The Last Revolutionary by Michael Brewer will open the 25th anniversary of the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF).
The festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a total of 64 films from 31 countries including 31 World, US and NY Premieres. Screenings will be held in three venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village and MIST Harlem.
The Last Revolutionary depicts two black men who came together as revolutionaries in the 1970s but whose lives took very different paths. They meet again in a Los Angeles throwback hideout during Obama’s presidency and debate and argue around how to best stop the ongoing attacks from the far right and racist groups around the country.
The Last Revolutionary is one of several films in the festival that deal with issues of social justice, activism and police brutality, issues that have been for a long time and continue to be of great concern to communities of colors worldwide.
Going back into history are films like Malcolm X : An Overwhelming Influence On The Black Power Movement! – to have its world premiere in ADIFF 2017; Winnie, the award-winning Sundance documentary about Winnie Mandela; Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba about the South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, and Barrow: Freedom Fighter – about the man who led the struggle for Barbados independence after 300 years of British colonialism.
Addressing contemporary concerns are Black Cop, a searing political satire about a black cop who seeks revenge after being egregiously profiled and assaulted by his colleagues, Silas about a committed environmental activist from Liberia fighting against land grabbing and environmental destruction in his country. The Valley of the Black Descendants is a documentary about Chileans of African descent fighting to get official recognition from a State that has concealed their culture and African identity for more than 200 years.
“Who do we want in the seats” The Last Revolutionary director Brewer says “Anyone who is progressive and sees the need for change. The Last Revolutionary touches on many issues that are happening in the country (and asks): How have things really changed?”
“After 25 years of existence, the African Diaspora International Film Festival brings powerful films to New York that touch on many issues that are still very relevant today” says Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech, Co-Director and Chief Curator of ADIFF. “The Last Revolutionary was the perfect film to open our 25th edition. It takes us full circle.”
https://vimeo.com/241057946-
Michael Brewer’s THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY to Open 25th African Diaspora International Film Festival
The Last Revolutionary by Michael Brewer will open the 25th anniversary of the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF).
The festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a total of 64 films from 31 countries including 31 World, US and NY Premieres. Screenings will be held in three venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village and MIST Harlem.
The Last Revolutionary depicts two black men who came together as revolutionaries in the 1970s but whose lives took very different paths. They meet again in a Los Angeles throwback hideout during Obama’s presidency and debate and argue around how to best stop the ongoing attacks from the far right and racist groups around the country.
The Last Revolutionary is one of several films in the festival that deal with issues of social justice, activism and police brutality, issues that have been for a long time and continue to be of great concern to communities of colors worldwide.
Going back into history are films like Malcolm X : An Overwhelming Influence On The Black Power Movement! – to have its world premiere in ADIFF 2017; Winnie, the award-winning Sundance documentary about Winnie Mandela; Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba about the South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, and Barrow: Freedom Fighter – about the man who led the struggle for Barbados independence after 300 years of British colonialism.
Addressing contemporary concerns are Black Cop, a searing political satire about a black cop who seeks revenge after being egregiously profiled and assaulted by his colleagues, Silas about a committed environmental activist from Liberia fighting against land grabbing and environmental destruction in his country. The Valley of the Black Descendants is a documentary about Chileans of African descent fighting to get official recognition from a State that has concealed their culture and African identity for more than 200 years.
“Who do we want in the seats” The Last Revolutionary director Brewer says “Anyone who is progressive and sees the need for change. The Last Revolutionary touches on many issues that are happening in the country (and asks): How have things really changed?”
“After 25 years of existence, the African Diaspora International Film Festival brings powerful films to New York that touch on many issues that are still very relevant today” says Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech, Co-Director and Chief Curator of ADIFF. “The Last Revolutionary was the perfect film to open our 25th edition. It takes us full circle.”
https://vimeo.com/241057946
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MOLLY’S GAME Replaces ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD As Closing Night Film of AFI FEST
Writer/director Aaron Sorkin will be honored by AFI FEST 2017 with a Tribute and his film Molly’s Game will be the new closing night film of the festival. Molly’s Game replaces All the Money in the World which was pulled after allegations of sex misconduct surrounding Kevin Spacey, one of the stars in the film.
The Tribute to Sorkin will celebrate his career with a moderated discussion of his work followed by the Gala premiere screening. Written and directed by Sorkin, Molly’s Game stars Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
Oscar® nominee Jessica Chastain stars in Oscar®-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut, set in the glamorous world of high-stakes underground poker games. DIR Aaron Sorkin. SCR Aaron Sorkin. CAST Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O’Dowd, Bill Camp.
