Wave[/caption]
Irish short film Wave is the winner of the Grand Prix Irish Short at the Cork Film Festival 2017 Awards Ceremony. Benjamin Cleary and TJ O’Grady Peyton’s winning short will now go on the longlist for the 90th Academy Awards in the Live Action Short Film category.
Wave tells the story of Gasper Rubicon, who wakes from a coma speaking a fully formed but unrecognizable language. Cleary’s 2015 short, Stutterer won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short at the 88th Academy Awards.
The winner of the Grand Prix International Short Award, Mahdi Fleifel’s A Drowning Man (Denmark, Greece, UK), will also automatically qualify for the Academy Awards longlist.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Cork Film Festival Producer and CEO Fiona Clark said: “Wave is a very deserving winner, and is a worthy inclusion on the Academy Awards’ longlist. The quality of shorts within this year’s Festival program has been exceptional, highlighting creativity and diversity in both subject matter and form.
The Shorts Jury, chaired by BAFTA nominated producer Farah Abushwesha, also selected Linda Curtin’s Everything Alive is in Movement, as the winner of the Best Cork Short, while Best Documentary Short went to Mia Mullarkey’s Mother & Baby, a documentary on survivors of the Tuam mother and baby home, which had its world premiere as part of the Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board World Premiere Shorts program.
Other prize winners include Untitled directed by Michael Glawogger and Monika Will, which won the Gradam Na Féile Do Scannáin Faisnéise / Award for Cinematic Documentary. The film was created two years after the sudden death of Michael Glawogger by editor Monika Willi who took footage produced during Michael’s filming in the Balkans, Italy, and Northwest and West Africa.
The Gradam Spiorad Na Féile / Spirit of The Festival Award went to Rima Das’ Village Rockstars. It follows a young village girl in northeast India who wants to start her own rock band. An honorable mention went to Dafydd Flynn for his performance in Frank Berry’s Michael Inside.
The Cork Film Festival Nomination for the 2018 European Short Film Awards was Sebastian Lang’s Container.
The Audience Award was won by Frank Berry’s acclaimed Michael Inside, telling the story of an 18-year-old living in Dublin who is sentenced to three months in prison after he is caught hiding drugs for his friend’s older brother.
The Cork Film Festival Youth Jury Award went to Last Man in Aleppo, directed by Feras Fayyad. The film allows the viewers to experience the rescue work of Syrian volunteers, The White Helmets.
Ms Clark added: “This year audiences had an opportunity to see 115 features, 34 documentaries and 116 shorts. For the majority of the films shown, this was the only chance to see them on the big screen in Cork.”
The Cork Film Festival will return for its 63rd edition in November 2018.-
Cork Film Festival 2017 Awards – Irish Short Film WAVE Wins Grand Prix Irish Short
[caption id="attachment_25582" align="aligncenter" width="1201"] Wave[/caption]
Irish short film Wave is the winner of the Grand Prix Irish Short at the Cork Film Festival 2017 Awards Ceremony. Benjamin Cleary and TJ O’Grady Peyton’s winning short will now go on the longlist for the 90th Academy Awards in the Live Action Short Film category.
Wave tells the story of Gasper Rubicon, who wakes from a coma speaking a fully formed but unrecognizable language. Cleary’s 2015 short, Stutterer won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short at the 88th Academy Awards.
The winner of the Grand Prix International Short Award, Mahdi Fleifel’s A Drowning Man (Denmark, Greece, UK), will also automatically qualify for the Academy Awards longlist.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Cork Film Festival Producer and CEO Fiona Clark said: “Wave is a very deserving winner, and is a worthy inclusion on the Academy Awards’ longlist. The quality of shorts within this year’s Festival program has been exceptional, highlighting creativity and diversity in both subject matter and form.
The Shorts Jury, chaired by BAFTA nominated producer Farah Abushwesha, also selected Linda Curtin’s Everything Alive is in Movement, as the winner of the Best Cork Short, while Best Documentary Short went to Mia Mullarkey’s Mother & Baby, a documentary on survivors of the Tuam mother and baby home, which had its world premiere as part of the Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board World Premiere Shorts program.
Other prize winners include Untitled directed by Michael Glawogger and Monika Will, which won the Gradam Na Féile Do Scannáin Faisnéise / Award for Cinematic Documentary. The film was created two years after the sudden death of Michael Glawogger by editor Monika Willi who took footage produced during Michael’s filming in the Balkans, Italy, and Northwest and West Africa.
