‘Yellow Face’ in Hollywood + Cruise and Streep: AFI FEST

“Yellow face” in Hollywood movies: Paul Muni is a Jewish-Austrian-Hungarian Chinese in The Good Earth. Today it’d have been simpler. Muni would have been merely a Jewish-Ukrainian Chinese.

Hollywood Chinese, Arthur Dong’s documentary about the portrayal of Chinese and Chinese-Americans in Hollywood films, will have its Los Angeles premiere at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the AFI FEST 2007, held at the ArcLight theater complex in Hollywood.

Recently nominated for a Golden Horse Award for best documentary, Hollywood Chinese features interviews with numerous Chinese and Chinese-American talent, in addition to veterans Turhan Bey (the Austrian-born actor – of Turkish-Czech ancestry – who played Chinese in the 1944 melodrama Dragon Seed, opposite the likes of Hollywood Chinese Katharine Hepburn, Walter Huston, Agnes Moorehead, Hurd Hatfield, and Aline MacMahon) and two-time Academy Award winner Luise Rainer (the Jewish-German actress who played Chinese – and won an Oscar for doing so – in the 1937 drama The Good Earth, opposite Paul Muni).

Schedule permitting, the following are expected to be present at the Hollywood Chinese screening: filmmaker Dong, Joan Chen, Tsai Chin, James Hong, Nancy Kwan, Justin Lin, Lisa Lu, Amy Tan, Mai Lon Gittlesohn and Marcella Wong-Yasuhiro (daughters of Violet Wong, star of the 1917 Chinese-American film The Curse of Quon Gwon), and James Leong, Jr. (son of James B. Leong, producer/writer of the 1921 film Lotus Blossom).

The post-screening panel discussion will be moderated by Randy Haberkamp, Director of Educational Programs at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Too bad Warner Oland isn’t around to discuss his experiences as Dr. Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan, or that Anna May Wong isn’t around to discuss her experiences as a second-rank player in the 1920s and 1930s, a time when Caucasian actresses were invariably cast as Chinese heroines.

Tickets for this and other AFI FEST events can be bought at www.afi.com or at 866.AFI.FEST (866.234.3378).

Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford at the AFI FEST 2007 Los Angeles premiere of Lions for Lambs at the ArcLight theater complex in Hollywood on Nov. 1, 2007. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Tom Cruise, Will Smith. Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images.

The Oscar-winning documentaries Witness to War: Dr. Charlie Clements (above), Broken Rainbow and Women – for America, for the World will be screened on Monday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Linwood Dunn Theater as the next installment of “Oscar’s Docs, Part Three: Academy Award-Winning Documentaries 1977–1988.”

In the 1985 Documentary Short Subject winner, Witness to War: Dr. Charlie Clements, decorated Vietnam War pilot Charlie Clements gives up his military career to devote himself to healing and non-violent solutions in war-torn El Salvador. Director Deborah Shaffer and Dr. Charlie Clements will take part in a post-screening discussion.

Producer Maria Florio and producer-director Victoria Mudd will be on hand to discuss Broken Rainbow, the 1985 Documentary Feature winner, which, as per the Academy’s press release, presents a “scathing indictment” of the treatment of Native Americans during the 1970s and early 1980s.

The 1986 Documentary Short Subject winner, Women – for America, for the World, features “22 prominent American women sharing their practical, compassionate views on the need to end the arms race and reassess national priorities.” Among the interviewees are Joanne Woodward, Patricia Schroeder, Allene Cottier, Ellen Goodman, and Geraldine Ferraro. Producer-director Vivienne Verdon-Roe will take part in a post-screening discussion.

“Oscar’s Docs” is a comprehensive screening series of every short subject and feature to win the Academy Award for documentary filmmaking since the category was established in 1941.

The retrospective will present the best available prints, often featuring newly struck or restored editions from the documentary collection of the Academy Film Archive. The series will continue each Monday evening through November 19 and will be complemented on many nights by onstage discussions with the filmmakers (schedules permitting).

Tickets to “Oscar’s Docs” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood. Free parking is available through the entrance on Homewood Avenue (one block north of Fountain Avenue). For additional information, visit www.oscars.org/events or call (310) 247-3600.

Photos: Courtesy of Skylight Pictures (Witness to War: Dr. Charlie Clements), Earthworks Films (Broken Rainbow), Educational Film and Video Project (Women – for America, for the World)

Edna Purviance Walk of Fame petition

“It is not an easy task with so many stars nominated each year. The cost is also high at $15,000 for a star on the Walk of Fame. But names need to be gathered to show interest in the project, as well.”

