Reporting on film festivals
“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.”
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.”
Winners were led by Peter Parlow’s THE PLAGIARISTS, which took home The William Greaves Award, and Adam Sekuler’s 36 HOURS which was honored with The Carolee Schneeman Award. The CUFF Audience Award winner was Stuart Swezey’s DESOLATION CENTER.
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
Paul Starkman’s WHEELS leads awards at the Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) announced the award
“Each year, we are overwhelmed by the sheer number of films dealing with pressing issues from an unseen angle as well as those that are pushing boundaries culturally and socially. This year is no exception and our choices were from numerous films worthy of gala status,” said the Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia.
EarthxFilm’s Artistic Director, David Holbrooke, said, “Our festival grew in so many exciting ways this year and we are excited about its potential as we look towards 2020 and the 50th celebration of Earth Day. What was striking to me about the awards as a programmer was how both our shorts and feature juries rewarded films about environmental justice. It’s a relatively new subject for filmmakers and these can be particularly difficult stories to tell or to hear because they are so all around challenging so it’s gratifying to see that these stellar documentaries so resonated with the judges.”
Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington, said, “The move to March was inspired by a desire to give us a little more breathing room following the Academy Awards broadcast and the conclusion of the Sundance Film Festival, opening up more potential for select films to play that fest as well as Oxford FF.”
“We are thrilled to honor Jamie this year. She is the embodiment of fearless courage and the power of what representation can do to elevate a community of people around the world,” said Academy Award winner Geena Davis, BFF Co-Founder and Chair. “Championing the underrepresented is the sole reason I wanted to launch this festival.”
Paradise said, “We’re looking to deliver a film festival that will offer feature-length and short films selected via submissions as well as those drawn from top-notch film festivals from around the world. Boulder E/N/O FF will also be unique both in it’s joining of the environmental documentary and the outdoor sports film. We feel that putting those films side-by-side will help provide a different overall perspective throughout the fest’s four-day schedule, allowing us to discuss the dire issues facing our environment while equally celebrating our embrace of nature via our interactions with it.”
