Film Festivals

Watch an EXCLUSIVE Clip from CHINA LOVE on Chinese Ritual of Pre-Wedding Photography

[caption id="attachment_32605" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] China Love. At Only Photo Studio just out of Shanghai. This is a “go-to” pre wedding photography studio with 3 floors of ‘old world’ romantic and fantasy sets. July 2015[/caption] Just for you our readers, an exclusive clip from China Love directed by Olivia Martin-McGuire premiering in the U.S. on November 9, 2018 at 2018 DOC NYC. China Love takes us on a billion-dollar ride of fantasy exploring contemporary China through the window of the pre-wedding photography industry. The film is a feature length observational documentary which follows Chinese and Australian participants as they navigate love, weddings and family in the lead up to the most important ritual of Chinese society – getting married. China Love is directed and produced by Olivia Martin-McGuire, produced by Rebecca Barry and Madeleine Hetherton, and features documentary subject Allen Shi the owner of the Jihao Group.
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Austin Film Festival Announces 2018 Winners, THE INTERPRETERS Wins Hiscox Courage Award

[caption id="attachment_32598" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Interpreters[/caption] Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2018 Jury Award winners, Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners, and the Screenplay Competition winners. One film was selected to receive the Hiscox Courage Award. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the film that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who best embraced the risk to share the story. The 2018 Hiscox Courage Award was awarded to The Interpreters, directed by Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan. The Interpreters is a documentary feature that follows local interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan who worked with US forces and are now trying to rebuild their lives.
2018 Austin Film Festival Jury Award Winners
Narrative Feature: Clara, written by Akash Sherman and James Ewasiuk Documentary Feature: The Interpreters, directed by Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan Comedy Vanguard Feature: In Reality, written by Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, and Aaron Pryka Dark Matters Feature: Ghost Light, written by Geoffrey Taylor and John Stimpson Narrative Short presented by ShortsTV: Judas Collar, written by Alison James Narrative Student Short: Woman in Stall, written by Josh Boles Documentary Short: Father K, directed by Judd Ehrlich Animated Short: Sister, written by Siqi Song Scripted Digital Series presented by Stage 13: Song in the Sky, created by Samuel Frederich
2018 Austin Film Festival Hiscox Audience Award Winners
Narrative Feature: Above the Clouds, written by Simon Lord Documentary Feature: Care to Laugh, directed by Julie Getz Dark Matters Feature: Alive, written by Jules Vincent and Chuck McCue Comedy Vanguard Feature: In Reality, written by Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, and Aaron Pryka Texas Independent Feature: The Iron Orchard, written by Gerry De Leon and Ty Roberts Narrative Short: Everything Mattress, written by Chase Joliet Documentary Short: Father K, directed by Judd Ehrlich Animated Short: Lost & Found, written by Bradley Slabe Narrative Student Short: Tiny Warriors, written by Jono Chanin Scripted Digital Series: The Gary Gold Story, created by Greg Ash Marquee Feature: Green Book, written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly
2018 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners
Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Horsehead Girls by Wenonah Wilms Comedy Screenplay Award presented by Sony Pictures Animation: Sex APPeal by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok Sci-Fi Screenplay Award: Our Own Devices by Paul Vance Enderby Entertainment Award (scripts that can be produced under $10 million): Project Horizon by Charles Morris, II Horror Screenplay Award: The Patience of Vultures by Greg Sisco AMC Drama Teleplay Pilot Award: Worth by Stuti Malhotra Comedy Pilot Award: What Will Jessie Do? by Kevin Luperchio Short Screenplay Award: Ruby Throat by Sarah Polhaus Scripted Digital Series Award presented by Stage 13: Epizootic by Dan Young Drama Teleplay Spec Award: The Handmaid’s Tale, “Rebels” by Angela Jorgensen Comedy Teleplay Spec Award: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, “Kimmy Volunteers!” by Maggie Gottlieb Playwriting Award: Particular Disposition by Benjamin Fulk Fiction Podcast Award: The Rest Stop at the End of the Universe by Samuel Suksiri
2018 Austin Film Festival Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship Winners
In addition, producer Barry Josephson announced the selected fellows for the inaugural Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship, which will provide a one-on-one mentorship with Josephson and his team in Los Angeles for the writers of one feature screenplay and one teleplay pilot. The winners were: Feature Screenplay: The Death of Colm Canter by Revati Dhomse & Hector Lowe Teleplay Pilot: Lifers Anonymous by Sean Collins-Smith
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GREEN BOOK, FREE SOLO, RELAXER, AMÉRICA Win at 2018 Virginia Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32594" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] L to R: Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in GREEN BOOK[/caption] After showcasing an impressive lineup of nearly 200 films, the audience attending the 31st Annual Virginia Film Festival voted Peter Farrelly’s Green Book winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and National Geographic’s Free Solo won for Best Documentary Feature. Relaxer won the 2018 Programmer’s Awards for Best Narrative Feature, and América won for Best Documentary Feature. The Virginia Film Festival also presented its first-ever Commonwealth Awards to honor their achievements of Virginia filmmakers. The inaugural Commonwealth Award winners were Fiddlin’, for Best Virginia Feature Film, and Werowocomoco, for Best Virginia Short Film.
