A group representing the Korean Film Community issued a statement on Monday threatening to boycott the upcoming 2016 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) unless the Busan city guarantees the festival’s independence.
The 2016 Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to take place October 6 to 15, 2016.
The statement:
The Entire Korean Film Community will boycott BIFF unless the Busan city guarantees the festival’s independence!
Does the city government really want to go for the worst? The city government accelerated interfering Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) by submitting a legal application for injunction to suspend the efficiency of 68 new committee advisors consisted of Korean film professionals and refusing to have the special assembly meeting for amending the articles of association. In addition, the recent city gazette published by Busan city government is filled with criticism of the festival and insulting the film professionals who support BIFF as if they are the intruders with ulterior intension. The city government provoked the regional antagonism by spreading rumors that the film professionals from Seoul are trying to control the Busan’s festival. This is beyond defamation of the Korean film professionals. It is the worst way of ruining the festival which is a valuable cultural asset for all of us.
We have watched ever since Mr. SUH Byung-soo, was elected as the mayor and became the organizing director of the festival as ex officio in 2014. And he has never stopped political retaliation against BIFF since the screening of The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol (aka. Diving Bell). We have patiently tried our best for peaceful solution between the festival and the city government. But SUH deceives people as if those film professionals are outsiders with wicked intention attempting to alienate between Busan citizens and the film professionals.
BIFF is not a property of Busan city government. It is true that the government’s financial support to the festival is a part of the reason for the success of the festival, but the festival is entitled to make decisions on how to run it autonomically without any outside interference. BIFF does not only belong to the Busan citizens but also to every cineaste in Korea. It is a cultural asset to be shared with everyone who loves cinema from all over the world. That is why the festival’s independence and autonomy have to be protected. That is why amending the articles of association is so important to guarantee its independence and autonomy.
We were enormously shocked and grieved by a series of discouraging events including practical ‘censorship’ from outside and unfair dismissal of the festival director, but we still believed that we should be able to provide institutional gird to prevent the recurrence of this unfortunate condition with all our efforts. That’s why many of us willingly agreed to be committee advisors in hoping to acquire basis for the festival’s autonomy and independence via revision of the article at the special assembly meeting. As we witnessed SUH promised that he would step down from the organizing director voluntarily, we were truly stuck to our belief in peaceful end to the situation,
However, Busan city government abruptly started arguing legitimacy of the special assembly meeting. The city government defamed us as intruders with ulterior intension though every media they can muster up and eventually submitted application for an injunction to suspend the efficiency of 68 new committee advisors. We cannot help resenting and lamenting to see the city’s attempt to distort the situation to some sort of power game among film professionals. We patiently maintained our support for BIFF to make the festival back on track, but we are afraid that our patience was for nothing after all.
It’s unimaginable to see BIFF without film people. However, if Busan city government still believes that they ‘own’ the festival just because they are the biggest sponsor and if Busan city keeps insulting our efforts in finding solution as ulterior interference from outside, we cannot find any reason to be attending BIFF. We, Korean group of film associations, will try to pass a resolution for boycotting BIFF2016 after collecting consensus of all associations. The world will witness the empty red carpet for the first time in 20 years of BIFF’ history and the audience from all over the world will stop coming to Busan for the festival any more. It takes quite a long time to build a festival, but it does just a blink of an eye to be collapsed. Do SUH and Busan city government want to see BIFF disappear just like that? By all means, we truly hope our desperate outcry and ultimatum will be taken seriously.
We strongly demand the followings;
– The mayor, SUH should resign from the BIFF’s organizing director immediately and agree to revision of the articles for the festival’s autonomy and independence!
– The city government must stop unjust interference on BIFF and withdraw the legal application for injunction against suspension of efficiency of 68 new committee advisors!
– SUH should make public apology for his continuous wrongful actions damaging the festival and promise that it will never happen again!
If the city government does not take significant actions on our demands above, there will be none of the Korean film community attending this year’s Busan International Film Festival.
Korean Film Group’s Emergency Committee for Defending BIFF’s Independence
What’s happening to BIFF? You can find the answers at www.isupportbiff.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF5h_2H0IYA-
Korean FilmMakers Threaten to Boycott Busan International Film Festival
A group representing the Korean Film Community issued a statement on Monday threatening to boycott the upcoming 2016 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) unless the Busan city guarantees the festival’s independence.
The 2016 Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to take place October 6 to 15, 2016.
The statement:
The Entire Korean Film Community will boycott BIFF unless the Busan city guarantees the festival’s independence!
Does the city government really want to go for the worst? The city government accelerated interfering Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) by submitting a legal application for injunction to suspend the efficiency of 68 new committee advisors consisted of Korean film professionals and refusing to have the special assembly meeting for amending the articles of association. In addition, the recent city gazette published by Busan city government is filled with criticism of the festival and insulting the film professionals who support BIFF as if they are the intruders with ulterior intension. The city government provoked the regional antagonism by spreading rumors that the film professionals from Seoul are trying to control the Busan’s festival. This is beyond defamation of the Korean film professionals. It is the worst way of ruining the festival which is a valuable cultural asset for all of us.
We have watched ever since Mr. SUH Byung-soo, was elected as the mayor and became the organizing director of the festival as ex officio in 2014. And he has never stopped political retaliation against BIFF since the screening of The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol (aka. Diving Bell). We have patiently tried our best for peaceful solution between the festival and the city government. But SUH deceives people as if those film professionals are outsiders with wicked intention attempting to alienate between Busan citizens and the film professionals.
BIFF is not a property of Busan city government. It is true that the government’s financial support to the festival is a part of the reason for the success of the festival, but the festival is entitled to make decisions on how to run it autonomically without any outside interference. BIFF does not only belong to the Busan citizens but also to every cineaste in Korea. It is a cultural asset to be shared with everyone who loves cinema from all over the world. That is why the festival’s independence and autonomy have to be protected. That is why amending the articles of association is so important to guarantee its independence and autonomy.
We were enormously shocked and grieved by a series of discouraging events including practical ‘censorship’ from outside and unfair dismissal of the festival director, but we still believed that we should be able to provide institutional gird to prevent the recurrence of this unfortunate condition with all our efforts. That’s why many of us willingly agreed to be committee advisors in hoping to acquire basis for the festival’s autonomy and independence via revision of the article at the special assembly meeting. As we witnessed SUH promised that he would step down from the organizing director voluntarily, we were truly stuck to our belief in peaceful end to the situation,
However, Busan city government abruptly started arguing legitimacy of the special assembly meeting. The city government defamed us as intruders with ulterior intension though every media they can muster up and eventually submitted application for an injunction to suspend the efficiency of 68 new committee advisors. We cannot help resenting and lamenting to see the city’s attempt to distort the situation to some sort of power game among film professionals. We patiently maintained our support for BIFF to make the festival back on track, but we are afraid that our patience was for nothing after all.
