From the "On The Scene" Archives:
ON THE SCENE Articles Listed Alphabetically
"Off The Map" Set to Open Florida Film Fest
The Florida Film Festival will kick off its 2004 event tomorrow night in Orlando with a screening of Campbell Scott's "Off The Map." The event will open at the popular Enzian Theater, the only full-time, nonprofit alternative cinema in central Florida. A highlight of the successful regional fest is its solid annual American Independent Competition that includes narrative and documentary features, as well as dramatic, doc, and animated short films. Eugene Hernandez reports. (March 04, 2004)
On Screen and In a New City, Austin Embraces The Pierson Family
On the first day of the SXSW Film Festival and Conference earlier this month, John and Janet Pierson welcomed a few friends to their new home in Austin, TX. The afternoon gathering has become a regular event for some of their friends in Austin. Bob Berney from Newmarket dropped in for one of the Pierson's occasional cocktail hours, Variety's Dana Harris also visited. After a year living in Fiji showing free movies at the 180 Meridian Cinema on the island of Taveuni, John Pierson and his family returned to their home north of New York City for a brief period. But in August they packed their bags for new digs in Austin, a city that played an important role in Pierson's early career. Eugene Hernandez reports. (March 21, 2005)
On the Final Weekend: Awards, A Big Party and Wong Kar Wai Contemplates "2046"
The 57th Cannes Film Festival closed with a bang this weekend, following Saturday's awards ceremony, MGM's multi-million dollar party that night and a full-day of screenings on Sunday. On Saturday evening, festivalgoers gathered in the Palais des Festivals here in Cannes for the fest's awards ceremony, with the program held in the Lumiere Theater and simultaneously broadcast in the adjacent Debussy Theater. According to some attendees early Saturday, Wong Kar Wai's "2046" was a front-runner for the Palme d'Or, even though the film screened to mixed reactions on Thursday night. After the film, jury president Quentin Tarantino partied into the night at the "2046" bash on the Majestic beach, perhaps adding to the speculation that the film might win a prize. Eugene Hernandez reports from Cannes. (May 24, 2004)
On the Industry Radar; Woodstock Rocks Music and Celebrities in Year Three
Most third-year regional film festivals cannot count on an array of the film world's A-listers scurrying through local haunts, attending screenings, participating in panels, or rockin' out at parties worthy of the Croisette, Yorkville, Park City, or Potsdamer Platz. To be fair, Woodstock, NY, has some innate advantages. Its community unabashedly caters to creativity, and it has the money to indulge the vicinity's aesthetics and eccentricities. The lush mountainous terrain is a natural oasis for beleaguered New Yorkers eager for a weekend getaway. So the Woodstock Film Festival is quite a draw, and its solid line-up attracts a broad spectrum of the New York film community to the enclave that one participant called "the world's most famous small town." indieWIRE editor-in-chief Eugene Hernandez and associate editor Brian Brooks report from Woodstock. (September 25, 2002)
On The Scene at Sundance
indieWIRE encounters filmmaker Tamra Davis who is praising Jane C. Wagner and Tina DiFelicianonio's competition documentary, "Girls Like Us". (Sundance Film Festival) (January 18, 1997)
On The Scene at SXSW; Hernandez and Ochs Win Top Narrative and Doc Prizes
Mike Jones went to SXSW, and all we got was this excellent report on the festival. Winners, losers, and a nice wrap up to the annual Austin, Texas film event. (March 18, 1998)
One Month, 120 Film Fest Days: A Guide to June's U.S. Festival Frenzy
Nearly every single day this month a notable film festival is underway somewhere in the United States. Over the years June has emerged as a key festival month, welcoming international events in big cities like Seattle and Los Angeles, queer fests in San Francisco and New York, a solid southern event in Atlanta, and numerous weekend festivals in resort towns like Nantucket, Newport and Provincetown. That's more than 120 film festival days packed into just one month. Eugene Hernandez reports on a busy month for fests. (June 03, 2005)
onedotzero, UK's Digital Fest Wows, Flutters and Flares
