• Roman Polanski & Director Frank Simon’s WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION, Gets A November 2013 Release Date | TRAILER

     WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION

    Frank Simon’s documentary WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION, described as an entertaining vérité look at world champion driver Sir Jackie Stewart as Roman Polanski follows his attempt to win the Monaco Grand Prix will be released in the US by Submarine Deluxe. WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION which had its world premiere at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival, will be released theatrically across the country beginning November 22nd in NYC, with a nationwide rollout to follow.

    In 1971, Motor Racing fan Roman Polanski spent a weekend with world champion driver Sir Jackie Stewart as he attempted to win the Monaco Grand Prix.  Polanski was given intimate access to Stewart’s world for three days, both on the track and off.  The result is an extraordinarily rare glimpse into the life of a gifted athlete at the height of his powers. 

    Forty years on, Polanski and Stewart meet once again.  In a remarkable post-script, they discuss the sport, both past and present, with a unique and unmatched perspective.

    Presented by Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment’s documentary arm Rat Documentary Films, who first acquired and restored the film, WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION will also be released later on Netflix after its theatrical run. 

    http://youtu.be/8DeQcpcV_R8

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  • Film Review: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

    THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

    On paper, the behind the scenes story being pushed about this joint North Korean-U.S. production is extraordinary: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is a film that took six years to make and was a historical first-ever collaboration between North Korea and a U.S. film company.  The film was actually shot in North Korea with a North Korean cast and crew and was written and produced by Joon Bai, who was born in North Korea but immigrated to the United States in 1959, and starting in the late 1990s has made dozens of humanitarian trips to North Korea.  He decided to make this film to spread his message of the suffering people of North Korea and their hopes for reunification.

    So while there’s no denying that his heart is the right place, I’m not sure how much of this film is really of Bai’s vision.  That’s because there is little in this film that isn’t melodramatic propaganda straight from the North Korean government via director Hak Jang.  It doesn’t even attempt to be subtle with seemingly dozens of scenes of crying, dying, and suffering women and children to pull at the heartstrings.

    An opening title card tells the audience that this film is based on “true events,” which then fades into the movie’s framing sequence set in 1980 about a young man of Korean descent trying to figure out the details of his recently-deceased father’s life in North Korea.  An old acquaintance of his father tells the story: Il Gyu (Ryung Min Kim) is a young man in Seoul, South Korea at the start of the Korean War, and on his way to school he is picked up by South Korean soldiers and forced into the army. During his first battle in North Korea, he sees the horror of battle and tears off his uniform.  After being wounded, an old man and his daughter, Son Ah (Hyang Suk Kim) come across him and, thinking that he is a North Korean soldier, he is mistakenly rescued from the battlefield and nursed back to health.  While in Son Ah’s care Il Gyu falls in love with her, but his nationality and Son Ah’s dedication to being a nurse are only the first obstacles that will come between them.

    From a technical standpoint the film is archaic.  While I understand the limitations of the production, the visual quality is so poor that it looks like a 1980s television movie.  You would have a hard time convincing anyone this film was released in 2012.  Scenes that take place in the 1970s are full of anachronisms like far more recent models of cars and computers, and there is even a sign for a medical conference that says “1992.”  There are also structural problems, including two ill-fitting musical interlude 35 minutes into the film. 12 minutes later, there is a brief respite from the falling-in-love frolicking of our two leads to flashback to Gyu’s father giving a stirring speech against Japanese imperialism. The film’s dialogue (or at least the English subtitles) often sounds like it is taken straight from propaganda posters: “Let’s not live as shields for American bullets.” “Why do people whose faces are different from ours bring so much tragedy upon us?” “We must be strong so our children do not fear the sound of the enemy’s bombings. Our nation with its 30 million people must stand and fight for the reunification of our divided land. So all of us, together, can rise as one glorious nation.” I know Bai is a novice writer, but I certainly don’t think those lines came from him. But perhaps his fingerprints are still on the love story, which is pure melodrama.  Son Ah is beautiful, virtuous, courageous, and selfless to the point of self-ruination.  Il Gyu throws his best lines at her (like “I’m jealous of this mountain wind… it steals away your scent.”) but he just can’t crack her noble exterior.   Finally, though the score is credited to a North Korean musician, it is so reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s theme from Cinema Paradiso that they are lucky that sanctions will probably prevent him from prosecuting.

    THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

    Though The Other Side of the Wind is making the festival circuit in America (and even won a few awards), you’d be hard pressed to find many Americans who would be sympathetic to the portrayal of the United States.  Without exaggeration, every fifteen minutes during the Korean War scenes, the U.S. military are causing some terrible atrocity to move the narrative forward – bombing villages, destroying sacred temples, or setting masses of innocent women on fire (the last with absolutely no explanation). Even after the war, when one character is diagnosed with a deadly disease I expected the Americans to get blamed for that, too. When people say that mainstream American films like Zero Dark Thirty or Captain Phillips are propaganda, they’ve really never seen anything like this, especially since the film ends with a three minute sequence of the cast and crew singing a song advocating for Korean reunification.

    Yet with all that in mind, I can’t help but recommend The Other Side of the Wind to those that will either be entertained by its sometimes-absurd aspects or will marvel that a film like this even got made in the first place considering the circumstances in North Korea.  Despite only being released last year, it is in a lot of ways an instant historical curiosity.  If you’re a student of international film you will undoubtedly appreciate the sentiment even if you can’t appreciate the cloying narrative or the outdated production values.  As I said above, Bai’s heart was obviously in the right place, even if it seems the North Korean government did its best to remove his heart from this film.

    THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN (Korea USA 2012, 102″)

    Directed by In Hak Jang, screenwriter and producer Joon Bai

    Now playing as part of the 2013 Korean American Film Festival New York (KAFFNY), October 24-26, 2013, at Village East Cinema

    KAFFNY venue: Village East Cinema (189 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003)

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  • New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday October 25, 2013

    BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, A TRUE STORY, LOSERS TAKE ALL, WHEN I WALK, SPINNING PLATES

    This weekend is a quiet one at the art house cinemas in terms of new releases, with only one major indie release coming out, this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR.  It’s a great weekend then to catch up on other releases that might be expanding into your area or you just couldn’t see on its opening weekend.

    BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

    BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

    Based on a graphic novel about two young women who fall in love, Blue Is the Warmest Color has been talked about since winning the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.  Its graphic depictions of sex — the film is rated NC-17 — and its three-hour runtime will probably scare away a lot of typical moviegoers, but with near universal praise there’s a good chance you’ll keep hearing about it until you get a chance to see it in your area.

    A TRUE STORY

    A TRUE STORY

    A comedy about two screenwriters and their personal lives when one of the writer’s ex-girlfriends (Katrina Bowden) comes back into the picture, A True Story was written by the movie’s two stars, Cameron Fife and Tyler McGee and was directed by actor Malcolm Goodwin (who appeared on American Gangster and Leatherheads). Though A True Story was first released on the internet last month, there hasn’t been much word about it from the critics.

    LOSERS TAKE ALL

    LOSERS TAKE ALL

    Though it debuted way back at the Woodstock Film Festival in September 2011, this music comedy about a 1980s indie rock band trying to decide whether or not to sell out is finally getting a release this weekend.  It was directed by Alex Steyermark, who made another rock and roll film a decade ago, Prey For Rock & Roll and long-time music supervisor for Spike Lee’s films (among many others).

    WHEN I WALK (Documentary)

    WHEN I WALK (Documentary)

    This documentary tells the story of Jason DaSilva, who as a twenty five year-old in 2006 on vacation had suddenly lost the ability to walk because of his multiple sclerosis. Jason, who was an aspiring filmmaker, decided to film his life going forward. Critics have given it strong reviews for being an inspiring look at a young man coping with a disease.

    SPINNING PLATES (Documentary)

    SPINNING PLATES

    Every once in a while I think that it must be interesting to run a restaurant, and then a second later I come to the realization how difficult the restaurant business really is (just watch an episode of Kitchen Nightmares!) Spinning Plates looks at three completely different restaurants in terms of prestige and cusine, but they all have one thing in common: they are all struggling in some way.  It has been a big hit with critics, so it’s probably a bit more involved than a reality show.

    Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:

    TORN

    WALKING WITH THE ENEMY

    TOAD ROAD

    HOUSE IN THE ALLEY

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  • WINTER IN THE BLOOD, NEBRASKA Among Finalists for 2013 Twin Cities Film Fest Awards

    WINTER IN THE BLOODWINTER IN THE BLOOD

    The Twin Cities Film Fest announced 16 finalists for its coveted slate of awards. The festival, which continues to screen films through Saturday evening at Kerasotes Showplace ICON Theatres, will announce its seven award winners at a Closing Night Gala following the Saturday screening of “NOTHING WITHOUT YOU” – a thriller that features local actress Emily Fradenburgh in a performance deemed “one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen” by TCFF Artistic Director Steve Snyder.

    The 2013 TCFF Awards Finalists include the critically-acclaimed, Cannes award-winning drama NEBRASKA, directed by Alexander Payne; the Alex Gibney documentary THE ARMSTRONG LIE; and the star-studded AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, which earned standing ovations at the Toronto International Film Festival and stars Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep. Each winner will be bestowed with a one-of-a-kind Renter’s Warehouse TCFF Statue.

