• 20 Feature Films to Compete for Golden Gate Awards at 2017 San Francisco International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_19940" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]In Loco Parentis A film still from In Loco Parentis by Neasa Ní Chianáin and David Rane[/caption] 10 narrative feature films and 10 documentary feature films will compete for the Golden Gate Awards (GGAs), and nearly $40,000 in total prizes at this year’s 2017 San Francisco International Film Festival taking place April 5 to 19. “The SF Film Society has been a champion of emerging and international filmmakers since its first edition 60 years ago,“ said Rachel Rosen, SF Film Society Director of Programming. “We continue to believe that festivals are in a unique position to advocate for films from a variety of cultures and viewpoints, often in languages other than our own. The Golden Gate Awards provide an opportunity to bring additional exposure and awareness to these artists and their work.” The GGA New Directors Prize winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000, the GGA McBaine Documentary Feature winner will receive $10,000 and the GGA McBaine Bay Area Documentary Feature winner will receive $5,000.

    2017 GGA NEW DIRECTORS (NARRATIVE FEATURE) COMPETITION

    Duet, Navid Danesh, Iran (North American Premiere) After a Tehran musician instigates an encounter with his college girlfriend in an attempt to address the poor end their relationship suffered, their lives and the equilibrium of their spouses are thrown into existential crisis. Navid Danesh’s resonant and moving depiction of the impact the past has on the present lives of its protagonists is both culturally specific and universal in its reach. Everything Else, Natalia Almada, Mexico/USA/France Academy Award-nominee Adriana Barraza (Babel) gives a masterfully controlled performance as Doña Flor, a solitary bureaucrat whose lifelong service in a government office has left her markedly unsympathetic towards her clients. Shot with an attentive and deeply empathetic lens, documentarian Natalia Almada’s narrative debut is a starkly intimate portrait of a woman at odds with her life who may still have a chance to escape her isolation. God’s Own Country, Francis Lee, UK Filmed on the Yorkshire hillside where he grew up, Francis Lee’s debut feature tells the rich and sexy story of John Saxby, a hard-drinking lad who keeps his emotions in check until an irrepressible Romanian immigrant comes to help out on the family farm and upends the young man’s life. Full of gloriously captured details about the care and breeding of animals, God’s Own Country is one of the year’s most moving romantic dramas. Godless, Ralitza Petrova, Bulgaria/Denmark/France In post-Communist era Bulgaria, where the shadow of oppression drives selfish behavior and hidden economies, outwardly impassive Gana works as a home care nurse—a job which provides ample opportunity to supplement her income with stolen ID cards to maintain the morphine habit she shares with her boyfriend. When Gana’s actions threaten the one glimmer of hope in her fatalistic world, will she break the cycle of corruption or spiral deeper? Godless is a bold first feature from Ralitza Petrova. Heaven Sent, Wissam Charaf, France/Lebanon Absurdly funny sequences punctuate this stylized comedy drama from Lebanon. Omar is a heavyset bodyguard who gets the assignment of his dreams, protecting a gorgeous TV personality, though matters are complicated when his brother Omar, a former militiaman presumed dead, magically reappears. Charaf’s surprising and inventive debut reflects on a country rife with absurdities and still reeling from its fraught history. The House of Tomorrow, Peter Livolsi, USA (World Premiere) When a sheltered teen named Sebastian meets an aspiring punk rocker and falls for the boy’s older sister, the stage is set for a cheerful and energetic comedy that tackles matters of friendship, young love, and musical dreams with equal aplomb. Ellen Burstyn is once again wondrous as Sebastian’s grandmother who is devoted to the life and scientific work of Buckminster Fuller. The Human Surge, Eduardo Williams, Argentina/Brazil/Portugal Eduardo Williams has steadily made a name for himself with a series of indelible shorts featuring young protagonists adrift in strange environments. In his debut feature, a prizewinner at Locarno, he takes the premise further, crafting a dreamlike three-part drama where youths from Argentina, Mozambique, and the Philippines are connected by invisible, electronic, or even subterranean means. Consistently inventive, The Human Surge burrows into three continents and finds surprising associations. Life After Life, Zhang Hanyi, China As the inexorable progress of industrialization in China makes its way into the lives of village residents Mingchun and his son Leilei, a surprise haunting by Leilei’s dead mother, who has an impassioned plea for her husband, points to a time when more attention was paid to the earth and its bounty. Produced by Jia Zhang Ke, this evocative and poetic debut depicts a rapidly disappearing way of life with a gorgeous visual sensibility and a subtly wry humor. Park, Sofia Exarchou, Greece/Poland The formerly grand stadiums and swimming pools of the 2004 Athens Olympics have become modern-day Greek ruins, a place for disaffected kids who’ve come of age since the Games to run wild. First-time director Exarchou, working mostly with non-professional actors, develops a compellingly anarchic style where the threat of violence and socio-economic troubles are omnipresent and the young characters act out their frustrations through boisterous, sometimes dangerous, horseplay. The Wedding Ring, Rahmatou Keïta, Niger/Burkina Faso/France (US Premiere) The Wedding Ring is a rare achievement, a wondrously complex dramatic feature directed by an African woman that explores female desires and empowerment in a traditional Muslim society. Rahmatou Keïta tells the story of Tiyaa who returns to Niger with lingering romantic feelings for the handsome man she left behind in France while grappling with family members who wish to arrange her marriage.

    2017 GOLDEN GATE AWARDS MCBAINE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

    Brimstone & Glory, Viktor Jakovleski, USA Burning Man has nothing on Tultepec’s charging toritos and exploding castillos. Mexico’s weeklong National Pyrotechnic Festival is sheer unbridled madness. Scars that tourists take away from fireworks-exploding bulls and towering infernos are earned with pleasure, apparently, as this dynamic documentary keeps explanation to a minimum while maximizing the experiential through GoPro camera POVs and gorgeous abstractions. Filmmaker Viktor Jakovleski has created a visually rapturous, immersive, sensory experience of this extraordinary event, capturing the danger and mayhem in all its glory. The Cage Fighter, Jeff Unay, USA (World Premiere) With the emotional force and power of a Bruce Springsteen song, Jeff Unay’s cinema vérité portrait of Joe Carman packs an emotional wallop. A family man who has promised not to return to competitive mixed martial arts fighting, the dangerous sport that gives him the most complete sense of purpose he’s been able to find, Joe risks everything for one more chance in the ring. The Challenge, Yuri Ancarani, France/Italy Italian artist Yuri Ancarani melds his luminous cinematic vision with the ancient sport of Arab falconry in The Challenge, an evocative and visually dazzling portrait of a celebrated hunting competition set in the coastal deserts of Qatar. Modern technology, such as GPS, augments a practice dating to antiquity as participants track their prized raptors across the austere plains, reconnecting with desert custom in the shadow of a falcon’s wing. The Cinema Travellers, Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya, India A moving homage to the bygone era of celluloid, The Cinema Travellers exquisitely captures the splendor of the moving image through India’s traveling movie caravans. Shot over five years, this intimate documentary takes the viewer on a cinematic journey joining the undaunted technicians, the projectionists who create movie magic, and the boisterous, overflowing crowd that await at each stop. Donkeyote, Chico Pereira, Spain/Germany/UK A Spanish man’s quest to defy barriers and borders in search of the American West by planning a journey on the Trail of Tears with his donkey by his side is its own quixotic trail of laughter and tears. The understanding between man and animal has rarely been so intimately conveyed as it is in Chico Pereira’s winning tale, a stunningly photographed film that hovers between documentary and fiction, one inspired and performed by a real-life character with outsized dreams. The Force, Peter Nicks, USA For the powerful second film in his trilogy concerning the relationship between public institutions and the communities they serve, Peter Nicks (The Waiting Room) takes a powerful, immersive look at the Oakland Police Department. Filming from 2014-2016 with astonishing access, Nicks captures a particularly turbulent time in Bay Area law enforcement history. Intended as a catalyst for conversation and change, Nicks’ empathetic and observational style avoids easy generalizations and upends expectations, resulting in a rich, thought provoking real-time conversation about social justice and the mutual responsibilities of police officers and those they serve and protect. Half-Life in Fukushima, Mark Olexa, Francesca Scalisi, Switzerland/France Five years after the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, elderly farmer Naoto Matsumura struggles to restore his life in the radioactive red zone, wandering through an empty dystopian nightmare of concrete ruins; abandoned, weed-filled facilities; contamination cleanup crews; and the haunting fragments of a city swept away by tsunami.  With minimal commentary and a graceful and sympathetic eye, Half-Life in Fukushima underlines the danger inherent in nuclear power in its depiction of Fukushima’s sinister remnants and Matsumura’s lonely last stand. In Loco Parentis, Neasa Ní Chianáin, David Rane, Ireland/Spain Irish filmmaker Neasa Nî Chianáin and David Rane present a charming and deeply intimate portrait of a year at Headfort boarding school in picturesque Kells, Ireland. Following devoted and wryly funny educators John and Amanda Leyden as they battle through another season of Latin, Shakespeare, and kids playing “Wild Thing,” In Loco Parentis shows how the level of attention and concern the teachers have for their students lead to remarkable transformations in everyone’s lives. Muhi – Generally Temporary, Rina Castelnuovo-Hollander, Tamir Elterman, Israel/Germany (World Premiere) Muhi, a cherubic Palestinian toddler with a life-threatening immune disorder, was transported to an Israeli hospital as a baby for emergency treatment. He and his devoted grandfather have lived there ever since, stuck in a bizarre no man’s land, with their extended family living on the other side of a fiercely guarded checkpoint. Their unique and moving story takes place within the crucible of the relentless Israeli-Palestinian conflict that impacts everyone in its orbit. Serenade for Haiti, Owlsley Brown, USA “Music is our refuge,” says a student at the Sainte Trinité Music School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Shot over a seven-year period both before and after Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, this vibrant tribute to the students and teachers of Sainte Trinité testifies to the role that art can play in creating community and sustaining hope under the most difficult of circumstances.

