• 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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  • Finalists Unveiled for Philippines’ 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition

    cinemalaya

    The Cinemalaya Foundation announced the finalists for the New Breed Full Length Feature category and the Directors Showcase for the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition.

    The themes and subject matter of the 2014 Cinemalaya finalists are diverse.  Stories include the disappearance of a young girl believed to have been eaten by a crocodile in the marshlands of Agusan del Norte, a friendship among soldiers fighting the Japanese in World War II, and a T’boli epic.  The films cover a range of genres, from coming of age stories, romance, epic, comedy and action.

    Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.  In addition to New Breed category, which is the main competition category, and the Directors Showcase, Cinemalaya has a Short Film competition and other sections for exhibition films.  Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation and Cultural Center of the Philippines.

    This year, Cinemalaya will be held  on August 1-10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3, TriNoma and Alabang Town Center.

    The ten finalists for the New Breed Full Length Feature category are:

    #Y  by Gino Santos
    1st ko si 3rd by Real S. Florido
    Bwaya   by Francis X.E. Pasion
    Dagitab (Sparks) by Giancarlo Lauro C. Abrahan V
    Dayang Asu  by Bor Ocampo
    K’na, The Dreamweaver by  Ida Anita Del Mundo
    Mariquina  by Milo Sogueco
    Ronda by Nick Olanka
    Separados by GB Sampedro
    Sundalong Kanin by Denise O’Hara/Janice O’Hara

    For the Directors Showcase, the finalists are:

    Asintado by Louie Ignacio
    Hari ng Tondo by Carlos Siguion-Reyna/Bibeth Orteza
    Hustisya by Joel Lamangan
    The Janitor  by  Michael Tuviera
    Kasal by Joselito Altarejos

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  • VIDEO Check out the Trailer for the Award Winning Egyptian Film FACTORY GIRL

    FACTORY GIRL directed by Mohamed Khan

    Check out the trailer for Mohamed Khan’s FACTORY GIRL which premiered last year at the 2013 Dubai International Film Festival, winning two awards, the Muhr Arab Feature Best Actress Award,  for Yasmine Raess, and the FEPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Best Arab Feature award. Factory Girl was written by the director’s wife Wessam Soliman,  The film tells the story of one year in the life of Hiyam (played by Yasmine Raees), a young woman working in a clothing factory who falls in love with her supervisor.

    Hiyam, a young factory worker, lives in a lower-middle-class neighbourhood, along with her co-workers. She is clearly under the spell of Salah, the factory’s new supervisor, who has expressed his admiration for her. She believes love can transcend the class differences between them. However, when a pregnancy test is discovered in the factory premises, her immediate family and close friends accuse her of sinning. Hiyam decides not to defend herself and pays an enormous price in a society that fails to accept independent women. FACTORY GIRL examines the changes that take place in her life over the four seasons of the year. From falling in love to facing heartbreak, her life comes around a full circle by the end of the year. DIFF

    http://youtu.be/yC5XwpFQoLM

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  • 2014 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Lineup of Conversations, Participants Include Kevin Spacey, Ron Howard, Michael Douglas, Lee Daniels, Alec Baldwin, Aaron Sorkin, and more

     2014 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Lineup of Conversations, Participants Include Kevin Spacey, Ron Howard, Michael Douglas, Lee Daniels, Alec Baldwin, Aaron Sorkin, and more

    The 2014 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), announced its lineup for the 2014 Tribeca Talks® and Tribeca Innovation Week’s Future of Film series. The Festival will feature conversations with some of the most prolific and creative directors, producers, writers, actors and industry professionals in film including Academy Award® winners Kevin Spacey, Ron Howard, Michael Douglas, Aaron Sorkin, Thelma Schoonmaker, and Skip Lievsay; Academy Award®-nominated director Lee Daniels and writer Terence Winter; Emmy®-Award-winners Bryan Cranston, Alec Baldwin, and David Simon; as well as Congressman Barney Frank, and legendary boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. The Tribeca Talks panels and events will run during the 13th edition of TFF, taking place April 16 – April 27 at locations around New York City.

    TFF also unveiled four new documentaries world premiering at the Festival —NOW – In the Wings on a World Stage, The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank, and Champs, as well as Food Chains, Supermensch, and the tenth anniversary screening of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They will each screen as part of the Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series giving audiences the opportunity to watch a film followed by a related conversation.

    This year’s series also consists of the “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series,” where an acclaimed director participates in an intimate one-on-one conversation; “Tribeca Talks: Industry” conversations focusing on the technical production of film; and “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper, hosted by Barnes & Noble” which explores topics related to screenwriting.

    Taking place during Tribeca Innovation Week is a four-day Future of Film series programmed around the theme The Story’s Edge. Future of Film discussions offer engaging, cross-disciplinary conversations about the collision of storytelling with dominant and emerging trends in our culture, with figures from the arenas of art, politics, science and technology, and filmmaking.

    “With these talks we want to expand the conversation about filmmaking and storytelling. Whether it’s a deeper look at the artistic process or timely social issues, hearing from the leading voices in film, media and beyond, can facilitate new perceptions and further our understanding of the current state of making and enjoying entertainment,” said Genna Terranova, Director of Programming.

    “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series,” will include intimate conversations with:

    Academy Award®-winning director Ron Howard discusses his career as a filmmaker, writer and producer, which already spans over fifty years.
    Academy Award®-nominated director Lee Daniels divulges on his seminal career which includes such critical hits as Precious and Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

     “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” will include:

    The world premiere of NOW – In the Wings on a World Stage, follows the versatile and acclaimed Bridge Project Theatre, the first trans-atlantic company of actors and artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre, Kevin Spacey as he reunites with American Beauty director Sam Mendes for a behind the scenes look at the creation of their breathtaking production of Shakespeare’s Richard III; followed by a conversation with Kevin Spacey, director Jeremy Whelehan and members of the Richard III company about the vocation of acting, the future of theater and this spectacular theatrical journey.

    The world premiere of The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, an examination of the creation of Bitcoin and its impact on the future of international currency; followed by a conversation with director Nicholas Mross, film subject Dan Mross, and Charles Shrem who will give their perspective on the most up to the minute details about the mysterious and ever-changing world of Bitcoin.

    The world premiere of Champs, an exploration of how some of the most legendary fighters used boxing as a way to pull themselves out of poverty; followed by a conservation with boxing greats Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, boxing promoter and Lou DiBella about life, rivalry and conflict both inside and out of the ring.

    The world premiere of Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank, a candid examination of openly gay Congressman Barney Frank’s 40 years in elected office and how his own homosexuality impacted his campaigns for social justice; followed by a conversation with subject Barney Frank and actor Alec Baldwin about the politics of Washington, Barney’s life and career and what he plans to do in his retirement.

    The world premiere of Silenced, the stories of two whistleblowers and their supporters who survived the government’s efforts suppress their claims; followed by a conversation with director James Spione and film subjects Jesselyn Radack and Thomas Drake and Pulitzer Prize-winner Barton Gellman who will discuss the role, importance and ethics of whistleblowing in America.

    The North American premiere of Food Chains, a hard hitting look at the state of labor within the agriculture sector in the US and the immoral practices that affect the lives of countless thousands of farm workers; followed by a discussion with executive producer Eva Longoria, the film’s director, Sanjay Rawal, Eric Schlosser and Kerry Kennedy on what you can do to be a part of the food justice revolution.

    The U.S. premiere of Supermensch, Mike Myers directorial debut that explores the dynamic and astounding career of consummate Hollywood insider Shep Gordon; followed by a conversation with film subject Shep Gordon,Michael Douglas for some inside Hollywood baseball stories.

    For the annual Sloan retrospective salute, a tenth anniversary screening of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman; followed by a discussion on the making-of and contemporary relevance of the film including advances in our ability to manipulate the pathways of memory since the film debuted.

    Shooting and scoring, a conversation about the particular art in creating authentic sports stories with Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg.

