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Robert Osborne Award, TCL Chinese Theatre, TCM Classic Film Festival, television

More Exciting News From 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

2025 TCM Classic Film Festival Reveals Additional Star-Studded Guests: Michael Mann, Rob Reiner, Kathy Bates, Aaron Sorkin and More to Attend

New York, NY – April 3, 2025 – Turner Classic Movies (TCM) today announced additional talent and programming for this year’s 16th annual TCM Classic Film Festival running April 24 – 27, 2025 in Hollywood, including a Closing Night 30th anniversary special screening of 1995’s epic crime drama Heat, in conversation with director Michael Mann. In addition to previously announced titles, the festival line-up will also include:

  • Director Rob Reiner in conversation with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to introduce a 30th anniversary of The American President (1995)
  • Misery (1990) with star Kathy Bates and Rob Reiner
  • Keir Dullea in attendance to present 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
  • Director Alexander Payne will introduce Ben Hur (1959)
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) with star Barry Bostwick
  • Blade Runner (1982) with star Sean Young
  • Danny Huston will attend to present Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)
  • Paul Schrader will join the festival to introduce Hud (1963)
  • Sound effects artist Ben Burtt and visual effects artist Craig Barron will return to the festival with a special presentation of Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) with a guest appearance by star Eric Braedon.

 

Ben Burtt on the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival red carpet (Photo by L. Gleeson)

 

For the first time since the 1950s, the TCM Classic Film Festival, in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, will host screenings of VistaVision films. Unlike standard 35mm film, which runs vertically through the camera, VistaVision shoots the negative horizontally, exposing the image across two 35mm frames. Using VistaVision projectors specifically installed for the festival, TCM will showcase two rare VistaVision prints: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and We’re No Angels (1955) and will feature this year’s Academy-award winning cinematographer Lol Crawley. These screenings present an exceptionally rare opportunity to see VistaVision as it was meant to be experienced: on the big screen, in stunning clarity and with Perspecta audio.

The festival will also be honoring the 90th anniversary of the British Film Institute’s National Archive, one of the most important film and TV collections in the world. Titles presented by the BFI in this celebration include Blithe Spirit (with an introduction from Christine Ebersole), Edge of the City, Mildred Pierce (a rare original 1945 nitrate release print), the premiere of new 35mm prints of To Be or Not To Be and The Private Life of Henry VIII (with an introduction by BFI Head of Conservation Kieron Webb), plus Jaws (a pristine original 1975 Technicolor dye-transfer British release print, with a special appearance by Lorraine Gary.) The treasures in the BFI National Archive’s will also be showcased in a special in conversation event as part of Club TCM, titled Across the Pond: Sights & Sounds of the British Film Institute to dive into the BFI’s archive with their CEO, Ben Roberts.

Not to be missed Club TCM Presentations will include:

Conversation with Michael Schultz
The TCM Classic Film Festival is proud to pay tribute to the work of prolific and award-winning director and producer Michael Schultz. A veteran of stage, film and television, Schultz has created memorable works for decades, working longer than any other African-American director. From films like Cooley High (1975) and the Cannes award-winning CAR WASH (1976) to television, from Starsky and Hutch and The Rockford Files to Ally McBeal and Black-ish, his talents have shone in multiple productions. Schultz also has an eye for new talent, casting Al Pacino in his first Broadway play, Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, winning the actor a Tony Award, and also cast Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson in their first feature films. Join TCM for an in-depth conversation with Michael Schultz about his remarkable career and life.

The TCM Classic Film Festival, April 24-27, 2025, in Hollywood California,  has selected Michael Schultz as this year’s honoree.

Fantastic Footage and Where to Find It: Surprise and Delights from the
World’s Film Archives
“Just when I thought I’d seen it all…”  That familiar phrase might come to mind in this one-of-a-kind presentation. Among the millions of film and video works collected within the world’s archives, there exists an unseen tapestry of remarkable, astonishing and often unseen gems found on a multitude of sources—film and video formats of all shapes and sizes. From film fragments, blooper reels and outtakes, home movies, extraordinary commercials, even local news footage, and some things that just defy explanation, this curated presentation will reveal curious and eclectic wonders tucked away within the globe’s vast archival holdings.
In Attendance: Brittan Dunham and Ashley Swinnerton

From Here to Eternity: A Visit to the Final Resting Places of Hollywood’s Legends
Movies, by their nature, are intangible and ghostly projections conjured out of roughly equal portions of light and personality. So, it’s fitting that our favorite stars usually leave us with very little physical evidence of their existence – beyond their final resting places that is. Join renowned film historians and celebrity-cemetery sleuths Karie Bible and Steven Bingen for this all-access, whirlwind virtual tour of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity gravesites, many of which are as mysterious, inspirational, and eccentric as the legends they commemorate. Filled with personal stories, historic and contemporary photos and explicit directions about how you can find and visit scores of celebrity graves yourself, this reverent/irreverent presentation is a must for anyone interested in connecting the dots, and the last dot in particular, behind the lives of those fascinating faces on the screen.
In attendance: Karie Bible, Steven Bingen.

The full 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival Programming Schedule of films, participating talent, special talks and presentations are now available. For all information, please visit http://tcm.com/festival.

About 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival
Movie lovers from around the globe will descend upon Hollywood for the 16th edition of the TCM Classic Film Festival, set to take place Thursday, April 24 – Sunday, April 27, 2025. Over four packed days and nights, attendees will be treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions, special events, and more.

