Oscilloscope Laboratories has dropped the trailer and poster for BEAUTY AND THE DOGS from Tunisian director and screenwriter, Kaouther Ben Hania. The film which world premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival will open theatrically on March 23rd, in NYC at Landmark 57 West; in LA at the Nuart.
When Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, is raped by police officers after leaving a party, she is propelled into a harrowing night in which she must fight for her rights even though justice lies on the side of her tormentors. Employing impressive cinematic techniques and anchored by a tour-de-force performance from newcomer Mariam Al Ferjani, Kaouther Ben Hania’s BEAUTY AND THE DOGS tells an urgent, unapologetic, and important story head-on. A rare, startling film from a female Tunisian director, it’s a striking critique on a repressive society and a forcefully feminist rallying cry.
Director and screenwriter Kaouther Ben Hania was born in Sidi Bouzid (Tunisia). Following film studies at the Ecole des Arts et du Cinéma in Tunis, she studied scriptwriting at La Fémis in Paris. She has a Research Masters in Film and Audiovisual Studies from the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdAGBnOyGyo-
See Trailer and Poster for Tunisian Film BEAUTY AND THE DOGS. Opens in Theaters on March 23rd
Oscilloscope Laboratories has dropped the trailer and poster for BEAUTY AND THE DOGS from Tunisian director and screenwriter, Kaouther Ben Hania. The film which world premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival will open theatrically on March 23rd, in NYC at Landmark 57 West; in LA at the Nuart.
When Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, is raped by police officers after leaving a party, she is propelled into a harrowing night in which she must fight for her rights even though justice lies on the side of her tormentors. Employing impressive cinematic techniques and anchored by a tour-de-force performance from newcomer Mariam Al Ferjani, Kaouther Ben Hania’s BEAUTY AND THE DOGS tells an urgent, unapologetic, and important story head-on. A rare, startling film from a female Tunisian director, it’s a striking critique on a repressive society and a forcefully feminist rallying cry.
Director and screenwriter Kaouther Ben Hania was born in Sidi Bouzid (Tunisia). Following film studies at the Ecole des Arts et du Cinéma in Tunis, she studied scriptwriting at La Fémis in Paris. She has a Research Masters in Film and Audiovisual Studies from the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdAGBnOyGyo
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MY DAYS OF MERCY to Open, POSTCARDS FROM LONDON to Close 2018 BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival
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MY DAYS OF MERCY[/caption]
The 32nd edition of BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival which takes place from March 21st to April 1st, 2018, announced the Opening and Closing Night Galas films. MY DAYS OF MERCY opens the Festival on Wednesday March 21, with POSTCARDS FROM LONDON closing the Festival on Saturday March 31.
Tali Shalom-Ezer’s MY DAYS OF MERCY will open the Festival on Wednesday March 21st . Powered by stirring performances from Ellen Page and Kate Mara , Shalom-Ezer’s follow up to PRINCESS is a poignant love story between two women from vastly different backgrounds and opposing political views.
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POSTCARDS FROM LONDON[/caption]
The European Premiere of Steve McLean’s stylish and sexy POSTCARDS FROM LONDON will feature as the Closing Night Gala. The film tells the story of beautiful teenager Jim (Harris Dickinson, BEACH RATS) who, having travelled from the suburbs, finds himself in Soho where he falls in with a gang of unusual high class male escorts ‘The Raconteurs’. Set in a vibrant, neon-lit, imaginary vision of Soho, this morality tale manages to be both a beautifully shot homage to the spirit of Derek Jarman and a celebration of the homo-erotic in Baroque art.
MY DAYS OF MERCY is written by BAFTA nominated British writer Joe Barton (THE RITUAL & IBOY) and the film is produced by Ellen Page, Kate Mara, Christine Vachon & David Hinojosa. POSTCARDS FROM LONDON is Steve McLean’s long-awaited follow-up to his 1994 Sundance and Indie Spirit-nominated drama POSTCARDS FROM AMERICA.
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See the Stunning Trailer and Poster for Tribeca-Winning Medieval Fantasy NOVEMBER
November, the black metal-inspired medieval fantasy and Estonia’s official entry to the 90th Academy Awards, has released the stunning surreal trailer and poster. The film which won the award for Best Cinematography at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival will open theatrically in New York City on February 23rd, and in Los Angeles on March 2nd.
In this tale of love and survival in 19th century Estonia, peasant girl Liina longs for village boy Hans, but Hans is inexplicably infatuated by the visiting German baroness that possesses all that he longs for. For Liina, winning Hans’ requited love proves incredibly complicated in this dark, harsh landscape where spirits, werewolves, plagues, and the devil himself converge, where thievery is rampant, and where souls are highly regarded, but come quite cheap.
