KIM KI-DUK IS BACK...AND FANTAS OPENS IN KOREAN

25th DIRECTOR´S WEEK BRINGS 13 NEW FILMS AND BETWEEN THEM FOUR EUROPEAN AND WORLD OPENINGS

Most modern problems are present in the Official Section Directors Week /Manoel de Oliveira Award of the 35th Fantasporto. The films selected for this part of the program approach the classical thrillers, showcasing rejection and anxiety , with varied subjects such as urban violence, children’s exploitation, the drama of clandestine sea  travellers, the defense of the honour, the drama of the emigrants ou contoversial  science experiments.  This Official Section has 13 features, all in national premieres, with 2  World premieres and two European premieres.  It is also the first time that the festival opens with a oriental film, “Haemoo”, South Korean entry for the Oscars.

SELECTED FILMS FOR COMPETITION

White Settlers- Simeon Haligan – 81’ –UK

El Rayo (Hassan’s Way) – Ernesto de Nova- 85’ – Esp

Pseudonym- Thierry Shebban- 73’- Fra- Antestreia Mundial

The Janitor- Michael Tuviera- 115’- Filipinas

Children’s Show- Derick Cabrido- 89’-  Filipinas - Antestreia Europeia

Closer to God- Billy Senese- 81’- EUA – Antestreia Europeia

Hae Moo- Shim Sung-Bo- Coreia do Sul

One on One (Il-dae-il) - Kim Ki Duk-122’- Coreia de Sul

Landmine Goes Click- Levan Bakhia - 108’- Georgia- Antestreia Mundial

Keeping Rosy – Steve Reeves – 93’ -UK

Memories of Stone- Shawkat Amin Korki- 97’- Alem/Iraque

Pechorin- Roman Khrushch- 95’ – Russia

Norway- Yannis Veslemmes- 73’- Grécia 

WorldFest was founded over 50 years ago as Cinema Arts, an International Film Society in August, 1961. WorldFest became the third competitive international film festival in North America, following San Francisco and New York. WorldFest is the oldest Independent Film & Video Festival in the World. It evolved into a competitive International Film Festival in April, 1968. It was founded by award-winning producer/director Hunter Todd to present a quality film festival for the Independent filmmakers. Hunter Todd has been honored with more than 115 international awards for creative excellence in film production, and he has been the producer, director, writer and/or cameraman on more than 300 motion picture and video productions. The mission/vision statement of WorldFest is to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in film & video, to validate brilliant abilities and to promote cultural tourism for Houston, to develop film production in the region and to add to the rich cultural fabric of the city of Houston. All members of the WorldFest staff are filmmakers.

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival (now it’s 48th year!) continues with its totally dedicated Independent Film screening format for the upcoming April 10- 19, 2015 unspooling at the flagship AMC Studio 30 Dunvale Theaters. WorldFest will screen just 55-60 feature film premieres, with a complete and absolute emphasis on the American and International Independent feature films and with a continuing annual spotlight on an individual country and its films. WorldFest also offers competition in TV Production, Documentary, Corporate & Business Films, Student & Experimental, TV Commercials, Film & Video Production, Music Videos, New Media (Interactive, Web Sites & 3D Productions), Screenplays, Print and Radio.
 

The late, great Chuck Jones, with his wife Marian, Kathleen Haney and Hunter Todd.

WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, with more than 4,500 category entries received from 37 countries in 2006. Actually WorldFest is 12 Major film & video competitions in one event, unlike Cannes, Sundance and Toronto, which are just 2 competitions for shorts and features only. Because of our 12 major competitions and the 200+ sub-categories, WorldFest does give a lot of awards, but they are both earned and deserved. No awards are given in any category unless the scores from the juries are high enough to place for honors. Overall only 15-20% of the total category entries actually win an award at WorldFest. However, everyone attending the Grand Awards Gala wins an award, as we only invite the actual winners, which makes for a delightful and enjoyable evening, since there are no disappointed “nominees” that do not win anything. Those that do not win an award are informed by email or letters prior to the festival.

WorldFest Artistic and Program Director Kathleen Haney stated, “We feel that it is impossible to properly emphasize individual films when the festival screening schedule is too large. We must consider both our festival audience and our independent filmmakers. A huge slate of 150-300 films cannot possibly do justice to each individual film. Further, it is impossible to see more than 50-60 films (with four shows a day) in a ten-day festival, so it is foolish to program more than that.” Haney continued, “We will concentrate on only the very best, selecting new American & Foreign Independent films that truly deserve a premiere at WorldFest. By doing so, we can concentrate on the films and their filmmakers and enable our faithful audience the opportunity to see each and every film!” All 35mm films and Digital entries are screened at the AMC Meyer Park Theatre, WorldFest – the Indie Film Festival for the New Millennium!
 

World Premiere of “Jericho” with stars (L-R) Leon Caffee, Kateri Walker and one of the many cowboy extras.

In addition to honoring a different country each year, WorldFest will continue with its annual Short Film Showcase, a special review of 100+ new short and student films…from the festival that discovered Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ang Lee, John Lee Hancock, Randall Kleiser, Ridley Scott, Robert Rodriguez, Robert Townsend, The Coen Brothers, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone and David Lynch with their very first awards. WorldFest has emerged as the oldest film festival management in the world, with the same continuous director for 39 consecutive years. A few other festivals are older, but they have had as many as ten different directors. WorldFest is uniquely the only film festival in North America that is staffed and managed totally by filmmakers. All staff members have active film and video production experience, which gives them a very unique point of reference in relation to the entering filmmakers and their work. WorldFest, founded in 1961, is the oldest Independent film festival in the world, and the 3rd oldest film festival in North America.

Most USA Film Festivals today have emerged as no more than unpaid publicity agents for major studio distributors. WorldFest continues to move forward to present the true independent film and its filmmaker, offering a new venue for directors searching for an independent forum for their works. WorldFest will have a special emphasis on new, premiering films that are seeking a distributor. The Festival also screens DVD video via Wagner Media & Christie DLP Digital Projection, one of the major sponsors of the festival.
 

Director Lionel Chetwynd and wife, Actress Gloria Carlin, from Varian’s War, a special Showtime/Sundance Channel World Premiere.

By having a small, highly selective schedule of new Indie Short & Feature films, the festival can help the film gain reviews and a distributor, rather than merely act as a preview platform for an upcoming release from a large US distributor. Most of the so-called ‘Independent Films’ featured at Sundance are quite frequently fairly large-budget films produced by special “Indie” divisions of the major studios. In fact, the majority of films featured at Sundance and other “Indie” Festivals actually already have their distribution in place. The 120-page WorldFest program book is distributed free of charge to the public, all attending filmmakers, all studios and every major film festival in the world and to every known major film & video distributor in the world. The WorldFest program book has become an invaluable reference document for film acquisition and review.

