Alejandro G Ińárritu,Yimou Zhang, Tate Taylor, Mike Leigh, Stephen Daldry and Jean-Marc Vallée are Among Distinguished Filmmakers with Works Screening in Competition at the 22nd International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography

 CAMERIMAGE, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, now in its 22nd edition, today revealed the lineup of films selected for the festival’s Main Competition.

This year’s main competition boasts a distinguished and robust slate of acclaimed films from around the globe. The entries are:

·                     Alejandro G Ińárritu’s Birdman(The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance); USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki

·                     Yimou Zhang’s Coming Home (Gui lai); China, 2014; Cinematographer: Zhao Xiaoding

·                     Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer; UK, 2014; Cinematographer: Carlos Catalán Alucha

·               Lech J. Majewski’s Field of Dogs - Onirica (ONIRICA - Psie pole); Poland, 2014; Cinematographers: Paweł Tybora and Lech J. Majewski

·               Krzysztof Zanussi’s Foreign Body (Obce cialo); Poland, Italy, Russia, 2014; Cinematographer: Piotr Niemyjski

·                     David Ayer’s Fury; USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Roman Vasyanov

·                     Tate Taylor’s Get on Up; USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Stephen Goldblatt

·                     Łukasz Palkowski’s Gods (Bogowie); Poland, 2014; Cinematographer: Piotr Sobociński Jr.

·                     Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan; Russia, 2014; Cinematographer: Mikhail Krichman

·                     Xavier Dolan’s Mommy; Canada, 2014; Cinematographer: André Turpin

·                     Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner; UK, 2014; Cinematographer: Dick Pope

·                     Peter Brunner’s My Blind Heart; Austria, 2013; Cinematographer: Franz Dude

·                     Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar; Palestine, 2013; Cinematographer: Ehab Assal

·                     Stephen Daldry’s Trash; UK, Brazil, 2014; Cinematographer: Adriano Goldman

·                     Jean-Marc Vallée’s Wild; USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Yves Belanger

CAMERIMAGE’s prestigious Golden Frog, Silver Frog and Bronze Frog awards will be bestowed upon main competition titles representing the greatest achievements in cinematography. The festival runs from November 15th – 22nd in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

For additional details on the films and to view the Festival’s full competition lineup, please visit http://www.camerimage.pl/.

It was previously announced that Oscar® nominee Philip Kaufman (“Quills,” “The Right Stuff,” “Henry & June”) will receive the Festival’s coveted ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Directing’ and five-time Academy Award® nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff,” ‘The Natural,” “The Patriot,” “The Passion of the Christ”) will be the recipient of the Festival’s prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 22nd edition of Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography.

About CAMERIMAGE

Now in its 22nd Edition, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE is the most recognized festival dedicated to the art of cinematography and is the biggest international film festival in Poland. The unconventional format of the Festival, which awards films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values, is a unique alternative to traditional film festivals.

CAMERIMAGE proves to be a great forum not only for presentation but also for further development of international moviemaking and provides a platform for young filmmakers to explore new artistic areas.

In addition to the main competition, the Festival offers a Polish Films Competition, Student Etudes Competition, Documentary Films Competition, Feature Debuts Competition, Music Videos Competition, Camerimage Market, Camerimage Forum, special screenings and premieres, various reviews, retrospectives, meetings and also accompanying events such as art exhibitions and music performances.

Various presentations of modern film equipment and of the latest production and postproduction technologies (both traditional and digital) are also an inherent aspect of the Festival and have been organized with cooperation from companies such as Arri, Panavision, Kodak, Hawk, K5600, J.L. Fisher, Sony, Panasonic, KinoFlo, Technicolor, Canon and Zeiss.

CAMERIMAGE is an extraordinary event where art and technology meet, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Please visit http://www.camerimage.pl/ for more information.

Australian Revelations is a celebration of Australian film through a year-round, ongoing series of screenings and Geoffrey Wright’s 1992 classic Romper Stomper will headline the first screening on Monday 24 November.

Romper Stomper was nominated for nine Australian Film Institute Awards. A younger Russell Crowe won Best Actor in a Lead Role for his portrayal of Hando and the film also picked up AFI Awards for Best Achievement in Sound and Best Original Music Score.

The film will be introduced by The West Australian’s film editor Mark Naglazas.

