http://www.filmfestivals.com/ ---lang_text--- Copyright (c) 1995-2002, Filmfestivals Entertainment Group Jul 3 2009 12:00AM News Festival The FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of Eastern European Cinema will increase the prize money. This is to be announced by Festival Director Roland Rust on the occasion of the reception at the befriended 44th International Film Festival in the Czech town of Karlovy Vary. The "DIALOG Prize for Intercultural Communication", endowed by the German Foreign Office, will come with an amount of 3,000 euros in the future. Through new prize sponsors, the "Prize for Best Debut Film" could also be raised to 3,000 euros. "Until now, the prize has been awarded by the student organisations of the regional universities and academies," festival director Roland Rust explains. "This year, the prize will be directly endowed for the first time by the three partner universities of the festival, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, the Lausitz University of Applied Sciences and the Film & Television Academy ‘Konrad Wolf'." The total value of the prizes awarded at the 19th FilmFestival Cottbus (11/10-11/15/2009) will thus increase by 3,000 euros to 70,000 euros.

Prominent persons at the festival reception in Karlovy Vary
The FilmFestival Cottbus traditionally presents itself at the renowned Czech A-Festival with a festival film and a reception. Together with the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH, one of its main supporters, as well as the East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus, the Cottbus festival invites to an East European Brunch at Grandhotel Pupp on Monday, July 6, 2009. International guests will be greeted by Festival Director Roland Rust, the Managing Director of the Medienboard Kirsten Niehuus, and Gabriele Brunnenmeyer, Artistic Director of Connecting Cottbus.

Moreover, this year's Cottbus reception is expecting a special prominent person: Director Andreas Dresen and members of his team will be greeted as guests,among them Wolfgang Kohlhaase (screenplay) as well as leading actors Henry Hübchen, Sylvester Groth and Markus Hering. WHISKY WITH VODKA (WHISKY MIT VODKA), the new film of the Potsdam-based filmmaker, will have its international premiere in the competition of the festival in Karlovy Vary. Dresen has been associated with the FilmFestival Cottbus for a long time, among other things, as a member of the international festival jury in 2005.

In addition to the reception, the festival will also be represented by a contribution in the competition series "East of the West" with: SCRATCH (RYSA). The film deals with the shadow that the unofficial collaboration with the secret service casts on his family. For his psychodrama, the Polish director and screenwriter Michal Rosa was awarded the Special Prize at the 18th FilmFestival Cottbus. The feature film will be screened in Karlovy Vary on July 9 and 10, 2009.


Cottbus 2009: Black Sea and Times of Change
At the reception, Rust will present an outlook on the 19th FilmFestival Cottbus. This year's focus is on "New Cinema from the Black Sea", curated by the Berlin-based film journalist and expert on Eastern Europe, Bernd Buder. The festival thus offers a view of the in Germany for the most part unknown productions from the states bordering the Black Sea, Georgia, Russia, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, as well as Turkey. The retrospective curated by the Berlin-based film expert Karin Fritzsche, in turn, addresses the "Times of Change" in the two decades since the Iron Curtain went down.

The East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus within the frame of the FilmFestival Cottbus will take place on November 12 and 13. Up until July 24, 2009, producers can apply with a project for participating in this year's pitching. Feature film materials are being sought that are suitable for cross-border advancement or coproductions between Eastern and Western Europe. In addition to the public pitching, Connecting Cottbus offers representatives of the selected projects an all-day preparation workshop and the possibility of intensive One2One meetings.
One of the current successful results is the Polish-German contribution to the competition of the 44th Film Festival Karlovy Vary, PIGGIES (SWINKI) by the director Robert Glinski. The material was presented by the Polish producer Widark Film & Television Production in 2005 at Connecting Cottbus, where they found the German co-production partner 42 Films.
Jun 30 2009 12:00AM News Festival By now it's almost a tradition: for the seventh season in a row, the riedrichshain Open-Air Cinema, in cooperation with radio eins, will be showing some of the highlights of this year's Berlin International Film Festival in the Summer Berlinale from July 16 to 19. The heads of the Berlinale sections Wieland Speck (Panorama), Christoph Terhechte (Forum), Maryanne Redpath and Florian Weghorn (Generation), as well as programme manager Thomas Hailer will present the selected films.

Thursday, July 16, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Forum: Sometime in August, Germany 2009
directed by Sebastian Schipper, presented by Christoph Terhechte. The director will also be present.
Happy and in love, Thomas and Hanna arrive in the country where they will be spending the summer together in their new house. But then Thomas' brother Friedrich, whose wife and child just left him, unexpectedly shows up. Shortly thereafter, young Augustine arrives for a visit, and the couple finds first their love and loyalty and finally their respect tested to the limit.


Friday, July 17, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Shorts: Please Say Something, Ireland 2009
directed by David OReilly, 10 min., presented by David OReilly.
Golden Bear for the Best Short Film at the 59th Berlinale
Set in the far-off future, this is the story of the difficult relationship between a highly emotional cat and her husband, a nerve-wracking mouse.

Berlinale Panorama: The Yes Men Fix the World, USA 2009, directed by Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno and Kurt Engfehr, presented by Wieland Speck.
The culture jammers from 2004 (The Yes Men) have embarked on a new adventure. Investigative journalism was never this entertaining! "Lawyers do battle before a court of law, trade unionists in the world of work, and we do what we do (…)," says director Andy Bichlbaum.

Saturday, July 18, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Competition: The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta asustada),
Spain/Peru 2009, directed by Claudia Llosa, presented by Thomas Hailer.
Golden Bear for the Best Film at the 59th Berlinale
Although the terrible time of oppression in Peru is over, Fausta suffers from the effects of the rape and abuse her mother experienced during this dark period. Fausta's sickness is called fear and it has robbed her of her soul. When her mother suddenly dies, Fausta begins her journey from fear into freedom.

