With The Avengers storming the world’s screens this past week, it’s no surprise that the reach of film is a topic of discussion for the BFI as they examine steps they can take to diversify and strengthen the British film industry. The lottery funding system will be utilized to invigorate different facets of film in order to wholly benefit non-mainstream film outside of London. £28.2million of the lottery funding will be put into film production, while £17million will be spent on education and £3million will go toward heritage and restoration.

Recounting the success of such British films as The King’s Speech shows that potential hits could use necessary funding to ensure that they get a fair chance at national success. But, apart from recognizing potentially successful films the BFI are focusing their efforts on talent which will benefit the industry long term.

With untapped talent seemingly only waiting for the resources to blossom, the BFI plan to utilized ther other funds not allotted to established filmmakers making films to educate their youth on film at a young age. Youth will be exposed to more film at an earlier stage in their education and will, hopefully, garner a liking to film which can grow into the future thus turning them into film enthusiasts (who will, then, spend money on film).

As well, the BFI will focus on nurturing youth who want to explore the arts by potentially creating a school or institute where those wanting to explore the arts can thrive and grow under the steady thumb of experienced professionals.

The push toward less mainstream film is one that we hope everyone can undertake in that there is much more to see than just another by-the-book action flick. Good on the British Film Institute and we hope for their success!

Given the recent press on such films as Bully, you’d be hard pressed to think they wouldn’t be at least a factor.

Unfortunately for presidents, whether already elected or in the running, the ghosts of the past can (and most likely will) come back in the most inconvenient and publicly defacing ways to squash their public image and/or their chances at the most coveted office in the United States (that, however, is in the eye of the beholder I suppose). Recent examples of this include Mitt Romney and his treatment of accusations of bullying during his years in high school.

In any non-political arena the ability for anyone to find basis for discussion out of an act committed over 45 years ago (apart from crimes punishable at the time, of course) is almost laughable but, unfortunately for Romney and anyone hoping to win a place in high office, those little things are exactly what end up in the spotlight – scrutinized to no end. Some, including director Lee Hirsch of the much-talked-about film Bully which explores the deaths of two grade school children whom were the victims of bullying, believe Romney may have taken a misstep in his nonchalant apology for ‘horsing around’ so to speak. Hirsch told Hollywood Reporter: “My hope is that he would recognise that we are past framing bullying as horseplay or pranking around. We need our leaders to call it as it is.

Part of that conversation is moving away from ‘kids will be kids.’” I’d think this counts as influencing the political arena, don’t you? Hirsch’s film has been drawing a maelstrom of controversy about it’s R rating via it’s unedited depictions of REAL bullying (which, surprise surprise, in this day and age includes a great deal of swearing and slurs). We’ve, as voters and purveyors of films, obviously taken notice to this and unbenounced to us may be forming opinions about our voting intentions from the opinions of an indie filmmaker and our own inferences.

How cool is that?!

It’s one thing to say that independent films approach real subjects in a way most blockbusters aren’t willing to for fear of small market values, but it’s another story to see the efforts of an independent filmmaker making real differences in our society. Hirsch, in that interview, was simply stating his beliefs but most would be hard-pressed to say he’s being dramatic given what he’s seen through the filming of his documentary.

Another good example of this type of documentary-turned-political-inference (say that three times fast) is the film Boogieman: The Lee Atwater Story. On the surface, the film is the story of Lee Atwater: a prominent figure in Republican campaigning and a strong force in the election of George Bush Sr. After watching, though, you’ll learn that politics is a complete art form involving factors of subtle manipulation as well as other tactics that must be subverted in order that candidates don’t seem to be screaming “I’m saying this so you’ll pick me” (though they obviously are, they’d be silly not to).

These are only a few examples; given the scope of independent film it’s easy to say there are infinitely more (perhaps less direct, but with underlying themes). And, whose to say filmmakers wouldn’t make great presidents too? We’re definitely on our way to office in our own way – telling the stories of America.

