• Hong Kong Cinema Festival in San Francisco to Feature US Premieres, Kung-Fu Tribute, Opens With “BENDS”

    BENDSA scene from Flora Lau’s BENDS, the Opening Night film at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

    The San Francisco Film Society will kick off its Fall Season with the third annual Hong Kong Cinema festival, October 4 to 6, 2013, at the Vogue Theatre (3290 Sacramento Street). Kicking off the festival is Opening Night film BENDS, the debut full-length production from Flora Lau that features a knockout lead performance from Carina Lau. HK icons appear throughout this year’s festival, including superstar Andy Lau (BLIND DETECTIVE), Chow Yun-fat (THE LAST TYCOON), Aaron Kwok (CONSPIRATORS) and Cantopop sensations Grasshopper and Softhard, subjects of the music documentary THE GREAT WAR. Kung-fu fans will delight in the big-screen presentation of THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, the universally celebrated martial arts classic that has inspired such luminaries as Quentin Tarantino and the Wu-Tang Clan. The 2013 edition includes an exciting tribute to Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang), the late master of kung-fu fight choreography responsible for many of the beloved genre’s most important works.

    BENDS    Opening Night Film
    Flora Lau (Hong Kong 2013)
    Featured in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, Flora Lau’s debut feature tells the dual story of a chauffeur trying to find a way for his wife on the mainland to give birth in Hong Kong and the wealthy woman he works for who is hiding the disappearance of her husband (and her money) from family and friends. With two terrific lead performances — particularly Carina Lau as the immaculately dressed and coiffed Anna Li, whose hauteur keeps her from opening up to anyone except her driver — and spectacular cinematography by Christopher Doyle, Bends depicts the desperation hidden underneath the glittering surfaces of modern Hong Kong. Written by Flora Lau. Cinematography by Christoper Doyle. With Carina Lau, Chen Kun. 92 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

    BLIND DETECTIVE    U.S. Premiere
    Johnnie To (Man tam, Hong Kong 2013)

    A scene from Johnnie To's BLIND DETECTIVE, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre

    A delirious mix of comedy, mystery and romance, Johnnie To’s brand-new film offers superstar Andy Lau as the titular protagonist, a rather hapless investigator with a singular skill — his handicap allows him to “visualize” the very particular details of a crime scene. When he teams up with an admiring and athletically adept female police inspector named Ho, they find that their respective skills complement one another perfectly. As they search for Ho’s childhood friend Minnie who disappeared 20 years prior and other cases crop up in the process, an increasingly romantic attraction grows between the two detectives. Written by Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi. Cinematography by Cheng Siu-keung. With Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng. 129 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Media Asia Film Distribution (HK).

    THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
    Lau Kar-leung (Shao Lin san shi liu fang, Hong Kong 1977)

    A scene from Lau Kar-leung's THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

    The recent death of martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang) warrants a tribute screening of this essential kung-fu film directed by Lau himself. Starring the filmmaker’s frequent collaborator Liu Chia-hui (aka Gordon Liu), the story involves a student at the Shaolin monastery who undertakes grueling martial arts training in order to wreak vengeance on the marauders who occupied his village. With astonishing fight choreography by director Lau, the film has influenced legions of artists including the Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino and was selected by Black Belt magazine as the third-best martial arts film of all time. Written by Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Arthur Wong. With Gordon Liu, Lieh Lo, Yang Yu, Wang Yu. 119 min. In Mandarin and Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

    THE LAST TYCOON
    Wong Jing (Da Shanghai, Hong Kong 2012)

    A scene from Wong Jing's THE LAST TYCOON, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.     

    Grand passions meet turbulent times in this sumptuous historical epic set predominantly in 1930s Shanghai. The film traces the rise of a rural-born fruit seller named Cheng Daqi (Chow Yun-fat in the later scenes) who becomes a powerful crime lord with constantly shifting allegiances. While Daqi’s story and his love for two different women is the main focus, The Last Tycoon also details the fraught relationship between China and Japan during this period, climaxing with the devastating Battle of Songhu. The film also features HK icon Sammo Hung in a memorable supporting role as a corrupt cop. Written by Wong Jing, Manfred Wong, Lui Koon-nam. Cinematography by Jason Kwan, Andrew Lau. With Chow Yun-fat, Monica Mok, Sammo Hung. 118 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

    THE GREAT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT
    Yan Yan Mak (Hong Kong 2013)

    A scene from Yan Yan Mak's documentary THE GREAT WAR, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

    If you missed the October 2012 showdown between Hong Kong superstar pop groups Grasshopper and Softhard, this entertaining documentary captures each members’ thoughts and feelings about the event, explores attendees’ obsessions and presents vivid onstage moments from the show. While Grasshopper is a fairly typical Cantopop group — led by the perfectionist Remus Choy — Softhard displays more of a hip-hop edge, incorporating political satire and ribald humor into their act. Featuring lengthy interviews with the five main band members interspersed with terrific live footage, it’s an entertaining look at the international phenomenon of the Hong Kong pop scene. Cinematography by Jam Yau, Harry Lee, Amos Wong, Stanley Tam, Noah Wong, Chun Wong. 85 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Dragonfly J.

    THE EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER
    Lau Kar-leung (Wu Lang ba gua gun, Hong Kong 1984)

    A scene from Lau Kar-leung's EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

    This kung-fu classic is one of the Shaw Brothers’ most spectacular presentations and features the same actor/director team as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Here, Gordon Liu’s character seeks to avenge the death of family members who are ambushed and slaughtered by Tartars in the remarkable opening sequence. Having escaped the attack, he retreats to a monastery where he must convince the abbot he is worthy of receiving training in special pole-fighting techniques. In a rousing climax, he puts his training to vivid use in order to rescue his sister who has been kidnapped by the same marauding Tartars. Written by Liu Chia-liang, Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Tsao An-shun. With Wang Yu, Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, Sheng Liu. 97 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

    A COMPLICATED STORY    International Premiere
    Kiwi Chow (Hong Kong 2013)

    A scene from Kiwi Chow's A COMPLICATED STORY, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.
     
