MEDITERRANEA

In this timely film, a migrant from Burkina Faso makes a perilous journey from North Africa to Europe.

Directed by Jonas Carpignano

Starring Koudous Seihon, Alassane Sy, Adam Gnegne, Davide Schipilliti

Genre(s) Drama Film

“Spotlight” “Tangerine” “The Look of Silence” Win at 2015 Gotham Independent Film Awards | VIDEOS

Spotlight was the big winner at the 2015 Gotham Independent Film Awards, winning three awards including Best Feature, followed closely by Tangerine with two awards, including Audience Award. The Look of Silence won the award for Best Documentary. The 25th Gotham Independent Film Awards took place on November 30th, 2015 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Best Feature Spotlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM3Y4cPEe9U Best Actress Bel Powley as Minnie Goetze The Diary of a Teenage Girl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SBSlrZFcN4 Breakthrough Series – Longform Mr. Robot Best Actor Paul Dano as Brian Wilson Love & Mercy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ45LMI26T0 Best Documentary The Look of Silence Director: Joshua Oppenheimer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVHj7LUI-Oc Audience Award Tangerine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETUhZjU82Dg The First Gotham Appreciation Award Ellen Cotter of Angelika Film Center Theaters Special Jury Award – Ensemble Performance Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian d’Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and Billy Crudup Spotlight Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Jonas Carpigano Mediterranea Breakthrough Series – Short Form Shugs & Fats Best Screenplay Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer Spotlight Breakthrough Actor Mya Taylor Tangerine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okgmHbTe3DA
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CAROL Leads Nominations for 2016 Spirit Awards

Carol directed by Todd Haynes lead nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards with 6 nods including Best Feature, Best Director, Best Female Lead for both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Best Sreenplay and Best Cinematography. The other nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Spotlight and Tangerine. Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts. “Spotlight is a remarkable film that excels on every level, but the Nominating Committee thought it was especially deserving of the Robert Altman Award,” said Welsh. “The film is beautifully cast with every member of the ensemble working together to tell the story of the Boston Globe investigating allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church.” Winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 27, 2016. 2016 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.) Anomalisa Producers: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman, Dino Stamatopoulos, Rosa Tran Beasts of No Nation Producers: Daniel Crown, Idris Elba, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Amy Kaufman, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker Carol Producers: Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley Spotlight Producers: Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar Tangerine Producers: Sean Baker, Karrie Cox, Marcus Cox, Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou BEST FIRST FEATURE – Award given to the director and producer. The Diary of a Teenage Girl Director: Marielle Heller Producers: Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit James White Director: Josh Mond Producers: Max Born, Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, Melody Roscher, Eric Schultz Manos Sucias Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka Producers: Elena Greenlee, Márcia Nunes Mediterranea Director: Jonas Carpignano Producers: Jason Michael Berman, Chris Columbus, Jon Coplon, Christoph Daniel, Andrew Kortschak, John Lesher, Ryan Lough, Justin Nappi, Alain Peyrollaz, Gwyn Sannia, Marc Schmidheiny, Victor Shapiro, Ryan Zacarias Songs My Brothers Taught Me Director/Producer: Chloé Zhao Producers: Mollye Asher, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Angela C. Lee, Forest Whitaker JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded. Advantageous Writer/Director/Producer: Jennifer Phang Writer/Producer: Jacqueline Kim Producers: Robert Chang, Ken Jeong, Moon Molson, Theresa Navarro Christmas, Again Writer/Director/Producer: Charles Poekel Heaven Knows What Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie Writers: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie Producers: Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear McClard Krisha Writer/Director/Producer: Trey Edward Shults Producers: Justin R. Chan, Chase Joliet, Wilson Smith Out of My Hand Writer/Director: Takeshi Fukunaga Writer/Producer: Donari Braxton Producer: Mike Fox BEST DIRECTOR Sean Baker; Tangerine Cary Joji Fukunaga; Beasts of No Nation Todd Haynes; Carol Duke Johnson & Charlie Kaufman; Anomalisa; Tom McCarthy Spotlight; David Robert Mitchell It Follows BEST SCREENPLAY Charlie Kaufman; Anomalisa Donald Margulies; The End of the Tour Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer; Spotlight Phyllis Nagy; Carol S. Craig Zahler; Bone Tomahawk BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Jesse Andrews; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Jonas Carpignano; Mediterranea Emma Donoghue; Room Marielle Heller; The Diary of a Teenage Girl John Magary, Story by Russell Harbaugh and Myna Joseph; The Mend BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Cary Joji Fukunaga; Beasts of No Nation Michael Gioulakis; It