The above quote was taken from ednapurviance.org, a site dedicated to, well, Edna Purviance.

On the site, there’s a petition requesting the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to grant Edna Purviance a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sure, why not, you say – but who is Edna Purviance (pronounced pur-VEYE-ance)?

Edna Purviance was Charles Chaplin’s leading lady in numerous shorts, and his star in A Woman of Paris, a 1923 drama he directed. Purviance is, in fact, quite good in the film, in which she plays a sweet young thing who ends up as the mistress of a wealthy Parisian.

Caramel with Nadine Labaki.

Nadine Labaki ‘Caramel’: AFI FEST highlights

Los Angeles’ AFI FEST 2007 is currently being held at the ArcLight Theater complex in Hollywood. Saturday, November 3, highlights include Nadine Labaki’s romantic comedy Caramel, Noah Baumbach’s dysfunctional family tale Margot at the Wedding, and Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d’Or winner 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days. (Image: Nadine Labaki in Caramel.)

At 12:45 p.m., Never Apologize: A Personal Visit with Lindsay Anderson is Mike Kaplan’s documentary about the director of This Sporting Life (1963), which earned Academy Award nominations for Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts; If…. (1968), possibly the best movie ever made with a school setting; and O Lucky Man! (1973), starring a post-A Clockwork Orange Malcolm McDowell. Never Apologize: A Personal Visit with Lindsay Anderson‘s archival footage features the likes of Laurence Olivier, Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, and Alan Bates, among others.

‘Caramel’ movie & Cannes winner ‘4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days’

At 3:45 p.m., Caramel is Nadine Labaki’s romantic comedy about five female Beirut denizens (including Labaki herself). Lebanon’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, Caramel has won both the Audience and the Youth awards at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

At 6:45 p.m., 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days is Cristian Mungiu’s stark drama about a young woman trying to have an (illegal) abortion in Communist Romania. Mungiu’s film won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

At 7 p.m., Margot at the Wedding is Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama about two sisters, one of whom is getting married. Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jack Black star.

‘The Band’s Visit’ & Wayne Wang drama

At 7:15 p.m., The Band’s Visit is Eran Kolirin’s widely praised comedy-drama about a troupe of Egyptian musicians who find themselves stranded in a small Israeli town. The top winner at this year’s Israeli Academy Awards, The Band’s Visit was deemed ineligible for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar because more than 50 percent of its dialogue is in English.

At 10:45 p.m., A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is Wayne Wang’s family drama about a Chinese widower’s difficult relationship with his daughter living in the United States. Wayne’s film won the Golden Shell at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

Nadine Labaki Caramel photo: AFI FEST.

AFI FEST – African Showcase

CLOUDS OVER CONAKRY (IL VA PLEUVOIR SUR CONAKRY) Cast: Alex Ogou, Moussa Keita, Tella Kpomahou DIR: Cheick Fantamady Camara PROD: Annabel Thomas Majama Camera. Guinea, France.

FARO – GODDESS OF THE WATERS (FARO – LA REINE DES EAUX) Cast: Sotigui Kouvate, Fili Traore, Michel Mpambara DIR: Salif Traore PROD: Philippe Quinsac, Daniel Morin, Barbel Mucch, Salif Traore, Ismael Oueadrog Mali, France, Canada, Germany, Burkina Faso.

NOSALTRES (Documentary) DIR: Moussa Toure. Senegal.

WELCOME TO NOLLYWOOD (Documentary) DIR: Jamie Meltzer PROD: Cayce Lindner, Henry S. Rosenthal. USA, Nigeria.

AFI FEST 2007 – American Showcase

AMERICAN FORK Cast: Hubbel Palmer, Mary Lynn Rajskub, William Baldwin, Kathleen Quinlan DIR: Chris Bowman PROD: Derek Beumer, Maya Browne, Jeremy Coon, Shannon Gardner EXEC PROD: Derek Ferguson USA

EXPIRED Cast: Samantha Morton, Jason Patric, Teri Garr, Illeana Douglas DIR: Cecilia Miniucchi PROD: Jeffrey Coulter, Fred Roos EXEC PROD: Alex Shing, Antoni Stutz, Lawrence Wang USA

IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS Cast: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire, Katy Luong, Twink Caplan, Nic Harcourt DIR: Alex Holdridge PROD: Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy EXEC PROD: Anne Walker-McBay USA