“Aaron Sorkin is an American master, and we are proud to shine a proper spotlight on his directoral debut, Molly’s Game, on AFI FEST’s Closing Night,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI FEST Director. “As Sorkin embarks on this next chapter of his career, his talents are timely for a tribute as he brings his gift of crafting compelling narratives and complex characters to the story of female impresario Molly Bloom.”
One of our nation’s most acclaimed screenwriters, Aaron Sorkin has been honored with an Academy Award® for Best Adapted Screenplay for THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) and four Emmys® for THE WEST WING. Additional film credits include A FEW GOOD MEN (1992), MALICE (1993), THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995), CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR (2007), MONEYBALL (2011) and STEVE JOBS (2015). Sorkin has also created and written THE NEWSROOM, SPORTS NIGHT, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and THE WEST WING for television.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4UPet8Nyc
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SKID ROW MARATHON and STUCK Win Top Prizes at Napa Valley Film Festival
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Skid Row Marathon[/caption]
The 7th Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced this year’s juried and audience award winners at the Uptown Theatre in Napa on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Stuck, and Skid Row Marathon snagged both the Jury and Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature .
“We applaud our award winners and thank all of this year’s filmmakers for sharing their beautiful stories with us,” said Festival Co-Founder and Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “It has been a tough road getting to this year’s festival, but what a perfect way to celebrate great storytelling in all its forms and to showcase the strength and resilience of our Napa Valley community.”
2017 Napa Valley Film Festival Juried Awards
Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature: Stuck. Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature: Skid Row Marathon. Jury Award for Best Screenplay: The House of Tomorrow. Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast: The Boy Downstairs. Jury Award for Best Narrative Short: The Dam. Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: The Tables. Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature: Quest. Jury Award for Best Lounge Short: The Arrival. Special Jury Award – For Depth and Grace in Documentary Filmmaking: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin. Special Jury Award – Best Breakout Performance in a Lounge Feature Film: Mackenzie Davis for her work in the film Izzy Gets the Fuck Across Town.2017 Napa Valley Film Festival Audience Awards
Audience Award for Favorite Actor: Gregory Kasyan for his work in the film Quest. Audience Award for Favorite Actress: Olivia Holt for her work in the film Class Rank. Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature: Skid Row Marathon. Honorable Mention goes to 40 years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short: Make It Work: The Idea. Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature: Quest. Honorable Mention goes to Stuck. Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Short: The Final Show Honorable Mentions go to Life Boat and Brothers. Audience Award for Favorite Short Feature: Taming Wild: A Girl and a Mustang.
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ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. Starring Denzel Washington Added to AFI FEST 2017
The final version of ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. has been added to the AFI FEST 2017 lineup and will screen in the Special Screenings section on Wednesday, November 15, at the TCL Chinese Theatre. The new film from director/writer Dan Gilroy, nominated for the Academy Award® for his screenplay for NIGHTCRAWLER, stars Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo.
The screening will be preceded by Dan Gilroy’s Los Angeles, a conversation with the director/writer of ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. and NIGHTCRAWLER that will explore the extraordinary and personal way in which Gilroy brings Los Angeles to life as a character in his films.
In ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ., Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when his mentor, a civil rights icon, dies. When he is recruited to join a firm led by one of the legendary man’s former students — the ambitious lawyer George Pierce (Colin Farrell) — and begins a friendship with a young champion of equal rights (Carmen Ejogo), a turbulent series of events ensue that will put the activism that has defined Roman’s career to the test. Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, the film is produced by Jennifer Fox, Todd Black and Denzel Washington.
AFI FEST takes place November 9–16, 2017, in the heart of Hollywood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVIKqbEtdU
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Louis C.K. Admits “These stories are true”
Louis C.K. today released the following statement addressing the allegations of sexual misconduct that were published in yesterday’s New York Times article. In the wake of the report, the release of his upcoming film I Love You, Daddy was canceled by the distributor, The Orchard.
I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not.
These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my (penis) without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your (penis) isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.
I have been remorseful of my actions. And I’ve tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I’m aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position.
I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community, which disabled them from sharing their story and brought hardship to them when they tried because people who look up to me didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it.
There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile it with who I am. Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with.
I wish I had reacted to their admiration of me by being a good example to them as a man and given them some guidance as a comedian, including because I admired their work.
