• The Last Rites of Joe May Takes Top Awards at 2011 Best of the Midwest Awards

    [caption id="attachment_1975" align="alignnone"]The Last Rites of Joe May[/caption]

    The 2011 Best of the Midwest Awards, an annual ceremony that celebrates Chicago’s Midwest Independent Film Festival, were presented on Tuesday, December 6th in downtown Chicago. Hometown film, “The Last Rites of Joe May,” directed by Joe Maggio was the big winner, taking home the prizes for Best Feature, Best Actor for Dennis Farina and Best Actress for Meredith Droeger.

    “The Last Rites of Joe May, chronicles the last days in the life of Joe May, an aging, short money hustler who, despite a life of loss and failure, has always believed that a glorious destiny awaited him. Now in his sixties, his health failing and resources dwindling, Joe is presented with one last shot at greatness.

    The 2011 Best of the Midwest Award Winners are as followed….

    Best Feature
    “The Last Rites of Joe May,” directed by Joe Maggio

    Best Director
    Mike Diedrich, “Ballhawks”

    Best Actor
    Winner: Dennis Farina, “The Last Rites of Joe May”

    Best Actress
    Winner: Meredith Droeger, “The Last Rites of Joe May”

    Best Music Video
    Winner: “Call the Press and Send Their Best,” directed by Michael Starcevich and Mattew Achterberg.

    Best Short Film
    Winner: “A Certain Breed,” directed by Scott Smith

    Best Editing
    Winner: Randy Palmer, Jr. and Brooks Ruyle, “Ballhawks”

    Best Cinematography
    Winner: Joel Edwards, “Mumbai Golf”

    Best Screenplay
    Winner: Dean Peterson, “Incredibly Small”

    {youtube}OYpCp1_abqY{/youtube}

    Read more

  • Go See “Khodorkovsky” in Theaters this weekend

    by Francesca Mccaffery

    Cyril Tuschi’s riveting new documentary “Khodorkovsky” focuses on the 2003 imprisonment of Russian oligarch, the billionaire, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who at the time of his arrest at forty-two years old was the richest man in Russia.

    Brought to “court” on charges clearly trumped up and false (tax embezzlement and fraud), in a case that had the world watching and the proceedings of which even had then President George Bush deem wrongful and misguided, Khodorkovsky remains in prison in Siberia to this day. This documentary is the story rife with the country’s entire key political, economic and industry players, and it is a dense, richly woven web of intrigue, politics and clashing male egos.

    Mikhail Khodorkovsky was a rather mild-mannered science and engineering student with an “aura” about him, as fellow students and friends describe him. An avowed socialist, his attentions and ambition soon turn to capitalism when the Cold War began to melt down the country’s communist infra-structure, the U.S.S.R. was becoming Russia again, and soon became very interested in acting and behaving like a proper Western democracy.

    As Russian state assets were sold off, the then government, trying to keep the land, assets and industry primarily “Russian,” were forced to sell to the lowest Russian bidder, as funds were simply not accessible, impossible to find on any sort of reasonable scale, inside of mother Russia itself. Khodorkovsky and his friends had cleverly started a bank during this time. In 1995, they acquired the main Russian oil company, later to become Yukos, for the paltry sum of $330 million. The government, again, felt obliged to sell, at an auction, it was noted later, which had very little competition. With part of their original company’s manifesto stating, “Let capitalism be our compass,” Khodorkovsky and his team soon became major global players- meeting with heads of state, zipping around in private jets, and Khodorkovsky himself consulting the Russian government itself about how to form its newly democratic judicial system.

    The documentary is really quite fascinating, as it is at once dissecting a current event in Russia’s ever-changing economic-political history, and how it will establish itself in the global economy, as well as examining the will that comes to blows of two very different types of men: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Khodorkovsky himself.

    When the government learns that Yukos may soon be going partially public, could be bought and owned by outside investors, (read- the US! Exxon! Mobile!) Putin and his cabinet are clearly hysterically nervous about this: What would a westernized Russia look like? What would it mean? Most importantly, would they have the same control? As we stare at Putin’s face in the footage and photos, we wonder: Does he care about saving Russia, or simply his place in the world, his career, and place in society?

    It is due to Tuschi’s film, which is five years in the making, that we get the complete picture. As his interviews with young, hip Russians illustrate, the party line in Russia is still that Khodorkovsky stole from his own government, and is, basically, a pretty evil guy. But as Putin’s actions escalate, we can see it truly is not Russia or her people he is worried about. He is pissed off, and it we see it devolving into a strange, globally witnessed “mano-a-mano” confrontation.

    Tuschi actually became pen-pals of sorts with Khodorkovsky, and in voice-over the audience learns what a thoughtful, ambitious, and critical thinker Khodorkovsky is. He also seems steadfast in his views today, and Tuschi even gets the chance to interview him after he stand son trial for another bogus charge of stealing “350 million barrels of oil” from his own company. “You would have to circle the earth three times with a freight train to transport that much oil. Where would we have hidden it?” Khodorkovsky says, exasperated and almost cheerfully. “These charges are absurd.”

    Weaving these moments in with a stark, black and white animation to highlight specific flash-backs, it is absolutely fascinating to ponder his refusal to leave Russia as a genius mastermind chess move by Khodorkovsky. He has the will to not have only become the richest man in the world under forty at one time, certainly. But-by showing Russia itself and the rest of the world how corrupt their current Russian government really is, could he really get out of jail and end up running the country? We see a capitalist who is now a major human rights case, a man who is at first incensed by Putin’s smallness. Then, like the entrepreneur that he surely is, the viewer could also surmise that this man with the iron will to succeed could very well turn his catastrophe into a truly grand political opportunity.

    “It is difficult for a small-minded man to get over a slight.” to paraphrase Khodorkovsky in writing to Tuschi about Putin. This is a truly a wonderful documentary- expansive, glowing, exhausting, heart-rending and informative- and, like an animated political discussion in an your favorite coffee shop with new friends- it completely stays with you. Playing at the Film Forum in NYC until December 13th.

    {youtube}Ohl6ryB213A{/youtube}

     

    Read more

  • RESTLESS CITY and the Winners of 8th Bahamas International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_1970" align="alignnone"]RESTLESS CITY[/caption]

    The 8th Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) awarded the film RESTLESS CITY with the New Visions prize, but the audience voted the Jamaican film BETTER MUS’ COME the Best Film at the now wrapped festival. Restless City, an official selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of an Africa immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle, and falling in love is his greatest risk.

    [caption id="attachment_1971" align="alignnone" width="550"]Better Mus Come[/caption]

    Better Mus’ Come set in 1970’s Jamaica, is a violent film that captures the deep rooted conflict at the heart of Jamaican politics.

