Sunday, February 10---------The Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival is recognized as the "cutting edge" program at the Berlinale, with films that embrace politics, sexuality and social upheaval. Longtime Panorama chief Wieland Speck has been a consistent curator at the Berlinale over the past 20 years, bringing his own sensibilities to the programming of what is, for me, the Festival's most consistent and uplifiting film showcase. To start things off this past weekend, the P...

 Saturday, September 15---------There are very few words in our contemporary culture that are as charged as the word "jihad". It has been used as a kind of talisman for conjuring up the fears of Western society for the resurgence of political, economic and ideological influence of the Muslim world. Indian-born Muslim director Parvez Sharma uses the word in the title of his debut documentary film in its more literal Arabic meaning. Rather than simply being equated with "holy war...

There are very few words in our contemporary culture that are as charged as the word "jihad". It has been used as a kind of talisman for conjuring up the fears of Western society for the resurgence of political, economic and ideological influence of the Muslim world. Indian-born Muslim director Parvez Sharma uses the word in the title of his debut documentary film in its more literal Arabic meaning. Rather than simply being equated with "holy war", Sharma unfolds a story of its literal meaning.....

Tuesday, January 16-----As one of the world’s most cutting-edge film festivals, Sundance has been a welcoming environment for gay and lesbian filmmakers and their unique perspectives. Whether immersed in gay subject matter, or adding a particular gay spin to a genre film (hard to describe, but you know it when you see it), there is a definite gay edge at Sundance, evidenced by films with GLBT interest (that’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender for you sexual innocents) and a slew of in...