With alluring black and white cinematography, director Rainer Sarnet vividly captures these motley lives as they toil to exist – but is existence worth anything if it lacks a soul?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QZy1YHL50
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2018 MidWest WeirdFest Announces Full Program, Opens with Wisconsin Premiere of PICKINGS
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PICKINGS[/caption]
The MidWest WeirdFest today announced the full program for its second annual film festival – a cinematic celebration of of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird – which will take place March 9-11, 2018 at the Micon Cinemas Downtown in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Opening the festival is the Wisconsin premiere of PICKINGS from director Usher Morgan. In this neo-noir, western, thriller a short-tempered mobster and his gang of thugs try to shake down a neighborhood bar. But they’re soon confronted with the wrath of its owner: a mysterious southern mother with a dangerous past. PICKINGS is a twisting, blood-drenched, super-stylized, thrill ride, sure to delight fans of Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL and Robert Rodriguez’s SIN CITY.
And for closing night, MidWest WeirdFest presents director Amara Cash’s DADDY ISSUES. A compelling and at times confronting film that tracks a bizarre love triangle: Maya, a desperate young artist, is unaware that her new girlfriend is involved in an emotionally charged, co-dependent, fetish relationship with a neurotic and drug-addicted sugar daddy: a man who is also Maya’s biological father. All three lovers are oblivious to the dark secret of their entanglement, and revelation will change them, forever…
“This year’s festival program runs a weird and wonderful gamut, ranging from the boldest and bloodiest in sci-fi and horror, through documentaries of the strange and macabre, to twisting thrillers and erotic underground dramas” says festival director Dean Bertram, an Australian expatriate and veteran of the international film festival scene. “Whether you want to be thrilled, terrified, mesmerized or titillated you’re going to find an abundance of entertaining films in this unique cinematic smorgasbord.”
Some other fantastic titles the festival announces today include:
CANNIBALS AND CARPET FITTERS (Dr: James Bushe) A ragtag group of carpet layers are sent on a job to an old English country house in the middle of nowhere. They soon discover it’s a trap set up by a savage cannibalistic family. The carpet fitters must fight for their lives or risk ending up as the evening’s dinner. Horrific delights abound in this gore filled dish of a horror comedy, that tastes like a wickedly decadent blend of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.
IMPOSSIBLE HORROR (Dr: Justin Decloux) Lily, an insomniac filmmaker, hears a sinister scream outside her window every night. Determined to help the screaming person, she heads into the darkness of her neighbourhood. There she meets Hannah, a veteran “scream hunter”, obsessed with putting a stop to the nightly occurrence. The young women join forces to solve the bloodcurdling mystery, and quickly discover that its source may be an otherworldly threat that drives its victims into madness – and Lily and Hannah are next.
THE MILWAUKEE MAFIA: FRANK BALISTRIERI (Director: Jason Love)
Frank Peter Balistrieri (AKA “Mr. Big”, “Big Frank”, “Mr. Slick”, and “Mad Bomber”) was the most notorious and dangerous Mob Boss in Milwaukee’s history. In this documentary, learn about the secret world of organized crime through the lens of the most dangerous man in Milwaukee. Known for using car bombs to murder his enemies, Frank Balistrieri was willing to do anything to keep his power over the city.
OFFICER PIGSLEY (Director: Kevin Losani, Michael J. Widger) In a a city full of superheroes and monstrous villains, a clumsy police officer stumbles upon an evil conspiracy. He has to decide whether it’s worth taking the law into his own hands – and risking his life – to save a city that despises him. An indie epic, that bats miles above its meager budget, and delivers laughs, gasps, and feels.
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See Trailer + Poster for LA Set Neo-Noir Thriller LOS ANGELES OVERNIGHT
Here is the the trailer and poster for Los Angeles Overnight, the directorial debut of filmmaker Michael Chrisoulakis which will launch a limited national, theatrical release on March 9 driven by Arena Cinelounge to be followed by a digital release through Freestyle Digital Media on March 20, 2018.
Inspired by the L.A. Modern Noir genre and populated with distinct and dynamic characters, Arielle Brachfeld (Consumption) stars in Los Angeles Overnight as Priscilla, a struggling actress who inherits a bevy of colorful villains after desperation drives her and her gullible boyfriend, a lovelorn mechanic (Azim Rizk, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk), to steal big from the Los Angeles underworld. No amount of preparation could ever prepare this actress for a blood-soaked role filled with seedy criminals and “hot loot.” Entirely shot in Los Angeles, the cast is appropriately peppered with titans of the Hollywood scene including Peter Bogdanovich, Sally Kirkland and recent CineAsia Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Lin Shaye.
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Architecture & Design Film Festival Returns to LA in Spring 2018, Opens with BIG TIME
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BIG TIME[/caption]
The Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to Los Angeles this Spring, from March 14 to 18, 2018, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre Center, providing the film capital of the world a unique lens to explore architecture and design. ADFF: LA will bring a selection of 30+ compelling short length and feature films. The screenings will explore the life and work of revered architects and designers such as desert modernist Albert Frey, contemporary starchitect Bjarke Ingels, and fashion designer Dries van Noten. Films will also cover timely topics such as the power of design to instill positive change and the building of a model city to solve urban problems.
