50th International Film Festival Rotterdam 1 – 7 February | 2 – 6 June 2021

Highlights include Tiger Competition, Big Screen Competition, Ammodo Tiger Short Competition, opening film and Big Talks.

During today’s press conference, International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announced the 16 films selected for the festival’s Tiger Competition, as well as the Big Screen Competition and Ammodo Tiger Short Competition selections. Also revealed: the Limelight lineup and more announcements for the first part of IFFR 2021, taking place from 1 to 7 February, including opening film Riders of Justice by Anders Thomas Jensen and the Robby Müller Award recipient Kelly Reichardt who will also be part of IFFR Talks, next to Benoît Jacquot, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Dea Kulumbegashvili and Nicolás Jaar.
 

Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic: “In a year like no other, filmmakers have gone above and beyond to complete works in challenging circumstances, and there has been no shortage of great films looking for a home at IFFR. This edition’s revised Tiger Competition and Big Screen Competition, as well as the Ammodo Tiger Short Competition, encapsulate IFFR’s spirit as a platform for the discovery of visions that pique our curiosity and capture our imagination. The sheer determination of these striking new voices is exhilarating, and I’m proud that we can bring an outstanding selection to our film-loving audiences in new ways that captivate the collective spirit.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone,

Thank you all again for your support as we embark on the very first iteration of Virtual BIFF! It can be overwhelming to learn so many new things so here is a guide to help you get ready. The festival begins on January 4th and runs through the 10th. 

The first thing you will do is go to https://filmocracy.com/register and create an account using the email you provided to Leslie as your contact email. Once you login, you will instantly have access to the festival on your "My Events" row on your dashboard. Alternatively you can go directly to the festival page here (festival.filmocracy.com/bahamas)

Panels and Q&A's

If you're participating in a panel or Q&A, you will be going to either the Luna Rum Tower (Q&A's) or the West End Pavilion (Panels). You can get to these buildings either by clicking on them from the BIFF Map, OR directly using one of the below links.

Luna Rum Tower (https://events.filmocracy.com/e/luna-rum-tower)

Westend Pavilion (https://events.filmocracy.com/e/westend)

As with anything technical, it's always good to make sure our systems are working prior to needing them. That's why we're inviting you to attend the Bahamas International Film Festival Filmmaker Retreat.

When: Sunday, Jan 3rd 10am - 4pm EST and you do not have stay the entire time. 

Where: Schweppes Filmmaker Retreat (https://events.filmocracy.com/e/schweppes)

Make sure you - are on your desktop and laptop computers for best experience. A mobile device or tablet will not work. Alternatively you can actually click on the links to any of the above buildings (Luna Rum Tower, Westend Pavilion, or Schweppes) and do a system check yourself. All you have to do is create an account and click through the system check. Please note that this is a separate registration from the primary website https://filmocracy.com where you will still need to create an account to access all of the films and other festival events via the map.

Should you have any technical problems, please email events@filmocracy.com

Best regards

Leslie

Leslie Vanderpool

Founder & Executive Director

Bahamas International Film Festival / BIFF

leslie@bintlfilmfest.com

SAVE THE DATE

Jan 4 - 10, 2021

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SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST 2021
PALERMO 24^th– 30^th MAY, 2021

PARTICIPATION RULES

PREMISE

1.        ORGANIZERS

The cultural association Sicilia Queer organises the Sicilia Queer filmfest. Independent festival, it has been supported for some years by the MIBACT - Directorate General for Cinema; by the Regione Siciliana, Department of Tourism Sport and Show Business – Sicilia Film Commission; by the City of Palermo, Department of Culture. Along with them, it receives further support by some associations and private sponsors. 

2.        AIMS

The Sicilia Queer filmfest ­– International New Visions Festival is a project whose aim is to promote the cinematographic culture and the fight against social discrimination, and to protect and sustain the culture of diversity through the promotion of non-compliant movies, exploring horizons in search of a new perspective towards the cinema of the future. The festival intends to promote young actors, emerging and independent cinematography, new forms of expression connected to the experimentation and innovation of traditional and non-traditional languages.  

3.        DATE AND DURATION 

The eleventh edition of the Sicilia Queer filmfest will be held from 24^th to 30^th, 2021, for a total duration of seven days.

4.        PROGRAM

In addition to various non-competitive sections, the festival presents two different competitive sections:

·            Queer Short: International Shorts Competition. Competitive section for works related to queer issues in a broad sense. Any genre is permitted (fiction, documentary, animation, music video, experimental films) except for commercials and TV jingles and titles.

·            New Visions: International Fiction Feature Films and Documentary Competition. Competitive section for debut films and second films, for debuting directors or for films considered as innovative under other points of view, not necessarily related to queer issues.

5.        INTERNATIONAL QUEER SHORT COMPETITION SUBSCRIPTION

a)        A 5€ (five euros/00) entry fee is applicable to submitted films.

b)       The selection will be the sole decision of the direction of the festival.

c)         Only short films relatable to queer issues in a broad sense, completed after January 1^st, 2019 are eligible for the competition. The running time must not exceed 25’ of total duration. The direction of the festival reserves the right to admit, in exceptional cases, works that exceed the running time indicated above.

d)       All films should be entered online through the official entry form which can be filled online on FilmFreeway.

e)        Filmmakers willing to enter the competition must send a DVD or a streaming link or upload a file following the directions in the entry form on FilmFreeway, not later than March 15^th 2021.

f)          If not with Italian dialogues, all preview copies should be subtitled in Italian, English or French. An Italian, English or French dialogue list should be sent along with the DVD/link. All selected films must be subtitled in English.

g)        The direction of the festival will elect an international jury made up of at least three members designated to award the prize for best picture.

h)       During the festival, an Audience award supported by a sponsor of the festival may be established.

i)           In case you’re not able to provide us with a digital preview copy please send your DVD (the date of the postmark will be considered authentic) to the following address:

SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST 

c/o Institut Français Palermo

Via Paolo Gili, 4

90134 – Palermo

ITALY

6.        NEW VISIONS AWARD INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION SUBSCRIPTION

a)        A 10€ (ten euros/00) entry fee is applicable to submitted films.

b)       The selection will be the sole decision of the direction of the festival.

c)         Only fiction feature films and documentaries completed after January 1^st, 2019 are eligible.

d)       All films should be entered online through the official entry form which can be filled online on FilmFreeway.

e)        Filmmakers willing to enter the competition must send a DVD or a streaming link or upload a file following the directions in the entry form on FilmFreeway not later than March 15^th 2021.

f)          If not with Italian dialogues, all preview copies should be subtitled in Italian, English or French. An Italian, English or French dialogue list should be sent along with the DVD/link. All selected Italian films must be subtitled in English. 

g)        The direction of the festival will elect an international jury made up of at least three members designated to award the prize for best picture.

h)       During the festival, an Audience award supported by a sponsor of the festival may be established.

i)           In case you’re not able to provide us with a digital preview copy please send your DVD (the date of the postmark will be considered authentic) to the following address:

SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST 

c/o Institut Français Palermo

Via Paolo Gili, 4

90134 – Palermo

ITALY

7.        SELECTED FILMS AND SHIPPING OF PRINTS

a)        The Scheduling Office will be in charge of requesting a complete documentation. All selected filmmakers will receive a list of the required materials only. These materials will be used in Festival publications and for distribution to the press and Festival guests. 

b)       The requested materials should be sent/submitted as soon as possible upon acceptance of the invitation, but no later than one week after the selection communication.

c)         The shipping costs of all the materials for the selection are at applicant’s expense. The materials of non-selected films will not be returned and the copyright owners commit to authorize the festival offices to store them in the archive of the Sicilia Queer filmfest for the exclusive use of study, cataloguing and recommendation to other festivals. The archive will be available for free consultation. 

8.        FILM SCREENING

a)        The screening schedule will be the sole decision of the Direction of the festival.

b)       The screening format (DCP, Blu-Ray, HD video) must necessarily be sent in PAL version.

c)         All films in foreign language, if not provided with Italian subtitles, will be screened in their original version with Italian electronic subtitles provided by the festival.

d)       The Direction of the festival will be in charge of the publication of a general catalogue of the selected films. 

9.        AWARDS

a)        All the awards are assigned to the directors of the winning works. The competitive sections of the festival will have the following awards:

·            International New Visions Award: International Fiction Feature Films and Documentaries Competition. The award, followed by the related motivations, will be assigned by an international jury of at least three members selected by the Direction of the festival. The final, incontestable judgement of the jury will assign a prize of 1,000.00€ (one thousand euros/00) to the best feature film. 

