Executive Producer Tim Robbins with Josh and Rebecca Tickell

Peter Fonda in Grand Isle

Special March screening, presented by FSU’s Torchlight Program Screening Series – the Florida Premiere of The Big Fix, Josh Tickell’s latest film.

The Tallahassee Film Festival, in conjunction with the Florida State College of Motion Picture Arts and The Torchlight Program, is proud to welcome Sundance-winning director Josh Tickell to Tallahassee for the Florida premiere of his latest film, The Big Fix.

Thursday, March 22 at 7:30pm
at the AMC Theatres Tallahassee 20

Free admission

The feature documentary, which had its world premiere at Cannes, explores the root causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, and uncovers a vast network of corruption connected with the disaster. The film features Peter Fonda and is executive produced by both Fonda and Tim Robbins.

Dustin writes, “’The Other’ is sort of a tough concept, but once you get it the whole thing sounds very simple. It is in reference to any time you felt like an outsider, or any story dealing with a time when anyone felt outside of the ‘in-group’. For example, one of the short films is about people who can’t smell, which is a subset of the population that is outside the ‘norm’ of people who can smell. So basically, it is any story about a moment when you were outside the norm or felt like an outsider, or it could also be a case when you are dealing with the outsider. Try to not say “the other” in the text though, because it is going to be a long film and I’m sure if they hear “the other” a million times it will get pretty annoying. If you do leave a message please leave me your contact information at 212-683-2490, so that I can put you in the credits for the film.

I also have more information about what I’m looking for on the website. If you participate, please leave your name because for this one I am going to need to get a signed waiver. I’ll need to put you in the credits of the film!

The deadline to have ‘The Other’ messages in the film is this Sunday, March 11, however, I’m still taking messages about anything and everything till the end of eternity! Thanks for everyone who has participated and has yet to participate! Call the hotline today, at 212-683-2490!”

Warmly,
Dustin Grella
PO Box 130095
New York, NY 10013
Hotline:  212-683-2490
www.dustingrella.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tallahassee Film Festival Board Chair Lou Armesto announced today that the board has contracted the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts to provide the artistic and creative direction for the festival, with the goal of producing national visibility for the young arts organization.

“It’s a natural,” Armesto said. “We have one of the top film schools in the world right here in our own backyard. It makes perfect sense to leverage the expertise of its faculty to help the local festival that we are so proud of gain more prominence in the film industry.”

Frank Patterson, dean of the College of Motion Picture Arts said the college will focus on the long-term goal of growing the festival into a nationally recognized event and the short-term goal of producing a rich, film-centered cultural event for local audiences.

To achieve the long-term goal, Patterson has turned to Paul Cohen, the executive director of the college’s Torchlight Program, to guide the future development of the festival. Cohen, a 30-year veteran of the independent motion picture industry and an executive who has created several successful distribution and production companies, also teaches current and emerging film industry business practices at Florida State.

“I am excited and very much looking forward to working with the board to cultivate new initiatives and resources to move this festival forward,” Cohen said.

As Cohen works behind the scenes to develop the festival’s national footprint, Film School industry liaison Brenda Mills will serve as the festival’s executive director and provide organizational leadership for the festival. Mills will work with community volunteers, including key leaders Chris Faupel and Staci Mellman, to orchestrate the annual events.

Now approaching its fifth year, the Tallahassee Film Festival began as an initiative of the Knight Creative Communities Institute, with the goal of drawing and retaining young professionals and sustaining the area’s high quality of life. Since it was established, the

festival has screened more than 300 films, including several international and award-winning features.

“This is great news for Tallahassee,” said Mike Pate, former publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper and an advisory board member of the Knight Creative Communities Institute. “The FSU-TFF agreement is a smart town-gown relationship, one that combines the knowledge and professional experience of the university with the local leadership and financial support of the community.”

Recently, the festival board reconstituted its membership with the goal of identifying leaders in the community who are both passionate about the arts and have the ability to donate and raise funds for the festival.

“That was the key to this whole deal,” Patterson said. “Without community leadership, the Film School can’t push the festival to the next level. Nothing would make us prouder than to deliver a top-notch arts event to our friends, neighbors and colleagues here in Tallahassee.”

About the Tallahassee Film Festival:
The Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose mission is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development; its vision is to make Tallahassee a nationally recognized film center. To those ends, it produces an annual festival and other year-round, film-related events. For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

About The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts
The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts is regarded as a top film school, described by the Hollywood Reporter as “one of the world’s best” and by the 2012 Fiske Guide to Colleges as “one of the top motion picture schools in the nation.” It has also been recognized by the Directors Guild of America for its “distinguished contribution to American culture through the world of film and television.” Florida State is renowned for the number of Student Oscar®, Emmy®, and notable national and international awards its students earn each year. The faculty is composed of award-winning industry experts with a combined 400-plus feature film credits who share a gift for teaching students the art, craft and business of storytelling in the motion picture industry.

“We have been working in conjunction with several local groups to not only pay tribute to a segment of African-American culture, but to highlight FAMU alumni and staff contributions to the entertainment field as we celebrate FAMU’s 125^th anniversary,” said Sharon Saunders, Executive Assistant for Communications at FAMU and Tribute to African-American Films Planning Committee Chair.  “We believe that we have movies and events the entire community will enjoy.”