It’s unimaginable to see BIFF without film people. However, if Busan city government still believes that they ‘own’ the festival just because they are the biggest sponsor and if Busan city keeps insulting our efforts in finding solution as ulterior interference from outside, we cannot find any reason to be attending BIFF. We, Korean group of film associations, will try to pass a resolution for boycotting BIFF2016 after collecting consensus of all associations. The world will witness the empty red carpet for the first time in 20 years of BIFF’ history and the audience from all over the world will stop coming to Busan for the festival any more. It takes quite a long time to build a festival, but it does just a blink of an eye to be collapsed. Do SUH and Busan city government want to see BIFF disappear just like that? By all means, we truly hope our desperate outcry and ultimatum will be taken seriously.
We strongly demand the followings;
– The mayor, SUH should resign from the BIFF’s organizing director immediately and agree to revision of the articles for the festival’s autonomy and independence!
– The city government must stop unjust interference on BIFF and withdraw the legal application for injunction against suspension of efficiency of 68 new committee advisors!
– SUH should make public apology for his continuous wrongful actions damaging the festival and promise that it will never happen again!
If the city government does not take significant actions on our demands above, there will be none of the Korean film community attending this year’s Busan International Film Festival.
Korean Film Group’s Emergency Committee for Defending BIFF’s Independence
What’s happening to BIFF? You can find the answers at www.isupportbiff.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF5h_2H0IYA
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Official Poster of 2016 Cannes Film Festival
The official poster is released for the 69th Festival de Cannes, taking place from May 11 to 22, 2016, and presided over by Australian director George Miller.
The poster was designed using stills from Jean-Luc Godard’s film Contempt.
It’s all there. The steps, the sea, the horizon: a man’s ascent towards his dream, in a warm Mediterranean light that turns to gold. As an image it is reminiscent of a timeless quote used at the beginning of Contempt: “Cinema replaces our gaze with a world in harmony with our desires”.
And so it is Michel Piccoli who in 2016, from the roof of the famous villa designed by the writer Curzio Malaparte, will open the red carpet for the 69th Festival de Cannes. It’s a symbolic choice, since this film about the making of a film – regarded by many as one of the finest ever made in CinemaScope (the Piccoli/Bardot pairing along with Fritz Lang, Raoul Coutard’s cinematography, Georges Delerue’s music, and so on and so forth) – had such a considerable impact on the history of film and cinephilia.
On the eve of its 70th anniversary, by choosing to represent itself under the symbol of this simultaneously palimpsest and unambiguous film, the Festival is reiterating its founding commitment: to pay tribute to the history of film, and to welcome new ways of creating and seeing. The steps represent a kind of ascension towards the infinite horizon of a cinema screen.
This 69th Festival de Cannes poster has been designed by Hervé Chigioni and his graphic designer Gilles Frappier. The 2016 visual identity has been created by Philippe Savoir (Filifox).
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EVA HESSE Documentary Sets Release Date | TRAILER
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EVA HESSE[/caption]
EVA HESSE, a documentary film by Marcie Begleiter, about the art and life of Eva Hesse will be released in the U.S. in April by Zeitgeist Films.
EVA HESSE will open at Film Forum in New York on April 27, and at Laemmle Monica Film Center on May 13. Many other cities will follow.
As the wild ride of the 1960’s came to a close, Eva Hesse was cresting the wave of a swiftly rising career. One of the few women recognized as central to the New York art scene, she had over 20 group shows scheduled for 1970 in addition to being chosen for a cover article in ArtForum Magazine. Her work was finally receiving both the critical and commercial attention it deserved.
EVA HESSE deepens the understanding of this extraordinary artist, not only in terms of her ground-breaking work, but also the life that provided the fertile soil for her achievements. With dozens of new interviews, high quality footage of Hesse’s artwork and a wealth of newly discoverd archival imagery, the documentary not only traces Eva’s path but engages in a lively investigation into the creative community of 1960’s New York and Germany.
Born in Hamburg in 1936 to a German-Jewish family, the artist’s fierce work ethic may have developed from a complex psychology that was formed, in part, as a Jew born in Nazi Germany. Having escaped the fate of her extended family, Eva and her older sister Helen were sent out on one of the last Kindertransports (trains that carried Jewish children to safety) and was eventually reunited with their parents in Holland. They made their way to New York in 1940 but her family struggled to make a new home. The remaining years of Hesse’s youth were difficult, and through dealing with these challenges she discovered herself as an artist early in life. The passion and serious attention she gave to her work led her first to Yale and then to playing a central part in the New York art scene of the sixties. Hesse’s cohort, major artists such as Dan Graham, Richard Serra, Nancy Holt, Carl Andre, Robert and Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Eva’s husband Tom Doyle and her friend, writer Lucy Lippard, speak candidly and with great passion about the 60’s, Eva’s work and her life.
When Eva Hesse died in May 1970, at 34 years of age from a brain tumor, the life of one of that decade’s most passionate and brilliant artists was tragically cut short. As Jonathon Keats wrote in Art and Antiques Magazine “Yet the end of her life proved to be only the beginning of her career.” Her work is now held by many important museum collections including the Whitney, MoMA, the Hirschhorn, the Pompidou in Paris and London’s Tate Modern and Cologne’s Ludwig Museum.
2016 is proving to be a banner year for Eva Hesse; in addition to the film’s domestic and international release, “Diaries” a book of her journal entries will be published in May by Yale University Press. Also, the artist’s work is included in many landmark exhibitions this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aov6R8qmf10
EVA HESSE Director’s statement:
I have an abiding interest in the art and life of Eva Hesse. The work moves me deeply in the mysterious way that powerful art can function. It’s hard to categorize; inhabiting a space that moves fluidly between media and ideas. The work made me want to know more about the artist and that led to Lucy Lippard’s “Eva Hesse”, the first book written on the artist after her early death in 1970. This volume includes fragments from Hesse’s unpublished journals and quotes from the single interview she gave in her lifetime. I connected strongly with the voice and heart that came through in these short quotes and began to search out more material from Hesse’s archive. Like Eva, I also have roots in the European Jewish community, a history that comes with many opportunities as well as inherent challenges. The female perspective is also very strong in her writing as is her ambition and bravery. No biography in English has been published, so I decided to go visit those unpublished journals at the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio where they are housed. Given a pair of white gloves, I sat for a week in their rare manuscripts library, reading through hundreds of pages. The journals told a deep and compelling story about this remarkable woman’s journey. It was characterized by loss, but more importantly for me, by a triumphant commitment to work and living life to its fullest. By week’s end I had fallen for the woman as I had for the work and began a series of projects of which this film is the latest incarnation.
