Thursday, May 31------The 23rd edition of Festroia: Festival Internacional de Cinema, which opens tomorrow evening in the seaside resort of Setubal, Portugal,  is dedicated to Festival founder Mario Ventura, who passed away last year. Ventura founded the Festival in 1985 after a celebrated career in both Portugal and Spain as a respected journalist and writer. He had published more than fifteen books, including short stories, novels and biographical works. The Public Library in Setubal, where t...

Sunday, June 4---Remember the good old days right after 9/11 when everyone was afraid to ride on airplanes, and those of us intrepid (or stupid) enough to continue flying off to film festivals always had empty seats around us? And airlines left on time? And the airline personnel were so happy to see a customer that you got treated like you were in first class (even though you were inevitably in the cheapo seats)? Well, I am here to tell you, brothers and sisters, that those times are long gone...

Friday, June 2, Setubal---The 22nd edition of the TROIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Portugal's oldest and most prestigious film event, had a gala Opening this evening in the beautiful coastal town of Setubal. The Opening Night festivities began with the screening of a rare silent film by director Victor Sjostrom. TERGE VIGEN, produced in 1917, is a film of rare beauty and quality from one of Scandanavia's earliest film giants. The film has been restored by the Norwegian Film Institute, with...