Lula, The Son of Brazil to open in NY on January 13

Lula, The Son of Brazil to open in NY on January 13

Lula, The Son of Brazil, directed by Oscar nominee Fábio Barreto (Quatrilho) and chosen as Brazil’s entry to the 2011 Academy Awards, will open in New York at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and Quad Cinemas on January 13, 2012. A national release will follow. Based on the book by Denise Paraná, Lula, The Son of Brazil is a richly produced, deeply moving story of the early years of Brazil’s most beloved president, Luis Inacio Lula da […]

Filmmakers Ian Olds and Paul Felten Win $15,000 SFFS Hearst Screenwriting Grant

Filmmakers Ian Olds and Paul Felten Win $15,000 SFFS Hearst Screenwriting Grant

  Ian Olds and Paul Felten have been selected to receive this year’s $15,000 San Francisco Film Society/Hearst Screenwriting Grant for the continuing development of their script The Western Habit. Additionally, Jason Cortland received an honorable mention commendation for his script Lumberjunkies. “The SFFS/Hearst Screenwriting Grant comes at a crucial moment in the life of our script The Western Habit,” noted cowriter Olds. “The film is at a tipping point and this grant will allow […]

Daughters of the Dust and Reality Bites to screen at 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Daughters of the Dust and Reality Bites to screen at 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Daughters of the Dust (1991) and Reality Bites (1994) have been selected for the From the Collection screenings at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Both titles are part of The Sundance Collection at UCLA (The Collection), a film preservation program designed to archive work that has been supported by a Sundance Institute program. The Festival takes place January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Daughters of the Dust […]

Christopher Plummer to be honored by Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Christopher Plummer to be honored by Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Academy Award® nominee Christopher Plummer will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s highest honor, the Modern Master Award. The Modern Master Award is the highest honor presented by SBIFF. Established in 1995, it was created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through his/her multi-faceted accomplishments in the motion picture industry. Past recipients include Michael Douglas, Jodie Foster, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Diane Keaton, Sean Penn, Jeff Bridges, Peter Jackson, George Clooney, Will […]

The Artist Tops 69th Golden Globes Awards nominations

The Artist Tops 69th Golden Globes Awards nominations

The Flowers of War

The Artist continues to dominate award season, snagging 6 nods when the 69th Golden Globes Awards nominations were announced this morning. Another Weinstein Company release, My Week With Marilyn, received 3 nominations.  The Flowers of War, In The Land of Blood and Honey, The Kid With A Bike, A Separation, and The Skin I Live In all received 1 nomination for Best Foreign Film.

The 69th Golden Globes Awards nominations

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
THE DESCENDANTS
THE HELP
HUGO
THE IDES OF MARCH
MONEYBALL
WAR HORSE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
GLENN CLOSE     ALBERT NOBBS
VIOLA DAVIS     THE HELP
ROONEY MARA     THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
MERYL STREEP     THE IRON LADY
TILDA SWINTON     WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
GEORGE CLOONEY     THE DESCENDANTS
LEONARDO DICAPRIO     J. EDGAR
MICHAEL FASSBENDER     SHAME
RYAN GOSLING     THE IDES OF MARCH
BRAD PITT     MONEYBALL

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
50/50
THE ARTIST
BRIDESMAIDS
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JODIE FOSTER     CARNAGE
CHARLIZE THERON     YOUNG ADULT
KRISTEN WIIG     BRIDESMAIDS
MICHELLE WILLIAMS     MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
KATE WINSLET     CARNAGE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JEAN DUJARDIN     THE ARTIST
BRENDAN GLEESON     THE GUARD
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT     50/50
RYAN GOSLING     CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.
OWEN WILSON     MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
CARS 2
PUSS IN BOOTS
RANGO