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  • GRAMMY Award Winning René Pérez Joglar’s Documentary RESIDENTE to Premiere at SXSW | Trailer

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    [caption id="attachment_20404" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Residente Residente[/caption] Residente, the eponymous documentary by director & 25-time GRAMMY Award winning artist René Pérez Joglar (also known as Residente), has been selected to premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, in Austin, Texas.  Residente will be screened in the 24 Beats Per Second section of the festival, which showcases films that highlight sounds, culture and the influence of music and musicians. Residente is centered on the global journey Pérez Joglar embarked on – after taking a DNA test – to trace his ancestry, explore his creative process and expose local stories, all the while creating music with local communities along the way. The documentary explores the human condition as well as how music and art cut across cultural, social, economic, racial and political divides, while taking audiences on a tour across four continents, seven countries and numerous regions: Siberia (Kyzyl), Moscow, The Caucasus (North Ossetia, South Ossetia, Georgia and Armenia), China, Barcelona, London, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Puerto Rico. Pérez Joglar expressed: “We are all microscopically invisible in relation to the history of time, yet we are all part of the same map, part of a great moment, and within our greatest moments we are all equally small.” Through concerted self-exploration Pérez Joglar was confronted with a new world view, that he refined as he wrote and composed his new album. While the film focuses on Residente’s music – the visual, environmental, sociocultural and political landscapes of each region also provided inspiration for his creativity and curiosity. Pérez Joglar added: “I didn’t write my own lyrics, my journey wrote them for me. Our common genetic map, that unites us all, composed my sheet music.” The film is based on a concept by Pérez Joglar and Marc de Beaufort, and is the first feature-length film directed by the artist himself. It was completed by a talented team, including Rebecca Adorno (editor), Alexandra Posada (director of photography) and Marc de Beaufort (field production) – and features cameo appearances from an equally impressive array of musicians, artists and influencers, from Lin Manuel Miranda to Bombino.
    Residente’s world premiere will take place at the Alamo Drafthouse Lamar Theater at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11.  The film will also screened two additional times at SXSW: On Tuesday, March 14 at the Rollins Theatre (1:45 p.m.) and on Thursday, March 16 at the Zach Theatre (11:00 a.m.)

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  • Full Frame Documentary Film Festival to Honor Duke University President Richard Brodhead with 2017 Advocate Award

    [caption id="attachment_21396" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Richard Brodhead Richard Brodhead[/caption] The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will honor Duke University President Richard Brodhead with the  2017 Advocate Award at its 20th anniversary edition taking place April 6 to 9 in Durham, North Carolina. The prestigious Advocate Award is given annually in recognition of individuals who exemplify the heart, soul, and spirit of Full Frame through their leadership and support of the festival and the documentary community. As Duke’s president, Brodhead has personally invested his time and energy as a catalyst for Full Frame, a program of the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University. “Full Frame has become an integral part not only of Duke and Durham but of the international community of artists and professionals working in documentary cinema,” said Brodhead. “I am honored by this recognition, as it has been my privilege to watch the festival grow and thrive, and it has been a continual enjoyment for the university to celebrate this important and inspiring art form every year.” “President Brodhead’s support for the arts ensures his legacy of creating more well-rounded students and citizens,” said Full Frame director Deirdre Haj. “He understands that the arts broaden the educational experience from learning how to make a living, to appreciating and valuing what makes a life worth living. I can’t imagine a worthier recipient for the Full Frame Advocate Award on our 20th anniversary.” Haj added that Brodhead’s involvement was particularly valuable in returning Full Frame to the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke, aligning the festival more closely with the university and making it central to Duke’s contributions to the Triangle region. He is also credited with helping to generate more than $3 billion in financial gifts for the university’s Duke Forward campaign—contributing to the funding of numerous arts-focused programs, including the acclaimed Nasher Museum of Art, the Center for Documentary Studies, and Full Frame—and establishing Duke’s only Master of Fine Arts degree in Experimental and Documentary Arts. Past recipients of the Advocate Award include Durham icons Jim Goodmon and Michael Goodmon, president and vice president of Capitol Broadcasting Company; the eminent Molly Thompson, president of A&E IndieFilms; and Josh Braun, co-president of Submarine Entertainment, the renowned distribution and production company. Haj will present this year’s award to President Brodhead at the Full Frame Opening Night champagne reception on Thursday, April 6.

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  • Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Announces 2017 Lineup, Opens with LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

    [caption id="attachment_18913" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Lipstick Under My Burkha Lipstick Under My Burkha[/caption] The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) will take place April 5 to 9, 2017 at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Los Angeles, California. The Festival will open with LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and starring an impressive ensemble cast of Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumraand Plabita Borthakur in a dramatic, but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. The film premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival 2016 and has been lighting up the festival circuit, including just winning the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival. Festival will close with the Los Angeles premiere of HOTEL SALVATION, the debut feature of Shubhashish Bhutiani, whose 2013 short film KUSH was shortlisted for the Live Action Short Film Oscar and won IFFLA’s 2014 Audience Award. HOTEL SALVATION premiered in the College Cinema section of the 2016 Venice Film Festival. This year the festival will feature two World premieres, five North American premieres, five U.S. premieres, and eleven LA premieres. More films from first-time directors will be presented this year than ever before, including the directorial debut of beloved actress Konkona Sen Sharma with her film A DEATH IN THE GUNJ featuring an all-star cast of Gulshan Devaiah, Kalki Koechlin, Om Puri and Vikrant Massey in this dramatic thriller. Additionally first-time filmmaker Ananya Kasaravalli brings THE CHRONICLES OF HARI, a beautiful film about a renowned theater actor’s struggle with gender identity which she co-wrote with writer Gopalakrisna Pai and her father, acclaimed Kannada language director Girish Kasaravalli. Also first-time filmmaker Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy with BILLION COLOUR STORY, which was included in Best of Fest in Palm Springs and recently played Busan and BFI London. Also attending the festival this year to present their films will be a host of celebrated filmmakers, including Adoor Gopalakrishnan making the U.S. premiere of his twisted thriller ONCE AGAIN in Malayalam, and Suman Mukhopadhyay with the North American premiere of his gorgeous Bengali film INCOMPLETE. IFFLA’s program features an impressive slate of award-winning and topical documentary films including MACHINES winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Excellence in Cinematography at Sundance, and THE CINEMA TRAVELERS directed by Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya which wonL’Œil d’or Special Mention: Le Prix du documentaire at the Cannes Film Festival. The U.S. Premiere of the highly anticipated documentary AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN, directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla, will also take place at IFFLA. The film centers on the polarizing political figure Arvind Kejriwal (sometimes referred to as the Bernie Sanders of India) and gives a stirring behind-the-scenes look at his creation of the progressive Aam Aadmi Party and their historic campaign in the 2013 Delhi state elections. IFFLA alum Rajshri Deshpande stars in the controversial SEXY DURGA directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, which recently won the coveted Hivor Tiger Award, the top prize at this year’s Rotterdam Film Festival. Competing in the shorts program are 10 films, representing 9 different languages. Shorts program highlights include: the world premieres of CITY OF LOVE, a Bengali film directed by Indranil Roychowdhury; and DEVI directed by Karishma Dube and starring a remarkable cast including Priyanka Bose (most recently seen in the Oscar-nominated LION) and Tanvi Azmi. Making its U.S. premiere is the short film INFILTRATOR, directed by Gurvinder Singh whose first feature THE FOURTH DIRECTION premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, and Sonejuhi Sinha’s newest film MILES OF SAND, starring Tannishta Chatterjee. Other highlights of the short film program include the U.S. premieres of DISCO OBU, by Anand Kishore, which recently won a Special Jury Mention at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and GUDH (NEST) by Saurav Rai, which had its world premiere at Cannes’ Cinefondation.