The Gradam Spiorad Na Féile / Spirit of The Festival Award went to Rima Das’ Village Rockstars. It follows a young village girl in northeast India who wants to start her own rock band. An honorable mention went to Dafydd Flynn for his performance in Frank Berry’s Michael Inside.
The Cork Film Festival Nomination for the 2018 European Short Film Awards was Sebastian Lang’s Container.
The Audience Award was won by Frank Berry’s acclaimed Michael Inside, telling the story of an 18-year-old living in Dublin who is sentenced to three months in prison after he is caught hiding drugs for his friend’s older brother.
The Cork Film Festival Youth Jury Award went to Last Man in Aleppo, directed by Feras Fayyad. The film allows the viewers to experience the rescue work of Syrian volunteers, The White Helmets.
Ms Clark added: “This year audiences had an opportunity to see 115 features, 34 documentaries and 116 shorts. For the majority of the films shown, this was the only chance to see them on the big screen in Cork.”
The Cork Film Festival will return for its 63rd edition in November 2018.
-
28th Stockholm International Film Festival Awards – JEUNE FEMME Wins Best Film
[caption id="attachment_25578" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Jeune Femme[/caption]
French director Léonor Seraille received the Bronze Horse award for Best Film for his film Jeune Femme at the 28th Stockholm International Film Festival. For Ahkeem by Jeremy S. Levine och Landon Van Soest was awarded the prize for Best Documentary.
Winners 0f 2017 Stockholm International Film Festival Award
STOCKHOLM XXVIII COMPETITION
Best Film: Jeune Femme by Léonor Seraille. For its dynamic and astute study of a young woman perennially on the edge in modern society, featuring the most memorably vivacious character. A small-scale story that finds profundity in sharp specificity, along with comedy in tragedy (and vice versa.) Best Debut: I Am Not A Witch by Rungano Nyoni. For its bracingly unique style and story, a film that exposes its viewers to heretofore unforeseen settings and characters with a stunning clarity of vision. An unforgettable debut, which tackles issues of female repression and exploitation with both off-kilter humour and devastating pathos. Best Director: God’s Own Country by Francis Lee. For its beautifully naturalistic and understated approach grappling with themes of maturity, sexuality and acceptance, as well its pragmatic and sympathetic portrayal of farmers’ daily struggles. Best Screenplay: No Date, No Signature by Vahid Jalilvand and Ali Zarnegar. For its methodical exploration of the unspeakable ethical quandaries triggered by shocking tragedy, and its complex and systematic examination of issues of privilege (and lack thereof), guilt and culpability. Best Cinematography: Paul Guilhaum for Ava. For its wonderfully playful and idiosyncratic visual style that hearkens back to a wide swath of cinema history while still forging its own distinct aesthetic. A movie-lover’s movie filled with fantastic iconography. Best Actress: Antonia Zegers for Los Perros. For her subtle and multi-faceted portrayal of a wealthy woman grappling with shifting attractions and desires while wading into increasingly murky moral territory. A performer whose emotions brilliantly shimmer just under the surface. Best Actor: Josh O’Connor for God’s Own Country. For his brave and delicate portrayal of a character seething with rage yet capable of extraordinary empathy. A lived-in performance that captures the full arc of an unsettled young man coming to terms with his lot in life while learning to care for the people around him.STOCKHOLM XXVIII DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Best Documentary: For Ahkeem by Jeremy S. Levine och Landon Van Soest. This film is a nonjudgmental, intimate and warm portrayal of love and hardship set against the backdrop of police brutality. It depicts, in a very organic way, what it takes to survive as young people today, with the odds stacked against them. Capturing the unpredictability of real life without forcing its morals on the audience.STOCKHOLM XXVIII SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Best Short Film: Retouch by Kaveh Mazaheri. This is a film defying genre definition – and still it’s a social realist, gender political thriller. With a delicate touch and a sense of humor, it questions traditional ideas on women’s place in society, in Iran and across the world.STOCKHOLM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award: Vanessa Redgrave This year’s winner of the Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award has been one of the most prominent actors in the world for over five decades and has been named ”the greatest living actress of our time” by Tennesse Williams. She is as brilliant in costume dramas and political documentaries as she is in works of some of the greatest auteurs in cinematic history. With astonishing force and great social commitment, Vanessa Redgrave has made acting her life’s work.STOCKHOLM VISIONARY AWARD
