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[2011.06.01] LOUIS KOO HAS ANOTHER FILM LINED UP

courtesy of on.cc


courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Louis Koo Tin Lok and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin yesterday attended an Italian fashion brand new store opening at Central. Also in attendance were Qi Qi, Kary Ng Yu Fei and Cara G.

Goo Jai told a joke about what was Suzhou best known for since Ah Sa just returned from there. Goo Jai said that when he worked on DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUN NAM NUI), Johnnie To Kei Fung kept asking him this question. At the time he did not understand and did not expect the answer to be a joke. Goo Jai finally appeared without his bearded film look. Has he already completed ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN 2)? Goo Jai denied and said that the film had two parts but it will wrap in a few days. Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Andy Hui Chi On were rumored to wed next year, Goo Jai said, "I don't know, I will ask her during the wrap. I only saw in the papers On Jai's fans holding up 'Mrs. Hui' signs." Goo Jai also revealed that after completing ROMANCING he will start work on the new film YANG CLAN WARRIORS (YEUNG GA JEUNG). As for THE LION ROARS 2, why was he not involved in the sequel? Goo Jai explained that he had to work on YANG. Did he know about former co-star Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung's marriage was on the rocks? Goo Jai said, "I just found out from the papers. (Do you believe it?) As an outsider and a colleague, I felt I shouldn't give too many opinions. They should be given more time and freedom."

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[2011.06.01] JOHNNIE TO GETS NOSY ABOUT SAMMI CHENG'S WEDDING DATE

courtesy of singtao.com


courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Johnnie To Kei Fung two nights ago attended the "NOIR: A Film Noir Retrospective Bridging France and Hong Kong" with the French Consul General in Hong Kong. The event will take place between June 3 and 26, 27 Hong Kong and French films will be screened together. Other guests
included the French Consul General in Macao and Ringo Lam Lan Tung.

For one of the segments, Ah To selected nine films including Wong Tin Lam's WILD, WILD ROSE (YEH MUI GWAI JI LUEN), Ann Hui On Wa's THE SECRET (FUNG GIP), Tsui Hark's THE DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND (DAI YUT LUI YING NGAI YIM), Johnny Mak Tong Hung's LONG ARM OF THE LAW (SAN GONG KEI BING), John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK), Lam Lan Tung's CITY ON FIRE (LUNG FU FUNG WON), Alfred Cheung Kin Ting's ON THE RUN (MONG MING YUEN YEUNG), Wong Kar Wai's AS TEARS GO BY (WONG GOK KA MOON), Patrick Tam Ka Ming's MY HEART IS THAT ETERNAL ROSE (SAT SAU WU DIP MUNG). Ah To pointed out that in the past French film festivals were focused on recommending French films. This year's special screening would be a cross over exchange with Hong Kong film culture. Thus he selected 80's glorious and classic directors' work. He would like to see his mentor Wong Tin Lam's WILD WILD ROSE the most, because he has only seen in on DVD. As for Tsui Hark's CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE DANGEROUS KIND which was banned at the time, now the complete director's cut would be screened. The film finally saw the light of day again.

Speaking of rumors that Sammi Cheng Sau Man agreed to marry Hui Chi On next year, reporters joked that Ah To's earlier comment of On Jai could not escape Sammi came true. Ah To said that he was only joking. "How could they break up again? It's time to tie the knot! (On Jai hasn't proposed to Sammi at the concert yet?) Then On Jai should perform another show to propose to Sammi, it should be soon, in this or next year. Let me quietly ask Sammi then tell everyone."

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[2011.06.01] TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI JOKES ABOUT WONG KAR WAI'S PACE

courtesy of singtao.com


courtesy of takungpao.com

The Derek Yee Tung Sing directed fantasy action film THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI) is heating up in production in Beijing. Yesterday the key location "Zhang's House of Magic" was opened for media visits. The director along with actors Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Lau Ching Wan, Zhou Xun, Yan Ni, Wu Gang, Paul Chun Pui and Kenya Sawada all appeared in costumes.

Wai Jai appeared in red as the Great Magician Zhang Xian on the stage. Speaking of the production, Wai Jai said, "I really feel this movie is shooting too quickly. In my experience, this type of movies at least would take half a year or more. Director Yee Tung Sing is able to finish in two to three months, which truly is very fast. Maybe I like this team too much, happy times are often short. Hopefully the boss will make another movie with the original team, which would be great." Was he hinting that Wong Kar Wai's THE GRANDMASTERS (YUT DOI JUNG SI)'s shoot was too slow. Wai Jai denied that and joked that reporters were too sensitive. He explained that the directors were different and did not mean to make any comparison.

