DEBUT OF ZOMBCON INTERNATIONAL 2010 – SEATTLE ANNOUNCED
DEBUT OF ZOMBCON INTERNATIONAL 2010 – SEATTLE ANNOUNCED
WORLD’S FIRST-EVER ZOMBIE CULTURE CONVENTION – HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
TRIBUTE TO THE GOD FATHER OF ZOMBIE FILMS, GEORGE A. ROMERO (IN ATTENDANCE)
25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA SCREENING OF DAY OF THE DEAD
CELEBRITY GUESTS INCLUDE BRUCE CAMPBELL, MAX BROOKS, MALCOLM MCDOWELL, LADIES OF “THE EVIL DEAD”, CHUCK PALAHNIUK
OVER 100 PANELS, FAN WORKSHOPS, PREMIERES AND SPECIAL EVENTS CELEBRATING THE BIGGEST HORROR ICON: THE ZOMBIE.
Seattle, Wash. – September 20, 2010– A three-day zombie fan culture event dubbed ZomBcon (pronounced zombie-con) will make its debut this Halloween weekend (October 29-31, 2010) at the Seattle Center.
ZomBcon arose from the popularity of Seattle’s annual Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk that recently made waves for returning the Guinness World Record for staging the “Largest Zombie Walk” ever recorded back to Seattle for the second time. The Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk confirmed over 6,000 in attendance on July 3rd reclaiming the title briefly held by Great Britain.
Featuring legends of horror and genre films, including George Romero, Bruce Campbell, Malcolm McDowell and Zombie author, Max Brooks, ZomBcon aims to build on the city’s growing notoriety as the epicenter of zombie fan culture and cement Seattle as the “Zombie Capital of the World”.
ZomBcon founder and Artistic Director Ryan Reiter says, “ZomBcon will be the first of its kind in the world celebrating the biggest horror icon, The Zombie. By design it will be a fresh break from the traditional convention experience while keeping the celebrity appearances, workshops and premier events fans have grown to expect and love at most conventions.
Highlights will include a Red Carpet Gala celebrating the 25TH anniversary screening of Romero’s classic film, DAY OF THE DEAD. The meeting of Hollywood glitz and glamour with zombie culture will precede the inaugural presentation to George A. Romero of the Golden George Award on Saturday, October 30th. The Golden George Award celebrates and honors the true visionaries and legends of horror and genre films, as well as “significant contributions to zombie culture”. Cast members from Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD will be in attendance featuring Terry Alexander, John Amplas, and Jarlath Conroy in honor of the celebration.
Bruce Campbell and the Ladies of the Evil Dead (Betsy Baker, Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly) will attend a special screening (with a restored 35mm print courtesy of Grindhouse Releasing) of THE EVIL DEAD.
Additional highlights include innovative filmmaker, author, and zombie culture panels featuring Max Brooks (World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide), Roger Ma (The Zombie Combat Manual), Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke), among others.
The panel series will include lectures (co-presented by Zombie Research Society) by the country’s top scholars on the subject. Guests include Harvard Medical School’s, Dr. Steven Schlozman and Bradley Voytek, Neuroscientist from UC Berkley, to discuss topics ranging from brain deficiency, infection, anatomy to outbreak protocol and a political debate based on the prospects of a zombie apocalypse.
Along with attending the screenings, award presentations, panels, and perusing over 100 vendor booths, zombie and horror fans will also have an opportunity to participate in: Prom Night of the Living Dead – a Halloween costume party at Neumos (925 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA) on Friday, October 29; a blood drive donation to the Puget Sound Blood Center on Saturday, October 30 and a family day trick-or-treat event for all ages on Sunday, October 31st.
The weekend will feature a series of screenings of iconic zombie films created by the Seattle International Film Festival. Deemed “Films That Ate Our Brains”, films screened will include: George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and DAWN OF THE DEAD, Sam Raimi’s EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD II and ARMY OF DARKNESS, Peter Jackson’s DEAD ALIVE, Danny Boyle’s 28 DAYS LATER, Robert Rodriguez’s PLANET TERROR, Paul W.S. Anderson’s RESIDENT EVIL, Dan O’Bannon’s RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, Edgar Wright’s SHAUN OF THE DEAD, Victor Halperin’s WHITE ZOMBIE, Lucio Fulci’s ZOMBIE, Steve Miner’s DAY OF THE DEAD – THE NEED TO FEED, as well as a Northwest Filmmakers Screening Showcase with film titles yet to be announced taking place at SIFF Cinema (321 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA) and AMC Pacific Place (600 Pine Street, Seattle, WA) on Friday, October 29.
Reiter adds, “This convention is completely interactive, embracing the rampant cult appeal of festival experiences similar to the “Burner experience” at annual rituals like Burning Man, to celebrating fan culture through costumes and self-expression known as CosPlay at San Diego’s Comic Con. The costumed trend offers attendees more than just a ticket; its offers a 360-degree fan experience with the opportunity to participate in the festivities. You have the control buttons; you can right jump in or simply watch, because you get to decide how involved you wish to be.”
Complete ZomBcon convention information can be found at www.zombcon.com. Check weekly for news, guests and events added to the schedule. Look for ZomBcon on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute announcements and more.
Special guests include:
Filmmakers and Actors
George A. Romero (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD, DAY OF THE DEAD, SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD)
Bruce Campbell (EVIL DEAD, ARMY OF DARKNESS, “Burn Notice”)
Malcolm McDowell (CLOCKWORK ORANGE, STAR TREK: GENERATIONS, HALLOWEEN)
Terry Alexander, (Actor, DAY OF THE DEAD)
John Amplas (Actor, DAY OF THE DEAD)
Jartlath Conroy (Actor, DAY OF THE DEAD)
Danny Hicks (Actor, EVIL DEAD 2)
Timothy Patrick Quill (Actor, ARMY OF DARKNESS)
Writers & Authors
Max Brooks (Author, The Zombie Surivival Guide, World War Z)
Roger Ma (Author, Zombie Combat Manual)
Kevin David Anderson (Author, Night of the Living Trekkies)
Scott Browne (Author, Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament)
Robert Cordray (Author, Zombies 101)
Stephen L. Frank (Author, Zombie Vs. Cheerleaders)
Steven Hockensmith (Author, Dawn of the Dreadfuls)
Scott Kenemore (Author, Zen of Zombie)
Steve Mockus (Author, How to Speak Zombie for the Living)
Chuck Palahniuk (Author, Fight Club, Choke)
Jesse Petersen (Author, Married with Zombie)
Mark Rahner & Robert Horton (Authors, Rotten)
Jeffrey Reddick (Writer, FINAL DESTINATION, DAY OF THE DEAD – THE NEED TO FEED)
Don Roff (Author, Zombies: The Record of the Year of the Infection)
Billy Tackett (Legendary Artist)
Stephen Romano, Artist (Shock Festival)
Anthony Van Winkle (Author, Night Zero)
Scientific Professionals:
Daniel Drezner, Ph.D. – Temple University
Mike Harris, Ph.D. – University of Alaska
Steven Schlozman, M.D. – Harvard
Timothy Verstynen, Ph.D.
Brad Voytek, Ph.D. – UC Berkely
Matt Mogk, Founder of Zombie Research Society
SANTA FE FILM FEST Announces Schedule for 2010
SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR 11TH EDITION OF FILM FEST
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE CANNES PALME D’OR WINNER“ UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES”
40TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF “CATCH-22” WITH RICHARD BENJAMIN AND PAULA PRENTISS ATTENDING
TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 8TH
SANTA FE, NM, September 30, 2010 – The Santa Fe Film Festival today announced the slate of films set to screen during the 11th edition of the film festival (October 22-24) at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA).
Highlighted by the 2010 winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, UNCLE BOOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES and a special 40th Anniversary screening of the classic CATCH-22 with two of the film’s stars, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss attending, the weekend will see 8 feature films and a collection of notable shorts from emerging filmmakers on display for Santa Fe film goers.
This year’s selections include:
THE ATHLETE (ATLETU)
Davey Frankel’s and Rasselas Lakew’s drama ATLETU tells the inspiring and incredible true story of Abebe Bikila, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in the marathon in 1960 and 1964. An Ethiopian, Bikilia was the first African to win a gold medal and the first repeat champion in the marathon. Bikila was later involved in a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. And thus, began the greatest struggle of his life. Told on film as a hybrid of travelogue, biopic and documentary. Bikila’s first Olympic triumph was unprecedented, but his athletic conquests after a paralyzing car accident only add to his legend and impact.
BAG IT
Suzan Beraza’s documentary BAG IT follows the results of one man making a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. What he discovers is that this simple decision will change his life completely and through that change he comes to the conclusion that our consumption of plastic has finally caught up to us. BAG IT won the Audience Award at Telluride Mountainfilm 2010 earlier this year.
CATCH-22
Director Mike Nichols’ and screenwriter Buck Henry’s 1970 adaptation of Joseph Heller’s scathing satire of life in the Air Force during World War II is the pair’s boldest cinematic display. A brilliant black comedy with an all-star cast including Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles.
THE FOUR TIMES (LE QUATTRO VOLTE)
Michelangelo Frammartino’s enchanting, mystical film THE FOUR TIMES focuses on an elderly goat herder as he dies and becomes a goat; it wanders into the woods and transforms into a tree, which is processed into coal. The film lovingly observes village life in Calabria, and in the process becomes one of the most original Italian films in years. Selected for the prestigious Director’s Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, the film stars Giuseppe Fuda, Bruno Timpano, Nazareno Timpano.
LENNONNYC
Marking the 70th anniversary of his birth and the 30th anniversary of his death, Michael Epstein’s documentary LENNONNYC traces the experiences of John Lennon and Yoko Ono upon their arrival in New York City in 1971. After an initial heady period of music, politics, culture and creativity in their new home, a dark period followed for both Lennon’s career as well as their relationship. However, the intertwining of man, artist and adopted city righted itself before the musical legend’s untimely and tragic death.
THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER
Directed by the legendary Bertrand Tavernier and based on a short story by Madame de La Fayette, THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER is a French period romance set during the French Wars of Religion. As he experiences his own forbidden desire for the irresistibly beautiful and much-courted Marie, soldier-scholar Chabannes must also protect her from the dangerously corrupt court dominated by Catherine de Medici. Tavernier translates de Lafayette’s novel into a brilliant evocation of the tragic conflict between duty and passion. The film’s exceptional cast includes Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet, Gaspard Ulliel, Raphael Personnaz.
TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS (MARTI, DUPA CRACIUN)
Radu Muntean’s TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS is a drama which takes a singular, stripped-down look at adultery through the story of a man that must choose between his wife of ten years and his mistress, a pediatric dentist. Muntean constructs a powerful chain of scenes from a marriage with a rare display of great cinematic excitement. A product of the extraordinary Romanian New Wave, the film stars Mimi Branescu, Mirela Oprisor and Maria Popistasu.
