Eighteen new Russian films will premiere at the 12th Russian Resurrection Film Festival, playing at venues in Australia and New Zealand during October and November.
 

International guests at the festival include director Sergei Mokritsky, whose 2015 war epic Battle for Sevastopol, will open the festival in Canberra, Brisbane and Auckland.

Battle of Sevastopol tells the true story of a young Soviet woman who joins the Red Army in 1941 to fight the Nazi invasion. Lyudmila builds a reputation as one of the deadliest Soviet snipers. When tragedy hits, she is pulled out of combat to join a diplomatic delegation to the USA, where she develops an unlikely friendship.

Another war epic based on a true story, Battalion, will open the festival in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. A huge box office hit in Russia, this is the story of the First Russian Women’s Battalion, led by the peasant Maria Bochkareva. It is set in the spring of 1917 at the height of the First World War. The battalion was formed with the idea that women warriors would shame timid soldiers into resuming their combat duties.

Battalion is directed by Dmitriy Meskhiev, whose 2004 film, Our Own, is also part of this year’s festival retrospective of six World War II classics.

Russian Resurrection Film Festival director, Nicholas Maksymow, said the lineup of films this year was particularly strong and would create a deeper understanding of Russia.

“Through a varied and uncompromising presentation of Russian culture, we can provide audiences with the diversity of voices and ideas that are present in Russian cinema and society,” he said. “Russian cinema is evolving and developing every day.”

As part of the festival, there will be an exhibition by Russian photographer Vladimir Maksimov, who worked on the 2014 film Territory, set in Russia’s far north – where the tundra meets the Arctic. Maksimov will be visiting Australia with his exhibition of landscapes that delves behind the scenes of the making of the film. 

The Russian Resurrection Film Festival receives the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, Russkiy Mir Foundation, Event Cinemas, ACMI and Rialto Cinemas.   

~ Director to receive the Social Impact Cinema Icon nod ~

The Hollywood Film Festival will celebrate Penny Marshall as this year’s “Social Impact Cinema Icon.”  As this year’s recipient, Marshall will join last year’s recipient, Harry Belafonte, as an Honorary Chairperson for the festival which is anchored in socially relevant films.  Marshall, who has helped to pave the way for female directors with Jumpin’ Jack Flash in 1985; hasn’t stopped since.  She will join festival CEO & Executive Producer Brad Parks and Executive Director Rod Beaudoin on the Red Carpet Thursday evening to kick off the four Showcase Opening Night Films Thursday night and the “Female Fridays” lineup the following day. 

Penny Marshall spent her early years as Laverne on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley. In 1985, Marshall's friend, Whoopi Goldberg, convinced her to pursue a career in directing, starting with the movie Jumpin' Jack Flash. The film launched Marshall's career and she went on to direct Big, Awakenings, A League of Their Own, The Preacher’s Wife and Riding in Cars with Boys among other films.

The newly revamped Hollywood Film Festival, which runs September 23-27^th at Arclight Cinemas Hollywood, promises a fresh and exciting global direction under the new team (Parks/Beaudoin).   After funding the acquisition of the festival last year, Brad Parks guided the transition of the festival theme to socially relevant films anchored in causes and calls-to-action.  Now, with the help of Rod Beaudoin, the festival takes its message global with international partnerships, new media programming and cutting edge entertainment which all complement its “See Good / Do Good / Feel Good” mission. This year, the festival received an unprecedented 3,019 submissions; and from that number, programmed 90 projects including 20 Narrative Features, 29 Documentaries, 38 Shorts, and Social Impact TV.

We were privileged last year to celebrate Harry Belafonte as part of our Social Justice theme,” said Parks.  “This year our theme is Female Filmmaking.  We had such an unprecedented amount of films by women, that we are dedicating an entire day to women.  Our Female Friday films are all directed and/or produced by women. Penny Marshall is a great role model for female filmmakers.  As one of the greatest storytellers of all time, she relies less on technology and more on getting stories out of her actors.  We are honored to have her.” 

“I’m from Milwaukee and fell in love with Penny Marshall when she played a beer bottler from Milwaukee,” says Beaudoin.  “The films she’s created are landmark films with stories that are important and which stand the test of time.  No one is a greater role model for female filmmakers than Penny.” 

With over 15 years of experience in community engagement and social commerce software, Brad Parks also served over a decade as V.P. of The Hanleigh Companies, America’s first-ever direct underwriter for Lloyds of London, specializing in entertainment, professional sports and high net worth corporate risk management. He also served 10 years as a Sergeant with the United States Army. Rod Beaudoin, with over 20 years of festival programming and entertainment experience, helped to form the Beloit International Film Festival in 2005 and a few years later, he was instrumental in launching the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival in Iowa with Brad Parks. Last year he reunited with Parks in the production of the Hollywood Film Festival.  

Brad Parks and Rod Beaudoin plan to grow the Hollywood Film Festival to a top tier global festival without the help of typical glitz and glamour, by celebrating the creative artists, activists and industry leaders who have supported causes around the world. “Our goal is to demonstrate the power of cinematic storytelling as a tool to fuel positive social change,” says Parks. “The Hollywood Film Festival is connecting the dots,” adds Beaudoin. “Many of Hollywood’s celebrities are heavily involved in important global causes, so overlapping is eminent.  But with digital technology, our cultures are colliding more now than ever and audiences globally are responding to the inspiration of social content.”

 The 2015 Hollywood Film Festival begins Wednesday September 23^rd with a “Welcome Wednesday: Welcome to Hollywood” night of events designed to get to know the vast number of filmmakers who traveled from around the world to attend the festival, and to introduce them to a pool of industry professionals and distribution partners.

Thursday September 24^th , promises stars and emerging filmmakers on the Red Carpet as they join the four Showcase Opening Night Films anchored in the social impact See Good / Do Good / Feel Good theme along with an additional “Be Good” film.  PEARLY GATES, directed by Scott Ehrlich, features an all-star cast including Uzo Aduba, Illeana Douglas, Bonnie Sommerville, Peter Bogdonavich and Lainie Kazan in a comedic musical about wanting to be remembered and learning that the only way to truly live on is in the hearts and minds of the people around you; WAFFLE STREET, directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms stars James Lafferty and Danny Glover in the true story of Jimmy Adams, a V.P. of a $30 billion hedge fund, who loses his job and winds up working as a waiter at a waffle shop; OUTLIVING EMILY, directed by Eric Weber stars includes Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorick, Andre Braugher, Zosia Mamet and Alexis Bledel in a look at the marriage of Tim and Emily over the course of 50 years with numerous actors playing both characters; and GHOST TOWN TO HAVANA, directed by Eugene Corr and Roberto Chile is the story of two youth baseball coaches who strike up a friendship in an online gaming room but, when they decide to meet in person, fun and baseball quickly turns to murder and poverty.

