Thessaloniki Film Festival wrapped and delivered its awards.

editor — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:18:07 +0100

The jury of the International Competition Section of the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival comprised of:

Theo Angelopoulos, Director (Greece), President
Lissy Bellaiche, Sales agent for the I/S Danish Film Producers (Denmark)
Mirjana Karanovic, Actress (Serbia)
Eugenio Caballero, Production designer (Mexico)
Lav Diaz, Director (Philippines)
Gyorgi Palfi, Director (Hungary) and
Amos Poe, Director (USA)

THE AWARDS

Best Feature Film Award - Golden Alexander (40.000 euros)
AJAMI by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Producers Mosh Danon, Thanassis Karathanos, Screenwriters Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani, Israel / Germany, 2009

Special Jury Award - Silver Alexander (25.000)
MEDALIA DE ONOARE (MEDAL OF HONOR) by Calin Netzer, Producer Liviu Marghidan, Screenwriter Tudor Voican, Romania, 2009

Best Director Award to RIGOBERTO PEREZCANO for Norteado (Northless), Producer Edgar San Juan, Screenwriters Edgar San Juan, Rigoberto Perezcano, Mexico / Spain, 2009

Best Screenplay Award ex aequo to SCANDAR COPTI & YARON SHANI for Ajami by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Producers Mosh Danon, Thanassis Karathanos, Israel / Germany, 2009

AND to TUDOR VOICAN for Medalia de onoare (Medal Of Honor) by Calin Netzer, Producer Liviu Marghidan, Romania, 2009

Best Actress Award
to RUTH NIRERE in Le jour où Dieu est parti en voyage (The Day God Walked Away), by Philippe van Leeuw, Producers Patrick Quinet, Toussaint Tiendredeogo, Screenwriter Philippe van Leeuw, Belgium / France, 2009

Best Actor Award
to VICTOR REBENGIUC in Medalia de onoare (Medal Of Honor) by Calin Netzer, Producer Liviu Marghidan, Screenwriter Tudor Voican, Romania, 2009

Artistic Achievement Award

SARAMEUL CHATSEUMNIDA (MISSING PERSON) by Lee Seo, Producers Lee Jae-Ho, Son Seon-ok, Screenwriter Lee Seo, South Korea, 2009

Special Mention To KATHARINA SCHÜTTLER
in Es kommt der Tag (The Day Will Come), by Susanne Schneider, Producers Sabine Holtgreve, Stefan Schubert, Ralph Schwingel, Philippe Avril, Screenwriter Susanne Schneider, Germany / France, 2009

Special Mention for its screenplay and subject to BAKAL BOYS (CHILDREN METAL DIVERS) by Ralston Jover, Producers Bessie Badilla, Albert Almendralejo, Screenwriters Henry Burgos, Ralston Jover, Philippines, 2009

FIPRESCI AWARDS

The 50th International Thessaloniki Film Festival FIPRESCI (The International Federation of Film Critics) jury comprised of:

Ronald Bergan, President (UK)
Leo Soesanto (France)
Bo Green Jensen (Denmark) and
Dimosthenis Xifilinos (Greece)

Bestows the FIPRESCI award for a film in the International Competition Section 2009 to

MEDALIA DE ONOARE (MEDAL OF HONOR) by Calin Netzer, Producer Liviu Marghidan, Screenwriter Tudor Voican, Romania, 2009

For a film in the Greek Films 2009 section to O DIAHIRISTIS (THE BUILDING MANAGER) by Periklis Hoursoglou, Producer & Screenwriter Periklis Hoursoglou, Greece, 2009

HUMAN VALUES AWARD (15.000 euros)

The Hellenic Parliament TV Channel bestows the award to a film of the Independence Days ID-09 section,

LEBANON by Samuel Maoz, Producers Uri Sabag, Einat Bikel, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery, David Silber, Benjamina Mirnik, Ilann Girard, Screenwriter Samuel Maoz, Israel / France / Germany, 2009

FISCHER PUBLIC CHOICE AWARDS

For a film in the International Competition section (4.000 euros)

AJAMI by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Producers Mosh Danon, Thanassis Karathanos, Screenwriters Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani, Israel / Germany, 2009

For a film in the Greek Films section (4.000 euros)

BILOBA by Sophia Papachristou, Producers Sophia Papachristou, Stavros Meleas, Screenwriter Sophia Papachristou, Greece, 2009

For a film in the Balkan Survey section (3.000 euros)

HONEYMOONS by Goran Paskaljevic, Producers Goran Paskaljevic, Ilir Butka, Nikola Djivanovic, Screenwriters Goran Paskaljevic, Genc Permeti, Serbia / Albania, 2009

For a film in the Greek Films DigitalWave section (3.000 euros)
TO TELEFTEO TRAGOUDI TOU ELVIS (ELVIS' LAST SONG) by Vassilis Raissis, Producer & Screenwriter Vassilis Raissis, Greece, 2009

THE GREEK UNION OF FILM TELEVISION AND AUDIOVISUAL TECHNICIANS (ETEKT) AWARD

The ETEKT Technical Excellence award to a film in the International Competition section

MEDALIA DE ONOARE (MEDAL OF HONOR) by Calin Netzer, Producer Liviu Marghidan, Screenwriter Tudor Voican, Romania, 2009

CINEMA AND THE CITY AWARD (10.000 EUROS)

The Municipality of Thessaloniki bestows the award to a film of the International Competition section,

LA SANGRE Y LA LLUVIA (BLOOD AND RAIN) by Jorge Navas, Producers Jorge Navas, Julian Giraldo, Wilson Gómez, Carolina Barrera, Hugo Castro Fau, Screenwriters Jorge Navas, Carlos Henao, Alizé Le Maoult, Colombia / Argentina, 2009

DIGITALWAVE 2009 AWARDS Digital Alexander (15.000 EUROS) - Award offered in collaboration with the Greek Film Center

TO TELEFTEO TRAGOUDI TOU ELVIS (ELVIS' LAST SONG) by Vassilis Raissis, Producer & Screenwriter Vassilis Raissis, Greece, 2009

2ND DIGITALWAVE AWARD (10.000 EUROS) TO KOUTI (THE BOX) by Fotis Passos & Apostolis Passos, Producers Fotis Passos & Apostolis Passos, Screenwriter Fotis Passos, Greece, 2009

CROSSROADS - Co-production Forum AWARD (10.000 EUROS)

PASQUA written and directed by Ivan Marinovic and produced by Branislav Srdic, A Atalanta, Slovenia/ Czech Republic/ Montenegro

Special mention:

ODYSSEY OF A VAGABOND PRINCESS, written and directed by Altinai Petrovic Njegosh and produced by Janja Kralj, Shilo Films, France

BALKAN FUND - Script Development AWARDS (10.000 EUROS each)

3 AWARDS:

MOTHER OF ASPHALT: writer/ director Dalibor Matanic, producer Ankica Juric Tilic, Kinorama (Croatia) CNC AWARD.

ROMANIAN SPRING: writer/ director Anca Miruna Lazarescu, producer Verona Meier, Razor Films (Romania / Germany)

ORANGE GARDENS: writer/ director Özkan Küçük, producer Suncem Koçer, Mesopotamia Cinema Collective & Yapim 13 (Turkey)

http://www.filmfestival.gr/

CamboFest, Cambodia (video) thanks all contributors for 2009!

Cambofest — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:48:31 +0100

Watch the thank you video here--

IDFA Feature Films In Competition

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:44:15 +0100

Getting a prize at IDFA, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, can be of major significance to a documentary film at the start of its long journey through the Festival circuit and, hopefully, to theatrical, television and ancillary distribution. The Festival's imprimatur is highly regarded and respected in the world of programmers and festival directors, who are here in Amsterdam scouring for the best in non-fiction film.

Here is the first part of the films competing for the top prize at IDFA (descriptions supplied by the Festival):

“9 Months 9 Days”
Ozcar Ramírez González, Mexico, 2009

In early August of 2006, three Mexican fishermen were rescued from the sea. They were found near the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean, more than 5,000 miles from home. After an accident on their boat, they were swept away and drifted for nine months and nine days. Once their identity was established, their story went around the world.

“Blood Relation”
Noa Ben Hagai, Israel, 2009

In the early 1940s, 14-year-old Pnina disappeared nearby her house in what is now Israel. Years later, she started sending letters to her family. It turned out that she had married an Arab and had children with him, but it is never completely clear if she ran away or was kidnapped. Director Noa Ben-Hagai found her great-aunt Pnina’s letters and asked her uncle, a retired colonel in Israeli intelligence, to find the unknown family in the Palestinian Territories. What does reconciliation within just one family mean for the reconciliation between the people of the Middle East?

“Contact”
Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, Australia, 2009

The film features unique archive footage of an exceptional meeting that took place in 1964, in a desolate area of Australia. Yuwali is one of the Martu, a community of women and children who spent their whole lives living in the desert, until the area had to be evacuated for missile testing. In Contact, 62-year-old Yuwali vividly recalls how frightening it was to see white men for the very first time. She fled the area with a group of 20 Aborigines, afraid of the white “devil men” whom they believed would surely eat them. Yuwali’s eyewitness testimony is interspersed with the stories of the Australians who explored the area.

“Dreamland”
Andri Snaer Magnason, Thorfinnur Gudnason, Iceland, 2009

Iceland is an attractive spot for investors in green energy. The financial returns are enormous for this sparsely populated nation, but the negative impact on nature conservation is also significant. The American company Alcoa has convinced the Icelandic government to give up a large portion of the island’s eastern region for “green” aluminum production, leading to the loss of natural beauty, vegetation, animal life, and agriculture. The film is an ode to a threatened landscape, with magnificent helicopter shots of breathtaking, rugged terrain where waterfalls, geysers and vast green steppes still abound—for now.

“Earth Keepers”
Sylvie Van Brabant, Canada, 2009

Eco-activist Mikael Rioux from Trois-Pistoles in Québec is looking for ways to create support in his own community for the creation of a more sustainable way of life. Inspired by his mentor Christian de Laet—an old hand in the environmental movement—Rioux travels the world to seek the counsel of his mentor’s sympathizers in poverty-stricken India, in wealthy, progressive Sweden, and elsewhere. The problem is clear: there is a crisis on the way.

“The Edge of Dreaming”
Amy Hardie, Scotland, 2009

If you dream your own death, can it come true? Director Amy Hardie thinks so. At least if you really start to believe in the dream. The Edge of Dreaming shows how this happened to her. One night, she wakes with a start after dreaming that her horse has died. The next morning, she finds him dead in the fields near her house. When, shortly afterwards, the deceased father of her oldest child comes to her in a dream and tells her that her next birthday will be her last, she starts to worry. Her search for a solution leads her to neuroscience, psychotherapy, Shamanism, and the insight that she cannot ignore the ravaged state of our planet.

“Enemies of the People”
Rob Lemkin, Thet Sambath, England, Cambodia, 2009

Enemies of the People takes a peek at “the project” of Thet Sambath, whose parents were among the approximately two million who perished under the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. In an attempt to win their trust so they will admit to their deeds on camera, Sambath now spends more time and money on the erstwhile murderers than on his wife and children. We watch as Sambath contacts the culprits and confronts them with their past; one of them even demonstrates how he cut people’s throats. The filmmakers allow the horrific stories to speak for themselves, in contrast to the propaganda newscasts from back then, full of happily singing farmers.

“Eyes Wide Open - A Journey Through Today’s South America”
Gonzalo Arijon, France, 2009

Uruguayan documentary filmmaker Gonzalo Arijon reevaluates the state of Southy America today. His search takes him from the soybean plantations of the Brazilian Amazon and the tin mines of Bolivia to the deep jungles of Ecuador. Arijon’s politically committed film allows the local populations to speak for themselves, interspersing this with archive footage of speeches by the likes of Hugo Chávez (Venezuela), Lula da Silva (Brazil), and Evo Morales (Bolivia).

“Farewell”
Ditteke Mensink, The Netherlands, 2009

Constructed entirely of archive footage, Farewell is the story of English journalist Lady Grace Drummond-Hay. In August of 1929, two months before the stock market crash would plunge the world into the Great Depression, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst added Drummond-Hay to the passenger list of the Graf Zeppelin as the only female. Using Drummond-Hay’s diary entries and newspaper articles as a basis, the film sketches a picture of the occasionally tough journey and a changing Europe.

“Freetime Machos”
Mika Ronkainen, Germany/Finland

During a rugby match, Matti broke his pinky finger. It hurts something awful, but his friends just make fun of him: a real man would at least break an arm or a leg. In Freetime Machos, we meet Matti, his best friend Mikko, and a couple other members of the most northern and third worst rugby club in the world.

“Jaffa, The Orange’s Clockwork”
Eyal Sivan, Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, 2009

The orange may not seem like the most obvious point of departure for an examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but during the last century, the disputed border area between Israel and the territories was one of the world’s biggest exporters of this “orange gold.” Director Eyal Sivan reconstructs how Jaffa started out as a Palestinian place name before becoming an Israeli brand name, and how the orange harvest shifted from a joint undertaking into a symbol used by both parties in the escalating conflict.

