• OUT OF OMAHA, A LITTLE WISDOM, BARBARA RUBIN Win 2018 DOC NYC Awards

    [caption id="attachment_32681" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]OUT OF OMAHA OUT OF OMAHA[/caption] Out of Omaha, a coming-of-age tale of twin African-American brothers filmed over eight years by director Clay Tweel won the Audience Award at the 2018 DOC NYC. Other top 2018 award-winners included A Little Wisdom took the Viewfinders Grand Jury Prize; Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground won the Metropolis Grand Jury Prize; and In the Absence won the Shorts Grand Jury Prize.

    2018 DOC NYC Award Winners

    Viewfinders Competition

    [caption id="attachment_32683" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]A Little Wisdom, directed by Yuqi Kang A Little Wisdom[/caption] Grand Jury Prize Winner: A Little Wisdom, directed by Yuqi Kang, centers on a Tibetan Buddhist monastery where young novice monks try to balance rituals and discipline with the distractions of modern life and childhood. Jurors’ statement: “A Little Wisdom is a beautifully crafted, nuanced, and candid observational portrait of everyday life for young Tibetan monks; the film is filled with quiet, heart-breaking revelations as it explores both the joys and cruel power dynamics of childhood.” Films featured in the Viewfinders section: Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, dir. Judith A. Helfand; Ghost Fleet, dirs. Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron; Heartbound, dirs. Janus Metz and Sine Plambech; The Kleptocrats, dirs. Havana Marking and Sam Hobkinson; A Little Wisdom, dir. Yuqi Kang; Out Of Omaha, dir. Clay Tweel; The Smartest Kids In The World, dir. Tracy Droz Tragos; Under The Wire, dir. Chris Martin; Walking On Water, dir. Andrey Paounov.

    Metropolis Competition

    The jury selected from among seven films in this section, which is dedicated to stories set in New York City. [caption id="attachment_32682" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground[/caption] Grand Jury Prize Winner: Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground, directed by Chuck Smith, is the untold story of an influential figure who defied sexist conventions and enabled surprising connections in the 1960s New York underground film scene. Jurors’ statement: “Barbara Rubin was a leading figure in the New York avant-garde whose groundbreaking feminist art films were not recognized in her time. We were moved by her work and her spirit, which still resonate today.” Films featured in the Metropolis section: Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground, dir. Chuck Smith; The Candidates, dirs. Alexandra Stergiou and Lexi Henigman; Creating A Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy, dir. Rauzar Alexander; Decade Of Fire, dirs. Vivian Vazquez and Gretchen Hildebran; Jay Myself, dir. Stephen Wilkes; See Know Evil, dir. Charles Curran; The World Before Your Feet, dir. Jeremy Workman.

    Shorts Competition

    Grand Jury Prize Winner: In the Absence, directed by Seung-Jun Yi, is an unflinchingly honest look at the Sewol Ferry Disaster in South Korea. Jurors’ statement: “A complex story rigorously and sensitively told. Through interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses, and family members, as well as archival footage and recordings obtained from the South Korean authorities, the film delicately pieces together a tragedy, and in doing so, exposes a flawed political system.” Special Mentions: Obon, directed by Andre Hoermann and Anna Samo, and King of the Night, directed by Molly Brass and Stephen Tyler. The 2018 winning Short film qualifies for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run (provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules).

    Audience Award

    Winner: Out of Omaha is a coming-of-age tale of twin African-American brothers filmed over eight years by director Clay Tweel (Gleason) and executive produced by musician J. Cole. The winner of the DOC NYC Audience Award receives a screening as part of the IFC Center’s Stranger Than Fiction screening series in 2019.

    DOC NYC PRO Pitch Perfect Award

    Recognized the best pitch given during DOC NYC PRO’s Pitch Perfect Day, based on the pitch itself, as well as the viability of the project, and was determined by industry professionals taking part in the daylong pitch event. Documentary pros who selected the winner were Patricia Finneran, Good Pitch Local Producer, Doc Society; Kelsey Koenig, Director of Development, Impact Partners; Dan O’Meara, VP Special Projects & Documentary, NEON; Hayley Pappas, Head of RYOT Films; Greg Rhem, Director, HBO Documentary Films; Molly Thompson, Senior VP, A&E IndieFilms. Winner: Civil War (or, Who Do We Think We Are), directed by Rachel Boynton, explores how America remembers the Civil War and what the stories we tell reveal about who we are, revealing a picture of contemporary society and our persistent conflicts within.

