Johnny Depp will receive the newly renamed Maltin Modern Master Award at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, taking place from Wednesday, February 3 to Saturday, February 13, 2016. Previously known as The Modern Master Award the honor was renamed this year to honor the famed film critic who has moderated the event for over 25 years.
“Johnny Depp is a true embodiment of a modern master. He has had a long and storied career that has shown his commitment to taking on compelling and dynamic roles. But in the gripping film BLACK MASS under the skillful direction of Scott Cooper, Johnny Depp delivers his defining performance to date,” SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling stated.
Depp can currently be seen in “Black Mass,” which tells of the unholy alliance between ruthless mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) and childhood friend-turned-FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). The bond, forged growing up on the streets of South Boston, would test the limits of loyalty in a town that answers to its own, unwritten code. Blinded by ambition, Connolly convinces Bulger to inform on their common enemy, the Italian Mafia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDjqLbh09E
The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.Film Festivals
-
Johnny Depp to Be Honored at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Johnny Depp will receive the newly renamed Maltin Modern Master Award at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, taking place from Wednesday, February 3 to Saturday, February 13, 2016. Previously known as The Modern Master Award the honor was renamed this year to honor the famed film critic who has moderated the event for over 25 years.
“Johnny Depp is a true embodiment of a modern master. He has had a long and storied career that has shown his commitment to taking on compelling and dynamic roles. But in the gripping film BLACK MASS under the skillful direction of Scott Cooper, Johnny Depp delivers his defining performance to date,” SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling stated.
Depp can currently be seen in “Black Mass,” which tells of the unholy alliance between ruthless mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) and childhood friend-turned-FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). The bond, forged growing up on the streets of South Boston, would test the limits of loyalty in a town that answers to its own, unwritten code. Blinded by ambition, Connolly convinces Bulger to inform on their common enemy, the Italian Mafia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDjqLbh09E
The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.
-
“Sicilian Vampire” Starring James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino Opens NYC Big Apple Film Festival | TRAILER
Frank D’Angelo’s fourth feature film, Sicilian Vampire, has been chosen as an opening night feature at this year’s New York City Big Apple Film Festival which runs November 4th to 7th, 2015. Written, directed and produced by Frank D’Angelo, Sicilian Vampire stars James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino, Robert Loggia, Armand Assante, Robert Davi, Michael Paré, Eric Roberts, Daniel Baldwin, Tony Nardi and Frank D’Angelo.
Sicilian Vampire is equal parts Goodfellas and Dusk till Dawn. It tells the story of reputed mobster Sonny Trafficante who was hoping to get away to the family hunting lodge for a little rest and relaxation and create some memories. Instead what he got was a night he will never forget. From there we’re taken on a journey of action, suspense and drama that can only come from the mind of Frank D’Angelo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QqR4TwZk8
Frank D’Angelo has written, produced, directed and acted in a total of four feature films in the last three years and is now in preproduction of his fifth film, The Red Maple Leaf, which is scheduled to begin shooting later this fall. His other films include Real Gangsters (the story of the Lo Giacomo family, one of the most successful crime syndicates in New York City), which is currently in worldwide release on Video-On-Demand networks. Another, The Big Fat Stone (a story of a homeless man who, simply by being at the right place at the right time, gets a chance at a new life), is now on VOD worldwide. And No Deposit (a story about a family man, who falls from grace through a series of downward spiraling events beyond his control), has been in theatres in Canada and USA and is available on Video on Demand.
-
Award Winning Documentary BARGE to NY Premiere at 2015 DOC NYC | TRAILER
The award winning documentary BARGE directed by Ben Powell have its NY premiere at 2015 DOC NYC, where it will screen in the Viewfinders Section.
BARGE had its World Premiere at SXSW 2015, and went on to win Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary Feature: Dallas International Film Festival 2015, Best Documentary Feature: Crossroads Film Festival 2015 and Honorable Mention, Best Documentary: Ashland Independent Film Festival 2015.
