ithacafilmfest

Archive for May, 2010

The L.A. Film Festival Directors have set the scene. And the Film Independent press conference today announced action. Downtown LA will be the stage for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, with red carpet events such as the World Premiere of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse about to eclipse a lot of fine indie films but spotlight “a vibrant and burgeoning independent arts community in downtown Los Angeles”.

Over 16 years the L.A. Film Festival has shown itself worthy of its reputation as a world class event, showcasing the best of world cinema from venues all over Los Angeles. “Our new location will continue to pave the way for LAFF to realize its potential as an international destination event, and unites our filmmakers and audiences with the diverse arts community that exists downtown”, said Festival Director Rebecca Yeldham.

Last year’s LAFF, based in Westwood Village, attracted over 85,000 attendees. For this year’s festival from June 17 to 27, it’s easy to imagine that number alone lining the roads to LA LIVE, where all LAFF events will be centred – uptown girls rushing downtown for just a glimpse of Robert Pattinson, the centre of their universe.

In an alternative universe, the independent film community will also be celebrating some great success stories on film.

“We welcome the Los Angeles Film Festival and its supporters to L.A. LIVE and downtown Los Angeles, an area that is already considered one of the great arts communities in our region,” said Tim Leiweke, president and CEO, AEG, developers of L.A. LIVE. “With our array of restaurants and entertainment options for visitors, L.A. LIVE was truly built to be the home of prestigious internationally noted events like the Los Angeles Film Festival.”

And diners will have a lot to discuss over dinner, with a world class entree into the independent film world at LAFF 2010 including over 200 features, short films and music videos from over 30 countries.

Aside from the Twilight invitation-only event, other gala screenings will showcase a whole other world of cinema far beyond the Hollywood studio system. ‘Revolucion’ promises a subversive vision of Mexico as seen through the lens of 10 cutting edge Mexican directors in the midst of their centenary celebrations. And Animal Kingdom, starring Guy Pearce of L.A. Confidential fame, hopes to repeat his gunning down of the box office in yet another in a long line of “intense, high class Australian crime movies” that hints this as the ‘genre du jour’ for Australian film.

The Los Angeles downtown theme (and a twilight theme) continues in a fun festival side program ‘Downtown Confidential’. ‘The Driver´ (1978) “unfolds in an urban twilight zone between Union Station and the Bonaventure Hotel, where Ryan O’Neal’s getaway driver rules the night streets and Bruce Dern’s obsessed cop tries to bust him on his last ride”, you´ll read in the festival program, as you race downtown for the next screening. And who could resist the chance to see Bill Cosby as “a downtrodden private eye searching for a missing girl in the sun-bleached mean streets of early ’70s Los Angeles, leaving violence in his wake” according to the festival program. Could ‘Hickey and Boggs’ (1972) be that masterpiece of modern cinema that you unfortunately missed?

Or perhaps you’ll find those masterpieces in another genre. The LAFF International Spotlight falls this year on Argentinian writer/director/producer Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, proving his right to the title “international art house sensation” with four films ranging from baroque melodrama to dark, expressionistic tales dripping with sexual desire.

For those who desire another genre it will be a delight to just dip into another downtown venue for a different cinematic experience.

From Annette Bening in the opening film ‘The Kids Are All Right’, (about two teenagers conceived by artificial insemination), to Julie Andrews in the closing night film ‘Despicable Me’, (about a supervillain, voiced by Steve Carroll, planning to steal the moon) the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival traverses more universes than one.

And isn’t that the beauty of independent film?

Mathieu Amalric discusses what it was like to direct and star in “La Tournee” or “On Tour”, how the idea came about, and what it feels like to have won such a coveted award.

Brief synopsis of “La Tournee”/”On Tour”: “Joachim, a former Parisian television producer had left everything behind, his children, friends, enemies, lovers and regrets to start a new life in America. He returns to France with a team of New Burlesque strip-tease performers whom he has filled with romantic dreams of a tour of France, of Paris! Traveling from town to town, despite the cheap hotel rooms and lack of money, the curvaceous showgirls invent an extravagant fantasy world of warmth and hedonism that wins an enthusiastic response from men and women alike. Their dream of a tour culminating in a last grand show in Paris goes up in smoke when Joachim is betrayed by an old friend and loses the theater where they were due to perform.”

