• Cannes Film Festival Unveils 2013 Poster Featuring Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman

    For its 66th edition poster, the Festival de Cannes has chosen the image of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, photographed during the shooting of  A New Kind of Love, by Melville Shavelson (1963). 

    The Festival describes its choice as a chance both to pay tribute to the memory of Paul Newman, who passed away in 2008, and to mark its undying admiration for Joanne Woodward, his wife and most favoured co-star.

    They were honoured at the Festival de Cannes in 1958 – the year of their marriage – with the selection In Competition of Martin Ritt’s The Long Hot Summer, the first film in which they appeared together. 

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  • A.C.O.D., Mud and Metro Manila Added to 2013 Sundance London

    [caption id="attachment_3363" align="alignnone" width="550"]A.C.O.D.[/caption]

    Three feature films have been added to the programme for the second Sundance London film and music festival, 25-28 April at The O2. They are: A.C.O.D. (Director: Stuart Zicherman, Screenwriters: Ben Karlin, Stuart Zicherman), Mud (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Nichols) and Metro Manila(Director: Sean Ellis, Screenwriters: Sean Ellis, Frank E. Flowers). 

    FEATURE FILM PROGRAMME

    The international and UK premieres of American independent narrative and documentary films that premiered in January at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, U.S.A.

    A.C.O.D. (Director: Stuart Zicherman, Screenwriters: Ben Karlin, Stuart Zicherman) — Carter is a well-adjusted Adult Child of Divorce. So he thinks.  When he discovers he was part of a divorce study as a child, it wreaks havoc on his family and forces him to face his chaotic past. Cast: Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clark Duke. (Narrative) International Premiere

    [caption id="attachment_3364" align="alignnone" width="550"]Mud[/caption]

    Mud (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Nichols) — Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and reunite him with his true love. Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Reese Witherspoon. (Narrative) UK Premiere

    UK SPOTLIGHT

    Drawing on the Sundance Film Festival’s rich legacy of premiering outstanding films produced in the UK – including An Education, Four Weddings and a Funeral, In Bruges, In the Loop, Kinky Boots, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels – this new showcase presents a selection of UK films that premiered in Park City, Utah.

    [caption id="attachment_3365" align="alignnone" width="550"]Metro Manila[/caption]

    Metro Manila (Director: Sean Ellis, Screenwriters: Sean Ellis, Frank E. Flowers) — Seeking a better life, Oscar and his family move from the poverty-stricken rice fields to the big city of Manila, where they fall victim to various inhabitants whose manipulative ways are a daily part of city survival. Cast: Jake Macapagal, John Arcilla, Althea Vega. Winner of the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. (Narrative) International Premiere

    These additions join the following previously announced titles:

    FEATURE FILM PROGRAMME
    Blackfish Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
    Blood Brother Director: Steve Hoover
    Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes Director: Francesca Gregorini
    God Loves Uganda Director: Roger Ross Williams
    In a World… Director: Lake Bell
    The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete Director: George Tillman Jr. 
    The Kings of Summer Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
    Muscle Shoals Director: Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier
    Running from Crazy Director: Barbara Kopple
    Touchy Feely Director: Lynn Shelton 
    Upstream Color Director: Shane Carruth

    SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMME
    History of the Eagles Part One Director: Alison Ellwood 
    Peaches Does Herself Director: Peaches 
    Sleepwalk With Me Director: Mike Birbiglia 

    UK SPOTLIGHT
    In Fear Director: Jeremy Lovering 
    The Look of Love Director: Michael Winterbottom 
    The Moo Man Director: Andy Heathcote 
    The Summit Director: Nick Ryan 

    SHORT FILM PROGRAMME
    The Apocalypse Director: Andrew Zuchero 
    Black Metal Director: Kat Candler 
    The Date Director: Jenni Toivoniemi
    Irish Folk Furniture Director: Tony Donoghue
    Jonah Director: Kibwe Tavares
    Reindeer Director: Eva Weber
    Until the Quiet Comes Director: Kahil Joseph
    Whiplash Director: Damien Chazelle
    The Whistle Director: Grzegorz Zariczny

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  • DEKH TAMASHA DEKH to Open and FILMISTAAN to Close 2013 New York Indian Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_3361" align="alignnone" width="550"]DEKH TAMASHA DEKH [/caption]

    Feroz Abbas Khan’s DEKH TAMASHA DEKH will open the 2013 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) while Nitin Kakkar’s FILMISTAAN will screen as the closing night film. Now celebrating its 13th year, the festival is considered the oldest, most prestigious Indian film festival in the United States and runs April 30 to May 4, 2013.

    Lyrically interwoven, DEKH TAMASHA DEKH is a social and political satire that cuts deep to the heart of many current issues, a true story based off true events. Written by renowned marathi playwright Shafaat Khan, who creates finely nuanced characters with depth and dimensions and sets them against a lush visual backdrop of a small village in India. Director Feroz Abbas Khan has directed some of India’s finest acting talent during his career of over two decades and he is at the forefront of Indian theatre today. His debut Film “Gandhi My Father” received rave reviews and won several national and international awards. He now showcases his new cinematic vision as the opening night film for the festival.  

    For the closing night of NYIFF, debut director Nitin Kakkar brings his cinematic work of art, FILMISTAAN, exploring Indo-Pak relationships with subtle brilliance.  The protagonist, aspiring actor Sharib Hashmi, is assisting an American film crew shooting a documentary in the Indo-Pak border when one night he is kidnapped and held hostage in a small village in Pakistan. When the terrorist group realizes they have kidnapped an Indian and not an American, Hashmi is kept hostage until the mix-up is corrected, and he begins a burgeoning friendship with a young Pakistani. 

    http://youtu.be/6kGSjrW7rb8

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  • 2013 Tribeca Film Festival Tribeca Talks® Series Lineup to Feature Conversations With Clint Eastwood, Whoopi Goldberg, Darren Aronofsky, Ben Stiller, Jay Roach And More