BARGE evocatively depicts the lives of the Mississippi River’s ship workers over twenty-eight day shifts, shuttling cargo back and forth along America’s waterway. Dryland’s misfits, these men from all backgrounds and experience level fastidiously work to achieve their individual dreams while holding together our nation’s industrial backbone. A debut feature from Austin-based Ben Powell, BARGE is an intimate portrait of the machinery of American ambitions.
A towboat drifts down the Mississippi River, on its way to the port of New Orleans. This is a barge whose life is the water, the banks, and the bright lights ahead. On board, dry land’s misfits find purpose and direction as the steady hands who move a few million tons of cargo up and down the river each year. A green deckhand; a former convict working his way up to first mate; an engineer with 38 years of experience, in no hurry to retire; and an ancient waterway pulling a double shift as the backbone of a national economy. As long as the boat is moving, they’re making money. Through the exquisitely observed details of modern river travel, this is a meditation on the importance of a meaningful job and the machinery of American ambitions.
https://vimeo.com/121178742
-
“Mediterranea” “Toto and His Sisters” “The Lesson” to Compete for 2015 LUX Film Prize at Cork Film Festival
Three films, Mediterranea (pictured above), Toto and His Sisters and The Lesson/UROK, will compete for the 2015 LUX Film Prize at the 60TH Cork Film Festival. The festival runs November 06 to 15, 2015, in Cork, Ireland.
This European Parliament LUX Film Prize places a spotlight on films which go to the heart of European Public Debate. Cork Film Festival, along with the European Parliament, believe that cinema can be used as a medium to discuss and debate topical issues.
Mediterranea tells the tale of Ayiva who travels from his native Burkina Faso to Italy in search of a way to provide for his sister and daughter. He takes advantage of his position in an illegal smuggling operation to get himself and his best friend off the continent. It is massively topical given the current refugee crisis. There will also be a Q & A with cast and crew live from the film’s Brussels presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A
Toto and His Sisters is the compelling story of three siblings whose mother is imprisoned. During this time Toto passionately learns dancing, reading and writing all the while his sisters try to cope and keep the family together. The film explores topics like poverty, drugs and the importance of family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtjJbB1Oh4
Finally, The Lesson/UROK, is set in Bulgaria and centres around a young teacher searching for a robber in her class while at the same time she is falling into further debt with loan sharks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIQvmTMQr0
-
DEMOLITION Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts to Open 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival ; Fest to Feature Retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s Films
The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival will honor Quebecois writer and director Jean-Marc Vallée for his exceptional career achievements. After having presented Dallas Buyers Club (Los Cabos 2013 Closing Gala) and Wild (Los Cabos 2014 Opening Gala) as Latin American premieres, the Festival will host the Latin American Premiere of Demolition as the Opening Gala of this fourth edition. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper, the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition to the opening night film “Demolition” the festival will also feature two of the Vallée’s cornerstone films, C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) and Café de Flore (2011), to complete the tribute and retrospective to his work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJ1qS7KOm4
The Festival launches a new program: Spotlight, to stress the Festival’s artistic focus and look at North America’s filmmakers, who have a central role in shaping contemporary cinema. This year the festival will feature a retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s work. In spite of his age, 31-year-old Perry has become known at film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin and Locarno, with all of them having selected at least one of his four feature films: Impolex (2009), The Color Wheel (2011), Listen Up Phillip (Los Cabos 2014 Official Selection) and Queen of Earth, which will have its Latin American Premiere at Los Cabos this year. He will be accompanied by his regular co-worker, Sean Price Williams, one of the key cinematographers in current American independent cinema.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPgN8eEI-c
-
“Noma: My Perfect Storm” Documentary on World’s Best Restaurant to Premiere at DOC NYC and Opens in Theaters on Dec. 18
“Noma: My Perfect Storm,” the documentary on the World’s Best Restaurant will have its North American premiere at 2015 DOC NYC before being released in theaters, On Demand and on iTunes on Dec. 18 via Magnolia Pictures.
