Features

Fever Dreams, Middle-Eastern Video Diaries, the Quest for Inspiration, and Memories on Tap

erin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Utah, PARK CITY – For filmmakers, screenwriters, video artists and actors looking for inspiration or funding, or both, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival was the destination of choice. I started making the trek to Park City circa 2001, and I’ve been going, on and off, ever since, always on the lookout for undiscovered diamonds in the rough.

Alchemy Springs from the Striking Artistry of Sundance Shorts

erin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Utah, PARK CITY – When it comes to challenging and adventurous short films, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival’s mojo was in top form as the nation’s most prominent tastemaker for the state of indie cinema, both in America and abroad.

Approaches to End of the World Docs

erin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:28:54 -0600

Two social justice docs at IDFA targeted and systematically attacked the same universal villain: progress. Four Horsemen and Surviving Progress are both "big picture" documentaries that tackle some of today's most globally pressing issues.

Postcard from Northern Ontario

erin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:00:43 -0500

Filmmaker Benjamin Paquette stood stoically by the theater lobby with his crew, his friends and collages. He quietly greeted movie goers as they filed in to the premiere of his fourth feature film, (Non) Fiction, at this year’s Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival in Sudbury, Ontario.

State of the Film Industry in Southeast Europe

erin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:52:49 -0500

For the past three years, film professionals from all over Southeast Europe have gathered at the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) to discuss the state of the regional film industry during the Cinelink forum, the track of the festival established for that purpose.

Friend Your College Film Programmer, Pronto!

erin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Imagine if someone gave you over $50,000 to use for programming the film schedule at a movie theater for nine months. The theater doesn’t charge admission so your curatorial choices aren’t constrained by the pressure to sell tickets. You get to decide how many films to show, when to show them, and whether to show them on 35mm or digitally. You are effectively your own boss.

Just Like Us: The Truth About Light

erin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Late one night in early June, I was devouring a novel by candlelight after forgetting, for the third time in a week, to buy bulbs. The room was dim and though it was hell on my eyes, the poet in me was charmed by the whole feel of it. I took a short break to make the book last and contemplate a shadow in a far corner, when the room brightened with the flash of a text message on my cell phone.

10 Filmmakers to Watch in 2011

cristina — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:45:32 -0500

It's time for our annual 10 Filmmakers to Watch list. We’ve pooled our resources and brainpower to get the scoop on who’s who this year.

Four Docs to Watch on Halloween

erin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

In uncertain times, many filmgoers seek out horror or escapist narratives in order to get their minds off terrorism, unemployment, or their own lives. Over the past 10 years, my friends and I have kept up the tradition of watching terrifying films throughout the month of October in order to dispel the candy-colored cobwebs that have sterilized the holiday season into so much Scooby-Doo hijinx.

All Signs Point North

erin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) is a documentary-exclusive festival that takes place September 29th through October 3rd in a picturesque Maine coastal town. It’s a small, but growing festival founded six years ago by Ben Fowlie, who also programs and coordinates the event.