Mimi's Film Festivals Page 2008, Part I

Mimi Spotlights Important Film Festivals with Links to Official Sites and More!

THE COMPANIONS TO THIS PAGE ARE MY 2009 and 2008 AWARDS PAGES. Hot Links below.

Many consider Cannes the world's most prestigious film festival, and Venice second. Is it because of the programs, or could it be the exotic locals?

NEWS UPDATE - 21 July - Steven Soderbergh's $65-million Spanish-language CHE, and other Cannes' notables are still searching for distributors. See Hollywood Reporter article by Gregg Goldstein: A Cannes of worms for indie films.

The French movie, THE CLASS (see next paragraph), wins the Palme d’Or for best film. The Grand Prix runner-up prize went to Italy's GOMORRAH (Gomorra), Matteo Garrone's hard-hitting film about the world of modern day Naples crime families, the principal one being the Camorra family, based on the book by Neapolitan writer Roberto Saviano. For more winners, see my post on my "Mimi at the Movies" blog, and FESTIVAL ARCHIVES 2008 and back.

24 MAY - Cannes gears up for awards. The top contender from the U.S. appears to be Clint Eastwood's THE CHANGELING (see below), although it is followed closely by a French movie that screened late in the competition, THE CLASS (Entre Les Murs), directed by Laurent Cantet (TIME OUT, 2001, HUMAN RESOURCES, 1999, etc.). It is based on an autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau who plays himself as a young French teacher facing a sometimes rebellious class (surprise?). The top contender from Italy seems to be GOMORRA, depicting the brutal world of the Naples mafia.

However, the is Cannes, and it isn't over until the Jury reports. As critics consistently have pointed out, the Jury this year, headed by Sean Penn, has been somewhat "underwhelmed" by the quality of the 22 films in competition this year:

ADORATION directed by Atom EGOYAN
BLINDNESS directed by Fernando MEIRELLES
CHE directed by Steven SODERBERGH
DELTA directed by Kornel MUNDRUCZO
ENTRE LES MURS (THE CLASS) directed by Laurent CANTET
ER SHI SI CHENG JI directed by Zhangke JIA
GOMORRA (GOMORRAH) directed by Matteo GARRONE
IL DIVO directed by Paolo SORRENTINO
L'ÉCHANGE (CHANGELING) directed by Clint EASTWOOD
LA FRONTIÈRE DE L'AUBE (FRONTIER OF DAWN) directed by Philippe GARREL
LA MUJER SIN CABEZA (THE HEADLESS WOMAN) directed by Lucrecia MARTEL
LE SILENCE DE LORNA (LORNA’S SILENCE) directed by Jean-Pierre et Luc DARDENNE
LEONERA directed by Pablo TRAPERO
LINHA DE PASSE directed by Walter SALLES, Daniela THOMAS
MY MAGIC directed by Eric KHOO
PALERMO SHOOTING directed by Wim WENDERS
SERBIS directed by Brillante MENDOZA
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK directed by Charlie KAUFMAN
TWO LOVERS directed by James GRAY
ÜÇ MAYMUN (THREE MONKEYS) directed by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN
UN CONTE DE NOËL (A CHRISTMAS TALE) directed by Arnaud DESPLECHIN
WALTZ WITH BASHIR directed by Ari FOLMAN.

19 MAY - The first awards were announced during Cannes Critics' Week. The Federation of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI), awarded their FIPRESCI Prize for "Revolation Film" to Mexican filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke's second feature, LAKE TAHOE. Films receiving this award must have won a FIPRESCI at a previous festival during the year, and TAHOE won the FIPRESCI at the Berlinale in Berlin this year. His first film, DUCK SEASON, won the same award during the Cannes Critics' Week in 2004.

Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai's latest, ASHES OF TIME REDUX, in which jazz singer Norah Jones makes her screen debut, will be among the Special Screenings (18 MAY). His MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS (France, Hong Kong, 2007), the opening movie of the 2007 festival, was his first feature film in English. He also presided over the Jury in 2006.

Also receiving a Special Screening (21 MAY) is Marina Zenovich's

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED. See my post on Mimi at the Movies for more about this documentary.

Actor Sean Penn will head the Feature Jury at Cannes, which includes the selection of the Palm d'Or (Golden Palm) for best picture. Other jury members are: Sergio Castellito (Italian actor, director, screenwriter); Natalie Portman (Israeli-American actress); Alfonso Cuaron (Mexican director); Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thai director); and Alexandra Maria Lara (German actress).

Singer Madonna is due in Cannes. Argentinian soccer hero Diego Maradona and U.S. heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson, both the subjects of new documentaries, are expected to show as well.

28 MAY: Madonna arrived with her documentary, I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE. Madonna's remarks.

21 MAY: del Toro as

Steven Soderberg's

CHE (a.k.a., GUERRILLA - USA, France, Spain). Soderberg won the Palme d’Or in 1989 for SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE. His current two-part, four-and-a-half-hour epic on Argentine revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara will premiere in competition. Benicio del Toro stars as the charismatic Guevara. Peter Buchman wrote the screenplay and the score is by Alberto Iglesias (THE KITE RUNNER). The movie also stars Benjamin Bratt, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Julia Ormond. Spanish actor Carlos Bardém, brother of Javier and Monica, is also in the cast. He plays Moisés.

Clint Eastwood is in the main competition with THE EXCHANGE (L’Echange in French, and formerly called, THE CHANGELING, or was it?), starring Angelina Jolie as a 1920s mother who loses her son and faces down a corrupt Los Angeles police force and a serial child killer as she goes in search of the truth. Under any name, Eastwood's contribution to the Festival is considered the top U.S. contender for the Palm d'Or.

The critics pricked their ears about this one, pitting Eastwood against some high profile directors, including some previous winners of the Palme d'Or such as Belgium's Dardenne brothers, Soderbergh, and German director Wim Wenders whose PALERMO SHOOTING features Milla Jovovich, Dennis Hopper, Patti Smith and Lou Reed.

More star power accompaning competition features include Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Phoenix, who are in competition with James Gray's TWO LOVERS, as is Philip Seymour Hoffman (the man of 2007) with Charlie Kaufman's SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK.

Three films by alumni of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts, Valencia, CA) will be at Cannes this year: Xuan Jiang's (MFA, 2007) AUGUST 15 (Ba Yue Shi Wu), Marcel Sawicki's (BFA, 2002) THE LONELINESS OF THE SHORT ORDER COOK, and Mark Osborne's (BFA, 1992) KUNG FU PANDA, and . Jiang's movie is a short live-action film, based on a true story, and it was his thesis film at CalArts. Sawicki's short-fiction film is a USA / Polish co-production, and it will appear at the festival as part of the Polish delegation.

Osborne's KUNG FU PANDA is an animated feature from DreamWorks and is already generating buzz. Why? The lead character is a panda named Po, whose kung fu kick stinks, and he is voiced by Jack Black. Others lending their voices are Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie.
18 MAY: Harrison Ford in CRYSTAL SCULL

World premiere of

INDIANA JONES and the KINGDOM of the CRYSTAL SCULL, as Josh Grossberg asked on E! Online, "Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Golden Palm?" Not really, because it is screening out of competition. The anticipated Indy4 will open worldwide on 22 May. Director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas, along with stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett are expected to walk the red carpet for the opening.

17 MAY: Penelope Cruz in BARCELONA

Also screening out of competition is Woody Allen's

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, filmed in Barcelona, Spain, and starring Javier Bardém with his "love triangle" in the movie, Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz and Rebecca Hall . However, Clint Eastwood's CHANGELING is in the race for the Golden Palm.

