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  • 17 Year Old Harry Comes to Terms With His Sexuality in HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY | TRAILER

    HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, the new film from writer/director Stephen Cone (The Wise Kids), focuses on a young boy coming to terms with his sexuality during his emotionally charged birthday party. Marking his feature film debut, Cole Doman plays Henry; Henry is turning 17, and Henry might be gay. But he’s not telling his pastor father (Pat Healy, Cheap Thrills, Compliance)—not during his pool party, where school and church collide in a sunny, hormonal afternoon. The film will open in New York at the IFP’s Made in NY Media Center on January 8th, before expanding to additional markets and VOD platforms. HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY spans the 24 hours containing the birthday pool party of 17-year-old preacher’s kid Henry Gamble (Cole Doman). The night before the party, Henry and his friend Gabe (Joe Keery), have a sleepover. Typical teenage boy chat quickly turns sexual, and it’s silently implied that Henry, on a search for identity, has a crush on Gabe. As dawn arrives on the day of the party, Henry’s mom Kat (Elizabeth Laidlaw) wakes in a state of limbo, middle-aged, with a secret. A little while later, Pastor Bob (Pat Healy) is making breakfast, and they are joined by Henry’s 19-year-old sister Autumn (Nina Ganet), home from college for the party. Later that afternoon, guests begin to arrive – the assistant pastor, youth minister, husbands and wives; sons and daughters trapped between youth and adulthood, as well as Henry’s own teenaged church and “secular” friends, including the closeted young Logan (Daniel Kyri), who has eyes for Henry. As day turns to night and clothes come off, Henry & Co. carefully navigate the religious strictures and sexual secrets held within the community, all struggling to tread the public and private, and their longing, despite themselves and their faith, for earthly love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lptlZe5EYDU

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  • ‘Youth’ ‘Mustang’ ‘Amy’ ‘The Lobster’ ‘Marshland’ Win European Film Awards

    Youth, Paolo Sorrentino ‘Youth’ (‘La Giovinezza’) directed and written by Academy Award-winner Paul Sorrentino, and starring Michal Kane, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano and Jane Fonda, won the top award, Best European Film of 2015, at the 28th European Film Awards. ‘Youth’ also won the awards for European Director for Paolo Sorrentino; and European Actor for Michael Caine. ‘Youth’ is the story of a retired orchestra conductor, on holiday in the Alps with his daughter and film director/best friend, who unexpectedly receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip’s birthday. Complete list of winners of 28th European Film Awards EUROPEAN FILM 2015 YOUTH (LA GIOVINEZZA) WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Paolo Sorrentino PRODUCED BY: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima & Carlotta Calori https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T7CM4di_0c EUROPEAN COMEDY 2015 A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE (EN DUVA SATT PÅ EN GREN OCH FUNDERADE PÅ TILLVARON) by Roy Andersson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pna4laaAk EUROPEAN DISCOVERY 2015 – Prix FIPRESCI MUSTANG by Deniz Gamze Ergüven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9JAN8LtIk EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY 2015 AMY by Asif Kapadia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yCIwmNuLE EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM 2015 SONG OF THE SEA by Tomm Moore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7erpJFZhvTU EUROPEAN SHORT FILM 2015 PICNIC (PIKNIK) by Jure Pavlović EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2015 Paolo Sorrentino for YOUTH (La Giovinezza) EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2015 Charlotte Rampling in 45 YEARS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5cpiX18TA EUROPEAN ACTOR 2015 Michael Caine in YOUTH (La Giovinezza) EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2015 Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthimis Filippou for THE LOBSTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z069ldsumxA EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER 2015 – Prix CARLO DI PALMA Martin Gschlacht for GOODNIGHT MOMMY (Ich Seh Ich Seh) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kXpUaQpXMA EUROPEAN EDITOR 2015 Jacek Drosio for BODY (Ciało) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-3VAxWwnk EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER 2015 Sylvie Olivé for THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT (Le Tout nouveau testament) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5QNKcwe_lM EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER 2015 Sarah Blenkinsop for THE LOBSTER EUROPEAN COMPOSER 2015 Cat’s Eyes for THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xIMBnclyA EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER 2015 Vasco Pimentel & Miguel Martins for ARABIAN NIGHTS – VOL. I-III (As Mil e uma noites – Vol. I-III) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yONovEHyvXo EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Charlotte Rampling EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA Christoph Waltz HONORARY AWARD Sir Michael Caine EUROPEAN CO-PRODUCTION AWARD 2015 – Prix EURIMAGES Andrea Occhipinti PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD 2015 for Best European Film MARSHLAND (LA ISLA MÍNIMA) by Alberto Rodríguez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fpk3Lnc638

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  • Alicia Vikander ‘The Danish Girl’ To Receive Rising Star Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

    Alicia Vikander 'The Danish Girl' The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present Alicia Vikander with the Rising Star Award at its annual Awards Gala. The Festival runs January 1-11. “In The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander delivers a superb performance as Gerda Wegener, the wife of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe,” said Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “She projects so much love and pain as she goes on a journey with Lili during an era when there was no precedent for it. Gerda’s own transformation as a character speaks to the story’s themes of courage and self-acceptance. For her astonishing screen presence and masterful performance, we are delighted to present Alicia Vikander with the 2016 Rising Star Award.” The Danish Girl is the remarkable love story inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, portrayed in the film respectively by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper. The film also stars Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard, and Matthias Schoenaerts. For her role in the film, Vikander received a Breakthrough Performance honor from the New York Film Critics Online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3qEphMRGIc Past recipients of the Rising Star Award include Jessica Biel, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Bryce Dallas Howard, Terrence Howard, Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lawrence, and Scarlett Johansson. In the years they were honored Howard, Kendrick, and Lawrence went on to receive Academy Award nominations.

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  • 13 Filmmakers Win 2015 Rooftop Filmmakers Fund Grant

