Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the Michael Rapaport’s documentary BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST about the rap group group A Tribe Called Quest which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The documentary film had generated some controversy when Q-Tip, a member of the group, expressed his non-support for the film. However, early reviews of the film from the Sundance Film Festival were fairly positive. No release date was announced
Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) announced the full line-up and schedule for the 14th annual Bermuda International Film Festival taking place this month, March 18 – 24, 2011. This year’s event will centred in Hamilton, with screenings taking place at Speciality Cinema & Grill and Liberty Theatre.
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival announced the World Premiere of “The Loving Story,” directed and produced by Nancy Buirski, Full Frame’s founder. Buirski helmed the Festival from 1998 through 2007. “The Loving Story” will be featured as a Center Frame program at the 2011 Festival and will be presented outside of competition.
HBO has picked up the U.S. TV rights for, SING YOUR SONG, filmmaker Susanne Rostock (“The Long Way Home,”) documentary on the life of Harry Belafonte. The documentary will debut in Fall 2011, exclusively on HBO.
Opening the Indo-American Arts Council’s 11th New York Indian Film Festival which runs May 4 to May 8 in Manhattan, New York, will be the North American premiere of Disney’s family comedy DO DOONI CHAAR starring the legendary husband-wife acting couple Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. The Habib Faisal-directed film marks the Hollywood studio’s first live-action production in India. It is a heart-warming comedy about the dreams and challenges of a middle-class family who take a chaotic journey to fulfill their dream of owning a car discovering the true meaning of family along the way. Special guests Kapoor, Singh, and Faisal will all be attending the red carpet premiere.
The 20th annual Florida Film Festival, sponsored by Full Sail University, will take place April 8 through 17, 2011, and this year’s lineup features more than 160 films from 25 countries with 43 female directors.
The 2011 Canadian International Film Festival (CIFF) returns to Vancouver to screen indie films including over 25 international productions, including 8 Canadian films. The festival will be held Saturday, April 2, to Sunday April 3, 2011, at Edgewater Casino’s Stadium Club Theatre.
Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival will open Friday, March 25 at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in Hollywood with Pink Skies, a documentary feature directed by Gulcin Gilbert to be followed by a conversation with the filmmakers.
The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 – May 5) will present the 2011 Mel Novikoff Award to the extraordinary showman Serge Bromberg for his invaluable work as a collector, preservationist, exhibitor, programmer and enthusiast of cinematic treasures, Sunday, May 1 at 5:00 pm at the Castro Theatre. The award, named for the pioneering San Francisco art and repertory film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922 – 1987), acknowledges an individual or institution whose work has enhanced the filmgoing public’s knowledge and appreciation of world cinema.
The Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) officially announced their complete 2011 Festival line-up today. The festival kicks off on April 7 at Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with a performance by music and film star, Harry Connick Jr. and his Orchestra.
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival scheduled for April 14-17, in Durham, N.C., has announced its lineup of films around the 2011 Career Award honoring filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg. Five titles have been selected for the tribute, including early and more recent work from the duo’s Break Thru Films banner . The lineup also includes the U.S. Premiere of “Burma Soldier,” which will be featured as a Center Frame program on Saturday, April 16.
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF) announced that the 2011 King Vidor Award for Career Achievement will be presented to actor Greg Kinnear. The 2010 King Vidor Award recipient Alan Arkin will present the award, on Saturday, March 12 at the Fremont Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo, immediately following the Independent Film Awards which begin at 6pm.