A winner of 13 Australian “Oscars,” a French thriller that played in the prestigious closing night slot at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals, and the latest documentary from the woman who took the doc form into the mainstream are among the more than 50 narrative, documentary and short films to be screened at the 2005 HIGH FALLS FILM FESTIVAL, which takes place in Rochester, NY, November 9-13. High Falls is a festival with a difference – its mission. Susan B. Anthony lived in Roches...
The Forsaken Land, a controversial film set in war-torn Sri Lanka, has won Best Picture award at Bangkok’s 3rd annual World Film Festival (WFF) which ends today (Monday 24 October).The Forsaken Land : Directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara and produced by Philippe Avri, the film had already achieved international recognition by winning the Camera d’Or award at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, was selected at Toronto and was a clear favourite with Thai audiences.“Cannes was extremely kind ...
HOT DOCS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF LEADING DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMMER SEAN FARNEL TO POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is proud to announce that, from an international field of highly talented applicants, leading documentary programmer Sean Farnel has been appointed the organization's new Director of Programming. Currently a staff programmer specializing in documentary films and learning programmes with the Toronto International Film Festival Gr...
For the 6th consecutive year, the $25,000 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation cash prize for a feature-length film that explores science and technology themes in fresh, innovative ways and depicts scientists and engineers in a realistic and compelling fashion will be presented at the Hamptons International Film Festival. This year's recipient of the Sloan Feature Film Prize is KARDIA, a Canadian film written and directed by Su Rynard, produced by Paul Barkin of Toronto-based production company Alcina Pic...
Formosa, the multi-award winning new comedy/drama from first time feature director Noah Kadner, whose filmmaking resume includes visual effects work on big budget films like X-Men and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, has been selected to kick-off the opening night special event and awards ceremony at the upcoming 2005 FAIF Film Festival (Foundation for the Advancement of Independent Films) in Hollywood, Saturday October 8, 2005. The selection of “Formosa” to kick off the FAIF Film Fest...
The Sunday morning festival reports in the Spanish papers, whose writers represent a cross-section of leading Spanish film critics, were nearly unanimous in denouncing the prizes dished out the day before by the Angelica Huston led official competition jury. The main prize, which went to the Czech film "Something Like Happiness", came in for the strongest condemnation. Three critics used the word "absurdo" (absurd) to describe the top award, one going so far as to say that there were at least e...
2005 Tahoe/Reno International Film Festival’s “Pages to Pictures ” Short Script Contest! With kudos and thanks to all who entered this unique competition, the Tahoe/Reno International Film Festival (T-RIFF) has announced the winner, finalists and those who made honorable mention. Congratulations to Wendy Whitbeck and all of you who placed in this competition! Wendy’s short script will be produced during the festival and screened at our premiere venue, Sand Harbor Starlight Amphitheater, ...
21st WARSAW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL7-16 October 2005The programme of this year’s Festival, which will last 10 days, includes 130 film premieres from 50 countries. The festival cinemas are the Relax, Luna (rooms A and B), Silver Screen (rooms 3 and 4), and Kultura.PROGRAMMEHonouring the opening of the 21st WIFF with his presence will be Wim Wenders, one of the greatest artists of world cinema, president of the European Film Academy. He will present his latest picture, Don’t Come Knocking;...
7th International Panorama: 24/9 to 1/10 The International Panorama of Independent Creators appeals to young creators and it offers them the chance to present prolusions or not, with the only precondition to respect the culture and values of every population, to creators who do not have the financial support of governmental institutions and big studios. In this way the International Panorama is concerned with the “creator” cinema and the presented films are little “gems” of the internati...
The 30th Toronto International Film Festival announced the Canadian and International awards on September 17, 2005 during its annual Awards Brunch.The People’s Choice Award, voted on by Festival audiences – known worldwide for their enthusiasm and love of cinema went to Tsotsi to Gavin Hood's TSOTSI (UK/South Africa), based on the novel by Athol Fugard and traces six days in the lonely, violent life of Tsotsi (meaning "thug"), a ruthless, young gang leader. Tsotsi means “thug” or “gang...
With a total of 335 films (including 109 world and 78 North American premieres), from 52 countries, screened over 10 days, the 30th Toronto International Film Festival wrapped on Saturday, September 17 with an awards cocktail at the Hilton Hotel Toronto. PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDThe People’s Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences – known worldwide for their enthusiasm and love of cinema. The 2005 award goes to Gavin Hood's TSOTSI (UK/South Africa), based on the novel by Athol Fugard and ...
Rio International Film Festival 2005 September 22 through October 6The Rio Int'l Film Festival (Festival do Rio), taking place in one of the world's most famous cities September 22 - October 6, will light up Rio de Janeiro with the brightest and best of world cinema. The biggest and most important showcase for Latin American cinema, and one of the biggest in the world, this year's festival will play host to more than 300 features and documentaries from 60 countries with screenings spread over 35...
THE 11TH ANNUAL TEMECULA VALLEY INT’L FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL September 16th and 17th Indie Music Artists from two major music markets coasts – Los Angeles and New York. Two local Rock bands from Murrieta. Two separate Pop artists from different parts of Canada. Two Brandons. There’s even have R&B twins from Chicago. Two is a magic number as this year’s 11th annual Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival (TVIFF) slated for September 14-22,2005 at the Movie Experience 10 a...
