• THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM Explores the 10 Year Renovation of the Dutch Museum; Playing at Northwest Film Center | Watch Clips + Images

    THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM

    The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.  Built in 1895 by architect Pierre Cuypers, it is considered one of the world’s preeminent art museums. If you’ve visited Amsterdam, you’ve probably been to the Rijksmuseum, U.S. President Obama is scheduled to visit the Rijksmuseum this coming Monday, March 24, 2014. But if you live in Portland Oregon, the Northwest Film Center will screen the film THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM, April 12 to 13, 2014 at Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium Portland Art Museum. The film follows the renovation of the museum that took ten long and expensive years and described as a messy, complicated story but one with a glorious ending.

    “The renovation of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum went on for ten long, expensive years, so it is fitting that a documentary on this torturous (and often inadvertently hilarious) process should turn into not one but two feature-length movies. Spanish architects Antonio Cruz and Antonio Ortiz have designed an ingenious new entryway, but the Dutch Cyclists Union won’t tolerate reduced access for the 13,000 bicyclists who ride through the passageway daily. The museum’s magisterial director, Ronald de Leeuw, and his successor, the younger, scrappier Wim Pijbes, battle with curators, politicians, designers, city bureaucrats, and the public as the price of construction soars to $500 million. It’s a messy, complicated story, but fortunately, one with a glorious ending.”—Film Forum.

    THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM

    THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM

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  • Sony Pictures Classics Acquires The Who Documentary “LAMBERT & STAMP” for Release in US and Intl

    LAMBERT & STAMP

    James D. Cooper’s directorial debut LAMBERT & STAMP, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in North America, Australia and NZ, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia.  The film stars Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, and features Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and Terence Stamp.  LAMBERT & STAMP tells the story of Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, aspiring New Wave filmmakers from opposite sides of the tracks who set out to find a subject for their underground movie, leading them to discover, mentor and manage the iconic band that would become known as The Who.

    In the crazy, chaotic gospel of chance that is LAMBERT & STAMP, aspiring filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert set out to find a subject for their underground movie, one that will reflect the way it feels to be young and dissatisfied in postwar London. This brilliant, but unlikely, partnership of two men from vastly different backgrounds was inspired by the burgeoning youth culture of the early 1960s. Lambert and Stamp searched for months and finally found in a band called the High Numbers a rebellious restlessness that was just what they were looking for. Abandoning their plans to make a film, they instead decided to mentor and manage this group, which evolved into the iconic band known as the Who. The result was rock ‘n’ roll history. Sundance Film Festival

    “’Lambert & Stamp’ is the greatest untold story in rock. The movie captures a very unlikely partnership and the hailstorm of creativity that comes with it. Sony Pictures Classics is truly the ideal partner for distributing the film which I’ve been honored to make, and for the legacy with which I’ve been entrusted,” said James D. Cooper.

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  • Award Winning Race Satire Comedy DEAR WHITE PEOPLE to Get a U.S. Release Date | WATCH Clip + See Images

    DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

    The comedy DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, winner of the U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, have been acquired by Lionsgate and Roadside Attraction for release in the US. Written and directed by newcomer Justin Simien, and starring Tyler James Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”), Tessa Thompson (“Veronica Mars”), Teyonah Parris (“Mad Men”), and Brandon P Bell (“Hollywood Heights”), the film follows four black students at a fictional Ivy League college, where a riot breaks out over a popular “African American-themed” party thrown by a white fraternity.

    At prestigious Winchester University, biracial student Samantha White begins her radio show, “Dear White People, the amount of black friends required not to seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, your weed man, Tyrone, doesn’t count.”

    Sam becomes president of the all-black residential hall Parker/Armstrong, whose existence is facing extinction in the name of diversification. TV reality show Black Face/White Placesmells gold in Sam’s story and decides to follow it, rejecting the proposal of fellow black student Coco Conners, who pitched her show Doing Time at an Ivy League. The clamor over Sam’s rise also becomes a career-defining opportunity for black misfit Lionel Higgins when he is asked to join the school’s lily-white newspaper staff to cover the controversy, even though he secretly knows little about black culture. Sundance Film Festival.

     DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

    DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

    DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

    DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

    DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

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  • Hot Docs Announces 2014 Lineup of 197 Films

     Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival superduperalicecooper

    Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival announced its full film line-up for the upcoming 21st edition, taking place April 24 to May 4, 2014.  From 2,435 film submissions, this year’s slate will present 197 titles from 43 countries in 12 screening programs. 

    In addition to the opening night international premiere of Brian Knappenberger’s THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ, an inspiring and emotional portrait of a young Internet visionary, other notable films in the Special Presentations program include: Pavel Loparev and Askold Kurov’s CHILDREN 404, a firsthand account of LGBT youth in Russia; Anthony Baxter’s A DANGEROUS GAME, an explosive tale of everyday heroes battling against Donald Trump’s development plans; Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina’s I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY, a big-hearted tale of the man behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch; Jesse Moss’ THE OVERNIGHTERS, depicting a local pastor risking everything to welcome the desperate men migrating to a small North Dakota community; Cynthia Hill’s PRIVATE VIOLENCE, a beautifully crafted story exploring the fact that the most dangerous place for a woman is her home; Igal Hecht’s THE SHEIK, a personal and emotional tale of Olympic wrestler and pop culture icon the Iron Sheik; and Joe Berlinger’s WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER, which strips away the myths surrounding infamous Boston gangster and FBI informant James “Whitey” Bulger.

    In the competitive Canadian Spectrum program, notable films include: Thomas Wallner’s BEFORE THE LAST CURTAIN FALLS, a stunning portrayal of the tumultuous off-stage lives of six aging Belgian transvestites and transsexual performers; Vic Sarin’s THE BOY FROM GEITA, the story of a young Tanzanian boy with albinism surviving a brutal attack and given hope with the promise of surgery in Canada; Ray Klonsky and Marc Lamy’s DAVID & ME, following a tenacious filmmaker’s quest to prove a man’s innocence 28 years after his incarceration; Julia Kwan’s EVERYTHING WILL BE, a heartwarming and cinematically stunning ode to a Vancouver community in transition; Tony Girardin’s MARINONI, the story of Canada’s most revered bicycle craftsman attempting a world cycling record at 75 years old; John Kastner’s OUT OF MIND, OUT OF SIGHT, which follows the filmmaker’s return to the Brockville Mental Health Centre to capture patients struggling for control of their lives; and Amar Wala’s THE SECRET TRIAL 5, the shocking story of five Muslim men imprisoned without charge under Canada’s controversial security certificates policy.

