The Assassin (2015)

  • Nicki Micheaux’s Summer of Violence Wins Best Picture at 15th DTLA Film Festival

    Summer of Violence directed by Nicki Micheaux
    Summer of Violence

    Director-writer Nicki Micheaux’s “Summer of Violence,” the festival’s Centerpiece Film, won Best Picture at the 15th annual DTLA Film Festival. Rosemary Rodriguez, the director of the festival’s Opening Night Film, “Hail Mary,” was named Best Director, and the two films tied for Audience Favorite Award. “It’s Basic” by Marc Levin took the Best Documentary award.

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  • ‘Carol’ Leads Nominations for BAFTA Awards

    Carol directed by Todd Haynes Carol along with Bridge of Spies lead the nominations for the 2016 BAFTA Awards with nine nominations. Carol is nominated for Best Film, Director for Todd Haynes, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design and Make Up & Hair. Cate Blanchett is nominated for Leading Actress and Rooney Mara is nominated for Supporting Actress. Other indie films with multiple nods include Brooklyn was nominated six times, and The Danish Girl and Ex Machina receive five nominations. Brooklyn is nominated for Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design and Make Up & Hair, with two further nominations for Saoirse Ronan in Leading Actress and Julie Walters in Supporting Actress. The Danish Girl is nominated for Outstanding British Film, Costume Design and Make Up & Hair, with Leading Actor and Leading Actress nominations for Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander respectively. Ex Machina is nominated for Outstanding British Film and Special Visual Effects, with nominations for Alex Garland in Original Screenplay and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Alicia Vikander receives a further nomination for Supporting Actress. Amy receives nominations for Outstanding British Film and Documentary, along with Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Listen to Me Marlon and Sherpa. Theeb is nominated for Film Not in the English Language and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Naji Abu Nowar (Writer/Director) and Rupert Lloyd (Producer). Also nominated for Film Not in the English Language are The Assassin, Force Majeure, Timbuktu and Wild Tales. The British Short Animation nominees are Edmond, Manoman and Prologue. The five nominations for British Short Film are Elephant, Mining Poems or Odes, Operator, Over and Samuel-613. The nominees for the EE Rising Star Award are Bel Powley, Brie Larson, Dakota Johnson, John Boyega and Taron Egerton. The EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 14 February at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. The ceremony will be hosted by Stephen Fry. The complete list of nominations for 2016 BAFTA Awards Film | Outstanding British Film in 2016 The Danish Girl; Tom Hooper, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Anne Harrison, Gail Mutrux, Lucinda Coxon Brooklyn; John Crowley, Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Nick Hornby Ex Machina; Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich Amy; Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees 45 Years; Andrew Haigh, Tristan Goligher The Lobster; Yorgos Lanthimos, Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Efthimis Filippou Film | Documentary in 2016 Amy; Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees Listen to Me Marlon; Stevan Riley, John Battsek, George Chignell, R.J. Cutler He Named Me Malala; Davis Guggenheim, Walter Parkes, Laurie Macdonald Sherpa; Jennifer Peedom, Bridget Ikin, John Smithson Cartel Land; Matthew Heineman, Tom Yellin Film | Film Not in the English Language in 2016 The Assassin; Hou Hsiao-Hsien Theeb; Naji Abu Nowar, Rupert Lloyd Force Majeure; Ruben Östlund Timbuktu; Abderrahmane Sissako Wild Tales; Damián Szifron Film | British Short Film in 2016 Elephant; Nick Helm, Alex Moody, Esther Smith Mining Poems or Odes; Callum Rice, Jack Cocker Samuel-613; Billy Lumby, Cheyenne Conway Operator; Caroline Bartleet, Rebecca Morgan Over; Jörn Threlfall, Jeremy Bannister Film | Animated Film in 2016 Shaun the Sheep Movie; Mark Burton, Richard Starzak Minions; Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda Inside Out; Pete Docter Film | British Short Animation in 2016 Manoman; Simon Cartwright, Kamilla Kristiane Hodol Prologue; Richard Williams, Imogen Sutton Edmond; Nina Gantz, Emilie Jouffroy Film | Director in 2016 Alejandro G. Iñárritu; The Revenant Adam McKay; The Big Short Steven Spielberg; Bridge of Spies Ridley Scott; The Martian Todd Haynes; Carol Film | Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer in 2016 Sean Mcallister, Elhum Shakerifar; A Syrian Love Story Naji Abu Nowar, Rupert Lloyd; Theeb Debbie Tucker Green; Second Coming Stephen Fingleton; The Survivalist Alex Garland; Ex Machina Film | Adapted Screenplay in 2016 The Big Short; Adam McKay, Charles Randolph Steve Jobs; Aaron Sorkin Brooklyn; Nick Hornby Carol; Phyllis Nagy Room; Emma Donoghue Film | Original Screenplay in 2016 Inside Out; Josh Cooley, Pete Docter, Meg Lefauve The Hateful Eight; Quentin Tarantino Ex Machina; Alex Garland Bridge of Spies; Matthew Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Spotlight; Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer Film | Leading Actor in 2016 Leonardo DiCaprio; The Revenant Eddie Redmayne; The Danish Girl Michael Fassbender; Steve Jobs Matt Damon; The Martian Bryan Cranston; Trumbo Film | Leading Actress in 2016 Maggie Smith; The Lady in the Van Alicia Vikander; The Danish Girl Cate Blanchett; Carol Brie Larson; Room Saoirse Ronan; Brooklyn Film | Supporting Actor in 2016 Idris Elba; Beasts of No Nation Christian Bale; The Big Short Mark Rylance; Bridge of Spies Benicio del Toro; Sicario Mark Ruffalo; Spotlight Film | Supporting Actress in 2016 Jennifer Jason Leigh; The Hateful Eight Alicia Vikander; Ex Machina Julie Walters; Brooklyn Kate Winslet; Steve Jobs Rooney Mara; Carol Film | EE Rising Star in 2016 Taron Egerton John Boyega Dakota Johnson Brie Larson Bel Powley Film | Make-Up And Hair in 2016 Brooklyn; Morna Ferguson, Lorraine Glynn Carol; Jerry Decarlo, Patricia Regan The Revenant; Sian Grigg, Duncan Jarman, Robert Pandini Mad Max: Fury Road; Lesley Vanderwalt, Damian Martin The Danish Girl; Jan Sewell Film | Original Music in 2016 The Hateful Eight; Ennio Morricone Bridge of Spies; Thomas Newman The Revenant; Ryuichi Sakamoto, Carsten Nicolai Star Wars: The Force Awakens; John Williams Sicario; Jóhann Jóhannsson Film | Cinematography in 2016 Mad Max: Fury Road; John Seale The Revenant; Emmanuel Lubezki Sicario; Roger Deakins Carol; Ed Lachman Bridge of Spies; Janusz Kaminski Film | Production Design in 2016 Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Rick Carter, Darren Gilford, Lee Sandales Bridge of Spies; Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo Mad Max: Fury Road; Colin Gibson, Lisa Thompson The Martian; Arthur Max, Celia Bobak Carol; Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler Film | Editing in 2016 The Big Short; Hank Corwin Mad Max: Fury Road; Margaret Sixel Bridge of Spies; Michael Kahn The Revenant; Stephen Mirrione The Martian; Pietro Scalia Film | Sound in 2016 The Revenant; Lon Bender, Chris Duesterdiek, Martin Hernandez, Frank A. Montaño, Jon Taylor, Randy Thom Mad Max: Fury Road; Scott Hecker, Chris Jenkins, Mark Mangini, Ben Osmo, Gregg Rudloff, David White Star Wars: The Force Awakens; David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Matthew Wood, Stuart Wilson Bridge of Spies; Drew Kunin, Richard Hymns, Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom The Martian; Paul Massey, Mac Ruth, Oliver Tarney, Mark Taylor Film | Special Visual Effects in 2016 Ant-Man; Jake Morrison, Greg Steele, Dan Sudick, Alex Wuttke Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Chris Corbould, Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan Mad Max: Fury Road; Andrew Jackson, Dan Oliver, Tom Wood, Andy Williams The Martian; Chris Lawrence, Tim Ledbury, Richard Stammers, Steven Warner Ex Machina; Mark Ardington, Sara Bennett, Paul Norris, Andrew Whitehurst

