• Jalopnik Film Festival Opens November 5 in NYC

    IGNITIONIGNITION

    The second annual Jalopnik Film Festival opens Wednesday, November 5th with a party at the Classic Car Club Manhattan.  On November 6th, there will be a party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at Nitehawk Cinema that will include premieres, cars, music, eating, and drinking. Films screened will include IGNITION, presented with Volvo Cars, in addition to the Official Selection and jury selections.

    Some highlights from the Official Selection are:

    AYRTON’S WISH by Tamir Moscivici (Spy Films)

    A short film about the Senna foundation that shows the legacy of the deceased F1 driver’s generous contributions to the people of Brazil.

    Hardigree describes AYRTON’S WISH as “a moving short film about Ayrton Senna that shows, in beautiful detail, just how important the F1 driver’s legacy was to the children of Brazil.” 

    This will be the film’s world premiere.

    APEX: THE STORY OF THE HYPERCAR by J.F. Musial (Tangent Vector)

    World premiere sneak preview of APEX: THE STORY OF THE HYPERCAR, the upcoming documentary about the world’s most extreme hypercars from Ferrari, Porsche, Pagani, Koenigsegg and more. 

    Hardigree says, “J.F. Musial is already one of the most talented directors in the automotive world, as his work with /DRIVE has shown, and we’re proud to be the first people to show his magnus opus to the world. After seeing a few of the mind blowing clips I knew we had to have it for the JFF.”

    APEX: THE STORY OF THE HYPERCAR is the first documentary to be shot entirely in Sony 4K high definition. J.F. Musial also has a “Jury Selection” in the festival. Check out the trailer below

    http://youtu.be/DMHLNcwysd8

    These films join the already announced jury selections by judges writer/director/producer and investment professional James Glickenhaus, Bloomberg Television anchor Matt Miller, commercial film director Jeff Zwart, filmmaker Tamir Moscovici, writer and television personality Spike Ferensten, and actor Dax Shepard.

    The winners are:

    “Nagoya Streets” by Alexander Rosen

    “One-Take Porsche Pit-Stop – /DRIVE MOMENT” by /DRIVE “

    Regular Car Reviews: 2005 BMW 330Ci” by Regular Cars

    “Turbine Truck vs Turbine Chopper- Bonneville” by Ole Schell

    “Driving this Ferrari GTO is a Certain Kind of Ecstasy” by Petrolicious

    “FY RACING – Oregon Trail Rally 2014” by Alex Tabaczka

    “Where They Raced: Speed Demons in the City of Angels” by Harry Palenberg

    This year’s festival will include the short film being produced with Volvo Cars, the seven films above, and the Official Selections.

     http://youtu.be/picIdUCbyzE

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  • “Pelican Dreams” The Entertaining DocuDrama

    pelican dreams

    Nature documentaries don’t often warrant reviewing since their purpose is primarily to educate, not entertain. But many nature documentaries like Pelican Dreams often combine traditional nature photography with purposeful narratives that inject personality into the art form.

    Pelican Dreams focuses on a young California Brown Pelican that was discovered wandering in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. When she is taken to a nature sanctuary to find out what is wrong with her she is underweight and appears to be confused. This inspires documentarian Judy Irving (who previously directed another avian documentary, 2003’s The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill) to learn about the life of these pelicans and why “G.G.” (the name she gives the pelican for where she was discovered) ended up on the bridge.

    She first begins by learning about the mating habits and adolescence of these pelicans at an island offshore of California where they breed. Irving contemplates their emotions, like how scary it must be to first learn to fly. In fact, one of the more unexpected aspects of Pelican Dreams is how the narrative style is far more personal than most documentaries. Irving reflects on her personal connection with pelicans, including her dreams about flying, and why they have such an impact on her. Later, she even introduces her husband, Mark Bittner (who also worked on this documentary) to an injured pelican named Morro, a bird that was cared for Bill and Dani Nicholson, who rehabilitate pelicans in their own backyard. It’s not a common technique of most nature documentaries to exhibit such a personal connection, but it adds a unique element to the film. It might not be an approach that is appreciated by those who prefer a less engaged narrator in nature documentaries, but it’s certainly not overbearing.

