The 11th Zurich Film Festival welcomes the film producing country Iran as its guest country in the NEW WORLD VIEW section. The programme contains approximately a dozen new feature and documentary films from the latest generation of Iranian filmmakers.

The film producing country Iran has garnered international attention through the work of such masters of the medium as Abbas Kiarostami (Golden Palm in Cannes 1997 for TASTE OF CHERRY), Asghar Farhadi (Oscar 2011 for A SEPARATION) and Jafar Panahi (Golden Bear at the 2015 Berlinale for TAXI). Working under the most difficult of conditions, filmmakers here continue to defy the political, economic and cultural isolation of their country.

But Iranian filmmaking has much more to offer than just the works of its internationally renowned masters. Despite strict state controls and censorship, the latest generation of Iranian filmmakers has taken it upon itself to tackle and question in an intelligent and entertaining manner the burning topics and taboos occupying Iranian society today.

Topical Social Issues

The latest generation of Iranian filmmakers has created a host of cinema productions that offer a deeper insight into daily life within a society characterized by contrariety between young and old, traditional and modern, private and public life, and religion and secularity.

The latest generation of Iranian filmmakers is orientated towards Persia’s great masters and poetic traditions on the one hand, and increasingly on the other, towards western arthouse and genre cinema, which finds its way into Iranian living rooms via pirate DVDs and illegal streaming services. Iran is home to an extraordinarily multifaceted and innovative body of films that addresses such current social issues as family affairs, drug abuse and the clash of generations, while simultaneously exploring the filmic narrative of a variety of genres.

Iranian Short Film Block

Numerous international awards bear witness to this ongoing development, like those recently won by such debut works as Shahram Mokri’s insidious one-take horror FISH & CAT (2013, Orizzonti Award Venice), the visually impressive gangster drama 13 by Hooman Seyedi (2014, New Current Award Pusan), and Ida Panahandeh’s classic family drama NAHID (2015, Promising Future Prize Cannes). The intimate and highly acclaimed MELBOURNE by Nima Javidi represented New Iranian Cinema in the International Feature Film Competition section at last year’s ZFF.

The Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur will, for the eighth time, contribute to the NEW WORLD VIEW section with an Iranian short film block. Further details regarding the programme will be available soon. 

The San Francisco Film Society, in partnership with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, today announced that Tom Gilroy has been awarded the 2015 Djerassi Residency Award / San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship, for continuing development of his script Our Lady of the Snow.

The Djerassi Residency Award / San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship provides uninterrupted time for work, reflection and collegial interaction, making this award unique in its capacity to provide a screenwriter with an inspiring and supportive environment in a stunningly beautiful rural location. Located 40 miles south of San Francisco in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this residency offers living and work-studio accommodations and all meals from September 8 through October 7, 2015, at no cost to the recipient.

"To be awarded the Djerassi Residency is to receive both a short-term and long-term gift," said Gilroy. "In the short term, immersion in the colony's legendary natural beauty in September is perfect timing to complete the long journey that began last year with my script Our Lady Of The Snow receiving the SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant. In the long term, to be in the presence of such an accomplished and varied group of fellow artists supplies the much needed affirmation any artist needs to keep up the fight and remember we are right and justified to do what we do -- no small feat."

WINNER

Tom Gilroy
Tom Gilroy has written and directed three award winning films: the short Touch Base; the critically-acclaimed feature Spring Forward starring Liev Schreiber, Ned Beatty and Campbell Scott; and The Cold Lands, which had its world premiere at the Berlinale and its US premiere at the Sarasota Film Festival. Gilroy is also the director of the shorts It Happened Today (commissioned by REM) and Mr. Sycamore. A 2014 recipient of a San Francisco Film Society / Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant for screenwriting, Tom is also a three-time fellow to the MacDowell Colony, a two-time fellow to the Sundance Screenwriting and Directing Labs, and a mentor at both the Hamptons Screenwriting Lab and the Sundance Creative Producer's Lab. A frequent film professor at Columbia University, Tom has also published three books of haiku, and his political columns appear frequently in the Huffington Post.

Our Lady Of The Snow
When the Bishop decides to sell a gothic convent isolated in the snowy woods, the elderly nuns living there begin to have ecstatic visions, which he dismisses as faked. But as the visions spread to the convent's teenaged atheist cook, inexplicable supernatural events follow, with no one sure of their cause.

Previous recipients of the Djerassi Residency Award are Lea Nakonechny (2014) for her dramatic thriller A Sweeter World, Joshua Zeman (2013) for his scientific drama Collider, Julie Tosh (2012) for her science fiction-infused family drama Program Rose, Adam Chanzit (2011) for his psychological thriller The 15th Stone and Kathryn Mockler (2010) for her project Weak People Are Fun to Torment.

For more information visit sffs.org/Filmmaker360/Grants or djerassi.org.
 

Altitude Film Distribution’s AMY is poised to overtake director Asif Kapadia’s 2010 film SENNA to become the highest-grossing British documentary of all time, at the UK box office. With AMY currently sitting on £3.16million, SENNA’s lifetime box office total of £3.17million will undoubtedly be surpassed in the next 24 hours.

Following AMY’s July 3rd release, the documentary, about the late Amy Winehouse, received the biggest ever opening weekend for a British documentary and has continued to perform very strongly across the subsequent five weeks.

“AMY is an extraordinary film that we always felt had the potential to be an unusual success and so we are delighted to have surpassed the box office total of SENNA to become the third biggest documentary of all time here in the UK” said Hamish Moseley, Head of Distribution at Altitude Film Distribution.

Once AMY has overtaken SENNA it will have second-placed film MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (£3.31m) firmly in its sights. Michael Moore’s 2004 film FAHRENHEIT 9/11 is the highest-grossing non-concert documentary at the UK box office having grossed £6.5m.

From BAFTA-winning director Asif Kapadia (SENNA, THE WARRIOR) and producer James Gay-Rees (SENNA, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP), AMY tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse - in her own words. The film features extensive unseen archive footage and previously unheard tracks and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.

Janus Films announced today "Wim Wenders: Portraits Along The Road," a major touring retrospective of the legendary German director's work. It will launch at the IFC Center in New York (with Wenders present for select screenings) on August 28, and travel to a 15+-city tour of the nation's top art houses, with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Austin and Vancouver.

