Scott is currently attending the Film Independent Fast Track program in L.A. and will return with his Editor's Note next week.

RED ROSES AND PETROL
A darkly comedic drama, Red Roses and Petrol is set in Dublin at the wake of Enda Doyle (Malcolm McDowell), a university librarian and poet, who is the flawed patriarch of a dysfunctional family struggling to come to terms with his death and with one another. The film explores the emotional dynamics of familial relationships with sharp humor and surprising turns. Based on a successful Irish play by Joseph O’Connor, and directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs, Red Roses and Petrol won first prize at the Avignon Film Festival, was runner up at the Westwood Film Festival, and received recognition at the Deauville Film Festival, AFI Fest, the Boston Irish Film Festival, the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Toronto Film Festival circuit, and the Palm Springs Film Festival.

ELSA & FRED
Elsa (China Zorrilla) is 82 years-old and for the past 60 years she has dreamt of a moment that Fellini had already envisioned: the scene of La Dolce vita at the Fontana di Trevi. Alfredo (Manuel Alexandre) is a little younger than Elsa and has always done what he is supposed to. After losing his wife, Alfredo's daughter (Blanca Portillo) decides that it would be best if he moved into a smaller apartment. It is here he meets Elsa. Fred surrenders to Elsa's frenzied youthfulness, boldness, and not to mention her whimsy. It is through Elsa that Alfredo learns how to live, that time is precious and he should enjoy every minute of it. Directed by Marcos Carnevale, Elsa & Fred is a romantic comedy about the irresistible power and complete madness of love when two people learn together that it’s never too late to love or dream.

This week on the blog, Scott Macaulay pays homage to George Carlin (pictured left), reports on Hammer to Nail producer Ted Hope's views on today's shifting independent film business and remembers John Carpenter's They Live? in regards to the coming "Omnivideo" age. Rose Vincelli covers this year's SILVERDOCS festival and its quirky participants.

To read more posts from our blog, click here.

I LOVE NEW YORK SHORT FILM COMPETITION
IFP is proud to sponsor New York State's "I Love New York" Short Film Competition. The competition invites filmmakers to produce their take on the iconic "I LOVE NY" campaign and depict what they love about the State in a 60-second short film. Filmmakers are able to submit their short films between June 1 and July 15. The winning film will air during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, on IFC, and on JetBlue’s in-flight entertainment system. Other prizes include Sony HD video equipment, New York weekend getaways and more. For more information, visit www.metacafe.com/iloveny.

CATHERINE BREILLAT, THE LAST MISTRESS
By Nick Dawson

Hated and loved in equal measure, Catherine Breillat is a filmmaker who could never be accused of being boring. In 2004, Breillat suffered a stroke and was confined to a hospital bed for five months, but remarkably a year to the day after the stroke, she began shooting her latest film, The Last Mistress.

Based on a novel by Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly, the film is a period piece and thus a significant departure for Breillat whose previous work has all been deeply grounded in modernity. She gets brave performances from her two ill-fated lovers, Aattou and Argento, and the stylistic grandeur perfectly offsets the emotional intensity of the film, which is Breillat's most exciting so far if not also her best. read more

JULY
Flint Film Festival
Submission Deadline: July 1, Aug. 15 (Final)
Festival Dates: Oct. 17 & 18

Scottsdale International Film Festival
Submission Deadline: July 1, Aug. 8 (Final)
Festival Dates: Oct. 3-7

San Diego Women Film Festival
Submission Deadline: July 1
Festival Dates: Oct. 2-5

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Submission Deadline: July 1
Festival Dates: Feb. 13-22

Find more festival deadlines here.