    Much of the second half of the documentary is about the impact humans have on pelicans today, most notably from the pesticide DDT before it was banned. While brown pelicans were taken off the endangered species list in 2009, they have begun to cause the usual problems with overpopulation in human-settled areas and compete with other species (including humans) for food. Some problems are unavoidable – one of pelicans’ main foods is anchovies, which humans fish in large numbers – and Irving steers clear of common problems of environmental documentaries by not overly shaming humanity or attempting to push an agenda that is unrealistic. In other words, this isn’t a documentary that shakes its finger at humanity, especially since so much of the documentary focuses on the compassionate humans like the Nicholsons and veterinarian Monte Merrick who care for injured pelicans (and it’s worth noting that some of the pelicans’ issues might even be the result of overpopulation directly because of the conservation efforts).

    Being a nature documentary, Pelican Dreams is filled with excellent camerawork of pelicans in flight – particularly the beautiful final shots – which I always thought were strange-looking animals. However, while watching this documentary I learned to appreciate the unique gawky, but graceful, movements of these birds. I never thought I would think that about pelicans, so on that level alone Irving accomplished what she set out to do with this documentary.

    Film Review Rating 3 out of 5 : See it … It’s Good

    Pelican Dreams will open at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and at the Angelika Film Center in New York, and at the Royal, Playhouse 7,  and Town Center in Los Angeles on November 7.

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  • 20 Animated Features Submitted for 2014 Oscar® Race

    Big Hero 6Big Hero 6

    Twenty features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 87th Academy Awards®.

    The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:

    “Big Hero 6”
    “The Book of Life”
    “The Boxtrolls”
    “Cheatin’”
    “Giovanni’s Island”
    “Henry & Me”
    “The Hero of Color City”
    “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
    “Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart”
    “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return”
    “The Lego Movie”
    “Minuscule – Valley of the Lost Ants”
    “Mr. Peabody & Sherman”
    “Penguins of Madagascar”
    “The Pirate Fairy”
    “Planes: Fire & Rescue”
    “Rio 2”
    “Rocks in My Pockets”
    “Song of the Sea”
    “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”

    Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process.  At least eight eligible animated features must be theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated.

    Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.

    The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

    The Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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  • 5th Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Opens November 20th

    Like Sunday Like RainLike Sunday Like Rain

    The Williamsburg Independent Film Festival celebrates its 5th year opening on Thursday, November 20 and running through Sunday, November 23, 2014. Launched in 2010, the festival has showcased independent films from around the world, many with a focus on Williamsburg and Brooklyn.

    According to Peter Bloch, a Co-Director of the festival, “Final selections for the festival were completed on October 21, from among 272 entries by emerging film makers in 53 countries. This is the largest international response that WillFilm has had and it shows that Williamsburg and Brooklyn continue to inspire and draw creative people from around the globe.” After four very well received years at IndieScreen, the film festival looks forward to a move this November to its new home at the Wythe Hotel on the Northside.  “Everyone will enjoy the screenings and celebrating these talented storytellers at the Wythe Hotel and they will feel right at home in this new venue.”

    Williamsburg Independent Film Festival

    The schedule of festival screenings includes the premieres of Like Sunday Like Rain, directed by Frank Whaley and starring Debra Messing, Billie Joe Armstrong and Leighton Meester. The opening night spotlight film of WillFilm 5 is the NYC premier of LIKE SUNDAY LIKE RAIN, written and directed by Frank Whaley (PULP FICTION, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS). This is Mr. Whaley’s fourth film as writer/director- his first film, JOE THE KING premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and won the prestigious Waldo Salt Award. As an actor he has appeared in over seventy-five films. The Festival will also feature the directorial debut of Skeet Ulrich (AS GOOD AS IT GETS, SCREAM). Ulrich’s film THE GIRL ON THE ROOF, stars Todd Lowe and Lenny James.

