Film Festivals

IDFA 2021 Reveals Documentary Films in Luminous and Frontlight Premiere Sections

Intensive Life Unit directed by Adéla Komrzý

The 2021 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) unveiled the selected films in premiere-only sections Luminous and Frontlight, along with its first competition selections in the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary and the IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary. IDFA also announced the selected titles in interdisciplinary program IDFA on Stage, chief among them the world premiere of the newly restored Dziga Vertov film The History of the Civil War. The 34th edition of IDFA takes place from November 17 to 28 in Amsterdam.

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‘Sweetheart,’ ‘Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music,’ and ‘Firebird’ Win Top Awards at Out on Film LGBTQIA+ Film Festival

Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music

Out on Film announced the filmmaker awards for the recently concluded 34th edition of the Oscar ® qualifying, Atlanta-based LGBTQIA+ film festival. Marley Morrison’s Sweetheart was a jury favorite, winning Best Narrative Feature and Best Ensemble. T.J. Parsell’s Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music won both the Jury’s favor for Best Documentary, as well as the Audience Award for Best Documentary, and filmmaker Lauren Hadaway announced herself with Jury nods for both Best First Feature for her film The Novice, as well as capturing the Best Director prize.

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BELFAST, ‘LAST FILM SHOW’, ‘C’MON C’MON’ Win Audience Favorite Awards at 44th Mill Valley Film Festival

Belfast directed by Kenneth Branagh

The 44th Mill Valley Film Festival came to a close after 11 days of films, panels, parties, and musical performances at the annual autumn showcase. Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast was voted MVFF Overall Audience Favorite with other top audience awards going to Last Film Show by Pan Nalin won Audience Favorite / World Cinema, C’mon C’mon by Mike Mills won Audience Favorite / US Cinema and The Rescue by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin won Audience Favorite / Documentary.

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DOC NYC 2021 Announces Main Slate of More Than 200 Documentary Films

Listening to Kenny G

DOC NYC documentary festival returns in-person November 10-18 at IFC Center, SVA Theatre and Cinépolis Chelsea in New York and continues online until November 28.

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Jane Campion’s THE POWER OF THE DOG Added to AFI FEST 2021

Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in The Power of the Dog. [Cr. Kirsty Griffin/NETFLIX © 2021]

The critically acclaimed drama film The Power Of The Dog, written and directed by Academy Award® winner Jane Campion, has been added to the AFI FEST 2021 lineup as a Red Carpet Premiere event.

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M. Night Shyamalan Named Jury President of 2022 Berlin Film Festival

M. Night Shyamalan © Bryan Bedder/Getty images for Universal Pictures

Director and producer M. Night Shyamalan will serve as president of the International Jury at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival.

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Will Smith’s ‘King Richard’ Wins Overall Audience Choice Award at Heartland Film Festival

King Richard. Photo by Chiabella James

King Richard starred and produced by Will Smith, won the Overall Audience Choice Award, earning the top score across this year’s entire film lineup at the 30th Heartland International Film Festival. HIFF also honored Will Smith with the Pioneering Spirit Award in celebration of Smith’s portrayal of Richard Williams, which he accepted via surprise video message before the Anniversary Gala Event screening of “King Richard” on October 16 at Newfields.

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Missouri-based Documentary ‘Procession’ to Open 30th St. Louis Film Festival Hybrid Lineup

“Procession” by Robert Greene

The 30th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) will be held November 4-21, 2021 in a hybrid format — with virtual screenings along with in-person screenings on all three screens of the Tivoli Theatre from November 4-14 and November 18-21.

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Iranian Film ‘Hit the Road’ Wins Best Film at BFI London Film Festival 2021

Hit the Road directed by Panah Panahi

Panah Panahi’s thrilling debut Hit the Road described as “by turns tender, quirky, even laugh-out-loud funny” won the Best Film Award at the BFI London Film Festival 2021.

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Sean Baker, Kodi Smit-McPhee And Clint Bentley Honored at Key West Film Festival

Sean Baker, Kodi Smit-McPhee And Clint Bentley [Clint Bentley Headshot (Credit: Sony Pictures Classics); Sean Baker Headshot (Credit: Daniel Bergeron); Kodi Smit-McPhee (Credit: Key West Film Festival)]

Key West Film Festival announced the recipient of its annual Golden Key Awards, including two new awards honoring Emerging Talent and Breakthrough Florida director.

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Scott Barber’s THIS IS GWAR Takes Top Audience Awards Honors at NIGHTSTREAM 2021

This Is GWAR directed by Scott Barber

Scott Barber’s This Is GWAR documentary took top Audience Award honors for features at NIGHTSTREAM 2021, which ran from October 7-13th virtually all across the U.S.

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‘Americanish’ and ‘All These Sons’ Win Top Jury Awards at 30th Heartland Film Festival

Americanish directed by Iman Zawahry

“Americanish” from director Iman Zawahry snagged the $20,000 Narrative Feature Grand Prize and “All These Sons” from Academy Award® nominee Bing Liu (“Minding the Gap” 2018) and Joshua Altman was awarded the $20,000 Documentary Feature Grand Prize at the 30th Heartland International Film Festival.

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