30th Anniversary Restoration of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy to Close 2013 Tribeca Film Festival

30th Anniversary Restoration of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy to Close 2013 Tribeca Film Festival

Jerry Lewis and Robert De Niro in The King of Comedy directed by Martin Scorsese.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), has chosen the 30th Anniversary of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, restored in association with The Film Foundation, Regency Enterprises and Twentieth Century Fox, to close its 12th edition on Saturday, April 27. 

The King of Comedy – directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul D. Zimmerman, produced by Arnon Milchan, and starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott and Sandra Bernhard –was originally released in 1983. Lauded as “shockingly prescient” by Moviefone, the film is recognized for its groundbreaking foresight into reality-TV culture and lack of distinction between renown and notoriety. It also holds up as the finest dramatic work of Lewis’ career, one of Martin Scorsese’s most underrated movies and a darkly funny film that features Robert De Niro playing the scary and fascinating character, Rupert Pupkin.

RIP: Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter Fay Kanin

RIP: Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter Fay Kanin

Fay Kanin (r) with Academy President Sid Ganis.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Fay Kanin, died Wednesday. She was 95.

Kanin wrote screenplays for 1958 Clark Gable-Doris Day comedy “Teacher’s Pet”, for which she received an Oscar nomination, and the 1954 Elizabeth Taylor romantic drama “Rhapsody”.

Kanin served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1979 to 1983, and was its second female president after actress Bette Davis. Kanin also was a longtime chairperson of the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress and served on the board of the American Film Institute.

BLANCANIEVES to Open 2013 Cine Las Americas International Film Festival and 7 BOXES to Close The Festival

BLANCANIEVES to Open 2013 Cine Las Americas International Film Festival and 7 BOXES to Close The Festival

Pablo Berger’s BLANCANIEVES will open the 16th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, on Tuesday, April 16 at the Stateside Theatre. Winner of multiple awards and chosen to represent Spain at the 2012 Academy Awards, the film stars Maribel Verdú, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Angela Molina and newcomer Macarena García.

Closing the festival is 7 CAJAS (7 BOXES) on Sunday, April 21 also at the Stateside Theatre. A cunningly plotted action thriller, the film shows a rarely seen Paraguay on the cinematic map, bringing an inventive, lo-fi ingenuity to the traditional crime thriller. 

Mickey Sumner, Cheryl Hines Among Stars Attending 2013 Sarasota Film Festival

Mickey Sumner, Cheryl Hines Among Stars Attending 2013 Sarasota Film Festival

Greta Gerwig and Mickey Sumner in Frances Ha

Sarasota, FL – Mickey Sumner will receive the Breakthrough Performer Award at the 2013 Sarasota Film Festival for her performance in the closing night film FRANCES HA.  The award will be presented at the annual Tribute Luncheon, Sarasota Yacht Club on Friday, April 12th. Ms. Sumner was seen most recently on stage in New York City opposite Carol Kane in the Atlantic Theater Company’s production of THE LYING LESSON. Ms. Sumner joins previously announced guests Suzanne Clément, Griffin Dunne, Mariel Hemingway, Barbara Kopple and Lili Taylor in receiving honors at the Tribute. Ms. Sumner will also introduce the festival’s screening of FRANCES HA on Saturday, April 13th at The Sarasota Opera House.

Launch Pad program brings World Premiere genre films to 2013 Fantastic Planet Film Festival in Sydney, Australia

Launch Pad program brings World Premiere genre films to 2013 Fantastic Planet Film Festival in Sydney, Australia

THE TAKING, directed by The BAPartists

Fantastic Planet Film Festival announced it’s inaugural LAUNCH PAD program of world premiere films. 

“Launch Pad was developed to provide a solid starting point for genre feature films just commencing their festival run,” explains festival director Dr. Dean Bertram. “Festivals often tend to focus their publicity on films that already have buzz from previous screenings, those which originate from within the studio system, or from a name director. We wanted to provide a specific component of the festival dedicated to discovering, showcasing, and promoting exceptional independent feature films and talented filmmakers beginning their journey.”

The three fantastic films accepted into the inaugural LAUNCH PAD program are: 

A DARK MATTER, directed by James Naylor (Twisting cerebral sci-fi thriller.) 
THE TAKING, directed by The BAPartists (Deep and disturbing art-house horror.)
WET AND RECKLESS, directed by Jason Trost (Hilarious buddy-caper come reality TV parody.)

All of these filmmakers, as well as some cast members from the films, will be attending the festival and partaking in Q&A sessions after their screenings. Launch Pad is a component of the 4th edition of Fantastic Planet Film Festival. Taking place in conjunction with the 7th annual A Night of Horror Film Festival, at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, April 11 to 21. Combined, the festivals will screen over 100 films. Together they are dedicated to presenting Sydney audiences with a stunning showcase of the latest in horror, sci-fi, fantasy and cult cinema.

A brief synopsis and the screening details of this year’s three (3) Launch Pad films follow:

Inventor Ray Dolby to be Honored at 2013 San Francisco International Film Festival

Inventor Ray Dolby to be Honored at 2013 San Francisco International Film Festival

Ray Dolby, inventor of numerous recording technologies and founder of local industry powerhouse Dolby Laboratories, will be honored with the inaugural George Gund III Award at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25 – May 9, 2013). The George Gund III Award, given in tribute to the longstanding Film Society chairman of the board who passed away earlier this year, honors a worthy member of the filmmaking community for their outstanding and unique contributions to the art […]

Beaufort International International Film Festival Announces 2014 Festival Dates

Beaufort International International Film Festival Announces 2014 Festival Dates

The 8th annual Beaufort International International Film Festival (BIFF) will be held February 12 – 16, 2014, in Beaufort, SC.  The festival is now accepting entries from filmmakers; Categories for competition are: Features , Documentaries, Short Films, Student Films, Animation, and Screenplays.  The Early Bird deadline for submissions is July 31, 2013 with the final deadline being October 31, 2013.