    In the competitive International Spectrum program, notable films include: Robert Greene’s ACTRESS, a present-tense portrait of The Wire’s Brandy Burre trying to balance the demanding roles of mother, lover, wife and performer; Gabriel London’s THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST, a look at the legendary Florida jailbreaker who is determined to escape the violence and despair of prison; Helen Simon’s NO LULLABY, a powerful film about three generations of a family that are silenced by a horrific secret; Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum’s TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR, the story of Delhi’s famed “tinsel slum” performers who use every trick in their arsenal when their neighbourhood is illegally sold; and Eliza Kubarska’s WALKING UNDER WATER, a magical look at the last compressor diver from the Badjao tribe in Malaysian Borneo imparting his wisdom to a young student.

    In the World Showcase program, notable films include: Ryuji Otsuka’s THE BEIJING ANTS, a cautionary tale about capitalism and customer service in modern China; Ryan Murdock’s BRONX OBAMA, the story of a true doppelgänger of Barack Obama who finds that life as the president isn’t always easy; Tony Shaff’s HOTLINE, an intimate portrait of the strangers who connect to save lives, predict futures and satisfy lust via telephone hotlines; David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg’s THE IMMORTALISTS, about two free-thinking biologists on a quest to find the cure for mortality and reverse the aging process forever; Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs’ RED LINES, the story of two unlikely activists who struggle to create one free, democratic Syrian village; Stephanie Wang-Breal’s TOUGH LOVE, a rare glimpse inside the American child welfare system; and Ibtisam Mara’ana Menuhin’s WRITE DOWN, I AM AN ARAB, a heart-breaking film about the rich life of Palestine’s national poet Mahmoud Darwish.

    The Made In Denmark program includes: Karen Stokkendal Poulsen’s THE AGREEMENT, an undiplomatically comic exposé in which Serbia and Kosova representatives face off over a co-existence agreement; Ulrik Wivel’s A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOY, the story of an autistic 18-year old and his brother on a road trip to Barcelona and independence; and Elvira Lind’s SONGS FOR ALEXIS, about a talented transgender musician and his girlfriend navigating their love story and its place in the world.

    The Next program includes: Lina Plioplyte’s ADVANCED STYLE, an invigorating portrait of New York’s most stylish elderly women; Andrew Napier’s MAD AS HELL, about Cenk Uygur’s rise from public access TV to being the creator of the most popular online news show in the world; and Dennis Mohr’s MUGSHOT, a fascinating investigation into how mug shots have been repurposed as art and historical evidence.

    The Nightvision program includes: Adam Rifkin’s GIUSEPPE MAKES A MOVIE, a portrait of the ultimate independent filmmaker completing his 30th feature in just two days; and William Westaway’s THE WRITER WITH NO HANDS, the story of a propaganda expert discovering the US military’s involvement in Hollywood.

    The Love, Factually program includes: Doug Block’s 112 WEDDINGS, a revealing look into what keeps couples together after marriage; Philip Cox and Hikaru Toda’s LOVE HOTEL, an intimate glimpse into the unique world of love hotels in Japan; and Geeta V. Patel and Ravi V. Patel’s MEET THE PATELS, the story of a first-generation Indian-American letting his parents find him a wife.

    The Mystery, Myth & Legend program includes: Dave Jannetta’s LOVE AND TERROR ON THE HOWLING PLAINS OF NOWEHERE, about the effect a violent death and unsolvable mystery has on a Twin Peaks-esque community; and Jessica Oreck’s THE VANQUISHING OF THE BABA YAGA, which reimagines the centuries-old Slavic fable of Baba Yaga within a dreamlike, anthropological portrait of modern-day life.

    The Redux program will highlight five films that deserve another outing on the big screen.

    Additionally, Hot Docs will present two retrospective programs: Focus On John Zaritsky, a mid-career retrospective of the filmmaker’s work; and the Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective, honoring the influential work of English documentary filmmaker and journalist Adam Curtis.

    Also a premier documentary conference and market, Hot Docs will be welcoming over 2,000 industry delegates who will partake in a wide array of industry events and services, including conferences sessions, receptions and parties, Hot Docs Deal Maker, The Doc Shop and the Hot Docs Forum, April 30 and May 1.

     Image via Facebook. Directors Reginald Harkema, Sam Dunn and Scot McFayden (SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER). Photo Credit: David Spowart Photography — atBloor Cinema.

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  • Alice Cooper Documentary SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER Announces List of Theatrical and Venue to Watch a Screenings

    SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER

    The Alice Cooper documentary, SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER, will premiere at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and will be released in theaters nationwide beginning April 30.  SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER is the twisted tale of a teenage Dr. Jekyll whose rock ‘n’ roll Mr. Hyde almost kills him. It is the story of Vincent Furnier, a preacher’s son who struck fear into the hearts of parents as Alice Cooper, the ultimate rock star of the bizarre. From the advent of Alice as frontman for a group of Phoenix freaks in the ’60s to the hazy decadence of celebrity in the ’70s to his triumphant comeback as ’80s glam metal godfather, we will watch as Alice and Vincent battle for each other’s souls. Alice’s story is told not only by the man himself, but through exclusive interviews with members of the original Alice Cooper band, Elton John, Iggy Pop, John Lydon and Dee Snider.

    SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER is the creation of Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn at Banger Films, producers of 2009 SXSW Audience Choice Winner, IRON MAIDEN: FLIGHT 666 and 2010 Grammy-nominated and Tribeca Audience Choice Winner, RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE, and much-lauded filmmaker Reginald Harkema, winner of the TIFF Special Jury Prize for his film “Monkey Warfare”.

    Current list of U.S. theatrical and venue screenings, sorted by their original screening date.  Check your local listings for more information.

