The Darfur Now College Tour is presenting their first screening to help start getting students involved in create awareness of the genocide in Darfur. The DVD will be released May 27, 2008. The next day, May 28, 2008, The Darfur Now College Tour and screening will be at the University of California Los Angeles. The Warner […]

Surfwise is a documentary that follows the true-life story of the Paskowitz family through decades of their life and the start of their legendary surf camp.
The father Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz sets out to realize a utopian dream. He leaves his successful medical practice, and begins the nomadic life of a surfer. However, the big twist […]

Nothing can bring a smile to a face quicker than a sweet nostalgic memory. Many filmmakers try to tap into this nostalgia with mixed result. Some create stories so saccharine that audiences can’t help but roll their eyes. While others forget that nostalgia comes from positive memories of the past. These filmmakers create work of […]

National Lampoon returns to DVD on May 13, 2008 with National Lampoon Presents Cattle Call.

The story involves three guys who set up a fake casting call as a way to find what they think will be the best lady for some action. While two of the guys are looking for a leading lady, the […]

Spring in Los Angeles may feel distinctly British this year, where BritWeek 2008 will be in full force between April 24, 2008 - May 10, 2008. Created by 19 Entertainment President and American Idol Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe, BritWeek 2008 promises to celebrate the major investments and strong influences that the Brits have had […]

The Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood will be the host of The Inaugural West Hollywood International Film Festival (WHIFF).
The festival is scheduled for July 29 – August 2, 2008 and will be presented by Deluca Entertainment.
Workshop and movie tickets and passes can be purchased ahead of time at http://www.whiff2008.com and can also be purchased […]

A nice respite from the usual Hollywood fare, Helen Hunt’s latest effort “Then She Found Me” manages to study the depth of human frailty with both humor and an uplifting message. In the hands of a lesser artist, this film could easily become a self-indulgence depression fest. Thankfully, Hunt realizes that by adding both humor […]

The Los Angeles United Film Festival proved to be successful at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills from April 18 – 20, following a kick-off celebration on April 17th at the Gibson Musical Instruments Showroom.

The festival fulfilled the goal of the LAUFF, which was to bring together talented filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, while giving […]

“Deal” is a fun romp through the world of Las Vegas poker. Story centers on an ex-gambler (Academy Award nominee Burt Reynolds) who teaches a hot-shot college kid (Bret Harrison) some things about playing cards. Gambler finds himself pulled back into the world series of poker, where his young protégé becomes his toughest competition. […]

Young Hollywood came out to the Egyptian Theatre to support "Remember The Daze", a fresh look at the high school years. The story, based on writer/director Jess Manafort’s own experiences growing up in Alexandra, VA., is a glimpse into the teenage wasteland of suburbia 1999 that takes place over 24 hours, and the teenagers who […]

You may know John Melendez as the shy guy who sits in the corner chair on The Tonight Show and raises his coffee mug to Jay Leno at the open of the show. John Melendez, who has stuttered his way to the top stars in National Lampoon’s latest release, “One, Two, Many” which premiered at […]

The 14th Annual Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market will be held at the Camelot Theatres from August 21 – 27, 2008.
As the largest short film festival and market in North America, the Festival will have something for everyone as they screen over 350 short films from over 40 countries. In addition, […]

Soaring internet buzz equals powerhouse promise for Daniel Waters’ cinematic return in Sex and Death 101.  News about Waters and his movie have wallpapered Los Angeles in anticipation of its big Friday night debut.
Writer-director Daniel Waters made his first splash in Hollywood with Winona Ryder’s breakout hit “Heathers”. Since then he has authored big-budget studio films […]

Martin Scorsese’s new film, "Shine a Light", a documentary on the legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones arrives in theatres April 4th. If you can’t wait until then, you can catch an exclusive clip from the movie on the iconic director’s MySpace page.
If you are surprised to hear Scorsese even has a MySpace page, […]

Lindsay MacFarland is a professional stuntwoman in Hollywood who enjoys recapping memories such as the time when she was buried alive in the California desert. "It was challenging but a lot of fun," MacFarland says about an experience that would be terrifying for most people. "Being a stunt double in Hollywood has taken me into […]

