• Restored Anti-apartheid Film, A Dry White Season, will Screen on Mandela Day 2015 for Durban International Film Festival

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    A DRY WHITE SEASON The award-winning and world-renowned French filmmaker Euzhan Palcy will showcase her most celebrated work, A DRY WHITE SEASON (1989), as part of the film’s 25th anniversary at this year’s Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). The film was adapted from a book by the acclaimed South African writer Andre Brink who died earlier this year. Palcy will be honoring Brink on Mandela Day (July 18). Additionally, in a tribute to her contribution to the South African film industry, Palcy will be honoured at the Simon Sabela Awards on July 19. Karina Brink, Dame Janet Suzman and Thoko Ntshinga will attend both the screening and the awards. A DRY WHITE SEASON, Euzhan Palcy At the time the film was produced, Ms. Palcy (pictured above) was distinguished for being the first black female director to be hired by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and to direct an anti-apartheid film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence. She is also the only woman to have directed Marlon Brando and the first black person to win a French Oscar. Andre Brink’s book, a narrative about the social movements of South Africa and the 1976 Soweto riots inspired Palcy’s impassioned response to illustrate an accurate account of the reality of apartheid. Palcy made the film in 1989 after doing extensive research undercover in Soweto. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Marlon Brando, Zakes Mokae, Susan Sarandon, John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Jürgen Prochnow amongst others. “We are pleased to be able to present an important work created by a black woman, which highlights and even represents the lost voices of the people of this continent; the unspoken narratives and the untold stories,” says Pedro Pimenta, Director of DIFF. “Her courage to create a work which could stand out and give three dimensional life to Brink’s book, and by association the voiceless at the time, required an enormous amount of bravery. We are proud to be able to salute her at the DIFF this year.” The South African event will kick off on 17 July with the opening of an exhibition of David James’ still photographs from A DRY WHITE SEASON at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts. James is the 2011 Society of Cinematographer Lifetime achievement award winner in stills photography and was the official photographer of the 81st to the 84th Oscars ceremonies. The exhibition will run for the duration of the DIFF until the 26 July. A DRY WHITE SEASON will be screened on Mandela Day at Suncoast on Saturday, 18 July at 20:00. This will be followed by a question and answer session with Ms. Palcy. Her first classic award winning film, SUGAR CANE ALLEY, which Brink apparently screened in secret to his students, celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be screened as a South African premiere at Suncoast on Monday, 20 July at 19:30, in which she will also be in attendance. Comment from Patrick Aglae director of communications for Euzhan Palcy and producer of A DRY WHITE SEASON: the 25th anniversary tour: It has been a long journey since we decided to officially screen A DRY WHITE SEASON in South Africa on the big stage. Euzhan Palcy had made the promise to Nelson Mandela to comeback one day to officially screen the film. In March at the Andre Brink’s Memorial at the University of Cape Town she said “Let’s make it happen”. So to do it on the Mandela Day is magnificent. I’d like to thank DIFF’s new leadership to make this dream a reality alongside MGM and Park Circus, its worldwide distribution partner which played a key role to restore this film and make the DCP on time. To make it so fast speaks volume about their respect for the film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbNbN3KSkI8

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  • BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS Starring Fran Kranz and Pedro Pascal to Open September 4 | TRAILER

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    BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS The hilarious, blood-spattered indie film BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS which World Premiere earlier this year as the opening night film of the Slamdance Film Festival 2015, will open in select theaters and VOD 0n September 4th. Bloodsucking Bastards takes audiences on a hilarious, blood-spattered roller coaster ride in the most terrifying locale of all: the American workplace. The film stars Fran Kranz as Evan Sanders, a low-level, dutiful employee stuck in a boring job at a soul-killing every corporation. Evan’s the kind of guy who does all the work and gets none of the credit, but at least he gets to spend his days with his beautiful co-worker/girlfriend Amanda (Emma Fitzpatrick) and his slacker best friend Tim (Joey Kern), so he soldiers on in the hope of one day getting his coveted sales director position. Unfortunately, it all falls apart in one fell swoop when Amanda breaks up with him and Evan’s boss Ted (Joel Murray) hands his promotion to his college nemesis Max (Pedro Pascal). And it isn’t just their sordid past Evan has to deal with. After his fellow officemates start going through disturbing changes (which, paradoxically, make them better employees) and bodies begin to pile up, Evan learns the horrible truth: Max is a vampire. And even worse… a vamp with a plan. Evan must find a way to stop the evil brewing amidst the cubicles, expose Max as the bloodsucking bastard that he is, and save his pals before his life and career go from dead-end…to just dead. Directed by Brian James O’Connell and penned by the popular comedy troupe Dr. God and Ryan Mitts, Bloodsucking Bastards recently made its world premiere as the opening night film at the Slamdance Film Festival 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzV9oG07lo

