Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Film Festival 2023 highlights Ukraine and Polish cinema among film lineup

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Greenpoint Film Festival Creative Director Ricardo Vilar, said, “We are thrilled to be returning indoors for this year’s edition of the film festival. We’re having fun when say we are “steaming” our films this year since we’ll be in The Boiler but our lineup definitely has a lot of heat with award winners, thought provoking subjects, exciting new talent, and more. For more than a decade, we have celebrated cinema here in North Brooklyn, and this year’s edition looks to be one of our strongest yet.”

Waco’s Deep in the Heart FF celebrates DAZED AND CONFUSED and honors Jason London

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Deep in the Heart FF co-founders and directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, said, “We could not be more thrilled to add this weekend-long celebration of such an influential film shot here in Texas to what was already a jam-packed festival of great films and events. Having Jason London here to accept our Chisholm Trailblazer Award, headline our Opening Night Red Carpet and participate in what is sure to be a very entertaining conversation about the making of the film and his career is just so much icing on the cake. Each year, we have tried to add something new and special for our film fans to enjoy, and what could be better than this?”

Festival of Cinema NYC 2023 announces films, events, and a home-grown honoree for August fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Festival of Cinema NYC returns to the Regal UA Midway and the Queens Library at Forest Hills for its 7th year, August 3 – August 13. The festival opens with Christina Kallas’ indie NYC favorite Paris in Harlem and closes with Anna Baumgarten’s multiple award-winning drama Disfluency. Dito Montiel will be honored with FOC NYC’s inaugural Achievement in Filmmaking Award in conjunction with a special screening of his film, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and Greg Brownderville and Bart Weiss’ groundbreaking Southern Gothic multi-media project Fire Bones will be presented live in New York City for the first time.

Ojai Film Society kicks off 2023 Free Summer Film Series with GOING VARSITY IN MARIACHI

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Regarding the creation of the Summer Film Series, Ojai Film Society President, Kathleen Schafer, said, “As the OFS emerged from the Pandemic, we understood the need for a new way of fulfilling our mission to bring film to the Ojai Valley. By focusing on screening films outdoors and making attendance free for everyone, it is easier for anyone who wants to enjoy these films to do so. And the enthusiastic response of our audiences helps attract filmmakers to bring their new films to Ojai. Not only is it a wonderful model for watching films, but it is also a great way for filmmakers to share their work with communities.” This year’s theme is ‘Shooting for the Stars,’ which reflects the aspirational, and practical ways we are all searching for something better for our lives.”

Waco’s Deep in the Heart FF 2023 grows, expands indie features lineup for this month’s fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

The Deep in the Heart Film Festival announced the film and events lineup for its 7th edition, which will combine in-theater screenings July 20-23, followed by an online encore July 24-30. Deep in the Heart FF will kick things off with an Opening Night presentation of Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett’s film festival sensation Finding Her Beat, and Anna Baumgarten’s decorated drama Disfluency will be the Closing Night selection. The festival will also present a special multi-media screening and performance of Greg Brownderville and Bart Weiss’ critically acclaimed Southern Gothic shaggy dog story Fire Bones, and a Friday Night Spotlight screening of Thaddeus D. Matula’s inspiring documentary Into the Spotlight.

Austin’s Cine Las Americas 2023 wraps up 25th Anniversary celebration with Filmmaker Awards

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Austin’s Cine Las Americas announced the filmmaker award winners following the conclusion of a hugely successful 25th Anniversary edition of the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival (CLAIFF). Leading the list of films winning jury prizes were Clara Cullen’s Manuela (Best Narrative Feature), and Gisela Delgadillo’s Kenya (Best Documentary Feature). Films taking the Audience Awards were topped by Marie Clements’ Bones of Crows (Narrative Feature), and Miwene, directed by Keith Heyward, Jennifer Berglund, Gange Anita Yeti Enomenga, Obe Beatriz Nenquimo Nihua(Documentary Feature).

Freestyle Digital Media picks up Linh Tran’s Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE for North American VOD

By John Wildman 3 years ago

“DePaul’s Indie Studio Initiative showcases the filmmakers of tomorrow,” said Bill Vergos, Head of Digital Film Distribution for Freestyle Digital Media. “We at Freestyle have partnered with this unique program because rising talent such as Linh Tran and her team deserve an opportunity for their hard work and creativity to be seen on as many platforms as possible.”

Asian Film Festival of Dallas 2023 Announces Film Lineup highlighted with Slamdance and Sundance winners

By John Wildman 3 years ago

AFFD Executive Director Thomas Schubert, said, “This year’s edition of the film festival will build upon the successes of our efforts to reinvigorate the film festival format here in Dallas by highlighting appearances and conversations with our filmmakers and talent, and making sure we have ways that the people who love Asian cinema and films in general can immerse themselves in that joy. AFFD has always been a signature event for Dallas film lovers, introducing exciting films and cinema to DFW, and this year we will continue to try new ways to add to the fun.”

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival 2023 Announces Filmmaker Awards and wraps winner of a fest

By John Wildman 3 years ago

Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil (Best Narrative Feature) and Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb’s Butterfly in the Sky (Best Documentary Feature) led the jury awards. Audience Award winners were topped by Nardeep Khurmi’s Land of Gold, chosen as Best Narrative Feature, Jesse Rudoy’s Dusty and Stones, Best Documentary Feature, with Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry taking the Audience Best of Fest award.

Cine Las Americas announces film and events for 25th Anniversary edition in June

By John Wildman 3 years ago

CLAIFF Lead Programmer Ernie Quiroz, added, “We are thrilled that this year’s 25th anniversary edition is all the more special due to it being such a thoroughly female filmmaker-dominated lineup. This year’s group of films also is incredibly exciting with a strong current of thrillers and illuminating documentaries running throughout it. Our audiences are in for several great nights at the movie theater!”