Zhou Xun and her on screen father Chun Pui appeared together. In the film Zhou Xun was not only Wai Jai's fiance but also the Warlord Lau Ching Wan's seventh concubine. Yet she chose to appear as "father and daughter" for her first appearance. She defended herself and said, "This isn't my fault, blame Leung Chiu Wai for taking off without a word and letting Lau Ching Wan take me away." As Ching Wan's third concubine Yan Ni joked that Lau Ching Wan loved her the most out of his mates. Ching Wan nodded in agreement. Yan Ni added the he was quite a ladies' man who not only loved Yan Ni but also Zhou Xun. As for working with two Best Actors Zhou Xun simply said "cool". She said that working with two of the most handsome superstars was too great! Yee Tung Sing revealed that the film has already been in production for more than two months. In 20 days or more it will wrap.

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[2011.06.01] MICHAEL HUI REWARDS HIMSELF WITH SHOES


courtesy of takungpao.com


Michael Hui Koon Man yesterday attended Paco Wong's TVB Life program. In May Michael received the Udine Far East Film Festival lifetime achievement award. Michael joked that everything in Italian was so expensive that even going to the bathroom cost around HK$20. He only bought himself a pair of shoes as reward.

"The shoes cost over HK$4,000. This time they didn't invite me, but because the festival had a Michael Week I had to support it. It also proved that foreigners respected Hong Kong a lot." Was he offered to make a foreign film? Michael said that they asked why Hong Kong had less and less comedy and was less lively than before. Yet Hong Kong in order to coordinate with the Chinese market did not have as much Hong Kong authenticity as before. He hoped to make a movie at the end of the year.

His brother Sam Hui Koon Kit will become a grandfather to twins. Michael joked that his life would certainly change because from now on they would go out in a group of eight. He continued, "After I became a grandfather eight people did everything together, he will have nine. A group of people seems to be very happy but Sam doesn't like to go out. He can teach them to sing and play the piano!" Paco said that he already congratulated Michael and thought that he was the glory of Hong Kong. In addition later he had a movie with a little comedy and suspense that he would like to work with Michael on. The lead actor for now would be Stephy Tang Lai Yun. Hopefully it will be able to start production at the end of July

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[2011.06.01] SATURDAY, MAY 28 2011

GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART

For Saturday, May 28 2011

15 ZERO HERO COMMOTION
Can : Ling Si Hei Hung
Mr

14 HEAVEN EARTH ONE BATTLE
Can : Tin Dei Yut Dau
Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) featuring Kobe Bryant

13 RUNAWAY
Can : Chook Jau
Alfred Hui Ting Hung

12 FALL FOR ALIEN
Can : Luen Seung Oi Sing Yun
Julian Cheung Chi Lam

11 I FINALLY BECOME ANOTHER'S WOMAN
Can : Ngor Jung Yu Sing Liu Bit Yun Dik Nui Yun
Jacky Xue (Sit Ji Him)

10 INNOCENT PLEASURE
Can : Mo Sum Fai Yi
Andy Lau Tak Wa

9 WHEN WINTER NIGHTS GRADUALLY WARM
Can : Dong Dung Ye Jim Luen
Stefanie Sun Yanzi

8 IN MY IMAGINATION
Can : Seung Jeung Ji Jung
Vae Xu Song

7 JUNE FROST
Can : Lok Yuet Fei Seung
Eason Chan Yik Shun

6 ONE FAMILY ONE
Can : Yut Ga Yut
Jasmine Leong Jing Yu, Z-Chen Zhang (Cheung Chi Sing)

5 LOVER FRIEND
Can : Ching Yun Ji Gei
Rachel Liang (Leung Man Yam)

4 ATLANTIS
Can : Ah Dut Lan Tai Si
F.I.R.

3 GREAT FEAT
Can : Jong Gui
Hins Cheung King Hin

2 SORRY, JUST SUNDDELY MISS YOU MUCH
Can : Dui But Hei, Ji Si Fut Yin Hung Seung Nei
Chris Lee Yuchun



1 NOT SO EASY
Can : Ho But Yung Yi
Khalil Fong Datong

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[2011.06.01] THURSDAY, MAY 26 2011

For Thursday, May 26 2011
Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Movies Hong Kong