“Small is Beautiful” for the 40th Annual WorldFest, where simplicity is the byword, and a relaxed intimate atmosphere surrounds a special selection of superb new feature and short films. The opportunities for networking and contacts are exceptional. The detailed 120+ page program book & schedule features a special grid-guide for the film-buffs that will assist them in viewing all the films. Seminars include Cinematography, Casting, Distribution, Directing/Producing, Writing and more.
 

Remi Lifetime Achievement Award Winners (L-R) Herb Lightman, Editor Emeritus of American Cinematographer Magazine, Andrew Laszlo, Cinematographer, Hunter Todd (Capt, USCG, ret) Chairman & Founding Director ~ WorldFest

Among the remarkable number of WorldFest discoveries, we include just a few, listed in alphabetical order: John Alvidson, John Badham, Ralph Bakshi, Carroll Ballard, John Boorman, Marty Brest, Michael Cimino, The Coen Brothers, Bryan De Palma, Jonathan Demme, Michael Demme, Atom Egoyan, John Frankenheimer, Leslie Linka Glatter, Charles Guggenheim, John Lee Hancock, Hal Hartley, Randall Kleiser, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, George Lucas, David Lynch, Paul Mazursky, Steve Poster, Robert Rodriguez, John Sayles, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Robert Townsend, Will Vinton, Peter Weir, Hugh Wilson and hundreds more. The winners this year will be the Spielbergs of tomorrow and you can meet them before they are famous. WorldFest-Houston…”Fiercely Independent” WorldFest is one of the oldest film festivals in the world, founded in 1961 as a film society.

CHANNING TATUM RETURNS TO LAUNCH
“TEAM OSCAR®”

Winning Filmmakers to Appear on Oscars® Telecast

Channing Tatum, Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and the Academy today launched “Team Oscar” by inviting the next generation of filmmakers to create a short video and vie for the opportunity to appear onstage during the live Oscar broadcast.  Winners will deliver Oscar statuettes to celebrity presenters at the 87th Academy Awards® on Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015, live on ABC.

“We are thrilled to bring the Team Oscar competition back to the show for the third year, and that Channing Tatum will be our spokesperson and one of the judges,” said Zadan and Meron.  “We are very happy that the idea we initiated has turned into an annual tradition, and is now open to a wider range of filmmakers who are passionate about film and the moviemaking process.”

“I’m honored to be returning to launch the Team Oscar competition and encourage the next generation of filmmakers to join me onstage at this year’s Oscars,” said Tatum.  “It’s inspiring to see how these young filmmakers rise to the challenge, and I can’t wait to see the talent we uncover.”

Team Oscar is open to U.S. citizens, ages 18 to 30 (in previous years entries were limited to college students only), and submissions are due by January 12, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. PT.  To enter, filmmakers must visit the Academy’s Facebook page, where they can submit a creative 60-second video on the subject, “The best piece of advice I’ve ever received.”

Producers Zadan and Meron, along with Tatum and the Academy, will select up to six winners who will be flown to Los Angeles by United Airlines, the official airline of the Academy, to participate in the Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

Tatum will announce the Team Oscar winners in early 2015.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

The eleven fictional and eight documentary films selected at this early date already provide a foretaste of the contents and global issues of the forthcoming 36th Panorama programme.

East Asia will again make a strong showing in 2015. Already confirmed are significant works by renowned directors from Taiwan and South Korea. They could be labelled “modern history” or even “national traumas”. With ParadiseinService, director Doze Niu Chen-Zer from Taiwan presents a difficult chapter of East Asian history that has hardly ever been dealt with before: the establishment of brothels to keep up the morale of armed forces in the battle “against Mao”. And with JK Youn’s epic Ode to My Father, South Korea, half of a still divided country, investigates the repercussions of the Korean War and their impact on today.

The USA’s presence will also be felt: After HenryFool and FayGrim (Panorama 2007), cult filmmaker Hal Hartley, an iconic figure from the golden days of 1980s US-independent film, has concluded his trilogy with a masterpiece: NedRifle. And Justin Kelly provides an unusual directorial debut with I Am Michael, which was co-produced by Gus Van Sant. In it James Franco portrays a gay activist during the so emancipating 1980s, who then tries to turn straight in the 1990s. From the same decade, but set in the 1980s is an example of a filmmaker’s extraordinary perseverance, even though his work was edited beyond recognition by its investors: seventeen years after the premiere of the film 54, about the legendary New York nightclub, Studio 54, director Mark Christopher is presenting his original cut 54 – The Director’s Cut to the public.

Winners of the Panorama Audience Award 2009 were The Yes Men, those satirists, anarchists and pranksters in pursuit of unscrupulous profit mongering. In 2015 they will be back in Berlin for the third time with The Yes Men Are Revolting. They now aim their barbs at the Copenhagen Climate Conference and create havoc for the oil giant Shell.

Raoul Peck will present his latest work in the Panorama: the Haitian-French-Norwegian co-production Murder in Pacot (screenplay: Pascal Bonitzer). A character piece set outdoors against the catastrophe of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince looks with bitter rage at class distinctions in Haitian society.

One film from Latin America has already been confirmed, a co-production from Uruguay, Chile and Nicaragua: Aldo Garay’s The New Man. Here, too, recent history is explored: in the heat of the battle that Tupamaros and Sandinistas are fighting against the military dictatorships in their respective countries, Roberto, a young boy from Nicaragua, suddenly finds himself with foster parents in Uruguay. When he then decides to change his gender, he is also confronted with the limits of tolerance in leftist society.

Child abuse is the subject in several works, including the aforementioned The New Man, and films from Austria (The Last Summer of the Rich by Peter Kern), Switzerland (Dora or the Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents by Stina Werenfels), Canada (Chorus by Francois Delisle) and the Czech Republic (Daniel’s World by Veronika Liskova). Evidently the time is ripe to broach this difficult topic again and in so doing take even greater risks.

The Norwegian fictional film Out of Nature by Ole Giæver and Marte Vold is a zeitgeisty parable about a man, and his search for identity and joy in life. The young father needs a break from parental bliss: he retreats to the mountains to rethink what he wants from life.

In the Swedish contribution Dyke Hard by Bitte Anderson, all the stops have been pulled on what makes indie cinema so entertaining. A zany, quasi musical of post-punk-lesbo-rock-‘n’-roll calibre: this is underground fun at its purest.

