Tribeca Film Sets Expansion of Slate in 2011

Tribeca Enterprises today announced that Tribeca Film will expand to commercially release 26 films over the next year, more than double the number of titles released in 2010. The comprehensive distribution label for independent film also announced that it acquired U.S. rights to nine new titles to be released across multiple platforms. The curated selection of films includes many genres and features stars including Zach Braff, Vincent Gallo and Zoe Kravitz and filmmakers such as Peter Mullan, Jerzy Skolimowski and Vincent D’Onofrio.

Following its launch in March 2010, Tribeca Film has grown to a year-round, full-service distribution label that delivers quality independent films to audiences through innovative strategies bolstered by its partnership with American Express. Tribeca Film’s significant expansion is highlighted by Tribeca’s continued relationship with Comcast, one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment and supporter of independent film. Tribeca Film plans to release the following titles theatrically, on video-on-demand and via other platforms throughout the coming year:

· Beware the Gonzo. From director and writer Brian Gobuloff (writer of The Basketball Diaries) comes a teen-angst comedy about an underground newspaper aiming to give voice to high school misfits. The film stars Zoe Kravitz, Ezra Miller, Jesse McCartney, Amy Sedaris, Campbell Scott, and James Urbaniak.

· The Bleeding House. Written and directed by comic book writer and first time filmmaker Philip Gelatt, this taut horror thriller is an original take on the home invasion genre about a family with a haunted past visited by a sweet-talking Texan killer who has come for retribution.

· Brother’s Justice. This Hollywood satire marks Dax Shepard’s directorial debut and is co-directed by David Palmer. The film follows Shepard as he makes the rash decision to abandon comedy in pursuit of his true dream: to become an internationally-renowned martial arts star. Winner of the audience award at the Austin Film Festival and an official selection of the Hollywood Film Festival, it features performances by Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper, David Koechner, Michael Rosenbaum and Nate Tuck.

· Don’t Go in the Woods. Vincent D’Onofrio makes his feature-length directorial debut with this uproarious rock ‘n' roll horror musical about the fate of a young band seeking a quiet place to write songs in the wrong neck of the woods. The film has screened at the Woodstock Film Festival, the Sarasota Film Festival and the Savannah Film Festival.

· Grave Encounters. Directed and written by first time filmmakers the Vicious Brothers, this cinéma-vérité style supernatural thriller follows a ghost-hunting reality television show host and crew as they shoot an episode inside an abandoned psychiatric hospital, where unexplained phenomena have been reported for years. All in the name of good television, they voluntarily lock themselves inside the building for the night and begin a paranormal investigation, capturing everything on camera. They quickly realize that the building is more than just haunted - it is alive - and it has no intention of ever letting them leave.

· The High Cost of Living. Director Deborah Chow’s dark romantic drama about intertwined fates centers on the burgeoning relationship between an unlikely pair. Nathalie (Isabelle Blais) is expecting her first child, and Henry (Zach Braff) is on his way to his next drug deal. Their paths fatefully collide one night in an event that will irrevocably change their lives. The film was an official selection of the Toronto Film Festival.

· NEDS. Peter Mullan's third feature as a writer and director, after Orphans and The Magdalene Sisters, is a violent 1970s coming-of-age drama set in a gritty section of Glasgow. NEDS won Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival and was chosen Best Film at the 2011 London Evening Standard Awards.

· Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston. No one represented the 1970s quite like legendary designer Halston. In this stylish documentary, director Whitney Sudler-Smith takes a fabulous fun-and-fact-filled journey through Halston’s life and times. Interviews with friends and witnesses (including Liza Minnelli, Diane Von Furstenberg, André Leon Talley, Anjelica Huston, Bob Colacello and Billy Joel, among others) round out this glittering evocation of the man who defined the decadent era. Tribeca Film will release the following on VOD and other platforms:

· Essential Killing. A gripping adventure thriller directed by acclaimed Polish auteur Jerzy Skolimowski. A captured Taliban fighter (Vincent Gallo) is interrogated, tortured and then moved to an unnamed snowy detention camp in Europe. Following an accident involving his transport convoy, he becomes an escaped convict on a continent he does not know. Essential Killing world premiered In Competition at the Venice International Film Festival, and won the Special Jury Prize and Best Actor for Vincent Gallo's performance. Previously announced titles from Tribeca Film include the following, which will be released in theatres in multiple markets, as well as via VOD and other platforms:

· The Bang Bang Club. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Steven Silver makes his feature directorial debut with this electrifying tale of a young band of war photographers who documented the last days of apartheid in South Africa. Based on a true story, the film stars Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman and Taylor Kitsch and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. · Janie Jones. Directed by David M. Rosenthal, Janie Jones is a charming rock ‘n’ roll road trip drama about a father and daughter finding their way to each other. The film stars Abigail Breslin, Alessandro Nivola, Elisabeth Shue and Brittany Snow and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

· Last Night. Director Massy Tadjedin makes her directorial debut with a carefully crafted romantic drama about two couples confronting temptation and the limits of fidelity over the course of one night. Starring Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and Guillaume Canet, the film was an official selection at the Toronto, Venice and Rome Film Festivals. Fourteen more titles will be added to the Tribeca Film slate in the coming months. “With the rapidly evolving landscape, Tribeca Film provides strategic opportunities and plans to customize campaigns using new platforms for distribution,” said Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal. “We see real opportunities for filmmakers and audiences.”

Upon its initial launch, Tribeca Film delivered an inaugural slate of 12 titles nationwide through a network of multi-platform distribution partnerships, beginning with an initial release via cable and telco video-on-demand and satellite pay-per-view in Spring 2010. The films were also distributed digitally via Amazon.com, the Apple iTunes Store, Netflix Streaming and Vudu, with select titles airing on Showtime. The independent label also released 11 of the films in limited theatrical engagements and partnered with New Video to launch the Tribeca Film home video label. The continued expansion of Tribeca Film attests to Tribeca Enterprises’ goal of redefining traditional models of independent film distribution and release patterns and, in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival and other of its media holdings, creating new opportunities and discovering new audiences for filmmakers. “Tribeca Film had a terrific launch in 2010, releasing an exciting selection of quality independent films,” said Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer at Tribeca. “In 2011, we look forward to continuing to respond to the contemporary challenges of distribution today and are especially excited to be on the cutting edge working to develop new scenarios.

We value our relationships with our distribution partners, the unique role played by American Express, and the talented filmmakers we have the pleasure of working with.” American Express is an important and unique element of Tribeca Film. American Express has reinforced its commitment to providing independent filmmakers with new platforms to deliver compelling stories to audiences, and Cardmembers, everywhere. In its second year, Tribeca Film will continue to leverage the unique marketing force of American Express to create customized release patterns that are filmmaker-friendly and provide audiences with access to films they otherwise might not have the opportunity to see.

Wallabout Film Festival 2009

Wallabout is: a collaborative project putting cultural assembly into explicitpractice; a collective celebrating artists’ efforts and the co-production of art; a festival promoting the continuous flow of creative episteme and the techne. It is a question leading to a question leading to a question. Wallabout is committed to challenging our minds while exulting the works of to-day. Wallabout is about it all. First and foremost, efforts will go towards the moment of creative collision. We
strive to deliver innovative work and host an atmosphere conducive for playful and intellectual discourse. The passion to bring people together cannot cease. The Wallabout Film Festival submerges itself in the evolution of film while acting as a liaison between creators and community. Particularly attributing the short film, we acknowledge the diversity of expression captured within motion picture.