Wim Wenders is cinema's preeminent poet of the open road, soulfully following the lives of people as they search for themselves. During his more than forty-year career, Wenders has directed films in his native Germany and across the globe, and has made dramas both intense and whimsical, mysteries, fantasies, and documentaries. This retrospective of twelve of his films (including 11 new restorations) spans his entire career from his early works of the New German Cinema (KINGS OF THE ROAD; ALICE IN THE CITIES) to the art-house blockbusters of the '80s that made him a household name (PARIS, TEXAS; WINGS OF DESIRE) to his inquisitive looks at world culture (TOKYO-GA; BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB) - rediscover the vast cinematic world of Wim Wenders. 

 Amy Paffrath, host of VH1’s hit reality series Dating Naked, and Alicia Malone, Film Reporter, TV Host, Producer, Writer, Editor, and all around movie geek, are set to co-host the upcoming and highly anticipated HollyShorts opening night celebration on Thursday August 13. 

The event takes place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. The star-studded HollyShorts opening night will feature short movies starring Rose McGowan, Jason Patric, Sharon Lawrence, Rose McIver, Beth Grant, Robert Forster, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Lawson, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin, and many more. HollyShorts is the largest annual gathering of short form movies in Los Angeles with over 15,000 anticipated attendees for the week-long event (August 13-22) and over 400 pieces of short form content being showcased in competition. 

HollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement of filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less. Categories include Short Animation, Short Live Action, Short Documentary, Music Video, Webisode, Commercials, Trailers, 3D Shorts, Youth Film and Digital Microbudget.

The 11th installment of the upcoming HollyShorts Film Festival (August 13-22) star-studded opening night lineup will feature films starring Rose McGowan, Jason Patric, Sharon Lawrence, Rose McIver, Beth Grant, Robert Forster, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Lawson, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin, and many more. The festival will also open with a new clip from 2009 HollyShorts Visionary Award recipient Eli Roth’s highly anticipated new feature film THE GREEN INFERNO from Blumhouse Productions, Universal and Focus Features. The film is being released in theaters on September 25. 

HollyShorts opening night takes place this  Thursday, August 13 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and OHM nightclub at Hollywood and Highland.

Commented festival director Daniel Sol: “We are thrilled to open HollyShorts with such a star-studded and great lineup of short movies, it's going to be quite a night and an epic week of incredible content! This year marks the biggest HollyShorts ever and we look forward to helping create opportunities for our filmmakers August 13-22 in Hollywood!" 

HollyShorts received a record 2,300 submissions from almost every continent this year. The overall Grand Prize winner of HollyShorts will take home a $15,000 cash prize courtesy of Zype. 

HollyShorts opening night celebration will feature the following short films:

Chris Ekstein’s western short Weight of Blood and Bones starring Jason Patric, Danny Trejo, Rose McGowan, Mark Boone Junior, Noah Hardin, Marissa Coughlan and Jeff Daniel Phillips.

Gabriel Olson's The Bridge Partner, written by acclaimed author Peter S. Beagle (The Last Unicorn) starring Beth Grant (Mindy Project), Emmy nominee Sharon Lawrence, Rebecca Brooks, Catherine Carlen and Robert Forster.  

Warning Labels Directed by Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon A Time, Warrior, Star Trek), starring Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy), Josh Lawson (House of Lies), and Rose McIver (iZombie). 

Dissonance Directed by Bryan Fox starring Leven Rambin (The Hunger Games ), Cindy Dolenc (Eyes Wide Shut), Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos ), Henry Winkler, Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons), Carly Chalkin (Suburgatory), Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing), Perrey Reeves (Entourage), Kelly Preston, Devon Graye (Legendary ). The HollyShorts opening sponsors are The Agency’s Sports & Entertainment Division and Dark Horse Wine. 

Eli Roth's THE GREEN INFERNO centers on a group of student activists traveling to the Amazon to save the rain forest. They soon discover they are not alone after crash-landing on a remote location, and are held hostage by a native tribe they set out to help save. 

HollyShorts sponsors include: 

All Short TV, Brickyard VFX, Company 3, Creative Handbook, Crypt TV, Daily Motion, Dark Horse Wines, Deep Eddy Vodka, Delmay Partners, Diablo, Evil Slave, Film Radar, FilmLA, Final Draft, Greenleaf Gourmet Chop Shop, Ignited Spaces, Indi.com, Indievent, Jungle Software, Kim Ruggles Events, Color Space Finishing, Law Offices of Clifford Lo Entertainment Law, Lightspeed EPS, Lyft, Mercury Production Report, Method Studios, New Media Vault, NYFA, OHM, Panavision, Philippe Catering, Pond5, Red Giant, Robertson Taylor Insurance, Script Pipeline, Shorts HD, Media Services,Simple DCP, Stage32.com, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, The Agency-Sports & Entertainment Division, Uber, UCLA Extension, Women in Film, Zype, Hint Water, Production Hub, Monster Energy and Mama Shelter Hotels.

About HollyShorts

HollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement of filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less. Categories include Short Animation, Short Live Action, Short Documentary, Music Video, Webisode, Commercials, Trailers, 3D Shorts, Youth Film and Digital Microbudget.

HollyShorts Film Festival
http://hollyshorts.nationbuilder.com/

The Board of Directors of Film Fest Gent has appointed Martijn Bal as Managing Director of the festival in Ghent. He will be assuming his duties officially on 1 October 2015.

Chairperson Claire Tillekaerts is very happy that this crucial vacancy was successfully filled in time for the 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent. "The Board of Directors is confident that Martijn Bal, with his love of film and strong reputation within the industry, will be a tremendous asset for Film Fest Gent. The entire festival team is looking forward to joining him and Artistic Director Patrick Duynslaegher & programmer Wim De Witte in ensuring that the next editions continue to run smoothly."

Martijn Bal is very much looking forward to taking up his new duties: "Film Fest Gent will continue to support quality cinema and the talent behind it. We offer a unique platform where a wide audience can discover these films and their makers in a genuine festival atmosphere. The festival is also “the place to be” for professionals. More than ever, film as an experience is a key element. Film Fest Gent is ideally suited to fulfilling that role. Moreover the World Soundtrack Awards will continue to exude its international allure. I look forward to reinforce the strong position the festival holds within the fast-moving film and media landscape, and to move forward together with the team to take on new challenges."

The forty-eight-year-old from Ghent already has a rich career in the audiovisual sector behind him. After studying at the Conservatory of Antwerp, Bal’s first jobs - before he discovered TV - were in the newspaper business and the music industry. From 1989 onwards, he worked as a producer in various production houses including iDTv and Kladaradatch!. At both VTM and VRT he was on the programming side as the main entertainment and assistant network manager. He caught the digital bug when he got a taste at the Medialaan Digital Media division, where he launched new digital channels and a built up solid range of Video on Demand under the brand name ‘iWatch’. In 2012 Bal started as Senior Creative Producer at the production company De Filistijnen and later that year was asked to become director of the Media Innovation Centre at iMinds.

