• Family and Free Community Events incl Return of Tribeca Street Fair and ESPN Sports day for 2014 Tribeca Film Festival

     Next Goal WinsNext Goal Wins

    The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), announced the return of their signature free community events: the Tribeca Drive-In (April 17-19), Family Festival Street Fair (April 26), Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day (April 26), Tribeca Family Screenings (April 26 and 27).

    TFF also announced three film additions to the program which will screen for free at the Tribeca Drive-In movie series on the waterfront plaza at Brookfield Place, sponsored by AT&T and hosted by Brookfield Place. The series will kick off on Thursday, April 17 with the 50th anniversary screening of the classic Disney film Mary Poppins, the 30th anniversary of Ron Howard’s Splash starring Tom Hanks, John Candy, and Daryl Hannah on Friday, April 18, and closing with the world premiere screening of the soccer documentary Next Goal Wins on Saturday, April 19.

    The Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair will feature an exciting lineup of events, performances and activities for the whole family. The Tribeca Studios Backlot will transform a downtown street into an interactive movie set where visitors can get an up-close look at the elements that go into creating a film on location in New York City. This year also marks the return of the Tribeca Food Feast hosted by Celebrity Cruises, offering food lovers a chance to watch neighborhood chefs create unique dishes on a show kitchen stage. Guests will receive a VIP credential to be stamped at various Street Fair activities with a prize for those who fill their pass with stamps. New to this year’s Street Fair is the Games for Change Public Arcade where guests can play a variety of games centered around positive social impact.  Street Fair favorites, including live Broadway performances, arts and crafts and puppet shows, will return to the annual celebration of the Tribeca neighborhood.

    The annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day is returning for its eighth installment as a part of the Tribeca Family Festival. Festival and Street Fair visitors are invited to participate in a variety of sport-themed activities including baseball, sailing, golf and Frisbee tutorials and games, the opportunity to meet New York sports stars, mascots, and personalities, and chances to win prizes and giveaways.

    “The family and free community events at TFF are longstanding and beloved traditions,” said Peter Downing, Creative Director and Producer, Tribeca Family Festival. “I know the range of activities, from outdoor film screenings, to a hands-on look at how movies are made in New York, to the opportunity to meet local sports stars, provides something for everyone.”

    “Engagement with the community, particularly in lower Manhattan, an area that has embraced TFF since the Festival began, is one of our core missions,” said Genna Terranova, Director of Programming. “The commitment from local artists, chefs and students to help make these public events a success, is remarkable.”

    Each year, TFF’s free events bring thousands of people downtown to enjoy top-notch talent and entertainment, while highlighting the restaurants, merchants, schools and community organizations of lower Manhattan. The free events are as follows: 

    TRIBECA DRIVE-IN OUTDOOR SCREENINGS

    Thursday-Saturday, April 17-April 19
    8:15 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.
    Brookfield Place
    Sponsored by AT&T and hosted by Brookfield

    TFF’s outdoor screening series features the following films for this year’s Tribeca Drive-In. The free evening of cinema under the stars is open to the public, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open and programs begin at 6 p.m., with screenings starting at dusk (approximately 8:15 p.m.).

    Mary Poppins  – Thursday, April 17
    Directed by Robert Stevenson

    The Banks children just can’t get along with the nannies hired by their overbearing banker father. Then the wind picks up in the east, someone knocks at the door, and all of their lives are changed forever. Fifty years ago, Mary Poppins floated off of the silver screen to become one of the most beloved movie musicals of all-time. Julie Andrews delivers a star-making title performance, alongside Dick Van Dyke as the lovable jack-of-all-trades, Bert. Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

    Come early for Disney-themed trivia contests, a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” spelling bee, face-painting, food trucks and a high-flying kite show.

