To celebrate Dieter Kosslick’s 10th year as director of the Berlinale, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is dedicating a film series to him. Entitled “Carte Blanche: Dieter Kosslick, the Culinary Cineaste”, MoMA will be screening eleven films from August 22 to 30, 2011.Director of the Berlin International Film Festival since May 2001, Dieter Kosslick has long been engaged in issues related to food, pleasure and ecology, as well as their cultural significance and cinematic present...

Tuesday, February 6-----Film Comment, the print magaziine of the Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting its 8th Annual Film Comment Selects series from February 14 to 27 at the Walter Reade Theater, the Film Society's year-round cinematheque. The series has earned a reputation for offering one of the most adventurous single showcases for international filmmaking, covering numerous genres and styles. With films selected from the international festival circuit by Film Comment’s distinguis...

With a couple of hours still left to go until the official kick-off of this "Mother of all Film Festivals" activity is feverish along the short stretch of the Lido known as Viale Marconi, the actual location of this oldest of all world film festivals --Now that was rather a mouthful, calling for a bit of elucidation. The first Venice film festival took place way back in 1932 when the Fascist government under Benito Mussolini, taking a page from Lenin, realized that film was a powerful propaganda...

The breadth and scope of this festival, the name directors, top stars and prestige films it attracts, all clearly mark it as a five star top drawer event, one of the three or four most important way stations on the annual international film festival circuit. But aside from big names and prestige Hollywood products Venice is also known for its focus on lesser-known auteur directors and for its awarding of prizes to films and performances of high artistic merit. It was here in Venice, for examp...