VIMOOZ

Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Opens with Robin Williams’ BOULEVARD + Gets New Name

After 17 years as the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) and six years as the Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (FLGLFF), the organization behind both events will unveil a new name tonight during the Opening Night festivities of MGLFF: “MiFo.” The new name takes its “Mi” from “Miami” and “Fo” from Fort Lauderdale and is intended to convey the strength of the two festivals on the international LGBTQ film circuit, announced Mark Gilbert, President and Interim Director of the festivals. “Just as SoBe has become synonymous with South Beach and WeHo indicates West Hollywood, we believe that MiFo will become the moniker for one of the hippest, strongest and most important film festival duos in the world,” Gilbert said. “This new evolution of the name brings our two festivals into the 21st Century and implies the vibrancy and relevancy of the films we present to our audiences.” The new name will be announced tonight at “Boulevard,” starring Robin Williams, the Opening Night film of the 17th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, now MiFo, with a special video trailer, Gilbert added. In Boulevard, the opening night film, Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) has worked quietly at the same bank branch for decades, sharing a home (but not a bedroom) with his wife, Joy (Kathy Baker.) But when he begins an unsettling relationship with young hustler, Leo (Roberto Aguire), Nolan’s safe existence is rocked to its foundation. Director, Dito Montiel, explores a middle-aged man’s sexual awakening with grace and dignity, anchored by a poignantly understated performance by Williams, as the enlightened but unraveling Nolan. Montiel’s seasoned direction builds just the right amount of tension between the players and their now questionable relationship. The 17th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival – MiFo — will feature 75 films from 26 different countries including feature-length movies, documentaries and short films that chronicle the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender experience. Included in the line-up will be five world premieres, one international premiere, 11 North American premieres, one U.S. premiere, seven East Coast premieres, and 12 Southeast premieres.
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Colin Hanks’ Directorial Debut ALL THINGS MUST PASS to Open First Greenwich International Film Festival

The Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF), taking place June 4 to 7, 2015, in Greenwich, Connecticut, will kick off their inaugural year with the Opening Night premiere screening of Colin Hanks’ directorial debut ALL THINGS MUST PASS. ALL THING MUST PASS is an inside look at the rise and fall of the once ubiquitous Tower Records. How could a business go from a net worth of 1 billion dollars to complete bankruptcy in just 5 years? Colin Hanks’ directorial debut examines this question and more, tracking the meteoric rise and tragic fall of the Tower Records empire and its tight-knit staff whose bond proved stronger than its fate. This sentimental and richly woven documentary is equal parts nostalgia and powerful, weaving stories of the employees who started the first store in Sacramento with the failures that led to its crash. The film features interviews with Russ Solomon, Stan Goman, Heidi Cotler, Mark Viducich, Dave Grohl, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and David Geffen. “The Greenwich International Film Festival is thrilled to be presenting Colin Hanks’ film, ALL THINGS MUST PASS, as our Opening Night Film. It is an incredibly moving documentary that has impact for people of all ages. Colin’s skillful direction makes the incredible story of Tower Records come to life,” said GIFF founders Carina Crain, Colleen deVeer and Wendy Reyes. “I am so honored to have ALL THINGS MUST PASS screen Opening Night at the Greenwich International Film Festival. This night marks a significant beginning for GIFF and I am excited to be a part of it,” said Colin Hanks.
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‘BLACKBIRD’ New York Premiere; Opens in Theaters Today Friday 24th

On Wednesday night, Harlem Pride and DBQ Magazine hosted a red carpet premiere for ‘BLACKBIRD’ at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. The ‘BLACKBIRD’ cast was in attendance, including Academy Award winner Mo’Nique, Isaiah Washington, Julian Walker and D. Woods; ‘BLACKBIRD’ director Patrik-Ian Polk and producers Keith Brown and Carol Ann Shine. Additional attendees included RLJ Entertainment chairman and founder Bob Johnson, model Tyson Beckford, actor Leon Robinson, Monifah, celeb stylist Ty Hunter, Sister 2 Sister’s Jamie Foster Brown and Harlem Pride board president Carmen Neely. ‘BLACKBIRD’ opens in select theaters today, Friday, April 24th.
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VIRGIN MOUNTAIN, DEMOCRATS, Among Winners of 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Awards

The 14th annual Tribeca Film Festival, which runs through to April 26, 2015, announced the winners of its competition categories last night at a party hosted by Michael Rapaport at TFF’s creative hub, Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios. The winners of the top prizes in the narrative and documentary competition were awarded from the World Narrative and World Documentary sections of the official Festival lineup. The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Virgin Mountain (pictured above), written and directed by Dagur Kári, and Best Documentary Feature went to Democrats, directed by Camilla Nielsson. The festival announced that beginning this year, the new name of the Best New Documentary Director Award going forward will be called The Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award, which was awarded last night by Philip Maysles and Sara Maysles, the beloved filmmaker’s children to Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands for Uncertain. The complete list of winners, awards, and comments from the jury who selected the recipients are as follows: WORLD NARRATIVE COMPETITION CATEGORIES: The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Virgin Mountain, written and directed by Dagur Kári [Iceland, Denmark]. In Virgin Mountain, “Fúsi is a mammoth of a man who at 43-years-old is still living at home with his mother. Shy and awkward, he hasn’t quite learned how to socialize with others, leaving him as an untouchable inexperienced virgin. That is until his family pushes him to join a dance class, where he meets the equally innocent but playful Sjöfn. In Icelandic with subtitles.” Jury Comment: “With its mixture of humor and pathos, this film captured our hearts. Beyond the deceptively small frame of a mismatched love story, the film deals with the issues of bigotry, loneliness, bullying, mental illness, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit and the meaning of love.” Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film –Gunnar Jónsson as Fúsi in Virgin Mountain (Iceland, Denmark). Jury Comment: “The film was aided in no small measure by a performer whose mixture of comedy and sadness evokes Chaplin and Keaton, with a complete lack of tricks, pretense, or condescension. This performer relies instead on subtlety, timing, and naked honesty, creating an indelible portrait of a man fighting to be seen in a world that judges him by his appearance. Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Hannah Murray as Sara in Bridgend (Denmark). In Bridgend, Sara (Hannah Murray) and her dad arrive in a town haunted by a spate of teenage suicides. When she falls in love with Jamie (Josh O’Connor), she becomes prey to the depression that threatens to engulf them all. Jeppe Rønde’s debut is based on the real-life Welsh county borough of Bridgend, which has recorded at least 79 suicides since 2007. Jury Comment: “An actress who captured the hopelessness of a lost generation. With bravery and guilelessness, this young actress led us in a descent into a world gone mad, as well as a journey into the protagonist’s own inner darkness.” Best Cinematography – Cinematography by Magnus Jønck for Bridgend (Denmark). Jury Comment: “Soulful and searing images, a daring use of composition and light, and an evocative sense of place.” Best Screenplay – Virgin Mountain written by Dagur Kári (Iceland, Denmark). Jury Comment: “The writer of this film is also the director, and is credited as one of the editors, and also performed the music, and runs the director’s program at the National Film School of Denmark, leading us to wonder when he has time to go to the bathroom. His intricately designed, beautifully observed, and bravely conceived screenplay consistently defies expectations, avoids sentimentality, and never strikes a false note. Best Narrative Editing – Bridgend edited by Oliver Bugge Coutté (Denmark). Jury Comment: “Impeccable rhythms and expert balancing of many divergent narratives.” WORLD DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION CATEGORIES: Best Documentary Feature – Democrats, directed by Camilla Nielsson (Denmark). In the wake of Robert Mugabe’s highly criticized 2008 presidential win, a constitutional committee was created in an effort to transition Zimbabwe away from authoritarian leadership. With unprecedented access to the two political rivals overseeing the committee, this riveting, firsthand account of a country’s fraught first steps towards democracy plays at once like an intimate political thriller and unlikely buddy film.In English, Shona with subtitles. Jury Comments: “For its choice of an important, universal subject; for filming in conditions where simply to be present is a triumph; and for prioritizing dignity, courage, and our common struggle for humanity, we give this year’s Best Documentary Feature award to Camilla Nielsson for Democrats.” Special Jury Mention: In Transit , directed by Albert Maysles, Nelson Walker, Lynn True, David Usui, and Ben Wu. (U.S.A) [caption id="attachment_8039" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Palio 2013[/caption] Best Documentary Editing – Palio, edited by Valerio Bonelli (U.K., Italy). Jury Comments: “This film viscerally transported us into an event and turned life into art. For subtly placing us behind the scenes; and for general technical excellence, this year’s award for Best Editing in a Documentary goes to editor Valerio Bonelli for Palio.” BEST NEW NARRATIVE DIRECTOR COMPETITION: Best New Narrative Director – Zachary Treitz director of Men Go To Battle (U.S.A). Kentucky, 1861. Francis and Henry Mellon depend on each other to keep their unkempt estate afloat as winter encroaches. After Francis takes a casual fight too far, Henry ventures off in the night, leaving each of them to struggle through the wartime on their own. Jury Comments: “Zachary Treitz presented us with a combination of approaches not all that easy to put together: a unique and sincere vision, alongside off-beat humor, alongside historical and emotional authenticity.” Special Jury Mention: Stephen Fingleton for The Survivalist (Northern Ireland, U.K.). BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR COMPETITION: Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award – Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands for Uncertain (U.S.A). An aquatic weed threatens the lake of the small American border town of Uncertain, Texas, and consequently the livelihoods of those who live there. As some of the men in town attempt to figure out their future, they confront a past that haunts them. Jury Comment: “This year we recognize a beautiful character study that explores violent natures, redemption, and what it takes to tame the self. A perfect balance of simplicity and mystery, this American story examines humanity, and how it can unwittingly destroy not just landscapes but livelihoods.” Special Jury Mention: Erik Shirai for The Birth of Saké(U.S.A). SHORT FILM COMPETITION CATEGORIES: Best Narrative Short – Listen, directed by Hamy Ramezan and Rungano Nyoni (Finland, Denmark). In Listen a foreign woman in a burqa brings her young son to a police station to file a complaint against her abusive husband, but the translator assigned to her seems unwilling to convey the true meaning of her words. Jury Comments: “This year’s winner for Best Narrative Short was emotionally compelling and by far the most affecting of the pieces we screened, with the filmmakers displaying a clear emotional connection with the narrative. To say that we had a healthy debate is an understatement.” Special Jury Mention: Statistical Analysis of Your Failing Relationship directed by Miles Jay (U.S.A, Canada). Best Documentary Short – Body Team 12 directed by David Darg (Liberia). Body Team 12 a team is tasked with arguably the most dangerous and gruesome job in the world: collecting the dead at the height of the Ebola outbreak. Jury Comments: “The winning film is a spiritual and inspiring story of personal courage and commitment. The filmmaking team takes us on a fearless journey that restores our faith in humanity and inspires viewers to be optimistic despite facing the most extreme challenges.” Special Jury Mention: We Live This directed by James Burns (U.S.A). Student Visionary Award – Catwalk directed by Ninja Thyberg (Sweden). Nine-year-old Ella’s classmates are playing in the schoolyard in full adult dress-up, and she wants to be part of that world in Catwalk. Jury Comments: “An effective look at peer influence not peer pressure. A creative explanation of what young people are experiencing as a result of social media threads and trends. Beautifully shot, and cast with a profound message that promotes individuality and vulnerability amongst the girls and parents, this year’s Student Visionary Award goes to Ninja Thyberg for her film Catwalk.” Special Jury Mention: Kingdom of Garbage, directed by Yasir Kareem (Iraq, U.K.). BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® STORYSCAPES AWARD BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ® Storyscapes Award: Door Into the Dark created by Amy Rose and May Abdalla at Anagram (U.K.). “This is a labyrinth.” Find out what it means to be lost in an age of infinite information. Using groundbreaking locative technology, this immersive documentary combines captivating storytelling with a visceral physical experience: feel your way into the dark—blindfolded, shoeless, and alone— along a taut length of rope that leads to a vivid aural world of real people who have been profoundly lost. Your encounter with these characters takes you deep into their sensations, risks, and illusions. To find your way into the light you must surrender to the unknown. Jury Comments: “In an overwhelming media environment in which we struggle for control, we recognize a work that viscerally reconnects us with the value of letting go. It offers a meticulously crafted storyworld that allows us to cerebrally, emotionally, and quite literally leave our baggage behind and step into the void. In that void we become disoriented, take risks, make choices and find ourselves again, changed. Ambitious, simple, and profound, this work marks a fresh and promising direction for the field of immersive theater. It evoked a euphoria that stayed with us long after we left it.” THE NORA EPHRON PRIZE The Nora Ephron Prize: Sworn Virgin, directed by Laura Bispuri and written by Francesca Manieri and Bispuri (Albania, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, Switzerland). As a young woman living within the confines of a Northern Albanian village, Hana longs to escape the shackles of womanhood, and live her life as a man. To do so she must take an oath to eternally remain a virgin. Years later, as Mark, she leaves home for the first time to confront a new set of circumstances, leading her to contemplate the possibility of undoing her vow. In Albanian, Italian with subtitles. Jury Comments: “We are awarding a film that is exquisite in its broadness and its intimacy, with a truly original story that touches on oppression in a way that members of this jury have rarely seen before. The film constantly surprised us and made us question our own positions through a confident, passionate, and beautifully nuanced vision that showed a real respect for the audience.” Special Jury Mention: Being 14 directed and written by Hélène Zimmer (France).