    [caption id="attachment_920" align="alignnone"]MARATHON BOY[/caption]

    MARATHON BOY about the four-year-old boy in India famous for running long distance races and his relationship with his mentor-trainer was awarded the Spirit of Freedom: Documentary award.

    BIFF 2011 winners are:

    New Visions
    RESTLESS CITY (USA) / Director: Andrew Dosunmu

    First Look
    Best Feature: AMOS (The Bahamas)  / Director: Karen Arthur, Thomas Neuwirth

    Best Short: FIVE BONES (The Bahamas) / Director: Tyler Johnston

    *Honorable mention to TALL TALE OF AN ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (The Bahamas) / Director: Jason Evans

    Spirit of Freedom: Narrative
    VIPS (Brazil) / Director: Toniko Melo

    *Honorable mention to BETTER MUS’ COME (Jamaica) / Director: Storm Saulter

    Spirit of Freedom: Documentary
    MARATHON BOY (USA/UK/India) / Director: Gemma Atwal

    *Honorable mention to ZERO PERCENT (USA) / Director: Tim Skousen

    Short Film
    HOMECOMING (USA) / Director: Gursimran Sandhu

    2011 BIFF Audience Awards
    Best Narrative Feature: BETTER MUS’ COME (Jamaica) / Director: Storm Saulter

    Best Documentary: ON THE WINGS OF MEN (USA/The Bahamas) / Director: Calvin Dwight Harris

    Winning screenplay in BIFF’s Filmmakers’ Residency Program is Danea Cash’s screenplay MARCH ON.

    Read more

  • Cinema Eye Honors to Honor Frederick Wiseman’s Documentary 1967 documentary, Titicut Follies

    [caption id="attachment_1968" align="alignnone" width="550"]Titicut Follies[/caption]

    The Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking will present the 2012 Legacy Award to the landmark 1967 documentary, Titicut Follies, a stark and graphic portrayal of the conditions that existed at the State Prison for the Criminally Insane at Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman will accept the award on behalf of the film at this year’s Cinema Eye ceremony.

    “It’s hard for me to believe that Titicut Follies was shot forty-six years ago,” said Wiseman.  “I’m thrilled to receive the Cinema Eye Legacy Award but it is tough for me to deal with the implications.”

    The award will be presented on January 11, 2012 at the 5th Annual Cinema Eye Honors ceremony to be held at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York.  A Stranger Than Fiction screening of Titicut Follies will be held the following week, on January 17, at the IFC Center, on the eve of the opening of Wiseman’s latest film, Crazy Horse, which debuts at New York’s Film Forum on January 18, before rolling out to theaters nationwide.

    Read more

  • 2012 San Joaquin International Film Festival unveils Official Selections

     

    The 5th San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF) annouced its official selections. The Festival will run in Stockton, California from January 12th-14th at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue), and January 15th at the Janet Leigh Theatre (3601 Pacific Avenue) on the campus of University of the Pacific. The Festival will launch on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 with the original Swiss comedy “The Sandman” with Director Peter Luisi in person, and will wrap on Sunday, January 15th with the American biographical documentary “Carol Channing: Larger than Life.”

    – From Founder-Director Sophoan Sorn: “Selections for 2012 come from master directors, auteurs and new talents of 16 countries, including winners from the European Film Awards, Festival de Cannes, the Goyas (Spain), the Ophirs (Israel) and the Student Academy Awards; while several films are running for the 2012 Oscars. We feel so proud to be a gateway and a unique opportunity for the people of San Joaquin to experience some of the best of recent World Cinema. Now in its fifth year, the San Joaquin International Film Festival has become an annual tradition for the community.”

    – From SJ Film Society Chairman Shane Williamson: “This year’s festival is filled with impressive films from across the globe which were carefully hand picked. The line-up showcases not only diverse subjects for broad audiences but impeccable award winning quality and films with relevant topics of our world today.”

    FEATURES

    “Amigo” – A village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War, in a powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence. Director John Sayles, The Philippines/USA, 124min.

    “Chico & Rita” – Havana, 1948. A passionate love story between a young jazz pianist called Chico and Rita, a singer with a bewitching voice. Directors Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, Tono Errando, Spain/UK, 94min. Valley Premiere.

    “Le Havre” – When an African boy arrives by cargo ship in the French port city of Le Havre, an aging shoe shiner takes pity on the child and welcomes him into his home. Director Aki Kaurismäki, Finland/France, 93min. Centerpiece Film.

     

    [caption id="attachment_2238" align="alignnone"]My Wedding and Other Secrets[/caption]


    “My Wedding and Other Secrets” – A romantic comedy based on a true story of a New Zealand-born Chinese woman convincing her traditional Hong Kong parents to let her marry her Caucasian boyfriend. Director Roseanne Liang, New Zealand, 88min.

    “Remembrance” (“Die verlorene Zeit”) – A remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in 1944 Poland. Director Anna Justice, Germany/Poland, 108min. Valley Premiere.

    “Restoration” (“Boker tov adon Fidelman”) – A triangle of fatherhood ties, a triangle of love. A drama about a family’s effort to save their antique restoration business. Director Yossi Madmony, Israel, 105min. Valley Premiere.

    “The Sandman” (“Der Sandmann”) – One fine morning, Benno finds sand in his bed. While he tries to ignore this at first, he soon must realize that he himself is loosing the sand… Director Peter Luisi (In Person), Switzerland, 88min. Opening Night Film. Valley Premiere.

    “Winter’s Daughter” (“Wintertochter”) A heartwarming film for the family about a young Polish girl who searches for her Russian sailor father. Director Johannes Schmid, Germany/Poland, 93min. Valley Premiere.

    DOCUMENTARIES

    “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” – The Muppet Elmo is one of the most beloved characters among children across the globe. Meet the unlikely man behind the puppet – the heart and soul of Elmo – Kevin Clash. Director Constance Marks, USA, 80min. Centerpiece film.

    “Carol Channing: Larger than Life” – The story of legendary performer Carol Channing’s life is as colorful as the lipstick on her big, bright smile. Feel the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old icon – both onstage and off…past and present. Director Dori Berinstein, USA, 84min. Closing Night film.

    [caption id="attachment_2239" align="alignnone"]Rice Field of Dreams[/caption]

    “Rice Field of Dreams” – The journey of Cambodia’s first national baseball team. Director Daron Ker, Cambodia/USA, 75min.

     


    SHORTS

    “Between Heaven and Earth” – Brothers Koroballa and Tiemogo try to escape the brutality of African life by sneaking into the landing section of a plane. York-Fabian Raabe, Germany/South Africa, 15min. Fiction short. Valley Premiere.

