• LISTEN to Sneak Preview of Celine Dion’s Track from “UNFINISHED SONG”

    UNFINISHED SONG

    A special sneak preview of the title track from the film, UNFINISHED SONG, performed by multi-platinum recording artist Celine Dion, with music and lyrics by iconic songwriter Diane Warren is now available for fans exclusively on CelineDion.com. The song will become available in its entirety on the site in coming weeks. UNFINISHED SONG is currently playing in theaters.

    Described as a feel-good, heartwarming story about how music can inspire you, UNFINISHED SONG stars Academy Award nominee Terence Stamp as Arthur, a grumpy pensioner who can’t understand why his wife Marion (Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave) would want to embarrass herself singing silly songs with her unconventional local choir. But choir director Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton) sees something special in the reluctant Arthur and refuses to give up on him. As she coaxes him out of his shell, Arthur realizes that it is never too late to change and, aged 70, Arthur finally dares to unlock his emotions and reach out to his estranged son, James (Christopher Eccleston).

    http://youtu.be/APJrftBzSeA

    Read more


  • Melbourne International Film Festival Announces Complete 2013 Film Lineup

    ALL IS LOST - JC ChandorALL IS LOST directed by JC Chandor, starring Robert Redford

    The Melbourne International Film Festival announced the full list of films to screen at the upcoming festival scheduled to run from 25 July – 11 August, 2013. As announced earlier, the festival will open with Pedro Almodóvar’s I’M SO EXCITED!; and the festival will close with the Australian Premiere of ALL IS LOST – JC Chandor’s follow-up to the Oscar nominated Margin Call sees Robert Redford shine in his most physically demanding, powerful performance ever. This year the Festival is marking its halfway point with a special world premiere Centerpiece Gala screening of Tim Winton’s THE TURNING, a film adaptation of Tim Winton’s bestselling novel The Turning, which consists of 17 chapters – each featuring a different director and cast.

    The Australian Showcase section will feature homegrown filmmaking including the world premiere of three MIFF Premiere Fund-supported films: These Final Hours, the feature film debut of writer/director Zak Hilditch, featuring a fresh, local take on the apocalypse subgenre with a cast that includes Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek); MIFF Accelerator Alumni Rhys Graham’s (Words from the City, MIFF 07) Galore, in which four teens navigate the flashpoint of adolescent relationships; and documentary In Bob We Trust, directed by Lynn-Maree Milburn (Autoluminescent: Rowland S Howard, MIFF 11), which goes behind the scenes with controversial Catholic provocateur Father Bob, documenting one of the most turbulent times in his career: his forced retirement and eviction from the church he called home for 38 years.

    Other Australian films include Red Obsession which charts the modern fortunes of Bordeaux’s most famous export; Mystery Road in which Ivan Sen, as scriptwriter, editor, cinematographer and director, has created a stunning film, supported by a cast that includes Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jack Thompson and Jack Charles;Fallout the untold story of Nevil Shute’s famed novel On the Beach and the film of the same name; Lygon St – Si Parla Italiano, the true story of Melbourne’s most iconic street, as told by the men and women who made it; one of the few films set and shot in war-ravaged Laos, The Rocket is the debut feature from Australian documentarian Kim Mordaunt; and in Persons of Interest, director Haydn Keenan explores four persons of interest – including Roger Milliss, Michael Hyde, Frank Hardy and Gary Foley – and the allegations contained in their previously secret ASIO files.

    This year the Festival presents a new spotlight on Arabic Cinema – From Palestinian Territory, director of the Golden Globe-winning Paradise Now (MIFF 05), Hany Abu-Assad returns with his Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize-winning take on the Israel–Palestine conflict, Omar; the debut fiction feature from documentary filmmaker Hala Lotfy, Coming Forth by Day is a rare example of independent Egyptian cinema; the first feature ever shot entirely inside Saudi Arabia, by the country’s first female director, Wadjda is a boundary pushing gem; and adapted from Yasmina Khadra’s much-acclaimed book of the same name, The Attack is the heart-wrenching new feature from renowned Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri.

    Returning in 2013, This Sporting Life presents films focusing on incredible athletes from the worlds of tennis, boxing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, surfing, motor sports and martial arts. While most documentaries have focused on Muhammad Ali’s sporting career, Bill Siegel looks at Ali’s toughest bout: his showdown with the American government in The Trials of Muhammad Ali; Uncharted Waters follows Australian Wayne Lynch, “the ultimate soul surfer”, throughout his career; Venus and Serena Williams are not only the most successful sisters in tennis, they’re also amongst the most successful athletes ever – in Maiken Baird and Michelle Major’s revealing documentary Venus and Serena, the siblings’ highs and lows on and off the court are captured over an eventful year. Plus see 1970s Formula One in Weekend of a Champion, a deadly descent from K2 in The Summit, follow three girls at the illustrious Shaolin Tagu Kung Fu School in Dragon Girls plus see firsthand the dangers of snowboarding with Festival guest Kevin Pearce in Lucy Walker’s film The Crash Reel.

    From the front lines of Occupy to the Russki rebellions of Pussy Riot, Defying the Times: Activism on Film takes a close eye to the art of resistance and a raised fist in the air to the powers that be. 99% – The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film is an expansive, unprecedented documentary that illustrates the motives and consequences of the movement through the collected footage of more than 100 contributors; focusing on the pivotal post-WWII era in British history, The Spirit of ’45, Ken Loach’s first feature length documentary since 1998’s The Flickering Flame, is a timely, unapologetically polemical call to arms for the Labour spirit that engendered an unprecedented period of progressive politics in the UK, which endured until the rise of Margaret Thatcher; and in Powerless, Kanpur, an industrial town of three million-plus in India, is the image of a modern dystopia: crumbling infrastructure, poverty, pollution and rolling power blackouts. This aptly named film documents, in often hair-raising detail, the common Robin Hood practice of power stealing for redistribution, and the futile attempts of the authorities to stop it.

    The Documentaries program includes from Karachi, Pakistan, where 10-year-old runaway Omar grapples with the question of home in These Birds Walk and Brazil where we look at their most important artist of the 20th century in the Berlinale Forum FIPRESCI Prize winning Hélio Oiticica, to New York underground filmmaker Beth B’s giddily trashy and confronting look alternative burlesque scene in Exposed and the aid effort following the 2010 Haiti earthquake in Fatal Assistance, documentaries really can take you anywhere.