    The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) announced its lineup for the 2013 Tribeca Talks® panel series. This year’s programs include the “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series”; “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie;” “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie, Beyond the Screens: The Artist’s Angle,”; “Tribeca Talks: Industry;” and “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper, hosted by Barnes & Noble.” Tribeca Talks will featurqe conversations with some of the most influential and creative minds in the film industry.  Those participating in the “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series” events include Academy Award®-winner Clint Eastwood with Academy Award®-nominee Darren Aronofsky, Academy Award®-nominee Richard Linklater with fellow nominees Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, director Mira Nair with actress Bryce Dallas Howard, and Emmy Award®-winner Jay Roach with actor Ben Stiller.  Among the “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” event panelists are Academy Award®-winner Whoopi Goldberg, Academy Award®-nominee Ellen Page, legendary author and activist Gloria Steinem and actor Adrian Grenier. The Tribeca Talks panel series is open to the public and will take place throughout TFF, which will run from April 17 to April 28, 2013, at locations around New York City. Each year we seek to provide audiences with diverse opportunities to connect with some the most accomplished and innovative minds in film with the Tribeca Talks series, ” said Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises. “We are excited to present this year’s lineup, featuring visionary industry leaders who are sure to engage audiences with thoughtful discussions on topics inspired by films and filmmakers participating in the Festival.” TFF also unveiled four new titles that will screen at this year’s Festival, all followed by conversations with the respective filmmakers and topical experts.  Paul Verhoeven’s groundbreaking film Tricked, whose script was crowd-sourced, will screen as part of the “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” series, as will documentaries How to Make Money Selling Drugsand Out of Print, along with the world premiere screening of footage from the highly anticipatedBeyond: Two Souls, a new interactive videogame currently in development by Quantic Dream and scheduled for release in October on PlayStation 3.  Further, TFF announced that the world premiere of Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story will be followed by a conversation with legendary director Clint Eastwood as part of the “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series,” which features intimate discussions with acclaimed directors. Also part of “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” is the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s 20th anniversary retrospective screening and discussion of the internationally acclaimed made-for-television filmAnd the Band Played On from director Roger Spottiswoode. TFF’s conversation series is rounded out by the “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie, Beyond the Screens: The Artist’s Angle” program which gives viewers an inside look at the lives of iconic artists and those they impact; the free “Tribeca Talks: Industry” panels designed for industry professionals to explore the evolving film business; and finally, the free “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” panels, hosted by Barnes & Noble, which focus on the creative writers and re-writers in the filmmaking industry. “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series,” sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, will include intimate conversations with:
    • Academy Award®-winning director Clint Eastwood in conversation with Academy Award®-nominee Darren Aronofsky following the world premiere of Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story.
    • Director and Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Richard Linklater in conversation with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy about their Before Sunrise series collaboration and most recent installment, Before Midnight.
    • Emmy Award®-winning director Jay Roach (“Game Change”) in conversation with actor Ben Stiller.
    • Acclaimed writer, director and producer Mira Nair (The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding), in conversation with actress Bryce Dallas Howard.
    “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” will include:
    • The North American premiere of Tricked, the revolutionary film whose narrative was created by crowd sourcing; followed by a conversation with director Paul Verhoeven who will discuss the process of making an audience-created film.
    • The US premiere of How to Make Money Selling Drugs, a shockingly candid examination of the entrenched, corrupt and violent drug industry, from street dealer to kingpin; followed by a conversation with director Matthew Cooke, producers Adrian Grenier and Bert Marcus, executive director of Law Enforcement Against ProhibitionNeill Franklin, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation Eric Sterling and author of HIGH: Confessions of an International Drug Smuggler Brian O’Dea in a conversation about the grim underbelly of the oft-glamorized drug trade. Moderated by Huffington Post contributor Keith Rushing.
    • Out of Print, an exploration of the future of the publishing industry in a digital age; followed by a conservation with director Vivienne Roumani, president and CEO of the New York Public Library Tony Marx, CEO and co-founder of Open Road Integrated Media Jane Friedman and science writer Annie Murphy Paul who will discuss our shifting relationship with books and a glimpse into our future learning.  Moderated by The New Yorker’s Ken Auletta.
    • Inequality for All, follows Clinton-era Labor secretary Robert Reich as he examines the consolidation of wealth, the stagnation in wages and elasticity of the American economy; followed by a conversation with producers Jen Chaiken and Sebastian Dungan and political economist, professor and author Robert Reich who will discuss the widening income gap and deterioration of the USA’s economic health.
    • The world premiere screening of footage from Beyond: Two Souls, a new interactive videogame developed by Quantic Dream that examines the supernatural and afterlife; followed by a conversation with actress Ellen Page and game creator David Cage exploring the cinematic elements of filmmaking that have crossed over into interactive entertainment.
    • The world premiere of I Got Somethin’ to Tell You, Whoopi Goldberg’s directorial debut about comedic legend and pioneer Moms Mabley; followed by a conversation with Whoopi Goldberg and The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney.
    • The US premiere of Wadjda, the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first by a female Saudi filmmaker which follows a determined young girl who refuses to submit to her surrounding social norms. The premiere will be followed by a conversation with filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour and founder of Women for Women International Zainab Salbi who will discuss the individuals and movements that are breaking gender boundaries. Moderated by journalist and social and political activistGloria Steinem.
    • A 20th anniversary retrospective screening sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a long standing partner of Tribeca Film Festival and Tribeca Film Institute, of the internationally acclaimed made-for-TV film And the Band Played On. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film examines the scientific facts and myths surrounding AIDS during the early stages of the epidemic. The screening will be followed by a conversation with industry leaders in film and science about the science of AIDS and the social politics surrounding the AIDS epidemic from the 1980s to the present.  The panel includes will be moderated by filmmaker Tom Kalin.
    “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie, Beyond the Screens: The Artist’s Angle,” sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, will feature:
    • The world premiere of Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, a documentary that blends archival footage and cinema vérité to reach beyond Broadway legend Elaine Stritch’s brassy exterior, revealing a multi-dimensional portrait of a complex woman and inspiring artist; followed by a conversation with filmmaker Chiemi Karasawa andElaine Stritch who will share her stories and tricks of the trade from her illustrious career.  Moderated by The New York Times’ Charles Isherwood.
    • The world premiere of Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic, a documentary that chronicles legendary comedian Richard Pryor’s meteoric rise as well as his personal struggles; followed by a conversation with Emmy Award®-winning director Marina Zenovich, author Walter Mosley and comedian Wyatt Cenac about the making of the film and the impact of one of Hollywood’s most controversial comedians.
    “Tribeca Talks: Industry” are free events and will feature:
    • Look Who’s Talking, a conversation with film industry professionals about race, authorship and authenticity in today’s filmmaking scene. The panelists will explore the marked lack of diversity behind the camera in major box office hits and how the ethnicity of film artists and filmmakers play into public perception of a movie about people of color.  Panelists include critic and filmmaker Nelson George, actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, Indiewire’s Shadow & Act Chief Editor TambayObenson, producer and Braven Films President and CEO Frida Torresblanco and filmmaker Terence Nance.  Moderated by Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Institute Beth Janson.
    • Brand New Studios, a discussion about partnerships and projects that are stretching the traditional sponsor role and creating new opportunities for filmmakers. Meet successful brands producing original shorts, feature-length films and episodic series. Panelists include ESPN Films Director of Development Dan Silver, GE Executive Director of Global Digital Marketing Linda Boff, VICE Media, Inc. Executive Creative Director Danny Gabai and Red Bull Media House Head of Distribution Greg Jacobs  Moderated by strategic consultant Nancy Schafer.
    • The Business of Entertainment: Truth, Persuasion and Bias in Documentaries, sponsored by Bloomberg, a conversation with documentarians about navigating the choices filmmakers make between journalistic precision and creative nonfiction, including how the business of entertainment shapes those decisions.  Panelists include Executive Vice President American Documentary | POV Cynthia López and leading documentary filmmakers Dan Krauss (The Kill Team), Morgan Spurlock, Kristi Jacobson and Shola Lynch. Moderated by Bloomberg Chief Content Officer Norman Pearlstine.