    Actress Royalty Hightower in Anna Rose Holmer’s The Fits Rooftop Films has awarded thirteen cash and service grants to alumni filmmakers, including The Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Garbo NYC Feature Film Grants, which were awarded to directors Kitty Green and Sebastian Silva. Green will receive a monetary grant of $15,000 to help finish her new film, Casting JonBenet, and Silva will receive a $10,000 grant to support his film, Demon Me. “Kitty Green’s film Casting JonBenet represents the type of daring and meaningful cinema that Rooftop Films wants to support,” said Rooftop’s Founder and Artistic Director Mark Elijah Rosenberg. Green’s film is a sly and stylized documentary about the infamous murder of child model JonBenet Ramsey, using casting tapes and recreations by people from the community to create an emotional investigation of the case and its ramifications. “Like all our filmmakers, Green is working outside the mainstream, approaching a complex situation with narrative nuance and filmic innovation. We’re confident that all the films we’re supporting, from serious documentaries to outlandish fairy tales, are going to have a substantial impact.” Kitty Green’s previous films include Ukraine is Not a Brothel, which won the 2015 AACTA Award for Best Feature Length Documentary, and “The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul,” which won the Jury Award for best non-fiction short documentary at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Sebastian Silva’s work includes The Maid, Nasty Baby, and Crystal Fairy, all of which have won numerous awards around the world. COMPLETE LIST OF 2015 ROOFTOP FILMMAKERS FUND GRANTS Rooftop Films / GarboNYC $15,000 Feature Film Grant: Kitty Green, Casting JonBenet Rooftop Films / GarboNYC $10,000 Feature Film Grant: Sebastian Silva, Demon Me Rooftop Films / Brigade Festival Publicity Grant: Anna Rose Holmer, The Fits (pictured above) Rooftop Films / Technological Cinevideo Services Camera Grant: Khalik Allah, Jamaica Rooftop Films / Eastern Effects Equipment Grant: Lauren Wolkstein & Chris Radcliff, The Strange Ones Rooftop Films / Edgeworx Post-Production Grant: Anja Marquardt, Wolf Rooftop Films / DCTV Color Correction Feature Film Grant: Sarah J. Christman, Swarm Season Rooftop Films / DCTV Equipment and Services Short Film Grant: Ryan Mauskopf, Sloof’s Supershop Rooftop Films / DCTV Equipment and Services Short Film Grant: Nathan Kensinger, Managed Retreat Rooftop Films / Adrienne Shelly Foundation Short Film Grant For Women: Jennifer Reeder, All Small Bodies In addition to the above grants, Rooftop Films helped negotiate post-production services at Metropolis Films for alumni filmmaker Robert Greene. Robert Greene, Kate Plays Christine Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Short Film Grant: Christopher K. Walker & Michael Beach Nichols, Beast of Man Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Market Place Nathan Kensinger, Managed Retreat This year’s grantees join the ranks of past Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grantees, an illustrious group that includes Ana Lily Amirpour’s soon to be completed The Bad Batch, Gillian Robespierre with her indie hit Obvious Child, Jonas Carpignano’s recent Gotham award-winner Mediterranea, Lucy Walker with her Academy Award-nominated short documentary “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom,” Jeremy Saulnier’s FIPRESCI Critics’ award-winner, Blue Ruin, Keith Miller’s critically acclaimed and Tribeca Film Festival award-winning Five Star, and Benh Zeitlin’s Academy Award-nominated Beasts of the Southern Wild.

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  • Complete List of 74 Original Songs Eligible for 2015 Oscar

    diary-of-a-teenage-girl The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 74 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 88th Academy Awards®. The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title: “Happy” from “Altered Minds” “Home” from “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” “None Of Them Are You” from “Anomalisa” “Stem To The Rose” from “Becoming Bulletproof” “The Mystery Of Your Gift” from “Boychoir” “I Run” from “Chi-Raq” “Pray 4 My City” from “Chi-Raq” “Sit Down For This” from “Chi-Raq” “Strong” from “Cinderella” “So Long” from “Concussion” “Fighting Stronger” from “Creed” “Grip” from “Creed” “Waiting For My Moment” from “Creed” “Don’t Look Down” from “Danny Collins” “Hey Baby Doll” from “Danny Collins” “Dreamsong” from “The Diary of a Teenage Girl” (pictured above) “It’s My Turn Now” from “Dope” “Ya Rahem, Maula Maula” from “Dukhtar” “Earned It” from “Fifty Shades of Grey” “Love Me Like You Do” from “Fifty Shades of Grey” “Salted Wound” from “Fifty Shades of Grey” “Hands Of Love” from “Freeheld” “See You Again” from “Furious Seven” “Brother” from “Godspeed: The Story of Page Jones” “As Real As You And Me” from “Home” “Dancing In The Dark” from “Home” “Feel The Light” from “Home” “Red Balloon” from “Home” “Two Of A Crime” from “Hot Pursuit” “Til It Happens To You” from “The Hunting Ground” “I’ll See You In My Dreams” from “I’ll See You in My Dreams” “The Movie About Us” from “Ingrid Bergman – In Her Own Words” “Bhoomiyilenghanumundo” from “Jalam” “Koodu Vaykkan” from “Jalam” “Pakalppaathi Chaari” from “Jalam” “Yaathra Manoradhamerum” from “Jalam” “Lost In Love” from “Jenny’s Wedding” “True Love Avenue” from “Jenny’s Wedding” “Hypnosis” from “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet” “Juntos (Together)” from “McFarland, USA” “The Light That Never Fails” from “Meru” “The Crazy Ones” from “Miss You Already” “There’s A Place” from “Miss You Already” “Johanna” from “Mortdecai” “Little Soldier” from “Pan” “Something’s Not Right” from “Pan” “Paranoid Girl” from “Paranoid Girls” “Better When I’m Dancin'” from “The Peanuts Movie” “Pink & Blue” from “Pink & Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer” “Flashlight” from “Pitch Perfect 2” “Birds Of A Feather” from “Poached” “Still Breathing” from “Point Break” “Manta Ray” from “Racing Extinction” “Cold One” from “Ricki and the Flash” “Torch” from “Rock the Kasbah” “Someone Like You” from “The Rumperbutts” “Aankhon Me Samaye Dil” from “Salt Bridge” “Bachpana Thaa” from “Salt Bridge” “Kanpne Lage Tum” from “Salt Bridge” “Kyaa Bataaun Tujhe” from “Salt Bridge” “Le Jaaye Jo Door Tumse” from “Salt Bridge” “Na Jaane Kitni Door” from “Salt Bridge” “Sookha Hi Rang Daalo” from “Salt Bridge” “Feels Like Summer” from “Shaun the Sheep Movie” “Phenomenal” from “Southpaw” “Writing’s On The Wall” from “Spectre” “Squeeze Me” from “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water” “Teamwork” from “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water” “Who Can You Trust” from “Spy” “Came To Win” from “Sweet Micky for President” “Mean Ol’ Moon” from “Ted 2” “Love Was My Alibi” from “The Water Diviner” “Fine On The Outside” from “When Marnie Was There” “Simple Song #3” from “Youth” During the nominations process, all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a Reminder List of works submitted in the category and a DVD copy of the song clips. Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements in the category. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award. A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film. 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 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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  • ‘Carol’ Leads Nominations for 73rd Golden Globe Awards