    IF/Then Shorts Northeast American Pitch Award

    New this year, in partnership with Tribeca Film Institute, the IF/Then Shorts Pitch at DOC NYC invited six filmmaking teams to pitch their short documentary projects focusing on stories of the American Northeast. One project was selected by an industry jury to receive up to $20,000 in completion funding, free post production services (provided by Sim NY), and the opportunity to participate in Tribeca Film Institute’s IF/Then Shorts distribution initiative. Winner: Mizuko (Water Child), directed by Kira Dane and Katelyn Rebelo.

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  • FILM REVIEW: ‘Call Her Ganda’: Justice For Jennifer

    [caption id="attachment_29069" align="aligncenter" width="975"]CALL HER GANDA CALL HER GANDA[/caption] Ganda [gʌn-daː] – meaning “beauty” in Tagalog On October 11, 2014, Jennifer Laude was last seen with a United States Marine and later found dead in a motel bathroom. This and the identity of the suspect is known to both the Philippines and the United States Government, yet their imperialistic relationship and preponderant transphobia in both countries has rendered the case gridlocked. Filipino-American director PJ Raval seeks justice for trans woman Jeffery “Jennifer” Laude as her homicide evolves far beyond her death and echoes a long-pondered question: what is the United States’ role in the Philippines? Call her Ganda is a poignant exploration of LGBT+ relations in a time of social media saturation and in an environment dominated by lingering post-colonialism. Raval and journalist Meredith Talusan unravels the red herring media coverage and social delusion regarding Laude’s family and the trans community as they struggle for authentic visibility. This documentary intimately examines the resulting Filipino nationalism after Laude’s tragic death as well as the first indictment of a U.S. serviceman on Philippines soil. Born Jeffery Laude, Jennifer was the breadwinner of her family and provided financial support to her mother. Though her main source of income was promiscuous, the viewer is asked to look beyond her sex-work, identity, and race to ultimately find humanity in someone that is most likely foreign to themselves. The film provides a glimpse into the misunderstood trans-culture of the Philippines and its relation to the nation’s prevailing poverty and corrupt political system. Testimony from her friends and family acquaints us with the bright and benevolent life Laude led while conversely probing us to question the immoral capabilities of United States servicemen. We feel her mother’s struggle for justice, recognize her fiancé’s pain as he tries to make sense of the tragedy, and understand the upheaval of the Filipino people in response U.S.’s intrusion in Filipino law. Raval inquires us to examine the relationship the Philippines has with its Western Subjugator and challenge documents such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allow the U.S. to interfere in Filipino judicial processes under certain circumstances. Call Her Ganda makes it a point to remind us of media’s involvement in the proceedings following the incident and the interconnective soapbox that is social media. We see how opinions over the internet sustain widespread dogmatism over complex controversies and how media can contort the truth for political interest whenever convenient. Though Laude and Pemberton’s case may seem unambiguous to either side of the aisle due to predispositions of gender, race, and nationality, Talusan explores varying perspectives subsequently highlighting the numerous moral dilemmas that saturate both the events in question and the legal turbulence that follows. The film itself seeks “Justice for Jennifer,” yet rather than completely villainizing a single person or group, Talusan ventures toward understanding Pemberton’s perspective and widespread transphobia ultimately revaluating modern and western education of gender fluidity. Despite the film’s emphasis on social media’s tendency to polarize opinions, it doesn’t forget to demonstrate its power to bring people together under a meaningful cause. The film itself is a product of social support as it captures the united front that is transgender and Filipino pride. Joseph Scott Pemberton’s actions that night may have pained so many who knew and sympathized with Jennifer Laude, but this documentary makes it known that her death was not in vein. The anger and sadness that stems from mourning is galvanized into a passion for justice and social equality. Laude’s name stands as a reminder that trans people will continue to be marginalized and Filipinos overlooked if these moral dilemmas go unaddressed, unexamined, and uncontested. Call Her Ganda attempts to breed empathy regarding gender identity and race, ultimately breathing new life into Jennifer Laude by recognizing a deep desire shared by all humans: to unapologetically be one’s true self. Laude defined herself by who she knew she was and took pride in her identity making her truly Ganda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YwQtgBRhZQ

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  • WE THE ANIMALS, EIGHTH GRADE, FIRST REFORMED Lead Nominations for 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards

    [caption id="attachment_30337" align="aligncenter" width="1228"]WE THE ANIMALS We the Animals[/caption] We the Animals leads the nominations for the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards with 5 nods including Best First Feature, but missed out on a nomination for Best Feature. Nominees for Best Feature are Eighth Grade, First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk, Leave No Trace and You Were Never Really Here. Suspiria was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts. Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grant and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 5, 2019.