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  • “The Assassin” “Death By Death” “The Birth of Saké” Among Winners of Palm Springs International Film Festival

    Hou Hsiao-Hsien the assassin The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) held from January 1 to 11, 2016, announced this year’s juried award winners. The Oscar shortlisted The Assassin (Taiwan), directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien won the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. In 9th-century China, during a time of political unrest, a beautiful woman, trained in the arts of swordsmanship, is sent to her home province on a lethal mission. The jury presented the award, “As one of the best films of a master director, and an example of the martial arts genre which is elevated into the realm of art by its superb visual style.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqNyl72eBw FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor of the Year in a Foreign Language Film went to Sigurður Sigurjónsson and Theodór Júlíusson from Rams (Iceland), directed by Grimur Hakonarson, and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress of the Year in a Foreign Language Film went to Alena Mihulová from Home Care (Czech Republic), directed by Slávek Horák. The New Voices/New Visions competition included 12 new international talents making their feature film debut at the Festival, with the additional criteria that the films selected are currently without U.S. distribution and are US premieres. The winner of the New Voices/New Visions award is Death By Death (Belgium/France), directed by Xavier Seron. The film is a tale about the relationship of anxious, part-time actor Michel and his ailing, overly attached mother, who has been told that she is living on borrowed time, but has no intention of dying. A special jury mention goes to Thithi (India/US). The Birth of Saké (Japan), directed by Erik Shirai, received The John Schlesinger Award, which is presented to a first-time documentary filmmaker. The film is about a beautiful and immersive portrait of life at the 144-year old Yoshida Brewery, a producer of world class sake. With changing times ahead and new regime led by the 6th generation heir, this is a rarified look at the personal and professional intensity needed to create a revered product and the artisans behind it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOcLBK5Oay4 The HP Bridging the Borders Award is presented by Cinema Without Borders and Hewlett Packard, which honors the film that is most successful in exemplifying art that promotes bringing the people of our world closer together. Umrika (India), directed by Prashant Nair, received the award. The film traces the journey from mountain village innocence to big city experience of young Rama, who follows in his older brother’s footsteps to discover if he made it to the USA, or came to a sticky end in Mumbai. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFP3XkhfCeI The complete list of award winners are: FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year The Assassin (Taiwan), directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor of the Year in a Foreign Language Film Sigurður Sigurjónsson and Theodór Júlíusson from Rams (Iceland) FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress of the Year in a Foreign Language Film Alena Mihulová from Home Care (Czech Republic) New Voices/New Visions Award Winner: Death By Death (Belgium/France), directed by Xavier Seron Special Mention: Thithi (India/US), directed by Raam Reddy The John Schlesinger Award The Birth of Saké (Japan), directed by Erik Shirai HP Bridging the Borders Award Umrika (India), directed by Prashant Nair

