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Click here for the New York Cool January/February 2012 Edition!

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January 28, 2011

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE -- DUE FEBRUARY 14
16th Annual Festival Runs August 10 - 26, 2012

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the largest
multi-arts festival in North America, will present the 16th Annual
Festival from August 10th - 26th, 2012. Each year the festival
presents programming by nearly 200 of the world's best emerging
theatre troupes and dance companies. General FringeNYC applications
are being accepted for participants in all genres (theatre, dance,
puppetry, performance art, multi-media, etc.), and separate FringeAL
FRESCO (free outdoor events) and FringeJR (children's programming)
applications are also available. Applications are now available online
at www.fringenyc.org and completed applications are due February 14,
2012.

NOTE: All applications must be postmarked on or before February 14th,
2012 or hand delivered before 6pm on February 14th, 2012. Applications
must be accompanied by a non-refundable $40 application fee, in the
form of a certified check, cashiers check, or money order in US
Dollars payable to The Present Company.

In November 2007, FringeNYC was honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg
with the Mayor's Award for Arts & Culture “for its phenomenal
leadership in showcasing the best and boldest theater and performance
by both established and emerging artists. The New York International
Fringe Festival is renowned for presenting work that reflects the
excitement and energy of the contemporary theater world - locally,
nationally and abroad.” Previous recipients of the award include
Woody Allen, Celia Cruz, Stephen Sondheim, Wynton Marsalis, The
Tribeca Film Festival, Mark Morris, The Public Theater, Chita Rivera,
and Edward Albee. FringeNYC is a production of The Present
Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Elena K.
Holy.

In 1997, New York City became the seventh US city to host a fringe
festival, joining Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Houston,
Orlando and San Francisco. In its first 15 years FringeNYC has
presented nearly 3000 performing groups from the U.K., Canada, Poland,
Ireland, Japan, China, Singapore, Germany, the Czech Republic and
across the U.S., prompting Switzerland's national daily, The New
Zurich Zeitung, to declare FringeNYC as “the premiere meeting ground
for alternative artists.” The festival has also been the launching pad
for numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running
downtown hits, and regional theater productions including Urinetown,
Never Swim Alone, Debbie Does Dallas, Dog Sees God, 21 Dog Years, Joys
of Sex, Krapp 39, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, The Fartiste, The Irish Curse, 666, Silence! The Musical, and Matt & Ben as well as movies (WTC View) and even a TV show (‘da Kink in My Hair).

January 26, 2011

FOCUS FORWARD – SHORT FILMS, BIG IDEAS
LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE $200,000 FILMMAKER CHALLENGE
***
3-Minute Documentary Initiative World Premieres First Five Films at the
2012 Sundance Film Festival with Day-And-Date Online Distribution via Vimeo
***
Partnership with the Berlinale Talent Campus Announced

GE and CINELAN announced the FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Challenge and plan to award $200,000 in cash prizes to the top five entries in the professionally juried Challenge (www.focusforwardfilms.com/challenge), with $100,000 going to the Grand Prize Winner. The Filmmaker Challenge is an expansion of the FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas (www.focusforwardfilms.com), a series of 30 three-minute nonfiction films developed by leading documentary filmmakers about the incredible human power of ideas and invention that will screen at prestigious film festivals globally, followed by day-and-date distribution online to millions of viewers. The initiative was first announced at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Qualifying films for the Filmmaker Challenge are three-minute end-to-end stories about people or organizations whose innovative efforts in medicine, computer science, robotics, engineering, green energy, or other fields of applied technical knowledge have had a significant positive impact on humanity. Recent, cutting-edge inventions that are changing how we live today are of special interest. The Challenge films will be available online to a global audience through Vimeo and will sit alongside the first 30 films produced by FOCUS FORWARD filmmakers. As the program progresses, FOCUS FORWARD films will be distributed across cable and satellite VOD, gaming system networks, Internet Free On Demand services as well as in theaters and on DVD. Submissions open in mid April, with winners to be announced at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. For more information, please visit www.focusforwardfilms.com/challenge.

The announcement was made this morning at a special press preview of the first five three-minute films in the FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas initiative, which are also being presented the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The five films by Jessica Yu, Phil Cox, David W. Leitner, Jeremiah Zagar, and Jessica Edwards & Gary Hustwit will make their world premiere on Tuesday, January 24, at 12pm EST on www.vimeo.com/focusforwardfilms and at a special screening beginning 6pm MST at the Holiday Village 1 in Park City. The FOCUS FORWARD films will also be paired with select features in the U.S. Documentary Competition and World Cinema Documentary Competition sections at Sundance.

Also announced at the preview, the latest filmmakers to join the FOCUS FORWARD initiative are Steven Cantor (loudQUIETloud), Kief Davidson (Kassim the Dream), Senain Kheshgi (Project Kashmir), Victor Kossakovsky (¡Vivan las antipodas!), Jeff Reichert (Gerrymandering), and Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern (Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work).

“It’s exciting to finally unveil the full scope of this program.. The Sundance Film Festival is the perfect venue to reach the most talented people in and around this business,” said CINELAN co-founders Morgan Spurlock and Karol Martesko-Fenster. Jack Myers, project producer, added “The concept is to build a traveling nonfiction film series; we will be inviting filmmakers from every corner of the earth to join us in creating short films about game-changing innovation.” CINELAN’s Managing Director Douglas Dicconson adds, “It’s important to everyone associated with FOCUS FORWARD that we’re in a position to reward the filmmakers directly in two ways; first with two hundred thousand dollars in prize money and second by providing a worldwide distribution platform for these films.”

John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Festival, commented “We are thrilled to be collaborating with FOCUS FORWARD to present the first five films in this one-of-a-kind series. We’re known for supporting documentary filmmakers in the Sundance community and around the world, so getting the word out about the Filmmaker Challenge is a natural extension of our creative mission. We’re also delighted to note that this relationship goes beyond 2012 with the Filmmaker Challenge awards ceremony at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.”

In addition, representatives for FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas announced that they will be working with the 2012 Berlinale Talent Campus #10 on the occasion of its 10th anniversary to host a series of panel discussions around short-form documentary. Jessica Yu and Phil Cox will join the list of FOCUS FORWARD filmmakers who will be in Berlin to encourage and inspire emerging talents at the weeklong series of lectures, discussions, and hands-on training.

“There’s no better way to inspire the next generation of great international filmmakers than to put them in dialogue with some of the world’s foremost practitioners of documentary,” said Matthijs Wouter-Knol and Chritine Tröstrum, managers of the Berlinale Talent Campus. “FOCUS FORWARD is committed to fostering young talent and we are proud to enlist their support on this 10th anniversary edition of our creative summit.”

After Sundance and Berlin, additional FOCUS FORWARD films will premiere as curated collections at the Tribeca Film Festival and International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), both strategic partners of the program, and at major festivals in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East throughout 2012.

The five films premiering at Sundance are:

MEET MR. TOILET (Dir. Jessica Yu, 2012) – Oscar-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu (“In the Realms of the Unreal”) introduces us to Jack Sim, AKA Mr. Toilet, who uses unorthodox methods as he travels the globe raising awareness about the lack of sanitation in underdeveloped countries.

HILARY’S STRAWS (Dir. Phil Cox, 2012) – UK director Phil Cox (“The Bengali Detective”) unveils a moving mini-portrait of Hilary Lister, a quadriplegic champion sailor whose metal-and-circuit-board navigational tool, invented with friends, led her to conquer the oceans of the world.

THE LANDFILL (Dir. Jessica Edwards and Gary Hustwit, 2012) – Training their eye on a facility in Delaware County, New York, Edwards and Hustwit (“Helvetica”) challenge the way we look at landfills, not as an ever-growing problem, but as a possible source of renewable energy.

HEART STOP BEATING (Dir. Jeremiah Zagar, 2012) - Jeremiah Zagar (“In a Dream”) tells the story of Billy Cohn and Bud Frazier, two visionary doctors from the Texas Heart Institute who in March 2011 successfully replaced a dying man’s heart with a “continuous flow” device they developed, proving that life was possible without a pulse or a heart beat.

NEWTOWN CREEK DIGESTER EGGS: THE ART OF HUMAN WASTE (Dir. David W. Leitner, 2012) – Cinematographer/filmmaker David W. Leitner (“Trembling Before G-d”) looks at the unusual marriage of form and function at the jaw-droppingly beautiful Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Brooklyn, New York.

January 16, 2011

THE INTERNET FILM CRITIC SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2011 AWARDS

The Internet Film Critic Society announced the winners of their 5th Annual Movie Awards, giving the top honor (Best Drama) to Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Malick also won the Best Director prize. Other awards went to Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris (Best Comedy), Drive (Best Action Film), and Attack the Block (Best Horror or Science Fiction Film). George Clooney picked up the award for Best Actor for his performance in The Descendants and Rooney Mara won Best Actress for her role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

The Fifth Annual Internet Film Critic Society Awards:

Best Drama: The Tree of Life

Best Comedy: Midnight in Paris

Best Horror or Science Fiction Film: Attack the Block

Best Action Film: Drive

Best Actor: George Clooney for The Descendants

Best Actress: Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Director: Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life

Best Experimental Film: Bellflower

Most Underrated Film: Meek’s Cutoff

Worst Film of 2011: Jack and Jill

About the Internet Film Critic Society

The Internet Film Critic Society is an international association of online film critics and journalists. Our members provide expert opinions, analyses and criticisms on all forms of cinema, primarily or exclusively through online outlets. The IFCS is designed to stimulate awareness of the internet as a respectable and professional source of film critique and studies. The IFCS has given year-end awards for excellence in filmmaking annually since its founding in 2007. Additional information and previous awards can be seen at www.InternetFilmCritics.com.

January 15, 2011

JAMES BOND CELEBRATES FIFTY INCREDIBLE YEARS
WITH GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY BLU-RAY COLLECTION
BOND 50

In celebration of James Bond’s monumental golden anniversary, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment today unveiled BOND 50, a collectible box-set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray Disc for the first time in one complete offering. The longest running film franchise of all time, the Bond 50 collection marks the debut of nine James Bond films previously unavailable in high definition Blu-ray. Fans around the world can pre-order now with participating online retailers.

BOND 50 showcases fifty years of Bond neatly packaged into one cool, sleek collectable box-set featuring all six iconic James Bond actors. Produced using the highest possible picture quality and audio presentation, the collection includes all 22 James Bond feature films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace and more than 130 hours of bonus features including some new and exclusive content.

“With all 22 feature films available on Blu-ray in one collection for the first time this is a great way for fans to catch up on 007’s epic journey before Skyfall hits theaters next Fall,” said Michael Brown, Senior Vice President, MGM Home

December 5, 2011

ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENTS
“FILMS FOR THE OCCUPATION” SERIES

Four nights of activist films will screen for free in Manhattan and Brooklyn
www.rooftopfilms.com

Rooftop Films, in conjunction with several of New York City’s finest film venues, will bring a series of four film programs to audiences from December 13-16.

The series is curated by Rooftop Films with NewFest Director of Programming and Indiewire contributor Bryce J. Renninger.

“As the situation in Zuccotti Park unfolded the last few months, Rooftop Films received countless emails and phone calls from filmmakers, activists, and organizations who felt that it was important to put together screenings of films that focus on the issues that instigated the protests. We were never able to do a screening in the park, unfortunately, but we believe strongly that the discussion must continue, and we think these screenings can help to sustain that conversation,” Commented Dan Nuxoll, Program Director for Rooftop Films.

Renninger added, “As the Occupy encampments are being dismantled across the country and as mainstream media and politics threaten to go on with business as usual, ignoring the economic and social issues that have energized the Occupy movements, consuming media and having conversations that question our economic and political system is all the more important. Films for the Occupation intends to showcase film and multimedia works that provoke or continue conversations that challenge old ways of thinking and encourage new ones.”

Thanks to the generosity of all filmmakers, distributors, and venues, all screenings will be free for all audience members. Seating for all screenings is limited, audiences are encouraged to arrive early.

The schedule for the December 13-16 screening series follows:

Tuesday, December 13 – Sneak Preview of Just Do It: A Tale of Modern-Day Outlaws

Director: Emily James

reRun Gastropub Theater in DUMBO in Brooklyn at 7PM

Before Occupy Wall Street, a group of climate activists in the UK organized themselves and engaged in direct action campaigns using the same methods that OWS took on a few months later. Watch as cameras embedded within the group expose how their actions were executed and how they deal with a new approach from the UK’s police.

Wednesday, December 14 – Screening of Battle for Brooklyn (2012 Oscar shortlist)

Directors: Michael Galinsky & Suki Hawley (directors present for Q&A)

Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture in Park Slope at 7:30PM

Just as the new home for the New Jersey Nets (soon to be the Brooklyn Nets) is rising up into the Downtown Brooklyn skyline, Galinsky & Hawley released their film Battle for Brooklyn, which documents the shady business dealings that uprooted families and local businesses from their longtime homes. Films for the Occupation will screen the film, which was just shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar, just blocks from the Atlantic Yards site.

Thursday, December 15 – Screening of The Flaw (Sundance 2011)

Director: David Sington

Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at 7:30PM

With The Flaw, Sington launches an investigation into what or who caused the recent financial crisis. Using interviews with economists, brokers, and bankers and archival cartoons explaining free market economics, Sington argues that the system of capitalism developed over the past thirty years is to blame for getting us into the mess we are in.

Screens with Matthew Modine’s Jesus Was a Commie

Friday, December 16 – Screening of OWS Shorts

Various Directors (many present for Q&A)

UnionDocs in South Williamsburg in Brooklyn at 7:30PM

Brooklyn documentary collective UnionDocs is opening its doors to a series of short films and multimedia projects from activists and filmmakers who documented the Occupy Wall Street movement or other activist actions.

ABOUT ROOFTOP FILMS

Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians. In addition to our Summer Series – which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer – Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents equipment at low-cost to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films. For more information and updates please visit our website at www.rooftopfilms.com.

December 4, 2011

THE FORGOTTEN SPANISH NON-FICTION CINEMA AND ITS RENEWAL:
THIS IS (ALSO) SPAIN!
Thursday, December 8 at 7:30
Anthology Film Archives

This is the unknown side of Spain that the dictatorship's propaganda sought to hide in order to promote tourism, the flip side of the popular images of sun, paella, sangria, and beaches. A national wound that still festers. An eternal suspicion of the other. An eternal pain.
José Val del Omar AGUAESPEJO GRANADINO (1955, 23 minutes, 35mm)
Velasco Broca VAL DEL OMAR FUERA DE SUS CASILLAS (2010, 6 minutes, video)

Luis Buñuel LAND WITHOUT BREAD / LAS HURDES, TIERRA SIN PAN (1932, 27 minutes, 35mm)

Óscar Pérez IF THE CAMERA BLOWS UP (2008, 12 minutes, video)
Valeriano López ME DUELE EL CHOCHO (2002, 4 minutes, video)
Total running time: ca. 80 minutes.
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

Tickets: $9 general; $8 Essential Cinema (free for members); $7 for students, seniors, & children (12 & under); $6 AFA members.

Anthology Film Archives | 32 Second Ave
New York, NY

December 1, 2011

Broadway stars join 7th Annual Celebrity Memorabilia Auction BID 2 BEAT AIDS Honors World AIDS Day to benefit Lifebeat Begins today -- December 1, 2011-- on eBay

Bidding began at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Proceeds benefit Lifebeat - Music Fights HIV to support its ongoing AIDS/HIV programs nationwide. Lifebeat has amassed nearly 500 items for BID 2 BEAT AIDS 2011 including Celebrity Experiences with Bernadette Peters (Follies tickets and a meet-and greet), Joan Rivers, Devo, Michael Feinstein, David Hyde Pierce, Nick Adams (Priscilla tickets and a meet-and-greet), Lisa Lampanelli, and Jerry Springer; signed Playbills from Book of Mormon, Sister Act, Bye Bye Birdie, Angels in America, God Of Carnage, The Scottsboro Boys, and Good People; CDs signed by Sutton Foster, Vanessa Williams, Lea Delaria, Sherie Rene Scott, and Patti LuPone, photos autographed by Liza Minnelli, Debbie Harry, Carol Channing, Sharon Gless, Chris Noth, Laura Linney, and Chita Rivera; and other memorabilia signed by the cast of Glee, the cast of Shrek, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Vanessa Williams, Hugh Jackman, and many others. New items are still coming in and being posted as well.

The centerpiece of the auction is a one-of-a-kind celebrity autographed "Lend-A-Hand to Lifebeat" card series. Over 150 stars -- including Brooke Shields, James Earl Jones, John Leguizamo, Kara DioGuardi, Jerry Springer, Annie Potts, Jake Shears, Beth Leavel, Harvey Fierstein, Elaine Paige, Bobby Cannavale, Richard Thomas, Mink Stole, Kristen Chenoweth, Jerry O'Connell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jonathan Groff, John Cameron Mitchell, and Alan Cumming -- have traced their hands on special paper, adding an artistic touch and signature.

Lifebeat - Music Fights HIV, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention. Lifebeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community. In 2007, Lifebeat observed fifteen years in the fight against AIDS. For more information visit: www.lifebeat.org

Every item in BID 2 BEAT AIDS comes with a certificate of authenticity, and was obtained directly from the performers, their agents, or other professionals in the industry. Bidders can be assured that they're getting the real deal!

October 20, 2011

Applications for the 2012 Talbots Scholarship Program Now Open

18 Scholarships Totaling $200,000 to be Awarded

Women’s specialty retailer Talbots announces the launch of the Talbots Charitable Foundation’s 2012 Scholarship Program, which empowers women to enrich themselves by returning to college later in life. For the 2012 academic year, the Foundation will award 17 $10,000 scholarships and one $30,000 Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award, in memory for the company’s founder. This award will be presented to the finalist demonstrating creativity, conviction and an entrepreneurial spirit

The Talbots Scholarship Program is accepting applications online now through January 3, 2012 at Talbots.com/scholarship. The program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc. The following women will serve on the panel of judges to assist in the selection of finalists:

· Joy Bauer, America’s favorite nutritionist and author

· Kate Betts, fashion editor and author

· Jean Chatzky, award winning journalist and best selling financial expert

· Rachael Chong, founder and CEO of Catchafire, helping nonprofits access probono

· Sunita Cooke, president of Grossmont College

· Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author

· Ann Daly, career coach, consultant and author

· Beth Kanter, blogger, social media expert and author

· Gloria Cordes Larson, president of Bentley University

· Pamela Mitchell, founder and CEO of the Reinvention Institute

· Mary Alice Stephenson, fashion and style expert and commentator

· Trudy Sullivan, president and CEO of The Talbots, Inc.

“We believe that education opens opportunities for women and are very pleased to increase the number of scholarships that will be granted in 2012,” said Lori Wagner, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Talbots. “Every one of the 15 years we’ve been running the Program, we’ve been awed and inspired by our applicants’ determination and ability to re-imagine the world as they know it.”

Eligibility requirements include women who currently reside in United States or Canada, earned their high school diploma or GED on or before September 2002, and are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university.

“Now at 52, I finally have the opportunity to prove that I can succeed in college,” said Patricia Welch, the 2011 Nancy Talbot Scholarship recipient. “Receiving the scholarship allows me to reach my full potential as an artist and educator and fulfill my dreams of utilizing sculpture and film making to assist women and children who are beginning their healing journey.”

Talbots Focus on Education

The Talbots Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Talbots Charitable Foundation, Inc., an IRS recognized 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. The Foundation provides financial support to non-profit organizations that enrich the lives of women. The Scholarship Program has helped over 600 women pursue their educational dreams since its inception in 1997.

About Talbots

Talbots (NYSE: TLB) is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company’s online shopping site is located at www.talbots.com.

October 11, 2011

Available online starting today, PBS Arts continues its new interactive series, ‘Off Book’, with a short film dedicated to independent craftsmen and how the world of Etsy has expanded their reach. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMcSaQRztsY

America has enjoyed a long tradition of handmade arts and crafts that for a long time was overshadowed by the homogenizing force of mass-manufacturing and retail culture. In this latest “Off Book” feature, PBS explores how an organically-grown community of artists and craft-makers has become newly accessible to the general public via the Etsy platform. Etsy provides a vehicle for communication that enables sales to appreciative fans and customers and offers a medium through which creative ideas can be shared. Through the decades, the passion for handmade arts has never disappeared, and now in the age of the internet these local craft cultures and artists have found a unifying online community.

August 18, 2011

From HBO:

Say good-bye in style! HBO is giving Entourage® Facebook fans the ultimate opportunity to commemorate the final season. Through August 26th, fans can visit the Entourage Facebook page to vote on their favorite quotes from the beloved Entourage boys. The popular quote for each guy will be developed into limited edition t-shirts available exclusively at the HBO SHOP online. While the Johnny Drama and Vincent quotes have already been chosen, there is still time to vote on quotes for Eric and, of course, Ari!

I think your readers would be interested to know that they participate in the “Entourage Fan Favorite Quote Contest” and help create exclusive t-shirts that celebrate the beloved series.

· Week of 8/15-8/19: Eric Murphy - Limited Edition T-shirt Launches 8/22

Quotes Include:

Nobody talks s**t about you. Except me.

Are you testing out the emergency a**hole system, Ari?

He called me pizza boy!

· Week of 8/22-8/26: Ari Gold - Limited Edition T-shirt Launches 8/29

Quotes Include:

I don't make the rules. Not all of them anyways.

Just pack that b*tch! Chop suey!

Silence is f**king golden!

Check out the new arrivals at the HBO Shop Online www.HBO.com/store!

July 30, 2011

PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger unveiled today a slate of new short films on cultural aspects of seven American cities, to be broadcast nationally within this fall’s PBS ArtsFall Festival programs. Kerger says the film series, which she announced at the Television Critics Association’s Press Tour, is an unprecedented move to give a national audience a sampling of artistic stories from around the country. With topics ranging from the post-grunge Seattle rock scene to Chicago’s architectural future, and from the craftspeople of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Miami’s Haitian and Cuban artists, the films paint a vibrant picture of contemporary American arts and culture.

“With our PBS Arts Fall Festival featuring performances from communities coast to coast, we felt it made perfect sense to dig deeper and show the cultural infrastructure and artistic innovations those areas have inspired,” said Kerger. “As part of our ongoing commitment to give Americans a front-row seat to the best performing arts, we’re showcasing an exciting spectrum of what is happening at the community level throughout the country.”

The PBS Arts Fall Festival is a multi-platform event anchored by nine broadcasts on Friday nights, starting October 14, and a range of related online content. (NOTE: Only seven of the broadcasts include short films.) The Fall Festival features artists and performances from across the country, with celebrity hosts from each locale. Comprising full-length productions, behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles, the PBS Arts Fall Festival will be complemented by these short films and by additional content available exclusively on the PBSArts.org website.

PBS member stations that serve as presenters for each of the Fall Festival shows were invited to develop documentary-style films about unique aspects of their local cultural scenes. As the broadcasts they accompany vary in length, so do the films, running fromseven to 15 minutes. Producers and directors from each city and member station developed film treatments, pitched ideas to PBS, and handled filming and post-production locally.

The host cities, films and topics include:

Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From Minnesota: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S HMS PINAFORE

Home to tens of thousands of artists and 1,700 arts organizations, Minnesota’s artistic landscape has always attracted people who make their livings in the arts. The inculcation of thearts into everyday life here fostered a movement that made Minnesota the only state whose citizens voted to write arts funding into the state constitution. This extraordinary show of support for the arts underscores Minnesotans’ commitment to establish an arts and cultural legacy for future generations. The film from Twin Cities Public Television explores how the state’s diverse arts community began decades ago with visionaries who invested in and guided arts institutions to become successful businesses and world-class organizations.

Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From Seattle: AMERICAN MASTERS “Pearl Jam Twenty”

Pearl Jam. Nirvana. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. In the 1990s, Seattle crashed the music party on a wave called grunge. What's it like to make music in the Emerald City 20 years after Pearl Jam’s seminal album, Ten? PBS member station KCTS 9 looks at the camaraderie and creativity that make Seattle a wellspring for groundbreaking musical talent. See and hear the local scene through the DJs, independent label reps and musicians (The Head and the Heart, Macklemore, Grand Hallway) who are taking the city in new directions and find out why, despite the lure of Seattle's legendary past success, it's more important to make it here than to make it big.

Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From Miami: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine & Tharp”

Contemporary Haitian and Cuban artists are creating new venues in their Miami neighborhoods, connecting community members to their traditions and cultural roots while drawing diverse audiences from other neighborhoods and beyond. This program, produced by PBS member station WPBT2, centers on Afro-Caribbean art, with Roberto Ramos’ Cuba Ocho Gallery along the burgeoning Calle Ocho Arts District, and the newly built Little Haiti Cultural Center — home to renowned artist Edouard Duval Carrié and the African dance ensemble Delou, both of whom use art as a tool to build communities.

Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: GIVE ME THE BANJO

Out of both necessity and ingenuity, the handcrafting of tools and household items helped sustain thepeople and the culture of the remote Blue Ridge Mountains for centuries. Today these crafts continue in both their most traditional forms and in bold interpretations that veer toward contemporary art. This film from PBS member station UNC-TV explores the work of four Blue Ridge Mountain artists — wood carver Davy Arch, metal worker Bill Brown, potter Mark Peters and basket maker Billie Ruth Sudduth — capturing the traditions of their crafts while tapping into the creative forces that inspire more abstract expressionism.

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From Chicago: AMERICAN MASTERS “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man”

Chicago is an artistic powerhouse — with world-class theater, symphony, opera and contemporary music — and the birthplace of sketch comedy. But the setting for this art is an achievement in itself. The world’s first skyscrapers were built here, and many noteworthy buildings were designed by a who’s-who list of great architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Renzo Piano and Frank Gehry, to name a few. Thisshort film from PBS member station WTTW highlights a new architect on the scene, Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, highlighting her work style and current projects and her early triumphs, including the award-winning Aqua skyscraper. Framed by the city’s extraordinary architectural legacy, the film shows how Gang and her firm represent Chicago’s future.

Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From Cleveland: WOMEN WHO ROCK

Most people recognize the power of art to enlighten and inspire individuals and even entire communities. But most of us don’t have a clue how to pay for it. In the early 20th century, renowned institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Orchestra would “take Mrs. Rockefeller to lunch” — a metaphor for convincing wealthy patrons to write a check. These days, the wealthy patrons are long gone. This short film from PBS member station WVIZ/PBS ideastream ® shows how Clevelanders not only moved to recognize the powerful resource of their cultural traditions, but also discovered an innovative way to keep them alive.

Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, 9:00 p.m. EST

PBS Arts From San Francisco: GREAT PERFORMANCES “The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet”

San Francisco traditionally has attracted misfits, oddballs and eccentrics — in other words, the perfect place for artists! Whether they’re bred here or have journeyed here in search of their “true selves,” artists find that the frontier edge of the Bay Area nurtures creativity and innovation and frees them to give full expression to unique voices and visions. Rather than conform to an arts establishment, artists here create against the grain and off the beaten track. PBS member station KQED’s mini-documentary explores the renegade characteristic of Bay Area arts, revealing artists who are quirky,rebellious and visionary.

News regarding the ninth program in the PBS Arts Fall Festival is forthcoming. Funding for the launch of PBS Arts has been provided by Anne Ray Charitable Trust, public television viewers and PBS.

– PBS –

John Michael Kennedy / Jennifer Brod, Goodman Media International, 212-576-2700; PBSArts-PR@goodmanmedia.com

For full episode descriptions, images, videos and additional up-to-date information on these and other PBS programs, visit PBS PressRoom at pbs.org/pressroom.

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER "Mostly Mozart Festival Opening Night"

Tuesday, August 2nd on PBS | pbs.org/programs/live-from-lincoln-center

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PBS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE INTERACTIVE ART SERIES “OFF BOOK”

PBSArts.org original series premieres July 20, showcasing innovative artists working in experimental media

PBS announced today the premiere of “Off Book,” a new web series focused on experimental and non-traditional art forms on PBSArts.org that begins July 20. This 13-part, bi-weekly series explores the ever-changing definition of art in the hands of the next generation of artists taking creative reigns and melding art with new media.

“Off Book” and the PBSArts.org site is part of PBS’s commitment to invite Americans to experience and engage in the diverse world of the arts. “Off Book” will be joined in that effort this October by the PBS Arts Fall Festival – a broadcast and online event anchored by nine films that highlight artists and performances from around the country and explore the worlds of music, theater, dance, opera, and cultural history.

Produced by New York-based production company Kornhaber Brown, ”Off Book” trains a lens on the lives of various artists working in interactive art, online collective art, fashion design, typography, indie music, videogame art, and more. In three-to-five-minute video snapshots of creators who ride the cutting edge, viewers can explore the process, motivation, meaning, and relevance behind their work.

Just as actors reach a point at which they’re confident enough to go ‘off-book’ and leave their scripts behind, the visual and performing artists featured in this series are taking the next steps with their talents and training, forging new artistic paths. “Off Book” will offer interactive experiences for each of its 13 online episodes, encouraging further viewer participation and providing additional artistic inspiration.

The first two episodes are:

Premiering July 20

Light Painting Photography—Harkening back to founders of modern photography like Man Ray, today’s light painters push digital imagery to its limits. The piece features modern artists Aurora Crowley and Patrick Rochon as they create new images, on the city streets and inside photography studios.

Premiering August 3

The World of Typography—The diversity of typographic expression comes to life through conversations with iconic graphic designer Paula Scher, font designers Tobias Frere-Jones and Jonathan Hoefler, the experimental young designer Eddie Opara, and cutting-edge info-graphic creators Deroy Peraza and Julia Vakser.

Future episodes of “Off Book” follow bi-weekly on PBSArts.org. They will include:

Collective Imagery and Meme Culture—Influential leaders behind the Internet’s most active communities come together with observers of Web culture to explore the power of “memes” – creative elements passed virally from person to person.

Steampunk Art—In this episode, the Steampunk aesthetic is described and expressed by those who forged its incredible popularity. Fashion designers, artists, and craftspeople discuss the alternate world inspired by gothic, industrial and Victorian styles that early on captivated a huge Internet fan base and more recently found mainstream acceptance.

Arts and Craft Culture Online—The Internet has enabled access to local artisans working around world, sparking a renaissance in homemade crafts. The Etsy headquarters in Brooklyn opens its doors while successful folk artists demonstrate how they make simple and alluring pieces.

Video Game Art—A commercial game-design studio creates rich aesthetic universes and compelling interactive storytelling, while independent designers offer games also intended to function as artistic experiences.

The Fashion of Artists—Three young New York artists from varying disciplines explain how their fashion choices express something important about themselves and their work.

Generative Art—Leaders in a new field blur the boundaries between computer programming and art-making, describing the importance of both the visual aesthetic and the choices made.

Papercraft—Reaching new levels of complexity and expression, renowned papercraft sculptors discuss the process by which they create their meticulous and beautiful work.

Interactive Art with Zachary Lieberman—One of the most innovative thinkers in art and technology today, this groundbreaking artist shares his creative philosophy and discusses how he engages people in his work. The video features some of his most interesting pieces in action.

21st Century Aerial Dance—Combining circus aerialism with traditional and modern movement forms, aerial dance groups weave storytelling and theater into their performances. Hear from choreographers, see rehearsals, and learn the fundamental concepts that create an engrossing visual landscape.

F.A.T. Lab—Members of the Free Art and Technology Lab – a global creative partnership behind some of the 21st Century’s most interesting fusions of technology, political action, and art – explain how their work fits into a contemporary, digital-age understanding of art.

Experimental Music—The world of experimental independent music as it is viewed by several groups with contrasting styles, including a discussion of their songwriting processes, instrumentation, and unique sonic landscapes.

About PBS Arts Festival

As part of its commitment to increase every American’s access to and participation in the arts, PBS kicks off the multi-platform PBS Arts Fall Festival October 14th. Anchored by Friday night broadcasts, the Fall Festival features artists and performances from nine communities across the country, and celebrity hosts from each locale. With full-length performances, local mini-documentaries of arts scenes around the country, backstage access through interviews, artist and performer profiles, online immersive exhibits, and classroom resources, the PBS Arts Fall Festival entertains and inspires consumers by offering a front-row seat to the creativity, culture, history and scope of the arts. Funding for the launch of PBS Arts Fall Festival has been provided by Anne Ray Charitable Trust, public television viewers, and PBS.

July 17, 2011

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation and Rooftop Films Announce a New Joint Grant

A $3,000 cash award will go to one female Rooftop alumni making a new short film. The grant recipient will be announced in September 2011, along with three other grants made by the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund.

Rooftop Films and The Adrienne Shelly Foundation are pleased to announce a new grant for women filmmakers working on short films. In keeping with the organizations’ joint missions, the grant will support an emerging artist who demonstrates a unique filmmaking vision and energy. Because women filmmakers are afforded fewer opportunities than their male counterparts, this grant will help support a production led by a female director, in the hopes of bringing more women’s voices to the big screen.

“Short films are often the pathway to a much broader filmmaking career,” said Andy Ostroy, Founder & Executive Director of the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. “It’s how Adrienne got her start, which makes our new relationship with Rooftop truly meaningful and exciting.”

Mark Elijah Rosenberg, the Founder and Artistic Director of Rooftop Films, added, “The Adrienne Shelly Foundation works with some of the finest filmmaking institutions in the world, and it’s an honor for Rooftop to be partnering with them as a means of furthering the work of women filmmakers. There is still a tremendous bias in the film industry, and together Rooftop and the Adrienne Shelly Foundation are eager to help support the underrepresented female talent that is out there.”

About The Adrienne Shelly Foundation
The Adrienne Shelly Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated in loving memory to the uniquely gifted actor and filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, whose highly accomplished life was tragically cut short November 1, 2006. ASF supports the artistic achievements of female actors, writers and directors through a series of scholarships and grants, providing recipients with financial support and consultative access to the Foundation's advisory board of actors, directors, producers, composers, law, publicity, academic and trade professionals. Reflecting Adrienne's spirit, generosity, courage and whimsy, its goal is to recognize the tremendous passion and commitment of women artists in creating their own work, and provide them with support and guidance particularly during periods of transition and struggle.

About Rooftop Films
Rooftop Films is a New York based non-profit whose mission is to engage diverse communities by showing independent movies in outdoor locations, producing new films, coordinating youth media education, and renting equipment at low cost to artists. Rooftop Films sets aside $1 from every ticket sold at our festival and every submission fee received and gives it to filmmakers in the form of grants for their film productions. So often, filmmakers spend so much of their resources making one film that it's hard for them to produce another. But unlike festivals which give away awards for filmmakers' past work, the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund offers an opportunity to help deserving filmmakers make their next movie. Past grantees have included Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene, Johannes Nyholm’s Las Palmas, Eva Weber’s Black Out, Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of the Southern Wild and Glory at Sea, Ian Cheney's The City Dark, Sara Zia Ebrahimi's Norman Schwartzkopf Made Me Gay, Moon Molson's Crazy Beats Strong Every Time, Emily Carmichael’s Ledo and Ix Fight Monsters and Kelly Sears’ Once It Started

July 1, 2011

NYC & COMPANY ANNOUNCES NYC RESTAURANT WEEK® SUMMER 2011 TO FEATURE MORE THAN 320 RESTAURANTS IN ITS 20TH YEAR

-Largest NYC Dining Program to Date Welcomes Back Partners American Express and Travelocity-

NYC & Company, New York City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced that NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2011-the City's original culinary celebration and world's first Restaurant Week-will feature more than 320 restaurants. The two-week event will take place July 11-24, Mondays through Fridays; Saturdays are excluded and Sundays are optional. Founding Sponsor American Express and Participating Sponsor Travelocity will return to offer promotions and prizes throughout the program. For the 12th consecutive season, prices for the prix-fixe three-course meals will remain at $24.07 for lunch and $35 for dinner (excluding beverages, taxes and gratuities), ensuring that the City's largest dining program to date remains as good a value today as it was in 1992.

"Summer 2011 marks the beginning of the 20th year for NYC Restaurant Week-a true milestone in the industry of dining," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. "This season will kick off a two-part commemoration of the City's largest culinary program that will conclude with its 20th anniversary. We encourage everyone to partake in this New York City tradition that has influenced events the world over and claimed a part of history."

New program participants this season include Junoon, Macelleria, Osteria Morini and Socarrat Paella Bar. The program will also welcome back the likes of '21' Club, Barbetta, Delmonico's, Le Cirque and Tribeca Grill, who were all original participants in 1992. The full list of participating restaurants will be available at nycgo.com/restaurantweek <http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek> on Wednesday, June 29, when reservations are open to the general public. Early-access reservations will be made available on Twitter to @nycgo <http://twitter.com/#!/nycgo> followers on Monday, June 27.

In honor of NYC Restaurant Week's 20th year, American Express Cardmembers will receive a $20 statement credit when they register and use any eligible American Express® Card to dine out three or more times at participating restaurants during NYC Restaurant Week, July 11-24. To register an American Express Card and for terms and conditions, visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek <http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek> .

"We are excited to celebrate the 20th year of NYC Restaurant Week with this great offer for cardmembers," said Don Shannon, Vice President of Marketing and Client Development at American Express. "This program has grown into a can't-miss opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors alike to discover new eateries and dine at old favorites-at the same time, it drives business to restaurants in New York City. American Express is proud to be a Founding Sponsor."

Back in New York City for his second NYC Restaurant Week, the Travelocity Roaming Gnome® will offer consumers special deals and travel prizes throughout the summer program. To find out more about these special foodie offers, visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek <http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek> .

NYC Restaurant Week began in 1992 as a one-time program to welcome the National Democratic Convention to town. Since then, the City's largest gastronomic event has grown from 95 restaurants to more than 320, and has developed to include exclusive dining benefits, sweepstakes, consumer events and products.

NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2011 is produced by NYC & Company and supported by Founding Sponsor American Express and Participating Sponsor ravelocity.

Reservations are powered by OpenTable.

For the latest announcements on NYC & Company programs follow twitter.com/nycgo_press <http://twitter.com/nycgo_press> . Visit nycgo.com <http://www.nycgo.com> to find out everything there is to see, do and eat in New York City.

About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

June 18, 2001

To celebrate the first slate of Tribeca Film On Demand titles, we are proud to launch the Tribeca Film WATCH&WIN Sweepstakes. Tribeca Film is giving away a pair of exclusive all-access passes to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival!

To enter, simply LIKE your favorite trailer and submit the entry form for your chance to win! Go to Watch&Win to get started! If you like the trailers you see, click the BUY button underneath the trailer to find out how you can watch the movies via Tribeca Film On Demand, now through June 23. (That's just one more week!)

Useful Links:
Sweepstakes Video: http://youtu.be/vQewfMwg5Zs
Official Entry: Watch&Win Sweepstakes
Tribeca Film: http://www.tribecafilm.com/tribecafilm/

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sweepstakes begins 6/17/11 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends 6/23/11 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Read the official rules and complete details here. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes launched in collaboration with Metal Rabbit Media.

June 2, 2011

From The Avon Foundation:

One in three women will be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

In 2010, the National Domestic Violence Hotline received more than 280,000 calls -- 83,027 of those calls went unanswered.

The Avon Foundation for Women’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program has partnered with Glamour magazine to raise funds through Glamour’s “TELLNOW” mobile giving campaign. Supporters can text message 85944 with the word ‘TELLNOW’ to donate $10 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The Avon Foundation for Woman will match every dollar up to $200,000 donated through this campaign.

May 26, 2011

From Quatro TV:

I am writing from Spain, I am a journalist from the Spanish channel Cuatro TV (www.cuatro.com) and I am contacting you to ask you to help spread this message. We are producing the TV show "Married to America" and now we are doing the casting. Spanish and Latin women seek for this program of Spanish TV channel. This is a docu-reality that reflects the life of Spanish women and Latinas who have achieved a life of glamor in the U.S.. We have already issued two seasons, the first was recorded in Los Angeles ("Married with Hollywood 'www.cuatro.com/married-with-hollywood) and the second was issued recently and was recorded in Miami (" Married with Miami' www.cuatro.com/ married-with-miami).

Spanish women seek and/or Latin, outgoing and unique, they want to show their life of luxury and glamor.

Please, I would greatly appreciate help us spread this casting among women who might be interested to be one of the five stars of this hit TV show in Spain.

The program is recorded in the U.S. during the months of July and August.

Leticia Villa
leticiavilla@p52tv.com
Program "Married to America"
Cuatro TV
www.cuatro.com

May 25, 2011

The Fragrance Foundation will be honoring VIP’s from the fragrance industry as well as superstars from stage, screen and TV at The 2011 FiFi® Awards Celebration on May 25th at 6:45PM ET/3:45PM PT, and will stream the entire event on Livestream. Known as the “Oscars of the fragrance industry”, viewers can expect celebrity appearances from FiFi® Awards recipients including Halle Berry, Fergie, Jean Paul Gaultier and more. Viewers are invited to watch this exciting event as it takes place live from the Lincoln Center in New York City, by tuning into http://www.livestream.com/fifiawards/share

May 20, 2011

2012 VILCEK PRIZE FOR CREATIVE PROMISE
TO BE AWARDED IN DANCE
Celebrating achievement by foreign-born artists in their early careers
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to announce that it has selected dance as the award category for its 2012 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Arts. For the first time, a dance artist will receive the $25,000 annual award.

Since 2009, the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Arts has been calling attention to the key role young immigrants play in the continued vibrancy of culture in the United States. It also encourages and supports young foreign-born artists in their early careers, when they often face significant challenges. Previous award categories have included filmmaking, culinary arts, and literature.

Dancers, choreographers, artistic directors, and former dancers who now teach are invited to apply. Applicants must have been born abroad, reside permanently in the United States, intend to pursue a career in the U.S., and be no more than 35 years old as of December 31, 2011.

A panel of distinguished members of the dance and arts community will select the recipients of the prize and of four finalist awards of $5,000 each. The jury will consider the candidates’ artistic excellence, creativity, clarity of vision, and impact on the field of dance.

“We welcome applicants from every corner of dance, from classical to contemporary, from the most familiar forms to new forms that defy classification,” said Marica Vilcek, Vice President of the Foundation.

Dance artists from every genre and discipline are invited to apply. A written application, work samples, and reviews from major publications are required. The deadline for submissions is August 14, 2011, and a link to the online application can be found at www.vilcek.org

The winner and finalists will be notified in November 2011 and honored at an awards ceremony in New York City in April 2012.

For more information about the Vilcek Foundation and the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Arts, please visit www.vilcek.org

The Vilcek Foundation aims to raise awareness of the contributions of immigrants to the sciences, arts, and culture in the United States. The Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The Foundation achieves its mission through hosting immigrant artists and performers at its gallery space in New York City, awarding annual prizes in the biomedical sciences and the arts, and sponsoring programs such as The Santa Fe Opera and the Hawaii International Film Festival.

April 30, 2011

2011 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS

SHE MONKEYS, JOURNALS OF MUSAN, BOMBAY BEACH AND LIKE WATER

WIN TOP AWARDS IN JURIED WORLD COMPETITIONS

ESTIVAL AWARDS MORE THAN $185,000 IN CASH PRIZES

[April 28, 2011 – New York, NY] – The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City. The Festival runs through May 1, 2011.

The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen from 12 narrative and 12 documentary features from 21 countries. Best New Director prizes were awarded for both narrative and documentary films, selected from all feature films by a first-time director throughout the program. Awards were also given for the best narrative short, best documentary short and student visionary films in the short film competitions. This year’s Festival included 93 features and 60 short films from 40 countries.

This year the Festival introduced new annual awards in the narrative competition for Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay, and in the documentary competition for Best Editing. Also announced at the awards were the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival feature and short film winners selected by the online audience. The winner of the Heineken Audience Award, determined by audience votes throughout the Festival, will be announced on April 30.

“It’s wonderful to have reached our 10th edition and to be able to celebrate with all of these gifted filmmakers. We’ve been fortunate that as we have grown we have remained a place that welcomes a diverse range of stories told by compelling and exciting filmmakers,” said Jane Rosenthal. “We are truly honored that the community has supported the Festival all these years – the community of New York and the international film community.”

“We are truly pleased to have had such a great group of filmmakers at Tribeca,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Festival. “Audiences and juries have responded so positively to the films and on behalf of the programming team I thank all our filmmakers for sharing their work with us and our audience.”

Screenings of all winning films will take place throughout the final day of the Festival, May 1, at various venues. Specific times and ticketing information are available on the Festival website, www.tribecafilm.com.

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors including American Express, AKA Hotel Residences, Accenture, Persol, Apple, Company 3 and Kodak, the Festival presented the winners with original pieces of art created by seven acclaimed artists, including Robert De Niro Sr. and Nate Lowman.

Following are the jurors, the winners and their awards:

World NARRATIVE COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The jurors for the 2011 World Narrative Competition were Souleymane Cissé, Scott Glenn, David Gordon Green, Rula Jebreal, Art Linson, Jason Sudeikis and Dianne Wiest.

· The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – She Monkeys (Apflickorna), directed by Lisa Aschan, written by Josefine Adolfsson and Lisa Aschan (Sweden). Winner receives $25,000 and the art award “Anna Christie Entering the Bar, 1965-1967” by Robert De Niro Sr. Sponsored by AKA Hotel Residences. The award was given by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro and Larry Korman from AKA Residences.

Jury Comments: “Haunting, resonant, but never posed. Conventional shots become dangerous. With balanced storytelling that moves between danger and innocence, this film speaks of sex, adolescence, power, and ambition. It is original and authentic.”

Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Ramadhan “Shami” Bizimana as Yvan in Grey Matter (Matière Grise), directed and written by Kivu Ruhorahoza (Rwanda, Australia). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

Jury Comments: “In a world shattered by genocide, this performance was so pure.”

Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Carice van Houten as Ingrid Jonker in Black Butterflies, directed by Paula van der Oest, written by Greg Latter (Germany, Netherlands, South Africa). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

Jury Comments: “There are a million colors in this complicated performance. We award this honor for bravery and fragility, and for showing tremendous range and strength throughout.”

Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film – Luisa Tillinger, Artificial Paradises (Paraisos Artificiales) (Mexico). Winner receives $5,000 and $50,000 in post production services provided by Company 3. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

Jury Comments: “A beautiful portrait of landscape and emotion.”

Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film – Jannicke Systad Jabobsen, Turn Me On, Goddammit (Få meg på, for faen) (Norway). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

Jury Comments: “This jury was unanimous. Hands-down this is the best screenplay.”

BEST NEW NARRATIVE DIRECTOR:

The jurors for the 2011 Best New Narrative Director Competition were Paul Dano, Atom Egoyan, Zoe Kazan, Anna Kendrick, Rainn Wilson.

· Best New Narrative Director – Park Jungbum, writer and director of Journals of Musan (Musan Il-gi) (South Korea). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express; $50,000 in post production services provided by Company 3; and the art award “Double Happiness” by Nate Lowman. The award was given by Zoe Kazan and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

Jury Comments: “This film is an extraordinary study of an outcast, one that examines a complex journey with compassion and grace. The jury was unanimous in honoring this rare film, which is both emotionally arresting and an important social document. We are proud to commend this auspicious debut from an extremely talented filmmaker.”

o Special Jury Mention – Kivu Ruhorahoza, writer and director of Grey Matter (Matière Grise). The announcement was made by Anna Kendrick.

Jury Comments: “For its audacious and experimental approach, this film speaks of recent horrors and genocide with great originality. We wanted to give a special commendation to this filmmaker for his courage and vision.”

World DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The jurors for the 2011 World Documentary Competition were Amir Bar-Lev, Michael Cera, RJ Cutler, Abigail Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Louie Psihoyos and Peter Scarlet.

· Best Documentary Feature – Bombay Beach, directed by Alma Har’el (USA, Israel). Winner receives $25,000 and the art award “Nathans” by Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao. The award was given by Louie Psihoyos.

Jury Comments: “Our unanimous award for the film’s beauty, lyricism, empathy and invention.”

· Best Editing in a Documentary Feature – Purcell Carson, Semper Fi: Always Faithful (USA). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Amir Bar-Lev.

Jury Comments: “The film skillfully weaves journalistic investigation with emotional personal narrative.”

BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR COMPETITION:

The jurors for the 2011 World Documentary Competition were Margaret Bodde, Jared Cohen, J.D. Heyman, Lauren Hutton, Annie Sundberg.

· Best New Documentary Director – Pablo Croce for Like Water, (USA). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express; and the art award “Path to the Stage” by Inka Essenhigh. The award was given by Lauren Hutton and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

Jury Comments: “The film opens up a violent world in an unexpected way through its sensitive and seamless portrayal of its complex hero, ultimate fighter Anderson Silva.”

o Special Jury Mention – Michael Collins, director of Give Up Tomorrow (UK, USA). The announcement was made by Lauren Hutton.

Jury Comments: “A powerful work of investigative journalism. We honor the filmmakers six years of hard work in illustrating how a society can clash with justice, and the impact on an individual life. Everyone should see this film.”

Short Film Competition Categories:

The 2011 Best Narrative Short Competition jurors were Nora Ephron, Ceci Kurzman, Denis Leary, Fran Lebowitz, David O. Russell, Paul Schneider and Jimmy Wales.

· Best Narrative Short – Man and Boy, directed by David Leon and Marcus McSweeney, written by David Leon and Rashid Rasaq (UK). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 5,000 feet of film stock donated by Kodak; and the art award “Gold Dust (Undeclared) by Taryn Simon. The award was given by Denis Leary and Victor Melendez from Persol. Jury Comments: “The jury liked this film’s marriage of brilliant acting, superb technical prowess, and provocative subject matter, and it’s a movie memorable for upending expectations.”