“Last Train Home”
Lixin Fan, Canada, China, 2009

In a calm and observational style devoid of comment, Lixin Fan captures two years in the life of a father and mother who left the poverty of the country 16 years ago to try their luck in the new economic zones, leaving their daughter behind with her grandparents. Now they work long hours in one of the numerous gray factories that supplies the West with cheap clothing. Painful moments reveal that the patience the Chinese are known for has its limits.

“The Miscreants of Taliwood”
George Gittoes, Australia, 2009

This isn’t Hollywood, and it isn’t Bollywood: this is Taliwood. Australian filmmaker and visual artist George Gittoes spent two years in the Taliban-occupied north of Pakistan. The surreal war situation there doesn’t stop local filmmakers from making lowbrow movies with large doses of half-naked women, action heroes, and pulp fiction. At the same time, he discovers that the Taliban is also disseminating a form of entertainment that people are just as greedy for: recordings of real beheadings and executions, not to mention propaganda films about Al-Qaida training camps. In the end, the largest film industry turns out to be the war on terror.

“The Most Dangerous Man in America”
Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith, USA, 2009

During the 1960s, Daniel Ellsberg was one of the most promising analysts in the U.S. Department of Defense. This all changed when he was asked by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to draw up a secret report on the American presence in Vietnam. At the time, the war in Vietnam was in full swing. The outcome of his investigations led Ellsberg to realize that five successive U.S. Presidents had lied to the American people about their country’s role in the Vietnam conflict. Interviews and historical footage create an impression of a dispute that eventually had far-reaching consequences for press freedom in the United States, as well as for the course of the war in Vietnam.

“The Player”
John Appel, The Netherlands, 2009

Director John Appel has a deeply rooted interest in gambling. His father was an ardent horserace player, which caused problems in the family to say the least. Shortly before he died, Appel’s father wrote him a letter while he was still at school. This letter serves as Appel’s point of departure for an investigation into the causes of his father’s destructive gambling mania, which he blends in the film with the stories of several other men, alter egos of his father.

“Space Tourists”
Christian Frei, Switzerland, 2009

In pursuit of their ultimate dream, more and more multimillionaires are traveling to Kazakhstan and the remote, hidden rocket launch site Baikonur and accompanying training centre, Star City. Here, Russian cosmonauts celebrated their achievements until Gorbachev pulled the plug on the space program in the late 1980s. Nowadays, the money is gone. In order to finance trips into space, the Russians now sell the third seat in the capsule to extremely wealthy Americans, who with a ticket costing $20 million, cover almost half of the cost. American businesswoman Anousheh Ansari is one of these travelers. Space Tourists shows, non-chronologically, how she prepares for the journey by Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station.

“War Games and the Man Who Stopped Them”
Dariusz Jablonski, Poland/Slovakia, 2009

A uniquely constructed portrait of the Polish Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski, who provided the CIA with more than 40,000 strategic documents from the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War. Was he a traitor, or the savior of Poland? Photos of Kuklinski come to life with 3D motion effects, and the recurring theme of a war game calls on the viewer to actively pass judgment on Kuklinski’s choice.

Sandy Mandelberger, IDFA Dailies Editor

The Manic Mind of Tim Burton At MoMA

FilmNewYork — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:48:35 +0100

In what has to be a first, the prestigious Museum of Modern Art in New York is devoting considerable museum space to a working Hollywood filmmaker. Just opening this weekend is Tim Burton, a major retrospective exploring the full scale of Tim Burton’s career, both as a director and concept artist for live-action and animated films, and as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer. On view through April 26, 2010, the exhibition brings together over 700 examples of sketchbooks, concept art, drawings, paintings, photographs, and a selection of his amateur films, and is the Museum’s most comprehensive monographic exhibition devoted to a living filmmaker. An extensive film retrospective spanning Burton’s 27-year career runs throughout the exhibition, along with a related series of films that influenced, inspired, and intrigued Burton as a filmmaker.

The exhibition is on view throughout the Museum: the Special Exhibitions Gallery on the third floor features hundreds of drawings, paintings, sculptures, sketchbooks, and moving image works. Downstairs, in the Museum’s Roy and Niuta Titus Theater Lobbies, a selection of largescale Polaroids created by Burton is joined by a selection of domestic and international film posters from his feature films. In the Agnes Gund Garden Lobby, the 21-foot Balloon Boy baloon sculpture greets museum visitors. In the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, a deer-shaped topiary inspired by Edward Scissorhands is on view.

MoMA’s exhibition draws extensively from the artist’s personal archive, as well as from studio archives and the private collections of Burton’s collaborators, and includes art from a number of early, unrealized projects. Never-before-exhibited drawings, paintings, and film props, as well as virtually unseen films—including Burton’s 1983 live-action, Asian-cast adaptation of Hansel and Gretel—and his early student films. An original animation of MoMA’s logo conceived by Burton and produced by Mackinnon & Saunders, is on view online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFZ3gP0pqzE.

Tim Burton is organized by Ron Magliozzi, Assistant Curator, and Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, The Museum of Modern Art and sponsored by the cable network Syfy.

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor

IDFA Film In Focus: U.N. ME

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:18:08 +0100

The American documentary U.N. ME, a lacerating look at the inefficiencies of the United Nations, has its word premiere at the IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam this week. In a film that exposes the incompetence and corruption at the heart of the United Nations, filmmakers Ami Horowitz and Matthew Groff show how an organization created to ennoble mankind now actually enables evil and sows global chaos.

When the United Nations was founded more than sixty years ago, it embodied our hope for a safer, more peaceful world. But as reports of human rights violations and international conflicts make daily headlines, a question arises: Is the United Nations living up to its founding ideals?

U.N. ME takes audiences on a harrowing and darkly humorous tour of the U.N.'s scandalous disregard for the people and principles it was founded to defend. Among the revelations in this expose are: the story of how a U.N. peacekeeping force stationed in Cote d'Ivoire fired into a crowd of unarmed protesters, injuring and killing dozens; how the largest U.N. humanitarian effort ever conceived, the Oil for Food Program, devolved into a money-grubbing international scam; how the organization that should be at the forefront of efforts to eradicate terrorism cannot, seven years after 9/11, agree on a definition of "terrorism."; and how the U.N.'s Human Rights Council prolonged the genocide in Darfur by attempting to discredit the urgent recommendations of its own investigative team.

Balancing these stories against exclusive interviews with former U.N. ambassador John Bolton, former CIA Director James Woolsey, former U.N. weapons inspector Charles Duelfer, Nobel laureate Jody Williams, and others, U.N. ME delivers an enlightening account of how the world's foremost humanitarian organization has been used by dictators, thugs, and tyrants to line their own pockets. For more information on this powerful film, visit the film's website: http://www.unmemovie.com/

Sandy Mandelberger, IDFA Dailies Editor

Video Trailer for (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Tallinn Black Nights Film Fest — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:47:45 +0100

Video Trailer for (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, which opens the 13th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 26 to December 6):

http://2009.poff.ee/eng/films/programs/opening_film/?productID=4007

Summer In Tallinn: (500) DAYS of it

Tallinn Black Nights Film Fest — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:41:51 +0100

Summer is coming to Tallinn next week.....well not exactly the balmy weather of July and August, but a film that brings with it the sultriness of that special season. The American indie hit (500) DAYS OF SUMMER opens the 13th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the biggest film festival event in Eastern Europe, on November 26. The festival, which will unspool nearly 250 films in Estonia's capital city, is a true feast for adventurous cinema lovers.

One of the big American indie hits of the year, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER is a creative and surprising twist on young romance that is also a showcase for its talented acting duo Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, who have chemistry to burn. The title refers to a year and a half in the life of a bewildered guy irrevocably in love with an unconventional girl named Summer who he meets at his office in downtown Los Angeles.

Highlighting telling moments in their affair, told out of sequence, director Marc Webb has brought a quirky and engaging style to this story of love found, lost and then found again. It is to the film's credit that it never takes its characters or situations for granted, giving each scene an open-ended quality that hooks the viewer with curiosity to see how it will all come together. The end result is a consistently engaging and uncommonly genuine romantic comedy that's as breezy as it is poignant.

Marc Webb began his career directing music videos for artists such as Santana, Fergie, Regina Spektor, Evanescence and Nelly. These won him several MTV Awards. In 2003 he directed "Seascape", a short film that was selected for the Aspen Comedy Festival and then got involved in a documentary project about the first day at school in an educational establishment in Baghdad. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER is his first feature film.

The choice of this film is in tune with the Festival's strong embrace of independent cinema coming from North America. In fact, this year the Festival has initiated a new awards competition specifically for independent films from the USA and Canada (more on this in a future story).

For more information on this year's Festival, visit: http://2009.poff.ee/eng/esileht and return to this Festival Dailies site.

Sandy Mandelberger, Tallinn FF Dailies Editor

The Global Film Village: Writing for the Genre World a WGA panel at the AFM

MarlaLewinGFV — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:07:25 +0100

by Marc Halperin

Stephen Susco, Mick Garris, Larry Cohen, Juliet Snowden and Stiles White

photo by Marc Halperin

Writing for the Genre World a WGA panel moderated by Mick Garris( creator/producer: Masters of Horror; writer/director/producer of Riding the Bullet, Fear Itself and many others. Larry Cohen writer; Phone Booth, I, the Jury and writer or director of numerous other genre favorites. Juliet Snowden and Stiles White co-writers of Boogeyman and Knowing. Stephen Susco writer: The Grudge 1 and The Grudge 2 and Red.

Mick Garris began the panel at the AFM by stating that lately genre equates to horror. His first question to the panel was “Is genre something you chose or something that chose you? “

Larry Cohen: I created Branded in The Invaders television shows. I like to make horror films and thrillers. I write on spec. I’m ignorant of what happens in the world now. I read the trades but it just ruins your day everyone else has a job. Even when I had a studio job everyone complained. I direct a lot of my stuff too.

Juliet Snowden: We just want to tell great stories. We try to have an interesting dramatic element and layer in a supernatural element on top of that.

Stiles White: I handle the blood and guts. When we started in the business a genre element was just a log line, but it grabbed more attention than the dramatic long line. Growing up, we were both fans of 70s and 80s horror films. I was working in special-effects for Stan Winston Studios. That meant because of my day job, I knew what the budget effect would have been for an element that I wrote into the script.

Stephen Susco: It just sort of happened, I read stories as a kid, starting with Ray Bradbury. (Mick Garris agrees with him) and I found Stephen King books when I was 11 years old and I read all of those, but my folks wouldn’t let me read The Shining. I found it under their mattress when they went away on vacation obviously it destroyed my life.

Mick: But it gave you a career.

Stephen: I was the type of kid you found waiting outside the video store to find someone to rent me an R rated Horror film instead of looking to buy beer. We got cable television when I was 8 years old and I was told don’t turn the dial. You see in those early days we had regular cable and the dial had to be switched to receive premium. One night I snuck downstairs at 3 AM and switched the dial, what I saw was the final shot of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers with Donald Sutherland being possessed and I was hooked.

Mick: Horror seems to go in waves. And if tomorrow genre goes away, it will always come back. It doesn’t cost a lot to make films of this type and fans love the ride. Horror has more of an appeal to outsiders. Were you guys outsiders?

Larry: I was the class clown. I always went to the movies and could watch them 3 times in a row. Maybe that helped me understand how they were constructed. I also created my own comic books and storyboards as a kid. It is really simple, if the audience screams and jumps then it works. If not it doesn’t work.

Mick: Horror and comedy both depend on timing.

Larry: With comedies you have to keep making them laugh. With Horror you need something unique and you throw in 3 or 4 key scenes and everybody is happy.

Mick: Horror is now about and for teenagers. Mostly its 18-21 year old males. Hot and single girls is what they want. FaceBook, Twitter, and other social networking sites are what the studios are targeting. Promotion and buzz has moved on line.

Stephen: Our audience is People who don’t have cars, So what they go to see are what their parents don’t want to see. The tricky part is getting the studios to put them out there in a big way so that everyone knows they are available.

Larry: If I was told to write something for 12-14 year old girls I would find another business. Today they aim just for kids. I go on writing what I want to write. Kids Suck. (laughs)

Juliet: I haven’t been put in the position and told what to write. We pass on 90% of the stuff we’re sent.

Stiles: Monday morning studio meetings have gotten to the point where they are re-looking at what was passed on recently because something did business over the weekend. They’re now looking for PG13, plenty scary, plenty of thrills, without F-word bombs and no nudity or even too much blood. Wes Craven once said, “a Horror movie puts you into a film where you can safely play with your fears and win.”

Mick: Masters of Horror was based on a 10 day shoot, it was a true low budget formula. Showtime financial contribution was not a big part of the budget. Anchor Bay was able to do well with it just from the video sales. Have any of you written for the VOD or internet audience?

