Philippa Kowarsky, executive producer of 2021 Sundance winner “Flee,” has been appointed commissioning editor of prestigious documentary brand BBC Storyville.
Kowarsky’s focus will be identifying and co-producing outstanding original documentary feature films from around the world. She will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
Kowarsky joins the BBC from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997 and where she is currently MD. At Cinephil she represented and oversaw a diverse slate of films including Joshua Oppenheimer and Christine Cynn’s BAFTA winning “The Act of Killing” and Alexander Nanau’s Academy and BAFTA and Oscar nominated “Collective.”
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s, “Flee,” which Kowarsky executive produced, won the grand jury prize in the world cinema documentary section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was in the official selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Kowarsky’s credits also include Dror Moreh’s Oscar nominated “The Gatekeepers...
Kowarsky’s focus will be identifying and co-producing outstanding original documentary feature films from around the world. She will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
Kowarsky joins the BBC from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997 and where she is currently MD. At Cinephil she represented and oversaw a diverse slate of films including Joshua Oppenheimer and Christine Cynn’s BAFTA winning “The Act of Killing” and Alexander Nanau’s Academy and BAFTA and Oscar nominated “Collective.”
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s, “Flee,” which Kowarsky executive produced, won the grand jury prize in the world cinema documentary section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was in the official selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Kowarsky’s credits also include Dror Moreh’s Oscar nominated “The Gatekeepers...
- 8/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has appointed Philippa Kowarsky to the role of Commissioning Editor of Storyville, the org’s international documentary strand.
Kowarsky joins from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997. During her time at the company she worked on films including the BAFTA winning The Act Of Killing and the Oscar nominated Collective. Kowarsky has also worked as a producer on the Oscar nominated The Gatekeepers, the Emmy winning Night Will Fall, and the Sundance award winner Flee.
At the BBC she will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film. Her focus will be identifying and co-producing doc features from around the world.
Storyville’s Jo Lapping has been upped to Head of Factual Acquisitions, reporting to Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition. Lapping will acquire both documentary films and factual programming for the BBC, working closely with Kowarsky.
Philippa Kowarsky said: “Crossing over from Cinephil,...
Kowarsky joins from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997. During her time at the company she worked on films including the BAFTA winning The Act Of Killing and the Oscar nominated Collective. Kowarsky has also worked as a producer on the Oscar nominated The Gatekeepers, the Emmy winning Night Will Fall, and the Sundance award winner Flee.
At the BBC she will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film. Her focus will be identifying and co-producing doc features from around the world.
Storyville’s Jo Lapping has been upped to Head of Factual Acquisitions, reporting to Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition. Lapping will acquire both documentary films and factual programming for the BBC, working closely with Kowarsky.
Philippa Kowarsky said: “Crossing over from Cinephil,...
- 8/12/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
To put it mildly, Werner Herzog has his own take on things, so it comes as no surprise that one of the most recent projects by the prolific international director does not follow the rules of normal political biography. Over a six-month period, and without a prepared script, Herzog conducted three interviews with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that covered a multitude of topics, some of it geopolitical, much of it personal, and more than a little of it highly idiosyncratic. That’s not to say Herzog takes his subject lightly: Gorbachev was instrumental in German reunification in the late 1980s, a subject very close to the Munich-born director’s heart, and this issue is raised in a film that covers a lot of ground, from Gorbachev’s rise in the Communist Party, to dealing with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, to negotiating with U.S. President Ronald Reagan over the nuclear arms race,...
- 10/27/2018
- by Damon Wise
- Variety Film + TV
Festival doc activity included the Marche’s Doc Corner and a buzzy Doc Day that welcomed European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
The Cannes L’Œil d’or (Golden Eye) documentary award has been presented to Stefano Savona’s Samouni Road.
The $5,900 priz is presented by Lascam (the French-speaking authors’ society) and its president, Julie Bertuccelli, in collaboration with the Cannes Film Festival, with the support of Ina (French National Audiovisual Institute) and, new for this year, Audiens.
The jury – headed by director Emmanuel Finkiel – praised the Directors’ Fortnight entry for its “intelligent way of filming, the right distance in its point of view,...
The Cannes L’Œil d’or (Golden Eye) documentary award has been presented to Stefano Savona’s Samouni Road.
The $5,900 priz is presented by Lascam (the French-speaking authors’ society) and its president, Julie Bertuccelli, in collaboration with the Cannes Film Festival, with the support of Ina (French National Audiovisual Institute) and, new for this year, Audiens.
The jury – headed by director Emmanuel Finkiel – praised the Directors’ Fortnight entry for its “intelligent way of filming, the right distance in its point of view,...
- 5/20/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Kew Media Group has picked up international rights to six non-fiction films for Cannes including documentary Nothing Like A Dame, about the lives and careers of Brit actresses Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith. Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and produced by Sally Angel (Night Will Fall) and Karen Steyn (Looking For Audrey), executive producers are Sally Angel and Debbie Manners for Field Day and Anthony Wall for the BBC.
Also new to the roster is Sam Rockwell-narrated One Million American Dreams, a history of the final resting place of over one million of New York’s unclaimed dead directed by Brendan J. Byrne (Bobby Sands: 66 Days); The Last Animals, an exposé on the crisis of the killing of African elephants and rhinos; Dealt, winner of the SXSW Audience Award for best documentary feature, about Richard Turner, one of the world’s great card...
Also new to the roster is Sam Rockwell-narrated One Million American Dreams, a history of the final resting place of over one million of New York’s unclaimed dead directed by Brendan J. Byrne (Bobby Sands: 66 Days); The Last Animals, an exposé on the crisis of the killing of African elephants and rhinos; Dealt, winner of the SXSW Audience Award for best documentary feature, about Richard Turner, one of the world’s great card...
- 4/30/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Werner Herzog collaborator Spring Films plots ambitious project.
UK documentary producer and director André Singer (The Act Of Killing) has revealed he is working on an ambitious new project about iconic former Russian statesman Mikhail Gorbachev and his role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Singer, the regular Werner Herzog collaborator who produces under the banner of London-based Spring Films, unveiled the project – titled The Enigma Of Mikhail Gorbachev – as one of the central pitches at Sunny Side Of The Doc (Ssd) on Tuesday (June 20).
The feature documentary and series will focus on Gorbachev’s six-year reign as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Cpsu) from 1985 to 1991, during which time his policies of “glasnost” (openness) and “perestroika” (restructuring) hastened the dissolution of the Soviet Union, fall of Russian-style communism and the end of the Cold War.
“There’s a surprising amount of material about Gorbachev in film but there has not been...
UK documentary producer and director André Singer (The Act Of Killing) has revealed he is working on an ambitious new project about iconic former Russian statesman Mikhail Gorbachev and his role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Singer, the regular Werner Herzog collaborator who produces under the banner of London-based Spring Films, unveiled the project – titled The Enigma Of Mikhail Gorbachev – as one of the central pitches at Sunny Side Of The Doc (Ssd) on Tuesday (June 20).
The feature documentary and series will focus on Gorbachev’s six-year reign as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Cpsu) from 1985 to 1991, during which time his policies of “glasnost” (openness) and “perestroika” (restructuring) hastened the dissolution of the Soviet Union, fall of Russian-style communism and the end of the Cold War.
“There’s a surprising amount of material about Gorbachev in film but there has not been...
- 6/20/2017
- ScreenDaily
History-focused 28th edition of documentary and factual content event runs June 19-22 in La Rochelle.
Upcoming documentaries exploring the life of Mikhail Gorbachev, the space race and Jackie Kennedy’s anti-segregationist work will be among the projects being presented at this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc (Ssd) this year.
The 28th edition of the documentary and factual content market and conference, running June 19-22 on the historic docks of the picturesque French port town of La Rochelle, is putting the onus on history this year.
The focus is in keeping with Ssd’s four-year cycle alternating the annual theme between history, science, human interest and wildlife. But the fact the history theme falls this year is also timely, comments founding director Yves Jeanneau.
“The phrase ‘reinventing history’ sums up what’s going on at the moment. We’re witnessing a renewal and rejuvenation in the way history is being told, both in terms...
Upcoming documentaries exploring the life of Mikhail Gorbachev, the space race and Jackie Kennedy’s anti-segregationist work will be among the projects being presented at this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc (Ssd) this year.
The 28th edition of the documentary and factual content market and conference, running June 19-22 on the historic docks of the picturesque French port town of La Rochelle, is putting the onus on history this year.
The focus is in keeping with Ssd’s four-year cycle alternating the annual theme between history, science, human interest and wildlife. But the fact the history theme falls this year is also timely, comments founding director Yves Jeanneau.
“The phrase ‘reinventing history’ sums up what’s going on at the moment. We’re witnessing a renewal and rejuvenation in the way history is being told, both in terms...
- 6/20/2017
- ScreenDaily
Us producer and director delivered a keynote at the festival today.
In his keynote address at the Winston Baker Film Financing Forum today (May 19), an ebullient Brett Ratner revealed just how he rescued Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant when it went over budget; why he will soon be returning to directing; his plans to enter the TV business in a major way; and why he thinks Vr is ideal for porn.
Ratner isn’t just a filmmaker whose own movies have grossed over $2bn. He’s also a prolific producer and film financier - and a co-founder of RatPac Entertainment together with Australian businessman James Packer.
“Nobody really in Hollywood can figure out how I did this. They don’t understand,” Rattner said of his unlikely metamorphosis from director into “mogul” (a description he hates). His friend and Rush Hour star Jackie Chan calls him “the luckiest motherfucker in the world”.
“There had never...
In his keynote address at the Winston Baker Film Financing Forum today (May 19), an ebullient Brett Ratner revealed just how he rescued Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant when it went over budget; why he will soon be returning to directing; his plans to enter the TV business in a major way; and why he thinks Vr is ideal for porn.
Ratner isn’t just a filmmaker whose own movies have grossed over $2bn. He’s also a prolific producer and film financier - and a co-founder of RatPac Entertainment together with Australian businessman James Packer.
“Nobody really in Hollywood can figure out how I did this. They don’t understand,” Rattner said of his unlikely metamorphosis from director into “mogul” (a description he hates). His friend and Rush Hour star Jackie Chan calls him “the luckiest motherfucker in the world”.
“There had never...
- 5/19/2017
- by [email protected] (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Us producer and director delivered a keynote at the festival today.
In his keynote address at the Winston Baker Film Financing Forum today (May 19), an ebullient Brett Ratner revealed just how he rescued Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant when it went over budget; why he will soon be returning to directing; his plans to enter the TV business in a major way; and why he thinks Vr is ideal for porn.
Ratner isn’t just a filmmaker whose own movies have grossed over $2bn. He’s also a prolific producer and film financier - and a co-founder of RatPac Entertainment together with Australian businessman James Packer.
“Nobody really in Hollywood can figure out how I did this. They don’t understand,” Rattner said of his unlikely metamorphosis from director into “mogul” (a description he hates). His friend and Rush Hour star Jackie Chan calls him “the luckiest motherfucker in the world”.
“There had never...
In his keynote address at the Winston Baker Film Financing Forum today (May 19), an ebullient Brett Ratner revealed just how he rescued Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant when it went over budget; why he will soon be returning to directing; his plans to enter the TV business in a major way; and why he thinks Vr is ideal for porn.
Ratner isn’t just a filmmaker whose own movies have grossed over $2bn. He’s also a prolific producer and film financier - and a co-founder of RatPac Entertainment together with Australian businessman James Packer.
“Nobody really in Hollywood can figure out how I did this. They don’t understand,” Rattner said of his unlikely metamorphosis from director into “mogul” (a description he hates). His friend and Rush Hour star Jackie Chan calls him “the luckiest motherfucker in the world”.
“There had never...
- 5/19/2017
- by [email protected] (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Next month, Netflix has a wide variety of films — modern to classic, animated to horror, Oscar winners to new indies — and we’ve picked seven that you should watch once they’re made available on the streaming service, either for the first time or as part of a nostalgic binge. Enjoy.
Read More: Kristen Stewart And Juliette Binoche Dig Into Their Complex ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ Relationship – Watch
1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (available February 1)
The 1993 stop-motion classic directed by Henry Slick and produced by Tim Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington, a resident from Halloween Town who stumbles through a portal to Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the holiday.
