Remember the short THE FIFTH about a poker game between some pretty rough characters? We sure do. It was dark. It was witty. It was very well acted. We loved it.

Now his series about a vulgar stoat who's paid his dues in the joint, BENNY, ESCAPED CONVICT, has been picked up by Comedy Central. We think you'll like it, even though it makes us blush like a ladies book club confronted with the secretions of an excited ermine.

Here it is, enjoy.

Plus here's your chance to become friends with a vulgar stoat via Facebook.

NORTH AMERICAN FANTASTIC FESTIVAL ALLIANCE EXPANDS!
ADDS NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, TORONTO AND PHILADELPHIA TO THE MIX!

(June 20, 2008) The NORTH AMERICAN FANTASTIC FESTIVAL ALLIANCE (NAFFA) is pleased to announce the addition of 4 fantastic film festival partners to its organization; New York Asian Film Festival, Toronto After Dark, Danger After Dark in Philadelphia, and ScreamFest L.A. NAAFA was founded by Montreal’s Fantasia, Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest in Austin and Dead Channels: the San Francisco Festival of Fantastic Film.

NAFFA is comprised of professional North American festivals dedicated to presenting the best new independent and international fantasy, science fiction, horror, animation, exploitation, experimental and cult movies, as well as selected retrospective programs, with a dedication to quality and respect for the filmmaker’s work. The Alliance’s mission is to assist neophyte filmmakers in navigating the chaotic, and overwhelming, film festival submission process by providing useful information and invaluable networking opportunities.

NAFFA’s official website, www.FantasticAlliance.org, aims to provide emerging and established imaginative artists with access to an Alliance of acclaimed festivals that actively support the discovery and promotion of thrillingly unique independent film from all over the world. NAFFA is recognized by the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation: www.melies.org

The following is a list of upcoming events of partners of the NAFFA

New York Asian Film Festival
June 20 – July 6, 2008
www.subwaycinema.com

Fantasia
July 3 – 21, 2008
Montreal, Canada
www.fantasiafest.com

Fantastic Fest
September 18-25, 2008
Austin, TX
www.fantasticfest.com

Dead Channels
October 2-5, 2008
San Francisco, CA
www.deadchannels.com

ScreamFest LA
October 17-24, 2008 (Check dates)
Los Angeles, CA
www.screamfestla.com

Toronto After Dark
October 17 – 24, 2008
Toronto, Canada
www.torontoafterdark.com

Danger After Dark
March 26 – April 7, 2009
Philadelphia, PA
www.phillyfests.com

Find more information about NAAFA, events and festivals, visit: www.FantasticAlliance.org

It didn't technically play Fantastic Fest, but it opened at the Drafthouse and it did screen at SXSW ... plus it's really damn good so here's a blog entry. (Deal with it!) THE SIGNAL might just be the very first non-anthology to be directed in episodic fashion by three different directors. And I don't mean "episodic" as a knock; I mean one guy directed Act I, another guy did Act II, and a third lunatic did Act III. (Those directors would be David Bruckner (I), Jake Gentry (II), and Dan Bush (III).) Can YOU spot the tonal divergences?

Shot in Atlanta on a budget that wouldn't cover gasoline costs on most productions, The Signal is a sci-fi horror movie that also has the audacity to include humor, heart, and intelligence as part of the equation. Well-acted, handsomely shot, and engaging in true "sci-fi" fashion, this is a very good indie flick. The Magnolia DVD hits shelves this week, and the release is littered with some very fine extras -- but if you want the "deluxe" treatment, you'll have to visit Best Buy, because they have an exclusive 2-disc edition that's got even MORE goodies.

Plus, ladies, the movie's got some really nice man-ass in it.