Stockholm Visionary Award: Pablo Larraín This year’s Stockholm Visionary Award winner is a versatile director with great artistic precision. With a sharp eye directed towards the history of Chile, Pablo Larraín has – via individual life destinies with universal reach – revealed corruption and political deceit on all levels of society. He has redefined the biopic and is constantly broadening our cinematic horizons. With seven brilliant films behind him, Pablo Larraín is a truly visionary filmmaker.STOCKHOLM IMPACT AWARD
Stockholm Impact Award: Wild Roses by Anna Jadowska For the sensitive depiction of a mother who refuses to abandon her true self, for the portrait of a revolting child that questions an utterly conservative society, for the visually exquisite style that contrasts with a world plunged in prejudice and moral coercion, the Stockholm Impact Award goes to Anna Jadowska for Wild Roses, a metaphor for human resilience.STOCKHOLM RISING STAR
Stockholm Rising Star: Gustav Lindh The 2017 Rising Star is awarded by the Stockholm Film Festival to a young actor who has already made a powerful impression in several films. With sincerity and a great sense of presence in combination with dramatic precision – he succeeds in touching our deepest emotions. We anticipate a marvelous future within the world of cinema – Gustav Lindh1 KM FILM
1 Km Film: Nyforelsket by Ville Sörman. This year’s 1 km film scholarship goes to a director with an original voice who accomplishes to put a face on the most complex contemporary emotions. With a visual energy and a sensible touch he cares about the characters on screen, and makes the audience care too. The winner of the 1 km film scholarship goes to Ville Sörman 1 Km Film Special Mention: Min Homosyster by Lia Hietala. A Special Mention goes to a director who has an astute ear for authentic dialogue and manages to establish absolute tonal control between characters and settings. A special mention goes to Lia Hietala.THE FIPRESCI PRIZE
The FIPRESCI prize: Based On A True Story by Roman Polanski. The FIPRESCI award on the 28th Stockholm International Film Festival goes to the film that is marked with an exceptional quality of cinema language. The genre of ‘paranoic thriller’ is treated by the author as perfectly as it could be and allows him to research some extremely complicated issues without any loss of the enchanted energy of narration. The film considers the very process of an artistic creation as a sophisticated game between an artist and reality based on perpetual mutual manipulations and disguises. The formal brilliance is combined here with a crafty elaboration of every detail. So, the FIPRESCI jury is proudly and reverently announced that its award is going to Roman Polanski for the film D’après une histoire vraie (Based on a True Story).
-
French Political Drama THIS IS OUR LAND (Chez Nous) Gets U.S. Release Date | TRAILER
This Is Our Land, Lucas Delvaux’s movie about a fictional far-right party in France will be released in the U.S. by Distrib Films. The film sparked a controversy during this year’s presidential election in France.
The movie portrays a charismatic thirty something single mother (Emilie Dequenne) who gets “hired” by the far-right party to become its representative in an underprivileged town in Northern France. The film sparked uproar within the real-life National Front party.
One of France’s rare movies examining homegrown populism and the country’s own brand of far-right politics.
François Scippa-Kohn, president of Distrib Films US, said the film was a fiction very closely inspired by the last electoral French campaign that saw right wing leader Marine Le Pen reach a peak in polls.
“We’re thrilled to be working on this movie which has a particular take on society’s illnesses and dangerous passion for extremism. Lucas Belvaux has always been a very singular and powerful voice for political cinema, mixing genres and expressing his views thanks to very strong cinematic skills,” added Scippa-Kohn.
“This Is Our Land” will be opening in New York on April 18, followed by other major U.S. markets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyaDwWXeR8M
-
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney Return to Co-Host 2018 Spirit Awards
[caption id="attachment_19353" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney[/caption]
Nick Kroll (Big Mouth, Operation Finale, Uncle Drew) and John Mulaney (Kid Gorgeous, ‘Oh, Hello on Broadway’, Big Mouth) are returning for the second year in a row to co-host the 2018 Spirit Awards which will be broadcast live on IFC Saturday, March 3 at 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry.
“The only thing better than having Nick Kroll and John Mulaney host the Spirit Awards is having them host the Spirit Awards twice,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “They did such an amazing job last year and we’re thrilled to have them back in 2018.”
“From the minute Nick and John opened last year’s show, which went instantly viral, we knew we wanted them back to host this year,” said Jennifer Caserta, President, IFC. “These two talented multi-hyphenates knocked it out of the park last year and we can’t wait to see what they have planned for this year.”