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Jodie Foster, Ricky Gervais, Francis Ford Coppola Among Tribeca Film Festival Talks Line-Up
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Ricky Gervais, Special Correspondents[/caption]
The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Talks line-up will include panels and conversations with some of the industry’s most critically and commercially successful filmmakers, artists, and executives.
The featured guests include J.J. Abrams, Andrea Arnold, Anthony Bourdain, Francis Ford Coppola, Katie Couric, Alfonso Cuarón, Jodie Foster, Ricky Gervais, Catherine Hardwicke, Donna Karan, Baz Luhrmann, Patti Smith, Joss Whedon, Olivia Wilde, Samantha Bee, and more. The Tribeca Talks program will run during the 15th edition of TFF, taking place April 13–24.
Tribeca Talks: Directors Series, intimate one-on-one discussions with acclaimed directors, this year includes Alfonso Cuarón, Jodie Foster with Julie Taymor, Joss Whedon in conversation with Mark Ruffalo, J.J. Abrams speaking with Chris Rock, Andrea Arnold, and Baz Luhrmann with Nelson George. New to this year’s Festival is Tribeca Talks: Storytellers, which features pioneering creators who work across mediums to tell their stories. Francis Ford Coppola, Idina Menzel and Patti Smith join previously announced participants Tom Hanks and Tina Fey for the program. Also debuting for 2016 is Tribeca Talks: Daring Women Summit Powered by the Li.st, a day of conversations with some of the most influential women in arts and technology who will share stories from their illustrious careers and unconventional paths to success, as well as their support and mentorship of other women in their respective fields. Participants include Google Entertainment Industry Educator in Chief Julie Ann Crommett, producer and actress Olivia Wilde, fashion designer Donna Karan, Fresh Off the Boat Showrunner Nahnatchka Khan, among others.
TFF also announced five additional feature films and two previously announced titles that will screen during the Festival as part of the Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series, which gives audiences a chance to listen to and participate in a conversation with filmmakers, actors, and influencers following screenings of their films. The program features the world premiere of Special Correspondents and a discussion with writer and director Ricky Gervais, actor Eric Bana, and additional cast, and the world premieres of documentaries I Voted? with writer/director Jason Grant Smith and executive producer Katie Couric, Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent with subject and chef Jeremiah Tower and executive producers Anthony Bourdain and Lydia Tenaglia, and Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe with the creators and subjects of the film. Equity will have its New York premiere, followed by a conversation with director, and winner of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival’s Nora Ephron Prize Meera Menon. Also featured as part of Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series are the previously announced Contemporary Color, followed by a conversation with directors Bill and Turner Ross led by David Byrne, and Starring Austin Pendleton, featuring a panel with star and subject Austin Pendleton and actors from his career as an actor and director.
“Storytelling is an expansive medium with the power to advance conversations and issues long after the credits roll,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President, Tribeca Enterprises. “The Tribeca Talks series gives audiences the chance to continue those conversations as well as hear from legendary figures in film, music, and more.”
This year’s Tribeca Talks series offers audiences the opportunity to hear from some of the top storytellers in the world about their craft, recent and upcoming projects, and innovations across mediums. Additional programs include returning favorites “Tribeca Talks: Master Class,” conversations focusing on a specific sector of the filmmaking process and other special “Tribeca Talks” events including Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival conversations.
The full schedule for the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Talks series follows:
Tribeca Talks: Directors Series, sponsored by Amazon Studios with media support from Entertainment Weekly
Some of the most distinctive directors discuss their careers and highlights, from Jodie Foster discussing her TV endeavors and the upcoming Money Monster, to Joss Whedon’s cult hits “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to the Avengers series, J.J. Abrams on Star Trek and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Andrea Arnold’s Red Road and Fish Tank, Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También and Gravity, and Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming TV show “The Get Down” and stylistic Moulin Rouge.
J.J. Abrams with Chris Rock
Multi-faceted filmmaker J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, “Felicity”, “Lost”) will discuss the turns and triumphs of his career with comic actor and fellow filmmaker Chris Rock.
DATE: Friday, April 15
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Andrea Arnold
One of the freshest voices in cinema today, British filmmaker Andrea Arnold sits down for a conversation about her work from her debut feature Red Road to the highly acclaimed Fish Tank.
DATE: Monday, April 18
TIME: 2:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Joss Whedon with Mark Ruffalo
Joss Whedon, director of The Avenger films and creator of cult classics “Angel” and “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” will talk to esteemed actor and collaborator Mark Ruffalo about his distinguished career.
DATE: Monday, April 18
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 1
Jodie Foster with Julie Taymor
Jodie Foster has culminated her experience as an actress into directing and will explore how she has forged a position as an esteemed filmmaker in both film and television through a conversation with filmmaker Julie Taymor
DATE: Wednesday, April 20
TIME: 5:30PM
LOCATION: Festival Hub
Baz Luhrmann with Nelson George
Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has one of the most distinctly recognizable visual styles in cinema today and discusses creating work which merges both classic and modern worlds through films from The Great Gatsby to Moulin Rouge.
DATE: Saturday, April 23
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 1
Alfonso Cuarón with TBD
From the indie hit Y Tu Mamá También to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Gravity Alfonso Cuaron and will discuss his ability to create truly unique cinematic worlds.
DATE: Wednesday, April 20th
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 1
Tribeca Talks: Storytellers, sponsored by Dean & DeLuca with media support from Entertainment Weekly
Celebrating passionate creators with a desire to tell stories in a multitude of ways – these pioneers never stay in just one lane. From Patti Smith turning songwriting into novel writing; to Tom Hanks acting, producing and directing; Tina Fey, writing, acting, producing and creating shows, Idina Menzel performing in TV, film and originating roles in theaters as well as songwriting; and Francis Ford Coppola discussing his passion for food and wine in addition to filmmaking.