The world is finally beginning to get its collective head around the concept of digital film festivals. -- cities as diverse as Rotterdam, Dublin and Austin are now getting in on the act. But London's onedotzero is one of the leading digital festivals and its third iteration, onedotzero3 was the biggest, buzziest and busiest yet. London's Steve Boxer reports on the 10-day program, featuring works of Chris Cunningham, Grant Gee, and newcomers like Andy Martin, and collectives OS2, ISO and Film Unit AV (June 01, 1999)
Online Distributors and Digital Technologies Heighten Awareness of Sundance 2000 Short Films
With the emergence of new online outlets for short films and animation, short-subject work is widely expected to be a high-profile aspect of next month's Sundance Film Festival. With 2,000 entries for the 2000 Festival, short films are on the minds of many as the festival approaches. Eugene Hernandez talks with Sundance programmer Trevor Groth, and representatives from a handful of online distributors. The complete Sundance 2000 Shorts lineup is also available now here at indieWIRE.com. (December 09, 1999)
Opening Night at Sundance
For the first time in years, Thursday night's Salt Lake City gala opening of the Sundance Film Festival moved from it's usual digs at the Crossroads Mall (right next to the food court), to the grandeur of palatial Abravanal Hall. Rather than having to stagger screenings for 3 smaller festival audiences, the grand venue easily accommodated the large crowd consisting of local politicos and other Salt Lake dignitaries, sponsors, and many of the festival-goers that will be calling Park City home for the next 11 days. (January 17, 1997)
Oscar Winner "Character" Wins Top Cleveland Prize; "The Journey" Takes Indie Award; Film Festival Achieves Record Jump in Attendance
The Cleveland International Film Festival concluded this weekend following an eleven day event that saw a record increase in attendance. 32,000 seats were filled during the festival, a jump of 16% over last year. Also making news in Cleveland was the announcement of award winners for the 22nd annual festival...indieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez reports from the scene in the first of two parts from Cleveland. (April 01, 1998)
Our Town; Newport Enjoys Fest, While Small Films Find a Home
At Sundance, you wake up and hear panicked executives berating their overworked assistants, demanding, "Where's my fucking cellphone??" At Venice, you wake up surrounded by empty Grappa bottles and hail a water-taxi, hoping you can still read the subtitles despite your hangover. At the 4th annual Newport International Film Festival (June 5- 10), on the other hand, you wake up in a sun-drenched bed and breakfast to the sound of your host greeting a neighbor with a friendly hello. "Well, hullo," he replies. (What the hell is this? Thornton Wilder?) Ah, summer. In June, the East Coast festival circuit shifts to picturesque resort towns, luring industry folk with relaxing weekend getaways where business takes a definite backseat to pleasure. "We bring films to Newport as a celebration of the medium, and filmmakers and audiences seem to respond to that energy," says Festival Director Nancy Donahoe. Erin Torneo reports from the fest. (June 20, 2001)
Out Loud From Outfest '97
On the Scene at OUTFEST '97, Brian Brooks and Keith Wixon rant about the LA Gay scene, report from opening night and spotlight a few films, including, "Kiss Me Guido" (directed by Tony Vitale), "I Think I Do" (directed by Brian Sloan), "Defying Gravity" (a 16mm feature directed by John Keitel), the Sophie B. Hawkins' doc "The Cream Will Rise" (helmed by Gigi Gaston), and the slice of Elton John's life, "Tantrums and Tiaras" (directed by his partner David Furnish). (July 23, 1997)
Out of Competition Films Lineup
The lineup for Out of Competition films at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival has been announced and is available now here at indieWIRE.com (April 18, 2000)
Out with the Old, In With the New as Rotterdam Welcomes Fresh Blood
Following last year's arresting poster of a naked woman crouched in the lowlands of Holland, the 33rd International Film Festival Rotterdam posters again used a near-prostrate nude -- but this time with a baby dangling from her teeth. Such a fierce image of generational new blood seemed more than appropriate in this transitional year when much-respected director general Simon Fields leaves the Netherlands film scene. The poster design and administrative reshuffling also mirrored a thematic tone within the festival's selections, as movie-mad offspring -- Sofia Coppola, Kenta Fukasaku, Alexi German Jr., and Hana Makhmalbaf -- joined the scene. Stephen Garrett reports from The Netherlands. (February 05, 2004)
Outfest 2003: L.A.'s Pioneering Gay Festival Comes of Age
