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.
Film Festivals
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Happy New Year and Awaken the Dragon Win at 2012 Beaufort International Film Festival
Happy New Year
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High Ground and Monsieur Lazhar Win Top Awards at 2012 Boulder International Film Festival
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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
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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.
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All the awards – official and independent juries – of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival
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.
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
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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
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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 JazzDirector: 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 KellyDirector: 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 McCaffreyMonsieur 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 PoupartSafety Not Guaranteed
Sleepwalk With Me
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
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 LoboYellow 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 CliveNARRATIVE SHORTS
Inquire Within
Director: Jay Rosenblatt
A hypnotic, apocalyptic film about false choices and faith. hn CliveMIDNIGHT 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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Lima native Gregory Pitts’ Karma to open 2012 Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival
The 2012 Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival will officially open with Karma, an avant-garde film written and produced by Lima native Gregory Pitts.
“I am blown away by how striking this film is,” says Executive Director Len Archibald. “It is the perfect film to re-introduce Gregory Pitts to the Lima public, as well as make a bold statement about the diversity of films we intend to screen at the Festival.” Karma is a film that analyzes an artist’s path as he attempts to live out his dreams.
Gregory Pitts. whose cinematic works include five award-winning shorts that have screened at film festivals in Florida and Tennessee, also recently appeared as actor in The Transporter 2.
“I am from Lima, and I’m proud of it,” says Mr. Pitts. “Lima has done great things for me. I owe it to my hometown to come back for this event. It means a lot to me to share my success with the community that helped me get to where I am today.”
The Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival will be held July 6-8, 2012.
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2012 Dallas International Film Festival Announces First Fifteen Titles
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DARLING COMPANION[/caption]The 2012 Dallas International Film Festival announced the first fifteen films chosen to screen at the festival scheduled to run April 12 – 22, 2012. The lineup includes two world premieres and nine Texas premieres.
Legendary animator, director, author and illustrator Glen Keane, best known for his work on Disney classics such as ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, TARZAN, THE LITTLE MERMAID and TANGLED, was named this year’s honoree for the Texas Avery Animation Award presented by REEL FX. Keane has previously received the prestigious Winsor McCay Award, which is also presented for lifetime achievement in animation.
Three selections were announced in the popular and coveted Texas Competition category: Dallas Cowboys documentary AMERICA’S PARKING LOT; SIRONIA which marks the return to Dallas for the majority of the cast and crew, including ANGEL (1999) actress Amy Acker; and the world premiere of Mark Potts’ CINEMA SIX which features the much-loved Barry Corbin.
The fifteen official selections include:
AMERICA’S PARKING LOT (USA)
Director: Jonny Mars
Two die-hard fans and leaders of the legendary ‘Gate 6’ tailgate party, spend their last season with the Dallas Cowboys at historic Texas Stadium. When the Cowboys move 20 miles west to Arlington, the shifting politics and economics of major league sports threaten to dissolve the friendships and traditions they have built over 20 years and they scramble to preserve their place in AMERICA’S PARKING LOT.
Category: Texas Competition
ANDREW BIRD: FEVER YEAR (USA) – Texas Premiere
Director: Xan Aranda
Filmed during culminating months of the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s most rigorous year of touring, Andrew Bird crosses the December finish line in his hometown of Chicago – feverish and on crutches from an onstage injury. FEVER YEAR is the first to capture Bird’s precarious multi-instrumental looping technique and features live performances at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater with collaborators Martin Dosh, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Michael Lewis and Annie Clark of St. Vincent.
Category: Deep Ellum Sounds
ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA, THE (USA) – Texas Premiere
Directors: Dan Argott, Sheena Joyce
Following the 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake which hit Japan and caused chaos at the Fukushima Power Plant, the fierce debate over the safety and viability of nuclear power was back in the public consciousness. ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA takes the viewer on a journey to reactor communities around the country, exposes the truths and myths of nuclear power, and poses the question of whether or not man can responsibly split the atom.