Q: Sharon Abella: Tell us what it was like to direct and star in the film?
A: Mathieu Amalric: “It was not my idea to star in the film. Many suggested that I star in the film, but I did not want to. I was looking for another actor. Three weeks before the shooting, the producer, the Director of Photography, said, you have to star in the film, but I said, ‘No, I don’t want to. I want to direct.’ Three weeks before the shooting, I said, ‘I guess I have to do it.’ There was a complexity of fiction, of drama, we were able to institute this from the inside, to make surprises, to make a movie that works. It came together.”

Q: Sharon Abella: How did the idea come about?
A: Mathieu Amalric: “At the beginning of the film it’s very solitary, very small. I read, Sidonie-Gabrielle Collette, the French author, for many years. It was sort of a diary of her life as an actress on tour with musicals, where she would do sort of a naked pantomime. She would describe a sort of freedom, and fatigue and a sense of being misfits and independent at that moment. She had fallen in love with another woman, and there was a sense of freedom. I was looking for that spirit today in strip tease, and I couldn’t find it. One day, I saw an article about American New Burlesque, and some photographs, and there was an immediate connection. It was as if Collette were still alive today. When one of the women from the American New Burlesque told me that one of their daughters was Collette, something happened. It was very humorous. The girls talk not with words, but with their bodies. Most are trying to find a perfect body type. That beauty that these girls don’t have a perfect body type, is interesting in itself. That’s how it started.”

Q: Sharon Abella: Do any of the dancers have formal training?
A: Mathieu Amalric: “They all have very different training. A few of them studied classical, or contemporary dance at ‘The Julliard School’. Dirty Martini, played by Linda Marraccini, and Julie, comes from classical dance training. One girl worked in punk rock before and she learned how to play piano in church. Mimi, comes from San Diego, and works in informatics, and she fell in love with the 50′s. They all have different stories, but they are incredibly professional. For instance, before doing a show, they have to warm up. The warm up is quite impressive. They really prepare themselves like artists, like dance artists. Then they can have fun. They are very professional, and are very precise with their props.”

Q: Sharon Abella: Talk about the strong personalities of the American Burlesque dancers. They didn’t seem to want a man controlling where they performed and how much they got paid.

Quotes from film: “We make a show for women, we make our own numbers, men no longer control it, we entertain the masses, it’s like playing dress up.”
A: Mathieu Amalric: “I didn’t know that new burlesque existed before. I was looking for something that could resonate well. I wanted a sort of tension between the manager and independent women. At the beginning of the film, the tour manager character, Joachim, played by me, didn’t even look at the dancers, he was more worried if the young girl would be able to take off her bra. At the same time, by the end of the film, the women sort of adopted and accepted Joachim, and the fact that he is part of the tour. They accept the fact that a man is watching their work.”

Q: Sharon Abella: The tour manager appears as a genuinely nice guy, but seems misunderstood. Do you agree? Talk about Joachim.
A: Mathieu Amalric: “I think that the girls finally accept him, they begin to see that he has a heart, that he is honest with them, and they begin to believe in him. When you see Joachim struggling in Paris to find a theater where they can perform. He takes risks, confronts his enemies, and shows a love for the woman in the hospital. The women must feel that, even if they aren’t aware of it. They must feel that he has difficulties. They must feel that their spirit has contaminated him a little. At the end of the film, Mimi says, “You can sit now”, “Relax”.

