• 2015 American Black Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Opens with DOPE

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    Pharrell Williams Reveals DOPE Official Poster The 2015 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) taking place at the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square, New York City, June 11 to 14, 2015, unveiled its lineup of films, including documentaries, web originals, short films and narrative features.  Film director Rick Famuyiwa’s critically acclaimed film, Dope, will open the 19th annual American Black Film Festival on Thursday, June 11, at the SVA Theatre. Dope is a coming-of-age comedy/drama for the post hip-hop generation; its main characters are obsessed with ‘90s hip-hop. Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is warily surviving life in “The Bottoms” in Los Angeles, while juggling college applications, academic interviews and SATs. His dream is to attend Harvard. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into a gritty adventure filled with offbeat characters and bad choices that could allow him to go from being a geek to being dope to ultimately being himself. Open Road Films will release the film nationwide on June 19, 2015. Dope stars Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky, Chanel Imanand Quincy Brown and is produced by Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi (Fruitvale Station). Pharrell Williams, Michael Y. Chow (Fruitvale Station), Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar) and David Lonner are executive producers.Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is co-executive producer, and Mimi Valdes and Caron Veazy are co-producers. The complete list of films selected for Spotlight, Narrative Features Competition, HBO Short Film Competition, ABFF Web Originals, and the ABFF Documentary Competition follows below: OPENING NIGHT FILM DOPE 2014 USA 115 MIN HD NY Premiere Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America Courtesy of Open Road Films Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa Written by: Rick Famuyiwa Produced by: Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi Executive Producers:  Pharrell Williams, Michael Y. Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, David Lonner Co-Exec. Prod:  Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Co-Prods: Mimi Valdes, Caron Veazys Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky, Chanel Iman, Quincy Brown SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS 2015 ABFF INDEPENDENT – Season 4 Premiere 2015 USA 35 MIN World Premiere ABFF Independent is a showcase of popular and award-winning films from the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) hosted by hip-hop artist, record producer and actor David Banner. AN UNEXPECTED HISTORY: THE STORY OF HENNESSY AND AFRICAN AMERICANS 2015 USA 49 MIN HD World Premiere Courtesy of Hennessy Directed by: Llewellyn Smith Produced by: Llewellyn Smith, Annie Stopford Featuring: Jason P. Chambers, PhD, Herbert P. Douglas Jr., Noel Hankin, Rhonda McDonald, Rodney Williams An Unexpected History celebrates Moët Hennessy’s hundred-year relationship with African American culture, as well as the role of African Americans in shaping the brand’s identity and success. The film recounts Hennessy’s historic role in bringing respect and opportunities to Black professionals and consumers, by focusing on the remarkable achievements of two of the brand’s most influential Black executives. BOYZ N THE HOOD + Q&A with director John Singleton to follow 1991 USA 108 MIN 35 mm Courtesy of Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Directed by: John SingletonWritten by: John Singleton Produced by: Steve Nicolaides Cast: Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, Regina King John Singleton’s classic saga tells the story of a group of childhood friends growing up in a Los Angeles ghetto. BOXED IN + Q&A with actress and director Tasha Smith to follow 2014 USA 30 MIN HD World Premiere Directed by: Tasha Smith Written by: Tasha Smith Produced by: Tasha Smith, Kim Ogletree Cast: Walter Fauntleroy, Antonique Smith, Tyra Ferrell A Black man in NYC struggles with bipolar disorder, while his girlfriend and mother learn to deal with the pain of his manic episodes and struggle for mental survival. RUNAWAY ISLAND + Q&A with the director and cast to follow 2015 USA 85 MIN Estimated HD World Premiere Courtesy of TV One Directed by: Dianne Houston Written by: Christopher Brandt Produced by: Gingi Rochelle & Allison Wilmarth Cast: Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), Thomas Q. Jones (Being Mary Jane), Aisha Hinds (Star Trek Into Darkness), Leon Thomas (Victorious), A. Russell Andrews (Grey’s Anatomy, House of Payne),Erica Tazel (Justified), Melanie Liburd (CSI, Stalker). A pastor, an aging widow, and a socialite with cold feet visit a luxurious Gullah Sea Island resort to be rejuvenated by its holistic setting. NARRATIVE FEATURES FRENCH DIRTY 2015/USA/72min/HD/NY Premiere Directed by: Wade Allain-Marcus, Jesse Allain-Marcus Written by: Peter K. Hagen, Wade Allain-Marcus Produced by: Jason Wolf, Mel Jones Cast: Wade Allain-Marcus, Melina Lizette, Arjun Gupta After committing the carnal sin of sleeping with his best friend’s girlfriend, Vincent must deal with the consequences of his betrayal and hope that his bond with his brother-from-another-mother can withstand the blow GIRLFRIENDS’  GETAWAY 2 ** FEATURED ALUMNI SCREENING 2015/USA/84min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Roger M. Bobb Written by: Cas Sigers-Beedles Produced by: Roger M. Bobb, Angi Bones, Cas Sigers, Terri J. Vaughn Cast: Garcelle Beauvais, Terri J. Vaughn, Essence Atkins, Malinda Williams, Stephen Bishop, Khalil Kane Four girlfriends travel to Puerto Rico for a destination wedding and chaos ensues when the low-key wedding turns into a disaster. JOHN OF GOD THE MOVIE 2014/ Democratic Republic of Congo/86min/HD/North America Premiere Directed by: Selé M’Poko Written by: Selé M’Poko Produced by: Selé M’Poko, Alessia Michielan, Jo D. Jonz, Woody T. Richman, Pamela Lubell Cast: Jo D. Jonz, Jean Shaka Tshipamba, Moïse Ilunga John of God is the world’s greatest musician…in his own mind. KNUCKLEHEAD 2015/USA/81min/HD Directed by: Ben Bowman Written by: Bryan Abrams, Ben Bowman Produced by: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Ben Bowman Executive Producers: Jonathan Gray, Debra Azemar Cast: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Alfre Woodard, Amari Cheatom, Justin Myrick, Nikiya Mathis, Carla Duren Convinced prescription drugs will fix his mind, a mentally disabled man leaves Brooklyn for the first time to find the one doctor who he believes can cure him. LAST NIGHT 2014/USA/93min/HD/NY Premiere Directed by: Harold Jackson III Written by: Harold Jackson III Produced by: Harold Jackson III, Hope Taylor, Prince Levy Jr., Latecia Durham Cast: Judi Blair, Danny Gavigan, Benton Greene, Nedra McClyde, Nikkole Salter A woman’s last night alone before settling down is sidetracked by a chance meeting with an attractive stranger. SUPERMODEL *** FEATURED ALUMNI SCREENING 2015/USA/95min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Shawn Baker Written by:  Shawn Baker, Datari Turner Produced by: Datari Turner Cast: Tyson Beckford, Sessilee Lopez, Datari Turner, Roger Guenveur Smith, Fat Joe, Toccara Jones, Angela Simmons, Marc John Jefferies, Tatyana Ali, Nichole Galicia, Melissa De Sousa, Don Benjamin, Cassandra Freeman, Tobias Truvillion, Julito McCullum, Adam Senn A young girl from the Brooklyn housing projects goes from the subway to the runway, becoming one of the most sought after models in the fashion industry. But in the high stakes world of fashion and beauty, things aren’t always as pretty and glamorous as they seem. THE GIRL IS IN TROUBLE *** FEATURED ALUMNI SCREENING 2015/USA/94min/35mm/NY Premiere Directed by: Julius Onah Written by: Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Julius Onah Produced by: Dana Offenbach, Ryan Silbert, Robert Profusek, Jen Gatien Cast: Columbus Short, Wilmer Valderrama, Alicja Bachelda, Jesse Spencer A Lower East Side bartender becomes entangled in a murder mystery involving a desperate woman, a missing drug dealer and the scion of a powerful investment firm. THE NIGHT BEFORE 2015/USA/86min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Kenny Young Written by: Kenny Young Produced by: Phil James, Lisa D. Washington, Kim Hardin Executive Producers: Angela White, Felicia James Cast: Colin Egglesfield, David Faustino, Fred Willard, Anna Hutchinson, Brian White, Gary Owen A “ladies man” must face his own fear of commitment while hosting his best friend’s bachelor