Market Place, Public Radio – The union representing film directors struck a deal with film studios, but that cordial relationship might not translate into a quick end to the writers’ strike. Scott Jagow talks with Tess Vigeland. Scott Jagow: Hollywood’s labor dispute just got a little more interesting. Yesterday, the Directors Guild struck a tentative deal with the studios. No progress, though, with the writers.Marketplace’s Tess Vigeland has been following the strike throughout. Tess, what’s in the director’s deal versus what the writer’s want from the studios?Tess Vigeland: There are differences in the formulas, but you’ve actually seen that the…
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The Berlin International Film Festival has presented frequent Homage programmes for outstanding protagonists in the world of film since 1982. The last Homage honoured American director Arthur Penn in 2007. Within the framework of its 58th edition, the Berlin International Film Festival is once again dedicating a showcase to an extraordinary personality in international cinema: the renowned Italian director Francesco Rosi. In his work, Rosi has critically reflected on political, economic and intellectual developments in Italy. Within the scope of the Homage, Francesco Rosi will receive the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement on February 14, 2008. “With their explosive power,…
With a world trapped in so many regional, religious, ideological and racial conflicts, is it right or even possible for a filmmaker to avoid politics? And, is a filmmaker able to shape or influence public opinion and perceptions of events around the world? Can a film affect the political alignment of individuals? James Ulmer, the Cinema Without Borders International Editor, will be the moderator of this session of Conversations Without Borders. Other panel members will include filmmakers participating in this year’s Festival with screening of their films. Talking Pictures: Conversations Without Borders Showing: Saturday, January 12, 11:00 AM Running Time:…
On Sunday, January 6, director John Sayles will receive the Festival’s American Maverick Award following the screening of his new feature Honeydripper, which he directed, wrote and edited. The American Maverick Award was established to honor filmmakers who exemplify the true spirit of successful independent American filmmaking, establishing a body of work that both eschews the conventions of standard storytelling and epitomize the best aspects of quality filmmaking. Honeydripper is a fable about the birth of rock n’ roll in Harmony, Alabama. Set in 1950, the films tells the story of Tyron Purvis (Danny Glover), proprietor of the Honeydripper Lounge…
The Kite Runner begins by introducing Amir, a writer living in San Francisco California who when receiving a phone call from Rahim Kahn an old family friend, is taken back to his childhood in Kabul Afghanistan. Here we meet Hassan who is Amir’s childhood friend as well as a servant boy in Amir’s house. Both Amir and Hassan enjoy flying kites and end up winning a kite fighting tournament. On that same day Amir witnesses Hassan being sexually assaulted by a group of bullies and this ultimately ends up fracturing the friendship permanently. As the film progresses, Amir is persuaded…
Los Angeles Times: BAGHDAD – Armed guards frisked attendees at two separate checkpoints and foreign directors skipped the four-day event out of safety concerns.But with its red carpet, half a dozen television crews circling like paparazzi and a roster of 58 films, the Baghdad International Film Festival is rolling on this week to a largely hipster Iraqi crowd enjoying its rare moment in the spotlight.Organizers said they expect more than 1,000 movie fans, actors, directors and crew members to stop by the Palestine Hotel-turned-movie theater for the festival, the second since its inception in 2005.The event marks a major departure…
Southeast European Times – Bringing war crimes fugitive Radovan Karadzic to justice will help clear Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards EU and NATO accession, a group of directors and artists said in a joint appeal. Also this week: late Macedonian singer Tose Proeski is named Croatia’s Person of the Year.A group of popular film directors and artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a joint appeal calling for the arrest of former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic, who has been on the run since his indictment by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague 12 years ago. The signatories…
Next to renowned directors like Laetitia Masson, Brad Anderson or Lucia Murat, newcomers like Javier Gutierrez from Spain or Ozgür Yildirim from Germany will present their works in the Panorama 2008. Music star Madonna will give her directorial debut alongside the works of underground star Bruce LaBruce and TEDDY winner 2007, Zero Chou from Taiwan. Thirteen films give a first lively glimpse of this year’s world cinema creations. From the start, it has been the mission of the Panorama to discover films for the cinema programme of the coming arthouse season and to provide the market with inspiration. In 2008,…
The American Cinematheque presents the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe Foreign Language Nominee Events at the Aero (January 9 – 12) and Egyptian Theatres (January 12). See the five nominees for the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film with screenings of the films at the Aero, before meeting the directors of all of the nominated films at a special seminar at the Egyptian on January 12th. The films include: THE KITE RUNNER, an epic quest for redemption directed by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND; MONSTER’S BALL); THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, a tribute to the spirit of the imagination and…
Khaleej Times: Veteran Lebanese film director and scri ptwriter Borhane Alaouie might give the Dubai International Film Festival a miss in the future. Well, it’s certainly not because he doesn’t like being part of the film festival. It’s just that he would now prefer to keep a safe distance from the limelight! The controversial filmmaker was in DIFF 2007 for the screening of his latest film, Khalass. “It is about three friends who survived the Lebanese civil war and still have a burning flame of life in their hearts. It is a story about love, hope, friendship and sacrifices made…