2018 Virginia Film Festival Audience Awards
Narrative Feature: Green Book Documentary Feature: Free Solo Narrative Short: Are You Volleyball?! Documentary Short: Unstuck: An OCD Kids Movie
2018 Virginia Film Festival Programmer’s Awards
Narrative Feature: Relaxer Documentary Feature: América Narrative Short: Lamb Documentary Short: Like Dolls, I’ll Rise
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MY NAME IS MYEISHA Wins Best Film at 2018 Ithaca Fantastik

[caption id="attachment_32588" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] My Name is Myeisha[/caption] The Ithaca Fantastik film festival wrapped up the 7th edition of genre programming, documentaries, events last Sunday, and awarded the top prize of Best Film to MY NAME IS MYEISHA, directed by Gus Krieger. The 2018 edition of the festival hosted films from 19 different countries and welcomed guests such as STARFISH director A.T. White; GIRLS WITH BALLS actress Anne-Solenne Hatte; Perry Blackshear, director of THE RUSALKA; BOILED ANGELS director Frank Henenlotter, producer Mike Hunchback and criminal indie comic book artist and subject of the film Mike Diana; and CAM actor Patch Darragh. The festival also hosted the very first DRUNKEN CINEMA projection in the US where spectators were invited to participate to an informal drinking game involving secret rules while watching an 80’s classic genre film. This year, the jury was composed of Yellow Veil Pictures co-owner Joe Yanick, programmer and producer Vanessa Meyer and the Archive co-owner and Vinegar Syndrome lead restoration artist Brandon Upson.
2018 Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival Award Winners
Best Film: MY NAME IS MYEISHA, dir. Gus Krieger Best Screenplay: DOG, Samuel Benchetrit and Gábor Rassov Best Achievement in Directing: Gus Krieger, MY NAME IS MYEISHA Special Mention directing: Yann Gonzalez, KNIFE + HEART
Short Films
Best Horror Short: MILK dir. Santiago Menghini Best WTF! Short: MOTHER FUCKER dir. Nicholas Payne, who was in attendance at the festival. Best comedy Short: FETISH, dirs. David Lee Hess and Richard H. Perry
Necessary Voices Short Films
The Necessary Voices shorts section was created this year to uplift the voices of filmmakers and narratives that often aren’t lifted. This year’s Necessary Voices honorable mentions are as follows : DEATH METAL GRANDMA, dir. Leah Galant, EVERY GHOST HAS AN ORCHESTRA, dir. Shayna Connely TiCK, dir. Ashlea Wessel THOSE WHO CAN DIE, dir. Charlotte Cayeux SWEET DECEIT, dir. Shannon Jones ENTROPIA, dir. Marinah Janello BFF GIRLS, dir. Brian Lonano
Audience Awards
Cinema Pur Audience Award: KEEP AN EYE OUT, dir. Quentin Dupieux International Competition Audience Award: MY NAME IS MYEISHA, dir. Gus Krieger Short Audience Award: FETISH, dirs. David Lee Hess and Richard H. Perry
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Miami Film Festival to Host Fashion in Film Program for 2019 Festival

[caption id="attachment_25696" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fashion & Disco[/caption] Miami Design District (MDD) will partner with Miami Dade College (MDC) to present the acclaimed Fashion in Film Festival in the Miami Design District as part of the upcoming 36th edition of Miami Film Festival, March 1 to 10, 2019. The Fashion in Film Festival will be curated by Marketa Uhlirova, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins. “Cinema at its best takes us to places of wonder, and for our next edition Miami Film Festival will take cinema to a new place of wonder: the Miami Design District, one of Miami’s coolest neighborhoods,” said Miami Film Festival executive director Jaie Laplante. “We are thrilled to be expanding the 36th edition of the Festival into this oasis for culture, art, food, fashion, and film.” “Every year Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival puts on an extraordinary and surprising program. This year, the Miami Design District is honored to co-present and host the Fashion in Film Festival through this collaboration and partnership with the Miami Film Festival and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London. We are grateful to Cathy Leff for