THE LIVING WAKE Cast: Mike O’Connell, Jesse Eisenberg, Jim Gaffigan DIR: Sol Tryon PROD: Ami Ankin, Chadwick Clough, Peter Kline, Mike O’Connell, Sol Tryon EXEC PROD: Robert Bethge USA

LOOK Cast: Jamie McShane, Spencer Redford, Hayes McArthur, Nichelle Hines, Ben Weber, Paul Schackman DIR: Adam Rifkin PROD: Barry Schuler, Brad Wyman EXEC PROD: Richard Bishop, Donald Kushner USA

NOISE Cast: Tim Robbins, Bridget Moynahan, William Hurt DIR: Henry Bean PROD: Henry Bean, Susan Hoffman, Meike Kornrumpf EXEC PROD: Paul de Souza, Daniel Diamond USA

ON THE ROAD WITH JUDAS Cast: Aaron Ruell, Kevin Corrigan, Eddie Kaye Thomas DIR: J.. Lask PROD: Ronan P. Nagle, Amy Slotnick USA

SEARCHERS 2.0 Cast: Del Zamora, Ed Pansullo, Jaclyn Jonet, Sy Richardson DIR: Alex Cox PROD: Jon Davison, Darren Hicks, Simon Tams. USA

SMILEY FACE Cast: Anna Faris, Adam Brody, John Krasinski, Danny Masterson, John Cho, Jane Lynch, Marion Ross, Danny Trejo DIR: Gregg Araki PROD: Gregg Araki, Steve Golin, Alix Madigin, Kevin Turen, Henry Winterstern EXEC PROD: Thomas Becker, H. Jason Beck, Stuart Burkin, Jors Westerkamp. USA

AFI FEST Line-Up

Featuring the likes of Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, John Sayles, Wayne Wang, John Landis, Laura Linney, Ellen Page, Jason Reitman, Javier Bardem, the voices of Catherine Deneuve and Danielle Darrieux (in Persepolis), and veterans Nancy Kwan, Turhan Bey, and Luise Rainer (all three in the documentary Hollywood Chinese), Los Angeles’ AFI FEST 2007 will be held November 1-11, 2007, at the ArcLight Hollywood cinema complex. Additional special screenings and events will take place at the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences’ Linwood Dunn theater, a couple of blocks down the street from the ArcLight.

Opening Night Gala – LIONS FOR LAMBS (North American Premiere). Cast: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Andrew Garfield, Peter Berg, Michael Peña, Kevin Dunn, Derek Luke. DIR Robert Redford PROD Daniel Lupi, Robert Redford, Andrew Hauptman, Tracy Falco, Matthew Michael Carnahan. USA

Centerpiece Gala – JUNO. Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Rainn Wilson. DIR Jason Reitman PROD Lianne Halfan, John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Mason Novick, Matthew Michael Carnahan. USA

Closing Night Gala – LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA (North American Premiere). Cast: Javier Bardem, Benjamin Bratt, Liev Schreiber, Laura Harring, Catalina Sandino Moreno. DIR Mike Newell PROD Scott Steindorff. USA

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (LE SCAPHANDRE ET LE PAPILLON). Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Anne Consigny, Marie-Josée Croze, Max von Sydow, Marina Hands, Emma De Caunes. DIR: Julian Schnabel PROD: Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Klik. EXEC PROD: Pierre Grunstein, Jim Lemley. USA

HOLLYWOOD CHINESE (Documentary) Featuring: Turhan Bey, Joan Chen, Tsai Chin, Luise Rainer, Nancy Kwan, Ang Lee, Christopher Lee, James Shigeta, Amy Tan, Wayne Wang DIR: Arthur Dong PROD: Arthur Dong. USA

HONEYDRIPPER. Cast: Danny Glover, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Yaya DaCosta, Charles S. Dutton, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Gary Clark Jr.. DIR: John Sayles PROD: Maggie Renzi. USA

LIGHT WORK MOOD DISORDER & HE WALKED AWAY DIR: Jennifer Reeves PROD: Jennifer Reeves USA

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Turturro, Jack Black, Ciaran Hinds, Zane Pais. DIR: Noah Baumbach PROD: Scott Rudin. USA

MR. WARMTH (Documentary) Featuring: Don Rickles, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Robin Williams, Sidney Poitier, Chris Rock. DIR: John Landis PROD: Larry Rickles, Mike Richardson, John Landis, Robert E Engelman. USA

