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  • House of Tolerance Tops French Lumière Awards Nominations

    [caption id="attachment_2116" align="alignnone"]Bertrand Bonello’s House of Tolerance[/caption]

    The nominations for the 17th Lumière Awards, aka the French Golden Globes, were announced, and Bertrand Bonello’s House of Tolerance lead the field with six nominations including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and a surprising three for Best Female Newcomer for actresses Alice Barnole, Adèle Haenel and Céline Sallette.

    House of Tolerance is described as Bertrand Bonello’s highly stylized look at the final days of a fin-de-siècle brothel in Paris.

    Michel Hazanavicius’s The Artist was right behind with five nominations including Best Film, Best Director, amd Best Screenplay. Other films with multiple nominations include Pierre Schoeller’s The Minister with four nominations and Aki Kaurismäki’s Le Havre with three nominations.

    List of nominees:

    Best Film
    House of Tolerance – Bertrand Bonello
    The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
    The Minister – Pierre Schoeller
    Le Havre – Aki Kaurismäki
    Untouchable – Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache

    Best Director
    Bertrand Bonello – House of Tolerance
    Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
    Maïwenn – Poliss
    Aki Kaurismäki – Le Havre
    Pierre Schoeller – The Minister

    Best Screenplay
    Bertrand Bonello – House of Tolerance
    Robert Guédiguian and Jean-Louis Milesi – The Snows of Kilimanjaro
    Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
    Maïwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot – Poliss
    Pierre Schoeller – The Minister

    Best Actress
    Bérénice Béjo – The Artist
    Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni – The Beloved by Christophe Honoré
    Valérie Donzelli – Declaration of War by Valérie Donzelli
    Marina Fois and Karin Viard – Poliss
    Clotilde Hesme – Angèle and Tony by Alix Delaporte

    Best Actor
    Jean Dujardin – The Artist
    Olivier Gourmet – The Minister
    Joey Starr – Poliss
    Omar Sy – Untouchable
    André Wilms – Le Havre

    Best Female Newcomer
    Alice Barnole – House of Tolerance
    Adèle Haenel – House of Tolerance
    Zoé Héran – Tomboy by Céline Sciamma
    Céline Sallette – House of Tolerance
    Anamaria Valtoromei – Little Princess [trailer] by Eva Ionesco

    Best Male Newcomer
    Grégory Gadebois – Angèle and Tony
    Guillaume Gouix – Jimmy Rivière [trailer] by Teddy Lussi-Modeste
    Raphaël Ferret – Guilty [trailer] by Vincent Garenq
    Denis Ménochet – The Adopted [trailer] by Mélanie Laurent
    Mahmoud Shalaby – Free Men [trailer] by Ismaël Ferroukhi

    Best French-Language Film (from outside France)
    Curling – Denis Côté (Canada)
    Where Do We Go Now? [trailer] – Nadine Labaki (France/Lebanon/Italy)
    Scorched – Denis Villeneuve (Canada)
    The Kid With a Bike [trailer, film focus] – Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Belgium/France/Italy)
    The Giants [trailer, film focus] – Bouli Lanners (Belgium/Luxembourg/France)

    A very special mention for the dog-actor in The Artist

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  • 97 Original Scores Eligible to Compete in 2011 Oscar® Race

    Ninety-seven scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 84th Academy Awards®.

    The eligible scores along with the composer are listed below in alphabetical order by film title:

    • “The Adjustment Bureau,” Thomas Newman, composer
    • “The Adventures of Tintin,” John Williams, composer
    • “African Cats,” Nicholas Hooper, composer
    • “Albert Nobbs,” Brian Byrne, composer
    • “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer
    • “Anonymous,” Thomas Wander and Harald Kloser, composers
    • “Another Earth,” Phil Mossman and Will Bates, composers
    • “Answers to Nothing,” Craig Richey, composer
    • “Arthur Christmas,” Harry Gregson-Williams, composer
    • “The Artist,” Ludovic Bource, composer
    • “@urFRENZ,” Lisbeth Scott, composer
    • “Atlas Shrugged Part 1,” Elia Cmiral, composer
    • “Battle: Los Angeles,” Brian Tyler, composer
    • “Beastly,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer
    • “The Big Year,” Theodore Shapiro, composer
    • “Captain America: The First Avenger,” Alan Silvestri, composer
    • “Cars 2,” Michael Giacchino, composer
    • “Cedar Rapids,” Christophe Beck, composer
    • “Conan the Barbarian,” Tyler Bates, composer
    • “The Conspirator,” Mark Isham, composer
    • “Contagion,” Cliff Martinez, composer
    • “Coriolanus,” Ilan Eshkeri, composer
    • “DAM999,” Ousepachan, composer
    • “The Darkest Hour,” Tyler Bates, composer
    • “The Debt,” Thomas Newman, composer
    • “Dolphin Tale,” Mark Isham, composer
    • “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, composers
    • “Dream House,” John Debney, composer
    • “The Eagle,” Atli Orvarsson, composer
    • “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
    • “Fast Five,” Brian Tyler, composer
    • “The First Grader,” Alex Heffes, composer
    • “The Flowers of War,” Qigang Chen, composer
    • “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers
    • “The Greatest Miracle,” Mark McKenzie, composer
    • “Green Lantern,” James Newton Howard, composer
    • “Hanna,” Tom Rowlands, composer
    • “Happy Feet Two,” John Powell, composer
    • “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
    • “The Help,” Thomas Newman, composer
    • “Hop,” Christopher Lennertz, composer
    • “Hugo,” Howard Shore, composer
    • “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” Aaron Zigman, composer
    • “The Ides of March,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
    • “Immortals,” Trevor Morris, composer
    • “In Search of God,” Rupam Sarmah, composer
    • “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” Gabriel Yared, composer
    • “In Time,” Craig Armstrong, composer
    • “Insidious,” Joseph Bishara, composer
    • “The Iron Lady,” Thomas Newman, composer
    • “J. Edgar,” Clint Eastwood, composer
    • “Jane Eyre,” Dario Marianelli, composer
    • “The Lady,” Eric Serra, composer
    • “Like Crazy,” Dustin O’Halloran, composer
    • “Margaret,” Nico Muhly, composer
    • “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” Michael Giacchino, composer
    • “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” Rolfe Kent, composer
    • “Moneyball,” Mychael Danna, composer
    • “Monte Carlo,” Michael Giacchino, composer
    • “New Year’s Eve,” John Debney, composer
    • “Norman,” Andrew Bird, composer
    • “One Day,” Rachel Portman, composer
    • “Puss in Boots,” Henry Jackman, composer
    • “Rampart,” Dickon Hinchliffe, composer
    • “Real Steel,” Danny Elfman, composer
    • “Rebirth,” Philip Glass, composer
    • “Red Riding Hood,” Alex Heffes and Brian Reitzell, composers
    • “Restless,” Danny Elfman, composer
    • “Rio,” John Powell, composer
    • “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” Patrick Doyle, composer
    • “The Rite,” Alex Heffes, composer
    • “The Rum Diary,” Christopher Young, composer
    • “Sanctum,” David Hirschfelder, composer
    • “Sarah’s Key,” Max Richter, composer
    • “Senna,” Antonio Pinto, composer
    • “Shame,” Harry Escott, composer
    • “The Skin I Live In,” Alberto Iglesias, composer
    • “The Smurfs,” Heitor Pereira, composer
    • “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” Rachel Portman, composer
    • “Super 8,” Michael Giacchino, composer
    • “Take Shelter,” David Wingo, composer
    • “The Thing,” Marco Beltrami, composer
    • “Thor,” Patrick Doyle, composer
    • “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” Alberto Iglesias, composer
    • “Tower Heist,” Christophe Beck, composer
    • “W.E.,” Abel Korzeniowski, composer
    • “War Horse,” John Williams, composer
    • “Warrior,” Mark Isham, composer
    • “Water for Elephants,” James Newton Howard, composer
    • “The Way,” Tyler Bates, composer
    • “We Bought a Zoo,” Jon Thor Birgisson, composer
    • “We Need to Talk about Kevin,” Jonny Greenwood, composer
    • “Win Win,” Lyle Workman, composer
    • “Winnie the Pooh,” Henry Jackman, composer
    • “X-Men: First Class,” Henry Jackman, composer
    • “Young Adult,” Rolfe Kent, composer
    • “Your Highness,” Steve Jablonsky, composer

    A Reminder List of works submitted in the Original Score category shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all members of the Music Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award.

    To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of tracked themes or other preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.