    April 30:

    Fairfax, VA – Angelika Mosaic
    Dallas, TX – Angelika Film Dallas
    Plano, TX – Angelika Film Plano
    San Diego, CA – Gaslamp 15
    Honolulu, HI – Ward Stadium 16
    Sacramento, CA – Tower Theatre
    La Mesa, CA – Grossmont Center 10
    Rohnert Park, CA – Rohnert Park 16
    Bakersfield, CA – Valley Plaza 16
    New York, NY – Village East
    Manville, NJ – Manville 12-Plex
    Murrieta, CA – Cal Oaks 17
    Cleveland, OH – Capitol Theatre
    Cleveland, OH – Shaker Square Cinemas
    Pittsburgh, PA – Southside Works Cinema
    Peoria, AZ – Arrowhead Fountains 18
    Oklahoma City, OK – Bricktown 16
    Chandler, AZ – Chandler Fashion 20
    Moreno Valley, CA – Moreno Valley 16
    Denver, CO – Northfield 18
    Phoenix, AZ – Scottsdale 101
    Arlington, MA – Regent Theatre
    Claremont, CA – Claremont 5
    North Hollywood, CA – NoHo 7
    Pasadena, CA – Playhouse 7
    Amherst, NY – The Screening Room Inc.
    Chestnut Hill, MA – Showcase SuperLux
    Millbury, MA – Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux
    Dedham, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Legacy Place
    Bridgeport, CT – Showcase Cinemas Bridgeport
    White Plains, NY – City Center 15: Cinema De Lux
    Whitestone, NY – College Point Multiplex Cinemas
    Edgewater, NJ – Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas
    Farmingdale, NY – Farmingdale Multiplex Cinemas
    Holtsville, NY – Island 16: Cinema De Lux
    Lowell, MA – Showcase Cinemas Lowell
    Foxboro, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Patriot Place
    Providence, RI – Providence Place Cinemas 16
    Springdale, OH – Springdale 18: Cinema De Lux
    Warwick, RI – Showcase Cinemas Warwick
    Randolph, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Randolph
    Revere, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Revere
    Elmsford, NY – Greenburgh Multiplex Cinemas
    Yonkers, NY – Showcase Cinema de Lux Ridge Hill
    Bonita Springs, FL – Prado Stadium 12

    May 1:

    San Francisco, CA – Balboa Theatre
    Cincinnati, OH – Esquire Theatre
    Columbus, OH – Gateway Film Center
    Sparta, NJ – Digiplex Sparta
    Mechanicsburg, PA – Digiplex Mechanicsburg
    Camp Hill, PA – Digiplex Camp Hill
    Williamsport, PA – Digiplex Williamsport
    Bloomsburg, PA – Digiplex Bloomsburg
    Selinsgrove, PA – Digiplex Selinsgrove
    Reading, PA – Digiplex Fairgrounds
    Solon, OH – Digiplex Solon Cinema 16
    Surprise, AZ – Digiplex Surprise Pointe 14
    Bloomfield, CT – Digiplex Bloomfield
    Lisbon, CT – Digiplex Lisbon
    Torrington, CT – Digiplex CINEROM Torrington
    Temecula, CA – Digiplex Temecula Tower 10
    Apple Valley, CA – Digiplex Apple Valley 14
    Bonsall, CA – Digiplex River Village
    Oceanside, CA – Digiplex Mission Marketplace 13
    Poway, CA – Digiplex Poway 10
    Westfield, NJ – Digiplex Rialto Westfield
    San Rafael, CA – California Film Institute

    May 2:

    Phoenix, AZ – FilmBar

    May 7:

    Athens, OH – Athena Grand

    May 13:

    Tuscon, AZ – The Loft Cinema

    May 19:

    Bridgeport, CT – Bijou Theatre

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  • Brian Knappenberger’s THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ to Open 2014 Hot Docs

     THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ

    The international premiere of director Brian Knappenberger’s THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ (USA, 2014, 105 min) will open the 2014 Hot Docs Festival on Thursday, April 24. Director Brian Knappenberger will be in attendance to introduce the film and participate in post-screening audience discussions.

    “The Internet’s Own Boy is an incredible portrait of one of the greatest and most promising minds of a generation, Aaron Swartz,” says Hot Docs director of programming Charlotte Cook. “Director Brian Knappenberger has told Aaron’s story in a very beautiful and inspiring way, and we are honoured to be able to share it with not only our audience, but hopefully to help continue to share it with the world.”

    As a teenager, Aaron Swartz took the Internet community by storm with capabilities, intellect and understanding that matched its most seasoned members. He helped found or develop countless household-name technologies and companies in the time it takes most people finish college. Aaron was a pioneer in Internet activism, and stood at the forefront of the SOPA and PIPA victories. He looked towards a limitless future—but his life took a dramatic turn. In 2011 and 2012, he was indicted by prosecutors who charged him with a staggering number of felonies. Aaron found himself facing 35 years in prison, and at the age of 26 was found dead in his apartment, from an apparent suicide. As we hear from those closest to Aaron, this incredibly inspirational and moving story shows how one of the most promising minds of a generation found himself staring down a government prosecuting him under the very laws he was fighting against.

    THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ is director Brian Knappenberger’s fourth feature documentary. His third feature documentary, WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKTIVISTS was an official selection of the 2012 Hot Docs Festival. THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ had its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

     

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  • 2014 Cleveland International Film Festival to Close with DOM HEMINGWAY Starring Jude Law. VIDEO Watch Trailer

    DOM HEMINGWAYDOM HEMINGWAY

    The 38th Cleveland International Film Festival has selected DOM HEMINGWAY as its Closing Night film on Sunday, March 30, 2014.  DOM HEMINGWAY, directed by Richard Shepard and produced by Jeremy Thomas with Nick O’Hagan as co-producer, stars Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir, Emilia Clarke, Kerry Condon, Jumayn Hunter, Madalina Ghenea, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. 

    DOM HEMINGWAY is a larger-than-life safecracker with a cocky swagger who is witty, unhinged, and full of piss and vinegar. After twelve years in prison, he sets off with his partner in crime Dickie (Richard E. Grant) looking to collect what he’s owed for keeping his mouth shut and protecting his boss Mr. Fontaine (Demian Bichir). After a near-death experience, Dom tries to re-connect with his estranged daughter (Emilia Clarke), but is soon drawn back into the only world he knows, looking to settle the ultimate debt.

    http://youtu.be/0RIfxInncis

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  • Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Announces 2014 Film Lineup; Fest to Close with JADOO

     

    JADOOJADOO

    The 12th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), taking place April 8 to13, 2014, at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, announced its 2014 lineup of narrative and documentary features and short films for this year’s festival.  JADOO, a delightful and delicious exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s Closing Night Gala. JADOO is written and directed by IFFLA alum Amit Gupta, and first premiered at the 2013 Berlinale. It features a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, and Madhur Jaffrey. 

