On June 17th The Art Directors Guild Film Society and The American Cinematheque will have a tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld. Jr. and MGM.Bob Mackie, Emmy winner and Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Michael Lonzo, Cinematographer, Historian and Film Collector and Roy Christopher, Awards-winning Production Designer and ADG Lifetime Achievement Honoree are the featured panelists, who with moderator Thomas A. Walsh, Production Designer and President of the Art Directors Guild, will explore the legacy of Impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. vs. the myth that he became as a result of MGM’s fanciful interpretations. Mr. Mackie will discuss the design legacy of Florenz Ziegfeld’s…
Author: Robin Menken
Robin Menken
Robin Menken Robin Menken lives in Los Angeles. She was the Artistic Director of the Second City Workshops, taught at UC Berkeley, USC, Barcelona\'s Ateneu and the Esalin Institute. She was Roberto Rossellini\'s assistant, and worked with Yevgeny Vevteshenku, Glauber Rocha and Eugene Ionesco. She sold numerous screenplays and wrote the OBIE winning The FTA SHow (touring with Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland and Ben Vereen.) She was a programming consultant and Special Events co-ordinator for numerous film festivals, including the SF, Rio, Havana and N.Y Film Festivals. Her first news outlet was the historic East Village Other.
Los Angeles Filmforum presents the Los Angeles premieres of two Peter Greenaway films, with imported 35mm prints! The first, “Rembrandt’s J’Accuse”, is on June 3, and the second, “Nightwatching”, is on June 17. The two are closely related, fictional and documentary interpretations of Rembrandt and the painting The Night Watch.”Rembrandt’s J’Accuse,” directed by Peter GreenawayLos Angeles Premiere! Imported 35mm print.Sunday June 3, 7:30 pm The Spielberg Theatre at the EgyptianIt’s “CSI: Rijksmuseum” in British obsessive Peter Greenaway’s fascinating film essay/illustrated lecture, a companion piece to his feature drama Nightwatching (and his multimedia installation “Nightwatching” at the famed Amsterdam museum). Rembrandt’s…
On Wednesday, May 30, The Los Angeles Conservancy launched the twenty-sixth season of Last Remaining Seats, its signature series of classic films and live entertainment in historic movie palaces. This year, the closing night film ‘The Wizard Of Oz” unreels at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly HillsLast Remaining Seats presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful theatre, surrounded by fellow fans. What began in 1987 as a way to draw attention to Los Angeles’ historic theatres is now a summer tradition, drawing thousands of people from the region, the…
HBR FEST has announced a special Filmmakers panel moderated by Variety’s Senior Critic and expert in Latin American cinema Robert Koehler at 4PM on Thursday, June 7 at the Egyptian Theater. The event is open to the public and aside from a chance to meet the filmmakers; it will provide great insight into the current state of Brazilian filmmaking, the trends and rising talent of Brazil.Filmmaker’s attending whose work will be featured in HBR FEST 2012 include: Alysson Muritiba, director of CIRCULAR and THE FACTORY (A FÁBRICA); Heloisa Passos, director of ON THE MOVE (CAMINHOS); Sara Silveira, producer of SWIRL…
The Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, founded by producer Talize Sayegh, returns to the Egyptian theatre with five days of films showcasing Brazil’s up and coming indie filmmakers. This year, tickets to most of the films will be free, thanks to the generous support of the Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, the General Consulate of Brazil in Los Angeles, and the Brazilian Foreign Relations Ministry. The 5 day film festival unreels June 6 – 10, 2012 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.HBR FEST officially kicks off Wednesday, June 6th with an Opening Night Celebration at the Egyptian Theater featuring a star-studded…
Andrei Zvyagintsev “Elena” blends a narrative sense reminiscent of 19th century writers like Balzac or Falubert with contemporary tropes. The result is a minimalist post-modern Noir.Even without Phillip Glass’s signature angst-provoking score, Zvyagintsev builds tension from the first frame (a Tarkovsky-style nature shot of dead branches.)Mikhail Krichman’s beautifully composed long shots of the couple’s morning rituals hypnotize. The closing sequence, with Elena’s family ensconced in Valdimir’s apartment (shot through branches like the opening scene) feels like a Chekov play turned inside out.Through minimalist dialogue Zvyagintsev (Venice’s Golden Lion winner “The Return” ,”The Banishment’) paints a portrait of Russia’s post-Soviet, corrupt…
The 2012 Hola Mexico Film Festival (HMFF) returns for the fourth consecutive year to Los offering an impressive selection of nine narrative and four documentary feature films by Mexican directors and film production companies. Among them three USA premieres and eight LA premieres. Eight short films will also be showcased. The 2012 Hola Mexico Film Festival takes place at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 24th to 30th. For more information see www.holamexicoff.com. Follow HMFF on www.facebook.com/holamexicoff and on Twitter @HolaMexicoFF.¡Adiós Clichés! ¡Hola México! is the theme of the 2012 edition of the Hola Mexico Film Festival…
Writer-directors Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s “The Intouchables”, a politically incorrect but heartfelt buddy comedy is second only to “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” as France’s biggest recent Box Office draw.It’s done $340 million worldwide.The comedy which has taken France and Germany by storm is based on the true story of French businessman Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his Algerian caregiver Yasmin Abdel Sellou, Pozzo di Borgo became a quadriplegic in 1993 following a para-glider accident. The filmmakers saw a documentary based on his autobiography “The Second Wind.”Pozzo di Borgo, the fifth son of the Corsican Duke Pozzo di Borgo, also…
Each April, Hollywood rolls out the red carpet to welcome thousands of movie lovers,filmmakers and legendary stars from around the globe for the TCM Classic Film Festival.Marking its third year, the TCM Classic Film Festival is the place to experience classic movies as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in some of the world’s most iconic venues, with the people who made them. The four-day festival, which takes place Thursday, April 12– Sunday, April 15, features more than 70 screenings, plus events and appearances starting early in the morning and going into the late evening.Turner Classic…
TCM Classics Festival, LA’s newest festival, is a swank operation from start to finish. Unlike most festivals in LA, which are attended by the local film fans, TCM’s audience comes from all over the country and Canada. Friendly and well mannered, they make a nice change from LA’s sometimes spoiled, blasé crowd.Highlights for me: Retour de Flamme / 3D rarities 1900-2003. Serge Bromberg’s selection included films from The United States, France and RussiaFrench film historian-collector Serge Bromberg, whose company Lobster Films restores and distributes found films, brought two astonishing programs. Like a Vaudevillian or Chautauqua performer, the charming showman Bromberg,…