The horror film Demon, from the late director Marcin Wrona, which had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (Vanguard Section), will be released in 2016 via The Orchard.
Polish director Marcin Wrona was found dead in his hotel room in late September, while attending the Gdynia Film Festival in the Baltic city of Gdynia for the Poland premiere of Demon.
In Demon, a young man travels to the hometown of his future wife where he knows no one. As a wedding gift from the bride’s grandfather, he receives a piece of land where the two can build a house and raise a happy family. While preparing the land to build, he finds human bones buried beneath the new property. Strange things begin to happen to change this happy couple’s life forever. Demon is a modern take on one of the most famous figures of Jewish folklore, the dybbuk, a spirit of a person not properly laid to rest that seeks to inhabit the body of a living person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn2zvlURSeU
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Polish Horror Film “Demon” by Late Marcin Wrona, to Get a 2016 Release | TRAILER
The horror film Demon, from the late director Marcin Wrona, which had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (Vanguard Section), will be released in 2016 via The Orchard.
Polish director Marcin Wrona was found dead in his hotel room in late September, while attending the Gdynia Film Festival in the Baltic city of Gdynia for the Poland premiere of Demon.
In Demon, a young man travels to the hometown of his future wife where he knows no one. As a wedding gift from the bride’s grandfather, he receives a piece of land where the two can build a house and raise a happy family. While preparing the land to build, he finds human bones buried beneath the new property. Strange things begin to happen to change this happy couple’s life forever. Demon is a modern take on one of the most famous figures of Jewish folklore, the dybbuk, a spirit of a person not properly laid to rest that seeks to inhabit the body of a living person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn2zvlURSeU
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“Noma: My Perfect Storm” Documentary on World’s Best Restaurant to Premiere at DOC NYC and Opens in Theaters on Dec. 18
“Noma: My Perfect Storm,” the documentary on the World’s Best Restaurant will have its North American premiere at 2015 DOC NYC before being released in theaters, On Demand and on iTunes on Dec. 18 via Magnolia Pictures.
The documentary directed by Pierre Deschamps, follows celebrated chef Rene Redzepi against the backdrop of his Copenhagen-based restaurant called Noma,which was voted The World’s Best Restaurant in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Inspired by two books written by celebrated chef René Redzepi, the film follows him on a culinary journey as he travels to find inspiration for creating novel dishes for travelers from around the world.
Noma: My Perfect Storm is a creative journey into the mind of René Redzepi.
How did he manage to revolutionize the entire world of gastronomy, inventing the alphabet and vocabulary that would infuse newfound pedigree to Nordic cuisine and establish a new edible world while radically changing the image of the modern chef? His story has the feel of a classic fairy tale: the ugly duckling transformed into a majestic swan, who now reigns over the realm of modern gourmet cuisine. But beneath the polished surface, cracks appear in the form of old wounds. 2013 stands as the worst year in René Redzepi’s career.
We follow him as he fights his way back to the top, reinventing NOMA and reclaiming the title of best restaurant in the world in 2014 for the fourth time.
https://vimeo.com/139779858
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THE LOBSTER Leads Nominations for 2015 Moët British Independent Film Awards
The Lobster topped the list of nominations for the 2015 Moët British Independent Film Awards with 7 nominations, including Best British Independent Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay andProducer of the Year. Colin Farrell is nominated for Best Actor and Olivia Colmanand Ben Whishaw for their supporting roles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_NcqD-Gfs
45 Years and Macbeth received six nominations each, including Best British Independent Film and Best Director. 45 Years also has nominations for its screenplay, for Producer of the Year, and for its stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillardare nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress and Macduff, Sean Harris, for Best Supporting Actor. The film’s Cinematography also gets a nod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5cpiX18TA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqHhKuCQmoY
Asif Kapadia’s Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy, has five nominations, for Director, Documentary, Producer of the Year, for its Editing and for Best British Independent Film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yCIwmNuLE
Completing the Best British Independent Film line up is Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, which is nominated for Director and Screenplay. The film’s Production Design and Visual Effects are also recognised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bggUmgeMCdc
Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne-Marie Duff are all nominated for their performances in Suffragette. Alicia Vikander is nominated for Best Actress for her performance in The Danish Girl. Tom Hardy is nominated (just once) for Best Actor for his performance as both Kray twins in Legend.