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  • Toronto Film Critics Association names ‘Carol’ the Best Film of the Year

    CAROL Starring Cate Blanchett Todd Haynes’ 1950s melodrama ‘Carol’, the swooning tale of a life-changing love affair, won two top prizes at the 2015 awards of the Toronto Film Critics Association, including Best Picture, and Haynes named Best Director. The film’s stars, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, were runners-up for this year’s Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress prizes, respectively. Joshua Oppenheimer, who won the Allan King Documentary Award in 2013 for The Act of Killing, won the 2015 prize for its companion piece, The Look of Silence, which revisits the Indonesian genocide from the perspective of an optometrist confronting his brother’s murderers. The membership also chose the three finalists for the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award: The Forbidden Room, directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson; My Internship In Canada, directed by Philippe Falardeau, and Sleeping Giant, directed by Andrew Cividino. The winner will be named at the TFCA’s awards gala, to be held January 5, 2016. Other winners include, Nina Hoss was named Best Actress for her performance as a woman forced to assume her own identity in post-war German in Christian Petzold’s Phoenix, which also won Best Foreign-Language Film. Alicia Vikander won Best Supporting Actress for her work as the calculating android Ava in Alex Garland’s near-future drama Ex Machina, which was named the year’s Best First Feature. The full list of Toronto Film Critics Association Awards winners and runners-up: BEST PICTURE “Carol” (Entertainment One) Runners-up “Mad Max: Fury Road” (Warner Bros.) “Spotlight” (Entertainment One) BEST ACTOR Tom Hardy, “Legend” Runners-up Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” Michael Fassbender, “Steve Jobs” BEST ACTRESS Nina Hoss, “Phoenix” Runners-up Cate Blanchett, “Carol” Brie Larson, “Room” BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies” Runners-up Benicio Del Toro, “Sicario” Michael Shannon, “99 Homes” BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Alicia Vikander, “Ex Machina” Runners-up Rooney Mara, “Carol” Kristen Stewart, “Clouds of Sils Maria” BEST DIRECTOR Todd Haynes, “Carol” Runners-up Tom McCarthy, “Spotlight” George Miller, “Mad Max: Fury Road” Denis Villeneuve, “Sicario” BEST SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL “The Big Short”, Charles Randolph and Adam McKay; based upon the book by Michael Lewis Runners-up “Anomalisa,” Charlie Kaufman; based on his stage play “Carol,” by Phyllis Nagy; based on the novel “The Price of Salt” by Patricia Highsmith “Spotlight,” by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy BEST FIRST FEATURE “Ex Machina,” directed by Alex Garland Runners-up “Sleeping Giant,” directed by Andrew Cividino “Son of Saul,” directed by Lázsló Nemes BEST ANIMATED FEATURE “Shaun the Sheep Movie” (Elevation Pictures) Runners-up “Anomalisa” (Paramount Pictures) “Inside Out” (Disney*Pixar) BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM “Phoenix” (Films We Like) Runners-up “The Assassin” (Amplify Releasing) “Son of Saul” (Mongrel Media) ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY AWARD “The Look of Silence” (Blue Ice Docs) Runners-up “Amy” (Mongrel Media) “Listen To Me Marlon” ( distributor unknown ) ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS “The Forbidden Room,” directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson “My Internship in Canada,” directed by Philippe Falardeau “Sleeping Giant,” directed by Andrew Cividino

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  • Vancouver Film Critics Circle Reveals 2016 Nominations, ‘Room’ Leads Canadian Nominations

    ROOM, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy and Joan Allen Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant leads all films in the 2016 Vancouver Film Critics Circle International section with three nominations. The nominees for Best Documentary are Amy, Cartel Land and Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, while The Assassin, Goodnight Mommy and Son of Saul are up for Best Foreign Language Film. A riveting and uplifting tale of a mother and son escaping confinement, the Canadian-Irish co-production Room has earned six VFCC nominations in the Canadian categories, including one for Best Canadian Film, and director Lenny Abrahamson is nominated for Best Director of a Canadian Film, Room (pictured above) will face off against Guy Maddin and co-director Evan Johnson’s The Forbidden Room and Andrew Cividino’s Sleeping Giant for Best Canadian Film. Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World will also compete with Jerry Rothwell’s How to Change the World, Alan Zweig’s Hurt and Damien Gillis & Fiona Rayher’s Fractured Land for Best Canadian Documentary. The full list of 2016 Vancouver Film Critics Circle International nominees. BEST FILM Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Spotlight BEST ACTOR Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Michal Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl BEST ACTRESS Cate Blanchett, Carol Brie Larson, Room Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies Michael Shannon, 99 Homes Sylvester Stallone, Creed BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina BEST DIRECTOR Todd Haynes, Carol Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road BEST SCREENPLAY Emma Donoghue, Room Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy, Spotlight BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM The Assassin Goodnight Mommy Son of Saul BEST DOCUMENTARY Amy Cartel Land Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief The full list of nominees in the 2016 Vancouver Film Critics Circle Canadian categories. BEST CANADIAN FILM The Forbidden Room Room Sleeping Giant BEST ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM Michael Eklund, Eadweard Christopher Plummer, Remember Jacob Tremblay, Room BEST ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM Marie Brassard, Sabali Brie Larson, Room Julia Sarah Stone, Wet Bum BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM Patrick Huard, My Internship in Canada Reece Moffett, Sleeping Giant Nick Serino, Sleeping Giant BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM Joan Allen, Room Suzanne Clement, My Internship in Canada Tara Pratt, No Men Beyond This Point BEST SCREENPLAY FOR A CANADIAN FILM Benjamin August, Remember Andrew Cividino, Blain Watters & Aaron Yeger, Sleeping Giant Emma Donoghue, Room BEST DIRECTOR OF A CANADIAN FILM Lenny Abrahamson, Room Andrew Cividino, Sleeping Giant Atom Egoyan, Remember BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World Fractured Land How to Change the World Hurt BEST FIRST FILM BY A CANADIAN DIRECTOR Hit 2 Pass, Kurt Walker Sleeping Giant, Andrew Cividino Wet Bum, Lindsay Mackay BEST BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM Eadweard Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World No Men Beyond This Point

