Independent Streak Magazine -- December 2015

I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE DECEMBER 2015

Christ opher Ll oyd is "T he Boat Builder"

"3 Days in Havana" with Gil Bellows & Tony Pantages

L orett a Sw it t alks "N ever the Sam e: T he Pr isoner of War Exper ience"

FLIFF wraps www.independent st reakmagazine.com

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30t h Annual Ft . Lauderdal e Int l . Fil m Fest The Ft. Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival (Nov. 6-22) successfully completed another year. It seemed every night was a party, many nights (and movies) themed after different countries: Italian night, China night, Cuban night, etc. See more about FLIFF in the previous two issues (and throughout this publication).

OPENING NIGHT The festivities kicked off on Nov. 6 with two grand opening soirees.

One location was at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL where Michael Moore's "Where to Invade Next" screened followed by a Q&A with Moore via Skype. In addition, the documentary "Jaco," about the late musician (bassist) Jaco Pastorius, was shown with director Paul Marchand and producer Robert Trujillo (from Metallica) in attendance, as well as the Pastorius family.

The other location was Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale, where "The Boat Builder" was shown with director Arnold Grossman and lead actor Christopher Lloyd in attendance.

(See Pg. 14 for story).

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CENTERPIECE PARTY The Centerpiece Party, held Nov. 13 at Sunrise Civic Center, showcased the movie "Silver Skies" and brought in director Rosemary Rodriguez (and Nestor Rodriguez), as well as stars George Hamilton and Jack McGee. (Above: cast & crew of t he f il m --phot o by Dave Mont al bano; on right : Rosemary and George).

WRAP PARTY The wrap party on Nov. 22 was held at the Ritz Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale within their new restaurant, Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits. They offered up plenty of hors d' oeuvres and a wide array of dessert options in their spacious locale, which was the perfect backdrop for the event. Filmmakers mingled and met and then said their goodbyes as another FLIFF went into the record books.

Bel ow: Col l age of f il mmakers, board members, st af f and more at cl osing night soiree.

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Bel ow: McFl y!

Jef f rey Weissman at Cinema Paradiso f or "Back in Time," document ary about "Back t o t he Fut ure" t ril ogy, and "The Boat Buil der," in which he pl ayed Bud. Pict ured wit h Al exandra Bel l o and Vivian Orozco, and Christ opher

FLIFF FUN

On right : Col l age of happy guest s on t he FLIFF

Chairman's Cruise Nov. 8.

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More FLIFF FUN Sel f ies at Cinema Paradiso -- on l ef t -- girl 's night out ? On right -- Jason Gal ot t i and Emanuel Bori wit h Rachel Gal vin. Bel ow : Et han Bart l ey and Al ejandro Lopez wit h "The Boat Buil der" sponsor Cyndi Boyar and direct or Arnol d Grossman; middl e: Rachel Gal vin and Kevin Bosch; Gal vin wit h Al exandra Bel l o -- st riking a pose.

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"American Graff iti" Candy Clark visits On Nov. 14, actress Candy Clark received a Lifetime Achievement Award prior to a showing of the film she starred in "American Graffiti."

Following the film, before the party in the courtyard of Cinema Paradiso-Ft. Lauderdale, her co-star Charlie Martin Smith, who played Toad in the film, appeared on the screen in a video congratulating her.

Pict ured: (L t o R: Candy Cl ark and Charl ie Mart in Smit h in "American Graf f it i;" "Cinema" Dave Mont al bano, Candy Cl ark and I.S. f ounder Rachel Gal vin. Bot t om: Candy Cl ark and FLIFF President and CEO Gregory von Hausch; Pet er Pal in and Rachel Gal vin.

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?N ev er t h e Sam e: Th e Pr i son er of W ar Ex p er i en ce?

By Rachel Gal vin (Phot o: (Bel ow): Direct or Jan Thompson wit h "Cinema" Dave Mont al bano; on right : st il l f rom f il m).

Director Jan Thompson spent 22 years of her life creating ?Never the Same: The Prisoner of War Experience,? a two-hour documentary focusing on Americans held as Japanese Prisoners Of War during World War II. The film came about because of her father?s experiences as a P.O.W. Her father, born on Dec. 7, didn?t reveal his experiences to her while he

was alive. ?Growing up,? she said, ?he wouldn?t talk about it.?