Kicking off with the Short Films Walk (SFW: LA) on March 10, design aficionados are invited to explore the Helms Bakery District, where six showrooms including Arcana Books, Harbour Outdoor, H.D. Buttercup, Scandinavian Designs, Room & Board and Vitra will open their doors and screen over 24 short film documentaries throughout the day from 10am-7pm. The event will conclude with a public screening of Building Hope: The Maggie’s Centres, a beautifully shot film by award-winning director Sarah Howitt that tells the story of Maggie’s, their approach to cancer care, and the role that great design plays in the cancer support they offer. The film will be followed by a talk with Frances Anderton, host of KCRW’s DnA.
ADFF: LA opens on Thursday, March 14 with BIG TIME, a documentary by Kaspar Astrup Schröder that follows Bjarke Ingels during the course of seven years while he struggles to finish his biggest project yet, letting viewers into his creative process and compromises along the way. The following evening, Liam Young of SCI-Arc’s M.A. in Fiction and Entertainment program will curate a selection of experimental films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK0mGdMKMW4
Other film highlights include:
Albert Frey: Part 1 – The Architectural Envoy, directed by Jake Gorst, is about the unpretentious Swiss-born mid-20th century architect. The first of a two-part film series produced by Design Onscreen, this film explores Albert’s early life and work in Europe to his New York architectural accomplishments in the 1930s, including the famed Aluminaire House, the Canvas Weekend House, features of the New York Museum of Modern Art, as well as his Kocher-Samson Building in Palm Springs.
The Experimental City explores the story of Athelstan Spilhaus, a visionary scientist and futurist comic-strip writer in the 1960s. Frustrated by the growing problem of urban pollution, he assembled a team of experts to develop a bold experiment: the Minnesota Experimental City (MXC). MXC would be the city of the future, a domed metropolis for 250,000 pioneering residents, built from scratch using cutting-edge technology to prevent urban sprawl and pollution. Things didn’t quite go as planned, as explored in Chad Friedrichs’ fascinating look back at the would-be city of tomorrow.
DRIES, a film about the notoriously private fashion designer Dries Van Noten, who allows a filmmaker to accompany him in his creative process and rich home life for the first time. The film offers an insight into the life, mind and creative heart of a master fashion designer who, for more than 25 years, has remained independent in a landscape of fashion consolidation and globalization.
Other festival highlights include Breakpoint, a short mockumentary that follows the founder of LASVIT, a company that revived the Czech glass making craft; Made in Ilima, a film about MASS Design’s conservation-focused primary school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; REM, a film by Tomas Koolhaas; and for St. Patrick’s Day, a screening of Kevin Roche: The Quiet Architect.
Additionally, ADFF will transform the Los Angeles Theatre Center lobby into an immersive lounge area for attendees to enjoy between screenings. The lounge will include VR films including one by Gary Hustwit and Sam Green that explores the work of architect and futurist Buckminster Fuller; an exhibition called “The Original Comes from Vitra” that focuses on authenticity in the design and manufacturing process; short films displayed on the Sony Ultra-Short Throw 4K HDR Home Theater Projector; furniture supplied by Vitra and Poliform; and a pop-up book store.
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Tsai Ming-Liang’s VR Film THE DESERTED to Hong Kong Premiere at 2018 Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will introduce the future of cinema to audiences – the Hong Kong premiere of Tsai Ming-Liang’s The Deserted, HTC’s first virtual reality (VR) Chinese language film. World-renowned Taiwanese master TSAI Ming-Liang and Golden Horse Award Best Leading Actor LEE Kang-Sheng will lead the Hong Kong audience through an unparalleled eye-opening VR experience, and share their thoughts and visions of this cinematic innovation in a Master Class.
Winner of the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival with Vive L’amour (1994), TSAI Ming-Liang has established himself as one of contemporary cinema’s most accomplished auteurs. In addition to bringing films into the art world, he has been constantly exploring multi-media and new technology in filmmaking. The Deserted, his debut VR work, is an attempt to break the established dichotomy of traditional cinema, and create an interactive film experience that blurs the lines between reality and creative expression.
The work is an elliptical tale of love, death and memory, starring LEE Kang-Sheng as a man recuperating from an illness in the mountains. Unable to communicate with his late mother or the female ghost next door, his only companion is a lone fish who swims with him in the bathtub. The Deserted offers a dreamlike 3D experience which immerses viewers in the construction of the scenes, and the characters’ personal journeys.
The 55-min piece is a milestone in Chinese language cinema and selected for the first-ever Virtual Reality competition at the Venice Film Festival. It received overwhelming response at the Golden Horse Festival, selling out all 13 sessions within seconds. The Deserted is supported by HTC VIVE, ZOTAC and the Academy of Film of Hong Kong Baptist University.
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2018 Black Women Film Summit Unveils Shorts Lineup + Opening Night Film “A Wrinkle in Time!”
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A Wrinkle in Time[/caption]
The 2018 Black Women Film Summit organized by Black Women Film Network (BWFN) will take place March 9 to 10, 2018 at Atlanta Technical College. This two-day event will celebrate the work of women of color in film and television and provide attendees with networking opportunities, information and resources to further their careers in the industry.