    Splash – Friday, April 18
    Directed by Ron Howard

    Allen Bauer nearly drowns off the coast of Cape Cod. He wakes on the beach beside a beautiful woman, who all-too-quickly disappears into the ocean. But the real mystery begins days later when she reappears at the Statue of Liberty guarding an incredible secret, as Allen falls wholeheartedly in love. Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Ron Howard’s rollicking New York comedy-caper stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, and John Candy. Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures.

    Come early for Tails of Glory (the award-winning dancers from the Coney Island Mermaid Parade) performing a rockin’ homage to cinema. Plus face-painting, food trucks and more…

    Next Goal Wins – Saturday, April 19
    Directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison

    World Premiere, Documentary. When the American Samoan national soccer team suffered the world’s worst defeat, losing to Australia 31-0, these tiny islands crash-landed into last place in FIFA world rankings, and became known as “the worst team in the world.” More than a decade later, they have not yet won an official match. Next Goal Wins follows their miraculous efforts as they train for the next World Cup. Led by an eccentric new coach, they have a chance to redefine their international reputation.

    Come early for live Samoan drummers, virtual soccer drills, face-painting, food trucks and more…

    TRIBECA FAMILY FESTIVAL STREET FAIR
    Saturday, April 26
    10 a.m.-6 p.m.
    Greenwich Street (between Chambers Street and Hubert Street)

    The Tribeca Family Festival will feature the annual Street Fair on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Greenwich Street from Chambers Street to Hubert Street, and at venues throughout the Tribeca neighborhood. The fair, a Festival favorite, is free and open to the public, and promises to be a day of family fun and lively entertainment.

    Activities and performances throughout the Street Fair will bring storytelling and filmmaking to life. The celebration will include talented performers, dancers, stilt walkers, Broadway performances, arts and crafts, clowns, jugglers, music, games and much more. Students from dozens of local schools will also be at the fair performing on the numerous stages where their vibrant artwork will be displayed. . The Street Fair will also host restaurants, merchants and organizations from the Tribeca neighborhood. More details and a comprehensive map of events will be available in the coming weeks at www.tribecafilm.com/family.

    Highlights include:

    The Tribeca Studios Backlot will bring a neighborhood street to life with all of the classic elements of filmmaking: lights, cameras, and action! Here, families can participate in and learn about the wide array of elements that are a part of creating a film. Participating organizations include:

    The Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) will have a presence on the “lot” with its “Made in NY” branded hot dog cart. Reps from the office will distribute information about REEL JOBS, resident FAQs, the “Made in NY” PA Training Program and the “Made in NY” Lower Manhattan Walking Tour. Panels and discussions will focus on NYC as a production location and feature content and personalities from NYC Media (nyc.gov/media), New York City’s official television network.

    The Tribeca Film Institute: “You Call the Shots!” Take five with Tribeca Film Institute where young movie fans will have a chance to sit in the director’s chair and create a film of their own through working with interactive storyboards.  Once finished, the “director” will enjoy their creation on the big screen with the help of the Tribeca Film Fellows, our talented high school student filmmakers. Parents can learn more about how TFI champions storytellers in our Membership Lounge where they will be encouraged to take a seat, and take a look at the special, year-round perks of our TFI Family Membership Program and enter for a chance to win a gift bag with goodies from the Tribeca neighborhood and TFI’s filmmakers

    Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 “On Location” Film Experience: Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 will be on site with a High End Star Trailer, a Hair and Make-Up Trailer, a Camera Car, a Grip Truck, and an Electrics Truck out on the Tribeca Studios Backlot. Come down and experience what it’s really like to work “On Location” in New York City.

    Tribeca VIP “Red Carpet” Photo Op: Festivalgoers will be invited to walk the Tribeca Studios Backlot red carpet and pose next to Fathead Stand Out™ Cut Outs of  recognizable athletes and entertainment personalities.

    The Animation Chefs: Using iPads and various media, the Animation Chefs help kids as young as Pre-K bring to life their creativity. Teaching young kids the entire process of making an animated film of their own, they have inspired thousands of young filmmakers to use mobile devices for productive, creative media projects.