PERSEPOLIS Voices: Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux DIR: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paranound. PROD: Marck-Antoine Robert, Xavier Rigault, Kathleen Kennedy. France

PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA. Cast: Ling Li, Pamelyn Chee, Brian Danforth, Patrice Binaisa. DIR: Wayne Wang PROD: Yukie Kito, Donald Young. EXEC PROD: Yasushi Kotani, Taizo Son, Stephen Gong. USA

THE SAVAGES. Cast: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco. DIR: Tamara Jenkins PROD: Ted Hope, Anne Carey, Erica Westheimer. EXEC PROD: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke, Anthony Bregman, Fred Westheimer. USA

SOUTHLAND TALES. Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Kevin Smith, Miranda Richardson, Will Sasso, Jon Lovitz. DIR: Richard Kelly PROD: Bo Hyde, Sean McKittrick, Kendall Morgan, Matthew Rhodes. EXEC PROD: Oliver Hengst, Katarina Hyde, Bill Johnson, Ernst August Schneider, Jim Seibel, Judd Payne. USA

A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS. Cast: Henry O, Faye Yu, Vida Ghahremani, Pasha Lychnikoff. DIR: Wayne Wang PROD: Yukie Kito, Patrick Lindenmaier, Rich Cowan. EXEC PROD: Yasushi Katami, Taizo Su, Jooick Lee. USA

Robert Redford’s Lions for Lambs with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nicole Kidman in Margot at the Wedding photos: AFI FEST 2007.

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION

THE ART OF NEGATIVE THINKING (KUNSTEN A TENKE NEGATIVT) Cast: Fridtjov Saheim, Kjersti Holmen, Henrik Mestad DIR: Bard Breien PROD: Dag Alveberg. Norway

AUTUMN BALL Cast: Rain Tolk, Taavi Eeimaa, Sulevi Peitola DIR: Vieko Ounpuu PROD: Katrin Kissa. Estonia

CHOP SHOP Cast: Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Rob Sowulski DIR: Ramin Bahrani PROD: Lisa Muskat, Marc Turtletaub, Jeb Brody. USA

CONTINENTAL, A FILM WITHOUT GUNS (CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL) Cast: Réal Bossé, Marie-Ginette Guay, Fanny Mallette DIR: Stéphane Lafleur PROD: Kim McCraw, Luc Dery. Canada

ELVIS PELVIS Cast: Geoffrey Burton, Tony Cealy, Laura Crowe DIR: Kevin Aduaka PROD: Kevin Aduaka, Nadja Romain. France/UK

FUNUKE SHOW SOME LOVE, YOU LOSERS (FUNUKEDOMO, KANASHIMI NO AI WO MISERO) Cast: Erikio Sato, Aimi Satsukawa, Hiromi Nagasaku DIR: Daihachi Yoshida PROD: Shuji Kakimoto. Japan

THE MUGGER (EL ASALTANTE) Cast: Guillermo Arengo, German de Silva, Arturo Goetz DIR: Pablo Fendrik EXEC PROD: Juan Pablo Gugliotta. Argentina

MUNYURANGABO Cast: Jeff Rutagengwa, Eric Ndorunkundiye, Jean Marie Vianney Nkurikiyinka DIR: Lee Isaac Chung PROD: Lee Isaac Chung EXEC PROD Han Gil Chung, Robert Liang, Alex Hsiong Chu.Rwanda/USA

SOLOS Cast: Loo Zihan, Goh Guat Kian, Lim Yu-Beng DIR: Loo Zihan, Kan Lume PROD: Gerald Herman, Florence Ang EXEC PROD Ricardo Uncilla. Singapore

USED PARTS (PARTES USADAS) Cast: Eduardo Granados, Alan Chavez, Carlos Ceja DIR: Aaron Fernandez PROD: Aaron Fernandez, Martezu Mohammadi. Mexico/France

WITH YOUR PERMISSION (TIL DODEN OS SKILLER) Cast: Lars Brygmann, Sidse Babett, Knudsen, Rasmus Bjerg DIR: Paprika Steen PROD: Leila Vestgaard, Thomas Heinesen EXEC PROD Kim Magnusson, Tivi Magnussori. Denmark

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (4 LUNI 3 SAPTAMINI SI 2 ZILE). DIR: Cristian Mungiu PROD: Oleg Mutu, Mihaela Poenaru EXEC PROD: Florentina Onea. Romania