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (LUNG BOONMEERALUEK CHAT)
Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES is a fable about a tamarind and honey farmer named Uncle Boonmee who is slowly dying of kidney failure, and finds the ghosts of departed family members coming back to visit him. The film stars Sakda Kaewbuadee, Jenjira Pongpas, Thanapat Saisaymar.
In addition, to the film schedule, SFFF will offer free panels hosted at galleries in the Railyard, Canyon Road and Plaza area arts districts, as well as an assortment of complimentary events produced in collaboration with Santa Fe arts organizations during the festival.
“This year’s festival is designed as a weekend viewing of carefully selected film highlights from key festivals like Cannes, Toronto, and New York as well as introducing interesting work from new indie filmmakers. We hope that Santa Fe will become a destination boutique film event that will anchor the fall festival season which begins with Telluride,” said SFFF Co-Director Rose Kuo.
SFFF Co-Director Michael Hare added, “We are thrilled to offer this group of films that have been some of the most talked about on the film festival circuit this year. And to be screening at CCA, which we feel is one of the cornerstones of Santa Fe cinema, makes it the perfect hub for SFFF 2010. One of our goals has been to showcase the artistic richness of Santa Fe, to anchor the festival within the larger community and we think we have gone a long way toward that effort with this slate of films and events that look to make for a tremendous weekend for film lovers.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, October 8 through Tickets Santa Fe (ticketssantafe.org). Additional information can be found at http://www.santafefilmfestival.com.
The 2010 Santa Fe Film Festival’s complete lineup follows:
Feature films
THE ATHLETE (ATLETU) (Narrative) Ethiopia/USA/Germany
DIR: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew
PROD: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew, Darryn Welch
Cast: Rasselas Lakew, Dag Malmberg, Ruta Gedmintas, Abba Waka Dessalegn
BAG IT (Documentary) USA
DIR: Suzan Beraza
PROD: Michelle Hill
CATCH-22 (1970) (Narrative) USA
DIR: Mike Nichols
PROD: John Calley, Martin Ransohoff
Cast: Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles
THE FOUR TIMES (LE QUATTRO VOLTE) (Narrative) Italy/Germany/Switzerland
DIR: Michelangelo Frammartino
PROD: Philippe Bober, Marta Donzelli, Elda Guidinetti, Gabriella Manfre, Susanne Marian, Gregorio Paonessa, Andres Pfaffi
Cast: Giuseppe Fuda, Bruno Timpano, Nazareno Timpano
LENNONNYC (Documentary) USA
DIR: Michael Epstein
PROD: Susan Lacy
THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER (Narrative) France/Germany
DIR: Bertrand Tavernier
PROD: Marc Siliam, Eric Heuman
Cast: Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet, Gaspard Ulliel, Raphael Personnaz.
TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS (MARTI, DUPA CRACIUN) (Narrative) Romania
DIR: Radu Muntean
PROD: Dragos Vilcu
Cast: Mimi Branescu, Mirela Oprisor, Maria Popistasu
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (Narrative) Thailand
DIR: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
PROD: Simon Field, Keith Griffiths, Charles de Meaux, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Cast: Sakda Kaewbuadee, Jenjira Pongpas, Thanapat Saisaymar
Short Films
CULEBRA (Narrative) USA
DIR: Sean Carter
HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG (YOZHIK V TUMANE) (1975) (Narrative/Animation) Russia
DIR: Yuriy Norshteyn
KAVI (Narrative) USA/India
DIR: Gregg Helvey
MAMANEK (Narrative) Czech Republic
DIR: Jesse Baldwin
Anaheim International Film Fest Announces Films for Debut
THE ANAHEIM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR ITS INAUGURAL EVENT
MULTIPLE OPENING NIGHT FILMS INCLUDE “WILD TARGET,” “GOING VERTICAL,” “MONICA & DAVID,” “SIXTEEN CANDLES” AND “SUMMER WARS”
“INHALE” TO BE CLOSING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION
FESTIVAL WILL HONOR DIRECTOR JONATHAN LYNN AND HECTOR ELIZONDO
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1
ANAHEIM, CA (September 26, 2010)—The Anaheim International Film Festival today announced a Grand Opening Night Gala event on Wednesday, October 13 featuring five feature films and a collection of film shorts to launch an ambitious program of films, filmmaker panels and gala events over the course of the inaugural edition of the five-day festival (October 13-17) at UltraStar Cinemas at Anaheim GardenWalk.
Representing the diversity of the lineup of films set for AIFF, film goers will participate in the festivities and see featured films including Jonathan Lynn’s WILD TARGET, the United States premiere of Academy Award nominee David Bradbury’s GOING VERTICAL: THE SHORTBOARD REVOLUTION, Alexandra Codina’s MONICA & DAVID, Mamoru Hosoda’s SUMMER WARS, a special Shorts Presentation and a special presentation of John Hughes’ classic SIXTEEN CANDLES, honoring the late director.
The Gala evening will feature red carpet entrances at the Anaheim GardenWalk, screenings at UltraStar Cinemas and an after party in the beautiful Anaheim GardenWalk Courtyard.
AIFF will feature 127 feature films and shorts.
Sinan Kanatsiz, chairman of the Anaheim International Film Festival, said, “The screening of multiple films on Opening Night enables us to welcome a larger audience of Orange County movie goers and shine the spotlight on more of our talented filmmakers. This is an ideal way to introduce our festival and the impressive variety of films we intend to offer. Our team has worked very hard to deliver a world-class film program that will establish the AIFF as a valuable platform for emerging filmmakers and long-term addition to the festival circuit.”
The Opening Night Gala films include:
WILD TARGET (representing narrative films)
Directed by Jonathan Lynn and featuring the all-star cast of Emily Blunt, Rupert Everett, Rupert Grint, Bill Nighy, Eileen Atkins, Martin Freeman and Gregor Fisher, WILD TARGET is an action comedy about a middle-aged, solitary assassin who lives to please his formidable mother, despite his own peerless reputation for lethal efficiency. His professional routine is interrupted when he finds himself drawn to one of his intended victims – a beautiful thief. He spares her life, unexpectedly acquiring in the process a young apprentice. Believing the assassin to be a private detective, his two new companions tag along, while he attempts to thwart the murderous attentions of his unhappy client.
MONICA & DAVID (representing documentaries)
Directed by first time filmmaker Alexandra Codina, MONICA AND DAVID explores the marriage of two adults with Down syndrome and the family who strives to support their needs. Monica and David are blissfully in love and want what other adults have: an independent life. Full of humor, romance and everyday family drama, the film weaves together intimate footage with personal interviews, revealing the complexity of their story. While Monica and David are capable beyond expectations, their parents, who worry about rejection from the mainstream world, have trouble letting go. Although marriage is very unusual for adults with intellectual disabilities, throughout the film Monica and David become a model for love and challenge what it means to be an adult. The film premieres nationally on HBO October 14.
GOING VERTICAL: THE SHORTBOARD REVOLUTION (representing Wild Blue: The AIFF Sports Showcase)
Directed by David Bradbury, the documentary seeks to unravel one of surfing’s great mysteries: Who started the Shortboard Revolution? Filmed in Australia, Hawaii and California and featuring extraordinary archival footage of surf legends of the past four decades as well as the hottest surfers today, GOING VERTICAL: THE SHORTBOARD REVOLUTION is not your usual surfing film. Set to a pumping soundtrack including tracks by Pearl Jam, Powderfinger, Spoon and Boards of Canada plus iconic artists from the summer of love including Manfred Man, Russell Morris and Thunderclap Newman, the film tells the story of an era, of a revolution and the extraordinary characters that made it happen. The film is narrated by Simon Baker.
SUMMER WARS (representing animation)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the animated adventure focuses on ‘Kenji Koiso,’ an eleventh grade math genius, following his decision to take a summer job at the Nagano hometown of his crush, ‘Natuski.’ When he arrives, he finds that her family has reunited to celebrate the 90th birthday of the family matriarch and he must pretend to be her fiancé. As if that isn’t enough to contend with, his attempt to solve a mathematical equation has caused a parallel world’s collision with earth.
SIXTEEN CANDLES (Special Presentation)
John Hughes’ classic comedy stars Molly Ringwald as a fifteen-year-old girl with a crush on the most popular boy in school. However, standing between her and the boy is the geekiest boy in school with a crush on her, her big sister’s wedding, a visit by inappropriate grandparents, and on top of it all – the indignity of having the rest of her family forget her birthday. Add all this adds up to the makings of a hilarious and unforgettable journey into young womanhood. The film also stars Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, Justin Henry, John Cusack and Joan Cusack.
OPENING NIGHT SHORTS SELECTIONS
This exclusive presentation salutes some of today’s best and brightest shorts filmmakers. Representing most of the various styles that will play over the course of the film festival, the films include Joshua and Rebekah Weigel’s BUTTERFLY CIRCUS; Max Lang’s and Jakob Schuh’s THE GRUFFALO; Iram Haq’s LITTLE MISS EYEFLAP; Natalia Mirzoyan’s MY CHILDHOOD MYSTERY TREE; Lilli Birdsell’s ONCE UPON A CRIME; James Redford’s QUALITY TIME, starring Jason Patric; Cordell Barker’s RUNAWAY; and Peter Meech’s WINNER BEST SHORT FILM.
Closing Night Gala presentation:
INHALE
Directed by Baltasar Kormakur, the dramatic thriller stars Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Rosanna Arquette, Sam Shepard, Vincent Perez and Jordi Molla. The story follows the horrific struggle a couple go through upon discovering their daughter has been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease. Needing a lung transplant, but with many patients ahead of her on the waiting list for donors, they seek out a mysterious doctor who performs transplants in Juarez, Mexico. However, in the course of their pursuit, they uncover an illegal organ harvesting operation where the donors are in fact, the victims and now they may have to choose between saving the life of their daughter or saving the lives of many other children.
AIFF Awards Night Celebration:
AIFF will truly turn the spotlight on the filmmakers and film fans alike with an Awards Night Celebration on Saturday, October 16 with an exclusive red carpet experience at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Presented by Disneyland Resort, the awards gala will honor film industry icons with Lifetime and Career Achievement Awards for outstanding work and contributions to motion pictures. The dinner and awards presentation will be capped off with a VIP showing of “World of Color,” the new nighttime water spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park weaving water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination.
Jonathan Lynn and Hector Elizondo will be presented with the first Anaheim Film Honors awards during the AIFF Awards Night Celebration.
Jonathan Lynn is perhaps best known for MY COUSIN VINNY (1992), a critical and commercial hit that garnered an Academy Award for Marisa Tomei. In addition, he has delivered a signature series of comedies highlighted by films like NUNS ON THE RUN (1990) with Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane. That film won the Golden Cane Award at the Festival de Comedie in Switzerland. His 1993 film, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (1992), starring Eddie Murphy won a Special Award from the Political Film Society, as well as the Environmental Media Award. His other films include the ensemble comedy, CLUE (1985); GREEDY (1994) starring Michael J. Fox and Kirk Douglas; SGT. BILKO (1996) starring Steve Martin; TRIAL AND ERROR (1997); THE WHOLE NINE YARDS (2000) starring Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry; and THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS (2003).
