The Florida Film Festival will screen 184 films representing 41 countries for the 28th Annual Festival, April 12-21, 2019, in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida. The festival will open with Woman in Motion, directed by Todd Thompson, a fasciniation documentary on Nichelle Nichols who played Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer aboard the Starship Enterprise
Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite leads all films in the Vancouver Film Critics Circle’s international section with six nominations, and Katherine Jerkovic’s Roads in February leads all films in the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circles’ Canadian section with six nominations.
In the international section, Lanthimos’ delectable bodice ripper shares the Best Picture category with First Reformed, Paul Schrader’s pointed diagnosis of our ill-stricken times, and Alfonso Cuarón’s technically virtuosic and emotionally devastating Roma; Lanthimos, Schrader and Cuarón also assume their respective places in the Best Director category.
Burning, Roma and Shoplifters are up for Best Foreign Language Film, while Free Solo, Minding the Gap and Won’t You Be my Neighbor? are nominated for Best Documentary.
In the Canadian section, a wistful story about a young woman returning home to Uruguay after more than a decade away, Roads in February is nominated for Best Picture alongside Fausto, Andrea Bussmann’s loose adaptation of Goethe’s version of the Faust legend, and Edge of the Knife, co-directors Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown’s 19th century epic, scripted entirely in two endangered Haida dialects (of which there are only 20-odd fluent speakers remaining). Jerkovic, Bussmann and Edenshaw and Haig-Brown are all nominated for Best Director, where they are joined by Philippe Lesage for Genesis.
The Best Canadian Documentary nominees are ANTHROPOCENE: The Human Epoch, The Museum of Forgotten Triumphs, and What Is Democracy?
The Interpreters[/caption]
Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2018 Jury Award winners, Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners, and the Screenplay Competition winners.
One film was selected to receive the Hiscox Courage Award. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the film that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who best embraced the risk to share the story. The 2018 Hiscox Courage Award was awarded to The Interpreters, directed by Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan. The Interpreters is a documentary feature that follows local interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan who worked with US forces and are now trying to rebuild their lives.
L-R: Michelle Rodriguez, Viola Davis, and Elizabeth Debicki star in Twentieth Century Fox’s WIDOWS. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox.[/caption]
Steve McQueen’s and Gillian Flynn’s modern-day thriller Widows, Peter Farrelly’s drama Green Book starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, Mike Leigh’s period piece Peterloo are among the the full schedule of films announced for the 25th Anniversary edition of the Austin Film Festival taking place this October 25 to November 1. The festival lineup also includes Mickey Rourke-starring boxing drama Tiger, Paul Dano’s Wildlife starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, and Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges family drama Ben is Back bowing as AFF’s Centerpiece selection.
Other World Premieres include The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova (a comedy about estranged siblings traveling to Poland to track down the remains of the their grandmother’s childhood dog), F/11 and Be There (a documentary about famed photographer Burk Uzzle), The Amaranth (a thriller about a mysterious retirement community), A Girl Named C (Emily Kassie’s documentary about a family grappling with the discovery that their 11-year-old daughter was raped), and Waiting for the Miracle to Come (Lian Lunson’s whimsical drama starring Willie Nelson and Charlotte Rampling).
Screwdriver[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival revealed the 46 breakout films from 50 international storytellers that will screen in its 2018 Discovery lineup, marking a record year for the program. Hailing from 37 different countries, these promising new filmmakers present works that explore identity, complex portraits of women, and youth as they struggle to navigate a fragile world. Twenty-nine of the films will make their World Premieres at the Festival. The lineup stands out for the impressive number of Asian and Eastern European films — accounting for 26% of the Discovery program — and the number of films directed by women.
Opening this year’s Discovery program will be Bai Xue’s The Crossing, a captivating Chinese film following the journey of an ordinary teenage girl who becomes entangled in illicit activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVd56lm-8Cs
The program’s highlights include: Adina Pintilie’s innovative Touch Me Not, winner of the Golden Bear and Best First Feature in Berlin; Syrian director Soudade Kaadan’s The Day I Lost My Shadow, a bewitching film on the Syrian conflict; Nino Zhvania’s Parade, the only Georgian feature in the selection; Lithuanian director Marija Kavtaradze’s touching Summer Survivors; Han Ka-ram’s charming Our Body; and renowned Nigerian actor Genevieve Nnaji’s exciting directorial debut, Lionheart.
This year’s lineup also stands out for the strong portrayals of sensitive and witty women within it. Among them are Arturo Infante’s sci-fi comedy The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste García , starring popular actor María Isabel Díaz; Mexican director Lila Avilés’ The Chambermaid; Arash Lahooti’s Orange Days; Nikos Labôt’s Her Job; and Woman at War by Icelandic director Benedikt Erlingsson, which has already earned critical praise.