    Carol directed by Todd Haynes ‘Carol’ led the nominations for the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, with five nominations – best motion picture, drama; best performance by an actress, drama for both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; best director, Todd Haynes; and best original score, Carter Burwell. Film festival hits The Danish Girl, Room and Spotlight were right behind with 3 nominations each. In the foreign film category Europe took the lead with nominations for France (Mustang), Hungary (Son of Saul), Finland/Germany/Estonia (The Fencer) and Belgium/France/Luxembourg (The Brand New Testament). Latin America rounded up the nominations with Chile’s The Club. The Golden Globes will be presented on January 10 and broadcast live by NBC. The complete list of nominations for 73rd Golden Globe Awards. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA CAROL Number 9 Films; The Weinstein Company MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures / Kennedy Miller Mitchell; Warner Bros. Pictures THE REVENANT Regency Enterprises; Twentieth Century Fox ROOM Element Pictures / No Trace Camping; A24 SPOTLIGHT Anonymous Content / Participant Media / First Look; Open Road Films BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA CATE BLANCHETT CAROL BRIE LARSON ROOM ROONEY MARA CAROL SAOIRSE RONAN BROOKLYN ALICIA VIKANDER THE DANISH GIRL BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA BRYAN CRANSTON TRUMBO LEONARDO DICAPRIO THE REVENANT MICHAEL FASSBENDER STEVE JOBS EDDIE REDMAYNE THE DANISH GIRL WILL SMITH CONCUSSION BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY THE BIG SHORT Paramount Pictures / Regency Enterprises; Paramount Pictures JOY Fox 2000 Pictures; Twentieth Century Fox THE MARTIAN Twentieth Century Fox; Twentieth Century Fox SPY Twentieth Century Fox; Twentieth Century Fox TRAINWRECK Universal Pictures / Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY JENNIFER LAWRENCE JOY MELISSA MCCARTHY SPY AMY SCHUMER TRAINWRECK MAGGIE SMITH THE LADY IN THE VAN LILY TOMLIN GRANDMA BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY CHRISTIAN BALE THE BIG SHORT STEVE CARELL THE BIG SHORT MATT DAMON THE MARTIAN AL PACINO DANNY COLLINS MARK RUFFALO INFINITELY POLAR BEAR BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED ANOMALISA Starburns Industries; Paramount Pictures THE GOOD DINOSAUR Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures INSIDE OUT Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures THE PEANUTS MOVIE Blue Sky Studios; Twentieth Century Fox SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE Aardman; Lionsgate / Studiocanal BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT (BELGIUM / FRANCE / LUXEMBOURG) Terra Incognita / Climax Films / Après le Déluge / Juliette Films / Caviar; Belga Films / Le Pacte THE CLUB (CHILE) Fabula; Music Box Films THE FENCER (FINLAND / GERMANY / ESTONIA) Making Movies / Kick Film GmbH / Allfilm; Oy Nordisk Film Ab MUSTANG (FRANCE) CG Cinéma / Vistamar Flimproduktion; Cohen Media Group SON OF SAUL (HUNGARY) Laokoon Filmgroup; Sony Pictures Classics BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE JANE FONDA YOUTH JENNIFER JASON LEIGH THE HATEFUL EIGHT HELEN MIRREN TRUMBO ALICIA VIKANDER EX MACHINA KATE WINSLET STEVE JOBS BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE PAUL DANO LOVE & MERCY IDRIS ELBA BEASTS OF NO NATION MARK RYLANCE BRIDGE OF SPIES MICHAEL SHANNON 99 HOMES SYLVESTER STALLONE CREED BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE TODD HAYNES CAROL ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU THE REVENANT TOM MCCARTHY SPOTLIGHT GEORGE MILLER MAD MAX: FURY ROAD RIDLEY SCOTT THE MARTIAN BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE EMMA DONOGHUE ROOM TOM MCCARTHY, JOSH SINGER SPOTLIGHT CHARLES RANDOLPH, ADAM MCKAY THE BIG SHORT AARON SORKIN STEVE JOBS QUENTIN TARANTINO THE HATEFUL EIGHT BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE CARTER BURWELL CAROL ALEXANDRE DESPLAT THE DANISH GIRL ENNIO MORRICONE THE HATEFUL EIGHT DANIEL PEMBERTON STEVE JOBS RYUICHI SAKAMOTO, ALVA NOTO THE REVENANT BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE “LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO” — FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Music by: Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ali Payami, Ilya Salmanzadeh Lyrics by: Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ali Payami, Ilya Salmanzadeh “ONE KIND OF LOVE” — LOVE & MERCY Music by: Brian Wilson, Scott Bennett Lyrics by: Brian Wilson, Scott Bennett “SEE YOU AGAIN” — FURIOUS 7 Music by: Justin Franks, Andrew Cedar, Charlie Puth, Cameron Thomaz Lyrics by: Justin Franks, Andrew Cedar, Charlie Puth, Cameron Thomaz “SIMPLE SONG #3” — YOUTH Music by: David Lang Lyrics by: David Lang “WRITING’S ON THE WALL” — SPECTRE Music by: Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes Lyrics by: Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA EMPIRE FOX 20th Century Fox Television / Imagine Television GAME OF THRONES HBO HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360 and Startling Television MR. ROBOT USA NETWORK Universal Cable Productions NARCOS NETFLIX Gaumont International Television for Netflix OUTLANDER STARZ Sony Pictures Television BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA CAITRIONA BALFE OUTLANDER VIOLA DAVIS HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER EVA GREEN PENNY DREADFUL TARAJI P. HENSON EMPIRE ROBIN WRIGHT HOUSE OF CARDS BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA JON HAMM MAD MEN RAMI MALEK MR. ROBOT WAGNER MOURA NARCOS BOB ODENKIRK BETTER CALL SAUL LIEV SCHREIBER RAY DONOVAN BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY CASUAL HULU Lionsgate TV / Right of Way MOZART IN THE JUNGLE AMAZON VIDEO Amazon Studios ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK NETFLIX Lionsgate Television for Netflix SILICON VALLEY HBO HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg, Altschuler Krinsky Works, and 3 Arts Entertainment TRANSPARENT AMAZON VIDEO Amazon Studios VEEP HBO HBO Entertainment in association with Dundee Productions BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY RACHEL BLOOM CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND JAMIE LEE CURTIS SCREAM QUEENS JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS VEEP GINA RODRIGUEZ JANE THE VIRGIN LILY TOMLIN GRACE AND FRANKIE BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY AZIZ ANSARI MASTER OF NONE GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL MOZART IN THE JUNGLE ROB LOWE THE GRINDER PATRICK STEWART BLUNT TALK JEFFREY TAMBOR TRANSPARENT BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION American Crime ABC ABC Studios American Horror Story: Hotel FX 20th Century Fox Television Fargo FX MGM Television Studios / FX Productions Flesh & Bone Starz Starz Wolf Hall PBS A Playground Entertainment and Company Pictures production for BBC and MASTERPIECE in association with BBC Worldwide, Atlus Media and Prescience BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION KIRSTEN DUNST FARGO LADY GAGA AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL SARAH HAY FLESH & BONE FELICITY HUFFMAN AMERICAN CRIME QUEEN LATIFAH BESSIE BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION IDRIS ELBA LUTHER OSCAR ISAAC SHOW ME A HERO DAVID OYELOWO NIGHTINGALE MARK RYLANCE WOLF HALL PATRICK WILSON FARGO BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION UZO ADUBA ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK JOANNE FROGGATT DOWNTON ABBEY REGINA KING AMERICAN CRIME JUDITH LIGHT TRANSPARENT MAURA TIERNEY THE AFFAIR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION ALAN CUMMING THE GOOD WIFE DAMIAN LEWIS WOLF HALL BEN MENDELSOHN BLOODLINE TOBIAS MENZIES OUTLANDER CHRISTIAN SLATER MR. ROBOT