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  • Skateboarding Film WE ARE BLOOD to Premiere in August 2015 | TRAILER

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    WE ARE BLOOD ty evans The skateboarding film WE ARE BLOOD will World Premiere on August 13, 2015 in Los Angeles in conjunction with the start of the Dew Tour L.A. stop. Directed by Ty Evans, the feature length film stars professional street skateboarder and DEW® athlete Paul Rodriguez as he and other top skateboarders travel the world, pushing the limits of what’s possible on a skateboard and celebrating the unconditional bond created by the simple act of skateboarding. With staggering cinematography, state-of-the-art cameras and unique perspectives that lend to a cutting-edge, progressive skateboarding experience, WE ARE BLOOD takes viewers through Spain, Brazil, China and Dubai, thanks to the support of film sponsor XDubai, as well as on a classic road trip across the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVus4Ua1EFQ The world premiere of WE ARE BLOOD will be held at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday, August 15. Following the Los Angeles premiere, WE ARE BLOOD will launch a screening tour across the United States and globally at select locations including: Thursday, August 20 – New York, N.Y. Monday, August 24 – Boston, Mass. Tuesday, August 25 – Denver, Colo. Wednesday, August 26 – Chicago, Ill. Friday, August 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands Saturday, August 29 – Munich, Germany Sunday, August 30 – Vienna, Austria Tuesday, September 1 – Portland, Ore. Wednesday, September 2 – San Francisco, Cali. Thursday, September 3 – San Diego, Cali. Friday, September 4 – Houston, Texas Saturday, September 5 – Dallas, Texas Thursday, September 10 – Sao Paulo, Brazil The film will release worldwide in mid-August in Ultra HD 4K and HD on digital and other VOD and streaming platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Instant Play and MGO as well as on DVD and Blu-ray in Zumiez and other core skate shops.  

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  • Award-Winning Documentary TASHI AND THE MONK Premieres on HBO on August 17th | TRAILER

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    TASHI AND THE MONK The award-winning documentary TASHI AND THE MONK, directed by Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke, and winner of the International Documentary Association’s 2014 Best Short Award, will premiere on HBO on August 17th.  TASHI AND THE MONK provides a heartfelt and uplifting look into a unique children’s community in the Himalayan Mountains. Trained under the Dalai Lama to share Tibetan Buddhism with the West, monk Lobsang Phuntsok felt compelled to leave his life in the United States to return to his home village in India to rescue children from suffering. Since then he has created a unique community called Jhamtse Gatsal which provides a permanent home for 85 orphaned or abandoned children. 5 year-old Tashi is the community’s newest arrival. Her mother recently passed away and she’s been abandoned by her alcoholic father. Wild and troubled, Tashi is struggling to find her place amongst 84 new siblings.  Can the community’s love and compassion transform Tashi’s alienation and tantrums into a capacity to make her first real friend? https://vimeo.com/95827076

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  • TRAILER for Award Winning + Hilariously Funny FORT TILDEN

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    FORT TILDEN Orion Releasing has released the new official trailer for the hilariously funny FORT TILDEN, the debut feature film of directors Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers, and the well deserved winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival.  Fort Tilden will open in theaters and on VOD on August 14th. Amidst quarter-life crises, Allie struggles to prepare for the Peace Corps, while Harper awaits checks from her father to fund her artistic dreams. But the two friends quickly shun responsibilities for the day when a pair of good-looking guys invites them along for a carefree Fort Tilden afternoon. As the two young women board their bikes and embark on a lengthy journey to the beach, they quickly realize that, akin to their confusing, transitioning lives, they neither know where they’re going nor how they plan to get there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-MrQSx3blg

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  • THE MEND Starring Josh Lucas Sets Summer 2015 Release Date

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    THE MEND, A film by John Magary, Starring Josh Lucas, Stephen Plunkett, Lucy Owen, Mickey Sumner and Austin Pendleton THE MEND “the wonderfully strange and acidic debut comedy from writer / director John Magary” and starring Josh Lucas, Stephen Plunkett, Lucy Owen, Mickey Sumner and Austin Pendleton, will open in theaters in NYC on August 21st, and in LA on August 28th via Cinelicious. Shot through with the wicked humor and anarchy of Bruce Robinson’s Withnail & I and Mike Leigh’s Naked, The Mend follows a mismatched yin-yang pair of NYC brothers, loose cannon Mat (Josh Lucas in a career-best performance) and put-upon Alan ( Stephen Plunkett) as they stagger dimly towards some understanding of love, women, masculinity and what it truly means to be a brother. Featuring a gorgeous, minimalist score by Michi Wiancko & Judd Greenstein and beautiful, fluid cinematography by Chris Teague (Obvious Child), the film unfolds as three stylistically distinct but interwoven acts, each with its own mesmerizing rhythm.  With superb supporting performances by Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha) and Lucy Owen as the brothers’ sharp-tongued girlfriends.