Her grandmother put together documents from her father's time during the war which enticed Thompson, who ended up not only telling some of her father?story, but also getting others to tell their stories. The film sprung out of content found in unpublished diaries, drawings, poems, etc., said Thompson. ?I always wanted a female narrator. she continued, adding she wanted her to be like ?mother earth.?

She ended up with Emmy Award-winning Loretta Swit, known most from her work on the TV show 6 ?M*A*S*H*." as Hot Lips Houlihan, who classifies

herself as an amateur veteran historian. ?I have always been aware of the plight of vets,? said Swit, who said when she was approached by Thompson about the part, she immediately accepted, euphoric about the chance to participate in the important project.

Swit went on to ask some people near and dear to her, like Kathleen Turner, to participate as well, to read the poems, etc.

The cast included Ed Asner, Alec Baldwin, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Robert Forster, Christopher Franciosa, Robert Loggia, Christopher Murray, Don Murray, John O?Hurley, Robert Wagner and Sam Waterston.

Swit added that she has recently been working in correlation with Asner on a special presentation called "An Evening With the Roosevelts" in which she plays First Lady Eleanor and he plays F.D.R. (Asner showed off a portion of his portrayal two years ago at FLIFF when he received his Lifetime Achievement Award).

About Jan Thompson Thompson is a three-time Emmy award winning documentary writer, director, editor and composer. She created a series of specials for PBS called "Hidden Journeys" and an interfaith program called "Ties That Bind" distributed by NETA for 9/ 11 anniversary. In addition, she teaches her craft at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Before getting into filmmaking, she was the Studio Director for the Chicago Bulls and White Sox. M*A*S*H* Part y Following the screening of the film at FLIFF on Nov. 11, there was a special party at Villa de Palma hosted by board member Steve Savor. Everyone dressed to 7 match a the M*A*S*H* theme.

For more information about "Never The Same: The Prisoner of War Experience," visit www.NTS-POW.com.

Lef t : Loret t a Swit wit h I.S. Founder Rachel Gal vin; right : Janet Schwart z and St eve Savor; bel ow: Rene Kat z, Richard Rappaport , Gregory von Hausch and Dougl as Sol omon.

M*A*S*H* Part y at Vil l a De Pal ma brought out l arge crowd, as wel l as Loret t a Swit and Direct or Jan Thompson. Part y was host ed by St eve Savor.

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Fil m Review: ?3 Days in Havana?

By Rachel Gal vin (Right : Tony Pant ages and Gil Bel l ows speak during Q&A Nov. 8) "3 Days in Havana" was shown Nov. 7 at Cinema Paradiso -- Hollywood and Nov. 8 at Cinema Paradiso-Ft. Lauderdale as part of the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. Co-directors/ writers Tony Pantages (yes, of the Pantages family), who has shot and produced commercials and music videos for top acts like Deadmau5, INXS and Sarah McLachlan, and Gil Bellows , known for "Ally McBeal, "Shawshank Redempton" and others, were in attendance. The film was sponsored by board member Cyndi Boyar. The showing on the 8th was followed by a Q&A and a fiesta in the courtyard.

From the get-go, the audience knows that misadventures are afoot in "3 Days in Havana" when lead character Jack Petty (Gil Bellows) begins his adventure in Cuba by being warned of danger by a cigar-chomping fortune teller. The mystery begins immediately, first with him meeting a beautiful stranger who whispers a secret in his ear and gives him her phone number. It continues as he seemingly stumbles into a darkly dapper bloke named Harry Smith (Greg Wise) who embraces the concept of joie de vivre (and a bit of the ultra violence). He throws away Jack?s map with flourish and decides he will be a self-appointed tour guide to show him ?the real Havana.? Little does Jack know what is in store for him. Each character they encounter and each situation leads Jack further into the rabbit hole.

This world he has entered certainly is not what it seems.

