The comedy film 4th Man Out, from director Andrew Nackman which won the Outstanding Narrative Feature prize at 2015 Outfest, will be released on VOD and in theaters on February 5, 2016, via Gravitas Ventures.
The film was written by Aaron Dancik, and stars Evan Todd, Chord Overstreet, Kate Flannery, Parker Young, and Jon Gabrus.
Just like his pals, twenty-something auto mechanic Adam enjoys beer, hockey and inappropriate bodily functions. But Adam also likes guys. A hilarious mash-up of man-child and coming-out comedies, FOURTH MAN OUT examines a small-town, blue-collar guy who lets his friends know he’s gay – and what happens when they try to help him find a boyfriend. Both rudely funny and daring in its exploration of the kind of gay man we rarely see on the big screen, this bawdy comedy features Chord Overstreet (“Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEoXzmuKdFc-
Coming Out Comedy “4th Man Out” to Hit Theaters on February 5, 2016
The comedy film 4th Man Out, from director Andrew Nackman which won the Outstanding Narrative Feature prize at 2015 Outfest, will be released on VOD and in theaters on February 5, 2016, via Gravitas Ventures.
The film was written by Aaron Dancik, and stars Evan Todd, Chord Overstreet, Kate Flannery, Parker Young, and Jon Gabrus.
Just like his pals, twenty-something auto mechanic Adam enjoys beer, hockey and inappropriate bodily functions. But Adam also likes guys. A hilarious mash-up of man-child and coming-out comedies, FOURTH MAN OUT examines a small-town, blue-collar guy who lets his friends know he’s gay – and what happens when they try to help him find a boyfriend. Both rudely funny and daring in its exploration of the kind of gay man we rarely see on the big screen, this bawdy comedy features Chord Overstreet (“Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEoXzmuKdFc
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Australian Horror Film THE PACK, to Get a Spring 2016 Release | TRAILER
THE PACK, the feature debut of acclaimed commercials director Nick Robertson will be released in Spring 2016 via IFC Midnight. The film made its world premiere at the 2015 Fantasy Filmfest, and stars Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell, and Kieran Thomas.
In THE PACK, a farmer and his family must fight for their lives after a ferocious pack of feral wild dogs lays siege to their isolated farm.. Through a series of frightening and bloody encounters, they are forced into survival mode to defend themselves from the ravenous beasts and make it through the night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcMH31xdvUA
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Complete List + TRAILERS of 16 Animated Feature Films Submitted For 88th Academy Awards
Sixteen features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 88th Academy Awards®.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
“Anomalisa”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrrU3is7qvU
“The Boy and the Beast”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uifJLWoWv8c
“Boy and the World”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th0NihA2q-Q
“The Good Dinosaur”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-RgquKVTPE
“Home”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g50GhaH0U3Y
“Hotel Transylvania 2”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3nqmGgnJe8
“Inside Out”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAgJcEmMTek
“Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dY5zkwK5M
“The Laws of the Universe – Part 0”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxWTp7O0VkM
“Minions”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfql_DoHRKc
“Moomins on the Riviera”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ie8lqrOe_4
“The Peanuts Movie”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XmV3zGifOE
“Regular Show: The Movie”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf6vwAOUDek
“Shaun the Sheep Movie” (pictured above)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQvwiOWpj7o
“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGjbpO1toTc
“When Marnie Was There”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmrxqcQdYg
Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process. At least eight eligible animated features must be theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated. In any year in which 16 or more animated feature films are eligible, a maximum of five motion pictures may be nominated.
Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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AMY, Listen To Me Marlon, Among Nominees for 2015 IDA Documentary Awards, Tig Notaro to Host Ceremony
Grammy-nominated comedian Tig Notaro will host the 2015 IDA Documentary Awards ceremony. Tig Notaro is the subject of Tig, the Netflix Original documentary chronicling her life after it famously fell apart.
The 2015 edition of the Awards will highlight six films in Best Feature Documentary category. These films include AMY, Asif Kapadia’s moving film about six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse; The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Stanley Nelson’s vibrant chronicle of the birth of the Black Panther Party; Listen To Me Marlon, Stevan Riley’s fascinating self-portrait of Marlon Brando culled from his vast archive of personal audio and visual materials; The Look of Silence, Joshua Oppenheimer’s powerful companion piece to the Oscar®-nominated The Act of Killing; The Russian Woodpecker, Chad Gracia’s riveting examination of eccentric Ukranian artist Fedor Alexandrovich’s obsession with a Soviet-constructed radio antenna near the Chernobyl site; and What Happened, Miss Simone?, Liz Garbus’s sensitive exploration of the legendary singer and activist Nina Simone.