Opening Movie (23rd) - BLINDNESS, directed by Brazilian Fernando Meirelles (CITY OF GOD), will kick off the 12-day festival on May 14, and compete for the Palm d'Or, unusual for an opening-night movie. It features an international cast, including Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Danny Glover of the U.S.; Gael Garcia Bernal of Mexico; Sandra Oh of Canada; and Yusuke Iseya of Japan.

The plot of BLINDNESS concerns an international epidemic that causes blindness in its victims. It is only the second Canadian film to open the prestigious festival. The other one was in 1980, when Quebec director Gilles Carle's FANTASTICA did so. Its U.S. opening is scheduled for October.

Closing Movie (25th) - Barry Levinson's, WHAT JUST HAPPENED? It stars Robert De Niro as a producer whose movie opens the Cannes Film Festival. Sean Penn and Bruce Willis play themselves. Robert De Niro will present the Palme d'Or at the closing ceremony.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? is described as a star-studded inside-the-lot look at the movie business. The movie was panned by most critics at Sundance earlier this year, and it went home without a distribution deal. That said, critics praised Robert De Niro's "engaging" performance in this story about middle-aged men facing their commercial limitations. [OMG, I'm so happy movies are now being made about older men facing their limitations. Now, that's fantasy in its highest form!]

The official poster is a photo by director David Lynch. Check official site to see the full poster. Not sure yet if it will be available to order.

51st SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, San Francisco, California.

Sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society, this festival celebrates Bay Area film culture, showcases new technologies, shows the best in new films, and hosts some great parties. This year's festival presents 177 Films From 49 Countries in 38 Languages.

FIPRESCI Prize (International Critics Prize): BALLAST, Lance Hammer (USA, 2007)

FIPRESCI Special Jury Mention: GLASSES, Naoko Ogigami (Japan, 2007)

Chris Holter Humor in Film Award: TIME TO DIE, Dorota Kedzierzawska (Poland, 2007)

New Directors Award: VASERMIL, Mushon Salmona (Israel, 2007)

New Directors Special Jury Mention: WONDERFUL TOWN, Aditya Assarat (Thailand, 2007)

Documentary Feature: UP THE YANGTZE, Yung Chang (Canada, 2007)

Documentary Feature Special Jury Prize: FORBIDDEN LIE$, Anna Broinowski (Australia, 2007)

Bay Area Documentary Feature: FAUBOURG TREMÉ: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, Dawn Logsdon (USA, 2008)

For shorts, including animation, and other awards see: Complete Awards List.

Opening Movie: THE LAST MISTRESS (Une vieille maitresse, France, 2007), directed by Catherine Breillat, and starring Asia Argento. Breillat continues her candid exploration of female sexuality. The movie, adapted from Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly’s controversial novel, is dscribed as a sophisticated chamber piece that is erotic, funny, cruel and supremely intelligent.

Opening Night Party: Open only to Film Society members, the party begins at 9:30 p.m., at the new, stylish urban gateway of City View at Metreon. Enjoy culinary delights from local restaurants, sophisticated cocktails and, of course, dancing. Opening Night is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways. Tickets are $70 and include the film and the after party. Tickets are available only to year-round Film Society members whose memberships are valid through May 31, 2008 and to Festival Fans valid through May 9, 2008. General public sales began April 3.

Closing Night: The Vanity Fair Reel Relief screening of the West Coast premiere of Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney’s GONZO; THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON. at the Castro Theatre, 7:30 p.m. The Vanity Fair Reel Relief after-parties follow at Temple Night Club & Prana Restaurant and Club 525, 9:30 pm. Proceeds go to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Special events include a special screening of the silent German Expressionist classic, THE GOLEM (Der Golem: wie er in die Welt kam, (Germany 1930, 82 min), Pauls Wegener, Carl Boese, 25 April, Castro Theatre. Live musical accompaniment by Black Francis, performing his original score. Black Francis, a.k.a., Frank Black, was born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV in Boston. He has composed scores for other German silent classics. He lives in Oregon with his family, and often performs and tours with his Pixies.

The story unfolds in 16th century Prague, where a rabbi fashions a kind of Frankenstein called the Golem, sculpted from rough clay and brought to life through sorcery. Aiming to protect the labyrinthine Jewish ghetto from the Christian emperor’s annihilating decree, the well-intentioned rabbi soon loses control of his creation. Masterfully photographed by Karl Freund (METROPOLIS).

Then, 30 April there will be a special evening with director Mike Leigh, where he will be presented with the Founder's Directing Award. Society Members $20.00, general public, $25. There will be an onstage interview and a screening of Leigh's 1999 Oscar-winner TOPSY-TURVY, a kaleidoscopic and visually entrancing backstage comedy / drama portraying the tumultuous world of 19th-century theatrical impresarios Gilbert and Sullivan.

Some Other Awards: Midnight Awards go to Rose McGowan and Jason Lee, and take place at a festive late-night ceremony and cocktail reception at 10:30 p.m., Saturday, 26 April, at the W San Francisco Hotel. The Midnight Awards are given in memory of Charles Barile (1954–2004), a lifelong film aficionado, and honor a dynamic young American actress and actor entering the prime of their careers.

Eleven films will be in juried competition for the Festival’s New Directors Prize (formerly known as the SKYY Prize). A $10,000 cash award will be given to a new feature filmmaker. This year’s contenders are: Bård Breien’s THE ART OF NEGATIVE THINKING (Norway); Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán’s COCHOCHI (Mexico); Liew Seng Tat’s FLOWER IN THE POCKET (Malaysia); Shivajee Chandrabhushan’s FROZEN (India); Mushon Salmona’s VASERMIL (Israel); Sandra Kogut’s MUTUM (Brazil); Alex Rivera’s SLEEP DEALER (Mexico); Constantina Voulgaris’s VALSE SENTIMENTALE (Sentimental Waltz, Greece); Céline Sciamma’s WATER LILIES (France); Aditya Assarat’s WONDERFUL TOWN (Thailand); and Rodrigo Plá’s LA ZONA (The Zone, Mexico).

The Golden Gate Awards Party honors exceptional filmmakers with the prestigious New Directors Prize (formerly the SKYY Prize), the FIPRESCI Prize (International Critics Prize for best film) as well as awards in 14 Golden Gate Award categories. The winners will be announced at the California Culinary Academy, Wednesday, 7 May, 7:00 p.m.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Their company, Tribeca Enterprises owns it. Tribeca is unique in that it is a for-profit festival. It receives no help from any government of not-for-profit organization, but lots from corporate sponsors, chief among them American Express. Special perks for AE card holders.

It was conceived to help foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture with the spirit of independent film as it driving force. Since the inaugural festival, Lower Manhattan, once covered in rubble and shrouded in loss, has become a thriving cultural and economic center.

This year's film slate offers 122 feature films, a scale-back from last year's 157.

The top narrative and documentary juried competitions at Tribeca were captured by feature films from Sweden, Turkey, the Netherlands, Britain, the United States and Spain. Winners were chosen from 12 narrative and 12 documentary features from 18 countries. Each category winner received $25,000.

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature went to LET THE RIGHT ON IN, directed by Tomas Alfredson of Sweden, starring Kare Hedebrant. It was cited for its, ". . . masterly re-examination of the vampire myth." Huseyin Karabey, director of the Turkish-Dutch-British production MY MARLON AND BRANDO, won Best New Narrative Filmmaker.

Gini Reticker of the United States directed the Best Documentary Feature, PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, also in the running for the Cadillac Audience Award. The Best New Documentary Filmmaker prize went to Carlos Carcas of Spain for OLD MAN BEBO.

Winner of The Cadillac Award: The Audience Choice for Best Feature Film announced 4 May. AND THE WINNER IS: WAR CHILD!

First-time director C. Karim Chrobog received a cash prize of $25,000, the art award "Peripheral Drift Illusion" by Ryan McGinness, and a one-of-a-kind trophy to commemorate his achievement for the documentary.

