The Big Lebowski
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be named to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
“The Keeping Room” from Toronto Film Festival to Get a 2015 Release
Julia Hart’s Black List Western feature, The Keeping Room, which had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival is set to be released in the U.S. in 2015 via Drafthouse Films. Directed by Daniel Barber (Harry Brown), The Keeping Room focuses on the violent resilience and dramatic camaraderie of three Southern women as their home is besieged during the purges at the close of the American Civil War. Forced to defend their land and fight for their lives, the women take up arms against their male oppressors, shattering gender and genre conventions in the process.
2015 Beaufort International Film Festival to Honor Andie MacDowell & Announces Film Finalists
Andie MacDowell
The Ninth Annual Beaufort International Film Festival starting February 11 and continuing to February 15, 2015, in the historic coastal town of Beaufort, SC announces the film finalists. BIFF 2015 will unveil the inaugural award for the Spirit & Pride of South Carolina Award, presented to that person whose career achievements in the areas of film, television or music have reflected positively on themselves and the state of South Carolina. The first award will be presented to Model and Actress Andie MacDowell, originally from Gaffney, SC. Academy Award Nominated Screenwriter and Best Selling Author Pat Conroy will present this inaugural award. Steve Rhea from Charleston, SC, will be presented the “Behind the Scenes” Award for his more than 30 years of work as a Film Location Specialist.
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Name “Birdman” as Top Film of 2014
BIRDMAN
BIRDMAN was voted as the best film of 2014 by the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association. The DFW Critics also voted the film’s director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Best Director, Michael Keaton for Best Actor, and Best Cinematography for Emmanuel Lubezki. Rounding out the list of the top 10 films of the year were BOYHOOD (2), THE IMITATION GAME (3), THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (4), THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (5), WHIPLASH (6), GONE GIRL (7), SELMA (8), WILD (9) and NIGHTCRAWLER (10).
“Selma” to Open, “Boychoir” to Close 2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival
Selma
The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will open on Friday, January 2 with the Golden Globe nominated Selma directed by Ava Duvernay. The Festival will wrap on Sunday, January 11 with the US premiere of Boychoir directed by François Girard. New this year, the festival will focus on 20 films from Eastern Europe in a program titled Eastern Promises. The festival runs January 2-12, 2015.
Toronto Film Critics Association names Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” the Best Film of the Year
Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, has won three top prizes at the 2014 awards of the Toronto Film Critics Association. In addition to the film’s Best Picture award, Linklater has won Best Director, and Patricia Arquette has been named Best Supporting Actress. The Toronto Film Critics Association also named its three finalists for the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award: Enemy, directed by Denis Villeneuve; The F Word, directed by Michael Dowse; and Mommy, directed by Xavier Dolan.
“Loitering with Intent” Starring Marisa Tomei, Sam Rockwell
Plot twists are what make narratives interesting, and audiences love films that surprise them. But not every surprise in a film is necessarily a good one. In LOITERING WITH INTENT, which premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, the plot you might think you will see is not exactly the plot you end up seeing.
“Birdman” “The Grand Budapest Hotel” “Boyhood” Lead 20th Critics’ Choice Movie Awards Nominations
Birdman
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the nominees for the 20th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. “Birdman” leads this year with thirteen nominations including Best Picture, Michael Keaton for Best Actor and Best Actor in a Comedy, Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor, Emma Stone for Best Supporting Actress, Best Acting Ensemble, Alejandro G. Inarritu for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Comedy, and Best Score.
World Champion Boxer Johnny Tapia Documentary to Debut on HBO
TAPIA, the documentary about the talented but tormented world champion boxer Johnny Tapia will debut Tuesday, December 16 (11:00 p.m.-midnight ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. TAPIA uses first-person narration and archival footage to explore the achievements, personal demons and ultimate redemption of the popular fighter, who died in 2012 at age 45. The film is executive produced by multiplatinum award-winning musician, entrepreneur and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and sports promoter, producer and entertainment executive Lou DiBella.
“Boyhood” is Top Winner at 2014 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards
Boyhood
Boyhood was the top winner at the 2014 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards, taking the awards in four categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay. Birdman and Whiplash took two awards each. There was a three-way tie in the category of Best Ensemble with Birdman, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Best of 2014 as picked by the Detroit Film Critics Society (nominees are listed in alphabetical order)
“Birdman” Leads 2014 Chicago Film Critics Association Nominations
Birdman
“Birdman,” lead the nominations for the 2014 Chicago Film Critics Association awards with nine nominations, including Best Picture, nods for Alejandro G. Inarritu for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, Michael Keaton for Best Actor, Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor, Emma Stone for Best Supporting Actress and additional nominations for Cinematography, Editing and Original Score.
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Pick “BOYHOOD” as Best Film of 2014
THE ONE I LOVE
Richard Linklater’s twelve-years-in-the-making BOYHOOD was picked by the 35 Bay Area film critics that comprise the San Francisco Film Critics Circle, as the Best Picture of 2014