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Reminiscent of a Tarantino film, the movie muffles violence with dark comedy beautifully illustrated with the kind of brilliant cinematography you might see in a Guy Ritchie film. From its panaromas to its extreme close-ups and perfectly mastered rack focus, this Hitchcockian film is a visual feast, a portrait of the Cuban culture complete with everything from bongo drums and dancing to pastel-hued retro cars.

Co-directors Bellows and Tony Pantages were friends since they were in camp together when they were young. They brought together all their buddies to put this movie together, a project they had been wanting to make for many years. Luckily, their friends were a great bunch of actors. In addition, they had a two hour casting session in

which they saw all of the Cuban locals that spoke English for possible additional roles. One man, Luis Alberto Garcia, is seen taking out the trash in their film or the "basura.? Little did they know who he was. ?We had no idea of his expertise,? said Pantages, who said in his next film he will bring him in for a more significant role. ?He is the DeNiro of Cuba.?

They also brought in Greg Wise's mother-in-law of Phyllida Law. ?[Greg] Is one of my dearest friends,? said Bellows. ?He is married to [actress] Emma Thompson.?

Pantages continued, ?[Phyllida] nailed eight pages [of dialogue]," adding that Thompson helped out too, as ?the sandwich girl.?

He said that they were filming during the Emmy Award nominee announcements and he said he made an announcement that ?the sandwich girl was just nominated for Emmy.?

(Lef t : Tony Pant ages, sponsor Cyndi Boyar, Gil Bel l ows; above: IS Founder Rachel Gal vin and Tony Pant ages)

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Pantages was enamored of the beauty of Cuba with its lack of corporate signs. They found the spirit of the people to be just as welcoming.

Bellows said, ?There were moments when Tony was shooting on the rooftop a music video in concert with [the film and I met with a family there. I saw someone was having a birthday.] I went to a bakery and got a cake. I was with them that whole day. I spent the afternoon and evening with them ? in a tiny apartment, sharing. It couldn't be more lovely. [They were] really beautiful people, doing their best. They want you to enjoy their country. There was music everywhere. They had a TV on playing music. Everybody was dancing.? ?As soon as you [get to Cuba], your life is filled with music,? said Pantages when explaining why employing as much music as possible was important to him, adding he met the composer who scored the film after he was recommended to him by someone he was sitting next to on a plane.

Unlike the United States, they said shooting in Cuba was much easier. ?There was no resistance, only help,? said Pantages, who said in America people may honk at people filming in the street, whereas in Cuba, they 'tip their hat' because [they hold artists in high regard.] "When we yelled cut, everyone would clap.?

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They had to be vetted by the government. They were told to avoid anything with sex, drugs or guns so the script they showed them left out those parts. They were told their script was a ?little boring,? Pantages laughed.

It took them 24 days to shoot the film, but really took two years of their life in development. They filmed it not only in Cuba, but also England and their home country of Canada. ?Tony and I have a profound love of storytelling,? said Bellows.

The making the film didn?t come without challenges, but Bellows said, ?Here we are standing here, looking forward to making the next film ...?

Pantages couldn?t help but put in a plug for his friend Bellows, talking up the series ?The Patriot,? now on Amazon.com, adding, ?It is one of the best since ?Breaking Bad.' Please vote for it.? [The popularity of the series helps the series stay on the air].

When asked how he developed his character, Bellows said the same way he does in all his projects ... it is all about listening to the other characters in the scene. ?3 Days in Havana? is going straight to on demand, hopefully in the spring. ?Only 20 percent of independent film gets distribution.

[Filmmakers] are lucky to get seen at all,? said Pantages. ?You are our studio,? chimed in Bellows.

(Lef t : Rachel Gal vin and Gil Bel l ows)

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K yl e Wi l l i am Roberts' " Th e Grav e" After winning awards for his superhero film "The Posthuman Project," Kyle William Roberts has decided to stick with the genre, but go a little darker in "The Grave." Keeping some of the same team, he is working on this film, which, unlike the last film which focused on teens, focuses on adults this time, with a darker edge.