Father and son Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson are both nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Suffragette and Brooklyn, respectively. Brooklyn’s other nominations come for Nick Hornby’s Screenplay and for Best Actress Saoirse Ronanand Best Supporting Actress Julie Walters. The film’s Casting is also nominated, in the Outstanding Achievement in Craft category.
Amy Jump’s Screenplay for High-Rise, adapted from the novel by JG Ballard, is nominated. The film’s cast are recognised too: Tom Hiddleston is nominated forBest Actor, Sienna Miller for Supporting Actress and Luke Evans for Supporting Actor.
There are five first-time performance nominees this year (Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Tom Hiddleston, Marion Cotillard and Luke Evans) and nine past winners: Tom Hardy, Brendan Gleeson Anne-Marie Duff, Olivia Colman, Michael Fassbender, Helena Bonham Carter, Julie Walters and Ben Whishaw, who was BIFA’s Most Promising Newcomer in 2001.
This year’s Most Promising Newcomers are Agyness Deyn for Sunset Song, Mia Goth for The Survivalist, Abigail Hardingham for Nina Forever, Milo Parker for Mr Holmes and Bel Powley for A Royal Night Out. Nina Forever and The Survivalist are both nominated for The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director for directors The Blaine Brothers and Stephen Fingleton. The other first-time directors nominated are John Maclean for Slow West, Corin Hardy for The Hallow and Paul Katis for Kajaki: The True Story, which is also nominated for Producer of the Year.The Violators is also nominated for Producer of the Year.
Nominated for Best Documentary along with Amy, are Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance, How to Change the World, Palio and A Syrian Love Story.
The nominations for the new Discovery Award, which recognises innovation and vision in lower-budget films, are Aaaaaaaah!, Burn Burn Burn, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, The Return and Winter.
The Variety Award, which recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK, will be presented to Kate Winslet.
The winners will be announced at The Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 6 December at Old Billingsgate.
2015 MOËT BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best British Independent Film sponsored by Moët & Chandon
45 YEARS Tristan Goligher, Andrew Haigh
AMY James Gay-Rees, Asif Kapadia
EX MACHINA Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Alex Garland
THE LOBSTER Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Efthymis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos
MACBETH Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Laura Hastings-Smith, Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie, Justin Kurzel
Best Director
45 YEARS Andrew Haigh
AMY Asif Kapadia
EX MACHINA Alex Garland
THE LOBSTER Yorgos Lanthimos
MACBETH Justin Kurzel
Best Screenplay sponsored by BBC Films 45 YEARS Andrew Haigh BROOKLYN Nick Hornby EX MACHINA Alex Garland HIGH-RISE Amy Jump THE LOBSTER Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou
Best Actress sponsored by MAC
MARION COTILLARD Macbeth
CAREY MULLIGAN Suffragette
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING 45 Years
SAOIRSE RONAN Brooklyn
ALICIA VIKANDER The Danish Girl
Best Actor sponsored by Movado
TOM COURTENAY 45 Years
COLIN FARRELL The Lobster
MICHAEL FASSBENDER Macbeth
TOM HARDY Legend
TOM HIDDLESTON High-Rise
Best Supporting Actress
HELENA BONHAM CARTER Suffragette
OLIVIA COLMAN The Lobster
ANNE-MARIE DUFF Suffragette
SIENNA MILLER High-Rise
JULIE WALTERS Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor
LUKE EVANS High-Rise
BRENDAN GLEESON Suffragette
DOMHNALL GLEESON Brooklyn
SEAN HARRIS Macbeth
BEN WHISHAW The Lobster
Most Promising Newcomer sponsored by The London Edition
AGYNESS DEYN Sunset Song
MIA GOTH The Survivalist
ABIGAIL HARDINGHAM Nina Forever
MILO PARKER Mr Holmes
BEL POWLEY A Royal Night Out
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