    2019 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

    BEST FEATURE

    (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.) Eighth Grade Producers: Eli Bush, Scott Rudin, Christopher Storer, Lila Yacoub First Reformed Producers: Jack Binder, Greg Clark, Gary Hamilton, Victoria Hill, David Hinojosa, Frank Murray, Deepak Sikka, Christine Vachon If Beale Street Could Talk Producers: Dede Gardner, Barry Jenkins, Jeremy Kleiner, Sara Murphy, Adele Romanski Leave No Trace Producers: Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, Anne Rosellini You Were Never Really Here Producers: Rosa Attab, Pascal Caucheteux, Rebecca O’Brien, Lynne Ramsay, James Wilson

    BEST FIRST FEATURE

    (Award given to the director and producer) Hereditary Director: Ari Aster Producers: Kevin Frakes, Lars Knudsen, Buddy Patrick Sorry to Bother You Director: Boots Riley Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jonathan Duffy, Charles D. King, George Rush, Forest Whitaker, Kelly Williams The Tale Director/Producer: Jennifer Fox Producers: Sol Bondy, Lawrence Inglee, Mynette Louie, Oren Moverman, Simone Pero, Reka Posta, Laura Rister, Regina K. Scully, Lynda Weinman We the Animals Director: Jeremiah Zagar Producers: Andrew Goldman, Christina D. King, Paul Mezey, Jeremy Yaches Wildlife Director/Producer: Paul Dano Producers: Andrew Duncan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker, Oren Moverman, Ann Ruark, Alex Saks

    JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

    Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. (Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.) A Bread Factory Writer/Director/Producer: Patrick Wang Producers: Daryl Freimark, Matt Miller En el Séptimo Día Writer/Director/Producer: Jim McKay Producers: Alex Bach, Lindsey Cordero, Caroline Kaplan, Michael Stipe Never Goin’ Back Writer/Director: Augustine Frizzell Producers: Liz Cardenas, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston Sócrates Writer/Director/Producer: Alex Moratto Writer: Thayná Mantesso Producers: Ramin Bahrani, Jefferson Paulino, Tammy Weiss Thunder Road Writer/Director: Jim Cummings Producers: Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Weissner

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Debra Granik Leave No Trace Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Could Talk Tamara Jenkins Private Life Lynne Ramsay You Were Never Really Here Paul Schrader First Reformed

    BEST SCREENPLAY

    Richard Glatzer (Writer/Story By), Rebecca Lenkiewicz & Wash Westmoreland Colette Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty Can You Ever Forgive Me? Tamara Jenkins Private Life Boots Riley Sorry to Bother You Paul Schrader First Reformed

    BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

    Bo Burnham Eighth Grade Christina Choe Nancy Cory Finley Thoroughbreds Jennifer Fox The Tale Quinn Shephard (Writer/Story By), Laurie Shephard (Story By) Blame

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Ashley Connor Madeline’s Madeline Diego Garcia Wildlife Benjamin Loeb Mandy Sayombhu Mukdeeprom Suspiria Zak Mulligan We the Animals

    BEST EDITING

    Joe Bini You Were Never Really Here Keiko Deguchi, Brian A. Kates, Jeremiah Zagar We the Animals Luke Dunkley, Nick Fenton, Chris Gill, Julian Hart American Animals Anne Fabini, Alex Hall, Gary Levy The Tale Nick Houy Mid90s

    BEST FEMALE LEAD

    Glenn Close The Wife Toni Collette Hereditary Elsie Fisher Eighth Grade Regina Hall Support the Girls Helena Howard Madeline’s Madeline Carey Mulligan Wildlife

    BEST MALE LEAD

    John Cho Searching Daveed Diggs Blindspotting Ethan Hawke First Reformed Christian Malheiros Sócrates Joaquin Phoenix You Were Never Really Here

    BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

    Kayli Carter Private Life Tyne Daly A Bread Factory Regina King If Beale Street Could Talk Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie Leave No Trace J. Smith-Cameron Nancy

