By The Global Film Initiative, on March 27th, 2013%
Screening of TANTA AGUA
NINAH’S DOWRY (Cameroon), SO MUCH WATER (Uruguay) and WHEN I SAW YOU (Palestine/Jordan) are just a few titles among a host of Global Lens films and grant recipients keeping our news feed a-buzzing…
The buzz just won’t stop. From nominations, to awards, to screenings in festivals across the globe, GFI grant recipients and Global Lens films are continuing to impress in a big way. Check out the most recent news:
Continue reading FESTIVALS & AWARDS: Africa Movie Academy Awards, Miami IFF, ReelWorld FF and festivals, festivals, FESTIVALS!
By The Global Film Initiative, on March 10th, 2012%
The Brooklyn Public Library
Our public library program is in full swing this spring with the Brooklyn Public Library! San Francisco and Missoula are next, with Memphis and Park City on the horizon…
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we love public libraries. From their goals of public education and engagement, to the diverse architecture of buildings large and small all across the country—they are cultural icons that hold a physical space in every community, and represent a truly free exchange of ideas that we cherish.
And so, this month, in homage to our ever-growing affinity for public libraries, our friends at the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) will be presenting our most favorite film series, Global Lens 2012, to audiences in one of New York’s most celebrated boroughs.
Why? Because BPL is one of a handful of lucky institutions invited this year to join our Global Lens Public Library Program, which we launched last year to promote education and cultural literacy in communities all throughout the United States (some of you may remember that we partnered with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries to kick off the program).
Continue reading Global Lens Goes Public!
By Santhosh Daniel, on October 28th, 2011%
Global Lens makes its long-awaited debut at public libraries across the U.S.
 Big books, small books, magazines and catalogs. Shelves that stretch like buildings on a city block. Millions of words by thousands of people, pressed onto paper and compressed into a building…
Ever since I was a child, I’ve had an affinity for libraries. For me, they represent a space without limits or borders, a place of collected knowledge that lends itself to the imagination. In fact, I wrote my first poem in a library (after checking out a book on haiku), and spent many afternoons as a teenager cultivating my then-nascent interest in film, sitting in a corner watching the classics [on a VHS player].
Of course, libraries have evolved since my childhood, and none more profoundly than the American public library; what once began with Benjamin Franklin and a social-activity of lending books to his friends has now evolved into a community institution, media center and learning resource. And also, a crossroads of people and cultures, a place where new immigrants meet old residents, artists share space with academics and every language is within arm’s reach on a shelf.
And so, it’s only natural that we bring Global Lens to that environment.
Continue reading Global Lens Gets a Library Card!
By The Global Film Initiative, on October 19th, 2011%
Films from the Global Lens 2011 film series are now playing at the following venues and festivals across the U.S. and Canada:
Click on the map above to find a Global Lens screening near you!
St. Louis International Film Festival (St. Louis, MO): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
Palm Springs Art Museum (Palm Springs, CA): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
Tampa Museum of Art/Gasparilla International Film Festival (Tampa, FL): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, IL): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
Continue reading NOW PLAYING: St. Louis International Film Festival, Bijou Cinema, Kent State University and more!
By The Global Film Initiative, on September 22nd, 2011%
 This month marks the 3rd anniversary of our partnership with Virgin America, and in honor of that special occasion, Santhosh Daniel, our Director of Programs, and Alfy Veretto, Manager of IFE Content and Partnerships, took a few moments during the last days of summer to reflect on where it all began—and where it’s all going.
Below is an excerpt of their conversation, which as you can see, reflects the unique style that has come to typify the GFI-Virgin partnership. It’s been a good time for everyone and for those of you who haven’t yet seen what it’s all about, catch a flight and catch a Global Lens film on Virgin RED™!
Continue reading Global Lens on Virgin America has Everyone Seeing RED™
By The Global Film Initiative, on June 17th, 2011%
Films from the Global Lens 2011 film series are now playing at the following venues and festivals across the U.S. and Canada (and beyond!):
Asia Society (Hong Kong): THE WHITE MEADOWS (dir. Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran) July 14th-31st
Brooks Museum of Art/Indie Memphis (Memphis, TN): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
Cinema St. Louis/Webster University (St. Louis, MO): Presenting the complete Global Lens 2011 film series Check the film calendar for screening information
Danish Film Institute Cinematheque (Copenhagen, Denmark): THE WHITE MEADOWS (dir. Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran) June 25th
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Los Angeles, CA): THE INVISIBLE EYE (dir. Diego Lerman, Argentina) A USEFUL LIFE (dir. Federico Veiroj, Uruguay) July 17th-25th
Global Lens now playing on Virgin American flights!
Continue reading NOW PLAYING: Museum of the Moving Image, Northwest Film Forum, the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival and more!
By Hilary Lawson, on May 11th, 2011%
 As a proud sponsor of the 51st San Francisco State Film Finals we’re looking forward to the Bay Area’s premiere film school event this Friday: a full night of student-produced films-ranging from documentary, drama, experimental and animated shorts!
Films in the “finals”-all originally produced for SFSU Cinema classes-are selected by a committee of representatives from the SFSU Cinema Department faculty, graduate students and undergraduates for various competitive categories that showcase the diversity and filmmaking ambition of SFSU students. In addition to bragging rights, the talented winners in each section receive scholarships so they can continue to pursue their cinematic endeavors. There will also be a raffle open to the public, with chances to win amazing prizes-including a DVD set of new Global Lens releases!
Tickets to the Film Finals are going fast, so don’t miss your chance to be among the first to see the work of future movers and shakers in the film world!
By Hilary Lawson, on April 21st, 2011%
GFI co-presents THE LIGHT THIEF and A USEFUL LIFE at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival
 Bay Area film fans, rejoice! The San Francisco International Film Festival kicks off tonight, with nearly 200 films screening over the next two weeks!
We are very proud to co-present two Global Lens films in the festival this year:
THE LIGHT THIEF (dir. Aktan Arym Kubat, Kyrgyzstan): A humble electrician intent on enlivening his windswept valley with electricity unwittingly strikes a deal with a rich politician whose corrupt ambitions threaten to upend the electrician’s dream to build windmills in his village. Included in Redefine Magazine’s festival recommendations!
¿Habla Español? Click here to watch Federico speak about A USEFUL LIFE on NY1 News!
A USEFUL LIFE (dir. Federico Veiroj, Uruguay): After financial troubles and a dwindling audience force an art-house cinema to shut its doors permanently, its most devoted employee is suddenly left without a ‘home’ and forced to adjust to life outside of the theater. Included in the San Francisco Chronicle’s festival highlights!
In addition, two GFI-grant supported films are included in the festival’s lineup: A YEAR WITHOUT SUMMER, by Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui, and ASLEEP IN THE SUN, from Argentine
Continue reading Global Lens @ 54th San Francisco International Film Festival!
By Hilary Lawson, on April 14th, 2011%
 If there’s one thing we’ve learned from using film to teach students about other cultures around the world, it’s that oftentimes, kids can be the best teachers of all.
Naturally, we were very excited to get involved with the World Affairs Challenge, which invites students to work in teams, exploring global issues and then presenting their research and solutions in a final competition or “challenge.” This annual event is created by World Savvy, a local nonprofit that works toward youth education and involvement in community and world affairs—a mission very close to GFI’s heart.
 This year’s theme, Food: Feeding the Planet Sustainably in the 21st Century, encourages students to learn about hunger, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, the environmental impact of our food system, trade and much more. Over 700 high school students from 23 schools throughout the Bay Area have been putting together presentations on topics such as popular food myths (for example, that there isn’t enough food grown on the planet to feed the world’s population), the connection between deforestation and food production, and ways to help fight hunger in Africa.
After months of preparation, the culminating event is the World Affairs Challenge, which takes place this Saturday, April 16th, on San Francisco State University’s campus. Students will compete in different events that
Continue reading Food for Thought: GFI & San Francisco’s Ninth Annual World Affairs Challenge
By Hilary Lawson, on April 5th, 2011%
A scene from IMANI
IMANI, by Ugandan filmmaker Caroline Kamya, will be screening this Saturday as part of the 7th Annual San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival! This evocative film ventures into the lives of three characters—a child soldier, a maid and a hip hop dancer—living in contemporary Uganda. It received a GFI grant in 2009 and has gone on to win Best Film in an African Language at the African Movie Academy Awards and the Silver Award at the Cairo International Film Festival.
This screening marks a new partnership with the Women’s Film Institute, our neighbors at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center. IMANI is playing on Saturday, April 9th at 5:15, and our very own Operations Manager, Marita Murphy, will be introducing the film and speaking about GFI’s Granting program, which has supported filmmakers from over 45 nations to date!
The San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival runs April 6th-10th at the Roxie Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission district. For more information, visit the San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival website.
Continue reading IMANI @ the San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival!
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