We Strangers
One of the highlights of this year’s South By Southwest, Anu Valia’s We Strangers follows Ray (Kirby), a cleaner whose life changes abruptly as a result of an impulsive lie. When she tells one of her wealthy white employers that she can see into the spirit world, she suddenly finds herself in a position of power, which changes the way that she looks at the world and the life she has been living. I was delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Anu, and although she was a little guarded, not wanting to say anything that might restrict viewer’s freedom to make up their own minds about the film, we still found a lot to discuss.
Ray, she suggests, is not just the lead character in the film, but is a person who perceives herself very much as the lead character in her own story,...
One of the highlights of this year’s South By Southwest, Anu Valia’s We Strangers follows Ray (Kirby), a cleaner whose life changes abruptly as a result of an impulsive lie. When she tells one of her wealthy white employers that she can see into the spirit world, she suddenly finds herself in a position of power, which changes the way that she looks at the world and the life she has been living. I was delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Anu, and although she was a little guarded, not wanting to say anything that might restrict viewer’s freedom to make up their own minds about the film, we still found a lot to discuss.
Ray, she suggests, is not just the lead character in the film, but is a person who perceives herself very much as the lead character in her own story,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
I love a twisted party-horror flick like Talk to Me, Bodies Bodies Bodies, or the incredibly underrated +1 (aka Plus One but not the Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine movie), which might explain my adoration of Greg Jardin’s It’s What’s Inside. You might recognize the title for its astounding $17 million sale to Netflix out of Utah’s Sundance Film Festival, which is money well spent for the streamer. Jardin writes, directs, and edits a shifty yet cleanly conveyed science fiction thriller that feels akin to the functional simplicity of Shane Carruth’s Primer meets a boozy [redacted as per filmmaker and studio wishes]. Filmmakers who’ve tackled similarly fantastical concepts have stumbled over needlessly complicated narratives, while Jardin focuses on digital-age comedics and dire consequences that entertain with ease.
We first meet struggling couple Shelby (Brittany O'Grady) and Cyrus “The Virus” (James Morosini): stagnant, physically starved "lovers" who get into heated arguments about when to have sex.
We first meet struggling couple Shelby (Brittany O'Grady) and Cyrus “The Virus” (James Morosini): stagnant, physically starved "lovers" who get into heated arguments about when to have sex.
- 3/19/2024
- by Matt Donato
- DailyDead
"A visually playful biopic on Mexico's Ed Wood." -Variety
The accolades continue to roll in as Global Lens 2013 puts a spotlight on The Fantastic Wrld of Juan Orol, which recently played at the San Diego Latino Film Festival.
The story: Move over Ed Wood! Mexico's half-forgotten B-movie master, "involuntary surrealist" Juan Orol, receives a pitch-perfect tribute in this irresistible love letter to a self-made man of showbiz, whose career spanned nearly sixty films. In a glorious black-and-white flashback mingling movie-tainted memories of his Galician childhood, forced exile to Cuba and arrival in Mexico. The intrepid "Juanito" pursues failed careers as baseball player, boxer, bullfighter and gangster before landing in the movies-where failure kind of works for him. As Orol, Roberto Sosa exudes droll underdog charm, anchoring a fast-moving comedy and a homage to a golden age of cinema.
"A clever camp homage to Orol, this film playfully explores the filmmaker's cult legacy, including visuals that deftly evoke the vintage stock of bygone eras, and the budget aesthetic of its subject." -AFI Silver
Through Global Lens, fans are invited to bring this film to local theaters or community centers. Preview this and the rest of the Global Lens 2013 lineup now on Festival Scope and email bookings [at] globalfilm.org.
Other Global Lens 2013 films now available for booking:
About 111 Girls (Darbare 111 Dokhtar), dir. Nahid Ghobadi and Bijan Bijan Zamanpira, Iraq, 2012, 79 minutes
An Iranian state official, his driver and a young guide race across a troubled but magnificent landscape to stop 111 young Kurdish women from committing suicide in protest against conditions that have left them spinsters. Official Selection, 2012 Busan Iff.
Beijing FlICKERS (You-zhong), dir. Zhang Yuan, China, 2012, 96 minutes
A young man left behind by Beijing's fabulous new wealth experiences moments of euphoria amid despair as he roams the city with other misfit dreamers in this darkly funny, gorgeously gritty portrait of disaffected youth. Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Busan.