The doc: Emmanuel Jal raps his "Warchild," and tells his story of being conscripted as a soldier into the Sudanese People's Liberation Army when he was only eight years old, and how this veteran of a 20-year civil war between the Muslim North and Christian South is now, at 28, a rising hip-hop star.

Jal had declined other offers to film his story, but Chrobog offered him something else, "We want to use the story so you can give back and build a school." Last fall, Jal and Chrobog launched a foundation, Gua Africa, which is raising money to build two schools, one in southern Sudan and another outside of Nairobi. Jal's MySpace. Read more . . . .

The top ten in the running were:

1. Pray the Devil Back to Hell - won Best Documentary Feature.
2. War Child
3. Gotta Dance
4. Playing For Change: Peace Through Music
5. Man on Wire
6. Run For Your Life
7. Under Our Skin
8. Kicking It
9. The Wackness
10. Fighter

This year's Festival Sections include: World Narrative (12), World Documentary (12), and Encounters (11 narrative, 10 documentary) competition sections announced (45 films in all). Read more.

Film Guide and Schedule posted. You can order individual tickets while in this section. This year, tickets are only $15 each, $3 less than last year.

Galas, Special Events, Family Fare, Tribeca Talks, Art, Music and more. Unlike last year, all events and screenings will take place in one central location in downtown Manhattan. Check out the Events and Panels Guide.

Select 2008 Festival all-access Hudson passes ($1,100) and the Franklin (20 @ $450) and Harrison (10 @ $200) ticket packages are now available. All include other goodies besides screening tickets. Individual and other packages went on sale 12 April. More info. For VIP Passes, which include red carpet, receptions, etc., you must send an e-mail.
Fey & Poehler, Baby Mama

Opening Night movie: BABY MAMA. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey team with writer/director Michael McCullers in his directorial feature project, and their Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, in this Universal Pictures' release.

Closing Night movie: SPEED RACER, written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers, stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox. Several of the cast members will be in attendance at the special screening to be held on Saturday, 3 May at the BMCC TPAC in Lower Manhattan. The film will also screen at the Pace University Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. It is described as a, high-octane, live action family adventure. The movie opens in theaters 9 May. CQ all NASCAR fans.

1 MAY: 90 MILES - Feature Documentary, 2007, 66 min, directed by Emilio Estefan, New York Premiere.

The doc carries the title of Grammy-winner Gloria Estefan's latest album, 90 Millas, which refers to the distance between Cuba and southern Florida, a region that has become synonymous with Latin culture. At the core of that culture is its music, and Gloria's husband Emilio captures the blood, sweat and tears that went into the new record in this very intimate film about the music-making process.

Israel Lopez Cachao, Chocolate Armenteros, Johnny Pacheco, Paquito D’Rivera, Andy Garcia, Luis Enrique, Jose Feliciano, Carlos Santana, Sheila E, India, Arturo Sandoval, Nelson Gonzalez, Pappo Lucca, Generoso Jiménez, Candido Camero, Orestes Vilato, Juanito Marquez. Paquito Hechavarria, Salvador Cuevas, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ed Calle, Edwin Bonilla, Teddy Mulet, Cheito Quiñónez, Ricardo & Alberto Gaitan, Pedro Alfonso, Pit Bull, and Wisin & Yandel.

After the screening join Emilio, Gloria, and musicians Johnny Pacheco, La India and Jose Feliciano for a candid discussion in "Conversation in Cinema". John Quinones moderates this one.

In this Academy Award®-nominated film, one of Europe's master filmmakers has finally been able to depict the suffering resulting from one of the darkest episodes of the 20th century: the 1940 slaughter of Poland's 15,000-man officer corps by Russian troops. Wajda's father was among those killed.

MAN ON WIRE (2007) Spotlight Feature Documentary directed by James Marsh. World Premiere.

On August 7, 1974, New York gasped as French daredevil Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the Twin Towers-without a safety net. Peppered with humor and awe, this stunning portrait of an artist of reckless daring and impish charm is sure to leave viewers spellbound.

NIGHT TIDE (1961) Feature Narrative Restored/Rediscovered, written and directed by Curtis Harrington (1926 - 2007).

This World Premiere Restoration Premiere features a young Dennis Hopper. It will be preceded by a short experimental film by Harrington, PICNIC, and the program will include a tribute to Harrington.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968), Special Event, written and directed by Sergio Leone (Italian with subtitles).

Sergio Leone's breathtakingly beautiful and unforgettable film has been restored. It is as much an opera as it is a Western, and has been both adored and reviled since its initial release, but it has been almost impossible to see the way it was intended to be seen-—until now. It stars Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson.

A PRESIDENT TO REMEMBER: IN THE COMPANY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY (2008), Feature Documentary.

Culled from direct cinema pioneer Robert Drew's unparalleled behind-the-scenes footage of JFK at work in the Oval Office, and the events that brought him there, this remarkable film proves a timely update of the Kennedy mythos and an eerily intimate portrait of the man himself.

(North Carolina ranks third in movie and television production in U.S., only behind Los Angeles and New York City, respectively.)

This year's festival, one of the fastest growing regional festivals, will screen 31 feature films and 64 short films from 26 countries. Master of Cinema Awards will be presented to actors Pam Grier and Bill Pullman. Events on the program include screenings and activities for teens and children, and some with North Carolinians specifically in mind. Do visit their attractive Web site!

Applause tmb AWARDS PRESENTED!

Best Narrative Feature jury award winner, EDGE OF HEAVEN (Germany and Turkey), written and directed by Faith Akin, which also garnered the Best Screenplay award for Akin, and a Best Actress for Hanna Schygulla for her portrayal of Susanne Staub. Other cast members are: Nurgul Yesilcay, Baki Davrak, Tuncel Kurtiz, Patrycia Ziolkowska and Nursel Kose.

Cristian Nemescu was awarded the Special Grand Jury Prize for directing CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' (Endless, Romania), and the Best Cinematography for a Narrative Feature went to Liviu Marghidan for the movie, plus Romanian actor Razvan Vasilescu won Best Actor for his role in the movie. Also appearing in the movie are: Armand Assante, Jamie Elman, Maria Dinulescu, Ioan Sapdaru, Andi Vasluianu, Alex Margineanu, Gabriel Spahiu and Catalina Mustata.

Best Documentary Feature jury award winner, UP THE YANGTZE (Canada), directed by Yung Chang, which also won the Best Documentary Cinematography award for Shi Ging Wang.

The BB&T Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to JUMP! (USA), directed by Helen Hood Scheer. The BB&T Audience Award winner for Best Narrative Feature was awarded to THE BAKER (UK), directed by Gareth Lewis.

The Human Right's Award went to the documentary, INTIMACY (USA), directed by Ashley Sabin & David Redmon, while the Special Jury Award for Editing went to Joelle Alexis for THE CHAMPAGNE SPY, directed by Nadav Schirman.

In the short-films competition, the jury awarded MILAN (Germany & Serbia) directed by Michaela Kezele the Best Narrative Short award, and director Emil Trier's BOARD CONTROL (Norway) took the Best Documentary Short award. The Best Animated Short award went to I MET THE WALRUS (Canada) directed by Josh Raskin. Honorable mentions went to TANGHI ARGENTINI (Dir: Guido Thys), SALIM BABA (Dir: Tim Sternberg), and B FOR BEEKEEPER (Dir: Thomas O'Keefe).

Full festival passes are available for $275.00, and these often sell out before the festival begins. All levels of passes available here.

Two movies will have their U.S. Premieres at the Festival, and both are in the narrative competition. THE BAKER is director/writer Gareth Lewis' directorial feature debut with this British comedy described as, "positively side splitting." See the trailer (YouTube).