Sunday, July 19, 9:30 p.m.
Berlinale Generation 14plus: Summer Breaks, Australia 2008
directed by Sean Kruck, 12 min.
Finally, summer break! Time to go outside, hang out by the river and have a smoke with the girls. Always stay cool, cruise around. Benny is cute, and things really start to get interesting at the swimming pool after dark.

Berlinale Generation 14plus, My Suicide, USA 2009, directed by David Lee Miller, presented by Maryanne Redpath and Florian Weghorn.
Crystal Bear at the 59th Berlinale.
Archie is a world-weary teenager with a well-equipped computer in his room and a penchant for making mindfuck films by editing together thousands of short clips. When Archie announces his intention to stage his own death in front of the camera, his classmates, teachers, psychologists and doctors literally pounce on him. Archie does not let any of it pass him by and films the entire hullabaloo as it rages around him.


For more information visit www.freiluftkino-berlin.de
Jun 30 2009 12:00AM News Festival This was my first year covering the LA Film Festival.
I first remember going to some screenings in past years when it was held at the Sunset 5 in Hollywood, and later some parties and mixers in Westwood and at the W Hotel. After Cannes, June is also a busy month for film festivals around the world. This year, there was a greater focus on international film at the Festival. I spoke with new Executive Program Director Rebecca Yeldham at the award brunch, and shared how we enjoyed meeting many of the filmmakers. This year there were many issue oriented stories, and some won awards including the film from Iran Cyrus Nowrasteh's The Stoning of Soraya M., about women and their struggles for equal rights. This was all the more poignant because of the continuing protest going on at the neighboring Federal building in support of the Green party in Iran.


The big winners each received $50,000 cash prize from Target. Juan Carlos Rulfo and Carlos Hagerman from Mexico's Those Who Remain (Los Que se Quedan) won the Target Docmentary Award. Their film is about families who are torn apart, when some members need to leave to find work to feed their families. The producer, told me how he is hoping people will return to Mexico after seeing this film.


The other big winner was Sam Fleischner and Ben Chace's Wah Do Dem (What They Do)which won the Target Filmmaker Award for best narrative film, made by the boys from Brooklyn about a young man who takes a journey from Brooklyn to Jamaca. They said they loved being in LA, and the festival treated them very well. They told us they had won two tickets on a cruise ship and decided to buy two more to make their movie. They brought one actor and another actor/sound man and staged a journey of a broken hearted boy who seeks redemption losing everything material and somehow finds himself by making friends in the strangest of circumstances along the way home. He finds pleasure in the simplist kindness, and through some island weed and music which dissolves his cares in a mystical return to Self and inner peace.


I spoke with actress Melissa Leo, opening night. She had won Best Actress at the Spirit awards this year, and she was thrilled to be back at the festival with a film she is in. Melissa said she loves the independents, and is a big supporter of the festival. Today she was a presenter of an award. She told me she is on her way to start shooting the new David O. Russell film, starring along with Mark Wahlburg and Christian Bale.


Jon Voight came to the festival with his film Midnight Cowboy. He and Dustin Hoffman introduced the film and stayed to do a Q&A after their screening. Sunday Jon presented the team from Mexico the Target Docmentary Award and congratulated the judges and filmmakers who were here. The director in his acceptance speech embraced the work of Swedish director Fredrik Gertien for his film Bananas which was pulled from competion, and was probably the most controversial film at the festival.


Jon Voight commented that when he arrived he was handed the list of the 11 final awards in the parking lot, he said this was a bit different than the Academy Awards. Still they were kept secret right up to the announcements. He thanked Target for their support of the festival, and emphasized that La deserves a great festival like this.


Finally, I sat with Frank Laughlin from Affordablue who along with his partner had restored his father's classic independent film Billy Jack, which played at the festival. He said that the costs associated with the Blu-ray format had made it very expensive to restore old films. They found a way to make it cost effective and thus became a company. Up till now only studios could afford to make the transfers. I am really impressed with the blend of independent spirit and business that I saw at this year's festival, and look forward to next year.


The opening night film Paper Man was developed in Sundance with producer RIchard Gladstein. There were Hollywood agents and producers like Mace Neufield, a friend of Richard's in attendance. I sat with critic Kirk Honeycutt from the Hollywood Reporter who was reviewing the film. Actor Christian Slater welcomed me with a two cheek French style kisses, and since he was only doing photos on the red carpet, we got to actually talk. We spoke about being at the Indiana Jones premiere last year in Cannes. He said he had watched that film again that day, and was looking forward to the Transformers premiere later in the week.


It was a packed house, and at the party which followed I spoke with Dawn Hudson, FIND exec director, who was excited about the festival and was busy greeting sponsers and representatives from the theatre chains. She said this was the festival's biggest year ever. Their approach to the festival included a mix of main stream Hollywood and independent movies. This approach provided a unique opportunity for the LA film festival to stay afloat in these challenging times. Many indies are struggling to get funding, and many festivals are struggling to find sponsors. All the filmmakers seemed grateful to be showing their films in LA. I saw students from UCLA, filmmakers from NY, Sweden, Mexico, Israel, Texas, Quebec, seeing their stories and dreams on screen.


Our last event on Sunday was a conversation with director Robert Rodriguez and his sons Rocket, Rebel, and Racer along with Cheech Marin. Robert remembered listening to radio when he was a kid with his brother, and Cheech had a Latino Santa Claus song. The names of the reindeers had the same names as two of his hispanic uncles, which inspired him to get into the business. Cheech talked about how Robert had worked at a camera store, and in preparation to sell cameras the owner lent him one for the weekend. When Robert returned with his shots, the owner commented on his talent, and this encouraged him as well. Robert said he was told if he could learn to be a good technition and creative then the world is yours.


