RACING ARAB CHICKS AND BOUNDARY BREAKERS HIT ARAB FILM FESTIVAL

The 12th annual Arab Film Festival Australia returns in 2015 boasting a melting pot of films from around the Arab world. The Festival will open in Sydney on Thursday 13 -16 August, Melbourne on Friday 21 - 23 August, and Canberra on Friday 28 - 30 August and will present six feature films and four short films.

From a small Lebanese coastal village, to the racetracks of Palestine, to the iconic backdrop of the Arabian dessert, the Festival gives audiences the best of contemporary Arab films. Whilst conflict and instability continue to be the dominant representation of the Arab world, the filmmakers are uncovering rich and rare stories and capturing them in unique ways.

“Arab filmmakers are reflecting exciting and sometimes volatile times, and through cinema they are making powerful statements, challenging stereotypes, and creating conversations about the future they dream for” says Festival Co-Director, Mouna Zaylah.“We’re proud to showcase the diversity of the region with films from Jordan, Iraq, UAE, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon.

Festival Co-DirectorFadia Abboud is particularly looking forward to audience reactions to this year’s line-up. “In 2015 the Festival explores taboos from small towns to big cities: Arab chicks’ car racing in the West Bank; Arab boys taking a road-trip partying across borders and check-points. There’s a theme of pushing boundaries both physically and ideologically”.

"The name of the Rose",  1986. Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud

With Sean Connery as William of Baskerville, learned monk and Franciscan sleuth engaged to investigate the mysterious death of a monk at a secluded Benedictine Abbey in the mountains, which he believes to be murder.

His young sidekick is Christian Bale (then twenty) and the most evil inquisitor, Baskervilles nemesis, is M. Murray Abraham, fresh from his embittered ßSalieri role in Forman's Amadeus. Basically a shaggy dog whodunnit set in medieval Italy, based on the best-seller by Umberto Eco.  

French director J-Pierre Annaud took the stage to receive a career achievement award prior to the screening. The event was moderated in impeccable English by Stauesque German actress Veronica Ferres who, at fifty, is still quite an eyeful. All of Annaud's major films including the monumental "Quest for Fire", were also screened during the week as a personal homage.

"Latin Lover" 2014, from Italy, directed by Cristina Comencini, is the tale of a handsome Italian movie star who fathered five daughters by five different women. 

On the tenth anniversary of his death they gather in his hometown but are strangers to each other. but as film clips from his screen carrer are shown they finally get to know each other and learn some disturbing facts about their philandering father, but are genuinely touched seeing him again and being reminded of their amorous affairs with him.

This is something of a bitter-sweet comedy starring Verna Lisi in her last screen aporance. The Italian star who had a brief fling in Hollywood back in the sixties, 

Passed away in December at age 78. Francesco Scianna is the handsome Central figure of the story -- easy to see why all these women fell for this serial love 'em and leave 'em Lothario.

Cristina Comencini is the daughter of well known Italian director Luigi Comencini and demostrates that his talent flows freely in her bloodstream.

"LEBERKÄSELAND" is a film about Second generation Turks living in Germany directed by Munich helmer Nils Willebrandt and based on a first person novel by Lale Akgün. The story retraces the life of an upper lass Turkish woman who earned a doctorate in mathematics back in Turkey. but became a "normal" housewife when her family, husband and three daughters, moved to Germany.  What is unique about this film is that it is the first film about German Turks to center on a successfully assimilated bougeois milieu, not the usual milieu of outsiders and underclass Turks and their adjustment problems in Germany. The main actress, Neda Rahmanian, is not Turkish but Iranian, and a striking new German screen presence.

The "leberkase" of the title refers to the typical german Meatloaf sandwich that is primarily identified with Munich but a popular snack all over the country. 

This excellent film was shown without subtitles. Hopefully a subtitled version will eventually be prepared because this is a film that deserves to be seen beyond the pale of the German speech zone.

Another special guest of the festival is American director Alexander Payne who was also honored with a complete retrospective of his films.

The only one i got to in a busy week was "Nebraska", the 2013 opus for which Bruce Dern was awarded the Best Actor accolade at Cannes two years ago for his most uncharacteristic role as a curmudgen grizzled wreck of an old man who is conviced he has won a million dollars by an advertising scam and sets out to walk from home in Billings, Montana, across the faceless upper mideest to Lincoln, Nebraska, in order to claim his imagined winnings in person.  He is accompanied by his estranged son who rediscovers dad on this dizzy tour of small towns along the way.  

All I can say is that when I saw Nebraska two years ago at a festival in Hungary I was bored to death, but this time the very things that bored me I now found interesting. Just goes to show that sometimes you can't trust your own opinions, or that opinionations are subject to change -- whimsically, just like the weather in Montana.