In addition to the awards, this year’s honorees include Matthew Heineman, recipient of the IDA’s Courage Under Fire Award in recognition of conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth. Heineman’s gripping film, Cartel Land, documents two modern-day vigilante movements – Dr. José Mireles’s citizen-led uprising against a violent drug cartel wreaking havoc in Mexico and the Arizona Border Recon led by Tim “Nailer” Foley, which is working to prevent Mexico’s drug wars from crossing into the United States. Previous recipients of the award include: Laura Poitras, Christiane Amanpour, Andrew Berends, Jonathan Stack and James Brabazon and Saira Shah.
In addition to Heineman, the 2015 IDA Documentary Awards will honor Gordon Quinn with its Career Achievement Award. Tony Tabatznik and the Bertha Foundation (berthafoundation.org) will receive the IDA Amicus Award, and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos will receive IDA’s Pioneer Award. (T)ERROR directors Lyric R. Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe will share the Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award sponsored by the Archibald Family Foundation.
The recipients of this year’s IDA Creative Recognition Awards include The Russian Woodpecker (cinematography by Artem Ryzhykov) will be recognized with the award for Best Cinematography; Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (edited by Joe Beshenkovsky and Brett Morgen) will receive the Best Editing award; Best of Enemies (original score by Jonathan Kirkscey) will be presented with the Best Music award, and Listen To Me Marlon (written by Stevan Riley, co-writer Peter Ettedgui) will receive the Best Writing award.
The 31st Annual IDA Documentary Awards will take place on Saturday, December 5th at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
31st Annual IDA Awards Nominees
Best Feature Award
Amy
Director: Asif Kapadia
Producer: James Gay-Rees
A24
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Director: Stanley Nelson
Producer: Laurens Grant
PBS DISTRIBUTION
Listen to Me Marlon
Director: Stevan Riley
Producer: John Battsek
SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY FILMS
The Look of Silence
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen
DRAFTHOUSE FILMS AND PARTICIPANT MEDIA
The Russian Woodpecker
Director: Chad Gracia
Producer: Ram Devineni and Mike Lerner
FILMBUFF
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Director: Liz Garbus
NETFLIX
Best Short Award
Body Team 12
Director: David Darg
Producer: Bryn Mooser
RYOT FILMS AND VULCAN PRODUCTIONS
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
Director: Adam Benzine
HBO
The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul
Director: Kitty Green
Producer: Philippa Campey
KURZFILMAGENTUR HAMBURG (GERMANY)
Last Day of Freedom
Directors: Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman
Object
Director: Paulina Skibińska
MUNK STUDIO AND POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION
Best Curated Series Award
30 for 30
Executive Producers John Dahl and Connor Schell
ESPN
America ReFramed
Executive Producers: Chris Hastings and Simon Kilmurry
WORLD CHANNEL
Independent Lens
Executive Producers: Sally Jo Fifer and Lois Vossen
ITVS/PBS
POV
Executive Producers: Simon Kilmurry and Chris White
POV, PBS
Storyville
Series Editor: Nick Fraser
Executive Producer: Kate Townsend
BBC TV, BBC WORLD NEWS
Best Limited Series Award
Blood Brothers
Executive Producers: Kees Schaap and Anja van Oostrom
VARA TELEVISION (THE NETHERLANDS)
Hard Earned
Executive Producers: Steve James, Justine Nagan, and Gordon Quinn
Series Producer: Maggie Bowman
AL JAZEERA AMERICA AND KARTEMQUIN FILMS
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Executive Producer: Jason Blum
Co-Executive Producer: Zac Stuart-Pontier
Produced by: Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling
HBO
Life Story
Executive Producer: Mike Gunton
DISCOVERY
Rebel Architecture
Executive Producer: Fiona Lawson-Baker
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH
Best Episodic Series Award
Chef’s Table
Executive Producers: David Gelb, Andrew Fried, and Brian McGinn
NETFLIX
Morgan Spurlock Inside Man
Executive Producers: Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, and Morgan Spurlock
CNN AND WARRIOR POETS
NOVA
Senior Executive Producer: Paula Apsell
Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Cort
PBS
The Seventies
Executive Producers: Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, and Mark Herzog
CNN, PLAYTONE, AND HERZOG & COMPANY
This is Life with Lisa Ling
Executive Producers: Amy Bucher, Lisa Ling, and David Shadrack Smith
CNN AND PART2 PICTURES
Best Short Form Series Award
Do Not Track
Executive Producer: Hugues Sweeney
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA, UPIAN, ARTE, AND BR
Highrise: Universe Within
Executive Producers: Anita Lee and Silva Basmajian
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA
The New York Times Op-Docs
Executive Producer: Jason Spingarn-Koff
THE NEW YORK TIMES
POV Interactive Documentaries
Executive Producer: Simon Kilmurry and Adnaan Wasey
POV AND PBS
WE THE ECONOMY: 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford to Miss
Executive Producer: Paul G. Allen and Morgan Spurlock
VULCAN PRODUCTIONS AND CINELAN
David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award
This award recognizes exceptional achievement in non-fiction film and video production at the university level and brings greater public and industry awareness to the work of students in the documentary field.
