The Film Panel Notetaker

46th New York Film FestivalHappy-Go-Lucky – Press & Industry Screening & ConferenceMonday, September 26, 2008Walter Reader Theater – New York, NY
(L to R: Sally Hawkins, Mike Leigh & Lisa Schwarzbaum)
Photo by Brian Geldin

Happy-Go-Lucky is UK filmmaker Mike Leigh’s latest film, a comedy about a free-spirited 30-year-old British lass named Poppy played with great charm by [...]

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In an effort to help promote Fritz Donnelly’s tothehills 2, see below information on how you can help contribute to three new tothehills short films. Please spread the word:

The From Here to Awesome sensation tothehills 2, 25 short films in one directed by Fritz Donnelly, is now open for its first round of fundraising on [...]

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Independent Film WeekCase Study: Documentary Marketing – Beautiful Losers & I.O.U.S.A.September 18, 2008
This panel was about how to consider the marketing dimensions of a film. To think through how to secure fan, organizational and subject support. Every film is unique and marketing is expression of film’s core values.Case Study: Beautiful LosersThe film’s subjects were urban [...]

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Received the below email from Andrew Berends via The D-Word regarding the latest situation in Nigeria:
As you may know, I’m back in the U.S. after ten days being detained by the State Security Services in Nigeria. I’d been in Nigeria for six months filming DELTA BOYS (http://deltaboys.com/) about the oil conflict in the Niger Delta. [...]

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No Borders Case Study with John HadityIndependent Film WeekWednesday, September 17, 2008FIT – Katie Murphy Amphitheater – New York, NY

Last Wednesday at Independent Film Week, No Borders International Co-Production Market presented a Case Study on Single Picture Financing with John Hadity, President and CEO of Hadity & Associates, Inc., a consultancy firm that specializes in [...]

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In preparation for the October 28 DVD release of The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound to Lose via Carnivalesque Films, here’s a One-on-One Q&A below with Paul Lovelace, co-director of the film along with Sam Douglas. As a refresher, The Film Panel Notetaker took to Anthology Film Archives last December for a screening of the documentary [...]

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The State of the IndustryIndependent Film WeekTuesday, September 16, 2008FIT – Haft Auditorium – New York, NY

Last Tuesday at the Independent Filmmaker Conference, Variety’s Anne Thompson moderated a discussion with indie film distribution stalwart Bob Berney, who lead Warner Bros.’ specialty division Picturehouse, which was recently relinquished into the larger fabric of the company. [...]

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On Tuesday of this week, I attended a welcome home party for filmmaker and journalist Andrew Berends, who had been arrested with his translator, Samuel George, and Joe Bussio on Sunday August 31st in Port Harcout Nigeria while filming at the local waterfront. Andrew has since returned home, but Samuel George’s legal status remains undetermined. [...]

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A Conversation with Kevin SmithIndependent Film WeekSunday, September 14, 2008FIT – Haft Auditorium – New York, NY
Filmmaker Kevin Smith, whose new film Zack and Miri Make a Porno opens in theaters this Halloween, came to the Independent Filmmaker Conference to talk about his new film, his career, his upcoming politically-driven film Red State, and to [...]

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Rooftop Films
Sneak Preview Screening at Open Road RooftopOctober CountryNew York, NYSept. 18, 2008

(October Country directors Michael Palmieri & Donal Mosher and Rooftop Films’ Mark Elijah Rosenberg at after party held at Fontana’s) Photo by Brian Geldin
Thursday night in New York, I attended the previously announced sneak preview screening of Michael Palmieri’s and Donal Mosher’s [...]

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