Follows Ed Lachman; Carol Reed Morano; Meadowland Joshua James Richards; Songs My Brothers Taught Me BEST EDITING Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie; Heaven Knows What Tom McArdle; Spotlight Nathan Nugent; Room Julio C. Perez IV; It Follows Kristan Sprague; Manos Sucias BEST FEMALE LEAD Cate Blanchett; Carol Brie Larson; Room Rooney Mara; Carol Bel Powley; The Diary of a Teenage Girl Kitana Kiki Rodriguez; Tangerine BEST MALE LEAD Christopher Abbott; James White Abraham Attah; Beasts of No Nation Ben Mendelsohn; Mississippi Grind Jason Segel; The End of the Tour Koudous Seihon; Mediterranea BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Robin Bartlett; H. Marin Ireland; Glass Chin Jennifer Jason Leigh; Anomalisa Cynthia Nixon; James White Mya Taylor; Tangerine BEST SUPPORTING MALE Kevin Corrigan; Results Paul Dano; Love & Mercy Idris Elba; Beasts of No Nation Richard Jenkins; Bone Tomahawk Michael Shannon; 99 Homes ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. Spotlight Director: Tom McCarthy Casting Directors:Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee Ensemble Cast: Billy Crudup, Paul Guilfoyle, Neal Huff, Brian d’Arcy James, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Jamey Sheridan, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci BEST DOCUMENTARY – Award given to the director and producer. (T)ERROR Directors/Producers: Lyric R. Cabral & David Felix Sutcliffe Producer: Christopher St. John Best of Enemies Directors/Producers: Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville Heart of a Dog Director/Producer: Laurie Anderson Producer: Dan Janvey The Look of Silence Director:Joshua Oppenheimer Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen Meru Directors/Producers: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Producer: Shannon Ethridge The Russian Woodpecker Director/Producer: Chad Gracia Producers: Ram Devineni, Mike Lerner BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM – Award given to the director. Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia); Director: Ciro Guerra Girlhood (France); Director: Céline Sciamma Mustang (France, Turkey); Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (Sweden); Director: Roy Andersson Son of Saul (Hungary); Director: László Nemes 19th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 19th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget. Darren Dean Mel Eslyn Rebecca Green and Laura D. Smith 22nd ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 22nd annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851. God Bless the Child; Directors: Robert Machoian & Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck King Jack; Director: Felix Thompson Songs My Brothers Taught Me; Director: Chloé Zhao 21st TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 21st annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Among the Believers; Directors: Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi Incorruptible; Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi A Woman Like Me; Directors: Elizabeth Giamatti and Alex Sichel
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“Louder Than Bombs” “Mediterranea” Win Awards at 2015 Stockholm International Film Festival

Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs was awarded the Bronze Horse for Best film at the 2015 Stockholm International Film Festival. In Louder Than Bombs “an upcoming exhibition celebrating photographer Isabelle Reed three years after her untimely death brings her eldest son Jonah back to the family house – forcing him to spend more time with his father Gene and withdrawn younger brother Conrad than he has in years. With the three of them under the same roof, Gene tries desperately to connect with his two sons, but they struggle to reconcile their feelings about the woman they remember so differently.” Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano was also a big winner, taking the awards for Best First Film, Telia Film Award, and Best Actor for Koudous Seihon. The complete list of awards for 2015 Stockholm International Film Festival Best film: Louder Than Bombs by Joachim Trier The prize for best film goes to an aesthetic masterpiece, a film that innovatively uses all cinematic components to move freely between present, past, dream and imagination. With this tightly woven family drama, the director gradually patches together our broken inner places and makes us visible to ourselves – and to each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO1dLlaGvTs Best first film: Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano The prize goes to a director who takes us on a journey to a place where reality triumphs with its hidden contempt. An unsentimental yet tender film about dreams, struggles and hopes for a better life that at the same time mirrors the contemporary state of the world. The director has with this knockout of a debut created a multifaceted and pressing real-life drama that leaves no one unaffected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk4SrMxTiS4 Best director: László Nemes, Son of Saul The award goes to a film that makes us hold our breath and instead become part of the film’s own pulse. With furious pacing, constant motion, a consistently subjective point-of-view and with long, meticulous and masterly executed sequences, the director takes a whole new perspective on a subject that has been depicted countless times, but never with this intensity – and never this good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHDtPZmYj8 Best script: Deniz Gamze Ergüven and Alice Winocour, Mustang The writers of this film depict a serious topic with both humor and warmth. It is a touching story of sisterhood, an empowering film that challenges patriarchal oppression with its stale views on female sexuality. Conservative values are placed in opposition to modern society, the life within each of us – and every person’s right to their own bodies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9JAN8LtIk Best cinematography: Manuel Dacosse, Evolution The prize for best cinematography goes to a cinematic masterpiece, a story that could as well take place in the subconscious as on a metaphorical plane or another planet. A hauntingly beautiful universe distilled through the lens of a master, with a singular visual expression that provokes goose bumps in the soul. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkKZ2qx5f6g Best actress: Julija Steponaityte, The Summer of Sangaile The prize for best female lead goes to an actress who illuminates the screen with her absolute presence. It is a subtle yet multifaceted acting we are witnessing, at the same time cool and vulnerable, arrogant and passionate. She makes us curious – and we want to see more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY2990FsBAA Best actor: Koudous Seihon, Mediterranea The prize for best male lead goes to an actor who owns the story in every scene. It’s a portrait of a fighter, a street-smart survivor and a fellow human, who opens our hearts on his journey through a torn world full of dangers. He manages to convey a feeling of hope and faith in humanity in the midst of the brutal reality of the story. Best documentary: Behemoth by Liang Zhao Abandon all hope you who enter here. This filmmaker digs deep inside the bowels of its subject, showing us the monster of greed hiding in our destructive civilization. This film unveils hell right here on earth in a beautiful, emotive and poetic way. Through the power of great imagery, storytelling and empathy we are given a chance to perceive and finally end this abuse of the earth than of each other. Pure and utterly necessary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4kbx8x748Y Stockholm Impact Award: Leena Yadav, Parched Through superb acting giving a unique insight into the minds and hearts of women in rural India told with colourful, sensual cinematography. This film is a paradoxical celebration of life in tough circumstances, creating both anger and joy, giving fuel for debate as well as hope for change when addressing a burning question that affects, not half, but the whole of our society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqKBf36bQ0 Best short film: A Few Seconds by Nora El Hourch In a very unique and bold way of storytelling the director manage to show how much humanity in the characters in such a short time. There are so many layers of emotions in this film. We are excited to discover this new talent in her future work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0k3EJYdF6U Stockholm Rising Star: Aliette Opheim This year’s Rising Star is awarded an actor who inhabits a deep sensibility as well as an immense power. Who delves into diverse roles with great courage and integrity. With the sense of carrying a secret. Telia Film Award: Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano With a warm, humanistic touch Jonas Carpignano has written and directed a film with acute relevance and unexpected humour. Populated by brilliantly crafted and depicted characters with complexity, throughout the story, with an outstanding Koudous Seihon in the male lead. A beautiful film that humanizes what it is to live in the world today and offers a unique glimpse into experiences shared by many of the people fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea. FIPRESCI best film: Macadam Stories by Samuel Benchetrit The FIPRESCI award goes to Samuel Benchetrit’s Macadam Stories (Asphalte), an insightful, melancholic and tender comedy, filled with quirky deadpan humour. Three separate stories are seamlessly interwoven around the theme of urban loneliness and the longing for human connection, all beautifully drawn, highly nuanced and perfectly paced, while the excellent performances allow the characters humanity to shine through the cracks. Stockholm Achievement Award: Ellen Burstyn An icon of contemporary American cinema, a bold actress with great integrity, who has given life to groundbreaking characters. Her performances have left a lasting impression with a relentless struggle for independence and freedom. Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen Frears This year’s receiver of the Lifetime Achievement Award is a filmmaker who is not afraid to take a stand for those who exist at the margins of society. Regardless of what form the story takes, Stephen Frears shows us that he is a director with a genuine curiosity for people’s life stories. Stockholm Visionary Award: Yorgos Lanthimos This director gives us a perspective that is both challenging and headstrong. His films offer the audience an unpredictable cinematic trip that forces us to discover an inconvenient reflection of our own behaviour, logic and desires. And yet we cannot stop looking, identifying and yes, very oddly smiling. 1 km Film-scholarship: I turn to you by Victor Lindgren Two siblings are forced to experience the implosion of their parents’ relationship. The director poses an inconvenient question to us in the audience, can a child’s will to survive overcome the self-destructive desires of the parent. The film seamlessly connects refined form with emotional impact and the director shows great courage and promise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLDziuNrc6c iFestival Award: Tisure by Adrian Geyer Voted for by the 2015 Stockholm Film Festival audience.