Special Jury Mention – The Terms, written and directed by Jason LaMotte (UK)

Jury Comments: “Dark, original and beautifully written.”

The 2011 Best Documentary and Student Short Competition jurors were Ahmed Ahmed, Agnes Gund, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Lapin, Lisa Shields, Christine Vachon and Patrick Wilson.

Best Documentary Short – Incident in New Baghdad, written and directed by James Spione (US). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 5,000 feet of film stock donated Kodak; and the art award “Big Penny” by Tom Otterness. The award was given by Nicole Lapin and Victor Melendez from Persol.

Jury Comments: “The winner is a film that bravely explores the residual effects of experiencing trauma in war in a truthful and fearless manner. Using a mixture of archival and current material, this timely film is the story of one man’s struggle to reconcile war, his place in it, and the legacy he will pass on to his children.”

o Special Jury Mention – Guru, written and directed by Jonathan VanBallenberghe (USA).

Jury Comments: “Congratulations to a film that started in one direction and ended up going in another. This unexpected journey was well crafted and followed a unique character for whom we were rooting.”

Student Visionary Award – Rooms, written and directed by Joanna Jurewicz (USA). Winner receives MacPro Desktop with Final Cut Pro and a 24-inch monitor provided by Apple; and the art award “Study: Northern City Renaissance (Mass MoCA #79N)” by Stephen Hannock. This award was also given by Ahmed Ahmed.

Jury Comments: “A simply told story with great depth that examines an average day in the life of an ordinary person living through other people. We applaud this director for her focus, attention to detail, and nuanced acting.”

o Special Jury Mention: Eva – Working Title, written and directed by Dor Fadlon (Israel)

Jury Comments: “Characterized by bold directorial choices, this film is a disturbing and intriguing story of an actor’s struggle, and examines the price paid for realizing one’s dreams. We congratulate this filmmaker for his ability to fully realize this story in a unique structure.”

TRIBECA (ONLINE) FILM FESTIVAL CATEGORIES:

The 2011 Tribeca (Online) Film Festival winners were voted on by visitors to tribecafilm.com.

· Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Feature Film: Donor Unknown, directed and written by Jerry Rothwell (UK). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express, and the art award “Untitled” by Sarah Crowner. The award was given by Geoffrey Gilmore and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Short Film: Dungeon Master, directed by Shiloh & Rider Strong (UK). Winners receive $5,000, sponsored by Accenture. The award was given by Geoffrey Gilmore and Dr. Gavin Michael from Accenture.

Full List of Eligible 2011 TFF Films in Each Category of Competition:

World Narrative Feature Competition:

· Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: 12 films

· Best Actress in a Narrative Feature: 12 actresses

· Best Actor in a Narrative Feature: 11 actors

· Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature: 12 films

· Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature: 12 films

World Documentary Feature Competition:

· Best Documentary Feature: 12 films

· Best Editing in a Documentary Film: 12 filmmakers

All feature sections, first time directors with films making their North American, International, or World Premiere

· Best New Narrative Director: directors selected from 17 films

· Best New Documentary Director: directors selected from 17 films

Short Films in Competition:

· Best Narrative Short: 35 films

· Best Documentary Short: 14 films

· Student Visionary Award: 10 films

For more information on all of the films in the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, please visit tribecafilm.com.

April 15, 2011

In the weeks leading up to what’s predicted to be the most viewed televised marriage ceremony – that of England’s Prince William and Kate Middleton – AOL has created an exclusive website, www.royalwedding.aol.com, for all things “Royal Wedding”!

You’ve heard a lot about the single royal men around the world. Today, the site lists the most eligible royal bachelorettes including Charlotte Casiraghi, granddaughter of Grace Kelly, and sisters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York. Please see below for the list. Full bachelorette information available at AOL Royal Wedding: http://royalwedding.aol.com

Princess Beatrice of York, 22, daughter of Prince Andrew and Duchess of York.

Princess Eugenie of York, 21, Beatrice's sister, younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Duchess of York.

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, 28, engaged to Jonas Bergström, but the wedding was postponed because of allegations of cheating.

Charlotte Casiraghi, 24, Grace Kelly is her maternal grandmother.

Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, 27, living in LA to pursue a cinematography career.

Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, 25, member of the Imperial House of Japan.

Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, 24, represented Thailand in badminton.

Princess Iman bint Al Hussein, 27, currently pursuing a higher degree in veterinary studies.

Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland, 23, she is one of 24 children.

Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, 20, currently a student at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis, 29, globetrotting socialite.

Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn und Taxis, 30, sued the Neue Post over a false claim that she was to marry the Spanish crown prince, Felipe, Prince of Asturias.

April 9, 2011

UPDATE: SUPERMODEL CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
TO BEGIN PERFORMANCES AS ROXIE HART
IN BROADWAY'S "CHICAGO" ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011

The producers of the Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO announced today that supermodel Christie Brinkley will now make her Broadway stage debut in the role merry murderess Roxie Hart beginning Friday, April 8, 2011.

Brinkley, who was sidelined with a minor muscle injury this week, was forced to miss three days of rehearsal. As a result, her 11-week engagement - originally set to begin at the Ambassador Theatre on Monday, April 4 - will now commence on Friday, April 8 to allow for additional rehearsal time.

CHICAGO Producer Barry Weissler said: "We are so thrilled with the incredible dedication, focus and determination that Christie has exhibited throughout this rehearsal period. Right now, it's almost as if she is living, eating, sleeping and breathing CHICAGO! While it's unfortunate that we must delay her start-date to make up for a few missed rehearsals, I'm happy to report that she's now rested, feeling great and ready to jump back into it. And I'm excited that our audience on Friday, April 8 will be the first of many to see the stellar performance that she's going to deliver."

Brinkley is the latest addition to a remarkable roster of actresses who have graced CHICAGO's Broadway stage as Roxie Hart throughout the years, including Brooke Shields, Sandy Duncan, Marilu Henner, Bebe Neuwirth, Ashlee Simpson, Michelle Williams and Academy Award nominee Melanie Griffith.

Brinkley will be joined onstage by Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Roz Ryan as Matron "Mama" Morton.

CHICAGO plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). Tickets are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.

March 22, 2011

FROM: TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
375 Greenwich Street, New York, NY

TRIBECA (ONLINE) FILM FESTIVAL
CREATES INNOVATIVE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE ONLINE

Tribeca (Online) Film Festival to Host Digital Environment with Free Exclusive Premium Content Including Six Feature Length Festival Films, Past Festival Favorite Films, Interactive Filmmaker Q&A’s
and Live, Interactive Conversation

New York, NY [March 21, 2011] – The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) today unveiled the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival supported by founding partner American Express. The pioneering digital initiative will allow domestic audiences to view feature and short films for free and worldwide audiences to engage with filmmakers and industry experts as TFF’s 10th edition runs concurrently in lower Manhattan from April 20 to May 1.

The debut of the 2011 Tribeca (Online) Film Festival offers film enthusiasts nationwide new avenues to experience a film festival. Tribeca (Online) is employing the latest digital video and web technology to deliver an immersive, interactive experience unlike any other, re-contextualizing Festival content and presentation.

The multi-dimensional experience features five areas: Festival Streaming Room, Live From..., Tribeca Q&A, Filmmaker Feed, and the Future of Film blog.

· The Streaming Room will host six feature films from the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, including two that are making their world premieres at TFF, and 18 short films, four of which are world premieres, and 9 of which retrospective short films from past Tribeca Film Festivals. Each film will have three to five 24-hour screening windows, during which there will be a select number of “seats” available. Using an innovative digital reservation system, viewers can reserve “seats” at www.tribecaonline.com. Reservations begin on April 12 for American Express Cardmembers and April 18 for general public. Online viewers will be able to vote for the Best Tribeca Online Feature Film, a prize of $25,000, sponsored by American Express, and Best Tribeca Online Short Film, a prize of $5,000, sponsored by Accenture.

· In Live From….online audiences across the globe will have the ability to watch live streams of Festival events, including the opening press conference, red carpet premieres, and the award show. Viewers will also have the opportunity to engage with other audience members and onsite participants.

· Tribeca Q&A, which launches today, will offer the online audience the opportunity to engage with the larger online community, one another, and experts by submitting questions to a pool of 20-25 exciting film and new media experts from Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal, Geoff Gilmore, and Nancy Schafer, to Whoopi Goldberg, and Brian Williams, and filmmakers David Gordon Green, and Zach Braff, plus a host of participating Tribeca (Online) filmmakers, programmers, actors, jurors, film experts, and more. Community members will vote on individual questions, and top-rated queries will be submitted for official response, made available to the public.

· The Filmmaker Feed contains aggregated information on all Tribeca (Online) Film Festival filmmakers, each of whom will have a custom page on the feed, with a biography, interviews, favorite links, social media feeds (Twitter/Facebook), blog posts, vide updates, and more;

· The Future of Film blog, brings together experts from the worlds of film and technology to comment on the ever-changing media environment in featured posts. Participants will be announced early April;

The selected feature films each explore poignantly relevant social themes – from the effect of forbidden love to the strength of community, to the power of social networking. The complete list of feature films streamed on the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival is as follows:

· Donor Unknown, directed by Jerry Rothwell. (UK) – North American Premiere, Documentary. JoEllen Marsh grew up knowing her father only as Donor 150. As one of the first generation of “test-tube babies,” she yearns for connection with potential siblings, and turns to the Internet to track them down. As JoEllen slowly broadens her family tree, in the process she forges a fascinatingly modern model of family. After connecting with dozens of siblings across the country, JoEllen decides it’s finally time to seek out Donor 150.

· Flowers of Evil (Fleurs du Mal), directed by David Dusa, written by David Dusa, Raphaëlle Maes, and Louise MolieÌre. (France) – North American Premiere, Narrative. Paris-Tehran. A rootless story of young love between Gecko, an Algerian-French hotel bellman and parkourer, and Anahita, an Iranian student forced to leave her country for her own safety after the controversial elections in 2009. Obsessed with tracking the political movement, Anahita’s friends broadcast through YouTube and coordinate via Twitter. Romance and the Internet become the ground to explore histories lost and identity yet to be found. In French, Farsi with English subtitles.

· My Last Round (Mi Último Round), directed and written by Julio Jorquera. (Chile, Argentina) – North American Premiere, Narrative. When successful boxer Octavio falls in love with kitchen hand Hugo, they move from their small-town homes in the south of Chile to capital city Santiago to protect their taboo relationship. But when Hugo feels unexpected desire for co-worker Jennifer, Octavio is left heartbroken and throws himself into a high-stakes boxing match against all odds. A handsome cast and evocative cinematography offer a sexy, subtle film that evokes hits like The Wrestler and Brokeback Mountain. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Neon Flesh (Carne de Neon), directed and written by Paco Cabezas. (Spain, Argentina, Sweden) – North American Premiere. Young hustler Ricky was left to a life on the streets at the age of 12 when his hooker mother got sent to the can, but upon learning she’ll soon be released, Ricky enlists a couple of good-for-nothing buddies to help him open a whorehouse as a tribute to Mom. This stylish, edgy crime flick plunges headlong into the fringe world of pimps and junkies where succeeding in business can cost your life…. In Spanish with English subtitles

New York Says Thank You, directed by Scott Rettberg. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. New York Says Thank You is an epic story following the journey of New Yorkers whose lives were touched by September 11 as they travel the country helping communities rebuild after disasters. Along the way, they face their emotions and ultimately triumph over tragedy through an idea that evolved from a five-year-old New York City boy.

Rabies (Kalevet), directed and written by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado. (Israel) – North American Premiere. A psychotic serial killer on the loose in the woods crosses paths with a group of unsuspecting teenagers. Soon people are dying one by one… but the bad guy isn’t who you think. Turning genre conventions on their head with a smart script and plenty of unexpected scares, Rabies is a surprising debut worthy of its mantle as Israel's first-ever slasher horror film. In Hebrew with English subtitles.

The short films streaming on Tribeca (Online) are:

Crash&Burn, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Rick Rodgers. Two-man rock duo Crash&Burn is turned upside down when Burn decides to have transgender surgery.

The Dungeon Master, (USA), New York Premiere, directed and written by Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong. Shane and his friends thought it would be fun to recapture their geeky youth until The Dungeon Master arrived.

The Kiss, (Australia), North American Premiere, directed and written by Ashlee Page. Fueled by alcohol and hormones, Aimee and Steph take a swim on a hot summer night in The Kiss.

Mr. Stache, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Jac Schaeffer. Experience the awesome adventures of a man and his mustache in Mr. Stache.

The Ride, (UK), World Premiere, directed and written by Marion Pilowsky. A student accepts a lift from a stranger but The Ride leads to unexpected consequences.

Rooms, (USA), World Premiere, directed by Joanna Jurewicz, written by Joanna Jurewicz and Adam Walsh. A hotel housekeeper dreams of home in Rooms.

Summer Snapshot, (USA), New York Premiere, directed by Ian McCluskey. In Summer Snapshot a group of friends reflect on a special sun-kissed day.

The Terms, (UK), New York Premiere, directed and written by Jason LaMotte. A father and son face off in The Terms.

Year Zero, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Richard Cunningham III. In Year Zero a sole survivor battles the zombie apocalypse in New York City

Retrospective shorts will also be available, as the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival takes a look back at award-winning and audience-approved films from the past nine years of the Festival:

All of these films will be available for free at the Tribeca Online Film Festival.

The Wormhole, (USA), Narrative, directed by Jessica Sharzer (2002). Winner of 6 awards including the 2002 Gold Medal Student Academy Award®. Wally decides to search for a wormhole that he believes will lead him back to his kidnapped brother

Off Duty, (USA), Narrative, directed by Buboo Kakati (2003). Buboo Kakati is a three-time Emmy® Award Winner and a 23-time Emmy® Award Nominee for her work in Writing, Producing, Direction, Editing, and Post Production. The teenage son of a New York City cab driver dreams only of gaining his father’s love and approval as he balances school and a job as a delivery boy.

Gowanus Brooklyn, (USA), Narrative, directed by Ryan Fleck (2004). Recipient of the Boston Independent Film Festival Special Jury Prize and Sundance Film Festival Short Filmmaking Award. A tomboy discovers her teacher smoking crack and experiences a newfound fascination with the complicated adult world in the short that inspired the feature film Half Nelson

Dance Mania Fantastic, (USA), Narrative, directed by Sasie Sealy (2005). Recipient of the Best Student Film Award at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. Out of work and unable to tell his family he’s been fired, a young New Yorker of Japanese descent finds utopian escapism by spending his days and weeks at the local arcade.

The Tribe, (USA), Documentary, directed by Tiffany Shlain (2006). Recipient of 15 awards including IndieWire’s Sundance Critics’ Choice Award in 2006. Barbie dolls and the history of Jewish people actually have quite a lot in common according to this documentary short.

Clear Cut, Simple, (USA), Narrative, directed by Vineet Dewan (2007). Winner of 8 awards including Best Short at BAFTA/LA Student Film Awards. An American soldier in Iraq is torn between his duty to the military and his friendship with his Iraqi interpreter, based on a true story.

New Boy, (Ireland), Narrative, directed by Steph Green (2008). Recipient of 10 awards and nomination for 2009 Best Short Film Academy Award®. Based on a true story, New Boy captures the experience of being the new kid in school through the eyes of a nine year-old African boy.

Confession, (Ireland), Narrative, directed by Thomas Hefferon (2009). Official selection of over 30 film festivals, receiving runner-up awards at both the Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Filmstock Film Festival. An Irish lad seeks solace from a priest.

some boys don't leave, (USA), Narrative, directed by Maggie Kiley (2010). Maggie Kiley is the recipient of several awards, including the Student Visionary Award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.The breakup happens but the break does not.

Starting today, the Tribeca Film Festival screening schedule for 2011 TFF will be live on www.tribecafilm.com; additional programs will be added upon announcement.

To keep up with all Tribeca initiatives, visit the Tribeca Film Festival website at www.tribecafilm.com, and join the My Tribeca community at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/, where you can also subscribe to the Tribeca Newsletter.

Like the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TribecaFilm. To join the conversation on Twitter, follow @TribecaFilmFest and use the hashtag #tribecafest.

Tickets for 2011 Festival

Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes go on sale today, Monday, March 14 for the general public. All advance packages and passes can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com, or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, for downtown residents on Sunday, April 17, 2011, and for the general public on Monday, April 18, 2011. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Chelsea Clearview Cinemas at 260 W. 23rd Street, and AMC Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2011 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com.

March 14, 2011

10th TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FILM SELECTIONS
FOR SPOTLIGHT AND CINEMANIA SECTIONS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP ALSO REVEALED

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival lineup. The 10th edition of the Festival will take place from April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.

“Now that the majority of the program has been announced I believe you will see the rich variety and quality of the films and talent that we are presenting at Tribeca this year,” said David Kwok, Director of Programming. “The program is about both discovery and showcasing a broad range of filmmaking to our eclectic and diverse audiences who are passionate about film.”

“This year’s Spotlight is a mixture of carefully selected festival favorites from around the globe, highly anticipated releases, a number of new works by high profile filmmakers and films with subjects of special note,” said Genna Terranova, Senior Programmer. “And in Cinemania we really kick it up a notch with boundary-pushing genre films packed with action, sexy thrills, and an extra helping of blood and guts for good measure."

The Spotlight section is comprised of 33 films that highlight the works of a wide array of both established and rising talent as well as recognizable subjects. This exciting mix of current global cinema consists of 16 documentaries and 17 narratives, 16 of which will world premiere at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers an eclectic assortment of eight narrative films that defy categorization from all around the world.

The fifth annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, which takes place during TFF, will feature the world premiere of Oscar®-winning director Alex Gibney’s Catching Hell as its centerpiece Gala. The film explores the relationship between Chicago Cubs fans and Steve Bartman following his infamous near-catch of a foul ball in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series.

“Five years ago Tribeca and ESPN started the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival with a modest goal: We wanted to shine a light on sports stories and broaden the audience for independent film,” said Nancy Schafer, Tribeca Film Festival Executive Director. “It has become one of the signature programs of the Tribeca Film Festival, and I know that the audience will be thrilled with this year’s films, just as I was.”

The complete list of films selected for Spotlight, Cinemania, and Special Screenings follow as well as the titles in the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival:

SPOTLIGHT

Co-Sponsored by JetBlue Airways

A panorama of international and American cinema, this year’s Spotlight slate showcases notable performances from talents including Orlando Bloom in the psychological thriller The Good Doctor, Chris Evans in the legal drama Puncture, an against-type Kathleen Turner in the family dramedy The Perfect Family, Italian superstar Toni Servillo in the thriller A Quiet Life, and dueling wits Chow Yun-Fat and Jiang Wen in the Chinese hit Let the Bullets Fly. Performance itself takes center stage in the section’s many documentaries on renowned musicians and artists, including profiles of such disparate figures as Carol Channing, Ozzy Osbourne, and Yves Saint Laurent. Among these luminaries, performers such as Miriam Makeba, A Tribe Called Quest, and the legendary Haitian band Septentrional use their song to inspire generations of people. Social justice continues to emerge as a larger theme in the section, from The Loving Story’s historical revisiting of marriage equality through one couple’s fight against anti-miscegenation laws, to the development of environmentally sustainable and economically accessible automobiles in Revenge of the Electric Car, as well as the motivations behind Caribbean cricketers’ determination for a defiant victory in Fire In Babylon. This selection of 33 highly anticipated new releases and festival favorites will provoke discussion and be sure to entertain.

· The Assault (L’assaut), directed by Julien Leclerq, written by Simon Moutairou and Julien Leclerq. (France) – International Premiere, Narrative. Christmas Eve, 1994. In war-torn Algiers, four men uniformed as border guards hijack Air France Flight 8969, foreboding doom for all 220 passengers. But on their arrival in Marseilles, the elite French SWAT force waits to avert tragedy…. Based on the harrowing true story of one of the most successful anti-terrorist operations in history, and incorporating actual news footage, this action-packed thriller from Julien Leclercq (Chrysalis) is packed with heart-pounding intensity. In French with English subtitles.

· Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, directed by Michael Rapaport. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. The most groundbreaking act to emerge from the New York hip-hop scene of the early ’90s, A Tribe Called Quest electrified a generation with its brand of jazz-infused beats and intelligent rhymes before dramatically disbanding in ’98. In his directorial debut, Michael Rapaport draws from eight months of total access to uncover the history and inner workings of the Tribe. Featuring De La Soul, Kanye West, Common, Mos Def, Ludacris, Beastie Boys, and more. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

· Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, directed by Dori Berinstein, written by Dori Berinstein and Adam Zucker. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. The story of legendary performer Carol Channing’s life is as colorful as the lipstick on her big, bright smile. Director Dori Berinstein captures the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old icon and throws it at the screen like roses at the stage during curtain call. You’ll have a grin on your face and a tear in your eye, evidence that the original Dolly Levi is still glowin’, still crowin’, and still goin’ strong.

· Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (Di Renjie), directed by Tsui Hark. (Hong Kong, China) – US Premiere, Narrative. In a fantastical steampunk version of ancient China, legendary sleuth Detective Dee returns from exile to help solve a series of suspicious murders on the eve of the coronation of the country’s first empress. A period epic from genre master Tsui Hark, Detective Dee is an action-packed, visually breathtaking Sherlock Holmes-style mystery featuring stars Andy Lau, Li Bingbing, Carina Lau, and Tony Leung Ka-fai. In Mandarin with English subtitles. An Indomina Releasing release.

· Fire In Babylon, directed by Stevan Riley. (UK) – North American Premiere, Documentary. Played against the backdrop of the national liberation movements of the ’70s and ’80s, this lively documentary pays tribute to the golden age of cricket in the West Indies as the teammates set out to triumph over their former colonial masters and make a name for themselves on the world stage. This celebration of the power of sports as a vehicle for social change is set to a thumping reggae beat featuring Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, and Burning Spear.

· God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, directed by Mike Fleiss and Mike Piscitelli. Produced by Jack Osbourne, Marc Weingarten, and Jordan Tappis. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Ozzy. For four decades, the name has been synonymous not just with a singular brand of blistering heavy metal, but also with a life lived to the extreme. Made for fans and the uninitiated alike, this definitive portrait of a troubled icon—told in part through the eyes of his family—relives Ozzy’s artistic triumphs while chronicling his arduous journey to sobriety and peace.

· The Good Doctor, directed by Lance Daly, written by John Enbom. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. When lonesome first-year medical resident Dr. Martin Blake (Orlando Bloom) finally gets the respect he so desperately craves from an enchanting teenage patient, he’ll do anything to keep her in his care…. In this slow-burn psychological thriller, Lance Daly’s (Kisses) keen eye and a restrained yet forceful performance by Bloom paint a gripping portrait of the accelerating depths of obsession.

· A Good Old Fashioned Orgy, directed and written by Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Jason Sudeikis leads an ensemble cast of bright comic talents as Eric, a thirtysomething party animal famous among his close circle of friends for his lavish summer theme parties at his father’s swanky Hamptons pad. But when members of the crew start settling down, and Eric’s dad announces plans to sell the beach house, Eric decides it’s time for one last party to go out with a proverbial bang—a good old fashioned orgy. With Lindsay Sloane, Lucy Punch, Leslie Bibb, Lake Bell, Tyler Labine, and Will Forte. A Samuel Goldwyn Films/SPWA release.

· The Guard, directed and written by John Michael McDonagh. (Ireland) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Curmudgeonly small-town sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges) has a confrontational personality, a subversive sense of humor, a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes, and absolutely no desire whatsoever to work with a straight-laced FBI agent (Don Cheadle) in from the States on a cocaine-smuggling case. Venerable Irish character actor Gleeson (In Bruges) fills his acid-tongued cop with an irreplaceable charm, and his banter with Cheadle will leave you in stitches. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

· The Hideaways, directed by Agnès Merlet. (France, Ireland) – World Premiere, Narrative. The Furlong men have unusual powers. Grandpa goes blind when he thinks of sex, Dad fries electronics when he’s afraid… but young James has a far more fearsome power. After losing everyone he loves, he flees to the woods to live alone. But when he’s discovered by a beautiful teenage cancer patient, their romance leads James on a journey back to civilization. Agnès Merlet (Artemisia) directs this whimsical fable about learning to live with the curses—and blessings—we inherit.

