Tomorrow[/caption]
The 8th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced this year’s juried and audience award winners at the Uptown Theatre in Napa on Saturday, November 10, 2018.
The festival also announced that the next edition will take place from November 13 to 17, 2019.
Each of the festival winners received a large format wine bottle from one of the festival’s esteemed Vintner Circle winery partners. The two winners of the 18 films that vied for the title of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the respective juries, were awarded $10,000, presented by Meadowood Napa Valley.
“I was most impressed by the array of topics and compelling and courageous film subjects included in this year’s festival,” said juror Amy Shatsky, Series Producer of PBS’s Independent Lens. Juror Alexandre Philippe, filmmaker and creative director of Exhibit A Pictures, also said, “Having served on multiple juries throughout the world, serving on the documentary jury at NVFF was unequivocally one of the most pleasant and enriching experiences of my year.”
Spare Room
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TOMORROW, TRANSMILITARY, GENERAL MAGIC Win Awards at 2018 Napa Valley Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_32528" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Tomorrow[/caption]
The 8th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced this year’s juried and audience award winners at the Uptown Theatre in Napa on Saturday, November 10, 2018.
The festival also announced that the next edition will take place from November 13 to 17, 2019.
Each of the festival winners received a large format wine bottle from one of the festival’s esteemed Vintner Circle winery partners. The two winners of the 18 films that vied for the title of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the respective juries, were awarded $10,000, presented by Meadowood Napa Valley.
“I was most impressed by the array of topics and compelling and courageous film subjects included in this year’s festival,” said juror Amy Shatsky, Series Producer of PBS’s Independent Lens. Juror Alexandre Philippe, filmmaker and creative director of Exhibit A Pictures, also said, “Having served on multiple juries throughout the world, serving on the documentary jury at NVFF was unequivocally one of the most pleasant and enriching experiences of my year.”
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TOMORROW and THE HUMAN ELEMENT Win Top Awards at 2018 SCAD Savannah Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_32528" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Tomorrow[/caption]
A key stop on the Oscar festival circuit, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival today announced the award winners for the 21st anniversary celebration during an awards brunch held at The Olde Pink House. The top awards went to The Human Element for Best Documentary Feature, and Tomorrow for Best Narrative Feature.
Twenty-seven awards were announced from the 105 films that competed in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, professional shorts, animated shorts, and student shorts selections.
SCAD also honored 17 masters of their craft including Emily Blunt, Icon Award; John Krasinski, Vanguard Award; Maggie Gyllenhaal, Outstanding Achievement in Acting and Producing Award; Hugh Jackman, Legend of Cinema Award; Armie Hammer, Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award; Kayli Carter, SCAD40 Prize; Stephan James and KiKi Layne, Discovery Award; Chloë Grace Moretz, Lumiére Award; Amandla Stenberg, Rising Star Award; and John David Washington, Distinguished Performance Award. Entertainment Weekly’s Breakout Award honorees included SCAD alumna Kayli Carter (Private Life), Raúl Castillo (We the Animals), Winston Duke (Black Panther), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Thomasin McKenzie (Leave No Trace), Hari Nef (Assassination Nation) and Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place).
Kalyli Carter also received the SCAD40 Prize. Awarded at signature events throughout this 40th anniversary year, the SCAD40 Prize is presented to graduates who give all of themselves — hand, head, and heart — to their creative careers in the highest ranks of culture and business.
