NewEnglandFilm.com

What’s Happening

Two projects produced in association with the Center for Independent Documentary will be broadcast in January on the PBS series Independent Lens — Twisted (Laurel Chiten, producer) and A Fish Story (Tim Gallagher and Courtney Hayes, producers). As well, Judith Helfand and Dan Golds’ new documentary Everything’s Cool (formerly titled Melting Planet), will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.  For more information, visit www.documentaries.org.

Jonestown: The Life and Death of The People’s Temple starts showing at Coolidge Corner Theatre on January 19.  For more information about the film, read the NewEnglandFilm.com interview or visit www.coolidge.org/comingsoonview.

The Brattle Theatre hosts an encore screening of the Do It Your Damn Self! National Youth Video & Film Festival on January 11 at 6 pm.  Every year the Teen Media Program at the Community Arts Center in Central Square combs through entries of short films submitted by other youth media programs across the country and puts together an engaging and entertaining program of films that runs the gamut from narrative to music video, documentary to PSA; and cover topics from graffiti to the Iraq war. For more information, visit www.brattlefilm.org.

The Women in Film/Video New England launches its new series of Chicks Make Flicks on January 11, with a screening of Marissa Acosta’s documentary Late Risers Club. The documentary is especially fitting for this MIT series, as it presents a history of the radio program started in 1977 on MIT’s radio station WMBR. Filmmaker Acosta will be present for a discussion, along with past and present DJ’s from the radio program.  For schedule, visit www.wifvne.org.

The Maine documentary There Ought to Be A Law follows Cathy Crowley’s campaign for a state law that would require a waiting period before young people could buy guns. transformed her from a shy "average Mom" into a savvy activist who buttoned lawmakers and negotiated with committee chairmen in an effort to reduce Maine’s high youth suicide rate. The film premieres on Sunday, January 7 at 2 p.m. in Central Maine Community College’s Kirk Hall, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn. Admission is free and the public is invited. A question and answer session with the film makers and Crowley will follow the showing.  For more information, please visit www.thereought2bealaw.com or call (207) 751-4848.

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) is seeking nominations for its 2007 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism, Culture & Tourism Unity Awards, and Distinguished Advocates Awards. The awards honor Connecticut’s most accomplished individuals for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions in the fields of performing, visual or literary arts; film, video or digital media; history, heritage or historic preservation or tourism. For more information, visit www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=329348.

WNBC 4.4 is currently accepting submissions for its Independent Producer Showcase, a program block, dedicated to presenting the efforts of independent producers. Accepted entries will be broadcast on WNBC’s Newest Digtal Television channel 4.4 and carried on cable systems throughout the tristate area. For more information, visit www.wnbc.com/ips/index.html. 

What’s Happened

With construction completed, Acorn Productions celebrated the official opening of a new developmental space available for rent to artists in Maine. The new studios are available for classes, rehearsals and workshops as well as three brand-new offices (with wireless internet) that are ready for occupancy.  For more information, visit http://www.acorn-productions.org/.

A new study released last month by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) revealed that arts, film, history and tourism accounted for more than $14 billion in economic activity and more than 170,000 jobs — 10 percent of the state’s labor force — annually in the state. Film and digital media activity in Connecticut accounted for more than 8,000 film jobs in 2004 and supports more than 18,000 jobs statewide. Direct, indirect and induced spending in connection with in-state filming resulted in $2.5 billion in gross state product, including $1.2 billion in personal income. This is the first study to examine the combined economic impact of CCT’s four divisions.  For more information, visit http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=329216.

What Will  Happen

What Were We Thinking Films (producers of You are Alone) will release a new film in 2007 — Friends (with Benefits).  Shot in Connecticut, the film tells the stories of childhood friends who become friends ‘with benefits’ while attending Yale Medical School.  For more information, visit www.whatwerewethinkingfilms.com/ or www.friendswithbenefitsthemovie.com/.

From April 20-May 6, 2007, the fifth Boston Cyberarts Festival will be opening at over 75 participating art venues across the Greater Boston area and New England.  In the meantime, they are accepting donations at