Veteran Film editor Sean Cullen will be heading the Advanced Editing Program this year. Sean, with a MFA in Sound Designed from Yale University, was trained by Walter Murch and has worked with Hollywood luminaries including directors Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Mendes and Oscar winners Kathryn Bigelow and Anthony Minghella. A pioneer in the Apple’s Final Cut Pro (Minghella’s “Cold Mountain”) Sean has recently published a book on feature Film workflows. He has lectured at the Telluride Film Festival and MacWorld. He has just finished Editing a feature length documentary on the Austrian artist Otto Muehl.

Director-Producer Don Device will be the main directing professor for the senior year undergraduates. Don graduated from CalArts where he studied with the late (and great) Director and teacher Alexander MacKendrick (author the classic “On Filmmaking”). Don has directed over 30 films including shorts, sitcoms, videos, and industrial films. For the past ten years, Don has devoted himself primarily to the production of 3D films.

Artist and filmmaker Kapwani Kiwanga comes aboard the EICAR team as the new Head Professor for the senior Master Students. Kapwani, a graduate of McGill University, has won numerous international awards for her work with video, sound and installation as well as for her short films. Her work has been widely shown at Film festivals, art institutions and on international television. Recently, she has been an artist in residence at the prestigious MU Foundation in the Netherlands.

Bob Swaim, the director of EICAR’s international department, was a distinguished guest at the International S-3D & New Images Forum that took place at Dock Pullman, a conference center located on the studio lot that also houses EICAR. Dimension 3 is dedicated to exploring cutting edge 3D technology, as well as analyzing potential business models, production, processing and broadcasting methods for stereoscopic 3D. You can find more information about the forum on their website: dimension3-expo.com

Pictured here are stills from the making of BFA 1 Juliette Swierczewski's short film ACCORDS ET DISACCORDS, a surreal and funny take on classical musicians who want to change the world. Students will soon meet to discuss lessons learned from the production semester and a general assessment of their experiences. This is part of the rubric of the international department's learning by doing philosophy.

Head Professor Chantal Perrin recently returned from Mexico where she was shooting a documentary about the underwater sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor. Made for the prime-time national renowned television program, “Thalassa”, the film focuses on this unique artist whose work makes up an artificial reef, welcoming marine life to grow on and transform his sculptures.

He is currently in the process of creating an underwater museum of 400 sculptures in Cancun, with the goal of attracting amateur divers and taking the strain off of the coral reefs in danger.
>> To see the sights

As president of the jury, he hosted a screenplay competition featuring writers and directors from many countries as well as local entries. He also hosted several workshops to help promote filmmaking in the area of Southern Morroco. The festival was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. >> For more details

The Paris film archive Forum des Images recently presented a screening of Bob Swaim’s award winning documentary “Lumičres Noires” about the International Congress of Black Writers and Artists.

The film recounts the story of this event, which took place in 1956 and brought together intellectuals of the African Diaspora on the eve of independence of several African nations. The film was presented as part of the festival “France Noire/Black France” and Bob Swaim was joined at the screening by Benetta Jules-Rosette (historian, professor at the University of San Diego), as well as Mamadou DIOUF (historian), and Sébastian DANCHIN (historian and screenwriter).

An art exhibit taking place at the “Galerie Celal” on Rue Saint Honoré.

A video he created was presented there as part of the collective exhibition “Mode de Vie + Légčreté”.

>> You can find more information about the gallery on their website.

Laura MAUKENOVA, a 1st Year Masters of Fine Arts Student from Kazakhstan, just received a special mention for her film "May There Always Be Sunshine" at the Italian Festival "Immagina" in Leini, near Turin.

Congratulations Laura!

Mahdi AL-SHARSHANI (Master of Fine Arts, 2nd Year) is the subject of a video on the website of The Gulf Film Festival, where his Film Champs-Elysées, je t’aime, representing EICAR as well as his country Qatar, recently screened. You can follow him as he arrives at the festival, discusses the difficulties encountered in making the film, and finally presents it to a sold out audience, who give their feedback after the screening. EICAR again on the world front! Congrats Mahdi.
Please see the below link:
http://www.dohatribecafilm.com/videos/video-detail/item_200220.htm

After months of preparation, involving the construction of elaborate "machines" that necessitated a considerable focus on production design, Liran HUTMACHER (Bachelor of Fine Arts 3rd Year) recently wrapped his film "The Mechanism of Love" after a five-day shoot. The film explores the idea of love as we follow the character of The Assembler while he works on various machines, which act as metaphors for the relationships of different characters.