    Yazi Liu is a young woman from mainland China studying in Hong Kong who takes a lucrative gig as a surrogate mother. She is kept in a private apartment with a personal assistant, and the identities of the parents are kept from her. But when her contract is abruptly terminated and identities are revealed on both sides, Liu is forced to make a series of life-altering decisions. Made by a crew comprised predominantly of students from the School of Film & Television and executive produced by Johnnie To and Bill Kong, A Complicated Story portrays issues of class and sexuality with texture and style. Written by Kei Shu, Kiwi Chow. Cinematography by Ying Zhang. With Jacky Cheung, Zhiying Zhu, Stephanie Che, Zi Yi. 108 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Edko Films.

    CONSPIRATORS    North American Premiere
    Oxide Pang (Tóngmóu, Hong Kong/China 2013)

    A scene from Oxide Pang's CONSPIRATORS, playing at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

    In this action-packed mystery/thriller, Malaysian-born Chan Tam (Aaron Kwok) returns to his native soil to track down the men who murdered his parents 30 years earlier. To help him navigate the treacherous underworld, he enlists local PI Zheng (Nick Cheung). As they uncover a dense web of nefarious behavior, both men’s familial histories come into play. The film’s several tense action sequences, including Tam’s remarkable escape from an office building and a speeding train are bolstered by Kwok and Cheung’s humorous rapport and the nifty international locales. Written by Ng Mang-cheung, Oxide Pang, Thomas Pang. Cinematography by Decha Srimantra. With Aaron Kwok, Nick Cheung, Yi Yan Jiang. 102 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Universe Films Distribution.

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  • Betti Page Documentary “BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL” Gets a November Release Date | TRAILER

    BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL

    Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mark Mori’s BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL will open in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on November 29, 2013 before expanding to additional markets.  BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL is described as an intimate look at one of the world’s most recognized sex symbols, featuring Bettie Page herself telling her story for the first time in her own words.  

    BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL

    In Mori’s documentary, the real Bettie Page emerges from the veil of myth and rumor via interviews Mori taped a decade prior to her death in 2008.  With earthy, razor sharp wit, Bettie tells her life story — from humble beginnings as one of six children born to an impoverished southern family, to high school salutatorian, to her career as a scandalous 50s pin-up model.  The film also uncovers previously unknown details about Bettie’s short-lived first marriage and many torrid affairs, told from both her and her lovers’ perspectives. We follow her story through her sudden retirement at the peak of her modeling career in 1957, and discover a strange tale of decades of broken marriages, born-again Christianity, and bouts of mental illness, before ultimately resurfacing in the public eye in the early 90’s, unaware of her cult status.

    With a stunning array of photographs, archival material and movie footage, BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL shows how Page’s unabashed sexual expression and provocative poses set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution and ushered in a modern era in fashion. The film definitively demonstrates why, for stars like Katy Perry and Beyonce, and for new generations of fans, Bettie remains an irresistible style icon.  Revealingly, Forbes in 2012 listed her as one of the top ten posthumous celebrity earners.

    http://youtu.be/12M1LnIGfWk  

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  • Honduran Film “GARIFUNA IN PERIL” at 8th Annual CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase | TRAILER

    Garifuna in Peril directed by Filmmakers Alí Allié and Ruben Reyes from Honduras 

    GARIFUNA IN PERIL directed by Filmmakers Alí Allié and Ruben Reyes from Honduras will be one of the highlights of the 8th Annual CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase, September 4 – 14, 2013.

    This film follows a Garifuna language teacher, Ricardo, who struggles to preserve his endangered Afro-Amerindian culture by building a language school back in his home village in Honduras, Central America. A business venture with his brother designed to raise money for the school’s construction becomes complicated by the expansion plans of a nearby tourist resort into indigenous territory. Historical parallels are invoked as Ricardo’s son rehearses a stage play about the Garifuna people’s last stand against British colonialism over 200 years ago in their motherland, the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean.

    GARIFUNA IN PERIL features strong debut performances by Garifuna actors from Honduras, Belize and the USA, and is the first dramatic feature film with a majority of its dialogue in Garifuna (a language proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity). The film examines family strife and the tensions between tradition and assimilation. These challenges, along with defending the integrity of ancestral lands from exploitative interests, are the focal point of the film’s message, highlighting realities not only for the Garifuna, but all indigenous peoples worldwide.

    The Garifuna are a mix of West African and Carib-Arawak Indian people who originated on the island of St. Vincent in the 17th Century, and are considered indigenous to the Americas. They were exiled from the island in 1797 by the British and now live in the coastal regions of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the United States.

     http://youtu.be/NQs5m9haasM

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  • New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday September 13

    indies0913

    We’re a few weeks away from the fall weekends when the major studios release their Oscar contenders (both expensive and indie in origin), so you ought to try and see a few more indie films coming out this weekend that might soon be overshadowed by movies with more “weight” behind them and expensive marketing campaigns.  Remember, though these films are being initially released this weekend they may not be in your area yet.  Check your local theater times and your VOD outlets of choice to see if you can view them now!

    PLUSH

    Plush, starring Emily Browning

    I think countless movies and real-life divorce proceedings have hammered home the idea that one shouldn’t marry a rock star who spends his or her life on the road.  Plush is about a young married musician (Emily Browning) who gets involved with her guitarist, only to find her life soon spinning out of control.  Unlike most indie films it hasn’t made the festival rounds (and critics haven’t seen it), so there’s no word on it just yet.

    http://youtu.be/6uYPx4VpT8o

     

    JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR

    JAYNE MANSFIELD'S CAR

    It’s hard to believe that Billy Bob Thornton hasn’t written directed a film since 2001’s Daddy and Them after he won an Oscar for adapted screenplay for 1996’s awesome Sling Blade.  Like Thornton’s previous films, Jayne Mansfield’s Car is a family drama set in the south. It is about a “blended family” who meets for the first time when their shared matriarch — who left her Alabama husband and family for an Englishman and started a second family — passes away.  It fits alongside the “Southern Gothic” genre of fiction writers like William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.

