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Previews
Manhattan Film Festival 2011
- Details
- Parent Category: Film Festivals
- Category: Previews
- Published on Sunday, 17 July 2011 05:00
- Written by L E Shannon
The Manhattan Film Festival runs July 21 - 25, 2011 at Symphony Space on the Upper 
West Side, with some screenings held at Village Pourhouse located Uptown in Manhattan, New York City.
Formerly known as Independent Features, the Manhattan Film Festival has grown over 700 percent in one year, and is on track to become the largest independent film festival in New York City. The organization accomplished this without the benefit of a corporate sponsor.
The Festival‛s 2011 official selections include 132 films, with more than 30 international selections. The emphasis, however, is on local filmmakers, especially Brooklyn.
So it is fitting that the Opening Night Selection is White Irish Drinkers, directed by John Gray, starring Nick Thurston, Geoffrey Wigdor, Karen Allen, Stephen Lang, Peter Riegert, Lesley Murphy. The film is set in 1970’s Brooklyn and was shot in Bay Ridge. An 18-year-old in Brooklyn feels forced to choose between two ways of life: petty crime with his brother, or the stifling 9-to-5 route his friends want. He yearns to choose a third way, if he only knew what it was.
The Closing Night film is Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football, directed by Rashid Ghazi. A Dearborn, Michigan high school football team prepares for its big cross-town rivalry game during the last ten days of Ramadan. The formerly all white school is now 98% Arab-American, reflecting a community desperately holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9-11 America.
Some of the other films are:
Manhattan Documentary Series
The After Party
Directed by Michael Schiller
"A cinematographer is caught in a mass arrest. His film crew's videotape of the incident leads to a civil rights lawsuit, uncovers a police spying ring and launches his personal investigation in to the weird world of domestic surveillance. With special appearances by Andre '3000' Benjamin, Barack Obama, The Bush Twins, Cornel West, Al Sharpton and Don King."
Run to the East
Directed by Henry Lu
Three Native American high school seniors run to earn college scholarships and overcome the economic and educational obstacles present on their reservations. "Native Americans are often portrayed as poor, unhealthy, alcoholic depressives isolated on reservations. This film explores whether a simple pursuit like running can be used to destroy stereotypes and save a culture."
A Home in the Theatre
Directed by Melodie Bryant
The Thirteenth Street Repertory Company is a 34-year-old institution whose mission is to nurture the creativity of anyone interested in theatre. An unscrupulous real estate developer wants to tear the building down and build condos in its place. The 93-year-old Artistic Director, Edith O'Hara, is determined to save the theatre.
Narrative Films:
Under Jakob's Ladder
Directed by Mann Munoz
Starring Jeff Stewart, Christopher Elliott
A country teacher named Jakob Seel defeats a Russian grandmaster in a chess tournament and the grandmaster's son, Nikolai, secretly vows to take revenge on the teacher. Twenty years later, the Soviet regime in place, Jakob is thrown into a detention camp run by a ruthless warden: Nikolai. Unaware of Nikolai's identity, Jakob offers to play a game of chess with the warden.
Maggie Marvel
Directed by Dan Brennan
Starring Selene Beretta, Diana Brennan, Katherine Barron
A single Mom moonlights as a contract killer.
Santiago
Directed by Felix Martiz
Santiago is a drug dealer who agrees to let Miguel, a Mexican actor, follow and study him for his next role. With only the cameraman at his side, Miguel sets out to document a day in the life of Santiago, struggling to survive as he juggles a world of prostitutes, territorial control, and drugs in the streets of LA.
Children’s & Family Program includes:
Alex and the Ghosts
Directed by: Éric Warin
This short animated film is about a seven-year-old boy who dreams of going to a hockey game with his father to see his favorite team play, the Montreal Canadiens. "A story of childhood magic and wonderment,... uniting the past and present, reaching out to the youthful hearts of sport fans of all ages.
One Shoe Blues
Directed by Sandra Boynton
B.B. King stars in this music video, with some sock puppets. The song "One Shoe Blues" was written by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford for the album Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never.
War of Our Children
Directed by Clint Mouriño
As a once-blissful park comes under increasing totalitarian control by Nolan, the leader of the fifth graders, Timmy, leader of the third graders, cannot stand for it any longer. With the help of his love, Emily, Timmy mu
st organize and rally his army to defeat Nolan and his band of cohorts and free the park once and for all.
