Amazon dropped a new trailer for Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, now playing in theaters. Cold War which is dedicated to Pawel Pawlikowski’s parents, whose names – Wiktor and Zula – the protagonists share, continues to receive strong critical praise and awards buzz.
As he has done each year since 2015, former President Barack Obama released his favorite movies, songs, and books of the year on Facebook and Instagram. Obama’s taste in movies ranges from the popular Black Panther to some very impressive indie films including Eighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk, documentary films – Minding the Gap, Won’t You Be My Neighbor; and foreign films – Roma, Shoplifters.
The beautifully filmed mystery thriller and noir feature Naples in Veils (Napoli velata) from writer/director Ferzan Ozpetek (Steam: The Turkish Bath, His Secret Life) has been acquired by Breaking Glass Pictures for a theatrical release in the first half of 2019, followed by a DVD/VOD release.
National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das’ third Assamese feature, Bulbul Can Sing will have its European Premiere at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival 2019 in competition in Generation 14 Plus category.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center will spotlight the films of director Alfonso Cuarón with an eight-film retrospective titled Complete Cuarón from January 4 to 8.
The Polish period drama Cold War ( Zimna wojna) directed by Paweł Pawlikowskiis dominated the 2018 European Film Awards winning five awards including the top prize Best European Film along with Best Director for Paweł Pawlikowski.
The Best European Comedy prize went to The Death of Stalin by Armando Iannucci, and the Best European Documentary went to Bergman – A Year in a Life by Jane Magnusson.
2018 European Film Awards Winners
Sunset by Laszlo Nemes[/caption]
The US trailer debuted for Academy Award winner Laszlo Nemes’ Sunset, Hungary’s entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. The film starring Julie Jakab, Vlad Ivanov, Evelin Dobos, and Marcin Czarnik won the FIPRESCI prize when it screened at the 2018 Venice Film Festival, and had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in 2019.
1913, Budapest, in the heart of Europe as World War I approaches. The young Irisz Leiter arrives in the Hungarian capital with high hopes to work as a milliner at Leiter, the legendary hat store that once belonged to her late parents; but she is quickly sent away by the new owner, Oszkár Brill. While preparations are under way at the store to host important wealthy, royal guests, a man abruptly comes to Irisz looking for Kálmán Leiter, who he says is her brother. Refusing to leave the city, the young woman follows Kálmán’s tracks, her only link to a lost past. Her quest brings her through the dark, dusty streets of Budapest, where only the Leiter hat store shines, into the turmoil of a civilization on the eve of its downfall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV-LRlyI2dQ
Sobibor[/caption]
Russian Film Week in New York – the showcase of independent and commercial films that represents the dynamic landscape of Russian filmmaking today returns to New York City December 8 to 14, 2018 at the SVA Theatre (333 W 23rd St, Manhattan). The events will include film screenings, discussions and Q&As with renowned Russian film directors, actors, and producers, as well as panels with journalists, and VIP receptions.
This year, the festival’s diverse program of 14 films includes Russia’s submission for the 2019 Academy Awards®, SOBIBOR, directed by, and starring, Konstantin Khabensky; ANNA KARENINA: VRONSKY’S STORY, directed by Karen Shakhnazarov; dramatic biopic THE STORY OF ONE APPOINTMENT, directed by Avdotya Smirnova; documentary film INTO_NATION OF BIG ODESSA, directed by Susanna Alperina, and many other new works that represent the broad spectrum of contemporary Russian cinema. Visiting filmmakers and actors include filmmaker Alexey Uchitel, founder of Rock Studio Films; directors Karen Shakhnazarov, Olya Zueva, Susanna Alperina, and many others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNRtC7ERmcQ
DOGMAN[/caption]
DOGMAN is the top film in the first wave of winners who will be honored at this year’s 2018 European Film Awards, grabbing the early awards for European Production Designer 2018 and European Hair & Make-up Artist 2018. The winners were announced for the categories cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, hair & make-up, composer, sound design and, for the first time, visual effects based on the EFA Feature Film Selection. The award recipients will be guests at the 31st European Film Awards on December 15, in Seville.
EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER 2018 – PRIX CARLO DI PALMA:
Martin Otterbeck for U – JULY 22 (UTØYA 22. JULI)
Martin Otterbeckʼs cinematography masterfully balances an aesthetic concern with the political meaning of the tragedy of Utøya. With very concentrated one-shot hand-held camera work, the cinematographer had to decide what to follow and what not to follow, thus creating an intense viewing experience as you find yourself on the island with the youngsters. Right-wing extremism is dangerously rising again: Cinema, in each of its parts, has the overwhelming responsibility to bring light into our dark times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVpUZGmHJB8
EUROPEAN EDITOR 2018:
Jarosław Kamiński for COLD WAR (ZIMNA WOJNA)
The cuts in COLD WAR are meaningful and emotional, almost like poetry. This poetic way of editing supports and enhances the sensuality of the story. The editor sensitively leads the heroes through time, emphasizing their isolation from each other in space, the fragmentarity of their relationship and the impossibility of being together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8
EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER 2018:
Andrey Ponkratov for THE SUMMER (LETO)
The production design of Andrey Ponkratov makes us really believe and feel like we are in the middle of an early 80s Leningrad summer at the very beginning of major political changes.
