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The 2011 Astoria/LIC International Film Festival Is Here At Last

Posted By admin on September 27, 2011 5:11pm

Indie film buffs get ready. It’s Fall and that means The Astoria/LIC International Film Festival is back and it looks to be even bigger and better than ever. Start-up Cieri Media International (CMIC), parent to Long Island City performance venue The eGarage, internet media site eGarage.tv, and print/online literary magazine Voices From the Garage is gearing up for the The 2011 Astoria/LIC International Film Festival extravaganza. Hot on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s fest promises more venues showcasing more films, readings, panel discussions, music videos and live performances. There’s even a jitney bus to take you from one venue to the next! What could be easier?

The festival is bookended by two events at the Z Hotel which will host the Opening Night gala Friday, October 14th and the Fan Awards which wrap everything up the evening of Sunday, October 16th. In between, films from The New York area and from all over the world will be screened at three venues: LIC’s Secret Theatre, Astoria’s Variety Boys and Girls Club and CMIC’s own eGarage in Long Island City. The three day event includes films in categories ranging from feature-length and documentaries, shorts and super-shorts, to music videos and more. In addition dramatic presentations of scripts, live music, panel discussions and music videos will be interspersed among the viewing sessions. This year’s festivities also include a few special treats: live improv by The eGarage’s own Improv Nation short form improv troupe and performances at Circus Warehouse, an 8,000 square-foot playland that recently made New York magazine’s Best of New York list. That’s hot! 

The Astoria/LIC Int'l Film Festival proudly promotes an open and nurturing environment for artists, writers, actors, filmmakers and fans, and will focus on offering great networking opportunities for its participants. This second annual film festival continues a commitment to promoting new and emerging voices in film, spoken word and art similar to the Tribeca and NYC Downtown Film Festivals. “Last year we showed over 50 films selected from producers all over the world,” says CMIC president and festival founder Dennis Cieri. “We had a music video session that highlighted Long Island City performers. We had writers, producers, and actors involved and exchanging ideas with one another and the viewing public. This year we’re going to expand on that, enhancing the experience with a variety of interactive and alternative peripheral and supporting entertainment.”
 
What about the movies? This is a film festival after all. Feature-length films include Swedish director Filip Tegstedt’s horror “Marianne” and the american Colin Rivera’s “The End of Something”. “Marianne”, which premiered at the 2011 Fantasia International Film Festival, is a harrowing tale about a widower coping with a newborn, a teenager who blames him for her mother’s death and the recurring nightmares that torment him and distort his ability to separate his dream world from reality. A splendidly woven narrative, this movie is absolutely chilling.

Shot on location in the DUMBO and Gowanus areas of Brooklyn, New York “The End of Something” finds a group of young artists struggling with the pressures of keeping afloat the failing Black Box theater as they deal with each other and discover just how far they’re willing to go, individually and collectively, while putting on one last show. It’s local. It’s topical and it’s cool.

In the Shorts category, there’s “Recess”, something with which everyone has dealt. Here one boy finds that it’s not that easy to make friends. Kids on the playground can be cruel and, in this case, maybe this boy is better off with the friends he already has. Made in the USA and directed by Bradley Montesi, this is a really smart three minute look at life, and learning, in the sometimes rough confines of jungle gyms and swings. If you’re not careful it just might provoke a knowing laugh. We’ve all been there.

“I Rub New York” in the film’s own words is “the story of one artist’s passion and how it touched an entire city one block at a time. Carol Caputo has spent three decades creating, and encouraging others to help create, a “textural database” by taking impressions/rubbings of any and all surfaces you can imagine. This is an uplifting story of one woman’s vision and the thousands who contribute.    

The Astoria/LIC area has been dubbed "The United Nations of New York City” with people from 120 different countries living and working in these diverse and eclectic neighborhoods. As such it is a terrific host for this truly international cinematic tradition, on par with and ready to challenge more established New York City art locales. Situated in the heart of Long Island City, home to Silvercup Studios, Kaufman Astoria Studios and The Museum of the Moving Image, The Astoria/Long Island City International Film Festival seeks to build upon and enhance a vibrant and growing artistic community.

This year’s event sponsors include Ultimate Sound Installations Inc., RCN, Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, Z Hotel, the attorneys at Morales Soukeras, Capital Glass and Sash Co. and all the good people at Cieri Media International.

Film Fest Update

Posted By admin on September 27, 2011 5:15pm

We here at Cieri Media are putting the finishing touches on the The Astoria/LIC Int’l Film Festival.  It’s exciting. It’s a major cultural event. It adds to, and showcases, our community. It really is a wonderful thing and another reason to ask, “Why Leave Astoria?” By all means, come to Astoria/LIC!