     

    BLUE CAPRICE

    BLUE CAPRICE

    Based on the horrifying 2002 Washington DC sniper attacks, Blue Caprice stars Isaiah Washington as gunman John Allen Muhammad who enlisted a young man to help him carrying out his murders.  Directed by first-time feature director Alexandre Moore, Blue Caprice premiered at Sundance and has received almost universally positive reviews from critics over the last few months.

     

    WADJDA

    WADJDA

    Though it’s already been released in most areas around the world, Wadjda is finally getting a limited U.S. release.  It’s an important film for many reasons — it’s the first feature film that was entirely shot in Saudi Arabia, and the first feature film written and directed by a female Saudi, Haifaa Al-Mansour.  Wadjda takes on the role of women in Saudi society when a young girl seeks to raise enough money to buy a bicycle — even though such ambition (and bike riding itself) by women is frowned upon in Saudi society.  This film is obviously a breakthrough in more ways than one.

     

    AND WHILE WE WERE HERE

    AND WHILE WE WERE HERE

    Though And While We Were Here premiered at last years’ Tribeca Film Festival, I didn’t get a chance to see it.  Written and directed by Kate Coiro (Life Happens), And While We Were Here stars Kate Bosworth (who we haven’t seen much since Superman Returns) as a writer who gets involved with a younger man (Jamie Blackley).  We’ve been getting a lot of those movies lately, right?  Anyway, it’s already available on VOD, but finally gets a theatrical release this weekend.

     

    CHAVEZ CAGE OF GLORY

    Chavez Cage of Glory

    Written, directed, and starring marital artist/actor Hector Echavarria, Chavez Cage of Glory is about a middle-aged martial artist who becomes an MMA fighter in order to pay his ailing son’s medical bills.  It’s hard not to compare it to Rocky, but Rocky didn’t have Danny Trejo in it, did it?  The film is only being released in Los Angeles-area theaters at first.

    Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:

    GMO OMG (Documentary)

    A STRANGE BRAND OF HAPPY

    HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION (Documentary)

    MOTHER OF GEORGE

    INFORMANT (Documentary)

    FOUR

    THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO

    SAMPLE THIS (Documentary)

     

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  • “A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM” to Close 2013 Adelaide Film Festival | TRAILER

    A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM

    The Australian Premiere of  director Mark Cousins’ documentary A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM will close this year’s Adelaide Film Festival. Cousins has put together what the festival has described as a richly complex picture of the various aspects of children as they exhibit defiance and doggedness, as they learn distinctions of class, and as they come to understand loneliness and loss.This year’s Adelaide Film Festival runs October 10 to 20, 2013.

     

    A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM is described as the world’s first movie about kids in global cinema. It’s a passionate, poetic portrait of the adventures of childhood – its surrealism, loneliness, fun, destructiveness and stroppiness – as seen through 53 great films from 25 countries.It includes classic movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Red Balloon, also dozens of masterpieces (many directed by women) that are almost unknown.It combines the child’s eye view of Mark Cousins’ acclaimed film The First Movie, with the revelations and bold movie history of his 15 hour documentary The Story of Film: An Odyssey.

    http://youtu.be/X9TPbJ1tZyE

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  • German Currents: Film Festival Los Angeles Lineup for October 4 – 7, Opens with MEASURING THE WORLD

    MEASURING THE WORLD (DIE VERMESSUNG DER WELT) MEASURING THE WORLD (DIE VERMESSUNG DER WELT)  

    German Currents: Festival of German Film is back for the seventh annual showcase at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. German Currents will present a varied selection of current German cinema; including features, documentaries, short films, as well as a family/youth film.  The festival will open with the US Premiere of MEASURING THE WORLD (DIE VERMESSUNG DER WELT) directed by Detlev Buck on Friday, October 4th, 2013, continuing through Monday, October 7th, 2013. 

    GALA OPENING NIGHT – US PREMIERE

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, AT 7:30 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    MEASURING THE WORLD (DIE VERMESSUNG DER WELT)
    Directed by Detlev Buck

    Two of the greatest minds of the 19th century, mathematician Carl Friederich Gauss (Florian David Fritz) and scientist Alexander von Humboldt (Albrecht Abraham Schuch), dedicate their studies to measuring and comprehending the world they live in.  Based on Daniel Kehlmann’s best-selling novel of the same name, this visually stunning epic is a playful re-imagining of the great men’s lives. Humboldt, a man with a passion for global exploration, is contrasted with Gauss, a man who experiences his world through mathematical theories and figures.  Humboldt, aided by his colleague,  Aimé Bonpland, travels the globe physically engaging the world he wishes to understand, applying modern, scientific thinking to comparatively unknown regions.  Though he remains in the same destitute community for much of his life, Gauss’ interior journey of mathematical discovery proves to be just as rich and visually stunning as Humboldt’s adventures in remote areas of the world.  Fact and fiction are mixed, often to humorous effect, to chronicle the findings of two very different men who nevertheless sought the same answers. MEASURING THE WORLD was nominated for two German Film Awards in 2013, and the film has won Best Costume Design and Best Make-up Design awards at the 2013 Austrian Film Awards.

