News

  • Film

Docs: “Let the Little Light Shine” Tackles Primary Education, Discrimination

When a thriving, top-ranked, predominantly African American elementary school is threatened with replacement by a new high school favoring a community’s wealthier residents, a passionate group of parents, students and educators band together to fight for their institution’s survival in the documentary Let the Little Light Shine. After benefitting from a world premiere earlier this year at the True/False Film Festival, one of the United States’ most prestigious showcases of nonfiction cinema, director Kevin Shaw’s movie is enjoying theatrical engagements this month and throughout autumn, in advance of a “POV” showcase presentation on PBS stations later this fall.
  • Industry

Restored by HFPA: “Born to Be Bad” (1950)

In the pressbook for Born to Be Bad that was sent to exhibitors and theater owners to help them publicize the film, the headline on the first page read “Heartless, Glamorous Huntress of Men, Their Hearts, Their Wealth: Trapped in Her Own Pitfalls, Victim of Greed and Rashness. ” The taglines for the film’s posters were equally bodice-ripping – “Baby-faced Savage in a jungle of intrigue!” and “Man-Bait! Trouble never came in a more desirable package!” featuring a photo of Joan Fontaine posing provocatively in a slinky red strapless gown.
  • Interviews

Valentina Maurel on the Triumph of Costa Rican Cinema at Locarno Festival

It's not every day that a Latin American film wins prizes at a top-level festival. Tengo sueños eléctricos (I Have Electric Dreams), the feature debut by Costa Rican Valentina Maurel won three of the main awards at the Locarno Festival in Switzerland: best actress for its protagonist, the adolescent Daniela Marín Navarro, best actor for the thespian who plays her father, Reinaldo Amien, and best director for Maurel.