Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody will receive the 2017 Leopard Club Award at the 70th Locarno Festival.
Locarno’s salute to Adrien Brody will include a screening of the film The Pianist and a meeting of the actor with the Festival public. Brody will receive the tribute of the Piazza Grande audience and the Festival on Friday August 4th.
Named after the Association which supports the Festival, the Leopard Club Award pays homage to a major film personality whose work has made a lasting impact on the collective imagination. Recipients from previous editions include Faye Dunaway (2013), Mia Farrow (2014), Andy Garcia (2015) and Stefania Sandrelli (2016).
Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Locarno Festival: “With a richly varied and still flourishing career, Adrien Brody has worked with some of the great American directors, from Coppola to Wes Anderson, from Malick to Soderbergh, always displaying the adaptability and technical skills that put him at ease in a remarkable spectrum of performing registers. All the same, this is also a classic case of a single performance which won him a lasting place in movie-lovers’ hearts, not so much for the Academy Award it brought him, as for the way he brought to life a character who is both a man like all of us and the symbol of a tragedy which we must constantly recall.”
In bestowing the Leopard Club Award on Adrien Brody, the Locarno Festival will recognize one of the most brilliant figures in American film, an Academy Award winner at the age of only 29. Brody gained a lasting place in the collective imagination of the movie-going public when he played composer Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist (2002), and has since demonstrated his status as one of the most versatile of actors, appreciated by filmmakers in Hollywood and beyond.
Born in New York City and son of Sylvia Plachy, an artist and acclaimed photographer, and Elliot Brody, a retired history professor, Brody was still a teenager when he made his acting debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s New York Stories (1989), before working with Steven Soderbergh (King of the Hill, 1993) and Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers, 1994). Shortly after, in two unforgettable pictures, Adrien Brody became the pain-stricken human face in the most dehumanized of all settings: war. His performances in Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line (1998) and The Pianist by Roman Polanski won over audiences by the sheer power of expression, often wordless, with which he conveyed the sufferings of being a man amid the darkness of conflict.
In a career of nearly 30 years, Brody has been both popular and critically admired by his ability to interpret a remarkable variety of roles, always capturing the gaze and appreciation of audiences. He struck intimate, psychological and social notes in Ken Loach’s U.S. debut Bread and Roses (2000) and Detachment (2011) by Tony Kaye, and went brilliantly over the top for Spike Lee in Summer of Sam (1999). Undaunted by the pace and spectacular scale of King Kong (Peter Jackson, 2005) and Predators (Nimród Antal, 2010), he also found a sophisticated, carefree register for director Wes Anderson, with whom he played Peter Whitman in The Darjeeling Limited (2007) and Dmitri in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Other filmmakers with whom Brody has worked include Barry Levinson (Liberty Heights, 1999), Paul Haggis (Third Person, 2013) and Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris, 2011).
The 70th Locarno Festival will be held from August 2nd to 12th, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAWhVP9YHYU-
Adrien Brody to Receive Locarno Festival’s 2017 Leopard Club Award
Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody will receive the 2017 Leopard Club Award at the 70th Locarno Festival.
Locarno’s salute to Adrien Brody will include a screening of the film The Pianist and a meeting of the actor with the Festival public. Brody will receive the tribute of the Piazza Grande audience and the Festival on Friday August 4th.
Named after the Association which supports the Festival, the Leopard Club Award pays homage to a major film personality whose work has made a lasting impact on the collective imagination. Recipients from previous editions include Faye Dunaway (2013), Mia Farrow (2014), Andy Garcia (2015) and Stefania Sandrelli (2016).
Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Locarno Festival: “With a richly varied and still flourishing career, Adrien Brody has worked with some of the great American directors, from Coppola to Wes Anderson, from Malick to Soderbergh, always displaying the adaptability and technical skills that put him at ease in a remarkable spectrum of performing registers. All the same, this is also a classic case of a single performance which won him a lasting place in movie-lovers’ hearts, not so much for the Academy Award it brought him, as for the way he brought to life a character who is both a man like all of us and the symbol of a tragedy which we must constantly recall.”
In bestowing the Leopard Club Award on Adrien Brody, the Locarno Festival will recognize one of the most brilliant figures in American film, an Academy Award winner at the age of only 29. Brody gained a lasting place in the collective imagination of the movie-going public when he played composer Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist (2002), and has since demonstrated his status as one of the most versatile of actors, appreciated by filmmakers in Hollywood and beyond.
Born in New York City and son of Sylvia Plachy, an artist and acclaimed photographer, and Elliot Brody, a retired history professor, Brody was still a teenager when he made his acting debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s New York Stories (1989), before working with Steven Soderbergh (King of the Hill, 1993) and Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers, 1994). Shortly after, in two unforgettable pictures, Adrien Brody became the pain-stricken human face in the most dehumanized of all settings: war. His performances in Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line (1998) and The Pianist by Roman Polanski won over audiences by the sheer power of expression, often wordless, with which he conveyed the sufferings of being a man amid the darkness of conflict.
In a career of nearly 30 years, Brody has been both popular and critically admired by his ability to interpret a remarkable variety of roles, always capturing the gaze and appreciation of audiences. He struck intimate, psychological and social notes in Ken Loach’s U.S. debut Bread and Roses (2000) and Detachment (2011) by Tony Kaye, and went brilliantly over the top for Spike Lee in Summer of Sam (1999). Undaunted by the pace and spectacular scale of King Kong (Peter Jackson, 2005) and Predators (Nimród Antal, 2010), he also found a sophisticated, carefree register for director Wes Anderson, with whom he played Peter Whitman in The Darjeeling Limited (2007) and Dmitri in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Other filmmakers with whom Brody has worked include Barry Levinson (Liberty Heights, 1999), Paul Haggis (Third Person, 2013) and Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris, 2011).
The 70th Locarno Festival will be held from August 2nd to 12th, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAWhVP9YHYU
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2017 Marrakech International Film Festival CANCELLED, Festival to Resume in 2018
The Foundation of the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) that organizes the Marrakech International Film Festival has decided to cancel 2017 edition of the festival, and resume in 2018.
In a statement, Sarim Fassi Fihri, vice president of the Marrakech International Film Festival said “The reflection on the future of the festival began a year ago, and our goal is to make it evolve and to better respond to the Moroccan and world audience with the digital tools and means of the 21st century, but also to meet expectations Of Moroccan professionals ”
Image via Facebook
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VIDEO: Watch Trailer for Award-Winning Indie Film SOME FREAKS, in Theaters on August 4
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SOME FREAKS[/caption]
The award winning indie film Some Freaks starring Thomas Mann (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL) and breakout Lily Mae Harrington (“The Glee Project”) will open in theaters and On Demand on August 4, 2017.
Some Freaks, written by, and the directorial debut of Ian MacAllister-McDonald, follows one-eyed high school senior Matt (Thomas Mann) who meets plus size Jill (Lily Mae Harrington) and falls more in love than he ever thought possible. However, when graduation comes and Jill moves cross-country to go to college, she undergoes a major physical transformation – much to Matt’s surprise when he arrives to visit her. While Matt struggles to accept Jill’s new look, Jill begins to question whether Matt is really the man she thought she knew. As the distance widens between them, the characters are forced to confront who they are, who they were, and who everyone thinks they’re supposed to be.
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CONTACT DANCE EVERY BODY Wins Gold Jury Award at Contact Dance International Film Festival
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Contact Dance Every Body by Olya Glotka[/caption]
Contact Dance Every Body by Olya Glotka danced away with the Gold Jury Award at the Contact Dance International Film Festival (CDIFF). The film features StopGap Foundation founder Luke Anderson as he dances using his wheelchair to gracefully lift his dance partner Laura Storey as they intertwine tenderly in the galleries of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Olya Glotka is a young, self-made filmmaker who is in search of ways to empower people and make the world a better place through the power of filmmaking and dance.
Parcon NYC #1: Subway Stops won the Silver Jury Award, filmed by Satoko Sugiyama, Martin Henson, and Parcon NYC. Capturing the story of an everyday subway ride home for a Latinx girl from the Bronx, the environment around her comes alive with dancers performing a genre that fuses parkour with contact dance improvisation called parcon.
Martin Henson and Satoko Sugiyama are independent filmmakers with hundreds of films and television commercials to their name. Parcon NYC is a collective of artists, movers and healers dedicated to inclusion and investigating human connection with others and place through weight sharing, balance and touch.
The Bronze Jury Award was awarded to Wake Me Up, a short film by Celine Poon. The film started as a school project at the International Baccalaureate school, Fairview International School in Kuala Lumpur after two young girls, Sonia and Leila, discovered contact dance improvisation. The result is a delightful and honest portrayal of friendship that is the epitome of contact dance improvisation all levels approach.
