SANTA BARBARA, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Actress Rachel McAdams walks the red carpet for the American Riviera Award at the Arlington Theater at the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 5, 2016 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
Excitement and anticipation abound Friday evening as Rachel McAdams electrified the red carpet at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, CA for the American Riviera Awards at the 31st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). McAdam’s stunning Jonathan Simkhai gown awed the crowd as the Canadian actress gracefully made her way from her limousine greeting the onlooking crowd and signing autographs for adoring fans.
A near capacity crowd jostled into the 2000+ seat venue as bags were checked and festival passholders were granted priority access. Roger Durling, Executive Director of SBIFF and moderator for the evening, greeted the audience and provided a short discourse on the importance of film and its ability to unite communities across the globe and proceeded to introduce the evening’s honored guests, Rachel McAdams and Michael Keaton. The Arlington audience welcomed the pair with a rousing wave of applause. Unfortunately, Mark Ruffalo could not be in attendance.
Durling began the tribute with insightful remarks about SPOTLIGHT delving into what attracted them to the story and their experience in working with director Tom McCarthy. McAdams spoke specifically about the real-life character she portrays, reporter Sacha Pfeiffer, who sat in the audience this evening.
As an added caveat, the audience was treated with a trip down memory lane as a montage of film clips highlighting significant moments in their respective careers including MEAN GIRLS and THE PAPER. McAdams recounted her memorable role in THE HOT CHICK and how it was “probably the scariest job she’s ever had because she had to become Rob Schneider” and Keaton commented on his Boston accent in SPOTLIGHT, and why he “prayed that he would never have to do one”. In rounding out the 2016 American Riviera Award conversation Keaton and McAdams shared stories about their favorite filmmakers.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Actor Michael Keaton, Actress Rachel McAdams and SBIFF Director Roger Durling speak onstage at the American Riviera Award at the Arlington Theater at the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 5, 2016 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
Tom McCarthy came on stage to present the honorees with their American Riviera Award, an SBIFF award established to recognize actors who have made a significant contribution to American Cinema. McCarthy shared a few words about Ruffalo’s incredible determination as a performer, McAdam’s unique listening ability and her space as the heart of SPOTLIGHT, and Keaton’s remarkable energy and tenacity that he brings to the film.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Actor Michael Keaton receives the American Riviera Award from Director Tom McCarthy and Actress Rachel McAdams at the Arlington Theater at the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 5, 2016 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
On Sunday, February 7th, Terrance Malick’s experiential KNIGHT OF CUPS will have its US Premiere at the Arlington Theatre as the festival’s Centerpiece Film. The highly anticipated film stars Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Frieda Pinto, Isabel Lucas, Imogen Poots, Wes Bentley, Brian Dennehy and Teresa Palmer, among others. Xavier Giannoli’s funny and emotional drama MARGUERITE will close out the festival on Saturday, February 13th. 1921, the beginning of the Golden Twenties. Not far from Paris. For information on tickets, passes and packages click here.
If air travel is required for your attendance, Alaska Airlines, the official airline for the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is offering 10% discounts on airfare between Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or Burbank, California and any of Alaska Airlines departure cities (excluding Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and Prudhoe Bay) now through February 16th, 2016. Click here. Discounts are automatically applied. Restrictions apply. See site for details.
(Source: Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Film Studies Program filled the Engels and Volkers Pavilion on Friday, February 5th, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. for Documentary Filmmakers. Documentary Filmmakers was the second topic in the *Free Admission Filmmakers Series following yesterday’s Conversation with Mark Osborne, Director of The Little Prince (SBIFF’s Opening Night Film). The Filmmakers Seminar will resume on Monday, February 8th with Social Justice Documentaries.
SBIFF Programming Director, Michael Albright, a Santa Barbara City College Associate Film Studies Professor of Documentary Film, moderated a widely diverse, yet talented panel of documentary filmmakers this morning at the Engels and Volkers Pavilion as part of the SBIFF *Free Admission Filmmakers Seminars before an audience including many students in the Santa Barbara City College Film Studies Film Festival Course and several participants from the SBIFF Film Studies Program as well as a throng of Santa Barbara community filmmakers.