The hardest regret to live with is what you’ve done to hurt someone else. And I can hardly wrap my head around the scope of hurt I brought on them. I’d be remiss to exclude the hurt that I’ve brought on people who I work with and have worked with who’s (sic) professional and personal lives have been impacted by all of this, including projects currently in production: the cast and crew of Better Things, Baskets, The Cops, One Mississippi, and I Love You Daddy (sic). I deeply regret that this has brought negative attention to my manager Dave Becky who only tried to mediate a situation that I caused. I’ve brought anguish and hardship to the people at FX who have given me so much The Orchard who took a chance on my movie and every other entity that has bet on me through the years.
I’ve brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother.
I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.
Thank you for reading.
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26 Animated Feature Films Submitted for 90th Academy Awards
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Loving Vincent[/caption]
Twenty-six features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 90th Academy Awards. Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture.
Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales
Birdboy: The Forgotten Children
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Captain Underpants The First Epic Movie
Cars 3
Cinderella the Cat
Coco
Despicable Me 3
The Emoji Movie
Ethel & Ernest
Ferdinand
The Girl without Hands
In This Corner of the World
The Lego Batman Movie
The Lego Ninjago Movie
Loving Vincent
Mary and the Witch’s Flower
Moomins and the Winter Wonderland
My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea
Napping Princess
A Silent Voice
Smurfs: The Lost Village
The Star
Sword Art Online: The Movie – Ordinal Scale
Window Horses The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming
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The Orchard No Longer Releasing Louis C.K.’s I LOVE YOU, DADDY
The Orchard will has dropped Louis C.K.’s latest film I Love You, Daddy, after the publication of yesterday’s disturbing bombshell New York Times report where five women accuse the comedian of inappropriate behavior, including the disturbing allegation that he masturbated in front of them. Last night’s premiere, along with a scheduled appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was also canceled.
The distributor’s statement read: “The Orchard will not be moving forward with the release of I Love You, Daddy.”
I Love You, Daddy, written, directed, produced and starring Louis C.K., premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film was acquired by The Orchard for a reported $5 million and was scheduled to be released in theaters on November 17.
Shot on 35mm in black and white, Louis C.K.’s I Love You, Daddy was filmed entirely in secret.
“Everything that’s difficult,” Louis C.K. once said, “you should be able to laugh about.” Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Written, directed, and edited by the comic genius The New York Times called a “stand-up Houdini,” I Love You, Daddy features the deft, conceptual acrobatics C.K.’s fans know best, but also a dive into moral hot water guaranteed to raise the temperature of any film lover. This is an edgy comedy pitched partway between the sharp social observation of his Horace and Pete series and the gasp-inducing laughs of his stand-up. And the less you know going in, the better.
As with Horace and Pete, I Love You, Daddy was made in secret, entirely off the film industry grid of development meetings, international financiers, studio production notes, and test screenings. It is pure, unfiltered Louis C.K., and shows him to be a ruthless observer of showbiz behind the scenes and human nature behind the masks. In addition to taking a central role, he has brought together a dream cast that includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Helen Hunt, Edie Falco, Rose Byrne, Pamela Adlon, Charlie Day, Ebonee Noel, and, in a role that may become one of his signatures, John Malkovich.
I Love You, Daddy also shows C.K. to be quite a cinephile. In an old-school stroke, he shot the film on 35mm, but not just any 35mm. This up-to-the-minute satire was shot on rich, timeless black-and-white film, in a throwback to the classics that inspired it. We don’t see this kind of movie anymore. As for the actions of the characters on display here, we’ll continue to see them so long as artists pursue their visions, and people their desires. [ Toronto International Film Festival]
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Sundance Selects will Release Rachel Dretzin’s Documentary FAR FROM THE TREE
Ahead of its world premiere today, November 10, at DOC NYC, Sundance Selects has acquired Rachel Dretzin’s documentary Far From the Tree, for a theatrical release in Summer 2018.
Based on the award-winning book by acclaimed author Andrew Solomon, Far From the Tree is an inspiring look at the difficulties and rewards of both raising and being a child whose life is vastly different from that of his or her parents. Directed and produced by Emmy®Award-winner Dretzin, the film follows several families as they cope with the challenges presented by Down syndrome, dwarfism, autism and even having a child in prison. The film shares their intimate stories with touching candor, and in doing so reveals basic truths about all parents and all children, truths of acceptance and love that feel especially urgent at this historic moment.