    Now in its third year TeleScope: Visions from the EU, run in conjunction with Festival Scope, offers an outstanding program of celebrated European filmmaking. From a startling and timely film by writer/director Thanos Anastopoulos’ The Daughter, which showcases his fascination with the human cost of Greece’s fiscal catastrophe, to the sophomore feature from Dutch phenom Jaap van Heusden, The New World, a powerful, quietly told vignette of cautious romance and improbable redemption, TeleScope gives an insight into all facets of EU filmmaking.

    This year music fanatics of all tastes can feast on our biggest Backbeat ever. Take a glimpse behind the scenes of The National on tour as they are joined by front-man Matt Berninger’s younger brother Tom, a general layabout, as a roadie in Mistaken for Strangers, a mystifying, hilarious and very much improvised investigation of the relationship between these two extremely different brothers. The backup singers who made great songs greater and enhanced the voices of music icons from Mick Jagger to Stevie Wonder step into the limelight in Morgan Neville’s (Troubadours, MIFF 11)Twenty Feet From Stardom. In Artifact, despite being platinum-sellers, Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds To Mars hadn’t seen a cent of royalties, so they tried to exit their contract. Their label sued them for $30 million. What began as an object lesson from EMI resulted in a David-and-Goliath struggle between a floundering industry and its indentured servants. And from Australia, charting the colourful three-decade history of the Cosmic Psychos and their enigmatic, entertaining front man, Cosmic Psychos: Blokes You Can Trust features interviews with band members and grunge icons, as well as raucous archival footage that captures the unadulterated larrikinism of three beer-swilling Aussies taking on the world.

    A perennial favourite, Night Shift offers hardy cinema lovers with a taste for the extreme all the blood-soaked brutality, zombies, reanimated corpses, psychedelic madness and Japanese weirdness they can handle. Sitting at the heart of this ten-film-strong program is MIFF Premiere Fund supported feature Patrick, which will have its world premiere at the Festival. Mark Hartley’s re-imagining of the 1978 Ozploitation classic he celebrated in Not Quite Hollywood (MIFF 08), stars Rachel Griffiths, Sharni Vinson (You’re Next, MIFF 13), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) and Damon Gameau (Balibo, Save Your Legs!). Also see director Ben Wheatley’s psychedelic trip into magic and madness in A Field in England and Takashi Miike’s Lesson of the Evil – which sees him make a triumphant return to the blood-strewn savagery that made his name.

    Accent on Asia showcases the always unique and remarkable films from our region. MIFF regulars bring new wares – legendary actor/filmmaker Takeshi Kitano returns to the crime genre with a film that depicts the yakuza as a dysfunctional business, only with more blood in Outrage Beyond; Jia Zhang-ke (I Wish I Knew, MIFF 11) has built an angry, gritty, beautifully shot drama in A Touch of Sin; Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (I Wish, MIFF 12) Like Father, Like Son delivers a gentle and moving story of personal redemption that playfully navigates its way through the drama; and South Korean Hong Sang-soo (In Another Country, MIFF 12, The Day He Arrives, MIFF 11), gives us his most stripped back yet with Nobody’s Daughter Haewon. MIFF is also pleased to present the Australian Premiere of Accelerator alumnus Anthony Chen Ilo Ilo. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival 2013 Caméra d’Or, this beautifully observed, autobiographical slice of life looks at the conflicts that can emerge between cultures while revealing that some relationship troubles are universal.

    Also sitting alongside the Accent on Asia program is a special spotlight on North Korea – Juche Days: North Korea on Film, presented in two different ways; Inside the DPRK take us inside one of the world’s most unfamiliar countries, to present tales from within the DPRK facilitated by Western filmmakers: an extremely rare Western–North Korean co-production, Comrade Kim Goes Flying is a screwball comedy about a young woman pursuing her individual dream in the face of community disapproval; and a revolutionary comedy about the cinematic genius of North Korea’s late Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, the MIFF Premiere Fund supported Aim High in Creation! sees Australian director Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lie$, MIFF 07) setting out to make a film-within-a-film, based on the rules of his manifesto The Cinema and Directing. Meanwhile, in Juche Showtime: Films of the DPRK, take the opportunity to sample some films from the world’s least seen cinema culture, including Hong Kil Dong, Kim Kil-in’s wire-fighting kung fu epic (which has been told on both sides of the North and South), as well as the high melodrama of Jo-kyong-sun’s A Broad Bellflower.

    Taking the art of storytelling where live action can never go, our Animation Showcaseoffers mind-bending, captivating and spooky animated films for adults. Bleakly beautiful and told in silvery animation, Padak is a bittersweet allegory of nihilism and resistance from South Korea; The Apostle, Spain’s first stop-motion feature, is a haunting journey into Gothic folklore; and The Congress Ari Folman’s follow-up to Waltz With Bashir(MIFF 08) is an audacious metaphysical sci-fi satire: part live action, part loony animation overflowing with ideas.

    International Panorama features a swathe of titles from Cannes including the feature-length debut from MIFF Accelerator alumnus Kazik Radwanski, Tower; in Mood Indigo, the ever-whimsical Michel Gondry reunites Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris (The Spanish Apartment, MIFF 03) for this adaptation of Boris Vian’s uniquely wondrous cult novel Froth on the Daydream; with bountiful betrayal and abundant bitchiness, Passion is a classic Brian de Palma (Redacted, MIFF 08) psychological thriller; and from award-winning director Reha Erdem (Kosmos, MIFF 10;Times and Winds, MIFF 07) comes Jîn, the story of a young Kurdish rebel who breaks away to find life and solace in the wilderness.

    Melbourne International Film Festival runs July 25 – August 11, 2013.

    Read more


  • Thriller “A SINGLE SHOT’ Gets A U.S. Release Date

    single-shotA SINGLE SHOT starring Sam Rockwell, Photo Credit: Bob Akester Courtesy of Tribeca Film

    “A SINGLE SHOT” directed by David M. Rosenthal (Janie Jones), which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, followed by a North American premiere at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival will be released in the US by Tribeca Film and Well Go USA Entertainment. “A SINGLE SHOT” will be released this summer beginning August 20th on cable video-on-demand platforms, as well as iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, VUDU, and Google Play, followed by a theatrical release in major markets nationwide on September 20, 2013.

    Written by Matthew Jones from an adaptation of his critically acclaimed novel of the same name, “A SINGLE SHOT” stars Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Jeffrey Wright, Jason Isaacs and Kelly Reilly.

