From the "On The Scene" Archives:
ON THE SCENE Articles Listed Alphabetically
NY Film Fest Report: For Whom The Film Tolls: Mr. Jones, The Toll Collector, And Getting Distant
In another report from the 2003 New York Film Festival, which continues through Sunday in Manhattan, Brandon Judell catches up with festival programmer Kent Jones and also chats with Rachel Johnson, director of the short film, "The Toll Collector." Additionally, Judell weighs in with his thoughts on two festival films, Jafar Panahi's "Crimson Gold" which he likes, and Nuri Bilge Ceylon's "Distant," which he doesn't. (October 14, 2003)
NY Latino Fest Honors "Hunting," "OT" and "Salsero"
The 4th New York International Latino Film Festival concluded on Sunday with an awards ceremony as the event came to an end. Joseph Menendez' "Hunting of Man" won the event's top award, the prize for best picture. Described as "a cautionary tale about a man who tries to keep his volatile kid brother from further advancing a vicious cycle of vengeance," the film was written and directed by Menendez. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 31, 2003)
NY Latino Fest to Open 5th Annual Event with "Argentina"
The fifth annual New York International Latino Film Festival will kick off on July 27th at the United Artists Union Square Theatre in Manhattan with the U.S. premiere of "Imagining Argentina," starring Antonio Banderas, Emma Thompson, and Ruben Blades. The film, directed by Christopher Hampton, focuses on a family living under Argentina's oppressive military dictatorship during the 1970s. Over 60 films, including several U.S. and world premieres, will be screened at this year's festival, which runs through August 1st. Sandra Ogle reports. (July 13, 2004)
NY Latino Film Festival to Open With Leguizamo's "Undefeated" and Close With "Rhythm of the Saints"
John Leguizamo's directorial debut, "Undefeated" will open the 4th annual New York International Latino Film Festival July 22nd in Manhattan, ushering in a six day program of over fifty films. Leguizamo stars in the film as a boxer from Queens who is caught between the trappings of his new success and his former life as a poor, first-generation Puerto Rican-American.The event will close with the New York premiere of "Rhythm of the Saints" on July 27th. Brian Brooks reports. (July 09, 2003)
NY Shorts Announces Awards
The first annual Shorts International Film Festival announces the its awards. (November 06, 1997)
NY Underground Crawls Under the Skin
Touted as more Todd Haynes than John Waters, the 6th NYUFF closed last Sunday, March 14 with the right role model in mind. Overall, the films this year lived up to that high standard. They were smarter, more conceptually challenging and less juvenile than in years past. After wading through as many of the 120+ films as is humanly possible, there were several entries that effectively crawled under my skin. Aaron Krach reports. (March 22, 1999)
NYC Short Film Fest to Debut at Sony Theaters
indieWIRE co-founder Eugene Hernandez reports on the formation of the First Annual Shorts International Film Festival founded by Lisa Walborsky and Jeremiah Newton. The fest's advisory board includes: Joel & Ethan Coen, Jim Jarmusch, Ang Lee, Susan Seidelman, Bob Hawk, and Annette Insdorf. (July 22, 1997)
NYCFF Winners; St. Louis Kicks Off 7th Fest
Today's briefs include the winners from the New York Comedy Film Festival, including "Waking Ned Devine," and the lineup from the 7th Annual St. Louis Film Festival. (October 27, 1998)
NYFF '05 Sets Slate; "Caché" Closing And "Pluto" Centerpiece at Fest
The New York Film Festival returns for a 43rd edition this fall offering a program of 24 features on its roster, in addition to a number of special screenings. After opening with the previously announced "Good Night, And Good Luck" by George Clooney, the festival will continue through October 9, 2005 when it will close with Michael Haneke's "Caché" (Hidden), a hit at this year's Cannes Film Festival where it was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Neil Jordan's "Breakfast on Pluto," starring Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite who moves to London in search of a lost parent (also from Sony Classics) is this year's Centerpiece screening at the NYFF. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 18, 2005)
NYFF '99 ON THE SCENE: Egoyan's Journey, Canadian Celeb Closes Out 37th NYFF
