alignnone" width="550"]The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky. [/caption]

The 4th Annual Derby City Film Festival opens today Friday, February 17th and will screen 56 films through Sunday the 19th. The lineup includes 24 International films representing 16 countries as well as 8 World Premieres, 5 US Premieres, and 28 KY Premieres. Eight films were produced in the Bluegrass State and another 5 have ties to Kentucky.

Legendary actor Lance Henriksen will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday evening before the screening of his film “It’s in the Blood” from Louisville Natives Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot on Saturday at 8:00 PM.

Opening night includes two feature films shot in Kentucky. At 7:00 PM on February 17th “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” will open the fest. “Winner”, which was directed by Kentucky native Alex O Gaynor, tells the story of two men who embark on a cross-country journey to face the past, change the future, and collect enough used-auto parts to build a time machine. The 8:00 PM film, “Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice” is from New Albany filmmaker Tom Whitus and was shot in Downtown Louisville. The film stars Jacob Hays, Kevin Sorbo, Katherine McNamara & Dee Wallace. “Crystal Chalice” is the sequel to “Sam Steel and the Jr. Detective Agency” which screened at DCFF in 2010. The final film on Friday is the suspense film “Johnny’s Gone” from writer and actress LaDon Drummond. “Johnny’s Gone” tells the story of the unsettling but heartfelt relationship between Sarah and a two year-old she calls Johnny. Sarah hides a dark secret that will take them on a road trip across five states from California to Louisiana.

Saturday highlights include the world premieres of the feature films “Frames” & “Blind Turn”, Producer and Louisville native John Paul Rice’s latest film “Mother’s Red Dress”, the road trip documentary “Bailout”, four short film groups, and 2 International features, “Znikniecie” and “Meherjaan”. Saturday afternoon there will also be a Filmmaker Symposium and Awards Presentation at Clifton’s Pizza from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Following “It’s in the Blood” on Saturday night, at 10:00 PM audiences will receive a double treat from Louisville filmmakers. First Kristofer Rommel premieres the short “Wireface: In the Beginning” starring Josh Loren, Cindy Maples & Joe Chrysler. “Wireface…” is a prequel film which details the slow decent into madness that turns a loving family man into the serial killer known as “Wireface”. Following the short is Matt Niehoff & Brian Cunningham’s feature film “Overtime”, which was shot in Louisville and features Al Snow, John Wells & Sebrina Siegel. “Overtime” follows two hitmen who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined which includes alien zombies. Both films are included on one ticket.

The closing film of the festival will be the Edward Furlong film “Below Zero”, which will screen at 6:00 PM on Sunday. “Zero” follows screenwriter Jack “The Hack” (Furlong) who, facing writer’s block and a crucial deadline, decides to remove himself from all distractions by locking himself in the freezer of an abandoned slaughterhouse, where fiction and reality blur. Inspired by true events, method writer Signe Olynyk’s BELOW ZERO is a twisty story within a story, within a real-life story. The film also stars Kristin Booth and Michael Berryman. “Zero” was directed by Justin Thomas Ostensen who’s film “By the Wayside” screened at the inaugural DCFF in 2008.

The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
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New Panel and Film Titles Announced for 2012 SXSW

[caption id="attachment_2333" align="alignnone"]Safety Not Guaranteed [/caption]

New Panel and Film Titles Announced have been added to the 2012 South by Southwest festival, joining the74 world premieres, 17 North American premieres and 11 US premieres in the full lineup.

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Blue Like Jazz

Director: Steve Taylor | Screenwriters: Donald Miller, Steve Taylor, Ben Pearson
A Texas college student flees the hypocrisy of his religious upbringing for life in the Pacific Northwest at ‘the most godless campus in America.’ Based on the New York Times bestseller by Donald Miller.
Cast: Marshall Allman, Claire Holt, Tania Raymonde, Justin Welborn, Eric Lange
(World Premiere)

Nature Calls

Director & Screenwriter Todd Rohal
Polar-opposite brothers Randy (Oswalt) and Kirk (Knoxville) never saw eye-to-eye, but their rivalry is taken to a new level when Randy hijacks Kirk’s son’s sleepover, taking the boys on a Scout Trip to remember.
Cast: Patton Oswalt, Johnny Knoxville, Rob Riggle, Maura Tierney, Patrice O’Neal, Darrell Hammond
(World Premiere)

EMERGING VISIONS

King Kelly

Director: Andrew Neel | Screenwriters: Mike Roberts
Made entirely from camera-phone footage, King Kelly is a sensational journey into hedonistic American youth culture and the YouTube generation.
Cast: Louisa Krause, Libby Woodbridge, Roderick Hill, Will Brill, Patrick Murney
(World Premiere)

Low & Clear

Directors: Kahlil Hudson, Tyler Hughen
Two formerly close friends reunite for a fly-fishing trip and struggle to understand how much they’ve each changed – and how these changes now threaten the friendship.
(World Premiere)

24 BEATS PER SECOND

Lost and Sound (UK)
Director: Lindsey Dryden
Music may be an essential part of being human – but what if you lost the ability to hear it? A dancer, a pianist and a music critic attempt to re-discover music after deafness, with astonishing results.
(World Premiere)

Searching for Sugar Man (Sweden, UK)

Director: Malik Bendjelloul
The true story of the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was, how he was rediscovered and finally became the legend he deserved to be. A story of hope, inspiration and the power of music.

