“Overrun” is Overdone and Underwhelming”

By Mike Szymanski Take every gangland cliche and put them together into one big jumble and that’s what you’ll find with “Overrun.” That includes the exploding briefcase, the Russian bad guys, a pair of inept goofballs, an innocent kidnapped sister, brutal torture, lots of gunfire, and mix in corrupt cops, bounty hunters, car chases, ex-military rogues, martial arts, double-crossing, and painfully on-the-nose dialogue. The saving … Continue reading “Overrun” is Overdone and Underwhelming”

A Fond Farewell from Bird Runningwater,Reflecting on 20 Years at the Sundance Institute

By Bird Runningwater This home has come to an end; it’s time to move to the next home.” Mescalero Apache ceremonial song During my 20 years at the Sundance Institute I’ve tried to imbue my work with inflections of my own Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache cultures. I saw the work of supporting Indigenous artists as a ceremony of transitioning storytellers into their full potential, much … Continue reading A Fond Farewell from Bird Runningwater,Reflecting on 20 Years at the Sundance Institute

“WHAT” A Not So Silent Film

By Vernon Nickerson “WHAT”, written and directed by Alex Lev, stars brilliant actor John Maucere in a film with a stellar cast of deaf male and female actors. They collaborate to give us a profound, powerful, and whimsical look at being a minority deaf culture in a majority culture of hearing humans. WHAT, is aptly billed as a not-so-silent film about a deaf actor searching … Continue reading “WHAT” A Not So Silent Film

Bleak “We Had it Coming” Leaves Us in the Dark

By Mike Szymanski This is a dark movie, and I mean literally dark. It’s hard to see anything in many of the scenes, and when a little light is shown, it’s dramatically through the forest, or a flicker here and there. And it’s tough to say whether it’s night or day. The quick scenes show it’s night time, then it’s morning, then it’s night again, … Continue reading Bleak “We Had it Coming” Leaves Us in the Dark

LCV, Chispa, and The Redford Center Partner to Build Community Power Through New Short Film Series

Community Power series spotlights local stories of clean transportation, jobs, and justice. The Redford Center, in collaboration with the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa, announced the launch of a new series of short films showcasing community power in a collective call for civic engagement around clean transportation to build a safer, more just future. About Power the Vote: Community PowerAs part of The … Continue reading LCV, Chispa, and The Redford Center Partner to Build Community Power Through New Short Film Series

The Dreamweaver Artist Community

The Art Of Monteque will be creating and hosting the first Dreamweaver Artist Virtual Community on the clubhouse. This is a safe place of support for artists and creative to share there work, ideas and to also network among like-minded individuals. Community meetings will be every Wednesday at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The creative community is welcome take a moment to enjoy connecting with … Continue reading The Dreamweaver Artist Community

Visual Communications Announces the Compelete Lineup For The 37th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival September 23 to October 2, 2021

World Premiere of Chris Chan Lee’s SILENT RIVER Los Angeles Premieres of Patricio Ginelsa’s LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE and Jeff Mizushima’s WHO IS LUN*NA MENOH? Documentary Highlights Include E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Latest Film THE RESCUE And Jessica Kingdon’s Tribeca Fest Winner ASCENSION LAAPFF Kicks Off October Filipinx American History Month With Filipinx Filmmaker Friday October 1 The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film … Continue reading Visual Communications Announces the Compelete Lineup For The 37th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival September 23 to October 2, 2021

48th TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAM LINEUP

Telluride Film Festival, presented by the National Film Preserve, announces its official program selections for the 48th edition of the Telluride Film Festival which is going on now. TFF’s celebration of artistic excellence brings together cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and artists to discover the best in world cinema in the beautiful mountain town of Telluride, Colorado. TFF will screen more than 80 feature films, short films … Continue reading 48th TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAM LINEUP

2021 Dances With Films Review of “Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol”

By Vernon Nickerson Film animator chronicles a 40- year journey to make a movie with his teen idol Ike Eisenmann (of Walt Disney’s Escape to Witch Mountain’ fame). Just when I had given up expecting anything that gave me a warm fuzzy trip down memory lane to suddenly appear in the middle of 2021 and COVID-19 Delta Variant, a funny valentine comes along. Professional animator … Continue reading 2021 Dances With Films Review of “Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol”

“Mondo Hollywoodland” A Story Of Selfreflection

By Vernon Nickerson “Mondo Hollywoodland” looks and feels vaguely familiar. In fact, it is a story I have lived in the bohemian lives of many artist friends in Los Angeles’ Silverlake Community. The film was directed, produced and co-written by award-winning director, producer, and writer Janek Ambros “Mondo Hollywoodland” also stars Alex Loynaz (PEDRO, 9-1-1), Alyssa Sabo (Totally Rad, Floor is Lava), and Jessica Jade … Continue reading “Mondo Hollywoodland” A Story Of Selfreflection

Why Haven’t You Had The Luxury Of Discovering This Cool Band? This Doc Tells It All