    Take Two Film Academy hosted by Léman Preparatory, will be doing a Pitch Your Movie game for kids 7-15 years old. Win a free filmmaking workshop this summer for the best pitch.

    The Games for Change Public Arcade presented by Zynga.org, will take place on Jay St. (between Greenwich St. & Hudson St). The Arcade offers a full city block of great games, both digital and physical, for all ages to play and discover. These experiences are ‘games for good’ – designed for learning and social change – highlighting the positive power of play. The public arcade is part of the 11th annual Games for Change Festival, New York City’s largest gaming event, which joins the Tribeca Film Festival for the first time this year. Among the presenters at the arcade will be The American Museum of Natural History, which will offer a range of games related to their new exhibit Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs;co.lab; The Institute of Play; the Quest to Learn School; Global Gaming Initiative; Come Out & Play; and a range of independent developers of educational games.. The massively popular Facebook game, FarmVille 2, will have a fun farm-themed installation to share the word about all the charity work that the game has made possible. Beyond tents showcasing digital games and live games and activities on the street, the arcade will also include healthy snacks from General Mills’ Small Planet line of healthy foods. 

    Swing by to see the Staten Island Yankees, Single-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, and meet their mascot Scooter the Holy Cow.  While you’re there try your luck on the Baby Bombers skee ball inflatable.

    A lineup of New York City chefs will offer demonstrations and share cooking secrets and tastings at the Tribeca Food Feast Stage hosted by Celebrity Cruises. Throughout the day at the Family Festival Street Fair, a line-up of local and NYC restaurants will be spotlighted on the “show kitchen” stage. Each chef will prepare and present a house specialty to a select number of audience members.

    Professional talent and community acts will be scheduled to perform throughout the day including live “Broadway at Tribeca” performances by the casts of WICKED, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, CINDERELLA, A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER, MAMMA MIA!, HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, ROCK OF AGES, AFTER MIDNIGHTand ROCKY and additional performances by Manhattan Youth, Downtown Dance Factory, Studio of Marilyn Klaus – Ballet with a Twist, T. Kang Taekwondo and storyteller Bill Gordh.

    The Kidz Block Party at Duane Street is the perfect place for the youngest festivalgoers to enjoy the Family Festival with “soft” play areas and activities including:

    A variety of stage acts and performances on the Duane Street Stage.

    Storytelling, book readings and author meet & greets at Story Corner.

    The Puppet Place will feature puppet shows and workshops by

    Noel MacNeal of “10 Minute Puppets.”

    Other kid-friendly events such as face painting and bubble garden.

    Kids can explore their artistic side with arts & crafts, street chalk art and face painting.

    At the Kite Place, kids will be able to make their own kite and learn to fly it from masters of the craft of kiting.

    CHESS NYC will host “speed tournaments” and ongoing chess matches for all skill levels

    Elementary and middle-school students from downtown schools will act as TFF Hosts. They will be facilitating all of the events, performances and activities at the Family Festival Street Fair and will introduce various screening programs throughout the Family Festival.

    The “VIP Pass” Program will offer children and families the opportunity to receive their own film credential, which will guide them through the day’s experiences. Their “VIP Pass” will be stamped at various areas of the event, and a special prize awaits those who are able to fill their pass with stamps.

    The Lincoln Motor Company will invite families to experience film through two interactive moments around the 2015 MKC and 2015 Navigator. Festivalgoers can choose to star in their own film scene at the Lincoln video booth as well as take a game break from the street fair activities in the arcade retreat.

    Conrad Hotels & Resorts invites you to star in your very own movie poster. Everything from action to adventure to comedy, your personalized movie poster can be shared with friends.

    60 Hudson will host the Duane Street Stage, the Arts and Crafts Pavilions and an art contest for local students. One piece of artwork selected from participating schools will be showcased in the 60 Hudson window located on the corner of West Broadway and Thomas Street.

