Posts tagged Boston Popcorn

Boston’s Irish Film Festival announces 2012 Lineup

Mar11
2012 Written by popcornnroses

Boston’s 13th annual Irish Film Festival will be underway from March 22-25 2012, and as always, they’ve selected an interesting lineup featuring a number of premieres, as well as two different shorts programs and more.

Among the highlights are the New England premiere of the 2012 Academy Award winner for best live action short, The Shore, starring Ciaran Hinds, and the 60th anniversary celebration of the classic John Ford film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, along with a New England premiere documentary about the classic film.

You can find the full schedule and showtimes, and a line up of parties, mixers, and special guests, at http://irishfilmfestival.com

This years’ features are as follows:

STELLA DAYS
US Premiere
DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD, proudly presented by BA Events
Duration: 100min (plays with DOWNPOUR)

A small town cinema in rural Ireland becomes the setting for a dramatic struggle between faith and passion, Rome and Hollywood and a man and his conscience. STELLA DAYS is the story of a man, a story about the conflict between love and duty, hope and faith, and between the excitement of the unknown and the security of the familiar. It encapsulates the dilemma of Ireland in the mid-1950s – on the cusp of the modern but still clinging to the traditions of church and a cultural identity forged in very different times.
Director: Thaddeus O’Sullivan (in person at Festival)
Starring: Stephen Rea (in person at Festival), Martin Sheen, Amy Huberman & Marcella Plunkett
2011/Ireland

BEHOLD THE LAMB
Spotlight on Northern Ireland
Duration: 85min (plays with Academy Award-winning live action short THE SHORE)

Behold the Lamb is a darkly comic road movie that follows Eddie, a fifty year old, depressed accountant and Liz, a young tearaway as they travel across Northern Ireland to pick up a lamb.
Director: John McIlduff (in person at Festival)
Starring: Aoife Duffin (in person at Festival) & Nigel O’Neill
2011/Northern Ireland

HOT PRESS: THE WRITE STUFF
Duration: 54min

John O’Donnell, director of the critically acclaimed documentaries The Last Waltz and A Call to Arms, brings us Hot Press: The Write Stuff, a story about music and politics, principles and ambitions, and, above all, a story about being young and just going for it. In 1977, when their hair was shoulder-length and the lived in a country of soaring unemployment and inflation, where contraception was illegal and divorce was banned, Niall Stokes and Mairin Sheehy founded Hot Press. It was a music magazine that became a political and cultural rallying point for alternative ideas. The documentary tells the tumultous story of those early years through the memories of its writers and staff who tapped phones, biked checks from bank to bank and drove in relays to the Kerry train to catch the printers, after long, caffeine-powered nights of putting the magazine together. They were united by the music and by their writers’ and readers’ different visions of an Ireland in which they could feel at home, in which they could be free to be themselves.
Director: John O’Donnell

BALLYMUN LULLABY
Duration: 72min

Music teacher Ron Cooney has been working in the Republic of Ireland’s only high-rise housing estate for fifteen years. During this time he has seen the area undergo a dramatic transformation, including the demolition of six of it’s seven tower blocks. The young people of Ballymun have had an extraordinary experience, and Ron sets out to produce a collection of music that gives voice to their story. Working with composer Daragh O’Toole, Ron’s ambition is to create a ‘world class’ collection of music for his talented students to play and write lyrics for. This music will challenge the negative views many still hold of the area – views that have the potential to hold his students back, and undermine the aims of the Ballymun Music Programme. The music that is produced attracts the attention of the RTE Concert Orchestra, and is soon recorded by them in a unique collaboration with the students. A dynamic funny and driven man, despite his own health problems, what Ron and his students have achieved is simply amazing. ‘Ballymun Lullaby’ is a story that needs to be heard.
Director: Frank Berry (in person at Festival)
2011/Ireland

A FILM WITH ME IN IT
Duration: 89min

Mark is having a bad day. His long-suffering girlfriend is about to walk out, his landlord is ready to evict him. He’s only got his best mate Pierce & their ambition of writing a career-breaking film to sustain him. Life’s not easy, but things are about to get worse…much worse, & then someone dies & things get really bad.
Director: Ian Fitzgibbon
Starring: Dylan Moran, Mark Doherty, Keith Allen & Amy Huberman
2008/Ireland

THE ROAD TO MONEYGALL
US Premiere
Duration: 56min

An hour long documentary about Barack Obama’s long lost cousin, Henry Healy (who will be attending the Festival!), and his efforts to bring the American president to visit him in the  remote Irish village of Moneygall. Filmed with empathy and full-access over the course of nearly four years, this is the story of how the most famous man of the 21st century came to the village that time forgot.
Director: Ed Godsell (in person at Festival)
2011/Ireland

IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW
Duration: 58min (plays with PENTECOST)

The dramatic historical connotations and true story behind the epic world featherweight title match that took place between Barry McGuigan and Eusebio Pedroza, a now legendary fight that gripped an entire Irish nation on one hot summer’s night in 1985.
Director: Andrew Gallimore
2010/Ireland

TUBAISTE ARAINN MHOR
Duration: 50min

On the 75th anniversary of the biggest disaster ever to hit Arranmore Island, Donegal when 19 people drowned just a few hundred feet from shore after returning from the tattyhoking season in Scotland, the islanders who witnessed the after math, re-visit the pain of that dreadful day. A moving and gripping film on the 75th anniversary of the Arranmore Disaster which claimed the lives of 19 islanders when a boat carrying islanders returning from the tattyhoking season hit rocks a few hundred yards from the shore .
The only survivor, Paddy Gallagher lost 7 members of his family and was unable to speak about the horror of that night for 50 years, two years before his death. Much of the documentary was filmed in the house where Paddy spent months recovering before returning home.

BERNADETTE: Notes on a Political Journey
Duration: 88min

This remarkable documentary, made over a nine year period, charts the story of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey’s political journey since her explosive entry into the public arena in the late sixties. Combining archive footage with a series of intimate interviews conducted with Devlin McAliskey, director Lelia Doolan perfectly encapsulates the idiosyncrasies and rebelliousness which has fuelled her subject’s pivotal role at the heart of civil rights, feminism and socialism in Northern Ireland. Bernadette is a fascinating and powerful account of this firebrand figure, an impressively rounded depiction of a woman blessed with incredible eloquence, clarity and firm socialist principles.
Director: Lelia Doolan
2011/Ireland

THE QUIET MAN
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary
Duration: 129min

The story of a man who leaves his home in America to return to a simpler life. Instead, he becomes involved in a fiery courtship with a local girl, and a brawl with her aggressive, dowry-withholding brother.
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne & Maureen O’Hara
1952/Ireland & USA

DREAMING THE QUIET MAN
New England Premiere
Duration: 90min

Written and directed by Sé Merry Doyle. In this documentary, commentators and filmmakers including Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, Jim Sheridan, and Maureen O’Hara wrestle with the 60-year legacy of John Ford’s signature Irish American film. Narrated by Gabriel Byrne.

 

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Join IFS and sister blogs for a “Cherry”-Poppin’ Party

Oct05
2010 Written by popcornnroses

Boston Popcorn, Popcorn N Roses, Subject:CINEMA, and Indie Film Spotlight will be celebrating the theatrical release of the 2010 film festival favorite CHERRY on October 15, 2010 at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville MA!

CHERRY has been winning raves from both critics and audiences alike throughout the 2010 festival season, starting at SXSW in Austin last spring. More recently it has played the Boston Film Festival, the Woodstock Film Festival, and will be playing at the Hamptons Film Festival this week.

The film is a delightfully funny coming-of-age comedy starring Popcorn N Roses 2010 #3 Male Rising Star Kyle Gallner (Nightmare On Elm Street, CSI New York, Smallville) as Aaron, a young engineering student entering college at 17 who would really rather be an artist were it not for his domineering mother. Once there, he enrolls in an art class where he meets and falls for Linda, a 35-year-old trying to straighten out her life.  And if that isn’t enough, when Linda’s 14-year-old daughter Beth enters the scene, things REALLY get interesting!

We both named CHERRY our favorite film of the 2010 Boston Film Festival, and now we’re inviting you to join us for the Boston premiere. Director Jeffrey Fine will be in attendance as well, and we know you’ll have a grand old time.

The “Cherry”-Poppin’ Party ISN’T a party, per se – what we’re out to do is help CHERRY sell out at least one, and maybe more, opening night shows.

Show times are 7:oo and 9:40 PM -  We’ll be in attendance at the 7:00 PM show and we’d love to see you, and most of all, we’d love it if you’ll help us show the filmmakers that Boston loves CHERRY!

Tickets for the 7:00 PM show can be found here!

Tickets for the 9:40 PM show can be found here!

And to tantalize your movie taste buds, here’s the official SXSW trailer for CHERRY! We hope to see you all on Friday Evening!

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Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday

Sep12
2010 Written by popcornnroses

The latest Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday, September 16th. Indie Film Spotlight and our associated sites Popcorn N Roses, Subject:CINEMA, Boston Popcorn, and State Of Independence will be providing coverage of the event.  In the meantime, check out the official press release, and if you're in Boston this coming weekend, be sure to stop by the festival and say hi!

###

BOSTON (Aug. 26, 2010) — The 26th Boston Film Festival presents six world premieres and 24 films September 17-23 at the new Stuart Street Playhouse.

Tickets for the festival’s screenings will be available for purchase at the theater’s box office or online via TicketLeap on the Boston Film Festival web site beginning September 2. The principal sponsors are: NBC Universal, The AMR (AdvanceMovieReviews.com); Disney ABC, Bravo, Boston Magazine, Subaru of New England, and the Stuart Street Playhouse.

Actors confirmed to attend the festival at press time include: Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, Joelle Carter, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Leslie Bibb, Ed Burns, Kyle Gallner, Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, Sam Rockwell, and Ryan Merriman. Additional announcements about celebrities in attendance will be made upon completion of their travel arrangements. Boston Film Festival Executive Director Robin Dawson said: “The 2010 program includes an inspiring, diverse lineup of films, documentaries and shorts by an outstanding group of filmmakers. The festival provides Boston audiences with a rare opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions with actors and directors who discuss their creative choices.”

An array of Boston’s signature restaurants will host a week of parties and filmmaker receptions. “Boston’s hospitality is unparalleled,” added Dawson. “The generosity of restaurants and hoteliers gives the festival’s filmmakers and celebrities a chance to enjoy a true taste of Boston.”

Two world premieres will be presented on Opening Night. The Opening Night film will be “To Be Friends,” starring Todd Stashwick and Joelle Carter. The writer/ director is Jim Eckhart, and his brother, Aaron Eckhart, is the executive producer. Jim Eckhart, Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, and Joelle Carter will walk the red carpet kicking off the 26th Boston Film Festival. The story is about how requited love orchestrates one last chance for two lifelong friends to explore the boundaries and connections of their relationships finally finding love just as it is lost forever.

The locally-shot psychological thriller “Locked In,” starring Ben Barnes, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Johnny Whitworth, and directed by Suri Krishnamma will be the second world premiere film on Opening Night. The streets of Boston provides the backdrop as the film chronicles the lives of two fragile yet determined people and maps a private geography of love, loss, and ultimate redemption.

The Closing Night film is a special sneak preview of “Iron Cross,” a thriller written and directed by Joshua Newton and starring the late Roy Scheider as Joseph, a retired New York police officer and Holocaust survivor, who travels to Nuremberg following the death of his wife to reconcile with his son Ronnie (Scott Cohen). The reunion is quickly overshadowed by Joseph’s insistence that living in the apartment above, under a false name, is the now aging SS Commander (Helmut Berger) who murdered Joseph’s entire family during World War II.

Certain of the neighbor’s true identity, Joseph draws his reluctant son into a plan to exact justice and vengeance. With flashbacks to the past, revealing Young Joseph’s (Alexander Newton) narrow escape from the massacre and his teenage love for a heroic Polish girl, Kashka (Sarah Bolger), the story reaches a gripping and unforgettable climax.

An award for career achievement will be presented to Scheider’s wife, Brenda, at the screening, which will also be attended by castmember Alexander Newton, Joshua Newton, who produced, directed, and wrote the film, along with producer Kevin Farr.