    “I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone” (“Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho”) – A 15 year-old blind teenager deals with the jealousy of his friend Giovana while figuring out the new feelings he’s having towards his new friend, Gabriel. Director Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil, 17min. Fiction short. Valley Premiere.

    “The First Anders” (“Den Første Anders”) – A father tries to teach his artistic and troubled young son a valuable lesson, with a story spanning over one thousand years of Danish history and countless generations of the family Andersen. Director Kristian Ussing Andersen, Denmark, 9min. Fiction short. Northern California Premiere.

    “Kahanikar – The Storyteller” – Seven-year-old Nirmala attempts to grapple with the demons of her granddad’s dementia when he starts to forget the details of her favourite story. Director Nandita Jain, UK, 10min. Animated short. Northern California Premiere.

    “A Salton Soul” – June Eilers came to the Salton Sea when her father opened the Date Palm Beach resort in the Roaring Twenties. As the sea slowly begins to dry up, she reflects on a lifetime of priceless memories. Director Mike Agnew, Greg Balkin, Tim Kressin, USA, 13min. Documentary short. Northern California Premiere.

    “Tuba Atlantic” – Oskar is dying, and is ready to forgive his brother for a disagreement years ago. Will he reach his brother, who he believes live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, before it is too late? Director Hallvar Witzø, Norway, 25min. Fiction short. Northern California Premiere.

    “The Vermeers” – Experience Jan Vermeer’s paintings (1632-1675) through the contemporary digital palette. Director Tal S. Shamir, USA, 5min. Experimental short. Northern California Premiere.

     

    Read more

  • IFC Films to Release PEACE, LOVE & MISUNDERSTANDING starring Jane Fonda

    IFC Films will release director Bruce Beresford’s dramatic comedy Peace, Love & Misunderstanding. The film boasts an all-star cast headlined by Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda, two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener, Kyle MacLachlan, Elizabeth Olsen, Chace Crawford, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Rosanna Arquette and Nat Wolff.

    Fonda makes her return to the screen working with Australian film veteran Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies, Mao’s Last Dancer). Together with a wonderful cast, they deliver a heartfelt and funny comedy about reunion and second chances. Diane is a conservative lawyer (Keener) who, after splitting with her husband, takes her two teenage children, Zoe (Olsen) and Jake (Wolff) to meet their estranged, eccentric grandmother Grace (Fonda), the epitome of the term “free spirit” who lives in Woodstock, NY. Her personality was always so immense Diane felt there was rarely any room for anyone else. The film playfully depicts a string of new beginnings founded in letting go of the past. Diane isn’t sure what she came to Woodstock for, but what she finds is an open offer of motherly solace, the chance to bond with her children and perhaps the opportunity to open her heart to someone new. She meets a carpenter/singer/songwriter named Jude (Morgan). He’s handsome, generous, impulsive, and really corny. He also clearly adores her. But is Diane ready for romance? Meanwhile her daughter also meets a local (Crawford) who she connects with.

    Read more

  • Washington DC Critics Pick The Artist as Best Film of 2011

    [caption id="attachment_1882" align="alignnone"]The Artist[/caption]

    The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) this morning announced their 2011 winners, and the winner of Best Film went to the black-and-white, silent film homage “The Artist.” Splitting Best Film and Best Director, Martin Scorsese won top directing honors for “Hugo.”

    Best Actor and Best Actress went to two former television stars, George Clooney (for his role as a grieving husband in “The Descendants”) and Michelle Williams (for channeling film icon Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn”), respectively. Albert Brooks won Best Supporting Actor for his role as a cutthroat mobster in “Drive,” and Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role as an outspoken maid in “The Help.” The Best Acting Ensemble award went to the cast of the ribald comedy, “Bridesmaids.”

    “The Descendants,” about a man who discovers his comatose wife had been cheating on him, also won Best Adapted Screenplay, while “50/50,” about a young man’s challenge to overcome cancer, secured Best Original Screenplay.

    Best Animated Feature went to special effects juggernaut Industrial Light and Magic’s first animated film, “Rango;” Best Documentary went to Werner Herzog’s “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” about the discovery of 30,000-year-old cave paintings in France; and Pedro Almod—var’s “The Skin I Live In” took home Best Foreign Language Film.

    Best Art Direction went to Production Designer icon Dante Ferretti and Set Decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo for “Hugo.” Emmanuel Lubezki won Best Cinematography for his work on Terrence Malick’s contemplative “The Tree of Life.” Ludovic Bource won Best Score for his omnipresent work in “The Artist.”

    The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association is comprised of 43 DC-VA-MD-based film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet. Voting was conducted from December 2-4, 2011.

    THE 2011 WAFCA AWARD WINNERS: 

    Best Film:
    The Artist

    Best Director:
    Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

    Best Actor:
    George Clooney (The Descendants)

    Best Actress:
    Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

    Best Supporting Actor:
    Albert Brooks (Drive)

    Best Supporting Actress:
    Octavia Spencer (The Help)

    Best Acting Ensemble:
    Bridesmaids

    Best Adapted Screenplay:
    Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash (The Descendants)

    Best Original Screenplay:
    Will Reiser (50/50)

    Best Animated Feature:
    Rango

    Best Documentary:
    Cave of Forgotten Dreams

    Best Foreign Language Film:
    The Skin I Live In

    Best Art Direction:
    Dante Ferretti, Production Designer, and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Set Decorator (Hugo)

    Best Cinematography:
    Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

    Best Score:
    Ludovic Bource (The Artist)


    The 2011 WAFCA AWARD NOMINEES Were:

    Best Film:
    The Artist
    The Descendants
    Drive
    Hugo
    Win Win

    Best Director:
    Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
    Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
    Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
    Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive)
    Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

    Best Actor:
    George Clooney (The Descendants)
    Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
    Michael Fassbender (Shame)
    Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
    Michael Shannon (Take Shelter)

    Best Actress:
    Viola Davis (The Help)
    Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
    Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
    Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin)
    Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

    Best Supporting Actor:
    Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
    Albert Brooks (Drive)
    John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
    Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
    Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes)

    Best Supporting Actress:
    Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)
    Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)
    Carey Mulligan (Shame)
    Octavia Spencer (The Help)
    Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

    Best Acting Ensemble:
    Bridesmaids
    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
    The Help
    Hugo
    Margin Call

    Best Adapted Screenplay:
    Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash (The Descendants)
    Tate Taylor (The Help)
    John Logan (Hugo)
    Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball)
    Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

    Best Original Screenplay:
    Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
    Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
    Tom McCarthy (Win Win)
    Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids)
    Will Reiser (50/50)

    Best Animated Feature:
    The Adventures of Tintin
    Arthur Christmas
    Puss in Boots
    Rango
    Winnie the Pooh