Opening Night of the Summit is Friday, March 9, when BWFN will take over Regal Atlantic Station at 6pm for an evening at the movies with A Wrinkle in Time! BWFN will celebrate the premiere of Ava DuVernay’s masterpiece by buying out a theater and supporting this historic release during its opening weekend.
The Summit continues Saturday, March 10 at Atlanta Technical College beginning at 9am with the BWFN Short Film Festival and a full day of informative classes.
2018 Black Women Film Summit Shorts Lineup
The following shorts have been selected for the 2018 Summit and will screen from 9am to 3pm: “Valerie Morgan: TV Qualified” – Directed by LaQuanda Plantt Based solely on her obsession with medical television shows, Valerie Morgan attempts to gain employment in the medical field. “Distorted” – Directed by Tai Anderson Two sisters meet to put their father to rest when they get an unexpected knock at the door, turning their night upside down. “Broken Branches” – Directed by Chris Anthony Hamilton Keith returns home from an evening out with a male companion to find his 18-year-old son Eric home from college a day early. Eric confronts his father who attempts to explain his lifelong struggle with his true sexual identity. Feeling betrayed, Eric is unable to reconcile his father’s truth and leaves Keith feeling guilted, shamed and searching for a sign of hope to repair his relationship with his son. “In the Field” – Directed by Tesia Walker “In The Field” follows an ambitious local reporter, John Landon, who witnesses a police-related shooting of a black girl outside a toy store on Christmas Eve. John is tasked with interviewing the girl’s family to get the scoop that will bring him national fame. However, he finds that getting the exclusive involves more than just being there first. “Horse & Buggy” – Directed by Sherie Hodge The objective of this piece was to visually capture the remarkable story of Atlanta Mayoral Candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms. “Horse & Buggy” is a story of sheer determination and how one candidate attests to why Atlanta is truly the city where impossible dreams take form. “BlacKorea” – Directed by Christine Swanson The story is set in the late 80’s in Chicago. Two children, born to a Korean mother, and African-American father are forced to live with the tangled consequences of their parents’ decisions, while struggling to traverse new life in the Windy City. “Least Suspect” – Directed by Bobby Huntley Five former sorority sisters reunite, forming their own “Secret Society” to deceive men out of cash and jewels, when one of them unknowingly crosses the nephew of a Russian Mob Boss. “Soul Fire” – Directed by Janlatae’ Mullins A couple dances together every day as they fight for the love they once shared. “The Tree of Palimpsest” – Directed by Ingrid Agbo Palimpseste, an old ceramist and storyteller in her spare time, is regularly solicited by Iba and Emeka, two young brawling brothers, to settle their daily conflicts. Rather than offering them a simple answer, Palimpsest finds the perfect analogy between their childish concerns and the life of an African historical figure. So begins the journey in the past of those women and men who made Africa. “Dirty Money” – Directed by Ciara Boniface As addictions and murky loyalties swirl around them, three women desperate to escape their surroundings rob a group of drug dealers and find themselves fighting through a night that will change their lives forever.2018 Black Women Film Summit Classes
The schedule for the 2018 BWFN Summit classes is as follows: 9:00am – 10:30am – “Finding Your Funny with Cocoa Brown” – Actress Cocoa Brown shows you how to incorporate funny into any situation. Also how to create your funny through developed improv skills. 10:00am -12:00pm – “Kids Acting Class” – For kids ages 7-17. Actors will gain confidence for audition and study using the Primal 5 tool of the Chubbuck Technique. 10:00am – 12:00pm – “Protect Your Legal Work” – Learn from attorney Zakiya Watson-Caffe on how to protect your brand/work from legal issues or theft. 10:00am – 12:00pm – “Marathon Mindset for Actors” – Would you rather be a trend or you rather be Ralph Lauren? Actress Jasmine Burke shares how she has sustained 10 years in the film industry using her mind set. This conversation is for SERIOUS ARTISTS ONLY. 10:00am – 12:00pm – “Red Carpet Hosting” – Broadcast journalist Summer Jackson will give you tips on how to host and interview celebrities on the red carpet. 11:30pm – 1:00pm – “Hair, Makeup & Wardrobe for Film & TV” – Learn from experienced professionals on how to enter and be successful in the film industry for hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Guest panelists are Gocha Hawkins, Denise Tunnel, and Moe Grant. 12:30pm – 2:30pm – “Audition Tips with Rhavynn Dummer” – Learn from a professional casting director on the correct and effective techniques for auditioning. 12:30pm – 2:30pm – “Screenwriting with AZ Yeamen” – In this two-hour workshop, writers will learn how to create dynamic 3-dimensional characters, the superhuman antagonist to intensify your story, and the science of loglines to master your 90-second pitch. 12:30pm -2:30pm – “A Conversation with Zane” – Best-selling author Zane talks about future projects and will answer your questions on selling your work. 12:30pm – 2:30pm – “How to Pitch to Network Television” – HaJ House shares her experience pitching to Networks and production companies from the creator perspective. 3:00pm – 4:00pm – “All You Ever Wanted to Know About SAG-AFTRA” – Learn the benefits and what it means to be a part of the Screen Actors Guild. Registration for this session is FREE.
