Sunday 7th June at Sheffield Doc/Fest: the new Whicker’s World Foundation, whose principle aim is to give a much needed fillip to authored documentary storytelling in the UK, today launches three new documentary filmmaker awards worth a total of £100,000 for the promotion of curiosity in programme making, generously funded by a legacy left by the celebrated broadcast journalist Alan Whicker, who died in 2013. Details of the Whicker’s World Foundation and the awards will be announced by filmmaker Kim Longinotto at a special event at Doc/Fest, following the screening of Whicker’s World: Conflict in Kentucky.

Says Mark Atkin, Acting Festival Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest: “I am very enthused that this foundation aims to encourage authored documentary at a time when TV is becoming increasingly formatted and when most foundations have requirements to promote social issues. This is exactly what the industry needs right now”.

The three awards – the Funding Award (worth £80,000 / £10,000 runner up) to a debut filmmaker under 30 years of age; the Recognition Award (worth £4,000 / £1,000 runner up) to the finest industry newcomer aged 50 years of age or over; and the Best Audio Documentary (worth £4,000 / £1,000) to be awarded at the In The Dark audio festival, also part of Doc/Fest - will be looking for a spirit of inquisitiveness that will leave the viewer wanting more, and tell something new and unexpected about the world.

The panel of judges, chaired by Valerie Kleeman, photographer, programme consultant and Whicker’s partner for more than 40 years, will also be looking for projects that are playful with how the story is told, either breaking new ground, or taking a familiar path to come up with a new style.

The Alan Whicker Foundation consultant, top ranking international TV executive Jane Mote, says: “Whicker's World opened my eyes to the most amazing stories, people and places. Alan's unique style and sharp wit was inspirational and I am so excited to be part of creating a Foundation to nurture the future trailblazers for international documentary film-making”.

Jane Ray, the Consultant Artistic Director for the Foundation is a multi-award winning documentary maker and executive producer in radio and television with a journalistic background and nearly 28 years’ service at the BBC. Her awards range from the Sony Award for best news programme (2002) and the TRIC award for best children’s programme (1993) to China’s Golden Kapok award for best director (2014). She worked with Alan throughout the 90s on various projects for radio. She also wrote and directed Radio 4's archive programme about Alan: Around theWorld in 80 Years, presented by Michael Palin.

The first award winners will be announced by the Whicker’s World Foundation at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Award Ceremony, which will take place on the final day of the 2016 festival.

The Oldenburg International Film Festival takes place from September 16 – 20, 2015.

With worldwide entries from more than 70 countries the Festival is looking forward to an exciting and diverse 22nd issue of the event. The official Entry Deadline is coming up on Friday, June 12, by the end of this week.

Besides numerous international discoveries this year’s programming will present the world premiere of “Godless”, a crime drama based on real events, and Germany’s first TV series, that gives complete artistic freedom to its writer director, Thomas Stiller.

The first highlights:

GODLESS

by Thomas Stiller - Germany 2015

Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Stiller, “Godless” is a groundbreaking format in German television. With artistic freedom so far unique only to HBO or Netflix, the writer-director has been given complete license to create a crime drama based on real incidents and dares to show what usual crime shows rarely touch upon: the raw and inevitable energy of a conflict that draws the perpetrator and victim into crime. An adaptation of the Dutch format of the same title, “Godless” is produced and developed by Marc Conrad and his company Conradfilm for German broadcaster RTL II. Oldenburg will present the first three episodes, starring the high profile cast of Matthias Köberlin, Jule Ronstedt, and Ralph Herforth. World Premiere.

NEXT TIME I’LL AIM FOR THE HEART

by Cedric Anger - France 2014

Based on a true story, writer-director Cedric Anger’s thrilling crime drama has been likened to a French ‘Zodiac’, garnering 2015 César nods for both its director and star, Guillaume Canet, for his performance as a notorious serial killer and cop commissioned to investigate his own murders. Ripped from the headlines, Canet’s character is based on Alain Lamare, a real-life murderer who terrorized the inhabitants of the Oise region of France during a 10-month killing spree in 1978. German Premiere.

OBSERVANCE

by Joseph Sims-Dennet - Australia 2015

After his auspicious and award winning debut “Bad Behavior”, Joseph Sims-Dennett returns with a mind-bending journey into the psyche of man. He deftly locates his hero in the politically timely horrors of Snowden paranoia - mirroring Coppola’s “The Conversation”- as his private investigator hired to observe a hunted woman discovers the terrifying shadows observing him. Anchored by its mesmerizing lead actor, rising star Lindsay Farris in a one-man tour de force, ‘Observance’ is an electrifying discovery.  European Premiere.

TRAVELATOR

by Dusan Milic - Serbia 2014

When a 19 year-old ace sniper in the video game virtual world is hired by the Serbian mob to do a real life hit job, artificial worlds collide with explosive daring in Dusan Milic’s knockout thriller, “Travelator”. Oscillating between the tough reality of a Serbian refugee camp and the hyper-reality of a dreamlike Las Vegas, where ‘Blade Runner’ meets ‘Taxi Driver’, Milic breaks genre expectations, masterfully portraying the identity crisis of a young man caught in the kaleidoscope of avatars and artifice. As the teen assassin, European Shooting Star Nicola Rakocevic is a revelation. German Premiere.

CRUMBS

by Miguel Llansó – Ethiopia/Spain/Finland 2015

In the debut feature of Spanish writer/director Miguel Llansó, Ethiopia’s first sci-fi feature is also perhaps the most inspired homage to ‘The Wizard of Oz’ of the 21st Century. The pint-size superhero Candy takes us on an epic post-apocalyptic flight into surreal territory in quest of Santa Claus to grant him his hearts greatest wish. With the sci-fi poetic eye of Andrei Tarkovsky and joyful black humor, Llansó’s wasteland wonderland is a feast filled with re-interpreted and re-purposed symbols from the wealth and power obsessed 20th Century. German Premiere.

THE STRONGEST MAN

by Kenny Riches - USA 2015

Following its debut at Sundance, critics called Japanese-born writer-director Kenny Riches as “the one to watch”. With his hilarious oddball and irreverent tone, Riches unique style has been described as “Terrence Malick directing Napoleon Dynamite”. Exploring the façade of the American Dream, we ride through the less than glamorous streets of Miami with Beef, an angst driven Cuban-American construction worker with biceps as solid as his gold-painted BMX bike. But when his treasured wheels get stolen, the real ride begins. International Premiere.

SUMMERS DOWNSTAIRS

by Tom Sommerlatte - Germany 2015

Nominated for 2014s German Independence Award: Best Short, Tom Sommerlatte returns to Oldenburg with his critically acclaimed debut feature. In this twisted fraternal frolic at the family summerhouse in France, a bullying alpha brother is pitted against his pot-smoking slacker brother, in an upstairs/downstairs pecking order dance with a love triangle. With eleven siblings in real life, including his sister Iris who produced it, Sommerlatte is no stranger to the complexities of family rivalries, and his refreshing spin on a familiar theme is a painfully honest comedic delight.

WASTE LAND

by Pieter Van Hees - Belgium 2014

Set in the immigrant underbelly of Brussels, Pieter Van Hees completes his “Love and Pain” Trilogy with this neo-noir thriller. Named after T.S. Elliot’s poem, he weaves analogies to the costly wounds of colonialism and denial. The discovery of a murdered Congolese man sets in motion the investigation of more than a homicide, as its lead detective, grippingly captured by Jérémie Renier, descends on a journey into to the dark savagery of the soul. Having hosted both “Left Bank” and “Dirty Mind”, we welcome Van Hees back with the third chapter of his psychological voyage.

German Premiere.

MODEL HUNGER

by Debbie Rochon - USA 2015

Iconic scream-queen cult-star Debbie Rochon returns to Oldenburg with her feature debut as a director. Having starred in over 200 sub-genre films, she’s in familiar territory directing fellow scream-queen idol, Lynn Lowry, in this thought-provoking observation of the meaning of beauty. Slashing the mirror of political correctness, Rochon’s raw style resonates with the unfettered boldness of 70s New Hollywood, as “Mommy Dearest” meets “Rear Window” in a basement of horrors and psychological damage. International Premiere.

2015 international competition

OFFICIAL SELECTION
TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH AL CENTRO DE LA TIERRA Daniel Rosenfeld Argentina / France / Germany / Netherlands, 2015, 86' International premiere		AND THE LIVING IS EASY Lamia Joreige France / Lebanon, 2014, 74' World premiere
THE MESH AND THE CIRCLE A TRAMA E O CÍRCULO Mariana Caló and Francisco Queimadela Portugal / Italy, 2014, 34' International premiere / first film		BY OUR SELVES Andrew Kotting United Kingdom, 2015, 80' World premiere
BUILDINGS Johannes Hammel Austria, 2015, 31' International premiere		ENTANGLED ENTRELAZADO Riccardo Giacconi Colombia, 2014, 37' World premiere
FIELD NIGGAS Khalik Allah United States of America, 2014, 60' International premiere / first film		HOME Rafat Alzakout Syria / Lebanon, 2015, 70' World premiere / first film
MAESTA Andy Guérif France, 2015, 46' World premiere		MEURTRIÈRE Philippe Grandrieux France, 2015, 60' World premiere
PAWEL AND WAWEL PAWEL i WAWEL Krzysztof Kaczmarek Poland / Austria, 2014, 63' International premiere		IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS RETRATOS DE IDENTIFICAÇÃO Anita Leandro Brazil, 2014, 73' European premiere
THE MONUMENT HUNTER RASTREADOR DE ESTATUAS Jerónimo Rodríguez Chile, 2015, 71' World premiere		SANTA TERESA & OTHER STORIES SANTA TERESA & OTRAS HISTORIAS Nelson De Los Santos Arias Mexico / United States of America / Dominican Republic , 2015, 65' World premiere
TOPONYMY TOPONIMIA Jonathan Perel Argentina, 2015, 82' International premiere

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> Los Angeles Film Festival June  10 - 18, 2015 

World Premiere of A GIRL LIKE GRACE at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the Zeitgeist Section

A GIRL LIKE GRACE is a story of a 17-year-old female growing up in a small, Southern community where notions of femininity, sexual identity and survival are starkly at odds. Grace (Ryan Destiny), high school senior, is mourning the suicide of her best friend, Andrea (Paige Hurd). Grace’s single mom, Lisa (Garcelle Beauvais), is too preoccupied with her own troubles to be the support her daughter needs. So when the bullies (led by Raven-Symone') make Grace the focus of their attacks, ...