    Best Documentary:
    Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey
    Buck
    Cave of Forgotten Dreams
    Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life
    Project Nim

    Best Foreign Language Film:
    13 Assassins
    Certified Copy
    I Saw the Devil
    Pina
    The Skin I Live In

    Best Art Direction:
    Lawrence Bennett, Production Designer, and Gregory S. Hooper, Art Director (The Artist)
    Stuart Craig, Production Designer, and Stephenie McMillan, Set Decorator (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)
    Dante Ferretti, Production Designer, and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Set Decorator (Hugo)
    Jack Fisk, Production Designer, and Jeanette Scott, Set Decorator (The Tree of Life)
    Rick Carter, Production Designer, and Lee Sandales, Set Decorator (War Horse)

    Best Cinematography:
    Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist)
    Robert Richardson (Hugo)
    Manuel Alberto Claro (Melancholia)
    Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)
    Janusz Kaminski (War Horse)

    Best Score:
    Ludovic Bource (The Artist)
    Cliff Martinez (Drive)
    Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
    Howard Shore (Hugo)
    John Williams (War Horse)

    Read more

  • Toronto International Film Festival unveils its 2011 top 10 Films

    [caption id="attachment_1963" align="alignnone" width="550"]Hobo With a Shotgun[/caption]

    Toronto International Film Festival unveiled the top 10 best features and top 10 best short films of 2011.  Canada’s Top Ten films are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2011. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident, and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.

    Monsieur Lazhar, Canada’s Canada’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award     and audience favorite film at the just wrapped Whistler Film Festival made the list, along with Edwin Boyd, about the mid-century Canadian bank robber, and Starbuck, about a sperm donor who learns he’s fathered more than 500 children.


    Canada’s Top Ten feature film selections for 2011 (in alphabetical order):

    Café de flore — Jean-Marc Vallée (Alliance Films)
    A Dangerous Method — David Cronenberg (Entertainment One)
    Edwin Boyd — Nathan Morlando (Entertainment One)
    Hobo With a Shotgun — Jason Eisener (Alliance Films)
    Keyhole — Guy Maddin (Entertainment One)  
    Marécages — Guy Édoin (Mongrel Media)
    Monsieur Lazhar — Philippe Falardeau (Entertainment One)
    Starbuck — Ken Scott (Entertainment One)
    Take This Waltz — Sarah Polley (Mongrel Media)
    Le Vendeur — Sébastien Pilote (Entertainment One)



    Canada’s Top Ten short film selections for 2011 (in alphabetical order):

    Choke — Michelle Latimer
    Doubles With Slight Pepper — Ian Harnarine
    The Fuse: Or How I Burned Simon Bolivar — Igor Drljaca
    Hope — Pedro Pires (Phi Group)
    No Words Came Down — Ryan Flowers and Lisa Pham
    Ora — Philippe Baylaucq (National Film Board of Canada)
    Rhonda’s Party — Ashley McKenzie
    La Ronde — Sophie Goyette (Locomotion Films)
    Trotteur — Arnaud Brisebois and Francis Leclerc (Phi Group and Cirrus Communications)
    We Ate the Children Last — Andrew Cividino

    Read more

  • Morgan Spurlock’s fanboy documentary COMIC-CON to be released

    Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s fanboy documentary COMIC-CON EPISODE IV – A FAN’S HOPE will be released theatrically in Spring 2012 in conjunction with a multi-city tour of the film by a partnership bewteen Wrekin Hill Entertainment and National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), a movie merchandising company.

    COMIC-CON EPISODE IV – A FAN’S HOPE takes a behind-the-scenes look at this amazing cultural phenomenon where fans gather by the tens of thousands annually to attend the ultimate geek mecca in San Diego — a fringe comic book convention that has grown into the pop culture event of the year.

     

    Read more

  • Chico & Rita, Tintin Among Annie Nominees for Best Animated Films of 2011

    [caption id="attachment_1787" align="alignnone"]Chico & Rita[/caption]

    The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood announced the nominations and award recipients for the 39th Annual Annie Awards. Chico & Rita will compete along with A Cat in Paris, Arrugas,  Arthur Christmas, Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss In Boots, Rango, Rio, and Tintin for Best Animated Feature Film of 2011. Awards will be handed out at the 39th Annual Annie Awards scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.

    PRODUCTION CATEGORIES___________________________

    Best Animated Feature

    A Cat in Paris – Folimage
    Arrugas (Wrinkles) – Perro Verde Films, S.L.
    Arthur Christmas – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Cars 2 – Pixar Animation Studios
    Chico & Rita – Chico & Rita Distribution Limited
    Kung Fu Panda 2 – DreamWorks Animation
    Puss In Boots – DreamWorks Animation
    Rango – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
    Rio – Blue Sky Studios
    Tintin – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall

    Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production

    Adventure Time: Thank You – Cartoon Network Studios
    Batman: Year One – Warner Bros. Animation
    Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas – Blue Sky Studios
    Kung Fu Panda – Secrets of the Masters – DreamWorks Animation
    Prey 2 – Blur Studio
    Star Tours – Industrial Light & Magic

    Best Animated Short Subject

    Adam and Dog – Minkyu Lee
    I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat – Warner Bros. Animation
    La Luna – Pixar Animation Studios
    (Notes on) Biology – Ornana Films
    Paths of Hate – Platige Image
    Sunday – National Film Board of Canada
    The Ballad of Nessie –Walt Disney Animation Studios
    The Girl and the Fox – Base14
    Wild Life – National Film Board of Canada

    Best Animated Television Commercial

    Audi “Hummingbird” – The Mill
    Geico “Foghorn” – Renegade Animation
    McDonald’s “Apple Tree”– Duck Studios/Kompost
    McDonald’s “Suzi Van Zoom” – Duck Studios/Kompost
    Norton “Stuff”– Psyop
    O2 “Niggles & Narks” –The Mill
    Statoil “Good Night” – Studio AKA
    “The Pirate” – Meindbender
    Twinings “Sea” – Psyop

    Best General Audience Animated TV Production

    Archer – FX Productions
    Green Lantern: The Animated Series – Warner Bros. Animation
    Hoops & YoYo Ruin Christmas – Hallmark
    MAD – Warner Bros. Animation
    Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2 – Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
    The Simpsons – Gracie Films

    Best Animated Television Production – Preschool

    Chuggington – Ludorum plc
    Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates – Disney Television Animation
    Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – Disney Television Animation
    The WotWots Season 2 – Pukeko Pictures

    Best Animated Television Production – Children

    Fanboy and Chum Chum – Nickelodeon and Frederator
    Kung Fu Panda – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
    Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
    The Amazing World of Gumball – Cartoon Network in Association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media & Studio Soi

