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Michael Tully’s PING PONG SUMMER from Sundance Film Festival to Get a Summer 2014 Release

Michael Tully’s PING PONG SUMMER, considered one of the Sundance Film Festival’s biggest crowd-pleasers,has landed a deal with Gravitas Ventures. Gravitas plans to release PING PONG SUMMER theatrically and digitally early this summer, with a home video release later in 2014.

Set during the summer of 1985 in Ocean City, Maryland, PING PONG SUMMER follows awkward 13-year-old Rad Miracle as he attempts to live up to that name by becoming a master breakdancer, ping pong player and ladies man all before the end of summer break. Based on his own childhood experiences (poor guy), writer-director Michael Tully’s (SEPTIEN, SILVER JEW) meticulous recreation of the characters, fashions and emotions that populate our teenage years proves that remembering perfectly is the best (and most hilarious) revenge.

PING PONG SUMMER features what is described as a gut-busting and heart-tugging breakthrough performance from Marcello Conte as Rad Miracle, as well as hysterical supporting turns from Amy Sedaris (STRANGERS WITH CANDY), Judah Friedlander (30 ROCK) and Lea Thompson (summer of ’85s own BACK TO THE FUTURE). Rounding out the note-perfect cast is Academy Award winner (and co-owner of the SPiN ping-pong club empire) Susan Sarandon as Randi Jammer, the table tennis Miyagi to Rad’s Daniel-son.

“I’ve been a fan of Gravitas Ventures since its inception, so when I heard the recent news about their venturing into the theatrical sphere I became quite excited,” said Tully. “In this tricky 21st century market, Gravitas has the intelligence, creativity, and enthusiasm to help make sure our 20th century movie gets seen. Not to mention their funky fresh addition of Dusty Smith to the Gravitas team, which further sealed the deal.”

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THE LUNCHBOX Sets Release Date; Opens February 28 in NY and LA

THE LUNCHBOX, winner of the Viewer’s Choice Award, Grand Rail d’Or, winner at the 2013 Critics’ Week at Cannes Film Festival will open February 28, 2014 in at the Lincon Plaza and Angelika Cinemas in New York, and also in Los Angeles. Written and directed by Ritesh Batra, the film stars Irrfan Khan (“Life of Pi”), Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Ila (Nimrat Kaur) is a young middle class Mumbai housewife trying once again to add some spice to her marriage, this time through her cooking. She desperately hopes that this new recipe will finally arouse some kind of reaction from her neglectful husband. She prepares a special lunchbox to be delivered to him at work, but, it is mistakenly delivered to another office worker, Saajan (Irrfan Khan), a lonely man on the verge of retirement. Curious about the lack of reaction from her husband, Ila puts a little note in the following day’s lunchbox, in the hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery.

This begins a series of lunchbox notes between Saajan and Ila, and the mere comfort of communicating with a stranger anonymously soon evolves into an unexpected friendship. Gradually, their notes become little confessions about their loneliness, memories, regrets, fears, and even small joys. They each discover a new sense of self and find an anchor to hold on to in the big city of Mumbai that so often crushes hopes and dreams. Still strangers physically, Ila and Saajan become lost in a virtual relationship that could jeopardize both their realities.

http://youtu.be/Qdn6nVJHyfM

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PALO ALTO Starring James Franco Sets Release Day

PALO ALTO, the debut feature from writer/director Gia Coppola will open exclusively in theaters on Friday, May 9th in New York and Los Angeles. A national release will follow. PALO ALTO screened last year in the Venice, Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals. The film is based on several linked stories in James Franco’s book of the same name, chronicling the complicated ties and heightened emotions among a group of high school students. It stars James Franco, Emma Roberts, Jack Kilmer, Nat Wolff, Zoe Levin, Chris Messina, and Val Kilmer. The film features music from Devonté Hynes of the band Blood Orange and Robert Coppola Schwartzman.

Shy, sensitive April (Emma Roberts) is the class virgin —a popular soccer player and frequent babysitter for her single-dad coach, Mr. B. (James Franco). Teddy (Jack Kilmer) is an introspective artist whose best friend and sidekick Fred (Nat Wolff) is an unpredictable live wire with few filters or boundaries. While April negotiates a dangerous affair with Mr. B., and Teddy performs community service for a DUI — secretly carrying a torch for April, who may or may not share his affection — Fred seduces Emily (Zoe Levin), a promiscuous loner who seeks validation through sexual encounters. One high school party bleeds into another as April and Teddy finally acknowledge their mutual affection, and Fred’s escalating recklessness spirals into chaos.
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“Untitled New York Review Of Books Documentary” directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi Added to Berlin International Film Festival

“Untitled New York Review Of Books Documentary” directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi has been added to the 64th Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale Special, where it will be shown as a work in progress, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and key contributors.

From the outset, the publication has been ahead of the mainstream thinking on political and social currents and upheavals. NYREV has been a source for intelligent and controversial thinking about the issues of our time: human rights, racial discrimination, the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, the woman’s movement, and revolution in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Making use of rare footage and photographs to provide historical context, the film includes writers like James Baldwin, Susan Sontag, Noam Chomsky and Norman Mailer; along with new footage of Joan Didion, Michael Chabon, Mary Beard, and Timothy Garton Ash; giving us a portrait of a magazine that has been on the vanguard of provocative ideas and commentary for over 50 years.

“For over 50 years, ‘The New York Review of Books’ has been one of the most interesting and sophisticated magazines on culture and politics, with content by outstanding writers and thinkers. In their wonderful documentary, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi reveal the inner workings of the publication and its legendary editor, from its birth during the 1963 New York Times’ newspaper strike, through its continued relevance in today’s digital universe. We’re very pleased that we’ll be closing this year’s Berlinale Special with this highlight,” says Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick.
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Final Documentary Films Selected for 2014 Berlin International Film Festival

CONCERNING VIOLENCE

The Panorama Dokumente section of the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival will present 16 films, including ten world premieres. Panorama Dokumente will open on February 7 with the world premiere of the Dutch co-production LAST HIJACK by Tommy Pallotta and Femke Wolting. The film depicts what motivates piracy in Somalia.

Other films on the lineup with an African focus include the Ethiopian fictional feature DIFRET, and Swedish filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson CONCERNING VIOLENCE which World Premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. CONCERNING VIOLENCE is described by the festival as a strong commentary on Africa’s decolonization, cites Frantz Fanon’s “The Wretched of the Earth” – and with narration by singer Lauryn Hill. Olsson presented THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975 about the Afro-American civil rights movement in Panorama in 2011. In Thomas Allen Harris’ THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE, the history of photography is shown from an Afro-American perspective.

In IS THE MAN WHO IS TALL HAPPY?, Michel Gondry conveys what the festival describes as terrific ingenuity and loving humor his impressions from a series of talks with American linguist Noam Chomsky.

Panorama also has a tradition of music films, and continues with the British entry 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, a densely poetic portrait of Australian musician, author and actor Nick Cave, whose more than 30-year career still displays a fascinating degree of artistic integrity and authenticity.

Besides Tamara Trampe and Johann Feindt’s MEINE MUTTER, EIN KRIEG UND ICH (MY MOTHER, A WAR AND ME), which traces the Second World War in the Ukraine, Annekatrin Hendel’s ANDERSON takes a look at Germany’s past by focusing on one of the most dubious figures of not-too-distant history. Sascha Anderson, charismatic pop star of the alternative literature scene in East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg during the 1980s, was a zealous informant for the Stasi: even after more than twenty years, the wounds he inflicted on his former friends and colleagues run deep.

“Unfuck the world!” the slogan from ANOTHER WORLD by US-American filmmakers Rebecca Chaiklin and Fisher Stevens resonates in a number of Panorama fictional features, and captures an attitude towards life related to the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011. This documentary gives an overview of events and how they led to many new initiatives.