    As previously announced, IFFLA will open with Jeffrey D. Brown’s SOLD, produced by Jane Charles and executive produced by Emma Thompson.

    Program highlights include the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s latest,UGLY, an intense, masterfully directed psychological thriller that premiered in the 2013 Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes; LIAR’S DICE, the remarkable directorial debut of South Indian actress Geetu Mohandas that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Anup Singh’s latest feature QISSA: THE TALE OF A LONELY GHOST, starring Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire), winner of NETPAC Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Dioraphte Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival HANK AND ASHA, an exploratory, romantic look at two people bonding in the digital age by newcomer James E. Duff; Nagraj Manjule’s FANDRY, a highly praised debut feature for its multilayered emotion and realism on the subject of caste discrimination; BRAHMIN BULLS starring Roshan Seth (Gandhi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Mississippi Masala) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Beauty and the Beast, Heroes) as an estranged father and son unexpectedly brought together to confront the family’s past; and SIDDHARTH, a nuanced look at a family whose son goes missing, by lauded Canadian director and IFFLA alum Richie Mehta (Amal).

    The festival’s feature documentary competition includes an eclectic mix of films from established and upcoming filmmakers that consider India’s unique traditions and dynamic future. The films include: the world premiere of THE AUCTION HOUSE, an intimate and funny look at two brothers trying to keep their anachronistic family business going in the digital age; festival favorite POWERLESS, which depicts intense struggles over electricity in a mid-size Indian city; FAITH CONNECTIONS, IFFLA alum Pan Nalin’s beautiful and rare look at the Kumbh Mela; and the National Award-winning SHEPHERDS OF PARADISE, about an arduous, mountainous trek through an animal drive in the Kashmiri winter.

    The popular Bollywood by Night series returns this year with BOMBAY TALKIES and MONSOON SHOOTOUT. Premiering at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, BOMBAY TALKIES is a quartet of short films that celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema. The omnibus film features work by four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap, as well as a stellar cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, and Katrina Kaif. MONSOON SHOUTOUT is a thrilling debut by IFFLA alum writer/director Amit Kumar about how a split-second decision made by a rookie police officer has rippling effects in his life and the lives of those around him.

    The shorts competition showcases a diverse selection of 15 films that include narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated works. Highlights of this year’s program include Academy Award® shortlisted KUSH; Sundance award winner LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.; and the world premiere of acclaimed director Umesh Kulkarni’s THE FLY.

    OPENING NIGHT GALA

    SOLD
    Los Angeles Premiere
    USA/2014/97min
    Director: Jeffrey D. Brown
    Producer: Jane Charles
    Executive Producer: Emma Thompson
    Screenwriters: Joseph Kwong, Jeffrey D. Brown
    Composer: John McDowell, Sammy Chand, Salim & Sulaiman Merchant
    Cast: Susmita Mukherjee, Seema Biswas, Tillotama Shome, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal, Parambrata Chatterjee, Gillian Anderson, David Arquette

    Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jeffrey D. Brown adapts Patricia McCormick’s novel Sold – a National Book Award finalist – into a vivid, harrowing and inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience in the face of unspeakable cruelty.

    CLOSING NIGHT

    JADOO
    Los Angeles Premiere
    UK/2013/84 mins
    Director: Amit Gupta
    Producers: Amanda Faber, Isabelle Georgeaux, Richard Holmes, Nikki Parrott
    Screenwriter: Amit Gupta
    Composer: Stephen Warbeck
    Cast: Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, Madhur Jaffrey

    Set in Leicester, England, Amit Gupta’s culinary comedy charts the chaos that ensues when young Shalini gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend Mark. The fact that Mark is not Indian is the least of Shalini’s concerns. Her father Raja and uncle Jagi have been at war for years. After a legendary falling out that caused them to close their family restaurant, each man opened his own establishment – directly across the street from one another! Shalini’s dream wedding would see both men put aside their differences and prepare the feast together, but resentment runs deep and neither man can hear mention of the other’s name without a spike in blood pressure. Both the prospect of disappointing their beloved Shalini and the threat of a new, hip restaurant opening in the area force Raja and Jagi to work together – but for how long? In this uproariously funny and heartfelt exploration of family bonds, shared history and gastronomic perfection, Gupta’s cast is endlessly appealing. Plus, there’s enough mouth-watering Indian food on display to have your stomach growling before the credits roll.

    FEATURE FILMS

    BEFORE MY EYES (ANKHON DEKHI)
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India/2013/107min
    Director: Rajat KapoorProducer: Manish Mundra
    Screenwriter: Rajat Kapoor
    Cast: Sanjay Sanjay Mishra, Seema Pahwa, Rajat Kapoor, Taranjeet, Maya Sarao

    Celebrated writer, director, and actor Rajat Kapoor (Midnight’s Children, Monsoon Wedding, Mixed Doubles, Mithya) paints an offbeat yet thought-provoking portrait of domestic life in modern day Delhi when an incident prompts head of the family Bauji to reject anything he himself has not experienced, much to the exasperation of his extended family but to the delight of his newfound philosopher disciples. Balancing the comical and the existential, both Bauji and the film ask the basic question, ‘Can you know truth without true experience?’

    BRAHMIN BULLS
    Los Angeles Premiere
    USA/96min/2013
    Director: Mahesh Pailoor
    Producer: Yoshinobu Tsuji
    Screenwriters: Anu Pradhan, Mahesh Pailoor
    Cast: Sendhil Ramamurthy, Roshan Seth, Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha, Cassidy Freeman, Monica Raymund, Michael Lerner

    Mahesh Pailoor’s tender, funny, and touching debut tells the story of estranged father and son Ashok and Sid, who reunite at Sid’s Los Angeles home when Ashok arrives unexpectedly. Each man is keeping secrets from one another, and when the truth is revealed, parent and child must work even harder to close the rift between them.

    FANDRY
    North American Premiere
    India/2013/103min
    Director: Nagraj Manjule
    Producers: Vivek Kajaria, Nilesh Navalakha
    Screenwriter: Nagraj Manjule
    Cast: Kishor Kadam, Chhaya Kadam, Somnath Awghade, Suraj Pawar, Rajshree Kharat, Sakshi Vyavhare, Aishvarya Shinde, Nagraj Manjule

    Marathi poet Nagraj Manjule’s impressive debut feature tells the story of Jabya, a Dalit boy, and his family’s struggle against daily prejudice in their Maharashtra village. Jabya’s carefree childhood desires and antics are soon stifled by his family’s “untouchable” status, and the film’s gradual transformation into an insightful and damning look at caste discrimination builds from a murmur to a defiant roar. Refusing to reduce his Dalit characters to victims – most explicitly at the film’s explosive conclusion – Manjule’s socially reflective film has received critical acclaim in India.

