Now in its 15th year, Encounters Short Film Festival (17 – 22 November 2009) has become known world-wide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts, and for the quality and scope of its programming. This celebrated event is the largest festival of its kind in the UK, showcasing over

Freida Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire star, has joined the cast of Julian Schnabel’s “Miral” - an adaptation of a book about Hind Husseini, who founded an orphanage in Jerusalem in the wake of 1948 partition of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel.Pinto recently boarded Woody Allen’s new Untitled

Ridley Scott receives BFI FellowshipThe BFI announced yesterday that Ridley Scott became the 62nd recipient of a BFI Fellowship, joining other distinguished names in cinema history such as David Lean, Clint Eastwood, Bernardo Bertolucci and Bette Davis, and Sir Denis Forman, Verity Lambert and Lord Bernstein from the world of

Variety reports that the BBC is to increase spending on its Web-based activities by 27 over the next three years. This will bring the Corp’s online spend to over £144 million per annum for the next 3 years, an increase of £30 million.The increase, which is bound to worry privately-funded

Winners announced at SXSW festivalSXSW (South by Southwest), one of the most important independent film festivals in the US, has just announced its winners. 133 feature-length films, including 57 world premiers, were screened in the festival.“Made in China”, Judi Krant’s debut feature about a Texas novelty inventor who travels to

Film Four’s head, Tessa Ross, appeared in front of the House of Lords Communications Committee, which is undertaking an investigation into the state of the UK’s film and TV industries, and warned that her company’s future is under threat as the recession continues to hit hard the fortunes of its

BFI set to tell the Story of London as seen on filmBy Erica RobertsThe BFI is delighted to be involved in the Story of London season – an exciting month of events that celebrates the history and identity of our wonderful capital city. Organised by Mayor Boris Johnson, this key

Miki Rourke, the star of the “The Wrestler”, has also pinned the competition in the lead male category. He was given a standing ovation this afternoon from the A-list stars, who came to the ceremony in Santa Monica beach.Other big names collected awards are Penelope Cruz for best supporting actress

From 23rd February, Cinémoi will be launching on Sky channel 839 bringing a touch of glamour and style to Britain’s TV screens. Cinémoi will show a wealth of classic and contemporary films and documentaries, all shown with subtitles, celebrating over 100 years of French cinema.Until 6th April, fans of French

David Lee Miller's "My Suicide" about a world-weary teen who announces his intention to make a movie about his suicide and so triggers a storm of attention, has won the Berlinale's Crystal Bear for best feature in the Generation 14plus youth film section.The Generation youth jury said the pic, which