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Better citizenship through AFM

Stand Up, Be Counted: Grassroots Docs Warn of Flawed Electronic Voting Systems

With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, a crop of documentaries are collectively trying to get a message across that has largely been passed over by the mainstream media--your vote might not actually be counted. Or it could be counted several times over, depending on which county you're...

Sixth High Falls Film Festival to Open with "Copying Beethoven"

Women will again take center stage at the 6th High Falls Film Festival (November 8 - 13) in Rocherster, NY, opening with Agnieszka Holland's "Copying Beethoven" starring Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Holland as well as actress Famke Janssen (featured in festival film "The Treatment") and producer Lauren Shuler Donner ("X-Men") will be the recipients of the festival's Susan B. Anthony "Failure is Impossible" Award, which honors women in the film industry "who have persevered in their careers and triumphed over difficulties." Also taking honors is Telluride Film Festival co-founder Stella Pence, who will receive High Falls' first Stanton Award. O...

Oscar Consideration for Animated Feature Deadline Nov. 1

The deadline for the Animated Feature Film category for the 79th Academy Awards is fast approaching. To qualify, filmmakers must submit entry forms and supporting material to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences by 5pm PST Wednesday, November 1. The deadline to submit accompanying prints...

Six Selected for Academy's 2006 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowships

Six new screenwriters, two who wrote collaboratively, have been selected as recipients of the 21st Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Each writer or writing team will receive the first installment of the prestigious fellowship's $30,000 prize money at a gala dinner in Beverly Hills on November 16. This year's recipients are: Alfred E. Carpenter and Mark A. Matusof for "38 Mercury"; Arthur M. Jolly for "The Free Republic of Bobistan"; Stephanie Lord for "Palau Rain"; Josh D. Schorr for "10 Day Contract"; and Scott K. Simonsen for "Tides of Summer." The winners were se...

Avignon/New York Fest to Fete John Turturro

Actor/writer/director John Turturro will participate in a tribute to his work at the 12th annual Avignon/New York Film Festival. Mr. Turturro will receive the 1st Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cinema Award for Independent Cinema, which consists of samples of vintages from the famous French wine region for the next ten years. The line up for the festival's 12th event in New York (Avignon/New York is the American version of the 24-year-old Avignon Film Festival in Provence) includes premieres of 20 new features, documentaries and shorts from the U.S. and Europe. Turturro's "Romance and Cigarettes," will close the festival, which runs November 15 - 19 at ...

The Guardian Interview: Mike Figgis

Mike Figgis has lost his notebook. His big night, a live show featuring "digital postcards" of the capital made by seven filmmakers, is less than a week away and the notepad contains all his ideas for the project. As if that's not enough, his filmmakers have yet to deliver the goods. "I don't foresee getting much sleep between now and Friday," says the director, sitting in the London offices of his production company. With his necktie, fuzz of hair and T-shirt bearing the legend "Godard Is God," Figgis is looking very much the bohemian auteur. "Although I promised not to harass the filmmakers on content, I think it's fair to harass them on de...

A Few Great Pumpkins—Fourth Night: The Innocents

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