Winners of the 18th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival, MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY Wins Best Film

Winners of the 18th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival, MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY Wins Best Film

L to R: Alan Inkles, founder/director of the Stony Brook Film Festival; Gert Embrechts, director/writer, ALLEZ EDDY!; Ate de Jong, director and co-writer, THE BLITZ; John Burgess, director, ONE SMALL HITCH; John Anderson, film critic and master of ceremonies at the Stony Brook Film Festival awards reception; Georg Maas, director/co-writer of the Closing Night film TWO LIVES.L to R: Alan Inkles, founder/director of the Stony Brook Film Festival; Gert Embrechts, director/writer, ALLEZ EDDY!; Ate de Jong, director and co-writer, THE BLITZ; John Burgess, director, ONE SMALL HITCH; John Anderson, film critic and master of ceremonies at the Stony Brook Film Festival awards reception; Georg Maas, director/co-writer of the Closing Night film TWO LIVES.

The 18th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday night with a Closing Night Reception and announced the winners of the 2013 festival. MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY written and directed by Michaela Kezele was selected by the jury as the 2013 Jury Award-Best Feature; and the 2013 Audience Choice-Best Feature a tie between ALLEZ, EDDY! written and directed by Gert Embrechts and THE BLITZ directed and co-written by Ate de Jong.

For 20th Anniversary, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival to Highlight Movies Made in San Luis Obispo

For 20th Anniversary, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival to Highlight Movies Made in San Luis Obispo

California Dreaming at San Luis Obispo International Film Festival's 20th Anniversary

In honor of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival‘s 20th Anniversary next year, the SLOIFF will celebrate by screening Hollywood movies that have been made in San Luis Obispo County over the past 90 years. SLO County on the Silver Screen will present a wide variety of notable films, and screen each in the part of the County they were principally filmed in. The series will begin in August and run through the next Festival, scheduled for March 5-9, 2014.

Winners Announced for 34th Durban International Film Festival, "THE LAND OF HOPE" Wins Best FeatureFilm

Winners Announced for 34th Durban International Film Festival, “THE LAND OF HOPE” Wins Best FeatureFilm

THE LAND OF HOPETHE LAND OF HOPE

The 34th edition of the Durban International Film Festival announced its award-winners, presenting the award for Best Feature Film to the film THE LAND OF HOPE. The International Jury commended Sion Sono for a film that “masterfully and humbly draws together an array of cinematic means of expression to engage us in a story”. The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to South African filmmaker Andrew Worsdale for his film DURBAN POISON.

Keanu Reeves' Directing Debut "MAN OF TAI CHI" Among First Wave of Films Announced for 2013 Fantastic Fest

Keanu Reeves’ Directing Debut “MAN OF TAI CHI” Among First Wave of Films Announced for 2013 Fantastic Fest

Keanu Reeves directs MAN OF TAI CHIKeanu Reeves directs MAN OF TAI CHI

Keanu Reeves’ MAN OF TAI CHI is among the initial lineup of films screening at this year’s Fantastic Fest taking place September 19-26 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline. Keanu Reeves stars in and makes his directorial debut in the multi-lingual narrative, MAN OF TAI CHI. Partly inspired by the life of Reeves’ friend, stuntman Tiger Chen, MAN OF TAI CHI tells the story of a young martial artist whose unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underground fight club. As the fights intensify so does his will to survive and his desire to protect his way of life. 

The World Premiere of MACHETE KILLS to Open 2013 Fantastic Fest

The World Premiere of MACHETE KILLS to Open 2013 Fantastic Fest

Machete Kills

The 2013 Fantastic Fest will open with the world premiere of Robert Rodriguez’s MACHETE KILLS on September 19, 2013.  Robert Rodriguez along with Danny Trejo and Alexa Vega, both featured in the film, are expected to be in attendance at the premiere. The festival will be held in Austin, Texas at the new Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline location from September 19-26, 2013.

Five Indie Films You Shouldn’t Miss So Far This Year

Five Indie Films You Shouldn’t Miss So Far This Year

Top 5 indie films 2013

Feel worn out by summer blockbusters yet? You’re not the only one – in a summer in which many $200+ million films seem to be bombing, it seems like audiences are looking for something that doesn’t involve zombies, aliens, explosions, or superheroes… maybe something with more story and less special effects

However, with so many independent releases out there it’s likely some great ones escaped your notice. So here is a list of five films I’ve seen in the first half of 2013 that I think are worth your time. Keep in mind, these aren’t necessarily the best indie films of 2013 – I haven’t seen them all – but here are five that I think should not be overlooked.