A short can challenge, entertain, and inspire its audience as aptly as a feature length film. Perhaps a champion of brevity and simplicity, a piece could very well dip and delve into any complexity of our world, opening our eyes to something new. We support the heart of the creative realm and wish to promote its essential role in our everyday lives. Be it in schools, on the street, or in a book, we believe the arts are not a supplement, but a necessity. You are an artist. We are an artist. The spirit of independent filmmaking constantly pushes and remodels the standard. Whether created with state-of-the-art equipment or with the most basic
devices, the accessibility to short film allows any ambitious visionary the opportunity to innovate. The format essentially cultivates this democratic approach to creative expression. Wallabout seeks entries that individually contribute towards this development of film and manifest the vast range of perspective.

Whether it is a film viewing or a casual discussion over chocolate, we very
much believe in the importance of interaction within communities, Brooklyn,
New York, and beyond. Though the world with its many differences seems to
expand by the second, we hope to establish a neighborhood of understanding
and curiosity while moving forward, together.

The Wallabout Film Festival will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2009,
at Pochron Studios, 20 Jay Street, in Brooklyn, New York.

Selections will be judged by a panel that includes an array of filmmakers and
artists and shall be evaluated in the categories of Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Entries are to be submitted on DVD or Blu-ray disc by the deadline of
April 10, 2009, along with the official entry form.

Run time must not exceed 8 minutes and the film should have been completed within the last year (finished after March 2008). All guidelines and requirements must be followed in order to
be eligible.

Entries are to be mailed to:
The Program in Critical and Visual Studies
Dekalb Hall, Office 315
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

It's TFF Time!!

New York, NY [March 16, 2009] – The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express, the founding sponsor of the Festival, today announced its line-up of short films. The Festival received 2463 short film submissions this year, and 46 have been selected for participation to be presented in six thematic programs. Among the highlights is a short narrative written and directed by Tom Everett Scott, as well as a documentary narrated by Richard Gere. Directors making return visits to the Festival include Jason DaSilva, Brian Durnin, Paula Gaitán, Ken Jacobs and Mark Street.

This year’s Festival shorts are a culmination of works from across the globe, including Cuba, Brazil, Norway, Italy, South Korea and Australia. The voices behind these works range from first-time to veteran filmmakers that include animators, graphic artists and actors taking the helm behind the camera. Collectively, through captivating narratives and gripping documentaries, they tell stories about life’s lessons drawn from dreams, desires and the coming-of-age experience.

“The films in this year’s program represent a strong showcase in the craft of short filmmaking. It's exciting that as digital content platforms continue to emerge, short films are accessible to, and being watched by an increasingly larger audience.” said Maggie Kim, Tribeca Film Festival shorts programmer.

"These six thematic programs contain elements that everyone can relate to - from growing up to dealing with work issues to being faced with irrevocable decisions. It's a solid line-up with narrative, documentary and experimental short films all of which express a unique way of storytelling in this format,” said Sharon Badal, Tribeca Film Festival shorts programmer.

The 46 works in the 2009 short film line-up are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling more than $15,000 for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Student Visionary Award, sponsored by Apple. The jurors for each of the shorts categories—narrative, documentary and student—will be announced at a later date.

Through April 12, 2009, consumers have the opportunity for the first time in the Festival’s history to help select a short film to premiere in the Festival through Delta’s Fly-In Movies competition. Five short film finalists were selected by the Festival programmers and are currently playing on Delta flights equipped with Delta on Demand. They are also available for viewing at delta.com/flyinmovies, where customers can rate each film. The film rated highest by viewers will receive the final spot in this year’s Festival shorts program.

Following is a listing of the selected short films in the six programs in which they will be presented:

Means to an End
Everyone’s just trying to make it through another day in these short films. Discover what’s on the menu at Café Paraíso. A dancing pineapple loses her rhythm in Oda a la Piña, while a rickshaw driver tries not to miss the boat in 3 Wheels. A loyal employee longs for a promotion in The Company Man. Two Average Joes dig their way through the meaning of life in Deconstruction Workers. In Glock, a new secret agent “kills” time waiting for his first assignment, while in Almost Every Day, Agatha navigates work, love and the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

· 3 Wheels, (China, Taiwan R.O.C.), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Tony Wei, written by Chung Lee (Student film)
· Almost Every Day (Quase Todo Dia), (Brazil, USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Gandja Monteiro
· Café Paraíso, (Mexico), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Alonso Ruizpalacios (Student film)
· The Company Man, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Andrew Zappin
· Deconstruction Workers (Bygningsarbeidere), (Norway), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Kajsa Næss, written by Kjartan Helleve
· Glock, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Tom Everett Scott, written by Michael McMillian, Tom Everett Scott
· Oda a la Piña, (Cuba), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Laimir Fano (Student film)

Mixed Feelings
Dreams and desires are contemplated and complicated in this group of shorts. Practically perfect simply isn’t enough in This Will All Make Perfect Sense Someday. Prepare for emotional turbulence in Delta’s Fly-In Movies Competition Winner. Interwoven stories with a cultural connection show the challenges of living in Nueva York. A big helping of truth is served at a dinner party in Oil Change. Mary Jane wonders if she’ll ever leave the Navajo reservation in Shimasani. Five characters collide with cosmic consequences in Of Best Intentions. In Cutlass, Robin remembers what it’s like to want something really, really badly.

· Cutlass, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Kate Hudson
· Nueva York, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Manolo Celi
· Of Best Intentions, (Ireland), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Brian Durnin
· Oil Change, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Todd Luoto
· Shimasani, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Blackhorse Lowe
· This Will All Make Perfect Sense Someday, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Long-Cuu Phan

Wake-up Call
These shorts show life lessons learned, some the hard way. An ex-con confronts an abusive guard from his past in Deadline. Whom would you rat out in Section 44? An immature twenty-something grows up and comes out in Cal Express. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore in The Tinwoodsman’s Home Movie #2. “Unhappy” is a seven-letter word in Wu. Gail is torn between a fish and her family tradition in Gefilte Fish. After 20 years, a man takes The North Road home to Beirut to reclaim his father and his past.

· Cal Express, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed and written by Sergio Carvajal (Student film)
· Deadline, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Joseph Bakhash, written by Sean McPhillips
· Gefilte Fish, (Israel), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Shelly Kling-Yosef (Student film)
· The North Road (La route du Nord), (France), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Carlos Chahine
· Section 44, (UK), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Daniel Wilson
· The Tinwoodsman's Home Movie #2, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Naomi Uman, Lee Lynch
· Wu, (France), Narrative, North American Premiere, directed and written by Cécile Vernant

Truth or Consequences
These mature shorts concern growing up, getting off and getting by. Not recommended for those under 16. Twelve-year-old Adriana spends a steamy summer at the sea in Sunspots. Step back to the pre-Internet world of porn in Love Does Grow on Trees. An Irish lad seeks solace from a priest in The Confession. Kenny is a country club lifeguard living in a haze, but one day all that changes in Blue Boy. Sophie hopes for a visit from the Tooth Fairy in Small Change, and two teenagers ditch school and discover a dark place in Search. Georgia’s journey to find her biological mother veers off-course when she meets the Nowhere Kids.