 

World Premiere of WEEPAH WAY FOR NOW at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the L.A. Muse Section

LA Muse /  English (2014 , 90 min.) Directed by: Stephen Pierce Ringer Screenwriter: Stephen Pierce Ringer Producers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Stephen Pierce Ringer, Kerry Barden Cinematographer: Stephen Pierce Ringer Editor: Stephen Pierce Ringer Music: Michael Einziger Cast:  Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Mimi Rogers, Dan Byrd, Amanda Crew, Madeline Zima, Liam Aiken, Jon Heder, Tyler Labine, Gil Bellows, Ryan Donowho, Gale Harold,...

 

A Beautiful Now screens at LA Fest

(WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Daniela Amavia PRODUCERS Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel) – A group of five friends reunite for one night to save the woman, Romy (Abigail Spencer), at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses they struggle with their past relationships and finally truths are revealed as Romy, who has barricaded herself in the bathroom, tries to put the pieces of her life back together. This thrilling journey into the mind of a woman teetering on the edge of ...

 

LA Fest has OUT OF MY HAND as North American Premiere US Fiction Competition

Directed by: Takeshi Fukunaga Screenwriter: Takeshi Fukunaga, Donari Braxton Cinematographer: Ryo Murakami, Owen Donovan Editor: Eugene Yi, Takeshi Fukunaga Music: Tyondai Braxton Cast: Bishop Blay, Zenobia Taylor, Duke Murphy Dennis, David Roberts, Shelley Molad Working as tree tapper on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa, Cisco struggles to make a decent life for himself and his family. D...

 

Eli Roth will direct a Live Read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High to close LA Fest

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival announced a very special Closing Night. For the first time, the Festival will include a Live Read, a regular feature of Film Independent’s programming over the last four years.  For Closing Night, writer/director/producer/actor Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Grindhouse, Hostel, Inglorious Basterds) will direct a Live Read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Follow @LAFilmFest on twitter for cast announcements. The film, which came out in 1982, was directed b...

 

The Overnight A film by Patrick Brice premieres at LA Fest

  Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up.  Writer/director Patrick Bri...

 

Los Angeles Film Festival announces sponsors

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced its sponsors for the 2015 Festival. The Los Angeles Film Festival will run from Wednesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 18 in downtown Los Angeles. Joining the Festival as Premier Sponsor is Southern California BMW Centers and Jaeger-LeCoultre has returned to the Festival as the Principal Sponsor. American Airlines and Peroni Nas...

 

World Premiere debut at the LA FILM FESTIVAL for MAIKO- DANCING CHILD directed by Åse Svenheim Drivenes

MAIKO: DANCING CHILD  A FILM BY ÅSE SVENHEIM DRIVENES  THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 14th in Los Angeles   Maiko's destiny was decided before she was born. Her name Maiko means dancing child. Her mother, the driving force behind her career, sold their home to send 14-year-old Maiko to the most prestigious dancing schools in Europe. Maiko knew she couldn't return to Japan as a failure. Today she is 32 and on top of her career as a prima ballerina at the Norwegian National Bal...

 

Oriented by Director Jake Witzenfeld will premiere at LA Fest in Documentary Competition

  Oriented  Documentary Competition, Arabic, Hebrew, English, (2015 , 87 min. ) Directed by: Jake Witzenfeld Screenwriter:  Producers: Ruth Cats, Jake Witzenfeld Cinematographer: David Stragmeister, Omar Sawalha, Michael Miroshnik Editor: Nili Feller Music: Tamir Muskat, Zohar Barzilai Cast: Khader Abu Seif, Fadi Daeem, Naeem Jiryes In a place and time where conflict dictates everyda...

 

The Drew League will have its June 13th World Premiere at LA Fest

The Drew League.  The film will have its June 13th World Premiere as part of Los Angeles Film Festival’s Muse Section. 

Do not miss the LAFF 2015 World Premiere of FRENCH DIRTY by Wade Allain-Marcus

   USA, 72 minutes, Color, 2015, English Having never moved on from his parent’s divorce, Vincent hasn’t really found himself. Untethered to a job or any real responsibilities, he hangs out with Steve, his childhood best friend, and Jess, his girlfriend. That is until the moment he meets Roma. The chemistry is undeniable, but Vincent is still involved with Jess, so he introduces Roma to Steve and watches love bloom, forcing him to hide his deep feelings for her. When St...

 

World Premiere of The Escort at LAFF

  THE ESCORT begins as a story of two twenty-somethings using one another for professional gain. Mitch, a sex obsessed journalist, convinces Natalie, a Stanford-educated prostitute, to allow him to follow her around for an exposé he's writing for a magazine. While initially hesitant to allow him into her life, Natalie eventually sees an upside for herself, as she (unbeknownst to Mitch) starts using him as a bodyguard to protect her from the assorted personalities she deal...

 

Ian Edelman's new film PUERTO RICANS IN PARIS will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

Ian Edelman's new film PUERTO RICANS IN PARIS starring Luis Guzman, Edgar Garcia, Rosie Perez, and Rosario Dawson. The film will have its World Premiere this Friday, June 12th at LA Film Festival. Ian Edelman was one of the creators of HBO's hit show "How To Make It In America".  *   Puerto Rican brothers-in-law Eddie and Luis just happen to be NYC's two best counterfeit detectives. When the latest, must-have "It Bag" from celebrated Parisian fas...

 

FLOCK OF DUDES will have its world premiere at LA Fest

LA Muse English (2015 , 104 min. ) Directed by: Bob Castrone Screenwriter: Bob Castrone, Jason Zumwalt, Brian Levin Producers: Mark Manuel, Aaron Kaufman, Ted O'Neal, Brian Levin Cinematographer: Yaron Levy Editor: Lawrence Jordan Music: Jonathan Zalben Cast: Chris D'Elia, Hannah Simone, Bryan Greenberg, Eric Andre, Brett Gelman, Skylar Astin Adam and his friends have the perfect set up: all night house parties, elaborate drinking ...

 

BE HERE NOW at Los Angeles Film Festival 2015

BE HERE NOW (THE ANDY WHITFIELD STORY)   DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION **World Premiere*   LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 2:40 at Regal Theater 8 **WORLD PREMIERE** Monday, June 15, 2015 at 5:00pm at Regal Theater 10   Synopsis: An inspiring love story and gentle reminder that the journey may be more important than the destination, that follows the journey of the overnight sensation, actor and international sex symbol, Andy W...

 

LA Film Fest: International Premiere of Manolo Caro's Elvira, I’d Give You My Life, But I’m Using It

  The Witty and Delightful Comedy from Mexico Tells the Story of a Desperate Woman in Search of Her Husband, Who Went Out to Buy Cigarettes and Never Came Back   The comedy film Elvira, I’d Give You My Life, But I’m Using It (Elvira, te daría mi vida, pero la estoy usando) by Mexican writer-director Manolo Caro will have its International Premiere in the World Fiction Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, taking place June 10-18. This film marks the inte...

 

Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin will open LA Fest June10

Opening Night film will be the Los Angeles Premiere of Paul Weitz’s Grandma. Starring Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer and Laverne Cox, Grandma is being released by Sony Pictures Classics. Also announced today, Rodrigo García was named Guest Director of the Festival, Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award and Lily Tomlin will receive this year’s Spirit of Independence Award. Film Independent also a...

 

Funny or Die's Make 'em LAFF Showcase and afterparty june11th

  Funny Or Die is reteaming with the Festival this year to host a mash-up comedy extravaganza celebrating diverse, unique and authentic voices in the comedy world.This showcase of stand-up performances and comedy videos features comedians such as Kristen Schaal, Jermaine Fowler, Solomon Georgio, Ali Wong and host Chris Garcia, with additional performers to be announced. An after party for attendees will directly follow the showcase.   Select videos from the Make ‘e...

 

POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - an engaging story of a young woman caught in the cross hairs of life.

POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - DIRECTED BY MICHAEL DWYER & CO-DIRECTED BY KAITLIN MCLAUGHLIN  WORLD PREMIERE - ZEITGEIST COMPETITION In this gorgeously filmed crime thriller, first time feature filmmaker Michael Dwyer and his co-director Kiatlin Mclaughlin bring the intensity to POCHA (MANIFEST DESTINY) - an engaging story of a young woman caught in the cross hairs of life.   Chasing the bling of the lux life, Claudia, a twenty-something Chicana, makes bad choices &n...

 

LA premiere of SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT written by Pras Michel from the Fugees and directed by Ben Patterson

LOS ANGELES PREMIERE - BUZZ SECTION - JUNE 11, 2015 8:30 PM SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT follows Pras Michel, Grammy award-winning rapper and founder of the hip-hop group The Fugees, as he returns to his homeland of Haiti post-earthquake and finds a corrupt government in paralysis. With no experience or money, Pras passionately mobilizes a presidential campaign for the unlikeliest of candidates: Michel Martelly, aka “Sweet Micky”, Haiti’s most popular and most outland...

 

The new 4K restoration of Carol Reed's classic: THE THIRD MAN screens in LA

LA/SF Press Screenings: 4k Restoration: THE THIRD MAN - With New Trailer The new 4K restoration of Carol Reed's THE THIRD MAN, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles, opens Friday June 26 at New York's Film Forum and Friday July 3 at Landmark's Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles! Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or, Oscar®-winner for Best Cinematography, and Oscar®-nominated for Best Director, THE THIRD MAN is regarded as one ...

 

THE CONFINES Directed by Eytan Rockaway will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

THE CONFINES  World Premiere in the Nightfall Category at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Saturday, June 13 at 10:45PM       Directed by Eytan Rockaway Starring Louisa Krause, Jason Patric, and Mark Margolis THE CONFINES is a claustrophobic thriller that follows a troubled young woman who, in a last-ditch effort at getting her life together, takes a job working nights as a security guard at an abandoned luxury apar...

 

MTV and Dimension TV’s “Scream” is based on the eponymous, international hit horror franchise.

MTV AND DIMENSION TV’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW THRILLER “SCREAM” TO PREMIERE AT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH   First time in Festival history, television series to participate in a gala event. “Scream” will air an extended version of pilot and Q&A with cast and executive producers 21st Los Angeles Film Festival Gala Screening of MTV and Dimension TV’s “SCREAM” Sunday, June 14, 2015 Executive Producers/Showrunner...