Larry: No

Juliet: No

Stiles: This is a new area and there is a lot of experimentation going on but nothing has solidified yet. There are new serialized episodes. There are some with new episodes every monday on Fear.net. They’ve done supplemental episodes for 30 Days of Night and Grudge.

Juliet: I think the question here is how do you make money doing this?

Mick: What are the new trends in horror and where do you see it going now?

Stephen: So many Studio Execs don’t get horror. They don’t like it. They think you have to talk down to the audience. You can target the audience, 15 year olds get it. All it takes is for one horror film of a new style to do business and the gates are thrown open.

Mick: Now we’re going to have hordes of amateur filmmakers making Paranormal Activity films.

Stephen: It just means more crap is on the way.

Juliet: The rates for actors are falling. Knowing was written 5 1/2 years ago and it took forever to get made. In my opinion, don’t go to Film School. It’s a waste. Take the money and make a movie instead.

Stiles: There were a lot of Paranormal Activity, found footage films made over the years. This one rose above the level of the others which were mostly crap. They got Lucky. The two lead actors really made it work so it didn’t seem like an amateur movie. The two producers were smart about getting the movie out there on the social network. They let people get involved in the release of the film. There are fewer drive-ins and video stores are less important the Internet has become the new underground and is a community. You have to look at the internet as a selling tool.

Stephen: There are no romantic comedy dedicated websites or Twitter groups. The Horror genre has all of these and they are active. This audience constantly wants to see these movies and new ones. They know what kind of scary movies they want and talk about it.

Mick: The Acme Cinema ( a cobbled together system with your computer tied to the television and stereo) is the drive-in of today. Home theatre is better than many actual theatres. The changing of the platforms is changing the language of cinema and television. In previous years television by necessity was filled with close-ups but now with big screen TVs it is more cinematic. Most people today see movies primarily on television screens.

Larry: Cinema is a group experience and people enjoy that. Davie Crockett was the first film that succeeded on television and then became a cinema experience. Disney created the fad on television and then put the same movie in theatres and people came to see it again in theatres.

Mick: IFC and Magnolia have made some great steps in this direction. Lets talk a little about your first projects.

Juliet: We got married and were both working full time jobs with long hours but we came home and wrote. Every night and all of every weekend. Our friends never saw us. But one day a friend read one of our scripts and got it to 4 agencies. All 4 passed. We got a call from an agent at UTA and set up a meeting with us. We were very excited. We met and they told us they loved the script but they had just quit the agency and they wanted to be our managers. I wanted to cry. After 10 years they are still our managers. They produced Knowing for us and it turned out great.

Mick: My first job was in Publicity at Embassy Pictures and then Universal. I had been doing "making of movies" for promotion and did one for Goonies. I got a script to Spielberg. He asked me if I would write a script for Amazing Stories and it became the first episode. They asked me to write another and after that I became the Story Editor on the show.

Stephen: I wrote my first screenplay as a freshman in college, I read Syd Fields book and a adapted a Stephen King book that I liked. I drove to many and dropped it off at his mail box. A few days later I saw a television news story where a bomb squad came and blew up a mysterious package that had been delivered to his home. I hadn’t known that he had been receiving bomb threats. I wrote a letter of apology and they wrote back and asked to read my script. Unfortunately it was based on the book Rage which was taken out of release after Columbine so it will never be made. But if you are passionate about writing you need to keep at it.

Larry: When I started out I tore out the names and addresses of all of the production companies from the phone book and went to see them. I asked what they were making or wanted to make and went home and wrote it and went back. I did this over and over again. I figured eventually someone would like one of them or feel sorry for me. I finally got an agent but it was William Morris so I was never heard from again.

Mick: Horror is a liberating just like rock and roll. It allows you to express your primal side. The future, I hope will be better than now. I hope it won’t be filled with a lot of shitty amateur movies. What do you think will be the next trend?

Juliet: Japanese Horror films were great when they first came out as they were completely new and different.

Stiles: Wes Craven once said, “If you are out there with the next step, studios won’t get it.” Groundbreaking films come out of the air and are not planned by existing studios”.

Juliet: The Ring was a great film.

Stephen: Paranormal Activity would not have survived a studio development process. This is my experience dealing with a foreign remake. The Grudge was produced by Sam Raimi(Spiderman). He has a major track record and we had the original director attached. I took the originally first two japanese films and edited them together and made my own show real complete with my own subtitles. We then used this to pitch the project. We were developing this for Mandate who were able to raise 120% of the budget and wanted to make it palatable for the american audience. In american horror good guys win and the bad spirits are appeased so everything is okay in the end. In asian horror films a large portion of the population believes that the spirits of our ancestors are always with us and they even have shrines in their homes to keep them happy. So we had our hands full making this work but I think we succeeded. There is a scene in the first film where an Asian detective listens to Sarah Michelle Geller tell him about the spirit that is after her. He just replies matter of fact, “You’ll die.”

Stiles: We don’t worry about winning awards, our fans are at Comic-con and waiting out there for our next films.

Michael Moore Snubbed On Oscar Doc Shortlist

AwardsWatch — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:12:06 +0100

Michael Moore's name and his latest film CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY were stark omissions when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named 15 films that have made the short-list in the Documentary Feature category for the 82nd Academy Awards. Of 89 films submitted, the Oscar race has been pared down to these fifteen.

“The Beaches of Agnes”
Agnes Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ”
Anders Ostergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove”
Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step”
James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali”
Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.”
Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams”
Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders”
Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”
Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African”
Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio”
Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution”
Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin”
Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor”
Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home”
Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

Other celebrated documentaries that did not make the cut include: “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” “The September Issue,” “Tyson,” “It Might Get Loud,” and “We Live in Public". The list of 15 films will be culled down to the five nominations that will be announced on Tuesday, February 2nd in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor

MIAAC Indian Film Festival Winners

AwardsWatch — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:42:19 +0100

The MIAAC Indian Film Festival, sponsored by the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council, wrapped up five days of premiere screenings, special events, chic parties and industry networking events with a gala awards ceremony on Sunday night, November 15th at the Walter Reade Theatre at New York's Lincoln Center. The ceremony included the US premiere of Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s ANTAHEEN. Stars Rahul Bose and Kalyan Roy attended the premiere along with actors and filmmakers including Shabana Azmi, Sarita Choudhury, and Aasif Mandvi.

The Executive Director of the Indo-American Arts Council, Aroon Shivdasani gave closing night remarks and introduced the closing night film. The post-screening discussion with the filmmaker and talent was moderated by Program Director of The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Richard Peña, who also expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration with the MIAAC Film Festival in the future.

The evening concluded with the awards ceremony, with the winners receiving awards in seven categories. Several celebrated actors and filmmakers presented the awards including Amitav Ghosh, Javed Akhtar, and Mira Nair. Festival winners were chosen by a jury comprised of ten members specializing in film, and the jury process was monitored by KPMG. Awards were also presented to three student NYU filmmakers from Professor Karl Bardosh’s Cell Phone Cinema Class, with each filmmaker making a one- minute film entitled My MIAAC on their cell phone cameras.

Overall, this year’s festival premiered 44 Indian and Diaspora films and held special events, with a sidebar on Kashmir in Film, and discussion panels presented with the NYU Department of Cinema Studies at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts focusing on themes like Queer Bollywood and the changing landscape of Indian film business. The festival also held a daylong series about Indian film in cooperation with KPMG and SAMMA.

2009 MIAAC AWARD WINNERS:

· Best Short Film Award: Good Night directed by Geetika Narang.

· Best Documentary Film Award: The Salt Stories directed by Lalit Vachani.

· Best Actor Award: Aasif Mandvi for Today’s Special.

· Best Actress Award: Tannishtha Chatterjee for Bombay Summer.

· Best Screenplay Award: Two Paise for Sunshine, Four Annas for Rain by Deepti Naval.

· Best Director Award: Joseph Mathew-Varghese for Bombay Summer.

· Best Film Award: Bombay Summer directed by Joseph Mathew-Varghese.

For more information on the MIAAC Film Festival, visit: www.miaacfilmfest.org.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor

Documentary Deluge In Amsterdam for IDFA

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:19:29 +0100

One could call it a documentary deluge.......IDFA, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the world's largest event devoted to the non-fiction form, is expecting over 2000 international guests over the next 10 days. If you are in and into docs, Amsterdam is ground zero for film premieres, special events, chic parties and industry seminars and networking sessions.

The Festival has clocked in some 2200 accredited guests from The Netherlands and around the world to attend the 22nd IDFA. In addition, a large number of documentary professionals will visit the FORUM and Docs for Sale markets, which will also be taking place next week.

The Festival, which opens this evening at the historic Theater Tuschinski, will include a large cadre of celebrated documentary filmmakers, including such icons as Frederick Wiseman, Dariusz Jablonski, Eyal Sivan, D.A Pennebaker and Julien Temple. On Sunday, Iranian filmmaker Maziar Bahari will be at the festival to talk about the current situation in Iran and his detention following the elections there.

Alongside filmmakers, a number of people featuring in documentaries will also be present, such as Sebastian Marroquin (from Nicolas Entel’s Sins of My Father), Raymond Kurzweil (from Barry Ptolemy’s Transcendent Man), Norman Finkelstein (from American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein), Yoshiro Nakamats (from The Invention of Dr. Nakamats) and Mike Bonnano (from The Yes Men Fix the World).

For information on all the festivities, visit the Festival's website: www.idfa.nl or stay tuned to this Online Dailies site. Come back and come often......

Sandy Mandelberger, IDFA Dailies Editor

Coverage of Sold Out FOUR SEASONS LODGE World Premiere at IFC Center, NYC

avivapress — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:22:03 +0100

By Maria Esteves - November 18, 2009

The Sold Out World Premiere of FOUR SEASONS LODGE, directed by New York Times journalist Andrew Jacobs commenced on Tuesday, November 11, 2009, 8:00 PM, at the IFC Center, New York. Arrivals included industry professionals, producers, journalists, cast members, and their guest. A special Q&A session with director Jacobs, producer Matt Lavine, cast members Hymie Abramowitz, and Carl Potok, moderated by IFC Center promotion manager Harris Dew, preceded the exquisite world premiere gala at the Village Trattoria.

FOUR SEASONS LODGE is a powerful, heartfelt, and uplifting, documentary. Set in the summer 2006 at the Four Seasons Lodge, Catskills Mountain, New York. The film shot in the raw graciously depicts a group of NYC seniors (holocaust survivors of Polish and German descent) that gather for the past 25 years at their summer bungalow colony to celebrate life! Sharing their harrowing experience through strong family bonds, attending Shabbat services, endless card playing, and joining in live comedy, singing, and dancing until the wee hours in the heart of the Borscht Belt is indeed a spiritual resurrection and celebration of life.

FOUR SEASONS LODGE, directed by Andrew Jacobs | Feature Documentary | USA | 2008 | English | 97 min.| released by First Run Features, winner of Audience Award for Best Documentary, 2009 Miami Jewish Film Festival, now playing at the IFC Center, New York, until Thursday, November 19, 2009. For more information, please call 1.212.924.7771 or visit http://www.ifccenter.com.

Sold Out World Premiere of FOUR SEASONS LODGE Q&A session:
director Andrew Jacobs, (center), with cast members Hymie
Abramowitz, (left), and Carl Potok.

Director Andrew Jacobs, and cast member Basie Adelman at
the World Premiere Gala of FOUR SEASONS LODGE.

Cast member Claire Legorski Fenster at the
World Premiere Gala of FOUR SEASONS LODGE.

Cast member Sam Gaska, (right), with Sima Broszencki at the World
Premiere Gala of FOUR SEASONS LODGE.

Polish Spy Thriller To Open 2009 IDFA

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:25:08 +0100

The world of documentary film has descended on the city of Amsterdam for IDFA, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the world's largest and most diverse showcase of non-fiction film from around the world. With documentaries showing muscle at the theatrical box office, as well as providing a well of programming for new electronic distribution formats, the hunger for the real is greater than ever. By offering a diverse program of film premieres, special events, industry seminars and a parallel film market and co-production forum, IDFA is a major leader in expanding the form and its audience.

Festivities begin tomorrow evening with the world premiere of a spy thriller that reinforces that truth is oftentimes stranger than fiction. WAR GAMES AND THE MAN WHO STOPPED THEM is the latest work from celebrated Polish documentarian Dariusz Jablonski. The film is appropriately timed with the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent end of Communist regimes across Europe. With the passage of time, more and more stories from that period are emerging.

The film tells the fascinating tale of , a Polish colonel who during the Cold War passed on more than forty thousand strategic documents concerning the Warsaw Pact to the American CIA. The film explores his motivations and the personal price he paid for his act of defiance. Was he a hero or a traitor, a patriot or a prostitute? To uncover this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction tale, Jablonski spoke to a large number of former officials involved with the case, including Polish general Jaruzelski, union leader Walesa and the Russian commander-in-chief Kulikov. The director also makes use of the type of graphics used in computer games, which keep the viewer constantly aware of the developing power relations during the Cold War.