· Blue Boy, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Alex Jablonski, written by Alex Jablonski, Kevin Canty (Student film)
· The Confession, (Ireland), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Thomas Hefferon
· Love Does Grow on Trees, (UK), Narrative, USA Premiere, directed and written by Bevan Walsh
· Nowhere Kids, (USA), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Eric Juhola, written by Eric Juhola, Jeremy Stulberg, Lindsay Goldwert
· Search, (USA), Narrative, World Premiere, directed by Lisa M. Perry, written by Aaron Walker (Student film)
· Small Change, (Australia), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed and written by Anna McGrath (Student film)
· Sunspots (Macchie di Sole), (Italy), Narrative, New York Premiere, directed by Stella di Tocco, written by Enrique Esteve

Time Will Tell
This group of documentary shorts will leave a lasting impression on the heart and mind. A sacred Tibetan cultural site is restored in Mustang – Journey of Transformation. Flooded with memories, home is where the heart is. Will you root for Team Taliban? In The Last Mermaids, a story swims beneath the surface about generations of women divers. A filmmaker chronicles his personal experience with multiple sclerosis in First Steps. Finally, in Skin, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

· First Steps, (USA), Documentary, World Premiere, directed and written by Jason DaSilva
· home, (USA), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Matthew Faust
· The Last Mermaids, (USA, South Korea), Documentary, North American Premiere, directed by Liz Chae
· Mustang – Journey of Transformation, (USA, Nepal), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Will Parrinello, written by Sarah Kass
· Skin, (Australia), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed and written by Rhys Graham
· Team Taliban, (USA), Documentary, New York Premiere, directed by Benjamin Kegan

Human Landscapes
Drawn from filmmakers on three continents, this program of experimental short films and videos centers around the theme of the individual’s relationship to the environmental space he or she inhabits. The avant-garde filmmaking enterprise is essentially one defined by creative artists working single-handedly and with great sensitivity to interpreting the field of vision before their camera lenses. Unlike more conventional modes of storytelling, they employ such diverse techniques as found footage, collage, animation, superimposition of texts, the absence of visible characters, voiceless sound tracks and the transformation of the human figure and manmade constructions into studies of formal abstraction. In so doing, these filmmakers manipulate quotidian reality into beautiful and stirring tales of the fragile nature of human existence.

· The Bather, (USA), World Premiere, directed by George Griffin
· Camera Roll (for Taylor), (USA), World Premiere, directed by Joel Schlemowitz
· Chop Off, (USA), USA Premiere, directed and written by M.M. Serra
· densen, (Sweden), World Premiere, directed by Anna Linder
· Ha’Aki, (Canada), New York Premiere, directed and written by Iriz Pääbo
· Hot Dogs at the Met, (USA), North American Premiere, directed by Ken Jacobs
· influenza/Composition II (chrome square), (Netherlands), World Premiere, directed by Jeroen Jongeleen
· KOGI, (Brazil), World Premiere, directed by Paula Gaitán
· Métro, (Canada), World Premiere, directed by Martin Laporte
· A Time and A Time, (UK), North American Premiere, directed and written by Sarah Cox
· Trailer Trash, (USA), World Premiere, directed by Mark Street
· Us (Nous), (France), USA Premiere, directed and written by Olivier Hems
· Without You, (UK), North American Premiere, directed by Tal Rosner

Additional information for all these short films can be viewed in the media section of the Tribeca Film Festival website, www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2009 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

Packages

The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival will offer eleven exclusive ticket packages, featuring three advance ticket selection packages, as well as eight discount ticket packages.

Advance Ticket Selection Packages: Advance selection ticket packages will offer consumers the opportunity to reserve tickets for films they wish to screen ahead of the general public. All films must be selected by April 10, 2009. The advance selection ticket packages include:

· Programmers Picks Ticket Package ($250) - Two general or matinee tickets to six Festival films, handpicked for each customer by the Tribeca Film Festival Programming Team
· Harrison Ticket Package ($225.00) - Early online ticket selection prior to public on-sale dates for ten individual general or matinee screenings
· Franklin Ticket Package ($425.00) - Early online ticket selection prior to public on-sale dates for 20 individual general or matinee screenings

Discount Ticket Packages: Discount ticket packages not only offer consumers a reduced ticket price, but also allow them to navigate the film slate by interest. The discount ticket packages include:

· Opening Weekend Ticket Package ($105) – Two (2) general tickets to one film on Friday, April 24; two films on Saturday, April 25; and one film on Sunday, April 26.
· Matinee Ticket Package ($40.00) – Six (6) matinee screenings tickets, two tickets per performance.
· Late Night Films Ticket Package ($40.00) – Six (6) late night film screenings tickets, two tickets per performance.
· Matinee Documentary Film Fan Package ($40.00) – Six (6) matinee tickets to any documentary film in the Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Documentary Film Fan Package ($75.00) – Six (6) general tickets to any documentary film in the Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Ticket Package ($45.00) – Four (4) general tickets to films playing in the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, two tickets per performance.
· Award Winners Screening Package ($45.00) – Four (4) general tickets to award winning films playing on May 3, two tickets per performance. Selections must be made by award category, as winners will not be announced until April 30, 2009.
· Music Fan Package ($75.00) – Six (6) general tickets to any music film playing in the Festival, two tickets per performance.


Single Tickets

Tickets for the Festival will be $15.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

Ticket/Package Dates and Purchase Information

Advance selection ticket packages will go on sale Monday, March 9, 2009, for American Express Cardmembers and for the general public on Monday, March 16, 2009. All advance packages can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com/festival or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on April 14, 2009, for downtown residents on April 19, 2009, and for the general public on April 20, 2009. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets located at the Tribeca Cinemas Ticket Window at 54 Varick Street, and the AMC Village VII Ticket Window at 66 Third Avenue. Downtown residents can only purchase tickets with a discount at the Tribeca Cinemas ticket window. Discounted packages can only be purchased online and by phone. The 2009 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

Tribeca Film Festival Online and On-the-GoVisit the Tribeca Film Festival online and become a part of the My Tribeca community at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/Join the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribeca-Film-Festival/10854154757 and follow the Festival at Twitter.com/TribecaFilmFest.

Starting March 16, access the film guide online from your mobile device on www.tffmobile.com. Film information can also be accessed on your mobile device by texting* a film's information code to TRBCA (87222). Information codes can be found in the box next to each film and special event listing. (*Standard text messaging rates apply.)
About the Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. The Festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center.

Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than two million attendees and has generated over $530 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2009 Festival Sponsors

The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Delta Air Lines, iShares, NBC 4 New York, RR Donnelley, Snapple, The New York Times, Telemundo 47 and Vanity Fair.

The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: AMC, DIRECTV and Heineken.

INDIE FILMS INVADE MANHATTAN

The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) returns to NYC for an exciting lineup of independent films and special events taking place March 19th-26th in Manhattan and will showcase a diverse range of features, shorts, documentaries and animations from all over the globe.

NYIIFVF begins its celebrations along with The New York International Art Festival (NYIAF) with a film/art market and opening night networking party at BLVD/Boulevard (199 Bowery at Spring St., NYC, NY) on Thursday, March 19th from 6pm-10pm.
Film screenings are Friday, March 20th through March 26th and will take place on 2 screens exclusively at City Cinemas Village East (181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street, NYC, NY).
**2009 NYIIFVF President is Abel Ferrara and he will host the Festival's Official Filmmaker Luncheon and will be in attendance during the eight-day film extravaganza. ** Legendary photographer Mick Rock will be among the talent confirmed to attend the eight-day film extravaganza.

In keeping with NYIIFVF's unique and successful formula of 15 years, more than 130 films will be screened in the competition covering every topic and country imaginable.
Genres include: Rockumentary, Sci-Fi, Animation, Music Video, Social Satire, Historical, Drama, Black Comedy, Mystery, Suspense, Travel Docu-Features, Action, Horror, Thriller, Experimental, Educational, War, Crime, Fantasy, Inspirational, Gay, Transgender, Romance, as well as a compelling slate of top notch documentaries.

Over 20 countries will be represented including: USA, France, Italy, India, Tunisia, Australia, Czech Republic, Botswana, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, Serbia, Austria, Venezuela, Kosovo, Iceland, England, Montenegro, Portugal, Germany and Poland.
A sampling of World Premieres in the upcoming festival includes films with Iggy Pop, Mick Rock, Lloyd Kaufman, Tony Bennett, Amanda Righetti (star of the new Friday the 13th, The Mentalist) and Dan Deluca (The Wire).

Single tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 on nyfilmvideo.com or at the door for $15.
Media/Industry credentials can be obtained by faxing a request to 702-361-6309 on company letterhead or filling out the form on nyfilmvideo.com no later than March 12th 2008.
Keep visiting http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/ for all festival updates.