Ben Mankiewicz attends the 40th Anniversary Screening of E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) at the TCL Chinese Theatre during Opening Night of the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival.

TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz will serve as official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival, alongside Jacqueline Stewart, Dave Karger, Alicia Malone, and Eddie Muller.

The festival’s official hotel and central gathering point will be The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Academy Awards® ceremony. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel will also offer special rates for Festival attendees. Screenings and events during the festival will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX®, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre, and a return to the historic El Capitan Theatre.

This year’s festival theme is “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film.For the latest news and information, follow on social media at #TCMFF.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)  
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “Where Then Meets Now.” TCM features insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With three decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials and Reframed along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 9 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.

Larry Gleeson attending his first TCM Classic Film Festival.
#SBIFF, Feature Film, Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, television

JAVIER BARDEM AND NICOLE KIDMAN ACCEPT  MALTIN MODERN MASTER AWARD AT THE 37TH ANNUAL  SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

JAVIER BARDEM AND NICOLE KIDMAN ACCEPT 

MALTIN MODERN MASTER AWARD AT THE 37TH ANNUAL 

SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (March 10, 2022) – The final tribute of the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival presented by UGG featured a tribute to Academy Award winners, Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, who received the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award. Bardem and Kidman were recognized for their long-standing contributions to the film industry, most recently in the roles of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s BEING THE RICARDOS from Amazon Studios, for which they both received individual Lead Actor SAG Award nominations.

They sat down with Leonard Maltin, who returned for his 32nd year to moderate the evening for an insightful conversation and look back at their careers.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Todd Black (R) presents Javier Bardem with the Maltin Modern Master Award during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 10, 2022, in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Following the conversation with Maltin, Producer Todd Black presented both with the Maltin Modern Master Award. Todd remarked: “You’re [Nicole] probably one of the most humble people I’ve ever met in my career, and very kind…Every day walking on that set with Javier and being completely present, kind, and personable to every crew member…and delivering it 100% every day. It was kind of a dream come true for me,” and “Who he [Javier] is here is who he is. He’s as humble and sweet and gracious and funny and professional as any person I’ve ever met in my career.”

 

Upon accepting the award, Bardem said: “I’m very honored, I don’t want to leave this stage! …seeing these images on the big screen after two years, in a theater full of people… it’s a joy for an actor.”

The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of long-time SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Bill Murray, Judy Garland, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney, and Peter Jackson.

Still upcoming is the women’s panel. The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place IN-PERSON through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.

About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.

(Press release courtesy of Michelle Tarangelo, Sunshine Sachs)

Feature Film

BEING THE RICARDOS Is Coming!

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

As America’s funniest and most beloved TV couple, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo have been a constant presence on television around the world since the characters first appeared in the iconic sitcom “I Love Lucy,” which premiered on CBS in 1951.

 

JAVIER BARDEM and NICOLE KIDMAN star in BEING THE RICARDOS Photo: GLEN WILSON © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

 

As the quintessential dizzy redhead and the charismatic Cuban bandleader she married, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were among the brightest stars in the growing television universe, delighting their record-breaking audiences each week with Lucy’s hare-brained schemes and hilarious antics. But as America enjoyed the sitcom world of Lucy and Ricky, Ball and Arnaz were actually facing problems that could have brought an end to their newfound success and their marriage.

 

Director AARON SORKIN and NICOLE KIDMAN on the set of BEING THE RICARDOS Photo: GLEN WILSON © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

 

Despite her gift for scene-stealing physical comedy as Lucy Ricardo, Lucille Ball was a demanding and hard-nosed perfectionist behind the scenes. Desi Arnaz, in addition to being a multi-talented showman like his television character, was also a shrewd and innovative businessman who built a powerful and prolific Hollywood studio.

 

JAVIER BARDEM, J.K. SIMMONS, NINA ARIANDA, and NICOLE KDIMAN star in BEING THE RICARDOS Photo: GLEN WILSON © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

 

In addition, the Ricardos’ neighbors and landlords, Fred and Ethel Mertz were crucial to the show’s success. The constantly squabbling former vaudevillians appear in virtually every episode of the show and the actors who played them, William Frawley and Vivian Vance, became close friends of Ball and Arnaz.

 

NINA ARIANDA stars in BEING THE RICARDOS Photo: GLEN WILSON © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

 

Frawley, a heavy-drinking veteran of Hollywood and vaudeville, is played by J.K. Simmons, winner of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Whiplash. Sorkin wrote the role of the cantankerous but loyal Frawley with Simmons in mind. Tony-winning actress Nina Arianda was chosen to portray Vance. Arianda says she grew up watching “I Love Lucy” and was intimidated by the idea of playing an iconic television star.

 

After sifting through the historical documents, writer Aaron Sorkin proposed going back in time some 70 years to chronicle one one production week of “I Love Lucy” — from Monday table read through Friday audience taping — Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz face a series of personal and professional crises that threaten their show, their careers, and their marriage. Oscar® winners Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as the power couple behind the beloved 1950s television sitcom “I Love Lucy” in Oscar-winning writer and director Aaron Sorkin’s behind-the-scenes drama, Being the Ricardos.

I’ve always been a fan of I Love Lucy having watched it with growing up, and I can honestly say I had never laughed as hard as I did as I watched The Long, Long Trailer (1953) starring Lucille and Dezi Arnaz. So, with bated breath, I wait until December 21 to see Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos. 

Until then, I’ll see you at the movies!