The other movie making its U.S. Premiere is ERIK NIETZSCHE: THE EARLY YEARS, PART 1 (Denmark, Italy & Sweden), directed by Jacob Thuesen. Emerging director and film student Erik Nietzsche just can't seem to fit into the world of the film industry. He struggles against the absurdities of his field - the pretension and swollen egos - as a calm observer waiting for his one shot at fame.

Opening Night: PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND on 23 April at the Stevens Center (405 W. Fourth St.). Director Daniel Barnz and Master of Cinema honoree Bill Pullman will both attend to introduce the film. Elle Fanning, sister of Dakota, plays Phoebe. Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott also star in the movie. Following the screening, RiverRun invites the public to the Sawtooth Building (226 N. Marshall St.) for its Tenth Anniversary Gala, a stylish shindig that promises to be the hottest ticket in town. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Then, Friday 25 April, in keeping with the Wonderland theme started Opening Night, go down the rabbit hole at The Jabberwocky Ball at The Sawtooth Building. Tickets are $25, $10 after midnight.

CENTERPIECE PREMIERE, 26 April - Actress Helen Hunt's directorial debut THEN SHE FOUND ME will screen.

Closing Night: The Silent Movie Classic PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with The Alloy Orchestra, Sunday, 27 April, 9:00 p.m. EDT. This 1925 movie directed by Rupert Julian, stars Lon Chaney and, if they have the original print or an excellent copy, contains the first two-color scene in a motion picture, that of the Masque Ball. This special screening is $15.00.

The Alloy Orchestra is a three-man musical ensemble, writing and performing live accompaniment to classic silent films. Working with an outrageous assemblage of peculiar objects, they thrash and grind soulful music from unlikely sources. On the 25th they will accompany UNDERWORLD at the Ebertfest in Illinois. Roger Ebert, by the way said, "They are the best in the word in accompanying silent films."

A series of public Conversations will be held with veteran actors and directors, Bill Pullman (April 24), Pam Grier (April 25), Les Blank (April 25) and John Dahl (April 26).

The full festival program announced 26 March. List of films and dates shown. While there, click the "Press" button for more details.

"As film exhibition in North America crowds itself ever more narrowly into predictable commercial fodder for an undemanding audience, we applaud those brave, free spirits who still hold faith with the unlimited potential of the cinema." - Roger Ebert

Opening Night - HAMLET (1996, 238 minutes), directed by, and starring, Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Timothy Spall (Rosencrantz), is the special guest. If you haven't seen this one you've missed a great one!

Closing Movie (noon, Sunday) - ROMANCE & CIGARETTES (2005, 115, minutes), written and directed by John Turturro. Aida Turturro, John's cousin, plays Rosebud, and she will be a special guest along with the movie's choreographer, Tricia Brouk.

Click titles to these movies to see the great line up of stars in them. See full schedule here. If you hunger for different and off the usual commercial path for your movie diet, this is the festival to attend! Be sure and click the links at the bottom left of the schedule page for interesting information. Director Ang Lee will be a guest at the festival.

Special: The Alloy Orchestra will accompany the silent movie UNDERWORLD (USA), Austrian Josef von Sternberg's 1927 silent classic that won an Oscar for writer Ben Hecht (story), Friday 25th. Then Sunday, they play for the silent classic PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at RiverRun's closing in North Carolina.

15th HOT DOCS CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL, Toronto, Canada.

The largest documentary festival in North America. It is divided into two divisions: (1) Audience portion includes Doc Soup (regular film festival showings) and Youth Films, and (2) Industry portion, includes Toronto Film Forum, Doc Shop, a Conference and Market.

This year's Hot Docs will present more than 125 from over 25 countries from April 17-27. All films in official competitions will be receiving their first Toronto showing, with many screenings being world, international, North American or Canadian premieres. For most screenings, directors will be attendance to introduce their films and to participate in post-show Q & A sessions with the audience.

The Best International Feature Documentary Award, sponsored by A&E to: THE ENGLISH SURGEON (D: Geoffrey Smith, UK). The story of renowned British brain surgeon Henry Marsh.

The Special Jury Prize for international feature documentary, sponsored by the OMDC to: TO SEE IF I’M SMILING (D: Tamar Yarom, Israel), which offers frank testimonials of female Israeli soldiers that illustrate how the trauma of war temporarily alters personalities, morals and values.

The new HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award to: Boris Despodov for CORRIDOR #8 (Bulgaria). An absurdly funny and fascinating portrait of a misguided infrastructure project in southeastern Europe.

The Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award, sponsored by Documentary and the Documentary Organisation of Canada to: JUNIOR (D: Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault). A behind-the-scenes look at the pressures facing junior hockey players.

The Special Jury Prize for Canadian feature documentary, sponsored by the Canadian National Film Board and Directors Guild to: FLICKER (D: Nik Sheehan). The story of pop culture icon Brion Gysin, his hypnotic dream machine and his influence on his generation.

The Best Short Documentary Award (up to 29 min), sponsored by Playback, was awarded to THE APOLOGY LINE (D&P: James Lees; UK); and The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award (30-59 min), sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts, was given to IT’S ALWAYS LATE FOR FREEDOM (D&P: Mehrdad Oskouei; Iran).

The Hot Docs Board of Directors presented its annual Outstanding Achievement Award to documentary pioneer Richard Leacock; Montreal-based director Yung Chang, whose film UP THE YANGTZE recently broke Canadian box office records for documentaries, was named recipient of this year’s Don Haig Award, which recognizes a director whose work has bridged the fiction and non-fiction filmmaking worlds; and Toronto-based filmmaker Elizabeth Lazebnik was named the recipient of the Lindalee Tracey Award, which is presented annually to a filmmaker who works in the spirit of its namesake – with passion, humour, a strong sense of social justice and a personal point of view.

The read more about the awards, and see the cash prize associated with some, click this link.

7:00 p.m. - Special Presentations, ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (feature, USA), Sacha Gervasi 2008 - - plays with GREEN PORNO (short, 6 min) | Isabella Rossellini, Jody Shapiro 2007.

ANVIL - At the age of 14, best friends Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and Robb Reiner make a pact to rock together forever. Though Anvil never makes it big, they never stop playing or believing. Following a calamitous European tour, Lips and Robb, now well into their 50s, set off to record their 13th album, "This Is Thirteen," in one last attempt to fulfill their boyhood dreams 30 years later. ANVIL had it's world premiere at this year's 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Note: This Robb Reiner is not the actor who played "Meathead" on TV's All in the Family, who directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984), or is the son of the legendary, Carl Reiner.

GREEN PORNO - Here's something you might know about Isabella Rossellini: "I was always fascinated by the infinite, strange and 'scandalous' ways that insects copulate." This series of very short films (about one minute each), conceived, written, featuring Rossellini, and co-directed with Jody Shapiro, takes up this fascination with a funny and insightful study of the curious ways various bugs "make love."

9:30 p.m. - Special Presentations, AIR INDIA 182, Sturla Gunnarsson 2008, also plays with GREEN PORNO.

Closing Night: MAN ON WIRE, (UK, feature), James Marsh - Alliance Cumberland Cinemas.

Winner of both Jury and Audience awards at the this year's 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

On August 7, 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit steps out on a wire suspended 1,350 feet above ground between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. How did he pull it off? Moving between New York and his secret training camp in rural France, Petit and his team plot every detail.

Some Doc Soup special presentations have been announced as well as the documentary categories (spectrums):

There will be SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS - High-profile screenings and special events; An OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RETROSPECTIVE honoring RICHARD LEACOCK and his work; while FOCUS ON is on JENNIFER BAICHWAL - A retrospective of one of Canada’s brightest doc directors; SPOTLIGHT ON IRAN - Riveting work from the Middle East; and MADE IN MEXICO - Significant works from the vibrant Mexican documentary movement.

