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NY Film & Video Festival Day 1
So I arrived at Village Cinema East at 6:10pm a little too late for the first block of films I was planning to screen. Not a problem, good time to find pleasing food along 2nd Ave. I was looking for ambiance, reasonably priced entrees and WIFI. I had to settle for two out of three, hence why day 1 post is being posted on day 2. I choose La Paella (214 East 9th Street) They offer an early bird special 3 courses for $16.99. I had Lechuga Conqueso de Cabra which is a mouthful for simple green salad with goat cheese. The dressing was good and tarte, but skimpy on…
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From La Cinematheque to NYFilm and Video Festival
Last night was PCA’s second screening of their French film series: La Cinematheque, which included giving an Artistic Achievement Award to director, Costa-Gavras. The 76 year-old Oscar Award-winning director is gracious, very interested in conversing with his audience and still cuts quite a dashing figure. The evening produced a full-house of which 95% stayed for the Q&A after the screening of his new, comedic, road movie, Eden Is West. Right now I’m on the bus heading to NY for the New York Independent International Film & Video Festival (Oct 22-29) which had it’s opening last night. I was hoping to post my review of last night’s film, some highlights from…
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181/2 Philadelphia Film Festival Closing Night
So I’d like to commend The Philadelphia Film Festival on a great “half” festival, but more importantly on the fact that they opened and closed the festival with films from two African American Directors – F. Gary Gray and Lee Daniels. The African American community came out in droves to support these films. In fact, an additional screening was added for Precious at 5pm. I don’t know if their choice of directors was coincidental, but it was refreshing. I’m going to be covering the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival next week (Oct 23-Oct 29) and when I asked them about possible films that would fall into CineFest’s…
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Commentary – Precious & Interview with Lee Daniels
LEE DANIELS IN PHILADELPHIA – PRECIOUS Q&A Lee Daniel’s Film Precious is uncomfortable in the raw injustice of this young girl’s life and all she must endure. The underlying premise of the film does speak to the prejudice in all of us, but the story is her’s and her’s alone- Clareece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe). She is a dark-skinned, hugely overweight, 16 year-old, illiterate girl, who is able to dream of having a “light skinned” boyfriend and being totally fabulous, despite her life of being repeatedly raped by her father, and abused physically and mentally, but her jealous mother (Mo’Nique). Both Gabby and Mo’ Nique have turned in Oscar…
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18 1/2 Philadelphia Film Festival FREE Screening of Youth in Revolt!
Today, 10/17 at Noon, Prince Music Theater I would like to attend this added screening of Youth in Revolt, the brand new Michael Cera film fresh from the Toronto Film Festival. I’d also like to see how many people attend, since it’s a FREE screening. But I just woke up, it almost 11am – I can’t get myself together fast enough to get in town for 12noon. Now when I start getting paid to blog, I’ll throw my clothes on and hurl myself in the car and pay for parking! But for now, I ask that anyone who attends, write in your review, don’t forget to “Toe Rate”. If it’s…