Q: Sharon Abella: The challenges you faced making the film.
A: Mathieu Amalric: “It was like paradise to shoot this film. We had women producers, Laetitia Gonzalez, and Yael Fogiel, and we did a real tour. We shot in the hotels where the girls were really living. A complicity happened. This is fiction, and not to be confused with a documentary. I fell in love with these women immediately, and wanted to film their real lives, but ultimately, had to return to the script. We wrote a lot. I would wake up very early in the morning, to be certain that the scenes were written about characters in action and not their real life personalities. This was a big challenge. It’s strange, but a perfect script is a script that you have to hide when you shoot. That you don’t feel when you see the film, that is hidden. That was a big challenge. I wanted the information to be discovered in the present. I wanted it to be a surprise. Oh, he wasn’t a tv producer, oh, he has children. Like the audience watching, I wanted it to be a surprise. This was actually a lot of work.”

Q: Sharon Abella: What does winning the best director prize at Cannes 2010 mean for you?
A: Mathieu Amalric: “It’s the most beautiful present. It’s as if the most intimate present had been given to me, because it tells something about how I fell in love with this project. I just wanted to direct films, working as an actor, was something others saw in me, I wasn’t aware of it. I worked as an assistant director, assistant editor, props, all those jobs, and that’s why the stage was like coming back home, it’s sort of a natural place on a set. It was very moving for all of us. That’s why I wanted the women to come with me on stage, and if the crew had been there also. Directing, is very solitary, but at certain moments, you don’t know who is directing the film, ideas come from everywhere, from the editing, from the props man, from the actors. Directing it’s sort of being a film star that can combine all of the roles together.”

Q: Sharon Abella: You have joined the long list of acclaimed directors at Cannes. How does that feel?
A: Mathieu Amalric: “It is very exciting, but also very scary, because it’s like if it was a little death. Before, I was never thinking what would be the next film, you just film what you have in mind and now you are afraid, but what can I do now. I am going to try not to feel pressure.”

20th edition of the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb dedicated to short animated films is held 1-6 June in Europa, Tuškanac and Movieplex cinemas. Throughout six festival days, more than 450 short animated films from 40 countries will be screened. Out of those, 128 films will compete in four competition programmes – Grand Competition, Student Competition, Special programme and Children’s Competition. In addition, the official programme will include three panoramas – Grand, Student and Croatian – expanding the insight into contemporary animation production.

Aside from the competition programmes and panoramas, this year’s Animafest is preparing a series of side programmes, such as Masters of animation, Focus: Swiss animation, World studios programme and several other special programmes. The programme entitled Masters of Animation traditionally presents works by renowned animated filmmakers. This edition of the festival will provide Croatian audience with an insight into the works of three animation virtuosos: Frédéric Back, Karel Zeman and Jacques Drouin.

Frédéric Back is an internationally acclaimed and renowned Canadian artist, caricaturist, educator and activist, a winner of a host of international awards, four-time Oscar nominee and twice the winner – for his films Crac! and Man Who Planted Trees. His overall work consists of nine films; critics call them masterpieces of animated art. All of them are inspired by themes such as environmental protection, evolution, Quebecoise social heritage and Native American legends.

Back is one of the most important international ambassadors of Canadian and Quebecoise culture. The main quality of his work is relentlessly strong social involvement. Even though he uses diverse techniques, his works are recognisable by his crayon on acetate background technique, providing his drawings with a characteristic blurry appearance. The Masters of Animation programme includes a retrospective of Back’s films. The Animafest Council decided to present him with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The second “master of animation” sharing the same programme is Karel Zeman – celebrating 100th birthday of this pioneer of Czech animation, the Animafest presents an overview of his work. Karel Zeman’s debut film was Christmas Dream in 1945, combining live action and puppet animation. This film reflects Zeman’s fascination with movement and its communicative and emotional potential. The film won the best animated film in Cannes, which marked the beginning of Zeman’s professional career in animation, as well as international fame.

The “Festival Awards Winners” includes films which have already managed to win audience`s hearts in Amsterdam, Leipzig or Jihlava and are presented for the first time to the Polish audience.

50th Krakow Film Festival begins in two weeks: May 31st and June 6th.

SIX WEEKS, dir. Marcin Janos Krawczyk, Poland 2009, 18’

Six weeks – that much time is left for mothers to change their decision about giving a child to adoption. Meanwhile, newly born babies are taken to day care centres and wait for the course of events.