Patti Smith
From cultural music icon to novelist Patti Smith has always been ahead of the curve and never afraid to pull punches, she will converse on her career and force field of creativity.
DATE: Thursday, April 14
TIME: 3:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel has trail blazed a career in film, television and theater not only being there for the inception of stage shows and the roles she has made iconic, but also performed in a variety of mediums and showcased her abilities as a songwriter.
DATE: Monday, April 18
TIME: 4:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 1
Tina Fey with Damian Holbrook
Known for developing smart comedy through her writing and performances in film and television, the former head writer of SNL has also created fan and critic favorite TV shows “30 Rock” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
DATE: Tuesday, April 19
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Francis Ford Coppola with Jay McInerney
Francis Ford Coppola has given us some of the most memorable films on the big screen but is also a food and wine aficionado with a lifestyle brand. Francis Ford Coppola Presents encompasses a series of cafes as well as his winery in Sonoma County, CA.
DATE: Wednesday, April 20
TIME: 4:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 1
Tom Hanks with John Oliver
In addition to being one of the most beloved actors, Tom Hanks has also produced and directed an astounding number of films and will discuss his passion for great stories. Political commentator and television host John Oliver leads a conversation with Hanks discussing his prolific career
DATE: Friday, April 22
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Tribeca Talks: After the Movie
Contemporary Color
In the summer of 2015, legendary musician David Byrne staged an unprecedented event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to celebrate the art of color guard—synchronized dance involving flags, rifles, and sabers—by pairing regional color guard teams with performers, including St Vincent, Nelly Furtado, and Ad-Rock. More than a concert film, Contemporary Color is a cinematic interpretation of this one of a kind live event, courtesy of visionary filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross.
After the movie: A conversation led by David Byrne with Bill and Turner Ross, with special appearances by color guarders.
DATE: Thursday, April 14
TIME: 9:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (sponsored by CNN Films)
The Last Magnificent explores the exceptional, adventurous life of Jeremiah Tower, one of the most controversial, outrageous, and influential figures in the history of American gastronomy. Yet his name has largely been obliterated from history. Featuring interviews by Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, Martha Stewart, and Ruth Reichl, this delicious documentary for the culinary set tells the story of the rise and fall of America’s first celebrity chef.
After the movie: Subject and Chef Jeremiah Tower and Executive Producers Anthony Bourdain and Lydia Tenaglia
DATE: Saturday, April 16
TIME: 3:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
I Voted?
How do you know that your vote is recorded as intended in an election? After South Carolina candidate Alvin Greene overwhelmingly won the Senate Primary despite having not campaigned, a pandora’s box of questions opened regarding the voting process – particularly in a digital age where we rely on computer systems to act with integrity despite the use outdated and unregulated technology.
After the movie: Writer Director Jason Grant Smith, Executive Producer Katie Couric and more.
DATE: Thursday, April 21st
TIME: 5:30PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Equity
High-powered Wall Street banker Naomi Bishop (Anna Gunn) has been passed over for a promotion again. If she can successfully launch her next high profile IPO, she’ll be back on top. To get the job done, she must bypass her ambitious assistant (Sarah Megan Thomas) and an aggressive US prosecutor (Alysia Reiner) watching her every move, in TFF Nora Ephron Prize winner and alumnus Meera Menon’s financial thriller. A Sony Pictures Classic release.
After the movie: Director Meera Menon, and other female directors discuss their experience in the industry.
DATE: Tuesday, April 19
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Starring Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton is that quintessential character actor you might recognize. We follow Austin as he reflects on his life and craft, while his A-list peers discuss his vast influence, dogged determination, and what it means to be an original in today’s celebrity-obsessed world.
After the movie: Star and subject Austin Pendleton discusses his career with fellow actors, including Olympia Dukakis, Peter Saarsgaard, George Morfogen, and Denis O’Hare.
DATE: Thursday, April 21
TIME: 2:30PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Special Correspondents
American politics and media are aptly satirized in this feature by firebrand comedian Ricky Gervais. A pretentious radio journalist and his ineffectual technician botch an assignment in South America, and decide to fabricate an on-the-scene report while hiding out in a New York City apartment. This scheme spirals out of their control when their escalating story becomes a national headline. A Netflix Original Film.
After the movie: A conversation with writer/director Ricky Gervais, actor Eric Bana, and additional cast
DATE: Friday, April 22
TIME: 8:00PM
LOCATION: John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe
The most vitriolic debate in medical history takes a dramatic turn when senior scientist turned whistleblower, Dr. William Thompson of the Centers for Disease Control, turns over secret documents, data, and internal emails confirming what millions of devastated parents and “discredited” doctors have long-suspected – vaccines do cause autism.
After the movie: a conversation with creators and subjects of the film.
DATE: Sunday, April 24
TIME: 2:00PM
LOCATION: SVA2
Tribeca Talks: Daring Women Summit Powered by the Li.st
DATE: Wednesday, April 20
TIME: 10:30AM – 5PM
LOCATION: Festival Hub
This day of first-hand storytelling celebrates today’s most influential women in arts and technology who have risen to the top of their respective fields by eschewing traditional career trajectories in creating their own paths. Not only have these women broken ceilings to succeed for themselves, but most importantly they have created opportunities for other women along the way through direct support and mentorship, forging job opportunities for others and creating content where women can see themselves and the possibilities of what they themselves could become.
These creative minds refused to take no for an answer, taking on outsized risks, despite the conventional wisdom. These women in tech and entertainment are bold, they are driven by innovation, and they have reservoirs of expertise and life lessons to share.
Speakers include Producer and Actress Olivia Wilde, Fashion Designer Donna Karan, Full Frontal’s Samantha Bee, actress & activist Rosie Perez, The Li.st founder Rachel Sklar, HelloGiggles co-founder Sophia Rossi, Google Entertainment Industry Educator in Chief Julie Ann Crommett, ‘Fresh off the Boat’ Showrunner Nahnatchka Khan, actress Mya Taylor, PYPO Creator Stephanie Laing, Chief Content Officer for Refinery 29 Amy Emmerich, New York Public radio’s President & CEO Laura Walker, WNYC’s Death, Sex & Money Anna Sale, actress LaLa Anthony and many more.
Tribeca Talks: Master Class (Free event)
Dolby Master Class
Leading sound and music pioneers discuss the complexities of creating sound and music for film. Check website for panelists.
