Wind River

  • Directors of “Lady Bird” “Patti Cake$” “Wind River” Earn Nominations for 2017 Directors Guild of America Feature Film Awards

    [caption id="attachment_19920" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Patti Cake$ Patti Cake$[/caption] Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, and also for First-Time Feature Film Director for 2017. “2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the DGA Awards, and filmmaking has reached new heights with each passing year. These nominees embody the excellence that comes to life when unique vision, craft and skill come together in pursuit of masterful storytelling,” said Schlamme. “Being nominated by their peers is what makes this award especially meaningful for directors, and I congratulate all of the nominees for their outstanding work.”

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

    The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017 are (in alphabetical order): GUILLERMO del TORO The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. del Toro’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale Production Manager: Dennis Chapman First Assistant Director: Pierre Henry Second Assistant Director: Tyler Delben This is Mr. del Toro’s first DGA Award nomination. GRETA GERWIG Lady Bird (A24) Ms. Gerwig’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Lila Yacoub, Danielle Blumstein, Jamin O’Brien (New York Crew) First Assistant Directors: Jonas Spaccarotelli, Cedric Vara (New York Crew) Second Assistant Directors: Brendan Lee, Dana Zolli (New York Crew) Second Second Assistant Directors: Lillian Awa, Teri Barber This is Ms. Gerwig’s first DGA Award nomination. MARTIN McDONAGH Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. McDonagh’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Bergen Swanson Assistant Unit Production Manager: Peggy Robinson First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn Second Assistant Director: Paula Case Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor This is Mr. McDonagh’s first DGA Award nomination. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Dunkirk (Warner Bros.) Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: David Witz, Christine Raspillere (France Unit), Chris Brock (UK Unit), Nicky Tüske (Netherlands Unit) First Assistant Directors: Nilo Otero, William Pruss (France Unit), Willem Quarles van Ufford (Netherlands Unit) Second Assistant Director: Eric Lasko, Nicolas Baldino (France Unit), Alexis Chelli (France Unit), Clément Comet (France Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Alina Gatti This is Mr. Nolan’s fourth DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Inception in 2010, for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001. JORDAN PEELE Get Out (Universal Pictures) Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit) First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard Location Manager: Kurt Engler (New York Unit) This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the First-Time Feature Film category for Get Out.

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film

    The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2017 are (in alphabetical order): GEREMY JASPER Patti Cake$ (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. Jasper’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Sara Blechman First Assistant Director: Inna Braude Second Assistant Director: Natasha Rivera Second Second Assistant Director: Lucas Isabella Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Alice Johnson This is Mr. Jasper’s first DGA Award nomination. WILLIAM OLDROYD Lady Macbeth (Roadside Attractions) Mr. Oldroyd’s Directorial Team: Production Manager: Robert K. Harm Unit Manager: Eugene Galbrath First Assistant Director: George Every Second Assistant Director: Richard Stanley Jan Harris This is Mr. Oldroyd’s first DGA Award nomination. JORDAN PEELE Get Out (Universal Pictures) Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit) First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard Location Manager: Kurt Engler (New York Unit) This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for Get Out. TAYLOR SHERIDAN Wind River (Acacia Entertainment) Mr. Sheridan’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Christopher H. Warner First Assistant Director: Nicolas Harvard Second Assistant Director: Jason Altieri Second Second Assistant Director: Kristina Massie This is Mr. Sheridan’s first DGA Award nomination. AARON SORKIN Molly’s Game (STX Entertainment) Mr. Sorkin’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Stuart M. Besser, Michael Beugg (Los Angeles Unit) Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bart Lipton (Los Angeles Unit) First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic Second Assistant Directors: Penny Charter, Travis Rehwaldt (New York Unit), Paula Case (Los Angeles Unit) Second Second Assistant Directors: Conor Griff (New York Unit), Drew Ritson (New York Unit), Bryan Snodgrass (Los Angeles Unit) Location Manager: Dena Ghieth (New York Unit) This is Mr. Sorkin’s first DGA Award nomination.