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Joe Berlinger to Curate Thematic Program and Jehane Noujaim to Receive Tribute at 2018 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
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Joe Berlinger, Jehane Noujaim[/caption]
Delving into the fascinating genre of true crime, filmmaker Joe Berlinger will curate the 2018 Thematic Program of the 2018 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which will feature films that follow individual cases and consider the ways documentary uniquely represents the complexities, and limitations, of the American judicial system. For the Tribute, Full Frame will honor Jehane Noujaim’s illustrious body of work and showcase her lauded films exploring themes of resilience, freedom, democracy, and free speech.
Academy Award®-nominated filmmakers Berlinger and Noujaim will both be in attendance at the 21st annual festival, held April 5 to 8, 2018, in Durham, North Carolina.
Exploring themes of crime and punishment, Berlinger will draw from his own work on the subject, as well as influential work by other filmmakers. A leading voice in nonfiction film and television for the past two decades, Berlinger’s films include the landmark documentaries Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, WHITEY: United States of America v. James J. Bulger, and Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru, among many others. Crude, about oil pollution in the Amazon Rainforest, won 22 human rights, environmental, and film festival awards and triggered a high-profile First Amendment battle with oil-giant Chevron. Berlinger’s Under African Skies, documenting the 25th Anniversary of Paul Simon’s Graceland album, was nominated for three primetime Emmy awards, including Outstanding Nonfiction Special. In addition to his feature documentary work, Berlinger has created many hours of crime-related unscripted series for television, including Gone: The Forgotten Women of Ohio, Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders, and Killing Richard Glossip. Berlinger is currently in production on a narrative film, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, about infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, starring Zac Efron, Lily Collins, and John Malkovich.
“Joe Berlinger brings unparalleled vision to the subject of true crime,” said Full Frame Artistic Director Sadie Tillery. “Examining complicated accusations of wrongdoing and the legal proceedings that follow, his films make palpable the intricacies and tensions involved in these cases, in both the courtroom and the surrounding communities. They’ve not only impacted the lives of the people involved and even the outcomes of cases, they’ve also shaped the documentary form itself. We are honored to have Berlinger curate this year’s Thematic Program and to see this subject matter through his lens.”
“Having had the honor of exhibiting many of my films at Full Frame since the festival’s inception, it’s tremendously gratifying to come back this year to curate the Thematic Program that I have so enjoyed as an audience member in years past,” said Berlinger. “It’s also very timely to put a spotlight on true crime. While much has (deservedly) been made about the explosion of interest in this genre in recent years due to such breakouts as Serial, The Jinx, and Making A Murderer, crime and punishment has been a staple of documentary storytelling from the earliest days of nonfiction filmmaking. There’s no better time than now to examine the evolution of the genre by presenting some its milestone films.”
Past curators of Full Frame’s Thematic Program include Amir Bar-Lev, R.J. Cutler, Chris Hegedus, Steve James, D A Pennebaker, and Lucy Walker.
For the 2018 Tribute, Full Frame will recognize Jehane Noujaim, presenting a retrospective from her distinguished career. Noujaim earned a B.A. in Film and Philosophy at Harvard, and lives in Cairo and New York City. Noujaim’s impressive proportion of award-winning titles includes Academy Award®-nominated film The Square, which was widely hailed as the definitive film about the Arab Spring, and earned the Audience Award at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals. Her explosive 2004 film Control Room, about Al Jazeera and its coverage of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, was one of the first documentaries to examine modern media bias. It was described by A.O. Scott of the New York Times as “an indispensable example of the inquisitive self-questioning democratic spirit.”
Noujaim’s work has been nominated by the DGA, IDA, Independent Spirit Awards and several Critics Associations, and has exhibited at international festivals, has screened in theaters and been broadcast globally. In collaboration with Angelina Jolie, Noujaim most recently executive produced 2018 Academy Award®-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner. In 2006, Noujaim won the TED Prize, an annual award in which the recipients are granted a wish. Noujaim’s TED Prize wish, to create a day in which the world comes together through film, was the catalyst for the international multimedia event Pangea Day, broadcast live across the globe.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Jehane Noujaim’s work with our 2018 Full Frame Tribute,” said Tillery. “With intimacy and urgency, Noujaim’s films allow us to see global issues unfold through personal accounts. They introduce us to unforgettable people and bring new perspective to international events.”
“I am deeply grateful for this tribute, as Full Frame is such a special place for me,” said Noujaim. “I came to Full Frame in my twenties with my first film, Startup.com, co-directed with Chris Hegedus and produced by D A Pennebaker, they loved the festival, and introduced me to it. I felt I had found family. We came back to Full Frame with Control Room almost fifteen years ago. To return now, at a time when I feel we are living in an age of digital Control Rooms on steroids, feels right. There will be a lot to talk about!”
Most recently, Full Frame has honored filmmakers Kirsten Johnson, Marshall Curry, Steve James, and Stanley Nelson with the Full Frame Tribute.