2. “The Blair Witch Project” (available February 1)
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the 1999 found footage horror film became one of the most successful indie films of all time when it was released. The movie follows three film students...
Read More: Kristen Stewart And Juliette Binoche Dig Into Their Complex ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ Relationship – Watch
1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (available February 1)
The 1993 stop-motion classic directed by Henry Slick and produced by Tim Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington, a resident from Halloween Town who stumbles through a portal to Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the holiday.
2. “The Blair Witch Project” (available February 1)
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, the 1999 found footage horror film became one of the most successful indie films of all time when it was released. The movie follows three film students...
- 1/24/2017
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Hybrid work stars singer Neneh Cherry in debut acting role.
The BFI has acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Mark Cousins’ Stockholm My Love which world premieres at the BFI London Film Festival today (Oct 11).
The work marks a first fiction feature for experimental documentary-maker Cousins whose recent titles include Life May Be and 6 Desires: Dh Lawrence And Sardinia.
Swedish-born Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry makes her acting debut as Alva, a Swedish architect suffering from debilitating depression following a traumatic traffic accident.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Alva abandons her work to walk the streets of her beloved home city of Stockholm, exploring her past and the event that triggered her depression.
Cherry provides a poetic voiceover and sings five songs for the eclectic soundtrack, which also includes music by Abba co-founder Benny Anderson and 19th-century composer Franz Berwald.
The film sees Cousins collaborate for a second time with legendary cinematographer...
The BFI has acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Mark Cousins’ Stockholm My Love which world premieres at the BFI London Film Festival today (Oct 11).
The work marks a first fiction feature for experimental documentary-maker Cousins whose recent titles include Life May Be and 6 Desires: Dh Lawrence And Sardinia.
Swedish-born Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry makes her acting debut as Alva, a Swedish architect suffering from debilitating depression following a traumatic traffic accident.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Alva abandons her work to walk the streets of her beloved home city of Stockholm, exploring her past and the event that triggered her depression.
Cherry provides a poetic voiceover and sings five songs for the eclectic soundtrack, which also includes music by Abba co-founder Benny Anderson and 19th-century composer Franz Berwald.
The film sees Cousins collaborate for a second time with legendary cinematographer...
- 10/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Hybrid work stars singer Neneh Cherry in debut acting role.
The BFI has acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Mark Cousins’ Stockholm My Love which world premieres at the BFI London Film Festival today (Oct 11).
The work marks a first fiction feature for experimental documentary-maker Cousins whose recent titles include Life May Be and 6 Desires: Dh Lawrence And Sardinia.
Swedish-born Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry makes her acting debut as Alva, a Swedish architect suffering from debilitating depression following a traumatic traffic accident.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Alva abandons her work to walk the streets of her beloved home city of Stockholm, exploring her past and the event that triggered her depression.
Cherry provides a poetic voiceover and sings five songs for the eclectic soundtrack, which also includes music by Abba co-founder Benny Anderson and 19th-century composer Franz Berwald.
The film sees Cousins collaborate for a second time with legendary cinematographer...
The BFI has acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Mark Cousins’ Stockholm My Love which world premieres at the BFI London Film Festival today (Oct 11).
The work marks a first fiction feature for experimental documentary-maker Cousins whose recent titles include Life May Be and 6 Desires: Dh Lawrence And Sardinia.
Swedish-born Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry makes her acting debut as Alva, a Swedish architect suffering from debilitating depression following a traumatic traffic accident.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Alva abandons her work to walk the streets of her beloved home city of Stockholm, exploring her past and the event that triggered her depression.
Cherry provides a poetic voiceover and sings five songs for the eclectic soundtrack, which also includes music by Abba co-founder Benny Anderson and 19th-century composer Franz Berwald.
The film sees Cousins collaborate for a second time with legendary cinematographer...
- 10/11/2016
- ScreenDaily
The Holocaust needs to be retold forever, but it's a tough topic to address without distortion or trivialization. André SInger's docu is about the Allied film record of the liberation of the camps -- horrific footage that was used in the war crimes trials and cut into documentaries -- that were then suppressed and locked away. In 2008, an abandoned film supervised by Alfred Hitchcock was finally finished. Night Will Fall DVD-r The Warner Archive Collection 2014 / Color / 1:78 enhanced widescreen / 75 min. / Street Date January 27, 2016 / available through the WBshop / 21.99 Narrators Helena Bonham Carter, Jasper Britton. Cinematography Richard Blanshard Film Editors Arik Lahav, Stephen Miller Original Music Nicolas Singer Written by Lynette Singer Produced by Sally Angel, Brett Ratner <Directed by André Singer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Documentaries about the Holocaust have always been problematical. In some ways the subject was deemed a cultural taboo, to be discussed in only the gravest terms. For years after the war most Americans saw only chosen snippets of film footage, glimpses of the horrors in the death camps. The images published in magazine photo articles were more than people wanted to see.. There were plenty of exceptions, but most ordinary Americans first saw extended documentary footage in -- of all things -- a for-profit Hollywood picture in which big stars portrayed victims and villains. The movie, Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nuremberg was actually in good taste, and had a laudable social purpose. The graphic film from the camp was part of the actual Nuremberg trials, after all. It showed a reality of our times that had been suppressed, whether for questions of taste or decency, or because 'the public couldn't take it.' I believe America accepted 'not seeing' because we were not yet a nation of morbid voyeurs. (Live and learn... from Joe Dante: "Actually I think the first time American audiences were exposed to Death Camp footage was in Welles' The Stranger, long before Judgment at Nuremberg.") Art film viewers saw Alain Resnais' Night and Fog, a quiet, haunting film that avoids emotional sensationalism by telling the story through views of Auschwitz as it was in 1955 and non-confrontational narration. Italians, East Germans, Russians and others eventually made dramatic movies that showed the experiences of various concentration camp victims. Many of these dramas were good, but none could embrace the near-cosmic immensity of the horror. Can any single experience help us to come to grips with the fate of millions? And then there's the problem of the endless footage of corpses -- these formerly taboo images are still too much for sensitive people. The English, the Americans and the Russians all filmed in the camps that they liberated. Night Will Fall tells the story of the 1945 production and then abandonment of a long-form film documentary officially sanctioned by the Allied victors. It was produced by Sidney Bernstein and partly overseen by Alfred Hitchcock. The director developed a script and an approach for a document intended to quash present and future claims that the mass murders were faked, exaggerated or a political illusion. A cut called German Concentration Camps Factual Survey (Gccfs) was prepared up to a certain point, but then shelved, with no go-ahead for a finish. The U.S. Army finally brought in Billy Wilder to supervise a shorter version called Death Mills. But Wilder's film also remained classified, and was not released to the public either. A version of it was shown to German audiences. The docu footage was also projected at the Nuremberg trials, as evidence against the German war criminals. Night Will Fall was announced almost ten years ago, in newspaper articles that explained that the British Imperial War Museum was finally going to complete the original Gccfs. Yet we had already seen much of Gccfs on PBS TV in 1985. All but the last reel of the film was located, in its work print form. It screened at least twice on PBS as Frontline: Memory of the Camps; I taped the second airing on VHS and have a burned DVD of it around somewhere. The 'new' Memory of the Camps was finished in 2014. The Warner Archive Collection's Night Will Fall is a documentary about the making of these movies back at the close of the war. Holocaust survivors, surviving Signal Corps cameramen and the producer of Schindler's List -- himself an Auschwitz survivor - are among the on-camera interviewees. Various personalities including directors Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock are represented by archived interviews on film and audiotape. The details of the liberation and the Signal Corps' activities are certainly interesting. We also want to know about the involvement of Hitchcock and Wilder, although all we get are a few remarks and notes on Hitchcock's concerns with the narrative, in audio bites that I would guess were taken from the famed Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews. Hitchcock asks for the inclusion of panning shots, to help prove that what was seen wasn't being faked. Wilder says much the same thing. When it comes time to explain why the project stalled, we're shown a couple of paragraphs in some documents that suggest that America did not want to antagonize the German population with this negative material. The inference is that with the Cold War heating up, most forms of de-Nazification were abandoned after the obvious death camp villains and high-ranking Nazis were executed or locked away. Washington wanted German cooperation in opposing Stalin, and put a halt to the bringing of many more German war criminals to justice. The Russian attitude was quite different. A Soviet Army cinematographer interviewed for Night Will Fall tells us that when their troops liberated a camp, their first action was to shoot every German guard as soon as they were positively identified. That's sounds okay to me. As I said, the 'finished'1945 film German Concentration Camps Factual Survey was also released in 2014. It retains the title Memory of the Camps and is credited to Sidney Bernstein and Alfred Hitchcock. Night Will Fall ends with a final couple of minutes of the 'finished' Memory. It consists of a semi-poetic narration and an edited sequence showing, in graphic close-up, ten or so victims by the side of the road, presumably executed during the retreat of the camp guards. It's everything the movie shouldn't be, a repetitive series of shock cuts to staring corpses with parts of their heads blown away. I can only compare it to one of the intolerably gory highway safety films that aim only to shock the audience. The brain of one corpse lies in a neat heap alongside a skull blown wide open; another man's head seems to be missing above the nose. I'm not sure what the point is. If it's done to produce a blast of more extreme horror to reach the audience, it's a failure. I must admit that I'm conservative on this issue, as I believe that too much of the audience will compare this real carnage to effects they see in the latest zombie thriller. That sickens me the same way I felt when I witnessed high schoolers on a bus describing the awful 9/11 coverage as, 'really cool.' Night Will Fall has value, but to me its style, making even mild use of editing techniques from today's Reality Programming, is inappropriate. The horror of this reality is blatant, banal even. The most responsible way to use the the horror footage would be to simply lay out the raw takes, with slates and camera stops, like legal evidence. Night Will Fall aestheticizes many shots. In one sequence, close-ups of massed corpses are rendered in negative, turning the horror into stylized 'art.' Fake 'end of reel' blips and flashes are added for style, as in any modern Reality Show, where the only rule is to hype the subject matter using any editorial trick that will keep the frame alive. A s hort piece of footage has been digitally sharpened, and looks as if a sub-par tape source had been run through a bad electronic filter. Is this splitting hairs, and being oversensitive? I suppose that times change and that revisionism happens with everything. But this grim, vitally important history is now leaning toward becoming another entertainment choice. Other snippets of the new 'finished' Memory of the Camps are glimpsed in Night Will Fall. The new film appears to use the same or much of the same narration text. I can't tell if that reconstituted ending was part of the original, because when the original Memory showed on PBS, a card came up informing us that the final 'Auschwitz' chapter had been removed at an earlier date. What remained of the original rough cut ended there. I've always theorized that it was snipped off to be given to documentarians and Stanley Kramer. Many of the standard shots of Auschwitz that we see, often in terrible quality, may have come from that reel. The new Memory of the Camps doesn't retain the original narration, as read by actor Trevor Howard. The original version was unusually eerie and effective because it was just a sequence of raw shots with insert title cards and maps, and the only audio on the soundtrack was Trevor Howard's distinctive voice. It is a very good read. Howard seems to be suppressing his anger all the way through, reading the more ironic comments as if he's personally offended. It's as if the Army Intelligence officer Trevor Howard plays in The Third Man had been asked to record the narration. The new narrator in the finished (2014) clips we see gives a smooth and uninflected read, which to me revises and re-interprets everything. The Holocaust shouldn't need mood music to tell us how to react -- although I realize that that a music track might have been part of the plan in 1945 as well. And it's possible that Hitchcock and Sidney Bernstein, when they heard Trevor Howard's interpretation of the narration script, already knew that they wanted something else. But Howard's track is the one that came from the battlefield of the original production, and should be preserved. I remember buying a copy of a previously classified Army movie about 1950s atom tests, only to find that the original narration had been similarly tossed away and replaced with a new one that sometimes didn't even align with the graphics on screen. This to me makes the movie a censored, worthless revision. Watch William Wyler and John Sturges' docu Thunderbolt on TCM sometime. The Army wasn't keen to show that movie either, and we can tell why -- it's an honest account of how fighter bomber pilots, mostly unopposed in the air, pressed their advantage over retreating Germans in Italy. The narration and the comments by the pilots are bloodthirsty and merciless. Apparently the Army did not like seeing its personnel presented as gleeful killers. Thunderbolt was released only several years after it was finished, by a small studio. Like I said above, I realize that my comments about the style of Night Will Fall are highly subjective and prejudiced. But they are my honest thoughts on the film. The Warner Archive Collection DVD-r of Night Will Fall is a good enhanced encoding of a show that consists of new interviews and the old atrocity documentation footage. The improved quality of the film from the camps spares us nothing. If there are more ways to mangle, burn or abuse a human body, I don't want to know about them. The audio and other technical specs are of a high quality as well. The disc's three extras offer much added value. The first is a lengthy