Category: Environmental Visions
BIBA! ONE ISLAND, 879 VOTES (USA) – World Premiere
Director: Benjamin Bloodwell
BIBA! follows the rallies and debates of Trenton Conner and Henry San Nicolas in their battle for control over the Pacific island, Tinian. Along the way we learn about Tinian’s historic and geopolitical significance, being the launch point for the Enola Gay in World War II and presently the home of the Voice of America broadcasting towers, sending pro-democracy propaganda into China and North Korea.
Category: Documentary Feature Competition
BINDLESTIFFS (USA) – Texas Premiere
Director: Andrew Edison
Three high school virgins, suspended from school on a bogus graffiti charge, flee to the inner city in an attempt to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye – a book they neither have read nor understand. Starring John Karma, Luke Loftin, Andrew Edison and Will Fordyce.
Category: Midnight
BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST, THE (USA) – Texas Premiere
Director: Ryan O’Nan
A singer-songwriter hits the road with a self-appointed music revolutionary. Cast includes Ryan O’ Nan, Michael Weston, Arielle Kebbel, Andrew McCarthy, Jason Ritter, Wilmer Valderrama, Christoper McDonald and Melissa Leo
Category: Premiere
CINEMA SIX (USA) – World Premiere
Director: Mark Potts
Three small-town friends have to decide whether to keep their easy jobs at a movie theater or actually try to do something meaningful with their lives.
Cast includes John Merriman, Mark Potts, Brand Rackley, Byron Brown, Lindsey Newell, Heather Wallis, Madi Goff, Chris Doubek, Cole Selix, Kevin M. Brennan, Maggie Carey, and Barry Corbin
Category: Texas Competition
DARLING COMPANION (USA) – Texas Premiere
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
A story of a woman who loves her dog more than her husband and then her husband loses the dog. Cast includes Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard, Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss and Ayelet Zurer
Category: Premiere
DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL (USA) – Texas Premiere
Directors: Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Frédéric Tcheng
A look at the life and work of the influential fashion editor of Harpers Bazaar, Diana Vreeland
Category: Premiere
ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE (USA)
Directors: Matthew Heineman, Susan Froemke
ESCAPE FIRE exposes the perverse nature of American healthcare, contrasting the powerful forces opposing change with the compelling stories of pioneering leaders and the patients they seek to help. The film is about finding a way out, about saving the health of a nation.
Category: Documentary Feature Competition
GIRL MODEL (USA)
Directors: David Redmon, A.Sabin
GIRL MODEL follows a complex supply chain between Siberia, Japan, and the U.S. within the modeling industry. The story is told through the eyes of the scouts, agencies and a 13 year-old model.
Category: Documentary Showcase
LUV (USA) – Texas Premiere
Director: Sheldon Candis
Over the course of one day, a shy 13-year-old forms a bond with his troubled uncle as he shows the boy what it takes to be a man in Baltimore.
Starring newcomer Michael Rainey, Jr., Common, Michael K. Williams, Danny Glover, Meagan Good and Charles S. Dutton
Category: Narrative Feature Competition
SIRONIA (USA)
Director: Branda Dickerson
A singer-songwriter beat up by the L.A. music machine who moves with his wife to Sironia, Texas. Starring Wes Cunningham, Amy Acker, Tony Hale, Jeremy Sisto, Courtney Ford, Carrie Preston and Robyn Lively
Category: Texas Competition
TORMENTED (JAPAN/NETHERLANDS) – Texas Premiere
Director: Takashi Shimizu
TORMENTED centers on a young boy whose family seems to be unraveling around him. His sister is grappling with the reality of life or death, while his father walks a line with insanity. The situation intensifies when the boy manifests a dangerous friendship with a stuffed toy rabbit that comes to life.
Starring Teruyuli Kagawa, Hikari Mitsushima, Nao Ohmori
Category: Midnight
WHERE DO WE GO NOW? (FRANCE, LEBANON, EGYPT, ITALY) – Texas Premiere
Director: Nadine Labaki
A group of Lebanese women try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village.
