• 2014 Rooftop Films Summer Series Announces 2014 Feature Film Lineup

    Obvious ChildObvious Child

    Rooftop Films in New York City, announced today the feature film lineup for the 18th Annual Rooftop Films Summer Series. This year’s series kicks off at Industry City in Sunset Park with some of the most exciting new short films from around the world on Friday, May 16th, followed by a special sneak preview of Gillian Robespierre’s upcoming A24 release Obvious Child on Saturday, May 17th.

    The 2014 Rooftop Films Summer Series continues through the summer, with screenings each week in a variety of exciting and picturesque outdoor locations. Rooftop Films’ full feature film slate includes documentaries about mushroom hunters in search of human connection (The Last Season), no-budget trailer park filmmakers (Giuseppe Makes A Movie), untouched corners of endangered rainforest (Forest Of The Dancing Spirits), and idiosyncratic jazz legends (The Case Of The Three-Sided Dream); bold, mind-bending fiction (R100, The Infinite Man, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night); and sneak previews of the most exciting festival hits of the year, including razor-sharp comedies (Obvious Child, The One I Love, Skeleton Twins, Appropriate Behavior, Ping Pong Summer, The Trip To Italy) and powerful independent dramas (10,000KM, Cold In July, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter). Additionally, Rooftop Films will be presenting the World Premiere of Adam Newport-Berra’s powerful feature film debut, “Thanksgiving.”

    Rooftop Films 2014 Summer Series Feature Films Line-up

    10,000KM (Long Distance) (Carlos Marques-Marcet | 99 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Part of Rooftop Films SXSW Weekend
    Separated by 10,000 kilometers, Alexandra and Sergi must rely on virtual communication to keep the flame of their relationship alive. But with their realities no longer shared and the touch of one another gone, the technology that has supposedly brought the world closer together may just tear them apart. 

    Appropriate Behavior (Desiree Akhavan | 82 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Shirin is struggling to become an ideal Persian daughter, politically correct bisexual and hip young Brooklynite but fails miserably in her attempt at all identities. Being without a cliché to hold onto can be a lonely experience. 

    The Case of the Three Sided Dream (Adam Kahan | 87 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Presented by Rooftop Films and Arts Brookfield
    Free Screening. Multi-instrumentalist, civil rights activist and worshipper at the church of dreams, Rahsaan Roland Kirk overcame blindness, paralysis and social injustice to fundamentally alter the landscape of jazz. 

    Cold In July (Jim Mickle | 109 min.) NY Premiere
    Jim Mickle’s Sundance hit is an ostensible thriller-cum-revenge flick, harking back to ’80s b-movies and delicately crafted around a simple premise that turns out to be anything but. Courtesy of IFC Films. 

    The Deadly Ponies Gang (Zoe McIntosh | 65 min.) International Premiere
    Clint and Dwayne are two of a kind. The kind that start a pimped-out pony gang (ponies replete with glitter, oversized sunglasses, and bling) on the edges of rural New Zealand. Riding through town the duo deals some drugs, tries to snuggle up to some ladies, and attempts a fundraiser for new teeth while learning the lengths people will go for their mates.

    The Disobedient (Mina Djukic | 112 min.) NY Premiere
    Running through life with wild abandon, lifelong friends Leni and Lazar set out on an improvised countryside bike trip. Like tiny tornadoes they whirl around rural Serbia resulting in the type of destruction that can only come from true, disastrous love. 

    Five Star (Keith Miller | 82 min.)
    Free Show. In a blend of fiction and reality, Five Star explores the relationship between two men – Primo, a five star general in the Bloods, and John, a young man trying to decide whether gang life is the path for him. As Primo mentors John in the workings of the gang world, a secret threatens both men’s futures. Winner of a Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grant.

    Forest of the Dancing Spirits (Linda Västrik | 104 min.) NY Premiere
    Deep within one of the world’s last untouched rainforests lives the Yaka/ Mbendjele tribe, a group of hunter-gatherers from the Congo Basin, who are about to discover the Western world’s intense lust for “progress.” Beyond just an ethnographic study, award-winning filmmaker Linda Västrik imbues each lush frame with humor, heartbreak and vibrant storytelling.

    A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (Ana Lily Amirpour | 107 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    A mysterious female vampire haunts an Iranian ghost town and falls for one of its alienated locals in this fantastical black-and-white romance. Produced by Elijah Wood, the Sundance-acclaimed title is a daring, original take on the genre.

    Giuseppe Makes A Movie (Adam Rifkin | 83 min.) NY Premiere 
    Using his trailer park neighbors and homeless friends, former child-actor Giuseppe Andrews (Independence Day, Detroit Rock City) has made 30 underground feature films for almost no money. This is the stranger-than-fiction story of him making his newest film, “Garbonzo Gas.” Winner of a Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grant.  

    Happy Christmas (Joe Swanberg | 78 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Anna Kendrick stars as a newly single woman who crashes with her brother and wreaks havoc on his household in Joe Swanberg’s delicate comedy, which also features energetic turns by Melanie Lynskey and Lena Dunham. Courtesy of Magnolia Films.

    The Infinite Man (Hugh Sullivan | 84 min.) New York Premiere
    A man’s attempts to construct the ultimate romantic weekend backfire when his quest for perfection traps his lover in an infinite loop.

    Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (David Zellner | 105 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Austin-based filmmakers the Zellner brothers return to Rooftop with a touching absurdist odyssey starring Rinko Kikuchi as a Japanese woman who believes Fargo is a true story and ventures to Minnesota in search of the stolen money hidden during the classic Coen brothers film.

    The Last Season (Sara Dosa | 90 min.) NY Premiere
    Sara Dosa’s insightful directorial debut introduces viewers to the world of mushroom hunters in Chemult, Oregon, charting the relationships that are cultivated between men and nature, and attesting to the power of families we create.

    The Living Stars (Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat | 60 min.) NY Premiere
    Free screening. No script, no plot, just music and gyrating bodies. Living Stars is a sixty-minute dance party and everyone’s invited! 