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Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL Among 4th All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) today announced the results of its fourth Canada’s All-Time Top Ten List, an international poll of industry and academics‎ on the most memorable Canadian films. This is the fourth edition of TIFF’s All-Time Top Ten List; previous lists were released in 1984, 1993 and 2004. “In our 40th year we are celebrating our national cinema by revisiting the list of top Canadian films, with help from our esteemed colleagues in the industry and academia,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO, TIFF. “It is encouraging to see new filmmakers and films establishing themselves on the list alongside the classics.” “With more than a decade since our last survey, much has changed in Canadian cinema, and in the results of the survey,” said Steve Gravestock, Senior Programmer, TIFF. “Atanarjuat has dethroned the long-standing No. 1 film, Mon once Antoine, and we welcome filmmakers including Guy Maddin, Jean-Claude Lauzon, Sarah Polley and Jean-Marc Vallée to the list for the first time. It’s an exciting group of films indicative of our rich cinematic tradition.” Canada’s All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian films: 1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, Zacharias Kunuk (2001) 2. Mon oncle Antoine, Claude Jutra (1971) 3. The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan (1997) 4. Jésus de Montréal, Denys Arcand (1989) 5. Léolo, Jean-Claude Lauzon (1992) 6. Goin’ Down the Road, Don Shebib (1970) 7. Dead Ringers, David Cronenberg (1988) 8. C.R.A.Z.Y., Jean-Marc Vallée (2005) 9. My Winnipeg, Guy Maddin (2007) 10. Stories We Tell, Sarah Polley (2012) (pictured above)/Les Ordres, Michel Brault (1974) “The Directors Guild of Canada takes pride in shining the spotlight on our national cinema at every opportunity,” said Tim Southam, National President, DGC. “The filmmakers featured here have contributed much to our country’s cultural voice and history. It is inspiring to be able to experience them again with a new generation of viewers.”
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Abby Ginzberg’s Documentary Film SOFT VENGEANCE wins a Peabody Award

Abby Ginzberg’s feature documentary film SOFT VENGEANCE: ALBIE SACHS AND THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA will be honored at the 74th annual Peabody Awards ceremony it was announced today by the Peabody program at the University of Georgia. The critically acclaimed film will receive the coveted Peabody Award at a gala ceremony in New York City on May 31st. “We hope this incredible award will help increase the visibility of Albie Sachs and inspire others to fight for human rights around the world,” commented the film’s director Abby Ginzberg. “Albie Sachs is one of the key champions for equality of our time and we are honored to be entrusted with his legacy on film,” she concluded. SOFT VENGEANCE is set against the dramatic events leading to the overthrow of the apartheid regime in South Africa and focusses on the lawyer, writer, art lover and freedom fighter Albie Sachs. The human rights activist was imprisoned in solitary confinement in Cape Town, tortured through sleep deprivation and forced into exile. In 1988, he was blown up by a car bomb set by the South African security forces in Maputo, Mozambique, which cost him his right arm and the sight of one eye, but miraculously he survived and after a long year of rehabilitation in England, he recovered. Returning to South Africa following the release of Nelson Mandela, Albie helped write the new Constitution and was then appointed as one of the first 11 judges to the new Constitutional Court. SOFT VENGEANCE has been screening at film festivals around the world and has won the audience award for Best International Documentary at the Encounters Film Festival and the Vancouver South African Film Festival. It has also received the Grand Prize Humanitarian Award from the Accolade Film Awards. After premiering at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, it also screened at AFI Docs; DOCNYC, Movies that Matter and the Durban Film Festival in South Africa. The film also screened at key international Jewish film festivals. https://vimeo.com/70589131 The film is executive produced by Alfre Woodard, who also serves as narrator. Abby Ginzberg is the producer and director, Ken Schneider is the Editor and Co-Producer and Rick Goldsmith is the Consulting Producer.
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14 More Feature Films + John Waters Pick: KILLER JOE Added to 2015 Maryland Film Festival

Maryland Film Festival continues to add to its lineup for the 17th annual festival which will take place May 6 to 10, 2015 in downtown Baltimore. Today’s announcement includes two special events that have become annual MFF traditions: a film selected and hosted by legendary filmmaker and MFF board member John Waters, and a silent film presented with a live original score by Alloy Orchestra. Waters has selected William Friedkin’s 2011 neo-noir Killer Joe, starring Matthew McConaughey; Alloy will accompany 1926’s Son of the Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino. In addition to these repertory-film events, Maryland Film Festival unveiled another fourteen feature films for MFF 2015, including the area premieres of an exciting array of emerging narrative, documentary, and international titles. The titles announced today for MFF 2015 are: 6 YEARS (Hannah Fidell) The director of MFF 2013’s A Teacher returns with the story of Mel (Taissa Farmiga), whose future becomes unsettled when her long-term boyfriend Dan (Ben Rosenfield)’s career aspirations pose a threat to the stability of their relationship. Co-starring Lindsay Burdge and Joshua Leonard, and executive-produced by Jay and Mark Duplass, this poignant drama boasts real relationship insights and resonant, true-to-life performances. CROCODILE GENNADIY (Steve Hoover) This intense, visually stunning, and morally complex documentary uses a remarkable central character as a window into change and tumult in contemporary Ukraine. Pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko wages a one-man war against drug abuse and serves as a tough-love father figure to homeless and at-risk youth, squaring off with dealers and intervening in the lives of addicts. But is vigilante action the answer to these problems? Executive produced by Terrence Malick. DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON (Douglas Tirola) This uproarious documentary, which premiered at Sundance, brings the history of The National Lampoon to raucous life. In 1970, a new counterculture rag spun off from the Harvard Lampoon, launching a comedy revolution impacting not just the printed word but also film, television, radio, and beyond—and giving an early platform to some of the major talents of late-20th Century comedy. FIELD NIGGAS (Khalik Allah) Street photographer Khalik Allah takes us into the nightlife of 125th Street and Lexington in Harlem, shattering the usual wall between documentarian and subject as he paints portraits of modern street life filled with love and humor, but also hard times and regret. An immersive documentary with a unique visual sensibility, Allah’s film comes to MFF fresh from wowing audiences at True/False and Sarasota. FOR THE PLASMA (Bingham Bryant and Kyle Molzan) A young woman joins a friend in a sleepy town in Maine, where they use computers and digital cameras to observe a nearby forest, collecting abstruse data used to make stock-market predictions. This challenging, idiosyncratic piece of cinema-as-puzzle finds a film language all