The panel was comprised of Jeff Bowden, Executive Producer, A Single Frame; Jeffrey Brown, Producer/Director, Vinyl Generation; Lilibet Foster, Director, Writer, Producer, Be Here Now (The Andy Whitfield Story); Laura Gabbert, Director, City of God; and, Leanne Pooley, Director, 25 April. The films are screening during the festival. Visit the festival site for a complete, up-to-date film schedule: http://sbiff.org/
Albright introduced the participants to the audience and proceeded to politely ask the panel members to introduce themselves respectively. Jeff Bowden started revealing the inspiration behind his film – a photograph given to him by his daughter. It wasn’t just a photograph, however. The photo was hanging in a War Photo Limited gallery in Dubrovnik, Croatia when War Photo was exhibiting work by female photographers. Among the cataclysmic cover photos of bombed out buildings and incinerated automobiles was the face of an Albanian boy with an expression Bowden has carried with him ever since. In an effort to uncover the boy’s identity, Bowden embarked upon a journey that has inckuded six trips to Kosovo and has culminated in A Single Frame.
Next, Jeffrey Brown, a veteran filmmaker with over 20 films including a number of award-winning global features and documentaries. His latest work Vinyl Generation, examines the influence a renewed interest in vinyl LP’s had on Czech Generation X during the 1980’s.
Picking it up, Academy Award Nominated and multi-award winning filmmaker Lilibet Foster captured the moment as she shared her emotional, heartfelt journey in capturing the wrenching saga, Be Here Now (The Andy Whitfield Story).
Not one to sit idly by, Laura Gabbert, grabbed a hold of the microphone and mesmerized the audience with her shot description showcasing the City of Angels – Los Angeles, California – in City of God, her expose of flamboyantly Old World, Pulitzer Prize winning food critic, Jonathan Gold. The film premiered at Sundance 2015 and was picked up by IFC/Sundance Selects and is slated for a March 2016 theatrical release. Also, Gabbert received her MFA from the UCLA School of Theater, Television and Film.
Wrapping up the introductions was Leanne Poooley, a New Zealand filmmaker with over 20 films under her belt including her the recent 25 April, an animated excursion into a retelling of the bloody and ill-fated Gallipoli campaign form the annals of World War I.
Seemingly, such an extraordinary self-described introduction would have been satisfactorily enough for most audiences. Albright, however, with a keen sense of his audience demographic, peppered the panel with intelligent questions to draw out the inner workings of these successful, highly charged filmmakers. For example, how do you as filmmakers balance creativity with financial realities? It appeared as though a strong illumination surrounded the group as the response button was activated immediately after the question left Albright’s lips. Answers varied from panelist to panelist eventually segueing into narrative structure, storytelling versus topical material, film distribution channels, production, post-production and the ensuing miracle inherent to the magic of filmmaking. And, what started out as a Filmmaking Seminar on Documentary Film morphed into a master filmmaking class running the gamut from the inspirational spark to finished product. Stay tuned!
Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider rolled out the welcome mat to a sold-out, energetic audience and then introduced “the-one-and-only Roger Durling,” the Festival’s Executive Director, at the opening of the 31st edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival inside the historic Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California, February 3rd, 2016.
(Credit: Larry Gleeson)
SBIFF Executive Roger Durling introduced The Little Prince director, Mark Osborne to a rollicking Arlington Theater audience. Osborne reminisced about how his wife had introduced him to the novel years ago and inspired him to make the film. In addition, Osborne credited his own daughter as inspiration for the character of the young girl and revealed that his son was the voice of the Little Prince. Soon after, star Mackenzie Foy appeared and mesmerized the crowd in a full-length evening gown as she gushed, “I’m honored to be a apart of this unique film.” Last but not least, local Santa Barbarian and long-time resident, Jeff Bridges, joined the group by saying he was looking forward to seeing the film in his hometown.
On Sunday, February 7th, Terrance Malick’s experiential KNIGHT OF CUPS will have its US Premiere at the Arlington Theatre as the festival’s Centerpiece Film. The highly anticipated film stars Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Frieda Pinto, Isabel Lucas, Imogen Poots, Wes Bentley, Brian Dennehy and Teresa Palmer, among others. Xavier Giannoli’s funny and emotional drama MARGUERITE will close out the festival on Saturday, February 13th. 1921, the beginning of the Golden Twenties. Not far from Paris. For information on tickets, passes and packages click here.