The East Coast premiere of the independent film “Miss Nobody,” starring Leslie Bibb, Adam Goldberg, Vivica Fox, Kathy Baker, and Barry Bostwick in a comedy about a mild mannered secretary that discovers she has a talent for murder as she ascends the corporate ladder. The director is Tim Cox.

In its US premiere, “Conviction” is the inspirational true story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her brother. When Betty Anne Waters’ (played by two-time Academy® Award winner Hilary Swank) older brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is arrested for murder and sentenced to life in 1983, Betty Anne, a Massachusetts wife and mother of two, dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction.

Convinced that her brother is innocent, Betty Anne puts herself through high school, college and, finally, law school in an 18-year quest to free Kenny. With the help of her best friend, Abra Rice (Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver), Betty Anne pores through suspicious evidence mounted by small town cop, Nancy Taylor (Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo), meticulously retracing the steps that led to Kenny's arrest. Belief in her brother — and her quest for the truth — pushes Betty Anne and her team to uncover the facts and utilize DNA evidence with the hope of exonerating Kenny.

In its East Coast premiere, “Welcome to the Rileys” is a powerful drama about finding hope in the most unusual of places. Once a happily married and loving couple, Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have grown apart since losing their teenage daughter eight years prior. Leaving his agoraphobic wife behind to go on a business trip to New Orleans, Doug meets a 17-year-old runaway (Kristen Stewart) and the two form a platonic bond. For Lois and Doug, what initially appears to be the final straw that will derail their relationship, turns out to be the inspiration they need to renew their marriage.

Writer/director Ed Burns stars in the quirky comedy “Nice Guy Johnny,” starring Max Baker, Kerry Bishe, Matt Bush, and Brian Delate. Johnny Rizzo is about to change his dream job in talk radio for some snooze-ville gig that will pay enough to please his fiancé until his uncle Terry (Burns) turns a weekend in the Hamptons to an eye-opening fling for his nephew.

“It’s Kind of A Funny Story,” adapted from Ned Vizzini's 2006 novel of the same name, is the new comedy-drama from acclaimed writer/directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (“Half Nelson,” “Sugar”). It's 5:00 A.M. on a Sunday in Brooklyn. Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”) is bicycling up to the entrance of a mental health clinic; this bright 16-year-old is stressed out from the demands of being a teenager. Before his parents (Lauren Graham of “Parenthood”) and Jim Gaffigan (of “Away We Go”) and younger sister are even awake, Craig checks himself into Argenon Hospital and is admitted by a psychiatrist. But the youth ward is temporarily closed – so he finds himself stuck in the adult ward.

One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig's mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old displaced to the adult ward, the sensitive Noelle (Emma Roberts of the upcoming “Scream 4”), who just might make him forget his longtime unrequited crush Nia (Zoë Kravitz of the upcoming ”Mad Max”). With a minimum five days' stay imposed on him by the adult ward's staff psychiatrist Dr. Eden Minerva (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis), Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

Once again, the festival will dedicate a night to films shot in the New England region as part of a special “Boston Night” celebration of film. The world premiere of “The Last Harbor,” which was filmed in Rockport, Mass
., stars Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, and was directed by Paul Epstein. In sleepy Salem Harbor, seasoned former Boston PD Cop Ian Martin must overcome his old drinking habits to solve a crime which brings him closer to home than he would like; whilst rebuilding a fractured and nearly lost relationship with his estranged daughter.

The world premiere of the documentary, “Please Remove Your Shoes,” by local filmmaker Rob DelGaudio, is about the U.S. government’s broken promise to keep our airlines secure and the personal stories of a few people who know the truth including congressmen, air marshalls, and aviation security employees.

“Cherry” stars Kyle Gallner, Brittany Robertson, Laura Allen, Matt Walsh and Esai Morales with director Jeffrey Fine. This will be the film’s East Coast premiere. “Cherry” is a film about Aaron, an academically advanced but socially sheltered college freshman. Linda is the older woman he meets, and Beth is her underage daughter. Aaron gets an education he never expected — and one his mom never imagined paying for.

“5th Quarter,” starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Ryan Merriman and directed by Rick Bieber, tells the real life drama of Jon Abbate. Motivated by the tragic car crash that took the life of his 15-year-old brother, Luke Abbate, Jon Abbate, wearing his brother’s #5 jersey, helps lead the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team to the most successful, unpredicted season in the college’s history.

The East Coast premiere of “Down for Life,” starring Danny Glover, Kate del Castillo, Jessica Romero, and Snoop Dog, and directed by Alan Jacobs, is based on a New York Times article. The film depicts a single dramatic day in the life of a Latina gang leader in South Central LA. Director Alan Jacobs will attend the screening with Jessica Romero, the film’s young star.

“Arcadia Lost,” stars Haley Bennett, Carter Jenkins, Nick Nolte and Lachlan Buchanan and is directed by Phedon Papamichael, will make its East Coast premiere at the festival. Stranded after a car accident in the rural countryside of Greece, step siblings Charlotte and Sye slowly realize they are actually struggling between life and death in the still submerging car. During their surreal journey, they meet Benerji (Nolte) the vagabond philosopher who guides them and helps them imagine what it means to be family, to be an adult and be alive.

East Coast premiere of “World Peace and Other Fourth Grade Achievements” by director Chris Farina is a portrait of John Hunter, a public school teacher who has dedicated his life to teaching children how to work for a more peaceful world.

A few poignant documentaries will also screen at the 2010 festival.

“The Two Escobars” is directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimablist. While drug cartels warred in the streets of Columbia and the murder rate climbed to the highest in the world, the Columbian national soccer team set out to blaze a new image for their country. Central to achieving this success are two unrelated men named Escobar, drug lord Pablo and soccer sensation Andres.

“I Want So Much to Live” is directed by Elizabeth Holder (East Coast premiere). The film explores the pioneering efforts of the ambitious yet largely unproven bio tech company, Genentech, and the many devoted individuals whose independent and collective efforts resulted in the world’s first targeted therapy for breast cancer.

“10 Mountains, 10 Years” is directed by Jennifer Yee and narrated by Anne Hathaway and Leeza Gibbons. The films chronicles the epic journey of an international team of mountain climbers climbing to 10 of the greatest peaks in the world over a 10-year span from Mont Blanc to Mount Everest to raise funding and awareness of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease while it imparts some shocking research about the diseases.

Making its world premiere, “Norman Mailer: The American” is directed by Joseph Mantegna and chronicles a provocateur, a rebel, a performer and a true American. Norman Mailer never stopped giving people something to talk about. This documentary goes beyond the Mailer of the book shelves to Mailer, the social critic, family man, filmmaker and husband of six wives, one of whom he stabbed.

“Absent,” (East Coast premiere) is directed by Justin Hunt, and stars James Hetfield (Metallica), Johnny Tapia, and John Eldredge. From the award-winning director of “American Meth,” comes Justin Hunt’s newest documentary that will undoubtedly lift the veil on why a father’s absence can be so devastating – not only a child but a family community and eventually society itself.

The short documentary “Lurking in the Trees,” is directed by Martin Hamburger and was shot locally. The chance discovery of a bug that landed in someone’s lap on a summer afternoon in the yard, led to a terrible realization that insect invaders from Asia were killing trees in New England, and the only way to stop the pests was to cut down and grind up nearly 30,000.trees.

There will be a 35th Anniversary screening on Opening Weekend of Steven Spielberg’s legendary film “Jaws,” starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton and Jeffrey Kramer. The movie was shot on Martha’s Vineyard and changed the beach-goers’ experience forever. Details will be announced soon.

Awards will be presented at the end of the festival for Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Young Actor, Best Young Actress, Best Cinematography, the Mass Impact Award and the EcoFilm Award. The Closing Night film and special events will feature the recording Group Ernie and The Automatics with a special performance by James Montgomery.

A complete schedule of films and events will be posted at bostonfilmfestival.org beginning September 2. All tickets will be priced at $10 each.

Many accomplished filmmakers and actors have been honored at the BFF such as: actors Dane Cook and Greg Kinnear; producer Jerry Weintraub (“Oceans Thirteen,”); Lifetime Achievement Award presented by George Clooney; Film Excellence Award recipients; Val Kilmer, Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Ridley Scott. Last year’s honoree was Uma Thurman.

For more information on the 26th Boston Film Festival, call 617-523-8388

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Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday

Sep12
2010 Written by tckirkham

The latest Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday, September 16th. State Of Independence and our associated sites Popcorn N Roses, Subject:CINEMA, Indie Film Spotlight, and Boston Popcorn will be providing coverage of the event.  In the meantime, check out the official press release, and if you're in Boston this coming weekend, be sure to stop by the festival and say hi!

###

BOSTON (Aug. 26, 2010) — The 26th Boston Film Festival presents six world premieres and 24 films September 17-23 at the new Stuart Street Playhouse.

Tickets for the festival’s screenings will be available for purchase at the theater’s box office or online via TicketLeap on the Boston Film Festival web site beginning September 2. The principal sponsors are: NBC Universal, The AMR (AdvanceMovieReviews.com); Disney ABC, Bravo, Boston Magazine, Subaru of New England, and the Stuart Street Playhouse.

Actors confirmed to attend the festival at press time include: Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, Joelle Carter, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Leslie Bibb, Ed Burns, Kyle Gallner, Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, Sam Rockwell, and Ryan Merriman. Additional announcements about celebrities in attendance will be made upon completion of their travel arrangements. Boston Film Festival Executive Director Robin Dawson said: “The 2010 program includes an inspiring, diverse lineup of films, documentaries and shorts by an outstanding group of filmmakers. The festival provides Boston audiences with a rare opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions with actors and directors who discuss their creative choices.”

An array of Boston’s signature restaurants will host a week of parties and filmmaker receptions. “Boston’s hospitality is unparalleled,” added Dawson. “The generosity of restaurants and hoteliers gives the festival’s filmmakers and celebrities a chance to enjoy a true taste of Boston.”

Two world premieres will be presented on Opening Night. The Opening Night film will be “To Be Friends,” starring Todd Stashwick and Joelle Carter. The writer/ director is Jim Eckhart, and his brother, Aaron Eckhart, is the executive producer. Jim Eckhart, Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, and Joelle Carter will walk the red carpet kicking off the 26th Boston Film Festival. The story is about how requited love orchestrates one last chance for two lifelong friends to explore the boundaries and connections of their relationships finally finding love just as it is lost forever.

The locally-shot psychological thriller “Locked In,” starring Ben Barnes, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Johnny Whitworth, and directed by Suri Krishnamma will be the second world premiere film on Opening Night. The streets of Boston provides the backdrop as the film chronicles the lives of two fragile yet determined people and maps a private geography of love, loss, and ultimate redemption.

The Closing Night film is a special sneak preview of “Iron Cross,” a thriller written and directed by Joshua Newton and starring the late Roy Scheider as Joseph, a retired New York police officer and Holocaust survivor, who travels to Nuremberg following the death of his wife to reconcile with his son Ronnie (Scott Cohen). The reunion is quickly overshadowed by Joseph’s insistence that living in the apartment above, under a false name, is the now aging SS Commander (Helmut Berger) who murdered Joseph’s entire family during World War II.

Certain of the neighbor’s true identity, Joseph draws his reluctant son into a plan to exact justice and vengeance. With flashbacks to the past, revealing Young Joseph’s (Alexander Newton) narrow escape from the massacre and his teenage love for a heroic Polish girl, Kashka (Sarah Bolger), the story reaches a gripping and unforgettable climax.

An award for career achievement will be presented to Scheider’s wife, Brenda, at the screening, which will also be attended by castmember Alexander Newton, Joshua Newton, who produced, directed, and wrote the film, along with producer Kevin Farr.

The East Coast premiere of the independent film “Miss Nobody,” starring Leslie Bibb, Adam Goldberg, Vivica Fox, Kathy Baker, and Barry Bostwick in a comedy about a mild mannered secretary that discovers she has a talent for murder as she ascends the corporate ladder. The director is Tim Cox.

In its US premiere, “Conviction” is the inspirational true story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her brother. When Betty Anne Waters’ (played by two-time Academy® Award winner Hilary Swank) older brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is arrested for murder and sentenced to life in 1983, Betty Anne, a Massachusetts wife and mother of two, dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction.

Convinced that her brother is innocent, Betty Anne puts herself through high school, college and, finally, law school in an 18-year quest to free Kenny. With the help of her best friend, Abra Rice (Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver), Betty Anne pores through suspicious evidence mounted by small town cop, Nancy Taylor (Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo), meticulously retracing the steps that led to Kenny's arrest. Belief in her brother — and her quest for the truth — pushes Betty Anne and her team to uncover the facts and utilize DNA evidence with the hope of exonerating Kenny.

In its East Coast premiere, “Welcome to the Rileys” is a powerful drama about finding hope in the most unusual of places. Once a happily married and loving couple, Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have grown apart since losing their teenage daughter eight years prior. Leaving his agoraphobic wife behind to go on a business trip to New Orleans, Doug meets a 17-year-old runaway (Kristen Stewart) and the two form a platonic bond. For Lois and Doug, what initially appears to be the final straw that will derail their relationship, turns out to be the inspiration they need to renew their marriage.

Writer/director Ed Burns stars in the quirky comedy “Nice Guy Johnny,” starring Max Baker, Kerry Bishe, Matt Bush, and Brian Delate. Johnny Rizzo is about to change his dream job in talk radio for some snooze-ville gig that will pay enough to please his fiancé until his uncle Terry (Burns) turns a weekend in the Hamptons to an eye-opening fling for his nephew.

“It’s Kind of A Funny Story,” adapted from Ned Vizzini's 2006 novel of the same name, is the new comedy-drama from acclaimed writer/directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (“Half Nelson,” “Sugar”). It's 5:00 A.M. on a Sunday in Brooklyn. Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”) is bicycling up to the entrance of a mental health clinic; this bright 16-year-old is stressed out from the demands of being a teenager. Before his parents (Lauren Graham of “Parenthood”) and Jim Gaffigan (of “Away We Go”) and younger sister are even awake, Craig checks himself into Argenon Hospital and is admitted by a psychiatrist. But the youth ward is temporarily closed – so he finds himself stuck in the adult ward.

One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig's mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old displaced to the adult ward, the sensitive Noelle (Emma Roberts of the upcoming “Scream 4”), who just might make him forget his longtime unrequited crush Nia (Zoë Kravitz of the upcoming ”Mad Max”). With a minimum five days' stay imposed on him by the adult ward's staff psychiatrist Dr. Eden Minerva (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis), Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

Once again, the festival will dedicate a night to films shot in the New England region as part of a special “Boston Night” celebration of film. The world premiere of “The Last Harbor,” which was filmed in Ro
ckport, Mass., stars Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, and was directed by Paul Epstein. In sleepy Salem Harbor, seasoned former Boston PD Cop Ian Martin must overcome his old drinking habits to solve a crime which brings him closer to home than he would like; whilst rebuilding a fractured and nearly lost relationship with his estranged daughter.

The world premiere of the documentary, “Please Remove Your Shoes,” by local filmmaker Rob DelGaudio, is about the U.S. government’s broken promise to keep our airlines secure and the personal stories of a few people who know the truth including congressmen, air marshalls, and aviation security employees.

“Cherry” stars Kyle Gallner, Brittany Robertson, Laura Allen, Matt Walsh and Esai Morales with director Jeffrey Fine. This will be the film’s East Coast premiere. “Cherry” is a film about Aaron, an academically advanced but socially sheltered college freshman. Linda is the older woman he meets, and Beth is her underage daughter. Aaron gets an education he never expected — and one his mom never imagined paying for.

“5th Quarter,” starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Ryan Merriman and directed by Rick Bieber, tells the real life drama of Jon Abbate. Motivated by the tragic car crash that took the life of his 15-year-old brother, Luke Abbate, Jon Abbate, wearing his brother’s #5 jersey, helps lead the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team to the most successful, unpredicted season in the college’s history.

The East Coast premiere of “Down for Life,” starring Danny Glover, Kate del Castillo, Jessica Romero, and Snoop Dog, and directed by Alan Jacobs, is based on a New York Times article. The film depicts a single dramatic day in the life of a Latina gang leader in South Central LA. Director Alan Jacobs will attend the screening with Jessica Romero, the film’s young star.

“Arcadia Lost,” stars Haley Bennett, Carter Jenkins, Nick Nolte and Lachlan Buchanan and is directed by Phedon Papamichael, will make its East Coast premiere at the festival. Stranded after a car accident in the rural countryside of Greece, step siblings Charlotte and Sye slowly realize they are actually struggling between life and death in the still submerging car. During their surreal journey, they meet Benerji (Nolte) the vagabond philosopher who guides them and helps them imagine what it means to be family, to be an adult and be alive.

East Coast premiere of “World Peace and Other Fourth Grade Achievements” by director Chris Farina is a portrait of John Hunter, a public school teacher who has dedicated his life to teaching children how to work for a more peaceful world.

A few poignant documentaries will also screen at the 2010 festival.

“The Two Escobars” is directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimablist. While drug cartels warred in the streets of Columbia and the murder rate climbed to the highest in the world, the Columbian national soccer team set out to blaze a new image for their country. Central to achieving this success are two unrelated men named Escobar, drug lord Pablo and soccer sensation Andres.

“I Want So Much to Live” is directed by Elizabeth Holder (East Coast premiere). The film explores the pioneering efforts of the ambitious yet largely unproven bio tech company, Genentech, and the many devoted individuals whose independent and collective efforts resulted in the world’s first targeted therapy for breast cancer.

“10 Mountains, 10 Years” is directed by Jennifer Yee and narrated by Anne Hathaway and Leeza Gibbons. The films chronicles the epic journey of an international team of mountain climbers climbing to 10 of the greatest peaks in the world over a 10-year span from Mont Blanc to Mount Everest to raise funding and awareness of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease while it imparts some shocking research about the diseases.

Making its world premiere, “Norman Mailer: The American” is directed by Joseph Mantegna and chronicles a provocateur, a rebel, a performer and a true American. Norman Mailer never stopped giving people something to talk about. This documentary goes beyond the Mailer of the book shelves to Mailer, the social critic, family man, filmmaker and husband of six wives, one of whom he stabbed.

“Absent,” (East Coast premiere) is directed by Justin Hunt, and stars James Hetfield (Metallica), Johnny Tapia, and John Eldredge. From the award-winning director of “American Meth,” comes Justin Hunt’s newest documentary that will undoubtedly lift the veil on why a father’s absence can be so devastating – not only a child but a family community and eventually society itself.

The short documentary “Lurking in the Trees,” is directed by Martin Hamburger and was shot locally. The chance discovery of a bug that landed in someone’s lap on a summer afternoon in the yard, led to a terrible realization that insect invaders from Asia were killing trees in New England, and the only way to stop the pests was to cut down and grind up nearly 30,000.trees.

There will be a 35th Anniversary screening on Opening Weekend of Steven Spielberg’s legendary film “Jaws,” starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton and Jeffrey Kramer. The movie was shot on Martha’s Vineyard and changed the beach-goers’ experience forever. Details will be announced soon.

Awards will be presented at the end of the festival for Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Young Actor, Best Young Actress, Best Cinematography, the Mass Impact Award and the EcoFilm Award. The Closing Night film and special events will feature the recording Group Ernie and The Automatics with a special performance by James Montgomery.

A complete schedule of films and events will be posted at bostonfilmfestival.org beginning September 2. All tickets will be priced at $10 each.

Many accomplished filmmakers and actors have been honored at the BFF such as: actors Dane Cook and Greg Kinnear; producer Jerry Weintraub (“Oceans Thirteen,”); Lifetime Achievement Award presented by George Clooney; Film Excellence Award recipients; Val Kilmer, Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Ridley Scott. Last year’s honoree was Uma Thurman.

For more information on the 26th Boston Film Festival, call 617-523-8388

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Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday

Sep12
2010 Written by popcornnroses

The latest Boston Film Festival gets underway this Thursday, September 16th. Indie Film Spotlight and our associated sites Popcorn N Roses, Subject:CINEMA, Boston Popcorn, and State Of Independence will be providing coverage of the event.  In the meantime, check out the official press release, and if you're in Boston this coming weekend, be sure to stop by the festival and say hi!

###

BOSTON (Aug. 26, 2010) — The 26th Boston Film Festival presents six world premieres and 24 films September 17-23 at the new Stuart Street Playhouse.

Tickets for the festival’s screenings will be available for purchase at the theater’s box office or online via TicketLeap on the Boston Film Festival web site beginning September 2. The principal sponsors are: NBC Universal, The AMR (AdvanceMovieReviews.com); Disney ABC, Bravo, Boston Magazine, Subaru of New England, and the Stuart Street Playhouse.

Actors confirmed to attend the festival at press time include: Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, Joelle Carter, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Leslie Bibb, Ed Burns, Kyle Gallner, Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, Sam Rockwell, and Ryan Merriman. Additional announcements about celebrities in attendance will be made upon completion of their travel arrangements. Boston Film Festival Executive Director Robin Dawson said: “The 2010 program includes an inspiring, diverse lineup of films, documentaries and shorts by an outstanding group of filmmakers. The festival provides Boston audiences with a rare opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions with actors and directors who discuss their creative choices.”

An array of Boston’s signature restaurants will host a week of parties and filmmaker receptions. “Boston’s hospitality is unparalleled,” added Dawson. “The generosity of restaurants and hoteliers gives the festival’s filmmakers and celebrities a chance to enjoy a true taste of Boston.”

Two world premieres will be presented on Opening Night. The Opening Night film will be “To Be Friends,” starring Todd Stashwick and Joelle Carter. The writer/ director is Jim Eckhart, and his brother, Aaron Eckhart, is the executive producer. Jim Eckhart, Aaron Eckhart, Todd Stashwick, and Joelle Carter will walk the red carpet kicking off the 26th Boston Film Festival. The story is about how requited love orchestrates one last chance for two lifelong friends to explore the boundaries and connections of their relationships finally finding love just as it is lost forever.

The locally-shot psychological thriller “Locked In,” starring Ben Barnes, Sara Roemer, Eliza Dushku, Johnny Whitworth, and directed by Suri Krishnamma will be the second world premiere film on Opening Night. The streets of Boston provides the backdrop as the film chronicles the lives of two fragile yet determined people and maps a private geography of love, loss, and ultimate redemption.

The Closing Night film is a special sneak preview of “Iron Cross,” a thriller written and directed by Joshua Newton and starring the late Roy Scheider as Joseph, a retired New York police officer and Holocaust survivor, who travels to Nuremberg following the death of his wife to reconcile with his son Ronnie (Scott Cohen). The reunion is quickly overshadowed by Joseph’s insistence that living in the apartment above, under a false name, is the now aging SS Commander (Helmut Berger) who murdered Joseph’s entire family during World War II.

Certain of the neighbor’s true identity, Joseph draws his reluctant son into a plan to exact justice and vengeance. With flashbacks to the past, revealing Young Joseph’s (Alexander Newton) narrow escape from the massacre and his teenage love for a heroic Polish girl, Kashka (Sarah Bolger), the story reaches a gripping and unforgettable climax.

An award for career achievement will be presented to Scheider’s wife, Brenda, at the screening, which will also be attended by castmember Alexander Newton, Joshua Newton, who produced, directed, and wrote the film, along with producer Kevin Farr.

The East Coast premiere of the independent film “Miss Nobody,” starring Leslie Bibb, Adam Goldberg, Vivica Fox, Kathy Baker, and Barry Bostwick in a comedy about a mild mannered secretary that discovers she has a talent for murder as she ascends the corporate ladder. The director is Tim Cox.

In its US premiere, “Conviction” is the inspirational true story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her brother. When Betty Anne Waters’ (played by two-time Academy® Award winner Hilary Swank) older brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is arrested for murder and sentenced to life in 1983, Betty Anne, a Massachusetts wife and mother of two, dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction.

Convinced that her brother is innocent, Betty Anne puts herself through high school, college and, finally, law school in an 18-year quest to free Kenny. With the help of her best friend, Abra Rice (Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver), Betty Anne pores through suspicious evidence mounted by small town cop, Nancy Taylor (Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo), meticulously retracing the steps that led to Kenny's arrest. Belief in her brother — and her quest for the truth — pushes Betty Anne and her team to uncover the facts and utilize DNA evidence with the hope of exonerating Kenny.

In its East Coast premiere, “Welcome to the Rileys” is a powerful drama about finding hope in the most unusual of places. Once a happily married and loving couple, Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have grown apart since losing their teenage daughter eight years prior. Leaving his agoraphobic wife behind to go on a business trip to New Orleans, Doug meets a 17-year-old runaway (Kristen Stewart) and the two form a platonic bond. For Lois and Doug, what initially appears to be the final straw that will derail their relationship, turns out to be the inspiration they need to renew their marriage.

Writer/director Ed Burns stars in the quirky comedy “Nice Guy Johnny,” starring Max Baker, Kerry Bishe, Matt Bush, and Brian Delate. Johnny Rizzo is about to change his dream job in talk radio for some snooze-ville gig that will pay enough to please his fiancé until his uncle Terry (Burns) turns a weekend in the Hamptons to an eye-opening fling for his nephew.

“It’s Kind of A Funny Story,” adapted from Ned Vizzini's 2006 novel of the same name, is the new comedy-drama from acclaimed writer/directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (“Half Nelson,” “Sugar”). It's 5:00 A.M. on a Sunday in Brooklyn. Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”) is bicycling up to the entrance of a mental health clinic; this bright 16-year-old is stressed out from the demands of being a teenager. Before his parents (Lauren Graham of “Parenthood”) and Jim Gaffigan (of “Away We Go”) and younger sister are even awake, Craig checks himself into Argenon Hospital and is admitted by a psychiatrist. But the youth ward is temporarily closed – so he finds himself stuck in the adult ward.

One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig's mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old displaced to the adult ward, the sensitive Noelle (Emma Roberts of the upcoming “Scream 4”), who just might make him forget his longtime unrequited crush Nia (Zoë Kravitz of the upcoming ”Mad Max”). With a minimum five days' stay imposed on him by the adult ward's staff psychiatrist Dr. Eden Minerva (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis), Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

Once again, the festival will dedicate a night to films shot in the New England region as part of a special “Boston Night” celebration of film. The world premiere of “The Last Harbor,” which was filmed in Rockport, Mass
., stars Wade Williams, Stephanie Lemelin, and was directed by Paul Epstein. In sleepy Salem Harbor, seasoned former Boston PD Cop Ian Martin must overcome his old drinking habits to solve a crime which brings him closer to home than he would like; whilst rebuilding a fractured and nearly lost relationship with his estranged daughter.

The world premiere of the documentary, “Please Remove Your Shoes,” by local filmmaker Rob DelGaudio, is about the U.S. government’s broken promise to keep our airlines secure and the personal stories of a few people who know the truth including congressmen, air marshalls, and aviation security employees.

“Cherry” stars Kyle Gallner, Brittany Robertson, Laura Allen, Matt Walsh and Esai Morales with director Jeffrey Fine. This will be the film’s East Coast premiere. “Cherry” is a film about Aaron, an academically advanced but socially sheltered college freshman. Linda is the older woman he meets, and Beth is her underage daughter. Aaron gets an education he never expected — and one his mom never imagined paying for.

“5th Quarter,” starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Ryan Merriman and directed by Rick Bieber, tells the real life drama of Jon Abbate. Motivated by the tragic car crash that took the life of his 15-year-old brother, Luke Abbate, Jon Abbate, wearing his brother’s #5 jersey, helps lead the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team to the most successful, unpredicted season in the college’s history.

The East Coast premiere of “Down for Life,” starring Danny Glover, Kate del Castillo, Jessica Romero, and Snoop Dog, and directed by Alan Jacobs, is based on a New York Times article. The film depicts a single dramatic day in the life of a Latina gang leader in South Central LA. Director Alan Jacobs will attend the screening with Jessica Romero, the film’s young star.

“Arcadia Lost,” stars Haley Bennett, Carter Jenkins, Nick Nolte and Lachlan Buchanan and is directed by Phedon Papamichael, will make its East Coast premiere at the festival. Stranded after a car accident in the rural countryside of Greece, step siblings Charlotte and Sye slowly realize they are actually struggling between life and death in the still submerging car. During their surreal journey, they meet Benerji (Nolte) the vagabond philosopher who guides them and helps them imagine what it means to be family, to be an adult and be alive.

East Coast premiere of “World Peace and Other Fourth Grade Achievements” by director Chris Farina is a portrait of John Hunter, a public school teacher who has dedicated his life to teaching children how to work for a more peaceful world.

A few poignant documentaries will also screen at the 2010 festival.

“The Two Escobars” is directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimablist. While drug cartels warred in the streets of Columbia and the murder rate climbed to the highest in the world, the Columbian national soccer team set out to blaze a new image for their country. Central to achieving this success are two unrelated men named Escobar, drug lord Pablo and soccer sensation Andres.

“I Want So Much to Live” is directed by Elizabeth Holder (East Coast premiere). The film explores the pioneering efforts of the ambitious yet largely unproven bio tech company, Genentech, and the many devoted individuals whose independent and collective efforts resulted in the world’s first targeted therapy for breast cancer.

“10 Mountains, 10 Years” is directed by Jennifer Yee and narrated by Anne Hathaway and Leeza Gibbons. The films chronicles the epic journey of an international team of mountain climbers climbing to 10 of the greatest peaks in the world over a 10-year span from Mont Blanc to Mount Everest to raise funding and awareness of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease while it imparts some shocking research about the diseases.

Making its world premiere, “Norman Mailer: The American” is directed by Joseph Mantegna and chronicles a provocateur, a rebel, a performer and a true American. Norman Mailer never stopped giving people something to talk about. This documentary goes beyond the Mailer of the book shelves to Mailer, the social critic, family man, filmmaker and husband of six wives, one of whom he stabbed.

“Absent,” (East Coast premiere) is directed by Justin Hunt, and stars James Hetfield (Metallica), Johnny Tapia, and John Eldredge. From the award-winning director of “American Meth,” comes Justin Hunt’s newest documentary that will undoubtedly lift the veil on why a father’s absence can be so devastating – not only a child but a family community and eventually society itself.

The short documentary “Lurking in the Trees,” is directed by Martin Hamburger and was shot locally. The chance discovery of a bug that landed in someone’s lap on a summer afternoon in the yard, led to a terrible realization that insect invaders from Asia were killing trees in New England, and the only way to stop the pests was to cut down and grind up nearly 30,000.trees.

There will be a 35th Anniversary screening on Opening Weekend of Steven Spielberg’s legendary film “Jaws,” starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton and Jeffrey Kramer. The movie was shot on Martha’s Vineyard and changed the beach-goers’ experience forever. Details will be announced soon.

Awards will be presented at the end of the festival for Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Young Actor, Best Young Actress, Best Cinematography, the Mass Impact Award and the EcoFilm Award. The Closing Night film and special events will feature the recording Group Ernie and The Automatics with a special performance by James Montgomery.

A complete schedule of films and events will be posted at bostonfilmfestival.org beginning September 2. All tickets will be priced at $10 each.

Many accomplished filmmakers and actors have been honored at the BFF such as: actors Dane Cook and Greg Kinnear; producer Jerry Weintraub (“Oceans Thirteen,”); Lifetime Achievement Award presented by George Clooney; Film Excellence Award recipients; Val Kilmer, Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Ridley Scott. Last year’s honoree was Uma Thurman.

For more information on the 26th Boston Film Festival, call 617-523-8388

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Posted in Festival Buzz, Festival Spotlight On..., Film, General Announcements, Indie Buzz, Weblogs - Tagged , , , ,

Boston Festivals Week : The Ones To Watch

Apr20
2010 Written by tckirkham

Due to circumstances beyond our control (the same reason as last year for those of you who might remember), we are not attending the two film festivals going on here this week. However, we wanted to spotlight the films we're following and that even thought we are unable to attend, we suggest you check them out. And be sure to MAKE IT A POINT to tell the filmmakers and festival organizers that you read about the film on Boston Popcorn, State Of Independence, or Indie Film Spotlight!

Our Top Picks: RATED MS (for Must See)

My Suicide
Archibald Holden Buster Williams’ school project is to kill himself on camera. I have been waiting to see this for over a year now, since it premiered at SXSW 2009, and it positively SUCKS that we're going to miss it! It comes highly recommended from IndieFilmSpotlight's Larry Richman. Film co-stars 2009 PNR #1 Rising Star Michael Welch.

Machotaildrop
Walter Rhum’s objective is to ride for the world’s greatest skateboard company, Machotaildrop, in this surreal, visually inventive film. On our radar since Toronto, said to be absolutely one of the best films of recent days

Bass Ackwards
In this feature by Linas Phillips, a man fresh from a break-up with a married woman embarks on a road trip in a VW bus. This comes highly recommended to me from a friend who saw it at another festival earlier this year.

The Good, The Bad, The Weird
In this Korean Western, three Outlaws in 1930s Manchuria attempt to recover a map to buried treasure in this frenetic, high-octane action film. This also comes highly recommended to me by a number of friends who saw it.

Also recommended:

Cairo Time
Patricia Clarkson stars in this romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people completely off-guard. Co-sponsored by the Chlotrudis Society For Independent Film.

Down Terrace
This genre-busting film depicts the members of a crime family as they attempt to restore their business dealings after time spent in jail.

Drones
An unassuming guy is shocked out of his dull, everyday work routine when he discovers that his co-workers aren’t exactly from this planet in the latest film by Amber Benson and Adam Busch.

The Extra Man
In this urbane comedy, Paul Dano and Kevin Kline play writers who sideline as escorts for wealthy widowed socialites.

Harmony and Me
Recently dumped, Harmony seeks solace through various encounters in this wry comedy.

I Am Love
The wife of an Italian industrial magnate (Tilda Swinton) embarks on a dangerous affair in this sumptuous film.

The Killer Inside Me
Casey Affleck portrays a Texas deputy sheriff whose dormant violent tendencies resurface. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Lovers of Hate
Dark comedy about two alienated brothers whose sibling rivalry extends to their relationship with the same woman.

Putty Hill
After a young man dies from a drug overdose his friends gather to reflect on his life and loss.

Tiny Furniture
The return home of newly graduated Aura causes family upheaval as she navigates her family’s expectations and warily chooses between 2 potential boyfriends. This was a HUGE audience favorite at SXSW this year.

Erasing David
Director David Bond attempts to disappear to find out just how much private companies and government know about him.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Captivating scars-and-all portrait of the iconic, hardworking Joan Rivers.

The Last Survivor
Survivors struggle to understand the tragedy of genocide by educating others about the mass atrocities that they endured.

Searching for Elliott Smith
Intimate portrait of lo-fi, indie rock sensation Elliott Smith

We hope to be in contact with the filmmakers of the above films in the weeks and months ahead and hopefully will be able to provide you with more extensive coverage of all of these wonderful indie films in the not too distant future!

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Boston International Fest to open with “Harry Brown”

Mar31
2010 Written by tckirkham

The Boston International Film Festival,  running April 16-25 2010 at the AMC Boston Common, has announced it's 2010 line up. Harry Brown, the new thriller starring Sir Michael Caine, will be the Opening Night film.  The BIFF press release is below:

March 20, 2010
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Naomi Kondo

We happily invite you to attend the 8th annual Boston International Film Festival. The  festival is proud to encourage and support independent filmmakers from around the world.  We strive to promote international understanding, by bringing a variety of movies to the diverse Boston community. 

The festival will run from April 16 – April 25 at the AMC/Loews Theater, 175 Tremont
St. in Boston Common. We will be screening over 100 short and feature films from 30
countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Dominican
Republic, France, Germany, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica,
Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tibet, UK, Venezuela, and USA. 

Tickets are $250 for an all Access VIP pass, which includes the opening and closing night galas, $75 for an all screening pass, and $10 for individual sessions.  You can purchase tickets on our website, at the theater or at our office – 101 Tremont St. suite 707 Boston, MA 02108.

For more information and a complete schedule, you can visit our website at www.
bifilmfestival.com or you may contact us via e-mail at info@bifilmfestival.com or by phone
(617) 482 – 3900

We look forward to seeing you at the festival.
Best,
Naomi Kondo
Festival Coordinator
www.bifilmfestival.com

***

The PNR Family of film sites – Popcorn N Roses, Boston Popcorn, Subject:CINEMA, Indie Film Spotlight, and State Of Independence –  will be providing extensive coverage of the Boston International Film Festival beginning with film previews around April 10th.

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Posted in Film - Tagged , , , , ,

Boston International Fest to open with “Harry Brown”

Mar31
2010 Written by popcornnroses

The Boston International Film Festival,  running April 16-25 2010 at the AMC Boston Common, has announced it's 2010 line up. Harry Brown, the new thriller starring Sir Michael Caine, will be the Opening Night film.  The BIFF press release is below:

March 20, 2010
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Naomi Kondo

We happily invite you to attend the 8th annual Boston International Film Festival. The  festival is proud to encourage and support independent filmmakers from around the world.  We strive to promote international understanding, by bringing a variety of movies to the diverse Boston community. 

The festival will run from April 16 – April 25 at the AMC/Loews Theater, 175 Tremont
St. in Boston Common. We will be screening over 100 short and feature films from 30
countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Dominican
Republic, France, Germany, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica,
Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tibet, UK, Venezuela, and USA. 

Tickets are $250 for an all Access VIP pass, which includes the opening and closing night galas, $75 for an all screening pass, and $10 for individual sessions.  You can purchase tickets on our website, at the theater or at our office – 101 Tremont St. suite 707 Boston, MA 02108.

For more information and a complete schedule, you can visit our website at www.
bifilmfestival.com or you may contact us via e-mail at info@bifilmfestival.com or by phone
(617) 482 – 3900

We look forward to seeing you at the festival.
Best,
Naomi Kondo
Festival Coordinator
www.bifilmfestival.com

***

The PNR Family of film sites – Popcorn N Roses, Boston Popcorn, Subject:CINEMA, Indie Film Spotlight, and State Of Independence –  will be providing extensive coverage of the Boston International Film Festival beginning with film previews around April 10th.

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Festival Buzz, Film, General Announcements, Weblogs - Tagged , , , , ,

Critical faves, controversial dramas grace IFF Boston’s film slate for 2010

Mar25
2010 Written by tckirkham

The Independent Film Festival of Boston has announced it's 2010 slate of films. The festival runs April 21-28 this year, with most (but not all) films running at the Somerville Theatre.

Watch SOI and our sister sites Popcorn N Roses, Indie Film Spotlight, and Boston Popcorn for continuing coverage during the run up to the festival. We are planning several podcasts surrounding the spring festival scene in Boston – watch for more info!

8th Annual Independent Film Festival Boston : April 21 – 28, 2010

Narrative Features

Bass Ackwards

In this feature by Linas Phillips, a man fresh from a break-up with a married woman embarks on a road trip in a VW bus.
Cairo Time

Patricia Clarkson stars in this romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people completely off-guard.
Cell 211

In this Goya Award-winning suspense thriller from Spain, a rookie guard is trapped inside a prison during a riot and must pretend he is a prisoner to survive.
Cracks

Sexual tension between a teacher and her students simmers to a boil in a 1930s female boarding school.
Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee

A former roadie, Le Donk, aspires to take a rapper from the Midlands to the heights of fame with the help of the Artic Monkeys in this mockumentary by Shane Meadow (THIS IS ENGLAND).
Down Terrace

This genre-busting film depicts the members of a crime family as they attempt to restore their business dealings after time spent in jail.
Drones

An unassuming guy is shocked out of his dull, everyday work routine when he discovers that his co-workers aren’t exactly from this planet in the latest film by Amber Benson and Adam Busch.
The Extra Man

In this urbane comedy, Paul Dano and Kevin Kline play writers who sideline as escorts for wealthy widowed socialites.
Father of My Children

This French drama serves as an exploration of the hardships of filmmaking and rumination on loss and hope.
The Freebie

In Katie Aselton’s directorial debut, a young couple (Dax Shepard and Aselton) consents to permit each other one night of freedom from their monogamous relationship.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird

In this Korean Western, three Outlaws in 1930s Manchuria attempt to recover a map to buried treasure in this frenetic, high-octane action film.
Harmony and Me

Recently dumped, Harmony seeks solace through various encounters in this wry comedy.
Hipsters (Stylyagi)

This Russian musical puts a bright new spin on a traditional film genre throwing the viewer into a world that’s somehow both familiar and strange.
I Am Love

The wife of an Italian industrial magnate (Tilda Swinton) embarks on a dangerous affair in this sumptuous film.
The Killer Inside Me

Casey Affleck portrays a Texas deputy sheriff whose dormant violent tendencies resurface. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Life During Wartime

Todd Solondz revisits the characters from his previous films recast with different actors including Ally Sheedy and Allison Janney.
Looking for Eric

A postman seeks the spiritual and philosophical advice of famous footballer Eric Cantona in this film by Ken Loach.
Lovers of Hate

Dark comedy about two alienated brothers whose sibling rivalry extends to their relationship with the same woman.
Machotaildrop

Walter Rhum’s objective is to ride for the world’s greatest skateboard company, Machotaildrop, in this surreal, visually inventive film.
My Suicide

Archibald Holden Buster Williams’ school project is to kill himself on camera.
Perrier’s Bounty

This thriller set in Dublin stars Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy and Jim Broadbent.
Phillip the Fossil

Garth Donovan’s gritty portrait of a small town party animal on the brink of evolution or extinction.
Putty Hill

After a young man dies from a drug overdose his friends gather to reflect on his life and loss.
Solitary Man

Michael Douglas portrays a used car magnate whose personal demons dismantle his life.
Soul Kitchen

Zinos tirelessly attempts to save his Greek restaurant and relationship with his girlfriend while keeping his brother out of jail in this German comedy.
Tiny Furniture

The return home of newly graduated Aura causes family upheaval as she navigates her family’s expectations and warily chooses between 2 potential boyfriends.
Winter's Bone

Ree desperately searches for her father whose disappearance after posting bail risks her losing their Ozark home. Stars John Hawkes (Deadwood, Lost).

Documentary Features

8: The Mormon Proposition

Investigates the Mormon Church’s role with passing California’s Proposition 8.
9500 Liberty

A county in Virginia becomes a battleground for immigration policy in the U.S.
American: The Bill Hicks Story

An oral history about the life of the late, influential comedian told in a revolutionary animated style by the people who knew him best.
Anne Perry: Interiors

Intimate portrait of the author who was the inspiration for HEAVENLY CREATURES.
Bananas!*

Twelve Nicaraguan banana workers sue Dole Food over their use of a dangerous pesticide known to cause sterility.
Bear Nation

From the director of SMALL TOWN GAY BAR comes a look at one of the lesser-known subculture within the gay community. Includes interviews with Bob Mould and Kevin Smith
Beijing Taxi

The lives and struggles of three taxi drivers navigating their way through a rapidly changing city is revealed.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money

Alex Gibney (THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER) investigates lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his trail of lies and deceit.
Colony

An examination of the loss of bee population that is by turns lyrical and straightforward.
Convention

A fascinating glimpse of the turbulent machinery behind the 2008 Democratic Convention.
Dirty Pictures

The ”father of ecstacy” discusses how chemistry has led to enlightenment for him and his wife.
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan

Retired US Army Lt. Dan Smith, revisiting the battlefields of Vietnam in 2006, encounters, McKinley, a private who disappeared 40 years earlier.
Do It Again

Boston Globe writer Geoff Edgers fights an uphill battle to reunite the Kinks.
The Elephant in the Living Room

Documentary about the dangers and responsibilities associated with keeping exotic animals as pets.
Erasing David

Director David Bond attempts to disappear to find out just how much private companies and government know about him.
Family Affair

At age 10, Chico Colvard accidentally shot his sister in the leg which inadvertently exposed a shocking, long buried family secret.
His & Hers

A 90-year-old love story told through the collective voice of 70 ladies at different stages of their lives
How to Fold a Flag

Examines the difficulties facing returning veterans of the Iraqi War.
I’m Dangerous with Love

Dimitri Mugianis, addicted to drugs and alcohol is aided by an experimental treatment utilizing ibogaine, a hallucinogen used by African shaman for centuries.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Portrait of the short life of celebrated Neo-Expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Captivating scars-and-all portrait of the iconic, hardworking Joan Rivers.
The Last Survivor

Survivors struggle to understand the tragedy of genocide by educating others about the mass atrocities that they endured.
Lemmy

Follows the legendary heart of Motörhead from his LA apartment to an arena in Russia and back.
Life 2.0

A filmmaker adopts an avatar to fully engage and explore the world of Second Life, an online community where the inhabitants are the digital representations.
The Lottery

Examines the anxious months preceding the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful public charter schools in the country.
Marwencol

A man deals with being savagely beaten by creating beautiful photographs of G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls to narrate his fantasy life.
NY Export: Opus Jazz

In this vivid, gorgeously-shot adaptation of a lesser-known ballet by Academy Award-winning choreographer Jerome Robbins (WEST SIDE STORY), New York City Ballet dancers take to the streets and warehouses of New York, bringing an invigorating new energy to the form
The Oath

The story of two brothers-in-law, close to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, and their very different outcomes post 9/11.
October Country

Intimately tracks a year in the life of four generations of a family trying to attain stability in an impoverished area of Upstate New York.
On the Other Side of Life

A gripping account of two brothers struggling to balance modernity and tradition in Cape Town.
Orgasm Inc.

This hilarious and thought-provoking documentary explores the world of pharmaceutical companies attempting to get FDA approval for the first Viagra-like product for women.
The Parking Lot Movie

“It’s not just a Parking Lot. It’s a battle with humanity” This doc explores the lessons of learned by those that work in parking lots.
Pelada

The transformative and influential power of soccer is explored in areas as far flung as Bolivia, to China, Kenya, Iraq and Brazil.
Searching for Elliott Smith

Intimate portrait of lo-fi, indie rock sensation Elliott Smith
Secrets of the Tribe

Fascinating documentary about the effects of anthropologists on a remote tribe in the Amazon
Strange Powers: Magnetic Fields

A rare opportunity to become acquainted with cantankerous musician and writer, Stephen Merritt
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam

Traces the origin of Muslim punk scene from its conception in a novel by Michael Muhammad Knight to a fully realized movement.
War Don Don

Thoughtful examination of the protracted, costly and questionable process of how war criminals were prosecuted in Sierra Leone.
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Posted in Film - Tagged , , , , ,

Independent Film Festival of Boston announces 2010 slate of films

Mar25
2010 Written by popcornnroses

The Independent Film Festival of Boston has announced it's 2010 slate of films. The festival runs April 21-28 this year, with most (but not all) films running at the Somerville Theatre.

Watch IFS and our sister sites Popcorn N Roses and Boston Popcorn for continuing coverage during the run up to the festival. We are planning several podcasts surrounding the spring festival scene in Boston – watch for more info!