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Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea is Winner of NICE City of Florence Award at New Italian Cinema

Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea was voted by the audience, the winner of the NICE City of Florence Award at the New Italian Cinema, presented by the San Francisco Film Society in partnership with the New Italian Cinema Events of Florence, Italy; the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco; and the Consulate General of Italy, San Francisco. “This is a real honor and I am happy that the film resonated so much with the audience in San Francisco,” said Carpignano. “I’m looking forward to sharing it in Florence. And of course, thanks so much to the San Francisco Film Society for their support of this film throughout its development.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A Director/Regia: Jonas Carpignano Cast: Koudous Seihon, Alassane Sy, Adam Gnene, Vincenzina Siciliano, Ernest Zire, Mary Elisabeth Innocence, Mimma Papasergio, Annalisa Pagano, Joy Odundia, Davide Schipilliti, Zakaria Kbiri, Norina Ventre, Serigne “Chico” Baity Kane, Annalisa Spirli, Francesco Papasergio Ayiva (Koudous Seihon) left his native Burkina Faso in search of a job that would allow him to provide for the needs of his daughter and sister. Taking advantage of his position in an organization smuggling with immigrants, he finds a way to leave behind the African continent. Ayiva tries to adapt to his new life in Italy, but the tension in the local community continues to grow and things get more dangerous for him. Determined not to give up, he tries to resist, but at a price… The NICE City of Florence Award was decided by audience ballots from San Francisco screenings of films in competition. The festival also gave special recognition to Matteo Bini and Giorgio Pasotti’s I, Harlequin, to acknowledge the film’s extraordinary audience support and immense cultural value. This year’s New Italian Cinema opened on November 11 with sold-out screenings of the Taviani brothers’ Wondrous Boccaccio and Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth, and closed on Sunday with Nanni Moretti’s Mia Madre. Notable filmmaker appearances included Matteo Bini, co-director of I, Harlequin (Io, Arlecchino); Marco Pontecorvo, director of Partly Cloudy with Sunny Spells (Tempo instabile con probabili schiarite); and Alessia Scarso, director of Italo (Italo barocco).
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2015 Cork Film Festival Award Winners; TANGERINE Wins Best Film

Tangerine won the prize for best feature film, Gradam Spiorad na Féile / Spirit of the Festival Award at the 60th edition of the Cork Film Festival. Sean Baker’s feature is a twisted, high-energy Christmas tale, which casts an unflinching and comical eye on LA’s sex industry and trans community. UK / Ukranian documentary The Russian Woodpecker was selected as the winner of the inaugural Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise / Award for Cinematic Documentary. Described as an original and terrifying look at the legacy of the Soviet Union, it was directed by Chad Gracia. This new award, which carries a €1,000 prize, was chosen by a jury chaired by Claire Aguilar, Sheffield DocFest’s Director of Programming and Industry Engagement. Irish short film Love is a Sting is in with a chance of Oscars® glory, after being selected as the Grand Prix Irish short film winner. Vincent Gallagher’s film will go forward to the Academy Awards® longlist in the Live Action Short Film / Animated Short Film category. The Cork Film Festival achieved the status of Academy Award® Qualifying Festival last year. The film follows struggling writer Harold Finch, played by Séan T. Ó Meallaigh, who has an unexpected house guest in the form of Anabel – a hyper-intelligent mosquito who has literally been the fly on the wall throughout history. She is determined to communicate to Harold even if it kills her. The Finland/Denmark-made short film Listen, was chosen as the winner of the Grand Prix International and will also go forward to the Oscars ®longlist. Listen takes place in a Copenhagen police station where a woman wearing a burqa is filing a complaint for domestic violence but her translator is unwilling to report her story. Jonas Carpignano’s acclaimed Mediterranea – a gripping and humanizing film about the refugee crisis – was chosen as the Cork nomination to the European Parliament’s LUX Film Prize. Romanian feature film Aferim! – Radu Jude’s Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Bear winner – won the Youth Jury Award. Naomi Kawase’s drama An – about a 75 year old Japanese woman who starts work as an assistant in a pastry kiosk – was selected as the winner of the Audience