Solomon commented on the news, saying: “I was delighted to find in Rachel Dretzin a filmmaker who could translate my book into a gorgeous and compelling film, and now I’m thrilled that the film has found in Sundance Selects a distributor who shares our vision. This will be the perfect path for this deeply moving film to meet its audience.”
Dretzin added: “Sundance Selects has a fantastic track record and their plans for the film are very much in sync with what we had hoped for. It’s a delight and an honor to have them on board.”
“Far From the Tree is an inspiring and irresistibly moving journey into the differences that make us who we are. It builds on Andrew Solomon’s landmark book to paint a complex and universal portrait of acceptance with an empathy and scale that only true cinema can do,” said Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz, co-Presidents of Sundance Selects/IFC Films.
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Documentary THE SECRET LIFE OF LANCE LETSCHER Will Premiere on Ovation [TRAILER]
The documentary The Secret Life of Lance Letscher, is a deeply personal and psychological portrait of internationally-renowned collage artist Lance Letscher, told through biographical memories of trauma and triumph. Featuring interviews with collectors, fellow artists, art critics and friends, the film provides a doorway into Letscher’s unique artistry and his brilliant mind. The critically acclaimed documentary from director Sandra Adair, will debut on Ovation, America’s only arts network, as the “Artists and Icons” movie of the week on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.
The Secret Life of Lance Letscher, includes images of more than a hundred of his intricate and complex collages, sculptures and installations. Letscher is internationally famous for taking bits of old books, magazines, newspaper clippings, old letters, catalogues, posters, album covers and other found objects from flea markets and junk yards across Texas and assembling them into startlingly intricate art. He has exhibited extensively across the U.S. and abroad including Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, as well as in London, Brussels, Munich and Barcelona and his works are represented in the collections of the Austin Museum of Art, Austin and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
The documentary film is directed, produced and edited by Sandra Adair, A.C.E. Adair is an Academy Award-nominated feature film editor (Boyhood) and is making her directorial debut with The Secret Life of Lance Letscher.
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VIDEO: Watch New Trailer for Uplifting Family Romance FOREVER MY GIRL
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Forever My Girl[/caption]
A new trailer is here for the uplifting family romance Forever My Girl which will be released wide in theaters on January 19, 2018.
Forever My Girl tells the story of music super-star Liam Page (Alex Roe) who left his bride, Josie (Jessica Rothe), at the altar choosing fame and fortune instead. However, Liam never got over Josie, his one true love, nor did he ever forget his Southern roots in the small community where he was born and raised. When he unexpectedly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his high school best friend, Liam is suddenly faced with the consequences of all that he left behind.
Written and directed by Bethany Ashton Wolf based upon the novel by Heidi McLaughlin, the film stars Alex Roe, Jessica Rothe, Abby Ryder Fortson, Travis Tritt, Judith Hoag and John Benjamin Hickey.
https://youtu.be/5iEOQn8UUHI
Executive Music Producer Brett Boyett assembled some of the biggest and most respected names in country music to perform the film’s original songs including white-hot CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Lauren Alaina performing WINGS OF AN ANGEL. Alaina also performs a duet with Phillip Sweet, member of four-time CMA-nominated Little Big Town, titled ENOUGH. The film’s star Alex Roe performs four original songs including DON’T WATER DOWN MY WHISKEY, ENOUGH, SMOKIN’ AND CRYIN’ and FINALLY HOME (with co-star Abby Ryder Fortson). In addition, co-star and award-winning singer/songwriter Travis Tritt performs SLOWING DOWN with additional contributions made by Josh Turner, Dan Tyminski, Destin Bennett and Canaan Smith.
ORIGINAL SONGS / Performers
ALWAYS AND FOREVER / Canaan Smith
BACK FROM GONE / Josh Turner
CAN’T TAME A FIRE / Dan Tyminski
DON’T WATER DOWN MY WHISKEY / Alex Roe
ENOUGH / Lauren Alaina & Phillip Sweet
FINALLY HOME / Alex Roe with Abby Ryder Fortson
SLOWING DOWN / Travis Tritt
SMOKIN’ AND CRYIN’ / Alex Roe
SOLID GROUND / Brett Boyett
WHO NEEDS MEXICO / Canaan Smith
WILD AND FREE / Destin Bennett
WINGS OF AN ANGEL / Lauren Alaina
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Austin Film Festival Announces 2017 Audience Award Winners . COMING TO MY SENSES Wins Courage Award
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Coming to My Senses[/caption]
The Austin Film Festival announced its 2017 Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners. The 2017 Hiscox Courage Award went to Coming to My Senses, directed by Dominic Gill. Coming to My Senses is a documentary feature that follows Aaron Baker, a man who faces insurmountable odds and learns to walk again after breaking his neck in a motocross accident, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the work that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who best embraced the risk to share the story.
