Prolific progressive filmmaker Ken Loach will present his new film “Route Irish” in Competition at the Cannes International Film Festival it was announced at the last minute just before the Festival’s opening.

Jafar Panahi arrested in Iran. Protests from across the world. Sign Cineuropa.org’s petition.

In what many claim to be the longest, coldest winter they can recall, the 60th Berlin International Film Festival and the younger, smaller, but no less vital, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival kept the chilly winds of winter at bay by unspooling a hot array of new movies.

Giuseppe Tornatore has been appointed president of the international jury for the 2010 Rome Film Festival, scheduled for next October 28th to November 5th. The announcement was made by festival president Gian Luigi Rondi along with artistic director Piera Detassis. Mr. Rondi praised Giuseppe Tornatore’s extraordinary achievements, calling him one of Italian cinema’s outstanding figures, [...]

T H E  H O T E L  A D L O N…
A tradition of extraordinary excellence is restored.
LORENZ ADLON WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE MOST FAMOUS HOTEL AND
RESTAURANT IN EUROPE THAT CATERED TO KAISER WILHELM, THE TZAR OF RUSSIA, EDISON, FORD, ROCKEFELLER, PRESIDENT TAFT AND ALBERT EINSTEIN. CHARLIE CHAPLIN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TROUSER-BUTTONS [...]

Guadalaja, based in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, is host to what has become one of the most significant film events in Latin America, FICG or the International Cinema Festival of Guadalajara. The Festival runs from March 19-27, 2009. [...]

As November approaches, we are on route to the AFI and AFM in Los Angeles, via Valencia, Torino and Rome where each offers a special view of the international film scene. The adventure culminates in Los Angeles where the AFI Fest and American Film Market (which have established a partnership) take over the film scene [...]

The lounge of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel seemed a fitting setting to interview the young German director about his cautionary new film THE LIVES OF OTHERS. It had just been screened in AFI FEST, but the story is an old one: political paranoia and suppression of civil liberties. The walls of this hotel, if they had ears and voices, could tell similar tales from Hollywood’s darkest hour… the Blacklist years. I had the chance to discuss it with Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck.

It was a great time this year, and much will be posted about the trip! Stay tuned…

John Sayles reflects on … Blues People, History & Places with personality.