party. THE SIN SEER 2015/USA/119min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Paul D. Hannah Written by: Paul D. Hannah Produced by: Paul D. Hannah, Angela White, Isaiah Washington Cast: Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Isaiah Washington, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, C. Thomas Howell, Michael Ironside, Richard Brooks A woman becomes trapped in a murderous web deception and uses her gift of discernment to discover the truth. WHAT LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DO 2015/USA/95min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Lisa Haynes Written by: Lisa Haynes Produced by: Lisa Haynes, Andre Congo, Justin Bones, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Brad James, Ty Johnston, Victoria Rowell Cast: Darrin Dewitt Henson, Judi Blair, Victoria Rowell, Darryl Booker, Sir Brodie, Carl Anthony Payne II, Brad James An attorney from a prestigious law firm falls in love with a beautiful woman of his dreams, but later discovers her father is seeking revenge against him over a court case gone terribly wrong. HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION BLACK CARD 2015/USA/14min/HD/New York Premiere Directed by: Pete Chatmon Written by: Tony Patrick Produced by: Christina DeHaven, Tony Patrick, Dorian Missick, Dylan Verrechia, ELEW Executive Producer: Pete Chatmon Cast: Dorian Missick, Simone Missick, Hisham Tawfiq, Stephen Hill, Erika Myers, Malikha Mallette, April Matthis, Valence Thomas In a culture requiring an ID card and commitment to the code, an African American couple is about to find out just how far the boundaries can be pushed…. CHAINING DAY 2014/USA/11min/HD/New York Premiere Directed by: Dominic Haxton Written by: Chris Bailey Produced by: Chris Bailey Cast: Dusan Brown, Shawn Kenneth A young boy commits an accidental murder, which causes a stir in the community and forces him to choose between his loyalty to the gang he belongs to OR saving what’s left of his innocence by turning himself into the police. FIRST DATE, LAST DATE 2015/USA/7min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Derege Harding Written by: E.V. Anderson Produced by: Derege Harding Cast: Andrea Bordeaux, Daniel Hall Soul mates Sara and Michael carry on their first date as the world comes to an end. JOY 2015/USA/15min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Solomon Onita Jr. Written by: Solomon Onita Jr. Produced by: Elsie Dortelus, Terrence J. Grant, Solomon Onita Jr. Cast: Sope Aluko, Bayo Akinfemi, Hannah Tarver, Georgina E. Okon, Brooke-Monaé Westbrook A Nigerian middle-aged woman living in America struggles to convince her traditionalist husband not to circumcise their ten-year-old daughter. STANHOPE 2015/USA/18min/HD/World Premiere Directed by: Solvan Naim Written by: Solvan Naim Produced by:  Solvan Naim, Akshay Bhansali Cast: Malik Lockett, Johnnie Mae, Rob Morgan, Nedra McClyde, Simeon Buresch Stanhope is a drama about a teenage inner-city kid from Brooklyn who gets caught up in a web of violence as a paid assassin. ABFF WEB ORIGINALS – GROUP 1 #JOSH 2014 USA 15:35 MIN HD World Premiere Directed by: Edson Jean, Nick Katz Written by: Episode-1 Joshua Jean-Baptiste; Episode-2 Mimi Davila, Marckenson Charles, Maria Corina Ramirez; Episode-3 Joshua Jean-Baptiste, Mimi Davila, Maria Corina Ramirez Produced by: Edson Jean, Nick Katz, Barry Katz Cast: Joshua Jean Baptiste, Edson Jean, Shira Abergel, Marckenson Charles A naive, chaste acting student (Josh) seeks guidance from his immoral problematic roommate in hopes to become a leading man. ACKEE & SALTFISH 2015 UNITED KINGDOM 16:21 MIN HD Directed by: Cecile Emeke Written by: Cecile Emeke Produced by: Cecile Emeke, Abraham Popoola Cast: Michelle Tiwo, Vanessa Babirye Everyday moments are never mundane with these two hilarious best friends in Ackee & Saltfish. ESCORTS 2015 USA 21:37 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Dave Patten Written by: Dave Patten, Josh West. Produced by: Dave Patten, Alexx Ray, Chris Bauer Executive Producer: David Ricks Cast: Dave Patten, David Ricks, Alexx Ray, Richard Amezcua Pragmatic hipster Jay Miller’s successful small business of selling sex to his collegiate peers becomes infinitely more difficult when one of his employees dies while “working.” ALL ABOUT THE MCKENZIES 2014 UNITED KINGDOM 20:51 MIN HD World Premiere Directed by: Samuell Benta Written by: Samuell Benta Produced by: Samuell Benta Cast: Samuell Benta, Jason Pennycooke, Ria Horsford, Frankie Clarence, Destinee Tombling, Sheldon Nicolls, Fenella James All about comedy, all about drama, it’s All About The McKenzies. BLACK ACTRESS SERIES – SEASON TWO 2015 USA 23:34 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: William Alexander Runnels Written by: Episode 1-Andrea Lewis; Episode 2-Andrea Lewis, Austin Hall; Episode 3 – Andrea Lewis Produced by: Andrea Lewis, Brian Walker, Tatyana Ali, Essence Atkins, Brad Kaaya, Carol Desousa Cast: Andrea Lewis, Allison Edwards-Crewe, Rob Vincent The life of an actress who wants to be more than just Black. ABFF WEB ORIGINALS – GROUP II DOWNTOWN GIRLS 2014 USA 17:35 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Emebeit Beyene & Chandra Russell Written by: Jessica Lamour Produced by: Jacques Lamour, Emebeit Beyene, Crystal Boyd, Chandra Russell Cast: Emebeit Beyene, Crystal Boyd, Chivonne Michelle, Chandra Russell To raise money to launch their own business, four girls turn their Lower East Side apartment into a lucrative nightclub. DOCKET 32357 2014 USA 24:11 MIN HD World Premiere Directed by: Randy Wilkins Written by: Eljon Wardally Produced by: Jessica Karen Brown, Juan Caceres Cast: Tara Gadomski, Ashley Denise Robinson A successful businesswoman and a grieving housewife struggle to overcome loneliness in the face of a shared tragedy. Q’S ONE NIGHT STANDS 2014 USA 17 MIN HD World Premiere Directed by:  Terrence L. Moore Written by: Terrence L. Moore Produced by: Michael Galvan Executive Producers: Terrence L.  Moore, Jenny Cadenillas, Uana Coccoloni Cast: Kee Seymore, Susana Victoria Perez, Joshua Windley, Kajuana Shuford, Dominic Marcus, Gayle Samuels A comedy about a guy so fed up with traditional dating he commits to having only one-night stands. THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF DARRELL 2015 USA 14:31 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Darrell Lake Written by: Darrell Lake Produced by: Darrell Lake Cast: Darrell Lake, Tru Collins, Joy Regullano, Larry Karman, Justin Bryant Rapp, Pete George The spectacularly mundane adventures of an incredible average Joe in small town Wakooki, Arizona. AMERICAN KOKO 2015 USA 24 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Diarra Kilpatrick & Miles Orion Feld Written by: Diarra Kilpatrick Produced by: Anna Micayla Feld Cast: Diarra Kilpatrick, Terrence Colby Clemons, Miles Orion Feld, Elaine Kao, Cedric Sanders Employees of the “Everyone’s a Little Racist (EAR) Agency” do their best to tackle every race problem that comes through their door, but for lead agent Akosua Miller, the biggest case of all may be her own… ABFF DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION The following films compete for the Best Documentary award. One winner will be announced during the “Best of the ABFF” awards ceremony, Sunday, June 14. ALTHEA 2014 USA 77 MIN HD Directed by: Rex Miller Produced by: Nancy Buirski, Elisabeth Haviland James, Rex Miller Executive Producers: John Amos, Billie Jean King, William Ackman Principal Subject(s): Billie Jean King, Nick Bollettieri, David Dinkins, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe Althea Gibson, a truant from the rough streets of Harlem, emerged as a most unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world of the 1950s. AN AMERICAN ASCENT 2015 USA 64 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Andy Adkins, George Potter Written by: Andy Adkins, James Mills Produced by: George Potter, Andy Adkins Principal Subject(s): Stephen Shobe, Erica Wynn, Tyrhee Moore, Scott Briscoe, Billy Long, Rosemary Saal, Ryan Mitchell, Stephen DeBerry, Adina Scott, James Kagambi, Robby Rechord, Madhu Chikkaraju, Aaron Devine, Jon Krakauer, Conrad Anker An American Ascent documents the first African American expedition to tackle North America’s highest mountain, Denali, while shedding light on the complex relationship many African Americans have with the outdoors. NAT KING COLE – AFRAID OF THE DARK 2014 UNITED KINGDOM 94 MIN HD New York Premiere Directed by: Jon Brewer Produced by: Jon Brewer Principal Subject(s): Maria Cole, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis and more… A poignant authorized feature documentary on the life and legacy of Nat King Cole. via Indiewire

