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Guerrilla + Dogme Independent Films| Adjust Your Focus

Updated: 4 hours 18 min ago

Vaclav Havel wraps up film debut

Mon, 08/23/2010 - 15:55

The Czech Republic is eagerly awaiting freshman film director Vaclav Havel's first - and what he says will probably his last - movie.

Beatles films director Lester donates archive

Mon, 08/23/2010 - 15:27

Richard Lester, the American-born director who helmed Help and A Hard Day's Night, has donated his archive to the British Film Institute.

George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

Off the coast of Delaware sits the cozy Plum Island where two families are locked in a struggle for power, as it has been for generations. The O'Flynn's, headed by patriarch Patrick O'Flynn, approach the zombie plague with a shoot-to-kill attitude. The Muldoons, headed by Shamus Muldoon, feel that the zombies should be quarantined and kept 'alive,' in hopes that a solution will someday be found. The O'Flynn's, who are clearly outnumbered, are forced to exile Patrick by boat to the mainland, where he meets up with a band of soldiers, headed by Guardsman Sarge. They join forces and return to the island, to find that the zombie plague has fully gripped the divided community. (1 hr. 30 min.)

The Die Praxis der Liebe

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

This thriller set against experimental images tells the story of Judith, a journalist, whose investigation of a murder implicates her two male lovers (an arms dealer and a psychiatrist). Through her dealings with these two men, she is forced to ask herself if love is even possible in a world of male power struggles. (1 hr. 30 min.)

Assignment Outer Space

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

Astronauts try to stop a drifting space station from colliding with planet Earth while flirting with the sexy woman aboard in this pretty good Italian science-fiction.

The Man From London

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

This existential drama unites Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton with Hungarian auteur Bela Tarr. In THE MAN FROM LONDON, Maloin (Miroslav Krobot, THE COUNTRY TEACHER) experiences a quiet reality that is filled with loneliness and isolation. But when he witnesses a murder, it leads him to question everything about his life and beliefs. This thought-provoking film played at a variety of festivals, including Cannes and Toronto. (2 hrs. 12 min.)

Love Is the Drug

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

A teenage outcast finds an effective but dangerous way to impress his hipper classmates in this independent drama. Jonah Brand (John Patrick Amedori) is a new student at an exclusive private school, and unlike most of his classmates, Jonah is neither wealthy nor especially self-assured. Jonah's social clumsiness is especially troubling to him given his infatuation with Sara (Lizzy Caplan), a pretty girl who travels in an elite social circle. Sara takes a shine to Jonah despite his geeky attitude, but her pals -- sometime boyfriend Troy (Jonathon Trent), spoiled Erin (Jenny Wade) and emotionally abusive Lucas (D.J. Cotrona) -- make it clear they have no use for him. That changes when Lucas learns Jonah has a part time job at a pharmacy, and realizes he could get them a variety of under-the-counter medications if they play their cards right. Lucas, Erin and Troy have little trouble persuading Johan to get them all the pills they want, but as their experimentation with drugs grows, they begin to take greater risks; they also discover that Jonah's willingness to get them drugs isn't as benevolent as it may have seemed. Also starring Daryl Hannah, LOVE IS THE DRUG was the first feature film from director Elliott Lester. (1 hr. 36 min.)

A Step into the Darkness

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

The sole survivor of an American raid on her small, northern Iraq village, young Turkmen Cennet (Suzan Genç) sets out to locate her brother in Turkey, and falls under the influence of a religious tyrant who uses her as a pawn in a deadly power struggle. Over the course of one harrowing night, Cennet watches in horror as everything she ever knew is destroyed. Upon arriving in Kirkuk to be with her brother Azim, a local barber, Cennet learns that he has been transported to Turkey for treatment after being badly injured in a bomb blast. Now Cennet's only hope of getting into Turkey is though the mountains of northern Iraq. Though a pair of smugglers agrees to help Cennet make the journey, the trip takes a dark turn when one of them forces himself upon her, and she is subsequently saved from committing suicide by a group of radical Islamists. Sympathetic to her plight, they help to ensure her safe arrival in Istanbul, where her desperate search for Azim hits a dead end. But Cennet's journey has just begun, because when the leader of the Islamic group realizes she's got nothing left to live for, he convinces her that by becoming a martyr she will live forever. (120 hr.)

An An American Journey: In Robert Frank’s Footsteps

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

An An American Journey: In Robert Frank’s Footsteps

Armed with a compact digital beta video camera and inspired by the travels of Swiss photographer Robert Frank, filmmaker Philippe Séclier takes a 15,000-mile journey through the United States while pondering the impact that the Beat Generation had on American culture and photography. (60 hr.)

Les Paul: Live in New York

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

No description available (125 hr.)

The Least Among You

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

Inspired by a true story, the directorial debut of filmmaker Mark Young tells the tale of a young black man who is railroaded by police following the 1965 Watts riots, and subsequently forced to endure a year's probation at an all-white seminary. His demons wrestling with his destiny, the man (Cedric Sanders) struggles to remain strong in the face of incredible adversity. Louis Gossett Jr. co-stars. (1 hr. 37 min.)

The Dorian Gray

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 08:23

Oliver Parker has made an impressive career out of directing stylish adaptations of the Oscar Wilde plays THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and AN IDEAL HUSBAND, and now he continues his work with the reading-list favorite, Wilde's novel THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. In this drama, Ben Barnes (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN) stars as the title character.