2018 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Award Winners
PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION
Best Narrative Feature – Tomorrow Best Documentary Feature – The Human Element Best Narrative Short – Geoff Best Directing – Will Kenning & Michael Rouse – Geoff Best Editing – Hold The Night Jury Award for Acting – Skyler Samuels – Spare Room Jury Award for Screenwriting – One Cambodian Family Please For My Pleasure Jury Award, Unheard Voices – Facing The DragonSTUDENT & ANIMATION
Best Animated Short – Grands Canons Animation Jury Award – The Likes and Dislikes of Marj Bagley Best Student Short – Blue Christmas Best Student Animation – Creature From The Lake Silver Screen Society – Best Short Film by a SCAD Student – $30 To Antarctica Student Jury Award – CinematographerGLOBAL SHORTS FORUM
Best Global Short Overall – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: Narrative – Believe Her Best Global Short: Documentary – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: LGBTQ & You – Conway Pride Best Global Short: Woman Walks Ahead – Period. End of Sentence. Best Global Short: Don’t Dis My Ability – Take Me To The Waves Best Global Short: A Sporting Chance – The Conqueror Global Shorts: Jury Award – Boy Saint Global Shorts Jury Award – Marie’s CrisisSHORTS SPOTLIGHT
Shorts Spotlight: Best of Show – My Indiana Muse Shorts Spotlight: Best Animated Delight – One Small Step Shorts Spotlight: Best LOLz Short – Bertie Shorts Spotlight: Best Bump in the Night Short – Other Side of the Box
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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces 2018 Film Line-Up
[caption id="attachment_31408" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Green Book[/caption]
The Napa Valley Film Festival returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films from November 7 to 11 in Napa, California. The eighth edition of the Festival will kick off with the Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday, November 6 with a special presentation of The Front Runner, directed by Jason Reitman and starring Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons and Alfred Molina. The film is the story of American Senator Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1988 as it is derailed when he is caught in a scandalous love affair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAOYDcnVx6E
The festival’s official Opening Night film on Wednesday, November 7 is Green Book, directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini. In the film, Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZxoko_HC0&t=3s
Closing the festival on Sunday, November 11 is HBO Films’ Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the documentary gives an intimate look into the life and work of the revered master comedian and actor, Robin Williams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caIFNg_JRL4
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Ant-Man and the Wasp) will receive this year’s Charles Krug “Legendary Actor” honor at this year’s Celebrity Tributes program that salutes the highest levels of cinematic achievement. The Celebrity Tributes program will take place on Thursday, November 8 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales. Additional honorees will be announced in the coming weeks. In addition, NVFF will be honoring the esteemed alumni of The Groundlings Theatre and School with the Miner Family Winery “Legacy Ensemble” award on Friday, November 9. Accepting on behalf of The Groundlings are Stephanie Courtney (Progressive Insurance’s Flo), Taran Killam (Saturday Night Live, Single Parents), Laraine Newman (Saturday Night Live, Coneheads), Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live, Scary Movie) and Julia Sweeney (Saturday Night Live, It’s Pat). Later that evening, Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own) will be honored with the Davis Estates “Visionary Tribute” following a screening of the documentary This Changes Everything. The second annual Rising Star Showcase presented by Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards on Saturday, November 10 will honor a handful of young talent including Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story, The Nun), Billy Magnussen (Maniac, Game Night), Camila Mendes (Riverdale, The New Romantic), Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel, Maze Runner: The Death Cure), Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) and Alexandra Shipp (Love, Simon, X-Men: Dark Phoenix).AWARD SEASON CONTENDERS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A Private War (Aviron Pictures) – One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontline of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless. Directed by Matthew Heineman and starring Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci and Tom Hollander. At Eternity’s Gate (CBS Films) – A look at the life of painter Vincent van Gogh during the time he lived in Aries and Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen and Oscar Isaac. Capernaum (Sony Pictures Classics) – Capernaum tells the story of Zain, a Lebanese boy who sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life. Directed by Nadine Labaki and starring Michel Merkt and Khaled Mouzanar. Devil’s Garden – Devil’s Garden is a national forest treasure in the far northeast corner of California, and home to the last sustainable herd of wild horses in this state. However, they are in danger of becoming completely wiped away because of profit taking entities on our public lands. Directed by Victoria Bergqvist and Scott Powers. Do You Trust This Computer? – Do You Trust This Computer? explores the promises and perils of our new era. Will A.I. usher in an age of unprecedented potential, or prove to be our final invention? Directed by Chris Paine. High-Sensitive Youth in the Horse-Heart-Space – What happens when adopted and foster children and rescued horses, cast off by their owners, meet? This documentary explores the friendship between two beings so different and yet so alike. A friendship where both sides long to connect their heart-space. Directed by Jolanda Ellenberger. Never Look Away (Sony Pictures Classics) – German artist Kurt Barnert has escaped East Germany and now lives in West Germany but is tormented by his childhood under the Nazis and the GDR-regime. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and starring Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch and Paula Beer. Pick of the Litter (IFC) – Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Directed by Don Hardy Jr. and Dana Nachman. Sharkwater Extinction – Sharkwater Extinction is a thrilling, action adventure journey that follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he exposes the billion-dollar illegal shark fin industry and the political corruption behind it. Directed by Rob Stewart. Sgt Stubby: An American Hero (Fun Academy Motion Pictures) – The true story of a stray dog who joins his new master on the battlefields of the First World War. For his valorous actions, Sgt. Stubby is still recognized as the most decorated dog in American history. Directed by Richard Lanni and starring Logan Lerman, Helena Bonham Carter and Gerard Depardieu. The Biggest Little Farm (Neon) – Documentarian John Chester and his wife Molly work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles. Directed by John Chester. Uncrushable – Uncrushable tells the story of the Northern California fires through the eyes of those most affected in the area. Victims who lost homes or businesses, first responders, chefs and winemakers share their harrowing accounts throughout the film, as a fallen community begins to rebuild through the amazing help of its neighbors, chefs and friends. Directed by Tyler Florence. Valley of the Boom (National Geographic Channel) – A look at the tech boom of the 1990s in Silicon Valley. Directed by Matthew Carnahan, produced by Arianna Huffington and starring Bradley Whitford, Steve Zahn and Lamorne Morris. Vox Lux (Neon) – An unusual set of circumstances brings unexpected success to a pop star. Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Willem Dafoe. Wheelman (Netflix) – A getaway driver for a bank robbery realizes he has been double crossed and races to find out who betrayed him. Directed by Jeremy Rush and starring Frank Grillo. The rest of the NVFF film line-up is as follows:Narrative Features:
Are You Glad I’m Here, Directed by Noor Gharzeddine Ask For Jane, Directed by Rachel Carey Cold Brook, Directed by William Fichtner Grace, Directed by Devin Adair Only Humans, Directed by Vanessa Knutsen Spare Room, Directed by Jenica Bergere Tomorrow, Directed by Martha Pinson When We Grow Up, Directed by Zorinah Juan You Can Choose Your Family, Directed by Miranda BaileyDocumentary Features:
A Fatherless Generation, Directed by Nathan Cheney Afghan Cycles, Directed by Sarah Menzies Cancer Rebellion, Directed by Hernan Barangan (World Premiere) Father’s Kingdom, Directed by Lenny Feinberg General Magic, Directed by Matthew Maude and Sarah Kerruish The Interpreters, Directed by Sofian Khan and Andres Caballero The Trouble with Wolves, Directed by Collin Monda TransMilitary, Directed by Gabriel Silverman, Co-Directed by Fiona Dawson Up to Snuff, Directed by Mark MaxeyVerge
Madness, Farewell, Directed by Benjamin Font (World Premiere) Ordinary Days, Directed by Jordan Canning, Kris Booth and Renuka Jeyapalan Ride, Directed by Alex Ranarivelo Summer ‘03, Directed by Becca Gleason The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova, Directed by Zack Bernbaum The Long Dumb Road, Directed by Hannah Fidell Thunder Road, Directed by Jim Cummings We Are Boats, Directed by James Bird (North American Premiere) White Tide: The Legend of Culebra, Directed by Theo LoveDocumentary Showcase
Accidental Climber, Directed by Steven Oritt (World Premiere) Bias, Directed by Robin Hauser Hesburgh, Directed by Patrick Creadon Hurley, Directed by Derek Dodge Life in the Doghouse, Directed by Ron Davis My Indiana Muse, Directed by Ric Serena and Jennifer Serena On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi, Directed by Brandon Gross and Skyler Gross Science Fair, Directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster The Price of Free, Directed by Derek Doneen The Things We Keep, Directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman (North American Premiere) This Changes Everything, Directed by Tom Donahue Turning Point, Directed by James Keach Unlikely, Directed by Jaye Fenderson and Adam Fenderson (World Premiere)Food & Beverage Spotlight
Agave: Spirit of a Nation, Directed by Nick Kovacic and Matthew Riggieri Brewmaster, Directed by Douglas Tirola Hiro’s Table, Directed by Lynn Hamrick (World Premiere) Soufra, Directed by Tomas Morgan ULAM: Main Dish, Directed by Alexandra Cuerdo The festival will also feature Short Film Programs with 16 Narrative Shorts and 16 Documentary Shorts.
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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces 2018 Narrative and Doc Feature Competition Films
[caption id="attachment_31396" align="aligncenter" width="1199"]
Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson in Only Humans[/caption]
The 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF), scheduled to take place November 7 – 11, announced its Narrative and Documentary Feature Film lineups in core competition today.
The 18 films in NVFF’s core competition categories will vie for the titles of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the juries. The directors of these 18 films will participate in NVFF’s unique Artists-in-Residence (AIR) Program that includes a six-night stay at the luxury resort Meadowood Napa Valley. The residency includes master classes and breakout sessions with industry leaders as well as social and networking opportunities at special events throughout the festival.
“We are thrilled to be sharing with our audiences another diverse set of expertly-crafted real and imagined stories at the upcoming 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival,” said Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Once again, we are pleased to see strong representation of female filmmakers, with the number growing each year. We look forward to hosting all the wonderful filmmakers as our Artists-in-Residence this year in beautiful Napa Valley.”