In Concrete Circus, Channel 4 brought together the world’s hottest names in urban sports, plus their extraordinarily talented, viral filmmakers, and paired them all with Mike Christie – the director of the critically acclaimed, globally successful documentary ‘Jump London’.

The feature length documentary brings together an extraordinary cast for the very first time: Danny MacAskill, Scottish Urban Trials rider extraordinaire; Kilian Martin, Spanish skateboarder (and his LA filmmaker Brett Novak); Parkour legends Paul ‘Blue’ Joseph, Phil ‘Professor Longhair’ Doyle and Mathieu Ledoux (working with director Claudiu Voicu); and Keelan Phillips, the amazing British BMX Flatlander.

Christie worked with both the ‘performers’ and their directors on four brand new, breath-taking and beautiful films. These films formed the centrepiece of the documentary and in a remarkable first, Christie brought the sports stars together in one space to create a breathtakingly choreographed sequence as the finalé of Concrete Circus.

Read on for the 411 on how the mind of this innovative skater works:

‘’There are thousands and thousands of skaters. You need to work outside of the box to be original.’’

‘Original’ is the perfect word to describe Kilian Martin. The 24-year-old has come a long way from the childhood gymnastic practices in his hometown of Madrid, which shaped him into one of the most innovative and talked-about freestyle skaters in the world today.

The Spaniard shot to fame over the past 18 months, appearing in British documentaries, ads for Lucozade and promotional vids for the fashion chain Man About Town, before signing for American company Powell-Peralta in August 2011.

In a stark contrast to the backgrounds of many other skaters, Martin started gymnastics at the age of 10 and took up surfing at a similar age. The centrality of Madrid had its limitations though, as it made practising the latter difficult and subsequently the youngster had to make do with the concrete that surrounded him, until moving to California at the age of 21. Nevertheless, Martin believes that the skills that gymnastics and surfing gave him aided his progression to becoming a pro skater. ‘’I put a lot of demand on myself. I get really determined to do tricks and both sports massively helped in my strength and balance.’’

‘’I was 16 when I started to skate. I had a friend who used to skate occasionally and one day he brought his board and let me have a try. I initially thought that skateboarding would improve my surfing skills and balance.’’ he recalls. However, he was soon addicted to the excitement of the sport: ‘’Later on, skateboarding started to mean much more to me. It was so fun that I kept skipping gymnastics classes to go and skate.’’

After becoming engrossed in his skateboarding adventures, Martin started seeking out skate videos, and was captivated by the invention that many skaters showed: ‘’When I saw the old Powell-Peralta videos, I found skaters like Kevin Harris, Per Welinder and Rodney Mullen doing things differently. It just looked so new to me, I was hooked. Anyone trying to be original inspired me.’’ This is a motto he lives by, effortlessly managing to incorporate similar imagination into his own skateboarding. His fluid style, technical ability and focus to the more detailed aspects of his tricks has lead Martin’s skateboarding being compared to Mullen’s, a man who is credited by most as the most innovative and influential individual in the history of skateboarding .

It could be argued that the recurring theme of spontaneity that runs through Martin’s skateboarding comes from the fact he grew up in Spain – a country not famed for its skateboarding – but whilst football and tennis continue to captivate the Spanish audiences, he insists that skateboarding is becoming more popular in his home country: ‘’The interest for skateboarding in Spain is growing.’’ He explains. ‘’It is getting a lot of attention compared to years before. New skate parks are being built and the scene is getting bigger. Everyone pretty much follows major sports but that’s good in the way you can feel more like an outsider.’’

He started to gain exposure with his video ‘A Skate Escalation’ – filmed in Barcelona and released in May 2010 – which has since gathered nearly 2.5 million hits on YouTube. The video is an exciting fusion of freestyle and street skating in which Martin effortlessly manages to create an incredible visual spectacle amongst the beautiful architectural surroundings of the Catalonian capital. This theme is continued in ‘A Skate Regeneration’ and ‘A Skate Illustration’ – his second and third releases respectively. His control over manuals and nose-manuals is painstakingly precise, his handstand flips are extraordinarily acrobatic and his penchant for innovation – including a primo slide which culminates in a transfer from one board to a one-foot double-board daffy…via a tree – is simply something you have never seen before.