With the recent Supreme Court victory over anachronistic sodomy laws still fresh on the minds of many in the gay and lesbian community, there was a burgeoning sense of camaraderie at the large crowds gathered for Outfest 2003. Outfest celebrated its 21st birthday as one of the world's largest gay and lesbian film festivals with an eclectic slate of 200 films from 26 countries, not to mention more than 40 parties. Jonny Leahan reports. (July 29, 2003)
Outfest 2004 to Open With Haynes Award, "D.E.B.S." Screening
The 22nd-annual Outfest, the world's largest gay and lesbian film festival, will kick off this year on July 8 with "Far From Heaven" director Todd Haynes receiving the eighth-annual Outfest Achievement Award, the festival's highest honor. The award ceremony, held in the 2000-seat Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles during opening night festivities, will be followed by a screening of Angela Robinson's "D.E.B.S." Sandra Ogle reports. (June 18, 2004)
Outfest '97 Comes to a Close
Brian Brooks wraps up the 1997 Outfest, Los Angeles' long running film festival showcasing Gay and Lesbian films, singling out a number of films, including: "Private Show", "Fire", "Making Porn", and "Pink as the Day She Was Born", among others. (July 29, 1997)
Outfest Closes with Winners Including "Mudge Boy," "Girls Will Be Girls," and "Porn Theatre"
Outfest, Southern California's largest film festival, wrapped up its event last weekend with its ninth-annual film competition awards presentation. Bruce Vilanch hosted the awards event at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre with Michael Burke's "The Mudge Boy" taking the festival's OUTstanding American narrative feature prize. (July 24, 2003)
Outfest Comes Out with "Fusion" Spotlighting Gay People of Color
Outfest, the group that organizes the annual L.A. lesbian and gay film festival in July announced it will host "Fusion," a new festival spotlighting films by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people of color. The new program, which will take place January 30th to February 1st. Brian Brooks reports. (January 12, 2004)
Outfest Concludes with "Loggerheads," "Three of Hearts," and "Red Doors" Among Honorees
Capping what Outfest executive director Stephen Gutwillig called, "a 12-day celebration of same-sex celluloid," the Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival presented its honors Sunday evening at the outdoor Ford Amphitheatre with a comical (and slightly long) ceremony spearheaded by an irreverent Kathy Griffin, drag-hostess "Mama," and other celeb presenters who took the stage to hand over the fest's "Outties" to filmmakersAmong the winners, director Tim Kirkman's three-part story, "Loggerheads" took the "OUTstanding" American Narrative Feature in the juried prizes. Brian Brooks reports. (July 19, 2005)
Outfest Opening with "Party"; Streep and Others Win Screen Idol Prizes
Outfest is turning 21 this year and hitting the scene this summer with its film festival, the largest in Southern California. "Party Monster" will open the festival on July 10th while Samuel Goldwyn's "Mambo Italiano" will close the twelve-day event. Additionally, Outfest has announced the recipients of their annual Screen Idol awards. Brian Brooks reports. (June 05, 2003)
Outfest Wraps, Names Winners; Film Society Adds Members To NYFF Selection Committee
The winners are announced in LA as Outfest '98 closes; and the NYFF confirms the addition of two new selection committee members. (July 21, 1998)
Outside the Box: Several Sundance Projects Blur the Line Between Fact and Fiction
"What do I call it?" asks Jonathan Caouette, the director of "Tarnation." "I call it a sheer exorcism, a form of therapy, and an experimental musical docu-drama hybrid." "Tarnation" is just one of a handful of Sundance entries that don't fit into a clearly defined box. Is it a documentary? A dramatic film? (After some discussion among the programmers, it eventually landed in the Frontier section, which is devoted to more experimental work.) But this wave of hybridization is not restricted to offbeat or fringe fare, but is all-inclusive, ranging from big premieres ("The Motorcycle Diaries") to foreign cinema ("15," "The Big Durian") to faux documentaries ("CSA: The Confederate States of America") to dramatic debuts ("Down to the Bone"). Anthony Kaufman reports. (January 22, 2004)
Outside The Box; Black Directors Break Down Stereotypes