    In celebration of the upcoming World Cup, 30 for 30: Soccer Stories will screen two films, The Opposition and Maradona ’86; followed by a conversation with filmmakers Ezra Edelman, Daniel Battsek and ESPN about the films and the upcoming competition.

    “Future of Film: The Story’s Edge” taking place as part of Tribeca Innovation Week will feature:

    A conversation with writer and producer Aaron Sorkin and former Chief Presidential Speech Writer Jon Favreau about what it means to be moral in 2014 and what is valued as heroic in on screen, in fiction and in life.

    Your Brain on Story features futurist Jason Silva on why and how people are hardwired for stories and cinema, followed by “Psychos We Love,” an exploration into what it is that audiences love about on screen psychos, and how they compare to real life psychopaths with actor Bryan Cranston, show runner/writer Terence Winter and neuroscientist James Fallon; moderated by Nightline co-anchor Cynthia McFadden.

    All The News That’s Fit to Shoot, Print…or Tweet, explores the crossover between documentary filmmaking, news media and social action with Upworthy Co-Founder Eli Pariser, CEO and Co-Founder of Vice Shane Smith, and Executive Director of Witness Yvette Alberdingk Thijm; moderated by filmmaker and journalist Perri Peltz.

    Stories by Numbers, a discussion about the ways that big data mining can influence future innovation in film, art and journalism with screenwriter and show runner Beau Willimon, writer David Simon, and a special guest from ESPN/FiveThirtyEight.com; moderated by the host of NPR’s The Takeaway John Hockenberry.

    “Tribeca Talks: Industry” are free events and will feature:

    Dolby Institute: The Art of Sound Design & Music, a conversation with film industry professionals about the evolution of sound in film and how sound can be used to enhance storytelling. Panelists include Academy Award®-winning sound mixer Skip Lievsay (Gravity) and Susan Jacobs (Silver Linings Playbook).

    The Cutting Room: An Insight to the Edit Suite, a discussion about new editing techniques and firsthand accounts about what it really takes to make the final cut. Academy Award®-winning editor and longtime Martin Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker will discuss her incredible career.

    Shooting the Film: An Exploration of Cinematography, a conversation about the art of cinematography including how to capture beautiful and iconic imagery on screen.

    Panelists include cinematographers Nick Bentgen (Ballet 422,) Frank G. DeMarco (All is Lost,) and Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.)

    “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper hosted by Barnes & Noble” are free events and will include:

    The Repercussions of Truth, a discussion exploring the degrees of truth-telling and authenticity in storytelling and editing.  Panelists include directors John Dower, Tyler Meason, Justin Weinstein, Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman.  Moderated by Variety’s Gordon Cox.

    Adaptation & Creation a conversation with filmmakers who reflect on how to stay true to an original or adapted text.  Panelists include director/writer Stephen Belber, director/writer Amy Berg, director Megan Griffiths (Lucky Them), director/writer Aaron Katez (Land Ho!), and director Adam Rapp (Loitering with Intent).  Moderated by Screen International’s Mark Adams.

    Calling the Shots, a personal examination of how film scripts can enhance, thwart or reflect social cultural change. Panelists include director/writer Ira Sachs, director Orlando von Einseidel and director Marshall Curry.

    Special Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Conversations

    The full schedule for the 2014 Tribeca Talks series follows:

    “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series”

    Lee Daniels
    Acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels divulges on his seminal career which includes such critical hits as Precious and Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
    DATE: Friday, April 18
    TIME: 3:00 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Ron Howard with Brian Williams
    Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ron Howard discusses his career as a filmmaker, writer and producer, which already spans over fifty years.
    DATE: Saturday, April 26
    TIME: 3:00 PM
    LOCATION: BMCC

    “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” 

    Champs
    Directed and written by Bert Marcus. (USA) – World Premiere. From inner-city housing projects to the biggest stages in boxing, this insightful and provocative documentary charts the lives of some of America’s heaviest hitters, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins, as they seek to break out of poverty via one of the few outlets available. Director Bert Marcus skillfully weaves their personal histories and gripping footage from their biggest bouts to explore the meaning of the American dream in a society increasingly fragmented between rich and poor.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with former boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, boxing promoter Lou DiBella about life, rivalry and conflict both inside and out of the ring.