    Mateo (Aaron I. Naar | 85 min.) NY Premiere
    Part of Rooftop Films SXSW weekend
    Matthew Stoneman, a ‘white guy’ from New Hampshire, learned to play authentic and fluent Spanish songs while serving time in an LA prison for robbery. At once his worst enemy and greatest fan, this is the unlikely story of Matthew (Mateo) busking the streets, traveling to Cuba and attempting to record his newest bolero record (romantic Latin tunes).

    The One I Love (Charlie McDowell | 91 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    A married couple on the brink of separation escapes to a beautiful vacation house for a weekend getaway in an attempt to salvage what’s left of their relationship. That’s about where normalcy ends in this highly original, dizzyingly bizarre directorial debut from acclaimed author Charlie McDowell. Courtesy of Radius-TWC.

    Obvious Child (Gillian Robespierre | 90 min.) Opening Weekend Film
    Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired, and pregnant just in time for the best/worst Valentine’s Day of her life in this film festival favorite. Courtesy of A24 Films. Winner of the Rooftop Films Eastern Effects Equipment Grant.

    Ping Pong Summer (Michael Tully | 92 min.) NY Premiere 
    The year is 1985. Rad Miracle is a shy 13-year-old white kid who’s obsessed with two things: ping pong and hip hop. During his family’s annual summer vacation to Ocean City, Maryland, Rad makes a new best friend, experiences his first real crush, becomes the target of rich local bullies, and finds an unexpected mentor in his outcast next-door neighbor. Ping Pong Summer is about that time in your life when you’re treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you’re as funky fresh as it gets. Courtesy of Gravitas Ventures.

    Pulp (Florian Habicht | 93 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    One of the greatest bands to come out of the ’90s is captured in this intimate and imaginative documentary, structured around Pulp’s final concert in their hometown of Sheffield.  Pulp is a music-film like no other – at once a concert film, a nostalgic look back at an iconic band, and a thoughtful and sweetly charming tribute to the hometown fans that fell in love with them. Courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories. 

    R100 (Hitoshi Matsumoto | 94 min.) NY Premiere
    When a mild-mannered Japanese mattress salesman joins a hidden, mysterious S&M club that specializes in surprising its clients in public and applying sadistic, sexual torture in any place at any time he soon realizes the price for pleasure may be too high. Courtesy of Drafthouse Films.

    The Search For Emak Bakia (Oskar Alegria | 84 min.) NY Premiere 
    In 1926, the Surrealist artist Man Ray created an experimental film titled Emak Bakia, shot along a forgotten stretch of the Basque coast. Today, a filmmaker retraces Man Ray’s steps by foot, using chance and the wind to guide him in this poetic, indefinable documentary.

    She’s Lost Control (Anja Marquardt | 95 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Part of Rooftop Films SXSW Weekend
    Focusing on the life of a sex surrogate working in Manhattan, Anja Marquardt’s impressively assured directorial debut casts a penetrating gaze on the complexities of professional intimacy.

    Skanks (David McMahon | 84 min.) NY Premiere
    A small community theatre in Birmingham, Alabama mounts an original drag musical, “Skanks in a One Horse Town.” The cast of amateur performers bond to form a family of sorts while creating an unconventional show in the religion and football-obsessed south.

    The Skeleton Twins (Craig Johnson | 90 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Living separate lives on opposite sides of the country, estranged siblings Maggie (Kristen Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) are at the ends of their ropes. But after a moment of crisis reunites them, Milo goes to spend time with Maggie in the small New York town where they grew up. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Thanksgiving (Adam Newport-Berra | 85 min.) World Premiere
    Alex & Amy are the perfect Brooklyn couple. They have a cat, a Thanksgiving table of bohemian friends, and a glowing future together. Yet the sudden holiday appearance of Amy’s mysterious brother Will quickly disrupts their idyllic lifestyle and calls into question what we’re truly “thankful” for.

    The Trip To Italy (Michael Winterbottom | 115 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reprise their roles as themselves in this follow-up to the acclaimed The Trip in yet another off-the-cuff food adventure. Six meals in six different places on a road trip around Italy. Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and ending in Capri. Courtesy of IFC Films.

    We Are The Best (Lukas Moodysson | 90 min.) Special Sneak Preview
    Swedish auteur Lukas Moodysson’s (Show Me Love, Together) raucous and ebullient film about three pre-teen outcasts who form an all-girl punk band. Courtesy of Magnolia Films.

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  • Jeremy Irons to Receive Acting Award at San Francisco International Film Festival

    jeremy irons

    Jeremy Irons, described as one of world cinema’s most compelling and engaging actors, will be the recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting at the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival taking place April 24 to May 8, 2014. The award will be presented to Irons at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday May 1 at the Regency Center.

    The San Francisco Film Society and its year-round exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs will be the beneficiary of the star-studded fundraiser honoring Irons; Richard Linkater, the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award; Stephen Gaghan, recipient of the Kanbar Screenwriting Award; andJohn Lasseter, the recipient of the George Gund III Craft of Cinema Award. Victoria Raiser and Todd Traina are co-chairs of this year’s Film Society Awards Night gala. 

    “Jeremy Irons is the perfect choice to receive the Peter J. Owens Award, SFIFF’s top honor for the actor’s craft,” said Noah Cowan, Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society. “He embodies the international spirit that defines our festival, and the phenomenal work he has done on screens big and small is an inspiration. We are thrilled to pay tribute to an actor whose range, depth and wonderful sense of humor have delighted lovers of world cinema for decades.”

    Irons will also be honored at An Evening with Jeremy Irons at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, Wednesday April 30, 7:30 pm. A screening of a film featuring one of his iconic performances will follow an onstage interview and a selection of clips from his impressive career.  

    Jeremy Irons won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune. He is also a Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Tony Award and SAG Award winner.