 

PEOPLE PLACES THINGS by Jim Strouse will screen at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival:

  PEOPLE PLACES THINGS Written and Directed by: Jim Strouse  IN THEATERS AUGUST 14, 2015 Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) is a graphic novelist and a professor in NYC.  At his adorable twin girls’ fifth birthday party, Will’s life is turned upside down when he walks in on the mother of his children, and longtime girlfriend, Charlie, (Stephanie Allynne) with their friend Gary (Michael Chernus).  One year later, Will is still alone and trying to put his life bac...

 

OUT OF MY HAND in Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

OUT OF MY HAND North American Premiere in Competition at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival  Friday, June 12 at 6:00PM     Written and directed by Takeshi Fukunaga Working as tree tapper on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa, Cisco struggles to make a decent life for himself and his family. Despite his and his fellow workers’ attempt at unionizing, the rubber...

 

CAUGHT Premiere - Starring Anna Camp and Stefanie Scott - At LAFF June 12

SAM PAGE AND AMELIA ROSE BLAIRE JOIN FILMMAKERS TO CELEBRATE PREMIERE OF UPCOMING THRILLER STARRING ANNA CAMP AND STEFANIE SCOTT Debut Screening of the Fast-Paced, Deliciously Twisted Feature to take Place at Los Angeles Film Festival     Filmmakers and cast to gather to celebrate the premiere of Caught at the Los Angeles Film Festival in the Nightfall category.   Caught follows a jealous housewife who kidnaps her husband's teenage mistress as a pran...

 

LA Fest selection: MANSON FAMILY VACATION Starring: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Lenora Pitts

MANSON FAMILY VACATION (Netflix) Buzz   Written and Directed by J. Davis Featuring: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, Tobin Bell, Leonora Pitts, Adam Chernick, Davie-Blue   **World Debut at SxSW 2015** ​ Synopsis: Nick Morgan (Jay Duplass) has it all: a loving family, a beautiful home and a successful law practice in Los Angeles. His estranged brother Conrad (Linas Phillips) has nothing but a backpack. When Conrad shows up for a surprise visit, all he wants to d...

 

Consumed by Daryl Wein will have its World Premiere at LA Fest

  Mister Lister Films presents CONSUMED  WORLD PREMIERE @ LA FILM FEST Monday, June 15th at 8:50pm at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live 8 (1000 W Olympic Blvd)   Directed by:                                    Daryl Wein Screenwriter & Producer:          Daryl Wein, ...

 

FAN GIRL Directed by Paul Jarret will have a Special Screening at 2015 Los Angeles Film Fest

FAN GIRL  Special Screening at 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival  on Monday, June 15 at 6:00PM Directed by Paul Jarret, Starring Kiernan Shipka, Kara Hayward, Meg Ryan, Josh Boone, Nicole Coulon, and Beanie Feldstein and featuring indie punk band All Time Low   FAN GIRL introduces Telulah Farrow (Kiernan Shipka), a 15 year-old ironic cool girl who has two obsessions in life: pop punk music and making film...

 

A NEW HIGH - LAFF Competition documentary Film

The film is about a homeless shelter and residential drug treatment facility in Seattle. Mike Johnson (the Expedition Team Leader who is featured in the film) has created a unique opportunity for residents to train for an epic hike to summit Mt. Rainier one year later. The hope is that the focus and commitment for the climb will give them the internal and external strength to help them maintain a lasting sobriety. This documentary is equal parts heart breaking and heart pounding… it&rsq...

 

3RD STREET BLACKOUT will have its world premiere in the US Fiction Competition at the LA Film Festival

3rd Street Blackout   US Fiction Competition English (2015 , 85 min.) Directed by: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf Screenwriter: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf Producers: Jeremy Redleaf, Andrew Mendelson, Ryan Cunningham, Negin Farsad Cinematographer: Eun-ah Lee Editor: Andrew Mendelson Music: Gaby Alter Cast: Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf, Ed Weeks, Phyllis Somerville, Janeane Garofalo, John Hodgman, Sasheer Zamata, Jordan Carlos, Kati...

 

THE END OF THE TOUR selected at LA Fest

THE END OF THE TOUR tells the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter (and novelist) David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest.  As the days go on, a tenuous yet intense relationship seems to develop between journalist and subject.  The two men bob and weave around each other, ...

 

ARAM, ARAM, A Film by Christopher Chambers (LA Muse Selection)

ARAM, ARAM- the first ever Armenian film to screen at the LA Film Festival in its 20 year history. This ground breaking movie is special in more ways than one, as it’s also the first American independent drama to take viewers inside the Armenian Community of Los Angeles. Although the film centers on Little Armenia, the film’s director Christopher Chambers wanted the story to stay true to immigration as a whole and the importance of maintaining a cultural identity in a new world. &...

 

TOO LATE by Dennis Hauck will have a World Premiere at LA Film Fest 2015

TOO LATE  -  (U.S. Fiction Competition) Written and Directed by: Dennis Hauck,  Featuring:  John Hawkes, Crystal Reed, Natalie Zea, Vail Bloom, Joanna Cassidy... ​ Synopsis: Private investigator Mel Sampson (Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes) is tasked with tracking down the whereabouts of a missing woman from his own past.  With this familiar setup, TOO LATE takes the spine of the classic private eye genre and tears it to pieces, weaving it back toget...

 

A skate doc with a social conscience I AM THALENTE, world premiering at LAF

A skate doc with a social conscience I AM THALENTE, world premiering at LAFF on June 15th at 8:30pm.    An exuberant, action filled skate doc with a social conscience, it follows Thalente Biyela, a 17 year old homeless skateboard prodigy in South Africa who catches the eye of the professional skate-world when a DIY video of him skating goes viral. A group of top pro-skaters and figures in the skate world, including Kenny Anderson and legend Tony Hawk, offer Thalente ...

 

LAS MALAS LENGUAS (Sweet and Vicious) breaks the silence about abortion and homosexuality in Colombia

Check the Colombian filmmaker Juan Paulo Laserna, who recently graduated from the New York School of Visual Arts.  He graduated with honors and won several awards for his work, and now debuts his first feature LAS MALAS LENGUAS (“Sweet & Vicious”) at the 21st LAFF.  The film will to compete amongst eight films vying in the World Fiction Competition of the festival.   Public screening:  Saturday, June 13 at 1:50pm at Regal Cinemas #14 Press & Industry:...

 

THE CONFINES | World Premiere | Nightfall

THE CONFINES is a claustrophobic thriller that follows a troubled young woman who, in a last-ditch effort at getting her life together, takes a job working nights as a security guard at an abandoned luxury apartment building. Stuck with a brusque rent-a-cop as her partner, she struggles to keep her mind from playing tricks on her while she patrols the empty halls. But as the night progresses strange things begin to happen - and she realizes it may not all be in her head. Making his di...

 

The Babushkas of Chernobyl LAFF World Premiere

  A Film by Holly Morris & Anne Bogart ​ World Premiere Los Angeles Film Festival June 2015  Documentary Competition     "They lived through Stalin's Holodomor -- the genocide-by famine of the 1930s that wiped out millions of Ukrainians -- and the Nazis in the1940s.  Some of the women were shipped to Germany as forced labor.  When the Chernobyl&n...

 

A BEAUTIFUL NOW - World Premiere - LA Muse Section

Writer / Director: Daniela Amavia (Directorial Debut) Producers: Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel, Daniela Amavia Principal Cast: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Sonja Kinski, Collette Wolfe, Elena Satine, Patrick Heusinger Running Time: 98 minutes   Synopsis: A group of five friends reunite for one night to save the woman, Romy (Abigail Spencer), at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses they struggle with their past relationships and finally truths are ...

 

Band of Robbers LAFF World Premiere – Zeitgeist Category

Premiere:                  Saturday, June 13th at 7:15pm at Regal LA Live Cinemas Website:                     www.bandofrobbers.com Zeitgeist Spanish, English (2015 , 95 min.) Directed by: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee Screenwriter: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee Producers: John Will, Rick Rosentha...

 

CATCHING THE SUN is a documentary feature by award-winning filmmaker and eco-activist Shalini Kantayya

CATCHING THE SUN  is a documentary feature by award-winning filmmaker and eco-activist Shalini Kantayya about people daring to lead a massive global energy transition from dependence on fossil fuels to clean renewable energy.   The film will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 11, 2015 at 6:15 PM at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE 9.   The solar revolution is about much more than just saving energy; it is the intersection of environmental stewardship, social justice, an...

 

AYANDA AND THE MECHANIC selected at 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

  Aynada's director: Sara Blecher Fuelled by the electric energy and ethnic diversity of 21st century Johannesburg, AYANDA tells the story of a young woman whose dreams of running a retro car restoration business are threatened by dark family secrets, the complications of love and the challenges of day-to-day life in the sprawling African metropolis.   Set in the vibrant community of Yeoville, where African migrants from across the continent live among indigenous South...

 

IN THE TREETOPS will have its World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival

IN THE TREETOPS World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 6:45 PM   Written and Directed by Matthew Brown Starring Emma Corley Geer, Matthew Brown, Cameron Morton,  Joshua Pagan, Gabriel Douglas   William, Alissa, Gary and Eric are close friends at different stages in their high school careers, but the social playing field levels out when they all pack into William’s hand me ...

 

MISSING PEOPLE (Documentary Competition) by former LAFF winner David Shapiro

Martina Batan in 1980 Work by Roy Ferdinand 81 min / USA/ color / 2015 / English / US premiere Friday, June 12, 8:45PM, Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Sunday, June 14, 8:55PM, Regal Cinemas...

 

The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and int

                            As the primary exhibition arm of Film Independent, The Los Angeles Film Festival’s mission is to showcase diversity, innovation, and unique visions in independent American and international cinema. We are inspired by Los Angeles, a city of abundant creativity, and our programming reflects our city-muse through fil...

2014 Annual Report.  SIFF 40th anniversary has shown great progress and outstanding opportunities in each area of SIFF: Festival, Cinema, and Education.

In this report, you will see a quick snapshot of the festival's accomplishments this past year, and hear from people just like you who make a difference to SIFF.