Dariusz Jablonski is a well-respected documentarist who previously won a Joris Ivens Award for Fotoamator (1998). He initially pitched the idea for WAR GAMES at the IDFA Forum in 1998. It has taken over a decade for the financing and completion of the film before it now heads to Amsterdam. In addition, the film is competing in the IDFA Competition for Feature-Length Documentary.

For more information on WAR GAMES and to view a film trailer, visit the film's website: http://www.war-games.pl/. To follow the excitement, controversy and inspiration that is IDFA, visit their website: http://www.idfa.nl or come back often to this Dailies site between now and November 29.

Sandy Mandelberger, IDFA Dailies Editor

The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce Wins at 2009 Inside Film Awards

Pollasumera — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:33:34 +0100

Producer Nial Fulton & Director Michael James Rowland

THE LAST CONFESSION OF ALEXANDER PEARCE WINS AT THE 2009 INSIDE FILM AWARDS

The 2009 Inside Film Awards - Awards Room

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 18: Michael James Rowland, Nial Fulton and Corrie Soeterboek
pose with the award for Best Documentary for film The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce
during the 2009 Kodak Inside Film Awards at Luna Park on November 18,
2009 in Sydney, Australia.

Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Nov 18, 2009

The New Home For International Cinema

FilmNewYork — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:21:56 +0100

With foreign-language films (with "dreaded" sub-titles) becoming more and more difficult to find theatrical distribution, the action has moved to the home screen for even films that have been major presences on the international film festival circuit. IFC Films, which still does do day-and-date simultaneous openings in theaters and on its on-demand television network, is increasingly showcasing films strictly on its IFC ON DEMAND service, available via cable and satellite television to millions of viewers. The argument here is that these films are exclusive television fare that could generate more viewers at home than they ever could at the cinema house. The theory is a good one and potentially more lucrative for everyone involved, but represents a further diminishing of the theatrical "window" for us Neanderthals who still like our films up on the big screen.

Oh well.....at least the films are getting out of the strictly film festival ghetto and getting a shot at wide exposure. And while I live in New York City, where luckly specialized cinema is still making a last (althought increasingly desperate) stand, there are millions of people scattered around the US who do not have an arthouse cinema near them and therefore would miss out on these wonderful films. You don't have to go far beyond the Manhattan island into the vast world of suburban multiplexes to realize how difficult it is to see a quality European, South American or Asian film.

This week, IFC ON DEMAND is launching two great titles on its video-on-demand service. THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE (Ce Qu'Il Faut Pour Vivre) is a French Canadian film that was last year's Oscar bid for Canada for Best Foreign Film. Set in the early 1950s, the film stars Natar Ungalaaq, an Inuit actor who was the star of the celebrated drama THE FAST RUNNER a few years ago. He plays a hunter who suffers from tuberculosis and is forcibly removed by the authorities from his native village to the a sanitorium in Quebec City. The clash of cultures between the nativist and his clinically depressed fellow patients is marvelously played out by a great acting ensemble, all under the baton of writer/director Benoit Pilon. The film, which won major awards in its native Canada, and has been seen at major film festivals around the world, is a key example of a quality film that deserves a wider audience but could not justify (at least to IFC FILMS) the expense of a full-on theatrical release.

The second film is of a somewhat more minor key, but also illustrates the sorry state of theatrical distribution for films that dare not speak English. While European titles in general are finding scarce space at the multiplex, at least French films have been doing somewhat better. The recent hits LA VIE EN ROSE, SUMMER HOURS and COCO BEFORE CHANEL demonstrated that the art crowd's love affair with Gallic cinema remains strong.

The actress/writer/director Josiane Balasko (TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR YOU, FRENCH TWIST) has had many of her previous films shown on the arthouse circuit, but her latest FRENCH GIGOLO (Cliente), is also bypassing a theatrical release and showing up on-demand on IFC. One would think that with "cougar culture" (an older woman who beds a younger man) so prominent now in America, that this film would have justified a full-on theatrical release. But discriminating television audiences will delight in the wonderful actress Nathalie Bay who plays a 50-something television personality whose sexual needs are met by casual encounters with young male escorts she connects with online. She becomes particularly enamoured of a sexy 30-year-old (played with oodles of charm by Eric Caravaca) who is secretly married. The film, which premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival, is a very revealing comedy/drama about the confluence of sex, power and money.

If a French film about sex cannot be seen in movie theaters, the crisis may be worse that even I understand. But at least IFC FILMS, which has been picking up a good number of quality European films of late including VINCERE, CRACKS, HADEWIJCH, ANTICHRIST, FISH TANK, MAMMOTH, DEAD SNOW, GOMORRAH and HUNGER to name a few, is in the game. Look for the focus to move into online offerings in the months to come. But will the audience for these kinds of films remain very slim or will the availability create an added spark of interest (particularly among young people)? Not even the movie mavens have an answer for that one......

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor

Call for entry: The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival

Bulletin Board — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:14:49 +0100

The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival
April 15-18, 2010
Call for Entries - Click here
The late submission deadline is December 2nd, 2009 , with an extended deadline of December 18th .

Organiser Contact Information

L.A. Comedy Shorts 2010
2118 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1140
Santa Monica, CA 90403
info@lacomedyshorts.com
http://www.lacomedyshorts.com/

The Staff
Festival Director: Jeannie Roshar
Festival Producer: Ryan Higman
Director of Development: Crisann Morgan
Artistic Director: Gary Anthony Williams
Public Relations: Carol Marshall

The blog with news, videos & dailies on fest21.com

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is dedicated to introducing the newest and hottest comedic talent to audiences and the industry, helping them make the connections they need to take their careers to the next level.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, currently the largest comedy film festival in the U.S., is a four-day, non-stop celebration of comedic short films with screenings, industry panels and a red-carpet awards event. LACS was recently named one of Moviemaker Magazine's “25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” .

Co-founded by Boston Legal's Gary Anthony Williams, L.A. Comedy Shorts attracts heavyweights from the world of comedy, including Will Ferrell and Judd Apatow's 'FunnyOrDie.com', a major sponsor in 2009. Adam Carolla hosted the star-studded red carpet awards, where actor/director Bobcat Goldthwait was honored with the first annual ‘Commie' comedy achievement award and Mark Hamill presented for best comedy screenplay.

Over the course of the festival, attendees were treated to hilarious shorts and informative discussion panels that included SNL alum Laraine Newman, Malcolm in the Middle creator Linwood Boomer, Lord of the Rings ' Sean Astin, Boondocks ' creator Aaron McGruder, and many more.

WHY SHOULD YOU SUBMIT YOUR WORK?

Winners receive cash prizes and valuable industry meetings, and all filmmakers enjoy great exposure from the heavy industry presence at the festival. In 2009, winning scripts and films were requested or reviewed by top production companies and agencies, including:

* The Gersh Agency
* Mosaic Media Group
* Benderspink
* ICM
* UTA
* Principato-Young Entertainment
* Generate
* Underground Films
* The Gold Company
* 3 Arts Entertainment
* Larger Than Life
* Stars Road Entertainment
* Manus Entertainment
* Gunn Films

In addition, all finalists will receive a copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 software, and screenplay finalists will receive two VIP festival passes and possible travel & accommodations awards to the festival in Los Angeles, CA (April 15-18, 2010). As a special bonus, the winning feature comedy screenplay will receive a promo package from festival sponsor Inktip.com, which goes out to thousands of top industry professionals.

So, you think you're funny? Prove it and submit today!

SUBMIT YOUR WORK NOW!

Categories:

• Comedy Short Films: 30 minutes or less

• Comedy Animated Short Films: 30 minutes or less

• Comedy Shortie-Shorts: 5 minutes or less (Live-Action or Animated)

• Comedy Feature Screenplays: (80-130 pages)

• Comedy Short Screenplays: (1-30 pages)

• Half-Hour TV Comedy Pilot Scripts

Note: Animated Shorts will be judged in the Animated Category regardless of length, although Animated Shorts 5 minutes or less will be eligible for the Shortie-Shorts price break.

DEADLINES

Deadline

Fee

October 2nd, 2009 (Earlybird Deadline)

$35/$30

November 2nd, 2009 (Regular Deadline)

$45/$40

December 2nd, 2009 (Late Deadline)

$55/$50

December 18, 2009 (Extended Deadline)

$75/$70

We will be notifying winners via email and announcing them on the website on March 15, 2010.

Submit your film:

Click to submit today through the official website or through Withoutabox.

Call for entry: The Roma Independent Film Festival 2010

Bulletin Board — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:02:15 +0100

ROMA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2010
April 8 - 16, 2010

Call for Entries
Deadline: December 15, 2009
Apply online

Contact Info
RIFF - ROMA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Fabrizio Ferrari (Art Director of the Festival)
Piazza Buenos Aires, 5
Roma 00198 -Italy
Tel. 06 45425050 -
Fax. 06 23319206
http://www.riff.it
info@riff.it

2010 Roma Independent Film Festival RIFF AWARDS
July 29 - 31, 2010

The Roma Independent Film Festival (RIFF) is Rome 's first independent and international film festival. Its aim is to unite enthusiasm for films and filmmaking among young filmmakers with the realities of film production and distribution. The main aims of the Association are:

• To create better international distribution opportunities for independent films excluded from the major distributors

• To create a lively and mutually beneficial point of contact between new or underrepresented European filmmakers and established industry professionals.

• To provide a platform for young people with a passion for filmmaking; to inspire and help them communicate issues effectively; and stimulate discussion among audience members and fellow filmmakers alike.

RIFF is a seven-day celebration of new European and international independent films. As well as offering the chance for young filmmakers to present their work to the general public at film screenings, RIFF offers a series of special events designed to stimulate enthusiasm and create discussion: retrospectives, seminars and workshops on various aspects of cinema, as well as exhibitions, collaborations with theatre, dance, fashion, and music concerts. In order to encourage and assist filmmakers in their endeavours, the festival concludes with an awards ceremony, The RIFF Awards, which awards prizes of either monetary value or money in-kind. The winning films, in a number of categories, are chosen by an international jury of experts from various fields within the film industry.

CALL FOR ENTRY

• Rules and regulations
• Submission
deadline is December 15, 2009.
The competing sections are:

Categories:
Feature films
New Frontiers (first feature film)
Documentary film
Short films (separate prize for best Italian short film, and best foreign short)
Student films
Digital short
Video animation
Made in Short (running time must be no more then 3 minutes)
Screenwriting

Up to 100 films will be selected as finalists in the Riff Awards competition. The winners ill be chosen by a jury of entertainment industry professionals, and announced at the Gala Ceremony

BEST FEATURE FILM:

Distribution Award – to increase the distribution of independent cinematography, the winner film will be programme for one week at Nuovo Cinema Aquila.

Best Independent Feature Films - A competition of 6 Independent Feature Films from around the World. The jury shall attribute an award to the best one amongst the competing features.

Prize: Forum Village Studios.

NEW VISION AWARD - the award New Visions 2008 , has usual will be assigned to creative undertaking independent cinema. In the previous editions, the new vision have been granted to Alessandro Valori, Denis Chouinard, Sara Johnsen, Pete Travis, Valeria Golino, Gabriele Muccino and Paolo Sorrentino.

BEST DOCUMENTARY - post production development offered by Magui Studio.

BEST SHORT:

Best Italian Short - € 2.500 Cash. Prize: Kodak Prize negative film stock 16mm/35mm (value 1.500 € Euro)and 1.000 € Euro cash or equivalent in technical materials; Italian distribution contract offered by Istituto Luce .

Best Foreign Short - subtitle in two languages sponsored by Raggio Verde srl (subtitling services). 1.500 € Euro equivalent in technical materials

Best Digital Short - 1.500 € Euro equivalent in technical materials sponsored by Panalight .

Best Animated Short - Augustus Color Award. Prize: film development assistance (value 1.500 € Euro )

SCREENPLAY AWARDS:

- Screenplay Award - to best feature length script.

- Short Screenplay Award - D1 Prize . The RIFF will select one project and will assist in its realization from development to post production. Made possible by D1 .

- Best Subject – the prize given by Unione Italiana del Lavoro will offer a course in screenwriting taught by Morando Morandini jr.

ENTRY FORM
RIFF Awards 2010
Apply online

• Application Fee:

* Short Films & Documentaries (30 seconds to 72 minutes): Euro 10
* Feature Films (72 minutes and above): Euro 35
* Screenplay: Euro 35
* Submission Fee is 10 Euro for all Students

• Forms of payment :
Personal Check only European, Secure Credit Card Payment (CLICK HERE) or Money Transfer (use account information below):
Unicredit Banca di Roma - Roma 208- ABI: 3002 - CAB: 5016 - CIN: R - CC n. 400829626 SWIFT (BIC) : BROMITR 1208 - IBAN : IT12R0300205016000400829626 - pay to the order of roma independent film festival (RIFF)

• Shipment
Please mail your DVD with English or Italian subtitles (if not already an English language film), the appropriate application fee and other related materials @:
RIFF - Attn. Fabrizio Ferrari, Piazza Buenos Aires 5, 00198 Roma - Italy

Film Festivals Reviews on Fest21?

filmester — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:10:17 +0100

Dear Filmmakers:

As our festival run with Butterflies ended, we were wondering if you would like to hear about the experiences we had at different film festivals.