One if the most interesting events of the entire week was a "Master Class" delivered with style and verve by British actor Rupert Everett, who plays wartime British King George VI, the stuttering king who was so vividly portrayed by Colin Firth in 2010.  That will be the subject of my next Munich report. 

The new issue of the Newsletter “DGT online informer” (no. 119) is now available online: http://www.mediasalles.it/dgt_online/index.htm

You will find 

 “Karagosian’s Corner”

As the digital roll-out nears completion, new educational needs arise:
an introduction to the course “DigiTraining Plus: What do you do with digital now you’ve got it?”
COURSE TIMETABLE online!

“Women in digital cinema”,this time dedicated to
Cristina Santagiuliana, Business Development Manager, Open Sky

“All different all digital” describing the Aero Cinema in Prague, CZ
It is one of the oldest art-house cinemas in Prague built in 1933
and a venue of the 2015 course

“Not one less” describing the Teatro dei Fabbri in Trieste, I
A small theatre recently converted into an arthouse: not yet digital, but nevertheless aiming at quality!

“Key statistics from MEDIA Salles”
92% of worldwide screens are now digital, but some territories are still striving for innovation

“MEDIA Salles' latest get-togethers: for learning, sharing, networking”
Barcelona and Rome

Winner of the CCJTDC GLOBAL GIRLS Film Festival

The International Children's Media Center was thrilled to present the "Films For Me and You" program at the Global Girls Film Festival on June 20 at the CCJTDC. The program was the culmination of the 14-week Global Girls program during which youth at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center chose the films for the festival line-up which featured 8 films from 4 countries. After tallying audience votes from parents, staff and Residents, the Best of Fest winner

was Anti-Chiraq, The Documentary, which focuses on gang violence and crime in Chicago as it relates to the term "Chiraq" However, this filmmaker deconstructs the term and argues that if certain Chicagoans are pigeonholed as violent individuals, they are more likely to live out those roles rather than question the possible alternatives. By highlighting the Anti-Chiraq movement, director Tamiya Matlock supports a vision of progress in reducing violence in Chicago.  

Best of Fest Winner  (By audience vote) 

Anti-Chiraq, A Documentary

Director: Tamiya Matlock

USA, 2014

Winners of the New Moms Women's View Film Festival

The Women's View Film Festival opened on June 17 at New Moms, Inc. with the Wind of Change program held at the New Moms center. Curated by Residents of New Moms, the screening was titled "Wind of Change" because of the recurring theme of change in each of the 10 films from 13 different countries. The Women's View Festival Jury Prize was awarded by the New Moms Festival Jury, to the film which was the most successful at portraying women in strong, courageous and compassionate roles. The 20145 Jury Prize was awarded to Lioness of Lisabi, which follows the main character Funmi in 1940s Nigeria as she seeks balance between modernity and tradition after being sent to school in England, to help confront the patriarchal oppression still plagues her homeland. Following the screening of Finding Friends and ourselves, at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, the Best of Fest ballots were tallied for both dates. The Best of Fest Winner by popular vote is A Cautionary Tail, voiced by Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and about a young girl who was born with a tail that expresses her emotions.  

Best of Fest Winner  (By audience vote) 

  A Cautionary Tail 

  Director: Simon Rippingale

  Australia, 2012

Women's View Festival Jury Prize

 
          Lioness of Lisabi

          Director: Vlady Valentin Oszekiel

          USA/Trinidad, 2008

Winner of the Darwin School ICFF

The International Children's FilmFest had an enchanted opening on June 12 with "Maybe It's Magic", at Darwin Elementary School in Logan Square, where students and teachers viewed 9 short films from 8 different countries. The winner of the Best of Fest award was Brazil'sColored Pencils (Lápis de Cor) about Claudio, a 9 year old boy who lives with his mother and loves to draw. His father has been gone for a few years, and Claudio believes drawing a color portrait of his father will help him come home. Finally, Claudio's family is reunited when he completes the portrait of his dreams.

 Best of Fest Winner

  Colored Pencils

  Director: Alice Gomes

  Brazil, 2010

Winner of the Third Albany Park Community Center ICFilmFest

The ICMC partnered with the Albany Park Community Center (APCC) to present a third exciting year of screenings. The ICFilmFest featured two film programs for different age groups on June 26, titled "I Wonder" and "Animation Extravaganza." The first showing of the festival included 14 films from 9 different countries for ages 2-5, while the second showing had 12 films from 9 countries for ages 7-10, all animated. The winner of the Best of Fest award, as determined by the children, was Orange Ô Despair, a charming French animated film about an orange living in the grocery store who prefers the company of pineapples to his stoic and stuffy citrus society. Director John Banana creates a comical tale about whether or not the grass really is greener on the other side.

