You may not know Pilsen, but any beer connoisseur can guess from its name that the Czech town is a source of ferment. Pilsner Urquell calls it home, as does the annual festival of Czech films, Finále Plzeň, which runs April 19–25. The festival dates back to 1968, when the Communist Party allowed a “Spring” thaw. Finále Plzeň sought to acquaint Czechs with their own New Wave of films sweeping world festivals, but three years later packed itself on ice as Czech cinema ran afoul o...

A very different film festival took place in Los Angeles last night with cinema buffs huddled around cell phones rather than gazing up at the big screen to view and vote for their favorite short movie. More than 200 attendees cast their votes in real time via text messaging powered by Mozes.com to select the $3,000 Jury Prize winning film – a 90 second comedy entitled “Pumpkin” by Matt Paige of Sante Fe, New Mexico. An alum of the College of Sante Fe where he’s now an adjunct professor t...

The Beverly Hills Film Festival, to be held May 6-9, announced programming for its fourth annual event. Twenty-nine films, comprising features, documentaries, and shorts, will be presented at the Clarity Theatre in Beverly Hills, with a full complement of after-parties and receptions. The week will be capped when the Golden Palm Award is bestowed upon the top film at the annual Awards Ceremony gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Sunset Room on May 9.“This year’s program is our most diverse...