Films

“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
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James Franco, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald, Alicia Silverstone Lead All Star Cast Of Justin Kelly’s KING COBRA

James Franco, Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton, Keegan Allen, Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone will lead the cast of King Cobra, the sophomore feature film from writer/director Justin Kelly. The film marks the second collaboration between Kelly and Franco, who previously starred in Kelly’s acclaimed feature directorial debut I Am Michael (pictured above). Based on a true story, King Cobra depicts the events surrounding a murder that rocked the adult entertainment industry in the mid-2000s. Slater plays Stephen, a lonely suburban man turned adult entertainment producer who discovers a hot, lucrative new star named Brent Corrigan (played by Garrett Clayton), then finds himself the target of rival producer Joe who will stop at nothing to steal his money maker. Franco plays Joe, a former male escort turned porn producer with a bad temper, whose desire to become a porn kingpin leads him to help commit a heinous crime. Keegan Allen plays Harlow, Joe’s boyfriend, business partner and accomplice. Molly Ringwald plays Stephen’s sister Amy, with Alicia Silverstone playing Brent Corrigan’s mother Janette. “We could not be more thrilled to have secured such a strong cast of exceptionally talented actors to lead the King Cobra cast,” commented writer/director Justin Kelly. “James, Christian, Garrett, Keegan, Molly and Alicia have consistently pushed the boundaries of film and culture at large with iconic performances. It’s been amazing watching them transform into these unique, fascinating characters.” Justin Kelly’s feature directorial debut I Am Michael, also starring James Franco, world premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Franco is also well known for his Oscar-nominated performance in 127 Hours as well as acclaimed turns in Milk, the Spider-Man franchise and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Christian Slater has recently earned high praise for his role as the titular character in USA Network’s popular series Mr. Robot, as well as roles in Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac Vol:1 and 2 and classic performances in True Romance and Heathers. Iconic actress Molly Ringwald is particularly well regarded for her starring roles in classic John Hughes films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. Rising star Garrett Clayton has built a devoted following for his roles in Disney Channel’s original movies Teen Beach Movie 1 and 2, and ABC Family’s popular series The Fosters. Keegan Allen currently stars in ABC Family’s hit series Pretty Little Liars and also previously appeared in Palo Alto, also starring James Franco. Alicia Silverstone is well known for her iconic performance in Clueless and was recently seen in Butter for The Weinstein Company and Vamps, reteaming with Amy Heckerling. Her recent stage credits include Of Good Stock for the MTC and Time Stands Still on Broadway, which was nominated for Best Play at the Tonys. The film is produced by Jordan Yale Levine of Yale Productions, Scott Levenson, James Franco, Vince Jolivette and Iris Torres of Rabbit Bandini Productions and Shaun Sanghani of SSS Entertainment. Executive Producers include Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Joe Listhaus of BondIt, John D. Hickman, Brandon Baker and Jason Rose. Jon Keeyes will Co-Produce. Production of King Cobra was recently completed. Event Film Distribution is handling worldwide sales.
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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.

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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.
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Ross Partridge’s LAMB, Starring Oona Laurence Opens January 8th, 2016

