5 films from my best for fests selected to play at Seoul Film Festival

The Seoul International Film Festival is a global celebration of films and filmmaking in the heart of Korea. This September (20-26), filmmakers & film lovers will gather in one of the world’s most dynamic cities to honor the craft.

Three films from Rob Stewart: Sharkwater, Revolution and Sharkwater Extinction, Magnificent Liars and The Creepy Line.

These are part of my curated Best for Fests section.

Sharkwater Extinction has won 13000€ in cash prizes so far and has won over 15 awards.

Paris-based company Royal Gypsy Productions launches in Cannes

In the presence of Michele Laroque and Caterina Murino, France Berthou and Ysé Brisson will be in Cannes to present their new Paris-based company Royal Gypsy Productions, as well as an overview of their first projects.


Michèle Laroque



Caterina Murino


Berthou was CEO of Sofracima, a French production company that produced over 90 movies, shorts and documentaries, and she also founded two international film festivals. Brisson is the co-founder of Tribes Entertainment (Canada) and Storia Productions (UK), and recently launched the Festival Droits des Femmes & Cinéma in Paris, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women through Film.

Underlining their goal to quickly expand their business to global markets through the creation of a quality portfolio, they will be presenting three international co-productions that they are developing in collaboration with MCDLR Productions (France), Penned Pictures (Germany), Impertinent Films (France), Aquatinter Films (Canada), Borrowed Light Films (Canada) and Hawkeye Pictures (Canada).




Among the projects is Jean-Michel Stazzu’s “Everything Can Happen”, slated for production in Spring 2020, with Michele Laroque and Caterina Murino attached. A French/German/Italian co-production, set against the backdrop of the refugee crisis in Southern Italy, the movie was written by, and will be directed by Jean-Michel Stazzu, who previously headed ICM France and worked with Christian Fechner as a producer.

Laroque will portray an actress who lives off her past reputation and struggles to cope with the precariousness of her situation, until circumstance offers her a chance to reconnect with both her past and the realities of life through a chance encounter with an orphaned refugee on the Italian Island of Lampedusa. Opposite, Murino will play the head of a refugee camp who seeks to focus international awareness on the crisis.

Laroque is represented by UBBA. Murino is repped by AS Talents.

Three films from my best for fests selected at Bozeman Celebration

Make no mistake about this new festival; it will soon become one of the best festival experience a filmmaker can have....Imagine Montana in summer, a warm friendly and passionate festival team, great company of other filmmakers and a fabulous film line up. (including Dave Grusin, not enough time, Sharkwater Extinction and The Creepy Line)

PS rumor has it Jeff Bridegs will return for the second time and second edition. Thanks for your trust Dude!

Get ready for Bozeman, Montana for the Second Annual BZN International Film Festival, June 6-9, 2019.

Join us for a four-day event celebrating independent filmmaking, creative expression, and emerging and established voices. The BZN International Film Festival showcases films that educate, encourage and inspire audiences to get involved and take action to protect our planet.

Over 70 films will screen at various theaters throughout downtown Bozeman, Montana, complemented by a rich slate of Q & A sessions, panel discussions, community-wide events and parties. Additional events include the Opening Film and Reception on Thursday, Family Free Night on Saturday, and Awards Ceremony and Filmmakers Brunch on Sunday.

My Best for Fests reign on the festival circuit

"Best for Fests" curated by the filmfestivals.com editor"


Dave Grusin Not Enough Time - Documentary feature by Barbara Bentree

Documentary on Oscar winner Dave Grusin


USA, 84 min, 2019 I Trailer I Ask for a screener

Millions of people know the music of Dave Grusin (The Graduate, Three days of the Condor, Reds, Heaven can wait, The Champ, The fabulous Baker Boys, Havana, The Milagro Beanfield War, The Firm...) but may not know his name. Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time documents his journey from Colorado cowboy to Oscar and Grammy winning composer.

The documentary, directed by Barbara Bentree and produced by John Rangelwill include interviews with many friends and collaborators such as Quincy Jones, Lee Ritenour, Marcus Miller, Nathan Barr and Michael Keaton, besides Dave Grusin himself, who is strongly involved in the development of the documentary.

CHECK THE COMPLETE LINE UP BELOW

Sharkwater Extinction one of my "best for fest" wins a 10.000$ cash award at DCEFF

The Environment Film Festival @ National Georgraphic Society in Washington, closing ceremony with "Shared Earth Foundation Award for Advocacy Winner "award to late Rob Stewart director of "Sharkwater Extinction"

The award was handed to Rob's parents who have managed to complete the film after Rob's diving accident in the keys.

Sandy and Brian Stewart, Brock Cahill, and Kathryn Kullberg were attending the homage and screenings of Rob's three films Sharkwater, Revolutionand Sharkwater Extinction.

Bruno Chatelin jury for the 3rd time at Fantasporto

Frederico Duarte Carvalho - Journalist and writer - Portugal 

Bruno Chatelin - journalist - France 

Milan Todorovic - Director - Serbia 

Anton Bitel - Critic - GB 

From Lady Gaga to Britney Spears: chronicling the best and worst musicians who swapped stage for screen

It’s awards season.


For an actor, there’s no greater recognition for a performance than winning an Academy Award, which have celebrated the year’s best films since 1929.

And for ones that have missed the mark, there’s the Golden Raspberry Awards, which have recognised the year’s worst films since 1981.

Neither have been off limits to the many pop stars who have turned to acting.

Indeed, for every Lady Gaga, who is nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for A Star Is Born, there has been a Britney Spears, who was panned for her starring role in the coming-of-age drama Crossroads almost 20 years ago.

So to celebrate Gaga’s nomination, we analysed the Oscars and the Razzies to chronicle the best and worst performances of the artists who swapped the stage for the screen.

Jury duty and fun in upcoming fantasporto Festival

Coverage will be offered with dailies on filmfestivals.com (partner of Fantasporto for many years)

Covering Rotterdam festival in style

Meanwhile watch our coverage from those key festivals:

Filmfestivals.com reporting live from

> Palm Springs Film Festival
> Kustendorf
> Rotterdam
> Sundance
> Santa Barbara Film Festival SBIFF
> Berlin
> Fantasporto

 PHOTOS and VIDEOS 

Three films from my curated Best for Fests selected at Chandler Film Festival

The Chandler International Film Festival (CIFF) is a diverse and pioneering film festival located in Chandler, Arizona. CIFF is dedicated to the advancement of social and cultural awareness through education, delivered on the artistic platform of filmmaking.



CIFF will be screening over 200 films at this annual event and has teamed up with the City of Chandler in their multicultural festival! These unique, creative and diverse films come from passionate, independent global filmmakers bringing novel ideas and varied art forms to the craft. The star-studded, four-day festival will include a Red Carpet Opening Ceremony, Special World Premiere Shows, Film-making Workshops, Discussion Panels, Film Market & Expo, and Award Ceremony. Educational workshops will be presented by brilliant filmmakers. Exciting After Parties will be hosted at various places in Downtown Chandler! CIFF creates an amazing opportunity to connect with filmmakers and film executives, network, and most importantly, to enjoy our selection of incredible films!

Joining the Judges at The Your Script Produced Screenwriting Competition

I just passed 100 festival wins for my film selection

My best for fests have fared very well on the festival circuit, they gathered more than 100 awards alltogether.
This makes me proud to have fun doing this with filmmakers.
Wishing you all a happy new year.