The documentary directed by Pierre Deschamps, follows celebrated chef Rene Redzepi against the backdrop of his Copenhagen-based restaurant called Noma,which was voted The World’s Best Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Inspired by two books written by celebrated chef René Redzepi, the film follows him on a culinary journey as he travels to find inspiration for creating novel dishes for travelers from around the world.
Noma: My Perfect Storm is a creative journey into the mind of René Redzepi.
How did he manage to revolutionize the entire world of gastronomy, inventing the alphabet and vocabulary that would infuse newfound pedigree to Nordic cuisine and establish a new edible world while radically changing the image of the modern chef? His story has the feel of a classic fairy tale: the ugly duckling transformed into a majestic swan, who now reigns over the realm of modern gourmet cuisine. But beneath the polished surface, cracks appear in the form of old wounds. 2013 stands as the worst year in René Redzepi’s career.
We follow him as he fights his way back to the top, reinventing NOMA and reclaiming the title of best restaurant in the world in 2014 for the fourth time.
https://vimeo.com/139779858
-
2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival Reveals Films in Tastes, B-Side and American Specials Sections
The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival taking place 11th to the 15th of November, continues to impress with its film lineup. The festival revealed the lineup for Tastes – a new section in the film program focusing on culinary themed films, B-Side program – focusing on music themed films, and American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films.
Tastes program includes outstanding films from the international circuit of culinary cinema, including Cooking Up a Tribute by Luis González and Andrea Gómez (Mexican Premiere), about El Celler de Can Roca, the world’s best restaurant, which decided to shut down temporarily to go on the road and tour America; Sergio Herman: F***ing Perfect by Willemiek Kluijfhout (Latin American Premiere), which portrays one of the 50 best chefs in the world, who is a perfectionist obsessed with culinary excellence; and Baja Tastes by Roberto Najera (World Premiere), a first work made in Tijuana that introduces us to the culinary delights, variety and fusion of the Baja California peninsula.
The B-Side program will have the most outstanding films in which music is a delight for both the ear and the eye. The tuneful world of Arcade Fire in Reflektor Tapes come together with the hip-hop rhythms created by Pharrell Williams for Dope, along with Office, by the Hongkongese director, Johnnie To, who breathes fresh air to this program by bringing a beautiful, nimble, musical cinema.
Dope (Mexican Premiere)
Dir. Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar, Talk to Me)
Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons
Soundtrack by Pharrell Williams
Premiered at Sundance.
Arcade Fire: The Reflektor Tapes
Dir. Hervé Martin-Delpierre (Daft Punk Unchained; Sport, mafia et corruption)
Cast: Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Arcade Fire
Office (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Johnnie To
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Wang Ziyi, Lang Yueting
Premiered at Sundance.
In the new Film Program section, American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films that have won critical acclaim and set box-office records, the Festival has recently confirmed the Mexican premiere for Black Mass and The Diary of a Teenage Girl. Additionally, the lineup will include the following premieres:
The Hollow Point (World Premiere)
Dir. Gonzalo López-Gallego (El Rey de la Montaña, Nómadas, Apolo 18)
Cast: Ian McShane, Lynn Collins, Patrick Wilson
Max Rose (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Daniel Noah (Twelve)
Cast: Illeana Douglas, Kerry Bishé, Jerry Lewis.
Premiered at Festival de Cannes in 2013
El Ganzo (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Steve Balderson (Hell Town, Occupying Ed, The Far Flung Star)
Cast: Mark Booker, Magdalena del Rio, Anslem Richardson.
The Festival also confirmed the Mexican talent that will take part in gala events and Industry activities, among them: Eugenio Derbez, José María Yazpik, Manolo Caro, Tenoch Huerta, José Carlos Ruíz, Sebastián Aguirre, Sophie Alexander-Katz, José María Torre, Sofía Espinosa, Ianis Guerrero, Rosa María Bianchi, Jaime Garza, Adriana Paz, and many others.