    DATE: Saturday, April 19
    TIME: 3:00 PM 
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Silenced
    Silenced, directed by James Spione. (USA) – World Premiere. Only 11 Americans have ever been charged under the Espionage Act of 1917; eight of them since President Obama took office. Oscar-nominated documentarian James Spione returns to TFF with the incredible personal journeys of two members of that octet, Thomas Drake and John Kiriakou, along with accountability advocate, Jesselyn Radack, who helped bring their cases to light. With resonance in the post-Snowden era, Silenced catalogs the lengths to which the government has gone to keep its most damning secrets, in an impassioned and thought-provoking defense of whistleblowers everywhere.

    After the movie: Stay for a conversation with director James Spione, Jesselyn Radack, Thomas Drake and Barton Gellman about the role, importance and ethics of whistleblowing in America in 2014.

    DATE: Saturday, April 19
    TIME: 5:00 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    NOW – In the Wings on a World Stage
    Directed by Jeremy Whelehan. (USA) – World Premiere. In 2012, the talented actors that make up one of the oldest companies in the world, the Old Vic Theater company, and the group’s multi-talented artistic director, Kevin Spacey stage Shakespeare’s epic tragedy Richard III on a whirlwind tour across the world. Whelehan goes behind the scenes with the inspiring Tony Award® winning cast, Spacey, and the play’s director Sam Mendes, to celebrate the craft of theater, the actors who bring it to brilliant life, and to deepen our understanding of theater through this ambitious international staging.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with Kevin Spacey,  director Jeremy Whelehan and members of the Richard III company about the vocation of acting and the future of theater and this spectacular theatrical journey.

    DATE: Monday, April 21
    TIME: 6:00 PM
    LOCATION: BMCC

    The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
    Directed by Nicholas Mross. (USA) – World Premiere. What is Bitcoin? The digital currency, created by anonymous developer Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, is heralded by some as the future of the global economy, even as it is increasingly stigmatized by volatility and implicated in online drug trafficking and money laundering.  Nicholas Mross’ illuminating documentary digs deep into the origins and meteoric rise of Bitcoin through the stories of those intrepid innovators at the forefront of this developing technology.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Nicholas Mross, the film’s protagonist Dan Mross, and Charles Shrem for the most up to the minute details about the mysterious and rapidly changing world of Bitcoin.

    DATE: Wednesday, April 23 
    TIME: 5:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman. (USA) – An all-star ensemble cast shines in this comical and poignant look at breakups, breakdowns and breakthroughs and the role of memory in human relationships. Joel (Jim Carrey) is stunned to discover that his girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet), has had their tumultuous relationship erased from her mind. Out of desperation, he contacts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), to get the same treatment. But as his memories of Clementine begin to fade, Joel suddenly realizes how much he still loves her. Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood co-star in the Academy Award winner for best original screenplay.Sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation on the making-of and contemporary relevance of the film, including advances in our ability to manipulate the pathways of memory since the film debuted with producer Anthony Bregman,Daniella Schiller, Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience/Mount Sinai, and others, moderated by Science Friday® host Ira Flatlow.

    DATE: Saturday, April 26
    TIME: 3:00 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 

    Food Chains
    Directed by Sanjay Rawal. (USA) – North American Premiere. Executive produced by Eva Longoria, this hard hitting documentary gives pause for thought with every plate of food we eat by exposing the rampant abuse and injustice embedded in America’s agriculture and food production industries.  The film sheds light on the wage theft, physical abuse and outright slavery that constitutes everyday life for thousands of America’s (mostly Latino) farm workers, and gives voice to those fighting to change these practices and bring justice to the table.

    After the Movie: Join Executive Producer Eva Longoria, director, Sanjay Rawal, Kerry Kennedy, Eric Schlosser and a representative from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to learn more about behind the scenes in America’s food chain and what you can do to be part of the food justice revolution.