· Higher Ground, directed by Vera Farmiga, written by Carolyn S. Briggs and Tim Metcalfe. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) makes her directorial debut and stars in an adaptation of Carolyn S. Briggs’ memoir. Set in a tight-knit spiritual community at the height of feminism in the 1960s, Higher Ground is an exquisite study of one woman’s internal struggle with love and relationships. Farmiga delivers a nuanced performance straight from the gut, with compelling support from John Hawkes, Donna Murphy, Bill Irwin, and Joshua Leonard. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

· Janie Jones, directed and written by David M. Rosenthal. (USA) – US Premiere, Narrative. Ethan (Alessandro Nivola), a struggling musician content with his on-the-road rock-and-roll lifestyle and his much younger girlfriend (Brittany Snow), has his life turned upside down with the arrival of a 13-year-old daughter he never knew he had. Left with the responsibility of raising Janie Jones (Abigail Breslin), a shy but talented aspiring musician herself, Ethan embarks with Janie on a road trip of music, discovery, and father-daughter bonding. A Tribeca Film release.

· Klitschko, directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt. (Germany) – World Premiere, Documentary. Six-foot-six Ukrainian brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko emigrated to Germany to begin careers in heavyweight boxing in 1996, and the sport was never the same. After a 15-year reign over the ring, they made history in 2008, becoming the first brothers in the sport to hold world titles at the same time. Through an engaging mix of candid interviews and absorbing fight footage, Klitschko offers a captivating glimpse into the makings of these champion boxing brothers.

· L’amour fou, directed by Pierre Thoretton. (France) – US Premiere, Documentary. It was called the “auction of the century.” Following the death of his partner in business and life, fashion luminary Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé made the difficult decision to sell off their immense collection of precious art. This luxuriant documentary uses their beautiful possessions as the puzzle pieces to form an equally beautiful portrait of the private world of an icon and the man who loved him. In French with English subtitles. A Sundance Selects release.

· Last Night, directed and written by Massy Tadjedin. (USA) – US Premiere, Narrative. Apart for one night, a happily married couple (Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington) is confronted by temptation that may decide the fate of their marriage. Last Night is ultimately about choices—to be in a relationship with someone, to give yourself to someone physically, to open yourself emotionally, and how to survive all three. Eva Mendes, Guillaume Canet, and Griffin Dunne also star in this sexy, provocative romantic drama. A Tribeca Film release.

· Let the Bullets Fly, directed by Jiang Wen. (Hong Kong, China) – International Premiere, Narrative. Set during the Age of the Warlords in the 1920s, this comic western is the highest grossing Chinese film ever. When circumstances force an outlaw (actor/director Jiang Wen) to impersonate a county governor and clean up a corrupt town, the Robin Hood figure finds himself in a showdown with the local “godfather” (Chow Yun-Fat). Full of surprises and grounded with a smart, humorous script, Let the Bullets Fly’s battles are fought with guns and wit. In Mandarin with English subtitles.

· Like Water, directed by Pablo Croce. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. In the most brutal and often most misunderstood sport in the world, becoming a champion takes more than just blood, sweat, and tears. Like Water follows middleweight Ultimate Fighter Anderson Silva as he prepares to crown his four-year run as the unbeaten king of the sport with a record 12th straight win in the UFC. With intimate access to Silva and his intense training, the surprising and inspiring man behind one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time emerges. In English, Portuguese with English subtitles.

· Limelight, directed by Billy Corben. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. As the owner of legendary hotspots like Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium, and Club USA, Peter Gatien was the king of the New York club scene—until years of legal battles led to his eventual deportation to Canada. This exuberant documentary charts Gatien’s rise and fall against the transformation of New York City, offering a wild ride through a now-closed chapter in the history of NYC nightlife. From the director of Cocaine Cowboys.

· The Loving Story, directed Nancy Buirski. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. Nancy Buirski’s moving, evocative documentary recounts the unknown love story of Mildred and Richard Loving, the couple behind the 1967 Supreme Court ruling overturning anti-miscegenation laws in the United States. Drawing from a wealth of stunning archival footage, The Loving Story recreates a seminal moment in history in uncommon style, anchoring a timely message of marriage equality in a personal, human love story.

· Mama Africa, directed by Mika Kaurismäki, written by Mika Kaurismäki and Don Edkins. (Germany, South Africa, Finland) – International Premiere, Documentary. Packed with five decades of rare archival footage and captivating melodies, Mama Africa tells the incredible story of Miriam Makeba. First introduced to American audiences by Harry Belafonte, Makeba’s songs exposed the injustice of Apartheid in South Africa to the world—resulting in a 30-year exile from her home country. Throughout her life, Makeba inspired millions through her powerful songs of joy, love, and revolution. In English, French with English subtitles.

· A Matter of Taste, directed by Sally Rowe. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. Eel, violets, and chocolate. Espuma of calf brains and foie gras. They’re the kind of hyper-modern dishes that made virtuosic young chef Paul Liebrandt a fast-rising star in the NYC restaurant world. But after September 11, when haute cuisine took a back seat to comfort food, Liebrandt would have to struggle for a decade in and out of the kitchen to get back to the top. A Matter of Taste mixes sumptuous food with an insider’s view into the complicated relationships between critics, chefs, and restaurant owners.

· My Piece of the Pie (Ma part du gâteau), directed and written by Ceìdric Klapisch. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. From Cédric Klapisch, director of 2002 hit L’Auberge Espagnole, comes a financial-era drama with a biting comic edge. When single mom France loses her factory job, she is forced to take a gig as a housekeeper and nanny for Steve, a hotshot Parisian stockbroker. As France and Steve grow closer, it seems both of their minds may be opening to each other’s worldviews—until France makes an unsettling discovery about Steve and events snowball toward a shocking dramatic finale.

· New York Says Thank You, directed by Scott Rettberg. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. New York Says Thank You is an epic story following the journey of New Yorkers whose lives were touched by September 11 as they travel the country helping communities rebuild after disasters. Along the way, they face their emotions and ultimately triumph over tragedy through an idea that evolved from a five-year-old New York City boy.

· The Perfect Family, directed by Anne Renton, written by Claire V. Riley and Paula Goldberg. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. In this sweet family drama, a devout Catholic (Kathleen Turner) in the running for the coveted Catholic Woman of the Year award must prove that her family actually conforms to the image of “the perfect family” as envisioned by the church, an image she’s put forth with considerable effort her whole life. Also starring Emily Deschanel, Jason Ritter, Richard Chamberlain, and Michael McGrady.

· Point Blank (A Bout Portant), directed by Fred Cavayé, written by Fred Cavayeì and Guillaume Lemans. (France) – International Premiere, Narrative. Samuel (Gilles Lellouche) is studying to be a nurse and his very pregnant wife, Nadia (Elena Anaya), is relegated to bed rest. But when Nadia is kidnapped right in front of him, to get her back he’ll have to free a man under police surveillance from the hospital in three hours. Point Blank is a taut suspense thriller that gets the adrenaline-inducing action going right from the start and never eases up. In French with English subtitles. A Magnolia Pictures release.

· Puncture, directed by Adam Kassen and Mark Kassen, written by Chris Lopata. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is not your typical lawyer. The tattooed and drug-addicted townie has more than his share of personal demons, but can he straighten up long enough to lead a renegade safety-needle inventor to victory against a monopolizing medical supply corporation? This David and Goliath legal drama, based on a true story, exposes the corruption and kickback schemes threatening the lives of millions of health care workers.

· A Quiet Life (Una Vita Tranquilla), directed by Claudio Cupellini, written by Filippo Gravino, Guido Iuculano, Claudio Cupellini. (Italy, Germany, France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Two decades after he disappeared from Naples, ex-gangster Rosario has earned all the rewards of a simple life in rural Germany—a lovely young wife, a new son, and a gratifying restaurant/hotel business. But when a pair of mysterious young men take a room at his hotel, Rosario’s violent past catches up with him. The great Toni Servillo (Il Divo, Gomorrah) stars in this slow-burn dramatic thriller, a brilliant addition to the new school of sophisticated, subtly suspenseful Italian crime films. In Italian, German with English subtitles.

· Renée, directed by Eric Drath. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Despite his alpha-male reputation, tennis ace Dick Raskind always felt different from other guys. But it wasn’t until his 40s, after getting married and having a son, that Dick was reborn as Renée Richards. Renée was still dynamite on the tennis court, but being the first transgender player in the women’s US Open would put her in a spotlight she—or her troubled son—couldn’t escape. This fascinating doc is a testament to both personal and athletic perseverance. An ESPN Films release.

· Revenge of the Electric Car, directed by Chris Paine, written by P.G. Morgan and Chris Paine. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Behind the closed doors of Nissan, General Motors, and Tesla Motors, the race is on to develop the world’s first, and most economically accessible, electric car. Director Chris Paine’s energetic and beautifully shot follow-up to Who Killed the Electric Car? follows the innovative business models engineered by CEOs and independent entrepreneurs looking to jump-start the global resurgence of electric cars and win over a skeptical public.

· Roadie, directed by Michael Cuesta, written by Gerald Cuesta. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. For 20 years, Jimmy (Ron Eldard) lived his rock-and-roll fantasy as a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult, but the glory days are gone, and Jimmy just got the boot. Returning to his childhood home in Queens, he finds his mom teetering toward dementia and his high school crush (Jill Hennessy) married to his still-nettling childhood rival (Bobby Cannavale). Building a future means confronting the relationships of the past in this heartfelt coming-of-middle-age tale.

· Shakespeare High, directed by Alex Rotaru. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. At home they face poverty, gangs, drugs, and a lack of role models. But in their high school drama program, a group of Southern California teens finds a chance to create a better life. Following several students as they prepare for and compete in the 90th Drama Teachers Association Shakespeare Competition, and featuring interviews with executive producer Kevin Spacey and Richard Dreyfuss, Val Kilmer and Mare Winningham, this galvanizing documentary reminds us of the positive impact of arts education on impressionable youth.

· The Trip, directed by Michael Winterbottom. (UK) – US Premiere, Narrative. The glorious English countryside, haute cuisine, and Britain’s best comedians add up to the most satisfying road trip movie in years. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon star as themselves, old friends who wind up touring romantic Lake District restaurants together after Coogan’s American girlfriend bails. Breeding sidesplitting banter about everything from their careers to Romantic poets to who does the best Michael Caine impression, Coogan and Brydon rediscover their friendship and themselves in one hilarious week. An IFC Films release.

· When the Drum Is Beating, directed by Whitney Dow. (USA, Haiti) – World Premiere, Documentary. The 20-member band Septentrional has been making music for 62 years as Haiti’s most celebrated big band. This inspirational documentary charts the history of Haiti from its triumphant independence from French colonialism to 2010’s devastating earthquake—all set to the vibrant music of Septentrional and punctuated with its members’ personal memories. Featuring a wealth of live rehearsal and performance footage, When the Drum Is Beating is a poignant and high-energy story of resilience. In English, Creole with English subtitles.


CINEMANIA

The fun, playful slate of this year’s Cinemania program represents a well-rounded spectrum of contemporary genre filmmaking, including science fiction, horror, exploitation, and fantasy. Each of these films challenges the expectations and definitions of their respective genres—from Beyond the Black Rainbow’s immersive, futuristically retro sci-fi experience, to an adorable and sexy Japanese “pink” musical in Underwater Love. Always a Cinemania staple, this year’s selection of horror films are also united in a common impulse to tackle genre conventions from inspired new angles, including a clever and revitalizing take on the teens-lost-in-the-woods premise in Rabies, a Dutch Christmas-themed slasher in Saint, and two fresh spins on the very contemporary “found footage” horror movement, between spooky ghost story Grave Encounters and Norwegian monster flick sensation TROLLHUNTER. Expect the unexpected with these smart and thrilling crowd-pleasers.

· Beyond the Black Rainbow, directed and written by Panos Cosmatos. (Canada, Italy) – International Premiere. Panos Cosmatos brings his bold, Kubrickian vision to the screen in stunning detail in this sci-fi fable of a young woman imprisoned in an experimental laboratory facility and the mysterious scientist who is her captor. At once creatively futuristic and hypnotically retro, Beyond the Black Rainbow will absorb viewers in its unique dystopian futurescape.

· The Bleeding House, directed and written by Philip Gelatt. (USA) – World Premiere. Meet the Smiths—a family full of secrets who keep to themselves on a back road outside a small Midwestern town. In this visceral, tightly wound horror/thriller, their lives are shaken when a sweet-talking Texan arrives on their doorstep on a mission for retribution. Will he succeed in his goal to bleed them of their sins, or will the family’s haunted past prove to be even more deadly than he bargained for? A Tribeca Film release.

· Grave Encounters, directed and written by The Vicious Brothers. (USA) – World Premiere. The crew of ghost-hunting reality TV show Grave Encounters decides to shoot an episode inside an abandoned psychiatric hospital with a dark past. All in the name of good television, they voluntarily lock themselves inside the building for the night to begin a paranormal investigation, capturing everything on camera. They quickly realize that the building is more than just haunted—it is alive, and has no intention of ever letting them go. A Tribeca Film release.

· Neon Flesh (Carne de Neon), directed and written by Paco Cabezas. (Spain, Argentina, Sweden) – North American Premiere. Young hustler Ricky was left to a life on the streets at the age of 12 when his hooker mother got sent to the can, but upon learning she’ll soon be released, Ricky enlists a couple of good-for-nothing buddies to help him open a whorehouse as a tribute to Mom. This stylish, edgy crime flick plunges headlong into the fringe world of pimps and junkies where succeeding in business can cost your life…. In Spanish with English subtitles.

· Rabies (Kalevet), directed and written by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado. (Israel) – North American Premiere. A psychotic serial killer on the loose in the woods crosses paths with a group of unsuspecting teenagers. Soon people are dying one by one… but the bad guy isn’t who you think. Turning genre conventions on their head with a smart script and plenty of unexpected scares, Rabies is a surprising debut worthy of its mantle as Israel's first-ever slasher horror film. In Hebrew with English subtitles.

· Saint (Sint), directed and written by Dick Maas. (Netherlands) – North American Premiere. An original and delightfully gruesome slasher film, Saint reimagines jolly old Saint Nick as a murderous bishop fulfilling a grisly prophecy under the December 5 full moon. Full of creative yuletide horror, Saint is a fun chiller that follows local teen Frank as he sets out on a bloody, high-energy battle to save Amsterdam from the wrathful “Sinterklaas” and his minions. In Dutch with English subtitles.

· TROLLHUNTER (Trolljegeren), directed and written by André Øvredal. (Norway) – New York Premiere. In the wintry Norwegian countryside, a series of supposed bear poaching incidents leads a group of plucky film students to the mysterious hunter Hans: the one man charged with keeping the country’s entire troll population in check. This genre treat seamlessly blends stunning visual effects with its found footage aesthetic to deliver truly fantastic images of giant trolls wreaking havoc, all with darkly funny adherence to the original folklore. In Norwegian with English subtitles. A Magnet Releasing release.

· Underwater Love (Onna no kappa), directed by Shinji Imaoka, written by Shinji Imaoka and Fumio Moriya. (Japan, Germany) – World Premiere. A spectacle of songs and sex that is at once zany and erotic, Underwater Love puts an unforgettable new spin on the Japanese tradition of softcore “pink” films. Asuka has an easy life with her doting fiancé—but everything’s about to change when she discovers her childhood friend has been reborn as a folkloric water sprite, and she decides to take him home…. With music by Stereo Total and cinematography by frequent Wong Kar-wai DP Christopher Doyle. In Japanese with English subtitles.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

· The Bang Bang Club, directed and written by Steven Silver. (Canada, South Africa) – US Premiere. The Bang Bang Club is the true story of four young combat photographers bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. They risk their lives and use their cameras to tell the world of the violence associated with the first free elections in post-Apartheid South Africa. Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman and Taylor Kitsch star in a film that explores the thrills, danger, and moral questions associated with exposing the truth. A Tribeca Film release.

· Everything Must Go, directed and written by Dan Rush. (USA) – New York Premiere. Will Ferrell gives a heartfelt and affecting performance in newcomer Dan Rush’s funny and touching adaptation of the Raymond Carver short story “Why Don’t You Dance?” After losing his job and his wife in the same day, Nicolas Halsey hits rock bottom and moves all his possessions, and himself, to his front yard. With the help of a lonely teenager and his pregnant neighbor (Rebecca Hall), Nick begins to dispose of old junk, mend his past, and begin a new life. A Roadside Attractions release.

2011 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival:

A perennial audience favorite, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival has become a leading platform to present independent sports and competition-themed films. The 2011 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival is comprised of six films, all of which will screen throughout the Festival and at Tribeca Cinemas on Saturday, April 30.

Titles include documentary films that run the gamut of sports, telling the stories of a foul ball that may have altered MLB history, a team that changed the face of cricket, an Indian boy who was born to run, a tennis pro whose transformation startled the world, and one fighter's humble quest for his 12th UFC middleweight championship.

GALA for the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival

Catching Hell, directed and written by Alex Gibney. (USA) – World Premiere. It’s the pop fly that will live in infamy. When Chicagoan Steve Bartman fatefully deflected a foul ball in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, the city’s long-suffering Cubs fans found someone new to blame for their cursed century without a World Series title. Oscar®-winning director Alex Gibney explores the psychology of die-hard sports fans, the frightening phenomenon of scapegoating, and the hysteria that turned mild-mannered Bartman into the most hated man in Chicago. An ESPN Films release.

The following Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival titles have already been announced in their respective sections as part of the 2011 TFF film program:

Fire In Babylon, directed by Stevan Riley. (UK) – North American Premiere, Documentary.
Like Water, directed by Pablo Croce. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Marathon Boy, directed by Gemma Atwal. (United Kingdom) – North American Premiere, Documentary.
Renée, directed by Eric Drath. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Splinters, directed by Adam Pesce. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.

The remaining feature films will be announced on March 23, 2011.

The short film program will be announced on March 16, 2011.

Starting today, the Film guide will be live on www.tribecafilm.com and detail all programs and films announced; additional programs will be added upon announcement. The screening schedule will be live on Monday March 21, 2011.

To keep up with all Tribeca initiatives, visit the Tribeca Film Festival website at www.tribecafilm.com, and join the My Tribeca community at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/, where you can also subscribe to the Tribeca Newsletter.

Like the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TribecaFilm. To join the conversation on Twitter, follow @TribecaFilmFest and use the hashtag #tribecafest.

Tickets for 2011 Festival

Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes go on sale today, Monday, March 14 for the general public. All advance packages and passes can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com, or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, for downtown residents on Sunday, April 17, 2011, and for the general public on Monday, April 18, 2011. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Chelsea Clearview Cinemas at 260 W. 23rd Street, and AMC Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2011 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com.

March 5, 2011

RENT RETURNS - NEW OFF-BROADWAY PRODUCTION SET FOR SUMMER 2011 AT NEW WORLD STAGES - SEARCH IS ON FOR NEW CAST

Producers Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum and Allan S. Gordon have announced that the landmark musical Rent will open in a new, off-Broadway production on Thursday, August 11 at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Previews begin Thursday, July 14.

Rent, written by Jonathan Larson, will be directed by Michael Greif who directed the show’s original off-Broadway and Broadway productions. The creative team will include choreographer Larry Keigwin; music supervisor Tim Weil; set designer Mark Wendland; costume designer Angela Wendt; lighting designer Kevin Adams; sound designer Brian Ronan; and casting director Telsey + Company.

Casting for this production begins immediately with open calls in New York on Friday, March 18, 11am – 2pm, at New World Stages, and in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 30, 1:30pm – 4:00pm at the Hollywood United Methodist Church, 6817 Franklin Avenue. For more casting information and to enter an online auditions contest, please visit siteforrent.com.

Rent first opened February 13, 1996 at New York Theatre Workshop where it was hailed as a landmark in the history of the American musical. It transferred to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Additionally, Rent is one of only eight musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama. In all Rent won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, two Theatre World Awards, and Obie Awards for its creator, director, and entire cast. Rent closed at the Nederlander Theatre on Sunday, September 7, 2008, after playing 5,124 performances and 16 previews.

An on-sale date will be announced within the coming weeks.

February 28, 2011

TONY® AWARD-WINNING SENSATION FELA! MAKES HISTORIC ARRIVAL IN LAGOS, NIGERIA APRIL 20-25, 2011

The hit Broadway musical about the life and music of Nigerian performer and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is scheduled to be performed in his home town of Lagos, Nigeria making it the first Broadway show to be performed in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway’s highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20th to 25th. It will be performed at the prestigious Eko Hotel’s New Expo Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. This critically lauded musical will star its original Broadway cast with Sahr Ngaujah reprising his Tony-nominated role of Fela Kuti with music provided by the internationally renowned Antibalas as well as other members of the New York City Afrobeat community.

Concurrently with the Broadway production, FELA! opened and triumphed at London’s Royal National Theatre for a three-month sold-out run. That production was nominated for three Olivier Awards, London theatre’s highest honor, including Best Musical, Best Actor (Sahr Ngaujah) and Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones). This Nigerian engagement, which will be produced by a Nigerian production company, Broken Shackles, will be the first since the closing of the Broadway and London productions and the NTLive performance which was broadcast in 370 cinemas worldwide.

The aim of FELA! in Lagos is to unite and connect Africans in spirit and unity, to serve as a catalyst for cultural revival in Nigeria, and to celebrate Fela Kuti, for the contribution he has made to Nigeria and the world. FELA! depicts the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited the spirit of empowerment and cultural awareness in a generation. It is a tale of courage, passion and love featuring Kuti’s captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner, Bill T. Jones.

Upon its Broadway opening Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, “There should be dancing in the streets. The hot (and seriously cool) energy that comes from the musical gospel preached by the title character of Fela! feels as if it could stretch easily to the borders of Manhattan and then across a river or two. There has never been anything on Broadway like this production." The New York Post’s Elisabeth Vincentelli cheered, “There’s enough energy to short circuit Con Ed.” David Cote of Time Out New York, in giving it 5 stars (out of 5) raved, “Fela! is more than a musical; it’s an ecstatic phenomenon." And Jennifer Farrar from the Associated Press exclaimed, “An exuberant celebration!”

The English critics were equally effusive after the London premiere of FELA! One critic, Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail, summed up the critical sentiment with his review saying FELA! is a “groundbreaking show that shook Broadway and London’s Royal National Theatre to the rafters. Getting Brits to get on their feet and ‘get loose’ as Bill T. Jones puts it, was a rare feat. FELA! pulled it off by sheer exuberance and theatrical showmanship. At the same time, FELA! explored the soul of an artist and the darkness of a government that tried to block what Fela’s beam exposed.”

In addition to rave reviews from critics, FELA! has also won numerous awards and received standing ovations from such personalities as Mick Jagger, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Spike Lee, Ben Okri, Janet Jackson, Denzel Washington, Professor Wole Soyinka, Robert De Niro, and Hugh Jackman. First lady Michelle Obama, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Obama’s Head of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano are but three of the dignitaries who have embraced this show.

Bill T. Jones, director and choreographer of FELA!, was recently honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts award along with Sir Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey. The Kennedy Center Honors are awarded annually for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts. FELA! also won two Astaire Awards for its cast and choreography.

FELA! on Broadway was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. Its producers include the entertainment legends Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith.

With a series of media partners and sponsorships, FELA! in Lagos will be the most talked about show in Nigeria for years to come. A spokesperson for Broken Shackles says “we have created sponsorship, branding and advertising opportunities for those who wish to be a part of this historic theatrical event.”

For sponsorship, advertising and brand affiliation opportunities, please email sponsorship@felainlagos.com

For more information on FELA! in Lagos, please visit http://www.felainlagos.com

For more information on ticketing and group sales please email tickets@felainlagos.com

February 21, 2011

From Allegra Huston:

Good Luck, Mr. Gorski will premiere as part of the headline program of short films at the Taos Shortz Film Fest (run by Anna Cosentine, who did brilliant work on the movie) on Saturday, March 5, 6-8 p.m., at the Harwood Museum in Taos, New Mexico. Tickets go on sale today! It's a small venue so buy your ticket early at taosshortz.com or in person at the Harwood.

On Sunday, March 6, at 7.30 p.m., there will be a free cast-and-crew screening of Good Luck, Mr. Gorski, also at the Harwood. This screening is free for launch crew also (those who have contributed $20 or more). Others will be charged $5 at the door. Please join us at the KTAO Solar Center afterward for our launch party! Dress for liftoff!

For more information:
goodluckmrgorski.com
&
newyorkcool.com

February 16, 2011

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced a long-term partnership with the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms initiative and the launch of the Tribeca Film Institute New Media Fund. In a move that acknowledges the value of audience engagement, the $750,000 fund will provide support and funding to film projects which go beyond traditional screens – integrating film with content across newer media platforms, from video games and mobile apps to social networks and micro-blogging. All projects will activate audiences around issues of contemporary social justice and equality.

In its inaugural year, non-fiction projects accepted into the TFI New Media Fund will each receive $50,000 to $100,000 in funding to directly support ambitious projects that demonstrate the power of direct audience engagement and cross-platform storytelling. To date, this will mark the largest grant in the U.S. available to filmmakers who utilize cross-platform storytelling to promote social change.

Beginning in 2012, JustFilms will increase its support of TFI by contributing $1M a year over five years to support TFI New Media Fund projects. This announcement comes in a milestone year for both TFI and the Ford Foundation, as the Ford Foundation celebrates 75 years of philanthropic giving and TFI moves into its 10th year.

The formation of the TFI New Media Fund brings the not-for-profit’s overall filmmaker funding and support grants to over $1 million in 2011. Co-chairman of the board of the Tribeca Film Institute, Jane Rosenthal commented, “As we enter our 10th year at TFI and join the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms initiative in a new partnership, we have the opportunity to make an even deeper impact. TFI New Media Fund was created to take social justice films beyond the theatre, bringing them into everyday life and allowing audiences to affect change.”

“Our JustFilms initiative reflects our recognition that stories can be powerful instruments of change,” said Orlando Bagwell, director of JustFilms. “Our partnership with the Tribeca Film Institute is an exciting step forward into a new world of storytelling that leverages cross-platform media to help capture imaginations and engage audiences around the world in addressing some of the most pressing social issues of our time.”

Submissions will be open from April 4 through May 25, 2011. TFI will require select grantees to document their process, and help build an open on-line resource for media producers with the goal of establishing best practices in this new ‘transmedia’ field. The TFI New Media Fund is currently soliciting online feedback from a variety of disciplines and industries on the proposed submissions guidelines for the fund in order to foster an open dialog about what is possible in this new field.

The TFI New Media Fund will consider projects which present a non-fiction story focused on social issues and include an integrated cross-platform or new media component designed to engage and activate audiences. Producers from the US and internationally are invited to apply.

“In recent years documentaries that address social injustices have led the way in modeling how independent filmmakers can reach and activate audiences. We're so excited to be able to take that work to the next level with this initiative,” said Beth Janson, newly appointed executive director of the Tribeca Film Institute.

Preceding this announcement, the Ford Foundation launched JustFilms, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help find and support a new generation of filmmakers whose works address urgent social issues. The launch of the TFI New Media Fund will be at the cornerstone of the partnership between the Ford Foundation and TFI, and will continue to grow throughout the year as projects are selected; ultimately helping to bring them to fruition.

The TFI New Media Fund will be highlighted at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival (April 20 – May 1, 2011), and the grant recipients will be announced in September 2011.

For more information and a list of all TFI programs visit http://www.tribecafilminstitute.org/

About the Ford Foundation (www.fordfoundation.org)

Learn more about JustFilms at www.fordfoundation.org/justfilms

February 4, 2011

APOLLO THEATER TO INDUCT STEVIE WONDER INTO
APOLLO LEGENDS HALL OF FAME AT 2011 ANNUAL SPRING GALA TO BENEFIT THE NON-PROFIT THEATER
MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2011

The Apollo Theater, one of the nation’s greatest cultural treasures, has announced that it will induct Stevie Wonder into its Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at its annual Spring Gala on Monday, June 13, 2011. The Gala Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony brings together the best and brightest in business and entertainment to raise funds in support of the non-profit theater’s remarkable legacy and its current initiatives for emerging artists and community and educational programs in New York City and beyond.

Stevie Wonder joins past inductees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame legendary musicians, artists, and entertainers whose path to fame included the Apollo, including Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Patti Labelle, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Little Richard, and Ella Fitzgerald. Each Apollo Legends Hall of Fame Inductee is honored with a plaque installed in the Apollo Walk of Fame, installed under the Theater’s iconic marquee.

Celebrated American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist Stevie Wonder has had a long association with the Apollo Theater, appearing for the first time in 1962 when he was 12 years old. At that time, he was called “Little Stevie Wonder,” and was already touring as a professional act (and was the only “child act”) as part of Berry Gordy’s “Motown Revue,” a road show featuring top acts from the Motown Label. Stevie played a major role in the show since he could sing, play harmonica, organ, congas and drums, which led to him being called a “wonder child.” Other notable Apollo appearances include the “Save the Apollo Concert” in the 1980s and sold out solo concerts in 2005.

Apollo Theater president and CEO Jonelle Procope said,” Stevie Wonder is a true Apollo Legend and an American classic, and we look forward to welcoming him home in June and presenting him with the Apollo’s highest honor. Stevie is irrefutable proof of the Apollo’s continuing power as a transformative cultural force in America and around the world.”

Tickets for the 2011 Spring Gala and after-party are on sale now. To purchase benefit tickets to the event or to make a donation to the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., call 212-531-5330. To purchase show only tickets, visit www.apollotheater.org/events.htm.

This event is the Apollo’s largest annual fundraiser and all proceeds of the event will benefit the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to preserving and developing the Apollo Theater and its initiatives for performing artists, educational programs, and community outreach efforts in New York City and beyond.

About the Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater is one of Harlem’s, New York City’s, and America’s most iconic and enduring cultural institutions. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org

Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.
253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org.

January 20, 2011

The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center Announce Six Official Selections for the 40th Annual New Directors/New Films Film Festival

Initial selections display international scope of festival representing France, Germany, Romania, Canada, Mexico and China

New York, NY, January 19, 2011—The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today six official selections for the 2011 New Directors/New Films Film Festival (March 23 – April 3). The venerable film festival, dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent celebrates a landmark 40th Anniversary this year.

Representing six countries from around the world, the initial six selections are Pia Marais’ AT ELLEN’S AGE (Germany), Denis Côté’s CURLING (Canada), Denis Villeneuve’s INCENDIES (Canada/France), Bogdan George Apetri’s OUTBOUND (Periferic) (Romania), Nicolás Pereda’s SUMMER OF GOLIATH (Verano de Goliat) (Mexico) and Hongqi Li’s WINTER VACATION (Han jia) (China).

Villeneuve’s INCENDIES is the anticipated follow-up to his multiple Genie Award-winning POLYTECHNIQUE; Marais’ AT ELLEN’S AGE comes on the heels of her film THE UNPOLISHED, which won Rotterdam’s Tiger Award, among other prizes; and Hongqi Li’s WINTER VACATION is the director’s third feature, following ROUTINE HOLIDAY, and SO MUCH RICE, which won the Locarno International Film Festival’s Netpac Award.

Côté’s CURLING is the latest from a director very familiar to those on the film festival scene (ALL THAT SHE WANTS and DRFTING STATES were both past award winners at the Locarno Film Festival), and Pereda’s SUMMER OF GOLIATH is the latest from the critically acclaimed Mexican director with four titles under his belt prior to reaching his 30th birthday.

Making his feature film debut with OUTBOUND, Apetri was assisted on the screenplay by Tudor Voican (CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’), Cristian Mungiu (4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS) and Ioana Uricaru (TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE).

New Directors/New Films has been a beacon for emerging directors eager to make their mark on the film scene, as the film festival for four decades has introduced or cemented the status of some of the most familiar and critically acclaimed directors (Chantal Akerman, Pedro Almodóvar, Darren Aronofsky, Ken Burns, Agnieszka Holland, Wong Kar Wai, Spike Lee, Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, among them).

“These first six selections are indicative of the great variety of films and the worldwide scope for which New Directors/New Films has long been known and respected. Each of these filmmakers has demonstrated a remarkable gift for storytelling and we are thrilled to bring their work to New York audiences,” said Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art.

Film Society of Lincoln Center Program Director Richard Pena added, "While New Directors/New Films continues to be dedicated to emerging talents, the filmmakers of those films already selected exhibit astonishing maturity as well as fresh approaches to these often challenging works."

The six official selections include:

AT ELLEN’S AGE

Director: Pia Marais

Country: Germany

Marais’ AT ELLEN’S AGE is a character study of a woman at a crossroads following her husband’s confession of having an affair and the loss of her job due to a subsequent panic attack. The film follows the woman’s awakening after she joins forces with a group of animal activists.

CURLING

Director: Denis Côté

Country: Canada

Set in the dead of winter, Côté’s CURLING tense and darkly comic drama is a portrait of an estranged family in a rural Quebec village. The film follows a single father as he seeks to isolate his adolescent daughter from the outside world for fear that it will scar her as much as it has him.

INCENDIES

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Country: Canada/France

Villeneuve’s film, INCENDIES focuses on twins grieving their mother’s death who have their world shaken further when the reading of her will reveals that their father, presumed to be deceased, is actually still alive and that they also have a brother. The film follows the twins as they seek to fulfill their mother’s final wish – for them to find their father and brother and deliver to each of them a sealed letter. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

OUTBOUND (Periferic)

Director: Bogdan George Apetri

Country: Romania

Apetri’s OUTBOUND is a tense race against time as a young woman, serving a five-year prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit, attempts to right the wrongs done to her, collect on debts and cleanse herself from her past life after she receives a day pass so that she can attend her mother’s funeral.

SUMMER OF GOLIATH (Verano de Goliat)

Director: Nicolás Pereda

Country: Mexico

Pereda’s SUMMER OF GOLIATH combines documentary and fiction as it intertwines the stories of people living in a small town in rural Mexico. Those people include: a woman who believes her husband has left her for another woman; her soldier son, who hopes that one day he and his soldier partner will be issued machine guns so that they may intimidate the people passing motorists; and three brothers whose father left them many years ago in the care of their mother, who can barely support them.

WINTER VACATION (Han jia)

Director: Hongqi Li

Country: China

Hongqi’s WINTER VACATION is a deadpan comedy about four teenagers during the last day of their winter vacation as they face the prospects of having to return to school and their studies. The kids argue, debate and fight as the clock ticks away on their holiday and they deal with their love lives and question school's value and relevance to real life.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Sunday, March 13, 2011.

New Directors/New Films tickets can be purchased online at newdirectors.org, or at the box offices at The Film Society of Lincoln Center (Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St., near Amsterdam Avenue) and The Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd Street).

There are two advance ticketing opportunities:

Film Society Patrons and MoMA FilmPlus Members may purchase tickets starting Tuesday, March 1.

Film Society and MoMA Members may purchase tickets starting Tuesday, March 8.

To become a Member of the Film Society and MoMA please visit: www.filmlinc.com and www.moma.org

January 10, 2011

Art For Progress presents "Clash of the Artists"
5th Annual International Artist Competitions
Submissions: January 1 - February 13

Art For Progress(AFP)recently launched its 5th annual “Clash of the Artists” competitions. Artists in the fields of visual art, fashion, music, film, and “creative” categories are invited to submit their work for review.

This year we are mixing things up with an additional level of competition, where a panel of industry experts will review the on-line voting finalists. The public will still be voting for their favorites, but the winners will be determined by our professional panel,

and will be showcased in a series of special events in May, 2011.

Accepting submissions in VISUAL ART, FILM, MUSIC, FASHION and CREATIVE Categories

Great Exposure! Valuable Prizes!

Apply online or by mail. Submit: 3 Images, 3 Tracks, or 1 Film for $20 ($25 after January 31)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Submissions: January 1 - February 13

Online Voting: February 21 - March 31

Finalist Panel Review: April 1 - April 8

Winners Announced: April 11

Showcase Events: May 2011

The current list of confirmed panelists includes: race Jones, Publicist, Tell All Your Friends PR; Alex Emmart, Owner/Curator Mighty Tanaka Gallery; Lauren Sherman, Editor, Fashionista.com; and Natalie Kates, Style Curator.

Visit Art For Progress for more information.

January 4, 2011

The New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend with Kevin Spacey on Livestream, Thursday, Jan. 6 at 6:00pm ET

Kicking off the 10th annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, two-time Academy Award-winning actor-director-producer Kevin Spacey will stop by the Times Talks Center for an in-depth interview on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT. Livestream will broadcast this exclusive event as Kevin discusses his current role as disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff in “Casino Jack” as well as serving as creative director of the Old Vic theater in London. Viewers can watch the sold-out interview live on Times Talks' Livestream page at livestream.com/nytimes.

IDW Publishing and HBO are pleased to announce the next step for the mega-hit comic series TRUE BLOOD. After record breaking sales, the TRUE BLOOD comic book series continues in February 2011 with a brand new story. Actor Michael McMillian, who plays Fellowship of the Sun leader Reverend Steve Newlin, will co-author the all-new six-issue arc with fan-favorite writer Marc Andreyko. Also in February, IDW will launch the hardcover collection of its first TRUE BLOOD story arc, ALL TOGETHER NOW. This compilation of all six issues from the first series of the comics will also feature bonus content, including original sketches and a cover gallery.

“Co-Writing the TRUE BLOOD comic is a dream come true both as a performer on the show and as longtime comic fan. It's a real privilege to build on the rapidly growing True Blood mythology,” said McMillian. Continued Andreyko: “Words can't express how excited I am to be writing this with Michael. We're doing our damndest to spin a tale that fans of the show, and comics readers, will drink up like blood!”

As with the first arc, IDW’s new TRUE BLOOD comic series will be based on the intriguing world of Bon Temps, offering fans an original story with their favorite characters. In this six-issue series, Jessica is exposed to contaminated bottles of Tru Blood, causing the lovely vampire to go berserk. It’s up to Sookie, Bill and the others to figure out who (or what) is behind the bad Blood. In addition to Jessica, several other Bon Temp residents are making their comic book debut including Hoyt, Terry, Arlene and Steve Newlin.

In addition to the print editions, the comic collection and the second series will be available digitally through Sony’s Digital Comics Store and Apple’s iTunes Store.

TRUE BLOOD: ALL TOGETHER NOW ($24.99, 160 pages, hard cover, full color) will be available in stores in February 2011.

TRUE BLOOD comics are available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch through the Apple iTunes store here http://itunes.com/apps/truebloodcomics.

TRUE BLOOD comics are available for the Sony PSP through the Sony Digital Comics store here http://bit.ly/fKNzWV.

December 12, 2010

New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO.org), composed of thirty critics whose outlets are exclusively online and two who are print journalists with a strong online presence, met at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre on December 12th and bestowed these awards at its 11th annual meeting:

The Complete List:

PICTURE
The Social Network

DIRECTOR
David Fincher - The Social Network

ACTOR
James Franco – 127 hours

ACTRESS
Natalie Portman – Black Swan

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale – The Fighter

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa Leo – The Fighter

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Matthew Libatique – Black Swan

SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin – The Social Network

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
I Am Love

DOCUMENTARY
Exit through the Gift Shop

ANIMATED FEATURE
Toy Story 3

FILM MUSIC OR SCORE
Clint Mansell – Black Swan

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER
Noomi Rapace – The Millennium Trilogy

DEBUT DIRECTOR
John Wells – The Company Men

ENSEMBLE CAST
The Kids Are All Right

TOP 10 PICTURES (Alphabetical)
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight)
Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics)
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight)
Blue Valentine (The Weinstein Company)
The Ghost Writer (Summit Entertainment)
Inception (Warner Bros.)
The Kids Are All Right (Universal Pictures)
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal Pictures)
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)

December 6, 2010

2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards given 11/29/10 at Cipriani's Wall Street:

Best Feature: Winter's Bone
Best Documentary: The Oath
Best Ensemble Performance: Winter's Bone
Breakthrough Director: Kevin Asch, Holy Rollers
Breakthrough Actor: Ronald Bronstein, Daddy Longlegs
Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You: Littlerock
Festival Genius Audience Award: Waiting for Superman

November 18, 2010

PBS ARTS WEB SITE ACCEPTING LENNON REMEMBRANCES
ONLINE BEGINNING NOVEMBER 18

“Remembering Lennon” Exhibit Focuses on Fans’ Memories of Musician’s Life and MusicJohn

Lennon may have called New York his second home, but PBS is asking viewers nationwide to record and upload memories of the man and his music to become part of “Remembering Lennon,” a new online video exhibition tied to the American Masters film “LENNONYC,” airing November 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS.

Starting November 18, PBS will accept user-generated videos through its PBS Arts website (www.pbs.org/arts), which was launched earlier this year to give Americans the chance to experience the arts and explore the creative process through virtual art exhibits, videos from PBS national and local programs and interactive features.

PBS president Paula Kerger, in one of the first videos featured on the site, recalls a personal connection to Lennon:

“When I think about John Lennon music, one thing I think about is when I first met my husband in high school. The album Walls and Bridges had just come out, and he had an 8-track player in his car. I remember listening to that great album over and over again as we drove around. It’s the album I was listening to when I fell in love, so it’s very special to me.”

Viewers can get uploading instructions at www.pbs.org/arts. After a short review process, submitted videos will be posted onto the site alongside those from other high-profile musicians, industry veterans and others who knew Lennon or simply loved his music. The exhibition goes live with remembrances from guitarist Earl Slick, who played on Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album, photographer Bob Gruen, who took the iconic photo of Lennon in a New York City T-shirt and fans who attended “LENNONYC” screenings at the New York Film Festival and in Central Park.

PBS Arts is part of PBS’ ongoing commitment to strengthen public engagement in all forms of artistic expression and performance – in front of the camera and behind the scenes – and to bring more arts into the lives of millions of Americans.

November 12, 2010

IFC FILMS TO THEATRICALLY RE-RELEASE CLAUDE LANZMANN'S MASTERPIECE FOR ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY- SHOAH

Film to re-open with new 35mm prints in New York City on Friday, December 10 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and on Friday, December 24 at IFC Center, followed by a national rollout in 2011

"I consider SHOAH to be the greatest documentary about contemporary history ever made, bar none, and by far the greatest film I have ever seen about the Holocaust."
– Marcel Ophüls

"I would never have imagined such a combination of beauty and horror... a sheer masterpiece." – Simone de Beauvoir.

On the occasion of the film's 25th anniversary, Claude Lanzmann's nine-and-a-half hour landmark documentary, SHOAH, considered one of the greatest films ever made, will be re-released in the US through IFC Films. The film will open in New York City on Friday, December 10 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (Part I, first week of release; Part II second week), and on Friday, December 24 at IFC Center (schedule info. TBA). A national rollout will follow in 2011.

Twelve years in the making, SHOAH is Lanzmann's monumental epic on the Holocaust and features interviews with survivors, bystanders and perpetrators in 14 countries. The film does not contain any historical footage but rather features interviews which seek to "reincarnate" the Jewish tragedy and also visits places where the crimes took place. It grew out of Lanzmann’s concern that the genocide perpetrated only 40 years earlier was already retreating into the mists of time, that atrocity was becoming sanitized as History. His massive achievement—at once epic and intimate, immediate and definitive—is a triumph of form and content that reveals hidden truths while rewriting the rules of documentary filmmaking. SHOAH remains nothing less than essential.

Director Claude Lanzmann will be available for interviews from Tuesday, Nov. 16 to Friday, Nov. 19. Contact Susan Norget at (212) 431-0090 or susan@norget.com.

First released in New York City on October 20, 1985, SHOAH was immediately hailed as a masterpiece by critics. It was awarded prizes by the National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, BAFTA (Best Documentary), Césars (Honorary), and IDA Awards. On making SHOAH, Lanzmann stated at the time of the initial release, "Making a history was not what I wanted to do. I wanted to construct something more powerful than that. And, in fact, I think that the film, using only images of the present, evokes the past with far more force than any historical document."

Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment commented, "It is a profound honor to be entrusted with the re-release of SHOAH by Claude Lanzmann and Pascal Caucheteux and our friends at Why Not Productions in Paris. We believe it is important to keep the legacy of this peerless film alive by bringing it to new audiences, and we will aggressively pursue younger audiences and critics to discover the film for the first time."

Notes Lanzmann: "Museums come to terms with death and institute forgetting as well as memory. On the contrary, SHOAH, because it is an incarnation, because nothing will ever replace Abraham Bomba’s tears, Filip Müller’s reverberating voice, or the minute-by-minute description of the executions in Treblinka by the Unterscharführer Franz Suchomel or Polish train conductor Henrik Gavkowski, SHOAH is an absolute barricade, the true wall against oblivion. Memory is reactivated every time SHOAH is presented in the world, in Europe, in Asia, in America. IFC Films’ decision to re-release SHOAH theatrically with two new 35mm prints after 25 years is, for me, like a new birth for the film. For years, SHOAH has been incomprehensibly absent from New York’s cinemas. It is high time to show it again, and I thank the young distributors at IFC Films for having understood this."

1985, 564 min. In English, German, Hebrew, Polish, Yiddish, and French with English subtitles. An IFC Films release. Not rate

October 22, 2010

Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim! The Birthday Concert
Monday, November 24th. 9PM
PBS's "Great Performances"

The star-studded event, Sondheim! The Birthday Concert, celebrating the 80th birthday of the Broadway and film legend Stephen Sondheim with performances of his music and songs by some of the world’s biggest talents, will make its debut on PBS stations across the country on November 24th, thanks to the Emmy Award-winning producer Ellen M. Krass and Tony Award-winning co-producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley in association with Thirteen/WNET and Image Entertainment. The production, which is hosted by David Hyde Pierce, will air at 9PM ET (check local listings). Originally presented by the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on March 15th and March 16th, 2010, Sondheim! The Birthday Concert includes show-stopping numbers by Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Donna Murphy, Michael Cerveris, Elaine Stritch, Nathan Gunn, and many more. Led by world-renowned conductor Paul Gemignani and Emmy-nominated director Lonny Price, the evening includes songs and orchestral pieces from Sondheim musical theater favorites such as Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Passion, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Anyone Can Whistle, along with a suite from music he wrote for the film Reds, which has never before been performed live. For photos of the performance, please visit

http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=119585657

PBS's "Great Performances"

October 19, 2010

DOHA TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES COMPETITION JURY LED BY LEGENDARY EGYPTIAN ACTRESS YOSRA

International Jury also includes Salma Hayek Pinault, Nick Moran, Bhavna Talwar and Danis Tanovic

Eight new titles added to Festival Programme

18 October 2010 (Doha. Qatar) - The Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) today announced that internationally acclaimed Egyptian actress Yosra has been appointed President of the Jury for the 2nd annual Festival, October 26 – 30, 2010.

Yosra replaces previously announced Jury President Hany Abu-Assad who has had to step back from his role due to a delay in production with his latest film, The Courier, currently shooting on location in Louisiana.

Yosra will be joined by four other outstanding and diverse members of the film industry who comprise the inaugural jury – prolific Academy Award nominated actress, producer and director Salma Hayek Pinault (Frida, Ugly Betty), English actor, writer, and director Nick Moran (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels),Indian director Bhavna Talwar (Dharm) and Bosnian screenwriter and film director of the Academy Award winning No Man’s Land, Danis Tanovic. Together they will choose the winners of the Festival’s Arab Film Competition: Best Arab Film and Best Arab Filmmaker who will each receive monetary awards of US$100,000.

Additionally, the festival has also added seven more feature films to its programme - including Andrew Lau’s Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, John Curran’s Stone starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, Machete starring Jessica Alba, Danny Trejo and Don Johnson, Casino Jack starring Kevin Spacey and a special IMAX presentation of Paranormal Activity 2.

Two previously unannounced Indian films Rakht Charitra by Ramgopal Verma and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan will also have their Qatar premiere at the festival and one new title, Champs Elysees Je t’aime, has been added to the Arab Short Film Competition. Tickets for all films at DTFF are on sale at box offices located at the City Center Cinema and the Villaggio Cinemas.

Rooftop Films is now accepting submissions for our 2011 Summer Series. In May 2011 we will begin our 15th year of bringing the best underground films in the world outdoors and to the rooftops of New York City. Filmmakers who submit their films are given the chance to participate in one of the most unique, filmmaker-friendly, independent film events in the world.

The 2011 Summer Series will run from May through September and will feature more than 200 daring new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big, loyal audiences in parks, on boats, and on rooftops overlooking the greatest city in the world. In 2010 they also organized 10 outdoor shows in Toronto, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other cities all across the Northeast, and they plan to continue their expansion across the U.S in 2011.

Nearly 30,000 people attended Rooftop screenings in 2010, making it one of the most popular festivals in New York City and one of the biggest festivals for underground films in the world. The 2011 Summer Series will feature even bigger crowds, more beautiful venues, and more incredible films.

Rooftop Films is committed to helping filmmakers get their films screened and they believe that it is the responsibility of a film festival to make it as easy as possible for filmmakers to submit their films and get them screened. That is why Rooftop Films has only a low suggested submission fee, which must only be paid once regardless of how many films are submitted. In addition, as a thank you, every filmmaker who submits a film will receive two free tickets to the 2011 Rooftop Films Summer Series (a twenty dollar value).

For the past 14 years, Rooftop Films has dedicated themselves to providing a venue, an audience, and a community for the wide array of short and feature length films that are underserved by conventional commercial distributors, industry-run festivals, art galleries, and repertory theater retrospectives. The festival line-up includes comedies, dramas, experimental shorts, animation, videos, short and feature documentaries, political films, home movies and found footage, as well as many of the most interesting new independent narrative feature films. Rooftop Films seeks independent movies with original ideas, regardless of production values. The festival screens the work of experienced professionals, long-time amateurs and first-time filmmakers alike. They also strongly encourage submissions by women and people of color. We show films of all genres, formats, and lengths, as long as they're courageous, creative, and unique.

For more information, please visit: www.rooftopfilms.com/submit.html

September 30, 2010

Lauren Bush & FEED Projects have teamed up with UNICEF and HSN to create a special Jack-o-Lantern FEED Bag in honor of the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Retailing for $13.20 (plus shipping & handling), HSN will donate 100% of the profits from the bag to The U.S. Fund for UNICEF. As an added bonus for each FEED Trick-or-Treat bag purchased at HSN and hsn.com, HSN will donate an additional $3.50 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help support UNICEF’s nutrition programs.
The FEED Trick or Treat for UNICEF bag is available for purchase at www.hsn.com/hsncares.

September 16, 2010

TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARY FUND, PRESENTED BY HBO; TFI TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN $500,000 IN FILMMAKER GRANTS IN 2011

Submissions Open Today for TFI Documentary Fund, Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund, Tribeca All Access Program, TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced its new TFI Documentary Fund, presented by HBO, which will provide more than $100,000 in fellowships and grants for engaging, character-driven documentaries. As the not-for-profit Institute enters its tenth year, it will award more than $500,000 in filmmaker support grants throughout 2011. Submissions are currently open.

In addition to the TFI Documentary Fund, presented by HBO -which will provide select filmmakers with financial support, supervision and guidance- TFI will continue to administer grants through three highly successful existing funds, and expand the industry-lauded Tribeca All Access program to include grants to all participating filmmakers. The Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund provides finishing grants totaling $100,000 to feature-length documentaries that highlight and humanize topics of social significance. The TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund will award up to $140,000 to support compelling narrative filmmaking that explores scientific, mathematic and technological themes. The Tribeca All Access Program will continue cultivating relationships between filmmakers from traditionally underrepresented communities and film industry executives, and provide each 2011 participant with $10,000 in order to maximize the program’s impact. And, the TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund will support innovative film and video artists working in narrative or documentary film and living in Mexico, Central and South America.

“For nearly a decade Tribeca Film Institute has been discovering and developing emerging independent filmmakers,” said Tribeca Film Institute Board Co-Chair Jane Rosenthal. “We are privileged to be able to continue to nurture diverse and authentic stories and for the first time provide over a half a million dollars in funding, offering storytellers at every level the opportunity to advance their work.”

“Through the generous support of our partners, including the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation who has been with us since our founding, new partners like HBO, and returning supporters, including Gucci, Bloomberg, Time Warner, and Moviecity, we have been able to provide talented filmmakers with funding and professional guidance over the past ten years,” said Beth Janson, Artistic Director of TFI. “We are excited to expand the reach and depth of our programming to support individual artists in the field.”

All submissions open today, with an early deadline of Nov. 8, 2010 and final submission deadline of Dec. 8, 2010. For rules and regulations, visit www.tribecafilminstitute.org.

TFI Documentary Fund

The newly launched TFI Documentary Fund, presented by HBO, was created to further the development of character-driven documentaries. The Fund will arrange one-on-one meetings with key HBO Documentary Film executives, in addition to providing financial support, supervision and guidance from TFI and HBO, to select filmmakers developing artistically significant and engaging feature-length documentaries that emphasize character.

Through the generous support of HBO, three fellowships will be awarded to films in the advanced stages of development, production or post-production: $50,000 will be awarded to an emerging filmmaker in production on his or her first feature-length documentary under The TFI/HBO “Documentary Screen Test” Fellowship; The TFI/HBO “House I Live In” Fellowship will award $25,000 towards the completion of a documentary focused on the filmmaker’s personal story; and a $25,000 TFI/HBO “Outside Looking In” Fellowship will be granted to support an extraordinary character-driven story, which aims to take audiences into someone else's world.

Recipients will be announced at the annual TFI Awards held during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund

Now in its fourth year, the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund will provide finishing funds to feature-length documentaries which highlight and humanize issues of social importance from around the world. The Fund focuses on documentaries that are driven by thoughtful, accurate and complete storytelling. Grants ranging from $10,000 - $25,000 will be awarded to works that are in production or post-production, and will be selected by a committee of noted talents in the field.

Prior recipients include Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten’s Sons of Perdition that premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and was recently acquired by OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network); Laura Poitras’ The Oath, which won the Cinematography award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath’s Enemies of the People, winner of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize. Beadie Finzi’s Only When I Dance and Ian Olds’ Emmy nominated Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi were also recent Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund recipients. Both documentaries had their World Premieres at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, where Olds’ film received the best new documentary filmmaker award and was picked up by HBO Documentary films for broadcast on the cable network. Only When I Dance was purchased by Film Movement and recently released.

TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund

A founding sponsor of the Tribeca Film Institute and Tribeca Film Festival, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will administer up to $140,000 in grants through the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund this year to narrative film projects in any stage of development that dramatize science and technology themes or portray scientists, engineers or mathematicians in prominent character roles. In addition to financial awards ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, grantees will receive professional guidance and mentorship through the Tribeca Film Institute, including project feedback and networking opportunities with science experts and members of the film industry.

Awards will be presented to the winning filmmakers at the annual TFI Awards held during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

2010 TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund recipients Cora Olson & Jennifer Dubin have recently completed production on Future Weather starring Amy Madigan, Lili Taylor, Bill Sadler and Perla Haney-Jardine. The film, which was completed using funding from TFI Sloan, centers on a 13-year-old loner who grows fixated on an environmental disaster after she is abandoned by her eccentric single mom.

Since receiving a TFI Sloan grant, Cockeyed, based on the memoir by Ryan Knighton has attached Jodie Foster as director. Additional projects that have attracted significant talent include Face Value, the story of screen siren Hedy Lamarr and A First Class Man, the story of the great Indian mathematician Ramanujan.

Tribeca All Access

In its eighth year, the Tribeca All Access (TAA) program will take its commitment to cultivating relationships between filmmakers from traditionally underrepresented communities and the film industry one step further. In addition to the workshops, panels and one-on-one meetings with potential investors, development executives, and producers that TAA arranges for participants during the annual Tribeca Film Festival, the program will maximize its impact in 2011 by providing $10,000 grants to each of the ten selected projects, and tailored mentorships for select participants. All participants will also be eligible for a TAA Creative Promise Award presented by Time Warner, an additional juried prize of $10,000, which will be presented at the TFI Awards during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

To date, Tribeca All Access has supported 210 film projects, with many receiving direct funding, jobs, mentorship, career development and production assistance through the 3,355 industry meetings arranged by TAA. This year, TAA will extend its year-round programming and support for alumni by awarding a total of $20,000 in grants for past TAA projects in development or new works by program alumni. Additionally, alumni will continue to have access to free or discounted equipment and services for any of their projects, and be eligible to take part in a series of workshops, panels and industry events. Promotional support and screening opportunities will also be provided for completed films.

Tribeca All Access is made possible by Bloomberg with major support from Time Warner and additional support by SAP, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, The Academy Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.

TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund

The TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund supports innovative film and video artists who are living or working in Mexico, Central and South America and working independently in their efforts to reach a larger audience. Created to encourage Latin American artists to redefine, invent, explore and create stories that reflect their diverse cultures, the Fund will administer $20,000 in grants to a minmum of two artists working in documentary or hybrid forms.

In addition to funding, each grantee will receive a U.S. based advisor and guidance from the Tribeca Film Institute. The TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund is made possible with support from Moviecity.

For more information and a list of all TFI programs visit http://www.tribecafilminstitute.org/

August 30, 2010

FringeNYC 2010 Announces Overall Excellence Award Winners

In a brief ceremony at the closing night party for the New York International Fringe Festival at The Gramercy Theater, winners of the 2010 FringeNYC Overall Excellence Awards were announced. The awards are selected by an independent panel of over 50 theater professionals.

Overall Production/Play:
The Twentieth Century Way?PigPen Presents The Nightmare Stories
The Momentum
The Hurricane Katrina Comedy Festival

Overall Production/Musical:
Bunked! A New Musical
Jurassic Parq: The Broadway Musical

Performance:
Tyler Moss – Terror SuperHighway
Geraldine Librandi – Lost and Found
Jared Houseman – Art of Attack
Rory Lipede – When Last We Flew
Deanna Pacelli – 23 Feet in 12 Minutes: The Death and Rebirth of New Orleans
Jake Ahlquist – Richard 3
Marina Squerciati - Just in Time: The Judy Holiday Story

Playwriting:
When Last We Flew - Harrison David Rivers
My Name Is Ruth - Stephen W. Baldwin
Getting Even with Shakespeare - Matt Saldarelli
Hearts Full of Blood - James Asmus

Music & Lyrics:
Justin Moran & Christopher Pappas - Pope: The Musical
Jeff Bienstock - The Morning After/The Night Before
David Chesky - The Pig, the Farmer and the Artist

Ensemble:
Dear Harvey
The Secretaries
The Timing of the Day
Veritas

Directing:
Lucy Cashion - AK-47 Singalong
Kym Gomes - By Hands Unknown
Josh Liveright - Alternative Methods
Divya Palat - A Personal War: Stories of the Mumbai Terror Attacks
Lillian Meredith - Hamlettes
James Presson - Richard 3

Solo:
Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories
Miss Magnolia Beaumont Goes to Provincetown
Driving the Saudis
Viva La Evolucion!
Scared Skinny

Dance:
Trinayan Dance Theater - Swaha: Rituals of Union
Claire Porter/Portables - Namely, Muscles

Unique Theatrical Event:
Daddy Day
Cloud to Ground

TheaterMania Audience Favorite Award (selected through public balloting):
Viva Los Bastarditos!

In 1997, New York City became the seventh US city to host a fringe
festival, joining Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Houston,
Orlando and San Francisco. In its first 14 years FringeNYC has
presented over 2500 performing groups from the U.K., Canada, Poland,
Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the Czech Republic and across the
U.S., prompting Switzerland’s national daily, The New Zurich Zeitung,
to declare, “FringeNYC has become the premiere meeting ground for
alternative artists.” The festival has also been the launching pad for
numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running downtown
hits, and regional theater productions including Urinetown, Matt &
Ben, Never Swim Alone, Debbie Does Dallas, Dog Sees God, 21 Dog Years,
Krapp 39, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Silence! The Musical, The Irish
Curse, 666, Tales from the Tunnel and Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance
Party and as well as movies (WTC View) and even a TV show (‘da Kink in
My Hair). FringeNYC is a production of The Present Company, under the
leadership of Producing Artistic Director Elena K. Holy.

The 15th Annual New York International Fringe Festival will run August
12 - 28, 2011 and will once again feature nearly 200 of the worlds
best emerging theater and dance artists. Applications for the 2011
festival will be available online in November; completed applications
are due February 14, 2011. For more information visit
www.FringeNYC.org

August 25, 2010

Lionsgate is excited to announce the premiere of the new trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now on October 19th in stunning high definition on Blu-ray Disc and Digital Download.

To download the trailer, please click here: http://brgd.net/Apocalypsetrailer

Often hailed as "one of the greatest of all films" (Chicago Sun-Times), the iconic film about the hell of war that has captivated audiences for decades features an all-star critically acclaimed cast that includes Marlon Brando (The Godfather), Martin Sheen (TV's "The West Wing"), (Crazy Heart), Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider), Harrison Ford (The Indiana Jones series) and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy). This highly anticipated Blu-ray Disc premieres in 1080P High Definition Widescreen in two deluxe-edition releases: a 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition and a 2-Film Set. Also for the first time, these movies will be presented for home entertainment audiences in their original theatrical aspect ratios (2.35:1). Nominated for eight Academy Awards® (1979) including Best Picture, Apocalypse Now is also a highlight on the AFI's list of 100 Years...100 Movies.

Both Blu-ray versions contain Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux with more than nine hours of bonus material including new interviews with on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent. The 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will include the acclaimed making-of feature documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse - packaged with the original film for the first time - as well as even more brand new bonus features. In addition, this version features a 48-page collectible booklet with a special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more! The Full Disclosure Edition will be packaged in a keepsake case featuring archival poster images designed by Japanese artist Eiko Ishioka. Exploding onto shelves on October 19, 2010, the Apocalypse Now 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will be available for $59.99 and the Apocalypse Now 2-Film Set will retail for $39.99.

TENTH ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
2011 DATES AND CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
2011 FESTIVAL TO BE HELD APRIL 20 – MAY 1, 2011

New York, NY (August 25, 2010) – The Tribeca Film Festival announced today that the tenth annual Tribeca Film Festival will be held April 20 – May 1, 2011.

The Festival has also announced a Call for Submissions for narrative and documentary features as well as for short film entries.

Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival are as follows:

September 13, 2010 – SUBMISSIONS OPEN
November 5, 2010 – EARLY DEADLINE, FEATURES & SHORTS
December 10, 2010 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, ALL FEATURES AND SHORTS

COMPLETED IN 2010

January 10, 2011 – LATE DEADLINE, 2010 FEATURE LENGTH WORK-IN-PROGRESS AND FILMS COMPLETED AFTER OFFICIAL DEADLINE

Starting September 13, 2010, submission forms and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival will be available at www.tribecafilm.com/festival. Questions regarding submissions may be directed to entries@tribecafilmfestival.org or by calling

212.941.2305.

About Tribeca Film Festival:

Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City to spur the economic and

cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture.

The Festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than 3.25 million attendees and has generated an estimated $660 million in economic activity for New York City.

August 18, 2010

Claire Danes
Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall
Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Claire Danes, 2010 Emmy Award nominee and arts supporter, launched Valspar Paint’s new Hi-DEF Advanced Color System and unveiled "Life in Hi-DEF Color," an interactive exhibition by artist Stephen Burks, that showcased a series of portraits by Burks’ studio, Readymade Projects, of everyday New Yorkers against backdrops of the rich and vibrant colors of Valspar’s new Hi-DEF Advance Color System Paint.

Celebrating the diverse, eclectic style of New York personalities, Danes — with Valspar Hi-DEF Advanced Color System Paint in hand — lead a group of performance painters as they painted 26 freestanding walls in a kaleidoscope of Valspar colors, highlighting the rich and brilliant shades of the “Hi-DEF Life" depicted in Burks' portraits.

"United States Artists (U.S.A.) is a fantastic artist-advocacy organization. I'm pleased to be working with Valspar and U.S.A. to bring Stephen Burks' beautiful installation to Grand Central. I appreciate how color can transform a space and I'm excited to use Valspar's new, richly colorful Hi-DEF Advanced Color System paints."

Every two hours throughout the day, Burks and his painters transformed the exhibition by painting new colors on each wall demonstrating the quick-drying, one-coat coverage of Valspar's Hi-DEF Advanced Color System technology.

The day-long event, which was free and open to the public, benefitted the non-profit artist-advocacy organization United States Artists.

July 31, 2010

Annie and Henry Sweetbaum,
Founder and Trustee of the ICSR

Annie Sweetbaum, dinner hosts Rena Shulsky-David and Sami David

Rena-Shulsky David and Kim Campbell,
Former Prime Minister of Canada

Hundreds of senior policymakers, leading experts and diplomats were recent guests at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence’s (ICSR) first annual Peace and Security Summit at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

During the summit, experts addressed some of the most pressing security issues of our time including whether the wars since 9/11 and billions of dollars spent have helped to make America safer.

The Dinner was hosted by Sami David and Rena Shulsky-David, who also support the goals of the ICSR. Ms. Shulsky-David is a New York City entrepreneur, green leader and corporate social responsibility leader. She supports medical research involving the causes and cure for cancer and research into the environmental impact on childhood diseases such as cancer, attention deficit syndrome and autism among others. She is also the founder of Green Seal, the first and the most widely respected environmental seal of approval appearing on products as well as companies around the world.

Ms. Shulsky-David chaired the legendary ‘Swords to Plowshares’ conference, marking the first face-to-face meeting of the head of the soviet military with their American military counterparts since WWII.

July 20, 2010

The Buckingham Hotel Gives You A Special Pass to SummerStage

Enjoy VIP status at legendary outdoor entertainment in Manhattan during your stay at the Buckingham Hotel this summer. Starting at $239 per night for SummerStage’s free shows, or $319 per night for SummerStage’s benefit shows, the Buckingham Hotel is offering two VIP entrance passes, special seating and two drink tickets, to all of the SummerStage events in Central Park, which begin June 1, 2010.

SummerStage is internationally acclaimed for hosting both well-recognized and upcoming artists from New York and around the world, and boasts a wide array of diverse events including music, dance, film, word, and comedy for visitors to enjoy. The performances allow for audiences to develop a deeper understanding of the cultures and backgrounds of these artists. This year’s lineup includes performances from big name artists and pop culture icons such as Public Enemy, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Living Colour, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and many more.

This special package can be booked by citing the promotional code, “Summerstage.” For further details and to book, please visit the Buckingham Hotel web site at www.buckinghamhotel.com/summerstage/ or call toll free at 888-511-1900. This package is available through August 29, 2010.

About the Buckingham Hotel

The Buckingham Hotel is an intimate, 100-suite boutique property that provides guests with the unique experience of New York living combined with modern hotel style. Comfortable and chic with eat-in kitchens, spacious rooms, and public areas designed to echo the red velvet and dark wood of the hotel’s neighbor, Carnegie Hall, the Buckingham is city lodging at its finest. Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, the property is just seconds from Central Park and the Museum of Modern Art, as well as shopping destinations like Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Bergdorf Goodman and Barney’s — only a few of the lifestyle experiences that make New York City exceptional.

July 9, 2010

From 42 West:

Great Directors opens in LA today. Here is a never before seen clip from the film.

divshare.com/download/11936267-baa

greatdirectorsfilm.com

July 9, 2010

NOMAD Films launches new exhibition of independent film to take place during
Access & PARADOX Art Fair, October 2010.
Paris, France

The NOMAD Project will be an exhibition of short films directed and/or produced by independent filmmakers utilizing innovative and exploratory ways of telling a story. The aim of the exhibition is to share with the contemporary art audience unique ways in which filmmakers are adapting to the stage of the global economy as well as shifts in technology. The films can be narrative, documentary or experimental, and should relate to PARADOX’s unofficial theme “Nostalgia for Nature”.

“The NOMAD Project promotes a uniquely relevant alternative to the actual production process. Access & Paradox are excited to host such an exhibition; the first of its kind in Europe and certainly something we hope to see more of…" says Emeric Glayse, Director of Programming and Events at Paradox, and one of the fair’s founders.

“Our partnership with PARADOX creates an ideal opportunity for selected filmmakers to share their work with a rather diverse audience; we’re hoping this first edition of The NOMAD Project sheds some light on the many projects produced independently, and encourages more creative and sustainable filmmaking,” says Sarah Schutzki, Founder and Co-Director of NOMAD Films and The NOMAD Project.

The call for projects (CFP) opened July 1, 2010, and submissions will be accepted through August 31, 2010. For The NOMAD Project application and guidelines please visit www.nomadfilms.net, or contact Directors Ari Allansson (ari@nomadfilms.net) or Sarah Schutzki (sarah@nomadfilms.net).

About NOMAD Films

NOMAD Films was created in an effort to expose innovative and experimental forms of filmmaking, taking into account the financial limitations within the independent industry as well as continuously evolving filmmaking technology. The goal of the exhibition(s) is to create additional distribution outlets within the arts. Distribution models for low-budget independent films are not always substantial; NOMAD Films brings to light a selection of the many projects that have had little exposure otherwise.

About PARADOX

PARADOX is an International Contemporary Art Fair making its debut in October 2010 in Paris, France. Partnering with Access, Access & PARADOX will focus on the exhibition and promotion of new, emerging artists working in contemporary art. Although the fair will debut in 2010 in Paris, there are plans for future editions to take place throughout Europe and the Americas as well.

June 9, 2010

American Express LAUNCHES “MY MOVIE PITCH” IN SEARCH
OF NEXT GREAT IDEA FOR INDEPENDENT FILM
Winning Idea Brought to Life by Indie Director for Big Screen Debut at 2011 Tribeca Film Festival

American Express announced today the launch of My Movie Pitch, a contest to bring one great movie idea to life as an independent short film that will debut at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. In the true spirit of great storytelling and independent cinema, film enthusiasts everywhere can visit www.amexfilm.com today to upload their 60-second, dream movie pitch in hopes of seeing their idea brought to life on the big screen.

In each of two rounds, five finalists will be selected by viewers and a panel of Tribeca Film directors to win an American Express Filmmaker’s Toolkit, including a laptop, movie editing software package and an HD video camera. A special panel of Tribeca Film Directors including Brian Hill, Dev Benegal, Julien Kemp, Måns Herngren, Tarik Saleh, Jacob Tierney, David Russo, Jac Schaeffer, Julien Nitzberg, Mat Whitecross and Josh Appignanesi will select the grand prize winner, who will have his or her pitch made into a 15-minute short film by one of the Tribeca Film Directors. The winner will receive a trip for two to New York City and VIP access to see the short film debut at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

Everyone is encouraged to rate the movie pitches at www.amexfilm.com with either a “thumbs up” for the idea they believe would make the best movie or a “thumbs down” for an idea that they believe should not make the cut. The public vote will be calculated into the finalist selection as the judges help determine the top picks.

My Movie Pitch Competition Calendar

Everybody has a film idea, a story made for the movies, and American Express wants to hear it. Whether it’s funny or tragic, romantic or sci-fi, cinéma vérité or surreal, the My Movie Pitch competition provides the chance to win. My Movie Pitch: Take One

Pitch Your Movie: From May 27 to June 24, 2010, upload your 60-second movie pitch at www.amexfilm.com.
Vote for the Best: From June 25 to July 24, 2010, film fans everywhere are encouraged to visit www.amexfilm.com and rate pitches with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”

The Judges Weigh In: From July 25 to August 8, 2010, American Express’ panel of Tribeca Film directors will judge entries based on creativity/originality of the movie pitch, creativity/originality of the delivery of the movie pitch, popular vote and overall box office potential. Five winners will each receive the Filmmaker’s Toolkit and move on to the Grand Prize Winner judging period.

My Movie Pitch: Take Two

Pitch Your Movie: From August 15 to September 15, 2010, you have another chance to win. Upload your 60-second movie pitch at www.amexfilm.com.
Vote for the Best: From September 16 to October 15, 2010, visit www.amexfilm.com and rate pitches.
The Judges Weigh In: From October 16-30, 2010, American Express’ panel of Tribeca Film directors will judge entries based on creativity/originality of the movie pitch, creativity/originality of the delivery of the movie pitch, popular vote and overall box office potential. Five winners will each receive the Filmmaker’s Toolkit and move on to the Grand Prize Winner judging period.

The Final Cut: Grand Prize Winner Selection

On December 1, 2010, the panel of Tribeca Film judges will select one of the 10 finalists to receive the grand prize and see their dream movie idea made into a reality by a celebrated independent filmmaker. The grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to New York City to attend the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival as a VIP and see their story brought to life on the big screen.

To learn more about My Movie Pitch and American Express’ continuing support of independent cinema and Tribeca Film, visit www.amexfilm.com.

Terms and Conditions

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and DC, who are the age of majority in their state of residence (19 in NE and AL, 21 in MS and 18 years of age or older everywhere else) at the time of entry, and have a YouTube account. YouTube accounts are free. Entries for Cycle I will be accepted between May 27, 2010 at 9:00:00 AM ET and June 24, 2010 at 11:59:59 PM ET and for Cycle II between August 15, 2010 at 9:00:00 AM ET and September 15, 2010 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Prizes: Cycle Winners (10 total, 1 prize each): one “Filmmaker Toolkit” which consists of: one laptop computer, one movie editing software package, and one portable video camera. ARV: $3,500.00 each; Grand Prize: A trip for two (2) to the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. ARV: $4,828.00. See Official Rules, which govern, for complete details, including submission requirements, use of entries, judging criteria and procedures, and prize details. Official Rules are available at www.youtube.com/americanexpress. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., American Express Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New York 10285. Tribeca Enterprises LLC (including its subsidiaries and affiliated companies) is not responsible for the collection, submission or processing of entries, the administration of this Contest or the selection of winners. YouTube is not a sponsor of or in any way affiliated with this Contest.

June 3, 2010

GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND ANNOUNCES GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR DOCUMENTARY FINISHING FUND - SEVEN PROJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HIGHLIGHTING SOCIAL ISSUES WITH GREAT GLOBAL IMPACT

The Tribeca Film Institute and Gucci have announced the recipients selected for the 2010 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund which provides finishing finances to domestic and international documentary filmmakers with feature-length films that document pressing social issues of immediate and historical significance. In the third year of the fund, seven projects have been selected from 390 submissions from 23 countries to receive a total of $100,000, to be administered by the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI).