    BEST SUPPORTING MALE

    Raúl Castillo We the Animals Adam Driver BLACKkKLANSMAN Richard E. Grant Can You Ever Forgive Me? Josh Hamilton Eighth Grade John David Washington Monsters and Men

    ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD

    Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast Suspiria Director: Luca Guadagnino Casting Directors: Avy Kaufman, Stella Savino Ensemble Cast: Malgosia Bela, Ingrid Caven, Lutz Ebersdorf, Elena Fokina, Mia Goth, Jessica Harper, Dakota Johnson, Gala Moody, Chloë Grace Moretz, Renée Soutendijk, Tilda Swinton, Sylvie Testud, Angela Winkler

    BEST DOCUMENTARY

    (Award given to the director and producer) Hale County This Morning, This Evening Director/Producer: RaMell Ross Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Su Kim Minding the Gap Director/Producer: Bing Liu Producer: Diane Quon Of Fathers and Sons Director: Talal Derki Producers: Hans Robert Eisenhauer, Ansgar Frerich, Eva Kemme, Tobias N. Siebert On Her Shoulders Director: Alexandria Bombach Producers: Hayley Pappas, Brock Williams Shirkers Director/Producer: Sandi Tan Producers: Jessica Levin, Maya Rudolph Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Director/Producer: Morgan Neville Producers: Caryn Capotosto, Nicholas Ma

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

    (Award given to the director) Burning South Korea Director: Lee Chang-Dong The Favourite United Kingdom Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Happy as Lazzaro Italy Director: Alice Rohrwacher Roma Mexico Director: Alfonso Cuarón Shoplifters Japan Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu

    BONNIE AWARD

    Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the second Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines. Debra Granik Tamara Jenkins Karyn Kusama PRODUCERS AWARD The 22nd annual Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams Gabrielle Nadig Shrihari Sathe

    SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD

    The 25th annual Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Alex Moratto Director of Sócrates Ioana Uricaru Director of Lemonade Jeremiah Zagar Director of We the Animals

    TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

    The 24th annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Alexandria Bombach Director of On Her Shoulders Bing Liu Director of Minding the Gap RaMell Ross Director of Hale County This Morning, This Evening

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  • AFI FEST 2018 Award Winners – THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM Wins Audience Award

    [caption id="attachment_32672" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Biggest Little Farm The Biggest Little Farm[/caption] The AFI FEST announced the films that won this year’s Jury and Audience awards, with the Audience Award for Best Feature going to John Chester’s poignant and charming documentary The Biggest Little Farm.  The Grand Jury Award for Live-Action Short went to War Paint directed by Katrelle Kindred, and is now eligible for that Short Film Oscar® category.

    2018 AFI FEST Award Winners

    Audience Award – Feature

    THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM (DIR John Chester) In this poignant and charming documentary, filmmaker John Chester chronicles the eight-year effort of an ambitious, life-changing personal venture: moving out of Los Angeles with his wife, Molly, and building a diverse, sustainable farm.

    Audience Award – Short

    PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. (DIR Lisa Taback, Garrett Schiff, Melissa Berton, Rayka Zehtabchi) In an effort to improve feminine hygiene, a machine that creates low-cost biodegradable sanitary pads is installed in a rural village in Northern India.

    Grand Jury Award – Live-Action Short

    WAR PAINT (DIR Katrelle Kindred) Jury Statement: “We picked this film for its powerful intersectional narrative which focuses on the difficult aspects of one girl’s coming of age.” In WAR PAINT, a young, South LA black girl experiences a series of events that intersect racism and sexism during the Fourth of July holiday. Katrelle Kindred (AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Class of 2018) directed WAR PAINT in 2017 as her AFI DWW short. The film world-premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

    Grand Jury Award – Animated Short

    EGG (DIR Martina Scarpelli) Jury Statement: “We chose this film for its visceral portrayal of the relationship between a woman and her body.” In this film, a woman is locked in her home with an egg. She eats the egg, then repents. She kills it. She lets the egg die of hunger.

    Honorable Mention for Social Impact Short

    MAGIC ALPS (DIR Andrea Brusa, Marco Scotuzzi) In MAGIC ALPS, an Afghani refugee arrives in Italy with his goat and seeks political asylum for both of them.

    Honorable Mention for Best Documentary Short

    PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. (DIR Lisa Taback, Garrett Schiff, Melissa Berton, Rayka Zehtabchi)

    Honorable Mention for Acting – Short

    Vedrana Bozinovic, A SIEGE In A SIEGE, a lonely woman in war-torn Sarajevo embarks on a journey to find water, and neither her neighbors nor sniper fire can stop her.