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  • See Poster, and Watch Trailer for Amy Whinehouse Documentary AMY

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    Amy Winehouse documentary The poster and trailer are released for the Amy Winehouse documentary, AMY, which world premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and is scheduled to open in New York & Los Angeles on July 3, 2015 followed by nationwide on July 10, 2015. From BAFTA award-winning director Asif Kapadia (SENNA), AMY tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. Featuring extensive unseen archive footage and previously unheard tracks, this strikingly modern, moving and vital film shines a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few can. Amy Winehouse Documentary AMY Trailer Poster A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense – she wrote and sung from the heart using her musical gifts to analyse her own problems. The combination of her raw honesty and supreme talent resulted in some of the most unique and adored songs of the modern era. Her huge success, however, resulted in relentless and invasive media attention which coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships and precarious lifestyle saw her life tragically begin to unravel. Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yCIwmNuLE

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  • The Orchard to Release Joachim Trier’s drama Louder Than Bombs from 2015 Cannes

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    Joachim Trier’s drama Louder Than Bombs Joachim Trier’s drama Louder Than Bombs, an official selection of this year’s, 2015 Cannes Film Festival, is set for release in the U.S. via The Orchard.  Louder Than Bombs is Trier’s follow-up to Reprise and Oslo, and August 31st. The film stars Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne (Miller’s Crossing, The Usual Suspects), Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), and Isabelle Huppert (two-time Best Actress Cannes winner: in 1978 for Violette and 2001 for The Piano Teacher).   The ensemble cast is rounded out by the Academy Award® nominated actors Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) and David Strathairn (Good Night, And Good Luck) and newcomerDevin Druid. Louder Than Bombs was co-written by Eskil Vogt. The pair collaborated on Trier’s two previous, critically heralded features. Three years after the death of his wife, acclaimed photographer Isabelle Reed (Huppert), Gene (Byrne) keeps everyday life going with his shy teenage son, Conrad (Druid).  A planned exhibition of Isabelle’s photographs prompts Gene’s older son, Jonah (Eisenberg), to return to the house he grew up in – and for the first time in a very long time, the father and the two brothers are living under the same roof. Underneath the affection and friction that is a part of restored family life between these three, we feel the striking loss that marks each of them. At the same time, the three have markedly different memories of their wife and mother. The film observes these three men as they find ways to live together and reconcile themselves both to the loss of – and each other’s sense of – the exceptional woman who influenced their lives so profoundly. Grief, mixed with surprising humor, informs all that happens – as each of these three men take meaningful steps forward both as individuals and as a renewed but forever changed family. Director Joachim Trier stated, “I’m thrilled to be working with a company as innovative and forward thinking as The Orchard in bringing our film to North American audiences. We shot the film in the U.S., so it’s particularly meaningful to have found this great partner for our release.”

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  • Cannes Award Winning Film THE MEASURE OF A MAN to BE Released in the U.S.

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    THE MEASURE OF A MAN, starring Vincent Lindon Kino Lorber will release in the U.S. and Canada, Stephane Brizé’s (Mademoiselle Chambon) THE MEASURE OF A MAN, starring Vincent Lindon (Mademoiselle Chambon, Bastards, Friday Night, La Moustache), winner of the Best Actor award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The film was directed by Mr. Brizé and co-written by Brizé and Olivier Gorce. This is Stephane Brizé’s sixth feature film. The film, stars Vincent Lindon as a working-class man struggling with unemployment and then, facing a difficult moral choice as a security guard in a supermarket, Brizé supports his lead with a brilliantly directed cast of non-professional performers playing dramatized versions of themselves. Kino Lorber, which released Stephane Brizé’s Mademoiselle Chambon in the United States to both critical acclaim and box office success (grossing over $530,000 in theaters alone), is planning to release the film in theatres in the fall of 2015, after prestigious North American festival dates. Home media and digital releases will follow in 2016. Richard Lorber comments: “Cannes brought us the gift to work again with Stephane Brizé and Vincent Lindon, after our great success with their Mademoiselle Chambon. With THE MEASURE OF A MAN’s hugely deserved Best Actor honor, we’re keen to share this gift with North American audiences. This deeply moving performance and uniquely framed tale delivers a profound new humanistic insight into questions of economic justice.”

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  • Five Classics by French Director Claude Sautet to Premiere in NYC

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    Rialto Pictures will release five films, for the first time on DCP, by legendary French director Claude Sautet at New York’s Lincoln Plaza Cinemas the week of June 12-18.

    Rialto Pictures will release five films, for the first time on DCP, by legendary French director Claude Sautet at New York’s Lincoln Plaza Cinemas the week of June 12-18, 2015.

    Claude Sautet (1924-2000), who began his filmmaking career in the early 1950s assisting such directors as Georges Franju (Eyes Without a Face) and Jacques Becker (Touchez Pas Au Grisbi), first tasted success with the crime thriller Classe Tous Risques (1960), but was unfairly overlooked as the New Wave directors dominated French cinema.