Hector Elizondo is considered by Garry Marshall to be a “good luck charm”, having starred in 12 features for the comedy legend – notably PRETTY WOMAN (1990) which earned Elizondo a Golden Globe nomination, RUNAWAY BRIDE (1999), THE PRINCESS DIARIES films (2001, 2004) and most recently with VALENTINE’S DAY (2010). A stalwart character actor who has moved effortlessly from films to television for six decades, additional key films are THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974), THE FAN (1981), THE FLAMINGO KID (1984), NOTHING IN COMMON (1986), FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (1991) and TORTILLA SOUP (2001). Elizondo has also been a regular presence on television, staring in classic and critically acclaimed series such as “All in the Family,” “Columbo,” “Kojak,” and “The Rockford Files,” to “Chicago Hope” (for which he won an Emmy Award), “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Monk.”
“Jonathan Lynn’s films are crowd pleasers – pure and simple,” said AIFF Executive Director Jo Moulton. “Jonathan has melded that unique British comic sensibility with a light directing touch that has inspired some of the funniest onscreen moments from many of our biggest stars. And Hector Elizondo is one of the most beloved character actors of our time. In fact, his collaboration with Garry Marshall on their classic comedies alone would qualify him for the highest recognition. We think Jonathan and Hector are wonderful choices as our very first honorees as they exemplify the connection of artist to film fan that we will strive to celebrate at the Anaheim International Film Festival.”
Also announced is the complete schedule for AIFF. In its first year, the Festival’s programming includes an impressive selection of films with sections dedicated to sports, cult films and a celebration of Mexico (with respect to that country’s bicentennial) along with a thoughtful, eclectic roster of films from around the world. The combination of the film slate and a planned series of filmmaker panels along with dedicated discussions and presentations on New Media point to the ambitions and far-reaching outlook that AIFF is demonstrating in just its first edition.
Commenting on this year’s lineup, Director of Programming Matt Bolish said, “When we began to think about the program that we would like to see presented at the first AIFF, it occurred to our team that we had a very rare opportunity: to build from the ground up, to revel in one of the cornerstones of any festival experience – the discovery. It became our goal to create a slate of films that when fully realized would offer a wide range of cinematic choices present throughout the festival. We would achieve this by bringing in favorites from the festival circuit and films from at home and abroad that for one reason or another have been overlooked.”
AIFF 2010’s overall lineup will showcase a total of 47 features and 80 shorts for a total of 127 films from 30 different countries.
The breakdown by section is Galas & Special Presentations (4), Competition (7), Mexico Hoy (4), New Cult (5), Wild Blue: Extreme Sports Showcase (4), Animator (3), New Media (2), The State of the World (11), Framing the Real (7) and International Shorts (80).
The inaugural Anaheim International Film Festival runs Oct. 13-17, 2010 at UltraStar Cinemas at the Anaheim GardenWalk. Passes are now on sale and tickets go on sale, Friday, October 1. To purchase tickets for individual screenings, one-day film passes, all access passes and/or workshop passes, please visit www.ultrastarmovies.com. To purchase AIFF Awards Night tickets or tables, please visit www.anaheimfilm.org. For more information, please call (714) 991-9110.
The 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival’s complete lineup follows:
GALAS & SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
INHALE (Narrative) USA/Iceland
DIR: Baltasar Kormakur
PROD: Michelle Chydzik Sowa, Jennifer Kelly, Nathalie Marciano
Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Rosanna Arquette, Sam Shepard, Vincent Perez, Jordi Molla
MONICA & DAVID (Documentary) USA
DIR: Alexandra Codina
PROD: Deborah Dickson
SIXTEEN CANDLES (Narrative) (1984) USA
DIR: John Hughes
PROD: Hilton A. Green
Cast: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, Paul Dooley, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Justin Henry, Gedde Watanabe
WILD TARGET (Narrative) USA
DIR: Jonathan Lynn
PROD: Michael Pope, Michael Rose
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Everett, Rupert Grint, Bill Nighy
COMPETITION
AIFF’s competition section speaks to the range of choices present throughout the festival. Narrative films stand next to documentaries in recognition of the fact that good stories told well, be they fiction or fact, are what the Anaheim International Film Festival is all about. The competition section offers a selection of feature films that highlight the best and brightest new talents from around the globe.
CANARY (Narrative) USA
DIR: Alejandro Adams
PROD: Marya Murphy, Alejandro Adams, Amanda Davis
Cast: Carla Pauli, Eli Kramer, Larissa Kasian, Jennifer Latch, Galen Howard, Justin McClure, Marya Murphy, David Menashe, Chloe Latch
COLD WATER OF THE SEA (Narrative) Costa Rica/France/Spain/Netherlands/Mexico
DIR: Paz Fabrega
PROD: Jean des Forets, Paz Fabrega
Cast: Montserrat Fernandez, Lil Quesada Morua, Freddy Chavarria, Annette Villalobos, Luis Carlos Bogantes
COLONY (Documentary) Ireland
DIR: Carter Gunn, Ross McDonnell
PROD: Morgan Bushe, Macdara Kelleher
GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH (Narrative) USA
DIR: Damien Chazelle
PROD: W.A.W. Parker, Arleen McGlade, J. Mark Inman, Mihai Dinulescu, Jasmine McGlade
Cast: Jason Palmer, Desiree Garcia, Sandha Khin, Andre Hayward
I’M IN TROUBLE! (Narrative) South Korea
DIR: So Sang-min
PROD: Song Hyeok-jo
Cast: Min Seong-wook, Lee Seung-jun, Jeong Ji-yeon, Kim Ju-ryeong
THE MAN BEYOND THE BRIDGE (Narrative) India
DIR: Laximikant Shetgaonkar
PROD: National Film Development Corporation
Cast: Chitranjan Giri, Veena Jomkar, Prasanthi Talpanker, Vasanth Josalkar, Deepak Amonkar
ONE DAY LESS (Documentary) Mexico
DIR/PROD: Dariela Ludlow
PROD: Issa Guerra
MEXICO HOY
AIFF 2010 proudly offers this special spotlight section celebrating the Mexico of today in honor of our neighboring nation’s bicentennial.
9 MONTHS, 9 DAYS (Documentary) Mexico
DIR: Ozcar Ramirez Gonzalez
PROD: Estrella Araiza Briseño, Sandra Paredes Orihuela, Ozcar Ramírez González, Ixchel Coutiño Angulo, Trisha Ziff
CIRCO (Documentary) USA/Mexico
DIR/PROD: Aaron Schock
PROD: Sally Jo Fifer, Jannat Gargi
PERPETUUM MOBILE (Narrative) Canada/Mexico
DIR: Nicolas Pereda
PROD: Catarina Coyoacan, Nicolás Pereda
Cast: Francisco Barreiro, Gabino Rodríguez, Teresa Sánchez
THE TOLEDO REPORT (Documentary) Mexico
DIR: Albino Alvarez Gomez
PROD: Germaine Gomez Haro
Subjects/Appearances in film: Francisco Toledo, Carlos Monsivais, Elena Poniatowska, Roberto Doniz, Peter Bramsen
NEW CULT
This section provides a survey of the best and most provocative genre material hitting the festival circuit. These films chill the spine, tickle the funny bone and provide an alternative cinematic feast for the brain.
BEST WORST MOVIE (Documentary) USA
DIR: Michael Paul Stephenson
PROD: Lindsay Rowles Stephenson, Michael Paul Stephenson, Brad Klopman, Jim McKeon, Mary Francis Groom, Ace Goerig
Subject/Appearances in film: George Hardy, Claudio Fragasso, Margo Prey, Jason Steadman, Darren Ewing
BROKEN SPRINGS: SHINE OF THE UNDEAD ZOMBIE BASTARDS (Narrative) USA
DIR: Neeley Lawson
PROD: Neeley Lawson
Cast: Teaque Quillin, Travis Moody, Brandon Jenkins, George Segal, Shannon Wallen, Ashley B. Maupin, Debra L. Young, Chris Cutler, Jacob Moore, Debbie Green, John L. Altom, Scott Parker, Jake Lawson, Jeff Bobo. Narrator: Teaque Quillin
MANDRILL (Narrative) Chile
DIR: Ernesto Diaz Espinoza
PROD: Derek Rundell
Cast: Marko Zaror, Celine Reymond, Alejandro Castillo, Luis Alarcon, Augusto Schuster, Mauricio Cespedes
PHASMA EX MACHINA (Narrative) USA
DIR: Matt Osterman
PROD: Jennifer Kramer
Cast: Sasha Andreev, Matthew Feeney, Max Hauser, Emily Fradenburgh, Ellen Karsten, Katrina Hawley, Laurie King, Ted Hall, Corey Walton, Bill Gorman, Carol Vnuk
SKELETONS (Narrative) United Kingdom
DIR: Nick Whitfield
PROD: Suzanne Alizart, Robbie Allen, Anna Seifert-Speck, Tracy Brimm, Kate Myers, Paul Welsh
Cast: Andrew Buckley, Ed Gaughan, Jason Isaacs, Paprika Steen, Tuppence Middleton, Josef Whitfield
WILD BLUE: THE AIFF SPORTS SHOWCASE
AIFF shines a spotlight on the films that explore and celebrate extreme sports, including Surfing, Off-Road Racing, Skating, and Biking. With exciting up close and personal footage of the sports themselves, as well as a series of conversations with the men and women who have innovated each sport and thrilled us with their skills, we are offered a unique look at this adrenaline-fueled world.
THE BIRTH OF BIG AIR (Documentary) USA
DIR: Jeff Tremaine
PROD: Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville
Subjects/Appearances in film: Mat Hoffman, Bob Burnquist, Tony Hawk, Dave Mirra, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way
FULLY FLARED/THE MAKING OF FULLY FLARED (Documentary) USA
DIR: Ty Evans, Cory Weincheque, Spike Jonze
PROD: Spike Jonze, Kevin Dunlap, Brian Dunlap, Tim Gavin, Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, Eric Koston, Megan Baltimore
Subjects/Appearances in film: Mike Mo Capaldi, Anthony Pappalardo, Jesus Fernandez, Nick Jensen, Danny Brady, Lucas Puig, JJ Rousseau, JB Gillet, Cairo Foster, Alex Olson, Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, Brandon Biebel, Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Marc Johnson
GOING VERTICAL: THE SHORTBOARD REVOLUTION (Documentary) Australia/USA
DIR: David Bradbury
PROD: Robert Raymond, Leah Wright
Subject/Appearances in film: Bob McTavish, Dick Brewer, Simon Baker, Kelly Slater, Mike Hynson, Skip Frye, Mick Fanning, Bob Cooper, Stephanie Gilmore, Duke Kahanamoku, Gerry Lopez, Sean Matteson, Mickey Munoz, Greg Noll, Rennie Yater, Nat Young, Wayne Lynch
THE ROOF OF AFRICA (Documentary) New Zealand
DIR: Jeff Pakosta
PROD: Grant Wheeler
Subjects/Appearances in film: Chris Birch, Kyle Redmond, Jade Gutzeit, Louwrens Mahoney, Andreas Lettenbichler
RE: ANIMATOR
Showcasing the talents of the masters of the craft of animation – be it traditional 2D, computer graphics, or stop motion – these films represent the best of the best from around the world.
