Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced the program for its 10th annual Directors Close-Up series, taking place February 2 - March 2, 2011 at The Landmark - West Los Angeles.   Writer/Directors James Gray (Two Lovers) and Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Los Angeles Film Festival Artistic Director David Ansen will be moderators.  Series panelists include writer/directors Lisa...

by Marla LewinFilm Independent announced nominations this morning for the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards.  Nominees for Best Feature include (500) Days Of Summer, Amreeka, Precious, Sin Nombre and The Last Station.  Taraji P. Henson and Matt Dillon also announced finalists for the Acura Someone to Watch Award, the Truer Than Fiction Award, and the Piaget Producers Award. A Serious Man was selected for the Robert Altman Award, which is given to one film’s director, casting director and ...

The Hedgehog (Le Herisson) scooped three awards in Cairo last night. In only her third film as a director, Mona Achache won the Critics' Prize, Best Director and the Special Jury Prize. The Hedgehog was inspired by the eponymous novel by Muriel Barbery. The screenplay was written by Achache. The film tells the story of Renée Michel a fifty-something female concierge with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a passion for great works of literature. Paloma is a 12-year...

Bringing the digital era into film festivals is something we love at filmfestivals.com and strive to achieve every day. We are passionate advocates of the usage of the internet as the primary communication means for festival audiences, in sync or not with live events in "real life " festivals.We have been pioneers (back in 2000) building and programming the first VOD platform of festival films in the hope that audiences (scattered worldwide, diasporas, serious film fans...) would be eagerly lo...

With immediate effect, the Berlinale Co-Production Market is again seeking promising feature film projects that it would like to assist to find co-production and co-financing partners at the Berlinale 2010.   Until 29 October 2009, experienced producers may submit projects that have budgets between two and ten million euros; at least 30% of the funding has to be in place. The projects must also be suited to international co-production.   At the 7th Berlinale...

   Film Independent's 9th Annual Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week incubator designed to help directors who are prepping their feature films, and is sponsored by Kodak.         Taking place in Los Angeles during the winter, the Lab assists directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing, yet challenging creative environment.             ...

Film Independent’s 9th Annual Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week incubator designed to help directors who are prepping their feature films, and is sponsored by Kodak. Taking place in Los Angeles during the winter, the Lab assists directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing, yet challenging creative environment. To apply, please visit: http://filmindependent.org/fellowships/filmmake...

  The Cannes Critics Prizes At the Cannes International Film Festival (France, May 13-24, 2009) a jury of FIPRESCI presented three prizes. Prize to a film in competition:      "The White Ribbon" (Das weisse Band) by Michael Haneke      (Germany, Austria, France, Italy, 2009). Prize to a film in the section "Un Certain Regard":      "Police, Adjective" (Politist, Adjectiv) ...

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the filmmakers and film projects selected for its 8th annual Directors Lab, sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company. Taking place in Los Angeles from now until the end of March, the Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week incubator designed to assist directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmakin...

24th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival Applauds 30 Directors Receiving Prestigious AwardsChicago, IL October 29 - This year The 24th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival congratulates its winners of the 30 awards presented at the CICFF's American Airlines Closing Night Awards Presentation, Sunday, October 28, 2007 at Columbia College's Film Row Cinema. Gerren Taylor, teen supermodel represented by Elite Management and the subject of award-winning documentar...

Aspen Shortsfest celebrated a diverse mix of short films including several world, North American and US premiers to the delight of audiences and dozens of film guests from around the world during its 16th edition. The top winners were The Substitute (Andrea Jublin, Italy) for Best Comedy, Fair Trade (Michael Dreher, Germany) for Best Drama, Never Like the First Time! (Jonas Odell, Sweden) and Yours Truly (Osbert Parker, UK), which share Best Animation and City (Topaz Adizes, USA) for Best Short ...

National Geographic’s All Roads Film Project is launching with a full head of steam into the 2007 film festival circuit The prestigious Berlin International Festival gets underway this week and All Roads will be there with the screening of “Make A Wish” a film by 2005 Seed Grantee Cherien Dabis. According to All Roads Director Francene Blythe, the project will continue to build on its previous years successes. “Last year All Roads grew in audience, attendance, and media outreach 100%...

Palm Springs International Short Film Festival and Market opens with Award Winning Program The opening night for the 10th Annual Palm Springs International Short Film Festival was a successful tribute to the art of short films. Audiences enjoyed the cool theaters while out side the desert heat steamed up the competition in North America’s most prestigious short festival. With over 2000 entries over 300 films are set to screen this next week. A number of Cash and industry prizes will be awar...