    • Big Data and the Movies, sponsored by SAP, a conversation with industry experts to consider the effect and implications of strategically developed content and social sentiment to explore the latest ways audience data analysts and distributors are retooling the what, when and how of filmgoing. Panelists include Rentrak CEO Bill Livek, FilmTrack Co-Founder and CEO Jason Kassin, MoviePass Co-Founder and CEOStacy Spikes, Mashable’s Senior Tech Analyst Christina Warren and Director of Digital Strategy at Film Society of Lincoln Center Eugene Hernandez. Moderated by SAP Labs SVP/GM of Media Industry Solutions Richard Whittington.
    • New Filmmakers in the Digital Age, sponsored by Panavision, is a discussion among new filmmakers about how they navigated the world of digital filmmaking to grow a festival feature.  Panelists include director Lance Edmands (Bluebird), filmmaker/actor Alex Karpovsky, director Jenée LaMarque (The Pretty One), directorRob Meyer (A Birder’s Guide to Everything) and producer Tamara Anghie (Run and Jump).  Moderated by Panavision’s Peter Brogna.
    “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper hosted by Barnes & Noble” are free events and will include:
    • New Chick Flicks, a discussion exploring how and why being a female in the film industry requires rewriting the typecast model and how our panelists are challenging traditional associations of what makes a movie by or for women.  Panelists include producer of the ESPN Nine for IX series Libby Geist, director Rachel Boynton (Big Men), producer Tanya Ager Meillier (Alias Ruby Blade) and writer/producer Laura Goode (Farah Goes Bang).  Moderated by producer Abigail Disney.
    • Putting the “I” in “Film,” a conversation with filmmakers who reflect on their very personal experiences writing themselves into the filmmaking process.  Panelists include director Banker White (The Genius of Marian), director Tom Berninger(Mistaken for Strangers), writer /actress Amy Grantham (Lily) and director Josh Fox(Gasland Part II).  Moderated by Screen International’s Mark Adams.
    • Whose Credit Is It Anyway? A group of filmmakers debate the emergence of the controversial writing credit in documentary films.  Panelists include writer/directorFahad Mustafa (Powerless), writer/director Warwick Ross (Red Obsession), directorJason Osder (Let the Fire Burn), editor Nels Bangerter (Let the Fire Burn) and director Sean Dunne (Oxyana).  Moderated by director Julia Bacha (Budrus).
    The full schedule for the 2013 Tribeca Talks series follows: “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series” Sponsored by OppenheimerFunds Mira Nair with Bryce Dallas Howard Acclaimed writer, director and producer Mira Nair (The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding) in conversation with actress Bryce Dallas Howard. DATE: Saturday, April 20 TIME: 3:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 Jay Roach with Ben Stiller Emmy Award®-winning director Jay Roach (“Game Change”) in conversation with actor Ben Stiller. DATE: Sunday, April 21 TIME: 3:00 PM LOCATION: BMCC Richard Linklater with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy Director and Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Richard Linklater in conversation with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy about their Before Sunrise series collaboration and most recent installment, Before Midnight. DATE: Monday, April 22 TIME: 3:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 Clint Eastwood Academy Award®-winning director Clint Eastwood will be in conversation with Academy Award®-nominee Darren Aronofsky following the world premiere of Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story. Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story Directed by Richard Schickel. (USA) – World Premiere. This unprecedented new film focuses on Eastwood’s directorial method thanks to producing partners and fellow actors sharing never-before-told stories of working with Clint.  It explores Eastwood’s signature style, dissecting the skills that have ensured his four decades of success.  Bringing together the insights of Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and many others, the film creates the complete picture of the man, the colleague, the creator.  Courtesy of Warner Bros. © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. DATE: Saturday, April 27 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: BMCC “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” Wadjda Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour.  (Saudi Arabia, Germany) – US Premiere. Meet Wadjda (Waad Mohammed), a feisty, funny and wholly unconventional ten-year-old girl determined to scrounge up enough money to buy a bicycle, despite the societal repercussions sure to follow.  The groundbreaking first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first by a female Saudi filmmaker, Wadjda offers a moving, rarely seen picture of everyday life in Riyadh: through the eyes of a girl unwilling to surrender what she wants. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour and founder of Women for Women International Zainab Salbi to discuss the brave individuals and grassroots movements that are breaking gender boundaries and creating lasting change. Moderated by journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. DATE: Sunday, April 21 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 I Got Somethin’ to Tell You Directed by Whoopi Goldberg. (USA) – World Premiere. Having broken racial and sexual boundaries as a pioneering comic talent, the late Moms Mabley has long been an icon in the comedy world. Now Whoopi Goldberg takes a deep dive into Mabley’s legacy via recently unearthed photography, rediscovered performance footage and the words of numerous celebrated comedians. A true passion project for Goldberg, I Got Somethin’ to Tell You shows Mabley’s profound influence as a performer vastly ahead of her time. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with Whoopi Goldberg, who will discuss her directorial debut.  She will explain, through the work of comedian Moms Mabley, why we laugh, who we think is funny and what comedy is really all about.  Moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney. SPECIAL EVENT exclusively for American Express® Cardmembers DATE: Monday, April 22 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 Tricked Directed by Paul Verhoeven. (Netherlands) – North American Premiere. Join acclaimed director Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Basic Instinct) as he steps into the creative unknown to test a brand new style and structure of crowd-sourced filmmaking. Having established only the first four minutes of the script for a new feature, Verhoeven asks the public to complete the story. Tricked follows Verhoeven as he gathers ideas, hunts for an intriguing narrative and turns his craft into one of the more unlikely experiments in democratic art. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Paul Verhoeven as he takes us through the uncharted process of making an audience-created film – his ups, his downs and his unexpected creative breakthroughs. DATE: Tuesday, April 23 TIME: 6:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 How to Make Money Selling Drugs Directed by Matthew Cooke. (USA) – US Premiere. Moving from desperate street dealers to millionaire kingpins, from well-funded DEA agents to politicians who ensure reelection through egregious drug laws, Matthew Cooke’s debut feature is a captivating, shockingly candid guide to the entrenched, corrupt and violent drug industry in which these players each inhabit a vital role. 50 Cent, Eminem, Susan Sarandon, Woody Harrelson and a wealth of inside voices color this outstanding, detailed documentary. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Matthew Cooke, producers Adrian Grenier and Bert Marcus, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Neill Franklin, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation Eric Sterling and the author ofHIGH: Confessions of an International Drug Smuggler Brian O’Dea to discuss the grim underbelly of the oft-glamorized drug trade.. Moderated by Huffington Post contributor Keith Rushing. DATE: Thursday, April 25 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 And the Band Played On Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. (USA). Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, And the Band Played On aired at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the early ‘90s, examining the facts surrounding the deadly disease and debunking many of its myths.  The film won three Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie. Topping the incredible ensemble cast is Matthew Modine, who received Emmy and Golden Globe-nominations for his poignant portrayal of a doctor who heads an American research team.  Sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. After the Movie: Exploring the Science of AIDS and the Arts.  Join us for a panel conversation featuring leading figures from film and science about the science of AIDS and the social politics surrounding the AIDS epidemic from the 1980s until now. The panel will explore how the AIDS crisis has activated a cross section of storytelling amongst scientists, artists and politicians. Moderated by filmmaker Tom Kalin. DATE: Saturday, April 27 TIME: 3:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 Beyond: Two Souls Directed by David Cage. (USA) – World Premiere. From Quantic Dream and David Cage, visionary director of Heavy Rain, comes an emotionally charged interactive thriller starring Academy Award®-nominees Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe.  Jodie Holmes (Page) has always been a little different.  Aided by scientist Nathan Dawkins (Dafoe), she discovers a connection to a mysterious entity, setting off a thrilling, globe-spanning journey to discover the truth about who she is.  Join us for an exclusive look at this breathtaking gaming experience fused with a classical film style.  Beyond: Two Souls releases on October 8, 2013 and is made exclusively for the PlayStation 3® System. After the Screening: Join game creator David Cage and actress Ellen Page for a behind-the-scenes look at this breakthrough in interactive storytelling.  Moderated by video game journalistHarold Goldberg. DATE: Saturday, April 27 TIME: 7:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 Out of Print Directed by Vivienne Roumani. (USA) – World Premiere. Dive into the riveting debate over the future of ideas, as documentarian Vivienne Roumani tackles the questions confronting the modern word industry and proves that more is at stake than how quickly we can access the latest bestseller. Featuring interviews with Scott Turow, Ray Bradbury, Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos and many more, Out of Print is a fascinating, in-depth look at publishing’s milestones and what it means to adapt that history to the information age.  