    DATE: Saturday, April 26
    TIME: 2:00 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Supermensch
    Directed by Mike Myers. (USA) – U.S. Premiere. In his directorial debut, Mike Myers brings a comic touch to documenting the astounding career of consummate Hollywood insider Shep Gordon. Making playful use of archival footage, new interviews, and his own close relationship with the legendary talent manager, Myers reveals a man who has embraced his dualities: a hard-driving dealmaker who wants everyone to be happy and a rock ‘n’ roll hedonist who yearns for a family. Against a backdrop of debauchery, he’s a man on a spiritual quest. These contradictions make him a fascinating documentary subject.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with Shep Gordon, Michael Douglas for some inside baseball Hollywood stories.

    DATE: Saturday, April 26
    TIME: 5:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank
    Directed by Michael Chandler and Sheila Canavan. (USA) – World Premiere.

    Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank is a rare and intimate peek into the life of Barney Frank, the quick-witted, cantankerous, and first openly gay Congressman in the United States. On the verge of his retirement, Frank reflects on his 40 years in office and the role his own homosexuality played in his campaigns for social justice. A flawless example of when the personal meets the political, with incredible “bare all” access, this documentary reveals Frank as one of the most sharp-tongued, entertaining, and lionhearted politicians of our time.

    After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with Barney Frank and Alec Baldwin about the politics of Washington, Barney’s life and career and what he plans to do in his retirement.

    DATE: Sunday, April 27
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Future of Film: The Story’s Edge – part of Tribeca Innovation Week

    A Conversation with Aaron Sorkin
    Writer and producer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Newsroom, The Social Network) in conversation with former Chief Presidential Speech Writer Jon Favreau about what it means to be moral in 2014, what we value as heroic in life and in fiction, and how film and television have documented our transition from an analogue to a digital world.

    DATE: Monday, April 21
    TIME: 6:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    Your Brain on Story
    Part one: “Jason Silva: Technologies of Immersion”

    Your Brain on Story features futurist Jason Silva on why and how people are hardwired for stories and cinema.

    Part two: “Psychos We Love,”
    A candid conversation about the ‘habits’ of successful psychopaths. Sounds crazy? Not really. Turns out, it’s not only screen psychos that we love. Many of the people we admire, and even elect as our leaders, share traits with psychopathic killers. Find out more as actor Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Terence Winter (“The Sopranos,” “Boardwalk Empire”) discuss the connection between horror and humor and what makes a great screen villain with a neuroscientist,James Fallon, who not only studies the brains of serial killers, but has one himself.  Moderated by Cynthia McFadden (ABC News, Nightline Co Anchor)

    DATE: Tuesday, April 22
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    All The News That’s Fit to Shoot, Print…or Tweet
    Many say the birth of cable news, the 24-hour news cycle and then the internet have caused the demise of journalism.  On the flip side, our thirst for news and information has only become more intense in recent years. Citizen journalists, bloggers, and hybrids of journalism with everything from films to video games and viral videos are stepping up to answer the call. So who now sets the bar for journalistic ethics and in who’s voices (or cute cat videos) should we place our trust? Join Upworthy Co-Founder Eli Pariser, CEO and Co-Founder of Vice Shane Smith, and Executive Director of Witness Yvette Alberdingk Thijm. Moderated by filmmaker and journalist Perri Peltz.

    DATE: Wednesday, April 23
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    Stories by Numbers
    Almost everything we do creates a digital trail containing information about who we are, where we go, how we spend our time and money, and what we watch. Media and entertainment entities are increasingly able to use this information to tell rich data-driven stories or to decide what content to acquire or produce. But does betting on the ‘wisdom of crowds’ bode well or ill for future innovation in film, art and journalism? True believers and tech skeptics square off. Join show runner/writer Beau Willimon (“House of Cards”), writer David Simon (“The Wire”), Thompson on Hollywood’s Anne Thompson, and a special guest from ESPN/FiveThirtyEight.com. Moderated by host of NPR’s The Takeaway John Hockenberry.