lecture by Professor Rainer Schulze, who re-traces basically the entire subject matter of Night Will Fall on a higher plane, with more detail and information. The lecture answers many questions that the main feature doesn't touch. Schulze also discusses the politics behind the ways the 'hot potato' death camp footage was shown, and then not shown. Frankly, I can see a spokesman like Professor Schulze being excluded from a new 'entertainment' documentary because (a.) he probes deeply into uncomfortable aspects of the subject and (b.) he's a German with a German accent. Want to learn more about this appalling yet essential history lesson? This is a fine study piece. The second and third extras are two shorter concentration camp docus that show how both sides depicted the horror, using much of the same footage. Oświecim (Auschwitz) is the Russian film. It has a Russian title card but English opening and ending text cards -- with a misspelling. It identifies the 'great men' that will insure that the Fascists are brought to justice as Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill -- even though Roosevelt had been dead for a year. The Russian docu refers to the war criminals mostly as Fascists, not Germans, perhaps because they wanted to show the film in the Russian sector of defeated Germany. The narration is fairly specific about what we're seeing, describing the things done to individual prisoners and identifying a number of them by name. Adults and children pose for the camera as Russian doctors examine them. The last film is indeed the Billy Wilder supervised Death Mills, which covers much of the same content. Although it consists mostly of British and American film, it also uses a great deal of Russian footage, with a narration track that says totally different things about some of the victims we see. At one point the narration refers to the brutish-looking female SS guards as Amazons, and says that they are 'Deadlier than the Male.' Is that evidence of Billy Wilder's input? My bias against Night Will Fall is probably a more generalized rant against today's commercial documentaries, many of which are, I think, compromised by the need to compete with other forms of entertainment. The show does have interesting content and may be perfect for someone unfamiliar with the subject. If a viewer wants a show to introduce the subject of Genocide to children, I can't see this or any atrocity footage being the right thing to show them. For others, the excellent extras greatly enhance the film's desirability. On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Night Will Fall DVD-r rates: Movie: Good Video: Very good Sound: Excellent Supplements: One informational lecture short subjects and two short docus made right after the war (see above) Deaf and Hearing Impaired Friendly? Yes; Subtitles: English Packaging: Keep case Reviewed: June 18, 2016 small>(5144fall)
Visit DVD Savant's Main Column Page Glenn Erickson answers most reader mail: [email protected]
Text © Copyright 2016 Glenn Erickson...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Documentaries about the Holocaust have always been problematical. In some ways the subject was deemed a cultural taboo, to be discussed in only the gravest terms. For years after the war most Americans saw only chosen snippets of film footage, glimpses of the horrors in the death camps. The images published in magazine photo articles were more than people wanted to see.. There were plenty of exceptions, but most ordinary Americans first saw extended documentary footage in -- of all things -- a for-profit Hollywood picture in which big stars portrayed victims and villains. The movie, Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nuremberg was actually in good taste, and had a laudable social purpose. The graphic film from the camp was part of the actual Nuremberg trials, after all. It showed a reality of our times that had been suppressed, whether for questions of taste or decency, or because 'the public couldn't take it.' I believe America accepted 'not seeing' because we were not yet a nation of morbid voyeurs. (Live and learn... from Joe Dante: "Actually I think the first time American audiences were exposed to Death Camp footage was in Welles' The Stranger, long before Judgment at Nuremberg.") Art film viewers saw Alain Resnais' Night and Fog, a quiet, haunting film that avoids emotional sensationalism by telling the story through views of Auschwitz as it was in 1955 and non-confrontational narration. Italians, East Germans, Russians and others eventually made dramatic movies that showed the experiences of various concentration camp victims. Many of these dramas were good, but none could embrace the near-cosmic immensity of the horror. Can any single experience help us to come to grips with the fate of millions? And then there's the problem of the endless footage of corpses -- these formerly taboo images are still too much for sensitive people. The English, the Americans and the Russians all filmed in the camps that they liberated. Night Will Fall tells the story of the 1945 production and then abandonment of a long-form film documentary officially sanctioned by the Allied victors. It was produced by Sidney Bernstein and partly overseen by Alfred Hitchcock. The director developed a script and an approach for a document intended to quash present and future claims that the mass murders were faked, exaggerated or a political illusion. A cut called German Concentration Camps Factual Survey (Gccfs) was prepared up to a certain point, but then shelved, with no go-ahead for a finish. The U.S. Army finally brought in Billy Wilder to supervise a shorter version called Death Mills. But Wilder's film also remained classified, and was not released to the public either. A version of it was shown to German audiences. The docu footage was also projected at the Nuremberg trials, as evidence against the German war criminals. Night Will Fall was announced almost ten years ago, in newspaper articles that explained that the British Imperial War Museum was finally going to complete the original Gccfs. Yet we had already seen much of Gccfs on PBS TV in 1985. All but the last reel of the film was located, in its work print form. It screened at least twice on PBS as Frontline: Memory of the Camps; I taped the second airing on VHS and have a burned DVD of it around somewhere. The 'new' Memory of the Camps was finished in 2014. The Warner Archive Collection's Night Will Fall is a documentary about the making of these movies back at the close of the war. Holocaust survivors, surviving Signal Corps cameramen and the producer of Schindler's List -- himself an Auschwitz survivor - are among the on-camera interviewees. Various personalities including directors Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock are represented by archived interviews on film and audiotape. The details of the liberation and the Signal Corps' activities are certainly interesting. We also want to know about the involvement of Hitchcock and Wilder, although all we get are a few remarks and notes on Hitchcock's concerns with the narrative, in audio bites that I would guess were taken from the famed Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews. Hitchcock asks for the inclusion of panning shots, to help prove that what was seen wasn't being faked. Wilder says much the same thing. When it comes time to explain why the project stalled, we're shown a couple of paragraphs in some documents that suggest that America did not want to antagonize the German population with this negative material. The inference is that with the Cold War heating up, most forms of de-Nazification were abandoned after the obvious death camp villains and high-ranking Nazis were executed or locked away. Washington wanted German cooperation in opposing Stalin, and put a halt to the bringing of many more German war criminals to justice. The Russian attitude was quite different. A Soviet Army cinematographer interviewed for Night Will Fall tells us that when their troops liberated a camp, their first action was to shoot every German guard as soon as they were positively identified. That's sounds okay to me. As I said, the 'finished'1945 film German Concentration Camps Factual Survey was also released in 2014. It retains the title Memory of the Camps and is credited to Sidney Bernstein and Alfred Hitchcock. Night Will Fall ends with a final couple of minutes of the 'finished' Memory. It consists of a semi-poetic narration and an edited sequence showing, in graphic close-up, ten or so victims by the side of the road, presumably executed during the retreat of the camp guards. It's everything the movie shouldn't be, a repetitive series of shock cuts to staring corpses with parts of their heads blown away. I can only compare it to one of the intolerably gory highway safety films that aim only to shock the audience. The brain of one corpse lies in a neat heap alongside a skull blown wide open; another man's head seems to be missing above the nose. I'm not sure what the point is. If it's done to produce a blast of more extreme horror to reach the audience, it's a failure. I must admit that I'm conservative on this issue, as I believe that too much of the audience will compare this real carnage to effects they see in the latest zombie thriller. That sickens me the same way I felt when I witnessed high schoolers on a bus describing the awful 9/11 coverage as, 'really cool.' Night Will Fall has value, but to me its style, making even mild use of editing techniques from today's Reality Programming, is inappropriate. The horror of this reality is blatant, banal even. The most responsible way to use the the horror footage would be to simply lay out the raw takes, with slates and camera stops, like legal evidence. Night Will Fall aestheticizes many shots. In one sequence, close-ups of massed corpses are rendered in negative, turning the horror into stylized 'art.' Fake 'end of reel' blips and flashes are added for style, as in any modern Reality Show, where the only rule is to hype the subject matter using any editorial trick that will keep the frame alive. A s hort piece of footage has been digitally sharpened, and looks as if a sub-par tape source had been run through a bad electronic filter. Is this splitting hairs, and being oversensitive? I suppose that times change and that revisionism happens with everything. But this grim, vitally important history is now leaning toward becoming another entertainment choice. Other snippets of the new 'finished' Memory of the Camps are glimpsed in Night Will Fall. The new film appears to use the same or much of the same narration text. I can't tell if that reconstituted ending was part of the original, because when the original Memory showed on PBS, a card came up informing us that the final 'Auschwitz' chapter had been removed at an earlier date. What remained of the original rough cut ended there. I've always theorized that it was snipped off to be given to documentarians and Stanley Kramer. Many of the standard shots of Auschwitz that we see, often in terrible quality, may have come from that reel. The new Memory of the Camps doesn't retain the original narration, as read by actor Trevor Howard. The original version was unusually eerie and effective because it was just a sequence of raw shots with insert title cards and maps, and the only audio on the soundtrack was Trevor Howard's distinctive voice. It is a very good read. Howard seems to be suppressing his anger all the way through, reading the more ironic comments as if he's personally offended. It's as if the Army Intelligence officer Trevor Howard plays in The Third Man had been asked to record the narration. The new narrator in the finished (2014) clips we see gives a smooth and uninflected read, which to me revises and re-interprets everything. The Holocaust shouldn't need mood music to tell us how to react -- although I realize that that a music track might have been part of the plan in 1945 as well. And it's possible that Hitchcock and Sidney Bernstein, when they heard Trevor Howard's interpretation of the narration script, already knew that they wanted something else. But Howard's track is the one that came from the battlefield of the original production, and should be preserved. I remember buying a copy of a previously classified Army movie about 1950s atom tests, only to find that the original narration had been similarly tossed away and replaced with a new one that sometimes didn't even align with the graphics on screen. This to me makes the movie a censored, worthless revision. Watch William Wyler and John Sturges' docu Thunderbolt on TCM sometime. The Army wasn't keen to show that movie either, and we can tell why -- it's an honest account of how fighter bomber pilots, mostly unopposed in the air, pressed their advantage over retreating Germans in Italy. The narration and the comments by the pilots are bloodthirsty and merciless. Apparently the Army did not like seeing its personnel presented as gleeful killers. Thunderbolt was released only several years after it was finished, by a small studio. Like I said above, I realize that my comments about the style of Night Will Fall are highly subjective and prejudiced. But they are my honest thoughts on the film. The Warner Archive Collection DVD-r of Night Will Fall is a good enhanced encoding of a show that consists of new interviews and the old atrocity documentation footage. The improved quality of the film from the camps spares us nothing. If there are more ways to mangle, burn or abuse a human body, I don't want to know about them. The audio and other technical specs are of a high quality as well. The disc's three extras offer much added value. The first is a lengthy lecture by Professor Rainer Schulze, who re-traces basically the entire subject matter of Night Will Fall on a higher plane, with more detail and information. The lecture answers many questions that the main feature doesn't touch. Schulze also discusses the politics behind the ways the 'hot potato' death camp footage was shown, and then not shown. Frankly, I can see a spokesman like Professor Schulze being excluded from a new 'entertainment' documentary because (a.) he probes deeply into uncomfortable aspects of the subject and (b.) he's a German with a German accent. Want to learn more about this appalling yet essential history lesson? This is a fine study piece. The second and third extras are two shorter concentration camp docus that show how both sides depicted the horror, using much of the same footage. Oświecim (Auschwitz) is the Russian film. It has a Russian title card but English opening and ending text cards -- with a misspelling. It identifies the 'great men' that will insure that the Fascists are brought to justice as Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill -- even though Roosevelt had been dead for a year. The Russian docu refers to the war criminals mostly as Fascists, not Germans, perhaps because they wanted to show the film in the Russian sector of defeated Germany. The narration is fairly specific about what we're seeing, describing the things done to individual prisoners and identifying a number of them by name. Adults and children pose for the camera as Russian doctors examine them. The last film is indeed the Billy Wilder supervised Death Mills, which covers much of the same content. Although it consists mostly of British and American film, it also uses a great deal of Russian footage, with a narration track that says totally different things about some of the victims we see. At one point the narration refers to the brutish-looking female SS guards as Amazons, and says that they are 'Deadlier than the Male.' Is that evidence of Billy Wilder's input? My bias against Night Will Fall is probably a more generalized rant against today's commercial documentaries, many of which are, I think, compromised by the need to compete with other forms of entertainment. The show does have interesting content and may be perfect for someone unfamiliar with the subject. If a viewer wants a show to introduce the subject of Genocide to children, I can't see this or any atrocity footage being the right thing to show them. For others, the excellent extras greatly enhance the film's desirability. On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, Night Will Fall DVD-r rates: Movie: Good Video: Very good Sound: Excellent Supplements: One informational lecture short subjects and two short docus made right after the war (see above) Deaf and Hearing Impaired Friendly? Yes; Subtitles: English Packaging: Keep case Reviewed: June 18, 2016 small>(5144fall)
Visit DVD Savant's Main Column Page Glenn Erickson answers most reader mail: [email protected]
Text © Copyright 2016 Glenn Erickson...
