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 November 25, 2008 DISPATCH FROM MASSACHUSETTS | If It Doesn't Spread, It's Dead
"If it doesn't spread, it's dead." With that pointed dictum, Professor Henry Jenkins kicked off a series of profound deliberations on the nature of new media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the Futures of Entertainment conference last weekend. Blending academic theory with practical insight, the conference (co-presented by MIT's Comparative Media Studies program and the Convergence Culture Consortium) surveyed the many ways in which emerging technologies have empowered audiences and forced the industry to adapt new models. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Biz, Lead Story, On The Scene, Trends ] November 21, 2008 DISPATCH FROM AMSTERDAM | IDFA Kicks Off: On Screen and In Person, Kasparov Lashes Out at Putin
"Russia is an authoritarian state," declared Garry Kasparov tonight in Amsterdam. A subject of director Masha Novikova's IDFA world premiere "In the Holy Fire of Revolution," former Russian chess champion Kasparov spoke at tonight's packed daily panel discussion. IDFA kicked off its signature "Talk of the Day" event at this year's fest in Amsterdam with verbal fireworks as Kasparov took to the stage to discuss his current passion - Russian politics and what he considers a crisis of the Russian state. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ] November 13, 2008 DISPATCH FROM ENGLAND | Sheffield Doc/Fest: Born Again and Joining Forces
The Sheffield Doc/Fest in Sheffield, England just wound up its fifteenth incarnation, yet the air of it feels new, emerging, and in a way, it is. Director Heather Croall took over three years ago and under her leadership, this five-day event is expanding its horizons and gunning to be one of the top international documentary festivals. Croall said, "I feel like this year we really got into gear, our organization is better than ever." Evidenced by the energy and good will present despite the damp November weather, it is well on its way. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ] November 10, 2008 PARK CITY '09 | In the Wake of Prop 8, Film Community & Fest Organizers Defend Sundance Amidst Talk of Boycott
With about a week to go before programmers internally lock the lineup for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, organizers are carefully navigating calls for a boycott of the annual event. Talk of a boycott emerged via blogs last week, including Huffington Post and AmericaBlog, in the wake of anger and frustration over the passage of California ballot Proposition 8 halting same sex marriages in the state. Members of the indie film community immediately came to the festival's defense today, including filmmmaker Allison Anders ("Mi Vida Loca," "Gas, Food Lodging"), who said, "To boycott the festival which has been the home for all diverse voices to be presented on the screen is dangerously backward thinking." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 21 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, On The Scene, Park City ] October 29, 2008 DISPATCH FROM SF | Timely and Provocative, Van Sant's "Milk" Stirs Californians at the Castro
In a scene reminiscient of numerous moments from Gus Van Sant's new film, "Milk," guests arrived at the Castro Theater last night in San Francisco to the sights and sounds of a boisterous demonstration in front of the landmark venue. "Unfair! And wrong! No on 8!" a sizable crowd continually chanted, pausing occasionally to cheer an arriving celeb. The specter of activism, hope and change hung heavy over the event last night in SF, coming just a week before the U.S. presidential election. The film itself, about iconic activist Harvey Milk, is directly political, depicting the birth of a gay rights movement more than thirty years ago in an around the San Francisco neighborhood that houses the Castro Theater. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, On The Scene, Queer Cinema, Regional ] October 21, 2008 DISPATCH FROM MONTREAL | Fest Nouveau Cinema Celebrates The Spirit of Montreal
Canada's longest running film festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinema (FNC) has seen a remarkable rebound since the drama that surrounded it a few years back. In 2004, the festival came under new management when Daniel Langlois, director of FNC since 1999, left the organization to begin the New Montreal FilmFest. New Montreal's intention was to merge with the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media, thus creating a potentially devastating competitor to FNC, which prides itself on its devotion to cinematic innovation. However, a variety of controversies led to New Montreal's demise, and FNC has since seen both a significant increase in attendance and reputation. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ]  DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | Bruce Weber & Ellen Kuras in Spotlight as Fest Refines Course
Is it wrong to compare every American weekend festival to Telluride? The venerable Colorado fest sets the standard with its mix of new works, classics, intimate networking, a laid back vibe and a beautiful setting. Notably, the Hamptons International Film Festival took a step in the right direction this year, offering a slightly more casual scene, a tighter program, events for industry insiders, and weather that cooperated all weekend. As with other favorite weekend getaway fests -- such as Provincetown, Nantucket, and Woodstock -- the Hamptons event has perservered. And this year, it found an even stronger international hook under the leadership of new executive director Karen Arikian (and new director of programming David Nugent), drawing a strong presence of filmmakers and industry from overseas. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 19, 2008 DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | "Troubled Water," "Herb and Dorothy" Dominate at 16th Hamptons Fest