    Best Animated Video Game

    Bumpy Road – Simogo
    Catherine – Atlus
    Gears of War 3 – Epic Games
    Gesundheit – Konami Digital Entertainment
    Ghost Trick: “Phantom Detective” – Capcom
    Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – Shadow Planet Productions, Gagne/Fuelcell
    Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One – Insomniac Games
    Rayman Origins – Ubisoft Montpellier
    Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – Naughty Dog



    INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES___________________

    Animated Effects in an Animated Production

    Can Yuksel “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Chase Cooper “Rango” – Industrial Light & Magic
    Dan Lund “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Dave Tidgwell “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Eric Froemling “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios
    Jason Mayer “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Joel Aron “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” – Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
    Jon Reisch “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios
    Kevin Romond “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
    Willi Geiger “Rango” – Industrial Light & Magic

    Animated Effects in a Live Action Production

    Branko Grujcic “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”– Industrial Light & Magic
    Florent Andarra “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” – Industrial Light & Magic
    Gary Wu “Cowboys & Aliens”– Industrial Light & Magic
    Lee Uren “Cowboys & Aliens” – Industrial Light & Magic

    Character Animation in a Television Production

    Chad Sellers “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Michael Franceschi “Kung Fu Panda” – Nickelodeon
    Rebecca Wilson Bresee “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Sihanouk Mariona “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2” – Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Tony Smeed “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Character Animation in a Feature Production

    Andreas Deja “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Dan Wagner “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Jeff Gabor “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
    Mark Henn “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Olivier Staphylas “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Patrik Puhala “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
    Pierre Perifel “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation

    Character Animation in a Live Action Production

    Andy Arnett “HOP” – Rhythm & Hues, Illumination Entertainment
    David Lowry “Paul” – Double Negative Visual Effects for Universal Productions/ Relativity Media/Working Title Films/Big Talk Productions
    Eric Reynolds “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” – 20th Century Fox
    Mike Hull “Paul” – Double Negative Visual Effects for Universal Productions/Relativity Media/Working Title Films/Big Talk Productions

    Character Design in a Television Production

    Bill Schwab “Prep & Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Carl Raggio “Disney Kick Buttowski” – Disney Television Animation
    Chad Hurd “Archer” – FX Productions
    Chris Battle “Dan Vs.” – Starz Film Roman
    Eric Robles “Fanboy and Chum Chum” – Nickelodeon & Frederator
    Gordon Hammond “TUFF Puppy” – Nickelodeon
    Mike Dougherty “TUFF Puppy” – Nickelodeon
    Robert Ryan Cory “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome” – Cartoon Network Studios

    Character Design in a Feature Production

    Jay Shuster “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios
    Mark “Crash” McCreery “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
    Patrick Mate “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Peter de Seve “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Sergio Pablos “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios

    Directing in a Television Production

    Brian Sheesley “Dan Vs.” – Starz Film Roman
    Chris Savino & Clay Morrow “Disney Kick Buttowski” – Disney Television Animation
    Dan Riba “Ben 10 Ultimate Alien” – Cartoon Network Studios
    Duke Johnson “Community” – 23 D Films, Inc.
    Gabe Swarr “Kung Fu Panda” – Nickelodeon
    Ken Bruce “TUFF Puppy” – Nickelodeon
    Kevin Deters & Stevie Wermers-Skelton “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice”– Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Matthew Nastuk “The Simpsons” – Gracie Films
    Mic Graves & Ben Bocquelet “The Amazing World of Gumball” – Cartoon Network Europe in association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media & Studio Soi
    Peter Hausner “Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” – Wil Film
    Steve Loter, Christo Stamboliev, Shaun Cashman, David Knott “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and Technicolor
    Tony Craig “Hoops & YoYo Ruin Christmas” – Hallmark

    Directing in a Feature Production

    Carlos Saldahna “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
    Chris Miller “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Don Hall & Stephen Anderson “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Gore Verbinski “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present a Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
    Jennifer Yuh Nelson “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Kelly Asbury “Gnomeo & Juliet” – Touchstone Pictures

    Music in a Television Production

    Adam Berry, Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and Technicolor
    Ben Locket “The Amazing World of Gumball” – Cartoon Network Europe in association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media & Studio Soi
    Frederik Wiedmann “Green Lantern The Animated Series” – Warner Bros. Animation
    Grace Potter, Michael Giacchino “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Joel McNeely, Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda “Pixie Hollow Games”– DisneyToon Studios
    Kevin Kliesch “Thundercats” – Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network
    Shawn Patterson, Zeb Wells “Robot Chicken” – ShadowMachine and Stoopid Monkey in association with Adult Swim

    Music in a Feature Production

    Henry Jackman “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    John Williams “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
    Mikael Mutti, Siedah Garrett, Carlinhos Brown, Sergio Mendes, John Powell, “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
    Zooey Deschannel, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Henry Jackman, Robert Lopez “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Production Design in a Television Production

    Mark Bodnar, Chris Tsirgiotis, Sue Mondt and Daniel Elson “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome” – Cartoon Network Studios
    Peter Martin “Hoops & YoYo Ruin Christmas” – Hallmark

    Production Design in a Feature Production

    Harley Jessup “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios
    Paul Felix “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Raymond Zilbach “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Tom Cardone, Kyle MacNaughton & Peter Chan “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios

    Storyboarding in a Television Production

    Barry W. Johnson “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Benton Connor “Regular Show” – Cartoon Network Studios
    Brian Kesinger “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Dave Thomas “TUFF Puppy” – Nickelodeon
    Fred Gonzalez “TUFF Puppy” – Nickelodeon
    Joe Mateo “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Justin Nichols “Fanboy & Chum Chum” – Nickelodeon & Frederator
    Katie Rice “Fanboy & Chum Chum”– Nickelodeon & Frederator
    Rebecca Sugar “Adventure Time” – Cartoon Network Studios

    Storyboarding in a Feature Production

    Bob Logan “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Delia Gosman “Rango” – Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
    Gary Graham “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Jeremy Spears “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Josh Hayes “Rango” – Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
    Kris Pearn “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Nelson Yokota “Gnomeo and Juliet” – Touchstone Pictures
    Philip Craven “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Scott Morse “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios

    Voice Acting in a Television Production

    Carlos Alazraqui as Denzel Crocker “Fairly OddParents” – Nickelodeon
    Dan Harmon as Jekyll “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2” – Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Daran Norris as Cosmo “Fairly OddParents” – Nickelodeon
    Dee Bradley Baker as Clone Troopers “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”– Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
    Diedrich Bader as Batman “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” – Warner Bros. Animation
    H. Jon Benjamin as Sterling Archer “Archer” – FX Productions
    Jeff Bennett as Kowalski “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and Technicolor
    Jeff B. Davis as Victor Frankenstein “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2” – Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Jessica Walter as Malory Archer “Archer” – FX Productions
    Judy Greer as Cheryl Tunt “Archer” – FX Productions
    Logan Grove as Gumball “The Amazing World of Gumball” – Cartoon Network Europe in association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media & Studio Soi
    Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” – Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
    Scott Adsit as the Creature “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2” – Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Tara Strong as Timmy Turner “Fairly OddParents – Operation: Dinkleberg” – Nickelodeon

    Voice Acting in a Feature Production

    Ashley Jensen as Bryony “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Bill Nighy as Grandsanta “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Gary Oldman as Shen “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    James Hong as Mr. Ping “Kung Fu Panda 2” DreamWorks Animation
    Jemaine Clement as Nigel “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
    Jim Cummings as Featherstone “Gnomeo and Juliet” – Touchstone Pictures
    Zach Galifianakis as Humpty Alexander Dumpty “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation

    Writing in a Television Production

    Blake Lemons, William Reiss, C.H. Greenblatt, Derek Evanick, Diana Lafyatis, Neil Graf “Disney Fish Hooks – Fish School Musical” – Disney Television Animation
    Carolyn Omine “The Simpsons -Treehouse of Horror XXII” – Gracie Films
    Dani MIchaeli, Sean Charmatz, Nate Cash, Luke Brookshier, Paul Tibbitt “SpongeBob SquarePants – Patrick’s Staycation” – Nickelodeon
    Josh Weinstein “Futurama – All The President’s Heads” – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
    Kevin Sullivan, Will Schifrin, Ray DeLaurentis “TUFF Puppy Thunder Dog” – Nickelodeon
    Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis “Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 – The Creditor” – Williams Street Studios, Adult Swim
    Ray DeLaurentis, Will Schifrin, Kevin Sullivan “Fairly OddParents “Invasion of the Dads” – Nickelodeon
    Steve Wermers-Skelton, Kevin Deters “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Writing in a Feature Production

    Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil, Mark Burton, Kathy Greenburg, Emily Cook, Rob Sprackling, John R. Smith, Kelly Asbury, Steve Hamilton “Gnomeo & Juliet” – Touchstone Pictures
    Brian Kesinger, Kendelle Hoyer, Don Dougherty, Clio Chang, Don Hall, Stephen Anderson “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
    John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Byrkit “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
    Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
    Steve Moffat, Edgar Wright, Joe Cronish “Tintin”– Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall

    Editing in Television Production

    Garret Elkins “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole Season 2” – Starburn Industries, Inc.
    Hugo Morales, Davrick Waltjen, Adam Arnold “Kung Fu Panda” Nickelodeon
    Jason W.A. Tucker “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” – Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd.
    Paul D. Calder “Futurama” – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
    Ted Machold, Jeff Adams, Doug Tiano, Bob Tomlin “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and Technicolor

    Editing in a Feature Production

    Clare Knight, A.C.E. “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
    Craig Wood, A.C.E. “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
    Eric Dapkewicz “Puss In Boots” – DreamWorks Animation
    Michael Kahn “Tintin”– Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
    Stephen Schaffer, A.C.E. “Cars 2” – Pixar Animation Studios



    JURIED AWARDS__________________________________

    Winsor McCay Award —Walt Peregoy, Borge Ring, Ronald Searle

    June Foray — Art Leonardi

    Special Achievement — Depth Analysis

    Read more

  • Monsieur Lazhar Wins Audience Award at 11th Whistler Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_1958" align="alignnone"]Monsieur Lazhar[/caption]
    Quebec director Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar, starring Fellag, Marie-Ève Beauregard, Marie Charlebois and Evelyne de la Chenelière, took home the Audience Award at the eleventh annual Whistler Film Festival (WFF), which wrapped on Sunday night. Winner of Best Canadian Film At TIFF and Canada’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, Monsieur Lazhar follows Bachir Lazhar, a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, who goes to a Montreal elementary school to offer his services as a substitute teacher having learned of a teacher dying abruptly in the newspaper. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy. WFF Audience Award runner up was Rasta: A Soul’s Journey (dir: Stuart Samuels). Other audience favorites included three BC films: Foreverland (dir: Maxwell McGuire), and Marilyn (dir: Christopher Petry), which both had their world premieres at the Festival, and Doppleganger Paul (Or A Film About How Much I Hate Myself), directed by Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand.

    {youtube}gjNCkxnT-xE{/youtube}

    Read more

  • 64 Short Films Selected for 2012 Sundance Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_1956" align="alignnone"]92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card[/caption]

    64 short films have been selected to screen as part of the Short Film program at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival will be January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

    The Short Film program at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival is presented by Yahoo!. As part of its sponsorship, a special selection of short films from the Festival will be featured on Yahoo! Screen, Yahoo’s premium video destination, where an audience of millions will be able to vote for their favorite. The winning filmmaker will be presented with the Yahoo! Audience Award at the end of the Festival.


    U.S. SHORT FILMS
    This year’s 32 U.S. short films were selected from 4,083 submissions.

    U.S. NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS
    ’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card (Director: Todd Sklar, Screenwriters: Todd Sklar, Alex Rennie) — Jim and Dave are brothers who haven’t spoken in years and don’t like each other very much, but are forced to come together for a week when their dad dies in Kansas City. A limited edition 1992 Skybox Series Alonzo Mourning rookie card is a point of contention.

    The Arm (Directors and screenwriters: Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos, Jessie Ennis) — In an attempt to keep up with social pressure in a technologically advanced world, Chance starts a texting relationship with Genevieve, a girl he meets at a yogurt shop.

    The Black Balloon (Directors: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie) — The Black Balloon strays from the herd and experiences what life as an individual is like. He explores New York City in the deepest way, seeing all of its characters.

    Dol (First Birthday) (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Ahn) — A gay Korean American man yearns for a family life just out of reach.

    Famous Person Talent Agency: Pearls of Asia (Director: Ivan Hurzeler, Screenwriter: Cami Delavigne) — Jackie Diamond is a luckless talent agent who never stops dreaming. He believes in his clients and he believes in show business. Jackie reaches for the stars from a shabby office in Queens – the Famous Person Talent Agency.

    FISHING WITHOUT NETS (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey) — A story of pirates in Somalia, told from the perspective of the pirates themselves.

    The Fort (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Renzi) — On a rainy day, a young boy builds a fort in the woods when a man appears and offers to help.

