SBIFF TO BESTOW BEN AFFLECK WITH  MODERN MASTER AWARD   The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by lynda.com, will honor director, producer and actor Ben Affleck with the Modern Master Award at the 28th edition of the Fest, which runs January 24 -February 3, 2013, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.  The Tribute will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the historic Arlington Theatre.   “Afflec...

San Sebastian Film Festival is boiling with news.   Yesterday we learnt that "Arbitrage", a film starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, will be opening the Official Section of the San Sebastian Film Festival in competition and both actors are confirmed to attend the inauguration gala. Both of them have received Donostia Awards in previous years in recognition of their entire careers: Richard Gere at the 55th edition in 2007 and Susan Sarandon at the 43rd edition in 19...

Last Sunday afternoon 2 geared up thieves dressed as nuns skipped a teller countertop and ran away with an undisclosed quantity of cash. The thievery was very similar to one portrayed last year in the critically commended Ben Affleck film, " The Town." Thieves escape without shooting The TCF bank in Palos Heights, Ill., was the most recent "The Town" robbery. The two robbers were male and female. They wore rubber masks and nuns' habits while there. They were b...

The main event on day five of the fest Monday, was a staged conversation with actor Ben Affleck, 37, held at the Grammy Museum a short walk away from the Regal Cineplex 14 main festival venue. This was introduced by long term Newsweek film critic David Ansen who is the artistic director of the festival this year. The moderator --i.e., leading question asker -- was a Mr. Sean Smith, who prudently allowed Mr. Affleck to do most of the talking. Clips from some of his films were shown including the ...