This year’s Backlot Film Festival will bestow Carl Reiner, a multi-faceted artist with credits as a writer, director, actor, and producer, with the ‘Thomas Ince Award’ for his contribution to the industry. The Thomas Ince Award is named for Thomas Ince, a pioneer in early film production who greatly influenced the model of production procedures […]

Latina starlet, Francia Raisa is set to star in ABC Family’s original movie, "The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream" premiering this Sunday, March 16th at 8 pm PT/ET. Most people know this brown-eyed beauty from one of her most memorable roles to date, starring opposite NBC’s "Heroes’" Hayden Panettiere in "Bring it On: All […]

Some of Hollywood’s hottest stars from the independent film world and beyond got their gift on customizing their own swag backstage at the official presenters gift lounge, at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, one day before Oscars. Taking place under the protection of its famous white tents, the attendees at the yearly beach side celebration […]

Hollywood isn’t the only place for filmmakers anymore. Many filmmakers and production companies have sought out national and international locatioins to make the bottom line more cost-effective. With lucrative incentives, varied landscapes, fabulous architecture, diverse culture and constant sunshine, New Mexico has become the next great place to make movies.

Irresistible Incentives Not only does this Southwestern state offer […]

What little girl didn’t grow up belting out the show tunes from "Annie?" While most of us only sang the songs in our bathrooms and bedrooms, there is a long list of actresses who performed them in front of a live audience. Bringing 40 actresses together who once stepped into Annie’s hard knock shoes, Julie […]

The Los Angeles United Film Festival is slated to run this year from April 18th – 20th at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. The festival will be preceded by a kick-off celebration on April 17th, 2008 at the Gibson Musical Instruments Showroom in Beverly Hills (located at 9350 Civic Center Drive, […]

By Sasha Kopas
Too Sweet to Stick
“Caramel,” Nadine Labaki’s directorial debut, is a mildly charming and visually engaging maiden effort. Beautiful women laugh, cry and lust with seemingly reckless abandon as they confront sexual politics and do each other’s hair. However, Labaki, also the screenwriter and star, indulges her own sweet-tooth to the detriment of the […]

There is a ton of buzz happening on upcoming indie feature film “Intent”. So much so it that it received  more traffic and searches on IMDB than Transformers 2 and Spider-Man 4 combined. IMDB ranks films based on search requests, and “Intent” is the hightest ranked film in development on the site. Their site […]

“Justicia Now,” featuring CNN Hero Award winner Pablo Fajardo, is a documentary about Chevron Texaco’s toxic legacy in the Northern Ecuadorian region of the Amazon rainforest.
More than that though, this film features a group of people, Los Afectados (The Affected Ones) who have enough courage to seek justice for the all the ensuing illnesses […]

Who do Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, and George A. Romero all have in common? His name is Richard Matheson and his influence is legendary.
Richard Matheson isn’t exactly a household name. But that’s about to change. With the recent release of the blockbuster hit film ‘I Am Legend’ based on the novel of the same title, […]

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and no one’s feeling fine.
That is except for the last man on earth, Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, who gives a fine performance as the unlucky survivor in a world full of aggressive night crawlers. Smith is star worthy of his recent inclusion on […]

Revenge films are a staple in Hollywood. They’re classic stories where the hero avenges the death of a loved one or an otherwise grievous betrayal. The Dreamless is one such film, but instead of relying on standard vengeance beats, it takes this tried and true formula and turns it upside down.
A little more The Crow […]

Veronica Loren makes her acting debut starring in the independent film, August Evening. This meditative film on family and life-after-loss premiered at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival, where it won the $50,000 Target Filmmaker Award as well as the Best Ensemble Acting Award. Veronica says on the film’s immediate reception, "Boom, people […]

by Michael Gavino 
Character often gets overlooked in today’s CGI laden blockbusters. What a joy it is to witness a master do a strong character study. In this latest installment of his "night workers" series, Paul Schrader examines the unique character known as The Walker, a man who escorts socialites to society functions. Schrader takes special […]

The successful career of African American producer Ten Travis, whose work includes "Life is Hot in Cracktown", signifies the public’s desire for reality-based entertainment and confirms reality’s place in film and television.
The current WGA strike brings an important separation in production to light: the difference between a scripted and unscripted show and the related yet […]