SIFF's 2014 annual report can be viewed at www.siff.net/annualreport

MOFF launches the BROKE AND STOKED Video Contest, a new initiative aimed at encouraging the creation of high energy outdoor films by amateur Maine filmmakers. 

The Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival (BOFA), now in its sixth year, has become an annual fixture on the calendar of Tasmanian film makers, actors and technicians, who gather in Launceston for the master classes and BOFA Devil Awards.

Now in its sixth year, this year’s BOFA Festival will run from November 5 to 8 with the industry master classes and Award presentations on Saturday, November 7.

Present and future film makers will once again gather at BOFA to learn from leading Australian directors, producers and actors sharing their experience and helping to build skills and expertise in a rapidly changing screen landscape. 

The Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival (BOFA) is again inviting Australian film makers to submit entries to their BOFA Devil Short Film Competition.

The competition is open to all resident Australian film makes; films should be less than 15 minutes in length and must have been made in the last five years.

Up to 35 short films will be selected for screening before feature length films and documentaries to festival audiences at BOFA 2015, and will receive a Selected in Competition certificate.

The winner will receive $1000, a VIP BOFA Festival Pass and a hand crafted glass BOFA Devil Award, designed and made by renowned Tasmanian master glassblower James Dodson. 

All short film makers whose films will be screened at BOFA 2015 will receive a BOFA Festival Pass to see 8 films of their choice, VALUED AT OVER $100. Film makers wanting to attend BOFA can access free billeting accommodation and cheap airfares by registering interest at admin@bofa.com.au

Entries are also invited from Tasmanian script writers for the BOFA Devil Script Writing Competition open to any script for a feature film, tele-movie or TV series (one episode). The winner’s work will be read at BOFA 2014 by professional actors from Mudlark Theatre in front of an audience including mainland and Tasmanian screen industry guests.

Nominations are also invited from Tasmanian film-makers and industry businesses for the BOFA Devil Entrepreneurial Spirit Award which recognises the work of a member of Tasmania’s screen industry who has shown outstanding entrepreneurial spirit in getting screen projects off the ground, developing their screen business, forming collaborative partnerships, and/or actively working to create a sustainable and viable screen industry in Tasmania. This includes both film-makers of all types and others associated with the screen industry.

Entries for all BOFA Devil Awards open this week and close Sunday 2 August - details at the BOFA web site (http://www.bofa.com.au/competitions/)

The winners and other finalists will be publicly recognised at a special Festival film industry presentation event on Saturday afternoon 7th November in the prestigious Tasmanian Design Centre, Launceston., now in its sixth year, has become an annual fixture on the calendar of Tasmanian film makers, actors and technicians, who gather in Launceston for the master classes and BOFA Devil Awards.

Now in its sixth year, this year’s BOFA Festival will run from November 5 to 8 with the industry master classes and Award presentations on Saturday, November 7.

Present and future film makers will once again gather at BOFA to learn from leading Australian directors, producers and actors sharing their experience and helping to build skills and expertise in a rapidly changing screen landscape. 

The Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival (BOFA) is again inviting Australian film makers to submit entries to their BOFA Devil Short Film Competition.

The competition is open to all resident Australian film makes; films should be less than 15 minutes in length and must have been made in the last five years.

Up to 35 short films will be selected for screening before feature length films and documentaries to festival audiences at BOFA 2015, and will receive a Selected in Competition certificate.

The winner will receive $1000, a VIP BOFA Festival Pass and a hand crafted glass BOFA Devil Award, designed and made by renowned Tasmanian master glassblower James Dodson. 

All short film makers whose films will be screened at BOFA 2015 will receive a BOFA Festival Pass to see 8 films of their choice, VALUED AT OVER $100. Film makers wanting to attend BOFA can access free billeting accommodation and cheap airfares by registering interest at admin@bofa.com.au

Entries are also invited from Tasmanian script writers for the BOFA Devil Script Writing Competition open to any script for a feature film, tele-movie or TV series (one episode). The winner’s work will be read at BOFA 2014 by professional actors from Mudlark Theatre in front of an audience including mainland and Tasmanian screen industry guests.

Nominations are also invited from Tasmanian film-makers and industry businesses for the BOFA Devil Entrepreneurial Spirit Award which recognises the work of a member of Tasmania’s screen industry who has shown outstanding entrepreneurial spirit in getting screen projects off the ground, developing their screen business, forming collaborative partnerships, and/or actively working to create a sustainable and viable screen industry in Tasmania. This includes both film-makers of all types and others associated with the screen industry.

Entries for all BOFA Devil Awards open this week and close Sunday 2 August - details at the BOFA web site (http://www.bofa.com.au/competitions/)

The winners and other finalists will be publicly recognised at a special Festival film industry presentation event on Saturday afternoon 7th November in the prestigious Tasmanian Design Centre, Launceston.

This silver screen festival organised by Thailand’s Ministry of Culture will allow guests and cinemagoers to enjoy 7 fascinating Thai films at one of the UK’s biggest showcases for films—BAFTA. The films will be very convincing proofs that Thailand has truly become a hotspot of film creativity in Asia. As the national organisation responsible for all kinds of arts and creativity, we honour those artists who, through their creative work, actively increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, and brilliantly strengthen ties between international audiences. At Thai Film Festival, you can come together with film audiences, filmmakers, writers, directors, producers, actors and composers to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry.

The festival will allow cinemagoers to enjoy seven award-winning Thai films that showcase the country’s flourishing film industry and vibrant culture. Each film has been carefully handpicked to show different styles of Thai filmography.

FILMS:

Teacher’s Diary

A romance directed by Nitiwat Taratorn. An ex-wrestler finds an ex-teachers diary whilst working at school full of rebellious children. Finding solitude in reading the diary, he starts to form a bond with the girl he has never even met.

The Scar

A drama directed by M.L. Bhandevanov Devakula. Set in 1936, on the outskirts of Bangkok, a son and daughter of rival village chiefs are caught up in a hidden love affair too dangerous to reveal.

Ghost Coins

A horror directed by Tiwa Moeitthaisong. High-school pranksters become online sensations from their “dare-the-ghost” video clips. Upon visiting a graveyard for their latest video, the boys find a fresh corpse with a gold coin in his mouth. Soon after they are pursued by something they can’t see.

The Story Of Mahajanaka

An animated fantasy adapted from HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand’s royal literary works. Directed by Kriengkrai Supornsahusrungsi,Thananchanok Suban Na Ayudhaya and Nop Dharmavanich. An exiled prince, made aware of his royal blood as a young boy, decides nine years later to win back his throne. On his journey he is caught in a terrible storm that causes his ship to be lost at sea, but his perseverance and endurance drive him to swim for 7 days.

Somboon

Documentary directed by Krissada Tipchaiyametha. This beautifully shot documentary portrays the astonishing love between two grandparents who have been married for 45 years. The wife is sick with kidney disease, can no longer help herself, placing the ultimate strain upon her husband. A powerfully emotional account of love and suffering.

Tom Yum Goong 2

An action film directed by Prachya Pinkaew. When a rich and powerful elephant camp owner's death is announced, all the evidence indicates that martial art specialist and elephant handler Kham (Thai action hero Tony Jaa)is behind the killing. A thrilling, edge-of-the-seat action crime movie.

Concrete Clouds

A drama directed by Lee Chatametikool. A troubled 30-something son, has to start life afresh after his father commits suicide from money worries. His relationship with his younger brother deteriorates when he make friends with the troubled girl next door who gets through her life by taking drugs. A gritty, tense drama with an emotional core.

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LN

Opening Press Gala Night 25th June 2015 from17.00

Open To The Public: 26th – 27th June 2015 

To find out more visit www.totallythaievents.com.

To preorder tickets visit www.facebook.com/ThaiFilmFestival. Note all tickets need to be ordered through Facebook via the Thai  

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> Annecy International Animated Film Festival 15th to 20th June 2015 

Watch online at MyHomeFestival

An entire programme of films to watch online! MyHomeFestival is a selection of films, accessible online and free of charge, for anyone and everyone, with or without accreditation and present at the Festival or not! Annecy hopes this will promote animation with a wider audience, letting as many people as possible take a look at the films broadcasted. Check out the MyHomeFestival 2015 programme: All the commissioned films in competition at Annecy 2015; A selection...

 

Salma Hayek Producer of The Prophet Cancels Appearance at Annecy

Due to unforeseen circumtances Salma Hakek cannot attend her widely anticipated appearance at    Annecy Animation Festival in Annecy France this year to promote The Prophet. Salma Hayek is sorry that she can’t join the team of Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, for which she is the producer. The screening of the feature film Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet will still be held with Director Roger Allers (The Lion King, etc.) and Filmmakers Mohammed Harib (one of the most po...

 

> Los Angeles Film Festival June  10 - 18, 2015

Van Jones, Debbie Dooley and more having fun at the CATCHING THE SUN World premiere in LA

(L-R) SHFT Executive Producer Peter Glatzer, DIrector Shalini, Producer Aarti Tandon at the world premiere of CATCHING THE SUN. Photo credit CATCHING THE SUN MOVIE.   "I am thrilled to be part of Catching the Sun and the conversation it will undoubtedly cultivate.  Adrian [Grenier] and I founded SHFT to bring the intersections of culture and sustainability to a wide audience, and work with other writers and directors to fold the conscious consumer marketplace into the ...

 

Trailer for The Babushkas of Chernobyl

Documentary Competition Ukrainian, English (2015 , 72 min.) Directed by: Holly Morris, Anne Bogart Screenwriter:  Producers: Holly Morris, Anne Bogart Cinematographer: Japhet Weeks Editor: Richard Howard, Mary Manhardt, Michael Taylor Music: Rob Teehan Cast: Valentyna Sochenok, Hanna Zavorotnya, Maria Shovkuta For nearly 30 years a community of unlikely heroines have lived in Chernobyl’s post-nuclear disaster “dead zone.&rdq...

 

FRANK AND CINDY, an LA Film Festival premiere starring Rene Russo and Oliver Platt

FRANK AND CINDY, an LA Film Festival premiere starring Rene Russo and Oliver Platt. Directed by G.J. Echternkamp, the film costars Jane Levy, Jonny Simmons and Marc Maron.  See the link for clip below:    Frank and Cindy Dropbox Link    In the film, Russo and Platt star in a fictionalized account of the life of 80’s one-hit wonder Frank Garcia and his eccentric wife Cindy Brown. Their real-life story was also documented by their son G.J. Echterncamp, who dire...