We’re really happy to be launching this series with such a ground-breaking film” says Revelation Director Richard Sowada. “It’s lost none of its raw energy and nerve and is truly unique on the Australian film landscape – which is what we’re dedicated to celebrating.”

December’s screening will be the 1979 dystopian classic Mad Max and will feature a skype Q+A session with actor Steve Bisley, who played Jim Goose in this landmark Australian production.

Each Australian Revelations feature screening will be accompanied by a Western Australian made short film, providing opportunities for local filmmakers to have their work seen by new audiences.

Australian Revelations will screen at the new The Backlot Perth facility in West Perth and tickets are available via trybooking.com

Tyre International Short-Films Festival  will take place next November 8-11 at El Hamra Cinema, Tyre, Lebanon.

An event that will bring to Sour of Lebanon the work of artists coming from more than 12 countries, Arabic and European, aiming to promote culture and creativity and to create a space for the people to meet and exchange experiences on cinema.

Following the path, El Hamra Cinema activities continue with a new milestone, after the International Theatre Festival that took place last June at Tyre, it is the time for the First International Short-Films Festival of Tyre, an event that aims to promote culture and creativity and to create a space for the people to meet and exchange experiences on cinema.

 Kassem Istanbouli, actor and director now managing El Hamra Cinema of Tyre, is organizing with his team at El Hamra  a  Festival that wants to bring a space where the work of independent film makers coming from different realities will be shown.

25 October is the time-limit for participants to send their pieces,not exceeding 30 minutes duration, post-produced in the last three years.Selected films shall be published by end of October 2014.

El Hamra Cinema was built in 1952, hosting the Culture of Tyre since then until the war abandoned the place. The Cinema had been closed for 30 years when Kassem Istanbouli and his team re-opened El Hamra and organized an International Theatre Festival that took place in the beginning of June 2.014.

By Katie Barclay 

With all the fascinating current and historical story lines surrounding Washington DC, it would seem fitting to have constant filmmakers inundating the city with cameras, actors and special effects. Hollywood's entertainment industry is a highly lucrative machine, providing any city with thousands of dollars of revenue if filming is a success there. However, filming is almost nonexistent because of strict city and government regulations.

Got Tax Credits?

Many cities and states have implemented specific tax credits for movie productions to move into these areas, such as Louisiana and Georgia. Reducing the costs and welcoming the workers with open arms is a recipe for harnessing Hollywood's top filmmakers. There's enough cost and stress in creating any television or movie production, but adding in location expenses and addition restrictions just turns filmmakers off. DC doesn't offer any monetary incentives to use their facilities, encouraging productions to look elsewhere.

A Photographer's Nightmare 

Both cinematographers and photographers must travel the local area to scout shooting locations. DC poses a unique challenge because there are restrictions nearly everywhere. Permits are difficult to come by, especially for tall equipment to shoot a wide-angle scene. Cameras aren't even allowed in certain areas for security reasons and parking is almost impossible for production stock and dressing rooms. In essence, the DC area makes it incredibly hard to find and produce a beautiful shot from an artistic point-of-view.

Who's in Charge?

If a production company wants to take on the challenge of shooting in DC, they must navigate through all the police hurdles. The city is divided between several jurisdictions, including separate police departments and federal areas. A production company must gain the permission of some or all these entities to shoot film. The application and securing process is so full of red tape that filmmakers don't have the patience or time to maneuver through it all. Another city is often the choice after seeing the complex nature of DC.

Hotel and Union Costs

Productions must balance their budget, especially when it comes to lodging and union worker costs. The DC area naturally has an expensive hotel industry. To make the shooting affordable, actors and other workers would have to stay outside the city and commute in. When time is of the essence, adding a commute to the workday isn't cost effective. Local union workers for basic jobs, from extras to catering, are also under higher pay rates than other areas. DC just isn't competitive enough to make filming affordable.

Lack of Soundstages 

Although the point of shooting in DC is to enjoy the local scenery and architecture, production teams also need soundstages to work on other filming aspects. DC is largely without any quality soundstages, forcing productions to look at nearby cities for help. Whether it's for a sensitive scene or special effect, soundstages are crucial for any production to stay on track. Adding an affordable soundstage to the neighborhood could help filmmakers consider DC more often.