Made famous by her hysterical role as breast feeding mom, Hannah, on hit television series "The Office," Ursula Burton isn’t content with just getting laughs on-camera, she’s also an up and coming writer/director to look out for.  Her recent short film, "The Happiest Day of His Life" has won seven awards and been a smash […]

It was a big night for big names in show business at the 10th Annual Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA) closing night gala awards Sunday night.  Rounding off a star studded weekend that kicked off with film screenings at the world famous Egyptian Theatre and a whirlwind opening party featuring System of […]

Justicia Now is a documentary about a horrific situation in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador that is the site of the largest oil spill in world history.
MoFilms’ Justicia Now, a 30 minute documentary with appearances by Daryl Hannah & Stuart Townsend is a revolutionary documentary about one peoples fight against big oil. The premier was originally slated […]

Tiffany Shepis (Abominable, Bundy, The Hazing) has certainly made a name for herself in the horror genre, starring in several horror films in the last decade, and recently winning the Scream Queen of the Year Award at Fright Night Filmfest for her role in the upcoming flick, “Nightmare Man.”
Growing up in New York, Tiffany’s […]

Heeeeere’s Jack!
For Halloween night, the Cinespia Cemetery Screenings showed Stanley Kubrick’s "The Shining."  Considered one of the most frightening films ever made, this special screening was a smash hit.  "Come and play with us Danny!"  And play they did as over a thousand visitors squatted on the wide, green lawn to watch the movie on […]

As an acclaimed filmmaker and a prolific writer of horror films, Rolfe Kanefsky uses his immense knowledge of and passion for the horror genre to capture and thrill audiences, always leaving them on the edge of their seat, wanting more.
His newest venture into the horror world, “Nightmare Man,” written, directed and produced by Kanefsky, […]

As the first international Film Festival & Awards to address Human Rights, Environmental Preservation, Children’s Advocacy and Animal Advocacy, “Artivist” is teaming up with KPFK Radio and CURRENT TV to reach over 25 million people from November 8-11.
 

With one mission in mind- global consciousness- 60 films will be screened in 25 countries, giving […]

Ovation TV, the recently re-launched network with a pulse on how to entertain, inspire and engage the artist in all of us, announces the launch of “Destination Arthouse.”
As a new film series, “Destination Arthouse,” in collaboration with Preeminent Film Distributor Janus Films, will feature an exciting collection of some of the most classic films […]

A lovely white beach on the Providenciales Island was the glorious backdrop to the Third Annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival, held from October 16-21.
The festival, boasted for celebrating the fusion of films and music, gave celebrities and other guests a wonderful opportunity to lounge beachside on the Caribbean while they enjoyed screenings […]

For one day only, the Hollywood & Highland Center will present Live Art ‘07, a festival of art, music, film and photography on November 3rd. This free event will showcase the talents of various local artists who were discovered through Hollywood & Highland’s community portal, www.livelargehere.com.
A portion of the proceeds from all art sales […]

Starz Entertainment capped off a week of screenings and presentations at the Arclight Theatre with a bash held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  On October 22nd, the Starz Hollywood Awards After Party, produced by Joe Moller was held poolside and provided A-list celebrities with a high profile party of celestial proportions. 
 
The Affleck brothers were the […]

The W Hotel - Los Angeles, closes their successful Sunday Cinema series in The Backyard on October 28th. In honor of Halloween, they will be screening the appropriately scary Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
To accent the theme of the evening, the W Hotel will celebrate the holiday by transforming their poolside backyard into a "haunted den of […]

In a stunning modern-day trek through several Eastern European countries, Davide Ferrario’s documentary follows famed writer Primo Levi’s harrowing journey back to Italy after his release from Auschwitz in 1945.

