From the "On The Scene" Archives:

Compiled by Mark Rabinowitz

>> New York Comedy Fest Wraps, "waking Ned," Sweeney Winners

The second annual New York Comedy Film Festival wrapped on Sunday with a screening of Julia Sweeney's "God Said, 'Ha!'" and the presentation of the fest's awards, including the American Airlines Audience Award to "God Said, 'Ha!'". Kirk Jones' upocming Fox Searchlight release, "Waking Ned Devine" picked up the best feature award. The film will be release in New York and L.A. in November, platforming throughout the rest of the coutry in December and January. The film stars Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, James Nesbitt and Susan Lynch. The best animated short award went to Corky Quakenbush's "Clops III," one of a series of hysterical short films involving the arrests of Gumby and Santa Claus, while the best line action short went to Adam Collis' multiple fest award-winning "Mad Boy, I'll Blow Your Blues Away. Be Mine."

The fest's jury was comprised of 1997 NYCFF award winner, Jeremiah Bosgang ("Good Money"); Scenario Magazine Managing Director Ted Lambert; Alexa Fogel, founder of Beech Hill Films; 1997 NYCFF best short winning director Todd Louiso ("The 15 Minute Hamlet"); writer/comedian Lewis Black; comedian/director Louis CK; Karen Disher, supervising director for MTV's "Daria"; Mike Dougherty, assistant animation director for Nickelodeon, and 1997 NYCFF winning director for best animated film John Dilworth ("Dirdy Birdy").

>> St. Louis Kicks Off On Thursday

The 7th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, October 29th with a screening of Philip F. Messina's "With Friends Like These," starring Adam Arkin (set to attend the fest) David Strathairn, Jon Tenney, Robert Costanzo, Amy Madigan, Laura San Giacomo and Elle McPherson. Also appearing at the opening night will be Martin Scorsese and Bill Murray. The second feature of opening night is Timothy Hutton's debut feature as a director, "Digging to China," starring Kevin Bacon, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cathy Moriarty and Evan Rachel Wood.

Other highlights of the fest include Kirk Jones' wonderful upcoming Fox Searchlight release, "Waking Ned Devine"; actress Joan Chen's ("Twin Peaks," "The Last Emperor") directorial debut, "Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl"; Bennett Miller's stellar documentary, "The Cruise"; Shohei Imamura's "The Eel" ("Unagi"); Penelope Spheeris' "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part III; Thomas Vinterberg's October Films release, "The Celebration"; Todd Solondz's superb Good Machine release "Happiness"; Lance Mungia's post-apocalyptic, post-Elvis film, "Six String Samurai"; Patricio Guzman's "Chile, Obstinate Memory," and Derek Cianfrance's "Brother Tied."

In addition to regular screenings, the festival will present a Midnight Madness sidebar, including Myles Berkowitz's "20 Dates" and Phillip Glau's "Circus Redickuless" and a Martin Scorsese-supported tribute to Frank Sinatra, featuring the 1949 film "On the Town," co-starring Gene Kelly and "Ocean's 11," a 1960 Rat Pack caper film, co-starring Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. The closing night lineup features Pat O'Connor's "Dancing at Lughnasa," starring Meryl Streep and Marc Levin's Sundance and Cannes award-winning film, "Slam."