    DATE: Thursday April 24th
    TIME: 2.30pm
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    “Tribeca Talks: Industry” (Free event: Reserve tickets in advance at tribecafilm.com)

    Dolby Institute: The Art of Sound Design & Music
    Ever since the creation of the talkie, sound in film has been evolving. The Dolby Institute brings together top sound designers to discuss what it really takes to create the sound of a film, and the army it takes just to hear a pin drop. Panelists will explore scenes from their work and divulge the strategy behind using sound as a storytelling tool.  Panelists include Academy Award® winning sound mixer Skip Lievsay (Gravity) and music supervisor Susan Jacobs (Silver Linings Playbook).

    DATE: Friday, April 18
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    The Cutting Room: An Insight to the Edit Suite
    It’s said that a movie is made three times: once through a script, once on set, and finally in the edit room.  Join us to hear tales from the cutting room floor from longtime Martin Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker as she discusses her incredible career.

    DATE: Saturday, April 19
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    Shooting the Film: An Exploration of Cinematography
    Cinematographers are responsible for some of the most breathtaking and memorable images on screen. Join us to hear cinematographers discuss their careers so far in the world of capturing images to tell a story, as well as describing how they shot some of their most famous scenes. Panelists All is Lost cinematographer Frank G. DeMarco Ballet 422 cinematographer Nick Bentgen and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind cinematographer Ellen Kuras.

    DATE: Monday, April 21
    TIME: 2:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    The Growth of Short Content
    Filmmakers with a thirst for storytelling are saturating our digital media landscape with short content, changing the way we seek and consume media.  Hear some of the creators discuss the challenges faced in creating snappy, attention grabbing and informative content, and how to garner an audience outside of a theater.  Panelists include director, producer Morgan Spurlock and ESPN’s Dan Silver.

    DATE: Saturday, April 26
    TIME: 1:00 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

    “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” (Free)
    Hosted by Barnes & Noble

    The Repercussions of Truth
    Storytelling involves the decision of how much truth to tell. The editing process incites the omission of information or facts. When focusing on true stories, filmmakers are still only able to tell us part of the story. How do they determine what their truth will be, and how much does the repercussion of truth factor into this decision?

    Panelists include directors John Dower (Slaying the Badger), Tyler Measom (An Honest Liar), Justin Weinstein (An Honest Liar), directors Sam Cullman & Jennifer Grausman (Art and Craft). Moderated by Gordon Cox, Variety.

    DATE: Friday, April 18
    TIME: 1:00 PM
    LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

    Adaptation & Creation

    From stage plays and books to original or adapted screenplays, filmmakers are constantly adapting and creating stories for the screen.  Join us for an exploration into the experience of filming work created from different content, and how true you should stay to the original text when shooting an adaptation or script you didn’t write.

    Panelists include director/writer Stephen Belber (Match), director/writer Amy Berg (West of Memphis), director/writer Megan Griffiths (Lucky Them), director/writer Aaron Katez (Land Ho!), and director Adam Rapp (Loitering with Intent). Moderated by Mark Adams, Screen International.

    DATE: Saturday, April 19
    TIME: 1:00 PM
    LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

    Calling the Shots
    Both documentary and narrative films constantly explore moving for social change in a variety of ways, either directly or indirectly. Whether it’s about human rights, the environmental or personal change, these films are at the forefront of today’s cinema and have a new and unique opportunity to affect change in society.

    Panelists include director/writer Ira Sachs (Love is Strange), director Orlando von Einseidel (Virunga) and director Marshall Curry (Point and Shoot).

    DATE: Sunday, April 20
    TIME: 1:00 PM
    LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

    Special “Tribeca Talks” Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Conversations

    Shooting and scoring
    A conversation about the particular art in creating authentic sports stories – from non-fiction material to heart stopping hits that satisfy hardcore fans while also connecting with broader audiences. Featuring director, Peter Berg best known for his hit TV series and film, Friday Night Lights and for the recent sports doc series, State of Play which illuminates the intersection of sports and sports culture with wider society in 2014 America.