    HANK AND ASHA
    Los Angeles Premiere
    USA/2013/73min
    Director: James E. Duff
    Producers: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
    Screenwriters: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
    Cast: Mahira Kakkar, Andrew Pastides

    James E. Duff’s feature directorial debut, the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, is an endearing tale of a long-distance connection in the digital age. Hank and Asha, two aspiring filmmakers separated by an ocean, connect with one another through video messages and quickly find themselves heading towards romance. That is, until Asha reveals some surprising news. Duff has created a captivating ode to the new possibilities open to us now that the world’s gotten smaller.

    LIAR’S DICE
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India/2013/104min
    Director: Geetu Mohandas
    Producers: Alan McAlex, Ajay G. Rai
    Screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas
    Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta

    Established actress Geetu Mohandas steps behind the lens for her bracing directorial debut. A woman named Kamala and her daughter journey from their remote Himalayan village to Delhi in search of Kamala’s missing husband. They find a guide in an unfriendly wanderer whose interest may lie more in his personal gain than in any help he can offer them. Beautifully shot by Rajeev Ravi (Gangs of Wasseypur), Mohandas’ film evokes a hazardous world where answers may never be clear and a helping hand always comes at a price.

    PHORING
    North American Premiere
    India/2013/128min
    Director: Indranil Roychowdhury
    Producers: Anasua Roychowdury, Sugata Bal
    Screenwriters: Indranil Roychowdhury, Sugata Sinha
    Cast: Akash Adhikary, Sohini Sarkar, Sourav Basak, Ritwick Charaborty, Shankar Debnath, Senjuti Roymukherjee

    Indranil Roychowdhury’s stunning feature debut is an evocative, unpredictable tale of confused adolescence in a struggling North Bengal town. Phoring, an imaginative adolescent boy, and his beautiful new teacher Doel form a close friendship that soon arouses doubt and suspicion when Doel’s presence in the town is revealed to have less-than-noble origins. Roychowdhury accomplishes a tricky feat with his first film by luring us with the promise of an inspirational teacher-student story before ultimately delivering a much more complex and truthful account of the joys and pains of growing up.

    QISSA: THE TALE OF A LONELY GHOST (2013)
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Germany-India-Netherlands/2013/109min
    Director: Anup Singh
    Producers: Bero Beyer, Johannes Rexin, Bettina Brokemper, Thierry Lenouvel
    Screenwriter: Anup Singh, Madhuja Mukherjee
    Cast: Irrfan Khan, Tisca Chopra, Tillotama Shome, Rasika Dugal

    Set in 1940s Punjab, Anup Singh’s latest feature QISSA details the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistan Partition through the experiences of one Sikh family, headed by Umber (Irrfan Khan). Following the family’s forceful displacement from their village, Umber’s desire for a male heir is stronger than ever. When his wife gives birth to their fourth daughter, Kanwar, Umber makes the fateful decision to raise her as a boy. This tragic choice ends up dividing the family in violent ways, and provokes a series of increasingly unsettling situations for Kanwar as she grows up. While in a sense a ghost story, the source of pain and suffering is all too real.

    SIDDHARTH
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Canada-India/2013/96min
    Director: Richie Mehta
    Producers: David Miller, Steven N. Bray
    Screenwriter: Richie Mehta
    Cast: Rajesh Tailang, Tannishtha Chatterjee

    A celebrated IFFLA alum, Canadian director Richie Mehta returns to the festival with a heartbreaking story of parents Mahendra and Suman, whose son goes missing after being sent to work 200 miles north of Delhi. Carried by powerful yet restrained performances from Rajesh Tailang and Tannishtha Chatterjee as the parents, Mehta and cast capture the dignity of those facing the unthinkable. Mehta’s chance encounter with a man searching for his lost son alerted him to the underreported plight of the families of 44,000 children estimated missing in India every year.

    UGLY
    North American Premiere
    India/2013/128mins/DCP
    Director: Anurag Kashyap
    Writer: Anurag Kashyap
    Producers: Vikas Bahl, Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vivek Rangachari,
    Arun Rangachari
    Cast: Rahul Bhatt, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Anshika Shrivastava

    When ten-year-old Kali disappears from her father Rahul’s car on the busy streets of Mumbai, the events that follow quickly spiral out of control and plunge into a morass of corruption and violence. Rahul and Kali’s mother, Shalini, are divorced. Shalini is now married to Shoumik, the local police chief. When Shoumik learns that his stepdaughter is missing, he and Rahul clash in a breathless race to find the girl. With intricate plotting and vivid characterizations, IFFLA alum Anurag Kashyap fashions a story that’s sure to keep the heart racing.

    WRITERS (SULEMANI KEEDA)
    North American Premiere
    India/2013/90min
    Director: Amit V Masurkar
    Writer: Amit V Masurkar
    Producer: Datta Dave
    Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Mayank Tewari, Aditi Vasudev and Karan Mirchandani

    Writing partners Dulal and Mainak dream of shaking up Bollywood in director Amit Masurkar’s slacker comedy. The two young men take a job from the wealthy, oddball son of a famous B-movie producer, but soon fear they’re on the path to selling out. Masurkar’s film captures the creative spirit of Andheri West, a Mumbai suburb where writers, directors, and actors come from all over India with the dream of working in the film industry, and is a sweet taste of things to come from the new “hindie” cinema.

    DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

    THE AUCTION HOUSE: A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS
    World Premiere
    UK/2014/85min
    Director: Ed Owles
    Producers: Ed Owles, Giovanna Stopponi

    The auction houses of Kolkata used to be where the rich and famous found the right high-end objects to decorate their homes. Today, the family-owned Russell Exchange is the last, and oldest, one to remain in India. Director Ed Owles follows two brothers, with the older brother moving back to Kolkata from London with hopes of using his Western business acumen to bring the Exchange into the 21st century. However, in a country radically transformed by technology and a rising youth culture, it may already be too late.