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION
Are You Glad I’m Here – A Lebanese housewife and a millennial American girl bridge cultural differences to become friends. Dark secrets are aired and one night they find themselves partners-in-crime. Starring Tess Harrison and Marwa Khalil. Directed by Noor Gharzeddine. West Coast Premiere Ask for Jane – Based on real events, Ask for Jane tells the story of a group of young college women who developed an underground abortion network that helped over 11,000 women get illegal abortions in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. Starring Cody Horn, Sarah Ramos, Alison Wright and Sarah Steele. Directed by Rachel Carey. West Coast Premiere Cold Brook – Ted and Hilde, two ordinary men who share an extraordinary experience one evening, embark on an adventure to help a stranger find home while placing their own homes and everything they take for granted at risk. Starring William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Harold Perrineau, Robin Weigert, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. Directed by William Fichtner. West Coast Premiere Grace – Charlie Elliston is a once famous author suffering from writer’s block. With his book advance spent, his agent and best friend Bernie sends him Dawn, a belligerent young woman in order to inspire and check on him – but she has some plans of her own. Starring Katie Cassidy, Tate Donovan, Matthew Lillard, Mircea Monroe, Debby Ryan, and Missi Pyle. Directed by Devin Adair. West Coast Premiere Only Humans – Through her attempt to ignite a romance with a much older man, Sarah, a fiercely independent teenager, learns to appreciate not only her youth but also her overbearing mother. Starring Peri Gilpin, Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson. Directed by Vanessa Knutsen. West Coast Premiere Spare Room – A young widow caring for her brother with Down Syndrome is drawn to a mysterious veteran who has rented her spare room. Starring Skyler Samuels and Martin Sensmeier. Directed by Jenica Bergere. California Premiere Tomorrow – A war veteran struggling to find a reason to live is befriended by a man who lives every day as though it’s his last. Starring Stuart Brennan, James Cosmo, Stephen Fry, Stephanie Leonidas, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Sebastian Street. Directed by Martha Pinson. California Premiere When We Grow Up – When We Grow Up follows a close-knit, albeit sometimes contentious, family brought together by an unconventional emergency that forces them to confront each other’s secrets, flaws, and temperamental inner children. Starring Catherine Curtin, Grace Hannoy, Clyde Voce, Jennifer Tsay, and Mitch Poulos. Directed by Zorinah Juan. West Coast Premiere You Can Choose Your Family – A seventeen-year-old boy blackmails his father after discovering his secret second family. Starring Danielle Campbell, Jim Gaffigan, Anna Gunn, Alex Karpovsky, Samantha Mathis and Logan Miller. Directed by Miranda Bailey. California PremiereDOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION
Afghan Cycles – Following a new generation of young Afghan women cyclists, Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women’s rights – human rights – and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis; from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite infrastructure, and despite death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport. Directed by Sarah Menzies. Napa Valley Premiere Cancer Rebellion – What is it really like to have cancer as a teenager? A survivor travels to all 50 states to uncover the stories of others who’ve also been diagnosed with cancer in their youth. In a world that largely avoids the subject, their voices are a call for revolution. Directed by Hernan Barangan. World Premiere A Fatherless Generation – Nathan Cheney turns the camera on himself and captures his emotional journey as he seeks the courage to face his biggest fear, his father. Along this six-year journey Cheney takes an emotional turn and discovers that he must first confront his personal demons before he can confront his father. In search of building a new relationship with his father, Cheney struggles to find the strength to overcome his own fears and move beyond his traumatic childhood. Directed by Nathan Cheney. Northern California Premiere Father’s Kingdom – In the early 1900s, an African-American man named Reverend M.J. Divine began a religious movement that would reach over a million followers at its peak, crossing racial divisions and advocating for gender and economic equality. Despite his influence and achievements, Father Divine is little remembered today, dismissed by detractors as a con man and a fraud. The reason: Father Divine claimed to be God. Directed by Lenny Feinberg. Napa Valley Premiere General Magic – Strap in for a fascinating tour of a slice of Silicon Valley history most people have never heard of, General Magic is a tale of how great vision and epic failure can change the world. Directed by Matthew Maude and Sarah Kerruish. California Premiere The Interpreters – The Interpreters follows the lives of Iraqi and Afghan military interpreters who worked with US forces on the ground. In many cases, interpreters face danger in their countries because of their affiliation with the US war effort. This is the story of how they are rebuilding their lives. Directed by Sofian Khan and Andres Caballero. California Premiere TransMilitary – TransMilitary chronicles the lives of four individuals defending their country’s freedom while fighting for their own. They put their careers and their families’ livelihoods on the line by coming out as transgender to top brass officials in the Pentagon in hopes of attaining the equal right to serve. Directed by Gabe Silverman and Fiona Dawson. Napa Valley Premiere The Trouble with Wolves – Death threats, court battles, and an iconic endangered species in middle, The Trouble with Wolves takes an up-close look at the most heated and controversial wildlife conservation debate of our time. The film aims to find out whether coexistence is really possible by hearing from the people directly involved. Directed by Collin Monda. Napa Valley Premiere Up to Snuff – Millions of people have been touched by his music, yet few know the journey, hardships and triumphs of American musician and composer W.G. Snuffy Walden. In Up to Snuff, friends and collaborators share personal stories, laughs and insights about this generous soul who overcame the excesses of rock and roll to find success as one of the most beloved composers in television history. Directed by Mark Maxey. California Premiere