Dallas Movie Screening

Dallas Movie Screenings started out as a mailing list on Yahoo Groups to facilitate finding free screening passes in the DFW area. When Yahoo Groups shut down, we are now posting screenings on our Facebook page at http://www..facebook.com/groups/dallasmoviescreenings
Earlier Reesa's Reviews can also be found at:http://www.moviegeekfeed.com

Logo art by Steve Cruz http://www.mfagallery.com

Website and Group Contact: dalscreenings@gmail.com

Friday, April 30, 2010

Drones Review





Drones

In a typical office meeting, the boss offers a power point presentation using bees as an analogy for the workforce mindset. How the busy worker bees…the drones…keep the hive active and productive. At OmniLink Brian Dilks is comfortable in the monotony of his office world; joking with his best friend Clark and flirting with Amy in the next cubicle.

One day Clark (Sam Levine) encourages Brian (Jonathan M. Woodward) to take the next step with Amy (Angela Bettis), and did he need anything in the supply closet? Brian makes an attempt to ask her out, but her response is vague so he seeks out Clarks’ advice. When he goes to the supply room, Clark is sitting in the dark with eerie lights coming out of his hands. Clark then confesses to Brian that he’s an alien from another world. Clark is surprised that Brian is taking it pretty well, not so much the taking over earth scenario which Clark assures is not right now. He tells Brian that there are others like him in his office. Brian is shocked, but not so much that he forgets his main priority about what to do about Amy. Later, Amy tells Brian that she’s ready to go out with him that weekend. Their date goes really well and they return to work so smitten that their workmates are calling them “Bria-amy”. Amy tells Brian that she’s new to this emotional life because she’s an alien from another planet and they plan on destroying the earth too. After their first fight Amy is overwhelmed at what she is feeling tells the copying machine to step up their plan to destroy earth in the next 24 hours. It’s up to Brian to make up with Amy and save the world.

Working from a script by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, co-directors Amber Benson and Adam Busch (Tara and Warren from Buffy), created a film on a tiny budget in a Louisiana office building. They created the movie in two weeks utilizing local cast, crew and resources. The film an official selection at Slamdance 2010 and is working around the festival circuit was just purchased and hopefully it will see a wider release. The matter of fact dialogue and dry humor keeps the story rolling along by the remarkably able cast. It may even make you look a little closer to those working around you.
(Review by Reesa)
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Furry Vengeance Review


Furry Vengeance

Dan Sanders has moved his family from Chicago to oversee a new housing development in the pristine Oregon forest. His family is experiencing a little culture shock and not really happy with the change. But Dan believes this is a great career opportunity until the he starts thinking some little woodland creatures may be pulling tricks on him.

Brendan Fraser’s Dan is a happy guy, he lives in show home of the development his company is creating and just has to walk outside to supervise his team of construction workers. His wife, Tammy (Brooke Shields) got a job teaching at the local school. His rebellious teenage son Tyler (Matt Prokop) doesn’t think he will meet anyone interesting at his high school. They don’t see the critters causing the sprinklers to suddenly drench Dan when he goes to get his paper. Dan doesn’t quite believe it either until the little attacks seem to get more intense and elaborate. The forest denizens don’t want the development encroaching on their habitats. The animals over hear that Dan’s boss Neal Lyman (Ken Jeong who steals his scenes) is planning not only these homes, he wants to cover acres with a major urban landscape. The animals decide to mobilized and launch a full out attack on Dan.

Dan becomes a little unhinged by the various calamities set up by the animals. He in turn builds traps all over his yard. The critters fill his car with skunks, trap him in an outhouse, and steal his clothes Fraser who gained 20lbs for this movie runs around in a woman’s pink velour jogging outfit is not a pretty sight. Of course no one notices the animals; they just think Dan is too stressed by his job. Dan begins to realize that his boss is really not really building green homes. Dan is not comfortable about this, but he hangs on to save his job because he thinks he’s doing it for his family. When his boss has all the creatures captured and put in cages, Dan decides to join the other side.

Director Roger Kumble and writers Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert have created a slapstick flavored movie with the cute raccoons, bunnies, skunks and birds exacting vengeance. The anthropomorphic computer generated furry actors fortunately don’t speak otherwise the cheese level would have gone over the roof. They are very organized human being terrorists who have centered their ill fated attention on Fraser’s goofy, befuddled Dan. The comedy is painted in really broad strokes with an underling lining of socially acceptable environmental propaganda. Little kids will love the critters playing mean tricks on the dad character and Fraser milks the laughs like no tomorrow. Shield still looks really good and can match Fraser’s comedic abilities but is basically underused. Stay for the credits to see the little dancing videos of the cast and crew which was IMHO the best part of the movie.
(Review by Reesa)


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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Texas Frightmare Weekend

http://www.texasfrightmareweekend.com/lifetype/static/events.html


Film Festival and Convention Schedule


Thursday, April 29

7 p.m. Survival of the Dead
Studio Movie Grill Lewisville
$8 Buy Tickets

On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state.
Presented by Magnet releasing. On Xbox 360 and VOD April 30.

8:30 p.m. 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams red carpet begins.

9 p.m. 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams
Studio Movie Grill Lewisville
$10 Buy Tickets

Red Carpet US PREMIER with cast and crew in attendance!

This time around the Southern residents of Pleasant Valley take their cannibalistic Guts N’ Glory Jamboree on the road to Iowa where they encounter spoiled Northern heiresses Rome and Tina Sheraton and the cast and crew of their “Road Rascals” reality show.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30

12 p.m. Preorder pickup and walkup ticket sales open.

5 p.m. Show opens for Early Admission
Vendor room opens. Guest signings begin and continue until 10 p.m.

5-10 p.m. Texas Frightmare Weekend Horror Prop Auction PREVIEW
Take a sneak peak at some of the items that will be auctioned on Saturday May 1st.

6 p.m. Show opens for General Admission

6 p.m. The Retelling

A young boy and his family face an unsettling presence at the home of his ailing and blind grandfather. The young boy and his new friend investigate the source and discover a murder from the past that may have finally found its connection to the present.

Q&A with director Emily Hagins.

7 p.m.
Frightmare 101-Acting
Instructor Lar Park Lincoln
This course is open to any and all actors or aspiring actors that desire to improve their craft or just break in to the business.

$50 enrollment fee A $180 value!
Includes Lar's book 'Get Started, Not Scammed and one autographed 8 x 10 of Lar!

To pre-register please email Lar at lar@larparklincoln.com.

8 p.m. Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet
Starring Bill Moseley and Danielle Harris

A group of teenagers celebrating the anniversary of the death of a local axe murderer suddenly find themselves face to face with the realities of this haunting urban legend.

Q & A with director Frank Sabatella and Bill Moseley.

10 p.m. Vendor room closes

10 p.m. Sweatshop

A group of friends break into an abandoned factory in order to throw a impromptu party; unaware that it is not as empty as they originally believed.

Q&A with director Stacy Davidson and his cast.
Midnight Texas Frightmare Massacre
Filmed at Texas Frightmare Weekend 2009!

The film is a horror comedy about a nerd that goes to Texas Frightmare Weekend with his stepsister and her boyfriend. Upon realizing that they are not his friends and that he can’t rely on his movie heroes, he goes on a murderous rampage.

Q&A with director Joe Francis and his cast.

SATURDAY, MAY 1

8 a.m. Prep (10:30 a.m. Start)

10 a.m. Show opens for Early Admission
Vendor room opens. Guest signings begin and continue until 6 p.m.

10a-1p Texas Frightmare Weekend Horror Prop Auction PREVIEW

Take a sneak peak at some of the items that will be auctioned at 1:00 p.m.
11 a.m. Registration begins and show opens for General Admission

Noon to 4 p.m.

12 p.m.
Frightmare 101-Special Effects
Instructor- DWN Productions
Renoir Room on the mezanine level

Intro to F/X and special effects demonstrations.

Free!

Noon Imago Q&A
Producer Mel House, director Chris Warren and stars Debbie Rochon, Lisa Wilcox, Melanie Donihoo and Natali Jones.

1 p.m.
Texas Frightmare Weekend Horror Prop Auction
Genuine props and costumes from the upcoming Alexandre Aja killer-fish flick PIRANHA 3-D (premiering August 27th) will be featured as well as props from Resident Evil: Afterlife, Christine, Beastly, Letters to Juliet, Takers, Easy-A and more.
Presented by Premiere Props

1 p.m. I Spit on Your Grave Q&A
Director Steven R. Monroe and his cast including Sarah Butler, Chad Lindberg and Rodney Eastman preview clips and give fans an exclusive look into the remake of a horror classic.

Presented by Anchor Bay Entertainment.

2 p.m.
Frightmare 101-Horror Writing
Instructor- Angeline Hawkes
Renoir Room on the mezanine level

How to Get Published: You've written the next great American horror novel/story, so now what?

Free!

2 p.m. PREMIERE! 2001 MANAICS: BEHIND THE SCREAMS
Behind the scenes documentary depicting the making of the film.
Followed by a Q&A with director Tim Sullivan and stars Bill Moseley, Christa Campbell, Kevin "OGRE" Ogilvie, Lin Shaye, Ryan Fleming, Katy Johnson, Jordan Yale Levine, Nicole Rae and Kathryn Le.

3 p.m. Bad to the Bone/Lifetime Achievement Award
Director John Carpenter and the cast of Christine discuss the strange love triangle that is Christine.

PLUS! John Carpenter receives the Texas Frightmare Weekend Lifetime Achievement Award.

4 p.m. Frightmare 101-Production
Instructor- Texas Motion Picture Alliance

The TXMPA presents a seminar on making your film in Texas.
Learn about the competitive tax breaks and state rebates that are available in Texas.
Free!

4 p.m. Curious Stories, Crooked Symbols

Rue Morgue Magazine founder Rodrigo GudiƱo screens his short films The Eyes of Edward James, The Demonology of Desire, The Facts in the Case of Mr. Hollow and will discuss his upcoming debut feature Cut Throats Nine.

6 p.m. Vendor room closes

6 p.m. The Final
Made in Dallas!

A group of high school outcasts get revenge on the students that torment them.

Q&A with director Joey Stewart and stars Marc Donato, Lindsay Seidel, Travis Tedford and Justin Arnold.


6 p.m.
Frightmare 101-Acting
Instructor Lar Park Lincoln
This course is open to experienced actors who desire to further their skill in the acting trade.

$50 enrollment fee A $180 value!
Includes Lar's book 'Get Started, Not Scammed and one autographed 8 x 10 of Lar!