 

World Premiere of A GIRL LIKE GRACE at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the Zeitgeist Section

A GIRL LIKE GRACE is a story of a 17-year-old female growing up in a small, Southern community where notions of femininity, sexual identity and survival are starkly at odds. Grace (Ryan Destiny), high school senior, is mourning the suicide of her best friend, Andrea (Paige Hurd). Grace’s single mom, Lisa (Garcelle Beauvais), is too preoccupied with her own troubles to be the support her daughter needs. So when the bullies (led by Raven-Symone') make Grace the focus of their attacks, ...

 

World Premiere of WEEPAH WAY FOR NOW at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival in the L.A. Muse Section

LA Muse /  English (2014 , 90 min.) Directed by: Stephen Pierce Ringer Screenwriter: Stephen Pierce Ringer Producers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Stephen Pierce Ringer, Kerry Barden Cinematographer: Stephen Pierce Ringer Editor: Stephen Pierce Ringer Music: Michael Einziger Cast:  Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Mimi Rogers, Dan Byrd, Amanda Crew, Madeline Zima, Liam Aiken, Jon Heder, Tyler Labine, Gil Bellows, Ryan Donowho, Gale Harold,...

 

A Beautiful Now screens at LA Fest

(WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Daniela Amavia PRODUCERS Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel) – A group of five friends reunite for one night to save the woman, Romy (Abigail Spencer), at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses they struggle with their past relationships and finally truths are revealed as Romy, who has barricaded herself in the bathroom, tries to put the pieces of her life back together. This thrilling journey into the mind of a woman teetering on the edge of ...

 

LA Fest has OUT OF MY HAND as North American Premiere US Fiction Competition

Directed by: Takeshi Fukunaga Screenwriter: Takeshi Fukunaga, Donari Braxton Cinematographer: Ryo Murakami, Owen Donovan Editor: Eugene Yi, Takeshi Fukunaga Music: Tyondai Braxton Cast: Bishop Blay, Zenobia Taylor, Duke Murphy Dennis, David Roberts, Shelley Molad Working as tree tapper on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa, Cisco struggles to make a decent life for himself and his family. D...

 

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS  

ANIMAZE DAZE In Annecy: June 18 - 19, 2015

HURRY UP: last day to submit!

Check us and submit your short to Animaze Daze so your Film can screen during Annecy 2015 at our partner hotspot on the Lake for Annecy Off.

Animaze presents the Best of Le MIAFF in Annecy France, a panel on state of animation and the nominees of Animaze Daze, at the fantastic event (N°1 worldwide Animation festival): The Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps.

LeMiaff - Animaze partnered with Annecy Off and filmfestivals.com so your film can screen to the world leaders in animation in a very cool envirnoment with media following (TV, trade, online...).

ANIMAZE DAZE I SUBMIT

The World of Film Festival October 1-4 2015

June 20, 2015 Regular Deadline

The World of Film Festival, formerly known as Commonwealth Film & Theatre Festival Glasgow is coming back for its second edition October 1-4 2015. In four days full of film screenings, theatre performances, live events, panel discussions and networking receptions WoFF will bring new, more vibrant and youthful vibe to the city’s emerging film and theatre scene.

WoFF’s errand is to bring together audiences from Glasgow’s multi-stranded art scene, while at the same time engaging people with powerful background in film and theatre that will bring fresh ideas, filling the gaps in Glasgow’s film and theatre events’ agenda.

WoFF Glasgow's blog on filmfestivals.com I Website: www.woffglasgow.com I Submit 

The Montreal World Film Festival 
August 27, September 7

The regulations and entry forms to submit a film to the 2015 edition of the MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL are available for download. Please follow the links to get a copy. 
- 2015 REGULATIONS
- ENTRY FORM FOR THE 2015 MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
- ENTRY FORM FOR THE 2015 CANADIAN STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

The Montreal World Film Festival's blog I Website http://www.ffm-montreal.org/  I SUBMIT

Hollyshorts 
August 13-22, 2015

The 11th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 13-22, 2015 at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre and Roosevelt Hotel, is now accepting submissions. (www.withoutabox.com/login/4655)   2014 HSFF, 3 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.  HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $50,000 in post services courtesy of COMPANY 3 and METHOD STUDIOS for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial. Shorts HD distribution deals for winners and Final Draft prizes for Screenplay Contest winners.  

Hollyshorts's blog  I Website http://hollyshorts.com/ I SUBMIT SHORTS I SUBMIT SCREENPLAYS

> FILMS IN FOCUS  

For festival consideration: 

Pseudonym, for festival consideration

First feature by french actor director Thierry Sebban. Produced by la Petite Reine (The Artist) and Diabolo Films (The Suicide Shop).
Synopsis:  Alex is a divorced father, a stressed executive. His daily routine is work, work, work. Tonight he's in a hurry, he's due to meet a beautiful young stranger... who contacted him via the internet. But this blind date will flip him into a downward spiral and disrupt forever the course of his life.  Thriller, 75 min., Scope, Dolby 5.1  Directed by Thierry Sebban  Starring: Simon Abkarian, Igor Skreblin, Perrine Tourneux... Email us for a screener

Rooted in Peace by Greg Reitman

ROOTED in PEACE, 97 minutes - 2015

Documentary by SUNDANCE alum GREG REITMAN (Sundance Audience Award Winner for fhis first documentary 'Fuel')

Starring: Deepak Chopra, Donovan, Mike Love, David Lynch, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Pete Seeger, Ted Turner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"ROOTED in PEACE challenges viewers to examine their values as Americans and human beings. Today we are at war within ourselves, with our environment, and with the world. Director and award-winning filmmaker Greg Reitman invites viewers on a film journey to take notice of the world we live in, proactively seek ways to find personal and ecological peace, and stop the cycle of violence".

www.filmfestivals.com/blog/greg_reitman/ 

June Selection of Films for your consideration 

“Canadian Pakistani Music Videos (Pakistani Movie Edit)” Now Released

“Canadian Pakistani Music Videos (Pakistani Movie Edit)” A New Addition to Pakistani Film, Music and Television Industry, now released in the USA  followed by new American-Canadian Movie and Music Album Releases.     OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:   http://www.wiredprnews.com/2015/06/15/canadian-pakistani-music-videos-pakistani-movie-edit-now-released_20150615312907.html   Official IMDB LISTING:   www.imdb.com/title/tt4713...

 

12 finalist projects selected for Open Doors 2015

 © Festival del film Locarno The Festival del film Locarno’s Co-production Lab Open Doors is dedicated this year to four countries from the Maghreb: Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. 12 projects will be brought to Locarno by their directors and producers to present them to potential partners. With the support of the Swiss Foreign Ministry’s Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Open Doors aims to support and highlight filmmakers from a region in...

 

Ukrainian cinema slowly approaches break even, despite turmoil

Ukrainian Movies Box Office In 2014-2015 Disregarding all the political and military events Ukrainian cinema slowly approaches the point of breaking even. There were several releases in both 2014 and 2015 made with Ukrainian co-finance which paid off and generated some profit. In the last year that was Love in a big city 3 (Кохання у великому місті 3), co-produced with Russia, and a feature documentary Maidan (Майдан), co-produced with the Netherlands. The former g...

 

Edinburgh FF 2015 opens on Wednesday

The 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival opens this Wednesday with Robert Carlyle's The legend of Barney Thomson.  Based on the book “The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson” by Douglas Lindsay, the film is a dark comedy that tells the story of Barney (Carlyle), an awkward barber who inadvertently stumbles into serial murder, with both absurd and macabre consequences.  The opening ceremony of the 69th Edinburgh Film Festival will be held in attendance of names fro...

 

Support our friend Dan Mirvish and his next film: Bernard and Huey the Movie.

I wanted to tell you about my new upcoming film, Bernard and Huey, written by legendary Pulitzer/Oscar/Obie winning cartoonist and screenwriter, Jules Feiffer. The Kickstarter campaign JUST LAUNCHED, so make sure to check it out here for more information. The film was also announced in The Hollywood Reporter so feel free to check it out there as well. Also, please watch the fun video below to see Jules and I explain our epic search for this lost classic....

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT      

New York: Open Roads – New Italian Cinema

The new Locarno Industry Academy

        This 2015 edition of the Locarno Summer Academy launches a new section: the Industry Academy, a new training program dedicated to young industry professionals in distribution, sales, marketing, exhibition and programming. This initiative, designed and moderated by Marion Klotz, will be held between 5 and 12 August in close relation with the Industry Days. Marion Klotz: “We received a large number of appl...

 

Thai Film Festival in the UK

This silver screen festival organised by Thailand’s Ministry of Culture will allow guests and cinemagoers to enjoy 7 fascinating Thai films at one of the UK’s biggest showcases for films—BAFTA. The films will be very convincing proofs that Thailand has truly become a hotspot of film creativity in Asia. As the national organisation responsible for all kinds of arts and creativity, we honour those artists who, through their creative work, actively increase awareness, provide mu...

 

Maine Outdoor Film Festival - MOFF launches the BROKE AND STOKED Video Contest

MOFF launches the BROKE AND STOKED Video Contest, a new initiative aimed at encouraging the creation of high energy outdoor films by amateur Maine filmmakers.    The maine outdoor film festival presents The Broke And Stoked Video Contest     ...

 

2015 Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival

> AWARDS WATCH      

The British Independent Film Awards announced a new board of directors

 

Laurence Green acts as Chairman with other members including Amma Asante, Claire Jones, Zygi Kamasa. Moët & Chandon will return as the headline sponsor of the Awards for the sixth consecutive year. The 2015 ceremony will be held at Old Billingsgate on Sunday 6 December and is referred to as The Moët British Independent Film Awards in recognition of Moët & Chandon’s generous contribution. The makeup of the current Board will be the model for future years: filmmakers...

 

 

Marco Bellocchio to receive the Pardo d’onore at Locarno 2015

The Italian director will be honored with the Pardo d’onore Swisscom during the 68th Festival del film Locarno. To mark the occasion there will be a Piazza Grande screening of I pugni in tasca (Fists in the Pocket), some 50 years after its first screening at Locarno. The 68th edition of the Festival del film Locarno will award the Pardo d’onore Swisscom to Marco Bellocchio. With this award the Festival pays tribute to an extraordinarily rich career, and affi...