Norwegian director Erik Poppe's "Troubled Water" and Japanese director Megumi Sasaki's "Herb and Dorothy" won big at the Hamptons International Film Festival this afternoon, with both features winning jury and audience prizes in their categories. "Water" took the festival's Golden Starfish for Best Narrative Feature, while "Herb" received the Golden Starfish for Documentary Feature Film -- and both won their respective audienece prizes -- during a ceremony in East Hampton, New York today hosted by "The Daily Show" co-creator Lizz Winstead. The narrative award includes a package of $185,000 in in-kind production services, while the doc nod includes a $5,000 cash prize. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 17, 2008 DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | Barendrecht, Israel, Valentino and International Fare in Focus
A previous guest of the Hamptons International Film Festival, former European Film Market leader Karen Arikian yesterday emphasized the international focus of HIFF's event in its 16th edition. Arikian is back in the U.S. from her previous post in Berlin and is now the new executive director of the Hamptons event on Long Island. The fest opened Wedenesday night with Matt Tyrnauer's acclaimed documentary about famous Italian fashion figure, Valentino in the doc, "Valentino: The Last Emperor. The following night, and keeping with a tradition started several years ago, indieWIRE and HIFF collaborated on the annual "Industry Toast" - this year, saluting Fortissimo's Wouter Barendrecht. But, back on the fest's world focus at the opening night party, a Hamptons-based artist told the local TV channel, "The more international it becomes, the less local it becomes." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 8, 2008 AFI FEST '08 | 22nd Edition Announces 148 Films; Boyle, Swinton To Receive Tributes
The 22nd AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival, running October 30-November 9, 2008, has announced its complete schedule. The lineup totals 100 features and 48 shorts, including 6 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres, and 18 U.S. Premieres. "This year's selection of international films shows a commitment to cinematic innovation and a renewal of a tradition of realism in cinema," said Artistic Director Rose Kuo in a statement. In addition, 37 of the features in official selection will be represented by distributors at the American Film Market, unfolding concurrently with AFI from November 5-November 12. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under AFI Fest, Festival News, Lead Story, Lineups, On The Scene ]  DISPATCH FROM MEXICO | In Wake Of Attack, Morelia Fest Offers Sense of Renewal
It can take over four hours to drive from Mexico City to the capital of Michoacan de Ocampo for the Morelia Film Festival, but the vibrant town in question lies several more metaphorical miles away from recent newspaper headlines. It was only a few weeks ago that Morelia became the focus of an international media scare following the devastating terrorist bombing that took the lives of eight people on September 15. However, the attack, which coincided with local festivities for the Mexican War of Independence in Plaza Melchor Ocampo, hardly made a dent on preparations for the festival's sixth year. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ] October 7, 2008 NYFF '08 | Assayas Discusses His "Summer Hours," Martel's "Woman" Makes NYC Debut
As the 46th New York Film Festival winds down through its second and final week, indieWIRE had the chance to hear from two of its featured directors. Olivier Assayas, whose "Summer Hours" made its U.S. debut at the festival, sat down for an interview at The Park Lane Hotel last Thursday, while Lucrecia Martel, Argentine director of "The Headless Woman" spoke after the film's Monday press screening at the Walter Reade Theater. The New York Film Festival runs through Sunday, October 12. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, New York Film Festival, On The Scene ]  DISPATCH FROM ST. PETERSBURG | Russia's First LGBT Film Festival Fights On Despite Government and Media Resistance
Facing local hostility, overt moves by the government to halt their event, and a persistent shroud of secrecy for gays and lesbians in their country, organizers of Russia's first queer film festival fought to stage their event this weekend even as they were ridiculed in the media. Just back from St. Petersburg, outgoing NewFest artistic director and Sundance fest doc programming associate Basil Tsiokos offers a diary of his experience as a juror at the first Side By Side fest. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene, Queer Cinema ] October 6, 2008 DISPATCH FROM MILL VALLEY | Wright's "The Soloist" Get's Early Buzz at MVFF on 31st Fest's Varied Opening Weekend
