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Tribeca Film Institute Selects 11 New Film Projects for 10th Annual Tribeca All Access Program

Ten filmmakers with unfinished projects were selected out of 560 submissions from across the country to participate in the 10th Annual Tribeca All Access (TAA) program. TAA will support each project with an initial $15,000 grant as well as offer year-round support, guidance, and resources for filmmakers to help advance their projects toward completion. TAA will present the 11 projects—6 narratives and 5 documentaries—at a three-day career-development program from April 22-24, during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), April 17-28, 2013.

Two projects will also be selected as recipients of the juried Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award; an additional $10,000 grant will be awarded to one documentary and one feature project.

: 2007 TAA alum Cherien Dabis, whose latest feature May in Summer, opened the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Past TAA-supported films have gone on to premiere at film festivals around the country, received distribution deals and garnered critical acclaim. These include titles such as:

When I Saw You, Palestine’s official entry for the Academy Awards, directed by Ann-Marie Jacir (2012), winner of the NETPAC prize for Best Asian Film at the Berlin International Film Festival;

American Promise, directed by Michele Stephenson and Joe Brewster (2013), winner of the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement in Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival;

Four, directed by Joshua Sanchez (2009), winner of the Urbanworld Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award nominee;

Circumstance, directed by Maryam Keshavarz (2011), Audience Award-winner at the Sundance Film Festival;

Una Noche, directed by Lucy Mulloy (2012), winner of Best New Director at the Tribeca Film Festival and Best Script at the Brasilia International Film Festival;

Gideon’s Army, directed by Dawn Porter (2011), alumni introduction to her producer HBO Documentaries, winner of the Best Editing Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival; and

Free Angela & All Political Prisoners, directed by Shola Lynch which will open in theatres nationwide on April 5, 2013 and is Executive Produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Jay Z

2013 Sarasota Film Festival to Honor Computer Chess and Screen Over 222 Films

The 2013 Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) announced their film lineup featuring over 222 films, including Tom Gilroy’s THE COLD LANDS (US Premiere), Jeremy Xido’s DEATH METAL ANGOLA (US Premiere), Nathan Silver’s SOFT IN THE HEAD (World Premiere), C&Y’s THE OXBOW CURE (World Premiere), and Gregory Collins’ A SONG STILL INSIDE (World Premiere).

The Festival will also award the 2013 Terry Porter Visionary Award, named in honor of longtime festival friend Terry Porter, to Andrew Bujalski’s COMPUTER CHESS. Previous winners include V/H/S (2012) and Todd Rohal’s THE CATECHISM CATACLYSM (2011).

As previously announced, the 2013 opens on April 5th with Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s BLACKFISH, while Noah Baumbach’s FRANCES HA is the festival’s Closing Night film. James Ponsoldt’s THE SPECTACULAR NOW and Barbara Kopple’s RUNNING FROM CRAZY are the Centerpiece Films, with Carols Puga’s BURMA, Justin Schwarz’s THE DISCOVERERS and the World Premiere of Will Slocombe’s PASADENA are the SFF’s Spotlight Films.

The lineup

Steven Soderbergh to Deliver State of Cinema Address at 2013 San Francisco International Film Festival, May Address Retirement Rumors

Director Steven Soderbergh, described as “one of the world’s most celebrated figures in contemporary filmmaking,” will deliver the tenth annual State of Cinema Address at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25 – May 9, 2013). Soderbergh, reportedly recently announced his intention to retire from filmmaking, a decision which should provide a compelling framework for this live address. Previous State of Cinema speakers have been author Jonathan Lethem, film producer Christine Vachon, film editor Walter Murch, photographer […]

REVIEW: Silver Circle

by Chris McKittrick

In the year 2019, the American economy has collapsed to the point that the most powerful government entity is the Federal Reserve, which maintains control of the rapidly inflating currency. This leads to crippling levels of inflation ($150+ for a gallon of gas, $50+ for a loaf of bread, and worst of all, $90 beer “specials” at bars!) An underground form of currency made of pure silver, called silver circles, are instead being used illegally by the public. One of the Reserve’s newest divisions is the Department of Housing Stability, which is responsible for maintaining the prices of homes – including forcing rightful homeowners out of them, if necessary. An agent with “HouseStab,” Jay Nelson (De’Leon Grant) is investigating a recent firebombing of homes, and finds himself reluctantly caught in a battle against the Federal Reserve alongside Zoe Taylor (Philana Mia), an alluring female resistance fighter.

