We recently learned that John has won the 2013 Lifetime Achievement PROGIE Award from The Progressive. John shares this award with co-winner Robert Redford. The Progressive writes: Since 1979’s “The Return of the Secaucus Seven” — a look back at ’60s student radicalism — writer/director John Sayles has displayed a singular, independent vision. 1983’s “Lianna” dealt with lesbianism long before it was chic to do so; 1984’s “The Brother From Another Planet” tackled racism; while

The Australian literary phenomenon Women of Letters is bringing their incredible cultural salon to New York for the very first time, with two events next week! John at SXSW with Marieke Hardy, co-founder of Women Of Letters. You might remember that John was part of the People of Letters event last year at SXSW in Austin, where the theme was “To the Thing I Wish I’d Written.”  John presented a letter to the Star-Spangled Banner.  Co-curated by Michaela McGuire and Marieke Hard

John and Maggie have spent February in Hawaii, teaching master classes and doing Q&As at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (where John has been in residence as the 2014 Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals). Now that their time on the islands is wrapping up, Maggie sends us this greeting, and an artist shout-out. Greeting from sunny Oahu! I won’t rub it in just to say I am so happy to be away from snow. We’d like to acknowledge Shepard Fairey and thank him for designing the John

Please take a look at this forthcoming project from Cesar Alejandro, an old friend of John and Maggie’s who played the fighting cock trainer in AMIGO. Cesar is working to make a documentary about the life and art of Luis Jimenez, the first Latino/Hispanic sculptor to come to National and International prominence in the United States. Luis opened roads when there were none, back in the 60s, when embracing your roots and surviving weren’t two things that could go well together.

You may have heard that today is Giving Tuesday, which is the charitable giving cohort to shopping on Black Friday. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we’d like to draw attention to the great work of the Amigo For Bohol team, and also encourage you to help the people of the Philippines today if you are able. Joel Torre and AMIGO cast/crew members being interviewed by local TV at the benefit screening We have pictures and a report from the AMIGO benefit screenings that took plac

You will remember that last month a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO were affected by this catastrophic event.  The Amigo Para Sa Bohol (“Amigo for Bohol”) effort was created to use benefit screenings of the film to collect monetary and physical donations for victims of the national disaster. As you have no doubt heard, this region is once again in the news due to Super Typhoo

Members of the AMIGO cast and crew You will remember that last month a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO were affected by this catastrophic event.  The Amigo Para Sa Bohol (“Amigo for Bohol”) effort was created to use benefit screenings of the film to collect monetary and physical donations for victims of the national disaster. Screenings have been scheduled for: Friday, Novemb

As we told you yesterday, a recent massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO have been affected by this catastrophic event. Read the full story here. In order to help, Maggie and John are teaming up with the University of the Philippines Film Institute to raise awareness and supplies with benefit screenings of AMIGO.  These screenings will raise funds, as well as serve as a drop off lo

As you may have heard, a few days ago a massive 7.2 earthquake hit the Bohol Province of the Philippines, where AMIGO was filmed.  Many of the cast and crew members of AMIGO have been affected by this catastrophic event. “The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and other areas in Central Visayas is now recorded as one of the deadliest in our recent history, with the death toll at over 170 and rising. Hundreds of residences – including centuries-old houses of worship — wer

Back in April, John was part of an event at The Center for Transpacific Studies at USC called Troubled Ocean: Filmmakers Imagine the Pacific, along with director Vilsoni Hereniko. Photo Credit: Chris Santiago The Pacific has a vivid hold on the European and American imagination as a paradise, as a vast region of exploration, as a mystery. It has also been a place of conquest, colonization and war. In a one-day festival, screenings and discussions with filmmakers John Sayles a

This recommendation comes to us from our friend and colleague Dylan Marchetti at Variance, who did a great job of releasing AMIGO.  Today, they are releasing a new indie from a young Brooklyn filmmaker named Terence Nance, called An Oversimplification of Her Beauty. Dylan says: The film, using a masterful mix of cinéma vérité, traditional narrative, and (ten different kinds of) animation, examines and re-examines Terence’s real life unrequited romance with a Namik, a beautifu

The Center for Transpacific Studies presents a Visions and Voices event, Troubled Ocean: Filmmakers Imagine the Pacific, with directors John Sayles and Vilsoni Hereniko. click here for more information Saturday, APRIL 27 12:00 – 9:00 PM | Norris Cinema Theatre Frank Sinatra Hall | University Park Campus | University of Southern California Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. The Pacific has a vivid hold on the European and American imagination as a paradise, as a v

We want to share with you our enthusiasm for the One Billion Rising movement, a progressive organization taking a stand against rape and assault on women workers from the Philippines and around the world. Workers are the Philippines’ biggest export, and they must be protected.  The One Billion Rising movement is  a campaign by V-Day, culminating on Feb. 14, 2013 with a billion people striking and dancing in the streets to oppose violence against women. ONE BILLION WOMEN VIOLA

Here I am with our Half Moon Yoga Barn teacher Nancy Causey. We are lucky to have a smart woman to vote for in this special election for State Assembly. Visit www.didibarrett.com to learn more. Don’t forget to vote! UPDATE! All the absentee ballots have been counted, and Didi has officially WON the March 20th special election! Thanks to all our friends who heeded the call to vote!  You can find out more about what Didi plans to do for the Hudson Valley by clicking on her webs

This is your moment, like voting for the candidate you really want to win. Go tonight to a theater near you to see AMIGO. Small movies don’t stand a chance if YOU don’t support them. Still image from "Amigo" Don’t wait till your whole crowd wants to go. Be the first. This movie will not be out on DVD for at least two years. See it now. PHILIPPINES 06 July 2011 Selected Theaters QUEZON CITY Ayala Cinemas TriNoma* SM Cinemas SM North Edsa* Others Gateway Cinemas* MAKATI Aya