Michael Jones is Film Festivals Managing Editor at Variety.com, covering the film festival beat from opening to closing night. en-us http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339.html?nid=3611 Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:15:10 PST http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/416694938/830034683.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081009/TributePaulSchrader_20081004_Schrader.jpg" alt="" /><br /> &quot;<strong>Adam Resurrected</strong>&quot; helmer <strong>Paul Schrader </strong>attends his Mill Valley fest tribute.<br /> <br /> <img hspace="10" vspace... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/416694938" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/830034683.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/416259025/870034687.html <p><img hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081009/shiningparty.jpg" />Leave it to the <strong>Fantastic Fest </strong>to trash your haunted hotel.&nbsp; Fantastic and Nike are having a raging &quot;<strong>Shining</strong>&quot; party set at the <strong>Timbe... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/416259025" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/870034687.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/416306507/940034694.html The <strong>Sundance Institute </strong>has announced the <strong>2008 Time Warner Storytelling Fellows</strong>: playwright <strong>Kirsten Greenidge</strong> (&quot;Bossa Nova&quot;), filmmakers <strong>John Magary </strong>(&quot;Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette&quot;) and <strong>... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/416306507" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/940034694.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/416259027/850034685.html As the <strong>Middle East Film Festival </strong>opens in Abu Dhabi today, Ali Jaafar has news that the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993658.html?categoryid=13&amp;cs=1">Mouse has joined the fun</a>.<br /> <blockquote> <p>Disney is in advanced negotiations with Leb... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/416259027" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/850034685.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/416078890/670034667.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081009/GALA-GloverFishkin.jpg" /><br /> <strong>Danny Glover </strong>and <strong>Mill Valley </strong>topper <strong>Mark Fishkin.&nbsp; </strong>The Mill Valley Film Festival closes this weekend.&nbsp; Photo by Brad F... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/416078890" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/670034667.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/415202866/130034613.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/soloist.jpg" alt="" /><strong><br /> AFI FEST 2008 </strong>has announced its full lineup with honors going to actress <strong>Tilda Swinton </strong>and helmer <strong>Danny Boyle</strong>.&nbsp; Boyle will be feted af... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/415202866" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/130034613.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/415097042/1990034599.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/yeast.jpg" alt="" /><br /> Cinetic Rights Management has announced that <strong>Mary Bronstein</strong>'s feature &quot;<strong>Yeast</strong>&quot;, starring Bronstein, <strong>Greta Gerwig</strong>, <strong>Amy Judd</... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/415097042" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1990034599.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/415041070/1920034592.html <em>by N'neka Hite</em><br /> <img hspace="5" vspace="5" border="2" align="right" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/leslie.jpg" alt="" /><strong>LA Femme Film Festival </strong>Founder <strong>Leslie LaPage </strong>announced today that the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills and the Wilshire ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/415041070" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1920034592.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/415041071/1720034572.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/Good_88.jpg" /><br /> <em>by Ed Meza</em><br /> As for the all-important international star wattage at this year&rsquo;s fest, <strong>Viggo Mortensen</strong>, who toplines Third Reich drama &ldquo;<strong>Good... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/415041071" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1720034572.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/415041072/1810034581.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/letitrain.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <strong>IFC Films</strong> has picked up U.S. rights to <strong>Anges Jaoui</strong>'s French family drama &quot;<strong>Let it Rain</strong>,&quot; making its North American preem at the ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/415041072" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1810034581.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/414907576/1710034571.html <img hspace="10" vspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081008/favela_blast.jpg" alt="" /><em><br /> by Ed Meza</em><br /> With its stunning vistas, beautiful beaches and lovely residents, Rio de Janeiro poses a serious challenge to its own film festival.<br /> <br /> Yet in spi... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/414907576" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1710034571.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/414433658/1640034564.html In his NY film fest piece, Stephen Holden puts <strong>Jolie</strong> and <strong>Rourke</strong> in the ring as &quot;shameless Oscar bait,&quot; saying they are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/movies/08fest.html" target="_blank">remarkably similar</a>:<br /> <blockquote>If &ldquo;<stro... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/414433658" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1640034564.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/414433659/1630034563.html Patrick Frater and Marcus Lim wrap up the <strong>Asian Film Market</strong>.&nbsp; Sounds like <a target="_blank" href="http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&amp;jump=story&amp;id=2709&amp;articleid=VR1117993514">a bust</a>.