Thursday, March 31, 2016

GLOBAL AND INDEPENDENT THE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES 2016

By Jose Alberto Hermosillo,


The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2016 continues showcasing the best independent, bold, and visionary films made in India and in other places in the World, films from: India, Canada, England and the USA will be showing in Hollywood, California. 

Photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, Copyrights Festival in LA
The Director of Programming Mike Dougherty is extremely excited to bring the premieres of those extraordinary Indian films to the Los Angeles' audience.

Photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, Copyrights Festival in LA

Inclusion and diversity are the key elements for the success of the Indian Festival, women directors like Deepa Mehta's gangster drama “Beeba Boys” is among the festival favorites.

We only hope for the future that the IFFLA will continue growing by adding more shows in order to don’t overlap such a good films at once
by programming a second screening at different date and time.

Photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, Copyrights Festival in LA
The line-up of Indian, Indian-American, and South East Asian films range from traditional drama, shorts, documentaries, and a Round Table with the filmmakers.

OPENING NIGHT:

ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES
India/2015/115min/DCP/Hindi and English
Director: Pan Nalin.


CLOSING NIGHT

“Waiting”
India/2015/92min/DCP/Hindi and English.
Director: Anu Menon.

 

FEATURES:

“Aligarh” 

India/2015/114min/DCP/Hindi. Director: Hansal Mehta.

“Beeba Boys”   

Canada/2015/103min/DCP/Punjabi and English. Director: Deepa Mehta (Academy Award nominee for Water, she also directed: Earth, Fire, and Midnight Children which premiered at the IFFLA three years ago).

“Brahmn”  

UK/2015/90min/DCP/English. Director: Q.

“CRD”  

India/2016/108min/DCP/Hindi and English. Director: Kranti Kanade.

 

“For the Love of a Man”  
India/2015/82min/DCP/Tamil and English. Director: Rinku Kalsy. It's all about the devotion shared by South-Indian Superstar Rajinijanth's fans.

 

“Island City” India/2015/111min/DCP/Hindi. Director: Ruchika Oberoi.  Won Best Young Director Award of the Venice Days section at the 2015 Venice Film Festival.

“Kirumi (Virus)”India/2015/99min/DCP/Tamil. Director: Anucharan Murugaiyan.

“Kothanodi (The River of Fables)”
India/2015/117min/DCP/Assamese. Director: Bhaskar Hazarik. 

 

“Masaan (Fly Away Solo)”  

India, France/2015/109min/DCP/Hindi. Director: Neeraj Ghaywan. It won the Un Certain Regard’s prestigious FIPRESCI prize in Cannes and the Promising Future Award for director.

“Ottaal (The Trap)”  

India/2014/81min/DCP/Malayalam. Director: Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair. Won Crystal Bear in the Generation Kplus section of the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival.

“Parched” 

India/UK/USA/2015/117min/DCP/Hindi. Director: Leena Yadav. It won the Stockholm International Film Festival’s first-ever Impact Award.

“The Tiger Hunters” USA/2016/93min/English. Writer-director Lena Khan’s debut feature.

 

“Umrika”India/2015/102min/DCP/Hindi. Director: Prashant Nair, with Suraj Sharma (LIFE OF PI) and Tony Revolori (THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL).  Winner of the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award.

“Visaaranai (Interrogation)”  

India/2015/108min/DCP/Tamil. Director: Vetri Maaran.

  

VENUE:

ArcLight Hollywood
6360 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028

 

 

Go Metro and save $4


PROGRAM - TICKETS  

 

Other Articles:

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2015 Is Here

The Best Films of 2015 - Festival in LA 

Festival in LA Best Films of 2014

The World's Best Female Lead Singer Movies

“Ixcanul” Pursuits Guatemala’s First Oscar® Nomination

“How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)” A Nostalgic Tale of Brotherhood and Tolerance

The Best Film Festival Posters of 2015   
The Best Film Festival Posters of 2014 

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

You're Killing Me: Dating a Serial Killer with Humor

By Jose Alberto Hermosillo

Twisted and weird, naive, and wacky, “You’re Killing Me” is an absurd romance-slasher gay movie with a twist of dark humor. It is an authentic American Gay Horror Comedy. 

Joe (Matthew McKelligon) is a regular, insensitive guy who can’t open up to other guys.
  
Courtesy of Wolfe Video
Quickly bored at the superficial gay gatherings, Joe turns to a killing spree, funny but honest.

Joe, the killer, stalks George (Jeffery Self), and they soon start dating. 

George is an excellent-looking narcissist and an Internet Star. He and his friend Barnes (Bryan Safi) have an online trendy, fun, flashy Drag Show. They report on who they see at the Target Store in West Hollywood and other banal topics that go viral on social media. 

George naively thinks Joe is hot and anything else.

Courtesy of Wolfe Video

The relationship gets interesting when Joe, the killer, confesses all his crimes. 

