The 5th edition of RECENT CINEMA FROM SPAIN will be held from 19-22 Nov. 2015 at the Olympia Theater of Miami.

RECENT CINEMA FROM SPAIN was set up in Miami in 2011 as an initiative of the Spanish Audiovisual Producers' Rights Management Association (using the Spanish acronym "EGEDA"), aiming to provide a new outlet for promotion of Spanish cinema in the United States, boosting its circulation to the public in general, and the international audiovisual industry.

On September 17th, Recent Cinema from Spain hosted a kick-off event and film screening in the presence of Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at the sold out Olympia Theater.

The event presented by Elvi Cano (Executive Director, EGEDA U.S.) and Robert Geitner (Director, Olympia Theater) included a presentation introducing the film lineup for November and speeches by the honorable Consul General from Spain Cándido Creis and by the Mayor of Miami Tomas Regalado, who thanked EGEDA for bringing the Spanish series to Miami. Rounding up the presentation was a humorous speech- performance by writer/ director Guillermo Fesser, who also directed this year´s trailer for the series with the title "Let you Spanish side out". Audiences enjoyed a wine reception and the screening of Spanish Filmmaker Guillermo Fesser's comedy “Cándida”.

TRAILER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2xvT42_tQA&feature=player_profilepage

LOS MIÉRCOLES NO EXISTEN, 2015. US Premiere!.
Written and directed by Peris Romano.

Cast: Eduardo Noriega, Inma Cuesta, Gorka Otxoa, María León, Alexandra Jiménez y William Miller.

MAGICAL GIRL2014,
Diector. Carlos Vermut.

Cast: Luis Bermejo, José Sacristán and Goya and Feroz Award Winner Bárbara Lennie

TALK (HABLAR). 2015 US Premiere!.

Director Joaquim Oristrell
Cast: Sergio Peris Mencheta, Miguel Angel Muñoz, Marta Etura, Antonio de la Torre, Raúl Arévalo, Juan Diego Botto & Goya Toledo

TIEMPO SIN AIRE (BREATLESS TIME), 2015.

Director Andrés Luque Pérez y Samuel Martin Mateos

Cast: Juana Acosta, Adriana Ugarte, Félix Gómez y Carmelo Gómez
 

THE WILD, THE CHILD & THE MIRACLE 2014, American Film Institute
Producer: German Fernandez-Moreno
Dir. Carl Robertson

PERDIENDO EL NORTE, 2015

Direrctor Nacho G Velilla. Distribución Internacional: DeAplaneta

Cast: Yon González, Javier Cámara, Blanca Suarez, Julián López y Miki Esparbé
 

Australia, prepare for a summer celebration of monumental proportions.  The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is back.  The Festval kicks off on Friday 19 February and runs for two weeks, until Sunday 06 March, 2016; with a jam-packed program of events, performances, exhibitions and activities.

The 2016 theme is ‘MOMENTUM’, evolving from Mardi Gras history in the fight for social justice and self expression.  Born from a night of political protest in 1978, Mardi Gras’ spirit lives on 38 years later, in joyous celebration.  A shining light across the world, that demonstrates just how far the community has come; whilst acknowledging the journey and challenges ahead.

With the theme Momentum, Mardi Gras is saying:  it’s time to stand up and be counted; turn passion into purpose, and let it ripple out and resonate around the world.

Tickets for this spectacular program, brimming with sequins, seminars, cinema and self-expression go on sale Wednesday 02 December 2015.

Fran Bowron, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Co-Chair said, “Mardi Gras 2016 is a celebration of our whole community. There are people all over the world who are unable to express their true selves, and this is our collective opportunity to show the world the most dazzling celebration of pride and diversity as we say ‘we stand with you’.”

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Michele Bauer said, “This year absolutely represents every colour of the rainbow, to match the incredible diversity of our community.   The Festival really is the most amazing two week long celebration, an opportunity for everyone to get involved and have their voices heard. From visual arts, theatre, film, the Parade, outdoor family activities; whether you’re eight or 89, there is something for you.”

MARDI GRAS ’16 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Join over 80,000 people in Victoria Park for Fair Day, proudly supported by ANZ; a free, fun filled celebration of LGBTQI family and community on Sunday 21 February, 2016. From pooches and Pad Thai, to markets and music; dancing and drama, to rides, comedy, and crazy fun for the kids; Fair Day is for the whole family. 

Queer Thinking gives audiences the low down on some of the meaty LGBTQI community issues for 2016, both at home in Australia and abroad. Inspiring, entertaining and provocative, Queer Thinking delves into what 'momentum' can mean from both inside and outside the diverse LGBTQI communities. The talk fest will take over venues across Sydney for the first time.  

Gender Trailblazers returns to celebrate the courageous individuals, who take transgender rights from strength to strength on Friday 4 March, 2016. Gender counsellor and leading psychologist Dr Elizabeth Riley will host a riveting night of Trans* community conversation with speakers across the spectrum of ages and experiences. The evening at Monkey Baa will be a lively night of discussion, ideas and outlook for the community.

The Harbour is a brand spanking, shiny new, Mardi Gras event series on Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, presented in partnership with Canon.  An epic series of film, talks, concerts and musical spectaculars, glittering from our favourite shore.  Headlining the series is In Bed with Madonna, presented by Queer Screen to celebrate the film’s 25th Anniversary! Australian pop icon, Tina Arena will perform an intimate concert at Tina Arena at The Harbour with all the classics like: I Need Your Body, Chains, and I Want To Love You. There will be a Sing-a-long with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir to the film Mamma Mia as well.