DATE: Friday, April 15
TIME: 3:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Prepping to Shoot with Catherine Hardwicke (sponsored by Nexxus New York Salon Care)
Twilight, Lords of Dogtown and Thirteen Director Catherine Hardwicke takes you inside preproduction – from creating a workable shot list to constructing lookbooks, shaping locations and building relationships with cast and crew alike – she offers tips and tricks as well as showcasing her personal work materials.
DATE: Sunday, April 17
TIME: 3:00PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Inside Casting
Esteemed Casting Director Ellen Lewis and Ellen Chenoweth have worked with some of the greatest directors including Martin Scorsese, Mike Nichols, Jim Jarmusch, the Coen Brothers, George Clooney and Stephen Spielberg. They will divulge the process of casting and discovering some of today’s most recognizable faces. Moderated by Bernard Telsey.
DATE: Saturday, April 23
TIME: 2:30PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Tribeca Talks – Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Conversations, sponsored by Mohegan Sun
Elections and “Scandal”
Debuting their latest Elections short documentary A More Perfect Union, Nate Silver (FiveThirtyEight editor-in-chief), Micah Cohen (FiveThirtyEight politics editor) and guests discuss how the Rev. Wright revelations affected the 2008 Democratic primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, how the media handled the story, and what lessons the episode holds for the 2016 election.
DATE: Wednesday, April 20
TIME: 2:30PM
LOCATION: SVA2
· A More Perfect Union, directed by Eric Drath. (USA) – World Premiere. From the discovery of Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s inciting sermons to Obama’s ‘A More Perfect Union’ speech, this short film uses interviews, archives, and a timeline to illustrate the behind-the-scenes drama during a make-or-break moment in the 2008 presidential campaign.
O.J.: Made in America with Ezra Edelman and TheUndefeated.com
O.J. Simpson remains one of the most resonant figures in American history. Undefeated.com editor in chief Kevin Merida moderates a discussion with the film’s director Ezra Edelman, managing editor Raina Kelley and senior culture writer Kelley Carter about ESPN Films’ O.J.: Made in America and its attempt to make sense of both the racial context surrounding the trial 20 years ago, and a life and career still being debated today.
DATE: Sunday, April 24
TIME: 5:30PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
Special “Tribeca Talks” Event
Free Like the Birds
Sophie Cruz, a six year old girl fights to keep her family together as the threat of deporting her parents looms over her. Determined to keep her family together she travels to Washington DC, breaks through police barricades, and talks to the Pope. A girl on a mission.
After the short film: An in depth conversation with prominent activists about immigration
DATE: Thursday, April 21
TIME: 8:30PM
LOCATION: SVA 2
From Film to Game
In the entertainment industry’s constantly changing landscape, the lines between mediums are starting to blur. We are witnessing the intersection of gaming and filmmaking to create a new form of storytelling that revitalizes traditional narratives.
Join BioShock’s Ken Levine, Her Story creator Sam Barlow, and filmmaker Will Gluck in a discussion about how content creators are bridging the gap between video games and TV to generate compelling experiences that put the viewer in the driver’s seat.
DATE: Monday, April 18
TIME: 8:00PM
LOCATION: Festival Hub
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FILMMAKERS: Submit Your Film to 2016 Whistler Film Festival
The 2016 Whistler Film Festival is seeking submissions for the 16th edition, which runs from November 30 to December 3, 2016.
The festival will feature up to 90 films comprised of about 45 features and 45 shorts. Canadian and International filmmakers are invited to submit films of all lengths and genres by the following deadlines:
Early Film Submissions Deadline: April 30 (discount on application)
Regular Film Deadline: June 30
Late Film Deadline: July 31
Extended Late Film Deadline: August 15
The Whistler Film Festival is also accepting applications for Screenwriters Lab.
Up to six writers from across Canada will be selected to participate in the WFF Praxis Screenwriters Lab, a joint feature script development program for Canadian screenwriter that aligns the Praxis Centre for Screenwriters’ flagship feature screenplay competition with WFF’s slate of project development programs and industry Summit.
New for 2016, the Screenwriters Lab will include two phases that take place in Whistler, British Columbia. Phase I will take place over five days from June 5 to 9 and includes four months of ongoing feedback and project development with advisors. Phase II includes a three-day follow up, pitch boot camp and scheduled market meetings from November 29 to December 3 during the Whistler Film Festival + Summit, one of Canada’s leading film festivals and industry gatherings.
Application deadline: April 15 , 2016
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Tisha Campbell-Martin, Naturi Naughton, Fran Burst Honored at Black Women Film Summit
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Fran Burst, Mikki Taylor, Naturi Naughton, Sheryl Gripper, Tisha Campbell-Martin at The Black Women Film Network[/caption]
Last week, the Black Women Film Network (BWFN) hosted the 2016 Black Women Film Summit, featuring the popular “Untold Stories Awards Luncheon.” Actress/singer Tisha Campbell-Martin (ABC’s “Dr. Ken”), actress/singer Naturi Naughton (“POWER”), ESSENCE editor-at-large Mikki Taylor and film director and producer Fran Burst were honored at the2016 Black Women Film Summit held at the Intercontinental Buckhead.
TV and radio personality Ebony Steele (“Coffee with America”) hosted the affair with music provided by DJ Salah Ananse. Scholarships were awarded to aspiring filmmakers Anita Salley and Martha Carswell. Additional luncheon attendees included comedian/writer Myra J, actress Charmin Lee and media personality Spirit.
The Summit that day also included the “Reel Sista Talk” and “Marketing Your Film to Hollywood” panel discussions featuring Haj Chenzira Pinnock, Mikki Taylor, Shante Bacon and Saptosa Foster.
On Saturday, the Summit hosted a number of seminars and panels including a Kids Acting Workshop, a Comedy Class led by Myra J, a “Screenwriting 101” workshop and “The YBF: Young, Black & Filming” panel.
Additionally, authors James E. Chandler, Sr., Amber Saunders, Saunya M. Williams, Ph.D, and BWFN founder Sheryl Gripper showcased their titles at the Book Festival, while various black women filmmakers from around the country debuted their film shorts during the competitive Film Festival. At the end of the day, the winning films were announced:
Best of Festival
Masquerade
Meleisha Edwards, Writer/Producer
Best of Festival (Student Category)
Suga Water
Nakia Stephens, Writer/Producer
Audience Participation Award
Ms. Glo
Angela Edmond, Writer/Director
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Award-Winning Bulgarian Film VIKTORIA Sets U.S. Release Date | TRAILER
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VIKTORIA[/caption]
The Bulgarian film VIKTORIA, directed by Maya Vitkova will be released in the U.S. by Big World Pictures.
