Terry P.

VIMOOZ is for lovers of independent films + foreign film + documentary + film festivals. We love championing the little films.

First Music Films Revealed for Scopitone Program of International Film Festival Rotterdam

[caption id="attachment_25932" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Groove is Not Trivial[/caption] The Scopitone program of the 47th International Film Festival Rotterdam will feature eight documentaries that view music as a social movement. Amidst a lively and inviting atmosphere with talks, bands and an open bar during the screening, visitors and experts alike explore the social significance of music. Among the confirmed titles are gems from all corners of the (music) world. The international premiere of The Ballad of Shirley Collins by Rob Curry and Tim Plester follows the iconic British folk singer Shirley Collins who tries to regain at a late age the voice she once lost. Bruk Out! A Dance Hall Queen Documentary by Cori McKenna gives a raw and energetic look into the lives of six powerful women striving to become Dance Hall Queens. Tommie Smith’s The Groove is Not Trivial is a story about cultural revival in which master fiddler Alasdair Fraser digs deep into his Scottish musical roots. And Olancho by Theodore Griswold and Christopher Valdes shows the dangerous world of narco ballads in Honduras. When groups like Los Plebes de Olancho sing for one drug cartel, they get threatened by another. Band member Manuel Chirinos felt forced to flee the country and tells his story.
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CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Leads Nominations for 2017 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

[caption id="attachment_25916" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Call Me By Your Name[/caption] Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, leads the nominations for the 2017 Chicago Film Critics Association awards with eight nods, including Best Picture, and Guadagnino for Best Director. Co-stars Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg were both nominated for Best Supporting Actor and young star Timothee Chalamet received dual nominations for Actor and Breakthrough Performer. Coming in second place in the nomination count with seven was The Shape of Water, visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War-era romantic fantasy. The film was nominated for Best Picture and del Toro received nods for Director and Original Screenplaywith co-writer Vanessa Taylor; while Sally Hawkins landed in the Best Actress category. Now in its 30th year, the CFCA will announce its winners during their year-end awards dinner to be held on December 12, 2017.
2017 CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST PICTURE Call Me By Your Name Dunkirk Lady Bird The Shape of Water Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri BEST DIRECTOR Guillermo Del Toro (-) The Shape of Water Greta Gerwig (-) Lady Bird Luca Guadagnino (-) Call Me By Your Name Christopher Nolan (-) Dunkirk Jordan Peele (-) Get Out BEST ACTRESS Sally Hawkins (-) The Shape of Water Vicky Krieps (-) Phantom Thread Frances McDormand (-) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Margot Robbie (-) I, Tonya Saoirse Ronan (-) Lady Bird BEST ACTOR Timothee Chalamet (-) Call Me By Your Name Daniel Day-Lewis (-) Phantom Thread James Franco (-) The Disaster Artist Gary Oldman (-) Darkest Hour Harry Dean Stanton (-) Lucky BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mary J. Blige (-) Mudbound Holly Hunter (-) The Big Sick Allison Janney (-) I, Tonya Lesley Manville (-) Phantom Thread Laurie Metcalf (-) Lady Bird BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Willem Dafoe (-) The Florida Project Armie Hammer (-) Call Me By Your Name Jason Mitchell (-) Mudbound Sam Rockwell (-) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Michael Stuhlbarg (-) Call Me By Your Name BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Blade Runner 2049 (-) Hampton Fancher & Michael Green Call My By Your Name (-) James Ivory The Disaster Artist (-) Scott Neustadta & Michael H. Weber Logan (-) Scott Frank, James Mangold & Michael Green Mudbound (-) Virgil Williams & Dee Rees BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Big Sick (-) Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanijani Get Out (-) Jordan Peele Lady Bird (-) Greta Gerwig Phantom Thread (-) Paul Thomas Anderson The Shape of Water (-) Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (-) Martin McDonagh BEST ANIMATED FILM The Breadwinner Coco The LEGO Batman Movie Loving Vincent Your Name BEST DOCUMENTARY Abacus: Small Enough to Jail City of Ghosts Ex Libris: New York Public Library Faces Places Jane Kedi BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM BPM (Beats Per Minute) A Fantastic Woman Loveless Raw The Square BEST ART DIRECTION Beauty and the Beast Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk Phantom Thread The Shape of Water BEST EDITING Baby Driver (-) Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss Call Me By Your Name (-) Walter Fasano Dunkirk (-) Lee Smith The Florida Project (-) Sean Baker Get Out (-) Gregory Plotkin BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Blade Runner 2049 (-) Benjamin Walifisch & Hans Zimmer Dunkirk (-) Hans Zimmer Phantom Thread (-) Johnny Greenwood The Shape of Water (-) Alexandre Desplat War For the Planet of the Apes (-) Michael Giacchino BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Blade Runner 2049 (-) Roger Deakins Dunkirk (-) Hoyte Van Hoyteme The Florida Project (-) Alexis Zabe Mudbound (-) Rachel Morrison The Shape of Water (-) Dan Laustsen MOST PROMISING PERFORMER Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name Dafne Keen, Logan Jessie Pinnick, Princess Cyd Brooklynn Prince, The Florida Project Florence Pugh, Lady Macbeth Bria Vinaite, The Florida Project MOST PROMISING FILMMAKER Kogonada, Columbus Jordan Peele, Get Out Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird John Carroll Lynch, Lucky Julia Ducournau, Raw
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PHANTOM THREAD Named Best Movie of 2017 by Boston Society of Film Critics

[caption id="attachment_25911" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Phantom Thread[/caption] Phantom Thread was named the Best Picture of 2017 by the Boston Society of Film Critics on Sunday, and the film’s director Paul Thomas Anderson was named Best Director. The Square was voted Best Foreign-Language Film, and Dawson City: Frozen Time was named Best Documentary.
2017 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Commendations and Rediscoveries
Best Picture – Phantom Thread Best Actor – Daniel Kaluuya for Get Out Best Actress – Sally Hawkins for The Shape of Water Best Supporting Actor – Willem Dafoe for The Florida Project Best Supporting Actress – Laurie Metcalf for Lady Bird Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread Best Screenplay – Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird Best Cinematography – Hoyte Van Hoytema for Dunkirk Best Documentary – Dawson City: Frozen Time Best Foreign-Language Film (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) – The Square Best Animated Film – Coco Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) – David Lowery for A Ghost Story Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) – Jordan Peele for Get Out Best Ensemble Cast – The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) Best Original Score – Jonny Greenwood for Phantom Thread Best Film Series “A Year of Women in Cinema” at The Brattle Theatre “Hachimiri Madness! Japanese Independents from the Punk Years” at The Harvard Film Archive “Harry Dean Stanton: Say Something True” at The Museum of Fine Arts Boston “Frederick Wiseman: For the Record” at The Museum of Fine Arts Boston “Robert Mitchum Centennial Tribute” at The Brattle Theatre Best Rediscoveries Targets [1968, Peter Bogdanovich] at The Brattle Theatre The Loom [1986, Stan Brakhage] (“Stan Brakhage’s Metaphors on Vision”) at The Harvard Film Archive Seven Beauties [1975, Lina Wertmuller] (“The Films of Lina Wertmuller”) at The Brattle Theatre The Brig [1964, Jonas Mekas] (“Scenes from the Life of a Happy Man … The Films of Jonas Mekas”) at The Harvard Film Archive A Bay of Blood [1971, Mario Bava] (“Mario Bava and the Birth of Italian Giallo”) at The Brattle Theatre Retrospective of the Year (awarded in memory of David Pendleton) “The Complete Jean Renoir” at The Harvard Film Archive Commendations To The Brattle Theatre for ensuring that the iconic Boston movieThe Friends of Eddie Coyle can once again be seen by cinema audiences. With no prints to be found of the 1973 film starring Robert Mitchum, the Brattle convinced Paramount Pictures that there was demand for the picture and made a significant financial contribution to the studio’s creation of a DCP of the digital restoration that had been done for a DVD release. To Boston-based musicians and silent-film-music scholars Martin Marks, Robert Humphreville and Jeff Rapsis, whose live accompaniment at silent-film screenings have delighted Boston audiences for many years. Their artistry was particularly sublime this year during the silent component of The Harvard Film Archive’s “That Certain Feeling … The Touch of Ernst Lubitsch,” a series requiring music for broad comedies, extravagant adventures and subtle dramas. To the Waltham-based, artist-run film collective AgX Boston, for creating a space dedicated to fostering skill-building and interest in photochemical-based moving images through workshops, events and collaborative experimentation.
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THE SHAPE OF WATER Tops 75th Golden Globe Awards Nominations with 7 Nods | Complete List

