Blog written by Patricia R. Zimmermann, professor of screen studies and codirector of the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival

It's going to be a jam-packed, amazing, eye-opening, and powerful year of international cinema at FLEFF 2013, our 16th Edition. 

Every year when we wrap FLEFF and I am completely exhausted from watching four films a day and listening to so many discussions where I change how I think about the world, I think, there is absolutely no way to top what we programmed. 

But this year, I think I can state without exaggeration that we've topped any other programming we've done in the past, with more films from more countries with more directors and more distributors.  And, we can promise more post-screening conversations of significance, a FLEFF trademark.

We have secured films from Palestine, France, Korea, USA, Canada, China, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Russia, Tibet, Norway, Sri Lanka, Chile. 

And we have booked a staggering array of film forms and styles: art films, commercial narratives, documentaries, shorts, experimental works--another FLEFF signature programming strategy that embraces heterogeneity. 

And that is just what we are screening downtown at Cinemapolis April 4-7. It does not includes all the films, new media artists, scholars, activists, and special programming on campus throughout the week.  More on those programs in another post.

A special shout out this year to Scott Bliss, Executive Director at Cinemapolis, for his energy and wonderful sense of collaboration. Without Cinemapolis downtown and without those exciting booking confabs with Scott, we would not have a venue to screen and discuss.

FLEFF Films to date for Cinemapolis, April 4-7, 2013 (click the links and find trailers for ALL films below...just to whet your appetites)

AKA Doc Pomus  (USA, 2012) with director Peter Miller

All Together (Stephane Robelin, France, 2012)with distributor Rodrigo Brandao, KinoLorber Films

Amazon Gold (USA, 2013)with director Sarah Du Pont

Anak-Anak Srikandi (Indonesia, 2012)  with distributor Vanessa Domico, Outcast Films,  and producer Laura Coppens

Black Maria Film and Video Festival 2013 shorts, with festival director John Columbus

China Concerto (Bo Wang, China, 2012) with distributor Kevin Lee. dGenerate Films

Couples (Korea, 2011) with Director / Writer  Yong ki Jeong

Dear Governor Cuomo (USA, 2012) with director Jon Bowermaster and other special guests

Everyone’s Child (Zimbabwe, 1995) with filmmaker Tsitsi Dargarembga

Five Broken Cameras (Algeria/Palestine, 2011) with distributor Rodrigo Brandao, KinoLorber Films

Habibi  (Susan Youssef, Palestine, 2011) guest TBA

October (Sergei Eisenstein, USSR, 1928) with Cloud Chamber Orchestra

Old Dog (Pema Tseden, Tibet/China, 2011)  with distributor Kevin Lee, dGenerate Films

On the Road (Walter Salles, USA, 2013) speakers TBA

Once Upon a Time (Korea,2008) with Director / Writer  Yong ki Jeong

Sherlock Jr. (Buster Keaton, USA, 1924) with Fe Nunn and Friends and Cynthia Henderson

Silenced Voices :Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile (Beate Arnestad,Norway/Sri Lanka, 2012)  with the subject of the film Sonal Samarasinghe

The Water Front ( USA/Canada, 2008) with film director Liz Miller

Upstate Filmmakers Showcase, with filmmakers Vincent Grenier, Jason Harrington, John Scott, Becky Lane, Arturo Sinclair, and  others TBA

Violeta Went to Heaven (Andres Wood, Chile/Brazil/Argentina/Spain, 2012) with distributor Rodrigo Brandao, KinoLorber Films,

Wild Style  (USA, 1983) 30th Anniversary Screening with director Charles Ahearn

Two events that you might have overlooked that are definitely worth checking out.

Best of Stop the Wall Video Contest:  

Time, Tuesday, April 12  12:05 pm-1:05 pm

Location: Friends 205 Ithaca College.

A collaboration of Stop the Wall and It Is Apartheid  features short documentary films related to Israel's occupation of Palestine.  These include Road Map to Israeli Apartheid, Ali Wall, and Confront the Wall. 

These screenings are being co-sponsored by the Progressive Discourse Project, members of which will host the screening and lead a post-screening discussion.This event is free and open to the public.

Monica Haller reading and meet-up session

Time:  Tuesday, April 12 · 1:00pm - 2:30pm 

Location: Park 220 Ithaca College.

The artist Monica Haller will be sharing and discussing her work on the Veterans Book Project, a series of books and an ongoing project  involving veterans and their families.

The books are compiled during workshops for war veterans from current conflicts from their personal photographic and textual records of  combat. The final books are designed to reach a large audience.

Each participant takes home his or her own book to share ...with family and friends. Then her book becomes part of a larger online archive.

This event is free and open to the public. Local veterans, writers, and  researchers on topics related to the project are especially encouraged  to attend.

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