Clips are slowed down to truly show the intricacy of that Martin is doing on the board and the delightful backdrops – from the beaches of Brighton and Hove to the urban jungle of the Pallasades Shopping Centre in Birmingham, England – promotes the idea that he is giving freestyle skateboarding a makeover, away from its old-school roots. All of this, coupled with the lo-fi soundtrack, creates a smooth, tranquil, atmospheric experience to match Martin’s style. This is partly courtesy of director Brett Novak – who Martin met at a skate contest in Inglewood, California in April 2009 – and who the Spaniard simply describes as: ‘’an artist, we have completely the same mindset.’’

Despite his three videos accumulating just over five million views – propelling him to worldwide skateboarding fame – Martin insists that the his satisfaction comes from being creative and riding his skateboard. ‘’The videos are getting a lot of exposure and it’s always great to hear about people who have been inspired by the videos and have since started skating or got back into it. I am just having so much fun, trying whatever my mind comes up with. People get to understand that skateboarding is all about enjoyment.’’

The first bit of television exposure for Martin came in the form of a Lucozade ad– which was aired in the UK in June 2011. This was followed in August by the critically acclaimed Channel 4 documentary ‘Concrete Circus’ – which showcased the talents of the Spaniard, as well as the unique skills of four other ‘urban athletes’. Later that month, in a bizarre twist of fate, he signed for Powell-Peralta. Former pro-skater and company owner Stacy Peralta went onto shower him with praise, saying: ‘’He is the most impressive skater I’ve seen in decades’’, whilst ex-Powell-Peralta skater Mike Vallely also weighed in with: ‘’Kilian Martin is the skater I’ve been waiting for, for over twenty years. He has gathered up his influences and inspirations, and then taking from the best of them, unchained himself from tradition and any social justification, completely reinterpreting skateboarding on his own terms.’’

That’s some serious props.

Martin is modest about the critical acclaim: ‘’It’s amazing and it all seems unreal at the moment. They are legends and I find it hard to believe that they are saying those things about me. I don’t really like to take myself too seriously and I feel like I have a lot to learn.’’

What does the future hold for Kilian Martin? ‘’More projects, more tricks…and more fun’’ he smiles. I can’t wait to witness the next instalment of his career.

You can see Kilian Martin in Concrete Circus, coming soon to the DVD and Digital stores of IndiePix Films! Stay tuned for more information on this and other releases this year.

The BFF is an international, competitive festival. BFF’s mission is to provide a public forum in Brooklyn in order to advance public interest in films and the independent production of films; to draw worldwide attention to Brooklyn as a center for cinema; to encourage the rights of all Brooklyn residents to access and experience the power of independent filmmaking, and to promote artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure. BFF, inc. is a not-for-profit organization.

This year’s BFF features a great spread of titles including the critically acclaimed feature Bucksville as well as the thrilling tale of a soldier and his passion, Rose, which opens the festival alongside Brooklyn Castle.

Check out the festival webpage for more information on this festival and to purchase tickets to any of the films!

A year ago independent filmmaker Terry Hancock was presented with a problem: how can you produce a free culture film with the full benefits of DVD or Blu-Ray without the hassle? From this, the initiative that has been dubbed Lib-Ray was formed: namely an open standard with all the benefits of DVD and Blu-Ray utilizing existing systems combined with newly written glue-code.

Without getting into too much detail it suffices to say that getting high quality out of the current standard is not IMPOSSIBLE but simply mind as well be given its hassle and difficulty.  But, Hancock is not reinventing the wheel (but more round) but rather making the wheel more slick and more appealing to people looking for wheels (to continue the metaphor).

Hancock has gone to Kickstarter in an effort to gain $19,000 which will both allow him the extensive amount of time it will take to create Lib-Ray as well as provide for backers of the initiative and costs of supplies such as CPUs/Motherboards and blank SDHC media.