The parade that captivates a nation and reverberates around the world; The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is back for its 38th year! Over 200,000 people will line the streets of Sydney’s traditional Gay and Lesbian district in support of the 10,000 fabulous parade entrants who have united for a glittering spectacle of sparkles and self-expression on Saturday 5 March, 2016.  The event is once again supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Parade Sideshow is the ultimate way to experience the Parade in style.  Hosted by acid tongued Drag diva Portia Turbo and TV host Andrew Mercado no sequined jockstrap passes without comment, or wardrobe malfunction missed. Leave the milk crates at home with some premium seating, exclusive access to bars, food stalls, live screens, and bathrooms.

The Diamond Club, for Mardi Gras members and their guests only is an exclusive ticketed viewing area in the heart of the Parade celebration, presented in partnership with ANZ.

The Official Mardi Gras Party on Saturday 5 March, 2016, has over 12,000 partygoers from all over the world. This is the largest LGBTQI party in the Southern Hemisphere held at the Entertainment Quarter. Shiny and spectacular, the Party is a piping hot line-up of local and international DJ’s, shows, and world class production that will soon be announced.

Send off Mardi Gras with a bang in a final event extravaganza between The Beresford and Flinders Hotel on Sunday 6 March, 2016. A cherished tradition of the Festival, The Laneway has evolved from a portable stereo on Hill St to a full blown street party. Expect live music, diva drop-ins, pop-up shows and world class DJs across a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces.

THEATRE

Mega-watt stars of Australian drag Courtney Act & Trevor Ashley team up for their Gentlemen Prefer Blokes, Seven-Year-Itch reunion tour, and take on some of history's greatest duos as a part of the Rainbow Room. For three nights only from Thursday 3 – Saturday 5 March, the Sydney Opera House will transform into a hot-bed of comedy, chaos and cabaret as a line-up of stars take to the stage to paint the sails rainbow.

Shift from 1958 to the present and back again with The Pride at the Eternity Playhouse from Friday 5 February – Sunday 6 March 2016. Alexi Kaye Campbell’s award-winning theatre piece promises to be a remarkable reflection on society’s journey towards sexual attitudes, both past and present.

With Mad Max: Fury Road and The Great Gatsby under his belt, iOTA will put on a show just as high octane and memorable as his on screen performances on Friday 4 March 2016. Combining musical talent, amazing theatrical presence, and outrageous outfits, this will be an unforgettable showcase of old favourites as well as hits from his brand new album ‘Wolf Number Nine’.

5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche is the uproarious, award winning theatrical show about a women's society forced to confront the future during their 'Annual Quiche Breakfast'. After taking America by storm this smash hit performance will have audiences at Belvoir Street Theatre coming back for second helpings from Tuesday 16 February – Saturday 20 February.

The sexy and hilariously raunchy double billThe Ultimate Lesbian Double Feature explores what Sappho and Virginia Woolf may have sexted to their lovers (had sexting been around during their time); and puts a lesbian twist on a 1950s American instructional video on how to prepare the perfect dinner party from 23 February to 05 March.

PARTIES

A festival within a festival for all things furry and cuddly, the Harbour City Bears’ Bear Festival will be returning across multiple venues.   As well as the highly successful pop-up, Bear Bar at the Burdekin Hotel. There’s nine days of themed party nights, tasty beers, live performances, delicious food, great DJs, and a big ol’ bear hug awaits at Sydney’s woofiest bar, Friday 26 February – Thursday 3 March.

Get outside and make the streets of Sydney a dance floor with Silent Disco Tours, a series of one hour magical disco adventures at Sydney hot spots from Saturday 21 February to Friday 4 March 2016. Don disco gear and a set of special discoD headphones to ‘Get Physical’ with new and old favorites.

MUSIC

Australian pop icon, and newest ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Tina Arena will send shivers up the spine at Tina Arena at The Harbour, presented in partnership with Canon on Thursday 25 February, as well as the State Theatre on Friday 4 March, 2016. With a name synonymous with Australian music, Arena fans can catch all the classics like: I Need Your Body, Chains, and I Want To Love You.

Bearded beauty and 2014 Eurovision Song Contest winner, Conchita Wurst, is teaming up with Sydney Symphony Orchestra to bring her new show From Vienna with Love to Mardi Gras.  Rising like a Phoenix from the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Wurst will be joined by special guests Courtney Act, Trevor Ashley and Paul Capsis at the Concert Hall.

VISUAL ARTS

William Yang: Stories of Love and Death features several strands of Yang’s photography for which he is now well known, including his portraiture of celebrities (Patrick White, Brett Whiteley, Cate Blanchett) and historic Mardi Gras documentary work.  Investigate the importance of identity through photography from Wednesday 17 February – Saturday 5 March.

Raw, sassy and proud Fierce Femme brings together professional and amateur works in an exploration and celebration of the Femme Identity, Thursday 3 March. Telling the stories of Femmes within the LGBTQI community, the exhibition analyses what ‘Fierce Femme’ looks like through the eye of a lens.

The beard obsessed (and admit it, aren’t we all!?) will revel in The Bearded Men Project; a series of oil portraits showcasing contemporary male presence and beauty at Blank_Space Gallery from Saturday 20 February to Friday 4 March. The exhibition aims to highlight there’s more to gay men than “abs, bums, sneers & pouts”.

SPORTS AND OUTDOORS

The most stylish run in Sydney, the Little Black Dress Run, returns to Darling Harbour on Sunday 28 February 2016. Rock your frock for the 3km run/walk around Darling Harbour in the name of charity. The event has become a “must do” for the Mardi Gras season, so frock up and stretch out those hamstrings and heels!

Break out the hairspray and blue eye shadow for 80s themed The Mardi Gras Disco Climb. This is Sydney’s highest disco dance party, with retro track list; climb leader guides; and the most fabulous ascent over Sydney Harbour Bridge, from Thursday 25 February – Wednesday 9 March 2016.

FILM

The ever-popular Mardi Gras Film Festival presented by Queer Screen is on again in 2016 at Event Cinemas George Street, from Thursday 18 February – Thursday 3 March. Opening with Summertime, a lesbian love story; and the hotly anticipated documentary Remembering The Man, the real-life story behind Holding The Man.

By Maria Esteves – November 16, 2015

The 53rd New York Film Festival Premiere of CAROL, directed by Todd Haynes. Screenplay by Phyllis Nagy commenced Friday, October 9, 2015 at Alice Tully Hall, New York. Red carpet arrivals included director Todd Haynes, actress Rooney Mara, two-time Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett, American composer Carter Burwell, screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, producer Christine Vachon, producer Elizabeth Karlsen, Edith “Edie” Windsor, American comedian and actress Sandra Bernhard, and actor Cory Michael Smith. CAROL in select theaters November 20, 2015. Watch Trailer

Todd Haynes: The Other Side of Dreams to be held at Lincoln Center November 18-29, 2015.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals: Director
Todd Haynes, center, with actresses Rooney Mara, left,
and Cate Blanchett.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
leading actresses Rooney Mara, left, and Cate Blanchett.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
celebrity guest Edie Windsor.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
leading actress Cate Blanchett.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
Director Todd Haynes.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
American composer Carter Burwell.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
leading actress Rooney Mara.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
celebrity guest American comedian and
actress Sandra Bernhard.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
actor Cory Michael Smith, CAROL.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
producers Christine Vachon, left, and Elizabeth
Karlsen, CAROL.

NYFF53 Premiere of CAROL Red Carpet Arrivals:
screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, CAROL.

Director of Programming Dennis Lim, Film Society of Lincoln Center, left, with director
Todd Haynes, Todd Haynes: The Other Side of Dreams, Walter Reade Theater, NYC,
Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

Glasgow Film Festival today announced its new programme strands for 2016, along with a major new development. The festival, which runs from 17-28 February 2016 and is supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Creative Scotland, the BFI and EventScotland, traditionally contains a retrospective of films by a particular legendary star. This year, they’re broadening the focus to see double: Dream Teams on the Silver Screen will focus on classic Hollywood on and off-screen double acts like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, and Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Entrance to all of the films in this strand will be free, and the Dream Teams programme has been specially designed to celebrate friendship, with an eye to cross-generational audiences. The specific films in the strand will be announced with the main programme.

New strand Roads To The South will also showcase and celebrate some of the excellent work currently being created in Argentina, which has seen a renaissance in the past two decades following the politicised realist charge of the New Argentine Cinema movement.

Also new for 2016 is a pioneering film industry programme, GFF Industry Focus, a major step forward for the festival, which to date has concentrated its programme focus more on audiences. Running from 24-25 February, GFF Industry Focus will bring together international filmmakers, funding bodies and industry insiders for a unique two-day seminar within the festival programme which, it is hoped, will offer huge benefits to Scotland’s film and television industry, and to visiting filmmakers from around the world.

Tickets for the Opening and Closing Galas will go on sale on Monday 18 January following an early January announcement; the main programme will be announced on Wednesday 20 January with tickets on sale on Monday 25 January. Fans of the festival are encouraged to become GFF Members this year; a one-off payment of £10 offers exclusive access to advance booking.

COMMENT

Allan Hunter, Festival Co-Director, said ‘Chemistry is everything when it comes to creating the perfect screen couple: when audiences sense that electricity they want to see it again and again. Dream Teams on the Silver Screen celebrates the very finest Hollywood duos, individuals who made cinema history together in unforgettable classics. Meanwhile, the international reaction to films like 2009’s The Secret In Their Eyes (El secreto de sus ojos) and this year’s Wild Tales (Relatos salvages), which premiered at GFF15, has been part of the surge of interest in Argentine cinema and Roads To The South is designed to celebrate the range of bright new talents in Argentinian filmmaking making their mark around the world.’

Allison Gardner, Festival Co-Director, said‘While GFF’s programme will always put audiences front and centre, we are delighted to be able to host something like GFF Industry Focus this year. Bringing this sort of industry presence to Scotland will hopefully feed into and strengthen the Scottish film industry, creating connections and opportunities, and offering international insight. I’m also really happy that we’re able to offer our Dream Teams programme for free this year: why not make a date with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while, or share an old favourite with a younger family member?’

Ben Luxford, the BFI’s Head of UK Audiences said:“We’re proud supporters of GFF’s vibrant public programme as well as the inaugural GFF Industry Focus, which will bring together industry leaders from around the world to gather in Glasgow with the aim of forging exciting new collaborations that will benefit film in Scotland and the UK more widely.”