If air travel is required for your attendance, Alaska Airlines, the official airline for the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is offering 10% discounts on airfare between Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or Burbank, California and any of Alaska Airlines departure cities (excluding Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and Prudhoe Bay) now through February 16th, 2016. Book by February 16, 2016. Click here. Discounts are automatically applied. Restrictions apply. See site for details.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) announces screen legends and beloved titles for its 7th annual TCM Classic Film Festival set to take place April 28-May 1, 2016, in Hollywood including:
Tribute to actress Gina Lollobrigida featuring screenings of her Golden Globe® nominated film, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1986) and Trapeze (1956)
Appearance by Marlee Matlin to introduce a screening of her Oscar® winning role in the 30th anniversary of Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Introduction by groundbreaking filmmaker Bruce Brown for a screening of 50th anniversary of his film The Endless Summer (1966)
The 2016 TCM Film Festival will also feature a special live event:
Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) featuring the original score by Richard Einhorn with conductor Dr. Mark Sumner and a live orchestra and chorus
Additionally, festival attendees will enjoy four premiere restorations of the following films:
The Kid (1921), U.S. premiere restoration
The Song of Bernadette (1943) world premiere restoration
The Keys Of The Kingdom (1944) world premiere restoration
Private Property (1960) world premiere restoration
Complete bios for each of the artists appearing at the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival can be found at filmfestival.tcm.com
The Asian Film Awards Academy announced the nominations for the 10th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong today, with 18 nominations for Japanese films (including co-production film for the Best Film Award) and talents in 15 categories, including a nomination for “Three Stories of Love” (Director: Ryosuke Hashiguchi) for the Best Film Award.
Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), together with the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival, created the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFA Academy), a nonprofit organization, in 2013 to promote and develop Asian cinema and its talents. Organized by the AFA Academy, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.
Today’s announcement encompassed 77 nominations for 15 awards. The nominations represent 36 films from 9 countries and regions. World-renowned Hong Kong director Mr. Johnnie TO Kei-fung will serve as this year’s Jury President and lead a jury comprising two charismatic and popular celebrities, Hong Kong actor Mr. Sean LAU Ching-wan and mainland Chinese actress Ms. GAO Yuanyuan, as well as 12 respected film industry professionals, festival programmers and critics from around the world, who will together choose the best Asian works.
The 10th Asian Film Awards is scheduled for March 17, 2016 at The Venetian Macao. To commemorate the special occasion of the AFA’s 10th anniversary, a new award has been created in the category of Best Sound. Skillful recording, editing and mixing of sound is an often unnoticed but critical element in filmmaking, and this award is being given to recognize excellence in the field and to encourage talent.
Dr. Wilfred WONG Ying-wai, SBS, JP, Chairman of the AFA Academy and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, said,
“The Asian Film Awards’ annual ceremony recognizes many outstanding Asian filmmakers and we have also launched year-round initiatives to sustain the promotion of Asian movies. Our Academy has developed from the annual awards to an entity that now organizes audience and professional development programs such as master classes, film festival visits for students, young professional training programs and film roadshows around the globe. The 10th anniversary is a special occasion for all the past winners to join together in this spectacular event and to testify to the great work of Asian filmmakers and industries.”
For further information or inquiries, please contact:
Park City, UT — Sundance Institute tonight announced the prizes in feature filmmaking at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, with top awards going to Between Sea and Land, The Birth of a Nation, First Girl I Loved, Jim: The James Foley Story, Sand Storm, Sonita and Weiner. The Birth of a Nation and Sonita won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for their respective sections.
(Credit: Elliot Davis)
(Credit: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami)
(L-R) The Birth of a Nation, Credit:Eliot Davis; Sonita, Credit:Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Full video of the ceremony, hosted by director Taika Waititi in Park City, Utah:
The ceremony is the culmination of the 2016 Festival, which presented 123 feature-length and 72 short films – selected from 12,793 submissions – to independent film-loving audiences in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.
