• 2013 Savannah Film Festival Runs Oct 26 to Nov 2; HANK AND ASHA, THE PRETTY ONE Among Lineup

    HANK AND ASHAHANK AND ASHA

    The 2013 Savannah Film Festival, presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design, kicked off in downtown Savannah, Georgia on Saturday night, and runs October 26 to November 2, 2013. The 16th edition of the festival features more than 50 competition films, selected from more than 800 entries in the categories of feature, short, animation, documentary and student competition. Films on the lineup include HANK AND ASHA, THE PRETTY ONE and documentaries BROTHERS HYPNOTIC and DEAR MR. WATTERSON.

    The 2013 Savannah Film Festival competition films include:

    Narrative features

    Hank and Asha (USA)
    In this modern love story, an Indian woman studying in Prague and a lonely New Yorker begin an unconventional video correspondence—two strangers searching for human connection in a hyper-connected world.

    Home:______ (USA)
    “Home:______” is the story of a man, recovering from mental illness, who tries to rebuild his life and reconnect with his estranged son by moving out of a group home and into an apartment of his own.

    Jack Irish: Bad Debts (Australia)
    A phone message from ex-client Danny McKillop doesn’t ring any bells for Jack Irish (Guy Pierce). Life is hard enough without having to dredge up old problems: his beloved football team has moved interstate; the odds on his latest plunge at the track seem far too long; and he’s still cooking for one. But when Danny turns up dead, Jack has to take a walk back into a dark and dangerous past.

    The Pretty One (USA)
    When a woman’s (Zoe Kazan) prettier identical twin sister dies, the woman assumes her sister’s identity, moves to the big city and into her apartment.

    Documentary films

    Brothers Hypnotic (USA and the Netherlands)
    For the eight young men in the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, brotherhood is literal: they’re all sons of anti-establishment Chicago jazz musician Phil Cohran. Raised together on Chicago’s South Side as subjects of their father’s utopian family experiment, they wore homemade clothes, followed a vegan diet and awoke at 5 a.m. for family band practice. Now grown, as they raise eight brass bells to the sky—while playing for quarters in Times Square, collaborating with Mos Def or wowing a jazz festival—they find the values their father bred into them constantly tested. They must decide whether their father’s principles really are their own. “Brothers Hypnotic” is a coming-of-age story, for eight brothers, and for an ideal.

    Dear Mr. Watterson (USA)
    “Dear Mr. Watterson” is not a quest to find Bill Watterson or to invade his privacy. It is an exploration to discover why his simple comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” made such an impact on so many readers, and why it still means so much to us today.

    Mayan Blue (USA)
    “Mayan Blue” documents the recent discovery of an ancient Mayan site beneath the waters of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Through the investigation of the 2,000-year-old city of Samabaj, the film explores the Mayan view of the cosmos and their ancient mythologies. The findings reveal a catastrophe the likes of which the Maya could never have imagined, reshaping everything they believed about the Earth and the origins of their underworld.

    Money for Nothing: Inside the Federal Reserve (USA and Canada)
    Nearly 100 years after its creation, the power of the U.S. Federal Reserve has never been greater. Markets and governments around the world hold their breath in anticipation of the Fed chairman’s every word. Yet the average person knows very little about the most powerful, and least understood, financial institution on Earth. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, “Money For Nothing” is the first film to take viewers inside the Fed and reveal the impact of Fed policies, past, present and future, on our lives. Join current and former Fed officials as they debate the critics, and each other, about the decisions that helped lead the global financial system to the brink of collapse in 2008, and why we might be headed there again.

    Professional shorts

    AB- (USA)
    Stuck and injured on a remote road in the dead of winter—who will come to save you?

    Care (USA)
    Drea, a 20-something woman living in Brooklyn, struggles to make progress in her own life while being the sole caregiver for her father, who has Alzheimer’s disease.

    The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars (Il Turno di Notte lo Fanno le Stelle) (Italy)
    This is a story about a man and a woman. He is alone. She is married. They are both mountaineers, both survivors of cardiac operations. He has in his chest the heart of a young woman. She has a surgically replaced mitral valve. A fate and a promise unite them. A short story where the rhythm of the heartbeat accelerates to find, at the end, a steady pace.

    Palimpsest (USA)
    “Palimpsest” is a short film about the subtle forces at play in relationships and the tangible remnants of memory. Peter, a successful house tuner in New York City, meets Ellen while consulting in her apartment. As a house tuner, Peter offers his clients a unique form of therapy that examines minute details in living spaces that sometimes reveal more about a person’s past than they intended.