GFF16 Programme strands

·                     CineMasters A first chance to catch new works from some of the biggest names in international filmmaking, and a mini-retrospective of the work of legendary French director Julien Duvivier.

·                     Crossing the Line Somewhere between visual art and cinema, experimental films to challenge and inspire.  Bring your imagination. 

·                     Dream Teams on the Silver Screen From Burton and Taylor to Butch and Sundance, we celebrate Hollywood’s starriest double acts.

·                     FrightFest Back-to-back horror premieres to get hearts racing and adrenalin pumping.

·                     Galas Stars, premieres, red carpets – get your glad rags on!

·                     Local Heroes Home-grown cinema doesn’t necessarily mean small-scale, as this showcase of the newest and brightest productions from all over the country proves. 

·                     Modern Families Fantastical, imaginative features and animation to delight audiences of all ages.

·                     Nerdvana Spectacular screenings and heated discussions collide in a celebration of cult classics, gaming gregariousness, and all things geek.

·                     Pioneers First-time and emerging filmmakers from all over the world, pushing the limits of cinematography.

·                     Roads to the South: Argentine Cinema A celebration of the most exciting cinema currently coming from Argentina.

·                     Sound and Vision Exploring the interplay between music and cinema with a specially curated programme of screenings, live music, and events

·                     Special Events Unique and atmospheric venues across the city become pop-up picture houses, as cult classics and old favourites step off the screen.

·                     Stranger than Fiction You couldn’t make it up – weird, wonderful and thought-provoking new documentaries from across the world.

·                     Window on the World Explore the world from your cinema seat with a selection of brilliant international titles.

French Artist Tells How He Created ‘Symbol of Peace for Paris’"In all this horror there’s something positive that people are coming together in a sense of unity and peace."

“I express myself visually, so my first reaction was to draw a symbol of peace for Paris,” Jullien, who says his friends and family are safe and accounted for, told TIME over Skype on Saturday from a location he did not wish to disclose. “From there it seems to have gotten a bit out of my hands.”

That poignant painting has quickly become a unifying symbol for people in France and beyond. A cell-phone picture of the illustration that Jullien posted to his Instagram on Friday evening has garnered at least 129,000 likes on Instagram and 48,000 retweets on Twitter, as well as countless other uncredited shares. Instagram’s own post of the image has topped 1.3 million likes.

“I can’t say I’m happy because it’s such a tragedy and such a horrible event,” he says. “I can just say that in all this horror there’s something positive that people are coming together in a sense of unity and peace.”

It’s even been shared by celebrities such as John Legend and One Direction’s Harry Styles. “People are asking me, ‘Are you proud?’ and all that,” Jullien said of the famous figures distributing his work. “No, at the moment what touched me more, so to speak, is the fact that everyone shared it—not just famous people but everyone all over the world. The main purpose of the image was to communicate peace and solidarity, and that’s exactly what it seems to have done.”

Jullien also says he’s not bothered by all the people sharing the image without attributing it to him. “Some people were trying to alert me that people were using it without credit,” he says. “That’s not really the point. I did not create the image to get credit. I created a symbol for everyone to share. It’s not for ownership and pride.”

And while his illustrations are typically more humor-based than the image that’s now brought him international attention, Jullien notes that his Paris peace sign has had a similar impact on those who see it. “What I normal do is try to bring a smile on peoples’ faces with my work,” he says. “I got someone emailing me saying they were happy to have seen my message because the feeling of peace and unity took over the raw anger that can come from such an event.”

as written for Time Magazine

http://time.com/4113068/paris-peace-sign-artist-interview/

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Hello Bruno,

What just happened in France and before in other countries are barbaric acts caused by the self styled Islamic  state, an organized terrorism threatening  our basic values of freedom, tolerance and justice.  My sorrow goes to all who have suffered with the hope that there is the will power  by all countries concerned to destroy  the Islamic state through effective military and political actions.

Claus Mueller filmfestivals.com correspondent

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RB and I wanted to send our love to you in Paris. You are  in our thoughts and prayers.  May you find peace....

Amanda Toney Managing Director Stage 32

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Warm salutations here on behalf of Khefren family. Edward Efren and I would like to express our condolences to beautiful France in light of all the darkness that has transpired in these last days. More than our prayers go out to you and yours .  

Chantal Marie Vidal Khefren productions group. 

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Dear Bruno,

May people of all faiths band together in solidarity and support of freedom and peace. 
Our deepest condolences to all of humanity of the loss of life in Paris. Let us all stand together in this terrible time.

Best, Diane Raver
Founder The Garden State Film Festival

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From New York City to Paris.

Our hearts and best wishes to the people of Paris. 

We understand your horror but don't let it turn to fear!!  You are a great city and will be stronger from staying the city of love.

Dennis Cieri Executive Director NYC Independent Film Festival

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Bruno Chatelin thank God you are safe Deepest sympathies to all of France

Diane Raver Garden State Film Festival

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We were shocked and shaken by the events in Paris. Thanks God the team of Filmfestivals is safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims. Everything seems surreal as if it happened in another world, not on our planet which has everything to be a happy place for the people. At this time we should bring ourselves together and think, think, think - what we can do to stop this sensless .

Olena Vitvitska, Adel Vafeyev, Montreal, Canada

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We the world of lovers of life stand together after what has happened in the great city of Paris.we as art faculty stand together to oppose violence and hatred thT these handful of terrorists are trying to perpetrate. They will fail ,the terror will be vanquished and peace shall prevail.