 
Using Levi’s book "The Truce" as a guide, Academy Award winning actor Chris Cooper narrates the writer’s poetic and stark observations of a war torn […]

Based on a true story, "The Final Season" recounts the last year of Norway, Iowa’s high school baseball team. As the Norway Tigers attempt to win their 20th and last state championship, the audience is taken on a predictable and sugary, yet eventually feel good ride.
Norway is Baseball
If Texas is all […]

“Netflix Now Playing ‘Down in Front with Dana Carvey,’” is a unique chance to celebrate some of the world’s most classic films by viewing samples on web video.
This Internet video is free of charge and will be available this Friday and Saturday, October 12-13. Featuring various clips from these movies, viewers will also see […]

When Italians couldn’t be more feared in a television series like The Sopranos, in a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy like Everybody Wants to Be Italian they’re humorous, admirable masters of love.

For main character Jake Bianski (Jay Jablonski), a self-made business genius, finding love couldn’t be […]

by Michael Gavino
In the new movie Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck proves he is a true artist. The difference between the true artist and the hack is the true artist revels in complexity while the hack strives for simplicity. The hack believes he has all the answers and tries to shove these “truths” down […]

How to Help
It isn’t enough to want to help the homeless, many do, but unfortunately good intentions are often not enough and many people simply do not know where to begin or how to provide aid to the daunting rise of the "invisible" Americans trapped in a fatally flawed system. In this documentary-instructional video featured at […]

The exciting thing about the independent film world is that it has grown to become the platform that can give an audience the next wave of great filmmakers, directors, writers and actors - at least, that was the intention before any person could pick up a digital camera, knock out anything on Final Draft and […]

Calling yourself a film aficionado often means more than reciting lines from the classics and being a bona fide De Niro or Scorsese fan.
Having a penchant for the way films look in order to establish authenticity of era, specific camera intimacy and hence, true film “cred” may require choosing a certain film stock and genre […]

Sony Pictures Home Animation, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Reef Check celebrate the DVD release of “Surf’s Up” with an entertainment-filled day at the Bluffs Park in Malibu on October 6th.
A complimentary screening of the film, due for release on October 9th, will be one of the highlights of the evening, though there will […]

By Michael Gavino
With strong acting and a thought provoking script, Reservation Road has all the elements of a great art film. What a welcome change from the CGI laden sequels that have dominated the silver screen of late. Reservation Road engrosses its audience by delving deep into the human psyche and making the audience […]

Universal City Walk will host the 1st Annual Cinema City International Film Festival from September 25th - 30th.  Film lovers and makers will have the opportunity to celebrate their love for film through screenings and educational workshops and seminars conducted by top professionals in the industry. This five-day event will also feature an exciting schedule […]

By Susan Yi
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/ Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) celebrates outstanding television and film talent at its 16th Annual Cunard Britannia Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles on November 1, 2007.
Among those honored are actress Kate Winslet, recipient of the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year; filmmaker […]

By Michael Gavino 
Imagine a disaster film that deals with a massive dirty bomb attack on Los Angeles. You would probably think about a massive big budget fest loaded with CGI, but weak on story and character development. Meet Right at Your Door, the antithesis of the modern disaster film.
The movie starts with would be musician […]

By Michael Gavino

If you are disgusted by the problems in the world today, but believe one person can’t make a difference, you need to meet Elizabeth English. With little more than a dream to build a film festival that improves the world, Ms. English has built the Moondance International Film Festival into one of the […]

Rob Zombie’s Halloween premiered at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday, August 23rd. Zombie’s revealingly raw re-envisionment of the John Carpenter classic seemed at home in the historic and dugeonesque Grauman’s Chinese. The theatre’s facade of Chinese dragons and saber-tooth dogs watched over a playfully horrific red carpet scene and later the theatre’s monumental […]

The 2007 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market is proof that great films don’t have to clock in at three-plus hours. Stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Bryce Dallas Howard, Margaret Cho, James Gandolfini, Louis Gossett, Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Joanna Lumley, Ron Livingston, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna, Alfred Molina, Patrick Stewart, […]

by Michael Gavino 
Hollywood loves stories of the tortured artist. From the dawn of cinema this format has provided some of Hollywood’s best movies. Recently, a spate of musician-inspired films has graced the screen with spectacular results. The award-winning Ray and the critically inspired La Vie En Rose have beautifully captured the flawed musician struggling with […]

by Michael Gavino
An act of kindness leads to a spate of murders in the new film Resurrection Mary. Based on a famous Chicago urban legend, Resurrection Mary manages to tell a story of ghosts and murder without falling into slasher movie clichés. Peppered with strong performances, indie audiences who favor character development over gore […]