Jury prizes were awarded by six groups of film and culture leaders, who screened all films in their respective sections and jointly decided which standout artistic and story elements to recognize. This year’s jurors were: Simon Kilmurry, Jill Lepore, Shola Lynch, Louie Psihoyos, Amy Ziering, Mark Adams, Lena Dunham, Jon Hamm, Avy Kaufman, Franklin Leonard, Randall Poster, Fernanda Solórzano, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Mila Aung-Thwin, Tine Fischer and Asif Kapadia. In addition, Festival audiences voted for their favorite films to receive five Audience Awards in each of the U.S. and World Competitions and NEXT.
Feature film award winners in previous years include: Whiplash, Fruitvale Station, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Twenty Feet from Stardom, Searching for Sugarman, The Square, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Cartel Land, The Wolf Pack, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Dope, Dear White People, The Cove and Man on Wire.
2016 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS:
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Louis Psihoyos to: Weiner / U.S.A. (Directors: Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg) — With unrestricted access to Anthony Weiner’s New York City mayoral campaign, this film reveals the human story behind the scenes of a high-profile political scandal as it unfolds, and offers an unfiltered look at how much today’s politics is driven by an appetite for spectacle.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Franklin Leonard to: The Birth of a Nation / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Parker) — Set against the antebellum South, this story follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. After witnessing countless atrocities against fellow slaves, Nat devises a plan to lead his people to freedom. Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, Mark Boone Jr.
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Asif Kapadia to: Sonita / Germany, Iran, Switzerland (Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami) — If 18-year-old Sonita had a say, Michael Jackson and Rihanna would be her parents and she’d be a rapper who tells the story of Afghan women and their fate as child brides. She finds out that her family plans to sell her to an unknown husband for $9,000.
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Apichatpong Weerasethakul to: Sand Storm / Israel (Director and screenwriter: Elite Zexer) — When their entire lives are shattered, two Bedouin women struggle to change the unchangeable rules, each in her own individual way. Cast: Lamis Ammar, Ruba Blal-Asfour, Hitham Omari, Khadija Alakel, Jalal Masrwa.
The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was presented by Matt Ross to: Jim: The James Foley Story / U.S.A. (Director: Brian Oakes) — The public execution of American conflict journalist James Foley captured the world’s attention, but he was more than just a man in an orange jumpsuit. Seen through the lens of his close childhood friend, Jim: The James Foley Story moves from adrenaline-fueled front lines and devastated neighborhoods of Syria into the hands of ISIS.
The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was presented by Matt Ross to: The Birth of a Nation / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Parker) — Set against the antebellum South, this story follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. After witnessing countless atrocities against fellow slaves, Nat devises a plan to lead his people to freedom. Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, Mark Boone Jr.
The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Rose McGowan to: Sonita / Germany, Iran, Switzerland (Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami) — If 18-year-old Sonita had a say, Michael Jackson and Rihanna would be her parents and she’d be a rapper who tells the story of Afghan women and their fate as child brides. She finds out that her family plans to sell her to an unknown husband for $9,000.
The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Rose McGowan to: Between Sea and Land / Colombia (Director: Carlos del Castillo, Screenwriter: Manolo Cruz) — Alberto, who suffers from an illness that binds him into a body that doesn’t obey him, lives with his loving mom, who dedicates her life to him. His sickness impedes him from achieving his greatest dream of knowing the sea, despite one being located just across the street. Cast: Manolo Cruz, Vicky Hernandéz, Viviana Serna, Jorge Cao, Mile Vergara, Javier Sáenz.
The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was presented by Taika Waititi to: First Girl I Loved / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kerem Sanga) — Seventeen-year-old Anne just fell in love with Sasha, the most popular girl at her L.A. public high school. But when Anne tells her best friend, Clifton—who has always harbored a secret crush on her—he does his best to get in the way. Cast: Dylan Gelula, Brianna Hildebrand, Mateo Arias, Jennifer Prediger, Tim Heidecker, Pamela Adlon.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented by Amy Ziering to: Roger Ross Williams for his film Life, Animated / U.S.A. (Director: Roger Ross Williams) — Owen Suskind, an autistic boy who could not speak for years, slowly emerged from his isolation by immersing himself in Disney animated movies. Using these films as a roadmap, he reconnects with his loving family and the wider world in this emotional coming-of-age story.