Maryland and Virginia Beckon

Oftentimes shows and movies are set in DC, but never filmed there. If production crews want the DC look with natural trees, shrubs and plants, they can easily cross over into Maryland and Virginia. These two states harbor Baltimore and Charlottesville, two cities with ample space and reduced regulations for quality filmmaking. Many of the local downtown sections have architecture similar to DC, making it simple to cut an angle during filmmaking as the background suddenly appears like a DC street. 

Technology Creates the DC Vibe

Visiting other cities and states simply gives the special effects department a reason to be part of the production. Even if the film is a basic love story, special effects can add in a White House image behind the actors in post-production. Suddenly the production is in DC without all the regulations of actually being there. Technology helps filmmakers avoid certain areas that are too expensive or dangerous to visit in person.

For DC to blossom with entertainment value, the setup processes must be streamlined between the studios and local government. Cost is always a factor for any production, tempting filmmaking companies to hire DC movers with affordable rates to film outside of town than deal with the city's red tape. With future politicians trying to ease the strain for filmmakers, it may be possible to film again in this famous capital.

From sexy to fat, ugly, mad, bitchy, irritating and essentially, extremely funny! Shreya Narayan in a tete-a-tete on Super Nani, her first full-blown comedy role


Q: Super Nani releases this Friday. A big release for you in a long while...
A: I have knots in my stomach! I am returning to work after long with this film. It was shot over a period of one-and-a-half year, coinciding with the time I was busy with my mothers illness. She passed away while it wrapped up. She was excited about it. So it's a very special film for me.


Q: Does individual performance get affected whilst acting before veterans like Rekha and Randhir Kapoor?
A: Yes, it does. You always have to be conscious about their seniority and space. At the same time you must find your own too. Sometimes, their experience and grace betters everyones performance. At other times, you have to make do with less. The director plays an important role in balancing things.


Q: How is your character in Super Nani special compared to others?
A: I played an escort-cum-police informer 'Julie' in YRF series Powder. I was 'traumatized sexy'. I played mistress 'Mahua' in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster. 'I was sweet sexy'. I did a cameo in Rockstar of a bhabhi who sticks too much to her brother-in-law. I was 'hilarious sexy'. When I was not sexy, I was not OK in my mind. Samrat & Co. is the case in point. Thus far I have always played glamourous characters. But in Super Nani, I am fat, ugly, mad, bitchy, irritating and essentially, extremely funny! It's my first full blown comedy role.


Q: You did a cameo in Rockstar despite it being a small role
A: People still remember me from that small role. It's mind-boggling. It also shows the power of acting and of an interesting character. At times it surprises me but I too have felt the impact of some awesome but small characters in world cinema as an audience.


Q: What are your aspirations as an actor and in general?
A: I am itching to act in roles that challenge me and are different from the last role I did. There has to be variety, else life can get boring. In general, I just want a loving family life, and means to fulfill my dreams. I also always need an aim... I am driven by purpose. It adds meaning to my life.


Q: Ever thought of running an institution or joining politics, since you have a political-academic background?
A: Yes of course, I excel at managing things. And at handling pressure! I hold my own in worst crisis situations, too. Earlier, I did not know I had these qualities. I discovered it all when my mother was suffering from cancer and we had to face life and death challenges on a daily basis. I have always been a spiritual person, but a friend of mine introduced me to prayers and I have found a world of solace and power in that. Overall, I think, I am prepared for worldly duties as I now have the whole 'Armour' of God!


Q: Can you elaborate on the Armour of God?
A: It's simple; when a soldier goes to war, he has to have his shield, his helmet, his shoes, his sword or gun and whatever else there is to make him ready to do battle. Without his armour, he is a sitting duck. Likewise, we are daily facing spiritual warfare and without putting on the 'Whole Armour of God', it gets difficult. Both daily and larger challenges of life need spiritual strength.


Q: Bollywood is full of new faces, any advice for these youngsters?
A: Be Miss Indias if you are not from the industry. Do not waste time on auditions. Get a star or powerful boyfriend or a 'good friend', else you will waste a lot of time. Also, if you do not have talent in acting, don't fret. Good looks, connections and short clothes is all anyone is looking for here.


Q: Who or rather what inspires you?
A: The fight for justice inspires me. And having grace even in the face of persecution too. Simplicity and kindness is the biggest inspiration. Thus common people, who may be deprived themselves but find time to extend kindness to me, inspire me most. My friends and family inspire me. Ultimately, anything or anyone that adds meaning to my life and fulfills my quest for knowledge and spiritual awakening is a part of my journey.
 