Putting the struggles of young characters front and centre, the Discovery program includes UK actor-director Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s Farming, which tells the story of a Nigerian immigrant facing a racist skinhead gang in 1980s England; Carmel Winters’ beautiful Float Like a Butterfly; Lukas Dhont’s Girl; Daniel Sawka’s Icebox; Rosanne Pel’s Light as Feathers; Darko Štante’s Consequences; Ash Mayfair’s The Third Wife; Imogen Thomas’ poetic Emu Runner; Ethiopian–Israeli filmmaker Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian’s Fig Tree; and Joël Karekezi’s The Mercy of the Jungle, showcasing the breakthrough performance of TIFF International Rising Star Stéphane Bak.
Risk-takers and daring artists also stand out in this year’s slate, as in Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki, an electric female LGBTQ+ love story set in Kenya, where homosexuality is illegal; Sameh Zoabi’s border-crossing dark comedy Tel Aviv on Fire; Ognjen Glavonić’s The Load; and Irish brothers Andy and Ryan Tohill’s suspenseful thriller The Dig. Bold Australian filmmaker Benjamin Gilmour will present the groundbreaking Jirga .
To close this bright selection, Palestinian director Bassam Jarbawi will introduce North American audiences to his exceptional first feature film, Screwdriver, a gripping drama that examines the psychological impact of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018
Smuggling Hendrix[/caption]
The Calgary International Film Festival added twelve more films, some from as far away as India, Columbia and Sweden, others closer to home, including one from a Calgarian first-time feature director, to the 2018 lineup.
In a film that will resonate with many festival-goers, Director Gillian McKercher paints a portrait of life working in an industry with looming layoffs in CIRCLE OF STEEL, all to an Albertan soundtrack. Other films with buzz to watch for include the winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s Best International Narrative Feature: SMUGGLING HENDRIX, directed by Marios Piperides, and BIRDS OF PASSAGE. Directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego, this visual feast takes us into the heart of the drug trade in the Guajira desert.
“These films shine a light on those defining moments that set us on a new path,” said Stephen Schroeder, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “Whether that moment is about moving past invisible borders, tangible walls or simply embracing different mindsets, the subjects in these films are all about to make that leap.”
AMATEURS directed by Gabriela Pichler
When the German low-cost superstore Superbilly considers opening shop in the small Swedish community of Lafors, the local government office makes a commercial to sell Lafors as the prime location. Aida and Dana, two high school kids, decide to turn their mobiles and selfie sticks toward everyone that isn’t allowed to take part in the commercial. A quirky narrative film, with subtitles.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego
This visually stunning narrative feature takes us to the origin of the drug trade in the Guajira desert of Colombia, from the perspective of the indigenous Wayuu population who end up trading their traditional farming for marijuana.
CIRCLE OF STEEL directed by Gillian McKercher
The first feature from Calgary director Gillan McKercher, this narrative feature is a satirical yet sympathetic portrait of life in the oil and gas industry. New engineer Wendy Fong works for an energy company with rumours of upcoming layoffs. Long days in the field and long nights alone begin to take their toll. Wendy navigates personal ethics and corporate interest, with an Albertan soundtrack and stunning visuals of the Western landscape.
CLARA directed by Akash Sherman
Isaac Bruno (Patrick J. Adams, SUITS, ROOM FOR RENT) is an astronomer obsessed with searching the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth, despite the collapse of his personal life right in front of him. His relentless research of the night sky leads him into the path of an unqualified but confident amateur astronomer named Clara (played by Troian Bellisario, SUITS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS). Working together, their effort ultimately leads them to a shocking and profound scientific discovery. This is Canadian director Akash Sherman’s second feature film.
GIANT LITTLE ONES directed by Keith Behrman
This Canadian feature tells the tale of two best friends since childhood. High school royalty, the boys are handsome, stars of the swim team and popular with girls. They live a perfect teenage life – until the night of Franky’s epic 17th birthday party, when Franky and Ballas are involved in an unexpected incident that changes their lives forever.
ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS directed by Gabrielle Brady
On a remote tropical island, forty million crabs migrate through a dense jungle and rocky shores to the freedom of the sea. Christmas Island is also a temporary home to refugees seeking passage to Australia but confined to a high security detention centre deep in the jungle. With a brilliant score, lush cinematography and keen attention to detail, this award winning documentary focuses on the detention centre’s trauma counselor as she and her young family navigate local mythologies that surround them.
MEGA TIME SQUAD directed by Tim Van Dammen
A small-town criminal finds an ancient Chinese time-travel device that can help him pull off a heist and start a new life – but he may not survive the consequences of tampering with time. This Late Shows feature is a study in high-meets-low, combining elements of the sci-fi, the crime thriller and the comedy to make a comedy heist film with a time-traveling twist.
ROOM LAUNDERING directed by Tomoo Ezaki
Shy and preferring to keep to herself, Miko has with the perfect job – a “room launderer.” When a previous tenant dies of unnatural cases, such as murder or suicide, the “room launderer” purifies it. This is done by staying on the property long enough to clear its manager from legal requirement to inform future tenants of the tragedy. Miko’s only problem is she can see and talk to the dead. This Japanese first feature blends quirky comedy and light-hearted drama.
