Fests and events, 10/8.

"When Indian director Satyajit Ray died in 1992, Akira Kurosawa praised him as 'the greatest social realist filmmaker who ever lived.' But when Kurosawa saw Abbas Kiarostami's Through the Olive Trees (1994), he said of the Iranian writer-director that 'God has found the right person to take Satyajit Ray's place.'" In the Los Angeles Times, Kevin Thomas previews Life and So Much More: The Films of Abbas Kiarostami, a series running at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from Friday through October 27.

At Bad Lit, Mike Everleth has the lineup for the Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival, running Wednesday through Sunday.

"In contrast to many of last year's relatively sedate, old fashioned gala screening choices, the big films at this year's London Film Festival feel achingly modern," writes Tom Huddleston at Not Coming to a Theater Near You. "It has a lot to do with the current cultural and geopolitical climate, but Western cinema in particular seems bent on exploring themes of war, loss and grief, confronting the issues head on." October 17 through November 1.

Nick Davis posts one review after another from Chicago.

Emmanuel Burdeau carries on filing entries in his Pusan Journal for Cahiers du cinéma.

Peter Chattaway posts "a few capsule reviews" from Vancouver.

Scott Weinberg wraps Fantastic Fest for Cinematical.

Posted by dwhudson at October 8, 2007 7:04 AM