Twelve more films have been confirmed for this year’s Berlinale Special programme. Besides Werner Herzog’s documentary film series Death Row and Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut In The Land Of Blood And Honey, these films include the documentaries Althawra… Khabar (Reporting … A Revolution) by Bassam Mortada, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry by Alison Klayman, Hijos de las Nubes by Alvaro Longoria, Anton Corbijn Inside Out by Klaartje Quirijns as well as Chris Kenneally’s Side by Side, […]
Chico & Rita, the new animated film from Oscar-winner Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and internationally-renowned illustrator/designer Javier Mariscal will be finally released in the US. The film which won the Best Animated Feature at both the Goya Awards and European Film Awards, will open February 10, 2012 at the Angelika Film in New York City with hopefully more cities to follow. In Chico & Rita, a gifted songwriter and beautiful singer chase their dreams – […]
The American Cinema Editors revealed their 2012 nominees, with the winners to be revealed in a ceremony February 18. Nominees include The Descendants, My Week with Marilyn and The Artist. BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC)The DescendantsKevin Tent, A.C.E.The Girl with the Dragon TattooAngus Wall, A.C.E. & Kirk Baxter, A.C.E.HugoThelma Schoonmaker, A.C.E.MoneyballChristopher Tellefsen, A.C.E.War HorseMichael Kahn, A.C.E. BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)The ArtistAnne-Sophie Bion & Michel HazanaviciusBridesmaidsWilliam Kerr & Michael L. SaleMidnight in ParisAlisa […]
And then they were nine. Nine films will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 84th Academy Awards®. Sixty-three films had originally qualified in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Belgium, “Bullhead,” Michael R. Roskam, director;Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar,” Philippe Falardeau, director;Denmark, “Superclásico,” Ole Christian Madsen, director;Germany, “Pina,” Wim Wenders, director;Iran, “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi, director;Israel, “Footnote,” Joseph Cedar, director;Morocco, “Omar Killed Me,” […]
Just before its premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, in the U.S. Documentary Competition, HBO Documentary Films has acquired the feature documentary ME @THE ZOO. Directed by Chris Moukarbel and Valerie Veatch, ME @THE ZOO is an in-depth exploration of the new phenomenon of internet celebrity. Focusing on the story of Chris Crocker, the video blogger who exploded into the international spotlight after his infamous “Leave Britney Alone” YouTube declaration, ME @THE ZOO explores […]
The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) announced its official lineup of red carpet Olympia Theater galas, parties, education seminars and international film premieres that will make up the Festival’s showcase of more than 100 films from 35 countries during the 10-day event, which runs March 2-11, 2012.
On Friday, March 2nd, the Festival commences with its Opening Night Film, the World Premiere of Tom Gustafson’s musical tour-de-force Mariachi Gringo. The drama stars Shawn Ashmore (“Iceman” in X-Men) as a young man from Kansas who falls in love with the mariachi lifestyle, and travels to Guadalajara to prove that anything is possible. Ashmore and co-stars Academy Award nominee (Babel) Adriana Barraza and Mexican starlet Martha Higareda are expected to attend the premiere.
The Festival’s Awards Night takes place on Saturday, March 10th before the screening of the U.S. Premiere of Chinese Take-Away. Winner of three Argentinean Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, director Sebastián Borensztein’s touching fish out of water comedy stars Argentine superstar Ricardo Darín as a shopkeeper who takes in an illegal immigrant desperate to find his extended family. Darín, who starred in the 2010 Academy Award-winning film The Secret in Their Eyes, and Borensztein are expected to attend the premiere.
7 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURES
Born & Raised (USA); La Casa Del Ritmo, A Film About Los Amigos Invisibles (USA/Ecuador); The Diary of Preston Plummer (USA); Hombre y Tierra (USA); Mariachi Gringo (Mexico/USA); The Porcelain Horse (Mejor no hablar (de ciertas cosas)) (Ecuador); Underground Hip-Hop in China (China/USA)
4 WORLD PREMIERE SHORTS
The Beach Chronicles AGX (USA); Beyond Assignment (USA); Cell Phone Zombies (Cel zombies) (Ecuador); Shift (USA)
5 INTERNATIONAL PREMIERES
180 Seconds (180 segundos)(Colombia); Baracoa: Where Cuba Began (Baracoa: 500 Años Despues) (Spain); Ben Lee: Catch My Disease (Australia); Speechless (Sin palabras) (Colombia); Zoo (Zoológico) (Chile)
10 NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERES
Annalisa (Il Paese Delle Spose Infelici) (Italy);Choked (South Korea); Code Blue (The Netherlands); A Cube of Sugar (Ye Habeh Gand) (Iran); I’d Receive the Worst News From Your Beautiful Lips (Eu Receberia As Piores Notícias De Seus Lindos Lábios) (Brazil); In The Name of The Girl (En el nombre de la hija) (Ecuador); Motherland or Death (Patria o Muerte) (Russia); Pescador (Ecuador/ Colombia); Promising The Moon (Das Blaue Vom Himmel) (Germany); Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You (Un Giorno Questo Dolore Ti Sará Utile) (Italy/USA)
10 U.S. PREMIERES
Chinese Take-Away (Un cuento chino) (Argentina/Spain); The Cat Vanishes (El gato desaparece) (Argentina); Distance (Distancia) (Guatemala); The Fifth Commandment (El quinto mandamiento) (Mexico); Heleno (Brazil); The Sleeping Voice (La voz dorminda) (Spain); Porfirio (Colombia/Spain/Uruguay/Argentina/France); The Strawberry Tree (El arbol de las fresas) (Canada); UFO In Her Eyes (Germany/China); Vaquero (Argentina) {jathumbnail off}
Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) announced a new category for its upcoming 29th edition, March 2 -11, 2012 – the Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima Competition.