    The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, and the Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

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  • Black Film Critics Circle Picks 2011 Films, Dee Rees Best Director for PARIAH

    [caption id="attachment_2100" align="alignnone"]Best Actor – Olivier Litondo for THE FIRST GRADER[/caption]

    The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) voted “THE HELP” Best Film of 2011, Dee Rees Best Director for “PARIAH”, Viola Davis Best Actress for “THE HELP” and Olivier Litondo Best Actor for “THE FIRST GRADER”.

    The complete list of award winners include:

    Best Picture – THE HELP
    Best Director – Dee Rees for PARIAH
    Best Actor – Olivier Litondo for THE FIRST GRADER
    Best Actress – Viola Davis for THE HELP
    Best Supporting Actor – Albert Brooks for DRIVE
    Best Supporting Actress – Octavia Spencer for THE HELP
    Best Independent Film – PARIAH
    Best Original Screenplay – Dee Rees for PARIAH
    Best Adapted Screenplay – Tate Taylor for THE HELP
    Best Documentary – BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer’s Journey
    Best Foreign Film – LIFE, ABOVE ALL
    Best Animated Film – RANGO
    Best Ensemble – THE HELP

    BFCC Signature Awards include:

    PIONEER – HARRY BELAFONTE
    A renaissance artist who brought his unique talent to all areas of entertainment in a career that has spanned nearly 60 years, Belafonte is a multi-Grammy© winning artist, an Emmy© Award winner with the distinct designation as the first African American television producer, a Tony© Award winner, motion picture film actor and producer, Civil Rights Activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. From his music, films, and humanitarian work, Harry Belafonte has continued to embody the very essence of the word Pioneer.

    RISING STAR – ADEPERO ODUYE
    Adepero’s performance in PARIAH is a moving, powerful unforgettable portrayal of a young woman of color coming to terms with herself, her sexuality, and her family. We believe she is truly a Talent to Watch.

    SPECIAL MENTION – ATTACK THE BLOCK:
    Attack is a genre film that defies a number of conventions, not only by having a primarily black cast but portraying each character with a dignity seldom seen on screen and even more rarely in a Science-Fiction film.

    BFCC’S TOP TEN FILMS OF 2011

    1. The Help
    2. The Artist
    3. Pariah
    4. Drive
    5. The Descendants
    6. Attack the Block
    7. Tree of Life
    8. Hugo
    9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
    10. Warrior

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  • Trailer for Documentary on Fashion Designer Halston

    [caption id="attachment_2096" align="alignnone"]Halston with models from Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston distributed by Tribeca Film. Photo Credit: Roxanne Lowit. [/caption]

    The trailer for the upcoming Tribeca Film release ULTRASUEDE: IN SEARCH OF HALSTON, featuring interviews with an all-star cast including Liza Minnelli, Diane Von Furstenberg, André Leon Talley, Anjelica Huston, Bob Colacello, and Billy Joel, among others has been released.

    ULTRASUEDE: IN SEARCH OF HALSTON releases December 26, 2011 nationally On Demand via cable VOD, iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly and Vudu. It will open theatrically beginning in LA and NY in February 2012.

    No one represented the glamour, style, and excess of the 70’s quite like Halston and, in the documentary, ULTRASUEDE: IN SEARCH OF HALSTON, filmmaker Whitney Sudler-Smith takes us on a fabulous fun-and-fact filled journey through the legendary designer’s life and times. Using a cheekily playful interview style that befits an era in which frivolity was serious business, Sudler-Smith romps through the past Zelig-like, looking like a member of the inner circle, while chatting with a stellar cast of Halston’s close friends, colleagues, and assorted cultural commentators about this iconic figure.

    Halston was America’s first celebrity designer, and his circle of clients included the most talked- about women of the world, including Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, Betty Ford and Lauren Bacall. At the height of his fame in the ‘70s he truly was the emperor, not only of fashion, but of style, putting his name and distinctive aesthetic on everything from sunglasses and shoes to a phenomenally successful line of fragrances. Halston was also emperor of another world–New York City nightlife–and the storied Studio 54 was where he held court. Every night was a party, full of dancing, drinking, and drug taking, but by day he transformed the way American women looked and lived.