    Setup, Punch (USA)
    Showing that there is always a reason to laugh, stand-up comic Reuben Stein (Elijah Wood) does the most daring set of his life.

    Walking the Dogs (UK)
    A Buckingham Palace guard attending to Queen Elizabeth’s (Emma Thompson) room takes her dogs for a walk. While he’s away, an intruder breaks in for a chat with the monarch.

    Wild Horses (USA)
    In this story, that spans one day, cruelty, courage, love and memory collide as two generations of women bear witness to the brutality common in wild horse roundups in the American West.

    Who Shot Rock & Roll: The Film (USA)
    This documentary short explores the groundbreaking collaborations between photographers and recording artists who came together to create some of the most enduring images in rock history. From the early 1950s through the present, “Who Shot Rock & Roll” tells the stories behind the photos and takes viewers on a visual journey through the many eras of rock and roll. Powerful imagery and insightful commentary give viewers a unique glimpse into photography’s impact on the ever-changing, but everlasting, culture of rock and roll.

    Professional animation shorts

    Fear of Flying (Ireland)
    A small bird with a fear of flying tries to avoid heading south for the winter. When a harsh winter rolls around he must face his fears in order to survive.

    Irish Folk Furniture (Ireland)
    “Irish Folk Furniture” is an animated documentary about repair and recycling in rural Ireland. In Ireland, old, hand-painted furniture is often associated with hard times, with poverty, and with a time many would rather forget. Because of this association, much of the country’s furniture heritage lies rotting in barns and sheds. In the making of this film, 16 pieces of abandoned folk furniture were restored and returned back into daily use. This film was shot in a green and environmentally friendly way, using local craftspeople, local narrators and inexpensive secondhand equipment. Only natural light was used to shoot this film.

    Love in the Time of Advertising (USA)
    “Love in the Time of Advertising” is about a young man living inside a billboard, charged with updating the advertisements. When a tear in the sign reveals a beautiful young lady living across the highway, he falls instantly in love. Unable to leave his billboard home to tell her how he feels, he decides to use the only method he knows in order to get his message across–advertising.

    The Missing Scarf (Ireland)
    Albert the squirrel makes a startling discovery—an empty space that his favorite scarf once occupied. He heads off into the forest only to find everyone else is preoccupied with worries of their own. He helps who he can before moving on but never seems to get any closer to his goal. Ultimately, Albert’s problem is put in perspective by the friends he helped and the problems they faced and overcame together. Narrated by George Takei.

    Mr. Hublot (France and Luxembourg)
    Mr. Hublot is a withdrawn, idiosyncratic character with obsessive-compulsive disorder, scared of change and the outside world. Robot Pet’s arrival turns his life upside down when he is forced to share his home with this very invasive companion.

    The Rose of Turaida (Australia)
    Based on a true story and set in 17th-century Latvia, “The Rose of Turaida” tells of the tragedy of a beautiful young woman who makes the ultimate sacrifice for love and honor.

    Sci-Fly (USA)
    “Sci-Fly” is a journey through time and space and the fight for existence, with a dark premise contrasted with the divine imaginary, creating a hypnotic ride of tone and emotion. Only in-camera effects were used to capture “Sci-Fly.” The wonders of our own world were filmed in order to create another. Capturing visual effects in-camera is starting to become an afterthought. The main goal of “Sci-Fly” was to create a journey solely on experimenting with new techniques that we had never done before. Those new methods would shift the storytelling arch. “Sci-Fly” evolved organically, just like the effects created.

    Student narrative shorts

    Dirt (SCAD)
    After a boy promises to whisk her away to paradise, “Dirt” tries to escape her dilapidated neighborhood and overcome her greatest adversary—her mother.

    The Empty Room
    Isolated and extremely uncomfortable at a dinner party, Allen escapes into a room where he has a life-changing conversation with a girl he’s never met before.

    Justice Denied (SCAD)
    On April 18, 2006, Howell Woltz and his wife are arrested outside their North Carolina home on charges of which they had never heard, for a crime that didn’t exist. Howell is left with no other option but to fight a corrupt system from behind bars while struggling to keep his family intact. Upon examining other inmates’ cases, he is shocked to find he is not the only one facing injustice.

    Mo Chara (SCAD)
    Regardless of history, religion or what their parents say, Sean and David become friends.

    Pretty (Columbia University)
    When the intrusive and controlling nature of small-town living promises a life of confinement, Mary sets an intricate plan in motion to escape with Will, her childhood sweetheart. She just needs to get through one last day.

