Written by MGEITF | 07 June 2011 | in news - Festivals

Written by Liz Pratt | 26 January 2011 | in news - Festivals

from Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival

Although the final schedule for 2011's Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival has not yet been announced, festival director Garen Daly has already noticed a jump in ticket sales. The festival, which began at the Orson Welles Cinemas, began as a 24 hour science fiction retrospective in 1976 and now stretches ten days, taking place at the Somerville Theater.

Like many other festivals, the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival uses OpenFilm to collect submissions. The deadline this year is January 31st, but Assistant Curator Liz Pratt maintains that she and Daly will have plenty of time to finalize the selections. “We want to make sure we can receive as many submissions as possible,” she explained, “because this festival is a great jumping-off point for young directors and lower-budget films. And since we have so many hours to fill with the 'Thon, we can always find room to fit in something great that we've found at the last minute.”

Written by DLA Film Festival | 26 November 2010 | in news - Festivals

from the festival team

From the 18th to the 28th of November the Discovering Latin America Film Festival (DLAFF) will reach its 9th edition exhibiting a compilation of the best recent film productions from Latin America. Award-winning films such as Argentine feature The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) and Costa Rican Cold water of the Sea (2010) will be exhibited in participating venues throughout Central London such as Odeon Covent Garden, Odeon Panton Street and Tate Modern.

The Discovering Latin America Film Festival (DLAFF) is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom and for the ninth year promises to present the city of London with a wide variety of brilliant feature films and shorts, as well as exciting documentaries spanning the whole political spectrum, thrilling retrospectives, thought-provoking master-classes, enthralling discussions with film directors and many other events.

A chance to meet the ‘Argentine Woody Allen’ in person

One of this year’s star guests will be renowned Argentine director Daniel Burman, whose introspective style has often been compared to that of Woody Allen. Brother and Sister (2010), the most recent of Daniel’s films, will be featured in the fourth of the festival’s gala nights on Tuesday 23rd of November. Daniel will be present at the screenings to discuss his work and show his support for the Discovering Latin America Film Festival’s (DLAFF) cause.

Revenue from ticket sales will help a community project in San Salvador

Part proceeds from the 9th DLAFF ticket sales this year will benefit the Salvadorian Children’s Earthquake Trust (Salcet), a UK registered charity established in 2005 in response to the emergency and long term rehabilitation needs of children affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters in El Salvador and other vulnerable countries. The grant awarded to Salcet by Discovering Latin America (DLA) will be used to fund the construction of a sewage and drainage system for the San Carlos municipality, located in the northern outskirts of San Salvador.

Written by Edinburgh International Film Festival | 12 November 2010 | in news - Festivals

Submissions for the 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival, 15 - 26 June, have now opened.

Accepting films of all genres and lengths as longs as they are no older than 12 months and have not been screened in the UK before our festival in June.

Earlybird Deadline - Mon 13 December 2010

Regular Deadline - Mon 31 January 2011

Late Deadline - Mon 14 February 2011

For information on how to submit go to www.edfilmfest.org.uk/submissions

Written by Nic Wistreich | 15 September 2010 | in news - Festivals

This much I know: that while there are very bright people in both worlds, there are very few film industry people who really understand software development and web technology, and not that many coders who understand the film, TV and video industry.

At the intersection of these spaces is New York's Open Video Conference, now in its second year, and a vital meet-up, platform and debate-space for those working across both worlds. From Tommy Pallotta, the animator who introduced Richard Linklater to rotoscoping and went on to produce Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly to the creator of the VLC player. From Damien Kulash, lead singer of treadmill legends OK Go to Obama adviser and law professor Susan Crawford, from Mozilla Firefox to the Workbook Project's Lance Weiller. This year in the evenings there's also a Shared Film Festival, which will include the Yes Men presenting their latest film.

This crossover of law, business, civil rights, open media, anti-censorship, open source technology, and pure wow-factor geekery creates a gathering unlike any I've been to before: arriving last year for the first day I wondered around with glazed eyes. Surrounded by spirits I'd mostly only connected with thru online or a chance encounter - and had no idea there were so many people active in this space. These are the people who are battling to ensure that our media future isn't owned, controlled and mediated by a single giant corporation; if you share their vision you should get down there or watch the webcasts.

I will also be involved with a panel on the future of cinema and exhibition with some very special guests (more info to follow soon) so if you do make it the conference - come and say hello! Details of the schedule below.