    After spending much of the 1960s as a screenwriter – and earning a reputation as a master “script doctor” – Sautet re-emerged as a director to watch. His collaborations with Austrian-born actress Romy Schneider, leading men Michel Piccoli and Yves Montand, screenwriter Jean-Loup Dabadie, and cinematographer Jean Boffety, yielded romantic, yet haunting, films that embodied the privileges and struggles of the French bourgeoisie following the political upheavals of the 1960s.The series features three of his collaborations with Schneider – Les Choses De La Vie (1970), the policier Max et Les Ferrailleurs (1971), and César and Rosalie (1972) – along with the rarely-seen Vincent, François, Paul and The Others (1974), starring Yves Montand, Michel Piccoli, and Gérard Depardieu, and Sautet’s final film, Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud (1995). All five films will have their U.S. premieres in new DCP format and are not available on Blu-ray or DVD.

    LES CHOSES DE LA VIE (1970)

    LES CHOSES DE LA VIE

    Runtime: 85 minutes
    Cast: Michel Piccoli, Romy Schneider, Léa Massari

    Winner, Prix Louis Delluc
    Nominated, Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or

    Pierre’s (Michel Piccoli) life flashes before his eyes following a car accident, focusing on his decision to leave his wife (Léa Massari) for a younger woman, Hélène (Romy Schneider).

     

    MAX ET LES FERRAILLEURS (1971)

    MAX ET LES FERRAILLEURS

    Runtime: 112 minutes
    Cast: Michel Piccoli, Romy Schneider, François Périer, Bernard Fresson

    Max (Michel Piccoli) has only one thing on his mind: putting away criminals. When yet another bunch of professional criminals get away, Max unexpectedly runs into an old army buddy, Abel (Bernard Fresson), who has turned to a life of petty crime with a small band of hoodlums, the “ferrailleurs,” or junkmen, of the title. He hatches a plan to trick the group of amateurs into committing a major crime, using Abel’s girlfriend Lily (Romy Schneider) as unwitting bait.

    CÉSAR AND ROSALIE (1972)

    CÉSAR AND ROSALIE

    Runtime: 111 minutes
    Cast: Romy Schneider, Yves Montand, Sami Frey

    After her divorce, Rosalie (Romy Schneider) splits her time between her family and the wealthy César (Yves Montand). When David (Sami Frey), an old flame of Rosalie’s, appears, the two men battle each other for her affections.

     

    VINCENT, FRANÇOIS, PAUL AND THE OTHERS (1974)

    VINCENT, FRANÇOIS, PAUL AND THE OTHERS

    Runtime: 114 minutes
    Cast: Yves Montand, Michel Piccoli, Serge Reggiani, Gérard Depardieu

    Three friends, Vincent (Yves Montand), François (Michel Piccoli), and Paul (Serge Reggiani), confront problems in work, love, and money. Sautet presents an all-too-true snapshot of mid-life crises in middle-class France.

    NELLY AND MONSIEUR ARNAUD (1995)

    NELLY AND MONSIEUR ARNAUD

    Runtime: 107 minutes
    Cast: Emmanuelle Béart, Michel Serrault, Jean-Hugues Anglade

    Winner, Prix Louis Delluc
    Winner, César Award for Best Actor (Michel Serrault) and Best Director (Claude Sautet)

    Nelly (Emmanuelle Béart) is behind on her rent and saddled with an unemployed and uninterested husband. When she meets Monsieur Arnaud (Michel Serrault), an older and wealthier man, Nelly sees a chance to escape from poverty and loneliness. Arnaud enlists her help with transcribing his memoirs and, as their unconventional relationship blossoms, barely-contained emotions threaten to break free.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsWZaftED7A

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  • #DopeMovie Starring Zoë Kravitz, Rapper A$AP Rocky at 2015 Cannes Film Festival

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    Dope Movie dopemovie Front row (left to right): Actors Chanel Iman, Shameik Moore / Second row (left to right): Executive Producer Pharrell Williams, Actors Zoë Kravitz, Quincy Brown, Amin Joseph, Director Rick Famuyiwa, Actors A$AP Rocky, Tony Revolori and Kiersey Clemons celebrate Open Road Films’ DOPE in Cannes.  DOPE was the closing night film of the Directors’ Fortnight, screening on the evening of May 22nd. DOPE will be released in the United States on June 19, 2015. #DopeMovie. Dope Movie dopemovie Executive Producer Pharrell Williams and actress Zoë Kravitz celebrate Open Road Films’ DOPE in Cannes.

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  • Sneak Peak at Lineup for 2015 New York Asian Film Festival

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    Nobuhiro Yamashita's La La La at Rock Bottom The 2015 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF),  is back for its 14th edition and will run from June 26 to July 11. The festival takes place from June 26 to July 8 at the Film Society and July 9 to 11 at SVA Theatre . Initial details include notable awards to be presented to director Ringo Lam, superstar Aaron Kwok, and actor Shota Sometani. The festival will also host a slew of North American film premieres, as well as spotlight the works of Korean female directors and honor the memory of Japanese legends Ken Takakura and Bunta Sugawara with a joint tribute. Hong Kong’s legendary director Ringo Lam (City on Fire) will receive the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. One of Hong Kong’s most influential directors, Lam was directing comedies when City on Fire was released in 1987, fusing the social-protest movie with kinetic action filmmaking. It was followed by the massive hit Prison on Fire later that year, and thenSchool on Fire, a movie so unblinking that nervous Hong Kong censors sliced it to ribbons. Lam became one of the city’s best action filmmakers, and one of the few local directors to be so deeply concerned with the price of progress, the corrosive influence of money on human relationships, and the lives of the little people crushed beneath the wheels of change. In 2003, he directed what was to be his final feature and went into semi-retirement, only to be lured out again in 2015 with Wild City, in which Lam’s tooth-and-claw vision of modern urban living remains untamed. Hong Kong’s superstar actor-singer Aaron Kwok (Divergence, After This Our Exile, Cold War) will receive the festival’s 2015 Star Asia Award onJune 26. One of Hong Kong’s Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop, Kwok has won dozens of awards for his chart-topping albums. For over 30 years, he has performed steadily both on television and in movies and is respected for his box-office star power as well as his outstanding acting chops. Kwok has worked with some of Hong Kong’s finest directors, like Johnnie To, Jacob Cheung, Andrew Lau, and Patrick Tam. His self-described Method acting was rewarded in 2005 and 2006 when he won back-to-back Golden Horse awards for Best Actor, a feat previously achieved only by Jackie Chan. Kwok was awarded his first Best Actor prize was for his performance in 2005’s Divergence, but it was his work in the 2006 After This Our Exile, for which he won his second award, that blew audiences away. In that film, Kwok’s fearless portrayal of a gambling addict exhibited a serious commitment to his craft as well as a complete lack of vanity. He then went on to give a series of startling performances in films like Yim Ho’s Floating City, the blockbuster Cold War, as well as his upcoming tour de force, Port of Call. Japanese actor Shota Sometani will attend the festival on July 4, on the occasion of the New York premiere of Kabukicho Love Hotel, to receive the Screen International Rising Star Award. Director Ryuichi Hiroki will also be in attendance. This marks the second year of a partnership with Screen International, with whom the NYAFF will honor an emerging talent in the East Asian film world each year. At age 22, Sometani is already a leading man in both blockbusters and indie gems and has earned critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. In 2011, he received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in Himizu, along with his co-star Fumi Nikaido (last year’s recipient of the Screen International Rising Star Award). Notable NYAFF titles this year will include the North American premieres of Nobuhiro Yamashita’s La La La at Rock Bottom (pictured above) and Yim Soon-rye’s The Whistleblower and the international premiere of Namewee’s Banglasia, which was banned in Malaysia, its home country. The festival will also feature a section on Korea’s production company Myung Films, highlighting a few of their major works — Cart, The President’s Last Bang, The Isle, and Waikiki Brothers — as part of a greater focus on women who work behind the camera. Producer Shim Jae-myung and directors Yim Soon-rye (The Whistleblower) and Boo Ji-young (Cart) will be in attendance. Japanese film legends Ken Takakura and Bunta Sugawara, both of whom passed away last November, will be the subject of the first joint tribute outside of Japan, which will feature the brand-new digital remaster of the 1973 classic Battles Without Honor and Humanity—screened for the time in North America—among others.

