1998
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The quality and impact of Latino cinema continue to grow, and Cinequest takes pleasure, once again, in presenting the best of the best in this year's Latino Filmmakers's Tribute. Features and shorts representing Spain, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Cuba, and the United States comprise this year's tribute, and it's a fine collection indeed. Another from Spain is Tu Nombre Envenena Mis Suenos (Your Name Poisons My Dreams) by director Pilar Miro. Murder, suicide, two hard-boiled detectives, and a beautiful woman-it's quite a combination.
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A fun and entertaining awards show at the Silicon Valley Capital Club (the former San Jose Athletic Club) will precede a fully catered party with cutting-edge musical entertainment. Cinequest will present a series of Maverick Film and Technology Awards recognizing technologists who've made significant contributions to the film industry and filmmakers who've successfully used new technologies in their work. Barry Sonnenfeld (director of Men in Black, Get Shorty) will be present to accept the award for Lifetime Achievement, Digital Filmmaking.
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PDI Presents: Industry leader Pacific Data Imaging gives a cutting-edge look at digital filmmaking. Richard Chuang of PDI will address the hot topic of digital characterization including an insiders glance at Batman & Robin and The Peacemaker. Added attraction: Iain McCaig, James Baldwin, Jill Jurkowitz and Allison Chase will show their exciting new all-digital, independent film The Face. Film of Special Digital Interest: Gutter Punks. Part of Cinequest's goal is to show how digital technologies are influencing the independent as well as the studio filmmaker.
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HIGH TECH, DOLBY PRESENTS EGG SHOW (UA). Ioan Allen of Dolby Labratories presents an entertaining and evocative look at the influences of sound mixing on motion pictures.
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PIXAR PRESENTS. Pixar gurus Tony DeRose and Michael Kass present the wonderful new digital film Geri's Game and the technology that went behind it.
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MATT BRITTON (Jim Henson Creature Shop) - Animatronics to CGI (UA). Matt Britton will provide a highly entertaining look at different means to creating life-like personalities from the stuff of mind and technology. Expect an insider's glance into the world popular world of Henson Creatures.
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Throughout the 1960s and '70s, small personal films, or those studio projects not easily categorized or deemed too risky or unmarketable, could usually be screened only at the local repertory or revival art house theater after their all-too-brief stay in the local cineplex. Film enthusiasts regularly came together in that darkened secular temple to view films that didn't quite fit the studios - commercially viable mold.
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Barry Sonnenfeld will receive the Maverick Film & Technology Lifetime Achievement Award at the eighth-annual Cinequest Film Festival. As a director and a cinematographer, Sonnenfeld has had a long list of films to his credit that have accomplished that rare combination of being both artistic and box office successes. Films such as Miller's Crossing, Raising Arizona, Misery, When Harry Met Sally..., Throw Mamma From the Train, The Addams Family, Get Shorty, and this past summer's mega hit Men in Black have demonstrated a keen sense of personal vision, innovation, and bravado.
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With nearly everyone who has access to a video camera calling himself a filmmaker, it has become increasingly difficult to fully comprehend how much effort is required to actually BE a filmmaker. Many of today's wanna-be's and pretenders fail to understand that tools and gee-whiz technology, no matter how powerful and seductive, are no substitutes for craftsmanship and storytelling skill. One exceptional filmmaker who is more than worthy of that designation, who has certainly done the work, and who has consistently been one of our most intriguing storytellers is John Schlesinger.
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During the late 1960s and early '70s, a new generation of filmmakers began to emerge on the scene. Weaned on television and educated at film schools on the east (NYU) and west (UCLA, USC) coasts, these new visionaries gave the French term auteur - what may be now be referred to as "slash" credits; i.e., writer/director/producer - a decidedly American twist, creating films that were technically adventurous, often extremely personal, bursting with fresh ideas and perspectives, and above all, intelligently written.