- 6/21/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
HBO won four Peabody Awards in the documentary and education category, including the Scientology doc “Going Clear,” “How to Dance in Ohio,” Night Will Fall” and Andrew Jarecki‘s seductive true-crime documentary based on the life of Robert Durst “The Jinx.” Netflix’s “What Happened, Miss Simone,” PBS’ “India’s Daughter,” “Isis in Afghanistan,” “Don’t Tell Anyone” and Showtime’s “Listen to Me Marlon” join the HBO docs among the Peabody 30. Peabody Awards are based at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. This year marks the inaugural winners of The Peabody 30. Also Read: 'Jessica Jones,...
- 4/26/2016
- by Brian Flood
- The Wrap
By Lee Pfeiffer
It's probably a safe bet that most adults have seen at least some of the notorious film footage shot during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. However, no one has ever seen the definitive denouncement of these camps for genocidal practices because the project was stopped in its tracks in the immediate aftermath of WWII. When British, American and Soviet troops stumbled upon the seemingly endless number of concentration camps in the final days of the war, they were not prepared for what they saw. There had been frantic warnings from the Jewish community about the barbaric nature of what was occurring in these hell holes but they were generally thought to be overstated, if not impossible to believe. Such were the mind-boggling horrors that greeted them that the Allied high command ordered that the places be filmed in order to capture for posterity the types of...
It's probably a safe bet that most adults have seen at least some of the notorious film footage shot during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. However, no one has ever seen the definitive denouncement of these camps for genocidal practices because the project was stopped in its tracks in the immediate aftermath of WWII. When British, American and Soviet troops stumbled upon the seemingly endless number of concentration camps in the final days of the war, they were not prepared for what they saw. There had been frantic warnings from the Jewish community about the barbaric nature of what was occurring in these hell holes but they were generally thought to be overstated, if not impossible to believe. Such were the mind-boggling horrors that greeted them that the Allied high command ordered that the places be filmed in order to capture for posterity the types of...
- 4/24/2016
- by [email protected] (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
With all the year's films now out in U.S. theaters, Metacritic.com has revealed what films, games and TV shows were the best of the year based on the aggregate scores of the top critics. I've divided the lists into three sections - films, TV shows and major video games. Check out the scores below:
Best Films
This list does Not include old film re-releases. Films also have to have over a dozen reviews to be considered, which is why high scoring works like "Virunga," "Big Men," "Night Will Fall" and "Stand Clear of the Closing Doors" are not included.
"Carol" - 96/100
"Anomalisa," "45 Years" - 95/100
"Inside Out" - 94/100
"Spotlight," "Sherpa" - 93/100
"Timbuktu," "The Look of Silence" - 92/100
"Jafar Panahi's Taxi" - 91/100
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem," "Hard to Be a God" - 90/100
"Mad Max: Fury Road," "Phoenix," "Son of Saul" - 89/100
"Democrats" - 88/100
"Brooklyn," " Diary of a Teenage Girl,...
Best Films
This list does Not include old film re-releases. Films also have to have over a dozen reviews to be considered, which is why high scoring works like "Virunga," "Big Men," "Night Will Fall" and "Stand Clear of the Closing Doors" are not included.
"Carol" - 96/100
"Anomalisa," "45 Years" - 95/100
"Inside Out" - 94/100
"Spotlight," "Sherpa" - 93/100
"Timbuktu," "The Look of Silence" - 92/100
"Jafar Panahi's Taxi" - 91/100
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem," "Hard to Be a God" - 90/100
"Mad Max: Fury Road," "Phoenix," "Son of Saul" - 89/100
"Democrats" - 88/100
"Brooklyn," " Diary of a Teenage Girl,...
- 12/28/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Joshua Oppenheimer's searing documentary about the 1960s Indonesian genocide won big at the 31st Annual Ida Documentary Awards trampling down award season favorite "Amy." The Best Short Documentary award went to Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman's "Last Day of Freedom."
Here's the complete list of nominees and winners (highlighted) of the 31st Annual Ida Documentary Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amy"
"The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"The Look of Silence" -- Winner
"The Russian Woodpecker"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Best Short Documentary
"Body Team 12"
"Claude Lanzmann: Specters of the Shoah"
"The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul"
"Object"
"Last Day of Freedom" -- Winner
ABC News VideoSource Award
"(T)error"
"Best of Enemies" -- Winner
"Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll"
"Night Will Fall"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Curated Series Award
"30 For 30" (Espn)
"Independent Lens" (Itvs/PBS) -- Winner...
Here's the complete list of nominees and winners (highlighted) of the 31st Annual Ida Documentary Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amy"
"The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"The Look of Silence" -- Winner
"The Russian Woodpecker"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Best Short Documentary
"Body Team 12"
"Claude Lanzmann: Specters of the Shoah"
"The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul"
"Object"
"Last Day of Freedom" -- Winner
ABC News VideoSource Award
"(T)error"
"Best of Enemies" -- Winner
"Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll"
"Night Will Fall"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Curated Series Award
"30 For 30" (Espn)
"Independent Lens" (Itvs/PBS) -- Winner...
- 12/7/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The International Documentary Association (Ida) has revealed the nominees for the 2015 Ida Documentary Awards. Winners will be announced at their annual awards gala to be held on Sunday, December 5 at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles.
The nominees of the 31st Annual Ida Documentary Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amy"
"The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"The Look of Silence"
"The Russian Woodpecker"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Best Short Documentary
"Body Team 12"
"Claude Lanzmann: Specters of the Shoah"
"The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul"
"Object"
"Last Day of Freedom"
ABC News VideoSource Award
"(T)error"
"Best of Enemies"
"Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll"
"Night Will Fall"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Curated Series Award
"30 For 30" (Espn)
"Independent Lens" (Itvs/PBS)
"Storyville" (BBC)
"America Reframed" (World Channel)
Limited Series Award
"Blood Brothers" (Vara Television)
"Hard Earned" (Al Jazeera, Kartemquin Films)
"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst...
The nominees of the 31st Annual Ida Documentary Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amy"
"The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"The Look of Silence"
"The Russian Woodpecker"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Best Short Documentary
"Body Team 12"
"Claude Lanzmann: Specters of the Shoah"
"The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul"
"Object"
"Last Day of Freedom"
ABC News VideoSource Award
"(T)error"
"Best of Enemies"
"Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll"
"Night Will Fall"
"What Happened, Miss Simone?"
Curated Series Award
"30 For 30" (Espn)
"Independent Lens" (Itvs/PBS)
"Storyville" (BBC)
"America Reframed" (World Channel)
Limited Series Award
"Blood Brothers" (Vara Television)
"Hard Earned" (Al Jazeera, Kartemquin Films)
"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst...
- 11/17/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Documentary from Australian war artist George Gittoes centres on street kids in Afghanistan.
Tel Aviv-based sales company Cinephil has acquired the worldwide right to George Gittoes’ Snow Monkey ahead of its international premiere in competition at Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) (Nov 18-29).
The film is a portrait of daily life in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where art activist Gittoes recruited gangs of war-damaged children to shoot local, Pashto-style films - vibrant, colorful and infused with the violence they experience on a daily basis.
Gittoes will return to Idfa, which runs Nov 18-29, having previously screened Miscreants of Taliwood, shot in Peshawar with Taliban-besieged filmmakers, some of which have helped create Snow Monkey.
Cinephil MD Philippa Kowarsky negotiated the deal with producers Gittoes and Lizzette Atkins of Unicorn Films.
Executive producers are Norway’s Torstein Grude and Bjarte Mørner Tveit for Piraya Film.
Kowarsky said the film “offers an unprecedented understanding of the lives of the people of Jalalabad...
Tel Aviv-based sales company Cinephil has acquired the worldwide right to George Gittoes’ Snow Monkey ahead of its international premiere in competition at Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) (Nov 18-29).
The film is a portrait of daily life in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where art activist Gittoes recruited gangs of war-damaged children to shoot local, Pashto-style films - vibrant, colorful and infused with the violence they experience on a daily basis.
Gittoes will return to Idfa, which runs Nov 18-29, having previously screened Miscreants of Taliwood, shot in Peshawar with Taliban-besieged filmmakers, some of which have helped create Snow Monkey.
Cinephil MD Philippa Kowarsky negotiated the deal with producers Gittoes and Lizzette Atkins of Unicorn Films.
Executive producers are Norway’s Torstein Grude and Bjarte Mørner Tveit for Piraya Film.
Kowarsky said the film “offers an unprecedented understanding of the lives of the people of Jalalabad...
- 11/10/2015
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Night Will Fall, a feature-length production about the filming of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, picked up two awards at last night’s Focal International Awards.
It won in the Best Use of Footage in a History Production and in the Cinema Production categories.
The Imperial War Museum’s work in restoring, preserving and completing the work that Sidney Bernstein started on the German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, which formed the bulk of the archive clips in Night Will Fall, received a surprise Special Award for its contribution to the film.
The Focal awards honour the work of those working in the fields of archive and restoration. Focal’s international jury sifted through 265 submissions from 24 countries to select the winners.
The ceremony was hosted by former chief news reporter for the BBC and presenter of Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent Kate Adie, who spoke about the importance of capturing events on film and preserving...
It won in the Best Use of Footage in a History Production and in the Cinema Production categories.
The Imperial War Museum’s work in restoring, preserving and completing the work that Sidney Bernstein started on the German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, which formed the bulk of the archive clips in Night Will Fall, received a surprise Special Award for its contribution to the film.
The Focal awards honour the work of those working in the fields of archive and restoration. Focal’s international jury sifted through 265 submissions from 24 countries to select the winners.
The ceremony was hosted by former chief news reporter for the BBC and presenter of Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent Kate Adie, who spoke about the importance of capturing events on film and preserving...
- 5/22/2015
- ScreenDaily
Pre-sales down 40% following shootings in the Danish capital less than two weeks ago.
Pre-sales for the 9th Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival are down 40% on last year in the wake of the shooting in the Danish capital on Feb 14, which left two people dead - including Danish director-producer Finn Nørgaard - and five police officers wounded.
“People are scared,” festival director Anne Boukris told Danish television TV2 News. “All the time people are asking me about security – after what happened in Copenhagen, they are anxious about what is going to happen next.”
The festival launches tonight and runs till March 21 with a programme comprising 24 international films with Jewish themes, held atthe Cinemateket at Copenhagen’s Film House.
“I am sure people are scared to come,” added Boukris.
The festival will open with Golden Globe-nominated Gett, The Trial of Viviane Amsalem from Israeli directors Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, introduced by Danish member of Parliament Özlem Cekic.
Cjff will also...
Pre-sales for the 9th Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival are down 40% on last year in the wake of the shooting in the Danish capital on Feb 14, which left two people dead - including Danish director-producer Finn Nørgaard - and five police officers wounded.
