• Brian Bolsters film THE LOOKOUT and Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE Win Top Awards at 2012 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

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    [caption id="attachment_2337" align="alignnone"]Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE[/caption]

    The 9th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival announced this year’s award winning films in the four competitive categories: Best Feature, Big Sky Award, Best Short Film and Best Mini Doc (under 15 minutes) on Thursday evening at a ceremony at The Loft in downtown Missoula. Each category winner will receive $500, courtesy of The Documentary Channel.

    FEATURE FILM COMPETITION  The Best Feature prize was awarded to Jeff Orlowsskis CHASING ICE,  about National Geographic environmental photographer James Blalog.  Jurors Amy Shattsky and Ben Fowlie called the film, an extremely timely and important documentary about one man’s journey to demonstrate global warming in action by photographing the recession of the glaciers. Touching, terrifying and informative, we feel the highs, lows, frustrations and joys of the ultimate success of his experiment. Through a patient and thoughtful filmmaking approach, the director vividly captures the power and awe of the glaciers falling apart. As they recede into the ocean, the glaciers cry out, warning us of the peril that our planet is in.

    SHORT FILM COMPETITION  Reva Goldberg and Caveh Zahedi awarded the Short Film prize to Matt Leighs BLUE RINSE, a sweet observational film set in a Dublin hair salon.  They also awarded an Artistic Vision Award to KUDZU VINE by Josh Gibson.

    MINI-DOC COMPETITION  Yance Ford awarded the Mini Doc awarded to MR SMITHS PEACH SEEDS, Stewart Copelands beautifully realized portrait of Tennessee folk artist Roger Smith.

    BIG SKY AWARD  Brian Bolsters film THE LOOKOUT received the Big Sky Award, presented by filmmakers Marshall Curry and Beth Harrington. In addition, Audrey Halls film about portrait artist Hugh Wilson was give an Artistic Excellence Award.

    All awarded films will re-screen the final weekend of the festival.

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    Bailout and It’s in the Blood Among Winners of 2012 Derby City Film Festival
    

    

    [caption id="attachment_2486" align="alignnone" width="549"]It’s in the Blood[/caption]
     
    Louisville natives Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot, and Frankfort filmmakers Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, & Scott Stafford are among the winners of the top prizes at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival which took place February 17th through the 19th. 

    “It’s in the Blood” written by Downey & Elliot, took home the awards for Best US Feature Film, Audience Choice, and Best Actor (Elliot). The film was directed by Downey and also stars Lance Henriksen who received a Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the film screening. Sheene, Martin, & Stafford took home the award for Best US Short Film for their film “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic”

    The full list of 2012 Award winners:

    Videoblocks & The Footage Firm Award for Technical Achievement: “Grounded”
    Audience Choice: “It’s in the Blood”
    Lifetime Achievement: Lance Henriksen
    Best Actor: Sean Elliot – “It’s in the Blood”
    Best Actress: Kristen Booth – “Below Zero”
    Best Student Short Film: “Thin Air”
    Best International Short Film: “Donkey”
    Best US Short Film: “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic
    Best Documentary: “Bailout”
    Best Feature Film: “It’s in the Blood”

    Dates for the 2013 Derby City Film Festival and call for entries will be announced later this Spring.
     
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    2012 Phoenix Film Festival Announces Ten Films in this year’s Feature Film Competition
    

    

    [caption id="attachment_2484" align="alignnone" width="550"]How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song[/caption]
     
    The 2012 Phoenix Film Festival has announced the ten films scheduled to compete in this year’s Feature Film Competition.  In addition to featuring some of the brightest new talent that the industry has to offer, the competition films are also rife with established Hollywood names and former festival favorites, including ‘Friday Night Lights’ alum, starlet Minka Kelly (Searching for Sonny), and 2008 Arizona Filmmaker of the Year Bivas Biswas (Paranoia).  See the full list of titles from the genre bending slate below.

    Connected – This acclaimed Sundance feature documentary offers an exhilarating stream-of-consciousness ride through the interconnectedness of humankind, nature, progress and morality at the dawn of the 21st century.