The film was shot with the recently released Canon 7D still camera, which offers the capability of shooting professional quality HD video.

L’Absence, shot by EICAR cinematography professor Sophie CADET, was recently released to wide acclaim.

Les Inrockuptibles called it "a first film of stunning purity", Les Cahiers du Cinéma saluted a "fine trio of actresses", while Studio CinéLive complimented the "poetic beauty of silences and an impeccable cast".

The film is currently playing in Paris at the cinema Reflet Médicis in the Latin Quarter.

Congratulations Sophie!

Inaugurating the Student Jury Prize at the 18th annual Cinérail festival, four students from the International Department (Juliette SWIERCZEWSKI, Nathan YAMNIAK, Quiren VAN DEN BRANDELER and Just-Aurčle MEISSONNIER) awarded "Le Prix EICAR" to the British film The Progression of Love, directed by Luke Rogers. Impressed by the simplicity of this self-produced short film, the Jury was touched by the subtly of approach, dealing with an ordinary moment in the life of the two protagonists.

With films from 40 different countries in competition this year, Cinérail is a unique festival that presents the best short films inspired by trains.

This festival which is celebrating its 18th edition this year, selects the best short films inspired by trains from around the world.





Juliette SWIERCZEWSKI, Nathan YAMNIAK, Quiren VAN DEN BRANDELER and Just-Aurčle MEISSONNIER will watch all the films in competition before awarding the EICAR Prize on March 9th, 2010.


>Let’s get started!

The Festival Européen du film Indépendant (ÉCU), a European competitor to Sundance, as well as the Festival International du court-métrage de Cergy-Pointoise.

It seems that hardly a month go by without the announcement of another festival selection for Samuel’s hugely successful film!

The film “Champs Elysées, je t’aime” by Mahdi Ali Al-Sharshani (Master student) has been screened in the student competition at the Dubai International Film Festival, one of the leading Film festivals in the Middle East.

Congratulations Mahdi!

EICAR students will be well represented at the FIFE Maroc, a student film festival in Casablanca to be held in March. Among the films to be screened are:

- “Zerowards” by Samuel Hefti
- “Patterns of Birds” by Auguste Rhamberg
- “Spin of the Senses” by David Walz & Benjamin Assouline
- “Jingle Bell Fever” by Bartosz Kowalski


Congratulations to the students selected, and best of luck in competition!

In record cold weather, students kept themselves warm by viewing scores of outstanding films in the main competition as well as attending side events such as the Panorama selection, the Forum and the Talent Campus.

The legendary German Director Werner Herzog was President of the Berlinale jury which awarded its Golden Bear to the Turkish film “Bal” (Honey). Roman Polanski won the Silver Bear for his film “The Ghost Writer” as well as the Best Director Award.

EICAR, an Apple Authorized Training Center and a member of the Apple on Campus program, offered international students the opportunity to take the Apple Certification test as part of their curriculum. The 92% Pass rate achieved by our students illustrates their personal competence and commitment as well as the quality of the school’s programs. Our students, now recognized by the industry as Apple certified editors, can look confidently for job opportunities worldwide.

On January 27th, Randa HAINES presented her award winning film, “Children of a Lesser God” and spoke to EICAR students about its production and her creative process. She focused on working with the two leads, William Hurt and the newcomer Marlee Matlin, who under Haines’ direction went on to win an Oscar for her role, launching a long and varied career.

Throughout her career, Randa Haines has moved with ease between feature films and television, directing such films as The Doctor, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, Dance With Me, The Ron Clark Story, and the highly acclaimed telefilm Something About Amelia.

The Festival du Cinéma Européen de Lille, a prestigious French film festival showcasing short films, has selected 2 EICAR films for their 26th annual festival. Both Zerowards by Samuel Hefti (Bachelor of Fine Arts 3rd Year) and Jingle Bell Fever by Bart Kowalski (Master of Fine Arts 2nd Year) will be screened at the festival, to be held in Lille from the 26th of February to the 5th of March.

Zerowards, the Film by Samuel Hefti (Bachelor of Fine Arts 3rd Year), continues to be a success on the festival circuit. It has already been selected at several international festivals, and it was recently presented at two important Film festivals in Switzerland: the SHNIT International Short Film Festival (in Berne as well as Cologne, Germany), and the 45th Solothurn Film Festival.

Jacob Berger, a filmmaker of Swiss and British origin, came to EICAR where he presented his most recent film “1 journée” made in Switzerland starring Bruno Todeschini, Natacha Régnier, and Noémie Kocher.

Berger has worked extensively for Swiss Romande Television and directed several feature films, most notably “Aime ton pčre” featuring Guillaume and Gérard Depardieu.

After the film he took questions about the production, working with actors, and his intentions while making the film.

Independent producer from New Zealand, Liz DiFiore, came to EICAR to lecture about “independent filmmaking in the world outside of Hollywood” and showed a rough cut of a film currently in Post-Production, Remain In Light, directed by Stephen Sinclair, an associate of Peter Jackson.

After the screening, DiFiore took comments from EICAR students and spoke about the Production of the film.

Willard and Gloria Huyck, the screenwriting team who worked on such films as American Graffiti, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, came to EICAR to lecture to the students about “screenwriting in the big league”.

They took questions about their long and varied careers, working within the Hollywood system, and their creative process.

“Dear Chandima”, Yoshanka Samarawira’s Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis film, has received an honorable mention at the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.

Congratulations Yoshanka!

You can find more information about the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival on their website: http://www.lareelfilmfest.com/

Michelange Quay, the MFA1 head professor and directing teacher, has won the Silver Prize at the Potenza International Film Festival in Italy for his feature “Eat, For This Is My Body”.

Congratulations Michelange!

You can find more information about the Potenza International Film Festival on their website: http://www.potenzafilmfestival.it/en/

Richard Leacock, the influential documentary filmmaker who played a key role in the development of Direct Cinema, came to EICAR to speak with EICAR students and show his work.
He spoke about his long and varied career, including everything from working with documentary pioneer Robert Flaherty, to the development of the first cameras with synch-sound, utilized on the landmark film Primary.

“Pogacha ” directed by Balint Mark Turi from Hungary (Bachelors of Fine Arts, 3rd Year) was screened on the Péniche Cinéma on October 29, 2009 as part of a bi-monthly screening of student films. The Péniche Cinéma is located on a boat docked on the Canal de l’Ourcq. For more information go to: http://www.penichecinema.com/

Balint’s film has already been selected at numerous festivals and continues to be a success!

International Department inaugurated the first annual screening and competition in the prestigious Henri Langlois Theatre at the Cinémathčque Française. The screening was a huge success, filling the Cinémathčque's largest theater with several hundred spectators.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of the Grand Jury 's VDM Fiction Prize for Best Film. VDM's President Jean-Bernard FETOUX presented the award (12 000 € of post production, including editing, color correction, and sound design, in VDM's state-of-the-art facilities) to graduating Swedish student – Auguste Rahmberg for his provocative film, “Patterns of Birds”.

All of the prize winners - Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Screenplay - were given the Kodak Young Filmmakers Guide, compliments of Kodak.

The competition was presided over by an international jury of industry professional:


Tcheky KARYO (Actor) was the jury president, joined by:

Jean-Bernard FETOUX (Producer)
Saďd BEN SAĎD (Producer)
Willy KURANT (Cinematographer)
Noemi KOCHER (Actress & Screenwriter)
Steve UJLAKI (Producer)
Thomas SANCHEZ (Screenwriter, Novelist, and Filmmaker)
Guillaume SCIAMA (Sound Engineer)
Hervé SCHNEID (Editor)
John PETT (Documentary Filmaker)


The president of the Cinémathčque, Serge TOUBIANA, introduced the screening, speaking of the important partnership between EICAR’s International Department and the Cinémathčque Française, as well as the place of today’s students in the future of the international Film industry.


THE FOLLOWING FILMS WERE AWARDED BY THE JURY:

Grand Prize of the Jury: “Patterns of Birds” – Auguste RAHMBERG
Best Direction: “Can I Hear Your Voice?” – Boon KIAORUENROM
Best Screenplay: “The Lesson” – Paul NATALE
Best Cinematography: “Can I Hear Your Voice?” – Ville PIIPPO
Best Editing: “The Lesson” – Paul NATALE

On November 5th, a screening was held at the Kodak theatre, projecting EICAR's International Department student films. A screening of nearly 3 hours showcased the work of the previous year, giving the students the opportunity to see their films on the big screen, in the presence of their crew and actors.

Alex GONZALES, a former Masters of Fine Arts student, has returned to Chicago where he has recently started working at Bailout Pictures (http://www.bailoutpictures.com), a production company founded by another EICAR alumni, Felix PINEIRO. They recently completed a promotional trailer for the autobiography of the prestigious writer Ray BRADBURY, author of “Farenheit 451.”
http://www.bailoutpictures.com/photography.html>

Paul NATALE (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2008) is working as a Production Manager at a commercial Production company in NYC.

Speaking of his experience working in New-York, he said:

"I have been back in NYC for a little over a year now, and apart from my work at SKUNK, I have directed/edited a 7-part webseries titled "PB&J," wrote/directed/edited a music promo titled "Cycles," shot a making-of for the band Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" promo shoot (directed by Hammer & Tongs of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy" fame) and shot behind-the-scenes footage for a fashion show during Fashion Week New York. I've also edited a few short films for filmmaker friends of mine, and later this month I will write/direct/edit another music promo.”

Paul Natale’s films made in EICAR are still selected and awarded in festivals through the world.

Congratulation, Paul!

"PB&J and the Great Bomb Adventure" Episode 7 from PB&J on Vimeo.

“Le Manifeste”, a film by Felix SCHOELLER (Bachelor of Fine Arts 2nd Year) has been selected at both the Cambridge and Syracuse film festivals, and will also be broadcast on the American television station WTOP 10.

Congratulations Felix, and best of luck in competition!

Denny KRISTANTO’S Film ”Vert” made while at EICAR in the Masters of Fine Arts program, has been selected at the festival Côté courts français. The Film is also selected in competition for FIKE - Evora International Short Film Festival in Portugal.

Congratulations Denny, and good luck in the competition!

Auguste Rahmberg’s Bachelors of Fine Arts 3rd Year thesis film, “Patterns of Birds,” has been awarded the prize for “Meilleur image” (Best Photography) at the Saint-Maur Festival du Court-métrage. Brandon RUBESH, a Bachelor of Fine Arts 3rd Year student, was the director of photography on Auguste’s film.

Congratulations Auguste and Brandon for the award, and we hope the film continues to win awards at festivals!

>> Saint-Maur Festival

Nancy has worked on such notable features as Mathieu Kassovitz’s Babylon AD, the James Bond Casino Royal, The Illusionist, Bourne Identity, and Hellboy, to name a few. Nancy talked about strategies and techniques for film casting in front of a packed house of Master and undergraduate students. Nancy has just published "Secrets from the Casting Couch", a practical guide for actors and directors which offers specific techniques for working in front of camera. The book also addresses casting in the Internet age, and suggests strategies for using today’s technologies to get cast.

EICAR International Department Director Bob SWAIM is having his award-winning documentary "Lumičres Noires" screened on France 2, the French National Television Network, on Oct. 22.

This film is about the First Assembly of Writers & Artists which took place in Paris in 1956.

This event was of the least known but one of the most important events of the twentieth century, changing the geo-political landscape of the world and giving birth to the African independence moment which swept the African continent in the 1960's.

EICAR students are back to work. The admission Committee announced a particularly impressive level among the new Master and undergraduate students.


"The quality and level of our new students is quite impressive as well as the cultural diversity of our new incoming classes", the committee wrote.

As part of the on-going and evolving partnership with the Cinémathčque Française, the world’s first and one of the foremost film archives and research center, EICAR will be screening a selection of it’s best 2009 productions in the Cinémathčque prestigious Henri Langlois Theatre.