Save t he dat e: The Super Geek Film Festival will be taking place at the Magic City Comic Con Jan 15-17, held at the Miami Airport Convention Center. Films focused on geek culture, comics, gaming, animation, anime, manga, science fiction, fantasy, RPG, robotics, technology, and more will be screened

www.magiccitycomiccon.com/category/events/geek-filmfestival

But he is seeking funds to work on the project. Take a look at his Kickstarter and show him some love ... quick! www.kickst art er.com/ project s/ videokyl e/ t he-graveshort -f il m-l et s-kickst art -some-just ice

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Let t er f rom t he Publ isher Well, December is here and it has been quite a year. Around the world, there have been social changes and acts of terrorism plaguing our daily newscasts. It is enough to make us want to bury our head in the sand and hope for a better tomorrow.

Let's make a better today by reaching out to lend a helping hand in whatever way we can. Everyone has talents to share. It does not have to be about money. It could simply be to go around and offer a smile to people in the street who look glum ... or maybe it is showing up to a friend's performance ... or maybe it is writing a review for someone, or taking pictures, or serving your friend in need a nice dinner. Heck, you don't need to feed the homeless ... feed a starving artist or actor! There are plenty of them. I say that tongue and cheek, but it is so true!

Most of all, take care of yourself and reflect on what this year has brought into your life --good and bad, and how next year can be even better.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year --Rachel Gal vin Any times mentioned in the magazine are Eastern Standard Time (EST) unless noted otherwise.

The publisher does not necessarily endorse any advertisements in the mag.

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I NDEPENDENT STREAK M AGAZI NE VOL 2, #12

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Ch ri stoph er Ll oyd i s " Th e Boat Bui l der"

By Rachel Gal vin On Nov. 6, actor Christopher Lloyd, along with some of the cast and crew of ?The Boat Builder? was at Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale for a special screening of the movie.

One of three opening night movies for the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, the film focuses on Abner (Lloyd) as a curmudgeon boat builder. Called Captain Crazy by harassing neighborhood kids and misunderstood by his daughter, he seeks the solace of the sea rather than than the noise of his current reality. The problem is that all of the obstacles he faces, as well as his ever-present grief over the death of his wife, have delayed his building project. But he is propelled into action when Rick (Tekola Cornetet), an equally misunderstood young orphan,

befriends him and offers to help.

The heartfelt movie gives several young actors a chance, but really it is all about Lloyd, giving his character acting style a platform to bloom. ?Happiness is something you outgrow,? said Abner, a statement that seems to sum up the character.

Lloyd said the location of the movie helped him to embrace the character. It was shot in Pacifica, for its small-town feel on a rugged strip of beach.

The location, he said, ?works on you? with the sound of eagles and the coldness.

Lloyd said, ?I don't know anything about building boats,? adding that he felt his character would constantly be busy, tinkering with this and that all the time. ?[He]never stops doing things. He had to be busy all the time, to be engaged doing the things a boat builder would do,? he explained.

He added that he based his interpretation of the character on an amalgam of elderly men from throughout his life, men who reach a certain point where they are not happy. ?My character lost his wife to Cancer and is still grieving from that. He is at a point in his life wondering what is he going to do. He doesn't want to be in a home ? and he loves the sea. He was a captain ? a merchant Marine. His life has been the sea. " When asked about working with Tekola, Lloyd said, 14

(L t o R): Sponsor Cyndi Boyar wit h Wil Shriner and Christ opher Ll oyd; Christ opher Ll oyd wit h direct or Arnol d Grossman; act ors f rom t he f il m: Et han Bart l ey and Al ejandro Lopez at screening. ?He was wonderful to work with.?

Regarding the character of Rick, he said, ?The boy opened up [Abner's] heart. Perhaps [Abner] sees himself as a boy.

He realizes [Rick] is not just a kid. He is a real person with feelings and very vulnerable as my character is too.?

When asked about how he approached preparing for the role, Lloyd said, ?As I do with any script, I spend a long time going over so every moment so I know what I'm supposed to be feeling, how I'm supposed to be relating. It may change when I am in the actual location with actual people because I have to incorporate them. I had some concerns about [working with the] boy. Kids can be difficult. It all turned out well. A lot of how I formed the character 15 was how he affected me.?

This was Tekola?s first real role. In real life, he is an orphan coming from Ethiopia and adopted by a couple in Denver, Colorado, so he was able to bring some real life experience into the role. Before this, he did a travel vlog called ?Tekola Takes Off? Director Arnold Grossman said that watching the duo working together was magical. He added that this was not supposed to be about racial issues. ?This is not about race. It is about bullying, problems with age ? I never wanted to make it about race. This is about a child. He could have been white ? Asian ? ?

The biggest challenge he faced was dealing with the limited amount of time they were able to shoot on location. ?There was only so much time ? 120 days shooting ? a

choice to keep a slower pace of the movie seems to be attributed to his love of European films. ?As shooting progressed, there were a lot of changes [and discussion] on the way it would end,? he said.

The audience had a mixed opinion as to whether they liked the ending or not. Those who are fans of Christopher Lloyd or lovers of the sea will certainly enjoy this picture. It is a nice film for the whole family.

The production also included Jane Kaczmarek (known for projects like "Malcom in the Middle") as Abner's daughter. David Lascher (known for "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and others) as Rick's father, Jeffrey's Weissman [best known for "Back to the Future, Part 2"] as Bud and others.

Find out more about ?The Boat Buil der" and t he cast on IMDB.com. month of pre-production ? didn't have a lot of time, It was Above: Q&A f ol l owing t he movie wit h cast members, direct or limiting, but we stayed within our budget,? he said. and producer Richard Bosner.

He mentioned that two boats were created, a ?hero boat? and a boat that could be dismantled. A scene SEE INDEPENDENT FILMS weekl y at : on the water was shot in dry dock with special effects.

- Cinema Par adiso -- Ft . Lauder dal e This was Grossman?s first feature. Before this, he did 503 SE 6t h St , Ft . Lauderdal e, FL 33301 some short films/ TV spots, wrote an episode of "The - Cinema Par adiso - - Hol lywood Love Boat" and wrote plays and books.

2008 Hol l ywood Bl vd., Hol l ywood, FL 33019 The film, he said, actually started as a play. ?[Doing] staged readings helped me with the www.fliff.com/ Films_and_Events. evolution of the film,? he said, adding that changes Got an event ? Email ravenprods@yahoo.com to ask about were made during production as well, a process he inclusion found exciting. He found it enticing to leave some 16 things up to interpretation at the end. This and the

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Decem ber 2015

Vict or Nunez and Ed Harris

(Above: Amy Madigan and husband Ed Harris)

FLIFFAwar ds The FLIFF Awards Gala, on Nov. 21, was held at The Diplomat Resort and Spa. Actor Ed Harris presented director Victor Nunez with the Florida Prize award, which included a plaque and a $10,000 check from the 17 Knight Foundation.

Harris starred in Nunez' film "A Flash of Green" (1984), which was filmed in the Sarasota area. Nunez was also recognized for his overall career. He is known for films like "Ruby in Paradise" and "Ulee's Gold," which were also filmed in the Sunshine State.

This was the inaugural year for The Florida Prize award, which was presented to a Florida film pioneer.

Next year, the award will go to a Florida emerging artist.

Other awards during the Gala were presented to local arts supporters.

Nicki Grossman/ President and CEO of Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau, received the Visionary Award.

Charles ?Chip? Abele/ Gold Coast Florida Regional Center received the Corporate Leader of the Year Award, and FLIFF supportersGinny and Tom Miller, Betsy Cameron and Barry Smith, and Bonnie Barnett and Robert Kagan, MD each received the Two for the Road Award.

Gregory von Hausch, president and CEO of FLIFF, also presented a Lifetime Achievement awards to both Ed Harris and Amy Madigan.

The two were taken by surprise. They had attended the event together as they were under the impression Harris was at the festival solely to present an award to his friend, Victor Nunez. The two graciously accepted the award. Then Harris delivered a surprise and announced that the evening was also his and Amy's 32nd wedding anniversary.

On Sunday, Nov. 22, Von Hausch announced the film awards prior to the closing night film, "A Royal Night Out."

and directed by Paul Marchand, JACO tells the story of Jaco Pastorius, a Best Short Fil m: BIRTHDAY self-taught, larger-than-life musician When a young military wife gets news who single-handedly changed the that her Marine husband has been course of modern music by redefining severely wounded in combat, she the sound and the role of the electric discovers that life ahead for them is bass guitar. Never-before-seen 8mm going to be a difficult and yet an film, photographs and audio recordings amazing journey. unveil the true story behind the legend of Jaco?