He showed a short film that demonstrated how he works with his children, each with their own creative gifts. The film Shark Boy and Lava Girl came from a story idea by one of the boys, and they all developed the film together.


Aspiring filmmakers have a great opportunity to learn at the festival through panels and casual meetings with peers and experienced professionals there is something for everyone. I wish to thank all the staff and volunteers at the festival who made me feel so welcome. See you next year.

Marla Lewin
The Global Film Village : http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/marlalewingfv Jun 25 2009 12:00AM News Festival The Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival (November 5 - 8, 2009) will celebrate two milestones this year: its 10th anniversary and joining forces with the City of Ventura to bring its selection of world class feature, short, animated and documentary films to an even broader audience. Known for its welcoming, familial spirit and dedication to showcasing compelling stories from budding and established filmmakers, the Festival is located just 70 miles from Hollywood's doorstep and has evolved into a top regional destination festival over the past ten years. Screened in locations throughout Ojai and Ventura, including the legendary Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, the Festival's past films include many that have subsequently received widespread distribution, honors and awards, including Academy Awards. Also, each year the Festival bestows Lifetime Achievement Awards on industry icons and a Limelight Award on the best film submitted by a student filmmaker. Past lifetime achievement honorees have included Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451), Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon franchise, The Omen), Lauren Shuler Donner (St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Dave) and Laszlo Kovacs (Ghostbusters). Jun 22 2009 12:00AM News Festival EditFest NY, the east coast version of American Cinema Editor's successful EditFest series, launched last weekend at The Director's Guild Theater in Manhattan. Kicking off at the DGA on June12 & 13th, the event was followed by Certification Sunday at Manhattan Edit Workshop on Sunday. The attendees, who came from New York and states surrounding, included working editors, professionals from related disciplines, industry experts and students. EditFest NY is presented by American Cinema Editors (ACE) and Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWshop).

Over the course of the weekend, EditFest NY presented some of the best known and highly regarded east coast film editors who turned out to mingle, mentor, and present. EditFest NY kicked off on Friday with an industry insider's view of how to break into the editing business, moderated by ACE President Randy Roberts, ACE editor and Supervising Producer, Law & Order: SVU." Friday's Breaking In panel featured ACE members Bill Pankow, Troy Takaki, Michael Berenbaum, Scott Brock, Lee Percy, and Plummy Tucker in a candid discussion of the rigors of starting and maintaining a long-lasting editing career. The panel was followed by an opening night gala, a wall-to-wall party where panelists from every EditFest NY panel mingled with rapt attendees. Saturday's panels featured a who's who of editing talent and focused on key areas of interest:


•Television - Kate Sanford, Meg Reticker, Troy Takaki, Michael Berenbaum and Alexander Hall, moderated by editor and author Bobbie O'Steen
•Comedy - Ken Eluto, Stephen Rotter, Anne McCabe, moderated by MEWShop founder Josh Apter
•Documentary - Robert Eisenhardt, Sam Pollard, Tom Haneke, Larry Silk, and Karen Schmeer, moderated by Tom Atkin
•Feature Film - Chris Tellefson, Jeffrey Wolfe, Tim Squyres, Brian Kates, Craig McKay, and Jay Rabinowitz, moderated by American Cinema Editor Vincent Lobruto

The presenters shared equal parts inspiration, insight and knowledge that only such an esteemed group can deliver.

MEWshop hosted Certification Sunday at their mid-town headquarters, which offered hands on review followed by the certification test for Final Cut Pro. They also held Re-Tool Bootcamp, an intensive three-hour seminar demystifying key areas of the digital media pipeline while filling in knowledge gaps along the way. Each workshop was sold-out.

EditFest NY 2010 will take place June 11-13, 2010 in New York, details on locations, events and panelists will be forthcoming. EditFest LA is slated for August 8th & 9th, 2009 at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.

For further information about EditFest NY, visit www.editestny.com, for further information about American Cinema Editors and EditFest LA, visit
www.americancinemaeditors.com, and for information about Manhattan Edit
Workshop, visit www.mewshop.com.
Jun 22 2009 12:00AM News Festival Cinevegas is set off the Las Vegas strip at the Palms Hotel and Brenden Theatre complex. Parties were held at the Playboy Club, the Rain Night club, the Venetian and Mandalay Bay Hotels. The festival closed with a street party and Drive-In showing of a 1950's movie "classic" that recently served as the inspiration of Monsters versus Aliens. There is a casino level suite where filmmakers and industry meet for a once a day feed, and a cocktail hour. There has been much said and written about a party held in a gentlemen's club the size of a Costco. Las Vegas is a city of excess,neon and excitement and CineVegas is a product of its enviorment.


Willem Dafoe an admitted to be a Vegas virgin when he spoke with Elvis Mitchell about his career. He had just returned from Cannes where he appeared to support Antichrist the latest controversial film from Lars Van Trier. Elvis reminded Willem he was a boy from a large middle class mid-west American family who wanted to live an interesting life. WiIlem says he loves to work. He is like an ox. He is happiest to be in every scene of a movie, and he loves the physical work of the stage. He has one in New York, the Wooster Theatre, and he remembers that it was his stage performances that first brought him to the attention of Billy Friedkin and Oliver Stone. Most recently Willem had his manager call Lars to see what he was up to, and discovered that he had been in a deep depression. Lars was casting his new movie with two leads and hadn't decided how to go. Elvis commented that WiIlem is always making films with the theme of flirting with danger. Willem said that character is revealed through action. He said he never read the book Last Temptation of Christ, where again he played every scene. Willem felt it was an actor's dream to play a character who was basically unconscious so that both he and the audience experience together how he became aware of what was going on around him. He said working with Scorcese was a dream. Marty gave him things about forgiveness to read in preparation for the role.


He met Dennis Hopper, the president of the CineVegas festival while David Lynch was casting Wild At Heart and they then worked together. That was another out of the system tribal type experience of filmmaking. When Dennis suggested he show a piece of his work, Willem chose his first film Loveless from then first time director Kathleen Bigelow shot in 1982. He has had an impressive carreer and been nominated for two academy awards. We appreciated his sharing his insights about acting with the audience.



Jon Voight also has had an impressive career with many award winning films including Midnight Cowboy and Coming Home for which he received the Academy Award. Jon was humbled, and choose to show a film that he co wrote with writer Al Swartz, who was in the audience. Looking to Get Out was directed by the late Hal Ashby and is rarely seen. Only recently was the original Director's cut found and that was the version we were shown. Jon had just wrapped shooting The Champ, and got energized working with kids. Also starring in Looking to Get Out are Burt Young, and Anne Margaret. Jon's daughter, Angelina had her first role in this film at age 7. Although set in Las Vegas, the casino sets were created in Hollywood by famed production designer Robert Boyle now 99 years old. Camera work was provided by Haskell Wexler. This now classic gem of a film will be released on DVD by the end of the month by Warner Bros. A special program is planned in Los Angeles to coincide with the release.


The festival chose to honor two maverick filmmakers the Kuchar twins who have been making pictures for the last 50 years, and now in their late 60's. They have influenced filmmakers like John Waters, and Chris Coppola. The festival included a excellent new documentary IT CAME FROM KUCHAR that chronicles their lives and provides context for their work. George Kuchar said he has made 200 videos with his students at the San Francisco Art Institute. Michael makes his own films and used to also edit, and do cinematography for known directors in Europe, which gave him an opportunity to travel. European museums seemed to really value their work and their unique style of creating art from their own lives, their students lives and nature.


Monday we saw Palermo Shootings a film we had missed seeing in Cannes, and I loved the visual aspects of the film. It is set in Italy and Germany, and contrasts the commercial and artistic struggles that artists deal with constantly. It reminds us that we are all artists, and we continually make choices as we are busy creating how we live our lives.

Many of us live life half dead, until we have a near death experience, or detect a reflection of love in another's face. I appreciated that Wim Wenders choose two beautiful actors as the leads, and Dennis Hopper was perfect as the voice of Death. He conveyed the passing of time and what we value. He too was once beautiful as a young man, the beauty now in his wise eyes. The female image in art and life is what leads us, as Beatrice led Dante into the underworld.


I remember studying Wim Wenders early films in film school, and being fascinated by his creativity. He shot films in the US, with his European perspective, and then he made Wings of Desire set in his homeland, Germany.


A few years ago in Cannes, I was at the screening of a film he directed from a Sam Shepard script which again for me was very exciting, as I am a Padua Hills playwrite, and Sam started that school. Sam is considered one of the great American voices, and has been revered in England and Ireland. When I was at the British National Film School, I remember all the teachers and students that summer, running out to see Paris, Texas. Sam was considered an icon. So here you have Sam and Wim working together, doing a piece about the Wild West, and was I the only one excited about this in Cannes. It seems to me that Wim was more ambitious with this film, than any of his others, writing and directing, with different locations, using the backdrop of murals and italian artifaces, and myths, along with an existential approach to story, for which there is no exit, other than death.


There was a series of scenes in this film where the female lead, a wonderful young Italian actress and Venice film festival award winner is working to restore an old mural. I have concerns about art crumbling off screen as well. Over the last several years we have seen critics and newspapers disappearing at an alarming rate. We for the sake of our culture must work to uphold structures like newspapers and nurture critics who support art. The internet is a wonderful place but the established critics from the newspapers and magazines are a treasured resource that we can little afford to lose. It is important as well to try not to kill art with the poisoned arrows of opinion. Not many years ago films played for more than a week in theatres and were allowed to find an audience. In today's world they are often poorly advertised because of the costs involved and disappear without a trace. The internet or download services might have a future but if audiences can't find quality new films or build a community of like minded voices it will be very difficult for film to survive as a medium.

And now something about film festivals in general:
There has been much talk lately about film festivals serving to fill the gap between the old and new methods of distribution.
I am not sure if this really fills the void. It just seems to replace one set of gate keepers with another. In many cities there are too many festivals chasing too little quality film and it is hard to rise above the clutter. I often see films win audience awards at festivals, because some friends know how to twitter or text and it sometimes comes down to how many friends one can get to show up at the theatre. We have been at festivals where a majority of the seats were reserved for cast members, friends and family. This means that the true audience doesn't get to vote on the films only a pre-arranged group's vote really counts. This chicanery doesn't end with this category. Too often jury awards end up being the second or third consensus choices because the juries are so divided by personal taste. I remember being at a major world class festival and running into a friend who is a major award winning director who confided he was having a hard time continuing with his jury duties because all of the films were so bad that he was finding it painful to sit through them. He swore he would never subject himself to this experience again. Why do we do it for the same reason everyone attends movies and especially film festivals to take a chance on seeing or discovering a really great film. It comes down to the taste of programmers and critics that we depend upon to filter out the crap and point us towards great film. So be discerning find voices you can trust and stick with them whether they are on the internet, radio, television or print.


And if you really feel adventurous try producing or writing a movie, and working with actors to tell a story, it is hard work. And when it is successful the audience becomes riveted. But not everyone can tell a story and some stories may not be worth telling. The democratization of filmmaking tools means that more people are trying but the quality has not gone up. But when it does work it is miraculous.
See you at the movies.