    The British-born Irons has an extraordinary legacy of film, television and theater performances including The French Lieutenant’s Woman, in which he starred opposite Meryl Streep; The Mission; and David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers. Irons starred in Damage and M. Butterfly before he made pop culture history as the voice of the evil lion Scar in Disney’s classic The Lion King. Irons showed his grasp of the action genre starring opposite Bruce Willis in Die Hard: With A Vengeance, and also starred as Humbert Humbert in Adrian Lyne’sLolita. Other career highlights include Being Julia with Annette Bening,Appaloosa with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen, and Bertolucci’s Stealing Beauty. 

    Irons received a Tony Award for his performance in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing and most recently appeared in London in the National Theatre’s Never So Good and in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Gods Weep. Irons is probably best known for his role as Charles Ryder in the cult TV seriesBrideshead Revisited, and he notably joined Helen Mirren and director Tom Hooper in the award-winning television miniseries Elizabeth I. Irons was also recently lauded for his portrayal of iconic photographer Alfred Stieglitz in the award-winning biographical picture Georgia O’Keeffe.

    Irons recent film work includes the the award-winning independent feature Margin Call with Kevin Spacey; The Words with Bradley Cooper, which was featured closing night at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival; Beautiful Creatures, shot in Louisiana and directed by Richard LaGravenese; and Night Train to Lisbon, directed by Bille August. In addition, Irons adds the credit of executive producer and featured actor in Trashed, a Blenheim Production feature documentary directed by Candida Brady, which received a special screening at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and continues to play in theaters and festivals globally.

    Named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations, Peter J. Owens (1936-1991), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity.

    Previous recipients of the Film Society’s Peter J. Owens Award are Harrison Ford (2013), Judy Davis (2012), Terence Stamp (2011), Robert Duvall (2010), Robert Redford (2009), Maria Bello (2008), Robin Williams (2007), Ed Harris (2006), Joan Allen (2005), Chris Cooper (2004), Dustin Hoffman (2003), Kevin Spacey (2002), Stockard Channing (2001), Winona Ryder (2000), Sean Penn (1999), Nicolas Cage (1998), Annette Bening (1997) and Harvey Keitel (1996). The Peter J. Owens Award is made possible through a grant from the Peter J. Owens Trust at the San Francisco Foundation.

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  • Nicole Garcia is Jury President for Caméra d’or Award at 2014 Cannes Film Festival

    nicole garcia

    Actress, director and screenwriter Nicole Garcia will preside over the Jury for this year’s Caméra d’or award for the best debut film at 2014 Cannes Film Festival. In this opportunity to champion an up-and-coming director she joins the ranks of previous Jury Presidents Bong Joon-Ho, Gael García Bernal, Carlos Diegues and Agnès Varda, who have all in the past contributed their experience and passion for cinema to the deliberations.

    “Presiding over the Caméra d’or is an honor, a joy and a mission,” announced Nicole Garcia. “I hope to be worthy of the honor, bask in the joy and do my best to deliver on the mission.”

    Since 1978, the Caméra d’or has awarded the best debut film presented in the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition, or Un Certain Regard), Critics’ Week or Directors’ Fortnight. The award showcases young filmmakers, whose work is propelled into the limelight with unrivaled international exposure. Among the past recipients of the award are Jim Jarmusch, Mira Nair, Jaco Van Dormael, Naomi Kawase, Bahman Ghobadi and Steve McQueen. Last year’s award was scooped up by Anthony Chen’s Singaporean film Ilo Ilo which was presented as part of Directors’ Fortnight.

    The Caméra d’Or 2014 will be presented by the Jury President at the Closing Ceremony on Saturday May 24.

    Nicole Garcia studied philosophy and acting, winning her first acting award at the Conservatoire before embarking on a career in theatre. But she was drawn to film. She made a name for herself in Bertrand Tavernier’s Let Joy Reign Supreme in 1975 and subsequently worked with directors Henri Verneuil (Body of My Enemy, 1976) and Laurent Heynemann (The Question, 1977). In 1979, her performance in Philippe de Broca’sPractice Makes Perfect earned her popular acclaim and a César award for best supporting actress. She went on to work with the great names of French cinema including Alain Resnais (My American Uncle, 1980), Bertrand Blier (Stepfather, 1981), Claude Lelouch (Bolero: Dance of Life, 1981), Pierre Schoendoerffer (A Captain’s Honor, 1982), Claude Sautet (Waiter!, 1983) and Claude Miller (Little Lili, 2003).

    In 1990, her behind-the-camera debut Every Other Weekend was released to critical acclaim, followed by the similarly well-received The Favorite Son in 1994. She has directed seven films, of which the latest, Going Away, was released in early 2014.

    She has presented a total of seven films at Cannes as both actress and director.

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  • Indie Comedy Film “Tribute to Fluffy” Sticks to Crowdfunding the Old Fashioned Way

     tribute to fluffy fundraising3

    While crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter have proved to be a boon to many indie filmmakers trying to raise money for their next projects, most filmmakers trying to raise money this way don’t have anywhere near the name recognition of recent successful crowdfunders like Zach Braff, Spike Lee, or Kristen Bell. As many indie filmmakers have learned in the wake of such big-name successes, simply posting the project on a crowdfunding site and talking about it on Facebook or Twitter isn’t always enough to convince dozens of donors open their wallets (even 1990s “It” girl Melissa Joan Hart only raised a fraction of her $2 million goal when she turned to Kickstarter to raise money for a comeback movie). With a glut of indie movies trying to raise money via crowdfunding websites, how can passionate filmmakers get their campaigns noticed?

    As for the cast and crew behind indie comedy Tribute to Fluffy, they figured they’d stay ahead of the curve by crowdfunding the old fashioned way.

    Tribute to Fluffy follows a young struggling stand-up comedian, Jackson Gilbert, at his lowest point after being dumped by his girlfriend (Natalia) of six years. She’s been so fed up with his lack of ambition coupled by his irresponsible misplacing Fluffy, a gift he gave Natalia on their one year anniversary, that she decides to call it quits on their relationship and pursue an interest she’s had to teach English abroad. Jackson decides with the help of his best friends in the comedy world that the best way to win her back is by throwing her a huge comedy show paying homage to the lost rabbit to prove to Natalia that he’s capable of changing.

