TAKE 100: Dream Lineups of International Film Festivals

Take 100 is an unprecedented compendium of the most promising emerging film directors from around the world. The artistic directors of ten prestigious film festivals were asked to each nominate ten of the best emerging film directors working today. The result: an exceptional look at global contemporary filmmaking. The 100 featured directors have all recently come to international attention for their contribution to cinema and represent countries as diverse as China, Israel, Mexico, Algeria, India, Romania, and Canada. The festival directors-curators include: Cameron Bailey and Piers Handling (Toronto); Trevor Groth (Sundance); Dong-Ho Kim (Pusan); Cheuk-to Li (Hong Kong); Frédéric Maire (Locarno); Marco Müller (Venice); Christoph Terhechte (Berlin); Azize Tan (Istanbul); and Sergio Wolf (Buenos Aires). (more…)

(Deutsch) Marco Arana erhält Aachener Friedenspreis 2010

Sorry, this post is only available in German. (more…)

HotDocs Toronto: INTO ETERNITY or: Whither nuclear waste (in Finland)?

Photo: via Into Eternity@HotDocs.ca

“Every day, the world over, large amounts of high-level radioactive waste created by nuclear power plants is placed in interim storages, which are vulnerable to natural disasters, man-made disasters, and to societal changes. In Finland the world’s first permanent repository is being hewn out of solid rock - a huge system of underground tunnels - that must last 100,000 years as this is how long the waste remains hazardous. (more…)

HotDocs Toronto: Can You Do This With Your Tap Water? (GASLAND)

photo: gaslandthemovie.com / Josh Fox

Natural gas is poised to become a dominant player in the energy game – says Josh Fox in his film Gasland. The recent deep sea oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was caused by British Petrol (BP) may distract from the fact that in the USA, drilling for natural gas has shifted into high gear. Fox was offered money to grant drilling permits on his land. But he first asked questions, and the answers didn’t satisfy him. Instead of taking the money, he put a camera in his hands and looked at other places in the US being drilled for natural gas. He found not only polluted underground springs and local residents with mysterious ailments, but burning tap water as well… (more…)

Toronto is burning * HotDocs show film about the financial crisis >>> Casino Jack and the United States of Money

[HotDocs.ca, text: Sarafina DiFelice] “The story of how Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff rose to power and subsequently fell from grace is fascinating enough as a study in the disruptive power of money and how it so effortlessly undermines the American democratic process. But by plucking out the scandalous events surrounding Abramoff, including million-dollar swindle schemes, mob-style murder, and trips to the Marianas Islands to interfere with international labour laws, this spy-like drama is almost too bizarre to be believed. (more…)