The Hamptons International Film Festival and OK! Magazine will continue the popular Rising Stars Showcase, welcoming three North American actors to highlight their talents and films at the 2008 Festival. This year the Festival is expanding this program for the first time to officially include three actors from the Shooting Stars program, an initiative of European Film Promotion (EFP), which is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the EU. In all, six very talented and exciting young actors will ...
The Toronto International Film Festival came to a close today with the announcements of various awards. Although Toronto does not have an official competition section (positioning itself as a "public festival"), positive critical praise, strong industry reaction and awards from the discerning Toronto public are important components for the life of the films that have risen to the top at this important event. With ceremonies held at the Awards Reception at the Intercontinental Hotel on the waterf...
The Toronto International Film Festival came to a close Saturday with the announcements of various awards. Although Toronto does not have an official competition section (positioning itself as a "public festival"), positive critical praise, strong industry reaction and awards from the discerning Toronto public are important components for the life of the films that have risen to the top at this important event. With ceremonies held at the Awards Reception at the Intercontinental Hotel on the wat...
Saturday, September 13------The Toronto International Film Festival came to a close today with the announcements of various awards. Although Toronto does not have an official competition section (positioning itself as a "public festival"), positive critical praise, strong industry reaction and awards from the discerning Toronto public are important components for the life of the films that have risen to the top at this important event. With ceremonies held at the Awards Reception at ...
Saturday, September 6-------The facts and figures of this year's Toronto International Film Festival go something like this: 312 films from 64 countries, including 249 feature-length films, 76 per cent of which are world, international or North American premieres, and 61 of which are feature directorial debuts. Aside from close to 1500 international members of the press and the film industry, the Festival is also welcoming over 500 international stars and special guests on the red carpet. T...
The Rhode Island International Film Festival Once Again Hosts Popular Gay & Lesbian Sidebar August 5-10th PROVIDENCE, R.I. (July 26, 2008)— One of the most popular cinematic sidebars of the annual Rhode Island International Film Festival returns for its 1t2h year: the Providence GLBT Film Festival, August 5-10th. Films made by, for and about the GLBT community have played an integral role in RIIFF, one of New England’s premiere film festivals. This year the GLBT festival is scree...
RIIFF 2008 Presents a Week filled with Short Films and Festivities August 5-10 and screenings across the State of Rhode Island with 58 World Prémières and 41 US/North American Prémières; and honors actor, Richard JenkinsWith films and filmmakers arriving from across the globe, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) kicks off its 12th Annual event presenting 289 feature length, documentary and short films to be screened over a six-day period. The Festival runs August 5-10th. Thi...
RIIFF 2008 Presents a Week filled with Short Films and Festivities August 5-10 and screenings across the State of Rhode Island with 58 World Prémières and 41 US/North American Prémières; and honors actor, Richard Jenkins (PROVIDENCE, RI • July 21, 2008)--- With films and filmmakers arriving from across the globe, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) kicks off its 12th Annual event presenting 289 feature length, documentary and short films to be screened over a six-da...
In a tribute to Stanley Kramer, a pioneer in filmmaking who garnered a record 85 Academy Award nominations, Sony Pictures has released the 40th anniversary DVD edition of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. This controversial film starred Hall of Fame actors Sidney Poitier, Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracey. Philadelphia Principal, Salome Thomas-EL, author of the best sellers, I Choose to Stay (Kensington - March 2003) and The Immortality of Influence (Kensington - May 2006), foreword by "I Am Legend...
Monday, March 3----------When you have one of the most famous and recognizable faces in both Hollywood and the tabloids, it is a challenge to be recognized for your talent and not your fame. The plain, unvarnished truth is that Demi Moore is a damned good actress. She makes that abundantly clear in her role as the buttoned-down executive who becomes involved in a major diamond heist from the vaults of her employer in last night’s Gusman Gala. FLAWLESS (which describes the jewels, but certain...
When you have one of the most famous and recognizable faces in both Hollywood and the tabloids, it is a challenge to be recognized for your talent and not your fame. The plain, unvarnished truth is that Demi Moore is a damned good actress. She makes that abundantly clear in her role as the buttoned-down executive who becomes involved in a major diamond heist from the vaults of her employer in last night’s Gusman Gala. FLAWLESS (which describes the jewels, but certainly can be applied to Ms. Mo...
Nominations for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2007 in five film and eight primetime television categories and for the new SAG honors for film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood.Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg introduced Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love) and Actor® recipient Terrence Howard (The Brave One), who announced the nomin...