helping bring Fashion in Film to the District and this new and exciting partnership with the Miami Film Festival,” said Craig Robins, President & CEO of Dacra, the real estate development company behind the Miami Design District. “The District serves as a center for high fashion, luxury and design. It also is a vibrant cultural hub where creative and enriching programming comes to life that serves our community. I couldn’t think of a better place for Fashion in Film to take place. Get your tickets early.” This special Miami edition of the London festival takes place during the final weekend of Miami Film Festival, March 8 to 10th.The program will consist of a specially curated program comprising screenings, performance, panel discussions, and chats that explore the intersection between fashion and cinema. The program will be presented at Nite Owl Theater and in Paradise Plaza, a popular convening place within the District. “For Miami, I am interested in staging a speculative dialogue between cinema, fashion and art – as three areas of creative practice that are normally seen as separate – to consider different kinds of intersections and continuities among them. Looking at the entire history of cinema it is evident that fashion and dress have been among major concerns for filmmakers and artists working in the medium of moving image. There has been great interest in the rituals of dressing, undressing, and posing; in self-fashioning and physical transformation; in the decadently pleasurable qualities of decorative surfaces, in the poetry and uncanny tension between the organic and the artificial body – and that of disembodied clothes that assume a life of their own,” commented curator Marketa Uhlirova, co-founder and director of the annual London festival. While the full line-up of Fashion in Film will be unveiled in late January, Uhlirova, Laplante, and Leff divulged details of the program’s opening event taking place on March 8th. In collaboration with London composer, music producer, and filmmaker Rollo Smallcombe, Uhlirova will present The Inferno Unseen, their own assemblage of rushes from the kinetically experimental visuals of Henri-George Clouzot’s The Inferno, starring Romy Schneider, one of the most tantalizing uncompleted projects in film history. Smallcombe will accompany the presentation with live music. A Festival party on the rooftop deck of Paradise Plaza will complete the evening. Miami Design District and Miami Film Festival’s announcement was unveiled at a reception in one of the future venues for the program, Nite Owl Theater, and was accompanied by a screening of James Crump’s new fashion documentary Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex, Fashion & Disco, courtesy of Film Movement. Miami Film Festival is the only major film festival produced and presented worldwide by a college or university. MDC is also home to the renowned Miami Fashion Institute which has also used film as a teaching tool with its popular film series.
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8 Documentaries to Watch at 2018 DOC NYC

[caption id="attachment_32158" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Beyond the Bolex[/caption] DOC NYC kicks off this weekend and the lineup is bursting with titles. Here are a few interesting documentary films to give you a sense of the programming and inspire a reason to get out and watch something nice, or at least fun.
‘63 Boycott
Gordon Quinn’s new short film 63’ Boycott looks to be not just another social issue film about racial segregation in Chicago public schools, but a relevant piece about activism that is still happening over half a century later. Mixing unseen archival footage (shot by Quinn himself) from the Freedom Day movement with present-day video from demonstrations, there are a clear similarities drawn between then and now. Quinn being an active participant of organizations for the betterment of communities they serve, 63’ Boycott seems to have the energy to get people on the streets. Director Gordon Quinn with producers Rachel Dickson and Tracye A. Matthews are expected to be at the screening on November 9th at the IFC Center.
