August 12th is the new deadline for submissions to the JUMP Society Summer Film Festival.

• Submission Guidelines
• Submission Form

The Northwest Film Forum, in Seattle, is making a call for Alaskan filmmakers to step up. There is no entry fee! What do you have to lose?

“Local Sightings is our annual showcase of current narrative, documentary and experimental film by Northwest artists. The week long festival also features panel discussions, historic NW films, a filmmaker lounge, a stellar opening night party, and juried awards for a winning short and feature film!

Submit your work by downloading the submission form and sending us your screener copy on DVD.”

The deadline for submission is July 1.
submission form is available at:
http://www.nwfilmforum.org/go/localsightings/2010submissionform.pdf

Antoine Doiron is looking for extras to appear in a restaurant scene on April 19th at 6:30pm for his independent sci-fi film Space Trucker Bruce.  There are no lines for these parts.  He just wants people to be sitting at the tables and pretending to eat food.  If you are interested call 500-2521 or e-mail Antoine at .

As part of the Northwest Film Center’s NW Tracking program, The JUMP Society will be screening a collection of short films at the Whitsell Auditorium in the Portland Art Museum on Wednesday, April 14th at 7:00pm.

• NW Film Center Online Ticketing

Juneau, the small and isolated capital of Alaska, boasts whales, glaciers, great beer, and a surprisingly active filmmaking scene. In a community where you have to learn to entertain yourself, the JUMP (Juneau Underground Motion Picture) Festival provides a flickering coming together to make the long winters and gray summers more endurable and warm. Since its inception eight years ago, the JUMP Society has screened over 350 short films, and this traveling collection features some of the curator’s favorites. The program includes work from Lou Logan, Aaron Suring, Paul Disdier, Greg Chaney, Brice Habeger, Mukhya and Hari Dev Khalsa, Clint Farr, Arlo Midgett, and others. (90 mins.)

The Alaska Ocean’s Film Festival returns to Juneau with a screening at Silverbow this Saturday, March 20th, at 7pm. Admission is free and tickets can be picked up at JAHC to reserve your seat.

This is always a great collection of short films exploring the human connection to the ocean.

News of a film noir short dropped on my doorstep while I was out of town and it sounds promising. The film, Strictly Business: The Prologue comes from filmmaker Daniel Hernandez of Borderline Pictures and was shot entirely in Alaska. It seems to be influenced, at least slightly, by the Veco investigations.

“America’s most distant metropolis is hooked on some of the finest narcotics in the world. The man working this lucrative drug empire has no idea he’s about to lose it all when the boss he’s never met goes on trial.”

Strictly Business: The Prologue
Friday, March 19th @ 8:00pm
T.K. Maguire’s Lounge
Prospector Hotel
Free Admission

The Juneau Economic Development Council is looking for local filmmakers to create videos for Google’s Ultra High Speed Broadband Experiment.

Google will choose one or more community to use as a trial location for a new gigabit-per-second fiber network and these short films and videos could help influence their decision.

• JEDC Letter to JUMP Society Filmmakers

I realize the deadline in this letter is the 19th but the final applications aren’t due until March 26th so I think there’s some flexibility if you’re interested in participating. I apologize for not posting this earlier, I’ve been traveling and generally distracted.

If you’re interested in whipping something up, please contact Heather Brandon at 907-523-2334.

Reel Films: a showcase of dramatic Alaskan talent for the discriminating film buff.

Saturday March 6th at the JACC gallery.

TWO SCREENINGS: 7 & 8:30 pm

Featuring intriguing, sophisticated and mature local films. Not recommended for children. PG-13

Happy Anniversary directed by Brice Habeger 4 minutes – “On the eve of their 40th wedding anniversary, Meg talks to her husband, Harvey, about the secret to a long-lasting marriage, but the truth is, Harvey isn’t really listening. ”

The Unfortunate directed by Paul Disdier 12 minutes “A graphically violent look at the reality of combat in America’s ‘Last Good War’ ”

Blood Red Shoes by Merrysmith Filmworks. 22 minutes; 16mm/DV, Italy/Alaska * Juneau premiere public screening. – ” The story of a pair of beautiful red Italian shoes, the very different lives of the two women who own them, and the dangerous tie that binds them all together. ”

A Klondike Tale animated film pre-production presentation by Averyl Veliz

King Salmon feature film pre-production presentation by Merrysmith Filmworks

Followed by a reception, an opportunity for sharing , learning, and teaching , a chance to try out 16mm film cameras, and opportunities for getting involved in making real local films that matter.

Free admission, donations welcome and encouraged. Popcorn and refreshments will be available.

Elizabeth Peratrovich was one of the most influential civil rights activists in Alaska History and a new PBS documentary, “For the Rights of All,” has been created to share her story. The film blends new interviews with rare historic footage and reenactments and I’m excited to see the faces and names of the many local actors and filmmakers who participated in the production.

On February 16th, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, there will be several opportunities to see the film. In Juneau, screenings will be held at the Goldtown Nickelodeon, Captiol Building and the UAS Egan Library.

February 16th Screenings

• Goldtown Nickelodeon – 7:00pm
  This screening is free and open to the public.
• State Capitol - Butriovich/Farencamp Room – 11:30am
  This is a special screening for legislators and staff.
• UAS Egan Library – 5:30pm
  The free UAS screening will have fry bread, refreshments and a chance to meet and talk with several of the actors.

For more information about the film, please visit Alaskacivilrights.org.

Tonight is the final screening of the JUMP Society Winter Film Festival. You can join us at 7:00pm in the UAS Egan Lecture Hall.

In other Juneau filmmaking news, the Juneau Empire featured two local filmmakers in yesterday’s paper. Brice Habeger, a frequent JUMP Society contributor will be screening his short film “Happy Anniversary,” before feature films at the Goldtown Nickelodeon this month. Avery Veliz, a talented Illustrator and Animator is having an exhibit at Zephyr as part of the First Friday art walk.

• “The Short Tale of a Long Marriage” – Brice Habeger
• “Telling it Like it Was” – Avery Veliz

It’s exciting to see so many filmmakers in the news this month, keep up the good work!