Five other films (besides The New Man, The Yes Men und Daniel’s World) have already been confirmed for Panorama Dokumente:

B-Movie – Lust & Sound in West-Berlin by Jörg A. Hoppe, Klaus Maeck and Heiko Lange also embraces this rediscovered pleasure in the 1980s: a cornucopia of unbridled creativity spurts from this period in Berlin, which is revealed here to have been a highpoint. Alongside almost forgotten gems are tracks by Gudrun Gut, Blixa Bargeld and Nick Cave, among others.

Scandal at the Zoo Palast: R.W. Fassbinder’s conquest of the Berlinale began with Love Is Colder than Death in the 1969 Competition. In Fassbinder – To Love without Demands, Danish filmmaker Christian Braad Thomsen opens his archive and generously gives us a contemplative afternoon in a hotel room in Cannes with this unendingly inspiring filmmaker.

Kenya is among those African countries where, under the influence of evangelical organisations from the United States, hatred has been ignited against homosexuals. In Stories of Our Lives, Jim Chuchu lets a whole range of brave people talk. Banned in its country of origin, the film also presents pre-Christian rites that respect self-determination much more than society today.

In his 162-minute 3D documentary Iraqi Odyssey, Iraqi-Swiss filmmaker Samir masterly depicts the latest, highly complex history of Iraq as revealed by events in a family.

Last not least, news of a celebration! On February 13, 2014, the Teddy Awards will be presented for the second time at the Komische Oper Berlin. The Special Teddy 2015 will go to Udo Kier. Almost no other actor has crossed, fused, redrawn and extended the many boundaries of cinematic art with such ease.

54: The Director's Cut

USA

By Mark Christopher

With Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Mike Myers, Sela Ward, Mark Ruffalo

World premiere

Chorus

Canada

By François Delisle

With Sébastien Ricard, Fanny Mallette, Pierre Curzi, Geneviève Bujold

European premiere

Der letzte Sommer der Reichen (The Last Summer of the Rich)

Austria

By Peter Kern

With Amira Casar, Nicole Gerdon, Winfried Glatzeder

World premiere

Dora oder Die sexuellen Neurosen unserer Eltern (Dora or The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents)

Switzerland / Germany

By Stina Werenfels

With Victoria Schulz, Jenny Schily, Lars Eidinger, Urs Jucker

World premiere

Dyke Hard

Sweden

By Bitte Andersson

With Alle Eriksson, Peggy Sands, M. Wågensjö, Iki Gonzales Magnusson, Lina Kurttila

International premiere

Gukje Shijang (Ode to My Father)

Republic of Korea

By JK Youn

with Hwang Jung-min, Kim Yunjin

International premiere

I Am Michael

USA

By Justin Kelly

With James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts

International premiere

Jun Zhong Le Yuan (Paradise in Service)

Taiwan / People’s Republic of China

By Doze Niu Chen-Zer

With Ethan Juan, Wan Qian, Chen Jianbin, Chen Yi-Han

European premiere

Meurtre à Pacot (Murder in Pacot)

France / Haiti / Norway

By Raoul Peck

With Alex Descas, Ayo, Thibault Vinçon, Lovely Kermonde Fifi, Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin

European premiere

Mot Naturen (Out of Nature)

Norway

By Ole Giæver, Marte Vold

With Ole Giæver, Marte Magnusdotter Solem, Rebekka Nystadbakk, Ellen Birgitte Winther, Sievert Giaever Solem

European premiere

Ned Rifle (Ned Rifle)

USA

By Hal Hartley

With Liam Aiken, Martin Donovan, Aubrey Plaza, Parkey Posey, Thomas Jay Ryan

European premiere

Panorama Dokumente

B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin

Germany

By Jörg A. Hoppe, Klaus Maeck, Heiko Lange

With Mark Reeder, Marius Weber

World premiere

Danieluv svet (Daniel’s World)

Czeck Republic

By Veronika Liskova

International premiere

El hombre nuevo (The New Man)

Uruguay / Chile / Nicaragua

By Aldo Garay

World premiere

Fassbinder – lieben ohne zu fordern (Fassbinder – To Love without Demands)

Denmark

By Christian Braad Thomsen

with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Irm Hermann, Harry Baer, Lilo Pempeit

World premiere

Iraqi Odyssey

Switzerland

By Samir

European premiere

Stories of Our Lives 

Kenya / South Africa

By Jim Chuchu

With Kelly Gichohi, Paul Ogola, Tim Mutungi, Mugambi Nthinga, Rose Njenga

European premiere

The Yes Men Are Revolting

USA

By Laura Nix, Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno

European premiere

The 65th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 5 to 15, 2015, but starting in mid-January, the Berlinale poster will be displayed at Potsdamer Platz and across the city to set the mood for the festival.

The focus of the 2015 Berlinale key visual is the stage curtain. "The glamorous and suspense-packed second that precedes every cinema experience is when the curtain opens to reveal the screen. This year's poster motif aims to stir anticipation for that magical moment", says Festival Director Dieter Kosslick.

For the fifth time, the key motif of the Berlinale was designed by BOROS agency and will adorn numerous festival publications.

As pdf-file download:

http://www.berlinale.de/media/pdf_word/pm_1/65_berlinale/30_PressRelease_Festival_Poster_2015_18_12_2014.pdf

In its 10th anniversary year, Forum Expanded will be presenting the group exhibition, together with the complete film programme and all performances and discussion events at the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg. This re-establishes the historical connection between the Berlinale and this particular location: the Akademie was one of the main Forum screening venues until 1999 and will once again screen films from the Forum programme in 2015. The venue will thus function as a resonance chamber for the myriad interrelationships between Forum and Forum Expanded.

For 10 years now, Forum Expanded has been consistently dedicated to continuing and expanding upon the discourse surrounding the relationship between cinema and the other arts. In the process, the programme has continually raised important questions relating to society and aesthetics and presented new film-artistic perspectives at a very early stage. Forum Expanded shows an awareness of the need to keep the history of film alive whilst looking to the present and future of its artistic and curatorial practice.

The title of this year’s programme is “To the Sound of the Closing Door”: when a door closes, it does not necessarily mean that a possibility ends. The works selected challenge this sense of finality by tracing the echo of the slammed door. They seek out the points at which projects and utopias are able to come into being and the way in which historical ruptures and upheavals generate visions and expectations for the future. Yet the movements and narratives created by closing, opening and stepping through these metaphorical doors also imply the possibility of exclusion and the failure of new projects – but how does one measure success or a lack thereof anyway?

The 17 works in the group exhibition create parallel worlds, counter-narratives and – to stick with the language of cinema – both rear projections and multiple ones. Wendelien van Oldenborgh’s video installation Beauty and the Right to the Ugly thus examines a utopian construction project in the Netherlands: a community centre originally designed without interior walls – and without doors. In The Nameless, Ho Tzu Nyen spins a yarn full of ambiguities about a triple agent in Southeast Asia, while Constanze Ruhm and Emilien Awada’s Invisible Producers. Kapitel 1: Panoramis / Paramount / Paranormal follows the trail of the ghosts and stories that inhabit the former premises of a French film studio.