THE HALLOW Corin Hardy
KAJAKI: THE TRUE STORY Paul Katis
NINA FOREVER Chris & Ben Blaine
SLOW WEST John Maclean
THE SURVIVALIST Stephen Fingleton
The Discovery Award sponsored by Raindance
AAAAAAAAH! Andrew Starke, Steve Oram
BURN BURN BURN Daniel-Konrad Cooper, Tim Phillips, Charlie Covell, Chanya Button
ORION: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING Jeanie Finlay
THE RETURN Oliver Nias
WINTER Tilly Wood, Paula Crickard, Heidi Greensmith
Best Documentary
AMY James Gay-Rees, Asif Kapadia
DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Judith Dawson, Louise Osmond
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD Bous De Jong, Al Morrow, Jerry Rothwell
PALIO James Gay-Rees, John Hunt, Cosima Spender
A SYRIAN LOVE STORY Elhum Shakerifar, Sean McAllister
Producer of the Year
TRISTAN GOLIGHER 45 Years
JAMES GAY-REES Amy
PAUL KATIS, ANDREW DE LOTBINIERE Kajaki: The True Story
CECI DEMPSEY, ED GUINEY, YORGOS LANTHIMOS, LEE MAGIDAY The Lobster
DAVID A HUGHES, DAVID MOORES The Violators
Outstanding Achievement in Craft
ADAM ARKAPAW Cinematography – Macbeth
MARK DIGBY Production Design – Ex Machina
CHRIS KING Editing – Amy
FIONA WEIR Casting – Brooklyn
ANDREW WHITEHURST Visual Effects, Ex Machina
Best British Short Film
BALCONY Tom Kimberly, Ali Mansuri, Toby Fell-Holden
CRACK Joseph Taussig, Peter King
EDMOND Emilie Jouffroy, Nina Gantz
LOVE IS BLIND Lizzie Brown, Dan Hodgson
MANoMAN Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, Simon Cartwright
Best International Independent Film
CAROL Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon, Phyllis Nagy, Todd Haynes
FORCE MAJEURE Erik Hemmendorff, Marie Kjellson, Philippe Bober, Ruben Östlund
GIRLHOOD Bénédicte Couvreur, Céline Sciamma
ROOM Ed Guiney, David Gross, Emma Donoghue, Lenny Abrahamson
SON OF SAUL Gábor Sipos, Gábor Rajna, Cara Royer, László Nemes
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2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival Reveals Films in Tastes, B-Side and American Specials Sections
The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival taking place 11th to the 15th of November, continues to impress with its film lineup. The festival revealed the lineup for Tastes – a new section in the film program focusing on culinary themed films, B-Side program – focusing on music themed films, and American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films.
Tastes program includes outstanding films from the international circuit of culinary cinema, including Cooking Up a Tribute by Luis González and Andrea Gómez (Mexican Premiere), about El Celler de Can Roca, the world’s best restaurant, which decided to shut down temporarily to go on the road and tour America; Sergio Herman: F***ing Perfect by Willemiek Kluijfhout (Latin American Premiere), which portrays one of the 50 best chefs in the world, who is a perfectionist obsessed with culinary excellence; and Baja Tastes by Roberto Najera (World Premiere), a first work made in Tijuana that introduces us to the culinary delights, variety and fusion of the Baja California peninsula.
The B-Side program will have the most outstanding films in which music is a delight for both the ear and the eye. The tuneful world of Arcade Fire in Reflektor Tapes come together with the hip-hop rhythms created by Pharrell Williams for Dope, along with Office, by the Hongkongese director, Johnnie To, who breathes fresh air to this program by bringing a beautiful, nimble, musical cinema.
Dope (Mexican Premiere)
Dir. Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar, Talk to Me)
Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons
Soundtrack by Pharrell Williams
Premiered at Sundance.
Arcade Fire: The Reflektor Tapes
Dir. Hervé Martin-Delpierre (Daft Punk Unchained; Sport, mafia et corruption)
Cast: Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Arcade Fire
Office (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Johnnie To
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Wang Ziyi, Lang Yueting
Premiered at Sundance.