·            Queer Short Award – International New Visions Competition: The award, followed by the related motivations, will be assigned by a jury of at least three members selected by the Direction of the festival. The final, incontestable judgement of the jury will assign a prize of 500.00€ (five hundred euros/00) to the best short film. 

b)       The producers and distributors, as well as the purchase and sales personnel commit to show on the film promotional material (poster, trailer, website…) the mention of the received award of the festival. The official logo of the awards will be provided by the festival and must not be altered in any way without the authorization of the festival.

c)         The winners will be invited to release a copy of the awarded film (free of charge) for further screenings aimed to the diffusion of the awarded works in the weeks following the festival.

10. GENERAL RULES

a)        The screening copies of the selected works must be sent before April 30^th, 2021 (in case of international shipping), and before May 5^th, 2021 (in case of domestic shipping).

b)       Unless differently agreed, the screening copies of selected films coming from non EU countries must be sent via express courier. Please write on the outside of the package: “No commercial value. For cultural purposes only”. The festival will not accept the shipping of films burdened by customs fees at festival expense.

c)         Filmmakers and/or producers are responsible for the content of their works and by entering the competition they automatically acknowledge that they have fulfilled any obligations towards third parties, including royalties and copyright. 

d)       The selected films, whose availability has already been confirmed by the right holders, cannot be later withdrawn from the festival for any reason. Should the filmmaker or the producers decide to withdrawn a selected film already included in the festival schedule, they will be required to pay the sum of 2,000.00€ (two thousand euros/00) as a compensation for the damages. 

e)        The application to the SICILIA QUEER filmfest implies the unconditional acceptance of every part of the present regulations. 

f)          The Direction of SICILIA QUEER filmfest can take decisions on issues which are not listed above. In case of any controversy, the place of jurisdiction is the Court of Palermo. Please note that, in any case of dispute, only the Italian version of these regulations is legally valid.

The Direction of the Sicilia Queer

IFFI 51, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 01: India's eagerly-awaited cinema fest coming-up soon, in testing times

51st IFFI, scheduled for 16th -24th January 2021, is coming-up in less than two weeks. It is organised, as usual, by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Goa, through the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), and the Indian Film Industry.

International Film Festival of India, IFFI, is reckoned as one of Asia’s oldest and India’s biggest film festivals. IFFI started its journey in 1952. Since then, each succeeding year has provided Indian and the foreign film enthusiasts with an opportunity to share ideas, skills and technology, promoting a common culture of film-making and film-viewing.

With IFFI, Indian cinema interacted with the world cinema, beginning with participation of 23 countries in 1952, and showcasing 186 films from 76 countries in 2019. Growing in consistency with IFFI’s motto; ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The whole world is a family). IFFI is also recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF).

50th IFFI witnessed a mass participation from all walks of life comprising more than 10,000 delegates during the festival. The 50^th edition showcased films from all avenues, in 15 sections, out of which 6 were curated especially, for the Golden Jubilee celebration.

The Festival was a grand success and memorable, as it showcased the retrospective of Mr. Ken Loach & Mr. Takashi Miike, Oscar Retrospectives, Golden Peacock Retrospective and Silent Films, with Live Music, for first time.

International Jury of 50th IFFI was chaired by Mr. John Bailey, Former Academy President, along with eminent members, like Ms. Lynne Ramsay, Mr. Robin Campillo, Mr. Zang Yang and Mr. Ramesh Sippy. Ms. Isabelle Huppert received the Life-Time Achievement Award and Legendary Film-maker from Japan, Mr. Takashi Miike shared his process and style of making films during 'In-Conversation', at 50th Edition of IFFI at Panaji, Goa. Other celebrities like Mr. Wagner Moura, Mr. Goran Paskaljevic, Mr. Kristof Deak also participated in IFFI 2019.

The film Parasite, directed by Mr. Bong Joon Ho, which won four Oscars, was India Première at 50th edition of IFFI 2019, and the Film Pain and Glory, directed by Mr. Pedro Almodovar, screened during IFFI 2019, was nominated for best actor, in the 92nd edition of Oscar awards.

The annual fest, which is usually held in the end of November every year, was postponed by almost two months, on account of the Covid 19 Corona pandemic. So, effectively, there was no IFFI in 2020.

51st IFFI, 2021, is a platform for film-makers to participate, and give shape to their plans to create numerous co-production opportunities, in various aspects of film production. Some will participate physically, with due precautions in place, while many others will participate online, as this is going to be a hybrid event.

51^st IFFI, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 02: Opening, closing and mid-fest films announced

Another Round, by Thomas Vinterberg, will be opening film. The movie, starring Cannes Best Actor Award winner Mads Mikkelsen, is among a star-studded line up of movies being showcased at IFFI. The movie is also Denmark’s official entry to the Oscars.

The festival will also witness the World Première of Mehrunisa. The film, by Sandeep Kumar, will première mid-fest.

Starring formidable actor, Farrukh Jaffar, the movie narrates the story of a woman’s life-long dream.

The festival will close on 24th January, 2021 with the India Première of the historical drama, Wife of a Spy, by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

The Japanese film bagged Silver Lion for Best Director, at the Venice International Film Festival

51st IFFI is being organised from 16th to 24th January, 2021 in Goa.

This edition is being held in a hybrid mode, for the first time, and will comprise both online and in-person experience.

The festival will be loaded with a line-up of famous movies, with a total of 224 films, from across the globe, to be screened.

This includes 21 non-feature films and 26 feature films, under the Indian Panorama films section.

Media registration for the festival has opened only last week, and is available till 10th January, 2021.

Applicants should be above 21 years of age as on 1st January 2021, and should have professional experience of covering major International Film Festivals, such as IFFI, for a minimum of three years.

RIFF 7, Jaipur-Jodhpur, 20-24 March, 01: First list of films announced

RIFF - Rajasthan International Film Festival, is an organisation in the area of international cinema, initiated by RIFF FILM CLUB, a non-profit organisation , which has made and will continue to make will make endeavours towards imparting a novel identity to the world cinema, through conducting film festivals in Rajasthan every year. The organisation will make attempts to connect the world cinema with the common public and making it a social concern, through conducting various seminars, debates and discussions. After six successful editions in Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan, now the festival is going to travel in other cities of Rajasthan, like Jodhpur then Udaipur and Jaisalmer.

Rajasthan International Film Festival ( RIFF ), Jaipur is the biggest Academic and Glamourous Film Festival in Rajasthan. This five-day extravaganza showcases a diverse, language independent, selection of the best feature films, documentaries and short films, from around the world, on themes of Hindi and English and other Rajasthani cultures and identities.

In addition, the festival also features concerts, gala events, film parties, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities, with government representatives, business leaders and local organisations that support film development, film stars, producers, directors, members of the media and more.

Vision and Mission:

RIFF will provide an opportunity to heighten awareness of Hindi and English and Rajasthani cultures and identities to audiences of all cultural backgrounds.

RIFF will present films in their original languages, with subtitles, in an effort to build cross-cultural bridges.

The Festival also aims to provide a platform to young Rajasthanis to showcase their creativity.

The Vision and Mission of RIFF is guided by an advisory board composed of respected political, business, arts, community and media leaders.

Here is the first list of films selected:

(1) CATAKAH - To Revive An Old World: Short National (Student) | India | English | 19 min | Director: Somapriya Bose | Produced By: Annapurna International School of Film and Media

(2) RICKSHAWALA: Feature Regional | India, Bengali / Hindi | 47 min | Director: Ram Kamal Mukherjee | Produced by: Aritra Das, Gaurav Daga, Sshailendra Kkumar

(3) LIFE IN LOCKDOWN: Short National (Student) | India | Hindi | 2 min | Director & Producer: Eshan Harsh

(4) KISS THE GROUND: International Documentary | United States | English | 84 min | Director: Josh Tickell / Rebecca Tickell | Produced by: Josh Tickell, Rebecca Tickell, Bill Benenson, Ryland Engelhart, Darius Fisher

(5) MANE LAI JA: Feature Regional | Gujarati | 137 min | India | Director: Niranjan Sharma | Produced by: Sanjay (Sean) Patel

(6) THE KNOCKER: Short National | India | English | 18 min | Director: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, Produced by: AGP World Pvt. Ltd.