Narrated by Meryl Streep. After the Movie: Join president and CEO of the New York Public Library Tony Marx, CEO of Open Road Integrated Media Jane Friedman, filmmaker Vivienne Roumani and science writerAnnie Murphy Paul for an exploration of our shifting relationship with books and a glimpse into our future learning. Moderated by The New Yorker’s Ken Auletta. DATE: Sunday, April 28 TIME: 1:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 Inequality for All Directed by Jacob Kornbluth. (USA) – New York Premiere. Robert Reich is your guide in this no-holds-barred assessment of the U.S. economy.  With winningly approachable finesse, the Clinton-era Labor secretary and current Berkeley professor covers the consolidation of wealth, the stagnation in wages and the elasticity of our economy.  Director Jacob Kornbluth builds a rigorous and engaging overview of where the economy stands and the risks that will become reality if we fail to act. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with producers Jen Chaiken and Sebastian Dunganas well as political economist, professor and author Robert Reich who will discuss the widening income gap and deterioration of the USA’s economic health. DATE: Sunday, April 28 TIME: 4:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie, Beyond the Screens: The Artist’s Angle” Sponsored by OppenheimerFunds Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me Directed by Chiemi Karasawa. (USA) – World Premiere. Broadway legend Elaine Stritch remains in the spotlight at eighty-seven years old. Join the uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner both on and off stage in this revealing documentary. With interviews from Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Alec Baldwin and others, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me blends rare archival footage and intimate cinema vérité to reach beyond Stritch’s brassy exterior, revealing a multi-dimensional portrait of a complex woman and an inspiring artist. After the Movie: Stay for a fun and lively conversation with filmmaker Chiemi Karasawa and the high-kicking Elaine Stritch, who shares her stories, tricks of the trade and the industry dish that you just won’t want to miss.  Moderated by The New York Times’ Charles Isherwood. DATE: Monday, April 22 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic Directed by Marina Zenovich. (USA) – World Premiere. This moving portrait of legendary comedian Richard Pryor chronicles his life from his troubled youth in Peoria, Illinois, to his meteoric rise as one of the most respected comic actors of the 20th century. Often misunderstood during the height of his celebrity, the late superstar has never been profiled this extensively. Marina Zenovich’s revealing and entertaining film lays bare the demons with which he struggled and reminds us just how daring and dangerous artistic freedom can be. After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with Emmy Award®-winning director Marina Zenovich, author Walter Mosley and comedian Wyatt Cenac to discuss the making of the documentary and the impact of one of Hollywood’s most controversial comedians. DATE: Wednesday, April 24 TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 1 “Tribeca Talks: Industry” (Free event: Reserve tickets in advance at www.tribecafilm.com/film guide) Look Who’s Talking Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca All Access® program has supported several projects whose crews included at least one writer or director from a community statistically underrepresented in the film industry. When it comes to major box office hits, narratives featuring a diversity of characters on screen are finding increased success despite a marked lack of diversity behind the camera. Join our film industry professionals for a dynamic debate on race, authorship and authenticity in today’s filmmaking scene.  Panelists include author, critic and filmmaker Nelson George, actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, Indiewire’s Shadow & Act Chief Editor Tambay Obenson, producer and Braven Films President and CEO Frida Torresblanco and filmmaker Terence Nance.  Moderated by Tribeca Film Institute Executive Director Beth Janson. DATE: Friday, April 19 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 Brand New Studios What happens to film when brands become producers? Filmmakers and brand managers are uniting like never before to make everything from shorts to feature-length films to episodic series.  The results of these partnerships are stretching the traditional sponsor role and creating new opportunities for filmmakers.  Hear from successful brands that are vying to take on the role of producer.  Panelists include ESPN Films Director of Development Dan Silver; GE Executive Director of Global Digital Marketing Linda Boff; VICE Media, Inc. Executive Creative Director Danny Gabai and Red Bull Media House Head of Distribution Greg Jacobs.  Moderated by strategic consultant Nancy Schafer. DATE: Sunday, April 21 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 The Business of Entertainment: Truth, Persuasion and Bias in Documentaries Sponsored by Bloomberg. Documentarians, like journalists, make use of a full range of storytelling conventions. Some prefer to observe and report events as they happen, while others gravitate more toward opinion, commentary or in-depth personal narrative. How do filmmakers navigate between journalistic precision and creative nonfiction – and are these choices shaped by financial demands in the business of entertainment? Hear from leading voices in the documentary world to examine choices of style and approach to telling their stories. Panelists include Executive Vice President American Documentary | POV Cynthia López and leading documentary filmmakers Dan Krauss (The Kill Team) Morgan Spurlock, Kristi Jacobson andShola Lynch. Moderated by Bloomberg Chief Content Officer Norman Pearlstine. DATE: Monday, April 22 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 Big Data and the Movies Sponsored by SAP. Big Data presents new methods for testing the production and distribution of films both big and small.  Join our panel of industry experts to consider the effect and implications of strategically developed content and social sentiment to explore the latest ways audience data analysts and distributors are retooling the what, when and how of filmgoing.  Whether you are creating or consuming film on small screens or in IMAX theaters, learn what Big Data will mean to you.  Panelists include Rentrak CEO Bill Livek, FilmTrack Co-Founder and CEO Jason Kassin, MoviePass Co-Founder and CEO Stacy Spikes, Mashable’s Senior Tech Analyst Christina Warren and Director of Digital Strategy at Film Society of Lincoln CenterEugene Hernandez.  Moderated by SAP Labs SVP/GM of Media Industry Solutions Richard Whittington. DATE: Tuesday, April 23 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 New Filmmakers in the Digital Age Sponsored by Panavision.  Learn from doing.  With expanding options in digital cameras and lens combinations, along with a transparency of production workflow strategies and processes, directors, producers and cinematographers are learning more from each other than ever before.  Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program supports filmmakers by providing grants for camera packages.  Come and hear from new filmmakers on how they navigated the world of digital filmmaking.  Panelists include director Lance Edmands (Bluebird), filmmaker/actor Alex Karpovsky, director Jenée LaMarque (The Pretty One), director Rob Meyer (A Birder’s Guide to Everything) and producer Tamara Anghie (Run and Jump).  Moderated by Panavision’s Peter Brogna. DATE: Thursday, April 25 TIME: 2:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” (Free) Hosted by Barnes & Noble New Chick Flicks From sports films to comedies, action flicks to war documentaries, female filmmakers, writers and actors are challenging traditional associations of what makes a movie for or by women. Join us for this dynamic exploration why being a female in the film industry requires re-writing the typecast model.  Panelists include producer of the ESPN Nine for IX series Libby Geist, directorRachel Boynton (Big Men), producer Tanya Ager Meillier (Alias Ruby Blade) andwriter/producer Laura Goode (Farah Goes Bang). Moderated by producer Abigail Disney. DATE: Friday, April 19 TIME: 1:00 PM LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square Putting the “I” in “Film” “Write what you know” has always been a mantra, but “film what you know”? How can direct personal experiences translate to audience-friendly, relatable pieces on screen? How much of our “all” should we bare? Hear from filmmakers, writers and actors who have written more than a piece of themselves into the filmmaking process.  Panelists include director Banker White (The Genius of Marian), director Tom Berninger (Mistaken for Strangers), writer/actressAmy Grantham (Lily), director Josh Fox (Gasland Part II).  Moderated by Screen International’sMark Adams. DATE: Saturday, April 20 TIME: 1:00 PM LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square Whose Credit is it Anyway? Documentaries continue to evolve over the years into ever more complex, multi-format storytelling features. One recent development is a new credit: the writer. As filmmakers embrace or fight this controversial title, our panelists discuss when taking the credit is appropriate. Panelists include writer/director Fahad Mustafa (Powerless), writer/directorWarwick Ross (Red Obsession), director Jason Osder (Let the Fire Burn), editor Nels Bangerter(Let the Fire Burn) and director Sean Dunne (Oxyana).  Moderated by director Julia Bacha(Budrus). DATE: Sunday, April 21 TIME: 1:00 PM LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square Special “Tribeca Talks” Events A Special Shorts Event: The Battle of amfAR Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.  (USA) – New York Premiere. In the darkest days of the AIDS pandemic, two women from very different walks of life unite to take a stand.  Two-time Academy Award®-winner Rob Epstein and his longtime collaborator Jeffrey Friedman, the creative forces behind The Celluloid Closet, tell the story of the extraordinary moment when Dr. Mathilde Krim and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor launched the country’s first AIDS research foundation.  The fight against HIV/AIDS would never be the same.  An HBO Documentary Films release. After the Screening: Stay for a conversation with special guests Dr. Mathilde Krim, global health consultant and activist Regan Hofmann and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost to discuss the new strides medicine has taken in AIDS research development.  Moderated by amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole. DATE: Wednesday, April 24 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 source: Tribeca Film Festival