MARS (Narrative) USA
DIR: Geoff Marslett
PROD: Anish Savjani, Robert Howell, Geoff Marslett, Javier Bonafont
Cast: Mark Duplass, Zoe Simpson, Paul Gordon, Cynthia Watros, Michael Dolan, Liza Weil, James Kochalka, Howe Gelb, Kinky Friedman Don Hertzfeldt
SUMMER WARS (Narrative) Japan
DIR: Maroru Hosoda
PROD: Takuya Ito, Yuichiro Saito, Nozomu Takahashi, Takashi Watanabe
Voices: Nanami Sakuraba, Ryonosuke Kamiki, Ayumu Saito, Mitsuki Tanimura, Sumiko Fuji, Takahiro Yokokawa
THE UGLY DUCKLING (Narrative) Russia
DIR/PROD: Garry Bardin
Voices: Mikhail Turetski, Svetlana Stepchenko, Artem Dzhigarkhanian, Konstantin, Raikine, Vladimir Spivakov, Yulia Rutberg, Vladimir Katchan, Grigori Anachkin
NEW MEDIA
Programmed as a film component of AIFF’s planned New Media Expo and Market, this category will feature films that explore, discuss, highlight and actively incorporate New Media into the art of film.
THE CAT, THE REVEREND AND THE SLAVE (Documentary) France
DIR: Alain Della Negra, Kaori Kinoshita
PROD: Thierry Lounas
Appearances in the film: Patrick Teal, Benjamin L. Faust, Jennifer R. Faust, Krista Kenneth
urFRENZ (Narrative) USA
DIR: Jeff Phillips
PROD: Jana Winternitz
Cast: Lily Holleman, Gayla Goehl, Najarra Townsend, Michael Robert Kelly, CaroleAnne Johnson, James Maslow
STATE OF THE WORLD
This collection of films from around the world offers an uncompromising look at our planet and its people via the discerning eye of the camera’s lens. Discoveries, the works of true auteurs, and unvarnished portraits of real people populate this section.
AMERICAN BULLY (Narrative) USA
DIR: Dave Rodriguez
PROD: George M. Kostuch, Matt Keith, Dave Rodriguez
Cast: Matt O’Leary, Marshall Allman, Jonathan Halyalkar, Sam Murphy, Ross Britz, Meghan Stansfield, Brooke Johnson, John Savage, Dan Wells, Paul Ben-Victor, Natasha Henstridge
AT THE END OF DAYBREAK (Narrative) Malaysia/Hong Kong/South Korea
DIR: Ho Yuhang
PROD: Lorna Tee
Cast: Chui Tien-you, Wai Ying-hung, Jane Ng, Chew Kin-wah, Mandy Chong, Kenny Gan Chi-bing, Berg Lee, Lim Yee, Ben Chung, Yeo Yann Yann, Yasmin Ahmad, Hassan Muttalib
CHILDREN METAL DIVERS (Narrative) The Philippines
DIR: Ralston G. Jover
PROD: Albert Almendralejo, Bessie Badilla
Cast: Meljun Ginto, Vincent Olano, JR Olano, Gina Pareno, Ketchup Eusebio, Joe Gruta, Simon Ibarra
GOLD & COPPER (Narrative) Iran
DIR: Homayoun Asadian
PROD: Manouchehr Mohammadi
Cast: Negar Javaherian, Behrouz Shaibi, Javad Ezati, Sahar Dolatshahi, Mehran Rajabi, Reza Radmanesh, Aida Adelpour, Zahra Abbas Zargari
JUDGE (Narrative) China
DIR/PROD: Liu Jie
Cast: Ni Dahong, Mei Ting, Qi Dao, Zheng Zheng, Song Yingchun, Gao Qunshu
A LONELY PLACE FOR DYING (Narrative) USA
DIR: Justin Evans
PROD: Justin Evans, Brent Daniels, Ross Marquand
Cast: Michael Scovotti, Ross Marquand, Michael Wincott, James Cromwell
RUNNING AMONG THE CLOUDS (Narrative) Iran
DIR: Amin Farajpour
PROD: Ali Ghavitan
Cast: Amir Safiri, Nasim Adabi, Ali Salahi, Keivan Saketof
SAMSON & DELILAH (Narrative) Australia
DIR: Warwick Thornton
PROD: Kath Shelper
Cast: Marissa Gibson, Rowan McNamara, Mitjili Gibson, Scott Thornton
TINY FURNITURE (Narrative) USA
DIR: Lena Dunham
PROD: Kyle Martin, Alicia Van Couvering
Cast: Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunham, Rachel Howe, Merritt Wever, Amy Seimetz, Alex Karpovsky, Jemima Kirke, David Call, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Garland Hunter, Isen Hunter
THE YANKLES (Narrative) USA
DIR: David Brooks
PROD: David Brooks, Zev Brooks, Cary Glieberman
Cast: Brian Wimmer, Bart Johnson, Don Most, Michael Buster, Susanne Sutchy, Kenneth Brown, Jesse Bennett
FRAMING THE REAL
An exciting collection of documentary films that explores the world as it is and as it was, this category puts extraordinary people, places, and events in perspective to their times. From the ins and outs of party politics to the politics of the family, these films will open your eyes not to characters but to real people whose lives and stories are nothing short of amazing.
BINGAI (Documentary) China
DIR/PROD: Feng Yan
Appearances in the film: Zhang Bingai, Zhang Yunjian, Zhang Changwen, Zhang Lingzhi, Xiong Yungang
LANDS (Documentary) Brazil
DIR: Maya Da-Rin
PROD: Sandra Werneck
LOWLANDS (Documentary) USA
DIR: Peter Thompson
PROD: Peter Thompson
Voices: Manon Krems-Koppenol, Jan F.M. Krems, Martinette Krems-Bok, Judith Feddes
A SMALL ACT (Documentary) USA
DIR: Jennifer Arnold
PROD: Jennifer Arnold, Patti Lee, Jeffrey Soros
SOUL BIRDS (Documentary) Germany
DIR: Thomas Riedelsheimer
PROD: Stefan Tolz, Thomas Riedelsheimer
Appearances in the film: Pauline Wolf, Richard Swiderski, Lenni Grabe
TWO HORSES OF GENGHIS KHAN (Documentary) Germany
DIR: Byambasuren Davaa
PROD: Beatrix Wesle, Byambasuren Davaa
UNDER THE BOARDWALK: THE MONOPOLY STORY (Documentary) USA
DIR: Kevin Tostado
PROD: Craig Bentley, Kevin Tostado
Appearances in the film: Hank Azaria, Matt McNally, Phil Orbanes
Narration: Zachary Levi
INTERNATIONAL SHORTS
Featuring narrative, documentary, and animated films, these thematic programs offer dynamic discoveries as well as some of the most heralded and critically respected short films presented on the film festival circuit this year.
Role Playing Role Models (Program One):
THE BOY WHO WANTED TO BE A LION France
DIR: Alois Di Leo
CUTE COUPLE USA
DIR: Courtney Moorehead Balaker
DEATH IN CHARGE USA
DIR: Devi Snively
GUIGNOL USA
DIR: Dana Turken
MAROONED USA
DIR: Ryan Nagata
ONCE UPON A CRIME USA
DIR: Lilli Birdsell
PATROL USA
DIR: John Patton Ford
Unsolved Mysteries (Program Two):
THE ARMOIRE Canada
DIR: Jamie Travis
DAS BABY Germany
DIR: Falco Jagau
BOXER Australia
DIR: Michael Latham
THE ODDS United Kingdom
DIR: Paloma Baeza
ROSENHILL Sweden
DIR: Johan Lundborg, Johan Storm
Romance is Comedy (Program Three):
A JOKE USA
DIR: Andy Brown
ALWAYS A BRIDE USA
DIR: Danny Strauss
CHUM USA
DIR: Gavin Carlton
FLAT LOVE Spain
DIR: Andres Sans-Vincente
Narration: Isabella Rossellini
THE GODMOTHER USA
DIR: Lior Chefetz
THE GOD OF LOVE USA
DIR: Luke Matheny
KARMA’S A BITCH USA
DIR: Justin Tan
OBSESSION Estonia
DIR: Andrew Bond
Animation for Grown-ups (Program Four):
A LOST AND FOUND BOX OF HUMAN SENSATION Germany
DIR: Stefan Leuchtenberg, Martin Wallner
Cast: Joseph Fiennes
Narration: Sir Ian McKellen
ANIMAL LIFTING USA
DIR: Richard Fenwick
BAIT USA
DIR: Michael Moore
CHOMP USA
DIR: Jake Olimb
LET’S POLUTE USA
DIR: Geefwee Boedoe
THE LOST THING Austraila
DIR: Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan
MAN AND CAT Australia
DIR: Adam Marr
WISDOM TEETH USA
DIR: Don Hertzfeldt
THE WONDER HOSPITAL USA
DIR: Beomsik Shim
Animation for Kids (Program Five):
THE GRUFFALO United Kingdom
DIR: Max Lang, Jacob Schuh
Cast (Voices): Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson
HIGGLETY PIGGLETY POP Canada
DIR: Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
Cast (Voices): Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker
THE MOUSE THAT SOARED USA
DIR: Kyle Bell
ORMIE Canada
DIR: Rob Silvestri
ZERO Australia
DIR: Christopher Kezelos
Fantastic Journeys (Program Six):
THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS USA
DIR: Joshua Weigel
Cast: Eduardo Verastegui, Nick Vujicic
FATUM Spain
DIR: Pablo Millan
HOLE USA
DIR: Ben Saltzman
JUNKO’S SHAMISEN Canada
DIR: Sol Friedman
LITTLE MISS EYEFLAP Norway
DIR: Iram Haq
RUNAWAY Canada
DIR: Cordell Barker
SOMETIMES THE MOON IS VELVET United Kingdom
DIR: Tom Phillips
Out and About GLBT Shorts (Program Seven):
BEDFELLOWS USA
DIR: Pierre Stefanos
DEEP RED Israel
DIR: Eddie Tapero
GAYBY USA
DIR: Jonathan Lisecki
GAYSHARKTANK.COM USA
Cast: David Burtka, Miss Coco Peru
DIR: Guy Shalem
VIGILANT! HEALTHY! WHOLESOME! Australia
DIR: Lauren Anderson
YES MAN USA
DIR: Grant Reed
YOU MOVE ME USA
DIR: Gina Hirsch
Late Night Monster Show (Program Eight):
ALICE JACOBS IS DEAD USA
DIR: Alex Horwitz
Cast: Adrienne Barbeau
CULEBRA USA
DIR: Sean Carter
DRACULA’S DAUGHTERS VS. THE SPACE BRAINS USA
DIR: Frank Ippolito, Ezekiel Zabrowski
Cast: Neil Patrick Harris
LAND OF THE HEADS Canada
DIR: Claude Barras, Cedric Louis
OFF SEASON USA
DIR: Jonathan Van Tulleken
TINGLEWOOD Australia
DIR: Alexander Von Hofmann
Cast: Nathan Coenen
THE TWIN GIRLS OF SUNSET STREET Spain
DIR: Marc Riba, Anna Solanas
WINTER STALKER USA
DIR: Stephen Reedy
A Hero’s Salute (Program Nine):
HEAD IN THE SAND USA
DIR: David Baldwin
LIGHTS Belgium/Germany
DIR: Giulio Ricciarelli
LOST AND FOUND United Kingdom
DIR: Philip Hunt
THE RESPONSE USA
DIR: Andrew Spieler
SHE WORE SILVER WINGS USA
DIR: Devin Scott
SORES AND SIRIN Germany
DIR: Katrin Gebbe
UNREST USA
DIR: Christina Rubenstein
Secret to Success (Program Ten):
DOLL FACTORY Spain
DIR: Ainhoa Menendez Goyoaga
FREE LUNCH USA
DIR: Rick Curnutt
HECTOR CORP USA
DIR: Gary H. Lee
SALESMAN OF THE YEAR Spain
DIR: Cote Soler
TWO INTO THREE (ZWEI ZU DRITT) Germany
DIR: Neelesha Barthel
Shorts Preceding Features:
APOLLO Germany
DIR: Felix Gonnert
(Preceding the feature animation MARS)
BANANA BREAD USA
DIR: Barton Landsman
(Preceding the feature film WILD TARGET)
CLEAN CAROUSEL Denmark
DIR: Andreas Bodker
(Preceding the feature film BROKEN SPRINGS)
COLD TURKEY Ireland
DIR: Gavin Keane
(Preceding the feature film SKELETONS)
THE HISTORY OF AVIATION Hungary
DIR: Jonathan Ostos Yaber
(Preceding the feature film LOWLANDS)
LA NOSTALGIA DEL SR. ALAMBRE Mexico
DIR: Jonathan Ostos Yaber
(Preceding the feature film CIRCO)
THE LITTLE DRAGON Switzerland
DIR: Bruno Collet
(Preceding the feature film MANDRILL)
MY CHILDHOOD MYSTERY TREE Russia
DIR: Natalia Mirzoyan
(Preceding the feature animation film THE UGLY DUCKLING)
ONLINE Argentina
DIR: Federico Santillana
(Preceding the feature film URFRENZ)
QUALITY TIME USA
DIR: James Redford
(Preceding the feature film TINY FURNITURE)
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD USA
Dir. Jessica Polaniecki
(Preceding the feature film ONE DAY LESS)
W(HOLE) USA
DIR: Chris Bryant
(Preceding the feature film COLD WATER OF THE SEA)
WINNER: BEST SHORT FILM USA
Dir. Peter Meech
(Preceding the feature film BEST WORST MOVIE)
14th LA Latino Intl Film Fest Announces Award Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
14TH LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
“HABANA EVA” RECEIVES THE RITA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
“TIEMPO DE LEYENDA” AND EL AMBULANTE SHARE THE AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
“MAL DIA PARA PESCAR” IS BEST OPERA PRIMA
“ALIJUNA” IS BEST SHORT
CINELATINO AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS GO TO “HERMANO” FOR BEST FEATURE AND “HARVEST OF LONELINESS” FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
ANNA MUYLAERT RECEIVES NOD AS BEST DIRECTOR FOR “E PROBIDO FUMAR” WITH ROBERTO FONTANRROSO AND RODRIGO GRANDE CITED FOR BEST SCREENPLAY FOR “CUESTION DE PRINCIPIOS”
LOS ANGELES, CA August 25, 2010 – The 14th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announces the award winners at its Closing Night Awards Ceremony presented by The Coca Cola Company with Fina Torres’ HABANA EVA taking home the Rita Award as Best Film; Jose Sanchez-Montes Gonzalez’s TIEMPO DE LEYENDA and Eduardo de la Serna’s, Lucas Marcheggiano’s and Adriana Yorcovich’s EL AMBULANTE sharing the award for Best Documentary; Alvaro Bechner’s MAL DIA PARA PESCAR cited for Best Opera Prima; and Cristina Escoda’s ALIJUNA named Best Short Film.
Cinelatino’s Audience Choice Awards went to Marcel Rasquin’s HERMANO for Best Feature and Gilbert Gonzalez’s and Vivian Price’s HARVEST OF LONELINESS for Best Documentary. Cinelatino sponsored prizes of $1000.00 to each of the winners. The 2nd highest choice for audiences in the Feature Film category was HABANA EVA, with GO FOR IT! Placing 3rd. The Documentary category saw EL AMBULANTE in the 2nd spot, with THE STORM THAT SWEPT MEXICO, the 3rd most popular with LALIFF audiences.
In addition to Torres’ HABANA EVA winning the Rita Award for Best Film, Tatiana Gaviola’s TERESA received an Honorable Mention in the category.
In the Best Documentary category, Jose Sanchez-Montes Gonzalez’s TIEMPO DE LEYENDA and Eduardo de la Serna’s, Lucas Marcheggiano’s and Adriana Yorcovich’s EL AMBULANTE winning films were joined by the Honorable Mention nod given to Consuela Alba and John Speyer’s EL ANDALON – A MAVERICK HUMANITARIAN IN CHIAPAS.
The Short Film category was led by Cristina Escoda’s ALIJUNA for Best Short Film and Rafael & Raul Cardenas’ LUNA for Best Animated Short Film. Honorable mentions were given to Aina Calleja’s LOS DIAS DE VERANO SON MAS LARGOS, Juan Francisco Viruega’s ESTOCOLMO, and Yancy Arias’ BABY.
Anna Muylaert was named Best Director for E PROBIDO FUMAR, with the trio of Yousef Delara, Michael D. Olmos and Victor Teran receiving an Honorable Mention for BEDROOMS. Roberto Fontanarrosa and Rodrigo Grande received the nod for Best Screenplay for their work on CUESTION DE PRINCIPIOS. Julian Roman was also given an Honorable Mention for Acting for his performance in RETRATOS EN UN MAR DER MENTIRAS.
Adding a celebrated conclusion to its 2010 Youth Program, LALIFF also announced a special award from the British Film Academy (BAFTA) presented to Franchesco Ramos’ BREAKAWAY for Best High School Film. As part of the award the British Film Academy will make 100 DVD presentation copies of Ramos’ film for the young director’s use.
LALIFF Executive Director Marlene Dermer said, “The artistic accomplishments of the films and filmmakers this year truly ranked among LALIFF’s best. As difficult as it made our jury’s selection process to single any film from the rest, our audiences were rewarded every time they entered the theater to watch them. We take our role in bringing these films to the public’s attention and providing a spotlight on the best work of our Latino filmmaking artists very seriously, and the shared love of film and sense of community between filmmakers and fans, artists and patrons evident over the course of this year’s festival could not be more gratifying.”
LALIFF Co-Founder Edward James Olmos added, “It is always a challenge to put on an event like this one requiring the combined efforts of countless staff members, volunteers, sponsors, patrons and vendors – and this year was no different. In fact, this year might have been one of our most challenging to date thanks to the economics and logistics of producing film festivals today. But, I believe everyone involved with LALIFF views this as something beyond a film festival. LALIFF encourages such a rich connection between audience and art, between the blend of cultures taking place through these screenings and panels and events, that we enthusiastically do it – and everyone reaps the rewards.”
The festival featured 91 films, including 46 features (32 narrative and 14 documentaries) and 45 shorts. Highlights included an Opening Night Gala appearance and speech by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa prior to the North American debut of Marcel Rasquin’s devastating drama, HERMANO. The screening was followed by an after party at The Highlands in the Hollywood & Highland Complex.
LALIFF’s signature series of Hollywood Connect filmmaker panels featured a conversation with THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE screenwriter Matt Lopez; a director’s roundtable with some of the many female directors populating LALIFF’s 2010 slate of films; and a special panel addressing the issues surrounding immigration which included the participation of activist legend, civil rights leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Dolores Huerta, among others.
The festival concluded with the Closing Night Film presented by LEXUS of Carlos Carrera’s BACKYARD, Mexico’s official selection for the 2010 Academy Awards at the legendary Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, followed by a Gala after party sponsored by The Coca Cola Company in the Egyptian Theater’s Courtyard. In a special appearance, the star of BACKYARD, Ana de la Riguera introduced the film. Other attendees during the film festival included Beau Bridges, Clifton Collins Jr., Lisa Vidal, Dayanara Torres, Aimee Garcia, Patricia Velasquez, Michael Pena, Wanda de Jesus, Lupe Ontiveros, Lalo Alcaraz, Yancy Arias, Shalin Ortiz, Jordan Belfi Benito Martinez, David Zayas, Roselyn Sanchez, Humberto Luna and Kike Santander.
The following includes the list of the winners or the 14th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival:
Best Feature Film (RITA AWARD)
Sponsored by: Deluxe Laboratories
HABANA EVA
Director: Fina Torres
Country: Cuba/Venezuela/France
Honorable Mention – Best Feature Film
TERESA
Director: Tatiana Gaviola
Country: Chile
Best Documentary
Sponsored by: Fuji Film
TIEMPO DE LEYENDA
Director: Jose Sanchez-Montes Gonzalez
Country: Spain
EL AMBULANTE
Director: Eduardo de la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, Adriana Yorcovich
Country: Argentina
Honorable Mention – Best Documentary
EL ANDALON – A MAVERICK HUMANITARIAN IN CHIAPAS
Director: Cosuelo Alba, John Speyer
Country: United States/Mexico
Best Opera Prima
Sponsored by: Final Draft, Showbiz Software, Movie Magic
MAL DIA PARA PESCAR
Director: Alvaro Bechner
Country: Spain/Uruguay
Honorable Mention – Best Opera Prima
OVEJA NEGRA
Director: Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz
Country: Mexico/Spain
Best Short Film
Sponsored by: Final Draft, Showbiz Software, Movie Magic
ALIJUNA
Director: Cristina Escoda
Country: United States
Honorable Mention – Best Short Film
LOS DIAS DE VERANO SON MAS LARGOS
Director: Aina Calleja
Country: Mexico
Honorable Mention – Best Short Film
ESTOCOLMO
Director: Juan Francisco Viruega
Country: Spain
Honorable Mention – Best Short Film
BABY
Director: Yancy Arias
Country: United States
Best Animated Short Film
Sponsored by: Final Draft, Showbiz Software, Movie Magic
LUNA
Director: Rafael Cardenas & Raul Cardenas
Country: Mexico
Cinelatino Audience Choice Award: Feature Film
Sponsored by: Cinelatino
HERMANO
Director: Marcel Rasquin
Country: Venezuela
2nd – HABANA EVA
Director: Fina Torres
Country: Cuba/Venezuela/France
3rd – GO FOR IT!