The 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent will run from 13 to 24 October at Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, KASKcinema, Bijloke and ‘t Kuipke. Information and tickets at www.filmfestival.be.

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Istanbul Film Festival goes through a restructuring after 9 years. Azize Tan, Festival Director for the last 9 years, hands the post over to Assistant Director Kerem Ayan.

As of October, Azize Tan is stepping down as Director of the Istanbul Film Festival, and the Istanbul Film Festival’s Assistant Director for the past 9 years, Kerem Ayan will be taking over the position. With the Istanbul Film Festival team as Coordinator since 2005, Bulgu Öztürk was appointed as Assistant Director of the festival.

Azize Tan joined İKSV in 1997 as subtitles coordinator for the Istanbul Film Festival and worked as Coordinator between 2000 and 2002, later as Assistant Director from 2003 until 2006, when she became the Director of the Istanbul Film Festival. She also worked as coordinator of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Istanbul Biennial. Azize Tan will continue her support to the Istanbul Film Festival as Advisor.

Born in Istanbul, Kerem Ayan graduated from the Saint-Joseph High School in Istanbul and went on to study Mechanical Engineering in the Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul. During his school years, he worked as a guest guide for the Film, Theatre, Music, and Jazz Festivals at İKSV. Ayan moved to Paris in 1992 and studied film at the Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle and Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7. He was the Assistant Director and in charge of the cultural page in the Radio France Internationale for four years. Ayan started working for the Cannes Film Festival in 2001 and meanwhile, organized the International Literary Adaptation Market in Monaco. In 2005, he launched the Political Films Festival in Barcelona and directed it for three years. Since 2006, he has been the Assistant Director of the Istanbul Film Festival. Kerem Ayan also went into directing plays in 2010 and has so far staged “Bay Hiç” (2010/11, Kim Kime Dumduma Theatre Company), “Kuçu Kuçu” (2012/13, Aysa Production), “Yaşamak Denen Bu Zahmetli İş” (2013/14-2014/15, Istanbul State Theatre), and “Tek Kişilk Şehir” (2014/15, Tiyatroperest), among others.

Bulgu Öztürk studied film in the Université Lumiére Lyon 2 and graduated in 2002. She has been working as a coordinator in the Istanbul Film Festival since 2005.

Further updates on the 35th Istanbul Film Festival to take place in April 2016 will be announced soon.

Film Festival recognizes 80+ of the best wildlife and nature films

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, (JHWFF) the premier event of its genre, has announced the 2015 finalists for its 13th biennial Festival. Winners will be unveiled in Jackson, Wy at the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday, October 1st, 2015. The awards are one part of a five-day industry conference hosted at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, September 28-October 2, 2015, that attracts the leading filmmakers, organizations, scientists, broadcasters, and visionaries engaged in conservation and wildlife media. This year’s submissions in the prestigious competition included nearly 1,000 category entries, a record number, competing for 23 special awards. This year’s finalists were selected by over 150 international judges who viewing 3200 hours of media. A distinguished panel of international judges immediately preceding the Festival will select the 2015 award winners. Finalists in Best Sound and Special Consideration will be announced shortly. Click attachment below to see full list of finalists: CONTENT CATEGORIES: Best Animal Behavior Program Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand Aquavision Television Productions Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Life Story – First Steps BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Best Wildlife Habitat Program Africa’s Giant Killers Icon Films in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana, BBC and Animal Planet Congo- Deep and Dangerous (Ep. 1) Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm; Blue Planet Film, NDR, ARTE, ORF, WDR and National Geographic WILD Vanishing Kings A co-production by ORF, Interspot Film, ARTE, Smithsonian Networks, into nature productions and Boksdocs Best Conservation Program (sponsored by Tangled Bank Studios) I Bought a Rainforest KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media The Messenger Songbirdsos Productions Inc. and Films À Cinq/ARTE France Best People & Nature Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) I Bought a Rainforest KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two India’s Wandering Lions Ammonite Ltd., Kosmik Global Pvt. Ltd., Earth Touch and Discovery Communications India Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico Windfall Films Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Best Science and Nature Program (Sponsored by Marco Polo Films) License to Krill DOX Productions Ltd, Films á Cinq, Arte France in association with NOVA/WGBH Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media THIN ICE—The Inside Story of Climate Science DOX Productions, Oxford University and Victoria University, Wellington Conservation Hero (Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund) E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico Windfall Films Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Tiger Tiger George Butler/White Mountain Films PROGRAM CATEGORIES: Best Educational/Institutional Program (Sponsored by North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences) An Elephants Tale: The Matriarch Wildlife Conservation Society Disneynature Monkey Kingdom -- A Conservation Story Disneynature Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds Howard Hughes Medical Institute Great Transitions: The Origin of Tetrapods Howard Hughes Medical Institute Best Limited Series—Long Form (Sponsored by Universum/ORF) Hidden Kingdoms BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, CCTV Life Story BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Your Inner Fish Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Best Limited Series—Short Form Deep Look KQED, PBS Digital Studios If Not Us Then Who? Handcrafted Films Power of Nature BBC Earth Productions Best Children’s Program (Sponsored by Boréales) Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature Series 2—Central American Coast BBC NATURE—A Sloth Named Velcro BelugaSmile Productions, LLC & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for the PBS Nature series Secrets of Bumblebees A co-production by ORF and Power of Earth Productions in association with ORFEnterprise, bm:ukk and Kultur NÖ The Marvelous Musical Report (of the Marine National Monuments) Open Boat Films, LLC, Sisbro Studios Best Hosted or Presenter-led Program David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Host: David Attenborough The Secret Life of Your House The Garden Productions Presenter: Dr. George McGavin Your Inner Fish, Episode 1 Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Presenter: Neil Shubin Best Short Program Animated Life: Pangea Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Sweet Fern Productions Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland Colossus Productions film in association with SKY 3D Return of the Cicadas Samuel Orr Best Short Short Elephant’s Tale: Matriarch Wildlife Conservation Society Power of Nature: Elephants BBC Earth Productions Pygmy Seahorses: Masters of Camouflage KQED and PBS Digital Studios Why Bears Wildlife Media & TriFilm Best Theatrical Program (Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios) Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media Unbranded Fin & Fur Films, Cedar Creek Productions, Implement Productions Best Immersive (Sponsored by Sky-Skan) David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Habitat Earth California Academy of Sciences Humpback Whales MacGillivray Freeman Films, Pacific Life Tiny Giants 3D BBC Earth Productions Marian Zunz Newcomer (Sponsored by Disneynature) 16 Legs: Spider Love Bookend Trust Return of the River Elwafilm LLC Sirocco—How a Dud Became a Stud Ashwika Kapur, Centre for Science Communication- Otago University Best Interactive Media David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D App Atlantic Productions PLUM LANDING WGBH Educational Foundation The Evolution Lab NOVA/WGBH ZooMoo App ZooMoo Networks CRAFT CATEGORIES: Best Sound (Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories) Finalists in this category will be announced shortly. Best Visualization Hidden Kingdoms—Under Open Skies BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, and CCTV Cinematography: Rod Clarke, Jonathan Jones, Alastair MacEwen, Mark Payne-Gill and Keith Brust Life Story—First Steps BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Cinematography: Mateo Willis, Mark Payne-Gill and Jamie McPherson Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo Wild and Terra Mater Factual Studios Cinematography: John Shier, Dawson Dunning, Curt Morgan. Aerial Cinematography: Nel Boshoff, Richard Burton, Greg Wheeler, Nick Wolcott; Additional Cinematography: Howard Bourne, Jeff Hogan, Theo Jebb Best Editing (Sponsored by Sony Electronics) Jago: A Life Underwater Underdog Films Production in association with James Morgan Films, Fantomline Pictures and Vistaar Productions Editor: Sam Rogers NATURE—Touching the Wild Passion Planet & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for PBS Nature series Editor: Charles Davies Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo WILD and Terra Mater Factual Studios Editor: James Taggart Best Original Musical Score David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Composer: Ilan Eshkeri Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Disneynature Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams Poached Ignite Channel and Doc Life Films Composer: Mark Orton Wonders of the Monsoon: The Drought BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide and Discovery Composer: Nitin Sawhney Best Writing E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS Writer: Graham Townsley Return of the River Elwafilm LLC Writer: Jessica Plumb Your Inner Fish, Episode 1 Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Writer: David Dugan The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and gala takes place during a week of critical importance in the industry: the Festival, The Elephant Summit and the Conservation Summit. The events of the JHWFF attract a world-class audience and participation from key influencers in the conservation community. Again this year, a series of community screenings in Jackson are planned. For information about the JHWFF, please visit WEBSITE, or call NUMBER. For tickets, sponsorship, or conference attendance, please call 307-733-7016 or visit http://www.jhfestival.org/2015-festival.html ### About JHWFF: Recognized as the premier event of its genre, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is an unparalleled biennial industry gathering. Hosted biennially in Grand Teton National Park, over 650 international delegates participate in an exceptional slate of leadingedge equipment presentations, seminars and state-of-the-art screenings. The Festival’s international board members include: Animal Planet, BBC Natural History Unit, Discovery Channel, Disneynature, FujiFilm Optical Devices, Gorongosa Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Tangled Bank Studios, National Geographic Channel International, National Geographic WILD, National Geographic Society, National Parks Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, Nature/WNET, Off the Fence Productions, PBS, Sony Electronics, Terra Mater Factual Studios and UNIVERSUM/ORF, Vulcan Productions, WGBH, and World Wildlife Fund

