Wednesday, December 5--------And we're off.....the awards season has kicked off in high gear this past week, with the announcement of the Gotham Awards in New York, the nominations for the Film Independent Spirit Awards and now the National Board of Review, the first of the end-of-the-year critics groups to bestow prizes. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Joel and Ethan Coen's nouveau Western, was named Best Film of the Year. The film also won a Best Adapted Screenplay prize for the Coens, as well as an...

Tuesday, December 4----------The year 2007 will be ed for many things.....but one of the biggest surprises, at least in the worlds of film and media, has been the emergence of the former Communist state of Romania as the hottest film producing territory, not only in Europe, but also worldwide. Of course, a few international arthouse hits does not a thriving industry make, but if one wanted to get a sense of where the energy and inspiration in contemporary cinema could be coming from next...

 Tuesday, December 4--------IDFA, the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, concluded its 10-day marathon of films this past weekend with the announcement of its major awards. The Festival, which celebrated its twentienth anniversary this year amid an explosion of film attendance and a major change in screening venues, has emerged as one of the hallmark events on the documentary film calendar. Films from all over the world not only get screened at IDFA, but sales are made and developme...

 Tuesday, December 4--------IDFA, the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, concluded its 10-day marathon of films this past weekend with the announcement of its major awards. The Festival, which celebrated its twentienth anniversary this year amid an explosion of film attendance and a major change in screening venues, has emerged as one of the hallmark events on the documentary film calendar. Films from all over the world not only get screened at IDFA, but sales are made and developme...

22ND ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS CEREMONY By Maria Esteves – November 23, 2007 The 22nd Israel Film Festival 2007 (IFF) Awards Ceremony honoring humanitarian, cinematic, and lifetime achievement awards was held at the Directors Guild of America Theater, New York, Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 7:30 PM. The Closing Night Awards Ceremony acknowledging the best documentary, television drama, and feature film (Panavision Audience Choice) was held at the Clearview Cinemas, New York, Thursday, Nov...

 Tuesday, November 20---------Fifteen documentary films have been selected for the "short list" of titles competing in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 80th Academy Awards. The Documentary Branch Screening Committee of the Academy of Television Arts And Sciences have viewed the eligible documentaries and branch will now select the five 2007 nominees from this short list. Many of the films have been featured at leading film festivals around the world and some ...

 Monday, November 12--------The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival ended last evening with a gala premiere screening of the Festival Closing Night Film, MIDNIGHT CLEAR, with director Dallas Jenkins and actor Stephen Baldwin in attendance. Prior to the screening, Gregory von Hausch, erstwhile Festival Director and the charismatic on-stage presence for the event, announced the major winners in a variety of categories.Winning Best Film honors was the French film THE DIVING BELL AND THE BU...

 Monday, November 12--------The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival ended last evening with a gala premiere screening of the Festival Closing Night Film, MIDNIGHT CLEAR, with director Dallas Jenkins and actor Stephen Baldwin in attendance. Prior to the screening, Gregory von Hausch, erstwhile Festival Director and the charismatic on-stage presence for the event, announced the major winners in a variety of categories.Winning Best Film honors was the French film THE DIVING BELL AND THE BU...

AFI FEST announced the audience and jury award winners today. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to all the filmmakers who submitted their films. JURY AWARDS Grand Jury Prize Shorts: SPIDER (Directed by Nash Edgerton) Grand Jury Prize for Feature: MUNYURANGABO (Directed by Lee Isaac Chung) Grand Jury Prize for Documentary: tie between AFGHAN MUSCLES (Directed by Andreas Mol Dalsgaard ) and OPERATION FILMMAKER (Directed by Nina Davenport) Best Animated short: I MET THE WALRUS ...

On Saturday November 10, Funchal festival closed a blissful 10 day event with a gala ceremony at the large convention center in front of a 700 crowd.The laser Man show launched the evening.The prize list came with many surprises and moments of emotion from the selected talent.  The jury was composed of Elisa Tolomelli (producer), Bruno Chatelin (co founder of filmfestivals.sitesdebloques.org and fest21.com), Malu de Martino (director), José António Santos (Director of photography) and José Vieira...

 Monday, November 5---------The European Film Academy has announced the nominations for the 20th European Film Awards during this past weekend's Seville Film Festival. Academy , who number over 1800, will now vote for the winners, which will be presented at the European Film Awards Ceremony in Berlin on December 1st. The nominees and ultimate winners should give an indication of what European films will be nominated for Oscar and BAFTA Awards later this season.BEST EUROPEAN FILM4 LUNI, ...