The CDIFF finishes up its third season today with a post-festival film workshop with Gold Jury award-winning filmmaker Olya Glotka and guests making dance films in various locations in High Park.
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Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott to Star, Keanu Reeves to Exec Produce GREEN DOLPHIN
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Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott[/caption]
Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott will lead the cast of Green Dolphin, written and directed by Chris Kenneally. The film is produced by Russell Geyser of RainMaker Films, Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman of Yale Productions, and Shruti Ganguly of Honto88. Keanu Reeves and Clay Pecorin serve as Executive Producers.
A dramatic coming-of-age road movie, Green Dolphin follows 15 year old Robinson (Tyler Dean Flores) and 20 year old Keesha (Justine Skye) as they venture cross-country in an attempt to escape the grasp of abusive foster parent and drug-dealer Martin (Seann William Scott). When they breakdown midway, Keesha and Robinson discover a new family that could turn their life around.
The film marks the narrative feature debut for writer/director Chris Kenneally. Kenneally previously directed the acclaimed feature documentary Side by Side, which featured interviews with iconic directors including Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, David Lynch and Richard Linklater. Keanu Reeves produced and narrated the film; Green Dolphin marks Reeves and Kenneally’s second collaboration.
Green Dolphin marks the feature film debut for rapidly rising R&B singer/songwriter Justine Skye. Signed to Roc Nation Records, Skye’s latest EP 8 Ounces combines the legendary songwriting skills of The Dream, award winning production of Tricky Stewart and Justine’s raw emotion and talent. Justine Skye is currently working on her debut album.
Lead actor Tyler Dean Flores previously appeared in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and in television series including Blindspot and Chicago Fire. Seann William Scott has starred in many iconic hit films including Role Models, The Rundown, Old School, T, the critically acclaimed Goon and the billion dollar comedy American Pie franchise. Scott will next be seen starring in the sequel Goon 2: Last of the Enforcers, coming out this September.
“I could not be more pleased to have Justine and Tyler on board to bring our central characters Keesha and Robinson to life on film,” commented Kenneally. “They are remarkably gifted rising talents, and I can’t wait to see them work opposite Seann William Scott, whose challenging role allows him to show off his dramatic chops.”
Executive Producer Keanu Reeves added, “Chris and I first started discussing the concept for Green Dolphin when we worked together on Side by Side. This a true passion project for me and Chris and we’re so thrilled to get started on production.”
Justine Skye is represented by SupaNova Management and MBK Entertainment. Tyler Dean Flores is represented by CESD. Seann William Scott Scott is represented by ICM Partners, 3 Arts, and legal firm Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
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Russian Film LOVELESS Wins Best International Film at Munich Film Festival
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Loveless[/caption]
The Russian film “Loveless” by Andrey Zvyagintsev won the ARRI / OSRAM Award for best international film, at the Munich Film Festival. “Loveless” tells the story of Boris and Zhenya, going through a cruel divorce full of hatred and mutual accusations. Both have already have found new partners and both want as quickly as possible to leave the past behind. The past includes their son Alyosha, who suddenly disappears without a trace. “Loveless” won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. A special mention was given to the Belgian film “Home” directed by Fien Troch.
The CineVision Award for the best international junior film was won by The Nothing Factory (A Fábrica de Nada) directed by Pedro Pinho. The jury commented “The film tells the story of a group factory workers who lose their jobs, but refuse to give up. The story is told in a very emphatic way, played and filmed, but to want without arousing cheap pity. The film provides no easy answers, but forces us thinking itself. It is a startling and highly entertaining form of agitprop for the 21st century.” A special mention was awarded to “Los Perros” by the Chilean director Marcela Said.
“Blind & Ugly” by Tom Lass won the FIPRESCI Prize 2017. The jury praised the balanced mix of drama, comedy and romance, as well as the successful occupation.
The audience prize went to the film “Still Young” by David Schlichter and Fabian Halbig. The film portrays the story of four boys from Dillingen who met each other at school and wanted to play German rock: the band Killerpilze.
The Children’s Film Festival Audience Award this year went to the team of directors Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer and Bin Han To for their animated film “Once Upon a Time … by Roald Dahl” ( “Revolting Rhymes“), co-produced by BBC and ZDF.