Vict or Nunez is s life, his music and his Director: Chris King heartbreaking end. given t he Fl orida Director: Paul Marchand Prize, present ed Best Short Document ary: Cast: Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, by act or Ed CHAU: BEYOND THE LINES Harris. Sting, Flea, Geddy Lee, Joni Mitchell, Chau, a teenager living in a Vietnamese Wayne Shorter, Bootsy Collins, Peter care center for kids disabled by Agent Erskine Orange, struggles with the reality of his dream to one day become a Act ing Debut Special Jury Prize: Vict or professional artist.

Cabal , LE PERE NOEL Director: Courtney Marsh The story unfolds on Christmas Eve when a 6-year-old (Victor Cabal) goes to Best Fl orida Fil m: 3:13 bed after dinner, hoping to ride with Santa Claus on his sleigh to see his From living a normal life to surviving father. Naturally Antoine is stunned homelessness in the city of Miami, Peter when Santa Claus (Tahar Rahim) appears is a victim of the turbulent US recession on his balcony, thinking Santa is on his during late 2000's. A drama based on way distributing presents. Little does true events. A heartbreaking chronicle the boy know that the bearded man is witnessing a drastic character really a burglar, trying his luck at transformation when he is exposed to luxurious Parisian apartments. the harsh cruelties the streets reveal.

Determined to be his apprentice, the Director: David Jaure / Cast: Paul little boy follows Santa on his mission Alexandro, Bassem Ramirez Farach, and the duo embark on an adventure on Markeyth Powell Paris rooftops.

Director: Alexandre Coffre Document ary Special Jury Prize: JACO Cast: Tahar Rahim and Victor Cabal Produced by Metallica's Robert Trujillo

Fil m awards

American Indie Audience Award: SILVER SKIES A group of eccentric tenants' lives are turned upside down when their beloved apartment complex is suddenly sold out from under them. Starring George Hamilton, Valerie Perrine, Alex Rocco, Mariette Hartley, Barbara Bain Director: Rosemary Rodriguez Cast: George Hamilton, Alex Rocco, Barbara Bain Foreign Audience Award: The award was present ed t o t wo f il ms: THEEB While World War I rages in the Ottoman Empire, Hussein raises his younger brother Theeb (?Wolf?) in a traditional Bedouin community that is isolated by the vast, unforgiving desert. The brothers?quiet existence is suddenly interrupted when a British Army officer and his guide ask Hussein to escort them to a water well located along the old pilgrimage route to Mecca. Hussein agrees to lead them on the long and treacherous journey, and the young, mischievous Theeb secretly chases after his brother. Soon, the group soon find themselves trapped amidst threatening terrain riddled with Ottoman mercenaries, Arab revolutionaries and outcast Bedouin raiders. The film won the Venice Horizons Award for Best Director (Naji Abu Nowar) at 2014 Venice Film Festival and 18

won FIPRESCI Prize for Best Narrative Film at 2014 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Director: Naji Abu Nowar Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen, Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh, Jack Fox TOKYO FIANCEE 20 Year-old AmĂŠlie, a Japanophile Belgian, goes back to Japan, where she spent her childhood. To earn a living, she decides to give private classes in French and meets Rinri, her first and only student, a young Francophile Japanese man with whom she soon has an intimate relationship. Between the pitfalls of a culture shock that is both poetic and amusing, she discovers a side of Japan she had never seen before.

Director: Stefan Liberski Cast: Pauline Etienne, Taichi Inoue, Julie LeBreton Best Comedy: 3RD STREET BLACKOUT After Hurricane Sandy left large parts of New York City without power, an internet savvy couple deals with the absence of technology, a flailing relationship, and the trappings of an analogue world. How far would you go to deliver a note in a blackout?