The projects were selected by a committee consisting of Diana Barrett, Liz Garbus, Simon Kilmurry, Trevor Neilson, and Mariane Pearl who chose the recipients from finalists previously selected by TFI. The projects that will receive funding are:

- African Deep (Rachel Boynton)

- Donor 150 (Jerry Rothwell)

- MOVING WINDMILLS: The William Kamkwamba Story (Tom Rielly)

- The Mosou Sisters (Marlo Poras & Yu Ying Wu Chou)

- The Redemption of General Butt Naked (Daniele Anastasion & Eric Strauss)

- The Warlord’s Wife (Victoria Stevenson)

- Welcome to Shelbyville (Kim Snyder)

"The Gucci Fund is bravely supporting some of the most compelling and important documentaries being made today,” said jury member Simon Kilmurry. “These films all bear the hallmarks of excellence in storytelling and urgency of issue. Whether they are from home or from around the world, these films put a human face on the issues through the artistry of some of our finest documentary filmmakers.”

“These filmmakers passion to uncover stories that highlight global and controversial issues, is extremely inspiring,” said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Chairman of the Board, Tribeca Film Institute. “Gucci continues to recognize the importance documentary filmmaking has on society. Together we are proud to support these filmmakers and believe their films will create a global conversation about these subject matters.”

Films funded examine larger issues through intimate stories about: a small town in the South that is forced to reconcile past prejudices before it can deal with immediate immigration concerns; the first generation of donor-conceived children searching for their biological fathers; the economic struggle of two sisters in China; the controversial transformation of a British woman into a Sudanese warlord’s wife; the tumultuous search for oil off of West Africa’s coast; a self-taught Malawian teenager who builds a windmill from scrap metal that subsequently powers his village; and a man who transforms himself from a warlord into a Christian evangelist. The grantees and projects selected are:

African Deep, Directed and Produced by Rachel Boynton. – (USA) African Deep is a riveting adventure about the heated quest for oil in the deep waters off West Africa’s coast. Shot over the course of four years, at a time of rising demand for energy and increasing competition for resources worldwide, the film takes you inside the gargantuan efforts and ambitions surrounding our planet's most important resource.

Donor 150, Directed by Jerry Rothwell. Produced by Hilary Durman and Al Morrow. – (UK) Donor 150 is a twenty-first century tale of identity and genetic inheritance and perhaps the family of the future. For the first time in history a generation of children born through artificial insemination are old enough to search for their biological fathers. Donor 150 follows two young people as they first decide and then travel to meet their father for the first time, and as they navigate the increasingly complex maze of new and constantly evolving family relationships.

The Mosou Sisters Directed and Produced by Marlo Poras & Yu Ying Wu Chou. – (USA) The Mosou Sisters follows two spirited daughters from China’s last remaining matriarchal society who are thrust into the worldwide economic downturn when they lose the only jobs they’ve ever known.

MOVING WINDMILLS: The William Kamkwamba Story Directed by Tom Reilly. Produced by Ben W. Nabors. – (USA) MOVING WINDMILLS: The William Kamkwamba Story dates to 2001 when William Kamkwamba dropped out of school due to a devastating famine. Through self-education, he saw a picture of a windmill in a textbook. Using found materials, William built a windmill that powered his village and changed his life, using imagination and ingenuity to inspire a family, a village, and a nation.

The Redemption of General Butt Naked Directed and Produced by Daniele Anastasion and Eric Strauss. – (USA) The Redemption of General Butt Naked tells the incredible true story of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a brutal African warlord turned Christian evangelist. The film follows Blahyi's crusade to redeem his past as he attempts to rebuild the shattered lives of those he commanded and brutalized during the civil war in Liberia.

The Warlord’s Wife Directed by Victoria Stevenson, Produced by Nicole Stott. – (UK) The Warlord’s Wife depicts the story of Emma McCune who travelled to Africa as an aid worker, fuelled by humanitarian ideals, yet at the time of her death she was married to a Sudanese warlord, stood accused of trading oil for arms, was a suspected spy, and a marked woman. The film charts the process by which a naïve British convent girl became complicit in the complex politics and violent heart of Africa’s longest civil war.

Welcome to Shelbyville Directed and Produced by Kim Snyder, Co-Produced by Gywn Welles. – (USA) Welcome to Shelbyville is a glimpse of America at a crossroads. Set in America's rural south on the eve of the 2008 Presidential election, a town deals with issues of immigrant integration and reckons with its segregated past.

May 26, 2010

SMASH HIS CAMERA
2010 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WINNER SMASH HIS CAMERA,
THE STORY OF CONTROVERSIAL SUPERSTAR PAPARAZZO RON GALLELLA,
KICKS OFF HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS’ SUMMER SERIES JUNE 7

Jackie Onassis sued him. Marlon Brando broke his jaw. To the people he pursued, legendary paparazzo Ron Galella was a bandit stealing their images, yet he created some of the most iconic celebrity images of the modern era. Over the course of a 50-year career marked by perseverance, Galella has been praised and vilified for his pioneering work in hit-and-run celebrity photography, sparking a fierce debate about privacy versus free speech that continues to this day. A 2010 Sundance Film Festival winner for Best Director, SMASH HIS CAMERA looks at both sides of Galella’s controversial story when it debuts MONDAY, JUNE 7 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: June 7 (5:25 a.m.), 10 (4:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 12 (5:00 p.m.), 18 (9:30 a.m.) and 20 (noon)

HBO2 playdates: June 9 (8:00 p.m.) and 15 (4:30 p.m.)

Beginning with SMASH HIS CAMERA, HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting a provocative new special every Monday through Aug. 9. Other June films include “For Neda” (June 14), “Gasland” (June 21) and “Kevorkian” (June 28).

Acclaimed documentarian Leon Gast (the Oscar®-winning “When We Were Kings”) turns the camera on self-described paparazzo superstar Ron Galella to reveal a man as fascinating as any of his famous subjects. Taking its name from an order Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis issued to her security team, SMASH HIS CAMERA chronicles Galella’s meteoric career as a notorious guerilla photographer and offers a thoughtful examination of the nature of fame, the relationship between celebrities and their chroniclers, and the delicate balance between privacy and freedom of the press over the past 30 years.

Galella revisits old haunts and shares war stories about Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Robert Redford and other superstars who tried and failed to escape his lens. He proudly recalls the night Marlon Brando broke his jaw with one punch, knocking out five teeth in the process. Unafraid of the limelight himself, Galella donned a football helmet for his next encounter with the actor, and invited a photographer friend to document the outcome.

But no other subject caught his imagination (or the public’s) like former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. From 1967 until 1982, Galella pursued her with a determination bordering on obsession. When his attention grew overwhelming, she instructed her Secret Service detail to prevent him from photographing her and her children.

In 1973, Galella filed a harassment suit against Onassis, alleging she was preventing him from doing his job. Onassis filed a countersuit and the epic legal battle that followed inspired an ongoing debate over the privacy of public figures. Ironically, his photographs became iconic images of Mrs. Onassis, some of them depicting “Jackie at her most fetching,” as gossip doyenne Liz Smith says in the film.

In addition to Liz Smith, SMASH HIS CAMERA features interviews with photojournalist Harry Benson, visual artist Chuck Close, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and attorneys on both sides of the historic legal battle, among others.

Named after movie idol Ronald Colman, Ron Galella began his career as a U.S. Air Force photographer before his increasingly creative methods of cornering the famous and infamous made him a household name. In the film, he happily shares the secrets of his success, such as hiding in bushes, high-speed car chases, outlandish disguises and strategic bribes. Among his unorthodox words of advice for aspiring paparazzi: “sneak in” to high-profile events, “dress right” for the occasion, “forge credentials” and the most effective technique in his playbook – surprise the subject and capture the real emotion of the moment.

SMASH HIS CAMERA is a portrait of an endlessly contradictory American original who still jumps barriers to get that exclusive photo at age 77. Galella’s archive contains approximately three million images, while his pictures are shown in New York galleries, housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and collected in coffee-table books, as well as being sought-after by collectors. Whether he is simply “the price tag of the First Amendment” or a serious photojournalist, Ron Galella is a larger-than-life figure.

In conjunction with the debut of SMASH HIS CAMERA, New York’s Clic Gallery will present a retrospective of Galella’s most legendary photographs, entitled “Smash His Camera: The Notorious Photographs of Ron Galella,” from June 1-30.

HBO Documentary Films presents a Got The Shot Production film; executive producers, Jeffrey Tarrant, William Ackman, Daniel Stern; produced by Linda Saffire and Adam Schlesinger; directed by Leon Gast; original music by Craig Hazen and David Wolfert; director of photography, Don Lenzer; creative consultant, Roger Rosenblatt; edited by Doug Abel, A.C.E.

SMASH HIS CAMERA will air on HBO June 7th, 2010.

May 20, 2010

EditFest Returns to New York With Power-packed Lineup

Rivkin, Refoua, Schoonmaker, Berenbaum and More Award Winning Panelists

June 11th & 12th, EditFest returns for its second year to New York with a star-studded lineup of award-winning editors during two tightly programmed days of education, information, and networking. Presented by American Cinema Editors (ACE) and Manhattan Edit Workshop, EditFest NY is the east coast presentation of ACE’s highly regarded EditFest series, an event that puts leading editors in presentation and conversation with their peers, aspiring editors and film-enthusiasts.

This year’s extensive lineup includes the Oscar® nominated editing team from Avatar, John Refoua and Stephen Rivkin, ACE; Oscar® winner Thelma Schoonmaker, The Departed, The Aviator, Raging Bull; Oscar® winner Alan Heim, ACE, All That Jazz, Network; the Emmy winning editor of Sex and The City I & II, Michael Berenbaum, ACE; Mark Livolsi, ACE, The Blind Side, Wedding Crashers, The Devil Wears Prada; Oscar®nominated Joe Klotz, ACE, Precious, Junebug, and many others. The panels present compelling insights, first-hand experiences and advice to attendees.

Aimed at professional editors, production executives, network and studio staff, fledgling assistants and content creators, the event includes moderated panels, an opening night reception, extensive Q&A sessions and a closing pizza and beer casual wrap up.

The complete lineup and schedule is:

Friday June 11, 2010:

7:15pm - 9:00pm, Opening Night Panel: The Lean Forward Moment

9:00pm - 11:00pm, Cocktail Party

Saturday June 12, 2010:

10:00am - 11:45am, The Documentary Edit: Finding the Thread

12:00pm - 1:00pm, Anatomy of a Scene With Alan Heim

2:15pm - 3:30pm, Cutting Yourself Out of a Corner

3:45pm - 5:15pm, Avatar: The Big Picture

5:15pm - 8:00pm, Pizza And Beer

Confirmed panelists* (as of May 8, 2010)

Michael Berenbaum, ACE (Sex and the City I & II) Emmy® Winner

Geoff Bartz, ACE (Pumping Iron, Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth) Emmy® Winner

Milton Ginsberg, ACE (Fidel, Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back)

Alan Heim, ACE (All That Jazz, Network, American History X) Oscar® Winner

Norman Hollyn, (Heathers, Author of The Film Editing Handbook)

Joe Klotz, ACE (Precious, Junebug) Oscar® Nominated

Mark Livolsi, ACE (The Blind Side, Wedding Crashers, The Devil Wears Prada)

Andrew Mondshein, ACE (Remember Me, Chocolat, The Sixth Sense) Oscar® Nominated

Susan Morse, ACE (Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters) Oscar® Nominated

Sabrina Plisco, ACE (Charlotte’s Web, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow)

Geoffrey Richman, ACE (The Cove, Sicko)

Steven Rivkin, ACE (Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean I, II & III, Ali, My Cousin Vinny) Oscar® Nominated

John Refoua, ACE (Avatar, Balls of Fury, CSI Miami) Oscar® Nominated

Randy Roberts, ACE (Law & Order, SVU) Emmy® Nominated

Thelma Schoonmaker (The Departed, The Aviator, Raging Bull) Oscar® Winner

Jean Tsien (The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World, Shut Up & Sing)

Andrew Weisblum (Fantastic Mr. ox, The Wrestler)

Jeffrey Wolf, ACE (First Sunday, Billy Madison)

*Panelists are subject to change based on availability.

Ticket Information: $349 per person - $249 for students, members of partner organizations, Mewshop Six Week Alumni and EditFest previous attendees. Group rates available (call 212-414-9570 for details)

For more information and registration, please visit www.editfestny.com, WWW.MEWSHOP.COM and WWW.AMERICANCINEMAEDITORS.COM.

May 17, 2010

MITCHUM LAUNCHES :
MITCHUM’S HARDEST WORKING PERSON IN AMERICA CAMPAIGN ON MAY 17

Mitchum, the hardest working antiperspirant/deodorant, and Brett Ratner Brands (BRB), director Brett Ratner’s creative content company, announced the launch of Mitchum’s “Hardest Working Person in America” (HWPIA) campaign. The campaign, which kicks off today, will feature a contest designed to find, highlight and reward the hardest working man or woman in the country based on video submissions to the campaign’s site, mitchumhardestworking.com. The American public will vote on which person featured among the top ten finalists will be named, “The Hardest Working Person in America.” The announcement was made today by Alan T. Ennis, CEO of Revlon, Mitchum’s parent company and producer/director Brett Ratner, the creative force behind the campaign.

The HWPIA campaign is Mitchum’s first major campaign since 2005 and features TV, print and digital media, as well as social networking platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. The campaign was created to reward the American tradition of hard work, to capture the real-life work ethic of people across the country and to drive awareness to Mitchum products, the hardest working antiperspirant and deodorant on the market.

“From the rural factories to the city boardrooms, we felt strongly that the Mitchum campaign should celebrate the hard work, sweat and dedication of the men and women in our country and enable them to share their stories,” said Alan T. Ennis, President and CEO of Mitchum’s parent company, Revlon Inc. “The Hardest Working campaign is unique in that the values and qualities of our Mitchum products and brand align with the reality of the American work force. Americans work hard; so does Mitchum.”

Mitchum and Revlon enlisted Brett Ratner to develop the “Hardest Working” campaign, because of his proven aesthetic that combines creativity, connectivity and natural storytelling ability. Ratner connected Mitchum to award winning documentarians Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan, along with famed photographer Brigitte Lacombe to help bring the campaign to life.

“We felt strongly that Mitchum’s campaign should appreciate the everyday efforts of American workers - people just like you and me,” said Brett Ratner. “We are excited to work on this project for Mitchum and I knew from the start that at 82 years old, Albert Maysles is the perfect filmmaker to capture and convey the diverse work ethic of people across the country. One only has to glimpse at a sliver of Brigitte’s work to know that she will allow the spirit of ordinary men and women to shine brighter than any of the celebrities she has worked with during her successful career.”

The legendary Albert Maysles and co-filmmaker Bradley Kaplan have created four short films detailing the work of men and women across the country. The films, along with four short films created with BRB and CAA Marketing, were shot documentary style. All eight short films will be used during the campaign in television spots and can be found on mitchumhardestworking.com. This is the director’s first commercial venture.

“I was thrilled when Brett and Mitchum asked us to create some shorts for the Hardest Working campaign,” said Albert Maysles. “As filmmakers, we tried to portray the dedication, commitment and perseverance of a few very special folks, as a snapshot of what is seen across the country. To capture these people in their everyday lives - hard at work - documents a beautiful slice of Americana.”

The HWPIA campaign kicks off on May 17, and is seeking video submissions from people all across the country. The week of July 19 the top ten finalists, as chosen by BRB and Mitchum, will be presented on the Mitchum site. America will vote for the Hardest Working Person, with the winner chosen the week of August 15. The Hardest Working Person in America will be rewarded with $100,000 and will be the subject of a short film by Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan. During the campaign, Americans will also get to choose the “Audience Award,” the fan favorite for the most captivating video submission. The Audience Award winner will be announced on August 15 as well and will get a $5,000 prize and will be awarded a “golden” Mitchum trophy.

Men and women 18 and older can enter the contest via the site and will be directed to Mitchum’s YouTube page, where they can upload their video nomination. Mitchum’s digital contest enables nominees to campaign for themselves to garner the most votes by using social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as HWPIA’s custom online campaign tool kit. Upon entry each contestant will be given a campaign site with a unique URL (name.mithcumhardestworking.com). From there, contestants are given the ability to share that site via social media, custom web banners, and even create and purchase physical goods (such as shirts, mousepads, and mugs) encouraging the public to vote for them. In addition, contestants can populate their Mitchum site with supporting material from their social streams, like Twitter, Facebook, and flickr.

For submissions, official rules, and to follow Mitchum’s Hardest Working Person in merica contest, please go to the following sites: mitchumhardestworking.com; upload your video to YouTube at www.youtube.com/mitchum, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mitchum, or follow the campaign on Twitter at @MitchumTM (twitter.com/mitchumtm).

For a preview of the :60 trailer on Mitchum’s Hardest Working campaign, go to mitchumhardestworking.com.

May 10, 2010

ArtistsWanted.org and JPG Magazine invite you to submit to EXPOSURE, the annual international photography competition awarding your choice of one year free in a $1.2 million New York City apartment or $10,000 cash, plus many other awards. Photographers, this is your moment.

You are invited to participate in Artists Wanted's annual photography competition: EXPOSURE. Our goal is simple - to find amazing photographic talents and expose them to the world in the most potent way possible. Rewards and benefits will be given to all who participate.

One Grand Prize winner will be awarded a Manhattan gallery reception, international publicity and their choice of $10,000 cash or 1 year living rent free in a $1.2 million dollar apartment provided by The Edge in New York City.

Your Deadline is Monday, May 31st.
Send us your best work now at:
artistswanted.org

Our panel of judges including acclaimed photographer & filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, New York Times Photo Editor Maura Foley, MoMA Curator Nora Lawrence and JPG Magazine Founders Derek Powazek & Heather Powazek Champ, will choose one photographer for the Grand Prize:

$10,000 cash or 1-year FREE living at a $1.2 million apartment at The Edge in New York City
A Manhattan gallery reception
Airfare & shipping to and from New York City for the event
International publicity

The public will also cast their vote and the highest rated portfolio will receive the People's Choice Award:
$2,000 in cash
A Manhattan gallery reception
Airfare & shipping to and from New York City for the event

All participants will receive:
An online portfolio searchable by gallerists, press and commercial buyers; A free digital subscription to JPG Magazine; $100 in discounts and credits from Zipcar.com; and discounts and freebies from our generous sponsors.

This is your opportunity to capture the moment and share your talent with the world. Send us your most powerful photographs:
artistswanted.org

May 6, 2010

28th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards Nominees
Honoring Excellence in Dance on Stage & in Film
Announced at Elaine’s Restaurant, Monday May 3

Emmy award winning actor Richard Thomas currently starring in the hit play “Race” on Broadway announced the nominees for the 28th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards honoring excellence in dance and choreography on Stage and in Film at a by-invitation-only cocktail reception at famed celebrity watering hole Elaine’s.

Marysia and Joseph Botkier, Carolyn and Ron Buchter, Dhonna and Jesse Robert Goodale and Patricia Watt hosted the reception for the Nominees and Astaire Awards Gala Committee. Honorary Co-Chairs include Roberta Flack, Countess Luann de Lesseps and Bruce Michael: Benefit Co-Chairs include Robin Cofer, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster, Sara Johnson, Carolyn Kendall Buchter and Joe Lanteri.

The Nominating Committee for the 2010 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards was comprised of: Anna Kisselgoff, former Chief Dance Critic, New York Times; Wendy Perron, Editor in Chief of Dance Magazine, Sylviane Gold, freelance dance columnist for Dance Magazine, The New York Times, Newsday and Damian Woetzel, former lead dancer of the New York City Ballet, Artistic Director of The Vail Institute.

The 28th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards presentation will take place at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, New York on June 7, 2010. The Awards are presented by Ava Astaire in tribute to her father & aunt and by producer Patricia Watt and The Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing Arts. Legendary director & choreographer Kenny Ortega has already been announced to receive the prestigious Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards gala is directed by Tony & Drama Desk nominated Lee Roy Reams.

Patricia Watt is producer. Associate producer is Bronwen Carson. The evening benefits Career Transition for Dancers. Sponsors are FXDD and Capezio.

For tickets go to Theatermania.com or visit www.TheFredandAdeleAstaireAwards.com. For further information, contact Patricia Watt, Executive Producer, 212-595-0925 and Patricia_Watt@msn.com

2010 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards Nominees

Stage Categories

Choreographers

Bill T. Jones - Fela
Twyla Tharp - Come Fly Away
Sergio Trujillo - Memphis
Marcia Milgrom Dodge - Ragtime
Steven Hoggett - American Idiot

Male Dancers

Charlie Neshyba-Hodges - Come Fly Away
Keith Roberts - Come Fly Away
John Selya - Come Fly Away
Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Burn the Floor

Male Ensemble - Memphis (Brad Bass, Kevin Covert, Bryan Fenkart, Rhett George, John Jellison, John Eric Parker, Jermaine R. Rembert, Ephraim Sykes, Cary Tedder, Daniel J Watts, Charlie Williams, James Brown III, Tyron Jackson).

Female Dancers

Karine Plantadit - Come Fly Away
Laura Mead - Come Fly Away
Holley Farmer - Come Fly Away
Savannah Wise - Ragtime
Nicole Chantal de Weever - Fela

Female Ensemble – Fela (Hettie Vyrine Barnhill, Lauren de Veaux, Elasea Douglas, Rujeko Dumbutshena, Catherine Foster, Shaneeka Harrrell, Chanon Judson, Shakira Marshall, Afi McClendon, Jill Vallery, Iris Wilson, Aimee Graham Wodobode)

Film Categories

Choreographer (Fictional Film):

Marguerite Derricks - Fame
Rob Marshal and John Deluca - Nine
Lula Washington - Avatar

Director (Documentary Dance Film):

Kenny Ortega - This is It
Frederick Wiseman - La Danse, Le Ballet de l'Opera de Paris
Ruedi Gerber - Breath Made Visible
Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern - Every Little Step

April 30, 2010

From Susan Norget:

AMERICA'S LEADING FILMMAKERS CALL FOR RELEASE OF IMPRISONED IRANIAN DIRECTOR JAFAR PANAHI

Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Francis Ford Coppola, Terrence Malick, Steven Soderbergh, the Coen Bros., Jim Jarmusch, Michael Moore, Ang Lee, Robert De Niro, and Oliver Stone, among other leading film industry figures, have condemned the detention of Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed director of The White Balloon and Offside, and are urging the Iranian government to release him.

Jafar Panahi, an internationally acclaimed Iranian director of such award-winning films as The White Balloon, The Circle, Crimson Gold and Offside, was arrested at his home on March 1st and has been held since in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. A number of filmmaking luminaries have come to Mr. Panahi's defense and "condemn his detention and strongly urge the Iranian government to release Mr. Panahi immediately," according to a new petition. (Petition text and full list of signatories is available below.)

Islamic Republic officials initially charged Mr. Panahi with “unspecified crimes.” They have since reversed themselves, and the charges now allege that he was making a film against the regime, a very serious accusation in Iran.

Mr. Panahi’s films have been banned from screening in Iran for the past ten years and he has been kept from working for the past four years, but he continues to stay in Iran.

"Mr. Panahi deeply loves his country," says Jamsheed Akrami, an Iranian-American film scholar and filmmaker, who helped organize the petition. "Even though he knows he could have opportunities to work freely outside of his homeland, he has repeatedly refused to leave. He would never do anything against the national interests of his country and his people."

Mr. Panahi is one of the most heralded directors in the world. He has won such top prizes as the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Offside (2006), the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Crimson Gold (2003), the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for The Circle (2000), the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for The Mirror (1997) and the Cannes Camera d'Or for The White Balloon (1995).

For further information please contact: Susan Norget, susan@norget.com

PETITION: Free Jafar Panahi

Jafar Panahi, the internationally acclaimed Iranian director of such award-winning films as The White Balloon, The Circle, Crimson Gold and Offside, was arrested at his home on March 1st in a raid by plain-clothed security forces. He has been held since then in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

A recent letter from Mr. Panahi’s wife expressed her deep concerns about her husband's heart condition, and about his having been moved to a smaller cell. Mr. Panahi’s films have been banned from screening in Iran for the past ten years and he has effectively been kept from working for the past four years. Last October, his passport was confiscated and he was banned from leaving the country. Upon his arrest, Islamic Republic officials initially charged Mr. Panahi with “unspecified crimes.” They have since reversed themselves, and the charges are now specifically related to his work as a filmmaker.

We (the undersigned) stand in solidarity with a fellow filmmaker, condemn this detention, and strongly urge the Iranian government to release Mr. Panahi immediately.

Iran’s contributions to international cinema have been rightfully heralded, and encouraged those of us outside the country to respect and cherish its people and their stories. Like artists everywhere, Iran’s filmmakers should be celebrated, not censored, repressed, and imprisoned.

