The Whistler Film Festival (December 1–5, 2010) announced its 10th anniversary lineup featuring an unprecedented 9 World Premieres, 5 North American Premieres, 5 Canadian Premieres, 21 Western Canadian Premieres, 2 English Canadian Premieres, and 14 BC Premieres, and work from wide-ranging movie mavericks such as Jean-Luc Godard, Bruce McDonald and Monte Hellman to name a few.
The Whistler Film Festival announced the films competing for $25,000 in cash prizes as part of the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature Film and the inaugural New Voices International Feature Film Competition.
Canadian indie film legend Bruce McDonald (dir: Hard Core Logo, Pontypool, Highway 61) rocks the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) this year with the World Premiere of his newest punk rockumentary Hard Core Logo 2. Fifteen years after filming his rock and roll doc Hard Core Logo, Bruce the filmmaker (played by Bruce McDonald himself) receives a call asking if he wants to interview Care Failure, the sexy lead singer of Canadian punk band Die Mannequin, who claims to have channeled the spirit of the Hard Cores lead singer Joe Dick. Presented by Alliance Films, Hard Core Logo 2 is based on the book Hard
Core Logo written by Michael Turner.
The Taipei Representative Office in the UK, University of Leeds and Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) are cooperating to organise a special event in Leeds focusing on the Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang. The event will be held on 15 and 16 November 2010.
This event begins on 15 November with a screening of his film The Wayward Cloud. A workshop will be hosted by Tsai himself at the University of Leeds in the morning of 16 November, which will be followed in the afternoon by an event entitled “An audience with Tsai Ming-liang,” at the Hyde Park Picture House. This latter event will include a screening of Tsai’s short film, Madame Butterfly, followed by a Q&A session with the director. To mark this occasion, Leeds International Film Festival plan to present the Golden Owl Lifetime Achievement Award to Tsai to celebrate his achievements, and his contributions to world cinema. Tsai will be the first ever recipient of this Golden Owl Award.
For the first time, DIFF is taking its flagship laurel to the heart of Africa with the recognition for Cissé, the Malian director and Cannes jury prize winner who has created compelling personal tales that reflect the spirit and diversity of the continent.
Abdulhamid Juma, Chairman of Dubai International Film Festival, said: “Over the years, Africa has produced powerful films that portray the social, political and economic realities of the continent. Souleymane Cissé has been at the forefront of the renaissance of African cinema.”
DIFF-accredited students will be able to attend and participate in workshops, panel discussions, master classes, networking sessions and screenings in addition to receiving special access to the Festival’s specialist teams. All told, they will have the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the region’s leading film festival.
Eligible students can register at the DIFF website, www.dubaifilmfest.com. All applications must be supported by a letter from their college or university or relevant faculty member.
The Festival’s annual ‘In Focus’ segment introduces regional audiences to the film, talent and narratives of nations with a history of excellence in cinema. With Mexico being responsible for some of Latin America’s best and most popular contemporary films, DIFF 2010’s In Focus: Mexico segment is expected to resonate not only with the region’s burgeoning Spanish-speaking population but with everyone who loves cinema.
Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of the Dubai International Film Festival said: “From the 1940s through to the new wave, Mexican cinema has a celebrated history that is often overlooked today. We believe that the diversity, innovation and energy of Mexican cinema will inspire emerging and established filmmakers in the region, and we hope this special section will build a lasting bond between the region’s Spanish-speaking community and the Festival.”
Brand new all-star drama ‘The King’s Speech’ will open the seventh Dubai International Film Festival on December 12, 2010, continuing the Festival’s tradition of bringing the most anticipated and critically acclaimed global films to local and regional audiences.
The film, based on the true story of King George VI and his struggle to lead Britain in the run up to World War II, features an award-winning cast led by Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Diary, A Single Man, Mamma Mia, Pride and Prejudice), Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shakespeare in Love), Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Jennifer Ehle (Sunshine, Pride and Glory), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter, Gosford Park), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Guy Pearce (Memento) and Timothy Spall (Harry Potter). Members of the cast are expected to support the December 12 premiere at DIFF.
One of the Arab world’s most prolific and popular actresses and singers, Sabah has starred in more than 98 movies, including several timeless comedies and musicals and lighthearted fare; released 50 albums and amassed more than 3,500 songs in her repertoire; and acted in 20 stage plays.
Renowned for her endearing performances, soaring voice and sparkling personality, Sabah – or ‘Al Shahroura’ (The Singing Bird) as she is known to her fans – continues to act and sing today, including a recent appearance in the pan-Arab talent show Star Academy.
The Philosopher, a short film directed by Fujairah-born national Abdulla AlKaabi and starring A-list international screen and stage veteran Jean Reno of La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional and Mission: Impossible fame, will screen in Dubai as part of DIFF’s seventh edition taking place from December 12 to 19, 2010.
Shot in Paris earlier this year with more than 80 cast and crew at a cost of €200,000, AlKaabi’s debut film features the cream of French cinema, including producer Cyril Deleye, who has worked alongside legendary directors Luc Besson and Roman Polanksi; executive producer Bernard Grenet of Danny the Dog, The Fifth Element and Taxi fame; and 81-year-old screenwriter Sylvette Baudrot, whose six-decade career includes working alongside Alfred Hitchcock.
Two-time Academy Award nominated actress Jill Clayburgh, has died of leukemia, aged 66. Clayburgh’s husband, the playwright David Rabe, told the New York Times she died at her home in Lakeville, Connecticut.