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  • SAG Announces 2018 Screen Actors Guild Award Dates

    [caption id="attachment_20309" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Actor Mahershala Ali, winner of the awards for Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Moonlight' LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: Actor Mahershala Ali, winner of the awards for Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role for ‘Moonlight’ and Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture for ‘Hidden Figures,’ poses with awards backstage during The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. 26592_017 (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for TNT) *** Local Caption *** Mahershala Ali[/caption] SAG today announced that the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Award will air live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).  The organization also announced the key deadlines and dates leading up to the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. This year, TNT and TBS’s telecasts of the SAG Awards drew more than 5 million viewers and scored tremendous audience growth compared to last year, including increases of +50% among adults 18-49, +45% among adults 18-34 and +33% among total viewers. Social media engagement also saw significant growth this year, with the number of SAG Awards-related posts increasing by +53% on Twitter and +68% on Facebook, compared to last year. Key Dates Upcoming key deadlines and events leading to the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are: Monday, Mar. 13, 2017 Nominating Committees Drawn by Random Sample Monday, Mar. 20, 2017 Notification of Selection Mailed to Nominating Committee Members Friday, Apr.14, 2017 Deadline for Selected Members to Opt-in to Serve on Nominating Committees Monday, July 10, 2017 Submissions Open Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 Period to Request Paper Final Ballots in Lieu of Online Voting Begins Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 Media Nominations and Ceremony Credential Applications Open Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 Submissions Close at 5 p.m. PT Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 Media Nominations and Ceremony Credential Applications Close Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 Publicists Nominations Credentials Applications Open Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 Nominations Balloting Opens Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 Deadline for Paying November 2017 Dues and/or Changing Address with SAG-AFTRA to be Eligible for Final Balloting Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 Publicists Nominations Credentials Applications Close Thursday, Dec 7, 2017 Records Pulled for Final Balloting Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 Nominations Balloting Closes at 5 p.m. PT Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 Nominations Announced Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 Publicists Ceremony Credentials Applications Open Tuesday Dec. 19, 2017 Final Voting Opens Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Publicists Ceremony Credentials Applications Close Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 Final Day to Request Paper Final Ballots in Lieu of Online Voting Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 Final Votes Must be Cast Online or Ballots Received by the Elections Firm by 12 Noon P Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(R)

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  • Tribeca Film Festival Announces Short Film Lineup Featuring Kobe Byrant, Jim Sheridan, Elisabeth Moss, and More

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    [caption id="attachment_21369" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]Dear Basketball “Young Kobe.” Film still from DEAR BASKETBALL.[/caption] The Tribeca Film Festival announced its lineup of 57 short films in competition, including 40% of which are directed by women. The festival will also feature the Sports Shorts program as part of the 11th annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. Tribeca Film Festival has several first-time documentary shorts programs this year including S.O.S., which focuses on kindness to each other and planet Earth, and Surf’s Up!, which will have an extended Q&A following the premiere with the filmmakers and their subjects. The always popular New York program this year is aptly called Group Therapy and includes performances by Bobby Cannavale, Kieran Culkin, Salma Hayek, John Turturro, and real New York firefighters. The program features some of the industry’s finest creative talent, in front and behind the camera, including Jim Sheridan (The Boxer, Get Rich or Die Tryin’), marine life artist Wyland, visual artist Chris Burkard, two-time Academy Award Winner for Visual Effects Paul Franklin (Interstellar and Inception), Elisabeth Moss, and Mae Whitman. Special Screenings include the premiere of Disney animator Glen Keane’s short film, Dear Basketball, staring Kobe Bryant as himself, and featuring a talk with Bryant about the project and process; and the World Premiere of Blues Planet: Triptych, directed and written by Wyland and featuring a performance by Taj Mahal and the Wyland Blues Planet Band Several Tribeca alumni are returning for the 2017 festival, including: Emmy Award-winning Geeta Gandbhir with Love The Sinner, Academy Award®-winning writer Shawn Christensen (Curfew) with Cul-De-Sac, David Darg (four time Tribeca alumnus) screens The Rugby Boys of Memphis, and Rubika Shah (Let’s Dance: David Bowie Down Under) returns with White Riot: London. Other returning festival alumni include James Burns, Evan Ari Kelman, Seth Kramer, Zoe McIntosh, Daniel Miller, Jeremy Newberger, Michael Premo, and Jim Sheridan. Recipients of the Tribeca Film Festival awards for Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short will qualify for consideration in the Academy Awards’ Short Films category, provided the film complies with Academy rules. Since 2004 (with the exception of 2007), Tribeca’s program has included a short that has been nominated and/or won in one of these two categories. From last year’s Festival selection, three shorts that world premiered at Tribeca were nominated for Oscars: Joe’s Violin, Pearl, and Extremis, which was the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Award winner for Best Documentary Short. Tribeca Film festival also bestows a Student Visionary Award, and this year for the first time, a Best Animated Short Award. Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Program includes:

    Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G

    The Animated shorts program showcases imaginative storytelling and captivating craft.   This program is suggested for those 14 and older. Curpigeon, directed and written by Dmitry Milkin. (USA) – New York Premiere. A heartwarming story about the power of community support during a time of grief, this action-oriented CG-animated short film centers around a group of park pigeons and their old men pals who come together to help one of their own get through a great loss. Summer Camp Island, directed and written by Julia Pott. (USA) – New York Premiere. Oscar has to accept that his totally normal sleepover with Hedgehog isn’t going to be totally normal. Odd is an Egg (Odd er et egg), directed by Kristin Ulseth, written by Maria Avramova, Kristin Ulseth. (Norway) – North American Premiere. Odd is terrified of his head – until one day he falls in love with Gunn and his life is turned upside down, freeing him from his worries in the most expected way. In Norwegian with subtitles. Angel (Mon Ange), directed and written by Gregory Casares. (Switzerland) – International Premiere. Eva and Mr. Corbeau have long felt a reciprocal affection and attraction, but the world of humans and the world of animals don’t mix – until one autumn evening, at the masked ball organized by Eva’s father in honour of his daughter. The Talk: True Stories About The Birds & The Bees, directed and written by Alain Delannoy. (Canada) – New York Premiere. There are things in life you never forget. One of them, like it or not, is “The Talk.” Second to None, directed and written by Vincent Gallagher. (Ireland) – New York Premiere. Second to None is a black comedy in stop motion about the world’s second-oldest man who learns that ambition can be a killer. Escape, directed by Limbert Fabian, Brandon Oldenburg, written by Limbert Fabian, Brandon Oldenburg, Angus McGilpin. (USA) – World Premiere. A euphoric vision of the future is presented through this cinematic poem about the challenging yet world-changing power of invention as a lone space explorer crash-lands on a desolate planet and must find a way to make her new home habitable. Dear Basketball, directed by Glen Keane, written by Kobe Bryant. (USA) – World Premiere. Kobe Bryant’s inspiring poem Dear Basketball is stunningly drawn to life by veteran animation director Glen Keane and set to the music of legendary composer John Williams.

    Shorts: Disconnected

    Communication is key in the struggle to be heard Wave, directed by Benjamin Cleary, TJ O’Grady-Peyton, written by Benjamin Cleary. (Ireland) – World Premiere. A sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking story of a very isolated person, Wave tells the story of Gaspar Rubicon, who wakes up from a coma speaking a fully formed but unrecognizable language, baffling linguistics experts from around the globe. Big City, directed by Jordan Bond, Lachlan Ryan, written by Jordan Bond. (Australia) – New York Premiere. Vijay, a lonely taxi driver who recently moved to Melbourne, picks up Chris, a stray drunk who befriends him, and over the course of the night, Chris experiences some of Vijay’s troubles and Vijay learns to see the city in a new light. Big Sister (Ahotcha), directed and written by Michal Gassner. (Israel) – International Premiere. Gili has a clear and violent agenda towards male sexual offenders, and finds it difficult to comprehend the limits of her power to repair the world when she discovers her younger brother is suspended from school for a similar violation. In Hebrew with subtitles. Life Boat, directed and written by Lorraine Nicholson. (USA) – World Premiere. Six teenagers are led into an intriguing game of survival by their guidance counselor. The Navigator (Kartleseren), directed and written by Mikal Hovland. (Norway) – World Premiere. A film about trust, human vulnerability, and the fragility of power, The Navigator focuses on Jon, who gets the chance of his lifetime reading the pacenotes for his big brother in the upcoming rally championship, but is distracted by a new girl in town. In Norwegian with subtitles. The Suitcase, directed and written by Abi Damaris Corbin. (USA) – World Premiere. The ordinary life of a Boston bred baggage handler is turned upside down when he steals a suitcase that contains terrorist plans. Inspired by true events on 9/11.