    Games, prizes, music and fun will also supported by AT&T, ESPN, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment NY, The New York Times, Radio Disney AM 1560, Time Out New York Kids, Real Simple Magazine, and The Hollywood Reporter.

    For updated information on the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair, visit tribecafilm.com/family.

    TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS DAY

    Saturday, April 26
    10 a.m.-6 p.m.
    N. Moore Street (between Greenwich Street and West Street)

    A perennial favorite of the Family Festival Street Fair, the eighth annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, sponsored by Mohegan Sun, will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on N. Moore Street (between Greenwich Street and West Street). The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day gives sports fans the opportunity to engage in a variety of free, sports-related activities that will include games, demonstrations and prize giveaways.  The Sports Day Stage will be live all day promoting Sports Day participants, special guests, interactive athletic experiences and more.

    Highlights include:

    Mohegan Sun will be entering guests to win an overnight stay and $100 dining certificate via raffle and longest golf drive competition.

    Join ESPN New York as they gear up for baseball season with an interactive baseball challenge for all ages and win awesome prizes.

    Fathead®, the leading brand of sports and entertainment graphics, will have life-size Fathead Stand Out™ Cut Outs of well-known professional athletes on the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day red carpet for sports fans to pose with.

    The Sports Day Kids Combine gives kids of all ages a chance to showcase their athletic skills. Kids will test their agility and strength as they move through a series of fun and active stations. They’ll record their scores and then head to the Sports Day Draft Stage to be “drafted” by our commissioner to a professional New York sports team and pose for a photo op.

    Test your QB accuracy with the New York Jets football toss and sign up for the New York Jets Kids Club.

    Fans can join the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and WNBA New York Liberty for interactive experiences, giveaways & contests for all ages.

    Fans will enjoy New York Mets giveaways and ticket offers for fans, and a special visit from Mr. Met from Noon-1pm.

    DiscNY will teach you the basics of throwing and test your accuracy with a variety of disc games.

    The City Parks Foundation will host a custom-built practice green where kids can test their putting skills and win an assortment of prizes.

    Join the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers for their interactive Golf Hitting Bubble to perfect your swing, get tips from top PGA/LPGA teaching professionals and enter to win great raffle prizes

    The National Lacrosse League will host a fun, inflatable lacrosse activity

    Fencers Club Olympians and elite athletes will be on hand to teach kids the exciting and safe sport of fencing

    The National Hockey League Foundation will offer great giveaways throughout the day

    New York Women’s Baseball will run pitching and throwing clinics

    Ahoy Sailors!” Please visit Tribeca Sailing, where kids can create their very own sailing flag that they then raise to the top of the mast, try their hand at tying real sailor knots and adults can sign up for a chance to win a free sailboat ride.

    Players from New York Empire will offer giveaways and provide Ultimate instruction

    Join Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC) for a fun and interactive soccer experience including soccer tennis, street soccer and juggling contests … You got game?

    The Myachi Original Hand Sack and award winning Battle Paddles combine the full body coordination of action sports with the old school fun of hacking the sack! Come out and try this innovative new sport!

    The NY Rumble, a professional Ultimate Frisbee Team, will be holding contests for free merchandise and tickets, as well as teaching about the fastest growing sport in the country: Ultimate Frisbee.

    Uncle Funkys Boards and Sure Skateboards will be on-hand to provide beginner skateboard lessons and skate demonstrations.

    SPiN New York will be on site with fun ping pong action and games. By combining an unusual mixture of sport, design and entertainment, SPiN New York has created a unique day and night time venue with 17 ping pong courts, a full bar, restaurant, pro shop and private VIP room.

    PowerPlay NYC, a group that creates opportunities for girls in sports, health, and education, will be out with their female coaches playing sports with the crowd and celebrating girl power!

    The Downtown Giants Youth Football organization will offer football instruction and fun activities.

    Super Soccer Stars will conduct free soccer classes throughout the day. Dynamic, international coaches work with children to develop skills, self-confidence, and teamwork in a fun, engaging environment.

