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Q&A with the New York City International Film Festival (NYCIFF)

Last month, I had the privilege of attending a couple of events in conjunction with the New York City International Film Festival. As the event drew to a close, I was able to carve out some time to shoot off a series of rapid-fire questions with Loyi Mamabolo, the festival’s Press & Media Director.

nyciff on water

How long has the festival been around?
The festival was founded in the summer of 2010, this upcoming year (2014) will be our 5 year anniversary.
nyciff logoWhat is your organization’s mission?
The mission of the NEW YORK CITY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NYCIFF) is to help up and coming talent in film to reach the best possible audience for their work.
In a city littered with festivals year round how do you carve out a unique position?
We are a very unique film festival in that we are absolutely drenched in international culture and art. Every year, filmmakers from all around the world come to celebrate their films. It has been incredible throughout the years to watch extreme opposite cultures collide during our events and create great relationships and even friendships. We are concentrated in bringing the world together through the art of filmmaking and exposing the message these artist reveal through their films.
It may be too early for 2014 discussion but do you have preliminary plans in the works?
– Yes! The most exciting thing about the festival is every year being able to start the plans again and correct any mistakes we have made in the past. Afterall, we wish to grow into a bigger and better opportunity for filmmakers. There are many new things in the works and we are very enthusiastic about next years events. What I look forward to the most is getting to watch this year’s submissions, see how previous filmmakers have grown and meet new filmmakers.
How would you sum up this years experience?
This year was incredible. The enthusiasm of people was astounding, I believe the moment where you could sense it the most was during awards night. It was truly a moving moment when each winner came up to the podium to accept their awards. Their words of struggling for years and to finally feel appreciated for this art that they .spend every living moment on. These actors and filmmakers went back to their native countries being received with honor and pride as their country watched them carrying their award. That is what we’re here for, to show the word these hidden talents that deserve to be seen!
Photo Source: NYCIFF

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Weekend Viewin’ Recap

This weekend saw a lot of movie-related activity on my part activity (see previous post), so I thought it right to provide a little recap for the events of the past couple of days.

NYCIFF, Night 1: As part of my coverage of this week long event, I attended my first screening, the World Premier of 10 Rules for Sleeping Around, a rather derivative ‘screwbally’ romantic comedy set in NYC (it gets props for that) whose highlight(?) for me was figuring out that at least some of what the “Brazilian Bombshell” was saying was actually Spanish.

This week, I have a few more screenings lined up; stay tuned to this space for my thoughts and reflections.

Man of Steel: The idea is that my thoughts will be posted in a separate and increasingly lengthy piece later today or early tomorrow (fingers crossed I can keep to that schedule).

MAN OF STEEL

Twenty Feet from Stardom: What more can I say? I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS FILM. I cannot begin to explain how well this documentary – that chronicles among other things, the evolution and career ups and downs the people (mostly women) who end vocal support to some of today’s top musical acts. At the center of the story is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (2011) Darlene Love. Born with a lead vocalist’s chops, her story is an amazing one, that by the time the closing credits roll at the end of the 90 minutes, you fully appreciate and understand why such an honor was given to perhaps one of the best known backup vocalists of her era.

Other highlights in the film included:

  • “Seeing” the voice behind the Rolling Stones classic Gimme Shelter, Merry Clayton and her story.
  • Rediscovering Lisa Fisher, former solo artist who was a backup to Luther Vandross (himself a backup artist to David Bowie on his Young Americans track).

twenty_two

On a side note (and a nice treat to boot) – although I did not attend the live Q&A screening at the film center, on my way into my screening, I saw Ms. Love leaving the theater.

 

How was your weekend at the movies? If you did not see Man of Steel, what did you see?

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Weekend-ish Viewing

Well another Friday is upon us! For me this means a weekend spent mostly in the doors of various cinemas (including the home cinema) in the greater NYC area. Let me start with the …

1) 2013 New York City International Film Festival: This will be my first year covering the event. I am so excited! Starting this evening, I have a handful of screenings I will be attending over the course of the next week in addition to the Closing Night ceremony. Stay tuned for deets.

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2) Love Marilyn: This upcoming Monday night (6/17 @ 9:00PM EST) is the second installment of the HBO Documentary Summer Series, which brings to us the premier of Love, Marilyn. The documentary draws upon recently discovered personal effects from the star including papers, diaries and letters; read by an all-star cast that features F. Murray Abraham, Elizabeth Banks, Adrien Brody, Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, Hope Davis, Viola Davis, Jennifer Ehle, Ben Foster, Paul Giamatti, Jack Huston, Stephen Lang, Lindsay Lohan, Janet McTeer, Jeremy Piven, Oliver Platt, David Strathairn, Lili Taylor, Uma Thurman, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.

I briefly mentioned my interest in seeing this doc in my June 2013 highlights, but allow me to go into further detail. I must admit, I never considered myself a HUGE Marilyn fan, but in recent years (in part due to tumblr of all things), I have become transfixed by her image and the mystique which surrounded her life and untimely death.

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3) Twenty Feet from Stardom: I became VERY interested in this film as a result of the trailer I saw which preceded the Whedonized Much Ado About Nothing (more on that later). Anyhoo, it is in limited NY/LA release for the next week and I will be headed to the Lincoln Center Film Center to catch this documentary about the singers behind legendary performers such as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springteen, Mick Jagger and Sting (to name a few). It is nice to see them finally get some shine.

20ft

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4) Man of Steel last but certainly not least is the Nolan/Snyder imagining of the all-American (alien) superhero. I am going to see this with other paying customers on Sunday and YES in IMAX 3D. My justification is simple; it is likely the closest I will get to a three-dimensional Henry Cavill 🙂 Will report what I thoughts on the film next week.

MAN OF STEEL

Now it is you all’s turn – what are you tuning into this weekend? Hit the comments section below …

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