August 2010

14th LA Latino Intl Film Fest Announces Award Winners

Posted in film festivals, Latino by johnwildman on August 31, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

14^TH 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 14^th 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 3^rd. The Documentary category saw EL AMBULANTE in the 2^nd spot, with THE STORM THAT SWEPT MEXICO, the 3^rd 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)

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2010 Feel Good Film Fest Announces Award Winners

Posted in feeling good, film festivals by johnwildman on August 19, 2010

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.

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LALIFF Announces HERMANO as Opening Night Gala Film

Posted in film festivals, Latino by johnwildman on August 17, 2010

14^TH 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 14^th 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.

Tagged with: HERMANO, Hollywood Connect, immigration, L.A. Latino International Film Festival, LALIFF, Marcel Rasquin, Matt Lopez, Soccer

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Feel Good Film Fest Announces Hosts, Tribute Honoree and New Media panel

Posted in feeling good, film festivals, New Media by johnwildman on August 6, 2010

THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER AND CURRENT EMMY NOMINEE SHIRLEY JONES AS FEEL GOOD TRIBUTE RECIPIENT

CHERYL HINES AS OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION HOST

HAL SPARKS AS CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY HOST

NEW MEDIA PANEL FEATURES WORLD PREMIERES OF “ALIEN NINJA,” “MY FUTURE GIRLFRIEND,” “THE TREASURE HUNT: A CHAD, MATT AND ROB INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE” WEB SERIES

LOS ANGELES, CA August 4, 2010 – The 2010 Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) announces Academy Award winner Shirley Jones will be the Feel Good Tribute Honoree for the 3^rd edition of the film festival.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Cheryl Hines will serve as the Host for the Opening Night Celebration on Friday, August 13. Comedian Hal Sparks takes on the hosting duties for the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 15.

Details were also announced for the FGFF Filmmaker Panel. Focusing on new media, the panel is titled, “Why Web Series Suck.”

Hines will serve as the host for the Opening Night Celebration co-presented by FETE that will feature the presentation of Joe Ballarini’s FATHER VS SON. Beginning with the film festival’s signature “yellow” carpet entrances (in honor of FGFF’s sunflower logo), in the Egyptian Theatre courtyard, the Gala event will include an after party presented by Roaring Lion, The Happy Ending Bar & Restaurant, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and TeTeo Tequila.

A two-time Emmy nominee for her work on the Golden Globe Award-winning series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and director of last year’s critically acclaimed indie dark comedy SERIOUS MOONLIGHT, Hines most recent project has required her to serve as executive producer on the upcoming NBC reality series “School Pride.” The decidedly feel good project is a proactive, alternative series that tells the stories of communities coming together to renovate their aging and broken public schools. While transforming the school, the community also restores its sense of value and school pride. The cameras follow students; teachers and parents as they roll up their sleeves and rebuild their own schools, concluding with the unveiling of a brand new, completely transformed school.

Hines previous credits include the feature films THE UGLY TRUTH, RV, WAITRESS, THE GRAND and BART GOT A ROOM, as well as ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters” and “In the Motherhood,” Hines has also produced and directed various television projects, including the award-winning comedy series “Campus Ladies” for the Oxygen Channel and the Starz Networks original comedy series “Hollywood Residential.”

Regarding taking the reins from previous FGFF hosts Rainn Wilson and Carlos Mencia, “It’s a thrill to be the first woman to host the Feel Good Film Festival’s Opening Night Celebration. Just like Carlos and Rainn, I’ll put on my Old Spice and Spanx and do my best. It’s a great festival and I look forward to kicking off the weekend of films and events with some really, really good feelings.”

Popular comedian and actor, Hal Sparks, will host the FGFF Closing Night Filmmaker Awards Ceremony.

Following his hosting duties on E! Entertainment Television’s “Talk Soup” (1999-2000) and frequent appearances on a myriad of comedy clip shows on VH-1, Sparks is primarily known for his work on Showtime’s “Queer as Folk” (2000-2005).

Currently, Sparks has been dividing his time on the comedy tour following the release of his “Charmaggedon” DVD, as well as performing with his band, Zero 1.