(7) SHUBH RAATRI: Feature National | India | Hindi | 52 min | Director & Producer: Pankaj Singh Tanwar

(8) UNNAMED: Short National (Student) | India | Hindi | 16 min | Director: Tathagat Yadav | Produced by: Priyanshu Hirwani, Purvesh Dewangan, Dheeraj Yadav, Tathagat Yadav

(9) MANNY: Feature International | India, Latvia | English | 69 min | Director: Dace Puce | Produced by: Sonal Sehgal, Dace Puce, Kristele Pudane

(10) CILANTRO'S PICNIC: Short | India | Rajasthani / Hindi | 28 min | Director: Abhijeet Saha | Produced by: Abhijeet Saha / Sultan Saeed Ahmed

 (11) CIVIL SOLDIERS: International Documentary | Nepal | Nepali / English | 25 min | Director: Ganesh  Panday | Produced by: Ganesh Panday, Sharada Gaire

(12) MINEGED (Aloof): International Short (Student) | Israel | Hebrew | 15 min | Director: Itai Jamshy | Produced by: Tomer Meiri

(13) ZARINA: Short National | India | Hindi | 19 min | Director: Clinton Immanuel Banze | Produced by: Timothy Banze / Candida Banze

(14) CHOMP: Animation International (Student) | United States | 5 min | Director & Producer: Navjot Kaur

(15) ON THIS SIDE: Animation International (Student) | United States | 4 min | English | Director & Producer: Navjot Kaur

(16) MAANS: Short (Rajasthani) | India | Hindi / Rajasthani | 32 min | Director & Producer: Prakash Ghai

(17) LAAL (RED): Short Regional (Student) | India | Marathi | 27 min | Director & Producer: Sumeet Patil

(18) AMBEDKAR NAGAR LOCKDOWN: Documentary Regional (Student) | India | Marathi | 23 min, Director & Producer: Sumeet Patil

(19) BIRIYAANI: Feature Regional | India | Malayalam | 96 min | Director: Sajin Baabu | Produced by: UAN Film House

(20) ENIGMA - THE FALLEN ANGEL: Short National | India | English | 37 min | Director & Producer: Abhay Thakur

Founders and Festival Directors of the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF), Mr. Somendra Harsh & Anshu Harsh , said that "The 7th edition of the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) will be held from 20 to 24 March 2021 in a Hybrid Format i.e. Virtually and Physically, in Jaipur and Jodhpur. The Opening Ceremony of the Rajasthan International Film Festival, like the previous year will be held at the Open Theater, of the Jawahar Kala Kendra, in Jaipur, on 20th March 2021. Thereafter Film screenings, Open Forums, Talk Shows and much more will be held for the next four days from 21 to 24 March 2021, in Jodhpur, along with the Closing Ceremony, the grand RIFF Award Night 2021 which will be held in Jodhpur on 24 March 2021.”

Entries are invited for the Short, Documentary, Animation, Feature, Regional, Rajasthani, and Music Album categories, for the 7th Edition of the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF), 2021. The films can be submitted at www.riffjaipur.org. The next deadline is 31 January 2021.

The global pandemic has forced the world’s cinemas to close down. The biggest film festival in Scandinavia is therefore creating The Isolated Cinema on the lighthouse island of Pater Noster. One film enthusiast will be able to enjoy the festival in total isolation on a rock far out at sea, with film as his or her only companion. There will also be exclusive one-person film screenings at two iconic venues in Göteborg.

Our world looks very different today, and so too does Göteborg Film Festival. The 2021 festival will be digital, with audience having access to all the films, premieres and talks via a digital platform. Some participants will also get a real-life experience with the opportunity to watch the films in total seclusion: The Isolated Cinema.

Göteborg Film Festival is looking for someone keen to take on the challenge of spending one week in social isolation on the remote lighthouse island of Pater Noster, a secluded spot out at sea, far away from family, friends and mobile phone. The only company will be the noise of the sea – and the festival films. Everyone is welcome to apply for the spot on Pater Noster via the festival website. The festival will also be offering isolated film screenings for one person at a time at the Scandinavium arena and the Draken cinema.

"The 2021 festival focus, Social Distances, examines the new world that has emerged in the wake of the pandemic, and the role of film in this new world. The creation of isolated film experiences for single-person audiences at iconic sites is a way of ensuring entirely safe festival screenings, but it is also an attempt to process how the pandemic has changed people’s relationships with film. On Pater Noster it’s all about the total isolation experienced by so many people the world over this past year. The sensation of being utterly alone in the Scandinavium arena or Draken cinema ties in with the altered relationship people now have to all those places that normally buzz with activity but are now deserted", says Jonas Holmberg, Artistic Director, Göteborg Film Festival.

Scandinavium

Scandinavium is one of Sweden’s most well-attended arenas, home to the World Ice Hockey Championships and live concerts with artists such as the Rolling Stones and Whitney Houston. During the festival the isolated visitor will sit completely alone in a cinema seat at the centre of the rink while the massive stands gape empty.

‌

The Draken Cinema

The Draken Cinema is the very heart of Göteborg Film Festival and its chosen premiere venue. Every year enthusiastic audiences gather there to enjoy the latest films. This year the gala premieres will each be attended by just one viewer. Sitting alone in the theatre, the visitor will get a personal introduction from the filmmakers before the curtains rise and the film begins.

For the fourth time the REAKTOR International Film Festival will present a broad cinematic spectrum of films from all over the world to the Austrian audience. Focusing completely on the films' cinematic aspects, short films as well as feature length films are qualified to receive the RIFF Awards. The earlybird deadline is at the end of January 2021.

Films can be submitted on FilmFreeway.

IFFI 51, Goa, January 16-24, 2021, 05: Line up of movies for international competition

51st International Film Festival of India has released the line-up of international movies for competition during the festival. The best feature length fiction films from all over the world are selected to compete in the section. It is one of the most important sections of the festival that features some of the most outstanding films of the year, and these 15 films compete for the Golden Peacock, and other awards.

The movies are:

The Domain by Tiago Guedes (Portugal)

Into The Darkness by Anders Refn(Denmark)

February by Kamen Kalev (Bulgaria, France)

My Best Part by Nicolas Maury (France)

I Never Cry by Piotr Domalewski (Poland, Ireland)

La Veronica by Leonardo Medel (Chile)

Light For the Youth by Shin Su-won (South Korea)

Red Moon Tide by Lois Patiño (Spain)

Dream About Sohrab by Ali Ghavitan (Iran)

The Dogs Didn’t Sleep Last Night by Ramin Rasouli (Afghanistan, Iran)

The Silent Forest by KO Chen-Nien (Taiwan)

The Forgotten by Daria Onyshchenko (Ukraine, Switzerland)

Bridge by Kripal Kalita (India)

A Dog And His Man by Siddharth Tripathy (India)

Thaen by Ganesh Vinayakan (India)

These films will compete for various categories of awards, viz:

Best Film (Golden Peacock) – this award carries a cash prize of Rs.  40,00,000/- to be shared equally between the Director and Producer. The Director will receive the Golden Peacock and a Certificate, in addition to the cash component. The Producer will receive a Certificate, in addition to the cash component.

Best Director: Silver Peacock, Certificate, and a cash prize of Rs.15,00,000/-

Best Actor (Male): Silver Peacock, Certificate, and a cash prize of Rs10,00,000/-

Best Actor (Female): Silver Peacock, Certificate, and a cash prize of Rs10,00,000/-

Special Jury Award: Silver Peacock, Certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 15,00,000/- given to a film (for any aspect of the film which the jury wishes to award/acknowledge) or an individual (for his/her artistic contribution to a film). The award, if given to a film, will be given to the Director of the film.

To filmmakers from all over the world, there was never a year that could be as challenging as 2020. Each corner on earth was facing an unpredictable tomorrow and no one could tell the date of everything gets back to normal. Under such a condition, the 17TH San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival didn’t stop its journey. For all the love from filmmakers, participants, and everyone who has been looking forward to SDIKFF every year, the committee held on with strength to offer the best solution for this unforgettable annual event in 2020. 

Since 2003, San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival has a record of 16 continuous years of glory. With its sincere purpose of providing a professional stage for kids-themed films, filmmakers, kids, and youths who have been carrying their film dreams, each step of SDIKFF was a result of all the team members and supporters from worldwide. Many future stars started their film career by shining on the stage of SDIKFF first and being recognized by the industry in the past 16 years. The SDIKFF team would love to keep that spotlight shining brightly even in such a dark period of time.

After a long waiting time for each progressing stage, the 2020 SDIKFF finally made the winners’ list and invited all the participants to send back their acceptance videos from their locations. To guarantee the quality no less than the significant ceremony nights in the past, producing a ceremony video would not be easier than making a film. As an NGO, the SDIKFF team has been working on their best to release the ceremony video as soon as possible. So far, all the videos from hosts, award presenters, and the most important, winners, are all collected and delivered to the editors. Once all the post-production steps were done, the link to the video would be sent to all the past and present participants of SDIKFF. We apologize for such a long waiting and genuinely appreciate your patience with the video. It might look like nothing happened after the winners list announced, but our team has been working on the ceremony non-stop till today.

Please get ready for the upcoming ceremony video, and please check our related videos on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoRpD3qgrI0_-QmjjsLJX261GQtYygwpl

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@sdkidsfilms.org and we would be more than happy to help. At the same time, if you would love to order your certificate ($35 + shipping) or trophy ($175 w/ free digital certificate + shipping), please reach out and we would love to place the order for you.

Happy new year dear friends, we would always have a better tomorrow ahead. Always.