The 35th Atlantic Film Festival will run Sept. 17- 24 in Halifax, NS
 

The 35th annual Atlantic Film Festival announces its full festival program, featuring over 200 films and a full slate of special events, to be presented over eight days in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 17-24.

"Our audience will find that in this year’s program in particular the diversity of culture and community is on display like never before”, said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “As new technology changes allow filmmakers to create their stories in more austere circumstances the incredible effect is the ability to hear a broader range of voices from around the globe. "

The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night returns to the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Thursday, September 17. Sponsored by CTV, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the Opening Gala presentation of Hyena Road, written, directed and starring Paul Gross (Passchendaele).
 
A sniper (Rossif Sutherland) who has never allowed himself to think of his targets as human, becomes implicated in the life of one. An intelligence officer (Paul Gross) who has never contemplated killing, becomes the engine of a plot to kill. A legendary Mujahideen warrior (Neamat Arghandabi) who had put war behind him, is now the center of the battle zone. Three different men, three different worlds, three different conflicts – all stand at the intersection of modern warfare – a murky world of fluid morality where all is not as it seems. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Christine Horne, Allan Hawco and Clark Johnson, Hyena Road is, without a doubt, unlike any other film ever made in Canada and is a testament to the work that our nation’s soldiers do on a daily basis. Hyena Road is produced by Rhombus Media, Triple 7 Films, Buffalo Gal Pictures and Bron Creative, and is distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures. Both Paul Gross and Newfoundland actor Allan Hawco will be in attendance for the Opening Night festivities.
 
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is sponsored by CTV and will take place at The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites on Thursday, Sept. 17.
 
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 24 will be Beeba Boys, written and directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker, Deepa Mehta. Her latest feature film mixes guns, bhangra beats, bespoke suits, cocaine and betrayal in an adrenaline-charged look at Indo-Canadian gang war, and a violent clash of culture and crime. It is a gangster film by an internationally celebrated female director; a movie where stereotypes are intentionally challenged and which takes us right inside this Indo-Canadian world – a specific culture which no crime movie has explored before. Beeba Boys is produced by Hamilton-Mehta Productions and distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media. Deepa Mehta will be in attendance for the Closing Night Gala.

The Spotlight Gala is new this year to the Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala lineup. Into the Forest, written and directed by celebrated Canadian filmmaker, Patricia Rozema and starring Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood will be the inaugural Spotlight Gala on Saturday, September 19. Adapted from Jean Hegland’s inspiring novel of the same name, Into the Forest tells the story of two sisters living in a dense, remote forest, learning to survive and find hope in the wake of society’s sudden collapse. As a cloud of mystery surrounds them, sisters Nell (Ellen Page) and Eva (Evan Rachel Wood) find themselves shuttered in their home, surrounded by nothing but miles of dense forest in the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately, the sisters must work together to survive and learn to find comfort in each other and the happy family life they once shared. Into the Forest is produced by Bron Studios and Rhombus Media, and is distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.

The AFF will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. initiative features two Gala Presentations. Philippe Falardeau’s Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre (My Internship in Canada) will be the Gala Français Canadien on Tuesday September 22. And Jacques Audiard’s Palme d’or winning Dheepan will be the Gala Français International on Wednesday, September 23. The Cinéma En Français S.V.P. initiative will also feature four additional French Canadian and four international French feature films scheduled throughout the Festival.

Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the ten films comprising the 2015 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: Born to be Blue, starring Ethan Hawke as jazz musician Chet Baker; Brooklyn, a moving Irish/American romance with a screenplay by Nick Hornby;The Daughter, a contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck starring Academy Award® winner Geoffrey Rush; Grandma, a raucous comedy starring Lilly Tomlin; I Saw the Light, the story of Hank Williams, played to perfection by Tom Hiddleston; The Lady in the Van, based on Alan Bennett’s celebrated memoir and starring Dame Maggie Smith; Natasha, Adapted by celebrated author David Bezmozgis from his own award-winning short story; Remember from Atom Egoyan and starring Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer; Room, from Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (Frank) and starring Brie Larson and William H. Macy; This Changes Everything, an adaptation by Avi Lewis of Naomi Klein’s best-selling book of the same name.

Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of films such as: animated features, The Boy and the Beast (Japan) and Avril et le monde truqué (France); Canadian films, Fire Song, No Men Beyond this Point, How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, The Saver and Guy Maddin’s The Forbidden Room; international award-winners, Son of Saul (Hungary), Rams (Iceland), The Lobster (Greece), Victoria (Germany) and Mountains May Depart (China); among many more.

Select documentaries include: mountain climbing epic Meru; an audience award winning look at blue collar British racehorse owners in Dark Horse; a look at the life of beloved jazz and gospel singer Mavis Staples in Mavis!; a look at the history of Greenpeace in How to Change the World; and a look at the history of the Women’s movement, past and present, in She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry; among many other captivating and enlightening titles.

Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, and film retrospectives celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the AFCOOP FILM 5 program and the 40th Anniversary of NIFCO.

The 2015 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and returning at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund, and the 35th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception, honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
 
Strategic Partners, a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television, and digital first fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of the 35th Atlantic Film Festival, Sept. 17-20. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 18th year, Strategic Partners 2015 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.

Keynote speakers for Strategic Partners 2015 include: Carol producer, Elizabeth Karlsen (Number 9 Films, UK), and Bernie Su, the Emmy award winning Producer of The Lizzie Bennett Diaries,Emma Approved and Vanity. In addition there will be a television case study of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a Canada/UK co-production success story.  Finally, watch and learn as producers and financiers untangle one of the most intricate content financing webs in recent years; in Navigating a Creative New Paradigm, panelists will explore the new life cycle of content financing and distribution.  

Financed with the support of Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Signature Partner, Bell Media, and Gold Partners: Canada Media Fund, Canadian Media Production Association, Shaw Media and Super Channel, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp.

Tickets for screenings and special events along with ticket packages, group tickets and passes are on sale today, August 26 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at atlanticfilm.com or ticketpro.ca. Tickets are also available at all Ticketpro outlets in Nova Scotia, including Video Difference (6086 Quinpool Road). Please note that Ticketpro outlets accept cash or debit only. Tickets will be available at the Festival Box Office in Park Lane Mall (5657 Spring Garden Road) beginning September 11th at noon. For hours of operation, visit: atlanticfilm.com.

Tickets for the Opening Night Film are available through The Dalhousie Arts Centre box office (6101 University Ave.), by phone at 1-800-874-1669 and online at arts-centre or atlanticfilm.com. Tickets for the Opening Night Party are available at atlanticfilm.com, ticketpro.ca or at the Festival Box Office.

Receive the most up-to-date information, including sneak peeks and Festival highlights at our website: atlanticfilm.com, our Facebook page: /atlanticfilmfestival, Twitter account: /thefilmfest and NEW this year, Instagram: thefilmfest. To support these online channels, the Festival will continue to offer our Atlantic Film Festival App for iPhone, before and throughout the event to help coordinate your festival experience.

Another way to be part of the action is by visiting the Reel East Coast Festival Lounge located in the Georgian Lounge, at the Lord Nelson Hotel (1515 South Park Street). Open from noon to midnight daily, this is a place for the industry and the public to connect. Large HDTV’s with Reel East Coast programming and plush leather couches are just a couple of the modern amenities within the charming comforts of the lounge.

“A Festival of this magnitude cannot happen without the generous support of our sponsors and donors,” added Carter. “Along with their support, the incredible efforts put forth by our staff and volunteers is what truly makes the Atlantic Film Festival experience happen, and on this special 35th birthday we would like to express a huge thank you to all.”

About the Atlantic Film Festival

The Atlantic Film Festival is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax, Nova Scotia – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event celebrates 35 years of the Festival and takes place from September 17-24.

Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Atlantic Film Festival attracts some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. A champion of local filmmakers, all of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together.

A not-for-profit organization, the Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through the celebration of film.

Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, AFF Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

Jude Law in the Sky, HBO and Canal+ original co-production, The Young Pope, as Lenny Belardo, Pope Pius XIII

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Copyright line © Sky, HBO, Wildside 2015

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PLEASE NOTE: HIGH-RES IMAGE ATTACHED

ROME/LONDON/LA, AUGUST 26, 2015– The first official image from Sky, HBO and Canal+ original co-production, The Young Pope, has been revealed, featuring two-time Academy Award® nominee Jude Law as Lenny Belardo, Pope Pius XIII.

The image, taken from the actual production, shows Pope Pius XIII lying on a reclining chair under the Rome sun.

Production of the series, being broadcast on Sky Atlantic in Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland began recently and 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”.

The cast includes two-time Academy Award® nominee Jude Law in the title role, Academy Award®-winning female lead Diane Keaton, as well as Silvio Orlando, Scott Shepherd, Cécile de France, Javier Cámara, Ludivine Sagnier, Toni Bertorelli and James Cromwell

Last week the official festival jury and the visual of the 42nd edition were announced as part of the British focus. Today Film Fest Gent releases its first 15 titles. Besides the best films from its own soil as well as international features, the programme also includes the closing event and anniversary of the 15th World Soundtrack Awards.

The official competition includes the French-Belgian co-production ‘Les Cowboys’ by Thomas Bidegain, also known as Jacques Audiard's screenwriter and ‘Our Little Sister’ by Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda. There are also two debuting features competing for Best Film and Best Music: British-New-Zealand ‘Slow West’ by John Maclean starring Michael Fassbender amongst others and Cannes sensation & Grand Prix winner ‘Son of Saul’ by László Nemes.‘The Lobster’, the first international production by Yorgos Lanthimos, features a dazzling cast including Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Léa Seydoux.