    At his pinnacle, Halston sold his business for a fortune, but wealth couldn’t protect him from the loss of control he experienced both professionally and personally. Unable to use the very name he had turned into a global brand, he dropped out of sight, and his death from AIDS a few years later was final evidence that the era he came todefine had ended.

    Starring: Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, André Leon Talley, Bob Colacello, Pat Cleveland, Billy Joel, Ralph Rucci, Naeem Khan, Amy Fine Collins, Cathy Horyn, Harold Koda, Patrick McMullan, Christopher Makos, Stephen Burrows, among others.

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  • A Separation, We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Artist Among London Critics’ Circle 2011 Nominees

    [caption id="attachment_1389" align="alignnone" width="552"]WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN[/caption]

    The London Critics’ Circle announced the nominations today for its 32nd annual Film Awards and the nominations were lead by TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and DRIVE, which both receive 6 nominations each

    Asghar Farhadi’s Golden Bear (Berlin) winner A SEPARATION and Lynne Ramsay’s WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN have received 5 nominations each whilst Michel Hazanavicius’ THE ARTIST and Steve McQueen’s SHAME have received 4 apiece.

    The London Critics’ Circle Film Awards in partnership with Virgin Atlantic will reveal its full list of annual award winners at the glittering ceremony on Thursday 19 January at BFI Southbank.

    Voted for by over 120 UK film critics, broadcasters and writers, the 32nd London Critics’ Circle Film Awards nominations are as follows:

    FILM OF THE YEAR

    The Artist (Entertainment)

    Drive (Icon)

    A Separation (Artificial Eye)

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

    The Tree of Life (Fox)

     

    The Attenborough Award:

    BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR

    The Guard (StudioCanal)

    Kill List (StudioCanal)

    Shame (Momentum)

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

    We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

     

    FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR

    Mysteries of Lisbon (New Wave)

    Poetry (Arrow)

    Le Quattro Volte (New Wave)

    A Separation (Artificial Eye)

    The Skin I Live In (Fox/Pathé)

     

    DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR

    Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Picturehouse)

    Dreams of a Life (Dogwoof)

    Pina (Artificial Eye)

    Project Nim (Icon)

    Senna (Universal)

     

    DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

    Asghar Farhadi – A Separation (Artificial Eye)

    Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (Entertainment)

    Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life (Fox)

    Lynne Ramsay – We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

    Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive (Icon)

     

    SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

    Asghar Farhadi – A Separation (Artificial Eye)

    Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (Entertainment)

    Kenneth Lonergan – Margaret (Fox)

    Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

    Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash – The Descendants (Fox)

     

    The Virgin Atlantic Award:

    BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER

    Richard Ayoade – Submarine (StudioCanal)

    Paddy Considine – Tyrannosaur (StudioCanal)

    Joe Cornish – Attack the Block (StudioCanal)

    Andrew Haigh – Weekend (Peccadillo)

    John Michael McDonagh – The Guard (StudioCanal)

     

    ACTOR OF THE YEAR

    George Clooney – The Descendants (Fox)

    Jean Dujardin – The Artist (Entertainment)

    Michael Fassbender – Shame (Momentum)

    Ryan Gosling – Drive (Icon)

    Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

     

    ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

    Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia (Artificial Eye)

    Anna Paquin – Margaret (Fox)

    Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady (Fox/Pathé)

    Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

    Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn (Entertainment)

     

    SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR

    Simon Russell Beale – The Deep Blue Sea (Artificial Eye)

    Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn (Entertainment)

    Albert Brooks – Drive (Icon)

    Christopher Plummer – Beginners (Universal)

    Michael Smiley – Kill List (StudioCanal)

     

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

    Sareh Bayat – A Separation (Artificial Eye)

    Jessica Chastain – The Help (Disney)

    Vanessa Redgrave – Coriolanus (Lionsgate)

    Octavia Spencer – The Help (Disney)

    Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom (StudioCanal)

     

    BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR

    Tom Cullen – Weekend (Peccadillo)

    Michael Fassbender – A Dangerous Method (Lionsgate), Shame (Momentum)

    Brendan Gleeson – The Guard (StudioCanal)

    Peter Mullan – Tyrannosaur (StudioCanal), War Horse (Disney)

    Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

     

    The Moët & Chandon Award:

    BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

    Olivia Colman – The Iron Lady (Fox/Pathé), Tyrannosaur (StudioCanal)

    Carey Mulligan – Drive (Icon), Shame (Momentum)