its own; shot on Super 16mm, it also boasts an evocative score by experimental composer Keiichi Suzuki. FRAME BY FRAME (Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli) This SXSW-premiered documentary follows four photographers in contemporary Afghanistan. These members of an emerging free press risk life and limb to fill the photojournalist void left by the withdraw of international media—not to mention make up for lost time, as photography was banned under Taliban rule. Their images and stories are unforgettable. GIRLHOOD (Céline Sciamma) In a tough suburb of Paris, teenager Marieme navigates an often harsh, male-dominated world—her life taking a new turn when she finds a place within an initially hostile all-girl gang. From the director of Water Lilies and Tomboy comes an emotionally rich drama that wowed audiences at Cannes, Toronto, and Sundance, driven by an unforgettable lead performance from Karidja Touré. IN THE BASEMENT (Ulrich Seidl) The director of the staggering Paradise trilogy, all three films of which were presented within MFF 2013, returns to the realm of intimate documentary with this stylized, disturbing, and darkly hilarious work. The basements of Austria open up to Seidl’s camera, revealing private lives built around such underground worlds as shooting ranges, taxidermy, BDSM, and Nazi memorabilia. JAUJA (Lisandro Alonso) Viggo Mortensen stars as a Danish engineer who’s travelled to Patagonia with his teenage daughter to work for the Argentine army. When she disappears, he ventures out in pursuit, embarking on a journey full of crises physical, emotional, and existential. Lisandro Alonso (MFF 2010’s Liverpool) works here not only with one of contemporary cinema’s greatest performers, but also a bold new visual approach. KILLER JOE (William Friedkin, 2011) Legendary filmmaker John Waters has selected a favorite film to host within each Maryland Film Festival since its inaugural 1999 edition. This year’s choice is William Friedkin’s Texas-set neo-noir, with Matthew McConaughey as a cop who doubles as a hitman, and Emile Hirsch as a drug dealer who summons “Killer” Joe’s services—but quickly finds himself in over his head. LIMBO (Anna Sofie Hartmann) In a small port town in Denmark, high-school student Sara (Annika Nuka Mathiassen) grows increasingly fascinated by her young professor Karen (Sofía Nolsøe Mikkelsen), and her challenging ideas about gender, art, and life. This work of patient beauty screened at Rotterdam, San Sebastian, and SXSW, and will be hosted at MFF by guest curator Matt Porterfield (the director of Hamilton, Putty Hill, and I Used to Be Darker). THE REAPER (Zvonimir Jurić) From Croatia comes this tense and moody drama about a quiet loner haunted by his criminal past—and by other residents of his small town, who won’t let him forget. When he stops one night to come to the assistance of a woman stranded by the roadside, his evening takes a strange turn, launching three intertwined plot threads that recall Haneke in their grim outlook and narrative potency. REBELS OF THE NEON GOD (Tsai Ming-liang, 1992) Over the last three decades, Tsai Ming-liang has produced one of the most impressive and distinct filmographies of our time, each starring unique presence Lee Kang-sheng. This is where it all began: Tsai’s first feature film, set amidst the streets, malls, and arcades of Taipei youth culture in the early 1990s. Newly restored, and enjoying its first release on the U.S. big screen. SON OF THE SHEIK (George Fitzmaurice, 1926) MFF favorites Alloy Orchestra have introduced new generations to the wonders of silent cinema with their innovative scores for films including The Lost World, Metropolis, and Man With a Movie Camera. Now they return to MFF to accompany screen legend Rudolph Valentino’s final film, an adventure classic from the director of Mata Hari. TIRED MOONLIGHT (Britni West) Gorgeously shot vignettes built around a mix of local non-professionals and seasoned performers (including Girls’ Alex Karpovsky) coalesce into a rich and poetic portrait of a pit-stop town in Montana situated amidst stunning natural beauty. Tired Moonlight premiered at Slamdance 2015, where it took home the Jury Award for Narrative Feature, and went on to screen within such prestigious festivals as New Directors/New Films and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. VENICE (Kiki Álvarez) It’s payday, and three female coworkers at a hair salon in Havana head out for a night on the town, their moonlit partying encountering unexpected twists and yielding surprising personal revelations. This exciting independent Cuban/Colombian co-production not only gives us rare access to an insider’s view of Havana, it also displays a refreshingly frank and empowered take on female sexuality. Today’s new announcements join the 20 features already announced for MFF 2015, including the world premiere of Stephen Cone’s ensemble drama HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY: BEATS OF THE ANTONOV (Hajooj Kuka) THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION (Stanley Nelson) BREAKING A MONSTER (Luke Meyer) CALL ME LUCKY (Bobcat Goldthwait) CHRISTMAS, AGAIN (Charles Poekel) DEEP WEB (Alex Winter) FUNNY BUNNY (Alison Bagnall) A GAY GIRL IN DAMASCUS: THE AMINA PROFILE (Sophie Deraspe) GOD BLESS THE CHILD (Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck) HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Stephen Cone) World premiere. PROPHET’S PREY (Amy Berg) SAILING A SINKING SEA (Olivia Wyatt) STINKING HEAVEN (Nathan Silver) TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL (Jeffrey Schwarz) TWO SHOTS FIRED (Martín Rejtman) UNCLE KENT 2 (Todd Rohal) UNEXPECTED (Kris Swanberg) WELCOME TO LEITH (Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker) WESTERN (Bill and Turner Ross) A WONDERFUL CLOUD (Eugene Kotlyarenko)
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“Pucker Up” New Teaser Poster + Trailer for Patrick Brice’s THE OVERNIGHT from 2015 Sundance

The Orchard has released a new teaser poster for Patrick Brice’s THE OVERNIGHT which premiered earlier this year at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will open in theater on June 19, 2015. Writer/director Patrick Brice’s second feature is described as a painfully funny take on thirty-something sexual frustration and parenthood. Featuring lead performances by Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche, each actor “nimbly balances the script’s sudden emotional turns from surprising honesty to complete embarrassment. ” Produced by Gettin’ Rad and the Duplass Brothers, THE OVERNIGHT tells a complex story of universal inadequacies. Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWwvejn97lA
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New Online Screening Room for 2015 San Francisco International Film Festival

