Gravity
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 10 films remaining in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 86th Oscars.
Film Review: LENNY COOKE
Arguably the most disappointing story I can relate to basketball wise, that of Lenny Cooke, is one marred by bad decision, misguidance, and maybe what I would call serendipity. The fortunate mistake in it all is the example that his experience has and can be for generations to come. A legendary NYC hardcourt story, at one time Lenny Cooke was defined by his talent level and beyond anything else the potential of what he could do for others. Knowing him personally, I can remember the attention he garnered walking into the room let alone putting the ball in the basket. Such a charismatic individual, admittedly so his goal was to appease never to self-reflect.
Spike Jonze’s HER Named Best Film of 2013 by National Board of Review
HER, directed by Spike Jonze
The National Board of Review has named HER the 2013 Best Film of the Year. “Spike Jonze is one of the most talented and visionary filmmakers working today,” said Annie Schulhof, NBR President. “In HER, he explores the age-old themes of love and human connection in a completely fresh and innovative way. It is an outstanding achievement that is sure to become a new classic.”
The National Board of Review honors diverse members of the film community at their annual Awards Gala, which also acts as a fundraiser for student grant philanthropy. Hosted by Lara Spencer, this year’s gala will take place on January 7, 2014 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Films in U.S. and World Competitions, NEXT Unveiled for 2014 Sundance Film Festival
Camp X-Ray / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Peter Sattler)
Sundance Film Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary, unveiled the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and the out-of-competition NEXT <=> section of the 2014 festival taking place, January 16 to 26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. For the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, 118 feature-length films were selected from 4,057 feature-length films submissions.
Robert Redford, President & Founder of Sundance Institute said, “That the Festival has evolved and grown as it has over the past 30 years is a credit to both our audiences and our artists, who continue to find ways to take risks and open our minds to the power of story. This year’s films and artists promise to do the same.”
TIFF Reveals Canada’s Top Ten Films of 2013
ASPHALT WATCHES, Shayne Ehman and Seth Scriver
Toronto International Film Festival announced Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival feature film selections for 2013, and Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival short film selections for 2013 that will screen in the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival. The 10-day festival runs January 3 to 12, 2014 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
New York Film Critics Circle 2013 Awards; AMERICAN HUSTLE Voted Best Film
AMERICAN HUSTLE
The New York Film Critics Circle voted AMERICAN HUSTLE directed by David O. Russell as the Best Feature Film of 2013. AMERICAN HUSTLE also won the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Lawrence. Steve McQueen snagged Best Director for 12 YEARS A SLAVE, and Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION won the award for Best First Film.
15 Documentary Features Advance in 2013 Oscar Race
FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 86th Oscars . One hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Slamdance Film Festival Unveils 2014 Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition Lineup
The Slamdance Film Festival taking place from January 17th to 23rd, 2014 in Park City, Utah, announced their Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition programs for its 20th Festival season. From over 5,000 submissions, the lineup includes 10 narrative and 8 documentary films, including 11 World Premieres, 4 North American, and 1 US Premiere. All competition films are feature film directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without US distribution.
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, THE ACT OF KILLING, FRUITVALE STATION Among 2013 Gotham Independent Award Winners
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Joel & Ethan Coen’s INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS won the award for Best Feature Film at the 23rd Gotham Independent Film Award held in New York City. Joshua Oppenheimer’s THE ACT OF KILLING won the award for Best Documentary. FRUITVALE STATION also snagged two awards, Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award for director Ryan Coogler and Breakthrough Actor for Michael B. Jordan. In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes were given to actor Forest Whitaker, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s Katherine Oliver, director Richard Linklater and the late actor James Gandolfini.
THE LUNCHBOX Lead Nominations for 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival
THE LUNCHBOX
Ritesh Batra’s award-winning film THE LUNCHBOX, lead the nominations for the 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival with six nods including Best Film and Best Director. In THE LUNCHBOX, a mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. The awards for the Asia-Pacific Film Festival (APFF), an annual event hosted by the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific (FPA), will be announced on December 15, 2013, in Macau.
Monsters University and Frozen Lead Nominations for 41st Annie Awards
A Letter to Momo
Monsters University (Pixar Animation Studios) and Frozen (Walt Disney Animation Studios) lead the nominations for the 41st Annual Annie Awards, each with 10 nods, including Best Animated Feature. The slate of nominations for Best Animated Features also include: A Letter to Momo (GKIDS), Despicable Me 2 (Universal Pictures), Ernest & Celestine (GKIDS), The Croods (DreamWorks Animations), The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli and The Walt Disney Studios).
British Film FILTH Eyeing Spring 2014 U.S. Release | WATCH Trailer
Magnolia Pictures is eyeing a U.S. theatrical release in the spring of 2014 for the British film FILTH, described as a pitch black comedy based on the novel by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting). Golden Globe nominee James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Last King of Scotland) leads a stellar ensemble cast, including Jamie Bell (Nymphomaniac, Snowpiercer), Imogen Poots (A Late Quartet), Eddie Marsan (“Ray Donovan”), Shirley Henderson (Anna Karenina, Trainspotting) and Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent (Cloud Atlas, The Iron Lady). FILTH was written and directed by Jon S. Baird.