ONE FUTURE PRIZE is awarded to the Italian film Pure Hearts (Cuori Puri) . The jury justified its decision by saying, “. Roberto de Paolis complex debut film opened an intelligent and very touching look at the socio-political problems of contemporary Italy First seemingly only a love story about two young people from very different social backgrounds, taking the 1980 in Rome born director refugee issues increasingly into focus. “
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A BILLION COLOUR STORY Wins London Indian Film Festival | Trailer
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A Billion Colour Story[/caption]
A Billion Colour Story directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, won the coveted top prize, the Audience Award, at the 8th London Indian Film Festival.
In the film, Hari’s father Imran is Muslim, but is untethered by religion, as is his Hindu mother Parvati. They’re inspirational parents who are struggling to make their first feature film. Imran firmly believes that India is an incredible country that will always overcome its differences, but as mum and dad run into financial problems, the family has to downsize to rented apartments and come face-to-face with an onslaught of religious prejudices and corruption. As his disillusioned parents discuss whether to stay in the country they love or leave, Hari hatches his own secret plan to save the day.
Siddarth Chauhan’s PAPA is the winner of the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award that recognizes the best short in the short film competition category, and ANJALI PATIL is the winner the Outstanding Achievement Award for her role in black comedy NEWTON.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1nKB8k2Um8
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25 Independent Short Films in 2017 PBS Online Film Festival
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Black Hills Canyon Skating[/caption]
The Webby Award-nominated PBS Online Film Festival will return for a sixth year July 17 – July 28, 2017, featuring 25 short-form independent films.
Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite film to win the “Most Popular” award. And, for the first time ever, a panel of eight jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the “Juried Prize”.
Short films featured in the PBS Online Film Festival include:
CAAM
“It Is What It Is”
Digging deep into family history for answers to questions about his identity, Cyrus finds some things might be better off left in the past.
Detroit Public TV WTVS
“Periphery”
A woman gets a new lease on life when she meets someone less fortunate.
ITVS
“Guns on Campus”
Fifty years after the first recorded mass shooting in U.S. history took place at the University of Texas in Austin, a new “campus carry” law allows people to carry concealed handguns on all public university campuses in Texas.
KLRU
“The Secession”
A story about two Texas boys, a secession, and egg rolls.
“U R a Dial Tone”
A sign language interpreter is emotionally and physically sucked into her clients’ lives.
KTTZ
“Lockbox”
A girl receives a mysterious gift that will unravel secrets from the past.
Latino Public Broadcasting
“Amigas with Benefits”
Amigas with Benefits is a short dramedy about an elderly bride-to-be who nearly has her wedding day ruined by an uninvited guest.
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
“Last Light”
On the verge of her mother’s death, Addie returns home to shed light on her dark past.
“Si”
Si, a temperamental six-year-old, gets a goldfish after begging for a puppy.
NALIP
“Dad”
In the course of a difficult day, Maria, a creative young girl, and her hardworking father must discover a way to mend love and memories while confronting loss.
NBPC
“Kojo”
A short profile piece that showcases the charismatic and talented drummer Kojo Odu Roney. In this exclusive interview Kojo offers his thoughts on Jazz, being home-schooled, traveling and his biggest influence, his father Antoine Roney.
“You Can Go”
A high school administrator talks down a troubled student.
PIC
“Maria”
When a family crisis strikes, an ailing Polynesian matriarch must find the strength to lead her family one last time.
POV
“Our Voices Are Rarely Heard”
A visceral snapshot of how inmates survive solitary confinement.
Reel South
“A Thousand Midnights”
Chronicles the contemporary manifestation of the economic and social histories of Black Americans who came to the north during the Great Migration in search of economic opportunities. The implications of their migration, and the lack of economic opportunity they encountered, has far reaching consequences for Black America today.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
“Black Hills Canyon Skating”
While the Black Hills of South Dakota may lack the elevation and snow that makes for skiing, they make up for it with ice-providing intrepid winter explorers with miles of canyon streams on which to ice skate.
South Florida PBS
“SunGhosts”
A mini-documentary about SunGhosts, an up and coming indie rock band from Miami.
Twin Cities PBS
“Rogue Taxidermy Artist Sarina Brewer”
From goats with fishtails to cats with wings, Sarina Brewer celebrates animals in her art.
“Syrian Photographer Osama Esid”
Photographer Osama Esid seeks connection from his American neighbors to Syrian Refugees.
Vermont PBS
“The Collinwood Fire”
A news reporter and a filmmaker turn a 1908 elementary school fire into a media sensation.
“State Trooper”
A prisoner acts out his guilt, anger, and fear through dance.