Besides the opening film ‘The Ardennes’ by Robin Pront, the section Galas & Specials consists of films that will be screened at the festival before being released in Belgian theatres. ‘Carol’ by Todd Haynes, an adaptation of ‘Price of Salt’, one of the most personal novels by Patricia Highsmith, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. 'The Assassin’ by Hou Hsiao-hsien proves once again why he remains the greatest director of Taiwan’s New Wave Cinema.

The section Global Cinema, which covers contemporary authors films, presents one of the most cinephile events at the last Cannes film festival: ‘Arabian Nights’, the monumental triptych by Portuguese director Miguel Gomes (‘Tabu’). Furthermore, there will a few intriguing portraits of artists and musicians such as ‘Mr Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown’ by doc guru Alex Gibney and actor Ethan Hawke delivers a touching homage to pianist and friend Seymour Bernstein in ‘Seymour: an Introduction’. For the 50th anniversary of one of the most well-known film books 'Hitchcock/Truffaut', Kent Jones asked A-list directors Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Wes Anderson among others how they were influenced by the director of ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Psycho’.

This year the festival’s focus is on UK Cinema, which will cover a wide variety of recent British films. ‘45 Years’ by Andrew Haigh (‘Weekend’) features Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay as a retired couple undergoing a crisis when celebreating their 45th wedding anniversary. The amusing ‘A Royal Night Out’ by Jullian Jarrold is an imaginary piece of history about a night on the town with a young Queen Elisabeth II. 

The film music concerts also remain a highlight of Film Fest Gent. The British focus will also be showcased at the Great British Film Music Concert on 22 October and for the past 15 years the festival has always closed with the annual World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert. This year, central guests are Alan Silvestri, Patrick Doyle and Discovery 2014 Daniel Pemberton, who will all be attending the event on 24 October. The best scores of Silvestri were performed by Brussels Philharmonic and the Flemish Radio Choir, conducted by Dirk Brossé and recorded at the Flagey Studios by Galaxy Studios. The CD will be released later this October. 

Film Fest Gent and Vooruit will join forces once again! During the festival there will be two unique audiovisual shows from artists like Nozinja and Jeruzalem in My Heart. The legendary composer Terry Riley will perform live music to a film of his choice, together with his son Gyan. With his ensemble Black Flower, Nathan Daems provided the score for ‘Love, Theft and Other Entanglements’, the latest film of Palestinian director Muayad Alayan. There will also be various art installations in Vooruit and the literary event ‘Uitgelezen’ will be tailored to a film-based theme.

The entire program will be announced on 24 September. The 42nd edition of Film Fest Gent takes place from 13 October until 24 October at Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, KASKcinema, Bijloke and ’t Kuipke. Info and tickets at www.filmfestival.be.

The listed films are divided throughout the various festival sections:

In competition:
- LES COWBOYS by Thomas Bidegam – Fr/Belgium
- THE LOBSTER by Yorgos Lanthimos – Griekenland/UK
- OUR LITTLE SISTER by Hirokazu Koreeda – Japan
- SLOW WEST by John Maclean – UK/New Zealand
- SON OF SAUL by László Nemes – Hungary

Galas & Specials
- THE ARDENNES by Robin Pront - Belgium
- THE ASSASSIN by Hou Hsiao-Hsien – Taiwan
- CAROL by Todd Haynes – UK/USA

Global Cinema
- ARABIAN NIGHTS I, II and III by Miguel Gomes – Port/Fr
- LOVE, THEFT AND OTHER ENTANGLEMENTS by Muayad Alayan – Palestine

UK Cinema
- 45 YEARS by Andrew Haigh – UK
- A ROYAL NIGHT OUT by Julian Jarrold – UK

Sound and Vision
- MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN by Alex Gibney – USA
- SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION by Ethan Hawke – USA

Artists on Film
- HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT by Kent Jones – USA

Just when you thought that the 2015 Broken Heel Festival couldn’t get any more spectacular, the party that celebrates Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s 21st Birthday has released its full programme and it’s sure to have your inner Ru Paul shivering with anticipation.

With over 15 Drag Queen and Drag King artists performing, cabaret, street parties, comedy, fireworks and live music over three jam-packed days, the outback has never looked this fabulous!

The Festival is on from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September and tickets are on sale now, so pack those heels and grab a ticket lovvies!

Expect hilarious banter, sharp-tongued wit and wigs that defy gravity on Friday 11th September because Queens of the Stuart Highway will be performing at the Palace Hotel. Nothing is out of bounds for the sassy Mon Cheri, Sianne Tate and Sherri lee Valor – if it’s a classic drag number these queens have got it covered. The troupe have travelled Australia and know how to raise important issues, like why are there never enough sequins? You may want to bring an umbrella for this show, there’s a high chance that it will start raining men.

The famous “Priscilla Bus” from the million dollar stage production will also be on display all weekend long. Get up close and personal with its gaudy tropical interior and imagine you’re one of the girls in the film. It won’t be hard to immerse yourself with bands like BAAB – Newcastle’s kookiest ABBA cover band - smashing out all the hits on Friday 11th September. 

Add some flair to that head of hair with the Sir Madam Salon pop-up interactive performance. Curl up and be a part of the salon chatter about fashion, art, culture, gender and remote Australia. Hairdresser and interdisciplinary extraordinaire, Mel Barkan, will be weaving a unique hairpin line through the anthropological tangle of “what is art” using hair, whilst Kate Fielding and Ben Fox will be cutting through the issue of social change in remote Australia and around the world. 

The lovely locks will continue to flow with the screening of Alex Kelly’s highly anticipated documentary, Starlady. Armed with pink extensions, painted on eyebrows, glitter stockings and superman hotpants, Starlady is a youth worker on a mission: to improve the lives of young indigenous people through the art of hairdressing.  Like a real life Priscilla, Starlady takes us on a Queen of the Desert journey to Areyonga, an indigenous community in Central Australia, where she’ll work with a group of curious and cheeky young people. The Screening on Sunday September 13th is not to be missed!

The fabulously talented Peter Goers will also be joining the pageantry on the Sunday of the Festival. The host of The Evening Show on 891 ABC Adelaide will be masters of ceremony for the Broken Heel Festivals intimate Q&A special, with a never before assembled collection of cast from Priscilla. Peter will also be a judge at the “Lap of the Main Drag” event on Saturday midday starting in the town square. Gentlemen start your Engines! And may the best woman win!

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. 

Organisers of the Iris Prize Festival have confirmed that the Cardiff based LGBT film festival has adopted a rugby theme for their opening night to coincide with the Rugby World Cup. Supported by the Welsh Rugby Union, who allowed the festival team to film their cinema advert at the Millennium Stadium, the 2015 festival will open with the rugby documentary Scrum.