    Read more


  • 141 Scores in Contention for Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards

    [caption id="attachment_23776" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]Battle Of The Sexes BATTLE OF THE SEXES[/caption] 141 scores from eligible feature-length films released in 2017 have qualified to be nominated in the Original Score category for the 90th Academy Awards. To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs or any music not composed specifically for the film by the submitting composer, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible. Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title: “Alien: Covenant,” Jed Kurzel, composer “All I See Is You,” Marc Streitenfeld, composer “All the Money in the World,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Annabelle: Creation,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Band Aid,” Lucius, composer “Battle of the Sexes,” Nicholas Britell, composer “Baywatch,” Christopher Lennertz, composer “Beauty and the Beast,” Alan Menken, composer “The Big Sick,” Michael Andrews, composer “Blade Runner 2049,” Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer, composers “The Book of Henry,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Born in China,” Barnaby Taylor, composer “The Boss Baby,” Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, composers “Boston,” Jeff Beal, composer “Brad’s Status,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” Jeff Herriott and S. Craig Zahler, composers “The Breadwinner,” Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna, composers “Breathe,” Nitin Sawhney, composer “Brigsby Bear,” David Wingo, composer “Brimstone & Glory,” Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin, composers “Captain Underpants The First Epic Movie,” Theodore Shapiro, composer “Cars 3,” Randy Newman, composer “The Circle,” Danny Elfman, composer “Coco,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Cries from Syria,” Martin Tillman, composer “A Cure for Wellness,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Darkest Hour,” Dario Marianelli, composer “Despicable Me 3,” Heitor Pereira, composer “The Disaster Artist,” Dave Porter, composer “A Dog’s Purpose,” Rachel Portman, composer “Downsizing,” Rolfe Kent, composer “Drawing Home,” Ben Holiday, composer “Dunkirk,” Hans Zimmer, composer “Earth: One Amazing Day,” Alex Heffes, composer “A Fantastic Woman,” Matthew Herbert, composer “The Fate of the Furious,” Brian Tyler, composer “Father Figures,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Ferdinand,” John Powell, composer “Fifty Shades Darker,” Danny Elfman, composer “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool,” J. Ralph, composer “First They Killed My Father,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, composers “Get Out,” Michael Abels, composer “A Ghost Story,” Daniel Hart, composer “Gifted,” Rob Simonsen, composer “The Glass Castle,” Joel P. West, composer “Going in Style,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Good Time,” Daniel Lopatin, composer “Goodbye Christopher Robin,” Carter Burwell, composer “Gook,” Roger Suen, composer “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Tyler Bates, composer “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” Atli Ӧrvarsson, composer “Hostiles,” Max Richter, composer “Human Flow,” Karsten Fundal, composer “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” Jeff Beal, composer “It,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer “Jane,” Philip Glass, composer “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Henry Jackman, composer “Justice League,” Danny Elfman, composer “Kepler’s Dream,” Patrick Neil Doyle, composer “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson, composers “Kong: Skull Island,” Henry Jackman, composer “LA 92,” Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, composers “LBJ,” Marc Shaiman, composer “Lady Bird,” Jon Brion, composer “Lake of Fire,” Qutub-E-Kripa, composer “Last Flag Flying,” Graham Reynolds, composer “The Lego Batman Movie,” Lorne Balfe, composer “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “The Leisure Seeker,” Carlo Virzì, composer “Let It Fall,” Mark Isham, composer “Life,” Jon Ekstrand, composer “Logan,” Marco Beltrami, composer “The Lost City of Z,” Christopher Spelman, composer “Loveless,” Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine, composers “Loving Vincent,” Clint Mansell, composer “The Man Who Invented Christmas,” Mychael Danna, composer “Mark Felt – The Man Who Brought Down the White House,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Marshall,” Marcus Miller, composer “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” Takatsugu Muramatsu, composer “Maudie,” Michael Timmins, composer “Molly’s Game,” Daniel Pemberton, composer “Moomins and the Winter Wonderland,” Łukasz Targosz, composer “The Mountain between Us,” Ramin Djawadi, composer “Mudbound,” Tamar-kali, composer “The Mummy,” Brian Tyler, composer “Murder on the Orient Express,” Patrick Doyle, composer “My Cousin Rachel,” Rael Jones, composer “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” Jun Miyake, composer “Okja,” Jaeil Jung, composer “Oklahoma City,” David Cieri, composer “The Only Living Boy in New York,” Rob Simonsen, composer “Only the Brave,” Joseph Trapanese, composer “Our Souls at Night,” Elliot Goldenthal, composer “Paris Can Wait,” Laura Karpman, composer “Patti Cake$,” Geremy Jasper and Jason Binnick, composers “Phantom Thread,” Jonny Greenwood, composer “The Pirates of Somalia,” Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau, composers “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” Geoff Zanelli, composer “The Post,” John Williams, composer “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,” Tom Howe, composer “The Promise,” Gabriel Yared, composer “Pulimurugan,” Gopi Sundar, composer “Raw,” Jim Williams, composer “Roman J. Israel, Esq.,” James Newton Howard, composer “Saban’s Power Rangers,” Brian Tyler, composer “Same Kind of Different as Me,” John Paesano, composer “The Second Coming of Christ,” Navid Hejazi, Ramin Kousha and Silvia Leonetti, composers “Served Like a Girl,” Michael A. Levine, composer “The Shack,” Aaron Zigman, composer “The Shape of Water,” Alexandre Desplat, composer “Slipaway,” Tao Liu, composer “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” Christopher Lennertz, composer “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Split,” West Dylan Thordson, composer “The Star,” John Paesano, composer “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” John Williams, composer “Step,” Laura Karpman and Raphael Saadiq, composers “Stronger,” Michael Brook, composer “Suburbicon,” Alexandre Desplat, composer “Swing Away,” Tao Zervas, composer “Thank You for Your Service,” Thomas Newman, composer “Their Finest,” Rachel Portman, composer “Thelma,” Ola Fløttum, composer “Thor: Ragnarok,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Carter Burwell, composer “Tickling Giants,” Paul Tyan, composer “Tommy’s Honour,” Christian Henson, composer “Trafficked,” David Das, composer “Transformers: The Last Knight,” Steve Jablonsky, composer “XXX: Return of Xander Cage,” Brian Tyler and Robert Lydecker, composers “Victoria & Abdul,” Thomas Newman, composer “Voice from the Stone,” Michael Wandmacher, composer “Wakefield,” Aaron Zigman, composer “War for the Planet of the Apes,” Michael Giacchino, composer “Wilson,” Jon Brion, composer “Wind River,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, composers “Wonder,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer “Wonder Woman,” Rupert Gregson-Williams, composer “Wonderstruck,” Carter Burwell, composer “Year by the Sea,” Alexander Janko, composer