-
2015 Tokyo International Film Festival Awards, ‘Nise – The Heart of Madness’ Wins Tokyo Grand Prix Award
Winners of the awards of the 2015 Tokyo International Film Festival were announced over the weekend and the Tokyo Grand Prix Award went to Nise – The Heart of Madness, directed by Roberto Berliner. Roberto Berliner’s exclaimed, “I wish I could speak in Portuguese but let’s see if I can find some words (in English). It was a very cruel job. I worked for 13 years on this film. I wrote and rewrote, and rewrote, and rewrote because Nise is such an important person who is a revolutionary figure. Only a few people know about her so it was my responsibility to show her to the world. In life, sometimes we know that we are doing something special, and I felt that way in the making of this film.” He also expressed his deepest appreciation towards his wife and children because he had spent so little time with them while shooting his film.
The Japanese Cinema Splash Best Picture Award winner was Director Hiroshi Shoji with his film, Ken and Kazu. The 29- year-old up and coming director had transformed what was a short film into a feature film. “When I finished the short film five to six years ago, I realized there was room for more background depiction, so I made a feature film,” he explained. “I made Ken and Kazu without any financial backup. I only spent 2 million yen on the film, but TIFF chose my film and I received a prize. This proved that fair screening is conducted at TIFF and why I want TIFF to become a larger film festival.” Lastly when asked about the independent film industry in Japan, Hino commented, “I wanted to make the best film in Japan. And as I was writing the screenplay, I had a clear image of who I wanted the actors to be and how I wanted to shoot this film. It’s important to have a clear vision of what you want to do in indie filmmaking.”
The Island Funeral directed by Pimpaka Towira won the Best Asian Future Film Award. Towira shared her story behind the scenes. “This is my second feature film and it is an honor to screen it at TIFF. There are many problems in Southern Thailand at the moment, which I wanted to portray in my film. Also, I thought the heroine should be a Muslim so casting took time. Heen Sasithorn is a well-knownTahi actress who was in New York when I thought of casting her for this film. We communicated via the internet and she agreed to be in this film. Heen expressed the theme of the film just as I wanted her to. The chemistry between the actors in this film was also just perfect,” Towira reflected.
The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center winner was A Simple Goodbye directed by Degena Yun. Line Producer Zhao Yanming spoke on behalf of the film crew at the press conference. “Degena is very happy to receive this prize since this is her first feature film. This films is Degena’s life story and the issues she had with her parents. This award will give us the opportunity to come back to Japan and shoot a film which is more than we could wish for!”
Mustafa Kara won the Award for Best Director and WOWOW Viewer’s Choice Award went with his film Cold of Kalandar. He quietly commented that “I think this was one of the longest and most difficult films at TIFF this year. In Turkish, Kalandar means ‘new year’ but it also takes on the connotation of rituals and traditions in certain regions. Therefore, the title of my film can be interpreted as ‘The Coldness of Time’ or even ‘The Hardest Times’. That is, it is portraying time and the vicious cycle of life.” With such a complex theme, Kara expressed his gratitude that this film was accepted by the audience and the judges.
Family Film directed by Olmo Omerzu won the Award for Best Artistic Contribution. “I am glad and honored to win this award. I received a very warm and great response from the people of Tokyo which was surprising,” Omerzu said. His film was not a classic drama structure but he was pleased to see how open the audience was towards his film. On the theme of a parent abandoning the child, Omerzu explained, “When preparing the script, I knew people whose parents had left them at the age of 15-16. People who read the script were criticizing the parents but I think that once you become 50-60 years old, you want to start another life for yourself. So I think the theme of this film is reality.”
The Audience Award winner was the Italian film God Willing directed by Edoardo Falcone. “This is a very Italian film in spirit. I felt it was accepted lovingly at TIFF and was happy to see the audience enjoy my film. Thank you very much,” beamed Falcone. As a comedy film director, he shared what it takes to make a good movie. “Obviously you have to make people laugh! Irony is important in Italian films—irony with a touch of intelligence. But Italy makes a lot of comedy films so making something different is important. I was able to do that with this film,” he said.
