The Viet Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 11, 2019 to Oct. 13, 2019 in Orange, California, is one of many film festivals that serve the purpose of showcasing the efforts of a minority group.
When I found out about a Persian film festival in Toronto dedicated to young filmmakers exclusively from Iran, I immediately packed my bags and bought tickets with money from my savings. My aspirations for making films in Iran after college drew me to this festival, especially given that the judges were some prominent filmmakers flying in from Tehran. However, hours before my flight was set to depart, I was informed by Shahrokh Bahrololumi, the organizer of the festival, that the festival was postponed.
Pakistan doesn’t have much cultural currency in the West. When most Americans think of the culture of the Indian subcontinent they think of India. America is missing out on sophisticated and enjoyable works of art. Pakistan’s exportable cultural output is a mixed bag; gems are buried underneath pathetic attempts to copy Indian and/or American artists. Thanks to religious fanaticism and financial issues, Pakistani culture is sliding down the slippery slope to destruction. The country isn’t completely devoid of an art scene, but it is, unfortunately, a very small scene. Can it survive as the country inches further away from stability everyday?
Often, films and television shows are praised for their directing style, actor performances, cinematography or special effects. Yet, many individuals often overlook the fundamental foundation that makes a film or TV show possible: screenwriting. Without a script, these other elements would not be possible. From “Good Will Hunting” to “Juno,” screenwriting has been a key aspect that has defined a performance or produced those memorable lines that you can’t help but say at the opportune moment.
Over the course of last week, the 10th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival showcased over 400 films from 45 different countries at Edwards Island Cinemas in Fashion Island and Lido Theater in Newport Peninsula.
Spring is here, summer is quickly approaching, and soon we'll all be baking in the sun. With everything so pleasant outside, these months beg for activity, activity that might be down a bit thanks to how easy it is these days to wrap yourself up in your little corner of the world. There are always things to do outside but sometimes it doesn't seem worth it. But you're an adventurous one, aren't you? I can tell from the look in your eyes. Oh, and you like music, do you? Well, then you should be in luck.
With the Newport Beach Film Festival just around the corner starting this Thursday, the New University brings you an inside look into some of the upcoming films at this year's festival.
On the surface, an amateur rugby player, an aspiring college student and a hitman may not have a lot in common. One could blow a game play, one may blow his chance to get into college and the last might just blow your head off. Yet these different roles represent the diverse spectrum of protagonists whose stories were told at the fourth edition of the Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF).
The Beatles passionately fantasized about this, Cassavetes' "The Notebook" (2004) was purely based on this, and Cinderella found this when she located her missing shoe. Can you figure it out?
In a city where killer ants devour anyone who is unable to love, the ghosts of J. L. Borges and G. Garcia Marquez haunt the attics and minds of scriptwriters, playing their silly literary games from beyond the grave.
