John Wildman

Jim Brunzell III leads Oxford Film Festival 2022, Hot off MovieMaker’s “50 Film Festivals…worth it”

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Brunzell, said, “I’m extremely excited for this new opportunity with OxFilm. Outgoing ED Melanie Addington has done an incredible job and has been a force bringing OxFlim to the national forefront in regional film festivals in North America. I have some very big shoes to fill and I’m thrilled to get to Oxford and start working with the board of directors, staff, volunteers, sponsors and the Oxford community in continuing its rich and vibrant festival.”

Multi-talent Paige Stark from Tashaki Miyaki picks up the camera to direct the group’s music videos herself

By John Wildman 5 years ago

But this is a film site, right? So, in this Q&A with Détente’s Tiina Teal, Stark discusses her inspirations and dynamics while offering unique insights from a musician who has transferred their auditory, creative impulses into a newly interpreted visual form. Tashaki Miyaki’s new album Castaway releases this July via Metropolis Records. I’ve been writing to it for a couple weeks now, so I’m putting my money where my mouth is there. Go pre-order it here, and view their videos “Castaway” and “Gone”.

Andrea Štaka’s Mare leads awards for SEEfest 2021; highlighting cinematography among the winners

By John Wildman 5 years ago

“It is a special privilege for us at SEEfest to recognize artists of South East European heritage who enrich international cinema,” says Vera Mijojlić, founder and director of SEEfest. “These awards are representative of cultural and cinematic diversity of South East Europe, and we are proud of our track record in discovering new talent, bringing to American audiences the beauty, artistry, ingenuity of these marginalized cultures. Our festival team congratulates all award winners, with special thanks to the Jury and industry members whose support is indispensable.”

Sally Aitken’s Playing with Sharks leads awards at EarthxFilm 2021; with $26K in cash prizes going to filmmakers and environmental organizations

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Michael Cain, Co-Founder and President of EarthxFilm, said, “It was exciting to return to drive-ins, outdoor cinema and socially-distanced theaters, and have our filmmakers come back to Dallas, walk our green carpet, and hear the reaction to their films from live audiences once again. A special moment shared by all was learning of the 2020 EarthxFilm Best Documentary Winner My Octopus Teacher winning the Oscar during our final Q and A. One thing that never changes – pandemic or not – is our commitment to the filmmakers, the causes they explore and the organizations whose work they introduce us to through their films.”

CLAIFF Executive Director Gabriel Ornelas new leadership, new look: Austin’s Cine Las Americas announces hybrid plans for 23rd edition

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Cine Las Americas Lead Programmer Ernie Quiroz, said, “We are so thrilled to build on the success of last year’s Virtual Showcase to launch a hybrid edition of the 23rd Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. CLA is committed more than ever to supporting Latinx and Indigenous voices in film. We’re excited at both the prospect of returning to in-person screenings, in a safe and responsible manner but also at the idea of expanding our reach beyond the Austin city boundaries through virtual events. Both have their place and both help fulfill our mission in supporting Latinx and Indigenous filmmakers.”

Tarabu Betserai Kirkland’s 100 Years from Mississippi Opens 2021 Harlem International Film Festival announces triple feature kicking off film lineup for May

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Harlem International Film Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia, said. “We are thrilled to return to the theater, have a red carpet welcome for our filmmakers, live audiences and Q&As, and experience the magic of film festival discovery in the company of one another the way we did prior to the pandemic. At the same time, we will also utilize the virtual presentations to not just introduce our audiences throughout the state of New York to films from around the world, but also to interact and connect with filmmakers from all over the globe. 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.”

NIFF Festival Producer Shannon Franklin on MovieMaker ‘Coolest’ List and Naples International Film Festival 2021 Call for Entries

By John Wildman 5 years ago

“In 2020, NIFF faced the same challenges that all film festivals faced,” said Festival Producer Shannon Franklin. “However, we enjoy the great benefit of being a part of Artis—Naples. NIFF is unique in that we not only champion independent film and artists, we emphasize their placement next to – and as part of –the visual and performing arts that Artis—Naples celebrates throughout the year.”

Sri Charan’s HALF & HALF: Local Dallas production has sneak preview screening

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Sri Charan’s HALF & HALF, a dialogue-free comedy shot and produced in Dallas, Texas, had a sneak preview screening for cast and crew members on Saturday, April 10 at the Angelika Theater in Plano. The independent film shot during the pandemic will hit the regional film festival circuit starting this summer as it looks to take its inventive comic story of a homeless man who makes a connection with an abused wife thanks to a supermarket sweepstakes contest to family audiences across the country.

Jo Anna Edmison, Allison Rich, Lisa Gold and more SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS: Shorts #2 – 7 filmmakers with truly great shorts

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about why these filmmakers went through the effort it takes to make any film – feature or short – in the service of something that they, in all blunt likelihood, will never make a dime for their toil. Allison and Keith talk about the challenges and benefits of directing themselves. Finally, I ask each filmmaker to give a name check or shout out to a crew or cast member who was a true lifesaver to either getting the film made or having it turn out as well as it did.

Loretta Todd’s MONKEY BEACH: SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS: taking the novel to the screen and what it meant to the indigenous cast and crew members

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about the challenges of adapting a popular novel and finding the Zen of accepting the thanklessness of that effort. Todd also discusses the importance of shooting the film in the village where the book’s story was set and what that meant to the production costs, etc. We also talk about the amazing cast of indigenous actors and the rarity of having so many get to come together for a project like this and her efforts to create a safe place for them to bring those characters to life.