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  • Carol, The Assassin, Among Films on Film Comment 2015 Best-of-Year Lists

    The Assassin Hou Hsiao-hsien (Nie Yinniang, Taiwan 2015) Film Comment’s annual end-of-the-year survey of film critics, journalists, film-section editors, and past and present contributors is out, and Todd Haynes’s Carol, Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin (pictured above), and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road take the top spots among films released in 2015. Of the films that made appearances at film festivals or special screenings worldwide but have not received stateside distribution this year, Hong Sangsoo’s Right Now, Wrong Then, Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Chevalier, and Ben Rivers’s The Sky Trembles and the Earth Is Afraid and the Two Eyes Are Not Brothers received the top rankings. Film Comment 2015 Top 10 Films Released in: 1. Carol Todd Haynes, U.S. 2. The Assassin Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan 3. Mad Max: Fury Road George Miller, U.S. 4. Clouds of Sils Maria Olivier Assayas, France 5. Arabian Nights Miguel Gomes, Portugal 6. Timbuktu Abderrahmane Sissako, Mauritania/France 7. Spotlight Tom McCarthy, U.S. 8. Phoenix Christian Petzold, Germany 9. Inside Out Pete Docter & Ronnie del Carmen, U.S. 10. The Look of Silence Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark/Indonesia The rankings of other films making strong showings during the awards season are John Crowley’s Brooklyn (#18), Frederick Wiseman’s In Jackson Heights (#13), and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (#20). Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin (#2) was the cover subject of Film Comment magazine’s September/October issue, and László Nemes’s Son of Saul (#14) was the cover subject of the November/December issue. Film Comment’s survey also ranks films that have screened and made notable appearances at festivals throughout the year, but remain without U.S. distribution at press time. Film Comment 2015 Top 10 Unreleased Films: 1. Right Now, Wrong Then Hong Sangsoo, South Korea 2. Chevalier Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece 3. The Sky Trembles and the Earth Is Afraid and the Two Eyes Are Not Brothers Ben Rivers, U.K. 4. The Academy of Muses José Luis Guerín, Spain 5. Don’t Blink – Robert Frank Laura Israel, U.S. 6. Cosmos Andrzej Zulawski, Poland 7. Journey to the Shore Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan 8. Happy Hour Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Japan 9. Lost and Beautiful Pietro Marcello, Italy 10. Minotaur Nicolas Pereda, Mexico Film Comment editor Gavin Smith said: “The 20 films that critics have voted for can be divided into four categories: mainstream Hollywood critical and box-office hits (3), American art-house-inclined indies (7), foreign-language art movies in a variety of familiar modes (5), and foreign-language movies that challenge viewers to enter cinematic realms they’ve never previously experienced (5). That balance, which happens to be encapsulated in the top five in micro form, feels about right for the agenda of this magazine, which, since the very beginning, has been to champion the best in cinema wherever it hails from, all creatures great and small. Since we managed to run features on 11 of these and sung the praises of another five, it’s a pleasure to close out the year on a high note.”

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  • ‘Carol’ ‘Brooklyn’ ‘The Danish Girl’ ‘Spotlight’ Among 21st Critics’ Choice Awards Nominations