India stands with France .My condolences and preyers for the departed souls .

Regards

Bobby Vats

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whew... so sorry about the tragedy... And GLAD YOU are ok.  

Stay safe and well.

Stephen Ashton Founder/Director Society for the Advancement of the Arts & Film Wine Country Film Festival

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Dear Bruno
Our thoughts and concerns are with you all in France, wishing that you and all of your families and friends are OK after this terrible savagery. Tony Manne

Bristol Media International, Inc.

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Peace, calm and resolve to act.

Best wishes, Jacob Sebag & Associates, P.C. 

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One of my favorite countries in the world: peace and love to all the French people. No mercy with the terrorists, wherever they are. Love and solidarity!

Ricardo Freixá Executive Director P l u r a l  -  J e m p s a , SL

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You have my support! 

Jasmin Durakovic Depo doo

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Glad to see you are ok. Hope all your family is ok as well. Our solidarity with all the people in Paris. Vive la France!

Patricia Martin Amazonas Manaus International Film Festival

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Cher Bruno,

Just a pump of the hand from this side of the Atlantic to let you that you and your rattled cosmos are in my thoughts. 

Warmly, Laura Blum Filmfestivals.com Correspondent

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I hope you are all right in Paris horrible events...can not believe...just post if you are ok

Radmila Djurica Filmfestivals.com correspondent.

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Hope you and your loved ones are safe. Really awful to hear about the attacks. Do take care. Hugs

Mes chers amis, 

On pense à vous...! Bien chaleureusement, 

Robin Woods

« En me voyant si près d’être joué aux Français, je commence à croire qu’il pourrait y avoir une Providence pour la constance de l’effort et le courage de la volonté. » Année 1865, 30 novembre. Journal Mémoires de La Vie Littéraire 1864-1867, Tome VII, Edmond et Jules de Goncourt  

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Debrah Jalmet Ododo  

 

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Glad to see Bruno Chatelin is safe, hope to hear from others soon.

Mike Takeuchi

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Prayers for France; the victims and their families; and all the people who are dealing with the aftermath. People of Peace stand with you.

Ethan Marten

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Hi Bruno,

Glad you are ok. I’m terribly sorry for what happened in Paris yesterday. The world has gone mad, I wish we could all live in peace and accept each other.

Love,

Lia Fietz Filmfestivals.com correspondent

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I am praying for Paris and the world

Vanessa McMahon Filmfestivals.com correspondent

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We are glad you are OK.
Thoughts from the animation world.

Warm Regards 
Laurie Gordon | Director | MIAFF Montreal International Animation Film Festival

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So thankful you are all ok. Sending love and prayers from California. 

Jack Elliott

Bruno...all our love and support to you and the French nation throughout these horrific moments.

Stay strong, determined and free of fear.

Pituka Pituka Ortega Heilbron Panama International Film Festival

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Our hearts and prayers are with you.
Keep the light burning. Never fade out.

Word Smith

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Peace&Love for Paris

Elena Nemykh Producer and director

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Questa volta non restiamo in silenzio: Parigi ci appartiene

Muri invisibili (Parigi ci appartiene)

Federico Chiacchiari

La guerra finisce quando i muri vengono abbattuti. Ma lo sappiamo bene: i muri più difficili da abbattere sono quelli invisibili agli occhi, i muri dei pregiudizi, i muri culturali.

Dans Paris (Parigi ci appartiene)

Simone Emiliani

Non si può stare in silenzio. Ma non ci sono neanche le parole. C'è solo voglia di Parigi. Attraversata mentalmente come sul filo di The Walk prima di essere lì il prima possibile

Non l’abbiamo “scampata”! (Parigi ci appartiene)

Valentina Carnelutti

Ma questa guerra è in corso da tempo! E questi morti e feriti e traumatizzati ci sono continuamente! E ci passano davanti e accanto e ci chiedono aiuto ogni giorno. (dal Blog di Valentina Carnelutti)

Parigi, città aperta (Parigi ci appartiene)

Lou Reed – John Cale – Nico – (Le-Bataclan – 1972) – Femme Fatale (Parigi ci appartiene)

On January 29, 1972 Lou Reed and John Cale, founding members of the Velvet Underground, reunited with Nico, German actress, model and musician, for a special concert at le Bataclan nightclub in Paris.

Peace for Paris (Parigi ci appartiene)

Redazione Sentieri Selvaggi

Questa volta non staremo in silenzio. Sconvolti, devastati dalle stragi di Parigi, abbiamo deciso di continuare a lavorare con i nostri strumenti, che sono il cinema e la cultura. Parigi ci appartiene 

Redazione Sentieri Selvaggi

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Dear Bruno,

It is horrible what happened in Paris last night. And the world press and celebrities are informing us of it. 

With reference to your first item, Justin Bieber did not draw that symbol of Peace for Paris. Read who the artist really is in this Slate article Meet the artist behind the Eiffel Tower peace sign drawing. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/11/14/paris_shooting_eiffel_tower_peace_sign_an_interview_with_artist_jean_jullien.html?wpsrc=sh_all_tab_tw_bot.

In fact, the creator of the drawing was a French illustrator named Jean Jullien, who posted it to his Twitter page around midnight Paris-time with the caption “Peace for Paris,” and watched it swiftly take flight.

Ken Chawkin

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Bonjour Bruno, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of France! The radical Islamists are going to kill us all! And we are letting it happen! Fondly, with prayers.

