Saturday, September 27-----As newspapers drop local film critics and rely on syndicated national opionionmakers, what is the role of the film critic in today's go-go film culture? Can film critics help a more specialized film find its audience? Is the existence of film critics online and the notion that anyone with a blog receives instant critical entitlement dilute the discerning talents of the critical establishment?   These and other issues will be examined at the first of...

During the IFFR 2007 Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 2, 2007 in Concert and Congress Centre ‘de Doelen’ in Rotterdam, the winning films of the 36th International Film Festival Rotterdam were announced. The three VPRO Tiger Awards were granted to the Hubert Bals Fund supported Love Conquers All by Tan Chui Mui (Malaysia), The Unpolished (Die Unerzogenen) by Pia Marais (Germany) and, ex aequo, to Bog of Beasts (Baixio das bestas) by Claudio Assis (Brazil) and AFR by Morten Hartz Kaplers (D...

A series of key changes highlight the development of the Dubai International Film Festival. The festival’s credo of bridging cultures and meeting minds will be particularly prevalent during its December 10-17 run this year when it will be taking further serious steps to tackle controversial issues while facilitating and stimulating intelligent dialogue. One step toward this goal is the introduction of the Sheikh Zayed Award, a lifetime achievement award to be given to a member of the film in...