Beyond the Bolex
A film with a production history that may have been years in the making, filmmaker Alyssa Bolsey creates a portrait of the inventor of the Bolex camera, her great-grandfather Jacques Bolsey. Using materials from family photos as well the possibly limitless hours of footage shot from a Bolex, Bolsey paints a picture of the Steve Jobs like inventor/designer. Director Alyssa Bolsey is expected to attend the world premiere on November 8th at the Chelsea Cinepolis.
Barbara Rubin & The Exploding NY Underground
An undiscussed figure of the 60s underground art scene, Barbara Rubin was out there. Chuck Smith takes the time to elaborate the fascinating profile of Rubin contextualizing the avant-garde films she’s made. Chronicling her life from hanging out with the likes of Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg to settling down in France with a Hasidic Jewish community. Smith’s film includes interviews with people who knew her well including Amy Taubin and Jonas Mekas. Director Chuck Smith is expected to attend to screening on November 11th at the IFC Center.
The Eyes of Orson Welles
From the same Irish narration of Mark Cousins, from The Story of Film: An Odyssey, comes a conversational look at the unseen artwork of Orson Welles. Sketches, storyboards, poems, notes; it all comes out and is explored with a soft touch, as if it were an interview that Welles could only be a part of by speaking from his art. Cousins’ is expected to be at the screening on November 12th at Chelsea Cinepolis.
Hillbilly
Similar to Walter Evan’s work documenting Americans during the Great Depression, directors Sally Rubin and Ashley York’s film looks at the “American hillbilly.” Especially interesting during a time when that label has contentious connotations concerning America’s political atmosphere. Going to York’s hometown in Appalachian Hills, the women give wider perspective on the classical stereotype of close-minded ignorance. Both directors are expected to attend the screening on November 12th at the IFC Center.
My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes
Charlie Tyrell’s new short film has a title with a combined meaning of being off-putting (“Dad’s Porno Tapes”) but deeply personal (“Dead Dad”.) With a similar to Dear Zachary, Tyrell focuses on the recently formed bond shared between him and his late father, by way of a VHS pornography collection. Subject matter aside there is a combination of archival photography of his father along with stop-motion animation, a process that is far too tedious to not be commendable. Charlie Tyrell is expected to attend the screen on November 9th at the IFC Center.
See Know Evil
The photography of Davide Sorrenti is known for being anti-glamour and disturbingly melancholic, but the story of his very short life has yet to be properly told. Having been a part of youth culture of the 90s, the heroin scene, and even a relationship with Jaime King; Sorrenti could be described as a James Dean for fashion photography. Director Charlie Curran who has done work in both film and fashion should be no stranger to the kind of image making that makes iconic personas. Curran and his team are expected to be at world premiere on November 9th at the SVA Theatre.
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
A self-explanatory title but Pauline Kael deserves more than that. Being one of the most well known film critics ever, Rob Graver’s portrait of Kael seeks to contextualize the critic to make sense of the madness. Including interviews from filmmakers and writers alike, archived footage, clips from relevant films; perhaps this doc is more than a celebration of an iconic figure in film criticism, it’s a spotlight on a leading women figure in a world of men. Director Rob Graver along with producers Glen Zipper and Doug Blush will be attendance at the screening on November 11th at the SVA Theatre, followed by an extended conversation with critics David Edelstein, Stephanie Zacharek, and Eric Kohn.