The Archipelago
Director: Benjamin Huguet
THE NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL
The Blue Wall
Director: Michael Milano
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
El Cacao
Director: Michelle Aguilar
University of California Santa Cruz
In Attla’s Tracks
Director: Catharine Axley
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Looking at the Stars
Director: Alexandre Peralta
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Pare Lorentz Award
The Pare Lorentz Award recognizes films that demonstrate exemplary filmmaking while focusing on the appropriate use of the natural environment, justice for all and the illumination of pressing social problems.
How to Change the World
Director: Jerry Rothwell
ABC News VideoSource Award
This award is given each year for the best use of news footage as an integral component in a documentary.
(T)ERROR
Directors: Lyric R. Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe
INDEPENDENT LENS ALONG WITH BBC
Best of Enemies
Directors: Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville
MAGNOLIA PICTURES AND INDEPENDENT LENS
Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll
Director: John Pirozzi
ARGOT PICTURES
Night Will Fall
Director: André Singer
HBO
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Director: Liz Garbus
NETFLIX
Creative Recognition Award Winners
The Creative Recognition category recognizes special achievement in cinematography, editing, music and writing in films entered in the Feature Category.
Best Cinematography
The Russian Woodpecker
Cinematography by: Artem Ryzhykov
Best Editing
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Edited by: Joe Beshenkovsky and Brett Morgen
Best Writing
Listen to Me Marlon
Written by: Stevan Riley
Co-Writer: Peter Ettedgui
Best Music
Best of Enemies
Original Score by: Jonathan Kirkscey
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NINA starring Zoe Saldana, David Oyelowo to be Released in Theaters in December 2015
The highly anticipated film NINA, based on the life of legendary American singer-songwriter Nina Simone will be released in theaters in December 2015 under the RLJ Entertainment brand. With first time writer-director Cynthia Mort, the film stars Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy) and David Oyelowo (Selma, The Butler).
NINA traces the career of legendary American singer-songwriter and civil rights activist, Nina Simone (Saldana). The story follows her struggle to balance music, family and what she believes in, which leaves her living alone in France feeling exiled from her own country. That is, until she meets Clifton Henderson (Oyelowo) who helps the high priestess of soul rediscover meaning in her life and music, and to once again embrace America. NINA reflects both her and the people she gave voice to in both their searches for redemption and hope in America during the 1960’s.
Nina Simone is unarguably one of the great vocalists of the 20thCentury; a 15-time Grammy nominee, she received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2000. Nina’s versions of ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me‘ and ‘Feeling Good‘ have become standards, featuring in advertising and jazz compilations, and frequently covered by other artists. Her versions of such classics as ‘I Put a Spell on You,’ ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,’ ‘Lilac Wine,’ ‘Ain’t Got No, I Got Life‘ and ‘Wild is the Wind‘ have become the definitive versions.
Nina’s strong involvement in the Civil Rights Movement brought out the talented songwriter in her. While ‘To Be Young Gifted and Black‘ is probably her best-known composition, and was subsequently covered by Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Bob and Marcia (whose cover was a U.K. top five hit) amongst others, she also wrote many other songs including ‘Mississippi Goddam’ and ‘Four Women.’