The evening continues with a tier of four risk taking films.  The World Premiere of F FOR FRANCO, is a multi-layered exploration into the mind of James Franco the Actor, Director, Author, and Visual Artist.  Directed by Dr. Francisco J. Ricardo, the film will incorporate a live art exhibition with discussions of Franco’s art process.  THE KEY, directed by Jefery Levy, is an erotic look at marriage and lust and stars David Arquette and Bai Ling. GLORY DAZE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL ALIG is directed by Ramon Fernandez and takes place in NYC in 1987 when a new group of individuals arises to fill the artistic power vacuum created by Andy Warhol's untimely death and the demise of his 'Factory', in the form of The Club Kids. THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, directed by Phil Allocco, tells the story of a man who finds himself in a tangled web of lies when the truth proves to be too much to admit and even harder to accept.

 “Female Friday” taking place on September 25^th is dedicated to showcasing films produced and/or directed by an exceptional female filmmaker with curated conversations about issues facing women in Hollywood today. Out of the 91 films programmed at the festival this year, 58 are directed and/or produced by women.

The Hollywood Film Festival seeks to promote phenomenal films about causes that count while inspiring audiences to act.  The festival connects some of our generation’s best independent filmmakers, cultural content creators, and social impact storytellers with Hollywood, the "Entertainment Capital of the World."

Sunscreen Film Festival West

October 2-4, 2015

http://ssffwest.com/

First Tuesdays with the Midwest Independent Film Festival: Here it is... our lineup for the 2015 Advertising Community Shorts Program

Presented by AICP Midwest and a host of outstanding Midwest businesses!

Special thanks to this year's jury (full roster here)! Here's your lineup for the 2015 Advertising Community Shorts Night...

GRACE AND FORTUNE. While giving a client a manicure, Graça tells the reason she got late for work. The hot night at the forró ended up with a bucket of cold water. Written by Lapiz Leo Burnett SVP Executive Creative Director Fabio Seidl.

DOOMSDATE. WORLD PREMIERE! DOOMSDATE is the classic story of boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy and girl kill zombies while fighting about who is supposed to be doing the dishes. A ZomRomCom, if you will. Co-Created by Carissa Barecca, Kevin Sctiretta, and Jeff Hadick of The Second City Works, the corporate creative arm of the legendary Second City Theatre in Chicago. Cast includes Second City mainstage regular and current Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich.

PONOKOMITA. CHICAGO PREMIERE! This film was shot and directed by Duncan Wolfe from One at Optimus and produced by Chicago journalist Seth Putnam. Optimus tackled all post production, including editor Max Mooney, colorist Jeff Greco, and sound designer Ben Treimer. 

IN THE WATER.  This music video for singer/songwriter Beth Bombara was designed, directed, and produced by St. Louis siblings Preston Gibson, currently a motion designer at 90 Degrees West, and Parker Gibson, formerly of Boxing Clever, St. Louis.

COUNTY STATE USA: SWEET CORN. CHICAGO PREMIERE! After robbing the town bank and having his quick-change plans fall apart, a local teen carjacks a hapless farmer selling sweet corn on the side of the road.  As they attempt to get out of dodge, the farmer decides to help the teen escape and stick it to the very bank that is foreclosing on his property.  Directed by former Fallon Minneapolis editor Jonathan Nowak, co-produced by Iowa native Steve DeVore. 

DREAMERS AND MAKERS ARE MY FAVORITE PEOPLE. CHICAGO PREMIERE! Intrigued by the “build it and they will come” mystique of the Jerry Run Theater the town of Cleveland, West Virginia (pop. 193), acclaimed songwriter Sam Beam of Iron & Wine traveled to Jerry Run to debut a set of never-before-performed songs. Directed & edited by Jamie Fleischel, with DP Corey Lillard and producers Katie Prentiss and Brian Gailey for Chicago-based Picture Show.  

HAPPY HOUR. CHICAGO PREMIERE! A marketing executive is forced to fire several employees, triggering a childhood memory that has shaped his entire life. HAPPY HOUR was directed by Martin Rodahl, owner of the commercial production company 71 Degrees North, and based on a short story by Jim Thompson, retired EVP from Leo Burnett.

SLEEPY STEVE. CHICAGO PREMIERE! A fuzzy bachelor has engineered his wacky morning routine with robotic precision in this charming animated short. Alongside writer-director Meghann Artes, the main collaborators are all longtime members of the Chicago commercial production community, namely actors Thomas Kelly and Michael Woods, Director of Photography Scott Thiele, Art Director Emily Carter and Assistant Director Katie Ray.

LOW KEY.  “Low Key” is the first music video forTweedy, the father-son collaboration of Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer.  This satire of the current state of the record sales in the mp3 era stars Michael Shannon, was directed by Nick Offerman of PARKS & RECREATION fame, lensed by Seth Henrikson and produced by Alec Pinkston, both from Chicago-based Odd Machine. 

TINY'S NEW HOME. WORLD PREMIERE! When a little girl's new goldfish keeps jumping out of its bowl, she decides to go on a quest to find it a new home. BoomThrift director Justin Hayward at the helm on this one, story and writing by Larry Ziegelman, Terry Ziegelman and BoomThrift EP Leigh Jones, alongside producer Laurel Ward and EP Chad Munger.

DETROIT LIGHTS. CHICAGO PREMIERE! Detroit teenager Desmond is a young ambitious artist living among an array of negative influences around him. When misfortune leaves him stuck in the pitch black streets one night, he finds himself in a near death experience that allows him to walk away with a new perspective of life, as well as his city. Directed by commercial cinematographer Danny Valdez, sound by Steven Vandeven of Static Studios.

WHERE TO GO ON YOUR HONEYMOON. This animated super-short explores the trials and tribulations of meeting the opposite sex after school in sixth grade. Directed by Christopher Jones, a Creative Producer whose recent work includes campaigns for the Chicago Bulls, with sound design from Bob Benson of ARU.

THE TAPOUT CREW. Tensions escalate at a party after two men wearing Tapout shirts are told to leave. Written and directed by Aaron Fronk, Cooper Johnson, and Vincent DeGaetano of FND Films.

REVERSAL. WORLD PREMIERE! REVERSAL is a neo-noir about an obsessed inventor determined to prevent his wife's murder.  His method: a 16mm film projector. The film was written and directed by Michael Lippert, an editor at Cutters. Producers include Adina Kwasigroch and Brittany Wagner of FCB Chicago and Brett Sechrist; art direction by Manuel Pena of Cutters Studios with color by Tyler Roth of Company 3.

The Sacramento French Film festival
Presents its
2nd MINI FALL FRENCH FILM FEST

Saturday, november 14, 2015 – CREST THEATRE

PROGRAM

§  Join the SFFF for a Fun Fall Day of French Films!

§  Our 2nd Mini Fall French Film Fest will include four feature films.

§  Complete program TBA.

WHEN

§  Saturday, November 14, 2015.

§  All Day! We’ll start around Noon - Showtimes TBA.

WHERE

§  Crest Theatre – 1013 K Street - Downtown Sacramento

WEBSITE & PHONE

§  www.SacramentoFrenchFilmFestival.org

§  (916) 455-9390 (SFFF) / (916) 476-3356 (Crest Theatre)

TICKET PRICES

§  Day Pass: $37  (includes $2 Crest Facility Fee)

§  Single Ticket: $12/$11 (includes $0.75 Crest Facility Fee)

§  Advance single tickets and day passes will be available for sale online on ticketfly.com (additional fees apply) and at the Crest Theatre Box Office. Single tickets and day passes will be for sale at the door.

OTHER DETAILS

§  Films are presented in French with English subtitles.

§  No Host Bar!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHOTOS & SCREENERS                                                       

Cécile Mouette Downs (916) 455-9390 / Cell: (916) 396-9147

littlececile@gmail.com

Hal Hartley and David Gordon Green have together been selected to receive the 2015 American Film Festival Indie Star Award, which recognizes their outstanding contributions to the American indie film canon. Past winners include Todd Solondz, Jerry Schatzberg, Christine Vachon, and Whit Stillman. In addition to accepting their awards at AFF, both Harley and Green will present select screenings of their work in two dedicated programs.

Director, screenwriter, producer, and composer Hal Hartley has been a leading figure in American indie film since his first feature, The Unbelievable Truth, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival. Hartley garnered commercial success several years later with Henry Fool, a film that also earned him the Best Screenplay Award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. Since then, Harley made a series of successful shorts and features before making his most recent Kickstarter funded film, Ned Rifle, starring Liam Aiken, Aubrey Plaza, and Parker Posey. Posey is featured in all three of Hartley's trilogy films: Henry Fool, Fay Grim, and his latest, Ned Rifle. Hartley will screen his trilogy at AFF as an exclusive showcase.

David Gordon Green's Manglehorn, starring Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, and Harmony Korine, is the last in what critics have referred to as his "Texas trilogy." The other two Texas films, Prince Avalanche and Joe, have been hand-selected by Green himself to screen at the American Film Festival. He's also chosen to show his first feature film, George Washington, and his 2007 Sundance premiere, Snow Angels.

AFF is particularly proud to announce that Green's newest film, Our Brand Is Crisis, will make it to Wroclaw at AFF, following up its World premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

Green is an iconic Austin-based writer, producer, and director for TV and film. He first gained recognition with George Washington and All the Real Girls, and is also notable for his more recent hits including Pineapple Express and select episodes of HBO's Eastbound & Down. Green's work spans genre, as well as the commercial/indie landscape, and yet, he's consistently worked with many of the same collaborators from his college years at North Carolina School of the Arts. But his allegiance remains to Texas, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Austin Film Society at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival.

Hartley and Green will meet during the American Film Festival in Wrocław in a conversation (a double masterclass) about filmmaking and their careers on Saturday, October 24th.

Film Fest Gent released the entire programme of the 42nd Film Fest Gent today. From 13 until 24 October the festival will screen over 111 international and Belgium feature films. There's a focus on UK cinema, two film music concerts, panels and talks. Attending international guests include Colin Farrell, Hirokazu Koreeda, Pablo Larraín, Thomas Bidegain and Alan Silvestri.

Info and tickets at www.filmfestival.be

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
This year, thirteen films will compete in the Official Competition, which will be opened on Wednesday 14 October by 'The Lobster' in the presence of actor Colin Farell and director Yorgos Lanthimos. That same night, the festival also welcomes the Japanese grandmaster Hirokazu Koreeda ('Our Little Sister'). Furthermore directors Pablo Larraín ('El Club'), Thomas Bidegan ('Les Cowboys'), László Nemes ('Son of Saul') and John Maclean ('Slow West') will also present their films at the festival. The international jury members are Sir Alan Parker, Marjane Satrapi, Caroline Strubbe, Boyd Van Hoeij and Franco Lolli.

FOCUS ON UK CINEMA
After the focus on French cinema last year, the 42nd Film Fest Gent puts its spotlight on British films. The section UK Cinema includes a selection of 11 films that display the diversity of the current British cinema. Within this theme the classic 'Midnight Express' will be screened followed by a talk with director and jury president Sir Alan Parker. The concert Great British Film Music will be held on 22 October and will guide us through the rich heritage of British Cinema. Composers Craig Armstrong, Stephen Warbeck, Michael Nyman and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner George Fenton, will be attending.

BELGIAN CINEMA TODAY
Film Fest Gent presents the best and the strongest of Belgian cinema. The section includes the official opening film 'The Ardennes' by Robin Pront, 'Brak' by Laurent Van Lancker, the documentary 'Bobbejaan' by Benny Vandendriessche and Manu Riche's long-feature debut 'Problemski Hotel'. In the section Serial Madness, the last 4 episodes of the brand new series 'The Natives' (Bevergem) will be premiered at the festival. The second feature by Adil El Arbi en Bilall Fallah 'Black' is also included in the programma as well as two Belgian co-productions: 'Phantom Boy' and 'Les Cowboys' by Thomas Bidegain. 

WORLD SOUNDTRACK AWARDS
The festival will close on 24 October with the 15th World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert. Central guests are Alan Sivestri, Patrick Doyle and Daniel Pemberton. After the prestigious award ceremony, Brussels Philharmonic & Flemish Radio Choir, conducted by Dirk Brossé, will perform a selection of the oeuvre of these great composers. 

WILLiFEST Kicks Off Tomorrow  and will  be celebrating the 7th year with a kick-off invitation only networking event this Thursday in Williamsburg which will be followed by the Opening Night Premiere at the Williamsburg Cinemas.

This year WILLiFEST presents the premiere of director Maggie Surovell's drama The Last Pickup.

Friday brings a full day and night of  screenings at two venues, Williamsburg Cinemas and new partner Videology, where our evening Filmmakers' Networking event will also take place at 8:30 pm.