10 PRIEST
d. Scott Charles Stewart
Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q


9 THOR
d. Kenneth Branagh
Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman


8 LET THE WIND CARRY ME
Can : Sing Yeuk Guong Ying Lui Hung
Lit : Travel Riding the Light Shadow
d. Chiang Hsiu-chiung, Kwan Pun-Leung
Opening May 5 2011
Opening April 4 2011 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Rating : IIA
Length : 88 mins.
Opening May 12 2011

[ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ]
From an international cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-bing's photography determination and life struggle, many classic film behind the scene productions are discussed. The film spent three years and traveled all over Europe and Asia, as many international film celebrities talk about Lee Ping-bing's growing up in Taiwan, honing his craft in Hong Kong, entering the international film scene and winning all the cheers, all the while his creative track has never wavered.


7 THE DETECTIVE II
Can : B+ JING TAM
d. Oxide Pang Shun
Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Liu Kai Chi,
Izz Tsui Ching Hei, Patrick Tam Yiu Man,
Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Ciwi Lam Si Man,
Renee Lee Wan, Rex Ho Chun Wai, Max Wang Ziyi
Rating : IIB
Length : 100 mins.
Opening May 12 2011

[ FILM CATALOGUE ]
Solitary private detective TAM hits the road again to investigate serial killings in cold blood. Seemingly victims who die in odd ways are unrelated, but each clue directs to one suspect... When TAM digs deeper into the cases, the horrifying truth surfaces - the insanity driven by relentless desire to revenge...


6 LOVE AND OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS
d. Don Roos
Natalie Portman, Scott Cohen, Lisa Kudrow


5 3D SEX AND ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY
Can : 3D Yuk Po Tuen ji Gik Lok Bo Gam
Lit : 3D Flesh Pillow: Extreme Pleasure Treasure Book
d. Christopher Sun Lap Kei
Vonnie Lui Hoi Yan, Hiro Hayama (Yip San Ho)
Saori Hara, Yukiko Suo,
Irene Chen Chue-Ping, Leni Nam (Lan Yin), Tony Ho Wa Chiu
Rating : III
Length : 118 mins.
Opening April 14 2011
Official Site : http://www.3dsexzen.com/

[ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ]
Ming Dynasty scholar Wei Yangsheng is conceited with his talent and looks as he feels life is short...he encounters Taoist priest Tie Fei's daughter Tie Yuxiang. They fall in love at first sight and Wei Yangshang immediately wed. Yet, Yuxiang since childhood has been under her father's Taoist influence is elegant and inexperienced in the ways of the bedroom. Despite loving each other, Wei Yanghseng senses a major regret...


4 KIDNAPPED
d. Miguel Angel Vivas
Dritan Biba, Fernando Cayo, Manuela Velles


3 FAST FIVE
d. Justin Lin
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster


2 A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Can : But Joi Yeung Nei Goo Dan
Lit : No Longer Let You Be Lonely
AKA : Mei Lai Yun Sun
d. Andrew Lau Wai Keung
Shu Qi, Liu Ye, Tian Liang, Anthony Wong Chau Sun
Andrew Lin Hoi, Monie Tung Man Lei, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung
Rating : IIA
Length : 122 mins.
Opening May 19 2011
Official Site : http://www.mediaasia.com/abeautifullife

[ MEDIA ASIA ]
Years ago when she was a real estate agent in Shanghai, Peiyu was on top of the world. Originally she wanted to start something new here, but her boyfriend and boss at the time ran off with her assistant. After leaving her job she planned to start her own business but ran into a variety of obstacles. At the lowest point of her life, only one man who is also a cop never abandoned her. He was Fang Zhendong......


1 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES
d. Rob Marshall
Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush

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FULL WEEK BOX OFFICE ACTUALS MAY 23-29

The past week (seven days ending Sunday) came in up 48% versus last year's comparable week.  Year-to-date box office is now down 9% versus last year (an improvement of three percentage points from last week).   

The Past Week: Total Box Office Volume

All films in wide release playing between May 23 and May 29 grossed an amazing $300 million, up 48% versus the same week in 2010 and up 33% from the average comparable week the past four years.  Year to date, all films are down 9% from the same period last year (last week the figure was -12% -- a huge swing in one week), and all films year-to-date are now even with the comparable year-to-date number over the last four years.  With the slump early in the year, there seems to be a lot of pent up demand in the marketplace, and the right movies are playing to satisfy that demand. 

