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The BlackStar Film Festival took place August 2-5, 2012 in Philadelphia. Its mission was to celebrate the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and to showcase film and video works by and about black people from across the globe. Other obligations did prevent me from attending all but one event, but it was a good one - A Conversation with Ava DuVernay.    Ava DuVernay, is the first African American woman to take home the U.S. directing award at Sundance Film...

There's always some glitter of Tinseltown on Broadway; however, the 66th Annual American Theater Wing's Tony Awards had a really important film tie-in. You probably think I'm referring to: The win for Death of a Salesman produced by Scott Rudin, directed by Mike Nichols, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, who brought along current girlfriend and Spiderman (2012 movie) co-star Emma Stone. Or Once, totally sweeping the Tonys as a Broadway musical! Which firs...

On Thursday April 26 The Inaugural XPN Music Film Festival, produced by The Philadelphia Film Society got underway at the Annenberg Center in University City, Philadelphia. For anyone unfamiliar with XPN: WXPN, is a nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces World Cafe...

Photo credit: Hugh E Dillon Earlier this month the Turner Classic Movies’ “Road toHollywood” tour came to Philly (Prince Theater) and brought along legendary actress Eva Marie Saint, the actress best known for her sexy spy role, playing opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense classic - North By Northwest. The 10-city tour is part of a campaign to promote the vintage film network’s annual TCM Classic Film Festival (April 12-15). I...

Monday, August 29, 2011 Martha Marcy May Marlene - Sean Durkin & Elizabeth Olsen Q & A Have you heard about Martha Marcy May Marlene? It's been a darling of this year's festival circuit -  The title gives the impression four women share top billing, but in actuality newcomer Elizabeth Olsen (cast only two weeks before shooting), is not only the subject of the multiple monikers, she hauntingly carries the full weight of this dark drama; along with some good, creepy ass...