Cairo 678, dir. Mohamed Diab, Egypt, 2010, 100 minutes
Three Cairene women from different backgrounds warily unite to combat the sexual harassment that has impacted each of their lives-and become a citywide plague-but their unconventional response provokes a dogged police hunt. Official Selection, 2011 New Directors/New Films; Official Selection, 2011 Seattle Iff; Muhr Arab Feature Best Actress and Best Actor, 2010 Dubai Iff.
The Fantastic World Of Juan Orol (El FANÁSTICO Mundo De Juan Orol) , dir. Sebastían del Amo, Mexico, 2012, 90 minutes
Move over Ed Wood! The story of Mexico's half-forgotten B-movie master, "involuntary surrealist" Juan Orol, receives a pitch-perfect tribute in this deft, irresistible love letter to life, the movies and a self-made man of showbiz. Best First Feature Film, 2012 Guadalajara Iff.
Life Kills Me (La Vida Me Mata), dir. Sebastían Silva, Chile, 2007, 92 minutes
Death come wrapped in a mutual embrace, absurd and poignant at once, in celebrated director Sebastián Silva's debut film about the unlikely friendship between a grieving, young cinematographer and a morbidly obsessed drifter. Best First Feature Film, 2008 International Latino Ff; Best Chilean Film of 2007, Chilean Art Critics Circle.
Modest Reception (Paziraie Sadeh), dir. Mani Haghighi, Iran, 2012, 100 minutes
Two sibling-sophisticates from Tehran travel the mountainous northern countryside, maniacally pushing bags of money on locals-a hilarious and alarming exercise that unfurls with unexpected force amid subtle themes of power and corruption. Netpac Prize, 2012 Berlin Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Chicago Iff.
The Parade (Parada), dir. Srdjan Dragojevic, Serbia, 2011, 115 minutes
In exchange for some wedding-planning expertise, a macho Serbian crime boss recruits a ragtag group of Balkan war-buddies to provide protection for a Pride march in this rollicking yet poignant comedy inspired by real events. Panorama Audience Award, 2012 Berlin Iff; Fipresci Serbia Award for Best Serbian Film 2011.
Shyamal Uncle Turns Off The Lights, dir. Suman Ghosh, India, 2012, 65 minutes
An 80-year-old Kolkata retiree is determined to get the streetlights turned off after sunrise, but finding someone to take him seriously proves a battle against an indifferent bureaucracy and a complacent status quo. Official Selection, 2012 Busan Iff.
Southwest (Sudoeste) dir. Eduardo Nunes, Brazil, 2011, 128 minutes
A young woman gives birth on her deathbed to a child who, spirited away to a remote lakeside village, lives her lifetime in a single day, in this hauntingly dreamlike tale of incommensurable life. Special Jury Prize, Fipresci Best Latin American Film and Best Photography, 2011 Rio Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Iff Rotterdam.
Student, dir. Darezhan Omirbayev, Kazakhstan, 2012, 90 minutes
A solitary philosophy student commits a calculated violent crime against the backdrop of Kazakhstan's growing inequality, institutional corruption and a ruthless ethic of eat-or-be-eaten in this broodingly contemporary adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Un Certain Regard, 2012 Cannes Ff; Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Venice If.
The Global Lens film series is an annual, curated program of narrative feature films from Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Films from the series are screened in more than fifty cities nationwide, are featured exclusively on Virgin America airlines, and include top festival picks and official submissions to the Oscars. All proceeds received from Global Lens are reinvested in the Global Film Initiative's Granting Program, and other philanthropic programs of the Initiative.
About The Global Film Initiative
The Global Film Initiative was founded in 2002 to create global understanding, empathy and connectivity through film. Since its establishment, the Initiative has supported hundreds of filmmakers with grants and networking opportunities, and has presented its signature film series, Global Lens, in the U.S. and select international locations via a diverse network of artistic, educational, cultural and diplomatic partners. For more information about the Global Lens film series and Global Film Initiative programs, readers are invited to http://globalfilm.org/programs.htm
Change the Way You See the World.
The Global Film Initiative is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All proceeds from the Global Lens film series support international filmmaker grants, educational programming and resources, touring film exhibitions and other philanthropic initiatives and programs sponsored by the Global Film Initiative.
The accolades continue to roll in as Global Lens 2013 puts a spotlight on The Fantastic Wrld of Juan Orol, which recently played at the San Diego Latino Film Festival.
The story: Move over Ed Wood! Mexico's half-forgotten B-movie master, "involuntary surrealist" Juan Orol, receives a pitch-perfect tribute in this irresistible love letter to a self-made man of showbiz, whose career spanned nearly sixty films. In a glorious black-and-white flashback mingling movie-tainted memories of his Galician childhood, forced exile to Cuba and arrival in Mexico. The intrepid "Juanito" pursues failed careers as baseball player, boxer, bullfighter and gangster before landing in the movies-where failure kind of works for him. As Orol, Roberto Sosa exudes droll underdog charm, anchoring a fast-moving comedy and a homage to a golden age of cinema.