    Hollywood to Dollywood – On the fumes of a dream, twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane have written a script with a plum roll for one of their idols, Dolly Parton.  Having had no luck getting the screenplay into her hands, they embark on a cross-country journey to personally deliver it to her.

    How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song – After landing an opportunity to write for an Off-Broadway musical, Joe is forced to cast either the love of his life or his newly discovered muse. The realities of show business prove to Joe that writing is easy, living is hard.

    Into the Wake – A psychological thriller that follows a man lured from the city to the remote river banks of his youth by a cryptic phone call. Caught in a violent clan war that he ran from years ago, his life unravels rapidly behind him as he descends further into his past.

    Must Come Down – This film chronicles Holly and Ashley, two listless 20-Somethings, and their brief commiseration as grown-up children stumbling through life’s final bout of growing pains.

    Paranoia – A classic “Whodunit” and psychological thriller from award winning director Bivas Biswas.  An ambitious detective investigates the murder of his wife’s best friend’s husband.  His wife’s best friend holds the key to the mystery but she struggles with reality and imagination.

    Searching for Sunny – Sonny Bosco is missing under mysterious circumstances, and the investigation turns meta when it’s realized that everything happening seems eerily similar to a play performed in high school – a play Sonny wrote.

    Shuffle – Part Twilight Zone-style mystery, part Frank Capra fantasy, SHUFFLE is the terrifying tale of a man who begins experiencing his life out of order; every day he wakes up at a different age, on a different day of his life, never knowing where or when he’s going to be once he falls asleep.

    Small, Beautifully Moving Parts – A comic and poignant look at one woman’s coming-of-parenthood in the age of technology.

    We Run Sh*t – This film examines the struggle of five veteran event producers who travel to Miami during it’s annual Winter Music Conference.  It’s a never-before-seen expose into the darker side of nightlife entertainment.

    The 12th Annual Phoenix Film Festival runs this year from Thursday, March 29th to Thursday, April 5th. The week long Festival will be held once again at Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theaters located at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054.
     
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    BLUE LIKE JAZZ to Open in Theatres on April 13 after Premiere at 2012 SXSW
    

    

     
    BLUE LIKE JAZZ, directed and co-written by Steve Taylor (THE SECOND CHANCE)  will have its World Premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section at the 2012 South-by-Southwest Film Festival before opening in theatres on April 13th. 

    Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller spent 43 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and has sold over 1.5 million copies to date.  The semi-autobiographical story was adapted for the screen by Miller, Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson.

    In the early days of pre-production, the project was forced to be put on hold due to lack of funding, prompting a website to be created by fans, for fans, called “Save Blue Like Jazz”.  The site urged loyalists to help raise money to fund the movie through Kickstarter, an online matchmaker for filmmakers and financial backers. The campaign went on to raise a record-setting $345,000, more than doubling the original goal of $125,000, allowing the film to start production.

    In Blue Like Jazz, Don (Allman), a pious nineteen-year-old sophomore at a Texas junior college, impulsively decides to escape his religious upbringing for life in the Pacific Northwest at one of the most progressive campuses in America, Reed College in Portland.  Upon arrival, Reed’s surroundings and eccentric student body proves to be far different than he could possibly imagine from the environment from which he came, forcing him to embark on a journey of self-discovery to understand who he is and what he truly believes.

    The film boasts a cast of rising stars including Marshall Allman (TRUE BLOOD), Claire Holt (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS), and Tania Raymonde (LOST). Blue Like Jazz was produced by Taylor, J. Clarke Gallivan and Coke Sams for Ruckus Film.
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    AI WEIWEI:  NEVER SORRY from 2012 Sundance Film Festival to be released in the Summer
    

    

     
    Sundance Selects will release director Alison Klayman’s AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY which just screened as an Official Selection in the Berlinale Special at the Berlin Film Festival following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Defiance.  Sundance Selects is planning a major summer theatrical release which will coincide with Ai Weiwei’s first trip outside of China since his detention.