    Vanessa Redgrave – Anonymous (Sony), Coriolanus (Lionsgate)

    Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

    Rachel Weisz – The Deep Blue Sea (Artificial Eye)

     

    YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

    John Boyega – Attack the Block (StudioCanal)

    Jeremy Irvine – War Horse (Disney)

    Yasmin Paige – Submarine (StudioCanal)

    Craig Roberts – Submarine (StudioCanal)

    Saoirse Ronan – Hanna (Universal)

     

    The Sky 3D Award:

    TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

    Manuel Alberto Claro, cinematography – Melancholia (Artificial Eye)

    Paul Davies, sound design – We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

    Maria Djurkovic, production design – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

    Dante Ferretti, production design – Hugo (Entertainment)

    Alberto Iglesias, original score – The Skin I Live In (Fox/Pathé)

    Chris King & Gregers Sall, editing – Senna (Universal)

    Joe Letteri, visual effects – Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Fox)

    Cliff Martinez, original score – Drive (Icon)

    Robert Richardson, cinematography – Hugo (Entertainment)

    Robbie Ryan, cinematography – Wuthering Heights (Artificial Eye)

     

    The Dilys Powell Award:

    EXCELLENCE IN FILM

    Nicolas Roeg

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  • 39 Original Songs Eligible to compete for Oscar for Original Song

    [caption id="attachment_2092" align="alignnone" width="550"]POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold[/caption]

    Thirty-nine songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

    The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film and song title:

    “The World I Knew” from “African Cats”
    “Lay Your Head Down” from “Albert Nobbs”
    “Star Spangled Man” from “Captain America: The First Avenger”
    “Collision of Worlds” from “Cars 2”
    “Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu” from “DAM999”
    “DAM999 Theme Song” from “DAM999”
    “Mujhe Chod Ke” from “DAM999”
    “Rainbird” from “Dirty Girl”
    “Keep On Walking” from “The First Grader”
    “Where the River Goes” from “Footloose”
    “Hello Hello” from “Gnomeo & Juliet”
    “Love Builds a Garden” from “Gnomeo & Juliet”
    “Bridge of Light” from “Happy Feet Two”
    “The Mighty Sven” from “Happy Feet Two”
    “Never Be Daunted” from “happythankyoumoreplease”
    “Hell and Back” from “Hell and Back Again”
    “The Living Proof” from “The Help”
    “Coeur Volant” from “Hugo”
    “It’s How We Play” from “I Don’t Know How She Does It”
    “When the Heart Dies” from “In the Land of Blood and Honey”
    “Ja Nao Estar” from “José and Pilar”
    “The Keeper” from “Machine Gun Preacher”
    “Life’s a Happy Song” from “The Muppets”
    “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets”
    “Pictures in My Head” from “The Muppets”
    “Summer Song” from “The Music Never Stopped”
    “Imaginary Friends” from “Olive”
    “Sparkling Day” from “One Day”
    “Taking You with Me” from “Our Idiot Brother”
    “The Greatest Song I Ever Heard” from “POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold”
    “Hot Wings” from “Rio”
    “Let Me Take You to Rio” from “Rio”
    “Real in Rio” from “Rio”
    “Shelter” from “Take Shelter”
    “Gathering Stories” from “We Bought a Zoo”
    “Pop” from “White Irish Drinkers”
    “Think You Can Wait” from “Win Win”
    “The Backson Song” from “Winnie the Pooh”
    “So Long” from “Winnie the Pooh”

    On Thursday, January 5, the Academy will screen clips featuring each song, in random order, for voting members of the Music Branch in Los Angeles.  Following the screenings, members will determine the nominees by an averaged point system of voting.  If no song receives an average score of 8.25 or more, there will be no nominees in the category.  If only one song achieves that score, it and the song receiving the next highest score shall be the two nominees.

    If two or more songs (up to five) achieve that score, they shall be the nominees.  A DVD copy of the song clips will be made available to those branch members who are unable to attend the screening and who request it for home viewing.  A mail-in ballot will be provided.

    Under Academy rules, a maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film.  If more than two songs from a film achieve a score of 8.25 or more, the two songs with the highest scores will be the nominees.