The San Francisco International Film Festival will screen online 14 feature films and 11 shorts from the official 2015 lineup, as part of a new online streaming initiative called SFIFF Online Screening Room. The SFIFF Online Screening Room will provide an opportunity for SFFS members to stream select feature and short films free of charge for a limited time. Each film will become available to stream online starting the day of its final Festival screening, through May 31. For more information and to browse the lineup, visit the SFIFF Online Screening Room at watch.sffs.org. “We are grateful to our partner FORA.tv for providing a great reward for the loyal members of the Film Society, with this second chance to see some of the world’s finest films,” said Noah Cowan, Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society. “This pilot program will let us measure interest in the Bay Area for a highly curated, short-window online look at a range of global cinema. Many of these films will not be returning to play in theaters, nor will they be readily available on traditional streaming services, so the opportunity really is something special.” FEATURE FILMS All of Me – directed by Arturo González Villaseñor (pictured above) Since 1995, the Patronas, a group of women in southern Mexico, prepare food and drinking water in large quantities to hand out as the train known as “The Beast” speeds by carrying men and boys from Central America to the US border. This deeply moving documentary allows the women to tell their stories, reluctantly at first, then eloquently and with enormous heart. (Mexico 2014, 90 min) Beats of the Antonov – directed by Hajooj Kuka Filmed in the civil war-ravaged region between South and North Sudan, Beats of the Antonov paints an inspiring portrait of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountain refugee communities and their reliance on music-making not only as a healing force in the face of devastating loss and displacement, but also as a vital instrument to keep their cultural heritage alive. Black Coal, Thin Ice – directed by Diao Yinan Both tense whodunnit and layered character study, Diao Yinan’s Berlin Golden Bear winner spans five years in the life of a troubled cop who can’t shake his experiences working a particularly gruesome serial-killer case. A carefully plotted film noir packed with twists and offbeat moments, it also boasts a scorching breakout lead performance by Liao Fan. (China/Hong Kong 2014, 106 min) Bota – directed by Iris Elezi and Thomas Logoreci Populated by charming oddballs, quirky café/bar Bota (literally “the world” in Albanian) is a silent witness to the lives and secrets of people living in the shadow of the past. Long after the end of Albania’s harsh dictatorship, the locals’ lives have stagnated, most too poor to seize the opportunities liberty has offered them. But progress, in the form of a highway construction project, prompts change and new decisions for this very special café society. (Albania/Italy/Kosovo 2014, 104 min) El Cordero – directed by Juan Francisco Olea Domingo is a devoted family man and Christian missionary gliding through a dutifully modest if unexceptional life. He’d happily keep it that way, too, but for the fact that a fatal accident leaves him, disturbingly, without a sense of guilt. Shot through with a subtle, sardonic humor and beautifully acted, this exceptional feature debut is an engrossing dramatic thriller reverberating with deeper questions about our innermost natures and our ties to one another. (Chile 2014, 90 min) Fidelio: Alice’s Odyssey – directed by Lucie Borleteau Working in the macho world of sailors, ship engineer Alice is an expert in her field and fully in command of her sexuality as well. When she comes up against the classic double standard after an affair with the ship’s captain, she risks the taunts of her peers and reprimands of her superiors. First-time director Borleteau offers a compellingly acted portrait of a woman who dares to subvert conservative notions of female behavior in a male-oriented workplace. (France 2014, 95 min) Murder in Pacot – directed by Raoul Peck Grappling with the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, a formerly well-to-do husband and wife rent their crumbling house in a tony Port-au-Prince neighborhood to a European aid worker. When his brash young Haitian girlfriend shows up, an emotionally fraught game of sexual intrigue and class warfare ensues in this tense and provocative film from acclaimed director Raoul Peck. (Haiti/France/Norway 2014, 130) NN – directed by Héctor Gálvez A team of forensic investigators in the Peruvian countryside digs up the remains of persons who were murdered during the brutal Fujimori Era of the 1980s and ’90s. The process of identifying one particular set of bones becomes an agonizing experience for the woman who claims they belong to her husband and for the investigator who has to go by the facts. Suffering, injustice and peace of mind are pitted against scientific truths with no easy answers in this engrossing, expertly paced drama. (Peru/Colombia/Germany/France 2014, 95 min) Of Men and War – directed by Laurent Bécue-Renard Winner of the 2014 IDFA award for Best Feature Documentary, Of Men and War is director Laurent Bécue-Renard’s multiyear account of the residents of The Pathway Home, an innovative treatment center for PTSD and related war traumas in Yountville, California. This quietly intense film bears witness to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans as they revisit the brutalities of combat, process the traumatic memories that haunt them and search for meaning in the psychological wreckage of war. (France/Switzerland 2014, 142 min) Red Amnesia – directed by Wang Xiaoshuai Deng, a retired widow, tries to care for her family, though her sons protest her “intrusions” into their personal lives. When mysterious phone calls and other strange occurrences disrupt her daily routine, she wonders, who-if anyone-might be coming after her. In this unsettling thriller set in contemporary China, Wang Xiaoshuai explores the political and personal consequences of memory, and traces the blurred lines between those who remember their past, and those who choose to forget. (China 2014, 110 min) T-Rex – directed by Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari In the new Olympic sport of women’s boxing, 17-year-old Claressa Shields bursts out from the total obscurity of a small Flint, Michigan, gym to compete for a coveted gold medal. T-Rex beautifully captures her rapid ascent, her battle to overcome a damaged home life, the culturally ingrained bias against women’s boxing, the spellbinding thrill of her bouts and the indomitable willpower that shows, in its purest and most powerful sense, the meaning of warrior spirit. (USA 2015, 87 min) The Postman’s White Nights – directed by Andrei Konchalovsky Postman Lyokha serves an aging community of island dwellers in a remote corner of northwestern Russia. Globetrotting veteran director Konchalovsky returns to his home turf for this humorous, rueful, occasionally surreal slice of rural life that takes place over a few summer days. It’s a leisurely yet eventful tale filled with ravishing imagery and the natural appeal of mostly nonprofessional actors. (Russia 2014, 101 min) Two Shots Fired – directed by Martín Rejtman Argentine filmmaker and short story writer Martín Rejtman’s first feature in 10 years is a slyly funny low-key existential comedy for fans of films like Stranger than Paradise and Slacker. As the film’s ever-evolving story follows an intersecting group of teenage and adult characters, it upends narrative expectations about the significance of individual events and offers instead careful, amused observation of how we all get through life, one thing after the other. (Argentina/Chile/Germany/Netherlands 2014, 104 min) Western – directed by Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross This intimate, observational documentary portrait of the US-Mexico border focuses on two Eagle Pass, TX, residents-cattleman Martin Wall and Mayor Chad Foster-and follows the strains in the border town’s relationship to its sister city, Piedras Negras, Mexico. As drug cartel violence moves into the region and threatens to spin out of control, US Federal policies made a thousand miles away shut down commerce and further test an already delicate balance. (USA 2015, 93 min) SHORT FILMS ( * denotes availability to all SFIFF ticket-holders) Art – directed by Adrian Sitaru A 19-year-old girl auditions for a sexy film role while the director tries to convince her mother of