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Glenn Close to Receive Icon Award for her Performance in THE WIFE at Palm Springs International Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32359" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Glenn Close in The Wife[/caption] Glenn Close will receive the Icon Award at the 30th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) for her performance in The Wife. The Festival runs January 3-14. In The Wife, Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) has spent forty years sacrificing her own identity and dreams to support her charismatic husband Joe (Jonathan Pryce) and his stellar literary career. Ignoring infidelities and excuses made in the cause of his art, she has put up with his behavior with undiminished grace and humor. The foundations of their marriage have, however, been built upon a set of uneven compromises – and Joan has reached a turning point. On the eve of Joe’s Nobel Prize for Literature, Joan confronts the biggest sacrifice of her life and some long-buried secrets. Directed by Björn Runge from a screenplay by Jane Anderson, based on the best-selling book by Meg Wolitzer, The Wife stars Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke and Elizabeth McGovern. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d81IM0loH7o “Glenn Close is a rare and enduring talent who has consistently brought challenging characters to life on film, television and stage for over four decades,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “In her latest feature film, The Wife, she gives a tour-de-force performance as the perfect spouse, who relinquishes her own ambitions to propel her husband’s career. It is our honor to present the 2019 Icon Award to Glenn Close.” Close, a six-time Academy Award nominee, made her feature debut in The World According to Garp, earning her first Oscar nomination. She was subsequently Oscar-nominated for The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons and Albert Nobbs, for which she was also co-screenwriter, producer and lyricist on the Golden-Globe nominated song, “Lay Your Head Down.” She stars with Jonathan Pryce in Jane Anderson’s film adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s bestselling novel, The Wife, as well as in Jane Anderson’s play, The Mother of the Maid, currently on stage at New York’s Public Theater through December 23. Her theater credits include Love for Love, The Crucifer of Blood, Barnum (Tony nomination) and Tony Awards for her performances in The Real Thing, Death and the Maiden and Sunset Boulevard. Starting in 2007, Ms. Close headlined the legal thriller Damages for five seasons, winning two consecutive Best Actress Emmys. Her 12 Golden Globe nominations include a Best Actress Award for a television production of The Lion in Winter. Among her 12 Emmy nominations is a Best Actress Award for Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (earning her a Peabody Award as executive producer). Past recipients of the Icon Award include Willem Dafoe, Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. In 2011, the Palm Springs International Film Festival gave Close the Career Achievement Award for her performance in Albert Nobbs.
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First Films Confirmed for 2019 International Film Festival Rotterdam

[caption id="attachment_32564" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] The Day I Lost My Shadow[/caption] As the 48th edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) fast approaches, the festival is announcing the first 26 confirmed titles, including new films by Claire Denis, Jia Zhangke and Garin Nugroho. IFFR 2019 will take place from January23 to February 3, 2019. The confirmed titles include the world premiere of Simona Kostova’s Dreissig and the international premiere of Fabienne Godet’s Nos vies formidables. Other filmmakers on the selection list so far are Nadine Labaki with her new film Capernaum and Khalik Allah with his Black Mother, a piercing reflection on Jamaican identity which won the Yellow Robin Award at Curaçao IFFR in April 2018. BNK48: Girls Don’t Cry, a European premiere, is a remarkable documentary feature by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit chronicling the intense lives of a group of pop singers living together in Bangkok. And with I diari di Angela – Noi due cineasti Yervant Gianikian has created a moving portrait of his partner in cinema Angela Ricci Lucchi, who passed away in 2018. Three of the films selected so far received support from IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) in previous years: The Day I Lost My Shadow by Soudade Kaadan and Rafiki by Wanuri Kahiu in 2016, The Load by Ognjen Glavonić in 2013. IFFR celebrates film art from all over the world and presents its program within four sections, each with its own distinct character: Bright Future (including the Tiger Competition and the Ammodo Tiger Short Competition), Voices, Deep Focus and Perspectives. Short films are strongly represented throughout all sections. Festival director Bero Beyer: “We’re delighted to present an appealing and rich first selection of titles to screen at our upcoming festival. There are names we’ve seen before in Rotterdam, and ones that are brand new. Together they exemplify the type of bold and daring cinema we like to celebrate at IFFR.”