Nick Kroll is an actor, writer and producer. He most recently co-created and voices numerous roles on the Netflix smash hit animated series Big Mouth. He recently wrapped productions on MGM’s Operation Finale opposite Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingley and Lionsgate’s Uncle Drew. In January 2017, he wrapped his Broadway debut with the critical and financial hit ‘Oh, Hello on Broadway’ alongside John Mulaney. Recent film credits include Jeff Nichols’ critically acclaimed film Loving, Seth Rogen’s Sausage Party and Illumination’s Sing. Nick had his own Comedy Central sketch show Kroll Show and starred as Ruxin in the hit FX show The League.
John Mulaney is an Emmy Award winning writer and comedian. He is currently touring the United States with his most recent show, Kid Gorgeous. Previously, John starred in the Broadway hit, ‘Oh, Hello on Broadway’ alongside Nick Kroll. In 2015 Mulaney released his 3rd hour stand up special a Netflix Original titled The Comeback Kid. He began his career in New York’s East Village and has since toured around the world. In 2008, he began writing at Saturday Night Live where he appeared as a Weekend Update correspondent and co-created characters such as “Stefon” with Bill Hader. He currently writes for IFC’s Documentary Now and for Netflix’s Big Mouth on which he voices the character of Andrew. Mulaney’s first comedy album, The Top Part, was released in 2009. He released his second Comedy Central special and album New In Town in 2012.
Previously announced, Lily Collins (To The Bone, Rules Don’t Apply, Okja) and Tessa Thompson (Dear White People, Creed, Thor: Ragnarok) will co-host the press conference announcing the nominees of the Spirit Awards on Tuesday, November 21, at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood.
This year marks the 33rd edition of the awards show that celebrates the best of independent film. Past Spirit Awards hosts have included Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani, Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell, Patton Oswalt, Andy Samberg, Joel McHale, Sarah Silverman, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Izzard, Queen Latifah and John Waters to name a few. The show, which will be held on the beach in Santa Monica, will be executive produced and directed by Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions for the fourth consecutive year. Shawn Davis returns as producer for his 16th year and Danielle Federico and Andrew Schaff also return as co-producers.
-
THE INSULT, WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY and BODIED Win at AFI FEST 2017
[caption id="attachment_25562" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
THE INSULT[/caption]
The American Film Institute announced the films that received the Audience and Jury awards at AFI FEST 2017 presented by Audi, with THE INSULT directed by Ziad Doueiri the top winner of the Audience Award for World Cinema.
“As the 31st edition of AFI FEST comes to a close, this year’s awards shine a light on the American independent, auteur and foreign cinema that resonated with our audiences and jurors,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI FEST Director. “Audience awards help bring film lovers together, while building momentum for the filmmakers in this year’s festival.”
AFI FEST 2017 Winners and Awards
Audience Award – World Cinema THE INSULT (DIR Ziad Doueiri) Lebanon’s official Best Foreign Language Film Oscar® submission, this engrossing and unforgettable tale of modern life in the Middle East is a razor-sharp look at a country’s long-simmering resentments toward Palestinian refugees, and its traumatized civil war wounds. Audience Award – New Auteurs WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY (DIR Iram Haq) Iram Haq’s sophomore feature is a powerful story of a young woman growing up between two cultures, with no control over her life choices, who must carve out her own path despite a significant culture clash. Audience Award – American Independents BODIED (DIR Joseph Kahn) Whether it’s sci-fi, satire, or race relations, Joseph Kahn’s auteur style defies anticipations. In BODIED, a white boy explores rap battle vernacular, immersed in a subculture that’s simply spectacular. Grand Jury Award for Live Action Short GAZE (DIR Farnoosh Samadi) Jury Statement: “No good deed goes unpunished” is the phrase that stays with the viewer as you watch the film that captured the top honor this year. The filmmaker lures you in and then, like any classic thriller, hooks you until the final gasp — the low hum of a motorbike replacing John Williams’ iconic notes in JAWS. Underneath, the film is a subtle examination of class and gender in Iranian society. Grand Jury Award for Animated Short THE BURDEN (DIR Niki Lindroth von Bahr) Jury Statement: A film whose stranded, unremarkable inhabitants convey the weight of the world through song and dance and reveal the anguish we all feel about life. Special Jury Mention SILICA (DIR Pia Borg) Jury Statement: We would like to recognize Borg’s beautifully composed, lush 35mm cinematography. Her blend of vivid landscape photography with microscopic and CG elements elevates this exploration of territorial constructs. The Shorts Jury was comprised of Jeffrey Bowers (Senior Curator, Vimeo), Moira Griffin (Executive Director of Production, Creative Labs, 21st Century Fox) and Nathan Silver (director, ACTOR MARTINEZ, THIRST STREET). The Grand Jury Award winners for Live-Action and Animated Short, as decided by the Shorts Jury, will be automatically eligible for the Academy Award® shortlists in the Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short categories.