CFF Official Trophy, Charging Bull replica handmade by Arturo Di Modica
©Chelsea Film Festival, Inc

The Closing Awards Ceremony was hosted by CFF Founder and Director Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, who reminded the importance of the Festival's mission: "The Festival's mission is to discover emerging directors from around the world and be an international platform for independent filmmaking. It has been a very successful year. The Chelsea Film Festival received over a thousand submissions. Fourty-seven films were selected, thirteen feature-lengths and thirty-four shorts. Over the course of four days, 12 World, 19 US and 16 NY Premieres have been presented. Tonight, only ten feature-lengths are part of the competition."

Ten prizes were distributed by reputed movie industry insiders: Agnieszka Vosloo, Elizabeth Kemp, Jacky Ido, Kiki Lambden, Paul Calderon and Susan Batson.

The Grand Prix Winner was offered the following presents:

- a $10,000 stainless steel replica of the Charging Bull, handmade by acclaimed Artist, Arturo Di Modica
- a $50,000 Gift Certificate from generous Sponsor, Panavision.
- a Luxury Document Case from generous Sponsor, Le Tanneur

The Best Actress Winners were offered luxury clutches from Le Tanneur.

CFF GRAND PRIX Award presented by Jury President Jacky Ido

• "Sun Belt Express" by Evan Wolf Buxbaum

Nominations for the Grand Prix Award:

• "Embers" by Jumpei Matsumoto
• "Sun Belt Express" by Evan Wolf Buxbaum
• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann

BEST DIRECTOR Award presented by Agnieszka Vosloo

• Aydin Bulut in "Benimle Oynar Misin? (Will You Play With Me?)"

BEST ACTRESS Award presented by Elizabeth Kemp

• India Ennega in "Sun Belt Express"
• Toni Belafonte in "Last Love Lost"

BEST ACTOR Award presented by Elizabeth Kemp

• Tate Donovan in "Sun Belt Express"

SPECIAL JURY Award presented by Kiki Lambden

• "A Quintet" by Roberto Cuzzillo, Elie Lamah, Mauro Mueller, Sanela Salketic, Ariel Shaban

BEST DOCUMENTARY Award presented by Susan Batson

• "Yemeniettes" by Shawn Thompson and Leon Shahabian

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Award presented by Paul Calderon

• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann

Nominations for Best Cinematography:

• "Benimle Oynar Misin? (Will You Play With Me?)" by Aydin Bulut
• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann
• "Yemeniettes" by Shawn Thompson and Leon Shahabian

BEST SCREENPLAY Award presented by Kiki Lambden

• "Embers" by Jumpei Matsumoto

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Award presented by Koran Streets

• Ana de la Reguera in "Sun Belt Express"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Award presented by Koran Streets

• Sam Trammell in "White Rabbit "

During the Third Edition of Los Cabos International Film Festival, American actress Rosario Dawson will present the Latin American Premier of Atom Egoyan’sThe Captive (2014), and will have the honor to grant the Tribute Award to Mr. Egoyan on Saturday, November 15th. Dawson plays a detective in the film by the Canadian Director, investigating Cassandra’s case that was abruptly kidnapped; this begins a horrifying race against time where the detective herself must play her part in unraveling the mystery of her disappearance and freeing her from captivity.
 
The Festival announces three new sections to be presented in its Third Edition: Green Perspective, B-Side and Sunset.

Green Perspective is a section that present stories that generate awareness and force us to reflect on our responsibilities with the environment and the urgent need to create a harmonious coexistence among all the links part of this planet. The films in this new section are:
 

• Just Eat It: A food waste story by Grant Baldwin. (Canada– Latin American Premiere).
• México Pelágico (Deep-Sea Mexico) by Jerónimo Prieto (Mexico, 2014).
• ThuleTuvalu by Matthias von Gunten (Switzerland- Latin American Premiere).

 
This section besides being presented in Cinemex, will be part of the Festival’sFree Outdoor Screenings Program to be held at Plaza Mijares in San José del Cabo.
México Pelágico (Deep-Sea Mexico) will be screened on Friday, November 14th  at 7:00PM; Just Eat Itwill be presented on Saturday, November 15th at 7:00PM; and ThuleTuvalu on Sunday, November 16th 7:00PM.