 Best of Fest Winner

          Orange Ô Despair

          Director: John Banana

  France, 2011

Credits

The ICFilmFest is supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, by the Polk Bros. Foundation and by Howard Conant. Special thanks to the Leo S. Guthman Fund, the Albert Pick, Jr. Fund and an Anonymous Donor for their support of the Global Girls Festival program.

The Rural Route Film Festival kicks off this Friday night at Museum of the Moving Image w/a special preview screening of Olivia Owens Wyatt’s SAILING A SINKING SEA, co-presented by the Margaret Mead Film Festival, w/Owens Wyatt in person for Q&A.  An Opening Night Screening Party will follow just down the street at Brooklyn Grange’s flagship Long Island City rooftop farm.

Through 19 films from 16 countries (7 continents), this year’s focus is on bold, independent women behind and in front of the camera (and instrument, as the line-up also includes an eclectic array of music-entwined films and live performances).  Don’t miss hard-to-see premiere screenings of films like Ágnes Sós's quirky documentary on aging and romance in Transylvania, STREAM OF LOVE.  Read a great review on that film from The Hollywood Reporterhere.  On Sunday, catch new Argentinian feature, DOG LADY, w/a stand-out performance by co-director, Verónica Llinás, followed by the New York Premiere of Elise DuRant’s EDÉN, starring Will Oldham, with DuRant in person for Q&A!

On Saturday, we’ll have the World Premiere of the new sci-fi/coming-of-age film by Will Sheff of Okkervil River, DOWN DOWN THE DEEP RIVER, w/Sheff in person for a live music performance and a Q&A.  Director Alison Bagnall and actress Joslyn Jensen will also be present before that for their screening of FUNNY BUNNY, featuring one of the best ensemble indie casts of the year (Jensen, Kentucker Audley, Olly Alexander, Josephine Decker)!  Another music film not to miss is Christopher Kirkley’s AKOUNAK, an impressive remake of Prince’s Purple Rain, with all Tuareg cast, shot in the N. Niger desert.

Live music will be present throughout the fest via alphorn soloist Barbara Oldham at Brooklyn Grange, and free Museum outdoor courtyard sets from all-female accordion orchestra, The Main Squeeze, and all-female mariachi band, La Flor de Toloache.  

Get your TICKETS soon for screenings at Museum of the Moving Image HERE, and the Opening Night Screening Party at Brooklyn Grange HERE w/the option of a special discount on our all-new Very Best of Blu-ray release!

Read the COMPLETE SCHEDULE here!  Watch the new TRAILER here!
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Rural Route 2015 is made possible in part by New York State Council on the Arts w/the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NY State Legislature, & the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, along with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Electronic Media and Film Presentation Funds grant program, administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, and the Puffin Foundation.
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Broken Heel Festival, the party that celebrates Priscilla Queen of The Desert’s 21st birthday, has just announced some of its shimmering guest list! The Festival is on from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September and tickets are on sale now, so snatch up some tickets now lovvies!

There must be something in the Silver City’s water with several ex-locals headlining the party: Amelia Airhead will be performing with her all-girl drag-band The Sydney Glitter Girls, along with Ex-Broken Hillian moody crooner Zackari Watt and Burlesque and Sideshow Performer, Bam Bam, returning from Melbourne to wow crowds with a Drag King performance on the Friday night of the Festival. Melbournian house-music mega DJ, DJ Magnus, will be spinning decks for one night only, making sure the ceiling of The Palace is shaking on the Festival’s biggest night, Saturday 12 September.

Just like the Priscilla’s pilgrimage with Bernadette and the gang, The Sydney Glitter Girls will be making their trip out west to perform their fabulous show. Audiences will be dazzled over two shows on Saturday night only of the Festival. The trio is made up of three of Sydney’s leading drag queens – blonde ambition knock-out and ex-Broken Hill love child Amelia Airhead, sexy siren Minnie Cooper and the fiercely fabulous Charisma Belle and the ladies have promised to do lots of crowd mixing, photo ops and engage in the occasional bitch-banter with guests.

Drag star Amelia Airhead is looking forward to a return to her hometown “We can’t wait to get to Broken Hill to celebrate the 21st birthday of Priscilla. The movie was a homage to our Sydney drag scene in the early 90’s and in turn, it repaid us by completely reinvigorating how drag is perceived worldwide by the mainstream– and it’s stronger than ever today. Stephen Elliot, the film’s writer and director, has done the drag world a wonderful service”

Amelia said their Palace Hotel show will be a megamix of Priscilla hits and fabulous performances from Sydney’s most-loved venues, including the world-renowned Albury and Imperial Hotels. “So grab that feather boa from the back of your closet people and come along!” said Airhead

His singlets are so tight they’re rumoured to be body paint, and his soulful sound is as unique as his haircut: it’s Zackari Watt. The East Coast gypsy crooner has a vocal range to rival Mariah’s and he’ll be enchanting audiences with shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday right in the very epicentre of Festival; The Palace Hotel. 