Official Selection at Sundance, Rotterdam, AFI Fest and a number of other prestigious film festivals, and winner of numerous awards, VIKTORIA will open at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in New York on April 29, with a national release to follow.
Maya Vitkova’s stunning debut feature VIKTORIA, follows three generations of women in the final years of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria and the early years of the transition to democracy. The film focuses on reluctant mother Boryana and her daughter, Viktoria, who in one of the film’s surreal, magical touches is born without an umbilical cord. Though unwanted by her mother, Viktoria is named the country’s Baby of the Decade, and is showered with gifts and attention until the disintegration of the East Bloc. Despite throwing their worlds off balance, the resulting political changes also allow for the possibility of reconciliation.
Maya Vitkova wrote, produced and directed VIKTORIA, making it both personal and universal, and demonstrating a precocious command of all elements of the filmmaking process. Especially impressive is the film’s visual sensibility and its command of a range of shifting tones, from absurdist humor to political allegory to deeply moving familial drama. VIKTORIA was coproduced by Cristi Puiu’s Mandragora.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BcZe6neFQA
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Ashland Independent Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Opens with HONEY BUDDIES
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Honey Buddies[/caption]
The 2016 Ashland Independent Film Festival will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this April by paying tribute to the roots of independent film.
AIFF will give special emphasis to the intersection of live performance and film, beginning with the opening night screening, and Pacific Northwest premiere of Honey Buddies. Filmed in Oregon, the Slamdance award-winning comedy stars Flula Borg as the relentlessly upbeat best man who convinces David Giuntoli (Grimm), after his fiancée dumps him at the altar, to take him on his Columbia River Gorge honeymoon, instead. Borg, an online musical sensation thanks to his YouTube music videos and his striking performance in the recent Pitch Perfect 2, will perform a live DJ set in the Ashland Armory following the screening.
The mainstay of the festival continues to be a rich assortment of documentary and narrative feature films and shorts, including many regional and several national premieres. Magali Noel’s Addicted to Sheep, Nick Hartanto and Sam Roden’s Traveler (which will be accompanied to the festival by its subject, photographer Nicholas Syracuse) and AIFF 2015 Audience Choice award winner Alexandria Bombach’s short film How We Choose are U.S. premieres. Ten feature films that opened at Sundance in January are receiving their regional premieres at AIFF, including Werner Herzog’s essay film on the Internet’s effect on society, Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World; Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Uncle Howard, Cameraperson, NUTS!, Hooligan Sparrow, Trapped, and The Fits, along with Sonita and Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.
There are a number of films with regional connections, including two by rising Portland filmmaker Christopher LaMarca, whose films Boone and The Pearl (co-directed by Jessica Dimmock) just premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW)and True/False Film Festivals. Boone is a sensory and unsentimental meditation on the lives of three young goat farmers living off the land in the Little Applegate Valley near Jacksonville, Ore. The Pearl delves into the experiences of older transgender women in the Pacific Northwest. The film will be accompanied by the filmmakers and two of their most striking subjects from Oregon, Krystal and Jodi, two sisters who were formerly brothers, and unaware of each other’s gender fluidity. Bastards y Diablos, about two half-brothers who go on a journey of self-discovery to Colombia, involved a crew based mostly out of Medford, Ore., including producer and co-star Dillon Porter.
For lovers of the “other” Ashland festival, there are two films that highlight Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death. Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, a theater performance inventively filmed by Rodrigo Prieto, is being touted as a visually spectacular adaptation, and will be accompanied by a Skype conversation with Taymor. Bill is a Monty Pythonesque tale of William Shakespeare’s “lost years”. In addition, a program of short films will feature current and former Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors, including Anthony Heald in The Stairs; and David DeSantos and Stephanie Beatriz in Closure.
“It’s going to be an exciting and stimulating five days and nights,’ said Cathy Dombi, the festival’s executive director. “More than 50 visiting filmmakers and artists will attend the festival to engage in dialogues after screenings, with several artists accompanying their films with live music, art exhibits, and even virtual reality headgear for audiences to sample.”
In his Ashland debut, Richard Herskowitz, the new director of programming, will honor two key indie film institutions by paying tribute to Kartemquin Films and Women Make Movies, organizations that have built an infrastructure for indie filmmakers working outside the mainstream. Kartemquin co-founder and artistic director Gordon Quinn will be joined by filmmakers Joanna Rudnick and Maria Finitzo for three screenings honoring Karteqmquin on its 50th anniversary. Accomplished documentarians Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar of New Day Films will screen three of their latest short films and join Quinn for a TalkBack panel on Activist Film Collectives.
“Independent film’s social and cultural importance has been reaffirmed lately as Hollywood’s neglect of women’s and other minority voices has become painfully apparent,” said Herskowitz.
This year, 24 of the 39 independent feature films are directed or co-directed by women, and the subject of one of the festival’s three “TalkBack” panel discussions will be Women Make Indie Movies, moderated by Women Make Movies’ executive director Debra Zimmerman. Zimmerman will also introduce her company’s acclaimed new release Sonita, winner of the Grand Jury and Audience Prize for international documentaries at Sundance. Sonita is about an Iranian teenager who creates an underground rap song to protest her family’s plan to sell her as a bride.
This year’s Rogue Award will go to the esteemed directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Detropia, Jesus Camp, The Boys of Baraka), who will screen their latest documentary, Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, an homage to the 93-year-old American social activist and creator of the TV shows All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Maude. Barbara Hammer, the pioneering director of queer cinema, will receive the festival’s Pride Award, supported by the Equity Foundation, and will present her latest film, Welcome to this House, on the life and poetry of Elizabeth Bishop.
Herskowitz is introducing a new section titled Beyond, devoted to films that challenge and reinvent storytelling conventions. A highlight of this section will be MA, the debut feature by dance world sensation Celia Rowlson-Hall, a transfixing, artfully wordless narrative in which Rowlson-Hall stars as a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. Rowlson-Hall was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine in 2014 and named one of 25 “new faces of independent film” in 2015 by Filmmaker Magazine. She is the winner of the festival’s first-ever Juice Award, given to an emerging female film director, with support from Tangerine Entertainment and the Faerie Godmother Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. Other Beyond titles include The Fits, collective:unconscious, and He Hated Pigeons.