Award. Complete list of 2015 Cork Film Festival Award Winners Grand Prix Irish Love is a Sting (Ireland) Grand Prix International Listen (Finland/Denmark) Cork Short Award The Great Wide Open (Cork) Gradam Spiorad na Féile/Spirit of the Festival Award Tangerine (US) Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise/Award for Cinematic Documentary The Russian Woodpecker (UK/Ukraine) European Parliament LUX Film Prize Mediterranea (US) Youth Jury Award Aferim! ( Romania) Cork Film Festival Nomination for the 2016 European Film Academy 90 Degrees North (Germany) Audience Award An – Red Bean Paste (Japan/France/Germany) Irish Music Video Award Bob Gallagher for Girl Band’s Paul International Music Video Award Eric Teidt for Simon Fagan’s Lost to the Deep
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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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THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, SPOTLIGHT and TANGERINE Lead 25th IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards Nominations

The nominees for the 25th IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards were announced today, signaling the kick-off to the film awards season. For 2015, the eight competitive film awards include Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress (presenting sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein), Breakthrough Actor, Best Screenplay, the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director award, and the Gotham Audience Award. In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes will be given to actors Helen Mirren and Robert Redford, director Todd Haynes, and Industry Tribute recipient producer Steve Golin. Twenty-five films received nominations this year. THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (pictured above) lead with 4 nominations for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Breakthrough Director. CAROL, SPOTLIGHT and TANGERINE closely followed with 3 nominations each. Carol received nods for Best Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Actress; Spotlight received nods for Best Feature, Best Screenplay and Special Jury Award – Ensemble Performance; and Tangerine also nominated for Best Feature in addition to Breakthrough Actors for Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor. As noted, the nominating committee for the Best Actor and Best Actress categories category voted to award a Special Jury Award jointly to cast members Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci and Brian d’Arcy James for their ensemble work in Spotlight. Beyond these individual actors, the committee cited the Spotlight cast as “an outstanding ensemble in which every performance, in every role, of every size, is beautifully realized.” In recognition of the strong work by female actors this year, the jury also chose to include six nominees for Best Actress. The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 30th at Cipriani Wall Street. The 2015 IFP Gotham Independent Film Award nominations are: Best Feature Carol Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4z7Px68ywk The Diary of a Teenage Girl Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2M9kqb5wVw Heaven Knows What Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard, producers (RADiUS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBThfoOQI04 Spotlight Tom McCarthy, director; Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagan Faust, producers (Open Road Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXymzwz0V2g Tangerine Sean Baker, director; Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou, Marcus Cox & Karrie Cox, producers (Magnolia Pictures) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU Best Documentary Approaching the Elephant Amanda Rose Wilder, director; Jay Craven, Robert Greene, Amanda Rose Wilder, producers (Kingdom County Productions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdGIkBSkEdc Cartel Land Matthew Heineman, director; Matthew Heineman, Tom Yellin, producers (The Orchard and A&E IndieFilms) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JD7hPM_yxg Heart of a Dog Laurie Anderson, director; Dan Janvey, Laurie Anderson, producers (Abramorama and HBO Documentary Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ClaELWDqHU Listen to Me Marlon Stevan Riley, director; John Battsek, RJ Cutler, George Chignell, producers (Showtime Documentary Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZlWjE_NJfI The Look of Silence Joshua Oppenheimer, director; Signe Byrge Sørensen, producer (Drafthouse Films) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbPN8-juZUI Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Desiree Akhavan for