    The Tribute to Fluffy team has taken the novel approach of combining the fundraising opportunities of the crowdfunding website Indiegogo and its far digital reach with old-fashioned grassroots street marketing in the Greater Los Angeles area. Since early April the team has manned a “Fluffy booth” in various locations including the Santa Monica Promenade, the USC Festival of Books, Hollywood Boulevard, and Venice Beach. The idea behind the booth is to not just raise money by soliciting donations, but to also increase the profile of the film beyond social media.

    Director Micah Cyrus admits that their new approach to fundraising came about because using crowdfunding websites the normal way wasn’t successful. He explains, “We put together a Kickstarter campaign last fall and it failed. As you know with Kickstarter, it’s all or nothing so we didn’t see anything. We realized that the campaign was a premature launch and I ultimately learned so much through that experience that helped shape us for what’s become the best version of our story, some killer marketing adjustments, and even new key cast members that wouldn’t have been replaced had we been in the position to shoot at our intended November 2013 goal.”

    tribute to fluffy fundraising2

    Cyrus took that failure as an opportunity to try fundraising again, but this time combining crowdfunding with traditional street marketing techniques. He continues, “After seeing the Kickstarter campaign fail, I told myself that I wouldn’t take the same approach of sitting in front of the computer over the 30 days. Unless we have a star talent or someone with a social media presence attached to the film, it can’t sit alone and gain traction. I decided we need to take our campaign to the streets and go where we can interact with people. That instantly birthed the idea for the Fluffy booth. We did some serious brainstorming sessions to figure out what materials to have available, how we’d approach people, and so on.”

    However, it isn’t like the street campaign isn’t without its own hurdles. Cyrus admits, “It’s absolutely tough, but I’m having a blast while learning. I’ve noticed that the majority of tourists, in particular international tourists from the Venice Boardwalk, to the Santa Monica Promenade or Hollywood Boulevard, don’t seem to care that much. The response from people tied into the film industry or even people who know someone who has done a crowdfunding campaign or attempted to piece together a project on their own do understand and are super responsive and kind. I’ve received comments from those people such as ‘Wow, I wish I thought of this idea’ or ‘My sister is trying to make a movie too and I understand. Here’s $5 and good luck.”

    Another part of the street campaign strategy included reaching out to sponsors who could offer them something other than money to support Tribute to Fluffy. Cyrus explains, “I put together a Corporate Sponsorship packet about a month before launching our campaign and reached out to about 70 different companies. We were very fortunate enough to get a few companies on board to aid us in our campaign and those are: Lyft, Bai (natural juice company), King Bond Bail Agency, and Flappers Comedy Club. They didn’t give us money toward our product, but rather gave us product or service that we have used in our campaign as swag/incentives. For example, Bai gave us hundreds of bottles of their favored product Bai5 that we’ve been handing out to people on the street. This has literally saved us as people may not respond to ‘Would you like to help my film campaign?’, however they definitely do respond to ‘Would you like to help support my film campaign? You get a free cold refreshing bottle of juice for doing so.’ That’s definitely worked seven out of ten times.”

    Of course, this being Southern California, Cyrus and his team have experienced some truly out-there responses while out on the campaign trail. “When we were at the Venice Boardwalk, a man approached myself and one of my actresses, Kristen, asking if we were a couple. We replied ‘no’ and told him about the project and our relationship as director/actor. He insisted that we would make a great couple and asked if we would kiss each other and he would donate if so. My actress has a boyfriend and I wouldn’t compromise our friendship for $1. The request was a bit strange but then I remembered that we were in Venice (land of the strange).”

    Hollywood Boulevard also provided plenty of ridiculous moments. Cyrus recalls, “We started out having to fight for a spot between an older guy who was selling ice cold waters and Gatorade from his cooler and another guy who was selling his self-produced rap CDs. My producer Ana De Diego and I naively asked the beverage guy if our spot was okay and about 5 minutes later we were escorted away as there’s an invisible line on Hollywood Boulevard that you can’t cross as that becomes private property. Of course, the guy selling drinks tricked us because we were messing up his sales by offering our free bottles of Bai drinks to people. We then moved over and had to compete with Korean radical Christians who were loudly screaming in unbearable tones ‘Kumbaya’ and a Mickey Mouse who kept creepily checking out Ana.”

    tribute to fluffy fundraising1

    But it got even weirder. “About an hour later, we decided to go across the street to the side of Hollywood Boulevard by the El Capitan Theater and we were approached by a ‘Producer’ from ABC who asked if we would answer a few questions in front of camera about pop culture for a news segment. I acquiesced this request since I was wearing my Fluffy t-shirt and if it aired then that would make good publicity. I got in front of camera and started answering questions from a strange looking man whose beard was cheaply glued to his face. He kept asking questions about the rapper Drake and I figured out after the second or third question that it was in fact Drake disguised as a reporter and I yelled out that I knew this was a prank. The real producers turned bright red and shut me up as Drake took off running around the corner. I should’ve played stupid because it ended up airing that night on Jimmy Kimmel and I didn’t make the cut!”

    As with most indie filmmaker making their first films, getting funding is only one of the many hurdles. Cyrus also pointed to other challenges with getting Tribute to Fluffy off the ground. He says, “I’ve spoken to so many filmmakers over this journey from a few I met directly at the Sundance Film Festival this past January to directors that I boldly approached for a coffee to pick their brains. Everyone agreed that the timing and patience are a definite link you just have to overcome. When I say timing, I mean the prolonged process of being able to start and keeping the endurance to wake up the next day ready to go harder. Something my old boss told me after giving my two weeks’ notice last July after asking him how we knew it was the right trajectory being an entrepreneur was that it felt right even through the trials and tribulations. He said, ‘Micah, you’ll know win or fail whether or not this is what you’re meant to do and you won’t find out unless you try to fly.’ He was right because I could blab about some of the stuff that’s happened to us from investor scams to actors dropping out.”

