From November 17th until November 26th 2006, the exground filmfest in Wiesbaden, one of the most important festivals of Independent Films in Germany, will present for the 19th time the highlights of independently produced short- and feature films in the Hessian capital – the best out of a record high of more than 2000 entries. In the sections American Independents, News from Asia, International, Documentary, and Shorts there will be more than 250 productions to be seen, among them several prem...

The 8th Sarasota Film Festival concluded this past weekend, with a flurry of parties, special events and an impressive roster of Hollywood names receiving career tributes. The Festival, which has been growing in reputation in the past few years, has really come into its own this year as a major destination for filmmakers and film buffs. Kudos to longtime Executive Director Jody Kielbasa, who has been able to attract high level sponsors, patrons and honorees to the event, and to Tom Hall, the Fes...

MAR DEL PLATA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (March 9-19th)The 21st edition of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival will have as special guest Juliette Binoche and Abel Ferrara. Other important guest that will be present in the festival are Jesús Aranda, Ventura Pons, Patricia Reyes Espíndola, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Michael Winterbottom, Radaman Suleman, Charles McDougall and Paul Morrisey. Some of they will dictate Master Classes that will take place at the Salon Versalles. The fe...

Pete Perkins (Tommy Lee Jones) is a rancher near a small town in West Texas who befriends an undocumented Mexican cowboy named Malchiades Estrada. (Antonio Cerino) When Malchiades body is turned up by the border patrol Pete needs to find who killed his friend. Along the way Pete discovers the law is covering up the identity of the killer so he captures the suspect patrolmen Norton (Barry Pepper) and makes him unearth the body to be returned to Mexico. In a series of flashbacks we learn of Estra...

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival is happy to announce a preliminary list of premieres in the 2006 edition, scheduled for March 10-18 in Austin, Texas. This includes the North American Premiere of 'A Prairie Home Companion,' directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Garrison Keillor, as the festival's Opening Night Film."I can't think of a more perfect Opening Night Film than 'A Prairie Home Companion,'" says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler. "Not only ...

“Heath Ledger is my big favorite for the Oscar for best actor. He’s a friend and worked with on The Brothers Grimm, but I think that Brokeback Mountain is a film that has strong emotions. Of course that is only my opinion. But nothing is certain, so why not? I have never understood the logic of Oscar.” Director Terry Gilliam, a host of the Capri Hollywood - Kimbo International Festival Film, spoke freely, making forecasts and giving his impressions of Oscar night, coming March 5 at th...

George Clooney’s film Good Night, and Good Luck, and Cristina Comencini’s The Beast in the Heart have won Capri-Kimbo Awards as best films of 2005. The two productions, introduced at the last Venice Film Festival and in the race for an Oscar, will be honored at the 10th anniversary edition of the Capri, Hollywood Film Festival December 27-January 2. The festival is produced by Capri in the World Institute with the support of the director general's office for cinema of the Ministry of Cul...

The sixth annual Santa Fe Film Festival’s bowed this year with new partnerships, a new focus on international screenings with a decidedly American film as its centerpiece gala. 220 films screened out of 900 submissions from nearly 40 nations, including this years “Best of Fest” Award winner “The Syrian Bride,” by Eran Riklis.The five-day festival ran from Dec. 7-11, presenting films in 11 different venues and attracting 6,000-plus patrons.The festival partnered this year with the Natio...

TOMMY LEE JONES' THREE BURIALS PREMIERES IN ITALY AT CAPRI AFTER WINNINGTWO PRIZES AT CANNES; CRISTINA COMENCINI'S DON'T TELL, INAUGURATES SCREENINGS AT CAPRI, HOLLYWOOD DECEMBER 26"The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," The current work of Oscar-winning actor and first-time director Tommy Lee Jones, will receive its Italian premiere at the Capri, Hollywood – Kimbo International Festival Film on the Isle of Capri December 27-January 2.The film, produced by Luc Besson (01 Distribution), ...