Demane Davis and Khari Streeter are well aware that their second film, "Lift," will be called one of the "black films" at this year's Sundance Film Festival. When the line-up was announced in December, Geoffrey Gilmore noted the number of quality works from African American directors, citing "Lift" along with Vanessa Middleton's "30 Years to Life," Reggie Rock Blythewood's "Dancing in September," and Cheryl Dunye's "Stranger Inside." But what is a black film, anyway? Should these films even be linked in the first place? If the term is a stereotype, the collection of disparate films on display at this year's festival reflects a need to explode the label -- and all the associations that go along with it. indieWIRE's Anthony Kaufman speaks with the "Lift" team and Middleton about transcending labels, telling universal stories and industry prejudices. (January 22, 2001)
Over 88,000 Hit 26th Flanders, Hail "Himalaya"
The 26th edition of the Flanders International Film Festival, running October 5-16, screened more than 190 feature films from some 40 countries in the small city of Ghent, Belgium. The festival sets itself apart from other Euro-fests with special attention to the impact of music on film. Hal Levy reports on the festival, enumerating its several sidebars, Eric Mendelsohn's print debacle, and the fest's favorite films, from Eric Valli's "Himalaya" to Solveig Anspach's "Haut Les Coeurs." (October 26, 1999)
Palm Beach Fest Offers A Few Surprise Finds
What bad things can you say about a festival with the goal of raising money for local film students? This year the future helmers of Palm Beach, Florida, were awarded $100,000 from the proceeds of last year's cash surplus of the eighth annual Palm Beach International Film Festival, whose audience outnumbered last year's event. There were a few missteps in film selection, but there were galas to make up for it, Brandon Judell reports. (April 17, 2003)
Palm Springs Ends Fest with "The Man Without a Past," "Broken Wings" Taking Honors
The Palm Springs International Film Festival ended its 14th installment early last week screening more than 200 films including 45 of the 54 submissions to the Academy for Best Foreign Language consideration. The festival announced that Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki's "The Man Without a Past" won the International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI Prize). Brian Brooks reports. (January 30, 2003)
Palm Springs Festival Jammed with Premieres
A total of 105 films from 38 countries will screen at the 1998 Palm Springs Film Festival, January 8 - 19. "The Brides Journey", directed by Sergio Rubini, will kick off the event and Stefan Schwartz's "Shooting Fish", featuring Dan Futterman, Kate Beckinsdale and Stuart Townsend, closes the fest. 8 festival films are world premieres and 41 are United States premieres. (December 15, 1997)
Palm Springs Film Festival: Sonny Bono's Baby Celebrates Sweet 16
The first six days of the 16th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSFF) were a washout‹weather-wise. A dry sidewalk was not to be tread on. Consequently, you were forced into indoor activities such as watching films. Happily, PSFF offered a superb slate: 190 films from 65 countries, including 79 premieres (13 World, 44 U.S., and 22 North American). Additionally, 41 of the 50 flicks up for the Best Foreign Oscar made up part of these offerings. Brandon Judell reports. (January 20, 2005)
Palm Springs Gets Worldly With Lineup for 15th Festival
The 15th-annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, which will run January 8-19, has announced its lineup of 200 films from more than 60 countries. This roster includes 69 world and U.S. premieres; also notable is that 52 of the 56 foreign language Oscar submissions will be screened in Palm Springs. Bookending the fest will be galas for "Big Fish" and "The Boys From County Clare." Wendy Mitchell reports. (December 22, 2003)
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films Reveals 2004 Roster
The 2004 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films has announced its line-up of 308 films selected from 2,000 worldwide submissions, making it the largest festival of its kind in North America, according to organizers. Held from August 31 - September 6 at the Camelot Theaters in Palm Springs, CA, the films have been structured into 100-minute long programs of similar themes and subject matter. A program covering "International Award Winners" will open the festival. Adam Burnett reports. (August 23, 2004)
Palm Springs' International Scope Attracts Record Crowds, From A-Listers to Retirees