    Nonetheless, he remains positive about the final results, adding, “Despite the challenges, I go through every motion without it feeling like work. I’ve found joy in putting this project together and I can’t wait to see it through on the big screen.” In addition, it seems like the street marketing experience has generated plenty of ideas for Cyrus’ next project!

    Upon the completion of the Indiegogo campaign on May 1, Tribute to Fluffy will continue pre-production and then launch into filming. For more information or to contribute to the project, see the links below:

    www.indiegogo.com/projects/tribute-to-fluffy-feature-film

    www.tributetofluffymovie.com

    www.facebook.com/TributeToFluffyTheMovie

    www.twitter.com/TributetoFluffy

     

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  • VIDEO | Documentary “Rise Up, West” Added to Lineup for USA Film Festival

     Rise Up, West

    The documentary Rise Up, West has been added to the lineup for the 44th Annual USA Film Festival, taking place April 22 to 27, 2014 in Dallas, Texas.  After a fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 people in the town of West, TX the high school football team helped lead the town’s recovery. 

    David Woodard, a West native, took the job as West High School coach just months before the blast.  He knew he’d spend the next ten games rebuilding a losing football program.  He did not know, within months, he’d be rebuilding his own hometown and his own home, destroyed by the explosion.  But he was the right man for the job with a focus and dedication that gave his players something and someone to believe during the darkest times of their lives.

    http://youtu.be/9ShZDo9uZVs

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  • US Premiere of Jason Priestley’s “CAS & DYLAN”, Tom Cavanaugh in “THE BIRDER” Among 17 Films on Lineup for 2014 LA Comedy Festival

     CAS & DYLANCAS & DYLAN

    The LA Comedy Festival celebrating its 15th season, will take place at the April 24 to May 4, 2014 at Let Live Theatre and The Other Space.  Among the 17 Features screening at the festival are the US Premiere of Jason Priestley’s CAS & DYLAN, starring Richard Dreyfuss as a terminally ill doctor on a last adventure.

    THE BIRDERTHE BIRDER

    Amy Smart, Brent Butt and Dave Koechner star in NO CLUE, a case of mistaken identity snowballing out of control. Tom Cavanaugh and Fred Willard star in THE BIRDER, a story of a mild mannered birder who seeks revenge on a younger rival. Gary Busey and C Thomas Howell star in CONFESSIONS OF A WOMANIZER, which asks the question, what happens when a compulsive womanizer becomes best friends with a transgendered prostitute? COMMITTED is a documentary about writer-performer Vic Cohen as seen through the eyes of actor-comedian Howie Mandel. For over 13 years, Mandel has had a camera on Vic, documenting his dogged determination to make it in show business while mentoring him along the way. The features are from Australia Ireland, Mexico, Canada, throughout the US and Los Angeles. There are 62 short films in competition playing throughout the festival in seven short program blocks with most being World and US Premieres. The shorts offer a tremendous variety and will keep you laughing. Peppered among the short film programs are familiar faces Wendy Malick, Fred Arminsen, Mindy Sterling, Laraine Newman and Richard Kind.

    Live Comedy Acts will provide laughs, with all new shows from the award winning groups GARLIC JACKSON (NYC), DON’T WATCH THIS SHOW LIVE (San Francisco), DUNGEONS and DRAG QUEENS (LA) and THAT GLORIOUS ACT THAT WE DO (LA). Stand ups are peppered throughout the festival with notable acts from Nick Morton, Clara Bijl, Priya Prasad, Yohei Kawamata and Elyse Martin.

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  • Bosnian- Herzegovinian Film Festival Unveils the Lineup of 16 Films to Screen at 2014 Fest in NYC

     An Episode in the Life of An Iron Picker”(“Epizoda u životu berača željeza”)An Episode in the Life of An Iron Picker”(“Epizoda u životu berača željeza”)

    The Bosnian- Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF) announced the film lineup for its eleventh annual event. A total of 16 films will screen May 1-3, 2014, at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City. They include four feature films, five short films, and seven documentaries.

    The films screening at the 2014 BHFF were carefully selected from 33 submissions from 10 countries including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the United States, and Canada.

    The Eleventh Annual BHFF will show yet another masterwork by Danis Tanović. Last year, his short fiction film “Baggage” (“Prtljag”) won the Golden Apple award for Best Short Film. This year, the festival will screen Tanović’s film titled “An Episode in the Life of An Iron Picker”(“Epizoda u životu berača željeza”). The film centers around a Roma family in central Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose harrowing odyssey of survival provides a damning critique of the social conditions that trap them. It will screen during Closing Night of the Festival.

    “Circles” (“ Krugovi”)“Circles” (“ Krugovi”)

    In addition to Tanović’s, three other feature films will be screened at this year’s Festival: Srđan Golubović’s “Circles” (“ Krugovi”), Bobo Jelčić’s “A Stranger” (“Obrana i zaštita”), and Faruk Lončarević’s “With Mom” (“Sa mamom”).

    “Circles” (“Krugovi”) starts off in the grips of the Bosnian war in 1993, when Serbian soldier Marko witnesses his three comrades brutally attacking Haris, a Muslim civilian. Marko interferes and saves Haris’ life, but is consequently killed by his infuriated fellow soldiers. In 2008, years after the war’s conclusion, the effects of the conflict still loudly resonate as Marko’s family and friends are faced with the choice between forgiveness and revenge.

    “A Stranger” (“Obrana i zaštita”)“A Stranger” (“Obrana i zaštita”)

    In “A Stranger” (“Obrana i zaštita”), the death of an old friend plunges Slavko into a dilemma. He is unsure whether he, a Croat, should attend the funeral in the Muslim part of Mostar. On the one hand, he feels like it’s his duty; on the other, he fears a hostile reaction from his own community. This psychological study is based on the fact that nearly two decades after the war, Mostar is still divided.