Philadelphia Chickens
Directed by Sandra Boynton
An animated music video of the title song from Grammy-nominated Gold album Philadelphia Chickens. Two pigs from Connecticut travel down Interstate 95 to go watch the renowned chickens swing-dancing in a park near the Schuylkill River. The original singers of the track, Kevin and Michael Bacon, make cameo appearances, including some glimpses of Kevin Bacon dancing beside some serious chickens.
Student Film Program features the work of 19 student filmmakers, including 12 from New York City.
Also presented are two workshops:
ScreenBooker Workshop – "The dream of every filmmaker is to see their film on the big screen. ScreenBooker has the unique technology to turn those dreams into reality. This workshop offers an introduction to ScreenBooker and an opportunity to take the first step in bringing your film to the silver screen."
Digital Cinema Workflow Workshop – This seminar is designed to educate producers, directors, cinematographers, post-production professionals and others involved in the film production process about the current state of digital cinema. Panelists will identify major digital camera systems, such as RED One/Epic, ARRI Alexa, SONY F65/F35 and Phantom, and discuss the similarities and differences between these systems.
For more information, go to www.manhattanfilmfestival.org.
Manhattan Film Festival
July 21 - 25, 2011
Symphony Space
2537 Broadway (at W. 95th St.)
New York City
212-864-5400
Village Pourhouse
982 Amsterdam Avenue (at W 107th St.)
New York City
212-979-2337
LA Latino Intl FF 2011 Celebrates Quinceañera
- Details
- Parent Category: Film Festivals
- Category: Previews
- Published on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 05:00
- Written by L E Shannon
The 15th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival is screening July 17 - 25, 2011 
at the Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, California.
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) was founded in 1997 by producer/director/actor and activist Edward James Olmos and independent producer Marlene Dermer. LALIFF is a non-profit 501c(3) organization with the mission to support the development and exhibition of diverse visions by Latino filmmakers.
LALIFF 2011 celebrates its quinceañera with feature films, documentaries, shorts, and special screenings, with selected musical events. There will also be conversations with artists and panels presented by the Writers Guild of America, West and Directors Guilds of America.
The GABI Award was created in 1997 to honor legendary Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa, the first Mexican cinematographer to be nominated for an Oscar for his work in Night of the Iguana.
This year, LALIFF presents the Gabi Lifetime Achievement Award to Academy Award winner Guillermo Navarro. Navarro‛s work includes:
- The recently completed The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn
- I Am Number Four
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army
- The Devil‛s Backbone
- Pan‛s Labyrinth, for which he won the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
Film highlights are:
Without Men
directed by Gabriela Tagliavini
based on Tales from the Town of Widows by Colombian novelist James Canon
starring Eva Longoria, Kate Del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Christian Slater, Monica Huarte
All of the men in a small, remote Latin American mountain village are recruited to go fight in the country’s civil war. Left to fend for themselves, the women of the town evolve from their supporting roles as wives and daughters to "become unwitting founders of a remarkable new society: an all-female utopia. When the men, led by an American reporter, return to try to reclaim their power, a clash of sexes ensues with unsuspected consequences."
All She Can
directed by Amy Wendel
starring Corina Calderon, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Joseph Julian Soria
Known at Sundance as Benavides Born, this retitled film is the story of a young girl‛s attempts to outgrow her small South Texas town by becoming a powerlifting champion.
Maya Entertainment, a distributor that caters to Latino and multicultural audiences, acquired the film for US theatrical release. Recut after its Sundance debut, the film will be released under the title All She Can.
Harlistas: an American Journey
directed by Alfredo de Villa
A documentary about the Latino Harley-Davidson culture.
Hidalgo, La Historia Jamás Contada / Hidalgo, The Never Told Story
directed by Antonio Serrano (Mexico)
starring Demián Bichir, Ana de la Reguera
From his jail cell at Chihuahua's Military Hospital, Hidalgo begins to remember moments of his life.
A Tiro de Piedra / A Stone’s Throw Away
directed by Sebastián Hiriart (feature debut) (Mexico)
"A shepherd in the north of Mexico one day finds a keychain. Seeing it as a sign, he will undertake a trip that will take him on a journey of hundreds of miles."