the artistic rationale behind the provocative part. A wry look at the machinations of filmmakers from the director of Hooked (SFIFF 2009). (Romania 2014, 19 min) Bang Bang! – directed by Julien Bisaro An auto accident leads to a chance encounter in the woods in this moody suspense tale. (France 2014, 12 min) * Big Head – directed by Jairo Boisier The bond between humans and their pets is often difficult to express with words. In this charming documentary, a Chilean artist finds his own way to immortalize his beloved mastiff Domingo. (Chile 2014, 25 min) * The Box – directed by Michael I Schiller Created as part of a journalistic story by the Center for Investigative Reporting, this story centers on juvenile imprisonment in New York’s Rikers Island jail. (USA 2014, 6 min) Cailleach – directed by Rosie Reed Hillman In Gaelic mythology, Cailleach means “old woman.” In this intimate film, 86-year-old Morag reflects on her life, family, unique sense of independence and connection to her wild island home. (Scotland 2014, 14 min) The Chicken – directed by Una Gunjak In 1993 Croatia, young Selma’s birthday gift carries unexpected and harrowing consequences. (Germany/Croatia 2014, 15 min) * Hotel 22 – directed by Elizabeth Lo Hop onboard a unique Bay Area bus route that becomes an unofficial shelter for the homeless. (USA 2014, 8 min) No ID – directed by Emnet Mulugeta A lonely stretch of desert road becomes the scene of a dance battle where an unexpected occurrence yields surprising results. (Sweden 2014, 3 min) * Plamen – directed by Dress Code Attempting to call attention to governmental depredations in Bulgaria, 37-year-old construction worker and artist Plamen Goranov takes desperate action. (Bulgaria/USA 2014, 21 min) * Rain – directed by Johannes Stjärne Nilsson Stormy weather literally follows a young woman through her day in this whimsical new work from the Sound of Noise (SFIFF 2011) co-director. (Sweden 2014, 9 min) Sormeh – directed by Azadeh Ghochagh During the 1979 Iranian revolution, a woman getting ready for a marriage ceremony has to make a quick decision when confronted by a rebel hiding in her building. (Iran 2014, 10 min) image: Photo credit: Courtesy of San Francisco Film Society. Description: A scene from Arturo Gonzalez Villasenor’s All of Me, playing at the 58th San Francisco International Film Festival, April 23 – May 7 2015
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Coen Brothers, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller Among Jury for 2015 Cannes Film Festival

Directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, will be the two Presidents of the Jury of the 68th Cannes Film Festival. They will be joined by Rossy de Palma (Actress – Spain), Sophie Marceau (Actress, Director – France), Sienna Miller (pictured above) (Actress – United Kingdom), Rokia Traoré (Composer, Singer-songwriter – Mali), Guillermo del Toro (Director, Writer, Producer – Mexico), Xavier Dolan (Director, Writer, Producer, Actor – Canada), and Jake Gyllenhaal (Actor – United States). Their task will be to decide among the films in Competition and select the prize winners, culminating in the Palme d’or, which will be announced on stage during the Festival Closing Ceremony on Sunday May 24th, 2015. Rossy de Palma Actress – Spain She is an icon of Spanish cinema and Pedro Almodóvar’s muse: she inspired his 1986 film Law of Desire, performed in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Kika and The Flower of my Secret (nominated for two Goya Awards), and Broken Embraces (Official Selection: 2009 Festival de Cannes). She rose to international acclaim in the early 1990s with directors like Robert Altman, Mike Figgis, Patrice Leconte and Mehdi Charef. She is set to appear in Pedro Almodóvar’s next film. Sophie Marceau Actress, Director – France After winning a Cesar for Best “Espoir” at the age of 16 for Claude Pinoteau’s La Boum 2, her career grows with success in both mainstream and author cinema. Films include Police by Maurice Pialat, and L’Amour braque by Andrzej Żuławski. She achieved international acclaim for Mel Gibson’s Braveheart (1995) and Bond movie – The World Is Not Enough (1999). Other notable credits include Don’t Look Back directed by Marina de Van – presented at the Festival de Cannes in 2009. With a career of over 40 films, she has also written and directed two feature films, Parlez-moi d’amour (2002) et La Disparue de Deauville (2007). Sienna Miller Actress – United Kingdom Experienced in both theater and cinema, she first gained recognition with her role in Matthew Vaughn’s Layer Cake (2004). She performed on Broadway in “Cabaret” by Sam Mendes. She starred in Foxcatcher by Bennett Miller which debuted at the 2014 Festival de Cannes and American Sniper by Clint Eastwood. She recently finished filming High Rise by Ben Wheatley. Rokia Traoré Composer, Singer-songwriter – Mali The inimitable Mali-born musician and singer Rokia Traoré has charted a distinctive course between tradition and modernity. Influenced by a nomadic childhood spent between Europe, the Middle East and Mali, the first CD by this singer songwriter with the captivating voice, Mouneïssa (1998), was highly acclaimed. In Wanita (2000), Bowmboï (2003), Tchamantché (2008) and Beautiful Africa (2013), Rokia Traoré drew on unprecedented combinations of instruments such as the balafon, the n’goni, the electric guitar and drums. Her openness to wide-ranging artistic collaborations is ample proof that music is her only continent. Guillermo del Toro Director, Writer, Producer – Mexico Guillermo del Toro is one of the most inventive among the new generation of Mexican directors, alongside Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu. Del Toro, who started out as a make-up artist and special effects specialist, now lives in the United States. His filmography boasts a rich array of distinctive and flamboyant works shot through with fantasy and imagination, from Mimic, The Devil’s Backbone and Blade II to Hellboy. Guillermo del Toro presented Cronos, his first feature film, in a parallel section at Cannes. Pan’s Labyrinth was selected in Competition in 2006. Xavier Dolan Director, Writer, Producer, Actor – Canada After shooting his first feature film, I Killed My Mother, at 20, he directed Heartbeats and Laurence Anyways, both of which received an enthusiastic reception when selected for Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes.Tom at the Farm was shown at the Venice Film Festival, where he was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize. His latest film Mommy has garnered the Jury Prize at last year’s Festival de Cannes and the César for Best Foreign Feature. Xavier Dolan is now working on his next feature, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan. Jake Gyllenhaal Actor, United States Jake Gyllenhaal was raised in a family of artists and made his cinema debut aged 11. He came to public attention in 2001 in Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko and built a career composed of both independent films and blockbusters. Considered one of Hollywood’s increasingly bankable stars, he appeared in Jarhead by Sam Mendes, then Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (Golden Lion in Venice) and in Zodiac by David Fincher, selected at the Festival de Cannes in 2007. He has recently appeared in two thrillers directed by Denis Villeneuve:Prisoners and Enemy along with Dan Gilroy’s Night Call. image via wikimedia
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Films on African Pictures Program is First Announced for 2015 Seattle International Film Festival