    The ‘white-knuckle thriller starts with a bang: a single shot, aimed at a lone deer, that hits and kills a young woman. The hunter, John Moon (Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths), watches her die before discovering a box of money near her body. In a desperate panic, he takes the cash — hiring a low-rent lawyer (William H. Macy, Fargo) to fight his wife’s (Kelly Reilly, Flight) divorce suit — and attempts to cover up the killing. But when he discovers that the money belonged to a group of hardened criminals, the hunter becomes the hunted in this tense cat-and-mouse struggle in the backwoods of West Virginia.’

    http://youtu.be/qqsblS0M6co

    Read more


  • World Premiere of “GRAVITY” starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney to Open 70th Venice International Film Festival

    gravity

    The world premiere of GRAVITY, the new film from director Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Children of Men), and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, will be screened in 3D as the opening film (Out of Competition) of the 70th Venice International Film Festival (August 28 – September 7, 2013).

    gravity-poster

    GRAVITY, from Warner Bros. Pictures, is a heart-pounding thriller that pulls you into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. In the film, Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney). But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone – tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth… and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

    Read more


  • Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival Reveals Lineup of Films for 2013

    AuroraAurora

    The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF) running concurrently with the Comic-Con International in San Diego unveiled the lineup of films for 2013. The CCI-IFF celebrates independent film, and this year’s schedule including more international films, with submissions from Australia, Canada, Israel, and Spain, in addition to the United States. Now in its 14th year, the CCI-IFF is a juried event – the 2013 judges are: Geoff Boucher, Alex DeMille, and Kathy Najimy. 

    Films on the lineup include:

    AURORA – After his wife is kidnapped by a group of slave traders, Emerson Marks, captain of the airship Aurora, must decide what he is willing to sacrifice in order to bring her back. Participating filmmakers include Chris Kellett and Jeremy Kelly-Bakker (Australian co-creators).

    DUST OF WAR – In a post-apocalyptic American Frontier, a soldier fends off a brutal warmonger to rescue a girl fated as the savior of humanity. It’s like Star Wars but on the prairie. Participating filmmakers include Doug Jones (Hellboy 1 & 2), Tony Todd (Candyman), Gary Graham (Star Trek Enterprise), and Andrew Kightlinger (writer/director).

    PROJECT ARBITER – A WWII sci-fi espionage story about a top secret O.S.S. unit. Captain Joseph Colburn is tasked with using a prototype invisibility suit to infiltrate a mysterious villa on the Polish border. Colburn’s mission abruptly begins when his plane is shot down. What is in the villa? What is Mixture 9? Participating filmmakers include Michael Chance (writer/director),Vicki de Mey (producer), Jason Beckwith(cinematographer), and Jesse Boots (VFX supervisor).

    THE END OF DATES – Dennis is finally on a date with the girl of his dreams. As he summons the courage for that first kiss, will a catastrophic alien attack on Earth ruin his perfect moment? Participating filmmakers include Kyle Stafford (writer/director), Mike Mangan(FX supervisor), and Dave Child and Brooke Lenzi(co-stars).

    BLIND LUCK – On an afternoon walk with his owner, a seeing-eye dog momentarily shirks his duties and must choose between his owner and his favorite toy. Participating panelist include Diane Aarts (creator).

    HOUSE OF MONSTERS – A mummy seeks relief with moisturizer, trying to regain the vitality of his youth to impress a special lady. Participating panelist include Dawn Brown (director).

    THE ART OF PHO – A moving and surreal story about a lovable creature named Little Blue and his friends. An extraordinary sequence of events brings Little Blue to Vietnam’s bustling capital Ho Chi Minh City, a.k.a. Saigon, where he learns to master the art of making Pho-Vietnam’s ubiquitous national noodle dish. The adventures that ensue set him on a marvelous path of self-discovery.

    SUMMER BUMMER – A man about to go swimming imagines what horrors could be lurking deep in the waters of his backyard pool. Bill Plympton(director/animator) talks about his film.

    LAKE BEAST – A childhood vision compels a man to explore the bottom of a toxic lake. Vance Reeser(Summer) talks about his film.

    PADAK – A film about the lives of fish in a seafood restaurant-some fish accept their fate, while others fight to change it. Participating filmmakers include Austin Osueke (producer) and Jongmin Shin(producer).

    See the full lineup and schedule.

    Read more


  • “COUNTERFEIT CULTURE” “HUMMINGBIRDS-JEWELED MESSENGERS” Among Grand Prix Best of Festival Winners at 2013 US International Film & Video Festival

    COUNTERFEIT CULTURECOUNTERFEIT CULTURE

    Three films received the Grand Prix-Best of Festival designation at the 2013 US International Film & Video Festival; “SWEET TOKYO” was chosen Best of Festival-Corporate, “HUMMINGBIRDS-JEWELED MESSENGERS” was selected Best of Festival – Documentary, and Best of Festival – Entertainment went to “STARS.” The documentary “COUNTERFEIT CULTURE” was selected for the One World Award, which recognizes a production that fosters international cooperation and global understanding.

    The visually powerful “HUMMINGBIRDS-JEWELED MESSENGERS” from Terra Mater Factual Studios and Free Spirit Films Production, Vienna, was selected Best of Festival – Documentary. It follows the 1,000-kilomenters journey of 14 million ruby-throated hummingbirds and was published by UK TV. The film was written and directed by Paul Reddish. Executive producer was Ivo Filatsch, and narrator was David Attenborough.

    Best of Festival – Entertainment went to “STARS,” produced by LLeju Productions in Houston and not yet released. The story line follows a young man on a drunken road trip during which he contemplates suicide until the adventure exposes him to the simple beauty of life. Director was Derek Borte and writer was Jim Janosky. Mark Kassen, Tom Bower, and Kathryn Hahn head the cast. 

    The One World Award, went to “COUNTERFEIT CULTURE,” a documentary on the $700-billion world of fake products, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals, electronic goods, car parts and microchips. The film was produced by Tell Tale Productions, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and shot on location in Canada, the USA, Asia and Europe. “Counterfeit Culture” challenges consumers to take a deeper look at what appear to be harmless knock-offs at bargain prices. Film director was Halifax-based Geoff D’Eon.