-
PIN CUSHION, SNOWFLAKE, TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID Win Top Awards at 2017 Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_25554" align="aligncenter" width="816"]
SNOWFLAKE producer Eric Sonnenburg holds the Audience Award, International Competition[/caption]
The 2017 Ithaca Fantastik film festival in upstate New York closed out its festival of dynamic genre and vanguard cinema, and awarded its Best Film prize to PIN CUSHION directed by Deborah Haywood.
SNOWFLAKE was also a big winner, taking the awards for Best Achievement in Directing for Adolfo J. Kolmerer and William James, along with International Competition Audience Award.
In addition to film screenings the festival also hosted the return of the 48-Hour Fantastik Film Challenge, which engages teams of students from Ithaca College to produce a genre short over two-days to screen at the festival. This year top honors were awarded to ME, MYSELF, AND DIE by Jyasi Nagel & Em Zarabet by challenge organizers Kevin Fermini and Jack Warner.
This year’s jury consisted of artist Gilles Vranckx and locals Bob Proehl, author and arts & culture columnist, and genre film aficionado Woody Chichester. “2017 was truly a fantastic year, we had the chance to be able to screen some of the movies that will stay with me forever, and seeing how tight was the Cinema Pur and Int’l competition Audience awards it seems like our audience felt the same,” said IF fest director Hugues Barbier on the competition selection. “Our jury had a great time talking and debating these movies, and even though it’s been a hard to decide, the awards have been given at the unanimity for each category.”
Best Film: PIN CUSHION, dir. Deborah Haywood
Best Screenplay: THE ENDLESS, dirs. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
Best Achievement in Directing: Adolfo J. Kolmerer and William James, SNOWFLAKE
Best Short: MIRIAM IS GOING TO MARS, dir. Michael Lippert
Cinema Pur Audience Award: TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID, Issa López
International Competition Audience Award: SNOWFLAKE, dirs. Adolfo J. Kolmerer and William James
-
Whistler Film Festival Signature Series to Honor Kyra Sedgwick and Bill Pullman
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) will shine the spotlight on actress and producer Kyra Sedgwick, and actor Bill Pullman, in it’s Signature Series, which features events that recognize distinguished artists of our time and honors them with an award and or intimate on-stage interview complemented by a feature presentation of their most recent film premiering at the fest.
For its 17th edition, WFF celebrates Kyra Sedgwick, who is attending the festival with her directorial debut and Canadian premiere of STORY OF A GIRL and as the Artist Spotlight and Luminary Award honoree. WFF will also honor acclaimed Bill Pullman, who is attending with the Canadian premiere of THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN and as the Artist Tribute and Career Achievement Award honoree. Sedgwick and Pullman join this year’s Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch as well as actors Amanda Crew, Kevin Zegers, Rossif Sutherland and Shiva Negar who will be featured in a new Canada 150 Spotlight on Talent conversation to mark the centennial hosted by Canadian television and radio personality, George Stroumboulopoulos.
“WFF’s 2017 honorees represent notable talent at different stages of their careers. Some have created the most memorable stories and characters in recent decades and others have careers about to burst,” says Whistler Film Festival’s Director of Industry Programming, Angie Nolan. “It is such an honor to celebrate this diverse group of inspiring artists at all phases of their creative journey.”
Award winning actor Kyra Sedgwick has conquered stage, screen and television. Sedgwick is WFF’s Artist Spotlight honoree and will be receiving a Luminary Award, which recognizes a sublime artist whose body of work continues to inspire while shining a light on meaningful storytelling. Sedgwick has received multiple Golden Globe nominations (2007 win for THE CLOSER), Emmy nominations (2010 win for THE CLOSER), 7 SAG nominations as well as two Independent Spirit Award nominations, a Theater Award, Los Angeles Drama Desk Critics Circle Award and a Dramalogue Award. She is currently starring in and producing ABC’s limited series TEN DAYS IN THE VALLEY. She recently appeared in THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, in which she co-stars opposite Woody Harrelson and Hailee Steinfeld, produced by James L. Brooks. Sedgwick is attending WFF with the Canadian premiere and her directorial debut, STORY OF A GIRL. The feature, which stars Ryann Shane alongside Sedgwick’s husband and daughter Kevin and Sosie Bacon, was originally produced for Lifetime and is based on a novel by Sara Zarr. With this film, Sedgwick tackles the very topical subject of online shaming and bullying with tact and sensitivity. A tale of personal courage and triumph, STORY OF A GIRL is a coming of age story about a young woman who finds the inner strength to overcome her past in order to become the author of her own future. Sedgwick displays a delicate sensitivity directing a young cast that has to deal with sensitive material at a time when stories like these are more important than ever.