LAST TRAIN HOME, dir. Lixin Fan, Canada / China, 2009, 85’

More than 130 mln Chinese people work far away from home. They come back once a year – to celebrate the Chinese New Year`s Day. Qin`s parents are among those who left their children to earn for their better future and education. They want their children to graduate and not to work in a factory. However, Qin does not want to spend all her life in the countryside, she wants to leave her home and start working. Does one of her parents` visit is able to change her attitude and strenghten family ties?

FOUR BOYS, WHITE WHISKEY AND GRILLED MOUSE, dir. Wichanon Somumjarn, Thailand 2009, 10’

Late afternoon after the harvest…In one of the rice fields four teenagers transform a shed into a pub. There is whisky, grilled mouse and live music…

DISCO AND ATOMIC WAR dir. Jaak Kilmi, Kiur Aarma, Estonia / Finland 2009, 80’

Socialist Estonia enters television era. TV shows happy workers and children singing communist songs. The Soviet propaganda reaches Finland and Finland gives as good as it gets. Supported by the West, Finland launches a competitive TV channel reaching directly Estonian capital – Tallinn. Estonian minds are now occupied by Dallas soap opera and disco dance. Govermental bans and removing antennas from the roofs seem to be useless. When broadcast time comes, creativity of Estonian people goes beyond any borders.

IVAN AND LORIANA, dir. Stefano Cattini, Italy 2008, 10’

Adults who became deaf still remember sounds and melody of words. For children who were born deaf, it is really difficult to learn to speak. Kindergarden pupils Ivan and Loriana, led by nuns, exercise their tongues very carefully but they succeed most in mutual communication. A flesh of joy in their eyes during games and playing speaks for itself.

THE HOUSE, dir. Tayo Cortes, Columbia / Spain 2009, 70’

Mendez family are small sellers dreaming of a house with running water and electricity. They have been living illegaly for years in the outskirts of Bogota. They can be evicted any time. However, it is not the only problem of the family – the inner conflict makes their life even more difficult.

PANORAMA OF THE POLISH FILM

Tata zza żelaznej kurtyny, dir. Krzysztof Rzączyński, Poland 2009, 52’

Każde dotknięcie zostawia ślad, dir. Anna Zakrzewska, Joanna Turowicz, Poland 2009, 49’

Dokumentaliści, dir. Jędrzej Lipski, Piotr Mielech, Poland 2009, 50’

Żyłem 17 razy…, dir. Tadeusz Bystram, Stanisław Zawiśliński, Poland 2009, 58’

Komeda–muzyczne ścieżki życia, dir. Claudia Buthenhoff-Duffy, Poland/Germany 2009, 52’/

Kino Marjan, dir. Grzegorz Rogala, Poland 2010, 4’

Syn, dir. Jan Wagner, Poland 2009, 28’

Sprawa Janusza W., dir. Wojciech Jagiełło, Poland 2009, 29’

Nowa, dir. Tomasz Olejarczyk, Poland 2009, 20’

MC. Człowiek z winylu, dir. Bartosz Warwas, Poland 2010, 20′

Koniec Rosji, dir. Michał Marczak, Poland 2010, 58’

Kochankowie, dir. Rafał Skalski, Poland 2009, 51’

Między kroplami deszczu, dir. Kuba Karyś, Paulina Loszek, Poland 2010, 94’

Lech Majewski. Świat wg Bruegela, dir. Dagmara Drzazga, Poland 2009, 45’

Doktor Jimmy, dir. Janusz Barycki, Tomasz Szwan, Poland 2009, 30’

Ręka fryzjera, dir. Tadusz Król, Poland, 49’

Efekt Chopina, dir. Krzysztof Dzięciołowski, Poland 2010, 54′

Tournée, dir. Andrzej Mańkowski, Poland 2010, 51’