[caption id="attachment_25167" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Sally Hawkins and Octavia Spencer in the film THE SHAPE OF WATER.[/caption] The Shape of Water leads the nominations for the 75th Golden Globe Awards announced live this morning with 7 nods including Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Best Director for Guillermo Del Toro. Other big winners include Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri with 6 nominations and Lady Bird with 4 nominations. The 75th Annual Golden Globe® Awards will air LIVE coast-to-coast on NBC Sunday, January 7, 2018, from 5-8PM PT/8-11PM ET from the Beverly Hilton Hotel with host Seth Meyers.
75th Golden Globe Awards Nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA a. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME b. DUNKIRK c. THE POST d. THE SHAPE OF WATER e. THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA a. JESSICA CHASTAIN – MOLLY’S GAME b. SALLY HAWKINS – THE SHAPE OF WATER c. FRANCES MCDORMAND – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI d. MERYL STREEP – THE POST e. MICHELLE WILLIAMS – ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA a. TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME b. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – PHANTOM THREAD c. TOM HANKS – THE POST d. GARY OLDMAN – DARKEST HOUR e. DENZEL WASHINGTON – ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. THE DISASTER ARTIST b. GET OUT c. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN d. I, TONYA e. LADY BIRD BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. JUDI DENCH – VICTORIA & ABDUL b. HELEN MIRREN – THE LEISURE SEEKER c. MARGOT ROBBIE – I, TONYA d. SAOIRSE RONAN – LADY BIRD e. EMMA STONE – BATTLE OF THE SEXES BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. STEVE CARELL – BATTLE OF THE SEXES b. ANSEL ELGORT – BABY DRIVER c. JAMES FRANCO – THE DISASTER ARTIST d. HUGH JACKMAN – THE GREATEST SHOWMAN e. DANIEL KALUUYA – GET OUT BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED a. THE BOSS BABY b. THE BREADWINNER c. COCO d. FERDINAND e. LOVING VINCENT BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE a. A FANTASTIC WOMAN (CHILE) b. FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER (CAMBODIA) c. IN THE FADE (GERMANY / FRANCE) d. LOVELESS (RUSSIA) e. THE SQUARE (SWEDEN / GERMANY / FRANCE) BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE a. MARY J. BLIGE – MUDBOUND b. HONG CHAU – DOWNSIZING c. ALLISON JANNEY – I, TONYA d. LAURIE METCALF – LADY BIRD e. OCTAVIA SPENCER – THE SHAPE OF WATER BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE a. WILLEM DAFOE – THE FLORIDA PROJECT b. ARMIE HAMMER – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME c. RICHARD JENKINS – THE SHAPE OF WATER d. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER – ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD e. SAM ROCKWELL – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE a. GUILLERMO DEL TORO – THE SHAPE OF WATER b. MARTIN MCDONAGH – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI c. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN – DUNKIRK d. RIDLEY SCOTT – ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD e. STEVEN SPIELBERG – THE POST BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE a. GUILLERMO DEL TORO, VANESSA TAYLOR – THE SHAPE OF WATER b. GRETA GERWIG – LADY BIRD c. LIZ HANNAH, JOSH SINGER – THE POST d. MARTIN MCDONAGH – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI e. AARON SORKIN – MOLLY’S GAME BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE a. CARTER BURWELL – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI b. ALEXANDRE DESPLAT – THE SHAPE OF WATER c. JONNY GREENWOOD – PHANTOM THREAD d. JOHN WILLIAMS – THE POST e. HANS ZIMMER – DUNKIRK BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE a. “HOME” — FERDINAND Music by: Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter, Nick Monson Lyrics by: Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter b. “MIGHTY RIVER” — MUDBOUND Music by: Raphael Saadiq Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson c. “REMEMBER ME” — COCO Music by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Lyrics by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez d. “THE STAR” — THE STAR Music by: Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman Lyrics by: Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman e. “THIS IS ME” — THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Music by: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Lyrics by: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA a. THE CROWN – NETFLIX b. GAME OF THRONES – HBO c. THE HANDMAID’S TALE – HULU d. STRANGER THINGS – NETFLIX e. THIS IS US – NBC BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA a. CAITRIONA BALFE – OUTLANDER b. CLAIRE FOY – THE CROWN c. MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL – THE DEUCE d. KATHERINE LANGFORD – 13 REASONS WHY e. ELISABETH MOSS – THE HANDMAID’S TALE BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA a. JASON BATEMAN – OZARK b. STERLING K. BROWN – THIS IS US c. FREDDIE HIGHMORE – THE GOOD DOCTOR d. BOB ODENKIRK – BETTER CALL SAUL e. LIEV SCHREIBER – RAY DONOVAN BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. BLACK-ISH ABC b. THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL AMAZON c. MASTER OF NONE NETFLIX d. SMILF SHOWTIME e. WILL & GRACE NBC BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. PAMELA ADLON – BETTER THINGS b. ALISON BRIE – GLOW c. RACHEL BROSNAHAN – THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL d. ISSA RAE – INSECURE e. FRANKIE SHAW – SMILF BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY a. ANTHONY ANDERSON – BLACK-ISH b. AZIZ ANSARI – MASTER OF NONE c. KEVIN BACON – I LOVE DICK d. WILLIAM H. MACY – SHAMELESS e. ERIC MCCORMACK – WILL & GRACE BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION a. BIG LITTLE LIES – HBO b. FARGO – FX c. FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN – FX d. THE SINNER – USA NETWORK e. TOP OF THE LAKE: CHINA GIRL – SUNDANCETV BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION a. JESSICA BIEL – THE SINNER b. NICOLE KIDMAN – BIG LITTLE LIES c. JESSICA LANGE – FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN d. SUSAN SARANDON – FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN e. REESE WITHERSPOON – BIG LITTLE LIES BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION a. ROBERT DE NIRO – THE WIZARD OF LIES b. JUDE LAW – THE YOUNG POPE c. KYLE MACLACHLAN – TWIN PEAKS d. EWAN MCGREGOR – FARGO e. GEOFFREY RUSH – GENIUS BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION a. LAURA DERN – BIG LITTLE LIES b. ANN DOWD – THE HANDMAID’S TALE c. CHRISSY METZ – THIS IS US d. MICHELLE PFEIFFER – THE WIZARD OF LIES e. SHAILENE WOODLEY – BIG LITTLE LIES BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION a. DAVID HARBOUR – STRANGER THINGS b. ALFRED MOLINA – FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN c. CHRISTIAN SLATER – MR. ROBOT d. ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD – BIG LITTLE LIES e. DAVID THEWLIS – FARGO
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Dee Rees’s MUDBOUND will Close 2017 Bahamas International Film Festival

