Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival 2022 puts the focus on local filmmaking and celebrating shorts

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Deep in the Heart FF co-founders and directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, said, “We recognize the impact this film festival increasingly makes on the Waco filmmaking ecosystem, just as it solidifies its place each year as a key stop on the map for filmmakers attending regional film festivals on the national tour. Giving our filmmakers more opportunities beyond the wonderful interaction with our Waco audiences to help with their development as artists, and maybe encourage them to come back to town to shoot their next project here is a central focus for this film festival. Of course, the sense of fun and love of cinema that Deep in the Heart FF will be omnipresent once again as our ability to spread the gospel of our films and what we do has become stronger and made us quite a force to be reckoned with.”

Austin’s Cine Las Americas International Film Festival 2022 announces filmmaker awards after successful return to theaters

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Cine Las Americas Executive Director Gabriel Ornelas, said, “The platform we create for these films and filmmakers and the connection that is made to the audiences here in Austin are vital for both the filmmaker and the film lover. Our team worked hard to ensure we had great screenings, presentations and events focused on our films and attending filmmakers, and we could not have been more pleased with the result of those efforts. This year’s edition reaffirmed how much Cine Las Americas is an important part of the cultural fabric in a city that continues to be a central hub for filmmaking here in Texas and the Southwest.”

The Chimaera Project gets $20K from the NEA for TO.GET.HER female filmmaker film finishing funds

By John Wildman 4 years ago

“The Chimaera Project is thrilled to have the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Our project amplifies the voices of women, non-binary, and Two Spirit filmmakers to change stereotypes and create equal opportunities in the film and media arts industries, said Cheryl Bookout, The Chimaera Project, Executive Director, and Co-Founder. “By giving visionaries the resources to create we give voice to critical storytelling and by placing women in directors’ chairs, a ripple effect is created for more diversity in hiring practices.”

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2022 announces award winners with Anmol Sidhu’s JAGGI leading the way with two wins

By John Wildman 4 years ago

IFFLA Executive Director Christina Marouda, said, “This year’s edition of the film festival was wonderful in so many ways. The excitement felt by the reunion of so many of our filmmakers, patrons, and film fans back in the theaters was something we all shared. The months and weeks leading to the festival, we weren’t sure whether people would show up after a three-year break from an in-person festival. We were overwhelmed to see everyone coming back, eager to reconnect with the community and the IFFLA family, watch films and celebrate our 20th anniversary. We walk away from this year’s festival feeling energized and filled with gratitude.”

New York International Children’s Film Festival announces 3rd Annual Industry Forum

By John Wildman 4 years ago

“We’re thrilled to see more awareness and intentionality around supporting diverse stories and creators in children’s media,” added Maria-Christina Villaseñor, NYICFF Programming Director. “We want to devise more onramps for emerging creators, share ways to mindfully support their ongoing development and success. With over 25 years of identifying talented filmmakers and partnering with industry producers, platforms, and educators, we’re doing what we can to connect the dots with honest conversation, inspiration, and actionable ideas.”

Harlem International Film Festival opens with 3 world premieres and screens at three sites in the city

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Harlem International Film Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia, said. “We are excited to once again have screenings at the New York Public Library and Columbia University, which both hold wonderful memories for this film festival. At the same time, we look forward to sharing so many wonderful films virtually to introduce our audiences throughout the state of New York to films from around the world. And, of course, we’ll continue our efforts to truly showcase the filmmakers and the setting of our beloved home neighborhoods of Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, which we call the HUB.”

Alex Liu’s A SEXPLANATION picked for release by Passion River and FUSE TV gets some sexy time too

By John Wildman 4 years ago

We are thrilled to be able to represent A Sexplanation — a truly important and relevant film that also is truly entertaining,” said Josh Levin, head of Sales and Acquisitions for Passion River Films. “This is the education everyone needs and so few get. In this time of cultural and political division — and its effect on what can be taught in schools — this film is vitally needed… and hella funny.”

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 2022 announces Closing Gala events and Anurag Kashyap Master Class

By John Wildman 4 years ago

IFFLA Executive Director Christina Marouda, said, “This year’s Closing celebration will be focused on the future of our filmmakers. Emphasizing a commitment to the next generation of filmmakers and the films and television projects they create is essential to what we do – and have always done at this film festival. Ending this year’s edition of IFFLA with a flourish of readings, previews, and performances is exciting and beyond appropriate for where our heart is this year. And to be able to add a master class from a beloved alum, Anurag Kashyap, whose filmmaking journey has been in many ways parallel to IFFLA’s growth could not be more fitting for this year’s landmark celebration.”