The 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival presented its Golden Starfish Awards at a ceremony held at the UA Cinema in East Hampton, NY on Saturday, October 21, 2007. The 2007 HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL celebrates its 15th anniversary – a decade and a half of premieres, screenings, programs & events, tucked away amongst the changing leaves and quiet beaches of fall in the East End. The Hamptons is where talent, industry and audiences come together exchanging ideas, e...
The 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival presented its Golden Starfish Awards at a ceremony held at the UA Cinema in East Hampton, NY on Saturday, October 21, 2007. The 2007 HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL celebrates its 15th anniversary – a decade and a half of premieres, screenings, programs & events, tucked away amongst the changing leaves and quiet beaches of fall in the East End. The Hamptons is where talent, industry and audiences come together exchanging ideas, experien...
Saturday, May 5-----One thing Festival organizers are always keen on saying is the following: "Due to popular demand and sold-out screenings, one last screening of FILM X has been added". While that could certainly apply to several Festival titles, one of the most sought-after has been SUBURBAN GIRL, the witty adaptation of Melissa Bank's best selling book, The Girls' Guide To Hunting and Fishing.Alec Baldwin (he of the telephone message rant) joins with Sarah Michelle Gellar...
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2007 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television and radio writing in gala ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre in New York on Sunday, February 11, 2007. SCREEN WINNERS ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Little Miss Sunshine, Written by Michael Arndt, Fox Searchlight Pictures ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Depart...
Wednesday, February 7----With the ballots for the Academy Awards in the mail, speculation is growing about what has become an impossible to predict Best Picture race. While BABEL was considered the frontrunner, especially following its Golden Globe win last month, there is now industry speculation that BABEL and Martin Scorsese's THE DEPARTED may split the "serious film" vote. So, what exactly does that mean?
Well, one scenario points to an upset win by the indie smash LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (...
Tuesday, February 6----With the ballots for the Academy Awards in the mail, speculation is growing about what has become an impossible to predict Best Picture race. While BABEL was considered the frontrunner, especially following its Golden Globe win last month, there is now industry speculation that BABEL and Martin Scorsese's THE DEPARTED may split the "serious film" vote. So, what exactly does that mean? Well, one scenario points to an upset win by the indie smash LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (that'...
MIRREN AND WHITTAKER SHINE AT S.A.G. AWARDS
by Alex Deleon, Santa Barbara
This is the jolly season of awards in Southern California -- seems like there's a different one every week somewhere in L.A. or vicinity. Following the Golden Globes (Foreign Press Awards) a couple of weeks back we now have the Screen Actors Guild (S.A.G.) awards which are similar and yet a bit different. Both sets of awards go to both film and television personalities, but the Globes recognize all kinds of categories (w...
Screen Actors Guild presented its coveted Actor® statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2006 at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® in ceremonies attended by film and television’s leading actors, held Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The 13h Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® was simulcast by TNT and TBS at 8 p.m., ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT The honorees were selected by the active Guild membership nation...
Denise Kasell, who joined forces with the Hamptons International Film Festival in 1998 and was instrumental in helming its rise to the forefront of American festivals, is leaving her post as Executive Director. Board Chairman, Stuart Match Suna, and the Hamptons Board are in the process of searching for a candidate to take over the position. Artistic Director, Rajendra Roy, remains firmly in place to guide the festival’s acclaimed programs and creative vision. When Denise Kasell took the re...
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The titles quickly fade up and extinguish, burning away like the tissued wrapping of a cigarette. The first image smashes like a thunderbolt upon the screen, a point of view shot from behind a cloth hood. We hear the slightest whispers of strained breaths as tribal drums pound furiously on the soundtrack.
Not even thirty seconds into Michael Mann's 1999 film "The Insider" and we're already suffocating.
The man behind the mask is Lowell Bergman, the venerable producer of "60...
THE ELITE:
In a career teeming with brilliant work, these are Al Pacino's greatest films.
The Godfather: This is where the legacy begins, both of the greatest one-two punch in film history and Pacino's stellar career. Pacino first plays the highly moral idealist Michael sheepishly, until he subtly morphs into a cold-blooded gangster right before your eyes. It is the most amazing transformation ever portrayed in the cinema; made all the more powerful because you barely register it happening. A+
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Nominations for the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2006 in five film and eight primetime television categories were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood.Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg introduced Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) and Elijah Wood (Bobby, Happy Feet), who announced the nominees for this year’s Actors®. Screen Actors Guild will honor its own at the 13th Ann...
Alan Arkin, one of the most respected actors of his generation, makes a rare appearance this evening at New York's Walter Reade Theater. The special evening includes a screening of Arkin's latest hit, the quirky indie comedy LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, followed by an onstage conversation between the actor and Kent Jones, Associate Director of Programming of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The evening will also feature clips from Arkin's remarkable career, which has now spanned four decades of supe...