Premiering in the Competition section of the Montreal World Film Festival this week are two American independent producers from directors with long histories in the indie arena.

TWELVE THIRTY, the latest film from writer/director Jeff Lipsky, whose films have been major hits at film festivals worldwide. TWELVE THIRTY is drama about a family with adult children that is broken, and a self-centered young man who, in the span of a week, becomes entangled in each of their lives, wreaking havoc in the process. The film stars Jonathan Groff (GLEE), Mamie Gumer (Meryl Streep's talented daughter), Karen Allen, Barbara Barrie, Reed Bierney and Portia Reiners.

The Chinese film WINTER VACATION (Han Jia) has won the top prize, the Pardo d’oro/Golden Leopard for its director Li Hongqi at the Locarno Film Festival, which ended its 63rd edition on August 15. The award includes a 90,000 CHF cash prize. The film also won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize, shared with fellow Chinese production KAMARAY by Xu Xin, which received a special mention.

This year’s Seattle International Film Festival served some tasty Asian treats. Here’s the movie wrap-up including their degrees of spiciness--from one star to four.

http://lashortsfest.com/ 

6 winners become eligible for an Oscar nomination

The 2010 LA Shorts Fest ended July 30, 2010 with its awards ceremony at Capitol City Hollywood, 1615 N.Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028.

Now in its 14th year, the screenings were held at Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, from July 22 to July 29, 2010.

Film Reviewed at the 33rdAsian American International Film Festival NYC 2010

Gerry Balasta's "Mountain Thief" wins the hearts of Asian Americans in NYC at the recently concluded 33rd Asian American International Film Festival 2010 last July 19, 2010. The director was almost teary eyed thanking a fully packed sold out crowd and said, " This screening was meaningful because this was his hometown crowd. It was his mother Nina Balasta's (co-producer of the films ) first time to watch the film with a live audience." It must have been an electrifying experience for Gerry and his Mom as the crowd lauded the film both by their thunderous applause and their compliments during the Question and Answer portion at the end of the screening.