Hunter Todd & Kathleen Hanney WorldFest Houston

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Glad to hear you are safe

Katha Cato Queens World Film Festival

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Happy you are safe

Tacie Hovey Maryland International Film Festival

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IFFI Goa 2015, Festival Diary, IV

IFFI Goa 2015, Festival Diary, III

Diary pages have got juggled, inadvertently, so, though numbered III, this page should have been IV. Please excuse the oversight and treat this as IV. Although posted earlier, IV is actually III.

Austerity is the name of the game, mismanagement is the characteristic and continuing hostility towards media, and, in some cases, delegates too, are factors that dominate IFFI Goa 2015. A circus called the Film Bazaar, organised by the National Film Development Corporation, in association with the India Tourism Development Corporation, continues to try and exploit the main event, in a crass, buying of favours manner, while the three bodies that really run the festival: Directorate of Film Festivals, Entertainment Society of Goa and Press information Bureau—seem to have learnt nothing from decades of holding IFFI. But I’ll save all that for another day. Here is a look at the five films I managed to catch on the first day.

*The Man Who Knew Infinity: UK: Director Matthew Brown

Little-known British director Brown spent 10 years on this project, a bio-pic based oin a book about mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), focussing on his years at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the company of prodigies like Bertrand Russell and under the tutelage of G.H Hardy (Jeremy Irons). Cast includes Dhritiman Chatterji (Bengal) and Swati Bhise (Goa). All Indians play Madrasis, never mind their real roots. Brown talks liberties with age as well, by casting Jeremy Irons. Coming from the man who made the Ian Fleming bio-pic, this is good stuff. Dev Patel, always challenged for a range of expressions, digs out a few hitherto unseen ones, Irons is competent, as usual, and the film takes ***.

*Mina Walking: Afghanistan/Canada: Yosef Baraki

Mina is walking tall at IFFI. Made in extremely difficult circumstances by an Afghan who grew up in Canada, the film scores remarkably high on performances, especially Farzana Nawabi as the 12 year-old lead actress.  The film does what acclaimed Indian Kabir Khan has been doing earlier in his ancestral Afghanistan—break stereo-types about life in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Your heart will surely go out to brave-heart Mina, whose mother is killed by the Taliban, father a junkie and homosexual and grand-father senile. Yes, the constantly jerky hand-held camera, the single camera shots and the natural light shooting make it a bit tough on the eyes and neck. Rise above these distractions and you have a ****1/2 film.

*Enclave: Serbia/Montenegro/German: Goran Radovanovic

Some two decades after a superficial sense of normalcy returned to the Balkans, the latent tensions in the region are still simmering--being a Christian or a Muslim still matters, in the most unexpected ways. Using religion (an old, dying Christian, a mobile priest, a huge church bell) and a tank (used as transport vehicle for hidden occupants), Radovanovic continues in the tradition of No Man’s Land, minus the sarcasm, satire and live action of the latter.  Like Mina of Afghanistan, 10 year-old Nenad faces huge challenges, including his friendship with Muslim boys across the border, when the tinder-box could spread flames of ethnic hatred, and even death. The climax is particularly imaginative. ***1/2

*Argentina (Zonda Folclore Argentino): Argentina/France/Spain: Carlos Saura

A documentary on the folk singing traditions of Argentina, in true Saura style, the film is a visual treat and aural mosaic. Some of the melodies keep you engaged. But unless you are a die-hard fan of anything Saura, the operatic treatment, minus any narrative, could lead you to forty winks. One cannot deny the master the basic courtesy of a **1/2 rating, though.

*Bajrangi Bhaijaan: India: Kabir Khan

Well, critics don’t necessarily see all films, whether big or small, at previews or in cinema halls. Sometimes, they have to wait till film festivals. Having attended Kabir Khan’s session at 17th Jio-MAMI MFF, and having had a chat with him at the IFFI inaugural dinner, I felt I just had to catch BB. I had not enjoyed his Ek Tha Tiger very much, and Phantom seemed, largely, an inspired genre, albeit slickly done. Its reputation preceded BB, but that did not come in the way of enjoying the box-office dynamite, which is also a very good film, though the two premises are not seen to co-exist too often. Salman acts way above expectations, Harshaali Malhotra is a natural, Kareena never ceases to surprise and Nawazuddin is brought in well into the second half, to give a further boost to the goings on. He is immensely gifted, but this is not one of his best outings.  Had it not been for a few clichés, the film would have been a much bigger milestone than it is. ***1/2

Continuing short reviews of films, seen at the 46th International Film Festival of India.

