Here on the next to the next-to-last day of the festival, American actor Matt Dillon, is to be awarded a lifetime career CONCHA award (at the relatively tender age of 42) -- in this writer's opinion a very good choice. The other performer award this week went to Swede Max Von Sydow, so Matt can be said to be stepping in the best of company, and no questions about that. Over the years I have watched Dillon's career develop from early "young punk" roles in films like "Rumble Fish" (Coppola,1983) ...

Tuesday, June 6----The Troia International Film Festival is presenting a celebration of the 100th anniverary of Norwegian cinema. The program, which is sponsored by the Norwegian Film Institute in cooperation with the Norwegian Embassy in Portugal, is showcasing 10 films, which range from an early silent gem to two films from the current Norwegian auteur Bent Hamer. The Tribute program began on the Festival opening night, with the rare screening of the 1917 silent film TERJE VIGEN, directed b...

Friday, June 2, Setubal---The 22nd edition of the TROIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Portugal's oldest and most prestigious film event, had a gala Opening this evening in the beautiful coastal town of Setubal. The Opening Night festivities began with the screening of a rare silent film by director Victor Sjostrom. TERGE VIGEN, produced in 1917, is a film of rare beauty and quality from one of Scandanavia's earliest film giants. The film has been restored by the Norwegian Film Institute, with...

Dropping in on the Hamburg film festival on the way back from San Sebastian is something like stopping off at a neighbourhood bar for a nightcap after a gala bash at the Waldorf. Which is not to say that Hamburg is not interesting or lacking in films of merit -- just that it's on a much smaller scale (although Hamburg, as a city, is far bigger than San Sebastian) and is geared to the tastes of the local film-buff public, rather than to industry professionals. Films are shown in five venues, mo...