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  • ‘Chi-Raq’ ‘A Ballerina’s Tale’ Among 2015 African-American Film Critics Award Winners

    A Ballerina’s Tale, Nelson George Straight Outta Compton, the surprise summer box office hit centered on the 90’s rap group N.W.A., captured an overwhelming majority of the votes cast by members of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) for the 7th AAFCA Awards, including Best Picture. Best Independent Film went to Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq”, and Best Documentary went to “A Ballerina’s Tale,” (pictured above) the feature documentary about ballerina Misty Copeland. “Our members found an interesting theme in many of the films released this year, giving a voice to communities who have generally been underserved and marginalized in society,” says AAFCA president Gil Robertson. “With movies like Straight Outta Compton, Chi-Raq, 3 1/2 Minutes and Dope, filmmakers brought to life many storylines that are a reflection of what’s happening in our world today, including the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Pictures like Carol and The Danish Girl, give voice to another community that is too often ridiculed and ignored by the status-quo. With Creed, the members of AAFCA found an opportunity to celebrate a film with “a” universal message of hope, honor and perseverance – something that everyone can embrace. Overall, it was a transformative year in cinema.” AAFCA will hold its 7th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA. The following is a complete list of 2015 AAFCA Awards winners. Best Picture: “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Best Director: Ryan Coogler –“Creed” (Warner Bros.) Best Ensemble: “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Best Actor: Will Smith “Concussion” (Sony) Best Actress: Teyonah Parris “Chi-Raq” (Roadside Attractions) Best Supporting Actor: Jason Mitchell “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Best Supporting Actress: Tessa Thompson “Creed” (Warner Bros.) Best Independent Film: “Chi-Raq” (Roadside Attractions) Best Screenplay: Rick Famuyiwa, “Dope” (Open Road Films) Breakout Performance: Michael B. Jordan “Creed” (Warner Bros.) Best Animation: “The Peanuts Movie” (20th Century Fox) Best Documentary: “A Ballerina’s Tale” (Sundance Selects) Best Song: “See You Again” Furious 7 (Atlantic Records) Best TV Comedy: “Black-ish” (ABC) Best TV Drama: “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) Best Cable/New Media TV Show: “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) AAFCA Top Ten Films of 2015 are as follows in order of distinction: 1. Straight Outta Compton (Universal Pictures) 2. Creed (Warner Bros.) 3. Mad Max: Fury Road (Warner Bros.) 4. Beasts of No Nation (Netflix) 5. The Martian (20th Century Fox) 6. 3-1/2 Minutes/Dope (HBO/Open Road Films) 7. Chi-Raq (Roadside Attractions) 8. Carol (Weinstein Co.) 9. The Big Short (Paramount Pictures) 10. The Danish Girl (Focus Features) AAFCA’s Special Achievement honors will be awarded to Codeblack Entertainment CEO, Jeff Clanagan; director John Singleton; Maverick Carter and LeBron James’ SpringHill Entertainment. New York Times film critic, Manohla Dargis will receive the organization’s Roger Ebert Award and HBO will receive the group’s Cinema Vanguard Award.

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  • ‘Spotlight’ ‘Amy’ ‘The Look of Silence’ Among Boston Society of Film Critics 2015 Award Winners

    Spotlight Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci The Boston Society of Film Critics picked ‘Spotlight’ as the Best Film of 2015. ‘Spotlight’ directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy and starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church. ‘Spotlight’ was also given the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Ensemble Cast. The Amy Winehouse documentary titled ‘Amy’ received the award for Best Documentary; and ‘The Look of Silence’, director Joshua Oppenheimer’s powerful companion piece to the Oscar®-nominated The Act of Killing was voted Best Foreign-Language Film. 2015 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Picture – Spotlight Best Actor – (tie) Paul Dano for Love & Mercy and Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant Best Actress – Charlotte Rampling for 45 Years Best Supporting Actor – Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies Best Supporting Actress – Kristen Stewart for Clouds of Sils Maria Best Director – Todd Haynes for Carol Best Screenplay – Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman for Carol Best Documentary – Amy Best Foreign-Language Film (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) – The Look of Silence Best Animated Film – (tie) Anomalisa and Inside Out Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) – Margaret Sixel for Mad Max: Fury Road Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) – Marielle Heller for The Diary of a Teenage Girl Best Ensemble Cast – Spotlight Best Use of Music in a Film – Love & Mercy

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  • 72 Short Films on Lineup for 2016 Sundance Film Festival

    Dogwalker

    The 2016 Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 21 to 31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Sundance and Ogden, Utah, announced its full lineup of 72 short films. Among the short films the Festival has shown in recent years are World of Tomorrow, Whiplash, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom and Fishing Without Nets. This year’s short film lineup will include both a Midnight and a New Frontier section, tying into the Festival’s other programmatic strands.

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  • CAROL, THE DANISH GIRL, ROOM, SPOTLIGHT Receive Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations

    THE DANISH GIRL The nominees for the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding individual, cast and ensemble performances in film and television of 2015, as well as the nominees for outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning. TRUMBO lead the field with 3 nominations, followed by BEASTS OF NO NATION, THE BIG SHORT, CAROL, THE DANISH GIRL (pictured above), ROOM, SPOTLIGHT and STEVE JOBS with 2 nominations. The 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards® will broadcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT). The complete list of 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations. 22nd ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role BRYAN CRANSTON / Dalton Trumbo – “TRUMBO” (Bleecker Street) JOHNNY DEPP / James “Whitey” Bulger – “BLACK MASS” (Warner Bros. Pictures) LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Hugh Glass – “THE REVENANT” (20th Century Fox) MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Steve Jobs – “STEVE JOBS” (Universal Pictures) EDDIE REDMAYNE / Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe – “THE DANISH GIRL” (Focus Features) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role CATE BLANCHETT / Carol Aird – “CAROL” (The Weinstein Company) BRIE LARSON / Ma – “ROOM” (A24) HELEN MIRREN / Maria Altmann – “WOMAN IN GOLD” (The Weinstein Company) SAOIRSE RONAN / Eilis – “BROOKLYN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures) SARAH SILVERMAN / Laney Brooks – “I SMILE BACK” (Broad Green Pictures) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role CHRISTIAN BALE / Michael Burry – “THE BIG SHORT” (Paramount Pictures) IDRIS ELBA / Commandant – “BEASTS OF NO NATION” (Netflix) MARK RYLANCE / Abel Rudolph – “BRIDGE OF SPIES” (DreamWorks) MICHAEL SHANNON / Rick Carver – “99 HOMES” (Broad Green Pictures) JACOB TREMBLAY / Jack – “ROOM” (A24) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role ROONEY MARA / Therese Belivet – “CAROL” (The Weinstein Company) RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer – “SPOTLIGHT” (Open Road Films) HELEN MIRREN / Hedda Hopper – “TRUMBO” (Bleecker Street) ALICIA VIKANDER / Gerda Wegener – “THE DANISH GIRL” (Focus Features) KATE WINSLET / Joanna Hoffman – “STEVE JOBS” (Universal Pictures) Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture BEASTS OF NO NATION (Netflix) ABRAHAM ATTAH / Agu KURT EGYIAWAN / 2nd I-C IDRIS ELBA / Commandant THE BIG SHORT (Paramount Pictures) CHRISTIAN BALE / Michael Burry STEVE CARELL / Mark Baum RYAN GOSLING / Jared Vennett MELISSA LEO / Georgia Hale HAMISH LINKLATER / Porter Collins JOHN MAGARO / Charlie Geller BRAD PITT / Ben Rickert RAFE SPALL / Danny Moses JEREMY STRONG / Vinny Peters MARISA TOMEI / Cynthia Baum FINN WITTROCK / Jamie Shipley SPOTLIGHT (Open Road Films) BILLY CRUDUP / Eric MacLeish BRIAN D’ARCY JAMES / Matty Carroll MICHAEL KEATON / Walter “Robby” Robinson RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer MARK RUFFALO / Michael Rezendes LIEV SCHREIBER / Marty Baron JOHN SLATTERY / Ben Bradlee, Jr. STANLEY TUCCI / Mitchell Garabedian STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (Universal Pictures) NEIL BROWN JR. / DJ Yella PAUL GIAMATTI / Jerry Heller COREY HAWKINS / Dr. Dre ALDIS HODGE / MC Ren O’SHEA JACKSON JR. / Ice Cube JASON MITCHELL / Eazy-E TRUMBO (Bleecker Street) ADEWALE AKINNUOYE-AGBAJE / Virgil Brooks LOUIS C.K. / Arlen Hird BRYAN CRANSTON / Dalton Trumbo DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT / John Wayne ELLE FANNING / Niki Trumbo JOHN GOODMAN / Frank King DIANE LANE / Cleo Trumbo HELEN MIRREN / Hedda Hopper MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Edward G. Robinson ALAN TUDYK / Ian McLellan Hunter TELEVISION PROGRAMS Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries IDRIS ELBA / DCI John Luther – “LUTHER” (BBC America) BEN KINGSLEY / Grand Vizier Ay – “TUT” (Spike) RAY LIOTTA / Lorca/Tom Mitchell – “TEXAS RISING” (History) BILL MURRAY / Himself – “A VERY MURRAY CHRISTMAS” (Netflix) MARK RYLANCE / Thomas Cromwell – “WOLF HALL” (Masterpiece/PBS) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries NICOLE KIDMAN / Grace – “GRACE OF MONACO” (Lifetime) QUEEN LATIFAH / Bessie Smith – “BESSIE” (HBO) CHRISTINA RICCI / Lizzie Borden – “THE LIZZIE BORDEN CHRONICLES” (Lifetime) SUSAN SARANDON / Gladys Mortenson – “THE SECRET LIFE OF MARILYN MONROE” (Lifetime) KRISTEN WIIG / Delores DeWinter – “THE SPOILS BEFORE DYING” (IFC) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO) JON HAMM / Don Draper – “MAD MEN” (AMC) RAMI MALEK / Elliot – “MR. ROBOT” (USA Network) BOB ODENKIRK / Jimmy McGill – “BETTER CALL SAUL” (AMC) KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime) VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC) JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS) MAGGIE SMITH / Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (Masterpiece/PBS) ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC) LOUIS C.K. / Louie – “LOUIE” (FX Networks) WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime) JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper – “THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS) JEFFREY TAMBOR / Maura Pfefferman – “TRANSPARENT” (Amazon) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren – “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” (Netflix) EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton – “NURSE JACKIE” (Showtime) ELLIE KEMPER / Kimmy Schmidt – “UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT” (Netflix) JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO) AMY POEHLER / Leslie Knope – “PARKS AND RECREATION” (NBC) Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series DOWNTON ABBEY (Masterpiece/PBS) HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson RAQUEL CASSIDY / Baxter BRENDAN COYLE / Mr. Bates TOM CULLEN / Anthony Gillingham MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley KEVIN DOYLE / Mr. Molesley JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna Bates LILY JAMES / Lady Rose ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas Barrow ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore JULIAN OVENDEN / Charles Blake DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley GAME OF THRONES (HBO) ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy IAN BEATTIE / Ser Meryn Trant JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne of Tarth EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen MICHAEL CONDRON / Bowen Marsh NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister BEN CROMPTON / Dolorous Edd LIAM CUNNINGHAM / Ser Davos Seaworth STEPHEN DILLANE / Stannis Baratheon PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei TARA FITZGERALD / Selyse Baratheon JEROME FLYNN / Bronn BRIAN FORTUNE / Othell Yarwyck JOEL FRY / Hizdahr Zo Loraq AIDAN GILLEN / Littlefinger Petyr Baelish IAIN GLEN / Ser Jorah Mormont KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow LENA HEADEY / Cersei Lannister MICHIEL HUISMAN / Daario Naharis HANNAH MURRAY / Gilly BRENOCK O’CONNOR / Olly DANIEL PORTMAN / Podrick Payne IWAN RHEON / Ramsay Snow OWEN TEALE / Ser Alliser Thorne SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark CARICE VAN HOUTEN / Melisandre MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark TOM WLASCHIHA / Jaqen H’ghar HOMELAND (Showtime) F. MURRAY ABRAHAM / Dar Adal ATHEER ADEL / Numan CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison ALEXANDER FEHLING / Jonas Hollander RUPERT FRIEND / Peter Quinn NINA HOSS / Astrid RENÉ DAVID IFRAH / Bibi MARK IVANIR / Ivan Krupin SEBASTIAN KOCH / Otto Düring MIRANDA OTTO / Allison Carr MANDY PATINKIN / Saul Berenson SARAH SOKOLOVIC / Laura Sutton HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix) MAHERSHALA ALI / Remy Danton DEREK CECIL / Seth Grayson NATHAN DARROW / Edward Meechum MICHAEL KELLY / Doug Stamper ELIZABETH MARVEL / Heather Dunbar MOLLY PARKER / Jackie Sharp JIMMI SIMPSON / Gavin Orsay KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood MAD MEN (AMC) SOLA BAMIS / Shirley STEPHANIE DRAKE / Meredith JAY R. FERGUSON / Stan Rizzo BRUCE GREENWOOD / Richard Burghoff JON HAMM / Don Draper CHRISTINA HENDRICKS / Joan Harris JANUARY JONES / Betty Francis VINCENT KARTHEISER / Pete Campbell ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson KEVIN RAHM / Ted Chaough KIERNAN SHIPKA / Sally Draper JOHN SLATTERY / Roger Sterling RICH SOMMER / Harry Crane AARON STATON / Ken Cosgrove MASON VALE COTTON / Bobby Draper Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS) MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler KALEY CUOCO / Penny JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz KEY & PEELE (Comedy Central) KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY / Various Characters JORDAN PEELE / Various Characters MODERN FAMILY (ABC) JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy AUBREY ANDERSON EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix) UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren MIKE BIRBIGLIA / Danny Pearson MARSHA STEPHANIE BLAKE / Berdie Rogers DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson LAVERNE COX / Sophia Burset JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales CATHERINE CURTIN / Wanda Bell LEA DELARIA / Carrie “Big Boo” Black BETH FOWLER / Sister Jane Ingalls JOEL MARSH GARLAND / Scott O’Neill KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Black Cindy KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara Diaz LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz RUBY ROSE / Stella Carlin NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Yoga Jones DALE SOULES / Frieda YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington TRANSPARENT (Amazon) ALEXANDRA BILLINGS / Davina Rejennae CARRIE BROWNSTEIN / Syd Feldman JAY DUPLASS / Josh Pfefferman KATHRYN HAHN / Raquel Fein GABY HOFFMANN / Ali Pfefferman CHERRY JONES / Leslie Mackinaw AMY LANDECKER / Sarah Pfefferman JUDITH LIGHT / Shelly Pfefferman HARI NEF / Gittel/Gerson EMILY ROBINSON / Rose Boymelgreen JEFFREY TAMBOR / Maura Pfefferman VEEP (HBO) DIEDRICH BADER / Bill Ericsson SUFE BRADSHAW / Sue Wilson ANNA CHLUMSKY / Amy Brookheimer GARY COLE / Kent Davidson KEVIN DUNN / Ben Cafferty TONY HALE / Gary Walsh HUGH LAURIE / Tom James PHIL REEVES / Doyle SAM RICHARDSON / Richard REID SCOTT / Dan Egan TIMOTHY SIMONS / Jonah Ryan SARAH SUTHERLAND / Catherine MATT WALSH / Mike McLintock SAG AWARDS® HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture “EVEREST” (Universal Pictures) “FURIOUS 7” (Universal Pictures) “JURASSIC WORLD” (Universal Pictures) “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD” (Warner Bros. Pictures) “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION” (Paramount Pictures) Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series “THE BLACKLIST” (NBC) “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO) “HOMELAND” (Showtime) “MARVEL’S DAREDEVIL” (Netflix) “THE WALKING DEAD” (AMC) LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 52nd Annual SAG Life Achievement Award CAROL BURNETT