The Global Film Village: CineVegas 2009 by Marla Lewin
http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/marlalewingfv



Jun 16 2009 12:00AM News Festival The line-up for the official selection in Competition is now shaping up, and several world premières have already been confirmed. Amongst them, a French-Swiss coproduction, Complices, the eagerly anticipated first feature film by Swiss director Frédéric Mermoud, who won critical acclaim for his earlier short films (Rachel, L'escalier). Starring Emmanuelle Devos (Wild Grass, Kings and Queen) and Gilbert Melki (Côte d'Azur, Changing Times), Complices revisits the genre film by combining a police investigation with a love story. Produced by Tabo Tabo Films, co-produced by Saga Production, the film is represented by Pyramide Distribution. Another first film competing for the Golden Leopard is Os famosos e os duendes da morte (The Famous and the Dead) from Esmir Filho, a rising young talent in Brazilian ci nema, and a graduate of the São Paulo Film School, whose most recent short film, Saliva, was screened at Critics' Week in Cannes in 2007. The film, supported by Fonds Sud Cinéma, is a tale of adolescence with a touch of mystery. It is produced by Dezenove Som e Imagens with Warner Bros. Brazil and Umedia, the latter of which is also handling international sales.
Finally, the latest film to be announced for the competition as an international première is the Chinese feature The Search by Pema Tseden (also known as Wanma Caidan), the tale of a spiritual and cinematic quest, inspired by a Tibetan opera. A well established writer and filmmaker, Tibetan Pema Tseden's previous credits include The Silent Holy Stones (2005). The film is produced by Himalaya Audio & Visual.

Jun 16 2009 12:00AM News Festival First open air film festival in Serbia, Cinema City has been closed Sunday in ovation of the mainly young audience, with ceremony awards and at the end and a big drunken haze party in evening. No doubt that organizer, Exit did pretty much to cheer and entertain Novi Sad. Taking the fact that this pretty large and beautiful Serbian City has no cinema, the festival organized first open air cinema in Serbia. The festival fulfilled total capacity with total sale of tickets, with all open air sits taken. During the period from 6th to 14th of June, the city of Novi Sad has become a large cinema, thanks to Cinema City Film and New Media Festival, with the magnificent and variable film program. During that period, total of eight locations in Novi Sad has been adapted for the needs of movie projections, while the city center to become a large festival arena. The goal is to animate attention of the visitors of the festival during whole day, with film, music and entertaining program of the festival, in order to conceptualized and fully intensifies the dynamics of Novi Sad.


INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

After the careful consideration of all films in main competition program the jury decided to award with The Grand Prix and IBIS statuette, in the EXIT POINT INTERNATIONAL CLASS competition selection-and amount of 10.000,00 $ film "Tony Manero", directed by Pablo Larrain. The Grand Prix went to, as it was explained "an amazing, deep and complex story of a murderous obsession mirroring the political situation in a country suffering under a brutal dictatorship in the late 1970s. co-screenwriter and main actor Alfredo Castro gives a compelling performance which remains etched in the memory long after our prize-winner, Pablo Larrain's Tony Manero, has ended."The Best directing Award in the EXIT POINT INTERNATIONAL CLASS competition selection- IBIS and modest amount of 2.000,00 $ went to Alexei Uchitel for the film „Captive"." The prize for Best Director goes to a film which concentrates more on inner personal , struggles rather than the political and ideological elements of the military conflict, in this case in Chechnya. With accomplished cinematography by Yuri Klimenko and a hypnotic central performance by lead actor Vyacheslav Krikunov, this film is a damning statement on the cruelty of war set against the harsh grandeur of the mountainous locations. We therefore award the Prize for Best Direction to Alexei Uchitel for Captive."
The Best acting in the EXIT POINT INTERNATIONAL CLASS competition selection- IBIS statuete and 2.000,00 $ went to two actresses - Betty Quizmolli for a role in a film „Katia's sister" and to Leora Barbara for a role in film „Stella"."The Prize for Best Actor goes ex aequo to two young actresses at the beginning of promising careers. We wish to salute a debutant who plays the perfect passive „observer", who only introduces herself as „Katia's sister". It is not until the last scene of the film that we learn her name, Lucia - as played by Betty Qizmolli in Mijke de Jong's Katia's Sister.This prize is shared with another first-time actress who adeptly portrays her struggle to reconcile her new academic world in a prestigious Parisian school with life in her parents' working class bar - to Leora Barbara as the title figure of Stella in Sylvie Verheyde's film of the same name. "

`Special Mention for the Artistic Achievement `- a Plaque for a film from EXIT POINT INTERNATIONAL CLASS competition selection went to Ziya Mirza Mohamad and Haron Ahad for the roles in a film" Two Legged Horse", directed by Samira Makhmalbaf, for "a moving and naturalistic performances in a story of victimization between a severely disabled boy who humiliates and abuses the impoverished boy hired to carry him around on his back. The Special Mention goes to Ziya Mirza Mohamad as the „two-legged horse" and to his master played by Haron Ahad in Samira Makhmalbaf's harrowing and uncompromising Two-Legged Horse."

