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Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed bill 4252, providing tax incentives to the motion picture industry, into law and completed the work begun by members of the Massachusetts Production Coalition (MPC) and members of the House and Senate. The new law will take effect in 90 days from the signing but will be retroactive to January 1, 2006. Its principal elements include a 20% tax credit on all Massachusetts source payroll, a 25% tax credit on qualified production expense in Massachusetts, and a sales tax credit for producers who spend a minimum aggregate of $250,000 per year in the commonwealth. The law is in place through the year 2013.

The historic Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square is in jeopardy of closing.  The theatre still must raise an additional $300,000 by the year’s end to continue programming.  Please support the theatre with your donation today at http://www.brattlefilm.org/brattlefilm/ 

Massaschusetts filmmaker Justin Shannahan will produce an Access Series of Programs for Independent Producers called "theINDIEgroup." The program is an outlet for free speech and creative digital media through Public Access Television. Entries that are received will be unedited and compiled together to form an hour program. The Media will then be aired on access channels around New England. For more information, contact one11th@hotmail.com. 

The Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grant Deadline approaches on December 9. Applications are being accepted this year in the following disciplines: Choreography Drawing/Printmaking/Artist Books Fiction/Creative Nonfiction Painting Poetry Traditional Arts To view guidelines and apply online: http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/agapp.html 

Audience members at screenings at the 17th annual Boston Jewish Film Festival chose "Live and Become" for the Audience Choice for both Best Feature Fiction.  Radu Mihaileanu’s film will open in April of 2006, most likely in Boston, since his earlier film "Gloomy Sunday" had much success.  The Best Feature Documentary "39 Pounds of Love," by Dani Menkin, will air on HBO, and has been picked up for distribution by Connie White’s Balcony Releasing. It opens in Boston on December 9, exclusively at the Kendall Square Theatre.  For more information about the film, visit http://www.39poundsoflove.com/ 

"Normal People Scare Me," a new documentary directed by an autistic teenager, will preview in Boston December 5th at 6:30 pm at the Doug Flutie Bowl-a-thon to benefit the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.  The event takes place at Lucky Strike Lanes located on 145 Ipswich Street in Boston from 6 pm-11 pm with the screening at 6:30pm. The Doug Flutie Bowl-A-Thon is hosted by Patriots Quarterback Doug Flutie and wife Laurie to benefit the foundation, started in honor of their 13 year-old son Doug Flutie, Jr. For more information, visit www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org 

The MFA Film Program hosts a five-show engagement of Jenni Olsen’s feature "The Joy of Life" from December 9-17.  Every screening will be preceded by Jennie Livingston’s short film "Who’s the Top?"  Both films return from this year’s Boston Gay & Lesbian Film/Video Festival.  For more information, visit www.mfa.org. 

Women in Film & Video/New England presents a screening of "West 47th Street," a documentary by June Peoples and Bill Lichtenstein on December 6th, at 7 pm, as part of the Chicks Make Flicks series at MIT. For more information, visit www.womeninfilmvideo.org.