I have had the chance to preview some of these movies and I liked what I saw. One documentary, “Spokanarchy”(Sun., 16th, 12pm), is a must-see for anyone who lived through the punk scene of the late 70’s-early 80’s, or for anyone who wants a behind the scenes look… Spokane, Washington style. It really takes you into the lives of the people who made the music and lived the life. It reminds us that it was a movement much bigger than New York and LA. And in this case, the foundation was laid for the Seattle “grunge” that came years later. Loaded with interviews (today and in yesteryear) and raw footage from that era, this is a treat.

“Apostles of Park Slope” (Sun., Oct. 16th, 5pm) is another movie I really enjoyed. Here’s a synopsis in the words of Brooklyn director, Jason Casuto: “When Mike Callahan loses his mother Mary, the old crew from his neighborhood rallies the troops and takes Mike out to a local restaurant in an attempt to cheer him up. Father Paul, a priest returning to Brooklyn after spending several years in South America rebuilding churches, is invited to join dinner. After some thought Father agrees in the hopes of convincing Mike and the gang to turn to the Lord during their time of loss. (Note: He gets more than he bargained for.)What ensues is an unlikely reunion of friends where Father comes to see the true meaning of friendship and where sometimes the word of the Lord has four letters.” Colorful. Funny, as only real friends can be. These guys go back and forth. The ribbing. The kidding. The camaraderie. And in Brooklyn! Come on.

There is so much more. My point is that I’ve enjoyed myself. These movies are good. If it’s anything like last year, the venues and activities are cool and fun. And it’s right here in Astoria/LIC. Come join us. I think you’ll be glad you did. If you saw my earlier post you already know the basics about the event. I’ll just take a moment to go over some highlights:

DATES: Friday, October 14th-16th

OPENING PARTY: Fri., Oct. 14th, 6:00pm at The Z Hotel (11-01 43rd Ave.) Let's start this festival off right! Come join us at the Z-Hotel for entertainment and drinks as we get ready for an awesome weekend of films, discussions and music!

VENUES: The Secret Theatre and The eGarage (both in the LIC Arts Center 23rd St. and 44th Ave.) and the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (21st St and 30th Rd.)

EVENTS: Feature-length narrative films or documentaries are usually grouped with a short (20-30mins.) and a super-short (3-7mins.) in a viewing session. Other sessions include panel discussions with writers, producers and directors. Scripts will be read. Live performances of improv and comedy will be interspersed between, around, betwixt and among the movies and panels. And on the 16th at 5:30pm there’s a music video extravaganza.

There’s even a closing party the evening of the 16th culminating with the Fan Award presentation to the winner/”Best” in each category. Most sessions cost $10. And the Opening and Closing parties are$15. What more could you ask for? Good Movies and entertainment. Great value. Fun. Fun. Fun… right here in our own backyard.

"Bound By Haiti" and "Bullycam" Cause A Stir

Posted By admin on October 4, 2011 10:56am

As we close in on the opening day of the film fest, I want to draw your attention to two films in particular that have touched many of us in the CMIC offices.

"Bound by Haiti is the story of Aaron Jackson and John Dieubon - two young international activists forced to deal with the tragedy of the Haiti earthquake first-hand. Raised on a wealthy resort, Aaron has dedicated his life to eradicating intestinal parasites in Haiti. Born and orphaned in Port-au-Prince, John's mission is to inspire a new generation of Haitian children.

But when the earthquake of January 12th strikes, Aaron and John must confront the biggest challenge of their lives. The filmmakers, staying in Port-au-Prince on the day of the earthquake, captured the devastation. Featuring rare footage from immediately following the earthquake, Bound by Haiti follows these unlikely friends on a journey for change before and after the most devastating international event of our time." Bound By Haiti is being screened at Variety Boys and Girls Club, 21-12 30th Road, LIC, Saturday, October 15th at 10:00am

Also getting rave reviews is "Bullycam", viewing Sunday, October 16th at 3:00pm at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC. Kelly Wilson, a high school sophomore, is a victim of bullying. In an effort to expose the bullies, Kelly decides--with the help of her best friend Tanya--to document the daily abuse on videotape.The bullying starts as intimidation, both in school and on the Internet, and eventually escalates to severe physical violence. Through the lens of Kelly's camcorder, we are given direct insight into her home life and her friendship with Tanya, which are both ultimately destroyed by the relentless bullying that follows her day and night. This film sheds light on the brutality of bullying in a way no film has done to date.  

Those of us that have had a chance to preview this year's film festival offerings are proud and excited to share them with you . This is really something special. If you've followed along the last few weeks, I've tried to highlight some of our favorites. The truth is we have an entire festival of creative, informative and entertaining films for you. Come out the weekend of the 14th-16th and take advantage of this unique opportunity. I think you'll be glad you did.