NATIONAL CLASS

For a domestic audience, of course, the most interesting films were from the National Class Program, which content domestic Serbian Cinematography. So the GRAND PRIX , IBIS statuette and prize in the amount of 10.000,00$ for the Best Film in the 'National Class' competition program went to the film „ORDINARY PEOPLE" directed by Vladimir Perisic "for it's compelling , moving and thought provoking film making". The Best Directing Award- IBIS and prize in the amount of 3.000,00 $ in the 'National Class' competition program went to director of film „ST.GEORGE SHOOTS THE DRAGON" Srdjan Dragojevic, "for the masterful handling of an epic war story in a microcosm". The Best Sreenplay Award- IBIS and prize of 2.000,00 $ in the 'National Class' competition program went to screenwriter of the film „WAIT FOR ME AND I WILL NOT COME" by Miroslav Momcilovic, for a " mosaics of storylines, skillfully depicting the despair and the euphoria of being in love". The Best Male Role Award- IBIS and 2.000,00 $ prize in the 'National Class' competition program went to an actor in the film „ST. GEORGE SHOTS THE DRAGON" Lazar Ristovski, for "Ristovski's subtle yet powerful performance". The Best Female Role Award- IBIS and 2.000,00 $ in the 'National Class' competition program went to an actress in the film „HERE AND THERE", Mirjana Karanovic, for a female part in film by Darko Lungulov that already won the award on prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. "Mirjana Karanovic gave a seemingly effortless portrait of a middle aged woman who discovers herself again." The Best Editing Award - IBIS and prize in the amount of 2.000,00 $ in the 'National Class' competition program went to editor of the film „ST. GEORGE SHOOTS THE DRAGON", Petar Markovic, "for his substantial contribution in orchestrating a multilayered story." The Best Photography Award - IBIS and prize in the amount of 2.000,00 $ in the 'National Class' competition program went to cinematographer of the film „AUTUMN IN MY STREET", Aleksandar Ramadanovic. "Through his vivid and realistic style, he transports the audience to the hearth of the action." Special Mention - diploma, for the film went to „Autumn in my Street"directed by Milos Pusic, because, as it is said" it represents the energy of a New Wave of Serbian film-making."

THE CHEAP THRILL

As usual, there is a part of the festival program that attracts lots of attention and gets to become very popular even if the films had very little or no budget at all. This program then, sometimes gets to be most popular, relaxed, and unpretentious and it is called "UP TO 10.000 BUCKS".

The Best Film Award , IBIS and prize of 2.000,00$ in the competition program of "UP TO 10.000 BUCKS" went to the film „ZIVAN PUJIC JIMMY" directed by Ognjen Glavonic, for "the awakening and inspiring positive energy of his film." II prize - non monetary award - under the Jury decision - diploma went to "RED RABBIT", directed by Egmont Mayer. "Within a few minutes we get a detailed yet simple metaphorical tale." III prize- non monetary award - under the Jury decision - diploma went to "JOURNEY OF A RED FRIDGE", directed by Lucian and Natasa Muntean, for "not just for beautiful images, but also for a beautiful, touching story."


FIPRESCI

Someone say: what we would do without FIPRESCI Critics. No festival can live without them. Award FIPRESCI SERBIA JURY OF CRITICS in the selection National Class went to the film "Wait For Me and I Will Not Come" by screenwriter and director Miroslav Momcilovic, who "with all the attributes needed for a wholesome and quality work, represents the model how a new reanimated Serbian film should be made. With the sincere and straightforward film expression, and a colorful behavioral spectrum of the gallery of characters, brilliantly portrayed by the acting ensemble, it is not hard to recognize how Momcilovic skillfully treats the topic of love, the topic about which we thought everything has already been said." Special recognition by CRITICS JURY OF FIPRESCI SERBIA in the selection National Class went to the film "The Life and Death of a Porno Gang" by screenwriter and director Mladen Djordjevic,"who bravely moves the boundaries of theme and style in domestic film, in order to justify his coarse expression and wild energy in showing systematically and staggeringly the distorted world we live in, and at the same time, making an intelligent metaphor about socio pathological consequences of the 1990s in Serbia." Award FIPRESCI SERBIA JURY OF CRITICS in the selection Exit Point went to the film "Kabuli Kid" by Barmak Akram, "as an unforgettable and striking portrait of Kabul's everyday life, this film depicts the spiritual superiority which surpasses the unimaginable horror of the twenty-five-year war in Afghanistan, which left more than fifty thousand orphans living on the streets, and the film is dedicated to them. It is a compassionate and touching story about indestructible love between a mother and her child, told with plenty of optimism and sophisticated humor." Award for the most engaging film at Cinema City festival went to the film "Courting Condi" by Sebastian Doggart. And finally Special Mention for the Contribution to the Development of Serbian Cinematography Cinema City festival went to Aleksa Gajić for the film "Technotise: Edit and I".

Radmila Djurica
http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/radmila Jun 14 2009 12:00AM News Festival the international stars of the big screen will return once again to the Green island. This 7th edition will see the public favourites in Ischia with their recent movies (premieres and reviews) and their presence in conferences and awards ceremonies. Waiting for the Venice and the Toronto Film Festival, this is an extraordinary artistic opportunity that will see the most talked about characters set against a breathtaking landscape, an island widely cherished
as the ‘pearl' of Italy.
Ischia Global Film & Music Fest 2009
(Within the project Italy Worldwide, the most popular SummerFilm & Music Event in the World)
July 12th - 19th: These are the dates of the Summer rendez vous for the Italian film & music community, populated by the leaders of the entertainment and communications businesses, and the most celebrated luminaries on the global stage. Since 2003, this has been a popular event with Movie and TV
personalities.
The event is sponsored in part by the Italian Ministry of Culture and by the Campania Region's Town Council of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, and will host the major protagonists of cinema and music, with screenings, round table discussions and meetings aimed at fostering the growth of Italian and European
industry in the world market.
www.ischiaglobal.com info@ischiaglobal.com


Thanks to "Ischia Global Fest 2009 - The Showbiz Summer Event" - whose images and contents have been acknowledged since 2003 as among the most outstanding entertainment happenings in the world
- the international stars of the big screen will return once again to the Green island. This 7th edition will see the public favourites in Ischia with their recent movies (premieres and reviews) and their presence in conferences and awards ceremonies. Waiting for the Venice and the Toronto Film Festival, this is an extraordinary artistic opportunity that will see the most talked about characters set against a breathtaking landscape, an island widely cherished
as the ‘pearl' of Italy.