The Entertainment business is always looking for the next biggest thing - the next biggest pop star, chick-lit novelist, or teenage heartthrob - but never before have a car company and marketing agency come so thrillingly close to hitting the mark. Scion and malbon Brothers Farms (mBF) have joined forces to select 10 fledgling filmmakers […]

The LA Film Festival offered many different genres for movie lovers to choose from. On July 1st, several of those genres were packed into one screening when the Majestic Crest Theatre, in Westwood showcased five short films.  Competing against over 200 other films, the following, ranging from comedy to drama to even a musical, were […]

It’s that time of year again; The Palm Springs ShortFest is gearing up for another week of amazing films.  From August 23rd to the 29th, movie lovers can attend the screenings of over 350 shorts that encompass comedy, drama, romance and film noir. Even though there are hundreds of movies to view, it doesn’t have […]

During the 1980’s gang violence was at a record high. In Los Angeles, Boyle Heights was quickly named as the United States capital of gang activity and violence. J.S. Bohm’s documentary, “Father G. and the Homeboys” follows the story of Father Greg Boyle S.J. and his commitment to put a stop to gang violence.
At a […]

“What We Do Is Secret” is a biopic on Darby Crash, lead singer of the Germs and (according to most punk aficionados) the “founding father of Punk Rock.  The film focuses on the last five years of Darby Crash’s short life; it begins with the retelling of Crash’s great five-year plan to start a band, […]

It was my first day attending the Los Angeles film festival and I really didn’t know what to expect. I found a parking lot, grabbed my festival map, and wandered through Westwood in search of the designated theater. I turned onto Broxton Ave and there it was; the street had been closed off to traffic […]

Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival held its closing night screening and gala at the Wadsworth Theatre in West LA on Sunday, July 1st. The night included the North American premiere of Trainspotting director Danny Boyle’s new sci-fi film Sunshine, a de-glamorized, yet fantastical depiction of a space mission to the sun in the year 2057. The premiere was preceded by red […]

The film began in silence. Grainy super-8 images of young woman and a young man in love: on a swing, in the sand, kissing, touching. This went on for what seemed like 5 minutes. I grew uncomfortable; I thought something was wrong with the sound. Then she spoke. She said, “I got pregnant on a […]

If you haven’t heard of Philipp Karner yet, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open. With his first starring role in a feature film alongside Tori spelling, the romantic comedy “Kiss The Bride” (2007) has catapulted Kamer into the limelight. In June 2007 in recognition of Kamer’s good looks and acting talent, Extra […]

Setting the standard in animation, Disney Pixar prepares to unveil their latest venture. Set in a 5-star gourmet French restaurant, Ratatouille tells the classic fish-out-of water story, or rather, rat-out-of-the sewer.  Acquiring the talents of Academy Award winning director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and the storytellers at Pixar Animation Studios (Cars, Finding Nemo), Ratatouille is […]

The American Film Institute Life Achievement Award is given out each year to "one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art."  Based on this criteria, it should come as no surprise that actor Al Pacino was this year’s recipient.  With roles in classic films such as The Godfather, Scarface and Serpico, […]

NBC Universal On Demand has joined with Music Choice to offer a ‘Music & Movies’ Video On Demand category featuring music artists starring in films premiering On Demand starting May 31st. The dual star line-up includes Justin Timberlake in "Alpha Dog," Alicia Keys in "Smokin’ Aces" and Mandy Moore in "Because I Said So."
Content […]

A dinner and movie is the classic date, and going to the ArcLight theatre in Hollywood is the place to catch a flick.  Now the two can be enjoyed in one spot as the American Bistro, Charcoal has just opened its doors right next to the popular theatre.
Owners Adolfo Suaya and Michael Sutton bring their […]

Starring Richard Portnow, Vince Curatola, Michael Rispoli, Danny Grimaldi, John Enos Directed by Sharon Angela and Greg Alosio Written by Luca Palanca Shot on location in Brooklyn, this independent film is a 180-degree […]

Hal Hartley and Parker Posey are sort of like the Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson of the independent film world. With his quirky, trademark style and her alluring beauty and charm, Hartley and Posey have become icons of art house cinema. With a highly regarded body of work between them, it made perfect sense that […]

Where else better to celebrate a film festival than in the celebrity and movie mecca of Los Angeles. Thursday June 21 – Sunday, July 1 Film Independent launches its 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF) presented by Los Angeles Times. The festival will once again be hosted in Westwood Village and will feature the best of […]

If you never knew about bio-diesel, ethanol and straight vegetable oil as being the renewal fuel sources that could challenge the petroleum industry, then this documentary just might be compulsory viewing.

