Category Archives: Film Festival

South Asian International Film Festival: Line-up, Premieres, Dates for 2014 Edition – Presented by HBO

Posted on by — Leave a reply

saiff poster

The South Asian International Film Festival, presented by HBO, celebrates its eleventh amazing year by delivering even more of the very best in South Asia’s most original, daring, and exciting cinema! Running from November 18th through the 23rd, SAIFF 2014 features new thrilling premieres, acclaimed international guests, and the hotly-anticipated Festival Awards Gala – overseen by its new Executive Director, Joya Dass. A television personality, Dass has worked for Bloomberg, CNN, ABC, CBS, and can currently be seen anchoring business news for NY1. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review: Ragnar Bragason’s ‘Metalhead’ Is Pure Icelandic Wonder With a Sparkling Performance by Lead Thorbjorg Helga Thorgilsdottir

Posted on by — Leave a reply

meatalhead posterFew countries produce as consistently high quality of film as Iceland. In my estimation, that is. The quantity of films that it produces is low, well at least those that somehow cross the pond and make it onto American screens, usually at film festivals such as Heartland. There are four Icelandic films that I’ve seen in this manner – Nói Albínói, The Seagull’s Laughter, Of Horses and farm animals that areatrained and live at this Horse Retirement Farms. All are unique in their own way, most of them are depressing (an aspect of Scandinavian film that I tend to enjoy) but still manage a way to get a laugh or two in just in case, and all have a laser-pointed direction on what makes their characters tick and tock and they do it so well. Ragnar Bragason‘s Metalhead is no exception.
 Read More →

DOC NYC: November 13-20 – ‘Citizen FOUR’ – ‘Banksy Does New York’ – ‘Do I Sound Gay?’ – ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ – Newly Restored ‘Hoop Dreams’

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

DOCNYC-Poster-FINALTickets:
Tickets for all screenings are on sale now. Advance tickets for all DOC NYC films and events are available online at docnyc.net or in-person at the IFC Center box office, 323 Sixth Ave. (at West 3rd St.). Day-of tickets are available at the respective screening venues.
Ticket prices: Opening night screening of Do I Sound Gay? – $30. Closing Night screening of The Yes Men Are Revolting – $25. Regular screenings – $17 adults, $15 seniors/children, $14 IFC Center members. Doc-A-Thon Panels and Masterclasses – $12 adults, $10 seniors, $9 IFC Center members and students. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review: ‘Off the Floor’ Is a Well-Constructed and Incredibly Engaging Documentary About Contemporary Pole Dancing

Posted on by — Leave a reply

off the floor - posterWhen the film opens, we see Jessica Anderson-Gwin, founder of Jagged, a contemporary pole dance company that’s the first of its kind,  frustrated as she tries to find a venue that will allow her company to use its space for an upcoming performance. The frustration is palpable as so many of the people she talks to confuse what they do with stripping and refuse to host them. This is what Jessica is up against in Matt & Katie Celia‘s spectacular documentary Off the Floor. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review/Interview: ‘Ben’s at Home’ Is an Incredibly Engaging and Delightful Comedy + Interview with Co-writer/Director Mars Horodyski & Co-writer/Star Dan Abramovici

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

BENS_AT_HOME_POSTER-731x1024Neil Sedaka famously sang in that once ubiquitous 60s song that breaking up is hard to do. When people are forced out of relationships, they can take it a number of ways, right? Some people move on without hesitation, others get terribly emotional and cry, while others attempt great romantic gestures meant to win back the heart of their love. And some, they just internalize the pain, retreat from friends and family, and do their best to avoid anything that can hurt them again in the same way. And that’s what happens in the wonderful comedy Ben’s at Home, co-written and directed by Mars Horodyski. Read More →

Indianapolis’ Heartland Film Festival Begins Today! October 16-25

Posted on by — Leave a reply

heartland-film-festival-logo

 

In it’s 23rd year, the Heartland Film Festival boasts many fantastic movies in their lineup. Stay tuned, Jeremy will be reviewing and interviewing! Read More →

Jeremy’s Review & Interview: ‘The Canal’ is an Especially Spooky and Visceral Haunt Perfect for Halloween & Star Rupert Evans Shares His Thoughts on Making the Film

Posted on by — Leave a reply

the canalRare is it that I find the need to find a film to scare me. I usually only need to watch the evening news (Ebola anyone?) or watch any political coverage to get my scares in. However, every once in a while, a film comes along the piques my interest in this arena and Ivan Kavanagh‘s The Canal is one of those films. After seeing the trailer, I was hooked (something that is also quite a rarity). So I gave it a spin and these are my thoughts… Read More →

NYFF52 Melissa’s Review: ‘Inherent Vice’ – Will You Dig It?

Posted on by — Leave a reply

309431id1h_InherentVice_Teaser_27x40_1Sheet_6C.inddThere’s usually one movie that’s more anticipated than all others during the New York Film Festival, and this year it’s Inherent Vice. I won’t tell you how long I waited in the press line, but I will tell you it was cold, rainy and worth every minute. I hadn’t seen the trailer, I only knew it was Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix. After last year’s two-punch of The Immigrant and Her, I was even more on board for another Joaquin Phoenix film.  Read More →

NYFF52: ‘Inherent Vice’ gets an encore screening this Sunday!

Posted on by — Leave a reply

INHERENT VICE nyff52

Inherent Vice, the centerpiece screening of the New York Film Festival is getting another screening this Sunday, so you have another chance to catch it!

