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Billy Bob Thornton’s The King of Luck, documentary about Willie Nelson, to close 2011 SXSW

SXSW | South by Southwest Film Festival, VIMOOZ

The King of Luck

Billy Bob Thornton’s The King of Luck, a documentary about Willie Nelson, was announced as the Closing Night Film of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, scheduled to be screened on Saturday, March 19,. SXSW also announced additional features and shorts for the 2011 event, including a work-in-progress screening of Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids, starring (and co-written by) Kristen Wiig and produced by Judd Apatow, Umshini Wam, a short film from Harmony Korine featuring South African act Die Antwoord, and Hit So Hard, P. David Ebersole’s documentary on HOLE drummer Patty Schemel, among others. SXSW runs March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas.

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‘The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls’ documentary to open in NY on May 13

Documentary

‘The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls’ a documentary by Leanne Pooley will open in New York at Cinema Village on May 13. Winner of numerous awards, including Best Feature Documentary at New York’s NewFest 2010 and the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2009 ‘The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls’ tells the story of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp.

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First Santa Catalina Film Festival scheduled for May 6-8 2011, in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island

Catalina Film Festival

The inaugural Santa Catalina Film Festival will be held May 6-8, 2011, in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island. The Santa Catalina Film Festival (SCFF) is a three day festival celebrating independent film with screenings all weekend in addition to discussion panels with top film industry executives.

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2011 Tribeca Film Festival to Open with the World Premiere of Cameron Crowe’s The Union

Tribeca Film Festival

Elton John and Leon Russell from the The Union. photo credit: Joseph Guay

The world premiere of Cameron Crowe’s documentary The Union will open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express. A performance by the film’s subject – Elton John – will follow the free, outdoor screening to kick off the Festival’s 10th edition and thank the New York City community for its ongoing support. The Union will premiere on Wednesday, April 20 at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza. The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 20 through May 1, 2011.

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RIP: Producer, Director Gary Winick

People

Gary Winick, a pioneering producer and director of independent digital films who found mainstream success with such movies as “13 Going on 30” and “Letters to Juliet,” has died. He was 49.

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One World uses “Empty Chair” to draw attention to imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo

One World International Film Festival, VIMOOZ

Liu Xiaobo

One World International Film Festival running in Prague from March 8 to 17, 2011 will use an “Empty Chair” to draw attention to imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese dissident had been sentenced to 11 years in jail. During the One World festival viewers will come across an empty chair with the poster ofLiu in screening halls.

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Tribeca Film to Distribute 26 Films in 2011, Doubling 2010 Slate

Industry

Brother’s Justice

Tribeca Enterprises announced that Tribeca Film will expand to commercially release 26 films over the next year, more than double the number of titles released in 2010. The comprehensive distribution label for independent film also announced that it acquired U.S. rights to nine new titles to be released across multiple platforms. The curated selection of films includes many genres and features stars including Zach Braff, Vincent Gallo and Zoe Kravitz and filmmakers such as Peter Mullan, Jerzy Skolimowski and Vincent D’Onofrio.

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Melissa Leo Drops the F-Bomb at the Oscars | Video

People, VIMOOZ

Dirty mouth. Actress Melissa Leo dropped the F-bomb while accepting the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the 83rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday night.

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83rd annual Academy Awards Winners; The King’s Speech Rules

Awards, VIMOOZ

Susanne Bier receiving her Oscar. Photo: Scanpix/Reuters

“The King’s Speech” was the ‘King’ at the 83rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday night, winning four Oscars: including Best Picture, Directing for director Tom Hooper, Writing – Original Screenplay for David Seidler and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Colin Firth.

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2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards – Wins for Black Swan, Winter’s Bone, 127 Hours

Awards

SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 26: Actor Ben Stiller attends the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards hosted by Jameson Irish Whiskey at Santa Monica Beach on February 26, 2011 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For Jameson) *** Local Caption *** Ben Stiller

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, handed out top honors to Black Swan, Winter’s Bone, 127 Hours, and The Kids Are All Right at the 26th Film Independent Spirit Awards. The King’s Speech, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Get Low, Tiny Furniture, and Daddy Longlegs also received awards at the ceremony.

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13th annual Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival to close with special screening of The Blair Witch Project

DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF)

The 13th annual Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival (DCIFF) will take place March 3-13, 2011. DCIFF will showcase more than 100 features, shorts, animations, and documentaries created btalented artists from around the world. Films are grouped by theme into 26 different sessions.

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2011 Cesar Awards; Of Gods and Men Wins Best Film

Awards

Best Film Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men)

Xavier Beauvois’ “Des hommes et des dieux,” (Of Gods and Men) took the top prize for Best Film but Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer,” lead the Cesar Awards aka the French Oscars with 4 wins including Best Director for Roman Polanski, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score and Best Editing. “Of Gods and Men,” which was also France’s official entry to 2011 Oscar and “Gainsbourg” tied for 3 awards. “Of Gods and Men took the awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography; and “Gainsbourg” received the awards for Best Actor, Best Sound and Best First Film.

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