We have found that some festivals and festival organizers are really helpful and there for indie filmmakers, and some other ones only care about the submission fee money.
Would you be interested in hearing about the festivals we attended?

Let me know :)

IDA Documentary Award Nominees: Crystal Ball For The Oscars?

AwardsWatch — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:30:47 +0100

Charting the documentaries that will eventually will be tapped for Oscar gold is a sport popular in the world of non-fiction filmmakers and their devoted public. With documentaries showing considerable clout at the box office and responsible for adding to the public discourse about global warming, globalization and other 21st century vices, the announcements last week of nominees from the International Documentary Association holds special interest. Winners will be feted on December 4th at the Directors Guild in Los Angeles, in a ceremony hosted by This American Life’s Ira Glass.

The five nominated films for Distinguished Documentary Achievement in IDA’s feature category are: AFGAN STAR, the timely and moving film following the dramatic stories of four young finalists as they compete in Afghanistan’s version of American Idol; ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL, the hilarious and unexpectedly moving account of an obscure Canadian metal band’s last-ditch quest for elusive fame and fortune; DIARY OF A TIMES SQUARE THIEF, which documents the search for the writer of a mysterious diary that the filmmaker finds on EBay; FOOD, INC., that lifts the veil on America's highly mechanized food industry; and MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN, the story of Michael Campbell, a 74-year-old fifth-generation white African farmer who withstands land invasions and violence in his stand against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s land seizure program.

The four nominated short films are: THE DELIAN MODE, an exploration of the life and work of electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire; SALT, a journey with photo-artist Murray Fredericks as he tries to capture the heart of the world's most featureless landscape on Lake Eyre, South Australia; SARI'S MOTHER, a mother’s navigation of Iraq’s health-care systEm in search of care for her son who is dying of AIDS; and THE SOLITARY LIFE OF CRANES, a visual poem which follows 24 hours in life of a city seen through the eyes of crane operators.

The IDA Documentary Awards will also recognize filmmakers and film journalists who displayed conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth in a special “Courage Under Fire” tribute to be presented by Current Media journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. In March of this year Ling and Lee were reporting on the trafficking of North Korean women across the Chinese border, when they who were apprehended by North Korean soldiers. They were sentenced to 12 years in a North Korean labor prison but were released after 140 days in captivity through the diplomatic efforts of former President Bill Clinton.

Will winners of the IDA DOCUMENTARY AWARDS figure in the run-up to the Oscars? The answer is a definitive YES.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor

CRACKS Finds Home At IFC

FilmNewYork — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:28:46 +0100

CRACKS, starring Eva Green (Casino Royale, The Dreamers), which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival, has been picked up for North American distribution by IFC FILMS. The UK/US co-production is the directorial debut of Jordan Scott, who was born in England and has directed campaigns throughout the world for RSA Films. She directed a short-film advertising campaign for Prada as well as public service announcements advocating gun control. She also co-directed the short film Jonathan for the collection All the Invisible Children (05). Cracks (09) is her feature film debut.

CRACKS follows an elite group of boarding school girls who compete for the attention of their free-thinking and glamorous young teacher Miss G (Green). She encourages them to indulge their desires, flout the establishment and pursue a life of independence and travel. The girls are thrilled to have such an inspiring teacher, but the status quo is threatened when the arrival of an exotic and beautiful Spanish student (Maria Valverde) disturbs the girl’s rigid and remorseless power structure.

CRACKS was produced by Scott Free, Future Films, Element Pictures, Industry Entertainment and Killer Films in association with John Wells. Studio Canal will handle the French and Benelux releases and.Optimum will distribute in the UK. Ridley Scott and Tony Scott served as executive producers.

IFC Films will release CRACKS in 2010 via its IFC in Theaters platform which brings critically-acclaimed independent movies to on-demand viewers at home the same day they premiere in theaters.

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor

India Comes To New York

FilmNewYork — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:45:40 +0100

New York City prides itself as being the "capital of the world", as it has attracted immigrants from all over the globe and set up individual communities within the city's urban grid. For the past few decades, the communities of South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan, have become vibrant parts of the city's mosaic, producing in their midst the finest curry dishes, sari shops and music concerts this side of Delhi and Peshawar.

This past weekend, New York opened up its gates to an influx of Indian cinema under the title of the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council (MIAAC) Film Festival, sponsored by the Indo-American Arts Council. The ambitious program of film premieres, seminars and chic parties focuses on both Indian-origin filmmakers living and working in the US, but also on a new generation of Indian filmmakers whose creative output represents a new chapter in Indian cinema beyond the conventions (and stylistic cliches) of Bollywood.

Although last year's Oscar winner SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE could not really be classified an Indian film, the success of the film and its showcasing of Indian acting, musical and technical talents has created a groundswell of interest in the ver-growing Indian contemporary film scene. This flowering was evident in some of the films showcased at this year's Festival.

The Festival opened on November 11 with the premiere screening of TODAY'S SPECIAL, a New York-based comedy directed by David Kaplan and written by and starring Comedy Central star Aasif Mandvi accompanied by renowned Indian actors Naseerudin Shah and Madhur Jaffrey. Santosh Sivan's TAHAAN, set in the disputed territory of Kashmir, was screened as the Festival Centerpiece. The film tells the moving tale of a little boy and his pet donkey in militant Kashmir. It has won accolades at international film festivals and had its New York Premiere at the Festival.

The Festival's closing night film, held last evening at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, was ANTAHEEN--THE ENDLESS WAIT, starring two film luminaries discovered by Satyajit Ray - Sharmila Tagore and Aparna Sen – both of whom attended the special event screening, which also included the announcement of several film awards. Set in modern day Kolkatta, the film crisscrosses between the loves, passions and relationships of these two actresses. The program featured a mix of genres ranginig from short films to documentaries to dramatic features. Music, a key element in Bollywood cinema, also was prominently featured in many of the Festival offerings, albeit with a less kitchy tone than those found in the typical Bollywood spectacle.

Among the highlights of a jam-packed festival were several directorial debuts. FOR REAL, written and directed by Sona Jain, tells the story of a six-year-old girl whose idyllic life in New Delhi is irretrievably changed when her mother leaves and upon her return, the young girl believes her to be an imposter. LIFE GOES ON, a world premiere written and directed by Sangeeta Datta, focuses on the effect of a mother's death on her husband and children living in London. TWO PAISE FOR SUNSHINE, FOUR ANNAS FOR RAIN, written and directed by Deepti Naval, the acclaimed actress in films such as Mirch Masala (1985) and Firaaq (2008) who makes an impressive directorial debut. Set in the teeming metropolis of Mumbai, the story brings together a struggling gay lyricist, an aging prostitute (Bollywood star Manisha Koirala in a career-defining role) and her 12-year-old son.

Two programs of note that attracted capacity crowds this weekend were AN EVENING WITH MIRA NAIR, a screening of the celebrated director's short films, in conjunction with the new DVD release of her celebrated film MONSOON WEDDING (2001). CONTEMPORARY BENGALI CINEMA showcased the growing influence of Kolkata and the state of Bengal in the mix of contemporary Indian cinema. The Festival is highlighting five features and one documentary in this survey, including the latest works from such noted directors as Buddhadeb Dasgupta (THE WINDOW) and Rituparno Ghosh (AFTER WORDS); and newer talent Suman Mukhopadhyay (FOUR CHAPTERS), Sangeeta Datta (LIFE GOES ON) and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (THE ENDLESS WAIT).

The Festival also provided various networking possibilities for visiting Indian filmmakers and industry to mingle with their American counterparts, along with fascinating seminar programs that explored the range of themes, genres and challenges facing the Indian film community.

As an intensive on the new directions and concerns of contemporary Indian cinema, an industry that is defining itself beyond the Bollywood model, the MIAAC Indian Film Festival was a groundswell of information, inspiration and cinematic delights.

For more information on the Festival's many highlights, visit: www.miaacfilmfest.org

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor

27 + 1: The Official Selection

27plusone — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:43:36 +0100

BAD MISTAKE

Belgium, 2009, 6 min, 35mm

Director: Хavier Hibon

BAD TIMING

France, 2008, 15 min, HDCAM

Director: Olivier Barma

BETTY B. & THE THE’S

Germany, 2009, 13 min, RED

Director: Felix Stienz

BIRDS OF HEAVEN

Bulgaria, 2008, 30 min, 35mm

Director: Kristina Grozeva

CASTING

Russia, 2006, 20 мин, 35mm

Director: Olga Stolpovskaya

CITIZEN VERSUS KANE

France, 2008, 20 min, HDV/DV

Director: Shaun Severi

HI MUM!

Czech Republic, 2008, 11 min, HDV

Director: Ivan Shvedoff

ICH BOMBE

France, 2008, 22 min 16 sec, 35mm

Director : Daniel Klein

I'LL TELL ON YOU!

Italy, 2009, 20 min, 35mm

Director: Marco Gianfreda

JUST A PITCH

France, 2009, 23 min 6 sec, 35mm

Director: Eric Raynaud

LEGACY

Finland, 2008, 5 min 30 sec, RED

Director: Teemu Nikki

LIFE LINE

Belgium, 2009, 18 min, 35mm

Director: Michael Fisher

LOVE IS A YOKE

Italy, 2008, 13 min 30 sec, RED

Director: Andrea Rovetta

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

France, 2008, 20 min, 35mm

Director: Gautier About

PARKING

Spain, 2009, 11 min, 35mm

Director: Jorge Molina

RIPPLE

United Kingdom, 2008, 18 min, 16mm

Director: Paul Gowers

STONE PEOPLE

Russia, 2007, 19 min, 35mm

Director: Leonid Rybakov

SURPRISE !

France, 2007, 18 min, 16 mm

Director: Fabrice Maruca

SYNDROME

Russia, 2009, 26 min, HDV

Director: Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy

THE ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS FROM NEBULA-5

Spain, 2008, 6 min 20 sec, 35 mm

Director: Chema Garcia Ibarra

THE BEAR

Finland, 2009, 9 min 9 sec, HDV/DV

Director: Claes Olsson

THE TOES

Belgium, 2008, 11 min 13 sec, 16mm

Director: Laurent Denis

TITI

France, 2007, 9 min 50 sec, 35mm

Director: Béatrice and Hughes Espinasse

TOSHI

United Kingdom, 2009, 14 min 27 sec, RED

Director: Jon Gilbert

TOUR

Hungary, 2009, 12 min 26 sec, 16 mm

Director: Balázs Simonyi

TWO-YEAR GUARANTEE

Spain, 2009, 17 min, 35mm

Director: Juan Parra Costa

WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON

Ireland, 2008, 4 min, HDCAM

Directed by Declan Cassidy

WILLIAMS

France, 2008, 14 min, RED

Director: Alban Mench

X= X+1

Slovakia, 2009, 15 min, RED

Director: Juraj Krasnohorský

3х3

Portugal, 2009, 6 min, 35mm

Director: Nuno Rocha

San sebastian awards winners since 1953

San Sebastian International Film Festival — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:07:35 +0100

1953
La Guerra de Dios by Rafael Gil
Spain

1954
Sierra maldita by Antonio del Amo
Spain

1955
Giorni d'amore by Giuseppe de Santis
Italy

1956
Il ferroviere by Pietro Germi
Italy

1957
Oh! Sabella (La nonna Sabella) by Dino Risi
Italy

1958
Le coeur au poing by Charles Binamé
France

1959
The Nun's Story by Fred Zinnemann
United States

1960
Romeo, Juliet a Tma by Jiri Weiss
Czechoslovakia

1961
One-Eyed Jacks by Marlon Brando
United States

1962
Arturo's Island (L’isola di Arturo) by Damiano Damiani
Italy

1963
Mafioso by Alberto Lattuada
Italy

1964
America, America by Elia Kazan
United States

1965
Mirage by Edward Dmytryk
United States
Golden Queen (Zlatá reneta)
by Otakar Vávra
Czechoslovakia

1966
I Was Happy Here by Desmond Davis
United Kingdom

1967
Two for the Road byStanley Donen
United States

1968
The Long Day’s Dying by Peter Collinson
United Kingdom

1969
The Rain People by Francis Ford Coppola
United States

1970
Dead of Summer (Ondata di calore) by Nelo Risi
Italy

1971
Claire's Knee (Le genou de Claire) by Eric Rohmer
France

1972
The Glass House by Tom Gries
United States

1973
The Spirit of the Beehive (El espíritu de la colmena) by Víctor Erice
Spain

1974
Badlands by Terrence Malick
United States

1975
Poachers (Furtivos) by José Luis Borau
Spain

1976
Queen of the Gypsies (Tabor ujodit v niebo) by Emil Loteanu
USSR

1977
An Unfinished Piece for a Player Piano (Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino) by Nikita Mikhalkov
USSR

