How to Die in Oregon is, in the simplest terms, about the ability to choose your own fate.  The state of Oregon is one of the few places in the world that allow you to literally do so, by granting the terminally ill the right to select their moment of death through assisted suicide.  However, that simple concept is not so simple in practice.  How a society deals with the end of life reveals much about what it values in itself.  This film gives us the opportunity to think about that topic for...

A pre-dawn dusting of snow fell on southern Oregon, wrapping Ashland like a gift.  Morning’s bright sun melted white back to green to reveal the start of the 10th Ashland Independent Film Festival.  By midday, the endless crisp, blue sky instead hung low, grey, and ominous.  A freakish snow squall swirled around the queue in front of the Varsity waiting for the first slate of films, then the clouds lifted and the world shone bright again. Those changes - from cheery to dreary and b...

While the Cannes Film Festival may be over, the Festival season continues apace. Over 5000 miles away from the Croisette, another event is showcasing the best of international cinema. The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is celebrating its 32nd anniversary with its most ambitious program yet. The Festival opened on May 25th with the West Coast premiere of THE ILLUSIONIST, a historical thriller set in 1900 Vienna. The film, directed by Neil Burger, stars Edward Norton as a mysterious ma...

The Jackson Hole Film Festival announced its selection of independent films in competition for the June 2006 Film Festival. The selections, which were narrowed down from over 700 film submissions, will fall into the Festival’s 7 competitive categories: Independent Features, Shorts, Documentaries, World Program Spotlight UK, Global Insight, Sports Action and Student Voices. The top films from the US, UK and Australia will compete for the coveted Rosemount Diamond Award and a $10,000 cash priz...

8th ANNUAL SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL March 31st – April 9th, 2006The Sarasota Film Festival Competition, Audience Awards and Filmmaker Honorees were announced at the annual black-tie Filmmakers’ Tribute Dinner hosted by the Longboat Key Club & Resort, the Official Resort of the Sarasota Film Festival, on Saturday evening, April 8th, 2006. The evening, which was introduced by Dinner Chair Mary Ann Robinson, Board President Neil McCurry, Festival Executive Director, Jody Kielbasa and Master of C...

ROBERT ALTMAN And A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION To Be Saluted At the 8th Annual Sarasota Film Festival: March 31 – April 9, 2006Altman Joins Throng of Talented Honorees Including Werner Herzog, Felicity Huffman, Allison Janney, William H. Macy, Robert Towne, Paula Wagner Honorary Academy Award® recipient Robert Altman will be Saluted at the Sarasota Film Festival during the final weekend of the 8th annual event where his latest film, the Picturehouse release of Garrison Keillor’s A PRAIRIE HOME ...

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALUNVEILS 2006 LINE-UP Over 125 Films Headline April 20 - 28 Event The Palm Beach International Film Festival Executive Director Randi Emerman announced today the film line-up for the 11th annual event to be held April 20 – 28. Over a 125 films will screen at this years event, including features, documentaries and shorts. The eight-day Fest will introduce 18 world premieres, 3 U.S. premieres and 59 Florida premieres, including 31 international films.Opening...