ALEXANDRA. DIR: NICHOLAS KAISER PROD: ANDREJ SIGLE Russia

THE BAND’S VISIT (BIKUR KATIZMORET). DIR: Eran Kolirin PROD: Eilon Ratzkovsky, Ehud Bleiberg, Yossi Uzrad, Koby Gal-Raday, Guy Jacoel. Israel

BLIND MOUNTAIN (MANG SHAN). DIR: Li Yang PROD: Li Yang EXEC PROD: Alexandra Sun, Li Shan, Li Hua China

CARAMEL Cast: Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Masri, Joanna Moukarzel, Gisele Aouad, Adel Karam, Sihame Haddad, Aziza Semaan, Fatme Safa, Dimtri Stancofski, Fadia Stella, Ismail Antar. DIR: Nadine Labaki PROD: Anne-Dominique Toussant. Lebanon/France

THE COUNTERFEITERS (DIE FALSCHER) Cast: Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach, August Zirner. DIR: Stefan Ruzowitzky PROD: Josef Aichholzer, Nina Bohlmann, Babette Schroder. Austria/Germany

DOGHEAD (CABEZA DE PERRO). DIR: Santi Amodeo PROD: Santi Amodeo. Spain

THE DUCHESS OF LANGEAIS. DIR: Jacques Rivette PROD: Martine Marignac, Maurice Tinchant. France

THE FLIGHT OF THE RED BALLOON / LE VOYAGE DU BALLOON ROUGE Cast: Juliette Binoche, Simon Iteanu, Song Fang, Hippolyte Girardot, Louise Margolin. DIR: Hou Hsiao-hsien PROD: François Margolin, Kristina Larsen. Taiwan/France

IRINA PALM Cast: Marianne Faithfull, Jenny Agutter, Miki Manojlovic, Kevin Bishop, Sioghan Hewlett, Dorka Gryllus.. DIR: Sam Garbarski PROD: Sebastien Dellove. USA

JELLYFISH / MEDUZOT Cast: Sarah Adler, Nikol Leidman, Gera Sandler, Noa Knoller, Ma-nenita De Latorre, ilanit Ben Yaakov, Zharira Charifai. DIR: Etgar Keret, Shira Geffen PROD: Amir Harel, Avelet Kuit, Yael Fogiel, Laetitia Gonzalez. Israel

THE LAST MISTRESS (UNE VIEILLE MAITRESSE) Cast: Asia Argento, Fu’ad Aït Aattou, Roxane Mesquida, Yolande Moreau, Claude Sarraute. DIR: Catherine Breillat PROD: Jean-François Lepetit. France

LUCKY MILES Cast: Kenneth Moraleda, Rodney Afif, Srisacd Sacdpraseuth, Glenn Shea, Sean Mununggurr, Sawung Jabo, Arif Hidayat, Don Hany. DIR: Michael James Rowland PROD: Jo Dyer, Lesley Dyer, Geoff Burton EXEC PROD: Michael Bouchier. Australia

MAD DETECTIVE Cast: Lau Ching-wan, Andy On, Lee Kwon Lun, Lam Ka Tung. DIR: Johnnie To PROD: Ka-Fai Wai Hong Kong/China

NIGHT TRAIN Cast: Liu Dan, Qi Dao, Xu Wei, Wu Yuxi, Wang Zhenijia, Mena Haivan. DIR: Yinan Diao PROD: Vivian Qu, Steve Chow CO PROD Natacha Devillers, Julien Fayre, Luca Matrundola, Pascal Vaguelsy EXEC PROD: Shu Yao, Yinghua Lu, Sean Chen. China

PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS Cast: Purba Royal, Zomskvid, Dobrgyal, Sonamdolgar, Trashi, Lobzangchopel. DIR: Sherwood Hu EXEC PROD: Xu Pengle, Dong Suming, Deng Hong, Caizhi PROD Sherwood Hu, Yin Jianhua. China

SECRET SUNSHINE (MILYANG) Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Song Kang-ho, Seon Jeong-yeob. DIR: Chang Dong Lee PROD: Yong-kyou Cho EXEC PROD: Kim In-su, Lee Changdong. South Korea

THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS Cast: Ellen Page, Ari Cohen. DIR: Bruce McDonald PROD: Sarah Timmins EXEC PROD Paul Barkin. Canada

Catherine Breillat’s The Last Mistress photo: AFI FEST 2007.