1978
The Illegal (Alambrista!) by Robert M. Young
United States

1979
Autumn Marathon (Ossenij marafon) by Georgi Daneliya
USSR

1980
Dyrygent by Andrzej Wajda
Poland

1981
Storie di ordinaria follia by Marco Ferreri
Italy

1982
Demons in the Garden (Demonios en el jardín) by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón
Spain

1983
Between Us (Coup de foudre) by Diane Kurys
France

1984
Rumble Fish by
Francis Ford Coppola
United States

1985
Yesterday by Radoslaw Piwowarski
Poland

1986
Half of Heaven (La mitad del cielo) by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón
Spain

1987
Wedding in Galilee (Urs al-jalil) by Michel Khleifi
Palestine-France-Belgium

1988
On the Black Hill by Andrew Grieve
United Kingdom

1989
Homer and Eddie by Andrei Konchalovski
United States
La nación clandestina (ex aequo) by Jorge Sanjinés
Bolivia

1990
Letters from Alou (Las cartas de Alou) by Montxo Armendáriz
Spain

1991
Butterfly Wings (Alas de Mariposa) by Juanma Bajo Ulloa
Spain

1992
A Place in the World (Un lugar en el mundo) by Adolfo Aristarain
Argentina

1993
The Beginning and the End (Principio y fin) by Arturo Ripstein
Mexico
Sara by Dariush Mehrjui
Iran

1994
Running Out of Time (Días contados)
Imanol Uribe
Spain

1995
Margaret's Museum by Mort Ransen
Canada-United Kingdom

1996
Bwana by Imanol Uribe
Spain
Trojan Eddie (ex aequo) by Gillies Mackinnon
Ireland

1997
The Swindle (Rien ne va plus) by Claude Chabrol
France

1998
Wind with the Gone (El viento se llevó lo qué) by Alejandro Agresti
Argentina-Netherlands-Spain-France

1999
What's Life? (C'est quoi la vie?) by François Dupeyron
France

2000
The Ruination of Men (La perdición de los hombres) by Arturo Ripstein
Mexico-Spain

2001
A Cab for Three (Taxi para tres) by Orlando Lübbert
Chile

2002
Mondays in the Sun (Los lunes al sol) by Fernando León de Aranoa
Spain-France-Italy

2003
Gun-shy (Schussangst) by Dito Tsintsadze
Germany

2004
Turtles Can Fly (Lakposhtha parvaz mikonand) by Bahman Ghobadi
Iran-Irak

2005
Something Like Happiness (Štěstí) by Bohdan Sláma
Czech Republic

2006
Half Moon (Niwemang) by Bahman Ghobadi
Iran
Mon fils à moi (ex aequo) by Martial Fougeron
France

2007
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Wayne Wang
United States

2008
Pandora's Box (Pandoranin kutusu) by Yesim Ustaoglu
Turkey-France-Germany-Belgium

2009
City of Life and Death (Nánjīng! Nánjīng!) by Lu Chuan
China

Toronto awards winners since 1978

Toronto Film Festival — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:02:13 +0100

2009 Precious
2008 Slumdog Millionaire
2007 Eastern Promises
2006 Bella
2005 Tsotsi
2004 Hotel Rwanda
2003 Zatôichi
2002 Whale Rider
2001 Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
2000 Wo hu cang long
1999 American Beauty
1998 La vita è bella
1997 The Hanging Garden
1996 Shine
1995 Antonia
1994 Priest
1993 The Snapper
1992 Strictly Ballroom
1991 The Fisher King
1990 Cyrano de Bergerac
1989 Roger & Me
1988 Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios
1987 The Princess Bride
1986 Le déclin de l'empire américain
1985 La historia oficial
1984 Places in the Heart
1983 The Big Chill
1982 Tempest
1981 Chariots of Fire
1980 Bad Timing
1979 Best Boy
1978 Girlfriends

Cannes Palme d'or winners since 1939

Cannes — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:14:50 +0100

1939
Union Pacific by Cecil B. DeMille
United States

1946
Torment (Hets) by Alf Sjöberg
Sweden

The Lost Weekend by Billy Wilder
United States

The Red Meadows (De røde enge) by Bodil Ipsen and Lau Lauritzen Jr.
Denmark

Brief Encounter by David Lean
United Kingdom

Portrait of Maria (María Candelaria (Xochimilco) by Emilio Fernández
Mexico

Neecha Nagar (नीचा नगर) by Chetan Anand
India

The Turning Point (Великий перелом, Velikiy perelom) by Fridrikh Ermler
Soviet Union

La symphonie pastorale by Jean Delannoy
France

The Last Chance (Die Letzte Chance) by Leopold Lindtberg
Austria

Men Without Wings (Muži bez křídel) by František Čáp
Czechoslovakia

Rome, Open City (Roma, città aperta) by Roberto Rossellini
Italy

1949

The Third Man by Carol Reed
United Kingdom

1951
Miss Julie (Fröken Julie) by Alf Sjöberg
Sweden

Miracle in Milan (Miracolo a Milano) by Vittorio De Sica
Italy

1952
The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice by Orson Welles
United States

Two Cents Worth of Hope (Due soldi di speranza) by Renato Castellani
Italy

1953
The Wages of Fear (Le salaire de la peur) by Henri-Georges Clouzot
France

1954
Gate of Hell (地獄門, Jigokumon) by Teinosuke Kinugasa
Japan

1955
Marty by Delbert Mann
United States

1956
The Silent World (Le monde du silence) by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Louis Malle
France

1957
Friendly Persuasion by William Wyler
United States

1958
The Cranes Are Flying (Летят журавли, Letyat zhuravli) by Mikhail Kalatozov
Soviet Union

1959
Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) by Marcel Camus
France

1960
La dolce vita by Federico Fellini
Italy

1961
The Long Absence (Une aussi longue absence) by Henri Colpi
France

Viridiana by Luis Buñuel
Spain

1962
O Pagador de Promessas by Anselmo Duarte
Brazil

1963
The Leopard (Il gattopardo) by Luchino Visconti
Italy

1964
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les parapluies de Cherbourg) by Jacques Demy
France

1965
The Knack …and How to Get It by Richard Lester
United Kingdom

1966
A Man and a Woman (Un homme et une femme) by Claude Lelouch
France

The Birds, the Bees and the Italians (Signore e signori)
by Pietro Germi
Italy

1967
Blow-Up by Michelangelo Antonioni
Italy

1969
if.... by Lindsay Anderson
United Kingdom

1970
MASH by Robert Altman
United States

1971
The Go-Between by Joseph Losey
United States

1972
The Working Class Goes to Heaven (La classe operaia va in paradiso) by Elio Petri
Italy

The Mattei Affair (Il caso Mattei) by Francesco Rosi
Italy

1973
The Hireling by Alan Bridges
United Kingdom

Scarecrow by Jerry Schatzberg
United States

1974
The Conversation by Francis Ford Coppola
United States

1975
Chronicle of the Years of Fire (Chronique des années de braise) by Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
Algeria

1976
Taxi Driver by Martin Scorsese
United States

1977
Padre Padrone by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani
Italy

1978
The Tree of Wooden Clogs (L'albero degli zoccoli) by Ermanno Olmi
Italy

1979
Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola
United States

The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel) by Volker Schlöndorff
West Germany

1980
All That Jazz by Bob Fosse
United States

Kagemusha (影武者) by Akira Kurosawa
Japan

1981
Man of Iron (Człowiek z żelaza) by Andrzej Wajda
Poland

1982
Missing by Costa-Gavras
Greece

The Way (Yol) by Yılmaz Güney and Şerif Gören
Turkey

1983
The Ballad of Narayama (楢山節考 / Narayama bushiko) by Shohei Imamura
Japan

1984
Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders
West Germany

1985
When Father Was Away on Business (Otac na službenom putu) [unanimously] by Emir Kusturica
Yugoslavia

1986
The Mission by Roland Joffé
United Kingdom

1987
Under the Sun of Satan (Sous le soleil de Satan) [unanimously] by Maurice Pialat
France

1988
Pelle the Conqueror (Pelle erobreren) by Bille August
Denmark

1989
Sex, Lies, and Videotape by Steven Soderbergh
United States

1990
Wild at Heart by David Lynch
United States

1991
Barton Fink [unanimously] by Joel and Ethan Coen
United States

1992
The Best Intentions (Den goda viljan) by Bille August
Sweden

1993
Farewell My Concubine (霸王別姬 / Bàwáng bié jī) by Chen Kaige
China

The Piano by Jane Campion
New Zealand

1994
Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino
United States

1995
Underground (Подземље, Podzemlje) by Emir Kusturica
FR Yugoslavia

1996
Secrets & Lies by Mike Leigh
United Kingdom

1997
Taste of Cherry (طعم گيلاس /Ta'm-e gīlās) by Abbas Kiarostami
Iran

The Eel (''うなぎ, Unagi) by Shohei Imamura
Japan

1998
Eternity and a Day (Μια αιωνιότητα και μια μέρα / Mia aioniotita kai mia mera) [unanimously] by Theo Angelopoulos
Greece

1999
Rosetta by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Belgium

2000
Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier
Denmark

2001
The Son's Room (La stanza del figlio) by Nanni Moretti
Italy

2002
The Pianist by Roman Polanski
Poland

2003
Elephant by Gus Van Sant
United States

2004
Fahrenheit 9/11 [unanimously] by Michael Moore
United States

2005
The Child (L'enfant) by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Belgium

2006
The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Ken Loach
United Kingdom

2007
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile) by Cristian Mungiu
Romania

2008
The Class (Entre les murs) [unanimously] by Laurent Cantet
France

2009
The White Ribbon (Das weiße Band) by Michael Haneke
Austria

Blood And Rain will open "Discovering Latin America Film Festival" in London

editor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:34 +0100

Blood And Rain (La Sangre y la Lluvia) by Jorge Navas
Colombia/Spain (2008) 100'
Opening Night Gala, UK Premiere + Q&A with Director Jorge Navas

Showing: 26 Nov 09, 20:00 - 22:05 Venue: Odeon Covent Garden

This outstanding expressionist film is full of symbolism. Jorge and Angela meet on a rainy night in the streets of Bogota. Jorge, a cab driver affected by his brother’s death; Angela, an artist and princess of the night. Their chance encounter helps them explore and exorcise their demons together.

Turn off the lights, draw the curtains, sit down and enjoy the best of Latin American cinema right here in London!

"We are thrilled to welcome you to the 8th edition of the Discovering Latin America Film Festival. The festival will bring a wide variety of feature, experimental and short films, as well as documentaries, retrospectives, master-classes, discussions with well-known industry professionals, a much needed film network, and many other events!

This impressive programme will not only contribute to the cultural diversity of London but also help the most underprivileged people in Latin America. This is what clearly distinguishes our festival from others in London. We are committed to helping alleviate the poverty in Latin America. By coming to our films and events, you will be supporting a deserving cause. We very much look forward to welcoming you soon."