    Read more


  • National Board of Review Announces 2017 Award Winners – THE POST, LADY BIRD, JANE and More…

    [caption id="attachment_24371" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Lady Bird by Greta Gerwig Lady Bird[/caption] The National Board of Review today named THE POST as Best Film of the Year, Greta Gerwig as Best Director of the Year for LADY BIRDFOXTROT for Best Foreign Language Film, and JANE for Best Documentary. NBR President Annie Schulhof said, “THE POST is a beautifully crafted film that deeply resonates at this moment in time. We are so thrilled to award it our best film as well as to honor the wonderfully talented Greta Gerwig as our Best Director.” The National Board of Review’s awards celebrate excellence in filmmaking with categories that include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Original and Adapted Screenplay, Breakthrough Performance, and Directorial Debut, as well as signature honors such as the Freedom of Expression and the NBR Spotlight Award. The honorees will be feted at the National Board of Review Awards Gala, hosted by Willie Geist, on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Cipriani 42nd Street. Below is a full list of the 2017 award recipients, announced by the National Board of Review: Best Film: THE POST Best Director: Greta Gerwig, LADY BIRD Best Actor: Tom Hanks, THE POST Best Actress: Meryl Streep, THE POST Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe, THE FLORIDA PROJECT Best Supporting Actress: Laurie Metcalf, LADY BIRD Best Original Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, PHANTOM THREAD Best Adapted Screenplay: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, THE DISASTER ARTIST Best Animated Feature: COCO Breakthrough Performance: Timothée Chalamet, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Best Directorial Debut: Jordan Peele, GET OUT Best Foreign Language Film: FOXTROT Best Documentary: JANE Best Ensemble: GET OUT Spotlight Award: WONDER WOMAN, Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot NBR Freedom of Expression Award: FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER NBR Freedom of Expression Award: LET IT FALL: LOS ANGELES 1982-1992

    Top Films

    BABY DRIVER CALL ME BY YOUR NAME THE DISASTER ARTIST DOWNSIZING DUNKIRK THE FLORIDA PROJECT GET OUT LADY BIRD LOGAN PHANTOM THREAD

