The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival runs from November 7-11.

November 1, 2007 - A number of film festivals are scheduled to premiere in the coming weeks, featuring varied work from around the world and around the corner.

The New York City Greek Film Festival

Twelve of the best Greek films of the last few years are coming to New York City early in November when the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce presents the New York City Greek Film Festival.

The event runs November 2nd through the 8th at Manhattan’s Cinema Village, 22 East 12 Street, just east of Fifth Avenue. November 8th through 15th, the festival moves to the CineMart Cinema, 106-03 Metropolitan Avenue, in Forest Hills, Queens.

Among the featured films to be presented are the two biggest box office hits in the history of the Greek movie industry: the internationally acclaimed A Touch of Spice (Politiki Kouzina) and the haunting and sumptuously produced Brides (Nyfes) by master filmmaker Pandelis Voulgaris.

Other films that will be included in the festival include: Chariton’s Choir, (I Chorodia Tou Charitona), a recent best picture award winner from the Thessaloniki Film Festival; Back Door (Piso Porta), a coming of age story about a thirteen year old facing the unexpected death of his father; and Buzz, focusing on the life of A. I. Bezzerides, one of the most sought-after Hollywood screenwriters of the 1940s and 50s, among others.

Full descriptions of the films and screening schedules are available at www.hellenicamerican.cc.

The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival

The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival is proud to announce its opening and closing night films: Saawariya and The Last Year , respectively. The Film Festival, which aims to promote, showcase, and celebrate the unique voices and talent of filmmakers’ that tell compelling stories about the South Asian subcontinent, will take place in New York from November 7-11, 2007.

Opening Night Screening – Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007, 6:00 pm
Saawariya, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and a project backed by Sony Pictures will premiere at the Opening Night of the MIAAC Festival, followed by a star studded reception at Madame Tussaud’s.

Closing Night Screening - Sunday, Nov 11 2007, 6pm
The Last Lear is based on Utpal Dutt’s play ‘Aajker Shahjahan.’ An aging Shakespearean actor takes on one of the bard’s most challenging roles.

Also at the festival is Dosar, chronicling a crumbling marriage within the Indian society.

The 7th Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival runs November 7-11 at prestigious venues across Manhattan, such as Loews Times Square, Madame Tussaud’s, Asia Society, and Loews Broadway.

Information regarding ticket sales, film selections, and schedule can be found at www.iaac.us/seventh_film_festival2007.

African American Women in Cinema: A Moment in Cinematic History

African American Women in Cinema is proud to announce its 10th Annual African American Women in Cinema Film Festival (AAWICFF) entitled A Moment in Cinematic History, November 9-11, 2007. The Film Festival is one of the largest female film events in the country. Every year, the AAWICFF shines its luminous spotlight onto ambitious women filmmakers from all over the country.

During the 3-day event in New York City, AAWICFF will showcase the work of aspiring and prominent women filmmakers of African, Latin and/or Asian descent throughout the Diaspora. The 2007 AAWICFF will feature the following dynamic films: Color Coded Woman by Afua Kafi-Akua, Drawing Angel by Rosalyn Coleman-Williams, Need Still by Traci Nickerson, I Want You by Neferitite Nguvu, Hurricane Katrina by Marcia Fingal, The Saint by Erin J. Wood, Breakthrough by Celia C. Peters, Bushwick Homecomings by Stefanie Joshua, Love Conquers Al by Kamali Minter, and Deceitful Storm by Shanda Davis.

In addition to the screenings, the AAWIC Film Education Series of workshops and keynote panels includes: Actors Workshop with casting director, Winsome Sinclair, and acting coach and director, Tracey Moore-Marable; Life of a Producer with attorney, author, & TV/film producer, Crystal McCrary Anthony; Women, Images and the Media moderated by editor-activist Michaela Angela Davis; and Music On Screen with author Thembisa S. Mshaka.

For more information on special invited keynote speakers, tickets, showtimes, and AAWIC membership, visit the AAWIC website at www.AAWIC.org.

Big Apple Film Festival

The 4th Annual Big Apple Film Festival will take place November 14-17 at the Tribeca Cinemas in New York City.

The festival will feature a total of fifty-four films in a variety of categories including: Feature Narratives, Short Films, Documentaries, Animation and Student Work. The festival will include New York City premieres, special guests, panel discussions with film industry representatives, nightly parties, and receptions.

The festival opens on November 14th with a double feature event that includes the New York City premiere of Owl and the Sparrow, directed by Stephane Gauger, a 2007 Gotham Award nominee, and the Golden Apple Event with a screening of Suffering Man’s Charity. Following the screening, director Alan Cumming will be presented with the Big Apple Film Festival honorary “Golden Apple Award.”

Additional film events include Farm Girl in New York, Greetings from the Shore, and The Last New Yorker.

The festival will also feature a panel discussion entitled “Film Distribution in the New Age,” featuring industry insiders. Panelists will include Peter Goldwyn (Vice President Acquisitions Samuel Goldwyn Films), Clémence Taillandier (Head of Theatrical Sales, Zeitgeist Films), Brian Chirls (Four Eyed Monsters), Erik Davis (Managing Editor, Cinematical.com).

For a complete listing of films, events, and ticket information for the entire festival please visit www.bigapplefilmfestival.com.