The highly acclaimed drama Mudbound, directed by Dee Rees, will be the official closing night film at this year’s 2017 Bahamas International Film Festival. Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jonathan Banks and Jason Mitchell lead the ensemble cast of “Mudbound.” Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta. Mudbound follows the McAllan family, newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis and unprepared for the harsh demands of farming. Despite the grandiose dreams of Henry (Jason Clarke), his wife Laura (Carey Mulligan) struggles to keep the faith in her husband’s losing venture. Meanwhile, Hap and Florence Jackson (Rob Morgan and Mary J. Blige), sharecroppers who have worked the land for generations, struggle bravely to build a small dream of their own despite the rigidly enforced social barriers they face. The war upends both families’ plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), forge a fast but uneasy friendship that challenges the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South in which they live. The official closing night screening of “Mudbound” will take place on Sunday, December 17th at the Baha Mar in Nassau. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xucHiOAa8Rs The 2017 Bahamas International Film Festival takes place from December 10 to 13 in Harbour Island and December 14 to 17 in Nassau.
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2017 IDA Documentary Awards – DINA Wins Best Feature

[caption id="attachment_19891" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Dina[/caption] Dina, directed by Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini, about a love story between two people who have autism spectrum disorder, won Best Feature at the 33rd International Documentary Association awards ceremony on Saturday in Hollywood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4BSWA7pWuc Other winners at the IDA Documentary Awards include Edith+Eddie directed by Laura Checkoway snagging the prize for Best Short. The short film tells the story of America’s oldest interracial newlyweds.
2017 IDA Documentary Award winners:
Best Feature Dina Directors/Producers: Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles The Orchard Best Short Edith+Eddie Director: Laura Checkoway Producer: Thomas Lee Wright Kartemquin Films Best Cinematography Machines Cinematography by: Rodrigo Trejo Villanueva Kino Lorber Best Editing Dawson City: Frozen Time Edited by: Bill Morrison Kino Lorber Best Music Brimstone & Glory Original Score by: Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin Oscilloscope Laboratories Best Writing Donkeyote Written by: Chico Pereira, Manuel Pereira and Gabriel Molera Scottish Documentary Institute Pare Lorentz Award THE PARE LORENTZ AWARD RECOGNIZES FILMS THAT DEMONSTRATE EXEMPLARY FILMMAKING WHILE FOCUSING ON THE APPROPRIATE USE OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, JUSTICE FOR ALL AND THE ILLUMINATION OF PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS. Watani: My Homeland (Recipient) Director: Marcel Mettelsiefen Intent to Destroy (Special Mention) Director: Joe Berlinger ABC News VideoSource Award THIS AWARD IS GIVEN EACH YEAR FOR THE BEST USE OF NEWS FOOTAGE AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT IN A DOCUMENTARY. LA 92 Directors: Dan Lindsay & TJ Martin National Geographic Best Curated Series Award Independent Lens Executive Producers: Lois Vossen and Sally Jo Fifer PBS Best Limited Series The Defiant Ones Executive Producers: Allen Hughes, Doug Pray, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Laura Lancaster, Jerry Longarzo, Michael Lombardo, and Gene Kirkwood HBO Best Episodic Series Award Planet Earth II Executive Producer: Michael Gunton BBC AMERICA/BBC Worldwide Best Short Form Series Award The New York Times Op-Docs Executive Producer: Kathleen Lingo The New York Times David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN NON-FICTION FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND BRINGS GREATER PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY AWARENESS TO THE WORK OF STUDENTS IN THE DOCUMENTARY FIELD. Man on Fire Director: Joel Fendelman Producer: James Chase Sanchez University of Texas, Austin Career Achievement Award Lourdes Portillo Amicus Award Abigail Disney Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award Yance Ford Courage Under Fire Award The filmmaking teams and subjects of: City of Ghosts Cries from Syria Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS Last Men in Aleppo
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THE FLORIDA PROJECT, FACES PLACES, BPM Among 2017 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Winners

Faces Places

THE FLORIDA PROJECT, Sean Baker’s coming-of-age film about little rascals growing up in the shadow of Disney World, was named Best Picture of 2017 by San Francisco Film Critics Circle

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Toronto Film Critics Association Names THE FLORIDA PROJECT Best Film of 2017

[caption id="attachment_23729" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] THE FLORIDA PROJECT[/caption] The Florida Project, Sean Baker’s drama about kids growing up fast in a welfare motel in the shadow of Disney World, was named the year’s Best Picture winner by the Toronto Film Critics Association. Willem Dafoe was chosen Best Supporting Actor for his role as the empathetic motel manager. Greta Gerwig was named Best Director for her coming-of-age comedic drama, Lady Bird, while the film’s co-star Laurie Metcalf, was chosen Best Supporting Actress. The TFCA chose Frances McDormand as Best Actress for her portrayal of a driven and tormented mother in Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Faces Places, a whimsical journey through France directed by Agnès Varda and muralist JR, was given the Allan King Documentary Film Award. Art-world satire The Square, directed by Ruben Östlund, was chosen Best Foreign-Language film. Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner, based on Canadian author Deborah Ellis’ award-winning novel about an 11-year-old Afghan girl who provides for her family in difficult times, was named Best Animated Feature. The membership also chose the three finalists for the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award: Hello Destroyer directed by Kevan Funk, Werewolf directed by Ashley McKenzie and Wexford Plaza directed by Joyce Wong. The winner will be named at the 21st TFCA awards gala, to be held in Toronto, on January 9, 2018, hosted by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. Other awards include the 2017 recipient of the Technicolor Clyde Gilmour Award is Inuk director, producer and writer Zacharias Kunuk. Kunuk has earned international acclaim for his dramatic work, including winning the prestigious Caméra d’Or for Best First Feature at Cannes 2001 for Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. He has chosen Montreal-based Inuk filmmaker and visual artist Isabella Weetaluktuk to receive $50,000 worth of services from Technicolor. She will accept the award at the gala. Weetaluktuk, a graduate of NSCAD University in Halifax, premiered her short Three Thousand, her first film with the National Film Board, at the 18th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in October.
2017 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards winners and runners-up:
BEST PICTURE “The Florida Project” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up “Phantom Thread” (Focus Features) “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Fox Searchlight) BEST ACTOR Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread” (Focus Features) Runners-up Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me By Your Name” (Mongrel Media) Gary Oldman “Darkest Hour” (Focus Features) BEST ACTRESS Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Fox Searchlight) Runners-up Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water” (Fox Searchlight) Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird” (Elevation Pictures) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Willem Dafoe “The Florida Project” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Fox Searchlight) Michael Stuhlbarg, “Call Me By Your Name” (Mongrel Media) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Laurie Metcalf “Lady Bird” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” (VVS Films) Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread” (Focus Features) BEST DIRECTOR Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread” (Focus Features) Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (Universal Pictures) BEST SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL “Get Out” by Jordan Peele (Universal Pictures) Runners-up “Lady Bird” by Greta Gerwig (Elevation Pictures) “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” by Martin McDonagh (Fox Searchlight) BEST FIRST FEATURE “Get Out” directed by Jordan Peele (Universal Pictures) Runners-up “Lady Macbeth” directed by William Oldroyd (D Films) “Werewolf,” directed by Ashley McKenzie (grassfire films) BEST ANIMATED FEATURE “The Breadwinner” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up “Coco” (Disney/Pixar) “Window Horses” (Mongrel Media) BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM “The Square” (The Archive of Film Inc.) Runners-up “Faces Places” (Cohen Media Group) “Loveless” (Mongrel Media) ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD “Faces Places” (Cohen Media Group) Runners-up “Jane” (National Geographic) “Kedi” (Blue Ice Docs) ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS “Hello Destroyer” directed by Kevan Funk (Northern Banner) “Werewolf” directed by Ashley McKenzie (grassfire films) “Wexford Plaza” directed by Joyce Wong (LevelFILM)
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GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, LADY MACBETH Win Big at 2017 British Independent Film Awards

[caption id="attachment_19901" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] God’s Own Country[/caption] The 2017 British Independent Film Awards took place today in London and God’s Own Country was awarded the top prize Best British Independent Film. The film also walked with awards for Best Actor for Josh O’Connor, Debut Screenwriter for Francis Lee and Best Sound. Other big winners include Lady Macbeth which snagged the awards for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Screenplay, Most Promising Newcomer for Naomi Ackie, and Best Actress for Florence Pugh.
2017 British Independent Film Awards Winners
Best Casting SARAH CROWE for The Death of Stalin Best Cinematography sponsored by Blackmagic Design ARI WEGNER for Lady Macbeth Best Costume Design HOLLY WADDINGTON for Lady Macbeth Best Editing JON GREGORY for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Effects NICK ALLDER and BEN WHITE for The Ritual Best Make Up & Hair Design NICOLE STAFFORD for The Death of Stalin Best Music sponsored by Universal Music Publishing Group CARTER BURWELL for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Production Design CRISTINA CASALI for The Death of Stalin Best Sound ANNA BERTMARK for God’s Own Country Debut Screenwriter FRANCIS LEE for God’s Own Country The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) RUNGANO NYONI for I Am Not A Witch Best Documentary ALMOST HEAVEN, dir: Carol Salter Breakthrough Producer EMILY MORGAN for I Am Not A Witch Best International Independent Film GET OUT, dir: Jordan Peele Best British Short Film FISH STORY Most Promising Newcomer NAOMI ACKIE for Lady Macbeth Best Screenplay ALICE BIRCH for Lady Macbeth Best Actress FLORENCE PUGH for Lady Macbeth Best Actor JOSH O’CONNOR for God’s Own Country Best Director RUNGANO NYONI for I Am Not A Witch Best British Independent Film GOD’S OWN COUNTRY
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Bahamas International Film Festival Opens Today with Sean Baker’s THE FLORIDA PROJECT