    Also, featured, Recursion directed Tony & Olivier Award Nominee Sam Buntrock and starring Tony Nominee Rob McClure.  Another notable entry includes “1946″ starring British actor Andrew Buchan.  It depicts Jimmy Stewart’s life crisis before accepting his iconic role in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Other entries feature cameo performances by Doris Roberts and Courtney Cox.  Past honorees and guests include Cathy Moriarty, Federico Castellucio, Skeet Ulrich, Keir Gilchrist, Chloe Dahl, Gail Lerner, Rene Balcer, Michael Urie,Illeana Douglas, Daryl Roth, and Julia Ormand.

     

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  • Andie MacDowell to Receive Inaugural Spirit & Pride of South Carolina Award at 2015 Beaufort International Film Festival

    Multi-talented actress and model, Andie MacDowell, will be presented the inaugural Spirit & Pride of South Carolina Award at the 9th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival being held February 11 – 15, 2015.  The award will be presented during the festival awards ceremony on Saturday, February 14 by internationally recognized best-selling author and Beaufort, South Carolina resident, Pat  Conroy. Andie MacDowell “We are thrilled and honored to announce that movie and television star, model extraordinaire, and native South Carolinian Andie MacDowell will be the first ever recipient of the newly established Spirit & Pride of South Carolina Award at the 9th annual Beaufort International Film Festival,” stated Festival Executive Director Ron Tucker. The new award is established to recognize that person native to South Carolina or current resident whose career achievements in the industries of film, television, or music have reflected positively on themselves and the state of South Carolina. Ms. MacDowell is originally from Gaffney, a small town located in the upper part of South Carolina. She attended Winthrop College before becoming an Elite model and posing for L’Oreal and Calvin Klein. She is most notable for her acting roles in Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Short Cuts, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Groundhog Day.  She currently stars in her own series on the Hallmark Channel, playing a small town judge on Cedar Cove, which is based on the novel by Debbie Macomber.

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  • CITIZENFOUR, FINDING VIVIAN MAIER, POINT AND SHOOT Among Nominees For 2014 IDA Documentary Awards

    POINT AND SHOOTPOINT AND SHOOT

    The International Documentary Association (IDA) announced nominations for the 2014 IDA Documentary Awards set to take place on Friday, December 5th at the Paramount Theatre at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.  The five films nominated in IDA’s Feature category are: CITIZENFOUR, Laura Poitras’ portrait of whistleblowers, including Edward Snowden, and the disturbing state of surveillance of civilians in the post 9/11 age; FINDING VIVIAN MAIER, John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s accounting of the discovery in an abandoned storage locker of what would turn out to be the work of one of the 20th Century’s greatest photographers; POINT AND SHOOT from Marshall Curry, the firsthand account of Matt Van Dyke’s personal odyssey in North Africa including fighting and imprisonment during the revolution in Libya;  THE SALT OF THE EARTH, directors Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado’s poetic examination of the life and work of photographer Sebastião Salgado; and TALES OF THE GRIM SLEEPER, Nick Broomfield’s investigation of the notorious serial killer who terrorized South Central Los Angeles over a twenty-five year span.

    2014 IDA Documentary Awards Nominations and Awards

    BEST FEATURE AWARD

    Citizenfour
    Director: Laura Poitras
    RADiUS-TWC, Participant Media, and HBO Documentary Films

    Finding Vivian Maier
    Directors: John Maloof, Charlie Siskel
    Sundance Selects

    Point and Shoot
    Director: Marshall Curry
    The Orchard

    The Salt of the Earth
    Directors: Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
    Sony Pictures Classics

    Tales of the Grim Sleeper
    Director: Nick Broomfield
    HBO and SKY ATLANTIC

    BEST SHORT AWARD

    Ghost Train
    Directors: Kelly Hucker, James Fleming
    Premium Films (France)