    Ai Weiwei is China’s most famous international artist and its most outspoken domestic critic. Against a backdrop of strict censorship and an unresponsive legal system, Ai expresses himself and organizes people through art and social media. In response, Chinese authorities have shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozed his newly built studio, and held him in secret detention.  AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY is the inside story of a dissident for the digital age who inspires global audiences and blurs the boundaries of art and politics. First-time director Alison Klayman gained unprecedented access to Ai while working as a journalist in China. Her detailed portrait provides a nuanced exploration of contemporary China and one of its most compelling public figures.
     
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    KING ME Documentary to Screen at 2012 Cleveland International Film Festival
    

    

     
    Think Media Studios said today that their 2011 documentary, KING ME, will screen at this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival. The documentary follows the story of one man’s struggle to elevate himself from his humble roots through a very unlikely game, world championship checkers.
     
    Played by millions across the globe, most see checkers as simply a casual game.  However, there is a competitive world of world-class checkers that features colorful characters, intense competition, and celebrated checkers champions.  KING ME is the true story of a rare talent rising from obscurity and a gritty examination of South African post-apartheid race relations not seen before. The movie’s protagonist, Lubabalo Kondlo, is a South African township resident who faces many obstacles in his quest to become a World Champion. KING ME’s sometimes heart wrenching story is framed within the confines of the competitive checker scene and its slightly off center denizens deliver unforgettable and often hilarious moments.

    King Me will have multiple showings during the festival that runs from March 22nd to April 1st.  The 36th annual Cleveland International Film Festival features more than 100 feature films as well as more than 100 short subject films, from more than 50 countries. Last year’s festival took in nearly 80,000 movie enthusiasts 

    “We’re excited to be a part of the Cleveland International Film Festival,” said Think Producer and KING ME’s Director, Geoff Yaw.  “King Me’s story takes place all over the globe from Africa to the Caribbean, and then ends up right here in Northeast Ohio. It was important to us to show the movie right here at home in Cleveland.” 



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    Documentary The Imposter from 2012 Sundance Film Festival to be Release Later This Year
    

    

     
    The Indomina Group will release The Imposter, Bart Layton’s directorial debut which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will be shown at the upcoming SXSW festival.  Indomina is planning a theatrical release later this year, 2012.
     
    Layton’s documentary, The Imposter, is a chilling factual thriller that chronicles the story of a 13-year-old boy who disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas in 1994. Three and a half years later he is found alive, thousands of miles away in a village in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not quite as it seems. The boy bears many of the same distinguishing marks he always had, but why does he now have a strange accent? Why does he look so different? Any why doesn’t the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It’s only when an investigator starts asking questions that this strange tale takes an even stranger turn.

    The stranger than fiction mystery, which features many twists and turns, is told in a cinematic language that combines documentary and stylized visualizations.   Perception is challenged at every turn, and just as the truth begins to dawn on you, another truth merges leaving you even more on edge.
     
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    Sarah Palin documentary to air on Reelz Channel in March
    

    

     
    It basically bombed at the Box Office but Sarah Palin documentary movie “The Undefeated” is getting a second life and will make its network television premiere on REELZ on Sunday, March 11 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT.
     
    “The Undefeated” chronicles the rise from obscurity to national prominence of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Starting during the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989 when Palin worked a commercial fishing boat she owned with her blue-collar husband, “The Undefeated” shows the struggles, the victories and the setbacks during a controversial career. “The Undefeated” was written / directed by Stephen K. Bannon and produced by Glenn Evans and Dan Fleuette of the Victory Film Group.

    The film also includes leading prominent political commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce and Andrew Breitbart as well as conservative activists Kate Obenshain, Sonnie Johnson and Jamie Radtke. Additionally, the film features interviews with Alaskan civil servants, elected officials and advisors who were involved in Alaskan politics during Governor Palin’s tenure.

    Encore Presentations for “The Undefeated” on REELZ:

    -Monday, March 12 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT

    -Sunday, March 25 at 5:30pm ET/ 2:30pm PT
     
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    Louisville filmmakers, IT’S IN THE BLOOD, wins multiple awards at the Derby City Film Festival
    

    

     
    Louisville natives Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot’s film It’s in the Blood was a big winner at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.  The film which had its Kentucky premier at the film festival in Louisville, KY was awarded Best Picture, Audience Choice Award, Grand Jury Prize, and Elliot was awarded Best Actor (October).  Lead actor. Lance Henriksen (Russell) received a Lifetime Achievement Award in front of an audience of nearly 500.
     
    Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is described as a wholly unique cinematic movement.  At its core a father son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical “creature feature”, incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller.  This new motion in film is called a Psyche-Saga.  Lance Henriksen stars in this nightmarish descent into the wilderness, the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.

    The Film premiered at the New Jersey Film Festival where it received Honorable Mention.  At the Derby City Film Festival, Sean Elliot received Best Actor for his roll as October, the troubled son of Russell, portrayed by Lance Henriksen.  The picture received every award it was nominated for, including the Audience Choice Award and the Grand Jury Prize.
     
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    Tropfest Las Vegas to run June 1 thru June 3
    

    

    [caption id="attachment_2471" align="alignnone"]Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan[/caption]
     
    Tropfest and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are teaming up for Tropfest Las Vegas.  The weekend-long event, which celebrates the short film festival’s 20th Anniversary will also feature indie spirited emerging musical performances, film-themed anniversary events and will culminate with a Tropfest “All-Star” competition featuring the best Tropfest films from the past 20 years.  

    Over the past two decades, dozens of successful directors, writers, actors and others got their start at Tropfest.  Festival alumni include: Sam Worthington (Avatar, Last Night); Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby, Warrior, Animal Kingdom); Alister Grierson (director of the James Cameron-produced Sanctum); and Jason Gann and Tony Rogers, whose Tropfest short, Wilfred, was the genesis of the popular U.S. TV series of the same name starring Elijah Wood. 

    Tropfest Las Vegas Schedule of Events at the Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan:

    Tropfest Las Vegas Kick-Off Party – Friday, June 1 – 8:00 PM

    Tropfest 20th Anniversary Party – Saturday, June 2 – 8:00 PM

    Tropfest All-Star Competition – Sunday, June 3 – 8:00 PM

    Performance by Musical Artist LP – 11:00 PM
     
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    The Descendants and Better This World Win WGA Awards
    

    

    [caption id="attachment_2469" align="alignnone"]Better This World[/caption]
     
    The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during 2011. Among the winners, The Descendants won the award for Adapted Screenplay and Better This World won the award for Documentary Screenplay.
     
    MOTION PICTURE WINNERS
     
    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY  

    Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

    ADAPTED SCREENPLAY  

    The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings; Fox Searchlight

    DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY  

    Better This World, Written by Katie Galloway & Kelly Duane de la Vega; Loteria Films
     
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    The Descendants, The Artist and Freedom Riders Among Winners of 62nd Annual ACE Eddie awards
    

    

    [caption id="attachment_2467" align="alignnone" width="550"]Best Edited Documentary – Freedom Riders[/caption]
     
    ACE, the AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS, an honorary society of motion picture          editors founded in 1950, presented the 62nd ACE Eddie awards. The Artist and The Descendants won the awards for Best Edited Feature Films and Freedom Riders won the award for Best Edited Documentary.
     
    The winners of the 62nd Annual ACE Eddie awards are:

    Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic)
    The Descendants
    Kevin Tent, ACE

    Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy or Musical)
    The Artist
    Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius

    Best Edited Animated Feature Film
    Rango
    Craig Wood, ACE

    Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television
    Curb Your Enthusiasm, “Palestinian Chicken”
    Steven Rasch, ACE

    Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial Television
    Breaking Bad, “Face Off”
    Skip MacDonald

    Best Edited One-Hour Series for Non-Commercial Television
    Homeland, “Pilot”
    Jordan Goldman and David Latham

    Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television
    Cinema Verite
    Sarah Flack, ACE and Robert Pulcini

    Best Edited Documentary
    Freedom Riders
    Lewis Erskine and Aljernon Tunsil

    Best Edited Reality Series
    Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, “Haiti”
    Eric Lasby

    Student Competition
    Eric Kench, Video Symphony
     
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