George, the Internet Diva, doesn’t take things too seriously. Instead, he feels flattered and falls for the serial killer.

George is happy to have someone attractive near him, and Joe is content to finally meet someone who listens and understands him. 

For Joe, he can introduce George to his parents, no matter how awkward the situation.
 
When George’s friends get in the way, they disappear mysteriously, one by one. 

The ones still alive take a while to see the sign; they react when the danger is imminent.

The original dialogs are fascinating, from George’s greeting voicemail to the harsh lines of Joe: 

“Hi! Leave a message or text me like a normal person.” George.

“The killer is someone the victim always knows.” Friends.

“I don’t really joke.” Joe.

“I’m glad I got to be with you when you’re going wild.” George. 

Courtesy of Wolfe Video

I genuinely love this director, Jim Hansen (from the viral smash series “The Chloe Videos”). 

 Hansen can correctly show American society’s disconnection from real-world issues and how candid and self-centered most Americans can be. 

 No matter how dramatic the situation turns, a “whatever” will immerse them in the tiny little bubbles of their fantasy world. 

 After all, there is nothing wrong with living in “La-La Land.”

In “You’re Killing Me,” Hansen worked with actors he knew and trusted but missed a significant opportunity to show the diversity of the gay community by adding more characters from different backgrounds. Clearly, this movie was made before the #OscasSoWhite controversy.

Although the editing is wacky and out of rhythm, the thrilling moments are funny, which is good enough to provoke a nervous laugh.  
Courtesy of Wolfe Video

“You’re Killing Me” is not the regular serial-killer type of movie, and indeed, Joe is not the kind of guy you want to go out with or fall in love with, but at least he is someone who pretends to listen when you have nothing valuable to say.

Photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo Copyrights Festival in LA 2015

“You’re Killing Me” was the most talked-about movie at OUTFEST 2015 - some hated it, and others, like me, loved it.

YOU’RE KILLING ME Trailer

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Copyright © 2016 Festival in LA
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Thursday, February 4, 2016

2016 PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

2016 PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL
February 4-15, 2016
RAVE CINEMAS 15,
BALDWIN HILLS 
CRENSHAW PLAZA
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.


 OPENING NIGHT 
Thursday, February 4, 2016
America is Still the Place, LA Premiere.


CENTERPIECE
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Agents of Change  
World Premiere
2016/US/Feature Documentary/64min
Dir: Abby Ginzberg & Frank Dawson

 CLOSING NIGHT
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Miles Ahead Special Screening
2015/US/Feature Narrative/100mins
Dir: Don Cheadle

 SPECIAL EVENTS
A Conversation With...Nate Parker
Saturday, February 6 @ 3:00pm RAVE Cinemas 15 BHC, $20.00
PAFF 2016 will have an exclusive look at selected clips from Nate Parker’s directorial debut feature film about the Nat Turner Rebellion, THE BIRTH OF A NATION.

 A Conversation With...Ryan Coogler, $20.00
Monday, February 8 @ 8:30pm RAVE Cinemas 15 BHC
With two critically acclaimed featured films under his belt, Fruitvale Station and Creed.

 A Conversation With...Wesley Snipes, $20.00
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 2:00pm
Photo by Jose Alberto Hernisillo.
STUDENTFEST
SATURDAY MORNING CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
SENIOR CONNECTIONS
ARTFest

More info: www.PAFF.org

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10 Must-See French Films at COLCOA 2015

Copyright © 2016 Festival in LA
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Thursday, January 28, 2016

A War: An Important Call to Change the Rules of Engagement

By Jose Alberto Hermosillo
Image courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
“A War” is one of the best movies of the year, politically correct, realistic and meaningful.  

The timing of this war-drama couldn’t be any better as an insightful study of the Afghan conflict, its ethics, and politics. 

 In the aftermath, "A War" focuses on the soldiers and their families back in the West. 

 "A War" is a moral discussion about what is right and wrong in a "modern day" wartime. "A War" is this year’s Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker.” 

On the page, “A War” contains several layers of emotions that connect society with the government, the law with witnesses, the criminals with judges, the terrorists with its victims, and soldiers with their families. 

 “A War” evidences an endemic system that faces terrorism in the world and the confrontation with the democratic countries.
 
The action starts when Denmark’s government decides to join the U.S. and other ally countries in the military confrontation with the Taliban.    

With this decision, many questions arise: Where the war is taking place, in a foreign land or back home? Who is the enemy, the rebels or the comrades? Who is guilty, the commander who makes the decisions or the soldiers who execute them?

Image courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Danish Commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbaek) stationed in Afghanistan is fighting with the Coalition. In crossfire with the enemy, Claus had to make a decision with enormous repercussions back home.

In Denmark, the Commander’s wife and children have to deal with the absence of their father. They have to cope for themselves, even if they are deeply affected by the war.
 
