If one subscribes to the hype that 50 is the new 30, then a Pandora’s box of complications, mixed signals and confused messages arise. These are some of the themes explored in the insightful comedy ABOUT FIFTY (formerly titled FIFTY-NOTHING) which opened the 2011 edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Friday evening. The resonant film is a modern comedy that explores the simple truth that it’s never too late to start over again. Even at age 50. The action centers on tw...

  If one subscribes to the hype that 50 is the new 30, then a Pandora’s box of complications, mixed signals and confused messages arise. These are some of the themes explored in the insightful comedy ABOUT FIFTY (formerly titled FIFTY-NOTHING) which opened the 2011 edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Friday evening. The resonant film is a modern comedy that explores the simple truth that it’s never too late to start over again. Even at age 50. The action cen...

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the screenwriters and film projects selected for its 10th annual Screenwriters Lab, sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West. Taking place in Los Angeles from August 17 until September 16, the Screenwriters Lab is an intensive five-week incubator designed to help writers improve their craft, and take their current scripts to the next level in a nurturing, yet ch...

2009 marks the 15th anniversary of the Slamdance Film Festival, one of the few remaining movie showcases whose sole mission is to nurture, support and introduce truly independent works from first-time filmmakers. This celebratory year takes place in Park City, Utah, January 15 – 23 and will screen about 100 films in total in all genres. However, in what is one of the toughest and most-aggressive competitions among festivals, only 20 features in the narrative and documentary feature categories...

VISIONFEST 07: The Other Festival (VF07), which runs September 19-23, 2007, at Tribeca Cinemas (corner of Varick and Laight streets in New York City), has announced that Heather Graham (Boogie Nights; Bobby), who stars in the film festival’s opening night feature, Broken, is scheduled to attend the exclusive New York film festival premiere on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at 8:30 p.m. Ms. Graham is expected to arrive just before 8 in a Classic Car Club vehicle, and will be on hand to officia...

Adrienne Shelly’s Waitress, a charming romantic comedy that was the talk of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, kicks off the third annual alive! Deep Focus Film Festival, April 19-22 at the Arena Grand Theatre in Columbus.Waitress is one of 10 new independent films to be shown at this year’s event, and the festival’s celebration of great film has expanded to include anniversary screenings of modern classics from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, a special presentation of award-winning comm...

9th Annual Sarasota Film FestivalApril 13 – 22, 2007Among the many great filmmakers and special guests expected in for the Festival are Edward Norton, Brian Koppelman, Norman Jewison, Joe Pantoliano, Marcia Gay Harden, Chad Lowe, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jonathan Sehring, Tom Bernard, Mark Urman, Jon Gerrans, Marshall Persinger, Elias Koteas, Kim Raver, Dagmara Dominczyk, Patrick Wilson, David Call, Anna Chlumsky, Zoe Cassavetes, Michael Badalucco, Juha Wuolijoki, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, David Singt...

The Philadelphia Film Society is proud to announce the selection of The Ten and Waitress as this year’s 16th Philadelphia Film Festival’s opening and closing night films. From comedy to drama, these films represent the range and variety of talent highlighted throughout the 14-day festival, April 5-18. Since the 16th Philadelphia Film Festival falls over both Passover and Easter this year, festival organizers thought it would be apt to choose a film about each of the Ten Commandments. Just be...

Friday, January 26---On the eve of the Festival's closing weekend, several impressive distribution deals have been announced, which have made this one of the more active Festivals in recent years. In light of the box office and awards bonanza of the little-film-that-could LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (a Sundance pick-up last year for Fox Searchlight), acquisition execs have been aggressive in snatching up films with equal potential. Of course, whether these were wise decisions that will pay off hands...

The inaugural Fullerton Film Festival will take place August 3 through 6 in the heart of downtown Fullerton with screenings and programs scheduled at the Plummer Auditorium, the Wilshire Auditorium and Fullerton College. Fullerton’s first film festival is presented by the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation (FHTF) which is currently restoring the Fox Fullerton theatre to its original 1920s glory. “The Film Festival is all about summer fun, said Jon Wagner, FHTF execut...

The 21st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival has announced the winners of the 2006 festival competition. The festival, which ran from Feb. 2-12, attracted more than 50,000 visitors to the area, bringing attendance to well over 100,000 people.Winners were selected by the following jury members:American Independent Jury: Gabrielle Kelly, Michael Nozik and Shaun ToubSpanish and Latin American Film Jury: Ann Louise Bardach, Peter Griffiths and Mary Kay PlaceBest International Featur...

World Premiere of “When Do We Eat?” opens the fest U.S. Premiere of “Checking Out” to closeOver 150 films headline fest with 11 World PremieresOver a 150 diverse films will screen at the Palm Beach International Film Festival event, including features, documentaries and shorts. The eight-day Fest will introduce 11 world premieres, 6 U.S. premieres and 43 Florida premieres, including 30 international films.“This is an exciting year for us--we have reached the milestone of our 10th anni...

Wondering how to plan your Festival experience? Here's a glance at How to Cinema Epicuria... This year's program is both entertaining and compelling, with five screening venues around downtown Sonoma and over 100 films, VIP events, cocktail parties and food & wine tastings at every screening! Start with your pass to the Festival...(Last Chance!) Festival passes are on sale for a few more days... buy passes now & truly enrich your festival experience! Festival, Lounge Lizard, Reality, Patron, & ...

Monster closed AFI last week end.The film written and directed by Patty JenkinsPROD: Brad Wyman, Donald Kushner, Charlize Theron, Mark Damon, Clark Peterson EXEC PROD: Meagan Riley-Grant, Steward Hall, Andreas Schmid, Andreas Grosch, Sammy LeeCast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson, Pruitt Taylor Vince Charlize Theron stars in MONSTER, a shockingly moving film that burrows deep beneath the tabloid-sized headline stories on Aileen Wournos, the man-hatingand murder...