The LAMB directed by Ross Partridge which premiered earlier this year at 2015 SXSW South By Southwest Film Festival will be released via The Orchard theatrically in NYC and LA on January 8th, 2016, with a rollout to follow; and on VOD January 12th, 2016. Lamb stars Oona Laurence (Tony Winner, MATILDA; SOUTHPAW), Lindsay Pulsipher (“True Blood”), Scott McNairy (“Halt and Catch Fire”; ARGO), and Jess Weixler (TEETH; “The Good Wife”). Based on the novel by Bonnie Nadzam, LAMB traces the self-discovery of David Lamb (Ross Partridge) in the weeks following the disintegration of his marriage and the death of his father. Hoping to regain some faith in his own goodness, he turns his attention to Tommie (Oona Laurence), an awkward and unpopular eleven-year-old girl. Lamb is convinced that he can help her avoid a destiny of apathy and emptiness, and takes Tommie for a road trip from Chicago to the Rockies, planning to initiate her into the beauty of the mountain wilderness. The journey shakes them in ways neither expects. The film premiered at SXSW 2015. Ross Partridge wrote, directed, and starred in the film LAMB, which premiered at SXSW in March. Variety highlighted LAMB as one of the Breakout Movies of the Festival and it won the Independent Visions Best Film Award at the Sarasota Film Festival, Best Film at Hell’s Half Mile, and the Ultra Indie Best Film Award at Woodstock Film Festival. He has been seen in THE OFF HOURS, THE FREEBIE, and BAGHEAD (all Sundance premieres), as well as TV shows such as HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA, THE MENTALIST, and BATTLECREEK. He is also in the award-winning film THE MIDNIGHT SWIM. He recently directed the digital series WEDLOCK which stars Mark Duplass, Rob Corddry, and Jennifer Lafleur. Ross can next be seen in Billy Ray’s SECRET IN THEIR EYES, playing Nicole Kidman’s husband, THE WHITE KING with Agyness Deyn and Fiona Shaw, and the new Netflix series STRANGER THINGS opposite Winona Ryder.
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Cancer Documentary, THE C WORD, Narrated by Morgan Freeman to Premiere at DOC NYC | TRAILER

The documentary, THE C WORD, which takes on the institutions preventing meaningful progress in the ways we currently treat cancer, will have its NYC premiere at DOC NYC on Sunday, November 15, 2015. Directed by cancer survivor Meghan O’Hara (producer of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine and Sicko) and narrated by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, THE C WORD mixes the personal stories of Meghan and celebrated neurosurgeon and cancer revolutionary Dr. David Servan-Schreiber with an in-depth exploration of the systemic societal failings that predispose Americans to cancer, and follows a vibrant cast of characters who are changing the game. From executive producer Morgan Freeman comes THE C WORD, a bold new film that will forever change the way we view cancer. At its heart are powerful twin narratives: one from  celebrated French neuroscientist and cancer revolutionary Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, the other from THE C WORD’s own director, Meghan  L. O’Hara. After braving the journey from diagnosis to  wellness, Meghan and David join forces to expose systematic failings in our society, which reinforce the bad habits that predispose us to disease. Together, they lead us on a wild ride of discovery, which reveals crucial hidden scientific evidence, exposes the absurdity of the status quo, and follows a vibrant cast of characters who are changing the game. Despite decades of drug development and treatment innovations, the rise of cancer is outpacing our ability to fight back. Billions of dollars have been put into the elusive search for “the cure”, but today each of us has a one in two chance of being diagnosed at some point in our life. Until recently, we thought that cancer was only due to a genetic predisposition, or to an unlucky draw. THE C WORD irrevocably establishes the connection between the current cancer epidemic and our western lifestyle from a scientific, documented and optimistic point of view. The latest research findings clearly show that up to 70% of cancer deaths are linked to our daily behaviors: smoking, a diet of processed foods, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive stress, and a continued exposure to daily contaminants. Catalytic in its revelations, THE C WORD is also an indictment of a trillion-dollar processed food industry that thrives while we get sick and relies on an economic model that chooses profit over people, leaving us undernourished and overweight, especially in our underserved communities. THE C WORD delivers a message of hope. It urges us to stop being afraid and gives us the tools to take immediate action to reclaim our health and improve our outcomes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g4gx_dnLUc
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THOSE PEOPLE, THE SAME DIFFERENCE Win 2015 NewFest “NY’s LGBT Fest” Audience Awards