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  • Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award

    [caption id="attachment_32668" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody[/caption] Rami Malek will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award Bohemian Rhapsody at the at the 30th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Film Awards Gala on Thursday, January 3.  The Festival runs January 3-14. “In the film Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek fully brings to life and embodies musical legend Freddie Mercury, in what is truly an outstanding performance for this fine actor,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “For his portrayal that is garnering much critical acclaim, it is our honor to present the 2018 Breakthrough Performance Award to Rami Malek.” Malek joins previously announced honoree Glenn Close, who will receive the Icon Award. Past recipients of the Breakthrough Performance Award include Mahershala Ali, Mary J. Blige, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson, Felicity Huffman, Brie Larson, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike and Jeremy Renner. In the years they were honored, Ali, Cotillard, Hudson, Larson and Nyong’o went on to receive Academy Awards®, while Blige, Huffman, Pike and Renner received nominations. Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises’ Bohemian Rhapsody is a celebration of rock band Queen and its incendiary lead singer Freddie Mercury (played by Rami Malek, in a tour-de-force performance). With an original screenplay by Anthony McCarten (The Darkest Hour, The Theory of Everything), and story by McCarten and Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Crown), the film traces the rise of the group and its frontman, who so brazenly defied stereotypes and shattered convention. Though Queen reached staggering global success through their iconic songs (including We Are The Champions, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now and We Will Rock You) and their revolutionary sound and style, it was not without its obstacles. Mercury – amidst personal struggles – famously chose to abandon the group in pursuit of a solo career. His eventual reunion with the band at Live Aid 1985 went on to be considered one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music, though this time in Mercury’s life also was marked by his tragic battle with AIDS. Malek is the star of the critically acclaimed and award-winning psychological drama Mr. Robot. For his role as Elliot Alderson, Malek won an Emmy and Critics Choice Award, and is also a two-time Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee. His film credits include Michael Noer’s Papillon, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, Tom Hanks’ Larry Crowne, and Destin Daniel Cretton’s Short Tern 12.

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  • Documentary THE INSUFFERABLE GROO Starring Jack Black Sets December Release Date

    The Insufferable Groo The documentary The Insufferable Groo by Scott Christopherson, follows a prolific low budget indie-filmmaker who sets off to cast Jack Black in his newest feature film, an elf/human love story.  The Insufferable Groo will be released in select theaters in December and on demand December 14th by Gravitas Ventures. The Insufferable Groo received critical praise and audience attention at its World Premiere at The Sheffield Film Festival earlier this year and had its North American Premiere on November 14th at DOC NYC in New York. “Jack Black and Stephen Groo make for a hilarious documentary experience” says Christopherson. “Groo’s huge body of work should be recognized and celebrated and we are excited to have Gravitas share his story with the world.” The Insufferable Groo follows Utah based filmmaker Stephen Groo, age 41, a self-proclaimed auteur, narrowing in on his 200th film in 20 years. His oeuvre of outlandishly awful genre films has managed to attract admirers like Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess and Jack Black, but the Utah-based director has never made a dime off of his work, leaving his wife to provide for their family of four small boys. As Groo attempts to make his latest opus, an elf/human love story, his narcissism threatens to prove his undoing in this entertaining look at low-budget guerrilla filmmaking. Scott Christopherson was one of ten documentary filmmakers featured in Variety Magazine’s “Docu-makers to Watch” list in 2015. Scott’s debut feature film, Peace Officer, won both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for best documentary at the SXSW Film Festival. Scott’s films have played at Hot Docs, Full Frame, Sheffield, DOC NYC, Montclair, Camden, Traverse City, New Zealand International, Melbourne International, and Taiwan film festivals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kwwSwbwltI

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  • Neflix to Release Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Directorial Debut THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND

    The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, the directorial debut of Academy Award nominee and BAFTA Award winner Chiwetel Ejiofor will launch in 2019 on Netflix and in select theaters in the US and UK.  The British film which was shot in Malawi last year, is based on the bestselling book of the same name written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Adapted from the bestselling book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind follows 13-year-old William Kamkwamba (newcomer Maxwell Simba) who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), to build a windmill which then saves his Malawian village from famine. The emotional journey of a father and his exceptional son at its heart, William’s tale captures the incredible determination of a boy whose inquisitive mind overcame every obstacle in his path. The film highlights the power of education and individual determination to change the trajectory of a life, a village and a nation. By telling the story of one boy’s efforts to overcome the barriers he faces to education, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind inspires audiences to imagine a future where every child, in every village, has access to knowledge and to opportunities to put that knowledge to work. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind stars Maxwell Simba, Academy Award Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), A?ssa Ma?ga (Anything for Alice), Lily Banda, Lemogang Tsipa (Eye in the Sky), Philbert Falakeza, with Joseph Marcell (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) and Noma Dumezweni (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) Ejiofor commented: “William’s story represents, what has to be, the future in countries like Malawi: developing countries, overflowing with beauty and harboring enormous potential. A global story, such as this, requires a global platform and I’m thrilled to be working with Netflix on bringing William’s extraordinary tale of determination and inventiveness to audiences worldwide.” Image via BBC

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  • Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE FAVOURITE Dominates Early 2018 British Independent Film Awards

    [caption id="attachment_30991" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Favourite The Favourite[/caption] Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite topped the first wave of awards for the 2018 British Independent Film Awards, winning five awards in the Craft category including Best Casting for Dixie Chassay, Best Cinematography for Robbie Ryan, Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell, Best Make Up & Hair Design for Nadia Stacey and Best Production Design for Fiona Crombie. You Were Never Really Here won Best Music for Jonny Greenwood and Best Sound for Paul Davies; Nick Fenton, Julian Hart and Chris Gill won the award for Best Editing for American Animals; and Early Man Visual Effects Supervisor Howard Jones was the winner of Best Effects. To better recognize the wealth of exceptional talent working on British independent films, BIFA introduced these nine award categories in 2017. The nominations and winners have been chosen by BIFA voters over the course of three rounds of viewing, discussion and voting. BIFA comments: “We are proud to celebrate the achievements of such a diverse group of Individuals who represent their craft at such a high level.”

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  • NY Premiere of Eric Barbier’s PROMISE AT DAWN to Kick Off 2019 New York Jewish Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_32653" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]'Promise at Dawn' ('La Promesse de l'aube') ‘Promise at Dawn’ (‘La Promesse de l’aube’)[/caption] The New York premiere of Eric Barbier’s epic drama Promise at Dawn, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Pierre Niney will open the 2019 New York Jewish Film Festival  one of the oldest and most influential Jewish film festivals worldwide. The 28th edition will run January 9­ to 22, 2019. This riveting memoir chronicles the colorful life of infamous French author Romain Gary, from his childhood conning Polish high society with his mother to his years as a pilot in the Free French Air Forces. The Centerpiece selection represents the first time Israeli TV has been presented at the NYJFF with the 3½ hour miniseries Autonomies. Directed by Yehonatan Indursky, the dystopian drama is set in an alternate reality of present-day Israel, a nation divided by a wall into the secular “State of Israel,” with Tel Aviv as its capital, and the “Haredi Autonomy” in Jerusalem, run by an ultra-Orthodox religious group. A globally relevant tale of identity, religion, politics, personal freedom, and love, this gripping story follows a custody battle that upends the fragile peace of the country, pushing it to the brink of civil war. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M45iQnJUm0 Filmmaker Amos Gitai returns to the 2019 NYJFF with the U.S. premiere of his thought-provoking new drama, A Tramway in Jerusalem. Gitai uses the tramway that runs through Jerusalem to connect a series of short vignettes, forming a mosaic of Jewish and Arab stories embodying life in the city. The NYJFF will also present the U.S. premiere of Fig Tree by first-time director Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian. Set in Addis Ababa during the Ethiopian Civil War, the film concerns a young woman who plans to flee to Israel with her brother and grandmother to reunite with her mother. But she is unwilling to leave her Christian boyfriend behind and hatches a scheme to save him from being drafted. This year’s festival features an array of enlightening and gripping documentaries. Highlights include the New York premiere of Roberta Grossman’s Who Will Write Our History, which uses painstakingly compiled archival materials unearthed after World War II to tell the story of a resistance group in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation and the reality of Jewish life in occupied Warsaw; and Rubi Gat’s Dear Fredy, focusing on Fredy Hirsch, a proud and openly gay Jew in Nazi Germany and, later, Theresienstadt and Auschwitz, who oversaw and protected hundreds of children in the camps by setting up a day care center. NYJFF special programs include the New York City premiere of the new digital restoration of Ewald Andrew Dupont’s 1923 silent masterpiece, The Ancient Law, featuring a new score and live accompaniment by pianist Donald Sosin and klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals. In this classic drama the son of an orthodox rabbi leaves home, against his father’s wishes, to join a traveling theater troupe.