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  • Independent and Documentary Films Among 47th NAACP Image Awards Nominations

    Brotherly Love The nominees for the 47th NAACP Image Awards are out and includes some of the top independent films and documentary films of 2015.  The organization honored independent films with the award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture, and the nominees include “Beasts of No Nation,” “Brotherly Love (pictured above),” “Chi-Raq,” “Infinitely Polar Bear,” and “Secret in Their Eyes.” The NAACP also recognized documentary films with the award for Outstanding Documentary – (Film), and the nominees include “Amy,” “Dreamcatcher,” “In My Fathers House,” “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” and “What Happened, Miss Simone?” The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event, which will broadcast LIVE on TV ONE on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 9pm/8c as a two-hour special. “The Image Awards celebrates individuals who model principles of hard work, perseverance, and community empowerment and with the announcement of this year’s nominees the NAACP continues to spotlight the achievements of those in our community,” stated Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “We have enjoyed a great collaboration with TV One and look forward to working with them again this year to create a memorable evening of entertainment.” The complete list of categories and nominees for the 47th NAACP Image Awards: ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Michael B. Jordan Misty Copeland Pharrell Williams Shonda Rhimes Viola Davis MOTION PICTURE Outstanding Motion Picture “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix) “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment) “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) “Dope” (Open Road Films) “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Abraham Attah – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix) Chiwetel Ejiofor – “Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment) Michael B. Jordan – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) Michael Ealy – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems) Will Smith – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment) Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer – “Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit) Sanaa Lathan – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems) Teyonah Parris – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions) Viola Davis – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) Zoe Saldana – “Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Martian” (20th Century Fox) Corey Hawkins – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Forest Whitaker – “Southpaw” (The Weinstein Company) Idris Elba – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix) O’Shea Jackson, Jr. – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Angela Bassett – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions) Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment) Jennifer Hudson – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions) Phylicia Rashad – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) Tessa Thompson – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) Outstanding Independent Motion Picture “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xb9Ty-1frw “Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_XD1QHLzto “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA4gBeEPfww “Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20qD5XpisDY “Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_IlSSFVX4 DOCUMENTARY Outstanding Documentary – (Film) “Amy” (A24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yCIwmNuLE “Dreamcatcher” (Rise Films, Green Acres Films & Vixen Films in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRR3ZM6DQ28 “In My Fathers House” (Break Thru Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea4zi-am1m0 “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (PBS Distribution/Firelight Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F56O3kZ9qr0 “What Happened, Miss Simone?” (A Radical Media Production in Association with Moxie Firecracker for Netflix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llfBIJF9cxI Outstanding Documentary – (Television) “August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand” (PBS) “Belief” (OWN) “Kareem: Minority of One” (HBO) “Light Girls” (OWN) “Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ” (BET) TELEVISION Outstanding Comedy Series “black-ish” (ABC) “House of Lies” (Showtime) “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central) “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix) “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX) Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC) Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” (Showtime) Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO) RonReaco Lee – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Gina Rodriguez – “Jane The Virgin” (The CW) Loretta Devine – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC) Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC) Uzo Aduba – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix) Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (BET) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series David Alan Grier – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC) Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC) Mike Epps – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC) Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Anna Deavere Smith – “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime) Danielle Brooks – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix) Laverne Cox – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix) Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC) Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz) Outstanding Drama Series “Being Mary Jane” (BET) “Empire” (FOX) “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) “Power” (Starz) “Scandal” (ABC) Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series LL Cool J – “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) Morris Chestnut – “Rosewood” (FOX) Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz) Terrence Howard – “Empire” (FOX) Wesley Snipes – “The Player” (NBC) Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET) Kerry Washington – “Scandal” (ABC) Nicole Beharie – “Sleepy Hollow” (FOX) Taraji P. Henson – “Empire” (FOX) Viola Davis – “How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC) Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Alfred Enoch – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) Bryshere Y. Gray – “Empire” (FOX) Guillermo Diaz – “Scandal” (ABC) Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC) Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Cicely Tyson – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC) Danai Gurira – “The Walking Dead” (AMC) Grace Gealey – “Empire” (FOX) Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz) Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC) Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special “American Crime” (ABC) “Bessie” (HBO) “Luther” (BBC America) “The Book of Negroes” (BET) “The Wiz Live!” (NBC) Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Cuba Gooding, Jr. – “The Book of Negroes” (BET) David Alan Grier – “The Wiz Live!” (NBC) David Oyelowo – “Nightingale” (HBO) Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America) Michael Kenneth Williams – “Bessie” (HBO) Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Angela Bassett – “American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX Networks) Aunjanue Ellis – “The Book of Negroes” (BET) Jill Scott – “With this Ring” (Lifetime) LaTonya Richardson Jackson – “Show Me a Hero” (HBO) Queen Latifah – “Bessie” (HBO) Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special) “Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm” (ABC) “News One Now” (TV One) “Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years Later” (OWN) “Oprah: Where Are They Now?- Civil Rights Special” (OWN) “Unsung” (TV One) Outstanding Talk Series “Melissa Harris-Perry” (MSNBC) “Steve Harvey” (Syndicated) “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) “The Talk” (CBS) “The Wendy Williams Show” (Syndicated) Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC) “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN) “Shark Tank” (ABC) “The Voice” (NBC) “Welcome to Sweetie Pies” (OWN) Outstanding Variety (Series or Special) “Black Girls Rock!” (BET) “Family Feud” (Syndicated) “Oprahs Master Class” (OWN) “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” (Comedy Central) Outstanding Children’s Program “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior) “Dora and Friends” (Nickelodeon) “K.C. Undercover” (Disney Channel) “Little Ballers” (Nickelodeon) “Project MC2” (Netflix) Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series) Hudson Yang – “Fresh Off The Boat” (ABC) Marcus Scribner – “black-ish” (ABC) Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC) Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC) Skai Jackson – “Jessie” (Disney Channel) Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or “Family Feud” – Steve Harvey (Syndicated) “Melissa Harris-Perry” – Melissa Harris-Perry (MSNBC) “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel ” – Bryant Gumbel (HBO) “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” – Larry Wilmore (Comedy Central) RECORDING Outstanding New Artist Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records) Judith Hill (NPG Records) Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records) The Weeknd (Republic Records) Yazz (Columbia Records) Outstanding Male Artist Charlie Wilson (RCA Records) Kendrick Lamar (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope) Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER) The Weeknd (Republic Records) Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz) Outstanding Female Artist Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG) Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records) Jill Scott (Atlantic Records) Lalah Hathaway (Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One) Lauryn Hill (RCA Records) Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration “Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records) “Hamilton: An American Musical” – Original Broadway Cast (Atlantic Records) “No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG) “One Man Can Change The World” – Big Sean feat. Kanye West and John Legend (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings) “Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records) Outstanding Jazz Album “BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan” – Terell Stafford Quintet (Capri Records) “Dee Dee’s Feathers” – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (Okeh) “Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4” – Miles Davis (Columbia/Legacy Recordings) “The Complete Concert By The Sea” – Erroll Garner (Legacy Recordings/Octave Music Publishing Corporation) The Epic” – Kamasi Washington (Brainfeeder) Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary) “A Different Place” – Kim Burrell (Shanachie Entertainment) “It’s Personal” – Tina Campbell (Gee Tree Creative) “Losing My Religion” – Kirk Franklin (RCA Inspiration) “The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV” – Kirk Whalum (Mack Avenue Records, Rendezvous, Top Drawer Records) “You Shall Live” – Marvin Sapp (RCA Inspiration) Outstanding Music Video “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd (Republic Records) “Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER) “No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG) “Shame” – Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz) “Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records) Outstanding Song – Traditional “Back Together” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records) “Everytime I’m With You” – Seal (Reprise Records) “Feeling Good” – Lauryn Hill (RCA Records) “Goodnight Kisses” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records) “Let It Burn” – Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records) Outstanding Album “Beauty Behind the Madness” – The Weeknd (Republic Records) “Empire (Original Soundtrack from Season One)” – Empire Cast (Columbia Records) “Forever Charlie” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records) “Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG) “Woman” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records) Outstanding Song – Contemporary “Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia) “Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER) “No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG) “Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG) “You’re So Beautiful” – Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz (Columbia Records) LITERATURE Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction “Driving the King” – Ravi Howard (HarperCollins/Harper) “Ghost Summer: Stories” – Tananarive Due (Prime Books) “Mama’s Boy” – ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster) “Stand Your Ground” – Victoria Christopher Murrary (Touchstone) “Under the Udala Trees” – Chinelo Okparanta (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction “50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership” – Kathey Porter (Author), Andrea Hoffman (Author), (Palgrave Macmillan) “Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America” – Jill Leovy (Spiegel & Grau) “SHOWDOWN: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America” – Wil Haygood (Alfred A. Knopf) “Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga” – Pamela Newkirk (HarperCollins/Amistad) “The Light of the World” – Elizabeth Alexander (Grand Central Publishing) Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author “Between The World and Me” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (Spiegel & Grau) “The Fishermen” – Chigozie Obioma (Little, Brown & Company) “The Star Side of Bird Hill” – Naomi Jackson (Penguin Press) “The Turner House” – Angela Flournoy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) “The Wind In The Reeds: A Storm, A Play And The City That Could Not Be Broken” – Wendell Pierce (Author), Rod Dreher (Author), (Riverhead Books) Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto-Biography “After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye” – Jan Gaye (Author), David Ritz (With), (HarperCollins/Amistad) “Between The World and Me” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (Spiegel & Grau) “One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York” – Arthur Browne (Beacon Press) “Power Forward: My Presidential Education” – Reggie Love (Simon & Schuster) “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person” – Shonda Rhimes (Simon & Schuster) Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional “Big Words to Little Me: Tips and Advice for the Younger Self” – Sakina Ibrahim (Author), Jessie Lee (With), (Createspace (Self published)) “Free Your Mind: An African American Guide to Meditation and Freedom” – Cortez R. Rainey (CreateSpace) “Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories” – Jocelyn Delk Adams (Agate Surrey) “Keep Calm… It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide To Buying A Home” – Egypt Sherrod (Perseus/Running Press) “Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family” – Alice Randall (Author), Caroline Randall Williams (Author), (Clarkson Potter) Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” – Ross Gay (University of Pittsburgh Press) “How to Be Drawn” – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books / Penguin Random House) “Reconnaissance” – Carl Phillips (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) “Redbone” – Mahogany L. Browne (Willow Books) “Wild Hundreds” – Nate Marshall (University of Pittsburgh Press) Outstanding Literary Work – Children “Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts” – Nikki Grimes (Author), Michele Wood (Illustrator), (Orchard Books / Scholastic) “Gordon Parks How the Photographer Captured Black and White America” – Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Jamey Christoph (Illustrator), (Albert Whitman & Company) “Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box” – Michael S. Bandy (Author), Eric Stein (Author), James E. Ransome (Illustrator), (Candlewick Press) “If You Plant a Seed” – Kadir Nelson (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) “New Shoes” – Susan Lynn Meyer (Author), Eric Velasquez (Illustrator), (Holiday House) Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens “Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound” – Andrea Davis Pinkney (Roaring Brook Press) “Stella By Starlight” – Sharon Draper (Simon & Schuster) “Untwine” – Edwidge Danticat (Scholastic Press) “X: A Novel” – Ilyasah Shabazz (Author), Kekla Magoon (With), (Candlewick Press) “You Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles for Teen Girls to Embrace” – Gwen Richardson (Author), Sylvia Daye Richardson (Author), (Cushcity Communications) WRITING Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Alan Yang, Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix) Jennie Snyder Urman – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW) Jill Soloway – “Transparent” – Kina Hora (Amazon Video) Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Phil Augusta Jackson, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders, Rich Talarico – “Key & Peele” – Y’all Ready For This? (Comedy Central) Kenya M. Barris – “black-ish” – The Word (ABC) Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series Erika Green Swafford, Doug Stockstill – “How to Get Away with Murder” – Mama’s Here Now (ABC) John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC) LaToya Morgan – “TURN: Washingtons Spies” – False Flag (AMC) Lee Daniels, Danny Strong – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX) Mara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, Keli Goff – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET) Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – (Television) Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO) Lawrence Hill, Clement Virgo – “The Book of Negroes” (BET) Michael S. Bandy, Eric Stein – “White Water” (TV One) Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime) Shem Bitterman – “Whitney” (Lifetime) Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film) Andrea Berloff, Jonathan Herman – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois, Grant Thompson – “McFarland USA” (Walt Disney Pictures) Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar) Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films) Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer Pictures) DIRECTING Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix) Brad Silberling – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW) Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” – The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule (Showtime) Peter Atencio – “Key & Peele” – The End (Comedy Central) Stan Lathan – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – Cabin Pressure (BET) Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series Ernest Dickerson – “Hand of God” – Welcome the Stranger (Amazon Video) John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC) Lee Daniels – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX) Millicent Shelton – “American Crime” – Episode Ten (ABC) Salim Akil – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET) Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) Christine Swanson – “For the Love of Ruth” (TV One) Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO) Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime) Rusty Cundieff – “White Water” (TV One) Salim Akil – “The Start Up” (BET) Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – (Film) Alfonso Gomez-Rejon – “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (Fox Searchlight Pictures / Rhode Island Ave) Charles Stone, III – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) F. Gary Gray – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures) Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films) Ryan Coogler – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) ANIMATED/CGI Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – (Television or Film) Aisha Tyler – “Archer” (FX Networks) Audra McDonald – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior) Jeffrey Wright – “The Good Dinosaur” (Disney/Pixar) Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Channel) Wanda Sykes – “Penn Zero” (Disney XD)