Exploring the interaction between the oil companies and their alternatives over the last 150 years, it is apparent that the American public is not […]

Domiziano Arcangeli, whose renown as an actor spans across continents, can soon be seen in the cult horror film Werewolf in a Women’s Prison, directed by Jeff Leroy and screening at the New Beverly Cinema at midnight on Saturday, May 12. In demand around the world, Domiziano has already starred in 37 feature films, 8 […]

Are you in the 14-19 year old age bracket? Do you dream of becoming a filmmaker?  If you answered yes to both these questions then you’re in luck. Samsung Fresh Films is calling for nationwide submissions in the largest national celebrity judged teen filmmaking competition. On March 27, 2007, Samsung Fresh […]

Noticed the price of gas lately? Worried about the environment and whether we will continue to have one in ten year’s time? Want to join in on the movement toward saving the earth while keeping your usual citywide focus on film, fun and always getting to a great music festival? It’s your lucky, eco-savvy, fest-finding […]

Film festivals have often been perceived as the breeding grounds for both potential, upcoming artists and noted artists in the film industry – with movies created by filmmakers hailing from around the world presented with as much skill and effort as put in by their major corporate counterparts.
The New York International Independent Film and […]

These days, reality television is all about fulfilling the dream come true for the winning contestant.  We have small town beauty pageant winners turned Top Models, struggling aspiring singers turned overnight singing Idols, and even mid-level managers turned major business executives thanks to Donald Trump.  And now, even the behind-the-scenes budding film directors will have […]

Want to see the latest and greatest films, before they arrive in theaters? This Spring, spend your evenings watching some of the season’s most anticipated and talked-about films in the comfort of the Writers Guild Theater, courtesy of UCLA Extension’s Sneak Preview course. The longest-running and most prestigious preview series in the nation, Sneak Preview […]

The Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market is premiering their selection of movies from August 23-29, 2007.  Now accepting submissions, filmmakers have until May 31, 2007 to get their films in.
Also known as the Palm Springs Shortfest, this festival is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the […]

Films have often been depicted as cinematic works encasing the overall heart and creativity of the writer(s) and director who brought it to the big screen, with their efforts either revered or rejected before an ever changing audience. One place artists can allow audiences to praise and premier their works is at film festivals, with […]

The LAX Hilton played host to this year’s HAUNTX Festival, a collection of the state’s greatest minds and innovators of the horror industry. From makeup and special effects to props and services, HAUNTX is the place to be when you want to get deeper into anything horror or Halloween related. But this year, one special […]

The award show of all award shows is quickly approaching. Yes, the 79th Annual Academy Awards will be airing from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood in just over a week. We wanted to share the talented nominees with you, as well as the enterprising company that is putting a special twist on this year’s festivities.
This […]

Film festivals have often been considered the breeding grounds for some of Hollywood’s latest and greatest upcoming talent preparing for the big screen, with cinematic pieces of all shapes and sizes coming out of truly original works, many of them having the potential to rise in fame and prestige. Alan Chan’s “Sakenara” was a prime […]

Culver City is no longer the sparkling citadel it used to be, but its citizens are stoic and persistent about its goals of restoring it to its former glory. The rivalry between the two studio towns go back to the beginning of motion picture history. The hatchet was literally buried in 1937 when Hollywood and […]

On Saturday, February 3 at 2pm, “What Babies Want” was screened as a part of the Backlot Film Festival. The documentary, directed by Debbie Takikawa and narrated by Noah Wyle, argues that the United States has the chance to erase all violence through a more nurturing and respectful approach to pregnancy and to the first […]

The beauty of viewing a block of short films is if you aren’t enjoying the one you’re watching, wait a few minutes and you’ll be treated to a brand new movie. So went the competitive short portion of the Backlot Film Festival at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills on January 30, where the […]