    FOURPLAY: TAMPA (Director: Kyle Henry, Screenwriter: Carlos Trevino) — Louis loops into a local mall to grab lunch in the food court and a quickie in the public restroom. Paranoid about his own small package and clearly nervous about the situation, he scouts for possible partners, letting his imagination take over when reality proves thoroughly unsatisfying.

    Hellion (Director and screenwriter: Kat Candler) — Little seven-year-old Petey falls prey to his older brothers’ hellion ways.

    Henley (Director: Craig Macneill, Screenwriters: Craig Macneill, Clay McLeod Chapman) — Meet nine-year-old Ted Henley, budding motel manager and roadkill entrepreneur.

    L TRAIN (Director and screenwriter: Anna Musso) — Sunny is a self-regarding teenager fighting her way through an inner city blizzard, until she encounters someone who forces her to consider an altruistic, if not absurd, action.

    Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke (Director: Jillian Mayer, Screenwriter: Lucas Leyva) — A modern Miami adaptation of the 1962 French short film La Jetee, the film recounts Luke’s (Uncle Luke, legendary rapper from the hip-hop group 2 Live Crew) rise to fame as he changes the face of hip-hop and fights for first amendment rights- and later as he ushers Miami into a golden era of peace and prosperity as Mayor.

    OK BREATHE AURALEE (Director and screenwriter: Brooke Swaney) — Auralee wants a baby and will go to great lengths to get what she wants.

    Rolling on the Floor Laughing (Director and screenwriter: Russell Harbaugh) — Two grown brothers return home for their widowed mother’s birthday, only to find themselves competing with a strange man for her affection.

    Song of the Spindle (Director and screenwriter: Drew Christie) — An animated, humorous and informative conversation between a sperm whale and a man. Each one tries to convince the other that his brain is bigger.

    spoonful (Director and screenwriter: Jenée LaMarque) — Three sisters return to their childhood home after the death of their father in order to pack up the family house. To make matters worse, the oldest sister has been separated from her baby for the first time.

    The Thing (Director: Rhys Ernst, Screenwriters: Rhys Ernst, Avery McTaggart) — Zooey has spent weeks planning a road trip to a mysterious roadside attraction known as ‘The Thing’ in the hopes that she and Tristan will reconnect. Both Tristan, an FTM transman, and his fluffy cat Steven struggle to find places to comfortably pee, while Zooey learns the open road isn’t everything she hoped it would be.

    UNA HORA POR FAVORA (Director and screenwriter: Jill Soloway) — A woman hires a day laborer for an hour and gets more than she bargained for.

    U.S. DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS
    AQUADETTES (Directors: Drea Cooper, Zackary Canepari) — The Aquadettes are a group of elderly synchronized swimmers from Leisure World, a retirement community nestled in Orange County, California. One of them, Margo Bauer, is fighting multiple sclerosis and using medical marijuana to ease her pain and to keep on swimming.

    The Debutante Hunters (Director: Maria White) — In the Lowcountry of South Carolina a group of true Southern belles reveal their more rugged side, providing a glimpse into what drives them to hunt in the wild.

    Family Nightmare (Director: Dustin Guy Defa) — A dizzy trip through the mid-1990s with a dysfunctional American family. Reliving a distracted child’s birthday party, an emotionless wedding, a Halloween in a garage and a Christmas marked with alcohol, drugs and perversion, the film is a crumpled letter from a filmmaker to his family: a shattered kaleidoscope of the destructive patterns that have trapped and wounded its members.

    The Meaning of Robots (Director: Matt Lenski) — The benevolent Mike Sullivan, age 65, has been shooting an epic stop-motion robot sex film in his apartment for the last 10 years. Obsessed with constructing the miniature robot porn stars, his apartment now overflows with thousands of them.

    The Movement: One Man Joins an Uprising (Directors: Greg I. Hamilton, Kurt Miller) — In 2004 Rick Finkelstein was paralyzed in a ski accident on Aspen Mountain. With a severed spine and severe internal trauma, he wasn’t expected to live. Six years, nine surgeries, and a lifetime of rehab later, cameras captured his dramatic return to Aspen and skiing.

    Odysseus’ Gambit (Director: Àlex Lora Cercós) — A gambit is a chess opening in which a player sacrifices a pawn with the hope of achieving a resulting advantageous position. The protagonist is a Cambodian American guy looking for his place in the game.

    Pluto Declaration (Director: Travis Wilkerson) — Restore the classical definition of planet! Bring back planet Pluto! The solar system is 12!

    The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (Director: Lucy Walker) — Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s recent tsunami find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. A visual haiku about the ephemeral nature of life and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower.

    U.S. ANIMATED SHORT FILMS
    38-39° C (Director and screenwriter: Kangmin Kim) — A man with a big birthmark on his back enters an old public bathhouse. He falls into a dream where he confronts his father who has the same birthmark.

    Avocados (Director and screenwriter: Kataneh Vahdani) — A journey with many characters in one day through a city.

    Dr Breakfast (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Neary) — One day at breakfast, a man’s soul bursts out of his eyeball. A surreal meditation on the quirky but rejuvenating nature of friendship.

    It’s Such a Beautiful Day (Director and screenwriter: Don Hertzfeldt) — Bill wakes to find himself in a hospital struggling with memory problems, in this third and final chapter to Don Hertzfeldt’s EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.

    Night Hunter (Director and screenwriter: Stacey Steers) — In this handmade film, composed of more than 4,000 collages and shot in 35mm color, the actress Lillian Gish is seamlessly appropriated from silent-era cinema and plunged into a new and haunting role.

    Once It Started It Could Not End Otherwise (Director and screenwriter: Kelly Sears) — Terrifying and strange happenings descend on a 1970’s high school.
    INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS
    This year’s 27 international short films from 16 countries were selected from a record 3,592 submissions.

    INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS
    Barbie Blues / Israel (Director and screenwriter: Adi Kutner) — When Mika, a suburban teenager finds a disturbing creature in her swimming pool she asks her neighbor Gershon for help. What starts off as a friendly encounter between two neighbors turns into an unexpected lesson on the borders of control.

    BEAR / Australia (Director: Nash Edgerton, Screenwriters: Nash Edgerton, David Michôd) — Jack means well, but sometimes good intentions have horrible consequences.

    Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared / United Kingdom (Directors: Joseph Pelling, Rebecca Sloan) — A short film about teaching creativity by This Is It Collective.

    Frozen Stories (Opowiesci z chlodni) / Poland (Director and screenwriter: Grzegorz Jaroszuk) — Two worst employees of a supermarket have been ordered to find a goal in their lives.

    Fungus (Svamp) / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Charlotta Miller) — Katrin decides to face her old boyfriend, who is back to collect some of his stuff.

