View all photos >

Thursday night marked the opening of the Queens World Film Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. Running from March 1st through March 4th, the festival will showcase about 130 international films, organized into 34 program blocks, and shown at three different theater venues across Queens. There is also a closing night party and awards ceremony at the Z-Hotel in Long Island City.

Produced by Katha and Don Cato, the festival is in its second year of running. The festival evolved from the 2010 Queens International Film Festival, which was mired in controversy after the festival’s founder, Maria Castalado, was charged with defrauding vendors, advertisers, bands, employees, and guests. Since then, it has rebounded under the Catos’ stewardship to become a big success.

Opening night was at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. A very modern and elegant building, it was the perfect venue for a festival of this kind. In attendance were filmmakers from around the country and world, including Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Entertainment (The Toxic Avenger series).

After opening remarks by City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Deputy Commissioner John Battista of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, the films began. The first film was, interestingly enough, a film from Iran called “War Story.” Apparently banned in Iran, the film was set in the middle of a desert battlefield where two soldiers—one Iranian and the other probably Iraqi—at first try to kill one another; however, they both progressively come to see the perversion and absurdity of war.

For me the other highlights of the night included two other films, both of which offered powerful social commentary. The first was a smart little film called “Easy Street.” Set in New York, it is about an ambitious young lawyer who is seeking a position as the clerk of a prestigious Federal Judge in Manhattan. This judge, however, also has the reputation of being highly eccentric, and the job interview ends up being most bizarre for the lawyer. Things culminate when the judge gives his interviewee an ultimatum that will force him to choose between a successful law career and the woman he loves.

The other film that stood out was called “Queen.” Actor Adam Rose, who directed and starred in the film, plays a drag queen cabaret star whose plans to adopt a child fall apart when the adoption agency disqualifies her because of her homosexual “lifestyle.” She enlists the help of the cabaret’s bouncer in a ploy to convince the agency to reconsider.

After the films, it was time to party. The official after-party of the festival was held just down the street at Studio Bar. With a wristband all festival attendees were entitled to $5.00 drinks at the bar. It was a great opportunity to network, discuss film, and make new friends. This Sunday, around 8:00pm, a similar scene will play out at the Z-Hotel at 11-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City. Don’t miss it.

For travelers and lovers of film, the Queens World Film Festival has a lot to offer. If you are in New York for the weekend, the festival is a perfect opportunity to soak up some culture, meet filmmakers, and have a drink or two at a hot party.

The films continue until tomorrow evening. For the full schedule and to purchase tickets, go to the festival’s website at www.queensworldfilmfestival.com

The Queens World Film Festival

Festival Venues:

Jackson Heights Cinema

40-31 82nd Street, Jackson Heights. 7 Train to 82nd Street – Jackson Heights stop

Renaissance Charter School. 

35-59 81 Street, Jackson Heights. 7 Train to 82nd Street – Jackson Heights stop 

PS 69

77-02 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights. 7 Train to 74 Street – Broadway or 7 Train to 82nd Street – Jackson Heights stop

Z – Hotel (For the closing night party, beginning 8pm)

11-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City. F Train to 21st Street – Queensbridge stop or 7, N, Q to Queensboro Plaza stop

www.queensworldfilmfestival.com

Kyle Bergman, producer, introducing opening film. Photo by Jonathan Denby

As I write these words the partygoers mingle in the background, chatting and sipping on cocktails. Salsa music wafts through the Varick Room as people take advantage of the open bar. 

I am at the second annual Architecture and Design Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas. Like last year, the atmosphere is celebratory. People from all over the country and world are here. Some are big name architects; others just film enthusiast. They are here because they love architecture and film, and, even more, they love films about architecture.

In the adjourning room people file into one of the Cinema's theaters to view the opening film of the festival. This year, that film is called "Unfinished Spaces." Beginning in the first triumphant days of the Cuban Revolution, the film tells the story of the National Art School and the architects who struggled to build it. Sadly, as Cuba slipped more and more under the ideological influence of the Soviet Union, construction ceased and the architects found themselves ostracized and persecuted as being "counterrevolutionary." The school lay in decrepit conditions for decades until recently when Fidel Castro allowed it to be restored and finished.

Come visit the AD Film Festival to see films like "Unfinished Spaces" and many more. Running till October 23rd. www.adfilmfest.com

Photo by AdBusters

Republished from Examiner.com

Among the many attractions for travelers to New York is the famous Stock Exchange at Wall Street. Now, there’s an even better reason to go visit: there’s a political uprising taking place right next door! Read more...

In his commencement speech to the 2005 graduating class at Stanford University, Steve Jobs told his audience to follow their own paths in life and not what others thought best for them. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice,” Jobs said. “And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

This was the essence of the man. All his life, Jobs had asked people to “think different,” to have the courage to break new ground and seek new frontiers...to boldly go where no man (or woman) has gone before. He expected no less from himself, and, like others before him, set out to prove that with vision and the perseverance to see it through, you could change the world.

When I was around seven years old, my father brought home an Apple LC II. The rest, as they say, is history. I grew up with the Macintosh as part of my household. My father, being an independent-thinker himself, was naturally attracted to the inventions of another independent-thinker like Jobs.

Each time my father brought home the newest model, it was Christmas all over again. He was captivated by the machines, and, using the Mac, soon taught himself how to design a webpage for his business and manipulate graphics in Adobe Photoshop. Not long thereafter I, too, took up the mouse and began my own journey into the new digital frontier.

Today, I am a professional web developer and Mac user. I owe it all to two men: my dad and Steve Jobs.

We will miss you Steve.

Photo by Carwil Bjork-James

As I stood talking to an older lady about the protests, a pizza man showed up carrying about ten large pies. Apparently, an anonymous donor had called in a pizza delivery for the protesters. The occupiers lined up at a row of tables and were served the hot slices directly from the boxes. Other donated food items covered the tables: plastic boxes of salad, fruits, vegetables, canned goods, you name it.... all of it private donations. Clearly, the occupiers have real popular support from their fellow New Yorkers.

Now, the New York Times is reporting that similar occupations are cropping up across the country. We have occupations beginning in Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and smaller towns and cities throughout America. Most of the actions, just as in the Middle Eastern rebellions, are being organized and coordinated over Facebook and Twitter. We may be witnessing an American version of the Arab Spring....

One of the best parts about living in or traveling to New York during the summer is the surrounding beaches. You can choose from a variety of playas, ranging from the amusements of Coney Island to the Jersey shore to the beautiful beaches of Long Island. But undoubtedly, for those in the know, the beaches of Fire Island are where it’s at. Read more

For all Haiti photos, click here