For this Third Edition we partnered with Tetra Pak Méxicoto print our 2014 General Catalogue (700 copies), our 2014 Industry Catalogue (500 copies) and our 2014 Hand Program (3,000 copies) on recycled paper, as part of the Festival's commitment to the environment.
 
The Festival also launches, B Side, a space to showcase the best film proposals portraying music, providing both sonorous and visual enjoyment. The three films presented this year are:

• 20,000 Days on Earth by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (UK – Mexican Premiere).

• For Those About To Rock: The Story of Rodrigo y Gabriela by Alejandro Franco Fernández (Mexico– Latin American Premiere).
• God Help the Girl by Stuart Murdoch (UK– Mexican Premiere).

 
And Sunset, the third new section this year, where we present provocative films visiting the conjunctions between horror, science fiction and black comedy. A selection that explores the spectrum of contemporary conceptions of genre cinema.

• Over Your Dead Body by Takashi Miike (Japan – Latin American Premiere).
• Spring by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (U.S.A. – Mexican Premiere) presented in collaboration with Morbido Fest.
• What we do in the Shadows by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement (New Zeland, U.S.A. – Latin American Premiere).

 
Within the framework of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund, that supports Mexican filmmakers’ projects, the Festival honors master Gabriel Figueroa, one of the greatest filmmakers of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.

In collaboration with photographer Gabriel Figueroa Flores, depositary and film restorer of his father's legacy, during the third edition the photo exhibition "Homage to Gabriel Figueroa" will be presented, which highlights the work of the cinematographer in several foreign productions filmed in Mexico, including "The Pearl" (1945), "The Fugitive" (1947) and "The Night of the Iguana" (1962). The exhibition will be open to the public at the Pabellón Cultural de La República from November 12-16th.
 
Los Cabos Film Festival is proud to have as guests, prominent Mexican celebritieswho will get together at the red carpets and the Festival events, including Guillermo Arriaga, Ilse Salas, Tenoch Huerta, Sofía Espinosa, Sophie Alexander Katz, Marimar Vega, Luis Ernesto Franco, Erick Elias, Eiza González, Dolores Heredia, Maya Zapata, Chema Yazpik, Patricia Garza, Irene Azuela, Natalia Lafourcade, Tessa Ia, among others.
 

Among international celebrities confirmed to date are Atom Egoyan (Canada), Denys Arcand (Quebec), Xavier Dolan (Quebec), Frank Grillo (USA), DJ Cotrona (USA), Leonor Varela (Chile), Natalia Tena (UK), Eric Bruneau (Quebec), Sarai Givaty (Israel) and Richa Chadda (India).
 
The Festival will give away7,000 tickets for Cinemex screenings and 500 tickets for the Opening Gala, 500 tickets for Mommy’s Gala and500 tickets for Words with Gods Gala, and 800 tickets for the Closing Gala at the Pabellón Cultural de la República. These free tickets will be available at various places in Los Cabos and La Paz.

• San José del Cabo: Platanera Samanta, Plaza Soriana SJD, Educal Bookstore, Café Doña Nena, Nikko Sushi, Plaza El Pescador and Mega.
• Cabo San Lucas: Plaza Sendero, Delegación Municipal, El Charro (mini supermarket), CaboCoffe, Starbucks and the Pabellón.
• La Paz: Educal Bookstore and Alianza Francesa.

 The 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival ended its 11-day celebration of all things cinematic with a sold-out closing night screening of Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern.  

This year's festival, which ran from October 16-26, featured 113 films from 28 countries, as well as panel discussions, community events, filmmaker Q&As and a rapidly growing education series inclusionary of students from Philadelphia's public, private and charter schools.

"We were incredibly excited about the turnout this year, as well as the overwhelming positive feedback we received about the program," said Andrew Greenblatt, Executive Director. "We are thrilled to have met and exceeded expectations and are looking forward to doing it again next year."

PFF23 featured 25 sold out shows for the following 19 titles: '71, Art and Craft, Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Clouds of Sils Maria, Crescendo! The Power of Music, Force Majeure, The Imitation Game, The Immortalists, Imperial Dreams, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere, The Mirage, Mommy, The Overnighters, Revenge of the Green Dragons, St. Vincent, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Tomorrow We Disappear, Wild, Wild Canaries, and Winter Sleep.