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  • REVIEW: The Sapphires

    by Lauren McBride

    As an African-American woman, I have seen my fair share of films about the Civil Rights Movement. The America of the 1960s, torn apart by racism, sexism and a violent war, is well documented in film. The names, faces and perspectives that populate these films are rarely unique, but always poignant. It’s a history that America, white and black, constantly re-lives — perhaps in an effort to come to terms with its horrors or to prematurely congratulate ourselves on how far we’ve come. Either way, it’s rare to see a film that frames the Civil Rights Movement in a global perspective — that reminds its viewers that the message of the movement’s leaders reached far beyond the molehills of Mississippi and the slopes of California. For some, it reached all the way to shores of Melbourne, Australia.

    The Sapphires tells the true story of three Aboriginal sisters and their fairer-skinned cousin who venture to Vietnam in 1968 to perform soul music for African-American troops. The film was powerful and dramatic at times, and hilarious and exciting at others. It brilliantly bears the weight of its place in history. Watching The Sapphires and seeing a similar struggle happen thousands of miles away at the very same moment makes it difficult to divorce the two histories: the struggle of African-Americans in the US, and that of Aborigines in Australia. As the film plays out it’s clear that the blending of histories and depiction of a shared experience is precisely what Wayne Blair intends. In some ways, it’s where the film succeeds the most.

    It also shines is in the development of its characters and the performance of its stars. Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Julie (Jessica Mauboy) and Kay (Shari Sebbens) master the sisterly dynamic — with its complex mix of love, jealousy, and a deep sense of responsibility. Chris O’Dowd’s Dave is completely flawless. O’Dowd, known to American audiences from his turns in Bridesmaids and a 5-episode arc in HBO’s Girls, is both hilariously tragic and totally transfixing.

    While The Sapphires does have its occasional trite moments, it remains a must-see. Audiences will walk away with the songs of Marvin Gaye and James Brown swimming in their heads, and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King echoing in their hearts.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywAGVfuFzxA

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  • 2013 San Francisco International Film Festival Announces Big Nights Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Night Films

    The 56th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25 – May 9) announced the films in its Big Nights series. Things kick off with the Opening Night presentation of returning Bay Area duo Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s drama What Maisie Knew (USA 2012) starring Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan and Alexander Skarsgård. The celebration continues on May 4 with the Centerpiece screening of Jacob Kornbluth’s Inequality For All (USA 2013), featuring local economist Robert Reich. The festival then comes to a close with Richard Linklater’s (Bernie, SFIFF 2012) Before Midnight (USA 2013), the third film in the director’s romantic trilogy starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. 

    Opening Night: What Maisie Knew
    Thursday April 25, 7:00 pm, Castro Theatre
    Codirectors Scott McGehee and David Siegel and actor Onata Aprile expected
    In a loose adaptation of Henry James’ novel of the same name, Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s What Maisie Knew focuses on the effects of a marriage unraveling as viewed through the eyes of a couple’s six-year-old daughter (played by remarkable newcomer Onata Aprile). Shuffling between narcissistic parents-her rock star mother (Julianne Moore) and distracted art dealer father (Steve Coogan)-or foisted off on parental stand-ins (Alexander Skarsgård and Joanna Vanderham), young Maisie comes face to face with the mercurial world of grown-ups who are anything but.

    The Opening Night celebration continues at the Temple Nightclub (540 Harrison Street) at 9:00 pm with a lavish party featuring hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, sophisticated cocktails and, of course, dancing. 

    Centerpiece: Inequality For All


    Saturday May 4, 6:30 pm, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
    Director Jacob Kornbluth and subject Robert Reich expected
    In this Inconvenient Truth for the economy, the Sundance Special Jury Award-winning Inequality For All introduces former Secretary of Labor (and current UC Berkeley professor) Robert Reich as an inspirational and humorous guide in exploring the causes and consequences of the widening income gap in America and asks what is means for the future of our economy and nation. Passionate and insightful, Reich connects the dots for viewers by providing a comprehensive and significantly deeper understanding of what’s at stake if we don’t act. 

    At 8:30 pm guests will party at Roe (651 Howard Street), San Francisco’s premier boutique nightclub and lounge destination. They will indulge in cool cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres and the latest beats.

    Closing Night: Before Midnight


    Thursday May 9, 7:00 pm, Castro Theatre
    Director Richard Linklater expected
    They’re still the same romantic, articulate and gorgeous couple that met on a train in Linklater’s Before Sunrise (1995), but now, nearly 20 years on, Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) are approaching middle age and facing questions of commitment, family and, as ever, the staying power of love.Before Midnight, with a funny and touching screenplay cowritten by Linklater and his two lead actors, is that rare sequel (rarer still: a sequel to a sequel) that not only delivers the charm and energy of its antecedents but adds layers of poignancy, standing firmly on its own as a mature observation of love’s pleasures and discontents.

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  • The Spectacular Now to Open 2013 Phoenix Film Festival

    The Spectacular Now, which premiered earlier this year at 2013 Sundance Film Festival, will have its Arizona Premiere on April 4th as this year’s Opening Night film selection at the 13th Annual Phoenix Film Festival!  James Ponsoldt, the director of The Spectacular Now, will also be on hand to introduce the film and participate in a post screening Q&A. This is Ponsoldt’s third feature film and an adaptation of Tim Tharp’s novel The Spectacular Now. 