    “With Mom” (“Sa mamom”)“With Mom” (“Sa mamom”)

    “With Mom” (“Sa mamom”) tells the story of Berina, a young artist who struggles to come to terms with her mother’s terminal illness and the deterioration of family bonds, while also exploring her awakening sexuality. Lončarević’s powerful coming-of-age story examines the sharpened dynamics of a family in crisis.

    Three short films, “May 31st” (“Trideset i prvi maj”), “Bosnia in Our Hearts” (“Bosnien i våra hjärtan”), and “Shunt” (“Fasunga”), will premiere internationally at the 2014 BHFF.

    Mirza Ajnadžić’s “May 31st” (“Trideset i prvi maj”) documents the White Armband Initiative, a controversial commemoration for non- Serb war victims in Prijedor, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    In Sixten Björkstrand’s “Bosnia in Our Hearts” (“Bosnien i våra hjärtan”), three Bosnians from Finland travel to Lithuania to witness the last and crucial qualifying game for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    “Shunt” (“Fasunga”), directed by Zoran Ćatić, is a brief analysis of historical and socio-political transitions that constantly challenge the permanence of memories.

    “Tales from a Forgotten City” will premiere in the U.S. at this year’s Festival. Directed by Amir Grabus, this short documentary is an ode to the beautiful memories of Mostar as it once used to be. It follows the ambitions of music producer Dragi Šestić and his musical ensemble, Mostar Sevdah Reunion.

    Having its New York premiere at the 11th Annual BHFF is Chris Leslie’s and Oggi Tomic’s “Finding Family” (“U potrazi za porodicom”), an unforgiving documentary about one orphan’s extraordinary journey back to Bosnia twenty years after being abandoned in the midst of the siege of Sarajevo. The film has just won Best New Work and Best Factual awards at the British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards 2014. A Q&A session with Leslie will take place during Closing Night of the Festival at 8:00 PMin The Varick Room.

    Other films included in the selection are:

    Nedžad Begović’s “Beško,” about a modern guy who belongs to the new generation of “Walters” in Sarajevo;

    Mirna Dizdarević’s “Vita Mulier,” a short documentary about two ballerinas struggling to survive in a city that does not value their art;

    Una Kreso’s “A Wound That Is Hidden” (“Rana koja se krije”), about a young woman who fled the Bosnian war with her family and returns to Sarajevo to discover her roots;

    Damir Bašić’s “Just to take a look” (“Samo da pogledam”), a 60- second social commentary on the daily life of an ordinary citizen in Bosnia-Herzegovina;

    “Trnopolje, A Forgotten Summer” (“Trnopolje, jedno zaboravljeno ljeto”), directed by Zabou Cârrière, Taina Tervonen and Jean-Baptiste Delpias, about survivors of the concentration camp in Trnopolje, Bosnia-Herzegovina;

    Ado Hasanović’s “Mum” (“Mama”), a cautionary tale about starting over;

    Amela Ćuhura’s “We Survived” (“Nek je živa glava”), a short fiction film about a former POW who returns to Sarajevo to find his family.

    Films selected to screen at the 11th Annual BHFF are eligible to win a number of honors including the Golden Apple audience and jury awards.

    In 2014, the BHFF Jury consists of L.A.-based author, filmmaker and photographer Harun Mehmedinović; internationally acclaimed artist Nebojša Šerić-Shoba; and Brooklyn-based filmmaker and multimedia artist Amir Husak. They will award the following honors to the most outstanding films: BHFF 2014 Jury Award for Best Documentary Film; BHFF 2014 Jury Award for Best Short or Animated Film and BHFF 2014 Jury Award for Best Feature Film. Films eligible for the Jury Award are all those screened at the BHFF 2014 that were produced in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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  • Paul Devlin’s New Film, “THE FRONT MAN”, to Screen at LA Comedy Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival

     Jim and Christie Wood grow up in the romantic comedy documentary, The Front Man. Image courtesy of Jim and Christie Wood.

    Five-time Emmy winner and Independent Spirit Award nominee Paul Devlin’s new film, THE FRONT MAN, premieres in Los Angeles and then in Orange County at the LA Comedy Festival,  followed by screenings at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Director Paul Devlin and star Jim Wood will attend both screenings. 

    THE FRONT MAN is a departure for filmmaker Paul Devlin, whose documentaries (Power Trip, BLAST!) have won him over a dozen film festival awards, an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a global audience. Thirteen years in the making, THE FRONT MAN is a rare nonfiction rock ‘n roll comedy love story. 

    THE FRONT MAN is about a man so busy chasing his dreams that he risks missing what success really means. Jim Wood is bursting with personality, always ready to take center stage with his clever bawdy humor. A talented musician, Jim is still dedicated to his New Jersey band Loaded Poets, together 20 years since high school. But as Jim grapples with the broken promise of rock ‘n roll stardom, he must reconcile his joy of creating music and his wife Christie’s desire for a child with a culture in which anything short of celebrity is failure. Is growing up the same as giving up?

    The Front Man tells the remarkable love story of Jim and Christie Wood. Image courtesy of Jim and Christie Wood.

    Director Paul Devlin describes the early process of making THE FRONT MAN as very loose and improvisational. “It started out just as a series of gags, because Jim and Christie are so funny. But then we began focusing in on interesting story threads that began to emerge in their lives, and themes developed that were unexpectedly poignant.” As the project was postponed and then re-visited, its slow progress became an asset. An intimate portrait gradually takes on epic proportions as Devlin essentially captures Wood’s entire adulthood over a 27-year period. THE FRONT MAN has evolved into a serious, if satirical, commentary on middle class America and its obsession with celebrity.