    Our Curse
    Director: Tomasz Śliwiński

    Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall
    Director: Edgar Barens
    HBO Documentary Films

    Tashi and the Monk
    Directors: Andrew Hinton & Johnny Burke

    The Queen
    Director: Manuel Abramovich

    BEST CURATED SERIES AWARD

    American Experience
    Executive Producer: Mark Samels
    Senior Producer: Sharon Grimberg
    PBS

    American Masters
    Executive Producer: Susan Lacy
    PBS

    Independent Lens
    Executive Producer: Sally Jo Fifer
    Deputy Executive Producer: Lois Vossen
    Independent Television Service (ITVS) in association with PBS

    POV
    Executive Producer: Simon Kilmurry
    Series Producer: Chris White
    POV/ PBS

    Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
    Executive Producer: Rick Bernstein
    HBO Sports

    BEST LIMITED SERIES AWARD

    Chicagoland
    Executive Producers: Mark Benjamin, Marc Levin, Laura Michalchyshyn, Robert Redford
    CNN/ BCTV and Sundance Productions

    COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey
    Executive Producers: Brannon Braga, Mitchell Cannold, Ann Druyan, Seth MacFarlane
    FOX/ National Geographic Channel

    The Sixties
    Executive Producers: Gary Goeztman, Tom Hanks, Mark Herzog
    CNN/ Playtone and Herzog & Co

    Time of Death
    Executive Producers: Cynthia Childs, Dan Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Alexandra Lipsitz, Jane Lipsitz
    Co-Executive Producer: Miggi Hood
    Showtime

    Years of Living Dangerously
    Executive Producers: Daniel Abbasi, Joel Bach, James Cameron, David Gelber, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Weintraub
    Showtime

    BEST EPISODIC SERIES AWARD

    Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
    Executive Producer and Host: Anthony Bourdain
    Executive Producers: Chris Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig
    CNN

    Morgan Spurlock Inside Man
    Executive Producer and Host: Morgan Spurlock
    Executive Producers Jeremy Chilnick, Mathew Galkin
    Warrior Poets/CNN

    Oprah’s Master Class
    Executive Producers: Jon Kamen, Jonathan Sinclair, Justin Wilkes, Oprah Winfrey
    OWN/ Harpo Studios

    Our America with Lisa Ling
    Executive Producers: Amy Bucher, Gregory Henry, Lisa Ling, David Shadrack Smith
    OWN

    VICE
    Executive Producer: BJ Levin, Bill Maher, Eddy Moretti, Shane Smith
    HBO

    BEST SHORT FORM SERIES AWARD

    A Short History of the Highrise
    Executive Producers: Jason Spingarn-Koff, Silva Basmajian
    National Film Board of Canada and The New York Times

    Last Chance High
    Executive Producer: Jason Mojica
    VICE News

    Op-Docs
    Executive Producer: Jason Spingarn-Koff
    The New York Times

    Planet Money Makes a T-shirt
    Executive Producer: Alex Blumberg
    NPR

    Russian Roulette
    Executive Producers: Jason Mojica, Kevin Sutcliffe
    VICE News

    HUMANITAS AWARD

    How I Got Over
    Director: Nicole Boxer

    Keep On Keepin’ On
    Director: Alan Hicks
    RADiUS-TWC

    Limited Partnership
    Director: Thomas G. Miller
    PBS / Independent Lens

    DAVID L. WOLPER STUDENT DOCUMENTARY AWARD

    Cast in India
    Director: Natasha Raheja
    New York University

    Evaporating Borders
    Director: Iva Radivojevic
    CUNY – Hunter College

    Hotel 22
    Director: Elizabeth Lo
    Stanford University

    My Dad’s a Rocker
    Director: Zuxin Hou
    University of Southern California

    Solitary Plains
    Director: J. Christian Jensen
    Stanford University

    ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD

    1971
    Director: Johanna Hamilton
    Independent Lens/ PBS

    The Assassination of President Kennedy
    Executive Producers: Gary Goeztman, Tom Hanks, Mark Herzog
    CNN/ Playtone and Herzog & Co

    Captivated The Trials of Pamela Smart
    Director: Jeremiah Zagar
    HBO Documentary Films

    Concerning Violence
    Director: Göran Hugo Olsson
    Kino Lorber

    The Joe Show
    Director: Randy Murray
    Investigation Discovery/ Film Buff

    CREATIVE RECOGNITION AWARDS

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY presented by Canon
    Elevator
    CINEMATOGRAPHY BY: Hatuey Viveros Lavielle

    BEST EDITING
    Last Days in Vietnam
    EDITING BY: Don Kleszy

    BEST MUSIC
    Alfred and Jakobine
    MUSIC BY: Nick Urata

    BEST WRITING
    Finding Vivian Maier
    WRITTEN BY: John Maloof & Charlie Siskel

    PARE LORENTZ AWARD
    Tashi and the Monk
    Directors: Andrew Hinton, Johnny Burke

    EMERGING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER AWARD sponsored by Red Fire Films and Modern VideoFilm
    Darius Clark Monroe

    CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
    Robert Redford

    PIONEER AWARD
    Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

    PRESERVATION AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
    Rithy Panh

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  • Bahamas International Film Festival Unveils 2014 Poster

    Bahamas International Film Festival 2014 Poster

    The Bahamas International Film Festival, set for December 4th through 14th, has unveiled its 2014 promotional poster designed by artist Ryan “Duser” Stubbs. 

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  • “HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT” Wins Top Prize at 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival

    Heaven Knows WhatHeaven Knows What

    Heaven Knows What, a drama that focuses on the bleak prospects of young junkies struggling to survive in New York, is the winner of the Tokyo Grand Prix at the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival.  The film’s directors Joshua Safdie and Benny Safdie also won the Award for Best Director.  This raw depiction of young junkies struggling to stay alive was adapted for the screen by the Safdie Brothers (Benny and Joshua) based on a real-life account by the film’s female lead, Arielle Holmes. The audience picked Pale Moon directed by Daihachi Yoshida, about a normal housewife who unexpectedly becomes involved in a large embezzlement, for the Audience Award.

    Awards of 27th Tokyo International Film Festival

    Tokyo Grand Prix
    “HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT“
    Director:Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

    Special Jury Prize
    “The Lesson“

    Award for Best Director
    Joshua Safdie, Benny Safdie
    “HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT“

    Award for Best Actress
    Rie Miyazawa
    “Pale Moon“

    Award for Best Actor
    Robert Więckiewicz
    “The Mighty Angel“

    Award for Best Artistic Contribution
    “Test“

    Audience Award
    “Pale Moon“

     WOWOW Viewer’s Choice Award
    “Test“

     Best Asian Future Film Award
    “Borderless“

    The Spirit of Asia Award
    by the Japan Foundation Asia Center
    Director: Sotho Kulikar（“The Last Reel”）

     Japanese Film Splash, Best Picture Award
    “100 Yen Love” 

    Japanese Film Splash, Special Mention
    “Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday” 

    SAMURAI Award
    Takeshi Kitano
    Tim Burton

     

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  • Six Producers Selected for Whistler Film Festival Feature Project Lab

    whistler feature project lab

    Six producers from across Canada have been selected to participate in the Whistler Film Festival’s annual Feature Project Lab, held from December 2 to 5, 2014 during the Whistler Film Festival + Summit.  Designed to advance Canadian creative talent, the WFF Feature Project Lab focuses on strengthening dramatic feature projects from script to screen by facilitating feedback as well as collaboration on and investment in film projects that have US and international appeal.

    The six producers and projects selected for WFF’s 2014 Feature Project Lab are:

    Amber Ripley, Goodbye Productions (BC) with the darkly comedic DREAMLAND written by Tony Burgess.

