Archive for the ‘Film Festivals’ Category

2009 New York City Horror Film Festival Featured Film Selection Announced

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

- The 2009 New York City Horror Film Festival (NYCHFF) today announced their 2009 feature film lineup that includes over fifty feature & short horror and sci-fi films not just from New York or The United States, but from numerous countries around the world that rang in subject matter from terrifying, to gory, and to hilarious.

The festival’s 2009 feature film presentations are:

Must Love Death (Feature / Horror / Comedy) / Directed by Andreas Schaap

Disappointed by love and suicidal, Norman arranges to meet a group of like-minded people. But when he arrives at the meeting the alleged suicides packed goes very wrong and hilarity and blood start to flow freely.

Sweatshop (Feature / Horror) / Directed by Stacy Davidson

A group of rave promoters decide to throw a party in an enormous vacant factory… But when the oversexed friends throw back a few drinks and begin setting up, they soon realize, a beastly all-seeing presence resides in this enormous place, and it drags a mammoth, inhuman weapon that serves only one purpose: to end the lives of anyone who trespasses here.

The Revenant (Feature / Horror / Comedy) / Directed by D. Kerry Prior

Officer First Class Bart Gregory is killed while fighting in Middle East. His body is shipped back to the United States and laid to rest, but before the lid can be put on his tomb, Bart inexplicably awakens in his coffin and climbs from his grave; A Vampire? A Zombie? No…..A Revenant! Now, this average guy must feed on human blood or rot away.

Nosferatu; Orlok The Vampire in 3D!! (Feature / Retrospective) / Directed by F.W. Murnau

This classic 1921 silent film Directed by F.W. Murnau and staring the immortal Max Shriek as Count Orlok is reborn completely restored, remastered and brought back to life in gorgeous 3D. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for film fans to see one of the greatest and one most recognizable classic silent horror films in 3D on the big screen!

Maidenhead (Feature / Horror / Art House) / Directed by Jim Spanos

Poor Martin doesn’t have much of a life. He doesn’t have a girlfriend, he hasn’t been sleeping well, and he still lives at home… with his father, who is an obnoxious, bloodthirsty monster strapped to a bed. Did we mention he isn’t sleeping well? Martin (AJ Bowen of House of the Devil and The Signal) spends his days going numbly about the business of tending to his Dad’s grisly needs. Every day is just like the last, until Martin meets an innocent church-going girl named Meredith, who gives him hope of something more. But what about Dad?

The Shadow Within (Feature / Horror / Ghost) / Directed by Silvana Zancolo

In a gloomy and sinister atmosphere, little Maurice Dumont can’t escape his infernal reality. Dominated by an inhuman mother who rejects him, an absent father and the ghost of his brother who refuses to die. In a claustrophobic overwhelming environment, obsessed by dead and living presences, Maurice seems to have no way out, as death silently creeps into his old gothic house.

Maniac (Feature / Retrospective & Achievement Award) / Directed by William Lustig

This 1980 grindhouse classic is back on the big screen! Maniac stars Joe Spinell as the deranged Frank Zito. Frank is an embittered loser who talks to himself and his dead mother, stalks a pretty model (legend Caroline Munro), and spends his spare time brutally murdering and scalping women. A pristine 35 mm print will screen as part of this Lifetime Achievement Award program dedicated to Director / Producer William Lustig.

Cornered (Feature / Horror) / Directed by Daniel Maze

A serial killer is stalking the gritty streets of Los Angeles, but that doesn’t stop the crew at a local convenience store from their weekly poker game. Now, trapped inside the store with a deranged killer the group must fight to make it though the night alive. The film stars Steve Guttenberg, James Duval and the hysterical Ellia English.

Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet (Feature / Horror) / Directed by Frank Sabatella

Long Island, 1978: A young girl named Mary Mattock gruesomely murders her family and is locked away at the notorious Kings Park Psychiatric Center. Ten years later Mary escapes, leaving a grizzly wake of bodies and blood. Gunned down by the police, Mary meets her own demise outside the sanitarium walls. This incident gave birth to the legend of Mary Hatchet’s walking ghost and the mischievous night named in honor of her death, BLOOD NIGHT! Starring genre favorites Bill Moseley and Danielle Harris, Blood Night puts a neck-breaking spin on the gory and gut wrenching slasher films of the 80’s

The 2009 NYCHFF takes place November 18 thru 22, 2009 at the Tribeca Cinemas, located at 54 Varick Street at Canal Street. The Festival’s Opening Night Gala will take place this year at BLVD (Spring & Bowery) on November 18 at 8:00pm. The gala is open to the public and will feature live performances, 20 short films, complimentary cocktails and more. Please visit http://www.nychorrorfest.com/ for a complete listing of performers, shorts, and more details.