Budka, dir. Grzegorz Zariczny, Poland, 6′

Dzieci wolności, dir. Miłosz Kozioł, Poland, 20′

Prywatne śledztwo majora Zakirowa, dir. Jarosław Mańka, Poland, 15′

Nahacz, dir. Anna Maria Mączka, Poland, 20′

Zabita Czeczenia, dir. Magda Siemion, Poland, 20′

Cena wolności, dir. Mateusz Mularski, Poland, 20′

Dezerterzy, dir. Jerzy Zięty, Poland, 20′

Gdyby ryby miały głos, dir. Tomasz Jurkiewicz, Poland 2010, 27′

Kawałek lata, dir. Marta Minorowicz, Poland 2010, 23′

Wszystkie małe kłamstwa Anny, dir. Krzysztof Bizio, Poland 2009, 30’

Krajobraz nizinny z kołyską, dir. Arek Biedrzycki, Poland 2009, 18’

Serca dwa, dir. Anna Kuśmierczyk, Poland 2010, 15’

Perecowicze, dir. Sławomir Grunberg, Poland 2009, 52’

Aleksandra jedzie do Polski, dir. Jacek Wasilewski, Poland 2010, 52’

Dzieci Wehrmachtu, dir. Mariusz Malinowski, Poland 2009, 44’

Narodzona po raz drugi, dir. Michał Nekanda-Trepka, Poland 2008, 43’

Ala z Elementarza, dir. Edyta Wróblewska, Poland 2010, 28’

Richard Gere starrer “Hachiko” and Duplass Brothers’ “Cyrus” To Bookend The Festival As the Opening and Closing Night Films

Thelma Schoonmaker and Patricia Clarkson Among the Notable Guests To Join Richard Gere and Guillermo Arriaga in AIFF’s Signature
“In Conversation With” Series

Aruba – May 20, 2010 – Program details for the inaugural Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF), which takes place June 4-11, 2010, were announced today. The Festival will showcase 28 films from 18 different countries, featuring several international premieres and many Caribbean/South American premieres. The lineup was announced by AIFF Artistic Director Claudio Masenza along with Festival founders Giuseppe Ciocarrelli and Jonathan Vieira.

Films having their international premiere at the Festival include the Dutch drama “Amsterdam,” directed by Ivo van Hove; the Italian dark comedy “Questione di Cuore,” directed by Francesca Archibugi; the Susanna White directed English family comedy “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang” starring Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans; and the English horror/drama “Black Death” starring Sean Bean, diected by Christopher Smith.

AIFF will open with the drama “Hachiko” starring Richard Gere, who will open the Festival as its official host. In addition to opening the Festival, Gere will be bestowed with a special humanitarian award and participate in the Festival’s “In Conversations With” series engaging the Festival audience.

Fox Searchlight’s comedy “Cyrus,” directed by Jay and Mark Duplass and starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei and Catherine Keener, has been selected as the closing night film.

Commented Masenza, “The first year of a Festival is a double test: the director is testing the reactions of his audience, knowing that the audience is testing him. I believe that this program presents elements to please and interest everybody, balancing amusement with more engaging stories. I chose films coming from almost all of the Latin nations because the Aruba culture is very close to theirs. I also chose several American movies, mainly independent, and included a special ‘window’ on Italy, my home country, that could give an idea of the contemporary industry there.”

Masenza added, “My wish is to introduce the public attending the Festival to the films and the culture of a different European country every year. Often movies that are normally unable to be seen inspire young filmmakers and resonate in their imagination for years to come.”

The official lineup is comprised of the following films:

► 3 IDIOTS (Country: India / Director: Rajkumar Hirani)
► ABEL (Country: USA / Director: Diego Luna)
► ALAMAR (Country: Mexico / Director: Pedro Gonzales-Rubio)
► AMSTERDAM (Country: Netherlands / Director: Ivo van Hove)
► A NY THING (Country: USA / Director: Oliver Lecot)
► BARRY MUNDAY (Country: USA / Director: Chris D’Arienzo)
► BLACK DEATH (Country: UK / Director: Christopher Smith)
► BOY ECURY (Country: Netherlands / Director: Frans Weisz)
► CAIRO TIME (Country: Canada/Ireland/Egypt / Director: Ruba Nadda)
► CHRISTINA (Country: USA / Director: Larry Brand)
► CYRUS (Country: USA / Director: Jay and Mark Duplass)
► DELHI 6 (Country: India / Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra)
► EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS (Country: Argentina/Spain / Director: Juan Jose Campanella)
► HACHIKO (Country: USA / Director: Lasse Hallstrom)
► HAPPY FAMILY (County: Italy / Director: Gabriele Salvatores)
► HOLLY ROLLERS (Country: USA / Director: Kevin Asch)
► I TRAVEL BECAUSE I HAVE TO I COME BACK BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (Country: Brazil / Director: Karim Ainouz)
► LUCKY COUNTRY (Country: Australia / Director: Kriv Stenders)
► MINE VAGANTI (Country: Italy / Director: Ferzan Ozpetek)
► MY QUEEN KARO (Country: Netherlands/Belgium / Director: Dorothee van Den Berghe)
► NANNY MACPHEE (Country: UK/France/USA / Director: Susanna White)
► PENSO CHE UN SOGNO COSI (Country: Italy / Director: Marco De Luca)
► QUESTIONE DI CUORE (Country: Italy / Director: Francesca Archibugi)
► RABIA (Country: Mexico/Spain/Columbia / Director: Sebastián Cordero)
► SELL OUT (Country: Malaysia / Director: Yeo Joon Han)
► THE BURNING PLAIN (Country: USA/Mexico / Director: Guillermo Arriaga)
► THE TRAVELER (Country: USA / Director: Michael Oblowitz)
► VENEZZIA (Country: Venezuela / Director: Haik Gazarian)

Complete film details are provided in the accompanying AIFF program overview.
The stars will be shining bright at this year’s AIFF. In addition to legendary leading man and activist Richard Gere being in attendance, Academy Award® winning filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor, Last Tango in Paris) will be bestowed with The Golden Aruba Award for outstanding achievement in film.

Notable guests participating in the “In Conversation With” series inclide Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominee Guillermo Arriaga (“Babel” “21 Grams”), whose highly acclaimed film “The Burning Plain” is screening in the festival; multiple Academy Award® winner Thelma Schoonmaker (“The Departed” “Goodfellas” “The Aviator”); Academy Award® nominated actress Patricia Clarkson (“Pieces of April” “Shutter Island” “Lars and the Real Girl”); Oscar® nominated actor Griffin Dunne (“Game 6” “My Girl” “Johnny Dangerously”) and famous Indian choreographer Longiness Fernandes (“Slumdog Millionaire”).

The Festival will also host a special Bollywood night, which serves to celebrate Indian cinema and attract many people of Indian descent residing in nearby islands who often to do not get the opportunity to see new Bollywood films in local theaters. A day dedicated to Indian films (Thursday, June 10th) will be capped off with a magnificent Bollywood themed party that same night. Films being shown include “3 Idiots” and “Delhi 6.”

The full AIFF program is available to print online at www.arubafilmfest.com. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the AIFF’s office at Paseo Herencia. Tickets are available in a variety of price ranges, from a simple movie ticket to packages of multi–event attendance, to top accreditation tickets for VIP events.

About the Aruba International Film Festival

Taking place June 4-11, 2010, the breathtaking Caribbean island of Aruba provides the backdrop for the film industry’s newest “must-attend” event, with an inviting atmosphere, suited like none other, to attract actors, directors, filmmakers, and film lovers for a one-of-a-kind festival experience.

AIFF stands to further global awareness for the Island of Aruba as a center of art, culture and creativity and serve as a platform to promote the understanding and appreciation for the art of cinema and filmmaking. With participants enjoying a relaxed Aruban ambiance, AIFF promotes a more casual interaction between filmmakers and audience, making the film festival friendly and accessible to all participants.

The annual AIFF will bring people from around the world to view a wide selection of films, join in discussions and attend special parties and events.

AIFF has a mission to encourage, educate and activate young Aruban filmmakers. Throughout the Festival, notable film professionals will be conducting master classes on all facets of filmmaking and the creative process.

