Aruba International Film Festival

-OFFICIAL AIFF PRESS RELEASE-

JULY 5, 2013. DAY 4 of the 4th ANNUAL ARUBA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The day started with a panel discussion ‘Your Audience is Key’ about film production, sales, marketing and distribution moderated by BBC reporter Emma Jones. On panel was William Morris (WME) talent agent Rich Cook with filmmakers Storm Saulter (Better Mus Come, Ring di Alarm), Kareem Mortimer (Children of God, Passage) and programmer/producer Vanessa McMahon. Topics discussed were the trials and tribulations of selling independent films to sales agents for distribution in the world market. Both sales/distribution familiar panelists- Cook and McMahon- explained that even when you sign with a powerhouse sales agent, the filmmaker must sign away their rights to the film, as the distribution contract is a partnership for the latter part of a film’s life. An interesting point made by Cook was that even if you are fortunate enough to sell the US domestic rights of your film to the likes of Weinstein, “he will buy the rights to your film just to bury it if he wants to. Just because Weinstein buys your film it doesn’t mean your film will ever get seen;” Cook warns. Lesson learned from all panelists is that in the game of buying and selling independent films to the world market, it is best to be methodic and take your time in your decision making to make sure you cover all your bases as a filmmaker.

The second panel of the day, Emma Jones held an ‘In Conversations With’ on panel with stuntwoman/actress/producer Zoe Bell. Zoe Bell came to Aruba to support her new film RAZE, which held its world premier in Tribeca last April. She spoke to audiences about her career as one of the film industry’s leading stuntwomen (from TV show Xena: Warrior Princess to the films of Quentin Tarantino), to her transition to leading actress and most recently film producer. When asked about her work in the film, Bell said: “What drew me to it originally was my friend, director Josh Waller. He reached out to me saying he wanted to do this project. The concept of being a producer on it was really appealing to me.” RAZE screened during the 4th AIFF. Director Josh C. Waller and co-star Tracie Thoms attended.

It was a busy night on the red carpet with the opening of producer Randall Emmett’s film EMPIRE STATE. Emmett walked the carpet with his wife, actress Ambyr Childers (The Master, Ray Donovan) and entourage. The film screened to a sold out audience. Emmett held a Q&A session after the film.

AIFF ambassador Virginia Madsen walked the red carpet for the screening of her film HOT FLASHES, which screened as the festival’s closing film. The Hot Flashes by director Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan), starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Camryn Manheim, Wanda Sykes, and Virginia Madsen. Madsen, a return guest this year, introduced the film in Aruba, after which it will enter wide release in the United States starting July 12th.

Other films screened: Brecha en el Silencio (Breach of Silence) from Venezuela by Luis & Andrés Rodriguez; Songs of Redemption by Amanda Sans & Miquel Galofré; Edificio Royal (Royal Building) from Colombia by Ivan Wild; La Montana by Tabaré Blanchard & Iván Herrera; Ring the Alarm by Storm Saulter, Michelle Serieux, Nile Saulter; ‘7 Boxes’ (2012) by Paraguayan directors Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schembori; Back of Beyond by Leonardo Aguirre; Soup A Pye by Karine Gama, Kung Fu Grandma by Jeong-One Park;The shadows Are Shining & El Labirinto de lo Posibile by Ken Wolff and Wanadi Siso.

Later that evening the awards ceremony took place. Following the screenings a closing party took place at Divi Village Resorts in their Mulligans restaurant. At the party, all festival celebrities, press and festival guests were in attendance for the closing night awards ceremony.

The Winners of AIFF 2013 are:

Jury Award ARUBA FLAVOR: BACK OF BEYOND by Leo Aguirre CARIBBEAN SPOTLIGHT SERIES: BRECHA EN EL SILENCIO by Luis & Andrés Rodríguez

Audience Award ARUBA FLAVOR: THE SHADOWS ARE SHINING by Ken Wolff CARIBBEAN SPOTLIGHT SERIES: ABO SO by Francisco Pardo

Hollywood heavyweight producer Randall Emmett won an award for his great producing achievement receiving the Golden DiviDivi. And actress Virginia Madsen was awarded AIFF Ambassador.

For more information on the 4th AIFF visit us: http://2hands20fingers.com

-OFFICIAL AIFF PRESS RELEASE-