    Girl / Sweden (Director: Fijona Jonuzi, Screenwriter: Gustaf Boman Bränngård) — Hanna, 32, randomly finds a party consisting of of five 20-year-old boys. At first she feels uncomfortable, but after a little adjusting, she soon feels like she’s one of them.

    The Hidden Smile (El somriure amagat) / Spain (Director: Ventura Durall, Screenwriters: Ventura Durall, Miguel Llansó) — Following a 10-year-old kid who arrives at the Ethiopian capital after escaping from his home and his misfortunes to integrate into a street children group, The Hidden Smile constructs a realistic tale on the values that flourish in a society formed by children.

    Juku / Bolivia (Director: Kiro Russo, Screenwriters: Gilmar Gonzales, Kiro Russo) — The dark mass between the screen and the room can beat again like once the first darkness did. Deep in it a man moves. He has a lamp, and the light it makes forms the rocks that will end up taking over the screen. About ten thousand people enter daily into Posokoni, the largest tin mine in Bolivia.

    Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Jens Assu) — Nine scenes unfold in the grey area between black and white, where national politics and strategy have unforeseen consequences on a young teacher’s life.

    Las Palmas / Sweden (Director and screenwriter: Johannes Nyholm) — A middle-aged lady on a holiday in the sun tries to make new friends and have a good time.

    LAZAROV / France (Director and screenwriter: Nieto) — Refusing to accept the decline of the USSR, a handful of Russian scientists work secretly to resurrect the Soviet power. Here are some new images of the mysterious program Lazarov.

    Long Distance Information / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Douglas Hart) — Da always said not to talk to strangers…but you’ve got to phone home sometimes.

    Moxie / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) — A pyromaniac bear misses his mother.

    Playtime (Spielzeit) / Germany (Director and screenwriter: Lucas Mireles) — A seamless journey of German youth and innocence on a Sunday afternoon.

    Random Strangers / United Kingdom (Director: Alexis Dos Santos, Screenwriters: Laurence Coriat, Alexis Dos Santos) — Rocky and Lulu live in opposite sides of the planet: they bump into each other in ChatRoulette and decide to stay in touch. Using video diaries, secret confessions, fictional representations of facts of their lives made with toys, dance performances and songs, they create a place where they can truly be themselves. But how real is their world?

    The Return (Kthimi) / Kosovo (Director: Blerta Zeqiri, Screenwriter: Shefqet Gjocaj) — A man comes back from a Serb prison to his wife and son. Much has changed since he was declared missing and continuing where they left off four years ago may not be as easy as it seems.

    Surveillant / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Yan Giroux) — It’s another quiet summer day in Park Dufresne. The neighborhood youth loiter around the park until a new park monitor appears for his first day of work. Two universes clash and a territorial struggle begins.

    Tooty’s Wedding / United Kingdom (Director: Frederic Casella, Screenwriters: Laura Solon, Ben Willbond) — A young couple’s marriage hilariously hits the rocks during a weekend wedding in the country.

    Tumult / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Johnny Barrington) — A tribe of Norse warriors traipse across a barren land after battle. Bloodied and wounded, their chief is near death. He is about to hand over power to his son when an army of a completely different kind descends upon them.

    INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS
    Into the Middle of Nowhere / United Kingdom (Director: Anna Frances Ewert) — The documentary is about the uniqueness of childhood and the exploration of the human mind. In an outdoor nursery based in the woods, children create their own individually constructed worlds and can test out the boundaries of reality.

    Stick Climbing / Austria, Switzerland (Director: Daniel Zimmerman) — A contemplative walk leads to a bizarre climbing tour going from everyday village life to a seemingly impossible ascent.

    INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT FILMS
    663114 / Japan (Director: Isamu Hirabayashi) — I am a 66-year-old cicada. There was a big earthquake. There was a big tsunami. There also was a big accident.

    Belly / United Kingdom (Director: Julia Pott) — Oscar is coming of age, against his better judgment. In doing so he must experience the necessary evil of leaving something behind, but he can still feel it in the pit of his stomach.

    BOBBY YEAH / United Kingdom (Director: Robert Morgan) — Bobby Yeah is a petty thug who lightens his miserable existence by brawling and thieving stuff. One day, he steals the favorite pet of some very dangerous individuals, and finds himself in deep trouble. He really should learn, but he just can’t help it.

    A Morning Stroll / United Kingdom (Director: Grant Orchard) — When a New Yorker walks past a chicken on his morning stroll, we are left to wonder which one is the real city slicker.

     

    Robots of Brixton / United Kingdom (Director: Kibwe Tavares) — The trials and tribulations of young robots surviving at the sharp end of inner city life, living the predictable existence of a populous hemmed in by poverty, disillusionment and mass unemployment.

    Slow Derek / United Kingdom (Director: Dan Ojari) — The tale of Derek, an office worker, as he struggles with the true speed of planet earth.

    NEW FRONTIER SHORT FILMS
    An electrifying celebration of innovation in filmmaking, these New Frontier shorts, through bold color and thought-provoking messaging, electrify and energize the mind.

    The Conquerors (Les Conquérants) / Canada, France (Directors and screenwriters: Sarolta Szabo, Tibor Banoczki) — What exactly we need to build new civilization? Bravery? Courage? Power? Or the only thing we need is to successfully destroy an already existing one.

    The Diatom / U.S.A. (Director: Chris Peters) — The diatom is the most numerous species on the planet, the basis of the aquatic food chain, produces most of the oxygen on earth, and is a key scientific indicator of the health of a water system. In order to understand our place in the world this mixed-mode ‘science film’ observes renowned Utah-based scientist Sam Rushforth and his team in the wide isolated landscape then in the lab and finally goes through the microscope to the diatom itself.

    Fragments of Dissolution / U.S.A. (Director: Travis Wilkerson) — A poetic, anguished cry from the heart of a rotting empire. Four women describe their own unique hells. Children, brothers, and friends burned alive while simply trying not to freeze. Husbands and sons deployed over and over, who kill themselves rather than fighting again. From Ft. Lewis to Detroit, the empire is devouring its own intestines.

    Moving Stories / Belgium (Director and screenwriter: Nicolas Provost) — Two young passengers adventure towards a mysterious future.

    SEEKING THE MONKEY KING  (Director: Ken Jacobs) — The film could have well been called KICKING AND SCREAMING but that only describes me in the process of making it, questioning its taste. Cut through the flashy swastikas and one sees the German Nazis were Christians fulfilling historic obligation (The Final Solution) with relatively few so well-read as to imagine themselves Nietzscheans. SEEKING THE MONKEY KING is a reversion to my mid-20s and that sense of horror that drove the making of STAR

    Read more