Features

Letter from Buenos Aires: Subsidies Create More Films, But Not an Eager Audience

mike — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It’s not surprising that a country known for its artistic and cultural liveliness is garnering critical acclaim and attention for its films.

Download This: The Future of Distribution is Just a Click Away

michele — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Video blogs, vodcasts, YouTube -- in many ways it seems that independent filmmakers have taken the internet by force. But what about independent films picked up for distribution? In many cases, they are notably missing from the online arena. Companies like Zipporah Films, Women Make Movies and Davidson Films still stick with their tried-and-true model of

Letter from Bangkok: Thai Indies Flourish, and Face New Censorship

mike — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:48:23 -0600

Mainstream Thai cinema is coming up on the international radar lately. In 2003, Francis Ford Coppola spearheaded the international release of Suriyothai, one of the highest grossing Thai films ever when it was first released in that country. It recalls the heroic exploits of a 16th Thai queen defending her country against Burmese invasion.

Thirteen Ways of Looking at Sundance

erin — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:43:37 -0600

Sundance is growing. More submissions than ever--8,000 for 2008. More screenings. More countries of origin represented in both the feature and documentary competitions. More arms of the Sundance empire--institutes, labs, the Sundance Channel--at work. More categories to sift through than a sane film-goer can practically comprehend, let alone stand in line for.

Will Success Spoil the 48 Hour Film Project?

nheintz — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:43:46 -0600

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in January, director David Butler and his motley film crew set up shop in a cavernous yellow brick building on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore’s Little Italy. The team, known collectively as Bargain Basement Films, started straggling in at about 7 a.m.

Funny Women

erin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:26:39 -0500

Sarah Silverman is the controversial comedian du jour. Her capacity to shock today's audiences may be distinctly Silverman, yet her career stands on the shoulders of several comedic foremothers. Her routines echo the boldness of Fanny Brice, the sexuality of Sophie Tucker, and the brashness of Joan Rivers to name just a few.

Why We (Still) Need AIVF

khards — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

When I started to write this article, I began with a David Letterman-esque list of 20 reasons we need AIVF. I included practical items like “to get a job,” “to fill out an IRS schedule C for an unincorporated business,” and “to find out which film festivals are scams.” But the real reason we need AIVF is to find each other. We need to know where we are.

Blurring the Lines

khards — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Ohio-based filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s 3-hour and 45-minute documentary A Lion in the House follows five families with economically and racially diverse backgrounds over six years during their fights against childhood cancer.

The History and Legacy of AIVF (Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers)

khards — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

In 1975, when a small group of energetic filmmakers convened the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers in their living rooms and makeshift offices, the word “independent” didn’t yet conjure up a world of arthouses, busy film festival circuits, and documentary filmmakers with household names.

State of Fear

marla — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The Last Shot