 Directed by Australian film maker Poppy Stockell (pictured left), who will be in Cardiff for the screening, the documentary focuses on the 2014 gay rugby world cup – The Bingham Cup.

“I’m thrilled that Scrum has been selected to open the 2015 Iris Prize Festival,” said Scrum’s director Poppy Stockell.

“Wales is known throughout the world as a rugby loving nation and I just can’t wait to see what they think of the film. Gareth Thomas has already made a huge contribution as the first openly gay rugby union player. Coupled with the pioneering work of out gay ref Nigel Owen, you get the impression Wales is a progressive country,” she added.

“If this was not enough we also have the added thrill of screening during the Rugby World Cup – I’m obsessed with hearing the Welsh crowds sing and hoping to get a chance to see some games, especially the Ireland v France match on the closing night of the Iris Festival,” she concluded.

Festival Director and feature film programmer, Berwyn Rowlands says, “As the eyes of the world focus on the 2015 Rugby World Cup, I’m delighted to open the 2015 festival with this powerful documentary which is about more than just rugby. This is the first time for a doc to open Iris and it confirms Poppy’s talents as a film maker who can tell a story.”

The full feature programme includes 14 amazing feature films, representing the very best of LGBT film making, including: Award winning Fourth Man Out, (US) director Andrew Nackman will be attending the screening; lesbian comedy Floating (Germany) director Julia Kaiser is also scheduled to be in Cardiff for the festival and Darker Than Midnight (Italy) whose director Sebastiano Riso is also visiting Iris to introduce his film.

“I honestly believe we have this year the best of the best. Many of the films in this year’s programme arrive in Cardiff with awards for best film, best performance from festivals all over the world. One of them will leave Cardiff with the Iris Prize Best Feature Award and two awards for performances in a feature will also be distributed. I think the juries have a difficult task ahead of them,” said Berwyn Rowlands.

Background:

The 2015 Iris Prize Festival will present 6 main awards:

1. The Iris Prize – Cardiff’s International LGBT short film prize supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation is valued at £30,000 and remains the only short film prize in the world which allows the winner to make a new film.
2. Iris Prize Best British Short sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group and valued at £14,000 will be presented for the second time in 2015.
3. Iris Prize Best Feature Award valued at £1,000 is sponsored by Martin Brigs and presented to the best new feature screened at the festival.
4. Best Actor in a Feature sponsored by Gay Star News
5. Best Actress in a Feature sponsored by Gay Star News
6. Iris Prize Youth Jury Award sponsored by Cardiff University and presented to one of the short films as selected by a jury of 10 between the ages of 14 and 17.

Important Dates:

• The Box Office will open on Monday 7 September 2015. (Members Priority Booking opens Wednesday 26 August – through Sunday 6 September).
• The festival takes place in Cardiff and opens on Wednesday 7 – Sunday 11 October 2015.

The Iris Prize– Cardiff’s International LGBT Short Film Prize is supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation and continues to be the only LGBT short film prize in the world which allows the winner to make a new film. Iris is what film makers need – funding, support and guidance. The winner receives £30,000 to make their next short film in the UK. 

Director Matthew Brown, Producer Ed Pressman and Stars Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel To Present Film in Zurich

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) announced today that Matthew Brown’s dramatic bio-pic “The Man Who Knew Infinity” has been selected to open the 11th edition of the Festival taking place September 24 – October 4. The announcement was made by ZFF Directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht.

Matthew Brown directed the film from his screenplay based on Robert Kanigel’s novel The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan.

The film stars Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel, Devika Bhise, Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Northam and Kevin McNally.

“The Man Who Knew Infinity” tells the true story of Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught mathematics genius from India, who leaves behind his beloved young bride, Janaki (Devika Bhise), to travel across the world to Camridge where he forges a bond with his mentor, the eccentric professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), and becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories using the magic of his mind.

In 1913, a young unschooled Indian clerk wrote a letter to G.H. Hardy, begging the preeminent English mathematician's opinion on several ideas he had about numbers. Realizing the letter was the work of a genius, Hardy arranged for Srinivasa Ramanujan to come to England. Thus began one of the most improbable and productive collaborations ever chronicled. The story takes audiences from the temples and slums of Madras to the courts and chapels of Cambridge University, where the devout Hindu Ramanujan, 'the Prince of Intuition,' tested his brilliant theories alongside the sophisticated and eccentric Hardy, 'the Apostle of Proof.' In time, Ramanujan's creative intensity took its toll: he died at the age of thirty-two and left behind a magical and inspired legacy that is still being plumbed for its secrets today.

”The Man Who Knew Infinity” is an Edward R. Pressman/Animus Films Production in association with Cayenne Pepper Productions, Xeitgeist Entertainment Group and Marcys Holdings.  Producers of the film are Edward R. Pressman, Jim Young, Joe Thomas, Matthew Brown, Sofia Sondervan and Jon Katz.  Executive producers are Swati Bhise, Joseph N. Cohen, Gary Ellis, Pamela Godfrey, Phil Hunt, Mark Montgomery, Compton Ross, Manraj S. Sekhon, Shail Shah, Tristine Skyler, Min-Li Tan, Masaaki Tanaka, and Richard Toussaint.

Additional ZFF 2015 Gala Premieres include KILL YOUR FRIENDS from Owen Harris, MISTRESS AMERICA from Noah Baumbach, MISS YOU ALREADY from Catherine Hardwicke, HIGH-RISE from Ben Wheatley, MON ROI from Maïwenn, THE PROGRAM from Stephen Frears, BLACK MASS from Scott Cooper, COLONIA from Florian Gallenberger, SICARIO from Denis Villeneuve, THE END OF THE TOUR from James Ponsoldt, LIFE from Anton Corbijn and WALK IN THE WOODS from Ken Kwapis.

In addition to the gala premieres, this year’s Zurich Film Festival A Tribute to... award will be presented to British film director Mike Leigh, one of the most significant exponents of New British Cinema. Mike Leigh will collect the Golden Eye in person during the Award Night ceremony at the Zurich Opera House on October 3. Screened during the ZFF, a comprehensive retrospective comprising a number of his productions will offer insight into his work. Mike Leigh will also head a ZFF Public Master Class.

About the Zurich Film Festival

Now in its 11th edition, the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) has established itself as one of the world’s top Films Festivals, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from around the world, showcasing a diverse array of international films and serving as the setting for many World and European premieres.

The aim of the Zurich Film Festival is to offer audiences an insight into the work of young, upcoming filmmakers from around the globe and to promote the exchange of ideas between established film workers, young talent and the public.

