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Our film Garlic and Watermelons is now begin distributed by B-side.  On b-side, you can download the film for a nominal fee or order a DVD on the cheap, and by doing so you’re supporting both b-side and Pattern.

http://www.bside.com/films/garlicandwatermelons

Here are some photos from two big recent events here in Philly, Michael Nutter’s mayoral primary victory party, and the Barak Obama fundraiser/rally at the Electric Factory.

New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival April 21, 9:00pm
AlJazeera Documentary Film Festival April 26-29 (exact time TBA)

London International Documentary Festival (British Museum), March 17th, at 10 am
Montreal Human Rights Film Festival, March 25th, at 2 pm
Human Rights Nights Bologna, April (exact date and time TBA)

Istanbul International 1001 Documentary Film Festival
October 2nd 4:00, October 4th 1:30

Document 4, Glasgow
Friday, October 13th, 6:45pm

For more information: www.patternfilms.com/garlic

http://mypattern.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/GWPostcardFrontEnglish2.pdf

Apparently, you can use the “F” word once in a film and still get a PG-13 rating, but only if it’s used figuratively, as in “fuck you.” Using the word literally, as in “I want to fuck you,” seems generally to earn you an R. But you can never be sure. Enter the murky world of the MPAA ratings board, where the rules (if there are any) are kept intentionally vague and the members’ identities are secret.

In “This Film is Not Yet Rated, ” the clever, comical, documentary by Kirby Dick, titillating footage that vexed the ratings board, interviews, and a verité thread involving a devoted lesbian private investigator, combine to expose the hypocrisy and inanity of the MPAA ratings system.

The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) is an association created to protect the interests of its members, the seven major Hollywood movie studios. Jack Valenti became the organization’s president in 1966, and in 1968, he created the MPAA film rating system, which imposes a theoretically voluntary rating on films, meant to help parents know whether or not a film is appropriate for their children. According to board chairman Joan Graves, all board members have young children of their own, but in “This Film is Not Yet Rated,” this claim is proven to be false.

After an opening sequence of familiar sex scenes from popular movies (genitalia obscured by exaggerated black boxes), the film begins with an interview with Kimberly Peirce, the director of “Boys Don’t Cry.” The film originally received an NC-17 rating which, Peirce was told, was due the length of Chloë Sevigny’s orgasm in a particular scene. Peirce explains what is to become one of the primary arguments of the film, that “unfamiliar territory breeds NC-17.” In other words, sexual behavior that might be considered deviant (including any scene where a woman appears to be enjoying it a bit too much) is judged more harshly than conventional sexual behavior.

Other examples abound. The film “But I’m a Cheerleader,” was originally given an NC-17 rating because of a very reserved scene in which a teenaged lesbian is masturbating—over her nightgown. The director Jamie Babbit said that she felt especially insulted by this because the film “American Pie,” which was released at the same time as her film, features a scene in which a teenaged boy masturbates into an apple pie, but received only an R rating. The John Waters film “A Dirty Shame” doesn’t even have any nudity, but received an NC-17 rating because of its “general tone.” According to Waters, it appears as though “just talking about sex” can get you an NC-17 rating.

The biggest laugh comes when, after managing to identify almost all the anonymous ratings board members (with the help of his private investigator), Kirby Dick then submits “This Film is Not Yet Rated” to the board. Not surprisingly, it receives an NC-17, which means that Dick gets to experience the appeals process first hand. Though he isn’t allowed to film most stages of the process, he uses cartoon reenactments to tell the story. The NC-17 rating is upheld, but because acceptance of the rating is voluntary and the film is being distributed by IFC, an independent company which doesn’t insist on the MPAA rating, Dick decides to label the film as “not rated.”

The problem with an NC-17 rating is that Wal-Mart, Blockbuster, and other major retailers won’t sell your movie, some newspapers and television stations won’t advertise your movie, most theater chains won’t show your movie, and therefore most distribution contracts require at worst an R rating. One problem with the film is that, first, it doesn’t explain this very well, and second, it places all the blame on the MPAA for handing out the NC-17 rating, instead of faulting the people who won’t show a movie just because it received one. In a Q and A after the film, Dick said that he “really wanted it to be about the effect on independents” an interesting subject which, unfortunately, wasn’t explored in a convincing way in the film. But these are minor quarrels. Overall, I found the film to be informative and highly entertaining.