By Mike Szymanski Luxury, had I known of them in the 1990s, would have become a favorite band of mine in my youth had I known about them. Their influences were the same as mine that I loved as a young teen, when the parents of the up-and-coming band members were giving their children albums from KISS, and Queen, and the Beatles. What may have … Continue reading Why Haven’t You Had The Luxury Of Discovering This Cool Band? This Doc Tells It All

A Review of Jonathan Baker’s Film “Becoming Iconic”

By Vernon Nickerson By his own admission, relatively “new” Director Jonathan Baker wants a career in filmmaking and defines film as propaganda. So, I can only conclude from Jonathan Baker’s “Becoming Iconic” that Baker wants to become an iconic creator director. Jonathan Baker is a writer, producer and director has always been enthralled by smart storytelling and larger than life figures, taking inspiration from greats … Continue reading A Review of Jonathan Baker’s Film “Becoming Iconic”

Sundance Institute and Adobe Announce 2021 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows

Ten Young Emerging Artists, from Short Film Submissions on Sundance Collab The class of 2021 has arrived: Sundance Institute and Adobe announced this year’s Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows today, chosen from a global pool of more than 1650 applicants from ages 18-25. Hailing from a broad geography, and rooted in a diverse array of creative disciplines from documentary to fiction, these 10 emerging artists … Continue reading Sundance Institute and Adobe Announce 2021 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows

SEE “SUMMER Of SOUL” AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE

By Vernon Nickerson Where were you in summer 1969? Can’t remember? Not born yet? That’s okay. I have the perfect film for where you needed to be in 1969 on the day man walked on the moon. GO SEE SUMMER SOUL AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE! A Questlove Jam: “Summer of Soul”, Or, when the Revolution Could Not Be Televised, is more than a documentary. … Continue reading SEE “SUMMER Of SOUL” AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE

Country of Hotels, a Quirkily Entertaining Relief from the Summer of Comic Empire Promotionals

By Vernon Nickerson Country of Hotels, a new film by Director Julio Maria Martino and Producers Saba Kia and Emily Corcoran is a somber 21st Century homage to Rod Serling’s Night Gallery. Intrigued, gentle movie-watching public? Well if you are still fighting your natural urges to explore a mysterious sci-fi-ish drama, I would add that Country of Hotels was the winner of the Audience Award … Continue reading Country of Hotels, a Quirkily Entertaining Relief from the Summer of Comic Empire Promotionals

’12 Mighty Orphans’ Offers a Story of Hope During Tough Times

By Mike Szymanski Everyone wants a story of hope during tough times, and this is a story inspired by true events during the tough times of the Great Depression. How appropriate then, to bring the story to light today in the middle of some very tough times, too. With a stellar familiar cast and a ripe pack of new talent, “12 Mighty Orphans” reminds me … Continue reading ’12 Mighty Orphans’ Offers a Story of Hope During Tough Times

A Summer Blockbuster in Independent Film: “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy” Is A Serious Piece Of 2021 Summertime Fun!

By Vernon Nickerson In the new film, “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy”, we are reminded that while “Jersey Shore” was becoming a cultural phenomenon, an actual phenomenally talented entrepreneur and cosmetic chemistry genius was working against relentless odds and a jaw-dropping series of unfortunate events. Thanks to the star and Executive Producer Vince Spinnato, a Jersey native and proud graduate of Vineland High School, we … Continue reading A Summer Blockbuster in Independent Film: “Skin Deep: Formulating a Legacy” Is A Serious Piece Of 2021 Summertime Fun!

Jodie, Foster Special Guest Of The Opening Ceremony And The Honorary Palme d’or Of The 74th Festival de Cannes

Guest of honour at the Opening Ceremony which will take place on the stage at the Palais des festivals on Tuesday, July 6, the director, actress and American producer will kick-off the 74th edition which will draw to a close on Saturday, July 17th with the awards’ list given by the President of the Jury, Spike Lee. Following Jeanne Moreau, Bernardo Bertolucci, Jane Fonda, Jean-Paul … Continue reading Jodie, Foster Special Guest Of The Opening Ceremony And The Honorary Palme d’or Of The 74th Festival de Cannes

The 74th Festival de Cannes Film Official Selection and Jury Of 2021

The 74th Festival de Cannes will be held from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 17th July 2021. The 74th Festival de Cannes has been waiting a year to be unveiled to the world. This will be the first Festival de Cannes in the 19 COVID pandemic, as they say the show must go on. 74th Festival de Cannes is returning with an in-person event after the … Continue reading The 74th Festival de Cannes Film Official Selection and Jury Of 2021

Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grants 18 Projects

Stories from BIPOC and Women Directors Are Focus of Unrestricted Support The Sundance Institute announced the latest cohort of Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grantees. A total of $590,000 in unrestricted grant support has been provided to 18 projects in various stages including five in development, eight in production, and five in post-production. Grants are made possible by The Open Society Foundations, the John D. and … Continue reading Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grants 18 Projects