    Shorts: Human Condition

    Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Shooting War, directed by Aeyliya Husain. (Canada) – World Premiere. TIME magazine photographer Franco Pagetti tells the stories behind three photographs as a metaphor for the Iraq War to reveal the impact the conflict has had on a country, a region, and the world. Skull + Bone, directed by Victoria Rivera. (USA) – World Premiere. For 200 years every Mardi Gras has started the same way: Dressed as skeletons, armed with bones, the Northside Skull and Bone Gang wake the city before dawn with drums, chants and ceremonial knocking on doors to warn people against violence, gunplay and other negative influences on the streets. Revolving Doors, directed and written by James Burns. (USA) – World Premiere. A portrait of American recidivism produced over a span of two years, Revolving Doors follows Jason, who, despite attempts to retain meaningful employment, fails and returns to prison, devastating his family. White Riot: London, directed by Rubika Shah, written by Ed Gibbs, Rubika Shah. (U.K.) – New York Premiere. This experimental music documentary explores how a generation united against the neo-Nazi National Front in 1970s Britain through a punk fanzine, with black and white coming together through popular culture at a terrifying time of turmoil and division. Water Warriors, directed by Michael Premo. (Canada, USA) – New York Premiere. When an energy company begins searching for natural gas in New Brunswick, Canada, indigenous and white families unite to drive out the company in a campaign to protect their water and way of life.

    Shorts: Last Exit

    On the road of life there is no turning back Oh Damn, directed and written by Pat Bishop and Matt Ingebretson. (USA) – World Premiere. After smoking too much weed on his way to meet a friend at the movie theater, Matt’s altered perception hurls him into a dark, surreal series of events that unfold across the theater. Don’t Mess With Julie Whitfield, directed and written by Amy Barham. (USA) – New York Premiere. Julie Whitfield ALWAYS heads the Oak Tree Elementary School Fall Fantasy Fundraiser planning committee, so when new parent Rachel attempts a coup, it leads to a bloody battle that only one woman can survive. Cul-De-Sac, directed by Damon Russell, written by Shawn Christensen. (USA) – New York Premiere. Parents living at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac discover a listening device inside their son’s teddy bear. Retouch, directed and written by Kaveh Mazaheri. (Iran) – International Premiere. Maryam’s husband has an accident at home and, rather than saving him, she stops helping and watches him die. In Persian with subtitles. Buckets, directed and written by Julia Jones. (USA) – North American Premiere. A girl learns the brutal sacrifices it takes to satisfy her love. Baraka, directed by Néstor Ruiz Medina, written by Néstor Ruiz Medina, Juan Luis Cordero. (Spain) – US Premiere. In the months before the war in Iraq, two close brothers are forced to separate, soon meeting again when the war is in full swing, but neither is the same. In Arabic, English, Spanish with subtitles.

    Shorts: New York – Group Therapy

    Everyone wants to share. Hair, directed by John Turturro, written by Bobby Cannavale and John Turturro. (USA) – World Premiere. An unscripted dialogue between John Turturro and Bobby Cannavale about a man’s particularness about his hair. Lemon, directed and written by Timothy Michael Cooper. (USA) – World Premiere. Seconds after the wedding, a bride is stunned to learn that her new husband fudged nearly everything about his past, his family, and his accomplishments—but his revelations force her to come clean about a few shocking secrets of her own. Approaching a Breakthrough, directed and written by Noah Pritzker. (USA) – World Premiere. Back in New York after a stint in Los Angeles, Norman Kaminsky has a terrible argument with his girlfriend just before running into a string of characters from his past – and despite his best efforts, Norman can’t seem to run away from his problems. Joy Joy Nails, directed and written by Joey Ally. (USA) – World Premiere. Sarah manages Joy Joy Nails with a cheerful iron fist – but she gets her manicured claws out when Chinese Mia, a manicurist trainee, looks to be stealing the boss’s son’s affections, soon discovering that under the varnish, everyone’s a victim. In English, Korean, Mandarin with subtitles. The Beehive, directed and written by Jacobie Gray. (Australia) – World Premiere. A superstar socialite seeks revenge when the artist who made her famous finds a younger muse. Where There’s Smoke, directed by Evan Ari Kelman, written by Evan Ari Kelman, Parker Hill. (USA) – World Premiere. After a tragic accident, a firefighter must convince the city commissioner he’s able to return to the line of duty. 11th Hour, directed by Jim Sheridan, written by Jim Sheridan, Oskar Slingerland. (Ireland, Mexico) – International Premiere. Based on a true story, 11th Hour recounts how, on the evening of 9/11, Maria José’s bar is heaving with locals united in grief and a building rage; a cop pulls his gun and when a surprise visitor enters Maria has to seize the moment to take back control. In English, Spanish with subtitles.

    Shorts: Postcards

    Five female-centric stories where the past meets the present Viola, Franca, directed by Marta Savina, written by Marta Savina, Andrea Brusa. (Italy) – World Premiere. It’s Sicily in 1965, and Franca is forced to marry her rapist to avoid becoming a pariah in her traditionalist community, but she rebels against the established custom and sets a precedent that alters the course of Italian history, paving the way for women’s rights. In Italian, Sicilian with subtitles. Fry Day, directed by Laura Moss, written by Laura Moss, Brendan O’Brien. (USA) – New York Premiere. A teenage girl comes of age against the backdrop of Ted Bundy’s execution in 1989. Dive (Salta), directed by Marianne Amelinckx. (Venezuela) – World Premiere. Julia goes back to the pool and remembers that, sometimes, life challenges ourselves to keep going and make decisions. In Spanish with subtitles. Tokyo Project, directed and written by Richard Shepard. (USA) – World Premiere. On a business trip to Tokyo, Sebastian explores the city with a mysterious woman he keeps running into wherever he goes, discovering heartbreakingly that the truth, and the past, are as elusive as love. Little Bird, directed by Georgia Oakley, written by Emily Taaffe. (U.K.) – World Premiere. Against the backdrop of 1941 London, Little Bird explores how far one young woman will go to create a new life for herself when the women of Great Britain are called upon to aid the war effort.

    Shorts: S.O.S.

    Helping each other and our planet in these troubled times Mother’s Day, directed by Elizabeth Lo, co-directed by R.J. Lozada. (USA) – World Premiere. The impact of mass incarceration on a generation of youth is explored through an annual Mother’s Day charity bus journey that takes children from across California to visit their mothers in prison. The Good Fight, directed and written by Ben Holman, written by Ben Holman. (Brazil, U.K., USA) – World Premiere. Following a personal tragedy, Alan Duarte opens his own boxing gym to offer salvation and hope to others in the notorious gun violence- ridden favela in Rio de Janeiro where he was born and lives. In Portuguese with subtitles. Silo: Edge of the Real World, directed by Marshall Burnette. (USA) – World Premiere. In this meditation on life in one of the small towns that feeds America, a young farmer and a high school senior each grapple with the dangers of farm life. The Rugby Boys of Memphis, directed by David Darg. (USA) – New York Premiere. Follow the rise of an inner-city Memphis high school’s first rugby team and see the ways in which, for these boys, the unlikely sport is much more than a game. For Flint, directed by Brian Schulz, written by Brian Schulz, Sharika Ajaikumar, Katharina Stroh. (USA) – World Premiere. In the face of a federal emergency deeming its drinking water unsafe for consumption, Flint’s resilient citizens rally together to forge a new narrative that is hopeful and optimistic. Blues Planet: Triptych, directed and written by Wyland. (USA) – World Premiere. Blues Planet: Triptych explores the Gulf Oil Spill disaster and its aftermath through environmental artist Wyland who, along with 30 of today’s pre-eminent artists, recorded a new genre of global blues on the catastrophe’s anniversary.

    Shorts: Surf’s Up!

    Be it surfing for solace or in one of the coldest places on earth, catch the waves Resurface, directed by Josh Izenberg, Wynn Padula. (USA) – New York Premiere. Struggling with trauma and depression after his military service, Iraq war veteran Bobby Lane wants to cross surfing off his bucket list before taking his life. Under an Arctic Sky, directed by Chris Burkard, written by Ben Weiland, Chris Burkard. (USA) – World Premiere. A group of surfers along with photographer Chris Burkard journey to Iceland’s north coast in search of perfect waves during the largest storm to make landfall in 25 years.