The film programmes also harness the relationship between written history and that yet to be written to productive effect. Isabelle Prim’s Calamity Qui? brings Western heroine Calamity Jane back to life in a kaleidoscope of cinematic and historical references. In Marwa Arsanio’s film Have You Ever Killed a Bear? Or Becoming Jamila, a young actress takes an in-depth look at an Algerian resistance fighter she is supposed to play. João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata’s Iec Long retraces the story of a fireworks factory in Macao. All these films understand past, present and future as a realm of possibility whose potential is to be explored in cinematic terms. 

Further artists whose works will be shown in the exhibition and film programmes include Roy Dib, Kevin Jerome Everson, Pierre Huyghe, Ken Jacobs, Mireille Kassar, Elke Marhöfer, Jenny Perlin, Hans Scheugl, Michael Snow and Anton Vidokle.

For the opening of the Forum Expanded programme on February 4, the performance Love Letters: The Falling Comrades by Lara Khaldi and Yazan Khalili will be presented at the Akademie der Künste.

The comprehensive artists’ talks, panel discussions and presentations to be held in the Akademie der Künste’s Clubraum explore the questions raised by the title of the programme in greater depth. The guests invited include the participants of the “Visionary Archive” project funded by the TURN Programme of the Germany Federal Cultural Foundation, a research project spanning Cairo, Khartoum, Johannesburg, Bissau and Berlin on the different phases and facets of African cinema. 

For the second time already, an international jury will present the Think:Film Award to works from the Forum Expanded programme. The award, which is tendered in cooperation with the Allianz Kulturstiftung, takes the form of an invitation to take part in film screenings in Berlin and Cairo under the title “Think:Film – A Double Screen Projection”.

The Arsenal cinema and the Embassy of Canada remain the other locations for the Forum Expanded programme.

Forum Expanded is curated by Stefanie Schulte Strathaus (head curator), Anselm Franke, Nanna Heidenreich, Bettina Steinbrügge and Ulrich Ziemons.
Further information on the programme and a summary of all the filmmakers and artists included within it will be announced in a second press release. 

The Festival’s attendance

• 94,000 admissions
•  49,000 spectators at Jemaa El Fna
•  20,000 invited to official ceremonies, parties and lunches

A rich and diverse programming

• 142 films screened from 33 countries
• 15 feature films in competition
• 11 films “Out-of-Competition”
• 4 « Festival Favourite » films from Moroccan Cinema
• 10 Cinécoles films • 7 films with audio-description including 1 Moroccan film
• 41 films as part of a tribute to Scandinavian cinema

4 Master classes

• Bruno DUMONT, Director and Screen-writer – France
• James GRAY, Producer, Director and Screen-writer – USA
•  Nicolas WINDING REFN, Director, Producer and Screen-writer – Denmark
• Régis DEBRAY, Writer, Philosopher, Activist and Thinker – France

1 tribute to Scandinavian cinema 5 tributes to great figures of world cinema

• Sharon Stone, actress – USA
• Juliette Binoche, actress – France
• Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Director – Japan
• Fernando Solanas, director, producer and screen-writer – Argentina
• Mohamed Khouyi, actor – Morocco

By Maria Esteves – December 23, 2014

The 24th New York Jewish Film Festival (NYJFF 2015) commence January 14-29, 2015 at the Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in Lincoln Center, New York. Presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, this year's festival will showcase 47 films from eleven countries. NYJFF 2015 Opening and Closing Night Premieres at the Walter Reade Theater are The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer, directed by Asaf Galay and Shaul Betser; and Felix and Meira, directed by Maxime Giroux. For more information, visit http://nyjff.org

* NYJFF 2015 Full Slate

21st ANNUAL SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: 9 DAYS, 160 FILMS, GREAT GUESTS AND A TRIBUTE TO ORSON WELLES, FEB. 21-MARCH 1

John Waters, Ed Asner, Chris Lemmon, Tab Hunter Among Those Already Committed

The 21st annual Sedona International Film Festival will feature 160 documentaries, features, shorts, Academy Award nominees and specialty films over nine days with a special tribute celebrating the 100th birthday of director and actor Orson Welles, Feb. 21-March 1.

Highlighting this year’s festival will be a series of screenings and retrospectives of Welles’ work coordinated by his daughter, Beatrice, who lives in Sedona. She will be joined by renowned film critic and family friend Jeffrey Lyons.  The full schedule of films, workshops, panel discussions and events will be announced early in 2015.

Established among the nation’s most sought-after independent film festivals by filmmakers, the nine-day Sedona International Film Festival brings more than 10,000 film lovers to Sedona’s world-famous red rocks. Selections are underway for films in a range of categories from World Cinema to Documentaries that Make a Difference and from Sedona Green to Family Films and Classics.

Among those who have already committed to attending the festival are director John Waters (Hairspray, Serial Mom); Ed Asner, who with Mark Rydell will perform their two-man show, Oxymorons. Asner, who is in the cast of two films in the festival, also will perform his one-man show, FDR.  Also scheduled to appear are Chris Lemmon, who will perform his one-man tribute to his father, Jack; and Tab Hunter, who is screening a documentary of his life and career.  Lemmon is a Verde Valley High School graduate.  

“The number and quality of films that we have received for consideration this year again reflects a remarkable range of interests, creativity and entertainment value,” said Sedona International Film Festival Executive Director Pat Schweiss.  “Every year we are presented with opportunities to expand and enhance what we present, and this year we are particularly thrilled to have Beatrice Welles working closely with us to organize a memorable and insightful retrospective of Orson Welles’ incredible career.”

The Festival opens Friday, Feb. 20 with a concert by The Larry Dunn Orchestra performing the music of Earth, Wind & Fire.  Dunn was the keyboardist and musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire during their remarkable R&B run that produced more than 100 million albums worldwide, six Grammy’s, four American Music Awards and 32 gold and platinum records.  A film about Dunn will be shown at the Festival.

Films are currently being screened by three committees: Documentary, Features and Short Films under the direction, respectively, of Connie Levinson, Keri Oskar and Denise Strubbe.

Films will run all day beginning Saturday, Feb. 21 on four screens at Sedona Harkins 6, 2081 W. Highway 89A; the Mary D. Fisher Theater, 2030 W. Highway 89A, and the Sedona Performing Arts Center at Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road.

