"Every novice filmmaker aspires to have their first feature praised by their peers. If they're extremely fortunate, their earliest work will be embraced by critics and well-attended by audiences. Less often, their first feature will even be lauded with awards in their home country and abroad." remarks Jonathan Marlow of Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck whose remarkable new drama The Lives of Others has won several German Lola's and has been nominated by the Academy. Marlow had a chance to talk with Donnersmarck here in San Francisco.

And now the film, which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, is out on DVD.

By Shannon Gee

Shannon Gee was able to catch the premiere of Guy Maddin.s Brand Upon the Brain! at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. It was the very first screening of the film with all the elements in place: The live Narrator, there played by Louis Negin, the live score by members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, vocals performed by a .castrato found in the steam baths of Winnipeg. and three Foley artists to provide the silent film.s sound effects.

Brand Upon the Brain! will be screening at the San Francisco International Film Festival -- click here for ticket info.

By Cathleen Rountree

Upon first meeting one of the great humanist filmmakers, Hirokazu Kore-eda, last September at the Toronto International Film Festival, I was struck by his modesty and peacefulness, characteristics embodied also by Soza (Junichi Okada), the reluctant swordsman/hero in Kore-eda.s most recent film Hana, screening this week at SFIFF. An aficionada of his four previous films: Maborosi (1996), After Life (1999), Distance (2002), and Nobody Knows (2004), I was ecstatic at the opportunity to meet and speak with this foremost world cinema director, who, as far as I.m concerned, should be considered one of Japan.s Living Treasures.