Appropriate Behavior (Gravitas Ventures) Jonas Carpignano for Mediterranea (Sundance Selects) Marielle Heller for The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony Pictures Classics) John Magary for The Mend (Cinelicious Pics) Josh Mond for James White (The Film Arcade) Best Screenplay Carol, Phyllis Nagy (The Weinstein Company) The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Marielle Heller (Sony Pictures Classics) Love & Mercy, Oren Moverman and Michael Alan Lerner (Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment) Spotlight, Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Open Road Films) While We’re Young, Noah Baumbach (A24) Best Actor* Christopher Abbott in James White (The Film Arcade) Kevin Corrigan in Results (Magnolia Pictures) Paul Dano in Love & Mercy (Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment) Peter Sarsgaard in Experimenter (Magnolia Pictures) Michael Shannon in 99 Homes (Broad Green Pictures) Best Actress* Cate Blanchett in Carol (The Weinstein Company) Blythe Danner in I’ll See You in My Dreams (Bleecker Street) Brie Larson in Room (A24 Films) Bel Powley in The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony Pictures Classics) Lily Tomlin in Grandma (Sony Pictures Classics) Kristen Wiig in Welcome to Me (Alchemy) Breakthrough Actor Rory Culkin in Gabriel (Oscilloscope Laboratories) Arielle Holmes in Heaven Knows What (RADiUS) Lola Kirke in Mistress America (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Kitana Kiki Rodriguez in Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures) Mya Taylor in Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures) * The 2015 Best Actor/Best Actress nominating panel also voted to award a special Gotham Jury Award jointly to Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci and Brian d’Arcy James for their ensemble work in Spotlight. (Open Road Films). Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ Grant For the sixth consecutive year, IFP is proud present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs or IFP’s Screen Forward Lab. In 2015, Screen Forward Lab directors have been included in this opportunity for the first time. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film or episodic series. The nominees are: Claire Carré, director, Embers Deb Shoval, director, AWOL Chanelle Aponte Pearson, director, 195 Lewis Gotham Appreciation Award A Gothams Appreciation Award will be given to Ellen Cotter for her contribution to theatrical distribution, including leadership of the Angelika Film Centers.
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AFI FEST 2015 Reveals Films in New Auteurs and American Independent Lineup, Include FIELD NIGGAS, JAMES WHITE, IXCANUL

The 29th AFI FEST taking place November 5 to 12, 2015 in the heart of Hollywood, revealed 20 more films on the lineup – the films that will be featured in the New Auteurs and American Independent programs during AFI FEST 2015. The American Independents section represents the best of independent filmmaking this year includes 9 films; and the New Auteurs section includes 11 first and second-time narrative feature film directors from around the world, whose films will be eligible for the Grand Jury Prize. NEW AUTEURS DESDE ALLÁ – When a middle-aged man is assaulted and robbed by a young criminal, an unlikely relationship develops. DIR Lorenzo Vigas. SCR Lorenzo Vigas. CAST Alfredo Castro and Luis Silva. Venezuela/Mexico. U.S. Premiere DISORDER – Matthias Schoenaerts plays an ex-soldier who becomes locked in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with ski-masked home invaders at a wealthy estate. DIR Alice Winocour. SCR Alice Winocour. CAST Matthias Schoenaerts, Diane Kruger, Paul Hamy, Zaïd Errougui-Demonsant, Percy Kemp, Victor Pontecorvo, Mickaël Daubert, Franck Torrecillas, Chems Eddine, Philippe Haddad, Jean-Louis Coulloc’h. France/Belgium EVOLUTION – On an island inhabited only by women and boys, a 10-year-old receiving strange medical treatment investigates the horrific things the women do at night. DIR Lucile Hadžihalilović. SCR Lucile Hadžihalilović, Alanté Kavaïté, Geoff Cox. CAST Max Brebant, Roxane Duran, Julie-Marie Parmentier. France THE GULLS (CHAIKI) – In winter near the Caspian Sea, a fisherman’s wife becomes free of her suppressed domestic existence after a life-altering event. DIR Ella Manzheeva. SCR Ella Manzheeva. CAST Evgeniya Mandzhieva, Sergey Adianov, Evgeny Sangadzhiev, Lyubov Ubushieva, Dmitry Mukeyev. Russian Federation. North American Premiere IXCANUL – A young Mayan woman becomes pregnant outside of an impending arranged marriage, throwing her and her family’s future into dire uncertainty. DIR Jayro Bustamante. SCR Jayro Bustamante. CAST María Mercedes Coroy, María Telón, Manuel Antún, Justo