The French Institute Alliance Française presents the sixth edition of Animation First, the only U.S. festival dedicated to showcasing the legacy and innovation of French animation. The 2023 festival will run from Friday, January 27 through Sunday, January 29 and will present six feature-length films (including three U.S. and three NY premieres), and six short film programs with over 65 new shorts (including eight U.S. and 12 NY premieres).
Coyote directed by Katherine Jerkovic took the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature and Jorge Martinez Colorado, star of the film, received this year’s Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film Award at the 22nd edition of Whistler Film Festival (WFF). The jury stated that Coyote is “a masterfully rendered film, both tragic and hopeful, about unconditional love and sacrifice. A film that holds you in poetic stillness and takes you on a genuine familial journey that resonates with you long after the film is over.”
Funny and heart-warming comedy-drama How To Please A Woman scooped four awards (out of six nominations) at the 2022 WA Screen Culture Awards – including Innovation in Narrative Feature Film with a budget over $1m; Outstanding Achievement in Editing – Merlin Eden; Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Hayley McElhinney; and Outstanding Achievement in Writing – Renee Webster.
Saban Films revealed the official trailer for The Last Resort, the action-packed thriller starring Jon Foo with Clayton Norcross.
Dark Sky revealed the official trailer for Night of the Bastard, a savage cultist siege film described as a”grimy, brutal take on the 70s action thriller” starring London May (The Dark Knight Rises, Verotika), Mya Hudson (A Wall Away, upcoming F*ck, Kill Mary), Hannah Pierce (Flock of Dudes, The Hunted), and Henry Mortensen (Crimson Tide).
Sony Pictures Classics revealed the official trailer for Return to Seoul (Retour à Séoul), Cambodia’s official entry for the Best International Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film stars newcomer Ji-Min Park as Freddie, a 25-year old French adoptee, who goes to South Korea to find her biological family. Oh Kwang-Rok, Guka Han and Kim Sun-Young also star.
The official trailer debuted for Candy Land, the horror thriller movie starring Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Guinevere Turner, Virginia Rand, and William Baldwin.
RIFF – Rome Independent Film Festival announced the award winners of its 21st edition, with Best International Film going to Alice by Krystin Ver Linden and the Award for Best Italian Film went to Un Mondo Fantastico (A Fantastic World) by Michele Rovini.
Revelation Perth International Film Festival announced the nominations for the 2022 WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCAs), honoring the film industry in Western Australia.
The Last Film Show (India), directed by Pan Nalin, won the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film at the eighth annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF). Mohsen Tanabandeh garnered the Snow Leopard for Best Actor for World War III (Iran), and Hui Fang Hong was honored with the Snow Leopard for Best Actress for Ajoomma (Singapore).
Everything Everywhere All At Once led the nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards with eight total nominations, including Best Director for Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, and acting nominations for stars Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu. Tár received seven nominations including Best Director for Todd Field and acting nominations for Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss.
The Billy the Kid Film Festival (BTKFF) announced the filmmaker award winners for the fourth edition, including the honoree presentation to Dennis Moore and Pine Moore Studios, the first Pine Moore Studios Award, which went to Arik Hess’ Big Iron, and the first Ruth Buzzi Comedy Award, given to Lisa Belcher for her film Terminator: Bad Judgement Day.