Check out the press conference with 12 members of the cast including director Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix! (although Mr Phoenix was sadly mute) Read More →

Press Conference: ‘Dracula Untold’ with Luke Evans & Sarah Gadon

Posted on by — Leave a reply

dracula-untold-pressThis week, Universal Pictures takes another stab at reinvigorating their stable of classic monsters with Dracula Untold. The feature film debut of commercial director Gary Shore stars Luke Evans and Sarah Gadon; with a fun cameo by Charles Dance. We sat down with the film’s stars to talk blood suckers and creatures of the night. Read More →

NYFF52- Liz’s Review: ‘Merchants of Doubt’ is a Fact-Checking Fangirl’s Dream

Posted on by — Leave a reply

nyff New York Film Festival 2014Merchants1Director Robby Kenner (Food, Inc.) brings us an eye opening documentary on the sleight of hand of the rich and on the right in terms of media manipulation. Often, we wonder why folks vote against their best interest and don’t even know it. Some of the “why” has to do with highly paid “con artists”; lobbyists and spin doctors hired by people like the Koch Brothers, big tobacco, and climate change deniers. Despite actual scientific evidence, much of America is somehow under the impression that human beings are not the cause of climate change. While baffling to half of the country, these people are being spoon-fed talking points that are created by some very talented characters. Read More →

New Poster: ‘Life Partners’ – A love story of best friends

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Life Partners poster

Liz and I both loved Life Partners at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. A love story for best friends, it’s funny yet incredibly dramatic. Check out Liz’s interview with the director, Susanna Fogel and producer, Jordana Molick! Read More →

New Poster & Trailer: ‘Inherent Vice’ with the forever amazing Joaquin Phoenix

Posted on by — Leave a reply

309431id1h_InherentVice_Teaser_27x40_1Sheet_6C.indd

Inherent Vice

Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014
USA | 148 minutes

World Premiere at the New York Film Festival

Read More →

Oscar News: ‘Still Alice’ Starring Julianne Moore to Release in December to Qualify

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Still Alice

Sony Pictures Classics announced they will open STILL ALICE in New York and Los Angeles in December for a one-week year-end awards qualifying run, with a regular film release to follow on January 16. The film reunites Co-Directors and Co-Writers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD) with Sony Pictures Classics, who worked together on QUINCEANERA. Based on the novel by Lisa Genova, STILL ALICE, a BSM Studio Presentation, is produced by Lex Lutzus, James Brown and Pamela Koffler and executive produced by Marie Savare, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, Maria Shriver, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler. Read More →

NYFF52 Liz’s Review: ‘Seymour: An Introduction’ is a master class on life

Posted on by — Leave a reply

nyff New York Film Festival 2014

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I went to a performing arts conservatory for my college experience. Not to burst readers’ bubbles, but I am pretty sure I have never been described as shy or ambiguous in my opinions. However, it wasn’t until a 2nd semester Voice Production and Speech class in which I got up in front of my ridiculously talented classmates and admitted that I have an oftentimes crippling case of stage fright. No one knew. I guess I hide it well. That being said, it has been the bane of my existence as performer for as long as I can remember. Seeing one of this year’s NYFF 52 Spotlight on Documentary selections hit very close to home. I present my thoughts on ‘Seymour: An Introduction.”

seymour-Concert-2 nyff52 Read More →

18 Movies at the New York Film Festival Coming Soon to Theaters

Posted on by — Leave a reply

NYFF coming soonEven if you live in New York, it’s tough to secure tickets to the big films of the New York Film Festival (unless you have a Film Society of Lincoln Center membership). However, almost half of the films will be coming to theaters in the next few months to qualify for an Academy Award. Would you like to be notified when it comes to theaters? Click the link to GoWatchIt, sign up for a free account and you can add it to your queue. They’ll send you an email to let you know. Pretty amazing. Read More →

FREE Event at NYFF52: World Premiere of Kathryn Bigelow’s PSA ‘Last Days’

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Last Days nyff52

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the world premiere of Kathryn Bigelow’s PSA Last Days followed by a panel to be presented on Saturday, September 27 at 6PM at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. Bigelow will moderate the panel, The Crisis in Elephant Poaching, with participants Peter Knights, Julieta V. Lozano, K’naan Warsame, and Peter Godwin. Tickets for the event are free and will be distributed one hour prior to the start time; visit filmlinc.com/nyff for more information. Read More →

4 Guesses for the Surprise Screening at this year’s New York Film Festival

Posted on by — Leave a reply

nyff New York Film Festival 2014

Film Society at Lincoln Center has a “surprise screening” this year for the New York Film Festival. Two of the movies in recent years have been Martin Scorcese‘s Hugo and Stephen Spielberg‘s Lincoln. I’ve never been lucky enough to get tickets, but this year, I did, so my mind is going wild with the possibilities. Maybe I’m way off base, but here’s my top 5 guesses. What do you think? Which will be the surprise screening? Vote at the bottom!

Read More →

NYFF 52- Review: ‘The Look of Silence’ is loud in its message.

Posted on by — Leave a reply

nyff New York Film Festival 2014

In the 2013 New Directors/New Films fest, we were privileged enough to see Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing. The film chronicled the leaders of a government led military killing brigade whose goal was to irradiate “communists” (mostly farmers, artists, and freethinkers) in Indonesia in 1965-66. We met the men who slaughtered hundreds of people under the regime of pure ignorance and evil. At this year’s NYFF 52, we are introduced to Oppenheimer’s follow up doc, The Look of Silence. Read More →

NYFF 52- Liz’s Review: ‘Shorts Program 2’ is full of delight, fright, and insight

Posted on by — Leave a reply

nyff New York Film Festival 2014

While I was not afforded to time to attend last week’s first round of Shorts, today I had the pleasure of seeing The NYFF52 Shorts Program 2, a collection of really well done films. Engrossing, never dull, and surely surprising. Shorts are always a bit of a challenge to chat about. They are, after all, not long in length, so I’ve decided to give you a quick and yes, short, description below the teasers and photos…

Chlorine

Read More →