2009, A LOOK AT THE SOUTH-AFRICAN CINEMA
Within the project "Italy Worldwide", promoted since 2003 by the Ischia International Arts Academy "Ischia Global Film & Music Fest 2009" will be an important opportunity for communication between International and South Africaese producers and artists, through the expected promotion activities that will involve some of the big ‘players' in the global entertainment industry. Unlike its earlier editions, the 2009 Ischia Global Fest will be a fantastic showcase for International productions, promoting the Old Continent cinema in the global market.
In the past few years, European cinema has been conveying important artistic messages, thanks to the work of artists following in the footsteps of the masters. We are speaking about Danny Boyle, Pedro Almodovar, Lars Von Trier, Giuseppe Tornatore, Jean-Pierre, Luc Dardenne, Michele Placido, Alejandro Amenabar as well as other International and Italian directors who in 2009 will be awaited at the big Hollywood bench test.

Thanks to the participation of producers, distributors, journalists and opinion-makers from around the world, Ischia - or the Green Island - will be the most sought after destination in Europe for New Year's Eve. The festival has established Ischia as a natural ‘platform' that will relaunch, from the Bay of Naples into the world, the talent of the European artists before the most qualified international assemblage.
At the same time, the 2009 edition will offer new opportunities for the promotion of cultural and industrial resources, as well as Italian tourism facilities in the world market, with strategic marketing experts in culture and tourism participating.

This will confirm that the winter season, as evidenced by the extraordinary successes of a handful of pilot events, daringly promoted in the south of Italy by private institutions (first among them Ischia Global), should not be considered an unsuitable time for big promotional investments.

ISCHIA and the EUROPEAN ARTISTS OF THE GLOBAL STAGE
Among the guests invited to present their work at "Ischia Global 2009"
will be European authors and actors who, during the past year, won public and critical acclaim at some of the industry's most important events: the Sundance Film Festival, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Oscars, the David di Donatello Awards, the film festivals of Berlin, Cannes, TribeCa, Locarno, Venice, Deauville, San Sebastian, Toronto, Rome, and the European Film Awards.

Particular attention will be given to a "legendary European artist" whose work has moved audiences worldwide throughout his/her career.

THE HOLLYWOOD STELLAR CAST
The Chairman of "Ischia Global 2009" is the Academy Award Winning Director Paul Haggis while Master of Ceremony is the USA manager Jason Weinberg. The complete guest list will be issued by July 1st 2008.
Among the personalities who took part in the past 6 editions, there have been 27 Oscar winners. Here are the most notable names:
DIRECTORS: Francis Ford Coppola (USA), Norman Jewison (Can), Neil Jordan (U.K.), Oliver Stone (USA), Bille August (Dan), Giuseppe Tornatore (Ita).
ACTORS: F. Murray Abraham (USA), Sir Ben Kingsley (U.K.), Vanessa Redgrave (U.K.), Hilary Swank (USA).

SCREENWRITERS: Willian Monaham, Bobby Moresco and Steven Zaillian (USA)
MUSIC COMPOSERS: Burt Bacharach and Louis E. Bacalov (Arg), Elliot Goldenthal (USA), Jan Kaczmarek (Pol), Dario Marianelli (Ita), Gustavo Santaolalla (Arg).

VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo (production designers), Gabriella Pescucci (costume designer), Sandy Powell (costume designer), Harvey Weinstein and Martin Richards (USA) and Jeremy Thomas (U.K.) (producers).
And also: Serena Autieri, Kabir Bedi (India), Gael Garcia Bernal (Mex), Brenda Blethyn (U.K.), Raoul Bova, Nancy Brilly, Fausto Brizzi, Gerard Butler (U.K.), Mimmo Calopresti, Michael Caton Jones (U.K.), Joaquin Cortes (Spa), Alfonso Cuaron (Mex), Mariagrazia Cucinotta, Rosalinda Celentano, Clotilde Curau (Fra), Alessandro D'Alatri, Hugh Dancy (U.K.), Claire Danes (Usa), Mick Davis (U.K.), Rosario Dawson (Usa), Christian De Sica, Ida Di Benedetto, Laura Dern (USA), Matt Dillon (Usa), Anita Ekberg (Swe), Alice Evans (Usa), Roberto Faenza, Joseph Fiennes (U.K.), Stepehn Frears (U.K.), Claudia Gerini, Adriano Giannini, Giancarlo Giannini, Terry Gilliam (USA), Peter Greenway, (OLA), Ioan Gruffud (Usa), Taylor Hackford (USA), Eva Herzigova (R.Cec), Freddie Highmore, Dennis Hopper (USA), Terrence Howard (USA), Sabrina Impacciatore, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Mex), John Irvin (U.K.), Simona Izzo, Shekhar Kapur (India), Kim Cattral (Usa), Val Kilmer (USA), Andrei Konchalovsky (Russia), Thomas Kretschman (Ger), Diane Kruger (Ger), John Landis (USA), Jason Lewis (Usa), Luca Lionello, Enrico Loverso, Dolph Lundgren (Swe), Olivia Magnani, Nancy Meyers (USA), Matthew Modine (USA), Laura Morante, Silvio Muccino, Franco Nero, Alan Parker (U.K.), Michele Placido, Gigi Proietti, Joely Richardson U.K.), Michael Radford (U.K.), Isabella Ragonese, Marc Rothmund (Ger), Stefania Sandrelli, Rodrigo Santoro (Bra), Francesca Sartori, Lina Sastri, Liev Schreiber (USA), Alessandro Siani, Bud Spencer, Martina Stella, Fisher Stevens (USA), Trudie Styler (U.K.), Julie Taymor (USA), Ricky Tognazzi, Stanley Tucci (USA), Anna Valle, Jean-Claude Van Damme (Bel), Nicolas Vaporidis, Carlo Verdone, Lina Wertmuller, Treat Williams (USA), Naomi Watts (AUS), Krzysztof Zanussi (Poland) Elsa Zylberstein (Fra).

THE MUSICANS: Harry Belafonte (USA), Julio Iglesias (SPA) David Foster (CAN), Sheryl Crow (USA) and Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, the Blues Brothers, Grame Revell (NZ), John Debney (USA), Matia Bazar, Gigi D'Alessio, Peppino di Capri, Andrea Griminelli, Mingardi, Ron, Federico Zampaglione.

