The European Film Academy and the Berlin International Film Festival issued a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of writer, human rights lawyer, and activist Nasrin Sotoudeh.
Industry
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European Film Academy and Berlin Film Festival Calls for Release of Iranian Nasrin Sotoudeh
Nasrin Sotoudeh
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4 Documentary Films Win SFFILM 2020 Documentary Film Fund Grants
SFFILM announced the four winners of 2020 SFFILM Documentary Film Fund grants totaling $80,000, which support feature-length documentaries in post-production. Giovanni Buccomino’s After a Revolution (working title), Clarke Lyons and Gabe Dinsmoor’s Squeegee, Farah Kassem’s We Are Inside, and Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s Writing with Fire were each awarded funding that will help push each project towards completion.
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Sundance Institute Announces First-ever Winners of Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellowship
Winners of 2020 Sundance Institute Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellows (clockwise – top l to r) Jameka Autry, Milisuthando Bongela, Ericka Blount Danois, Dionne Edwards, Dina Hashem, Suzanne Kite 
Winners of 2020 Sundance Institute Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellows (clockwise – top l to r) Lauren Lee McCarthy, Laura Moss, Elissa Blount Moorhead, Jenny Shi, Iliana Sosa
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Chicago International Film Festival’s Industry Days Goes Virtual for 2020
The Chicago International Film Festival announced this year’s Industry Days will be held virtually for a global audience, from October 12-18, 2020.
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Dave Franco’s ‘The Rental’ Tops Box Office Charts
The Rental directed by Dave Franco, starring Alison Brie
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5 Movie Trailers You Must See This Week
July is off to a good start with the release of some highly anticipated official trailers. Due to the global pandemic, distribution companies who would’ve normally released their movies in theaters have turned to streaming giants like Netflix and HBO Max to premiere their films to audiences around the world. With film productions beginning to ramp back up and theaters around the country slowly starting to open, movie-goers are hoping they won’t have to much longer to watch films on the big-screen again. Until then, check out the five official trailers that caught our eyes this week.
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UK Arts Sector Receives $2 Billion Relief Fund
The Theatre Royal, Brighton, England The UK arts sector will receive $2 billion in government relief after being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The UK announced over the weekend that emergency grants and loans would protect the country’s museums, galleries, theaters, independent cinemas, heritage sites, and music venues. Amid mounting pressure, art industry leaders are looking forward to the financial support.
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Awkwafina, Lakeith Stanfield Among 819 Invited to Join Academy
Awkwafina – “The Farewell” and Lakeith Stanfield – “Sorry to Bother You” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 819 artists and executives including Awkwafina – “The Farewell,” Natasha Lyonne – “Honey Boy,” and Lakeith Stanfield – “Sorry to Bother You” to join the organization. The 2020 class is 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% international from 68 countries. There are 75 Oscar® nominees, including 15 winners, and five recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2020.
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Mexican Film Wins Films Progress 37 Toulouse Awards + San Sebastian Festival Exits as Partner
“50 o Dos Ballenas se Encuentran en la Playa” directed by Jorge Cuchí The Mexican production “50 o Dos Ballenas se Encuentran en la Playa” directed by Jorge Cuchí was awarded the Films in Progress Toulouse Award and the Special Ciné+ in Progress Award at the 2020 Films in Progress Toulouse organized by the San Sebastian Festival and Cinélatino, Rencontres de Toulouse.
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American Documentary Re-opens Artist Emergency Fund for Indie Documentary Community Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic
American Documentary Gala 2019 via Facebook American Documentary (AmDoc), the nonprofit organization behind the PBS series POV, is launching a COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund to support the independent documentary community. This adapted fund of over $100,000 will provide rapid response grants up to $500 to assist artists with basic needs including food, immediate health needs and insurance premiums. Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the fund is expired. For more information about eligibility, criteria and the application process, visit www.amdoc.org/aefund
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International Film Organizations Call for Freedom of Iranian Director Mohammad Rasoulof
Mohammad Rasoulof Major international film industry organizations today released statements expressing concern about “the imminent incarceration” of Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof who recently won the Golden Bear at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival for his latest film, There Is No Evil.
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Bentonville Film Festival Selects 8 Festival Alumni for ‘See It, Be It Filmmaker Fellowship’
Bentonville Film Festival Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation “See It, Be It Filmmaker Fellowship” | Top left to right: Jenna Laurenzo, Dawn Valadez, Amber McGinnis, Diane Paragas, Emily Ting, Fanny Veliz, McKenzie Chinn, Ursula Taherian. All images courtesy of the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation The Bentonville Film Festival Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation announced the “See It, Be It Filmmaker Fellowship,” an annual fellowship designed to offer expansive developmental support for filmmakers from historically underrepresented communities. Eight Bentonville Film Festival Alumni have been selected for the inaugural program, which will include professional support from peers, entertainment industry leaders and major corporate changemakers, in addition to financial backing.