The news broke yesterday, legendary writer and director, Frank Pierson passed away. He was 87 years old. Sometimes I'm glad to be some kind of a "hoarder". I have religiously kept the interview I made of him in 1996. We spent nearly 2 hours chatting over lunch next to his office. In these days, I was fresh off the university, and it was a big deal that he so kindly accepted to be interviewed by a swooning rookie with a thick French accent.  As a side note, he was ...

Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times and supported by L.A. LIVE, announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2011 Festival at the Awards Brunch, sponsored and hosted by CHAYA Downtown for the second year, and sponsored by Dove® Hair Care. Allison Janney and John C. Reilly were on hand to present the awards. The Los Angeles Film Festival ran from Thursday, June 16 to Sunday, June 26 in downtown Los Angeles. "David, Doug and the team continue to raise ...

The San Francisco Film Society wrapped its 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 - May 5) with 265 screenings of 193 films from 48 countries, which were attended by 278 filmmakers and industry guests from 22 countries around the globe. "I had a hell of a good time!" exclaimed Frank Pierson, recipient of this year's Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting. "I enjoyed the informality of spirit and the professionalism of execution of the who...

Director Will Receive Honor at Film Society Awards Night at Bimbo’s 365 Club and Onstage Tribute at Sundance Kabuki CinemasThe San Francisco Film Society announced today that Oliver Stone will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5). The FDA will be presented to Stone at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club.The Film Society’s highly regarded Youth Education program wi...

Conversations Offer Opportunities for Deeper Audience Engagement with Festival Films and Filmmakers The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5) will present two new Conversations series designed to deepen and enhance the Festival experience, giving filmgoers the opportunity to go a step beyond the post-screening Q&A. An extension of the Film Society’s year-round Film Craft & Film Studies program, Master Classes are an opportunity to engage with special ...

  Director Will Receive Honor at Film Society Awards Night at Bimbo's 365 Club and Onstage Tribute at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas   San Francisco, CA -- The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Oliver Stone will be the recipient of the Founder's Directing Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21 - May 5). The FDA will be presented to Stone at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo's 365 Club.     ...

 .............                                                                                                                                                          NEWSLETTER N° 502: march 25th, 2011 Follow this LINK if you cannot read the newsletter properly  Cannes sponsoring and advertising options on call. Email us Become a sponsor of the iPhone application Bundle offer Mo...

 Screenwriter/Director Will Receive Honor at Film Society Awards Night and an Onstage Tribute Featuring Dog Day Afternoon   San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Frank Pierson will be the recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5). The Kanbar Award, which acknowledges the crucial importance of a script in the production of an exceptional film, will b...

By Marla Lewin The American Film Institute held its annual awards luncheon today in Los Angeles. The tenth annual event remained an honoree-only affair, with no press and no public in attendance. For each of the honored films and television programs, Hewlett-Packard, the event sponsor creates a scholarship to the world-renowned AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles. Because 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST, AFI acknowledged this lan...

The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East today announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, radio, news, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2009 season to be honored at the upcoming 2010 Writers Guild Awards on February 20, 2010, in Los Angeles and New York. TELEVISION NOMINEES DRAMA SERIES Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, George Mastras, J. Roberts, John Shiban, Moira Walley-Be...

Aspen Shortsfest is preparing for the 18th annual edition of its Oscar©-qualifying international competition, which will take place April 1-5, 2009. The 2009 Aspen Shortsfest has recently been recognized by both the National Endowment for the Arts and Colorado Council on the Arts, who have provided partial funding for this singular showcase for short filmmaking.A jury of noted film professionals will award more than $20,000 in cash, plus other prizes, to winners in several categories, who then ...

Premiers, Packed Houses, Prestigious Jury Awards and More… Aspen Shortsfest celebrated an eclectic mix of short films including several world and North American premiers to big crowds and dozens of film guests from around the world during its 15th edition. Laughter, applause—even screams—could be heard throughout the festival in Aspen and Carbondale. The Audience Favorite Award was a 3-way split between The Danish Poet (North American premier, Torill Kove, Canada/Norway; animation), Mons...

Filmmakers from around the world will gather April 5-9 for Aspen Shortsfest 2006 at the Wheeler Opera House and other locations in Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado. Now in its 15th year, Shortsfest will present an array of short films for all ages chosen from over 45 countries. Two evenings of selected festival highlights will also screen April 14 - 15 at Denver’s Starz FilmCenter in association with the Denver Film Society. From premiers to Oscar®-nominated shorts, this year's International C...

Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI)venture was formed in March 2002. The purpose of DCI is to establish and document specifications for an open architecture for Digital Cinema components that ensures a uniform and high level of technical performance, reliability and quality control.DCI members include Disney, Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios. Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) has completed the final overall system requirements and specifi...

SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST BRINGS PLATINUM POWER TO 20TH ANNIVERSARYSanta Barbara, CA – Star power and a slew of notable films combined to create a year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival worthy of a platinum celebration. The 20th anniversary of the Fest was marked by ten days filled with more than 140 films, five panel discussions, four award events, and a smattering of “Conversations With” actors, all drawing crowds of film fans and stargazers into the community...

PANELISTS PREPARE TO TALK SHOP AT SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SANTA BARBARA, CA—Each year, cinephiles and interested locals are drawn to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for many reasons, a number of which are the thought-provoking panels, which traditionally attract the names behind some of Hollywood’s best big-budget and independent films.This year will be no exception. An assortment of panels, ranging from music to made-for-the-big-screen mayhem, will offer pan...

DIGITAL DAYS 2004 TEEN FILMMAKER AWARDS ANNOUNCEDRichard Corwin and Gretchen Miller, producers of Digital Days 2004 at the 19th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, announced the winners for the Teen Filmmaker program as:* Amanda Weiss, "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat," Cal Arts, Valencia, CA* Cole Sanchez, "Fridge," Rancho Marrieta, CA* Carolyn Chrisman, "Ascension Rites," Anacapa School, Santa Barbara, CA * Austin Madison, "Boy Meets Rex," Sacramento, CA* Daniel Howard, "Jai Yen-C...

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 ...

The film line-up was announced today by Artistic Director Roger Durling for the 19th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which takes place January 30 - February 8, 2004. The 10-day festival will feature 3 World Premieres, 5 U.S. Premieres, a North American Premiere, a World Cinema section and a Latin Film Section as well as Sidebars featuring Women in Cinema, Musicals and Cult Classics.Previously announced, the SBIFF will present the Modern Master Award to Peter Jackson. The prog...