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When she was a student at the prestigious Lodz Film School in Poland, Jagoda Szelc was offered the chance to shoot a feature film. It was an unexpected opportunity for the aspiring filmmaker, who was then in her third year. But after it was produced on a shoestring budget, “Tower. A Bright Day” would go on to play the Berlin Film Festival and win a host of awards in Poland, unexpectedly catapulting Szelc into the limelight.

It was not an easy place for a first-time filmmaker to be. “I was very lost,” Szelc admits. Critics compared “Tower” to the works of male directors and seemed flummoxed that a young woman could helm such an auspicious debut. In one TV segment that left a lasting mark, two male presenters argued that Szelc was too young to understand what she was doing behind the camera. “There was a lot of patronizing [behavior toward] me,...

Well, well. Fans of recent Us martial arts flicks Undisputed III and Ninja wondering when we'd next get to see star Scott Adkins and director Isaac Florentine in action won't have long to wait. Word has just arrived that the long standing collaborators will continue their fruitful relationship with Blood Hostage, a new martial arts action film built around the Israeli discipline of krav maga.  Set to launch production July 15th, the film is the first of a slate of six set up with Israel's Praxis Films by actress / producer Shirly Brener. Also on board as a producer is William Chartoff, who filled the same role on Stallone's Rocky Balboa. Here's the official announcement:

Los Angeles, CA., June 14, 2010 --Actress/producer Shirly Brener (Righteous Kill / Hit List) has teamed up with Praxis Films (Spring 1941 / Joseph Fiennes) to produce a slate of 6 films.  The first film under the pact will be...

Which will include Coppola's Tetro which premiers at Cannes for a total of 392 films which includes 31 world premiers and 203 narrative features. Man, Siff always has good stuff, I wish I could go. Any writers in Seattle want to provide coverage for us?

Check out some of the premiers after the break.

World Premieres

Back to the Garden, Flower Power Comes Full Circle, directed by Kevin Tomlinson (USA, 2009)

Dancing Across Borders, directed by Anne H. Bass (USA/Cambodia, 2009)

Facing Ali, directed by Pete McCormack (Canada, 2009)

The Hills Run Red, directed by Dave Parker (USA, 2009)

Icons Among Us, directed by Michael Rivoira, Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt (USA, 2009)

I’m No Dummy, directed by Bryan W. Simon (USA, 2009)

Pop Star On Ice, directed by David Barba (USA/Canada/Russia/Japan, 2009)

The Spy and the Sparrow, directed by Garrett Bennett (USA, 2009)

talhotblond, directed by Barbara Schroeder (USA, 2008)

The Whole Truth, directed by Colleen Patrick (USA,...