    Six Letter Word (American Film Institute)
    Down on her luck, Zoe (Rumer Willis) turns tricks to support herself and her bright, odd son Jax, but wants a better life for him. Her estranged mother agrees to pay for Jax to go to a private school, where an unexpected encounter with one of her johns gradually helps Zoe realize Jax has autism and needs much more than she alone can give him.

    Skin (Columbia University) 

    “Skin” is the story of a child taxidermist, an outsider in his small town. He is entranced by a girl who finds his work beautiful. But just as their relationship begins to progress, he does something that drastically changes everything.

    Unorthodox (University of Southern California)
    When Yankel’s older brother runs away from home after a bitter fight with his father, Yankel decides to strike back. He learns in school that fathers are punished for their children’s sins before their Bar Mitzvahs, so Yankel decides to test his faith for the first time in order to teach his father a lesson.

    Valiant (SCAD)
    After dropping into Normandy on D-Day, one young lieutenant learns the true meaning of leadership and discovers the importance of passing on a legacy of valiance for generations to come.

    Student animation shorts

    Balloon Cat (SCAD)
    A cat floats helplessly through space, tethered to balloons, as his life flashes before his eyes.

    
Baxter (SCAD)
    Baxter the raccoon makes his way into Granny’s Sweet Shop, but once inside, he becomes obsessed with the candy and he creates his own downfall.

    Chicken or the Egg (Ringling College of Art and Design)
    This is a story about a pig addicted to eating eggs, but when he falls in love with a chicken, he must decide what comes first, chicken or the egg.

    The Collector’s Gift (University of Southern California)
    “The Collector’s Gift” is a modern-day fairy tale about a young girl who discovers the key to creating a new world.

    The Final Straw (Ringling College of Art and Design)
    A scarecrow gets more than he bargains for when a stubborn crow invades his farmland.

    The Observer (SCAD)
    “The Observer” is a loose narrative that explores the continuum between inner doubt and self-acceptance.
    
Runaway (Ringling College of Art and Design)
    “Runaway” is a charming story following the unfortunate misunderstanding between Stanley and his lovable and treasured 1950s refrigerator, Chillie. Set in the present day, a sad event sends Chillie into a whirlwind of emotional turmoil, and as a result, he runs away. Over the course of events, this story shows how a small assumption can cause big problems, yet the bond of friendship cannot be broken.

    New categories

    The Savannah Film Festival has added two new competition shorts blocks for everyone’s enjoyment: Historical Shorts and SuperShorts! Historical shorts pay tribute to the extra time and production design that setting a film in a different period entails. SuperShorts! showcases the challenge of creating and telling complete stories, in under six minutes.

    Historical shorts

    Until The Dust Settles (USA)
    A father and his two sons reconnect while traveling through the heart of the American Dust Bowl in 1932.

    Menschen (USA)
    During the last week of WWII, an Austrian captain takes a developmentally disabled boy under his wing and brings the loyalty of his men to the test.

    The Station Master (UK)
    Set in 1950s England, a lonely, dysfunctional Station Master lives in the middle of nowhere. Unexpectedly, a woman exits one of the steam trains and during the night they spend together, she opens his eyes to a life he never believed he could have.

    The Most Girl Part of You (USA)
    Teens Kate and Big Guy are lifelong best friends. When tragedy causes charming oddball Big Guy to unravel, Kate finds herself both appalled by his behavior and driven by an attraction she never before realized.

    Wolves from Another Kingdom (USA)
    The two boys struggle to survive in a recently devastated world — an echo of natural disaster.

    SuperShorts!

    Korean Food (UK)
    An English businessman tries to learn Korean in order to ask a Korean waitress out, but he may have misjudged the situation.

    Darwin’s Theory (USA)
    Three nugget creatures have to resort to their ability to change colors in order to avoid a large knuckle-dragging predator. The only problem is that one nugget is a little unique.

    Thumb (USA)
    After losing a playful thumb war to his date, our hero puts his losing digit through a grueling and hilarious ‘ROCKY’-esque training regimen in an obsessive quest to reclaim the title and his manhood.

    The Girl With the Tuba (USA)
    A young autistic woman details how playing a tuba in the streets of Atlanta helped her sharpen her voice as an activist.

    Residuum (USA)
    Her feet on the edge of a rooftop, his hand approaches slowly.

    Halcyon 17 (USA)
    A young physicist struggles to reach Mars by climbing to the top of a huge cherry tree.

    Dji. Death Fails (Moldova)
    Dji is an unlucky reaper. All he has to do is collect the soul of a dying man, but many obstacles prevent him from completing this simple process.

    A Life With Asperger’s (USA)
    An animated documentary exploring the challenges of growing up and living with Asperger’s syndrome.