Saturday kicks off with a block of family films at Williamsburg Cinemas at 1:00 pm. Our annual Industry Panels, Writers' Lounge, presented by Center for Active Learning, will take place at Videology at 2:00 pm and a Filmmaker Panel will take place at WILLiFEST Central/Sandbox between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. At 8:30 pm is our annual Networking After-Party, our highly anticipated bash that will be held once again at Barber Bart with vodka tastings provided by Balls Vodka. Saturday screenings at Williamsburg Cinemas also include our popular Student Film Competition featuring the best collegiate works from across the globe.

Sunday brings our Closing Day event at 1:00 pm at Videology. This year we present a block of music-themed shorts. A live musical performance will follow the screenings. At 5:00 pm is our annual Awards Ceremony.

Congratulations to all our 2015 Screenplay and Soundtrack Competition Winners.

Tickets and passes for WILLiFEST 2015 are still available at willifest.com/2015/tickets. Directions to all venues can be found on our website at willifest.com/2015/venues. We also have an interactive map available. The complete schedule can be seen at willifest.com/2015/schedule. This year’s film line-up is at willifest.com/2015/films.

8th annual Minneapolis Underground Film Festival will feature over 110 short films, and 14 feature length films to choose from.
 
The official opening on Wednesday, October 7, will featuring three different MN Made short film selections, one at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 7:15 pm featuring a Q&A after each screening. Our late night screening of “SNUFF” at 9:30 pm is celebrating the eight year local filmmakers Paul Von Stoetzel has screened with the M.U.F.F. Along with featuring over 30 MN Short Films on our opening day we will be featuring MN Made films throughout the festival. Some Short Film Selection highlights include:
 
Irons in the Fire is a documentary about five under-privileged youth who changed their life through the help of creative organizations and mentors, starring George the Poet and narrated by Idris Elba. It screens before the American Premiere of The Sound Before the Fury by Martin Sarrazac a documentary about Archie Shepp revisiting his album Attica Blues while intervening the narrative of the Attica Prison Rebellion.
 
Surreal B&W Shorts on Sunday, October 11 at 5:10pm  is a selection of like minded short films featuring Ferdinand Knapp by Andrea Baldini starring Dominique Pinon (Delicatessen & City of Lost Children) who blurs the lines between the films character and his own.
 
Relationship Remix is a selection of short films that deal with various aspects of relationships and MN Made films that deal with love and loss. Screening Friday, October 9 at 6:00 pm. For those that question reality of love sci-fi films we recommend Reality Remix screening on the same day at 4pm.
 
This years GLBT Short films feature a local documentary, Tom of Finland dolls that trigger buried desires, teens, handjobs, Cousin Wonderletter and world-renowned icon Buck Angel! GLBT Shorts screens Thursday, October 8 at 5:00 pm.
 
For more information on the 2015 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival and to keep up to date on the upcoming festival or our year-round activities, visit us online at: Minneapolisundergroundfilmfestival.com
Facebook: Mpls Underground Film Festival
Twitter: @Mplsuff
 

complete programme as well as the films in competition, jury members and events highlights of the 8th edition of CinEast (Central and Eastern European Film Festival in Luxembourg, 8-25 October 2015) have been published today on the festival’s website www.cineast.lu and can be downloaded via this link.

The seven films in theofficial competition of CinEast 2015 are: Babai by Visar Morina, Body by Malgorzata Szumowska, Family Film by Olmo Omerzu, In the Crosswind by Martti Helde, Self-Portrait of a Dutiful Daughter by Ana Lungu, Son of Saul by László Nemes and The Cleaner by Peter Bebjak (more info here).

The International Jury is composed of: Andrzej Zulawski (Polish film director, president), Ina Ivanceanu (Austrian film director), Alexandra Hoesdorff (Luxembourgish producer), Yann Tonnar (Luxembourgish director and producer) and Vicky Krieps (Luxembourgish actor). The newly introduced Press Jury, awarding the Critics’ Prize, is composed of film critics Thibaut Demeyer, Brigitte Lepage and Antonio Raul Reis. The Awards Ceremony will be held on 23 October.

The CinEast 2015 festival will be held in a dozen venues across Luxembourg and will present 57 features and more than 40 short film from 18 CEE countries, about 20 guests, 4 concerts (including a live soundtrack), 2 DJ events, a large photography exhibition (“Urban Stories”), 2 debates (on immigration and urbanism), screenings for children, an evening dedicated to Andrzej Zulawski, a co-production workshop for film professionals and more.

Among the special guests attending CinEast 2015: Želimir Žilnik (Serbian film director, Logbook Serbistan), Andrzej Zulawski (Cosmos, Possession), Ivaylo Hristov (Bulgarian director and actor, Losers), Andrea Sedláčková (Czech director, Fair Play), Andrzej Chyra (Polish actor, Carte Blanche, The Collector), Danijel Hočevar (Slovenian producer, Home), Julija Steponaityte (Lithuanian actor, The Summer of Sangaile), Martti Helde (Estonian director, In the Crosswind), Gábor Hörcher (Hungarian director and producer, Drifter) etc. 

THE 2015 SPOOKY MOVIE INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

October 8-17, 2015

Since 2006, October has belonged to the Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival. 

The festival that brought the DC area such films as THE BABADOOK, EXISTS, TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT, HOUSEBOUND, and EXCISION–-holds its 10th annual event in Washington, D.C. from October 8-17 at the AFI Silver Theatre.  The Opening Night film is Sony Pictures’ THE FINAL GIRLS.

As in past years, the Spooky Movie Festival showcases the best in new horror cinema from around the world, and again, the entire festival (more than 40 shorts and features) unspools at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Also featured in this year’s festival is a special closing night event – the 40th anniversary screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW presented by drag performer, emcee, filmmaker, and actor, “Peaches Christ.” Expect two completely different screenings! The first will include a hysterical and passionate pre-show filled with songs and surprises, and a second will include an once-in-a-lifetime “shadowcast” performed by all-star performers from the Washington, D.C. area.

Additional highlights of the festival include Henry Rollins in HE NEVER DIED, the Sundance hit “creature feature” THE HALLOW, the bloody and crazy NINA FOREVER, the best horror anthology of the year GERMAN ANGST, the award winning CRUSH THE SKULL, the unnervingly brilliant THE INVITATION, and the North American premiere of the horror comedy NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB.

Tickets are sold exclusively by the AFI Silver Theatre at the box office and online at AFI.com/Silver or through www.spookyfest.com.

Founded in 2006, the Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival is Washington, D.C's only genre-based film festival. Recognized as one of D.C.'s premiere festival events, as well as "the world's premiere horror film festival" (BadLit.com; Fangoria Magazine), Spooky Fest works closely with our partners to offer year round screenings of feature and short films, in addition to our signature festival event every October.

