Screening times set for Montreal World Film Festival!

Just got the word from the programmers in Montreal.  They have three great screening times for “Hove (The Wind)”:

Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:20pm

Sunday, Aug. 30 at 12:30 pm

Monday, Aug. 31 at 3pm

All screenings will be in Theatre 12 at the Quartier Latin Cinema Complex.  More details to follow as I get them.  The website is:

http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en_index.html

The fact that we have three screenings just shows how exceptional and world-class this festival really is.  From the beginning of this process they have been incredible.  They create the screening schedule with the filmmakers in mind.  They ask when you can come to Montreal and then put your film up during that time if they can.  I have been made to feel so welcome.  I feel very lucky to be a part of this festival – there are really only a handful of American films that have been invited.

I really am looking forward to being there and getting to see some amazing cinema from around the world.  Will tell you all about it in a couple of weeks!

 

Los Angeles International Short Film Festival

Just came back from the first few days of the LA Int’l Short Film Festival.  The screening was great.  We were paired with some wonderful films including a beautiful film called “The First Day of Peace”.  Shot in Bosnia and written and directed by Mirco Rucnov it is the story of a peasant farmer who decides he cannot wait any longer and will go back to his land and plow it – now that the first day of peace has been declared.  Powerful, simple and yet it carries quite a blow.  Great performances from people from the director’s village who had never acted before.

Many good things have already come out of the festival.  A major studio requested a screener of “Hove”.  Another producer asked to look at a feature length script since they could not attend.  I was also thrilled to have Olympia’s brother, Apollo, attend.  He was very complimentary about the film and said that he thought Olympia must have felt very comfortable working with me as she seemed very “open and relaxed” in the role.  A truly great compliment.

Another exciting development is that an Oscar-qualifying festival (unnamed for the moment) contacted me and basically said the film was in!  This was based on seeing the film at Palm Springs.   Can’t tell you who until they finalize their announcements and press release etc.  I had heard this happens but it was a real thrill to know that a programmer from another festival was watching and appreciated the film enough to give it the advance invite treatment!

I was also thrilled to have Booth Colman attend the LA screening.  He is an incredible actor with an amazing biography.  I was lucky enough to do a couple of plays with him years ago.   This great man has worked with or known many of the greatest actors in the twentieth century while working as an actor in Hollywood.  One of his best friends was Stan Laurel, Arthur Marx is a good friend (son of Groucho) and  he worked with Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence, Kirk Douglas, Howard Hawks, Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Sally Field and the list goes on and on.  He also played Dr. Zaius in the Planet of the Apes TV series!   Given his stellar history in the film industry – it meant a lot to have him there.  He was very complimentary about the film and his only frustration was that he wanted more of the story.   He also said with classic Booth Colman humor that “Jack Warner oughta screen this picture.”  

                                                                                                                      Booth Colman as Dr. Zaius.

It was an amazing trip.  I also had the chance to talk briefly with Courtney Cox and Demi Moore.  Both were charming and have made wonderful short films.  If you get the chance to see either Demi Moore’s “Streak” or Courtney Cox’s “The Monday Before Thanksgiving” see them.  They are funny, well-told and beautifully acted.