A Fini favorite from 2009 (not just the film, but the people), “Beyond Ipanema” is screening on March 18 at South by Southwest.

A passion project from Guto Barra & Beco Dranaff, the film had it’s world premiere at the Museum of Modern Art last summer. It was a great projector (rolling off of HDCam), a fantastic crowd, and featured a live drum line of high school students playing Brazilian-style as the credits finished rolling.

Congratulations to Mike Mazur & Jason Boyer of the feature documentary, “Coming Clean”. Their film was accepted in the New York International Independent Film festival. It’s a bi-costal affair. “Coming Clean” recently screened in LA and we’ll be able to see it here in NYC in July.

Mike Mazur, co-director and editor, and I have been working together for several years. We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. I don’t think he’ll mind me saying he has seen tragedy resulting from drug and alcohol addition. He’s seen it up close and personal. In the years I’ve know him it’s been clear he’s pulled to showing the kinds of stories highlighted in “Coming Clean”. He was torn by the moral dilemma posed by undertaking this film – and even though the ending makes for good drama, everyone involved wishes things had ended differently. I’m proud to have been affiliated with this project.