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Festivals
Getting to the Next Level in Wilmington
WiFi Film Conference kicks on in June
While no one can say that Hollywood isn’t a great place to be as a moviemaker, with its star power and extensive history, it’s not necessarily the only place to be. In fact, in the past few decades, the thriving film community of Wilmington, North Carolina has been giving Hollywood a run for its money. There may not be a Grauman’s Chinese Theater or Walk of Fame, yet what Wilmington lacks in legendry it makes up in its hunger for independent moviemaking.
From Friday, June 27th through Sunday, June 29th, the moviemakers of Wilmington will be satiated when the inaugural Wilmington Inside the Film Industry Film Conference brings a chunk of Hollywood to the east coast.
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Kung Fu Panda Drop Kicks the Competition
Seems like all those promos must have paid off—first at Cannes, then the TV commercial onslaught—as Kung Fu Panda kicked some serious butt at the box office over the weekend, out-grossing Adam Sandler's new film, You Don't Mess With the Zohan, by 50 percent. The animated action flick, featuring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan, took in $60 million over the weekend—while Zohan earned $40 million.
Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull held strong in the number three position with $22.8 million, while last year's surprise topper, Michael Patrick King's Sex and the City, saw a more than 62 percent decline in ticket sales, with a weekend total of $21.3 million.
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Little Wings Wins Big at Haydenfilms
The indie film circuit's new little movie that could is not a quirky expose that includes a musty yellow VW Bus or a wisecracking pregnant teenager, but instead a harrowing tale that explores the trauma of child abuse through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy.
Little Wings marks the film debut of writer-director Morgan Rhodes, founder of Journey Blue Films, who has previously worked in television, most notably on "Nip/Tuck," and is co-executive producer on "Bitter Brew," a spec pilot.
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Indiana Jones Whips the Competition
Indiana Jones proved he's still got what it takes—at least in box office clout—as the latest film in the George Lucas-Steven Spielberg franchise, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, whipped the competition, with a box office total on track to be the second biggest Memorial Day movie opening ever. The film, which brings Harrison Ford back in the titular role alongside Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, brought in just over $125 million for the holiday weekend, putting it just behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, which had a Friday-through-Monday total of $139.8 million in 2007.
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Sneak Peek: Sex and The City
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Sundance Goes Green with “What’s the Big Idea?” Contest
It’s hard to escape the buzzword “green” nowadays. More and more people are trying to make their everyday activities environmentally-friendly. Sundance Channel is using the trend to launch their latest “What’s the Big Idea?” contest, inviting the online community to submit a one-minute short film or photo essay that depicts creative ways to go green.
Sundance Channel will narrow the field down to 25 based upon creativity, overall theme, feasibility and presentation. From May 27th to June 24th, the 25 will then go back to the online users, who will pick their five favorite proposals that will go on to be judged by a panel of environmental experts.
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Lights! Camera! Geritol!
Are audiences ready for a rickety Indiana Jones?
Today’s stars keep themselves in better shape than ever before, and audiences seem to like that. In fact, box office receipts for recent flicks featuring some of our favorite aging action heroes are so encouraging that studio execs are practically rubbing their hands together in anticipation of the new Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and Sylvester Stallone (Rambo) vehicles. Stallone certainly didn’t hurt himself when his more famous screen persona—Rocky Balboa—earned critical acclaim and a respectable $70 million in last year’s titular blockbuster, chasing doubts that the actor-director was simply giving himself a starring role in order to slow a career slide.
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Kung Fu Panda Comes to Cannes
In the tradition of all things animated finding appreciation at Cannes (from Shrek to Persepolis), Jack Black and Angelina Jolie's new film, Kung Fu Panda, made its debut on the French Riviera.
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Lifetime Movie Networks Contest Gives Female Moviemakers a Voice
Of the three women who have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director, not one has taken home the little golden man. Lifetime Movie Networks has always been known for prizing stories involving women and this year, it is lending its power to help advance the female moviemaker to new heights with the Every Woman’s Film Competition.
Women from all over the globe have the chance to submit their three- to five-minute short non-documentary film to be judged by a selection of powerful women in Hollywood. Last year’s panel included Angela Bassett, Jennifer Lopez, Lauren Shuler Donner, Gale Anne Hurd and Mimi Leder.
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Last Exit to Film Geekdom
Film geeks like to show off; it's in their job description. Whether it's debating the merits of Lars von Trier or discussing which Evil Dead film is the true masterpiece, it's just what they do. Well, thanks to entrepreneur Mike Ford, what they do has just gotten a bit easier to show off. Ford's UK-based company, Last Exit to Nowhere, sells T-shirts based on fictional companies and locations from films. And although the movies represented tend to skew a bit toward cult favorites (designs include the Winchester Tavern from Shaun of the Dead, the Urban Achievers from The Big Lebowski and Jaws' Amity Island), Ford says this was not deliberate.
