Censored Voices is the winner of the inaugural Bob Simon Award at the 9th Annual Other Israel Film Festival. The award honors the legendary journalist’s intrepid reporting on Israel and the Middle East, and presented to the film that best captures Simon’s courageous spirit.
Already a winner of the Ophir Award, Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, for Best Documentary, Censored Voices presents, for the first time ever, the uncensored recordings of intimate conversations between Israeli soldiers and renowned author Amos Oz immediately following the 1967 Six Day War in which Israel captured Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. The film will be released theatrically via Music Box Films on November 20.
Journalist Bob Simon was a long-time friend and supporter of the Festival. The award was created to honor his spirit and legacy of ethical reporting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oB8EFlf4-MFilm Festivals
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CENSORED VOICES Wins Inaugural Bob Simon Award at the Other Israel Film Festival
Censored Voices is the winner of the inaugural Bob Simon Award at the 9th Annual Other Israel Film Festival. The award honors the legendary journalist’s intrepid reporting on Israel and the Middle East, and presented to the film that best captures Simon’s courageous spirit.
Already a winner of the Ophir Award, Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, for Best Documentary, Censored Voices presents, for the first time ever, the uncensored recordings of intimate conversations between Israeli soldiers and renowned author Amos Oz immediately following the 1967 Six Day War in which Israel captured Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. The film will be released theatrically via Music Box Films on November 20.
Journalist Bob Simon was a long-time friend and supporter of the Festival. The award was created to honor his spirit and legacy of ethical reporting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oB8EFlf4-M
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BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY, Documentary Exploring Origins of Sport, to NY Premiere at DOC NYC | TRAILER
BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY, a new feature documentary by filmmaker Jerome Thélia exploring the nature and origins of sport, will have its New York Premiere at DOC NYC on Monday at 7:30 pm.
Inspired by the book, The Ball: Discovering the Object of the Game by John Fox
From Brazilian favelas to dusty Congolese villages, from neolithic Scottish isles to modern soccer pitches, BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY explores the little-known origins of our favorite sports. The film crosses time, languages and continents to discover how the ball has staked its claim on our lives and fueled our passion to compete. Equal parts science, history and cultural essay, BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY removes us from the scandals and commercialism of today’s sports world to uncover the true reasons we play ball, helping us reclaim our universal connection to the games we love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8UyRUrb6KM
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BROOKLYN Voted Winner of Audience Award for Best Film at Leeds International Film Festival
Brooklyn, directed by John Crowley and starring Saoirse Ronan, has been voted the winner of the Audience Award for Best Film at 2015 Leeds International Film Festival in Leeds, UK. Brooklyn, which was the opening night film of the festival, is described as a wonderful romantic drama adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Tóibín’s best-selling novel. Eilis is a young Irish woman who leaves her home for New York in the 1950s. Desperately homesick at first, Eilis soon finds romance in Brooklyn, but when a family emergency forces her back to Ireland, she finds herself torn between her personal freedom and her family responsibilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IM1XhTxPAE
The top 20 films as voted by audience at 2015 Leeds International Film Festival
1. Brooklyn
2. Victoria
3. Chuck Norris vs Communism
4. Son of Saul
5. Home Care
6. Alice Cares
7. Urban and the Shed Crew
8. The Case of Hana and Alice
9. All About Them
10. Doing Nothing All Day
11. Taxi Tehran
12. Heart of a Dog
13. Nina Forever
14. Tangerine
15. The Postman’s White Nights
16. Another Country
17. Abandoned Goods + Exquisite Corpus
18. Shrew’s Nest
19. Aferim!
20. Lovemilla
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THE EXILE, MONSTERMAN, KEEP IN TOUCH, MULLY Win Top Awards at 2015 Austin Film Festival
The 2015 Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its Jury and Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners in Film, as well as the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners. The jury awarded The Exile, by Arturo Ruiz Serrano (pictured above) as Best Narrative Feature and Monsterman, directed by Antti Haase as Best Documentary Feature. The Audience voted Keep In Touch, written by Sam Kretchmar and Michael Covino as winner of the Hiscox Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and Mully directed by Scott Haze as winner of Hiscox Audience Award for Best Documentary.