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2018 Oxford Film Festival Winners – THE DRAWER BOY and THE ORGANIZER Win Top Awards
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THE DRAWER BOY[/caption]
The 2018 Oxford Film Festival celebrated the best of the fest with an entertaining awards ceremony emceed by Crooked Marquee’s Eric D. Snider, and handed out Hoka awards to Arturo Perez Torres and Aviva Armour-Ostroff’s THE DRAWER BOY for Best Narrative Feature, Nick Taylor’s THE ORGANIZER for Best Documentary Feature, Itako’s BOYS FOR SALE for Best LGBTQ Feature, and the presentation of the Lisa Blount Memorial Acting Award to Catherine Eaton for her performance in THE SOUNDING.
Jeff Dennis’s THE PROCESS: THE WAY OF PABLO SIERRA won the Hoka Award for Best Mississippi Feature Film, and Sacha Jenkins’s WORD IS BOND took the top prize for Best Music Documentary.
Receiving “Special Recognition” in the Narrative Feature Film Category were Catherine Eaton for her film THE SOUNDING with Astin Rocks receiving the same in the Mississippi Films Category for her film LOVE SOLILOQUY: A VISUAL ALBUM. Also cited in the documentary film category was a Special Jury Mention for “Creative Storytelling” to Aaron and Amanda Kopp for their documentary, LIYANA.
A special Editing Award was presented to director Mark Potts for the film, COP CHRONICLES: LOOSE CANNONS: LEGEND OF THE HAJ-MIRAGE. The Pat Rasberry Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Award was given to Kelly Buckholdt (TRUTH RISES). The Alice Guy-Blaché Emerging Female Filmmaker Award (and check for $1000 from the Louis M. Rabinowitz Foundation) went to Amanda Kopp, who co-directed the documentary LIYANA with her husband Aaron Kopp.
In the Short Film category, Best Narrative Short went to Clark Duke’s HOME, with a Special Jury Prize for “Creative Vision” going to Alejandro Damiani’s M.A.M.O.N. (MONITOR AGAINST MEXICANS OVER NATIONWIDE), and an “Honorable Mention” going to Jessee Kreitzer’s BLACK CANARIES. The winner of the Hoka for Best Documentary Short was Peter Byck’s ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BEATING HEARTS. A Special Jury Prize for “Personal Vision” went to Daniel Robin’s ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN, with an “Honorable Mention” given to Dana Nachman‘s WASHED AWAY.
Nathan Willis’s COWGIRL UP was named Best Mississippi Short Film, with E.J. Carter’s TRUTH RISES receiving a Special Jury Prize for “Filmmaker to Watch,” and David Ross’s HAND MADE getting a “Honorable Mention” Vincent Jude Chaney’s music video for “Manna” by King Woman took the Hoka in that category with Michael Williams’s music video for “Royal” by Lost in Constellation receiving an Honorable Mention. Mark C. Smith’s TWO BALLOONS won the Fest Forward animation category, and Quentin Haberham’s HOMEGROWN received an “Honorable Mention.” The Best LGBTQ Short winner was Joseph Sulsenti’s FISHY.
John Matthew Tyson picked by his previously announced Hoka Award as the winner for the Oxford Film Festival’s first Screenplay Competition for his script, “Twirling at Ole Miss;” and Liam Hendrix’s NATION DOWN is the winner of the inaugural Artist Vodka Award.
2018 OXFORD FF AWARD-WINNING FILMS
THE DRAWER BOY – BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Directors: Arturo Perez Torres and Aviva Armour-Ostroff’ THE SOUNDING – Special Recognition/Narrative Director: Catherine Eaton THE ORGANIZER – BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Director: Nick Taylor LIYANA – Special Jury Mention for “Creative Storytelling”/Documentary Directors: Aaron and Amanda Kopp THE PROCESS: THE WAY OF PABLO SIERRA – BEST MISSISSIPPI FEATURE Director: Jeff Dennis LOVE SOLILOQUY: A VISUAL ALBUM – Special Recognition/Mississippi Films Director: Astin Rocks WORD IS BOND – BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY Director: Sacha Jenkins BOYS FOR SALE – BEST LGBTQ FILM Director: Itako FISHY – BEST LGBTQ SHORT Director: Joseph Sulsenti HOME – BEST NARRATIVE SHORT Director: Clark Duke M.A.M.O.N. (MONITOR AGAINST MEXICANS OVER NATIONWIDE – Special Jury Prize for “Creative Vision” Director: Alejandro Damiani BLACK CANARIES – Honorable Mention Director: Jessee Kreitzer ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BEATING HEARTS – BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT Director: Peter Byck ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN – Special Jury Prize for “Personal Vision” Director: Daniel Robin WASHED AWAY – Honorable Mention Director: Dana Nachman COWGIRL UP – BEST MISSISSIPPI SHORT FILM Director: Nathan Willis TRUTH RISES – Special Jury Prize for “Filmmaker to Watch” Director: E.J. Carter (Kelly Buckholdt) HAND MADE – Honorable Mention Director: David Ross “Manna” by King Woman – BEST MISSISSIPPI MUSIC VIDEO Director: Vincent Jude Chaney “Royal” by Lost in Constellation – Honorable Mention Director: Michael Williams TWO BALLOONS – FEST FORWARD BEST ANIMATION Director: Mark C. Smith HOMEGROWN – Honorable Mention Director: Quentin Haberham Catherine Eaton (THE SOUNDING) – Lisa Blount Memorial Acting Award Amanda Kopp (LIYANA) – Alice Guy-Blaché Emerging Female Filmmaker Award Kelly Buckholdt (TRUTH RISES) – Pat Rasberry Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Award COP CHRONICLES: LOOSE CANNONS: LEGEND OF THE HAJ-MIRAGE – BEST EDITING Director: Mark Potts “Twirling at Ole Miss” – BEST SCREENPLAY Screenwriter: John Matthew Tyson NATION DOWN – ARTIST VODKA AWARD Director: Liam Hendrix image via Facebook
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“Call Me by Your Name” and “Jane” Win 2018 Writers Guild Awards
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Call Me By Your Name[/caption]
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) held the ceremony for the 2018 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio/audio, promotional, and graphic animation categories at concurrent ceremonies at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
Emmy and Grammy-winning actor-writer-comedian Patton Oswalt (Happy!, A.P. Bio, Annihilation) hosted the WGAW’s West Coast ceremony and the WGAE’s East Coast Ceremony was hosted by writer and comic Amber Ruffin (Late Night with Seth Meyers).