With NATURAL RESISTANCE, Jonathan Nossiter takes a different approach to the same purpose: ten years after Mondovino, he provides insights into ecological vineyards, as well as developments in the other direction, the destruction of land caused by industrial wineries in Italy. Nossiter unites film history and wine production into an intelligent analysis.

Several works revolve around emancipation: for instance, Gianni Amelio’s FELICE CHI È DIVERSO (HAPPY TO BE DIFFERENT) delivers a detailed account of queer history in Italy; or Claudia Richarz and Ulrike Zimmermann’s VULVA 3.0 gives a calm analysis and assessment of the current perception of the vulva – from education and censorship, to genital mutilation and intimate surgery.

Panorama Dokumente

20,000 Days on Earth – Great Britain
By Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
With Nick Cave
EP

Anderson – Germany
By Annekatrin Hendel
WP

Another World – USA
By Rebecca Chaiklin, Fisher Stevens
WP

Concerning Violence – Sweden / USA / Denmark
By Göran Hugo Olsson
EP

Der Anständige (The Decent One) – Israel / Austria / Germany
By Vanessa Lapa
WP

Der Kreis (The Circle) – Switzerland
By Stefan Haupt
With Marianne Sägebrecht, Anatole Taubman, Matthias Hungerbühler, Sven Schelker
WP

Felice chi è diverso (Happy to Be Different) – Italy
By Gianni Amelio
WP

Finding Vivian Maier – USA
By John Maloof, Charlie Siskel
EP

Fucking different XXY – Germany
By Mor Vital, KAy Garnellen, Felix Endara & Sasha Wortzel, J.Jackie Baier, Buck Angel, Jasco Viefhues, Gwen Haworth
WP

Last Hijack – Netherlands / Germany / Ireland / Belgium
By Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting
WP

Meine Mutter, ein Krieg und ich (My Mother, a War and Me) – Germany
By Tamara Trampe, Johann Feindt
WP

Natural Resistance – Italy
By Jonathan Nossiter
WP

The Dog – USA
By Frank Keraudren, Allison Berg
EP

Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People – USA
By Thomas Allen Harris
IP

Vulva 3.0 – Germany
By Claudia Richarz, Ulrike Zimmermann
WP

Panorama supporting films

Mario Wirz – Germany
By Rosa von Praunheim
WP

Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? – France
By Michel Gondry
EP

(WP = World Premiere, IP = International Premiere, EP = European Premiere)
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THE SELFISH GIANT, THE ACT OF KILLING, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR Win London Critics’ Circle Film Awards

THE SELFISH GIANT

The 33rd London Critics’ Circle Film Section held its annual awards on Sunday night and THE SELFISH GIANT was one of the big winners, taking home two awards – British Film and Young British Performer for Conner Chapman – giving filmmakers Clio Barnard and Tracy O’Riordan and actors Chapman, Shaun Thomas and Lorraine Ashbourne a chance to celebrate on stage. Other winners present include Andre Singer, producer of Documentary of the Year THE ACT OF KILLING. The ceremony opened on a solemn note with the announcement of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death, which was confirmed just as the event was starting. Hoffman won Supporting Actor at last year’s CC Film Awards for his role in THE MASTER.

Full list of winners:

Film of the Year
12 YEARS A SLAVE

Foreign-language Film of the Year
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

Documentary of the Year
THE ACT OF KILLING

British Film of the Year
THE SELFISH GIANT

Director of the Year
Alfonso Cuarón – GRAVITY

Screenwriter of the Year
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

Actor of the Year
Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 YEARS A SLAVE

Actress of the Year
Cate Blanchett – BLUE JASMINE

Supporting Actor of the Year
Barkhad Abdi – CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Supporting Actress of the Year
Lupita Nyong’o – 12 YEARS A SLAVE

British Actor of the Year
James McAvoy – FILTH / TRANCE / WELCOME TO THE PUNCH

British Actress of the Year
Judi Dench – PHILOMENA

Young British Performer of the Year
Conner Chapman – THE SELFISH GIANT

Breakthrough British Filmmaker
Jon S Baird – FILTH

Technical Achievement Award
GRAVITY – Tim Webber, special effects

Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film
Gary Oldman
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NEBRASKA by Alexander Payne Wins Audience Award of 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam

NEBRASKA by Alexander Payne

The UPC Audience Award of the 43rd International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) was won by NEBRASKA by Alexander Payne, and the Dioraphte Award went to the official opening film, QISSA, by Anup Singh. NEBRASKA tells the tragicomic story of a father and son who travel through economically blighted Nebraska on their way to find a million dollars.