    “SWEET TOKYO,” produced by Seed Audio-Visual Communication AG, Zurich, for Confiseur Läderach AG, Ennenda, Switzerland, was chosen Best of Festival-Corporate. The production features Läderach chocolates representatives traveling to Japan on business, but the people they meet are not who they expected. That doesn’t stop them from showing the delights of the candies and providing humor for the viewer. Luki Frieden directed with Felix Courvosier as producer and Michael Saxer, director of photography.

    http://youtu.be/RsDBXn_yy5o

    Read more


  • Frameline Film Festival Audience Selects “REACHING FOR THE MOON” “THE NEW BLACK” “DIK” as Best Films of 2013 Festival

    REACHING FOR THE MOON directed by Bruno BarretoREACHING FOR THE MOON directed by Bruno Barreto

    Frameline film festival’s audience selected REACHING FOR THE MOON, directed by Bruno Barreto as the Best Feature Film, and THE NEW BLACK, directed by Yoruba Richen as the Best Documentary Film of the 2013 festival. DIK, directed by Christopher Stollery was selected as the Best Short Film. Since 1984 the audience at the the world’s longest running LGBT film festival has been responsible for selecting the Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film and Best Short Film of the Festival.

    REACHING FOR THE MOON, directed by Bruno Barreto tells the story of poet Elizabeth Bishop and her life-changing relationship with the wealthy—and very butch—architect Lota de Macedo Soares. THE NEW BLACK, directed by Yoruba Richen which also received an Honorable Mention, Outstanding Documentary, gives  an inside look at efforts within African American communities and churches across the country to address—and then do something about—same-sex equality.

    Frameline37 AT&T Audience Awards

    Best Feature Film
    REACHING FOR THE MOON, directed by Bruno Barreto

    Best Documentary Film
    THE NEW BLACK, directed by Yoruba Richen

    Best Short Film
    DIK, directed by Christopher Stollery

    Frameline37 Juried Awards

    Frameline37 Wells Fargo First Feature Award
    OUT IN THE DARK, directed by Michael Mayer

    Honorable Mention, First Feature
    CONCUSSION, directed by Stacie Passon

    Outstanding Documentary
    VALENTINE ROAD, directed by Marta Cunningham

    Honorable Mention, Outstanding Documentary
    THE NEW BLACK, directed by Yoruba Richen

    Honorable Mention, Outstanding Documentary
    BIG JOY: THE ADVENTURES OF JAMES BROUGHTON, directed by Eric Slade, Stephen Silha & Dawn Logsdson

    Read more


  • SHORT TERM 12″ and “LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM” Among Winning Films at 2013 Nantucket Film Festival

    Short Term 12Short Term 12

    The 18th annual Nantucket Film Festival which ran June 25 -30, 2013, is all over and announced its awards – with the top awards as usual honoring screenwriters. The top award – Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Feature Film was awarded to Destin Daniel Cretton’s “SHORT TERM 12.”  Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at SXSW, SHORT TERM 12 is described as the touching and uplifting story of Grace, a twenty-something social worker. Her newest ward, Jayden, forces Grace to relive her own difficult upbringing just as she and her boyfriend Mason are on the cusp of making a decision that will change their lives. Funny, moving, and surprising, the film delivers an emotional powerhouse through tremendous performances and a smart script.

    As for popular favorite films at the festival, the Audience Award for Best Feature Film went to Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine’s documentary film “LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM.” When their son, Sam, was diagnosed with progeria, an extremely rare and fatal disease characterized by accelerated aging symptoms, doctors Leslie Gordon and Scott Berns were told simply to enjoy him while they could. Instead, they spearheaded a campaign that has led to amazing discoveries, and Sam is turning 17 this year. LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM is an inspiring and heartwarming film about the power of family and making the most of the time we are given.

    The list of award winning films at the 2013 Nantucket Film Festival:

    The Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Feature Film: Destin Daniel Cretton’s “SHORT TERM 12.”

    The Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Short Film: Goran Dukic’s “WHAT DO WE HAVE IN OUR POCKETS?”

    Audience Award for Best Feature Film: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine’s “LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM”

    Audience Award for Best Short Film: PES’ “FRESH GUACAMOLE”

    Teen View Award: Matthew Bonifacio’s “FORTUNE HOUSE”

    The Vimeo Award for Best Writer/Director: Ryan Coogler, “FRUITVALE STATION

    Adrienne Shelley Excellence in Filmmaking Award: “OUR NIXON

    Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competition Award (Feature Film): “CAKE,” by Patrick Tobin

    Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Award (Short Film): “THE BRAVEST, THE BOLDEST,” by Moon Molson and Eric Fallen

    Nantucket Film Festival Best Short Film: Mick Andrews and Brett O’ Gorman’s “DOTTY”

    Screenwriter’s Tribute: David O. Russell

    New Voices in Screenwriting Award: Lake Bell

    A&E Special Achievement in Documentary Storytelling Award: Barbara Kopple

    Hour-Long TV Pilot Award: “THE MESSIAH PROJECT,” by David Baugnon

    Half-Hour TV Pilot Award, “TIME OUT,” by Ian McWethy

    Read more


  • THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER and THE WITNESSES OF THE WAR Win Top Film Prizes at 2013 Barcelona International Film Festival

    THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER directed by Michelle MowerTHE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER directed by Michelle Mower

    “THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER” won the Grand Jury Prize Narrative Film, and “THE WITNESSES OF THE WAR” won the Grand Jury Prize Documentary at the 2013 Barcelona International Film Festival. Directed by Michelle Mower, THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER is the story of Hannah White, the estranged daughter of a small town minister who is forced to return to the strict, religious home of her youth where she must confront the troubled relationships that caused her to leave four years before. “THE WITNESSES OF THE WAR” directed by Sami Solmaz, focuses on what is described as a lasting war in Turkey- off staged and not clarified by the state for some 27 years. In the West, the truth about what has been going on Kurdish territories for 27 years is far from exposed. The national mainstream media networks only broadcast the footage and the texts authorized by the state. The news to be broadcasted is designated by the government and the general staff.

    2013 Barcelona Film Festival Winners:

    The El Rey Awards

    Michelle Mower, Director, “THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER” Grand Jury Prize Narrative Film. The Preacher’s Daughter is the story of Hannah White, the estranged daughter of a small town minister who is forced to return to the strict, religious home of her youth where she must confront the troubled relationships that caused her to leave four years before.

    Sami Solmaz, Director, “THE WITNESSES OF THE WAR” Grand Jury Prize Documentary. There is a lasting war in Turkey- off staged and not clarified by the state for some 27 years. In the West, the truth about what has been going on Kurdish territories for 27 years is far from exposed. The national mainstream media networks only broadcast the footage and the texts authorized by the state. The news to be broadcasted is designated by the government and the general staff.