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE FLOWERS OF WAR     (CHINA)
(Jing Ling Shi San Chai)
IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY     (USA)
GK Films; FilmDistrict
THE KID WITH A BIKE     (BELGIUM)
(Le Gamin au Velo)
A SEPARATION     (IRAN)
(Jodaeiye Nader az Simin)
THE SKIN I LIVE IN     (SPAIN)
(La piel que habito)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
BERENICE BEJO     THE ARTIST
JESSICA CHASTAIN     THE HELP
JANET MCTEER     ALBERT NOBBS
OCTAVIA SPENCER     THE HELP
SHAILENE WOODLEY     THE DESCENDANTS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
KENNETH BRANAGH     MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
ALBERT BROOKS     DRIVE
JONAH HILL     MONEYBALL
VIGGO MORTENSEN     A DANGEROUS METHOD
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER     BEGINNERS

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
WOODY ALLEN     MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
GEORGE CLOONEY     THE IDES OF MARCH
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS     THE ARTIST
ALEXANDER PAYNE     THE DESCENDANTS
MARTIN SCORSESE     HUGO

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
WOODY ALLEN     MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON     THE IDES OF MARCH
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS     THE ARTIST
ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH     THE DESCENDANTS
STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN     MONEYBALL

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
LUDOVIC BOURCE     THE ARTIST
ABEL KORZENIOWSKI     W.E.
TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS     THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
HOWARD SHORE     HUGO
JOHN WILLIAMS     WAR HORSE

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“HELLO HELLO” — GNOMEO & JULIET
Music by: Elton John; Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
“THE KEEPER” — MACHINE GUN PREACHER
Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell
“LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN” — ALBERT NOBBS
Music by: Brian Byrne; Lyrics by: Glenn Close
“THE LIVING PROOF” — THE HELP
Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr.; Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas
“MASTERPIECE” — W.E.
Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry {jathumbnail off}

14 Films Selected for Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions at 2012 Berlin International Film Festival

14 Films Selected for Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions at 2012 Berlin International Film Festival

This is early, but fourteen films have been selected for the international program in the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival to be held February 9 thru 19, 2012. Generation Kplus: Kauwboy (Netherlands, by Boudewijn Koole) – A young jackdaw falls out of its nest straight into Jojo’s hands. The 10-year-old feels great empathy for the baby bird, which has no mother and is looking for a loving […]

Take Shelter and The Tree of Life Top 2011 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

Take Shelter and The Tree of Life Top 2011 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

The 2011 Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2011 awards were announced today and The Tree of Life and Take Shelter were the biggest winners. Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” won Best Picture, and Malick was named Best Director; and also honored with two TFCA awards was “Take Shelter”: Michael Shannon won Best Actor, and Jessica Chastain was named Best Supporting Actress. The TFCA honored two films by Chilean directors: “Mysteries of Lisbon” was named Best […]

Project Nim and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Nominated for Phoenix Film Critics Society 2011 Annual Awards

Project Nim and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Nominated for Phoenix Film Critics Society 2011 Annual Awards

The Phoenix Film Critics Society announced the nominees for the 2011 Annual Awards. The winner in each category will be announced on Tuesday, December 27, 2011. The Artist, My Week With Marilyn had multiple nominations including Best Film. Incendies, Point Blank and The Skin I Live In were each nominated for Best Foreign Film; and African Cats, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Page One: Inside the New York Times, and Project Nim were nominated for […]

Brad Pitt to be honored with Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

Brad Pitt to be honored with Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

The 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present two-time Academy Award® nominee Brad Pitt with the Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award for his lead role in Moneyball and his supporting role in The Tree of Life. “Brad Pitt consistently mesmerizes audiences with the depth and versatility of his performances.  He has the rare ability to interpret and capture the most complicated facets of human nature, infusing his roles with strength and emotion,” […]

Palestinian film, Habibi, Wins Top Prizes at 2011 Dubai International Film Festival

Palestinian film, Habibi, Wins Top Prizes at 2011 Dubai International Film Festival

“Habibi,” a story of forbidden love, and the first fiction feature set in Gaza in over 15 years was the big winner at the 2011 Dubai International Film Festival. Habibi received the awards for Muhr Arab Feature – Best Film :Susan Youssef (Director), Muhr Arab Feature – Best Actress :Maisa Abd Elhadi (Actor / Actress), Muhr Arab Feature – Best Editor :Susan Youssef (Editor, FIPRESCI Arab Feature :Susan Youssef (Director), and Muhr Arab Feature – […]

My Week with Marilyn and The Artist Nominated for multiple SAG Awards

My Week with Marilyn and The Artist Nominated for multiple SAG Awards

Nominees for the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® were announced this morning in Los Angeles and the Help led with four nominations. My Week with Marilyn and The Artist received multiple nominations including a nomination for best motion picture ensemble for The Artist.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012.