<br /> <blockquote><span class="content infuse">The Asian Film... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/414433659" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1630034563.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/414373660/1590034559.html Wonder where our <strong>Facebook</strong> group is?&nbsp; <br /> <br /> So do we.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Stay tuned.&nbsp; We're working on it.... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/414373660" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1590034559.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/414083753/590034459.html <img hspace="5" vspace="5" border="2" align="right" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081007/ufakresim.php.jpg" /><em>by Nick Holdsworth</em><br /> One of the world&rsquo;s newer international film festivals, Antalya&rsquo;s <strong>Eurasia </strong>- which this year marks its fourth edition ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/414083753" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/590034459.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/413789763/810034481.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" alt="" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081006/DSC_0013.jpg" /><br /> <em>by Ed Meza</em><br /> One foreign documentary has managed to titillate <strong>Rio </strong>fest-goers like no other, even days before its official premiere on Saturday.<br /> <br /> ... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/413789763" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/810034481.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/413237432/790034479.html <img hspace="10" border="2" vspace="10" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081006/melissaleo.jpg" alt="" /><em><br /> by Dade Hayes</em><br /> The only thing missing was the drum circle.<br /> <br /> The <strong>Woodstock Film Festival</strong>, which wrapped Sunday, drew a crowd marbled with nota... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/413237432" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/790034479.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/413014047/550034455.html <a href="http://www.babelgum.com" target="_blank"><img hspace="5" align="right" vspace="5" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081006/babel.jpg" alt="" /></a>Online film fest <a href="http://www.babelgum.com" target="_blank">Babelgum</a> has hired indie film vet <strong>Karol Martesko-Fenster </strong>... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/413014047" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/550034455.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/412929730/420034442.html <img vspace="5" hspace="5" border="2" align="right" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081006/Fire4190.jpg" alt="" />On the faith-based front, the <em>NY Times</em> writes today about the Christian-themed &quot;<strong>Fireproof</strong>&quot; starring <strong>Kirk Cameron</strong>, which has pocketed... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/412929730" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/420034442.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/412430144/170034417.html <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thereeler.com">The Reeler</a> is back, he says.&nbsp; Stu VanAirsdale, Gotham's cine-know-it-all, actually never left if you've been keeping up with STV's posts on <em>Defamer</em>.&nbsp; What got him back on his server?&nbsp; Some former contributor threw some di... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/412430144" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/170034417.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/412420993/140034414.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" align="right" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081005/kevinsmith.jpg" alt="" />Sean Baker's &quot;<strong>Prince of Broadway</strong>&quot; won Best Feature and Jeremiah Zagar's &quot;<strong>In a Dream</strong>&quot; won Best Doc and the James Lyons Award for... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/412420993" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/140034414.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/410830247/1770034377.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081003/EasyVirtueStill.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <em>by Ed Meza</em><br /> <strong>Sony Pictures Classics</strong> has picked up Latin American rights to Rio screener &ldquo;<strong>Easy Virtue</strong>,&rdquo; the 1920s-set roman... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/410830247" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1770034377.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/410580759/1540034354.html <img vspace="10" hspace="10" border="2" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081003/Once%20Upon%20a%20Time%20in%20Rio1.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <em>by Ed Meza</em><br /> Rio-based film and TV powerhouse <strong>Conspiracao</strong> is looking to expand its operations abroad and, equipped with Brazilian ta... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/410580759" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1540034354.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/409788576/1130034313.html The <strong>Jackson Hole Film Festival</strong> and Institute has closed its doors.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Chalking it up to the financial crisis, managing director Todd Rankin told <em>The Jackson Hole Daily</em> that as the market went, <a href="http://www.jacksonholenews.com/article.php?art_id=369... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/409788576" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1130034313.html?nid=3611 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~3/409731281/1100034310.html <img hspace="5" border="2" align="right" vspace="5" src="/articles/blog/1390000339/20081002/burning.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Ghent Int'l Film Festival </strong>will unspool <strong>Guillermo Arriaga</strong>'s &quot;<strong>The Burning Plain</strong>&quot; with the writer/director in attendance to dole... (more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FestCentral/~4/409731281" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.variety.com/blog/1390000339/post/1100034310.html?nid=3611