SIR directed by Rohena Gera
Ratna works as domestic live-in help with Ashwin. Although Ashwin is wealthy, Ratna can sense that he he’s given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost. On the other hand, Ratna who seems to have nothing, is full of hope and works determinedly towards her dream. This narrative feature depicts the social structure in India and the restrictions that prevent people from following their dreams.
SMUGGLING HENDRIX directed by Marios Piperides
Yiannis, a fading musician, is planning to leave crisis-ridden Cyprus for a better life abroad. His plans are put on hold when his dog Jimi runs away and crosses the UN buffer zone that divides the “Greek” from the “Turkish” side of the island. Since animal exchange between the two “sides” is prohibited, Yiannis reluctantly joins forces with Hasan, a Turkish settler, and a cast of unexpected characters to smuggle his best friend back.
SOULS OF TOTALITY directed by Richard Raymond
Lady 18 and Guy 3 have a secret. They are members of a cult that believes if they die during a solar eclipse, their souls will be taken to paradise. But that’s not their secret. They are also profoundly in love. An American short film.
THE UNICORN directed by Robert Schwartzman
When an engaged couple, Caleb and Malory are forced to go to Palm Springs for a weekend to celebrate Malory’s parents’ 25th wedding vow renewal, they discover the secret to the parents’ happy marriage – threesomes. Horrified but intrigued, and determined to properly celebrate their own ‘re-engagement,’ they set out on a wild night in search of a threesome of their own.
Firecrackers[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival added another 19 Canadian titles to the Festival’s 2018 lineup. The selection includes nine films directed by women and six exciting debut features. From personal dramas exploring identity to documentaries that spotlight a world at risk and democracy in jeopardy, this year’s lineup is rich in stories that tap into contemporary Canadian and International anxieties.
“We’re especially proud to present such a diverse group of films,” said Steve Gravestock, Senior Programmer, TIFF. “Ranging from science fiction to fantasy, myth to documentary, and romance to a dystopic vision of our neighbours to the south, this year’s Canadian films come from every region in the country, stretching from east to west and north to south.”
TIFF presents the World Premieres of three films that showcase Indigenous talent: Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown’s Edge of the Knife, the first feature-length film made in Haida, which is classified by UNESCO as an endangered language; Darlene Naponse’s Falls Around Her, a moving portrait of healing and resilience, starring renowned Métis actor Tantoo Cardinal; and Miranda de Pencier’s feature directorial debut The Grizzlies, a creative collaboration between De Pencier and Inuit producers Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald that tells an inspiring, true story and that was shot on location in MacDonald’s home community in Nunavut.
“We’re thrilled with this year’s lineup of compelling and distinctive films,” said Danis Goulet, TIFF Canadian Features Programmer. “The films feature characters who push hard against prescribed boundaries, asking vital questions about the state of the world and the status quo. We are especially excited to have a strong slate of bold and dynamic women-centric stories. Forty percent of the Canadian film slate this year is directed by women.”
This year’s lineup also includes works by legendary Canadian documentary filmmakers that look at contemporary culture through a critical lens, such as Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky’s highly anticipated documentary Anthropocene, Ron Mann’s Carmine Street Guitars and Thom Fitzgerald’s Splinters; Festival alumnus Igor Drljača is making his feature-documentary debut at the Festival with The Stone Speakers, and veteran Barry Avrich returns with Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz, a portrait of the United States’ chief prosecutor during the Nuremberg trials.
A highlight of the festival will be a Special Event World Premiere and tribute showcasing the illuminating documentary Sharkwater Extinction, the final work by the late filmmaker and conservationist Rob Stewart. Other works by TIFF alumni premiering at the Festival include Canadian master Denys Arcand’s The Fall of the American Empire; Bruce Sweeney’s Kingsway; Sébastien Pilote’s The Fireflies Are Gone; Maxime Giroux’s The Great Darkened Days; and Astra Taylor’s What is Democracy? Renée Beaulieu is at TIFF for the first time with Les Salopes or the Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin, a study of a professor’s hidden desires.
The Canadian feature debuts at this year’s Festival are: Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown’s Haida epic Edge of the Knife; Akash Sherman’s sci-fi fantasy drama Clara ; Jasmin Mozaffari’s Firecrackers; Andrea Bussmann’s first solo project, Fausto; Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein’s Freaks and Miranda De Pencier’s Grizzlies.
This year’s slate also features performances by multiple Canadian and international stars, such as Amanda Crew, Graham Greene, Brigitte Poupart, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Kyle MacLachlan. Other talent includes TIFF 2018 Rising Star Michaela Kurimsky ( Firecrackers) and former TIFF Rising Stars Sarah Gadon ( The Great Darkened Days) and Karelle Tremblay ( The Fireflies Are Gone).
All 23 Canadian feature films at the Festival are eligible for the Canada Goose ® Award for Best Canadian Feature Film. All five Canadian feature directorial debuts are eligible for the City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film. This year’s Canadian feature-film jury is composed of award-winning Montreal filmmaker Mathieu Denis ( Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves), renowned Toronto journalist and documentarian Michelle Shephard ( Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr), and legendary Turkish director Ali Özgentürk, who wrote the screenplay for The Girl with the Red Scarf .
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.