Got here yesterday afternoon and headed to the Wheeler Opera House for the first program of the festival. It blew me away. As filmmakers Sylvia Johnson and Ismet Ergun said in the Q&A which followed - "It's all about the storytelling". Those stories ranged from cinema-going kids in Turkey, to a murder in Inuit country, to the streets of Brazil, and to the rehab clinic at Walter Reed. The second program screened later the same night. It was not quite as strong as the first, ...

It seems like there is a wave of hollywood stars directoral debuts at the Aspen Shortsfest, which starts this Wednesday. Josh Brolin's "X" has just been announced as part of the competition. Added to Kate Hudson's CUTLASS, the freshman directing efforts are becoming part of the story at this years Shortfest. Both films have called on family to help out. CUTLASS stars Kurt Russell, Hudson's surrogate step-dad, and Brolin's piece stars daughter Eden. It will be i...

Yesterday, I started to get press releases from the Aspen Shortfest. The first one was for Kate Hudson’s directorial debut CUTLASS. Of course it’s great that Aspen helps a local girl, albeit a famous one. I’ve seen a lot of these shorts that turned into vanity projects, but I am hoping this one avoids that pitfall. Almost all filmmakers, even the rich and famous, have to call in favors to get their film made. The problem is when stars get other stars and crews to work gratis on t...

 Heading to Aspen for the Shortsfest next week and hope to post daily. I've spent over 15 years in the short film business and find Aspen to be the best programmed short film festival in the U.S. Hope this year will be no exception. Looking forward to screening 50 or so of the best short films for 2008.  Will start to update when I get there on April 2nd. ...

CALL FOR ENTRIES It's time to send a screener of your FEATURE FILM to the Taormina Film Fest 2008, taking place in Sicily from June 15 to 21, 2008. Our deadline for submissions is MAY 9. We are now accepting films for selection in the most exciting summer festival in Europe, a boutique showcase for just 20 new films to be shown to our audiences and distributors from around the world. Once again we will privilege world and international premières, divided into the following three sections: ME...

t organizer of Cinequest 18, Jens Hussey, introduced the press conference on Saturday afternoon, noting that on the previous day, the festival had recorded its highest ever numbers for mid-week audiences. At this rate, the estimated total attendance of 80,000 people seems a strong reality.The following segments from the 90 minute conference  should give you an overview of the talent involved in this year's festival.Robert Peters (Director) - Half Empty “It’s a musical filmed over eight ...

Festival international du Film Court de Paris 11 au 18 mars 2008 Cinéma l'Arlequin 76 rue de Rennes 75006   COMPETITIONS   Compétition Francophone (7 programmes : 36 films) La Compétition Francophone nous livre le meilleur de la production francophone de l'année. Chaque projection de film est suivie d'une rencontre avec le(s) réalisateur(s) et les équipes des films. (+ d'infos)   Panorama National Compétitif (8 prog...

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL & FILM MARKET June 23 - 29, 2009 Call for Entries Regular Deadline: March 27, 2009 Late Deadline: April 24, 2009 Online entry form Info For more information : Palm Springs International Short Film Festival 1700 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, California 92262 USA Tel: (760) 322-...

A new short documentary TRANSFORMATION, shot in Kars, Eastern Turkey, is ready to unreel at the Cannes Film Festival. Dedicated to the great Armenian lyrical poet Yeghishe Charents, true to its title, the film explores cultural changes imposed on Armenian structures throughout time. Conceived by a young artist-painter, Arman Tadevosyan, native of Gyumri, Armenia, in collaboration with German Cameraman and filmmaker Thomas Balkenhol, who teaches cinema art at the An...