The NYIIFVF is accepting last minute entries for short films (under 30 minutes) for its upcoming NY festival in March. This is your LAST chance to be a part of the NYIIFVF and screen your film at the Village East Cinema in NYC. Please visit www.nyfilmvideo.com, if you want to submit a film.

TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

[New York, NY – January 5, 2009] – The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival announced a competition to find the official trailer for the 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. For the first time in the three-year history of the Festival, Tribeca and ESPN have created a unique competition to find the official Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival trailer that will be scheduled to play prior to all of the films in this year’s sports film festival. The 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will take place during the Tribeca Film Festival, April 22 through May 3, 2009.

To participate in the competition, contestants will need to shoot a reenactment of a scene from a classic sports film. Three scenes from two classic Walt Disney Pictures, Remember The Titans and Cool Runnings, have been preselected for contestants to recreate. All recreations of the scenes should keep within the spirit of the original film and be under 30 seconds. A panel of Tribeca and ESPN notables will select the top submissions and choose the final winner. The competition begins Monday, January 5, 2009 and ends Saturday, March 7, 2009.

“Sports and movies have always had a love affair and the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival brings together fans of both,” said Nancy Schafer, Co-Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “We believe this competition will be a creative opportunity for people to get involved with this Festival and we look forward to viewing the submissions.”

Keith Clinkscales, ESPN senior vice president, content development and enterprises said, “We believe great sports stories are just waiting to be told, or in this case, re-told. This competition captures the spirit of our collaboration with Tribeca by encouraging a multitude of voices and perspectives from both veteran and emerging filmmakers.”

Contestants should log on http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=tribeca/trailer/contest
to download the script pages to both films and then submit their videos. These selected shorts will be featured on www.espn.com, beginning in early April 2009.

In addition to having the scene play as the official trailer for the 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, the grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to New York City (including airfare and hotel accommodations) for two nights to attend the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, dinner for two at the ESPN Zone, one Apple TV with an I-Tunes gift certificate in the amount of $100, and a 17-inch Apple Mac Book Pro fully loaded with Leopard OS and Final Cut studio.

GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND PRESENTS: DOCS ON THE SHORTLIST

The Tribeca Film Institute and Gucci announce a two day series “Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund presents: Docs on the Shortlist.” Presented by the Fund which offers finishing funds to documentaries of social significance, the new series offers filmgoers the opportunity to see a selection of the documentary contenders shortlisted for the nomination for Best Feature Documentary for the 81st Academy Awards®. This series is also supported by media sponsor indieWIRE, the start page for independent and specialty films.

Launching on Thursday, January 8 and continuing on Saturday, January 10, the two day series brings together filmmakers who have been part of past Tribeca Film Festivals to screen their new documentary films, which are currently being recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Six of the 15 documentaries under consideration for nomination will be screened; the films in the series are: At the Death House Door, The Garden, I.O.U.S.A., Man on Wire, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, and They Killed Sister Dorothy.

The series will be hosted by three Oscar® nominated documentary filmmakers and Tribeca alumni Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) and Marshall Curry (Street Fight) and last year’s Oscar® winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side), also a Tribeca alumnus. All of the screenings will feature special appearances by the filmmakers and will be followed by Q & A’s moderated by Curry, Ewing, Gibney, or Grady.

“This series emphasizes our commitment to supporting filmmakers in every stage of the filmmaking process,” said Brian Newman, CEO of Tribeca Film Institute. “We are happy to provide this opportunity for audiences who are interested in quality documentary films, as well as for those that may have missed these movies the first time around or can’t wait to see them again.”

"Tribeca has been a great booster for documentaries, showcasing them at the festival, supporting them with the Gucci fund, and now with this series," says Marshall Curry, whose documentary, Street Fight, won the Audience Award at Tribeca, and went on to be nominated for an Oscar®. "Like a lot of documentary filmmakers, I appreciate everything Tribeca has done for me and the filmmaking community.”

Two of the selections received an award and/or critical praise at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival: James Marsh’s Man on Wire had its New York premiere at TFF and Gini Reticker’s Pray the Devil Back to Hell world premiered at 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and took home the Best Documentary Award.

Submissions for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund offering finishing funds of $100,000 for 2009 are currently open. www.tribecafilminstitute.org/documentary

Public Information:
Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street (corner of Laight), New York, NY 10013
The public may call 212/941.2001 for further information. Visit us on the Web at www.tribecacinemas.com
Subway: A, C, E – Canal Street/6 Avenue; 1 – Canal Street/Varick Street

Admission: Admission for each film screening is $8 regular tickets; $5 for members of the Guilds, members of BAFTA East Coast, DocuClub, IDA, IFP, and/or Shooting People, and full-time students with current I.D.; free for Academy Members.


SCREENING SCHEDULE

Thursday January 8th:
5:30pm

Man on Wire, directed by James Marsh
Running time: 94 minutes

On August 7th 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world’s tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released.

Following six and a half years of dreaming of the towers, Petit spent eight months in New York City planning the execution of the coup. Aided by a team of friends and accomplices, Petit was faced with numerous extraordinary challenges: he had to find a way to bypass the WTC’s security; smuggle the heavy steel cable and rigging equipment into the towers; pass the wire between the two rooftops; anchor the wire and tension it to withstand the winds and the swaying of the buildings. The rigging was done by night in complete secrecy. At 7:15 AM, Philippe took his first step on the high wire 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan…

James Marsh’s documentary brings Petit’s extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as “the artistic crime of the century.”

World Premiered at Sundance, New York Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.

7:30pm
Pray the Devil Back to Hell, directed by Gini Reticker
Running time: 72 minutes
Pray the Devil Back to Hell tells the remarkable but little-known story of a small band of unarmed women who risked their lives to bring change to Liberia, reconstructing the moment through interviews, archival footage and striking images of contemporary Liberia. This incredible story has earned awards at the Tribeca Film Festival (Best Documentary Feature), Silverdocs (Witness Award), Jackson Hole Film Festival (Audience Choice: Documentary), Traverse City Film Festival (Special Jury Prize: Non-fiction Filmmaking), and Heartland Film Festival (Best Documentary).

Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, a coalition of Christian and Muslim women confronted cruelty and corruption, taking on Charles Taylor and the warlords and bringing peace to their country after decades of war. Their demonstrations brought about the exile of Charles Taylor and the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state – and mark the vanguard of a new wave of people taking control of their political destiny around the world.
World Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Documentary award.


Saturday January 10th:
3pm

At the Death House Door, directed by Peter Gilbert and Steve James
At The Death House Door follows the remarkable career journey of Carroll Pickett, who served as the first death house chaplain at the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. From 1982 until 1995, Pickett ministered to 95 men who were executed, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. “Your job,” the warden told Pickett before the first execution, “is to talk to the inmate, comfort him, and win his trust and seduce his emotions so he won’t fight on the gurney at midnight.” After each of the 95 executions, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day.

No inmate’s execution would haunt Pickett more than that of Carlos De Luna, a young man who claimed to be innocent of the murder of a convenience store clerk. In 1989, during the final hours of his life, 27 year-old De Luna came to trust Pickett so much he called him “daddy.” 17 years later, two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests De Luna was innocent. The film tracks their investigation and the impact Carlos continues to have not just on Pickett, but on Carlos’ sister and a television reporter who had befriended the young man on death row.

At The Death House Door is a film about the failures of the criminal justice system; about one man’s spiritual and moral journey; and how this very final act of punishment does not bring closure. As often as not, it just brings more suffering.
From award-winning directors Steve James ("Hoop Dreams") and Peter Gilbert ("Vietnam: Long Time Coming").

World Premiered at SXSW. Peter Gilbert’s with All Deliberate Speed played in the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. Steve James participated in the 2006 with War Tapes.