    The finalists for the 2013 TCFF Best Feature Film Award include WINTER IN THE BLOOD, NEBRASKA, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY.

    Finalists for the 2013 TCFF Indie Vision Award include DELIVERY , POLLYWOGS, WILD BLUE and NOTHING WITHOUT YOU .

    Finalists for the 2013 TCFF Best Short Film Award include THE AVENUE, HOT AND BOTHERED, FRAY and HONEYMOON SUITE.

    Finalists for the 2013 TCFF Best Documentary Award include THE ARMSTRONG LIE, ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL and TAPIA..

    The festival will announce three additional Renter’s Warehouse Statues Saturday evening: The 2013 TCFF Breakthrough Achievement Award, 2013 TCFF Audience Award (Feature) and 2013 TCFF Audience Award (Short).

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  • 12 YEARS A SLAVE Leads 2013 Gotham Independent Film Awards Nominations

    12 YEARS A SLAVE 12 YEARS A SLAVE

    The nominees for the 23rd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP were announced today and 12 YEARS A SLAVE lead with three nominations followed by BLUE CAPRICE, CONCUSSION, FRUITVALE STATION, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, and UPSTREAM COLOR with two nominations each.  The Gotham Awards is one of the leading awards for independent film and signals the kick-off to the film awards season. For 2013, the seven competitive awards include Best Feature, Best Actress (presenting sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein), Best Actor, Best Documentary, the Audience Award, Breakthrough Actor, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director. 

    In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes will be given to actor Forest Whitaker, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s Katherine Oliver, and director Richard Linklater.   The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, December 2nd at Cipriani Wall Street.in New York City.

    The 2013 Gotham Independent Film Award nominations are:

    Best Feature
    12 YEARS A SLAVE
    Steve McQueen, director; Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon
    Milchan, Anthony Katagas, producers. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS
    David Lowery, director; Tony Halbrooks, James M. Johnston, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Amy Kaufman,
    Cassian Elwes, producers (IFC Films)
    BEFORE MIDNIGHT
    Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Sara Woodhatch, producers
    (Sony Pictures Classics)
    INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
    Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, directors; Scott Rudin, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, producers (CBS Films)
    UPSTREAM COLOR
    Shane Carruth, director; Shane Carruth, Casey Gooden, Ben LeClair, producers. (erbp)

    Best Documentary
    THE ACT OF KILLING
    Joshua Oppenheimer, director; Signe Byrge, Joshua Oppenheimer, producers (Drafthouse Films)
    THE CRASH REEL
    Lucy Walker, director; Julian Cautherly, Lucy Walker, producers (HBO Documentary Films)
    FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED
    Alan Berliner, director and producer (HBO Documentary Films)
    LET THE FIRE BURN
    Jason Osder, director and producer (Zeitgeist Films)
    OUR NIXON
    Penny Lane, director; Brian L. Frye, Penny Lane, producers (Cinedigm and CNN Films)

    Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
    Ryan Coogler for FRUITVALE STATION (The Weinstein Company)
    Adam Leon for GIMME THE LOOT (Sundance Selects)
    Alexandre Moors for BLUE CAPRICE (Sundance Selects)
    Stacie Passon for CONCUSSION (RADiUS-TWC)
    Amy Seimetz for SUN DON’T SHINE (Factory 25)

    Best Actor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis (CBS Films)
    Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features)
    Robert Redford in All Is Lost (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)
    Isaiah Washington in Blue Caprice (Sundance Selects)

    Best Actress
    Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Scarlett Johansson in Don Jon (Relativity Media)
    Brie Larson in Short Term 12 (Cinedigm)
    Amy Seimetz in Upstream Color (erbp)
    Shailene Woodley in The Spectacular Now (A24)

    Breakthrough Actor
    Dane DeHaan in Kill Your Darlings (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Kathryn Hahn in Afternoon Delight (The Film Arcade and Cinedigm)
    Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station (The Weinstein Company)
    Lupita Nyong’o in 12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    Robin Weigert in Concussion (RADiUS-TWC)

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  • 2013 Boston Film Festival to Open Friday, Oct 25; Announces Lineup

    AT MIDDLETON starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga, and directed by Adam RodgersAT MIDDLETON starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga, and directed by Adam Rodgers

    The 29th Boston Film Festival kicks off on Friday, October 25th and runs through Sunday, October 27th, 2013, featuring films screening in Theatre 1 at the Revere Hotel Boston Common.  The festival opens with “AT MIDDLETON” starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga, and directed by Adam Rodgers.  “AT MIDDLETON” focuses on Edith (Farmiga) a strong-willed and successful business woman taking her 18 year-old daughter on a tour of potential colleges and George (Garcia) a buttoned-up heart surgeon taking his 18 year-old sonon a similar tour. Their paths cross at Middleton College and begins the story of two people who, through a remarkable, unexpected connection, are able to glimpse the potential that true romance can offer.  The festival includes two locally shot films”SIREN” and “GEORGE OF THE CENTER” highlighted in the festival’s Massachusetts focus.