All Films May 23-29
(millions)           4yr              vs      vs
             2010    Avg     2011    2010    Avg

Week #21     $202    $226    $300   
+48%    +33%

Year to Date $4196   $3833   $3816  
- 9%    - 0%

Updated Estimates of Final Grosses

The ShowbuzzDaily Domestic Grosses (the estimated North American gross when the film ends its run) are now: The Hangover Part II ($294 million, 97th percentile for all wide releases the past two years), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($241 million, 95th percentile),  Fast Five ($211 million, 94th percentile), Thor ($186 million, 93rd percentile), Kung Fu Panda 2 ($174 million, 92nd percentile), Bridesmaids ($134 million, 87th percentile).  


The complete list of Total Domestic estimates can be found below.




Weekend Actuals vs Sunday's Studio Projections

The weekend Studio Projections (Friday and Saturday actual numbers with estimates for Sunday's box office) were almost exactly what the actual weekend numbers were today.  


      Weekend of                 Sunday    Monday   Showbuzz
      May 27-29, 2011            Studio    Weekend  Domestic
      (millions)                Estimate   Actual    Total

The Hangover Part II       (WB)   $86.5    $85.9     $294
Kung Fu Panda 2        (Par/DW)   $48.0    $47.7     $174
Pirates On Stranger Tides (Dis)   $39.3    $39.8     $241
Bridesmaids               (Uni)   $16.4    $16.5     $134
Thor                      (Par)   $ 9.4    $ 9.5     $186
Fast Five                 (Uni)   $ 6.6    $ 6.4     $211
Midnight in Paris        (Sony)   $ 1.9    $ 1.9      n/a
Jumping the Broom        (Sony)   $ 1.9    $ 1.8     $ 37
Rio                       (Fox)   $ 1.8    $ 1.8     $145 
Something Borrowed         (WB)   $ 1.8    $ 1.9     $ 38
Priest                   (Sony)   $ 1.7    $ 1.8     $ 27
Water for Elephants       (Fox)   $ 1.1    $ 1.1     $ 58

A reminder that Weekend Predictions will be posted Thursday for X-Men: First Class and the other returning films.

Be sure to check the status of the ShowBuzzDaily Summer Movie Draft, too.   

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ShowBuzzDaily SUMMER MOVIE DRAFT: May 31 Update

Through Memorial Day, the Summer Movie Draft is starting to tighten up.  Team Metcalf leads $318 million to $298 million for Team Salem.  But keep in mind that Salem has two movies opening (the well-reviewed X-Men: First Class and the eagerly anticipated Super 8) before Metcalf's next movie (Mr Popper's Penguins).  The race  should go back and forth as Salem then has the final Harry Potter film, followed by two big movies for Metcalf, Cars 2 and Tranformers: Dark of the Moon.  A fun race is ahead.

Click "Read more" below to see the updated chart, which now features the number each film was picked in the draft. 




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Worldwide Short Film Festival 2011 Preview

Photobucket


Photobucket Photobucket
Images from short films: Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother (Celebrity Shorts 1) and Martyris (Midnight Mania Freaky)

BLINK AT YOUR OWN RISK is the new catch phrase for this years Worldwide Short Film Festival, and I actually always look forward to their catch phrase because it's quite catchy & funny and being short myself I always secretly hope it's something I can add to my own repertoire!

The festival has a great combination of official selection and specialty programs, from the comedy of Indie Comedy Showcase: FOR SHORTS & GIGGLES to family friendly double bill of Shorts For Shorties: TELL US A STORY! and Shorts For Shorties: ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. Or travel the world through the programs Trilogy of Trilogies: NEW ZEALAND'S GOT TALENT and Spotlight on Italy 1 & Spotlight on Italy 2.

Feeling a little light-headed in love? Take your honey to Date Night which will be at the CN Tower! That's pretty exciting. Or is you are on the rebound, perhaps it's time to check out One Night Stand. Relationships just keep going as friends in arms can check out Bromance or one of my favourite of the Official Selection titles: The Hipster, for all the cats to cool for school.

Personally I'm drawn more to the wacky & weird, which brings us to one of my continually favourite programs of Sci Fi: OUT THERE and the Midnight Mania's of Freaky & Creepy. If that's not enough we also have the original SLAP'N'TICKLE and it's new found addition Slap'n'Tickle: HARDGORE.

It's not just about watching short film. Check out the Symposium that runs throughout the festival including a Master Class: Directing Performance with Director Kari Skogland and actor Callum Keith Rennie. That's pretty freaking awesome.

And the whole shebang start tonight with the Opening Gala: Award Winners from Around the World at the Bloor.

