More than 200 films have been selected to screen at the 13th Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF), which takes place February 19-28, 2016, in downtown Missoula, Montana. Continuing a 10-year tradition, the festival kicks off on Friday, February 19th with a free public screening of an upcoming feature from HBO Documentary Films. This year’s opener is MAVIS!, an intimate look at the life of gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers.
In addition to the lineup of new films, BSDFF welcomes Lucy Walker and Ondi Timoner, two hugely talented and influential directors, as retrospective artists. Walker, a British director whose films include features THE CRASH REEL and WASTE LAND, has earned more than 80 awards and two Academy Award nominations. BSDFF will screen her entire body of work, as well as a new virtual reality project. Timoner is the only two-time recipient of Sundances Grand Jury Prize, for the documentaries DIG! and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC. Seven of her films will be screened during the 10-day festival, including her 2015 film, BRAND: A SECOND COMING, about the actor, comedian and activist Russell Brand. Walker and Timoner will be among the many filmmakers in attendance, offering festival goers the chance to engage in post-screening Q&As.
The full list of Official Selections.
The themes of impact” and change” are at the forefront of this years DOCSHOP, Big Sky’s filmmaking conference that takes place during the festival (February 22nd 26th). For five days, content creators from across the nation will come together and share their stories of making media that has proven to be a catalyst for positive change. In addition to helping visiting filmmakers hone their skills and develop their careers, DocShop offers the general public a fascinating look inside the business of documentary filmmaking. Filmmakers, activists, content creators and life-learners will engage in panels, workshops and works-in-progress review sessions from some of the most accomplished media-makers and industry professionals on the planet.-
More Than 200 films To Screen at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
More than 200 films have been selected to screen at the 13th Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF), which takes place February 19-28, 2016, in downtown Missoula, Montana. Continuing a 10-year tradition, the festival kicks off on Friday, February 19th with a free public screening of an upcoming feature from HBO Documentary Films. This year’s opener is MAVIS!, an intimate look at the life of gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers.
In addition to the lineup of new films, BSDFF welcomes Lucy Walker and Ondi Timoner, two hugely talented and influential directors, as retrospective artists. Walker, a British director whose films include features THE CRASH REEL and WASTE LAND, has earned more than 80 awards and two Academy Award nominations. BSDFF will screen her entire body of work, as well as a new virtual reality project. Timoner is the only two-time recipient of Sundances Grand Jury Prize, for the documentaries DIG! and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC. Seven of her films will be screened during the 10-day festival, including her 2015 film, BRAND: A SECOND COMING, about the actor, comedian and activist Russell Brand. Walker and Timoner will be among the many filmmakers in attendance, offering festival goers the chance to engage in post-screening Q&As.
The full list of Official Selections.
The themes of impact” and change” are at the forefront of this years DOCSHOP, Big Sky’s filmmaking conference that takes place during the festival (February 22nd 26th). For five days, content creators from across the nation will come together and share their stories of making media that has proven to be a catalyst for positive change. In addition to helping visiting filmmakers hone their skills and develop their careers, DocShop offers the general public a fascinating look inside the business of documentary filmmaking. Filmmakers, activists, content creators and life-learners will engage in panels, workshops and works-in-progress review sessions from some of the most accomplished media-makers and industry professionals on the planet.
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‘Son of Saul’ Wins Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film
Son of Saul continues its streak as the best foreign film of 2015, winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards. Son Of Saul, the winner of Grand Prix at the Cannes, Film Festival is the directorial debut of Lászlo Nemes. October 1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Saul Ausländer is a Hungarian member of Sonderkommando – the Jewish prisoners’ unit isolated from the rest of the camp. They are in charge of taking other prisoners to gas chambers and burning corpses. While working in one of the crematoriums, Saul finds the body of a boy and is convinced it is his son. Shaking off his lethargy, he decides to secretly arrange a real Jewish funeral for the boy. While other members of Sonderkommando are planning to rebel and escape, Saul takes upon himself the impossible mission of saving the boy’s body from the flames. To this end, he makes his way through the concentration camp in search of a rabi who would perform the ritual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwC9DsWyxQc
The winners at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards
Best motion picture, drama
“The Revenant”
Best motion picture, musical or comedy
“The Martian”
Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama
Brie Larson, “Room”
After winning the category of BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA for her role in “Room,” actress Brie Larson poses backstage in the press room with her Golden Globe Award at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA on Sunday, January 10, 2016.
Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, “Joy”
Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture
Sylvester Stallone, “Creed”
Best performance by actress in a supporting role in a motion picture
Kate Winslet, “Steve Jobs”
Best director, motion picture
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “The Revenant”
Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Matt Damon, “The Martian”
Best screenplay, motion picture
Aaron Sorkin, “Steve Jobs”
Best original score, motion picture
Ennio Morricone, “The Hateful Eight”
Best motion picture, animated
“Inside Out”
Best original song, motion picture
“Writing’s on the Wall,” “Spectre”
Best motion picture, foreign language
“Son of Saul”
Best television series, drama
“Mr. Robot,” USA
Best television series, musical or comedy
“Mozart in the Jungle,” Amazon Video
Best television limited series or motion picture made for television
“Wolf Hall,” PBS
Best performance by an actor in a television series, drama
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Best performance by an actor in a television series, musical or comedy
Gael García Bernal, “Mozart in the Jungle”
Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Oscar Isaac, “Show Me a Hero”
Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Christian Slater, “Mr. Robot”
Best performance by an actress in a TV series, drama
Taraji P. Henson, “Empire”
Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Maura Tierney, “The Affair”
Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Lady Gaga, “American Horror Story: Hotel”
Best performance by an actress in a television series, musical or comedy
Rachel Bloom, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
image: For BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM, the Golden Globe is awarded to “Son of Saul” (Hungary), directed by László Nemes. (L-R) Actors Levente Molnar and Geza Rohrig, director Laszlo Nemes, producers Gabor Sipos and Gabor Rajna pose with the award backstage in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA on Sunday, January 10, 2016.
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Nine New Films Added to Competition lineup of Berlin International Film Festival
Nine films have been added to the Competition lineup for the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival taking place February 11 to 21. The following films are to have their world or international premiere during the upcoming festival, and will compete for the Golden Bear and the Silver Bears.
Cartas da guerra (Letters from War)
Portugal
By Ivo M. Ferreira (Na Escama do Dragão)
With Miguel Nunes, Margarida Vila-Nova
World premiere
Ejhdeha Vared Mishavad! (A Dragon Arrives!)(pictured above)
Iran
By Mani Haghighi (Modest Reception, Men at Work)
With Amir Jadidi, Homayoun Ghanizadeh, Ehsan Goudarzi, Kiana Tajammol
International premiere
Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea) – documentary
Italy / France
By Gianfranco Rosi (Sacro GRA, El Sicario – Room 164)
World premiere
Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery)
Philippines / Singapore
By Lav Diaz (From What Is Before, Norte, the End of History, Melancholia)
With John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual, Hazel Orencio, Alessandra De Rossi, Joel Saracho, Susan Africa, Sid Lucero, Ely Buendia, Bernardo Bernardo, Angel Aquino, Cherie Gil
World premiere
Kollektivet (The Commune)
Denmark / Sweden / Netherlands
By Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt, Submarino, It’s All About Love)
With Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, Helene Reingaard Neumann, Marta Sofie Wallstrøm Hansen, Lars Ranthe, Fares Fares, Magnus Millang, Anne Gry Henningsen, Julie Agnete Vang
International premiere
L’avenir (Things to Come)
France / Germany
By Mia Hansen-Løve (Eden, Goodbye First Love, Father of My Children)
With Isabelle Huppert, Roman Kolinka, Edith Scob, André Marcon
World premiere
Quand on a 17 ans (Being 17)
France
By André Téchiné (Les Témoins)
With Sandrine Kiberlain, Kacey Mottet Klein, Corentin Fila, Alexis Loret
World premiere
Smrt u Sarajevu / Mort à Sarajevo (Death in Sarajevo)
France / Bosnia and Herzegovina
By Danis Tanović (An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, No Man’s Land)
With Jacques Weber, Snežana Vidović, Izudin Bajrović, Vedrana Seksan, Muhamed Hadžović, Faketa Salihbegović-Avdagić, Edin Avdagić
World premiere
Zjednoczone Stany Miłosci (United States of Love)
Poland / Sweden