“People are scared,” festival director Anne Boukris told Danish television TV2 News. “All the time people are asking me about security – after what happened in Copenhagen, they are anxious about what is going to happen next.”
The festival launches tonight and runs till March 21 with a programme comprising 24 international films with Jewish themes, held atthe Cinemateket at Copenhagen’s Film House.
“I am sure people are scared to come,” added Boukris.
The festival will open with Golden Globe-nominated Gett, The Trial of Viviane Amsalem from Israeli directors Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, introduced by Danish member of Parliament Özlem Cekic.
Cjff will also...
- 2/25/2015
- by [email protected] (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Pre-sales down 40% following shootings in the Danish capital less than two weeks ago.
Pre-sales for the 9th Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival are down 40% on last year in the wake of the shooting in the Danish capital on Feb 14, which left two people dead - including Danish director-producer Finn Nørgaard - and five police officers wounded.
“People are scared,” festival director Anne Boukris told Danish television TV2 News. “All the time people are asking me about security – after what happened in Copenhagen, they are anxious about what is going to happen next.”
The festival launches tonight and runs till March 21 with a programme comprising 24 international films with Jewish themes, held atthe Cinemateket at Copenhagen’s Film House.
“I am sure people are scared to come,” added Boukris.
The festival will open with Golden Globe-nominated Gett, The Trial of Viviane Amsalem from Israeli directors Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, introduced by Danish member of Parliament Özlem Cekic.
Cjff will also...
Pre-sales for the 9th Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival are down 40% on last year in the wake of the shooting in the Danish capital on Feb 14, which left two people dead - including Danish director-producer Finn Nørgaard - and five police officers wounded.
“People are scared,” festival director Anne Boukris told Danish television TV2 News. “All the time people are asking me about security – after what happened in Copenhagen, they are anxious about what is going to happen next.”
The festival launches tonight and runs till March 21 with a programme comprising 24 international films with Jewish themes, held atthe Cinemateket at Copenhagen’s Film House.
“I am sure people are scared to come,” added Boukris.
The festival will open with Golden Globe-nominated Gett, The Trial of Viviane Amsalem from Israeli directors Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, introduced by Danish member of Parliament Özlem Cekic.
Cjff will also...
- 2/25/2015
- by [email protected] (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: In April 1945, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force ordered that footage shot by combat and newsreel cameramen during the liberation of Occupied Europe be aggregated into a documentary film that would be shown to the German prisoners of war as irrefutable proof of what had occurred under the Nazi regime. The producer from the British Ministry of Information, Sidney Bernstein, assembled a first-rank team of editors for the project and eventually brought Alfred Hitchcock over to help organize the footage and accompanying narration. (Later, Billy Wilder would also be brought in to work on the documentary.)
Post-war events quickly overshadowed the painstaking work. The last official action on the film, according to the Imperial War Museum in London, was a screening of the five-reel rough cut on September 29, 1945, after which it was shelved. Seven years later, the material, including 100 more reels of unedited footage, a script for the narration...
Post-war events quickly overshadowed the painstaking work. The last official action on the film, according to the Imperial War Museum in London, was a screening of the five-reel rough cut on September 29, 1945, after which it was shelved. Seven years later, the material, including 100 more reels of unedited footage, a script for the narration...
- 1/28/2015
- by Jeremy Gerard
- Deadline
It is estimated that eleven million people — including six million Jews — were killed during the Holocaust. It's a figure that is so monumental, tragic, and despairing, that it almost becomes abstract in its scope and dimension. Fully comprehending how deep the loss of eleven million lives is, how truly staggering the level of clinical hatred must be to perpetrate such a genocide, and how far-reaching the effects on religious communities and cultural legacies truly are, can be difficult when cold statistics are so large as to be unfathomable. The horrors of World War II have been chronicled multiple times in cinema, and in countless documentaries, but "Night Will Fall" is a bracing reminder of why this story still needs to be told. With the generation of first hand witnesses and survivors dwindling, more than ever, evidence and oral histories provide a clear-eyed, painful, potent and necessary reminder of how far...
- 1/26/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
TV Picks: Hard to watch and certainly unimaginable if you have a heart and soul, the harrowing HBO Holocaust documentary, “Night Will Fall,” will leave you speechless and in shock at just how frightening it was for those poised at the firing end of a Nazi’s gun.Imagine footage so gut wrenching that the British government shelved it to keep from upsetting viewers. This documentary focused on the shelved project from 1945 brought to light, and seventy years later, you still wonder why the victorious Allies shelved a documentary film on the liberation of the German concentration camps.Narrated by Helena Bonham […]...
- 1/26/2015
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
The Voice UK attracted more than 8 million viewers last night (January 24), according to overnight figures.
BBC One's singing competition drew an audience of 8.08m (38.4%) from 7pm.
The National Lottery: Win Your Wist List then took 4.9m (23.6%), before Casualty earned 4.99m (23.5%) from 9.15pm.
BBC Two's The Culture Show managed 935k (4.4%) in the 9pm hour.
On ITV, Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes continued with 2.04m (9.8%) from 7pm. Afterwards, Take Me Out and The Jonathan Ross Show averaged 3.01m (14.2%) and 2.09m (10%) respectively.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 aired Holocaust documentary Night Will Fall to 1.49m (7.1%).
On Channel 5, the latest instalment of Celebrity Big Brother secured 1.88m (8.9%) from 9.15pm.
Elsewhere, ITV3's Foyle's War topped the multichannels, drawing 911k (4.3%) from 8pm.
BBC One's singing competition drew an audience of 8.08m (38.4%) from 7pm.
The National Lottery: Win Your Wist List then took 4.9m (23.6%), before Casualty earned 4.99m (23.5%) from 9.15pm.
BBC Two's The Culture Show managed 935k (4.4%) in the 9pm hour.
On ITV, Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes continued with 2.04m (9.8%) from 7pm. Afterwards, Take Me Out and The Jonathan Ross Show averaged 3.01m (14.2%) and 2.09m (10%) respectively.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 aired Holocaust documentary Night Will Fall to 1.49m (7.1%).
On Channel 5, the latest instalment of Celebrity Big Brother secured 1.88m (8.9%) from 9.15pm.
Elsewhere, ITV3's Foyle's War topped the multichannels, drawing 911k (4.3%) from 8pm.
- 1/25/2015
- Digital Spy
Image Courtesy of Newsweek
Alfred Hitchcock made films in which birds attacked mankind, in which a psychopath killed women in the shower, and in which a man holed up in his room could witness a murder about to unfold. Yet his most disturbing film was never seen by the public and has been buried for 70 years.
In 1945, Hitchcock was commissioned to make German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, a documentary to be filmed at the Bergen-Bensen concentration camp during the Holocaust at the end of World War II. Hitchcock and a crew of filmmakers captured unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Nazis. But for a variety of reasons, in part because Billy Wilder was commissioned to make another film, in part because diplomacy was moving forward and in part because the footage was so gruesome, that Hitchcock’s work was buried and unfinished.
Now Director Andre Singer, along with producer Brett Ratner,...
Alfred Hitchcock made films in which birds attacked mankind, in which a psychopath killed women in the shower, and in which a man holed up in his room could witness a murder about to unfold. Yet his most disturbing film was never seen by the public and has been buried for 70 years.
In 1945, Hitchcock was commissioned to make German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, a documentary to be filmed at the Bergen-Bensen concentration camp during the Holocaust at the end of World War II. Hitchcock and a crew of filmmakers captured unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Nazis. But for a variety of reasons, in part because Billy Wilder was commissioned to make another film, in part because diplomacy was moving forward and in part because the footage was so gruesome, that Hitchcock’s work was buried and unfinished.
Now Director Andre Singer, along with producer Brett Ratner,...
- 1/21/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
In 1945, British Allied Forces commissioned director Alfred Hitchcock (circa "Spellbound" era) to supervise a documentary on the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Titled "German Concentration Camps: Factual Survey," the project foundered under political and artistic pressures. Thus, enter producer Brett Ratner and director André Singer, whose "Night Will Fall" plays HBO on Monday, January 26 at 9pm Est. Watch trailers and clips below. The presentation combines restored, hardly seen archival footage (including pieces of an elusive sixth reel thought to be lost) and eyewitness testimony to offer an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at a film that was never finished. (An incomplete version played the Berlin Film Festival in 1984, and PBS in 1985, under the title "Memory of the Camps.") Newsweek has a fascinating, in-depth look at what went wrong and what this footage looks like: "Two women drag an emaciated female corpse...
- 1/20/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
In 1945, overseen by Alfred Hitchcock, a crack team of British film-makers went to Germany to document the horror of the concentration camps. Despite being hailed as a masterpiece, the film was never shown. Now, in a documentary called Night Will Fall, the full story of its creation and suppression is being told
Read Peter Bradshaw’s review of Night Will Fall
“In the spring of 1945,” says the narrator, over bucolic springtime shots of the German countryside, “the allies advancing into the heart of Germany came to Bergen-Belsen. Neat and tidy orchards, well-stocked farms lined the wayside, and the British soldier did not fail to admire the place and its inhabitants. At least, until he began to feel a smell …”
So begins a British film about the Holocaust that was abandoned and shelved for 70 years because it was deemed too politically sensitive. The smell came from the dead, their bodies burned or rotting; or from malnourished,...
Read Peter Bradshaw’s review of Night Will Fall
“In the spring of 1945,” says the narrator, over bucolic springtime shots of the German countryside, “the allies advancing into the heart of Germany came to Bergen-Belsen. Neat and tidy orchards, well-stocked farms lined the wayside, and the British soldier did not fail to admire the place and its inhabitants. At least, until he began to feel a smell …”
So begins a British film about the Holocaust that was abandoned and shelved for 70 years because it was deemed too politically sensitive. The smell came from the dead, their bodies burned or rotting; or from malnourished,...
- 1/9/2015
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
In 1945, overseen by Alfred Hitchcock, a crack team of British film-makers went to Germany to document the horror of the concentration camps. Despite being hailed as a masterpiece, the film was never shown. Now, in a documentary called Night Will Fall, the full story of its creation and suppression is being told
Read Peter Bradshaw’s review of Night Will Fall
“In the spring of 1945,” says the narrator, over bucolic springtime shots of the German countryside, “the allies advancing into the heart of Germany came to Bergen-Belsen. Neat and tidy orchards, well-stocked farms lined the wayside, and the British soldier did not fail to admire the place and its inhabitants. At least, until he began to feel a smell …”
So begins a British film about the Holocaust that was abandoned and shelved for 70 years because it was deemed too politically sensitive. The smell came from the dead, their bodies burned or rotting; or from malnourished,...
Read Peter Bradshaw’s review of Night Will Fall
“In the spring of 1945,” says the narrator, over bucolic springtime shots of the German countryside, “the allies advancing into the heart of Germany came to Bergen-Belsen. Neat and tidy orchards, well-stocked farms lined the wayside, and the British soldier did not fail to admire the place and its inhabitants. At least, until he began to feel a smell …”
So begins a British film about the Holocaust that was abandoned and shelved for 70 years because it was deemed too politically sensitive. The smell came from the dead, their bodies burned or rotting; or from malnourished,...
- 1/9/2015
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
Critics in the UK obviously aren't immune to the charms of "Boyhood," as the film did well with the London Film Critics Circle. Now the Dublin Film Critics Circle has named it the year's best across the channel. The group also revealed its long lists throughout the categories, giving you some insight into which films were in the running. (Personal shout-out to my friends who made the documentary "Showrunners," which got a little love on the documentary list.) Check out the full list of winners below and watch it all unfold at The Circuit. Top 10 Films 1. "Boyhood" 2. "Under the Skin" 3. "Ida" 4. "The Lego Movie" 5. "12 Years a Slave" 6. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" 7. "Two Days, One Night" 8. (Tie) "Her,""Leviathan" 9. "The Wolf of Wall Street" 10. (Tie) "Blue Ruin" and "The Lunch Box" Best Director 1. Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" 2. Jonathan Glazer, "Under the Skin" 3. Pawel Pawlikowski, "Ida" 4. Spike Jonze, "Her" 5. Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" 6. Andrey Zvyagintsev,...