Take Your Seat at the Phuket Film Festival June 4 – 13

Thailand has recently undergone some traumatic events which lay heavy in the minds of its people. Lose of life and property damage in Bangkok was tragic. But things have returned to normal and it is time to Bring Back the Smile to Thailand.

Tourism accounts for 6-7% of total GNP in this country which has slowed to a trickle in the past few months because of the Bangkok disturbances. But we need you to come back; tourists need to return to experience and explore this delightful kingdom.

And there is no better time to visit Thailand then June 4 – 13 for the Phuket Film Festival. A stand alone tourist destination, easy to fly direct from many cities in the world, Phuket has remained an idyllic oasis in the recent “storm” which raged in Bangkok.

Now, with resorts on the island available at discounted prices, the Phuket Film Festival offers 10 days of great award winning movies, super parties and networking events with international filmmakers, cultural activities and of course, world famous Thai hospitality.

The Phuket Film Festival is unique in that events will be held all over the island allowing visitors to experience a slice of life of those that live on the island as activities take place in their “back yards”.

The Festival kicks off with a Gala Opening on Saturday June 5 at one of the biggest boat marinas on the island, Royal Phuket Marina. An evening of networking with movie “stars”, politicos and other VIPs from the island is in store, supported by free flow Kingfisher Beer, Mont Claire wine, and great food from Skippers and Silk restaurants.

Speaking of food, what other film festival in the world has its own fine chocolate partner? Phuket Film Festival does. Not only can you munch down on popcorn and soft drinks at Festival movies but Duc de Praslin Belgium chocolates are available at the movie theater during the Festival.

More unusual things to do at the Festival, one of the finest bespoke tailors in Thailand is joining us, FineStictch Tailors will show you great materials and craft them into clothing of your choice within a couple of days. Take your seat, watch movies, eat chocolate and get a new wardrobe, what more can you ask for?

On Sunday June 6, Howard and Nui, two of the islands noted international culinary and wine experts invite movie goers and music fans to their The Green Man in Rawi, for the Thailand première of a Hollywood movie filmed in Thailand The Prince and Me 4: The Elephant Adventure followed by a musical performance by Thailand’s internationally acclaimed rap band Thaithanium (who’s lead, Prinya Intachai is one of the stars in the movie). Thai stars Ase Wang, Vithaya Pansringarm, Prinja Intachai & Amarin Cholvibul will attend.

A Meet the Director’s evening at Cape Yamu on Tuesday, June 8, not only will provide some of the most spectacular views of the islands in the Gulf but some great company as film aficionados join Hollywood director Darnell Martin for an informal evening of movie talk, networking, food and refreshment while watching a screening of Darnell’s Cadillac Records.

Friday, June 11 will see the Thailand premiere of another film made in Thailand, Bitter/Sweet. Join Thai actresses Mamee Napakprapa Nakprasit & Viyada Umarin (and others) for the movie’s gala reception at Vijitt Resort in Rawi.

The Festival winds up with a World Premier screening of Thai director Yuthlert Sippapk’s Friday Killer which will be held at Kargo in the Laguna area. Discount beverage and great food as Yuthlert unfurls his “director’s cut” of the first in his “Killers” trilogy. Wonderful opportunity to kick back with one of Thailand’s prolific movie directors to discuss the Thai film industry (and party hearty!).

And what about the movies you ask? We have the international premiere of Adrian Granier’s documentary Teenage Paparazzo, the Vietnamese action thriller Bai Rong (Clash), acclaimed Australian comedy Bran Nue Dae, FREE screenings of classic Thai films in tribute to Thai director Kom Akadj, two benefit screenings, a day of Alternative Lifestyle movies on 6/9 and much, much more.

Tickets for all events are available at the main theater screening location, the Coliseum Cineplex in Phuket Town.

Please join us at the Phuket Film Festival 2010 and help Bring Back the Smile to Thailand!

FILM PROGRAM:

All films are presented in French with English subtitles.
Showtimes to be announced at the end of May.
Post-screening discussions follow some of the screenings.