Director: Carmen Marron
Country: USA
Cinelatino Audience Choice Award: Documentary
Sponsored by: Cinelatino
HARVEST OF LONELINESS
Director: Gilbert Gonzalez, Vivian Price
Country: USA
2nd – EL AMBULANTE
Director: Eduardo del la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, Adriana Yurcovivh
Country: Argentina
3rd – THE STORM THAT SWEPT MEXICO
Director: Ray Telles
Country: USA
Best Director
Sponsored by: Final Draft, Showbiz Software, Movie Magic
Anna Muylaert (E PROBIDO FUMAR)
Country: Brazil
Honorable Mention – Best Director
Yousef Delara, Michael D. Olmos, Victor Teran (BEDROOMS)
Country: United States
Best Screenplay
Sponsored by: Final Draft, Showbiz Software, Movie Magic
Roberto Fontanarrosa & Rodrigo Grande (CUESTION DE PRINCIPIOS)
Country: Argentina
Honorable Mention – Actor
Julian Roman (RETRATOS EN UN MAR DER MENTIRAS)
Country: Colombia
Best High School Film
Selected by BAFTA
BREAKAWAY
Director: Franchesco Ramos
Country: USA
2010 JURY MEMBERS
FEATURE FILM JURY includes:
Peter Murrieta
Emmy winning producer/writer. Credits include “Wizards of Waverly Place”, “Hope and Faith” and “Greetings From Tucson”
Carlos Carreras
Talent agent at Paradigm.
Millie Luna
Head of acquisition and business development for Venevision International Films.
Fernando Sariñara Márquez
General Director of ONCETV MEXICO.
DOCUMENTARY JURY includes:
Francisco Jose Perez Martinez
Marlene Forte
Actress with credits including “Lost”, “CSI”, “Cold Case” and “ER”.
SHORTS JURY includes:
Lorenzo O’Brien
Producer/Screenwriter with credits including WALKER, HIGHWAY PATROLMAN and DEATH AND THE COMPASS.
Rosalinda Morales
Casting Agent with credits including UNDER THE SAME MOON, DOWN FOR LIFE and FLIGHTS OF FANCY.
Jesse Garcia
Actor with credits including A BEAUTIFUL LIFE and QUINCEAÑERA
BACK (left to right) Franchesco Ramos (Best High School Film – BREAKAWAY), Victor Teran (Honorable Mention/Best Director – BEDROOMS), Michael Olmos (Honorable Mention/Best Director – BEDROOMS), Yousef Delara (Honorable Mention/Best Director – BEDROOMS), Alvaro Bechner (Best Opera Prima – MAL DIA PARA PESCAR), Yancy Arias (Honorable Mention/Best Short – BABY), Marcel Rasquin (Audience Choice Award Feature Film – HERMANO), Julian Roman (Honorable Mention/Actor – RETRATOS EN UN MAR DER MENTIRAS), Sandro Fiorin (E PROBIDO FUMAR)
FRONT (left to right) Rodrigo Grande (Best Screenplay – CUESTION DE PRINCIPIOS), Xochilt Gonzalez (Audience Choice Award Documentary – HARVEST OF LONELINESS), Carmen Marron (Audience Choice Award 3rd Place – GO FOR IT!), Fina Torres (Best Feature Film – HABANA EVA), Consuelo Alba (Honorable Mention/Best Documentary – EL ANDALON)
2010 Feel Good Film Fest Announces Award Winners
THE 2010 FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
“GOD’S EARS” RECEIVES THE JURY PRIZE FOR BEST FEEL GOOD FEATURE
“BUTTERFLY CIRCUS” IS NAMED BEST FEEL GOOD SHORT FILM
AUDIENCE AWARDS GO TO “10 MOUNTAINS 10 YEARS” FOR FEEL GOOD FEATURE AND “MARY ANNE GOES TO THE MARKET” FOR FEEL GOOD SHORT
“HERPES BOY” TAKES BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST ENSEMBLE
BRENT FLORENCE NAMED BEST DIRECTOR FOR “EAGLES IN THE CHICKEN COOP”
LOS ANGELES, CA August 17, 2010 – The Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) announces the award winners for its 3rd outing with Michael Worth’s GOD’S EARS taking home the Panavision Grand Jury Prize for Best Feel Good Feature Film (with more than $70,000 in in-kind prizes) and Joshua Weigel’s BUTTERFLY CIRCUS named as the winner of the Hollywood Rentals Grand Jury Prize for Best Feel Good Short Film.
Camadeus Audience Awards went to Jennifer Yee’s 10 MOUNTAINS 10 YEARS for Feel Good Feature and Ethan Cushing’s MARY ANNE GOES TO MARKET for Feel Good Short. The Feel Good Award for Best Student Film was presented to Ryo Shiina and Bassem Wahbi for CHINESE ANTIQUE, while Dana Jones’ and Joel Reaves’ FLYING FOR MICE received a runner up nod in the category.
Nathaniel Atcheson’s HERPES BOY swept the performance categories with Byron Lane and Ahna O’Reilly named as Best Actor and Best Actress and the film receiving the Best Ensemble nod, as well. Brent Florence was named Best Director for EAGLES IN THE CHICKEN COOP.
Martin Garner’s “Shinola” won the Feel Good Screenplay Competition and Jessica De Rooij won the Feel Good Original Score Competition for her work on the film, WAKIYAKU MONOGATARI (CAST ME IF YOU CAN).
For GOD’S EARS Best Feel Good Feature Award, Worth was presented with a prize package of more than $70,000 highlighted by $60,000 in-kind & 4 week camera rental from Panavision, $5000 in-kind from Camadeus, $3000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals, $2000 in-kind from ISS Props, and $500 in-kind from IndieRentals.
BUTTERFLY CIRCUS’ Best Feel Good Short Award earned Weigel a prize package of more than $4000, led by $2000 in-kind from Camadeus, $1000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals and $1000 in-kind from ISS Props.
Both filmmakers also received one copy of Final Draft, a subscription to SCRIPT Magazine, a copy of Showbiz Budgeting and Showbiz Labor Guide, 3 hours of Architectural design consultation from MEHRNOOSH, membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box.
Yee took home $1000 in-kind from Camadeus and $1000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals for 10 MOUNTAINS 10 YEARS’ Best Feel Good Feature Audience Award and Cushing received $500.00 in-kind from Camadeus for MARY ANNE GOES TO THE MARKET’s Best Feel Good Short Audience Award.
The Audience Award winners also received one copy of Final Draft, a copy of Showbiz Labor Guide, membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box.
For their Best Feel Good Student Film honor bestowed upon CHINESE ANTIQUE, Ryo Shiina and Bassem Wahbi received a one-week scholarship at the New York Film Academy and $1000 in-kind from Camadeus, while FLYING FOR MICE earned Dana Jones and Joel Reaves one-week scholarships to New York Film Academy as well. The student film winners also received one copy of Final Draft, a copy of Showbiz Software and Showbiz Labor Guide, membership to Film Independent and an Eclore Soap gift box.
Martin’s Best Feel Good Screenplay honor garnered him one copy of Final Draft, a subscription to SCRIPT Magazine, membership to InkTip.com, one-week scholarship to New York Film Academy, a copy of Showbiz Labor Guide, membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box. All other finalists in the competition received membership to InkTip.com, as well.
Jessica De Rooij’s Best Feel Good Score brought her one day of studio recording with an engineer at Tuff Cut Sound, as well as a copy of Showbiz Labor Guide, membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box.
Brent Florence’s Best Director kudos also came with a one-week scholarship to New York Film Academy, a subscription to SCRIPT Magazine, a copy of Showbiz Labor Guide, a $300 gift certificate to Dr. Gordie, Inc., membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box. Each of the performance awards included a subscription to SCRIPT Magazine, a copy of Showbiz Labor Guide, membership to Film Independent, Barefoot Wine, TETEO Tequila and an Eclore Soap gift box as well.
Kristen Ridgway Flores, FGFF Founder and Co-Director, said, “in our third year, the Feel Good Film Festival began the process of widening our scope and redefining what it means to “feel good” through the programming of our films and our New Media panel. We really felt we grew this year, as an organization and an event. It was especially gratifying for myself and co-director America Young to have our first female Host (Cheryl Hines) and our first female Feel Good Life Tribute Honoree (Shirley Jones). We feel humbled that this film festival has quickly become a mark-your-calendar event for so many people and we feel like our ‘feel good’ spirit has really got a solid toe-hold in the independent film community now.”
The festival featured 64 films, including 14 features, 39 shorts, and 11 student films. Along with the films offered throughout the festival, highlights included a lively Opening Night intro from Host Cheryl Hines; a New Media panel “Why Web Series Suck” presented by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation discussing some hot-button issues prevalent in the web community and highlighted by the world premieres of a handful of web series, an outdoor bazaar highlighted by “green” and health-oriented vendors, and nightly after parties in the Egyptian Theatre Courtyard.
The weekend concluded Sunday evening with a Closing Night Awards Gala hosted by comedian and actor Hal Sparks featuring the Feel Good Life Tribute to film and television legend, Shirley Jones. Jones made her way to the podium to accept her honor to a standing ovation and spoke of the need for events such as the Feel Good Film Festival before her husband Marty Ingels joined her at the podium and chided the major networks and news for not being present and covering the event designed to make people “feel good”. Other attendees included Dan Lauria, Josie Davis, John Saxon, Heather Stephens, Marisa Cuevas, April Macie, Eliza Schlesinger, Todd Glass, Nicki Aycox, Dash Mihok, Ray Abruzzo, Frances Fisher, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, Caryn Richman and Eric Stonestreet (who attended the Opening Night screening of his film FATHER VS SON, while taking time to raise awareness for the Motion Picture & Television Fund).