    Germany / Austria (2012), 123 min. In German, French, Spanish with English Subtitles

     

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, AT 7:30 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE

    OH BOY
    Directed by Jan Ole Gerster

    Jan Ole Gerster’s wry and vibrant feature debut Oh Boy, which swept the 2013 German Film Awards, paints a day in the life of Niko, a twenty-something college dropout going nowhere fast. Niko lives for the moment as he drifts through the streets of Berlin, curiously observing everyone around him and oblivious to his growing status as an outsider. Then on one fateful day, through a series of absurdly amusing encounters, everything changes: his girlfriend rebuffs him, his father cuts off his allowance, and a strange psychiatrist dubiously confirms his ’emotional imbalance’.  Meanwhile, a former classmate insists she bears no hard feelings toward him for his grade-school taunts when she was “Roly Poly Julia,” but it becomes increasingly apparent that she has unfinished business with him. Unable to ignore the consequences of his passivity any longer, Niko finally concludes that he has to engage with life. Shot in timeless black and white and enriched with a snappy jazz soundtrack, this slacker dramedy is a love letter to Berlin and the Generation Y experience.

    In Person: Director Jan Ole Gerster
    Germany (2012), 85 min. In German with English subtitles 
    US Distributor: Music Box Films

      

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT 9:30 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE – L.A. PREMIERE

    BEERLAND
    Directed by Matt Sweetwood

    Matt Sweetwood hails from the Midwest. Though he has lived in Germany for over ten years, the people and their culture remain a mystery to him. He undertakes a last-ditch attempt to figure the place out: by exploring the heart of German culture, their beer. If he delves into their rites and rituals, explores all the contradictions and stereotypes, will that make him, finally, a part of them? The infinite variety of beers, breweries and beer fests, the age-old history of beer, is more overwhelming than the American ever imagined. The trail of his research leads him to places far off the beaten tourist path, light-years away from the Oktoberfest. He encounters people whose dialect he barely understands. Amazingly, he finds that a country as small a Germany is subdivided into a thousand different tongues and customs, with beer as the common thread.  He discovers a land full of oddities and contradictions. The Germans are deathly serious and silly at the same time, tradition-bound and weirdly visionary. Ultimately, he forms a real bond with them, finding friends where he least expected them.   

    In Person: Director Matt Sweetwood
    Germany (2012), 85 min. In German and English with English Subtitles

     

    KINDERMATINEE  

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 – 2:00 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN (DIE ABENTEUER DES HUCK FINN)
    Directed by Hermine Huntgeburth    

    A lively German language adaptation of Mark Twain’s classic satire.  Huck Finn, having found treasure with his best friend Tom Sawyer, is now chafing in the shoes and starched shirts that come with his new wealthy lifestyle. He’d like nothing more than to kick off his shoes and run wild along the river. He gets his chance when his drunken father (August Diehl) arrives and demands a share of Huck’s money. Huck decides to escape downriver and he brings along Jim, the house slave who has recently discovered that he will be handed over to a slave trader. The two travel the Mississippi River on a makeshift raft, hoping to outrun Huck’s violent father and find a place where Jim can be accepted as a free man. Twain’s timeless adventure is exuberantly brought to the screen in a film that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

    Germany (2012), 101 min. In German with English Subtitles

     

    FILM WORKSHOPS

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 – 1:00 – 1:50 PM & 4:00 – 4:50 PM

    Join the Echo Park Film Center for an afternoon of cinematic exploration and education with the EPFC “Filmcicle” in the courtyard of the Egyptian Theatre. The “Filmcicle” is a bicycle powered cinema and school on 3 wheels. Using traditional analog motion picture film we encourage audience members – young and old – to spend some time with us creating cinematic wonder.

     

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT 5:00 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE –  US PREMIERE

    GOLD
    Directed by Thomas Arslan; starring NIna Hoss

    Official selection (competition) at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival, GOLD is a Western about seven German immigrants who set out in search of gold in the backwoods of British Columbia during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. Each have their motives: an older couple seeking security, a father (Lars Rudolph) hoping to help his impoverished family, an unpleasant newspaperman (Uwe Bohm) chronicling the journey, and a mysterious packer (Marko Mandic) with a past to outrun. The last to join is Emily Mayer (Nina Hoss), a metropolitan woman whose delicate demeanor masks a steely determination to survive. Assembled by a deceptively confident businessman of questionable motives, the settlers must travel through a relatively uncharted stretch of Canadian wilderness to reach their goal, the gold fields of Dawson. As the path grows more treacherous, betrayals come to light and desperate choices are made. Following in the footsteps of McCabe and Mrs. Miller and Meek’s Cutoff, Gold is an epic that offers an unconventional take on the well-worn Western genre. 

    Germany (2013), 101 min. In German with English Subtitles

     

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, AT 7:00 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

    LAYLA FOURIE
    Directed by Pia Marais

    Winner of the Jury Special Mention at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival, LAYLA FROURIE is a film about Layla, who is a single mother living with her son in Johannesburg and getting by with casual work. After training as a polygraph operator she manages to secure a job with a company specialising in lie detectors and security. On her way to her new workplace she is involved in an accident which will fundamentally change her life. Layla becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit. The truth could lead to the loss of her son. 
For her third feature film Pia Marais – who has lived in Berlin for many years – returned to South Africa where she grew up to make this classic thriller. She uses the genre to take a look at a country which still bears the scars of apartheid. In this way, everyday life in South Africa enhances the tension in the screenplay which she co-wrote with Horst Markgraf. Almost casually, Layla Fourie develops into a political thriller which takes the audience into the paranoia, fear and mistrust of a society that is still profoundly affected by racial conflict.

    Germany (2013), 108 min. In English 

     

    MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 AT 7:30 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE – L.A. PREMIERE

    THE SHINE OF THE DAY (DER GLANZ DES TAGES)
    Directed by Tizza Covi & Rainer Frimmel

    Philip (Philip Hochmair) is is a young and successful actor working for the most important theatres in Vienna and Hamburg with a committed and single-minded approach to his craft. During a season in which he is busy with a production of Buchner’s Woyzeck, Philip is visited by the elderly Walter (Walter Saabel), who introduces himself as the uncle he’s never met. Walter is a former circus artist and the two men soon bond over stories of their careers. These two entertainers, both at different stages in their lives, learn from each other’s experiences. As his conversations with Walter grow more philosophical, Philip slowly emerges from his once isolated lifestyle.  He is even inspired to enlist Walter’s assistance in helping a Moldavian neighbor with an immigration issue. The actors, though not related, essentially play themselves and the largely improvised script was developed around their personal experiences. The result is a rare onscreen friendship that feels warm and sincere. Co-directors Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel draw on their documentary filmmaking background to create a naturalistic atmosphere in which these performances can flourish.  