“Our Mission at TFF is ‘to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development,’” said Lou Armesto, TFF Board Chair.  “This tribute accomplishes both by providing exceptional programming for our local community and attracting FAMU alumni back to Tallahassee and their alma mater.  That’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

The month-long film forum is full of valuable entertainment.  Scheduled events include, social events, informative lectures and career development opportunities such as:

• Red-carpet, advance screening of FAMU alumnus Will Packer’s upcoming film “Think Like a Man”,
• Writer’s workshop led by Gregory Anderson, President of Tri Destined Films,
• Lecture entitled “African-Americans and the Oscars: Decades of Struggle and Achievement”  by noted author & Professor Edward Mapp, whose collection of 1200+ black-cast movie posters resides in the Archives of the Motion Picture Academy,
• Screenings at All Saints Cinema of Alley Pat and Dare Not Walk Alone, with Producer/Editor Tom Roche in attendance for Q & A,
• Screening of the 1926 silent film, The Flying Ace, sponsored by the Museum of Florida History to coincide with their exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum entitled “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight”,
• Screening of two recently released films: Underground, by Akil Dupont, a Civil War period film brought to life through song, and Psychedelic Shack, a family comedy by FAMU’s own Professor Kenneth Jones,
• Matinee marathons each weekend at Lee Hall of many of America’s most notable African-American films including Cooley High, Do the Right Thing, The Emperor Jones, Eves Bayou, Glory, Imitation of Life, the Jackie Robinson Story, Stormy Weather, Sounder, Shaft, Super Fly.  Each movie will be introduced by a local film enthusiast or visiting filmmaker who will put that day’s line-up in context and share behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the movies and the historical period that influenced the creative team involved.  For added fun, attendees are encouraged by the FAMU Pan Hellenic Council to come to the marathons in a costume that suits the era of that day’s films, and finally
• Important panel-discussion scheduled for February 8th at Turner Auditorium on the TCC Campus, entitled “Succeeding in the Film Industry.”  The panelists include Anthony B. Major, former director/stage manager/actor and current Director of the Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies at the University of Central Florida; Lewis “Jiggs” Walker, Props Manager; Melvin Johnson, film and television Casting Drector; Valerie Scoon, Professor, former producer with Harpo Studios and current FSU College of Motion Picture Arts faculty member; Akil DuPont, a student Emmy-winning short film director/co-writer; Rosalind Stephenson, long-time, award-winning publicist; and Robert Stephenson, hair stylist for major motion pictures and personal stylist to Samuel L. Jackson.

Tickets will be available online beginning January 16, 2012 or at the door prior to each event.  For more information on ticket sales, sponsorships, a full schedule and more, visit www.famu.edu, www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com, www.tallahasseefilms.org or call (850) 599-3413.

The Remembrance Film Forum presents twelve shorts and feature films from around the world with talents such as Dustin Hoffman and Joan Allen. The focus and purpose of each of the weekends’ modules is to highlight a facet of this compelling topic and stimulate audiences not only through film, but also through open discussion including some special guest speakers and moderators.

Opening night at FSU’s Student Life Cinema, kicking off the forum in a bold manner under the theme “Finding A Masterpiece”, is The Rape of Europa, a mysterious and intriguing investigation into crimes of the art world by the Third Reich.  Additional modules in weeks that follow at the All Saints Theatre include “Children’s Stories,” of curious and courageous youngsters and “Women’s Stories,” that showcase their triumphs and impacts both during and beyond the Holocaust with a highlight of the evening being the live Q & A with Shanghai Ghetto survivor, Ellen Peyton. The module themed “The More Things Change…” pairs Our Rhineland, a short film about two sisters who face sterilization by the Nazis, with a feature documentary, The Rescuers, by a young African filmmaker, who compares and contrasts the genocide in his homeland of Darfur to the genocide in Nazi, Germany, which is universally recognized as the first act of genocide in modern times. These films serve not only as a tutorial, bringing little known facts to light in a new way, but also offer encouraging stories of sacrifice, survival and the human spirit overcoming adversity.

The closing night at the FSU Film School will start with a Champagne Reception and move to the film screening in a theatre normally closed to the public.  The night will conclude with a dynamic question and answer discussion led by Dr. Nathan Stolzfus, a Harvard graduate and associate professor at Florida State University, who is a world-renowned authority on 20^th century European history and the Holocaust. The question and answer format will tie the forum together with a talk about lessons learned from the past and the impact upon our community and society at large.

“We are very excited to screen these wonderful, powerful films for our local audiences and especially pleased the opportunity has resulted from this great community partnership,” said Lou Armesto, Board Chair, Tallahassee Film Festival. “There are stories that are lighthearted and inspiring and others that will leave you wide-eyed and in disbelief. There is truly something for everyone at The Remembrance Film Forum. We welcome everybody to come out and be as moved as we are by each of these films.  This event is another step towards TFF’s goal of offering year-round, quality programming that the public cannot afford to miss.”

For more information on speakers and social events, film synopses, the entire film schedule or to view admission prices and reserve tickets, go to www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com or www.holocaustresources.org. All proceeds benefit the Holocaust Education Resource Council and the Tallahassee Film Festival.

About the Tallahassee Film Festival: The mission of the Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development. The vision of the Tallahassee Film Festival is to establish Tallahassee as a major center of film culture. TFF is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation.  For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.