    Brian Patrick Lim, Writer, “CHASING FIRE” Grand Jury Prize Screenplay. Living behind the shadow of her mother, Kristin falls in love with Shane, an aspiring musician, whom she soon discovers to have something innately in common with her.

    Yasmine Perni, Director, “THE STONES CRY OUT” Special Jury Prize Narrative Film. The Stones Cry Out gives a detailed account of the historical, cultural, and political place occupied by Christians in the recent history of the Palestinian nation, and in its struggle against colonialism.

    Sara Jegeman, Director, “STAR” Special Jury Prize Documentary. The entertainer Bianca Fox is at the centerpiece of this portrait. Born in South Africa as a colored boy, she quickly understood that she was living in the wrong body.

    Allan Petersen, Director, “DEAD MAN’S BURDEN” Special Jury Prize Screenplay. The year is 1870, and a fragmented America still strains to pick up the pieces from a savage Civil War. Martha (exciting newcomer Clare Bowen) and her husband Heck (David Call, “Tiny Furniture”) are living on a homestead Martha’s father purchased on the rural New Mexico frontier and struggle to make ends meet. When a mining company expresses interest in buying their land, Martha and Heck see their ticket to a better life.

    El Rey Award for Excellence in Cinematography: CHELSEA-BARELONA directed by Alexandros Chantzis
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Film Direction: A RIGHT PAIR directed by Annabel Herbert
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Film Editing: Se Safando “GETTING AWAY WITH IT” directed by Taganyahu Swaby
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Documentary Narrative Filmmaking: ADDICTION directed by Christoph Toelle and Torsten Koenigs
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Documentary Short Filmmaking: LoveLife6958 Documentary directed by Christopher Syrus
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Dramatic Narrative: LOVE COMES AFTER directed by Hadzi-Aleksandar Djurovic
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Experimental Filmmaking: MASK TRIP CORE EDIT directed by Yoshi Higashi El Rey Award for Excellence in Short Filmmaking: ISLAND QUEEN directed by Ben Mallaby
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Television Filmmaking: THE FREUDIAN HOTEL directed by Paul Pawlowski
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Music Video: UBAH directed by Rizal Karim
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Student Filmmaking: ALL ABOUT HER directed by Jihad Saade
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Acting in a Lead Role: IS THAT THE QUESTION? directed by Joanne Rousset
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Acting in a Supporting Role: REQUIEM OF HOME directed by Abigail Wang
    El Rey Award for Excellence in Narrative Short Filmmaking: VICE directed by Nick Archer

    The Gold Lion Awards

    BIG BEAST directed by Thomas C. Bingham
    “IT’S BETTER TO JUMP” directed by Patrick Stewart
    A BAUL THE BAUL directed by Samim Ansari
    ECSTASY OF ST. AGNES directed by Slawomir Milewski
    REARVIEW directed by Robert Gulassarian
    CLOSURE directed by Desmond Devenish
    WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BLACK WOLF? directed by Janez Lapajne
    YOU WILL BE MY ALLY directed by Rosine Mfetgo Mbakam
    CORN directed by Evan Gaiswinkler and Brett Erina
    LAND OF TIGER, TIDE & ARABIAN GODDESS directed by Moushumi Basu

    The Castell Awards

    DAUÐALOGN directed by Iva Landau
    EVERYTHING LIKE ALWAYS directed by Peter Leder
    THE RUNNER directed by Saeed Taji Farouky
    CUBA CUBA CUBA directed by Kazuko Nishikawa
    JOURNEY INTO THE LIGHT – Bleijendijk Estate directed by Jacobien Schreurs
    ENCARNACIÓN directed by Tanja Nabben
    OUT IN THE COLD directed by Graham Marshall
    LOST IN LAOS directed by Alessandro Zunino
    PHOTOSHOPPING directed by Mark Davenport
    MR LONDON directed by Andrew Bone

    Official Finalists

    HUMAN VESSEL directed by Sissi Deng
    THE WITNESS JENYA directed by Eugenia Sakevych Dallas
    TO CHRIS MARKER: AN UNSENT LETTER directed by Emiko Omori
    A LIFE WORTH LIVING – PUSHING THE LIMITS OF DUCHENNE directed by Annie Perkins
    ONLY IN L.A. directed by Jus Riddick
    AGNUS DEI directed by Agim Sopi
    HIOB directed by Marco Gadge
    LADY COSMIC DREAM directed by Joanne Rousset
    A BIT OLDER AND A LITTLE BIT TALLER directed by Manlio Roseano
    EVERYBODY SOMETIMES FALLS directed by Villi Hermann

    Screenplay Competition

    1st Place: THE TIDES OF LOVE written by A M Zweiback
    2nd Place: THE LIBERATOR PILOT written by Chris Burdza
    3rd Place: CALL ME SHINE written by Pedro Canais
    4th Place: EINSATZGRUPPEN written by Paul Pawlowski
    5th Place: MORE THAN ETERNITY written by Maciej Rogala

    Honorable Mentions

    DHAMPIRA: THE VAMPIRE’S DAUGHTER written by Eduardo Soto-Falcon
    FISH OUT OF WATER written by Bonnie Anderson
    BREAKING BAD: REDEMPTION written by Andreas Tihanyi
    SOLO written by Marc Henauer

     

    Read more


  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jason Schwartzman, Steve McQueen Among 276 Artists and Execs Invited to Join Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt  in Don Jons Addiction Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Don Jons Addiction

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who “have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.” “These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”

    The 2013 invitees are:

    Actors
    Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
    Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
    Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
    Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
    Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
    Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
    Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
    Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
    Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,” “Chaplin”
    Lucy Liu – “Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Chicago”
    Jennifer Lopez – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Selena”
    Alma Martinez – “Born in East L.A.,” “Under Fire”
    Emily Mortimer – “Hugo,” “Lars and the Real Girl”
    Sandra Oh – “Rabbit Hole,” “Sideways”
    Paula Patton – “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
    Michael Peña – “End of Watch,” “Crash”
    Emmanuelle Riva – “Amour,” “Hiroshima, Mon Amour”
    Jason Schwartzman – “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Rushmore”
    Geno Silva – “Mulholland Drive,” “Amistad”
    Danny Trejo – “Machete,” “Heat”
    Chris Tucker – “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Rush Hour”

