Saturday, September 27-----As newspapers drop local film critics and rely on syndicated national opionionmakers, what is the role of the film critic in today's go-go film culture? Can film critics help a more specialized film find its audience? Is the existence of film critics online and the notion that anyone with a blog receives instant critical entitlement dilute the discerning talents of the critical establishment?

These and other issues will be examined at the first of three seminars hosted by the New York Film Festival, which opens this weekend. The first debate, Film Criticism in Crisis?, takes place today. The session includes a discussion on the future of film writing and features such movie mavens as critic Jonathan Rosenbaum, Cahiers du Cinéma Editor Emmanuel Burdeau, Kent Jones, Editor-at-large Film Comment, GreenCine Daily blog editor David Hudson, and Argentine film critic Pablo Suarez among others. 

The second panel In Girum Imus  Nocte et  Consummir Igni follows Guy Debord's masterpiece on Friday October 3rd and features Olivier Assayas, Greil Marcus and Jean-Pierre Gorin. A panel also follows the screening of Daniel Leconte's It's Hard Being Loved by Jerks, on Sunday October 12th. Leconte will be on hand with Carol Becker and Marshall Cohen to discuss the controversial trial of Charlie Hebdo and the conflict between an aggrieved minority and the freedom of the press. Lots to ponder at this year's NYFF.

Sandy Mandelberger, NY Film Festival Dailies Editor