Claus has to face criminal charges in a civil court for violation of civil and human rights. During the trial, we see who supports him and who betrays him.   

The cross-examination is gripping, intense, well put together, and it raises the tension for the surprising outcome.  

 The dialogs used by the defense, witnesses, and judge are credible, realistic and straight forward.
  
One of the greatest assets of this war drama is making the soldiers more human.
Tobias Lindholm, photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, copyrights Festival in LA 2015.
A memorable scene comes when Claus and his family walk on the beach observing seagulls, a metaphor for freedom. Director Tobias Lindholm delivers another powerful, intense, and impeccable masterpiece.  
 
“A War” is the second nomination for the best foreign film for Lindholm after his critically acclaimed modern-day pirates' drama “A Hijacking” in 2012.  
  
Now, we will see if his most recent film can earn him the gold statuette at this time.  
     
The well-researched script displays some of the same moral values depicted in the also Danish film “In a Better World,” the 2011 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film, directed by Susanne Bier. "A War" goes way far beyond of “Zero Dark Thirty.” 
Director Tobias Lindholm, critic Jose Alberto Hermosillo, copyrights Festival in LA 2015.
In a conversation I had with director Tobias Lindholm during the AFI Fest 2015, he gave some advice to the new filmmakers: “Keep it  real, be patient, and go with the flow in the filmmaking process.”   
Director Tobias Lindholm, photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, copyrights Festival in LA 2015.
And as a father, he reflects: “In war time, who will tuck your children into bed tomorrow, if you won’t be able to be there for them.” 

The director's own exceptional screenplay presents the actual facts of a war-crime that may not occur in the way it was perceived. 

In the end, the spectator needs to find out if a shadow of the doubt prevails. 
 A WAR TRAILER:
"A War" Trailer
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Copyright © 2016 Festival in LA
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Sunday, January 24, 2016

How to Win at Checkers (Every Time): Tolerance and Brotherhood in Thailand

By Jose Alberto Hermosillo

“How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)” is a nostalgic, original, and beautifully crafted coming-of-age story where sex between men is not taboo. The Thailand Oscar submission for Best Foreign Film 2016 was carefully shot with great respect and delicacy. 

 Its poetic narrative depicts a young guy trying to understand the world of his older gay brother, who lived and sacrificed everything to keep him safe.

The filmmakers traveled to a colorful country to portray the land’s beauty on the screen with artistic austerity.

In “Checkers,” every character is fundamental to the board game. Everybody wants to win, even if their unprivileged condition makes them abuse alcohol, sex, and drugs, and some also could descend into prostitution in this corrupted environment.

Life becomes a game where some win, and others lose. “Money is power. Success is for sale.”


The chronicle starts with a dream of a man burning in flames. Oak is the handsome young male with all these nightmares. He is played by the famous Thai actor-model and Superstar Toni Rakkaen. 


Oak vividly remembers his childhood and relationship with his older brother, Ek, and his rich boyfriend, Jai. 


“Checkers” shows how an innocent boy views gays and transgender people as an integrated part of his community. This tolerant society is more concerned about daily life and survival rather than worried about anybody’s sexual preferences.


The Aunt is a hard-working, superstitious lady who cleans houses and cares for little Oak and Ek, the two orphan, loving brothers.


In real life, transgender actress Natarat Lakha, “Nut,” plays the gorgeous Kitty—her performance is natural, as that of a sexy girl who drives men crazy. She is an irresistible and fearless woman who’s close to Ek and Jai and cares for little Oak.

The Mafia Guy and his son, Jr. (the bully), control all economic activity in the community. He also owns a gay bar where hustlers and sex workers gather to sell their bodies. Ek is the bartender.

Things get complicated when the boys turn 21 and must go to the draft and join the military. Even Kitty and many of the “third gender” like her must get into the draft process.


Little Oak will do anything to exempt his brother from the army, even to brave the Mafia Guy to help him out of the draft. By doing so, he puts his brother in jeopardy.


Oak soon discovers that his brother is not less of a man because he’s gay. He is still his brother and someone who always looked after him.

“Checkers” is a surprising directorial debut for Korean-American Josh Kim, who teams up with veteran Hollywood producer Chris Lee (“Superman Returns,” “SWAT,” “Valkyrie”) to make this a beautiful movie.

“Checkers” flows evenly, provoking the spectator to fall in love with the film, making you forget about yourself and live through the eyes of those great characters.

This motion picture has won many audience awards at The Atlanta Out on Film, The Film Out San Diego, LA Asian American Pacific Film Festival, and The Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival.


“How to Win Checkers (Every Time)” is reminiscent of the gay “The Wonder Years,” with a touch of melancholy in a land of contrasts and beauty. After all, for some, the game of checkers is not over yet.

How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) - US trailer


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 Festival in LA ©2016

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