The 2011 Writers Guild Awards – Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) – announced the winners for outstanding achievement in writing for movies, television, and videogames of 2010 over the weekend. In the movies and documentary categories, Inception took the award for Original Screenplay, The Social Network took the award for Adapted Screenplay and Inside Job received the award for Documentary Screenplay.
The nominations for the 31st Annual Genie Awards were announced by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television at press conferences in Toronto and Montreal. Leading the pack with 11 nominations is Barney’s Version, including nods for Best Motion Picture and Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti). Following closely behind is Incendies with ten nominations including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction (Denis Villeneuve).
The 7th Annual Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF), voted “one of the coolest film festivals in the world” by MovieMaker magazine, is already making headlines with a star-studded lineup of celebrity guests and today is rolling out its action-packed program. The Festival takes place in scenic Boulder, Colo., Feb. 17-20, and will bring films, filmmakers and international fans together for a four-day celebration of the fine art of filmmaking.
South by Southwest Film Festival announced the features lineup for the 2011 Film Program. These films join others previously announced, including Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, Greg Mottola’s Paul, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop by director Rodman Flender, and the opening night World Premiere, Duncan Jones’ Source Code.
Midnight in Paris, the new film by Woody Allen will open the Festival de Cannes on May 11th in the Lumière Theatre, in the presence of the Jury presided by Robert De Niro.
Anchor Bay has reportedly acquired controversial Dito Montiel’s controversial cop drama The Son Of No One, which premiered at 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Channing Tatum, Tracy Morgan, Katie Holmes, Ray Liotta, with Juliette Binoche and Al Pacino and was the subject of numerous articles that claimed an “exodus” of walk outs at an early Sundance Film Festival screening
Legendary film producer and personal manager Jerry Weintraub steps out from behind the scenes as he takes his turn in the spotlight with the feature-length documentary HIS WAY, acquired by HBO Documentary Films from Polsky Films. Directed by Oscar® nominee Douglas McGrath, produced by Emmy®- and Peabody-winning documentary producer Graydon Carter, Alan Polsky and Gabe Polsky, and executive produced by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh and Audrey Rosenberg, HIS WAY chronicles the five-decade career of the trailblazing Hollywood entrepreneur, utilizing personal video, archival footage and one-on-one interviews with Weintraub, his friends, family and co-workers, and some of today’s brightest stars.
The 2011 Cinequest Film Festival which takes place March 1-13 in San Jose, announced the two features that will bookend the upcoming Festival. John Turturro’s Italian music documentary Passione will be the official Opening Night Film while Sean McNamara’s Soul Surfer will serve as the official Closing Night film.
The 2011 New York International Children’s Film Festival, which runs March 4-27, 2011 in New York City announced its complete lineup. The festival will open with “Mars Needs Moms” a Special Preview Screening of Disney’s new 3D space adventure comedy.
The Sarasota Film Festival, which takes place April 7-17th, 2011 announced that writer/director Mike Mills’ Beginners, a Focus Features release, has been selected as the Closing Night Film of the 13th Annual Festival, to screen on Sunday, April 17th. Beginners, which premiered at 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, stars Christopher Plummer who will be in attendance at the Festival to receive this year’s Cinema Master Award.
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired Evan Glodell’s directorial debut BELLFLOWER, which screened in the NEXT category at 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Oscilloscope plans a U.S. theatrical release this summer.
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced that it has acquired Yoav Potash’s documentary “Crime After Crime.” Crime After Crime screened at 2011 Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Documentary Competition category.