    The 2013 Film Lineup 

    “At Middleton” (1:33)
    Director: Adam Rogers
    Writer: Adam Rogers & Glenn German
    Starring: Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga , Taissa Farmiga, Tom Skerritt , Peter Riegert , Nicholas Braun
    Synopsis: EDITH (Vera Farmiga) is a strong-willed, free-spirited and successful business woman who’s taking her 18 year-old daughter AUDREY on a tour of potential colleges. GEORGE (Andy Garcia) is a buttoned-up heart surgeon who’s taking his 18 year-old son, CONRAD, on a similar tour. Their paths cross at Middleton College, nestled in the picturesque Connecticut countryside. And while we suspect at the outset that this will be the kids’ story, it quickly becomes clear that George and Edith are the heart of this movie. MIDDLETON is the story of two people who, through a remarkable, unexpected connection, are able to glimpse the potential that true romance can offer. As Edith and George eventually realize, in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking, their adventure proves to be “the greatest half-day” of their lives.

    Shorts Program 1
    Wallace Seeks Solace (8:00)
    Director: Christopher Macken
    Synopsis: Wallace Seeks Solace tells the story of a young boy and his journey through the holocaust. This short, filmed in super 16 black & white film, presents an innocent view of a tragic event in history through the perspective of a child and told in ‘Dr. Seuss-like’ rhyming narration. After being ripped from his bed, Wallace is thrown into a whole new world of adult hood and, before he can even blink, is faced with the biggest decision one must ever face.

    Partisan (17:30)
    Director: Jake Holm
    Synopsis: In 1942, Poland, a young Jewish girl escapes a Nazi raid to join a partisan group in the forest and lead a personal, revenge mission against the Nazi collaborator who ratted out her family. As Bella matures from a lost, frightened girl to a fierce guerrilla fighter, she adapts to the new life she is thrust into without a proper transition into womanhood. Will Bella be able to confront her family’s murderer or will her emotions and unresolved fragility get the better of her during the mission?

    Rocketship (14:40)
    Director: Alfred Thomas Catalfo
    Synopsis: An unlikely bond is forged between a lonely boy and an elderly man claiming to be a former astronaut. Together, they transform a vintage vacuum cleaner into a rocketship for a surprising journey.

    Toy Soldier (16:00)
    Director: Mike Hayes
    Synopsis: Sixteen year-old Shane finds himself in the reluctant position of baby-sitter to his kid brother Charlie while his mother is at work. Along with Shane’s best mates – Bean and Hally – their small rural town is the jungle gym where they spend most of their days. When Shane makes a seemingly innocuous discovery one day, he’s and Charlie’s lives are changed forever.

    Home (30:44)
    Director: Jason Pangilinan
    Synopsis: A reclusive older man agrees to help a young woman with no recollection of her identity or past find her way home, but soon discovers she’s no ordinary girl.

    1982 (10:24)
    Director: Jeremy Breslau
    Synopsis: A blocked novelist reflects on a pivotal year in his life, when, as a precocious six-year-old, he struggled for the attention of his bickering parents.

    Who I Am (4:04)
    Director: Dawn Young
    Synopsis: This music video shines a light on an increasingly prevalent and heart breaking disease in which the victim gradually forgets personal history, how to function in society and how to survive. ‘Who I Am’ is performed by Jon Pousette-Dart and Jaime Kyle for our upcoming feature documentary ‘Forget Me Not’ on the subject of Alzheimer’s disease. Pousette-Dart has also included the song is his forthcoming CD release “Anti Gravity.”

    Menschen (28:00)
    Director: Sarah Lotfi
    Synopsis: May 1945, as the Allies close in, an Austrian captain guides his remnant company behind the Russian lines to surrender to the Americans, taking under their wing a boy with a developmental disability. As the loyalty of his men is brought to the test, the captain’s bond with the boy evokes a dark secret from his past.

    Huerfano (5:48)
    Director: Jeff Bernier
    Synopsis: A lone man’s search for the perfect sound leads him on an unexpected journey.