Libia Villazana

Film Festival Director

Berlin awards winner since 1952

Berlin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:48:25 +0100

1952
One Summer of Happiness (Hon dansade en sommar) by Arne Mattsson
Sweden

1953
The Wages of Fear (Le salaire de la peur) by Henri-Georges Clouzot
France/Italy

1954
Hobson's Choice by David Lean
United Kingdom

1955
The Rats (Die Ratten) by Robert Siodmak
Federal Republic of Germany

1956
Invitation to the Dance by Gene Kelly
United States

1957
12 Angry Men by Sidney Lumet
United States

1958
Wild Strawberries (Smultronstället) by Ingmar Bergman
Sweden

1959
The Cousins (Les cousins) by Claude Chabrol
France

1960
El Lazarillo de Tormes by César Ardavin
Spain

1961
The Night (La notte) by Michelangelo Antonioni
Italy/France

1962
A Kind of Loving by John Schlesinger
United Kingdom

1963
The Devil (Il diavolo) by Gian Luigi Polidoro
Italy

1964
Reflections (Susuz yaz) by Metin Erksan
Turkey

1965
Alphaville by Jean-Luc Godard
France/Italy

1966
Cul-de-Sac by Roman Polanski
United Kingdom

1967
Le départ by Jerzy Skolimowski
Belgium

1968
Who Saw Him Die? (Ole dole doff) by Jan Troell
Sweden

1969
Early Works (Rani radovi) by Želimir Žilnik
Yugoslavia

1971
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini) by Vittorio De Sica
Italy/W. Germany

1972
The Canterbury Tales (I Racconti di Canterbury) by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Italy

1973
Distant Thunder (Ashani Sanket) by Satyajit Ray
India

1974
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Ted Kotcheff
Canada

1975
Adoption (Örökbefogadás) by Márta Mészáros
Hungary

1976
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson by Robert Altman
United States

1977
The Ascent (Voskhozhdeniye) by Larisa Shepitko
Soviet Union

1978
Trout (Las truchas) by José Luis García Sánchez
Spain

Ascensor by Tomas Munoz
Spain

The Words of Max (Las palabras de Max) by Emilio Martínez Lázaro
Spain

1979
David by Peter Lilienthal
West Germany

1980
Heartland by Richard Pearce
United States

Palermo or Wolfsburg (Palermo oder Wolfsburg) by Werner Schroeter
West Germany

1981
Hurry, Hurry! (Deprisa, deprisa) by Carlos Saura
Spain ( with France)

1982
Veronika Voss (Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss) by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
West Germany

1983
Ascendancy by Edward Bennett
United Kingdom

The Beehive (La colmena) by Mario Camus
Spain

1984
Love Streams by John Cassavetes
United States

1985
Die Frau und der Fremde by Rainer Simon
East Germany

Wetherby by David Hare
United Kingdom

1986
Stammheim by Reinhard Hauff
West Germany

1987
The Theme (Tema) by Gleb Panfilov
Soviet Union

1988
Red Sorghum (Hong gao liang) by Zhang Yimou
China

1989
Rain Man by Barry Levinson
United States

1990
Music Box by Costa-Gavras
United States

Larks on a String (Skrivánci na niti) by Jiri Menzel
Czechoslovakia

1991
The House of Smiles (La casa del sorriso) by Marco Ferreri
Italy

1992
Grand Canyon by Lawrence Kasdan
United States

1993
Woman Sesame Oil Maker (Xiang hun nu) by Xie Fei
China

The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) by Ang Lee
Taiwan/United States

1994
In the Name of the Father by Jim Sheridan
UK/Ireland

1995
The Bait (L'appât) by Bertrand Tavernier
France

1996
Sense and Sensibility by Ang Lee
United States/United Kingdom

1997
The People vs. Larry Flynt by Miloš Forman
United States

1998
Central Station (Central do Brasil) by Walter Salles
Brazil (with France)

1999
The Thin Red Line by Terrence Malick
United States

2000
Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson
United States

2001
Intimacy by Patrice Chéreau
UK (with France, Germany, Spain)

2002
Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) by Hayao Miyazaki
Japan

Bloody Sunday by Paul Greengrass
UK/Ireland

2003
In This World by Michael Winterbottom
United Kingdom

2004
Head-On (Gegen die Wand) by Fatih Akin
Germany/Turkey

2005
U-Carmen eKhayelitsha by Mark Dornford-May
South Africa

2006
Grbavica by Jasmila Žbanić
Bosnia and Herzegovina (with Austria, Germany, Croatia)

2007
Tuya's Marriage (Tuya de hun shi) by Wang Quan'an
China

2008
The Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite) by José Padilha
Brazil

2009
The Milk of Sorrow (La teta asustada) by Claudia Llosa
Peru

Rotterdam awards winners since 1995

International Film Festival Rotterdam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:09:16 +0100

1995
Postman by He Jianjun
China

Fuyu no kappa by Kazama Shiori
Japan

Thalassa, Thalassa, Ruckkehr Zum Mmer by Bogdan Dumitrescu
Germany/Romania

1996
Sons by Zhang Yuan
China

Like Grains of Sand by Hasiguchi Ryosuke
Japan

Small Faces by Gillies MacKinnon
United Kingdom

1997
Last Holiday by Amir Karakulov
Kazakhstan

The Day a Pig Fell into the Well by Hung Sang-soo
South Korea

Robinson in Space by Patrick Keiller
United Kingdom

1998
Buttoners by Petr Zelenka
Czech Republic

Giro di lune tra terra e mare by Giuseppe Gaudino
Italy

Die Siebtelbauern by Stefan Ruzowitzky
Austria

1999
The Iron Heel of Oligarchy by Alexander Bashirov
Russia

Plus Qu'hier, Moins Que Demain by Laurent Achard
France

Following by Christopher Nolan
United Kingdom

2000
Suzhou River by Lou Ye
China

Mundo Grúa by Pablo Trapero
Argentina

Bye Bye Blue Bird by Katrin Ottarsdottír
Denmark

2001
Bad Company by Furumaya Tomoyuki
Japan

The Days Between by Maria Speth
Germany

25 Watts by Juan Pablo Rebella & Pablo Stoll
Uruguay

2002
Tussenland by Eugenie Jansen
The Netherlands

Everyday God Kisses Us on the Mouth by Sinişa Dragin
Romania

Wild Bees by Bohdan Sláma
Czech Republic

2003
With Love. Lilya by Larisa Sadilova
Russia

Extraño by Santiago Loza
Argentina

Jealousy Is My Middle Name by Park Chan-ok
South Korea

2004
The Missing by Lee Kang-sheng
Taiwan

Summer in the Golden Valley by Srđan Vuletić
Bosnia-Herzegovina

En Route by Jan Krüger
Germany

2005
Changing Destiny by Daniele Gaglianone
Italy

4 by Ilya Khrzhanovsky
Russia

The Sky Turns by Mercedes Alvarez
Spain

2006
Walking on the Wild Side by Han Jie
China

The Dog Pound by Manuel Nieto Zas
Uruguay/Argentina/Canada/Spain

Old Joy by Kelly Reichardt
United States of America

2007
Love Conquers All by Tan Chui Mui
Malaysia

The Unpolished by Pia Marais
Germany

Bog of Beasts by Claudio Assis
Brazil
AFR (ex aequo) by Morten Hartz Kaplers
Denmark

2008
Go With Peace Jamil by Omar Shargawi
Denmark

Wonderful Town by Aditya Assarat
Thailand

Flower in the Pocket by Liew Seng Tat
Malaysia

2009
Be Calm and Count to Seven by Ramtin Lavafipour
Iran

Breathless by Yang Ik-June
South Korea

Wrong Rosary by Mahmut Fazil Coskun
Turkey

Sundance awards winners since 1982

sundance — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:56:36 +0100

1982

* Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Circle of Power

1985

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Blood Simple
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Seventeen
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Almost You
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - The Killing Floor
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Stranger Than Paradise
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - America and Lewis Hine
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - In Heaven There Is No Beer?
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Kaddish
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Streetwise
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - The Times of Harvey Milk

1986

17 January - 26 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Smooth Talk
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Private Conversations
    * Honorable Mention: Dramatic - Desert Hearts
    * Honorable Mention: Documentary - Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo
    * Special Recognition: Dramatic - Seven Minutes in Heaven

1987

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Waiting for the Moon
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - The Trouble with Dick
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Sherman's March
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - No Picnic
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Chile: When Will It End?
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Working Girls
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Chile: When Will It End?
    * Special Jury Prize for Originality: Dramatic - Sullivan's Pavilion

1988

15 January - 24 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Heat and Sunlight
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Beirut: The Last Home Movie
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Rachel River
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Beirut: The Last Home Movie
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Lemon Sky
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
    * Special Jury Prize for Acting - Viveca Lindfors in Rachel River

1989

20 January - 29 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - True Love
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - For All Mankind
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - sex, lies and videotape
    * Audience Award: Documentary - For All Mankind
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Powwow Highway
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - John Huston

1990

19 January - 27 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Chameleon Street
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - H-2 Worker
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Water and Power
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Houseparty
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Metamorphosis: Man Into Woman
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Longtime Companion
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Berkeley in the Sixties
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Houseparty
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - H-2 Worker
    * Special Jury Recognition: Dramatic - To Sleep With Anger
    * Special Jury Recognition: Documentary - Samsara: Death And Rebirth In Cambodia

1991

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Poison
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - American Dream
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Paris Is Burning
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Privilege
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - American Dream
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - One Cup of Coffee
    * Audience Award: Documentary - American Dream
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Daughters of the Dust
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Christo in Paris
    * Special Jury Recognition - Straight Out Of Brooklyn

1992

19 January - 27 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - In the Soup
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - A Brief History of Time
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Finding Christa
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Zebrahead
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - A Brief History of Time
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - The Waterdance
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Brother's Keeper
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Swoon
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Shoot for the Contents
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - The Waterdance
    * Special Jury Recognition - The Hours and Times
    * Special Jury Recognition - My Crasy Life
    * Special Jury Recognition - Seymour Cassel for his performance in In the Soup

1993

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Ruby in Paradise and Public Access
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Children of Fate
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Silverlake Life: The View From Here
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Fly By Night
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Something Within Me
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - El Mariachi
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Something Within Me
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - An Ambush of Ghosts
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Children of Fate
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Combination Platter
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Silverlake Life: The View From Here
    * Special Jury Prize for a First Feature - Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.
    * Special Jury Prize for Distinction - Lillian
    * Special Jury Prize for Superb Technical Achievement - Earth and the American Dream
    * Special Jury Prize for Merit - Something Within Me

1994

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - What Happened Was
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Freedom on My Mind
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Clerks by Kevin Smith
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Fresh
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Spanking the Monkey
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Hoop Dreams
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Suture
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Colorado Cowboy: The Bruce Ford Story
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - What Happened Was
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Dialogues with Madwomen
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Heart of the Matter
    * Special Jury Recognition for Technical Achievement - Coming Out Under Fire
    * Special Jury Recognition for Technical Acting - Sean Nelson in Fresh
    * Special Jury Recognition for Technical Acting - Alicia Witt in Fun
    * Special Jury Recognition for Technical Acting - Renee Humphrey in Fun

1995

19 January - 29 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - The Brothers McMullen
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Crumb
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Angela
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Black Is...Black Ain't
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Picture Bride
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Ballot Measure 9
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Unzipped
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Angela
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Crumb
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Living in Oblivion
    * Freedom of Expression Award - When Billy Broke His Head...and Other Tales of Wonder
    * Special Jury Recognition - Jupiter's Wife
    * Special Jury Recognition for Directing - Heavy
    * Special Jury Recognition for Directing - Rhythm Thief
    * Special Recognition in Latin Cinema Award - Eagles Don't Hunt Flies
    * Special Mention - Strawberry and Chocolate
    * Special Recognition in Short Filmmaking Award - The Salesman and Other Adventures
    * Special Recognition in Short Filmmaking Award - Tom's Flesh
    * Honorable Mentions - Trevor
    * Honorable Mentions - Nonnie and Alex

1996

18 January - 28 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Welcome to the Dollhouse by Todd Solondz
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - Girls Town
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Cutting Loose
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Care of the Spitfire Grill
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Cutting Loose
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Big Night
    * Freedom of Expression Award - The Celluloid Closet
    * Special Jury Recognition - When We Were Kings
    * Special Jury Recognition - Girls Town
    * Special Jury Recognition - I Shot Andy Warhol
    * Special Recognition in Latin Cinema Award - Madagascar
    * Special Mention - Guantanamera (film)
    * Special Mention - Wild Horses
    * Special Recognition in Short Filmmaking Award - A Small Domain
    * Honorable Mention - Pig!
    * Honorable Mention - Dry Mount

1997

16 January - 26 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Girls Like Us
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Sunday
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer's End
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Hurricane
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Documentary - Licensed to Kill
    * Filmmakers Trophy: Dramatic - In the Company of Men
    * Directing Award: Documentary - Licensed to Kill
    * Directing Award: Dramatic - Hurricane
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Sunday
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Family Name
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - My America ...or Honk if You Love Buddha
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Hurricane
    * Special Jury: Documentary - Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist
    * Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance - The House of Yes
    * Short Filmmakers Award: Honorable Mention - Going All the Way
    * Latin American Cinema Award - Landscapes of Memory
    * Latin American Cinema Award: Honorable Mention - Deep Crimson
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Man About Town
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Birdhouse
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Syphon Gun

1998

15 January - 25 January

* Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Slam

1999

21 January - 31 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - American Movie
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Three Seasons
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Genghis Blues
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Three Seasons
    * Documentary Directing Award - Barbara Sonneborn for Regret to Inform
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Eric Mendelsohn for Judy Berlin
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Emiko Omori for Rabbit in the Moon and Regret to Inform
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Lisa Rinzler for Three Seasons
    * Freedom of Expression Award - The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Frank Whaley for Joe the King
    * Audience Award World Cinema - Run Lola Run and Train of Life

2000

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Long Night's Journey Into Day
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Girlfight and You Can Count on Me
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Dark Days
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Two Family House
    * Documentary Directing Award - Paragraph 175
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Girlfight
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Americano's: Latino Life in The United States
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Committed
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Dark Days
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Kenneth Lonegran for You Can Count on Me
    * Audience Award World Cinema - Saving Grace
    * Special Jury Prize - The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack
    * Special Jury Prize - George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire
    * Special Jury Prize - The Tao of Steve
    * Special Jury Prize - Songcatcher
    * Special Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema - Herod's Law
    * Special Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema - No One Writes to the Colonel
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Five Feet High and Rising
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - The Bats
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Darling International
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - The Drowning Room
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Friday
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Hitch
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Ice Fishing
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - This is for Betsy Hall
    * Short Filmmaking Award: Honorable Mention - Titler