All Fest Pass

The Spooky Movie All Fest Pass grants the bearer access to all screenings in the 2015 Spooky Movie Film Festival.  All Fest Passes can be purchased at AFI Silver online for just $80 (a savings of $136). After purchase, passes can be picked up at AFI Silver Theatre beginning Oct.8.

Additional information on the Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival can be found at www.spookyfest.com.

Spooky Movie 2015 – Full Schedule

Thursday, October 8 - Opening Night

7:30 p.m.

The Final Girls

Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga), a high school senior, is mysteriously transported with her friends into a 1980s horror film that starred Max's mother, Amanda (Malin Akerman), a celebrated scream queen. Trapped inside the movie, Max finds herself reunited with her mom, who she lost in real life. Together with Max's friends, they must fend off the camp counselors' raging hormones, battle a deranged machete-wielding killer, and find a way to escape the movie and make it back home. For everyone who loved Tucker and Dale! "Genre enthusiasts will get a kick out of Todd Strauss-Schulson's creative homage to classic slasher movies, which respects familiar horror conventions while introducing a sly contemporary perspective." – Hollywood Reporter.

DIR Todd Strauss-Schulson; SCR M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller. US, 2015, color, 88 min. RATED PG-13

Preceded by:

Knock Knock… On a dark, stormy night, a brave little boy decides to find out who is knocking on his door... his closet door, that is.  DIR Anthony Lund. US, 2015, 3 min.

And

Mr. Dentonn On a cold winter night, Laura reads his brother David the story of a strange creature that attacks children  DIR Ivan Villamel Sanchez. Spain, 2014, 9 min.

9:45 p.m.

North American Premiere

Night of the Living Deb

Deb Clarington is a hardworking 30-year-old gal, not a stickler for hygiene and holding a terrible track record with men. That all changes when she wakes up on the Fourth of July in the apartment of the most attractive man she’s ever seen. An awkward walk of shame turns even uglier when they discover that most of the town has contracted a zombie virus overnight. In their fight for survival, they are forced back into each other’s arms! “There are some films that, upon viewing, you just can’t help but fall in love with…the most fun I’ve have with a zombie comedy since the first time I watched ‘Shaun of the Dead.’ 5 Stars!” – Nerdly.com

DIR/SCR Kyle Rankin. US, 2015, color, 85 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

Copycat In the summer of 1990, a teenage filmmaker successfully raises $100,000 to shoot a pioneering horror film. Twenty-five years later, he tells the story of a cult classic that never was.

DIR Charlie Lyne. US, 2014, 8 min.

Friday, October 9

7:30 p.m.

Crush the Skull

Winner of the Nightfall Award at this year's Los Angeles Film Festival, Viet Nguyen's debut feature shows an adept, comic blend of old fashion slasher movie and home invasion flick themes, with a nice slather of slapstick. Two robbers (Katie Savoy and co-writer Chris Dinh), on their "last" job, end up involved in a caper beyond their limited misfit resources. Toss in a serial killer, a nasty gangster or two, a deserted estate (or is it?), the requisite gore, and a few nice twists, and you have a nice genre b(l)ending effort. "A wildly original and completely hilarious film, on par with TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL and SHAUN OF THE DEAD." — Icons of Fright

DIR Viet Nguyen; SCR Chris Dinh, Viet Nguyen; PROD Aya Tanimura, Jimmy Tsai. US, 2015, color, 83 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

A Way Out For aging gangster Vic, a ride with his upstart protégé becomes a twisted game of cat and mouse when both killers discover the other has been keeping a deadly secret.

DIR Jason Tostevin. US, 2015, 14 min.

9:30 p.m.

Nina Forever

The Blaine Brothers, known for their award winning short films and sketches, have crafted a breakthrough debut feature which gives new meaning to the phrase "sexually aroused." What begins as a roll in the hay between wannabe paramedic Holly (Abigail Hardingham) and the depressed Rob (Cian Barry), a lost and angry soul since the death of his girlfriend Nina, evolves into an emotionally-driven bloody ménage-a-trois with a crazy WTF attitude. "… smart, sobering … darkly erotic … memorably disturbing moments of visceral creepiness." — The Horror Show

DIR/SCR The Blaine Brothers (Ben Blaine, Chris Blaine); PROD Cassandra Sigsgaard. UK, 2015, color, 98 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

Glasshole In early 2015 Google announced it would be canceling its Google Glass wearable device, but did the true reason behind the products failure have more sinister undertones? This short horror comedy asks what REALLY killed Google Glass and addresses the potential supernatural dangers of wearable tech.

DIR Jonathan Brooks. UK, 2015, 4 min.

Saturday, October 10

4:30 pm

The Invitation

Director Karyn Kusama trades in the demonic blood-splatter of JENNIFER'S BODY for a singularly creepy and uneasy night's tale centering on a tension-filled reunion between Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard), at the Hollywood Hills home she shares with her new husband. The tragedy that split them apart is just the starting point for an insidious agenda that wreaks havoc on the guests. Prepare to have your nerves rattled. "The trip is compelling from frame one and proceeds with unerring unease right down to its perfectly judged, powerfully suggestive final shot." — Fangoria

DIR Karyn Kusama; SCR Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi; PROD Martha Griffin, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Nick Spicer. US, 2015, color, 97 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

The Witching Hour When the clock strikes midnight... The Witching Hour begins.

DIR Carl Firth. Australia, 2015, 9 min.

7:00 p.m.

He Never Died

DC area native son Henry Rollins gives a career-topping performance here as Jack, a loner haunted by a violent past. Insulated from society, his refrigerator may be bare, but there's a hunger burning in him for a nice chunk of human meat. There's nothing like a grumpy cannibal served on wry to brighten up your day. This darkly comic effort from writer-director Jason Krawczyk is a well-polished, blood-soaked gem, blending a crime noir design, some fine on- and off-screen gore-feasting moments, and an unexpected family reunion. "Krawczyk has unquestionably struck the jackpot…an inspired, gruesome, violently funny and, at times, truly touching take on the subgenre." — Scream

DIR/SCR Jason Krawczyk; PROD Zach Hagen, Adrienne Stern. US/Canada, 2015, color, 97 min. RATED R

Preceded by:

Night of the Slasher A 'shot-in-one-take' slasher film about a teenage girl who must commit horror movie sins by drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and having sex in order to lure a masked killer and defeat him.

DIR Shant Hamassian. US, 2015, 11 min.