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  • Felicity Jones to Receive Variety Award at British Independent Film Awards

    [caption id="attachment_32649" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Felicity Jones in On the Basis of Sex Felicity Jones in On the Basis of Sex[/caption] Actress Felicity Jones, who is earning raves for her portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsberg in On the Basis of Sex, will receive this year’s Variety Award at the British Independent Film Awards  ceremony on Sunday December 2. The award recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helps to focus the international spotlight on the UK. Previous recipients of the award include Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Paul Greengrass, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Gary Oldman who was last year’s honouree. “When actress Felicity Jones first appeared on your radar, you probably knew she was destined for greatness but you probably didn’t know she would impact so forcefully on all sizes of screens in all kinds of projects,” says Steven Gaydos, Variety’s Vice President and Executive Editor. “She has infused the Star Wars juggernaut with feminine soul as well as womanly grit and she brought gravity and tenderness to the Oscar-winning Theory of Everything. Now she plays a brave woman whose life and achievements loom larger every day. On the Basis of Sex is a rallying cry for women’s rights in a time of political crisis, but in the hands of Felicity Jones, Ruth Bader Ginsberg becomes a woman we don’t simply admire, but we come to deeply understand her drives and relish the soul that sustains her commitment to justice and equality.” Felicity Jones: “It’s an incredible honor to receive this Award and, in doing so, to join such an illustrious and inspiring group of filmmakers and actors. To support the British film industry on the global stage is a huge privilege and something I feel very proud and lucky to be a part of.” BIFA comments: “BIFA and Variety have been honoring British talent on the world stage for 18 years; the award recipients have all had exceptional careers spanning award-winning independent films and the biggest of Hollywood blockbusters. Felicity Jones is no exception: she is a remarkable actress and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate her spectacular international achievements on home turf.” Felicity Jones has been performing on stage and screen since the age of 11. She has twice been nominated for British Independent Film Awards for her performances in Albatross and Ralph Fiennes’ The Invisible Woman. Felicity became a household name for her critically acclaimed performance in James Marsh’s The Theory of Everything which garnered her a Best Actress Nomination at the 87th Academy Awards. She then went on to star in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which has grossed over one billion dollars worldwide. Jones’ most recent role is portraying the formidable Ruth Bader Ginsberg in Mimi Leder’s On the Basis of Sex. The biopic, which follows a young Ruth’s struggle for equal rights, will release in UK cinemas on February 22, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28dHbIR_NB4

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  • 20th ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS to Showcase 15 Animated Short Films from Around the World

    [caption id="attachment_32641" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Weekends - Trevor Jimenez Weekends – Trevor Jimenez[/caption] The 20th Annual Animation Show of Shows returns to theaters across North America and will have its US theatrical premiere at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles on December 14th, and at the Quad Cinema in New York on December 28th (many other cities will follow). Since 1998, the Animation Show of Shows has been selecting the best in animated short films from around the world and has been presenting new and innovative short films to appreciative audiences at animation studios, schools and, since 2015, theaters in the US and other countries. Over the years, 38 of the films showcased in The Animation Show of Shows went on to receive Academy Award® nominations, with 11 films winning the Oscar®. The 20th Annual Animation Show of Shows will present 15 thought-provoking, poignant, and very funny animated shorts from around the world. In a year when the best and worst of human nature has been on constant display, the works in this year’s show remind us of both the universality of shared ideals, as well as the diverse challenges we face. “Animation is such a flexible and open-ended medium that it lends itself to exploring the innumerable aspects of what it means to be human,” says founder and curator Ron Diamond. “And this year’s program, as much as any of our past presentations, really illuminates human strengths and foibles, and the bonds that unite us across cultures and generations.”  The 20th Annual Animation Show of Shows represents the work of artists from six countries and includes six student films. Funny, moving, engaging, and thought-provoking, The Animation Show of Shows not only has something for everyone, but is a remarkable and insightful microcosm of our world. The show has a running time of 98 minutes and includes 15 films, four of which have qualified for Academy Award® consideration *.