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival : SDFF 2021 June 10 – 13

Shuttered and battered and sheltering in place

We’re reading tea leaves, the Times and the trades.

The calendar said that April would be much too soon

So, we’ve hauled cables, mics & programs forward into June.

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival is moving to June. In light of ever changing COVID-19 conditions, and the impact on our industry, audience and bottom line we’re moving forward on the 2021 calendar.

We all miss the interaction of being together to make a memorable event ... the energy of gathering for shared experience. Already in the works are plans for our hybrid SDFF 2021 festival. If regulations at that time permit, there will be live screenings. Some exciting opportunities for program partnership are being explored. Ticketed events are in development to fill the gap between now and the Festival. The website is evolving into a robust hub for you: our audience, fans, filmmakers and sponsors.

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival #15 intends to resume its March dates in 2022. Thank you for all your enthusiastic support during this chaotic time.

THE TEAM AT SEBASTOPOL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL - SDFF 2021 

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Happy Holidays Season's greetings 2020

 

...Last few days for your shopping !...

 

THE FESTIVAL BEAT MAKER SINCE 1995! SHARING MOTION AND EMOTION

WHAT A BUSY WEEK IT WAS ON THE CIRCUIT ! ... FEEL THE BEAT? ... DO NOT MISS A BIT !

Weekly newsletter N° 947

Featuring news from:

Sundance, Berlin, IFP,  Capri, Cesar, Bahamas Fest, Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris, Oscars, Filmocracy, BFI,  Göteborg, Mip TV, Mipcom, IFFI GOA, RIFF Jaipur Jodphur, MyfrenchFilmFestival, Bridges, Locarno, Sebastopol Doc film fest,  Fantastic Film Festival Australia, Flickerfest,  San Diego Kids Film Fest,  Reaktor int film Fest , Sicilia Queer Filmfest, IFFR, PÖFF24,  Dumbo Film Fest, The Best Shorts, and many more great events which could become your next festival destination.

 

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> BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL January 4-10

Virtual Opening Party with Juan McCartney as Master of Ceremonies

Special Guests:   DJ SIR ALEX CRANBERRIE   SIR ALEX CRANBERRIE is all about wonderful words & magical music: “The time we spend together on a dance floor matters and because of that I prefer to play music with a strong and catchy character.”   I am mostly involved in producing, remixing, scouting, and playing new vibes and fresh talent besides my passion for writing poetry and lyrics. Recently founded the Bahamas and Portugal-ba...

 

BIFF opened with One Night in Miami

Set on the night of February 25, 1964, "One Night in Miami" follows a young, brash Cassius Clay as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay - unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws - spends the evening at the Hampton House Motel in Miami's African Ame...

 

BIFF announces screenwriters finalists to be mentored at BIFF Jan 4 - 10

  Writer Jomo Merritt / United States Journal of A Dinka Boy, Chronicles the experiences of a young boy in Sudan. Triplets NOAH, SIMON and MATTHEW’S mother dies in childbirth. Superstitious beliefs attribute her death and their birth to the fact that their mother was the daughter of an adulteress. Writer Arthur Tiersky / United States I Don't Know, An initially conventional romantic comedy is disrupted by the presence of the screenwriter himself, who ...

 

Industry panels at the 17th Bahamas International Film Festival

Appreciating the Era of Cinema within The Bahamas Monday, Jan 4 @ 7:00pm – 8:00pm Steven Beer/ Leslie Vanderpool / Chris Mortimer / Andrew O'Brien / Audley Hanna Jr. / Lauren Glinton     Budgeting & Line Producing Tuesday, Jan 5 @12:00pm Jib Polhemus - Moderator, Michael Mandaville, Rene Besson Sponsored by Westend Love Beach.   Producing Master Class Tuesday, Jan 5 @ 3:30pm  Denise Robert, Danny Delillo - Mo...

 

Bruno Chatelin joins the Bahamas film fest jury

  Valeria Blanca Actress | Short Film Valeria Blanc is an argentinean actress who currently lives in Mexico City. In cinema she played the lead in the short films “The medal” winner of many international film festivals, including FICG 2020, “In the clouds” winner of more tan 35 international film festivals and other awards, among other shorts ...

 

How to BIFF Virtual 2021 edition

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone, Thank you all again for your support as we embark on the very first iteration of Virtual BIFF! It can be overwhelming to learn so many new things so here is a guide to help you get ready. The festival begins on January 4th and runs through the 10th.  The first thing you will do is go to https://filmocracy.com/register and create an account using the email you provided to Leslie as your contact email. Once you login, you will instantly have access to...

 

Virtual BIFF Lineup

http://www.bintlfilmfest.com/the_festival> DOWNLOAD 2020 FILM GUIDE AS A PDF    A Boy Has Disappeared (پسری که ناپدید شد)   Short Film - Drama Cast: Bamdad Raki, Noushin Masoudian World Premiere   When nothing goes right, a 7 years old boy decides to disappear himself as well as the objects around him. Trailer »Read More   Aida Alimadadi Iran / 2020, 15 mins ...

 

BIFF 2020 takes you to a whole new (virtual) island

BIFF VIRTUAL BIFF will offer a vibrant online interactive space, powered by cutting edge internet platform Filmocracy.  You will experience all the excitement and buzz of the festival while in the comfort of your home, January 4 - 10. Check it out:   BIFF is excited to embrace the new technology and aims to provide the magical, island touch, creating an environment for viewing films, panel discussions, tributes, and industry networking. Film festivals around th...

 

> MARKETS IN FOCUS 

Berlinale 2021 twofold: Online Industry Offer in March, Public Event in June

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the 71st Berlin International Film Festival has developed a new festival format for 2021 and is pleased to be able to hold the festival for the industry and the public. The industry platforms European Film Market, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund will kick off the 71st Berlinale in March with an online offer. In June, there will be a summer event with numerous film screenings for the public audiences – i...

 

 

Digital format for Unifrance Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris

Our Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris, which will begin next week, is part of a long list of festivals and markets whose format has changed radically. We hence wanted to add a day of reflection to the Rendez-vous's usual program, involving participants from all over the world. We look forward to seeing you on January 12, 2021... in digital format. Nearly 90 artists will take part in digital interviews from a physical location in Paris. They will be in contact with 140 internati...

 

Coherent Action, Incoherent Cinema – The Berlin Critics’ Week Conference 2021

  Two-part conference on February 27 and 28, 2021 Films and debates from March 1 – 7, online and optionally at the Hackesche Höfe Kino Berlin   How can conviction be shown? And on the screens and displays out there, do there exist sequences of images that make it possible to think of the future of cinema in the midst of a pandemic? Scheduled for the weekend before the Berlinale’s European Film Market, this year’s Berlin Critics’ Week Confe...

MIPTV 2021 will be online, MIPCOM 2021 will run in hybrid form

  As we head towards a new year and hope for better times, we wish to share with you some of our plans for the 2021 editions of MIPTV and MIPCOM, where we are looking forward to gathering the industry through online and in-person events.   MIPTV – the 58th Spring International Television Market – will take place online in April 2021 as will MIPDoc and MIPFormats.  Details of the all-new Digital MIPTV 2021, i... 

> FOCUS ON INDIA Chronicles by Siraj Syed
 

IFFI 51, Goa, January 16-24, 2021, 05: Line up of movies for international competition

IFFI 51, Goa, January 16-24, 2021, 05: Line up of movies for international competition 51st International Film Festival of India has released the line-up of international movies for competition during the festival. The best feature length fiction films from all over the world are selected to compete in the section. It is one of the most important sections of the festival that features some of the most outstanding films of the year, and these 15 films compete for the Golden Peacock, and other...

 

IFFI 51, Goa, 16-24 January 2021, 04: Pablo Cesar to Chair International Jury

IFFI 51, Goa, 16-24 January 2021, 04: Pablo Cesar to Chair International Jury The 51st edition of International Film Festival of India announced its five-member International Jury today, with eminent film-makers from across the world. The Jury will comprise Pablo Céésar (Argentina) as Chairman, Prasanna Vithanage (Sri Lanka), Abu Bakr Shawky (Austria), Priyadarshan (India) and Ms. Rubaiyat Hossain (Bangladesh). Pablo César is an Argentinian film-maker. He has the critica...

 

RIFF 7, Jaipur-Jodhpur, 20-24 March, 01: First list of films announced

RIFF 7, Jaipur-Jodhpur, 20-24 March, 01: First list of films announced RIFF - Rajasthan International Film Festival, is an organisation in the area of international cinema, initiated by RIFF FILM CLUB, a non-profit organisation , which has made and will continue to make will make endeavours towards imparting a novel identity to the world cinema, through conducting film festivals in Rajasthan every year. The organisation will make attempts to connect the world cinema with the common public and...

 

IFFI 51, 2021, Goa, 16-24 January, 03: Minister Javadekar announces the selection of films in the Indian Panorama

IFFI 51, 2021, Goa, 16-24 January, 03: Minister Javadekar announces the selection of films in the Indian Panorama Information and Broadcasting Minister of the Government of India, Prakash Javadekar has announced the selection of 23 Feature and 20 non-feature films in Indian Panorama for the 51st International Film Festival of India, IFFI. The I&B Ministry organises the annual festival, through its Directorate of Film Festivals, along with the Government of Goa, in Panaji Goa. The annual ...

 

51st IFFI, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 02: Opening, closing and mid-fest films announced

51st IFFI, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 02: Opening, closing and mid-fest films announced Another Round, by Thomas Vinterberg, will be opening film. The movie, starring Cannes Best Actor Award winner Mads Mikkelsen, is among a star-studded line up of movies being showcased at IFFI. The movie is also Denmark’s official entry to the Oscars. The festival will also witness the World Première of Mehrunisa. The film, by Sandeep Kumar, will première mid-fest. Starring formidable ...

 

IFFI 51, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 01: Eagerly-awaited cinema fest coming-up soon, in testing times

IFFI 51, Goa, 16-24 January, 2021, 01: India's eagerly-awaited cinema fest coming-up soon, in testing times 51st IFFI, scheduled for 16th -24th January 2021, is coming-up in less than two weeks. It is organised, as usual, by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Goa, through the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), and the Indian Film Industry. International Film Fe...

> PEOPLE ON OUR RADAR

Cloud 21 PR International and Kultura PR International are will present the fourth annual "Indie Entertainment Showcase 2021"

Cloud 21 PR International and Kultura PR International are will present the fourth annual "Indie Entertainment Showcase 2021" special event that will be held virtually during the time of the Park City, Utah film festival. The online event "Indie Entertainment Showcase 2021" is scheduled for January 30, 2021 at 12 p.m. PST/3 p.m. EST. Register for the complimentary event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-indie-entertainment-showcase-20...

 

Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury announced

  The jury members for the NOK 200,000 (€ 20,000) Nordic TV Drama Screenplay Award 2021 are now official. For the fifth consecutive year, the award for outstanding writing of a Nordic drama series, funded by Nordisk Film & TV Fond, will be handed out during TV Drama Vision, Göteborg Film Festival’s conference event and series market. This year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize jury members comprise the Israeli Emmy Award-winning producer and Head of Intern...

 

 

Juries and lineup announced for the 11th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival!

  MyFrenchFilmFestival is back with 33 films on offer: feature films and shorts, as well as VR works, all subtitled in 10 languages and available worldwide from January 15 through February 15, 2021. Discover the jury members, the film selection, and watch the trailer for the 11th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival! The 2021 International Jury: Franco Lolli: Colombian director, screenwriter, and producer Franco Lolli premiered his first feature film, ...

 

Harry & Meghan land on Spotify for a meaningful HNY 2021 pod-moment

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent Ever since the word “Megxit” was coined off the back of the anxiety-provoking term Brexit, Royal Family ex-pat Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 39, have been tested by the slings and arrows of derisive social media from the UK.  The Daily Mail, which has routinely pilloried Meghan and slated Prince Harry, has even been sued by the couple for these routine thrashings. They could not “put a foot right,” as the say...

 

Olympia Dukakis honored at Bridges Festival

The 11th Bridges International Film Festival ΓΕΦΥΡΕΣ-Παγκόσμιος Κινηματογράφος proudly offered the LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to  OLYMPIA DUKAKIS, Oscar Winning actress and producer of The New Abolitionists, documentary, concerning sex trafficking, directed by her daughter Christina Zorich.  Olympia Mary Dukakis ...

The Locarno Film Festival announces its new selection committees, led by Giona A. Nazzaro

Giona A. Nazzaro, newly appointed Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, has picked the two selection committees to work alongside him in drawing up the program for Locarno74. His choice was endorsed by the Executive Board, and the call for entries has been brought forward to allow the new team to begin work on the selection process very soon. The new selection committees, ratified by the Executive Board of the Locarno Film Festival, will work alongside Giona A. Nazzar...

 

 

 

> FILMS IN FOCUS ...    

IFP transitions to Gotham

New Name. Same Mission.   For over forty years, IFP has worked to advance the groundbreaking, enduring, challenging culture of independent film. BE A PART OF WHAT'S NEXT: Announcing IFP's Transition to The Gotham from Independent Feature Project on Vimeo. New Name. Same Mission.  For over forty years, IFP has worked to advance the groundbreaking, enduring, challenging culture of independent film.   In that time, we’ve grown from a gra...

 

Once Upon a Time in Venezuela, Anabel Rodriguez Rios, Venezuela, 2019

Submitted as the Venezuela official feature entry for the next Oscar, this outstanding documentary filmed over  seven years portrays the slow death of a small village of Congo Mirado situated in the Maracaibo lake, next to the largest oil producing region of Venezuela.  Anabel Rios’ production focuses on the destruction of an impoverished island community by forces beyond its control. Such a presentation could be filmed about the fate of poor communities in many other  cou...

 

Will PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN lift Carey Mulligan to gold this year?

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent She’s won BAFTA awards and other industry accolades, but hasn't gone beyond Oscar Nominee yet; so will 2021 ring in the gold for Carey Mulligan for PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN? With a special 48-hour at home rental period on Jan. 15, the Focus Features film has already generated noise in an odd year for Award Season. Margot Robbie (BOMBSHELL) is a producer for PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, which is directed by KILLING EVE’s Emera...

 

Beyond Borders 2021 - Insights on French film export

In the scope of the 23rd edition of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris, which will be held virtually from January 13 to 15, UniFrance has planned an Industry Day around the export of French Film on Tuesday, January 12. This series of keynotes and round tables will gather French and European industry players to discuss the sales, promotion and exposure of French films in light of the recent market evolutions. --> To be followed on Facebook Live and ...

 

 

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… Regina King changes your outlook on 4 future icons

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent You might flash on Regina King as Cuba Gooding Jr’s fierce wife in the Jerry Maguire movie, but flash-forward to her 2019 Oscar win for IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. Follow that with her directorial turn in ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… to be released on Jan. 15 as an Amazon Original, and fierce has new meaning. Adapted from the same-titled play by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the screenplay, King may have just topped herself in the jump from T...

 

Overview of the US business for the week of January 4th

  Happy New Year 2021.  A reminder that the Chinese New Year will begin on February 12th, and we will be entering the YEAR OF THE OX.  We say goodbye to 2020, the YEAR OF THE RAT. Wonder Woman 1984 led the box office in the first weekend of 2021, just as it did in the last weekend of 2020.  Warner Bros.' superhero sequel directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot brought in an estimated $5.5M in ticket sales, now with a 10-day North American cume of $28.5M. ...

 

 

MISSING PERSON - a James W. Hawk film premieres

MISSING PERSON - a James W. Hawk short film has premiered on YouTube on  December 25 at 10 a.m. and will be available thereafter for those who miss the premiere. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIK1q6vrSmc or search on YouTube for "Missing Person James W. Hawk". MISSING PERSON is the story of a boy and his single father resolving an important issue. It is a heartwarming upbeat story. MISSING PERSON was a semi-finalist at the Waco Family and Faith International ...

 

Overview of the US business for the week of December 28

  The box office ended the year on a high note, led by Warner Bros.' long-anticipated opening of Wonder Woman 1984. The superhero sequel to the 2017 blockbuster reached a new high for movies released to theatres during pandemic times, grossing an estimated $16.7M at 2,151 locations across North America.  Universal took places 2 and 3 with the $2.4M opening of News of the World followed by $1.7M for The Croods: A New Age in its 5th week, now adding up to a Domestic cume of $30.3...

 

Borat backlash: Turkish Americans & Kazakh Cultural Media blows into Hollywood

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent Has the cultural-appropriation boom finally been dropped on the BORAT franchise?  If you are Sacha Baron Cohen right now, you might be wondering. Remarkably, the Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California and the Kazakh Cultural Media Association have teamed up for a public pillorying of the most recent release, BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM. In fact, these organizations want it banned as an award season option for Oscar v...

 

 

> FESTIVALS IN FOCUS 

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival moves to June

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival : SDFF 2021 June 10 – 13 Shuttered and battered and sheltering in place We’re reading tea leaves, the Times and the trades. The calendar said that April would be much too soon So, we’ve hauled cables, mics & programs forward into June.   Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival is moving to June. In light of ever changing COVID-19 conditions, and the impact on our industry, audience and bottom line we’r...

 

120 reasons to attend Chandler Film Festival

 

  120 FILMS: 5 KEY REASONS TO ATTEND    ...

 

 

Fantastic Film Festival Australia returns April 1-14

"A home for mind-breakers, trend-setters, razor-walkers, loose-wires, truth-talkers, trailblazers and envelope-pushers, Fantastic Film Festival Australia returns to Lido Cinemas (VIC) and Ritz Cinemas (NSW) from April 1 - 14, 2021.  Genre cinema has a unique ability to act as a monument; marking the social, cultural and political climate within which it exists. It has the power to conjure truth that is raw; truth that gets under...