    The Spectacular Now is described as a funny, compassionate and poignant look at young adulthood.  The film captures the insecurity and confusion of adolescence without looking for tidy truths. Sutter Keely (Miles Teller from Footloose), lives in the now. It’s a good place for him. A high school senior, charming and self-possessed, he’s the life of the party, loves his job at a men’s clothing store, and has no plans for the future. A budding alcoholic, he’s never far from his supersized, whiskey-fortified thirst-master cup. But after being dumped by his girlfriend, Sutter gets drunk and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley from The Descendants) hovering over him. She’s different: the “nice girl” who reads science fiction and doesn’t have a boyfriend. While Amy has dreams of a future, Sutter lives in the impressive delusion of a spectacular now, yet somehow, they’re drawn together.

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  • Toronto International Film Festival Announces 2013 Asian Film Summit

     

    Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, today announced the return of the Asian Film Summit. Returning to the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto, the 2013 Summit will take place during the Festival, on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. The Summit is a key element of TIFF’s ongoing commitment to building bridges between Asian cinema and the West.

    “Last year we were honoured to have among our Asian Film Summit guests filmmakers Chen Kaige, Mira Nair and Eli Roth, film executives Harvey Weinstein, Bill Kong, Chris Dodd, Nina Lath Gupta and Stuart Ford, and global superstar Jackie Chan,” said Bailey. “We’re looking forward to welcoming another stellar lineup of key influencers and film leaders from both sides of the Pacific.”

    Following the success of the inaugural event, the 2013 Summit will include panel discussions, in-depth working sessions and a gala banquet. The Summit offers a platform for industry leaders to connect with one another—generating ideas and finding new business opportunities.

    Information on Asian Film Summit guests and programming will be announced in the coming months.

    The TIFF Industry Office will be selling a limited number of passes to industry professionals who are registered with the Festival. Passes will go on sale May 1. Visit tiff.net/industry in April for more details.

    The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 to 15, 2013. 

    source: TIFF

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  • 12 Finalists Picked for Spring 2013 San Francisco Film Society / Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grants

    [caption id="attachment_3339" align="alignnone" width="550"]Recent SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant winners include Short Term 12, Destin Daniel Cretton’s sophomore feature which just won both the Narrative Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at South by Southwest 2013[/caption]

    The 12 finalists were announced for the latest round of San Francisco Film Society / Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grants; more than $300,000 will be awarded to one or more narrative feature films at any stage of production. Winners of the spring 2013 SFFS/KRF Grants will be announced in mid-April. 

    Recent SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant winners include Short Term 12, Destin Daniel Cretton’s sophomore feature which just won both the Narrative Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at South by Southwest 2013; Ryan Coogler’s debut feature Fruitvale, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the narrative category at Sundance 2013; and Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin’s debut phenomenon which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and Cannes’ Camera d’Or in 2012, earned four Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and became an indie box office smash.

    FINALISTS
    Rod Blackhurst, director and Josh Murphy, producer – North (production)
    Rack is a 38-year-old recently released ex-convict, struggling with his return to a neglectful society. Emotionally discarded by his family and caught in a flawed parole system, he embarks on a bicycle journey to northern California to find Rebecca, the girl he left behind. With his criminal past threatening to resurface at every turn, Rack discovers what it means to be truly free and how fragile his newly gained freedom can be.

    Jonas Carpignano, writer/director – A Chjana (preproduction)
    After leaving his native Burkina Faso, Ayiva makes the perilous journey across the Sahara and Mediterranean in search of a better life in Europe. Once in Italy, he must balance his desire to provide for his family in Africa with the intolerance and harsh working conditions he finds in his newly claimed home.

    Grainger David, writer/director – Nocturne (working title) (screenwriting)
    Nocturne is the story of a white South Carolina cop on the verge of retirement who accidentally kills a young black teenager he suspects of a recent robbery and murder. In a moment of extreme weakness, he hides the boy’s body in a woodshed-only to return a day later to discover it has disappeared.

    Ian Hendrie and Jyson McLean, co-writers/directors/producers – Mercy Road(development)
    Based on true events, Mercy Road traces the political and spiritual odyssey of a small town housewife as she turns from a peaceful pro-life activist to an underground militant willing to commit violence and murder in the name of God.

    Dan Kern, writer/director and Jay Van Hoy, producer – Relapse(screenwriting)
    Relapse is a sci-fi thriller about an amnesia patient accused of murder who goes on the run in an attempt to prove his innocence and save the woman he loves.

    Maryam Keshavarz and Paolo Marinou-Blanco, cowriters – The Last Harem(screenwriting)
    The Last Harem follows the battle between Jayran, a young musician girl, and Malik Jahan, the mother of the newly-ascended boy-king, for the affection of the new monarch and control of the palace’s extensive harem. Whoever wins becomes the most powerful woman in the Persian empire…

    Richard Levien, writer/director and Chad Burris, producer – La Migra(development)
    Twelve-year-old Itan’s life in San Francisco is turned upside down when she comes home from school to find her apartment ransacked and her mother missing. Suddenly she must rely on her estranged uncle Eevencio, who she suspects is a criminal. They cross the country in Eevencio’s dilapidated truck, through the labyrinth of immigration detention, trying to find Itan’s mother and prevent her from being deported.

    Zeresenay Mehari, writer/director and Leelai Demoz, producer – Dare(postproduction)
    Dare is the story of a young lawyer who operates under the government’s radar until one young girl’s legal case exposes everything and threatens the survival of her work and life.  

    Tommy Oliver, writer/director/producer – 1982 (postproduction)
    Semi-autobiographical and inspired by true events, 1982 tells the story of a black father whose wife succumbs to a crack cocaine addiction and his efforts to shield his young daughter from the ill effects of having a drug-addicted mother. Set at the very onset of the crack epidemic, the film is about a father doing whatever he can to protect his family.

    Vendela Vida, cowriter and Eva Weber, cowriter/director – Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (screenwriting)
    28-year-old Clarissa discovers on the day of her father’s funeral that everything she believed about her life was a lie. She flees New York and travels to the Artic Circle to find her real father, but instead is reunited with her mother who abandoned her when Clarissa was only 14.

    Caroline von Kuhn, producer – The Fixer (development)
    An Afghan journalist is exiled from his war-torn country to a small bohemian community in Northern California. When he attempts to turn his menial job on the local police blotter into “Afghan-style” coverage of local crime, he gets drawn into the backwoods of this small town — a shadow Northern California where sex is casual, true friendship is hard to come by and an unfamiliar form of violence emerges all around him.

    Josef Wladyka, cowriter/director – Manos Sucias (production)
    A desperate fisherman and a naive young man embark on a dangerous journey trafficking drugs up the Pacific coast of Colombia. Hidden beneath the waves, they tow a narco-torpedo filled with millions of dollars worth of cocaine. Together they must brave the war-torn region while navigating the growing tension between them.

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  • Tribeca Film Institute Announces April 20 ‘TFI Interactive’ Program at 2013 Tribeca Film Festival

    The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced the program for the second annual TFI INTERACTIVE daylong conference at the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF). Made possible by support from the Ford Foundation, TFI INTERACTIVE, which launched at last year’s TFF, will assemble the brightest thinkers and innovators from the worlds of film, media, gaming, technology and society to explore storytelling in digital age through an all-day forum on Saturday, April 20.

    Through a full day of panels and presentations, thought leaders will share their insights with TFF attendees and inspire content creators to rethink paradigms. The day will explore the digital media ecosystem and the tools and trends that are changing the art of business and film. Conversations will range from the rich narratives found in adventure games led by Kill Screen co-founder Jamin Warren, to a look at why telling stories is so important and advantageous to society, to an examination of how code and maker culture can give artists and creators a rich new digital palette to work with. The event will take place from 9:30 am – 5pm at the IAC Building and is open to all TFF badge holders and invited guests. Attendees can participate and share comments via Twitter hashtag #TFII.