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Sundance Goes Vintage
Nobody really seems sure what the word “Sundance” even means anymore. Some say it refers to a week in January in which high profile actors and moviemakers congregate to get free stuff and ink their next multi-million dollar deala, while others maintain the word signifies an independent film festival. Regardless, it is tough to deny that the word has always been synonymous with some damn good art.
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Harry Potter’s World Comes to a City Near You
It’s really impossible to hear something like “sorting hat” or “invisibility cloak” and not feel at least a little of the allure of Harry Potter's universe. When the films brought the J.K. Rowling books to life, it was through the costuming, set design and props. In 2009, “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” will bring 10,000 square feet of artifacts from the enchanting films to 10 or more cities around the world over a five-year period.
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Iron Man Comes Out Fighting in London
As U.S. audiences start counting down the days until Iron Man, one of this spring's most anticipated movies, is released in theaters on May 2nd, film fans across the pond got a sneak peek at hero in action when the film premiered yesterday at the Odean in London's Leicester Square.
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Roger Ebert Celebrates 10 Years of Overlooked Movies
He may be the world's best-known film critic, but the movies that Roger Ebert is most interested in celebrating at his annual Ebertfest are far from household titles. In fact, "overlooked" is the adjective Ebert himself would use to describe these films, which make up the program of the five-day fest, which kicks off on April 23rd at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois.
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Los Angeles United Film Festival Kicks Off
At its core, the Los Angeles United Film Festival believes that a film festival can unite people from diverse backgrounds through their love of motion pictures. The LAUFF is one of three “united” film festivals that documentary moviemaker Jason Connell has founded in the past six years.
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Coney Island Film Festival Goes Silent
The Coney Island Film Festival’s legendary opening night is probably the best indicator of the festival’s verve, with burlesque shows and sideshow performances that tinge the event with the atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century carnival.
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Ann Arbor Film Festival Awards Announced
Twenty-five moviemakers were honored by the jury of the 46th annual Ann Arbor Film Festival on March 30th. The three-person jury, including Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, awarded more than $18,000 in categories ranging from experimental and documentary to narrative and animation. In addition to the financial support and prestige that they receive, the winners are also qualified for Academy Award nomination.
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Phoenix Film Festival Manages to Thrive in the Desert
With plans to celebrate its eighth birthday April 3-10, 2008, the organizers of the Phoenix Film Festival must be proud of their young fest. In the eight short years since the event began, it has become the largest film festival in Arizona, a state with a burgeoning cinema scene.
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16th Annual VCU French Film Festival Celebrates the Latest in French Cinema
Expect an outpouring of Francophilia to sweep Richmond, Virginia this weekend, as Virginia Commonwealth University hosts its 16th Annual VCU French Film Festival from March 28 - 30. Billing itself “the largest French film festival in the world,” VCU’s fest will screen 11 current French features, along with a selection of shorts, at the historic Byrd Theatre in Carytown, Richmond’s dining and shopping district.
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Intelligent Use of Water Competition Seeks Eco-Friendly Film Submissions
An Inconvenient Truth proved once and for all that movies can spur social change, whether through measurable impact or simply by getting the word out about complex issues to large audiences. With that in mind, Rain Bird has announced the call for entries for its second annual Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition. The competition seeks narrative, documentary, experimental or animated short films that illustrate methods and ideas for responsible water use.
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Doorpost Film Project Seeks Films With Meaning
Tired of the disposable entertainment dominating movie theaters today? So are the forces behind the Doorpost Film Project. The online short film contest hopes to encourage more substantial fare by seeking entries that deal with one of the following seven concepts: Love, Greed, Redemption, Pain, Forgiveness, Freedom or Energy. With over $300,000 in cash prizes, it’s a can’t-miss opportunity for moviemakers with profound visions.
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NYU’s Fusion Film Fest Bridges the Gender Gap
At NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2003, film students Emma Heald and Gina Abatemarco were sick of living in the shadows. Most directors and cinematographers were male, they noticed, and as a result many female moviemakers were getting overlooked.
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CineVegas Film Festival Keeps Cool in Year 10
Even though Hunter S. Thompson set up the panel discussion on art and film at the 2004 CineVegas Film Festival, he didn’t show up. But “The World’s Most Dangerous Film Festival” wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily. Embodying the madcap spirit that Thompson himself saw in Sin City, administrators sent a golf cart and two showgirls up to his room to escort him to the world premiere of longtime Thompson friend (and neighbor) Wayne Ewing's documentary, Breakfast with Hunter.
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Jackson Hole Film Festival Goes Green
Five-year old fest brings something new to the table for 2008
At this year’s Jackson Hole Film Festival, participants won’t just be checking out screenings and making industry connections—they’ll also be helping the environment. As MovieMaker reported in its Winter 2008 story “Film Festivals Go Green,” film festivals around the country are hosting more eco-friendly events and promoting movies that follow that same tactic. According to operations manager Tanya Mark, such activism is a priority for Jackson Hole's future events. “We hope to lead by example and raise awareness among our local community as well as the film community.”