AFI FEST 2005 powers through a week of Premieres and parties--looks forward to Friday's Johnny Depp TributeAFI FEST 2005 played host to a full slate of star-studded screenings, World Premieres and special events this week, and is primed to continue its run with a second spectacular weekend. TRANSAMERICA star Felicity Huffman's film brought out her DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES co-stars, while Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut--THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA--enjoyed its US Premiere at the Egypt...

AFI FEST 2005 presented by Audi completed its packed first weekend, with a full slate of star-studded screenings and special events. Among the most notable were parties for Andy Garcia's theatrical directorial debut, THE LOST CITY; the period piece ghost story AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, starring Donald Sutherland; and Felicity Huffman's TRANSAMERICA--which brought out the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star's husband, William H. Macy, and all of her gorgeous co-stars. Other Festival attendees included Alan Cum...

AFI FEST presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival - has become one of the most influential film festivals in North America. Now in its 19th year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST spans 10 days each November and features international competitions of brand new films from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of the latest work from the great film masters and nightly red-carpet gala premieres. AFI FEST 2005 presented by Audi kicks off on November 3 at the ...

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, wins the 32nd Flanders International Film Festival - GhentOn Saturday October 22, 2005, Dominique Deruddere, member of the International Jury announced the list of prize winners. The ceremony was followed by the première of Dominique Deruddere's film The Wedding Party (De Bloedbruiloft).This year's International Jury consisted of: Arthur Lappin, Lissy Belaiche, Brenda Blethyn, Dominique Deruddere, Jose Luis Castiñeira de Dios and Carine Tardieu.The Gran...

The 58th Cannes Film Festival concluded after ten days of glorious cinema on May 21, and the distinguished jury of the official selection awarded prizes to directors, actors and screenwriters. The closing ceremony was officiated by Cécile de France who called on jury president Emir Kusturica to reveal the recipients of the awards.Two Palme d'Or, Two Brothers!The coveted "Palme d'Or" went to L'Enfant (The Child)directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, the story of a couple who sell their baby an...

Questions and Answers with Thierry Frémaux Cannes Festival Managing Director and Artistic Director.Cannes May 11-21, 2005 - What makes up the Official Selection?As it does every year, the Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes 2005 comprises the Compétition, Un Certain Regard, Hors Compétition screenings, special screenings and midnight screenings. It also offers a short film competition and a film school competition (Cinéfondation). Cannes Classics is a selection of heritage films, sh...

EUROPACORP PLATFORMS RIO FILM FESTIVAL TO ANNOUNCE LANDMARK BRAZILIAN CO-PRODUCTIONEuropacorp, Luc Besson´s filmmaking European studio created in 2000 with his partner Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, is rapidly expanding its potential for international co-productions.Le Pogam, CEO of Europacorp, announced the first co-production with Latin America today at the Rio Film Festival in front of festival delegates, confirming that the first Brazilian movie will be shot mid-2005.The French-Brazilian co-producti...

HOLLYWOOD FEST HONORS CALEB DESCHANEL AND CELEBRATES THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OFCINEMATOGRAPHERS' 85th ANNIVERSARY.Oscar(R)-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (ASC) will be this year's recipient of the "Hollywood CINEMATOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Award." In addition, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) will mark its 85th anniversary at the Hollywood Film Festival, which takes place October 12 to 18 at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood."Mr. Deschanel is undoubtedly one of Hollywood's fine...

The opening of the Berlinale is still one month off – yet Festival Director Dieter Kosslick is pleased to be able to announce the first films in the Competition. Five entries are definite and they range “from tragic love story to political psychodrama, from historical thriller to intimate family saga”, as Kosslick explains. The entries are from Germany, Spain, Denmark, Croatia and the USA, and their celebrated directors, such as Romuald Karmakar or Academy Award-winner Ron Howard, are a gu...

BERLINALE COMPETITION 2004: FIVE ENTRIES ALREADY CONFIRMED The opening of the Berlinale is still more than two months off – yet Festival Director Dieter Kosslick is pleased to be able to announce the first films in the Competition. Five entries are definite and they range “from tragic love story to political psychodrama, from historical thriller to intimate family saga”, as Kosslick explains. The entries are from Germany, Spain, Denmark, Croatia and the USA, and their celebrated director...