[caption id="attachment_24746" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Florida Project[/caption] The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), celebrating its 14th edition this year, kicks off today Sunday, December 10th with Sean Baker’s drama “The Florida Project” starring Willem Dafoe. BIFF 2017 will run through Sunday, December 17th. For the sixth consecutive year, BIFF will be headed to Harbour Island on December 10-13 and concluding in Nassau from December 14-17, showcasing more than 82 films from 28 different countries including twelve world premiere, 4 international premieres, 57 Caribbean premieres, and all are Bahamian premieres. The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative; Spirit of Freedom: Documentary; New Visions; and Short Film. Additional categories out of competition are World Cinema; Special Screenings; Environmental and Oceans Spotlight and non-Jury Short Films.
2017 Bahamas International Film Festival Lineup:

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)
ALINA / Director: Ben Behernholtz AT EYE LEVEL / Directors: Evi Goldbrunner & Joachim Dollhopf LANE 1974 / Director: Chiro LIYANA / Directors: Aaron Kopp & Amanda Kopp THE DRAWER BOY /Director: Arturo Perez Torres THE HUDSON TRIBES / Director: John Marco Lopez TINKER /Director: Sonny Marler
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (DOCUMENTARY)
BY ALL MEANS: A ROCK ‘N ROLL STORY / Director: Patrick Hewlett DELICATE BALANCE / Director: Guillermo Garcia Lopez I AM SHAKESPEARE / Director: Stephen Dest MY ENEMY, MY BROTHER / Director: Ann Shin SACRED WATER / Director: Olivier Jourdain SHINGALI, WHERE ARE YOU? / Director: Angelos Rallis THE GOLDEN AGE / Director: Justin Connor
NEW VISIONS – JURY FILMS
7X7 / Director: Liam Hughes ALASKA IS A DRAG / Director: Shaz Bennett BEAUTY MARK / Director: Harris Doran BLANK 13 / Director: Takumi Saito DIM THE FLORESCENTS / Director: Daniel Warth DR. BRINKS & DR. BRINKS / Director: Josh Crockett GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER / Director: Michael Mooleedhar INTERLUDE / Director: Bernard Tanguy JUGGERNAUT / Director: Daniel DiMarco MILLION LOVES IN ME / Director: Sampson Yuen NOBLE EARTH / Director: Ursula Grisham THE DEFINITES / Directors: Hannah Cheesman & Mackenzie Donaldson THE DUNNING MAN / Director: Michael Clayton THE LINES / Director: Kiku Ohe TISAY / Director: Alfonso Torre TOURNAMENTS OF LOVE / Director: Caroline Jules
OCEAN & ENVIRONMENT THEME
AN OCEAN MYSTERY THE MISSING CATCH (USA, Bahamas) / Director: Alison Barrat CUT BAIT (USA, Bahamas) / Director: Robert Walkine EARTHY ENCOUNTERS (UK) / Director: Sam Johnson LA PESCA (Columbia) / Director: Pablo Alvarez LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE (USA) / Director: Cynthia Neal STRAWS (USA) / Director: Linda Booker VIRE (Guadeloupe) / Director: Hugo Rousselin
SHORT FILM Narrative Short Jury Films
ANOTHER GIRL (USA) / Director: Austin Kase ASLEEP (Canada) / Director: Mak Abdelhai BAD NEWS (Italy) / Director: Matteo Petrelli CASSANDRA (France) / Director: Joffrey Renambatz CATFISH (Iran) / Director: Sourena Bayramloo COMFORT AND JOY (UK) / Directors: Will Jeffs & AJ Simmons COWBOY & INDIAN (USA) / Director: Sujata Day DEVILS LUCK (USA) / Director: Robert C. Eaton EARTHY ENCOUNTERS (UK) / Director: Sam Johnson EAST (USA) / Director: Dana Marisa S Choenfeld FOREVER NOW (Denmark) / Director: Kristin Håskjold JC (USA) / Director: Matt Boatright-Simon LACRIMOSA (Austria) / Director: Tanja Mairitsch LAWMAN (USA) / Director: Matthew Gentile LEO JOHNSON (USA) / Director: Evan Bluestein LIFE IN OTHER WORDS (Bangladesh) / Director: Abrar Athar LIMBO (Greece) / Director: Konstantina Kotzamani MACKENZIE (USA) / Director: Sofia Astrom OUTSIDE THE LINES (USA) / Director: Joshua Jacobs OWEN (USA) / Director: Kelly Pike PRIA (Indonesia) / Director: Yudho Aditya RETOUCH (Iran) / Director: Kaveh Mazaheri ROSARIO (Mexico) / Director: Marlen Ríos-Farjat ROSELYN (Bahamas) / Director: Jason Evans SHORT DROP (Trinidad and Tobago) / Director: Maya Cozier SILENT NIGHTS (Denmark) / Director: Aske Bang THE ADVENTURES OF SELIKA (UK) / Director: Sybil Mair THE ASPEN PROJECT (USA) / Director: Chino Maurice THE DARKNESS OF THE MOOR (USA) / Director: James Everett THE GIRLS WERE DOING NOTHING (UK) / Director: Dekel Berenson THE LIFE OF MARIE (Germany) / Director: Rolf Kasteleiner THE REAL THING (USA) / Director: Brandon Kelley TOFFEE (India) / Director: Tahira Kashyap WHAT REMAINS OF YOU (France) / Director: Kevin Dresse YOURS SINCERELY, LOIS WEBER (USA) / Director: Svetlana Cvetko
OUT OF COMPETITION
LOGGERHEAD SEAT TURTLE (USA) / Director: Cynthia Neal STRAWS (USA) / Director: Linda Booker VIRE (Guadeloupe) / Director: Hugo Rousselin LA PESCA (Columbia) / Director: Pablo Alvarez CUT BAIT (USA, Bahamas) / Director: Robert Walkine GUAVA DUFF (Bahamas) / Director: Anaya and Santia Dean
WORLD CINEMA (DOCUMENTARY)
BAREFOOT RASTA (Germany, Ethiopia, Canada)) / Director: Andy Siege BETWEEN 2 SHORES (Guadeloupe) / Director: Mariette Monpierre I DO? (USA) / Director: Joe Brandmeier REBELS ON POINTE (Canada) / Director: Bobbi Jo Hart SUSANNE BARTSCH: ON TOP (USA) / Directors: Anthony Caronna & Alexander Smith
SPECIAL SCREENING
SLIM AARONS: THE HIGH LIFE (USA) / Director: Fritz Mitchell STUDENT FILM WORKSHOP (Bahamas) / Five Films by Students JUNOD (Japan) / Director: Shinichiro KIMURA JOHN “CHIPPIE” CHIPMAN (Bahamas) / Director: Thriston & Verline Ewing
OPENING NIGHT FILM
THE FLORIDA PROJECT (USA) / Director: Sean Baker
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South Asian International Film Festival in NYC Unveils Lineup, Opens with LONG LIVE BRIJ MOHAN

