
Nominations were announced last night in the United Kingdom for the 2011 Cinema Eye Honors, recognizing excellence in artistic achievements in nonfiction filmmaking.
All the News.
All the News.

Nominations were announced last night in the United Kingdom for the 2011 Cinema Eye Honors, recognizing excellence in artistic achievements in nonfiction filmmaking.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday as part of a reorganization plan that would help it shed more than $4 billion in debt and hand control over to a group of hedge fund creditors.

“Box Elder,” a movie about “dudes being dudes” and highlighting Columbia college is headed to video-on-demand, which is an excellent thing for an independent film. Starting Monday, the film will be available for at least 90 days on cable and satellite Video On Demand throughout the U.S. and Canada. The number of people who view the film during its 90-day trial will determine how long it will remain available on cable and satellite Video On Demand.

This probably won’t help the majority of true independent films, but The Weinstein Company announced on Monday that they are partnering with Icon UK Group to launch a new film finance and production fund to buy or produce films with budgets between $5 million and $20 million.

The nominations and jury members for the thirteenth annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today, Monday 1st November at St Martins Lane, London by Jared Harris.

George Hickenlooper, director of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, Dogtown, Mayor of Sunset Strip and Factory Girl, died suddenly in Denver on Saturday at the age of 47. Hickenlooper was in Denver to promote his latest film, Casino Jack, at the Starz Denver Film Festival. The 33rd Starz Denver Film Festival will be devoted to director George Hickenlooper, the Denver Film Society announced Saturday night.

Screenwriter Will Rokos, who earned an Academy Award nomination for “Monster’s Ball” was in critical but stable condition after he was clipped in the head by a train while leaning over a subway platform in New York City. The NY Post reports, that cops said Rokos was waiting for a train Saturday afternoon when he leaned over to peer down the tunnel.

The San Francisco Film Society, in partnership with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, announced the winner and honorable mention of the 2011 Djerassi Residency Award/San Francisco Film Society Screenwriting Fellowship given annually to encourage the career of an emerging or established screenwriter. The fellowship is part of the Film Society’s suite of filmmaker services designed to foster creativity and further the careers of independent filmmakers. Adam Chanzit was selected for his project The 15th Stone. Christy Chan was awarded an Honorable Mention for her screenplay, This Must Be the Place.

Kim Basinger will narrate a Smithsonian Channel documentary on the rare blue Hope Diamond, thought to be the world’s most valuable gem.

Kanye finally premiered his short film “Runaway”. The 35 minute film, written by Hype Williams and directed by Kanye, showcases nine songs from Kanye’s upcoming album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Matt Damon has been confirmed as being involved in a Lance Armstrong documentary due for release next year, with the American actor set to narrate the Alex Gibney-made film. The project, which is mainly based around Armstrong’s 2009 comeback to the Tour de France, will presumably be launched before the 2011 Tour in order to capitalise on media attention.

Kanye West announced via twitter that his his 35 min film “Runaway” will premiere this coming Saturday, October 23rd, at 8PM on MTV, MTV2, MTV.com, BET, BET.com & VH1.