By Tomasz Wasilewski (Floating Skyscrapers)
With Julia Kijowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Dorota Kolak, Marta Nieradkiewicz, Łukasz Simlat, Andrzej Chyra, Tomek Tyndyk
World premiere
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3 Filmmakers Win 2016 Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants
The three winners of the 2016 Spirit Awards filmmaker grants were unveiled at the annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch hosted by Uzo Aduba and Rami Malek. This year marks the 31st edition of the awards show that celebrates the best of independent film. Winners for the remaining categories will be revealed at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards in a tent at Santa Monica beach on Saturday, February 27.
“This year’s recipients of the Spirit Award cash grants are so talented and we’re thrilled to be able to support them in this way,” said Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent. “Our hope is that these unrestricted grants will enable the filmmakers to continue to make great and daring work.”
Mel Eslyn received the Piaget Producers Award. The award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The annual award, in its 19th year, includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget for the 9th year. Finalists for the award were Darren Dean, Rebecca Green and Laura D. Smith.
Felix Thompson, director of King Jack, received the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award. The award recognizes talented filmmakers of singular vision who have not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is in its 22nd year and includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851. Finalists for the award were Robert Machoian & Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck, directors of God Bless the Child, and Chloé Zhao, director of Songs My Brothers Taught Me.
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, director of Incorruptible, received the Truer Than Fiction Award. The award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not received significant recognition. The award is in its 21st year and includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Finalists for the award were Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi, directors of Among the Believers, and Elizabeth Giamatti and Alex Sichel, directors of A Woman Like Me.
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Spike Lee Documentary MICHAEL JACKSON’S JOURNEY FROM MOTOWN TO OFF THE WALL to Debut on Showtime
The Spike Lee documentary, MICHAEL JACKSON’S JOURNEY FROM MOTOWN TO OFF THE WALL, will make it’s television premiere on SHOWTIME on Friday, February 5th at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary film which will World Premiere at the upcoming 2016 Sundance Film Festival, focuses on a rarely examined chapter of Jackson’s career as he evolves from the lead singer of Jackson 5 to a solo artist recording what will become his breakthrough, seminal 1979 pop record, Off The Wall.
Audiences will travel with the global superstar as he strikes a new path with CBS Records, first with his brothers as The Jacksons and then stepping out on his own to create his own music with his own team. This illuminating portrait traces how an earnest, passionate, hard-working young man becomes the “King of Pop.”
MICHAEL JACKSON’S JOURNEY FROM MOTOWN TO OFF THE WALL contains a wealth of footage, including material from Michael’s personal archive, and in his own words. The documentary also includes interviews with prominent entertainment and sports stars including Lee Daniels, The Weeknd, Pharrell Williams, Kobe Bryant, Misty Copeland, Mark Ronson, John Legend, Questlove, L.A. Reid, and more, as well as his parents Katherine and Joe Jackson, and his brothers Jackie and Marlon Jackson. Off The Wall created a whole new category in pop music. Written by Michael Jackson, the first single from Off The Wall, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” earned Jackson his first Grammy(R) and was his first single to hit No. 1 in the U.S. and internationally as a solo artist. The album was an enormous commercial success; as of 2014 it is certified eight times platinum in the United States and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Off The Wall not only “invented pop music as we know it,” wrote Rolling Stone, it transcended music and entertainment altogether, becoming an important moment in African-American history.