La Vida De Los Peces / The Life of Fish
directed by Matías Bize (Chile)
starring Santiago Cabrera (Heroes), Blanca Lewin, Antonia Zegers
A journalist returns to his home and re-discovers the past he had chosen to forget.
Post Mortem
directed by Pablo Larraín (Chile)
starring Marcelo Alonso, Alfredo Castro, Amparo Noguera
In 1973 Chile, during the last days of Allende's reign, a morgue employee falls for a burlesque dancer who mysteriously disappears.
Todos Tus Muertos
directed by Carlos Moreno (Chile)
starring Fernando Lara, Alvaro Rodríguez
A peasant gets up and goes out to work on his land as usual. He finds a pile of corpses in his crops, and runs to tell the authorities. But it‛s Sunday, Election Day, and nobody seems to care.
Los Colores De La Montaña / The Colors of the Mountain
directed by Carlos Arbeláez (Chile)
starring Genaro Aristizábal, Natalia Cuéllar, Hernán Méndez
A 9-year-old boy dreams of becoming a great goalkeeper in football.
La Hora Cero
directed by Diego Velasco (Venezuela)
starring Zapata 666, Amanda Key, Erich Wildpret
This action thriller follows a hitman trying to save his pregnant girlfriend during a health care strike in 1996.
Boleto Al Paraíso / Ticket to Paradise
directed by Gerardo Chijona (Cuba/Spain/Venezuela)
This film explores the journey of two runaways -- one escaping sexual abuse, the other running from the law. They decide to take refuge in an AIDS hospice.
La Mirada Invisible / The Invisible Eye
directed by Diego Lerman (Argentina)
Set against the backdrop of Argentina’s military regime of the 1980s, a lonely and deeply repressed assistant teacher at an elite Buenos Aires private school becomes obsessed with one of her students, despite "the school's rigid code of conduct and proud identification with the nation state."
La Maleta Mexicana / The Mexican Suitcase
directed by Trisha Ziff
This unique documentary tells of three lost boxes found in a closet in Mexico City in 2007. They had disappeared in the chaos in Europe at the beginning of World War II. The contents were 4,500 unique negatives by some of the world’s greatest photographers: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David "Chim" Seymour. A story of how these radical journalists united to fight fascism with their cameras, changing the way war is reported today.
Chico & Rita
directed by Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, Tono Errando
This award winning animated story takes place in late 1940s Cuba. "Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. He meets Rita a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them but their journey brings heartache and torment. A gem of a film with music by Cuban maestro, Bebo Valdez."
Also included in the Festival is 100 Sones Cubanos, by Grammy nominated composer Edesio Alejandro. This is a "wonderful journey of music and history of the Son through Cuba’s countryside and cities."
Some of the panels are:
The Business of Entertainment – Breaking in and Succeeding
Presented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
The Tricky Business of Making Movies and Television in L.A. – Why the Challenge Won’t Go Away
Presented by LA Business Today
New Modes and Old of Distribution for Latino Films
Moderated by: Sydney Levine, indieWIRE, SydneysBuzz
Conversations in the Filmmakers Café, "Café Con…" are with:
Guillermo Navarro, Award winning Mexican Cinematographer and this year’s LALIFF GABI Award Recipient
Sandie Viquez Pedlow, New Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB)
Showtime’s Dexter, Presented by the Writers Guild of America, West
For more information, visit www.latinofilm.org.
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
July 17 - 25, 2011
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
Maya Indie Film Series Coming This Summer
- Details
- Parent Category: Film Festivals
- Category: Previews
- Published on Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:00
- Written by Christopher Lai
The third edition of the Maya Indie Film Series (MIFS) will take place July 29th – August 4th, 2011, at the Quad Cinema in New York City, as well as in other six cities:
- Los Angeles and Chicago on July 29th
- San Antonio and San Diego on August 5th
- Dallas on August 12th
- Miami beginning September 9th
- San Francisco on September 16th
The series, under the banner Seven Films, Seven Days, Seven Cities, will run for seven days in each market and will bring seven critically acclaimed, Latino-themed films to these top U.S. markets. Produced by Maya Entertainment, the series brings audiences the best in Latino-themed cinema.