 

 

Flickerfest celebrates shorts for 30 years and is again rolling out the red carpet at Bondi Beach

  Flickerfest, Sydney’s Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA recognised short film festival, celebrates 30 years in 2021 and is again rolling out the red carpet at Bondi. Join us this summer as we debut a bespoke COVID Safe festival garden, including The Famous Spiegeltent indoor cinema, an outdoor lawn cinema and festival garden bar.  With over 200 shorts screening across 17 competitive programmes and showcase sessions, Flickerfest 2021 features a glittering lineup of stars...

 

The 2020 San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival Award Ceremony is Around the Corner~!

To filmmakers from all over the world, there was never a year that could be as challenging as 2020. Each corner on earth was facing an unpredictable tomorrow and no one could tell the date of everything gets back to normal. Under such a condition, the 17TH San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival didn’t stop its journey. For all the love from filmmakers, participants, and everyone who has been looking forward to SDIKFF every year, the committee held on with strength to off...

 

 

 

RIFF 2021 | Earlybird Deadline is at the end of January

For the fourth time the REAKTOR International Film Festival will present a broad cinematic spectrum of films from all over the world to the Austrian audience. Focusing completely on the films' cinematic aspects, short films as well as feature length films are qualified to receive the RIFF Awards. The earlybird deadline is at the end of January 2021. Films can be submitted on FilmFreeway. ...

 

 

Göteborg Film Festival isolates film enthusiast for 7 days on remote lighthouse island

Imagine beeing locked down in a lighthouse for a week, alone no phone, no facebook with 60 films to watch from the Göteborg Film Festival? Tempted try your luck and apply online. The global pandemic has forced the world’s cinemas to close down. The biggest film festival in Scandinavia is therefore creating The Isolated Cinema on the lighthouse island of Pater Noster. One film enthusiast will be able to enjoy the festival in total isolation on a rock far out at sea,...

 

 

 

Sicilia Queer filmfest 2021 - International New Visions and Queer Short Competition

SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST 2021 PALERMO 24th– 30th MAY, 2021 PARTICIPATION RULES PREMISE 1.        ORGANIZERS The cultural association Sicilia Queer organises the Sicilia Queer filmfest. Independent festival, it has been supported for some years by the MIBACT - Directorate General for Cinema; by the Regione Siciliana, Department of Tourism Sport and Show Business – Sicilia Film Commission; by the City of Palermo, Department of Culture. A...

 

 

 

Capri Hollywood 2020 Online edition line-up

All screenings will be broadcast on the platform   www.mymovies.it with free access   DECEMBER 26   16.30 - Nocturne by Gianfranco Rosi (100 ') 17.30 - Almost Christmas by Francesco Lagi (87 ') 18.30 - Crossroads of Vanni Gandolfo (34 ') 19.00 - Small Town Wisconsin by Niels Muller (105 ') 20.30 - Waiting for the Barbarians by Ciro Guerra (112 ')     DECEMBER 27th   14.00 - Building B...

 

IFFR reveals competitions and February lineup for expanded 50th edition

50th International Film Festival Rotterdam 1 – 7 February | 2 – 6 June 2021 Highlights include Tiger Competition, Big Screen Competition, Ammodo Tiger Short Competition, opening film and Big Talks. During today’s press conference, International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announced the 16 films selected for the festival’s Tiger Competition, as well as the Big Screen Competition and Ammodo Tiger Short Competition selections. Also revealed: the Limelight lineup...

 

PÖFF24 in numbers: attendance over 100 000

We are extremely glad to end this year with the news that regardless the extremely difficult year, we broke our attendance record as it's estimated that 101 833 physical and virtual attendances took place during #PÖFF24 and Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.   With mentions in over 6000 articles in 71 languages detected by the Meltwater media monitoring service, the global potential media audience of the festival of 2020 stands ...

 

2021 Sundance Film Festival: Full Program Announced

72 Features, 50 Shorts, 4 Indie Series, 14 New Frontier Projects to Debut on Feature-Rich Digital Platform & Satellite Screens Nationwide Top L–R: Ma Belle My Beauty; Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir; We’re All Going to The World’s Fair. Bottom L–R: Little Miss Fate; To Miss The Ending; Would You Rather. The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent work selected across the Feature Film, Short Fi...

Sundance unveils details for core online festival plans

Festival Offers Robust Online Platform and Announces Screening Partnerships with Independent Cinemas and Cultural Organizations The nonprofit Sundance Institute has unveiled plans for the seven-day 2021 Sundance Film Festival, offered digitally via a custom-designed online platform (festival.sundance.org) alongside drive-ins, independent arthouses, and a network of local community partnerships. The online expression of the Sundance Film Festival will provide global access for storytellers an... 

> AWARDS WATCH 

Dumbo Film Festival's Screenwriting Competition quarterfinalists

Dumbo, New york Screenwriting Competition QUARTERFINALISTS The Dumbo Film Festival in Brooklyn announced today the quarterfinalists for its 2020 Screenplay Competition, presented by Event Horizon Films. Each script was reviewed by working industry professionals at top rep agencies (ICM Partners, A3 Artists Agency, Gersh, etc.) and graded based on strength of plot, characterization, format, originality, style, dialogue, pacing and current market potential.  Next Announce...

 

 

25th edition of Capri Hollywood concludes with awards

At completion of the just ended 25th edition of Capri Hollywood – The International Film Festival, it was announced today that Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” a compelling historical legal drama revolving around the trial of a group of protesters accused of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, has been named Best Picture of the Year.  The awards were announced here today by the Italian music legend and AMPAS member Tony Renis, al...

 

RIFF 2020 Awards

RIFF Awards for Best Editing, Best Screenplay & Best Director It gives us great pleasure to congratulate the winners of the RIFF Awards for their works. The Best Screenplay Award goes to Vahid Alvandifar’s dark comedy Cover about a surprising resurrection, the narration of which captivates through its timeless universal quality. The jury has awarded Best Editing to 1982 by Lucas Gallo, a smart and highly topical reflection on media mechanisms in war, based on gripping contemporary f...

 

The Best Shorts Competition Announces Latest Winners!

  The Best Shorts Competition is proud to announce the latest winners. The Best Shorts Competition puts filmmakers first and provides a direct opportunity for recognition and publicity for high quality productions. It is international in scope and has granted awards to producers in Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, ...

 

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL AND MARKET NEWS  

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival April 18 – 25, 2021

January 15, regular Deadline  

We are now accepting submissions for the 2021 Julien Dubuque Film Festival and awarding over $25,000! You can submit your film via filmfreeway, or contact us for more information.

Known for it's quaint location, friendly staff/volunteers, inquisitive audience, consistent communication, multiple screening opportunities, workshops, panels and other amazing networking opportunities and parties; it's no wonder JDIFF was voted one of the coolest film festivals and one of the top 50 worth the submission fee by MovieMaker Magazine multiple times. JDIFF also ranks as one of the top 100 reviewed festivals by FilmFreeway. JDIFF is ALL about the independent filmmaker!

Email I  467 Bluff Street Dubuque, IA 52001 United States I Website I Profile on filmfestivals.com I Facebook I Twitter I SUBMIT

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New York City Independent Film Festival (NYCIndieFF)

January 15, 2021  Late Deadline 

The New York City Independent Film Festival (a.k.a. NYC Independent Film Festival, NYCIndieFF) is an annual film festival held in New York City. It was founded in 2009 by Dennis Cieri and Bonnie Rush. The festival has screened over 1,800 movies from 81 different countries since it began in 2010.

The Festival is focused on low budget and emerging, yet overlooked filmmakers, bringing their talent to culturally enrich the NYC community. The Festival aims to create the largest gathering of true indie filmmakers.

NYCIndieFF honors the Best in Category which includes Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Narrative, Best Super Short, as well as Best Director and Best Screenplay.

With a new section: the Covid-19 Diaries: tell us your story of hope and survival during the Corona lockdown. Short under 10 minutes

NYCIndieFF provides a showcase for the best in independent cinema, including short films, feature films, music videos, and animated works. With panels, parties and a week-long gathering of fellow indie filmmakers NYCIndieFF is the place to be May 16 - May 23, 2021.

Website I Profile on filmfestivals.com I Facebook I Twitter I Email  contact I  SUBMIT

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54th WorldFest Houston April 16-25, 2021

Late entry January 15, 2021  

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival offers international competition in Ten Major Competition Categories! Features, Shorts, Docs/Business Films, Student, Experimental, Screenplays, New Media, TV Production, TV Commercials, & Music Videos! More than 200 sub-categories for fair competition. Only at WorldFest-Houston are you selected as a Remi Award Winner on the basis of your numerical score from the juries, which greatly increases your chance to win a Remi, unlike other festivals that only give out one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze! Only 10%-15% of entries actually win the coveted Remi Award!

