Fantasia's Programmer Simon Laperrière Wants You to See More Genre Film
Genre and auteur cinema cross paths in Montréal at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
July 30th, 2010 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce sits down with Fantasia International Festival's programmer Simon Laperrière to discuss the intersection between genre and auteur cinema at the festival, and genre films' most influential directors.
Montréal’s Fantasia International Film Festival may well be the largest film fest you’ve never heard of. If you haven’t been following genre film at all, you might be excused...but not for much longer.
How an Innovative Web Doc Secured Traditional Distribution
French filmmakers David Dufresne and Philippe Brault used web engagement to stir interest in American prison reform.
July 15th, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
Led by two French filmmakers, the web doc Prison Valley addresses prison reform in the US with an interactive online format, making a splash in the world of digital journalism and securing distribution with Arte TV in France.
Prison Valley, a multimedia prison reform project, tells the tale of Fremont County, Colorado: a tiny patch of the Southwest packed with 13 prisons and a local economy that revolves around the incarceration of 7,735 people—many of whom are the county’s own residents.
A Meeting of Worlds: YouTube Biennial at the Guggenheim
Courtney Sheehan reports on the Guggenheim’s foray into digital culture and the mixed reactions to merging low and high culture
July 9th, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
YouTube and the Guggenheim are joining forces to orchestrate “the first biennial of creative video,” called YouTube Play. The Independent's Courtney Sheehan ponders the high-meets-low aspect of this endeavor with help from the blogosphere.
The Guggenheim Museum: one of the art world’s most venerable institutions, home of masterpieces from the Impressionist movement to the modern era.
Exhibitor and Distributor FAQ: Seattle's Northwest Film Forum
Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum exhibits films, funds production, helps with distribution, and offers education and equipment to the independent community in the Pacific Northwest.
July 2nd, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
Located in Seattle, the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is an invaluable resource for independent filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, providing production grants and access to equipment and post-production facilities. The Independent spoke with film programmer Adam Sekuler to get the scoop on how NWFF puts together its exhibition calendar and their support programs for regional filmmakers, as well as some thoughts on the future of independent film distribution.
Located in Seattle, the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is an invaluable resource for independent filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, providing production grants and access to equipment and post-production facilities. The Film Forum also boasts a 364-day exhibition calendar of independent films, many of which are hard to come by at other theaters in the region.
No Thanks, Take-Back Manifesto
The Independent’s Courtney Sheehan isn’t signing The Take-Back Manifesto, which, among other dictates, wants to return film to its pure, panel discussion-less state.
June 28th, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
Grumpy about raising money to make your films? Michael Tully, Vadim Rizov, and others who signed The Take-Back Manifesto earlier this spring don't want to hear it. Enter The Independent's Courtney Sheehan. She explains why she's declining to sign and what she'll be researching on behalf of The Independent's readership this summer.
“Can we get back to talking about movies, please?”
Funder FAQ: Playboy's Surprising Mission
Playboy is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but we're guessing not many people know that the Playboy Foundation funds social change documentaries.
June 28th, 2010 | Maddy Kadish
You'll likely be surprised when you find out exactly what types of films the Playboy Foundation is passionate about making. A hint? Nudity is not a requirement.
Damned in the U.S.A. (1991)
Heart of the Matter (1994)
In the Family (2008)
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2010)
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
When Billy Broke His Head…. And Other Tales of Wonder (1999)
What do all these films have in common?
From Documentary to Fictional Filmmaker: How to Make the Transition
With her recent narrative feature, "Toe to Toe," Emily Abt learned how to move from documentary to fiction filmmaking.
June 17th, 2010 | Angela Wu
On the Fast Track of Derby History
Roller derby expert Steven LaFond (aka “Pelvis Costello”) recommends five documentaries that chart the rise of the modern roller derby revival.
June 17th, 2010 | Steven LaFond
According to Steven LaFond, err...Pelvis Costello, roller derby is back. With a vengeance. Get to know the real story behind its reemergence with five must-see documentaries, from the classic Blood on the Flat Track to the most recent Hugs and Bruises.
Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Don't Worry, We'll Fix it in Post
In her 6th installment of "Story Strategies: Debunking the Myths of Storytelling," Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi asks: What's smarter, edit in post or plan ahead?
June 2nd, 2010 | Fernanda Rossi
In her 6th installment of "Story Strategies: Debunking the Myths of Storytelling," Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi examines production priorities. Should storytelling trump technical perfection? What do you think?
Myth #6
"All technical glitches, or disasters, can be avoided with preparation."
Wait, what about those who say:
"Obsessing over technology is a waste of time I could devote to the story."
The myth in all its glory
Defending Tribeca in an Era of Megabrands
In addition to serving up his top choices from Tribeca 2010, reviewer Kurt Brokaw celebrates the festival's sprawling, something-for-everyone approach.
May 11th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
Kurt Brokaw stamps his critic's seal on select films from Tribeca 2010 and explains why the festival deserves a nod for nine years of expansive programming in a post-9/11 neighborhood... and world.
Those French scamps who walked off with this year’s Best Short Oscar (LogoRama) didn’t sneak in a Tribeca Film Festival logo among their 2,500 global power players.
Struggle and Triumph for Haiti's Ciné Institute
Against all odds, students and faculty at Haiti's Ciné Institute use their cameras to transform pain and destruction into artful moving images.
May 6th, 2010 | Beth Brosnan
In a special report for The Independent, Beth Brosnan speaks with students and staff of Ciné Institute, Haiti's only professional film school, about life after the region's devastating earthquake. Brosnan explores how, months later, they're using filmmaking techniques to cope with tragedy, rebuild, and even thrive in the face of adversity.
On January 12th, Haiti’s only professional film school, Ciné Institute, lost its main building in the massive earthquake that devastated the Port-au-Prince region.
Tribeca 2010: Travis Senger on "White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug"
Travis Senger takes on '80s hip-hop and an unsolved murder in his latest film, just named Best Documentary short at Tribeca 2010.
May 1st, 2010 | Michele Meek
With never-before-seen footage and interviews with Kurtis Blow, DJ Hollywood, and club owner Sal Abbatiello, the short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug portrays life in the ‘80s when hip-hop was young, cocaine was in, and life as a DJ often meant you did a little of both.
After winning a special jury prize at SXSW 2010, Filmmaker Travis Senger brings his short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival this week. His documentary explores the old days of hip-hop and the dangerous underworld at the legendary Disco Fever.
Tribeca 2010: Melanie Schiele on "Delilah, Before"
Melanie Schiele discusses how relocating to Singapore helped inspire her short film, "Delilah, Before."
April 30th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Shot entirely in Singapore as part of the NYU Tisch Asia MFA program, Delilah, Before marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Melanie Schiele. Here, she talks about the program and the film, as the film screens at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
After working in various capacities as writer, director, producer and cinematographer on over 20 student shorts as part of New York University’s Tisch Asia in Singapore, Filmmaker Melanie Schiele makes her directorial debut with the short Delilah, Before.
Tribeca 2010: Michael Creagh on "The Crush"
Michael Creagh took a break from the ad world to direct his first film, "The Crush," a short that screens at Tribeca 2010.
April 28th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Filmmaker Michael Creagh, a native of Belfast, takes the plunge into writing and directing with his debut film The Crush, a short featured in the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
As an “ad man by day," filmmaker Michael Creagh had been “tinkering with ideas and scripts” for several years before acting on his dream. His debut film The Crush tells the story of an eight-year-old boy (played deftly by Creagh's son) in love with his teacher. When the boy's gift of a toy ring is outdone by an engagement ring, he plots his revenge against his nemesis.
Tribeca 2010: Mary Robertson on "Missed Connections"
Mary Robertson explains why eight minutes is a "delicious" length and then comes clean about whether or not she's had any "missed connections." Her short film screens at Tribeca 2010.
April 28th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one. That's the subject of director Mary Robertson’s short film Missed Connections now screening at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one.
Our book The Independent's Guide to Film Distributors features the acquisition details of nearly 200 film distributors. Buy it now from 
See all The Independent's