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  • Documentary MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES on Controversial Artist Robert Mapplethorpe to Debut on HBO

    MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES “Look at the pictures,” said Senator Jesse Helms, denouncing the controversial art of Robert Mapplethorpe, whose photographs pushed boundaries with frank depictions of nudity, sexuality and fetishism, igniting a culture war that rages to this day. More than 25 years later, the HBO Documentary Films presentation MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES does just that, taking an unflinching, unprecedented look at his most provocative work. From acclaimed filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (“Inside Deep Throat”; HBO’s “Wishful Drinking” and “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), and produced by Katharina Otto-Bernstein (“Absolute Wilson”), the first feature-length documentary about the artist since his death, and the most comprehensive film on Mapplethorpe ever, debuts in April 2016 on HBO. As The J. Paul Getty Museum and The Los Angeles County Museum of Art prepare landmark Mapplethorpe retrospectives (both opening in March), the film goes inside the preparation for the exhibitions as a jumping-off point to tell the complete story of his life and work for the first time, and explore the interplay between his personal and professional lives. MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES reveals a controversial artist who turned contemporary photography into a fine art. With complete and unprecedented access to The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, the documentary draws upon archival materials and features never-before-seen photographs and footage. “Even his most shocking and forbidden images are included without blurs, without snickers – in other words, exactly as the artist intended,” say Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. Mapplethorpe himself is a strong presence, telling his story in his own words with complete honesty and often shocking candor through rediscovered audio interviews. MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES follows his early beginnings as a young artist in New York City through his meteoric rise in the art world to his untimely death. In 1963, he enrolled at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he studied drawing, painting and sculpture, and soon met his first girlfriend, Patti Smith, one in a string of profoundly influential lovers. By the late 1960s and early 1970s he was taking Polaroid photographs of friends and acquaintances, and was determined to make it, which meant being recognized as an artist and becoming famous. Almost all of the people from key relationships in his life are present in the film, including Sam Wagstaff, David Croland, Lisa Lyon, Marcus Leatherdale and Jack Walls. The documentary also features almost 50 original interviews with family, friends, co-workers and colleagues, including Mary Boone, Carolina Herrera, Brooke Shields, Helen and Brice Marden, Fran Lebowitz, Bob Colacello and Debbie Harry. Rounding out this portrait are the recollections of Mapplethorpe’s older sister, Nancy, and youngest brother, Edward. An artist himself, Edward assisted his brother for many years and was responsible for much of the technical excellence of his photography. The duality of black-and-white work reverberated in his life. He often mounted two shows simultaneously: An uptown exhibition might include society portraits and delicate flower still-lifes, while his sexually explicit photographs were on view downtown. Mapplethorpe’s most controversial work – which he considered his most important – chronicled the underground BDSM (bondage, dominance and submission, sadomasochism) scene of late 1970s New York City, sparking a national debate over public funding of art some deemed offensive or obscene. Mapplethorpe was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, when the illness was still a death sentence. He spent the remainder of his life working more feverishly than ever before, not only pursuing perfection, but also striving to secure his legacy after his death. In 1988, a few months before Mapplethorpe’s passing, The Whitney Museum of American Art mounted his first major American museum retrospective. The man who lived to be famous became even more famous after he died. Before his death, he designed one final show, The Perfect Moment, which bought images of flowers, S&M pictures and male African-American nudes together in a museum setting for the first time. As he himself predicted, the combination proved to be too much. In 1989, the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. canceled The Perfect Moment after Senator Helms took aim at Mapplethorpe. Later that year, protests were held when the traveling exhibition arrived at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati, resulting in obscenity charges against the CAC and its director, Dennis Barrie. After a dramatic court battle, both were ultimately found not guilty. MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES is a revealing look at one of the most important artists of the 20th century, whose name remains a byword for something illicit, dangerous and dark.

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