Founded by Jorge Ballos, Noli Parumog and Luis Pedron on July 1, 2009, the Soho International Film Festival (SIFF) encourages new and seasoned filmmakers to create innovative and thought provoking pieces.

SIFF host screenings and events in the renowned SOHO district of New York City to bring together filmmakers, critics, and cineastes from across the world. Filmmaking seminars will be conducted by film experts and nightly after parties will be held. The festival is open to Features/Shorts/Music Videos of all Genres (Professional, Amateur, Work-in-Progress and Student Films)
One of the features that hooked me:
Autism: Made in the USA

Autism. What is it and why is it on the rise? In this feature length documentary presentation, award winning executive producer Gary Null is on a quest to reveal the true causes and promising solutions for the recent dramatic increase in autism in our children. Is autism related to environmental factors?
Could it be caused by mercury, aluminum, viruses, or other toxins contained in the 40-odd vaccines that every American child must receive? What are other environmental or genetic factors which could be contributing to the epidemic increase in childhood autism?
In this pioneering educational film, Dr. Null will be interviewing some of the world’s leading experts on childhood autism. A full spectrum of medical and scientific views will be presented, both orthodox and nontraditional, to get at the real reasons behind this childhood scourge. Novel effective therapies will be explored, showing that both the problem and solution of autism could be linked to weakened childhood immune systems, the inability of some children to rid their bodies of heavy metals and injected viruses, and unusual reactions to environmental toxins, foods, and proteins.
The film will consider that there are successful biomedical treatments for autism including utilizing special dietary supplements and gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diets, as well as chelation and hyperbaric oxygen therapies. Some of these natural solutions are being challenged by the pharmaceutical industry as unproven. But, could it be that the drug companies stand too much to lose from a more critical scrutiny of our national policy of compulsory vaccinations for infants and children? These and other important issues woven into the fabric of the autism debate will be examined in detail in this film.
A couple of others that caught my attention…

SIFF Co-founder Luis Pedron is Filipino! Say hello via Twitter or Facebook

There will be a chance to meet the Filipino actors and filmmakers during Q&A’s, a Red Carpet event, free goody bags, and a Special After Party (by G Productions) to highlight the event. Tickets are $15 per movie or $50 for a Day Pass which includes the 4 Filipino films featured in the Festival and the After Party Cover Charge. Tix here.
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