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  • “The Chicken” “Bihttoš” Win Short Film Awards at 2015 Seattle International Film Festival

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    The Chicken directed by Una Gunjak The 2015 Seattle International Film Festival announced today this year’s ShortsFest Jury Award winners. The Chicken (pictured above), directed by Una Gunjak, and described by the jury as an expertly crafted narrative that explores life and death through the eyes of a young girl, is the winner of the Grand Jury Prize, Live Action Short Film. Bihttoš, an unconventional documentary that explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter, directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers won the Grand Jury Prize Documentary Short Film.  This years Festival running May 14 through June 7, features 164 short films, including 25 World, 18 North American, and 11 US premieres. ShortsFest jurors chose winners in the Live Action, Animation, and Documentary categories. All ShortsFest films shown at the Festival are also eligible for Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. Each ShortsFest Grand Jury winner will receive $1,000, and the winners in the three categories are eligible for the Academy Awards® in their respective Short Film category (Live Action, Animated, or Documentary). SIFF 2015 SHORTSFEST AWARD WINNERS LIVE ACTION GRAND JURY PRIZE The Chicken (Croatia, Germany), directed by Una Gunjak JURY STATEMENT: An expertly crafted narrative that explores life and death through the eyes of a young girl. With a film full of authentic performances, Iman Alibalic is extraordinary as the six-year-old protagonist who receives a live chicken from her father for her birthday, and soon realizes it’s meant for dinner. This is an emotional film with a production quality that continues to move the story along and underscore the realities of life in a war zone. SPECIAL JURY MENTION Hole (Canada), directed by Martin Edralin JURY STATEMENT: Hole is a brave exploration of human sexuality and yearning for intimacy through the eyes of a lonely, forgotten, disabled man in the heart of Toronto. Ken Harrower delivers a captivating performance that transcends any labels or limitations and speaks to the need for human connection. DOCUMENTARY GRAND JURY PRIZE Bihttoš (Canada), directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers JURY STATEMENT: For its ambitious approaches to visual storytelling and imaginative recounting of an exceptional family history. ANIMATION GRAND JURY PRIZE The Mill at Calder’s End (USA), directed by Kevin McTurk JURY STATEMENT: There exists a tendency to laud the new-new stories, new techniques, new talent. With the animation award, the jury is pleased to celebrate a film that is decidedly old-school, breathing life into a bygone style, iterating in a story tradition that is centuries old. For this fusion of the modern and classic, we are happy to award Kevin McTurk for The Mill at Calder’s End. FUTUREWAVE SHORTS AWARDS “WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE) In recognition of superior artistic and technical achievement. Audio Input (USA), directed by Sho Schrock-Manabe JURY STATEMENT: For its insightful and engaging portrait of podcasting, an audio art form, through a collage of interviews and images. PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS Each winner will be awarded a $1000 scholarship to the Prodigy Camp. I’m Not Here (South Africa), directed by Jack Markovitz Minimum Max (USA), directed by Josh Ovalle

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  • 2015 Cannes Film Festival Awards, DHEEPAN by Jacques Audiard Wins Palme d’or

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    DHEEPAN by Jacques Audiard The Jury of the 68th Cannes Film Festival, presided by Joel and Ethan Coen picked DHEEPAN by Jacques Audiard (pictured above) the winner of Palme d’or award.  In the film, “to escape the civil war in Sri Lanka, a former soldier, a young woman and a little girl pose as a family. They end up settling in a housing project outside Paris. They barely know one another, but try to build a life together.” After receiving the prize, presented by the actress Cécile de France and the two Presidents of the Feature Films Jury, Joel and Ethan Coen, Jacques Audiard said: “I am very moved. I knew it would have an effect on me. I’d like to thank Michael Haneke for not filming this year. I’d also like to thank my actors, without whom there would be no film, nor a Palme d’or. Receiving a prize from the Coen brothers is just incredible! Alexandre Dumas’ son spoke about his father as “this child I had so young”. Tonight, I’m thinking of my father”. The Grand Prix, considered the runner up prize, was awarded to Saul Fia (Son of Saul) by László Nemes. Described as “October 1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Saul Ausländer is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, the group of Jewish prisoners isolated from the camp and forced to assist the Nazis in the machinery of large-scale extermination. While working in one of the crematoriums, Saul discovers the corpse of a boy he takes for his son. As the Sonderkommando plans a rebellion, Saul decides to carry out an impossible task: save the child’s body from the flames, find a rabbi to recite the mourner’s Kaddish and offer the boy a proper burial.” After he had received the prize from the Danish actor, Mads Mikkelsen, László Nemes declared: ” This was my first time in Cannes. We wanted this film to tell the new generation about the destruction of European Jews, I’m happy to have made this film using roll. It’s the magic of cinema! ” The complete list of winners of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival awards FEATURE FILMS – COMPETITION Palme d’or DHEEPAN by Jacques Audiard Grand Prix SAUL FIA (Son of Saul) by László Nemes Best Director Award Hou Hsiao-Hsien for NIE YINNIANG (The Assassin) Jury Prize THE LOBSTER by Yorgos Lanthimos Best Actress Award Rooney Mara in CAROL by Todd Haynes Emmanuelle Bercot in MON ROI by MAÏWENN Best Actor Award Vincent Lindon in LA LOI DU MARCHÉ (The Measure of a Man) by Stéphane Brizé Best Screenplay Award Michel Franco for CHRONIC SHORT FILMS – COMPETITION Palme d’or WAVES ’98 by Ely Dagher UN CERTAIN REGARD UN CERTAIN REGARD AWARD HRÚTAR (Rams) by Grímur Hákonarson JURY PRIZE ZVIZDAN (The High Sun) by Dalibor Matanić BEST DIRECTOR PRIZE Kiyoshi Kurosawa for KISHIBE NO TABI (Journey to the Shore) UN CERTAIN TALENT PRIZE COMOARA (Treasure) by Corneliu Porumboiu Joint PROMISING FUTURE PRIZE MASAAN (Fly Away Solo) by Neeraj Ghaywan NAHID by Ida Panahandeh CAMÉRA D’OR LA TIERRA Y LA SOMBRA (Land and Shade) by César Augusto Acevedo CINÉFONDATION First Prize SHARE by Pippa Bianco AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, USA Second Prize LOCAS PERDIDAS (Lost Queens) by Ignacio Juricic Merillán Carrera de Cine y TV Universidad de Chile, Chile Joint Third Prize THE RETURN OF ERKIN by Maria Guskova High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors, Russia Joint Third Prize VICTOR XX by Ian Garrido López ESCAC, Spain The Jury of the CST awarded the VULCAN AWARD OF THE TECHNICAL ARTIST to: Tamas ZANYI, sound engineer, for the outstanding contribution of sound to the narration of SAUL FIA (Son of Saul) by László NEMES.