    21st Choice Awards Nominations“Mad Max: Fury Road” leads the nominations for the 21st Critics’ Choice Awards with 13 nominations including Best Picture. “Carol,” impressed with nine nominations including Best Picture, and Best Director. “Spotlight” earned eight nominations, “Brooklyn,” “The Danish Girl,” each garnered five nominations and “Room” earned four. The winners will be revealed live at the Critics’ Choice Awards gala, which will be broadcast from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on A&E, Lifetime and LMN on Sunday, January 17 at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. Actor and comedian T.J. Miller will serve as the show’s host. NOMINATIONS FOR THE 21st CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS BEST PICTURE The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Carol Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Sicario Spotlight BEST ACTOR Bryan Cranston – Trumbo Matt Damon – The Martian Johnny Depp – Black Mass Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl BEST ACTRESS Cate Blanchett – Carol Brie Larson – Room Jennifer Lawrence – Joy Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Paul Dano – Love & Mercy Tom Hardy – The Revenant Mark Ruffalo – Spotlight Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies Michael Shannon – 99 Homes Sylvester Stallone – Creed BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight Rooney Mara – Carol Rachel McAdams – Spotlight Helen Mirren – Trumbo Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation RJ Cyler – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Shameik Moore – Dope Milo Parker – Mr. Holmes Jacob Tremblay – Room BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE The Big Short The Hateful Eight Spotlight Straight Outta Compton Trumbo BEST DIRECTOR Todd Haynes – Carol Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant Tom McCarthy – Spotlight George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road Ridley Scott – The Martian Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – Bridge of Spies Alex Garland – Ex Machina Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – Inside Out Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short Nick Hornby – Brooklyn Drew Goddard – The Martian Emma Donoghue – Room Aaron Sorkin – Steve Jobs BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Carol – Ed Lachman The Hateful Eight – Robert Richardson Mad Max: Fury Road – John Seale The Martian – Dariusz Wolski The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki Sicario – Roger Deakins BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Bridge of Spies – Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo Brooklyn – François Séguin, Jennifer Oman and Louise Tremblay Carol – Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler The Danish Girl – Eve Stewart, Michael Standish Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson The Martian – Arthur Max, Celia Bobak BEST EDITING The Big Short – Hank Corwin Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel The Martian – Pietro Scalia The Revenant – Stephen Mirrione Spotlight – Tom McArdle BEST COSTUME DESIGN Brooklyn – Odile Dicks-Mireaux Carol – Sandy Powell Cinderella – Sandy Powell The Danish Girl – Paco Delgado Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan BEST HAIR & MAKEUP Black Mass Carol The Danish Girl The Hateful Eight Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Ex Machina Jurassic World Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant The Walk BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Anomalisa The Good Dinosaur Inside Out The Peanuts Movie Shaun the Sheep Movie BEST ACTION MOVIE Furious 7 Jurassic World Mad Max: Fury Road Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Sicario BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE Daniel Craig – Spectre Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road Chris Pratt – Jurassic World Paul Rudd – Ant-Man BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE Emily Blunt – Sicario Rebecca Ferguson – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road BEST COMEDY The Big Short Inside Out Joy Sisters Spy Trainwreck BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY Christian Bale – The Big Short Steve Carell – The Big Short Robert De Niro – The Intern Bill Hader – Trainwreck Jason Statham – Spy BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY Tina Fey – Sisters Jennifer Lawrence – Joy Melissa McCarthy – Spy Amy Schumer – Trainwreck Lily Tomlin – Grandma BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE Ex Machina It Follows Jurassic World Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM The Assassin Goodnight Mommy Mustang The Second Mother Son of Saul BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Amy Cartel Land Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief He Named Me Malala The Look of Silence Where to Invade Next BEST SONG Fifty Shades of Grey – Love Me Like You Do Furious 7 – See You Again The Hunting Ground – Til It Happens To You Love & Mercy – One Kind of Love Spectre – Writing’s on the Wall Youth – Simple Song #3 BEST SCORE Carol – Carter Burwell The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone The Revenant – Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto Sicario – Johann Johannsson Spotlight – Howard Shore

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  • 40 Submissions for Best Foreign Language Film to Compete for FIPRESCI Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

    A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (Sweden), Director: Roy Andersson The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), scheduled January 1-11, 2016, announced the films selected to compete for the FIPRESCI Award in the Awards Buzz section. The Festival will screen 40 of the 80 official submissions to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Foreign Language Film. Additional film programs will be announced in the upcoming weeks. The Awards Buzz section is selected by Festival programmers as the strongest entries in this year’s Academy Awards® race. A special jury of international film critics will review these films to present the FIPRESCI Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, as well as Best Actor and Best Actress in this category. The following 40 films are selected to screen (in alphabetical order by country): Bota (Albania), Directors: Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci https://vimeo.com/122133505 The Clan (Argentina), Director: Pablo Trapero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gnQab2Qq14 The Brand New Testament (Belgium), Director: Jaco Van Dormael Our Everyday Life (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Director: Ines Tanovic The Second Mother (Brazil), Director: Anna Muylaert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOrbWcObwR4 The Judgment (Bulgaria), Director: Stephan Komandarev https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRCAYsrl37s Felix and Meira (Canada), Director: Maxime Giroux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8CeBCNrwvU The Club (Chile), Director: Pablo Larraín https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8c2DYoF7lA Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia), Director: Ciro Guerra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS73P3hZvPA The High Sun (Croatia), Director: Dalibor Matanic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqrRvNMcU8 Home Care (Czech Republic), Director: Slávek Horák https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdP5dEndQkI A War (Denmark), Director: Tobias Lindholm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRkE5ZrPzs0 1944 (Estonia), Director: Elmo Nüganen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6A4nLqOW6s Lamb (Ethiopia), Director: Yared Zeleke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKh2M2ooD3w The Fencer (Finland), Director: Klaus Härö https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShMAkhyC6bY Mustang (France), Director: Deniz Gamze Erguven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5nyY8E6CPg Labyrinth of Lies (Germany), Director: Giulio Ricciarelli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xU0Ywoww70 Ixcanul (Guatemala), Director: Jayro Bustamante https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMMP0Z21zqU Son of Saul (Hungary), Director: László Nemes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHDtPZmYj8 Rams (Iceland), Director: Grimur Hákonarson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWOFWaltGRw Viva (Ireland), Director: Paddy Breathnach Baba Joon (Israel), Director: Yuval Delshad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQLOlq1PfQs 100 Yen Love (Japan), Director: Masaharu Take https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwF-VZMEoFc Theeb (Jordan), Director: Naji Abu Nowar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUbMKf8c60 Babai (Kosovo), Director: Visar Morina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXnmJBVtFBY Heavenly Nomadic (Kyrgyzstan), Director: Mirlan Abdykalykov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5lJD36SBvo 600 Miles (Mexico), Director: Gabriel Ripstein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGINGaYOlGs The Paradise Suite (Netherlands), Director: Joost van Ginkel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wezLXi_1Xpg The Wave (Norway), Director: Roar Uthaug https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIj4v8TfnyU Moor (Pakistan), Director: Jami Mahmood 11 Minutes (Poland), Director: Jerzy Skolimowski https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IlSOg1-6Tk Arabian Nights: Volume 2 – The Desolate One (Portugal), Director: Miguel Gomes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i59kera1ayM Aferim! (Romania), Director: Radu Jude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmTYOY_jQWc Enclave (Serbia), Director: Goran Radovanovic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dddfro-Vt9M Flowers (Spain), Directors: Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L33oXnK75w A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (Sweden), Director: Roy Andersson (pictured in main image above) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pna4laaAk Iraqi Odyssey (Switzerland), Director: Samir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTs2IMlv7rY The Assassin (Taiwan), Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqNyl72eBw How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) (Thailand), Director: Josh Kim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfXh86HUpAA Sivas (Turkey), Director: Kaan Müjdeci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWeZ0bZz12M

