Fests and events, 8/8.

"A group of performers - especially one unified by gender and culture - is an unconventional focus for a film series," concedes Steve Vineberg in the Boston Phoenix. "But it isn't just the topic that distinguishes the month-long Signore & Signore: Leading Ladies of Italian Cinema 1941 - 1977, which begins this Friday at the MFA.... It's an exciting series - and not just because it showcases a wide variety of acting styles and a breathtaking array of beautiful women who mesmerized the cameras at Cinecittà, Rome's signature studio: Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Ornella Muti, Lucia Bosè, Mariangela Melato, Claudia Cardinale, Silvana Mangano.... Signore & Signore is finally less about acting than about the lesser-known glories of the Italian cinema in its heyday. None of the Neo-Realist classics is here; there's no Rossellini, and the contributions by Visconti and Antonioni are atypical of their respective œuvres. Yet the selection is rich and laden with surprises." Friday through September 9.

"Don't miss Paul Slocum and Kevin Brewersdorf's show at OK Mountain this weekend in Austin," advises Wiley Wiggins.

"LA moviegoers will be the envy of cinema buffs worldwide, as International Preservation, showing an astonishing variety of recently restored films from archives in 10 countries, makes its presence felt at the Hammer Museum's Billy Wilder Theater under the auspices of the UCLA Film & Television Archive," writes Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times. Through August 29.

"Ben Hackworth's Corroboree and Oscar Redding's The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark are two of the more idiosyncratic and uncompromising Australian films to have appeared in the last couple of years," writes Matthew Clayfield. "Both have screened at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival and are screening again this week (Hamlet on Thursday August 9 and Corroboree on Saturday August 11). I would encourage anyone to see either or, ideally, both of them."

"The acme of neo-new-wavism, the ultimate in MTV alienation, the most visually voluptuous flick of the fin de siécle, a pyrotechnical wonder about mystery, solitude, and the irrational love of movies that pushes Wong [Kar-wai]'s style to the brink of self-parody, Fallen Angels was the last installment of his long goodbye to the lost paradise of colonial Hong Kong," writes J Hoberman, who recommends catching it at the BAMcinématek, where it's screening through August 14. More from Vadim Rizov at the Reeler.

"Set in provincial Russia in 1935, My Friend Ivan Lapshin was banned for fourteen years for its evocative dramatization of one of the darkest periods in Soviet history." Introduced by Richard Peña, it screens at the Pioneer Theater in NYC - once - on Saturday at 6:30 pm.

"The 14th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival has posted up their lineup and it looks to be a doozy," writes Mike Everleth at Bad Lit. August 15 through 19.

A Toronto update from Darren Hughes at 1st Thursday: "Thirteen more films have been added to Visions." September 6 through 15.

Not only will David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises open the London Film Festival (October 17 through November 1), it'll open the San Sebastian Film Festival as well. September 20 through 29. The AFP reports.

This year's Edinburgh International Film Festival is lined up and ready to go next week (August 15 through 26), but starting next year, it'll be taking place in June. The Guardian reports: "Since its debut in 1947, the Edinburgh film showcase has run as an integral part of the city's month-long arts festival in August. It is hoped that the decision to separate it from its partners will give the event a greater public profile and attract a larger number of major pictures and stars to the city." Artistic director Hannah McGill explains.

"To coincide with the IFC Center's film series The New Talkies: Generation DIY, Wednesday, August 22 - Tuesday, September 4, indieWIRE is pleased to present: Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, LOL), Aaron Katz (Dance Party USA, Quiet City), Greta Gerwig (Hannah Takes the Stairs) and Aaron Hillis (Fish Kill Flea), who will participate in a moderated discussion about filmmaking, their similar styles and differences, and the definition of 'independent.'" Happens August 23. Related: Eugene Hernandez on Hannah: "There's no doubt that this is one of the most exciting and accomplished narrative indie films to hit theaters this year so far."

Ongoing dispatching: Brandon Harris at the Roxbury Film Festival and the Lumière Reader at the Telecom New Zealand International Film Festivals.

"Since Sicko opened in theaters seven weeks ago, Michael Moore has been energetically speaking to the press about health care - including a sparring match with CNN's Wolf Blitzer that became a hit on YouTube," writes Toronto's documentary programmer Thom Powers at indieWIRE. "But that hectic schedule didn't deter Moore from presiding over the third annual Traverse City Film Festival that he co-founded in the Michigan resort town where he also keeps a home."

Adam Hartzell and Kyu Hyun Kim add more reportage on the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival at Koreanfilm.org.

For the WSWS, Ismet Redzovic looks back on several Turkish films screened at the Sydney Film Festival. Also, Richard Phillips on John Huston.

Posted by dwhudson at August 8, 2007 9:58 AM