The Award for Best Actress went to Gloria Pires in Nise – The Heart of Madness directed by Robert Berliner, which was also the Tokyo Grand Prix Award. Berliner expressed his joy once again. “Receiving such great prizes is something that we always expected, but there are so many good films that we only have a small percentage of winning.” He also said that even without a prize, he was already very satisfied. “When making this film, I felt like I was dealing with something special. And even if I didn’t receive this prize, I was already very happy that this film was screened at TIFF. But this film can have more appearance in the world thanks to this award. I am very excited about that. That the jury recognized the quality of my film,” Berliner said.
The complete list of winners of 2015 Tokyo International Film Festival
Competition
Tokyo Grand Prix: Nise – The Heart of Madness (directed by Robert Berliner)
Special Jury Prize: All Three of Us (directed by Kheiron)
Award for Best Director: Mustafa Kara (Cold of Kalandar)
Award for Best Actress: Gloria Pires (Nise – The Heart of Madness)
Award for Best Actor: Roland Møller, Louis Hoffman (Land of Mine)
Award for Best Artistic Contribution: Family Film (directed by Olmo Omerzu)
WOWOW Viewer’s Choice Award: Cold of Kalandar (directed by Mustafa Kara)
The Audience Award: God Willing (directed by Edoardo Falcone)
Asian Future
Best Asian Future Film Award: The Island Funeral (directed by Pimpaka Towira)
The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center: Director Degena Yun A Simple Goodbye
Japanese Cinema Splash
Best Picture Award: Ken and Kazu (directed by Hiroshi Shoji)
Samurai Award
Director Yoji Yamada, Director John Woo
ARIGATO Award
Kirin Kiki, Akihiro Hino, Suzu Hirose, Mamoru Hosoda, Lily Franky
-
2015 Lone Star Film Festival Kicks Off on Thursday, Nov 5th with WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN Starring Amber Heard, Christopher Walken
The 2015 Lone Star Film Festival at Sundance Square (LSFF) in Fort Worth, Texas, will kick off on Thursday November 5th, 2015, with the film WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN starring Texas native Amber Heard along with a cast that includes Christopher Walken, Oliver Platt, and Kelli Garner. Immediately following; the film’s writer and director, Robert Edwards, will take part in a Q&A. That will be followed by a special presentation screening of the 1972 Oscar nominated, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE with well-known actor for his countless iconic roles, Malcolm McDowell, taking part in a special Q&A before the film.
On Friday night the Lone Star Film Society will honor Fort Worth native and Tony Award winner Betty Buckley with the Stephen Bruton Award being presented by T Bone Burnett at its sixth annual Lone Star Film Festival Ball. Also being honored at the event is Malcom McDowell, who will be receiving the Achievement in Film Acting Award.
The festival will close on Sunday evening with Charlie Kaufman’s newest feature, ANOMALISA (pictured above). Kaufman, known for such films as AN ETERNAL SUNSHINE ON A SPOTLESS MIND and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH brings something different with this film. It is his first stop motion animation feature and has been receiving high marks.
LSFF has a jam packed lineup that includes The Weinstein Company’s Oscar hopeful CAROL starring Cate Blanchett, THE ADDERALL DIARIES starring James Franco & Amber Heard, TUMBLEDOWN with Jason Sudeikis, MOJAVE featuring Mark Wahlberg and Garrett Hedlund, MEADOWLAND with Texas native Luke Wilson and Olivia Wilde, SIR DOUG AND THE GENUINE TEXAS GROOVE (pictured above); the much anticipated documentary about Texas’s own Doug Sahm, KRISHA the breakout hit from Austin’s South By Southwest and a slew of other highly talked about independent films.
“We are so excited for the city of Fort Worth to get to experience another great year of fantastic films,“ said the festival’s Director Chad Mathews.
In between the screenings there will be several panel discussions that include the likes of Malcolm McDowell, Bill Paxton, and Joanna Kerns. The topics will range from career conversations, screenwriting, women in film and much more. There will also be a key note address from well-known film critic David Edelstein of New York Magazine and NPR fame.
-
DADDY DON’T GO, Executive Produced by Omar Epps & Malik Yoba, to Premiere at 2015 DOCNYC
DADDY DON’T GO directed by Emily Abt, and Executive Produced by Omar Epps (Resurrection) & Malik Yoba (Empire) will premiere at the 2015 DOC NYC on November 14th. “Daddy Don’t Go” captures two years in the lives of four disadvantaged fathers in New York City as they fight to defy the odds against them.