Starring Claude Baz Moussawbaa, Layla Hakim, Nadine Labaki, Yvonne Maalouf
Category: World Cinema
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4th Amazigh Film Festival in Los Angeles April 21 to 22
The fourth Amazigh Film Festival returns to Los Angeles, Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22, 2012, with documentaries, films, art, music and food of indigenous North Africa, the Berber and Tuareg cultures of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, the Canary Islands, Egypt and the Sahara desert.
In keeping with the Moroccan theme selected for this year, the event will open with a montage of photos of Chechaouen, Northern Morocco city of the Rif Mountains, created by Amazigh Video productions of Burbank, to the music of KHALID IZRI, Tarifi (Rif Berber) composer, musician and performer of international fame, who will be among us on this occasion.
Documentaries will include Dounia Ben Jelloun’s “Weaving of the Rif”, (10 minutes) “Earth Architecture of Southern Morocco” Director Abdellatif Attach (11:48) , narration by Ethnologist Mohamned Boussalaf, and “The Forgotten”, beautifully photographed in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco., directed by Zakaria Bati and Rachid AitAbdellah Ouali. (11:52)
The last documentary “Waiting for the Snow” was filmed by Moroccan journalist Yassine el Idrissi in the Middle Atlas around the well known resort area of Ifrane, where the poverty of local rural Berbers is juxtaposed to the winter tourism. The young boy who starts in this documentary will steal your heart. (38 minutes) US PREMIERE
The full length film shown during this festival is “Itto Titrit’ (“Morning Star”) by Amazigh film maker Mohamed Abbazi in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. English sub-titles by Siddartha Abbazi.
This year, L.A.F.F. is expanding to a second venue, THE ELECTRIC LODGE, 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, 90291, presenting another outstanding film “Zohra, A Moroccan Fairy Tale “ by famous UK Director Barney Platts-Mills– AND AN ADDITIONAL CONCERT with special guest KHALID IZRI.
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New Poster and Trailer for BELOW ZERO Closing Night Film of 2012 Derby City Film Festival
New Poster and trailer have been released for BELOW ZERO, the closing film of the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.
The film will be also screening at the following festivals in the coming months:
Derby City Film Festival (Louisville, Kentucky), 6pm Feb 19th
Garden State Film Festival (New Jersey), March 24
Indie Horror Film Festival (Chicago), March 24
International Horror & Sci Fi / Phoenix Film Fest (Phoenix), TBA
Dead By Dawn (Edinburgh, Scotland), TBA
Litchfield Hills Film Festival (Litchfield, CT), TBA{youtube}hoTlKTCz2iw{/youtube}
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It’s In The Blood to have Kentucky premiere at 2012 Derby City Film Festival
Louisville natives Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot will have the Kentucky premiere of their film It’s In The Blood, a character-driven horror story starring veteran character actor Lance Henriksen, at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.
The public premiere at the festival is 8:00 PM February 18th at the Clifton Center in Louisville. The festival runs February 17th-19th. It’s In The Blood has been nominated for best picture, and Lance Henriksen and Sean Elliot are up for best actor.
Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is 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. We call it a Psyche-Saga. Lance Henriksen, best known for his roles as Karl Bishop Weyland in the Aliens franchise and Frank Black in the TV series Millennium, stars in this nightmarish descent into the wilderness, the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.
The film is a true Lousville film. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and best friends since kindergarten, Sean Elliot and Scooter Downey co-wrote and produced the film. The film was also largely developed in Louisville where the script was drafted and revised, the LLC was established, the business plan was developed, and 100% of the funding was raised.
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Nesting to Open 2012 Cleveland International Film Festival
NESTING, directed by Cleveland native John Chuldenko, and starring Todd Grinnell and Ali Hillis, will open the 2012 Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) on Thursday, March 22nd. Nesting is the story of what happens when a thirty-something couple set aside the home furnishings catalogue and decide to rekindle their relationship when they return to their old neighborhood and end up squatting illegally in their twenty-something lives.
The 36th Cleveland International Film Festival opens on Thursday, March 22 and runs through Sunday, April 1, 2012.