    For updated information on the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, visit www.tribecafilm.com/espn 

    FAMILY SCREENINGS

    THE WIZARD OF OZ
    Saturday, April 26
    11 a.m.

    BMCC/Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street)

    A Kansas tornado takes Dorothy and her dog Toto to the captivating land of Oz where – along with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion – they “follow the Yellow Brick Road” to Emerald City where they meet the Wizard, who demands they bring him the Wicked Witch’s broom in order to get their dreams fulfilled. MGM’s magical, unique fantasy, starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Frank Morgan, has melted hearts for more than seven decades with its indelible melodies and timeless themes.  Come and enjoy all of the magic of this timeless story that has captivated young and old alike for 75 years.

    Note: Admission is FREE and ticketed on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines at BMCC begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the program

    Additionally, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has brought The Wizard of Oz into the present with a new kind of magic: a stunning Blu-ray 3D version, available in a five-disc 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition that includes a new making- of documentary, more than 16 hours of great bonus features and exclusive new collectible memorabilia.  Also available in single disc Blu-ray and DVD Editions.

    TFI PRESENTS
    Saturday, April 26
    1 p.m.

    Tribeca Film Center (375 Greenwich Street)

    Tribeca Film Fellows with the Tribeca Film Institute will screen a special program of short films created by student filmmakers. (Recommended for ages 12 and up).

    STORYCORPS: “Stories in Animation”
    Saturday, April 26
    3 p.m.

    Tribeca Film Center (375 Greenwich Street)

    StoryCorps Animated Shorts feature the stories of everyday people, told in their own voices and brought to life with animation from the Rauch Brothers. StoryCorps is a nonprofit oral history organization that has collected more than 50,000 audio interviews with people from all walks of life. The first-ever animated feature from StoryCorps, Listening Is an Act of Love, presents six stories from 10 years of StoryCorps, where everyday people sit down together to ask life’s important questions and share stories from their lives. Framing these intimate conversations is an interview between StoryCorps founder Dave Isay and his nine-year-old nephew, Benji.

    DOWNTOWN YOUTH BEHIND THE CAMERA
    Sunday, April 27
    3:30 p.m.

    SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street)

    The Tribeca Family Festival will once again present “Downtown Youth Behind The Camera,” a program of short films made by elementary and middle school emerging student filmmakers from the downtown communities of New York City.  This year marks the 11th anniversary of this popular program.

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  • Sneak Preview of DRAFT DAY, Starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner to Open Charleston International Film Festival

     DRAFT DAY, starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, and Sam ElliottDRAFT DAY, starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, and Sam Elliott

    The 7th Annual Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF), taking place April 9th to 13th, 2014, in historic downtown Charleston, revealed a lineup 78 films, including features, documentaries, animations, and shorts, including from the festival’s own Lowcountry film community.

    This year’s opening day feature is a sneak preview of the soon-to-be released film DRAFT DAY, starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, and Sam Elliott. Directed by Ivan Reitman, who produced the cult-classic Animal House and directed family-favorite films such as Ghostbusters, DRAFT DAY follows general manager Sonny Weaver (Costner) on the day of the NFL Draft, as he has the opportunity to rebuild his team if he can trade for the number one draft pick. He must quickly decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL. Football and film fans alike are sure to love this sports drama, which won’t release into theaters until April 11.

    Throughout the festival, films are grouped into blocks of shorts or documentaries, as well as evening programs, which include one feature paired with a short film. As many filmmakers, directors, producers, actors, and writers will be present for the screenings, festival attendees have the rare opportunity to meet the many talented folks behind the films and ask questions during Q&A sessions at the end of each block. Whether you’re a film aficionado or just enjoy going to the movies, you will not be disappointed with the impressive quality and diversity of films at this year’s festival. The full schedule is available online.