-
Palestinian Film DEGRADE Withdraws from Other Israel Film Festival
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has reached the Other Israel Film Festival, with the Palestinian film, Degrade, deciding to withdraw from the upcoming festival. One of the closing night films of the Other Israel Film Festival, a New York festival calling for dialogue and conversation, Degrade has pulled out of the festival as a result of the impact of the Jewish-Arab conflict reaching new heights in Israel.
Degrade, by the brothers Tarzan and Arab Assad, which exposes the diversity of life in Gaza through individuals at a hair salon, was scheduled for its NY premiere at the Festival after a successful run at Cannes and Toronto film festivals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjVPSnnSp58
The Other Israel Film Festival, a non-political festival focused on Israel’s minority populations, is presented by JCC Manhattan as a platform for conversation and dialogue. Isaac Zablocki, Executive Director of the festival, commented: “In these polarizing times, it is more important than ever to hear each other’s voices and create a culture of dialogue. The silencing and boycotting of arts and education only hurts those aiming to create positive change and hear the other side.”
According to the film’s European sales agent, Elle Driver, who contracted the rights for the screening with the film festival, the producers are removing the film from all Jewish related festivals.
Closing night of the Other Israel Film Festival will still feature the previously-scheduled, award winning “Women in Sink” by Iris Zaki, a documentary which also follows women in an Arab-Israeli-owned hair salon who discuss their views on politics, history, and love.
The Other Israel Film Festival opens this Thursday Nov 5th at JCC Manhattan and runs till Nov 12th.
-
SPOTLIGHT, MUSTANG, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Are Winners of 2015 Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Awards
The 51st Chicago International Film Festival announced the winners of its Audience Choice Awards. SPOTLIGHT directed by Tom McCarthy (pictured above) won the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative English-Language Feature, MUSTANG directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven won the award for Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Foreign-Language Feature, and WHERE TO INVADE NEXT directed by Michael Moore won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Audience Choice Award Winners of 2015 Chicago International Film Festival
Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative English-Language Feature
SPOTLIGHT
Country: USA
Director: Tom McCarthy
Synopsis: Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, Spotlight tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, Spotlight is a tense investigative dramatic-thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest cover-ups in modern times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXymzwz0V2g
Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Foreign-Language Feature
MUSTANG
Country: Turkey, Greece, France
Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Synopsis: At the start of this stark, meditative drama that recalls The Virgin Suicides, five sisters play in the sea with their male classmates. As punishment for such immoral behavior, the grandmother and uncle raising the girls imprison them at home to maintain their “purity” until marriage. Submission or defiance seems to be the only options, as each sister, one by one, finds her own personal escape route.
NOTE: Mustang is also France’s entry into the 2016 Academy Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9JAN8LtIk
Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT
Country: USA
Director: Michael Moore
Synopsis: What has lured Michael Moore, the documentary genre’s most entertaining rabble-rouser, back to feature films after a six-year hiatus? Only the future of his country, naturally. Where To Invade Next is an expansive, rib-tickling, and subversive comedy in which Moore, playing the role of “invader,” visits a host of nations to learn how the U.S. could improve its own prospects. The creator of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine is back with this hilarious and eye-opening call to arms. Where To Invade Next shows the solutions to America’s most entrenched problems already exist in the world, he says–they’re just waiting to be co-opted.
Where To Invade Next also won the 51st Chicago International Film Festival’s Founders Award, which is given to one film across all categories that captures the spirit of the Chicago International Film Festival for its unique and innovative approach to the art of the moving image. The award was given to director Michael Moore at the Festival’s Awards Night on Friday, October 23, 2015 at The Peninsula.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei747zi9iYY
Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film
OH LUCY!
Country: Japan, Singapore, USA
Director: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Synopsis: A chain-smoking, corporate Japanese woman develops a crush on her English teacher in this ingenious comedy of manners and Americanization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNuJCz7lMrI