Bright Future
Black Mother, Khalik Allah, 2018, Jamaica/USA Core of the World, Natalia Meshchaninova, 2018, Russia/Lithuania The Day I Lost My Shadow, Soudade Kaadan, 2018, Lebanon (supported by HBF in 2016) Dreissig/Thirty, Simona Kostova, 2019, Germany, world premiere The Load, Ognjen Glavonić, 2018, Serbia/France/Croatia/Iran/Qatar (supported by HBF in 2013) Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Bi Gan, 2018, China/France The Proposal, Jill Magid, 2018, USA
Voices
BNK48: Girls Don’t Cry, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, 2018, Thailand, European premiere Knife + Heart, Yann Gonzalez, 2018, France/Mexico Memories of My Body, Garin Nugroho, 2018, Indonesia The Mountain, Rick Alverson, 2018, USA Nos vies formidables/Our Wonderful Lives, Fabienne Godet, 2018, France, international premiere Tel Aviv on Fire, Sameh Zoabi, 2018, Israel/France/Luxembourg/Belgium
Voices: Limelight
Ash Is Purest White, Jia Zhangke, 2018, China/France De Camino – Een feature-length selfie, Martin de Vries, 2019, Netherlands, world premiere Capernaum, Nadine Labaki, 2018, Lebanon Leto/Summer, Kirill Serebrennikov, 2018, Russia/France Rafiki, Wanuri Kahiu, 2018, Kenya/South Africa (supported by HBF in 2016)
Deep focus
High Life, Claire Denis, 2018, Germany/France/USA/United Kingdom/Poland I diari di Angela – Noi due cineasti, Yervant Gianikian, 2018, Italy
Short films
Anteu, João Vladimiro, 2018, Portugal/France Lost Tune, Reetu Sattar, 2019, Bangladesh, world premiere Primeiro ato/First Act, Matheus Parizi, 2019, Brazil, world premiere Pwdre Ser (the rot of stars), Charlotte Pryce, 2019, USA, world premiere Salt, Pepper to Taste, Teymur Hajiyev, 2019, Azerbaijan, world premiere Van ver staat het stil/Still from afar, Eva van Tongeren, 2018, Belgium, international premiere
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CREATING A CHARACTER: THE MONI YAKIM LEGACY Releases New Clip + Poster

A new video clip and poster debuted today for the new documentary feature Creating a Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy that highlights the incredible legacy of Moni Yakim – a groundbreaking acting teacher whose techniques have influenced many of the most known actors in the world. Creating a Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy is presented by former students Jessica Chastain and Anthony Mackie, featuring interviews with alumni such as Oscar Isaac, Laura Linney, and Kevin Kline; and will have its world premiere on Sunday November 11 at 9PM at the SVA theatre in New York at DOC NYC. Using verite coverage, archival footage, and mime, the film portrays Moni’s journey as a young artist from Jerusalem to France in the 1950’s where he studied with the fathers of Mime, Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux. Discovered by Stella Adler, he became one of the founders of the Julliard Drama Division and the only one there 50 years later. The film also explores the experience of actors training at Juilliard, where an emerging star named Alex Sharp is followed from his very first year in Moni’s class to landing a leading role in a Tony Award Winning Broadway show.
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CLARA’S GHOST, MR. SOUL!, NEW MONEY, WAITING: THE VAN DUREN STORY Win at 2018 Indie Memphis Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32555" align="aligncenter" width="994"] Cinematography Award Winner James Laxton (Photo Courtesy of Indie Memphis)[/caption] Indie Memphis Film Festival held its annual awards ceremony on Saturday, November 3rd announcing awards for all competition films. For the Narrative Competition, the winner was CLARA’S GHOST by Bridey Elliott and the Duncan Williams Script Writing Award went to JINN by Nijla Mu’min; for Sounds (music-centric films), the winner was the feature documentary MR. SOUL! by Melissa Haizlip and Samuel D. Pollard, as well as the short “Gomenaki” by Someone Who Isn’t Me (directed by Alkis Papastathopoulos); for Hometowner (Memphis-centric films), the feature winner was RUKUS by Brett Hanover, with Hometowner music video “I’m Yours” by Faith Evans Ruch (directed by Melissa Anderson, Sweazy), as well as Departures Hometowner short “Windows” by Jason Allen Lee; the Documentary Competition Feature winner was SHAKEDOWN by Leilah Weinraub, along with an Indie Grant for the short doc “Getting By” by Jordan Danelz. Special Jury Awards went to Graham L. Carter’s SHOOT THE MOON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES and HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING by RaMell Ross. For the Shorts Competition, the winner for Hometowner Narrative Short was “Minority” by Will Robbins and the winner for Hometowner Documentary Short “Bonfire” by Kevin Brooks; the winner of the Documentary Short was “Black 14” by Darius Clark Monroe; and the winner of the Narrative Short was “Magic Bullet” by Amanda Lovejoy Street. On the festival’s Closing Night, the Audience Awards were announced at Downtown Memphis’ Halloran Centre by Executive Director Ryan Watt. The Narrative Feature winner was NEW MONEY by Jason Kohl; the Hometowner Feature winner was WAITING: THE VAN DUREN STORY by Greg Carey and Wade Jackson; the Sounds Feature winner was MR. SOUL! by Melissa Haizlip and Samuel D. Pollard; the Doc Feature winner was WRESTLE by Suzannah Herber and Lauren Belfer; and the Departures Feature winner was THE WASHING SOCIETY by Lynne Sachs. The Documentary Short winner was “Life on the Line” by Lea Suzuki; the Music Video winner was “Faithful” by King Kwofi (directed by Benjamin Stark); the After Dark Short winner was “Hair Wolf” by Marima Diallo; the Hometowner Narrative Short winner was “Best Wedding Gift” by Mark Jones; the Narrative Short winner was “Under Mom’s Skirt” by Sarah Heitz De Chabaneix; and the Hometowner Doc Short winner was “You Must Believe” by Lauren Squires Ready. In addition, The Black Filmmakers Pitch Rally (presented with crowdfunding partner Seed&Spark) took place on Friday, November 2nd, when twelve selected black filmmakers pitched their prospective film projects in hopes of receiving prizes including a $10K Bounty Prize provided by Epicenter Memphis, high-end color package from Apache, and much more, if they were to begin production on their film in Memphis by August 1st, 2018. Local Memphis filmmaker Dave Godbout was named the winner of the first Indie Memphis Film Festival Black Filmmakers Pitch Rally, as well as its $10K Bounty Prize, for his surreal comedy CHARMAINE. The coming-of-age sex comedy by Amanda Willoughby and Jessica Chaney, HOW TO MAKE LOVE TO A MAN, will receive a $1,000 donation to its crowdfunding campaign via Seed&Spark, and BLACK CHERRY by Amanda Layne Miller received an honorable mention. This year, Oscar-nominated cinematographer James Laxton (MOONLIGHT, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK) was honored with Indie Memphis’ inaugural “Indie Memphis Cinematography Award,” presented to him by Miriam Bale, Indie Memphis’ Artistic Director (newly promoted from Senior Programmer). His frequent collaborator Barry Jenkins congratulated him via a heartfelt video message at the ceremony; the two have been friends since they were students at Florida State University, where they became fast friends and kindred spirits. Jenkins said, “In these modern times that we live in, the work of the cinematographer goes unappreciated. I remember [Laxton and I] fusing in this way that we both had this visual idea of what the film was going to be. Sometimes I don’t know what I want, but I want it to be beautiful. And James understands what I want.” This award kicks off the awards season buzz for Laxton, whose work in Jenkins’ IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (Indie Memphis’ Centerpiece Presentation) is highly lauded. Laxton also appeared at the “New Ways of Seeing: Cinematography Workshop” alongside MADELINE’S MADELINE and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST rising star cinematographer Ashley Connor. Laxton said of his award, “To be here in Memphis and accept this is very special. Memphis has clearly been an influence on Barry and me for a long time.” Actor/rapper Shayna McHayle (aka Junglepussy) was awarded with the “Indie Memphis Actor of the Year” award for her work in Andrew Bujalski’s SUPPORT THE GIRLS, Indie Memphis’ Closing Night selection, a comedy that portrays the pratfalls of women working at a female-run “sports bar with curves.” Bujalski presented McHayle with the award while singing her praises, saying, “From her first take on her first day, I knew we had something special.” McHayle’s award also puts her into the awards conversation, in a critically-acclaimed performance that garnered praise such as The New York Times describing her as delivering a “delightful, contrapuntal comic performance.” McHayle was overwhelmed with thanks for her win and dedicated her award to the women in her life. She said, “I want to give a special shout out to all the women in my family who have overcome adversity.”