            Advanced-sale Platinum All-Access Passes are $792 with Sedona International Film Festival members paying $752 before Dec. 31.  After Jan. 1, 2015, the cost is $990. Gold Priority Passes are $392 (members: $372) before Dec. 31 and $490 after; 20-ticket packages are $200 (members: $190) before Dec. 31 and $210 after; 10-ticket packages are $100 (members: $95) before Dec. 31 and $105 after. Full-time students can get the 10-ticket package for $85.

Priority Pass holders will be able to select the films they want to see beginning at 9 a.m. on Feb. 2.  10- and 20-ticket pass holders can select films beginning at 9 a.m. on Feb. 9.  Individual film tickets go on sale to the general public on Feb. 16.

Sedona International Film Festival memberships also are available beginning at $65 for a basic membership.  Family memberships for up to four family members living in the same household are $130. Additional membership packages include Cinematographer ($275), Screenwriter ($550), Producer ($1,200), Director ($2,500), Auteur ($5,000), Marquee ($10,000), Executive Producer ($15,000), Indie Angel ($25,000) and Film Star ($50,000).  Benefits are commensurate with membership-fee levels.  Full information is available on the website.

            Packages, other than for full-time students, are available online at www.sedonafilmfestival.org or through the Festival Box office at (928) 282-1177.  Student packages must be purchased through the Box Office and student ID’s are required.

            For more information, visit www.sedonafilmfestival.org.

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22. Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 5-10, 2015) 
 


Stuttgart – The 22. Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS, May 5-10, 2015) is taking shape. Submission deadline for the categories International Competition, Young Animation and Tricks for Kids has elapsed. The preselection jurys started viewing, discussing and selecting the submitted films – so far more than 1.700.

A few competitions are still open for submissions: for the feature film competition AniMovie the submission deadline has been extended until January 19, 2015. For the Animated Com Award, prize for advertising, technology and spatial communication as well as the Special Award „Future needs derivation – Mobility in a digital world“ by Daimler AG films can be submitted until January 15, 2015. The award ceremony will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Museum on May 9, 2015. More information 

The German Animation Screenplay Award– sponsored by Telepool GmbH – for animated feature film projects drafted in German language is open for submissions until February 1, 2015. A prominent actor or voice actor will be presenting excerpts of the nominated screenplays in the Neues Schloss (New Castle) in Stuttgart on May 6, 2015. The ceremony integrates the awarding of the Tricks for Kids award for best animated series for children and marks the launch of the Animation Production Day, business platform for the international animation industry (May 7-8 2015, www.animationproductionday.de) 

First highlights of the festival’s supporting programme are fixed. The upcoming ITFS will welcome Spain as its guest country. Selected filmmakers, studios and a college will be on hand to represent the creative potential of this Mediterranean country’s animation scene. Among the guests are the world renowned and prize-winning Stop Motion specialists Anna Solanas and Marc Riba. In the programme Animation History the ITFS explores the works of the Spanish pioneer of Stop Motion Segundo de Chomón. On the occasion the ITFS cooperates with the international Málaga Film Festival.
 
Another ITFS 2015 programme highlight deals with the interaction between comics and animation– curated by Andreas Platthaus (FAZ, Frankfurt) and Harri Römpötti (Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki). Several activities on this subject will be taking place, among others, in cooperation with the Berthold Leibinger Stiftung and the Literaturhaus Stuttgart, where the comic book award (Comicbuchpreis) will be presented on May 4, 2015.
 
More information on www.itfs.de/en
 

Strictly Ballroom, Paul Merton and British Sea Power

Strictly Ballroom

Paul Merton paying live tribute to Buster Keaton. British Sea Power taking the O2 ABC back to its former cinematic history. Atmospheric new scorings of classic silent movies, a festival of internet cat videos, and a glitter-strewn homage to Baz Luhrmann in the grandiose surroundings of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.... sounds like February in Glasgow.

Glasgow Film Festival is delighted to announce that tickets are now available for the first six events from its 2015 programme. The festival has grown a reputation for unique screenings in unusual venues – pop-up cinema events that bring the film into 3D. Previous events include a mystery potholing expedition to watch The Descent in a cavern under Central Station, screenings of Jaws and Peter Pan on board Glasgow’s Tall Ship, and Tron screened in a mocked-up 1980s video game arcade.

In their 2015 programme, GFF will return to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery for a very special live dance show and screening of StrictlyBallroom, and also take over the atmospheric, Gothic surroundings of Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, as composer IreneBuckley premieres a brand new soundtrack to 1928 classic The Fall of the House of Usher on the Hall’s original Wurlitzer Cinema Organ. Comedy legend PaulMerton and award-winning silent film pianist NeilBrand have teamed up to pay tribute to another legend, BusterKeaton, with a hilarious live show. GFF is delighted to host the Scottish premiere of British Sea Power’s hugely acclaimed film/live score project From The Sea To The Land Beyond.  The band headline a night of supercool audio/visual treats, celebrating the O2 ABC’s origins as one of Glasgow’s oldest cinemas. The phenomenal French bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons and his live band create an Eastern-Western fusion score to Lotte Reiniger’s magical 1926 animation The Adventures of Prince Achmed, while GFF brings Walker Art Center’s famous Internet Cat Video Festival (purretty much does what it says on the tin) to the UK with a premiere at GoMA  

Allan Hunter, co-Director of Glasgow Film Festival, said:

“Our special events are a large part of what makes Glasgow Film Festival distinctive: people love to experience cinema in new ways, and we’re lucky to have such a wealth of exciting venues available in the city. This is only the tip of the iceberg, too: we’re going to announce a different pop-up event for every night of the festival at our programme launch in January. The programming team have really let their imaginations run riot this year, so we think audiences will be pretty excited by what’s in store.”

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EVENT INFORMATION

Strictly Ballroom at Kelvin-Groove!

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Friday 20 February | 18.30 – 22.00 | £12/£10 | Tickets available from GFT Box Office

 “Well of course, you can dance any steps you like! But that doesn’t mean you’ll...WIN!”

Following the success of 2014’s Monster Mash costume party and screening of Young Frankenstein, Glasgow Film Festival brings the glitz to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum’s grand hall. As part of GFF’s Strewth! programme strand celebrating new and classic Australian cinema, audiences are encouraged to get their (Tina) sparkles on for a night of ritzy Aussie camp, wonderful dance and heart-thumping rhythm. BazLuhrmann’s breakthrough feature, and the first of his Red Curtain Trilogy, Strictly Ballroom takes a tongue in cheek look inside the pressure-cooker world of competitive ballroom dancing, gleaming with fake tans and very real moves. The event combines a great film with a sequin-studded spectacular, as reigning Scottish Ballroom and Latin Dance Champions TiborPoc and HilaryMouat take to the floor ahead of the screening.  And remember, a bit of musicality, please!

