I had to do a double-take when I saw the headline yesterday: GEN ART TO CLOSE ITS DOORS AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS. The Gen Art organization, which organizes networking and exhibition events for film, music and fashion in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and several other cities, is closing its doors? After what was an amazingly successful New York festival just two weeks ago? Well, the news apparently is true and joins a wave of bad news for specialized events around the USA (and probably the wor...

  I had to do a double-take when I saw the headline yesterday: GEN ART TO CLOSE ITS DOORS AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS. The Gen Art organization, which organizes networking and exhibition events for film, music and fashion in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and several other cities, is closing its doors? After what was an amazingly successful New York festival just two weeks ago? Well, the news apparently is true and joins a wave of bad news for specialized events around the USA (and p...

  It has been a decade and a half since Gen Art, the nationwide networking organization devoted to art, fashion, music and movies, first launched a New York-based film festival to highlight works from emerging American independent artists. But different from other festivals of a similar stripe, the Gen Art concept was quite simple: seven films shown over seven nights with audience members invited to an after-party at a hot club or restaurant each evening. This winning formu...

David Miller’s MY SUICIDE was the major winner at the 14th Annual Gen Art Film Festival, which concluded its weeklong celebration of new American Independent cinema on Tuesday evening with the screening of the Closing Night Film FINDING BLISS. The drama about an alienated teenager who chronicles his isolated high school existence through the lens of a camera won a cash award of $10,000 from the Festival’s lead sponsor Acura. The film’s lead actor Gabriel Sunday was also honored with the ...

One of the more intriguing film festival events on the circuit opens next week in New York. The Gen Art Film Festival (April 1-7) returns to the Big Apple with its crowd-pleasing concept in tow. Not only do attendees have a chance to see previews of some of the more intriguing independent films, each ticket also includes a post-screening party where audiences can hobnob with industry reps, film personalities and the teams behind the films that are screening. This open access, as opposed to the c...

March 26-----One of the more intriguing film festival events on the circuit opens next week in New York. The Gen Art Film Festival (April 1-7) returns to the Big Apple with its crowd-pleasing concept in tow. Not only do attendees have a chance to see previews of some of the more intriguing independent films, each ticket also includes a post-screening party where audiences can hobnob with industry reps, film personalities and the teams behind the films that are screening. This open access, as o...

Friday, April 11--------The 13th Annual Gen Art Film Festival Presented by Acura wrapped an exciting week with the U.S. Premiere of THE TAKE, an intense policier directed by Brad Furman and starring John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez. The film opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles today. A packed audience attended the Closing Night Screening at the newly dubbed Visual Arts Theater, recently purchased by the School of Visual Arts. Director Brad Furman was visibly moved by the strong audience ...

 Friday, April 4-----The 13th edition of the Gen Art Film Festival kicked off festivities on Wednesday night with the East Coast Premiere screening of DIMINISHED CAPACITY, a family drama starring Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda. The Festival continues through next Tuesday, showcasing one feature film and accompanying short film per night, followed by a party at some of New York’s most trendy nightspots. On the eve of the Festival, I interviewed Jeff Abramson, Head of the Film Division for Gen...

 Wednesday, April 2------One film/one party…..it’s a formula that has served the Gen Art Film Festival well during the last dozen years. Well, the film + party theme kicks off again this evening, as the 13th Annual Gen Art Film Festival begins a week-long showcase of the best of new American independent cinema. The Festival, presented by Acura, offers spotlight showcases seven features and seven shorts from emerging filmmakers, which are followed by seven premiere parties at some of New Yor...

The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) today announced the films that will be featured at the 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The sixth annual festival will be held April 23-April 29, 2008. This year, to meet the demands of its growing audience, IFFBoston has expanded its slate to include 96 films. The festival, complete with over 150 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the works of filmmakers wh...

The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) today announced the films that will be featured at the 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The sixth annual festival will be held April 23-April 29, 2008. This year, to meet the demands of its growing audience, IFFBoston has expanded its slate to include 96 films. The festival, complete with over 150 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the works of filmmakers wh...

 Thursday, April 19-----SHARKWATER, the eco-activist documentary by Canadian director Rob Stewart, took the Acura Grand Jury Feature Film Award, with a cash prize of $10,000,  at the Gen Art Film Festival Awards Ceremonies on Tuesday night.  The film has already won eleven major international awards, and opened theatrically earlier this month in its native Canada with a record-breaking opening weekend (beating out such high profile documentaries as the Oscar winning AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH an...

 Thursday, April 19-----SHARKWATER, the eco-activist documentary by Canadian director Rob Stewart, took the Acura Grand Jury Feature Film Award, with a cash prize of $10,000,  at the Gen Art Film Festival Awards Ceremonies on Tuesday night.  The film has already won eleven major international awards, and opened theatrically earlier this month in its native Canada with a record-breaking opening weekend (beating out such high profile documentaries as the Oscar winning AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH an...

The torrential downpour had not yet quite started on the Festival opening night on Wednesday, with the New York premiere of CRASHING, a literature-meets-pornography tale of a grizzled novelist (played to fare-thee-well perfection by New York's own Campbell Scott) who flirts with sex and artistic inspiration (not necessarily in that order) as he crashes on the coach of two female students who are themselves aspiring novelists. The film drew a strong response from the capacity crowd (so large that...

Friday, April 13------If the theory that shitty weather is good for film festivals holds true, then the time is perfect for this year's Gen Art Film Festival. Although the calendar says mid April, Spring is decidely late this year, with massive rainstorms and temperatures well below normal bursting the bubbles of New Yorkers ready for the winter thaw. So, with the weather inclement, the heat generated from packed screenings and even more crowded after-parties are making this year's Gen A...

 Wednesday, April 11-----The Gen Art Film Festival, one of New York's most provocative and satisfying film events, roars into town this evening with the New York Premiere of CRASHING, directed by Gary Walkow and starring Campbell Scott (both of whom will be in attendance). The Festival, celebrating its 12th year, has the winning formula of presenting one film premiere a night, followed by after-parties at some of New York's trendiest night spots. CRASHING, which also stars Lizzy Capla...

Seven film, seven parties. That’s the user-friendly concept behind the Gen Art Film Festival, one of New York’s most popular film showcases, which ran from April 5th to the 11th at the recently renovated Clearview Cinema in New York’s trendy Chelsea area.The Festival is only one of the diverse programs produced by the Gen Art organization, which is a leading national arts and entertainment entity dedicated to promoting emerging talents in fashion, film, art and music. With offices in New Y...