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‘Carol’ Leads Nominations for BAFTA Awards
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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Films Featuring Tony Robbins, Pee-Wee Herman, Added to Lineup for 2016 SXSW Film Festival
Films featuring the return of Pee-wee, and an intimate behind-the-scenes experience with Tony Robbins, are among six newly added titles to the lineup for the 2016 SXSW Film Festival. SXSW Film 2016 will feature nine days of innovative and entertaining film screenings and five days of inspiring panels, hands-on workshops from March 11 to 19, 2016
New films added to lineup for 2016 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL
Beware the Slenderman
Director: Irene Taylor Brodsky
In this horrifyingly modern fairytale lurks an online Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. The entrance to the internet quickly leads to its darkest basement. How responsible are our children for what they find there? (World Premiere)
Chevalier (Greece)
Director: Athina Rachel Tsangari, Screenwriters: Efthimis Filippou, Athina Rachel Tsangari
Six men on a fishing trip on a luxury yacht decide to play a game to compete. Things will be compared. Things will be measured. Songs will be butchered, blood will be tested. Friends will become rivals and rivals will become hungry. Cast: Yorgos Kentros, Panos Koronis, Vangelis Mourikis, Makis Papadimitriou, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos, Sakis Rouvas.
Midnight Special
Director/Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
A father goes on the run to protect his young son and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers in the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, a film as supernatural as it is intimately human. Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher, Sam Shepard. (North American Premiere)
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
Director: John Lee, Screenwriters: Paul Reubens, Paul Rust
In Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, a fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny. Cast: Paul Reubens, Joe Manganiello, Jessica Pohly, Alia Shawkat, Stephanie Beatriz. (World Premiere)
Preacher
Directors: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Screenwriter: Sam Catlin
Preacher is a supernatural, twisted and darkly comedic drama that follows a West Texas preacher named Jesse Custer, who – along with his ex-girlfriend Tulip and an Irish vagabond named Cassidy – is thrust into a crazy world, much bigger than he is. Cast: Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Ian Colletti, W. Earl Brown, Lucy Griffiths. (World Premiere)
Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru
Director: Joe Berlinger
Granted unprecedented access, Berlinger captures renowned life and business strategist Tony Robbins behind the scenes of his mega seminar Date with Destiny, pulling back the curtain on this life-altering and controversial event, the zealous participants and the man himself. (World Premiere)
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“The Assassin” “Death By Death” “The Birth of Saké” Among Winners of Palm Springs International Film Festival
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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Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani to Co-Host Spirit Awards
Kate McKinnon (pictured above on Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters, Sisters) and Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley, The Big Sick, My Name is Doris) will co-host the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The 31st annual awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 27 with the premiere broadcast airing live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET.
The multiple Emmy nominee Kate McKinnon currently stars on the 41st season of Saturday Night Live, having joined the cast in April 2012. McKinnon received 2014 and 2015 Emmy nominations for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress’ in a Comedy Series for her work on SNL. McKinnon can be been seen in the upcoming films Ghostbusters and Masterminds. In addition, she has lent her voice to the upcoming feature film Angry Birds and animated series including The Simpsons and Family Guy.
Kumail Nanjiani is an actor, writer and comedian currently starring as ‘Dinesh’ on the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, which won the TV Critics Choice Award for ‘Best Comedy Series’ last year and has received several Emmy and Golden Globes nominations. Soon he will be playing the lead role in The Big Sick, a film he co-wrote with his wife Emily V. Gordon, produced by Judd Apatow and Barry Mendel and directed by Michael Showalter. Nanjiani’s many memorable comedic roles include the films The Five-Year Engagement (also produced by Apatow), Sex Tape and Hot Tub Time Machine 2. He will next be seen in the upcoming films Hello, My Name Is Doris, Central Intelligence, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Fist Fight.