8th Annual Independent Film Festival Boston : April 21 – 28, 2010

Narrative Features

Bass Ackwards

In this feature by Linas Phillips, a man fresh from a break-up with a married woman embarks on a road trip in a VW bus.
Cairo Time

Patricia Clarkson stars in this romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people completely off-guard.
Cell 211

In this Goya Award-winning suspense thriller from Spain, a rookie guard is trapped inside a prison during a riot and must pretend he is a prisoner to survive.
Cracks

Sexual tension between a teacher and her students simmers to a boil in a 1930s female boarding school.
Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee

A former roadie, Le Donk, aspires to take a rapper from the Midlands to the heights of fame with the help of the Artic Monkeys in this mockumentary by Shane Meadow (THIS IS ENGLAND).
Down Terrace

This genre-busting film depicts the members of a crime family as they attempt to restore their business dealings after time spent in jail.
Drones

An unassuming guy is shocked out of his dull, everyday work routine when he discovers that his co-workers aren’t exactly from this planet in the latest film by Amber Benson and Adam Busch.
The Extra Man

In this urbane comedy, Paul Dano and Kevin Kline play writers who sideline as escorts for wealthy widowed socialites.
Father of My Children

This French drama serves as an exploration of the hardships of filmmaking and rumination on loss and hope.
The Freebie

In Katie Aselton’s directorial debut, a young couple (Dax Shepard and Aselton) consents to permit each other one night of freedom from their monogamous relationship.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird

In this Korean Western, three Outlaws in 1930s Manchuria attempt to recover a map to buried treasure in this frenetic, high-octane action film.
Harmony and Me

Recently dumped, Harmony seeks solace through various encounters in this wry comedy.
Hipsters (Stylyagi)

This Russian musical puts a bright new spin on a traditional film genre throwing the viewer into a world that’s somehow both familiar and strange.
I Am Love

The wife of an Italian industrial magnate (Tilda Swinton) embarks on a dangerous affair in this sumptuous film.
The Killer Inside Me

Casey Affleck portrays a Texas deputy sheriff whose dormant violent tendencies resurface. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Life During Wartime

Todd Solondz revisits the characters from his previous films recast with different actors including Ally Sheedy and Allison Janney.
Looking for Eric

A postman seeks the spiritual and philosophical advice of famous footballer Eric Cantona in this film by Ken Loach.
Lovers of Hate

Dark comedy about two alienated brothers whose sibling rivalry extends to their relationship with the same woman.
Machotaildrop

Walter Rhum’s objective is to ride for the world’s greatest skateboard company, Machotaildrop, in this surreal, visually inventive film.
My Suicide

Archibald Holden Buster Williams’ school project is to kill himself on camera.
Perrier’s Bounty

This thriller set in Dublin stars Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy and Jim Broadbent.
Phillip the Fossil

Garth Donovan’s gritty portrait of a small town party animal on the brink of evolution or extinction.
Putty Hill

After a young man dies from a drug overdose his friends gather to reflect on his life and loss.
Solitary Man

Michael Douglas portrays a used car magnate whose personal demons dismantle his life.
Soul Kitchen

Zinos tirelessly attempts to save his Greek restaurant and relationship with his girlfriend while keeping his brother out of jail in this German comedy.
Tiny Furniture

The return home of newly graduated Aura causes family upheaval as she navigates her family’s expectations and warily chooses between 2 potential boyfriends.
Winter's Bone

Ree desperately searches for her father whose disappearance after posting bail risks her losing their Ozark home. Stars John Hawkes (Deadwood, Lost).

Documentary Features

8: The Mormon Proposition

Investigates the Mormon Church’s role with passing California’s Proposition 8.
9500 Liberty

A county in Virginia becomes a battleground for immigration policy in the U.S.
American: The Bill Hicks Story

An oral history about the life of the late, influential comedian told in a revolutionary animated style by the people who knew him best.
Anne Perry: Interiors

Intimate portrait of the author who was the inspiration for HEAVENLY CREATURES.
Bananas!*

Twelve Nicaraguan banana workers sue Dole Food over their use of a dangerous pesticide known to cause sterility.
Bear Nation

From the director of SMALL TOWN GAY BAR comes a look at one of the lesser-known subculture within the gay community. Includes interviews with Bob Mould and Kevin Smith
Beijing Taxi

The lives and struggles of three taxi drivers navigating their way through a rapidly changing city is revealed.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money

Alex Gibney (THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER) investigates lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his trail of lies and deceit.
Colony

An examination of the loss of bee population that is by turns lyrical and straightforward.
Convention

A fascinating glimpse of the turbulent machinery behind the 2008 Democratic Convention.
Dirty Pictures

The ”father of ecstacy” discusses how chemistry has led to enlightenment for him and his wife.
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan

Retired US Army Lt. Dan Smith, revisiting the battlefields of Vietnam in 2006, encounters, McKinley, a private who disappeared 40 years earlier.
Do It Again

Boston Globe writer Geoff Edgers fights an uphill battle to reunite the Kinks.
The Elephant in the Living Room

Documentary about the dangers and responsibilities associated with keeping exotic animals as pets.
Erasing David

Director David Bond attempts to disappear to find out just how much private companies and government know about him.
Family Affair

At age 10, Chico Colvard accidentally shot his sister in the leg which inadvertently exposed a shocking, long buried family secret.
His & Hers

A 90-year-old love story told through the collective voice of 70 ladies at different stages of their lives
How to Fold a Flag

Examines the difficulties facing returning veterans of the Iraqi War.
I’m Dangerous with Love

Dimitri Mugianis, addicted to drugs and alcohol is aided by an experimental treatment utilizing ibogaine, a hallucinogen used by African shaman for centuries.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Portrait of the short life of celebrated Neo-Expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Captivating scars-and-all portrait of the iconic, hardworking Joan Rivers.
The Last Survivor

Survivors struggle to understand the tragedy of genocide by educating others about the mass atrocities that they endured.
Lemmy

Follows the legendary heart of Motörhead from his LA apartment to an arena in Russia and back.
Life 2.0

A filmmaker adopts an avatar to fully engage and explore the world of Second Life, an online community where the inhabitants are the digital representations.
The Lottery

Examines the anxious months preceding the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful public charter schools in the country.
Marwencol

A man deals with being savagely beaten by creating beautiful photographs of G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls to narrate his fantasy life.
NY Export: Opus Jazz

In this vivid, gorgeously-shot adaptation of a lesser-known ballet by Academy Award-winning choreographer Jerome Robbins (WEST SIDE STORY), New York City Ballet dancers take to the streets and warehouses of New York, bringing an invigorating new energy to the form
The Oath

The story of two brothers-in-law, close to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, and their very different outcomes post 9/11.
October Country

Intimately tracks a year in the life of four generations of a family trying to attain stability in an impoverished area of Upstate New York.
On the Other Side of Life

A gripping account of two brothers struggling to balance modernity and tradition in Cape Town.
Orgasm Inc.

This hilarious and thought-provoking documentary explores the world of pharmaceutical companies attempting to get FDA approval for the first Viagra-like product for women.
The Parking Lot Movie

“It’s not just a Parking Lot. It’s a battle with humanity” This doc explores the lessons of learned by those that work in parking lots.
Pelada

The transformative and influential power of soccer is explored in areas as far flung as Bolivia, to China, Kenya, Iraq and Brazil.
Searching for Elliott Smith

Intimate portrait of lo-fi, indie rock sensation Elliott Smith
Secrets of the Tribe

Fascinating documentary about the effects of anthropologists on a remote tribe in the Amazon
Strange Powers: Magnetic Fields

A rare opportunity to become acquainted with cantankerous musician and writer, Stephen Merritt
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam

Traces the origin of Muslim punk scene from its conception in a novel by Michael Muhammad Knight to a fully realized movement.
War Don Don

Thoughtful examination of the protracted, costly and questionable process of how war criminals were prosecuted in Sierra Leone.
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Posted in Festival Spotlight On..., Film, General Announcements, Indie Buzz - Tagged , , , , ,

Chlotrudis Awards this Sunday at Cambridge’s Brattle Theater

Mar19
2010 Written by tckirkham

The Trudy Awards, handed out by the Boston-based Chlotrudis
Society For Independent Film, will be announced at this years'
annual awards ceremony, being held at Cambridge's Brattle Theatre,
this Sunday, March 21st, at 5 PM.  Tickets are $20 each for the general
public, $15 for Chlotrudis or Brattle members, and can be purchased at
the Brattle Theatre or at their website, http://brattlefilm.org.

The awards ceremony's special guest of honor this year is actress Beth
Grant, known for her work in films such as No Country For Old
Men and Little Miss Sunshine among other films.

For the second year in a row, TC and Kim will be presenters at the
awards, so if you're a Boston Popcorn, Subject:CINEMA, Popcorn N
Roses, or Indie Film Spotlight fan, please say hi!

Following below are the press releases about this year's awards and
the guest of honor!

@@@

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY FOR INDEPENDENT FILM ANNOUNCES
2009 NOMINATIONS –     BEST PIC NOMS SHARE TOP HONORS

Boston MA – Nominations for the 16th annual Chlotrudis Awards were
finalized by the
film group’s nominating committee this past weekend.  The strength and
breadth of this year’s best eligible films is evident in the
extraordinarily even and consistent spread of nominations across the top
categories.  All five films nominated for Best Picture received 4
nominations, which was the highest number of nominations given any film.
In addition, all received at least one lead acting or ensemble
nomination, and all but one were nominated for Best Director.

The five films nominated for Best Picture and sharing top billing in
most nominations received are: Claire Denis’ 35 SHOTS OF RUM, BAD
LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL – NEW ORLEANS the latest from Werner Herzog,
recent DGA recipient Kathryn Bigelow’s THE HURT LOCKER, STILL WALKING
from Japan’s Hirokazu Koreeda and Michael Haneke’s THE WHITE RIBBON. 
Also joining them as top nomination getter is A SINGLE MAN, Tom Ford’s
directorial debut. 

In all, 39 films received nominations; 19 countries were represented,
with US films making up barely 40%.  There were other multiple nominees,
among them three-timers AN EDUCATION, IN THE LOOP and PRECIOUS: BASED
ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE; however this year’s nominations were
sprinkled far and wide – almost three-quarters of the nominated films
received only one nomination.   Female directors had a fairly strong
showing this year, with 10 films helmed by women among the nominees.

In the Society’s most competitive and prestigious category, the Buried
Treasure, the final nominees were CHERRY BLOSSOMS from Germany’s Dorit
Dorrie, about a widower honoring his late wife’s lifelong wish to visit
Japan; THE NEW YEAR PARADE, set in Philadelphia amid Mummers;  and three
UK films: BRONSON, with Tom Hardy’s tour de force portrayal of
England’s most notorious prisoner; OF TIME AND THE CITY, Terence Davies’
love/hate ode to the Liverpool of his boyhood; and the gritty SOMERS
TOWN about the friendship between two rootless boys in London.

The Buried Treasure is the only category with eligibility requirements:
nominated films must have earned less than $250,000 in its U.S.
theatrical run, and members can submit no more than 3 entries for films
they feel strongly were given distributional short shrift and deserve a
wider audience.   A shortlist is then compiled before the final vote,
and those selections are published on the group’s website and in a
separate press release.  Once the final ballot is set, all members
voting in the category must verify that they have watched in full all of
the nominated films.

For over a decade, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film has
highlighted its commitment to independent and foreign film in style by
holding its own black-tie CHLOTRUDIS AWARDS ceremony in early spring. 
The 2010 edition will be held Sunday March 21st at the historic Brattle
Theatre, and the public is invited to join Chlotrudis members, nominees
and special guests in the celebration.

In addition to the competitive categories, Chlotrudis also presents
special awards that honor individuals or films for particular
distinction.  Past recipients Ellen Page (Breakthrough Award ‘05), Kerry
Washington (Breakthrough Award ‘04), Don McKellar (Body of Work Award
‘07) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (first Hall of Fame inductee) are among
those who have made the trek to Boston to be honored for their
contributions to independent film.   This year’s recipients are still
being finalized at press time.
 
The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film is a Boston-based non-profit
group that teaches people to view film actively and experience the
world through independent film, and encourages discussion.  The group
works with film festivals, local art-houses and theatres, production
companies, directors and actors to bring creative, quality films to the
attention of audiences and film-lovers.   Visit its website,
http://www.chlotrudis.org for more information.