2001

18 January - 28 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Southern Comfort
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - The Believer
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Dogtown and Z-Boys
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Scout's Honor
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
    * World Cinema Audience Award - The Road Home
    * Documentary Directing Award - Stacy Peralta director of Dogtown and Z-Boys
    * Dramatic Directing Award - John Cameron Mitchell director of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Albert Maysles for Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Giles Nuttgens for The Deep End
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Scout's Honor
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Christopher Nolan for Memento
    * Special Jury Prize - Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek for In the Bedroom
    * Special Jury Prize - Children Underground
    * Special Jury Prize - Possible Loves
    * Special Jury Prize - Without a Trace
    * Special Jury Mention - Damned - The Strange World of José Mojica Marins
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Gina, An Actress, Age 29
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Delusions in Modern Primitivism
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Jigsaw Venus
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Metropopular
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Pie Fight '69
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Sweet
    * Short Filmmaking Award - Honorable Mention - Zen and the Art of Landscaping

2002

10 January - 20 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Personal Velocity: Three Portraits
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Real Women Have Curves
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
    * Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Bus 44
    * Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Morning Breath: A Brooklyn Love Story

2003

16 January - 26 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Capturing the Friedmans
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - American Splendor (film)
    * Audience Award: Documentary - My Flesh and Blood
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - The Station Agent
    * Documentary Directing Award - Jonathan Karsh director of My Flesh and Blood
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Catherine Hardwicke for Thirteen (film)
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Stevie
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Quattro Noza
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Terminal Bar

2004

15 January - 25 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - DiG!
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Primer
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Born into Brothels
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Maria Full of Grace
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - The Corporation
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - Seducing Doctor Lewis
    * Documentary Directing Award - Morgan Spurlock director of Super Size Me
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Debra Granik for Down to the Bone
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Imelda
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - November
    * Freedom of Expression Award - Repatriation
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Larry Gross for We Don't Live Here Anymore
    * Special Jury Prize - Farmingville
    * Special Jury Prize - Brother to Brother
    * Special Jury Prize - Vera Farmiga for her performance in Down to the Bone
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - When the Storm Came
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Gowanus, Brooklyn
    * Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking - Tomo
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Curtis
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Harvie Krumpet
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Krumped
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Papillon D’Amour
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Spokane
    * Sundance Online Film Festival Jury Award (Animation) - Bathtime in Clerkenwell
    * Sundance Online Film Festival Jury Award (Short Subject) - Wet Dreams False Images
    * Sundance Online Film Festival Jury Award (New Forms Gallery) - The Dawn at My Back: Memoir of a Texas Upgringing
    * 2004 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - Primer

2005

20 January - 30 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Why We Fight
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Forty Shades of Blue
    * World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary - Shape of the Moon
    * World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic - The Hero
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Murderball
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Hustle & Flow
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - Brothers
    * Documentary Directing Award - Jeff Feuerzeig for The Devil and Daniel Johnston
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Noah Baumbach for The Squid and the Whale
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - The Education of Shelby Knox
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Hustle & Flow
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Noah Baumbach for The Squid and the Whale
    * Special Jury Prize for Editing - Murderball
    * Special Jury Prize - After Innocence
    * Special Jury Prize for Acting - Amy Adams in Junebug
    * Special Jury Prize for Acting - Lou Pucci in Thumbsucker
    * Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision - Miranda July writer, director, and actor in Me and You and Everyone We Know
    * Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision - Rian Johnson director of Brick
    * Special Jury Prize - The Liberace of Baghdad
    * Special Jury Prize - Wall
    * Special Jury Prize - The Forest For the Trees
    * Special Jury Prize - Live-In Maid
    * Special Jury Prize (RU) - Elektra
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Family Portrait
    * Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking - Wasp
    * Shorts Jury Special Recognition - Bullets in the Hood: A Bed-time Story
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - One Weekend A Month
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Small Town Secrets
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Victoria Para Chino
    * 2005 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - Grizzly Man

2006

19 January - 29 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - God Grew Tired of Us
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Quinceañera
    * World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary - In The Pit
    * World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic - 13 Tzameti
    * Audience Award: Documentary - God Grew Tired of Us
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Quinceañera
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - De Nadie
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - No. 2
    * Documentary Directing Award - James Longley director of Iraq in Fragments
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Dito Montiel for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - James Longley for Iraq in Fragments
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Tom Richmond for Right at Your Door
    * Documentary Film Editing - Iraq in Fragments
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Hilary Brougher for Stephanie Daley
    * Special Jury Prize - American Blackout
    * Special Jury Prize - A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (for Best Ensemble Performance)
    * Special Jury Prize - In Between Days (for Independent Vision)
    * Special Jury Prize - Into Great Silence
    * Special Jury Prize - Dear Pyongyang
    * Special Jury Prize - Eve & the Fire Horse
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Bugcrush
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - The Wraith of Cobble Hill
    * Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking - The Natural Route
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Before Dawn
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Preacher With an Unknown God
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Undressing My Mother
    * 2006 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - The House of Sand

2007

18 January - 28 January

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Padre Nuestro
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Dramatic - Adama Meshuga'at (Sweet Mud)
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary - Vores lykkes fjender (Enemies of Happiness)
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Hear and Now
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Grace is Gone
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - In the Shadow of the Moon
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - Once
    * Documentary Directing Award - Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine for War/Dance
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Jeffrey Blitz for Rocket Science
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Heloisa Passos for Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Benoit Debie for Joshua
    * Documentary Film Editing - Hibah Sherif Frisina, Charlton McMillan, and Michael Schweitzer for Nanking
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Dramatic - James C. Strouse for Grace Is Gone
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic Performance - Jess Weixler in Teeth and Tamara Podemski in Four Sheets to the Wind
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Chris Smith, director of The Pool
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - No End in Sight
    * Special Jury Prize: World Cinema Dramatic - L' Héritage (The Legacy)
    * Special Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary - Hot House
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Everything Will Be OK
    * Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking - The Tube With a Hat
    * Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking - Death to the Tinman, The Fighting Cholitas, Men Understand Each Other Better (Mardha Hamdigar Ra Behtar Mifahmand), Motodrom, Spitfire 944, t.o.m.
    * Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Freeheld
    * 2007 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - Dark Matter

2008

    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Trouble the Water
    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Frozen River
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary - Man On Wire
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Dramatic - King of Ping Pong (Ping Pongkingen)
    * Audience Award: Documentary - Fields of Fuel
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - The Wackness
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - Man on Wire
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - Captain Abu Raed
    * Directing Award: Documentary - American Teen
    * Directing Award: Dramatic - Ballast
    * World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary - Durakovo: The Village of Fools (Durakovo: Le Village Des Fous)
    * World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic - Mermaid (Rusalka)
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Sleep Dealer
    * World Cinema Screenwriting Award - I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster (J'ai Toujours Rêvé d'Être un Gangster)
    * Documentary Editing Award - Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
    * World Cinema Documentary Editing Award - The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Patti Smith: Dream of Life
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Ballast
    * World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary - Recycle
    * World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic - King of Ping Pong (Ping Pongkingen)
    * World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Blue Eyelids (Párpados Azules)
    * Special Jury Prize: Documentary - The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic, The Spirit of Independence - Anywhere, USA
    * Special Jury Prize: Dramatic, Work by an Ensemble Cast - Choke
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - My Olympic Summer
    * Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking - Sikumi (On the Ice)
    * International Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking - Soft
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Aquarium
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - August 15th
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - La Corona (The Crown)
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Oiran Lyrics
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Spider
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Suspension
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - W.
    * 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - Sleep Dealer

2009

    * Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Precious
    * Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - We Live in Public
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Dramatic - The Maid (La Nana)
    * Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary - Rough Aunties
    * Audience Award: Dramatic - Precious
    * Audience Award: Documentary - The Cove
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic - An Education
    * World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - Afghan Star
    * Dramatic Directing Award - Cary Joji Fukunaga for Sin Nombre
    * Documentary Directing Award - Natalia Almada for El General
    * World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic - Oliver Hirschbiegel for Five Minutes of Heaven
    * World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary - Havana Marking for Afghan Star
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic - Adriano Goldman for Sin Nombre
    * Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Bob Richman for The September Issue
    * World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic - John De Borman for An Education
    * World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary - John Maringouin for Big River Man
    * Documentary Film Editing - Karen Schmeer for Sergio
    * World Cinema Documentary Editing Award - Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros for Burma VJ
    * Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Dramatic - Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi for Paper Heart
    * World Cinema Screenwriting Award - Guy Hibbert for Five Minutes of Heaven
    * Special Jury Prize for Originality, World Cinema Drama - Louise-Michel
    * Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Documentary - Tibet in Song
    * Special Jury Prize for Acting, World Cinema - Catalina Saavedra for The Maid (La Nana)
    * Special Jury Prize, U.S. Documentary - Good Hair
    * Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence - Humpday
    * Special Jury Prize for Acting - Mo'Nique for Precious
    * Jury Prize, U.S. Short Filmmaking - Short Term 12
    * Jury Prize, International Short Filmmaking - Lies (Sweden)
    * Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking - Omlet
    * 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Prize - Adam

ORDINARY PEOPLE wins at FilmFestival Cottbus

editor — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:15:03 +0100

Award-winners at 19th FilmFestival Cottbus

ORDINARY PEOPLE | OBICNI LJUDI from Serbia is the winner of 19th FilmFestival Cottbus: The International Jury awards director Vladimir Perisic as well as the producers Anthony Doncque and Milena Poylo with the LUBINA - the Main Prize for Best Film. The award is endowed with 18.000 Euro, donated by Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten (GWFF). ORDINARY PEOPLE is about a special operations unit in an unnamed war-zone, who is killing civilians. In its statement the jury points out the „extraordinary artistic value of the film, including all the components of a really great work: a strong story, outstanding director's and DP's work, wonderful acting and the astonishingly refined construction of the film".

The same film also received the LUBINA for an Outstanding Actor: Relja Popovic from Serbia convinced the jury portraying a young soldier, who naivly joins up an elite unit and is ordered to commit war crimes. The jury is honouring Popovic's "minimalistic and instinctive way of acting, providing us with profound insight into the inner world of the main character". His female counterpart Anna Karczmarczyk from Poland takes home the LUBINA/Award for an Outstanding Actress. The young Polish plays a school-girl who wants to belong the the popular MALL GIRLS | GALERIANKI and pays a high price for her newfound popularity. The jury is impressed by Karczmarczyk's „ability to show us the powerful evolution of the character from a kid to a woman in a great growing up story".

Two films and three directors are sharing the Special Prize for Best Director, endowed with 7.500 Euro: Zvonimir Juric and Goran Devic from Croatia for THE BLACKS | CRNCI and Aleksey Mizgirev from Russia for BUBEN BARABAN. "The two excellent films have different approaches by their directors", the jury explained their choice. "One of them - BUBEN BARABAN - is an example of classical Chekhovian style cinema, revealing the story by focusing on the main character; while the second film -THE BLACKS - is a brave experimental puzzle, showing us outstanding ensemble work by the actors. The prize is donated by Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg RBB. The International Film Guide Inspiration Award goes to Elchin Musaoglu from Azerbaijan for THE 40TH DOOR | 40-CI QAPI. The International Festival Jury consisted of Pinar Erincin (Germany), Kira Saksaganskaya (Russia), Srdan Golubovic (Serbia), Roman Gutek (Poland) and Robert Stadlober (Germany).

The Jury of the Short Feature Competition voted for Pici Papai's COMING OUT | VALLOMAS as winner of the Main Prize, endowed with 2.500 Euro. Sasa Ban's INTERIOR, APARTMENT, NIGHT | INTERJER, STAN, NOC receives the Special Prize. The short feature THE PALM LINES | PALMELE gets a Special Mention. The Jury Short Feature Competition consisted of Milena Gregor and Robert Gwisdek from Germany and Jan Naszewski (Poland).

The jury of the Prize for Best Debut Film decided in favour of Katarzyna Roslaniec' drama MALL GIRLS.

The Croatian war drama THE BLACKS | CRNCI is the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize.

The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury goes to Aleksey Mizgirev's BUBEN BARABAN, with a Special Mention for Elchin Musaoglu's THE 40th DOOR | 40-CI QAPI.

The Jury Féderation Internationale des Ciné-Clubs FICC awards the Don Quijote Prize to Artan Minarolli for the Albanian drama ALIVE!, Aleksey Mizgirev's BUBEN BARABAN receives a Special Mention.

The DIALOGUE-Prize for Intercultural Communication, donated by German Foreign Ministry and chosen by the Dialogue-Jury, is for director Mira Fornay's Czech-Slovak co-production FOXES | LISTICKY.

Ardak Amirkulov´s new adaption of Chenghiz Aitmatov´s classic GOODBYE, GULSARY! | KOSH BOL, GULSARY! received the Audience Award.

The awards were presented on the evening before the last festival day. The 19th FilmFestival Cottbus will end on Sunday, November 15th, 2009. A final press release containing attendance figures will be sent on Sunday, November 15th, 2009.

http://www.filmfestivalcottbus.de/