As an added bonus, Festival organizers arranged for a special advance screening of Citizenfour, held exclusively for badgeholders, following the festival's end. In one of the most outstanding and chilling documentaries in recent years, Citizenfour tells the shocking, true story behind the Edward Snowden classified information leak, an event that shaped the course of history as we know it.

In the award ceremony preceding the closing night festivities, the Philadelphia Film Society presented a series of awards to this year's festival stand-outs.

Archie Award: Myroslav Slabosphytsky, director ofThe Tribe. The Archie Award is a juried awardpresented in honor of the late Archie Perlmutter to a first-time director. 

Narrative Award: Grand Jury Prize // The Duke of Burgundy // Director Peter Strickland
Special Jury Prize // Girlhood // Director Céline Sciamma
Best Director Prize // '71 // Director Yann Demange

Documentary Award: Best Documentary Feature // The Overnighters // Director Jesse Moss

Pinkenson Award for Best Local Film: Best Feature // Crescendo! The Power of Music // Director Jamie Bernstein
Honorable Mention for Innovation in Storytelling // Listen Up Philip // Director Alex Ross Perry
Honorable Mention for World Vision // Tomorrow We Disappear // Director Adam Weber and Jimmy Goldblum

Short Award: Best Short // Port Nasty // Director Rob Zywietz
Honorable Mention for Best Live Action Short // The Cut // Director Geneviève Dulude-De Celles

Just announced following the completion of the 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival, the Audience Award, chosen directly by filmgoer ballots, has been awarded to Crescendo! The Power of Music, directed by Jamie Bernstein.
Audience Award Honorable Mention // I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story // Directors Chad Walker and David LaMattina

See below for a full overview of the 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival, including guest highlights and sold out shows:

DATES: October 16 - October 26, 2014

LOCATIONS:

Old City: Ritz East (2 Screens) and Ritz at the Bourse (1 Screen) Center City: Prince Music Theater (1 screen) and PFS Roxy Theater (2 screens) 

PROGRAM & ATTENDANCE:

Approximately 20,000 tickets sold to over 160 Screenings of  domestic & international narrative, documentary and short films.

THEMATIC CATEGORIES:

Centerpiece Films, From the Vaults, Spotlights, Masters of Cinema, World Narratives, New French Films, Spanish Language Cinema, Cinema Down Under, American Independents, Greater Filmadelphia Local Films, Documentary Showcase, Sight & Soundtrack, The Graveyard Shift, Animated and Live Action Shorts Programs

HIGHLIGHTS:

Opening Night:Birdman Or (The Virtue of Ignorance), directed byAlejandro González Iñárritu:  From acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman is a bold, black comedy that shines a light directly back on the film industry, telling the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) who is famous for portraying an iconic superhero as he struggles to mount a Broadway play and battles his ego while attempting to recover his family, his career and himself. Closing Night:Wild, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée: Adapted from Cheryl Strayed's powerful account of her solo 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, Wild delivers a striking and emotionally rich story of self-discovery and perseverance anchored by a brilliant performance from Reese Witherspoon.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS:

Youth Voices: The Great Invisible Debate - A special town hall style debate, hosted by ASAP and the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League, where distinguished debaters from local high schools lead an interactive debate on whether or not offshore drilling is in the best interest of the American people.

Breakfast with Caroll Spinney - In a rare appearance, the PFS Roxy Theater hosted a conversation with Caroll Spinney, the beloved 80-year-old puppeteer who has played Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969.

"PFF On Us" Complimentary Ticketing Program - Created to make the Festival accessible to all interested Philadelphians and provide a shared cultural experience throughout the community, free tickets were provided to all films in the American Independents and Documentary Showcase film categories.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS:

Crescendo! The Power of Music featured a live youth orchestra and panel discussion regarding youth music initiatives in Philadelphia and Harlem through Stanford Thompson's Play-On, Philly! program and Anne Fitzgibbon's Harmony program.

Ballet 422: On-pointe Discussion Panel featured local ballet performers, instructors, and choreographers, hosted by Drexel University.

