Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced nominations this morning for the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards.  Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner served as presenters and 2011 Spirit Awards host Joel McHale was also on hand.  Nominees for Best Feature include 127 Hours, Black Swan, Greenberg, The Kids Are All Right and Winter's Bone. Please Give was selected for the Robert Altman Award, which is given...

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...

World Premiere of “When Do We Eat?” opens the fest U.S. Premiere of “Checking Out” to closeOver 150 films headline fest with 11 World PremieresOver a 150 diverse films will screen at the Palm Beach International Film Festival event, including features, documentaries and shorts. The eight-day Fest will introduce 11 world premieres, 6 U.S. premieres and 43 Florida premieres, including 30 international films.“This is an exciting year for us--we have reached the milestone of our 10th anni...

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...

The Seventh Annual Sarasota Film Festival kicks off on January 28th with the previously announced Peter Falk and Paul Reiser in town for the Opening Night Film, THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS, and other previously announced guests including Bille August, Gary Busey, Peter Falk, George McGovern, Connie Nielsen, Michael Pitt, Paul Reiser, Vinessa Shaw, Jerry Springer and more to come… This year’s feature films and documentaries encompass 4 World Premieres, 6 US Premieres, 15 East Coast Premieres and...

January 31st, the Competition and Audience Awards for the 6th Annual Sarasota Film Festival were announced. Among this year’s Jury are Acquisitions Executive for IFC, Kelly DeVine; Managing Editor of IndieWire & IFCRant, Wendy Mitchell; Film Editor, Cynthia Scheider; Exec. Director of Women Make Movies, Debra Zimmerman; Producer & Bravo!FACT Board Member, Paul Gratton; Sundance Channel’s Senior Vice President of Film Programming, Paola Freccero; Producer Jeffrey Kramer; and President, Inte...