- 12/17/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Mike Leigh's J.M.W. Turner biopic, "Mr. Turner," topped the nominations for the London Film Critics Circle. The film about the English Romantic landscape painter, water-colourist, and printmaker played by Timothy Spall received 7 nods followed by Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Birdman" with 6. We'll find out the winners on January 18.
Here's the complete list of London Film Critics Circle nominees:
Film of the Year
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Ida"
"Leviathan"
"Mr. Turner"
"Nightcrawler"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Under the Skin"
"Whiplash"
Foreign Language Film of the Year
"Ida"
"Leviathan"
"Norte, The End of History"
"Two Days, One Night"
"Winter Sleep"
British Film of the Year
"The Imitation Game"
"Mr. Turner"
"Pride"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Under the Skin"
Documentary of the Year
"Citizenfour"
"Manakamana"
"Next Goal Wins"
"Night Will Fall"
"20,000 Days on Earth"
Actor of the Year
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
Michael Keaton,...
Here's the complete list of London Film Critics Circle nominees:
Film of the Year
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Ida"
"Leviathan"
"Mr. Turner"
"Nightcrawler"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Under the Skin"
"Whiplash"
Foreign Language Film of the Year
"Ida"
"Leviathan"
"Norte, The End of History"
"Two Days, One Night"
"Winter Sleep"
British Film of the Year
"The Imitation Game"
"Mr. Turner"
"Pride"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Under the Skin"
Documentary of the Year
"Citizenfour"
"Manakamana"
"Next Goal Wins"
"Night Will Fall"
"20,000 Days on Earth"
Actor of the Year
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
Michael Keaton,...
- 12/17/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Mr Turner leads the nominations for the 35th London Critics' Circle Film Awards.
The Timothy Spall-starring drama has the most nominations with seven, while Birdman follows closely behind with six.
Films in the running for Film of the Year include Birdman, Boyhood and Mr Turner, while Pride, The Imitation Game and Under The Skin get nominations for British Film of the Year.
Spall, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch all have nominations for British Actor of the Year, as Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley and Rosamund Pike feature in the British Actress of the Year category.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 18 at the May Fair hotel.
A full list of nominations is below:
Film of the Year
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Leviathan
Mr Turner
Nightcrawler
The Theory of Everything
Under the Skin
Whiplash
Foreign-language Film of the Year
Ida
Leviathan
Norte, The End of History
Two Days,...
The Timothy Spall-starring drama has the most nominations with seven, while Birdman follows closely behind with six.
Films in the running for Film of the Year include Birdman, Boyhood and Mr Turner, while Pride, The Imitation Game and Under The Skin get nominations for British Film of the Year.
Spall, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch all have nominations for British Actor of the Year, as Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley and Rosamund Pike feature in the British Actress of the Year category.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 18 at the May Fair hotel.
A full list of nominations is below:
Film of the Year
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Leviathan
Mr Turner
Nightcrawler
The Theory of Everything
Under the Skin
Whiplash
Foreign-language Film of the Year
Ida
Leviathan
Norte, The End of History
Two Days,...
- 12/16/2014
- Digital Spy
Mike Leigh’s biopic Mr Turner earned seven London Critics’ Circle Film Awards nominations this afternoon to lead the pack of a mix of UK, U.S. and foreign language titles. Mr Turner picked up nods for Film of the Year and British Film of the Year, as well as gaining recognition in the acting, directing and technical races. Alejandro G Iñárritu’s Birdman follows with six nominations including Film of the Year, Director of the Year and Actor of the Year for Michael Keaton.
Rounding out the Film of the Year nods are Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Under The Skin, The Theory Of Everything, Nightcrawler, Whiplash, Ida and Leviathan. Alongside Mr Turner in the Best British Film class are The Imitation Game, Under The Skin, The Theory Of Everything and Pride.
There are also a series of double acting nominees with Julianne Moore earning two Actress of the...
Rounding out the Film of the Year nods are Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Under The Skin, The Theory Of Everything, Nightcrawler, Whiplash, Ida and Leviathan. Alongside Mr Turner in the Best British Film class are The Imitation Game, Under The Skin, The Theory Of Everything and Pride.
There are also a series of double acting nominees with Julianne Moore earning two Actress of the...
- 12/16/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Julianne Moore scores double nominations for Actress of the Year.
The London Film Critics’ Circle has announced the nominations for its 35th annual awards ceremony, with Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner leading the pack with seven nominations, including Film of the Year and British Film of the Year.
Birdman followed closely behind with six nomination including Film of the Year, Director of the Year and Actor of the Year (Michael Keaton). Five nominations each went to Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Under The Skin. Four each went to ‘71, Nightcrawler and Whiplash.
In the acting categories, Julianne Moore scored a double nomination in the Actress of the Year category, for both Maps to the Stars and Still Alice.
Also landing double nominations were Timothy Spall (Mr Turner), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), in both Actor of the Year and British Actor of the...
The London Film Critics’ Circle has announced the nominations for its 35th annual awards ceremony, with Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner leading the pack with seven nominations, including Film of the Year and British Film of the Year.
Birdman followed closely behind with six nomination including Film of the Year, Director of the Year and Actor of the Year (Michael Keaton). Five nominations each went to Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Under The Skin. Four each went to ‘71, Nightcrawler and Whiplash.
In the acting categories, Julianne Moore scored a double nomination in the Actress of the Year category, for both Maps to the Stars and Still Alice.
Also landing double nominations were Timothy Spall (Mr Turner), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), in both Actor of the Year and British Actor of the...
- 12/16/2014
- by [email protected] (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Chiming in from across the pond, the London Film Critics Circle has added its collective voice to the 2014 circuit with a list of nominations. It was "Mr. Turner" that led the way with seven total nominations, though "Birdman" wasn't far behind with six. Julianne Moore picked up a pair of nominations in the lead actress category for her work in "Maps to the Stars" and Oscar play "Still Alice," while Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game"), Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything") and Timothy Spall ("Mr. Turner") each saw nominations in the lead actor and British actor of the year categories. Check out the full list of nominees below. Winners will be announced on Jan. 18. And remember to follow along with the season at The Circuit. Film of the Year "Birdman" "Boyhood" "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "Ida" "Leviathan" "Mr. Turner" "Nightcrawler" "The Theory of Everything" "Under the Skin" "Whiplash" Foreign Language...
- 12/16/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Pride has emerged as the big winner at the Moët British Independent Film Awards.
The gay activist drama took home three gongs at last night's Old Billingsgate ceremony, picking up Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress for Imelda Staunton and Best Supporting Actor for Andrew Scott.
'71's Yann Demange bagged the Best Director prize, Gugu Mbatha-Raw won Best Actress for Belle and Brendan Gleeson took home Best Actor for Calvary.
Elsewhere, special prizes were handed out to Emma Thompson (Richard Harris Award), John Boorman (Special Jury Prize) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Variety Award).
The full list of winners at the Moët British Independent Film Awards is as follows:
Best British Independent Film
'71
Calvary
Mr Turner
Pride - Winner!
The Imitation Game
Best Director
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
Matthew Warchus – Pride
Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
Yann Demange – '71 - Winner!
The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director
Daniel Wolfe,...
The gay activist drama took home three gongs at last night's Old Billingsgate ceremony, picking up Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress for Imelda Staunton and Best Supporting Actor for Andrew Scott.
'71's Yann Demange bagged the Best Director prize, Gugu Mbatha-Raw won Best Actress for Belle and Brendan Gleeson took home Best Actor for Calvary.
Elsewhere, special prizes were handed out to Emma Thompson (Richard Harris Award), John Boorman (Special Jury Prize) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Variety Award).
The full list of winners at the Moët British Independent Film Awards is as follows:
Best British Independent Film
'71
Calvary
Mr Turner
Pride - Winner!
The Imitation Game
Best Director
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
Matthew Warchus – Pride
Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
Yann Demange – '71 - Winner!
The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director
Daniel Wolfe,...
- 12/8/2014
- Digital Spy
A glittering array of talent turned out this evening for the 17th Moët British Independent Film Awards. The winners were announced at the star-studded ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate, which was hosted by The Inbetweeners star, Simon Bird.
The lucky winners took home the iconic award designed by Fredrikson Stallard and created by Swarovski as well as a personalised, Swarovski crystal encrusted magnum of Moët & Chandon.
Best British Independent Film was won by Pride. Yann Demange won Best Director for ’71, Gugu Mbatha-Raw won Best Actress for Belle and Brendan Gleeson won Best Actor for Calvary. Andrew Scott collected his award for Best Supporting Actor for Pride and Imelda Staunton took home her award for Best Supporting Actress also for her role in Pride.
Pride won the most awards on the night, picking up Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
As previously announced, Emma Thompson was...
The lucky winners took home the iconic award designed by Fredrikson Stallard and created by Swarovski as well as a personalised, Swarovski crystal encrusted magnum of Moët & Chandon.
Best British Independent Film was won by Pride. Yann Demange won Best Director for ’71, Gugu Mbatha-Raw won Best Actress for Belle and Brendan Gleeson won Best Actor for Calvary. Andrew Scott collected his award for Best Supporting Actor for Pride and Imelda Staunton took home her award for Best Supporting Actress also for her role in Pride.
Pride won the most awards on the night, picking up Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
As previously announced, Emma Thompson was...
- 12/7/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Jack O'Connell is breaking out something fierce this year. He's of course starring in Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" and on the indie scene in "Starred Up," for which he was nominated last year at the British Independent Film Awards. Well, he's back for more of this this time around with "'71," Yann Demange's brilliant Belfast thriller, which scored the lion's share of nominations today with nine. Matthew Warchus' ensemble dramedy "Pride," about gay activists working to help miners during the 1984 UK mineworkers strike, was a few steps behind with seven mentions. Mike Leigh's "Mr. Turner" rounded up five nods, while "Calvary" and "The Imitation Game" picked up four apiece. The international category was mostly populated with American entries: "The Babadook," "Blue Ruin," "Boyhood" and "Fruitvale Station." Though Poland's "Ida" also made a show. Check out the full list of nominees below. The 17th annual British Independent Film...
- 12/3/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
With year end lists already flooding the interwebs a full month before the actual year’s end, its hard to ignore the fact that awards season is now in full swing. Tons of documentary awards have already been handed out, whether its for Ida (not Pawel Pawlikowski’s gorgeous new film) or for Cinema Eye Honors, there are plenty of worthy films getting their due recognition. Plus, several international festivals have handed out major awards this month, including Idfa, which hosted their awards ceremony just minutes ago. The full roundup is just below:
Dok Leipzig – Germany – October 27th – November 2nd
At the close of the 57th edition of the German documentary festival the Golden Dove Award, the festival’s highest honor, was given to Claudine Bories and Patrice Chagnard’s Rules of the Game, while the Leipziger Ring Film Prize went to Laura Poitras’s Edward Snowden doc Citizenfour, the...
Dok Leipzig – Germany – October 27th – November 2nd
At the close of the 57th edition of the German documentary festival the Golden Dove Award, the festival’s highest honor, was given to Claudine Bories and Patrice Chagnard’s Rules of the Game, while the Leipziger Ring Film Prize went to Laura Poitras’s Edward Snowden doc Citizenfour, the...
- 11/29/2014
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Andre Singer’s Night Will Fall will get a global broadcast launch on Jan 27, to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The date is also International Holocause Remembrance Day.
The film revisits the project from decades ago that involved Sidney Bernstein, Richard Crossman and Alfred Hitchcock to tell the story of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps; footage from 1945 is used extensively.
The harrowing documentary will be shown on Channel 4 (UK), HBO (Us), Arte (Germany/France), Ard (Germany), Tvp (Poland), Vpro (The Netherlands), Channel 8 Hot and Keshet TV (Israel), Dr (Denmark), Rtvslo (Slovenia), Yle (Finland), and Nrk (Norway). Midas will distribute in Portugal.
Tel Aviv-based Cinephil handles international sales.
Producers are Sally Angel and Brett Ratner and executive producers are Richard Melman, James Packer and Stephen Frears.
The 75-minute film is a UK-us-Israel-Denmark production.
Night Will Fall had a work in progress screening at the 2014 Berlinale.
The date is also International Holocause Remembrance Day.
The film revisits the project from decades ago that involved Sidney Bernstein, Richard Crossman and Alfred Hitchcock to tell the story of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps; footage from 1945 is used extensively.