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  • Bollywood Film BROTHERS…BLOOD AGAINST BLOOD Starring Akshay Kumar Opens Worldwide August 14 | TRAILER

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    BROTHERS…BLOOD AGAINST BLOOD Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar returns with his latest film BROTHERS…BLOOD AGAINST BLOOD which opens in theaters worldwide on August 14 in time for India’s Independence Day holiday weekend. The Mixed Martial Arts saga will release in over 100 theaters across the U.S. including the AMC Empire in NYC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQO8LZ1Vh74 Gary Fernandes (Jackie Shroff), a former alcoholic and street-fighter, returns home after serving a prison sentence of 10 long years to find that the wounds of the past still haunt his family. His two sons, David (Akshay Kumar) and Monty (Siddharth Malhotra), who had parted ways as kids, are grown men now, but are still bitterly estranged. Gary himself carries the burden of his guilt. His elder son, David is an ex-fighter turned school teacher.  He and his wife Jenny work hard to make ends meet and to provide the best they can for their ailing daughter Poopoo. Troubled financial circumstances drive a desperate David to return to the world of street fighting. Meanwhile, Monty struggles with his lonely complex existence. An alcoholic, he is active in the world of street fighting, but lacks focus and determination. He strongly yearns for the acceptance, love and respect of his family. As the story unfolds, we see the journey of these three men, as they seek to find redemption and healing. Meanwhile, the arrival of ‘Right to Fight’ is announced in India — the biggest international event in mixed martial arts history. Both brothers, at the crossroads of their lives, end up enlisting to fight in this ‘Winner-takes-all’ event. And it is here after an age of estrangement, unknown to the two siblings, they finally stand to face off with each other and against their personal demons, in the ultimate final battle. It is said, that when a deep injury is done to us, we can never recover until we forgive. With twists and turns, pouring emotions and edge-of-the-seat action, will this final battle between the two brothers repair old wounds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obHPQU0C1oo

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  • 2015 trinidad+tobago film festival Reveals First Ten Classic Caribbean Films on Lineup

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    The Harder They Come The 2015 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) unveiled the first selections of ten classic Caribbean films for this year’s edition of the Festival. These ten films will screen in a special sidebar to the main program, in honor of the ttff’s tenth anniversary. The Festival takes place from September 15–29. “Many people are unaware that there has been a Caribbean film industry for quite some time, or that almost every country in the region has produced feature films,” said Bruce Paddington, ttff Founder and Festival Director. “We are therefore very proud to present ten of the very best classic films from the Caribbean that will help one to appreciate and enjoy the rich diversity of the region.” Comprising films from nine different countries, the sidebar ranges across the English-, Spanish-, French- and Dutch-speaking sections of the region. The lineup includes the Jamaican classic, The Harder They Come, and Bim, from T&T. Memories of Underdevelopment, the oldest film in the lineup, is from 1968, while the most recent, Strawberry and Chocolate, was released in 1993. Both of those films hail from Cuba. The full slate of films is as follows: Memories of Underdevelopment (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Cuba, 1968) The Harder They Come (Perry Henzell, Jamaica, 1972) Bim (Hugh A. Robertson, Trinidad and Tobago, 1974) One People (Pim de la Parra, Suriname, 1976) Sugar Cane Alley (Euzhan Palcy, Martinique, 1983) One Way Ticket (Agliberto Menéndez, Dominican Republic, 1988) What Happened to Santiago (Jacobo Morales, Puerto Rico, 1989) Ava and Gabriel: A Love Story (Felix de Rooy, Curaçao, 1990) The Man on the Shore (Raoul Peck, Haiti, 1993) Strawberry and Chocolate (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío, Cuba, 1993) Caption: A still from The Harder They Come

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  • 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival Completes Lineup; Closes with ATTACK ON TITAN!

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    ATTACK ON TITAN! movie

    The 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival rolls into the city of Montreal for its 19th edition from July 14 to August 4, 2015.