GPFO's Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition Panels surround the SIP competition. The competition is open to all screenwriters, world-wide, who submit a feature length screenplay or an original TV pilot length screenplay to be shot in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Scripts are judged on their overall quality, and the extent to which they project "shootability" in the Greater Philadelphia region. SIP Finalist Judges are high profile Producers, Writers and Actors who have a Philadelphia connection. Winners were announced during the Festival's closing night award ceremony.

GUESTS:

Director Guillaume Renussen // Producer Benjamin Bonnet // After School

Producer Ellen Bar // Ballet 422

Director Jamie Bernstein // Crescendo! The Power of Music

Directors Marlon Johnson & Chad Tingle// Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound

Director Riley Stearns // Faults

Director Lou Howe // Actor Rory Culkin // Gabriel

Writer Simon Barret // Guest   

Director Amir Bar-Lev // Happy Valley

Subject Caroll Spinney // Directors David LaMattina & Chad Walker // I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

Producer Teddy Schwarzman// Imitation Game

Directors David Alvarado & Jason Sussberg // The Immortalists

Director Malik Vitthal (Booth) // Imperial Dreams

Director Alex Ross Perry // Listen Up Philip

Director Dave Janetta // Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere

Director Dave Boyle // Man From Reno

CO-Writer/D.P. Alan P Blanco // Mano Sucias

Director Kyle Roper // Producer Diane Richey // Cinematographer Alex Tyson // Mirage

Director Farzad Sangari (Nikbakht) // Subject Sebastian Milla // Mudbloods 

Directors Andrew Lau & Andrew Loo // Actors Celia Au, Carl Li, Shing Ka & Geoff Pierson // Revenge of the Green Dragons

Director Ted Melfi // Actor Jaeden Lieberher // St Vincent

Director Kate Barker-Froyland // Producer Thomas Froyland // Song One

Director Jason Strouse // Teacher of the Year

Directors Jeff Reichert & Farihah Zaman // This Time Next Year

Director Kanu Behl // Titli

Director Jimmy Goldblum & Director Adam Weber // Tomorrow We Disappear

Director Sean Gullette // Traitors  

The 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors including Official Sponsors: 500 Walnut, 6ABC, Comcast Xfinity, Lincoln Motor Company, Philadelphia Magazine, Southwest Airlines, Sweat Fitness; Premiere Sponsors: The Condo Shops, Dock Street Brewing Co., Tito's Vodka, Top of the Tower, Stella Artois, Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District;

Patron Sponsors: Allied Integrated Marketing, Amtrak, Cozen O'Conner, Glenmede, Iroko Pharmaceuticals, Landmark Theaters, Pep Boys, The Nouveau Image, TV5Monde; Participating Sponsors: Circuit Six, Dive Visual, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, Entertainment Partners, Koordit, Positano Coast, Prime Stache, Wawa; Community Sponsors: After School Activities Partnerships, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Food Should Taste Good, Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Honest Tea, Honeygrow, Insomnia Cookies,The Food Trust Philadelphia, Scüncii, Spodee Wine, WHYY, WXPN; Friends of the Festival: The Arts Blog, The Barnes Foundation, Curtis Institute of Music, Free Library of Philadelphia, InLiquid, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia Gay News, PIFVA, ReelBlack, World Cafe Live

Bernardo Bertolucci heads up the distinguished jury that chose the winners of the Action4Climate documentary competition

Ten young film crews from ten different countries were chosen as winners in the Action4Climate documentary competition. Their outstanding and unique films inspire the world to take action on climate change.

“These talented young film makers connect to their audience in emotional and powerful ways about the dangers of climate change. They have done serious, important work, which shows that climate change could result in a world that is unrecognizable today, and that we need act now to protect the planet for future generations.”  Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank Group

The Action4Climate competition was launched in early 2014 by Connect4Climate (www.connect4climate.org), the global climate change communications program. It attracted hundreds of entries from all around the world. Italian film director and screenwriter, Bernardo Bertolucci, chaired a renowned jury of film makers tasked with choosing winning films in two age categories.

“We were amazed by the originality of the stories and the genuine concern shown by these young film makers about the effects of climate change. They described the effects of climate change from hundreds of different points of view. Selecting winners was an almost impossible task.”  Bernardo Bertolucci, Academy Award and Golden Globe Winning Director

In the 18 -35 age category, the $15,000 top prize went to the Portuguese film maker Gonçalo Tocha with his provocative film “The Trail of a Tale” made in collaboration with Imagine2020 and the New Economics Foundation. This inspiring story revolves around a letter written in the future to society today.

