Film Festival News

Reporting on film festivals

Dan Brawley Annc’s Film Festival Alliance Goes Global

By John Wildman 7 years ago

“The Alliance has grown steadily over the past five years, and now there is an increased interest in widening our membership reach,” said FFA Board President & Cucalorus Festival’s Chief Instigating Officer Dan Brawley. “As an organization, we’ve created a collective voice for film festivals and we want to expand that conversation so that we can share stories, resources, and challenges with our peers around the world. We see this as an essential step in order to address the constant shifts in our industry related to technology, consumption, and culture.”

Mindy Bledsoe’s THE IN-BETWEEN led awards at Women Texas Film Festival 2019 announces Filmmaker Awards after big year for the fest

By John Wildman 7 years ago

Women Texas Film Festival Founder and Artistic Director Justina Walford said, “I am in love with this jury. Each juror added wisdom and gravitas, but most importantly used their love of filmmakers to be the focus of their decisions. As always, we want to not simply screen films envisioned and created by women, but to push forward the risk takers. And this group of films and the filmmakers that created them earned the right to be singled out via these awards.”

Abby Meyers and Kevin Brooks’ A NIGHT OUT Big Winner! The 2019 Memphis Film Prize announces this year’s winners

By John Wildman 7 years ago

“The Memphis Film Prize took a massive leap this year towards our goal of being one of the most important film competitions and essential catalysts for independent film production in the nation,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder and executive director of the Film Prize Foundation. “We are so proud of our talented filmmakers and of the spirited attendees from this year’s Film Prize, and we are looking forward to coming back next year and being bigger, better, and burning brighter than ever!”

Emily Cohn’s CRSHD Opens Women Texas Film Festival; Lineup for 2019 including medical-themed pics, horror, award-winners and a feminist kissing booth!

By John Wildman 7 years ago

WTxFF Founder and Artistic Director Justina Walford said WTxFF Founder and Artistic Director Justina Walford said, “It is getting harder and harder to contain within four days all of the amazing films I find. Women Texas Film Festival has grown every year and we have nearly doubled in content. Three locations. 17 features. So many short films that we selected out of an ocean of compelling short film submissions. And since our goal is to show the range of the female storyteller, you will see every genre, every style. The notion of gender behind the camera takes a backseat to the grit, emotion, and vision projected on the screen. As it should.”

David Charles Rodrigues’ GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH Set to Open 2019 aGLIFF; Film Lineup for longest running Austin-based film fest

By John Wildman 7 years ago

aGLIFF Artistic Director Jim Brunzell, said, “aGLIFF has always had a strong ‘familial’ quality to it, with filmmakers making films that address subjects and issues we all deal with, or touch emotions that reach everyone – not just those under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. This year’s edition once again exemplifies that feeling, and our honoree lineup highlights the quality of the filmmakers we have been fortunate to have at aGLIFF, as well as simply enjoy and appreciate their work on the big screen. This is a film festival where the filmmakers – from features to shorts, narrative to docs, and everything in between – truly support each other and seem to return year-after-year to touch base and screen new works for the film-going and the filmmaking community here in Austin and Texas.”

Rose Troche, Jim Fall Tribute Award honorees at 2019 aGLIFF; join Breakthrough Award honoree in August

By John Wildman 7 years ago

aGLIFF Artistic Director Jim Brunzell, said, “Rose and Jim are wonderful filmmakers that are not simply responsible for some classic LGBTQ+ cinema like GO FISH and TRICK, but have also lent their considerable talents to television and virtual reality projects, too. Lisa has been a fixture at aGLIFF, not only with films she has directed, but with films and alongside filmmakers that she has helped steer toward greater heights via her vision. All three exemplify the best spirit of this creative community, supporting other artists even as they push themselves toward their best work.”

Founder Gregory Kallenberg Anncs 2019 Memphis Film Prize 10 Finalists who will compete for this year’s $10,000 Grand Prize

By John Wildman 7 years ago

“There are a number of amazing stories behind the scenes that go along with these projects – all shot in Memphis and Shelby County,” said David Merrill, the Memphis Prize Filmmaker Liaison. “That said, with the passion and power of these amazing films, we know this is going to be the best Memphis Film Prize Festival we’ve ever had.”

Ben Masters’ THE RIVER AND THE WALL Opens The Boulder Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival announces film lineup for brand new fest’s debut in July

By John Wildman 7 years ago

This is our world and while these wonderful, insightful films can illustrate what is going on around us, and illuminate us all regarding both the world’s beauty, majesty, frailty, and our place in it, we think it’s vital to be an active participant in that world. Therefore, the Boulder E/N/O FF will also feature panel discussions and conversations with the filmmakers, their subjects, and experts to give our audiences an opportunity to use the films as launch points to learn more and talk about what they have just witnessed on the big screen.”

Adam Khalil and Bayley Sweitzer’s EMPTY METAL Opens Chicago Underground Film Festival with a “provocative” lineup for its 26th edition

By John Wildman 7 years ago

The Chicago Underground Film Festival, today announced the lineup for its 26th edition, taking place on June 5-9. Known for featuring an international slate of innovative, exciting and provocative films and videos, CUFF bookends this year’s film festival with two films that epitomize those three words. Adam Khalil and Bayley Sweitzer’s EMPTY METAL will screen as the Opening Night selection on Wednesday, June 5, and Nicole Brending’s DOLLHOUSE: THE ERADICATION OF FEMALE SUBJECTIVITY FROM AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE is the Closing Night selection