To pre-register please email Lar at lar@larparklincoln.com.
8 to 11 p.m. Celebrity Party - SOLD OUT!
VIPs meet and mingle with TFW guests in prefunction area outside main ballroom.
No autographs please.
8 p.m. Spirit Camp

The film follows the clash that follows a street smart "goth girl" after she is forced to attend cheerleader camp as part of her rehabilitation from a juvenile correction facility. When members of the spirit squad start turning up dead, the girls must put aside their differences and struggle to survive the murderous rage of a crazed psycho-killer lurking among them. Q&A with Director Kerry Beyer and cast.

9:30 p.m.
Ghoultown
Curtain Club - Dallas, Texas
Texas Frightmare Weekend Horror Rock Event featuring... Ghoultown, The Razorblade Dolls, Children in Heat (Misfits tribute) and horror cabaret by Dolls From the Crypt
Doors at 8:45pm
Show starts at 9:30pm!
$10 cover, $7 with TFW wristband, drink specials with a TFW wristband!

10 p.m. Dark Night of the Scarecrow

In a small town, a wrongfully killed man exacts revenge on those who murdered him beyond the grave.Q&A with writer/creator J.D. Feigelson.
Presented by VCI Entertainment

Midnight
Herschel Gordon Lewis's
The Uh-Oh Show

Jill Burton is a sexy reporter who’s dead set on getting the scoop behind Uh-Oh! – the gory TV sensation that’s sweeping the nation. Get the answer right and win piles of dough, get it wrong and - Uh-Oh! – it’s off with your arms, legs, or more!

SUNDAY, MAY 2

10 a.m. Show opens for Early Admission
Vendor room opens. Guest signings begin and continue until 5 p.m.

11 a.m. Registration begins and show opens for General Admission
Noon Robert Hall Q&A
Director/Writer/Producer/Effects Artist Robert Hall will preview EXCLUSIVE footage from his upcoming film Old Scratch.

1 p.m. Texas Frightmakers Show 'n' Tell
News and footage from freshly homegrown horror. Featuring Possum Walk, Boggy Creek, The Judge, Death Rattle and others coming soon.

1 p.m.
Frightmare 101-Tim Sullivan's SLASH COURSE
$25 Registration Fee

Indie filmmaker TIM SULLIVAN serves up a 90 minute workshop designed to give attendants a crash course in horror movie making.

Spread the red and pre-register now now for Tim's SLASH COURSE in Horror Filmaking.

3 p.m. Albert Pyun
The prolific director of The Sword and the Sorcerer, Cyborg, Dollman, Nemesis and more fills us in on his newest slate of films including Bulletface, Tales of an Ancient Empire and Bite!

4 p.m. TBA

5 p.m. Vendor room closes

Schedule subject to change!



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USA Film Festival

http://www.usafilmfestival.com/images/usaff.flyer.2010.pdf


DRONES
Wednesday, April 28 7:00pm

Somewhere between “Dilbert” and Mars Attacks! lies Drones, a
very funny new office comedy where an unassuming corporate
lackey realizes his co-workers hold the very fate of the planet in
their hands. Brian (Jonathan M. Woodward, “Angel”) quite happily
keeps his head down at his job, working away as a faceless
non-entity, making copies, sending faxes, answering e-mails and
sitting through endless PowerPoint presentations. But all that
changes when his pal Clark (Samm Levine, “Freaks and Geeks”)
urges Brian to ask out officemate Amy (Angela Bettis, May).
Brian’s thrilled to have a girlfriend — and their co-workers immediately
dub them “Bramy” — but less enthusiastic to discover
that both Clark and Amy are actually aliens from two different
planets, and that’s the sort of thing that can really put a strain on
a new relationship. (When Amy tells Brian she’ll take him back
to her home planet after Earth gets destroyed, he responds,
“We’ve been dating a week—it’s too soon to talk about moving
in together.”) Can the planet be saved? And will someone do
something about the main office’s memo about spreadsheets?
This exceedingly droll and deadpan comedy boasts a terrific cast,
from its three charming leads to reliably hilarious character actors
like James Urbaniak (American Splendor, "The Venture Bros."),
Dave “Gruber” Allen, comedian Paul F. Tompkins, and Tangi Miller
(“Felicity”). Directors Amber Benson and Adam Busch — who
became a couple off-screen after his character Warren killed her
Tara on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — and screenwriters Ben
Acker and Ben Blacker brilliantly mesh two utterly different genres
(soul-crushing-workplace comedy and alien-invasion thriller) in
this witty and hilarious movie that will have you wondering what
your co-workers are really up to during those visits to the copy
room. 96 mins. Directors Amber Benson and Adam Busch
in attendance.

HARRY BROWN
Wednesday, April 28 7:00pm

Harry Brown (the great Michael Caine) has had enough. A retired
Royal Marine and widower, he lives alone in an older public-housing
complex in London, where his only company is best friend
and fellow pensioner Leonard (David Bradley). When Leonard is
brutally murdered by the vicious gang of young thugs terrorizing
the complex, and Detectives Alice Frampton (Emily Mortimer,
Match Point) and Terry Hicock (Charlie Creed-Miles) are unable
to apprehend his killers, Harry is roused into action. Compelled
by grief and determined to restore order in his violent, declining
neighborhood, he takes to the beleaguered streets to dispense
his own brand of vigilante justice. Caine leads a talented cast in
Oscar-nominated director Daniel Barber’s gritty, well-paced and
thrillingly suspenseful first feature. His performance in the titular
role is both sentimental and savage, and sure to leave an indelible
impression on audiences. 103 mins.

LA MISSION
Wednesday, April 28 7:00pm

There are two things in life that recovering alcoholic Che (Benjamin
Bratt) is proudest of: His sleek custom car and his honor-student
son Jesse (Jeremy Ray Valdez). Che spends his day driving a
bus, but in his off hours, he’s both a devoted father and a master
at turning old cars into gorgeous refurbished lowriders with a little
help from his neighborhood pals. But when Che learns that Jesse
is gay, the macho widower finds himself unable to deal with the
truth, plummeting him into rage and grief. Lashing out against his
son with physical violence, Che resists the pleas of those around
him — including his new neighbor Lena (Erika Alexander) — to
understand and love Jesse for who he is. The titular neighborhood
winds up being a character unto itself in La Mission, as
both a community haven and as a collection of mean streets
that aren’t necessarily kind to an openly gay teenager. Working
once again with his brother, writer-director Peter Bratt — the two
previously collaborated on 1996’s Follow Me Home — Benjamin
Bratt gives one of the most intense and nuanced performances of
his career. Che contains multitudes, from his personal struggles
to his devotion to his Latino roots, and Bratt brilliantly captures
this complex and fascinating character. La Mission balances its
hard-hitting family drama with a joyous sense of place, bringing
San Francisco’s Mission District — where the Bratt brothers grew
up — to vivid life against a soundtrack of R&B favorites and an
engaging look at lowrider culture. Boasting a talented ensemble
of actors, the film tells a very human story against a colorful backdrop.
It’s a heartfelt tale of love and hate, family and community,
redemption and resentment, and homophobia and tolerance, with
characters that will stay with you. 117 mins. Peter Bratt and
Benjamin Bratt in attendance.

8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION
Thursday, April 29 7:00pm
The 2008 battle over Proposition 8 — to overturn the right of same-sex couples to marry in California — was the most expensive campaign
in the state’s history, with $82 million spent by both sides. An overwhelming amount of the “Yes on 8” support came from the
Mormon Church, some in California but a great deal of it coming out of the religion’s home state of Utah. In this poignant and provocative
documentary, directors Reed Cowan — who performed his Mormon mission in Dallas in the early 1990s — and Steven Greenstreet
explore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its crusade against same-sex marriage in California, Hawaii and elsewhere.
The church’s stridently anti-gay attitudes have a literal price tag — with members urged to donate huge amounts of money to anti-marriage
campaigns — as well as a spiritual one, as the film explores the epidemic of gay teen suicide among Mormons, and gay Mormon
teens forced to live on the street after being kicked out by their parents. While the LDS church tried to downplay its role in the Proposition
8 battle, political consultant Fred Karger received secret memos and documents highlighting the tens of millions of dollars that the church
funneled into California during the campaign. 8: The Mormon Proposition made the news while it was still in production, when director
Cowan got a Utah state senator on tape saying that gays were “the greatest threat” to America today. The film has also ruffled feathers
by focusing on a newly-married gay husband who is the descendant of one of the church’s polygamous founders. Whatever your take on
same-sex marriage, 8: The Mormon Proposition — featuring narration by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) — takes
a provocative look at the separation of church and state and at what happens when a tax-exempt body is allowed unfettered access to
the political process. 80 mins. Director Reed Cowan in attendance.

JACKIE CHAN IN
SHINJUKU INCIDENT
Thursday, April 29 7:00pm
Jackie Chan stars as Nick (Steelhead), a destitute Chinese peasant who arrives in Tokyo seeking his long-lost love Xiuxiu. Teaming
up with fellow refugees Jie (Daniel Wu) and Old Ghost (Lam Suet), they perform the grueling work no one else will and find themselves
caught between the cops and Yakuza, existing in a no mans land on the streets of Shinjuku. When Nick discovers that Xiuxiu
has adopted a Japanese identity and married Eguchi, a Yakuza chief, he forms an uneasy alliance with him and reluctantly agrees to
become an assassin in order to secure a work permit and help his fellow immigrants. But when Nick finds out his former compatriots
are being used to front the Yakuza’s drug business, Nick feels obligated to bring Eguchi down. Award-winning Hong Kong writer/director
(and actor) Derek Yee gives Chan a solid dramatic role and departure from his usual heroic portrayals in this fast-paced, thoughtprovoking
crime melodrama. 114 mins. Filmmakers in attendance.


8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION
Thursday, April 29 7:00pm
The 2008 battle over Proposition 8 — to overturn the right of same-sex couples to marry in California — was the most expensive campaign
in the state’s history, with $82 million spent by both sides. An overwhelming amount of the “Yes on 8” support came from the
Mormon Church, some in California but a great deal of it coming out of the religion’s home state of Utah. In this poignant and provocative
documentary, directors Reed Cowan — who performed his Mormon mission in Dallas in the early 1990s — and Steven Greenstreet
explore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its crusade against same-sex marriage in California, Hawaii and elsewhere.
The church’s stridently anti-gay attitudes have a literal price tag — with members urged to donate huge amounts of money to anti-marriage
campaigns — as well as a spiritual one, as the film explores the epidemic of gay teen suicide among Mormons, and gay Mormon
teens forced to live on the street after being kicked out by their parents. While the LDS church tried to downplay its role in the Proposition
8 battle, political consultant Fred Karger received secret memos and documents highlighting the tens of millions of dollars that the church
funneled into California during the campaign. 8: The Mormon Proposition made the news while it was still in production, when director
Cowan got a Utah state senator on tape saying that gays were “the greatest threat” to America today. The film has also ruffled feathers
by focusing on a newly-married gay husband who is the descendant of one of the church’s polygamous founders. Whatever your take on
same-sex marriage, 8: The Mormon Proposition — featuring narration by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) — takes
a provocative look at the separation of church and state and at what happens when a tax-exempt body is allowed unfettered access to
the political process. 80 mins. Director Reed Cowan in attendance.