9:30 pm

The Hallow

A sensation from this year’s Sundance film festival: deep within the darkness of secluded forest land in rural Ireland dwells an ancient evil. Feared by the nearby superstitious villagers as cursed creatures who prey upon the lost, their secrets have been kept from civilization and remain on their hallowed ground. But when a conservationist from London moves in with his wife and infant child in order to survey the land for future construction, his actions unwittingly disturb the horde of demonic forces. Alone in a remote wilderness, he must now ensure his family’s survival from their relentless attacks. “Visual artist Corin Hardy's arresting first film is an unabashed creature feature!” – Variety

DIR/SRC Corin Hardy.US, 2015, color, 97 min.

Preceded by:

In Extremis is a short in the mold of classic British horror films of the 1960s and 70s. A night watchman is sent to guard the cellar of a museum by its mysterious curator. But once alone in these vaults he starts to hear something... 

DIR Gregory Crosbie. UK, 2015, 14 min.

Sunday, October 11

4:00 pm

Spooky Shorts Block 1

·               Knob Goblins - On his last day of being institutionalized, a young man is allowed to return to his childhood home in hopes of proving that there's no such thing as a demonic creature that bites your penis off. From Spooky Movie alum Christopher Moore. DIR Christopher G. Moore. US, 2015, 11 min.

·               Point of View - A tired coroner is stalked by the living dead - but only when she isn't looking! DIR Justin Harding. Canada, 2015, 8 min.

·               Lifeline -  When an enigmatic traveler with an unusual lifeline pays a visit to Madame Golorio's psychic parlor, the ailing palm reader is compelled to take the future into her own hands. DIR Jeffery Wang. US, 2015, 18 min.

·               Shi - An ordinary day starts horribly for the character when he receives some bad news. It changes his life right away. Everything would go wrong from that moment on. DIR Pablo Absento. Japan, 2015, 8 min.

·               Medium Rare -  A paranoid woman who has traumatic childhood experience, meets her sister, the source of her misery, which causes a brutal family murder. DIR Xuanyi Solax Zhu. US, 2015, 6 min.

·               Don't Let Them In - Dan Metzger, a struggling author, consumed with the urban legend of the Black Eyed Kids, fears his obsession has led their evil to his door. DIR David Lawrence. US, 2015, 13 min.

·               Son - A sheltered kid cons his way into a sick day. Left alone for the first time, he stumbles upon a sinister family secret. DIR Judd Myers. US, 2014, 14 min.

·               Demon Garden - An ambitious gangster calls upon supernatural forces to advance his career. But in the Demon Garden nothing is what it seems. DIR Michael Granberry. US, 2015, 12 min.

6:00 pm

Spooky Shorts Block 2

·               Hipster Cannibal - Some cannibals have discerning tastes. DIR C.J. Arellano. US, 2015, 4 min.

·               The Peripheral - When a patient, Kenny, shows up at her home unexpectedly, Dr. Joanna Redding attempts to help him overcome his 'irrational' phobia of the creatures that he sees in his peripheral vision. From J.T. Seaton, who first blew us away in 2009 with his wonderful feature GEORGE'S INTERVENTION. DIR J.T. Seaton. US, 2015, 11 min.

·               Bump in the Night -  The story of the boy who cried wolf meets invasion of the body snatchers. DIR Maru Buendia-Senties. US, 2015, 3min.

·               Pyramids Hostel - A group of Egyptian and French tourists is stopping by a hostel. Although the host is present, the place seems inhabited. In his walls, he's hiding a terrible secret. When the night comes, the houses rises. The nightmare can finally start... DIR Thierry Iledo. Egypt, 2015, 19 min.

·               The Blue Rhino vs. The Dragonfish – We’ve lost track on the number of films Adam Bradley has had in the festival since the first fest in 2006. You would think we would have learned our lesson. DIR Adam Bradley. US, 2015, 3 min.

·               The Watcher - A troubled young man searches for peace of mind as a naked, armed, masked man searches for him. DIR Nicholas Bartlett. US, 2015, 27 min.

·               Telephone - Lucy gives her eight-year-old daughter Dani a toy telephone made from two tin cans and a string. However, when they move into a new house and Dani goes missing, a much more sinister voice begins to echo out of the telephone. DIR Nathan Hoffman. US, 2015, 9 min.

·               What’s Eating Dad? - When Chloe meets her boyfriend's parents for the first time, what's really for dinner is something she never imagined. In the vein of 'Meet the Parents' meets 'Shaun of the Dead,' DIR Michael Goldburg. US, 2015, 11 min.

·               El Aura Azul - A strange day at the pool in the mountains of Medellin, Colombia turns horrifying when something unexpected follows Sasha home. DIR Andy Harbeck. US, 2015, 8 min.

8:00 pm

Bite

The film so shocking, ambulances and paramedics were called during its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival this summer! While on her bachelorette party getaway, Casey, the bride to be, gets a seemingly harmless bite from an unknown insect. After returning home with cold feet, Casey tries to call off her wedding but before she’s able to, she starts exhibiting insect-like traits. Between her physical transformation and her wedding anxiety, Casey succumbs to her new instincts and begins creating a hive that not only houses her translucent eggs, but feeds on the flesh of others. As her transformation becomes complete, Casey discovers that everything can change in a single bite. “Fun, gory visuals and an increasingly affecting lead performance leave us craving more!” – Film School Rejects

DIR/SCR Chad Archibald; Canada, 2015, color, 90 min. NOT RATED - NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED.

Preceded by:

Neighbors - Hidden within the closed doors of a normal apartment building is a horrific secret. DIR Brandon Boudreaux. US, 2015, 11 min. and

The Head Collector - Those who sin must be saved from their sins. DIR Joseph D'Urso. US, 2015, 18 min

Monday, October 12

7:10 p.m.

Valley of the Sasquatch

After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father (Jason Vail) and son (Michael Joris-Peyrafitte) are forced to move to an old family cabin out in the woods. Their fractured relationship is complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting. This trip into the forest will unearth not only buried feelings of guilt and betrayal, but also a tribe of Sasquatch that are determined to protect their land. John Portanova's feature directorial debut sports a great indie cast (including Bill Oberst, Jr.!), excellent Bigfoot action, and horrors from all directions. "… a riveting, top-notch creature feature that hits the bull's-eye in nearly every category." — Horror Society

DIR/SCR John Portanova; PROD Matt Medisch, Brent Stiefel. US, 2015, color, 92 min. NOT RATED

Tuesday, October 13

7:10 p.m.