    New to this year’s festival, a film written by Goose Creek High School student Megan Montgomery as part of CIFF’s Script-to-Screen Education Initiative, will debut during Block One on Saturday, April 12. Chosen from more than 150 local students who participated in the initiative, Montgomery’s screenplay was developed by professional filmmakers into the short film, TURPENTINE NAILS.

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  • Philadelphia Film Festival’s Spring Showcase Unveils Lineup; Includes Retrospective Series Screening Oscar Winning Director Alfonso Cuarón’s Films

    Alive Inside: A Story of Music & MemoryAlive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory 

    The full film slate is unveiled for the upcoming PFF: Spring Showcase, a new spring extension of the Philadelphia Film Festival, which will be held Friday, April 11 to Thursday, April 17, 2014. In its opening weekend, the Showcase will feature 17 films currently screening through the international film festival circuit. The remainder of the event will feature evening screenings highlighting the creative and visually captivating films of 2014 Oscar Winner for Best Director, Alfonso Cuarón. The retrospective series will screen all of Cuarón’s features in chronological order beginning with his first, 1991’s SÓLO CON TU PAREJA.

    New Feature Film Line-up includes:

    Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory
    USA // English // 2013 // 74 min
    DIRECTOR: Michael Rossato-Bennett

    This inspiring doc tracks the story of how music is being used to jog precious memories for hundreds of elderly patients suffering from dementia. Join us for this musical journey through these incredibly moving personal stories.

    Belle     
    United Kingdom // English // 2013 // 105 min
    DIRECTOR: Amma Asante           
    CAST: Gugu Mbatha Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Sam Reid, Sarah Gadon, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Tom Felton, James Norton, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson

    Featuring performances from Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson and Emily Watson, Belle is a lush period piece based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate daughter of a Caribbean slave and a white British admiral. Adopted into her father’s family, Belle goes on a tumultuous journey towards marriage and freedom.

    Club Sandwich
    Spanish // Mexico // 2013 // 82 min
    DIRECTOR: Fernando Eimbcke 
    CAST: María Renée Prudencio, Lucio Giménez Cacho Goded, Danae Reynaud  

    While on vacation at a secluded resort, the intense bond between fifteen-year-old Hector and his hip, single mom Paloma is threatened when Hector meets his first crush, a sweet girl his age named Jazmin. The awkwardness of adolescence is perfectly captured in Mexican director Fernando Eimbcke’s funny, gentle third feature.

    The Double
    United Kingdom // English // 2013 // 93 min
    DIRECTOR: Richard Ayoade      
    CAST: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Noah Taylor, Cathy Moriarty, James Fox

    Based on the novella by Dostoevsky, this surreal dramedy tells the story of a man (played by Jesse Eisenberg) driven crazy by the appearance of his doppelganger, a physically identical version of him who is more successful at work, has more confidence and is able to land the girl he loves (played by Mia Wasikowska).

    Felony 
    Australia // English // 2013 // 105 min
    DIRECTOR: Matthew Saville      
    CAST: Tom Wilkinson, Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney, Melissa George         

    Joel Edgerton and Tom Wilkinson star in this hard-boiled Australian thriller about a decorated police officer attempting to cover up his involvement in a brutal traffic accident.

    Frank   
    Ireland, United Kingdom // English // 2013 // 95 min      
    DIRECTOR: Lenny Abrahamson               
    CAST: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy        

    Michael Fassbender and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in this hilarious offbeat comedy about a down-on-his-luck musician who gets his dream gig playing in a noise rock band run by an eccentric front man with a unique sense of perfection.

    God Help the Girl            
    United Kingdom // English // 2013 // 111 min    
    DIRECTOR: Stuart Murdoch       
    CAST: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Pierre Boulanger, Cora Bissett              

    Stuart Murdoch, the creator of the Brit-pop group Belle & Sebastien, brings the music of his side project, God Help the Girl, to life in this adorable story of troubled teens with big dreams of forming a band.