The following Jury award winners were selected by category:
Narrative Feature: The Exile, written by Arturo Ruiz Serrano
Documentary Feature: Monsterman, directed by Antti Haase
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Baby, Baby, Baby, written by Brian Klugman
Dark Matters Feature: Sunny Side Up, written by Willem Bosch
Dark Matters Feature Honorable Mention: The Lion’s Path, written by Sophie-Anne Beaudry
Narrative Short: Vainilla, written by Susana López Rubio
Narrative Student Short: Kimi Kabuki, written by Yoko Okumura
Documentary Short: Chau, Beyond the Lines, directed by Courtney Marsh
Animated Short: The Meek, written by Joe Brumm
Scripted Digital Series: School Nurse, created by Tom Beach, Laura Boersma, and John Stewart Muller
After each Festival screening, audiences voted for the Hiscox Audience Awards, recognizing film favorites among the 2015 slate.
The following Hiscox Audience Award winners were selected by category:
Narrative Feature: Keep In Touch, written by Sam Kretchmar and Michael Covino
Documentary Feature: Mully directed by Scott Haze
Documentary Feature Honorable Mention: Of Dogs and Men directed by Michael Ozias
Dark Matters Feature: Reparation written by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm
Comedy Vanguard Feature: Baby, Baby, Baby written by Brian Klugman
Narrative Short: Best Wishes from Millwood written by Max Baker
Documentary Short: The Trials of Constance Baker Motley directed by Rick Rodgers
Animated Short: The Present written by Fabio Cavalcanti and Jacob Frey
Narrative Student Short: Amateur Dictator written by Zach Carver
Scripted Digital Series: Master Class created by Justin Wright Neufeld
Heart of Film: A Single Frame directed by Brandon Dickerson
Stories From Abroad: El Jeremías written by Ana Sofía Clerici
Texas Independent: Jack’s Apocalypse written by Will Moore
Marquee Feature: Until 20 directed by Jamila Paksima and written by Geraldine Moriba
One film was selected to receive the inaugural 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 first ever Courage Award went to Jamila Paksima’s and Geraldine Moriba’s Until 20, the story of Texan James Ragan’s quest to live a full and meaningful life despite his terminal battle with osteosarcoma.
“Hiscox was honored to support Austin Film Festival and all of the inspirational films, filmmakers and subjects that made the week so special,” said Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox USA. “We’re grateful to give the first Hiscox Courage Award to Until 20 and hope more people will be able to share the courageous life and story of James Ragan depicted in this film.”
In continuation of AFF’s mission to find and support independent filmmakers, three films were already picked up for distribution at this year’s Festival including Comedy Vanguard 3rd Street Blackout, The Teller and the Truth picked up by FilmBuff, and James Franco’s Memoria which was acquired by Monterey Media.
“Austin Film Festival is an exceptional source for a true audience reaction for independent films,” said Jere Rae-Mansfield, CFO & Managing Partner of Monterey Media. “We are so pleased to join them in our acquisition news.”
The following Screenplay Competition winners were selected by category:
Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Detroit by Robert Rue
Comedy Screenplay Award: Maxwell 2.0 by Paul Sanford
Enderby Entertainment Award: The Great Debate by David Hoffman
Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Innkeeper by Michael Catinari
Horror Award: 77 Minutes by Shani Grewal
AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot Award: Friend of the Devil by Michael Ouellette
Sitcom Teleplay Pilot Award: Newsperson by Michael Drake
Short Screenplay Award: The New World by Brian Rawlins
Scripted Digital Series Award: Creepypasta by Will Zech & Alex Cope
One-Hour Teleplay Spec Award: The Americans: Custody by Larry Caldwell
Sitcom Teleplay Spec Award: Workaholics: Bring Your Kid To Work Day by Greg Brainos
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Ewan McGregor to Receive Award at Los Cabos International Film Festival and Screen “Last Days in the Desert”
Actor and director Ewan McGregor will attend the upcoming Los Cabos International Film Festival where he will be presented with the Protagonist Award for Excellence in Acting. The award statuette was designed by acclaimed Mexican artist Gabriel Macotela. McGregor will also present the special screening of his film, Last Days in the Desert, accompanied by its director –and festival special guest– Rodrigo García. The film, widely praised by the critics when premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year, is an imaginative version of Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert.
Ewan McGregor is mesmerizing as he takes on two of history’s most complicated and misunderstood characters: Jesus Christ and the Devil.
Director Rodrigo Garcia reimagines Christ’s last days of fasting in the desert as he walks back to civilization. In the midst of the harsh landscape, fatigued and hallucinating, Christ is met by the Devil, who is eager to test and tempt the weary traveler. Their profound ruminations on faith and truth demonstrate Garcia’s power as a screenwriter and McGregor’s determination to portray Jesus in a different light. By focusing on Christ’s fallibility and innocence, new dimensions of the prophet and the man create a fascinating character study. But Christ’s real test comes when he befriends a family on his travels and is caught up in a dispute that forces a powerful confrontation with his own fate.
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Cate Blanchett to be Honored at Palm Springs International Film Festival
Two-time Academy Award Winning Actress Cate Blanchett will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress at the upcoming 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival for her amazing performances in “Carol” and “Truth”. The festival runs January 1 to 11, 2016.
Carol, an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, follows two women from very different backgrounds, unhappily married Carol (Blanchett) and department store clerk Therese (Rooney Mara), who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change.
Directed by Todd Haynes from a script by Phyllis Nagy, Carol also stars Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy and Cory Michael Smith. The film is distributed by the Weinstein Company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4z7Px68ywk
Truth examines the facts and the fallout surrounding a CBS investigative report on the military service record of then-President George W. Bush, aired on Sept. 8, 2004 just prior to the Bush/Kerry presidential election. As the subsequent story turned from the facts themselves to the reporting, however, CBS News producer Mary Mapes (played by Blanchett) and CBS News anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) would both soon lose their jobs and reputations.
Written and directed by James Venderb based on the memoir Truth and Duty by Mary Mapes, Truth also stars Topher Grace, Elizabeth Moss and Dennis Quaid. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOz8-Sto1g
Past actress recipients of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, include Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock, Natalie Portman, Halle Berry, Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams. Last year’s honoree, Julianne Moore, went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress. Blanchett was previously honored at the festival with the Career Achievement Award and Ensemble Performance Award for Babel.
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HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY to US Premiere at DOC NYC 2015 | TRAILER
HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY, which will have its US PREMIERE at the upcoming DOC NYC 2015. HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY is directed by Academy Award Nominee Daniel Raim, Executive Produced by Danny DeVito and features many familiar faces including Harold Michelson, Lillian Michelson, Danny DeVito, Francis Ford Coppola, Mel Brooks, Anahid Nazarian, Rick Carter, Tom Walsh, Jim Bissell, Marc Wanamaker, Bill Krohn, Norman Newberry, and Gene Allen.
Academy Award®-nominated director Daniel Raim and Executive Producer Danny DeVito (Pulp Fiction, Man on the Moon) present HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY, a fascinating and deeply moving account of the romantic and creative partnership of storyboard artist Harold Michelson and his wife, film researcher Lillian Michelson—a talented couple once considered “the heart of Hollywood.”
Harold and Lillian worked on hundreds of iconic films during Hollywood’s golden age including The Ten Commandments, The Apartment, The Birds, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Rosemary’s Baby, Fiddler On The Roof, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Scarface, Full Metal Jacket and more.
Although the couple was responsible for some of Hollywood’s most iconic examples of visual storytelling, their contributions remain largely uncredited. Through an engaging mix of love letters, film clips and candid conversations with Harold and Lillian, Danny DeVito, Mel Brooks, Francis Coppola and others, this heartfelt documentary chronicles their remarkable relationship and two extraordinary careers spanning six decades of movie-making history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RuCqsZhkLE
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Dates Revealed for 2016 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Documentary Forum
The 2016 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Documentary Forum will be held in Camden, Rockport and Rockland from September 15 to 18, 2016.
Filmmakers may submit their completed documentaries (features and shorts) to CIFF or their works-in-progress to the Points North Fellowship starting in January 2016.
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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.
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“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.
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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
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“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