With a strong event that highlighted this year's hottest foreign films, attracted big-name stars, and drew a record number of attendees, organizers of the 15th Palm Springs International Film Festival proved that January has plenty of room for two major festivals. Though the second half of PSIFF (January 8-19) overlapped with the Sundance Film Festival (January 15-25) for five days, 86,000 attendees revealed that there is a draw for Palm Springs' quirky mix of foreign films and ritzy galas; jogging suits and tuxedos; gray-haired retirees and accented directors.ĘSusan Buzzelli reports. (January 27, 2004)
Palm Springs Planning Shorts Showcase and Conrad Tribute
Academy Award winners are among the shorts that will be showcased at the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival (January 9-20). Oscar winner "The Accountant" by Ray McKinnon is set for a screening with four other shorts that are Academy Award winners or nominees. The other winner on tap, for the program this Sunday, is Chris Tashima's 1997 winner "Visas and Virtue." Additionally, the organizers have put together a tribute to the late Conrad Hall. Eugene Hernandez reports. (January 09, 2003)
Palm Springs Readies Screenings of 200 Films
Over two hundred films from around the world will form the slate of the 2003 Palm Springs International Film Festival including five World Premieres, 23 North American Premieres and 56 U.S. Premieres. As previously announced, the festival, which takes place January 9 - 20, will open with the North American Premiere of Franco Zeffirelli's "Callas Forever," based on the life of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Palm Springs will also continue featuring Academy Award foreign-language screening, screening 45 of the 54 submitted this year -- a festival record. (December 27, 2002)
Palm Springs to Open 16th Festival with "Coach Carter"; Featuring 79 Premieres
The new-year ushers in a host of festivals, with the Palm Springs International Film Festival leading the pack, opening on January 6th with a roster of 190 films from 65 countries. Seven films will screen in the fest's "Gala" section including the opening night feature "Coach Carter" by Thomas Carter ("Save the Last Dance"), starring Samuel L. Jackson. Brian Brooks reports. (December 17, 2004)
Pan African Film Fest To Kick Off Thursday in Los Angeles
The 12th-annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) is set to run February 5-16 in Los Angeles. As the largest black film festival in the country, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival will screen more than 160 films selected from countries including Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Uganda, and the United States. Opening night will kick off with "Redemption" by actor and filmmaker Vondie Curtis-Hall. Rania Richardson reports. (February 03, 2004)
Panels Pump, Hip Hop Bumps, Execs Jump at 2nd Urbanworld
Anaye Milligan gives a wrap up report on the second annual Urbanworld Film Festival. (August 12, 1998)
"Paramount Commits to "Suicides," Pic Kills At Cannes; Distribs Circle Smith's "Dogma"
As the race for the Camera d'Or (best first film) heated up, the domestic acquisitions game picked up some steam as well, with Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides" getting snapped up. IndieWIRE has learned that the film was picked up on Thursday by Paramount Classics, which beat out Trimark in nabbing the debut film. Additionally, distributors seem to be circling around Kevin Smith's "Dogma." indieWIRE's Anthony Kaufman continues on the Croisette, reporting on the slowly growing pace of film acquisitions at this year's Cannes Film Festival. (May 21, 1999)
Park City 2002: The Hispansion of Hollywood; A Director's Take on the Latino Film Scene
For the first time in the history of the Sundance Film Festival, Latinos are so well represented that the organizers have created a special panel to discuss where all this is headed. I've had the honor of being asked to appear on this panel to discuss the future of Latino filmmaking, and while I'm not a big fan of these events, this is my first Sundance trip and I want to do anything I can do to help my film "Empire" get noticed. My experience with Latino panels has always been the same: boring. If a panel is one hour long, 55 minutes are usually taken up by the panelists running down their resumes and talking about how they are the first Latino to blah, blah, blah. I don't think I'll be able to say much of what I feel should be said at the panel, so when indieWIRE asked me to write an article about my take on Latino film, I jumped at the chance to tell you about what some Latino filmmakers talk about at the proverbial "water cooler" but are afraid to say in public. (January 14, 2002)
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