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First Look at the Doc NYC Film Festival

The Doc NYC Film Festival is kicking off at the IFC Center on 6th Avenue on November 2nd through November 10th 2011. Vimooz’s Francesca McCaffery is covering the Festival, and here are some of the first highlights of what is proving to be a truly inspiring, not-to-be-missed line-up:

The Island President: If you only go see a few films at the Doc NYC Film Festival this year, Jon Shenk’s “The Island President” should be at the very top of your list. Focusing on the pint-sized President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives Islands (the country comprised of a thousand scattered islands, South of India) and his amazing quest to crush the threat of global warming- which is literally threatening the life of the Island’s inhabitants. (The Maldives are literally sinking at a stomach-lurching rate, due to the additional CO2 in the air, which is raising ocean water levels.) Learning about his twenty years as a political activist and political prisoner before he was elected- this movie is a tribute to a brilliant, illuminating spirit, and absolutely MUST be seen. (Radiohead does the soundtrack, another great reason to see it!) {jathumbnail off}

AFI FEST 2011 Announces World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight and Shorts programs

AFI FEST announced the remaining programs and films that will screen in the festival’s World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight and Shorts programs at the 25th edition this November.

The festival describes each programs as “World Cinema showcases the most anticipated and prize-winning international films of the year, Breakthrough highlights works discovered only through the submissions process and Midnight’s eclectic selection presents films with provocative and unexpected ideas.” {jathumbnail off}

Gotham Independent Film Awards Announce 2011 Nominees

Best Feature Nominee - Meek’s Cutoff — Best Feature Nominee – Meek’s Cutoff

The IFP’s Gotham Independent Film Awards™ nominations were announced today; twenty four films will compete in six competitive categories for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, and Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.

The nominees for the 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards are: {jathumbnail off}

Rooftop Films Announce their Filmmakers’ Fund Grantees

Rooftop Films is not only known for its Summer festival, they also support the filmmakers whose work they screen to help make new movies through the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund. Rooftop Films announced the recent recipients of their Filmmakers’ Fund Grantees: Lucy Walker’s short documentary The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (Filmmakers’ Fund Grantee ’11) has been named among eight shortlisted contenders for the 84th Academy Awards’ best Documentary Short Subject category, of which three […]

Entertainment Industry Expresses Concern for Imprisoned Iranian Filmmakers

Imprisoned Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi

Numerous entertainment industry organizations have issued statements in support of the six imprisoned Iranian filmmakers. According to the press release, “In September 2011, the Iranian government arrested six independent filmmakers for allegedly working with the BBC, on charges including espionage and treason. Along with the ongoing house arrest of director Jafar Panahi and the prior arrest of actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who was later sentenced to one year in prison and 90 lashes, the arrests sparked outrage from filmmaking communities within Iran and around the world. Prior to the release of two of the filmmakers, all six were denied access to their lawyers and families, who were forced to remain silent. ” {jathumbnail off}

Bingham Ray named new Exec Director of San Francisco Film Society

Bingham Ray has been appointed the new executive director of the San Francisco Film Society effective November 7, 2011. Ray comes to the San Francisco Film Society from New York City, where he recently served as the first run programming consultant to the Film Society of Lincoln Center, executive consultant to the digital distribution company SnagFilms and adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. “This opportunity defines the phrase ‘too […]

Ashland Independent Film Festival has a new Executive Director

The Ashland Independent Film Festival has a new Executive Director. She is Anne Ashbey Pierotti, and she will succeed Tom Olbrich on November 1. Pierotti is already well known to the festival, having served on the Ashland Independent Film Festival’s board of directors from 2006 to June of 2011 and was the board’s President from 2008 to 2010. “I am deeply honored to have been selected for this position,” said Pierotti. “I look forward to […]

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Unveils New Website

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival has unveiled its new website design just in time for the 26th edition which runs October 21 – November 11, 2011 The festival kicks off with the film, About Fifty, previously titled Fifty Nothing, directed by Thomas Johnston. The film is described as “A “coming-of-age story about the coming of age,” Thomas Johnston’s comedy tackles a very timely subject in these times of aging baby-boomers: what happens when youth, […]

7 Screenwriters Win 2011 Nicholl Fellowships

Seven screenwriters have been selected as winners of the 26th annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The 2011 Nicholl Fellows are (listed alphabetically by author): Chris Bessounian & Tianna Langham, Los Angeles, Calif., “Guns and Saris” Dion Cook, Altus, Okla., “Cutter” John MacInnes, Los Angeles, Calif., “Outside the Wire” Matthew Murphy, Culver City, Calif., “Unicorn” Abel Vang & Burlee Vang, Fresno, Calif., “The […]

Two Award Winning Documentaries Premiere on Cable TV This Month

Two award winning documentaries will premiere on tv/cable this week. The Education Of Dee Dee Ricks debuts October 27, exclusively on HBO, in conjunction with national breast cancer awareness month; and Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s Miss Representation premieres on OWN on October 20th. A self-made millionaire living on New York City’s Upper East Side, 39-year-old Dee Dee Ricks seemed to have it all – until she was diagnosed with aggressive stage II breast cancer. Insured and […]

HARD TIMES: LOST ON LONG ISLAND, and THE ARTIST Take The Top Prizes at 2011 Hampton Film Fest

The hometown film, Marc Levin’s HARD TIMES: LOST ON LONG ISLAND, and THE ARTIST directed by Michel Hazanavicius took the audience awards tonight at the 2011 Hamptons International Film Festival.

HARD TIMES: LOST ON LONG ISLAND follows a group of Long Island residents as they courageously describe the effect that their long time unemployed status has had on their families, finances, and ultimately their American dream; and THE ARTIST is a comedic tribute to silent film starring Jean Dujardin. {jathumbnail off}

Reviews of OK, Enough Goodbye and Scenes of a Crime at 2011 Hamptons International Film Festival

The 2011 Hamptons International Film Festival continues through Monday, October 17, 2011, but Saturday proved to be a very popular day for festival goers. With a packed day of screenings, it was frustrating because many of the great films and events (like TV channels) all seem to be happening at the same time, so it was really hard to pick and choose.

Mini Reviews {jathumbnail off}

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