    Austria (2012), 101 min. In German with English Subtitles

     

    MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 AT 9:15 PM EGYPTIAN THEATRE

    DOUBLE FEATURE

    MORE THAN HONEY
    Directed by Markus Imhoof

    Winner of multiple awards, including 2013 German Film Award (Lola) for Best Documentary film, MORE THAN HONEY, directed by Oscar-nominated director Markus Imhoof (THE BOAT IS FULL) tackles the vexing issue of why bees, worldwide, are facing extinction. With the tenacity of a man out to solve a world-class mystery, he investigates this global phenomenon, from California to Switzerland, China and Australia. Exquisite macro-photography of the bees (reminiscent of MICROCOSMOS) in flight and in their hives reveals a fascinating, complex world in crisis. Writes Eric Kohn in Indiewire: “Imhoof captures the breeding of queen bees in minute detail, ventures to a laboratory to witness a bee brainscan, and discovers the dangerous prospects of a hive facing the infection of mites. In this latter case, the camera’s magnifying power renders the infection in sci-fi terms, as if we’ve stumbled into a discarded scene from David Cronenberg’s THE FLY.” This is a strange and strangely moving film that raises questions of species survival in cosmic as well as apiary terms.

    Switzerland/Germany/Austria (2012), 90 min. In English and German w/English subtitles
    US Distributor: Kino Lorber  

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  • “DISTURBER OF THE PEACE” Documentary on Civil Rights Activist Malcolm Boyd at 2013 Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

    Reverend Canon Malcolm Boyd, and his husband, the writer, Mark Thompson in DISTURBER OF THE PEACE

    DISTURBER OF THE PEACE, a new (in progress) feature-length documentary on the remarkable life of Malcolm Boyd, directed by Andrew Thomas, will screen at this year’s Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The documentary film traces Malcolm Boyd’s life from Hollywood producer to Priest – targeted for violence as a Civil Rights activist – arrested for protesting the Vietnam War inside the halls of the Pentagon, and now a Gay Elder who stills rattles the sensibilities of church and state. 

    At ninety, the Reverend Canon Malcolm Boyd has seen a lot of history being made. Truth be told though, he’s made quite a bit of it himself! Born in 1923, Malcolm Boyd lived in Manhattan as a child, but through a series of events, he ended up in California as a young adult. In the 1940’s, he worked in Hollywood’s bustling motion picture and television industry, eventually partnering with the legendary Mary Pickford in the production company, PRB, Inc.

    In 1951, Boyd departed Hollywood and entered an Episcopal seminary, and in 1954, he was ordained. His early work in the American Civil Rights Movement, as a Freedom-Rider, and as a protester of the Vietnam War, earned him national attention. In 1965, Boyd published his first book, “Are You Running with Me, Jesus?” The book was a huge success, capturing world attention, selling more than one million copies, being translated into most languages including Chinese, and ultimately propelling Boyd into the national spotlight. In 1971, when LOOK magazine ran a cover story, entitled “Ten Prominent Americans Give You Their Personal Key to Peace of Mind,” Malcolm Boyd was included, and shared the cover with the likes of Duke Ellington, Walter Cronkite, Joan Baez, Bill Moyers, and Margaret Mead.

    In 1977, long before it was considered “acceptable,” Malcolm Boyd came out publicly, both as a gay man, and as a gay priest. He also immersed himself in the emerging LGBT Civil Rights movement, beginning thirty-five years as a defender of LGBT rights. His dedication to LGBT Civil Rights, and all the causes he has championed over the years, promptedSouth African Archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu to write of Boyd:  “He was ahead of his time, being a white civil rights prophet on behalf of people of color, protesting against tyranny and war, asserting God’s inclusivity for all people, including gays, and offering prayers in actions as well as words.” 

    Malcolm Boyd, and his partner, writer Mark Thompson, met more than thirty years ago, and, throughout that time, have worked diligently as LGBT activists, and as writers. Boyd has authored more than thirty books, edited six others, and currently writes for the Huffington Post. Thompson is the author of eight books on gay history and culture, including the internationally acclaimed trilogy Gay Spirit, Gay Soul and Gay Body. He started his writing career at The Advocate in 1975, where he worked the next two decades as a reporter, photographer and, eventually, as Senior Editor.

     Malcolm Boyd and Mark Thompson got married in Los Angeles earlier this year, shortly after Boyd’s 90th birthday.  

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  • Film “THE PRIME MINISTERS” – a look at six decades of Israel’s history – Gets US Release Dates | TRAILER

    The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers

    THE PRIME MINISTERS, a documentary film by Richard Trank,that looks at six decades of Israel’s history—from its founding until the early 21st century, will open at the Quad Cinema in NYC on Friday, October 18, and at The Royal in Los Angeles and Town Center in Encino on Wednesday, November 6. A national release will follow.

    THE PRIME MINISTERS, the thirteenth production of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s two-time Academy Award®-winning Moriah Films, is an epic film that looks at six decades of Israel’s history—from its founding until the early 21st century.

    Based on the bestselling book by Ambassador Yehuda Avner, the documentary takes the audience inside the offices of Israel’s Prime Ministers, bringing to life never before revealed stories about Levi Eshkol, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, and Shimon Peres.