    “At TFI INTERACTIVE, we will weave our way from hacking to maker culture, and from games to web docs as we explore the rapidly evolving field of transmedia through a number of project case studies,” said Ingrid Kopp, Director of Digital Initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute. “Last year we looked at the media industry with a wide lens to see how different fields apply theories of interactivity. So much has evolved in the last 12 months and this year’s program seeks to highlight the creators and projects experimenting with audience involvement and immersive spaces. It’s time for more big ideas, inspiring projects and amazing people.”

    The second annual TFI INTERACTIVE conference joins a range of other TFF and TFI initiatives that bridge filmmaking and technology, including TFF’s Storyscapes – a juried, multi-platform transmedia section created in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin that will launch at the 2013 Festival along with the Bombay Sapphire Award for Transmedia, and the annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards; as well as year-round programming like the Future of Film discussion series; Tribeca Hacks, a nationwide series of workshops that brings together content creators with technology experts to increase understanding in the field of interactive storytelling; the Tribeca Online Festival; and the TFI New Media Fund, which, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, provides funding and support to non-fiction, social issue media projects that integrate film with content across media platforms.

    TFI INTERACTIVE – PROGRAM & SCHEDULE:

    9:50 a.m. – Opening remarks

    Beth Janson, executive director of the Tribeca Film Institute

    10 a.m. – KEYNOTE: THE CLOUD FILM MAKING MANIFESTO

    Tiffany Shlain, filmmaker and founder of the Webby Awards

    Tiffany Shlain, filmmaker, founder of The Webby Awards and recipient of 50
     awards including one of Tribeca’s Disruptive Innovation Awards will present a Live “Cloud Filmmaking Manifesto” where she will describe her new participatory way of making films collaboratively with people all over the world.  She has released 3 of these films to date, customized for free for nearly 500 nonprofits worldwide (part of the Cloud Filmmaking concept), and the last one, Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks, was just selected by the US State Department as one of the films to represent America in the 2013-14 American Film Showcase. In this keynote she will share how she makes these films as well as premiere their latest short film in the series, The Science of Character.

    10:40 a.m. – A WISH FOR THE FUTURE

    Lance Weiler, filmmaker and innovator
    Wish For The Future is a creative platform to empower everyone to shape the world around them and create a better future now. Lance Weiler is known as an interactive media trailblazer and for TFI Interactive will be taking the digital into physical throughout the event with the help of the audience.

    11a.m. – PANEL: ARE ADVENTURE GAMES THE NEW TELEVISION?

    Moderated by Jamin Warren, co-founder of Kill Screen; confirmed panelists include Sarah Elmaleh (Kill Screen)
    Think you know everything about narrative? When it comes to gaming you may be surprised. Adventure games are maturing and increasingly seen as a perfect narrative complement to the rich storytelling found on television. Jamin Warren of Kill Screen talks with panelists about the future of gaming and the evolution of narrative.

    11:30 a.m. – NFB INTERACTIVE SINCE BEAR 71

    Loc Dao, head of digital content and strategy for English Programming at the National Film Board of Canada
    Loc Dao will take attendees through the projects NFB Interactive has been working on since the smash hit Bear 71. They are about to do it again with Circa 1948 by Stan Douglas, a 3D historical augmented reality app that captures the stories and architecture of a transitional post-war era Canada. Get a sneak peak of this exciting project by a world-renowned artist.

    11:50 a.m. – STORY+WONDER

    Jason Silva, filmmaker and futurist

    Called a “Timothy Leary for the Viral Video Age”, Jason Silva is known as an innovator and disruptor.  He definitely breaks the traditional media mould with his wide-ranging curiosity and infectious enthusiasm. His non commercial short films have been seen millions of times online and Jason has spoken at TEDGlobal and keynoted events for IBM, INTEL, Microsoft and SXSW.. In this 20 minute inspirational talk he will touch upon some of the highlights of his past work, the pace of technological disruption, and reflect on why telling stories is so important to us. Jason can be seen this April as the host of National Geographic Channel’s new series Brain Games.

    12:10 p.m. – LOCALORE SESSION 1
    Localore, an independent producer-driven public media production from AIR, Inc, has birthed a set of inspiring transmedia projects that open our imaginations to the new possibilities of “full spectrum storytelling.” Some of the most meaningful and powerful projects happen on our doorsteps. Discover ten of them.

    ·AUSTIN MUSIC MAP – Uncovering Austin’s surprisingly diverse sonic subculture in tandem with fans and performers. 

    ·REINVENTION STORIES – Reinvention offers residents of Dayton a chance to reflect on how they’re remaking their lives and community. 

    ·PLANET TAKEOUT – Planet Takeout solicits perspectives from both sides of the counter on how Chinese carryouts have become an unlikely crossroads of community.

    ·HEAR HERE – Hear Here seeks residents’ most resonant place-based stories enabled in art by a custom-built booth inspiring mobile listening and contributions

    ·BLACK GOLD BOOM – Black Gold Boom traverses the oil rigs, man camps, and crossroads of North Dakota’s oil rush through a series of lively multimedia pieces.

    12:40 p.m. – A WEB-DOCUMENTARY MANIFESTO

    Jesse Shapins, CEO/co-founder of Zeega
    Zeega has quickly enabled film makers across the world to create non-linear, online stories without the need for a degree in computer programming. In this 10-minute presentation, Jesse Shapins will lay out a collaborative manifesto for web-documentary. 

    12:50 p.m. – TFI NEW MEDIA FUND PRESENTS THE 2013 GRANTEES – Session 1

    [caption id="attachment_3344" align="alignnone" width="550"]HOLLOW[/caption]

    ·HOLLOW – Elaine Mcmillion: Like many post-industrial communities across the country, McDowell County, W. Va., is struggling to survive. Through Hollow, the Appalachian community represents themselves and their challenges as they see fit. Hollow combines video portraits, interactive data visualizations, social media and user-generated content delivered on an HTML5 website to support engagement and inspire change.

    [caption id="attachment_3345" align="alignnone" width="550"]QUESTION BRIDGE[/caption]

    ·QUESTION BRIDGE: BLACK MALES – Hank Willis Thomas: A transmedia art project that seeks to represent and redefine black male identity in America. Through video mediated question and answer exchange facilitated through strategic digital channels, diverse members of this “demographic” bridges economic, political, geographic, and generational divisions.

    [caption id="attachment_3346" align="alignnone" width="550"]IMMIGRANT NATION[/caption]

    ·IMMIGRANT NATION – Theo Rigby: Nearly every person in the U.S. has an immigration journey — be it their own or the voyage of a relative in the past. As the topic of immigration divides communities across the country, our shared history can create commonality between recent immigrants and those whose families have lived in the U.S. for generations. Immigrant Nation will use documentary film, user-generated storytelling, and data visualization to provide a social space for communities to share and connect with their immigrant histories.

    1:00-2:00 p.m. – LUNCH

    2:00 p.m. – TFI NEW MEDIA FUND PRESENTS THE 2013 GRANTEES – Session 2

    [caption id="attachment_3347" align="alignnone" width="550"]ALMA, A TALE OF VIOLENCE[/caption]

    ·ALMA – Alexandre Brachet: For five years, Alma has been a member of one of Guatemala’s most brutal gangs, the Maras. “Alma, a tale of violence” is a cross-platform project based on her life. In a moving confession, Alma tells her story through a unique interactive web/tablet concept in which the viewer moves between two screen levels, a face-to-face experience and a visual evocation of Alma’s recollections.