Tribeca Film Festival Announces the 2013 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Lineup

The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, which has become the a great showcase for independent films about sports and competition is back for the 2013 Festival. The festival announced the lineup for the seventh annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, consisting of nine films, including four titles from ESPN Films’ highly anticipated “Nine for IX” series which celebrates the fortieth anniversary of Title IX with nine documentary films about women in sports directed by outstanding female filmmakers. The 2013 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will run during the 12th TFF, April 17 – April 28 in New York City.

The world premiere of Big Shot, directed by Kevin Connolly, will serve as the gala premiere of the program on Friday, April 19. Connolly is returning to Tribeca having debuted his feature film Gardener of Eden in 2007. In Big Shot, Connolly chronicles John Spano’s fraudulent purchase of the New York Islanders. In 1997, Spano bought the New York Islanders for a staggering $165 million. The scheme behind Spano’s acquisition of the team is revealed as Big Shot takes viewers behind the scenes of the biggest fraud in hockey history.

The other films include documentary films that explore stories of an extreme skiing legend; the world’s top professional skateboarders; an overhyped high school basketball player; the battle in the ring and the courts of the greatest boxing legend; the personal struggles of college sports’ most successful coach ever; the largely unknown history of an Olympic gold medalist and her link with East Germany’s secret police; the unyielding quest of a world-class diver to reach new depths; and the gender politics of post-game locker room interviews.

Director Matteo Garrone talks about the real-life story behind his amazing new film “Reality”

by Francesca McCaffery

Garnering the illustrious Grand Prix at Cannes this year, Reality is an Italian film that is much more American in nature than we would want to believe possible. Following up his gritty, grimy crime drama Gomorrah, director Matteo Garrone is a master at keeping it real while telling a profound story about humanity in its most vulnerable state.(It helps that Garrone has a natural talent for finding brilliant non-actors. His lead actor is actually a prisoner who had to get permission to come to set and film.)

Shot in the city of Naples, Reality opens taking us right into a city that is grimy and filled with the sweat and dirt of every day people hustling and struggling. Crammed into tiny apartments together, with extended families living several to a room, you can smell the city of Naples from the beautiful opening. His story centers around Luciano (an amazing Aniello Arena), a local fishmonger who is busy unloading robotic pasta-makers for extra cash with his wife, and trying to make a decent living for the entire family. Apparently, the reality show Big Brother is somewhat of a major obsession in Italy in its own incarnation there, and at a friend’s wedding, the dorky hipster “Enzo” from the cast makes a paid appearance, wishing the bride and groom congrats. As a gag, Luciano dresses a woman and schticks around for a few moments with Enzo, garnering a cherished photo with Enzo for his daughter. When sweetly bull-dozed by cellphone by the same daughter, as well as his amused wife, to come to the mall for an “audition” for Big Brother, Luciano at first refuses, not really caring a bit. But then, to make everyone happy and shut them up, he decides to go. What follows is a long and winding trip into the psyche of someone who trades his life for a profound, inexplicable fantasy version, and it is completely mesmerizing to watch.

2013 US Sundance Festival Winners Blood Brothers, Upstream Color Among Lineup for 2013 Sundance London

Sundance London film and music festival, unveiled the programme of panels, feature films and short films for the second edition of the festival scheduled to run April 25-28, 2013, at The O2 in London.

The programme includes 18 feature films and nine short films across four sections, including a new UK Spotlight. Films include the U.K. premiere of Blood Brother, winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary and the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival; and Upstream Color, winner of a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Sound Design at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and from the director of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic-winning film Primer.

