SBIFF TO BESTOW BEN AFFLECK WITH  MODERN MASTER AWARD   The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by lynda.com, will honor director, producer and actor Ben Affleck with the Modern Master Award at the 28th edition of the Fest, which runs January 24 -February 3, 2013, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.  The Tribute will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the historic Arlington Theatre.   “Afflec...

  The movie directed by David O.Russell is also nominated for the 2013 Capri Audience Award and the Best Acting Ensemble of the Year Award  Festival will also screen ‘Caesar Must Die’, Italy’s 2012 Candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar   One of the year’s most highly acclaimed films, Silver Linings Playbook written and directed by David O. Russell, has been named “Best Film of the Year” by Capri, Hollywood &ndas...

San Sebastian Film Festival is boiling with news.   Yesterday we learnt that "Arbitrage", a film starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, will be opening the Official Section of the San Sebastian Film Festival in competition and both actors are confirmed to attend the inauguration gala. Both of them have received Donostia Awards in previous years in recognition of their entire careers: Richard Gere at the 55th edition in 2007 and Susan Sarandon at the 43rd edition in 19...

Last Sunday afternoon 2 geared up thieves dressed as nuns skipped a teller countertop and ran away with an undisclosed quantity of cash. The thievery was very similar to one portrayed last year in the critically commended Ben Affleck film, " The Town." Thieves escape without shooting The TCF bank in Palos Heights, Ill., was the most recent "The Town" robbery. The two robbers were male and female. They wore rubber masks and nuns' habits while there. They were b...

by Alex Deleon If you came to Palm Springs for the waters you were not misinformed, and if you came to see stars there were ample rewards here at the Red Carpet Opening Awards Gala. The local paper. "The Desert Sun", which offers a four page daily supplement on the festival, called it "beyond Cannes" which wasn't too far off the mark. A partial listing of the A-listers who arrived (and some of their special awards) follows:Robert Duvall (Lifetime Achievement, well chosen), presented by Aaron Ec...

Today, October 26, the program for the 21st edition of the Stockholm International Film Festival will be revealed. Tomorrow, October 27 at 11 AM, the ticket sales begin online and at Kulturhuset. This year's festival program presents 180 films from more than 50 countries, 108 Nordic premiers, and 16 world premiers. We look forward 12 exciting days of quality film. - The Stockholm International Film Festival is the meeting point for next generation's film creators. Our 21st program is fully l...

The main event on day five of the fest Monday, was a staged conversation with actor Ben Affleck, 37, held at the Grammy Museum a short walk away from the Regal Cineplex 14 main festival venue. This was introduced by long term Newsweek film critic David Ansen who is the artistic director of the festival this year. The moderator --i.e., leading question asker -- was a Mr. Sean Smith, who prudently allowed Mr. Affleck to do most of the talking. Clips from some of his films were shown including the ...

A friend wrote to me last night "what are you going to see tonight?". I answered him, I'm going to see Ben Affleck, of course!  My friend replied "Ask him what happened after Good Will Hunting". Well he answered that. "C´mon, how can he be called indie?" another friend asked. I´d asked the same question myself. Well Ben Affleck answered that too, with reflections on Good Will Hunting that launched his career, role after role in films by Kevin Smith (who fa...

I wrote yesterday about 2 films receiving a lot of buzz, then felt a little worried they wouldn't meet up to my high expectations... too often the case when you hear about the best of the fest. SO- it was such a relief to emerge from the LA Film Festival cinemas yesterday and say yes, those films deserved all that buzzing. 'Where Are You Taking Me' took me to Uganda with a sincere observational eye that simply lets the magical moments unfold before you, untouched except by Kimi Takes...

The Hollywood Awards® were created to honor excellence in the art of filmmaking, as well as creative talent within the global creative community, in all mediums. The "World," "Film," "Breakthrough," "Star," and "Movie of the Year," awards are bestowed during the prestigious HOLLYWOOD AWARDS® GALA CEREMONY, which takes place during the Hollywood Film Festival®. The Gala takes place at the famous Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The "Discovery" awards are given at a stand-alone event.The ...

The Hollywood Film Festival(r) and Hollywood Awards(r), has unveiled the line-up of the finalists for this year's festival, as well as the Hollywood Awards(r) nominees and honorees. The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the festival. HFF also announced the nominees for the Hollywood World Awards(r) and the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards(r).The 11th Annual Hollywood Film Festival(r) will take place October 17 to 21 at ArcLight Cinemas. This year...

The 11th Annual Hollywood Film Festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony, will take place on October 22, 2007, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.Oscar(r)-winner Ben Affleck will be honored with the "Hollywood Breakthrough Director of the Year Award," Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Connelly will receive the "Hollywood Supporting Actress of the Year Award," and producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan will receive the "Hollywood Producers of the Year Award."The "Hollywood Awards" wi...

Some actors have nine lives, other sink like a stone. And then others are presumed to be "missing in action" after a series of flops at the box office. Some win fame early on, while others find it when they ripen in their later years. Some are blissfully ignored by the tabloids, and others are their bread and butter. Some are famous for what they do, and others are famous for who they are. All of the above (contradictions intact) describe the journey of Ben Affleck in the world of film. A journe...

Some actors have nine lives, other sink like a stone. And then others are presumed to be "missing in action" after a series of flops at the box office. Some win fame early on, while others find it when they ripen in their later years. Some are blissfully ignored by the tabloids, and others are their bread and butter. Some are famous for what they do, and others are famous for who they are. All of the above (contradictions intact) describe the journey of Ben Affleck in the world of film. A journe...

Wednesday, December 6----Some actors have nine lives, other sink like a stone. And then others are presumed to be "missing in action" after a series of flops at the box office. Some win fame early on, while others find it when they ripen in their later years. Some are blissfully ignored by the tabloids, and others are their bread and butter. Some are famous for what they do, and others are famous for who they are. All of the above (contradictions intact) describe the journey of Ben Affleck i...

The 63rd edition of the Venice film festival has opened with a salvo of noir or noirish films during which the 'dark horse' "Hollywoodland" has upstaged the odds-on favorite "Black Dahlia" which arrived with far more ballyhoo. While Dahlia, with its high-powered cast, name director Brian De Palma, and big time writer James Ellroy all on hand, was rather tepidly received at various screenings, "Hollywoodland” or 'the Death of Superman’ as the press has dubbed the film, was roundly applauded...