Premiere Brazil! at MoMA
- Details
- Parent Category: Film Festivals
- Category: Previews
- Published on Monday, 11 July 2011 05:00
- Written by L E Shannon
The 9th edition of Premiere Brazil! screens July 14 - 27, 2011 in the The Roy and Niuta 
Titus Theaters at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan, New York City.
A collaboration between MoMA and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, Premiere Brazil! introduces New York audiences to original and accomplished work by both new and established Brazilian filmmakers.
The Opening Night film is Riscado / Craft, directed by Gustavo Pizzi. This fictional portrait of the ups and downs of a talented, creative actress depicts "the casual cruelty of the competitive world in which we live". Pizzi will introduce the film and participate in a post-screening discussion.
Amor?
directed by João Jardim
The director amassed authentic interviews about love between couples gone terribly wrong, re-enacted verbatim by actors, in contrast with idealizations of male-female relationships. This international premiere will be introduced by Jardim.
Samba’s Evening / Noitada de samba foco de resistência
directed by Cély Leal
Under 1971 Brazil’s military dictatorship, Jorge Coutinho and Leonides Bayer "began holding weekly "Samba Evenings" at Teatro Opinião in Rio de Janeiro, importing popular musicians from the suburbs to entertain Rio’s elite. Radical in both concept and execution, the series transformed the theater into a symbol of political and cultural resistance."
VIPS
directed by Toniko Melo
A fictionalized look at real-life con artist Marcelo da Rocha, who realized a childhood dream of aviation by winding up flying for drug traffickers.
Chico Xavier
directed by Daniel Filho
Saint? Nut case? Whichever one thought of him, Spiritist medium Chico Xavier (1910–2002), receiver of messages from his spirit guide Emmanuel, was as controversial as he was zealous. He produced over 400 books through the use of "psychography" (spirit writing) and dedicated his life to philanthropy.
Santos Dumont: Pré-cineasta? / Santos Dumont’s Mutoscope: Early Cinema and Found Footage Film
directed by Carlos Adriano
Adriano uses an unknown reel of photo-cards, which he found and restored himself, from a mutoscope film shot in London in 1901. The reel depicts Santos Dumont, a Brazilian aviator and inventor who lived from 1873 to 1932, explaining his airship to Charles Rolls, the future founder of Rolls-Royce. Thus do early 20th century inventions go hand-in-hand.
Utopia e barbárie / Utopia and Barbarism
directed by Silvio Tendler
More found footage, as Tendler examines post-WWII utopias "that were born and brought to life -- and the barbarism that punctuated them -- with startling images and testimonies, creating a moving portrait of a generation that dreamed of changing the world and fought for freedom through a global movement."
Diário de uma busca / Diary, Letters, Revolutions… 
directed by Flavia Castro
This is the story of Brazilian activist Celso Afonso Gay de Castro, the filmmaker’s father. Guided by her mother, Castro examines the day-to-day life of the leftist militant generation of the 1960s and 1970s as she traces her father’s personal history -- a story that began with a dream of political ideals and ended with a premature death shrouded in mystery.
Complementing the film festival is a retrospective of the works of artist and filmmaker Cao Guimarães. Several of the artist’s documentaries and film essays will be screened at MoMA, including:
- O Fim do sem fim / The End of the Endless – a feature-length documentary about the imminent disappearance of certain jobs and occupations in Brazil
- Ex isto / Ex It – his possible answer to poet Paulo Leminski’s question, "and what if René Descartes had come to Brazil along with Mauríco de Nassau?"
- Acidente / Accident – a beautifully photographed montage following Guimarães as he visits 20 towns in the state of Minas Gerais
- Andarilho / Drifter – a film about three lonely drifters following different paths, each establishing intimate relationships with various elements of a transitory world
- Alma do osso / The Soul of the Bone – a revealing look into the isolated existence of a older man living in a cave
- Rua de mao dupla / Two-Way Street – a documentary that follows strangers who exchange houses for a 24-hour period.
A selection of looped short films by Guimarães will be on view at MoMA PS1 throughout the first weekend of the festival. These short films focus on everyday events and quiet actions in both urban and rural settings -- from billowing tarps to an army of ants to soap bubbles.
For more information, visit www.moma.org/film.
Premiere Brazil!
July 14 - 27, 2011
The Museum of Modern Art
11 W. 53 Street
New York City
212-708-9400
MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-784-2084