ZFF is organized by Spoundation Motion Picture GmbH, based in Zurich, in cooperation with local institutions and sponsors. The Zurich Film Festival cooperates with numerous distributors and producers from Switzerland and abroad. The idea to found a festival in Zurich came from Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht, who serve as Directors of the Festival.

The Zurich Film Festival is generously supported by its main sponsors: Credit Suisse, upc cablecom, Die Schweizerische Post and Audi.

For more information please visit www.zff.com

GetD (Future 3D Tech Group), the leading Chinese manufacturer and supplier of 3D smart cinema solutions, today announced Bernard Collard has joined GetD as new Senior Vice President. In his new role, Mr. Collard will be responsible for driving sales and developing marketing strategies that will help GetD to conquer new markets shares and deliver added value to GetD customers. His preferred covered areas will be EMEA, Russia and CIS Territories. He will be building upon the company’s expertise in 3D cinema technology and his solid connections in many territories; he will focus on creating new business opportunities and nurturing business partnerships.

With almost 20 years of experience in the cinema industry, Mr. Collard brings an insightful global perspective to GetD that will greatly aid the expansion of the company’s business ecosystem. His leadership will play a key role in driving forward company strategy, and realizing GetD’s ambitions for future growth. “Having known Peter Ruan and their product line for some time, I have been impressed with their commitment and ability to service the industry.

Besides their capacity to deliver very cost effective products, GetD, the Cinema Division of Future 3D Group, is committed to achieve high quality level. Their excellence has already convinced some famous cinema chains to go GetD. With the transition to digital cinema nearly complete, the doors have opened for new 3D technologies. There is still large room for market growth in the 3D industry and I’m excited to join GetD as a company which is committed to improve the 3D movie-going experience and which is more than ever determined to service the 3D industry,” said Mr. Collard.

Peter Ruan, GetD, founder, chairman, and CEO, added: “We are very fortunate that Bernard is joining the company. His experience in international sales and marketing, combined with his proven record for executing highly successful corporate strategies that increase both brand awareness and industry sales, makes him the ideal choice for this new mission, especially at a time when we are expanding globally into new businesses. I have the utmost respect for Bernard’s experience and accomplishments. We are committed to work in a close and trusted relationship that will enable us to collaborate effectively to facilitate GetD’s expansion.”

Prior to joining GetD, Mr. Collard served as SVP Sales & Business Development for XPAND Cinema Products – a global leader that provides 3D solutions in various markets. While at XPAND, Bernard was also responsible for consolidating dealership network in North America and related cinema services organization together with XPAND team based in Portland. Mr. Collard is also on the EU Board of the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA).

Collard is a 20-year veteran of the digital cinema industry and earlier in his career, he was Int’l Marketing and Sales Manager at EVS Digital Cinema before becoming General Manager at XDC, now dcinex/Ymagis Group, today the leading Pan-European provider of fully integrated and best in class solutions for movie operations.

Future 3D Tech Group – GetD office will be based in Luxembourg. You can already reach Bernard Collard by phone at +352 208 814 67 or by email at bernard.collard@f3dt.com

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About Future 3D Tech Group and GetD ( www.f3dt.com )

GETD TECH (HK) CO., LIMITED (“GetD”), the world leading 3D smart solutions provider is one of the subsidiaries of Future 3D Tech Group. GetD develops, manufactures and sells cinema related products, like Active 3D systems/glasses, Passive 3D systems/glasses as well as other accessories. GetD cinema products are on Disney & Sony lists of approved 3D equipments. They are delivered with up to 5 years warranty period. Local installation services are available worldwide.

Together, Go Short (NL) and International Short Film Festival Leuven (BE), adopt the role of gatekeeper for Euro Connection, the largest and most important coproduction platform for short films in Europe.

Euro Connection takes place every February at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France and aims to promote co-production of short films in Europe. Go Short and International Short Film Festival Leuven (IKL) will work together to make a preselection from Dutch and Flemish productions, and choose a project to pass forward to the international jury in France. Eventually 16 producers are allowed to pitch their project during Euro Connection.

Dutch and Flemish producers of short films, animations and creative documentaries up to 40 minutes who are looking for a European co-financing partner are eligible to submit their project from September 1, 2015. An important condition is that partial funding has been granted. Projects can be submitted until October 23 2015. From all entries and Go Short and IKL will then select one project to be presented to the international jury. This jury ultimately decides which projects will be invited to Euro Connection 2016. The selected producers will be invited to pitch their project in Clermont-Ferrand and to participate in networking events. Producers of the selected projects who are not among the selected 16 are also assured of participation in Euro Connection and welcome to expand their international network.

Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen is the Dutch festival for short film. For five days, over 300 short films are screened in and around LUX in Nijmegen. Besides screenings there are exhibitions, workshops, performances, parties and more. The 8th edition of the festival takes place from 6 – 10 April 2016. More information on the festival at www.goshort.nl. 

CineFest, Hungary`s biggest film event starts on 11 September with a CineClassics screening: the digitally restored Once Upon a Time in the West - in the presence of Claudia Cardinale. The festival's 6 years old film history series presents an extensive western focus, screenings and a conference - and what`s more, it commemorates the Hungarian born Paramount founder, the legendary studio boss Adolph Zukor, producer of many early westerns, who was born in the nearby village Ricse.

CineFest`s country focus program screens Ivan Passer's 50 years old masterpiece Intimate Lighting and Michael Haneke's early film, the cathartic Benny's Video - in cooperation with the Czech Centre and the Austrian Cultural Forum.  A Hungarian language presentation tells the story of the right 90 years old Miskolc city cinema, and an exhibition remembers the Russian stage and screen legend Smoktunovsky who was born 90 years ago (watch his brilliant Hamlet in the Miskolc Theatre Museum, Déryné u. 3.).

Smoktunovsky was one of the best Hamlets - for his 1964 performance in Grigory Kozintsev's legendary film Innokentiy Smoktunovsky was even nominated for the BAFTA (and the film was nominated for the Golden Globe). He was one of the best Shakespeare actors - and one of the best Russian actors ever. The Siberian-born son of Polish-Russian exilants appeared in hundreds of plays and in dozens of great films from The Unsent Letter to Nine Days in One Year, from Crime and Punishment to Uncle Vanya, just to name a few. Now a small exhibition - curated by Anna Geréb and Gábor Mikita, in cooperation with the Moscow Bahrusin Museum - honours him in the Miskolc Theatre Museum (Déryné u. 3.). Opening: right before the grand opening of the festival, 11 September, 3 PM.