NINA was produced by Barnaby Thompson (The Importance of Being Earnest), Ben Latham-Jones (Kids in Love), Stuart Parr (Get Rich or Die Tryin’) and Cynthia Mort (The Brave One) and executive produced by Pierre Lagrange (Kick-Ass), Allison Sarofim (Lake City), Aigerim Jakisheva (Kids in Love), Zoe Saldana, David Oyelowo, James Spring (Burke and Hare), Gene Kirkwood (Rocky), Lauren Lloyd(Cellular) and Paul Rosenberg (Southpaw).
“I am very excited that RLJ Entertainment will be distributing Nina Simone’s biopic with the tremendous talent involved including Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo,” said Robert L. Johnson, RLJE Chairman and Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET). “I had the special privilege early in my career of working with Ms. Simone while coordinating a performance for former D.C. Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy and knowing first-hand of her major contribution to the soul and emotion of the Civil Rights Movement. I look forward as I am sure many others will, to her story and legacy being made available by RLJ Entertainment to consumers on various media platforms in the coming months.”
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Johnny Depp to Be Honored at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Johnny Depp will receive the newly renamed Maltin Modern Master Award at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, taking place from Wednesday, February 3 to Saturday, February 13, 2016. Previously known as The Modern Master Award the honor was renamed this year to honor the famed film critic who has moderated the event for over 25 years.
“Johnny Depp is a true embodiment of a modern master. He has had a long and storied career that has shown his commitment to taking on compelling and dynamic roles. But in the gripping film BLACK MASS under the skillful direction of Scott Cooper, Johnny Depp delivers his defining performance to date,” SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling stated.
Depp can currently be seen in “Black Mass,” which tells of the unholy alliance between ruthless mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) and childhood friend-turned-FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). The bond, forged growing up on the streets of South Boston, would test the limits of loyalty in a town that answers to its own, unwritten code. Blinded by ambition, Connolly convinces Bulger to inform on their common enemy, the Italian Mafia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDjqLbh09E
The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.
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“Sicilian Vampire” Starring James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino Opens NYC Big Apple Film Festival | TRAILER
Frank D’Angelo’s fourth feature film, Sicilian Vampire, has been chosen as an opening night feature at this year’s New York City Big Apple Film Festival which runs November 4th to 7th, 2015. Written, directed and produced by Frank D’Angelo, Sicilian Vampire stars James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino, Robert Loggia, Armand Assante, Robert Davi, Michael Paré, Eric Roberts, Daniel Baldwin, Tony Nardi and Frank D’Angelo.
Sicilian Vampire is equal parts Goodfellas and Dusk till Dawn. It tells the story of reputed mobster Sonny Trafficante who was hoping to get away to the family hunting lodge for a little rest and relaxation and create some memories. Instead what he got was a night he will never forget. From there we’re taken on a journey of action, suspense and drama that can only come from the mind of Frank D’Angelo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QqR4TwZk8
Frank D’Angelo has written, produced, directed and acted in a total of four feature films in the last three years and is now in preproduction of his fifth film, The Red Maple Leaf, which is scheduled to begin shooting later this fall. His other films include Real Gangsters (the story of the Lo Giacomo family, one of the most successful crime syndicates in New York City), which is currently in worldwide release on Video-On-Demand networks. Another, The Big Fat Stone (a story of a homeless man who, simply by being at the right place at the right time, gets a chance at a new life), is now on VOD worldwide. And No Deposit (a story about a family man, who falls from grace through a series of downward spiraling events beyond his control), has been in theatres in Canada and USA and is available on Video on Demand.
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THE DANISH GIRL, AMY, BROOKLYN are Winners at 2015 Hollywood Film Awards
The 2015 Hollywood Film Awards, the official launch of the awards season, took place last weekend at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Danish Girl (pictured above) was a big winner, taking awards for Hollywood Director Award for Tom Hooper, Hollywood Breakout Actress Award for Alicia Vikander, and Hollywood Film Composer Award for Alexandre Desplat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d88APYIGkjk
Other winners included Carey Mulligan who spoke passionately about women’s rights while accepting the Hollywood Actress Award for her work in Suffragette, Asif Kapadia won the Hollywood Documentary Award for Amy, and Jane Fonda who received a standing ovation after stepping onstage to accept the “Supporting Actress Award” for her work in Youth. Ryan Gosling set the record straight on how to pronounce Saoirse Ronan’s name, while singing her praises, as she accepted the New Hollywood Award for her performance in Brooklyn.