CARPET RACERS: A CRASH COURSE
Texas Filmmakers Showcase
Thursday, April 29 7:30pm

Welcome to the 99%-male-dominated world of “RC” -- not the cola -- radio controlled cars. Or more accurately, professional carpet road
course drivers -- carpet racers. Filmmaker (and TCU grad) Jay Thames’ and Mike Rooney’s three-year journey into the subculture of
grown men (and women) who never lost their love for the childhood hobby offers a fascinating glimpse into the high-voltage world of
racing cars the size of shoeboxes around tracks the size of tennis courts -- all at 60 mph! Beyond the professional racing events (the
Snowbird Nationals in Orlando and the International Indoor Championships in Las Vegas), and the filmmaker’s hilariously inept attempts
to control the tricky cars, this fun, family-friendly documentary also asks when do our hobbies become obsessions, and what drives
the drivers in their quest to be the best? Meet professional champ Mike Dumas (in person) and find out. 83 mins. Filmmakers in
attendance.

ONCE FALLEN
Thursday, April 29 7:00pm

Writer/director Ash Adams delivers a gut punch of gravitas in this ambitious narrative feature that follows Chance Ryan (Brian Presley)
and the struggles he faces to assimilate back into society after paroled from prison. Before he can start his new life, Chance must
confront Eddie (Peter Weller), the gambler he owes, Rath (Ash Adams), the crooked cop who won’t let him go, and his father Liam
(Ed Harris), who, through a violent reaction 20 years earlier, changed their lives forever. To further complicate matters, Chance soon
discovers that he is the father of a son he didn’t know he had and is forced to raise after his mother disappears. He finds strength in
his relationships with his aunt Rose (Amy Madigan) and new girlfriend Pearl (Taraji P. Henson), but will Chance be able to reconcile the
events of his past and escape the dangerous machinations of shady prison politics? In Adams’ intricate screenplay, there are no easy
answers. Also featuring Chad Lindberg, Alison Eastwood, Sharon Gless and Rance Howard. 93 mins. Writer/director Ash Adams
in attendance.

ONDINE
Friday, April 30 7:00pm

Master filmmaker Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire,
Breakfast on Pluto, Mona Lisa) returns to the familiar landscapes
of his native Ireland and teams with visionary and sure-handed
cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Rabbit-Proof Fence, The
Limits of Control) to craft a lyrical story imbued with myth and fantasy.
Syracuse (Colin Farrell) is a simple fisherman who, one day
while trawling off the jagged Irish coast, discovers a beautiful and
mysterious woman in his fishing nets. Initially presumed dead by
the unsuspecting Syracuse, the woman, Ondine (Alicja Bachleda)
comes to life before his very eyes. Syracuse’s ailing, yet irrepressible
daughter, Annie (Alison Barry), possesses a profound
attachment to folklore, and convinces her disenchanted father
that Ondine may be myth come true – a woman sent to change
his life. Ondine is a powerful force of hope and redemption, and
she and Syracuse fall passionately in love. However, the external
forces of the world soon intervene, as a terrible car accident and
the return of a dark and violent figure from Ondine’s past threaten
the stability of the beautiful fable their life has become. Suffused
with a rich story telling tradition, and featuring a haunting score
by Sigur Ros’ Kjartan Sveinsson, Ondine weaves a truly unforgettable
spell. 111 mins. Actress Alicja Bachleda in attendance.

HIS NAME IS BOB
Texas Filmmakers Showcase
Friday, April 30 7:00pm

He’s one of the most well-known and polarizing personalities in
town, often called the most famous wandering person in East
Dallas. The myths and legends surrounding him are numerous
-- tales of a mother who hit him over the head with a frying pan, of
a childhood spent in a mental institution, of a missing $86 million
inheritance. What is undeniable is that Bob is a 57-year-old man
who has spent his life defying the odds. He has been betrayed,
abandoned, beaten and abused, lived for years on the streets, yet
through all of this, Bob refused to live in fear. Filmmakers Lisa
Johnson, J. Sebastian Lee and Heather Lee spent six years discovering
Bob’s amazing life story, and reveal, in the process, the
shameless manner in which we treat our homeless citizens, and
the community which became a family of sorts for Bob. 108 mins.
Filmmakers Lisa Johnson, J. Sebastian Lee, Heather Lee and
Bob and other guests of the film in attendance.

STELLINA BLUE
Friday, April 30 7:00pm

Stellina Martin (native Texan Christina Mauro) leads a reclusive
and mundane existence; and that is exactly how she likes it.
Her life takes a drastic turn when she is shot during a failed robbery
attempt and left on the brink of death. After waking from a
month-long coma, Stellina is given a second chance at life and
an extraordinary gift that allows her to help and heal the people
around her. The normally reclusive Stellina now finds herself
having a tangible impact on the lives of those around her, while
discovering her own life for the first time. Writer/director Gabriel
Scott’s feature debut is a charming mix of harsh reality and magic,
beautifully brought to life by Mauro. Also starring Chris Kramer
and featuring a terrific supporting cast. 95 mins. Producer/
actress Christina Mauro in attendance.

ESREFPASALILAR
Friday, April 30 9:30pm

Adapted from a popular Turkish play and inspired by a true
story, Esrefpasalilar refers to the tough young men from Izmir’s
Esrefpasa neighborhood. In this comedy/drama, two friends
Tayyar, a mafia leader, and Davut, a neighborhood coffee shop
owner, fall for the same woman, Eleni. Tayyar marries Eleni, but
she is actually in love with Davut. Aware of the situation, Tayyar
decides to take revenge on his rival by encouraging Davut’s foster
son Nusret to become involved with the mafia. But when a hodja
(a Muslim religious teacher) is appointed to the derelict neighborhood
mosque, the course of events take another turn. Turkish
with English subtitles. 100 mins. Filmmakers in attendance.

SHORT FILM COMPILATION
TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE
Friday, April 30 9:30pm

A compilation of black-hearted short films from filmmakers
here and across the pond. From festival fave Bill Plympton’s
Plymptoons come three outrageous new animated comedies
- The Cow Who Wanted to be a Hamburger and Horn Dog,
plus the satirical, subversive Santa: The Fascist Years. From
the U.K., we present Brett Foraker’s wicked thriller Natural
Selection, which pits youth and zeal against experience and
guile. Writer/director Scott Tuft presents actress Julie Hagerty
(Airplane!) in an unexpected role as intrepid cosmetics saleswoman
Dorris Hallens, who has so much more to offer in Make
Up. And from Dallas’ Eric Steele comes the story of a young
businessman from New York who visits a local diner in Topeka
(Kansas) that serves up a little culture clash with the coffee. Total
program time approx. 63 mins. Filmmakers in attendance.

DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW
BURLESQUE
Friday, April 30 9:30pm

NYC’s neo-burlesque scene is the hot ticket for celebs, locals
and tourists alike. Gary Beeber’s wildly entertaining documentary
explores the outrageous world of the “new burlesque” and the
performers who created it. Inspired by such burlesque icons as
Lili St. Cyr, Sally Rand, Dee Milo, and cult film star Tura Satana,
Miss Dirty Martini (a classically trained dancer), Jo Boobs and
other stars pay homage to their exotic idols while struggling to
pay the bills and find stable relationships. The film provides
an in-depth exploration of the relationship between sex work,
burlesque, and feminism as it chronicles the rise of Martini, as
well as Julie Atlas Muz, the World-Famous *BOB*, Bambi the
Mermaid, Tigger!, Scotty the Blue Bunny, and many others, from
drag shows and Coney Island side-stages to international stars.
An eye-opening look at the evolution of burlesque from titillating
striptease to a new form of performance art and political satire
that is being called “the new punk rock.” 60 mins. Director Gary
Beeber and Jo Weldon (aka Jo Boobs) in attendance.

THE 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT
Texas Filmmakers Showcase
Group A - Saturday, May 1 5:00pm
Group B - Saturday, May 1 7:00pm
Group C - Saturday, May 1 9:00pm

The 48 Hour Film Project’s 2010 World Tour kicks off in Dallas this year with
three dozen filmmaking teams competing for prizes and bragging rights.
Dallas is one of 80 cities worldwide participating in the Project’s expanded
tour, with a record 3,200 filmmaking teams worldwide expected to take part
in the planet’s largest timed filmmaking competition.
The finished films will be screened during the Festival on Saturday, May 1st,
and the Awards program will take place on Sunday, May 2nd.
The race weekend takes place April 23-25. Each team will be given a
genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue to incorporate into their film.
Filmmakers supply the inspiration, adrenaline and caffeine needed to accomplish
a completed work (between 4-7 minutes in length) in 48 hours.
The audience selects its favorite and a local panel of film professionals will
select the Best Film and other category award winners.
Final registration is open until April 21 (or until full, whichever occurs first).
For registration and other information, please visit
www.48hourfilm.com/dallas

SPECIAL WHEN LIT
Saturday, May 1 5:00pm

Remember the days when you had dinner at home and went outside the house for
entertainment? Its just the opposite nowadays -- We eat out and stay home to watch
TV, play video games and spend hours on the computer -- and something wonderful
was lost when we traded communal arcades and other group entertainments for those
isolating activities. Brett Sullivan’s engrossing rediscovery of a dying American icon
-- the pinball machine -- a product of the mechanical and electrical age, the quintessentially
American invention that swept the world, is also a fascinating snapshot of
American pop culture. Special When Lit features interviews with fans, collectors,
designers and champion players from across the globe who share a world many
thought no longer existed, introducing us to a cast of characters who have spent
thousands of dollars and hours playing and collecting these fascinating machines, and
who try to explain the “lure of the silver ball.” 92 mins.

BREAKING THE PRESS
Texas Filmmakers Showcase
Saturday, May 1 5:00pm

Writer-director Andrew Stevens presents this contemporary retelling of the Biblical
story of the prodigal son set in the world of Texas high school basketball. Coach
Joe Conaghey (Drew Waters, "Friday Night Lights") struggles to turn his school’s
team into a winning one, a task made difficult by the infighting and showboating of
his two adopted sons (Tom Maden and Chad Halbrook). Filmed entirely in the Dallas
area, produced in partnership with Charlie McKinney, Mark Cuban, Mike Modano
and their Heroes Foundation, and with support from Highland Park United Methodist
Church and Cornerstone Ministry, Breaking the Press features several established
Dallas actors, including Burton Gilliam, Morgana Shaw, Brian Massey, and Matthew
Tompkins. (Look for Donnie Nelson from the Dallas Mavericks and basketball greats
Rolando Blackman and Popeye Jones.) 99 mins. Director Andrew Stevens and
other guests of the film in attendance.