HEADQUARTERS AND MANAGEMENT
The selected Locations for the events are different places on the Island:
a) Hotel Regina Isabella - Lacco Ameno
b) Angelo Rizzoli's Congress Centre - Lacco Ameno
c) Villa Arbusto Museum - Lacco Ameno
d) Torrione Museun - Forio D'Ischia
e) Cinema Theatre "Delle Vittorie" - Forio d'Ischia
f) Cinema Theatre "Excelsior" - Ischia Porto
g) Visconti's Villa La Colombaia - Forio d'Ischia
h) Castello Aragonese - Ischia Ponte
i) Giardini La Mortella - Forio D'Ischia
j) Poseidon Gardens
(Other locations will be announced once they have been selected)

The festival's artistic director is journalist Pascal Vicedomini, the founder and producer of the event since 2003.

The technical director in the screening places will be Giulio Franchi, from Cinemeccanica.

As it takes place in the middle of July, "Ischia Global 2009" will let the
magic "star" of the Italian cinema and of the Old Continent shine everywhere in the world, in the wake of the most appealing Summer's celebration.


Ischia and the Global Artists

Among the guests will be six personalities from South Africa,
Hollywood and the Old Continent who have received both public and critical acclaim during the past season (Sundance, the Golden Globes, Berlinale, the Oscars, David di Donatello, Cannes, TriBeCa, Venice, San Sebastian, Toronto and EFA), as well as filmmakers who wish to premiere their productions due out in early 2008.

Also honoured will be the industry's technical operators and artisans whose work has been appreciated by the public

Particular attention will be given to a ‘legend' of the European cinema, whose artistic curriculum vitae will be presented to the public in a special retrospective.


Ischia, Up with the Italian Cinema in South Africa
Within the project "Ischia Global 2009 ", this segment will affirm the commitment of the Ischia International Arts Academy to the promotion of Italy's cinematic arts abroad, through the participation of numerous leaders in the industry on the Old Continent and South Africa, along with the most beloved international ‘showbiz' celebrities. The initiative will highlight the work of a few significant artists of the Italian cinema dedicated to reviving the old splendour of our Peninsula within the European tradition.

This event will be part of the activities planned in collaboration with the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the support of Italian associations and other groups committed to helping Italian communities abroad to keep alive our values and traditions, underscoring the contribution of Italian people to the European culture.
After gaining strong organizational experience in Italy and abroad thanks to the huge success of the first five editions of the festival "Washington, Italia" and of the first tree editions of "Los Angeles, Italia

Ischia http://www.filmfestivals.com/pixus/festivals/generic/ILESISCHIA.jpg Jun 14 2009 12:00AM News Festival The Encounters team are pleased to announce that the Festival will go ahead as planned, despite the shortfall in funding, from 2 - 19 July at the Nu Metro cinemas, V&A Waterfront. The programme of 40 films includes 15 World Premières, 14 multiple international-award winning films, Q&A sessions with 21 guests and 3 Panel Discussions. In addition there will be two Master Classes.

Encounters made a public plea for support when it was announced that the SABC would withdraw its support - and many individuals and organisations have since pledged both money and in-kind donations.

The festival's new financial supporters include Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Jan Vrijman Fund / IDFA, the Africa Centre and many individuals who have joined the ‘Friends of the Festival' programme including Carrol Boyes, Mfundi Vundla, William Kentridge and others.

"We are grateful for the support shown by the industry, funders and the press. It has added relevance to what we do", said Festival Director, Mandisa Zitha.

Encounters is making a last appeal for members of the public to join the Friends of the Festival club. To join Encounters requests a donation of R 1000 or more by 18 June 2009.

In return Encounters will offer Friends Opening Night tickets to the screening of Rewind, directed by Liza Key. The film is about the creation of Philip Miller's acclaimed cantata - Rewind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony. Both Key and Miller will attend the screening.
In addition Encounters will issue Friends 10 complimentary tickets for Festival screenings.
Friends will be acknowledged on the Encounters website, unless they wish to remain anonymous.

In November 2008 Encounters registered a non-profit Section 21 Company - the Encounters Training and Development Institute 2008/026397/08.

It is governed by a Board of Directors, who are:
- Kgomotso Matsunyane - Television Producer (TOM Pictures)
- - Dr Susan Levine - Anthropologist (UCT)
- - Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC - Chairman, AVUSA and Barloworld Limited
- - Professor Ciraj Rassool - Historian (UCT and UWC)
- - Mandisa Zitha - Festival Director, Encounters
- - Nodi Murphy - Co-Founder, Encounters
- - Steven Markovitz - Co-Founder, Encounters

In line with the requirements for a Section 21, the Encounters Training and Development Institute is subject to an annual audit.

The bank account details for all donations is:
Nedbank
Gardens Cape Town
Branch Code: 10 100 900
Account Name: Encounters Training & Development Institute
Acc No.: 1010 113518 (Current Account)

So that we may track donations, Friends are requested to send proof of deposit by email or fax to:
reception@encounters.co.za
021 461 69 64

Encounters will require an email address and telephone number in order to send Friends their Opening Night invitations and complimentary tickets.

Thank you in advance for your support. For any queries contact Irmgard Schreiber on project@encounters.co.za.

The Festival is sponsored and supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, Cape Film Commission, Jan Vrijman Fund/ IDFA, Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Africa Centre, The Times, Nu Metro, Tempest, French Embassy, High Commission of Canada, British Council, Business Arts South Africa, Exclusive Books, Goodman Gallery and Cape Town TV.

11th Encounters South African International Documentary
2-19 July
V&A Waterfront Nu Metro, Cape Town
www.encounters.co.za