    FAITH CONNECTIONS
    Los Angeles Premiere
    France-India/2013/115min/DCP
    Director: Pan Nalin
    Producers: Raphaël Berdugo, Gaurav Dhingra, Pan Nalin, Virginie Lacombe

    Every three years, Hindus gather at one of four rotating sites for Kumbh Mela, a religious celebration of faith and devotion marked by bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges. With 100 million people at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, the pilgrimage is said to be the largest gathering on the planet. IFFLA alum Pan Nalin crafts a moving and unique view of the mass gathering and presents unique stories of how individuals came to be there to share in the belief of the divine.

    POWERLESS (KATIYABAAZ)
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India/2013/82min
    Director: Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar
    Producers: Fahad Mustafa, Deepti Kakkar, Judy Tam, Leopold Koegler
    Screenwriter: Fahad Mustafa

    In Kanpur, a city of three million that has seen better days, one of the only ways for many residents to get electricity is to steal it. Co-directors Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar focus their attention on the likes of pirate engineers like Loha Singh and first female CEO at the local power authority Ritu Maheshwari. Coupled with beautiful photography of the intricately tied together powerlines of the city and a pulsating original score, they present a unique documentary about current-day India and its future battles over limited resources.

    SHEPHERDS OF PARADISE
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2013/50min
    Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Cinematographer/Editor: Raja Shabir Khan
    Composer: Bilal Iran

    Nomadic herder Gafoor has to lead his large flock of goats, sheep, cows and horses across Jammu all the way to Kashmir so they can graze. Director Raja Shabir Khan presents lives few have ever seen, let alone lived, with simple beauty and real terror in a film that has won major National Awards in India. A cinematic wonder that must be seen to truly understand, SHEPHERDS OF PARADISE is a testament of the power of film to transport us to other lands and experiences.

    BOLLYWOOD BY NIGHT

    BOMBAY TALKIES
    North American Premiere
    India/117min/2013
    Directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap
    Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Guneet Monga
    Screenwriters: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Anurag Kashyap
    Cast: Amitabh Bachchan , Rani Mukerji, Katrina Kaif, Randeep Hooda, Saqib Saleem, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

    THE 12th ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES CLOSING NIGHT GALA AND FILM LINE-UP

    BOMBAY TALKIES

    A quartet of short films directed by four of India’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema in this omnibus film. Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap crafts a tale of ordinary people whose love of movies profoundly alters the course of their lives. Each story beautifully captures how lovers of cinema can’t help but carry that fascination into their day-to-day life. Haven’t we all wished, at one time or another, that our lives were more like a film?

    MONSOON SHOOTOUT
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India-UK-Netherlands/2013/88min
    Director: Amit Kumar
    Producers: Trevor Ingman, Guneet Monga, Martijn De Grunt
    Screenwriter: Amit Kumar
    Cast: Vijay Varma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Geetanjali Thapa

    A split-second decision made by a rookie police officer propels writer/director Amit Kumar’s debut feature, which fascinatingly splinters into three separate, equally pulse-pounding scenarios. In a secluded alley drenched in the pouring rain, principled cop Adi aims his gun at Shiva, a vicious gangster on the run. What Adi decides to do next will reverberate throughout his personal and professional life in ways he could never imagine. Kumar thus explores the ripple effect our choices have, and how we unknowingly alter the lives of those around us.

    SHORTS

    AARTI
    Shorts Program 2
    WORLD PREMIERE
    USA/2013/4min
    Director: David Walter Lech
    Producer: Terrie Samundra

    A hypnotic look into the nightly “ceremony of light” ritual in a Hindu temple in Sheikhupur, Punjab.

    ALCHEMY
    Shorts Program 2
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2013/5min
    Directors: Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat, Janmeet Singh
    Producer: Pritesh Varia

    A bold and vibrant song to the intricate fabric of modern day India, a kaleidoscope of voices, colors and traditions.

    BHIWANI JUNCTION
    Shorts Program 1
    Los Angeles Premiere
    USA/2013/18min
    Director: Abhi Singh
    Producer: Abhi Singh

    A poignant documentary portrait of Himanshu, a 12-year old boxer, whose formidable commitment to the sport makes his lofty dreams to become an Olympic champion appear well within reach.

    BLACK ROCK (KAATAL)
    Shorts Program 1
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2012/22min
    Director: Vikrant Pawar
    Producer: Film and Television Institute of India

    Two young lovers spend one last afternoon together. A beautiful meditation on the ephemeral nature of young love that has won three of India’s National Film Awards.

    THE FLY (MAKHI)
    Shorts Program 2
    World Premiere
    India/2013/31min
    Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
    Producer: Film and Television Institute of India

    Employed as a Fly Killer in an upscale restaurant, Pipal must ensure a fly-free environment by smacking dead the flies that buzz over the patrons’ heads. When a nearby drainage is closed and the source of the fly infestation eradicated, Pipal must find a way to produce enough live flies to save his job, in this delightfully absurdist commentary on urban India’s emerging work culture.

    BELOVED (HUMSAFAR)
    Shorts Program 2
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2012/6min
    Directors/Writers: Swapnil Awate, Laura Erbacher
    Producer: DSK Supinfocom

    A sweeping single shot takes us on the breathtaking animated journey of two lovers and their eternal pursuit of harmony.

    JAYA
    Shorts Program 2
    USA/2013/19min
    Director: Puja Maewal
    Producer: Puja Maewal

    Young Jaya is able to survive the gruesome gang life in the unforgiving streets of Mumbai by posing as a boy. When she meets a wealthy businessman who looks like he could be the father who abandoned her, she sets out to reclaim her identity, in this engrossing drama that was shortlisted for a Student Academy Award®.

    KUSH
    Shorts Program 1
    India/2013/25min
    Director: Shubhashish Bhutiani
    Producer: Shubhashish Bhutiani

    A bus full of schoolchildren boisterously makes its way back from a field trip when the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards breaks. As violence quickly erupts across the country, Kush, the only Sikh student in the class, must find a way to escape the unquenchable fury of retribution, in this gripping drama that was shortlisted for an Academy Award®.

    LITTLE GYPSY (KACHHO GADULO)
    Shorts Program 1
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India/2012/6min
    Directors: Saptesh Chaubal, Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat
    Producer: D.S.K. Supinfocom

    Inspired by the folk traditions of various parts of India, this stunning animated film sweeps us into a mythical journey that celebrates the power of play and imagination.

    LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.
    Shorts Program 2
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Russian Federation/2013/12min
    Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram
    Producers: Tanya Petrik, Guillaume Protsenko

    An intimate ode to the wondrous force of love, as it takes new shapes and forms through the endless Russian winters. LOVE. LOVE.LOVE. won the Short Film Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

    OUTPOST
    Shorts Program 1
    U.S. Premiere
    India-USA/2013/17min
    Director: Shiva Shankar Bajpai
    Producer: Aditi Anand

    In the barren desert of the India-Pakistan border, two lone army guards on the opposite sides of the line yearn for booze, mosquito repellent and some human contact, in this humorous glimpse into the absurdity of rigid immaterial divides.

    PRESENCE
    Shorts Program 2
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2012/17min
    Directors: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan
    Producers: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan

    Long days and nights spent within the bellies of the rising structural beasts that rapidly transform the city of Bangalore bring on visions of ghosts that speak of the construction workers’ memories, longings and fears, in this haunting meditation on the migrant experience.

    SKIN DEEP
    Screens with WRITERS
    U.S. Premiere
    India/2013/20min
    Director: Hardik Mehta
    Producers: Devang Bhavsar, Niraj Kothari

    Sanjay and Sushma plan to elope to escape a looming arranged marriage. They are in love and their future together shines bright and perfect and filled with possibility–that is, as long as an extra piece of skin that complicates their sex life gets fixed in what should be a routine medical procedure. But Mumbai’s electricity gods have other plans in store for them.

    SMALL YELLOW FIELD (TAU SERU)
    Shorts Program 1
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Australia-India/2013/8min
    Director: Rodd Rathjen
    Producer: Rodd Rathjen

    In the remote vastness of the Himalayas, a young nomad’s curiosity lies beyond the horizon. This stunningly photographed film made its world premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week.

    THE PUPPET (TAMAASH)
    Screens with SHEPHERDS OF PARADISE
    Los Angeles Premiere
    India/2013/32min
    Directors: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh
    Producers: Datta Dave, Chaitanya Hegde, Omar Nissar Paul, Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh

    A mysterious puppet offers young Anzar the chance to escape his father’s relentless punishments over his poor school grades by granting him the power to inflict misfortune on his nemesis, his brilliant classmate, Sadat. However, his newfound peace is short-lived as Sadat falls severely ill and Anzar comes to realize that the puppet’s powers are spiraling out of his control.

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  • FADING GIGOLO and THE MOUNTAIN Win Lexus Audience Awards at 31st Miami International Film Festival

    Fading GigoloFading Gigolo

    Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) announced the popular Lexus Audience Award presented to two films for Best Documentary and Best Feature. The winners were Fading Gigolo directed by John Turturro (USA), which won Best Feature, and The Mountain (La montaña) directed by Tabaré Blanchard (Dominican Republic), which won Best Documentary.

    Fading Gigolo stars Woody Allen, who is a late-blooming pimp to John Turturro’s middle-aged junior florist-turned hustler in a hilarious NY comedy, where legendary screen sirens Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara turn up as eager clients, and Vanessa Paradis plays an orthodox Jewish widow in need of human touch. The film was part of an evening which presented John Tuturro with the Career Achievement Tribute & Award.

    The MountainThe Mountain

    The Mountain is a documentary about a trio of Dominicans who contend with the harsh, freezing climate of Katmandu and made history by crowning Mount Everest with a Dominican flag in 2011, inspiring three young surfers to conquer Pico Duarte, Hispaniola’s highest mountain.

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  • A Wolf at the Door Wins Grand Prize at 31st Miami International Film Festival

     A WOLF AT THE DOOR (O LOBO ATRÁS DA PORTA)A WOLF AT THE DOOR (O LOBO ATRÁS DA PORTA)

    Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) which celebrated its 31st anniversary edition March 7 to 16, 2014, culminated in its annual Awards Night Ceremony, with A WOLF AT THE DOOR (O LOBO ATRÁS DA PORTA) walking away with the Knight Grand Jury Prize and the Grand Jury Best Director for the director Fernando Coimbra. A WOLF AT THE DOOR is the complicated, edge-of-your-seat, fact-based story of the disappearance of a young girl in suburban Rio. 

    2014 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS
     
    KNIGHT COMPETITION:

    Knight Grand Jury Prize: A Wolf at the Door (O lobo atrás da porta), directed by Fernando Coimbra (Brazil)

    Grand Jury Best Performance: Nora Navas of We All Want What’s Best For Her (Tots volem el millor per a ella), directed by Mar Coll (Spain)

    Grand Jury Best Director: Fernando Coimbra of A Wolf at the Door (O lobo atrás da porta)(Brazil)

    JORDAN ALEXANDER RESSLER SCREENWRITING AWARD:

    Mateo, written by Maria Gamboa and Adriana Arjona (Colombia/France)

    KNIGHT DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION:
    The jury selected two films to tie as winners in this category for the Knight Grand Jury Prize.

    Finding Vivian Maier, directed by Charlie Siskel and John Maloof (USA)

    The Overnighters, directed by Jesse Moss (USA)

    LEXUS IBERO-AMERICAN OPERA PRIMA COMPETITION:

    Mateo, directed by Maria Gamboa (Colombia/France)

    Honorable Mention: We are Mari Pepa (Somos Mari Pepa), directed by Samuel Kishi Leopo (Mexico)

    PAPI SHORTS COMPETITION PRESENTED BY MACY’S Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film:

    “A Big Deal” (特殊交易), directed by Yoyo Yao (China)

    Honorable Mention: “Skin”, directed by Cédric Prévost (France)

    MIAMI ENCUENTROS presented by Moviecity:

    Aurora, produced by Florencia Larrea, directed by Rodrigo Sepulveda (Chile)

    SIGNIS AWARD:

    The International Jury of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, formed by: Gustavo Andújar, president, and Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki and Juan José Rodríguez, members, give their SIGNIS Award to Belle directed by Amma Asante for its multi-layered depiction of the challenges to the value of human life and dignity wherever a profit-driven system makes commodification of persons acceptable. Masterly crafted, the film lifts up a variety of issues of conscience which still confront us today.

    MIAMI FUTURE CINEMA CRITICS AWARD:

    To Kill A Man (Matar a un hombre), directed by Alejandro Fernández Almendras (Chile/France)

    LEXUS AUDIENCE AWARDS were announced at the Pyrat Gold: The Awards Night Rum Party hosted at the Historic Freedom Tower following the Awards Night screening of Rob the Mob.