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  • “Cemetery of Splendor” Wins Top Prize – Best Feature Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards

    Cemetery of Splendour

    Cemetery of Splendour from Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul won the 2015 Asia Pacific Screen Award (APSA) for Best Feature Film, considered the region’s highest accolade in film. Cemetery of Splendour is set in and around a hospital ward full of comatose soldiers. Attached to glowing dream machines, and tended to by a kindly volunteer (Jenjira Pongpas Widner) and a young clairvoyant (Jarinpattra Rueangram), the men are said to be waging war in their sleep on behalf of long-dead feuding kings, and their mysterious slumber provides the rich central metaphor: sleep as safe haven, as escape mechanism, as ignorance, as bliss.

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  • ‘Dheepan’ ‘Youth’ ‘The Assassin’ Among Films on 2015 Dubai International Film Festival Cinema of The World Program

    Dheepan The Cinema of The World program at the upcoming 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), scheduled to take place between the December 9th and 16th, 2015 will welcome forty five of the world’s latest films to its screens. The first in a series of announcements includes, ‘Dheepan’ (pictured above) a powerful drama by director Jacques Audiard that follows a former Tamil Tiger soldier’s struggle as he fights to begin life anew away from the hardships of war. Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, ‘Dheepan’ delves deep into the lives of migrants fleeing conflict zones to lead new lives in Europe but, in the case of the Tamil family, conflict is never far behind. Youth, Paolo Sorrentino Heart-warming feature ‘Youth’, directed by Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino, depicts the lives of two old friends and the relationship they build whilst on vacation in the Swiss Alps. Starring internationally renowned actors Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, as Fred and Mick, the lives of two aging artists are portrayed with a blend of humour and wisdom as they reflect on the ways of the world with a deep serenity in a picturesque Alpine landscape. The Assassin Hou Hsiao-hsien (Nie Yinniang, Taiwan 2015) Contemporary filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien marks his return to cinema after an eight-year absence to present his martial-arts epic ‘The Assassin’. The film follows the enigmatic assassin Yinniang, played by the actress Shu Qi, in a dark tale of emotional turmoil that pushes the film’s central character to breaking point when she is sent on a mission that compromises her primordial instincts. THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY Inspirational biopic ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ directed by Matt Brown follows the life-changing journey of a young Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, played by Dev Patel, as he ascends from his humble roots in Madras to attend Cambridge University. It is here that he attempts to pursue his dreams under the mentoring of English mathematician G.H. Hardy, portrayed by Jeremy Irons. BROOKLYN starring Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen Exquisite and captivating period drama ‘Brooklyn’, directed by John Crowley and based on the acclaimed novel by Colm Toibin, features a stellar cast including Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters. It tells the tale of a young immigrant in a strange new land as she discovers young love and the promise of a brighter future. ‘Brooklyn’ delves deep into the life of its central character, Eilis, in this tale about family, memory and making a new home. Ciro Guerra's "Embrace of the Serpent." Multi award-winning visionary feature ‘Embrace of The Serpent’, directed by Columbian filmmaker Ciro Guerra, is a visually mesmerizing adventure epic. Inspired by the diaries of two explorers, the film tracks two parallel odysseys travelling through the Amazon three decades apart. It features knockout cinematography, a total of nine different languages and an array of breathtaking locations offering a heart-rending depiction of the effects of colonialism on the indigenous culture. Beeba Boys. Deepa Mehta Ferocious and adrenaline charged crime thriller, ‘Beeba Boys’, directed by Deepa Mehta, depicts a clash of culture and crime in an all-or-nothing Vancouver gang war. Following in the footsteps of gang leader Jeet Johar and his loyal crew, ‘the Beeba Boys’, the film engrosses audiences in a tug-of-war as Jeet and his gang take on an old-fashioned Indo crime syndicate in the battle for control of the drug and arms scene. Blood will be spilled, hearts will be broken and bonds will be shattered as the ‘Beeba Boys’ will do anything to be seen and heard in a white world. MUSTANG directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven Turkish actress turned director Deniz Gamze Ergüven is set to sweep audiences off their feet at DIFF with her very first feature, ‘Mustang’, which won the Europa Cinemas Label Award at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. The film follows five young sisters living in a coastal Turkish village placed under a tyrannical regime that suppresses their natural development in this poignant portrayal of physical and emotional imprisonment. Sherpa Jennifer Peedom Award-winning Australian director, Jennifer Peedom, takes audiences on the adventure of a lifetime in her latest film, ‘Sherpa’, in which she tackles the daunting Mount Everest in an attempt to explore the on-going feud between angered Sherpa people and fearless climbers hopeful of conquering the mountain. Cemetery of Splendour Former winner of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for his film ‘Uncle Boonmee’ Apichatpong Weerasethakul graces the big screen at DIFF with his mystical new film, ‘Cemetery of Splendour’, which follows a young medium and a hospital volunteer as they investigate a sinister case of mass sleeping sickness affecting a temporary hospital for soldiers. The filmmaker uses the epidemic as a metaphor for personal and Thai societal issues in this enigmatic feature. Trap Brillante Mendoza ‘Trap’, the most recent movie from Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, represents the lives of three families after the devastating Typhoon Yolanda. The director uses powerful imagery and stories based on the real-life experiences of those that have survived the natural disaster to drive home awareness of climate change and the debilitating effects it has on those that succumb to its wrath.