 

You are welcome to enter  Online via our online entry platform - www.worldfest.org, or via FilmFreeway.com - we now accept entries via Vimeo & YouTube, in addition to DVD/BR Entries, & USB/Jump Drives. Screenplay entries must be bound. We will confirm when we receive your entry and we provide personal Jury Results, and festival details when you are selected for screening at the 53rd WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival!

WorldFest Houston's blog I Website: http://www.worldfest.org I Submit I Facebook I Twitter I Contact Hunter Todd

> YOUTUBE FEST CIRCUIT CHANNEL

> YOUTUBE FESTIVAL TRAILERS PARK

> THE CANNES CHANNEL

> "THE BEST FOR FESTS :
ONES TO WATCH FOR FESTIVAL CONSIDERATION

Only Human HOMO Directed by Igor Ivanov

Homo Adorans, Homo Amans , Homo Economicus, Homo Faber, Homo Ludens,Homo Ridens : which one are you which one are they really?

ONLY HUMAN – Homo… stages six profiles in six sequencess  cleverly interwoven. One dramatic story in 6 episodes featuring desperate characters in their quest for survival and love, or redemption. The jobless graduate becomes a grave-digger, the grieving widow a nun, the priests gamble and gangsters rule the courts. Only the lonely child may find some affection when hope springs eternal.

Profile on filmfestivals.com I Ask for a screener I Trailer I    

Safeguard: An Electoral College Story Documentary by Matthew Taylor

USA September 2020 77minutes

How do United States' presidential elections really work? And what would happen if we changed the rules? In Safeguard: An Electoral College Story, award-winning filmmaker M.A. Taylor answers those questions.

Website I Profile on filmfestivals.com I Ask for a screener I Trailer I EPK I Save our States I Facebook I  

IRIS by Diana Rodriguez

USA - Fantastic drama thriller: 104 minutes - first feature film

Alice Kremelberg (Orange Is The New Black) stars as the eponymous Iris, and gives an outstanding lead performance as this tortured soul dreadfully awaiting the death of her Aunt Adelaide, played by Mary Looram (Like Father, Braid). As Aunt Adelaide slowly withers away in hospice, Iris continues her day to day routines of working in an antique shop, and scrolling online for connections through an online dating app. However, Iris has an ulterior motive behind her digital search for suitors, and it’s not love. Iris has a hunger, and she needs to feed. On every date she goes on, she sizes her match up and determines their strength of character on a criteria of what she considers basic human decency. And if any of her dates fail to meet her standards, then that’s the end of them. They’re dinner. That’s just how Iris operates.

But complications arise when Iris meets Tom, played by Grant MacDermott (Hustlers, Mr. Robot), at a support group meeting for people dealing with the lingering effects of grief. Tom is a good hearted man coping with crippling trauma. As their chaste relationship develops, Iris is confounded by a debilitating emotional dilemma. She yearns for the love she once lost, but recognizes the potential in having a strong bond with Tom. Unfortunately, her primal nature exposes itself in the heat of lust, causing her deep seated vampirism to emerge and overtake her instincts. So she can never truly express her true feelings to Tom without it resulting in his death. What’s a timeless girl to do in the big city?

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ANGIE: LOST GIRLS by Julia Verdin

USA, 107 minutes, June 2020

One girl’s nightmare. A nationwide reality.

After escaping from a sex trafficking ring, one teenage girl struggles to reconnect with herself and her family after her ordeal. Ultimately, in order to find herself and rescue her helpless friends, she must confront her own fears and help lead the police to her traffickers - no matter the cost.

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FINDING MANNY by Kacey Cox

Canada, 56 minutes documentary, june 2020

The chance discovery of an online article sends a Holocaust survivor on an unexpected trip to visit the orphanage where he was rescued to after the war.

 

Manny Drukier narrowly escaped the war by jumping from a “death train” at age 16, finding refuge at a unique home for orphans and displaced children. 71 years later, Manny—who lives in Toronto—is tracked down by a German researcher who has dedicated a decade of her life to locating the surviving children from the home. She invites Manny to return to the orphanage, which has since become a grade school, to share his story with the next generation. Manny must now revisit the places of his darkest memories, to reconcile the past and educate the future.

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BLUE MOTEL Award winning script by Ted Campbell
Feature film in production by Doval Bacall Films

Grand Winner Your Script Produced season 1  Platinum Remi Award WorldFest Houston

When his bank robber father injured in a recent heist seeks refuge at the desolate motel where he works, a motel clerk is forced to confront the truth behind a botched heist from his past.

Originally from Boston, Mass, Ted Campbell is a screenwriter and director who specializes in thoughtful, character driven thrillers. Ted will direct his heist thriller "Underground" with producer Ellen Wander of Film Bridge International. His contained, crime thriller “Blue Motel” won the Grand Prize in Your Script Produced screenplay competition. Ted will direct “Blue Motel” with Doval Bacall Films producing. Ted is a member of ISA’s Development Program. And was named to ISA’s Top 25 Screenwriters To Watch list.

Ted finds inspiration in the works of the great noir writers Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald as well as his screenwriting idols Scott Frank, Shane Black, Tony Gilroy and Richard Wenk.

Ask for Ted Campbell’s script

SAVING NORTH - A RUSSIAN AMERICAN ODYSSEY by J Mitchell Johnson

Russia USA Feature documentary April 2020 Director's cut: 79 minutes

What happened, what can happen to the centuries old amazing wooden churches in north of Russia. Photographer Richard Davies trips to Russia and USA tell stories on human soul, hope and russian american…cooperation in restoring beauty.

Saving North is the story of a struggle for human and cultural survival in the mysterious and insular world of the Russian North. An outsider from England, photographer Richard Davies, enters this mysterious and vast region of the world with the hope of documenting both the glory and the tragic demise of its rapidly disappearing Wooden Churches. As Davies meets and becomes friends with the some of his Russian photo subjects, he finds himself getting emotionally involved with their struggle. He decides to put down his camera and get involved with church restoration.

Early on in our story Davies befriends the famed Russian architect Alexander Popov who is deeply involved in working to preserve and share with the world the beauty and value of these ancient structures. Popov has uniquely discovered and reinvigorated both the tools and processes that restore life back to the North. But it’s an uphill battle against strong and powerful forces.

Together, Davies and Popov uncover the circumstances that led to the demise of the churches, and then join a small but growing group of passionate Russian citizens and outsiders from all walks of life who join the cause of Saving North.

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SEKURITAS written and directed by Carmen Stadler

Romantic dark comedy 117 minutes 2019 Switzerland

Starring Kathrin Veith, Duraid Abbas Ghaieb, Jeanne Devos, Daniel Kasztura, Vilmar Bieri, This Maag

First feature film by Swiss director Carmen Stadler, produced by Claudia Wick for Abrakadabra Films AG

An office complex wishes for a love story before demolition. It chooses the lonely misfits for this story; those who go through security rounds at night, scrub toilets, experiment with recipes or rehearse their final speech. A poetic and twisted kaleidoscope that centers around desire, security and melodious noises which move through the entire fabric of the building.

 

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Marcel Duchamp: The Art of the Possible written  and directed by Matthew Taylor

USA 2019 Documentary 89 minutes

Duchamp: Art of the Possible is a feature documentary that explores the life, art, and philosophy of the 20th century’s most influential modernists, Marcel Duchamp, and how his work single-handedly changed the course of art, and over time, culture itself.

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Marcel Duchamp doc will screen at Fort Lauderdale Film Festival November 6 – 22

Marcel Duchamp doc ready to screen screen at Vancouver International Film Festival Sept 24 - October 7th

Marcel Duchamp doc will screen at UNAFF (October 15 – 25)

Marcel Duchamp the Art of the Possible selected for outdoor screenings at On Art Film Festival in Poland

Marcel Duchamp The art of the possible selected at Alexandre Trauner ART/Film Festival (Oct 13-18)

Marcel Duchamp the Art of the Possible selected for The Raleigh Film & Art Festival (October 2 – 4, 2020)

 

THE MYSTERY OF A BURYAT LAMA, directed by Elena Demidova

The documentary film «THE MYSTERY OF A BURYAT LAMA», directed by Elena Demidova, tells a story of one of the most famous lamas, Pandido Khambo Lama Dashi Dorzho Itigelov. His body is recognized as one of the sacred Buddhist objects of Russia and is being kept in the Ivolginsky Datsan. The Buddhist monks approach him as a living person.

