John Wildman

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The Harlem International Film Festival Announces the film lineup for its 13th edition with a lot of alumni and world premieres

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The 2018 Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) today announced official selections for the 13th (or XIII) edition of the film festival taking place on May 3-6 at the Magic Johnson Theatre (2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd.). With a festival-wide theme of “Harlem International Presents XIIIgent films for Exigent Times!”, the Opening Night selection will feature the return of award-winning alum Christina Kallas, with her film festival hit, THE RAINBOW EXPERIMENT. Iconic British director John Irvin’s MANDELA’S GUN will make its world premiere as the Closing Night selection. The four-day film festival will showcase more than 80 films, music videos, and VR projects featuring world cinema, narrative, documentaries, animation, VR, and more, representing 25 countries.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: EarthxFilm 2018 kicks things off with THE HUMAN ELEMENT, student filmmakers, and Nooty the Nutria

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The 2018 EarthxFilm festival kicked off its sprawling week and a half of screenings and events with a presentation of THE HUMAN ELEMENT and DITCH THE VAN at Dallas’s Angelika Theatre with photographer James Balog, representing the former, and musician Ben Sollee on hand representing the latter,on Friday, April 13, followed by a special screening of RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE at the Texas Theare with a very special guest – Nooty the Nutria. Friday night also included some student filmmakers from EarthxFilm’s online film competition having their first red carpet rock star moments.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The Bentonville Film Festival Announces music lineup, the shorts list, special entertainment areas and villages and much more

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) founded by Walmart and Presented by Coca-Cola, announced a notable array of musical acts set to perform at the Coca-Cola Sound Stage at The Meteor, which includes Lauren Alaina, Carly Pearce, and Song Suffragettes. Headliner Martina McBride, will put an exclamation point on the six-day fest at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony, sponsored by P&G, and hosted by The Real’s Loni Love, where actor Natalie Morales will receive the inaugural See It Be It award.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The Bentonville Film Festival announces film lineup with competition films, spotlight screenings, outdoor screenings, and if that weren’t enough – every single Marvel Cinema Universe film for free

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), founded by Walmart and Presented by Coca-Cola, announced today the lineup of official feature film selections for the festival’s fourth edition, May 1-6, 2018. The inclusive lineup includes an impressive slate of films – more than half from underrepresented creators – including 42 Competition Films, 13 episodic content presentations, notable showcase screenings of top festival films, critical favorites, anniversary screenings of classics, a presentation of family focused and animated greats on their Sony/Orville Redenbacher’s Outdoor Theater at Lawrence Park, and every film to date from the Marvel Cinema Universe in a special free-to-the-public presentation for BFF’s film fans.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The 2018 Bentonville Film Festival puts their money where the filmmakers are with incredible lineup of panels placing moviemakers on the stage with business leaders to talk diversity and inclusion

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The filmmaker and film industry panels will feature attending actors, producers and directors, along with some of the leaders and brightest minds from forward-thinking companies and organizations, discussing issues and ideas focused on diversity, inclusion practices, and innovative and authentic perspectives that influence and shape our continually shifting world.

FILM NEWS: Studio Movie Grill makes surprise announcement of 2018 Opening Hearts & Minds Award honoree

By John Wildman 8 years ago

Studio Movie Grill (“SMG”) made a surprise announcement this past week that Big Thought’s Lisa Schmidt would be the recipient of their 2018 Opening Hearts & Minds Award on June 14. The news was revealed following one of Big Thought’s special screenings of A WRINKLE IN TIME facilitated by Schmidt for underserved schools, hosted and sponsored by Studio Movie Grlll.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The 2018 Bentonville Film Festival Announces World Premiere of Elissa Downs's THE HONOR LIST to open the fest, and Lea Thompson's feature directing debut, THE YEAR OF SPECTACULAR MEN as their Centerpiece choice

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) returns to Bentonville, Arkansas May 1-6, 2018, and has announced two featured titles: its Opening Night Selection is the world premiere of Elissa Down’s THE HONOR LIST, from Lionsgate’s Studio L, and the festival will present a Centerpiece Screening of Lea Thompson’s THE YEAR OF SPECTACULAR MEN. BFF will team with the founding sponsor for the World Premiere of Tracey Aivaz’s short film THE BOX, commissioned by Walmart to celebrate the art of storytelling.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The 2018 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Announces Filmmaker Awards and Wraps Up a Fest Highlighted by Surf Nite, Wine Country, and the amazing Pam Grier

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The 2018 San Luis Obispo Film Festival announced the winners of their jury and audience awards during closing night events held over consecutive evenings, Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18, at San Luis Obispo’s legendary Fremont Theatre. Leading the way for the jury awards were Harris Doran’s BEAUTY MARK (Best Narrative Feature) and Moon Chang-Yong and Jeon Jin’s BECOMING WHO I WAS (Best Documentary Feature). Audience Award winners were topped by Peter Luisi’s STREAKER (Flitzer), chosen as Best Narrative Feature, Julie Simone’s FIDDLIN’ winning audience favor as Best Documentary Feature, and Mark Hayes’s documentary SKID ROW MARATHON taking the Best of Fest award.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: EarthxFilm Announces Lineup for its 2nd Year – With Key Environmental Heavy Hitters Back For An Encore

By John Wildman 8 years ago

EarthxFilm presented by EarthX (formerly Earth Day Texas) today announced the full slate of films and VR presentations for the environmentally focused film festival’s 2nd edition at Fair Park and theaters throughout Dallas, Texas on April 13-22. Following a “Kick-Off” week of special screenings and events from April 13-18, Louie Psyihoyos’s THE GAME CHANGERS will be the official Opening Night selection for a Gala Presentation on Thursday, April 19, at the Wyly Theatre in the Dallas Arts District.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: aGLIFF announces name change, Queer Youth Media Project, and Call For Entries at SXSW Queer Filmmaker Brunch

By John Wildman 8 years ago

On Saturday, March 10, aGLIFF hosted a boisterous filmmakers brunch at Austin’s The Iron Bear bar to celebrate LGBTQ+ films and filmmakers at SXSW and utilized the occasion to formally announce the festival has changed its name from the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival to the All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival, as aGLIFF looks to their 31st edition in September of this year (September 6-9).