(Kristen Ridgway Flores, Shirley Jones, America Young – Photo by Teresea Martino)
JURY AWARDS:
BEST FEEL GOOD FEATURE FILM: GOD’S EARS
Dir: Michael Worth
BEST FEEL GOOD SHORT FILM: BUTTERFLY CIRCUS
Dir: Joshua Weigel
BEST FEEL GOOD STUDENT FILM: CHINESE ANTIQUE
Dir: Ryo Shiina, Bassem Wahbi
BEST FEEL GOOD STUDENT FILM RUNNER UP: FLYING FOR MICE
Dir: Dana Jones, Joel Reaves
BEST FEEL GOOD DIRECTOR: Brent Florence (for EAGLES IN THE CHICKEN COOP)
BEST FEEL GOOD ACTOR: Byron Lane (for HERPES BOY)
BEST FEEL GOOD ACTRESS: Ahna O’Reilly (for HERPES BOY)
BEST FEEL GOOD ENSEMBLE: HERPES BOY
FEEL GOOD ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY AWARD: “Shinola”
Writer: Martin Garner
FEEL GOOD ORIGINAL SCORE AWARD: WAKIYAKU MONOGATARI (CAST ME IF YOU CAN)
Composer: Jessica De Rooij
AUDIENCE AWARDS:
FEEL GOOD FEATURE: 10 MOUNTAINS 10 YEARS
Dir: Jennifer Yee
FEEL GOOD SHORT: MARYANNE GOES TO THE MARKET
Dir: Ethan Cushing
2010 FGFF JURY MEMBERS
FEATURE FILM JURY includes:
Zachary Matz
Zachary Matz is an award-winning veteran producer of independent feature films and a versatile entertainment industry executive with more than two decades of experience. Credits include CITY ISLAND, JOLENE, MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT, WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD, DRUM and PARANOIA 1.0. His production company, filmsmith, is an international entity which develops, finances, and produces its own films, as well as consults and represents other filmmakers.
Caroline Mitchell
Mitchell began her film career as a dialogue coach, working with established actors such as Jeremy Irons, Harvey Keitel and Sigourney Weaver. In 1993, she became involved in the creation, organization and development of the Equinoxe Screenwriter’s Workshop. Mitchell created the Festival International Cinema & Costume Moulins in 2006, and in April 2011 she will unveil the first edition of the Boulogne-Billancourt International Film Festival (France) in partnership with the Los Angeles Feel Good Film Festival.
Robert Yu
Robert Yu is currently a film consultant specializing in distribution. Most recently, Mr. Yu was the Vice President of Acquisitions for PorchLight Entertainment overseeing all aspects of acquisitions and development. Prior, Mr. Yu was the Head of West Coast Operations for CinemaVault Releasing International, supervising the Los Angeles office. Previously Mr. Yu was the Vice President of the entertainment law firm / producer’s representative, Harris Tulchin & Associates / Tulchin Entertainment. Robert Yu started his career at Paramount Classics and Alliance Atlantis in Marketing and International Sales respectively.
SHORT FILM JURY includes:
Bill Chott
Chott is one of the stars of DISNEY’S WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE, as well as the feature film THE RINGER. Recent television guest spots have been on “Monk” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Chott als lends his voice to animated segments on “Saturday Night Live” as well as PBS’ “Curious George.” An alum of Second City, Chott is one of the country’s top improv teachers and professional coaches.
Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly moved out to Los Angeles shortly after graduating from the
University of Texas at Austin, and has worked for Disney, Sony Pictures, The Jim Henson Company. After working in development as a story editor and director of development, he entered the wide world of blogging where he currently writes for sites like Cinematical, io9, Joystiq, /Film, Film School Rejects, Los Anjealous, LAist, and others. There’s a constant supply of pop culture being dripped into his veins these days, and he’s always looking for a new fix.
Jennie Monica Hammond
Hammond has worked in Casting and Production at Nickelodeon for 12 years. She was part of the founding crew for “SpongeBob SquarePants” and has continued to be a part of the production’s success. She is currently an Associate Producer at Nickelodeon.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY JURY includes:
Jason Berlin
Jason Berlin was born in New Jersey and soon after went to Harvard, where he got grades so good, they made A’s look like F’s. To celebrate, he attended the American Film Institute as a Directing Fellow. He’s been writing for TV since ‘99, with an emphasis on comedy and reality. Credits include ABC’s “Wipeout”, NBC’s “Tommy Lee Goes to College”, and for MTV, “Undressed”, “DisMissed”, and “Next”. In the past four years, he created two comedy/reality pilots for Fox Television Studios, and 2 comedy pilots for SpikeTV and SciFi with his sketch comedy troupe, The Ministry of Unknown Science. This April, the 2010 L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival screened one of these pilots, called “Operation: BALLS”. Jason is gorgeous, though you wouldn’t know it to look at him. He’s been doing standup since April and is 15 years late for famous.
Robert Knott
Robert wrote and produced APPALOOSA with Ed Harris. Harris directed, Knott directed second unit. As an actor, Knott starred as the troubled waterman in SWIMMERS with two time Tony Winner, Cherry Jones. SWIMMERS premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Seattle International Film Festival. Robert also starred along with APPALOOSA’S Tom Bower in Robert M. Young’s HUMAN ERROR, a comedy based on Richard Dresser’s play that also premiered at Sundance. Robert’s been working in theater, film and television for over 30 years. His film credits include: POLLOCK, directed by Ed Harris, Stephen Frears’ HIGH LOW COUNTRY with Billy Crudup, STORM with Martin Sheen, BUFFALO SOLDIERS with Danny Glover and Walter Hill’s, WILD BILL with Diane Lane and Jeff Bridges just to name a few. Robert had the pleasure of working on stage ‘also’ with Tom Bower in Harold Pinter’s THE CARETACKER. As a writer Robert has written a diversity of scripts, depicting the stories of his family’s wayfaring past to stage plays about oil riggers.
Colin O’Reilly
Following a stint as an assistant in the development department at New Line Cinema, O’Reilly went on to become a literary manager at Smart Entertainment where he served as co-producer on BLADES OF GLORY. Shortly after he left to go out on his own and sold the screenplay for the film SUNSHINE CLEANING. He has sold film and TV projects to Universal, Paramount and New Line Cinema.
ORIGINAL SCORE JURY includes:
Richard Kraft
Richard Kraft is the founder of Kraft-Engel Management, one of the world’s leading agencies specializing in representing film and theatre composers. Together with his partner, Laura Engel, they represent such clients as John Barry, Christophe Beck, Andrew Bird, Terence Blanchard, Jon Brion, Alexandre Desplat, Danny Elfman, Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Menken, David Newman, John Ottman, John Powell, Trevor Rabin, Graeme Revell, Marc Shaiman, Gabriel Yared and Aaron Zigman.
David Campbell
Arranger-conductor David Campbell’s work appears on more than 425 Gold or Platinum albums. During his long recording career, albums David worked on have received 50 Grammy awards and film scores have earned 2 Oscars. David has composed music for many films, and for commercials for George Lucas, Panasonic, Sony and others. He orchestrated and conducted scores for Dead Man Walking, Friday Night Lights, Oliver Stone’s W, Scott Pilgrim versus The World and the Oscar-winning score for Brokeback Mountain. As arranger/ conductor for motion picture songs, Campbell worked on Armageddon, Dreamgirls, City of Angels, Daredevil, Men in Black II, Spiderman 2, Ladder 49, the Oscar-nominated song from Pearl Harbor, and the Oscar-winning song “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan. In recent years, David has enjoyed recording and arranging for Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Radiohead, Elton John, Air, Cat Power, Leonard Cohen, Beck, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Macy Gray, Beyonce, Metallica, The Mars Volta, Josh Groban and Dido. Later this year, David Campbell will write incidental music and orchestrations for the Broadway production of Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, directed by Julie Taymor with music & lyrics by Bono and The Edge.
Ludek Drizhal
Drizhal most recently composed the score for the film ALABAMA MOON directed by Tim McCanlies. He has worked on a number of Starz Productions as well as independent films, such as BADLAND directed by Francesco Lucente and SIMON SAYS directed by Bill Dear. He recently finished work on the European production U PANA BOGA ZA MIEDZA (God’s Little Village) with acclaimed Polish director Jacek Bromski. Ludek graduated with a Masters of Music from the USC Thornton School of Music where he also taught for six years.
ACTING JURY includes:
Scott David
David has been in casting for nearly 15 years and worked with many amazing Casting Directors such as April Webster and Nan Dutton. Currently, he is casting “Criminal Minds” and recently cast the show’s new spin-off, as well as the “Army Wives” spin-off for Lifetime. Past film credits include THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, 2012, THE CHICAGO 8, amongst others.
LALIFF Announces HERMANO as Opening Night Gala Film
14TH LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
“HERMANO” TO MAKE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AS OPENING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION
VENEZUELAN DRAMA RECENTLY SWEPT TOP AWARDS AT 2010 MOSCOW INTL FILM FEST
HOLLYWOOD CONNECT PROGRAM ALSO ANNOUNCED
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
A CONVERSATION WITH SCREENWRITER MATT LOPEZ (THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE)
DIRECTORS ROUNDTABLE WITH “NEW FEMALE VOICES”
A DIALOGUE ON IMMIGRATION WITH THE DIRECTORS OF IMMIGRANT NATION AND RABIA
LOS ANGELES, CA August 9, 2010 – The 14th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announces Marcel Rasquin’s HERMANO will be the Opening Night Gala presentation on Thursday, August 19 at the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theater (6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA).
Written by Rasquin and Rohan Jones, and featuring Rasquin’s directorial debut, HERMANO tells the story of ‘Daniel,’ an exceptional soccer player and ‘Julio,’ the team’s captain and a born leader. Raised as brothers, they play football in their slum, La Ceniza as Daniel dreams of playing professional soccer and Julio feeds the family with dirty money; having no time to dream. The opportunity of their lives arrives when a soccer scout invites them to tryout with the city’s best team: Caracas Soccer Club. But tragedy intervenes bringing everything back to the soccer field, where they must choose what is more important: family, revenge or their lifelong dreams. Produced in Venezuela, the film stars Eliú Armas, Fernando Moreno, Gonzalo Cubero, Marcela Girón.
HERMANO will make it’s North American premiere at LALIFF after having swept the trio of top awards at the 2010 Moscow International Film Festival, including the Golden George Award for Best Film, the Critics Award and the Audience Award.
LALIFF Executive Director Marlene Dermer said, “This year our Opening Night film, HERMANO, will be the gateway to wondrous worlds of tales from far away places made by some of the masters, as well as the new voices of cinema. We are honored to once again introduce these talented filmmakers to our public.” Dermer continued, “This is a classic story of the paths two young men raised as brothers take, as they face what men they will ultimately become. HERMANO is an exhilarating drama and is an Opera Prima that exemplifies that good stories are universal stories. HERMANO was the Grand Prix winner at the Moscow International Film Festival in its World Premiere. I know you will find it as exhilarating and entertaining as I did.”
The Los Angeles Latino International Film festival Opening Night Gala presented by Egada & Filmotech will include an excusive after party at The Highlands (6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA).
LALIFF also announced the schedule for its Hollywood Connect program.