The 41st Seattle International Film Festival to be held May 14 to June 7, 2015, unveiled the 14 feature films of its third annual African Pictures program. Since 2013, African Pictures has presented documentaries, narrative features, and short films from 25 African countries. With something for everyone — from ethereal and experimental to gritty and provocative — African Pictures showcases a microcosm of world cinema available only at SIFF. Topping the 2015 program is The Boda Boda Thieves (pictured above), an absorbing urban narrative from SIFF sophomore Donald Mugisha (The Kampala Story, 2012), who will be in attendance for the North American premiere of his new film. Fans of U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (2005) will be glad to see the North American premiere of director Mark Dornford-May’s striking modern South African opera,Breathe Umphefumlo, adapted with deftness and compassion from Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Also traveling to Seattle, up-and-coming director Cheick Fantamady Camara will appear at screenings of his expansive drama Morbayassa in its North American premiere, representing Guinean film in African Pictures at SIFF for the first time. This story of inter-generational and inter-continental culture clash is anchored by a masterful performance from Fatoumata Diawara (Timbuktu, 2014). SIFF 2015 will also feature the North American premiere of Sugarcane Shadows, the first film from the island nation of Mauritius ever to play in a US festival. Making its North American premiere among four short films in African Pictures 2015 is I’m Not Hereby 15-year-old South African Jack Markovitz, presented as part of SIFF’s youth-centered FutureWave program. The African Pictures Film & Party will feature Excuse My French, a coming-of-age comedy from Egyptian director Amr Salama (Asma’a, 2011; Tahrir, 2011: The Good, the Bad, and the Politician, 2011). A lively celebration will follow at the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. The following African Pictures titles are the first films to be announced among official selections of the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. Alyam, Alyam d: Ahmed El Maanouni, Morocco 1978, 80 min Following his father’s death, Abdelwahad is expected to provide for his mother and his seven brothers. But faced with the cycle of poverty that rural farmers seem doomed to repeat, he dares to hope for something better. Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory. Beats of the Antonov d: Hajooj Kuka, Sudan/South Africa 2014, 65 min Set in the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountain regions of Sudan, Beats of the Antonov celebrates South Sudan’s vibrant musical culture surviving by any means necessary in the face of their prolonged civil war. Beti and Amare d: Andy Siege, Ethiopia/Germany 2014, 94 min In this dreamy sci-fi fantasy, teenage Beti is forced to hide away in her uncle’s isolated hut to avoid Mussolini’s troops. Her strange dreams lead her to fall in love with a man who emerges from a glowing egg and may be a vampire. Black Girl (La Noire de…) d: Ousmane Sembène, Senegal/France 1966, 65 min This 1966 film explores the complex dynamics and larger post-colonial implications that arise between a young Senegalese maid and the French family that employs her. This quiet, observational drama was esteemed African filmmaker Ousmane Sembène’s first feature film. Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project in collaboration with the Sembène Estate, Institut National de l’Audiovisuel, INA and Centre National de Cinématographie, CNC.Restoration carried out at Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory; 4k scan performed at Eclair laboratories. The Boda Boda Thieves (Abaabi ba boda boda) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: Donald Mugisha, Uganda/Kenya 2015, 85 min On teenage boy Abel’s first day of work as a boda boda (moto-taxi) driver to support his poor family, his bike is stolen, leaving him in pursuit of the ruthless thief who stole their livelihood. A Bicycle Thieves for urban Africa. Breathe Umphefumlo NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: Mark Dornford-May, South Africa/United Kingdom 2015, 89 min Combining “La Boheme” with the tuberculosis epidemic in South Africa, Breathe Umphefumloprovides a dynamic twist on the classic opera through a uniquely African context and emotional urgency that’s not to be missed. Challat of Tunis (Le Challat de Tunis) d: Kaouther Ben Hania, Tunisia/France 2014, 90 min A masked assailant rides through the Tunisian capital on a motor scooter slashing the backsides of women in jeans and short skirts in Kaouther Ben Hania’s genre-bending mockumentary about sexist attitudes in Arab culture. Décor d: Ahmad Abdalla, Egypt 2014, 116 min An overworked film production designer begins to lose her grip on reality, slipping into the life she is creating on her latest movie set. This meta-movie playfully comments on the conventions of the classic “women’s picture.” Excuse My French (Lamoakhzaa) AFRICAN PICTURES FILM & PARTY d: Amr Salama, Egypt 2014, 99 min In this family comedy and Egyptian box office smash, 12-year-old Hany, a precocious kid from a privileged Coptic Christian family, must adjust when a change in circumstances sends him to the local majority-Muslim public school. I Am the People (Je Suis le Peuple) d: Anna Roussillon, France 2014, 111 min I Am the People chronicles the 2011 revolution in Egypt and subsequent events from the perspective of a poor farming family in the country’s south, a depiction of world events refreshing in its warmth, wit, and humanity. The Malagasy Way (Ady Gasy) d: Lova Nantenaina, Madagascar/France 2014, 84 min Filmed with a fascinated lens, this documentary explores the way of the Malagasy people and a third-world community portrait that is anything but bleak, as it celebrates a culture where wealth isn’t needed to find happiness and joy in the things you do. Morbayassa NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: Cheick Fantamady Camara, Guinea 2015, 122 min Bella befriends a UN worker who promises to help her escape her domineering pimp and find the daughter she gave up for adoption 15 year ago in this tense, female-centered drama. Run d: Philippe Lacôte, Ivory Coast/France 2014, 97 min After assassinating the Prime Minister, Run looks back on the varied mentors in his life, from a village rainmaker to a professional eater to the imperious revolutionary who’s living the gangster life, in this striking feature debut which reflects Ivory Coast’s recent, tumultuous history. Sugarcane Shadows (Lonbraz Kann) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: David Constantin, Mauritius/France 2014, 88 min Residents of Mauritius fight to maintain their culture despite a pervasive tourism economy and increased globalization. Gorgeous cinematography and non-actor authenticity ground David Constantin’s first feature. The following short films will screen during SIFF 2015 as part of African Pictures. The Call NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: Zamo Mkhwanazi, South Africa 2014, 11 min An emotionally disconnected taxi driver realizes that he does not want his prostitute girlfriend to abort the child that could be his. I’m Not Here NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE d: Jack Markovitz, South Africa 2014, 9 min After his calls are repeatedly ignored, a young man turns to Facebook to tell a girl what he thinks A Quiet Memory (Uma Memória Quieta) US PREMIERE d: Inadelso Cossa, Mozambique 2014, 14 min Langa dramatically details his history as a political prisoner in 1970s Mozambique. Treat (Zawadi) d: Richard Card, Kenya 2014, 12 min In the Kenyan slums of Kibera, a ten-year-old boy hustles to provide for his family, taking him away from his crush on her birthday.