5pm
They Killed Sister Dorothy, directed by Daniel Junge. An HBO Documentary FilmRunning time: 94 minutes
On February 12th, 2005, A 73-year old nun from Ohio was shot 6 times and left to die on a muddy road deep in the Amazon.
Her murder shocked the world and revealed a sordid battle in the Brazilian rainforest. Who was she? What are the complex factors that led to her murder? And what will be done about it? The answers may hold the key to the future of the rainforest itself.
They Killed Sister Dorothy follows the powerful real-life courtroom drama at the trials of her accused killers and explores the conflicts in the Amazon that led to that fateful day.
World Premiered at SXSW. Premieres on HBO in March 2009. Daniel Junge’s Chiefs screened at the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival.
7pm
The Garden, directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Running time: 80 minutes

The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community. But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.

The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the
polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers: Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public?

And the powers-that-be have the same response: “The garden is wonderful, but there is
nothing more we can do.” If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?

World Premiered at Silverdocs. Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s OT: Our Town screened in the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival.

9pm
I.O.U.S.A., directed by Patrick Creadon
Running time: 85 minutes
Wake up, America! We're on the brink of a financial meltdown. I.O.U.S.A. boldly examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United States and its citizens. Burdened with an ever-expanding government and military, increased international competition, overextended entitlement programs, and debts to foreign countries that are becoming impossible to honor, America must mend its spendthrift ways or face an economic disaster of epic proportions.
Throughout history, the American government has found it nearly impossible to spend only what has been raised through taxes. Wielding candid interviews with both average American taxpayers and government officials, Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay) helps demystify the nation's financial practices and policies. The film follows former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker as he crisscrosses the country explaining America's unsustainable fiscal policies to its citizens.
With surgical precision, Creadon interweaves archival footage and economic data to paint a vivid and alarming profile of America's current economic situation. The ultimate power of I.O.U.S.A. is that the film moves beyond doomsday rhetoric to proffer potential financial scenarios and propose solutions about how we can recreate a fiscally sound nation for future generations.
Creadon uses candid interviews and his featured subjects include Warren Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Paul O'Neill, Robert Rubin, and Paul Volcker, along with David Walker and Bob Bixby of the Concord Coalition.
Pointedly topical and consummately nonpartisan, I.O.U.S.A. drives home the message that the only time for America's financial future is now.

World Premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Patrick Creadon’s Wordplay played in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

Made in Jamaica at the 16th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival

Every year, the African Diaspora Film Festival brings an exciting line-up of international and local films that depict the richness and diversity of the Black experience - and more - to New York City! They will be screening an important number of Caribbean films amongst which the documentary Made in Jamaica by Jerome Laperouz, 108 mins, 2006, Jamaica/France, documentary in EnglishMade in Jamaica is a powerful portrait of the leaders of Jamaican music that explores how Reggae has become a worldwide phenomenon.

It is the story of how a small island nation in the Caribbean of only three million people took their human experience and turned it into songs full of emotions that resonate around the world." Reggae is Jamaica's blues: a music of both desperation and hope. Never before has a single feature film presented the leaders of the Reggae music movement with the intensity that MADE IN JAMAICA does. The film features Grammy Award Winner Toots, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer (Bob Marley's brother), 2006 Grammy Award Nominees Third World, Shia and Cat Core, Beres Hammond, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, Alaine Laugthon, Tanya Stephens, Bounty Killer, Blessed, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Joseph Current, Vybz Kartel, Brick and Lace, Dr. Marshall, Capleton, Koolant, and Left Side & Esco.


Official web site: http://www.madeinjamaicamovie.com/
Trailer on Youtube below:




WHEN: Sun. Dec, 14 @ 5:00pm & 7:30pm;Tue. Dec. 16 @ 3:30pm, 6:00pm & 8:30pmWHERE: Symphony Space, Thalia Theatre2537 Broadway @ 95th St.Tickets: (212) 864-5400 http://www.symphonyspace.org/

The African Diaspora Film Festival TeamTel: (212) 678-7428 / 7438Tel: (212) 864 1760Fax (212) 316- 6020http://www.nyadff.org/

Rooftop 2009 Summer Series

Rooftop Films is now accepting submissions for the 2009 Summer Series! (Please help us out by forwarding this information to filmmakers and/or posting to relevant websites)Submit your movies! We are currently accepting submissions for the 2009 Summer Series. In May 2009 we will begin celebrating our 13th year of bringing the best underground films in the world outdoors and to the rooftops of New York. Submit your films and videos now and participate in one of the most unforgettable, unique, filmmaker-friendly, independent film events in the world!

A complete list of rules and regulations are available on our website. Films can be submitted via Withoutabox.com or directly to Rooftop Films. General deadlines and fees have changed since last year: Earlybird: $9, postmarked by January 5, 2009; Regular: $13, postmarked by February 02, 2009; Late: $16, postmarked by March 1, 2009; Without A Box Extended: $16, April 1, 2009 (Without A Box members only.)• Rooftop continues to accept films year round, but if you want to guarantee that your films will be considered for the 2009 Summer Series please make sure to submit them on or before the deadlines.

THE FESTIVAL: The 2009 Summer Series will run from May through September and will feature more than 200 daring new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big, loyal audiences in parks, along the water, and on rooftops overlooking the greatest city on earth. More than 15,000 people attended Rooftop screenings in 2008, making it one of the most popular festivals in New York City. The 2009 Summer Series will surely feature even bigger crowds, even more beautiful venues, and more incredible films. SUBMITTING TO ROOFTOP:Rooftop Films is committed to helping filmmakers get their films screened and we believe that it is the responsibility of a film festival to make it as easy as possible for filmmakers to submit their films and get them screened. That is why we don't demand that filmmakers send us exorbitant submission fees. There is a recommended early submission fee of $9.00 per filmmaker or curator for any films postmarked prior to January 5th, and for that fee you can submit as many films as you like without paying additional submission fees. Our early submission fee is the same as our regular ticket price, and every filmmaker who submits to Rooftop will get TWO free passes to any regular Rooftop Films show (a value of $18). We try to keep the cost to filmmakers as minimal as possible and though we can't show all the films sent in to us, we hope that all the filmmakers that submit come out to our shows—and the first one is on us.

NewFest 2009

21st Anniversary Call for Submissions

Film/Video Submissions now being accepted!

NewFest has been NYC's premier forum of international LGBT film since 1988. Each year, NewFest provides a professional and public context for the presentation of innovative and challenging films from over 30 countries and reaches a dedicated audience of NYC's film lovers, filmmakers, industry representatives, and journalists!Submissions of films/videos of any length and in any genre that are by, about, or of interest to LGBT people are now being accepted for NewFest 2009: The 21st Anniversary New York LGBT Film Festival, which will take place June 5-12, 2009.!
Deadline: January 1, 2009
Final Deadline: February 15, 2009

For PDF versions of the Submission Form and Guidelines, click here.
For text-only versions of the Submission Form and Guidelines, click here.

Lesli Klainberg
Board Member
NewFest

submissions@newfest.org
718-923-1950 718-923-1959

Tribeca Goes International!

QATAR MUSEUMS AUTHORITY AND TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
TO LAUNCH “TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL DOHA” IN NOVEMBER 2009

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Festival Founders Sign Strategic Alliance Agreement and Announce Long-Term Cultural Partnership

Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art to Host Film Festival

Doha, Qatar, Nov 23 2008: Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), the organization dedicated to developing the cultural resources of this Arabian Gulf state as a platform for international dialogue and understanding, has announced a groundbreaking agreement with New York’s world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), to launch a world-class international film festival, Tribeca Film Festival Doha. The first festival will take place November 10 – 14, 2009 and be presented at Doha’s celebrated new Museum of Islamic Art and in cinemas across Doha.