There are changes afoot on the Memphis film scene. The Film Forum is changing its name to, On Location: Memphis (OLM). The organization formerly known as the Memphis Film Forum has a brand new Web site to go with the new name and, hopefully, a new image. The major sponsors of this year's festival are FEDEX and Malco Theaters.

They are now calling this festival, On Location: Memphis International Film Fest. However, on this page it does not work, so I'm keeping Memphis as the first word in the title.

Screenings, seminars, and parties will take place at various venues, Brooks Museum, Malco Theaters, French Quarter Suites, and various restaurants. The program consists of mostly documentary and animated films, a few features but no big break-outs, and parties. I don't see much glitz and glam here. Odd for a city such as Memphis.

Opening Night - Thursday (27th): A reception at Napa Café; movie, DELTA RISING (at Malco's Paradiso), featuring Morgan Freeman and his, Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MS. After party is at Ground Zero Blues Club - Beale Street, Memphis, featuring the "The Mud Flap Kings".

Festival Party - Saturday Night, March 29 – Big Bubba Bash at BRIDGES, 9 pm til Midnight featuring The Mudflap Kings. $20 at the door or free with festival pass.

The Festival will pay tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. with a collection of documentary films titled "Liberty & Justice".

This special film series will take place at the Brooks Museum on Saturday and Sunday, 29-30 March during the international film fest. Films include 9 special films such as COME WALK IN MY SHOES, WILLIE FRANCIS MUST DIE AGAIN, and BRICK BY BRICK: A CIVIL RIGHTS STORY.

The highlight of the series will be a special never-before-seen documentary given to the festival by Judge Darmy Bailey. ROSA REMEMBERED follows Rosa Parks and Judge Bailey through the National Civil Rights Museum where Ms. Parks reflects on her personal history with the Civil Rights movement. This film will close the Liberty & Justice series on Sunday, 30 March, 6 p.m. at the Brooks Museum.

A special pass just for the Liberty & Justice series is $30. Full festival passes are $60 which give the pass holder full access to all films and parties and the Liberty & Justice Series. Price for full-access pass goes up to $70, 26 March. HURRY! Full synopses of each film, and purchase of passes, online at the Official Site only. Student passes are $30.

Memberships are $20, and individual tickets for screenings are $8.50, as available.

Applause tmb Premio Corazon (Heart Award) winners!

Some of the awards - Best Narrative Feature: LA ZONA (Dir. Rodrigo Pla, Mexico); Best Documentary Feature: CALAVERA HIGHWAY (Dir. Renee Tajima-Pena, U.S.A.); Best Narrative Short: LA QUELA (Dir. Liz Lobato, Spain); Best Student Work: LA QUINCEAÑERA (Dir. Adam Taub, U.S.A. - Mimi Recommends and it is available on DVD); Best Animation Feature: NOCTURNA (Dir. Adrian Garcia, Spain); and Best Animation Short: TYGERF (Dir. Guilherme Marcondes, Brazil).

For full list and more about the awards, see.

This is one of those regional, but well-attended festivals that the world press also covers in some measure, like Miami. Austin has chosen to pair the film festival with the annual music festival, probably a good economic move.

Founded in 1993 by alternative weekly Austin Chronicle's editor Louis Black, publisher Nick Barbaro and music promoter Roland Swenson, who also created the gigantic annual March SXSW Music Conference in 1987, the SXSW Festival has developed its own identity by luring quality independent films and filmmakers.

When it comes to bestowing awards, this festival is always "way out," but it does recognize outstanding work by lesser knowns. The winners are listed on the SXSW's Web site Home Page. Here are a couple of the major ones:

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

Special Jury Award - FULL BATTLE RATTLE, Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss, directors.

Grand Jury Award - THEY KILLED SISTER DOROTHY, Daniel Junge, director.

NARRATIVE FEATURE:

Special Jury Award for Cinematography - EXPLICIT ILLS. Cinematographer: Patrice Cochet, cinematographer and Mark Webber, director.

Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast - UP WITH ME, Greg Takoudes, director.

Cast: Francisco Vicioso, Erika Rivera, Brandon Thorpe, Justin Coltrain, Destiny Waters, Bernice Velos, Matt Timms, Anthony Portillo, Reya Sehgal, Kabeer Parwani.

This years SXSW 2008 nine-day Festival will screen 114 features, 65 of those having their world premieres. Here are just some of the high-profile films in the "Spotlight Premiers" category:

STOP LOSS, Kimberly Peirce; FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL,
Nicholas Stoller; SHINE A LIGHT, Martin Scorsese; NEW ORLEANS MON AMOUR, Michael Almereyda; BEAUTIFUL LOSERS, Aaron Rose & Joshua Leonard; CHEVOLUTION, Sylvia Stevens; and Morgan Spurlock's WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BEN LADEN?

Opening Night: 21, directed by Robert Luketic, and starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth.

8 MARCH - The "ribs-and-beer" film festival in Austin is underway, with the music festival soon to follow. The buzz is on. The main audience pleaser this year may be HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY, written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. It is a follow-up to the social satire drug-sex romp, the 2004 teen comedy, H&K GO TO WHITE CASTLE. GITMO GAY is scheduled to show Sunday, 16 March, on TBS-TV.

Documentaries are always given equal exposure with feature motion pictures at SXSW. Doc, besides those mentioned above, are: David Modigliani's documentary about President Bush's adopted hometown, CRAWFORD (Texas), which is in the lead to be the possible Festival favorite; and actress Helen Hunt's directing debut, THEN SHE FOUND ME.

Also, with the film festival tied so closely to the SXSW music festival, music-related documentaries are high on the agenda as always. Here are some not mentioned above: Grant Gee's JOY DIVISION, about the Manchester band whose lead singer was profiled in 2007's CONTROL; THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON; and BLIP FESTIVAL: REFORMAT THE PLANET, focus on music made solely from computers.

Their sister festival is in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, both under the auspecis of the University of Guadalajara. see below.

Jorge Sanchez is the Festival director. The Festival features RSS and Twitter this year, plus partnering with YouTube where you will find the special videos related to the Festival. The invited country this year is Argentina, and the Festival will feature Argentine films, and a special homage to Argentine directors Fernando Pino Solanas, Fernando Birri and producer Lita Stantic (videos on YouTube).
Pan's Labyrinth 3

The Oscar Award-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro will be participating at the Guadalajara International Film Festival offering two cinematography classes. He won the Oscar for PAN'S LABYRINTH (El laberinto del fauno), directed by Guillermo del Toro, and will share his knowledge at the II workshop "Writing with Light" (Escribiendo con Luz) organized by the Festival and the Department of Image and Sound of the University of Guadalajara.

Six of the twelve filmmakers that will participate this year in the official section Mexican Fiction Feature Film are: Walter Doehner (El viaje de Teo); Fernando Eimbcke (Lake Tahoe); Julian Hernandez (Rabioso sol, rabioso cielo); Rodrigo Pla (Desierto adentro ; Gabriel Retes (Arresto domiciliario); and Fernando Sariñana (Enemigos íntimos). All movies will screen at the festival. Another six will be announced later.

BEST FILM:
14 KILÓMETROS by Gerardo Olivares (Spain).
SPECIAL JURY MENTION:
Ishtar Yasin (Costa Rica) for EL CAMINO.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD:
A OUTRA MARGEM by Luis Filipe Rocha (Portugal).
BEST FIRST FEATURE:
EL BAÑO DEL PAPA by César Charlone & Enrique Fernández (Uruguay/Brazil/France).
BEST DIRECTOR:
Eliseo Subiela (Argentina) for NO MIRES PARA ABAJO.
BEST SCREENPLAY:
MATAHARIS by Icíar Bollaín & Tatiana Rodríguez (Spain). BEST IBERO-AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY:
STRANDED: VENGO DE UN AVIÓN QUE CAYÓ EN LAS MONTAÑAS by Gonzalo Arijón (Uruguay/ Spain/ France).
SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY JURY MENTION:
LUCIO by Aitor Arregi & José Mari Goenaga (Spain)

SELECTION FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBE® AWARDS 2009:
EL BAÑO DEL PAPA and OS DESAFINADOS by Walter Lima Jr. (Brazil).