Luciferous

Post Screening Q&A with filmmakers Mahsa Ghorbankarimi, Alexander Gorelick

Picture

For a while, everything's fine for Mahsa and Alexander, young working parents living with their 7-year-old daughter, Mina, in a high rise apartment. Snippets of their lives whiz by. But their normal-looking veneer peels away, slowly, then violently. An unexplained house guest arrives, accompanied by ghostly, ominous events. What exhausting nightmares are lurking in the darkness and disrupting this family's crumbling sanity? This slow boil scream fest features an actual family—Mahsa and Alexander (yes, Mina's their daughter) put this whole thing together: producing, directing, writing, editing. Home grown invasive horror with more than a few unsettling didn't-see-that-coming surprises.

DIR/SCR/PROD Mahsa Ghorbankarimi, Alexander Gorelick. Canada, 2015, color, 89 min. NOT RATED

Wednesday, October 14

7:10 p.m.

Killer Rack

Post screening Q&A with Gregory Lamberson and Paul McGinnis

Blaming her physique for her unhappiness, Betty Downer (Jessica Zwolak) seeks breast enhancement surgery from Dr. Cate Thulu (Debbie Rochon). The operation is a success, but the patient discovers her new assets are man-eating monsters hell bent on global domination - and only she can stop them. So, direct from Buffalo, New York comes this screwball romp! Chock full of nuts and lunatics and a special appearance by Troma Entertainment's Lloyd Kaufman (just in case you couldn't figure out the film's Z-movie attitude).

DIR Gregory Lamberson; SCR Paul McGinnis; PROD Rod Durick, Michael Gesel, Gregory Lamberson, John Maclay, Marc Makowski, Paul McGinnis. US, 2015, color, 98 min. NOT RATED - NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED

Thursday, October 15

7:10 p.m.

Circus of the Dead

Bill Oberst, Jr.'s Papa Corn is one of the most sadistic clowns you'll ever see on the big screen. When his circus comes to a small West Texas town, poor Donald Johnson (Parrish Randall) finds his family under attack from Papa and his gang of nihilistic clowns. From Spooky Fest alum Billy Pon (DOLL BOY, MISTER FISTER), CIRCUS OF THE DEAD does for clowns what JAWS did for sharks. You'll never walk into the big top (without adequate protection) again! "(Director Billy) Pon has gifted genre fans with a masterfully crafted exemplary work of independent horror cinema, successfully gaping open that fine line between morality and the basest animalistic instinct inside each of us." — Fangoria

DIR Billy Pon; SCR Lee Ankrum, Billy Pon; PROD Aaron Ray Ballard, Melissa Land. US, 2014, color, 105 min. NOT RATED

Friday, October 16

7:10 p.m.

They Look Like People

Winner of a slew of awards at Slamdance and other fests, here's a genre-bending psychological tale of love, loyalty, and living nightmares. Suspecting that those around him are actually malevolent shape-shifters, Wyatt (MacLeod Andrews) flees to New York City to seek out his estranged childhood friend Christian (Evan Dumouchel). As the mysterious horrors close in on Wyatt, he questions whether to protect his only friend from an impending war, or from himself. An incredibly well scripted and directed first feature from Perry Blackshear, who also co-produced, edited, and shot it. "It boggles my mind that the slight movement of someone’s jaw, a bottle of sulfuric acid and a nail gun combine for the most terrifying film I’ve seen this decade." — Slug Magazine

DIR/SCR Perry Blackshear; PROD Kimberly Parker, Perry Blackshear. US, 2015, color, 80 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

Invaders A pair of home invaders consider their potential character choices just prior to their planned invasion.

DIR Jason Kupfer. US, 2015, 6 min

.

9:00 p.m.

German Angst

Introduced by producer Eli Savada

Partnering with Jörg Buttgereit (NEKROMANTIK) and Andreas Marschall, Spooky Movie alum Michal Kosakowski (ZERO KILLED, from the 2012 Fest) is back with a disturbing collection of three tales of love, sex, and death in Berlin. A calculated slashing is the centerpiece of FINAL GIRL, about a young girl victimized by years of abuse. MAKE A WISH explores xenophobia via torture-laden role reversals between victim and perpetrator. ALRAUNE harkens back to the early days of German expressionism, showcasing a too-adventurous photographer caught up in erotic nightmare over-stimulated by the pleasure-inducing mandrake root. Fresh of its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest."A striking horror statement that proves that Germany horror is alive and kicking." — Horror Movie Diary

DIR Jörg Buttgereit, Michal Kosakowski, Andreas Marschall; SCR Jörg Buttgereit, Goran Mimica, Andreas Marschall; PROD Michal Kosakowski. Germany, 2015, color, 112 min. NOT RATED

Preceded by:

Iris A hitman uses his smart phone to aid in burying a dead body. DIR Richard Karpala. UK, 2015, 10 min.

Saturday, October 17 - Closing Night

Peaches Christ presents the 40th Anniversary Screening of

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Underground drag performer, emcee, filmmaker, and actor, Peaches Christ (who was last seen at the AFI Silver with her wonderful horror comedy, ALL ABOUT EVIL) returns to the AFI Silver Theatre to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary cult musical THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with two very different shows that will close out the 10th annual Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival.

9:00 pm – TRHPS with special Peach Christ produced pre-show.

Midnight – TRHPS with DC All Star Shadowcast, introduced by Peaches Christ.

Recently engaged Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) stumble upon a castle in the middle of the night that is definitely not a hunting lodge for “rich weirdos.” A jump to the left and a step to the right later, and before they know it Brad and Janet find themselves as guests of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). The sweetest of sweet transvestites, Frank N. Furter does his best to make them shiver with anticipation at what he has in store for everyone at the Annual Transylvanian Convention. A satirical tribute to classic science fiction and horror B movies, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the longest-running theatrical release in film history. Starring Curry, Sarandon, Bostwick, Meatloaf, Patricia Quinn, “Little” Nell Campbell, and filmmaker Richard O’Brien, ROCKY HORROR has become more than just a movie. For generations of fans young and old, the weekly experience has been a beacon and a touchstone, and for many, a way of life.

Expect two completely different screenings! The first will include a hysterical and passionate pre-show filled with songs and surprises, and a second will include a once-in-a-lifetime “shadowcast” performed by all-star performers from the Washington, D.C. area. Come for one, or come for both! Virgins are always welcome!

DIR/SCR Jim Sharman; SCR Jim Sharman, Richard O'Brien. UK/US, 1975, color, 100 min. RATED R

PRODUCTION BEGINS ON 1ST FEATURE for NexTV's Social Impact Award Winner.

Royce Gorsuch was awarded NexTV's Social Impact Award this past Feb for his brilliant short doc about wounded veterans.  His prize included participation in the 1-year coaching program, NexTV's IDEA TO MARKET INTENSIVE (designed to help artists navigate the industry ON THEIR OWN TERMS - more info below).