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  • Complete List of Films + Trailers for 81 Countries in Competition for 2015 Foreign Language Film Oscar

    SAND DOLLARS Eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the 2015 Foreign Language Film Oscar category for the 88th Academy Awards®. Paraguay is a first-time entrant. The 2015 submissions are: Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZhbfzrKWLw Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors; https://vimeo.com/122133505 Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director; Argentina, “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWia2xcELuI Australia, “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TSHuWQjixA Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u3GCfr0U94 Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cu0vvLRKsI Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jEA8uzHwQ Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO6fH-cZpzA Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNjwuQcvGms Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRCAYsrl37s Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho Kulikar, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1XmFpUAVvw Canada, “Félix and Meira,” Maxime Giroux, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFbAjkmeYQ Chile, “The Club,” Pablo Larraín, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8c2DYoF7lA China, “Go Away Mr. Tumor,” Han Yan, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65UUtHBHJZM Colombia, “Embrace of the Serpent,” Ciro Guerra, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS73P3hZvPA Costa Rica, “Imprisoned,” Esteban Ramírez, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFcdWPoxEzo Croatia, “The High Sun,” Dalibor Matanić, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcWDMgipJ78 Czech Republic, “Home Care,” Slavek Horak, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdP5dEndQkI Denmark, “A War,” Tobias Lindholm, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRkE5ZrPzs0 Dominican Republic, “Sand Dollars,” Laura Amelia Guzmán, Israel Cárdenas, directors; (pictured above) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HeEPnn7ioE Estonia, “1944,” Elmo Nüganen, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ni6KeO-AY Ethiopia, “Lamb,” Yared Zeleke, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKh2M2ooD3w Finland, “The Fencer,” Klaus Härö, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocTDfePRAOg France, “Mustang,” Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud2yfvjdKRU Georgia, “Moira,” Levan Tutberidze, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myW9KtGw8sA Germany, “Labyrinth of Lies,” Giulio Ricciarelli, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xU0Ywoww70 Greece, “Xenia,” Panos H. Koutras, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaZ3mOod9hk Guatemala, “Ixcanul,” Jayro Bustamante, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMMP0Z21zqU Hong Kong, “To the Fore,” Dante Lam, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3_4N1DoFbg Hungary, “Son of Saul,” László Nemes, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDP3TZilWHc Iceland, “Rams,” Grímur Hákonarson, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWOFWaltGRw India, “Court,” Chaitanya Tamhane, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sc8z7zav9A Iran, “Muhammad: The Messenger of God,” Majid Majidi, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HoUxTWGi0 Iraq, “Memories on Stone,” Shawkat Amin Korki, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuBFjhUo5C8 Ireland, “Viva,” Paddy Breathnach, director; Israel, “Baba Joon,” Yuval Delshad, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQLOlq1PfQs Italy, “Don’t Be Bad,” Claudio Caligari, director; Ivory Coast, “Run,” Philippe Lacôte, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SDrpfbnKUk Japan, “100 Yen Love,” Masaharu Take, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwF-VZMEoFc Jordan, “Theeb,” Naji Abu Nowar, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUbMKf8c60 Kazakhstan, “Stranger,” Yermek Tursunov, director; Kosovo, “Babai,” Visar Morina, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXnmJBVtFBY Kyrgyzstan, “Heavenly Nomadic,” Mirlan Abdykalykov, director; Latvia, “Modris,” Juris Kursietis, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWCxsRlW8Bg Lebanon, “Void,” Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle Ighniades, Maria Abdel Karim, Salim Haber, directors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ryTnlrB_s Lithuania, “The Summer of Sangaile,” Alanté Kavaïté, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoijP-cGzfE Luxembourg, “Baby (A)lone,” Donato Rotunno, director; Macedonia, “Honey Night,” Ivo Trajkov, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdaM3dbsgNo Malaysia, “Men Who Save the World,” Liew Seng Tat, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DoUf5jSq_s Mexico, “600 Miles,” Gabriel Ripstein, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGINGaYOlGs Montenegro, “You Carry Me,” Ivona Juka, director; Morocco, “Aida,” Driss Mrini, director; Nepal, “Talakjung vs Tulke,” Basnet Nischal, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-JXV0JTzw Netherlands, “The Paradise Suite,” Joost van Ginkel, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBxz3h3uhos Norway, “The Wave,” Roar Uthaug, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIr90-aG26Y Pakistan, “Moor,” Jami, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUgbkOedFOY Palestine, “The Wanted 18,” Amer Shomali, Paul Cowan, directors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekhTuZpMw54 Paraguay, “Cloudy Times,” Arami Ullón, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSekF0ANW5o Peru, “NN,” Héctor Gálvez, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZalPtyQSMus Philippines, “Heneral Luna,” Jerrold Tarog, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_T1ykhy3Fg Poland, “11 Minutes,” Jerzy Skolimowski, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IlSOg1-6Tk Portugal, “Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One,” Miguel Gomes, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i59kera1ayM Romania, “Aferim!” Radu Jude, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmTYOY_jQWc Russia, “Sunstroke,” Nikita Mikhalkov, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WypoUHTWH8 Serbia, “Enclave,” Goran Radovanović, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dddfro-Vt9M Singapore, “7 Letters,” Royston Tan, Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin,Boo Junfeng, K. Rajagopal, directors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI_Tp92v_OA Slovakia, “Goat,” Ivan Ostrochovský, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOs0PTCC07A Slovenia, “The Tree,” Sonja Prosenc, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQlBmcyyVzg South Africa, “The Two of Us,” Ernest Nkosi, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv0y8n0Pu0E South Korea, “The Throne,” Lee Joon-ik, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmsD3wvvGP8 Spain, “Flowers,” Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga, directors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L33oXnK75w Sweden, “A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence,” Roy Andersson, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pna4laaAk Switzerland, “Iraqi Odyssey,” Samir, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTs2IMlv7rY Taiwan, “The Assassin,” Hou Hsiao-hsien, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqNyl72eBw Thailand, “How to Win at Checkers (Every Time),” Josh Kim, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfXh86HUpAA Turkey, “Sivas,” Kaan Müjdeci, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWeZ0bZz12M United Kingdom, “Under Milk Wood,” Kevin Allen, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqHAwLeJzhU Uruguay, “A Moonless Night,” Germán Tejeira, director; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV9N_SNC8DQ Venezuela, “Gone with the River,” Mario Crespo, director; https://vimeo.com/117647793 Vietnam, “Jackpot,” Dustin Nguyen, director. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9NEbqrL9jw The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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  • San Francisco Film Society to Present 2015 Taiwan Film Days Series with Spotlight on Director Hou Hsiao-hsien | TRAILER