In the new Film Program section, American Specials, which presents the Mexican premieres of US films that have won critical acclaim and set box-office records, the Festival has recently confirmed the Mexican premiere for Black Mass and The Diary of a Teenage Girl. Additionally, the lineup will include the following premieres:
The Hollow Point (World Premiere)
Dir. Gonzalo López-Gallego (El Rey de la Montaña, Nómadas, Apolo 18)
Cast: Ian McShane, Lynn Collins, Patrick Wilson
Max Rose (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Daniel Noah (Twelve)
Cast: Illeana Douglas, Kerry Bishé, Jerry Lewis.
Premiered at Festival de Cannes in 2013
El Ganzo (Latin American Premiere)
Dir. Steve Balderson (Hell Town, Occupying Ed, The Far Flung Star)
Cast: Mark Booker, Magdalena del Rio, Anslem Richardson.
The Festival also confirmed the Mexican talent that will take part in gala events and Industry activities, among them: Eugenio Derbez, José María Yazpik, Manolo Caro, Tenoch Huerta, José Carlos Ruíz, Sebastián Aguirre, Sophie Alexander-Katz, José María Torre, Sofía Espinosa, Ianis Guerrero, Rosa María Bianchi, Jaime Garza, Adriana Paz, and many others.
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James Franco, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald, Alicia Silverstone Lead All Star Cast Of Justin Kelly’s KING COBRA
James Franco, Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton, Keegan Allen, Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone will lead the cast of King Cobra, the sophomore feature film from writer/director Justin Kelly. The film marks the second collaboration between Kelly and Franco, who previously starred in Kelly’s acclaimed feature directorial debut I Am Michael (pictured above).
Based on a true story, King Cobra depicts the events surrounding a murder that rocked the adult entertainment industry in the mid-2000s. Slater plays Stephen, a lonely suburban man turned adult entertainment producer who discovers a hot, lucrative new star named Brent Corrigan (played by Garrett Clayton), then finds himself the target of rival producer Joe who will stop at nothing to steal his money maker. Franco plays Joe, a former male escort turned porn producer with a bad temper, whose desire to become a porn kingpin leads him to help commit a heinous crime. Keegan Allen plays Harlow, Joe’s boyfriend, business partner and accomplice. Molly Ringwald plays Stephen’s sister Amy, with Alicia Silverstone playing Brent Corrigan’s mother Janette.
“We could not be more thrilled to have secured such a strong cast of exceptionally talented actors to lead the King Cobra cast,” commented writer/director Justin Kelly. “James, Christian, Garrett, Keegan, Molly and Alicia have consistently pushed the boundaries of film and culture at large with iconic performances. It’s been amazing watching them transform into these unique, fascinating characters.”
Justin Kelly’s feature directorial debut I Am Michael, also starring James Franco, world premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Franco is also well known for his Oscar-nominated performance in 127 Hours as well as acclaimed turns in Milk, the Spider-Man franchise and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Christian Slater has recently earned high praise for his role as the titular character in USA Network’s popular series Mr. Robot, as well as roles in Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac Vol:1 and 2 and classic performances in True Romance and Heathers. Iconic actress Molly Ringwald is particularly well regarded for her starring roles in classic John Hughes films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink.
Rising star Garrett Clayton has built a devoted following for his roles in Disney Channel’s original movies Teen Beach Movie 1 and 2, and ABC Family’s popular series The Fosters. Keegan Allen currently stars in ABC Family’s hit series Pretty Little Liars and also previously appeared in Palo Alto, also starring James Franco. Alicia Silverstone is well known for her iconic performance in Clueless and was recently seen in Butter for The Weinstein Company and Vamps, reteaming with Amy Heckerling. Her recent stage credits include Of Good Stock for the MTC and Time Stands Still on Broadway, which was nominated for Best Play at the Tonys.
The film is produced by Jordan Yale Levine of Yale Productions, Scott Levenson, James Franco, Vince Jolivette and Iris Torres of Rabbit Bandini Productions and Shaun Sanghani of SSS Entertainment. Executive Producers include Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Joe Listhaus of BondIt, John D. Hickman, Brandon Baker and Jason Rose. Jon Keeyes will Co-Produce. Production of King Cobra was recently completed. Event Film Distribution is handling worldwide sales.
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2015 Tokyo International Film Festival Awards, ‘Nise – The Heart of Madness’ Wins Tokyo Grand Prix Award
Winners of the awards of the 2015 Tokyo International Film Festival were announced over the weekend and the Tokyo Grand Prix Award went to Nise – The Heart of Madness, directed by Roberto Berliner. Roberto Berliner’s exclaimed, “I wish I could speak in Portuguese but let’s see if I can find some words (in English). It was a very cruel job. I worked for 13 years on this film. I wrote and rewrote, and rewrote, and rewrote because Nise is such an important person who is a revolutionary figure. Only a few people know about her so it was my responsibility to show her to the world. In life, sometimes we know that we are doing something special, and I felt that way in the making of this film.” He also expressed his deepest appreciation towards his wife and children because he had spent so little time with them while shooting his film.
The Japanese Cinema Splash Best Picture Award winner was Director Hiroshi Shoji with his film, Ken and Kazu. The 29- year-old up and coming director had transformed what was a short film into a feature film. “When I finished the short film five to six years ago, I realized there was room for more background depiction, so I made a feature film,” he explained. “I made Ken and Kazu without any financial backup. I only spent 2 million yen on the film, but TIFF chose my film and I received a prize. This proved that fair screening is conducted at TIFF and why I want TIFF to become a larger film festival.” Lastly when asked about the independent film industry in Japan, Hino commented, “I wanted to make the best film in Japan. And as I was writing the screenplay, I had a clear image of who I wanted the actors to be and how I wanted to shoot this film. It’s important to have a clear vision of what you want to do in indie filmmaking.”
The Island Funeral directed by Pimpaka Towira won the Best Asian Future Film Award. Towira shared her story behind the scenes. “This is my second feature film and it is an honor to screen it at TIFF. There are many problems in Southern Thailand at the moment, which I wanted to portray in my film. Also, I thought the heroine should be a Muslim so casting took time. Heen Sasithorn is a well-knownTahi actress who was in New York when I thought of casting her for this film. We communicated via the internet and she agreed to be in this film. Heen expressed the theme of the film just as I wanted her to. The chemistry between the actors in this film was also just perfect,” Towira reflected.
The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center winner was A Simple Goodbye directed by Degena Yun. Line Producer Zhao Yanming spoke on behalf of the film crew at the press conference. “Degena is very happy to receive this prize since this is her first feature film. This films is Degena’s life story and the issues she had with her parents. This award will give us the opportunity to come back to Japan and shoot a film which is more than we could wish for!”
Mustafa Kara won the Award for Best Director and WOWOW Viewer’s Choice Award went with his film Cold of Kalandar. He quietly commented that “I think this was one of the longest and most difficult films at TIFF this year. In Turkish, Kalandar means ‘new year’ but it also takes on the connotation of rituals and traditions in certain regions. Therefore, the title of my film can be interpreted as ‘The Coldness of Time’ or even ‘The Hardest Times’. That is, it is portraying time and the vicious cycle of life.” With such a complex theme, Kara expressed his gratitude that this film was accepted by the audience and the judges.
Family Film directed by Olmo Omerzu won the Award for Best Artistic Contribution. “I am glad and honored to win this award. I received a very warm and great response from the people of Tokyo which was surprising,” Omerzu said. His film was not a classic drama structure but he was pleased to see how open the audience was towards his film. On the theme of a parent abandoning the child, Omerzu explained, “When preparing the script, I knew people whose parents had left them at the age of 15-16. People who read the script were criticizing the parents but I think that once you become 50-60 years old, you want to start another life for yourself. So I think the theme of this film is reality.”
The Audience Award winner was the Italian film God Willing directed by Edoardo Falcone. “This is a very Italian film in spirit. I felt it was accepted lovingly at TIFF and was happy to see the audience enjoy my film. Thank you very much,” beamed Falcone. As a comedy film director, he shared what it takes to make a good movie. “Obviously you have to make people laugh! Irony is important in Italian films—irony with a touch of intelligence. But Italy makes a lot of comedy films so making something different is important. I was able to do that with this film,” he said.
