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Bakhtawar Mazhar: In Flames of Glory A day before the awards were announced, declaring In Flames the best film, at the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), I was face–to-face with Bakhtawar Mazhar, one of the protagonists of In Flames, her feature debut, a film that had made a tremendous impression on me. This, a face-to-face with a Pakistani actress, had never happened before, and I was not going to let this opportunity go by. We got into a car, and started talking.                                                      “My first film was Dia, which was the basis of In Flames, was also written and directed by Zarrar Khan. It was the precursor of In Flames.” In the longer version, the prize winner film, medical student Mariam (Ramesha Nawal, debut, after audition), is determined to escape her conservative family, by pursuing a secret romance, o...

Salaar, Part I-Cease Fire: Could cause a seizure Salaar is an Urdu-Persian word, meaning commander or leader. According to the beginning voice over, a Muslim invader could rule over India, during the 12 th century, largely, due to the resources, strength and acumen of his trusted lieutenant, Salaar. There is a Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, India, which has a great collection of antiques, art and rare manuscripts. But I doubt if anything in the film is related to or valued by this prized antique treasure trove. So, storing a copy of the film in its august premises is ruled out. What a pity; Salaar stored in Salar! What a headline that would have made! On the other hand, Salaar Part I: Cease Fire could find a place in a more accommodating museum. Perhaps among the best museums in the world: the China National Film Museum. Or National Museum of Cinema, Turin, Italy. Why not the La Cinémathèque Française, Paris, France? Maybe the German Film Museum, Frankfurt, Germany. And if nothing ...

  ANNOUNCING THE LINEUP FOR THE 13th EDITION OF THE MCMINNVILLE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL  FEBRUARY 23rd-25th  McMinnville, OR becomes a destination for art and culture this February for the 13th edition of the McMinnville Short Film Festival! MSFF is excited to announce the lineup for 2024, with over 100 short films from filmmakers all over the world screening in the heart of Oregon Wine Country February 23rd-25th. All films will showcase at the McMinnville Cinema followed by a Filmmaker Q&A. This year marks the 13th edition of MSFF, and will feature events for pass holders and industry networking opportunities for visiting filmmakers in addition to screening its official selections:  "HOW TO BUILD CAREER SUCCESS FROM YOUR SHORT FILM" PANEL, hosted by industry professionals.  BREAKFAST WITH A FILMMAKER with author and screenwriter Jonathan Raymond, who collaborated on six screenplays with director Kelly Reichardt (including FIRST COW, based o...

Sundance Institute has announced the short films that will be a part of the  2024 Sundance Film Festival  programming. The Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024. The Festival will introduce new short films for 2024 across eight curated programs.   “Selecting the shorts for the Festival Program every year is an exercise in taking the pulse of film culture, and the outlook is always bright,” said Mike Plante, Senior Programmer, Short Film. “In our 40th year, the world of short films is more vibrant than ever. With so many ways to see and experience shorts now — at festivals and online through varied platforms — so many artists are coming to the art form and creating shorts that excite us, and short film fans, in new ways.” The 53 short films for the 2024 lineup were selected from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record. Of...

DOC NYC has remained the largest and most important North American documentary festival. Held in person this year from November 8 th to the 16 th alongside streaming selected productions from the 8 th to the 26 th , DOC NYC once again displays its well-earned reputation for excellent curatorial program choices reiterated by the significant number of featured documentaries that have nominated for and received Oscars. DOC NYC 2023 selected 114 feature length documentaries and 129 short films. The program included 33 world and 29 US premieres. This year’s DOC NYC had a 5% increase in in-person attendance compared to 2022, and this expansion was epitomized by fifty sold out screenings and the growing nationwide on-line audience.  The festival attracted a record number of 1,000 industry representatives including film makers.  Among the major sponsors and signature media this year were A&E, Netflix, HBO, National Geographic as well as New York, WNET, the New Republic and WNY...

DOC NYC has remained the largest and most important North American documentary festival. Held in person this year from November 8 th to the 16 th alongside streaming selected productions from the 8 th to the 26 th , DOC NYC once again displays its well-earned reputation for excellent curatorial program choices reiterated by the significant number of featured documentaries that have nominated for and received Oscars. DOC NYC 2023 selected 114 feature length documentaries and 129 short films. The program included 33 world and 29 US premieres. This year’s DOC NYC had a 5% increase in in-person attendance compared to 2022, and this expansion was epitomized by fifty sold out screenings and the growing nationwide on-line audience.  The festival attracted a record number of 1,000 industry representatives including film makers.  Among the major sponsors and signature media this year were A&E, Netflix, HBO, National Geographic as well as New York, WNET, the New Republic and WNY...