    Lexus Audience Award for Best Documentary:

    The Mountain (La montaña), directed by Tabaré Blanchard (Dominican Republic)

    Lexus Audience Award for Best Feature:

    Fading Gigolo, directed by John Turturro (USA)

    The above award-winning films joined the REEL Music Video Art Competition winner presented by MTV Latin American and Tr3s announced earlier in the week at the Festival:

    REEL MUSIC VIDEO ART COMPETITION PRESENTED BY MTV Latin America and Tr3s:

    “Around the Lake” (“Autour Du Lac”), directed by Noémie Marsily & Carl Roosens (Belgium). The music video was performed by Carl et les hommes-boîtes. The winner will receive an opportunity to be placed on MTV Latin America and Tr3s websites.

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  • VIDEO Trailer for Short Film SCRATCH Premiering at Tribeca Film Festival

    SCRATCH

    The trailer popped up on-line for the Irish short film SCRATCH scheduled to premiere at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival taking place April 16th to 27th, 2014 in New York City.  Co-written and directed by Phillip Kelly and co-written and produced by Liam Ryan, SCRATCH tells the story of Eoin (Conor Drum), who is working the night shift at a quiet petrol station. His night is disturbed initially by scratch card addict Ger (Stephen Jones), and then a masked robber who sends their night into a direction they could never have guessed.

    http://youtu.be/s854YPQdVrE

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  • Film Independent Announces Filmmakers for the 2014 Documentary Lab

     Projects developed in past Documentary Labs include Andrew Droz Palermo & Tracy Droz Tragos’ RICH HILL which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival,Projects developed in past Documentary Labs include Andrew Droz Palermo & Tracy Droz Tragos’ RICH HILL which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival,

     Film Independent announced its filmmakers for the 2014 Documentary Lab, a seven week intensive program designed to help filmmakers who are currently in post-production on their feature-length documentary. This year’s Lab Fellows are Esteban Arguello & Xuan Jiang, Jamie Sisley & Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Suzanne Joe Kai, Robyn Symon, Nick Spark, Andrew James, Jonathan Matthews, and Jen Heck.  Designed to help filmmakers who are currently in post-production on their feature-length documentary films, the Documentary Lab has two primary focuses: (1) providing creative feedback and story notes to the selected filmmakers; and (2) helping filmmakers strategize the completion, distribution, and marketing of their film.

    Projects developed in past Documentary Labs include Andrew Droz Palermo & Tracy Droz Tragos’ Rich Hill which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, PJ Raval’s Before You Know It; Hilla Medalia’s Dancing in Jaffa; Nicholas Wrathall’s Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia; Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali Worrall’s Call Me Kuchu; Laura Nix and Julia Meltzer’s The Light In Her Eyes; and Nicole Karsin’s We Women Warriors, among others.

    “We are delighted to kick off the fourth year of our Documentary Lab with such an talented group of filmmakers and esteemed mentors,” says Kelly Thomas, Producer in Residence and Interim Director of Artist Development.

    Documentary filmmakers Doug Blush (Editor, Twenty Feet from Stardom), Laura Gabbert (No Impact Man), Caroline Libresco (Sunset Story), Linda Goldstein-Knowlton (Somewhere Between), Jeff Malmberg (Marwencol) and Chris Shellen (Marwencol) are this year’s Documentary Lab Mentors. Guest Speakers include Peter Broderick (Marketing and Distribution), Michael Donaldson (Legal Issues for Documentarians), Andrew Droz Palermo (Rich Hill) and Tracy Droz Tragos (Rich Hill) as well as Susan Littenberg (And Everything Is Going Fine).

    The documentaries this year’s Fellows are making are:

    Title: Jiàoliàn [Coach]
    Director/Producer:  Esteban Arguello
    Producer: Xuan Jiang
    Logline: Jiàoliàn is the story of 27 year-old Norman DeSilva, an American who overnight becomes the head coach for the Foshan Longlions, a unique basketball team comprised of Americans, Syrian and Chinese players. Together, DeSilva rallies his team to overcome their challenges in order to win a spot in the Chinese Basketball Association playoffs.

    Title: Farewell, Ferris Wheel
    Director/Producer: Jamie Sisley
    Co-Director: Miguel Martinez
    Producer: Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Gerry Kim
    Editor: Eugene Yi
    Logline: Farewell, Ferris Wheel explores the dual morality of the H-2B seasonal migrant work visa through the lens of the American Carnival and a Mexican town that provides one third of the labor that staffs the carnivals.

    Title: Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
    Director/Producer: Suzanne Joe Kai
    Logline: When one man’s passion for rock and roll coincides with a cultural revolution, the truth is set free. Like a Rolling Stone is the story of legendary journalist, Ben Fong-Torres, an original editor-writer at Rolling Stone magazine, who brought an honest literary voice to the revolutionary force of music that continues to influence our society to this day.

    Title: My Uncle Gloria
    Director/Producer: Robyn Symon
    Logline: At age 66, Bernard “Butch” Rosichan, a Jewish, balding pot-bellied and homophobic owner of an auto wrecking business undergoes a risky sex change operation. Rosichan is reborn as “Gloria Stein” and attempts to reunite with her dysfunctional family while also becoming a leading advocate for transgender rights.

    Title: Rightfooted
    Director/Producer: Nick Spark
    Cinematographer: Bill Megalos
    Editor: Susan Metzger
    Logline: Rightfooted chronicles Jessica Cox’s struggle to overcome enormous physical and emotional obstacles to become the world’s first armless pilot and her transformation into an activist for the handicapped in America and abroad.

    Title: Street Fighting Man
    Director/Producer/Cinematographer: Andrew James
    Producer: Sara Archambault, Katie Tibaldi
    Editor: Jason Tippet
    Composer: Zachary Saginaw/Shigeto
    Co-producers: Jamila Wignot and Torben Bernhard
    Logline: In a new America where the promise of education, safety and shelter are in jeopardy, three Detroit men fight to build something lasting for themselves and future generations.

    Title: Surviving Cliffside
    Director/Producer: Jonathan Matthews
    Producer: Richard Bever
    Logline: A West Virginia family faces illness, addiction, and gun violence, while their daughter makes a run for Little Miss West Virginia.

    Title: We’re With the Band
    Director/Producer/Co-Editor/Co-Cinematographer: Jen Heck
    Producer: Maria De La O
    Cinematographer: Martina Radwan
    Editor: Ben Frazer
    Logline: Using a band as a cover story, a group of unlikely rebels with dubious musical skills traverse forbidden borders and become entangled in each other’s lives in Israel and Palestine.

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