Directors: Negin Farsad and Jeremy Redleaf 19 Cast: Janeane Garofalo, Devin Ratray, Sunita Mani, Negin

Farsad and Jeremy Redleaf Best Thril l er: MOJAVE Garret Hedlund plays Thomas, a brooding artist in a spiritual funk who leaves the comfort of his Hollywood Hills home to spend a few days in the Mojave Desert. Before long, though, he meets Jack (Oscar Isaac), a dangerous, chameleon-like drifter who resents Thomas? wealth and privilege.

Director: William Monahan Cast: Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Louise Bourgoin, Walter Goggins Best Drama: THE WANNABE Obsessed with mob culture, and desperate to fit in, Thomas sets out to fix the 1992 trial of John Gotti. He believes if the plan is executed, it will put him at the center of all that he idolizes. The plot is foiled, setting off events worthy of mob lore. THE WANNABE intertwines real people and true events, past and present, with fantasy.

Director: Nick Sandow Cast: Vincent Piazza, Patricia Arquette, Michael Imperioli, Nick Sandow Best Foreign Comedy: BOCCACHIOS IN HAVANA In the style of Bocacccio?s ?Decameron?, this Havana-set film is composed by

three stories interconnected by a main storyline. At a writer?s studio, people share anecdotes, full of sensuality and hidden passions, hoping to make some money and become characters of a novel or a movie. ?BoccaccerĂ­as Habaneras? won Audience & Screenplay Coral Awards at the 35th Annual Habana Film Festival, won Best Screenplay & Best Director at the Havana Film Festival in New York.

Director: Arturo Sotto Cast: Daniel Amat, Ulises Aquino, Yordanka Ariosa, Zulema Cruz President 's Award: WHEN VOICES MEET South Africa was in flames from political violence, and the apartheid government was refusing to give up power. Risking their lives and careers, South African musician and music therapist Sharon Katz joined with singer and educator Nonhlanhla Wanda to form a 500-voice multiracial choir. Singing their way into the hearts, minds and soul of the divided country, they promoted a peaceful transition to democracy and went on to become Mandela?s face of the new nation. After performing together for seven years, this film documents the choir?s reunion 20 years later to tell their stories.

Director: Nancy Sutton Smith

Best Document ary: WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Michael Moore journeys abroad to find solutions to some of America?s most pressing problems. The film is a loving tribute to what used to be the American way ? and could be again.

Director: Michael Moore Best American Indie: SONGS MY BROTHER TAUGHT ME Set on the Great Plains and the Badlands of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME explores the bond between a brother and his younger sister, who find themselves on separate paths to rediscovering the meaning of home.

Director: ChloĂŠ Zhao Cast: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Taysha Fuller, ElĂŠonore Hendricks Spirit of Independent s Awards: CASSANOVA WAS A WOMAN Cassanova Canto is a struggling actor who fits none of today?s social stereotypes. She is a 5?7?, blonde, blue-eyed Cuban-American who has fallen in love with a woman, while still married to her husband. Throw in a famous Spanish soap star mother, a homophobic sister and an imaginary naked Fantasy Man and her dilemma takes a riotous unexpected twist. Leaving the audience pondering: Can you be a free-spirited, sexually fluid, pansexual, bisexual, metrosexual, monogamist ? oh, and ? also be Latin?

Director: Kevin Arbouet Cast: Jezabel Montero, Margo Singaliese, Paolo Andino TREE WITOUT ROOTS Conceived in an ashram, a young writer experiences a transformational journey through India as he searches for his dying father who he has never met.

Directors: Christian Ducale, Christopher Lovick Cast: Christopher Lovick THE MORNING AFTER The Morning After follows eight characters who wake up having to deal with the aftermath of being in someone else?s bed. How do they escape their greediness, intimacy issues and infidelity?

Director: Shanra J. Kehl Cast: Michelle Lombardo, Ben Esler, Mason Trueblood

Save t he dat e: Miami Int l .

Sci Fi Fest Jan 15-17 Hyat t Regency 400 SE 2 Ave., Miami, FL 33131 Sci-fi fans will love this film fest. Showcasing films in the genres of Fantasy, Sci Fi, Supernatural, Comedy, Horror, Anime and Microdocs. For more inf ormat ion, visit ht t p:/ / miscif i.com.

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