[caption id="attachment_25859" align="aligncenter" width="1108"] Long Live Brij Mohan[/caption] The 2017 South Asian International Film Festival in New York City is celebrating its 14th year by showcasing the very best in South Asian independent cinema. The festival throws open its doors with the opening night world premiere of Long Live Brij Mohan, before going on to showcase its centerpiece film Na Maloom Afraad 2 and will close with the New York premiere of Ribbon. The 14th Annual South Asian International Film Festival presented by HBO runs from Wednesday, December 13, 2017, to Sunday, December 17, 2017, in New York City. All screenings taking place at Landmark Sunshine Theater at 143 East Houston Street in the East Village, New York City. OPENING NIGHT FILM: Long Live Brij Mohan Directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat / 2017 / India / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 105 mins. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Brij Mohan, a hosiery shop owner in a busy middle-class market in Delhi, is fed up with his ball-crusher wife and mounting debts. In a desperate attempt to escape his wretched life, he changes his appearance and adopts a new identity as Amar Sethi … but in the process, ends up committing a botched-up murder. He then runs off with his younger girlfriend, hopeful of making a new beginning. But instead, as luck would have it, he finds himself trapped in a web of his own karma. CENTERPIECE FILM: Na Maloom Afraad 2 Directed by Nabeel Qureshi / 2017 / Pakistan / In Urdu (with English subtitles). Narrative Feature / North American Premiere / 118 mins. Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. Na Maloom Afraad 2 is an upcoming sequel to the 2014 Pakistani hit thriller film Na Maloom Afraad. The leading cast returning includes Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, Mohsin Abbas Haider and Urwa Hocane, along with Hania Amir in the lead and Marina Khan in her debut performance. The film is a hysterical comedy of errors when an extravagant Sheikh arrives in Cape Town with his precious and infamous “Gold Pot” – a toilet bowl made of gold! The Pot mistakenly finds its way to the three misfits – who call themselves Na Maloom Afraad – and are clueless about what to do with it. The movie unfolds as the South African police, smugglers and the Sheikh’s entourage start looking for the Gold Pot as the three misfits do their best to escape unscathed. CLOSING NIGHT FILM: Ribbon Directed by Rakhee Sandilya / 2017 / India / In Hindi (with English subtitles). Narrative Feature / New York Premiere / 105 mins. Sunday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. After a sudden pregnancy, a young urban couple is overwhelmed by their baby girl and discover that parenthood comes with its own challenges. And it takes more than just love to stick through all of life’s curveballs.
SAIFF 2017’s Feature Competition line-up:
Mona Darling Directed by Shashi Sudigala / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / International Premiere / 111 mins. In English We Say Directed by Harish Vyas / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 104 mins. Half Widow Directed by Danish Renzu / India / 2017 / In Urdu (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 91 mins. Maacher Jhol Directed by Pratim D. Gupta / India / 2017 / In Bengali and French (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / New York Premiere / 108 mins. Code Name Abdul Directed by Eshwar Gunturu / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / North American Premiere / 114 mins.
SAIFF 2017’s Feature Spectrum line-up:
Azad Directed by Rehan Sheikh / Pakistan / 2017 / In Urdu (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 121 mins. Coma Café Directed by Avi Vasu / India / 2017 / In English and Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / North America Premiere / 104 mins.
SAIFF 2017’s Short Film & HBO Competitors line-up:
Please Don’t Call The Cops Directed by Kartikye Gupta / United States / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Short / World Premiere / 15 mins. Safeword (HBO Competitor) Directed by Mukesh Vidyasagar / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / World Premiere / 3 mins. Cobbler’s Dream (HBO Competitor) Directed by Sydney Chandrasekara / Sri Lanka / 2017 / In Sinhalese (with English subtitles) Narrative Short / World Premiere / 15 mins. Diwal’oween (HBO Competitor) Directed by Shilpa Mankikar / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / World Premiere / 33 mins. The Pits (HBO Competitor) Directed by Shetu Modi / Canada / 2017 / English Narrative Short / New York Premiere / 6 mins. The Language of the Ball (HBO Competitor) Directed by Ramón Rodríguez / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / New York Premiere / 9 mins.