    “Out of Print” (55 min.)
    Director: Vivienne Roumani
    Narator: Meryl Streep
    Synopsis: “Out of Print” draws us into the topsy-turvy world of words, illuminating the turbulent, exciting journey from the book through the digital revolution. Ray Bradbury, Scott Turow, Jeff Bezos, parents, students, educators, scientists — all highlight how this revolution is changing everything about the printed word — and changing us.

    “The Grand Deception” (1:10)
    Director: Steve Emerson
    Synopsis: It is a threat that is right in front of us — just below the surface and hidden in plain sight. “Jihad in America: The Grand Deception” exposes the history and structure of the subversive menace behind the public mask — The Muslim Brotherhood in America. This investigative documentary exposes how Muslim Brotherhood-linked leaders rose to prominence right here in the United States, and how they exploit American values under the cover of religion for their ulterior political agenda. Startling first-person accounts and chilling exclusive undercover video and audio of these groups behind closed doors.

    “Plastic Paradise” — New England Premiere (57 min.)
    Director: Angela Sun
    Synopsis: Angela Sun’s journey of discovery to one of the most remote places on Earth, Midway Atoll, to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Along the way she encounters scientists, industry, legislators and activists who shed light on what our society’s vast consumption of disposable plastic is doing to our oceans, and what it may be doing to our health.

    “Kilimanjaro” (1:20)
    Director: Walter Strafford
    Starring: Abigail Spencer, Chris Marquette, Brian Geraghty, Bruce Altman, Jim Gaffigan
    Synopsis: For years, Doug Collins (late 20s) has been wading through a routine unsatisfying job and an increasingly miserable relationship. After his girlfriend moves out, Doug pushes himself to live a more fulfilling life starting with a trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Life pushes back. In the face of challenges from every direction, Doug struggles to make his way to the mountaintop.

    CLOSING NIGHT

    Shorts Program 2
    Lambing Season (15 mins.)
    Director: Jeannie Donohoe
    Synopsis: LAMBING SEASON is the offbeat tale of Bridget, an American woman who travels to the Irish countryside to track down her long-lost father while posing as a stranger. When things don’t go according to her convoluted plan, Bridget and her father are surprised to learn they have more in common than they imagined. On a sheep farm full of secrets, nature has its way of delivering the truth.

    Cut Out (24:19 mins.)
    Director: Mary Novak
    Synopsis: A young college student befriends a neighborhood kid and finds herself caught up in gang violence.

    Jim and the Genie (10:30 mins.)
    Director: Kathlene Ennis
    Synopsis: JIM discovers an eternally youthful GENIE and has the opportunity to change his life, if only he could get his genie to stop jumping on the couch.

    Machsom (24 mins.)
    Director: Joel Novoa
    Synopsis: “Machsom,” the Hebrew word for “Checkpoint,” tells the story of Yaniv Greenblatt, a barely 19 Israeli soldier stationed at one of the most dangerous such checkpoints along the West Bank. He would like to be a pacifist and struggles to be fair to the Palestinians, but has to contend with the prying eyes of his superiors. The problems Yaniv faces at home are no easier. His mother is a wheelchair bound hard-right-winger due to the same terrorist attack that killed her husband.The story centers on Yaniv’s relationship with his younger brother, Avi, who attends one of the few mixed Jewish-Arab schools in Israel, and builds towards an incident at the checkpoint that challenges all involved to reconsider their previous resolve.

    Awake (6 mins.)
    Director: Connie Lisogar-Cocchia
    Synopsis: Jason, a U.S. soldier returns from war trying to find happiness at home with his loving wife. While struggling with P.T.S.D., his memories begin to consume him. He realizes that he is no longer the man his wife deserves, and must make some of the most difficult decisions that he never thought he would face. While he reminisces on the life he used to have, he finally discovers his only solution. So ask yourself – Will You Finally Wake Up Before You Die?

    Implosion (8:34 mins.)
    Director: Hajji Golightly
    Synopsis: A soldier scarred by moral injury, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) searches for answers after he harms the person he loves most.

    Grape (29 mins.)
    Director: Daniel Stine
    Synopsis: Grieving winemaker Grayson Delecourt, pondering the sale of his family vineyard, receives an unwelcome overnight visitor on a bleak, wintry afternoon. He soon discovers that Tyler, the drunken, disheveled young man who stumbled into his tasting room faces life-altering decisions of his own, and over the course of an awkward evening, the two forge a tenuous common bond. When Grayson retires to bed, Tyler is left alone to wander the house and nearby winery. He soon encounters a host of a very different sort and is transported into a hauntingly beautiful midnight journey that will give him a glimpse into the past history of Delecourt Vineyards and a hint of what fate holds in store for him and the once-proud Virginia estate.