The festival, mostly using an academic approach, not only shows films, but also includes video, audio and photography projects. The program has been announced and includes: EL BAÑO DEL PAPA (The Pope's Toilet, Uruguay - Brazil - France, 2007); EL HOMBRE DE LAS DOS HABANAS (The Man of Two Havanas, USA, 2007), and EL POLLO, EL PEZ Y EL CANGREJO REAL (The Chicken, The Fish and the Real Crab, Spain, 2008). The documentary was directed by José Luis López Linares, co-written by him, Antonio Saura, and Sergio Deustua, with cinematography by Teo Delgado, and produced by López Linares, Antonio Saura, and Latido Films. Yes, this is the son of Carlos Saura and his first wife, Adela Medrano.

Latido Films is a distributor of Carlos Saura's latest "musical documentary," FADOS, for which López Linares was one of the cinematographers. López Linares' last directing project was the television documentary, GERALDINE IN SPAIN, (Geraldine en España, 2006), and yes, that's Geraldine Chaplin, daughter of Charlie. She starred in many of Saura's movies and gave him one of his sons, Shane Saura Chaplin. Geradine's only marriage is her current one to Patricio Castilla. They have a daughter named Oona, after her mother Oona O'Neil Chaplin.

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the Festival has rolled out a new beautiful Web site. It's leading the pack for the best festival Web site this year. Download the Film Guide (pdf).

Applause tmb PRIZES AWARDED!

Awards were presented in four major competition categories: World Cinema, Ibero-American Cinema, World Documentary and Best Short Film. I suggest you go directly to their Web site and read all about the festival and the movies. Read more about the prizes. Some of these titles have won awards at previous festivals, and you will definitely see some of these titles at future festivals.

OPENING NIGHT MOVIE: LA MISMA LUNA (Under the Same Moon), directed by Patricia Riggen (Mexico/USA, 2007), 109 min. USA Regional Premiere.

AWARDS NIGHT MOVIE: LA SCONOSCIUTA (The Unknown Woman),(Italy, 2006), 118 min, was directed by Academy Award® winner Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso). USA East Coast Premiere.

This movie won the Audience Award at the European Film Awards. It also swept the David di Donatello Awards (the Italian Oscars), winning awards as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Music.

WOMAN made the short list for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, but was not nominated. This new system for the BFLF the Academy has implemented needs to be reconsidered.

This festival will be showing a number of movies that won awards in Mexico, Latin America, Cuba, Canada, and Europe. Among them, Mimi recommends (Using English titles only):

KATYN, Andrzej Wajda (Poland); FADOS, Carlos Saura (Spain); AMAL,
Richie Mehta (Canada); XXY, Lucía Puenzo (Argentina, Spain); UNDER THE STARS, Félix Viscarret (Spain); POSTCARDS FROM LENINGRAD, Mariana Rondón (Venezuela, Peru); THE POPE'S TOILET, Enrique Fernández and César Charlone (Uruguay, Brazil, France); THE OTHER, Ariel Rotter (Agentina, France, Germany); MONGOL, Sergei Bodrov (Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia); MATAHARIS, Icíar Bollaín (Spain) [O.k., this is the Spainish title that means Female Detectives, and Mimi loves the word]; A PAPER TIGER, Luis Ospina (Columbia); SILENT LIGHT, Carlos Reygadas (Mexico, German, Spanish); INCARNATION, Anahí Berneri (Argentina); and GAZA (here meaning "disingagement"; Amos Gitaï (Israel, France, Germany, Italy), starring Juliette Binoche. There are more, but my allotted space is used.

Three Mimi would have loved to see at this festival, THE BAND'S VISIT (Israel), THE ORPHANAGE (Spain), and LUST, CAUTION (Taiwan). Reason? BAND and LUST were disqualified for BFLF by the Academy, and ORPHANAGE was probably completely misunderstood by the chosen committes.

Straight from Film Comment's pages to the Walter Reade Theater's screen: sex ~ drugs ~ rock 'n' roll ~ zombies ~ martial arts... and Mandingo! View the line-up. Browse the Calendar to buy tickets online. Sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center through their Film Comment magazine, featuring THERE WILL BE BLOOD in the Jan-Feb 08 issue.

OPENING MOVIE, 15 February: Listed as The Duchess of Langeais, but also has English title DON'T TOUCH THE AXE, and French title Ne touchez pas la hache. Director: Jacques Rivette, Country: France, Release: 2007, Runtime: 137 minutes.

Jeanne Balibar is expected to attend the screening of Rivette's latest movie set in 19th-century Paris. It is an adaptation of Balzac's novel Don't Touch the Axe, starring Guillaume Depardieu (son of Gérard and Elisabeth Depardieu and brother of Julie Depardieu) as an army officer whose fraught, hot-and-cold courtship of a society aristocrat (Jeanne Balibar) inadvertently leads to romantic catastrophe. "An essay on courtship as theater, and eventually on theater as cruelty."

CLOSING MOVIES (2): Two movies directed by Alex Cox (USA), runtimes appros 90 minutes - WALKER and SEARCHERS 2.0.

Distinguished opera director Chen Shi-zheng's DARK MATTER (USA), also about 90 minutes, will screen in the final afternoon. The movie is based on a horrific true story about a Chinese Ph.D. candidate who ran amok on the University of Iowa campus. It had its premiere at Sundance last year, three months prior to an Asian student's tragic campus killing spree in April (2007).

The Berlinale is the first major European film festival each year. It is considered second only to Cannes, and alongside Venice, as one of the world's most prestigious film showcases.

Golden Bear for Best Film: THE ELITE SQUAD (Tropa de elite, Brazil), José Padilha.

Silver Bear for the Jury Grand Prix: STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE (S.O.P.), Errol Morris, a documentary.

Silver Bear for Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

Silver Bear for Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (UK) by Mike Leigh.

Silver Bear for Best Actor: Reza Najie, THE SONG OF THE SPARROWS (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha, Iran) by Majid Majidi.

Silver Bear for Best Script: Wang Xiaoshuai for IN LOVE WE TRUST (ZUO YOU, China).

SILVER BEAR FOR AN OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION (MUSIC): Jonny Greenwood for THERE WILL BE BLOOD by Paul Thomas Anderson.

14 - FEBRUARY - The buzz is on. THERE WILL BE BLOOD is being buzzed as the favorite to win the Golden Bear for best feature movie after 11 of the 21 competition movies screened. Some of the well-received movies, so far: LAKE TAHOE, described as, "a slow, humorous story of a young Mexican teenager," ELEGY (see below), Majid Majidi's THE SONG OF THE SPARROWS, and Hong Kong's Johnnie To's THE SPARROW. Stones, birds, and blood seem to be big this year.

I can certainly see why BLOOD is shinning here. German's will love the story line, and all viewers wil be impressed that it is nominated for a Best Motion Picture Oscar, not to mention it stars Daniel Day-Lewis. However, some feel that, if the grabs the Golden Bear, it will go against the grain of the Festival's reputation of being the "discovery" film festival in league with Sundance and Cannes. On the other hand, the Festival did open with the Rolling Stones. Can't get more glitz and glam than that!

1 FEBRUARY - Festival full program released. Ticket sales begin 5 February.

Opening Night - Martin Scorsese's SHINE A LIGHT, the documentary about the Rolling Stones. Scorsese and Stones will attend the Festival. No word about the Stones performing. See Below.