Lorenzo, Marvin Coroy. Guatemala/France LAND AND SHADE (LA TIERRA Y LA SOMBRA) – An aging farmer returns to rural Colombia where the family and land he long ago abandoned have been devastated by industrial progress. DIR César Augusto Acevedo. SCR César Augusto Acevedo. CAST Haimer Leal, Hilda Ruiz, Edison Raigosa, Marleyda Soto, José Felipe Cárdenas, Edison Raigosa. Colombia/France/Netherlands/Chile/Brazil. U.S. Premiere MEDITERRANEA – In this timely film, a migrant from Burkina Faso makes a perilous journey from North Africa to Europe. DIR Jonas Carpignano. SCR Jonas Carpignano. CAST Koudous Seihon, Alassane Sy, Adam Gnegne, Davide Schipilliti. Italy/France/USA/Germany MOUNTAIN – To escape her troubles at home, a young Orthodox Jewish woman falls in with a nocturnal community of prostitutes and drug dealers in the ancient cemetery atop Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives. DIR Yaelle Kayam. SCR Yaelle Kayam. CAST Shani Klein, Avshalom Pollak, Haitham Ibrahem Omari. Israel/Denmark. U.S. Premiere MUSTANG – Five Turkish sisters must fight back against harsh societal restrictions when a seemingly innocent act is blown out of proportion. DIR Deniz Gamze Ergüven. SCR Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Alice Winocour. CAST Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu, Elit Iscan, Ilayda Akdogan, Ayberk Pekcan. France/Germany/Turkey SWORN VIRGIN (VERGINE GIURATA) – A young Albanian woman bucks her destiny by appealing to an ancient regional law allowing her to live free as a man if she takes an oath of eternal virginity. DIR Laura Bispuri. SCR Francesca Manieri, Laura Bispuri. CAST Alba Rohrwacher, Flonja Kodheli, Lars Eidinger, Luan Jaha, Bruno Shllaku, Ilire Celaj, Drenica Selimaj, Dajana Selimaj, Emily Ferratello. Italy/Switzerland/Germany/Albania/Republic of Kosovo UNTIL I LOSE MY BREATH – A Turkish teenager dreams of leaving her abusive home and moving in with her father, a long-distance truck driver. DIR Emine Emel Balcı. SCR Emine Emel Balcı. CAST Esme Madra, Rıza Akın, Sema Keçik, Gizem Denizci, Ece Yüksel, Uğur Uzunel, Yavuz Pekman, Pinar Gök, Yavuz Özata. Turkey/Germany. North American Premiere AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS BOB AND THE TREES – A middle-aged logger gambles his personal and professional livelihood on harvesting an unyielding piece of land. DIR Diego Ongaro. SCR Diego Ongaro, Courtney Maum, Sasha Statman-Weil. CAST Bob Tarasuk, Matt Gallagher, Polly MacIntyre, Richard Bradley, Winthrop Barrett. USA FIELD NIGGAS – Khalik Allah’s stylized documentary chronicles summer nights spent at the intersection of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in Harlem. DIR Khalik Allah. USA FUNNY BUNNY – A trio of people look to make meaningful connections in this sweet natured comedy. DIR Alison Bagnall. SCR Alison Bagnall. CAST Kentucker Audley, Joslyn Jensen, Olly Alexander, Louis Cancelmi, Josephine Decker, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Grace Gonglewski, Caridad de la Luz, Nicholas Webber. USA (pictured in main image above) H. – Two different Helens of Troy live parallel lives in this brilliantly unnerving apocalyptic vision. DIR Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia. SCR Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia. CAST Robin Bartlett, Rebecca Dayan, Will Janowitz, Julian Gamble, Roger Robinson. USA/Argentina JAMES WHITE – A young New Yorker is forced to take control of his self-destructive lifestyle as he navigates his mother’s fight with a serious illness. DIR Josh Mond. SCR Josh Mond. CAST Christopher Abbott, Cynthia Nixon, Scott Mescudi, Makenzie Leigh, Ron Livingston. USA KRISHA – Estranged relative Krisha shows up to a family Thanksgiving to make amends, but as the day unfolds she can’t escape her dark past. DIR Trey Edward Shults. SCR Trey Edward Shults. CAST Krisha Fairchild, Robyn Fairchild, Bill Wise, Trey Edward Shults, Chris Doubek, Olivia Grace Applegate, Alex Dobrenko, Chase Joliet. USA MEN GO TO BATTLE – In this indie American period piece, two farming brothers in 1861 are torn apart by the encroaching Civil War. DIR Zachary Treitz. SCR Kate Lyn Sheil, Zachary Treitz. CAST David Maloney, Timothy Morton, Kate Lyn Sheil, Rachel Korine. USA SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME – A brother and sister living on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation cope with the loss of their father in very different ways. DIR Chloé Zhao. SCR Chloé Zhao. CAST John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard, Eleonore Hendricks, Taysha Fuller, Cat Clifford. USA STINKING HEAVEN – When a new member arrives at a home for sober living, a self-destructive spiral begins. DIR Nathan Silver. SCR Nathan Silver, Jack Dunphy. CAST Deragh Campbell, Keith Poulson, Hannah Gross, Eléonore Hendricks, Tallie Medel, Henri Douvry, Jason Giampietro, Jason Grisell, Eileen Kearney, Larry Novak. USA
