Festival de Cannes 2011

The 64th Cannes Film Festival is well underway in France and La Croisette is buzzing with excitement! Jury President Robert De Niro opened the ceremony with an honorary Palme d’Or for Producer-Director Bernardo Bertolucci, and Tuesday, 78-year-old Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of France’s cherished actors of the French New Wave, received a Palme d’Or in honor of his 50 year career.

Barbara Gandolfi and Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Stars the world over grace the French Red Carpet this year: Robert De Niro, Jude Law and Uma Thurman (Jury members for Feature Films), Melanie Laurent, Nathalie Baye, Marion Cotillard (just a few of the locals), Owen Wilson, Jodie Foster and of course Brad Pitt, Sean Pean and Terence Malick presenting their highly anticipated film “Tree of Life”, which was filmed right here in Austin, TX!

Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt.

We’ve been following the excitement on Le Grand Journal, our favorite source for French news, which airs the show live, right outside the Palais des Festivals every year especially for the event.

Marion Cotillard and Owen Wilson in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris".

Kirsten Dunst charms the paparazzi.

Charlotte Gainsbourg.

The Festival runs through May 22nd. Bonne Chance a Tous!

Austin Film Festival 2010

What perfect weather for another festival right? Austin couldn’t be more desirable right now as the venue for the 17th Annual Film Festival and Conference which opens today. 

The Film Festival runs Oct. 21st – 28th, while the Conference runs Oct. 21st – 24th.

The first festival of its kind, the Austin Film Festival gathers industry professionals, aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters and film lovers for a week of interactive conference panels, film screenings, parties and networking creating an intimate and casual setting for attendees and panelists to discuss their craft.
An outstanding program of narrative, animation and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advanced screenings, and independent films awaits the more than 25,000 movie-goers that will attend the screenings at this event. Film screenings are complemented by lively and informative Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers.

Click here to see the full film schedule.

Ron Howard

“I haven’t been to that many festivals. I go to a couple of big ones that serve as film markets around the world. This one is really about creativity, about trying to help people find their voice. You sense it. There’s a spirit of camaraderie that’s palpable. And it’s fun,” says Director Ron Howard about the Austin Film Festival.

Aronofsky's "Black Swan" screens Oct. 27th at the Paramount

The Conference boats an eclectic blend of speakers, events and panels,  presenting a career-altering experience for aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters. It provides unparalleled access to A-list producers, studio executives, agents and managers, as well as professional screenwriters and filmmakers. More than 80 panels, roundtables and meet and greets will address current trends, new developments in media, inspiring film events,  film production on a budget, business development and core elements of screenwriting and filmmaking.

Kevin Spacey and Barry Pepper star in "Casino Jack", screening Oct. 28th at the Paramount

"The Austin Film Festival actually manages to perfectly embody the spirit of the city which hosts it. Edgy yet mellow. Intelligent yet accessible. Cool yet completely geeky. In short, one of the best professional experiences of my career." - Damon Lindelof, co-creator “LOST,” producer STAR TREK.

Michelle Williams stars in "Blue Valentine" screening Oct. 22nd at the Paramount.

Join the festival October 21-28, 2010 and be the first to see all of the great movies everyone will be talking about next year!

Austin City Limits Music Festival - October 8-10, 2010

This weekend Austin plays host to more than 75,000 fans (per day!), 130 bands on 8 stages featuring artists of all music genres for the annual ACL Music Festival in Zilker Park.

This sold out event, named after the legendary PBS concert series, boasts another incredible line-up this year with the Eages, MIA, Phish, Muse, The Strokes and The Flaming Lips headlining.

We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather this year - forecast is sunny and cool  (low 80’s!) – especially after last year’s downpour and resulting mud fest… eeeoouw!!

Tickets are sold out but you might be able to score some on Ebay, Craigs List or, if you’re lucky, through local radio give-aways. In any case, bring your hats, your shades and your smile, it’s going to be a beautiful weekend in downtown Austin!

Austin Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez Launches “Machete” World-Premiere in Venice, Italy

Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Robert Rodriguez on the red carpet in Venice.

The 67th Venice Film Festival is currently underway and one of our favorite, home-grown filmmakers, Robert Rodriguez, is already making canal waves with his latest (out-of-competition) feature film “Machete” which opened at the Lido yesterday at midnight.

Danny Trejo as "Machete"

Inspired by a fake trailer made for Quentin Tarantino and Rodriguez’s 2007 film “Grindhouse”, “Machete” continues the  B-movie and “exploitation style”, chock full of guns, women and violence.  Fearless (and heavily armed) action heroes, gun-totin’ mamas, bad-ass nuns and priests, blood spattering and outrageous stunts will keep you thoroughly engaged! Starring Danny Trejo as a blade-wielding Mexican ex-Federale who is double-crossed by a crooked Senator, Robert De Niro, the film also features Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Steven Segal, Jeff Fahey, Don Johnson and Lindsay Lohan.

Jessica Alba gets tough in downtown Austin!

The movie was filmed in and around Austin, TX, so we’ll all be keeping our eyes peeled for Austin landmarks (like the Capitol and the Frost bank building seen above) . One scene near the Capitol includes a red, white and blue decorated stage with a banner saying "Vote for Senator McLaughlin." De Niro, in a suit, red tie and cowboy hat, appears to be giving a campaign speech.

Movie releases tomorrow, September 3, in theaters near you!

Quentin Tarantino presides over the Venice Film Festival jury this year.

Synopsis: The highly skilled Federale Machete is hired by some unsavory types to assassinate a senator. But just as he’s about to take the shot, he notices someone aiming at him and realizes he’s been set up. He barely survives the sniper’s bullet, and is soon out for revenge on his former employers, with the reluctant assistance of his old friend Cheech Marin, who has become a priest and taken a vow of nonviolence. If you hire him to take out the bad guys, make sure the bad guys aren’t you!



For more information about the Venice Film Festival: http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/festival/
For more information about “Machete”: http://www.vivamachete.com/