The announcement of the cultural partnership was made at a special ceremony at the new Museum of Islamic Art, which was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority Board of Trustees, and Abdullah Al Najjar, Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Museums Authority. Joining on behalf of the Tribeca Film Festival were the co-founders, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff.

H.E. Sheikha Mayassa expressed her confidence that the Tribeca Film Festival Doha will bring together people from around the globe and help to build international awareness and understanding of Arab culture and the Arab world.

“I invite film enthusiasts from every country to share their passion for this art by visiting the Tribeca Film Festival Doha,” Her Excellency stated. “In today’s increasingly globalized world, creative initiatives like this Festival can play a truly inspirational role by bringing cultures closer together.”

Tribeca Film Festival Doha will be modeled after the annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, which is going into its eighth year. Like the New York event, it will welcome the community, diverse audiences and the global filmmaking industry. As a result of an extensive collaboration between TFF and QMA, the Festival has been designed to showcase the local Qatari community, as well as the broader Arab culture.

Tribeca Film Festival Doha will feature new work from established filmmakers, alongside film debuts from newly discovered directing talents. The program will include approximately 40 films, as well as special events. The Festival will launch “The Doha Conversations”, thought-provoking and insightful dialogues between icons of world culture set in intimate environments, with the goal of fostering discussion in Qatar and around the globe. Full details of the festival program and guests will be announced at a later date.

“The Tribeca Film Festival Doha is destined to become a major annual event in world cinema,” stated Abdullah Al Najjar. “The Festival will include a wide range of programming, from outdoor screenings to movies for children, from documentaries to new Hollywood releases and from independent films to showcases of the very best works by Arab filmmakers.”
“We are honored to create an enduring cultural partnership with QMA and to announce the launch of the Tribeca Film Festival Doha next November. Qatar’s transformational vision for the 21st century with its emphasis on culture and education is uniquely consistent with the goals and aspirations of the Tribeca Film Festival,” said TFF co-founder, Jane Rosenthal.

“We hope that film will not only be used as a form of entertainment at Tribeca Film Festival Doha but play a role in bridging cultures closer together. By learning each other’s stories, we can see how much we share in common as well as explore and better understand our differences,” said Robert De Niro.

“In addition to the positive cultural implications, this initiative underscores the enormous potential of the entertainment market in the Middle East and the strategic importance of the region to the future of the film industry,” said TFF co-founder Craig Hatkoff. “We think the key to success will be understanding and respecting one another’s cultures and traditions. We believe this Festival will lead to many other important and educational initiatives in Doha and beyond.”

"The Tribeca Film Festival has become a world-renowned event, and its new partnership with the Qatar Museums Authority will leverage that success and help further its mission of introducing films and filmmakers to a global audience," said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "The Festival's substantial cultural and economic impact in New York City is unequivocal, and our hope is that Doha will reap similar benefits. The expansion of a New York institution like the Tribeca Film Festival to Doha is a sign of the international significance of New York City cinema and will help foster new relationships between our two cities."

Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in response to the events of September 11. The festival’s initial purpose was to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music and culture.

Up to date festival information can be found by visiting the official Tribeca Film Festival Doha website – http://www.tffdoha.com/

16th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival

Every year the Annual African Diaspora Film Festival, brings an exciting line-up of international and local films that depict the global black experience - and more.

Some of this year's highlight include:Giancarlo Esposito's directorial debut, Gospel Hill, a movie that takes us to Julia a small town in the south where racial tension still dictate people's interactions. Starring Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Nia Long and Giancarlo Esposito.The End of poverty, a very insightful documentary that explores the Whys and Hows of poverty in our capitalist society.The Black List Vol.One a beautiful documentary by photographer Timothy Greenfield Sanders that presents prominent African Americans in a new light.and Angels can't help but laugh with multi talented actress Terri Vaughn. Angels can't help but laugh takes an intense and revealing look at the life African American women in the movie industry.

The festival takes place Nov 28th- Dec 14th

Click here for a full schedule of the upcoming festival

Big Apple Film Festival Starts Today!

Each year, the Big Apple Film Society will host the Big Apple Film Festival. The festival will screen a variety of specially selected film from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional selections from across the country and around the world. The festival includes New York City premieres, interactive panel discussions with industry professionals from the New York City film community, honorary award presentations to individuals who have played an influential role in independent filmmaking in the New York City area, networking parties and events, as well as a closing night awards ceremony in which awards will be presented for achievement in filmmaking, screenwriting and acting.

The festival is Nov 19th -Nov 22nd

Check out the 2008 festival program schedule here

AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

On Saturday, November 15th
6:00pm

AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL,
in conjunction with the Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival,
PRESENT:

TODAY THE HAWK TAKES ONE CHICK
(Jane Gillooly, Swaziland/USA, 2007, 72min.)
The Lubombo region of Swaziland suffers from the world's highest prevalence of HIV and a life expectancy that has dropped to 32 years. In this small, landlocked country in southern Africa , a generation of parents has died, leaving the grandparents in charge of the children as well as responsible for retaining the threads of the fraying traditional life. Presented without an overt narrative structure or narration, the film's drama emerges from the steady accumulation of details that tell a greater story of family in a world dictated by AIDS.

Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival
November 14-16, 2008

American Museum of Natural History
Entrance for screenings on 77th Street
(between Central Park West & Columbus)


13th AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
TRAVELING FILM SERIES 2008 - 2009
For over a decade, the Traveling Film Series of African and Diaspora cinema has given audiences the unique experience of watching African films often difficult to discover elsewhere. This film program travels to cultural institutions, museums and universities in different cities in the US , Puerto Rico and abroad.
AFF is proud to launch our 13th Annual Traveling Film Series, which will commence in November.


TRAVELING FILM SERIES SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER
5-College Consortium
Amherst College
Hampshire College
Mt. Holyoke College
Smith College
UMASS Amherst

JANUARY
Pacific Film Archives
Berkeley, CA
FEBRUARY
Arizona TRADOC Cultural Center
Fort Huachuca, Arizona

Baltimore Museum of Arts
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College
Baltimore, Maryland

Museum of Fine Arts , Boston
Boston, MA

MARCH
Washington University
St. Louis, MO

APRIL
Maine African Film Festival
Portland, Maine

Wayne County Community College
Detroit, MI

MAY
Brooklyn Academy of MusicBrooklyn, NY

FILMS IN THIS YEAR’S TRAVELING SERIES:
Feature Films
Heartlines
Kinshasa Palace
Paris Selon Moussa
Shoot The MessengerShort FilmsMeteni: The Lost One
Le Clandestin Come Back To Sudan
Awaiting For Men
This Is My Africa

For more information on participating venues, film synopses, interviews and more please check our website: http://www.africanfilmny.org/

The 2008 New York City Horror Film Festival

The 2008 New York City Horror Film Festival kicks of Wednesday, November 12th, 2008, at Don Hills Nightclub, located at 511 Greenwich St., at Spring Street, in New York City. Residing over the evening’s festivities will be legendary sideshow performer Harley “The Lunatic” Newman, featured in director Nick Basile’s documentary “American Carney. In the early 80's, Harley began to create a performance that combines escapes and traditional sideshow stunts. But he's taken some of the stunts much farther than his predecessors. Harley also has two world records: minimum number of nails in a bed of nails (four nine-inch spikes), and weight on top of someone on a bed of nails, over 1,700 pounds.

In addition to a large selection of special short films and trailers, the opening night celebration will feature several live musical performances by critically acclaimed macabre musician Voltaire and the heavy metal band M-16, who sing in Latin!

