Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced today the panelists for the seventh annual Film Independent Forum, presented by indieWIRE, to be held October 21-23 at the Directors Guild of America. The keynote speaker and additional panelists will be announced shortly, as well as the recipient of the 2011 Sloan Producers Grant, to be awarded on closing night. The Film Independent Forum is a must-attend weekend con...

Cinefest 2011 Closing Night I often find at the end of a film festival, some of the films I chose to see will unintentionally deal with the same topic on some level: Brother & Sister, Terri and Vampire all dealt with care for an elderly parent, two of which had Alzheimer's. Womb explored an Oedipal complex and Brother & Sister performed a staged version of Oedipus. If I thought about it longer, I'm sure I'd find more cross references. I enjoyed my movie date...

Director Azazel Jacobs and Actor Jacob Wysocki Expected to AttendThe 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5) announced today that its Centerpiece screening will be Azazel Jacob’s heartfelt comedy Terri. The Festival’s Centerpiece is designed to showcase a celebrated young director and his or her latest film. Terri will screen 7:30 pm, Saturday, April 30 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas followed by the Centerpiece party at 9:30 pm at CLIFT, Velvet Room. Dire...

  For American Independent filmmakers (and increasingly, international ones too), the Sundance Film Festival is an opportunity to put one's project on the world stage and, hopefully, end up with a delicious distribution deal. Of course, truth be told, less than 5% of the 250 films on offer here will create any sort of noise after the Festival concludes (well, push that up to 10% if you include the films that will eventually be asked to participate on the international film festival circ...

Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition Categories, the Festival presents films in six out-of-competition sections to be announced on December 2. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. On Day One, the Festival will forego the convention of one opening ni...