Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Philippe Falardeau ’s MY SALINGER YEAR Opens 2021 San Luis Obispo Film Fest: hybrid film fest including Surf Nite at the Drive-in

By John Wildman 5 years ago

San Luis Obispo Film Festival Director Skye McLennan said, “Following last year’s whirlwind experience to shift our film festival to an online presentation seemingly overnight due to the onset of the pandemic, it’s a gift to know that the same dedication we put into selecting our films is matched by the SLO Film Fest audience’s anticipation to see them – virtually or in-person. But safety is still the priority, so while we will all go to the drive-in for Surf Nite, the rest of the time, we will once again be coming into our film faithful’s homes to deliver the best movies we could find.”

Ashley O’Shay’s UNAPOLOGETIC at Film Festival Alliance will wrap up FilmEx with Film Festival Day bow on Saturday, January 16

By John Wildman 5 years ago

“Ashley’s film is important, timely and the perfect culmination to a week of honest conversations with over 800 independent film exhibitors at FIlmEx. We’re thrilled to support the filmmakers in presenting UNAPOLOGETIC to audiences across North America, in this new model of distribution, and look forward to hearing her talk about the experience of making the film and how it reflects on what we just saw take place in Georgia and the rest of the country.”

Michael Cain, Founder of Dallas’ EarthxFilm, Calls for Entries for 2021 edition of environmentally-focused fest

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Holbrooke said, “While this has been a year like no other, we also know that our planet’s air, water and biodiversity continue to be enormously threatened. The filmmakers out there in the environmental space are going to keep making the movies that bring us stories that both disturb and inspire us to be better stewards of the earth.”

Gray Rodriguez joins Film Festival Alliance; January film fest meetup void with FilmEx, adds more staff

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Film Festival Alliance Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner, said, “FilmEx will set the tone for the year to come, bringing everyone in the ever-growing film festival and art house cinema communities together in the virtual space we are all currently inhabiting, to share new ideas, methods, and business practices, as our members and others continue to innovate the ways in which we present films, and benefit filmmakers, distributors and audiences. We hope to join the voices of experience and bring new ones to the table, to look at the ways in which we move forward and the opportunities that exist for change.”

Brian Elliot and David Feagan’s AGE OF BRYCE leads honors at Texas’ Billy the Kid Film Festival 2020 announces award winners

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Vasquez and DiGiorgio said, “We took on the challenge to do a virtual presentation and the combination of our Billy the Kid Film Festival with Justina Walford and the Women Texas Film Festival actually confirmed that we were on the right track in creating this film festival just two years ago. It was clear – even in the virtual space – how special and unique Texas film is and how much our local Hico and Hill Country community enjoys and supports the work of those filmmakers. The fact that we could also make a dedicated effort to support and put forward the work of some wonderful women filmmakers and talent also made for a wonderful weekend.”

David Gutnik’s MATERNA leads Naples International Film Fest 2020; announces awards BASTARDS’ ROAD, and COMING CLEAN

By John Wildman 5 years ago

The 2020 Naples International Film Festival announced the filmmaker award winners following the conclusion of this year’s virtual/outdoor screening hybrid fest. The jury prize for Best Narrative Feature (and a cash prize of $1,250) went to David Gutnik’s MATERNA, and the jury prize for Best Documentary Feature (and $1,250) was given to Brian Morrison’s BASTARDS’ ROAD. Audience Awards went to Lanie Zipoy’s THE SUBJECT (Best Narrative Film) and Lynn Montgomery’s AMAZING GRACE (Best Documentary Film), which each won a cash prize of $1000.

Chris Zuhdi’s MEXICAN MOON Highlighted part of Hico’s Billy the Kid Film Festival teams with Dallas’ Women Texas Film Festival for fest highlighting Texas productions and women filmmakers November 6-7

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Vasquez and DiGiorgio said, “We launched the Billy the Kid Film Festival last year because the thought of combining the unique personality of Hico with our love of film was a winner no matter how we looked at it. However, our audiences’ and our filmmakers’ safety is first and foremost, and this virtual presentation will also give us an opportunity to share these films statewide and hopefully introduce them to even more film fans.”

Darius Marder’s SOUND OF METAL Opens Sound Unseen 2020 announces film and events lineup with the Bee Gees, Frank Zappa, the GoGos’ Kathy Valentine, Doc Severinsen and more.

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Sound Unseen Festival Director Jim Brunzell and Program Director Rich Gill, said, “This year we have an exciting lineup of films we have been looking forward to seeing for some time now, some great discoveries, and virtual appearances by very cool filmmakers, film subjects, authors, and more. It couldn’t be a better year to reach across state lines and bring the Sound Unseen experience to film and music fans in both Minnesota and Texas. We’re especially excited to open our doors to Texas and give them their first opportunity to check out what we’ve been doing for two decades now.”