Don’t forget the harshness of life in North Korea — Defector Gyu-Min Gim discusses his film “The Gift of Love”

The most painful thing is that many people turn away from the numerous deaths in North Korea, says North Korean defector filmmaker Gyu-min Gim who lived contemporaneously with them and witnessed many deaths.  Mr. Gim spoke with Winter Film Awards’ Youlim Nam about his film “The Gift of Love”. See “The Gift of Love” on February 16, 2019 @3:45 at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.  

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Desire for wonder – “Wonderlus” is a truly realistic romance from South Africa by Johan Cronje

Johan Cronje’s “Wonderlus” is a realistic, smart romantic film from South Africa that makes us question our opinions about love, marriage, happily-ever-after endings. A wedding goes awry and the morning after, friends and foes need to piece together the puzzle of the night before. In search of answers, a groom needs to pursue the love of his life, a bride has to untangle herself from the past and a waitress tries to escape the present. See “Wonderlus” on Saturday Feb 16 @1:00pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. 

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When love leads to A Bitter Reckoning – a talk with Director Albert Fry Jr.

Suicide isn’t an open and shut case in “A Bitter Reckoning”.  When Sheriff Rodgers returns with more questions, it becomes obvious that the suicide of Lester’s father may not be so straightforward.  How do you handle it when your aging parents start to fail?  Is it wrong to help them when they are ready to be done?

See “A Bitter Reckoning” on February 20, 2019 @ 7:45 pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.  Winter Film Awards’ Walter Howard recently spoke with director Albert Fry Jr. about the film.

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Would you die for the one you love? “Winter Ridge” ices the whodunit genre

Would you die for the one you love? A thrilling whodunit flick, Winter Ridge is the story of promising detective Ryan Barnes, who’s struggling to come to terms with wife’s condition after an accident on their anniversary places her in a coma. Six months removed from the crash and still in a coma, Barnes buries himself in a case that involves a serial killer who’s targeting elderly, medically fragile victims.

See “Winter Ridge” on February 17, 2019 @ 3:45 pm pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.  Winter Film Awards Jerry Del Priore recently spoke with director Dom Lenoir about the film.

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A Romeo and Juliet story for the elderly – TOGETHER, a film by Paul Duddridge

Love transcends age. Inspired by real-life stories of elderly couples caught up in the social services system, Paul Duddridge’s “Together” is a powerful drama about an elderly couple who get separated into different care homes against their will.

See the US premiere of “Together” on February 17, 2019 @ 1:00 pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.  Winter Film Awards Olivia Butler recently spoke with director Paul Duddridge about the film.

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Rocky meets Spinal Tap in the hilarious new “Return of the Thumb”

GET READY TO THUMBLE! Coach Steve wants to take his last chance to win the Austrian thumb wrestling championship. Unfortunately the competition seems overwhelming. In Return of the Thumb, first time feature-length director Florian Convey has created a refreshing comedy about the life or death sport of thumb wrestling – a brilliant, straight-faced satire that is thoroughly hilarious and entertaining throughout.

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A Scientist’s Guide to Exploring the Unknown

Life and art overlap when creating a film about pregnancy in your own Brooklyn apartment while you are actually pregnant with your first child. A Scientist’s Guide to Living and Dying shows a uniquely personal exploration of fear, hope, love and the meaning of life and death. See the New York City premiere of “A Scientist’s Guide to Living and Dying” on February 21, 2019 @ 7:45 pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. 

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Sarah Deakins’ “Yellow” is the color of fleeting moments that exist forever

Sarah Deakins beautiful new short film “Yellow” is the story of connections among strangers; we effect and ripple through each others’ lives whether we are aware of it or not. Ten characters each experience a crossroads in their lives on a seemingly ordinary afternoon in an art gallery. See the New York City premiere of “Yellow” on February 21, 2019 @ 7:45 pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.  Winter Film Awards Olivia Butler recently spoke with Sarah about the film.

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When Love turns to Loss … An Interview with the Director Aksel Rifman of “Monsters”

A riveting, on your seat, action film, “Monsters” explores some pertinent themes including: the abuse of patriarchy, the sanctity of matrimony, and finding and holding onto true love. Enticing, provocative, and action-packed, feature film “Monsters” underlying dark message tests the limits of love. From the first scene we’re not sure whether to brace ourselves for a cliche coming-of-age drama, or to expect something else.  See the New York City Premiere of Monsters on Sunday Feb 17 in the 9:15pm -12:00am screening block at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 8th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.

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