The 19th Annual Hollywood Film Awards show honored the following:
“Hollywood Career Achievement Award”
Robert De Niro, presented by David O. Russell
“Hollywood Producer Award”
Ridley Scott for The Martian, presented by Russell Crowe
“Hollywood Director Award”
Tom Hooper for The Danish Girl, presented by Amber Heard
“Hollywood Actor Award”
Will Smith for Concussion, presented by Jamie Foxx
“Hollywood Actress Award”
Carey Mulligan for Suffragette, presented by Jake Gyllenhaal
“Hollywood Supporting Actor Award”
Benicio Del Toro for Sicario, presented by Reese Witherspoon
“Hollywood Supporting Actress Award”
Jane Fonda for Youth, presented by Laura Dern
“Hollywood Breakout Actor Award”
Joel Edgerton for Black Mass, presented by Johnny Depp and Dakota Johnson
“Hollywood Breakout Actress Award”
Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl, presented by Armie Hammer
“New Hollywood Award”
Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn, presented by Ryan Gosling
“Hollywood Ensemble Award”
The Hateful Eight cast including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Channing Tatum, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, presented by Jamie Foxx
“Hollywood Breakout Ensemble Award”
Straight Outta Compton cast including Corey Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson, Jr. & Jason Mitchell, presented by Ice Cube
“Hollywood Comedy Award”
Amy Schumer for Trainwreck, presented by Selena Gomez
“Hollywood Breakthrough Director Award”
Adam McKay for The Big Short, presented by Steve Carell
“Hollywood Screenwriter Award”
Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight, presented by Mark Ruffalo
“Hollywood Blockbuster Award”
Furious 7 (award accepted by Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez), presented by Kurt Russell
“Hollywood Song Award”
Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth for “See You Again” from the Furious 7 soundtrack, presented by Vin Diesel
“Hollywood Animation Award”
Inside Out (award accepted by director Pete Docter), presented by Amy Poehler
“Hollywood Documentary Award”
Asif Kapadia for Amy
“Hollywood Cinematography Award”
Janusz Kaminski for Bridge of Spies
“Hollywood Film Composer Award”
Alexandre Desplat for The Danish Girl and Suffragette
“Hollywood Editor Award”
David Rosenbloom for Black Mass
“Hollywood Visual Effects Award”
Tim Alexander for Jurassic World
“Hollywood Sound Award”
Gary Rydstrom for Bridge of Spies
“Hollywood Costume Design Award”
Sandy Powell for Cinderella
“Hollywood Make-Up & Hair Styling Award”
Lesley Vanderwalt for Mad Max: Fury Road
“Hollywood Production Design Award”
Cory Gibson for Mad Max: Fury Road
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Award Winning Documentary BARGE to NY Premiere at 2015 DOC NYC | TRAILER
The award winning documentary BARGE directed by Ben Powell have its NY premiere at 2015 DOC NYC, where it will screen in the Viewfinders Section.
BARGE had its World Premiere at SXSW 2015, and went on to win Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary Feature: Dallas International Film Festival 2015, Best Documentary Feature: Crossroads Film Festival 2015 and Honorable Mention, Best Documentary: Ashland Independent Film Festival 2015.
BARGE evocatively depicts the lives of the Mississippi River’s ship workers over twenty-eight day shifts, shuttling cargo back and forth along America’s waterway. Dryland’s misfits, these men from all backgrounds and experience level fastidiously work to achieve their individual dreams while holding together our nation’s industrial backbone. A debut feature from Austin-based Ben Powell, BARGE is an intimate portrait of the machinery of American ambitions.