Hans Blom, VP Marketing of UPC the Netherlands, stressed the importance of recognising independent cinema. ”Beautiful, engaging and exceptional films deserve a large audience and, in the case of the Audience Award winner Nebraska, this is most certainly the case”, Blom said.

QISSA by Anup Singh

Eleven festival films were realised thanks to support from the festival’s Hubert Bals Fund, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Director Anup Singh and three of the actresses from the award winner QISSA stressed the importance of the Fund’s support while attending the festival.

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ANATOMY OF A PAPER CLIP, SOMETHING MUST BREAK, HAN GONG-JU Among Winners of 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam

ANATOMY OF A PAPER CLIP (Yamamori clip koujo no atari) by Ikeda Akira

The winners of International Film Festival Rotterdam’s 19th Hivos Tiger Awards Competition, as well as of the second Big Screen Award Competition and of the NETPAC, FIPRESCI, KNF, and Moviezone awards were announced at the award ceremony on Friday night. The winners of the three Hivos Tiger Awards 2014 are ANATOMY OF A PAPER CLIP (Yamamori clip koujo no atari) by Ikeda Akira, SOMETHING MUST BREAK (Nånting måste gå sönder) by Ester Martin Bergsmark, and HAN GONG-JU by Lee Su-Jin.

Hivos Tiger Awards

The winners of the three equal Hivos Tiger Awards 2014 are:

ANATOMY OF A PAPER CLIP (Yamamori clip koujo no atari) by Ikeda Akira (Japan, 2013)

”Challenging narrative form with precision and economy, this film elevates observations of the absurd in human behavior, and brings it into the poetic domain.”

Ikeda Akira (1976, Japan) began to make his own short films while studying English literature at Bunkyo University. After being involved in various fields such as theatre, music and dance, he directed his first feature-length film The Blue Monkey in 2006. Anatomy of a Paper Clip is his second feature.

SOMETHING MUST BREAK (Nånting måste gå sönder) by Ester Martin Bergsmark (Sweden, 2014)

Something Must Break (Nånting måste gå sönder) by Ester Martin Bergsmark

”A free-floating personal voyage traces the pains and pleasures of intimacy, recounted in a tender depiction of characters, with a sincere and playful use of cinematographic language.”

Ester Martin Bergsmark (1982, Sweden) trained at the Swedish University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. Together with Mark Hammarberg he made the award-winning documentary Maggie in Wonderland (2008). In 2010, he made Fruitcake as part of the experimental feminist porn suite Dirty Diaries. She Male Snails (2012) won several awards at the Gothenburg International Film Festival.Fifteen first or second films by talented filmmakers from around the globe competed in the 2014 Hivos Tiger Awards Competition

. HAN GONG-JU by Lee Su-Jin (South Korea, 2013)

HAN GONG-JU by Lee Su-Jin

”A skilfully crafted and highly accomplished debut – deviating from classicist structure, this film lures the spectator to participate in the pleasures of storytelling through an extraordinary and intricate narrative puzzle.”

Lee Su-Jin (South-Korea) is a screenwriter and director. He made several award-winning short films in his homeland. His roll of honour continues with his debut feature Han Gong-Ju, which won two awards at Busan, plus the top prize at the film festival of Marrakech.

Hivos director Edwin Huizing: ”Hivos aims to give young filmmakers a voice. To inspire us; to push boundaries. Their work has the potential to break open societies, so thoughts and creativity can flow more freely. The Hivos Tiger Awards give them the recognition they deserve.”

