Organizers of the Phuket Film Festival shut down the Festival just two weeks from its June 4 - 11 run date. We reproduce below the sad message from the festival organizers "We sincerely apologize to our partners, our participating film makers and those on Phuket who were helping to make this international event happen," said Scott Rosenberg festival organizer. "But with creation of an armed state on Phuket for protection of the ASEAN meeting which will take place days afte...

Organizers of the Phuket Film Festival shut down the Festival just two weeks from its June 4 – 11 run date.We reproduce below the sad message from the festival organizers"We sincerely apologize to our partners, our participating film makers and those on Phuket who were helping to make this international event happen," said Scott Rosenberg festival organizer. "But with creation of an armed state on Phuket for protection of the ASEAN meeting which will take place days after the Festival is to en...

BUDAPEST – The Titanic International Film Festival, Hungary’s second biggest annual film event, reached its far-off destination for the 15th time this year between 3-13 April, 2008. Despite the ominous name of the festival, maritime conditions were superb and the festival turned out to be a huge success.The festival has gone through several changes since last year and organizers made an effort to make it even bigger and better than before. A brand new website was created for the filmfest wit...

SZABO FLAP FLUSTERS FIRST-NIGHTERS IN BUDAPEST AT MAGYAR FILMSZEMLE February 6, 2006 The opening night of the Hungarian film week at the Budapest Congress Centre turned out to be more of a political than a cinematic event. "Rokonok" (Relatives), the eagerly awaited new film by Hungary's leading filmmaker, Istvan Szabo -- his first Hungarian language film since 1992 -- was scheduled to open the festivities, but just a few days prior to the opening an article appeared in a prestigious literary mag...

Directors John Landis, Lina Wertmuller, double-Oscar winner Paul Haggis and Christian De Sica, and the extraordinary actress Naomi Watts ("21 Grams" and the film "King Kong") were among the featured cinema leaders at the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest, produced by Pascal Vicedomini and held at the Regina Isabella on the island of Ischia July 11-16. Wertmuller, Landis and Haggis were honored by the Ischia International Academy of Art (President Giancarlo Carriero). They joined at the Kimbo Cine...

And the winner was -- (don't hold your breath, just your noses) -- TAXIDERMIA! -- And not just the Grand Prize, named as "Best" Film from a field of 24 features by a jury including foreigners for the very first time -- but four other prizes, to wit: two best supporting roles, both male and female, best "visual design", and ex-aequo with "White Palm", the foreign critics Gene Moskovitz award.The best director award went, deservedly, to young Hajdu Szabolcs for "White Palm", best actor to Sándor...

Panels, Readings, & Special Events with Industry Insiders at The 13th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival: October 19-23, 2005The Hamptons International Film Festival (October 19-23)offers a number of interactive events including Festival Panels at the Southampton Inn, Bookhampton Talks sponsored by Time Warner Books, the Cinematography Master Class with Declan Quinn, a Daily Town Hall at the Festival Lounge, the Industry Mentor Forum and Conversations with our Rising Star mentors Alec B...

The Donostia-San Sebastian film festival on the incredibly picturesque North Spanish coast, ("NAZIOARTEKO ZINEMALDIA" in the exotic Basque language of the region), has opened heavily "front loaded" as the saying goes these days, which means that many of the big guns, films with high prize potential, have already been fired off in the first few days. The festival opener was, appropriately, "Obaba", one of the most eagerly awaited Spanish films of the year based on a Basque language best seller b...

53RD SAN SEBASTIAN FILM FESTIVAL OPENS WITH SEVERAL BANGSby Alex Deleon, San SebastianThe Donostia-San Sebastian film festival on the incredibly picturesque North Spanish coast, ("NAZIOARTEKO ZINEMALDIA" in the exotic Basque language of the region), has opened heavily "front loaded" as the saying goes these days, which means that many of the big guns, films with high prize potential, have already been fired off in the first few days. The festival opener was, appropriately, "Obaba", one of the m...

Santa Barbara -- Meni's latest CGI short “Terra” screened here the opening weekend of The Santa Barbara International Film Festival's short film program. This, the 19th year of this Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences accredited festival, featured the most talked about writers and directors of the year along with an eclectic international film program. Director Aristomenis (Meni) Tsirbas joined over 80 filmmakers who presented their work in this scenic retreat just 90 miles north of ...