Introducing: The First Annual Chicago Food Film Festival! (September 24-25, 2010) Ticket + VIP Pass Pre-Sale Starts Today

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 23:33

Introducing: The First Annual Chicago Food Film Festival! (September 24-25, 2010) Ticket + VIP Pass Pre-Sale Starts Today

WATCH AND EAT!

After four years and 20,000 guests served, filmmaker George Motz and the team behind the NYC Food Film Festival are pleased to announce the first annual Chicago Food Film Festival, taking place September 24-25 at the MCA Warehouse.Packed with mouth-watering documentaries, features, short films and food, the festival brings you the opportunity to taste what you see on screen for a multi-sensory, full-bodied experience.

Kicking off with Edible Adventure #002 on September 24th, each film is paired with a tasting of its subject matter. Nuggets of fried cheese curds, corn dogs, and other fair foods are served with the film Eat Your Fill, directed by Mark Irving, where a man eats every menu item that is fried and/or on a stick at the Wisconsin State Fair, to special ice creams paired with trippy The Death & Life of Ice Cream, directed by Orrin Zucker. Look out for other delectable matches of films and food involving oysters and exotic sodas like Fanny Bay oysters served during the screening of Craig Noble’s The Perfect Oyster and exotic sodas paired with the award-winning Soda Pop.

Closing night, September 25th, takes you on the Chicago Burger ‘N Beer Experience, curated by Chicago’s own Chef Michael Kornick. While feasting on burgers supplied by Kornick’s DMK Burger Bar and drinking independent beers from Chicago and beyond, festival-goers can feast their eyes on films such as Beer Wars, directed by Anat Baron, and The Best of Hamburger America, directed by Festival Director George Motz.

The festival sprang from the imagination of George, after the critical success of Hamburger America film and book, along with co-creator Harry Hawk, formerly of Schnack and Water Taxi Beach.   In 2009, acclaimed director Ron Mann called the festival “his absolute favorite” after his film Know Your Mushrooms was screened and followed by a 10-course mushroom-inspired tasting menu from Next Iron Chef star Brad Farmerie of Public and Double Crown. Other past events have included a screening of Whole Hog by Joe York, during which over 1000 people feasted on whole hog barbeque. Following a screening of the food film classic Big Night, the audience enjoyed a re-creation of the famous Timpano featured in the film. And at the World Premiere of Florent: Queen of the Meat Market for one night only the audience was treated to memorable menu items from the shuttered iconic restaurant.

For those who act quickly, the Festival is offering a limited number of discounted VIP Passes and Pre-Sale Tickets to most events beginning this evening, Thursday, August 19th at 5 PM CST. Visit www.chicagofoodfilmfestival.com to order online.

Lawyer in Wyrd Potter suit faces hearing

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 16:54

A Toronto lawyer who tried to block the release of a Harry Potter movie in Canada and have film merchandise destroyed is facing a disciplinary hearing.

Moore backs WikiLeaks accused

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 15:27

Filmmaker Michael Moore has donated $5,000 US to defend the U.S. Army private who is suspected of giving classified documents to the WikiLeaks website.

Nice Guy Johnny

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 07:22

A man determined to right suddenly isn't sure what the right thing should be in this independent comedy-drama. One of the few things Johnny Rizzo (Matt Bush) loves as much as his job as a host on a sports-talk radio station is his longtime fiancée Claire (Anna Wood), who is gently but firmly persuading him to find a more responsible career. Johnny's show is currently airing at 2 a.m. and doesn't pay very well, and as much as he enjoys it, he decides to make good on a promise he made to Claire that if he wasn't making at least $50,000 a year by the time he turned 25, he'd take a job with her wealthy father's box making company. As Johnny heads to the Hamptons to meet with Claire's dad, he ends up staying with his Uncle Terry (Edward Burns), a chronic womanizer determined to show Johnny a good time whether he likes it or not. Loyal Johnny isn't interested in any of the gals Terry throws his way, but when he meets Brooke (Kerry Bishe), a beautiful woman who is giving tennis lessons to Terry's (married) girlfriend, for the first time in years he finds himself infatuated with someone else. Johnny is thrown for a loop when Brooke tells him the last thing he should do is give up his job for Claire. Written and directed by Edward Burns (who cast himself as Uncle Terry), NICE GUY JOHNNY received its world premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

Inside Job

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 07:22

Trailer for Inside Job

U.K. comedians find The Infidel a tough sell

Fri, 08/20/2010 - 20:21

When British comedians Omid Djalili and David Baddiel sought financing for their film The Infidel, about a religious identity crisis, funders were quick to back away.

FILM REVIEW: The Switch

Fri, 08/20/2010 - 17:47

Based on a short story by Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex), The Switch is a comedy about artificial insemination. The premise has potential, but this Jennifer Aniston vehicle quickly loses its nerve. The always enjoyable Jason Bateman tries to add some caustic wit, but his effort is in vain.

VIDEO: The Disappearance of Alice Creed

Fri, 08/20/2010 - 17:36

British actress Gemma Arterton talked to CBC-TV's Ilana Banks about starring in the kidnapping thriller The Disappearance of Alice Creed.

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