    Animation Hotline (USA)
    A series of micro-animations that use crowd-sourced voicemail messages for content.

    Oasis (Singapore)
    On his way home, a gorilla miner stumbles across a curious creature that’s much more than meets the eye.

    Danza De Los Muertos (USA)
    A young boy’s grandmother comes back from the world of the dead to visit, but he is too terrified of her skeletal form to dance with her.

    La Hija (Spain and Argentina)
    Fatima wants to play, but her father is too busy. She has imagination and special balloons.

    Flamingo (Venezuela)
    A surreal animated musical about depression and finding happiness again.

    How to Be a Female Director (USA)
    Follow Kay in her quest to become a feature film director. This film is a satirical, vintage look at a very modern day issue.

     

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  • 2013 Starz Denver Film Festival Galas Lineup; ‘LABOR DAY’ to Open, ‘AT MIDDLETON’ to Close

     AT MIDDLETONAT MIDDLETON

     The 36th Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) taking place November 6 to 17, 2013, opens November 6 with LABOR DAY, directed by Jason Reitman and starring a standout cast of Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet and Gattlin Griffith. Alexander Payne’s road trip dramedy, NEBRASKA, will be center stage for Big Night on November 9. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY directed by John Wells will anchor the newest Red Carpet Presentation for Centerpiece on November 15. Inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) recipient Andy Garcia returns with his latest AT MIDDLETON, which costars Vera Farmiga to close the Festival on November 16.

    SDFF Special Presentations include: AMERICAN MUSTANG, THE ARMSTRONG LIE, DAYS AND NIGHTS, GLORIA, HANNA RANCH, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, ONE CHANCE, PHILOMENA, TIM’S VERMEER and THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL. 

    RED CARPET PRESENTATIONS

    Opening Night, November 6

    LABOR DAY – (DIRECTOR Jason Reitman, PRODUCERS Jason Blumenfeld, Helen Estabrook, Lianne Halfon, Jason Reitman, Russel Smith WRITER Jason Reitman CAST Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Gattlin Griffith) – Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler (Griffith), who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele (Winslet) while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers (Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

    Big Night, November 9

    NEBRASKA – (DIRECTOR Alexander Payne, PRODUCERS Albert Berger, Doug Mankoff, George Parra, Julie M. Thompson, Ron Yerxa WRITER Bob Nelson CAST Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb) – After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Dern) thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America.Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

    Centerpiece, November 15

    AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – (DIRECTOR John Wells, PRODUCERS George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Steve Traxler, Harvey Weinstein WRITER Tracy Letts CAST Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper) -August: Osage County tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre earlier that year. It continued with a successful international run and was the winner of five Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Play.August: Osage County is directed by John Wells (The Company Men), who received the SDFF 25 Mayor’s Career Achievement

    Award. Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

    Closing Night, November 16

    AT MIDDLETON – (DIRECTOR Adam Rodgers, PRODUCERS Andy Garcia, Glenn German, Sig Libowitz WRITERS Glenn German, Adam Rodgers CAST Vera Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Taissa Farmiga, Spencer Lofranco, Tom Skerritt, Peter Riegert) – The inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) winner Andy Garcia returns to SDFF with his latest film directed by Adam Rodgers. Edith (Vera Farmiga) is a strong-willed, free-spirited and successful businesswoman who’s taking her hyper- achieving, 18 year-old daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga) on a tour of potential colleges. George (Garcia) is a buttoned-up heart surgeon accompanying his not very motivated son Conrad (Lofranco) (also 18), on a similar tour. Their paths cross at idyllic Middleton College, nestled in the picturesque Pacific Northwest. At first, all things point to this being the kids’ story… but as the parents’ well intentioned support backfires hilariously-so much so that they are booted from the very campus tour they traveled so far to attend – it quickly becomes clear that George and Edith are the heart of the film. Now banished together, these two time-pressed, responsible adults suddenly find themselves with a free day in the midst of a beautiful setting – and the hours they subsequently share change their lives as they play out a singular “college tour” all their own. Equal parts charming, romantic and heartfelt, At Middleton is about letting go and coming together – 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 comic and heartbreaking, their adventure proves to be “the greatest half-day” of their lives. Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films

    SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

    AMERICAN MUSTANG – (DIRECTOR Monty Miranda PRODUCER Henry Ansbacher CAST Daryl Hannah, Alison Eastwood, Julia Putnam, Jim Neubert, Luke Neubert) – In an artful blend of exquisite nature documentary and character driven narrative, the majestic wild horses of the American West are revealed in stereoscopic 3D as never before. The wonder in a girl’s eye pulls us into a drama unfolding still on hundreds of millions of acres of public land. The battle lines have long been carved into very the landscape, and the players are deeply entrenched. Yet as the subtle choreography that has evolved over thousands of years begins again before our eyes, it is captivating. The intricate dance between a man and an wild horse presents lessons for us all, even the battle hardened special interest groups fighting over the place of the American Mustang.