The harrowing documentary will be shown on Channel 4 (UK), HBO (Us), Arte (Germany/France), Ard (Germany), Tvp (Poland), Vpro (The Netherlands), Channel 8 Hot and Keshet TV (Israel), Dr (Denmark), Rtvslo (Slovenia), Yle (Finland), and Nrk (Norway). Midas will distribute in Portugal.
Tel Aviv-based Cinephil handles international sales.
Producers are Sally Angel and Brett Ratner and executive producers are Richard Melman, James Packer and Stephen Frears.
The 75-minute film is a UK-us-Israel-Denmark production.
Night Will Fall had a work in progress screening at the 2014 Berlinale.
- 11/25/2014
- by [email protected] (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The nominations for the 17th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced recently, at St Martins Lane, London by actor Jared Harris .
Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: "This has been a record year for Mbifa with over 250 films submitted giving our dedicated members their toughest challenge to date. Hugely impressed by the quality of films and performances across all categories the shortlist demonstrates how the standard of creativity in British independent filmmaking continues to flourish year on year. The decision of who will walk away with one of the iconic Mbifa trophies* is now in the hands of our distinguished independent jury announced today. We are looking forward to seeing as many of the nominees as possible at the Awards on 7th December, to celebrate their incredible achievements. It will be a very personal celebration for us also, as the last in a wonderful 9 Award Ceremonies as Joint Directors of Bifa.”
The highest number of nominations this year goes to "‘71" with nine nominations including Best British Independent Film; Best Director and Debut Director for Yann Demange; Best Screenplay for Gregory Burke; Best Actor for Jack O’Connell and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Harris. "Pride" picked up seven nominations and "Catch me Daddy,""Frank," and "Mr Turner" picked up five nominations each.
Nominations for Best Actress go to Alicia Vikander for "Testament of Youth;" Cheng Pei Pei for "Lilting;" Gugu Mbatha-Raw for "Belle;" Keira Knightley for "The Imitation Game" and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed for "Catch Me Daddy." Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Asa Butterfield for "X+Y;" Benedict Cumberbatch for "The Imitation Game"; Brendan Gleeson for "Calvary"; Jack O’Connell for "’71" and Timothy Spall for "Mr Turner."
Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Andrew Scott and Ben Schnetzer, both for "Pride;" Michael Fassbender for "Frank;" Rafe Spall for "X+Y" and Sean Harris for"’71."
Dorothy Atkinson for "Mr Turner;" Imelda Staunton for "Pride;" Maggie Gyllenhaal for "Frank;" Sally Hawkins for "X+Y"and Sienna Guillory for "The Goob" are all nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.
Directors who have delivered dynamic debuts this year and are fighting for the Douglas Hickox Award are Daniel Wolfe and Matthew Wolfe for "Catch Me Daddy;" Hong Khaou for "Lilting;" Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard for "20,000 Days on Earth;" Morgan Matthews for "X+Y" and Yann Demange for "’71."
The Raindance Award nominees for 2014 include: "Flim: The Movie;" "Gregor;" "Luna;" "Keeping Rosy"and "The Beat Beneath My Feet." This award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support. Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival and Moët British Independent Film Awards added: "The breadth and quality of the British films selected this year suggests a bumper year for British films. Raindance congratulates all the talented filmmakers whose wonderful films make up this year's Mbifa nominations.”
The Pre-Selection Committee of over 70 members viewed a record breaking 250 plus films this year, out of which they selected the nominations, which were decided by ballot.
The winners of The Moët British Independent Film Awards are decided by an independent jury comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry.
It was also announced that the Oscar® and BAFTA - winning Director Tom Hopper, whose film "The King’s Speech" picked up five awards, including Best British Independent Film at the 2010 Moët British Independent Film Awards, will chair the Jury who will decide the winners of the 2014 awards.
Hooper commented: "I am honoured to preside over the Moët Bifa jury this year. It has been an extremely strong year for filmmaking here in Britain and I am looking forward to helping the very best of this year's independent films, get the recognition they deserve."
The Jury for 2014 includes: Jury Chair – Tom Hooper (Director), Jonathan Romney (Writer, Director), Jon S. Baird (Writer, Director), Luke Treadaway (Actor), Mary Burke (Producer), Sean Ellis (Writer, Director), Shira Macleod (Film Programming Consultant), Stanley Tucci (Actor, Director), Thea Sharrock (Director), Tinge Krishnan (Director) Tracy O’Riordan (Producer) and Zawe Ashton (Actor, Director).
Elsa Corbineau, Marketing Director Moët & Chandon, commented: “The pool of talents recognized by the Moët British Independent Film Awards has continuously inspired us with the richness it represents. With Moët & Chandon being the champagne of choice for celebration at international film festivals and award ceremonies, we are delighted to toast to the success of all nominees, including those for the ‘Best British Independent Film’ award sponsored by Moët & Chandon.”
The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 17th awards ceremony on Sunday 7 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is proud to announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:
Best British Independent Film
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
"'71"
"Calvary"
"Mr Turner"
"Pride"
"The Imitation Game"
Best Director
Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission
John Michael McDonagh – "Calvary"
Lenny Abrahamson – "Frank"
Matthew Warchus – "Pride"
Mike Leigh – "Mr Turner"
Yann Demange – "'71"
The Douglas Hickox Award [Best Debut Director]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – "Catch Me Daddy"
Hong Khaou – "Lilting"
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – "20,000 Days on Earth"
Morgan Matthews – "X+Y"
Yann Demange – "'71"
Best Screenplay
Sponsored by BBC Films
Graham Moore – "The Imitation Game"
Gregory Burke – "'71"
John Michael McDonagh – "Calvary"
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – "Frank"
Stephen Beresford – "Pride"
Best Actress
Sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics
Alicia Vikander – "Testament of Youth"
Cheng Pei Pei – "Lilting"
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – "Belle"
Keira Knightley – "The Imitation Game"
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – "Catch Me Daddy"
Best Actor
Sponsored by Movado
Asa Butterfield – "X+Y"
Benedict Cumberbatch – "The Imitation Game"
Brendan Gleeson – "Calvary"
Jack O'Connell – "'71"
Timothy Spall – "Mr Turner"
Best Supporting Actress
Dorothy Atkinson – "Mr Turner"
Imelda Staunton – "Pride"
Maggie Gyllenhaal – "Frank"
Sally Hawkins –"X+Y"
Sienna Guillory – "The Goob"
Best Supporting Actor
Sponsored by St Martins Lane
Andrew Scott – "Pride"
Ben Schnetzer – "Pride"
Michael Fassbender – "Frank"
Rafe Spall – "X+Y"
Sean Harris – "‘71"
Most Promising Newcomer
Ben Schnetzer – "Pride"
Cara Delevingne – "The Face of An Angel"
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – "Belle"
Liam Walpole – "The Goob"
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – "Catch Me Daddy"
Best Achievement In Production
"'71"
"20,000 Days on Earth"
"Catch Me Daddy"
"Lilting"
"The Goob"
Best Technical Achievement
Chris Wyatt - Editing - "'71"
Dick Pope - Cinematography -"Mr Turner"
Robbie Ryan - Cinematography - "Catch Me Daddy"
Stephen Rennicks - Music – "Frank"
Tat Radcliffe - Cinematography - "'71"
Best DocumentarY
"20,000 Days on Earth"
"Next Goal Wins"
"Night Will Fall"
"The Possibilities Are Endless"
"Virunga"
Best British Short
"Crocodile"
"Emotional Fusebox"
"Keeping Up With The Joneses"
"Slap"
"The Kármán Line"
Best International Independent Film
"Blue Ruin"
"Boyhood"
"Fruitvale Station"
"Ida"
"The Badadook"
The Raindance Award
"Flim: The Movie..".
"Gregor"
"Luna"
"Keeping Rosy"
"The Beat Beneath My Feet"
The Richard Harris Award (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
To Be Announced
The Variety Award
To Be Announced
The Special Jury Prize
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December
Now in its 17th year, the Awards were created by Raindance in 1998 and set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.
Previous winners of the prestigious Best British Independent Film Award include "Metro Manila," "Tyrannosaur," "The King's Speech," "Moon," "Control," "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Constant Gardener" and "This is England"
Proud supporters and patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, James Nesbitt, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, M.A.C Cosmetics, Movado, Raindance, St Martins Lane, Soho House, Swarovski, Variety, AllCity, Intermission.
Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: "This has been a record year for Mbifa with over 250 films submitted giving our dedicated members their toughest challenge to date. Hugely impressed by the quality of films and performances across all categories the shortlist demonstrates how the standard of creativity in British independent filmmaking continues to flourish year on year. The decision of who will walk away with one of the iconic Mbifa trophies* is now in the hands of our distinguished independent jury announced today. We are looking forward to seeing as many of the nominees as possible at the Awards on 7th December, to celebrate their incredible achievements. It will be a very personal celebration for us also, as the last in a wonderful 9 Award Ceremonies as Joint Directors of Bifa.”
The highest number of nominations this year goes to "‘71" with nine nominations including Best British Independent Film; Best Director and Debut Director for Yann Demange; Best Screenplay for Gregory Burke; Best Actor for Jack O’Connell and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Harris. "Pride" picked up seven nominations and "Catch me Daddy,""Frank," and "Mr Turner" picked up five nominations each.
Nominations for Best Actress go to Alicia Vikander for "Testament of Youth;" Cheng Pei Pei for "Lilting;" Gugu Mbatha-Raw for "Belle;" Keira Knightley for "The Imitation Game" and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed for "Catch Me Daddy." Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Asa Butterfield for "X+Y;" Benedict Cumberbatch for "The Imitation Game"; Brendan Gleeson for "Calvary"; Jack O’Connell for "’71" and Timothy Spall for "Mr Turner."
Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Andrew Scott and Ben Schnetzer, both for "Pride;" Michael Fassbender for "Frank;" Rafe Spall for "X+Y" and Sean Harris for"’71."
Dorothy Atkinson for "Mr Turner;" Imelda Staunton for "Pride;" Maggie Gyllenhaal for "Frank;" Sally Hawkins for "X+Y"and Sienna Guillory for "The Goob" are all nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.
Directors who have delivered dynamic debuts this year and are fighting for the Douglas Hickox Award are Daniel Wolfe and Matthew Wolfe for "Catch Me Daddy;" Hong Khaou for "Lilting;" Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard for "20,000 Days on Earth;" Morgan Matthews for "X+Y" and Yann Demange for "’71."
The Raindance Award nominees for 2014 include: "Flim: The Movie;" "Gregor;" "Luna;" "Keeping Rosy"and "The Beat Beneath My Feet." This award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support. Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival and Moët British Independent Film Awards added: "The breadth and quality of the British films selected this year suggests a bumper year for British films. Raindance congratulates all the talented filmmakers whose wonderful films make up this year's Mbifa nominations.”
The Pre-Selection Committee of over 70 members viewed a record breaking 250 plus films this year, out of which they selected the nominations, which were decided by ballot.
The winners of The Moët British Independent Film Awards are decided by an independent jury comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry.
It was also announced that the Oscar® and BAFTA - winning Director Tom Hopper, whose film "The King’s Speech" picked up five awards, including Best British Independent Film at the 2010 Moët British Independent Film Awards, will chair the Jury who will decide the winners of the 2014 awards.
Hooper commented: "I am honoured to preside over the Moët Bifa jury this year. It has been an extremely strong year for filmmaking here in Britain and I am looking forward to helping the very best of this year's independent films, get the recognition they deserve."
The Jury for 2014 includes: Jury Chair – Tom Hooper (Director), Jonathan Romney (Writer, Director), Jon S. Baird (Writer, Director), Luke Treadaway (Actor), Mary Burke (Producer), Sean Ellis (Writer, Director), Shira Macleod (Film Programming Consultant), Stanley Tucci (Actor, Director), Thea Sharrock (Director), Tinge Krishnan (Director) Tracy O’Riordan (Producer) and Zawe Ashton (Actor, Director).
Elsa Corbineau, Marketing Director Moët & Chandon, commented: “The pool of talents recognized by the Moët British Independent Film Awards has continuously inspired us with the richness it represents. With Moët & Chandon being the champagne of choice for celebration at international film festivals and award ceremonies, we are delighted to toast to the success of all nominees, including those for the ‘Best British Independent Film’ award sponsored by Moët & Chandon.”