The Award for Best Actress went to Gloria Pires in Nise – The Heart of Madness directed by Robert Berliner, which was also the Tokyo Grand Prix Award. Berliner expressed his joy once again. “Receiving such great prizes is something that we always expected, but there are so many good films that we only have a small percentage of winning.” He also said that even without a prize, he was already very satisfied. “When making this film, I felt like I was dealing with something special. And even if I didn’t receive this prize, I was already very happy that this film was screened at TIFF. But this film can have more appearance in the world thanks to this award. I am very excited about that. That the jury recognized the quality of my film,” Berliner said.
The complete list of winners of 2015 Tokyo International Film Festival
Competition
Tokyo Grand Prix: Nise – The Heart of Madness (directed by Robert Berliner)
Special Jury Prize: All Three of Us (directed by Kheiron)
Award for Best Director: Mustafa Kara (Cold of Kalandar)
Award for Best Actress: Gloria Pires (Nise – The Heart of Madness)
Award for Best Actor: Roland Møller, Louis Hoffman (Land of Mine)
Award for Best Artistic Contribution: Family Film (directed by Olmo Omerzu)
WOWOW Viewer’s Choice Award: Cold of Kalandar (directed by Mustafa Kara)
The Audience Award: God Willing (directed by Edoardo Falcone)
Asian Future
Best Asian Future Film Award: The Island Funeral (directed by Pimpaka Towira)
The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center: Director Degena Yun A Simple Goodbye
Japanese Cinema Splash
Best Picture Award: Ken and Kazu (directed by Hiroshi Shoji)
Samurai Award
Director Yoji Yamada, Director John Woo
ARIGATO Award
Kirin Kiki, Akihiro Hino, Suzu Hirose, Mamoru Hosoda, Lily Franky
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2015 Lone Star Film Festival Kicks Off on Thursday, Nov 5th with WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN Starring Amber Heard, Christopher Walken
The 2015 Lone Star Film Festival at Sundance Square (LSFF) in Fort Worth, Texas, will kick off on Thursday November 5th, 2015, with the film WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN starring Texas native Amber Heard along with a cast that includes Christopher Walken, Oliver Platt, and Kelli Garner. Immediately following; the film’s writer and director, Robert Edwards, will take part in a Q&A. That will be followed by a special presentation screening of the 1972 Oscar nominated, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE with well-known actor for his countless iconic roles, Malcolm McDowell, taking part in a special Q&A before the film.
On Friday night the Lone Star Film Society will honor Fort Worth native and Tony Award winner Betty Buckley with the Stephen Bruton Award being presented by T Bone Burnett at its sixth annual Lone Star Film Festival Ball. Also being honored at the event is Malcom McDowell, who will be receiving the Achievement in Film Acting Award.
The festival will close on Sunday evening with Charlie Kaufman’s newest feature, ANOMALISA (pictured above). Kaufman, known for such films as AN ETERNAL SUNSHINE ON A SPOTLESS MIND and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH brings something different with this film. It is his first stop motion animation feature and has been receiving high marks.
LSFF has a jam packed lineup that includes The Weinstein Company’s Oscar hopeful CAROL starring Cate Blanchett, THE ADDERALL DIARIES starring James Franco & Amber Heard, TUMBLEDOWN with Jason Sudeikis, MOJAVE featuring Mark Wahlberg and Garrett Hedlund, MEADOWLAND with Texas native Luke Wilson and Olivia Wilde, SIR DOUG AND THE GENUINE TEXAS GROOVE (pictured above); the much anticipated documentary about Texas’s own Doug Sahm, KRISHA the breakout hit from Austin’s South By Southwest and a slew of other highly talked about independent films.
“We are so excited for the city of Fort Worth to get to experience another great year of fantastic films,“ said the festival’s Director Chad Mathews.
In between the screenings there will be several panel discussions that include the likes of Malcolm McDowell, Bill Paxton, and Joanna Kerns. The topics will range from career conversations, screenwriting, women in film and much more. There will also be a key note address from well-known film critic David Edelstein of New York Magazine and NPR fame.
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DADDY DON’T GO, Executive Produced by Omar Epps & Malik Yoba, to Premiere at 2015 DOCNYC
DADDY DON’T GO directed by Emily Abt, and Executive Produced by Omar Epps (Resurrection) & Malik Yoba (Empire) will premiere at the 2015 DOC NYC on November 14th. “Daddy Don’t Go” captures two years in the lives of four disadvantaged fathers in New York City as they fight to defy the odds against them.
