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Previews
Other Israel Film Festival Celebrates Minority Voices
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- Category: Previews
- Published on Friday, 05 November 2010 20:35
- Written by Laura Blum
Don’t expect to find WASP (White Ashkenazi Sabra with “protekzia”) characters dominating the screens of the Other Israel Film Festival (November 11 to 21, 2010) at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. Now in its fourth year, the Festival seeks to amplify the more muted voices of Israeli society, especially those of the Arab Christians, Muslims, Beduins and Druze who represent 20% of that country’s citizenry.
The Opening Night film, Another Way, gives literal expression to this mandate. The documentary by Yariv Mozer tracks Arab-Israeli Mira Awad and Jewish-Israeli Noa as both singers represent Israel at the 2009 Eurovision song contest, against the backdrop of the Gaza War and criticism from left and right.
Engendered Presents I View Film Festival 2010
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- Published on Wednesday, 03 November 2010 20:13
- Written by Brad Balfour
Screenings are followed by discussions and panels with key cast members, film personalities, and academics to offer a critical dialogue about issues integral to the festival.
Says Festival director Myna Mukherjee, “Cinema remains one of the most effective and powerful ways to change societies like ours that are still fraught with silences around issues of gender, sexual and human rights. We are thrilled to have so many voices joining us to amplify our mission of using the popular to blow up the marginal."
Based in New York, Engendered produces an annual four-part festival that brings together the best in contemporary South Asian performance, music, visual arts, and cinema. Both a political and aesthetic festival, Engendered uses the medium of arts and culture to create change and promote social justice by initiating public dialogue around women’s issues, gender inequity, sexual orientation, and minority and health rights. This organization focuses on presenting a body of bold and contemporary cinematic work through which to view South Asian cinema -- the many issues that are both infused in the film's and the organization's mission.Partially supported by the United Nations Development Program, award-winning Indian director Onir's film I Am opens the festival and makes its North-American Premiere. Other festival highlights include a special NY Premiere of the critically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival screened documentary, Bhutto, and the North American premiere of Just Another Love Story, a Berlin Film Festival favorite..
Adds Mukherjee, "Together we hope, the film-makers and their work will show the stunning breadth and capacity of the Film Industry, burst open new spaces for dialog, and sustain critical South Asian Cinema.”
For more information about the film lineup and ticket information, please go to: www.engendered.org/iviewfilm.html
I View Film Festival 2010
September 18th-26th, 2010
Asia Society
The Tribeca Film Center
Doha Tribeca Film Festival Turns Two
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- Category: Previews
- Published on Wednesday, 27 October 2010 02:46
- Written by Laura Blum
The history of the Middle East can be traced through its dynamic alliances, and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (October 26 to 30, 2010) – a partnership between Doha Film Institute and Tribeca Enterprises – updates this tradition in the cultural dominion. Marking its second year under the sun, this “celebration of all things film” in the Emirate of Qatar joins such neighboring fests as Abu Dhabi and Dubai in blazoning cinema’s banner across the Persian Gulf.
This recent caravan of film festivals is propelling a whole new sector of filmed entertainment in the region. As noted by DFI and DTFF executive director Amanda Palmer, these showcases – and such coffers as Doha Film Fund -- are allowing local filmmakers and productions to flourish. Just as consequentially, the parade of international and Arab movies unleashed in the fests is boosting cinema culture in the home community in ways that were all but unimaginable scant years ago.
AFI Fest Treats Revelers to Free Fare
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- Category: Previews
- Published on Tuesday, 26 October 2010 23:23
- Written by Laura Blum
Taking its cue from TV and the web, the AFI Fest will once again offer free entertainment – brought to you by corporate sponsors -- when it opens for “business” November 4 to 11, 2010. The flagship Festival of the American Film Institute partly has Audi to thank for its complimentary screenings and galas (and does so prominently by mentioning the carmaker in its moniker).
Los Angeles’ oldest-running film festival will unfurl in and around a clutch of vintage venues across Hollywood. Festival headquarters are at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with screenings and special events converging on Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Mann Chinese 6 theatres and the Egyptian Theatre. AFI Fest 2010 will screen 97 films, including 66 features and 31 shorts, chosen from 3,000 submissions across 31 countries. Shorts screened at the Festival are officially eligible for Oscar consideration.
