16 April
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In Special Series

TCFF STREAMS Our friends at the Twin Cities Film Fest are bringing their films right to your living room through their new streaming platform. Like many in the film industry and other non-profits, executive director Jatin Setia is finding innovative ways to keep his organization afloat in these times. It’s up in the air right now if they can offer the Twin Cities Film Fest this October given the coronavirus. Per the press release, “TCFF Streams films will be affordably priced at $5.99/play in partnership with our Affordability Sponsor, AARP Minnesota.  All films will be available for viewing, once purchased on the website, for the foreseeableRead More →

28 October
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In Interviews

“SCREAM, QUEEN: MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET” Interviews Nightmare on Elm Street 2 takes on different meanings depending on who you ask. For franchise devotees, it deviated from Freddy Krueger creator Wes Craven’s original concept. Ask members of the LGBTQ+ community and they may view this as the movie that made them realize they were gay. For actor Mark Patton, it was the film that ruined his budding career and made him leave Hollywood. That’s just the tip of the iceberg that unfolds in the documentary Scream, Queen!: My Nightmare on Elm Street. It played to a sold-out audience at the Twin Cities Film FestRead More →

20 October
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In Interviews

“WORKING MAN” INTERVIEWS The new film Working Man was the opening night feature for the Twin Cities Film Fest, which is celebrating its ten year anniversary. It stars Peter Gerety as Allery who loses his longtime job at a factory in the Rust Belt. He lives in a small town with his wife, Iola (Talia Shire), and this has been his daily life and routine for many years. He feels lost but not willing to give in. He takes it upon himself to break into the factory and go about his work as if nothing has happened. Part of the festivities every year include discussionsRead More →

20 September
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In Special Series

TWIN CITIES FILM FEST – CELEBRATING TEN YEARS I’ve been attending the Twin Cities Film Fest for many years now, and they have truly outdone themselves in honor of their 10th anniversary. If you’re looking to score tickets to films with early Oscar buzz, get thee to TCFF as they will be showcasing: Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story, Waves, Honeyboy, and A Hidden Life just to name a few. Let’s talk opening night. Mark off the entire evening as you’ll want to partake in the festivities. Starting the night at 6:00 is Jojo Rabbit, which just won the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.Read More →

24 October
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In Interviews

TWIN CITIES FILM FEST INTERVIEWS – JON HEDER & KENDALL GOLDBERG When Jeff Tried to Save the World The Twin Cities Film Fest does a fantastic job of bringing in A-list talent by having them showcase some of their smaller films that may not get noticed outside the festival circuit. We all remember Jon Heder from his goofy role in Napoleon Dynamite. It’s been fourteen years since the cult classic’s release, and he’s in a new movie call When Jeff Tried to Save the World. In it, he plays Jef who works at a small old-fashioned bowling alley. He finds out his boss is planningRead More →

30 September
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In Podcast

PODCAST EPISODE 34 – TWIN CITIES FILM FEST 2018 I have a brand new episode of my podcast “Paul’s Trip to the Movies” up on PodcastOne, Apple Podcasts, My Talk 1071’s website or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s brought to you by T-Rex Cookie Company. The Twin Cities Film Fest is back with its best lineup to date. Host Paul McGuire Grimes chats with Jatin Setia, its founder and executive director, and movie critic Jared Huizenga to discuss what we can expect from this year’s films, workshops, mixers, and star-studded appearances. It runs October 17-27th. Click HERE for the link on PodcastOne.Read More →

24 October
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In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: RUTH MARAMIS “HEARTS WANT” The Twin Cities Film Fest is currently in its eighth year showcasing a variety of films over a ten day period. Whether you want Oscar worthy features and independents to short films and Minnesota-made movies, there is something for everyone at the Twin Cities Film Fest. Ruth Maramis is the resident blogger for the Fest, but this year she wears the title of writer and producer. Hearts Want is her first film and is making its debut in the “The Ties That Bind Us (a Relationships Shorts Block).” I sat down with Ruth to discuss her transition from writingRead More →

17 October
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In Special Series

TWIN CITIES FILM FEST 2016 WHEN: October 19-29, 2019 WHERE: The Showplace ICON Theatre 1625 West End Blvd St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Every year the Twin Cites Film Fest brings an exciting assortment of films to Minnesota that may not normally get a wide theatrical release. In years past many movies featured like The Imitation Game, Room, Brooklyn, and Nebraska have gone ahead and received multiple Oscar nominations with a few going on to win. This year, Moonlight is the big film everybody has been buzzing about. It stars Mahershala Ali (House of Cards) and will no doubt be the talk of Oscar night.Read More →

30 October
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In Movie Reviews

ROOM Director: Lenny Abrahamson Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Joan Allen, William H. Macy The opening night gala film for the 2015 Twin Cities Film Fest was Room starring Brie Larson, which also received the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Expectations were high, but I went in knowing very little about the story. I came out absolutely blown away having gone through an emotional rollercoaster. Jack (Tremblay) is celebrating his fifth birthday with his mom (Larson) in the only place he knows about, which is Room. Room is the small little space they live in. There’s a sink, tub, rug,Read More →

20 October
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In Special Series

TWIN CITIES FILM FEST 2015 The Twin Cities Film Fest is upon us, and executive director Jatin Setia has delivered one of the best line-ups I’ve seen from the festival. The festival runs October 21-31, 2015 at the ShowPlace Icon Theaters at the Shops of West End in St. Louis Park, MN. Setia and Artistic Director Steve Snyder present a diverse line-up of studio films, independents, Minnesota made, documentaries, shorts, web series, and more. There is literally a film for any sort of moviegoer. The festival also features red carpet events including filmmaker interviews, mixers, and discussion panels. One big event includes a special dedicationRead More →