1000 JOURNALS DIR: Andrea Kreuzhage PROD: Andrea Kreuzhage USA/Germany

AFGHAN MUSCLES DIR: Andreas Mol Dalsgaard PROD: Jesper Morthorst, Michael Haslund-Christensen. Denmark

ATENCO, A CRIME OF STATE (ATENCO, UN CRIMEN DE ESTADO) DIR: Klamve Colectivo Mexico

CHRIS & DON. A LOVE STORY Cast: DIR: Guido Santi, Tina Mascara PROD: Julia Scott, Tina Mascara, Guido Santi, James White. USA

HECKLER Featuring: Jamie Kennedy, Louie Anderson, Bill Maher, Jewel Kilcher, Patton Oswalt, Eli Roth, David Cross, George Lucas, Mike Ditka, Rob Zombie. DIR: Michael Addis PROD: Michael Addis, Jamie Kennedy. USA

OPERATION FILMMAKER Featuring: Liev Schreiber, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson DIR: Nina Davenport PROD: Nina Davenport, David Schisgall. USA

ORANGE REVOLUTION DIR: Steve York PROD: Steve York EXEC PROD Peter Ackerman. USA

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME DIR: Weijun Chen PROD: Don Edkins. China

PUBLIC ENEMY: WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME Featuring: Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, The Beastie Boys, Tom Morello, Henry Rollins DIR: Robert Patton-Spruill PROD: Walter Leaphart Jr, Lathan Hodge. USA

THE QUEST FOR THE MISSING PIECE (BEHIKVOT AHATIHA AHASERA) DIR: Oded Lotan PROD: Claudia Levin. Israel

SIGUR ROS – HEIMA DIR: Dean de Blois PROD: Dean O’Connor, John Best. Iceland

THE UNFORESEEN DIR: Laura Dunn PROD: Laura Dunn, Douglas Sewell, Jef Sewell, William Warren. USA

BIG RIG DIR: Doug Pray PROD: Brad Blondheim USA

BODY OF WAR DIR: Ellen Spiro, Phil Donahue EXEC PROD: Phil Donahue CO-PROD: Karen Bernstein USA

CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO DIR: Matthew Ogens PROD: Matthew Ogens, Jamie Patricof, Charles Gruet USA

LYNCH Featuring: David Lynch DIR: blackANDwhite EXEC PROD: Rips Penderis, Ole Johan Roska, Matt Semi PROD: Soren Larsen, Brynn McQuade, Jon Nguyen, Jason S. USA

THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS: VAL LEWTON. DIR/SCR: Kent Jones PROD: Martin Scorsese, Margaret Bodde EXEC PROD: TNT Tom Brown USA

NEVER APOLOGIZE: A PERSONAL VISIT WITH LINDSAY ANDERSON Featuring: Malcolm McDowell DIR: Mike Kaplan PROD: Mike Kaplan, Malcolm McDowell, Peter Crane USA

PIERRE RISSIENT: MAN OF CINEMA Featuring: Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Werner Herzog, Abbas Kiarostami, Bertrand Tavernier, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Claude Chabrol. DIR/PROD: Todd McCarthy USA

SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY Featuring: John Waters, John Landis, Joe Dante DIR: Jeffrey Schwartz PROD: Jeffrey Schwartz. USA

STEEP. DIR/SCR: Mark Obenhaus EXEC PROD: J. Stuart Horsfall, Mark Obenhaus, Tom Yellin PROD: Jordan Kronick, Gabrielle Tenenbaum USA

Bodybuilder showing off his arms in Afghan Muscles, David Lynch showing off his hair in Lynch: AFI FEST 2007.’Sakuran,’ Tilda Swinton: Los Angeles’ AFI FEST 2007 Dark Horizons (image: Anna Tsuchiya in ‘Sakuran’)

ECHO (EKKO). Cast: Kim Bodnia, Villads Milthers Fritsche, Stine Fischer Christensen DIR: Andres Morgenthaler PROD: Sarita Christensen CO PROD: Louise Vesth, Marie Gade. Denmark

POP SKULL. Cast: Lane Hughes, Brandon Carrol, Hanna Hughes, Maggie Henry, L.C. Holt DIR: Adam Wingard PROD: Adam Wingard, E.L. Katz, Lane Hughes. USA

SAKURAN. Cast: Anna Tsuchiya, Kippei Shina, Hiroki Narimiya, Yoshino Kimura DIR: Mika Ninagawa PROD: Masao Teshima, Mitsuru Uda, Yoshinori Fujita. Japan

STRANGE CULTURE (Documentary). Cast: Tilda Swinton Peter Coyote. DIR: Lynn Hershman Leeson PROD: Lynn Hershman Leeson, Lise Swenson, Steven Beer. USA