THE TEMECULA VALLEY INTERNATIONAL FILM & MUSIC FESTIVALSEPTEMBER 14-22nd, 2005 * MOVIE EXPERIENCE AT TOWER PLAZAHighlights overrviewIndustry Film Showcases: The American Film Institute Showcase (AFI), Films From Canada - Toronto Int’l Film Festival Group – The Film Circuit Showcase, FILMS FROM INDIA, Presented By Ten Films / India Shorts, Italian Film Showcase – (From Our Sister-Festival) Rome Independent Film Festival (RIFF), Film Independent (FIND) Showcase, USC Film Showcase, Chapman Un...
“An intriguing inside look at one of the greatest Film Festivals in the world by one of the guys who started the whole thing.” – Norman JewisonThe book takes us behind the scenes and tells the secrets of the world’s best film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and many others. Film Festival Confidential is an all-access pass to the famous stars and parties, offering readers an irresistible mix of gossip, glamour and glitz.William Marshall, founder of the Toronto Film F...
Toronto International Film Festival Opens with World Premiere of Deepa Mehta’s WATERToronto International Film Festival opening night was a triumph on September 8th with the premiere of Deepa Mehta’s dynamic film WATER. Finishing out her ode to the elements this is the final film in her trilogy, following FIRE (1996) and EARTH (1998). Mehta film brought a classic presents to the 30th anniversary of one on the largest film festivals in the world. Mehta’s element series FIRE and EARTH were...
The 30th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8-17.Filmgoers are guaranteed to be shocked, rocked, and electrified by Midnight Madness at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival. The Festival's popular, iconoclastic midnight programme is guaranteed to keep audiences wide awake. Now in its 18th year, Midnight Madness showcases the best in sci-fi, horror, and outrageous documentaries, gleefully highlighting the devilishly weird and wonderful. The titles below join the previou...
Noah Kadner'directorial debut, Formosa (How to Say No!)www.formosamovie.com,) is now screening and winning accolades at US film festivals. and has just been honored with the Best Director Award at the Lake Tahoe/Reno International Film Festival for his directorial achievements on the film. Here's a link to the press release issued today over Business Wire which provides more details on the film and the award win.The film also recently won Best Feature Comedy at the Garden State Film Festival and...
The New York Film Festival, the Big Apple’s oldest and most prestigious film event, announced the 24 features for its 43rd edition, which will run from September 24 to October 9 at its home base of Lincoln Center.The Festival will open with GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, the directorial debut of actor-turned-director George Clooney, following its debut screenings at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. The film chronicles the story of legendary American broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, whose groundb...
Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Robin Spry, who died in a car crash in March, will be honoured with a retrospective including five of his early films during the Festival’s inaugural edition, September 18-25, 2005.One of the most important documentary directors of the National Film Board in the late 1960s and early 70s, Spry went on to become a fiction director of considerable repute with such political and social dramas as Prologue (1969), One Man (1977), Drying Up the Streets (1978) and Suzanne ...
The 11th Annual Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market, held from September 20-26, 2005 at the Camelot Theatres, announces that Kathleen McInnis will join the Festival as the Director of Short Film Programming this year. The largest short film festival and market in North America screens approximately 350 films from over 40 countries annually. Over the past 10 years, 46 of the short films nominated for Academy Awards have played at the Festival, with six of the ...
Toronto International Film Festival will open with of World Premiere of WATERToronto International Film Festival is set to open on September 8th to the 17th, 2005. This will be the 30th anniversary of the top North American Film Festival and one of the most respected Festivals in the world. To date programmers have acquired to screen 11 world premieres, five international premieres, and nine North American premieres from 17 countries. Last years Festival was close to 350 films from over 50 count...
The Hero (O Heroi) by first time director Zeze Gamboa: starring:Oumar Makena Diop which won one of the top awards in Sundance this year and was the opening film of MOMA’s New Directors series in New-York, will competing at the upcoming Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The film won recognition and prizes at Sundance 2005, "Winner Best Film World Cinema Competition"Washington DC 2005, "Capital Focus Award"LA 2005 Pan African Festival 2005, "Best Film"Opening Film New Directors/New Films 2005Fespaco 2...
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER MARY HARRON TO RECEIVE THE "FILMMAKER ON THE EDGE" AWARDAT THE PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALThe Provincetown International Film Festival, scheduled for June 15-19, enters its seventh year with the announcement of the 2005 recipient of the annual Filmmaker on the Edge award. This year the Festival honors director/writer Mary Harron, whose 1996 debut feature I Shot Andy Warhol immediately launched her into the spotlight as a maverick filmmaker to watch. The film i...
MIROVISION and DAVIS Films agreed on English remake deal for THE SPELL, from the original film directed by AHN Byung-ki.Producer Samuel Hadida, Davis Films, today announced that he has acquired the remake rights to the South Korean film Bunshinsaba (original English title Ouija Board). The new English-language remake of the film will be titled The Spell. Cassie Yoo of .40 Caliber Films and E. Thompson facilitated the deal between Samuel Hadida’s Davis Films and Jason Chae of Mirovision in So...