"It seems like I was just here yesterday," says Canadian director Atom Egoyan, whose relationship with the Film Society of Lincoln Center goes back to 1987's "Family Viewing" which screened at the New Directors/New Films series, and has repeated 6 times since, including 1997's New York Film Festival Centerpiece selection, "The Sweet Hereafter" and this year's Closing Night film, "Felicia's Journey." Anthony Kaufman reports from Closing Night at the NYFF, the after-party at Gabriel's, and Egoyan's press conference where he and actor Bob Hoskins spoke about the film, adapting the novel, and young girls. (October 12, 1999)
NYFF '99 ON THE SCENE: Sisters Campion Blow Spiritual "Smoke"
For her new film "Holy Smoke," which screened over the weekend at the New York Film Festival, director Jane Campion teams up with her sister, co-writer Anna Campion, to tell a story about sex, ego and power in the deserted heartland of Australia. Starring Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel, the movie, says older sister Anna, "is really about people's journeys of the heart." Andrea Meyer reports from the press conference where the Campion sisters spoke about the themes, casting, and working methods that led to their first feature film together. (October 11, 1999)
NYFF '99 ON THE SCENE: The Bad Boy of French Cinema, Leos Carax
When French director Leos Carax walked into the New York Film Festival press conference for his film "Pola X," it was clear that he digs his bad-boy image. Dressed in black, with a sullen look on his face, Carax smoked one cigarette after another, while defying the audience to question the film he clearly had no desire to explain or defend. Andrea Meyer reports on the still enfant terrible of French Cinema -- the enigmatic maker of "Lovers on the Bridge" -- a man who may have traveled to Hell and back. (October 06, 1999)
NYFF '99 ON THE SCENE: Vive l'Avant-Garde! Baldwin and Beavers Return
One of the highest profile venues remaining for avant-garde films, the Views From the Avant-Garde section of the New York Film Festival, screens this weekend Oct. 9-10, including two programs of short films and two programs devoted to individual filmmakers, this year Craig Baldwin, of "Tribulation 99" fame, and acclaimed 70's artist Robert Beavers. Brian Frye previews the selection, highlighting other works such as Phil Solomon's breathtakingly beautiful "Twilight Psalm II: Walking Distance" and "the greatest discovery of the festival," Luis Recoder's brilliant "Moebius Strip" (October 08, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: "Set Me Free" Paints Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl
Léa Pool's graceful, dear "Set Me Free" ("Emporte-moi") is that rare film that remembers that feelings are also about touch. Exquisitely tactile, its images begin in the airless blue swim of watery depths. Acquired by Merchant-Ivory Productions, Pool's sixth feature is reminiscent of their sorrowfully underappreciated "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries." It's a gentle, cumulative picture of "almost" 14-year-old Hanna, but also a portrait of the artist as a young girl, an unformed creature as likely to be influenced by a lost pup as by repeated viewings of Godard's "Vivre sa vie." Ray Pride reviews. (October 07, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: A Haunting, Rambling Vision of Proust's "Time Regained"
For ardent aficionados of the French novelist Marcel Proust, Raoul Rúiz's latest epic will seem like a glorious and much treasured gift. Unfortunately for those unfamiliar with the author of such works as "A Remembrance of Things Past," words such as "confusing," "incoherent" and "rambling" will likely dash about your head as you watch. David Bourgeois reviews the nearly 3-hour film, starring such notables as Emmanuelle Béart, Catherine Deneuve, and John Malkovich. (September 30, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: Devor Running for Laughs in Noir Ode "Woman Chaser"
A stealth entry in The New York Film Festival, Robinson Devor's "The Woman Chaser" has its world premiere Friday tonight. The black-and-white American comedy -- still in search of a distributor at press time -- is a somewhat refreshing take on the soon-to-be-exhausted genre of "films about filmmaking." Based on a 1960 pulp book by hard-boiled Charles Willeford, it stars a perfectly cast Patrick Warburton (Puddy from "Seinfeld") as the pot-bellied Richard Hudson, a middle-aged, slick-talking car salesman who dreams of doing something "artistic." David Bourgeois reviews. (October 08, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: "Dogma" Delivers Comic Powerhouse in Catholic, Corporate Context
Kevin Smith's "Dogma," subject of a bit of uproar even before its Cannes debut, will be talked about. But in the beginning, there are his words. Talk, talk, talk: Smith is determined to be our Eric Rohmer, but with better "fuck-yous." "Dogma" is a raging comic powerhouse, filled with the most basic of metaphysical contemplation and some of the dirtiest jokes in a movie this year. Ray Pride reviews. (October 06, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: "Felicia's Journey" Proves Impressive Trip