    THE ARMSTRONG LIE – (DIRECTOR Alex Gibney PRODUCERS Alex Gibney, Frank Marshall, Matthew Tolmach WRITER Alex Gibney CAST Lance Armstrong) – In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong’s comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong’s confession. The Armstrong Lie picks up in 2013 and presents a riveting, insider’s view of the unraveling of one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of sports. As Lance Armstrong himself says: “I didn’t live a lot of lies, but I lived one big one.”

    DAYS AND NIGHTS – (DIRECTOR Christian Camargo PRODUCERS Barbara Romer, Juliet Rylance WRITER Christian Camargo CAST Katie Holmes, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Christian Camargo, William Hurt) – Reckless desire wreaks havoc over Memorial Day weekend as a family confronts the volatile and fragile nature of love. A modern retelling of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” set in rural New England.

    GLORIA – (DIRECTOR Sebastia´n Lelio PRODUCERS Luis Collar, Juan de Dios Larrai´n, Pablo Larrai´n WRITERS Sebastia´n Lelio, Gonzalo Maza CAST Paulina Garci´a, Sergio Herna´ndez, Diego Fontecilla, Fabiola Zamora, Coca Guazzini) – Gloria is 58 years old and still feels young. Making a party out of her loneliness, she fills her nights seeking love in ballrooms for single adults. This fragile happiness changes the day she meets Rodolfo. Their intense passion, to which Gloria gives everything as she feels it may well be her last, leaves her dancing between hope and despair. Gloria will have to pull herself together and find a new strength to realize that, in the last act of her life, she could burn brighter than ever.

    HANNA RANCH – (DIRECTOR Mitch Dickman PRODUCERS Karl Kister, Eric Schlosser) – Mitch Dickman’s documentary is an intimate portrait of three generations of a Colorado ranching family and their once prominent way of life. It focuses on “eco-cowboy” Kirk Hanna, who was featured in the book Fast Food Nation as an early adopter of Holistic Resource Management practices, fights to preserve his land in the face of urban encroachment, environmental concerns and family discord.

    MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – (DIRECTOR Justin Chadwick PRODUCERS Anant Singh, David M. Thompson WRITER William Nicholson CAST Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshikiza) – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba (Prometheus) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (Skyfall) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl)directing.

    ONE CHANCE – (DIRECTOR David Frankel PRODUCERS Simon Cowell, Michael Menchel, Kris Thykier, Harvey Weinstein, Brad Weston WRITER Justin Zackham CAST Julie Walters, Colm Meaney, Mackenzie Crook, James Corden, Jemima Rooper, Alexandra Roach) – Most people only dream about becoming a famous superstar, but against all odds one man from Wales did just that. This is the story of his journey. One Chance is the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’ Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the hearts of millions.

    PHILOMENA – (DIRECTOR Stephen Frears PRODUCERS Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Gabrielle Tana WRITER Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope CAST Judi Dench, Steve Coogan) – Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a “fallen woman.” When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success. Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena’s son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin. The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life.

    TIM’S VERMEER – (DIRECTOR Teller PRODUCERS Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler CAST Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Colin Blakemore, David Hockney, Martin Mull, Philip Steadman) – Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) manage to paint so photo-realistically-150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning a decade, Jenison’s adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces; on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney; and eventually even to Buckingham Palace, to see the Queen’s Vermeer.

    THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL – (DIRECTOR Francesca Gregorini PRODUCER Matt R. Brady WRITER Francesca Gregorini CAST Jessica Biel, Alfred Molina, Aneurin Barnard, Kaya Scodelario, Frances O’Connor, Jimmi Simpson) – Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled girl, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious, new neighbor (Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, Emanuel unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world, of which she becomes the gatekeeper.

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  • ‘NEBRASKA’ ‘LABOR DAY’ Among Films in AARP Movies for Grownups Film Festival

    NEBRASKANEBRASKA

    AARP is bringing its Movies for Grownups film festival to Los Angeles, screening nine films that are also being considered for its annual Movies for Grownups Awards. Films such as SAVING MR. BANKS, LABOR DAY, and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY will screen November 14 to 17, 2013, at Regal Cinemas, L.A. LIVE.  Actors Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (ENOUGH SAID), Bruce Dern (NEBRASKA) and Margo Martindale (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY), along with filmmakers Ben Stiller (THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY), Alexander Payne (NEBRASKA),Steve McQueen (12 YEARS A SLAVE), Jason Reitman (LABOR DAY) and John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS) are just some of those confirmed to attend AARP’s Movies for Grownups film festival.

