There is magic in the air! The 10th Anniversary of the Sarasota Film Festival is upon us and it promises to be one of the best years yet! Take a leap to the West Coast of Florida April 4th – April 13nd, 2008 and dive into the films, symposiums and of course, the parties. SFF draws filmmakers and celebrities from near and far. Familiar faces who have walked the red carpet include Robert Altman, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Norman Jewison, Werner Herzog, Marcia Gay Harden, Joe Pantolian...

Please note that April 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sarasota Film Festival. What began as a 3 day festival with 8 films and 3 events has grown into one of the leading film festivals in North America. The Sarasota Film Festival now boasts a 10 day program, with over 200 films, countless events and an attendance of over 50,000 people in 2007. The rolling white-sand beaches and crystalline waters of Sarasota combine with world-class cinema, star-studded parties and high-profile events ...

Winners and nominees Following the Academy's practice, the films below are listed by year of their Los Angeles qualifying run, which is usually (but not always) the film's year of release. For example, the Oscar for Best Actor of 1999 was announced during the award ceremony held in 2000. Winners are listed first in bold, followed by the other nominees.1920s1928 Emil Jannings - The Last Command as "Gen. Dolgorucki/Grand Duke Sergius Alexander" and The Way of All Flesh as "August Sc...

 Friday, August 31------One of the unique (and most popular) programs of the Montreal World Film Festival is its CINEMA A LA BELLE ETOILE (SCREENINGS UNDER THE STARS) series, held each evening on the Esplanade de la Place des Arts. It has become a Montreal tradition to bring one's folding chairs to view a mix of Hollywood, European and Quebec films in an open-air celebration of cinema. The fact that the screenings are free to the public and attract a mix of cinemaphiles, Festival visitors and t...

 Tuesday, August 28--------Montreal has the distinction of being the only major film festival of the Fall season to have an awards competition. The Prix des Ameriques (Americas Prize) is quite the prestigious award and this year's World Competition Section lineup is the strongest in years. In the high stakes game of festival stragegy, itt is a given that if one premieres in Montreal, that Toronto (which begins a week from Thursday) is out. And while Toronto certainly commands a bigger profile, ...

 Friday, August 25------There are still a few days to catch the final  offerings in the NYC NOIR series that has been running at the Film Forum for the past few weeks. Dedicated to a depiction of New York as a place of grit, grays and ghosts, the series offers a tidy endgame of treats, a mix of classics and little known gems. With temperatures expected to hit the 90s in the final dog days of August, New York never looked quite so noir. But at least this NYC is air conditioned.REAR WINDOW (1954...

 Friday, August 24--------The Montreal World Film Festival will honor the American actor Jon Voight this evening with a Special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement at the world premiere screening of his most recent film, SEPTEMBER DAWN. The film, directed by Christopher Cain, is a Romeo and Juliet love story told against the background of the real-life infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which 120 men, women and children pioneers were massacred by Mormons in Utah on Sept...

 Tuesday, July 31--------The Montreal World Film Festival, which runs from August 23rd to September 3rd, will honor the American actor Jon Voight at its annual event. The legendary actor will receive a Special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement and the Festival will world premiere his most recent film, SEPTEMBER DAWN, directed by Christopher Cain. The film is a Romeo and Juliet love story told against the background of the real-life infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, in whic...

The Montreal World Film Festival, which runs from August 23rd to September 3rd, will honor the American actor Jon Voight at its annual event. The legendary actor will receive a Special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement and the Festival will world premiere his most recent film, SEPTEMBER DAWN, directed by Christopher Cain. The film is a Romeo and Juliet love story told against the background of the real-life infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which 120 men, women and childre...

Since Transformers premiered at the LA Film Festival, I am including this review here.  Personally, I love this movie.  I have a short video from the Transformers premiere and block party posted on this site.  Check it out if you haven't seen it!Transformers Review* * * * (Guest review by Robin Rowe, Movie Editor)STARRING: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Bernie Mac, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Amaury Nolasco, Kevin Dunn, Ronnie Sperling2007, 144 Minutes, Directed by:...

CINEMA POTPOURRI: February (This is a new monthly segment that will cover a variety of topics -- casting news, movie happenings, and whatever happens to be on my movie-crazed mind)  SUNDANCE(what it was…what it became…what it now wants to be)Of course, the independent film movement existed long before the Sundance Film Festival opened its doors in 1985 and officially adopted its title in 1991.  But never before had mainstream Hollywood responded so resoundingly to its possibilities. Redfor...

8th ANNUAL SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL March 31st – April 9th, 2006The Sarasota Film Festival Competition, Audience Awards and Filmmaker Honorees were announced at the annual black-tie Filmmakers’ Tribute Dinner hosted by the Longboat Key Club & Resort, the Official Resort of the Sarasota Film Festival, on Saturday evening, April 8th, 2006. The evening, which was introduced by Dinner Chair Mary Ann Robinson, Board President Neil McCurry, Festival Executive Director, Jody Kielbasa and Master of C...

SITGES 2005 - (October 9th to 18th, 2005),the International Film Festival of Catalonia is the number one fantasy film festival in the world and represents, at the same time, the cultural expression with the most media impact in Catalonia. With a solid 37 years of experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world. Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today ...

When a television commercial actor makes the transition to a film debut, that’s an accomplishment. But when that film debut happens at the age of nine, which wins him a Golden Globe Award opposite Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway in the Oscar nominated film, “The Champ,” that’s a sign of excellence. Actor, Rick Schroder has done it again – this time, after three decades of acting success, he’s transitioned into Actor-Writer-Producer-Director with his first independent feature, “Black ...

With most of the United States in the grip of a devastatingly cold winter, more than a few eyes (and hearts) turn to Florida, the sunshine state, which is having an intensely active “high season”. As much as the sun and the beach are major attractions, this is also the kick-off to the Florida film festival season.Two of Florida’s most interesting film events are happening this week. The Sarasota Film Festival, now in its seventh year, opened this past weekend, with an ambitious slate of pr...

HOLLYWOOD FEST ANNOUNCES CRAFT KUDOS WINNERSRecipients to be feted at Hollywood Awards GalaThe Hollywood Film Festival announces honorees who will be recognized for their outstanding achievements at the festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place on October 18, 2004, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.Academy-nominated editor Sally Menke will receive the "Hollywood Editor of the Year Award," Academy Award-winning visual effects artist John Dykstra will receive the ...

Reed MIDEM will honour Robert Halmi, Sr., Chairman of Hallmark Entertainment, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, at this year’s MIPTV international television market (Cannes, March 29 – April 2). The veteran television producer, who has been described as “the last of the great network television impresarios,” has over 200 made-for-television movies, series and miniseries to his credit. Robert Halmi, Sr. will receive his award March 30.“It’s a real pleasure to welcome Robert Halmi, Sr...

Phoenix Film Festival presents Best Indy FlicksIn less than two weeks, Phoenix Film Festival audiences, will see more of the best of independent filmmaking than ever before, viewing 50 feature and short films. The 12 feature films and six programs of 40 selected shorts will be presented over four days, April 1-4, at the Harkins Cine Capri Theatre Complex in Phoenix. Says Festival Executive Director Chris LaMont, “The nearly 600 films submitted this year, almost double from last year, means w...

6th ANNUAL SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL January 23RD – February 1ST, 2004 From the Opening Night Film & Party on January 23rd till the projectors go dark 10 film-filled days and nights later, the 6th Annual SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL will present an extraordinary line-up of International & US independent features, shorts, documentaries, student films and special events celebrating special guests and their contributions to the art of filmmaking. The SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL (SFF) is dedicated to ex...