I usually attend the festival live, but this year I'm in Portland for the World Domination Summit and will be away for the entirely of the Worldwide Short Film Festival which makes me sad. But on the happy side of the street, I have previewed several of the programs for your enjoyment:
I highly recommend checking out the films at the festival, it's so much more fun to watch them with an audience and with filmmakers in attendance for Q&A's. So scoot over to the festival and have fun, short, time.

For more information, check out the Worldwide Short Film Festival website, Program Descriptions, Film Schedule, Symposium Details, Location Information and Box Office Information.

You can also find the festival on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs from May 31 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Images from Pixels, Umbra and Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46 in the Sci Fi: OUT THERE Program

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Worldwide Short Film Festival 2011 Preview

Photobucket


Photobucket Photobucket
Images from short films: Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother (Celebrity Shorts 1) and Martyris (Midnight Mania Freaky)

BLINK AT YOUR OWN RISK is the new catch phrase for this years Worldwide Short Film Festival, and I actually always look forward to their catch phrase because it's quite catchy & funny and being short myself I always secretly hope it's something I can add to my own repertoire!

The festival has a great combination of official selection and specialty programs, from the comedy of Indie Comedy Showcase: FOR SHORTS & GIGGLES to family friendly double bill of Shorts For Shorties: TELL US A STORY! and Shorts For Shorties: ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. Or travel the world through the programs Trilogy of Trilogies: NEW ZEALAND'S GOT TALENT and Spotlight on Italy 1 & Spotlight on Italy 2.

Feeling a little light-headed in love? Take your honey to Date Night which will be at the CN Tower! That's pretty exciting. Or is you are on the rebound, perhaps it's time to check out One Night Stand. Relationships just keep going as friends in arms can check out Bromance or one of my favourite of the Official Selection titles: The Hipster, for all the cats to cool for school.

Personally I'm drawn more to the wacky & weird, which brings us to one of my continually favourite programs of Sci Fi: OUT THERE and the Midnight Mania's of Freaky & Creepy. If that's not enough we also have the original SLAP'N'TICKLE and it's new found addition Slap'n'Tickle: HARDGORE.

It's not just about watching short film. Check out the Symposium that runs throughout the festival including a Master Class: Directing Performance with Director Kari Skogland and actor Callum Keith Rennie. That's pretty freaking awesome.

And the whole shebang start tonight with the Opening Gala: Award Winners from Around the World at the Bloor.

I usually attend the festival live, but this year I'm in Portland for the World Domination Summit and will be away for the entirely of the Worldwide Short Film Festival which makes me sad. But on the happy side of the street, I have previewed several of the programs for your enjoyment:
I highly recommend checking out the films at the festival, it's so much more fun to watch them with an audience and with filmmakers in attendance for Q&A's. So scoot over to the festival and have fun, short, time.

For more information, check out the Worldwide Short Film Festival website, Program Descriptions, Film Schedule, Symposium Details, Location Information and Box Office Information.

You can also find the festival on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs from May 31 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Images from Pixels, Umbra and Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46 in the Sci Fi: OUT THERE Program

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Worldwide Short Film Festival 2011: SciFi Out There and Midnight Mania

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Images from: Pixels, Umbra and Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46

Sci Fi: OUT THERE

The Sci Fi: OUT THERE is one I always look forward to at the Worldwide Short Film Festival, and this years selections deliver yet again. From the humorous to the haunting, it's a great array of interesting ideas from the playful to the painful. Here's a look at several of the shorts in the program.

Pixels
Dir: Patrick Jean
France, 3 minutes

Awesome animation homage to old school Atari & arcade games transpixelled on city streets. Well crafted, funny and nostalgic all in one, I adored it!

Dissonance
Dir: Anne Leclercq
Cast: Anne-Cécile Vandalem
Belgium, 17 minutes

Wow. This one freaked me out. I love how it can tell it's highly conceptual scifi story with very little verbal language relayed, and how ironic that is considering our protagonist specializes in language. Haunting, lonely and resonate, Dissonance left me unnerved with it's beauty.

Peaceforce
Dir: Peter Gornstein
Cast: Cyron Melville, Henning Jensen, Anders Hoyt
Denmark, 19 minutes

Morally complex and easy-to-access this short film is set in 2032 Copenhagen and adeptly explores the greater complications of human nature and societies. Showing a hard and fast 'protective' agency and the people they are apparently 'protecting' is shows how little is 'clear' for anyone.