    With Sandra Bullock as the voice of Golda Meir, Michael Douglas as the voice of Yitzhak Rabin, Christoph Waltz as the voice of Menachem Begin, and Leonard Nimoy as the voice of Levi Eshkol, THE PRIME MINISTERS brings some of the most important events of the 20th and 21st centuries to life.

    http://youtu.be/BhSO8N-kuwo 

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  • Sheffield Doc/Fest Sets 2014 Dates

    BLACKFISH director Gabriela Cowperthwaite on the Doc/Fest busBLACKFISH director Gabriela Cowperthwaite on the Doc/Fest bus

    Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014 will be a SIX day festival, kicking off on Saturday 7 June with a Special Gala Opening Night, followed by five packed days of sessions, screenings, marketplace and networking receptions, right through until Thursday 12 June, 2014.

    image via Blackfish the Film

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  • 8th Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival to Screen Nearly 100 Films

    8th annual Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival (PFAF) from September 27th-29th at the International House Philadelphia’s Ibrahim Theater

    The 8th annual Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival (PFAF) will be held from September 27th-29th, 2013, at the International House Philadelphia’s Ibrahim Theater at 3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia and various venues throughout  University City. This year’s festival is expected to screen nearly 100 short & feature length films, including several World and U.S. Premieres. Last year, PFAF welcomed to Philadelphia over 2,000 filmmakers and attendees from as far as Denmark and Colombia.

    Beyond the screenings, this year’s PFAF continues to host educational workshops on everything from screenwriting to film funding, and from finding representation to working with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Other events include nightly parties, including Friday Fright Night, a pre-Halloween celebration of costumes and effects makeup, along with the red-carpet Awards Show on Sunday, September 29th. PFAF also acts as the World Premiere for the 24 entries to this year’s 21-Day Filmmaking Competition, which this year features filmmaking Teams from around the country and as far as Hong Kong.

    2013 Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival Official Selections 

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  • THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE To Close BET Urbanworld Film Festival; Larenz Tate to Serve as Fest Ambassador

    Jennifer Hudson as "Gloria," the troubled mother of son Mister (Skylan Brooks)Jennifer Hudson as “Gloria,” the troubled mother of son Mister (Skylan Brooks) in THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE

    Actor Larenz Tate – star of the BET original movie GUN HILL – will serve as festival ambassador for the upcoming 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival presented by BET Networks, which runs September 18 to 22, 2013 at midtown Manhattan’s AMC 34th Street. George Tillman’s THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE will be the official Closing Night Film on September 21, 2013.

    Known for iconic performances in Love Jones, Menace II Society, Dead Presidents and Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Tate will attend the Gun Hill screening on Friday,September 20 at 8:00pm. Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, the film centers around a pair of identical twins on opposite sides of life: Trane, a cop, and Bird, a con (both played by Tate). On one fateful night, Trane is killed. Bird assumes his identity and begins his own search for redemption.

    “I’m honored to not only have my new BET project, ‘Gun Hill,’ premiering here, but to also be festival ambassador of this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival,” said Tate. “This festival is a celebration of multicultural art and its diverse and innovative contributors. I look forward to working with the Urbanworld team and enjoying some great films!”

    Directed by Tillman and written by Michael Starrbury, the festival’s Closing Night Film THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE stars Skylan Brooks, Ethan Dizon, Jordin Sparks, Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Jeffrey Wright, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Mackie and Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Jennifer Hudson. Jana Edelbaum, Rachel Cohen, and Bob Teitel produced the film with Alicia Keys, Susan Lewis, Clay Floren, Aimee Shieh, Julio Depietro, Keith Kjarval, Mary Vernieu, and Amy Nauiokas executive producing.

    THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE is a beautifully observed and tremendously moving film about salvation through friendship and the way transformation sometimes can happen just by holding on long enough. During a sweltering summer in New York City, 13-year-old Mister’s (Skylan Brooks) hard-living mother (Jennifer Hudson) is apprehended by the police, leaving the boy and nine-year-old Pete (Ethan Dizon) alone to forage for food while dodging child protective services and the destructive scenarios of the Brooklyn projects. Faced with more than any child can be expected to bear, the resourceful Mister nevertheless feels he is an unstoppable force against seemingly unmovable obstacles. But what really keeps the pair in the survival game is much more Mister’s vulnerability than his larger-than-life attitude. 

    Urbanworld also announced the official jurors for this year’s festival, award category sponsors and prizes.

    NARRATIVE FEATURES JURORS

  • Dori Begley – Senior Vice President, Magnolia Pictures
  • Nikkole Denson-Randolph – Vice President – Specialty & Alternative Content, AMC Theatres
  • Zola B. Mashariki – Senior Vice President, Production, Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • Valerie Meraz – Vice President, Program Acquisitions, Turner Entertainment Networks
  •  Maria Zuckerman – Vice President, HBO Films

    • NARRATIVE SHORTS JURORS

  • Andre Des Rochers – Partner, Gray Krauss Stratford Des Rochers LLP
  • Kelly Edwards – VP, Talent Development, HBO
  • Smokey D. Fontaine – Chief Content & Creative Officer, Interactive One
  • Niija Kuykendall – Vice President, Production Warner Bros. Pictures
  • Frida Torresblanco – Award Winning Producer

    • DOCUMENTARY FEATURES JURORS

  • Jacqueline Glover – Vice President, Documentary Films, HBO
  • Shola Lynch – Award-Winning Filmmaker
  • Tricia Rose – Professor of Africana Studies, Brown University

    • SCREENPLAY JURORS

  • Scott Budnick – President, Green Hat Films
  • Franklin Leonard – Founder, The Black List
  • Christopher Mack – Vice President, Warner Bros. Television Workshop, Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • Constance Orlando – Vice President, Original Programming, BET Networks
  • Heather Morris Washington – Manager, Emerging Writers Fellowship Program, Universal Pictures

    • TELEPLAY JURORS

  • Roger Bobb – President & CEO, Bobbcat Films
  • Nkechi Okoro Carroll – Writer
  • Erica Montolfo-Bura – Executive Producer

    • FESTIVAL PRIZES

  • Best Narrative Feature – Presented by Fox Audience Strategy – $5,000 Cash Prize
  • Best Documentary Feature
  • Best Narrative Short – Presented by HBO – $5,000 Cash Prize
  • Best Screenplay – Presented by BET Networks – $5,000 Cash Prize
  • Best Teleplay – Presented by BET Networks – $5,000 Cash Prize
  • Audience Awards for Best Feature & Best Short 