Call Me by Your Name, Screenplay by James Ivory won the award for Adapted Screenplay, Jane, Written by Brett Morgen won the award for Documentary Screenplay, and Get Out, Written by Jordan Peele won the award for Original Screenplay.
In addition, the WGAW presented several honorary awards during its West Coast ceremony: Emmy-winning Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story star Glenn Close presented the WGAW’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement to Emmy-winning writer-producer Alison Cross (Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, Roe vs. Wade, S.W.A.T.); Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher presented the WGAW’s Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement to Writers Guild and Academy Award-winning screenwriter-director-producer James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good As It Gets); When We Rise co-star Ivory Aquino presented the WGAW’s Valentine Davies Award to Writers Guild and Academy Award-winning screenwriter and LGBTQ rights activist Dustin Lance Black (Milk, When We Rise) for his social activism which has positively impacted the LGBTQ community; Washington Post Executive Editor Martin “Marty” Baron presented the WGAW’s Paul Selvin Award to The Post screenwriters Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, whose Post screenplay embodies the spirit of constitutional and civil rights and liberties, including the First Amendment and freedom of the press.
The WGAE presented three honorary awards at the East Coast ceremony. It was a reunion for Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alums as Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch presented Tina Fey and Robert Carlock with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence and Mentorship. Ken Burns presented the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement to his long-time collaborator Geoffrey C. Ward (The Vietnam War, The Roosevelts, The Civil War). Courtney Simon (As the World Turns) presented the Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild to Hamilton Nolan (Splinter News/Gizmodo Media Group).
FILM WINNERS
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Get Out, Written by Jordan Peele; Universal Pictures ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Call Me by Your Name, Screenplay by James Ivory; Based on the Novel by André Aciman; Sony Pictures Classics DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY Jane, Written by Brett Morgen; National GeographicTELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA WINNERS
DRAMA SERIES The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu COMEDY SERIES Veep, Written by Gabrielle Allan, Rachel Axler, Ted Cohen, Jennifer Crittenden, Alex Gregory, Steve Hely, Peter Huyck, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, David Mandel, Ian Maxtone-Graham, Dan Mintz, Lew Morton, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith; HBO NEW SERIES The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu ORIGINAL LONG FORM Flint, Written by Barbara Stepansky; Lifetime ADAPTED LONG FORM Big Little Lies, Teleplay by David E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Liane Moriarty; HBO ADAPTED SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA “Starboy” (Zac & Mia), Teleplay by Allen Clary and Andrew Rothschild, Based on the novel Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts; go90.com ANIMATION “Time’s Arrow” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Kate Purdy; Netflix EPISODIC DRAMA “Chicanery” (Better Call Saul), Written by Gordon Smith; AMC EPISODIC COMEDY “Rosario’s Quinceanera” (Will & Grace), Written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally; NBC COMEDY/VARIETY TALK SERIES Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Writers: Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, Ben Silva, Seena Vali; HBO COMEDY/VARIETY SKETCH SERIES Saturday Night Live, Head Writers: Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Bryan Tucker, Writers: James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Neal Brennan, Zack Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Michael Koman, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen, Kent Sublette, Julio Torres; NBC Universal COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, Written by Dave Boone; CBS QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Hollywood Game Night, Head Writer: Grant Taylor; Writers: Michael Agbabian, Alex Chauvin, Ann Slichter, Dwight D. Smith; NBC DAYTIME DRAMA General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Jean Passanante; Writers: Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O’Connor, Dave Rupel, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Christopher Van Etten, Christopher Whitesell; ABC CHILDREN’S EPISODIC AND SPECIALS “An American Girl Story – Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance” (American Girl), Written by May Chan; Amazon DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – CURRENT EVENTS “Confronting ISIS” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith; PBS DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS “The Great War, Part II” (American Experience), Written by Stephen Ives; PBS NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT “White Helmets” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Katie Kerbstat; CBS News NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY “Chief of Chobani” (60 Minutes), Written by Steve Kroft, Oriana Zill de Granados; CBS News DIGITAL NEWS “The Super Predators,” Written by Melissa Jeltsen, Dana Liebelson; Huffingtonpost.comRADIO/AUDIO WINNERS