    DATE: Friday, April 25
    TIME: 8:30 PM
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

    30 for 30: Soccer Stories

    The Opposition
    Directed by Ezra Edelman and Jeffrey Plunkett (USA/Chile) – World Premiere.  In the wake of the 1973 military coup in Chile, American-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet transformed Santiago’s National Stadium into a concentration camp where political opponents were tortured and assassinated.  Only months later, that same stadium was scheduled to host a decisive World Cup qualifier between Chile and the Soviet Union.  Despite protests, FIFA’s own investigation, and the Soviets’ eventual boycott, the Chilean team still played the game as planned, qualifying for the 1974 World Cup on a goal scored against no one.

    Maradona ’86
    Directed by Sam Blair, Executive Produced by John Battsek (USA) – World Premiere. In the 1986 World Cup, Diego Armando Maradona redefined what is possible for one man to accomplish on the soccer field. Already a figure of notoriety, but with one failed World Cup behind him, Argentinian Maradona took possession of the international stage in Mexico, the spotlight rarely drifting from him as he wrote an indelible history with his feet and, of course, with a “hand from God.” Delivered with passion and intelligence, Maradona ‘86 is a fascinating, evocative, and operatic portrait, revealing Maradona’s inner complexity and contradictions while basking in the joy and passion of his performance on the pitch, as he wrote his name on soccer history forever.              

    After the Movie: filmmakers Ezra Edelman, Daniel Battsek and ESPN speak about the films and the upcoming World Cup

    DATE: Sunday, April 20
    TIME: 2:30 PM 
    LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

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  • AFI FEST Announces 2014 Dates

    afifest

    The 28th edition of AFI FEST will take place November 6 through 13, 2014, in Hollywood, California.  The film festival is the only one of its stature that is free to the public, and is the only festival in North America with a market partner, the AFM (American Film Market). 

    Submissions are now open and filmmakers are invited to submit narrative, documentary, experimental, animated and short films 

    Filmmakers are invited to submit at AFI.com/AFIFEST.

    This year AFI FEST will have two deadlines – early and final submission dates for both short films (under 30 minutes) and feature films.
    June 27 – the early submission deadline for both features and shorts;
    August 8 – the final submission deadline for both features and shorts. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards®.

    The 2013 festival opened with the North American Premiere of SAVING MR. BANKS, closed with INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS and featured the World Premieres of LONE SURVIVOR and OUT OF THE FURNACE. Tributes to David O. Russell and Bruce Dern, and conversations on the craft of directing, with Steve McQueen, and acting, with Annette Bening, rounded out the programming. Guests at the festival included George Clooney, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Steve Coogan, Idris Elba, Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hanks, Woody Harrelson, Oscar Isaac, Spize Jonze, Errol Morris, Alexander Payne, Zoe Saldana, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, Mark Wahlberg, Forest Whitaker and Kristen Wiig.

    image: via Facebook

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  • Check out the New TRAILER for PROXY Starring Joe Swanberg

    PROXY

    IFC Midnight has released the official trailer for Zack Parker’s PROXY , schedule to open theatrically at The IFC Center in NYC and on VOD April 18th, 2014, with nationwide rollout to follow.

    Esther (Alexia Rasmussen) feels alone in this world. When she is viciously attacked by a hooded assailant, it almost seems to be a blessing in disguise when Esther finds consolation in a support group, especially from the kindly Melanie (Alexa Havins). The two women strike up a close friendship and Esther’s life of sadness and solitude is opened up to understanding and even acceptance. However, their bond gets increasingly dangerous as they can no longer tell what’s real and what’s in their heads.

    Anchored by a trio of strong female performances from Havins, Rasmussen, and Kristina Klebe as a dangerous jilted girlfriend, Proxy also features a standout performance from mumblecore auteur Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Drinking Buddies) as Melanie’s husband.

    From writer/director Zack Parker — whose credits include the perceptual thriller Scalene — the pulse-pounding Proxy delves into dark, unnerving territory as it constantly elicits the unexpected and forces you to question all that you’ve seen.

    http://youtu.be/arRhnf213E0

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