    Doctor Gutmans Eulogy (17:46 mins.)
    Director: Melanie Wainberg
    Synopsis: Ethan learns of his father’s unexpected last request: he must honor him by giving the eulogy. Growing up struggling to live up to the expectations of his stubborn father, Ethan now has one last chance to make his old man proud. Will he find the right words to send him off while dodging bad advice, match maker family members, and his own anxieties?

    The Painter (10 mins.)
    Director: Nate Townsend
    Synopsis: Obsessed by events that changed his life decades ago, an amateur artist finally returns to the farm where it all began. One man’s journey in search of redemption, closure, and peace.

    PM Animated Shorts

    The Lady in Number 6 (39 mins.)
    Director: Malcom Clarke
    Synopsis: The Lady In Number 6 is one of the most inspirational and uplifting stories of the year. 109 year old, Alice Herz Sommer, the world’s oldest pianist and Holocaust survivor shares her story on how to achieve a long and happy life. She discussed the importance of music, laughter and how to have an optimistic outlook on life.

    Life, Liberty and Resilience (44 mins.)
    Director: Steffan Tubbs
    Synopsis: An African-American WWII veteran and grandson of a slave re-traces his segregated roots and his U.S. Navy service on Iwo Jima. From poverty to war, pharmacy to interracial marriage, “Life, Liberty & Resilience” takes a look at how Joe LaNier, in his own words, is able to overcome life’s hurdles and lead an amazing, loving and forgiving life.

    “George of the Center” — World Premiere (1:21)
    Director: Brian Dorrington
    Synopsis: In the affecting documentary, “George of the Center,” director Brian Dorrington centers on a Billerica political activist who is steadfast about informing residents about an impending highway project that will dramatically alter the landscape of the town center. He is undeterred in his campaign to enlighten the unaware citizens to the irreversible effect upon Billerica’s core.

    “Siren” — East Coast Premiere (1:33)
    Director/Writer: Jesse Peyronel
    Starring: Vinessa Shaw, Robert Kazinsky
    Synopsis: SIREN is a dark love story about LEIGH, a girl with a unique curse: every man who meets her falls madly, uncontrollably in love with her. So she’s hidden herself away in the forest, living a life of solitude. Until one day, she meets GUY, the only man immune to her spell. Is this her first chance at true love? Or is he more dangerous than he seems?

    “Coldwater” — East Coast Premiere (1:39)
    Director: Vincent Shaw
    Starring: P.J. Boudousqué, James C. Burns, Chris Petrovski, Octavius J. Johnson
    Synopsis: Brad Lunders is a teenager forcefully abducted from his home in the middle of the night by his mother’s consent to a harsh wilderness reform facility. There is no contact with the outside world and the retired war colonel in charge prides himself on breaking an inmate’s spirit in order to correct delinquent behavior. As we learn of the tragic events that led to Brad’s arrival, unforeseen circumstances threaten to tear the already eroding reform facility apart, forcing Brad to confront not only his fellow inmates and the personnel in charge, but finally his own sense of what is right and what is wrong.

     

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  • Thriller “INNOCENCE” to World Premiere at 2013 Austin Film Festival | TRAILER

     Innocence

    “INNOCENCE,” a supernatural thriller set in a New York prep school will have its World Premiere at the 2013 Austin Film Festival.  The fim is described as a chilling allegory of the precarious state of the American teenager, and the film explore themes of loss, the human condition and a society torn between purity and narcissism.

    Haunted by nightmares about the death of her beloved mother who died in a Montauk surfing accident, 16-year-old Beckett (Sophie Curtis, “The English Teacher,” 2013) and her father, novelist Miles (Linus Roache, “Batman Begins,” 2005), move to Manhattan in an attempt to piece together their shattered lives. Now enrolled at the exclusive Hamilton Preparatory School, Beckett’s psychosis and hallucinations intensify with the dubious suicides of current and past students. Beckett falls in love with the handsome, caring Tobey (Graham Phillips, “Evan Almighty,” 2007) as she discovers that her new school may be run by a coven of beautiful and seductive women including school nurse Pamela (Kelly Reilly, “Me and Orson Wells,” 2008), psychiatrist Vera (Sarita Choudhury, “Lady in the Water,” 2006) and Tobey’s mother, Natalie, (Stephanie March, “Law & Order SVU”) who perpetuate their youth by drinking the blood of virgins.