A complete list of the nominations for the 16th Annual Chlotrudis Awards
follows:

BEST MOVIE
35 Shots of Rum
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
Still Walking
The White Ribbon

BEST DIRECTOR
Claire Denis– 35 Shots of Rum
Werner Herzog – The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
Gotz Spielmann – Revanche
Hirokazu Koreeda – Still Walking
Michael Haneke – The White Ribbon

BEST ACTOR
Nicolas Cage – The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
Sam Rockwell – Moon
Baard Owe – O’Horten
Colin Firth – A Single Man

BEST ACTRESS
Nisreen Faour – Amreeka
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Antichrist
Abbie Cornish – Bright Star
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Catalina Saavedra – The Maid
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Yolande Moreau – Seraphine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alfred Molina – An Education
Mads Mikkelsen – Flame and Citron
Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker
Peter Capaldi – In the Loop
Christian McKay – Me and Orson Welles

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rinko Kikuchi – The Brothers Bloom
Alycia Delmore – Humpday
Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Ursula Strauss – Revanche
Julianne Moore – A Single Man

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
35 Shots of Rum
In the Loop
Still Walking
Summer Hours
The White Ribbon

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Beaches of Agnes
Me and Orson Welles
Moon
A Single Man
Sita Sings the Blues

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Agnes Godard – 35 Shots of Rum
Anthony Dod Mantle – Antichrist
John Christian Rosenlund – O’Horten
Alexis Zabe – Silent Light
Christian Berger – The White Ribbon

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Class
An Education
Gomorrah
Pontypool
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Single Man

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
(500) Days of Summer
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
In the Loop
Still Walking

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Beaches of Agnes
La Danse
Good Hair
Herb and Dorothy
Theatre of War
Unmistaken Child

BURIED TREASURE
Bronson
Cherry Blossoms
The New Year Parade
Of Time and the City
Somers Town

#####

BOSTON'S CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY HONORS CHARACTER ACTRESS  BETH GRANT AT
ANNUAL INDIE FILM AWARD CEREMONY

Boston MA – On Sunday March 21st, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent
Film will honor the prolific and well-regarded character actress, Beth
Grant, during its 16th Annual Chlotrudis Awards ceremony at the historic
Brattle Theatre.  Ms. Grant will be in attendance to accept her special
award from Chlotrudis, to honor her long and varied career, and to
celebrate her achievements in the field so far.  The show begins at 5
pm, and tickets are $20 ($15 for Chlotrudis and Brattle members), and
can be purchased online at the Brattle's website, starting February 5th.

Beth Grant is exactly the kind of actor Chlotrudis loves to honor.  Like
Maury Chaykin and Alberta Watson, previous recipients of the
"Career-so-far" award, Beth Grant is one of those people whose name you
may not be familiar with, but whose face and memorable performances you
will recognize from dozens of independent and mainstream films, and
television. This Alabama native has appeared in well over 100 films and
television productions, impressive considering she didn't start acting
until her late thirties. Among her films are past Chlotrudis notables NO
COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and SAFE. She has also
appeared in such films as FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, RAIN MAN, SPEED, and TO
WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR.  Her numerous television
appearances include "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "Wonderfalls," "Six
Feet Under,' "Everwood," and "Malcolm in the Middle."

Ms. Grant most recently appeared on screen in the acclaimed film CRAZY
HEART, and appearances in another ten films in the pipeline. In addition
to acting, which is her first love, Beth Grant has ventured into
production, with her latest effort, HERPES BOY, currently enjoying the
festival circuit. But perhaps her most beloved and enduring role is one
that is a favorite among Chlotrudis members: her performance as Kittie
Farmer in DONNIE DARKO, in which she uttered the immortal words,
"Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion."

The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film is a Boston-based non-profit
group that teaches people to view film actively and experience the
world through independent film, and encourages discussion.  The group
works with film festivals, local art-houses and theatres, production
companies, directors and actors to bring creative, quality films to the
attention of audiences and film-lovers. Visit its website,
http://www.chlotrudis.org, for a list of all this year's nominees, and
join its Facebook page and twitter feed for the latest news.

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Film - Tagged , , , , ,

Chlotrudis Awards this Sunday at Cambridge’s Brattle Theater

Mar19
2010 Written by popcornnroses

The Trudy Awards, handed out by the Boston-based Chlotrudis
Society For Independent Film, will be announced at this years'
annual awards ceremony, being held at Cambridge's Brattle Theatre,
this Sunday, March 21st, at 5 PM.  Tickets are $20 each for the general
public, $15 for Chlotrudis or Brattle members, and can be purchased at
the Brattle Theatre or at their website, http://brattlefilm.org.

The awards ceremony's special guest of honor this year is actress Beth
Grant, known for her work in films such as No Country For Old
Men and Little Miss Sunshine among other films.

For the second year in a row, TC and Kim will be presenters at the
awards, so if you're a Boston Popcorn, Subject:CINEMA, Popcorn N
Roses, or Indie Film Spotlight fan, please say hi!

Following below are the press releases about this year's awards and
the guest of honor!

@@@

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY FOR INDEPENDENT FILM ANNOUNCES
2009 NOMINATIONS –     BEST PIC NOMS SHARE TOP HONORS

Boston MA – Nominations for the 16th annual Chlotrudis Awards were
finalized by the
film group’s nominating committee this past weekend.  The strength and
breadth of this year’s best eligible films is evident in the
extraordinarily even and consistent spread of nominations across the top
categories.  All five films nominated for Best Picture received 4
nominations, which was the highest number of nominations given any film.
In addition, all received at least one lead acting or ensemble
nomination, and all but one were nominated for Best Director.

The five films nominated for Best Picture and sharing top billing in
most nominations received are: Claire Denis’ 35 SHOTS OF RUM, BAD
LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL – NEW ORLEANS the latest from Werner Herzog,
recent DGA recipient Kathryn Bigelow’s THE HURT LOCKER, STILL WALKING
from Japan’s Hirokazu Koreeda and Michael Haneke’s THE WHITE RIBBON. 
Also joining them as top nomination getter is A SINGLE MAN, Tom Ford’s
directorial debut. 

In all, 39 films received nominations; 19 countries were represented,
with US films making up barely 40%.  There were other multiple nominees,
among them three-timers AN EDUCATION, IN THE LOOP and PRECIOUS: BASED
ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE; however this year’s nominations were
sprinkled far and wide – almost three-quarters of the nominated films
received only one nomination.   Female directors had a fairly strong
showing this year, with 10 films helmed by women among the nominees.

In the Society’s most competitive and prestigious category, the Buried
Treasure, the final nominees were CHERRY BLOSSOMS from Germany’s Dorit
Dorrie, about a widower honoring his late wife’s lifelong wish to visit
Japan; THE NEW YEAR PARADE, set in Philadelphia amid Mummers;  and three
UK films: BRONSON, with Tom Hardy’s tour de force portrayal of
England’s most notorious prisoner; OF TIME AND THE CITY, Terence Davies’
love/hate ode to the Liverpool of his boyhood; and the gritty SOMERS
TOWN about the friendship between two rootless boys in London.

The Buried Treasure is the only category with eligibility requirements:
nominated films must have earned less than $250,000 in its U.S.
theatrical run, and members can submit no more than 3 entries for films
they feel strongly were given distributional short shrift and deserve a
wider audience.   A shortlist is then compiled before the final vote,
and those selections are published on the group’s website and in a
separate press release.  Once the final ballot is set, all members
voting in the category must verify that they have watched in full all of
the nominated films.

For over a decade, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film has
highlighted its commitment to independent and foreign film in style by
holding its own black-tie CHLOTRUDIS AWARDS ceremony in early spring. 
The 2010 edition will be held Sunday March 21st at the historic Brattle
Theatre, and the public is invited to join Chlotrudis members, nominees
and special guests in the celebration.

In addition to the competitive categories, Chlotrudis also presents
special awards that honor individuals or films for particular
distinction.  Past recipients Ellen Page (Breakthrough Award ‘05), Kerry
Washington (Breakthrough Award ‘04), Don McKellar (Body of Work Award
‘07) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (first Hall of Fame inductee) are among
those who have made the trek to Boston to be honored for their
contributions to independent film.   This year’s recipients are still
being finalized at press time.
 
The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film is a Boston-based non-profit
group that teaches people to view film actively and experience the
world through independent film, and encourages discussion.  The group
works with film festivals, local art-houses and theatres, production
companies, directors and actors to bring creative, quality films to the
attention of audiences and film-lovers.   Visit its website,
http://www.chlotrudis.org for more information.

A complete list of the nominations for the 16th Annual Chlotrudis Awards
follows:

BEST MOVIE
35 Shots of Rum
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
Still Walking
The White Ribbon

BEST DIRECTOR
Claire Denis– 35 Shots of Rum
Werner Herzog – The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
Gotz Spielmann – Revanche
Hirokazu Koreeda – Still Walking
Michael Haneke – The White Ribbon

BEST ACTOR
Nicolas Cage – The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
Sam Rockwell – Moon
Baard Owe – O’Horten
Colin Firth – A Single Man

BEST ACTRESS
Nisreen Faour – Amreeka
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Antichrist
Abbie Cornish – Bright Star
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Catalina Saavedra – The Maid
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Yolande Moreau – Seraphine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alfred Molina – An Education
Mads Mikkelsen – Flame and Citron
Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker
Peter Capaldi – In the Loop
Christian McKay – Me and Orson Welles

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rinko Kikuchi – The Brothers Bloom
Alycia Delmore – Humpday
Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Ursula Strauss – Revanche
Julianne Moore – A Single Man

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
35 Shots of Rum
In the Loop
Still Walking
Summer Hours
The White Ribbon

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Beaches of Agnes
Me and Orson Welles
Moon
A Single Man
Sita Sings the Blues

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Agnes Godard – 35 Shots of Rum
Anthony Dod Mantle – Antichrist
John Christian Rosenlund – O’Horten
Alexis Zabe – Silent Light
Christian Berger – The White Ribbon

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Class
An Education
Gomorrah
Pontypool
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Single Man

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
(500) Days of Summer
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
In the Loop
Still Walking

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Beaches of Agnes
La Danse
Good Hair
Herb and Dorothy
Theatre of War
Unmistaken Child

BURIED TREASURE
Bronson
Cherry Blossoms
The New Year Parade
Of Time and the City
Somers Town

#####

BOSTON'S CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY HONORS CHARACTER ACTRESS  BETH GRANT AT
ANNUAL INDIE FILM AWARD CEREMONY

Boston MA – On Sunday March 21st, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent
Film will honor the prolific and well-regarded character actress, Beth
Grant, during its 16th Annual Chlotrudis Awards ceremony at the historic
Brattle Theatre.  Ms. Grant will be in attendance to accept her special
award from Chlotrudis, to honor her long and varied career, and to
celebrate her achievements in the field so far.  The show begins at 5
pm, and tickets are $20 ($15 for Chlotrudis and Brattle members), and
can be purchased online at the Brattle's website, starting February 5th.

Beth Grant is exactly the kind of actor Chlotrudis loves to honor.  Like
Maury Chaykin and Alberta Watson, previous recipients of the
"Career-so-far" award, Beth Grant is one of those people whose name you
may not be familiar with, but whose face and memorable performances you
will recognize from dozens of independent and mainstream films, and
television. This Alabama native has appeared in well over 100 films and
television productions, impressive considering she didn't start acting
until her late thirties. Among her films are past Chlotrudis notables NO
COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and SAFE. She has also
appeared in such films as FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, RAIN MAN, SPEED, and TO
WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR.  Her numerous television
appearances include "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "Wonderfalls," "Six
Feet Under,' "Everwood," and "Malcolm in the Middle."

Ms. Grant most recently appeared on screen in the acclaimed film CRAZY
HEART, and appearances in another ten films in the pipeline. In addition
to acting, which is her first love, Beth Grant has ventured into
production, with her latest effort, HERPES BOY, currently enjoying the
festival circuit. But perhaps her most beloved and enduring role is one
that is a favorite among Chlotrudis members: her performance as Kittie
Farmer in DONNIE DARKO, in which she uttered the immortal words,
"Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion."

The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film is a Boston-based non-profit
group that teaches people to view film actively and experience the
world through independent film, and encourages discussion.  The group
works with film festivals, local art-houses and theatres, production
companies, directors and actors to bring creative, quality films to the
attention of audiences and film-lovers. Visit its website,
http://www.chlotrudis.org, for a list of all this year's nominees, and
join its Facebook page and twitter feed for the latest news.