Shut Up and Play the Hits

Directors: Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern
The final days of LCD Soundsystem.

SXGLOBAL

GLOBAL HOME (Germany)

Director: Malik Bendjelloul
Director Eva Stotz visited interesting people all over the world whom she found through online-host-networks and emerged for a limited time in their every-day-life.
(World Premiere)

The Will (Denmark)

Director: Christian Sønderby Jepsen
Henrik dreams of a new beginning. But when Henrik’s grandfather dies, leaving behind a fortune of millions, old skeletons come to light.
(North American Premiere)

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

Chasing Ice

Director: Jeff Orlowski
Photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change, but he discovers undeniable evidence. Balog reveals hauntingly beautiful, time-lapse videos of vanishing glaciers, while delivering hope to our carbon-powered planet.

Compliance

Director & Screenwriter: Craig Zobel
When a prank caller convinces a fast food restaurant manager to interrogate an innocent young employee, no one is left unscathed. Based on true events.
Cast: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, Bill Camp, Phil Ettinger, Ashlie Atkinson, James McCaffrey

Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)

Director & Screenwriter: Philippe Falardeau
The story of an Algerian immigrant substitute teacher who brings emotional stability to a Montreal middle school class shaken by the tragic death of their well-liked teacher.
Cast: Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Emilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Brigitte Poupart

Safety Not Guaranteed

Director: Colin Trevorrow | Screenwriter: Derek Connolly
A trio of magazine employees investigate a classified ad seeking a partner for time travel.
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni

Sleepwalk With Me

Director: Mike Birbiglia | Screenwriters: Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Joe Birbiglia, Seth Barrish
An aspiring comedian reluctant to confront his fears of love, honesty, and growing up; a budding standup comedian has both a hilarious and intense struggle with sleepwalking.
Cast: Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, James Rebhorn, Carol Kane, Cristin Milioti

SPECIAL EVENTS

Coffin Joe’s “This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse” with live score by Gary Lucas (Brazil)

Director: Jose Mojica Marins | Screenwriters: Jose Mojica Marins, Aldenora De Sa Porto
Gary Lucas’ live original solo guitar soundtrack accompanying the legendary 1967 Brazilian cult horror film classic directed by and starring Jose Mojica Marins a/k/a Coffin Joe.
Cast: Jose Mojica Marins a/k/a Coffin Joe, Tina Wohlers, Nadia Freitas, Antonio Fracari, Jose Lobo

Yellow Submarine (1968) Newly Restored (UK)

Director: George Dunning
Once upon a time in an unearthly paradise called Pepperland, the Blue Meanies threaten to destroy all that is good. Enter John, Paul, George and Ringo to save the day! Armed with their humour, songs, and yellow submarine, the Fab Four tackle the rough seas in an effort to bring down evil.
Cast: The Beatles, Paul Angelis, John Clive

NARRATIVE SHORTS

Inquire Within

Director: Jay Rosenblatt
A hypnotic, apocalyptic film about false choices and faith. hn Clive

MIDNIGHT SHORTS

going to the store

Director: David Lewandowski
A normal man walks to a place.

SXGLOBAL SHORTS

The Little Team (Spain)

Director: Roger Gómez, Daniel Resines
Fourteen little kids go over an unsolved football mystery, and they end up teaching an unexpected life lesson to grown-ups.

The Perfect Fit (Scotland, UK)

Director: Tali Yankelevich
Ballet shoes may be worn by delicate girls, but they’re crafted by burly men…

Key panel additions include:

A Conversation with Seth MacFarlane
Funny or Die: Future of Comedy & Everything Else
Meat is Might: Epic Meal Time Rules the Web
Restoring History: 100 Years of Universal Films
We Are Legion: Digital (R)Evolution

The full Digital Domain lineup, which is the new program that aims to examine new direction in storytelling via web-based media, interactive documentary and more:

Saturday, March 10

Fact Checkers Unit: Making a Web Series
Fleshlife: The Making of a Webseries
Condition ONE – The Future of Mobile Video
SU2C: Reinventing the PSA

Sunday, March 11

Prototyping The Future
Screaming with Laughter: FEARnet TV’s Holliston
Screw the Big Screen, We Have the Web!
The Rise of Co-Created Storyworld Communities

Monday, March 12 The

Interactive Doc Showcase: Best of IDFA DocLab
Dreams of Your Life: A Darkly Playful Experience
Next Gen Content: A Conversation w/ Maker Studios
Producing An Award-Winning Interactive Documentary
Times Are a’Changin: Digital Storytelling Today

Tuesday, March 13

1,000 Voices: Redefining Creative Collaboration
Funny Or Die’s How To Succeed In Videos By Trying
Let’s Big Happy: Fox Digital Music & Comedy Series
Make a BTS Web Series and Survive
Your Web Series: From Concept to Distribution

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