    Angela Heck, Fringe Filmworks, Inc. (MB) with the family drama BUMPERSHINES written by Cathryn Atkinson.

    Farah Merani, Lifeguard Productions (ON) with the suspense drama GOOD NIGHT AMHERST written by James Fanizza.

    Jason James, Resonance Films (BC) with the empty-nester road trip film THE MOTHER OUTLAWS written by Garfield Lindsey.

    Luke Black, Pretty Okay Pictures (ON) with the Sci-Fi/Action story TO BE CONTINUED written by Grant & Stu Marks.

    Martin de Valk, Chiaro Productions (BC) with the claustrophobic thriller CONTAINER written by Brian Paisley, Keith Digby and Martin de Valk.

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  • “Testament of Youth” Opens the 28th Leeds International Film Festival

    Testament of YouthTestament of Youth

    Testament of Youth opens the 28th Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF28) on Wednesday 5th November, with very special guests James Kent (director) and Rosie Alison (producer) in attendance. Backed by Screen Yorkshire and filmed primarily in the region, Testament of Youth is the first big screen adaptation of Vera Brittain’s iconic and powerful WW1 memoir. Irrepressible and free-minded, Vera Brittain overcomes the prejudices of her family and hometown to win a scholarship to Oxford. With everything to live for, she falls in love with her brother’s close friend Roland Leighton as they go to university to pursue their literary dreams. But war is looming and everything will change. From award-winning television director James Kent, Testament of Youth stars Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Dominic West and Emily Watson.

    LIFF28’s Opening Night will be a double Yorkshire spectacular of particular interest to fans of the festival’s Fanomenon horror and cult film strand, as we follow Testament of Youth with the World Premiere of The Taking. Two market stall holders’ dreams of opening a tea room are shattered when they fall foul of a sociopathic loan shark in this intense new thriller directed by Dominic Brunt, who will make a special guest appearance along with cast members. Known foremost for his role as Paddy on ITV’s Emmerdale, Brunt is an emerging filmmaking talent with a penchant for suspense.

    Catch Me DaddyCatch Me Daddy

    Catch Me Daddy and X+Y, two other films which were supported with investment from Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund also feature at the festival. Cast and crew will be in attendance for Cannes Film Festival selection Catch Me Daddy, a remarkable and visceral chase thriller by Daniel Wolfe (the award-winning director of Plan B’s music videos), in which a girl on the run from her family is hiding out in West Yorkshire when her brother arrives in town with a vicious gang to track her down. British screen favourite Sally Hawkins and Asa Butterfield star in Toronto International Film Festival hit X+Y, about an autistic maths prodigy who begins to experience the world differently under the guidance of an unconventional maths teacher.

    Other screenings in LIFF28’s Yorkshire film line-up include Mr Somebody?, about eccentric Huddersfield resident Jake Mangle Wurzel; To Hell With Culture, exploring the life of Yorkshire poet Herbert Read and the Yorkshire Short Film Competition.

    LIFF28’s Testament of Youth screening coincides with Remembrance Sunday this coming weekend, and leads an important programme of films and events commemorating the centenary of World War One in the festival’s War on Film programme. 

     

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  • Watch TRAILER for A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain

    a most violent year

    The OFFICIAL trailer is released for A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, and set to World Premiere at AFI Film Festival this Thursday.  A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is a searing crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically the most dangerous year in the city’s history. From acclaimed writer/director J.C. Chandor, and starring Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS) and Jessica Chastain (ZERO DARK THIRTY), this gripping story plays out within a maze of rampant political and industry corruption plaguing the streets of a city in decay.

     http://youtu.be/lZU7U3k3gHY

     

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  • “71” Leads with 9 Nominations for 2014 British Independent Film Awards Nominations

    7171

    The nominations for the 17th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today and the highest number of nominations goes to ‘71 with nine nominations including Best British Independent Film; Best Director and Debut Director for Yann Demange; Best Screenplay for Gregory Burke; Best Actor for Jack O’Connell and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Harris. PRIDE picked up seven nominations and CATCH ME DADDY, FRANK and MR TURNER picked up five nominations each.  