2017 Austin Film Festival Hiscox Audience Award winners
Narrative Feature: Beauty Mark, written by Harris Doran Documentary Feature (tie): Transformer, directed by Michael Del Monte Documentary Feature (tie): Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End, directed by Pablo Bryant Dark Matters Feature: The Landing, written by David Dodson and Mark Dodson Comedy Vanguard Feature: Don’t Talk to Irene, written by Pat Mills Narrative Short: So Much Yellow, written by Erica Milsom Documentary Short: So Damn Glad, directed by Justin Lubke Animated Short: Negative Space, written by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata Narrative Student Short: Towards the Sun, written by Elie Choufany and Monica Santis Scripted Digital Series: Cleaner Daze, created by Tess Sweet and Daniel Gambelin Marquee Feature: Mudbound, written by Dee Rees and Virgil Williams Marquee Television: The Deuce (S1E08: “My Name is Ruby”), written by George Pelecanos and David Simon
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SUN DOGS and RESISTANCE IS LIFE Win Top Awards at Savannah Film Festival
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Sun Dogs[/caption]
Sun Dogs and Resistance is Life won the top prizes at the 20th anniversary SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Eleven awards were handed out to the competition films winners during a celebratory luncheon, held at the historic Olde Pink House.
2017 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Award Winners
Narrative and Documentary Features
Best Narrative Feature: Sun Dogs (USA) – Intellectually limited from an accident at birth, Ned Chipley has failed four times to join the Marines. He teams up with a young runaway and the two surveil a group of young men they mistake as terrorists. The pair’s misadventures lead to the unexpected discovery that sometimes the greatest purpose in life can present itself in the most unlikely of places. Director: Jennifer Morrison Best Director: Ian Hunt Duffy, Gridlock (Ireland) – During a traffic jam on a country road, a little girl goes missing from one of the cars. Her father desperately forms a search party to find her, and soon everyone is a suspect. Director Ian Hunt Duffy Best Documentary Feature: Resistance is Life (Syria/Turkey/USA) – From a refugee camp on the Turkish–Syrian border, 8-year-old Evlin characterizes the resilience of her homeland’s resistance against jihadists. Her heroes, the Kurdish female fighters, are defending the city of Kobane against ISIS militants. Evlin takes us on a journey that introduces many different faces of the resistance, provides a unique look at the spirit behind the first major victory against ISIS and shows us that hope and resilience prevail even in the most tragic circumstances. Director: Apo W. Bazidi Special Jury Award: Best Family Documentary: Through the Windmill (USA)- Explore the history of miniature golf in the U.S., and how these unique, family-friendly roadside attractions have evolved over the last 100 years. Hear from the talented people who design, build and operate them in interviews with top designers, players and historians. Director Amanda Kulkoski Best Editing: Five Minutes (USA) – A progressive elementary school’s parenting class takes an unexpected and dramatic turn. Director Justine BatemanProfessional Shorts
Best Animated Short: Follow Your Heart (USA) – In a world where people’s hearts are detached from their bodies and are like pets, Mary loses “Skip,” only to rediscover herself and learn what it means to follow your heart. Director Rob O’Neill Best Narrative Short: The Silent Child (UK) – In rural England, a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl named Libby lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication. Director Chris Overton Special Jury Award: Stop Motion Animation Poles Apart (UK) – An unlikely meeting occurs between Nanuk, a tough female polar bear, and Aklak, an enthusiastic male grizzly bear, brought together by their changing habitats. Director Paloma BaezaStudent Awards
Best Student Short: It’s Just a Gun (USA) – When a young boy finds a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, it sets in motion a series of events that will change him forever. Director: Brain Robau Special Jury Award: Poles Apart (USA) – An unlikely meeting occurs between Nanuk, a tough female polar bear, and Aklak, an enthusiastic male grizzly bear, brought together by their changing habitats. Director Paloma Baeza Silver Screen Society Award (Best Short Film by a SCAD Student): I Have Something to Tell You (USA) – Adrain Chesser, a fine-art photographer, uses his work to cope with his HIV/AIDS diagnosis in this acclaimed portrait series. Director Dumaine Babcock and Ben Joyner Best Student Animation: Icky (Iran) – In a world of people with a Rubik’s cube head, there is one kid who is different than the others. Director Parastoo Cardgar