    20th Annual Animation Show of Shows Lineup

    The Green Bird * – Maximilien Bougeois, Quentin Dubois, Marine Goalard, Irina Nguyen, Pierre Perveyrie, France [caption id="attachment_32644" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]One Small Step * - Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas One Small Step * – Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas[/caption] One Small Step * – Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas, U.S. Grands Canons – Alain Biet, France Barry – Anchi Shen, U.S. Super Girl – Nancy Kangas, Josh Kun, U.S. Love Me, Fear Me – Veronica Solomon, Germany Business Meeting – Guy Charnaux, Brazil Flower Found! – Jorn Leeuwerink, The Netherlands Bullets – Nancy Kangas, Josh Kun, U.S. A Table Game – Nicolás Petelski, Spain Carlotta’s Face – Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld, Germany Age of Sail * – John Kahrs, U.S. Polaris – Hikari Toriumi, U.S. My Moon – Eusong Lee, U.S. Weekends * – Trevor Jimenez, U.S. The power of family ties, and specifically the enduring connection between parents and children, are sensitively evoked in Hikari Toriumi’s deeply affecting “Polaris,” about a young polar bear leaving home for the first time. “One Small Step,” Bobby Pontillas and Andrew Chesworth’s inspiring story of a Chinese-American girl’s dream of being an astronaut, centers on her evolving relationship with her father. The beautifully designed “Weekends,” by Trevor Jimenez, explores the complex emotional landscape of a young boy and his recently divorced parents, as he shuttles between their very different homes and lives. The darker side of relationships is forcefully explored in Veronica Solomon’s “Love Me, Fear Me,” a tour de force of claymation that uses dance to delve into the lengths people go to to deceive each other and try to pass for something they’re not. Eusong Lee’s “My Moon” takes a more cosmic and lighthearted approach to a troubled relationship, depicting a celestial love triangle played out by the sun, the moon, and the earth.“Carlotta’s Face,” by Valentin Riedl and Frédéric Schuld, illuminates a different kind of relationship dysfunction in its sensitive portrayal of a woman who suffers from prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces, and her salvation through art. Among the other program highlights are the very funny computer animation “The Green Bird,” winner of a 2018 Gold Student Academy Award® International Animation, which harks back to classic cartoons of the mid-20th century. Oscar-winning director John Kahrs’ “Age of Sail,” the latest in Google’s series of Spotlight Stories, chronicles the adventures of an old sailor who rescues a teenaged girl after she falls overboard. Alain Biet’s jaw-dropping “Grands Canons” is a dizzying symphonic celebration of everyday objects that uses finely detailed drawings created by the filmmaker. And two very short films, “Supergirl” and “Bullets,” take their inspiration from poems composed by surprisingly eloquent preschoolers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbKjakQbRzs

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  • Aretha Franklin Documentary AMAZING GRACE Added to AFI FEST 2018

    Amazing Grace A Special Screening of Amazing Grace, the long-awaited documentary featuring Aretha Franklin’s renowned performances at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, has been added to AFI FEST 2018 presented by Audi. Marking the film’s West Coast premiere, the Special Screening will take place Thursday, November 15, 8:00 p.m. at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. The live performances, ranked among Ms. Franklin’s finest, were originally recorded and filmed during a church service in Watts on January 13 and 14, 1972. Warner Bros. Pictures captured the footage for a companion documentary to the double live album “Amazing Grace.” “Amazing Grace” would go on to be the biggest selling album of Aretha Franklin’s career, and the best-selling gospel album of all time. Mired in technical issues, the film was never released to the public. Producer Alan Elliott acquired the film rights in 2007 and worked with a team of producers including Joe Boyd, Robert Johnson, Chiemi Karasawa, Sabrina Owens, Jerry Wexler, Tirrell D. Whittley and Joseph Woolf, to bring the feature-length documentary to light. The film was edited by Jeff Buchanan and its music was mixed by Jimmy Douglass. The documentary is a labor of love and a timely tribute to the music icon who passed away in August 2018. The film is now ready for release with the complete support and blessing from The Aretha Franklin Estate. After decades of waiting, fans of the Queen of Soul can view her iconic performance at the AFI FEST 2018. The film features Ms. Franklin’s legendary gospel hits, performed in front of a distinguished audience that includes her father, the famed Reverend C.L. Franklin, Gospel legends Clara Ward and Mother Ward of the Ward Family Singers along with Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones (who were in Los Angeles recording “Exile on Main Street”).

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