Results tagged “independentfilm”

Now that the summer blockbuster season's in gear, it's time to counter-program with an influx of festivals! The Israel Film Festival runs through the 18th at Laemmle's Fallbrook in West Hills & the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Highlights include Lost Islands, which cleaned kibbutz at the Israeli box office last year and won four Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscars); The Seven Days, another Ophir powerhouse; and audience favorite & Oscar nominee Waltz With Bashir. Rather than feature one-off screenings of a multitude of films, the festival has a smaller slate (30 films) but more dedicated screening times; a nice touch for patrons with less flexible schedules.

Much like the way the boom in Fantasy Football has changed the way millions watch football, filmmaker Hunter Weeks is changing the way independent movies are being funded and distributed. The director and producer who made his debut in 2007 with 10 MPH, a documentary about two twenty-somethings hoping on their Segways for a Seattle to Boston road trip, has turned to big brands like CBS Sports, Quiznos, YouTube and Chipotle to help fund and promote his films.

Ten years ago Long Beach native Morgan J. Freeman was minding his own business in film school back east. Doing what everyone else in his class did, he submitted his thesis film "Hurricane Streets" to Sundance for competition. Not only was it accepted - alongside the "real" movies - but it won three awards at the festivall: Morgan won best director, the cinematographer won for best cinematography, and the film got the audience award...

The show, dubbed "Henry's Film Corner," premieres December 4th. Rollins and his guests -celebs and "ordinary" people- will comment on and debate movies, showbiz and film culture. The pilot episode featured Rob Zombie, Rollin's mail carrier Raul and discussion about Akira Kurosawa. IFC marketers are promoting the series as "Ebert & Roeper" meet "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Tonight is a great night for film lovers with three sneak previews on the way—the first is especially compelling for anyone who lives in Los Angeles. It's a good night to get out and see a movie, so get rolling!