Saturday, November 4----As the winds howl (South Florida is experiencing a high wind alert this weekend), Saturday's schedule at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is certainly a full one, with back to back films at the Cinema Paradiso and Parker Playhouse that appeal to all tastes and sensibilities. It is expected to be an exhausting day for Festival staff and visiting filmmakers, but a satisfying one.
The full day of events begins quite lyrically with a free screening at 9:45am...
Friday, November 3-----The spotlight is on the noted actor Jeff Goldblum this evening as the Festival presents its Centerpiece Film, PITTSBURGH, tonight at 7:45pm at the historic Parker Playhouse. The film is a rollicking mockumentary of Goldblum's decision to take a breather from his active Hollywood career to take up the lead role of Professor Harold Hill in a low-budget local theater production of THE MUSIC MAN, in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.
The circumstances of what led him to this ...
Thursday, November 2------Film directors always have a colorful history. Some come from film school. Some come from advertising. Some come from other industries entirely. But there are not too many that can claim that they first found fame as a drag artist.
Well, that is how Charles Busch became a household name (at least in my household) for his campy portrayals of glamourous women on the verge of a nervous breakdown (to borrow a title from another queen of camp melodrama). Busch is, in the...
Man Ray's Famous Photograph
Wednesday, November 2----Three films showing at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will focus on the creative life and careers of three different artists, each in a style all its own. The three films make an interesting triptych that demonstrates how the art of film can be used to interpret the art of the canvas or photograph.
A local South Florida artist with an international following, Purvis Young is a prolific painter who uncovers the beauty and uni...
One of the ways that the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (known as IDFA for short) has built strong loyalties with the local audience and visiting professionals is the platform it offers for documentary films of local filmmakers.
The first such showcase will be the Opening Night Film, to screen on November 23, of 4 ELEMENTS by Jiska Rickels. The film mixes documentary technique with visual poetry, which illustrates man's battle with his environment. The film focuses on four...
Tuesday, October 31-----The coming-of-age film is now a staple of international cinema. It is a form that continues to fascinate, particularly debut directors. Such is the case with the Australian film 48 SHADES, the writing and directorial debut of actor Daniel Lapaine.
Lapaine made his film acting debut in 1994 in the international arthouse hit MURIEL’S WEDDING, which introduced Toni Collette, a much sought after actress down under and in Hollywood. He had substantial roles in the films ...
Monday, October 30----When your film festival falls over Halloween, I guess it is expected that you need to throw in a little "scare" into the proceedings. This year, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival does not disappoint, presenting two creepy classics tomorrow evening at the Cinema Paradiso.
The first part of the evening, starting at sundown, is for the kiddies, with short films, live music, costume and scream contests, balloons and hayrides. This is family friendly fun without...