Check out his Kickstarter pitch:

Hancock has 22 days left to raise a little under $10,000 to reach his goal. Visit the Kickstarter page and donate now to support ease and accessibility in high quality independent filmmaking!

Over a three-year period, award-winning filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf followed Chely’s struggle – some of which was recorded on private video diaries – and her unfolding plan to come out publicly. Using interviews with Chely, her family, key players in Nashville and her management team, the film goes deep into Chely’s back story as an established country music star and then forward in verite scenes as she prepares to step into the media glare to reveal that she is gay. Finally, the film chronicles the aftermath of that decision in Nashville, her hometown and within the LGBT community.

Wish Me Away shows both the devastation of her own internalized homophobia, which led to Chely putting a gun in her mouth, and the transformational power of living an authentic life. It shows the struggles of being a Christian who happens to be gay, even within her own family. And it reveals how “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has found its way into the culture of Nashville.

Wish Me Away will have it’s theatrical premiere in NYC June 01, 2012, 7:00 PM at Quad Cinema (34 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011). Spread the word and come out to support this film that comes at a time when the rights of the homosexual community are more significant than ever.

Click here for more information on purchasing tickets for opening night. And for more information on the film visit their webpage.

Don’t miss their opening night this Friday, where they will be showing a host of short films! The event is titled “This Is What We Mean By Shorts” with doors opening at 8:00 PM. You’ll have live music by Crinkles and an after party to look forward to also, so check it out tomorrow at 8!

About the films:

FOLLOW THE SUN (MK12 | USA | 4 min.)
A classic visit to the refreshment stand before we begin our mind-bending year of revolution.

#OCCUPY BAT SIGNAL FOR THE 99% (Mark Read | USA | 5 min.)
A call to action from the rooftops to the 99%.

MONTH ONE (Micheal Galinsky & Joanna Arnow | USA | 10 min.)
A dynamic and compelling overview of the Occupy Wall Street beginnings.

A MORNING STROLL (Grant Orchard | USA | 7 min.)
Unusual things are happening all around you, every day, forever.

A CHJÀNA (Jonas Carpignano | Italy, USA | 21 min.)
An intimate epic of race riots and liberation.

AARON BURR, PART 2 (Dana O’Keefe | USA | 8 min.)
An American revolutionary updates his place in history in this radically inventive and modern bio-pic.

MORE THAN WINNING (Nick Fox-Gieg | Toronto, Canada | 3 min.)
“They gave me a gun, a pick, and a hand grenade, and said ‘Win at any cost,’ and I said ‘Right.’ There’s nothing I love more than winning…” From a story by Susan Murray.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF JOHN BALDESSARI (Henry Joost | USA | 6 min.)
An American icon breaks down the nitty-gritty of his place in history in a dashing documentary narrated by Tom Waits.

MATTER FISHER (David Prosser | 8 min.)
A man goes out fishing. He should have taken a bigger boat.

9:21:25 (Jyoty Mistry | USA | 10 min.)
An extraordinary documentary about a South African entrepreneur who takes a ten-day trip into outer space and discovers a poetic nothingness that fills him with understanding.

For half a century, NYFF has been bringing the art of cinema to a wide audience and helping up-and-coming filmmakers make a name for themselves. If you think you have what it takes to join the ranks of Fassbinder, Godard, Almodóvar, and Scorsese, then submit your film for consideration to what’s sure to be the greatest New York Film Festival in history. Submissions can be done simply and digitally through Withoutabox.

Your film could join the ranks of countless classics that have played here at Film Society of Lincoln Center, including the select few we’ve been showing in our year-by-year retrospective of the 50 Years of the New York Film Festival. Who knows, they may be showing your film in another 50 years when they count down to our centennial celebration! Of course, the only way that can happen is if you submit, so act now before you miss your chance at making cinematic history!

For a complete list of rules, terms and conditions, click here.