    Hellion
    USA // English // 2014 // 98 min
    DIRECTOR: Kat Candler               
    CAST: Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Jonny Mars, Walt Roberts

    Featuring a pair of incredible child performances, this Sundance sleeper hit tells the touching story of two brothers, lashing out against their father’s drinking problem and embracing their love of heavy metal and dirt bikes while finding their place inside their fragile world.

    The Keeper of Lost Causes          
    Denmark, Germany, Sweden // Danish // 2013 // 97 min               
    DIRECTOR: Mikkel Nørgaard     
    CAST: Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Fares Fares, Sonja Richter, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Søren Pilmark, Troels Lyby 

    Reminiscent of other recent Scandinavian mysteries such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Keeper of Lost Causes tells the story of two eager detectives who try to solve a forgotten disappearance case that proves to be terrifyingly sinister.

    Moebius              
    South Korea // Korean // 2013 // 89 min               
    DIRECTOR: Kim Ki-duk
    CAST: Cho Jae-hyun, Seo Young-ju, Lee Eun-woo

    One of the most daring pieces of modern cinema, Kim Ki-Duk’s shocking, provocative, grotesque, unpredictable meditation of family, monogamy and Buddhism is equal parts brilliant, hilarious and unsettling. A genre classic in the making.

    Mood Indigo     
    France // French // 2013 // 100 min          
    DIRECTOR: Michel Gondry         
    CAST: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Omar Sy, Aïssa Maïga          

    Michel Gondry’s (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep) latest film is the highly imaginative and touching tale of an intense love between a shy man and a sweet woman with an unusual illness where a flower grows in her lungs. Bursting with ideas, this moving story is indicative of the power of cinema.

    Obvious Child  
    USA // English // 2013 // 83 min
    DIRECTOR: Gillian Robespierre
    CAST: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind

    Comedian Jenny Slate shines as Donna Stern, a 27-year-old standup comedian who’s life and art is stagnated when an unexpected one night stand leaves her with a difficult decision in this hilarious and extremely personal story.

    The One I Love 
    USA // English // 2014 // 91 min
    DIRECTOR: Charlie McDowell   
    CAST: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson           

    Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss star as a young, struggling couple who are sent to a secluded resort to undergo a unique type of therapy. Once they arrive, they quickly realize that nothing there is what it seems in this thought-provoking comic gem from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

    Supermensch   
    USA //English //2013 //84 min   
    DIRECTOR: Mike Myers

    Actor Mike Myers’ directorial debut tells the legend of Shep Gordon, the infamously innovative and generous manager who launched the careers of Alice Cooper, Blondie, Luther Vandross and Raquel Welch. Packed with hilarious testimonials, this entertaining documentary tracks the life of an unsung entertainment hero.

    Wetlands
    Germany // German // 2013 // 109 min
    DIRECTOR: David Wnendt          
    CAST: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Meret Becker, Axel Milberg, Marlen Kruse, Edgar Selge

    In the year’s edgiest romantic comedy, a kinky teenager ends up the hospital after an unusual shaving accident, only to find herself struck by an unexpected romance with a handsome male nurse.

    Whitey: United States V. James J. Bulger
    USA // English // 2014 // 107 min
    DIRECTOR: Joe Berlinger

    With unprecedented, jaw-dropping access, legendary documentarien Joe Berlinger returns with a portrait of the south Boston mobster whose impending trial has cracked open decades of fascinating questions about corruption in the FBI.

    Witching and Bitching
    Spain // Spanish // 2013 // 110 min         
    DIRECTOR: Alex de la Iglesia     
    CAST: Hugo Silva, Mario Casas, Pepon Nieto, Carolina Bang, Terele Pavez, Jaime Ordoñez, Carlos Areces, Santiago Segura, Secun de la Rosa, Macarena Gomez, Grabriel Delgado, Carmen Maura

    A set of bumbling bank robbers get more than they bargained for when their high speed getaway leads them off the grid into a small village where a blood-thirsty coven of witches is preparing for an ancient ritual in this zany Spanish horror comedy.