At the TalkBack panel titled Transmedia & Virtual Reality Platforms for New Documentaries, filmmaker Helen de Michiel will present her latest transmedia projects, Lunch Love Community and Berkeley vs. Big Soda. Brad Lichtenstein will demo his virtual reality project, Across the Line, on the effect of anti-abortion protests on health centers and patients. Google VR headsets will be available for sampling after the panel. Vicki Callahan, a USC professor and an authority on digital culture and media strategies for social change, will moderate the discussion.
2016 AIFF FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS
FILM; DIRECTOR
Addicted to Sheep; Magali Pettier
Bastards y Diablos; A.D. Freese
Bill; Richard Bracewell
Birth of Saké, The; Erik Shirai
Boone; Christopher LaMarca
Cameraperson; Kirsten Johnson
Chicago Maternity Center Story, The; Jerry Blumenthal, Suzanne Davenport, Sharon Karp, Gordon Quinn, Jennifer Rohrer
collective:unconscious; Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker, Lauren Wolkstein
Embers; Claire Carré
Fits, The; Anna Rose Holmer
Five Nights in Maine; Maris Curran
Gesture and a Word; Dave Davidson
He Hated Pigeons; Ingrid Veninger
Honey Buddies; Alex Simmons
Hooligan Sparrow; Nanfu Wang
Hunky Dory; Michael Curtis Johnson
In Pursuit of Silence; Patrick Shen
In the Game; Maria Finitzo
In Transit; Albert Maysles, Lynn True, Nelson Walker, Ben Wu, David Usui
Light Beneath Their Feet; Valerie Weiss
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World; Werner Herzog
Louder than Bombs; Joachim Trier
MA; Celia Rowlson Hall
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise; Bob Hercules & Rita Coburn Whack
Midsummer Night’s Dream; Julie Taymor
Neptune; Derek Kimball
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
NUTS!; Penny Lane
Pearl, The; Jessica Dimmock and Christopher LaMarca
Secret Screening from Kartemquin Films; TBA
Seventh Fire, The; Jack Pettibone Riccobono
Sonita; Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Three Hikers, The; Natalie Avital
Trapped; Dawn Porter
Traveler; Nick Hartanto and Sam Roden
Uncle Howard; Aaron Brookner
Voyagers Without Trace; Ian McCluskey
Welcome to This House; Barbara Hammer
Women He’s Undressed; Gillian Armstrong
Short Film Programs
After Hours Shorts
Animated Worlds with Mark Shapiro
Art Docs
Ashland Actors On Screen
CineSpace
Family Shorts: Kid Pix
Family Shorts: TweenScreen
Locals Only 1: Family Friendly
Locals Only 2: Woman to Man
Short Stories
Short Docs
TalkBack Panel Discussions
Activist Film Collectives: Kartemquin and New Day Films
Women Make Indie Movies
Transmedia and Virtual Reality Platforms for New Documentaries
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WEINER Documentary to Open Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
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WEINER, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg[/caption]
Weiner, following disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner’s 2013 campaign for mayor of New York City, will be the Opening Night Film of the 2016 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, will screen as the free Closing Night Film.
Four films : Unlocking the Cage by Chris Hegedus and DA Pennebaker, Two Trains Runnin’ by Sam Pollard, Raising Bertie by Margaret Byrne, and Presenting Princess Shaw by Ido Haar, will exhibit as Center Frame screenings.
Filmmakers and subjects from the films will participate in extended conversations after the Center Frame screenings. Special guests include Steven Wise from Unlocking the Cage; David Dennis, co-director of Mississippi Freedom Summer, from Two Trains Runnin’; Reginald Askew, Davonte Harrell, David Perry, and Vivian Saunders from Raising Bertie; and Samantha Montgomery from Presenting Princess Shaw.
Full Frame 2016 will feature two free outdoor screenings in addition to the Closing Night Film, continuing its tradition of showing free films Friday and Saturday nights. (Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies and Iris will screen outdoors at Durham Central Park.
The 2016 Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant, now in its tenth year, has been awarded to Jonathan Olshefski for Quest: The Fury and the Sound and to Matt Yoka for Whirlybird. Grant organizers will join the filmmakers in presenting short excerpts from their works-in-progress prior to a screening of The Peacemaker by 2014 grant recipient James Demo. The grant is awarded in honor of filmmaker Garrett Scott, who made a distinctive mark in the documentary genre during his brief career. It recognizes first-time filmmakers who, like Scott, bring a unique vision to the content and style of their documentary films.
Opening Night Film of the 2016 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival at Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall
OPENING NIGHT FILM – Thursday, April 7, at 7:40pm
Weiner (Directors: Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg)
With unparalleled access to the candidate, Weiner follows disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner’s 2013 campaign for mayor of New York City and intensely navigates new political scandal as it unfolds.
Center Frame Screenings at Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall
CENTER FRAME – Friday, April 8, at 1:30pm
Unlocking the Cage (Directors: Chris Hegedus, DA Pennebaker)
Having devoted his career to fighting for greater legal rights for nonhuman animals, attorney Steven Wise and his colleagues at the Nonhuman Rights Project launch a history-making lawsuit arguing for captive chimpanzees’ right to personhood.
CENTER FRAME – Friday, April 8, at 8:00pm
Two Trains Runnin’ (Director: Sam Pollard)
Featuring artful animation and performances by Gary Clark Jr. and Lucinda Williams, this story of the search for two forgotten blues singers takes us to Mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement. World Premiere
CENTER FRAME – Saturday, April 9, at 4:30pm
Raising Bertie (Director: Margaret Byrne)
In this intimate portrait of coming of age, three young men in rural Bertie County, North Carolina, persevere against poverty, discrimination, and unemployment. World Premiere
CENTER FRAME – Saturday, April 9, at 8:00 pm
Presenting Princess Shaw (Director: Ido Haar)
Video blogger and aspiring singer Samantha Montgomery is unaware she has a follower and fan in the form of an enigmatic Israeli composer, whose unforgettable YouTube mashups might just help Samantha achieve her dreams.
FREE CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Sunday, April 10, at 8:00pm – Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall (Ticket Required)
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady)
The legendary, influential king of 1970s sitcoms reflects on his life, his work, and the profound shift in national consciousness fomented by his groundbreaking television shows.
FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING
Friday, April 8, at 8:30pm – Durham Central Park
(Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies (Director: Yael Melamede)
Personal stories of dishonesty are interwoven with insights by behavioral economics expert Dan Ariely in this enlightening study of the human tendency to lie.
FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING
Saturday, April 9, at 8:30pm – Durham Central Park
Iris (Director: Albert Maysles)
The late, legendary Albert Maysles documents 93-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel in this charming celebration of style, wit, and individuality.
Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant
Saturday, April 9, at 4:20pm – Cinema 3
Quest: The Fury and the Sound (Director: Jonathan Olshefski)
A longitudinal portrait of an African American family who, despite being victimized by gun violence, continue to embrace their community.
Whirlybird (Director: Matt Yoka)
Bob Tur revolutionized the news industry from the Los Angeles sky and defined our recorded memory of the city.
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Women Texas Film Festival Announces Call For Entries For Fest’s Debut
The Women Texas Film Festival announced a Call for Entries for the inaugural edition of the film festival which will take place at the Texas Theater in Dallas, Texas on August 19 to 21, 2016.
Led by Executive Director Justina Walford, WTFF will screen films, television, and virtual reality projects that have women in at least one key creative role “behind the camera”: Writer, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, or Composer. WTFF will also organize a host of activities for the festival focused on the craft and artistry of filmmaking by women, including moderated Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, networking events, and a red carpet gala.
A filmmaker and playwright, Walford, co-wrote and co-produced last year’s critically acclaimed film, THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE, which was shot in Dallas, Texas. Upon relocating to Dallas from New York City late last year, she discovered that the city, and in fact, the state did not have a film festival dedicated to screening and celebrating the work of female filmmakers in all forms (narrative features, feature length documentaries, shorts, experimental, television, and virtual reality, etc.).
Walford said, “We saw a need to create another home for the work of female filmmakers, so the Women Texas Film Festival will be just that – a three-day fest to celebrate the work of women in that creative space, to give another opportunity to meet and network with other filmmakers and industry professionals here in the great production town of Dallas, Texas, and to offer something concrete for the many talented women behind the camera to point to each year.”
For more info and to submit via Film Freeway
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Les Cowboys Featuring John C. Reilly to Open June 24th
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LES COWBOYS[/caption]
LES COWBOYS directed by Thomas Bidegain, and starring Finnegan Oldfield, featuring John C. Reilly will be released theatrically on June 24th, opening in NY at Lincoln Plaza.
The debut feature from celebrated French screenwriter Thomas Bidegain (DHEEPAN, RUST AND BONE, A PROPHET), LES COWBOYS is a haunting tale of a young woman’s disappearance—and a father’s all-consuming quest to bring her back to safety.
Set amidst a sub-culture of Western enthusiasts in rural France, Alain (François Damiens) attends a cowboy fair with his wife (Agathe Dronne) and children—sixteen-year-old daughter, Kelly (Iliana Zabeth), and young son, Kid (Finnegan Oldfield). When Kelly disappears amidst the chaos of the festivities, Alain’s initial fear quickly turns to anger and disbelief as it becomes increasingly clear that his daughter has willingly abandoned her life to begin anew as a Muslim with her boyfriend. Convinced that she was coerced, Alain devotes what’s left of his broken existence to finding her, eventually bestowing the responsibility of the search onto his son.
A fresh take on John Ford’s classic, THE SEARCHERS, the sixteen-year pursuit takes the two men across personal and international borders, becoming bigger than they could have ever imagined. Lensed by veteran cinematographer Arnaud Potier (5 TO 7, BREATHE, STOCKHOLM, PENNSYLVANIA), LES COWBOYS transports the classic iconography of the Western genre to striking contemporary landscapes—from the hillsides of France to the deserts of Pakistan.
A long-time collaborator of filmmaker Jaques Audiard, Bidegain has established himself as one of France’s most talented and prolific screenwriters, penning the scripts for Audiard’s aforementioned RUST AND BONE, A PROPHET, and DHEEPAN. Bidegain also wrote Bertrand Bonello’s SAINT LAURENT, which went on to be the French Foreign Language Oscar submission for 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPdGgmXTZjo
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Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver to Celebrate 40th Anniversary at Tribeca Film Festival
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Taxi Driver[/caption]
Martin Scorsese’s powerful psychological thriller Taxi Driver will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on April 21 at the upcoming 15th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF).
Starring Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, and Cybill Shepherd, Directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader and produced by Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips, the 1976 film was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Robert De Niro; and two Golden Globes. One of TIME Magazines “all-TIME 100 Movies,” Taxi Driver was called “a brilliant nightmare,” by the Chicago Sun-Times and praised by the Village Voice as “a phenomenon from another day and age.”
Following the anniversary screening at the Beacon Theatre, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and Paul Schrader will take part in a special conversation moderated by Kent Jones.
The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 13 to 24.
“Taxi Driver is one of the most brilliantly disturbing movies ever made, and why I chose to go into film. It’s had an indelible impact on pop culture, and its performances rank among the most memorable in cinema,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder, Tribeca Film Festival, and Executive Chair, Tribeca Enterprises. “It’s a great honor to have the original cast at the Festival and to present this masterpiece to a new generation.”
“It’s odd to think that four decades have passed since we shot Taxi Driver on the streets of a very different New York City. It was made in a surge of energy, starting with Paul’s one-of-a-kind script, and I was working with an extraordinary group of artistic collaborators as anyone could ever hope for—Jodie, who was 13 years old at the time, and Bob gave the picture something precious, dangerous, and altogether remarkable. I’m honored to take part in the celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival,” said Martin Scorsese.
“It’s a great honor for TFF to revisit Taxi Driver. I’m very proud to have worked on this film with Marty, Jodie, Harvey, Cybill, Paul, Michael and Julia as well as the extraordinary cast and crew. I remain equally proud today,” said Robert De Niro, Festival co-founder.
An alienated and quiet loner, taxi driver Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) works the night shift in Manhattan. After failing to land a date with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a beautiful campaign aide for presidential candidate Palentine (Leonard Harris), an encounter with a 12- year old prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), and her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), convinces Travis that the world is a rotten place. And as his frustration mounts, he assembles a cache of guns and then learns how to use them…with deadly accuracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUxD4-dEzn0
Sony Pictures digitally restored and re-mastered Taxi Driver to 4K from the original negative, which was shown in a limited theatrical release.