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Nikole Beckwith, Jennifer Phang, Stewart Thorndike Win Inaugural SFFS Women Filmmaker Fellowships

The San Francisco Film Society yesterday announced the inaugural recipients of its SFFS Women Filmmaker Fellowships, a brand new suite of services designed to support female writer/directors working on their second or third narrative feature through a combination of financial backing, innovative programs and events, mentorship services, industry connections and a growing community of fellow filmmakers. Supported by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and facilitated by Filmmaker360, the Film Society’s filmmaker services department, these fellowships provide direct assistance to an under-served group of storytellers and help to build sustainable careers for women filmmakers all over the world. Participants in the SFFS Women Filmmaker Fellowship must be working on a second or third English-language narrative feature screenplay. They must have had a previous film premiere at a major international festival and priority is given to women working in the genres of science fiction, comedy, action, thriller and horror, which are traditionally under-represented for women filmmakers. “We’re thrilled to be kicking off this new initiative with such talented individuals, and to help bridge the support gap we have seen for many women in finding the resources they need, especially on their second or third feature film projects,” said Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of Filmmaker360. “It’s also very satisfying to support kick-ass women making edgy sci-fi, horror and comedies, and we hope this initiative contributes to leveling the playing field in those areas. Like our SFFS Producers Initiative, this program focuses on backing people rather than individual projects, and we are committed to helping these amazing folks realize their creative visions.” In 2013 and 2014, academic institutions such as the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and the Center for Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State produced substantive reports on the state of women in the film industry, revealing startling statistics that point to drastic gender inequality. The latter group, for example, reports that in 2013, women accounted for just 6% of directors, 10% of writers, 15% of executive producers, 17% of editors and 3% of cinematographers. Additionally, women were found more likely to be working on romantic comedies, dramas or documentaries than the top-grossing genres of animation, sci-fi, action and horror. “We all benefit from a more accurate and diverse portrayal of society on film,” said Jennifer Rainin, CEO of the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. “As more than 50% of the population, it’s imperative that women have opportunities to share their stories on screen and that we see female characters valued as much as males, yet there’s a lack of progress on these issues and little funding for female filmmakers working in narrative. Recognizing this gap, we’ve created the Women Filmmaker Fellowships as a way to build a critical mass of female filmmakers enjoying sustainable and thriving careers. I hope it inspires other film organizations and philanthropists to join us in building out this initiative, and to replicate this model.” Designed to grow organically over time to include additional programs and events, the SFFS Women Filmmaker Fellowship is currently seeking additional funding partners. For more information, visit sffs.org/filmmaker360. 2015 SFFS WOMEN FILMMAKER FELLOWS Nikole Beckwith Nikole Beckwith is from Newburyport, Massachusetts. Her plays have been developed and performed with the Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Clubbed Thumb, HERE Arts Center, Colt Coeur, Lesser America, 3LD and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater among others. Her newest play Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters) was written at the National Theatre of London’s Studio and premiered in rep at the Royal Court under the direction of Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone. Also a pen and ink artist, Beckwith’s comics have been featured on NPR, WNYC, the Huffington Post and the Hairpin, among others. Her first film Stockholm, Pennsylvania (2012 Nicholl Fellowship, 2012 Black List, 2013 Sundance Screenwriters Lab), which was adapted from her stage play of the same name, premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in the US Dramatic Competition. She lives in Brooklyn. Jennifer Phang Jennifer Phang’s sophomore feature Advantageous (pictured above) won the US Dramatic Competition Special Jury Prize in Collaborative Vision at Sundance 2015. The film will play at the San Francisco International Film Festival and BAM Cinemafest, and is expected to see a release in June. Her award-winning debut feature Half-Life premiered in 2008 at the Tokyo International and Sundance film festivals. It screened at SXSW and was distributed by Sundance Channel. She was invited to Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and was awarded a SFFS FilmHouse Residency and Sundance Institute Feature Film Grants in support of Advantageous. Phang was originally commissioned to create Advantageous as a short film for the ITVS Futurestates Program. A Berkeley-born daughter of a Chinese-Malaysian father and Vietnamese mother, Phang graduated from the MFA directing program at the American Film Institute. Stewart Thorndike Stewart Thorndike is a writer/director from Tacoma, Washington. She makes female-driven genre films and her first film, Lyle, was hailed as a “lesbianRosemary’s Baby” after its premiere at Outfest, where star Gaby Hoffmann won the Grand Jury Award for Best Actress. Thorndike attended NYU’s graduate film program and her thesis short film, Tess and Nana, premiered at SXSW. Stewart’s next film, The Stay, is about a group of women at a hotel who are told to do bad things by a haunted TED Talk, with Chloe Sevigny attached to star in the 2015 production. She is currently developing her second horror feature, Daughter, about a love triangle between a single mother, her troubled teenage daughter and the witch who moves in next door. Thorndike plans to shoot Daughter in 2016. SFFS Women Filmmaker Fellowships will take place from April to October each year, overlapping with the Film Society’s previously announced Producers Fellowship programs and the San Francisco International Film Festival (April 23 – May 7). Program support includes: * A $25,000 – $40,000 cash grant, which must be used for living expenses. Individual amounts depend on place of residence and estimated travel costs to participate in Bay Area fellowship components. * Placement in FilmHouse Residency program and access to all FilmHouse programs and activities. * One-on-one consultation with film industry experts from the Bay Area and beyond regarding casting, financing, budgeting, legal issues, distribution and other relevant topics. * Weekly one-on-one consultation services provided by Filmmaker360 staff, with feedback on screenplays, verbal pitch strategies and written materials such as synopsis and treatment. * Presentations and networking opportunities with Bay Area narrative filmmakers. * Expenses covered for one 3-day networking trip with a Filmmaker360 staff member from San Francisco to Los Angeles, for meetings with established industry professionals.
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