This year’s festival showcases several premiers, including the North American premier of Resident Evil: Degeneration. The Thursday, November 13th is close to selling out so don’t delay in reserving your tickets. Other spotlight screenings quickly filling up are director Daniel (Blair Witch Project) Myrick’s The Objective, The Lifetime Achievement Presentation for director Frank Henenlotter’s Bad Biology, Jennifer Chambers Lynch’s Surveillance, and director Nacho Vigalondo’s critically acclaimed Timecrimes. For a complete screening schedule listing at ticket availability please visit www.NYCHorrorfest.com.

The New York City Horror Film Festival (www.NYCHorrorfest.com) was established in 2001 by Festival Director Michael J. Hein. The festival is dedicated to the international genre film community. There are no restrictions on the films that are screened at the festivals. The program includes films screened both in and out of competition. The Festival jury presents awards to films in the categories of Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Cinematography, Best Special Effects, Best Actor / Actress, Best Screenplay for films showcased, and Audience Choice. The NYCHFF also presents an annual Lifetime achievement award. Past recipients include director George A. Romero, Special Effects Artist and Director Tom Savini, Producer and Director Roger Corman, and Producer and Director Mick Garris.

Don Hills Nightclub511 Greenwich St., at Spring Street8:00pm (21 to enter) $10 COVER

An hour free beer (9-10) and some of our friends from The Coney Island Freak Show will perform some outrageousness on stage!!

Voltaire performs live!!!! Over 15 great short horror films, one hour of free beer, and live performances by :Voltaire (The one and only)M16 (Latin Death Metal) The Ross Byron Band (old school Rock)

The Features:

Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick @ Canal

Resident Evil: Degeneration (Feature / USA - Japan) genre: Horror

The Resident Evil franchise gets a brand new addition this winter with Resident Evil: Degeneration. It's the first full CGI Resident Evil movie and it picks up seven years after the destruction of Raccoon City by the US government after the first zombie outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation. It's set in a US airport where the T-Virus gets released once again and the airport is locked down, giving the counter-zombie fighters four hours to solve the problem before the virus is spread to the whole of the US.
Directed by Makoto Kamiya, staring Alyson Court and Paul Mercier



Alien Raiders (Feature /USA) genre: Sci-Fi /Horror

It's the end of yet another night at Hastings Supermarket, an idyllic family grocery store in Buck Lake, Arizona. But the normal monotony of rounding up shopping carts and settling out the cash drawers is broken at 11:07pm, just before closing when a group of masked and armed-to-the-teeth militants invades the store, immediately killing several of the employees and shoppers and holding the rest hostage. Though the hostage-takers at first appear to be robbers or terrorists, they reveal themselves to be a cadre of rogue scientists that has discovered and tracked an alien infestation to THIS STORE on THIS NIGHT, and they are determined to find out which of the survivors are extraterrestrials and end the invasion at any cost. Directed by Ben Rock, stars Mathew St. Patrick & Carlos Bernard


Surveillance (Feature /USA) Thriller

Two FBI Agents track two twisted serial killers with the help of their would-be victims in this twisted tale that one best feature at Sitges. Directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch and Stars Bill Pullman & Julia Ormond. Produced by genre legend David Lynch


The 7th Hunt (Feature / Australia) genre: Horror /Thriller

The five victims of the 7th Hunt never knew they were being watched... Files were being built on them, on the eligibility to die. This innocent prey must fight for their lives against sociopaths who know their environment intimately, becoming increasingly outnumbered as their friends are killed. Directed by Jon Cohen, stars Imogen Bailey and Jason Stojanovski


From A Place of Darkness (Feature / USA) genre: Horror

A documentary filmmaker finds himself drawn into the seedy world of a snuff filmmaker with a mysterious dark side. Soon what is real and what is otherworldly become increasingly blurred.
Directed by Douglas A. Raine and stars John Savage and Travis Schuldt


How To Be A Serial Killer (Feature / USA) genre: Horror/Comedy

The story of Mike Wilson, a charismatic, educated, and articulate young man who has found his life's purpose in exterminating people. Mike is determined to spread his message about the joy of serial killing and recruits a lost soul named Bart to be his pupil. Mike leads Bart through the ethics of serial killing as well as teaching him various lessons in disposing corpses, balancing work and play, methods of killing, and many many more. Mike and Barts curriculum is interrupted when Mikes girlfriend discovers what's beneath her boyfriend's charming exterior and Mike and Bart must kill their way out of being discovered by the cops. Directed by Luke Ricci, Stars Dameon Clarke



Bad Biology (Feature / USA) genre: Horror
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Frank Henelotter

Driven by biological excess, a young man and woman search for sexual fulfillment, unaware of each other's existence. Unfortunately, they eventually meet, and the bonding of these two very unusual human beings ends in an explosive and ultimately over-the-top sexual experience, resulting in a truly god awful love story. Directed by Frank Henelotter



Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula (Feature / USA) genre: Horror/Comedy

Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula combines the rough and tumble world of 1930's era gangster movies with the violent gothic atmosphere of a classic horror film. When a robbery goes bad and one of their companions is shot, Bonnie and Clyde are forced to seek help at a nearby mansion, home to the twisted Dr. Loveless (Allen Lowman) and his imprisoned sister, Annabel, but Loveless has a secret. Deep in his cellar, the recently revived Dracula awaits...Directed by Timothy Friend. Stars Tiffany Shepis and Trent Haaga



Timecrimes (Feature / Spain) genre: Sci-Fi /Horror
(Los Cronocrimes )

A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences.
Directed by Nacho Vigalondo, stars



Devils Grove (Feature / USA) genre: Horror/ Grindhouse

In 1999, nine family members are found brutally murdered in the family-owned Denville Grove Amusement Park. Police convict a transient working at the park for the murders. Now…a group of high-school students become the first people to go back inside the park. The purpose is to shoot a documentary about the murders, but they soon learn that certain things should be left alone! Directed by Zoe Judd & Michael J. Hein, Staring Kimberly Magness, Susie Silva, and Chris Cochran.



The Objective (Feature / USA) genre: Horror/Supernatural

A group of Special Ops Reservists on a mission in the harsh and hostile terrain of Afghanistan find themselves lost in a Middle Eastern "Bermuda Triangle" of ancient evil.
Directed by Daniel Myrick, stars Jonas Ball & Matthew R. Anderson

CMJ FILM FESTIVAL 2008 INAUGURAL CINEMINI CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

November 4, 2008 - New York, NY –CMJ Film Festival, the cinema division of the annual CMJ Music Marathon, marked its 15th year by hosting its first Cinemini Short Film Contest last week during the festival. The festival has grown to become a leading event among tastemaker movie fans, hosting over a decade of premieres and advance screenings.

In search of the freshest new voices, the CMJ Film Festival launched the inaugural CMJ Cinemini Short Film Contest. Narrowing the field of entries down to six short narrative and six documentary films, the Cinemini’s competition awarded two grand prizes in each category. The winners received a prize package with essentials for their next shoot from partners Avid, JVC, Media Services, Manhattan Edit Workshop, and Tekserve.

I Met The Walrus, written and directed by Josh Raskin, won for short narrative film. The film is an animated illustration of a 14-year-old's interview with John Lennon in 1969. “I'd like to thank CMJ for this massive honor. I'd also like to thank John Lennon,” commented Raskin.

In Bed With A Mosquito, winner for documentary, was directed by Sarah Frank. The film is an intimate portrait of activism and aging in New York City focusing on the life of Betty Brassell, a 78-year-old anti-war activist living in Manhattan's Lower East Side. “It was a total joy making this film with Betty, and I was thrilled that she could finally see it on a big screen,” stated Frank. “Being a part of the CMJ festival in the heart of the city … was truly an honor.”

Legendary film producer David Picker (The Jerk, The Crucible, A Hard Day’s Night) chaired the narrative jury alongside Emmy winning documentarian Mark Marabella (FBI Files, Grounded on 9/11) who chaired the documentary jury.