"A clever camp homage to Orol, this film playfully explores the filmmaker's cult legacy, including visuals that deftly evoke the vintage stock of bygone eras, and the budget aesthetic of its subject." -AFI Silver
Through Global Lens, fans are invited to bring this film to local theaters or community centers. Preview this and the rest of the Global Lens 2013 lineup now on Festival Scope and email bookings [at] globalfilm.org.
Other Global Lens 2013 films now available for booking:
About 111 Girls (Darbare 111 Dokhtar), dir. Nahid Ghobadi and Bijan Bijan Zamanpira, Iraq, 2012, 79 minutes
An Iranian state official, his driver and a young guide race across a troubled but magnificent landscape to stop 111 young Kurdish women from committing suicide in protest against conditions that have left them spinsters. Official Selection, 2012 Busan Iff.
Beijing FlICKERS (You-zhong), dir. Zhang Yuan, China, 2012, 96 minutes
A young man left behind by Beijing's fabulous new wealth experiences moments of euphoria amid despair as he roams the city with other misfit dreamers in this darkly funny, gorgeously gritty portrait of disaffected youth. Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Busan.
Cairo 678, dir. Mohamed Diab, Egypt, 2010, 100 minutes
Three Cairene women from different backgrounds warily unite to combat the sexual harassment that has impacted each of their lives-and become a citywide plague-but their unconventional response provokes a dogged police hunt. Official Selection, 2011 New Directors/New Films; Official Selection, 2011 Seattle Iff; Muhr Arab Feature Best Actress and Best Actor, 2010 Dubai Iff.
The Fantastic World Of Juan Orol (El FANÁSTICO Mundo De Juan Orol) , dir. Sebastían del Amo, Mexico, 2012, 90 minutes
Move over Ed Wood! The story of Mexico's half-forgotten B-movie master, "involuntary surrealist" Juan Orol, receives a pitch-perfect tribute in this deft, irresistible love letter to life, the movies and a self-made man of showbiz. Best First Feature Film, 2012 Guadalajara Iff.
Life Kills Me (La Vida Me Mata), dir. Sebastían Silva, Chile, 2007, 92 minutes
Death come wrapped in a mutual embrace, absurd and poignant at once, in celebrated director Sebastián Silva's debut film about the unlikely friendship between a grieving, young cinematographer and a morbidly obsessed drifter. Best First Feature Film, 2008 International Latino Ff; Best Chilean Film of 2007, Chilean Art Critics Circle.
Modest Reception (Paziraie Sadeh), dir. Mani Haghighi, Iran, 2012, 100 minutes
Two sibling-sophisticates from Tehran travel the mountainous northern countryside, maniacally pushing bags of money on locals-a hilarious and alarming exercise that unfurls with unexpected force amid subtle themes of power and corruption. Netpac Prize, 2012 Berlin Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Chicago Iff.
The Parade (Parada), dir. Srdjan Dragojevic, Serbia, 2011, 115 minutes
In exchange for some wedding-planning expertise, a macho Serbian crime boss recruits a ragtag group of Balkan war-buddies to provide protection for a Pride march in this rollicking yet poignant comedy inspired by real events. Panorama Audience Award, 2012 Berlin Iff; Fipresci Serbia Award for Best Serbian Film 2011.
Shyamal Uncle Turns Off The Lights, dir. Suman Ghosh, India, 2012, 65 minutes
An 80-year-old Kolkata retiree is determined to get the streetlights turned off after sunrise, but finding someone to take him seriously proves a battle against an indifferent bureaucracy and a complacent status quo. Official Selection, 2012 Busan Iff.
Southwest (Sudoeste) dir. Eduardo Nunes, Brazil, 2011, 128 minutes
A young woman gives birth on her deathbed to a child who, spirited away to a remote lakeside village, lives her lifetime in a single day, in this hauntingly dreamlike tale of incommensurable life. Special Jury Prize, Fipresci Best Latin American Film and Best Photography, 2011 Rio Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Iff Rotterdam.
Student, dir. Darezhan Omirbayev, Kazakhstan, 2012, 90 minutes
A solitary philosophy student commits a calculated violent crime against the backdrop of Kazakhstan's growing inequality, institutional corruption and a ruthless ethic of eat-or-be-eaten in this broodingly contemporary adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Un Certain Regard, 2012 Cannes Ff; Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Iff; Official Selection, 2012 Venice If.
The Global Lens film series is an annual, curated program of narrative feature films from Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Films from the series are screened in more than fifty cities nationwide, are featured exclusively on Virgin America airlines, and include top festival picks and official submissions to the Oscars. All proceeds received from Global Lens are reinvested in the Global Film Initiative's Granting Program, and other philanthropic programs of the Initiative.
About The Global Film Initiative
The Global Film Initiative was founded in 2002 to create global understanding, empathy and connectivity through film. Since its establishment, the Initiative has supported hundreds of filmmakers with grants and networking opportunities, and has presented its signature film series, Global Lens, in the U.S. and select international locations via a diverse network of artistic, educational, cultural and diplomatic partners. For more information about the Global Lens film series and Global Film Initiative programs, readers are invited to http://globalfilm.org/programs.htm
Change the Way You See the World.
The Global Film Initiative is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All proceeds from the Global Lens film series support international filmmaker grants, educational programming and resources, touring film exhibitions and other philanthropic initiatives and programs sponsored by the Global Film Initiative.
- 3/22/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Suman Ghosh’s Shyamal Uncle Turns Off The Lights, which was picked up by Global Film Initiative (Gfi) at Busan Film Festival recently, will be part of Global Lens 2013 film series. A total of ten award winning films have been chosen in the line up for the tenth edition of the film series.
The Global Lens will run from 10th to 24th January, 2013 and will be followed by a year long tour to more than fifty cities in the United States and Canada.
Shyamal Uncle Turns Off The Lights, produced by Arindam Ghosh, is the story of an eighty year old pensioner who wants the street lights switched off during the day to save waste. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and was screened at the Mumbai Film Festival 2012.
The Global Lens film series was launched in 2003 to support the distribution of unique and critically acclaimed cinematic works from around the world,...
The Global Lens will run from 10th to 24th January, 2013 and will be followed by a year long tour to more than fifty cities in the United States and Canada.
Shyamal Uncle Turns Off The Lights, produced by Arindam Ghosh, is the story of an eighty year old pensioner who wants the street lights switched off during the day to save waste. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and was screened at the Mumbai Film Festival 2012.
The Global Lens film series was launched in 2003 to support the distribution of unique and critically acclaimed cinematic works from around the world,...
- 11/16/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Montreal’s Festival Du Nouveau Cinema (10.10 – 10.21) announced their line-up today for their 41st edition and among the smorgasbord of subtitle offerings dating back to this year’s Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, Venice and Tiff editions, we’re knee-deep in avant-garde world cinema from the established auteurs Assayas, Vinterberg, Ozon, Sang-Soo, Joao Pedro Rodriguez, Larrain, Loach, Reygadas, Ghobadi, Mungiu and Miguel Gomes. Heavy on offerings from Quebec and France, the fest also manages to offer a stellar snapshot of the up-and-comers from all corners of the globe. Among the notable titles in the (Competition category) International Selection we’ve got Pablo Berger’s Blancanieves, Ursula Meier’s Sister, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s Francine (which received its theatrical release earlier this month) and Rodrigo Plá’s La Demora. Loaded in Cannes items, the Special Presentations is the fest’s A-list selections (see filmmakers named above) and the one pic...
- 9/25/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Like A Secret World (reviewed last week), Southwest (Sudoeste, 2012, dir. Eduardo Nunes) was a flawed film. But audiences are more likely to be forgiving of A Secret World’s flaws because the director was wise enough to keep it short. Audiences might be prepared to be mildly bored for an hour and a half, but over the two hour mark a film has to work hard to keep the audience engaged. At a screening of Southwest at Toulouse’s Cinélatino film festival earlier this month, at least six people walked out. This was in a city where audience attendance is surprisingly high for films that might be classed as difficult, and audience questions in Q&A’s with directors tend to demonstrate a great sensitivity to cinematic language.
That people should walk out of Sud-Oueste was a shame: it was clear from the beginning that it would be a slow film,...
That people should walk out of Sud-Oueste was a shame: it was clear from the beginning that it would be a slow film,...
- 4/16/2012
- by Alison Frank
- The Moving Arts Journal
Guadalajara Wraps and a New Fest Begins
Ficg (pronounced FeeSeeg and standing for the Festival International de Cine in Guadalajara), displayed a new vibrancy. Besides some great films, great attendance and great organization, several Latin American countries are entering the international film business for the first time (Peru and Ecuador) with subsidies from their government pointing to an optimism for film production as an economic factor in their country's growth. I blogged about the Dominican Republic but not about the new Law 226 in Mexico which encourages businesses to invest up to 20 million pesos (U.S.$2 million) or 10% of the taxes they owed the previous year (whichever is higher) into Mexican film production, or Brazilian access to subsidies.
In addition, Guadalajara is becoming known as the Silicon Valley of Mexico as its economy is based especially on information technology with a large number of international firms having facilities there. It is also considered to be the home of Mariachi music. The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara with the name originating from the Arabic word meaning "Valley of Stones". It is the highest ranking major Mexican city and has the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city. Only Chicago scores more highly for sheer economic potential (Per a 2007 report in fDi magazine, an English-language news and foreign direct investment publication owned by The Financial Times Ltd and edited in London). The same research calls Guadalajara the "city of the future" due to its youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals. It was also ranked the third most business friendly city in North America.
A new digital film studio is going up. The University is an important center of culture and learning.
And sadly, violence over drugs is not far away. This past Friday, Narco gangs appropriated 25 vehicles in 16 separate incidents – 11 of them in the Guadalajara metropolitan zone where they set fire to them in retaliation for action taken against them in a military action to capture two Mexican drug cartel members. At the Centro Magno festival venue, festival transport staff stopped filmgoers leaving a screening of Andres Wood's Violeta Went to Heaven as they sought to return to the festival's central Expo Center venue, acknowledging concerns for safety. A truck was set on fire not far (but not too close either: at Calzada Lázaro Cárdenas and Mezquite, at la Colonia de El Fresno) from the Expo where the festival was still being held, but there was no disruption of the festival.
Our friend, Hebe Tabachnik, Iberoamerican programmer for the Palm Springs Film Festival is on the jury and writes from there:
Dear friends, in spite of the disruptive and unfortunately deadly incidents in Guadalajara today, all the attendees to the Ficg Guadalajara are Ok. We are sorry this beautiful city and specially its amazing people have to experience this kind of criminal acts. The festival is going ahead with its schedule events, as it should be. Celebrating the arts and show no fear is the best way to manifest against the non sense violence. Viva Guadalajara. Viva Mexico!!!!
The activities of the industry, with meetings about Iberoamerican coproductions with its well presented professional projects, the film market itself with films available to watch up to 2 weeks after the closing, the Cannes Marche Producers Network, Works in Progress, Berlinale's Talent Campus and Doculab, and of course, the festival itself with galas every night, a Focus on U.K. and Mike Leigh, Homages, Mexican and Iberoamerican Competition, Sounds of Cinema, Children's Cinema, Lgbt prizes, Open Air Screenings - all defy easy decision making on how best to spend one's time there.
The prize winners:
PalmarÉS FICG27
Premio Maguey
Mención Especial
“Todo el mundo tiene alguien menos yo” (México) Dir. Raúl Fuentes
Premio Maguey
“Mía“ (Argentina) Dir. Javier van de Couter
Premio del Público Milenio
“Espacio Interior“ (México) Dir. Kai Parlange
Premio Mezcal
“Un mundo secreto“ (México) Dir. Gabriel Mariño
Premio Cinecolor
“Un mundo secreto“ (México) Dir. Gabriel Mariño
Mejor Cortometraje de Animación - Premio Rigo Mora
“Un ojo” (México) Dir. Lorenza Manrique
Mejor Cortometraje Iberoamericano
“Minuto 200” (Colombia) Dir. Frank Benítez
Mejor Cortometraje Mexicano
“Lucy vs. los límites de la voz” (México) Dir. Mónica Herrera
Largometraje Iberoamericano Documental
Mención Especial
“El salvavidas“ (Chile) Dir. Maite Alberdi
Mejor Documental Iberoamericano
“ ¡Vivan las antípodas! “(Argentina - Chile - Alemania - Holanda) Dir. Víctor Kossakovsky
Largometraje Mexicano Documental
Mención Especial
“Carrière, 250 metros” Dir. Juan Carlos Rulfo y Natalia Gil
Mención Especial
“El paciente interno” Dir. Alejandro Solar
Mejor Documental Mexicano
“Cuates de Australia” Everardo González
Largometraje de Ficción Iberoamericana
Mejor Guion
Jaime Osorio por “El páramo” (Colombia)
Mejor Fotografía
Mauro Pinheiro Jr. por “Sudoeste” (Brasil)
Mejor Actriz
Francisca Gavilán por “Violeta se fue a los cielos” (Chile)
Mejor Actor
Andrés Crespo por “Pescador” (Ecuador)
Premio Especial del Jurado
“Los pasos dobles” (España - Suiza) Dir. Isaki Lacuesta
Mejor Opera Prima
“Transeunte” (Brasil) Dir. Eryk Rocha
Mejor Director
Sebastián Cordero por “Pescador” (Ecuador)
Mejor Película Iberoamericana
"Abrir puertas y ventanas" (Argentina) "Dir. Milagros Mumenthaler
Largometraje de Ficción Mexicana
Mención Especial
Música Original de "Días de gracia"
Mejor Guion
Miguel Bonilla por “Diente por diente”
Mejor Fotografía
Jerónimo Rodríguez por “Todo el mundo tiene a alguien menos yo”
Mejor Actriz
Martha Higareda por “Mariachi Gringo”
Mejor Actor
Kuno Becker por “Espacio Interior”
Mejor Opera Prima
"El fantástico mundo de Juan Orol" Dir. Sebastián del Amo
Mejor Director
Everardo Gout por “Días de gracia”.
Mejor Película
“Mariachi Gringo” Dir. Tom Gustafson
alt=premios-paralelos>
Premio de los Niños
“El secreto del medallón de jade” (México) Dir. Rodolfo Guzmán y Leopoldo Aguilar
Premio Feisal
Mención Especial
“No hay lugar lejano” (México) Dir. Michelle Ibaven
Mención Especial
“Oro Colombiano: 400 años de música del alma” (Colombia) Dir. Sanjay Agarwal e Iván Higa
Premio Feisal
“75 habitantes, 20 casas, 300 vacas” (Argentina) Dir. Fernando Domínguez
Premio Fipresci
“Violeta se fue a los cielos” (Chile) Dir. Andrés Wood
Guerrero de la Prensa
Mejor largometraje de ficción “Días de gracia” (México) Dir. Everardo Gout Mejor largometraje documental “El paciente interno” (México) Dir. Alejandro Solar
Academia Jalisciense de Cinematografía
Mejor cortometraje jalisciense “La noria” Dir. Karla Castañeda Mejor largometraje jalisciense “Fecha de caducidad” Dir. Kenya Márquez
No sooner does this festival and market wrap when a new Mexican festival, the Riviera Maya Film Festival, begins March 20 - 25 which will play in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and Holbox. The industry component Rivieralab, a coproduction event will take place in Quintana Roo March 22-25 and will host 158 projects from Latin America and Europe. 10 projects will be showcased to financiers, fund representatives, producers and sales agents, 3 will receive 200,000 pesos or approximately Us$15,500. 8 international works in progress at post-production stage from a pool of 40 will be selected to receive support.
Ficg (pronounced FeeSeeg and standing for the Festival International de Cine in Guadalajara), displayed a new vibrancy. Besides some great films, great attendance and great organization, several Latin American countries are entering the international film business for the first time (Peru and Ecuador) with subsidies from their government pointing to an optimism for film production as an economic factor in their country's growth. I blogged about the Dominican Republic but not about the new Law 226 in Mexico which encourages businesses to invest up to 20 million pesos (U.S.$2 million) or 10% of the taxes they owed the previous year (whichever is higher) into Mexican film production, or Brazilian access to subsidies.
In addition, Guadalajara is becoming known as the Silicon Valley of Mexico as its economy is based especially on information technology with a large number of international firms having facilities there. It is also considered to be the home of Mariachi music. The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara with the name originating from the Arabic word meaning "Valley of Stones". It is the highest ranking major Mexican city and has the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city. Only Chicago scores more highly for sheer economic potential (Per a 2007 report in fDi magazine, an English-language news and foreign direct investment publication owned by The Financial Times Ltd and edited in London). The same research calls Guadalajara the "city of the future" due to its youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals. It was also ranked the third most business friendly city in North America.
A new digital film studio is going up. The University is an important center of culture and learning.
And sadly, violence over drugs is not far away. This past Friday, Narco gangs appropriated 25 vehicles in 16 separate incidents – 11 of them in the Guadalajara metropolitan zone where they set fire to them in retaliation for action taken against them in a military action to capture two Mexican drug cartel members. At the Centro Magno festival venue, festival transport staff stopped filmgoers leaving a screening of Andres Wood's Violeta Went to Heaven as they sought to return to the festival's central Expo Center venue, acknowledging concerns for safety. A truck was set on fire not far (but not too close either: at Calzada Lázaro Cárdenas and Mezquite, at la Colonia de El Fresno) from the Expo where the festival was still being held, but there was no disruption of the festival.
Our friend, Hebe Tabachnik, Iberoamerican programmer for the Palm Springs Film Festival is on the jury and writes from there:
Dear friends, in spite of the disruptive and unfortunately deadly incidents in Guadalajara today, all the attendees to the Ficg Guadalajara are Ok. We are sorry this beautiful city and specially its amazing people have to experience this kind of criminal acts. The festival is going ahead with its schedule events, as it should be. Celebrating the arts and show no fear is the best way to manifest against the non sense violence. Viva Guadalajara. Viva Mexico!!!!
The activities of the industry, with meetings about Iberoamerican coproductions with its well presented professional projects, the film market itself with films available to watch up to 2 weeks after the closing, the Cannes Marche Producers Network, Works in Progress, Berlinale's Talent Campus and Doculab, and of course, the festival itself with galas every night, a Focus on U.K. and Mike Leigh, Homages, Mexican and Iberoamerican Competition, Sounds of Cinema, Children's Cinema, Lgbt prizes, Open Air Screenings - all defy easy decision making on how best to spend one's time there.
The prize winners:
PalmarÉS FICG27
Premio Maguey
Mención Especial
“Todo el mundo tiene alguien menos yo” (México) Dir. Raúl Fuentes
Premio Maguey
“Mía“ (Argentina) Dir. Javier van de Couter
Premio del Público Milenio
“Espacio Interior“ (México) Dir. Kai Parlange
Premio Mezcal
“Un mundo secreto“ (México) Dir. Gabriel Mariño
Premio Cinecolor
“Un mundo secreto“ (México) Dir. Gabriel Mariño
Mejor Cortometraje de Animación - Premio Rigo Mora
“Un ojo” (México) Dir. Lorenza Manrique
Mejor Cortometraje Iberoamericano
“Minuto 200” (Colombia) Dir. Frank Benítez
Mejor Cortometraje Mexicano
“Lucy vs. los límites de la voz” (México) Dir. Mónica Herrera
Largometraje Iberoamericano Documental
Mención Especial
“El salvavidas“ (Chile) Dir. Maite Alberdi
Mejor Documental Iberoamericano
“ ¡Vivan las antípodas! “(Argentina - Chile - Alemania - Holanda) Dir. Víctor Kossakovsky
Largometraje Mexicano Documental
Mención Especial
“Carrière, 250 metros” Dir. Juan Carlos Rulfo y Natalia Gil
Mención Especial
“El paciente interno” Dir. Alejandro Solar
Mejor Documental Mexicano
“Cuates de Australia” Everardo González
Largometraje de Ficción Iberoamericana
Mejor Guion
Jaime Osorio por “El páramo” (Colombia)
Mejor Fotografía
Mauro Pinheiro Jr. por “Sudoeste” (Brasil)
Mejor Actriz
Francisca Gavilán por “Violeta se fue a los cielos” (Chile)
Mejor Actor
Andrés Crespo por “Pescador” (Ecuador)
Premio Especial del Jurado
“Los pasos dobles” (España - Suiza) Dir. Isaki Lacuesta
Mejor Opera Prima
“Transeunte” (Brasil) Dir. Eryk Rocha
Mejor Director
Sebastián Cordero por “Pescador” (Ecuador)
Mejor Película Iberoamericana
"Abrir puertas y ventanas" (Argentina) "Dir. Milagros Mumenthaler
Largometraje de Ficción Mexicana
Mención Especial
Música Original de "Días de gracia"
Mejor Guion
Miguel Bonilla por “Diente por diente”
Mejor Fotografía
Jerónimo Rodríguez por “Todo el mundo tiene a alguien menos yo”
Mejor Actriz
Martha Higareda por “Mariachi Gringo”
Mejor Actor
Kuno Becker por “Espacio Interior”
Mejor Opera Prima
"El fantástico mundo de Juan Orol" Dir. Sebastián del Amo
Mejor Director
Everardo Gout por “Días de gracia”.
Mejor Película
“Mariachi Gringo” Dir. Tom Gustafson
alt=premios-paralelos>
Premio de los Niños
“El secreto del medallón de jade” (México) Dir. Rodolfo Guzmán y Leopoldo Aguilar
Premio Feisal
Mención Especial
“No hay lugar lejano” (México) Dir. Michelle Ibaven
Mención Especial
“Oro Colombiano: 400 años de música del alma” (Colombia) Dir. Sanjay Agarwal e Iván Higa
Premio Feisal
“75 habitantes, 20 casas, 300 vacas” (Argentina) Dir. Fernando Domínguez
Premio Fipresci
“Violeta se fue a los cielos” (Chile) Dir. Andrés Wood
Guerrero de la Prensa
Mejor largometraje de ficción “Días de gracia” (México) Dir. Everardo Gout Mejor largometraje documental “El paciente interno” (México) Dir. Alejandro Solar
Academia Jalisciense de Cinematografía
Mejor cortometraje jalisciense “La noria” Dir. Karla Castañeda Mejor largometraje jalisciense “Fecha de caducidad” Dir. Kenya Márquez
No sooner does this festival and market wrap when a new Mexican festival, the Riviera Maya Film Festival, begins March 20 - 25 which will play in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and Holbox. The industry component Rivieralab, a coproduction event will take place in Quintana Roo March 22-25 and will host 158 projects from Latin America and Europe. 10 projects will be showcased to financiers, fund representatives, producers and sales agents, 3 will receive 200,000 pesos or approximately Us$15,500. 8 international works in progress at post-production stage from a pool of 40 will be selected to receive support.
- 3/12/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Voice of My Father
The International Film Festival Rotterdam, opening on January 25 and running through February 5, has announced two lineups today, the Tiger Awards Competition 2012 for first and second feature films — 15 films in all — and the Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 with 21 films. Straight from the release:
Tiger Awards Competition 2012
De jueves a domingo (Thursday Till Sunday), Dominga Sotomayor, Chile/Netherlands, 2012, 96’, World premiere, Hubert Bals Fund-supported film. Sotomayor’s feature film début, expertly shot by Barbara Alvarez, is a Chilean road movie set in and around the car belonging to a middle-class family. Seen through eyes of the kids in the back, they embark on a four day holiday trip to the north, while the marriage is falling apart. Dominga Sotomayor’s short film Videojuego was screened in Rotterdam in 2010. De jueves a domingo was selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence 2010.
Babamin sesi (Voice of My Father), Orhan Eskiköy and Zeynel Dogan,...
The International Film Festival Rotterdam, opening on January 25 and running through February 5, has announced two lineups today, the Tiger Awards Competition 2012 for first and second feature films — 15 films in all — and the Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 with 21 films. Straight from the release:
Tiger Awards Competition 2012
De jueves a domingo (Thursday Till Sunday), Dominga Sotomayor, Chile/Netherlands, 2012, 96’, World premiere, Hubert Bals Fund-supported film. Sotomayor’s feature film début, expertly shot by Barbara Alvarez, is a Chilean road movie set in and around the car belonging to a middle-class family. Seen through eyes of the kids in the back, they embark on a four day holiday trip to the north, while the marriage is falling apart. Dominga Sotomayor’s short film Videojuego was screened in Rotterdam in 2010. De jueves a domingo was selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence 2010.
Babamin sesi (Voice of My Father), Orhan Eskiköy and Zeynel Dogan,...
- 1/12/2012
- MUBI
After Berlin Panorama, Indians films are conspicuous by their absence in Rotterdam Tiger Awards lineup. The 41st International Film Festival Rotterdam announced the lineup for its prestigious Tiger Awards Competition for Feature films and Short films.
Fifteen films have been selected for Iffr’s Tiger Awards Competition 2012. The Rotterdam Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 comprises twenty-one films.
At Iffr 2011, The Image Threads by Vipin Vijay had made it to the Tiger Awards Competition for first or second films while Natasha Mendonca’s Jan Villa had won the Tiger Award Competition for Short Films.
Tiger Competition 2012
Thursday Till Sunday (De jueves a domingo), Dominga Sotomayor (Chile/Netherlands) [world premiere] [Hbf]
Chilean family drama-road movie.
Voice of My Father (Babamin sesi), Orhan Eskiköy & Zeynel Dogan (Turkey/Germany) [world premiere] [Hbf]
Meditation on identity, family ties and a country in transition.
Neighbouring Sounds (O som ao redor), Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil) [world premiere] [Hbf]
A middle class neighborhood is changed when...
Fifteen films have been selected for Iffr’s Tiger Awards Competition 2012. The Rotterdam Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2012 comprises twenty-one films.
At Iffr 2011, The Image Threads by Vipin Vijay had made it to the Tiger Awards Competition for first or second films while Natasha Mendonca’s Jan Villa had won the Tiger Award Competition for Short Films.
Tiger Competition 2012
Thursday Till Sunday (De jueves a domingo), Dominga Sotomayor (Chile/Netherlands) [world premiere] [Hbf]
Chilean family drama-road movie.
Voice of My Father (Babamin sesi), Orhan Eskiköy & Zeynel Dogan (Turkey/Germany) [world premiere] [Hbf]
Meditation on identity, family ties and a country in transition.
Neighbouring Sounds (O som ao redor), Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil) [world premiere] [Hbf]
A middle class neighborhood is changed when...
- 1/12/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
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