Thompson on Hollywood

Sundance Short Films 2012: "Outrageously Distinctive with Uncompromised Spirit"

Festivals

The Sundance Film Festival selected 64 shorts from 7,675 submissions for its 2012 Short Film program of US and foreign films, in Narrative, Animated and Documentary categories, as well as the New Frontiers section.

By Sophia Savage
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December 6, 2011 4:00 PM
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Concrete Jungles: Doc Short Reimagines the High Rise

Reviews

“One Millionth Tower” is a visually spectacular Web documentary by Canadian filmmaker Katerina Cizek that reimagines the fate of the dilapidating modern high-rise, a building form that houses over a billion people worldwide. The six and a half minute short concentrates on a Toronto concrete high rise, Kipling Avenue, home to some 20,000 people. The film mixes photographs of the high rises with whimsical animation that brings these concrete structures to life, communicating the vibrancy of the high-rise through virtual landscapes. “One Millionth Tower” filmmakers spent two years interviewing residents with delicate attentiveness; the animation is sourced from apartment denizens' sketches of ways to improve their home. As the third installment of short web documentaries from the HIGHRISE project (others include “One Thousandth Tower” and “Out My Window”) this short film shows the power of film to transform our world. Watch "One Millionth Tower" here.

By Maggie Lange
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December 5, 2011 11:47 AM
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The Latest Insta-Nostalgia Maker: LomoKino

Lomography has launched a camera that might give the Polaroid or Holga a run for their money as a hip, anti-digital, instantly retro accessory. Called the “Super 35 Movie Maker,” the LomoKino camera uses any 35 mm film to capture contemporary scenes in lo-fi light with minimal hand-cranked effort.

By Maggie Lange
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November 7, 2011 9:27 AM
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Film Independent's LA Film Festival Is Accepting Submissions for 2012 Fest

Festivals

Film Independent’s 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival is now accepting submissions. The fest, running June 14-24, is in its 18th year. It will showcase programs including the Filmmaker Retreat, Ford Amphitheater Outdoor Screenings, Poolside Chats, Coffee Talks, a music video section and short films from high school students. Here are highlights from the 2011 festival. Submission details are below and here:    

By Sophia Savage
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November 1, 2011 7:22 AM
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Del Toro Exec Producing DreamWorks Feature Adaptation of Creepy Short Film: Alma

Guillermo del Toro, who executive produced Puss in Boots, will work again with DreamWorks Animation on Alma, another animated film based on a the popular short film (below) by Rodrigo Blaas. The former Pixar animator will also helm the feature, which is being written by Megan Holley (Sunshine Cleaning). Alma is adorable, but the vibe is wonderfully creepy--we hope (perhaps futilely) that DreamWorks keeps it that way--not to mention the gap in her teeth. A potential animated franchise with a female lead who isn't a princess? Yes, please, we need more of those!

By Sophia Savage
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October 31, 2011 6:35 AM
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GE and CINELAN Add Filmmakers to Focus Forward Three-Minute Film Initiative

GE and CINELAN announce from The Doha Tribeca Film Festival that the following award-winning filmmakers will join Focus Forward, a global documentary initiative that looks at the human power of ideas and innovation through three-minute films that can educate and inspire: Lucy Walker (director, Waste Land), Eddie Schmidt (producer, Twist of Faith), Phil Cox (director, The Bengali Detective), Leslie Iwerks (director, The Pixar Story) and Stanley Nelson (director, Freedom Riders).

By Sophia Savage
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October 26, 2011 3:20 AM
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My Movie Pitch Announces 2011 Winner, Who Will Collaborate with Ed Burns

My Movie Pitch (from Tribeca Film and American Express) announces its 2011 winner, Susan Brennan. She made a pitch (after the jump) and Ed Burns will write and direct the short with her help. The film will premiere at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. They explain the story together below. You can follow Ed Burns' twitter for updates.

By Sophia Savage
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October 18, 2011 8:03 AM
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Academy Shortlists Eight Doc Shorts

The Academy documentary branch has selected eight documentary shorts from 35 eligible entries, of which three to five will earn Oscar nominations on January 24. At this year's Ashland Film Festival, the best of ten doc shorts went to The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, whose co-director Gail Dolgin died last October after a decade-long bout with cancer. In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt's Unfinished Revolution, a timely doc about the Arab Spring, was screened at the NYFF (pictured, here's indieWIRE review).

By Anne Thompson
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October 13, 2011 10:40 AM
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Tim Hetherington Among Finalists for Cinema Eye's Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking Award

Cinema Eye names the eleven finalists for its Honor for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking. Five official nominees will be named on October 26, 2011, and a winner will be announced January 11 at the 5th Annual Cinema Eye Honors in NYC. This marks the second year Cinema Eye has recognized films in the nonfiction short category. Vance Malone's The Pool Trainer was last year's winner.

By Sophia Savage
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October 12, 2011 5:06 AM
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Focus Features' Africa First Program Announces Winners of $10,000 Grants

Focus Features' Africa First short film program announces fourth set of winners. Each filmmaker--of African nationality and residence--will receive $10,000 and will be networked with and mentored by leaders of the African film community.