Ryan Gosling seen in this year’s critically acclaimed cinematic standout, Barbie will receive the 16th annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film at Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This marks the second time since the passing of screen legend Kirk Douglas that the honor will be awarded.
Alex Backes’ That’s Our Time took the Grand Jury Prize, and Callie Bloem and Christopher Ewing’s Bounce House won the Audience Choice at the inaugural American Cinematheque’s PROOF: Proof of Concept Film Festival.
Director-writer Nicki Micheaux’s “Summer of Violence,” the festival’s Centerpiece Film, won Best Picture at the 15th annual DTLA Film Festival. Rosemary Rodriguez, the director of the festival’s Opening Night Film, “Hail Mary,” was named Best Director, and the two films tied for Audience Favorite Award. “It’s Basic” by Marc Levin took the Best Documentary award.
The 27th Urbanworld® Film Festival announced the 2023 award winners with awards for Best Narrative Feature (U.S.) going to Frybread Face and Me directed by Billy Luther, Best Narrative Feature (World) went to Sira directed by Apolline Traoré and Best Documentary Feature went to Brief Tender Light directed by Arthur Musah.
The 2023 Naples International Film Festival announced the filmmaker award winners with the jury prize for Best Narrative Feature (and a cash prize of $2,500) going to Vivian Kerr’s Scrap, and the jury prize for Best Documentary Feature (and $2,500) was given to Miranda Yousef’s Art For Everybody.
The 11th edition of Calgary Underground Film Festival’s CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival returns to Globe Cinema from November 22-26, 2023 showcasing 15 features, and 10 shorts over five days.
Christopher Nolan will be honored with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s fundraiser, Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire® which will take place on January 18, 2024. Kicking off the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, the evening will also honor Celine Song and Maite Alberdi — both of whom premiered films Past Lives and The Eternal Memory, respectively, at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival — will each receive the annual Vanguard Award Presented by Acura.
Closing Dynasty directed by Lloyd Lee Choi won the Grand Jury Prize – Live Action Short at AFI FEST 2023. Other prizes went to Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (Grandma & Grandma) (奶奶跟外婆)directed by Sean Wang won Grand Jury Prize – Documentary Short and Chutes directed by Kenzie Sutton won Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short.
The 67th BFI London Film Festival wrapped on Sunday October 15th with the World Premiere of Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s The Kitchen.
The San Pedro International Film Festival (SPIFF) returns next month for screenings, panels, and events, November 2-5. Highlights include a special presentation of Nick Broomfield’s documentary The Stones and Brian Jones, and a focus on Croatian films, including Dubravka Tulic’s Academy Awards Best Foreign Film submission Traces (Tragovi). Special appearances include veteran producer Carol Baum, who will do a book signing following an Closing Night screening of the Robert DeNiro/Ed Harris starrer Jacknife (1989), and a book reading and signing of Evelyn McDonnell’s The World According to Joan Didion.
The satire American Fiction took home the coveted Best Feature Film prize at the 2023 Twin Cities Film Fest. Starring Jeffrey Wright, the comedy marks Cord Jefferson’s (Watchmen, Succession, Master of None) memorable directorial debut, as he confronts America’s obsession with the reducing of people to outrageous stereotypes. The film recently won the People Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, often viewed as a bellwether of success at the Academy Awards.
The 15th edition of Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, taking place Monday, November 6 through Saturday, November 11, in Los Angeles will open with Pictures of Ghosts directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, which is also the official selection to represent Brazil for Best International Feature at the upcoming Oscars®. The Opening Night screening will take place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.