Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Steven Soderbergh Announced Miguel Faus as First Winner of $100k Andrews/Bernard Financing Awards on Decentralized Pictures

By John Wildman 3 years ago

News at Sundance: During FILM3 on the Mountain Director/producer Steven Soderbergh announced the first winner of three financing awards that his production company Extension 765 launched in partnership with blockchain-powered non-profit Decentralized Pictures (DCP). Spanish filmmaker Miguel Faus will receive $100,000 in finishing funds for his feature-length fiction film CALLADITA.

ACA Cinema Project Series teams with NYC’s IFC Center for New Films From Japan in February

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Katsura Toda, Senior specialist for the arts at Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs – Government of Japan, and the organizer of ACA Cinema Project said, “These films are among the outstanding works that Japan has produced last year, with each sharing a true artistic achievement in filmmaking. All four films demonstrate a nuanced approach to storytelling, beautifully shot, with wonderful performances across the board. We could not be more excited to give them this platform at the IFC Center in New York City.”

San Pedro International Film Festival announces film lineup for return in February

By John Wildman 3 years ago

SPIFF Festival Director Ziggy Mrkich, said, “It will be wonderful to be back in theaters, bringing films and filmmakers back to San Pedro to the Historic Warner Grand Theatre, and the Terrace Cinemas, and more. The San Pedro International Film Festival celebrates truly independent films, and the film artists that put their lives into making them. We cherish the fact that this film festival brings together the San Pedro business and arts community and film festival fans like no other event does locally and we’ve got another great lineup in store for everyone.”

Austin’s Cine Las Americas announces Call For Entries for 25th Anniversary edition this year

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Executive Director Gabriel Ornelas, said, “This will be a very special year for Cine Las Americas. Celebrating its 25th year, this festival represents the dedication and passion of hundreds of filmmakers, volunteers, staff, businesses, and community that each year have believed in the mission and significance to showcase Latino and Indigenous stories in cinema. The 25 years have been full of wonderful successes and not without challenges. But it is the perseverance and will of a collective community to ensure the voices Cine Las Americas represents are heard and shared.

Oxford Film Festival receives Science on Screen grant for 2023

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Matt Wymer, said, “As we gear up for our big 20th Anniversary edition of the Oxford Film Festival, this is a big win for the organization, both in terms of the funds which will support next year’s presentation, screenings, panels, and events, but also because it underlines the notice we are receiving nationally for the work we have done and the success we have seen leading up to now.”

Atlanta’s LGBT Fest, Out on Film, Announces Call for Entries for 2023

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Out on Film Festival Director Jim Farmer said, “Last year’s 35th Anniversary celebration highlighted what our filmmakers and audiences have come to rely on when they attend Out on Film – a celebration, here in Atlanta of the best in LGBTQ cinema, wonderful conversations on films with our honorees, like last year’s ICON honoree, Colman Domingo, and simply screenings and events that immerse everyone in the joy we all receive from seeing great films and meeting the people who have made those films.”

Billy the Kid Film Festival 2022 announces filmmaker awards including new legacy awards

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Festival Directors Philip Vasquez and Luci DiGiorgio said, “In our fourth year, the Billy the Kid Film Festival kept the momentum going for our celebration of movies in Texas’ Hill Country. Having our film festival debut the Pine Moore Studios Award, which comes with a free day’s film shoot at their legendary Western Town location, and the first Ruth Buzzi Comedy Award, points both to the legacy our film festival is already creating, and our continued promotion and support of future film work created by our alumni.”

Naples International Film Festival 2022 announces filmmaker awards after “hurricane recovery” fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

The 2022 Naples International Film Festival announced the filmmaker award winners during the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 30. The jury prize for Best Narrative Feature (and a cash prize of $2,500) went to Alex Lehmann’s Acidman, and the jury prize for Best Documentary Feature (and $2,500) was given to Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel’s The Pez Outlaw. Audience Awards went to Balbinka Korzeniowska’s Playing Through (Best Narrative Feature), Eric Bendick’s Path of the Panther (Best Documentary Feature) and Diane Moore’s Conducting Life (Best Short Film). Both feature films received cash prizes of $1,000 and the short film winner received a cash prize of $500.

The Chimaera Project announces recipients for 2022 TO.GET.HER film finishing funds for female and non-binary filmmakers

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Founders of The Chimaera Project, Shana Betz, Cheryl Bookout, and America Young, said, “It was an extremely detailed and painstaking process to review and assess all of the projects seeking TO.GET.HER finishing funds. As filmmakers ourselves, we understand the seemingly unsurmountable hurdles to complete a film, so everyone involved with this project took that responsibility extremely seriously. We’re thrilled for each and every one of the filmmakers who will be receiving these funds, and could not be happier that we have been able to lend a hand toward each of them realizing that dream  to finish their projects, move forward in their careers, and bottom line – make films.”

Coronado Island Film Festival 2022 announces filmmaker awards following big year for the fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Coronado Island Film Festival Executive Director Merridee Book, said, “We took another step this year in our growth as a prime destination film festival where filmmakers, especially independent filmmakers, have an opportunity to have their work seen by veteran producers, executives, and top film industry influencers, alongside our film loving audiences. Our award-winning films and our honorees have their work and careers celebrated against the backdrop of Hollywood’s beautiful home away from home a bridge ride across the bay from San Diego. Each year, we become less and less of a ‘best kept secret’ and more and more of the fest you don’t want to miss in November.”