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Love’s in the Air at the Romance in a Can Film Festival
Still trying to plan the perfect Valentine's Day? Whether you've got a special someone to spend it with—or are still on the lookout—Miami-area residents have a unique opportunity to turn the typical "dinner and a movie" date into something much more with the Romance in a Can Film Festival. Now in its second year, the Romance in a Can Film Festival puts a unique spin on the "genre fest" that we've seen so often with horror, sci-fi and comedy. Though based in Miami, Romance in a Can is a truly international event. Kicking off on February 10th, the festival will screen features from all over the world—including France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Finland and the gold old U. S. of A.
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Top 10 Movie Cities 2008
MM’s eighth annual countdown of the best places to live, work and make movies
From Austin to Albuquerque and plenty of places in between, MovieMaker's eighth annual countdown of the 10 best places to live, work and make movies in the U.S.
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Haydenfilms Awards $10,000 to The Boot of War
Antiwar short film The Boot of War won top honors at the Haydenfilms 3.0 Online Film Festival, taking home the festival’s $10,000 grand prize. The festival also paid tribute to independent moviemaker Michael Attardi, awarding him its first annual Innovator of the Year Award for his short film, Once Upon a Christmas Village, which has racked up much acclaim on the festival circuit.
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Ann Arbor Film Festival's Endangered Mission
From where the audience sits, a film festival seems like an act of kindness—an event thrown together by a local group of diehard cineastes. But as anyone whose ever worked behind the scenes on a film festival knows, there's a reason why so many positions are filled on a "volunteer" business. Bottom line: Mounting a film festival costs money. Lots of it. From renting theaters to printing programs, every penny counts. And even some of today's oldest and most esteemed events find it challenging to exist from year to year. Case in point: The Ann Arbor Film Festival.
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In Bruges Opens Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival launched its 2008 event in style today as Sundance Institute president and founder Robert Redford, festival director Geoff Gilmore and director Martin McDonagh, who helmed In Bruges, the fest's Opening Night film, gathered for a press conference at Park City, Utah's famed Egyptian Theatre. "As from the beginning, the Sundance Film Festival is about discovery of new talent and of issues that are resonating with filmmakers and artists alike,” notes Redford of this year's program.
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TromaDance Film Festival Turns Nine!
When it comes to truly independent moviemaking, few studios have been doing it longer—or better—than New York City-based Troma Entertainment. So it's not surprising that the folks at Troma have been bringing more movies to the people in the form of the TromaDance Film Festival, an eight-day celebration of the wicked, weird and hysterically funny, happening in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah this January 18 - 25th.
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Spike Lee Plays Mentor to Babelgum Online Film Festival
Truthfully, the importance of a film festival begins with the hype surrounding it, and there are few better ways, at least in the film industry, to create a buzz than by netting a big name. The Babelgum Online Film Festival has done just that with their inaugural event by naming Spike Lee as Honorary Judge of the festival jury.
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Celebrating Cinematographers at Poland’s CamerImage
The 15th annual DP-focused fest kicks off
Lech Kaczynski, the president of the Republic of Poland, opened the 15th annual Plus CamerImage International Festival of the Art of Cinematography this week by welcoming hundreds of moviemakers and students. It was a dream come true for Marek Zydowicz, who founded the festival in 1993 with the goal of bringing moviemakers from around the world to his native land.
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Horror Film Festivals Rise from the Grave
Screamfest horror film festival director Rachel Belofksy says she didn’t grow up loving scary movies. “As a little girl, I was terrified of everything,” she recalls. “All the vampire films freaked me out. Even as a teen, it wasn’t my thing.” Belofksy’s fear has since been supplanted by fandom. Now if you show her a good “decap” scene, she can explain its artistic merit, point by point.
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NYC Horror Film Festival Takes a Bite of the Big Apple
Festival is scaring up horror fans in its sixth year
When it comes to Halloween in New York City, there are certain spine-tingling traditions that don't change, including the New York City Horror Film Festival, which will celebrate its sixth year when it kicks off a five-day event on October 24th.
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Mill Valley Film Festival Celebrates 30 Years of Cinema
Since the Mill Valley Film Festival came to exist in 1977, it has managed to remain a cornerstone of the film festival circuit, encouraging the careers of once-beginners like Ang Lee and offering great programming for movie aficionados, selling approximately 40,000 tickets each year for its 11-day event, which kicks off its 30th year on October 4th.
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It’s Official—Pre-production Begins
“I never ask people for permission to make a film. Instead, I present them with the fact that I’m making a film. If they’re wise, they’ll get in on it early.”
—Francis Ford Coppola
Last week our unit production manager for Rufus Rex officially started work and I paid UPS an astounding amount of money to deliver a letter to the Republic of Georgia officially inviting our lead actress to the United States. We’re also officially in pre-production on the grassroots (my preferred term, since I dislike “microbudget”—no art should be defined by its budget) movie Rufus Rex, which my 15-year-old son, Nick, and I wrote together last winter.
Posted 07.8.08 | Grassroots Moviemaker | No comments yet...
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