    The film lineup:

    PHILOMENA
    Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan (Not yet rated – 98 minutes)

    NEBRASKA
    Starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach (Rated R – 115 minutes)

    12 YEARS A SLAVE 
    Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender (Rated R -133 minutes)

    ENOUGH SAID
    Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette (Rated PG-13 – 93 minutes)

    LABOR DAY 
    Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith and Tobey Maguire (Rated PG-13 – 111 minutes)
    Post-screening Q&A with director/screenwriter Jason Reitman and author Joyce Maynard.

    20 FEET FROM STARDOM
    Starring Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer (Rated PG-13 – 91 minutes)

    THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY 
    Starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Adam Scott (Not yet rated – 110 minutes)

    AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
    Starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Margo Martindale, Chris Cooper, Juliette Lewis, Julianne Nicholson and Dermot Mulroney(Rated R -130 minutes)

    SAVING MR. BANKS
    Starring Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak (Rated PG-13 – 126 minutes)

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  • ‘LOST NATION: THE IOWAY’ Among Winners of 2013 Iowa Independent Film Festival.

    Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Equine Program Director, Ken McClellan astride Ioway Chief in a scene from "Lost Nation: The Ioway 2." Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Equine Program Director, Ken McClellan astride Ioway Chief in a scene from “Lost Nation: The Ioway 2.”

    Indie film “LOST NATION: THE IOWAY” directed by Kelly Rundle is the winner of the Best Feature-Length Documentary of the 2013 Iowa Independent Film Festival. “LOST NATION: THE IOWAY” tells the nearly forgotten story of the Ioway Indians, and their impact on American history, CAROL TILLEY: COMIC BOOK CRUSADER received the award for Best Short Documentary, and THE RIGHT REGRETS won the award for Best Short Feature

    2013 AWARD WINNERS

    Excellence In Craft Award: Judd Nelson
    Lifetime Achievement Award: Ralph Senensky
    Best Short Feature: THE RIGHT REGRETS
    Best Feature-Length Documentary: LOST NATION: THE IOWAY 2
    Best Short Documentary: CAROL TILLEY: COMIC BOOK CRUSADER 
    Best Student Film: THE ROAD BACK|
    Orson Welles Award for Innovative Filmmaking: Scott Thompson
    Karen Black Award for Excellence in Independent Film: Thomas Zoeschg 
    Best Performance “SINCERELY”: Mariko Van Kampen
    Seventy-Six Trombones Award: Joel Everist

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  • Austin Film Festival 2013 Jury Award Winners incl ‘FILM OXV: THE MANUAL’, ‘BESIDE STILL WATERS’, ‘POLITICAL BODIES’

    OXV: THE MANUAL OXV: THE MANUAL

    Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2013 Jury Award Winners as well as Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. The Dark Matters Jury Award, awarding the best film from horror, sci-fi, or dark thriller genres, was featured for the first time ever and wen to writer/director Darren Paul Fisher for his film OXV: THE MANUAL. In addition, the Narrative Feature Jury award was given to first time writer/director, Chris Lowell for his film BESIDE STILL WATERS, and  the Documentary Feature Jury Award went to director Christopher Englese, for his film POLITICAL BODIES.

    The following winners were selected by category: 

    For features, the first ever Dark Matters Feature Jury Award was awarded to writer/director Darren Paul Fisher for his film OXV: THE MANUAL.  OXV: THE MANUAL follows three students at a school where the children are divided into lucky and unlucky, and how they aim to change that fate.

    The Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize was award to Imogen Pohl, director of the short film HB.

    The Narrative Student Short Jury Prize was awarded to Avram Dodson, the writer/director of PISTACHIO MILK.

    The Documentary Shorts Jury Award was given to director Jenny van den Broeke for her film BLINDE LIEFDE (Blind Love).

    The Jury Award for Animated Short, which makes the winning film eligible to be nominated for an academy award ™ was given to Erica Harrison, writer of A CAUTIONARY TALE.

    The Narrative Short Jury Award, which also qualifies the short to be nominated for an academy award tm, was given to writer/director Cody Blue Snider.

    The Documentary Feature Jury Award was bestowed upon director Christopher Englese, for his film POLITICAL BODIES.  
    2012 was a tough year for women, especially the women of Virginia. Political Bodies shows what happens when citizens stand up for their reproductive rights, and tell the government that their bodies are their own – not pawns to be played for political gain. The issue is explored from both pro-choice and pro-life sides of the debate. Featured interviews from pro-choice activists including Shelley Abrams, Molly Vick, Tarina Keene and Rosemary Codding; pro-choice political figures including Katherine Waddell, Janet Howell, Jim Edmondson, David Englin, and Meredith Harbach; and pro-life politicians and activists including Victoria Cobb and Bob Marshall. This film shows audiences the fearlessness and determination it takes to stand up for one’s autonomy

    The Narrative Feature Jury award was given to first time writer/director, Chris Lowell for his film BESIDE STILL WATERS.
    In this BIG CHILL for Generation Y, a group of childhood friends come together for the last time at the scenic lake house where they all grew up, to comfort each other, rekindle old flames and drunkenly stumble down memory lane. The house brings out the adolescence in all of them, and what follows is a weekend full of drinking and dancing. Laughter and secrets. Sex, drugs, mischief and regret. Equally full of humor and heartbreak, BESIDE STILL WATERS explores the past and getting past it.

    For the Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners, the following winners were selected by category:

    Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: “Last Waltz of Vienna” by Brian Weakland

    Comedy Screenplay Award: “Don’t Talk to Irene” by Pat Mills

    Enderby Entertainment Award: “Hooking Up” by Jacqueline Fitzgerald

    Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: “The Hitch” by Troy Miller

    Dark Hero Studios Sci-Fi Award: “Lightspeed” by Brian Siegele

    AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: “Liberators” by Eric Haywood

    Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: “I Love Monsters” by Julie Cross

    One-Hour Teleplay Spec: Doctor Who: “Ghost Town” by Alyssa Weinberger

    Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Girls: “Golden Birthday, Golden Showers” by Sarah Carbiener & Erica Rosbe

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  • AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, DELIVERY, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM Among Winners of 2013 Twin Cities Film Fest

    Indie Vision Award: DELIVERY directed by Brian NettoIndie Vision Award: DELIVERY directed by Brian Netto

    The 2013 Twin Cities Film Fest which ran October 17 to 26, singled out eight films for awards at this year’s festival, including AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, which walked away with the festival’s coveted Best Feature Film award and the indie horror film DELIVERY won the festival’s inaugural “Indie Vision Award.” The festival audience voted MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, starring Idris Elba,  the TCFF Audience Award (feature), and the Mason Makram short THE FIRST DATE with the TCFF Audience Award (short).

    The complete list of 2013 winners:

    Best Feature Film: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (dir. John Wells)
    AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwestern house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre earlier that year. It continued with a successful international run and was the winner of five Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Play. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is directed by John Wells (THE COMPANY MEN) and features an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Sam Shepard and Misty Upham. 

    Best Documentary:ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE (dir. Anthony Powell)
    A visually stunning chronicle of what it is like to live in Antarctica for a full year, including winters isolated from the rest of the world, while enduring months of unending darkness in the coldest place on Earth. 

    Best Short Film:HOT AND BOTHERED (dir. Jake Greene)
    Desperate singles get all tangled up when a compulsive internet dater loses track of her accounts.

    Audience Award (Feature):MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (dir. Justin Chadwick)
    MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba (PROMETHEUS) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (SKYFALL) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL) directing. 

    Audience Award (Short):THE FIRST DATE (dir. Mason Makram)

    Indie Vision Award: DELIVERY (dir. Brian Netto)
    In this unnerving chiller, Kyle and Rachel Massy are a young couple who have agreed to document their first pregnancy for a reality show. During the production, a series of unexplained phenomena start plaguing the couple, eventually derailing the production of the show. Rachel, growing increasingly paranoid, starts to believe that there might be something seriously wrong with their unborn bundle of joy. 

    Told through the show’s un-aired footage and interviews from friends, family and production members, Brian Netto’s savvy debut feature injects the found footage genre with a fresh perspective and enough eeriness to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

    TCFF Breakthrough Achievement Award: Emily Fradenburgh, actress, NOTHING WITHOUT YOU (dir. Xackery Irving)

    Twin Cities Community Change Maker Award: Sankara Frazier, Executive Director and Founder, Circle of Discipline

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  • European Film Academy Reveals First 2013 Winners

    FILL THE VOID (LEMALE ET HA’HALAL)FILL THE VOID (LEMALE ET HA’HALAL)

    The European Film Academy announces the first winners in the categories cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, composer and sound design who will be honored at this year’s 26th European Film Awards. The 26th European Film Awards Ceremony. will take place at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Berlin on Saturday, December 7, 2013.