    “INNOCENCE,” will screen at the State Theatre on Saturday, October 26th at 10:30 PM and on Wednesday, October 30th at 9:30PM at the IMAX Theatre at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.

    http://youtu.be/YWmbl_7VVYk

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  • Spanish Dark Comedy “LA NAVAJA DE DON JUAN” to World Premiere at 2013 Austin Film Festival | TRAILER

    LA NAVAJA DE DON JUAN

    The action-packed, Spanish-language dark comedy “LA NAVAJA DE DON JUAN” will World Premiere at the upcoming 2013 Austin Film Festival, with screenings at the Rollins Theater at the Long Center for Performing Arts on Sunday, October 27th at 7PM, and a second screening on Thursday, October 31st. “LA NAVAJA DE DON JUAN is described as a “Superbad”-meets-“Y Tu Mamá También”, coming-of-age story set in Lima, Peru follows two rivaling brothers who attempt to outwit their meddling Grandmother and several other obstacles in order to attend a house party, where the younger brother hopes the night will end with the loss of his virginity.

    After his womanizing older brother, MARIO (Rodrigo Viaggio, “Jarjacha 3”, 2007) wins the right to dance with the girl that younger brother WALTER (J.C. Montoya) hopes to lose his virginity to, Walter challenges his brother to another arm-wrestling battle, where he wins the coveted pocket knife of their deceased father. Together, the brothers set out across the barrios of Lima to reach an upper-class neighborhood to attend a house party. Unfortunately, the two must convince their GRANDMA (Irma Maury, “La Mar Estaba Serena”, 2001 and “Motor y Motivo”, 2009) to let them go to the party, which requires a white lie about a quinceañera and change of costume to leisure suits. Broke and targets for every thug, pimp and troublemaker that stands between them and the promise of a great night, the boys’ adventure contains fights with each other and with wealthy party-attendees, resulting in the best laid plans of the evening to quickly spiral out of control.

    Inspired by the family stories the film’s writer and director Tom Sanchez overheard from his father and uncle while growing up in Lima, “La Navaja de Don Juan” stars an all-Peruvian cast including J.C. Montoya, Rodrigo Viaggio, Nataniel Sánchez, Irma Maury and Antonio Arrué. The film explores themes of sibling rivalry, brotherhood and masculinity, as well as relationships between young Latino men and women, and marks Tom Sanchez’s directorial debut.

     http://youtu.be/gy3D_mjQNS0

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  • Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC, Unveils 2013 Schedule

    cucalorus film festival

    Cucalorus Film Festival taking place in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, from November 13 to 17, 2013, unveiled its full 2013 schedule of screenings, artistic interventions and parties. More than 200 features, docs and shorts will be presented as part of the Magnolia, Vanguard, Voices, Works-in-Progress, Midnight Madness and Shorts Programs. The festival opens on Wednesday with Dance-a-lorus, a growing program of performances, screenings and workshops exploring the intersection between dance and film. 

    Set in Florida but lensed in the Wilmington area late last year, Michael Maren’s directorial debut, A SHORT HISTORY OF DECAY, will have its Southern US Premier. The dark comedy had its World Premier last week at the Hamptons Film Festival. Former Wilmington resident Linda Lavin delivers a solid performance as a mother and wife struggling with the realities of Alzheimer’s.

    REDWOOD HIGHWAY, directed by Gary Lundgren (Calvin Marshall, CucFF 2009), features a beautiful performance from Shirley Knight, who plays a woman struggling with her increasing lack of independence in her later years. 

    Fresh from its World Premier at the Toronto Film Festival, Ingrid Veninger’s THE ANIMAL PROJECT, a charming ensemble comedy, will have its US Premier on Friday, November 15. Full of inspiring surf footage and a touching testimony to local surfing legend Jack Viorel, BOUND BY SEA (directed by Nate Daniel) will have its World Premier on Saturday, November 16.

    Foreign language Academy contenders BORGMAN (Netherlands) and BOY EATING THE BIRDS FOOD (Greece) join Scandinavian deep sea diving thriller PIONEER on the list of 31 international films. SXSW audience award winner SHORT TERM 12 returns to the festival (Director Destin Cretton’s short of the same title screened at Cucalorus in 2009). BLUE RUIN headlines the Midnight Madness program and charming comedy THE ZIGZAG KID fills the festival’s new slot for a Sunday afternoon family film (ages 11 and up).

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  • “AUTUMN BLOOD” “WALKING THE CAMINO” Win Top Awards at 2013 Hollywood Film Festival

    AUTUMN BLOOD directed by Markus BlunderAUTUMN BLOOD directed by Markus Blunder

     The 17th Hollywood Film Festival which ran from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20 in Hollywood. announced the award winners for the 2013 Festival.  The Narrative Award for Best Film went to Markus Blunder for AUTUMN BLOOD, and the Best Documentary Award went to Lydia Smith for WALKING THE CAMINO.  The Emerging Filmmaker Award was added this year to honor a local filmmaker in the inaugural “Celebrate Hollywood” section, films either shot in Hollywood or referencing show business. The prize went to Nathan Sutton for AUTUMN WANDERER.