THE SQUARE
Saturday, May 1 7:00pm

Siblings Joel (screenwriter) and Nash (director) Edgerton spin an intricate yarn of
love, deception, blackmail and murder in their first feature film collaboration. The
Square hinges upon the adulterous relationship between Ray (David Roberts) and his
troubled, much younger neighbor Carla (Claire van der Boom). When Carla presents
Ray with the proceeds of her controlling husband Greg’s (Anthony Hayes) criminal
fortune, they devise a plan to take the money and run. However, their subsequent
plot to hire a professional arsonist becomes a fatal error, and their plans are soon
thwarted by mysterious blackmail attempts threatening to expose their secret. As the
blackmail efforts intensify, Ray and Carla must examine the nature of their relationship
and the lengths they are willing to go to in order to protect it. Nominated for seven
Australian Film Institute awards, this stylish neo-noir thriller is rife with suspense
and gut wrenching plot twists that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Screened with Nash Edgerton’s award-winning short film Spider. 114 mins. Director
Nash Edgerton in attendance.

THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION
Saturday, May 1 7:00pm

“My parents always traveled in style” Anthony Hopkins’ character says in The City
of Your Final Destination. And so it is with Merchant Ivory films -- a rich journey that
completely transports the viewer. Based on Peter Cameron's novel, the film follows
Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally, Rendition), an American graduate student whose
fellowship aid is entirely contingent on writing an authorized biography of deceased
Latin American author Jules Gund. When Gund’s estate unexpectedly denies Omar’s
request for authorization, Omar’s overbearing girlfriend Deirdre (Alexandra Maria
Lara, Control) persuades him to travel to Uruguay and convince the executors to
change their position. In Uruguay, Omar is reluctantly received by the eclectic cast
of characters inhabiting the isolated, declining Gund estate: There’s Jules’ widow,
Caroline (Laura Linney); his mistress Arden (Charlotte Gainsbourg); Arden’s daughter,
Portia; Jules’ brother, Adam (Anthony Hopkins) and Adam’s partner, Pete (Hiroyuki
Sanada). Omar’s arrival complicates the increasingly fragile relations of the estate’s
occupants, causing everyone, including Omar, to contemplate and reconsider their
individual circumstance and fate. Directed by James Ivory and featuring terrific performances
from a stellar ensemble cast. 118 mins. Hiroyuki Sanada in attendance.

Salute to
Hiroyuki Sanada

U.S. audiences first met Hiroyuki Sanada when
he beat up Tom Cruise in 2003’s epic The Last
Samurai, but in his native Japan, the actor has
been in front of the camera since age five.
Trained in the martial arts and stunts, as well
as the theater arts, Sanada has garnered an impressive list of awards (he was
nominated for the Awards of the Japanese Academy six times and won twice) and
accolades (he played with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was awarded
the MBE). More recently, Sanada has been seen on-screen in Merchant Ivory’s
The White Countess, Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, in Chen Kaige’s The Promise,
with Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3 and as Dogan, the temple master, in the final
season of “Lost.” As we celebrate his latest performance in The City of Your Final
Destination, the Festival is honored to welcome Hiroyuki Sanada to Dallas.

HAPPINESS RUNS
Saturday, May 1 9:30pm

Three of our favorite filmmakers -- Adam Sherman, Tatiana Kelly and Stephen Israel
-- return to the festival with Sherman’s semi-autobiographical story of a neglected teen
growing up on a commune. The film has been described as a “Woodstock meets Lord
of the Flies” tale, but this hauntingly imagined, multigenerational story is much more
complex. The talented young cast features Mark L. Young as Victor, a troubled, isolated
teen who has grown up in the Utopian hippie commune. When childhood sweetheart,
Becky (Hanna Hall), returns to take care of her ailing father, Victor makes plans
to escape with her from what has become little more than a polygamous cult. Friends
Chad (Jesse Plemons “Friday Night Lights”) and Rachel (Laura Peters) are also leading
meaningless lives of self-destruction, having been raised with no boundaries or
discipline of any kind. The preoccupied adults are oblivious to the teens’ unchecked
behavior, which escalates to violent and tragic conclusions, making escape a matter
of life and death. Also starring Andie MacDowell as Victor’s thoroughly indoctrinated
mother, Mark Boone Junior (“Sons of Anarchy”) as his disconnected father, and Rutger
Hauer as the enigmatic cult leader Insley. Warning for scenes of nudity, sexuality and
drug use. 88 mins. Filmmakers in attendance.

UPPER HAND
Texas Filmmakers Showcase
Saturday, May 1 9:30pm

Michael Nolan’s directorial debut Upper Hand follows a protagonist, known simply as
Stranger (played by Nolan), who rides into Dallas unannounced on his motorcycle
looking for work in the seedy criminal underground. In order to earn the trust of the
various gangs in the city, Stranger submits himself to physically demanding, often
violent pursuits. Once accepted, Stranger seeks to exploit and eradicate the gang
violence with skillful manipulation. Cinematographer Blake Clifton renders an exquisite,
otherworldly Dallas that is truly mesmerizing in this unconventional noir thriller.
95 mins. Filmmakers in attendance

DOWN FOR LIFE
Sunday, May 2 7:00pm

Writer/director Alan Jacobs’ (American Gun, USAFF 2002) extraordinary
new film is based on the true story (serialized in the New
York Times’ “Essays in Search of Happy Endings”) of a young
woman trying to leave a gang. The riveting, painful and hopeful
story takes place over the course of a single extreme day in the
life of fifteen-year-old Latina gang leader Rascal (Jessica Romero
in a star-making debut; cast in the lead role despite not being a
professional actress). Set in South-Central Los Angeles, on the
way to school, a violent encounter with a rival gang of African
American girls sets off a chain of events that push Rascal’s
already volatile home life to the breaking point. Rascal’s mother
(Kate del Castillo) doesn’t know her daughter is in a gang, much
less its leader. A compassionate teacher (Danny Glover) wants
to help Rascal leave her gang life, while the male gang members
who control the girls leave little doubt about what will happen if
she tries to leave, because once in the gang, you are “down for
life.” One of the year’s most compelling and surprisingly redemptive
films. 92 mins. Director Alan Jacobs, producer Scott
William Alvarez and actress Jessica Romero in attendance.

LETTERS TO JULIET
Sunday, May 2 7:00pm

Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) is Sophie, a young American
fact-checker for The New Yorker and aspiring writer who travels
to Verona, Italy for a vacation with her chef fiance (Gael Garcia
Bernal). In the home of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers
Romeo and Juliet, Sophie discovers a letter written to Juliet 50
years ago by a heartbroken woman named Claire (Vanessa
Redgrave). With the help of the “Secretaries of Juliet,” a group
of worldly Italian women who answer the lovelorn letters regularly
left under Juliet’s fictional balcony in the city square, Sophie
decides to try to reunite the long-lost lovers. Sophie’s plan sets
off a chain of events that brings love into both women’s lives,
as well as a number of unexpected outcomes. Also starring
Christopher Egan (“Kings”) as Redgrave’s protective grandson.
Director Gary Winick (13 Going on 30, Pieces of April, The Tic
Code, USAFF 1999) deftly brings the charming tale to life. 105
mins. Filmmakers in attendance.

SHORT FILM AWARDS PROGRAM
Sunday, May 2 7:00pm

Join our National Jurors for announcements and screening presentations
of this year’s winning short films as well as the winners
announcements for the 48 Hour Film Project.
Awards are given to the best in Animation, Fiction, Non-Fiction
and Experimental categories as well as awards for family fare,
Texas ties, student achievement, and more. Meet the Grand
Prize Winner (who is notified the day prior and flown to Dallas for
the show) as he or she presents the winning entry and receives
the cash award.
USAFF prize winners who were recognized early in their careers
include Alexander Payne, Todd Haynes, Jessica Yu, Wes
Anderson, Bill Plympton, Michael Almereyda, John Lasseter, and
many more. The USAFF is an Academy-qualified program and
many films recognized here have gone on to be nominated for
the Academy Award. Recent Competition-winning films that were
qualified for Academy consideration include 2007’s Academy
Award winner West Bank Story and 2010’s nominated Kavi.




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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 4/25 - 5/1

It's almost May and it marks the beginning of the summer blockbuster season. There's going to be competition for passes to the really popular ones. So don't get stuck begging and mooching. Enter those contests, jump through the hoops, do what you need to get those passes on your own. If the moderators see an surge of people asking for stuff and not doing their own dirty work, your posts will be DELETED. It's that simple.

Don't forget the USA Film Festival is next weekend! It's a great lineup and it's worth paying for tickets.

April 25 - May 1, 2010

Sun
4/25

2:00 pm
Furry Vengeance
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

Mon
4/26

Tue
4/27

7:30 pm
Letters To Juliet
Angelika, Dallas

Wed
4/28

7:30 pm
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Cinemark 17

10:00 pm
Horror Remix:Spring
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

Thu
4/29

Fri
4/30

Sat
5/1

7:00 pm
The Square
Angelika, Dallas

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Friday, April 23, 2010

The Losers Review



Members of a CIA Special Forces team in Bolivia are tasked at confirming the location of a drug smuggler Fadhil at his compound in the jungles. They spot him but just arriving is a group of children that he plans to use as mules. When the Lt. Col. Franklin Clay tries to call off the bombing of the site, he’s told it’s still a “go”. The group manages to rescue the children but there is only room for them on the exit helicopter which is promptly blown out of the sky. The team realizes that they were supposed to be on board and they would have been killed. They decide to keep up the facade of their demise and try and find a way to avenge their deaths.

Clay (Jeffery Dean Morgan) is having a hard time dealing with no longer being a Colonel. His second in command Rogue (Idris Elba) reminds him that he’s got to find a plan to get his team home as they are stuck in Bolivia doing odd jobs like working in a doll factory. Pooch (Columbus Short) has a pregnant wife back home and Jensen (Chris Evans) has a niece that he misses. Sniper Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) patiently waits for the next move. Clay is approached by the beautiful mysterious Aisha (Zoe Saldana) who offers them a chance to return stateside if they would help her track down their handler Max, who betrayed them. Max (Jason Patric) keeps himself well fortified and surrounded by his own personal army. His dopey right hand man is Wade (Holt McCallany) who misinterprets Max’s nod and throws a guy off a roof instead of breaking an arm. Max was trying to get a group of scientists in Dubai to create these sonic dematerializers called Snooks that can literally make a small island disappear. It’s up the Losers, as Clay refers to his team, to stop him.