It wouldn’t be a fabulous celebration without some dance music! DJ Magnus is one of Australia’s biggest dance music DJ’s, having supported international acts like Heather Smalls (M People), Kelly Rowland, Wynter Gordon, & DJ Wayne G. DJ Magnus will be performing on the Festival’s Saturday night only –the biggest party night over the weekend – so pack your party shoes for this one.

Legendary Drag Divas Philma Boxand Art Simone will be the hosts throughout the entire Festival, and will be joined by queen of the come-back, Polly Filla, for the Priscilla Tribute Show as part of opening night festivities. In the tradition of Priscilla, the show will not only wow, but will be a celebration of laughter, dance… and eyeliner.

With a whole host of staggering acts yet to be announced, Broken Heel promises to be one of the funnest, outrageous and most dazzling 21st’s ever!

Book now for Festival tickets and accommodation and come see why the outback is never a drag. 

Broken Heel is organised by the Palace Hotel, in Priscilla’s spiritual home of Broken Hill. The Festival invites road-trippers, seekers of fun, and the outrageously spectacular to visit the quirky mining town on the western edge of NSW, just a mere 1,100kms from Sydney. What better time to visit than when Broken Hill will be at its most glamourous. The weekend will be jam-packed full of all laughs, lycra and levity. The Outback has never looked so fabulous!

With one it its best critical and box office years to date, Revelation Perth International Film Festival screened 123 features, documentaries, shorts and experimental films over 11 days to more than 11,000 people.

 
Festival Director Richard Sowada says “We’re over the moon with this year’s results! Evert element of the program was enthusiastically embraced by audiences across town. From the free kids’ screenings to the workshops and masterclasses and of course the top-shelf film program, audiences took a chance and were amply rewarded.”
 
Highlights of the festival included:
 

• WA premiere of Last Cab To Darwin complete with appearances by cast and crew including Michael Caton, Jeremy Sims, Ningali Lawford and Mark Coles Smith.

• Screening of break-out films such as The Tribe - a feature whose entire dialogue is sign language, Parkerville Amphitheatre: Sets, Bugs and Rock n Roll - a WA made documentary showcasing Perth's cultural history and Tehran Taxi - a film shot in secret by banned director Jafar Panahi.

• Masterclass opportunities for local filmmakers such as "The Power of the Monologue" with Revelation Patron Steve Bisley and Digital Filmmaking with Craig Deeker, with some participants being offered internships on an upcoming WA feature film.

• The 27th WA Screen Awards hosted by the charming Joel Creasey.

• The debut of the Polish Film Festival in Perth and the return of the highly successful Iranian Film Festival

• Pop-up performances by Perth's Menagerie Choir including a best-of performance of songs from The Residents, complete with iconic eyeball costumes to accompany the screening of The Theory of Obscurity.

 
Many of these moments were captured by Jazam Productions and compiled into a highlights reel produced by Jasmine Leivers. "This video gives a taste of the 2015 event in all its colour, variety and scope" says Richard Sowada. The film can be seen at

The Multi Oscar and BAFTA winning NFTS Invites applications for a Head of Screen arts to lead our Screen Arts programme and new Film Studies MA.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who is excited about imparting their knowledge to and inspiring the next generation of film makers.

“The National Film & Television School is right at the heart of training and education for the Film & Television Industry” – David Yates, NFTS Graduate and Director of the Harry Potter Films

You might be an experienced film programmer, curator, critic or a film studies course leader/ lecturer or film maker.

You will lead the School wide Screen Arts lecture programme, Passport to Cinema Screenings and the School’s new Film Studies Programme and Curation MA.

Closing date:   31st July 2015

For further details please see our jobs page http://nftsfilm-tv.ac.uk/nfts-jobs or email dhavill@nfts.co.uk with your CV.

HEAD OF SCREEN ARTS

Head of Departments are mostly but not exclusively film and television professionals who want to convey their experience, skills and enthusiasm to students.

Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

·         devise, implement and deliver in consultation with the Director of Curriculum and Registrar and Heads of Department a screen arts/history/critical and screening programme at the NFTS and/or another agreed site related where possible to their course curriculum

·         lead the MA Film Studies Programming and Curation

·         assist and supervise students’ work in relation to the dissertation required for the MA (as validated by the Royal College of Art) overseeing the Dissertation supervision and marking process across School’s masters provision

·         maintain budgetary control and ensure that the Screen Arts programme and the MA Film Studies Programming and Curation are delivered within the agreed financial parameters

·         oversee the School’s Passport to Cinema screening programme delivered at both the BFI Southbank and the NFTS and any developments or replacement thereof

·         generate appropriate course material

·         participate in the School's assessment and evaluation procedures, ensuring that student and course assessments are recorded on relevant forms after all exercises, workshops and projects

·         attend any tutor or other meetings relevant to the role

·         take part in all stages of the Admissions procedure for the MA Film Studies Programming and Curation, including assessing application material submitted by prospective candidates, if required

·         advise and, where time allows, devise, implement and deliver at the request of the Head of Departments in other disciplines, Screen Arts related seminars and workshops to specific areas

·         first line duty of care and responsibility for the Health and Safety of the MA Film Studies Programming and Curation Department’s students, teaching staff and any temporary support staff. This includes ensuring that relevant and continued Health and Safety training is included in the students’ curriculum

·         the NFTS will provide appropriate training if required

The press conference to announce the event outline of the 28th edition of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) was held today, on July 28 at Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.

The press conference opened with a welcoming address from Yasushi SHIINA (Director General, TIFF & TIFFCOM). Following this, new festival venues in Shinjuku City and newly added sections; Panorama, Japan Now, Japanese Classics, were introduced. Also the OPENING FILM and the CLOSING FILM of the 28th TIFF were announced. “The Walk” directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt will open the festival and the “TERMINAL” directed by Tetsuo Shinohara, starring Koichi Sato, will close the 28th TIFF.

The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival

This Year’s Special Animation Program: “Mobile Suit Gundam”

The First-Ever Major Screening Occasion to Showcase the Monumental Works!

Following the last year’s special screenings of “The World of Hideaki Anno” which gained huge popularity, this year, the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) will continue to focus on Japanese animation, presenting a special program of “Mobile Suit Gundam”, a monumental work of robot animation.

This will be the first-ever major screening occasion to showcase the Gundam franchise as well as the first time in TIFF history that the festival will present special screening of animated works specific to a single series.

It is nearly 35 years since the theatrical version of Mobile Suit Gundam was released. Numerous works, whose creators have publicly stated they were influenced by Gundam, have been worldwide big hits. One such work, the Guillermo del Toro-directed “Pacific Rim”, remains fresh in audiences' minds, and thus the influence of Gundam continues to reverberate throughout the world.

In addition to screening theatrical-released films, special events that are only feasible at TIFF, will be held to bring the “Gundam” series to the wider world as the series continues to influence Japanese people’s view of the future and the universe.

The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival will be held from October 22 to 31, 2015 at Roppongi Hills and other venues in Tokyo

Barbara Crampton, Rick Wakeman, James Cosmo, Toyah Willcox, Neil Marshall and Bernard Rose amongst dazzling array of guests set to re-animate FrightFest

Scream Queen legend Barbara Crampton is Film4 FrightFest’s special guest icon, appearing in no less than four films in this year’s line-up. She stars in WE ARE STILL HERE, ROAD GAMES and SUN CHOKE plus makes a cameo appearance in TALES OF HALLOWEEN. Not only will Barbara be introducing all her films, she’ll also be talking about her amazing career during a special interview event, hosted by Alan Jones, on Sun 30 Aug, 9.15pm. 

She said today: To say that I am overjoyed, excited and eager to attend FrightFest as a guest is putting it mildly. This festival has been on my radar for some time and to be included and have four films screening is a welcome nightmare from which I hope never to wake”.

FrightFest also celebrates the prolific and enduring artist Graham Humphreys, who will be talking about his career designing posters in the DRAWING BLOOD event on Sun 30 Aug, 7pm. Another special event to look forward to is Film4’s own Catherine Bray, who will be hosting a DIY FILMMAKING panel discussion on Sun 30 Aug, 11.15am.

FrightFest is also delighted to host British writer/director Bernard Rose. The director of the highly acclaimed cult horrors PAPERHOUSE and CANDYMAN makes a triumphant return to the fear forefront with his FRANKENSTEIN reboot.

There will be a stellar line-up for both the opening and closing films. In attendance for CHERRY TREE will be director David Keating and leading cast members Anna Walton, Naomi Battrick, Sam Hazeldine, Patrick Gibson and Minnie Phipps. For TALES OF HALLOWEEN there will be three of its directors – FrightFest veteran Neil Marshall, Axelle Carolyn and Mike Mendez.

