John Wildman

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.”

Dale Dickey and Michael Showalter honored at San Luis Obispo Intl FF 2022 with King Vidor and Spotlight Awards

By John Wildman 4 years ago

San Luis Obispo Film Festival Director Skye McLennan said, “We have been thrilled to return to the SLO Film Fest we have all known and loved for so long and bring back traditions, beloved favorites within our programming and events that this film festival is known for. The King Vidor Award, the Spotlight Award, Surf Nite, moderated talks with Ben Mankiewicz, Jenelle Riley, and more are the things lovers of cinema on the Central Coast have sorely missed. I can speak for everyone here when I say we are counting each day until SLO Film Fest opens next week!”

Oxford Film Festival 2022’s Closing Night Red Carpet featuring A LOVE SONG and some filmmaker moms

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The Oxford Film Festival’s second red carpet featured Max Walker-Silverman’s festival hit A LOVE SONG, with the director and festival honoree (Rising Star Award honoree) joined by two members of the film’s cast – star Dale Dickey, who was also being honored by the film festival with the Breakthrough Award, and Marty Grace Dennis. There was also a reunion of the Sound Unseen film festival and the filmmakers from BEING BEBE, who had a huge screening there last Fall, and some filmmaker moms and family members on hand to see their filmmaker kids enjoy a socially distanced red carpet rock star moment.

Jamie Meltzer’s documentary NOT EVEN FOR A MOMENT DO THINGS STAND STILL filmmaking team enjoys award-winning SXSW experience

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The talk focused more on the art installation itself, but also was a reaffirmation of how Firstenberg’s work fused with Meltzer’s work as a filmmaker to create a piece that didn’t simply document what was literally on the ground, but fulfilled the ambition most documentarians have – of providing a keener insight into the impact of the art (in this case), and to capture moments, sights, sounds, and emotions that one could easily miss in the moment as they are overwhelmed by the scope and enormity of what was created there on the grounds of the National Mall.

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles celebrates 20 years with premiere-rich film lineup, a look back, and new filmmaker development plans

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Regarding the inspiration for this year’s edition of IFFLA, Co-Director of Programming Thouly Dosios, said, “This year’s festival is about reclaiming the powerful act of physically gathering together in a dark room, and processing a flickering dream as a communal experience. At the same time, it is about mindful evolution; our post-pandemic world forces us to reassess how we connect with each other and share our stories. The limitations we’ve had to deal with have empowered us to forge ahead with an expanded mind and a wilder imagination.”

AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women showcases the Class of 2022

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The American Film Institute (AFI) is hosting its annual AFI DWW (Directing Workshop for Women) showcase in person today at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles. The event provides an opportunity for the 2022 program’s participants to present their completed films to an audience of agency and studio representatives, as well as working artists from throughout the creative community.

Hugo Sobelman’s SOUL KIDS, Mye Hoang’s CAT DADDIES: Oxford Film Festival 2022’s Opening Night red carpet!

By John Wildman 4 years ago

The Oxford Film Festival returned with a new Interim Executive Director and Director of Programming to bring the world of film, as only it can, to Mississippi. Celebrating the Opening Night screening of Hugo Sobelman’s SOUL KIDS, and Mye Hoang’s festival favorite CAT DADDIES, the socially distanced red carpet included filmmakers, jury members, and representatives from the Oxford Film Festival programming team.

Anna Baumgarten’s Disfluency: Oxford Film Festival 2022 announces award winners with THE FIRST STEP, and THE FEARLESS 11 taking top prizes

By John Wildman 4 years ago

Anna Baumgarten’s Disfluency was named Best Narrative Feature, which included a $15,000 camera rental package from Panavision, and Brandon Kramer’s The First Step won Best Documentary Feature. The Best Documentary Feature prize also included a $15,000 camera rental package from Panavision. Ashley E. Gibson’s The Fearless 11 won Best Mississippi Feature. Her prize came with a one-year membership and free equipment rentals from OxFilm Society. Later, it was announced that Alysia Nahmias’ Krimes was the Barton Segal Audience Award winner.