THE BIG SCREEN AWARD

IFFR introduced a new competition in 2013: The Big Screen Award Competition, aimed at supporting the distribution of films in Dutch cinemas. Ten very recent films with no Benelux distributor confirmed were nominated for this prize.

The winner of The Big Screen Award 2014 is:

ANOTHER YEAR (Yeshche odin god) by Oxana Bychkova (Russia, 2014)

ANOTHER YEAR (Yeshche odin god) by Oxana Bychkova

”At a time when Dutch media abound with negative news about Russia, Another Year takes us straight into the daily lives of the young people who will shape its future and makes us open up our hearts to them. More than just a simple love story, it shows us how globalization meets tradition in present-day Russia, how they clash, and how they might be reconciled. Pitch perfect, beautifully acted and choreographed, modest, subtle and utterly convincing.”

Oxana Bychkova (1972, Ukraine) is a screenwriter and director. She studied journalism in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, graduating in 1995. After a career as a radio journalist, Bychkova began studying directing in 2000, focusing on filmmaking. Another Year is her first feature film.

NETPAC Award

The NETPAC Jury (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) awards the best Asian film in the IFFR 2014 Official Selection.

The winner of the NETPAC Award 2014 is:

28 by Prasanna Jayakody (Sri Lanka, 2014)

28 by Prasanna Jayakody

”A well-measured and crafted film that emotionally engages the audience through poetic storytelling of a critical subject.”

Prasanna Jayakody (1968, Sri Lanka) was born into an artistic family strongly rooted in traditional Sinhala values, and grew up in a Buddhist environment. This became a major inspiration for his productions. He made his debut at the age of 21 with the stage drama Shadows and Men, which was a critical success. He then started directing television dramas that were loved by the masses and won him numerous television awards. His earlier films Sankara (2006) and Karma (2010) have also screened at IFFR.

The winner of the Rotterdam FIPRESCI Award 2014 is:

THE SONGS OF RICE (Pleng khong kao) by Uruphong Raksasad (Thailand, 2014)

”Fully relying on its strong cinematography, it creates an immersive sensory experience that makes us part of a vivid community revolving around the cultivation of a tiny grain.”

Uruphong Raksasad (1977, Thailand) studied film and photography at Thammasat University. After graduating in 2004, he worked as an editor and post-production supervisor on several Thai feature films. Since 2004, he has focused on his own career, returning to the region where he was born and shooting his feature debut Stories from the North (2006). The Songs of Rice is his third feature.

KNF Award
For the KNF Award, The Dutch Circle of Film Critics (KNF) Jury chose the winner out of the ten films in The Big Screen Award Competition 2014.

The winner of the KNF Award 2014 is:

TO KILL A MAN (Matar a un hombre) by Alejandro Fernández Almendras (Chile/France, 2013)

To Kill a Man (Matar a un hombre) by Alejandro Fernández Almendras

”A compelling film with great visual style, impressive acting, and exactly the right length. The story is both simple and challenging. We follow the humiliation of the protagonist step by step and are confronted with our own fears in the process. This unremitting psychological thriller deserves to be seen on the big screen.”

Alejandro Fernández Almendras (1971, Chile) has a degree in journalism and worked as a film critic, photographer an

MovieZone Award

The winner of the MovieZone Award 2014 is:

Jacky au royaume des filles (JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN) by Riad Sattouf (France, 2014)

Jacky au royaume des filles (JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN) by Riad Sattouf

”It was like a classical fairytale but with a completely different point of view. The makers of the film created a whole new world with the art direction and costume design and the film had a theme that everyone can relate to. The film was really funny but also had a great message.”

Riad Sattouf (1978, France) is a French writer, comic book artist and director with Syrian roots. He has successfully published various graphic novels and has a weekly comic in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. In 2009, he made his directing debut with the award-winning film Les beaux gosses. Jacky au royaume des filles is his second film.