Director Sylvain White, whose last project was Stomp the Yard, worked on a script by Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt from an adaptation of the Vertigo comic book series of the same name. It maintains the same over the top nonstop action as one would expect from its source material. The characters fill their stereotypical niches from the bad guy being nasty evil to the stoic good guy leader. The female lead Zoe Saldana is cryptic and lethal who may have another agenda. You have to wonder how someone as small as she is could win a fight with Jeffery Dean Morgan. There’s not a lot of blood spilt, you don’t see piles of dead bodies. The gruesomeness of killing the kids is supposed to be the big motivation for taking revenge on Max, but you pretty much forget about it. There are plenty of jokes and amusing setups. Not to mention explosions galore. Not having read the comic, I don’t know how close it is to what was filmed. It does offer a nice little escape and worth spending time with losers.
(Review by Reesa)
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Monday, April 19, 2010

Grindhouse Trailer MACHETE Gets Opening Date

MACHETE will open on Friday, September 3, 2010 (Labor Day Weekend). Wide.

Robert Rodriguez wrote MACHETE and co-directed it with Ethan Maniquis, his longtime editor.  Film is produced by Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Rick Schwartz, Aaron Kaufman, Iliana Nikolic and Elizabeth Avellan. MACHETE stars Danny Trejo in the title role, as well as Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan, among many others. In the film, Trejo plays a Mexican ex-Federale (with a gift for wielding a blade) who turns the tables on the people who double-crossed him.


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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Congratulations to DIFF

It's been a busy week full of great movies, red carpets, Q&A's and panels during the Dallas International Film Festival. I had the privilege of covering the festival for Movie Geek Feed. I was unable to attend some of the films I had originally intended, but did managed to enjoy these:

A Town Called Panic
The Dry Land
Down Terrace
The Loved Ones
Waking Sleeping Beauty
The Joneses
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Cooking with Stella
Alabama Moon
Waiting for Forever
I am Loved
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
My Queen Karo
Jean-Michel Basquiat:The Radiant Child
Winter's Bone
Brotherhood
Lemmy
The River Why
Wake
Up
Casino Jack and the United States of Money
American: The Bill Hicks Story
Wasteland
Cane Toads: The Conquest 3D
Thunder Soul




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Movies Scheduled for the Week of 4/18 - 4/24

This is the last day of the Dallas International Film Festival and I hope all you movie lovers out there got a chance to view some of the great offerings. Don't forget the USA Film Festival is starting April 28 - May 2 and the Asian Film Festival Dallas is July 23 - 29.

As mentioned in a previous post...when you get an epass from a newsletter, or theater mailing, please only give it to someone if you are NOT going to use it yourself. And the best way you can get one of those epasses is to sign up for those newsletters yourself and skip the middleman.

Also, we do NOT share GOFOBO codes. If you win a code you cannot send it to someone else. You can either tell the person from whom you won it, that they can give it to someone else, or you can release them back to GOFOBO, or you can print them off and give the physical pass to another. If you have any questions on group policy regarding this, write to me personally or see me in the movie line.

Don't forget to check out our new front page for the Dallas Movie Screening group. The address is easy to remember and to share with you friends.

April 18 - 24, 2010

Sun
4/18

Mon
4/19

Tue
4/20

7:30 pm
Cheech and Chong's Hey Watch This
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

7:30 pm
The Oceans
AMC Northpark

7:30 pm
The Losers
AMC Valley View

7:30 pm
The Back-up Plan
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

Wed
4/21

7:00 pm
Shorts
Spring Creek Campus Conference Center

7:30 pm
Toy Story 3
Cinemark 14 - Denton

7:30 pm
SECRET SCREENING (This is probably Robin Hood)
Angelika Mockingbird

7:30 pm
Robin Hood
Angelika, Dallas

Thu
4/22

7:00 pm
A Chemical Reaction
Angelika, Dallas

Fri
4/23

Sat
4/24

10:00 am
Furry Vengeance
tba


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Saturday, April 17, 2010

2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS


(left to right) Aubin Peterson, Mike Peterson, Jason Crawford (BROTHERHOOD), Rachel Hicks (AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY), Andre Jones (MR. OKRA), Mark Landsman (THUNDER SOUL), Amy Grappell (QUADRANGLE), Ryan O'Nan (THE DRY LAND), Emilia Mello (WASTE LAND), Jason Berman (THE DRY LAND), Michael Nash (CLIMATE REFUGEES)


2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS



“THE DRY LAND” RECEIVES THE $25,000 TARGET FILMMAKER AWARD

FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE



“WASTE LAND” RECEIVES THE $25,000 TARGET FILMMAKER AWARD

FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE



“AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY” RECEIVES $20,000 IN CASH, GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE MPS STUDIOS TEXAS FILMMAKER AWARD



“CLIMATE REFUGEES” RECEIVES THE ENVIRONMENTAL VISIONS AWARD



“QUADRANGLE”, “PROCESSION” AND “RUNAWAY”

ARE NAMED WINNERS

FOR BEST SHORT FILM, STUDENT SHORT AND ANIMATED SHORT



AND



AUDIENCE AWARDS GO TO “BROTHERHOOD” FOR NARRATIVE FEATURE, “THUNDER SOUL” FOR DOCUMENTARY AND “MR. OKRA” FOR SHORT





DALLAS, TX, April 16, 2010 – At the first “Dallas Film Society Honors” presented by the Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation awards event in the four-year history of the DALLAS International Film Festival, Ryan Piers Williams’ THE DRY LAND was announced as the winner of the unrestricted $25,000 cash prize for the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature and Lucy Walker’s WASTE LAND received the unrestricted $25,000 cash prize for the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Documentary Feature.



The Documentary competition jury also gave a Special Jury Prize to Michael Pertnoy’s and Michael Kleiman’s THE LAST SURVIVOR and a Special Mention for Editing (for Claire Didier’s work on the film) to Mark Landsman’s THUNDER SOUL.



DALLAS Star Award recipient John Lee Hancock (THE BLIND SIDE) made the presentation of the Target Filmmaker Awards during an evening that also included the presentations of the DALLAS Star Awards to Academy Award nominated director Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE) and cinematographer Wally Pfister (BATMAN BEGINS, THE PRESTIGE, THE DARK KNIGHT), as well as the Texas Avery Animation Award to Pete Docter (UP).



Hancock’s award was presented by “Prison Break” producer Garry Brown, Darabont received his award from longtime Dallas area film critic Philip Wuntsch, and Pfister’s DALLAS Star Award has handed to him by longtime friend and Dallas Film Society Chairman Michael Cain. Docter was introduced by REEL FX Entertainment’s Animation Director Bryan Engram.



Dallas Film Society Executive Director Tanya Foster said, “The Dallas Film Society Honors” event was created to provide an exciting and glamorous event honoring our filmmakers to match the presentation and reverence shown them and their films throughout the festival. We are very fortunate that the Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation joined the DFS family and provided us with the means to put on the kind of show that this film festival and frankly, Dallas are known for.”



Matt Harlock’s and Paul Thomas’ AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY was the recipient of MPS Studios’ Texas Filmmaker Award and $20,000 in cash, goods and services. Robert Byington’s HARMONY AND ME received a Special Jury Prize. The presentation was made by MPS Studios’ Meredith Stephens with Bill Hicks’ niece Rachel Hicks on hand to accept the award.



Amy Grappell’s QUADRANGLE won the award for Best Short. Special Jury Prizes went to David Call’s B.U.S.T., Chris Teague’s MONKEYWRENCH and Kelly Sears’ VOICE ON THE LINE. Daniel Elliot’s JADE received a Special Mention for Acting for Aisling Loftus’ performance in the film. The award for Best Student Short went to Beth Spitalny’s PROCESSION. Shorts jurors Jon Korn and Kaz Radwanski presented the awards. Reel FX ENTERTAINMENT XXChief Operating Officer Kyle Clark presented the award for Best Animated Short to Cordell Barker’s RUNAWAY.



Will Cannon’s BROTHERHOOD won the Audience Award for Best Narrative, while Mark Landsman’s THUNDER SOUL won for Best Documentary and T.G. HERRINGTON’s MR. OKRA won the Audience Award for Best Short. DALLAS IFF Artistic Director James Faust and Senior Programmer Sarah Harris presented the awards.



The winners of the jury prizes for Best Short, Best Student Short and the Audience Awards each receive production and scheduling software from Entertainment Partners.



Introduced by TXU Energy’s Chief Marketing Officer Michael Grasso, Lou Diamond Phillips (whose film TRANSPARENCY will premiere at the Film Festival tomorrow) presented the prizes for the TXU Energy Fast Forward Video Contest. Alex Nelson’s, Drew Mowrey’s and Zach Zador’s film LIGHTS OFF won the $7500 award for Garland High School, Michael Nowak’s THE EFFECT OF ONE took the $2500 prize for Richardson High School and Ladon Ghannadpour’s and Brandon Cantrell’s ENER G’Z: PSA won the $1500 award for Garland High School.



DALLAS IFF Artistic Director James Faust said, “We enjoyed a thrilling film festival with amazingly talented filmmakers and so many exceptional films that our audiences in more than a few cases happily found seats in the aisles so they wouldn’t miss out on any of it. And the competitions were just as spirited. It’s a lot of fun giving a film fest jury a challenge to choose one great film over several other great films”



Michael Cain, DALLAS Film Society Chairman, added “We understood very well going into this year that the eyes of the city of Dallas, the film festival community across the country and the international film community would be on us as we and Dallas took true ownership of this film festival. So, it could not be more gratifying to once again deliver the programming, peerless presentation and hospitality that have built our reputation on from year one.”



JURY AWARDS:


TARGET NARRATIVE FEATURE: THE DRY LAND

DIR: Ryan Piers Williams (USA)

Cast: America Ferrera, Ryan O’Nan, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter, Ethan Suplee, Melissa Leo





TARGET DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: WASTE LAND

DIR: Lucy Walker (Brazil/UK)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: THE LAST SURVIVOR

DIR: Michael Pertnoy, Michael Kleiman (USA)



SPECIAL MENTION, EDITING: THUNDER SOUL (for Claire Didier)

DIR: Mark Landsman (USA)





MPS STUDIOS TEXAS FILMMAKER AWARD: AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY

DIR: Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas (UK)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: HARMONY AND ME

DIR: Robert Byington (USA)





ENVIRONMENTAL VISIONS FILMMAKER AWARD: CLIMATE REFUGEES

DIR: Michael Nash (USA)





SHORT: QUADRANGLE

DIR: Amy Grappell (USA)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: B.U.S.T.

