David Schwartz News

Museum of the Moving Image and the Polish Cultural Institute New York will present Ways to Freedom: Polish Film and the Rise of Democracy, a thirteen-film series commemorating the 25th anniversary of the first free parliamentary elections in Poland. The series, running November 13 through 23, 2014, includes seven features and six documentary shorts that date from 1977 through 1990, a tumultuous political period in which the nation experienced the loosening of Stalin-era control, the imposition of martial law, and the birth and growth of the Solidarity movement. Four of the screenings will be introduced by noted film scholars, and the opening night of the series will be followed by a reception.

Museum of the Moving Image is pleased to announce a special screening of the adventure epic Noah followed by a discussion with director Darren Aronofsky and singer/songwriter Patti Smith in person on Monday, November 17, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at the Museum. Smith's soulful, haunting song "Mercy Is," her first original song written for the screen, is featured in the film. The two will discuss Noah and their collaboration in a wide-ranging conversation, and Smith will perform "Mercy Is."

Nandita Das, acclaimed actress of Indian cinema and human rights advocate, will appear in person at Museum of the Moving Image for a screening of Between the Lines (2014, 79 mins.), a cinematic adaptation of the 2012 play. Set in contemporary India where educated and affluent couples are caught between modernity and tradition, the film explores the relationship between a husband (Subodh Maskara) and wife (Nandita Das) who are both lawyers who have been married for ten years. They end up arguing on opposite sides of a criminal trial, resulting in the blurring of their personal and professional lives. The battle in the court starts to impact their relationship at home, and they struggle to find a new balance. Between the Lines is directed by Ritesh Manon.

Nandita Das, acclaimed actress of Indian cinema and human rights advocate, will appear in person at Museum of the Moving Image for a screening of Between the Lines (2014, 79 mins.), a cinematic adaptation of the 2012 play. Set in contemporary India where educated and affluent couples are caught between modernity and tradition, the film explores the relationship between a husband (Subodh Maskara) and wife (Nandita Das) who are both lawyers who have been married for ten years. They end up arguing on opposite sides of a criminal trial, resulting in the blurring of their personal and professional lives. The battle in the court starts to impact their relationship at home, and they struggle to find a new balance. Between the Lines is directed by Ritesh Manon.

Hou Hsiao-hsien, the leading figure of the Taiwanese New Cinema movement, is one of the most important and influential filmmakers to emerge over the past three decades. His sensuous, richly textured work, marked by elegantly staged long takes and an elliptical approach to storytelling, can be seen in such widely acclaimed films as Flowers of Shanghai, A City of Sadness, Dust in the Wind, and Flight of the Red Balloon. His modernist formalism was complemented by a humanist touch expressed most strongly in films that addressed Taiwan's history and identity, often laced with Hou's own memories. From today, September 12 through October 17, 2014, Museum of the Moving Image will present Also like Life: The Films of Hou Hsiao-hsien-the first comprehensive Hou retrospective in New York since 1999. It includes all of Hou's seventeen feature films as director, presented on film (including two new 35mm prints), as well as rare shorts, and a selection of related films, among them Olivier Assayas's documentary HHH: A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-hsien, Edward Yang's seminal Taipei Story (starring, and co-written by, Hou), and Wu Nien-jen's rarely shown A Borrowed Life.

Hou Hsiao-hsien, the leading figure of the Taiwanese New Cinema movement, is one of the most important and influential filmmakers to emerge over the past three decades. His sensuous, richly textured work, marked by elegantly staged long takes and an elliptical approach to storytelling, can be seen in such widely acclaimed films as Flowers of Shanghai, A City of Sadness, Dust in the Wind, and Flight of the Red Balloon. His modernist formalism was complemented by a humanist touch expressed most strongly in films that addressed Taiwan's history and identity, often laced with Hou's own memories. From September 12 through October 17, 2014, Museum of the Moving Image will present Also like Life: The Films of Hou Hsiao-hsien—the first comprehensive Hou retrospective in New York since 1999. It includes all of Hou's seventeen feature films as director, presented on film (including two new 35mm prints), as well as rare shorts, and a selection of related films, among them Olivier Assayas's documentary HHH: A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-hsien, Edward Yang's seminal Taipei Story (starring, and co-written by, Hou), and Wu Nien-jen's rarely shown A Borrowed Life.

The Rural Route Film Festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary, returns to Museum of the Moving Image from today, August 8 through 10, 2014, with its showcase of international films that take the road less traveled, transporting viewers to places far outside of the city.

Om Puri (b. 1950), the prolific and internationally renowned Indian actor will appear at Museum of the Moving Image on Sunday, August 3, for a conversation about his career moderated by actress and writer Madhur Jaffrey. The tribute program, presented with clips of Puri's finest performances, will be followed by a preview screening of The Hundred-Hoot Journey, in which he co-stars with Helen Mirren.

The Rural Route Film Festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary, returns to Museum of the Moving Image from August 8 through 10, 2014, with its showcase of international films that take the road less traveled, transporting viewers to places far outside of the city.

Animation director and artist Charles Martin 'Chuck' Jones (1912-2002) brought to life some of the most iconic cartoon characters in animation history. He perfected the wisecracking Bugs Bunny and the exasperated Daffy Duck and a host of other characters, including Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, and Pepé Le Pew. He brought an unparalleled talent for comic invention and a flair for creating distinctive, memorable characters to the art of film animation. What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition that explores Jones's creative genius, influences, and legacy, will open at Museum of the Moving Image in New York City today, July 19, 2014 and will be on view through January 19, 2015.

Brain Damage Films will be serving up Carne: The Taco Maker On Demand across North America starting today, June 1st, 2014.

Animation director and artist Charles Martin 'Chuck' Jones (1912-2002) brought to life some of the most iconic cartoon characters in animation history. He perfected the wisecracking Bugs Bunny and the exasperated Daffy Duck and a host of other characters, including Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, and Pepé Le Pew. He brought an unparalleled talent for comic invention and a flair for creating distinctive, memorable characters to the art of film animation. What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition that explores Jones's creative genius, influences, and legacy, will open at Museum of the Moving Image in New York City on July 19, 2014 and will be on view through January 19, 2015.

Tatsuya Nakadai (b. 1932) is one of the greatest actors in the history of contemporary cinema, starring in more than 140 movies by directors including Akira Kurosawa, Masaki Kobayashi, Kon Ichikawa, and Mikio Naruse. His versatility and the electrifying intensity of his performances are legendary, and lie at the heart of a career lasting more than six decades. On Saturday, May 17, at 3:00 p.m., Museum of the Moving Image will present a personal appearance by Nakadai with a screening of one of his most astonishing films, The Face of Another, a doppelgänger tale directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara (Woman of the Dunes). The screening will be followed by a conversation with Nakadai moderated by Terrence Rafferty, former New Yorker film critic and frequent contributor at The New York Times.

Brain Damage Films will be serving up Carne: The Taco Maker On Demand across North America starting June 1st, 2014.

Known for the exquisite beauty of his films and hailed as one of the greatest filmmakers ever by many critics, scholars, and filmmakers, Kenji Mizoguchi (1898-1956) produced 85 films that spanned the silent and sound eras in Japan. With his mastery of mise-en-scene and narrative, and enduring focus on the human experience, especially-perhaps more than any other theme-the suffering of women, Mizoguchi's films are celebrated worldwide. Of these works, only 30 exist today. Museum of the Moving Image and the Japan Foundation will present all of these extant works in a major retrospective-the first in North America in nearly 20 years and the first to feature all 30 titles-from today, May 2 through June 8, 2014.

In celebration of the anniversaries of the 1939-40 and 1964-65 New York World's Fairs-both of which took place in Queens-Museum of the Moving Image will present an exhibit of films that were made for the fairs and which reflect post-World War II-era optimism and focus on American industry as central themes. The exhibit, The World Comes to Queens: Films from the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs, featuring excerpts from six films, opens today and will be on view through August 31 in the Museum's Video Screening Amphitheater.

Museum of the Moving Image will present a special evening with David Chase in conversation with Chief Curator David Schwartz about the groundbreaking HBO television series, following a screening of these two episodes.

Known for the exquisite beauty of his films and hailed as one of the greatest filmmakers ever by many critics, scholars, and filmmakers, Kenji Mizoguchi (1898-1956) produced 85 films that spanned the silent and sound eras in Japan.Of these works, only 30 exist today. Museum of the Moving Image and the Japan Foundation will present all of these extant works in a major retrospective-the first in North America in nearly 20 years and the first to feature all 30 titles-from May 2 through June 8, 2014.

After 5 days featuring 10 new films from around the world; 9 retrospective screenings with artists such as Jennie Livingston, James Toback, Julie Taymor and Frederick Elmes; 9 amazing panels featuring the brightest industry minds; and 8 special events including conversations with Michael Moore, FIRST TIME FEST, The Second Time Around came to a close last night, April 7 with its Closing Night Awards Ceremony which took place at the 42West Nightclub in NYC. Scroll down for photos from throughout the festival!

Following last year's acclaimed first edition, FIRST TIME FEST is back, and it shows that the secondtime is even better. The Second Time Around for FIRST TIME FEST is set for today, April 3 - 7, 2014, and it will be based at their new home. NeueHouse (110 East 25th St.). NeueHouse will be the location for panels, workshops, selected film presentations, parties and the filmmaker lounge. Most screenings, including all the competition films, will take place at the AMC Loews Village 7 (11th St. & Third Ave.)