Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao was named Best Picture of 2020 by Online Film Critics Society (OFCS), which is comprised of nearly 300 film critics from around the world. Nomadland also won for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing for Chloé Zhao; Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Cinematographer for Joshua James Richards.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always leads the nominations for the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards with 7 nominations including Best Feature, Best Director for Eliza Hittman and Best Female Lead for Sidney Flanigan. Minari was close behind with 6 nominations including Best Feature, Best Director for Lee Isaac Chung and Best Male Lead for Steven Yeun. Other Best Feature nominees included First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Nomadland.
The psychological thriller Reunion starring Julia Ormond (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week with Marilyn) will open in theaters and digital/VOD on February 5th from Dark Sky Films.
“Nomadland” by Chloé Zao and “Promising Young Woman” by Emerald Fennell tied for the top honor of Best Film at the Kansas City Film Critics Circle’s James Loutzenhiser Awards. “Nomadland” also received awards in the Best Director and Adapted Screenplay categories, while “Promising Young Woman” won Best Actress and Original Screenplay. They were the only films to win multiple awards.
YouTube Originals released the first trailer today for the documentary, “Life In A Day 2020,” launching February 6 on the film’s YouTube channel. “Life In A Day 2020” premieres virtually at the Sundance Film Festival on February 1.
The new trailer debuted today for Sex, Drugs & Bicycles, a topnotch documentary that digs deep into the nightmare of paid vacations, universal healthcare and windmills. Directed by Jonathan Blank, Sex, Drugs & Bicycles will air as part of PBS’ Link Voices series on February 26th, 2021
45 short films have been selected to screen in the 14th edition of the BFI Future Film Festival, which will take place online from February 18-21, 2021. The films, which will all be available to watch for free on BFI Player during the Festival (UK only), are eligible for the BFI Future Film Festival Awards, supported by Netflix.
Kino Lorber released the official trailer for the indie psychological thriller Test Pattern set against the backdrop of much of the recent conversations surrounding health care and policing, the #metoo movement, and race in America. The film starring Brittany S. Hall, Will Brill, Gail Bean, and Drew Fuller will be released In theaters and virtual cinemas February 19, 2021.
Remi Weekes’ chilling debut His House, which received 16 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) nominations in total, won two awards in craft categories: Best Effects (for Pedro Sabrosa and Stefano Pepin) and Best Production Design for Jacqueline Abrahams who was previously nominated for the award in 2017 for Lady Macbeth.
Dark Star Pictures released the official trailer for Jumbo, the bizarre “love story” indie film that premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by Zoé Wittock in her feature directorial debut, Jumbo stars Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot and Sam Louwyck; and will open in theaters on February 19th, 2021, and VOD on March 16th, 2021.
George C. Wolfe’s Netflix drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was named Best Film of Year for the 10th annual Black Film Critics Circle Awards. Regina King’s One Night in Miami was among the big winners with honors for best director for King, in a tie with Chloé Zhao for Nomadland; best supporting actor for Leslie Odom, Jr. and best ensemble for the cast.
Now in its 5th year, the MidWest WeirdFest taking place March 5 -7, 2021 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, announced its first programming wave of films.