    Shorts: Viewfinder

    Framing personal impressions of the past Hilda, directed and written by Kiira Benzing. (USA) – World Premiere. Hilda is a realist tribute to octogenarian New Yorker artist Hilda O’Connell who lived shoulder-to-shoulder with the great Abstract Expressionist painters in the ’50s and became a member of the Aegis Gallery in the ’60s. The Spring, directed by Delaney Buffett, written by Chloe Corner, Delaney Buffett, Katie Corwin. (USA) – World Premiere. In August 2016, seven female filmmakers, all under the age of 25, traveled to Central Florida to film the women of Weeki Wachee Springs, for whom performing daily mermaid shows is more than a job – it’s a craft. The Godfather of Fitness, directed by Rade Popović, written by Zoran Amar, Rade Popović. (USA, Serbia) – World Premiere. The Godfather of Fitness tells the improbable story of how an ambitious boy from California, obsessed with grueling workouts and good nutrition, became one of the most respected men in the world of fitness. Love the Sinner, directed by Jessica Devaney, Geeta Gandbhir, written by Jessica Devaney. (USA) – World Premiere. Love the Sinner explores the Evangelical roots of homophobia in the wake of the Pulse shooting. Watched, directed by Katie Mitchell. (USA) – World Premiere. An intimate and moving exploration of the experience of coming of age – under the gaze of state surveillance. Woody’s Order!, directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger, written by Daniel A. Miller, Ann Talman. (USA) – World Premiere. Actress Ann Talman finally performs the solo show she wrote for her muse: her brother with cerebral palsy.

    Shorts: Your Heart’s Desire (Narrative)

    The things you want most are often deeply hidden Alive, directed and written by Sung Hwan Kim. (South Korea) – International Premiere. A 100-meter sprinter faces challenges around the end of his career and his life. In Korean with subtitles. Again, directed by Alexis Jacknow, written by Bekah Brunstetter. (USA) – World Premiere. A man watches Groundhog Day over and over and over again. The World In Your Window, directed and written by Zoe McIntosh. (New Zealand) – North American Premiere. Squeezed into a tiny caravan, eight-year-old Jesse and his grief-stricken father are in limbo, existing more than living – until an accidental friendship with a V8-driving transsexual unlocks the means for Jesse to liberate his father and himself. Iron Hands (铁手), directed and written by Johnson Cheng. (USA, China) – World Premiere. As a 12-year-old girl prepares for her final test trying out for the traditionally all-boys Chinese youth Olympic weightlifting team, she makes an unlikely connection with the gym’s reclusive groundskeeper. In Chinese with subtitles. The Escape, directed and written by Paul Franklin. (U.K.) – World Premiere. The Escape asks whether one day we’ll all dream of ordinary lives via the story of Lambert, a normal man who, out of his element in a dangerous part of town, negotiates with the mysterious Kellan for the chance to escape into a fantasy of his own choosing. The Foster Portfolio, directed and written by Danielle Katvan, written by Danielle Katvan. (USA) – World Premiere. Based on the original short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., The Foster Portfolio is an offbeat mid-century tale about a rookie investment counselor who discovers that his penniless client is hiding a million-dollar inheritance in order to conceal a strange double life.

    Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival: Sports Shorts

    A spectrum of stories, styles, and sports, this collection of athletically-minded short films will take audiences on a decades-spanning journey through some of the most unexpected and entertaining tales from sports legends and amateurs alike. The Amazing Adventures of Wally and the Worm, directed by Colin Hanks. (USA) – New York Premiere. When Dennis Rodman hurts his knee with four weeks to go in the Chicago Bulls ’96-’97 NBA championship season, young assistant trainer Wally Blasé is assigned to oversee his rehab, and the two forge a close friendship over 10 wild days of fast living recounted by director Colin Hanks through animation and first-person confessions. Bump & Spike, directed by Michael Jacobs. (USA) – World Premiere. The spectacular rise and fall of the International Professional Volleyball Association, which existed between 1975–1980 complete with “party lifestyle,” rocking arena matches and stars on the court and in the stands, is chronicled in this Michael Jacobs-directed film. The Counterfeiter, directed by Brian Biegel. (USA) – World Premiere. Featuring actual wiretapped phone calls and surveillance video, this film explores how the FBI brought down the largest counterfeit operation in U.S. history during the summer of 1998, thanks to the help of some major league baseball players. Revolution in the Ring, directed by Jason Sklaver. (USA) – World Premiere. The story of Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, who in 1962 chose to stay in his home country rather than defect, this film examines through the lens of Cuban-American politics how his life and the life of the Cuban people were dramatically altered by the embargo. In English, Spanish with subtitles. Run Mama Run, directed by Daniele Anastasion. (USA) – World Premiere. Run Mama Run is an examination of motherhood and athleticism through the eyes of Sarah Brown, an elite track athlete who will continue to train through pregnancy and postpartum with help of her trainer and husband Darren Brown.

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  • Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival Reveals Lineup of Locally Minnesota Made Films

    The Sounding Catherine Eaton
    The Sounding

    Over 80 locally made films, including 8 feature films, have been selected to screen in the Minnesota Made program at the upcoming 2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF).  

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  • TIFF Kids International Film Festival Unveils 2017 Lineup, Opens with SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

    [caption id="attachment_21360" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Smurfs: The Lost Village Smurfs: The Lost Village[/caption] From April 7 through 23, TIFF Bell Lightbox welcomes the next generation of film lovers for the 20th anniversary of TIFF Kids, the premier festival for children ages 3 to 13.  The TIFF Kids International Film Festival kicks off on Opening Night with the premiere of Kelly Asbury’s animated film Smurfs: The Lost Village. In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. The festival’s Closing Night screening is the Canadian premiere of the first four episodes of Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter, directed by Goro Miyazaki of the acclaimed Studio Ghibli and featuring a lead voiceover performance by Gillian Anderson. Other highlights include the 15th anniversary screening of the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award winner Whale Rider.   This year’s shorts consist of 18 diverse programs showcasing over 125 Canadian and international live-action and animated films that address important issues faced by kids such as making new friends, exploring new cultures, and embracing diversity — in both families and circumstances. The films deal with a range of themes including resilience, empathy, exploration, home, and self-discovery. 

    FEATURES

    Opening Night! Smurfs: The Lost Village dir. Kelly Asbury | USA | English Recommended for ages 6 and up. Recommended for ages 6 and up

    Rabbit School (Die Häschenschule – Jagd nach dem goldenen Ei) dir. Ute Von Münchow-Pohl | Germany | English | North American Premiere Richard the Stork dirs. Toby Genkel, Reza Memari | Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg/Norway | English | North American Premiere Recommended for ages 7 and up Ballerina dirs. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | English Mr. Frog (Meester Kikker) dir. Anna van der Heide | Netherlands | Dutch | Canadian Premiere Rock Dog dir. Ash Brannon | USA/China | English | Toronto Premiere Recommended for ages 8 and up Born in China dir. Lu Chuan | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Revolting Rhymes dirs. Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer | United Kingdom | English | Canadian Premiere Recommended for ages 9 and up Cloudboy dir. Meikeminne Clinckspoor | Belgium/Sweden/Netherlands | Dutch, Swedish, Sami | International Premiere Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess (Ivan Tsarévitch et la Princesse Changeante) dir. Michel Ocelot | France | French | International Premiere Mr. Twister at the Pitch (Mees Kees langs de lijn) dir. Aniëlle Webster | Netherlands | Dutch | International Premiere Red Dog: True Blue dir. Kriv Stenders | Australia | English | Canadian Premiere Swallows and Amazons dir. Philippa Lowthorpe | United Kingdom | English The Day My Father Became a Bush (Toen mijn vader een struik werd) dir. Nicole van Kilsdonk | Netherlands/Belgium/Croatia | Dutch | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival Recommended for ages 10 and up Into the Rainbow dir. Norman Stone | China/New Zealand | English | International Premiere Not Without Us! (Nicht ohne uns!) dir. Sigrid Klausmann | Germany | German, Arabic, English, French,  Hindi,  Icelandic,  Japanese, Laos,  Nepali,  Xhosa,  Spanish | Canadian Premiere TRIO – The Hunt for the Holy Shrine (TRIO – Jakten på Olavsskrinet) dir. Eva F. Dahr | Norway | Norwegian, English | International Premiere Recommended for ages 11 and up At Eye Level (Auf Augenhöhe) dirs. Joachim Dollhopf, Evi Goldbrunner | Germany | German | Toronto Premiere

    Fanny’s Journey (Le voyage de Fanny) dir. Lola Doillon | France/Belgium | French

    Heartstrings (Le Coeur en braille) dir. Michel Boujenah | France | French | Toronto Premiere

    Mountain Miracle – An Unexpected Friendship (Amelie rennt) dir. Tobias Wiemann | Germany/Italy | German | International Premiere

    On Wheels (Sobre Rodas) dir. Mauro D’Addio | Brazil | Portuguese | North American Premiere