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Grace Jones to Receive Career Achievement Award at Bahamas International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_23395" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Grace Jones: Bloodlight & Bami[/caption] Iconic actress, singer, songwriter, supermodel, and record producer Grace Jones will be honored with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at this year’s Bahamas International Film Festival, taking place December 10 to 17, 2017. Serving as the Festival’s most prestigious symbol of recognition, awarded in appreciation of the lifetime achievements of an actor, BIFF’s Career Achievement Award will be bestowed to Jones on the evening of Friday, December 15th at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. In addition to receiving BIFF’s Career Achievement Award, Jones will present her latest film, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” – the acclaimed documentary from director Sophie Fiennes. Said Vanderpool, “Grace’s trademark charisma has fueled memorable performances for decades, but in watching her amazing body of work, the depth of her performances is unmistakable and equally as memorable. Having Grace in The Bahamas to receive the Career Achievement Award and present the highly acclaimed ‘Bloodlight and Bami’ is a huge honor for the festival and the audiences who will share in the experience. Grace is an legend, an icon and we are extremely thrilled to recognize her amazing career at the Bahamas International Film Festival.” Filmed over the course of a decade, the documentary, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami”, from director Sophie Fiennes (The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology) offers a stylish and unconventional look at the Jamaican-born model, singer, and New Wave icon. Grace Jones, the statuesque Jamaican model-turned-singer, actress and icon has made a career performing versions of herself. But who is the real Grace Jones behind the masks and makeup? This film moves between her personae onstage and off. Don’t expect a traditional music biography with sit-down interviews and archival footage. This treatment is as stylish and unconventional as its subject. In the subtitle, “bloodlight” refers to the studio signal for recording and “bami” is a Jamaican flatbread. They stand for art and life. Filmmaker Sophie Fiennes has previously made films about a philosopher, a dancer, and an artist. Each time, she conjures a fresh style for the material. (One of her early documentaries, Hoover Street Revival, profiled Jones’ brother Noel, the Los Angeles preacher). With Grace Jones, filmed over 10 years, we gain entry to her private spaces: her family in Jamaica, in the studio with long-time collaborators Sly & Robbie, and in Paris with her one-time image maker and lover, Jean-Paul Goude. In negotiations glimpsed on camera, she demonstrates that you wouldn’t want to go against her. “Sometimes you have to be a high-flying bitch.” Yet we also catch her in sweet and vulnerable moments. Interspersed throughout the film are performances from a 2016 concert staged for Fiennes’ camera. Strutting the stage like an Amazon in heels, Jones performs songs such as “Slave to the Rhythm,” “Love is the Drug” and “Amazing Grace” with multiple costume changes. This might be the first documentary with a credit for Corset Designer. Whatever mysteries she conceals, one thing is for certain: we can’t take our eyes off her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLxtZ0ElBss The Bahamas International Film Festival will showcase more than 82 films from 28 countries, including 12 world premieres, 4 international premieres and 57 Caribbean premieres. All of the films will be Bahamian premieres. BIFF 2017 takes place from December 10-13 in Harbour Island and December 14-17 in Nassau. The Festival’s opening night in Harbour Island will begin with a screening of Sean Baker’s critically acclaimed drama ‘The Florida Project’ starring Willem Dafoe.
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