The eclectic mix of guests also includes AAAAAAAAH! debut director & actor Steve Oram and his co-stars rock legend Toyah Willcox, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Noel Fielding and Alice Lowe; Director Corin Hardy will be taking time out of prepping his reboot of THE CROW to present THE HALLOW; director, and ‘Emmerdale’ soap opera legend, Dominic Brunt, will be there with his latest thriller BAIT, alongside leading cast members Joanne Mitchell and Rula Lenska and Paul Hyett will be introducing the world premiere of his creature feature HOWL with cast members including Rosie Day and Ed Speelers. We also have HAWK THE SLAYER director Terry Marcel with star Ray Charleson and composer Rick Wakeman and for CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER, Brian Clemens sons, Sam and George Clemens, will attend, alongside Hammer Horror legend Caroline Munro.

Directors will be out in force this year. Joining us in the main screens are NINA FOREVER directors Ben and Chris Blaine, CURVE director Iain Softley, ROAD GAMES director Abner Pastoll,  DEATHGASM director/writer Jason Lei Howden, JERUZALEM directors Doran and Yoav Paz, NIGHT FARE director Julien Seri, SOME KIND OF HATE director Adam Egypt Mortimer, THE DIABOLICAL director Alistair Legrand and WE ARE STILL HERE director Ted Geoghegan.

Given the expansion of the Discovery Strand it’s no surprise there are a record number of directors supporting their films. These include SUMMER CAMP director Alberto Marini, Director Valentin Javier Diment, who will be coming from Argentina to present THE ROTTEN LINK and Nathan Ambrosioni, the 14-year-old French director of HOSTILE, who, legally won’t be allowed to watch his own movie.

Let’s hear it too for directors Mark Murphy (AWAITING), Adam Levins (ESTRANGED), Russell Freidenberg (WINDWALKERS), Liam Regan (BANJO) Jaron Henrie-McCrea (CURTAIN), Benjamin J Cresciman (SUN CHOKE) Ruth Platt (THE LESSON) Eugene McGing (THE UNFOLDING), April Mullen (FARHOPE TOWER), John Fallon (THE SHELTER) and Paul Goodwin (FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD), who is attending alongside regular FrightFest guest, producer Sean Hogan.

There’ll be other familiar faces too…HANGMAN director Adam Mason is back, alongside MOST LIKELY TO DIE director Anthony DiBlasi, NEVER LET GO director Howard Ford and WORRY DOLLS director Padraig Reynolds.

The stars of the films are here in their charismatic numbers (with more to be confirmed) and include Diana Vickers (AWAITING), Abigail Hardingham and Cian Barry (NINA FOREVER), Andrew Simpson (ROAD GAMES), James Cosmo, Amy Manson and Nora-Jane Noone (ESTRANGED), J.LaRose and Castille Landon (WIND WALKERS), Laurence R. Harvey and Dan Palmer (BANJO), Angela Dixon (NEVER LET GO), Robert Hands, Evan Bendall, Martin Pryca and Michaela Prchalova (THE LESSON) and GODDESS OF LOVE star, co-writer and producer Alexis Kendra.

Key producers and writers attending include DEATHGASM producer Sarah Howden, producers Junyoung Jang and Guillaume Benski (ROAD GAMES), producer Shaked Berenson (JERUZALEM), WIND WALKERS producers Strath Hamilton, Marcy Hamilton, Heather Rae and Dori Sperko, CURTAIN producer/co-writer Carys Edwards, III producer Frank Ellrich, THE SHELTER Exec Producer Berge Garabedian and CONTRACTED: PHASE 2 writer Craig Walendziak.

Festival promo trailer: http://youtu.be/VVN7WRjOrVs

Single tickets cost £13.25 and go on sale Sat 25 July at noon and will only be available online at: https://live.advancedticketing.co.uk/k?v=frightfest

Screens 5, 6 & 7 will house the main event while the Discovery strands will play in Screens 3 & 8.  The Discovery at The Prince Charles cinema strand will be in Screen 1.

For full programme details go to: www.frightfest.co.uk

Le Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (Belgique) fête … ses 30 ans ! Déjà ! Devenu aujourd’hui le rendez-vous incontournable du cinéma francophone, le FIFF accueille désormais des centaines de professionnels venus du monde entier autour d'ateliers, de colloques et de rencontres. Parallèlement, grâce à son FIFF pass, Namur s’est rapproché de son public en lui offrant la possibilité de découvrir à un prix démocratique une cinématographie riche et variée une semaine durant.

Chaque année, le Festival de Namur présente une centaine de films issus des quatre coins de l’espace francophone. Le monde de la Francophonie regroupe aujourd’hui 80 états ou gouvernements dont la France, le Québec, la Roumanie, le Maroc, la Tunisie, la Suisse, le Liban, le Cambodge, le Vietnam, le Laos, le Mali, le Congo, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Burkina Faso, Haïti, la Belgique et bien d’autres encore (liste complète sur www.francophonie.org/-80-Etats-et-gouvernements-.html), soit plus de 900 millions d’hommes et de femmes ayant en partage la langue française et les valeurs universelles !