    Room 213 (Rum 213) dir. Emelie Lindblom | Sweden | Swedish | North American Premiere Recommended for ages 12 and up Jeffrey dir. Yanillys Perez | Dominican Republic/France | Spanish | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

    Little Wing (Tyttö nimeltä Varpu) dir. Selma Vilhunen | Finland/Denmark | Finnish | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

    My Life As A Courgette (Ma Vie de Courgette), dir. Claude Barras | Switzerland/France | French | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

    Plastic China (Su Liao Wang Guo) dir. Jiu-liang Wang | Hong Kong/China | Mandarin | Canadian Premiere SHORTS Reel Rascals: Animated Tales Reel Rascals: Animated Tales features a lively assortment of animated short stories from all around the world, carefully selected for young audiences. Join us for thrills, spills, and animal antics; whether that’s riding through the snow with a squirrel on a sled, stomping along with the elephants to the music of They Might Be Giants, or helping a little bird fend off a hungry caterpillar who’s trying to eat its favourite leaf. Recommended for ages 3 and up. A Rhino Named Paul: Everybody Sleeps, dirs. Dave Schlafman, Mike Annear | USA | English Elephants dirs. Jeremy Galante, David Cowles | USA | English Goats (Kozly) dir. Yekaterina Filippova | Russia | No dialogue | North American Premiere Hare’s Big Day (Zaku liela diena) dir. Dace Riduze | Latvia | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Hey Duggee: The Making Music Badge dir. Grant Orchard | United Kingdom | English | North American Premiere Judith dir. Henning M. Lederer | Germany/United Kingdom/Canada | No dialogue Kiwi & Strit: Wash day dir. Esben Toft Jacobsen | Denmark | No dialogue Konigiri-Kun Shopping (Konigiri-Kun Okaimono) dir. Mari Miyazawa | Japan | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Leaf (Feuille) dirs. Dante Zaballa, Vaiana Gauthier | Germany | No dialogue | North American Premiere Little Flower dir. Brigette Heffernan | Ireland | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Moonlight Storytime: Wooly Dragon dirs. Kirsten Lepore, Villamor Cruz, Jr. | USA | English | Toronto Premiere Seven Siblings dir. Julia Ocker | Germany | English | Toronto Premiere The Klumz dir. Neshama Ryman | USA | English | World Premiere The Little Bird and the Caterpillar (Der kleine Vogel und die Raupe) dir. Lena von Döhren | Switzerland | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere The Sled (Belchonok i sanki) dir. Olesya Shchukina | Russia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Tiger dir. Kariem Saleh | Germany | No dialogue Reel Rascals Senior: Pack Your Bags! Bring your passport and travel the world in this series of international animated shorts that are certain to charm and entertain. Recommended for ages 5 and up. A hole (El agujero) dir. Maribel Suarez | Mexico | English | Canadian Premiere DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver dir. Kjell Boersma | Canada | No dialogue In a Cage (La Cage) dir. Loic Bruyere | France | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Joining Dots dir. Fiona Ryan | Ireland | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Kiwi & Strit: Football (Kiwi & Strit: Fodbold) dir. Esben Toft Jacobsen | Denmark | No dialogue Klump dirs. Johannes Weiland, Paul Cichon, Michael Bohnenstingl | Germany/United Kingdom | English | International Premiere Melia and Jo: Marshmallow Castle dirs. Jennifer Oxley, Billy Aronson, Brett Hall, Robert Powers |  USA | English Silence! For Pete’s Sake! (Ruhe. ZumDonnerwetternocheinmal!) dir. Kai Pannen | Germany | German | Canadian Premiere Simon’s Cat: Bed Sheets dir. Simon Tofield | United Kingdom | No dialogue The Pocket Man (Le Petit Bonhomme de poche) dir. Ana Chubinidze | France/Switzerland/Georgia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Unsung Hero dir. Lynton Levengood | South Africa | English | Canadian Premiere New York International Children’s Film Festival: Birthday Shorts Also celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, our neighbours to the south present a selection of new and classic shorts from their two-decade history, filled with stories of growth, change, transformation… and the occasional party hat! Recommended for ages 6 and up. Me Up Front Sometimes it takes a friend to solve a problem or realize ones’ potential. It’s only when we’re encouraged by those around us that we realize the true value of being ourselves. Recommended for ages 6 and up. DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver dir. Kjell Boersma | Canada | No dialogue Groomed dir. Samantha Armiger | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Alike dirs. Daniel Martínez Lara, Rafa Cano Méndez | Spain | No dialogue Lost in Spring dir. Fred Leao Prado Wall | United Kingdom | English | Canadian Premiere Picke, dir. Kelsey Snelling | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Sammy Paramaribo: Bittersweet (Sammy Paramaribo: Bitterzoet) dir. Barbara Bredero | Netherlands, Dutch | Canadian Premiere The day I beat the sky (Le jour où j’ai battu le ciel) dir. Hughes Valin | France | French | Canadian Premiere Travel Companions dir. Alex Anderson-Kenney | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Uka dir. Valle Comba Canales | Spain | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Through the Woods: A Snow Morning dir. J. Meeka Stuart | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Loot Bag Junior: Animation On Adventure! Embark on action-packed international adventures in several of the year’s best animated shorts! Whether soaring through the night skies in search of a moon gone missing, brewing magical potions in search of the mythical unicorn, or learning the most outrageously intricate secret handshake ever conceived, these shorts know no limits. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Animation (According to Children) dir. Daniela Monzon Leotaud | Canada | English, French | Toronto Premiere The Big Adventure of A Little Line (La grande histoire d’un petit trait) dir. Antoine Robert | France | French, English | North American Premiere The Lost Letter dir. Kealan O’Rourke | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Desert Critters dir. Li Wen Toh | USA | No dialogue Ampersand dir. Erin Shea | USA | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Peppercorn Babycorn Unicorn dir. Makoto Koji | Australia | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Moroshka dir. Polina Minchenok | Russia | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Moon of a Sleepless Night (Nemurenai Yoru no Tsuki) dir. Takeshi Yashiro | Japan | Japanese Once Upon a Blue Moon dir. Steve Boot | United Kingdom | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere The Secret Handshake dirs. Susie Webb, Jackson Read, | USA | No dialogue Closing Night! Ronja: The Robber’s Daughter Directed by Goro Miyazaki — and winner of the 2016 International Emmy Kids Award for Animation — Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter follows the adventures of a young girl raised in a mountain fort by her parents and a loving band of robbers. Based on Astrid Lindgren’s book of the same name, this all-new series beautifully blends the classic storytelling of the original with the magical visual style of Studio Ghibli. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Episode 1 – Born in the Storm dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 2 – First Trip to the Forest dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 3 – Fear in the Forest dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere Episode 4 – Hearing the Whistle dir. Goro Miyazaki | Japan | English | Canadian Premiere On the Inside Whether coming from within, or driven by a family member, these young protagonists find the confidence within to overcome self-doubt and thrive in challenging situations. Recommended for ages 8 and up. A Well Spent Afternoon (Dobro unovceno popoldne) dir. Martin Turk | Slovenia | Slovene | Canadian Premiere Amelia’s Closet dir. Halima Lucas | USA | English | International Premiere Broken Pines dir. Annie Pace | USA | English | International Premiere Catch (Agkistri) dir. Giorgos Evangelou | Cyprus | Greek | World Premiere Mr. & Mrs. Kim dir. Jaehuen Chung | USA | English, Korean | Canadian Premiere The Crab (Kakkutta) dir. Ishani Jayamaha | Sri Lanka/USA | Sinhalese | Canadian Premiere Soy Yo dir. Torben Kjelstrup | Denmark | Spanish The Reel Deal Offering a window into the real lives of young people from around the world, this collection of short documentaries tracks their progress on the precipice of changes that will affect their futures. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Chickens for Kimaru (Kippen voor Kimaru) dirs. Eriss Khajira, Anne van Campenhout | Netherlands | Dutch, Swahili, Kikuyu, English | International Premiere Emil and the Bridge Divers (Emil und die Brückenspringer von Mostar) dir. Friedemann Hottenbacher | Germany | Bosnian | North American Premiere KOJO: A Short Documentary dir. Michael Fequiere | USA | English | Canadian Premiere Safia’s Summer (Safia’s Zomer) dir. Els Van Driel | Netherlands | Dutch, Arabic | International Premiere Creativity Within The protagonists in this collection of short films use creativity to approach life’s challenges. Their quick thinking and creative problem solving inspire self confidence and acceptance. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Get Up Kinshasa! (Debout Kinshasa !) dir. Sébastien Maitre | France/Ivory Coast | French | North American Premiere Litterbugs dir. Peter Stanley-Ward | United Kingdom | English | Toronto Premiere Sleepover (La Invitación) dir. Susana Casares | Spain | Spanish | Toronto Premiere The Debt dir. Helen Flanagan | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Waterbaby dir. Pia Shah | India | English, Konkani | Toronto Premiere Loot Bag Senior: Inspiration x Imagination This international collection of films explores exciting worlds, including a mysterious cloudy mountain, the first magical twilight snowfall in a wintry forest, a wild chase in the streets of London, and a supernova explosion in the depths of infinite space. Jam-packed with laughs, adventures, and thrills, the films in Loot Bag Sr. invite you to experience creative inspiration and imagination. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Nimbus, The Cloud Catcher (Nimbus, o caçador de nuvens) dir. Marco Nick | Brazil | No dialogue | International Premiere Dust Buddies dirs. Beth Tomashek, Sam Wade | USA | No dialogue First Snow (První sníh) dir. Lenka Ivancikova | Czech Republic | English | Toronto Premiere Eagle Blue dir. Will Rose | United Kingdom | No dialogue Novae dir. Thomas Vanz | France | No dialogue                                Spring Jam dir. Ned Wenlock | New Zealand | No dialogue | Toronto Premiere Nanuuq dir. Jim Lachasse | France | No dialogue | North American Premiere Jubile dirs. Coralie Soudet, Charlotte Piogé, Marion Duvert, Marie El Kadiri, Agathe Marmion | France | No dialogue | North American Premiere The Gossamer (Pautinka) dir. Natalia Chernysheva | Russia | Russian | North American Premiere Order from Chaos dir. Maxime Causeret | France | No dialogue Sausage (Wurst) dir. Josefine Häßler | Germany |  No dialogue | Canadian Premiere The Cat and its Artist dir. Maike Mahira Koller | Germany | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere A Small Escape (Den lilla flykten) dir. David Sandell | Sweden | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere Selfie Cat dirs. Geoffrey Assie, Emeline Bernard, Elsa Divet | France | No dialogue | Canadian Premiere The Heart of Matters Families come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is universal: each member plays an important role in supporting the others. They try to solve problems for one another and support each other in difficult times. Each protagonist in this programme demonstrates this important quality. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Chalk (Tiza, Craie) dir. Jocelyne Flores | Mexico | Spanish | World Premiere Good Luck, Orlo! (Srečno, Orlo!) dir. Sara Kern | Slovenia/Croatia/Austria | Slovenian | North American Premiere Lost & Found dir. Liam O’Neill | Ireland | English | Canadian Premiere Mdudu Boy dir. Ella Smith | United Kingdom | Swahili | Canadian Premiere Prickly Pear (Bajtra tax-Xewk) dir. Alex Camilleri | Malta/USA | Maltese | English | World Premiere Shahzad dir. Haya Waseem | Canada | English, Urdu | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival A Place Here In a time where questions of nationality, citizenship, and belonging are at the height of debate on political stages, social media, and the news, film has the power to inform and share stories across the globe. This collection of short films explores how prejudice at home can lead to national conflict, as experienced by young people. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Baka dir. Arvid Klapper | Germany/France | Serbian, German | International Premiere DISPLACED dir. Christian Ghazal | Australia | English | International Premiere Halim dir. Werner Fiedler | Austria | Arabic, German | World Premiere THE SLED (LA SLITTA, LA LUGE) dir. Emanuela Ponzano | Italy | Italian | Canadian Premiere True to Me Pressure from classmates, family, and friends can make us feel isolated and rejected. These short films reveal the courage it takes to explore who you really are, regardless of what others may think or feel. Recommended for ages 11 and up. Crush dir. Rosie Westhoff | United Kingdom/Australia | English Invitation dir. Bo-seung Kang | South Korea | Korean | Canadian Premiere The Threshold (Daaravtha) dir. Nishant Roy Bombarde | India | Marathi, Hindi TRiGGA dir. Meloni Poole | United Kingdom | English | International Premiere Reflections Growing up is complicated. The characters and subjects in this programme are striving to assert their independence and explore their self-identity, but extenuating circumstances and self-doubt often get in the way. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Battalion To My Beat dir. Eimi Imanishi | Algeria/USA/Western Sahara | Arabic | Official Selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival Chenelva & Sheneeva dir. Léon Bellaart | Netherlands | Dutch | Canadian Premiere Frances Tiafoe dir. Kirk Fraser | USA | English | International Premiere Proxy dir. Eric Schuman | USA | English | International Premiere The Girl of 672K (Het meisje van 672k) dir. Mirjam Marks | Netherlands | Dutch, English | Canadian Premiere First Step Forward The protagonists in these films are all struggling with events in their pasts while attempting to move forward. The challenging circumstances will shape them — and give them the strength they need to regain a sense of control and take that first step forward. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Cast Off (Larguer les amarres) dir. Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers | Canada | French | Toronto Premiere Flying Rats (Vliegende Ratten) dir. Emiel Sandtke | Belgium | Dutch | North American Premiere Jellyfish dir. Danielle Bayliss | Canada | English | Canadian Premiere The Loudest Silence (El más fuerte de los silencios) dir. Eduardo Bertaina | Argentina | Spanish | Toronto Premiere When Grey Is a Colour (Grijs Is Ook Een Kleur) dir. Marit Weerheijm | Netherlands | Dutch | North American Premiere CANADA ON SCREEN In celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, TIFF continues its free year-long programme Canada on Screen – A co-production between TIFF and three core project partners — Library and Archives Canada, the Cinémathèque québécoise, and The Cinematheque in Vancouver. Highlights at TIFF Kids include the following FREE programming: a special screening of the Canadian classic coming-of-age mini-series Anne of Green Gables with an introduction by director Kevin Sullivan,  a screening of The Dog Who Stopped the War and Canada on Screen: Short and Animated programme that showcases some of the best Canadian animated shorts such as The Sweater, Cameras Take Five, and Log Drivers Waltz. All of these titles appear on Canada on Screen’s TIFF’s Essential 150 list.  In addition, TIFF Kids will host screenings of classic Canadian films on REEL CANADA’s National Canadian Film Day 150 on April 19th and construct Northern Lights, a collaborative arts project that will take over the third floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox. SELECT SCREENINGS FROM CANADA ON SCREEN’S ESSENTIAL 150 LIST Anne of Green Gables dir. Kevin Sullivan | Canada | English TIFF Kids welcomes director Kevin Sullivan to give an extended introduction onstage prior to a free screening of his Canadian classic coming-of-age mini-series Anne of Green Gables. Recommended for ages 7 and up. The Dog Who Stopped The War dir. André Mélançon | Canada | French, English Dubbed The Dog Who Stopped the War is the story of two rivalry groups from a rural Canadian town who find themselves in a week-long snowball war. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Canada on Screen: Short and Animated The Canada on Screen: Short and Animated programme showcases some of the best award-winning short films from Canada’s rich animated history. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Begone Dull Care, dirs. Norman McLaren, Evelyn Lambart | Canada | No dialogue Black Soul (Âme noire), dir. Martine Chartrand | Canada | French Cameras Take Five, dir. Steven Woloshen | Canada | No dialogue Canada Vignettes: Log Driver’s Waltz, dir. John Weldon | Canada | English The Sand Castle (La Château de sable), dir. Co Hoedeman | Canada | French The Sweater, dir. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | English When The Day Breaks, dirs. Amanda Forbis | Wendy Tilby | Canada | No dialogue MORE CANADA ON SCREEN HIGHLIGHTS AT TIFF KIDS Collaborative Art Project: Northern Lights by Molly Grundy Molly Grundy is a Toronto-based artist and designer who works in everything from stop-motion animation and illustration to costume design and installation. Molly is delighted to be teaming up with TIFF Kids in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday! This Canada on Screen collaborative art project will transform the third floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox using 16mm animation filmstrips made by TIFF Kids participants. National Canadian Film Day 150 In celebration of National Canadian Film Day 150 (NCFD 150) on April 19th, TIFF will offer free screenings of Canadian features and shorts for elementary school students, including Sheldon Cohen’s beloved animated short The Sweater (1980). NCFD 150, a one-day, coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian cinema in honour of Canada’s sesquicentennial, is presented by REEL CANADA. For more information on other ways to participate in NCFD 150, visit CanFilmDay.ca. Watermark dirs. Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky | Canada | English, Spanish, Hindi, Bengali, Mandarin Following their acclaimed collaboration Manufactured Landscapes, photographer Edward Burtynsky and filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal reunite to explore the ways in which humanity has shaped, manipulated and depleted one of its most vital and compromised resources: water. Recommended for Grades 6 to 8. The Legend of Sarila dir. Nancy Florence Savard | Canada | English Three young Inuit go in search of Sarila, a promised land, hoping to save their clan from famine. It is also the story of a fight to the death between two shamans, the young Markussi who finds Sarila and the aged Croolik who feels that his power is threatened. Recommended for Grades 3 to 5. Ballerina dirs. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | English, French Two best friends — one an aspiring ballet dancer, the other a fledgling inventor — pursue their dreams in 1880s Paris, in this charming animated adventure from Quebec. Recommended for ages 7 and up. The Good Ol’ Hockey Game 2017 marks both Canada’s 150th birthday and the centennial of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Maple Leafs, so it’s a natural opportunity to celebrate Canada’s Game on film. Hockey holds a special place in the hearts of many young Canadians – enthusiastic fans and aspiring players alike. It also teaches us valuable lessons in teamwork, cooperation, and perseverance. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Faith’s Goal, dir. Elizabeth Lee | Canada | English HA’Aki, dir. Iriz Paabo | Canada | No dialogue P.K. SUBBAN SKATE PAST THE NOISE SPECIAL EDITION (P.K. SUBBAN PATINER DROIT DEVANT ÉDITION SPÉCIALE), dirs. Alexandra Toulch, Jack Hackel | Canada | English The Rink, dir. Thelon Deming | Canada | English The Sweater, dir. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | English