Part of the Strewth! strand celebrating Australian cinema 

A Night at the Regal: Lost Map, Joe McAlinden, British Sea Power

O2 ABC

Thursday 19 February, 18.00 (doors) | £16/£14.50 | Tickets available from O2 ABC

In May 1896, Glasgow’s ABC venue (then an ice-rink called Hubner’s Palace) was site of the first-ever public film screening in the city. It opened as a fully-fledged cinema in 1929, under the name The ABC Regal, as one of the most prominent picture-houses in town. It has since become one of Glasgow’s biggest and most exciting music venues.

The festival will take over the O2 ABC for one night, as a joint venture between the new Cinema City and Sound & Vision programme strands, celebrating the venue’s history with film and music. Lost Map Records artists eagleowl and Monoganon investigate the relationship between sound and the moving image; Jarman Award nominees IainForsyth and JanePollard, directors of the recent Nick Cave documentary 20,000 Days on Earth (winner: Directing Award, Sundance Film Festival 2014/ BIFA 2014 Best Newcomer winners) bring a live performance of their new film EDIT, live scored by JoeMcAlinden (formerly of the band Superstar). Headlining the event are those pioneers of the esoteric rock soundscape, British Sea Power, who will perform the Scottish premiere of their hugely acclaimed live score created around Penny Woolcock’s powerful documentary From the Sea to the Land Beyond, with screening. This perfect synchronicity of film and music, sound and vision, has won awards and acclaim at rare screenings since its 2012 premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest; GFF is delighted to bring it to Scotland.  Part of the Cinema City and Sound & Vision strands.   

The Fall of the House of Usher: a silent classic with live organ score

Pollokshaws Burgh Hall

Sunday 22 February | 20.00 - 22.00 | £12/£10 | Tickets available from GFT Box Office

“Some silent films hold you outside: You admire them, but are aware of them as a phenomenon. With The Fall of the House of Usher, I barely stirred. A tone, an atmosphere, was created that actually worked...less a fiction than the realization of some phantasmagoric alternative reality.” – Roger Ebert

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s jet-black short story, this 1928 film by French silent master JeanEpstein is the first true Gothic horror and an iconic visual masterpiece exploring the beauty and tension of life, love, and death. An ethereal new live score by composer IreneBuckley, featuring organ, electronics and live vocals, will be performed using the original Wurlitzer Cinema Organ in the historic, appropriate setting of Pollokshaws Burgh Hall to immerse the audience in a compelling meditation on the macabre. Buckley created the live soprano soundtrack to The Passion of Joan of Arc, which Glasgow Film Festival screened inside Glasgow Cathedral in 2013; the festival is delighted to welcome her back.

 Part of the Pop-Up Events strand

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Buster Keaton Night with Paul Merton and Neil Brand

In partnership with Fruitmarket Nights: Classic Silent Movies

Old Fruitmarket

Monday 23 February, 19.30 | £14 (£12); £5 for under-26s | Tickets available from Glasgow Concert Halls and GFT Box Office

PaulMerton might never have become a comedian were it not for the influence of BusterKeaton: fabulous clown, unbelievably dauntless stunt man, matchless player/director. Merton and renowned silent film pianist NeilBrand are two of the most engaging and knowledgeable silent comedy buffs around, and together they present a fantastic evening of classic comedy, fascinating insights and facts and live music to celebrate one of the greatest funny men of all time.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed

In partnership with Fruitmarket Nights: Classic Silent Movies

Old Fruitmarket

Sunday 1 March, 18.30 | £14 (£12); £5 for under-26s | Tickets available from Glasgow Concert Halls and GFT Box Office

Lotte Reiniger’s classic silent film The Adventures of Prince Achmed inspires a remarkable East-West fusion from the phenomenal French bass player Renaud Garcia-Fons.  Reiniger’s gorgeous silhouette animation tells stories from Arabian Nights, a world full of enchantments and danger, wizards, flying horses, evil genies, princes and princesses. Garcia-Fons and his live band draw on the musical traditions of the Mediterranean, taking sounds and ideas from Spain, Turkey, Morocco and Southern France, fusing them into an amazing new crossover score led by his own astounding playing. This event is suitable for all the family, but a special treat for lovers of silent film, fantasy, and brilliant world jazz.

Part of the Sound & Vision and Modern Families strands

Cat Video Festival

GoMA

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 February, 13.00­–16.00| FREE (advance booking on EventBrite)

GoMA and Glasgow Film Festival are delighted to present the UK premiere of the Internet Cat Video Festival, brainchild of the prestigious Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. As the first offline, social celebration of online cat videos, the Internet Cat Video Festival has proved to be a massive hit with audiences of all ages, and is now coming to Scotland following its roaring (or should that be purring?) success across the pond. The festival is a free live event, featuring a programme specially curated by Will Braden, creator of the Henri Le Chat Noir videos and recipient of the first Golden Kitty (People’s Choice) Award. Accompanied with some extra feline-themed activities, the videos in the programme range from clips dating back to 1901, to brilliant animations and shorts featuring some more familiar feline faces, and everything in-between. Part of the Modern Families strand

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The eleventh annual Glasgow Film Festival will run from 18 February – 1 March. The full programme will be launched on the evening of Wednesday 21 January and will be online from Thursday 22 January, with tickets on sale from Monday 26 of January at 10am. Passes for FrightFest go on sale from 10am on Thursday 22 January.  

Early Bird tickets, which offer vouchers for bundles of discounted tickets, and an opportunity to book tickets early on Friday 23 January, are available now until 4 January, priced at 10 films for £50, 20 films for £90 and 40 films for £160. See www.glasgowfilm.org/festival/earlybird for full information.

Notable guests visiting the festival in recent years have included Joss Whedon, Terry Gilliam, Richard Dreyfuss, Saoirse Ronan, Jonathan Glazer, Gemma Arterton, John C Reilly, Jason Priestley, Neil Jordan, agnés b., Jack O’Connell, Dexter Fletcher, Peter Mullan, George Sluizier, Ty West, Richard Ayoade, Eli Roth and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The tenth annual festival, in 2014, opened with the UK premiere of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel. Over 40,000 admissions were logged for GFF14, making it the third-biggest film festival in the UK.

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TICKETS

GFT Box Office | 0141 332 6535 | www.glasgowfilm.org

O2 ABC Box Office | 0141 332 2232 | www.o2abcglasgow.co.uk

Glasgow Royal Concert Halls Box Office | 0141 353 8000 | www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

Cat Video Festival tickets | catvideofestivalsaturday.eventbrite.co.uk  catvideofestivalsunday.eventbrite.co.uk

Glasgow Film Festival would like to thank its major partners:

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) is the official destination marketing organisation (DMO) for the city of Glasgow. As custodian of the PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW brand, GCMB works with partners, stakeholders and businesses to position and promote Glasgow across national and international markets as one of Europe’s most vibrant, dynamic and diverse cities in which to live, work, study, invest and visit. For more information, visit: www.peoplemakeglasgow.com.

EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. EventScotland is part of VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. www.EventScotland.org

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here.  We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life.  We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. 

The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by: connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema; preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world; championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK; promoting British film and talent to the world; growing the next generation of film makers and audiences. www.bfi.org.uk

Do you want to be part of the success of Independent film makers from all around the world? Then come and help us judging their films and help create the program of the NYC Independent Film Festival.

After five consecutive years the NYCindieFF has become the single most important stage for independent film makers to get their films out to the public. Hundreds of international film makers try to get their film screened at the NYCindieFF, more than we can screen. Help us with the selection, use your love for films and documentaries to find the best films we can get.

Are you a journalist, do you have knowledge of the world of art, do you regard yourself a professional in any way and - most importantly - do you like documentaries, please sign up as a judge for the NYC Independent Film Fesival.

My name is Gerard van den Broek, I'm a film festival organizer for the public broadcasting company in the Netherlands and I'm curating the documentary division of the NYCindieFF. Do you want to help? Write me on docscurator@nycindieff.com

Academy Award® winning actor Geena Davis and ARC Entertainment today announced the launch of the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), a one-of-a-kind inaugural event designed to champion women and diversity in film. The Festival, which will take place from May 5 – 9 in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be the first and only film competition in the world to offer guaranteed theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.

The festival, which is being hosted by ARC Entertainment, Walmart, Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres, will be chaired by Geena Davis and will screen approximately 75 films in competition, ranging from studio premieres to independent features and documentaries. The Festival’s Advisory Board is comprised of entertainment industry leaders and artists including Angela Bassett, Bruce Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Randy Jackson, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Paula Patton, Natalie Portman, Nina Tassler and Shailene Woodley. While individual activities for each advisory board member will vary, they will include garnering support within the entertainment industry, leading mentorship activities, film selection input, festival jury participation, defining success metrics and measuring effectiveness of programs, and offering broad strategic counsel.

“I have been an advocate for women for most of my adult life,” said Geena Davis. “The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is dedicated to improving the representation in gender and diversity of talent, filmmakers, and business leaders by growing awareness through research, education and advocacy. The Bentonville Film Festival is a critical component of how we can directly impact the quantity and quality of females and minorities on screen and behind-the scenes.”

Films that receive the Audience, Jury Selection and Best Family Film awards at the Bentonville Film Festival will receive a distribution agreement with a guaranteed traditional theatrical release on a minimum of 25 screens from AMC Theatres. AMC Theatres will also participate in the film submission and jury selection process.

“I’m honored to collaborate with ARC Entertainment, Walmart, AMC and Coca-Cola to launch this important initiative,” added Davis. “I have been so impressed with the commitment Walmart has made to support Women through their Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, which has as one of its goals to source $20 billion from women-owned businesses in the U.S.”

In addition to the film screenings, the Bentonville Film Festival will include a star studded award show hosted by Geena Davis and presented by Kraft Foods Group, multiple panel discussions with celebrities and industry leaders, and family film night events that will be free to the public and held in exciting non-traditional venues. 

Following the debut of the event, the Bentonville Film Foundation as part of the Bentonville Film Festival initiative will launch a year-round event calendar to promote women and minority filmmakers, artists, directors, and producers at colleges and universities around the country in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which is the official non-profit partner of the festival.

Film submissions for the festival will open on Jan. 15, 2015, with films accepted into competition being announced in March 2015. 

For more information on the festival please visit bentonvillefilmfestival.com or email your inquiry to info@bentonvillefilmfestival.com.

About Geena Davis and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media:

Academy Award winner Geena Davis is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, appearing in several roles that became cultural landmarks.  In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in “The Accidental Tourist” and earned the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC’s hit show “Commander in Chief.”

A long-time advocate for women, Davis is now recognized for her tireless efforts on behalf of women and girls nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments.  She is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media at Mount St. Mary’s College, the only research-based

organization working with media and entertainment companies to engage, educate and influence the need for gender balance, reducing stereotyping and creating a diverse and inclusive range of female characters for entertainment targeting children 11 and under.

Davis was recently appointed Special Envoy for Women and Girls in ICT for the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  Davis is also an official partner of UN Women, working toward their goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. Davis is the Chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women. Davis holds honorary degrees from Boston University, Bates College and New England College.

About ARC Entertainment

ARC Entertainment is an independent media company that distributes, produces and acquires content for exploitation on its robust distribution platform. Founded in 2010, ARC Entertainment has achieved exponential growth with releasing over 150 new title since its founding. The Company has unparalleled relationships with major national retailers and a management team with a history of success in the Entertainment and Consumer Products industries.  ARC’s most recent platform expansion includes the launch of My Country Nation, (mycountrynation.com) an over-the-top (OTT) digital channel and web brand formed in partnership with, Brad Paisley, William Morris Agency, Taillight Productions, and Raindance Entertainment.

QUOTES

Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment

“We are proud to be associated with this meaningful and groundbreaking initiative. Filmmaking has a measureable impact on society and culture as a whole.  The Bentonville Film Festival’s goal is to build a research based, commercially viable platform which will support a full offering of creative endeavors for female and minority content creators representing their perspectives which can often be crowded out in larger, franchise film projects. The BFF is differentiated from other festivals in that it will benefit from the support of the world’s largest retailer and blue chip sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods and AMC Theatres. This support enables the BFF to offer groundbreaking, meaningful, and commercially viable prizes and capital to support film making that celebrate women and diversity.”

Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President, Special & Alternative Content, AMC

“In my role of sourcing fresh and diverse independent films for AMC, I am privileged to often experience compelling and engaging films, by talented female and minority storytellers, which all too often aren’t made visible to American audiences. Our partnership with BFF ties in perfectly with AMC’s continued dedication to targeted programming, and I’m thrilled that this film festival will be able to provide these filmmakers and their movies with greater visibility.”

Stephen Quinn, CMO of Walmart

“I am so very proud of our Global Initiatives supporting Women and Diversity. This Festival will give Walmart an opportunity to advance that initiative through our support of the film industry.  We are also very proud of the town of Bentonville and look forward to ‘showing it off’ to the world.”

Rob Gehring, President – Global Walmart Team, Coca-Cola North America

“From the cinema to at-home with family and friends, Coca-Cola has always been part of the movie-enjoyment experience. Coca-Cola also is a strong proponent of empowering women and diversity, which is a growing segment in the filmmaking industry. Our sponsorship of the Bentonville Film Festival is an impactful way to support the advancement and development of women and diversity in film, while reinforcing the enduring connection between our brands and the movies.” 