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented by Mark Adams to: Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan for their film Swiss Army Man / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan) — Hank, a hopeless man stranded in the wild, discovers a mysterious dead body. Together the two embark on an epic journey to get home. As Hank realizes the body is the key to his survival, this once-suicidal man is forced to convince a dead body that life is worth living. Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Mila Aung Thwain to: Michal Marczak for his filmAll These Sleepless Nights / Poland (Director: Michal Marczak) — What does it mean to be awake in a world that seems satisfied to be asleep? Kris and Michal push their experiences of life and love to a breaking point as they restlessly roam the city streets in search of answers, adrift in the euphoria and uncertainty of youth.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Randall Poster to: Belgica / Belgium, France, Netherlands (Director: Felix van Groeningen, Screenwriters: Felix van Groeningen, Arne Sierens) — In the midst of Belgium’s nightlife scene, two brothers start a bar and get swept up in its success. Cast: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Hélène De Vos.
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented by Lena Dunham to: Chad Hartigan forMorris from America / U.S.A., Germany (Director and screenwriter: Chad Hartigan) — Thirteen-year-old Morris, a hip-hop loving American, moves to Heidelberg, Germany, with his father. In this completely foreign land, he falls in love with a local girl, befriends his German tutor-turned-confidant, and attempts to navigate the unique trials and tribulations of adolescence. Cast: Markees Christmas, Craig Robinson, Carla Juri, Lina Keller, Jakub Gierszał, Levin Henning.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing was presented by Jill Lepore to: Penny Lane and Thom Stylinski for NUTS! / U.S.A. (Director: Penny Lane) — The mostly true story of Dr. John Romulus Brinkley, an eccentric genius who built an empire with his goat-testicle impotence cure and a million-watt radio station. Animated reenactments, interviews, archival footage, and one seriously unreliable narrator trace his rise from poverty to celebrity and influence in 1920s America.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for For Social Impact Filmmaking was presented by Simon Kilmurry to: Trapped / U.S.A. (Director: Dawn Porter) — American abortion clinics are in a fight for survival. Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws are increasingly being passed by states that maintain they ensure women’s safety and health, but as clinics continue to shut their doors, opponents believe the real purpose of these laws is to outlaw abortion.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Writing was presented by Shola Lynch to: Kate Plays Christine / U.S.A. (Director: Robert Greene) — This psychological thriller follows actor Kate Lyn Sheil as she prepares to play the role of Christine Chubbuck, a Florida television host who committed suicide on air in 1974. Christine’s tragic death was the inspiration for Network, and the mysteries surrounding her final act haunt Kate and the production.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Vérité Filmmaking was presented by Shola Lynch to: The Bad Kids / U.S.A. (Directors: Keith Fulton, Lou Pepe) — At a remote Mojave Desert high school, extraordinary educators believe that empathy and life skills, more than academics, give at-risk students command of their own futures. This coming-of-age story watches education combat the crippling effects of poverty in the lives of these so-called “bad kids.”
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award was presented by Lena Dunham to: As You Are / U.S.A. (Director: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Screenwriters: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Madison Harrison) — As You Are is the telling and retelling of a relationship between three teenagers as it traces the course of their friendship through a construction of disparate memories prompted by a police investigation. Cast: Owen Campbell, Charlie Heaton, Amandla Stenberg, John Scurti, Scott Cohen, Mary Stuart Masterson.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance was presented by Avy Kaufman to: Joe Seo for Spa Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Ahn) — Los Angeles’s Korean spas serve not only as meeting places but also as a bridge between past and future for generations of immigrant families. Spa Night explores one Korean American family’s dreams and realities as each member struggles with the overlap of personal desire, disillusionment, and sense of tradition. Cast: Joe Seo, Haerry Kim, Youn Ho Cho, Tae Song, Ho Young Chung, Linda Han.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance was presented by Jon Hamm to: Melanie Lynskey in The Intervention / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Clea DuVall) — A weekend getaway for four couples takes a sharp turn when one of the couples discovers the entire trip was orchestrated to host an intervention on their marriage. