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DECEMBER 19TH, 2007: Jared and I just returned from a European tour which consisted of Stockholm, Gijon (Spain), and Torino. Quite extraordinary all around. Highlights were meeting Tinto Brass in Torino and talking shop, the Asturian cider house (and actually everything about Spain and the Spanish), the Italian hyper-intellectual audiences (and of course the food), and the serious (Bergman-fed) Swedes and their formal dinners. We met a lot of interesting and charming people on this trip, including filmmakers, press, sexologists, and cinephiles.
 Gijon and Torino honored me with retrospectives, and I was followed around by photographers who took glamour shots all over, including some in a vintage Mercedes. The Gijon catalogue stated (and I quoted to a shocked audience on opening night), that whereas the character in Peeping Tom used his camera as an aggressive phallus, Anna Biller uses her camera like "a playful, extroverted clit..." {read more in my blog} |
JUNE 19TH, 2007: Viva is playing in competition this week at the Moscow film festival, along with films by such greats as the 92 year old Kon Ichikawa, one of my favorite filmmakers of all time! The festival has generously invited Jared and I to attend, and I'll bring back a full report when I return. In the meantime, here is an interesting blog about Robert's recent visit to Moscow. |
I'm still recovering from the festivities of the CINEVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL, which we attended last weekend. We met some wonderful people there, drank alot, and were treated very well. It was all very "Hollywood," and there was a red carpet photo shoot for the STARS of Viva! Las Vegas is sin city! Bikini clad girls were walking around the casinos, and the air was filled with the promise of naughty pleasure. Bridget and I danced on a pole at a party, and they took pictures!  Photo credit: Charley Gallay |
The Maryland Film Festival was a lot of fun. The biggest highlight was riding in the backseat of a car with John Waters, cruising bars. We talked gay boys, film critics, and Noel Coward. Later that evening he invited everyone back to his house. It was a rare treat! And my dear friend Ryan Hill came over with his friend Kid from D.C. to see us, and we had such great talks about movies and other things. Plus I finally met Skizz Cyzyk from Microcinefest. So all in all the trip was DIVINE.  Photo credit: Matthew Buzzell |
Feb 14, 2007: Read about upcoming screenings and news in today's Viva Newsletter! |
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Jan 1st, 2007: I've just made the first VIVA NEWSLETTER, which includes the dates for the San Francisco Indiefest. They'll be playing VIVA 3 times, twice at the historic Roxie Cinema. Don't miss it! And we'll be flying off to Rotterdam in a couple of weeks for Viva's WORLD PREMIERE. Read more here. | %nbsp; |  |
Nov. 28, 2006: VIVA has just been accepted into the International Film Festival Rotterdam, taking place in January 2007. This will most likely be the official WORLD PREMIERE for VIVA! |
Nov. 17, 2006: VIVA has just been accepted into a retrospective of feminist women artists at MOCA, and will screen at the REDCAT Theater in March 2007 along with such filmmakers as Barbara Loden, Chantal Akerman, and Nina Menkes. |
Oct. 30, 2006: VIVA is mentioned in the current issue of The New Yorker magazine. It talks about the tawdry bathtub scene. See the PRESS KIT page for the quote! |
Oct. 22, 2006: VIVA has just been officially accepted into the San Francisco Indiefest. Check back for more news and updates! |
VIVA had its Cast/Crew premiere at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday Oct. 6. It was a smash success! A fabulous pre-screening talk was given by Tosh Berman, and the theater was buzzing with excitement as people raved about the visuals, acting, and humor, with many predicting its future as the most successful CULT CLASSIC since Rocky Horror. (See Anna's Blog for more) |
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Cory Clay, VIVA camera assistant, and John Klemantaski, Arthur, looking happy as two clams, and Jared Sanford, Mark, giving some attitude | Charles Schneider, infamous Hollywood personality and connoisseur of the weird, being doted on by director Anna Biller |
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From left: VIVA stars Bridget Brno, Chad England, Robbin Ryan, and Marcus DeAnda | From left: Anna Biller with famous live-in writer Robert Greene; and Iris and Karl Lohninger, the best sound team in Hollywood |
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| Clockwise, from top left: VIVA Cinematographer Thomas Lewis,and actors Barry Morse and Chad England, in blonde wigs; the fabulous LARVA with VIVA star Jared Sanford and glam makeup artist Joseph Hayes; director Anna Biller showing off on the table; camera assistant Cory having some fun; Joseph and Anna looking really drunk at about 2:00 AM. |
