The 19th edition of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) tagged as ‘Canada’s coolest film fest’ wrapped on Sunday night with the Audience Award going to the North American premiere of LIBERTÉ: A CALL TO SPY, an exciting true story about female spies during WWII. The film is an American title shot partly in Budapest and was produced, written by and stars Sarah Megan Thomas and was directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher.
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) named Jordan Peele’s “Us” Best Film of 2019 with other awards going to “The Black Godfather” for Best Documentary, and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” for Best Independent Film.
South Korean, director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” was also a hit with the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) receiving the top honor of Best Film of 2019, in addition to Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.
In the powerful and luminous black-and-white film Heimat is a Space in Time, Thomas Heise explores “heimat,” his family home and homeland, through the upheavals of 20th-century German history. Winner of the Caligari Film Prize at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival and Best Film in the International Competition at Visions du Réel 2019, and official selections of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival, Heimat is a Space in Time will make its U.S. theatrical debut via Icarus Films on March 13, 2020 at Anthology Film Archives in New York City, followed by engagements in Los Angeles and nationwide.
Parasite, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s dark, class-based comedy about a poor family that scams a rich one, took three top awards from the Toronto Film Critics Association – Best Picture, Best Director and Best Foreign Film.
The Jewish Museum and Film at Lincoln Center will present the 29th annual New York Jewish Film Festival (NYJFF), January 15 to 28, 2020.
Marriage Story leads the nominations for the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards with 7 nominations including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Actress for Scarlett Johansson, Best Actor for Adam Driver and Best Supporting Actress for Laura Dern.
“The Irishman” leads all films this year with 14 nominations for 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards including Best Picture, Robert De Niro for Best Actor, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci for Best Supporting Actor, Martin Scorsese for Best Director, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Visual Effects, and Best Score.
Québécois writer/director Sophie Deraspe’s feature ANTIGONE swept the coveted 16th edition of the Borsos Competition awards at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival, taking home four of the five awards including Best Canadian Feature Film. The jury stated: “ANTIGONE is a stunning, provocative film that captures the heartbreaking and complex realities of immigration, directed with a singular boldness.”
For Sama directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts is the winner of the top prize for Best Feature at the 35th IDA (International Documentary Association) Awards. Other notable documentary films winning awards include Leaving Neverland for Best Multi-Part Documentary and Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé for Best Music Documentary.
Marriage Story along with The Irishman and Joker lead the 2019 San Diego Film Critics Society’s Award Nominations scoring multiple nominations including for Best Picture. The San Diego Film Critics Society comprises of print, radio, TV and digital film critics working in San Diego County.
The Favourite directed by Yorgos Lanthimos was the big winner at this year’s 32nd European Film Awards taking the top prize European Film 2019, along with European Comedy 2019, in addition to European Director 2019 for Yorgos Lanthimos, and European Actress 2019 for Olivia Colman. The film also won the technical awards – European Costume Design 2019, European Cinematography 2019, European Editing 2019, and European Hair & Make-Up 2019.