The choice of Shirley Jones as the Feel Good Tribute Honoree also will mark the first time a woman has been so honored, following Jonathan Winters and Ed Asner during the first two years of the film festival.

From her start in the classic big screen musicals OKLAHOMA! (1955), CAROUSEL (1956) and THE MUSIC MAN (1962), Shirley Jones embodied the image of singing ingénue. Her startling Academy Award winning performance in ELMER GANTRY (1960) simply confirmed her versatility on the big screen.

Of course, any discussion of Jones’ impact on the world of entertainment has to include her role as the iconic ‘Shirley Partridge’ on the classic 70s situation comedy “The Partridge Family” (1970-74). Co-starring with her real life stepson David Cassidy, the series not only was immensely popular during its four-year run, but also has proved evergreen gaining fans through syndicated runs and DVD releases up to the present.

A four-time Golden Globe nominee (ELMER GANTRY – 1960), (THE MUSIC MAN – 1962), (“The Partridge Family” – 1971 & 1972), Jones has recently added another Emmy nomination to her impressive list of accolades for her performance last season in “The Cleaner”. The nomination follows previous nods for “Silent Night, Lonely Night” (1969) and “Hidden Places” (2006).

Feel Good Film Festival Founder and Co-Director, Kristen Ridgway Flores said, “We are thrilled to have two fabulous feel-good female role models for the 2010 festival! With Cheryl Hines opening the festival and then honoring the legendary Shirley Jones on Closing Night, I guess we could call this year the “Year of Woman”. What an exciting time!”

The Feel Good Film festival also announced details for its annual featured Filmmaker panel to take place at the Egyptian Theater on Saturday, August 14. Focusing on New Media and presented by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, the panel is entitled, “Why Web Series Suck.”

Taking the form of a mock trial, the panel will screen some of the hottest web content currently available online, as well as offer up notable world premieres of highly anticipated series – all in the service of looking at the inroads that scripted entertainment produced for the internet have made over the last few years.

Co-moderated by FGFF Programmer Matt Bolish and FGFF Co-Director America Young, confirmed panelists will include Devin Faraci (CHUD.com), Dave Poland (Movie City News) and Dana Tuiner (Manager, Comedy Development – FOX Broadcasting).

Participating Web series include:

ABIGALE’S TEENAGE DIARY

SCR/PROD/CAST: Hayden Black

ALIEN NINJA (World Premiere)

DIR/SCR: Greg Aronowitz

PROD: Sheri Bryant

MY FUTURE GIRLFRIEND (World Premiere)

DIR/PROD: Brian Amyot

SCR/PROD: Steven Tsapelas

PROD: Patrick Cohen

THE LEGEND OF NEIL

DIR/SCR/EXEC PROD: Sandeep Parikh

PROD: Jeff Winkler

SCR/CAST: Tony Janning

PROD: Leah Mann

THE TREASURE HUNT: A CHAD, MATT, AND ROB INTERACTIVE

ADVENTURE (World Premiere)

DIR/SCR/PROD/CAST: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

DIR/PROD: Tyler Gillett

SCR/CAST/PROD: Rob Polonsky

PROD: Justin Martinez

PROD/CAST: Chad Villella

Regarding the announcement of the “Why Web Series Suck” panel, Young said, “While there has been a lot of discussion and forums about web shows, they seem to be done mainly by those who already appreciate and/or create them. There are a lot of critical views of web series. We wanted, with respect and fun, to open up the floor to differing opinions with the hope of broadening the influence and popularity of quality web shows even further. This panel should be a creative way to call attention to that while debuting and shining a light on some of the best work being done on the web.”

Festival passes and tickets are available for purchase on fgff.org.

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Pro Golfer K.J. Choi joins cast in SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA

Posted in golf by johnwildman on August 6, 2010

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.

Tagged with: Dr. David L. Cook, Fredericksburg, golf, Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, K.J. Choi, Lucas Black, Mark G. Mathis, Mathew Dean Russell, Robert Duvall, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, Texas

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14th LA Latino Intl Film Fest Announces Award Winners

2010 Feel Good Film Fest Announces Award Winners

LALIFF Announces HERMANO as Opening Night Gala Film

Feel Good Film Fest Announces Hosts, Tribute Honoree and New Media panel

Pro Golfer K.J. Choi joins cast in SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA

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