    Nominations for Best Actress go to Alicia Vikander for TESTAMENT OF YOUTH; Cheng Pei Pei for LILTING; Gugu Mbatha-Raw for BELLE; Keira Knightleyfor THE IMITATION GAME and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed for CATCH ME DADDY. Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Asa Butterfield for X+Y; Benedict Cumberbatch for THE IMITATION GAME; Brendan Gleeson for CALVARY; Jack O’Connell for ’71 and Timothy Spall for MR TURNER.  

    Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Andrew Scott and Ben Schnetzer, both for PRIDE; Michael Fassbender for FRANK; Rafe Spall for X+Y and Sean Harris for ’71.  Dorothy Atkinson for MR TURNER; Imelda Staunton for PRIDE; Maggie Gyllenhaal for FRANK; Sally Hawkins for X+Y and Sienna Guillory for THE GOOB are all nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.

    Directors who have delivered dynamic debuts this year and are fighting for the Douglas Hickox Award are Daniel Wolfe and Matthew Wolfe for CATCH ME DADDY; Hong Khaou for LILTING; Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard for 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH; Morgan Matthews for X+Y and Yann Demange for ’71.

    The Raindance Award nominees for 2014 include: FLIM: THE MOVIE; GREGOR; LUNA; KEEPING ROSY and THE BEAT BENEATH MY FEET. This award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support.

    The Moët British Independent Film Awards announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:

    BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

    ’71
    Calvary
    Mr Turner
    Pride
    The Imitation Game

    BEST DIRECTOR

    John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
    Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
    Matthew Warchus – Pride
    Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
    Yann Demange  – ’71

    THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

    Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – Catch Me Daddy
    Hong Khaou – Lilting
    Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days on Earth
    Morgan Matthews – X+Y
    Yann Demange –  ’71

    BEST SCREENPLAY

    Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
    Gregory Burke  – ’71 
    John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
    Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
    Stephen Beresford – Pride

     BEST ACTRESS

    Alicia Vikander – Testament of Youth
    Cheng Pei Pei – Lilting
    Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
    Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
    Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

     BEST ACTOR

    Asa Butterfield  – X+Y
    Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
    Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
    Jack O’Connell – ’71
    Timothy Spall – Mr Turner

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Dorothy Atkinson – Mr Turner
    Imelda Staunton – Pride
    Maggie Gyllenhaal – Frank
    Sally Hawkins – X+Y
    Sienna Guillory – The Goob

     BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Andrew Scott – Pride
    Ben Schnetzer – Pride
    Michael Fassbender – Frank
    Rafe Spall – X+Y
    Sean Harris – ‘71

    MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

    Ben Schnetzer – Pride
    Cara Delevingne – The Face of An Angel
    Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
    Liam Walpole – The Goob
    Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

     BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

    ’71
    20,000 Days on Earth
    Catch Me Daddy
    Lilting
    The Goob

     BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

    Chris Wyatt – Editing – ’71
    Dick Pope – Cinematography – Mr Turner
    Robbie Ryan – Cinematography – Catch Me Daddy
    Stephen Rennicks – Music – Frank
    Tat Radcliffe – Cinematography – ’71

     BEST DOCUMENTAR Y

    20,000 Days on Earth
    Next Goal Wins
    Night Will Fall
    The Possibilities Are Endless
    Virunga

     BEST BRITISH SHORT

    Crocodile
    Emotional Fusebox
    Keeping Up With The Joneses
    Slap
    The Kármán Line

    BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM

    Blue Ruin
    Boyhood
    Fruitvale Station
    Ida
    The Badadook

     THE RAINDANCE AWARD

    Flim: The Movie…
    Gregor
    Luna
    Keeping Rosy
    The Beat Beneath My Feet

     THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)

    To Be Announced

    THE VARIETY AWARD

    To Be Announced

    THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

    Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December

     

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