DIR: DAVID CALL (USA)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: MONKEYWRENCH

DIR: Chris Teague (USA)



SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: VOICE ON THE LINE

DIR: Kelly Sears (USA)



SPECIAL MENTION, ACTING: JADE (for Aisling Loftus)

DIR: Daniel Elliot (UK)





STUDENT SHORT: PROCESSION

DIR: Beth Spitalny (USA)



SPECIAL MENTION: YOUNG LOVE

DIR: Ariel Kleiman (Australia)





ANIMATED SHORT: RUNAWAY

DIR: Cordell Barker (Canada)



AUDIENCE AWARDS:


NARRATIVE: BROTHERHOOD

DIR: Will Canon (USA)

Cast: Jon Foster, Trevor Morgan, Lou Taylor Pucci



DOCUMENTARY: THUNDER SOUL

DIR: Mark Landsman (USA)



SHORT: MR. OKRA

DIR: T.G. Herrington (USA)




TXU FAST FORWARD VIDEO CONTEST WINNERS:


$7500 prize winner – LIGHTS OFF

DIRS: Alex Nelson, Drew Mowrey, Zach Zador (Garland High School)



$2500 prize winner - THE EFFECT OF ONE

DIR: Michael Nowak (Richardson High School)



$1500 prize winner – ENER G’Z

DIRS: Ladon Ghannadpour, Brandon Cantrell (Garland High School)



2010 DALLAS IFF JURY MEMBERS:


Narrative Feature JURY includes:

Christian Gaines

Christian Gaines is the director of Film Festival Strategy, Data Syndication, and Business Development for IMDB.


Rob Nelson

Rob Nelson is a film critic and contributing writer for such publications and outlets as Daily Variety and Indie Wire.





Documentary Feature JURY includes:

Britta Erickson

Britta Erickson is the Festival Director for the Starz Denver Film Festival. She also produced the documentary CONVENTION.


Paul Saltzman

Paul Saltzman directed and produced last year’s Target Documentary Filmmaker Award winner PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI.



Heidi Van Lier

Heidi Van Lier is a progremmer for the Slamdance Film Festival. She also directed CHI GIRL and is the author of The Indie Film Rule Book.





MPS STUDIOS TEXAS COMPETITION JURY includes:

David Lowery

David Lowery wrote, directed and produced last year’s MPS Studios Texas Competition winner ST. NICK.


Orian Williams

Orian Williams produced CONTROL and SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE.



Chris Holland

Chris Holland is the Director of Festival Operations, IFP.





ENVIRONMENTAL VISIONS COMPETITION JURY includes:

Anna Clark

Anna Clark is the author of Green, American Style. She is also the President of Earth People.



Dr. Troy Stuckey

Dr. Troy Stuckey is the Research Associate Professor of Earth Science, SMU.



Kristen Sudelia

Kristen Sudelia is the Eco Advocate for Hotel Palomar.




Short COMPETITION JURY includes:

Jon Korn

Jon Korn is a Shorts Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival.


Kaz Radwanski

Kaz Radwanski directed last year’s Shorts Grand Jury Prize winner, PRINCESS MARGARET BLVD.





Student COMPETITION JURY includes:

Khary Jones

Khary Jones directed last year’s Student Shorts Competition Grand Jury Prize winner, HUG.



David Whillock

David Whillock is the Dean of College of Communication, TCU and Professor of Television and Digital Media, TCU.





Animation COMPETITION JURY includes:

Reel FX Entertainment

Reel FX Creative Studios, founded in 1993, is an award-winning creative studio where accomplished artists and preeminent technology converge to produce extraordinary creative solutions. Their services include visual effects, animation, design and creative editorial.





DALLAS IFF kicked off with a groundbreaking Opening Night Gala presentation, taking over all eight screens of the Angelika Film Center that showcased multiple films highlighting the great diversity (narrative, documentary, Texas made, classic Mexican cinema, shorts, etc.) within the program this year. Honorary Chairs Mayor Tom Leppert and Laura Leppert along with festival guest Bill Paxton welcomed 1,600 Dallas filmgoers to the festivities that featured films including BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK, MULTIPLE SARCASMS, NOSOTROS LOS POBRES, SKATELAND and a special Shorts block.



Highlights included a nod to the Mexican Bicentennial that included a special programming block, a posthumous DALLAS Star Award (designed from Steuben Crystal, courtesy of Neiman Marcus) presentation to Pedro Infante as well as a presentation of the DALLAS Star Award to Guillermo Arriaga following a screening of his film THE BURNING PLAIN at the Landmark Magnolia and a special “Conversation with…” at the Latino Cultural Center. Other film artists participating in programmed “conversations” included Karen Black (with Women In Film.Dallas at the DALLAS IFF Filmmaker Lounge at Hotel Palomar) and John Lee Hancock following the presentation of his DALLAS Star Award at the Angelica Film Center. Amber Heard received the Film Festival’s inaugural DALLAS Shining Star Award prior to the screening of her film, THE JONESES at the Angelica Film Center.



The festival also featured Talk/Show panels presented by The Studios at Las Colinas at the Nasher Sculpture Center with participants including producer Doug Mankoff (THE JONESES), SenArt’s Jeff Lipsky, WMA/Endeavor’s Mark Ankner, Doug Jones (HELLBOY, PAN’S LABYRINTH), SFX masters Neville Page and Rob Hall, director Tim McCanlies, author Will Clarke, and musician Bubba Kadane (Bedhead) and Filmmaker Speakeasy panels presented by TXMPA at Central 214 with participants including producer Garry Brown (“Prison Break”), IMDB’s Christian Gaines, Slamdance programmer and filmmaker (CHI GIRL) Heidi Van Lier and Justin Hilliard (THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE).



The festival will close with DALLAS IFF with encore presentations of award winners and sold-out screenings on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 at Studio Movie Grill Dallas at Royal Lane and 75 (11170 N. Central Expressway).



Other notable attendees at this year’s DALLAS International Film Festival included America Ferrera, Amanda Seyfried, Wilmer Valderrama, Shiloh Fernandez, Heath Freeman, Kelly Monaco, Barry Corbin, Zach Gilford, Kathleen Quinlan, William Devane, Jon Foster, Lou Taylor Pucci, Trevor Morgan, Adrienne King, Glenn Morshower, James Keach, Drew Waters and Clint Howard.



Overall, the 2010 DALLAS International Film Festival showcased 62 features and 98 shorts for a total of 160 films from 25 countries.





THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY

The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival, to be held April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org



The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization created to assist the building and growth of other foundations through leadership, management, marketing, and public relations. Established by Dallas-area business leader and philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin, the Foundation’s core focus is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and animals, support young adults through educational efforts, and aid women in breast cancer recovery.



SPONSORS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Airstar Space Lighting Texas, Barefoot Wine, Behringer Harvard, Brierley+Partners, BRILLIANT Magazine, CBS Radio, Central 214, Colibri Promotions, Convergenc Network Solutions, D Magazine, DART, Design Expediting Services Int., Deux, Digital 3 Printing, El Creative, e-Rewards, e-Miles, Faulkner Design Group, Hotel Palomar, Informate DFW Magazine, M3 Films, Match.com, Mockingbird Station, Modern Luxury Dallas, MODIA Home Theater Store, Movie Magic, MPS Studios Dallas, Neiman Marcus, Paul Paredes, Post Asylum, Pure Evil Music & Sound, REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, The Residences at Palomar, Screen International, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, Stoli Vodka, Studio Movie Grill, Target, The Dallas Morning News, Time Warner Cable, The Container Store, TM Advertising, TXU Energy, Univision 23, vitaminwater, West Village, WFAA-TV, Whole Foods Market, World Affairs Council, WRR Classical 101.1 FM.




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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Furry Vengeance



My encounter with Brooke Shields and Brendan Fraser this afternoon at the press conference for Furry Vengeance.



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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Screenings Scheduled for the Week of 4/11 - 4/17

The Dallas International Film Festival is in full force, and I hope everyone is taking advantage of the great films being offered. Some real gems are available that we will probably not get a chance to see during our usual schedule of big studio offerings.

Our group has finally got some cred! We have been offered passes just for us to Furry Vengeance this Wednesday! We should fill up this theater so that they will offer us more opportunities. To get your epass send an email with the name of your favorite critter, both real and imagined to dalscreenings@gmail.com. And to those folks who are wondering where their passes are...READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!

On a personal note: I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers on the passing of my father. If anyone wants information on the viewing and memorial please write to reesas@yahoo.com

April 11 - 17, 2010

Sun
4/11

Mon
4/12

Tue
4/13

7:30 pm
The Perfect Game
AMC Northpark

Wed
4/14

7:30 pm
Death at at Funeral
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

7:30 pm
FURRY VENGEANCE
AMC Northpark

Thu
4/15

7:30 pm
You Don't Know Jack
tba

8:00 pm

Spike Jones: Robot Love Story
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

Fri
4/16

Sat
4/17

10:00 am
Cheech and Chong's Hey Watch This
Studio Movie Grill Royal Lane and Central Expwy


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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Date Night Review


Date Night

Phil and Claire Foster are a busy working couple with kids trying to find get some romance in their life with a night on the town. They attempt to get seats at the hottest restaurant in Manhattan by stealing a no-show’s couple’s reservations. Unfortunately the no show couple happens to be thieves and are being hunted by a pair of corrupt cops. The Foster’s didn’t bargain on getting this much spice in their lives.

Like most suburban married couples, the Fosters (Steve Carrel and Tina Fey) are in a rut. Their weekly “date nights” is the same dinner of potato skins and salmon at the local tavern in New Jersey discussing family chores and schedules. They are concerned as their two best friends; the Sullivans (Mark Ruffalo and Kristen Wiig) are splitting while living the same kind of life as theirs. Not wanting to fall into that hole of indifference, they decide to shake up their weekly routine. They head into the city to try the trendy eatery and are scoffed at as reservations are made months ahead of time. Not wanting to ruin a potentially special evening Phil in a quick-thinking moment raises his voice when a name is called and the people do not respond. They pretend they are the Tripplehorns to get seats. Before they can finish their risotto, the Fosters are approached by bad cops Detective Collin (Common) and Detective Armstrong (Jimmi Simpson) who mistake them for the real Tripplehorns who are really common criminals who had stolen something from some dangerous people. Before Fosters know it, the buzz they got a dinner has ended when guns are pulled.

