AFI FEST early deadline June 13th!

This could be you.

Submit your film to AFI FEST - the early deadline for submissions is a week from Friday, June 13th! It's a lucky day!

www.AFI.com/AFIFEST

It's not too late to get to Ann Arbor!

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is still going strong even after all the censorship shite they've been through and runs through Sunday.

You can see the whole line up here.

Christen McArdle totally rocks and this festival is celebrating 46 years!

It's time to watch!

New Directors / New Films

Some wonderful films playing in New York this week in the New Directors / New Films film series.

Saw these two articles that were great, one from the New York Times and the other from Indiewire. Both "Jellyfish and "Munyurangabo" played at AFI FEST this past year.

If you are interested in "Munyurangabo" and Rwanda, you should take a look at JB Rutagarama's personal documentary "Back Home".

I'm a huge fan of Aza Jacobs, we've screened all of his films at AFI FEST and his new film "Momma's Man" was just sold to Think Film.

And "Frozen River" won an Award at the Sundance Film Festival and is produced by the fantastic Heather Rae who made "Trudell".

Such a great line up, if you're in NYC check them out.
Full schedule and ticket information is available here.

Echo Park Film Center Events

Some really awesome programming at the Echo Park Film Center the next few weeks.
Check it out, I love Paolo and Lisa who run that place, they are Cinema Revolutionaries!

I'm psyched to see DINO'S DRIVE IN and who doesn't love GI Joe?


Echo Park Film Center
www.echoparkfilmcenter.org
1200 N. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Thursday, March 20 – DINO'S DRIVE-IN: FORGOTTEN FORMATS, FORGOTTEN
FILMS – 8 pm
A rare chance to see some silent shorts projected on the 9.5mm film
format (introduced in France in 1922), featuring the UK's only major
silent comedian Walter Forde. Followed by a talkie, Wild Seed (Brian
G. Hutton, 1965) an atmospheric B/W tale of two drifters featuring
rebel/musician Michael Parks in the last narrative production from
D.A. Pennebaker's aptly named, Pennebaker Productions. These films
have NEVER been released on official videos or DVDs…some films still
have to be seen on film! CURATOR IN ATTENDANCE!

Thursday, March 27 – PRETTY LITTLE LONELY #13: A MUSICAL DOCUMENTARY -
8 PM
In 1995 ex Carnival Art front man Michael Petak released his
critically acclaimed album Pretty Little Lonely, produced by T Bone
Burnett, on Slash Records. Pretty Little Lonely # 13, A Musical
Documentary is the video companion to the CD. Petak, his dog Diggity
and a handful of friends traveled across the Southwest loaded with
Canon High 8 cameras and a DAT Machine, interviewing all walks of life
about love while also shooting music videos for most of the songs on
the album. This will be the first time the documentary will
be screened to the public, so buckle up and come join us for the ride!
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE!

Saturday, March 29 – THE GI JOE STOP MOTION FILM FESTIVAL – 8 PM
The GI Joe Stop Motion Film Festival is the nation's first festival
dedicated to screening works by stop-motion artists who use GI Joe or
similar figures (12" and/or 3 3⁄4 sizes) as main characters or actors.
We have 25 films from all over the world including films from Brazil,
Netherlands, Canada UK and Taiwan! More info: www.gijoefilmfestival.com

AFI PROJECT 20/20 in Turkey

Here are some cool photos from the latest trips for AFI PROJECT: 20/20.

I went last year to South Africa with the filmmakers and it was such an awesome experience. I traveled with Norman Maake (HOMECOMING) from South Africa, JB Rutagarama (BACK HOME) from Rwanda and Jay Craven (DISAPPEARANCE) from Vermont. We screened in theatres and in townships and the audiences were amazing!

So rare when the US Government gets behind the arts, which to me is so sad, since the artists are the ones that articulate change and inspire people!

For me this program is one of the highlights of my film festival life - to be able to take films and filmmakers to the world and talk to artists and audiences with different points of view and life experiences about film and the future - powerful stuff.

Here are my photos from South Africa:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shazbennett/sets/72157600424616795/

The new group of AFI FEST 2007 - AFI PROJECT 20/20 filmmakers just got back from Turkey. Here are some of Chris Bowman's photos. Thanks chris!

AFI PROJECT: 20/20 Filmmakers Chris Bowman (AMERICAN FORK) and Salif Traore (FARO, GODDESS OF THE WATER) have concluded their cultural exchange tour in Turkey. Both filmmakers received warm receptions and engaging audiences in Adana, Ankara and Istanbul. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

A D A N A
http://www.flickr.com/gp/11037500@N02/Q8rd72

A N K A R A
http://www.flickr.com/gp/11037500@N02/95juR3

I S T A N B U L
http://www.flickr.com/gp/11037500@N02/6y3507

More on Sales at Sundance...

I was listening to Tilda Swinton on public radio talking about how the Sales agents and Buyers need to be more adventurous and trust that there will be an audience for some of the smaller film but that they might need more time than just a weekend.

Along those lines, I thought this was an interesting article.

x
shaz

David Lynch on the iphone!

I love David Lynch!

I used to drive 14 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah to San Francisco in high school to see Lynch's performance pieces.

I couldn't agree more with this bit of wisdom from Mr. Lynch.

Film Festivals develop talent!

So, Lane and I were just talking about how everyone loves to talk about all the films at Sundance that don't make any money... which may be true, but one awesome part of film festivals is that you see films from emerging artists and films that may never get distributed. So, I'm glad to see that some folks are writing about the Frontier filmmakers and I love that Geoff reminds everyone that sometimes it's about supporting new filmmakers, who become established filmmakers so they keep on making good films...

I wish people could get over the 11 million dollar sale and go see some of the other films too!

If you haven't been to the New Frontiers on Main. Go! It's awesome, Shari and Cooper rock that place.

I love festivals.

Michel Gondry!

I love him!

oh Madonna

Now she's a director....
Ah Madonna.

www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=36412"

Indiewire posts top 10s from yours truly...

and other film programmers, bloggers and smart film lovers!
there are others I forgot too!

http://www.indiewire.com/movies/2007/12/industry_and_bl.html

LACMA FILM

Check out the Lynch weekend and SECRET SUNSHINE is great - we screened both at AFI FEST this year!

http://www.lacma.org/programs/FilmSeriesSchedule.aspx

Mexican Cinema

The Goteborg International Film Festival is highlighting Mexican Cinema.

http://www.filmfestival.org/filmfestival/info/en/press/nyheter?itemId=161058

Cinevegas highlighted Mexico this year and we at AFI FEST had several amazing Mexican films at the festival.

When we screened DEFICIT at the film festival, Producer Pablo Cruz talked about what's happening in Mexico and how the struggles of modern Mexican life are inspiring filmmakers and artists to create.

http://www.afi.com/onscreen/afifest/2007/media/video1.aspx

I love it when artists speak up and something extraordinary happens.