A towboat drifts down the Mississippi River, on its way to the port of New Orleans. This is a barge whose life is the water, the banks, and the bright lights ahead. On board, dry land’s misfits find purpose and direction as the steady hands who move a few million tons of cargo up and down the river each year. A green deckhand; a former convict working his way up to first mate; an engineer with 38 years of experience, in no hurry to retire; and an ancient waterway pulling a double shift as the backbone of a national economy. As long as the boat is moving, they’re making money. Through the exquisitely observed details of modern river travel, this is a meditation on the importance of a meaningful job and the machinery of American ambitions.
https://vimeo.com/121178742
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“Mediterranea” “Toto and His Sisters” “The Lesson” to Compete for 2015 LUX Film Prize at Cork Film Festival
Three films, Mediterranea (pictured above), Toto and His Sisters and The Lesson/UROK, will compete for the 2015 LUX Film Prize at the 60TH Cork Film Festival. The festival runs November 06 to 15, 2015, in Cork, Ireland.
This European Parliament LUX Film Prize places a spotlight on films which go to the heart of European Public Debate. Cork Film Festival, along with the European Parliament, believe that cinema can be used as a medium to discuss and debate topical issues.
Mediterranea tells the tale of Ayiva who travels from his native Burkina Faso to Italy in search of a way to provide for his sister and daughter. He takes advantage of his position in an illegal smuggling operation to get himself and his best friend off the continent. It is massively topical given the current refugee crisis. There will also be a Q & A with cast and crew live from the film’s Brussels presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A
Toto and His Sisters is the compelling story of three siblings whose mother is imprisoned. During this time Toto passionately learns dancing, reading and writing all the while his sisters try to cope and keep the family together. The film explores topics like poverty, drugs and the importance of family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtjJbB1Oh4
Finally, The Lesson/UROK, is set in Bulgaria and centres around a young teacher searching for a robber in her class while at the same time she is falling into further debt with loan sharks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIQvmTMQr0
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DEMOLITION Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts to Open 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival ; Fest to Feature Retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s Films
The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival will honor Quebecois writer and director Jean-Marc Vallée for his exceptional career achievements. After having presented Dallas Buyers Club (Los Cabos 2013 Closing Gala) and Wild (Los Cabos 2014 Opening Gala) as Latin American premieres, the Festival will host the Latin American Premiere of Demolition as the Opening Gala of this fourth edition. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper, the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition to the opening night film “Demolition” the festival will also feature two of the Vallée’s cornerstone films, C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) and Café de Flore (2011), to complete the tribute and retrospective to his work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJ1qS7KOm4
The Festival launches a new program: Spotlight, to stress the Festival’s artistic focus and look at North America’s filmmakers, who have a central role in shaping contemporary cinema. This year the festival will feature a retrospective of Alex Ross Perry’s work. In spite of his age, 31-year-old Perry has become known at film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin and Locarno, with all of them having selected at least one of his four feature films: Impolex (2009), The Color Wheel (2011), Listen Up Phillip (Los Cabos 2014 Official Selection) and Queen of Earth, which will have its Latin American Premiere at Los Cabos this year. He will be accompanied by his regular co-worker, Sean Price Williams, one of the key cinematographers in current American independent cinema.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPgN8eEI-c
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Cuban Drag Racing Documentary HAVANA MOTOR CLUB by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt to Get 2016 Release | TRAILER
Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt’s “Havana Motor Club” which had its world premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival is set to be released in 2016 via Samuel Goldwyn Films.
HAVANA MOTOR CLUB tells a personal, character-driven story about Cuba’s vibrant community of underground drag racers and their quest to hold Cuba’s first official car race since shortly after the 1959 Revolution. It tackles how Cuba’s recent reforms — the owning of property, allowance of small businesses, and greater exchange between Cubans, Cuban Americans, tourists, and other foreigners — have affected the lives of these racers and their families.
One racer enlists the help of a Cuban American patron in Miami to bring in parts for his modern Porsche. His main competitor is a renowned mechanic who uses ingenuity rather than resources to create a racing machine out of his 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Another racer ponders whether he will participate in the race or sell his motor — one that he recovered on the ocean floor from a ship used to smuggle Cubans off the island — in order to flee Cuba on a raft headed to Florida.
Meanwhile, the race itself is in jeopardy of coming to fruition due to factors ranging from its status as an elitist sport to the arrival of the Pope in Cuba. Through the experiences of these racers and their community, HAVANA MOTOR CLUB explores how Cuba is changing today but also what its future holds in light of Obama’s recent move to normalize relations with the island nation.
Perlmutt previously co-directed the documentary “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel,” about the prolific Harpers Bazaar editor. The film was also released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUTeldvSM3s