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  • Lucie Borleteau’s FIDELIO: ALICE’S ODYSSEY Wins Top Award at 2015 Montclair Film Festival

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    Fidelio: Alice’s Journey (Fidelio: L’Odyssée d’Alice) The 2015 Montclair Film Festival (MFF) for the first time announced competition awards, with Lucie Borleteau’s FIDELIO: ALICE’S ODYSSEY (pictured above) taking home the Narrative Feature Jury prize. The narrative competition jury also awarded a special jury prize to Yury Bykov’s THE FOOL for storytelling. The festival inaugurated two awards in honor of the late David Carr and Bruce Sinofsky, both Montclair residents. THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER, directed by Chad Gracia, took home the Bruce Sinofsky Prize in the festival’s Documentary Feature competition.  This award was established in memory of Bruce Sinofsky and was presented by Sinofsky’s long time friend and collaborator Joe Berlinger (PARADISE LOST I, II, AND III). Brad Barber and Scott Christopherson’s PEACE OFFICER took home the David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking, which honors a filmmaker, selected by the festival, who utilizes journalistic techniques to explore important contemporary subjects. The award was presented by Ta-Nehisi Coates, a longtime friend and colleague of Carr. Elise DuRant’s EDÉN was awarded with the Future/Now prize, honoring emerging low-budget American independent filmmaking, and Marah Strauch’s SUNSHINE SUPERMAN took home the New Jersey Films Award, which honors a selected group of films made by New Jersey artists.  The junior jury prize went to Alexandra Shiva’s documentary HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO. “We’re thrilled to be launching these awards for our fourth installment, and to honor the diverse group of talented filmmakers,” said MFF founder and Chairman Bob Feinberg. “This has been a significant year for us and it truly exemplifies the festival’s impact and growth, as we continue to lay the groundwork for many more successful years ahead.” “This year’s festival featured over 135 films and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of our filmmakers. These inaugural awards represent the best of what our festival can offer – global stories that have an intimate, connection to our audiences and help Montclair connect to the world of cinema,”said MFF Executive Director Tom Hall. Congratulations to the 2015 winners of The Montclair Film Festival Awards: David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking Winner PEACE OFFICER Directors – Brad Barber and Scott Christopherson Narrative Feature Competition Winner FIDELIO: ALICE’S ODYSSEY Director – Lucie Borleteau Narrative Feature Competition Special Jury Prize for Storytelling THE FOOL Director – Yury Bykov Bruce Sinofsky Prize for Documentary Feature Competition Winner THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER Director – Chad Gracia Future/Now Winner EDÉN Director – Elise DuRant New Jersey Films Competition Winner SUNSHINE SUPERMAN Director – Marah Strauch Junior Jury Winner HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO Director – Alexandra Shiva

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  • US Premiere of Black (NWA) Kicks Off Film Lineup for 2015 Chicago African Diaspora International Film Festival

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    BLACK / NWA Directed by Yves Christian Fournier, The 2015 Chicago African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) taking place from June 12-18, will showcase 17 documentary and fiction films set in The United States, Angola, Cuba, Brazil, Canada, Haiti, St Vincent, New Zealand, the UK, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Argentina, Uruguay, and Honduras. The festival will open with the US Premiere of Black (NWA) (pictured above), a fiction film that chronicles the lives of four people living in a neighborhood plagued by poverty and violence, aspiring to freedom and happiness.  “This gritty look at gang culture in Montreal North is incredibly timely in that central to the drama are the tense relations between the police and the black community. This has become a hot-button issue in recent months following a number of controversial high-profile cases of police officers in the U.S. shooting unarmed black men.” – Montreal Gazette.  Lead actor Remy St Eloi will be in attendance for a discussion after the screening. Several films in this year’s ADIFF had their premiere in major international film festivals.  Based on a novel by “Whale Rider” writer Witi Ihimaera, White Lies – New Zealand’s entry in the 2014 Oscar competition for best foreign-language film and Toronto International Film Festival official selection – is an intense drama that explores with great humanity and sensitivity such difficult topics as race relations, bleaching and abortion. First presented at the Montreal World Film Festival is the Chicago Premiere of the impressive epic drama based on a true story, Njinga Queen of Angolaabout a 17th century Queen who fought for freedom against Portuguese colonialism. Screened at the Toronto and Venice film festival in 2000 is the epic drama Adanggaman, a provocative retelling of the African slave experience, based on facts.  ADIFF will also bring back The Pirogue (Cannes Film Festival, 2012), a powerful immigration drama about a group of African men and one woman who leave Senegal for Europe on a fishing boat at the risk of their lives.  The pirogue by Moussa Toure is part of the Great African Films collection, a DVD series that celebrates great African filmmakers. The Pirogue can be found in Great African Films Vol. 4 with the work of Khady Sylla, a renowned Senegalese filmmaker. The strong African retention in New World cultures as expressed through music, dance, and religious traditions is celebrated in four documentaries screening in ADIFF 2015. The program Candomble & Santeria with the screening of Oggun: an Eternal Presence & Summer of Gods explores African based religions. Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango moves in and out of Uruguay and Argentina as it illustrates the ever present African component in Tango, Candombe, Milongon and other African based musical styles found in the Rio de la Plata region.  In Candombe, musician Fernado Nunez sees himself as the heir to “candombe,” a dance and musical expression initiated by his enslaved ancestors. For its CENTERPIECE, the festival will present the GARIFUNA CELEBRATION program with two documentaries: Revolutionary Medicine: A Story of the First Garifuna Hospital and Homeland (Yurumein) both about the Garifuna people in Honduras and St. Vincent respectively. The screenings will be followed by a discussion with local members of the Garifuna community. Also premiering in the festival this year are Obama Mama, a documentary about Stanley Ann Dunham, mother of the nation’s first black president,Reshipment, a documentary by Afro-Cuban filmmaker Gloria Rolando about the historical connection between Cubans and Haitians, and the U.S. premiere of Ken Bugul – Nobody Wants Her, a powerful documentary who leads us into the secret world of an assertive African woman artist and writer and her brave fight for freedom and acceptance. ADIFF CHICAGO 2015 FILM SYNOPSIS

