Friday, April 18------The Palm Beach International Film Festival, which ended its week-long marathon of film screenings, film tributes, seminar events and nightly parties, came to a glittering close yesterday with the announcement of its Grand Jury and Audience Awards.The big winner this year was the inspirational Italian film ROSSO COME IL CIELO (Red Like The Sky) by Cristiano Bartone. The film recounts the incredible true story of early life of blind sound editor Micro Mencacci, the victim ...
Thursday, April 17-----The 13th edition of the Palm Beach International Film Festival ends tonight with its Gala Closing Night Film and its Awards Ceremonies. After presenting over 100 films from around the world, as well as in-depth seminars, gala tributes and some of the most fun parties on the festival circuit, the Festival calls it a wrap tonight.The Festival ends on a musical high note, with the presentation of UK director Stephen Walker's audience-pleasing hit, YOUNG @ HEART. The docume...
Wednesday, April 15------Tonight, audiences at the Palm Beach International Film Festival were treated to a memorable film tribute to a jazzman's unique life and musical journey. TRYING TO GET GOOD: THE JAZZ ODYSSEY OF JACK SHELDON is an intimate portrait of a jazz giant whose personal story is one of triumph and tragedy.National audiences know him as Merv Griffin’s trumpet-playing sidekick or as the indelible voice of “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill” from “School Hou...
Tuesday, April 15------The Palm Beach International Film Festival will host the World Premiere screening this evening of MAGIC FLUTE DIAIRES. The film screens as part of the Reel Rhythms section of the Festival, devoted to music films (more on this tomorrow).The Magic Flute's all pervading themes of love and betrayal, reward and retribution, coupled with the encompassing power of Mozart's brilliant score have given rise to a unique motion picture in the hands of filmmaker Kevin Sullivan, set d...
Tuesday, April 15--------Today at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, filmmakers and industry representatives will be among the first in the world to preview an amazing new technology: 3D TV and displays that do not require any special glasses. CEO/Visionary/inventor Fernando Delmau of XES (Xtreme Electronics Systems) along with Sean McKee, CEO of distributor Screen Time Images will be on hand at the Delray Beach Marriot to introduce what's next after the HD revolution.To be shown w...
Monday, April 14-----Jason Reitman, the 30-year-old film director who scored an Academy Award nomination for his second feature film, will be honored this evening at the Palm Beach International Film Festival with the PBIFF Visionary Award. The honor will be given following a special screening of his hit comedy JUNO, which will be released on DVD tomorrow by Fox Home Video. Following the screening, Reitman will participate in an on-stage Conversation with National Public Radio host and film crit...
Sunday, April 13-------There is nothing in producer/director Emmanuel Itier's resume that would make you suspect that he is currently on his own spiritual quest. Emmanuel is a French-born, Hollywood-based producer whose oeuvre has been in the genre field of crime thrillers, soft-core erotica and horror films. But he is indeed on a quest to find God, or at least define Him/Her/It with his latest project, THE INVOCATION. Itier screened a seven-minute trailer of the film, which includes contribu...
Sunday, April 13------When Palm Beach International Film Festival Executive Director Randi Emerman visited the Marrakech International Film Festival last year, she was not prepared for what she would find. "Not only was the Festival very grand, in terms of its presentation, dinners and receptions", Emerman shared with me over breakfast in the Filmmaker Lounge at the Mariott Delray Beach, "but I went to see a number of the local films and was astonished at their quality and scope...
Saturday, April 12--------Tonight, the Palm Beach International Film Festival holds its most glamourous event, the annual Grand Gala at the Boca Raton Country Club. This year, the Festival is honoring the likes of acting legend Mickey Rooney, Oscar winner Louis Gosset Jr., hot director Jason Reitman, actress Cheryl Hines and up-and-coming actor Josh Hutcherson. In a series of articles over the next few days, I will offer a bio and filmography of the honorees and why their careers have been dub...
Saturday, April 12-------One of the rarest things to find at a medium-sized film festival are films that have never been seen at another festival venue. World Premieres are a highly prized status that most festivals attempt to attract, but with the exception of the largest, rarely succeed in attracting.So, it was with a mix of curiosity and excitement that I noticed that at this year's Palm Beach International Film Festival, there are a number of films making their world debuts at the event. ...
Friday, April 11------The debate over immigration is the issue that never seems to go away. While it may flare hot, especially during this Presidential election year, the solutions to the problems of "illegals" is not a simple one. America has always been a refuge for those seeking economic, political and religious freedom. On the other hand, are "illegals" offering themselves as cheap alternatives to American workers, whose job security has become all the more tentative in...
Friday, April 11------While I guess I am just one of the lucky ones. For my trip from New York to Fort Lauderdale to attend the Palm Beach International Film Festival, which opened last evening, I was fatefully booked on Airtran Airlines, instead of American Airlines, the mechanically challenged carrier that has been forced to cancel thousands of flights this week due to maintenance problems. Apparently, many U.S. and international guests were slated to fly in to Florida via American Airlines, w...
Thursday, April 10----The Palm Beach International Film Festival, which opens this evening, has announced that its Closing Night Film on April 17 will be the inspirational comedy “Young@Heart,” directed by Stephen Walker. The film captures seven unforgettable weeks in the lives of the members of the Young@Heart Chorus, a group of spirited seniors based in Northampton , Massachusetts , who specialize in reinterpreting rock, punk and R&B classics from a unique perspective with their c...
THE GRAND Film Poster
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Wednesday, April 9-----The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) opens its thirteenth edition tomorrow evening with the Southeast Premiere of THE GRAND, an all-star poker comedy, directed by Zak Penn. The film stars Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson, Hank Azaria, Chris Parnell, Michael McKean, Werner Herzog, David Cross, Richard Kind, Dennis Farina and Cheryl Hines (who is being honored at the Festival's Saturday night Tribute Gala). The ensemble film is in the tradition of such improvi...
The 13th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) is pleased to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran actor and Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Louis Gossett, Jr., in celebration of his multi-faceted career. Gossett will join some of the great talents in the industry, as well as community leaders on Saturday, April 12, at the Black Tie Awards Gala at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Back by popular demand, Tristan Rogers (“General Hospital”) will ser...
Palm Beac h runs April 10 to 17 2008
Thursday, April 26-------The Palm Beach International Film Festival reached its climax this evening with the announcement of its jury and audience awards for Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Director, Screenplay and Performances. Jury winners and Audience Choice Awards were announced at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony held at the Delray Beach Marriott, the official Festival hotel. The Award for Best Feature Film went to TIED HANDS, a family drama from Israel, directed ...
Thursday, April 26-----The 12th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival closes this evening with the Florida Premiere of THE DUKES, the feature film directorial debut of actor Robert Davi. The special event film screening will also feature a live performance by The Emeralds, a Philadelphia doo-wop group featuring Robert Davi, the film’s director, writer and star. The film, which also stars Chazz Palminteri, Peter Bogdanovich, Frank D'...
Wednesday, April 25-----The Palm Beach International Film Festival in collaboration with the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission annually produces the highly acclaimed Student Showcase of Films (SSOF). This student only event has become known as the most prestigious competition for Florida student filmmakers. The juried statewide competition recognizes outstanding high school and college students by presenting over $25,000 in cash awards, prizes a...