Adding another smart, impressive film to his growing repertoire, director Atom Egoyan has brought a second, haunting novel to the screen; this time it's "Felicia's Journey," a portrait of stoic British gentleman Joseph Hilditch (Bob Hoskins), who befriends a young girl while hiding a dark secret. It's Hoskins' brilliant, understated performance that keeps the story from becoming just another sex, lies and videotape kind of film about a man who can't come to grips with his sexual frustration. David Bourgeois reviews the Artisan release and NYFF closer, what he calls one of the year's best. (October 12, 1999)
NYFF '99 REVIEW: "Holy Smoke" Unravels in Campions' Confused Cult
Usually when you think of the words "cult," what comes to mind is a shaggy-haired anti-government extremist preaching to a vapid crowd or a large flock of fruit-punch drinking loonies in a sun-scorched desert. Apparently, director Jane Campion has a totally different understanding. For her, the words encompass visions of a sultry, sexy Kate Winslet prancing about in chaotic India, espousing the peace-and-love beliefs of a seemingly innocuous guru -- that is, until her family has called upon the services of the world's foremost deprogramming expert (Harvey Keitel). David Bourgeois reviews the Miramax release. (October 11, 1999)
NYFF '99: Bad-Boy Harmony Korine Gets Dogmatic with "julien donkey-boy"
After making his directorial debut in 1997 with the highly idiosyncratic "Gummo," 25-year-old bad boy Harmony Korine is back at the New York Film Festival with "julien donkey-boy." His latest effort is a logical extension to its predecessor -- another free-form portrait of urban anomie -- but this time, Korine has added an extra twist: he's made the film under the auspices of Dogma '95. Stan Schwartz reports from the festival where the iconoclastic Korine explained his personal take on the Danish collective's Vow of Chastity and his filmmaking process. (September 29, 1999)
NYFF '99: Famed Brit director Mike Leigh Subverts the Period Piece with "Topsy-Turvy"
Fans of Mike Leigh will be surprised by his newest film, "Topsy-Turvy," a joyous biographical look at Gilbert and Sullivan, the 19th century composer/librettist duo who put English comic opera on the map for all time. In its depiction of the creation and rehearsal of the first production of "The Mikado," "Topsy-Turvy" couldn't be more different from what we've come to expect from the maker of "Naked" and "Secrets and Lies." The new film features a large cast of Leigh regulars, lush period costumes, and exuberant musical sequences. Stan Schwartz reports from the press conference, where Leigh spoke about his persistent directorial approach and subverting the period film. (October 01, 1999)
NYFF '99: Miyazaki, God of Anime, Comes to America with "Mononoke"
The sage-like, white-haired man of few words that is the Japanese anime god Hayao Miyazaki creates elegant, almost Zen-like films "to please the hearts of my 10 year-old friends," as he modestly declared during a New York Film Festival press conference in support of his latest feature, "Princess Mononoke," an epic-caliber fantasia about 14th-century humans at war with animals and forest gods over diminishing natural resources. Andy Bailey reports on the legendary artist. (September 24, 1999)
NYFF '99: No Tears for First-timer Kimberly Peirce, Director of "Boys Don't Cry"
When Kimberly Peirce first read about the story of Brandon Teena, a 21-year-old girl raped and murdered for passing as a boy, she was captivated, and knew she had to tell the story that wasn't being told by the tabloid press and in straight-forward documentaries. Peirce felt the best way to do the story and Brandon justice was to "get inside the character" and make a fictional film. The result, five and a half years later, is her stunning first feature "Boys Don't Cry," which premieres at the New York Film Festival tonight. Andrea Meyer talks to the talented new director about research, casting, and the editing and test screening process. (October 01, 1999)
NYFF '99: "Rien Sur Robert"-Fairly Uninteresting and Hackneyed Formula Film
Many recent French films seem to follow a pretty typical plotline, involving self-important people having meaningless sex. Unfortunately Pascal Bonitzer's film "Rien Sur Robert" doesn't shatter this cliched story line, ending up a fairly uninteresting, hackneyed view of the sexual pursuits of a group of not very smart artists. David Bourgeois reviews. (September 27, 1999)