 

Itigelov was born in 1852 and began his religious education at the age of sixteen years. In 1911, he was appointed the twelfth Pandido Khambo Lama as the Head of Russian Buryat Buddhists. Between 1913 and 1917, Itigelov was prominent in the spiritual life of Russian Empire. He took part in the Tercentenary celebrations of the House Romanov and opened first Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg. During First World War Itigelov presided over the society of "Buryat brothers", an organization helping the Russian army. After October Revolution, Itigelov resigned as head of the Buddhists. In 1927, aged seventy-five years, he asked other lamas to begin meditation ceremonies and funeral rites, since he said he was about to die. Itigelov left a testament asking to be buried as he was at the time of his death, sitting in lotus posture. On September 11, 2002, Itigelov's body was eventually exhumed in the presence of the leaders of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia and transferred to Ivolginsky Datsan.

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THE CREEPY LINE a film by M.A.Taylor 2018

"A film that Google does not want you to see  - filmfestivals.com Best for Fest"

An eye-opening documentary, The Creepy Line reveals the stunning degree to which society is manipulated by Google and Facebook and blows the lid off the remarkably subtle – hence powerful – manner in which they do it.

The Creepy Line is a title culled from the words of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, when during a 2010 interview he explained Google’s code of conduct: “The Google policy on a lot of things is to get right up to the creepy line and not cross it.”

However, as Dr. Robert Epstein explains in the film, “Google crosses the creepy line every day”. 

Offering first-hand accounts, scientific experiments and detailed analysis, The Creepy Line examines what is at risk when these two tech titans have free reign to utilize the public’s most private and personal data to manipulate society.

There is no question that the “creepy line” is getting ever-creepier, and that the tech giants have crossed it.

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Sharkwater: Extinction by Rob Stewart Documentary
Canada 2018
 

Rob Stewart “Conservation is the preservation of human life on earth. And that, above all else, is worth fighting for” Watch Rob Stewart doing what he loved most of all, swimming with sharks, in exclusive footage from his third film, Sharkwater: Extinction.

Sharkwater: Extinction is a follow up to his first two award-winning films, Sharkwater and Revolution. Sharkwater exposed the devastating issue of shark finning, while Revolution brought the destructive effects of Ocean Acidification to light.

Rob taught the world to not fear sharks, through his iconic images of hugging these majestic creatures and free diving with them.

www.Sharkwater.com     www.TheRevolutionMovie.com

 

Revolution by Rob Stewart 

over 40 festival wins so far

Eco Documentary feature film by Rob Stewart April 2015, 82 minutes (Sharkwater)
Revolution is a film about changing the world. The true-life adventure of Rob Stewart, this follow-up to his acclaimed SHARKWATER (36 festival wins) documentary continues his remarkable journey; one that will take him through 15 countries over four years, and where he'll discover that it's not only sharks that are in grave danger -- it's humanity itself.

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> NEWS IN FRENCH   

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Nous sommes très fiers des bonnes relations et des partenariats signé avec les plus grands festivals et marchés : Venice Production Bridge, FestForums Santa Barbara, AFM, Animaze, Tallinn Black Night International Film Festival, Houston WorldFest, Fantasporto, et Cannes Market bien entendu et beaucoup d'autres. Nous sommes heureux de pouvoir grace à ces parteneriats pouvoir apporter news et dailies à ... 

 

Robert Hossein l'artisan d'une formidable épopée professionelle s'est éteint

Véritable passionné, Robert Hossein a construit sa carrière comme une formidable épopée. C’est avec une grande tristesse que nous avons appris sa disparition aujourd’hui. Rompu aux cinémas de quartiers, le jeune Robert Hossein suit le Cours Simon pour devenir comédien. Sa route croise celle des illustres Jean-Paul Sartre, Michèle Morgan, Jean Genet et Boris Vian. Ses débuts se font au cinéma en 1948 avec de pet...

 

 

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> MOVIES THAT MATTER

Promoting Movies that Matter / des films qui font grandir...

With contributions from Abbé Jean-Luc Maroy, Alex Deleon, Bruno Chatelin

French English

Les raisins de la colère (The Grapes of Wrath) de John Ford (USA, 1940)

Les films qui ont une densité spirituelle évidente mettent souvent en scène le voyage, l’itinéraire initiatique, mais aussi la souffrance qu’implique de quitter sa terre, ses racines, son pays, son existence. On se rend compte, avec Les raisins de la colère que la modernité a constitué le terreau indispensable de la modernité liquide (Zygmunt Baumann). Le film est en effet réalisé en 1940, bien avant que la phi...

 

La fièvre dans le sang d’Elia Kazan (Splendor in the Grass, USA, 1961)

Le désert rouge de Michelangelo Antonioni (Il deserto rosso, Italie, 1964).

Le Cabinet du docteur Caligari (Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Allemagne, 1919)

The Sunset Limited (Hbo films) de Tommy Lee Jones (USA, 2011).

Le procès du siècle (Denial) de Mick Jackson (UK, USA, 2017)

La Légende du saint buveur (La Leggenda del santo bevitore) d'Ermanno Olmi (Italie, 1988)

Le Désert des Tartares (Il deserto dei Tartari) de Valerio Zurlini (Italie, 1976)

Le Guépard (Il Gattopardo) de Luchino Visconti (Italie, 1963)

Les raisins de la colère (The Grapes of Wrath) de John Ford (USA, 1940)

La Source (Jungfrukällan) d’Ingmar Bergman (Suède, 1960)

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Interview video de Bruno Chatelin pendant le Festival de Cannes (virtuel) 2020! L'histoire du lancement du film Boyz'n The Hood à Cannes que j adore raconter car c est l un des plus beaux contes de fées qu il ma été donné de rencontrer dans ma carière de distributeur de films! Une voie royale ouverte par Cannes qui a conduit le film et son réalisateur, John Singleton, jusqu 'aux Oscars... The Boyz'n The Hood launch in Cannes tol...

For its 2021 edition, BKK DOC has chosen to opens the Awards competition
to documentaries addressing ASIA, ASIANS and all related issues under the tag line: VISIONS ON ASIA

Submit now and enjoy a super low entry fee:
www.filmfreeway.com/bkkdoc

BKK DOC 2020 award winners are eligible for a fee waiver,
Nominated to the Official Selection enjoy a 50% discount on the entry fees,
Submitters to BKK DOC 2020 can ask for a 25% rebate on the entry fees.

Check www.bkkdoc.com for more details

Also, the BKK DOC Team extends its sincere Thanks to all who contributed to the success of BKK DOC 2020

“We are so excited to work with this friendly location, we decided to start the 19th Annual Festival a day earlier, on Tuesday March 23rd,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival. “This partnership will allow us to bring the live energy of this beloved festival to our fans in Union County.”

The Cranford Theater Joins the Garden State Film Festival

The globally recognized Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) returns with their 19th edition in 2021 with two new surprises: adding a new sixth day and welcoming their newest screening location, the Cranford Theater.  The festival will entail independent films from around the globe, plus announcing the winners of the screenplay and movie music competitions, the Rising Star award winner, as well as parties and panel discussions. 

“We are so excited to work with this friendly location, we decided to start the 19th Annual Festival a day earlier, on Tuesday March 23rd,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival. “This partnership will allow us to bring the live energy of this beloved festival to our fans in Union County.” 

Producers are working with F&S Digital to make GSFF 2021 a hybrid virtual and live event.   The Cranford Theater will kick off the festival March 23rd with a Children’s Film screening at 4 p.m. The titles are still being chosen but are set to include Arthur Futuro, an engaging half-hour comedy about middle school student Arthur Futuro, who is told by his future self he has to change things in the present to save his friends. Films geared for adults will begin at 7 p.m.      

The screenings are planned to be held in-person. Should state mandates require the cancellation of any live events, ticket holders will be given virtual access to the GSFF 2021 event. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our guests to be a part of the Garden State Film Festival at the Cranford Theater, Cranford’s Hometown Art Theater.” said Doreen Sayegh, owner of the Cranford Theater. “This festival represents the best in both independent films and in its dedication to the many ways the arts connect, heal, entertain and educate communities, which are principles we both share.” 

Over two decades, the globally recognized Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) has become one of the premier film festivals on the East Coast, regularly attracting crowds of 25,000 or more to multiple venues all over Asbury Park. During the height of the pandemic, it became the first and only film festival in the world to not cancel and offered ticket holders a full event—over 240 films, filmmaker Q&As, even an awards presentation—in a virtual format. 

For tickets to the Cranford Theater event, and for the live/virtual event, visit gsff.org, where you’ll soon be able to see synopses of the films, read about the honorees, see great photos and plan your busy schedule of entertainment. You can also download the free GSFF app to your phone. 

Founder Diane Raver adds, “It only happens once a year and it goes by in a flash. Don’t miss this entertaining and important event that celebrates the creative spirit.”

The Cranford Theater is located at 25 N. Ave. W in Cranford. For more information visit cranfordtheater.com or call 908-588-2477.