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  • Final Schedule Released for 2013 Buffalo Intl Film Fest; incl. “WHEN DERIN FALLS” “BRANDONWOOD”

     WHEN DERIN FALLSWHEN DERIN FALLS

    The Buffalo International Film Festival announced the schedule of events for the upcoming 7th annual film festival scheduled to take place October 3rd to 6th, 2013. The festival lineup includes the North American Premiere of “WHEN DERIN FALLS,” as well as numerous Western New York Premieres of Documentaries, Feature Films and short subjects. Local highlights include screenings of two feature films one, “BRANDONWOOD,” a World Premiere, and other shorts and documentaries filmed in Buffalo, N.Y. There is a four-film tribute to the Mexican star María Félix, and special guest appearances from eight of the filmmakers whose work is featured in this year’s festival, including Charlene Amoia, a recurring character on “How I Met Your Mother.”

    September 20, 2013 is a special tribute to Buffalo Curtain Up!
    The Buffalo Film Festival proper runs from October 3-6, 2013

    BUFFALO CURTAIN UP! TRIBUTE

    Fri, Sept. 20, 8 p.m-10:30 p.m. – Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” – Celebrating Buffalo Curtain Up! is a HD video of the New York Philharmonic production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” starring Stephen Colbert.  Directed by Lonny Price and written by George Furth, the story follows five couples and their friend Robert (Neil Patrick Harris), the perpetual bachelor, as they explore the true meaning of being in a relationship through a series of vignettes. Winner of the 1971 Tony Award for Best Musical, Harris leads an all-star cast which includes Patti LuPone, Martha Plimpton, and, of course, Stephen Colbert. The screening is preceded by a catered dinner supplied by My Tomato Pie

     

    October 3, 2013  Buffalo Film Festival Begins.

    Thurs. Oct 3, 7 p.m-9 p.m.- OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION and SCREENING:  “Les aventures extraordinaires d’Adèle Blanc-Sec (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec)” – Westqern New York Premiere — The opening night film and party features a live-action adventure set in the early part of the 20th century focused on a popular novelist and her dealings with would-be suitors, the cops, monsters, and other distractions.  Written and directed by Luc Besson from classic comic books written by Jacques Tardi. In French with English sub-titles. Pre-screening reception is catered by Coco’s French Restaurant.

    Thurs., Oct 3, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. – “Aayna Ka Bayna”  – Western New York premiere of the fabulous Indian dance musical directed by Samit Kakkad. In English and Marathi with English Subtitles

    Thurs., Oct 3, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – Free screening of “La Bandida (The Bandit)”- A tribute to María Félix, the leading lady of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.  Directed by Roberto Rodriguez, “La Bandida” is a melodrama representing the last vestiges of Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema. The free screening is hosted by Casa de Arte, located at 141 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo N.Y. 14201. In Color. In Spanish with English Subtitles

     

    Friday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m-6 p.m – “Made in Buffalo Shorts” – A collection of short films created in Buffalo, N.Y. directed by Chris Walczyk and Jerry Theresanathan, Schott Mawhiney, Jerry Thres, Christian de Rezendes, Christian de Rezendes, John M. Scherer, Brianna Blank, Katie Egan, and Darren Canham. 

    Fri, Oct. 4, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. –“La Cucaracha (The Cockroach)” – The second film in the festival’s tribute to María Félix.  A 1959 drama about the Mexican revolution is directed, produced and written by Ismael Rodriguez.  An opening reception begins at 6 p.m. with the free screening to follow at 7 p.m. at Casa de Arte. In Spanish with English subtitles.

    Fri Oct 4, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. – “Persistence of Vision” – The Western New York premiere  Directed by Kevin Schreck. A gripping documentary about the visionary animator Richard Williams (‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’) and the untold story of the greatest animated film never made: The Thief and the Cobbler (which will be shown, restored, on Saturday, October 5 at 4PM).

    Fri Oct 4, 9 pm-10:45 pm – “Brandonwood” – World Premiere of a romantic thriller filmed in Buffalo, N.Y. following four years in the lives of a young couple, from the reckless highs of new love to the lows of circumstances they cannot change. The film is produced, written, directed, a by John Fink with Tilke Wood serving as co-producer. The director will be present for a question and answer session after the screening, followed by a Cast & Crew Party. Accompanied by a witty Made in Buffalo Short, “Captive,” directed by Chris Walczyk and Jerry Theresanathan.

     

    Sat., Oct 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – “Comfort Zone – A WNY Climate Change Documentary” –  Western New York Premiere — “Comfort Zone” brings the global issue of climate change to a local and personal level in Upstate New York asking what does climate change mean in a place where it’s not an obvious threat, where people might like it to be a little warmer? The documentary is produced by Kate Kressmann-Kehoe, Sean Donnelly, and Dave Danesh.   The UK animated short, “Jamón” and a short film (by Buffalo Film Makers), “Broken Wings” which follows reporter Cliff Collins as he meets and interviews his childhood hero, The Sparrow, accompany this screening. 

    Sat., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. – “The Long Bike Back” – Western New York Premiere Directed by Buffalo native Julia Wrona, this documentary follows Pearson Constantino on his quest to bike across America advocating for improved bicycle infrastructure, legislation and road sharing.  His journey is all the more inspiring because it is attempted after a devastating accident which, despite wearing a helmet, left Pearson with serious and permanent injuries. Wrona will be present after the screening for a question and answer session. The short film “She” will precede the feature introduced in-person by Buffalo actress Charlene Amoia who appears on “How I Met Your Mother.”

    Sat., Oct. 5, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. – “Prestidigitation for Kids: Magic Camp” – A Western New York premiere documentary directed by Emmy-nominated Judd Ehlrich, takes audiences on a journey to the real-life Hogwarts: Tannen’s Magic Camp, the oldest and most prestigious training ground for young magicians. In honor of Buffalo Gene Gordon Magic Ring 12.

