Javier Bardem on the Red Carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

I have to blog and write reviews and festival experiences so my way of making it through the theaters, award ceremonies and parties is by not drinking at the festival parties. Well, some people are a bad influence. Take blogger Craig Smith for example, now he’s a bad influence. Both of us were at the intimate, post-Javier Bardem tribute party at the Sacks Fifth Avenue Store. No red wine was served, but there was plenty of white, along with vodka-enhanced mixed drinks.

Cate Blanchett can only be described as gorgeous, gracious, well, really a host of other adjectives. And she's funny, and smart. And stunning when pregnant.

ALEX'S FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS -- ANNO 2005
WITH A MERRY X-MAS TO ALL!

1.TROMSO, January --
A fantastic place to open the festival year if you love snow and don't mind fifteen minutes of daylight, MAX ...in January. That was just a joke, folks -- by late January you get almost a whole hour of sunlight -- around eleven AM -- but really, who needs it? ...when fest topper, irrepressible Norskie-American MARTHA OTTE, is guaranteed to provide a slate of such interesting films that you'll spend the whole time in the dark anyway.

LONDON -- PETER SELLERS WRITHES AGAIN
"THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS"
Viewed at Muswell Hill Odeon, London, Oct. 21st

HAUGESUND, AUGUST 2003
by Alex Deleon
 
After two visits to Tromso (2002 and 2003) and two as well to the the Rouen Festival du Cinema Nordique in Northern France, I have been developing a taste for Nordic Cinema, so, based on these connections I applied for accreditation to the Haugesund ferstival in the Fjord country of Western Norway, which takes place in August, and was accepted -- probably because Signe Overgaard, a major figure of the Norwegian Film Institute knew me from these other Nordic festivals.
 

GDYNIA, SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
ALEX DELEON FOR www.filmfestivals.com

Items to Watch for at the Festivals in 2008

by Alex Deleon

Thessaloniki day 9 :
A Clamorous Reception for “Honeydrippers” And a Stream of Walkouts on “Jesse James” -- November 25, 2007

Danny Glover arrives in Thessaloniki
November 23, 2007

Thessaloniki: Tandem Master Class with Chris Cooper & David Strathairn
November 22, 2007

Sunday, November 19:
The sun is finally out and this is Malkovich Day in Thessaloniki.

THESSALONIKI FORTY-EIGHT

THESSALONIKI 2007, TOP TO BOTTOM
by Alex deleon, Cracow, November 14, 2007
for<filmfestivals.com>

Crowding the Red Carpet for Ryan GoslingRyan Gosling being interviewed on the red carpetRyan Gosling Accepting the Independent Award 

Maria Ceballos-Wallis is a researcher with the Australian Broadcasting Company. When I met her at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Social Justice Award reception, she had a glass of wine in her hands and was talking about the work of documentary filmmakers and marine biology Robert Smith. In order to discover more about oil, where it comes from, and the nature of our dependance on it, he traveled the world, often as a film crew of one, to uncover its secret history.

In past years, the SBIFF has shown a midweek movie, with varying degrees of success. In 2007, it was Amazing Grace, with director Michael Apted in the audience (and also serving a role as a special curator/director). The film went on to garner critical acclaim. In 2006, Dave Barry’s Guide to Guys featured the stars and John Cleese in attendance.