Beloved American actor, Bill Pullman of stage, screen and television is WFF’s Tribute guest and the recipient of its’ 2017 Career Achievement Award. This award recognizes a formidable talent in film and television, whose longevity in storytelling and artistic achievement has culminated in a most prolific and inspiring career. Bill Pullman had his film debut in the 1986 film RUTHLESS PEOPLE and has since gone on to star in a multitude of films and television series where he created some of the most memorable characters in recent times. He is most known for his role as President Thomas J. Whitmore in INDEPENDENCE DAY as well as his role as Lone Starr in SPACEBALLS. Pullman can currently be seen on the hit USA television show, THE SINNER, which has been this summer’s highest rated show. Other notable film credits include: TROUBLE, WALKING OUT, INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE, THE EQUALIZER, SURVEILLANCE, THE COVE, BOTTLE SHOCK, SCARY MOVIE 4, THE GRUDGE, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, THE LAST SEDUCTION, MR. JONES, MALICE, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, SINGLES, NEWSIES and LOST HIGHWAY. Additional television credits include 1600 PENN, TORCHWOOD and REVELATIONS. Current film releases include Fox’s BATTLE OF THE SEXES, appearing alongside Emma Stone and Steve Carrell, as well as Electric Entertainment’s LBJ in which he appears opposite Woody Harrelson. He is attending the Whistler Film Festival with A24’s western movie and the Canadian premiere of THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN.
The Whistler Film Festival will host the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch for the sixth consecutive year as the final event in its Signature Series program.
To celebrate Canada’s 150, WFF’s presents a new event, Canada 150 Spotlight on Talent featuring four Canadian actors to watch who are attending the fest with their latest films in conversation with George Stroumboulopoulos. The roster includes Rossif Sutherland (TRENCH 11), Kevin Zegers (SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING), Amanda Crew (JUGGERNAUT), and Shiva Negar (BECOMING BURLESQUE), all of which are WFF Alumni having attended previous fests except for Shiva Negar. The event will be hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos on December 2 at 1:30PM.
-
Anchorage International Film Festival Ten Days of “Films Worth Freezing For” Opens December 1
[caption id="attachment_15665" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Prison Dogs[/caption]
The Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) will open ten days of “Films Worth Freezing For” beginning Friday, December 1 and continuing through Sunday, December 10, 2017. This year’s festival, showcasing international and local Alaskan films, is the 17th annual iteration of the event. Over 130 films will be hosted at BearTooth Theatrepub, the Alaska Experience Theatre, and E Street Theater (formerly BearSquare Theater), with special events at Williwaw, 49th State Brewing Co. and the Anchorage Museum.
The AIFF will open on Friday, December 1, at the BearTooth Theatrepub, with a night of short films, one of the festival’s most popular programs. The showcase of shorts brings a gamut of talent to the screen for a celebration of independent filmmaking. This festive night will include champagne and desserts, the music of Blackwater Railroad Company who wrote the soundtrack for festival selection, Broken Ghost.
Said Festival Director, Rebecca Pottebaum, “We are very proud of our film festival, having chosen countless films that will challenge, endear and entertain audiences with their style and depth. Cinema is a gathering place, where we can connect audience members with filmmakers and to each other–and, in turn, to the world at large.”
Over three dozen filmmakers travel to Alaska to attend the festival, one of whom is Emmy Award-winning documentarian, Geeta Gandbhir, with her film Prison Dogs. Many AIFF screenings will have directors or cast present to engage with audiences and discuss the films afterward. Numerous filmmakers will visit high school classrooms around Anchorage as guest speakers and workshop providers.
Festival highlights include the 5-day Film Royal filmmaking competition, youth films showcase, Martini Matinee, family films, and numerous panels and workshops. Norwegian Sami rapper, Nils Utsi (who performs under the name SlinCraze), raps in a language only 20,000 people speak and he will join the AIFF for Arctic Superstar film screening and a performance. Numerous Alaskan filmmakers will grace the big screen in competition for audience and jury awards.