The film sets include large open nature locations like a beach, closed flats stuffed with people and things and an almost claustrophobic concert hall. The well-researched work of the whole art department team supports and underlines the authentic atmosphere of that period in a subtle way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlHwIRZLFdc
EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER 2018:
Massimo Cantini Parrini for DOGMAN
Massimo Cantini Parrini’s costumes use the style of Italian neo-realism in a very effective and creative manner, applying it to contemporary times, succeeding to create credible characters in this aesthetic convention. The costumes serve the film very well by skillfully merging with photography and production design, creating, altogether, this particular aesthetics. The color palette was carefully chosen and well balanced, adding a sense of rough poetry to the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI2JE_xjAaY
EUROPEAN HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST 2018:
Dalia Colli, Lorenzo Tamburini & Daniela Tartari for DOGMAN
Rather than putting the art on display, the hair & make-up always remains realistic and connected to the story. There are a lot of violent scenes, a lot of fights, and the make-up always is spot on, never overdone and never too much, it is credible right through the movie.
EUROPEAN COMPOSER 2018:
Christoph M. Kaiser & Julian Maas for 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON (3 TAGE IN QUIBERON)
The beautiful score for 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON fulfills the brief of effective film music, both technically and artistically. It serves the film well, working perfectly as a counterpoint to its narrative, and imparts a poetry to the black and white Nouvelle-Vague aesthetic. The main theme is not only touching, but wholly engaging. Nostalgic, romantic, sensual and melancholic, it captures the soul of Romy Schneider. It is rare in contemporary cinema to hear a melodically and harmonically distinguished score of this kind which has also been afforded the space on screen it requires to make a genuine impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY0oaSgWJVQ
EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER 2018:
André Bendocchi-Alves & Martin Steyer for THE CAPTAIN (DER HAUPTMANN)
Following the story and the visuals at a perfect pace, the sound designers have created a soundtrack which truly lifts the film to another level. With its technically perfect, fine-tuned, poetic, atmospheric & dynamic approach, the composition adds another layer to the viewing experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cp0Jpz4VAs
EUROPEAN VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR 2018:
Peter Hjorth for BORDER (GRÄNS)
The visual effects in BORDER are subtle and invisible. They support the narrative without ever imposing themselves upon the film or taking the viewer out of the story. At the emotional high point of the film, visual effects are instrumental in telling the story and making us believe the world that we have been drawn into. As such, the visual effects fulfill the number one goal of artists and artisans in filmmaking; to be in service of the story. In addition to this, they elevate the film and take us to a place that would not be possible without the help of world-class, seamless visual effects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cp0Jpz4VAs
Buffalo Boys[/caption]
Buffalo Boys, the directorial debut from Mike Wiluan, a producer on this year’s highly successful cultural phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians, and Singapore’s Official Foreign-Language Oscar Contender will be released in theaters and VOD in US on January 11, 2019.
The film premiered earlier this year at the 2018 Fantasia Film Festival and 2018 New York Asian Film Festival.
Buffalo Boys stars Yoshi Sudarso (TV’s Power Rangers: Dino Chargo and Pretty Boys), Ario Bayu (JAVA HEAT), Pevita Pearce (THE SINKING OF VAN DER WIJCK), Tio Pakusadewo (LETTERS FROM PRAGUE), Conan Stevens (THE HOBBIT), and Reinout Bussemaker (FLIGHT HS13).
In 19th Century Java, a brutal massacre and the murder of Sultan Hamza by Captain Van Trach and his Dutch soldiers force Arana, Jamar and Suwo – the sultan’s brother and infant sons – to flee the country, bringing them halfway around the world to the American Wild West. After working the railroads and learning the cowboy way of life, Arana tells the boys it’s time to return to their homeland and avenge their father’s death.
Back on Indonesian soil, the hunt for their father’s killer begins. Along the way, they meet some villagers including Kiona, the rebellious and beautiful headman’s daughter who Suwo falls for, and soon find out that the treacherous Van Trach still rules the area. Their presence puts the village in danger, quickly turning their quest for revenge into a fight for freedom. With the odds stacked against them, Arana, Jamar and Suwo use the skills they learned from the wilds of America to face Van Trach and his army in a showdown for justice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eqAgAFNMpg