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  • SNEAKERHEADZ Documentary to Hit Theaters on Friday, August 7 | TRAILER

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    SNEAKERHEADZ documentary The documentary SNEAKERHEADZ, directed by David T. Friendly (Academy Award nominated producer of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) and Mick Partridge (SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, DECODING ANNIE PARKER, MERCY),which examines the cultural influence of sneaker collecting, will open in theaters on August 7 – opening at Village East Cinemas in NYC on Friday, August 7 with a national release to follow. To Rock or Stock? Sneakerheads will do almost anything to get their hands on a unique pair of kicks, going to such extreme lengths as hiding in trash cans to score a pair of Retro Jordan 11s to camping for days in sub zero temperatures for the latest Nike Foamposites. How did sneakers become as prized as collectable art? From the shores of Cali to the congested streets of Tokyo, SNEAKERHEADZ examines the cultural influence of sneaker collecting around the world and delves into a subculture whose proud members don’t just want to admire art, they want to wear it. https://vimeo.com/130269223

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  • American Film BOB AND THE TREES Win Top Prize at 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

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    Bob and the Trees 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival The American film, Bob and the Trees, starring Bob Tarasuk, playing himself, as Bob, a fifty-year old logger, struggling to make ends meet in a threatened industry, was awarded with the Crystal Globe at the 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Tarasuk accepted the Festival Grand Prix in person, together with director Diego Ongaro (pictured above). “This really is a surprise. We had virtually no money to shoot the film so I had to invest my and my wife’s money, and I would like to thank everybody involved in making the film” stated director Ongaro, noting that he still has not found a distributor. Bob Tarasuk, too, expressed his amazement: “I have never won anything so far. Indeed, I have never left the States before, but my grandmother was Czech and my grandfather Ukrainian so I dedicate this award to them.” The Special Jury Prize went to Austrian director Peter Brunner for the film Those Who Fall Have Wings, a drama on coming to terms with the death of a loved one. Kosovan Visar Morina received the Best Director Award for his film Babai, a story about a small boy setting off on a journey to find his father. The Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film went to Helena Třeštíková for Mallory.  Life hasn’t been easy on Mallory but after the birth of her son she tries desperately to kick her drug habit, and to stop living on the street. She wants to turn her back on her dark past and help those she knows best – people on the fringes of society. In her latest long-term documentary, Helena Třeštíková demonstrates that even seemingly hopeless lives needn’t be cut short halfway. The prize for the best film of the East of the West Competition was awarded to social drama The Wednesday Child by the Hungarian director Lili Horváth, a tale of a young girl who wants to secure better circumstances for her child than she had. OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION GRAND JURY Tim League, USA Angelina Nikonova, Russia Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Iceland Hengameh Panahi, France Ondřej Zach, Czech Republic GRAND PRIX – CRYSTAL GLOBE (25 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. Bob and the Trees Directed by: Diego Ongaro USA, 2015 SPECIAL JURY PRIZE (15 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. Those Who Fall Have Wings / Jeder der fällt hat Flügel Directed by: Peter Brunner Austria, 2015 BEST DIRECTOR AWARD Visar Morina for the film Babai Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, France, 2015 BEST ACTRESS AWARD Alena Mihulová for her role in the film Home Care / Domácí péče Directed by: Slávek Horák Czech Republic, Slovakia, 2015 EAST OF THE WEST – COMPETITION EAST OF THE WEST JURY Gaby Babić, Germany Alexis Grivas, Greece Tomáš Luňák, Czech Republic Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Russia Olena Yershova, Ukraine EAST OF THE WEST AWARD (20 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. The Wednesday Child / Szerdai gyerek Directed by: Lili Horváth Hungary, Germany, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION The World Is Mine / Lumea e a mea Directed by: Nicolae Constantin Tănase Romania, 2015 DOCUMENTARY FILMS – COMPETITION DOCUMENTARY FILMS JURY Paolo Bertolin, Italy Teodora Ana Mihai, Romania Ivana Pauerová Miloševič, Czech Republic BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM OVER 60 MINUTES (5 000 USD) Mallory Directed by: Helena Třeštíková Czech Republic, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION The Father Tapes / Vaterfilm Directed by: Albert Meisl Austria, 2015 BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM UNDER 30 MINUTES (5 000 USD) White Death / Muerta Blanca Directed by: Roberto Collío Chile, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION Women in Sink Directed by: Iris Zaki Great Britain, Israel, 2015 FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS – COMPETITION FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS JURY Katrin Gebbe, Germany Michael Málek, Czech Republic Yeo Joon Han, Malaysia FORUM OF INDEPENDENTS AWARD The winning film will be purchased by Czech Television for the flat fee of 5000 EUR. Tangerine Directed by: Sean Baker USA, 2015 AUDIENCE AWARD Youth / La giovinezza Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino Italy, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, 2015 Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema Richard Gere, USA Festival President’s Award for Contribution to Czech Cinematography Iva Janžurová, Czech Republic NON-STATUTORY AWARDS AWARD OF INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS (FIPRESCI) Awarded by The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). FIPRESCI JURY Pamela Cohn, USA, Germany Swapan Kumar Ghosh, India Radovan Holub, Czech Republic Eva Peydró, Spain Srđan Vucinic, Serbia Box Directed by: Florin Şerban Romania, Germany, France, 2015 THE ECUMENICAL JURY AWARD THE ECUMENICAL JURY Michael Otřísal, Czech Republic Vít Poláček, Czech Republic Lothar Strüber, Germany Rita Weinert, Germany Bob and the Trees Directed by: Diego Ongaro USA, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION Song of Songs / Pesn pesney Directed by: Eva Neymann Ukraine, 2015 FEDEORA AWARD Awarded by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and The Mediterranean (FEDEORA) to the best film from East of the West – Competition FEDEORA JURY Ronald Bergan, United Kingdom James Evans, United Kingdom Dubravka Lakić, Serbia Heavenly Nomadic / Sutak Directed by: Mirlan Abdykalykov Kyrgysztan, 2015 The Wednesday Child / Szerdai gyerek Directed by: Lili Horváth Hungary, Germany 2015 EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AWARD For the best European film in the Official Selection – Competition and in the East of the West – Competition. Europa Cinemas Label jury Erika Borsos, Hungary Caroline Dragacci, France David O’Mahony, Ireland Jens Schneiderheinze, Germany Babai Directed by: Visar Morina Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, France, 2015 BEST ACTOR AWARD Kryštof Hádek for his role in the film The Snake Brothers / Kobry a užovky Directed by: Jan Prušinovský Czech Republic, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION The Magic Mountain / La montagne magique Directed by: Anca Damian Romania, France, Poland, 2015 SPECIAL JURY MENTION Antonia Directed by: Ferdinando Cito Filomarino Italy, Greece, 2015 Works in Progress 2015 15 selected projects were presented in the Works in Progress 2015. The most promising project selected by the International Jury received the award of 10 000 Euros in services from the event’s partner Barrandov Studios. THE WORKS IN PROGRESS JURY 2015 Paz Lázaro, Berlin International Film Festival (Germany) Titus Kreyenberg, unafilm (Germany) Jan Naszewski, New Europe Film Sales (Poland) AWARD OF 10 000 EUROS IN SERVICES FOR THE MOST PROMISING PROJECT Park Directed by: Sofia Exarchou Greece, 2015 image via 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