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Palestinian Film DEGRADE Withdraws from Other Israel Film Festival
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has reached the Other Israel Film Festival, with the Palestinian film, Degrade, deciding to withdraw from the upcoming festival. One of the closing night films of the Other Israel Film Festival, a New York festival calling for dialogue and conversation, Degrade has pulled out of the festival as a result of the impact of the Jewish-Arab conflict reaching new heights in Israel.
Degrade, by the brothers Tarzan and Arab Assad, which exposes the diversity of life in Gaza through individuals at a hair salon, was scheduled for its NY premiere at the Festival after a successful run at Cannes and Toronto film festivals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjVPSnnSp58
The Other Israel Film Festival, a non-political festival focused on Israel’s minority populations, is presented by JCC Manhattan as a platform for conversation and dialogue. Isaac Zablocki, Executive Director of the festival, commented: “In these polarizing times, it is more important than ever to hear each other’s voices and create a culture of dialogue. The silencing and boycotting of arts and education only hurts those aiming to create positive change and hear the other side.”
According to the film’s European sales agent, Elle Driver, who contracted the rights for the screening with the film festival, the producers are removing the film from all Jewish related festivals.
Closing night of the Other Israel Film Festival will still feature the previously-scheduled, award winning “Women in Sink” by Iris Zaki, a documentary which also follows women in an Arab-Israeli-owned hair salon who discuss their views on politics, history, and love.
The Other Israel Film Festival opens this Thursday Nov 5th at JCC Manhattan and runs till Nov 12th.
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SPOTLIGHT, MUSTANG, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Are Winners of 2015 Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Awards
The 51st Chicago International Film Festival announced the winners of its Audience Choice Awards. SPOTLIGHT directed by Tom McCarthy (pictured above) won the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative English-Language Feature, MUSTANG directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven won the award for Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Foreign-Language Feature, and WHERE TO INVADE NEXT directed by Michael Moore won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Audience Choice Award Winners of 2015 Chicago International Film Festival
Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative English-Language Feature
SPOTLIGHT
Country: USA
Director: Tom McCarthy
Synopsis: Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, Spotlight tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, Spotlight is a tense investigative dramatic-thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest cover-ups in modern times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXymzwz0V2g
Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Foreign-Language Feature
MUSTANG
Country: Turkey, Greece, France
Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Synopsis: At the start of this stark, meditative drama that recalls The Virgin Suicides, five sisters play in the sea with their male classmates. As punishment for such immoral behavior, the grandmother and uncle raising the girls imprison them at home to maintain their “purity” until marriage. Submission or defiance seems to be the only options, as each sister, one by one, finds her own personal escape route.
NOTE: Mustang is also France’s entry into the 2016 Academy Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9JAN8LtIk
Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT
Country: USA
Director: Michael Moore
Synopsis: What has lured Michael Moore, the documentary genre’s most entertaining rabble-rouser, back to feature films after a six-year hiatus? Only the future of his country, naturally. Where To Invade Next is an expansive, rib-tickling, and subversive comedy in which Moore, playing the role of “invader,” visits a host of nations to learn how the U.S. could improve its own prospects. The creator of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine is back with this hilarious and eye-opening call to arms. Where To Invade Next shows the solutions to America’s most entrenched problems already exist in the world, he says–they’re just waiting to be co-opted.
Where To Invade Next also won the 51st Chicago International Film Festival’s Founders Award, which is given to one film across all categories that captures the spirit of the Chicago International Film Festival for its unique and innovative approach to the art of the moving image. The award was given to director Michael Moore at the Festival’s Awards Night on Friday, October 23, 2015 at The Peninsula.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei747zi9iYY
Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film
OH LUCY!