This past weekend in Marin, the posh Northern Californian county just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, the Mill Valley Film Festival kicked off its 31st season with several premieres and a wide, fascinating range of programs. With a few theatres scattered across Mill Valley and San Rafael's charming, boutique-laden towns, the festival enjoyed brilliant weather and an air of casual enthusiasm as the event kicked off with high profile guests, a mix of festival circuit favorites and a handful of new films. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, On The Scene ]  DISPATCH FROM NEW YORK | Woodstock: A True American Maverick Among Fests; "Broadway" and "Dream" Take Top Prizes
Woodstock is a town perpetually caught up in its funky mythology. However, the Woodstock Film Festival -- now on the verge of its tenth anniversary -- has a separate legacy in the works. The cozy scenery of this quaint artists' colony hides a passionate gathering of cinephiles and professionals alike. Founded in 1999 by Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto, the festival's ninth year culminated on Saturday night with an impressively upscale awards ceremony in the nearby city of Kingston, where the combination of guests in attendance looked like the set-up for a film industry geek joke: Ang Lee, James Schamus, Kevin Smith and Haskell Wexler walk into a bar... [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 5, 2008 NYFF '08 | "Gomorrah," Garrone and Scorsese in NYC; Wong Kar Wai Revisits "Ashes of Time"
There is no slick soundtrack and no Hollywood stars playing criminals, but Italian director Matteo Garrone's "Gomorrah," which won the Cannes Film Festival's grand prize, and is currently screening at the New York Film Festival, is nothing short of riveting, and sadly - real. Over the last thirty years, the Comorra crime syndicate has murdered 4,000 people in Italy's Naples and Caserta provinces. That number tops assasinations by the IRA, ETA and other European terrorist organizations. Additionally, its economic might is estimated to be an immense 150 billion Euros per year via drug and arms trafficking and other "enterprises" such as "protection" as well as by doing business in seemingly legitimate businesses as construction, tourism, textiles, trasport, fuel, distribution, food, supermarkets, restaurants, retail and banking. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 2, 2008 NYFF '08 | Aronofsky, Rourke Talk "Wrestler," Folman "Waltzes" With New York
Wednesday afternoon at the Walter Reade Theatre in New York marked a big day for the 46th New York Film Festival. "The Wrestler" Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei and producer Scott Franklin joined director Darren Aronofsky to discuss the film after its first screening for New York press and industry. The movie, acquired shortly after its North American debut last month at the Toronto fest, will close the NYFF on October 12th. Meanwhile, Ari Folman's acclaimed animated documentary, "Waltz With Bashir" made its New York debut as well. indieWIRE was in attendance, and has the highlights. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York Film Festival, On The Scene ] September 30, 2008 NYFF '08 | Soderbergh's "Che," Leigh's "Lucky" Make New York Debuts
Steven Soderbergh's 4-hour Ernesto 'Che' Guevara biopic, "Che" and Mike Leigh's much shorter "anti-miserablist" film, "Happy-Go-Lucky," were among the films screened for the press in the past few days at the 46th Annual New York Film Festival. Both screenings were followed by press conferences featuring the directors, and in "Lucky"'s case, its star Sally Hawkins. indieWIRE was in attendance, and has the highlights. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York Film Festival, On The Scene ] September 28, 2008 NYFF '08 | Politics and Cantet on Opening Night; Film Criticism in Focus; and McQueen's "Hunger"
It's hardly a surprise that the U.S. presidential race was a hot topic on Friday night as the New York Film Festival kicked off in Manhattan with its traditional bash. With fewer than 40 days before the American general election, the opening night screening of Laurent Cantet's "The Class" took place at the same time as the first televised debate between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. Heavy mist dampened the post-screening party at Tavern on the Green in Central Park where guests seemed torn between talking about the opening night film, winner of this year's Palme d'Or in Cannes, and the evening's debate. Reactions to both seemed about the same: somewhat mixed. Although enthusiasm for both the film and Barack Obama's performance was considerable among those informally polled throughout the night - though the crowd were most likely not a typical cross-section of America's political spectrum. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] September 24, 2008 DISPATCH FROM AUSTIN | Fantastic Fest Comes Of Age
In a Fantastic Fest opening night Q&A for the US Premiere of his new comedy "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" in Austin's downtown Paramount Theater last Thursday, director Kevin Smith reminisced about the first time he decided he wanted to make films. "It was actually when I saw Richard Linklater's 'Slacker.' I said, 'if this counts as a movie and this guy can do that in fucking Nowheresville, USA," Smith joked ironically, "then I can do that.'" [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ] Older Entries from On The SceneSeptember 23, 2008 September 22, 2008 August 21, 2008 August 15, 2008 July 29, 2008 July 28, 2008 July 27, 2008 July 17, 2008 July 15, 2008 July 14, 2008 July 11, 2008 July 8, 2008 July 3, 2008 July 2, 2008 June 30, 2008 June 30, 2008 June 29, 2008 | |
