Mike is the Associate Director, programming Director and Buyer from Cinequest.   (Cinequest runs 02/26/2013 - 03/10/2013)  He landed in Toronto Sept 7th and started sharing via his Twitter.   September 11 Last couple of days in Toronto coming up. And that means last chance for someone to lay claim to the hide-a-way bed/sofa.    Attention Taxi Driver: If you are reading this, use deodorant.    Dear Industry, why go to the middle seats at...

Four dynamic business and media leaders, Lila Ibrahim, Ellen McGirt, Todd Hoddick and Anand Chandrasekaran have joined Cinequest's Board of Directors with the mandate to enhance Cinequest's global impact through creativity and innovation. Lila Ibrahim , partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has connected with Cinequest. Ibrahim became a partner at Kleiner Perkins in 2010 and works across the firm's digital and greentech portfolios. Before joining Kleiner Perkins, Ibrahim had a div...

  Cinequest Film Festival 21 (CQFF21) proved to be so much more than a film festival by continuing to transform lives across the globe through discovery, innovation, connecting and creativity. The festival celebrated 75 U.S., North American and World Premieres representing over 41 countries. Enhancing its position as the place to discover the future of film innovations, Cinequest produced 22 art and innovation forums and workshops. A record 91,000 participants enjoyed premier venues loaded ...

Cinequest Film Festival 19 delivered on its commitment to transform lives and serve more during a challenging economy. Record audiences, 81,000 strong, filled spectacular venues and connected with 605 artists and innovators from 44 countries. Record submissions and media coverage attracted premium Maverick cinema and technologies. 72 World and U.S. Premieres combined with Cinequest trademark Film & Innovation Forums to transform lives and careers. Additionally, 1,500 elementary to college studen...

Discovery isn’t always a good thing. A pair of American indie films—the world premiere of Paul Leuer’s EDEN COURT and the San Francisco Bay Area debut of Charles Oliver’s TAKE—served as weak bookends for the 18th edition of the Cinequest Film Festival. Fortunately, there was much to celebrate between opening and closing nights during the festival’s 12-day run in downtown San Jose, California.According to Cinequest executive director and co-founder Halfdan Hussey, approximately 80,000...

“I guarantee the next 12 days and nights of Cinequest will be a cabaret,” Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director Halfdan Hussey promised upon greeting the opening night crowd. Hussey urged festival-goers to connect with each other—and to discover films and forums that matter, Maverick legends and fun. “A whole lot of fun, because we need that, too, as we’re stimulating our minds and our souls,” Hussey added. More than 1,000 people flocked to the world premiere of Paul Leuer’s ...

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 – “I guarantee the next 12 days and nights of Cinequest will be a cabaret,” Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director Halfdan Hussey promised upon greeting the opening night crowd. Hussey urged festival-goers to connect with each other—and to discover films and forums that matter, Maverick legends and fun. “A whole lot of fun, because we need that, too, as we’re stimulating our minds and our souls,” Hussey added. More than 1,000 people flocked to the...

Minnie Driver slowly removed her sunglasses at the Cinequest press conference, and quietly said, “I don’t want to force my bloodshot eyes on you.” She had worked until 3:30 a.m. before traveling to San Jose to receive the Maverick Spirit Award at an event scheduled later in the afternoon. “I’m really happy to be here. Exhausted but happy,” stated the London-born actor.When asked if she considered herself a maverick, Driver thoughtfully replied, “I don’t lie in bed going, hmmm, I�...

Saturday, March 3---Minnie Driver slowly removed her sunglasses at the Cinequest press conference, and quietly said, “I don’t want to force my bloodshot eyes on you.” She had worked until 3:30 a.m. before traveling to San Jose to receive the Maverick Spirit Award at an event scheduled later in the afternoon. “I’m really happy to be here. Exhausted but happy,” stated the London-born actor.When asked if she considered herself a maverick, Driver thoughtfully replied, “I don’t lie i...

Christine Vachon can now add “Cinequest Maverick” to honors ranging from the Frameline Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lesbian and Gay Media in 1994, Producer of the Year from the National Board of Review in 2003 and New York MoMA retrospective honoree in 2005. Her films have garnered Independent Spirit Awards and Oscars in numerous categories. Following a rollicking interview with Jens Hussey, Cinequest Director of Public Relations, Vachon accepted the festival’s highest honor, the M...

Friday, March 2---Christine Vachon can now add “Cinequest Maverick” to honors ranging from the Frameline Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lesbian and Gay Media in 1994, Producer of the Year from the National Board of Review in 2003 and New York MoMA retrospective honoree in 2005. Her films have garnered Independent Spirit Awards and Oscars in numerous categories. Following a rollicking interview with Jens Hussey, Cinequest Director of Public Relations,...

Over a thousand filmmakers, guests and festival-goers filled the California Theatre in downtown San Jose for the Cinequest 16 closing night gala on Sunday, March 12. Cinequest co-founder Kathleen Powell introduced the jury members to present the awards. Film critic Steve Rhodes of Internet Reviews announced the winners of the feature competition, including Sören Senn’s KUSSKUSS (Maverick Spirit Winner) and Jan Martin Scharf and Arne Nolting’s WAHRHEIT ODER PFLICHT/TRUTH OR DARE (Best First ...

Cinequest Brands MavericksThroughout Cinequest 16, Executive Director and Co-founder Halfdan Hussey retold the tale of the maverick. The term originated in the mid-1800s, when any unbranded cow roaming the open range near San Antonio, Texas, was thought to belong to rancher Samuel A. Maverick. Hussey didn’t mention that the cattle had been neglected—hence never branded—and any strays were referred to as “one of Maverick’s” in a pejorative tone. Over the last 12 days, Cinequest rounde...

Cinequest Turns Sweet 16 in San Jose (March 1-March 12)“This will be the most electrifying Cinequest Film Festival yet—until next year,” announced Halfdan Hussey, Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director, as he faced an audience that filled the historic 1,100-seat California Theatre in downtown San Jose. Who knows what next year will bring? But without a doubt, the March 1st opening night was the best in Cinequest history. Strolling into the California Theatre is like entering a cathedr...

Cinequest 15 Starts Up in San Jose (March 2-March 13)The Cinequest San Jose Film Festival launched on Wednesday, March 2, with a rollicking opening night at the opulently restored California Theatre, a 1927 movie palace in downtown San Jose. Festival goers clapped along to “California Here I Come” as Bill Taylor played the Mighty Wurlitzer organ until it disappeared beneath the stage of the historic 1,100-seat house. “Now this is cool, absolutely cool,” said Halfdan Hussey, Cinequest Co-...

Cinequest, Northern California’s premier motion picture institute and one of the Top Ten film festivals in the world, today announced the creation of an online distribution and promotional division that will provide the most advanced and innovative secure video delivery capability of its kind. Called Cinequest Online, the service is designed to securely deliver DVD-quality, full-length feature films to fans worldwide via the Internet for the first time. The first phase of the service will la...