Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

MEXICAN MOON Opening Night for Hico, Texas’ Billy the Kid Film Festival 2021 rolls out film lineup

By John Wildman 4 years ago

have continued the Billy the Kid Film Festival’s mission to connect audiences and film lovers with filmmakers with a Hico/Hill Country flavor as they have done since the inception of the film festival. This year is also cause for celebration as BTKFF returns to Main Street for screenings and events including an appearance by comedy legend and Billy the Kid Film Festival Ambassador Ruth Buzzi. BTKFF’s Closing night party, red carpet and awards will be at the Historic Hico Jail (208 S. Pecan).

Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights kicks off San Pedro International Film Festival celebrates 10th Anniversary

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The Special Screening of Chaplin’s silent classic City Lights on Friday, November 5, will be a co-presentation with Grand Vision Foundation, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, and SPIFF all coming together for what should be an exceptional movie moment at the historic Warner Grand Theatre launching the 10th Anniversary of the San Pedro International Film Festival as well as celebrating Grand Vision Foundation’s 25th Anniversary and the Warner Grand Theatre’s 90th Birthday.

Harlem International Film Festival Announces Dates and Call for Entries for 2022

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Harlem International Film Festival Program Director Nasri Zacharia said, “We pride ourselves in the ability to find films that will introduce people throughout the state of New York and the film community at large to the unique blend of global cinema and local films that we have built a reputation celebrating for more than a decade and a half now. We take our position as part of Harlem and New York City’s film and arts community seriously, and we look forward to a full return to in-person/in-theater screenings and events in 2022, even as we continue to utilize the virtual space to give our films a wider platform throughout the rest of the state as well.”

Special appearance by Material Issue: Sound Unseen 2021 announces Minneapolis screening of OUT OF TIME: THE MATERIAL ISSUE STORY

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival (October 27-29 in Austin, November 10-14 in Minneapolis) announced a special appearance by Material Issue members Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko at the screening of Balin Schneider’s documentary OUT OF TIME: THE MATERIAL ISSUE STORY. Also announced were this year’s films slated for competition as well as the lineup of jurors for the film festival.

Lissette Feliciano’s Women Is Losers leads Naples International Film Festival 2021

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The Filmmaker Awards ceremony was an emotional one with $avvy’s Robin Hauser stating that she hoped she would “have the courage to make another film” so she could return to NIFF once again. Christopher Chambers said that following an extensive and successful film festival tour for his film, A Fire Within, he was overwhelmed to see it for the first time with an audience in the theater. Holy Frit’s Justin Monroe concluded the filmmaker awards acceptance speeches with an impassioned thank you to the Artis—Naples/NIFF team and Naples film fans for their support of the filmmakers and their work, emphasizing what the experience—from being accepted into the film festival, to the hospitality and generosity of the organization, to the very vocal approval of the audiences—means to filmmakers and how it helps propel their films’ paths forward.

Marley Morrison’s Sweetheart among winners at Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival Out on Film wraps up 2021’s hybrid edition with Filmmaker Awards announcement

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Out on Film Festival Director, Jim Farmer, said, “This year’s award winners spanned styles, genres, and inspirations, as we recognized the work of both veteran filmmakers and relative newcomers with our awards. It really was an inspiring mix and rightly deserved group that received both jury and audience nods this year.”

Holger Borggrefe, Stefan Hering’s Two is a Magic Number leads awards at Festival of Cinema NYC 2021 — return to in-person screenings in Queens with Filmmaker Awards

By John Wildman 4 years ago

er and Executive Director Jayson Simba, said, “In a year filled with so many challenges, I’m incredibly proud of the staff and crew that helped put together an amazing event. Many ‘first’s’ this year included our first ever in-theater moderated presentation, as well as the festival’s first ever REALD 3D film screening. It was great to have over 50 films, out of the roughly 120, represented by attending cast and crew. Filmmakers and audience members were clearly both thrilled to be back in the theater watching their films on the big screen, and we could not have been more thrilled for it all to happen here in Forest Hills.

Gravitas Ventures picks up Dorie Barton’s WELCOME TO THE SHOW and targets November 23 release

By John Wildman 4 years ago

“Barton’s film is a great addition to the cannon of classic college movies. While the rabbit hole the characters fall deeper and deeper into is both hilarious and absurd, the acting and complex relationships keep it grounded and very relatable for anyone who has gone through a transitorily period and is unsure of what happens next. We cannot wait for audiences to see for themselves what “The Show” is truly about!” – David Sullivan, Gravitas Ventures’ Sales and Acquisitions Manager.

Sound Unseen 2021 plays in-person in both Austin and Minneapolis doubling down on last year’s virtual run in Minnesota and Texas

By John Wildman 4 years ago

placed us, like most film festivals due to the pandemic. Rather than retreating, we actually opened up our reach to the audiences that love the melding of music and film by branching out into Texas and all of Minnesota virtually. This year, we’ll keep our virtual approach in those states as we happily return to theaters in Minneapolis and theaters in Austin, as well. It will be exciting to add Sound Unseen’s in-person footprint to that music and film-rich city.”

2021 Naples International Film Festival celebrates the Art of the Short Film with this year’s lineup

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Artis—Naples announced the film lineup for the 13th annual Naples International Film Festival (NIFF) to be held October 21-24, 2021, featuring a return to in-person screenings. A central theme of this year’s edition of NIFF will be a celebration of the art of making the short film, including the first time the festival has showcased a specially curated shorts program for its Opening Night Film experience. The film festival will close with a special presentation of Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future featuring a live performance of John Williams’ classic score by the Naples Philharmonic, conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly.