New on Kamera: 101 Forgotten Films

Kamera Books has an exciting new title out there called 101 Forgotten Films by film critic and 'movie therapist' Brian Mills. The book is a compendium of films that for some reason got lost in the anals of film history and which deserve fresh attention.

One of the films that could not be included in the book, although it had been Mills intention to do so, is Orson Welles's last, unfinished film The Other Side of the Wind, which Peter Bogdanovich is in the process of completing for a late 2008 release (the reason for the non-inclusion). We found a clip of the original film on YouTube and it features Bogdanovich himself plus John Huston. Enjoy!

New on Kamera: Princess

Anime is a strange term, one that means different things to different people and a term that has mutated over the years. Strictly, it simply means animation that has been created in Japan but this has been muddied by the proliferation of outsourcing (much anime is tweened in Korea) and pillorying by tabloid newspapers that equates the term with violent pornography (from a group of films that may well include Urotsukidoji but also Hello Kitty). By now the term basically means either that the animation comes from Japan or it possesses qualities that clearly mark it as separate from mainstream Hollywood, i.e. Disney style, animations. Princess falls into the anime style category, a bewildering mix of cell animation, CGI and live action. As its 18 rating suggests this is absolutely not The Little Mermaid.

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New on Kamera: Documenta Madrid 08

All eyes are on Madrid between o2 and 11 of May when the Spanish capital will be hosting the 2008 edition of the Documenta, a venue dedicated to documentary cinema. Michelangelo Antonioni will be paid tribute at the event

New on Kamera: Independent Cinema

One of the latest titles to have come out on Kamera Books is Independent Cinema, by D. K. Holm, just the perfect kind of subject for a website about, well, independent cinema. So, catch our review of the book here and get inspired.

New on Kamera: [REC]

More Spanish horror at a cinema near you: [REC] is the latest of a batch of low-key, handheld horror that has been arriving at the big screen of late. Check out our review of the film, due out tomorrow.

New on Kamera: Documentaries

We have a new piece on Kamera about an exciting new release on Kamera Books, 'Documentaries...and how to make them, by Andy Glynne. The books offers a comprehensive guide into the world of documentary filmmaking and provides an invaluable source for students and professionals alike.

One of the filmmakers mentioned in the text is the master of the documentary genre Frederick Wiseman. Wiseman's films have traditionally been solely available on film print or VHS copies for educational purposes. However, since December some of his titles have been made available on DVD for the consumer market, further evidence of the growing demand for documentaries. And of course, excerpts of the classic Titicut Follies has surfaced on YouTube over the last week.

New on DVD: Lost Highway

David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997), a favourite among Lynch aficionados, has finally been released on DVD. It is one of Lynch's most surreal and lush films; the soundtrack is also a treat for music lovers, going from Nine Inch Nails to Bossa Nova. Check out Kamera Books' recent title on David Lynch for further information.

New on Kamera: Diary of a Country Priest

We have just published a review of one of the great films in Robert Bresson's great career, which was released on 24/3 by Optimum World. Good old YouTube has a couple of excerpts from the film, but make sure you get this DVD, as it is an essential item in any film lover's collection.

And here's an 1960 interview with Bresson:

New on Kamera: Strange Culture

Lynn Hershman's film Strange Culture deals with the very urgent issue of the corrosion of freedom of speech in the name of the 'war on terrorism'. With Tilda Swinton, Thomas Jay Ryan and Peter Coyote in the cast, the film chronicles the ongoing case of the American art professor and activist Steve Kurtz, a co-founder of the Critical Art Ensemble, who has become the most prominent victim of post-9/11 paranoia.

On May 11 2004, Kurtz woke up to find his wife dead in bed next to him. When the medics arrived, they deemed the harmless bacteria which Kurtz was working with for a project as suspicious material and alerted the FBI. The organisation quickly jumped to the conclusion that Kurtz was a bioterrorist, despite all their suspicions being disproved. He now awaits a trial date. Hershman's Strange Culture re-enacts some of the episodes of Kurtz's Kafkian nightmare so far, creating a hybrid of documentary and discussion, with the actors encouraged to talk about their characters, their own work and the situation.

The film is now available on both Region 1 and Region 2 DVD. Click here for more information.

Trailer: Garbage Warrior

Meet Michael Reynolds, who for over 30 years has been developing a sustainable living concept called Earthship Biotecture. Reynolds' incredible project is the subject of a documentary called Garbage Warrior, which will be screened on Sundance Channel on 01 April. Don't miss it.

Here's the trailer:

Homage to Anthony Minghella

British film director Anthony Minghella, who died yesterday from a fatal haemorrhage following an operation for cancer of the neck and tonsils, was a much-loved member of the film community. Here's a report from several figures who knew him or had worked with him.

New on Kamera: Aurora

If you have produced a film or video piece with lots of visual manipulation, here's a festival where you may get a chance to get your work seen.

New on Kamera: Two Evil Eyes

A collaboration between George Romero and Dario Argento starring Karvey Keitel, Two Evil Eyes is released on DVD today. Here's the review.

New on Kamera: Berlin 2008

Our New York-based regular contributor Thessa Mooij tells us what she saw at the Berlin festival that took place last month while yours truly dishes the dirt on the squalid festival winner, the Brazilian cop flick Elite Squad (pictured).

Coppola goes south

The Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, has a new inhabitant. Francis Ford Coppola is now splitting his time between California and the B.A., while also making cheaper movies there. Here's the full story.

New on Kamera: UK French Film Festival

Those of you looking for a film to see on the big screen over the weekend or over the next few week, check out our feature on the UK French Film Festival that starts today. There are films galore, all over the country.

Vanity Fair's homage to Hitchcock

Vanity Fair, bless them, has done its Hollywood thing again and this time the publication got a whole bunch of Hollywood stars to impersonate Hitchcock characters. Hmmm. The results are quite mixed but I think Naomi Watts looks interesting as Marnie/Tippi Hedren:

See the whole photo shoot here and judge for yourself.

Derek Jarman conference

The Serpertine Gallery in London is on Friday 7 March between 10:30 and 6pm holding a conference on Derek Jarman called Against the Grain: Learning from Derek Jarman's Cinema. Speakers include Malcolm LeGrice and Laura Mulvey. More info from here.

The London Australian Film Festival 2008

The enormous Australian community in London have a good opportunity to catch up with the cinema from their homeland during the London Australian Film Festival that takes place between 06 and 16 March at the Barbican Centre. Further information from here.

New on Kamera: Overlord and Benny's Video

Two new DVD reviews posted today: Michelle LeBlanc and Colin Odell review Stuart Cooper's classic war film Overlord, which metro is releasing on Monday, 03 March. We also have a review of Michael Haneke's 1992 Benny's Video, a chilling look at the image age.