VIVA. Cast: Anna Biller, Jared Sanford, Bridget Brno, Chad England DIR: Anna Biller PROD: Anna Biller. USA

THE AERIAL (LA ANTENA). Cast: Rafael Ferro, Florencia Raggi, Alejandro Urdapilleta DIR: Esteban Sapir ASST PROD: Juan Aguirre, Frederico Rotstein. Argentina

CYRANO FERNANDEZ. Cast: Edgar Ramírez DIR: Alberto Arvelo Venezuela, Spain

DEFICIT. Cast: Gael García Bernal, Luz Cipriota, Tenouch Huerta Mejia, Camila Sodi DIR: Gael Garcia Bernal PROD: Pablo Cruz, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Luciana Kaplan. Mexico

HAPPY DESERT (DESERTO FELIZ). Cast: Nash Laila, Peter Ketnath, Hermila Guedes DIR: Paulo Caldas PROD: Germano Coelho EXEC PROD: Fernando Zagallo. Brazil, Germany

IT’S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN’T DIE (MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA). Cast: Mauricio Isaac, Dagoberto Gama, Gabriela Roel DIR: Sergio Umansky EXEC PROD: Maite Arguellas, Carlos Morales. Mexico

MANUELA AND MANUEL (MANUELA Y MANUEL). Cast: Humbert Busto, Elena Iguina, Luz Maria Rondon DIR: Raul Marchand PROD: Frances Luusell Diaz. Puerto Rico

SILENT LIGHT (STELLET LICHT). Cast: Cornelio Well Fehr, Miriam Toews, Maria Pankratz DIR: Carlos Reygadas PROD: Jaime Romandia, Carlos Reygadas. Mexico, France

THE YEAR OF THE NAIL (ANO UNA). Cast: Diego Catana, Eireann Harper, Salvador Elizondo, Michele Alban DIR: Jonas Cuarón PROD: Alfonso Cuarón, Jonas Cuarón, Eireann Harper, Frida Torresblanco. Mexico

Sakuran, gender-bending movie Manuela y Manuel images: AFI FEST 2007.

Shorts Program One:

DEAR BILL GATES. Director: Sarah J. Christman, USA

GOD PROVIDES (Documentary). Director: Brian M. Cassidy, USA, Canada

KIDS + MONEY (Documentary). Director: Lauren Greenfield USA

NAKED (NAAKT). Director: Albert Jan van Rees, Holland

ONE DAY ACROSS THE VALLEY. Director: Andrea Giacomini, USA

OUSMANE. Director: Gaye Dyana Senegal, France

ROCK POCKETS. Director: Trevor Anderson, Canada

SURGERY (CIRUGOA). Director: Alberto Gonzalez, Spain

Shorts Program Two:

AFTERMATH ON MEADOWLARK LANE. Director: David and Nathan Zellner USA

EMERGENCY NEEDS. Director: Kevin Everson, USA

LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT KENNEDY STARRING GARY COOPER. Director: Aaron Valdez, USA

SALIVA. Director: Esmir Filho, Brazil

SOUTH CENTRAL FARM: OASIS IN A CONCRETE DESERT (Documentary) Featuring: Daryl Hannah, Martin Sheen, James Cromwell. Director: Sheila Laffey USA

THE TRAGIC STORY OF NLING. Director: Jeffrey St. Jules Canada

UNTITLED #2. Director: Valerie Brewer USA

WHITE MAN IN A BLACK BOX (HOMME BLANC DANS UNE BOITE NOIRE). Director: Jerome Jourlait Namibia-France

Shorts Program Three:

BABY. Director: Hester Scheurwater Netherlands

BITCH. Director: Lilah Vandenburgh USA

H.R. GIGER’S SANCTUARY (Documentary) Featuring: H.R. Giger. Director: Nick Brandestini, Steve Ellington Switzerland

THE HUNTER Cast: Larry Fessenden. Director: Benjamin Gray USA

MACHINE (MAQUINA). Director: Gabe Ibanez Spain

THE MARK. Director: Thomas Barndt USA

MOMENT DE GLOIRE. Director: Hendrik Moonen Belgium

SPIDER. Director: Nash Edgerton Australia

Shorts Program Four:

