Reporting on film festivals
CineLife Entertainment, the event cinema division of Spotlight Cinema Networks, has teamed with Reel Plan
It is beyond thrilling to honor an actor like Alfred Molina with so many distinctive performances in so many acclaimed and memorable films, like Alfred Molina,” said SLO Film Fest Director Wendy Eidson.
The 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Film Festival (March 12-17) has revealed its full slate of films which will begin with the previously announced special Opening Night performance by Katharine Ross followed by a 50th Anniversary screening of the classic BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID. Along with the films competing in the George Sidney Independent Films Competition, SLO is bringing back several festival favorites from years past for encore presentations. The line-up includes 147 films (23 narrative features, 38 documentary features, and 86 short films) representing 25 countries.
The 2019 Oxford Film Festival celebrated the best of the fest with a typically entertaining awards ceremony, emceed by Crooked Marquee’s Eric D. Snider, at the Powerhouse (413 S. 14th Street) on Saturday, February 9, highlighted by the announcement of Hoka awards for Jordan Noel’s THIS WORLD ALONE for Best Narrative Feature, and Suzannah Herbert and Lauren Belfer’s WRESTLE for Best Documentary Feature.
EarthxFilm’s Artistic Director, David Holbrooke, added, “The proposed wall between the U.S. and Mexico is already such a complicated issue but Ben Masters’ film manages to examine and attempt to understand a critical aspect that’s easy to forget – the abundant wildlife that know no borders.”
Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington, said, “We pride ourselves in celebrating the work of actors’ actors with the Lisa Blount Memorial Acting Award each year, and Roger Bart could not fit the bill more perfectly.
aGLIFF Board President Ashley Marshall, said, “Jim has thoroughly and completely earned the title of Artistic Director of aGLIFF. Under his creative and pragmatic stewardship as Program Director, we have strengthened the reputation of aGLIFF and the view of the films we offer in the eyes of the critics, filmmakers, and our film fans.
“A common myth is that women aren’t making films or they’re not submitting to festivals,” said Heartland Film Film Programming Coordinator Julia Ricci. “That is far from the truth. The talent is out there and they have something to say; it is important for film festivals to amplify these voices and provide equal opportunity across the board. Heartland’s track record of recognizing and honoring female filmmakers is growing stronger each year, and I’m thrilled that we are officially committing to this initiative.”
Netter, an Emmy Award-winning producer of films like WANTED, and TV series like “Preacher”, sees the potential for major film and television projects like those being drawn to the area. The rapid ascension in the film industry’s eyes of the Bentonville Film Festival, with filmmakers from around the country and the world attending the festival with their films each year, is another indicator of the potential for business and entertainment industry synergy for the creative film community.
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (March 12-17) has announced that Katharine Ross will perform with The Malibu Coast Silent Film Orchestra on Opening Night to launch the 25th Anniversary edition of the popular film festival. Ross will tell the exciting true story of “Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express,” with the orchestra, prior to participating in a discussion on film and her award-winning career, and introducing a special 50th Anniversary screening of the 1969 classic, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.