Tickets for the 8th Annual NYCHFF and complete schedule of films in competition are now available online at the festival’s website: http://www.nychorrorfest.com/.

The New York City Horror Film Festival (www.NYCHorrorfilmfest.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.

Savannah Film Festival presents Emmy Rossum with the Young Hollywood Award

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, presented Emmy Rossum with the Young Hollywood Award on Nov. 2.

“I’m extremely honored to be given this award,” said Rossum. “This award and the incredible student films shown here at the festival show that SCAD has an eye on the future of film, as well as an appreciation of its past. I’m delighted to be here to accept this.”

Also in attendance were her co-stars Zach Gilford and Ashley Springer. Earlier that day they gave a Masters Class to SCAD Performing Arts Students.

Rossum’s starring performance as Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” in 2004 earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. Her acting performance in “Songcatcher” earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance. Other past film credits include the Clint Eastwood-directed drama “Mystic River,” “Poseidon,” “The Day After Tomorrow” with Jake Gyllenhaal, “Dragonball” and “Happy Now.”

At age 7, Rossum began singing at the Metropolitan Opera, and she has since performed with such musical talents as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Dolly Parton. In 2007, Rossum recorded her first album for Geffen Records, “Inside Out.” She wrote and recorded all her own songs. She is currently working on her second album.

Following the presentation, film festival attendees were treated to a late night special screening of the independent drama, “Dare,” starring Rossum. “Dare” follows three teenagers through their last semester of school, who make a last-ditch effort to shake things up by taking the biggest risks of their lives before they actually have to start living as adults. “Dare” will be released theatrically by Image Entertainment Nov. 13.

The Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival November 12–15, 2009

Monday, October 19th, 2009

The Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival—the longest-running documentary film festival in the United States—will celebrate 33 years at the American Museum of Natural History this November, screening an outstanding and varied selection of titles culled from more than 1,000 submissions. The Festival is distinguished by extraordinary films that tackle diverse and challenging subjects, as well as exciting discussions with filmmakers and special guest speakers.

The Festival presents a far-reaching selection of documentaries and other non-narrative works as well as animation, experimental films, and indigenous media. This year the Mead will highlight a series of films in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Traveling the Silk Road , opening November 14, 2009. This series includes Hair India (Raffaele Brunetti and Marco Leopardi, NY Premiere), a stirring story about a destitute family’s religious sacrifice of hair that is processed and ultimately sold for profit and Cooking History (Péter Kerekes, director in person, NY Premiere), an exploration of the customs and conflicts of food on the frontlines, from serving up savory blinis to Soviet soldiers fighting off Nazi armies to feeding French forces during the Algerian War. Other Festival highlights include Babaji, an Indian Love Story (Jiska Rickels, US Premiere), a captivating tale about a centenarian man near Hazaribagh, India who has dug a grave next to his late wife’s and descends into it each morning to await death; Beyond the Game (Jos de Putter, director in person, US Premiere), a behind-the-scenes look at the tight-knit and competitive community of cybergamers that follows the top players of Warcraft III, the most popular game globally, on their way to the professional world championships; Blind Loves (Juraj Lehotsky, NY Premiere), an emotional story about four non-sighted subjects as they demonstrate and discuss their passions and anxieties while managing independent lives; and an exploration of the science and history behind Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica, a new multimedia performance by Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky), which incorporates the sounds of melting ice recorded by Miller in Antarctica.

Films are set in Austria , Bosnia , Czech Republic , China , Croatia , France , Germany , Great Britain , Hungary , India , Israel , Italy , Russia , Serbia , Slovakia , Sweden , The Netherlands, and United States .

The Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival will take place in Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Theater, Kaufmann Theater, Linder Theater, and the People Center American Museum of Natural History , Central Park West at 79th Street. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 212-769-5200, online at www.amnh.org/mead, or at any of the American Museum of Natural History admission desks. For more information or to request a schedule by mail, the public should call 212-769-5305, or download the schedule at www.amnh.org/programs/mead.