They were joined by Producer Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited); feature film producer Brian Peter Falk (The Loomis Gang, Embassy Row Pictures); Vice President, Non Fiction and Alternative Programming for A&E Elaine Frontain Bryant; documentary and feature film Executive Producer John Schwally (Frontline, Dateline NBC, Nature); Executive in Charge of Production for BBC Shirley Escott; and international documentary producer Tanja Medding (Sally Gross: the pleasure of stillness, The Gates).

“I am extremely proud of the winners selected for this year's CineMini Short Film Contest,” said CMJ Film Festival Director, Rachel Klein“It was a very difficult decision for the jury as we had six tremendous documentary and six amazing narrative finalists. The general feel of excitement in the room during the screenings and impressive winning films made for a fantastic launch to the CMJ CineMini Short Films Contest.”

This year’s CMJ Film Festival also included several New York City premieres such as Kevin Smith’s new film, Zack And Miri Make A Porno, Johnny Cash: Live at Folsom Prison, American Swing, and the US premiere of AC/DC: No Bull. The film festival also featured independent films What About Me?, Pressure Cooker, and Israeli film For My Father.

Day Dream Reading Next Monday

NewFest is pleased to present the first staged reading in our NewDraft series: Day Dream, a new script by Rodney Evans, featuring Andre Holland, Marc Damon Johnson, Lonette McKee, Adriane Lenox, and Aunjanue Ellis, as well as a live jazz quartet with musical arrangements by Aaron Diehl!Monday, November 10The Theatres at 45 Bleecker St(Bleecker at Lafayette)6:30-9:30PMTickets: $20 General / $15 NewFest 2009 Member Discount In Day Dream, gay African-American composer Billy Strayhorn travels to New Orleans to investigate the life of Buddy Bolden, the forefather of modern jazz, who spent his last 24 years in a mental institution.Rodney Evans is the recipient of the Independent Feature Project's Gordon Parks Award for Screenwriting and the 2004 Sundance Film Festival's Special Jury Prize in Drama for his first narrative feature, Brother to Brother. He is a Creative Capital Grantee and a Guggenheim Fellow for 2008/09.

NewDraft is NewFest's Screenplay Competition & Reading Series, dedicated to discovering and fostering LGBT feature screenwriters and/or LGBT feature screenplays. Day Dream was one of the two winners of the inaugural competition at this past June's festival. Before NewDraft was formalized as a new program, NewFest presented screenplay readings of Another Gay Movie, Were the World Mine, and Another Gay Sequel, all of which went on to be made into films!

Purchase tickets now!
DATE: 11/10/2008
TIME: 6:30-9:30PM
LOCATION: The Theatres at 45 Bleecker St (Bleecker at Lafayette)
FOR TICKETS: click here!

We need a few volunteers who can help the evening of the event by maintaining the RSVP list, selling tickets, handing out programs, crowd control, and generally helping staff. You will be able to watch the performance as soon as the attendees have been seated. We would need you to be at the theatre, which is The Theaters at 45 Bleecker St (Bleecker at Lafayette), right off of the 6 train, from 6-10PM. If you can help, please reply to this email ASAP, and I'll send you a confirmation with more information. Thanks!

Basil Tsiokos

Artistic Director

The New York City Horror Film Festival

America's largest and most recognized genre film festival focusing solely on Horror and Science Fiction. Each year the NYCHFF celebrates both the horror classics we grew up with and the new horror films & filmmakers who created them. the NYCHFF fills the city with special screenings, parties, celebrity guests and free giveaways. The New York City Horror Film Festival is the Halloween time event not to be missed. So, keep your eyes peeled right here for full festival information, submission info, lineup, tickets, details about the huge, open-to-the-public kickoff party, and info on all the cool events the NYCHFF does throughout the entire year to support genre films and filmmakers!

11th Annual African American Women In Cinema International Film Festival 2008

African American Women in Cinema in partnership with Save Africa Concerts Foundation is proud to celebrate it’s 11th Annual International Film Festival on November 12-15, 2008 in New York City. This four-day star-studded event celebrates and highlights the work of aspiring and prominent women filmmakers of African, Latin and/or Asian Descent throughout the Diaspora.

For over a decade, AAWIC mission is to expand, explore and create business opportunities for minority women filmmakers while providing a platform and showcasing amazing bodies of work. We are pleased to announce the history making event program which includes the Kick-Off Reception hosted by Power 105 FM On-Air personality Malikha Mallette on Nov. 12th, a Special Red Carpet Screening, November 13th, International Day at the United Nations, November 14th, Special Forums on the Artist&Financing and the debut Actress/Actors workshop hosted by Hollywood Actress-Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, November 15th and the Closing Award Ceremony, which include the following honorees, Hollywood Actress--Tamara Tunie, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney and Nollywood Superstars Patience Ozokwo (Mama G) and Ini Edo.

Come meet and greet some of the industries most powerful women in entertainment today! Seats are very limited!!

Gotham Screen Film Festival

At Tribeca Cinemas: Gotham Screen

What: The 2nd Annual GOTHAM SCREEN Film Festival

Are you a discerning New York moviegoer who likes to discover fresh, new film talent? If so, get your tickets today for this weekend's GOTHAM SCREEN Film Festival, which is sure to showcase cutting-edge feature, documentary and short films from independent, first- or second-time directors, as well as international releases making their East Coast or US debut. GOTHAM SCREEN's Opening Night feature, Left Bank, is a thriller that features archery, mysterious disappearances, and life in Antwerp.

Pretty Ugly People, the festival's Closing Night film, stars Missi Pyle as a formerly-obese woman in for a surprise when she debuts her new self. Browse the online film guide to read about all the offerings, including short films, a staged screenplay reading, and more!When: Thursday, October 30—Sunday, November 2 (That's this weekend!)

Where: Tribeca Cinemas, New York City

How: Tickets are now on sale. Buy yours today!

Learn more about GOTHAM SCREEN


Learn more about Tribeca Cinemas Box Office Information::Tribeca Cinemas54 Varick Street New York, NY 10013 (at Laight Street, one block below Canal Street)(212) 941-2001

CMJ Film Fest Review: The Brothers Bloom

The Brothers Bloom is a cute quirky film quite reminiscent of The Darjeeling Limited and no it wasn't because the film shared the same NYIndieSeen favorite talent Mr. Adrien Brody. BUT...I digress and say that this movie is what I like to call a smunny flick. Smunny movies are films that are smart and funny at the same time. The film is about two brothers played by Indieseen favorites Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo who are both con-artists. They've been conning since they were kids. Really...kid cons.

The movie begins that way and then takes us to the present as the brothers-- who are now adults in their prime. Our friend Bloom, (played by Brody) is jaded by his conniving ways and wants to retire from the swindling business. However, his brother Stephen (played by Ruffalo) who sees what he does as an art form, persuades his sibling to pull off just one more con. The ultimate plan to extort 1.75 million dollars from a wealthy heiress.

Of course the plan goes awry when Bloom finds that he's falling in love with the girl played by Rachel Weisz. However, in my opinion; one of the funniest, cutest, and interesting characters in the entire movie has absolutely little to no dialogue. Rinko Kikuchi , who also had a mute role in the film Babel, plays Bang Bang the 3rd "silent partner" with tha brothaz. The wardrobe attire of the actors is quite dated...in the sense that we forget this film is set in present day, but their outfits look like this film should have taken place in the late 19th centry and maybe very early 20th. I love Bang Bang's wardrobes and "Olseneque" bug eyed sunglasses. She's got a cool swagger with her constant smoking and condescending attitude. Lovez it!

The movie literaly takes us around the world as the the crew takes us from Prague to Mexico to New Jersey. An interesting film that was recently screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival and is scheduled in limited release on December 19th. If you're a fan of smunny movies you'll love The Brothers Bloom. A heist film mixed with romance, lies and deceit. What more can you ask for??