The 2015 NewFest, New York’s LGBT Film Festival, concluded its 27th anniversary year with a sold-out screening of GIRLS LOST. Following the Closing Night Gala screening, NewFest announced the 2015 Audience Award winning films. THOSE PEOPLE, directed by Joey Kuhn, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Feature Film, and THE SAME DIFFERENCE, directed by Nneka Onuorah, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature. THOSE PEOPLE, directed by Joey Kuhn, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Feature Film for its crowd-pleasing depiction of a complicated romance between two young men in the gilded halls of Manhattan’s high society. Those People will be distributed by Wolfe Releasing in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-yM9ahuAeo THE SAME DIFFERENCE, directed by Nneka Onuorah, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature. The film, which shines a light on the all-too-often ignored problem of homophobia and gender discrimination within the African-American lesbian community, broke NewFest records, selling out four screenings to audiences eager to finally see the issue addressed onscreen and within the lively panels that followed each screening. The Same Difference will be distributed by Women Make Movies in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I97yTXz980 TREMULO, directed by Roberto Fiesco, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Narrative Short, thanks to its tender and beautifully realized depiction of a brief encounter between two young men in Mexico. A feature version is currently in the works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YTT2saA334 IN THE HOLLOW, directed by Austin Bunn, won the Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short. Bunn, the screenwriter of last year’s Kill Your Darlings, masterfully combined documentary and narrative techniques to place audiences at the center of a horrific crime against two gay women. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q2cSy6Oudo Speaking on behalf of the programming team, NewFest’s senior programmer Adam Baran also singled out Martin Edralin’s narrative short HOLE and Blair Fukumura’s documentary short BEDDING ANDREW for special recognition, for using brave, emotionally stirring methods to tell the often-overlooked stories of gay men with disability and their need for physical and emotional support. The highly successful six-day festival screened nearly 100 films to a number of sold-out audiences and included a centerpiece gala screening of Todd Haynes’ CAROL, a star-studded World Premiere of new trans series “” followed by a discussion moderated by Laverne Cox, a MasterClass discussion with award-winning filmmaker Ira Sachs, NewFest’s first ever Queer Horror Night, and an enlightening panel discussion on the evolution of transgender representation in modern media.
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Observational Doc SCHOOL OF BABEL, Follows Newly Immigrant Teens Entering French Educational System

School of Babel (La Cour de Babel), Julie Bertuccelli’s observational documentary follows a group of newly arrived immigrant teens as they begin their studies at La Grange-aux-Belles secondary school in Paris and prepare for entry into the French educational system. At the center of this dramatic transition is teacher Brigitte Cervoni, a wise and patient woman charged with guiding a diverse class of 11- to 15-year-olds hailing from countries including Tunisia, Ireland, Senegal, China, Serbia and Brazil. Part psychologist and part surrogate mother, Cervoni helps her students cope with problems ranging from homesickness to emotional trauma while instilling in her students a sense of self-worth and mutual respect. As the teens adjust—and some begin to blossom—the results are illuminating, moving and exhilarating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4yHTfbYaEI School of Babel is screening as part of the Northwest Film Center’s Global Classroom program, which presents new international cinema for high-school students throughout the Portland, Oregon, metro area.
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Romance Drama ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG Sets Release Date of February 12, 2016 | VIDEO

