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 ]

DISPATCH FROM NYC | Cammell, Hammer, TV On The Radio and More From a Busy Week in New York

By far the most outrageous film going experience you might have had in New York City this week was the Donald Cammell retrospective being hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. That's saying a lot when you consider that Crispin Glover was in town showing his openly offensive "masterpiece" of 70's homage with a cast of actors afflicted with Down's Syndrome entitled "What Is It?" This time at the IFC Center accompanied by a slideshow, no less. But as shocking as Glover's work can be - if you think this is crazy wait until you see what he does with Multiple Sclerosis in the sequel - Cammell's work is truly violent, abrasive filmmaking that pushes an audience's tolerance about as far as it can go. Where Cammell's work is certainly more narrative in form, Glover's has a kind of humorously playful irony that allows the viewer to laugh at him, if not necessarily laugh with him.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Regional ]

DOCS MONTHLY | February Film Series: Museums Breathe New Life into Documentaries

For those who long ago gave up on finding diverse programming at your local multiplex, a trip to the nearest arthouse cinema is usually the solution to finding unique film fare - especially for fans of documentaries. But when the mood calls for something a bit more esoteric, art museums are increasingly filling a niche, with February offering some especially good film programs throughout the country. Notable among these include series at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, and of course the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Regional ]

"An American Haunting" and "Aurora Borealis" To Bookend 37th Nashville Fest

The Nashville Film Festival has announced that Courtney Solomon's "An American Haunting" will be the opening night for its 37th edition to run April 20-26. Solomon's film is adapted from the 1997 novel The Bell Witch: An American Haunting and is based on true events of a family haunting in Tennessee during the 1800s. Donald Sutherland stars as the head of the household and Sissy Spacek plays his fearful wife. This year's fest will showcase over 240 features, documentaries and shorts from 44 countries. James Burke's "Aurora Borealis," will close out the festival this year. The film also stars Donald Sutherland, this time as an ailing grandfather, while Joshua Jackson plays his grandson who learns responsibility while caring for his grandfather, and finds a potential love match in his grandfather's nurse, played by Juliette Lewis.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, Regional ]

Surging Forward, Sarasota Fest Celebrates Films, Stars and Eyes A Homegrown Project

The Sarasota Film Festival has a few natural - and some not so natural - resources at its disposal that not all regional festivals can readily exploit. Situated along Florida's central Gulf coast, the average high temperature in April is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the fest is also blessed with a seemingly supportive local populace of affluent fest-goers. Closing night, a few hundred showed up for an awards presentation in a tent at the upscale Longboat Key Club and Resort open to those willing to shell out $300 per person. But, the cash not only allowed guests to indulge in champagne, schmoozing and a chance to strut their designer best, it also gave them a chance to rub elbows, or at least subtley gawk, at the night's honorees including director Robert Altman, writer Robert Towne ("Mission Impossible II"), actors William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman as well as producer Paula Wagner ("Mission Impossible III") among others.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Lead Story, Regional, Wrap Ups ]

indieWIRE ANNOUNCEMENT: San Francisco Film Society & indieWIRE Unveil SF360.org; Gerhard Editing Online Magazine

[EDITORS NOTE: The following is an announcement from indieWIRE and the San Francisco Film Society.] Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, and Brian Clark, co-founder and managing member of indieWIRE, the leading online publication dedicated to American and international independent film, announced that Susan Gerhard has come on board as the editor and bureau chief of SF360.org. The new copublished site, dedicated to daily coverage and social network support of the vibrant San Francisco film and media scene, officially launched today. The site is live now at http://www.SF360.org.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 1 comments ]   [ filed under Regional ]

"Americanese," "Journey from the Fall" Bookend 24th San Francisco Asian American Fest

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 24th edition, to run March 16 through 26. One-hundred and twenty-six feature-length films, documentaries and shorts from around the world are set to screen in the Bay Area, making this festival North America's largest showcase of movies by and about Asians and Asian Americans.
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, Regional ]

indieWIRE ANNOUNCEMENT: The San Francisco Film Society and indieWIRE announce launch of SF360.org

[EDITORS NOTE: The following is an announcement from indieWIRE.] New Co-published Site Devoted to Daily Year-Round Coverage of Thriving San Francisco Film and Media Scene Graham Leggat, new executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, presenter of the San Francisco International Film Festival, the longest-running festival in the Americas, and Brian Clark, co-founder and managing member of indieWIRE, the leading online publication dedicated to American and international independent film, today announced a strategic partnership that launches a new co-published site, SF360.org, dedicated to daily coverage and social network support of the vibrant SF film and media scene. [Website launching in early March.]
[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 2 comments ]   [ filed under Regional ]

"Henderson," "Brokeback," and "Three Burials" Highlight Santa Fe Fest

The 2005 Santa Fe Film Festival opened this week with Stephen Frears' "Mrs. Henderson Presents" with Judi Dench, ushering in the event which is screening 200 films from nearly 40 countries. Dench plays a plucky British widow in the feature who keeps alive a legendary London music hall during the height of the World War II blitzkrieg.

[ read more in On The Scene ]   [ 0 comments ]   [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, Regional ]