    The Assassin Hou Hsiao-hsien (Nie Yinniang, Taiwan 2015) The San Francisco Film Society will present the 2015 Taiwan Film Days, from October 12 to 13, showcasing Taiwanese cinema to Bay Area audiences.  This year’s 6th edition of Taiwan Film Days features a very special spotlight on master filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien, who received the Best Director prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and is expected to attend the series kickoff event. Taiwan Film Days kicks off with a special early look at Hou Hsiao-hsien’s latest film The Assassin, then continues with the documentary Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema, which delves into the history and legacy of the Taiwanese New Cinema movement, and wraps up with a newly restored version of Hou’s timeless classic The Boys from Fengkuei. The Assassin Hou Hsiao-hsien (Nie Yinniang, Taiwan 2015) To open the sixth installment of Taiwan Film Days, the series presents one of the most heralded films of 2015 — winner of the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival — master filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin. Set in ninth-century China, the film centers on Nie Yinniang (played by a smoldering Shu Qi) a female killer appointed to slay corrupt government officials by her master, Jiaxin, a nun who raised her from the age of ten. When Yinniang displays mercy by failing to kill during her duties, Jiaxing punishes her with a ruthless assignment designed to test Yinniang’s resolve. Written by Hou Hsiao-hsien, Chu Tien-wen, Hsieh Hai-meng, Zhong Acheng. Cinematography by Mark Lee Ping Bing. With Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Zhou Yun. 105 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bqNyl72eBw Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema Chinlin Hsieh (Guangyin de gushi: Taiwan xin dianying, Taiwan 2014) The Taiwanese New Cinema movement of the 1980s and ’90s captured the imaginations of audiences and filmmakers worldwide. This comprehensive documentary features interviews with leading critics, curators and filmmakers mixed with glorious archival clips from some of the most beloved and inspiring films of the era. Pitch perfect, Flowers of Taipei is an ideal introduction to and celebration of one of the most vital film movements of our time. Cinematography by Olivier Marceny. 109 min. In Mandarin and English with subtitles. Print provided by Ablaze Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EyPN-L3SCQ The Boys from Fengkuei Hou Hsiao-hsien (Fengkuei-lai-te-jen, Taiwan 1983) Hou Hsiao-hsien’s beautiful fourth feature-length film follows three bored teenagers who move from the small island of Fengkuei to the port of Kaohsiung. Elegantly recalling the excitement, confusion, anxiety and directionless possibilities of youth in transition to adulthood, the film reveals director Hou in a transition of his own to a canny naturalism that will mark his films for a decade. Restored at the Cinémathèque Royal de Belgique in collaboration with Hou Hsiao-Hsien and the Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project.Written by Chu Tien-wen. Cinematography by Ch’en K’un-hou. With Doze Niu, To Tsung-hua, Lin Hsiu-ling. 100 min. Print provided by Cinematek Belgium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpVRXV36o2s

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