    To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film.  A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

    The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, and the Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

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  • Le Havre Awarded France’s Louis Delluc Prize

    [caption id="attachment_2090" align="alignnone" width="550"]Le Havre[/caption]

    Aki Kaurismaki’s Le Havre, starring Andre Wilms, Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Kati Outinen was awarded one of France’s top film honors, the winner of the 69th annual Louis Delluc Prize. Le Havre, Finland’s submission to the Academy for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Film, beat out a strong field of contenders that included The Artist, House of Tolerance, Hors Satan, Declaration of War, The Snows of Kilimandjaro, Tomboy and The Minister.

    In this warmhearted portrait of the French harbor city that gives the film its name, fate throws young African refugee Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) into the path of Marcel Marx (Andre Wilms), a well-spoken bohemian who works as a shoeshiner. With innate optimism and the unwavering support of his community, Marcel stands up to officials doggedly pursuing the boy for deportation. A political fairy tale that mixes the classic cinema of Jean-Pierre Melville and Marcel Carne with wry Kaurismaekian comedy, Le Havre is a charming, deadpan delight.

    Djinn Carrenard’s Donoma was awarded the the Louis Delluc prize for Best First Film. The film was reportedly made for only $200.

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  • 265 Feature Films Eligible to Compete for 2011 Best Picture Oscar

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that two hundred sixty-five feature films are eligible for the 2011 Academy Awards®.

    To be eligible for 84th Academy Awards® consideration, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, December 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days.

    Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.

    Feature films that receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release are not eligible for Academy Awards in any category.

    The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, and the Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

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  • The Descendants Named Best Film of the Year at 2011 Satellite Awards

    [caption id="attachment_559" align="alignnone"]Best Foreign Film – Mysteries of Lisbon[/caption]

    Alexander Payne’s The Descendants was named the Best Film of the year by the International Press Academy at the organization’s 2011 Satellite Awards.

    In a sharp twist from most of the other awards of the seasons, the Satellite award for Best Foreign Film was given to Mysteries of Lisbon and Best Documentary to Senna.

    The International Press Academy is a group of entertainment journalists formed by a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association 15 years ago.

    MOTION PICTURES

    Motion Picture: “The Descendants”

    Actress in a Motion Picture: Viola Davis, “The Help”

    Actor in a Motion Picture: Ryan Gosling, “Drive”

    Actress in a Supporting Role: Jessica Chastain, “The Tree of Life”

    Actor in a Supporting Role: Albert Brooks, “Drive”

    Director: Nicolas Winding Refn, “Drive”

    Screenplay, Original: “The Tree of Life,” Terrence Malick

    Screenplay, Adapted: “The Descendants,” Alexander Payne, Jim Rash, Nax Faxon

    Foreign Film: “Mysteries of Lisbon”

    Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media: “The Adventures of Tintin”

    Motion Picture, Documentary: “Senna”

    Original Score: “Soul Surfer,” Marco Beltrani

    Original Song: “Lay Down Your Head” from “Albert Nobbs,” Brian Byrne and Glenn Close

    Cinematography: “War Horse,” Janusz Kaminski

    Visual Effects: “Hugo,” Robert Legato

    Film Editing: “The Guard,” Chris Gill

    Sound (Editing and Mixing): “Drive,” Dave Patterson, Lon Bender, Robert Fernandez, Victor Ray Ennis

    Art Direction & Production Design: “The Artist,” Gregory S. Hooper, Laurence Bennett

    Costume Design: “Water for Elephants,” Jacqueline West


    TELEVISION

    Television Series, Drama: “Justified”

    Television Series, Comedy or Musical: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”

    Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:

    Television Series, Genre:

    Actress in a Series, Drama:

    Actor in a Series, Drama:

    Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical:

    Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical:

    Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television:

    Actor in a Miniseries of a Motion Picture Made for Television:

    Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:

    Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:

    SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

    Best First Feature: Paddy Considine, “Tyrannosaur”

    Best Ensemble: “The Help”

    Outstanding Performance in a TV Series: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story”

    Mary Pickford Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Entertainment Industry: Mitzi Gaynor

    Nikola Tesla Award in Recognition of Visionary Achivement in Filmmaking Technology: Douglas Trumbull

    Auteur Award: Peter Bogdanovich

    Humanitarian Award: Tim Hetherington (1970-2011)

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  • Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Tree of Life Win With Chicago Film Critics

    [caption id="attachment_1595" align="alignnone"]The Interrupters won Best Documentary[/caption]

    The Chicago Film Critics Association voted “The Tree of Life” the Best Picture of 2011, director Terrence Malick received the prize of Best Director and one of the film’s stars,  Jessica Chastain was awarded the win for Best Supporting Actress.