Closing Night - BE KIND AND REWIND, featuring Mia Farrow and Danny Glover, and written / directed by Michel Gondry.

20 JANUARY - Names of more stars who are expected to attend the Festival were announced by director Dieter Kosslick: Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis. This will mark Johansson's first appearance at the Festival, and Day-Lewis recently won a Golden Globe as best dramatic actor of 2007.

17 JANUARY - Constantin Costa-Gavras, the Greek-born director of Z (1969) and MISSING (1982), who is currently president of the French Cinematheque, will head the jury at the Berlinale in February. Z won Oscars for best foreign language film and best film editing. MISSING, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, won a best screenplay Oscar.

Other Jury members are: Susanne Bier (Denmark), French actress Sandrine Bonnaire, production designer Uli Hanisch (Germany), actress Diane Kruger (Germany), cutter and sound designer Walter Murch (USA), the Russian film producer Alexander Rodnyansky, and Taiwanese actress Shu Qui.

Jury members Susanne Bier and Sandrine Bonnaire unexpedtedly cancelled 7 February, and will not serve on the jury. Bier's AFTER THE WEDDING was nominated last year for the BFLF of 2006 Oscar.

Italian director Francesco Rosi will receive the festival's top Golden Bear award for lifetime achievement. The Festival plans to present a selection of 13 movies by Rosi, 85, whose films include LA SFIDA (The Challenge), THE MATTEI AFFAIR, LUCKY LUCIANO, and CHRIST STOPPED AT EBOLI.

The Festival RETROSPECTIVE will honor Spanish director Luis Buñuel, who died in 1983, by presenting a comprehensive program of his works. It will also include films to which he contributed as assistant director, screenwriter and / or producer. There will also be a series of events and lectures.

COMPETITION - Major international films. The PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO - Thematic and stylistic trends in German cinema; INTERNATIONAL FORUM of NEW CINEMA - Festival's most experimental section; PANORAMA - Independent and art-house cinema where Madonna will make her directorial film debut with FILTH AND WISDOM (UK) ; GENERATION - Lively cinema aimed at young audiences; and RETROSPECTIVE - Historical films that help put today's in perspective; and BERLINALE SHORTS and GENERATION KPLUS competitions. Also, there is one of the largest film markets in Europe, the EUROPEAN FILM MARKET (EFM) - BERLIN 2008.

For movies in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino (German Cinema Perspective) and the Shorts scheduled to unspool, see Article, and scroll down to bottom.

Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger (C), guitarist Keith Richards (R), drummer Charlie Watt (2nd R) and Ron Wood (L) perform in Lausanne, Switzerland, August 11, 2007.

The Stones will make an appearance at the Berlin International Film Festival, and organizers have not said they will perform. They will attend the opening night festivities along with director Martin Scorsese whose concert film about them, SHINE A LIGHT, will open the Festival.

The movie includes footage of concerts at the Beacon Theatre in New York in late 2006, which include guest appearances by Jack White of the White Stripes, Christina Aguilera, and Buddy Guy. It also features rare archival scenes and more recent behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

The Rolling Stones, one of the biggest bands in rock'n'roll history with album sales estimated at more than 200 million, embarked on a two-year world tour in 2005 which wound up in London last August. (See Article)

Besides the Stones and Scorsese, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Madonna will be part of the star-filled Berlin Film Festival opening lineup.

Here are some of the COMPETITION FILMS announced so far by the Festival that caught my eye:

Errol Morris’s documentary about the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, S.O.P.: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, will premiere at the Festival. Caution: redundancy. S.O.P. is an acronym for "Standard Operating Procedure."

THERE WILL BE BLOOD by Paul Thomas Anderson, USA. His movie, MAGNOLIA won the Golden Bear in 2000.

Various foreign movies include Brazilian director José Padilha's TROPA DE ELITE (The Elite Squad); French entries JULIA, and LADY JANE; Italy's QUIET CHAOS; Israel's RESTLESS; China's SPARROW; and KABEI from Japan.

ELEGY - based on the novel The Dying Animal by Philip Roth - directed by Isabel Coixet, with Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley (both pictured above), and Dennis Hopper (USA).

Oscar-winner Andrzej Wajda, who has participated in the Berlinale Competition three times and received the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement in 2006, will be presenting his latest work KATRN out of competition. Movie nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, scheduled to be released March 2008), starring Kristin Scott Thomas, and written and directed by Philippe Claudel.

HEART OF FIRE (Germany / Italy, language: Tigrigna), written and directed by Luigi Falorni, and based on the true story of a young female soldier who comes of age during the Eritrean civil war. They barely got this one in the can in time for the Festival.

Festival director Dieter Kosslick has packed the "out of competition" section of the main program with a formidable collection of Hollywood stars.

23rd SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Santa Barbara, California.

Forgive me, but I must select a few because the list is long. Here are my selections:

The Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema, given to a unique independent feature made outside mainstream Hollywood, went to AMAL (Canada, English / Hindi), directed by Richie Mehta, and co-written with Shaun Mehta. The film follows and Autorickshaw driver named Amal who has a very unusual month in New Delhi, but will it be a profitable one? Winner received a camera package worth approximently $60,000.

The Best Foreign Film Award went to BEAUTIFUL BITCH (Germany, German), written and directed by Martin Theo Krieger. Carries a content advisory for parents.

The Nueva Vision Award for the best Spanish-language film was awarded to the Cuban film THE SILLY AGE (La edad de la peseta, Cuba / Spain / Venezuela, in Spanish), directed by Pavel Giroud. The title of the movie, "La edad de la peseta" is a common Cuban phrase that refers to the period right before entering adolescence, and it is described as, "a quirky, surprising, coming-of-age" movie. Filmed in Havana.

Best Documentary for advancing social justice, went to WHEN CLOUDS CLEAR (Despues de la Neblina), directed by Anne Slick and Danielle Bernstein, about the devastating effects of international mining projects in the small town of Junin, Ecuador.

The Bruce Corwin Award for Best Animation, went to FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, directed by Joe Tucker, and the Bruce Corwin Award for Best Live Action Short Film went to AQUARIUM, written and directed by Rob Meyer.

The Independent Audience Choice / Favorite for Best Feature went to SAVING LUNA (Canada, English), a feature-length documentary directed by Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit, which documents Luna, a lone baby killer whale who gets separated from his family in a remote Vancouver Island fjord. Filmed in British Columbia.

The see all the winners, and read more about the movies highlighted here, go here.

Cate Blanchett, who reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, and who plays the "Jude" Bob Dylan in I'M NOT THERE, was honored with the MODERN MASTER AWARD at the 2008 Santa Barbara International Film Festival during a tribute ceremony 26 January at Santa Barbara's Arlington Theatre. This is the highest award Santa Barbara bestows.

JAVIER BARDÉM, the awarding-winning Spanish actor, was the recipient of the MONTECITO AWARD presented Monday, 28 January at the Lobero Theatre. The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career.

ANGELINA JOLIE - The Academy Award® and three-time Golden Globe winner was honored on Saturday, 2 February with the OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD for her performance in A MIGHTY HEART. [I saw the movie, and her performance is exceptional.]

TOMMY LEE JONES was presented with the AMERICAN RIVIERA AWARD, Friday, 1 February, which recognizes an actor who has had a strong influence on American Cinema.

JOHN TRAVOLTA received the the KIRK DOUGLAS AWARD at a black-tie Gala dinner at the Four Seasons The Biltmore in Santa Barbara 15 November.

Opening Night, 24 January, at the Arlington - DEFINITELY, MAYBE (USA), directed by Adam Brooks and starring Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE), Ryan Reynolds, and Rachel Weitsz.