Cette 30ème édition-anniversaire du FIFF se déroulera du 2 au 9 octobre prochain dans la ville de Namur dont le cœur battra une semaine entière au rythme et aux couleurs du festival.

Au fil des ans, le FIFF a découvert nombre de jeunes cinéastes et comédiens en leur offrant une place de choix dans sa programmation ou ses ateliers, une sélection qui s’est très souvent révélée un véritable tremplin. Nombreux sont aujourd’hui les films qui ont vu le jour grâce au FIFF, lieu de rencontre, d’échanges et de partage d’idées entre professionnels d’horizons variés.

C’est cette dynamique que le festival a souhaité mettre en avant pour son édition-anniversaire en accueillant en ouverture le premier long métrage du jeune cinéaste belge Antoine Cuypers, PREJUDICE qui réunit, dans les rôles principaux, Nathalie Baye, Arno Hintjens, Thomas Blanchard, Ariane Labed, Eric Caravaca, Cathy Min-jung, Arthur Bols et Julien Baumgartner.

Lors d’un repas de famille, Cédric, la trentaine, vivant toujours chez ses parents, apprend que sa sœur attend un enfant. Alors que tout le monde se réjouit de cette nouvelle, elle provoque chez lui un ressentiment qui va se transformer en fureur. Il tente alors d’établir, aux yeux des autres, le préjudice dont il se sent victime depuis toujours. Entre non-dits et paranoïa, révolte et faux-semblants, jusqu’où une famille peut-elle aller pour préserver son équilibre ?

Coproduction entre la Belgique, le Luxembourg et les Pays-Bas, PREJUDICE est produit par Benoît Roland (Wrong Men) avec Bernard Michaux (Lucil Film) et Sander Verdonk (CTM Pictures), et bénéficie du soutien du Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, du Filmfund Luxembourg et du Nederlands Film Fonds, en coproduction avec Proximus et Mollywood SA. Le réalisateur Antoine Cuypers a également co-écrit le scénario avec Antoine Wauters tandis que la photo est signée Frédéric Noirhomme. Le film sera distribué en Belgique par Cinéart. Les ventes internationales sont assurées par Les Films du Losange.

Membre du Jury Cantillon (le jury des jeunes qui décerne le Bayard d’Or de la Meilleure première œuvre) au FIFF en 2002, Antoine Cuypers est ensuite revenu encadrer ce même jury pendant deux éditions. En 2012, il est de retour à Namur avec son court métrage A NEW OLD STORY qui remporte le Prix du meilleur court métrage de la compétition nationale (avant d’être nommé au Magritte du meilleur court métrage !). La même année, Antoine Cuypers participe au FIFF au suivi de l’atelier de scénarisation Grand Nord pour son projet de long métrage… PREJUDICE ! Un projet devenu réalité puisque Antoine Cuypers vient d’en terminer la réalisation. C’est donc avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme et de fierté que le FIFF présentera PREJUDICE en gala d’ouverture le vendredi 2 octobre en présence de l’équipe du film. Et cette fois, Antoine Cuypers passe de juré à candidat puisque son film entre en lice pour le Bayard d’or de la Meilleure première œuvre !

Info : www.fiff.be

Further details of the international cast of The Young Pope have been revealed following the announcement of two-time Academy Award® nominee Jude Law in the title role, and Academy Award®-winning female lead Diane Keaton.

Production on the series, which is a joint production of Sky, HBO and Canal +, began last week.  All eight episodes will be directed by Paolo Sorrentino, director of the Academy Award®-winning film “The Great Beauty” as well as the upcoming “Youth”.

Jude Law will play PIUS XIII, born Lenny Belardo, with Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, a nun from the US.

Silvio Orlando is set for the role of Cardinal Voiello, the Secretary of State, and Scott Shepherd will play Cardinal Dussolier, from South America. Cécile de France will play Sofia, who is in charge of marketing in the Vatican City, while JavierCámara is set to play Cardinal Gutierrez, the Master of Ceremonies of the Vatican City. Ludivine Sagnier will play Esther, the wife of a Swiss guard, and Toni Bertorelli has been cast as Cardinal Caltanissetta. James Cromwell will play Cardinal Michael Spencer, Lenny's mentor.

Additional cast members include: Guy Boyd, Andre Gregory, Sebastian Roché, Marcello Romolo, Ignazio Oliva, Vladimir Bibic and Nadie Kammalaweera.