Vision Makers Media
“Legacy”
Nikki Lowe’s journey of being a mother, daughter, sister, and Native warrior.
WHRO
“Our Nation”
An African-American boy in Norfolk, VA in 1915 confronts racism in The Birth of a Nation.
Wisconsin Public Television
“Little Man”
An animated spoken-word piece that tells Steven Rodriguez’s experiences of being an elder brother, son of a drug addicted mother and struggling but dedicated college student.
WORLD Channel
“Finding America: The Fresh Prince of Anacostia”
Kymone Freeman keeps his D.C. neighbors strong by helping them tell their stories.
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REVOLTING RHYMES Wins Children’s Film Festival Munich Audience Award | Trailer
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REVOLTING RHYMES: The babysitter listens to the wolf when he told her his story.[/caption]
Children’s Film Festival Audience Award at this year’s Filmfest Munich went to directors Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer and Bin Han To for their animated film REVOLTING RHYMES (ONCE UPON A TIME … TO ROALD DAHL).
Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and a few other classic fairy tales – tilted once in a big bag, shaken up and fished out again. What comes out are completely new stories. Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White are best friends and take matters into their own hands. Since capitulated even the big bad wolf. It is great fun to watch this confusion that have animated fans loving the Oscar-nominated directors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjOJaiWltYU
Other highlights of the young festival visitors have included Maria Novaros Tesoros ONLY ONE DAY by Martin Baltscheit, AMELIE RUNS by Tobias Wiemann and PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON by Michel Ocelot.
For adults and children, there were nine films, six short films and a meeting with the foley artist Max Bauer. An accompanying seminar for parents and educators about “horror and horror for children” and a technical discussion for filmmakers completed the program.
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SUMMER HOUSES (Sommerhäuser) Wins Top New German Cinema Awards at Munich Film Festival
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Summer Houses[/caption]
German young talents were awarded the coveted prize New German Cinema at the Munich Film Festival with Summer Houses (Sommerhäuser) winning two awards – Sonja Maria Kröner for Best Director; Philipp Worm and Tobias Walker for Best Production. In her debut film Kröner takes a trip back to the 1970s and is characterized in atmospheric images, the portrait of a family. It is 1976, the family community garden to the scene of absurd comic situations in the sweltering summer of the year.
Annika Meier was named Best Actress for her role in Arne Feldhusens techno trip “Magical Mystery or: the return of Karl Schmidt.” “In a wild troop of crazed stars of the DJ and techno scene, the center of grandiose of Charly Hübner is embodied, the actress Annika Meier projects through her tight, direct and serious game out, “said the jury.
Julia Langhof and Thomas Gerhold received the prize for Best Screenplay for “Lomo – The Language of Many Others.” The twins Karl and Anna are nearing graduation: While the ambitious Anna already pretty much know how their lives will pass, Karl devotes all his attention rather his blog “The language of many others”. There, he posts, among other things personal recordings of his own family, which Charles ratio represents to his father a test of endurance.
The winners Award New German Cinema 2017
Award New German Cinema: DIRECTOR (30,000 euros)
Sonja Maria Kröner for “Summer Houses”
Award New German Cinema: SPECTACLE (10,000 euros)
Annika Meier for “Magical Mystery or: the return of Karl Schmidt”
Award New German Cinema: SCRIPT (10,000 euros)
Julia Langhof and Thomas Gerhold for “Lomo – The Language of Many Others”
Award New German Cinema: PRODUCTION (20,000 euros)
Philipp Worm and Tobias Walker for “Summer Houses”
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GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, GLORY, DONKEYOTE Win Top Awards at Edinburgh International Film Festival
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God’s Own Country[/caption]
The Edinburgh International Film Festival today announced the Award Winners for this year’s 71st edition, with the winner of the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film going to British filmmaker Francis Lee’s directorial debut, God’s Own Country, which received its UK Premiere at the Festival. The Michael Powell Award honors imagination and creativity in British filmmaking.
The Michael Powell Jury said: “We present the Michael Powell Award to God’s Own Country, directed by Francis Lee, a film with a singularity of storytelling and consistency of vision. Assured direction with raw and endearing performances result in a film that has an authenticity that is both tender and brutal, a juxtaposition of landscape and emotion, which explores the question of what it means to be a man.”