Royce has flourished, raising money to direct his first feature film, THE MAD GENIUS PROJECT. He begins shooting in a few weeks! 

Royce is a brilliant filmmaker...but talent is not enough when building a career.  Royce has the commitment to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to achieve his career goals, and the humility to LEARN TO DO IT RIGHT. Congrats!!

Click HERE for NexTV's coaching programs.

*CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FINALISTS!

NexTV's 2015 Writing & Pitch Competition FINALISTS have been announced!

Excited and honored to have over 800 participants in this past year's competition, and a truly extraordinary group of finalists. 

Click HERE for full list of FINALISTS!

*FILMMAKER COMPETITION - SAVE THE DATE

NexTV's WEB SERIES & INDIE FILM COMPETITION begins on Sept. 30, 2015.

Get your work in front of the Industry Decision-Makers that MATTER.     

         Pilots, Shorts, Web Series, Features, Docs, Animation....

More info at: www.nextventertainment.com/web_series.php

NEXTV ARTIST INTENSIVES

IDEA TO MARKET INTENSIVE - For artists tired of banging their heads against the wall that separates the business from the artists...we show you the way in!  Learn to develop & SELL your own work.

www.IdeaToMarketIntensive.com

AFFLUENT ARTIST - For artists struggling to find the balance between REVENUE and CAREER.  With Randy Becker (Career Strategist) & Melissa McFarlane (Business Strategist) www.Affluent-Artist.com

SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT BOOTCAMP - Get your script in Shape with TOP INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALSwww.ScriptDevelopmentbootcamp.com

WHY NexTV?

"NexTV gives talented  artists a ^ chance to fulfill their potential< /b> in the industry, by educating, connecting and advocating for those who might otherwise go unnoticed.

I began as an artist, then spent years representing writers and filmmakers. I saw that too many artists didn't know how to connect with industry decision-

makers. Today our innovative competitions, coaching programs and live events bring powerful opportunities to artists. I've enjoyed seeing the industry discover and embrace so many in the NexTV community."   

   - Randy Becker (founder, NexTV Entertainment)

The Malta Short Film Festival has awarded the film ‘Oh my princess’ directed by Heewok Sa from South Korea the Best Picture honour at the award ceremony which was held at the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julians.

Distinguished guests in attendance were Honourable Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government; Her Excellency, Ms Béatrice le Fraper de Hellen, Ambassador of France; Mr Engelbert Grech, Film Commissioner; Mr Adrian Attard, General Manager Radisson Blu Resort and TVM chairman Dr Tonio Portughese.

A special honour, the Rising Star Award was awarded to Claudia Chircop. This award was granted courtesy of the Matthew Martino Benevolent Fund in the UK.

The final award ceremony will be broadcast on Friday 25th September at 21:55 on TVM and repeated on Saturday 26th September at 21.45 on TVM2 and Sunday 27th September on TVM at 20:50. All broadcasts on www.tvm.com.mt.

This was the seventh edition of the festival. Produced by the Malta Film Foundation, the festival span over 6 weeks and was broadcast on TVM and online on www.tvm.com.mt and the festival website www.maltashortfilmfest.com.

The full list of films awarded are as follows:

Casino by Martin Scorsese hits back theaters this coming fall

Director of the Thailand Film Office, Ubolwan Sucharitakul welcomed the news.

"2016 is turning out to be an excellent year for Thailand's international film production services industry. We have seen a record number of international productions choose Thailand as a shooting location, and have demonstrated once again that Thailand can accommodate both high-budget and low-budget films efficiently and economically. 

Productions from the USA have benefited from a strong US Dollar, which has reduced the costs of shooting in Thailand.

The film industry in China continues to grow, and we have seen a number of Chinese films come to Thailand in the past year. We expect this to increase.

The approval of the cabinet for an incentive program gives us confidence that Thailand's production services industry can expand further, and look forward to even greater success.

We have always been proud that we have been able to maintain a thriving production services industry in Thailand, even when many other countries were offering substantial incentives. 

Productions have chosen Thailand because the fundamental skills, infrastructure and value that Thailand can offer have outweighed the benefits of incentives that other countries have been able to offer.

However, we also recognise that in the investment structure of international productions, incentives can be a crucial element in a film's finances. By not offering a competitive incentive, Thailand has lost productions to other countries.

Many studies have shown that the economic benefits to countries of hosting a film production outweigh the costs of offering incentives. 

At the Thailand Film Office, we are delighted that the cabinet has approved an incentive program.

Incentives become part of the financial structure of a film, and are often used to secure loans. Therefore, it is vital that an incentive program is clear, transparent, and trusted by financial institutions. For this reason, the structure and detail of the incentive is extremely important, and is being drafted in consultation with production experts and members of the local industry. We hope to announce the final formula, percentages, caps and criteria within the next few months."

Jalopnik Film Festival Announces 2015 Short Film Award Winner

The Jalopnik Film Festival is pleased to announce the audience award winner of this year’s short film competition: “Building Your Dream Ferrari is a Beautiful Thing” by Petrolicious. The film was one of 11 finalists that was selected by an elite panel of judges that included comedian and radio personality Adam Carolla, L.A. Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson, filmmaker Jeff Zwart and TV personality Spike Feresten.

Petrolicious is a site dedicated to producing written and video editorial about classic cars. According to a piece published by the Los Angeles Times earlier this year , Afshin Behnia and his wife, Kika Vigo-Behnia (the site’s creative director) have posted more than 120 original videos on YouTube and acquired a quarter-of-a-million subscribers since posting their first video in 2013.

"There's a reason why this is the second year in a row a Petrolicious video was featured at the festival, and it's that they've elevated the short car feature in such a way that they've set the standard for everyone else,” said Jalopnik Editor-in-Chief Matt Hardigree. “The Petrolicious style of video is so popular that it even inspired a parody film that was also a jury selection."

“Building Your Dream Ferrari is a Beautiful Thing” is currently available to watch on the Petrolicious YouTube channel.

Sponsored by Mazda, the 2015 edition of the Jalopnik Film Festival kicked off on Friday, September 25th at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA with an exclusive Ride & Drive experience, followed by a screening of “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,” a Q&A with director Adam Carolla and an after-party. The following day, Saturday, September 26th, consisted of a full day of screenings at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The program included classic films such as the original “Mad Max” and “Ronin,” as well as documentaries like “Being Evel,” “Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans” and "Havana Motor Club," which have been making their rounds on the festival circuit.

The Jalopnik Film Festival takes its name from one of the most popular automative enthusiast blogs on the web, which averages over nine million global uniques and is part of the Gawker Media Group family.