-
Greenwich Entertainment to Release Matt Tyrnauer’s Documentary SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD
Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD which premiered to strong reviews and sold-out crowds at the Toronto International Film Festival in September will be released theatrically in April of 2018 by recently formed NYC-based distributor Greenwich Entertainment.
Best known for his acclaimed films VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR and CITIZEN JANE: BATTLE FOR THE CITY, Tyrnauer’s latest film tells the story of Scotty Bowers, a World War II Marine combat veteran who became a legendary bi-sexual male hustler and all-purpose date-arranger for Hollywood movie stars from the 1940’s through the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s.
The film has been called “the juiciest documentary in years” (Vulture), “criminally entertaining” (Vanity Fair ), and a “resonant and funny portrait of a larger-than-life character” (The Film Stage).
At the age of 89, Bowers’ 2012 tell-all biography “Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars” (Grove Press) was a best-selling sensation, and offered a powerful counter-narrative of Hollywood, as well as a revised view of the intimate lives of many of the greatest names of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The cinema verite feature film contains a nuanced portrait of the now 94-year-old Bowers, and also contains fresh revelations, and a trove of newly discovered archival footage and photos of Bowers from the 40s, 50s and beyond. The film documents how Bowers became a confidante, aide de camp and lover to many of Hollywood’s greatest male–and female—stars. Out of a gas station in the shadow of the studio lots, he began connecting his band of friends from the military with those who had to hide their often complex true sexual identities from the public in the pre-Stonewall
era.
Prepare yourself for a different take on Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and many more icons from the Hollywood Golden Age. Bowers, with the vigor of someone decades younger is an unparalleled raconteur. Tyrnauer’s camera follows him over several months as he meets up with old colleagues—some of them from his L.A. Confidential-esque gas stations days–who corroborate his picaresque tales.
“Scotty is a classic American type: fun, happy-go-lucky, eager to please, big-hearted and literally up for anything – a “greatest generation” guy who was also perhaps was one of the great sexual athletes of his day. Matt captures the still-spry, and now 94-year-old Scotty brilliantly and uses his story as a jumping off place to evoke a secret bygone Hollywood and the pressure on that era’s film stars to conform publicly, at least, to the unvarying standard of monogamous heterosexuality,” said Greenwich co-managing director Ed Arentz. “We’re thrilled to have it as one of our inaugural releases.”
Tyrnauer, also a journalist (former editor-at-large of Vanity Fair) long heard about Bowers and his gas station in the course of reporting stores about the hidden history of Los Angeles. Eventually, he discovered that the elusive Scotty was still alive and living in Laurel Canyon. “From the moment I met Scotty, I felt he was one of the most extraordinary characters I’d ever come across. He’s one of the last living links to a very different time in Hollywood—and the rest of the world–when same-sexuality was an unmentionable taboo, punishable by prison sentences. Scotty allowed people to live more authentic lives by arranging liaisons for people who, by great necessity, had to hide their true identities to shield themselves from dire consequences,” Tyrnauer said. “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Ed and the team at Greenwich Entertainment to share Scotty’s story and get this film seen by audiences across North America.”
SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, recently had its international premiere at the Rome Film Festival, and its U.S. premiere Saturday at DOC NYC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FExFEVQyAw
-
Anna Jadowska WILD ROSES Wins Stockholm Impact Award at Stockholm Film Festival
One of the world’s biggest cash prizes for film – the Stockholm Impact Award at Stockholm Film Festival went to Anna Jadowska for her film Wild Roses. Jadowska won the prize worth one million SEK and the award designed by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
Ana Jadowska won “For the sensitive depiction of a mother who refuses to abandon her true self, for the portrait of a revolting child that questions an utterly conservative society, for the visually exquisite style that contrasts with a world plunged in prejudice and moral coercion, the Stockholm Impact Award goes to Anna Jadowska for Wild Roses, a metaphor for human resilience.”
“Thank you so much for this award, I’m very honored. A special thanks to the Stockholm International Film Festival, the festival director, organizers, the city, of Stockholm and members of the jury. I had a long and difficult journey with this movie and to receive this award means a lot to me since it will give me the opportunity to do another film” says winning director Anna Jadowska.
Director Anna Jadowska presents a powerful story about a woman facing the difficulties of following her own desires in a small, conservative and gossip-filled village. With striking forest imagery that beautifully captures light drizzling through branches, the film is an exceptional portrayal of a woman and her environment. While examining the plights of women in a conservative society, however, Wild Roses is also a touching depiction of the relationship between mother and daughter.