Emily Ting’s feature directorial debut ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG will make a limited theatrical bow in select cities on February 12th, 2016 via Gravitas Ventures. The film will also simultaneously open with a wide cross-platform cable/satellite/telco and internet VOD on the same day. ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG premiered at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival and has quickly become an audience favorite throughout its festival run during the Fall. The film is written and directed by Emily Ting, and produced by Ting and Sophia Shek. It stars Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg. “This movie is my love letter to Hong Kong and to love, so I can’t imagine a better release date than on Valentine’s Day weekend! I am really looking forward to partnering up with Gravitas to bring the film to audiences everywhere!” said director Emily Ting. In this sparkling romance, Ruby (Jamie Chung), a Chinese American toy designer from LA, visits Hong Kong for the first time on business. Finding herself stranded, she meets Josh (Bryan Greenberg), an American expat who shows her the city. Meandering through nighttime streets pulsing with energy and possibility, they fall into a winding and carefree conversation, buoyed by an undeniable attraction. As effervescent as a perfect first date, Emily Ting’s charming directorial debut takes full advantage of the chemistry of its leads, the playfulness of their exchanges, and the magical landscape that is Hong Kong at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fef9li7qqX8 About filmmaker Emily Ting Emily Ting is a graduate of the Film/TV program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She was best known for her producing work previously. Emily produced the feature THE KITCHEN, an ensemble comedy directed by Ishai Setton and starring Laura Prepon, Bryan Greenberg, and Dreama Walker. The film premiered as the Closing Night Film of the Gen Art Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Monterey Media. She also produced Stephen Suettinger’s A YEAR AND CHANGE, starring Bryan Greenberg, Claire van der Boom, T.R. Knight, Marshall Allman, and Jamie Hector, which was selected to participate in the 2013 Film Independent Producer Lab and was picked up for distribution by Vision Films. Additionally, Emily served as the Associate Producer for Yen Tan’s PIT STOP, which premiered at Sundance in 2013 and picked up for distribution by Wolfe Video, Executive Producer for Dave Boyle’s MAN FROM RENO, which won Best Narrative Film at Los Angeles Film Festival and picked up for distribution by Gravitas, and Co-Executive Producer for Aaron Katz and Martha Stephen’s LAND HO!, which premiered at Sundance in 2014 and was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics. All three films were nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, with LAND HO! winning.
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Human Rights Documentary “The Man Who Mends Women” Opens ADIFF 2015 | TRAILER

Human Rights documentary The Man Who Mends Women will have its US Premiere on November 27 at the Opening Night of the 23rd Annual African Diaspora International Film Festival. Presented by US distributor ArtMattan Films, THE MAN WHO MENDS WOMEN is the portrait of the impressive life and work of internationally renowned gynecologist Dr. Denis Mukwege from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He received the 2014 prestigious Sacharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, for his struggle against sexual violence. Dr. Mukwege medically assisted over 40,000 sexually abused women in sixteen years of professional practice. Sexual violence against women has been used as a weapon of war for years in the violence-ridden and poverty-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo. In order to provide medical, psychological and emotional aid to the victims, Dr. Mukwege founded the Panzi hospital in Bukavu in 1999. Besides his work as a physician Dr. Mukwege also defends human rights and seeks to raise global awareness on the issue of sexual violence in his country. He condemns the political reluctance to tackle the problem and is not afraid to hit the nail on the head. His work is not without danger, as Dr. Mukwege experienced in 2012, when armed men entered his home and started shooting. Dr. Mukwege and his family survived the attack, but his guard was killed. The doctor now lives cloistered in his hospital in Bukavu under the protection of the United Nation peacekeepers. The women, whose physical and emotional integrity and dignity have been restored, stand beside him, true activists for peace, and hungry for justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU62X6iV1ZI The 23rd African Diaspora Film Festival is to be held in Manhattan, New York City from November 27 to December 13 at MIST Harlem, Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas and Teachers College, Columbia University with the presentation of more than 50 films, including 26 US and NY Premieres.
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Kelly Ripa Produced “American Cheerleader” Documentary In U.S. Theaters Nov. 5 & 8

The documentary, “American Cheerleader,” will screen in more than 400 movie theaters across the U.S. on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12:55 p.m. “American Cheerleader” screened at several national film festivals last year, including the Louisville Film Festival where it won the Audience Favorite Award. The film offers unprecedented access and follows the journey of two high school cheerleading teams vying for the National High School Cheerleading Championship title. After months of hard work and preparation, cheerleaders from Southwestern High School in Somerset, Kentucky, and Burlington Township High School in Burlington, New Jersey, advance through regionals and earn a place in the Championship Finals to compete for the coveted white jacket – the prestigious symbol of tireless dedication in high school competitive cheerleading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZIyfyf7qg “American Cheerleader” is directed by filmmakers James Pellerito and David Barba of Retribution Media, and produced by Milojo Productions, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ production company. The film is being released by Varsity Spirit, in partnership with Fathom Events. Now in its 35th year, the National High School Cheerleading Championship is a two-day event held at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando. The event hosts more than 600 teams from 38 states that are judged on crowd-leading abilities, stunting and tumbling skills, and overall performance. The competition also hosts more than 50,000 spectators each year and is televised worldwide on ESPN and ESPN2 to more than 100 million homes in 32 countries.
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CAGED NO MORE Starring Loretta Devine, Kevin Sorbo, Wins Best Feature At La Femme Film Festival