Running from the bad guys, they seek help from Detective Arroyo (Taraji P. Henson) who doesn’t believe this normal couple has people shooting at them. When they see the bad cops at the station, they realize they can’t rely on the police. Claire suggests Holbrooke Grant (Mark Wahlberg) a former real estate client who is a security expert. Holbrooke just wants to spend time with his beautiful Israeli girlfriend, when the Fosters turn his night upside down. Wahlberg spends most of his on screen time topless…for those of us who find that fact important in seeing this movie. The Fosters decide to find the real Tripplehorns to straighten out this very real threat on their lives. Taste and his stripper girl friend Whippet (Mila Kunis and James Franco) only get them into deeper trouble. Phil keeps making these plans to correct their dilemma, and Claire keeps surprising Phil with her resourcefulness. Their series of adventures lead them on car chases, pole dancing and breaking and entering, some very funny and poignant moments. It’s a great reminder not to take your spouse for granted and adding a little adventure will build memories and bring you closer.

Tina Fey and Steve Carrel are amazing funny and insightful comedians with their own very successful TV shows, 30 Rock and The Office. Not surprising their chemistry works well together as a normal sensible couple that drop off handed comments like melted butter. It is directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) who came up with the idea for the movie one night while on his own date night. Writer Josh Klausner and Levy are also at the same stage in life with careers, kids and trying to find a balance creating an adult skewed comedy that revolves around what happens to the parents when the kids go to bed. The success of this film rests on the comedic timing of Carrell and Fey and as always they deliver. For your next date night you may want to consider Date Night.
(Review by Reesa)




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Thursday, April 8, 2010

THE 2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NEWS

THE 2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES FRANK DARABONT

AS DALLAS STAR AWARD HONOREE



DALLAS FILM SOCIETY MATCHES $200K CHALLENGE GRANT



HORROR THRILLER “WALKING DISTANCE” ADDED TO DALLAS IFF LINEUP



DALLAS, TX, April 7, 2010 – The DALLAS International Film Festival (April 8 - 18) announced Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont as a recipient of the DALLAS Star Award. Mel House’s’ horror thriller WALKING DISTANCE joins the film festival’s lineup and the Dallas Film Society announced the organization has received a $200,000 challenge grant.



At a time when most film festivals are content, if not relieved, to roll out their film program and events as scheduled, the DALLAS IFF staff has continued to announce additional honorees and highlighted films to the Film Festival leading up to the eve of the anticipated Opening Night Gala celebration encompassing the entire Angelika Film Center and all of its screens on Thursday, April 8.



Darabont will receive the DALLAS Shining Star Award during “The Dallas Film Society Honors” presented by the Gail L. & Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation event on Friday, April 16 at Hotel Palomar. DALLAS IFF will also screen one of Darabont’s films followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker on Saturday 4/17 at the Studio Movie Grill.



Nominated for an Academy Award (for Best Screenplay Adaptation) for the classic THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994) and twice nominated (Best Picture and Best Screenplay Adaptation) for THE GREEN MILE (1999), Darabont’s work as both writer and director for those films as well as for THE MAJESTIC (2001) and THE MIST (2007) have placed him in elite company within the filmmaking community. Darabont is currently at work on AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”



“It has been our desire to honor Frank Darabont since the inception of our Film Festival four years ago,” said Dallas Film Society Chairman Michael Cain. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate the work of such an accomplished filmmaker, one responsible for undisputed classics. We are excited that the timing worked out for the DALLAS IFF and Dallas film fans this year. ”



Added to the DALLAS IFF lineup of films is Mel House’s horror thriller WALKING DISTANCE. Focusing on a small neighborhood community where everything is safely within walking distance, the inhabitants discover that the pastoral surface conceals a dark past and an even darker secret. As a group of individuals - each with their own ties and agendas with the town and each other - converges on the enclave, strange things begin to happen.



The film features an impressive lineup of stars including Denton Blane Everett, Glenn Morshower (24, TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN), Katie Featherston (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY), Kathy Lamkin (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) Debbie Rochon (AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), Shannon Lark (Fangoria Spooksmodel) and classic horror icons Reggie Bannister (PHANTASM) and Adrienne King (making her first major big screen appearance since the original FRIDAY THE 13TH). Producer James LaMarr, House, Morshower, King and Lark will all appear at the film’s screening on Saturday, April 17 at Studio Movie Grill and participate in a Q&A afterward.



The Dallas Film Society announced that it has successfully matched a challenge grant of $200,000 from an anonymous donor that launched on February 17 and ran through April 1. This was a dollar for dollar match that allowed DFS to maximize the benefits of receiving $400,000. In the changing landscape of the way the funds to support film festivals are generated, the sea of support via Dallas Film Society memberships and outright donations allows DALLAS IFF and DFS to take a major step toward being an event (and year-round organization) that is supported and sustained by a film going and film loving community.



Dallas Film Society President and CEO Tanya Foster said, “While notable sponsors such as Target, Southwest Airlines, TXU Energy, Brierley+Partners and other corporate sponsors are still a vital part of DALLAS IFF, the success of this challenge grant emphasizes that this really is Dallas’ film festival. We are thrilled with the individual donations and the support our community shows.”



Dallas Film Society donations and memberships include:



LEGACY – $100,000
Ruth O’Donnell Mutch

VISIONARY - $25,000
Nancy M. Dedman

A-LIST - $15,000
Embrey Interests
Kacy & Carter Tolleson

SILVER SCREEN - $10,000
Diane & Hal Brierley
Melina & Michael Cain
Trammell S. Crow
Joy & Ronald Mankoff
Lynn & Allan McBee
Nancy C. Rogers

ICON - $5000
Adrienne Faulkner
John Haden
Andrea & Scott Helbing
Margaret & Glenn Solomon
KD Studio – Actors Conservatory

STAR - $2,500
Mary Bell & Brad Hatcher
Gwenna & Don Brush
Brian Dameris
Waverly Deans & David Smith
Joe Dishner & Ruth Anne Murdock
Alison & Bob Farrow
Tanya & Pete Foster
Good Earth, Inc.
Richard A. Illmer/Brown McCarroll LLP
Sharon & R. Michael Jones
Katherine & Chris LaLonde
Last Asylum Entertainment
Carol & John Levy
Ruth Lindsley
Sarah & Alan Losinger
Linda Marcus
Christine & Bob McKenny
Alice & Erle Nye
Lynne Reynolds
Pat Schenkel
Tristan Simon
Lisa & Marvin Singleton
Jackie & Peter Stewart
Anne & Steven Stodghill
Don Stokes
Julie & Alan Tompkins
Dell Perot Systems
Dave Weaver
Beth & Rick Wilbins
Jenny & Lynn Wolf


The DALLAS International Film Festival will run April 8 – 18, 2010. Passes and tickets are currently on sale both via online (www.dallasfilm.org ), and at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Window located at 5330 Mockingbird Lane on the Hotel Palomar retail strip facing Mockingbird Lane (214.295.5142).





THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY

The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival, to be held April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org





SPONSORS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Airstar Space Lighting Texas, Barefoot Wine, Behringer Harvard, Brierley+Partners, BRILLIANT Magazine, CBS Radio, Central 214, Colibri Promotions, Convergenc Network Solutions, D Magazine, DART, Design Expediting Services Int., Deux, Digital 3 Printing, El Creative, e-Rewards, e-Miles, Faulkner Design Group, Hotel Palomar, Informate DFW Magazine, M3 Films, Match.com, Mockingbird Station, Modern Luxury Dallas, MODIA Home Theater Store, Movie Magic, MPS Studios Dallas, Neiman Marcus, Paul Paredes, Post Asylum, Pure Evil Music & Sound, REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, The

Residences at Palomar, Screen International, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, Stoli Vodka, Studio Movie Grill, Target, The Dallas Morning News, Time Warner Cable, The Container Store, TM Advertising, TXU Energy, Univision 23, vitaminwater, West Village, WFAA-TV, Whole Foods Market, World Affairs Council, WRR Classical 101.1 FM.





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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Dallas Film Now

Dallas Film Now (www.DallasFilmNow.com) is launching this week as we highlight the Dallas International Film Festival, which opens Thursday April 8th.

Dallas Film Now (DFN) is a film review site created by Editor-in-Chief Peter Martin. A veteran of such sites as Cinematical and Twitch, Peter's aim is to provide a straightforward view of what's opening each week in the Dallas area, with film reviews, DVD releases and special engagements around town. He is accompanied by Steve Norwood, content provider and Senior Programmer for the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, who writes film reviews for the site.

DFN hopes you will become a regular visitor to the website as well as following them on Facebook (search "Dallas Film Now" or "DFN") and Twitter (@DallasFilmNow).


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DALLAS Shining Star Award

THE 2010 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AMBER HEARD AS THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE DALLAS SHINING STAR AWARD



FILMMAKER PANELS PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE KAREN BLACK, GARRY BROWN, DOUG JONES, JEFF LIPSKY, STEPHEN NEMETH, NEVILLE PAGE



LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS STARRER “TRANSPARENCY” ADDED TO DALLAS IFF LINEUP



DALLAS, TX, April 6, 2010 – DALLAS International Film Festival (April 8 - 18) announced Amber Heard as the first recipient of the DALLAS Shining Star Award. The lineups for the DALLAS IFF Talk/Show panels and Film Industry Speakeasy panels with stars, filmmakers and industry veterans such as Karen Black, Garry Brown, Doug Jones, Jeff Lipsky, Stephen Nemeth and Neville Page were also announced along with the addition of Raul Inglis’ TRANSPARENCY starring Lou Diamond Phillips.



Heard will receive the DALLAS Shining Star Award prior to the screening of her film THE JONESES on Saturday, April 10 at The Angelika Film Center. The award was created with an eye toward celebrating actors, filmmakers and film artists who have delivered exceptional performances or works on film in their brief careers as well as exhibiting the potential for greater achievements to come.



Heard will be seen in two films screening at DALLAS IFF: Derrick Borte’s THE JONESES and Matthew Leutwyler’s THE RIVER WHY. Last year, she starred in Nelson McCormick’s remake of THE STEPFATHER with Penn Badgely and made a memorable cameo in Ruben Fleischer’s hit horror-comedy ZOMBIELAND opposite Jesse Eisenberg. The prolific actress broke out in 2008 starring in David Gordon Green’s PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and Jeff Wadlow’s NEVER BACK DOWN. Prior films include Nick Cassavetes’ ALPHA DOG, Niki Caro’s NORTH COUNTRY and Peter Berg’s and Josh Pate’s FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Upcoming projects include Bruce Robinson’s THE RUM DIARY with Johnny Depp, John Carpenter’s THE WARD, and Marcos Efron’s AND SOON THE DARKNESS, which she co-produced. Heard is currently at work on Patrick Lussier’s DRIVE ANGRY opposite Nicolas Cage.



