John Wildman

Bill Gallagher’s RUNNER leads 2019 Naples International Film Festival nearly triples cash prizes for filmmaker awards

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The 2019 Naples International Film Festival announced the filmmaker award winners during the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 27. The jury prize for Best Narrative Feature (and a cash prize of $7,500) went to Amber McGinnis’ INTERNATIONAL FALLS, and the jury prize for Best Documentary Feature (and $7,500) was given to Bill Gallagher’s RUNNER. Gallagher’s film also took NIFF’s Audience Award for Documentary Feature (and an additional $2,000), while R.J. Daniel Hanna’s MISS VIRGINIA was the Audience Choice for Narrative Feature (also receiving $2,000).

Scott Crawford’s BOY HOWDY, John Doe, Ondi Timoner: Sound Unseen Announces Film Lineup for 20th Anniversary Edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Sound Unseen Festival Director Jim Brunzell and Producer/Co-Programmer Rich Gill, said, “Our lineup this year is a wonderful mix of films hot on the film festival circuit, classics, and screenings that include appearances by wonderful filmmakers and musicians. We are really excited about this group of films and events built around them that should make our 20th Anniversary edition truly memorable.”

Ty Roberts THE IRON ORCHARD: The Hico, Texas-based Billy the Kid Film Festival announces it will ride into town and debut on November 1-2

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Billy the Kid Film Festival today officially announced the film lineup for the first edition of the film festival, taking place in Hico, Texas, on November 1-2. Celebrating independent film, international cinema, and filmmakers with an independent spirit to match the fest’s namesake, the Billy the Kid Film Festival will present films from around the world, films that have a distinctly Texas-flavor to them, and films that will engage, entertain, and surprise audiences.

Van Maximilian Carlson’s PRINCESS OF THE ROW Opens 2019 Naples International Film Festival, closes with RAIDERS, and salutes Joey Pants

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Naples International Film Festival Producer Shannon Franklin said, “We simply have a wonderful lineup of films this year. From tearjerkers and thoughtful dramas, to sincerely funny and delightful comedies, as well as documentaries that are sure to keep you off guard, our audiences will be riding a roller coaster of emotions over the four days of NIFF. And what could be cooler than that?”

Dallas-based EarthxFilm President co-Founder/President Michael Cain sends out a Call for Entries for the 2020 edition of the environmentally-focused film festival

By John Wildman 6 years ago

EarthxFilm will give away a total of $20,000 in prize money to award winners selected by juried competition as well as audience determination. Those awards also include the film festival’s unique Earth Catalyst Award and Impact Award, which is given to the subjects and causes that the winning films highlight or introduce audiences to via their screenings at the film festival. It’s another example of how EarthxFilm, extends itself beyond film exhibition to actively support the environmentally-focused causes those films shine a light on.

James Harlon Palmer ‘s ANNIVERSARY: The 2019 Louisiana Film Prize’s Big $50K Winner is a home-grown musical

By John Wildman 6 years ago

“This year was marked by epic growth – more films entered in the competition, another steep climb in audience numbers, our first competing finalists coming from another country, a wider range of genres and styles, and more,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Founder and Executive Director of the Film Prize Foundation. “This record setting year was not only a banner year for the Film Prize, it was also a banner year for independent filmmaking at its highest level.”

Seamus Murphy’s A DOG CALLED MONEY Opens Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival; Gala selections and key titles for 20th Anniversary edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film/Music Festival (November 12-17) previewed the film festival’s 20th Anniversary edition of the festival, revealing the titles of five initial selections. Recently announced as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” Sound Unseen has chosen Seamus Murphy’s A DOG CALLED MONEY for its Opening Night Gala co-presented with the Walker Art Center. Brandon Vedder’s STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS is the Centerpiece Selection.

Elia Suleiman’s IT MUST BE HEAVEN Opens New York City’s 2nd Annual CineCina Film Festival ; Announces Lineup celebrating World Cinema

By John Wildman 6 years ago

CineCina Film Festival Founder and Director Vina Sun, said, “In our second year, we have created a ‘road’ theme meant to highlight our cinematic journey, the connection, and mutual communication platform we seek to build to boost film culture exchanges. Our programming has expanded to all world cinema beyond the Chinese focus we established with last year’s debut. That creative road also leads to our Horizon Project, meant to encourage and develop young filmmakers, as well as Master Class lectures, which will feature film artists like one of our special guests this year, Samuel Maoz.”