(See Festival Diary I, II, III, IV and V for more coverage)

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: India: Zoya Akhtar

Dude, this was released in 2011! So how come you are writing about it now? Simple. I saw it NOW! Daughter of a writer-poet father, one of India’s best-known, and an actress who was famous as a child star, Zoya is perhaps not as famous as her brother Farhan, who is an actor-director-producer-writer. Farhan has worked under his sister’s direction before, and the duo is in great form here too. Very Western in its plot development and very Indian at its heart, ZNMD works wonderfully on several fronts. How you wish the obvious attempt to plug in Spanish tourism, though cleverly integrated, was not so obvious. Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif are admirable, while Abhay Deol is quite good. If you, like me, missed it earlier, do catch up, sooner or later. ***1/2

Sam Klemke’s Time Machine: Australia/USA: Matthew Bate

Now here’s something different. A self-documentation of the life of a man called Sam Klemke, who grew up in Denver, Colorado, over a period of some 50 years, with selected footage from each year! An Australian director got wind of it and bought the rights, and must have had a nightmare editing hundreds (thousands?) of hours of footage. It’s warts and all account, made for the heck of it, and nobody was more surprised than Sam Klemke himself when it went viral. Extremely jerky footage, very fast cutting and a motor-mouth protagonist do not detract from the merits of this off-beat effort. Certainly not every body’s cup of tea. Certainly worth a watch. ***

Lamb: Ethiopia/Norway/France/Germany/Qatar: Yared Zeleke

Heart-rending and compelling. Five countries come together to make this rustic, earthy, rooted in reality tale of a nine year-old motherless boy’s love for a barren lamb amidst the family’s struggle to make both ends meet, in the drought affected Ethiopian countryside. Yared Zeleke is a 37 year-old, New York educated Ethiopian director, and Lamb is his debut film. It draws from his own life and also underlines the religious orthodoxy in the country, which has both orthodox Christian and Jewish population. Shown at Cannes earlier this year, it is Ethiopia’s entry for the 2016 Oscars. Don’t miss it. ****

Mustang: Turkey/France/Germany: Deniz Gamze Ergüven

Five young sisters brave orthodox Turkish elders to assert their sexuality. It will have drastic consequences for some of them, while two valiant sisters will battle the odds with true grit. Unfortunately, there are just four or five genuine moments in the film, where the audience actually responded with thunderous applause. For the rest, it is uneven going. Customs like checking the white nuptial bed-sheet for blood spilled by hymen rupture on the wedding night are still common in some parts of Africa and the Arab world. Not many women audiences will find such scenes easy to assimilate. Feminist, true, but cinematic standards are not too high. **1/2

My Mother’s Blue Sky: Iran: Ali Ghavitan

Where do Iranian directors dig out their subjects from? Just amazing diversity of scripts! This one is about a little boy and his widowed mother, who resist all attempts by the coal mafia to usurp their coal mine. The mother, too, dies leaving the pre-teens boy at the mercy of the unscrupulous boss, who uses cheap child labour to run his furnaces. But help arrives from an unexpected quarter, and the boy is blessed by his late mother. At just 82 minutes, it has some painstakingly written but wholly credible twists. ***1/2

These two films could not hold my interest till the end, and I walked out of them, at different stages.

Moor: Pakistan: Jamshed Mahmood Raza (Jami)

Great choice of subject—pilferage and plunder of the railroad system in Baluchistan—but handicapped by uneven screenplay and slightly stagey performances.

Cinemawala: India: Kaushik Ganguly

Again a good choice of subject—the disappearing single-screen cinemas in and around Kolkata--but painfully slow pace and stereo-typing of characters, especially father and son.

The International Short Film Festival ŻUBROFFKA is the event that creates positive energy and joins together people from around the world! The jubilee opening ceremony features MÚM, the legend of Icelandic electronic scene!

This year's festival is held between 2-6 December 2015. Our rich and diverse program includes more than 250 films, presented in special screenings and  seven competitions: national (Amateur, Students, Independent), international (Eastward Window and Whole Wide World) and global (Kids and Music Video). This year our programmers have chosen 105 films (from approx. 1700), which are going to be assessed by the international jury:

Konstantina Kotzamani - Greek director nominated for a European Film Award for her film "Washingtonia" which also won ŻUBROFFKA Grand Prix last year. Vahram Mkhitaryan - Armenian director and photographer, his films "Shepherd’s Song" and "Milky Brother" have been presented and awarded at film festivals around the world. Magnus von Horn - Swedish director whose feature debut "The Here After” was critcially acllaimed at international festivals (premiered in Cannes this year). Ryszard Jaźwiński– Polish Radio 3 journalist, a large part of his life he spends at the cinema as a viewer, juror and moderator of meetings with filmmakers. Paweł Chomczyk– Bialystok theatrical producer, actor and puppeteer, he also appears in films and radio dramas, co-founder of independent theatres Doomsday Company and Coincidentia Group

Additional programmes include specially selected sets of short films, namely "Chinese Alternative Transformations", "Various Faces of Current Czech Stop-Motion", "Single-Track Moving Force"  (a special cycling programme), "Russian Animated Madness", "Dances with Camera", "Midnight Shorts", "Balkan Blues", "Korean Independent Animation "," Mental Caucasus "," Refugees: Postcards from a Journey.”  There will also be, hugely popular in Bialystok, film breakfasts, this time Venezuelan, Bavarian and Scottish.

At the opening ceremony, the legend of Icelandic electronic scene MÚM are going to play live score for 1930 silent drama “People on Sunday”. The closing ceremony and awards gala will feature a special screening of 3D RARITIES to commemorate 100th anniversary of 3D cinema!

The festival is not just about films, but also energetic music. In Bialystok you will hear: a legendary English FREESTYLERS crew, constantly traversing the world and promoting breakbeat / bass; Munich SCHLACHTHOFBRONX - pioneers of global bass scene who took world playlists by storm with their mix of dancehall, kuduro, electro, baile funk and Balkan rhythms; CLAP! CLAP!– an Italian artist and producer, inflaming dancefloors with his mix of house and world music; LITTLE BIG - Russian rave group, 200%  energy plus amazing performance art (described as new, crazier Die Antwoord!); Jaaa! - sensation at Polish music scene, alluring freak electronic project, formed by musicians associated with Contemporary Noise Quartet, Quintet and Sextet, Napszykłat and Daktari.

During ŻUBROFFKA you will also see Justyna Mielnikiewicz’s photo exhibition: UKRAINE RUNS THROUGH IT; there will be meetings with artists, panel discussions and workshops. During "Seniors vs Dogme" workshop, together with director Grzegorz Jaroszuk we shall find out if seniors can strip cinema of illusion in just a few days. In animated documentary workshop "My Home, My Playground", Ewa Borysewicz will convince young animators that each of us has an interesting story to tell. In another workshop, film critic Jakub Socha will try to teach young participants to write and talk about films.

More information: www.zubroffka.pl
 

By Maria Esteves – November 27, 2015

The Sixth DOC NYC Festival Opening Night U.S. Premiere of MISS SHARON JONES! music documentary by two-time Academy award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, Lifetime Achievement recipient, 2015 DOC NYC, was held at SVA theater, New York, Thursday, November 26, 2015. A special Q&A discussion with director Kopple, Grammy Award nominee singer Miss Jones and the Dap-Kings band moderated by artistic director Thom Powers, DOC NYC, preceded the opening night gala reception. Red carpet arrivals included acting commissioner Luis Castro, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, celebrity guests, crew and cast members.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings new holiday album “It’s A Holiday Soul Party” now available!

By Maria Esteves

The Sixth DOC NYC Festival Opening Night U.S. Premiere of MISS SHARON JONES! directed by Barbara Kopple, Lifetime Achievement recipient, 2015 DOC NYC, was held at SVA theater, New York, Thursday, November 12, 2015. A special Q&A discussion immediately followed with director Kopple, singer Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings band moderated by artistic director Thom Powers, DOC NYC. Presented by executive director Raphaela Neihausen, artistic director Thom Powers, director of programming Basil Tsiokos, DOC NYC, and senior vice president/general manager John, Vanco, IFC Center, the opening night premiere gala reception was held at Lugo Cucina Italiana, New York.

Red carpet arrivals included two-time Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, producer David Cassidy, Grammy Award nominee Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (David Guy, Starr Duncan-Lowe, Saundra Williams, Binky Griptite, Neal Sugarman, Fernando Velez) nutritionist Megan Holken, acting commissioner Luis Castro, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and celebrity guests.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings new holiday album “It’s A Holiday Soul Party” now available!

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!:
singer Sharon Jones.

Cast member nutritionist Megan Holken at
DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere
of Miss Sharon Jones!

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!: (from left rear),
director Barbara Kopple, with cast members Sharon Jones, and the Dap-Kings.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere
of Miss Sharon Jones!: director Barbara
Kopple, right, with Sharon Jones.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere
of Miss Sharon Jones!: director Barbara Kopple, left,
and producer David Cassidy.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss
Sharon Jones!: acting commissioner Luis Castro,
Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!: (L-R)
director Barbara Kopple, artistic director Thom Powers, DOC NYC,
Sharon Jones, and David Guy, the Dap-Kings.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon
Jones! Gala Reception: executive director Raphaela Neihausen,
DOC NYC, right, and director Barbara Kopple.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!:
director Barbara Kopple, right, with Sharon Jones, left,
and background singer Starr Duncan-Lowe, the Dap-Kings.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!: director Barbara
Kopple, right, with Sharon Jones, center, and (from left) background singer Saundra
Williams, singer John Castellano, background singer Starr Duncan-Lowe.

DOC NYC 2015 Opening Night U.S. Premiere of Miss Sharon Jones!: director Barbara
Kopple, right, and guitarist/emcee Binky Griptite, the Dap-Kings.

IFFI Goa 2015, Festival Diary, VII

This is being written the day before the closing ceremony, where the winners will be announced. I have missed Filosofi Kopi (Philosophy Coffee, Indonesia), Labyrinth of Lies (Germany) and Journey to the Shore (Japan/France). Moreover, one competition film has yet to be screened, so my front-runner list may face an upset. But then, the upset can come anyway, if the jury’s opinions differ from mine.

So, these are the films I have seen, and my favourites from the playing eleven I have seen are … read on!

3000 Nights: Palestine/France/Lebanon/Jordan: **1/2

Cinemawala: India: **

Eisenstein in Guanajuato: Netherlands/Mexico: ***

Embrace of the Serpent: Colombia/Venezuela/Argentina: ****

Enclave: Serbia/Germany: ****

Kapo in Jerusalem: Israel: **

Natoker Moto: India: **

The Man Who Became a Horse: Iran: **

Mustang: Turkey: ***

Rams: Iceland: **1/2

Sealed Cargo: Bolivia/Mexico/Venezuela/France: ***1/2

So, so far, it is a toss between Enclave and Embrace of the Serpent. Maybe both will win a prize each.

The countdown has begun!

Aussie film Festival

26-31  Jan. 2016

One film  screening each TUES, WED, THURS, FRI &   SAT  nights

One film screening Saturday Sunday afternoon

Tickets available in advance at the festival info booth.

Registered festival attendees have seats held for each screening

Sponsored prizes for winning audience participants

Sponsored prizes for holidays  could be won by the audience

Sponsored after-parties for VIP registered attendants

Rewards for the deserving! Parties sponsored by contributing company’s for volunteers and VIP attendees of the festival