    THE SUMMER OF THE GODS

    The Summer of the Gods revolves around Lili, a six year old Afro-Brazilian who unites with her native religious ancestry on a summer visit to her family’s rural village. Soon after arriving in Northeast Brazil, where Afro-Brazilian religious traditions still endure, Lili encounters Orishas. As these African deities help her cope with a gift that has previously vexed her, Lili’s grandmother upholds Afro-Brazilian religious practices as a revered local priestess. To ensure that these customs carry on after her grandmother passes, the gifted Lili is led on a mystic and supernatural adventure of initiation. Directed by Eliciana Nascimento, 2014, Brazil/USA, Drama, 21mins, Portuguese with English subtitles. OGGUN: AN ETERNAL PRESENCE Gloria Rolando relates the patakin or mythical story of Oggun, the tireless warrior who, enamored of his mother, decided as punishment to imprison himself in the mountains. Only Ochun, goddess of love, succeeded in captivating him when she let fall a few drops of honey on the lips of the god of metal, war, progress, and civilization. Oggun is the first effort of the team known as Images of the Caribbean, now chartered as an independent video group. Directed by Gloria Rolando, 1992, Cuba, Documentary, Spanish, 52 min, Spanish, English subtitles. BLACK / NWA BLACK chronicles the lives of four people living in a neighborhood plagued by poverty and violence, aspiring to freedom and happiness. KADHAFI, a 26 year-old aspiring Algerian rapper and ex-member of a street gang, just out of prison, wants to steer clear of troubles. FLEUR, a 17 year-old Haitian mother in an abusive and passionate relationship with her daughter’s father, dreams of leaving the ghetto and becoming a nurse. SUZIE, a 20-year-old white stripper who falls for a gang member. DICKENS, 16 year-old Haitian wants to be part of the street gang controlled by his older brother. Directed by Yves Christian Fournier, 2015, Canada, Drama, 110 min, French/Creole with English subt THE PIROGUE A group of African men and one woman leave Senegal in a pirogue captained by a local fisherman to undertake the treacherous crossing of the Atlantic to Spain where they believe better lives and prospects are waiting for them.Directed by Moussa Touré, 2012, Senegal/France/Germany, 86 min, French, Wolof, Spanish, English subt. OBAMA MAMA Stanley Ann Dunham was an anthropologist with a Ph.D, a lifelong traveler and the mother of the first Black president of the United States. Her intelligence, progressive politics, and activism made for a profound life—one whose inspiration continues to resonate through her son, President Barack Obama. The “largeness of her heart,” as her son describes it, is the centerpiece of this inspiring documentary. Directed by Vivian Norris, 2014, 83 min, United States/Poland/France, Documentary, English. RESHIPMENT / RE-EMBARQUE The voices of prominent historians join the memories of Haitians and their descendants in Cuba to understand a chapter of the complex economic and social history of the Caribbean: the presence in the Island of Cuba of thousands of West Indian laborers, especially from Haiti. For many, it was a great bargain of cheap labor. For others, the realization of the dream of every immigrant: make money and return home. Reshipment demonstrates that despite the discrimination suffered by the Haitians since this period, the Creole language, religious and other musical and dance traditions remain in the cultural landscape of Cuba.  The film also recalls the Haitian generation who garnered years of stay in Cuba and were victims of a “reshipment” as if they were damaged goods–a forced repatriation to Haiti when they were no longer needed in the sugar cane fields or coffee plantations. As the life of Haitians in Cuba has moved between dreams and setbacks, this film is not only a fitting reminder of the often forgotten chapter in Cuban history but a tribute to the unsung Haitian heroes who wove an important passage between two Caribbean nations. Directed by Gloria Rolando, 2014, Cuba/Haiti, Documentary, 58 min, Spanish, English subt NJINGA, QUEEN OF ANGOLA In the 17th century, a warrior woman fights for the independence of Angola. After witnessing the murder of her son and watching her people being humiliated by Portuguese colonizers, Njinga will become a Queen and struggle for the liberation of her people embodying the motto: those who stay fight to win. This epic drama is based on the real life story of Queen Anna Njinga(c. 1583 –1663), also known as Ana de Sousa Njinga Mbande, queen of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms of the Mbundu people in Angola. Directed by Sergio Graciano, 2013, 109 min, Angola, Biography, Portuguese with English subt. WHITE LIKE THE MOON A Mexican-American girl struggles to keep her identity when her mother forces her to bleach her skin. White Like the Moon is a revealing film about a dilemma not very well known outside Latino communities; that of the myth of the light skin superiority in Indigenous and Indigenous descendant communities.Directed by Marina Gonzalez Palmier, 2001, 23mins, USA, Drama in English WHITE LIES Based on a novel by “Whale Rider” writer Witi Ihimaera, White Lies – New Zealand’s entry in the 2014 Oscar competition for best foreign-language film – is an intense drama that explores with great humanity and sensitivity such difficult topics as race relations, bleaching and abortion.  Paraiti is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people – she believes in life. But new laws in force are prohibiting unlicensed healers, making the practice of much Maori medicine illegal. She gets approached by Maraea, the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca, who seeks her knowledge and assistance in order to hide a secret which could destroy Rebecca’s position in European settler society. This compelling story tackles moral dilemmas, exploring the nature of identity, societal attitudes to the roles of women and the tension between Western and traditional Maori medicine. Directed by Dana Rotberg, 2014, New Zealand, 96mins, Drama, English and Maori with English subt. REVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE: A STORY OF THE FIRST GARIFUNA HOSPITAL The inspiring documentary tells the story of how the hospital’s alternative health model is transforming communities on Honduras’ Northern Coast and standing as an alternative to an increasingly privatized national health system. Could a remote hospital that runs on solar panels, in a community with no paved roads or electricity provide a new global model for health care? Directed by Jesse Freeston & Beth Geglia, 2013, 41 min, Honduras/Canada/ United States, Documentary in  Spanish with English subt. HOMELAND (YURUMEIN) This is the untold history of the indigenous Carabis/Garifuna of St. Vincent: their near extermination and exile by the British 200 years ago and their return to reconnect with those left behind. A powerful, untold story of Caribbean renaissance, rupture and repair in post-colonial St. Vincent. Directed by Andrea E. Leland, 2014, 50 min, St. Vincent/Garifuna, documentary, English. GLORIOUS EXIT Jarreth Merz, a Swiss-Nigerian actor living in Los Angeles, is summoned to Nigeria to bury his father. Nigerian tradition mandates the eldest child to take charge of a father’s burial. Although he accepts the responsibility, he struggles with why he feels morally responsible toward Nigerian tradition and a family whom he hardly knows. Jarreth starts a journey of self-discovery. Directed by Kevin Merz , 2008, 75 min, St. Nigeria/Switzerland, documentary, English and German with English subtitles. THE STORY OF LOVERS ROCK Lovers Rock, often dubbed ‘romantic reggae’ is a uniquely black British sound that developed in the late 70s and 80s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems. Live performance, comedy sketches, dance, interviews and archive shed light on the music and the generation that embraced it. Lovers Rock allowed young people to experience intimacy and healing through dance- known as ‘scrubbing’- at parties and clubs. This dance provided a coping mechanism for what was happening on the streets. Lovers Rock developed into a successful sound with national UK hits and was influential to British bands (Police, Culture Club, UB40). Menelik Shabazz, 2011, 96mins, UK, musical documentary, English KEN BUGUL – NOBODY WANTS HER An expressive aesthetic as rhapsodic as the written words of Bugul herself, Ken Bugul: Nobody Wants Her is a filmic ode to the brilliance of this revered Senegalese writer. Determined to set her own path in life, Ken Bugul (born Mariètou Mbaye Biléoma) left Senegal and spent 20 years living in Europe, only to feel an even deeper loneliness and alienation. She belonged neither here nor there. Encountering crushing rejection upon her return to Senegal, at her most destitute and desperate, Bugul sought refuge in her writing. Her debut novel, The Abandoned Baobab, already captured Bugul’s unique idiosyncratic style and cemented her position as a novelist. Painting a mosaic picture of Bugul’s life and times, this powerful documentary leads us into the secret world of an assertive African woman artist and her brave fight for freedom and acceptance.  Silvia Voser, 2013, 62mins, French/Swiss documentary, French with English subtitles. CANDOMBE More than two hundred years ago, there was an influx of slaves from Africa into Uruguay. Long after their empancipation, these individuals continued to comprise the poorest and most marginalized strata in society. Musician Fernado Nunez sees himself as the heir to “candombe,” a dance and musical expression initiated these individuals, his slave ancestors. As the far-reaching, socio-cultural legacy of of candombe has yet to be acknowledged, Fernando Nunez and his friends from the back street quarter of Montevideo have taken on the responsibility of keeping these important cultural roots alive in the consciousness of the Uruguayan people. Directed by Rafael Deugenio, 1993, Uruguay, Documentary, 16 min, Spanish w/ English subt. TANGO NEGRO: THE AFRICAN ROOTS OF TANGO Tango Negro explores the expression of African-ness inherent in the dance of the “tango” and the contribution of African cultures to the dance’s creation. Angolan director, Dom Pedro, details the dance’s early cultural significance as a depiction of the social life of captured African slaves and provides an expansive compilation of musical performances and interviews from tango enthusiasts and historians alike.  Tango Negro provides a novel insight into the depth of tango’s sub-Saharan African musical influence, a presence that has crossed oceans and endured the tides of forced bondage. Directed by Dom Pedro, 2013, France, Documentary, 93 min, French, Spanish, English subt. ADANGGAMAN Set in the late 17th century, on the Western coast of Africa, “Adanggaman” is an epic fiction film about a rebellious young man, who refuses to marry his parents’ choice of a bride, flees his village one evening, only to return to find his father and girlfriend slain, his village destroyed and his mother captured by a tribe of Amazon warriors. His efforts to free his mother lead to the kingdom of Adanggaman, where captives are held before sale. Roger Gnoan M’Bala, 2000, 90mins, Ivorian, Burkinabé, French, Swiss and Italian historical drama film, Bambara, Baoulé and French with English subtitles.