A series of events, receptions, industry panels, discussions, conversations and presentations created to build bridges between filmmakers and professionals from the Hollywood film community, Hollywood Connect works to do exactly what the title implies: Create events and a forum to encourage interaction with and instruction from prominent experts, financiers, filmmakers, talent, and industry executives. These include indie and studio executives responsible for development, financing, production, and distribution and marketing.
Hollywood Connect program events include:
Friday, August 20
12:30PM – 3:30PM
The Advantages of International Co-Production
Presented by: EGEDA
Moderated by: Leon Ichaso, Director
Panelists:
Rafael Sanchez, Managing Director, EGEDA-SGR
Manuel Soria, Managing Director, Madrid Film Commission
Julia Steinweg, Founder/Producer, Steinweg Emotion Pictures
Gabriela Tagliavini, Director/Producer
This panel will discuss the “ins and outs” and the “dos and don’ts” with industry professionals that have worked in and around the field of International Co-Productions.
Location:
EGEDA U.S. Offices
681 Trenton Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Saturday, August 21
1:00PM – 2:00PM
Café con… MATT LOPEZ
Presented by: WGA, West
Moderated by: Ligiah Villalobos, writer UNDER THE SAME MOON (LA MISMA LUNA)
Matt Lopez (BEDTIME STORIES & RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN) discusses his latest film, the Walt Disney Pictures action adventure, THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE with fellow screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos (LA MISMA LUNA).
**Special Bonus – A Special FREE Screening of THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE at 10AM at the Mann Chinese 6 Cinemas will precede Café con… MATT LOPEZ.
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Saturday, August 21
2:30PM – 4:00PM
BEFORE THE CAMERA ROLLS/MAXIMIZING YOUR TAX INCENTIVES
Introduction by: Leimomi Coloretti, Outreach and Development Director ,
Media Services / Showbiz Store
Dealing with a key element of film producing and budgeting, this seminar aims to serve as a definitive look at pre-production and tax incentives planning, presented by Media Services and Showbiz Software.
Panelists:
Otter Huntley, VP of Business Development, Media Services
Steven Fishman, VP of Sales, Media Services
Roger Jones, Business Development/Software Support, Media Services
John Robertson, Tax Incentives Specialist, Media Services
Alan Bailey, West Coast Production Consultant to Tax Credits, LLC
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Sunday, August 22
2:00PM – 3:00PM
A DIRECTORS ROUNDTABLE
Moderated by: Sydney Levine, Sydney’s Buzz-Indie wire
The panel features a roundtable dialogue with six exciting new voices whose films are being showcased in this year’s Festival. Each filmmaker will share their stories on what it took and the roads they each travelled to get their current films made.
Participants:
Fina Torres – Director, HABANA EVA
Carmen Marron – Director/Producer/Writer, GO FOR IT!
Consuelo Alba – Director , EL ANDALON
Isabel Cueva – Director, IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM
Yvette Edery – Director, JILLIAN DILLON
Sarah Vaill – Director, WOMEN WITH ALTITUDE
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Sunday, August 22
3:30PM – 4:30PM
NEW MEDIA AND YOU
Moderated by: Sydney Levine, Sydney’s Buzz-Indie wire
The panel focuses on using social networking, DIY and Hybrid Models to market and distribute your film.
Panelists:
Orly Ravid, The Film Collaborative
Vanessa Arteaga, Jaman
Sheri Candler, Marketing & Publicity
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Monday, August 23
4:00PM – 5:00PM
A GUILD EXPLORATION
Presented by: SAGindie
Moderated by: Darrien M. Gipson, Director SAGindie
Representatives from SAG, SAG Indie and Writers Guild of America, West speak on this panel about independent film and new media – how to work with the Guilds and why.
Panelists:
Kim Myers, WGAWest, Director of Diversity
Mark Friedlander, SAG, National Director, New Media
Elisabeth Flack, WGAW, Contracts Administrator, New Media
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Monday, August 23
5:00PM – 6:00PM
FROM FINANCING TO NEW MEDIA DISTRIBUTION: DECONSTRUCTING FILM
Presented by: Ethos Group
Moderated by: Ivan Cevallos, CEO, Ethos Group
This panel takes a start-to-finish look at film production to distribution with top executives within the independent film arena.
Panelists:
Adrian Ward, SVP, Entertainment, Sports & Media, NBCal
Howard Cohen, Co-President, Roadside Attractions
William Wu, Entertainment Attorney
Marcos Cruz Gonzales, Partner, MCG & Co.
John Kuri, CEO/President, Elixir Entertainment
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Tuesday, August 24
5:00PM – 7:00PM
A DIALOGUE ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES: WE ARE AMERICA/NOSOTROS SOMOS AMERICA
Presented by: UCLA Latin America Institute
Moderated by: Lalo Alcaraz, (comic strip “La Cucaracha”, host KPFK “Pocho Hour of Power”)
This panel will address the issue of immigration as a civil rights crisis impacting the Latino immigrant community that has culminated with Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, SB1070.
Panelists:
Esaú Meléndez, LALIFF Filmmaker, Director of IMMIGRANT NATION
José Jacques Medina, Federal Deputy, LX Legislature, 2006-09, Mexican Congress
Professor Justin Akers Chacon, San Diego Community College, Chicano Studies
Thomas Saenz, President & General Consul of MALDEF
Sebastian Cordero, LALIFF Filmmaker, Director of RABIA
Location:
Renaissance Hotel & Spa, 3rd Level
Hollywood & Highland
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Festival passes and tickets are available for purchase at latinofilm.org.
Pro Golfer K.J. Choi joins cast in SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA
PRO GOLFER K.J. CHOI JOINS CAST IN
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA
Korean golfing legend will make big screen debut in the film
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 3, 2010) – Korean pro golfer K.J. Choi has joined the cast of SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, the feature film adaptation of Dr. David L. Cook’s best-selling book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. Directed by Matthew Dean Russell, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA stars Lucas Black and Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall.
Filming on location in Fredericksburg and Utopia, Texas, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA follows the story of Luke Chisolm (played by Lucas Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (played by Robert Duvall). But Johnny’s more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future. The cast also includes Deborah Ann Woll (HBO’s True Blood), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo (Frozen River). The feature adaptation was written by Russell, Cook and Rob Levine.
Since joining the PGA Tour in 2000, Choi has quickly gained notable success, finishing in the top 30 money winners in each of the last three years with over two million dollars in earnings in 2004. The first Korean born player to have secured a PGA card and won on the PGA tour, Choi is one of only two Asian born players with multiple wins on the PGA Tour and is only the fourth Asian born player with a PGA Tour victory
Choi plays ‘Tae Kwon Oh’, one of the chief and most intimidating competitors that Black’s ‘Chisolm’ character must face during his attempt to succeed on the PGA tour. Of taking on his first role in a feature film, Choi said, “I was inspired by Dr. Cook’s book. Acting in a feature film is a new challenge, and one I am enjoying undertaking.”
“Having a genuine star of the PGA tour onboard to play this role automatically raises the game so-to-speak,” said producer Mark G. Mathis. “K.J. Choi’s presence adds another level of legitimacy and authenticity to a project that has already soared beyond any of our expectations.“
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA is being produced by Mark G. Mathis (Brick, Precious) and Jason M. Berman (The Dry Land). Executive Producers are Ken Herfurth, Phil Myers, Robert Carliner and Lucas Black. The film was cast by Mary Vernieu and Lindsay Graham.
LA LATINO INTL FILM FEST Announces Filmmaker Panel on Immigration Issues
14TH LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and the
UCLA LATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES
FILMMAKER PANEL TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION ISSUES
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS TO HOST DISCUSSION
MODERATED BY KPFK-FM’s LALO ALCAREZ
LOS ANGELES, CA July 13, 2010 – The 14th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announces that the filmmaker panel, A Dialogue on Immigration Issues: We Are America/Nosotros Somos America will be featured as a centerpiece of the film festival’s planned panel series for this year’s edition of LALIFF, the premier Latino international film festival in the United States.
Taking place at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa (1755 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood) Tuesday, August 24, 5:00PM-7:00PM, the anticipated event will be co-sponsored with the UCLA Latin American Institute.
Presented with LALIFF’s series of films on immigration including Esaú Meléndez’s IMMIGRANT NATION, the panel will address the issue of immigration as a
civil rights crisis impacting the Latino immigrant community that has culminated with Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, SB1070.
Moderated by Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip La Cucaracha and Host of KPFK-FM’s “Pocho Hour of Power,” the panel will take an incisive and critical look at the current plight of immigrant workers in the United States.
Following the passing of Arizona’s controversial law, some states have taken steps to isolate Arizona to voice their opposition, while others are preparing similar legislation in its wake. Meanwhile, as the nationwide debate continues to heat up this summer, immigrant workers, who have long been a part of our nation, are being subjected to racial profiling and harassment by law enforcement at the same time they are, increasingly, targeted for violent hate crimes.
Filmmakers like Meléndez will be joined by Latino minds such as Professor Justin Akers Chacon (San Diego Community College), co-author of the book, No One is Illegal, for a spirited discussion that will go beyond the politicians and media figures that have encouraged anti-immigrant politics by spreading false propaganda scapegoating immigrants for our nation’s problems. The conversation will then reach beyond the politics to delve into the civil rights crisis that has resulted in the separation of families, and increased violence against the immigrant community.
Actor, filmmaker and LALIFF Chairman, Edward James Olmos stressed the necessity for a substantial dialogue from the Latino point of view, saying “The current events in Arizona has delivered a potentially life changing moment at the doorstep of Latinos. The films we show at LALIFF this year and for years to come will be influenced by the actions of a country that so many in our community have embraced and adopted as their home. But this goes beyond art. This goes to a larger understanding of a very complicated issue.”
LALIFF Executive Director Marlene Dermer agreed, adding “From the beginning, LALIFF has sought to bring people and communities together through our films and the meeting of minds with our attending filmmakers. Central to that effort is a message of a crucial need for unity, comprehension and participation among cultures in this country. We see this particular panel as an opportunity for our film festival to spur and inspire a very timely dialogue from a viewpoint that we have yet to see from today’s pundits and politicians.”
LALIFF is scheduled for August 19-25, 2010 at the Chinese 6 Mann Cinemas, Last year, LALIFF drew an attendance in excess of 15,000 over the course of its 6 day run. In 2010, the film festival will include a full line-up of international award-winning features, short films, panels, workshops, musical performances and networking events.
Additional information can be found at latinofilm.org.
A DIALOGUE ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES
We Are America/Nosotros Somos America
Moderator:
Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip La Cucaracha
Host of “Pocho Hour of Power” on KPFK 90.7FM
Confirmed panelists include:
Professor Justin Akers Chacon – San Diego Community College, Chicano Studies, Co-Author of No One is Illegal
José Jacques Medina – Diputado de la LX Legislatura, 4a Circunscripcion, Author of De Mojado a Diputado
Esaú Meléndez, – Director, IMMIGRANT NATION
Thomas A. Saenz – President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
wildworx.wordpress.com 
leave a comment