AFI Announces Full Schedule

Monday, October 19th, 2009

AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi today announced the complete lineup of films for the 23rd edition of the Festival, including the Closing Night Gala, Centerpiece Screening, Tributes and Special Presentations.

The Weinstein Company’s A SINGLE MAN has been selected as the AFI FEST Closing Night Gala presentation. A SINGLE MAN will make its US Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

Sony Pictures Classics’ THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS has been selected as AFI FEST’s Centerpiece Screening Gala presentation. THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS will make its US Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Monday, November 2, 2009.

The Closing Night Gala presentation of A SINGLE MAN features the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford from his script adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s acclaimed novel. The film follows a day in the life of a gay British college professor in Los Angeles as he attempts to cope with the death of his partner. Ford’s work helming the project and Colin Firth’s lead performance in the film have received critical acclaim following screenings at the Venice and Toronto film festivals. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Ginnifer Goodwin also star in the film. The Weinstein Company release is due in theaters on December 11.

AFI FEST continues its unique and successful association with the American Film Market with 23 of the features in official selection at AFI FEST represented by distributors at AFM, unfolding concurrently with AFI FEST from November 4–November 11. The following films are among those that will participate in the market and screen at the festival: AFTER.LIFE; THE BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL, NEW ORLEANS; BELLAMY; CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH; EVERYONE ELSE; FIRST OF ALL, FELICIA; FISH TANK; THE HOLE; THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS; KANIKOSEN; THE LAST STATION; THE LOVED ONES; THE MESSENGER; THE MILK OF SORROW; MOTHER; NEIL YOUNG TRUNK SHOW; PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE; THE ROAD; THE SILENT ARMY; A SINGLE MAN; THE TWO HORSES OF GENGHIS KHAN; WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO; YOUTH IN REVOLT.

AFI FEST 2009’s overall lineup will showcase 67 features (54 narrative, 13 documentary) and 26 shorts for a total of 93 films from 32 countries.

PutItOn first annual film festival

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

PutItOn.com, the first online portal enabling artists from four artistic disciplines to display their talents and gain worldwide exposure, is proud to announce its first annual film festival, PutItOn Picture Show Presented By PutItOn.com and the New York Film Academy. The PiO Picture Show is open now and accepting entries until December 31, 2009. The festival marries PutItOn.com’s unique web-based platform with the spirit of creativity fostered in a film competition. Filmmakers and artists worldwide are encouraged to compete.

“We are excited to launch The PutItOn Picture Show in partnership with the New York Film Academy,” said Max Fraser, British co-founder of PutItOn.com. “This festival is an important part of our vision for creating a grassroots path for emerging artists around the world to take their work from the ‘garage’ to the global marketplace. PutItOn.com’s web platform was designed by artists for artists and it is intended to help foster the next generation of creative leaders.”

PutItOn.com is accessible in 10 languages and offers users 1 free gb of virtual storage space, no transaction charges when purchasing or selling work, online chat and the ability to live stream audio and video. A cutting-edge mobile application will be available across five platforms in the later this fall.

The PutItOn Picture Show is co-sponsored by the New York Film Academy and is open to artists around the globe.

All entries are welcome, except for those that are exclusively pornographic in content or unethical, such as films based on acts of hate. Each entrant is allowed to submit one film into the contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Achievement in Acting.

The first round of the competition for best feature film and best short film will be decided by a global Internet vote, which will narrow the entries to a list of the top 10 finalists per category. At the second and final stage of the competition, the finalists for these two categories will be judged by a panel made up of one member of The New York Film Academy, PiO’s Max Fraser, and an industry professional yet to be named. The award for best achievement in acting will be decided separately by the panel of judges, with all submissions automatically entered for consideration.

The competition is open for new entries until December 31st. Public voting will continue until January 28, 2010 and winners will be announced on February 18, 2010.

Winners in each category will receive a two-tiered prize: a free scholarship to the New York Film Academy and a cash prize of $5,000 USD. If a winner has already attended the New York Film Academy, or another film school, they can opt-out of the scholarship and choose to only receive the cash prize and an alternative award. The second place winners in the best feature film and short film categories will each receive an HD ‘Pro-sumer’ digital video camera.