    CANADA À L’ÉCRAN

    Toute l’année, le TIFF poursuit son programme gratuit Canada à l’écran, organisé à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du Canada. Cette initiative est coproduite par le TIFF et trois partenaires de présentation : Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, la Cinémathèque québécoise et The Cinematheque (Vancouver). Parmi les présentations GRATUITES dans le cadre de TIFF Kids : une projection spéciale d’Anne… la maison aux pignons verts, minisérie canadienne classique sur le passage vers l’âge adulte, avec une introduction par son réalisateur Kevin Sullivan; une projection de La guerre des tuques; et un programme de courts métrages d’animation (Canada on Screen : Short and Animated) qui met en vedette certains des meilleurs films brefs canadiens, tels que Le chandail, Cameras Take Five et La valse du maître-draveur. Tous ces titres font partie de la liste des 150 œuvres essentielles Canada à l’écran du TIFF. De plus, TIFF Kids organisera des projections de classiques du cinéma canadien lors de la Journée du cinéma canadien 150 de REEL Canada. Il montera également le projet d’art collaboratif Northern Lights au troisième étage du TIFF Bell Lightbox.

    PROJECTIONS SÉLECTIONNÉES : SELON LA LISTE DES 150 ŒUVRES ESSENTIELLES CANADA À L’ÉCRAN

    Anne… la maison aux pignons verts réal. Kevin Sullivan, Canada, anglais Le festival TIFF Kids accueille Kevin Sullivan, qui montera sur scène pour introduire la projection gratuite d’Anne… la maison aux pignons verts, sa minisérie classique sur le passage vers l’âge adulte. Âge recommandé : 7 ans et +.

    La guerre des tuques réal. André Mélançon, Canada, français doublé en anglais La guerre des tuques est l’histoire de deux groupes rivaux dans un village rural du Canada. Pendant toute une semaine, ceux-ci se livrent une bataille de boules de neige. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +.

    Canada on Screen : Short and Animated Le programme Canada on Screen : Short and Animated présente certains des meilleurs courts métrages primés de l’histoire du cinéma d’animation canadien. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +.

    Begone Dull Care (Caprice en couleurs) réal. Norman McLaren, Evelyn Lambart | Canada | sans dialogue

    Black Soul (Âme noire) réal. Martine Chartrand | Canada | français

    Cameras Take Five réal. Steven Woloshen | Canada | sans dialogue

    Canada Vignettes : Log Driver’s Waltz (Canada vignettes : La valse du maître-draveur) réal. John Weldon | Canada | anglais

    The Sand Castle (Le château de sable) réal. Co Hoedeman | Canada | français

    The Sweater (Le chandail) réal. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | anglais

    When The Day Breaks réal. Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby | Canada | sans dialogue

    AUTRES ACTIVITÉS CANADA À L’ÉCRAN AU FESTIVAL TIFF KIDS

    Projet d’art collaboratif : Northern Lights, par Molly Grundy Molly Grundy est une artiste et designer torontoise qui œuvre dans une foule de domaines, dont l’animation image par image, l’illustration, la conception de costumes et les installations artistiques. Molly est ravie de faire équipe avec TIFF Kids pour célébrer le 150e anniversaire du Canada! Ce projet d’art collaboratif de Canada à l’écran transformera le troisième étage du TIFF Bell Lightbox à l’aide de bandes de films d’animation en 16 mm créées par les participants de TIFF Kids.

    Journée du cinéma canadien 150 Afin de célébrer la Journée du cinéma canadien 150, le TIFF présentera le 19 avril des projections gratuites mettant en vedette des longs et des courts métrages du Canada destinées aux élèves du primaire, dont le populaire court métrage d’animation Le chandail (1980) de Sheldon Cohen. La Journée du cinéma canadien 150 est présentée par REEL CANADA.

    Watermark (Trajectoires) réal. Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky | Canada | anglais, espagnol, hindi, bengali, mandarin Après leur collaboration triomphale sur Manufactured Landscapes, le photographe Edward Burtynsky et la documentariste Jennifer Baichwal refont équipe afin d’explorer comment l’humanité a façonné, manipulé et appauvri l’une de nos ressources les plus essentielles et fragiles : l’eau. Niveaux recommandés : 6e à 8e année.

    The Legend of Sarila (La légende de Sarila) réal. Nancy Florence Savard | Canada | anglais Trois jeunes Inuits partent à la recherche de Sarila, une terre promise, dans l’espoir de sauver leur peuple de la famine. Ce film raconte aussi un redoutable combat entre deux chamans : le jeune Markussi qui trouve Sarila, et Croolik, un homme plus âgé qui sent que son pouvoir est menacé. Niveaux recommandés : 3e à 5e année.

    Ballerina réal. Eric Warin, Eric Summer | Canada/France | anglais, français À Paris, dans les années 1880, deux meilleurs amis – une future ballerine et un aspirant inventeur – décident de réaliser leur plus grand rêve dans cette charmante aventure animée réalisée au Québec. Âge recommandé : 7 ans et +. Ce bon vieux hockey En plus de marquer le 150e anniversaire du Canada, 2017 correspond aussi au 100e anniversaire de la Ligue nationale de hockey et des Maple Leafs de Toronto. Il était donc naturel de célébrer le sport préféré des Canadiens au cinéma. Le hockey occupe une place inconditionnelle dans le cœur de plusieurs jeunes Canadiens, qu’ils soient des admirateurs ou des hockeyeurs eux-mêmes. C’est aussi un sport qui enseigne le travail d’équipe, la collaboration et la persévérance. Âge recommandé : 9 ans et +. Faith’s Goal, réal. Elizabeth Lee | Canada | anglais HA’Aki, réal. Iriz Paabo | Canada | sans dialogue P.K. SUBBAN SKATE PAST THE NOISE SPECIAL EDITION (P.K. SUBBAN PATINER DROIT DEVANT ÉDITION SPÉCIALE), réal. Alexandra Toulch, Jack Hackel | Canada | anglais The Rink, réal. Thelon Deming | Canada | anglais The Sweater (Le chandail), réal. Sheldon Cohen | Canada | anglais

     

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  • AFI FEST Announces 2017 Dates and Filmmakers: Call for Entries

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    [caption id="attachment_21354" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]DISGRACED DISGRACED[/caption] The official trailer was released yesterday for the upcoming documentary film Disgraced, that chronicles the 2003 murder of Baylor University men’s basketball star Patrick Dennehy. Disgraced will world premiere at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival on Sunday, March 12, and on Showtime on Friday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The revealing documentary chronicles the 2003 murder of Baylor University men’s basketball star Patrick Dennehy, to which fellow teammate and friend Carlton Dotson pled guilty in the only known instance in the history of the NCAA where one student-athlete was convicted of murdering another. Through first-hand accounts from students, investigators, family and friends,Disgraced calls into question the plea and conviction of Dotson. The film also includes exclusive and revealing interviews with former head coach Dave Bliss, who directly addresses the attempted cover-up and secretly recorded statements he made in 2003 that implicated him in NCAA rule violations. The violations, revealed in part by whistle blower and then assistant coach Abar Rouse, ultimately led to Bliss’ resignation and a partial ban on NCAA play for the Baylor Bears basketball team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5s_wI5RehI

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    Everyone in Justine’s family is a vet. And a vegetarian. At sixteen she’s a brilliant student starting out at veterinary school where she experiences a decadent, merciless and dangerously seductive world. Desperate to fit in, she strays from her family principles and eats RAW meat for the first time. Justine will soon face the terrible and unexpected consequences as her true self begins to emerge…

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