The SFFF film program will include the Best of Contemporary French cinema in their Sacramento PREMIERES, MIDNIGHT MOVIES, Rare CLASSICS, SHORT FILMS and SPECIAL GUESTS. The 2010 film selection includes a wide array of genres: Comedies – Drama – Romance – Thriller – Adventure – Fantasy – Horror!

 PREMIERES:

8 New French Films in their Sacramento premieres.
o The 9th SFFF will open with A l’ORIGINE (In the Beginning) by Xavier Giannoli a thrilling drama based on the true story of a small crook who built a piece of highway leading nowhere…
o FAIS MOI PLAISIR ! (Please, Please me!) a charming, happy comedy by Emmanuel Mouret (Shall we Kiss?).
o LOUISE MICHEL a hilarious anarchist comedy by Benoît Delépine & Gustave de Kervern, starring Yolande Moreau (acclaimed at last year’s SFFF in Séraphine).
o the historical drama L’ARMÉE DU CRIME (Army of Crime) by Robert Guédiguian retracing the true story of the Manouchian resistant group during occupied France in WWII.
o LES BEAUX GOSSES (French Kissers) first feature of comic book artist Riad Sattouf, a John Hughes-style hysterical comedy that will enthrall everyone who has ever been a teenager.
o L’ARNACOEUR (Heartbreaker) by Pascal Chaumeil, a sophisticated and witty comedy full of adventure, starring Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris.
o RAPT by Lucas Belvaux a social-thriller about the downfall of a powerful businessman portrayed by Yvan Attal.
o The pride of French intelligence returns to Sacramento! The Festival will close in style on June 27th with OSS 117, RIO NE RÉPOND PLUS (OSS 117, Lost in Rio) the sequel to the uproarious spy-spoof comedy that opened the 2008 SFFF.

 MIDNIGHT MOVIES:

2 midnight movies for mature audience followed by discussions around free coffee and pastries.
o THE TENANT (Le Locataire – 1976), the classic psychological thriller and Kafkaesque fantasy by Roman Polanski.
o MAN BITES DOG (C’est arrivé près de chez vous – 1992) the this cult classic is an unsettling black comedy by Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel & Benoît Poelvoorde.

 THE 4 FILMS OF OUR CLASSIC SELECTION will include:

o A tribute to one of the most beloved French actors JEAN GABIN presented on June 26th-27th with:
• PÉPÉ LE MOKO by Julien Duvivier (1937) an undisputed classic of pre-WW II French cinema that combines poetic realism with gangster thriller.
• THE SICILIAN CLAN (Le Clan de Siciliens – 1969) by Henri Verneuil. One of the most popular and best French suspense thrillers of the 1960s, Le Clan des Siciliens brings together three giants of French cinema: Jean Gabin, Alain Delon and Lino Ventura.
• Chuck Zigman, author of the first English book about Jean Gabin The World’s Coolest Movie Star and Mary Moncorgé, Jean Gabin’s granddaughter, will introduce both films.

o The SFFF will also present on June 19th-20th:
• DIVA by Jean-Jacques Beineix (1981). A classy 1980’s cult thriller with a dash of opera, Diva is a stunning piece of cinema that will grab you off your seat!
• THE STORY OF A CHEAT (Le Roman d’un tricheur – 1936) by Sacha Guitry, a hugely entertaining comedy, featuring some unforgettable visual comic gags. Besides being a comedy, Le Roman d’un tricheur is an original film with no dialogue but a voice-over commentary, in which the film’s central character (the cheat, played by the unforgettable Guitry himself) narrates the story of his life.

 SHORT FILMS:

Each feature is preceded by a short film.
A short film program, comprising award-winning French shorts, completes the 2010 SFFF selection.

 SPECIAL GUESTS:

o Stéphanie Vasseur, screenwriter and director of 2 short films presented this year at the Festival: Le Petit Marin (The Little Sailor) and 3ème B 4ème gauche (international premiere) and Sous Mes Yeux (Under My Eyes) presented at the SFFF in 2007.

o Chuck Zigman, author of the first English book about Jean Gabin The World’s Coolest Movie Star

o Marie Moncorgé, Jean Gabin’s granddaughter.