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  • 2015 Maine International Film Festival Kicks off with TUMBLEDOWN

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    Tumbledown, Desi Van Til, Sean Mewshaw More than 850 people attended the 2015 Maine International Film Festival in Waterville as it kicked off its 18th year with a nearly sold out showing of the Maine premiere of Tumbledown, a feature length film set in western Maine from Portland-based filmmakers Desi Van Til and Sean Mewshaw. In Tumbledown, a young widow (Rebecca Hall), falls for a brash New York writer (Jason Sudeikis) who barrels into her rural Maine town investigating the death of her husband, folk-music hero Hunter Miles (voiced by Damien Jurado). Hannah is scraping her life back together in a cabin at the foot of Tumbledown mountain, attempting to seal every shred of her husband’s life into a biography. When Andrew, an academic who has a different take on Hunter’s life and death, shows up looking for the truth of this mysterious musician, the pair clash. But gradually they find themselves collaborating to craft Hunter’s story, and beginning to write the next chapter of their lives together. The film also stars Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello, and Diana Agron. “The great turnout for opening night shows that audiences are excited for MIFF’s return,” said Festival Director Shannon Haines. “We are incredibly proud of this year’s program, which is a truly diverse mixture of the best of American independent and international films as well as rare and restored prints of cinema classics, and we’re eager for audiences to experience it.” Acclaimed actor Michael Murphy will be presented the Mid-Life Achievement Award in honor of his diverse career that includes a long-time collaboration with director Robert Altman and work with Woody Allen, P.T. Anderson, Elia Kazan and Oliver Stone. MIFF will present the U.S. premiere of Murphy’s new film Fall before the award presentation on July 16. For the first time, MIFF will host the World Filmmakers’ Forum through a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. Filmmakers from France, Argentina, Turkey and Mexico will show their work and discuss their creative process and the state of international film. On July 18, MIFF will offer Maine filmmakers a chance to showcase their work and network with each other during Making It In Maine Day. The day-long event will include a networking brunch and panel discussion at the Colby College Museum of Art.

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