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MEDITERRANEA by Jonas Carpignano to Open Stockholm Film Festival | TRAILER

Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano is the opening film of this year’s Stockholm Film Festival. The film will also participate in the prestigious Stockholm XXVI Competition, competing for the Bronze Horse. Mediterranea, starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy och Aisha, is the story of two young men leaving their home country Burkina Faso to make the dangerous trip over the Mediterranean to Italy. Carpignano’s feature film debut is a touching portrayal of African migrants in Italy, building upon his previous short films A Chjàna (2012) and Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The film is connected to this year’s Spotlight theme Migration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A “I’ve always loved Stockholm, both the city and the festival, so it is a great honor to have been selected as the opening film of the festival. This film is five years in the making, and there were moments when we didn’t know if it would ever get finished. The fact that it’s out there, and that it can play on a stage as big as that of the Stockholm Film Festival is surreal and humbling,” says Jonas Carpignano, director of Mediterranea. Jonas Carpignano visited Stockholm Film Festival 2014, competing in Stockholm XXV Short Film Competition with his short film Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The 26th Stockholm International Film Festival will take place November 11 to 22, 2015
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2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards, RAMS Wins Top ‘Golden Eye’ Award

RAMS (HRÚTAR) by Grimur Hakonarson from Iceland continues its winning streak, grabbing the top award, the Golden Eye for International Feature Film at the 11th Zurich Film Festival. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Award at 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Rams “details the hardships of daily farm work in remote Iceland with humanism and humor,” where two brothers who haven’t spoken in forty years will have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them : their rams. The other top 2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards – Golden Eye awards went KINGS OF NOWHERE (LOS REYES DEL PUEBLO QUE NO EXISTE) by Betzabé García from Mexico for International Documentary Film and THANK YOU FOR BOMBING by Barbara Eder from Austria for Focus: Switzerland, Germany, Austria. The Emerging Swiss Talent Award given to a Swiss film went to THE MIRACLE OF TEKIR by Ruxandra Zenide (Switzerland). The Critics’ Choice Award goes to PIKADERO by Ben Sharrock (Spain), The Audience Award goes to AMATEUR TEENS by Niklaus Hilber (Switzerland) and the Audience Award in the ZFF for Kids section goes to SUPILINNA SALASELTS by Margus Paju (Estonia). 2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards Golden Eye for Best International Feature Film: HRÚTAR by Grimur Hakonarson (Iceland, Denmark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=IybJjb3VHhM A Special Mention goes to: Koudous Seihon (actor) in MEDITERRANEA by Jonas Carpignano (Italy, France, USA, Germany, Qatar) Marielle Heller (director) for THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (USA) Golden Eye for Best International Documentary Film: KINGS OF NOWHERE (LOS REYES DEL PUEBLO QUE NO EXISTE) by Betzabé García (Mexico) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49kLABSplPM A Special Mention goes to: KILLING TIME – ENTRE DEUX FRONTS by Lydie Wisshaupt-Claudel (Belgium, France) Golden Eye for Best Film in the Focus: Switzerland, Germany, Austria: THANK YOU FOR BOMBING by Barbara Eder (Austria) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpE4RSMuLTs A Special Mention goes to: GRUBER GEHT by Marie Kreutzer (Austria) The Emerging Swiss Talent Award for Best Swiss Film: THE MIRACLE OF TEKIR by Ruxandra Zenide (Switzerland/Rumania) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd8fGetLsWw Critic’s Choice Award The Swiss Association of Film Journalists (SVFJ) award their prize for Best Debut Feature Film in the Competition Section to: PIKADERO by Ben Sharrock (Spain, UK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5Cv5_YugY Audience Award AMATEUR TEENS by Niklaus Hilber (Switzerland) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=o5tjEnAJc5E Audience Award for Children’s Film SUPILINNA SALASELTS by Margus Paju (Estonia) Treatment Competition Award Stefanie Klemm for RENATAS ERWACHEN (Switzerland)
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