ALICE SEES THE LIGHT. Director: Ariana Gerstein USA

BLACK AND WHITE TRYPPS NUMBER THREE. Director: Ben Russell USA

FEATHERS TO THE SKY. Director: Leonardo Ricagni Uruguay

GLASS, CONCRETE AND STONE (Documentary). Director: Douglas Nicholas USA

METALOSIS MALIGNA. Director: Floris Kaayk

OLDEASTSIDE. Director: Khavn Philippines

PSYCHO HILLBILLY CABIN MASSACRE!. Director: Robert Cosnahan USA

WATCHING IT RAIN (VER LLOVER). Director: Elisa Miller Mexico

Shorts Program Animation:

DESTINY MANIFESTO. Director: Martha Colburn USA

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. Director: Don Hertzfeldt USA

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD Voices: Ian McKellen, Steve Coogan. Director: Joe Tucker UK

I MET THE WALRUS. Director: Josh Raskin Canada

KEY LIME PIE. Director: Trevor Jimenez Canada

M’APPELLE. Director: Javier Mrad Argentina

MY BIODEGRADABLE HEART. Director: Dana Adam Shapiro USA

ONE DEVIL AND HIS DOG. Director: Tony Clarke

SHUTEYE HOTEL. Director: Bill Plympton USA

t.o.m. Director: Tom Brown, Daniel Gray UK

TOWER BAWHER. Director: Theodore Ushev Canada

YOURS TRULY. Director: Osbert Parker UK

Dear Bill Gates movie photo: AFI FEST.

American Film Market movies

The 28th American Film Market (AFM), which takes off today, will screen a total of 522 films in the next seven days in Santa Monica, Calif. Billed as “the largest motion picture trade event in the world,” AFM 2007 will serve as the launching pad for 106 industry world premieres and 364 market premieres.

Among the films making their industry world premieres are: Carnera, starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham and Paul Sorvino (Epic Pictures Group); Flick, with Academy Award winner Faye Dunaway (AV Pictures Ltd.); Mad Money, starring Katie Holmes, Academy Award winner Diane Keaton, and Queen Latifah (Nu Image, Inc.); Sanjuro, written by the late Akira Kurosawa (Toho Co., Ltd.); Smart People, with Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Dennis Quaid (QED International); Tales of the Riverbank, starring Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent and Stephen Fry (Handmade Films International); and The Neighbor, with Matthew Modine (Curb Entertainment International Corp.).

Among the other films on the AFM 2007 screening schedule are All Gods Children Can Dance, starring Joan Chen (Kimmel International); Anamorph, with Willem Dafoe (Mainline Releasing); Battle in Seattle, with Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson and Ray Liotta; Julian Schnabels Berlin, with Lou Reed (Fortissimo Film Sales); Bill, starring Jessica Alba, Aaron Eckhart, and Timothy Olyphant (GreeneStreet Films); Blood Brothers from producer John Woo (Fortissimo Film Sales); Death Defying Acts, starring Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Myriad Pictures); Disengagement, with Juliette Binoche (StudioCanal); Eichmann, with Stephen Fry (Media 8 Entertainment); Fog City Mavericks, featuring Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood and George Lucas (Starz Media); George A. Romeros Diary of the Dead (Voltage Pictures); Lars and the Real Girl, starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, and Patricia Clarkson (Kimmel International); Married Life, with Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Cooper and Rachel McAdams (Kimmel International); Nobel Son, featuring Ted Danson, Danny De Vito, Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, and Mary Steenburgen (Voltage Pictures); Purple Violets, starring Edward Burns and Debra Messing (Showcase Entertainment, Inc.); Resurrecting the Champ, with Alan Alda, Josh Hartnett, and Samuel L. Jackson (Yari Film Group); and When a Man Falls in the Forest, starring Timothy Hutton and Sharon Stone (Rigel Entertainment).

The screening schedule and a full list of films available during AFM can be found in the AFM Catalogue of Films (www.afmfilms.org). Visitors to the site can search films by genre, language, production status, budget, director, cast, company, and title.

According to the AFM press release, “unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed on both completed films and those that havent started shooting yet making AFM the must-attend industry event.”

The American Film Market is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), a trade association representing the worlds producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs.

AFI FEST 2007 – Milestones

FAAT KINE (2000) (Ousmane Sembene)

THE PASSENGER (1975) (Michelangelo Antonioni)

SHAME (SKAMMEN) (1968) (Ingmar Bergman)

TERRORIZER (KONGBU FENZI) (1986) (Ed Yang)

TORN FROM THE FLAG (A LYUKAS ZASZLO) (2007) (Laszlo Kovacs)