In this newly created category, six films from first-time feature filmmakers from Spain, Portugal and/or Latin America will compete for a $5,000 USD cash prize.
The finalists for the competition were selected by MIFF programmers from films already submitted to the 2012 Festival.
2012 MIFF Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima Competition films:
Las Acacias (Argentina/Spain, directed by Pablo Giorgelli): Already a winner of major prizes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (Camera d’Or for Best First Film) and the Latin Horizons prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Giorgelli’s road movie unfolds along the highway linking Asunción to Buenos Aires, which trucker Rubén is accustomed to traveling solo. This time, however, he’s got a passenger, Jacinta, and a road full of revelations on the horizon. East Coast Premiere
Expiration Date (Fecha de caducidad) (Mexico, directed by Kenya Márquez): After the tragic loss of her son, Ramona (Ana Ofelia Murguía) becomes convinced local handyman Genaro (Damián Alcázar) is responsible for the death. Becoming increasingly obsessed and paranoid, she enlists the help of neighbor to avenge his death. East Coast Premiere
Vaquero (Argentina, directed by Juan Minujín): Actor-turned-filmmaker Minujín’s profoundly revealing film follows mid-level Buenos Aires actor Julian Lamaz on a darkly comic quest for a leading role in a Hollywood movie. Through an amusing voice-over, the actor endures endless patronizing advice from fellow actors, casting agents and even his family. Minujín’s experience in the Buenos Aires film and theatre community gives the narrative multiple layers of self-referential resonance. U.S. Premiere
The Student (El estudiante) (Argentina, directed by Santiago Mitre): College student Roque (Esteban Lamothe) navigates the murky world of university politics, while seducing assistant professor and activist (Romina Paula), in Santiago Mitre’s briskly paced debut. A microcosm for the world at large, the film brilliantly exposes the backroom dealings and negotiations of student politics. Florida Premiere
Speechless (Sin palabras) (Colombia, directed by Ana Sofía Osorio Ruiz and Diego Bustamante): After helping a disoriented Chinese immigrant find her way, Raul (Javier Ortíz) can’t help but fall slowly in love with the exotic beauty. Osorio Ruiz and Bustamante prove the language of the heart is the most universal of all in this touching romance. International Premiere
Distancia (Guatemala, directed by Sergio Ramírez): Tomás Choc travels 150 kilometers to be reunited with his only daughter, kidnapped 20 years ago during the Guatemalan civil war. In order to keep his memories of her alive, Tomas has kept a journal of his daily struggles, which he plans to give her when they meet in Ramirez’s heart wrenching drama. U.S. Premiere
Additionally, the Festival confirms the return of the University of Miami Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film. The established category showcases short films from developing international directors competing for a $2,500 cash prize. The 2011 winner in this category was Chilean short film Blokes (Blockes) by Marialy Rivas.Some of the short films already confirmed to compete in MIFF 2012 include: {jathumbnail off}
The 27th Santa Barbara International Film Festival which takes place January 26 through February 5, announced the addition of the World Premiere of THE SAMARITAN, starring Academy Award® nominated Samuel L. Jackson, to the program as a Gala Presentation. The red carpet Gala event will take place on Sunday, January 29, at 7pm at the Lobero Theatre. Produced by Andras Hamori and directed by David Weaver from a screenplay by Weaver and Elan Mastai, The […]
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced its line-up for 2012. The Festival begins Thursday, January 26 and continues through Sunday, February 5, 2012. “Our program this year reflects invigorating change,” remarks SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “When I joined SBIFF ten years ago, I set out to bring the festival’s program and its sidebars to reflect the city of Santa Barbara as a city, and its community. This year we’ve taken that concept […]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year’s standout performers with The 2012 Virtuosos Award. The actors who were selected to be recognized for their exceptional performances are: Demián Bichir for his earnest portrayal as Carlos, a virtuous father struggling to provide for his son in A Better Life; Rooney Mara for her dark and provocative performance as Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Melissa McCarthy […]
The 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards nominations were announced today, and The Artist continues to sweep award season, scoring a phenomenal 12 nominations. My Week with Marilyn has six nominations, The Descendants, Moneyball, Senna and We Need to Talk about Kevin all have three nominations apiece and Shame and The Ides of March each receive two.
The Artist is nominated in the following categories: Best Film, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Costume Design, Sound and Production Design. Michel Hazanavicius is nominated for Director and Jean Dujardin is nominated for Leading Actor. His co-star Bérénice Bejo is nominated for Leading Actress.
Other nominations include Attack the Block’s Writer/Director Joe Cornish nominated in the Outstanding British Debut category alongside Director Ralph Fiennes for Coriolanus, Writer/Director Richard Ayoade for Submarine and Director Paddy Considine and Producer Diarmid Scrimshaw for Tyrannosaur. The self-distributed Black Pond is the final film in this category with nominations for Will Sharpe (Director/Writer), Tom Kingsley (Director), Sarah Brocklehurst (Producer).
Incendies, Pina, Potiche, A Separation and The Skin I Live In are all nominated in the Film Not in the English Language category.
Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2012 – Nominations {jathumbnail off}
“Perfection” and “L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival” have been added to the Oxford Film Festival and Music Festival since the original lineup was announced. A new film, “Perfection” has been added to the line-up and will have its world premiere with the festival. “Perfection” is Christina Beck’s first feature film and was nominated by IFP for best screenplay and selected for their Rough Cut Labs. Beck was awarded the Adrienne Shelly female directing grant. The festival […]