Additionally, Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black, The Wiz Live!, American Pastoral) and Rami Malek (Mr. Robot, The Master, Short Term 12) will co-host the Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 9 at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood where they will announce Film Independent’s grant winners for 2016.
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Duplass Brothers’ Animated Series ANIMALS to Debut on HBO | TRAILER
ANIMALS, the independently produced and animated series, which made its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival will debut exclusively on HBO Friday, February 5th @ 11:30PM ET/PT. ANIMALS features the Voices of Rob Corddry, Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, Molly Shannon.
Created by Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano and produced by Duplass Brothers Television, ANIMALS. focuses on the downtrodden creatures native to Earth’s least-habitable environment: New York City. Whether it’s lovelorn rats, gender-questioning pigeons or aging bedbugs in the midst of a midlife crisis, the awkward small talk, moral ambiguity and existential woes of non-human urbanites prove startlingly similar to our own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN5hzUo5ccY
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‘Amy’ ‘The Look of Silence’ ‘Brooklyn’ Among Nominees for Producers Guild Awards
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced the nominations for the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards. All 2016 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on Saturday, January 23, 2016.
This year, the Producers Guild will also present special honors to Jim Gianopulos (Milestone Award), Shonda Rhimes (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), David Heyman (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), THE HUNTING GROUND (Stanley Kramer Award), and Industrial Light & Magic (Visionary Vanguard Award).
The theatrical motion picture nominees are:
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:
The Big Short
Producers: Brad Pitt & Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Bridge of Spies
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger
Brooklyn
Producers: Finola Dwyer & Amanda Posey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15syDwC000k
Ex Machina
This film is in the process of being vetted for producer eligibility
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcB7T-C0g8
Mad Max: Fury Road
Producers: Doug Mitchell & George Miller
The Martian
Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam
The Revenant
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon
Sicario
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Edward L. McDonnell, Molly Smith
Spotlight
Producers: Michael Sugar & Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagon Faust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgnrwwiIDlI
Straight Outta Compton
Producers: Ice Cube & Matt Alvarez, F. Gary Gray, Dr. Dre, Scott Bernstein
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
Anomalisa
Producers: Rosa Tran, Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman
The Good Dinosaur
Producer: Denise Ream
Inside Out
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Minions
Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy
The Peanuts Movie
Producers: Craig Schulz, Michael J. Travers
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
Amy
Producer: James Gay-Rees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yCIwmNuLE
The Hunting Ground
Producer: Amy Ziering
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBNHGi36nlM
The Look of Silence
Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp1xT302VcY
Meru
Producers: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pZ1GzXPEO8
Something Better to Come
Producers: Sigrid Dyekjær, Hanna Polak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhx9Vzx3AcI
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JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY Documentary to World Premiere at Sundance Film Fest and Debut on HBO
Brian Oakes’ documentary JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY, about the life, death and legacy of journalist James Foley, who was murdered by ISIS in 2014, will have its world premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, and will debut Saturday, February 6 on HBO.
On Thanksgiving Day 2012, American photojournalist James “Jim” Foley was kidnapped in Syria and went missing for two years before the infamous video of his public execution sent shockwaves and introduced much of the world to ISIS. JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY, by close childhood friend Brian Oakes, tells the story of his life through intimate interviews with his family, friends and fellow journalists – while fellow hostages reveal never-before-heard details of his captivity with a chilling immediacy that builds suspense. Made with unparalleled access, JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY is a harrowing chronicle of bravery, compassion and pain at the dawn of America’s war with ISIS.
“I made this film to carry on the stories that Jim needed us to know,” says director Brian Oakes. “It’s important that we understand the significant role of today’s conflict journalists and why they risk their lives to tell the world how bad it can be.”
The film will include the original song “The Empty Chair,” by Academy Award(R)-nominated artists J. Ralph and Sting.