A number of petitions, boycotts, and other calls to action regarding the situations in Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel have been circulating around the world of independent filmmakers. I thought I’d try to collect them here. The Israeli filmmakers’ letter to Lebanese filmmakers is a heartwarming but ultimately empty gesture. It does make you feel good about being a filmmaker though, part of a clan that somehow manages to see through to the truth of our common humanity while so many others are swayed by the hatred that is fed to us by politicians and the nightly news. The Palestinian Filmmakers, Artists and Cultural Workers Call for a Cultural Boycott of Israel seems like a mistake to me. Films by Palestinian artists like Hany Abu-Assad (one of my personal favorites, who I was surprised to find as a signatory) need to be seen in Israel more than anywhere else in the world. I fully support almost any form of non-violent protest under the circumstances, but a refusal to participate in cultural activities seems misguided. How else can you help Israelis to understand your point of view?

A letter to Palestinian and Lebanese filmmakers to coincide with the
opening of the Arab Film Biennial in Paris July 22nd

We, the undersigned Israeli filmmakers, greet the Arab filmmakers who
have gathered in Paris for the Arab Film Biennial. Through you, we
wish to convey a message of camaraderie and solidarity with our
Lebanese and Palestinian colleagues who are currently besieged and
bombarded by our country’s army.

We unequivocally oppose the brutality and cruelty of Israeli policy,
which has reached new heights in recent weeks. Nothing justifies the
continued occupation, closure, and oppression in Palestine. Nothing
justifies the bombing of civilians and the destruction of
infrastructures in Lebanon and Gaza.

Allow us to tell you that your films, which we try to see and
circulate among us, are extremely important in our eyes. They enable
us to know and understand you better. Thanks to these films, the men,
women, and children who suffer in Gaza, Beirut, and everywhere else
our army exercises its violence - have names and faces. We would like
to thank you and encourage you to keep on filming, despite the
difficulties.

For our part, we will continue to express through our films, with our
raised voices, and in our personal actions our vehement opposition to
the occupation, and we will continue to express our desire for
freedom, justice, and equality among all the peoples of the region.

Nurith Aviv / Ilil Alexander / Adi Arbel / Yael Bartana / Philippe
Bellaiche / Simone Bitton / Michale Boganim / Amit Breuer / Shai
Carmeli-Pollack / Sami S. Chetrit / Danae Elon / Anat Even / Jack
Faber / Avner Fainguelernt / Ari Folman / Gali Gold / BZ Goldberg /
Sharon Hamou / Amir Harel / Avraham Heffner / Rachel Leah Jones /
Dalia Karpel / Avi Kleinberger / Elonor Kowarsky / Edna Kowarsky /
Philippa Kowarsky / Ram Loevi / Avi Mograbi / Jud Neeman / David
Ofek / Iris Rubin / Abraham Segal / Nurith Shareth / Julie Shlez /
Eyal Sivan / Yael Shavit / Eran Torbiner / Osnat Trabelsi / Daniel
Waxman / Keren Yedaya

Palestinian Filmmakers, Artists and Cultural Workers Call for a
Cultural Boycott of Israel

August 1, 2006

Dear Filmmakers & Artists,

During the past few weeks we have borne witness to the escalation of
Israeli aggression into open war on both Palestine and Lebanon.

With Israel’s invasion of Gaza on June 27th, 2006, ministries and
educational institutions have been destroyed, as has the plant that
supplies nearly 50 percent of Gaza’s electricity. Bridges, roads,
dozens of homes, and hundreds of dunams of agricultural land have also
been destroyed. Sixty-four elected Palestinian legislators, cabinet
ministers and officials have been detained without charge.

On July 12th, Israel brought its campaign of collective punishment
and military violence to Lebanon, with “Operation Just Reward”. A
complete assault, via land, sea, and air, of the Lebanese population
and infrastructure has led to total destruction. In just 3 weeks,
almost 1 million Lebanese civilians have been displaced and the death
toll has reached 900 Lebanese and 160 Palestinians, with a UN count
saying one-third of the dead are children.

Additionally, in violation of international law, Israel continues to
occupy Gaza, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and Syria’s
Golan Heights. In violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel
continues to hold 9,600 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli
jails and detention centers without due process, among them 130
Palestinian women and 388 children, many of them taken from their
homes in the middle of the night.

We, the undersigned Palestinian filmmakers and artists, appeal to all
artists and filmmakers of good conscience around the world to cancel
all exhibitions and other cultural events that are scheduled to occur
in Israel, to mobilize immediately and not allow the continuation of
the Israeli offensive to breed complacency. Like the boycott of South
African art institutions during apartheid, cultural workers must speak
out against the current Israeli war crimes and atrocities.

We call upon the International community to join us in the boycott of
Israeli film festivals, Israeli public venues, and Israeli
institutions supported by the government, and to end all cooperation
with these cultural and artistic institutions that to date have
refused to take a stand against the Occupation, the root cause for
this colonial conflict.

We call upon you to take a stand in order to appeal to the Israeli
people to give up their silence, to abandon their apathy, and to face
up to their responsibility in the destruction and killing their
elected government is wreaking. To the Lebanese and Palestinians
terrorized by this Army’s planes, bombs and missiles, this silence,
apathy and lack of action from Israelis, are regarded as complicit in
the ongoing war crimes, as for those Israeli artists, academics and
intellectuals who continue to serve in the Israeli army they are
directly implicated in these crimes.

We call upon you to give way to action that would replace words
spoken too often and forgotten too quickly. We call upon you to make
your voices heard in calling for an end to this bloodshed and an end
to this oppression that has lasted too long.

To endorse or answer this call for a cultural boycott of Israel
please send an email with your name, position and country to
pal.filmmakers@gmail.com

Signatures (Alphabetical) 1. Adila Laidi, Lecturer 2. Anan Brakat,
Filmmaker, Arab Cinema School 3. Annemarie Jacir, Filmmaker 4. Azza
El-Hassan, Filmmaker 5. Bahia Munem, Filmmaker 6. Dahna Abourahme,
Filmmaker 7. Dima Abu Ghoush, Filmmaker 8. Emily Jacir, Artist 9. Enas
Muthaffar, Filmmaker 10. Faten Farhat, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center
11. Ghada Terawi, Filmmaker 12. Hanna Atallah, Filmmaker 13. Hanna
Elias, Filmmaker 14. Hany Abu-Assad, Filmmaker 15. Haya Al-Jareedy,
Filmmaker 16. Hayan Charara, Writer 17. Hazim Bitar, Filmmaker 18.
Iman Aoun, Ishtar Theatre 19. Iman Hammouri, Popular Art Centre 20.
John Halaka, Artist 21. Juliano Mer Khamis, Actor & Director 22. Kais
Al-Zubaidi, Filmmaker 23. Kamal Boullata, Artist 24. Karma Abu-Sharif,
Writer 25. Khadijeh.H.Abu-Ali, Filmmaker 26. Khaled Jubran, Musician
27. Larissa Sansour, Artist 28. Leila Sansour, Filmmaker 29. Liana
Saleh, Filmmaker 30. Lina Bokhary, Artist 31. Mahmoud Massad,
Filmmaker 32. Mai Masri, Filmmaker 33. Mazen Saade, Filmmaker & Writer
34. Michel Khleifi, Filmmaker 35. Miguel Littin, Filmmaker 36. Nabila
Irshaid, Artist 37. Nahed Awwad, Filmmaker 38. Najwa Najjar, Filmmaker
39. Nizar Hassan, Filmmaker 40. Omar Barghouti, Dance choreographer
41. Omar Qattan, Filmmaker 42. Osama Al-Zain, Filmmaker 43. Rana
Bishara, Artist 44. Rania Elias- Khoury, Yabous Productions 45. Rashid
Masharawi, Filmmaker 46. Reem Fadda, Palestinian Association of
Contemporary Art 47. Riyad Deis, Filmmaker 48. Rowan Al Faqih,
Filmmaker 49. Saed Andoni, Filmmaker 50. Saleh Bakri, Actor 51. Salim
Abu Jabal, Writer 52. Salwa Mikdadi, Curator 53. Samia A. Halaby,
Artist 54. Sobhi al-Zobaidi, Filmmaker 55. Suleiman Mansour, Artist
56. Suzy Salamy, Filmmaker 57. Taghreed Mishael, Filmmaker 58. Ula
Tabari, Filmmaker 59. Vera Tamari, Artist 60. Wafa Jamil, Filmmaker

See also: http://www.niamz.blogspot.com/ (blog of a Lebanese documentary filmmaker), http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article5193.shtml (letter from Palestinian filmmakers to Locarno International film Festival), http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060801/ennew_afp/mideastconflictlebanon_060801170709 (article relaying Greece’s decision to pull all Greek films from Haifa film festival), http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3286067,00.html (controversy over screening of 5 Days and funding from Israeli Embassy for filmmaker travel),  http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/news/articles/five_facts_about_five_days (official statement from Edinburgh Film Fest regarding controversy).

Goran Bregovic, the Balkan superstar composer best know for his soundtracks to the Emir Kusturica films Time of the Gypsies, Underground, and Arizona Dream had his first US performance last night at Chicago’s Millennium Park. The free concert took place under the new Frank Gehry bandshell against a backdrop of Chicago’s skyscrapers. A multi-lingual audience spread out their picnic blankets and sipped their wine on the grass until the music started, but after the first note, they never sat. The concert began with a funereal tune, but the mood changed almost immediately when two dueling Gypsy brass bands entered the concert area from opposite ends of the park.  From that point on, the entire Balkan population of Chicago was up and dancing. Anyone who has ever danced a Jewish hora or a traditional Greek circle dance could easily join in, and the music was so alive that it was impossible not to. Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra will perform at New York’s Lincoln Center on Thursday, July 13, 2006.