Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Denise Ho, Jia Zhangke: CineCina teams with Kino Lorber for real Chinese heroines and virtual double features

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Yan, said, “Watching both of these films that focus on two amazing women from China and Hong Kong who have demonstrated what it means to be a leader, to be brave, to be heroic, stands in sharp contrast to the version of MULAN that Disney has delivered to film audiences. The fact that both films are the work of wonderful women filmmakers underlines why we suggest watching these films as an alternative for those seeking their Chinese heroine “fix” this week.”

Chris Hansen’s SEVEN SHORT FILMS ABOUT (OUR) MARRIAGE Opens Deep in the Heart Film Festival 2020; film lineup and some twists on the virtual approach

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Deep in the Heart FF co-founders and directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, said, “In our 4th year, it was important to everyone involved with the film festival that we not take a step back due to the pandemic, but instead to continue growing as a film festival in every way we could, innovating, expanding our footprint in the city, and forging that connection between our filmmakers and audiences. Most importantly, this year is not just about maintaining the sense of fun and love of cinema that our fest is already known for here in Waco, but doubling down on that inspiration and looking beyond to try things we hadn’t even envisioned prior to this year.”

2020 Louisiana Film Prize announces 20 finalists vying for $25,000 Grand Prize in October

By John Wildman 6 years ago

“The Louisiana Film Prize and the winning cash prize has become an ever-growing international draw for burgeoning indie filmmakers around the world. Not even a global pandemic could slow down the enthusiasm and participation for this year’s Film Prize,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Founder and Executive Director of the Film Prize Foundation. “This year will be special because people from around the world will be experience this one-of-a-kind event.”

Dusty Bias’ THE IMMORTAL JELLYFISH leads Sidewalk Film Festival filmmaker awards; successful All Drive-in 2020 edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Sidewalk Film Festival Creative Director and Lead Programmer, Rachel Morgan, said “I’m super proud of Sidewalk and all of our amazing festival-goers for successfully and safely pulling off a 100% Drive-In festival during this very strange and complicated 2020 festival season. We were able to deliver a little of the magic of Sidewalk despite the odds not being in our favor and that alone is success.

Margaret Cho Highlights Atlanta’s Out on Film; Cho to receive Icon Award, Kevin Williamson and Del Shores to talk film to top line 33rd edition of LGBTQIA+ fest

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Out on Film Festival Director, Jim Farmer, said, “2020 has been a challenging journey thus far for all of us, so along with the films that we have found from world cinema titles to award-winners, and films that have been popular thus far at other film festivals, the theme of the journey struck us for our special events with Margaret Cho and Kevin Williamson. She is a certified LGBTQIA+ icon (thus the award we will present to her) and he shaped pop culture in a major way during a heady period writing for film and television. Both have had a fascinating journey leading up to the peak of their cultural influence and beyond. As one of the longest running LGBTQIA+ film festivals, we embrace connecting those dots through our history as well as celebrating and presenting the best of the new films and filmmakers today.”

Lanie Zipoy’s THE SUBJECT Opens Harlem International Film Festival lineup for 15th edition features undiscovered international titles and films from The HUB

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Harlem International Film Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia, said. “Like many film festivals, we have made the decision to present our slate of essential cinema virtually this year, but that decision has only intensified our desire to cull great world cinema that might have been otherwise overlooked, and deserves a spotlight, as well as to 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”.

Rachel Morgan, Creative Director of Sidewalk Film Festival announces complete film lineup for all-in all Drive-in 22nd edition of film festival

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Sidewalk Film Festival Creative Director and Lead Programmer, Rachel Morgan, said, “While we would much prefer to be running from film to film in unique and beautiful spaces in downtown Birmingham this late August, I’m super proud and excited that we’ve moved to a drive-in festival despite the many challenges brought about by the current era.

LINGUA FRANCA, THE DONUT KING, and FAREWELL lead 2020 Bentonville Film Festival’s Filmmaker Awards

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Isabel Sandoval’s LINGUA FRANCA took home the top prize winning the jury award for Best Narrative Feature. Alice Gu’s THE DONUT KING was awarded Best Documentary, Rachel Harrison Gordon’s BROKEN BIRD was selected for Best Short Film Narrative and Rachel Fleit’s AVA & BIANCA won for Short Film Documentary. Taylor Lee Nagel’s Lady Liberty and Miguel Angel Duran’s Immigrant Voices of America took the honors in Episodic.

FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH, TAHARA, A WHORE LIKE ME lead Women Texas Film Festival’s Filmmaker Awards for 2020’s Virtual Edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Women Texas Film Festival Founder and Festival Director Justina Walford said, “The virtual presentation somehow added to the immediacy of the moment with our screenings and Q&As and it was thrilling to not just experience each film without distractions but to also hear from so many filmmakers and actors and documentary subjects from all around the world right in our living rooms. And the films that our jury selected for these awards all shared the fact that they touched and inspired our judges to such an extent that they needed to be honored.”