NYFF '99: Smith Unveils "Dogma" and Discusses Exploration of Faith; Hundreds Protest
Kevin Smith's self-described comedic fantasy, "Dogma," had its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival last night. Having spent months documenting the growing controversy following Disney and Miramax' decision to drop the movie, as well as the acid attacks from William Donahue of the Catholic League, Eugene Hernandez reports from an opening night filled with hundreds of protestors and a star-studded post-screening party on the Upper West Side, as well as Smith's press conference, where the New Jersey director invoked the controversy surrounding the Brooklyn Museum of Art and his own Christian faith. (October 05, 1999)
NYFF '99: The Dangers of Intuition, the Poetry of Claire Denis
When Claire Denis remakes a classic, you know it will be unlike any version you've seen before. Best known for such provocative films as "Chocolat" and "I Can't Sleep," the feisty French director tends to eschew formal narrative structure in favor of a more sensual, intuitive approach. The result is a kind of visual poetry that tells evocative stories with a jarring, yet humanist touch. "I know it's dangerous," she said at a NYFF press conference on Friday, when asked why her latest film "Beau Travail" had such a flimsy narrative, "it's frightening, but that's the way I like to tell a story." Andrea Meyer reports. (September 28, 1999)
NYFF Avant-Garde Views, 5 Years and Counting
The New York Film Festival takes the old-school avant-garde seriously. And in the wake of the digital revolution, that's a lot more than can be said for most festivals these days. Last weekend, the NYFF presented "Views from the Avant-Garde," a festival sidebar curated by Gavin Smith and Mark McElhatten. For five years now, Smith and McElhatten have offered the more adventurous festival-goers their singular version of the movies. Easily the highest-profile screening of avant-garde films in the United States, it's a must-see for devotees. No one could accuse the programmers of pandering to their audience. "Views from the Avant-Garde" indisputably reflects their very particular tastes, and this year's program was more hermetic than ever. The series included 29 films presented in five programs over two days. As in previous years, the films spanned an impressive range of formats, from Super-8 to 35mm. (October 19, 2001)
NYFF On The Scene: "Public Housing" in "Washington Square"
Frequent indieWIRE contributor Andrea Meyer attended the New York Film Festival press screenings of Fred Weisman's new documentary, "Public Housing" and Agnieszka Holland ("Europa, Europa")'s latest effort, "Washington Square" and reports of the films and the press conferences that followed. (October 03, 1997)
NYFF Press Conference Report-"Love and Death on Long Island"
At the 1997 New York Film Festival, indieWIRE is presenting reports from filmmaker press conferences. The following one is with "Love and Death on Long Island" director Richard Kwietniowski. (September 29, 1997)
NYFF Revels in Backlash Against the Backlash; Gus on "Elephant"; and a Wondrous "Young Adam"
The Film Society of Lincoln Center finds a backlash against the backlash, with a smooth start to the 2003 New York Film Festival. Although many directors couldn't make the trip, Gus Van Sant was in town to talk about his Cannes winner "Elephant," including the infamous same-sex kiss. And a look at the stellar performances in "Young Adam." Brandon Judell reports in his second diary installment from the New York Film Festival. (October 09, 2003)
NYFF To Spotlight New Jaoui, Almodovar, & Payne Features
Autumn may still seem like a while off, but some details of the 42nd-annual New York Film Festival were announced Friday by the chairman of the festival's selection committee, Richard Pena. Agnes Jaoui's "Comme une Image" (Look at Me) will open NYFF on October 1, with the latest films from indie stalwarts Pedro Almodovar and Alexander Payne also set for spotlight screenings. Brian Brooks reports. (July 26, 2004)
NYFF'99 ON THE SCENE: The Documentary Side of Things: Lanzmann's Powerful Missing Piece
In addition to the usual fare of fiction films, this year's New York Film Festival offers some documentary work. Most notably, "A Visitor From the Living," Claude Lanzmann's fascinating documentary about Maurice Rossel, the Swiss head of an International Red Cross delegation sent in June 1944 to inspect the ghetto at Theresienstadt. It is one of the most subtly frightening films one could hope to see. Stan Schwartz looks at this unrelenting film, taken from footage Lanzmann shot for his landmark 1985 documentary, "Shoah." (October 07, 1999)