Country: Japan, Singapore, USA
Director: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Synopsis: A chain-smoking, corporate Japanese woman develops a crush on her English teacher in this ingenious comedy of manners and Americanization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNuJCz7lMrI
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ROOM, THANK YOU FOR PLAYING, TOO LATE, BROOKLYN, Win Top Awards at 2015 Twin Cities Film Fest
The 2015 Twin Cities Film Fest unveiled its award winners Saturday night at a ceremony held in downtown St. Louis Park. “Room,” directed by Lenny Abrahamson (pictured above), took home the trophy for best feature film; 2015 Twin Cities Film Fest the festival’s official closing night documentary directed by David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, won best documentary; and “Skunk,” a short film by Annie Silverstein, won the 2015 award for best short.
For the 2015 audience award, John Crowley’s “Brooklyn” took home the feature film trophy (honorable mentions included : “The Dust Storm,” directed by Ryan Lacen & Anthony Baldino; “The Polar Bear Club,” directed by Brett Wayne Price; and “Shut In,” directed by Adam Schindler). Sarah Smith’s “D.Asian” took the top audience prize for short films (honorable mentions included Adam Burke’s “Boardroom,” Matthew G. Anderson’s “The Caper” and Bruce Southerland’s “The Last Vanish”)
The festival culminated with two “Indie Vision” awards, recognizing standout independent productions released over the last year that broke new creative ground. The 2015 Indie Vision Breakthrough Film Award went to the Dennis Hauck thriller “Too Late,” in recognition of its immersive storytelling techniques. (The film was composed of five unbroken and carefully choreographed 20-minute “acts”) The 2015 Indie Vision Breakthrough Performance Award went to Rosa Salazar, actress in the notable Charles Hood romance “Night Owls,” in recognition of a raw, brilliant and pitch-perfect character arc and a performance that required hitting notes across the emotional spectrum.
Here’s the full slate of 2015 Twin Cities Film Fest award winners, as well as honorable mentions:
Best Feature Film
Winner: “Room,” directed by Lenny Abrahamson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6fZ-fwDws
Honorable Mentions: “It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong,” directed by Emily Ting; “Brooklyn,” directed by John Crowley; and “The Quiet Hour,” directed by Stephanie Joalland.
Best Documentary
Winner: “Thank You For Playing,” directed by David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX_JKePEFiw
Honorable Mentions: “Man Vs. Snake: The Long and Twisted Tale of Nibbler, directed by Tim Kinzy and Andrew Seklir; “A New High,” directed by Samuel Miron and Stephen Scott Scarpulla; and “Out in the Cold,” directed by J.D. O’Brien.
Best Short Film
Winner: “Skunk,” directed by Annie Silverstein.
Honorable Mentions: “D.Asian,” directed by Sarah Smith; “Even the Walls,” directed by Sarah Kuck and Saman Maydani; and “Myrna the Monster,” directed by Ian Samuels.
Audience Award, Feature Film
Winner: “Brooklyn,” directed by John Crowley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPfmVEvhO70
Honorable Mentions: “Dust Storm,” directed by Ryan Lacen & Anthony Baldino; “The Polar Bear Club,” directed by Brett Wayne Price; “Shut In,” directed by Adam Schindler.
Audience Award, Short Film
Winner: “D.Asian,” directed by Sarah Smith.
Honorable Mentions: “Boardroom,” directed by Adam Burke; “The Caper,” directed by Matthew G. Anderson; and “The Last Vanish,” directed by Bruce Southerland
Indie Vision, Breakthrough Film
Winner: “Too Late,” directed by Dennis Hauck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670uTzhVMF4
Honorable Mentions: “Anomalisa,” directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman; “Thugs: The Musical,” directed by Greg Bro; and “Out in the Cold,” directed by J.D. O’Brien
Indie Vision, Breakthrough Performance
Winner: Rosa Salazar, “Night Owls.”
Honorable Mentions: Brie Larson, “Room;” Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn;” Nathan Tymoshuk, “Snail Mail” and “The Writer.”
2015 Changemaker Award: Dr. Heather Huseby, executive director of YouthLink.
2015 Northstar Award for Excellence: John Hawkes.
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Ross Partridge’s LAMB, Starring Oona Laurence Opens January 8th, 2016
The LAMB directed by Ross Partridge which premiered earlier this year at 2015 SXSW South By Southwest Film Festival will be released via The Orchard theatrically in NYC and LA on January 8th, 2016, with a rollout to follow; and on VOD January 12th, 2016.