18th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DEMIÁN BICHIR / Carlos Galindo – “A BETTER LIFE” (Summit Entertainment)
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King – “THE DESCENDANTS” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / J. Edgar Hoover – “J. EDGAR” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JEAN DUJARDIN / George – “THE ARTIST” (The Weinstein Company)
BRAD PITT / Billy Beane – “MONEYBALL” (Columbia Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
GLENN CLOSE  / Albert Nobbs – “ALBERT NOBBS” (Roadside Attractions)
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark – “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MERYL STREEP / Margaret Thatcher – “THE IRON LADY” (The Weinstein Company)
TILDA SWINTON / Eva – “WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Marilyn Monroe – “MY WEEK WITH MARILYN” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
KENNETH BRANAGH / Sir Laurence Olivier – “MY WEEK WITH MARILYN” (The Weinstein Company)
ARMIE HAMMER / Clyde Tolson – “J. EDGAR” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JONAH HILL / Peter Brand – “MONEYBALL” (Columbia Pictures)
NICK NOLTE / Paddy Conlon – “WARRIOR” (Lionsgate)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER / Hal – “BEGINNERS” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
BÉRÉNICE BEJO / Peppy – “THE ARTIST” (The Weinstein Company)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote – “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan – “BRIDESMAIDS” (Universal Pictures)
JANET McTEER / Hubert Page – “ALBERT NOBBS” (Roadside Attractions)
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson – “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
BÉRÉNICE BEJO / Peppy
JAMES CROMWELL / Clifton
JEAN DUJARDIN / George
JOHN GOODMAN / Al Zimmer
PENELOPE ANN MILLER / Doris

BRIDESMAIDS (Universal Pictures)
ROSE BYRNE / Helen
JILL CLAYBURGH / Annie’s Mom
ELLIE KEMPER / Becca
MATT LUCAS  / Gil
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan
WENDI McLENDON-COVEY / Rita
CHRIS O’DOWD / Rhodes
MAYA RUDOLPH / Lillian
KRISTEN WIIG / Annie

THE DESCENDANTS (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
BEAU BRIDGES / Cousin Hugh
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King
ROBERT FORSTER / Scott Thorson
JUDY GREER  / Julie Speer
MATTHEW LILLARD  / Brian Speer
SHAILENE WOODLEY  / Alexandra King

THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD / Hilly Holbrook
ALLISON JANNEY / Charlotte Phelan
CHRIS LOWELL / Stuart Whitworth
AHNA O’REILLY / Elizabeth Leefolt
SISSY SPACEK / Missus Walters
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson
MARY STEENBURGEN / Elaine Stein
EMMA STONE / Skeeter Phelan
CICELY TYSON / Constantine Jefferson
MIKE VOGEL / Johnny Foote

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Sony Pictures Classics)
KATHY BATES / Gertrude Stein
ADRIEN BRODY / Salvador Dali
CARLA BRUNI / Museum Guide
MARION COTILLARD / Adriana
RACHEL McADAMS / Inez
MICHAEL SHEEN / Paul
OWEN WILSON / Gil  {jathumbnail off}

10 live action short films in the running for 84th Academy Awards

10 live action short films in the running for 84th Academy Awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 84th Academy Awards®. One hundred seven pictures had originally qualified in the category. The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company: “Je Pourrais Être Votre Grand-Mère (I Could Be Your Grandmother),” Bernard Tanguy, director-producer (Rézina Productions)“Love at First Sight,” Michael Davies, director and Sandra […]