Signed:

Paul Thomas Anderson
Joel & Ethan Coen
Francis Ford Coppola
Jonathan Demme
Robert De Niro
Curtis Hanson
Jim Jarmusch
Ang Lee
Richard Linklater
Terrence Malick
Michael Moore
Robert Redford
Martin Scorsese
James Schamus
Paul Schrader
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Spielberg
Oliver Stone
Frederick Wiseman

Petition Organizing Committee: Jamsheed Akrami, Godfrey Cheshire, Jem Cohen, Kent Jones, Anthony Kaufman

April 23, 2010

ROBERT F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR JUSTICE
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
LAUNCHES 4TH ANNUAL ON-LINE SPRING AUCTION
charitybuzz.com/rfk

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ annual spring auction launched last week and is already drawing international attention because of its one-of-a-kind items and its renowned human rights work. An A-list of a diverse collection of athletes, politicians, celebrities and corporations has again joined together in nonpartisan fashion to support the important work of the RFK Center. Visitors to the online site (charitybuzz.com/rfk) have been coming from every continent to view the auction items which range from an internship at the Huffington Post to lunch with Martin Sheen to VIP tickets to Elton John’s Oscar party.

For the past 42 years, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights has actively assisted human rights advocates and supported investigative journalists and authors that bring injustice to light. The RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power series educates the public with a toolkit to create change in the classroom and the community – both at home and abroad. Partnering with RFK Europe, the RFK Center provides human rights education advocacy programs to schools and communities around the world. With RFK Children's Action Corps, the organization urges legislative reform of juvenile justice systems.

Among the Center’s projects are:
• the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake focusing on accountability and the Center’s concrete recommendations calling on donor states to take a rights-based approach to rebuilding Haiti ;
• the Gulf Coast recovery program and the Center’s work on victims’ rights to return home and accountability; and
• defending the farm workers’ rights bill to achieve real-world results that will improve the lives of farm workers.

“By bidding on these incredible experiences, people will be supporting cutting-edge human rights defenders from around the world, including those fighting for the right to water and reconstruction in Haiti, the victims who still suffer after Katrina, farmers’ rights in the U.S and much more,” said Kerry Kennedy, founder of the RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power.

The Center’s 2009 spring auction raised a record amount for vital human rights work. The auction is open for bidding through April 28th, with new items added daily.

April 21, 2010

Keith Banks, Diana Taylor, Mayor Bloomberg and Oscar DeLarenta

From Partnership With Children: Over 350 friends and supporters of Partnership with Children gathered at the Pierre Hotel on April 6th for its annual spring celebration. The organization honored Keith Banks, President, U.S. Trust and Co-Head, Private Wealth Management, Bank of America, and Diana Taylor, Managing Director at Wolfensohn & Co., with the Anne Vanderbilt Award for Achievement for their commitment to Partnership with Children’s mission.

“Keith is a key figure in the financial industry and a strong supporter of education and children’s health. Beyond her many accomplishments in the business world, Diana Taylor is an exceptional leader in her philanthropic work for under-served communities. I am delighted to present both with the Anne Vanderbilt Award for Achievement,” said Michelle Sidrane, Executive Director of Partnership with Children.

The Anne Vanderbilt Award for Achievement is named after the founder and first president of Big Sisters, Inc., which was founded in 1908 and is now known as Partnership with Children (www.partnershipwithchildrennyc.org) – a nonprofit
organization dedicated to strengthening the emotional, social and cognitive skills of at-risk public school children in order to help them succeed in school, in society and in their lives. Its school-based Open Heart-Open Mind program, founded in 1992, grew from the recognition that, in addition to focusing on individual and small groups of students, the entire school community must be involved in supporting a child's social and emotional growth. What began as an individual program in one struggling Lower East Side school, Open Heart-Open Mind now reaches 10,000 students in 22 elementary, middle and high schools across New York City.

March 29, 2010

From MTV:

MTV’S HIDDEN-CAMERA COMEDY “DISASTER DATE” RETURNS TO WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS BEGINNING MARCH 29TH FOLLOWED BY ALL NEW EPISODES OF “TEEN CRIBS”

Second Season of “Disaster Date” Will Air at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT Followed by All-New Episodes of “Teen Cribs” at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT

New York, NY (March 26, 2010) – MTV gives folks who have been set up on horrific blind dates a second chance for retribution when “Disaster Date” returns Monday, March 29th at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT followed by a brand-new cycle of “Teen Cribs” at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.

MTV’s half-hour hidden-camera comedy series “Disaster Date” gives revenge-seekers a chance to send their unsuspecting single friends on a blind date, but what their friends don’t know is that they are really being set up with an over-the-top actor who will bring their dating nightmares to life. As the revenge-seeking friends watch the entire date from the control room, they direct the actors by feeding them personal information about the dater that is guaranteed to create a disaster. Each date lasts 60 minutes and for every minute the friend lasts, they earn one dollar. The series features a new cast of talented young improvisational actors that cycle through the series playing different characters no one would want to date, from an “Online Stalker” to “Captain Klutz.” Some daters last the entire date, but others will flee screaming before the clock runs out. To preview clips of “Disaster Date” please visit: http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/496944/disaster-date-season-2-trailer.jhtml#id=1634695

This season on “Teen Cribs,” eco-friendly living will become one of the hottest trends as teens give MTV cameras a glimpse at how they blend futuristic living with protecting the future of the environment. All-new episodes will take fans inside some of the most avant-garde industrial designs from cascading waterfalls to glass bridges. Additionally, viewers will get to meet the parents who helped make these dream homes come true.

“Disaster Date” is executive produced by SallyAnn Salsano, Joel Zimmer and Pam LaLima. James Bianco is head of production, Brad Kreisberg serves as director and Amy Griggs is executive in charge of production. Heather Olander serves as executive in charge of production for MTV and Jennifer Russakoff serves as production executive for MTV.

Dave Sirulnick and Marshall Eisen serve as Executive Producers of “Teen Cribs”and Jonathan Mussman is the Executive in Charge for MTV. Cionin Lorenzo is Supervising Producer for “Teen Cribs.”

March 5, 2010

From 42 West:

sxsw.com

We are writing to let you know about the 2nd annual partnership between one of the leading independent and innovative film distributors and one of America's most vibrant and exciting film festivals. Next week, IFC Films and Austin's South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival are partnering on the 2nd annual nationwide on-demand film festival experience, once again giving film lovers coast-to-coast the opportunity to experience a major film festival as it happens right from their own living room. As part of this initiative, a select group of three exceptional films screening at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival will simultaneously be available in 40 million homes - and virtually all major U.S. markets - nationwide via cable’s movie on demand platform. Following last year’s partnership, which as the first ever virtual film festival of its kind helped bring Joe Swanberg’s ALEXANDER THE LAST significant national attention, this year’s program offers simultaneous festival and on demand premieres of three new films:

Premiering at SXSW on Monday, March 15th is Austin-based Bryan Poyser’s acclaimed LOVERS OF HATE. A savage comedy about deceit and sibling rivalry, LOVERS OF HATE centers on two estranged brothers, Rudy (THE CASSIDY KIDS’ Chris Doubek) and Paul (BEESWAX’s Alex Karpovsky), who have nothing in common but their love for the same woman, Rudy’s soon-to-be ex-wife Diana (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE’s Heather Kafka). When opportunistic Paul whisks Diana away to a romantic mountain retreat, he has no idea that Rudy has made it there first, and from the shadows of the posh chalet, Rudy tries desperately to sabotage the relationship. LOVERS OF HATE, which had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and played there in competition, is produced by Megan Gilbride (THE CASSIDY KIDS) and executive produced by Athina Rachel Tsangari (DOGTOOTH), and Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass (THE PUFFY CHAIR, CYRUS). LOVERS OF HATE is the 2nd feature directed by Bryan Poyser to be showcased at SXSW. His first, DEAR PILLOW, earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 2005.

Making its North American premiere at SXSW on Tuesday, March 16 is the comedy LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE from acclaimed British director Shane Meadows (THIS IS ENGLAND). In the spirit of SPINAL TAP and A MIGHTY WIND, the film is a highly improvised comedy about rock roadie and failed musician Le Donk (IN AMERICA’s Paddy Considine). Le Donk is a bit of a loser; he’s recently lost his girlfriend (Olivia Colman), his career is dead-in-the-water, and his life has completely gone down the tubes. So he tries to turn his life around by making rap prodigy Scor-zay-zee (real life Nottingham-based rapper also known as Dean Palinczuk) a star, with a little help from the rock band the Arctic Monkeys. Meadows' film, which follows the duo on a hilarious journey to improbable rock stardom, is an unpredictable, irrepressible ode to spontaneous filmmaking. Made in five days, LE DONK is the first in what Meadows hopes will be a wave of five-day features designed to encourage first-time filmmakers.

Having its US premiere on Friday March 12 is Emmett Malloy’s THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS, a visually and emotionally powerful feature length concert film documenting The White Stripes groundbreaking 2007 tour of Canada which culminated in a spectacular 10th anniversary show at the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. An intimate look at an enigmatic band, THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS documents a wide array of shows played at off-kilter venues including local bowling alleys and city buses. Along the way, the cameras capture the life of one of music's most mysterious duos, Jack and Meg White, as they share casual conversations, fire cannons, and play a 'one note show.' The limited edition box set, DVD and soundtrack for the film will be released on March 16th, and are available for pre-order at www.whitestripes.com

Beginning simultaneously with the start of SXSW, the films featured in the “Direct From SXSW” partnership will be available on the movies-on-demand page of most major cable systems for 30 days, including Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner and Bright House, and will be available in approximately 40 million homes.

From Sidney Falco of Falcoink.com:

ALICIA SILVERSTONE REUNITES WITH AMY HECKERLING FOR “VAMPS”

February 11th, 2010: After the worldwide success of the comedy “Clueless,” Alicia Silverstone is set to reunite with writer/director Amy Heckerling to star in the new feature film VAMPS. Written and to be directed by Heckerling, VAMPS tells the modern day tale of two young beautiful female vampires living the good nightlife in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality.

Silverstone, who plays one of the female vampires, most recently appeared in MGM’s action adventure “Stormbreaker” opposite Ewan McGregor and Mickey Rourke. Other credits include “Scooby Doo,” “Beauty Shop,” “Blast from the Past,” “Batman and Robin” and the award winning TV series “Miss Match,” for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She is currently starring on Broadway opposite Laura Linney in the critically acclaimed Donald Margulies play Time Stands Still.

Silverstone joins Krysten Ritter already on board as the other lead vampire. VAMPS marks Ritter's first starring role in a feature, and comes on the heels of her casting as the series lead of the Starz Network dark-comedy "Gravity," currently in production in New York. Ritter was most recently seen in “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” AMC's award-winning series "Breaking Bad" and “27 Dresses.” Up next, she stars in the Dreamworks’ comedy “She’s Out of My League” and is currently wrapping production on the U2 biopic "Killing Bono" playing the lead opposite Ben Barnes.

Set to start production in April 2010, VAMPS is produced by Red Hour Films (“Tropic Thunder,” “Blades of Glory,” “Dodgeball”), Lucky Monkey Pictures partners Lauren Versel and Maria Teresa Arida (2009 Tribeca Audience Award winner “City Island” set for release through Overture in March 2010) and Molly Hassell (Sundance Award Winning “Big River Man”).

Heckerling shot to fame directing “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” for Universal followed by the box office hits “Look Who’s Talking,” “Look Who’s Talking Too” and “Clueless.”

This is just in from Art for Healing:

Were you here on 9/11/01 and after?
We need your story if you were here on that day expressing your
feelings of the climate living and working in NYC area up to now.
For our record book about 9/11
Also see our support listing on Times Square Chronicle
www.T2Conline.com page 11
Deadline: January 31, 2010
It is very healing to express ones deep feelings of that time and now through photography art and writing.

Please send your one page story/poems/art/photographs.
We are looking for a record of your feelings then and now, expressed in up to one page of story, poetry, art or photography. Children’s work welcome.

We felt a great connection with other New Yorkers at that time. Let’s feel connected once again by expressing and sharing our thoughts and feelings.

Your expression need not be dramatic, just a sincere expression of the effect 9/11 had on you and your every day life.
The book is about our local people’s story.
All writings and art, amateur and professional, must have been created by NYC metropolitans including all commuters from Long Island, Westchester, Conn. N.J.

“Inspiration isn’t the domain of only writers and artists. It exists in the notebooks and diaries, letters and postcards of ordinary people.”
Joe Franklin, TV host and writer’s book “A gift for People”.

It is very healing to express ones deep feelings of that time and now through art and writing.
We are donating books to the NY Public Libraries.
Sponsored by
Art for Healing NYC Foundation
A tax exempt 501(c) (3) not for profit organization
2350 Broadway Suite 1140 New York, N.Y. 10024
(212) 977-1165 (212) 946-1160
Director and Artist: Loren Ellis, M.F.A.

For more information visit:
www.ArtforHealingNYC.org
“The Days … After 9/11/01 in NYC” (working title of book)
How to submit your information.
Please email all submissions to: PoetryandProseNYC@yahoo.com
Or mail to: 2350 Broadway Suite 1140 New York, N.Y. 10024

1. Deadline for your submission is January 31st, 2010
2. Up to one page with date of creation. Please include your name, email
and/or web site credit with the text if you want to be credited in the book.
Art work submitted should be via above email jpeg (color or black & white). All artists and writers will have their web site included if desired.
3. We also need children’s poems/prose/art, with parental release please.
4. Lyricists are welcome to submit music scores under the prose category!
5. Photographs and art 4”x6” 200- 300 dpi title medium

This project is made possible by the Manhattan Community Arts Fund/New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, private and corporate donations, and Art for Healing NYC Foundation.

Thank you for your submissions and donations.
Please call to volunteer!
Visit our web site to see a few of our previous readings.
www.ArtforHealingNYC.org

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE -- DUE FEBRUARY 14
14th Annual Festival Runs August 13 - 29, 2010

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the largest
multi-arts festival in North America, will present the 14th Annual Festival from August 13th - 29th, 2010. Each year the festival presents programming by nearly 200 of the world's best emerging theatre troupes and dance companies. General FringeNYC applications are being accepted for participants in all genres (theatre, dance, puppetry, performance art, multi-media, etc.), and separate FringeAL
FRESCO (free outdoor events) and FringeJR (children's programming)
applications are also available. Applications are now available online
at www.fringenyc.org and completed applications are due February 14,
2010.

NOTE: All applications must be postmarked on or before February 13,
2010 or hand delivered before 6pm on February 14th, 2010. Applications
must be accompanied by a non-refundable $40 application fee, in the
form of a certified check, cashiers check, or money order in US
Dollars payable to The Present Company.

In November 2007, FringeNYC was honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg
with the Mayor's Award for Arts & Culture “for its phenomenal
leadership in showcasing the best and boldest theater and performance
by both established and emerging artists. The New York International
Fringe Festival is renowned for presenting work that reflects the
excitement and energy of the contemporary theater world - locally,
nationally and abroad.” Previous recipients of the award include
Woody Allen, Celia Cruz, Stephen Sondheim, Wynton Marsalis, The
Tribeca Film Festival, Mark Morris, The Public Theater, Chita Rivera,
and Edward Albee.

In 2010, many of New York City's most prominent downtown performance
venues will host productions from around the globe as part of
FringeNYC. Past participant venues, ranging in size from 50 to 700
seats, include Lucille Lortel Theater, Soho Playhouse, Players
Theater, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, Cherry Lane Theatre,
Actors Playhouse, Barrow Street Theater, Minetta Lane Theater, P.S.
122, and The Village Theater. FringeNYC is a production of The Present
Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Elena K.
Holy.

In 1997, New York City became the seventh US city to host a fringe
festival, joining Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Houston,
Orlando and San Francisco. In its first 13 years FringeNYC has
presented over 2100 performing groups from the U.K., Canada, Poland,
Ireland, Japan, China, Singapore, Germany, the Czech Republic and
across the U.S., prompting Switzerland's national daily, The New
Zurich Zeitung, to declare FringeNYC as “the premiere meeting ground
for alternative artists.” The festival has also been the launching pad
for numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running
downtown hits, and regional theater productions including Urinetown,
Never Swim Alone, Debbie Does Dallas, Dog Sees God, 21 Dog Years, Joys
of Sex, Krapp 39, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Silence! The Musical, and
Matt & Ben as well as movies (WTC View) and even a TV show (‘da Kink
in My Hair).

"The Hurt Locker," the intense war drama about explosives experts in
Iraq, took top honors in the 13th annual Online Film Critics Society
Awards, winning Best Picture against fellow nominees "Inglourious
Basterds," "A Serious Man," "Up," and "Up in the Air."

The film also won in the categories of Best Director (Kathryn
Bigelow), Best Actor (Jeremy Renner), and Best Editing (Chris Innis
and Bob Murawski).

Another film matched "The Hurt Locker's" four awards: "Inglourious
Basterds," with nods for Best Actress (Melanie Laurent), Best
Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz), Best Original Screenplay (Quentin
Tarantino), and Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson).

"Anvil!: The Story of Anvil" was named Best Documentary, with "Up" as
Best Animated Feature and "The White Ribbon" as Best Picture Not in
the English Language.

The complete winners of the 2009 OFCS Awards are as follows:

Best Picture: "The Hurt Locker"
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Best Actress: Melanie Laurent, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, "Fantastic
Mr. Fox," based on a book by Roald Dahl
Best Documentary: "Anvil!: The Story of Anvil"
Best Picture Not in the English Language: "The White Ribbon"
Best Animated Feature: "Up"
Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Score: Michael Giacchino, "Up"
Best Editing: Chris Innis and Bob Murawski, "The Hurt Locker"

A complete list of the nominees can be found here:

Founded in 1997, the Online Film Critics Society is the oldest
organization of Internet-based film journalists, and has been at the
forefront in establishing and maintaining the standards of online film
criticism. The group's 145 members, spread across a dozen countries,
write about every aspect of cinema, from today's major releases to the
smaller films of yesteryear. For more information, visit http://www.ofcs.org
and http://ofcsnews.blogspot.com. The OFCS is led by a three-member
Governing Committee, which can be contacted at gc@ofcs.org.

SUMMIT ENTERTAIMENT TO RELEASE THE HURT LOCKER ON DVD and BLU-RAY on JANUARY 12, 2010

Summit Entertainment is proud to announce the January 12, 2010 DVD release of The Hurt Locker, an intense war film filled with non-stop, groundbreaking realistic action. Come this January The Hurt Locker will be ideally placed to take advantage of the years best selling month for action films and will continue to thrive into awards season as a leading contender for a number of Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Director Kathryn Bigelow created this gripping film starring Jeremy Renner (Dahmer, The Assassination of Jesse James), Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson, We Are Marshall) and Brian Geraghty (We Are Marshall, Jarhead), with cameo appearances by Ralph Fiennes (The Reader), David Morse (“John Adams”), Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”) and Guy Pearce (Memento). The Hurt Locker is produced by Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Greg Shapiro and Nicolas Chartier. The screenplay is written by Mark Boal (In the Valley of Elah, story).

The Hurt Locker is an "adrenaline soaked tour-de force of suspense and surprise", (New York Times) that "redefines war film electricity" (Baltimore Sun) and transports audiences to the dizzying 24/hour turmoil of an elite bomb squad struggling to survive Baghdad's urban combat zone. A powerful, nerve-shredding, and "spellbinding film" (Chicago Sun Times), The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce in "an instant classic" (Wall Street Journal) "that takes on the dimensions of a mediation on war and human nature." Audiences and critics across the nation are praising this epic as one of the most remarkable war movies ever made. The Hurt Locker is "about Iraq in the way that Full Metal Jacket is about Vietnam, and Paths of Glory is about World War II. It is a great movie, period." (Washington Post).

2nd Annual Broadway in South Africa Holiday Party
MONDAY DECEMBER 14, 2009 7-11 PM
Broadway's Minskoff Theatre

Malan Breton to Chair Broadway In South Africa Holiday Party Held 12/14 At Minskoff Theatre Featuring performances by cast members from: Wicked, The Lion King, In The Heights, Hair, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, and more!

With special guest NIKKI BLONSKY (Tracy Turnblad in "Hairspray: The Movie")
Live Auction Hosted By Seth Rudetsky
Event Chair: Malan Breton

$30 includes open bar, hors d'oeuvres, dessert ($40 at the door)

$75 VIP includes, passed truffles and champagne, premium open bar, seasonal cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dessert, access to special VIP area, and gift bags.

$250 includes sponsorship for one child to attend the Broadway in South Africa workshops in South Africa. Your donation includes an ornament on the Broadway in South Africa Christmas Tree and all perks of the VIP level)

Tickets go on Sale TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10 at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/89611

For more information please click here
Or visit www.broadwayinsouthafrica.org

Broadway's Minskoff Theatre | 1515 Broadway

November 13, 2009

From Sidney Falco of Falco Ink Publicity:

Robin Baker Leacock's
A Passion For Giving
On PBS This Fall
November 21st on WNET (PBS) at 1:00pm ET

Documentary features Run DMCs Darryl McDaniels (The Felix Organization), Alexandre De Lesseps (BlueOrchid), Gael Greene (City Meals on Wheels), John Sykes (VH-1’s Save the Music), Richard Branson, Russell Simmons, Dan Aykroyd, Fran Lebowitz, Mr. Smiley and more!

"I think that's the biggest shift any person can make.
That is the coolest thing that you can do, the most fun thing that you can do, the most sexy thing that you can do - right now or ever is to help people!"
-writer / director Robin Baker Leacock

Robin Baker Leacock’s wonderfully uplifting documentary A Passion For Giving is about the simple gesture of giving, and its importance on our world locally and globally.

Baker Leacock explores the people’s passion for giving through revealing interviews and candid conversations with a diverse group of people, including ichard Branson, Ross Bleckner and Bob Collacello co-founders of ACRIA, Gael Greene founder of City Meals on Wheels, Louise Stephaich for Albert Schweitzer Hopital in Haiti, Alexandre De Lesseps founder of BlueOrchid orphanage in Burma. Run DMC’s Darryl McDaniels founder of The Felix Organization, Henry Buhl founder of Soho + Tribeca Partnership, Missy Hargraves for Wildlife Rescue, And John Sykes on behalf of VH1’s Save the Music among others.

A Passion for Giving is produced and directed by Baker Leacock and filmed by Emmy-award winning director/cinematographer Robert Leacock, son of legendary cinéma vérité pioneer Richard Leacock, whose credits include Madonna’s Truth or Dare and Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard.An established filmmaker, Robin Baker Leacock’s credits include It Girls for WE: Women’s Entertainment Network; I’ll Take Manhattan, which was screened as an official selection at the Montreal World Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Hamptons International Film Festival; and a series of summer documentaries for Plum TV in the Hamptons.

For more information on the film, please visit:
passiongiving.com/

Check out the new clip with DMC:
youtube.com/watch?v=-lasr_FBbbk

A Passion For Giving is airing November 21st on WNET (PBS) at 1:00pm ET
For additional air dates, please visit: www.passiongiving.com

October 28, 2009

From the Brooklyn Museum:

Image: Henry Diltz (American, b. 1938). Tina Turner
Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles, October 1985
Print from 35 mm transparency. © Henry Diltz

Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present
October 30, 2009, through January 31, 2010
Brooklyn Museum

Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present features more than 175 works by 105 photographers, including many rare and never-before-exhibited photographs, that gave the music its visual identity. The exhibition will be open to the public October 30, 2009, through January 31, 2010.

Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present is organized by the Brooklyn Museum with guest curator Gail Buckland.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated book by Gail Buckland titled Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present, published by Alfred A. Knopf, with support from the Universal Music Group.

The exhibition is sponsored by TD Bank. Generous support is provided by the Barbara and Richard Debs Exhibition Fund, the Arline and Norman M. Feinberg Exhibition Fund, and the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Exhibition Fund. Additional support provided by Matthew Marks Gallery. The New York Observer is print media sponsor. New York's Q104.3 is radio media sponsor. MySpace Music is online media sponsor.

October 10, 2009

NEW INTERVIEW PROJECT BLOG TO BE LAUNCHED OCTOBER 20, 2009 ON BLOG.INTERVIEWPROJECT.DAVIDLYNCH.COM

(Los Angeles, CA – October 14, 2009) INTERVIEW PROJECT, a 121 part documentary series, presented by legendary filmmaker David Lynch, is going to launch a new community blog to supplement the series on October 20, 2009. The new Interview Project blog will incorporate and support top social networking sites, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, allowing fans of Interview Project to become members and upload and share their own original content.

The Interview Project blog will be launched the same day one of their most exciting episodes goes live: Clinton from Fayetteville, WV. As fans visit the site to begin adding their own content in the spirit of Interview Project, they will have the opportunity to see one of the most interesting subjects in the series for the first time ever.

Lynch dispatched a team of filmmakers on an extensive road trip across the U.S. to capture a portrait of every day Americans. The team met people from all walks of life and filmed the ups and downs of the human experience through brief, but meaningful interviews. The personal stories revealed by the interview s