In the mood for a tough dirty cop film from an SFF alum? Well, are ya, punk? (No, this one isn't starring Clint, but close!) Looking to find out the latest about the director of Submarine (and his connection to Seth Rogan)? Want to know what William H. Macy and Helen Hunt have been up to? You've come to the right place. We have all that and more!

OREN MOVERMAN

Oren Moverman is a force to be reckoned with. His powerhouse feature The Messenger starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson (also SFF attendees) played SFF 2009 and he returned in 2010 to support the stage reading of his screenplay for Queer, currently in development for director Steve Buscemi (another SFF alum who played a devastated father in The Messenger). Moverman's latest is Rampart starring Woody Harrelson with supporting roles for Foster, Buscemi, Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) and Sigourney Weaver. The story is set in 1999 Los Angeles and focuses on "renegade cop" Dave Brown (Harrelson) who struggles to keep his career and family together in the wake of his violent acts as an officer. Rampart was co-written by James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) who knows a thing or two about dirty cops. Don't miss it!

WILLIAM H. MACY & HELEN HUNT

William H. Macy has been a very busy actor since his appearances at SFF! He has earned accolades for his portrayal of Frank Gallagher, patriarch of a clan of connivers and survivors in the Showtime hit Shameless. And he has continued his impressive run of stunning supporting roles

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A year ago SFF director Tom Hall strolled up to me at our Selby Gardens press launch event and said, "I have a prediction for you: Christopher Plummer, Best Supporting Actor Oscar-win for Beginners in 2012." And if you watched the presentation on Sunday, you know he nailed it!

Christopher Plummer made a lasting impression at SFF with his wit and candor, his air of both old Hollywood and new. Most impressive of all was his stunningly heartfelt performance as a man who delivers two startling revelations to his son: first that he is dying of cancer and second that he is gay. The performance earned Mr. Plummer not only an Oscar, but also a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award (the British Academy Award) as well as wins and nominations from a host of film critics awards, the Screen Actors Guild, the GLAAD Media Awards, the Independent Spirit Awards and so many more. Now you can see this movie again and even take it home. It is currently available on DVD, Blu-ray, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and many other platforms!

Here is a special treat for you loyal readers. The complete video of Christopher Plummer's In Conversation With interview from SFF 2011!

2011 youthFEST favorite The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore also triumphed at the Academy Awards taking home the prize for Best Animated Short Feature! Huge props to filmmakers William Joyce (award-winning childrens book author and illustrator) and Brandon Oldenburg (who has worked on films such as Robots and Spy Kids

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News flash! Wild and provocative genre films are becoming a staple of film festivals worldwide and SFF is no exception. In recent years we've brought you Another Earth, Trollhunter, Don't Go in the Woods, The Oregonian, and others. SFF Sideways Cinema is here to give you the heads up on more edgy and cool titles — including one featuring this guy!

Number one at the box office this week is Chronicle, the teen superpowers movie written by Max Landis, son of SFF alum John Landis (director of The Blues Brothers, Animal House, Coming to America, Burke and Hare). Max has written for his dad in the past (Masters of Horror: The Deer Woman), so fingers-crossed he'll do it again and one day we can have 'em both at SFF. (Hey, I can dream...)

For fans of last year's Another Earth, here's a visually stunning, mind-bending romance set on alternate earths starring Kirsten Dunst (fresh off Lars von Trier's Melancholia) and Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe). It's called Upside Down and it's a Romeo and Juliet-style SF-action-romance that has to be seen to be believed. So take a look!

So, you didn't get enough William S. Burroughs when we had both the documentary about his life and a staged reading of Queer performed here by an all-star cast? Well, John Dies at the End isn't Boroughs, but the influence of Boroughs and Phillip K. Dick sure can be felt in this tale of a drug with the street name soy sauce that promotes out of body experiences.

One of the craziest things about John Dies

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