Nominations for the 83rd Academy Awards were announced today (Tuesday, January 25) by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2009 Oscar® winner Mo’Nique. “The King’s Speech,” emerged the frontrunner with 12 nominations including best picture, best director and best actor.
Fox Searchlight continues it buying streak at Sundance Film Festival picking up Gavin Wiesen’s “Homework”and grabbing the remake rights to Philip Cox’s “The Bengali Detective.”
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced this year’s winning motion picture and television productions at the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles last weekend.
Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media have partnered to acquire the U.S. rights to Page One: A Year Inside The New York Times. The documentary film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the New York Times newspaper – it goes inside the newsroom in 2010, capturing a tumultuous year of journalism
Participant Media has grabbed the North American rights to the Iranian film Circumstance. The debut film from writer-director Maryam Keshavarz is competing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category in this year’s 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
HBO is reportedly closed to deal to acquire the rights to director Ian Palmer’s Knuckle, a documentary about Irish bare-knuckle brawlers, and plan to turn it into a television drama for the network.
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions has partnered to acquire and release J.C. Chandor’s “Margin Call” which is playing at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. “Margin Call” tells the story of key players at an investment firm during a 24-hour period in the beginning stages of the 2008 financial crisis.
Sundance Selects grabbed the North American rights to the movie, “Buck,” which is playing in the U.S. Documentary Competition section at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Weinstein Company (TWC) acquired US rights to Jesse Peretz’s new film “My Idiot Brother,” which had its world premiere Saturday at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The comedy stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy, and Rashida Jones.
IFC Films announced that the company acquired the U.S. rights to The Ledge, which is playing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The Ledge, directed and written by Matthew Chapman, stars Charlie Hunnam (Sons Of Anarchy), Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard, and Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty). The film is produced by Mark Damon and Michael Mailer.
Alain Terzian, the president of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma announced this year’s César Awards aka French Oscars. Terzian also confirmed that Quentin Tarantino will receive the ceremony’s honorary award, and will accept the award in person.
Launching a new chapter with a new executive director, the official lineup of the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), produced and presented by Miami Dade College (MDC), was announced today replete with Red Carpet Gusman Galas, Premieres, Competition Categories and Awards, REEL Education Seminars and other special presentations that make up the Festival,s showcase of more than 100 films from 40 countries during the 10-day event, which runs March 4-13, 2011.