    European Cinematographer 2013 – Prix Carlo di Palma:
    Asaf Sudry
    for LEMALE ET HA’HALAL (FILL THE VOID)
    Israel
     … for his intuitive camerawork, both realistic and poetic, studying the characters with tenderness in an environment unknown to most of us – by sensitively lighting them he provides us with deep insight into their psychology and emotions.

    European Editor 2013:
    Cristiano Travaglioli
    for LA GRANDE BELLEZZA (THE GREAT BEAUTY)
    Italy/France

    THE GREAT BEAUTY (LA GRANDE BELLEZZA)THE GREAT BEAUTY (LA GRANDE BELLEZZA)

    … for an editing which continuously stimulates the senses and creates a weave of endless meanings in the storytelling.

    European Production Designer 2013:
    Sarah Greenwood
    for ANNA KARENINA
    UK

    ANNA KARENINAANNA KARENINA

    … for a production design that acts as if it were a character itself – dramaturgically integrated and contributing essentially to the film’s story and style.

    European Costume Designer 2013:
    Paco Delgado
    for BLANCANIEVES
    Spain/France

    BLANCANIEVESBLANCANIEVES

    … for a costume design combining meticulous research of Spanish tradition and craft with the freedom of a gothic fairy tale.

    European Composer 2013:
    Ennio Morricone
    for THE BEST OFFER
    Italy

    THE BEST OFFER THE BEST OFFER

    … for proving once again his extraordinary capacity of always renewing his style while remaining faithful to the style of the director and the film – a universal composer, indeed, and a true master.

    European Sound Designer 2013:
    Matz Müller & Erik Mischijew
    for PARADIES: GLAUBE (PARADISE: FAITH)
    Austria/Germany/France

    PARADISE: FAITH (PARADIES: GLAUBE)PARADISE: FAITH (PARADIES: GLAUBE)

    … for creating a sound design, pure and radical – like a music score that transforms every day sound into a composition.

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  • “ILO ILO” “GOD LOVES UGANDA” Leads 2013 Philadelphia Film Festival Jury Award Winners

    ,

    ILO ILOILO ILO

    The 22nd Philadelphia Film Festival announced the 2013 Jury Award winners; ILO ILO won the award for Best Narrative Feature Film, and GOD LOVES UGANDA won the award for Best Documentary Feature Film. Set in the late 1990s, the moving relationship between a rebellious Singaporean boy and his new Filipino nanny is lovingly captured in director Anthony Chen’s ILO ILO, winner of the Camera d’Or for Best First Feature at 2013 Cannes. In GOD LOVES UGANDA, the effects of the American evangelical fundamentalist movement on the religious and political climate of Uganda are scrutinized in this eye-opening documentary by Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams. 

    LET THE FIRE BURN directed by Jason Osder  which examines the fatal standoff between Philadelphia law enforcement and the black militant liberation group MOVE,  won the Pinkenson Award for Best Local Feature. The Archie Award for Best First Feature went to HARMONY LESSONS directed by Emir Baigazin, about the squabbles of schoolboys in a village in the steppes of rural Kazakhstan, which then take a dark tragic turn.

     2013 Philadelphia Film Festival Jury Award Winners:

    Narrative Feature Award
    Best Narrative Feature – ILO ILO (dir. Anthony Chen)
    Honorable Mention for Best Ensemble – WE ARE THE BEST! (starring Mira Birkhammar, Mira Grosin and Liv LeMoyne)
    Honorable Mention for Best Director – VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR (dir. Denis Côté)
    Honorable Mention for Best Cinematography – HARMONY LESSONS (cinematographer Aziz Zhambakiyev)

    Documentary Feature Award

    GOD LOVES UGANDA

    Best Documentary Feature – GOD LOVES UGANDA (dir. Roger Ross Williams)
    Honorable Mention – 12 O’CLOCK BOYS (dir. Lotfy Nathan)
    Honorable Mention for Best Director – CAUCUS (dir. AJ Schnack)

    Pinkenson Award for Best Local Feature

    LET THE FIRE BURNLET THE FIRE BURN

    Best Feature – LET THE FIRE BURN (dir. Jason Osder)
    Honorable Mention – THE DISCOVERERS (dir. Justin Schwarz 

    Archie Award for Best First Feature 

    HARMONY LESSONSHARMONY LESSONS

    Best Feature – HARMONY LESSONS (dir. Emir Baigazin)

    Short Award
    Best Short – RPG OKC (dir. Emily Carmichael)
    Honorable Mention – THE GLOBE COLLECTOR(dir. Summer De Roche) 

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  • 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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