Meetings on the Bridge has contributed to the completion of 29 film projects over the past 9 years, holding workshops for the first international presentations of feature-length fiction and documentary projects, and films still in production, and organised panels, master classes, and forums geared towards film professionals.

Numerous projects were supported by the Film Project Development Workshop, the Work in Progress Workshop, and the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund within the scope of Meetings on the Bridge, and the support of Anadolu Efes, which has been the Theme Sponsor of the Istanbul Film Festival's “Turkish Cinema” section for 28 years. Meetings on the Bridge, which has raised close to 430.000 Euros for 36 different projects since it began in 2006, will continue developing in its 10th year.

10th Year Developments from Meetings on the Bridge

In its 10th year, Meetings on the Bridge will organise an educational programme for the projects chosen for the Film Development Workshop in order to increase the effectiveness of presentations. In addition to this preliminary preparatory programme, which will be held in March 2015, films that have proved successful in Meetings on the Bridge workshops will be screened at universities free-of-charge. The Meetings on the Bridge screenings, beginning at Istanbul Bilgi University, will continue throughout the year at other universities, including Galatasaray and Kadir Has.

Applications for Meetings on the Bridge Continue

·      The deadline for the Film Development Workshop is extended: The final application date will be 15 January 2015.

The final application deadline for the Film Development Workshop, to be held on 15-16 April 2015, has been extended to Thursday, 15 January 2015. The Film Development Workshop where directors, screenwriters, and producers give the first international presentations for their feature-length fiction or documentary projects, is aimed to create opportunities for finding the necessary support to initiate the production process.

In addition to the preparatory process and presentation technique training provided each year, this year there will be a comprehensive programme for the director, screenwriter, and producers of the projects selected from among the applications, which are open to different genres, such as horror, fantasy, and comedy. Following preliminary preparations, director, producer, and/or screenwriters will be given the chance to meet one-on-one with representatives from international production, distribution, fund, market, and broadcasting corporations.

At the end of the workshop, the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Tourism and Culture Support Award of 10.000 USD, the Melodika Sound Post-Production Award, the CNC (French National Cinema Centre) Support Award of 10.000 EUR, and the MFI (Mediterranean Film Institute) Screenwriting Workshop Award will all find their recipients following the international jury's evaluation.

·       Applications for the Work in Progress Workshop will continue until 2 March 2015

The deadline to apply to the Work in Progress Workshop, aiming to create opportunities for projects to find the necessary support in order to complete the production process, is
Monday, 2 March. The directors and producers of the films selected for the workshop will hold presentations open only to industry professionals (distributers, festival or fund directors, TV channel representatives) as part of Meetings on the Bridge. At the end of the workshop, films selected by the international jury will be eligible to receive the Anadolu Efes Award of 10.000 USD, the Color-ist Award, to be given for the first time this year for colour and online editing, and the Başka Sinema Award, enabling the screening of the selected film in Başka Sinema theatres and exempt from the virtual print fee.

·      Applications for the German-Turkish Co-Production Fund have begun

Applications for the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund, created through the collaboration of Meetings on the Bridge, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein Film Funds, and with the support of the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Tourism and Culture, have begun. Aiming to encourage co-productions between the two countries, the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund will find its recipients, as part of Meetings on the Bridge, for the fifth time.

The winners of the Meetings on the Bridge workshops and the projects that receive support from the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund will be announced at the Meetings on the Bridge reception to be held on Thursday evening, 16 April 2015.

Guidelines and application instructions can be obtained from film.iksv.org/en/meetingsonthebridge.

The 34th Istanbul Film Festival, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and sponsored by Akbank the 11th time this year, will be held between 4-19 April 2015.

The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival in Dubuque, Iowa, will award more than $35,000 in cash prizes during its fourth annual festival, April 23-26, 2015.

The festival has extended its regular submission deadline to Jan. 31 and its late deadline to Feb. 10. Films can be submitted through WithoutaBox or Film Freeway.

“We can’t wait to see this year’s submissions,” said Executive Director Susan Gorrell. “It seems that every year we are blown away by the quality and unique films we receive.”

Winners will be announced in five categories – Grand Jury, Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short, and Best of Iowa – at the Awards Ceremony & Gala on Saturday, April 25.

The largest prize, $15,000, will go to the Grand Jury winner. Nominees for that award will be culled from nominees for Best Documentary and Best Feature.

The rest of the prizes are as follows: $8,500 for Best Documentary, $8,500 for Best Feature, $3,000 for Best Short, and $500 for Best of Iowa.

“Awarding cash prizes helps to not only create excitement around the awards ceremony, but also aids filmmakers in offsetting the high costs of creating an independent film,”Gorrell said. “These filmmakers are often putting everything they have into their craft and we want to honor their hard work.”

The top three nominees in each category will receive free travel and accommodations to Dubuque.

Official Selections of the festival will receive a partial reimbursement of their submission fee - $30 for features and documentaries and $10 for shorts.The festival will accept no more than 35 features and documentaries.

The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is committed to building partnerships with filmmakers and film distributors through ongoing activities that include hosting special screenings, filmmaker panels, community events and culminates in the festival each year.  In its third year, MovieMaker Magazine named the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.”  This year, no more than 35 independent films will be screened during the four-day event. 

Most Successful Asia TV Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore yet

It saw an energetic market with record number of attendance and a slew of deals secured and partnerships forged from 10 to 12 December at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. Sales transactions of some US$256.28 million were exchanged during the three-day market. A pre-market conference was held the day prior on 9 December.

Ms Yeow Hui Leng, Senior Project Director, Reed Exhibitions expressed delight at this year’s run, noting: “This has been our most successful edition of ATF and ScreenSingapore to-date, and aligns with Asia’s growing importance in the global entertainment content landscape. ATF and ScreenSingapore is designed as an integrated market to provide a platform for industry players to trade and network, as well as to highlight opportunities in the rapidly growing Asian market. The positive feedback, record number of deals and attendance are testament to ATF and ScreenSingapore’s standing as a leading content market in Asia”. 

This year, the events were also part of the inaugural Singapore Media Festival, which enabled attendees to participate in an expanded suite of activities. Commenting on this, Mr Joachim Ng, Director of Industry Operations at the Media Development Authority of Singapore said: “We are encouraged by the many meaningful partnerships forged and vibrant exchange of ideas at the inaugural Singapore Media Festival. It also gave us the opportunity to showcase the best of the region’s film and television content as well as to celebrate its talent. We are confident that future editions of the festival will continue to serve as a platform of choice in Asia for media companies and professionals.”