    Top 5 Foreign Language Films

    A FANTASTIC WOMAN FRANTZ LOVELESS SUMMER 1993 THE SQUARE

    Top 5 Documentaries

    ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL BRIMSTONE & GLORY ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS FACES PLACES HELL ON EARTH: THE FALL OF SYRIA AND THE RISE OF ISIS

    Top 10 Independent Films

    BEATRIZ AT DINNER BRIGSBY BEAR A GHOST STORY LADY MACBETH LOGAN LUCKY LOVING VINCENT MENASHE NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER PATTI CAKE$ WIND RIVER

    Read more


  • LITTLE CRUSADER Wins Best Film at 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_23047" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Director Václav Kadrnka, photo credit: Jan Handrejch Director Václav Kadrnka, 52nd Karlovy Vary IFF[/caption] The awards were presented at the closing ceremony of the 52nd Karlovy Vary IFF, and the fatherhood drama Little Crusader by Václav Kadrnka was awarded the Grand Prize – Crystal Globe and $25,000. The directing prize was won by Slovak filmmaker Peter Bebjak, who was presenting his film The Line at the festival. In the competition East of the West, the road movie How Viktor “the Garlic” took Alexey “the Stud” to the Nursing Home by Russian director Alexander Hant won that award. The award for best feature-length documentary went to the Spanish film Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle. And the Právo Audience Award was awarded to the American crime drama taking place on a Native American reservation Wind River starring Jeremy Renner. The 53rd Karlovy Vary IFF will be held from June 29th to July 7th, 2018.

    OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION

    GRAND PRIX – CRYSTAL GLOBE (25 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. Little Crusader Directed by: Václav Kadrnka Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Italy, 2017 SPECIAL JURY PRIZE (15 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. Men Don’t Cry Directed by: Alen Drljević Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, 2017 BEST DIRECTOR AWARD Peter Bebjak for the film The Line Slovak Republic, Ukraine, 2017 BEST ACTRESS AWARD Jowita Budnik and Eliane Umuhire ex-aequo for their roles in the film Birds Are Singing in Kigali Directed by: Joanna Kos-Krauze, Krzysztof Krauze Poland, 2017 BEST ACTOR AWARD Alexander Yatsenko for his role in the film Arrhythmia Directed by: Boris Khlebnikov Russia, Finland, Germany, 2017 SPECIAL JURY MENTION For the best First Feature Film Keep the Change Directed by: Rachel Israel USA, 2017 SPECIAL JURY MENTION For the Best Newcomer Voica Oltean, actress Breaking News Directed by: Iulia Rugin Romania, 2017 EAST OF THE WEST – COMPETITION EAST OF THE WEST GRAND PRIX (15 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. How Viktor “the Garlic” Took Alexey “the Stud” to the Nursing Home Directed by: Alexander Hant Russia, 2017 EAST OF THE WEST SPECIAL JURY PRIZE (10 000 USD) The financial award is shared equally by the director and producer of the award-winning film. Dede Directed by: Mariam Khatchvani Georgia, Qatar, Ireland, Netherlands, Croatia, 2017 DOCUMENTARY FILMS – COMPETITION GRAND PRIX FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM (5 000 USD) The financial award goes to the director of the award-winning film. Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle Directed by: Gustavo Salmerón Spain, 2017 DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL JURY PRIZE Atelier de conversation Directed by: Bernhard Braunstein Austria, France, Liechtenstein, 2017 PRзVO AUDIENCE AWARD Wind River Directed by: Taylor Sheridan USA, 2016 CRYSTAL GLOBE FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD CINEMA Ken Loach, United Kingdom CRYSTAL GLOBE FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD CINEMA Paul Laverty, United Kingdom CRYSTAL GLOBE FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD CINEMA James Newton Howard, USA FESTIVAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD Uma Thurman, USA FESTIVAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD Casey Affleck, USA FESTIVAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD Jeremy Renner, USA FESTIVAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO CZECH CINEMATOGRAPHY Václav Vorlíček, Czech Republic NON-STATUTORY AWARDS AWARD OF INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS (FIPRESCI) Awarded by The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Keep the Change Directed by: Rachel Israel USA, 2017 THE ECUMENICAL JURY AWARD The Cakemaker Directed by: Ofir Raul Graizer Israel, Germany, 2017 FEDEORA AWARD Awarded by the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean (FEDEORA) to the best film from the East of the West – Competition Mariţa Directed by: Cristi Iftime Romania, 2017 Special Mention Blue Silence Directed by: Bülent Öztürk Turkey, Belgium, 2017 EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AWARD For the best European film in the Official Selection – Competition and in the East of the West – Competition. Men Don’t Cry Directed by: Alen Drljević Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, 2017 THE WINNERS OF WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARD AND EURIMAGES LAB PROJECT AWARD @ KVIFF WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARD @ KVIFF At the 14th edition of Works in Progress @KVIFF, eight selected projects (plus one out of competition) were presented from a total of 77 submissions from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Greece and post-Soviet territories. The 2017 award, with a total value of EUR 100,000, includes post-production services at UPP and Soundsquare and a EUR 10,000 cash award from Barrandov Studio. Censor 80 min, Slovak Republic Directed by: Peter Kerekes Cast: Irina Alexandrovna, Jura Car, Ljubov Vassilina EURIMAGES LAB PROJECT AWARD @ KVIFF The Karlovy Vary IFF is one of four international festivals to present this award. The final eight projects were selected from 45 submitted projects from Eurimages countries that are currently in production or post-production, are being made outside the traditional filmmaking framework, and involve international co-operation. The best project receives an award of EUR 50,000. The Stand-In 70 min, Italy, France, Morocco Directed by: RК di Martino Scriptwriter: RК di Martino Producer: Marco Alessi Camera: Gianclaudio Giacomini, Giulio Squillacciotti, Hasnae el Ouarga Cast: Valeria Gollino, Filippo Timi, Corrado Sassi, Younes Bouad, Nadia Kounda, Nisrine Adam Image: Director Václav Kadrnka, photo credit: Jan Handrejch