    “It’s an honor to screen at a prestigious event like Newport Beach Film Festival,” says Devlin, “but adding the LA Comedy Festival to that feels like a breakthrough. So many people resist the idea that a documentary can be a comedy. Documentaries are supposed to save the world, not make people laugh. It was a real challenge getting my colleagues and the industry to accept this movie, but now we’re gaining momentum because it’s such a crowd-pleaser. Maybe I’ll just start calling it a comedy and drop the word ‘documentary.’”

    http://youtu.be/WlagTYD9xjg

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  • Chris Mason Johnson Award Winning Indie Film “TEST” Sets a June 2014 Release Date

    TEST written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson

    TEST written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson will open in Los Angeles, and on VOD platforms, on June 6th and New York on June 13th via Variance Films. TEST which won the award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature at OUTFEST 2013 stars Scott Marlowe, Matthew Risch, Kristoffer Cusick, Rory Hohenstein, Damon Sperber, and James Sofranko.

    Set in the free-spirited San Francisco of 1985, Test lovingly portrays this exciting and harrowing era as young Frankie (Scott Marlowe) confronts the challenges of being an understudy in a modern dance company where he’s taunted to “dance like a man.” Frankie embarks on a budding relationship with Tom (Matthew Risch), a veteran dancer in the same company and the bad boy to Frankie’s young innocent. 

    TEST written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson

    The captivating dance sequences were especially choreographed for the film by acclaimed U.S. choreographer Sidra Bell, and the film’s vibrant soundtrack includes work by ’80s icons Jimmy Somerville (Bronski Beat), Klaus Nomi, Romeo Void, Laurie Anderson, Martha and the Muffins, Cocteau Twins and Sylvester.

    TEST written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson

    Frankie is the newest, skinniest and most mocked member of an up-and-coming modern dance company in San Francisco. The year is 1985.  As six muscular male dancers tumble their way through athletic choreography, Frankie stands on the sidelines, mirroring the movement and looking a little weak. The choreographer stops the music and yells at Frankie to “dance like a man!” On the sidelines, Todd watches. Todd is an established dancer in the same company and the bad boy to Frankie’s innocent. They’re friends – opposites attract.

    For Frankie, the city offers no relief from the bullying at work: a newspaper headline asks “Should Gays Be Quarantined?” while fresh graffiti screams “AIDS Faggot Die!” Frankie turns away and, with his bright yellow Walkman clipped to his belt, retreats into a music-filled trance.

    TEST written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson

    When one of the male dancers is injured Frankie must perform in his place. It’s the classic test of skill and character, and Todd helps Frankie prepare. Outside of work, as Frankie and Todd’s friendship deepens, they each face a different kind of test: the newly-named disease is spreading fast and no one seems to know anything about it, except who it targets. Together the friends navigate a world full of risk that is also, now and then, full of hope.

    http://youtu.be/0hmosTMS77M

    TEST Official Site

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  • Academy Announces Key Dates for The 87th Oscars

    academy-awards1

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network today announced the dates for the 87th Oscars.  The Academy Awards® presentation will air live on ABC on Oscar®Sunday, February 22, 2015.

    Key dates for the Awards season are:

    Saturday, November 8, 2014 The Governors Awards
    Wednesday, December 3, 2014 Official Screen Credits and music submissions due
    Monday, December 29, 2014 Nominations voting begins 8 a.m. PT
    Thursday, January 8, 2015 Nominations voting ends 5 p.m. PT
    Thursday, January 15, 2015 Oscar nominations announced
    Monday, February 2, 2015 Oscar Nominees Luncheon
    Friday, February 6, 2015 Final voting begins 8 a.m. PT
    Saturday, February 7, 2015 Scientific and Technical Awards
    Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Final voting ends 5 p.m. PT
    Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015 87th Academy Awards begins 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT

    The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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  • Films by Ryan Gosling, Tommy Lee Jones, Mike Leigh Among the Official Selections Announced for 2014 Cannes Film Festival

    The SalvationThe Salvation

    Cannes Film Festival held a press conference earlier today during which the 2014 Official Selection were announced.  In addition to opening night film GRACE DE MONACO which was earlier announced, the lineup includes films from David Cronenberg, Jean-Luc Godard, Tommy Lee Jones, Ken Loach and Ryan Gosling debut as a director. 

    Also included among the lineup is Kristian Levring’s “The Salvation” described as a large-scale western drama rooted in Scandinavia. The story takes place in America in the 1870s. When settler John kills his family’s murderer, he unleashes the fury of the notorious gang leader Delarue. Betrayed by his corrupt and cowardly community, the peaceful pioneer must turn vengeful hunter, slay the outlaws, and cleanse the town’s black heart. Mads Mikkelsen plays the Danish settler John, and the international cast also includes Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mikael Persbrandt and Jonathan Pryce.

    IN COMPETITION

    Opening Film
    Olivier Dahan; GRACE DE MONACO; 1h43

    Olivier Assayas; SILS MARIA; 2h03

    Bertrand Bonello; SAINT LAURENT; 2h15

    Nuri Bilge Ceylan; KIS UYKUSU; 3h16

    David Cronenberg; MAPS TO THE STARS; 1h51

    Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne; DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT; 1h35

    Xavier Dolan; MOMMY; 2h20

    Atom Egoyan; CAPTIVES; 1h53

    Jean-Luc Godard; ADIEU AU LANGAGE; 1h10

    Michel Hazanavicius; THE SEARCH; 2h40

    Tommy Lee Jones; THE HOMESMAN; 2h02

    Naomi Kawase; FUTATSUME NO MADO (Still the water); 1h50

    Mike Leigh; MR. TURNER; 2h29

    Ken Loach; JIMMY’S HALL; 1h46

    Bennett Miller; FOXCATCHER; 2h10

    Alice Rohrwacher; LE MERAVIGLIE; 1h50

    Abderrahmane Sissako; TIMBUKTU; 1h40

    Damian Szifron; RELATOS SALVAJES (Wild Tales); 1h55

    Andrey Zvyagintsev; LEVIATHAN; 2h20

     

    UN CERTAIN REGARD

    Opening Film
    Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis; PARTY GIRL, 1st film; 1h35 

    Lisandro Alonso; SIN TITULO; 1h41   

    Mathieu Amalric; LA CHAMBRE BLEUE; 1h15   

    Asia Argento; INCOMPRESA; 1h43   

    Kanu Behl; TITLI, 1st film; 2h04   

    Ned Benson; ELEANOR RIGBY; 1h59   

    Pascale Ferran; BIRD PEOPLE; 2h07   

    Ryan Gosling; LOST RIVER, 1st film; 1h45   

    Jessica Hausner; AMOUR FOU; 1h36   

    Rolf de Heer; CHARLIE’S COUNTRY; 1h48   

    Andrew Hulme; SNOW IN PARADISE, 1st film; 1h28   

    July Jung; DOHEE-YA (A Girl at my Door), 1st film; 1h59   

    Panos Koutras; XENIA; 2h03   

    Philippe Lacôte; RUN, 1st film; 1h40   

    Ruben öStlund; TURIST; 2h   

    Jaime Rosales; HERMOSA JUVENTUD; 1h40   

    Wang Chao; FANTASIA; 1h25   

    Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado; THE SALT OF THE EARTH; 1h40   

    Keren Yedaya; HARCHECK MI HEADRO (Away From His Absence); 1h35

     

    OUT OF COMPETITION

    Dean Deblois; DRAGONS; 21h45    

    Zhang Yimou; GUI LAI (Coming Home); 1h51  

     

    MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

    Chang; PYO JEOK  (The Target); 1h39

    Kristian Levring; THE SALVATION; 1h30

    David Michod; THE ROVER; 1h40

     

    SPECIAL SCREENINGS

    Aida Begic, Leonardo Di Costanzo, Jean-Luc Godard, Kamen Kalev, Isild Le Besco, Sergei Loznitsa, Vincenzo Marra, Ursula Meier, Vladimir Perisic, Cristi Puiu, Marc Recha, Angela Schanelec, Teresa Villaverde; LES PONTS DE SARAJEVO
    (Bridges of Sarajevo); 1h50

    Polsky Gabe; RED ARMY; 1h25    

    Sergei Loznitsa; MAIDAN; 2h

    Mohammed Ossama; EAU ARGENTÉE; 1h50    

    Stéphanie Valloatto; CARICATURISTES – FANTASSINS DE LA DÉMOCRATIE  (Cartoonists – Foot Soldiers Of Democracy); 1h46

      

    70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF LE MONDE NEWSPAPER:

    Yves Jeuland; LES GENS DU MONDE; 1h22   

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  • Cannes Film Festival Unveils Films Selected for Short Films Competition and Cinéfondation Selection in 2014 Fest

    Abbas Kiarostami Abbas Kiarostami

    The Official Selection of films in the Short Films in Competition and in the Cinéfondation Selection competition sections of the 67th Cannes Film Festival was unveiled earlier today. This year, the Selection Committee received 3,450 short films, representing 128 production countries. Nine films will compete in 2014 for the Short Film Palme d’or.  In a last minute minor controversy, the Italian film A PASSO D’UOMO by Giovanni ALOI was removed from the Short Films Competition because he was proven to break the rules and regulation of this Selection. The Cinéfondation Selection selected 16 films (14 fiction films and 2 animation films) among the 1,631 submitted this year by film schools from all around the world.  The Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury, will be presided over by Abbas Kiarostami, who will nominate the prize-winners for the Short Film Competition and the Cinéfondation Selection.

    SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION:

    Ran HUANG, THE ADMINISTRATION OF GLORY, 15’ China

    Dea KULUMBEGASHVILI, UKHILAVI SIVRTSEEBI (Invisible Spaces),10’ Georgia    

    Sato MASAHIKO, Ohara TAKAYOSHI, Seki YUTARO, Toyota MASAYUKI, Hirase KENTARO, HAPPO-EN, 13’ Japan    

    Simón MESA, SOTO, LEIDI, 15′ Colombia United-Kingdom    

    Sergey PIKALOV, SONUNCU (The Last One), 15 ’Azerbaijan    

    Petra SZŐCS, A KIVEGZES (The Execution),14’ Hungary, Romania    

    Clément TREHIN-LALANNE, AÏSSA, 8’ France    

    Laura WANDEL, LES CORPS ÉTRANGERS, 15’ Belgium    

    Hallvar WITZØ, JA VI ELSKER (Yes we Love), 15’ Norway    

     

    THE CINEFONDATION SELECTION:

    Max CHAN; OUR BLOOD; 25’ Hampshire College, USA    

    Pierre CLENET, Alejandro DIAZ , Romain MAZEVET, Stéphane PACCOLAT; HOME SWEET HOME; 10’ Supinfocom Arles, France    

    Omar EL ZOHAIRY; THE AFTERMATH OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE PUBLIC TOILET AT KILOMETER 375; 18’High Cinema Institute, Academy of Arts, Égypt    

    Reinaldo Marcus GREEN; STONE CARS; 14’ NYU Tisch School of the Arts, USA    

    HAN Fengyu; LAST TRIP HOME; 25’ Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore    

    Meryll HARDT; UNE VIE RADIEUSE (A Radiant Life); 17’ Le Fresnoy, France    

    Chie HAYAKAWA; NIAGARA; 27’ENBU Seminar Japan    

    Atsuko HIRAYANAGI; OH LUCY!; 21’ NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Asia, Singapore    

    Inbar HORESH; THE VISIT; 27’ Minshar for Art, School and Center, Israel    

    Stefan IVANČIĆ; LETO BEZ MESECA  (Moonless Summer); 31′ Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Serbia    

    Daisy JACOBS; THE BIGGER PICTURE; 7′ National Film and Television School, United Kingdom    

    György Mór KÁRPÁTI; PROVINCIA; 21′ University of Theatre and Film Arts, Hungary    

    KWON Hyun-ju; SOOM (Breath); 33’Chung-Ang University, South Korea    

    Léa MYSIUS; LES OISEAUX-TONNERRE (Thunderbirds); 22′ La Fémis, France    

    Fulvio RISULEO; LIEVITO MADRE (Sourdough); 17′ Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Italy    

    Annie SILVERSTEIN; SKUNK; 16′ The University of Texas at Austin, USA    

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