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  • 2015 Brooklyn Film Festival Announces Film Lineup. Opens with Manson Family Vacation

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    J. Davis’ Manson Family Vacation, starring Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Leonora Pitts, Adam Chernick and Davie-Blue The Brooklyn Film Festival announced their full slate of films for the 2015 edition, taking place May 30th to June 7th. For their 18th edition, the festival will open with the East Coast premiere of J. Davis’ Manson Family Vacation, starring Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Leonora Pitts, Adam Chernick and Davie-Blue, screening at new BFF venue the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. Executive produced by Jay & Mark Duplass, the film was acquired by Netflix at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival. This year’s festival is comprised of 108 features and shorts from 26 countries spread over 5 continents and of these, 17 are world premieres and 30 US premieres, with Ryan Carmichael’s But Not For Me as the lone narrative feature world premiere. This New York City film stars Marcus Carl Franklin, Elena Urioste, Maria Vermeulen and Roger Guenveur Smith. Other special events during the fest include the 11th annual KidsFilmFest 2015 on Saturday, May 30th at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP; the Filmmakers Party on  June 3rd at Billet & Bellows; the BFF Exchange series of panels and a pitch session on June 6th; “The Illuminate Party,” also on June 6th, and the June 7th Awards Ceremony. Main 2015 Brooklyn Film Festival venues are the Wythe Hotel and Windmill Studios in Greenpoint. Satellite locations include Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Made in New York Media Center By IFP in Dumbo, and BRIC House in Fort Greene. The complete Feature lineup is as follows. Opening Night Manson Family Vacation Director: J. Davis – Two brothers (Jay Duplass and Linas Phillips) reunite when the more free-spirited brother shows up at the other’s door with nothing but a backpack. Together, they get to know each other again while touring the sites of Charles Manson’s exploits and exploring Manson’s contemporary life. EAST COAST PREMIERE Narrative Features Abby Singer/Songwriter Director: Onur Tukel – Divorced stockbroker Jamie Block was once an indie-rock star. Going through a life crisis, he teams up with a filmmaker to make a series of music videos in this trippy, funny film. EAST COAST PREMIERE But Not for Me Director: Ryan Carmichael – Will is a young writer working at an ad agency as a copywriter. Like many others his age, he is hiding his true passion for philosophy and music and holding back his true thoughts, until a relationship with a young woman inspires him. WORLD PREMIERE Devil Town Director: Harvey Mitkas – A young woman enlists a shady detective to help her find her missing sister in this neo-noir with a cast of indie film favorites. Eadweard Director: Kyle Rideout – A psychological biopic that explores the mind of Eadweard Muybridge, the godfather of cinema, who was also the last American to receive a justifiable homicide verdict after killing his wife’s lover. EAST COAST PREMIERE Funny Bunny Director: Alison Bagnall – A young canvasser and a loner teenager who is estranged from his parents go on a journey to meet Ginger, the animal activist with whom the teen has developed an online relationship. EAST COAST PREMIERE God Bless the Child Directors: Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck – In this beautifully realized observational narrative, Harper, the oldest of five siblings, must take care of her siblings. EAST COAST PREMIERE Inferno Director: Vinko Moderndorfer – In this Slovenian realist drama, young working class family must deal with the struggles of unemployment while the global economy crumbles and local labor rebels. EAST COAST PREMIERE Sweaty Betty Directors: Joe Frank and Zachary Reed – Two stories come out of the row houses on the border of Washington, D.C. — a pig, Ms. Charlotte, is carted around, vying for a chance to be a team mascot for the Washington Redskins; and two teenage best friends come into ownership of a dog that they attempt to sell. EAST COAST PREMIERE Valedictorian Director: Matthew Yeager – Ben feels less and less in touch with his life in New York City, and over a year, he must confront the connections — or lack thereof — he feels with those he considers close. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Wildlike Director: Frank Hall Green – When teenage Mackenzie is sent to live with her uncle in Juneau, Alaska, she knows it’s not right for her. Shortly after arriving, she embarks on a journey headed south to find her mother. Documentary Features 20 Years of Madness Director: Jeremy Royce – The founder of a mid-90’s Public Access TV show in Detroit reunites the cast twenty years later to make a new episode and discovers that his friends and former collaborators are struggling with the hard realities of adulthood. Chameleon Director: Ryan Mullins – The elusive undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas is one of Ghana’s most popular figures. Though the charismatic investigator has named and shamed various high profile malfeasants, his identity remains hidden. U.S. PREMIERE Deep Web Director: Alex Winter – Thirty-year-old entrepreneur Ross William Ulbricht has been convicted for operating the online black market Silk Road. This comprehensive documentary tracks the history of the site and the vigorously pursued case against Ulbricht. Frame by Frame Directors: Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli – Photography was outlawed in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan; however, with the fall of the Taliban, photographers have been key documenters of the changing nation. Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi Director: Neal Broffman – Four weeks after disappearing from his apartment as a student at Brown University, Sunil Tripathi was accused of being Suspect #2 in the Boston Marathon bombings. The false accusations disrupted his family, steadfastly working with his friends to find him. I Am Thor Director: Ryan Wise – Jon Mikl Thor was a bodybuilder, steel gender, and rock star in the 70’s and 80’s who led the theatrical band THOR. Today, he seeks to reclaim his mantle as a high-energy rock star. EAST COAST PREMIERE Paradiso Director: Omar A. Razzak – Projectionist Rafael works hard to tidy up and maintain Madrid’s last remaining adult movie theater, Duque de Alba. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Placebo Director: Abhay Kumar – One of the most competitive medical schools, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has an acceptance rate of less than 0.1%. The high academic standards leave a harsh toll on the students. U.S. PREMIERE We Were Rebels Directors: Katharina von Schroeder and Florian Schewe – Agel took up arms when he was ten to participate in the fight for an independent South Sudan. After leaving the conflict, Agel has returned to an independent South Sudan, where he is the captain of the national basketball team and worries over the young nation’s fragile democracy. Wild Home Directors: Jack Schurman and Robert Schurman – Deep in the woods of Maine, Bob Miner, a Vietnam Veteran rehabilitates abused and abandoned animals. He and his wife have built a kingdom for lions, tigers, hyenas, kangaroos, black bears, and over 200 other species of animals that attracts a diverse set of visitors.

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