A Festival of Film The Palm Springs International ShortFest is a mere few weeks away and the excitement is building. This renown festival has received more than 2,700 short films from the U.S. as well as other countries. More than 350 short films will be featured, each in 90-minute packages, featuring an array of themed [...]

Over the years, Outfest has boasted many outstanding performances, storytellers and provocateurs. Don Roos, Queer as Folk’s Peter Paige, Angela Robinson, Craig Chester, Amber Benson, C. Jay Cox, and Thomas Bezucha just to name a few. Outfest returns this year for its 26th annual film festival, showcasing thirteen days of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender [...]

The Maui Film Festival kicked off last Wednesday with all four venues being powered by the bright, Hawaiian sun. The Celestial Cinema, the SandDance Theatre, the Maui SkyDome and the Starlight Cinema, now will not only be powered by the moon, but for the first time in the fest’s nearly 10 year history, also run [...]

Mike Myer’s new movie, “The Love Guru” doesn’t hit theaters until June 20th, but you don’t have to wait that long to listen to the soundtrack. While the CD won’t be available in stores until June 17th, you can listen to select songs from the movie, including Mike Myer’s rendition of the Steve Miller Band [...]

by Michael Gavino Cinematic attempts to produce comedies about working in retail often end up in over the top disasters such as “Employee of the Month”. Thankfully, I can report that Steve Conrad’s latest effort, “The Promotion”, avoids such a fate. Conrad, who writes and directs the movie, manages to create a subtle yet very [...]

The Wailea Resort and the Maui & Arts & Cultural Center will play host to the 2008 Maui Film Festival, scheduled for June 11 – 15 in Kahului. Five venues for film screenings will be available, including outdoor venues such as SandDance Theatre on Wailea Beach below the Four Seasons Resort and the SkyDome which [...]

A woman of no apologies, Madonna continues to not only reinvent herself with the progressing times but now she’s taken an active stand in stand in changing the present. At an interview in Cannes, Madonna is not caught up in the “superficiality” of the film festival; she’s channeling her energies to…Malawi. Here are experpts from the [...]

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 [...]

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 on [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

“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. Also [...]

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 [...]