    Read more


  • THE BIG SICK and MONKEY BUSINESS Win Top Awards at Nantucket Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_20114" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Big Sick The Big Sick[/caption] The Big Sick, written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani and based on their real-life, cross-cultural relationship, and directed by Michael Showalter, was awarded Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 22nd annual Nantucket Film Festival. The atmospheric Native American reservation-set mystery Wind River, written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, is runner up. Monkey Business: The Curious Adventures of George’s Creators, directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki is the winner of theAudience Award for Best Documentary Feature, and Joe Kean’s Holocaust-focused After Auschwitz: The Stories of Six Women is the runner up. Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson’s study of human vulnerability, Ten Meter Tower, is the winner of the Audience Award for Best Short film, and Tom Scott and Dan Honan’s inspirational portrait, The Illumination, is the runner-up. NFF also announced the winner of the Adrienne Shelly Foundation Excellence in Filmmaking Award, a $5,000 grant to an emerging female filmmaker in honor of writer, director, and actor Adrienne Shelly and her contributions to film. This year’s recipient is Alexandra Dean, director of Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, which focuses on the Hollywood star’s groundbreaking but under-acknowledged work as an inventor. In the Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competition, which recognizes the best-unproduced screenplays and television pilots by emerging writers, Moon Molson’s Johnny Ace received the top prize as the winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition. The Episodic Screenplay nods went to Tesia Walker’s for The Line and to Kaitlin Fontana for Casey Can’t. The Short Screenplay Competition was won by Rajiv Shah, with Jesse Wang and Robert Berg for The Yao Of Tao. Moon Molson’s Johnny Ace follows two Houston homicide detectives as they investigate the seemingly accidental death of a popular R&B singer in 1954. Molson received a $5000 cash prize, VIP access to this year’s Festival, a bound copy of his script, and an exclusive spot in the Screenwriters Colony writers retreat on Nantucket for the entire month of October. The Showtime Tony Cox Award for Episodic 60 Minute Pilot, The Line by Tesia Walker, is set in a small South Carolina historically black university, in the early 1960s. Walker received a $1000 cash prize, as well as a consultation with a Showtime executive. The Half-Hour Episodic Screenplay winner, Casey Can’t by Kaitlin Fontana, is a dark comedy that tells the story of a flawed writer being blackmailed into managing a hipster music blog by its man-child owner. Fontana receives a $1000 cash prize, a consultation with a Showtime executive, and one of only four slots in the Screenwriters Colony: Episodic Comedy, a two-week immersive writing and mentorship program on Nantucket earlier this month. The Short Screenplay Competition winner, The Yao Of Tao by Rajiv Shah, with Jesse Wang and Robert Berg, follows a Chinese caregiver for a Isaac, a dying cancer patient as he finds himself at odds with Isaac’s estranged daughter. Shah receives a $500 cash prize. The Festival’s Teen View Jury Award, selected by a group of Nantucket junior high school students, went to Game, written and directed by Jeannie Donohoe. “We were thrilled to present Nantucket audiences with a diverse offering of films and special events celebrating the craft of screenwriting and storytelling,” said Mystelle Brabbee, Executive Director of the Nantucket Film Festival and Basil Tsiokos, Film Program Director of the Nantucket Film Festival. “We are thankful to our audiences and to all of the screenwriters and filmmakers who shared their work with us this year.” Actor, writer, director, producer and NFF Board Member Ben Stiller hosted the Screenwriters Tribute Awards from the Siaconset Casino on Friday, June 23rd. Director and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Tom McCarthy accepted the Screenwriting Tribute Award, given to him by Emmy Award®-winning actor Bobby Cannavale. Ground-breaking television creators and Emmy®-nominated writing team Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane (“Friends,” “Mad About You,” “Episodes”) received the Creative Impact in Television Writing Award, presented to them by “Episodes” actress Kathleen Rose Perkins. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield (NFF Centerpiece Film (Whitney. “can I be me”) accepted the A&E Special Achievement in Documentary Storytelling Award, presented to him by journalist Regina Weinreich, while the New Voices in Screenwriting Award was presented to Geremy Jasper (NFF Spotlight Film Patti Cake$) by comedian, actress, and performer Bridget Everett.