The films will be screened before EICAR students, film professionals, and a jury composed of European filmmakers.

This is the first International Department Wedding!

It means we do not only create fiction, we create true love!!!

On behalf of the International Department at Eicar,
we would like to congratulate them!

Balint Turi’s film "Pogacha" is in competition at Cinefest, in Miskolc, Hungary.

Cinefest is a hot International film festival for young filmmakers.
Each year, the festival attracts thousands of film fans and visitors from the whole world. After a careful pre-selection, the top 40-50 films have the opportunity to compete in the official program.

Congratulations Balint and good luck to your film!

Prize winning former BFA student Paul Natale (from the U.S.) is doing great as his Film "Cassie", shot at school in HD.

He has been selected again at Cinefest, in Miskolc, Hungary, for the special program "Women On Screen".

Congratulations Paul! !

In addition, it will be shown at the Gothenburg film festival in November, 2009.

August Rahmberg's EICAR production was shot in the 35mm format.


We wish August and his movie a lot of success!

EICAR has developed a partnership with Monfilfest, the Italian Film Festival organized by Associazione Immagina (www.immagina.net) with the collaboration of Adriano Valerio as Responsible for foreign relations.

Three movies from the International Department are presented at the Festival in September 2009:

"Surrenders", by Samuel Hefti (from Switzerland)
"La Truite", by Ari Allansson (from Iceland)
"Pogatcha", by Balint Mark Turi (from Hungary).

You will find short definitions for more than 130 words, such as "camera flare", "production design", "wet down", "loudspeaker", "cut-in"… and so on.

If you are looking for definitions specifically linked to Directing, Cinematography, Sound, Scriptwriting, Production, Editing… you will find this new feature extremely useful.

Please click here

It was a great honour for our head teacher of MFA1, Michelange QUAY, to have his visionary Haitian feature Film "EAT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY" and his ferocious Film poem manifesto,"THE GOSPEL OF THE CREOLE PIG" presented by veteran Film maverick Jonathan DEMME, most recently director of the independant Film "RACHEL GETTING MARRIED" and "THE AGRONOMIST", at the FIAF Global Nomads Series on Haitian culture in New York City.

The screenings were followed by a discussion between Jonathan DEMME, an admirer of both films, and the filmmaker, Michelange QUAY.

This event was part of a larger showcase of Haitian Film, Art, and Culture, the FIAF Global Nomads series, sponsored by the The French Institute.

A supportive crew stood next to Samantha during her shooting.

We wish Samantha and her film good luck!

His Film received a warm welcome in Italia as well as in international Film festivals.
From the first months of its distribution, "Orbit" was selected at the Brianza Film Festival (where it received a special mention), at the Visioni Italiane Bologna Festival, at the Porto International short Film festival, at the Geneva Film Festival and, of course, the list is non exhaustive.

Good Luck Adriano!

Pogacha, a short Film directed by BFA2 student, Balint MARK TURI (from Hungary), has been selected at the Nisi Masa festival in Italy (Ravine Lago).

His Film is part of a section called A Matter of Taste: a multi-event about food & Film in Europe.
Hungary has also opened its doors to Pogacha as the Film is in competition at the Budapest Short Film Festival-BuSho. Since 2005, BuSho has been famous for being the biggest international Film festival of Hungary, for short films only. The films are judged by an international jury and the National Hungarian Student Jury, present in most of the major Hungarian festivals.
A selection of the winning shorts will be screened in several short Film festivals all over Europe as well as in various universities of Hungary.

Congratulations Balint and good luck to your film!

EICAR post-graduate Master students as well as some professors were participating in many of the Cannes side-bar events -workshops, lectures, and parties- as well as seeing an average of three to four films a day.
Additionally, some of the grad students were scouting for financing for their future "post-EICAR" projects.

Bart KOWALSKI, Master's student, says:


"The Festival has been an incredible experience for all of us! Not only have we discovered new filmmakers but we've also learned a lot about the film business. The business side of filmmaking is something that most of us film students are unaware of. At Cannes, it's a lot about deal-making and how to put the financing of your film together.
Priceless information."