    [caption id="attachment_3348" align="alignnone" width="550"]NEW DAY NEW STANDARD[/caption]

    ·NEW DAY NEW STANDARD – Marisa Jahn: A public art interactive hotline that informs nannies, housekeepers, elder caregivers, and their employers about New York’s landmark Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, passed in November 2010. Part I features episodes combining equal parts advice and humor; Part II features an expanded storytelling initiative for callers to record and share their own messages.

    2:10 p.m. – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY

    Caspar Sonnen, curator, IDFA DocLab

    In 2008 most of our attentions were turned to the impending doom of Wall Street. Caspar, however, was out creating the IDFA DocLab and setting forth on a journey that would lead the way for the exhibition of interactive documentary. Caspar will look at the past, present and the future of this work with an unusually broad base of experience to draw from.

    2:30 p.m. – SHARE THIS, YOUR STORY, BUT SOCIAL

    Deanna Zandt, co-founder and partner of Lux Digital

    Deanna Zandt, media technologist and author of Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking, will show how social change movements take root through collaborative media and how to harness the power of social.

    2:40 p.m. – THE AATSINKI SEASON

    Jessica Oreck, filmmaker, and Mike Knowlton, co-founder Murmur

    Developed during a P.O.V. hackathon this seasonal and episodic online documentary is the companion piece to Aatsinki: The Arctic Cowboys (screening during the Festival). This experiential project lives alongside and supports the feature length documentary.

    2:50 p.m. – LOCALORE SESSION 2

    ·ED ZED OMEGA – Asking the question “what does school accomplish?”

    ·ISEECHANGE – Flipping the scrip on environmental reporting via a participatory hub

    ·CURIOUS CITY – Inviting locals to pitch in at newsrooms

    ·SONIC TRACE – A multiplatform documentary on the experience of Latin American immigrants

    ·MAKING OF – a musical performance from veteran radio producers The Kitchen Sisters

    3:20 p.m. – KICKSTARTING STORYTELLING

    Stephanie Pereira, director of art programs at Kickstarter

    Stephanie Pereira is a self-confessed make-it-happen kind of person who will explore how the Kickstarter crowd funding platform can be used as a storytelling tool – it’s about the audience as much as it is the money.

    3:30 p.m. – PANEL: GLUE IT, CODE IT, TWEAK IT, PLAY IT

    Confirmed panelists: Reshma Saujani (Girls Who Code), Sonali Sridhar (Hacker School), Amit Pitaru (Kitchen Table Coders), Adnaan Wasey (P.O.V.)

    Maker culture is more than knowing how to code, it is about a state of mind – if you can think it you can probably make it. The theory isn’t that far removed from that moment where you get the idea for a film, the only difference is the next step. This panel explores rapid prototyping and getting your hands dirty to get something made and into the hands of your audience as quickly as possible.

    4 p.m. – WELCOME TABLE

    Joslyn Barnes, producer

    WelcomeTable is a multiplatform project including a visual/auditory installation featuring large-scale photography, video portraits and live data to reveal the people behind the kitchen doors in restaurants across America. Joslyn Barnes will take us through all the elements of the project that shows that eating local is only half the battle.

    4:10 p.m. – CLOUDS

    James George and Jonathan Minard, media artists

    CLOUDS includes interviews with 30 new media artists, curators, designers, and critics, using a super-exciting new 3D cinema format called RGBD which uses a Kinect to create a videogame-like film environment. The creators of CLOUDS will take about the possibilities for creative code and creative filmmaking using their open-source RGBD Toolkit.

    4:20 p.m. – PANEL: STORYSCAPES – CREATING IMMERSIVE STORY EXPERIENCES
    Moderated by Ingrid Kopp, director of digital initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute; confirmed panelists include Hugues Sweeney (A Journal of Insomnia), Brent Hoff, Alexander Reben (Robots in Residence), Casey Pugh (Star Wars Uncut), Michael Premo (Sandy Storyline)
    Storyscapes is a new section at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013, in collaboration with Bombay Sapphire, celebrating interactive transmedia projects across genres. The creators will talk about their projects and describe the process of bringing work from the web to an immersive, installation space at a film festival.

    4:50 p.m. – CLOSING REMARKS

    Orlando Bagwell, director of the JustFilms initiative at the Ford Foundation

    5:00 p.m. – Cocktail hour

     source: Tribeca Film Institute

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  • Australia’s Revelation Perth International Film Festival Announce 2013 Dates And Invites Filmmakers to Submit Films

    Revelation Perth International Film Festival will run from July 4-14, 2013 in Perth, Australia and filmmakers from across the globe are invited to enter their films.

    Regarded as one of Australia’s most exciting independent film festivals, the festival’s search is on for unique, signature-driven works from both emerging and established filmmakers.

    Each year, REVELATION sees Australian filmmakers converging on Western Australia to present their works and meet with screenwriters, producers, directors, distributors, and other industry representatives.

    Founded in 1997, REVELATION has developed into an internationally renowned film festival, screening stand-out works and giving a platform for distinctive approaches to production, distribution and exhibition. REVELATION is an outstanding networking opportunity for the Australian and international film community.

    The event’s reputation as a leading light of the Australian screen industry has resulted in an impressive number of Australian and world premieres and growing attendance by the film industry’s brightest and best.

    Submissions may include narrative features, documentary, short film, animation, experimental work and anything in between.

    Entries for the Revelation Perth International Film Festival close on 5 April 2013.

    For the first time, Revelation also offers an online entry option. 

    REVELATION is proudly supported by the West Australian government. 

    source: Revelation Perth International Film Festival

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  • Short Term 12 and The Short Game Among Audience Award-winners at 2013 SXSW

    The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced Audience Award-winners from the Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Emerging Visions, Midnighters, 24 Beats Per Second, SXGlobal, Festival Favorites and Design Award categories.

    The Audience Awards follow the previously announced 2013 Jury Awards, which included Grand Jury Winners Destin Daniel Cretton’s Short Term 12 for Narrative Feature, and Ben Nabors’ WILLIAM AND THE WINDMILL for Documentary Feature.

    2013 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award Winners:

    NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
    Winner: Short Term 12
    Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

    DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
    Winner: The Short Game
    Director: Josh Greenbaum

    DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT
    Winner: An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story
    Director: Al Reinert

    NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT 
    Winner: Zero Charisma
    Directors: Katie Graham & Andrew Matthews

    VISIONS
    Winner: Maidentrip
    Director: Jillian Schlesinger

    MIDNIGHTERS
    Winner: Cheap Thrills
    Director: E.L. Katz

    24 BEATS PER SECOND
    Winner: A Band Called Death
    Directors: Mark Christopher Covino & Jeff Howlett

    SXGLOBAL
    Winner: The Punk Syndrome
    Directors: Jukka Kärkkäinen & J-P Passi

    FESTIVAL FAVORITES
    Winner: The Crash Reel
    Director: Lucy Walker

    SXSW Film Design Awards 

    EXCELLENCE IN POSTER DESIGN
    Audience Award Winner: Kiss of the Damned
    Designer: Akiko Stehrenberger, Gravillis Inc

    EXCELLENCE IN TITLE DESIGN 
    Audience Award Winner: Chasing Shakespeare
    Designer: Lucky Post

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