Umbra
Dir: Malcolm Sutherland
Canada, 6 minutes

Cute little creature that's doing it's best to figure out where it is and what it's doing. Short, stompy and to the point, this animated film is a mind trip and feels like a moments where it clearly shows how ideas in it of themselves can be truly scary. And, um... really cute. Loved it.

Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46
Dir: Anthony Vouardoux
Switzerland/Germany, 15 minutes

Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46 is really short filmmaking at it's best, using a great idea with limited points of view to explore a grander issue. Love that. The ideas fit the format, and in this case a space launch and investigation of a transmission. Brilliant short film.

SCI FI: Out There program screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Wednesday June 1, 2011 at 9:15PM at the ROM.

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Images from The Legend of Beaver Dam and Ninjas

Midnight Mania - Creepy and Freaky Programs
Ready to stay up late and get all freaked out? You are in luck because with these programs you will!

Here's a look at several of the shorts in theMidnight Mania Creepy program:

The Legend of Beaver Dam
Dir: Jerome Sable
Canada, 12 minutes

Hilarious and totally messed up take on a camp fire/ghost story gone wrong. The Legend of Beaver Dam had me in stitches. It doesn't hold back on any level, pushing all the buttons and delivers equal portions of horror and humour. Really got a kick out of it! Actually, it would kick you if it could. Maybe it can!

Ella
Dir: Dan Gitsham
Cast: Anthony Head
UK, 9 minutes

Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin) star in Ella and we follow throughout as we try to piece together the mystery, and the horror, of not only the story but also his characters involvement and actions. Haunting and unsettling, Ella kept me on edge.

Adder's Bite
Dir: Firas Momani
Canada, 10 minutes

I can't honestly say that I understand all (or any) of the story of (or if there was one) in Adder's Bite, but I can say that I was completely absorbed by the film and curiously looking in and around and all over the screen. Bizarre movements and unnerving tone provided a completely visceral viewing experience. Can't wait to see more from filmmaker Firas Momani.

Ninjas
Dir: Dennison Ramalho
Brazil, 22 minutes

Following the torment of a man whose wrestling with the pain of wrong doing, Ninja takes this premise and pushes it to further pain and torment with every step and without reprieve. Long, harsh and brutal, Ninjas is one of the few films that was so disturbing I wish I hadn't see it. Effective, yes but the disturbing imagery & ideas it contains was too brutal for me.

Midnight Mania Creepy screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Friday June 3, 2011 at 11:59PM at the Bloor.

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Images from Martyris and Parasitoid

And now for a selection of shorts in the Midnight Mania Freaky program:

Martyris
Dir: Luis Felipe Hernández Alanís
Mexico, 8 minutes

Fascinating animated film that has a strong nightmare like feel following a wild collection of restrained creatures that are painfully unhappy and destructive. High creep factor but absolutely beautifully done.

Parasitoid
Dir: Martin Lotherington
Norway, 10 minutes

Great idea and nice execution as we see a parasite in search of and attempting to connect with it's host. Really engaging and great use of non verbal storytelling, Parasitoid really caught me.

Sticky Ends
Dir: Osman Cerfon
France, 6 minutes

Great comedy of errors and resilience as the bizarre fishlike man blows hovering bubbles that oddly protect people at the worst of times. Very clever and funny, even when you think you shouldn't be laugh it's hard not to!

Turning
Dir: Karni +Saul
UK, 10 minutes

Bizarre and birdy birthday party that for young Robert who has one heck of an imagination while accepting visitors of from three chatty old ladies. I loved how this one was fantastical and bizarre as well as being oddly comforting. Quite a treat.

Umshini Wam / Bring Me My Machine Gun
Dir: Harmony Korine
USA, 16 minutes

I'm a little at a loss of what to say about this one but I couldn't stop watching these wheelchair riding, ganster & ninja talking, hot-dog roasting duo. This short literally left me speechless & dumbfounded.

Midnight Mania Freaky screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Saturday June 4, 2011 at 11:59PM at the ROM.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs from May 31 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Worldwide Short Film Festival 2011: SciFi Out There and Midnight Mania

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Images from: Pixels, Umbra and Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46

Sci Fi: OUT THERE

The Sci Fi: OUT THERE is one I always look forward to at the Worldwide Short Film Festival, and this years selections deliver yet again. From the humorous to the haunting, it's a great array of interesting ideas from the playful to the painful. Here's a look at several of the shorts in the program.

Pixels
Dir: Patrick Jean
France, 3 minutes

Awesome animation homage to old school Atari & arcade games transpixelled on city streets. Well crafted, funny and nostalgic all in one, I adored it!