“We couldn’t have found a better person to receive the inaugural DALLAS Shining Star Award,” said DALLAS IFF Artistic Director James Faust. “Amber has put together an incredible string of films in a few short years, and is obviously just getting warmed up. We know that we’ll be able to proudly say we were among the first to officially recognize what was on the horizon for Amber Heard.”



DALLAS IFF also announced the 2010 slate of Talk/Show filmmaker panels presented by The Studios at Las Colinas held at the Nasher Sculpture Center and Film Industry Speakeasy panels presented by the Texas Film Commission at the patio at Central 214 in the Hotel Palomar.



Free to the public, the panel participants are a diverse collection of film legends, veterans and personalities including noted actors like Karen Black (FIVE EASY PIECES, AIRPORT 1975) and Doug Jones (HELLBOY, PAN’S LABRYNTH); special “creatures” effects master Neville Page (AVATAR, STAR TREK); producers Stephen Nemeth (CLIMATE REFUGEES, FIELDS OF FUEL) and Garry Brown (“Prison Break”); and film distribution legend and film director Jeff Lipsky (SenArt Entertainment, FLANNEL PAJAMAS).



Justin Muller, Head of The Studios at Las Colinas said, “DALLAS IFF has built a reputation for putting together an amazing slate of film discussions on hot-button issues and film industry talks that go beyond the typical ‘How to make movies?’ approach. The Studios at Las Colinas shares an enthusiasm for that innovative and exciting approach to education and moviemaking and we are pleased to support this series of panels.”



Another late add to the DALLAS IFF slate of films is Raul Inglis’ TRANSPARENCY. The action thriller follows the events after an ATF bust uncovers more than the agents bargained on. The film stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Estella Warren and Deborah Kara Unger. Phillips will appear at DALLAS IFF with the film.



DALLAS IFF Talk/Show panels presented by Justin Muller and The Studios at Las Colinas:



Saturday, April 10

11:00AM

NAVIGATING THE SEAS OF FILMMAKING AND DISTRIBUTION SEAS: How to make your movie, get it seen, and make a living at it.



A comprehensive, deep discussion of the process of making your film and making a living by doing it. We’ll look at the issues and hurdles independent filmmakers have to deal with today - financing, packaging, and selling a feature film.



MODERATOR: John Wildman (DALLAS IFF)

GUEST: Mark Anker (WME Independent)

GUEST: Aaron Hillis (Benten Films)

GUEST: Jeff Lipsky (SenArt Entertainment)

GUEST: Doug Mankoff (THE JONESES, BEFORE THE RAINS)



1:00PM

THE WEB AND FILMMAKING: Is filmmaking and creativity wasted on the web?



The explosion of affordable consumer grade cameras coupled with sites like YOU TUBE, or BREAK saw the rise of a plethora of would-be web impresarios, each shooting, posting, and reposting minute long clips with the goal of becoming viral video superstars. These short, one-off viral mega hits have driven interest in original content for the web, yet with the exception of a few stand outs, sustainable success with serialized content has proven elusive. With the introduction of a new wave in technology – from hi-def, web-based players to cheaper higher quality cameras - as well as an increasing savvy on the part of web-viewers we may be approaching a watershed moment. Is the web a viable outlet for creative, original content? Is there a market for a web series with high production values or will the net be forever dominated by videos of dancing kittens, crazy karaoke, and over medicated toddlers? What role does niche programming play in creating a web-based phenomenon? Is it possible to make a living with content designed specifically for the web, and, if that is the case will we one day wake up in a world where television is obsolete?



MODERATOR: Matt Bolish (DALLAS IFF)

GUEST: Joy Gohring (Date A Human.com)

GUEST: Justin Muller (“Dream Factory”, The Studios at Las Colinas)

GUEST: Nicholas Robinson (Vuguru)

GUEST: Jessica Rose (“Lonely Girl 15”)

GUEST: Tina Santomauro (Atom.com)



3:00PM

CALL TO ACTION DOCUMENTARIES: Do they make a difference?



In the past decade, documentary films have been finding their way into our megaplexes in increasing numbers. With film such as Louie Psihoyos’s THE COVE or Michael Moore’s FAHRENHEIT 9/11 grossing millions in box office revenue, docs have successfully moved from the film festival circuit and specialty theater screenings and into a place of national awareness. But for many documentary films and filmmakers, the purpose of the work is not simply to generate revenue and entertain, rather to inspire, to indict, or otherwise shine a light onto topics, people, and issues they deem relevant. By what process, if any, can a filmmaker use the goodwill (or ill as the case may be) to influence the world outside of the theater after the credits have rolled? How can a film motivate an audience to transform from passive consumers of entertainment to become educated, concerned individuals and is a call to action documentary a failure if it does not ultimately lead to this transformation?



MODERATOR: Chris Vognar (Dallas Morning News)

GUEST: Melina McKinnon (TOREY’S DISTRACTION, Filmanthropy)

GUEST: Alison Ellwood (CASINO JACK)

GUEST: Stephen Nemeth (CLIMATE REFUGEES)





Sunday, April 11

11:00AM

CREATURE FEATURE: Breathing life into movie monsters



In a world where whole planets can be constructed on a computer screen it seems like we are entering a period where anything we can imagine is possible. But before the digital landscapes of AVATAR and the blood soaked battlefields of THE LORD OF THE RINGS creature effects were the sole purview of a select fraternity of artists. As digital technology becomes an even more powerful force in shaping the imaginary worlds of the movies, the role of the creature effects makeup artist may be in a state of flux. Join us for a conversation on the state of the art as we discuss the changing landscape of creature effects, the future of the business, and the role of the physical effect in an increasingly digital world.



MODERATOR: Mark Walters (BigFanBoy.com)

GUEST: Rob Hall (LAID TO REST)

GUEST: Doug Jones (HELLBOY, LEGION)

GUEST: Clay Liford (EARTHLING)

GUEST: Neville Page (AVATAR, STAR TREK)



1:00PM

BOOK TO SCREEN: Adaptation beyond the page, the real challenges.



As long as there has been a film industry, there have been adaptations of previous works. Plays, novels, poems, short stories, comic books, and lately even earlier films have all been repackaged for contemporary audiences. Looking beyond the art of interpreting the written word from one medium to another – from novel to screenplay for example – what are the mechanics of creating a fully realized world on screen that had previously existed in the hearts and minds of possibly millions of individuals. What are the challenges in recreating the magic or inspiration from the original work to the screen whether it be casting the perfect hero to crafting a space faring fighter plane? How do creators, be they writers, directors, actors, and editors deal with the very delicate business of both “staying true” as well as properly exploiting a very different medium.



MODERATOR: Robert Wilonsky (The Dallas Observer)

GUEST: Dayan Ballweg (THE TORTILLA CURTAIN)

GUEST: Will Clark (Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles)

GUEST: Tim McCanlies (ALABAMA MOON, IRON GIANT)



3:00PM

MUSIC IN THE MOVIES: What’s Driving the Drama?



Music can make or break a film. How many of the great films lack an equally powerful score (Try imagining STAR WARS without John Williams, or VERTIGO without Bernard Herrmann)? Music is a tool that when used in concert with image can invoke powerful emotions that go far beyond words on a page, emotions that hit us deep in our core. But in recent years some motion pictures have been criticized for leaning too heavily on music. Instead of underscoring action, film music is used as a form of short hand, telling the audience “be scared,” “feel bad,” or “fall in love.” As we assess the role of music in film today, what does it say about a film and their audiences when scores turn into cheat sheets, and compositions become crutches? Where can we find a balance between too much and too little?



MODERATOR: Robert Wilonsky (The Dallas Observer)

GUEST: Bubba Kadane (Bedhead)

GUEST: Justin Rice (HARMONY AND ME)

GUEST: Peter Rosen (A SURPRISE IN TEXAS)

GUEST: Neil Truglio (WE ARE THE SEA)





Film Industry Speakeasy Panels presented by the Texas Film Commission:



Monday, April 12

11:30AM

A Conversation with Karen Black

MODERATOR: Chase Whale (Gordon and the Whale)



*Guests interested in attending this luncheon must RSVP to lstabler@dallasfilm.org. This luncheon is a special presentation by Women In Film.Dallas





5:30PM

Are JR and Sue Ellen Back? The new film revival in Dallas.

Why are so many projects shooting here and what you can do to be next?

MODERATOR AND GUESTS: TBD



Tuesday, April 13

5:30PM

A Conversation With Garry Brown

MODERATOR: Paul Salfen (944 Magazine)



Wednesday, April 14

5:30PM

Why Are You Being So Dumb About Your Movie?

A Frank Discussion of Film Festivals, Self Promotion, and Standing Out

MODERATOR: John Wildman (DALLAS IFF)

GUEST: Christian Gaines (Imdb/Withoutabox)

GUEST: Heidi Van Lier (CHI GIRL)



Thursday, April 15

5:30PM

Film Festival Coverage

Criticism and Coverage from the film festival front lines - What matters and what doesn’t?

MODERATOR: Peter Simek (D Magazine)

GUEST: Todd Gilchrist (Cinematical)

GUEST: Jen Yamato (Movies.com)

GUEST: Kim Voynar (Movie City News)



The DALLAS International Film Festival will run April 8 – 18, 2010. Passes and tickets are currently on sale both via online (www.dallasfilm.org ), and at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Window located at 5330 Mockingbird Lane on the Hotel Palomar retail strip facing Mockingbird Lane (214.295.5142).





THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY

The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival, to be held April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org

THE STUDIOS AT LAS COLINAS The Studios at Las Colinas is a state of the art soundstage facility which has been the home to many major feature and television productions. Projects filmed at The Studios at Las Colinas include SILKWOOD, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, JFK and ROBOCOP.

SPONSORS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Airstar Space Lighting Texas, Barefoot Wine, Behringer Harvard, Brierley+Partners, BRILLIANT Magazine, CBS Radio, Central 214, Colibri Promotions, Convergenc Network Solutions, D Magazine, DART, Design Expediting Services Int., Deux, Digital 3 Printing, El Creative, e-Rewards, e-Miles, Faulkner Design Group, Hotel Palomar, Informate DFW Magazine, M3 Films, Match.com, Mockingbird Station, Modern Luxury Dallas, MODIA Home Theater Store, Movie Magic, MPS Studios Dallas, Neiman Marcus, Paul Paredes, Post Asylum, Pure Evil Music & Sound, REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, The Residences at Palomar, Screen International, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, Stoli Vodka, Studio Movie Grill, Target, The Dallas Morning News, Time Warner Cable, The Container Store, TM Advertising, TXU Energy, Univision 23, vitaminwater, West Village, WFAA-TV, Whole Foods Market, World Affairs Council, WRR Classical 101.1 FM


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