Early Submission
May 4, 2012 to May 25, 2012
    $40, Shorts & Views from the Avant-Garde
    $50, Feature Films

Regular Submission
May 26, 2012 to June 22, 2012
    $60, Shorts & Views from the Avant-Garde
    $80, Feature Films

Late Submission
June 23 to July 15, 2012
    $80, Shorts & Views from the Avant-Garde
    $100, Feature Films

The two opening nights, one in Great Barrington and the other in Pittsfield, feature Ethel and Liberal Arts along with great programs around the film to celebrate the kickoff of the 2012 Berkshire Film Festival. Here’s more on the opening nights:

May 31 – GREAT BARRINGTON OPENING NIGHT FILM & FESTIVITIES

ETHEL

ETHEL, a feature-length documentary about the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy, told by those who know Ethel best: her family. Directed by her Emmy® Award-winning daughter, Rory Kennedy, the film features candid interviews with Ethel and seven of her children. The film is a personal portrait of Ethel’s political awakening, the life she shared with Robert F. Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised their 11 children on her own. Intimate, funny, and deeply moving, ETHEL offers a rare look inside a political dynasty strengthened by family bonds, a compassion for others, and a wisdom forged from both hardship and triumph.

Variety wrote,” a fine compilation of archival material, a homemovie writ large and a worthy reminder of what the Kennedys represented, politically and spiritually, during the era of Camelot. The still photos and footage of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, who took their passel of children everywhere — from Cape Cod to Hickory Hill to the Senate Hearing Room — speak to family values of a real, tangible sort that transcends politics and politicking. And in revisiting the catastrophes of the ’60s, ETHEL naturally pulls at the heartstrings.”The film is scheduled for release on HBO in the fall of 2012.
Members of the Kennedy family will be in attendance at the film and will hold a Q&A immediately following the film.

Opening night festivities include a cocktail party and light buffet supper for passholders catered by Max Ultimate Food of Boston at the Mason Library on Main Streetin Great Barrington. This evening is generously sponsored by Jacqueline andAl Togut. The festivities continue that evening with Berkshire Bateria to play at the top of Railroad Street beginning at 9:30 pm to celebrate opening night.

June 1 – PITTSFIELD OPENING NIGHT SCREENING & HIGHLIGHTS

LIBERAL ARTS

The Seventh Anniversary Celebration continues its’ expansion into Pittsfield and will kick-off at the Beacon Cinema on Friday, June 1st with the huge Sundance hit LIBERAL ARTS. This romantic comedy tells the story of whenthirty-something Jesse is invited back to his alma mater, he falls for a young 19-year-old college student and is faced with the powerful attraction that springs up between them. Directed and written by Josh Radnor, the film stars Zac Efron, Elizabeth Olson, and Josh Radnor.

The BIFF is proud to be presenting the 3rd annual successful Berkshire Bank’s the Next Great Filmmaker Award in support of the filmmakers of short film.The winner of the Berkshire Bank’s “Next Great Filmmaker Award” will also be announced at this event. The competition is voted on by the public and on Wednesday, April 25 by viewing the films on the BIFF website, www.biffma.org.

The 3rd Annual Next Great Filmmaker Award

Berkshire Bank, America’s Most Exciting BankSM, in collaboration with the Berkshire International Film Festival, has created The Next Great Filmmaker Award. This annual award is designed to encourage and support short filmmakers. CAST YOUR VOTE! Visit www.biffma.org now and cast your vote today! The film with the most online votes will be awarded a $2,500 CASH AWARD. Online voting ends on May 30, 2012. Just by voting, you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a new Apple iPad!

Opening night in Pittsfield will include a celebratory cocktail party in the lobby of the Berkshire Bank on West Street catered by Mission prior to the opening night presentation. The evening is generously sponsored by the Berkshire Bank and is open to passholders and ticket holders to the opening night film.

The Berkshire Film Festival kicks off May 31, 2012 and runs until June 03, 2012. For more information visit the festival webpage.