    Cinematographers
    Luca Bigazzi – “This Must Be the Place,” “Certified Copy”
    Benoît Delhomme – “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” “The Proposition”
    Simon Duggan – “The Great Gatsby,” “Killer Elite”
    Greig Fraser – “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”
    Jonathan Freeman – “Remember Me,” “Fifty Dead Men Walking”
    Greg Gardiner – “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Elf”
    Eric Gautier – “Into the Wild,” “The Motorcycle Diaries”
    Agnès Godard – “Sister,” “Beau Travail”
    Eduard Grau – “Buried,” “A Single Man”
    Jess Hall – “The Spectacular Now,” “Brideshead Revisited”
    Fred Kelemen – “The Turin Horse,” “The Man from London”
    Mark Lee Ping Bing – “Norwegian Wood,” “In the Mood for Love”
    Reed Morano – “Little Birds,” “Frozen River”
    Oleg Mutu – “Beyond the Hills,” “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”
    Alex Nepomniaschy – “Narc,” “Safe” 
    Christian Sebaldt – “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” “Race to Space”
    Ben Seresin – “World War Z,” “Unstoppable”
    Adam Stone – “Mud,” “Take Shelter”
    Checco Varese – “Girl in Progress,” “The Aura”
    Ken Zunder – “Bending the Rules,” “That’s What I Am”

    Costume Designers
    Paco Delgado – “Les Misérables,” “Biutiful”
    Sophie de Rakoff – “This Means War,” “Legally Blonde”
    Carlo Poggioli – “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “Cold Mountain”

    Designers
    Lori Balton – “Argo,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
    Judy Becker – “Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Fighter”
    Simon Bright – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Avatar”
    Martin T. Charles – “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “The Artist”
    David M. Crank – “The Master,” “Lincoln”
    Stefan Paul Dechant – “Oz The Great and Powerful,” “True Grit”
    Tracey A. Doyle – “The Muppets,” “21”
    Anna Lynch-Robinson – “Les Misérables,” “An Education”
    Maria Nay – “Identity Thief,” “Ray”
    David Smith – “Crazy, Stupid, Love.,” “The Holiday”

    Directors
    Nikolaj Arcel – “A Royal Affair,” “Truth about Men”
    Ava DuVernay* – “Middle of Nowhere,” “I Will Follow” 
    Paul Feig – “The Heat,” “Bridesmaids”
    Catherine Hardwicke – “Twilight,” “Thirteen”
    Kirk Jones – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Waking Ned Devine”
    Ken Kwapis – “Big Miracle,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”
    Pablo Larraín – “No,” “Tony Manero”
    Steve McQueen – “Shame,” “Hunger”
    Kim Nguyen – “War Witch (Rebelle),” “City of Shadows”
    Jafar Panahi* – “This Is Not a Film,” “The Circle” 
    Todd Phillips – “The Hangover,” “Old School”
    Joachim Rønning – “Kon-Tiki,” “Max Manus”
    Espen Sandberg – “Kon-Tiki,” “Max Manus”
    Tim Story – “Think Like a Man,” “Fantastic Four”
    Benh Zeitlin – “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Glory at Sea”

    Documentary
    Orlando Bagwell – “Citizen King,” “Malcolm X: Make It Plain”
    Rebecca Cammisa – “God Is the Bigger Elvis,” “Which Way Home”
    Yung Chang – “China Heavyweight,” “Up the Yangtze”
    Michael Chin – “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple,” “In the Shadow of the Stars”
    Christine Choy – “In the Name of the Emperor,” “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”
    Bonni Cohen – “The Island President,” “Wonders Are Many: The Making of Doctor Atomic”
    Eduardo Coutinho – “As Canções,” “Cabra Marcado Para Morrer (Twenty Years Later)”
    Miriam Cutler – “Kings Point,” “Ethel”
    Andrea Nix Fine – “Inocente,” “War/Dance”
    Sean Fine – “Inocente,” “War/Dance”
    Robert Frank – “Cocksucker Blues,” “Pull My Daisy”
    William Greaves – “Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey,” “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One”
    Lauren Greenfield – “The Queen of Versailles,” “Thin”
    Patricio Guzmán – “Nostalgia for the Light,” “The Battle of Chile”
    Vivien Hillgrove – “Symphony of the Soil,” “In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee”
    Heddy Honigmann – “El Olvido (Oblivion),” “Crazy”
    Vikram Jayanti – “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector,” “Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine”
    Peter Kinoy – “Poverty Outlaw,” “When the Mountains Tremble”
    Claude Lanzmann – “Le Rapport Karski (The Karski Report),” “Shoah”
    Kim Longinotto – “Rough Aunties,” “Sisters in Law”
    Stanley Nelson – “Freedom Riders,” “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple”
    Jehane Noujaim – “Control Room,” “Startup.com”
    Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy – “Transgenders: Pakistan’s Open Secret,” “Saving Face”
    Marcel Ophuls – “Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie,” “The Sorrow and the Pity”
    José Padilha – “Secrets of the Tribe,” “Bus 174 (Ônibus 174)”
    Jafar Panahi* – “This Is Not a Film,” “The Circle”
    Elise Pearlstein – “Last Call at the Oasis,” “Food, Inc.” 
    Raoul Peck – “Fatal Assistance (Assistance Mortelle),” “Lumumba: La Mort du Prophète”
    Kevin Rafferty – “Harvard Beats Yale 29-29,” “The Atomic Cafe” 
    J. Ralph* – “Chasing Ice,” “Man on Wire” 
    Bob Richman – “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory,” “Waiting for ‘Superman'”
    T. Woody Richman – “How to Survive a Plague,” “Fahrenheit 9/11”
    Veronica Selver – “Berkeley in the Sixties,” “You Got to Move: Stories of Change in the South”
    Jon Shenk – “The Island President,” “Lost Boys of Sudan”
    Ricki Stern – “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” “The Devil Came on Horseback”
    Robert Stone – “Earth Days,” “Radio Bikini”
    Annie Sundberg – “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” “The Devil Came on Horseback”
    Renee Tajima-Pena – “Who Killed Vincent Chin?,” “My America (Or Honk If You Love Buddha)”
    Agnès Varda – “The Beaches of Agnès,” “The Gleaners and I”
    Roger Ross Williams – “God Loves Uganda,” “Music by Prudence”
    Pamela Yates – “Granito: How to Nail a Dictator,” “The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court”
    Amy Ziering – “The Invisible War,” “Derrida”