Dobrin Kashavelov from Bulgaria won second place and a cash prize of $10,000 with “Global Warning,” a harrowing film about the catastrophic effects on survivors of last year’s typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Third place and a $5,000 prize was awarded to American filmmaker Nathan Dappen for “Snows of the Nile”, a documentary following Nathan’s adventures uncovering indisputable evidence of the fast disappearing glaciers of Uganda’s ‘mountains of the moon’.   

“I am immensely proud to be chosen as the winner and really hope my film helps people realize that we need to act now to protect our future.” GonçaloTocha

In the younger 14 -17 age group, “The Violin Player” took top spot. This beautifully animated film was the brainchild of Francina Ramos, a young Argentinian film maker and her co-producer/composer Benjamin Braceras. Second place went to “Facing the Flood” by Constantin Huet from Switzerland, an investigative account of the changing conditions in Greenland and the Maldives. Georgia’s Tura Tegerashivili was awarded third place for the whimsical “It’s Easy if You Try”. All prize winners receive production equipment and software to help them hone their skills and talents and inspire them to create more climate change stories.

“What an amazing honor! I am so excited. I hope The Violin Player makes people want to stand up and tackle climate change.” Francina Ramos

The jury included filmmakers Atom Egoyan, Marc Forster, Mika Kaurismaki, Fernando Meirelles, Mira Nair, Bob Rafelson, Walter Salles, Pablo Trapero and Wim Wenders, along with film executives Rose Kuo and Cynthia Lopez, and World Bank Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte.  They felt the standard in the competition was so high that a special prize was awarded to “Balud” by Panx Solajes from the Philippines, for his creative personal reflection of the devastating floods caused by climate change. Connect4Climate also decided that two submissions should be recognized for their ability to present local stories that also have a profound global impact. Special Connect4Climate prizes were awarded to “Tinau” from UK/Kiribati producer Victoria Burns, exploring the grave concerns of small island nations such as Kiribati, and “The Change,” a touching portrayal of the effects on young people in a Vietnamese coastal community made by filmmakers Ha Uyen, Huong Tra, Quang Dung and Quang Phuc.

In addition, the general public were invited to vote online for the  People’s Choice Prize. It was won by a team from Brazil for their film “Pachamama” depicting the effects of global warming in their home state of Sao Paulo.

Prizes for the competition were graciously provided by Edison, the Italian power company, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In addition, Vimeo, the video sharing website, is enthusiastically donating Vimeo Plus accounts for one year to all the finalists from developing countries.

The winners will be announced on October 30th at the Scandinavian think-tank Sustainia Award Ceremony in the Royal Theater, Copenhagen, celebrating the creation of new solutions for sustainable living. The general public can then see a selection of videos from winners and finalists online and on television, as well as at festivals and events.

“Connect4Climate was tremendously excited by the amount of interest shown in the competition from around the world. It demonstrates the level of concern shown by creative young people and their desire to be involved directly in exposing climate problems and finding lasting solutions. We were also gratified to experience the seamless coming together of international organizations, the private sector and civil society to support and promote the competition”  Lucia Grenna, Program Manager, Connect4Climate

It is envisaged that the high standard of the Action4Climate documentaries will help promote greater climate change awareness and inspire viewers to action.

The winning films can all be viewed at www.Action4Climate.org

About Connect4Climate

Connect4Climate (C4C) is a campaign, a coalition and a community dedicated to stimulating local actions that will catalyze larger, international, multifaceted movements to deal with global warming and its impact on the planet. It works with more than 200 partner organizations around the world and is funded by the World Bank Group and the Italian Ministry of the Environment.

31st annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival
October 24 - November 2, 2014

The best film for children, youth, and families from around the world, right nere in Chicago! 

2014 Festival Schedule (PDF):  

FAMILY SCHEDULE  (Weekend and Evening Screenings)

FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE (Weekday Morning Screenings)   

Screening Details By Individual Film Title

Checkout the OFFICIAL FESTIVAL WEBSITE   

• Online ticket sales   (the only way to guarentee seating) 
• School/Group field trips 
• Purchase Festival Family Pass  (only $40 for unlimited screenings for 4) 
• Festival Workshops