In addition to film screenings and panels, Sundance London will host several live music performances and events with Peaches announced as the first headlining act for the 2013 festival.

Sundance to Host 4-Day Summer Film Festival in Los Angeles

Newlyweeds screened in NEXT <=> section at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Institute which organize the annual Sundance Film Festival, will host a new festival, NEXT WEEKEND, taking place August 8-11, 2013 at Sundance Cinema and additional venues throughout Los Angeles. NEXT WEEKEND will include films that have been featured in the NEXT <=> section at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which showcases stylistically adventurous films that take a bold approach to storytelling.

Over one summer weekend film fans will have the chance to choose from eight yet-to-be-released feature films. NEXT WEEKEND will kick off with an outdoor screening Aug. 8 at Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The weekend-long festival will be headquartered at Sundance Cinema in West Hollywood Aug. 9-11. On closing night, Aug. 11, the festival will expand to venues across Los Angeles including the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, Cinefamily, MOCA, and the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum.

Sixty Short Films To Screen at 2013 Tribeca Film Festival

Grandma's Not A Toaster — Grandma’s Not A Toaster

The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) today announced its lineup of 60 short films. The winner of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Narrative Short award and Best Documentary Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards®. The 2012 TFF Narrative Short Winner Asad and competition short Curfew were nominated for best Live Action Short at this year’s Annual Academy Awards, with Curfew taking home the coveted honor.

The lineup features performances by a range of emerging and established talent such as Lauren Ambrose, Kevin Corrigan, Elle Fanning, Jessica Hecht, Nastassja Kinski, Julian Sands, Jay O. Sanders, Dominic West and Elijah Wood. Shawn Christensen, Academy Award-winning director of Curfew, returns to TFF with Grandma’s Not a Toaster.

The 2013 shorts program will be presented in 8 thematic programs — 5 narrative categories, 2 documentary categories and 1 experimental category.

The short film selections within the eight programs are as follows:

Over 70 Films to See at 2013 LA INDIE Film Festival

Over 70 films from 13 countries will screen at the LA INDIE Film Festival taking place March 14-24, 2013 at the Let Live Theatre (916 N. Formosa Ave.). in LA, California.

The LA INDIE Film Festival is the partner festival of the LA Comedy Festival.

The documentaries cover a wide range of subjects. World Premiere of Dead Man Rockin’ covers the life and music of John Harrelson. It offers a portrait of a unique and uncompromising artist, a true American Bluesman, a ‘you can never forget him’ type of character, a man who lives (and dies) for his craft and art every day of his life.

The LA Premiere of My Name Is Faith chronicles the story of a 13-year old girl working hard to overcome a troubling past, embrace vulnerability and accept the love and possibility that now surround her. “Just because a child has a past doesn’t mean they’re broken forever.” From foster homes to believing she is finally safe.

Midnight Movies and Music Films Featuring Rock Icon Doc Pomus Unveiled for 2013 Florida Film Festival

The Florida Film Festival, sponsored by Full Sail University, unveiled the Midnight Movies and Music Sidebar programs for the 2013 edition.

This year’s Music Films feature rock icon Doc Pomus, inspirational punk/reggae band Bad Brains, and theforefathers of the indie/alternative rock movement Big Star. For the Midnight Movie lovers, films include a group of Brits fending off zombies in London’s East End, a documentary about the first midnight movie star Divine, and two films that tackle the found footage genre, including one directed by graduates of Full Sail and UCF. This year’s Festival runs April 5-14, 2013 and is located in Central Florida.

Gideon’s Army to Open 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival which celebrates its 16th annual festival this April, announced its full program lineup of new feature and short films; along with filmmaker Dawn Porter’s critically-acclaimed “Gideon’s Army” as the Opening Night Film.

“Gideon’s Army,” an HBO Documentary Film, follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point.

The 16th Annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will be held April 4-7, 2013, in Durham, NC

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