 

Brussels Film Festival 2015 Awards

AWARDS > LONG FEATURE FILMS – OFFICIAL COMPETITION   Official Jury Christian Carion (director) Olivier Masset-Depasse (director) Erika Sainte (actress) Antonella Salvucci (actress) Wim Willaert (actor)   Official Competition BODY by Malgorzata Szumowska (Poland) BRIDGEND by Jeppe Rønde (Denmark/UK/USA) DORA or the Sexual Neuroses of our Parents by Stina Werenfels (Switzerland/Germany ) FLOCKING by Beata Gårdeler (Sweden) GLUCKAUF by Remy van Heug...

 

Winners of the 31st Hamburg International ShortFilmFestival (ISFF)

 

Short Films, High Art, and Plenty of Children in the Cinema The winners of the 31st Hamburg International ShortFilmFestival (ISFF) and of the 17. Mo&Friese Children’s ShortFilmFestival A solemn award ceremony crowned the end of 31. International ShortFilmFestival Hamburg (IKFF) on Sunday evening. The top prize – the Hamburg Short Film Award in the International Competition – went to the Canadian filmmaker Alexandre Larose for his film ›Brouillard &ndas...

 New Media Film Festival Los Angeles CA

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - What Lives Inside Web Series a World Premiere Director: Academy Award-winning VFX artist/AD/director Robert Stromberg (Maleficent) An emotional tale of creative self-discovery is set in a richly surreal world inhabited by fantastical creatures The web series is directed by and stars Colin Hanks, Catherine O'Hara and Oscar winner JK Simmons ("Whiplash") in a tale about a lost son played by Mr. Hanks, Taylor, and his departed father...

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT       

Marco Bellocchio to receive the Pardo d’onore at Locarno 2015

 The Italian director will be honored with the Pardo d’onore Swisscom during the 68th Festival del film Locarno. To mark the occasion there will be a Piazza Grande screening of I pugni in tasca (Fists in the Pocket), some 50 years after its first screening at Locarno. The 68th edition of the Festival del film Locarno will award the Pardo d’onore Swisscom to Marco Bellocchio. With this award the Festival pays tribute to an extraordinarily rich career, and affi...

 

Brussels Film Festival 2015 Awards

AWARDS > LONG FEATURE FILMS – OFFICIAL COMPETITION   Official Jury Christian Carion (director) Olivier Masset-Depasse (director) Erika Sainte (actress) Antonella Salvucci (actress) Wim Willaert (actor)   Official Competition BODY by Malgorzata Szumowska (Poland) BRIDGEND by Jeppe Rønde (Denmark/UK/USA) DORA or the Sexual Neuroses of our Parents by Stina Werenfels (Switzerland/Germany ) FLOCKING by Beata Gårdeler (Sweden) GLUCKAUF by Remy van Heug...

 

Winners of the 6th Annual New Media Film Festival Los Angeles CA

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - What Lives Inside Web Series a World Premiere Director: Academy Award-winning VFX artist/AD/director Robert Stromberg (Maleficent) An emotional tale of creative self-discovery is set in a richly surreal world inhabited by fantastical creatures The web series is directed by and stars Colin Hanks, Catherine O'Hara and Oscar winner JK Simmons ("Whiplash") in a tale about a lost son played by Mr. Hanks, Taylor, and his departed father...

> STRICTLY BUSINESS   

Partner Film Festivals Calling. Fast-Approaching Deadlines
 

Need more and better film submissions for your festival? don't miss the one month booster

Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including  with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...  

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Advertise your festival in the next eBlast to our filmmakers.   

> UNE SEMAINE SUR LE CIRCUIT DES FESTIVALS FRANCOPHONES     

Le CNC fait paraître son étude annuelle sur le marché de l’animation en 2014

Major Buzz Factory : Expérience du marketing Digital pour les films

Fort d'une expérience acquise dans la distribution de films pour deux Majors (Sony et Fox mariée sous a direction avec UGC) Bruno Chatelin propose une expérience pointue au service de votre stratégie digitale à Travers sa structure de Conseil MAJOR BUZZ FACTORY Le fondateur Bruno Chatelin : un Professionnel de la communication entouré de spécialistes, son expérience est ancrée sur trois univers La publicité, Le mark.eting et le digital.

TOUTES LES NEWS EN FRANCAIS

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> PAST COVERAGE FROM CANNES

The exhaustive coverage of Cannes competitions as PDF

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Festival to Showcase Shorts Directed by Katie Holmes, Bryce Dallas Howard, Tara Fitzgerald and Starring Troian Bellisario, John Cusack, Loretta Devine, Robert Forster, Taissa Farmiga, Patrick Fugit, Janeane Garofalo, Kat Graham, Richard E. Grant, Matt Groening, Jimmy Kimmel, Kate Mara, Rose McGowan, Sandra Oh, Jason Patric, Zachary Quinto, Amber Tamblyn, Danny Trejo, Rufus Wainwright and Kristen Wiig

Palm Springs, CA, June 2015 – It’s time to put on your shorts for the 2015 Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market. Now in its 21st year, ShortFest will showcase 330 films including 77 World Premieres, 65 North American Premieres and 19 U.S. Premieres. The selection of films for screening and competition features star-studded casts and award-winning films from 51 countries around the world. There are 54 thematically curated programs, which will screen June 16-22, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. More than 3,000 of the festival submissions are available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view. The complete line-up will be posted on www.psfilmfest.org on June 7 with the online box office launch on June 9.

“The overall quality of the films submitted to us this year was staggering, both in terms of sophisticated filmmaking technique and the diversity of the subject matter and storytelling styles,” said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. “The difficult part for us was narrowing the 3,500 submissions down to just 330 titles for the final Festival line-up, given the wealth of exceptional work we watched. It’s a testament to the benefits of contemporary film schools and increased access to low cost technological tools that so many emerging filmmakers with a gift for storytelling are now able to parlay those gifts into accomplished, entertaining short films. It makes for one wonderful week of film watching.”

This year’s star-studded shorts feature Academy Award winners and nominees, as well as film and television stars including F. Murray Abraham in the North American Premiere of 411 (USA); Kevin Alejandro in Aden (USA/Taiwan); Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn in the World Premiere of Almost Not Beautiful (USA); Alex Karpovsky and Troian Bellisario in the World Premiere of Amy (USA); Frankie J. Alvarez in Aphasia (USA); Janeane Garofalo in The Assistant (USA); Sharon Lawrence and Robert Forster in The Bridge Partner (USA); Michael Childers, Rufus Wainwright, Mary Wilson and Loretta Devine in the World Premiere documentary short of Coming Together for One Night Only (USA); Katie Holmes directs Eternal Princess (USA); Zachary Quinto in the U.S. Premiere of The Future Perfect (Canada); Xander Berkeley in the The Gift (UK); Jonathan Demme, Matt Groening, Kevin Pollak and Ed Asner in the documentary short I Thought I Told You To Shut Up! (Canada/USA); Billy Magnussen in A Mighty Nice Man (USA); Ian Harding in the World Premiere of Minimum Wage (USA); Kristen Wiig and Jimmy Kimmel in the World Premiere of Miss Famous (USA) produced by James Franco; Kat Graham stars in Muse (USA); Tara Fitzgerald in her directorial debut for Prick Thy Neighbour (U.K.); John Cusack in the World Premiere of Red Rider (USA); Patrick Fugit and Charlotte Ross in Rita Mahtoubian is Not a Terrorist (USA); Robert Forster in Run Fast (USA); Sandra Oh in the World Premiere of The Scarecrow (USA); Taissa Farmiga in Share (USA) directed by Pippa Bianco; Bryce Dallas Howard directs and stars in solemates (USA); Richard E. Grant narrates Teeth (UK/Hungary/USA); and Jason Patric, Danny Trejo, Rose McGowan and Marisa Coughlan in the World Premiere of The Weight of Blood & Bones (USA).

Throughout the Festival the selected short films are organized into programs covering a variety of genres – including action, comedies, documentaries, dramas, horror stories, thrillers and mysteries– and themes such as altered states, animals, animation, art, couples, crime, culture, dreams, family, games, history, jobs, kids, LGBT, romance, secrets, strangers and road stories.

David Ansen (Writer), Gregg Kilday (Film Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Steve Greene (Assistant Editor of Indiewire's Criticwire Network), Dan Ireland (Writer/Director/Producer), Roberta Munroe (Writer/Director/Producer) and Kim Waltrip (Independent Film Producer) will serve on the ShortFest jury. Over $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards, will be given out in 21 categories to this year’s short films in competition. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner will receive a camera package valued at $60,000. First place winners in four categories will automatically become eligible for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for a possible Academy Award® nomination. Over the course of 20 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations. Winners will be announced on Sunday, June 22 at a Closing Night screening and reception.

The following premiere films have been selected to screen in the festival:

World Premieres:

2084 (USA), Taz Goldstein The Age of Insecurity: Little Men (USA), Adriano Valentini The Age of Insecurity: Unshakeable (USA), Adriano Valentini Alex the Magnificent (USA), Robert Monk Davis Almost Not Beautiful (USA), Sarah Jean Kruchowski Amy (USA), Jacob Chase The Aquarium (Australia), Jacobie Gray Ballon (South Korea), Sang-eun HAN, SI Dong-joo, LEE Yu-jin Basilisk (United Kingdom), Nikolai Hamel Billy the Kid (United Kingdom), Sam Johnson Bodies (United Kingdom/Ireland), B Welby-Delimere The Brief, Existential Crisis of a Young Underwear Model (USA), Brett Checkelsky, Drew Checkelsky Brothers (United Kingdom), Thordur Palsson Chisel (Philippines/USA), Rebecca Kahn Chop (USA), Conner Bell Coming Together for One Night Only (USA), Marc Saltarelli Copetin (Argentina/Spain), Ernesto Kullock The Cycle (USA), Michael Marantz, Justin Salerian, Ted Schaeffer Dániel (United Kingdom), Dean Loxton Death In Bloom (Australia/USA), Dael Oates Distance (USA), Anson Fogel, Alexandra Fuller Duke Riley Goes to China (USA/China), Kim A. Snyder Duo (France), Claudia Bottino The Friend from Tel Aviv (USA), Federica Gianni Future Dust (USA), Matthew Gudernatch Going Down (Australia), James Vinson A Grand Ole Opry (Scotland), Michael J Welsh The Great Zoo of Mr. Vanel (France), Bérenger Thouin The Grill Man (Brazil), Fabio Basso Montanari Harvey's Dream (Australia), Alexander von Hofmann Heartbreak and Beauty (Australia), Genevieve Clay-Smith, Libby Banks, Nathan Basha, Robin Bryan Homewrecker (USA), Gabe Hohreiter H Positive (United Kingdom/Spain), Glenn Paton Identity Theft (USA), Carlos Lopez Estrada I Follow You (Sweden), Jonatan Etzler Ignostech (USA), Dan Harnden Into the Surf (United Kingdom), Tom Evans I Strongly Suggest (New Zealand), Gregory Bennett Joseph's Reel (United Kingdom), Michael Lavers Kapunka (Israel), Tal Greenberg Lila & Valentin (France), Adrien Lhommedieu The Listener (United Kingdom), Michael Gilhooly Louis (France), Stéphanie Doncker Lulu (USA), Shawn Snyder Manchego (United Kingdom), Alex Kendall The Man from the Council (United Kingdom), Barnaby Southcombe Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa Minimum Wage (USA), Joey Ally Mini Supreme (USA), Michael Phillis Miss Famous (USA), Shadae Lamar Smith Miss Zahra (Finland), Markus Lehmusruusu Mrs. K (South Korea), Dongneok Seo Nightlight (Switzerland/Canada), Samuel Flueckiger Nowhere Line: Voices from Manus Island (Australia/UK), Lukas Schrank Off Track (USA/Brazil), JP Jacobsen The Pitch (United Kingdom), John Hardwick Pool (Canada), Clayton Holmes Providence (USA), Michael Abbott, Jr. Recently, Long Ago (USA), Daniel Elihu Kramer Red Rider (USA), Sam Davis Relapse (USA), Rosie Haber Restoration (New Zealand), Tim Tsiklauri RPG (USA), Sadie Rogers The Scarecrow (USA), Phillip Rhys Setting Them Straight (Australia), Kaleb McKenna Silent Night (Australia), Nastassja Djalog Silver Waters (United Kingdom), Andrew Keresztes Skinless (Norway), Marius Myrmel Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar Tether (Guatemala/USA), Eve Symington Touch (USA), Lulu Wang The Trail (Germany), Elke Brugger Twin Visions (USA), Louise Salter, Gavin Bowden The Weight of Blood & Bones (USA), Christopher Ekstein You Are Whole (United Kingdom), Laura Spini You're Breaking Up (USA), Mandy Fabian Zelos (USA/Iceland), Thoranna Sigurdardottir

North American Premieres:

3 Year 3 Month Retreat (Bhutan), Dechen Roder 411 (USA), Oliver Power 90 Degrees North (Germany), Detsky Graffam Alliance of the Depths (Israel), Aryeh Hasfari Another Green World (United Kingdom), Christina Hardinge Ave Maria (Palestine/France, Germany), Basil Khalil Between (Switzerland), Flo Linus Baumann Between Trees (Australia), Jayden Stevens Big Up (France), Julie-Anne Roth Bite the Bullet (Netherlands), Iman de Vries The Boiling Point (Sweden), Markus Waltå Boy Meets a Stranger (South Korea), Da-hye LEE Boy-Razor (Sweden), Peter Pontikis Bright Black (Slovenia), Rene Maurin Buddy (Belgium), Jan Roosens, Raf Roosens Carry On (Austria), Rafael Haider Chronicles of Courage (United Kingdom), Ernest Mills Criticism (Australia), Ryder Grindle Dropping Off Michael (United Kingdom), Zam Salim Edmond (United Kingdom), Nina Gantz Escalator (Norway), Christopher Nielsen Estela (Cuba), Joacenith Vargas Execution (Hungary/Romania), Petra Szőcs Exit Right (Austria), Bernhard Wenger, Rupert Höller Fernweh (Netherlands), Ena Sendijarevic Flat Daddy (Australia), Matt Holcomb The Forgiven (China/France), François Chang Gayby (Australia), Anya Beyersdorf Gift Of My Father (Iraq/UK, Netherlands, USA), Salam Salman A Good Feeling (France), Benoit Rambourg The Good Life - Over There (Norway), Izer Aliu Hassan in Wonderland (Iraq/Italy), Ali Kareem He and She (Germany), Marco Gadge A Hole in My Heart (Netherlands), Mees Peijnenburg Jachalay (Greece), Manos Gerogiannis, Yannis Zoumakis The Jacket (Austria), Patrick Vollrath Last Door South (Belgium), Sacha Feiner Last Night In Edinburgh (Scotland/UK), Bita Shafipour Linda's List (New Zealand), Angela Bloomfield, Kate McDermott The Little Death (Norway), Simon Tillaas Love is Blind (United Kingdom), Dan Hodgson Meeting Jenny (USA), Tammy-Anne Fortuin The Morrigan (Ireland/UK), Colum Eastwood Nineteen (Australia), Madeline Kelly The Orchestra (Australia), Mikey Hill Patriot (United Kingdom), Eva Riley Pebbles at Your Door (Denmark), Vibeke Bryld Pink (Australia), Lynne Vincent McCarthy Pink Boy (USA), Eric Rockey Prayers at Dawn (Turkey/USA), Pinar Yorgancioglu Pull (Australia), Christopher Stollery Rangan 99 (Iran), Tiyam Yabandeh Reality + (France), Coralie Fargeat Replika (Switzerland/France), Luc Walpoth The Sea Was Calm (Uruguay), Pablo Schulkin Semblance (USA), Bill Whirity Sowol Road (South Korea), Jong-hun SHIN Subordinate (France), Clara Leac The Summer of ABC Burns (Australia), Dannika Horvat Three Dalmatians (Norway), Ingrid Stenersen Times of Competition (Brazil), Toti Loureiro, Ruy Prado Void (Denmark), Milad Alami, Aygul Bakanova We will stay in touch about it (Germany), Jan Zabeil Year 7 (United Kingdom), Rob Leggatt Zero M2 (France), Matthieu Landour

United States Premieres:

After the End (United Kingdom), Sam Southward August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki Bernice (USA), Kristina Sorge Class Trip (Sweden), Jonatan Etzler Coach (France), Ben Adler Crocodile (United Kingdom), Gaëlle Denis Dead Air (United Kingdom), Robert Bradbrook The Future Perfect (Canada), Nick Citton The Garage (Canada), Patrick White Hole (Australia), Tony Radevski In the Shadow of the North (Canada), Raphaël Bélanger Maurice (Canada), François Jaros Morning is Broken (United Kingdom), Simon Anderson Outlier (Germany), Martin Wallner Over (United Kingdom), Jörn Threlfall Paris on the Water (Israel), Hadas Ayalon The Pig Child (United Kingdom), Lucy Campbell The Tour Guide (Israel/Germany), Amos Geva Whispers Among Wolves (Australia), Kevin Lim

Now in its fifth year, 13 films will screen in the ShortFest Online Film Festival. The select films are currently playing on a special section of the festival website (www.psfilmfest.org/onlinefest). Online voting for these films is now open and runs through June 20, with the “ShortFest Online Audience Award” announced at the Festival Award Ceremony on Closing Night. The ShortFest Online Film Festival will continue to play online through August 31.

About Palm Springs International ShortFest: Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA and BIFA as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, will take place in Palm Springs on June 16-22. Now in its 21st year and recently taking 8th place in the annual USA Today 10Best poll, ShortFest will showcase over 300 short films from more than 50 countries. The concurrent Short Film Market will feature a library of more than 3,000 films available to film buyers, industry and press, the only Short Film Market in North America. The ShortFest Forum programs are a four day schedule of seminars, panel discussions, roundtables and master classes staged free of charge for attending filmmakers.

The Title Sponsor is the City of Palm Springs with Presenting Sponsors The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major Sponsors include: Panavision, Stampede Post Productions, LA Creative, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the Casting Society of America, Radiant Images, Vacation Palm Springs, Smart Source/CRE and The Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles. The official host hotel and media center is the Renaissance Palm Springs and the official rental car is Hertz.

For more information and tickets, call (760) 778-8979 or (800) 898-7526 or visit the website: www.psfilmfest.org.

-Edited by Vanessa McMahon

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Focus on Animation Annecy Wrapped

Animaze Daze in Cannes  

> Annecy International Animated Film Festival 15 - 20, June 2015 

French feature April and the Extraordinary World won best film at Annecy 2015

Official Prizes Cristal for a Feature Film: April and the Extraordinary World FRANCK EKINCI, CHRISTIAN DESMARES, France, Canada, Belgium Cristal for a Short Film Mi ne mozhem zhit bez kosmosa > We Can’t Live Without Cosmos KONSTANTIN BRONZIT, Russia Cristal for a Commissioned Film Rotary "Fateline" SURESH ERIYAT, India Cristal for a Graduation Film My Dad MARCUS ARMITAGE, United Kingdom Cristal for a TV Production Hello World! "Long-Eared Owl" &Eacu...

 

The Special Prize Ceremony

The Special Prize Ceremony took place june19th the Annecy Town Hall this evening at 7:00 pm. Here is list of winners. Congratulations to them all! In Deep Waters by Sarah Van den Boom for the Festivals Connexion Award – Région Rhône-Alpeswith Lumières Numériques awarded by Vanessa Lhoste (De l’écrit à l’écran Festival– Montélimar), Alexis Vachon (Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Film Festi...

 

Full program at Annecy Off with films selection by Bill Plympton and Animaze Daze in Annecy

Le Cygne (the boat offered a fantastic location with an amazing view on the city, its lake and the surrounding mountains) was full for the second day of Off d'Annecy with Annecy + a selection of shorts curated by Animation Master Bill Plympton. 19 Juin - 21h 30 à minuit   21h30 Set 1 1. A Single Life - Job, Joris & Marieke - The Netherlands - 2'15'' 2. Piglette Babysitter - Natalia Berezovaia - Russia - 6'14'' 3. ...

 

Keynote from Chris Meledandri who brought the Minions to life and to Annecy and discuss the future of animation.

The mic will be in the hands of the man who has turned his production company into one of the most prolific in the industry.   ...

 

"Sabogal" is the feature in competition today.

A judicial thriller that takes us into a fascinating visual universe where Sabogal, lawyer and human rights defender, investigates several crimes against humanity in modern Colombia. With the country in crisis, the protagonist is in constant danger and fights relentlessly, almost obsessively, for justice. Directed by: Juan José LOZANO, SERGIO MEJÍA FORERO Country: Colombia Year of production: 2014 Running ...