    Read more


  • Uma Thurman and Jeremy Renner to Receive Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s President’s Award

    Uma Thurman
    Uma Thurman (Asatur, dp)

    Actor Jeremy Renner, and actress Uma Thurman will be presented with the President’s Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

    Read more


  • THE SQUARE Wins Palme d’Or at 70th Cannes Film Festival, Sofia Coppola, Joaquin Phoenix, Diane Kruger Win Awards

    [caption id="attachment_22468" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Square by Ruben Östlund The Square by Ruben Östlund[/caption] The Square by Ruben Östlund is the winner of the Palme d’Or at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Other award winners include Best Director for Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled; Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really Here by Lynne Ramsay; and Best Actress for Diane Kruger in In The Fade by Fatih Akin.

    2017 Cannes Film Festival Awards

    Feature Films – Competition

    Palme d’Or The Square directed by Ruben Östlund Christian is the respected curator of a contemporary art museum, a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is “The Square”, an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, it is difficult to live up to your own ideals: Christian’s foolish response to the theft of his phone drags him into shameful situations. Meanwhile, the museum’s PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for ”The Square”. The response is overblown and sends Christian, as well as the museum, into an existential crisis. 70th Anniversary Award Nicole Kidman The 70th Anniversary Award was awarded by Will Smith. “I feel blessed to be able to work in this profession. The 70th celebration was incredible; it was the celebration of cinema and stories.” – Nicole Kidman, Video from Nashville, Tennessee – Grand Prix 120 BPM – Beats Per Minute (Battements Par Minute) directed by Robin Campillo Early 1990s. With AIDS having already claimed countless lives for nearly ten years, Act up-Paris activists multiply actions to fight general indifference. Nathan, a newcomer to the group, has his world shaken up by Sean, a radical militant, who throws his last bits of strength into the struggle. “This film can be thought of as a tribute to those who died and especially those who are living, who fought, were subjected to harsh treatment and who put their life on hold during this time. People are never as fine or as strong as when they come together. – Robin Campillo – Best Director Prize Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled The Beguiled is a thriller from acclaimed writer/director Sofia Coppola. The story unfolds during the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school. Its sheltered young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events. “I like to thank my father, who taught me to write and how to be a film director, and my mother, for teaching me how to be an artist. Thanks as well to Jane Campion, for being a role model and inspiring women to be directors.” -Sofia Coppola – Best Performance By An Actor Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really Here directed by Lynne Ramsay A missing teenage girl. A brutal and tormented enforcer on a rescue mission. Corrupt power and vengeance unleash a storm of violence that may lead to his awakening. Best Performance By An Actress Diane Kruger in In The Fade (Aus Dem Nichts) directed by Fatih Akin Katja’s life collapses after the death of husband and son in a bomb attack. After the time of mourning and injustice, here comes the time of revenge. “Fatih, my brother, thank you for having believed in me; you gave me a strength that I never believed I could possess. I can’t receive this award without thinking of those who have been victims of terrorism. Please know that you are not forgotten.” – Diane Kruger – Jury Prize Loveless (Nelyubov) directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev Boris and Zhenya are going through a divorce. Arguing constantly, and in the process of selling their apartment, they are already preparing for their new lives: Boris with his younger, pregnant girlfriend and Zhenya with the wealthy lover who is keen to get married. Neither seems interested in their 12-year-old son Alyosha. Until he disappears. “I’d like to thank all the members of the Jury, and one in particular: Will Smith. He really exists!” – Andrey Zvyagintsev – Best Screenplay (tie) Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou for The Killing Of A Sacred Deer Lynne Ramsay for You Were Never Really Here