 Friday, November 2---------At the Closing Gala of the 51st Times bfi London Film Festival, held last evening at the close of the 14-day festival marathon, a host of awards were announced. While the Festival does not have a Competition Section per se, films screening in its various sections are eligible for some special awards.The Sutherland Trophy is awarded to the director of the most original and imaginative first feature film screened at Festival. The winners were the French directing team ...

 Wednesday, October 31--------Truth be told, I left the London Film Festival on Monday morning, October 29th (also my birthday in case anyone wants to send me a belated box of chocolates). So, unfortunately, I missed an event that I truly wanted to cover. But through the art of the press release, I am able to report that on that same Monday evening (when I was blowing out I won't tell you how many candles), the Times BFI London Film Festival along with trade publication Variety presented the 20...

 Monday, October 29-------Ending what was undoubtedly a highly successful sophomore edition, the Cinema: Rome Filmfest announced its major awards at a gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, in conjunction with a live concert event saluting and playing the music of Italian master composer Ennio Morricone. The Festival delivered on the glamour and the glitz, while also highlighting many worthy films in its various film sections.The Popular Jury of the official Competition Section, made up of...

 Monday, October 29-------Ending what was undoubtedly a highly successful sophomore edition, the Cinema: Rome Filmfest announced its major awards at a gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, in conjunction with a live concert event saluting and playing the music of Italian master composer Ennio Morricone. The Festival delivered on the glamour and the glitz, while also highlighting many worthy films in its various film sections.The Popular Jury of the official Competition Section, made up of...

The Third Annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival (TCIFF), which celebrates the fusion of cinema and music, came to a successful close on Sunday, October 21, 2007. The Festival, organized by Executive Directors Jasmine Guy and Terrence Duckette, ran from October 16-21, screened 6 features, 12 documentaries and 11 shorts at both The Regent Palms Theatre and the outdoor beach screen at the Alexandra Resort, the Festival’s host hotel. Program Director, Karolyn Ali scheduled the Best...

  Best Feature Film: "The Chair" Directed by Brett Sullivan.Best Short Film: "A.W.O.L" Directed by Jack Swanstrom.Best Super Short Film: "No Sanctuary" Directed by Dan Lovallo.Best Feature Screenplay: "The Lost Girl" written by Michael Mongillo.2nd Place Feature Screenplay:  "Horror World" written by Rolfe KanefskyBest Short Screenplay: "Safe age" written by Michael RaymondPretty/Scary Award: "The Cellar Door" Directed ...

 The 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival presented its Golden Starfish Awards at a ceremony held at the UA Cinema in East Hampton, NY on Saturday, October 21, 2007. The 2007 HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL celebrates its 15th anniversary – a decade and a half of premieres, screenings, programs & events, tucked away amongst the changing leaves and quiet beaches of fall in the East End. The Hamptons is where talent, industry and audiences come together exchanging ideas, e...

International JuryDieter WiecorekPaddy JolleyFelicity Sparrow Best International Short Film AwardTolyaDir. Rodeon BrodskyIsrael Special Mentions:The Tube With A HatDir. Radu JudeRomania Suburban TrainDir. Maciej CuskePoland Prix UIP Cork for Best European Short FilmThe Apology LineDir. James LeesEngland Special Mention:FrankieDir. Darren ThorntonIreland International Jury StatementThe International Jury comment on the variation and high calibre of films in this year’s International Short...

Lalo Guerrero Receives Best Documentary, Best Director and Best Song;Guru Receives Best Feature and Best Song; Marc Anthony Receives Best Actor for El CantanteThe Third Annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival, which celebrates the fusion of cinema and music, came to a successful close on Sunday, October 21, 2007. The Festival, which ran from October 16-21, screened 6 features, 12 documentaries and 11 shorts at Palm Theatre or the outdoor beach screen at the Alexandra Resort, the Fe...

 Friday, October 19----------Even though Queen Elizabeth is in town (not the real royal but the one played by Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE), and despite the fact that such industry heavyweights as Francis Ford Coppolla, Sidney Lumet and Tom Cruise are somewhere here in the Eternal City for screenings of their films this weekend, all eyes will be on Sophia tonight.....Sophia Loren that is. The iconic actress will walk the Red Carpet in advance of the screening of a new documentary...

 Thursday, October 18-------THE DIVIING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, the latest film from painter-turned-director Julian Schnabel has won the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize, which will be presented at the Hamptons International Film Festival this weekend. For the 8th consecutive year, the $25,000 cash prize is being awarded to a feature-length film that explores science and technology themes in fresh, innovative ways and depicts scientists and engineers in a realistic and compelling...