 

Annecy Teaser

...

 

Annecy: Au Pays du Dessin Animé

 

Réalisation Jean de Loriol Production Label Anim / Canal J Version Courte (13 minutes) ...

 

Signing sessions with Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, Directors of "Minions"

 

See you at the Bonlieu lobby for a signing sessions with Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, Directors of "Minions"   ...

 

Bill Plympton returns to Annecy (off) with Annecy + for the 9th time

Bill Plympton brings us a unique selection of short works (see below), nowhere else to be seen in Annecy, do not miss the screening at 9.30 on Le Cygne, preceded at 9:00 by the Award Ceremony of le Miaff  (Montreal International Animation Film Festival). The Festival Director (Laurie Gordon to hand the prize for Best Short to Mauro Carraro for Aubade who won but could not attend the ceremony in Montreal april 19th) and a screening of the Animaze Daze in Annecy....

 

First results of Mapping of the Animation Industry in Europe presented in Annecy

14.7% of European admissions went to animation films in  2014 One fifth of admissions to animation films in Europe goes to European productions 50 animation films were produced in Europe on average a year between 2010 and 2014 300 children’s channels established in the EU and specific on-demand services for kids on the rise The European Audiovisual Observatory presented the first results of the Mapping of the Animation Industry in Europe study, f...

 

Watch online at MyHomeFestival

An entire programme of films to watch online! MyHomeFestival is a selection of films, accessible online and free of charge, for anyone and everyone, with or without accreditation and present at the Festival or not! Annecy hopes this will promote animation with a wider audience, letting as many people as possible take a look at the films broadcasted. Check out the MyHomeFestival 2015 programme: All the commissioned films in competition at Annecy 2015; A selection...

 

Salma Hayek Producer of The Prophet Cancels Appearance at Annecy

Due to unforeseen circumtances Salma Hakek cannot attend her widely anticipated appearance at    Annecy Animation Festival in Annecy France this year to promote The Prophet. Salma Hayek is sorry that she can’t join the team of Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, for which she is the producer. The screening of the feature film Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet will still be held with Director Roger Allers (The Lion King, etc.) and Filmmakers Mohammed Harib (one of the most po...

 

Masterclass by Guillermo García Carsí and Keynotes announced

Masterclas by Acclaimed creator, Guillermo García Carsi  Guillermo García Carsi will talk about creation and character design according to his particular style where the key is not only the visual part, but also specially building the personalities of the characters. His creative process will be explained in detail, from his influences to practical examples. Creator and director of the internationally popular series "Pocoyo" - Cristal...

 

Feature Films out of competition at Annecy 2015

Desterrada Colombia - Diego GUERRA   Feature Films out of competition Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn China - Soong YUEFENG     Feature Films out of competition Eden's Edge Austria, USA - Gerhard TREML, Leo CALICE   Feature Films out of competition Extraordinary Tales Belgium, Spain, USA, Luxembourg - Raúl GARCÍA   Feature...

 

Features Films competing at Annecy

Feature films in competition Adama France - Simon ROUBY   Feature films in competition Avril et le Monde truqué France, Canada, Belgium - Franck EKINCI, Christian DESMARES   Feature films in competition Mune France - Alexandre HEBOYAN, Benoît PHILIPPON ...

 

Happy Birthday to you MIFA ! Animation stars are celebrating Mifa's 30th!

Watch these cute videos celebrating 30 years of hared work towards ANIMATION Angelo celebrates the Mifa! Kaeloo and his friends celebrate the Mifa! Mung, from Yomzeo and Caitory, wishes the Mifa a happy birthday! All the stars from Zagtoon celebrate the Mifa! All the stars from Method Animation celebrate the Mifa! The Cherry Coco family from Variety Sum are also celebrating Mifa! Spookiz, from Keyring Studio, wishes the Mifa a happy birthday! Grizzly, Panda...

 

Annecy 2015 Juries

The juries Features films Marge Dean Director, Production, USA Valérie Schermann Producer, France Guillemette Odicino Journalist, Film Critic, France Short films Isabel Herguera Director, Journalist, Spain Bonnie Arnold Producer, USA Niki Lindroth Von Bahr Director, Sweden ...

> ANIMAZE DAZE In Annecy: June 18 - 19, 2015

Animaze presents the Best of Le MIAFF in Annecy France, a panel on state of animation and the nominees of Animaze Daze, at the fantastic event (N°1 worldwide Animation festival): The Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps.

LeMiaff - Animaze partnered with Annecy Off and filmfestivals.com so your film can screen to the world leaders in animation in a very cool envirnoment with media following (TV, trade, online...).

Animaze Daze in Annecy, screenings at Annecy Off

> Los Angeles Film Festival June  10 - 18, 2015

Winners of the Los Angeles Film Festival

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced the winners of the 2015 Festival at the Awards Cocktail Reception. Associate Director of Programming, Roya Rastegar, and Senior Programmer, Jennifer Cochis, hosted the awards ceremony. The Awards Cocktail was sponsored by Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television.   “Our mission includes connecting filmmakers wi...

Simple and classy, the 11th edition of FEST: New directors | new films festival opened last night at the Cento Multimeios de Espinho in Espinho, Portugal. With selected guests from Belgium, Greece, Germany and numerous more expected during the week, the festival promises another edition full of carefully selected films and workshops, masterclasses and talks as part of its Training Ground, kicking off today and featuring names like Fernando Trueba, Peter Webber, Guillermo Navarro and Peter Doyle. 

The director of the festival Filipe Pereira opened this years edition by thanking all the guests that came to the small Portuguese town to celebrate cinema "as without them, what we do would be meaningless". 

The opening film 10 000 km, a SXSW and Goya Award winner, is romantic drama about a couple that after seven years of shared life, faces the difficulty of a long distance relationship between Barcelona and LA. With par cinematography the film wins with its great aesthetic and although focusing on two characters, it creates an iviting atmosphere. Following the steps of Beautiful Youth (Hermosa Juventud), that achieved a great success in the festival circuit, 10 000 km is more light-hearted and romantic, yet a noteworthy debut from Spanish Carlos Marques-Marcet. 

Images in high resolution 

New Japanese independent cinema 2000-2015 is the thematic retrospective programmed by the San Sebastian Festival for its 63rd edition, to take place from September 18-26.

Beyond the bounds of the films produced by the big studios, the phenomenon of independent cinema in Japan has generated an important source of cinematic creativity expressed in a series of films produced outside the industry. This category includes not only the first works by young directors, but also those by a series of long-standing filmmakers who find greater expressive freedom in this territory outside the clutches of commercial cinema.

The cycle therefore becomes an overview of Japanese independent production in the last 15 years, a showcase offering the opportunity to discover the vitality and energy of the film industry in that country thanks to the work of some of today’s most eye-catching filmmakers.

Among the titles making up the retrospective are works by outstanding figures in Japan’s contemporary film world: H Story (2001) by Nobuhiro Suwa, A Snake of June (Rokugatsu no hebi, 2002) by Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Bright Future (Akarui mirai, 2003) by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Vibrator (2003) by Ryuichi Hiroki, Bashing (2005) by Masahiro Kobayashi, Birth/Mother (Tarachime, 2006) by Naomi Kawase and Love Exposure (Ai no mukidashi, 2008) by Shion Sono.

Alongside the above we will also present the works of several new talents to have made their debut since 2000: Hole in the Sky (Sora no ana, 2001) by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, Border Line (2002) by Sang-il Lee, No One’s Ark (Baka no hakobune, 2003) by Nobuhiro Yamashita, The Soup, One Morning (Aru asa, soup wa, 2005) by Izumi Takahashi, Fourteen (Ju-yon-sai, 2007) by Hiromasa Hirosue, Sex Is Not Laughing Matter (Hito no sekkuso o warauna, 2007) by Nami Iguchi, Passion (2008) by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Parade (Parêdo, 2009) by Isao Yukisada, Yellow Kid (Ierô Kiddo, 2009) de Tetsuya Mariko, Love Addiction (Fuyu no kemono, 2010) by Nobuteru Uchida, No Man’s Zone (Mujin chitai, 2011) by Toshifumi Fujiwara, Saudade (Saudâji, 2011) by Katsuya Tomita, Cold Bloom (Sakura namiki no mankai no shita ni, 2012) by Atsushi Funahashi, The Cowards Who Looked To The Sky (Fugainai bokutachi wa sora o mita, 2012) by Yuki Tanada, Au revoir l’eté (Hotori no sakuko, 2013) by Kôji Fukada, The Tale of Iya (Iya monogatari: Oku no hito, 2013) by Tetsuichirô Tsuta and The Light Shines Only There (Soko nomi nite hikari kagayaku, 2014) by Mipo Oh.

The Japanese independent cinema 2000-2015 cycle is organised by the San Sebastian Festival in collaboration with CulturArts-IVAC (Valencia), the Filmoteca Vasca, San Telmo Museum and San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016.

The retrospective will be accompanied by the publication of a book coordinated by Shozo Ichiyama.

The design of the official poster represents the stimulation of the senses prompted in spectators by cinema.

The Festival will run from Friday, 18 until Saturday, 26 September.

Images in high resolution 

POSTERS

The new image for the 63rd edition of the San Sebastian Festival was unveiled at an event in the Newton Auditorium of San Sebastian’s Eureka! Zientzia Museoa. An announcement was also made at the gathering as to the winning proposals of the poster competition called by the Festival for the Official, New Directors, Horizontes Latinos,  Pearls, Zabaltegi and Culinary Zinema sections. Open to graphic designers around the world, this fourth edition saw the highest participation yet, with 1,726 proposals from 415 authors.

The winners are:

The image of the 63rd is completed by another three posters:

In addition to the winners of the competition, the other posters lending their image to sections at this edition were also presented.

And those of the retrospective sections, created by Roberto Cueto and Eurosíntesis:

Also presented were the PROMOTIONAL CLIPS OF THE RETROSPECTIVES, created by Carlos Rodríguez at Morgan Creativos.

The Jury of the poster competition also decided to make a series of special mentions in the six categories of the competition:

Special mentions – Official

Special mentions – New Directors

Special mentions – Horizontes Latinos

Special mentions – Pearls

Special mentions – Zabaltegi

Special mentions – Culinary Zinema