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THE CHIMERA OF M., GIANT and LA ISLA Win Tiger Awards for Short Films at International Film Festival Rotterdam

The three International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Canon Tiger Awards for Short Films 2014 were awarded to Sebastian Buerkner’s THE CHIMERA OF M. (United Kingdom), Salla Tykkä’s GIANT (Finland/Romania) and LA ISLA by Dominga Sotomayor and Katarzyna Klimkiewicz (Chile/Poland/Denmark). THE CHIMERA OF M. was also nominated to compete in the short film category of the annual European Film Awards (EFA).

The jury statements

LA ISLA by Dominga Sotomayor and Katarzyna Klimkiewicz, Chile/Poland/Denmark, 2013

”An astonishingly strong, atmospheric film where temporality and space are captured in such a delicate and sensual way that the tension of drama haunts you deeply.”

GIANT by Salla Tykkä, Finland/Romania, 2014

”A very focused and pure portrait of a place and a political history in one. The brilliant editing and sound design push the seemingly distant observations to a thrilling friction between dehumanization and man’s quest for beauty and grace.”

THE CHIMERA OF M. by Sebastian Buerkner, United Kingdom, 2013

”Its visual language was astonishing and magical in its treatment of the third-person technique, and the combination with the heartfelt dialogue gave this film its hypnotic, poetic feel.”

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INFINITELY POLAR BEAR, starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana from Sundance Film Festival Now Set for U.S. Release

Maya Forbes’ directorial debut INFINITELY POLAR BEAR, starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in the US. Set in the late ’70s, an eccentric mess of a father tries to win back his wife by taking responsibility for their two young daughters. The spirited girls don’t make the overwhelming task any easier.

The year is 1978, and the Stuart family is struggling to hold it together. Cameron, a bipolar father, has had a nervous breakdown that leaves him unemployable, and Maggie, a hardworking mother, can’t quite make ends meet. Despite Cameron’s aristocratic pedigree and the couple’s top-notch education, they’re broke. When Maggie decides to accept a scholarship to pursue her MBA in New York, she must leave her daughters, Faith and Amelia, in Boston with their now-somewhat-convalesced father. So begins an untamed, unpredictable, 18-month experiment as eccentric, exuberant Cameron takes over primary parenting of his precocious, sensitive little girls. Sundance Film Festival

“I am thrilled!” said writer/director Maya Forbes. “Sony Pictures Classics consistently releases the movies I want to see. The film connected deeply with audiences at Sundance and I think Michael, Tom and Dylan have a terrific plan to expand on that experience. ‘INFINITELY POLAR BEAR’ could not have found a better home.”

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[UPDATED] Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Found Dead at 46 of Heroin Overdose

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment earlier today of an apparent heroin overdose. He was 46 years old. According to the NY Daily News, Hoffman was found alone in the bathroom of his apartment with a needle in his arm.

Hoffman won the Academy Award for best actor for his role as famed author Truman Capote the 2005 film CAPOTE, and recently appeared at the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of his movie GOD’S POCKET which also stars John Turturro and Christina Hendricks.

UPDATE: A search of the home of Philip Seymour Hoffman home turned up used syringes and approximately 50 bags of heroin, this according to law enforcement officials. [Variety]

UPDATE: The Berlin International Film Festival mourns the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

In 2006 the Berlinale Competition presented Capote, the film directed by Bennett Miller which won Philip Seymour Hoffman a Golden Globe and later an Oscar as Best Actor.

This exceptional performer also appeared in Berlinale films like OWNING MAHOWNY (Panorama 2003) and Spike Lee’s 25TH HOUR (Competition 2003). He was unforgettable in the roles he played in two Berlinale films in 2000: Anthony Minghella’s THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY and Golden Bear winner MAGNOLIA directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. [ Berlin International Film Festival ]

UPDATE: Four people thought to be connected to the drugs found in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s apartment were arrested late Tuesday night [ CNN ]

UPDATE: An autopsy of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s body is inconclusive, and tests will be needed to determine what caused his death, the city medical examiner’s office said Wednesday. [Variety]

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Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL Wins 2014 Writers Guild Award for Best Documentary Screenplay

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2014 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing and STORIES WE TELL, written by Sarah Polley won the 2014 Writers Guild Award for Best Documentary Screenplay.