    “Martha Marcy May Marlene” was also a top winner with wins for Elizabeth Olsen – Promising Performer and director Sean Durkin – Promising Filmmaker.

    Michael Shannon was awarded Best Actor for “Take Shelter” and Michelle Williams won Best Actress for her performance in “My Week With Marilyn.”

    The Chicago-based documentary “The Interrupters” won for best documentary, and “A Separation” won Best Foreign Language Film.

    The complete list of 2011 winners:

    PICTURE: The Tree of Life
    DIRECTOR: Terrence Malick (-) The Tree of Life
    ACTOR: Michael Shannon (-) Take Shelter
    ACTRESS: Michelle Williams (-) My Week With Marilyn
    SUPPORTING ACTOR: Albert Brooks (-) Drive
    SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jessica Chastain (-) The Tree of Life
    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The Artist (-) Michel Hazanavicius
    ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Moneyball (-) Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin
    CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Tree of Life (-) Emmanuel Lubezki
    ORIGINAL SCORE: Drive (-) Cliff Martinez
    ANIMATED FEATURE: Rango
    DOCUMENTARY: The Interrupters
    FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: A Separation
    PROMISING PERFORMER: Elizabeth Olsen (-) Martha Marcy May Marlene
    PROMISING FILMMAKER: Sean Durkin (-) Martha Marcy May Marlene

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  • The Descendants is Big Winner With Florida Film Critics Circle

    [caption id="attachment_2070" align="alignnone" width="550"]Elizabeth Olsen as Martha in Martha Marcy May Marlene won the Pauline Kael Breakout Award.[/caption]

    The film “The Descendants” was crowned the big winner of 2011 by the Florida Film Critics Circle’s (FFCC) , taking the wins for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Shailene Woodley) and Adapted Screenplay (Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash).

    Michael Hazanavicius won Best Original Screenplay for his critically acclaimed silent film “The Artist,” which finished a close second behind “The Descendants” for Best Picture.

    In other awards, Michael Fassbender won Best Actor for his portrayal of a sex addict in “Shame,” Michelle Williams won Best Actress for her turn as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn,” and Albert Brooks won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a Mafioso in “Drive.”

    “The Skin I Live In” won for Best Foreign Language Film, and “Project Nim” won for Best Documentary.

    “Martha Marcy May Marlene” star Elizabeth Olsen won the Pauline Kael Breakout Award.

    Founded in 1996, the Florida Film Critics Circle is comprised of 20 writers from state publications.

    Complete list of winners:
    Picture: The Descendants
    Actor: Michael Fassbender, Shame
    Actress: Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
    Supp. Actor: Albert Brooks, Drive
    Supp. Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
    Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
    Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
    Original Screenplay: Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist
    Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
    Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
    Art Direction/Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Hugo
    Foreign Language: The Skin I Live In
    Animated: The Adventures of Tintin
    Documentary: Project Nim
    Breakout: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Golden Orange: No Award

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  • Spirit Awards returns to its traditional Saturday afternoon

    [caption id="attachment_2068" align="alignnone" width="550"]Andie Macdowell at Film Independent Spirit Awards[/caption]

    The 27th Film Independent Spirit Awards returns to its traditional Saturday afternoon on February 25, 2012, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, to air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC. The 2012 Spirit Award nominees will be announced on Tuesday, November 29.

    Last year’s host was comedian and actor Joel McHale, with major winners including Fox Searchlight’s Black Swan, which won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Female Lead, and Best Cinematography; Roadside Attractions’ Winter’s Bone, which won Best Supporting Female and Best Supporting Male; Focus Features’ The Kids Are All Right, which won Best Screenplay; Fox Searchlight’s 127 Hours, which won Best Male Lead; Weinstein Company’s The King’s Speech, which won Best Foreign Film; Sony Pictures Classic’s Get Low, which won Best First Feature; IFC Films’ Tiny Furniture, which won Best First Screenplay; Producers Distribution Agency’s Exit Through the Gift Shop, which won Best Documentary; and IFC Films’ Daddy Longlegs, which won the John Cassavetes Award.

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