    Short Films – Competition

    Palme d’Or A Gentle Night (Xiao Cheng Er Yue) directed by Qiu Yang Special Distinction By The Jury The Ceiling (Katto) directed by Teppo Airaksinen The Palme d’or and the Jury Special Mention for Shorts Films were awarded by Uma Thurman and Cristian Mungiu.

    Un Certain Regard

    Un Certain Regard Prize A Man of Integrity (Lerd) directed by Mohammad Rasoulof Reza (35), having distanced himself from the ur- ban quagmire, leads a simple life along with his wife and sole son, somewhere in a remote village in Northern Iran. He spends his days working in his gold fish farm. Nearby, a private company with close links to the government and local authori- ties, has taken control of nearly every aspect of the regional life. Its shareholders, accumulating wealth, power and economic rents, have been pushing local farmers and small owners to dilap- idate their belongings, farms and estates, to the benefit of the Company’s influential net- work and its monopoly. It is under their pressure that many villagers have them- selves become local rings of the larger network of corruption.  Prize For Best Actress Jasmine Trinca for Fortunata directed by Sergio Castellitto Fortunata has a difficult life, a daughter of eight and a failed marriage behind her. She works as a hairdresser in people’s houses, leaving from the outskirts to cross the city, going to the homes of the well-off to do women’s hair. Fortunata fights every day with determination to achieve her dream: opening her own salon and challenging fate, in an attempt at emancipating herself and gaining her independence and the right to some happiness. She knows that to achieve her dreams she has to be firm: she has thought of everything, she is ready for anything, but she had not considered the variable of love, the one subversive force capable of sweeping aside every certainty. Also because, perhaps for the first time, someone looks at her as the woman she is and truly loves her. Prize For The Best Prize For The Best Poetic Narrative Barbara directed by Mathieu Amalric An actress, Brigitte, is playing Barbara in a film that soon begins shooting. Brigitte works on her character, her voice, the songs and scores, the imitation of her gestures, her knitting, the lines to learn. Things move along. The character grows inside her. Invades her, even… Yves, the director, is also working – via encounters, archival footage, the music. He seems inhabited and inspired by her… But by whom? The actress or Barbara? Prize For Best Direction Taylor Sheridan for Wind River WIND RIVER is a chilling thriller that follows a rookie FBI agent who teams up with a local game tracker with deep community ties and a haunted past to investigate the murder of a local girl on a remote Native American Reservation in the hopes of solving the mysterious death. Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, WIND RIVER also stars Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Julia Jones, Kelsey Asbille, and James Jordan. Jury Prize April’s Daughter (Las Hijas de Abril) directed by Michel Franco Valeria is 17 and pregnant. She lives in Puerto Vallarta with Clara, her half-sister. Valeria has not wanted her long-absent mother, April, to find out about her pregnancy, but due to the economic strain and the overwhelming responsibility of having a baby in the house, Clara decides to call their mother. April arrives, willing to help her daughters, but soon it will be clear why Valeria had kept her away.

    CAMÉRA D’OR

    Jeune Femme (Montparnasse Bienvenüe) directed by Léonor Serraille presented as part of UN Certain Regard

    Cinefondation

    First Prize Paul Is Here (Paul Est Lå ) directed by Valentina Maurel INSAS, Belgium Second Prize AniMal (Heyvan) directed by Bahram & Bahman Ark Iranian National School of Cinema, Iran Third Prize Two Youths Died (Deux Égares Sont Morts) directed by Tommaso Usberti La Fémis, France The CST Jury decided to award the Vulcain Prize for Artist-Technician to: Josefin Asberg for her remarkable artistic contribution to match the inventiveness of the film The Square.

    Read more