SCREEN WINNERS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Her, Written by Spike Jonze; Warner Bros.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Captain Phillips, Screenplay by Billy Ray; Based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty; Columbia Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

Stories We Tell, Written by Sarah Polley; Roadside Attractions

TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA WINNERS

DRAMA SERIES

Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett; AMC

COMEDY SERIES

Veep, Written by Simon Blackwell, Roger Drew, Sean Gray, Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Georgia Pritchett, David Quantick, Tony Roche, Will Smith; HBO

NEW SERIES

House of Cards, Written by Kate Barnow, Rick Cleveland, Sam Forman, Gina Gionfriddo, Keith Huff, Sarah Treem, Beau Willimon; Netflix

EPISODIC DRAMA

“Confessions” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison; AMC

EPISODIC COMEDY

“Hogcock!” (30 Rock), Written by Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock; NBC

LONG FORM – ADAPTED

Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, Written by Shawn Slovo, Based on the book by Howard Bingham and Max Wallace; HBO

SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA – ORIGINAL

“Episode 4: The Collected Sylvia” (Sylvia Plath: Girl Detective), Written by Mike Simses; sylviaplathgirldetective.com

ANIMATION

“A Test Before Trying” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen; Fox

COMEDY / VARIETY (INCLUDING TALK) – SERIES

The Colbert Report, Writers: Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Rich Dahm, Paul Dinello, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Gabe Gronli, Dan Guterman, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Frank Lesser, Opus Moreschi, Bobby Mort, Meredith Scardino, Max Werner; Comedy Central

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS

Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas, Head Writers: Jay Martel, Ian Roberts Writers: Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders; NBC

QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Jeopardy!, Written by John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC

DAYTIME DRAMA

Days of Our Lives, Written by Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Christopher Dunn, Janet Iacobuzio, David A. Levinson, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Melissa Salmons, Christopher J. Whitesell; NBC

CHILDREN’S – EPISODIC & SPECIALS

“influANTces” (A.N.T. Farm), Written by Vincent Brown; Disney Channel

DOCUMENTARY – CURRENT EVENTS

“Egypt in Crisis” (Frontline), Written by Marcela Gaviria & Martin Smith; PBS

DOCUMENTARY – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

“The Choice 2012” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk; PBS

TIED WITH:

“Silicon Valley” (American Experience), Telescript by Randall MacLowry and Michelle Ferrari; Story by Randall MacLowry; PBS

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

“Tragedy at Newtown” Special Edition (ABC World News with Diane Sawyer), Written by Lisa Ferri and Matt Negrin; ABC

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“Lethal Medicine” (60 Minutes), Written by Michael Rey, Oriana Zill de Granados, Michael Radutzky; CBS

RADIO WINNERS

DOCUMENTARY

“2012 Year in Review,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS Radio News

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

“Afternoon Drive,” Written by Bill Spadaro; CBS Radio/1010 WINS

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“Remembering C. Everett Koop,” Written by Scott Saloway; CBS Radio News

PROMOTIONAL WRITING AND GRAPHIC ANIMATION WINNERS

ON-AIR PROMOTION (TELEVISION, NEW MEDIA OR RADIO)

The Crazy Ones, “Building a Better Comedy,” Written by Erial Tompkins; CBS

TELEVISION GRAPHIC ART AND ANIMATION

CBS News Animations: “Brain Injury,” “Pills,” “Bionic Leg,” “Midland Parade,” “Concordia Salvage;” Animation by David Rosen; CBS News

VIDEOGAME WINNER

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEOGAME WRITING

The Last of Us, Written by Neil Druckmann; Sony Computer Entertainment

*Editor’s Note: There were no nominees in Long Form – Original, Short Form New Media – Adapted, or Children’s – Long Form or Special awards categories this year.

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