The Young Pope tells the controversial story of the beginning of PIUS XIII’s Pontificate, born Lenny Belardo. A complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. He is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority. During the series, Belardo will face losing those closest to him and the constant fear of being abandoned, even by his God. He is however not afraid of undertaking the millennial mission of defending that same God and the world representing Him.

Describing the series, Paolo Sorrentino said --”The clear signs of God’s existence. The clear signs of God’s absence. How faith can be searched for and lost. The greatness of holiness, so great as to be unbearable when you are fighting temptations and when all you can do is to yield to them. The inner struggle between the huge responsibility of the Head of the Catholic Church and the miseries of the simple man that fate (or the Holy Spirit) chose as Pontiff. Finally, how to handle and manipulate power in a state whose dogma and moral imperative is the renunciation of power and selfless love towards one’s neighbour. That is what The Young Pope is about.” 

            The series is being produced by Wildside, and co-produced by Haut et Court TV and MEDIAPRO. Executive Producers for Wildside are Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani together with John Lyons. Executive Producers for Haut et Court TV are Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta and Simon Arnal.

            The Young Pope is a major co-production for HBO and the newly merged Sky, representing the unique opportunity these pay-television platforms offer the creative community worldwide.

The Zurich Film Festival has revealed the first batch of galas! Details Below! Among them: KILL YOUR FRIENDS by Owen Harris; MISTRESS AMERICA by Noah Baumbach; the dramas MISS YOU ALREADY by Catherine Hardwicke, HIGH-RISE by Ben Wheatley and MON ROI by Maïwenn and the biopic thriller THE PROGRAM by Stephen Frears….

COMEDIC, DRAMATIC, BIOGRAPHIC 

ZFF ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST GALA PREMIERES

Zurich, August 4th, 2015

The 11th Zurich Film Festival announces its first Gala Premieres: the comedies KILL YOUR FRIENDS by Owen Harris and MISTRESS AMERICA by Noah Baumbach; the dramas MISS YOU ALREADY by Catherine Hardwicke, HIGH-RISE by Ben Wheatley and MON ROI by Maïwenn and the biopic thriller THE PROGRAM by Stephen Frears.

Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, Brian Presley, Cody Walker and Director Mario Van Peebles wrapped production this week on USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. The production left the entire cast and crew deeply touched by the men and the memory of the USS Indianapolis.

The film is inspired by the true events of the sinking of WWII’s USS Indianapolis and her brave crewmen. The original script was written by Cam Cannon and Richard Rionda Del Castro of Hannibal Classics. From the start they wanted to tell the story of the crew and what they endured during those fateful nights, and days, stranded in the middle of the ocean in 1945.  They wanted the story of the crewmen, which received little recognition at the time due to the ending of WWII, to be told for all to see.  

Among the cast is Matt Lanter, whose grandfather, Kenley M. Lanter, S1, was a Survivor. Johnny Crane, the grandson of Survivor Granville S. Crane, Jr., MM2, was also cast as an extra.  

To pay tribute, the producers invited survivors and their families to the set. Survivor Richard P. Stephens, S1 (88), was brought to set by his granddaughter; his great-granddaughters in tow. All from the production were struck by his humility and kindness. Mr. Stephens wanted the story of his shipmates to be told truthfully. His anecdotes captivated the core group of young actors playing his shipmates, ensuring the memory of his comrades has reached a new generation.

This July 18th marked the 70th reunion of the Survivors of the USS Indianapolis. Thirty-one of the original 317 are living.  One, unfortunately, passed just before.  Fourteen were able to attend the reunion.

In the waning days of WWII, the USS Indianapolis secretly delivered one of two atomic bombs that would eventually end the war. The Japanese attacked and sank the heavy cruiser.  The USS Indianapolis’ mission was so classified it was not reported missing. No one knew they had been attacked until four days later. Of the 1196 crewmen, nearly 300 went down with the ship. The remaining survivors were stranded in the shark-infested waters of the Philippine Sea. The crew of the USS Indianapolis endured hunger, thirst, heat, delirium, relentless shark attacks and the death of many shipmates. Five days later only 317 men survived and eventually were rescued. 

“USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” is produced by Rionda Del Castro and Michael Mendelsohn of Patriot Pictures, who is financing the film with Hannibal Classics. Executive Producers include Patricia Eberle, Timothy Patrick Cavanaugh, Cam Cannon, Dama Claire, Jamal Hanan, and Mariusz Lukomski.  Andrzej Sekula was the cinematographer, Pete Romano was the underwater cinematographer, Robert Ferretti will edit, and Laurent Eyquem is the composer.  Academy Award® Nominee Walt Conti of Edge Innovations provided animatronic sharks. 

The film will be released worldwide in 2016.