    Executives
    Holly Bario
    Jeb Brody
    Eric d’Arbeloff
    Dean C. Hallett
    Lynn Harris
    Jeff Ivers
    Jonathan King
    Robert Kirby
    Dylan Leiner
    Nick Meyer
    Andrew Millstein
    Hannah Minghella
    Angela Morrison
    Brian Roberts
    Mark Roybal
    Tucker Tooley
    Kevin Tsujihara

    Film Editors
    Michael Berenbaum – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Sex and the City”
    Jeff Freeman – “Ted,” “Cruel Intentions”
    James Haygood – “Where the Wild Things Are,” “Fight Club”
    Stuart Levy – “Savages,” “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”
    Mary Jo Markey – “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Super 8”

    Makeup Artists and Hairstylists
    Luisa Abel – “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Inception”
    Anne Aulenta-Spira – “The Place beyond the Pines,” “Drive”
    Terry Baliel – “The Dark Knight Rises,” “J. Edgar”
    Thomas Floutz – “The Call,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
    Kay Georgiou – “Promised Land,” “Lincoln” 
    Bernadette Mazur – “Men in Black 3,” “The Campaign”
    Kim Santantonio – “Gangster Squad,” “Frost/Nixon”
    Lisa Tomblin – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”
    Kelvin R. Trahan – “Argo,” “Memoirs of a Geisha”
    Lisa Westcott – “Les Misérables,” “Shakespeare in Love”

    Members-at-Large
    Victoria Alonso
    Fred Baron
    Ben Bray
    Pieter Jan Brugge
    Jackie Burch
    Leo Davis
    Susie Figgis
    Lori Furie
    Glenn S. Gainor
    Joe Gareri
    Lance Gilbert
    Andy Gill
    Mindy Marin
    Laray Mayfield
    Jeanne McCarthy
    Neil Meron
    Gary Powell
    Ned Price
    Michelle Satter
    Stefan Sonnenfeld
    Cindy Tolan
    Brent Woolsey

    Music
    Ramiro Belgardt – “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Lincoln”
    Ramin Djawadi – “Safe House,” “Iron Man”
    Jennifer Dunnington – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Hugo”
    Siedah Garrett – “Rio,” “Dreamgirls”
    Joe Hisaishi – “Ponyo,” “Spirited Away”
    Henry Jackman – “This Is the End,” “Wreck-It Ralph”
    Cliff Martinez – “Drive,” “Traffic”
    Prince – “Purple Rain,” “Happy Feet”
    J. Ralph* – “Chasing Ice,” “Man on Wire”
    Aaron Lael Zigman – “Peeples,” “Sex and the City”

    Producers
    Stefan Arndt – “Amour,” “The White Ribbon”
    Jason Blum – “The Purge,” “Paranormal Activity”
    Finola Dwyer – “Quartet,” “An Education”
    Jack Giarraputo – “Anger Management,” “The Wedding Singer”
    Veit Heiduschka – “Amour,” “The White Ribbon”
    Lloyd Levin – “Green Zone,” “Watchmen”
    Julie Lynn – “Albert Nobbs,” “Nine Lives”
    Margaret Menegoz – “Amour,” “The White Ribbon”
    Andrea Sperling – “Smashed,” “Like Crazy”

    Public Relations
    Rachel Cadden
    Theresa Cross
    Jeff S. Elefterion
    Julie Fontaine
    Jackson George
    Anne Globe
    Michael Lawson
    Dennis O’Connor
    Blair Rich
    John G. Sabel

    Short Films and Feature Animation
    Marc Bertrand – “Gloria Victoria,” “Hollow Land”
    Bryan Buckley – “Asad,” “The Wake-Up Caller”
    Shawn Christensen – “Curfew,” “Brink”
    Eric Darnell – “Madagascar,” “Shrek”
    John C. Donkin – “Ice Age Continental Drift,” “Gone Nutty”
    Ken Duncan – “9,” “Shark Tale”
    Danielle Feinberg – “Brave,” “WALL-E”
    Sam Fell – “ParaNorman,” “The Tale of Despereaux”
    Matt Groening – “Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare,'” “The Simpsons Movie”
    Vicky Jenson – “Shark Tale,” “Shrek”
    Travis Knight – “ParaNorman,” “Coraline”
    Steve May – “Brave,” “Up”
    Rich Moore – “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”
    Robert Neuman – “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Tangled”
    Brandon Oldenburg – “Rise of the Guardians,” “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
    PES – “Fresh Guacamole,” “Western Spaghetti” 
    Steve Pilcher – “Brave,” “Shrek the Third”
    Normand Roger – “Hollow Land,” “The Banquet of the Concubine”
    Clark Spencer – “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt”

    Sound
    Bobbi Banks – “The Call,” “Hustle & Flow”
    Jose Antonio Garcia – “Argo,” “Babel” 
    Simon Hayes – “Les Misérables,” “X-Men: First Class”
    Edward J. Hernandez – “Real Steel,” “Basic Instinct”
    Daniel S. Irwin – “Prometheus,” “Little Children”
    Drew Kunin – “Life of Pi,” “Lost in Translation”
    Michael W. Mitchell – “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Matrix Reloaded”
    Tom Ozanich – “Project X,” “Kill Bill: Vol. 2”
    Mark Paterson – “Les Misérables,” “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” 
    Richard Pryke – “127 Hours,” “Slumdog Millionaire”
    Erin Michael Rettig – “A Good Day to Die Hard,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”
    Ann Scibelli – “Prometheus,” “Inglourious Basterds”
    Brian T. Slack – “Chéri,” “Crossover”
    Bruce Tanis – “Gangster Squad,” “X-Men: First Class”
    F. Elmo Weber – “Identity Thief,” “The Kids Are All Right”
    Christopher T. Welch – “Silver Linings Playbook,” “(500) Days of Summer”
    Dave Whitehead – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “District 9”
    Stuart Wilson – “Skyfall,” “War Horse”