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AMAZING GRACE, The Long-Delayed Aretha Franklin Concert Doc, To World Premiere at DOC NYC

After decades of waiting, Amazing Grace, the long-awaited documentary featuring Aretha Franklin’s signature performances at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, will make its world premiere at the 2018 DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival. The film will be presented on Monday, November 12 at 6:45 pm and 9:00 pm at the SVA Theatre on 333 West 23rd St, NY, NY. Tickets are available at Docnyc.net. 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. “I am thrilled to work with Sabrina Owens and the family to do right by Aretha’s legacy,” said Mr. Elliott. “Being able to share this film and the musical genius of Aretha Franklin with her family and the world is an honor. Aretha’s fans will be enthralled by every moment of the film as her genius, her devotion to God and her spirit are present in every frame.” Captivated by the heart and brilliance of the Queen of Soul, producer Tirrell D. Whittley stated, “Bringing this film to audiences is a great joy and privilege for me. Amazing Grace is a unique film that lifts the spirit and soul with the joy of gospel music. It’s a pure experience, showcasing Aretha Franklin in her element doing what she does best and being The Queen.” “Amazing Grace is the heart and soul of Aretha Franklin,” said Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and the Executor of the Aretha Franklin Estate. “This film is authentic and is my aunt at her core. She was a daughter of the church, she loved gospel music, and she always incorporated some form of sacred music in her concerts.” 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”). “Amazing Grace has been a lost treasure of documentary filmmaking for over four decades. I can’t think of a bigger honor for a festival than to premiere this film,” said DOC NYC artistic director Thom Powers.
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TOMORROW and THE HUMAN ELEMENT Win Top Awards at 2018 SCAD Savannah Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_32528" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Tomorrow[/caption] A key stop on the Oscar festival circuit, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival today announced the award winners for the 21st anniversary celebration during an awards brunch held at The Olde Pink House. The top awards went to The Human Element for Best Documentary Feature, and Tomorrow for Best Narrative Feature. Twenty-seven awards were announced from the 105 films that competed in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, professional shorts, animated shorts, and student shorts selections. SCAD also honored 17 masters of their craft including Emily Blunt, Icon Award; John Krasinski, Vanguard Award; Maggie Gyllenhaal, Outstanding Achievement in Acting and Producing Award; Hugh Jackman, Legend of Cinema Award; Armie Hammer, Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award; Kayli Carter, SCAD40 Prize; Stephan James and KiKi Layne, Discovery Award; Chloë Grace Moretz, Lumiére Award; Amandla Stenberg, Rising Star Award; and John David Washington, Distinguished Performance Award. Entertainment Weekly’s Breakout Award honorees included SCAD alumna Kayli Carter (Private Life), Raúl Castillo (We the Animals), Winston Duke (Black Panther), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Thomasin McKenzie (Leave No Trace), Hari Nef (Assassination Nation) and Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place). Kalyli Carter also received the SCAD40 Prize. Awarded at signature events throughout this 40th anniversary year, the SCAD40 Prize is presented to graduates who give all of themselves — hand, head, and heart — to their creative careers in the highest ranks of culture and business.
2018 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Award Winners

PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION
Best Narrative Feature – Tomorrow Best Documentary Feature – The Human Element Best Narrative Short – Geoff Best Directing – Will Kenning & Michael Rouse – Geoff Best Editing – Hold The Night Jury Award for Acting – Skyler Samuels – Spare Room Jury Award for Screenwriting – One Cambodian Family Please For My Pleasure Jury Award, Unheard Voices – Facing The Dragon
STUDENT & ANIMATION
Best Animated Short – Grands Canons Animation Jury Award – The Likes and Dislikes of Marj Bagley Best Student Short – Blue Christmas Best Student Animation – Creature From The Lake Silver Screen Society – Best Short Film by a SCAD Student – $30 To Antarctica Student Jury Award – Cinematographer
GLOBAL SHORTS FORUM
Best Global Short Overall – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: Narrative – Believe Her Best Global Short: Documentary – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: LGBTQ & You – Conway Pride Best Global Short: Woman Walks Ahead – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: Don’t Dis My Ability – Take Me To The Waves Best Global Short: A Sporting Chance – The Conqueror Global Shorts: Jury Award – Boy Saint Global Shorts Jury Award – Marie’s Crisis
SHORTS SPOTLIGHT
Shorts Spotlight: Best of Show – My Indiana Muse Shorts Spotlight: Best Animated Delight – One Small Step Shorts Spotlight: Best LOLz Short – Bertie Shorts Spotlight: Best Bump in the Night Short – Other Side of the Box
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