The other nominated movies and directors were:
Cardinals by Grayson Moore & Aidan Shipley
The Last Verse by Ying-Ting Tseng
My Pure Land by Sarman Masud
Searing Summer by Ebrahim Irajzad
The section Stockholm Impact Award is a collaboration between the Stockholm International Film Festival and the City of Stockholm with the purpose to highlight the possibility of film to create change and debate through the depiction of contemporary subjects. The prize amount of one million SEK will help the winner in the development of new film projects.
Last year the director Wayne Roberts (USA) won the award for Katie Says Goodbye.
2015 the director Leena Yadav (India) won the award for Parched.
Photo: Anna Jadowska – Wild Roses, (pictured center) 2017 Stockholm Impact Award Winner
-
Michael Brewer’s THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY to Open 25th African Diaspora International Film Festival
The Last Revolutionary by Michael Brewer will open the 25th anniversary of the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF).
The festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a total of 64 films from 31 countries including 31 World, US and NY Premieres. Screenings will be held in three venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village and MIST Harlem.
The Last Revolutionary depicts two black men who came together as revolutionaries in the 1970s but whose lives took very different paths. They meet again in a Los Angeles throwback hideout during Obama’s presidency and debate and argue around how to best stop the ongoing attacks from the far right and racist groups around the country.
The Last Revolutionary is one of several films in the festival that deal with issues of social justice, activism and police brutality, issues that have been for a long time and continue to be of great concern to communities of colors worldwide.
Going back into history are films like Malcolm X : An Overwhelming Influence On The Black Power Movement! – to have its world premiere in ADIFF 2017; Winnie, the award-winning Sundance documentary about Winnie Mandela; Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba about the South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, and Barrow: Freedom Fighter – about the man who led the struggle for Barbados independence after 300 years of British colonialism.
Addressing contemporary concerns are Black Cop, a searing political satire about a black cop who seeks revenge after being egregiously profiled and assaulted by his colleagues, Silas about a committed environmental activist from Liberia fighting against land grabbing and environmental destruction in his country. The Valley of the Black Descendants is a documentary about Chileans of African descent fighting to get official recognition from a State that has concealed their culture and African identity for more than 200 years.
“Who do we want in the seats” The Last Revolutionary director Brewer says “Anyone who is progressive and sees the need for change. The Last Revolutionary touches on many issues that are happening in the country (and asks): How have things really changed?”
“After 25 years of existence, the African Diaspora International Film Festival brings powerful films to New York that touch on many issues that are still very relevant today” says Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech, Co-Director and Chief Curator of ADIFF. “The Last Revolutionary was the perfect film to open our 25th edition. It takes us full circle.”
https://vimeo.com/241057946
-
MOLLY’S GAME Replaces ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD As Closing Night Film of AFI FEST
Writer/director Aaron Sorkin will be honored by AFI FEST 2017 with a Tribute and his film Molly’s Game will be the new closing night film of the festival. Molly’s Game replaces All the Money in the World which was pulled after allegations of sex misconduct surrounding Kevin Spacey, one of the stars in the film.
The Tribute to Sorkin will celebrate his career with a moderated discussion of his work followed by the Gala premiere screening. Written and directed by Sorkin, Molly’s Game stars Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
Oscar® nominee Jessica Chastain stars in Oscar®-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut, set in the glamorous world of high-stakes underground poker games. DIR Aaron Sorkin. SCR Aaron Sorkin. CAST Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O’Dowd, Bill Camp.
“Aaron Sorkin is an American master, and we are proud to shine a proper spotlight on his directoral debut, Molly’s Game, on AFI FEST’s Closing Night,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI FEST Director. “As Sorkin embarks on this next chapter of his career, his talents are timely for a tribute as he brings his gift of crafting compelling narratives and complex characters to the story of female impresario Molly Bloom.”
One of our nation’s most acclaimed screenwriters, Aaron Sorkin has been honored with an Academy Award® for Best Adapted Screenplay for THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) and four Emmys® for THE WEST WING. Additional film credits include A FEW GOOD MEN (1992), MALICE (1993), THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995), CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR (2007), MONEYBALL (2011) and STEVE JOBS (2015). Sorkin has also created and written THE NEWSROOM, SPORTS NIGHT, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and THE WEST WING for television.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4UPet8Nyc