Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times and supported by L.A. LIVE, announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2011 Festival at the Awards Brunch, sponsored and hosted by CHAYA Downtown for the second year, and sponsored by Dove® Hair Care. Allison Janney and John C. Reilly were on hand to present the awards. The Los Angeles Film Festival ran from Thursday, June 16 to Sunday, June 26 in downtown Los Angeles. "David, Doug and the team continue to raise ...

By Maria Esteves – February 22, 2011 Oscar Week in New York kicked off with the 2011 Academy Award Nominated Shorts Presentation at the Academy Theater International Lighthouse, New York, on Saturday, February 19, 12:00pm. Presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), produced by New York program director Patrick Harrison, AMPAS, A Weekend With Oscar annually showcase the Academy’s short film nominees for best short film in the category of Live Action, Animated, a...

By Maria Esteves – January 26, 2011 The 83rd Academy Award Nominations were announced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) President Tom Sherak and 2009 Academy Award winner for supporting actress Mo'Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. The King's Speech, directed by Tom Hooper received twelve Oscar nominations including best picture, best director, best actor, and best supporting actor. True Grit, directed...

By Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles CorrespondentToday the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced this year's Oscar(r) nominations. With few surprises, Colin Firth's festival run in THE KING'S SPEECH, written by David Seidler, is poised to take most of the honors with a record-vying 12 nominations. Fourteen (14) is the record for Oscar noms (i.e.; TITANIC), but if this picture wins in every nominated category, cinema history will be made.Oscar 2011: Expect Natalie Portman & Colin Fir...

Started by funny people, for funny people, The 2nd Annual L. A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, a four-day celebration of comedic short films, came to a hilarious conclusion Sunday evening at Elevate Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles. “All we wanted to do is make it ok for America to laugh their butts off at things that are short and funny. We did it. Now this country is safe again. You can thank us later. No. Wait. Thank us now.” said Festival Artistic Director Gary Anthony Williams. No s...

There is absolutely no point is trying to convey the hilarity that just ensued at today’s panel “I Write, I Produce, Therefore I am.” Panelists Laura Kightlinger (SNL), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, Night at the Museum 2), Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911, Balls of Fury), Linwood Boomer (Malcolm in the Middle), Rodney Barnes (Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris) took their seats and all hell broke loose. For starters, Executive Director Jeannie Roshar moderated the panel and when she asked, �...

We’re at war, the economy is in the toilet, many are out of work and/or sick with no health care, and speaking of which, arguments over health care reached an all time low with the way people have conducted themselves, oh and did I mention you still haven‘t won the lottery? With all the crap on the “news” the relentlessly chatty pundits shoving opinions in our faces, it’s a wonder we don’t all just take an elevator and jump out a high rise window. And do you want to know wh...

L.A. COMEDY SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL  2ND EDITION APRIL 15-18, 2010 They're back!  Funnier!  Faster!  Filmier!   The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, touted the largest comedy film festival in the US, is a four-day celebration of comedic short films and the people who make them.    Held in Los Angeles from April 15th-18th at the Downtown Independent Theater (251 S. Main St.), LACSFF introduces the newest and hottest comedic talent to the industry in a ...

They’re back! Funnier! Faster! Filmier! The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, touted the largest comedy film festival in the US, is a four-day celebration of comedic short films and the people who make them. Held in Los Angeles from April 15th-18th at the Downtown Independent Theater (251 S. Main St.), LACSFF introduces the newest and hottest comedic talent to the industry in a fun-packed weekend of uproarious screenings, unmatched parties, hilariously unrivaled informative industry pane...

The second annual Bel Air Film Festival has announced it's International Jury Documentary Winner. The festival held 35 film screenings along with packed theaters, and 4 red carpet events November 13th-17th. The festival's opening night was held at UCLA's James Bridges Theater where honorees Louis Gossett Jr. received a "Lifetime Achievement Award," Taryn Manning was honored for her work in Film and Fashion with the festival's "Film Fashion Visionary" award, and Vivica A. Fox ...

“I guarantee the next 12 days and nights of Cinequest will be a cabaret,” Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director Halfdan Hussey promised upon greeting the opening night crowd. Hussey urged festival-goers to connect with each other—and to discover films and forums that matter, Maverick legends and fun. “A whole lot of fun, because we need that, too, as we’re stimulating our minds and our souls,” Hussey added. More than 1,000 people flocked to the world premiere of Paul Leuer’s ...

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 – “I guarantee the next 12 days and nights of Cinequest will be a cabaret,” Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director Halfdan Hussey promised upon greeting the opening night crowd. Hussey urged festival-goers to connect with each other—and to discover films and forums that matter, Maverick legends and fun. “A whole lot of fun, because we need that, too, as we’re stimulating our minds and our souls,” Hussey added. More than 1,000 people flocked to the...

The 18th Cinequest opened Wednesday, February 27, with the world premiere screening of Paul Leuer's Eden Court starring Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride, According to Jim) and Stephnie Weir (MADtv). Eden Court is a dramatic yet humorous story of a washed up baseball star living in a trailer park trying to escape his current life by running off to Australia in pursuit of his "American Dream." It's not a story where one man beats the odds to become...

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 were presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Marty Scorcese is the big winner of the nigt with 4 Oscars for The Departed: Best film; best directing, editing and screenplay.             Performance by an actor in a leading role >Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland” (Fox Searchlight)    &...

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 were presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Marty Scorcese is the big winner of the nigt with 4 Oscars for The Departed: Best film; best directing, editing and screenplay.Performance by an actor in a leading role >Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland” (Fox Searchlight) Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.) Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson” (THINKFil...

Tuesday, June 6----The SILVERDOCS AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival begins on June 13th, and has announced a number of Special Event Screenings to compliment its roster of the best of international documentary film. The New York Times, one of the event's sponsors, is presenting two Times Talks. The first, screening on Friday, June 16, features Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Thomas L. Friedman, whose recent book THE WORLD IS FLAT, pointed to the dangers and opportunities of economic ...