The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 17th awards ceremony on Sunday 7 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is proud to announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:
Best British Independent Film
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
"'71"
"Calvary"
"Mr Turner"
"Pride"
"The Imitation Game"
Best Director
Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission
John Michael McDonagh – "Calvary"
Lenny Abrahamson – "Frank"
Matthew Warchus – "Pride"
Mike Leigh – "Mr Turner"
Yann Demange – "'71"
The Douglas Hickox Award [Best Debut Director]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – "Catch Me Daddy"
Hong Khaou – "Lilting"
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – "20,000 Days on Earth"
Morgan Matthews – "X+Y"
Yann Demange – "'71"
Best Screenplay
Sponsored by BBC Films
Graham Moore – "The Imitation Game"
Gregory Burke – "'71"
John Michael McDonagh – "Calvary"
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – "Frank"
Stephen Beresford – "Pride"
Best Actress
Sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics
Alicia Vikander – "Testament of Youth"
Cheng Pei Pei – "Lilting"
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – "Belle"
Keira Knightley – "The Imitation Game"
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – "Catch Me Daddy"
Best Actor
Sponsored by Movado
Asa Butterfield – "X+Y"
Benedict Cumberbatch – "The Imitation Game"
Brendan Gleeson – "Calvary"
Jack O'Connell – "'71"
Timothy Spall – "Mr Turner"
Best Supporting Actress
Dorothy Atkinson – "Mr Turner"
Imelda Staunton – "Pride"
Maggie Gyllenhaal – "Frank"
Sally Hawkins –"X+Y"
Sienna Guillory – "The Goob"
Best Supporting Actor
Sponsored by St Martins Lane
Andrew Scott – "Pride"
Ben Schnetzer – "Pride"
Michael Fassbender – "Frank"
Rafe Spall – "X+Y"
Sean Harris – "‘71"
Most Promising Newcomer
Ben Schnetzer – "Pride"
Cara Delevingne – "The Face of An Angel"
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – "Belle"
Liam Walpole – "The Goob"
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – "Catch Me Daddy"
Best Achievement In Production
"'71"
"20,000 Days on Earth"
"Catch Me Daddy"
"Lilting"
"The Goob"
Best Technical Achievement
Chris Wyatt - Editing - "'71"
Dick Pope - Cinematography -"Mr Turner"
Robbie Ryan - Cinematography - "Catch Me Daddy"
Stephen Rennicks - Music – "Frank"
Tat Radcliffe - Cinematography - "'71"
Best DocumentarY
"20,000 Days on Earth"
"Next Goal Wins"
"Night Will Fall"
"The Possibilities Are Endless"
"Virunga"
Best British Short
"Crocodile"
"Emotional Fusebox"
"Keeping Up With The Joneses"
"Slap"
"The Kármán Line"
Best International Independent Film
"Blue Ruin"
"Boyhood"
"Fruitvale Station"
"Ida"
"The Badadook"
The Raindance Award
"Flim: The Movie..".
"Gregor"
"Luna"
"Keeping Rosy"
"The Beat Beneath My Feet"
The Richard Harris Award (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
To Be Announced
The Variety Award
To Be Announced
The Special Jury Prize
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December
Now in its 17th year, the Awards were created by Raindance in 1998 and set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.
Previous winners of the prestigious Best British Independent Film Award include "Metro Manila," "Tyrannosaur," "The King's Speech," "Moon," "Control," "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Constant Gardener" and "This is England"
Proud supporters and patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, James Nesbitt, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, M.A.C Cosmetics, Movado, Raindance, St Martins Lane, Soho House, Swarovski, Variety, AllCity, Intermission.
- 11/10/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Whoopsy. I forgot to share this list... Herewith the films that could be up for Best Documentary Feature this year. We'll get a finalist of 15 at some point next month followed by 5 nominees in January "until we crown A Winnah!" If we've reviewed the titles, you'll notice their pretty color which you can then click on to read about them. The magic of the internet. You can also see the animated and documentary Oscar charts here.
The 134 Semi-Finalists
A-c
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq, Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case, Algorithms, Alive Inside, All You Need Is Love, Altina, America: Imagine the World without Her, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, Anita, Antarctica: A Year on Ice, Art and Craft, Awake: The Life of Yogananda, The Barefoot Artist, The Battered Bastards of Baseball, Before You Know It, Bitter Honey, Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity, Botso The Teacher from Tbilisi,...
The 134 Semi-Finalists
A-c
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq, Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case, Algorithms, Alive Inside, All You Need Is Love, Altina, America: Imagine the World without Her, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, Anita, Antarctica: A Year on Ice, Art and Craft, Awake: The Life of Yogananda, The Barefoot Artist, The Battered Bastards of Baseball, Before You Know It, Bitter Honey, Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity, Botso The Teacher from Tbilisi,...
- 11/3/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The edge-of-your seat thriller that was all the talk at this year’s Berlin Film Festival (that momentum was carried over into Telluride and Tiff during the fall) leads all noms for the 17th edition of the 2014 British Independent Film Awards. Landing nine nominations in all, Yann Demange’s ’71 might lead the pack, but I’d argue that despite all the fanfare, remains an underdog in most categories. Going up against The Imitation Game (which failed to score Morten Tyldum a Best Director nod but managed to get Best Screenplay and Best Film consideration) and Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner, there might be plenty of gift-giving for several films on December 7th, with Matthew Warchus’ Pride also in the mix with a whopping seven noms (mostly in the acting categories). The much deserving Cannes played Catch Me Daddy and Venice Film Fest included The Goob thankfully didn’t go unnoticed,...
- 11/3/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
The British Independent Film Awards announced its nominees this Monday morning and it was good news for films that may not have the muscle to break into the Academy Awards contest. The Irish political thriller “’71” and “Pride,” the story of gay activism and mineworker strikes that fits snuggly the time-honored British sociopolitical dramedy genre, earned the most nominations. In honors that will likely replicate themselves stateside, “Imitation Game” also earned a Best British Independent Film nod, with stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley finding love in the Best Actor and Actress categories, respectively. Other Best British Independent Film nominees include Mike Leigh’s “Mr. Turner” and John Michael McDonagh’s “Calvary.” Picking up multiple nominations were Lenny Abrahamson’s “Frank,” documentarian Morgan Matthews’ narrative debut “X+Y,” and the Nick Cave documentary “20,000 Days on Earth.” There’s little conformity to the British Independent Film Awards. Compared to previous years, the 2014 nominations are downright populist.
- 11/3/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Yann Demange’s anti-war parable ’71 has scored a leading nine nominations for the 17th Moët British Independent Film Awards. The director’s debut feature, which premiered in Berlin last February, is named in the major categories and also scooped a Best Actor mention for Jack O’Connell who’s next up in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken. Directors’ Fortnight closer and crowd-pleaser Pride, helmed by Matthew Warchus, was next with seven nominations while festival favorites Daniel Wolfe’s Catch Me Daddy, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank and Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner each scored five nods. Along with ’71, Pride and Mr Turner, the titles competing in the Best British Independent Film race are John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary and Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game. Oscar hopeful, The Imitation Game’s Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley also scored acting noms. (See full list of nominees below.)
Winners are decided by an independent...
Winners are decided by an independent...
- 11/3/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
One hundred thirty-four features have been submitted for consideration in the Documentary Feature category for the 87th Academy Awards. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
“Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq”
“Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case”
“Algorithms”
“Alive Inside”
“All You Need Is Love”
“Altina”
“America: Imagine the World without Her”
“American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs”
“Anita”
“Antarctica: A Year on Ice”
“Art and Craft”
“Awake: The Life of Yogananda”
“The Barefoot Artist”
“The Battered Bastards of Baseball”
“Before You Know It”
“Bitter Honey”
“Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity”
“Botso The Teacher from Tbilisi”
“Captivated The Trials of Pamela Smart”
“The Case against 8”
“Cesar’s Last Fast”
“Citizen Koch”
“CitizenFour”
“Code Black”
“Concerning Violence”
“The Culture High”
“Cyber-Seniors”
“DamNation”
“Dancing in Jaffa”
“Death Metal Angola”
“The Decent One”
“Dinosaur 13”
“Do You Know What My Name Is?...
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
“Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq”
“Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case”
“Algorithms”
“Alive Inside”
“All You Need Is Love”
“Altina”
“America: Imagine the World without Her”
“American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs”
“Anita”
“Antarctica: A Year on Ice”
“Art and Craft”
“Awake: The Life of Yogananda”
“The Barefoot Artist”
“The Battered Bastards of Baseball”
“Before You Know It”
“Bitter Honey”
“Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity”
“Botso The Teacher from Tbilisi”
“Captivated The Trials of Pamela Smart”
“The Case against 8”
“Cesar’s Last Fast”
“Citizen Koch”
“CitizenFour”
“Code Black”
“Concerning Violence”
“The Culture High”
“Cyber-Seniors”
“DamNation”
“Dancing in Jaffa”
“Death Metal Angola”
“The Decent One”
“Dinosaur 13”
“Do You Know What My Name Is?...
- 11/2/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Citizenfour, Life Itself, Red Army, Warsaw Uprising among long-list contenters for the 87th Academy Awards.
The Salt Of The Earth, Happy Valley, Jodorowsky’s Dune, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, Food Chains and Point And Shoot are also named.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
20,000 Days On Earth
Afternoon Of A Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case
Algorithms
Alive Inside
All You Need Is Love
Altina
America: Imagine The World Without Her
American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs
Anita
Antarctica: A Year On Ice
Art And Craft
Awake: The Life Of Yogananda
The Barefoot Artist
The Battered Bastards Of Baseball
Before You Know It
Bitter Honey
Born To Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity
Botso The Teacher From Tbilisi
Captivated The Trials Of Pamela Smart
The Case Against 8
Cesar’s Last Fast
Citizen Koch
Citizenfour
Code Black
Concerning Violence
The Culture High
Cyber-Seniors
Damnation
Dancing In Jaffa
Death Metal Angola
The...
The Salt Of The Earth, Happy Valley, Jodorowsky’s Dune, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, Food Chains and Point And Shoot are also named.
The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:
20,000 Days On Earth
Afternoon Of A Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case
Algorithms
Alive Inside
All You Need Is Love
Altina
America: Imagine The World Without Her
American Revolutionary: The Evolution Of Grace Lee Boggs
Anita
Antarctica: A Year On Ice
Art And Craft
Awake: The Life Of Yogananda
The Barefoot Artist
The Battered Bastards Of Baseball
Before You Know It
Bitter Honey
Born To Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity
Botso The Teacher From Tbilisi
Captivated The Trials Of Pamela Smart
The Case Against 8
Cesar’s Last Fast
Citizen Koch
Citizenfour
Code Black
Concerning Violence
The Culture High
Cyber-Seniors
Damnation
Dancing In Jaffa
Death Metal Angola
The...
- 10/31/2014
- by [email protected] (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its list of 134 film vying for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar at the 87th Annual Academy Awards in February. A number of the nonfic hopefuls have yet to get their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases. Those that don’t will be cut from the contention. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December. Oscar noms will be revealed January 15, and ABC will broadcast Hollywood’s Big Night live on February 22 from the Dolby Theatre.
Here are the docu feature submissions:
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case
Algorithms
Alive Inside
All You Need Is Love
Altina
America: Imagine the World without Her
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs
Anita
Antarctica: A Year on Ice
Art and Craft
Awake: The Life of Yogananda
The Barefoot Artist
The Battered Bastards of Baseball...
Here are the docu feature submissions:
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case
Algorithms
Alive Inside
All You Need Is Love
Altina
America: Imagine the World without Her
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs
Anita
Antarctica: A Year on Ice
Art and Craft
Awake: The Life of Yogananda
The Barefoot Artist
The Battered Bastards of Baseball...
- 10/31/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
One hundred thirty-four features have been submitted for consideration in the Documentary Feature category for the 87th Academy Awards®. Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category's other qualifying rules in order to advance in the voting process. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December. Films submitted in the Documentary Feature category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories. The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar...
- 10/31/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
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