CAGED NO MORE took top honors at the La Femme Film Festival in Los Angeles winning the award for “Best Feature” out of 100 other entries. The La Femme Film Festival exists to promote the work of female producers, writers and directors. “This was an amazing put together film that not only entertains but educates the audience on an issue that is very time-sensitive. Creative, pertinent, and well done!” said Leslie LaPage, founder and director of the La Femme Film Festival. “We’ve achieved making a film that is not only thrilling and compelling, but calls audiences to be champions in the fight against human trafficking,” said Lisa Arnold, director, co-writer and producer of CAGED NO MORE. “We are grateful for the support of amazing film festivals like La Femme who recognize that movies can reach beyond the screen and inspire greatness!” CAGED NO MORE is a drama meant to engage and educate audiences on the realities of human trafficking. The film releases January 15, 2016 nationwide. The film was also the top award winner at the Kingdomwood film festival in October 2015. The award-winning film CAGED NO MORE is based on Molly Venzke’s novel by the same title, which was adapted for screen by co-producer Lisa Arnold and Venzke. Starring Emmy award-winner Loretta Devine (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Kevin Sorbo (GOD’S NOT DEAD, “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”), Alan Powell (THE SONG), Christian singer-songwriter Anthony Evans, and Cassidy Gifford (GOD’S NOT DEAD), the film features appearances by Gov. Bobby Jindal, pastor Chad Veach, Grammy Award-nominated Christian recording artist Natalie Grant, Gretchen Carlson and Kathie Lee Gifford. Inspired by real events, CAGED NO MORE is the story of Aggie Prejean (Devine), a grandmother on a desperate search to find her two granddaughters, Skye (Gifford) and Elle, who have been kidnapped by their sinister father (Sorbo). As the details behind the girls’ disappearance begin to unravel, it’s discovered that they have been taken overseas to be sold into the sex trade. Aggie enlists the help of the girls’ uncle, a well-respected local philanthropist, Richard DuLonde (also played by Sorbo), and his son, Wil (Powell), who is former Special Forces. A global hunt ensues, and the team will stop at nothing to see the girls safely returned home. CAGED NO MORE is produced by Check the Gate Productions’ Lisa Arnold (GOD’S NOT DEAD) and Red Entertainment Group’s Jarred Coates (GOD’S NOT DEAD) in association with GND Media Group and Film Incito. CAGED NO MORE was filmed on location in Baton Rouge, La., and Athens, Greece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRo_pHxuLhE The winners of the 2015 La Femme Film Festival. Best Feature Writer “Come Simi” Jenica Bergere & Doc Pedrolie 2015 Best Documentary “Love Between The Covers” Laurie Kahn 2015 Best Screenplay “Delivery Girl” Jude Roth 2015 Best Music Video “Monster” Kate Freund 2015 Best Short “Bound” Lexi St. John 2015 Best Feature Director “Reign” Corey Misquita 2015 Best Feature Producer “The Morning After” Shanra J. Kehl 2015 Best Feature “Caged No More” Lisa Arnold 2015 Best Foreign Film “Interruption” Malou Reymann 2015 Best Animated Short “Misiek and Eve From Outer Space” Marianna Mankowska 2015 Best Foreign Documentary “Out Of A Jam” Shalini Harshwal 2015 Best Special Focused Documentary “Angel Azul” Marcelina Cravat 2015 Best Webisode “Manic Pixie Dream Wife” M. Elizabeth Eller 2015 Best TV Pilot Script “Vigilante Theorem” Meghan Fitzmartin 2015 Best Commercial “ 7UP: Feels Good To Be You “ Alle Hsu 2015 Best Student Short “ Leaves In Fall “ Laura Torenbeek 2015
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