RADIO/AUDIO DOCUMENTARY “CBS Radio 90th Anniversary,” Written by Dianne E. James, Gail Lee; CBS News Radio RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT “World News This Week: June 9, 2017,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY “Dishin’ Digital on WCBS-AM,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBSPROMOTIONAL WINNERS
ON-AIR PROMOTION (RADIO OR TELEVISION) “CBS Comedy,” Written by Dan Greenberger; CBS TelevisionVIDEOGAME WINNER
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEOGAME WRITING Horizon Zero Dawn, Narrative Director John Gonzalez; Lead Writer Benjamin McCaw; Writing by Ben Schroder, Anne Toole; Additional Writing by Dee Warrick, Meg Jayanth; Guerrilla Games
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2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award Winners – SKID ROW MARATHON Wins Audience Choice Award
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Skid Row Marathon[/caption]
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced the highly anticipated winners for its 33rd year at a ceremony held in their honor, with the coveted Audience Choice Award, going to Mark Hayes’ SKID ROW MARATHON. On LA’s Skid Row, a criminal court judge organizes a running club comprised of homeless, recovering alcoholics, and paroled men and women who seek to rediscover their sense of self-worth and dignity.
The Best Documentary Film Award went to Grant Korgan and Geoff Callan’s THE PUSH. The jury remarked that “We chose THE PUSH as the best feature documentary because it was a riveting, well told story with excellent camera work, and superb editing that kept us engaged the entire time.”
Gjorce Stavreski’s SECRET INGREDIENT (Iscelitel) is the recipient of the Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award for Best International Film. The Jury remarked that “It’s outstanding direction and the terrific performances of all the cast make it hard to believe that it’s a directorial debut.”
Molly McGlynn’s MARY GOES ROUND took home the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema. The Jury remarked that “Aya Cash’s performance beautifully depicts the intense, painful descent into alcohol addiction and its consequences. “
The Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema went to Pablo Solarz’s THE LAST SUIT (El último traje) for it’s for its theme, mise-en-scene, and great performances. The Jury also had a special mention for Denny Brechner, Alfonso Guerrero and Marcos Hecht’s GET THE WEED (Misión no oficial) for it was a great surprise, full of humor and made with great effort, that every single person in the audience enjoyed.
The Valhalla Award for Best Nordic Film was awarded to Antti-Jussi Annila’s THE ETERNAL ROAD (Ikitie). The Jury remarked that the film “told a fascinating story about an unknown period in history, featuring excellent performances, a gripping narrative with wonderful cinematography and production design.”
The ADL Stand Up Award went to Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s SKY AND GROUND. Sponsors Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties ADL remarked that “in furtherance of our mission ‘to secure justice and fair treatment for all,’ ADL is pleased to stand up with SKY AND GROUND, a film that stands for respecting human dignity amidst fear and bigotry.”
The Social Justice Award for Documentary Film went to Ludovic Bonleux’s GUERRERO. They Jury remarked that this is “an essential story about the fallout from a mass kidnapping in a historic Mexican city that takes its time making the viewer feel a region’s collective pain and determination; the people of this city seek not just justice from a corrupt government, but also answers as to what happened to their children. It’s a film everyone should see—and one we won’t soon forget.”
Three awards were handed out for short films. The Bruce Corwin Award for Best Live Action Short Film went to Richard Van’s AUDITION. The Bruce Corwin Award for Best Animated Short Film went to Randall Christopher’s THE DRIVER IS RED. Best Documentary Short Film was awarded to Kyle Morrison’s MOTT HAVEN.
2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award Winners
Audience Choice Award: Mark Hayes’ SKID ROW MARATHON Best Documentary Short Film Award: Kyle Morrison’s MOTT HAVEN Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live Action Short Film: Richard Van’s AUDITION Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film: Randall Christopher’s THE DRIVER IS RED Best Documentary Award: Grant Korgan and Geoff Callan’s THE PUSH Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film: Gjorce Stavreski’s SECRET INGREDIENT (Iscelitel) Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema: Molly McGlynn’s MARY GOES ROUND Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: Pablo Solarz’s THE LAST SUIT (El último traje) Special Mention: Denny Brechner, Alfonso Guerrero and Marcos Hecht’s GET THE WEED (Misión no oficial) Valhalla Award for Best Nordic Film: Antti-Jussi Annila’s THE ETERNAL ROAD (Ikitie) ADL Stand Up Award: Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s SKY AND GROUND Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: Ludovic Bonleux’s GUERRERO