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Boston critics pick indie fave “The Hurt Locker” as best picture

Dec13
2009 Written by tckirkham

Boston Film Critics Society have named Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq drama The Hurt Locker as best picture of 2009, and also awarded Bigelow best director. Meryl Streep and Jeremy Renner were named best actress and actor respectively for "Julie and Julia" and "The Hurt Locker". Best ensemble was a tie for "Precious" and, in somewhat of a stunner, "Star Trek".

The complete winners list:

Best Picture

    Hurt Locker

 Best Actor

    Jeremy Renner for Hurt Locker

Best Actress

     Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor

     Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds

 Best Supporting Actress

    Mo'Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

 Best Director

    Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker

Best Screenplay

     Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A Serious Man

Best Cinematography

    Barry Ackroyd for Hurt Locker

Best Documentary

    The Cove

Best Animated Film

    Up

Best Film Editing

    Bob Murawski and Chris Innis for Hurt Locker

 Best New Filmmaker

     Neill Blomkamp for District 9

Best Ensemble Cast

     Tie between Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire and Star Trek

Best Use of Music in a Film
     Crazy Heart

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25th Annual Boston Film Festival gets underway this Friday

Sep14
2009 Written by tckirkham

I apologize for being late getting this up, but we were never
notified that it was happening. Had we been notified, we would have
surely started coverage several weeks ago. It's a shame, because now
filmmakers who want coverage from BP and Indie Film Spotlight will have
to scramble to get their screeners and info to us before the festival
starts…

***

25th Boston Film Festival Program includes 8 World Premieres
26 Feature Films and 22 Short Films

Opening Night Premiere is “Motherhood” starring Uma Thurman

Boston,
MA, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 — Several world premieres highlight “The 25th
Boston Film Festival” September 18-24 at the Kendall Square Theaters.
“Motherhood,” starring Uma Thurman, will open the silver anniversary of
the festival’s schedule of films. As previously announced, Thurman will
travel to Boston to receive the Film Excellence Award.

Tickets
for the festival’s screenings are available at the theaters’ box office
or by calling (617) 499-1996 or at www.landmarktheaters.com beginning
September 8. This year’s sponsors are: NBC Universal, Disney ABC,
Bravo, Bloomingdale’s, and Landmark Theatres.

Actors confirmed to
attend the festival at press time include Raymond J. Barry, Tom
Berenger, Erin Cardillo, Olympia Dukakis, Denton Blane Everett, John
Heard, Burgess Jenkins, Jorge Jimenez, Brian LaFontaine, Chad Lindberg,
Alyssa Lobit , Glen Morshower, Jeffrey Nordling, Johnny Pacar, Andrea
Powell, Aidan Quinn, Campbell Scott, Jamey Sheridan, Uma Thurman, and
John Whitworth. Additional announcements about celebrities in
attendance will be made upon completion of their travel arrangements.

Executive
Director Robin Dawson said, “This is a landmark year for our City’s
film community with the celebration of the festival’s 25th year of
bringing Hollywood to Boston. Presenting a program of films that
entertains and illuminates important social issues is the passion of
the festival’s screening committee.”

A variety of Boston’s
premiere restaurants will host filmmakers at evening receptions during
the seven day festival. “As the origin of many illustrious
storytellers, the region provides an idyllic setting to experience a
festival of motion pictures,” added Dawson. “It is a special joy to
honor native Boston actress Uma Thurman for her exceptional work as
well as to welcome home many Massachusetts-born directors, producers,
actors this year. We’re also excited to introduce the new medical and
environmental programs that will educate audiences on important
subjects.”
The 2009 Boston Film Festival Film Excellence Award will be presented
to Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated Actress Uma Thurman on Opening
Night following the East Coast premiere of her film “Motherhood” on
Friday September 18, 2009 at the Landmark Kendall Square Theatre. The
Boston-born actress, Thurman has an extensive repertoire of critically
acclaimed as well as commercially successful movies including the cult
hits, “Kill Bill Vol. I and II,” “Batman & Robin,’ in addition to
“Prime,” and “The Producers.”

A poignant comedy set in Manhattan,
“Motherhood” takes place over the course of a single day as Eliza
(Thurman) looks after her two young children while struggling to hang
on to her identity as an aspiring writer. The film also stars Minnie
Driver and Anthony Edwards. The director/screenwriter is Katherine
Dieckmann and the producers are Rachel Cohen, Jana Edelbaum, Pamela
Koffler, Christine Vachon, and John Wells. The movie is set for release
in theatres next month.

Four world premiere films will be
presented on Saturday. The indie film “Insignificant Others” (director
John Schwert) stars Burgess Jenkins (“Remember the Titans,”) “Andrea
Powell, and Brian LaFontaine in a multi-narrative drama that navigates
through the different lives of one city’s residents, each of whom is
connected to the same local homicide investigation. Audience members
will also enjoy the world premiere short film “Turning it Over,”
directed by Josh Marchette, that details the life of Jason who can’t
seem to get his life together — a dead end job and past life mistakes
are enough to make him want to go back to his old drinking ways.

Making
its world premiere is the feature film “The Truth,” starring John
Heard, Brendan Sexton III, Erin Cardillo and Daniel Baldwin, and
directed by Ryan Barton-Grimley. The thriller is about a couple that is
taken hostage in their home by an intruder, but what begins as a simple
home invasion robbery begins to turn into something much more
complicated.

Local director Stacey Witt and Phaneendra Medida
debut their world premiere documentary “What Are Your Dreams,” where
individuals are interviewed on the streets of Boston to talk about
their goals and aspirations.

Two East Coast feature film
premieres will be screened on Sunday night. “Love Hurts” stars Richard
E. Grant, Carrie Ann Moss, Johnny Pacar, Camryn Manheim, Janeane
Garofalo and Jeffrey Nordling. The comedy (directed by Barra Grant and
produced by Brian Reilly), is about Ben, a successful doctor but an
obtuse husband, who is left by his wife. Befuddled by life and romance
and obsessed with winning her back, Ben is tutored by his popular 17
year-old son. The film “Handsome Harry,” starring Jamey Sheridan, Aidan
Quinn, Steve Buscemi, Campbell Scott, was directed by Boston native
Bette Gordon. The feature is a powerful drama about an ex-navy man
carrying out the last wish of a dying shipmate who renews contact with
old friends to break the code of silence around a mysterious,
long-buried crime.

There are two new series are being introduced
in this year’s Boston Film Festival. The Medical Spotlight series
presents three films; “Hope Deferred” (director James Siegel and
producer Nikki Sacco) is a documentary about stem cell research; “A
Vision of Wholeness” (director Ben Duffy and producer Steven Puzarne)
is a 30-minute documentary film that looks at a new, revolutionary way
of working with children diagnosed with autism; and “Mito Kids:
Documenting Life” is the story of four teenage sisters who have grown
up with disabilities that stem from mitochondrial disease, a chronic,
genetic disorder. In the latter film, the personal story aims to
increase understanding of the disease and its connection to epilepsy,
diabetes, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Heart Disease. The
documentary’s director Marc Dole is also the father of the young women
featured in the film.

An Environment Spotlight Series will take
place on Wednesday and features the east coast premiere of director
Robert Stone’s “Earth Days.” The highly anticipated documentary is the
story of our growing awareness and understanding of the environmental
crisis during the 1960’s and 70’s. The film will be released in
theatres later this fall. The world premiere of the documentary
“Destination: Rossport, Ireland” (director/producer is Jim Kerns) takes
a look at the dispute being played out in Northwest Ireland as Shell
Oil attempts to build a pipeline through a small community. Other films
in the series include; “A Chemical Reaction,” director Brett Plymale
tells the story of Dr. June Irwin’s relentless persistence to warn
fellow citizens that the chemicals they were putting on their lawns
posed severe health risks and “Marbles with Thoreau” is a short film
about two children who stumble upon a cabin in the woods of Walden Pond
and discover it was once occupied by Henry David Thoreau.

The
world premiere of “The Things We Carry,” starring John Whitworth and
Alyssa Lobit (who is also the screenwriter), is set in the San Fernando
Valley against the backdrop of seedy motels and forgotten flowers. The
story follows two estranged sisters who reconnect following the death
of their drug addicted mother and come to peace with their different
approaches to life.

The east coast premiere of the controversial
documentary “My Big Break” stars Wes Bentley, Chad Lindberg, Brad Rowe
and Greg Fawcett. Director Tony Zierra follows five roommates as they
try to make it in Hollywood.

The drama “Desdemona: A Love Story,”
stars Glenn Morshower, Jorge Jimenez and Denton Blane Everett. Director
Phillip Guzman’s gritty tale concerns a Mexican immigrant who reflects
on his actions involving kidnapping a past love. Also screening at the
festival is the action film “Charlie Valentine” starring Raymond J.
Barry, Michael Weatherly and Tom Berenger. The movie, from screenwriter
director Jesse Johnson and producer Ray Cavalieri, is about a
professional criminal, on the run, who tries to reconcile with his
estranged son after 30 years.

The documentary program includes
“Racing Dreams,” in which Academy Award® nominated director Marshall
Curry (“Street Fight”) takes us into the lives of Annabeth (11 years
old), Josh (12) and Brandon (13) as they compete for the World Karting
Association’s National Championship. In the feature “Good Fortune,”
director Landon Van Soest explores how massive international efforts to
alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities
they aim to benefit. “American Colonies: Collapse of the Bees”
(director Jason Kushner) breaks down the role of bees/pollinators in
our environment and economy and explains the mysterious problem of
Colony Collapse Disorder that is posing a possible extinction of the
bee population.

“Scarred Justice” (producer/director Bestor Cram)
is the story of South Carolina’s ‘Orangeburg Massacre,’ an incident
often termed ‘the Kent State of the South.’ The film presents a
chilling story about abuse of power during a period of tumultuous
social upheaval, and the veil of secrecy that shrouds the event to this
day. “At the Edge of the World” is director Dan Stone’s documentary
about The 3rd Antarctic Campaign and the risks taken to stop a Japanese
whaling fleet that were astonishingly reckless and admirable. “Fight or
Flight” resulted after director Peter McCarthy was randomly attacked on
a night out in Galway City (Ireland), leaving him badly scarred. Seeing
an article on Mauy Thai boxing, he decided to travel to Thailand and
learn how to defend himself. “Fight or Flight’ documents Peter’s
journey over several years in Thailand as he goes from novice to
fighting in semi-professional bouts. “Long Distance” (director Moritz
Siebert) follows Abiyot as he runs for money every weekend at a
different race. He left Ethiopia to try and re-launch his running
career in the U.S. The film is about aspiration, endurance and the
pursuit of the American Dream.

Several short film programs will
be presented throughout the festival. The topics are diverse, and star
some notable actresses including Olympia Dukakis (“Hove — The Wind”),
Pauley Perrette and Golden Globe Winner Susan Blakely (“To Comfort
You”), and director/actress Brooke Adams (“Pet Peeves,” produced by
Tony Shalhoub and Donna Robinson).

Awards will be presented at
the end of the festival for Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short,
Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, the Mass
Impact Award and the EcoFilm Award. The Closing Night film and special
events will also be announced next week.
The seven-day Boston Film Festival has become one of the city’s most
popular annual events. The event’s silver anniversary promises to be
especially jubilant at nightly parties hosted by renowned chefs and
restaurateurs that will be attended by celebrities, filmmakers,
athletes and city VIPS. A complete schedule of films and events will be
posted at bostonfilmfestival.org beginning September 8.

The
Boston Film Festival has an extensive history of premiering notable
films including: “Flash of Genius,” “Lars and The Real Girl,” “American
Beauty,” “Requiem For A Dream,” “The Piano,” “Deliver Us From Evil,”
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” and “North Country.”

Many accomplished
filmmakers and actors have been honored at the BFF such as; Producer
Jerry Weintraub (“Oceans Thirteen,”)-Lifetime Achievement Award
presented by George Clooney; Film Excellence Award recipients; Val
Kilmer, Annette Benning, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Ridley Scott. Last year
Robert Parker received a Literary Excellence Award at the premiere of
“Appaloosa,” the film based on his novel

For more information on the 25th Boston Film Festival, call 617-523-8388.
# # # #

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