    Awards were given out in the following categories:

    Narrative Award (for Best Narrative Feature)
    Winner: AUTUMN BLOOD directed by Markus Blunder (Austria)
    High in the mountains, a widowed mother dies, leaving her two children orphaned. Fearing being split up they keep their mother’s death a secret. They survive until villagers destroy their innocence when they brutally assault the girl. Now the siblings must come of age to protect each other and survive.

    Documentary Award (for Best Documentary Feature)
    Winner: WALKING THE CAMINO directed by Lydia Smith (Spain)
    Six determined strangers on a life-changing journey across Spain. Whatever their motivation, no one can predict just how their paths will unfold, what personal demons or angels they will face, or what transformations they will undergo by trail’s end.

    Short Film Award (for Best Short Film)
    Winner: THE BRIGHT SIDE directed by Sarah Wilson Thacker (U.S.)
    1940′s Hollywood glitz, glamour, and the promise of the American dream meets the harsh, gritty reality of a world at war in this musical romance, where Leonard Lewis, a young theatre performer, races against time and confusion to vie for the heart of the girl of his dreams – before it’s too late.

    Emerging Filmmaker Award (for nascent local filmmaker)
    The Emerging Filmmaker Award was added this year to honor a local filmmaker in the inaugural “Celebrate Hollywood” section, films either shot in Hollywood or referencing show business. The prize went to Nathan Sutton for AUTUMN WANDERER.
    Winner: AUTUMN WANDERER directed by Nathan Sutton (U.S.)
    While dealing with his father’s schizophrenia, and the very real possibility of it being passed down, Charlie meets the woman of his dreams.

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  • Puerto Rican Documentary THE GREAT FALLACY to Open in NYC on November 15 | TRAILER

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    LA GRAN FALACIA The Milking of the Puerto Rican Colony (THE GREAT FALLACY)

    THE GREAT FALLACY, The Milking of the Puerto Rican Colony, (LA GRAN FALACIA), a new film by Paco Vázquez will open at the Quad Cinema in NYC on Friday, November 15, 2013.  THE GREAT FALLACY is a documentary about the politics, economics and the social fabric of Puerto Rico today, especially as it relates to Law 7 and its impact on labor unions and the public sector.

    THE GREAT FALLACY exposes conflicts and abuses in the public and private economy and explores several possible solutions to inspire reconsideration of the relationship among welfare and wages, the national balance of payments, and the individual incentive to work. Although this film is aimed at Puerto Ricans living on the US mainland (more than 5 million), any audience can appreciate its relevance to the social upheavals in the world today. The film seeks to provide the Right with a critical rationalization for continued reconsideration of policy, and the Left with information, to broaden their perception of the structures of government spending. Economic stimulus, and economic and social independence.  

    http://youtu.be/cF6h7Hck5Gk

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  • BREASTMILK Documentary to Screen at 2013 DOC NYC | TRAILER

      documentary BREASTMILK directed/produced by Dana Ben-Ari and executive produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

    The new documentary BREASTMILK directed/produced by Dana Ben-Ari and executive produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, will screen at the 4th annual DOC NYC, the largest documentary festival in the U.S. BREASTMILK follows five New York City mothers from late pregnancy until their babies are a year old. Filmed in in a cinéma vérité style, the film is an intimate, frank exploration of the truth, sexuality, politics, and emotions surrounding modern breastfeeding.

    During DOC NYC, BREASTMILK will screen on Saturday, November 16 at 4:30pm at the School of Visual Arts Theatre in Chelsea (333 W. 23rd Street, NYC) with Q&A to follow with Dana Ben-Ari, Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein and Tuesday, November 19 at 11:30am at IFC Center in the West Village (323 6th Avenue) with a Q&A to follow with Dana Ben-Ari.

    BREASTMILK is the first film to explore the full range of the breastfeeding experience. With unexpected humor and an unflinching camera, first-time director Dana Ben-Ari documents the journeys of new parents, bringing to light their pain, their honest revelations, and a surprising amount of fun.  Many women today are wrestling with questions of their maternal and reproductive health and their roles in society as mothers and women. BREASTMILK speaks to those concerns in a direct, surprising way.

    The film is unrated with a running time of 90 minutes. It is produced by Aleph Pictures. Executive Producers are Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, the filmmakers behind the 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born.

    BREASTMILK is also hosting a limited number of community screenings in the US and Canada. Find or request a screening at www.breastmilkthemovie.com.

    http://youtu.be/0Zkq_Sr5NYQ

    via press release

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