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Post-Weekend Update

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Sorry it has been a spell since I last posted, but I have been quite a busy young-ish lady. Not to fear, the movies (of course) have been a part of my time away.

 

I saw Prisoners!

I thought about posting a full review for this film but in many respects I think it must be seen to be believed. And I totally mean that in the best way possible, or as my post-viewing tweet stated:

 

This film was tense and INTENSE. I was holding onto my theater chair armrests for the majority of the film’s two and a half hour running time. One thing that really resonated and stayed with me was the atmosphere that Canadian director Denis Villeneuve was able to create. Add to that wonderfully raw emotional performances from Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal and you have a recipe for a film that will remain will you long after the final credits roll.

 

I also saw Don Jon!

Actually I saw this opening weekend, have the writeup ready. It will be posted sometime this week.

Film Title: Don Jon

 

SXSW 2014, here I (may) come!

Logistical issues to be sorted out, but it looks like I will be making travel arrangements for Austin March 2014! Stay tuned to this space for details.

sxswfilm2014logo

 

Speaking of fests, I did a walk by of the 2013 NYFF

On the way to the aforementioned Don Jon, I stopped by the New York Film Festival box office to collect my ticket for the Cannes Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color. I was treated to a celeb-sighting too, Steve Coogan (IMDb link provided for the unintitaed).

Blue is the Warmest 2_3

I am also slated to attend the 20th anniversary screening of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused (schedule pending).

The one sad-face moment for me this year was my inability to score a pair of tix to an early screening of Twelve Years a Slave. That disappointment was short lived, since I soon realized that I will have the opportunity to catch it next week here in lovely NYC.

 

How was your weekend? Hit me in the Comments section below.

 

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BAMcinemaFest 2012

 

In the wake of the Cannes Film Festival, there comes another, smaller festival which seeks to highlight emerging voices in American independent cinema.

A showcase for emerging voices in American independent cinema, this annual film festival features New York and North American premieres of films culled from Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, SXSW, and other festivals from around the world.

Now in its fourth year, the 2012 edition of BAMcinemaFest opens with a screening in the spectacular BAM Howard Gilman Opera House followed by a BAM-wide party with a DJ, drinks, and snacks for ticketholders. The festival includes 21 New York premieres, rare repertory films, an outdoor screening, live music, filmmaker Q&As, lots of special guests, parties, and more.

One of the highlights is a screening of Sundance favorite and personally an eagerly anticipated film for me – Beasts of the Southern Wild. Unfortunately as I tried to order a ticket for the screening, I found that it was sold out [this is an official sad face]. I guess I will have to just wait until the film’s limited (NY/LA) release the following week.

Back to BAMcinemaFest. Here are some highlights of the event:

I may give some of these events a go (if I can get tickets).

Does anything interest you?

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And the Winners Are … (Beneath the Earth Film Festival)

It has been an absolute joy to be able to take part in the Beneath The Earth Film Festival. As a Grand Jury member it was my privilege to watch and judge what films I deemed exemplary in the field of short-subject film.

The deliberation was long and the decision was hard (because all of the films were well worthy of recognition), but I am glad to proclaim that two of my favorites in the pack won Best Film (Photographs) and Audience Prize (After Ever After), respectively. Be sure to visit the site to read the filmmaker’s personal statements.

Best Film (as selected by the Grand Jury) – Photographs

Synopsis: An elderly woman living in an abandoned town finds a camera, which becomes a means for her to recreate her past life and remember a lost love.

My Take: As a lover of photography myself, this animated short was a touching reminder of what I feel makes the medium so beautiful. Our protagonist’s attempt to reassemble a part of her life that is long gone, is at times haunting and poignant. The soundtrack was perfectly suited to the story being told.

Audience Award (as selected my the public) – After Ever After

Synopsis: A young man ascends an illustrative psychological breakdown of the four phases of mental instability following an infatuated relationship’s breakup.

My Take: What blew me away about this film is that in less than a 30 minutes, Jeff was able to create an entire narrative arc, in a way that was equal parts imaginative, engaging and moving. This is something many mainstream cinematic offerings have a difficult time managing.

Also my congratulations to winners in the other categories:

  • Best Screenplay, Best Soundtrack: Photographs
  • Best Editing: It’s Natural to be Afraid
  • Best Cinematography: #omgimtrending

* You still have an opportunity to watch all of these films by going here. The films are available on-site for another week (closed on 11/15).

For those of you who have had the opportunity to watch these films, let me know what you take is.

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