Dissonance
Dir: Anne Leclercq
Cast: Anne-Cécile Vandalem
Belgium, 17 minutes

Wow. This one freaked me out. I love how it can tell it's highly conceptual scifi story with very little verbal language relayed, and how ironic that is considering our protagonist specializes in language. Haunting, lonely and resonate, Dissonance left me unnerved with it's beauty.

Peaceforce
Dir: Peter Gornstein
Cast: Cyron Melville, Henning Jensen, Anders Hoyt
Denmark, 19 minutes

Morally complex and easy-to-access this short film is set in 2032 Copenhagen and adeptly explores the greater complications of human nature and societies. Showing a hard and fast 'protective' agency and the people they are apparently 'protecting' is shows how little is 'clear' for anyone.

Umbra
Dir: Malcolm Sutherland
Canada, 6 minutes

Cute little creature that's doing it's best to figure out where it is and what it's doing. Short, stompy and to the point, this animated film is a mind trip and feels like a moments where it clearly shows how ideas in it of themselves can be truly scary. And, um... really cute. Loved it.

Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46
Dir: Anthony Vouardoux
Switzerland/Germany, 15 minutes

Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46 is really short filmmaking at it's best, using a great idea with limited points of view to explore a grander issue. Love that. The ideas fit the format, and in this case a space launch and investigation of a transmission. Brilliant short film.

SCI FI: Out There program screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Wednesday June 1, 2011 at 9:15PM at the ROM.

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Images from The Legend of Beaver Dam and Ninjas

Midnight Mania - Creepy and Freaky Programs
Ready to stay up late and get all freaked out? You are in luck because with these programs you will!

Here's a look at several of the shorts in theMidnight Mania Creepy program:

The Legend of Beaver Dam
Dir: Jerome Sable
Canada, 12 minutes

Hilarious and totally messed up take on a camp fire/ghost story gone wrong. The Legend of Beaver Dam had me in stitches. It doesn't hold back on any level, pushing all the buttons and delivers equal portions of horror and humour. Really got a kick out of it! Actually, it would kick you if it could. Maybe it can!

Ella
Dir: Dan Gitsham
Cast: Anthony Head
UK, 9 minutes

Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin) star in Ella and we follow throughout as we try to piece together the mystery, and the horror, of not only the story but also his characters involvement and actions. Haunting and unsettling, Ella kept me on edge.

Adder's Bite
Dir: Firas Momani
Canada, 10 minutes

I can't honestly say that I understand all (or any) of the story of (or if there was one) in Adder's Bite, but I can say that I was completely absorbed by the film and curiously looking in and around and all over the screen. Bizarre movements and unnerving tone provided a completely visceral viewing experience. Can't wait to see more from filmmaker Firas Momani.

Ninjas
Dir: Dennison Ramalho
Brazil, 22 minutes

Following the torment of a man whose wrestling with the pain of wrong doing, Ninja takes this premise and pushes it to further pain and torment with every step and without reprieve. Long, harsh and brutal, Ninjas is one of the few films that was so disturbing I wish I hadn't see it. Effective, yes but the disturbing imagery & ideas it contains was too brutal for me.

Midnight Mania Creepy screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Friday June 3, 2011 at 11:59PM at the Bloor.

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Images from Martyris and Parasitoid

And now for a selection of shorts in the Midnight Mania Freaky program:

Martyris
Dir: Luis Felipe Hernández Alanís
Mexico, 8 minutes

Fascinating animated film that has a strong nightmare like feel following a wild collection of restrained creatures that are painfully unhappy and destructive. High creep factor but absolutely beautifully done.

Parasitoid
Dir: Martin Lotherington
Norway, 10 minutes

Great idea and nice execution as we see a parasite in search of and attempting to connect with it's host. Really engaging and great use of non verbal storytelling, Parasitoid really caught me.

Sticky Ends
Dir: Osman Cerfon
France, 6 minutes

Great comedy of errors and resilience as the bizarre fishlike man blows hovering bubbles that oddly protect people at the worst of times. Very clever and funny, even when you think you shouldn't be laugh it's hard not to!

Turning
Dir: Karni +Saul
UK, 10 minutes

Bizarre and birdy birthday party that for young Robert who has one heck of an imagination while accepting visitors of from three chatty old ladies. I loved how this one was fantastical and bizarre as well as being oddly comforting. Quite a treat.

Umshini Wam / Bring Me My Machine Gun
Dir: Harmony Korine
USA, 16 minutes

I'm a little at a loss of what to say about this one but I couldn't stop watching these wheelchair riding, ganster & ninja talking, hot-dog roasting duo. This short literally left me speechless & dumbfounded.

Midnight Mania Freaky screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Saturday June 4, 2011 at 11:59PM at the ROM.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs from May 31 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Worldwide Short Film Festival 2011: Celebrity Shorts

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Images from Celebrity Shorts 1 films: White Other and Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother

I'm not always drawn to the Celebrity Shorts programs but this year had films starring Tom Hardy, Tom Felton, Joel Edgerton, Rosemary DeWitt, Colin Firth and directed by Rachel Weisz and Rupert Friend. I pretty much love all of them, therefore had to see them.

Taking a look at several of the shorts in the Celebrity Shorts 1 program.

PS Your Mystery Sender
Dir: Benjamin Wigley
UK, 9 minutes

This one is noted as both fiction and documentary, and to be honest if it isn't true I'm not sure I want to know! Following fashion designer Sir Paul Smith sharing his beautiful collection of regular object anonymously mailed to him over the years. This short is positively delightful.

White Other
Dir: Dan Hartley
Cast: Tom Felton, Imelda Staunton
UK, 13 minutes

Gripping short set in the confines of a hospital ward between nurse and one heck of live wire guy. Does the sterile setting allow for compassion and healing? Who needs understanding and honesty more? Will we be won over? Great questioning drama and fabulous acting in this short from Harry Potter almost-alums Tom Felton and Imelda Staunton.

Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother
Dir: Greg Williams
Cast: Tom Hardy, Ben MacLeod
UK, 12 minutes

Sibling kinship runs both strong and awry this drama centred on younger, bullied brother (Ben MacLeod) and older bully-like brother (Tom Hardy) who wants to go off and join the French Foreign Legion. The film does a great job of keeping the audience off balance on predispositions and judgment on the brothers and their family as we wonder if a clean break truly could be the best for everyone. Really top-notch short.

Animal Love
Dir: D: Mollie Jones
Cast: Selma Blair, Jeremy Davis
USA, 16 minutes

It took me a bit to warm up to Animal Love, which features two oddballs who hook up with a no-strings agreement but then start to seem to get a little sweet on each other. Really tender and beautiful, with lovely performances from Selma Blair & Jeremy Davis, this quirky romance completely won me over. And the cute animals helped, too.

Bunce
Dir: Peter Cattaneo
Cast: Daniel Roche, Milo Quinton, Stephen Fry
UK, 12 minutes

Autobiographical comedy of Stephen Fry's private school days that is witty and charming as it follows the story of how he takes a younger student under his wing, gets in and tries to get out of trouble with the headmaster (played by Stephen Fry) and the lovely power of friendship.

Celebrity Shorts 1 screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Thursday June 2, 2011 at 7PM at the ROM.

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Images from Celebrity Shorts 1: PS Your Mystery Sender and An Act of Love

And now for a selection of the Celebrity Shorts 2 program:

Sexting
Dir: Neil LaBute
Cast: Julia Stiles
USA, 8 minutes

Crisp short film featuring Julia Stiles as the 'other woman' whose had just about enough! It's very monologue-like with a straight to the camera telling where we bear the brunt of her out pour of honest distaste and discomfort and she attempts to shattering the disillusionment of the her lover's wife.

Steve
Dir: Rupert Friend
Cast: Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Tom Mison
UK, 16 minutes

Arguing with your partner can be bad enough, what happens when you add a random, persistent neighbour into the mix? Steve (Colin Firth) becomes the self-imposing, tea-thirsty neighbour that throws wrenches in the works of the everyday lives of the folks above him. It begs the question of how far we'll stretch for common courtesy and when enough really seems like enough!

The Thief
Dir: Rachel Weisz
Cast: Rosemary DeWitt, Joel Edgerton
USA, 14 minutes

Beautiful human drama between a thief (Joel Edgerton) who breaks into an unexpectedly occupied home where the owner (Rosemary DeWitt) displays something more powerful that fear. Gripping and wonderfully acted, I loved this short film. And a PS to any skeptics out there, it's based on a true story from Glamour Magazine’s Reel Moments project. Wow. That's truly powerful.

Celebrity Shorts 2 screens at Worldwide Short Film Festival on Friday June 3, 2011 at 7PM at the Bloor.

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Images from Celebrity Shorts 2 films Sexting and The Thief

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs from May 31 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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