
IFC Films has acquired rights to “Shoah.” Directed by Claude Lanzmann, the nine-and-a-half hour documentary received almost universal critical acclaim for its look at Holocaust survivors when it premiered in 1985.

IFC Films has acquired rights to “Shoah.” Directed by Claude Lanzmann, the nine-and-a-half hour documentary received almost universal critical acclaim for its look at Holocaust survivors when it premiered in 1985.

The documentary Reel Injun, by Canadian filmmaker Neil Diamond, won the Canada Award for best documentary at the first of two 2010 Gemini Awards Industry Galas.

Select programming from the PBS Emmy® Award-winning weekly documentary series “Independent Lens” are nowl be available for purchase on iTunes. “The Parking Lot Movie,” directed by Meghan Eckman, will be the first film available from the 2010 Fall season of Independent Lens for purchase.

Ripple Effect Films and Argot Pictures present the US Theatrical release of SAINT MISBEHAVIN’: THE WAVY GRAVY MOVIE, a documentary by Michelle Esrick. Official selection at SXSW, Mill Valley, Maui and numerous other festivals, SAINT MISBEHAVIN’ will open in San Francisco and Bay Area on Friday, December 3, and at the IFC Center in New York on Wednesday, December 8. Other cities will follow.

Zeitgeist Films presents the US theatrical release of VISION, a film by Margaretha von Trotta. Official Selection – Telluride and Toronto film festivals, VISION will open in Los Angeles at Laemmle theaters on November 12. A national release will follow.

The San Francisco Film Society, New Italian Cinema Events of Florence, Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco present New Italian Cinema, November 14 – 21 at Landmark’s Embarcadero Center Cinema. The eight-day festival is dedicated to bringing Italy’s newest directors and films to Bay Area audiences and celebrating the country’s rich cinematic tradition. The 2010 edition opens with Ferzan Ozpetek’s humorous drama Loose Cannons and a three-film retrospective of this talented and prolific auteur’s work, and closes with Paolo Virzì’s moving new film The First Beautiful Thing. The core program of New Italian Cinema features seven recent films by breakthrough filmmakers vying for the City of Florence Award.

Olive Films will present the US theatrical release of Germany’s Oscar entry for 2011, WHEN WE LEAVE, a film by Feo Aladag, starring Sibel Kekilli (Head-On). Winner of BEST FILM and BEST ACTRESS awards at 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, as well as winner of BEST ACTRESS award at the German Film Awards, WHEN WE LEAVE will have its US Theatrical premiere in New York and Los Angeles in January 2011. A national release will follow.

Kicking off its multi-city tour at the IFC Center in NYC on October, 6th, Screenings of “Idiots and Angels” (run time 78 mins.) will be presented along with Plympton’s new, multi-award winning animated short film: “The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger”, which won the grand prize for animation at the Florida Film Festival.

Olive Films will present the US Theatrical release of NOTHING PERSONAL, a film by Urszula Antoniak. Winner of Best Actress Award for Lotte Verbeek at Locarno and Marrakech film festivals, as well as the Winner of Best First Feature and Fipresci Prize at Locarno, and Best Film and Best Director award at the Dutch Film Festival, NOTHING PERSONAL will open at Cinema Village in New York on November 19, and at Sunset 5 in Los Angeles on November 26.

Olive Films will present the US Theatrical release of ME, TOO, a film by Álvaro Pastor & Antonio Naharro. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and Winner of Best Actor and Best Actress awards at 2009 San Sebastian International Film Festival, as well as GOYA Best Actress Award, ME, TOO will open at Cinema Village in New York on November 19, and at Sunset 5 in Los Angeles on November 26.

The San Francisco Film Society, in association with the French-American Cultural Society, the French Consulate of San Francisco and Unifrance USA, presents French Cinema Now, Thursday, October 28 – Wednesday, November 3, at Landmark’s Embarcadero Center Cinema, One Embarcadero Center, Promenade Level. The weeklong annual festival brings the most significant new work from one of the world’s most renowned filmmaking countries to discerning Bay Area audiences. FCN covers a broad spectrum of subject matter and genres, builds a comprehensive picture of the current moment in French cinema and delivers some of the country’s most vital filmmakers in person to San Francisco audiences.

The San Francisco Film Society in association with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Taiwan’s Government Information Office and Taiwan’s Tourism Board presents Taiwan Film Days, October 22 – 24 at Viz Cinema at the New People center, 1746 Post Street. This exciting showcase highlights the best of contemporary Taiwanese cinema and provides Bay Area audiences with unique opportunities to view bold new Taiwanese films and engage with visionary filmmakers.