    Sat., Oct. 5, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. – “The Thief and the Cobbler – Recobbled” – New York State Premiere. The original 1993 film was directed by three-time Academy Award nominated Richard Williams and written by Williams and Margaret French with such familiar actors such as Vincent Price, Sean Connery, and Hilary Pritchard lending their voices to the cast of characters. Garrett Gilchrist, an independent film-maker with a passion for animation, has spent many years attempting to rebuild the original director’s cut of one of animation’s greatest might-have-been epic films. Mr. Gilchrist will be present in-person for a Q&A with the audience. The short film “She” will precede the feature introduced in-person by Buffalo actress Charlene Amoia who appears on “How I Met Your Mother.”

    Sat., Oct. 5-6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – “El Rapto”– Another free screening paying tribute to María Félix hosted by the festival’s friends at Casa de Arte, The 1964 dramatic film directed by Emilio “El Indio” Fernández  stars Félix as the tenacious beauty Aurora who seduces the municipal authorities so that she can purchase the estate of missing local named Ricardo played by Jorge Negrete.  Her elaborate ruse is complicated when Ricardo eventually returns home. In Spanish with English Subtitles.

    Sat., Oct. 5, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. – “Red Light Revolution” – Western New York Premiere – A witty, laugh-out-loud, adults-only comedy from Beijing, China, directed by Sam Voutas, focuses on an unlucky man who opens an adult shop to make ends meet, sparking a sexual revolution in his conservative neighborhood. In Mandarin Chinese with English Subtitles.

    Sat., Oct. 5, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. – “Buffalo Boys” – Western New York Premiere Filmed in Western New York and inspired by a true story, this feature film tells the story of Ian, a 15-year-old entangled in family secrets, drugs, love, friendship and a plot to murder a 67 year-old woman. Co-written by Raymond Guarnieri and Elana Lott and directed by Guarnieri who will also be on hand for a question and answer session after the screening. Followed by Cast and Crew Party. The screening is nearly sold out.

     

    Sun., Oct. 6, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – “When Derin Falls” – Written and directed Çagatay Tosun, audiences will play witness to the unchild-like world of 7-year-old Derin after the loss of her mother. This is the North American Premiere of this fine Turkish drama. In Turkish with English Subtitles.  This screening is accompanied by the short film, “Riddle of the Black Cat,” an animated short based on the tales of Edgar Alan Poe. 

    Sun., Oct. 6, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m – “Dear Mr. Watterson” –  Western New York Premiere. A documentary directed by Joel Allen Schroeder explores the world of the famous Sunday comic strip, “Calvin & Hobbes” and its creator Bill Watterson.

    Sun., Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – “Made in Buffalo Documentaries” –

    Directed by Diedie Weng, “Ming Day and Night” details chef, artist, and Buffalo-resident Sam Lam and how his career and passion for art has impacted his life. Filmmaker and star will be present for Q&A.

    “East Side: A Community of Hope,” produced by Erik Taheri and Rich Lunghino, examines faith-based initiatives being undertaken to revitalize the once-thriving neighborhood of Buffalo. Filmakers will be present for Q&A

    “Where the Crow Will Be Forever,” is produced by Keith R. Burich, Ph.D., Ashley Fike, and Lauren Mosier and explores the history of the Crow tribe, life on the reservation and why the Crow have chosen to stay. 

    Sun., Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – “Long Live TOY: Defending Children’s Theater in the Nickel City” – Closing Night Film & Awards Announcements –  Western New York Premiere —  A documentary film profiling the Theatre of Youth children’s theater company located in Buffalo, N.Y. during their 40thseason.  The devoted artistic members attempt to stay focused on producing innovative and artistically exciting children theater against the backdrop of unforeseen local county funding cuts.  Buffalo-born director Mary Beth Murray and her husband Austin Mcloughlin will be present for a question and answer session after the film screening.  The short film, “She,” about a how a dog changes a woman’s life, stars Buffalo-born actress Charlene Amoia will accompany the screening which is about how a rescue dog changed a woman’s life.  Well-known actress Amoia will also be live, in-person, to speak with the audience after the screening.  This screening will be held at the Allendale Theater, located at 203 Allen St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14201. Special reception catered by Quaker Bonnet Eatery.

    Sun., Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – “Harlem Street Singer” – Western New York Premiere A documentary illuminating the little-known story of Reverend Gary Davis, the great American ragtime, blues and gospel guitarist.  Directed by Simeon Hutner & Trevor Laurence, the film traces the blind master guitarist’s journey from the tobacco warehouses of the rural south to the streets of Harlem and onto the 1960s folk music scene. 

    Sun., Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – “Doña Barbara” – The final free screening paying tribute to María Félix hosted by Casa de Arte, located at 141 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14201.  The 1943 Mexican drama stars Félix as a young woman who is raped and her would-be lover killed by a group of brutal seamen.  She settles on the arid plains as a cattle trader, ruthlessly building an empire out of violence and cold-hearted determination.  However, when a wealthy lawyer, played by Julián Soler, arrives to sell his family’s ranch, her hatred towards men and him wane, but she must compete for his attraction with her own daughter. In Spanish with English Subtitles

     

     

    SPECIAL POST-FESTIVAL EVENT

    Sun., Oct. 27, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. – “Fourth Annual House on Haunted Hill with EMERGO! and SPOOK SHOW: Frankenstein’s Monster LIVE in Person!” –Do you dare to attend this terrifying screening at the haunted 19th Century Lancaster Opera House? The sell-out success of the 2010 Buffalo Film Society Classic Film Series returns for a fourth year recreating William Castle’s original theatrical release including EMERGO! The amazing new wonder where ghosts fly right into the audience! The Lancaster Opera House is located at 21 Central Ave., Lancaster, N.Y. 14086.

     

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