The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place in Miami June 23-26 2010. The ABFF is a four day retreat and international film market. Composed primarily of world premiers of narrative features, documentaries and shorts, it is the leading festival in the world for African American and urban content.
Click here for more information on the ABFF
Explaining the French Passion for Film
“In France, cinema is widely referred to as “the seventh art”, along with architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, music and poetry. “Seventh art” is not a phrase one hears often in Britain, or America for that matter. But, in France, they view cinema as a form of artistic expression, worthy of study and discussion.”
The Telegraph (UK) 05/30/10
Buy Tickets Now for the International Black Film Festival of Nashville
Tickets go on sale this month for the International Black Film Festival of Nashville. The festival will run from September 29 to October 3, 2010.
Established in 2006, the International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFF) is a collaboration of dedicated professionals who support the need for a “community” effort to bring African-American and other Communities together to showcase their work as emerging and skilled independent filmmakers, actors, composers, screenwriters, directors and other film industry professionals.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets
San Francisco Black Film Festival — June 15-20, 2010
San Francisco wants you to leave your heart at this year’s S.F. Black Film Festival!
The mission of the San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF) is to celebrate African American cinema and the African cultural Diaspora and to showcase a diverse collection of films – from emerging and established filmmakers. This is accomplished by presenting Black films, which reinforce positive images and dispel negative stereotypes, and providing film artists from the bay area in particular and around the world in general, a forum for their work to be viewed and discussed. SFBFF believes film can lead to a better understanding of and communication between, peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
Click here for more information on the SFBFF
Happy Africa Day!
Are Movie Ticket Prices Too High?
“Even though ticket prices in the first quarter of 2010 were up 8% from the same period last year–the biggest yearly increase since theater owners began tracking ticket data in 2001–they’ve already taken another leap upward.”
Los Angeles Times 05/21/10
Restructuring Oakland Museum of California
“Because Oakland’s population was about 40 percent black while the museum’s governing board was entirely white, the director set up a 51-member Community Relations Advisory Council to make sure that a representative range of local voices was heard.”
The New York Times 05/16/10
Click here to read the entire article.
Nigeria's Nollywood eclipsing Hollywood in Africa
“As cinemas close across Africa, homegrown blockbusters are actually eclipsing Hollywood on the African market as for the first time in 13 years an African feature competes for the top award at Cannes.”
The Independent (UK) 05/16/10
MAGIC LANTERN: the Ancestor of Cinema
Magic lantern enthusiast David Francis, the Magic Lantern Society of the USA and Canada, and Indiana University’s departments of English and Communication & Culture have come together to bring you the Grand Optical Variety Show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Friday.
The magic lantern was invented around 1659 and provided entertainment
Events include:
Thursday
NICKEL MADNESS, 8 pm in the IU Fine Arts Auditorium, 1201 E. Seventh St. A Gen-u-ine Nickel-o-deon Show, c. 1910, will be presented by “Professor” Russell Merritt with vocalists Mr. Sean Sharp and Ms. Shari Speer and Dr. Philip Carli at piano.
SEE the latest Travel Craze from France, M. Georges Melies A TRIP TO THE MOON. HEAR history-in-the-making, in “The Assassination of President McKinley!” Chase the villains down, in D.W. Griffith’s thrill-a-minute animate picture, “The Girl and Her Trust!”
Friday
A MAGIC LANTERN SPECTACULAR, 7:30 pm, direct from our National Finest Cities, Canada and the Capitals of Europe, a 19th-century MULTI-MEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA and Magic Lantern Spectacular at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
SEE the Eclipse of the Moon with an Astronomical “Professor.” BASK in the Moving Colors of the Saucy Serpentine Dance. MARVEL at the Artistry of America’s First Screen Artist, Joseph Boggs Beale. SING ALONG to Rousing Favorites of the Variety Stage. And much more!
All with: LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT by World-Famous Dr. PHILIP CARLI! Chief Lanternist “Professor” Terry Borton, utilizing the Magnificent Bi-Unnial Lantern! Chief Lantern Assistant and lovely lady, Mme. Debbie Borton, handling original, authentic and handmade slides!
Tickets are available at the Bus-Chum box office, 812-323-3020. General admission is $9; seniors, children and students are $7. Doors open at 7 pm.
Saturday
PICTURE THE SONGS, 8 pm in the IU Fine Arts Auditorium. Picture the Songs! Victoriana meets Americana in a Grand & Glorious Pastiche of AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC & LIVE-MODEL ILLUSTRATED SONG SLIDES in the Ragtime Era. See some of the earliest and most obscure glimpses of soon-to-be-stars of the silent movies. This all-ages program features a fabulous troupe of singers and musicians from around the country and across the globe.
Sunday
STEAMBOAT BILL, 7 pm at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Whittenberger Auditorium, see Buster Keaton’s classic 1928 comedy “Steamboat Bill Jr.” Features live piano by film accompanist and IU alum Philip Carli.
Tate Modern Expands Into Non-Western Art
“Tate Modern has used the occasion of its 10th birthday to show how it is expanding its collection beyond Europe and North America, actively buying work from artists in countries from Algeria to Egypt to Iran.”
The Guardian (UK) 05/11/10
Click here to read entire article.