The 34th Aspen Filmfest, which ran October 2-7, showcased previews of new releases, critically acclaimed documentaries and feature films from the international circuit. Film fans of all ages and inclinations filled the Wheeler Opera House and Isis Theatre in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale to view independent productions from around the world and hear filmmakers share the stories behind their works.   "By all accounts, Filmfest was a rousing success. Powerful st...

34th Annual Aspen Filmfest, October 2-7, 2012   Aspen Film announced today the official program for the 34th Aspen Filmfest, a six-day feast of film and fall color for movie lovers of all ages and inclinations. Opening night spotlights Wayne Blair's The Sapphires (10/2), following its successful and warmly received screenings at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals. Set in the late '60s and brimming with Motown hits, this effervescent portrait of Australia's answer to the Supremes is a ...

Silk Screen is proud to announce that the winner of this year’s RAGS Foundation People’s Choice Award is Bardsongs. The People’s Choice Award is sponsored by the RAGS Foundation, which is a non-profit organization started by Sridhar and Gunjan Tayur located in Pittsburgh. The 2012 7th Annual Silk Screen film festival was a hit with an increase in attendance from previous years. All films [except opening and closing night events] were given the opportunity to enter and ea...

  DocEdge, a documentary Film Festival  comprising 11 award-winning documentaries and a selection of entries from DOK Leipzig Film Festival as well as other award-winning films from Baltic states, China and India were screened at the Goethe Hall of the Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai. Technical problems however put paid to the inaugural (Aug 22 ) screening of Gereon Wetzel and Jörg Adolph's"How to make a book with Steid" and instead, the audience was treated to the closing day's ...

Since BARDSONGS (2010) screened in Palm Springs this past PSIFF 2011, I’ve been speaking to director Sander Francken about doing an interview about what I thought was an extremely intriguing subject for a film, that of oral storytelling in a time where storytelling has changed so much that the old modes have long since departed us. Or have they? Sander’s film is a tribute to oral storytelling and ‘bardsongs’. I tracked him down in Copenhagen at CPHPIX 2011 where his film screened and we ...

        INDIAN FILM REVIEWS, 2010  -- COMPOSITE with RAAKH (1989)           ADDED NEW BOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER TO PREMIER AT BERLIN 2010 by Alex deleon -- (reviewed below)  for www.filmfestivals.com   The much awaited new Indian film "My Name Is Khan" will be premiered at the 60th annual Berlin International Film Festival on Febuary 12, out of competition but very much in the limelight otherwise.  MNIK is easily the most anticpated Hindi film of the year as it topline...

Last July, the nonprofit group Human Rights Watch put out a hefty report drawn from its prior two decades of watching dogs in some 20 countries. Called Selling Justice Short, the dossier showed why accountability was a good thing for peace and, if nothing else, could help heal victims by acknowledging their anguish. I didn't read it – nor likely did you – but the Human Rights Watch Film Festival supplies some visual Cliff's Notes. This year it gives witness to human rights violations ...

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced the 2010 line-up of films for its 8th annual festival, which runs April 20-April 25 at ArcLight Hollywood.  The six-day festival is proud to showcase 33 films from 5 countries, including 4 world premieres and 7 US premieres.     This is a true celebration of the art and business of Indian film and culture as well as an opportunity to connect with the game changers and emerging filmmakers of Indian themed content,Â...

Scorcese's SHUTTER ISLAND is a P.U. production from Paramount --- a film to commit suicide over after use. But Ben Kingley and Max Van Sydow have at last found their ecological niches in cinema history -- as -- uncompromising ultimate GHOULS! I would have ankled this piece of unmitigated water torture after thirty minutes, but I was wedged into a balcony seat at the Friedrichstadt Palast theater and couldn't extrude my body without disturbing the whole balcony, and was therefore condemned to su...

by Alex Deleon for www.filmfestivals.com   Scorcese's SHUTTER ISLAND is a P.U. production from Paramount --- a film to commit suicide over after use. But Ben Kingley and Max Van Sydow have at last found their ecological niches in cinema history -- as -- uncompromising ultimate GHOULS!  Watch the Trailer on this site   I would have ankled this piece of unmitigated water torture after thirty minutes, but I was wedged into a balcony seat at the Fri...

 Saturday, June 16----------With religion and core beliefs the source of both comfort and conflict in the modern world, SILVERDOCS wisely decided to dedicate a special section of the Festival to an exploration of the unique role of religion in social and political discourse. Dubbed BEYOND BELIEF: RELIGION, POLITICS AND FILM, the program has presented a provocative series of films and panel discussions. “The documentary form, which takes personal stories and launches them into the public are...

One of the salient features of Tendulkar Festival, organized jointly by veteran Amol Palekar and Idea was that they themselves took it quite seriously and planned it immaculately. The Badal Sircar Festival initiated by Amol last year turned out to be memorable in many ways and there was a general feeling among the viewers that such festivals should be organized time and again. Amol deserves merit for having organized Tendulkar festival at the most appropriate time. Considering Tendulkar's speech...

The 26th MIFF Competition Films program will include: ANGULIMALADirector: Sutape Tunnirut, Thailand, 2003Cast: Nopachai Jayanama, Stella Malucchi, John Rattanaveroj, Caterina Grosse A parable based on the code of Buddhist morality. The story allegedly happened in India more than 2,500 years ago. Ahimsaka was born of Brahmin parents, the social group of high virtue in the Hindu caste system. Despite his noble birth, Ahimsaka was predestined to become a murderous bandit killing those people to who...