    Visual Effects
    Jason Bayever – “Life of Pi,” “The Wolfman”
    Mark Breakspear – “The Great Gatsby,” “Tropic Thunder”
    Philip Brennan – “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Minority Report”
    Tony Clark – “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” 
    David Clayton – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Avatar”
    Michael Dawson – “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Devil’s Double”
    Erik-Jan De Boer – “Life of Pi,” “Night at the Museum”
    Donald R. Elliott – “Life of Pi,” “Seabiscuit”
    John Goodson – “Red Tails,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
    Charley Henley – “Prometheus,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”
    John McLeod – “Django Unchained,” “The Aviator”
    Mark Noel – “Oz The Great and Powerful,” “Transformers”
    David Prescott – “Transformers,” “X-Men”
    Guillaume Rocheron – “Life of Pi,” “Sucker Punch”
    Wendy Rogers – “Puss in Boots,” “Shrek”
    David Alexander Smith – “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Matrix Reloaded”
    Wayne Stables – “The Adventures of Tintin,” “Avatar”
    Richard Stammers – “Prometheus,” “Angels & Demons”
    Richard Stutsman – “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Independence Day”
    Christopher Townsend – “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Day after Tomorrow”
    Stephan Trojansky – “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Hereafter”
    David Watkins – “Ali,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” 
    Jeff White – “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
    Trevor Wood – “Prometheus,” “The Golden Compass”

    Writers
    Jessica Bendinger – “Aquamarine,” “Bring It On”
    Reggie Rock Bythewood – “Notorious,” “Get on the Bus”
    Tina Gordon Chism – “Peeples,” “Drumline”
    Julie Delpy – “Before Midnight,” “2 Days in Paris”
    Lena Dunham – “Nobody Walks,” “Tiny Furniture”
    Ava DuVernay* – “Middle of Nowhere,” “I Will Follow”
    John Gatins – “Flight,” “Coach Carter”
    John Hamburg – “I Love You, Man,” “Meet the Parents”
    John Lee Hancock – “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Blind Side”
    Rian Johnson – “Looper,” “Brick”
    Jeff Nichols – “Mud,” “Take Shelter”
    Sarah Polley – “Take This Waltz,” “Away from Her”
    Chris Terrio – “Argo,” “Heights”

    Associates
    Lorrie Bartlett
    Paul Bronfman
    Markham L. Goldstein
    Robert Harvey
    Gregory S. Laemmle
    Sandra Marsh
    Adam Schweitzer
    Kimberly Snyder
    Matthew L. Snyder
    Les Zellan

     

    Read more


  • “LEVIATHAN” “A WORLD NOT OURS” “FIRE IN THE NIGHT” Win Top Film Awards at 2013 Edinburgh International Film Festival

    A WORLD NOT OURS (ALAM LAYSA LANA) directed by Mahdi Fleifel A WORLD NOT OURS (ALAM LAYSA LANA) directed by Mahdi Fleifel

    “LEVIATHAN” directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel, described as a stunning documentary that immerses the audience in the sights and sounds of commercial fishing in the North Atlantic won the The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film at the 2013 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).  “A WORLD NOT OURS” (ALAM LAYSA LANA), directed by Mahdi Fleifel – a personal look into the 70,000 people living in Ain el-Helweh the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, won the The Award for Best Film in the International Competition. The Audience Award was won by “FIRE IN THE NIGHT” directed by Anthony Wonke – about the world’s worst offshore disaster – 6 July 1988, disaster on the North Sea oil rig Piper Alpha.

    The winners of the EIFF 2013 Awards.

    The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film
    LEVIATHAN

    The Audience Award, supported by Sainsbury’s Bank
    FIRE IN THE NIGHT

    The Award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film
    Jamie Blackley (uwantme2killhim?) 
    Toby Regbo (uwantme2killhim?)

    The Award for Best Film in the International Competition
    A WORLD NOT OURS

    The Student Critics Jury Award, supported by James & Morag Anderson
    CELESTIAL WIVES OF THE MEADOW MARI (Nebesnye Ženy Lugovykh Mari)

    The McLaren Award for New British Animation, supported by the British Council
    MARILYN MYLLER by Mikey Please

    The Award for Best Short Film
    GHL by Lotte Schreiber

    The Award for Creative Innovation in a Short Film
    DOLL PARTS by Muzi Quawson

    The Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to a Short Film
    Josh Gibson – Director of Photography, LIGHT PLATE

    Read more


  • REVIEW: BYZANTIUM

    byzantium

    Isn’t it funny how a movie that starts with a line in voiceover narration like “my story can never be told” ends up being a two hour movie in which that story is told in great detail, right?

    Eleanor (Saorise Ronan) and Clara (Gemma Arterton) are 200 year old vampire-like creatures (called “succreants”) in modern day England. Though they refer to each other as sisters, Clara is actually Eleanor’s mother. Eleanor keeps her blood thirst in check by only feeding on dying old people, while Clara supports them by prostituting. After meeting a doughy, bespectacled customer who owns a hotel named Byzantium, Clara sets up a brothel and believes that their problems have been solved. However, Eleanor meets a gangly, nervous teenager named Frank (Caleb Landry Jones) and she finds herself drawn to him. She aches to reveal her true nature to him but Clara has so far kept her unaware of the costs of that decision – they are being tracked by powerful dark forces. Intercut with this narrative is the story of how Clara and Eleanor became succreants and why they must hide their true nature from the world.

    Comparisons to the Twilight series are inevitable, though BYZANTIUM is a bloodier, more vicious take on the material (still, though BYZANTIUM is rated R it is only briefly gruesome and gratuitous). At the very least, it’s a movie that is more tolerable for boyfriends (Gemma Arterton in various states of undress being more preferable than sparkly Robert Pattinson).

    The film was adapted from the 2007 play A Vampire Story by Moira Buffini, who also adapted it for the screen, and was directed by Neil Jordan, who is best known for winning an Oscar for directing The Crying Game. I mention them both because I’m not sure who to blame for the two-hour runtime, which is far longer than necessary. This is because Byzantium has a tendency to repeat itself. For example, for roughly the first third of the movie Eleanor crosses paths with Frank (often by choice), but then runs away from when he gets too close (physically and emotionally). That’s a fine story bit, but not when it is repeated three times. It even becomes a joke when Frank (who, I might add, tends to dress like a hobbit) finally says to her “why do you keep running away from me?” Similarly, much of the film’s dialogue is spoken in harsh whispers meaning that there is this dreary tone running through the film for nearly its entire length.

    However, BYZANTIUM is filled with gorgeous shots and both Arterton and Ronan rise above the sometimes silly dialogue with their performances. The movie will likely play extremely well with the Twilight crowd, especially those who liked the books and thought the film adaptations were too cheesy. Byzantium replaces that melodrama with blood and melancholia, which is a much better mixture.

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

    http://youtu.be/Ej2YBAuqvGk

    Read more