Closing Night at the Arlington, US Premiere - THE UNKNOWN WOMAN (La Sconosciuta, France), writer /director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso, 1988), and starring Xenia Rappoport, Michele Placido, and Claudia Gerini.

MAN OF TWO HAVANAS, the story of Cuban journalist Max Lesnik, a childhood friend of Fidel Castro, as told by his daughter, director Vivien Lesnik Weisman, had its world premiere Saturday, 26 January.

MY WAY, a feature film by an acquaintance of mine, Spanish filmmaker / producer / writer José Antonio Salgot, sometimes written as J.A. Salgot, or the Catalán Josep Atoni Salgot, received its world premiere at the Festival 25 January. The notes for the movie on "Movies from A-Z" states, "The first feature by Spanish director J. A. Salgot, MY WAY is a searing emotional crime drama set in Barcelona, . . . painting a fearlessly bleak moral and physical landscape drained of color, but counterpointed by a propulsive narrative and dynamic visual style."

Correction, this is not his first feature film. I first met him about 1982. I was in Barcelona and could not find a room because of a big convention. I called a friend in Barcelona, Professor Román Gubern, and he arranged a room with Salgot and his live-in companion.

Salgot's first feature movie was MOONLIGHT SERANADE, (Serenata a la claror de la lluna, 1978). At the time I met him, he had released his second movie, BELOVED MOTHER (Mater amatísima, 1980). Like MY WAY, it was bleak, dealing with a mother's emotions about her Autistic son. The ending was extremely controversial. See more on the IMDB.

26th SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah.

(Sundance, which is the top U.S. showcase for independent movies including feature documentaries as well as a launching pad for art-house titles, has always focused on filmmaking outside the commercial mainstream.)

Top Jury Prizes went to: FROZEN RIVER, KING OF PING PONG, MAN ON WIRE (doc), and TROUBLE THE WATER (doc) (see below).

Audience Favorites for dramatic and documentary features went to: CAPTAIN ABU RAED, FIELDS OF FUEL (doc), MAN ON WIRE (doc), and THE WACKNESS (see below). The much-hyped ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED, won a documentary best-editing award for Joe Bini (see below). One audience favorite was SON OF RAMBOW.

Here is the complete list, and more info about all the films: (html) (pdf).

24 JANUARY - Laura Bialis and John Ealer's documentary, BRIDGE: STORIES FROM KOSOVO, screened in Park City. The documentary’s title refers to the bridge in the town of Mitrovica, which is reported to have become a flashpoint in the continuing conflict between Muslims, Christians and Roma (Gypsies). More info.

23 JANUARY - Will director Patrick Creadon's new documentary I.O.U.S.A. wake up Americans to our crisis economy as Al Gore's INCONVENIENT TRUTH did for our ecology? Creadon (WORDPLAY), says the doc is a primer about the U.S. economy saddled by rapidly growing federal debt. MIMI ADDS: This is the greatest money laundering scheme in U.S. history, whereby our government is funneling money to China and the Middle East.

22 JANUARY - Weekend deals at Sundance. As the N.Y. Times reported, "And on the fifth night, the wallets opened." Biggest buzz so far? HAMLET2. Focus Features grabbed the worldwide rights to the high-school satire for about $10 million, the highest money deal so far.

Actor Ben Kingsley was in attendance with the movie THE WACKNESS, written and directed by first-timer Jonathan Levine.

20 JANUARY - Marina Zenovich's documentary, ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED, made its debut at Sundance this weekend. Also, it was announced the film has secured a worldwide distribution deal from the Weinstein Co., from which the documentary division of HBO obtained the North American rights.

The subject of the film is Polanski's arrest and subsequent indictment for statutory rape, having been charged with having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski fled the U.S., a warrant was issued for his fleeing, and he has never returned. There is much more to this. See the post today on my blog, Mimi at the Movies, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."

Documentaries ruled this weekend, including Susan Koch's soccer documentary KICKING IT, the Hurricane Katrina-themed TROUBLE THE WATER, and Robb Moss and Peter Galison's national security expose SECRECY.
Plus, there was the U2 concert film, U2 3D, a film of the band's 2005-06 Vertigo tour, shot at several shows in South America with new 3D technology.

7 JANUARY - The indie moviemakers have flocked to the Rockies for the Festival opening. They come to see movies and documentaries, sure, but they mostly come to buy and sell. Whether or not a deal is made at Sundance can make or break an independents career. (See article in New York Times)

OPENING NIGHT MOVIE: IN BRUGES will open the Festival 17 January. This will be the world premiere and playwright Martin McDonagh's directorial debut. The movie is described as a "provocative comedy," starring Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ciarán Hinds.

Films in Competition. Read all about the films and special events in the PRESS RELEASE section of their Web site. The Festival offers Podcast.

29 NOVEMBER - 2008 Sundance Film Festival, 121 feature-length films selected, including 87 world premieres, 14 North American premieres, and 12 U.S. premieres representing 25 countries with 55 first-time filmmakers, including 32 in competition. In all, 64 films will compete for recognition. There were 3,624 submissions!

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION - 16 films selected from 620 submissions represent 8 countries including Pakistan, Jordan, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Canada.

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION - 16 selected from 983 submissions represent 17 countries including Spain, Peru, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Panama, Russia, and Sweden.

NEW FOR 2008 FESTIVAL: This year a sidebar within the Spectrum category presents seven documentary films as a way of continuing the Festivals long-standing commitment to nonfiction storytelling. Also, films screening in the World Cinema Competitions are now eligible for awards added this year in directing, editing, screenwriting, and cinematography.

19th PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Palms Springs, California.

This Festival is mainly one big party in the desert for the celebrity crowd. This year features more than 230 films from 65 countries, seminars, special events and Gala receptions.

First, there was an awards party on 5 January, which concentrated on naming the best of 2007. Second, was the really big one on Sunday night the 13th, which concentrated on the new films for this year (2008), presented all the awards, including those announced 5 January. I warned you the attendees at this Festival come to party.

At any rate, there are a slew of new films, directors and actors to watch during this new year that were given awards at the Festival. Here's the best place to see some great pictures, and the list of ALL the awards for the festival. Also, visit the Official site (link below).

5 January, Palm Springs Convention Center, the first awards gala to announce the awards for the best of 2007, hosted by Mary Hart. Read on . . . .

8 NOVEMBER - JUNO to receive Chairman’s Vanguard Award. Jason Reitman (USA), directed. Cast includes Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison J, Ellen Page, Michael Cera, and Rainn Wilson.

Netflix will host the Friday outdoor sing-along screening of New Line Cinema’s HAIRSPRAY and the Festival will present the Ensemble Performance Award to film’s cast

Jerry Weintraub will be honored with the SAG Foundation Patron of the Arts Award. Weintraub is one of Hollywood's preeminent filmmaker whose credits include the “OCEANS” series, "THE KARATE KID" series, and PURE COUNTRY.

12 December - Awards will be given to Sean Penn for the Director of the Year (INTO THE WILD); Daniel Day-Lewis (THERE WILL BE BLOOD) and Halle Berry (MONSTER'S BALL) with the Desert Palm Achievement Award; Marion Cotillard (LA VIE EN ROSE) with the Breakthrough Performance Award along with Emile Hirsch (INTO THE WILD). Hirsch was born in Palms. Nikki Blonsky (HAIRSPRAY) will receive the Rising Star Award.

BERLIN	CANADIAN HOT DOCS	CANNES	EBERTFEST	FILM COMMENT SELECTS	GUADALAJARA	MEMPHIS
MIAMI	PALM SPRINGS	PUERTO VALLARTA	RIVERRUN	SAN DIEGO LATINO	SAN FRANCISCO
SANTA BARBARA	SXSW	SUNDANCE	TRIBECA