    Alfonso Cuarón Retrospective Series includes:

     Children of Men
    USA, United Kingdom // English, German, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Arabic, Georgian // 2006 // 109 min       
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón        
    CAST: Clive Owen, Juliane Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine         

    A harrowing vision of the future, this invigorating science fiction thriller follows a sultry activist who is trying to transport the last pregnant woman on earth to safety.

    Gravity
    USA, United Kingdom // English // 2013 // 91 min            
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón        
    CAST: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

    With balletic percision, Cuarón directs this terrifying story of an astronaut, untethered in space, looking to find her way home. Come take this last chance to see this cinematic triumph on the big screen in glorious 35mm.

    Great Expectations
    USA // English, French // 1998 // 111 min             
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón
    CAST: Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke, Hank Azaria, Chris Cooper, Anne Bancroft, Robert De Niro        

    Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow are electric in this modern adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel about a goodhearted painter pining after his childhood love.

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    USA, United Kingdom // English // 2004 // 142 min
    Alfonso CuarónDaniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman

    Tapped to direct the third installment of the popular series, Cuarón put his unique stamp on the project with mixed film stocks, new art direction and deep characterizations that quickly became new hallmarks of the worldwide sensation.

    A Little Princess
    USA // English, French // 1995 // 97 min
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón
    CAST: Liesl Matthews, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, Rusty Schwimmer

    In this charming adaptation of the classic Francis Hodgson Burnett novel, Cuarón’s sophomore feature tells the story of a young girl who is sent to a demanding boarding school when her father goes missing.

    Soló Con Tu Pareja
    Mexico // Spanish, English, Japanese, Latin // 1991 // 94 min    
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón
    CAST: Daniel Giménez Cacho, Claudia Ramírez, Luis de Icaza, Astrid Hadad, Dobrina Liubomirova, Isabel Benet

    Cuarón’s first feature is a hilarious dark comedy of errors about star crossed lovers, a mistaken diagnosis of HIV and two attempted suicides.

    Y Tu Mamá También
    Mexico // Spanish // 2006 // 106 min
    DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón
    CAST: Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna

    The breakthrough film that really made Cuarón famous, this is the sexy, daring story of two teenagers who embark on an enlightening road trip with an attractive older woman.

    via PFF: Spring Showcase

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  • Comedy BEGIN AGAIN Starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo to Close Tribeca Film Festival

     MARK RUFFALO and KEIRA KNIGHTLEY star in BEGIN AGAIN

    John Carney’s comedy, BEGIN AGAIN (formerly Can A Song Save Your Life?), starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, and Adam Levine, will close the 13th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), on Saturday, April 26th at BMCC Tribeca PAC.

    From writer-director John Carney (Once), BEGIN AGAIN is a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together. Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City. The film will be released by The Weinstein Company in July.

    “We close our festival with Tribeca alum John Carney’s Begin Again. This beautiful music infused New York story encompasses the spirit of Tribeca where music, film and performance play such a key part of this year’s program,” said Jane Rosenthal, CEO and co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. “To be able to work with our neighbor and dear friend Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company to bring this film to U.S. audiences for the first time is a bonus for our entire community.”

    “Begin Again is a true New York story about the magical opportunities that can be found under this great city’s bright lights. That said, I can’t think of a better place to have its U.S. premiere than the Tribeca Film Festival,” said John Carney.

    The 13th annual Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 16-27, 2014.

    image: (L-R) MARK RUFFALO and KEIRA KNIGHTLEY star in BEGIN AGAIN ©2014 The Weinstein Company. All rights reserved. 

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  • 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

    http://youtu.be/fk6R_UfBjmI

    http://youtu.be/JRw8B9ch_yc

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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

    http://youtu.be/nQWIZGgCkw4

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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

    http://youtu.be/65LiL6R9L3I 

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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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