The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival highlights the works of Indigenous filmmakers and artists, from veteran Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki), who comes to TIFF with the provocative and emotional Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger, to relative newcomer Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Sámi/Blackfoot/Blood), with The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open.
Director Mati Diop has received the honor of being the inaugural recipient of the Mary Pickford Award supported by MGM, to be presented at the TIFF Tribute Gala on Monday, September 9 at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. The award, named in honor of Toronto native Mary Pickford, recognizes an emerging female talent who is making groundbreaking strides in the industry. Pickford was the pioneering actor, producer, and Co-Founder of United Artists, and the award is being launched in conjunction with United Artists’ centennial this year. The creation of the award follows TIFF’s continued commitment to championing women and diverse voices in front of and behind the camera.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory will open the Miami Film Festival’s fall season extension, Miami Film Festival GEMS 2019, scheduled for October 10 to 13, at MDC’s Tower Theater Miami.
The European Film Academy announced the 46 films on this year’s EFA Feature Film Selection, the list of feature-length fiction films recommended for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2019. With 31 European countries represented, the list illustrates the great diversity in European cinema.
The international premiere of the film The Song of Names, starring Tim Roth, Catherine McCormack and Clive Owen, will close the Official Selection at San Sebastian Festival’s 67th edition, out of competition, on September 28. The Canadian François Girard, screenwriter of Le violon rouge (The Red Violin, 1998), Silk (Soie, 2007) and Boychoir (2014), directs this drama set against a historical and musical backdrop, with a soundtrack by Howard Shore.
Film at Lincoln Center announced its holiday series, a career-spanning retrospective of Agnès Varda, the most comprehensive survey to date of the late filmmaker’s vast canon, opening December 20 and presented in partnership with Janus Films.
Costa-Gavras, a French filmmaker of Greek origin, will receive the second Donostia Award at the 67th edition of the San Sebastian Festival which, with this distinction, applauds the militant cinema of the author of movies including Z, Missing and Capital, with which he competed for the Golden Shell in 2012.
For its 15th edition, the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) which will take place September 12-15, 2019 throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine, will present 38 features, 50 short films, and 16 virtual reality and immersive experiences from over 35 countries. More than half of the feature films are presented as major premieres, including the US Premiere of Alex Gibney’s Citizen K.
Writer-director Miles Doleac (Demons, Hallowed Ground) is in production on his latest film, The Dinner Party, described as a wickedly delish slice of horror that’s part Guto Parente’s The Cannibal Club, part Mother, and all scares!
Actors Regina Hall, David Oyelowo and Yvette Nicole Brown will share their creative journeys as they headline the 10th BronzeLens Film Festival (BronzeLens), taking placeAugust 21 to 25, 2019.
Filmmaker Aaron Schimberg’s Chained For Life which World Premiere at BAM cinemaFEST 2018 will open in theaters in New York on September 11 at IFC Center and in Los Angeles, September 13 at Landmark Nuart, followed by national rollout. Chained For Life stars Jess Weixler, Adam Pearson, Charlie Korsmo, Sari Lennick and Stephen Plunkett
HollyShorts Film Festival announced their top prizes for their landmark 15th year with “Balloon,” starring PEN15’s Jonah Beres and The League’s Paul Scheer, taking home the Best Short Film Grand Prix.