NYLGFF Goes International in Tenth Year
The New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, June 4 -14, by shifting the focus towards international fare. Nearly half of the scheduled features are from outside the United States including films from India, Mali, Guinea, Korea and The Philippines. The Sundance Screenwriting Award winning, "High Art," by Lisa Cholodenko is opening the festival and the premiere of David Moreton's, "Edge of Seventeen," will close the fest. (May 12, 1998)
NYLGFF Wrap-Up: Art & Politics Collide in Best Films
You know we live in strange (and wonderful?) times when a film festival features a full-fledged, if amateur porn film and receives little, if any, extra attention for doing it. During the recent New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, which concluded it's 10 day run on June 13, NYLGFF played a home-made, transgender porn film called "Alley of The Tranny Boys." Director Christopher Lee won't be winning any awards for helming this 50-minute video, but he should be commended for offering more information about female to male transsexuals than a viewer could learn in a hundred conventional documentaries. The most shocking revelation is how easily transsexuals have appropriated mainstream culture's standard sexual fetishes. As a film, "The Tranny Boys" crossed several lines at once: erotic, informative and avante garde. It was at this same crossroads of art and politics that the best films in the festival could be found. While most of the films, videos and panels fell short of such mind-expanding significance, there were enough striking successes to please the most jaded New York audience. (June 21, 1999)
NYU Announces Wasserman Winners
The 56th Annual First Run Festival culminated on Saturday, with the presentation of the 1998 Wasserman Awards for outstanding filmmaking among undergraduate and graduate filmmaking students at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In addition, two student screenwriters were honored with the New York Picture Company Awards... (April 06, 1998)
NYU Kicks Off New Fest Dedicated To Women Filmmakers
"Fusion: A Celebration of Female Filmmakers," a new festival highlighting the past, present, and future of women filmmakers, debuted last night at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The three-day festival is spotlighting the work of women filmmakers at NYU as well as in the industry as a whole, with a focus on the two roles where women are least represented: director and cinematographer. Two panels of industry professionals are the highlight of the festival with high-profile participants including directors Julie Taymor ("Frida"), Rebecca Miller ("Personal Velocity"), Chris Hegedus ("Startup.com"), and cinematographer Ellen Kuras ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). Rania Richardson reports. (March 05, 2004)
NYU Showcases the Works of Student Filmmakers Worldwide
From October 25th through 31st, NYU held its 6th Tisch School of the Arts International Student Film Festival. The event successfully showed over 100 documentary, narrative, and experimental films. NYU faculty members are in charge of this event, which happens every other year. The student shorts that competed in the festival came from universities in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Croatia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey. Ali Gitlow reports. (November 06, 2003)
NYUFF Announces Key Films For 10th Anniversary Year
The New York Underground Film Festival announced some key events for its 10th anniversary festival, slated for March 5-11 at NYC's Anthology Film Archives. "The Weather Underground" will open the fest, "Northwest" will close it, and in between will be a screening of the controversial "Chicken Hawk." Wendy Mitchell reports. (February 06, 2003)
Oberhausen To Present 375 Films During 50th Anniversary Fest
The world's oldest short film festival, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, will kick off its 50th anniversary event on Thursday, running through May 4 in Oberhausen, Germany. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will attend the grand opening along with filmmakers including Wim Wenders and Romuald Karmakar. During the festival, organizers will screen about 375 films, up from last year's 360. Wendy Mitchell reports. (April 27, 2004)
October and Rohmer; Next Wave's "Following"; The 24 Hour Festival; and Air Canada is Back
October Films Grabs New Rohmer Movie; Kusturica Picture Also Nabbed; Nolan's Low Budget "Following" Positioned to Pop; Rogers TV Offers All Festival, All The Time; Air Canada Back in the Air (September 17, 1998)
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