Francis Lee said: “I am thrilled with this honor for God’s Own Country, especially when you consider the British films that have won before. After premiering at Sundance and Berlin it has been wonderful to see how the film has created a real resonance with people and that is why the Michael Powell Award feels so brilliant.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1YAhyU6-tA
The award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film went jointly to actresses Emily Beecham for her role in Daphne and Anne Reid for her roles in Kaleidoscope and Romans, and was also selected by the Michael Powell jurors.
The Michael Powell Jury said: “In the category of Best Performance in a British Feature Film, the Michael Powell Jury recognizes two actors, Emily Beecham and Anne Reid, portraying fascinating, complex and flawed characters who didn’t strive for your affection but commanded your attention – real in the best sense of the word.”
The award for Best International Feature Film went to Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov’s Glory, which received its UK Premiere at this year’s Festival.
The International Jury said: “Deftly acted, beautifully photographed and directed, we loved this film. The subtlety of the performances and the story-telling was defined with such a lightness of touch which led to the immoral and moral choices having a heavy impact on this Jury.”
Petar Valchanov said: “It is a great honor for us to receive this award from Edinburgh International Film Festival, which has been preserving the traditions of good cinema the longest and carrying them over the generations. This award is a recognition not only for us, but also for Bulgarian cinema, which is currently on the rise again. Thank you for being there!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fmm7i05z88
The award for Best Documentary Feature Film went to Chico Pereira’s contemplative Donkeyote, which studied Pereira’s uncle whose wonderful spirit of adventure belies all of his 73 years. Special mention was given to Thomas Riedelsheimer’s Leaning Into The Wind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ8j7WRE63A
Chico Pereira said: “On behalf of the entire Donkeyote team I’d like to say thank you so much for this recognition. For some of us who live or lived in Edinburgh, it holds an extra special meaning: our formative cinema experiences have been with EIFF, and just to return for our UK premiere is an honor in itself. I dedicate this also to my family, and in particular Manolo and Gorrión who teach us how to be truly modern and to enjoy life.”
The award for Best Short Film went to The Full Story, directed by Daisy Jacobs, with Kevin Pickering’s Close to the Bone and Gordon Napier’s 1745 receiving a special mention from the jurors.
Daisy Jacob’s said: “It is an honor to receive the Best Short Film Award from such a prestigious Festival, we are delighted.”
Voted for by the Festival audience, the McLaren Award for Best British Animation, this year went to Paloma Baeza’s Poles Apart.
The winner of this year’s EIFF Works in Progress and recipient of the £2,500 award is Piano to Zanskar by Michal Sulima.
Michal Sulima said: “We are delighted to have been selected for the EIFF Works in Progress award this year. It was a real privilege to be part of the showcase and to pitch our documentary to an audience full of industry professionals, which resulted in a number of meetings and expressions of interest. It’s only fair to say that we were heartily impressed by the quality of all the films presented, so the award comes to us as a great surprise! Given that our film has been entirely self-funded, it will go a long way towards helping us reach completion. We’re very grateful to the wonderful team at the EIFF for giving us this opportunity.”
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VIDEO: Watch Trailer for Netflix Docu Series DAUGHTERS OF DESTINY
Netflix has released the trailer for the documentary series Daughters of Destiny directed by Oscar(R) winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, set to launch globally on July 28, 2017.
Daughters of Destiny is a 4-part Netflix original documentary series that chronicles the lives of five girls from Indian families who are among the so-called “Dalit” caste and most impoverished communities in the world. The series witnesses the girls grow up (ranging in age from 7 to 23 over the course of the 4 episodes) while they are raised at Shanti Bhavan, a unique co-ed residential school in Tamil Nadu. The expectation for these girls and all the children who attend Shanti Bhavan is that they must grow up to support themselves, lift their families and communities out of poverty and contribute to the larger world.
Directed by Academy Award(R) winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth (Freeheld, Best Documentary Short, 2007), the series highlights the struggle of students as they strive to define themselves, re-define gender and class and create a new future for the generations that will come after them. The strength and power of the girls’ own storytelling and dramatic experiences over the 7 years of filming from the gates of Shanti Bhav, into their homes brings viewers through their stories of family, love, loss, hard work and courage. An original music score by Academy Award(R) and Emmy winning composer A.R Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 2008), punctuates this emotional journey.
As we watch them grow up, they travel between home and school, and are forced to navigate the stark contrasts between family traditions and their modern and global views and knowledge. Daughters of Destiny highlights the journey of a generation of children on the precipice of a new life that is inconceivable to their ancestors, and brings into question the notions of fate, free will and the human longing for opportunity, purpose and meaning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49QEQsNUj0