Cassandra Hepburn is the epitome of those cool, jet-setting “International Girls” you always see in the pages of glossy magazines. The 28-year-old actress/model/dancer was born in the Philippines but has lived and worked in thriving metropolises all over the world including Hong Kong, London, Paris, Milan and New York. It would not be wrong to […]

Critically acclaimed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal will be on hand January 24, 2007 to sign copies of her newly released DVD Sherrybaby. Heralded as  Gyllenhaal’s finest role since Secretary, her portrayal of a recovering drug addict  trying to pick up the pieces of her life garnered the actress a Golden Globe nomination.
Written and directed by Laurie […]

Children of Men, set in the year 2027, portrays a future in which war and panic have come to dominate human consciousness as a result of the discovery that women have lost the ability to conceive offspring.  With such a compelling premise, centered on a profound philosophical and scientific conundrum, one would hope for something […]

Babel won best drama and Dreamgirls was named best musical or comedy film at Monday’s Golden Globe Awards.
Martin Scorsese won for Best Director - Motion Picture
Forest Whitaker won for best dramatic actor as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland. Helen Mirren won best actress in a motion picture for "The Queen" and […]

This year, the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival will honor actor Adam Beach with the Rising Star Award for his performance in “Flags of Our Fathers”.? In early October, The Film Society held its annual pre-festival event at the historic Beverly Hills home of Patricia Barry, once owned by screen legend Charlie Chaplin. The […]

This year the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival, presented by Audi, commemorated it?s 20th Anniversary with four special nighttime movie galas. ?Bobby?, a film written and directed by Emilio Estevez that recounts the night Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, premiered at the Opening Night Gala on Nov. 1st at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre. On Friday, […]

The red carpet premiere of Bethany Ashton Wolf?s Little Chenier was surprisingly refreshing for Los Angeles. Held at the Santa Monica club 2020, the casually dressed cast and crew arrived looking happy and proud before rushing inside to enjoy the Cajun themed evening. Instead of the habitually designer clad stars that pout and preen for […]

The AFI film festival is one of the ?most prominent and prestigious film festivals in North America, annually attracting thousands of film lovers and film industry professionals?. This year it is?taking place?at the ArcLight Theaters in Hollywood, showing many country’s official Oscar submissions. ?Antonia? is one of the great Latin cinemas being presented?
?She wanted to […]

True love set against unimaginable odds, the desires of the few versus the greed and power of the many, such are but a few words that could describe Joe Tornatore’s amazing horror-romance "Immortally Yours", which premied to an elated, fairly large audience at the historic Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills last Friday evening.

Written by […]

?Every trick has the “pledge?, (introduction of an ordinary object and the promise of something extraordinary); the “turn” (the audience is startled and left in suspense not knowing what to expect); and the “prestige”, (the climax that astonishes them)?.
?
One goes to see The Prestige expecting to be fooled as an audience, but instead the director, […]

Normally when said in the same sentence, the words “winter” and “film festival” bring to mind the word “freezing.” But you won’t need a down parka to get through this winter’s hottest film festival. From January 4-15, The Palm Springs International Film Society will be holding its 18th Annual International Film Festival under the sunny […]

If the movie Clueless had been set back in 18th century France, it would have been a lot like Sophia Coppola?s Marie Antoinette.I really wanted to like this film. At best, it is visually stunning. But the rich colors and beautiful cinematography could not save what felt like half a movie.
Don?t get me wrong. It […]

Aimee Galicia Torres is on a mission to let the world know: Sexual abuse still exists in the Catholic Church. At age 21, Torres has already written and directed her big-screen debut: the semi-autobiographical short film, "Father, You Sinned".
The world premiere of the film was held Thursday night at the AMC theatre at Universal City […]

It was a Very Brady family affair at Universal Studios CityWalk Wednesday evening at the premiere of Bryan Michael Stoller’s new independent film, "Light Years Away", starring  Brady Bunch  alum Christopher Knight. Cindy (Susan Olsen) and Gregg (Barry Williams) were out to celebrate their TVLand brother, who stars as David Sommers, an astronomer whose dream […]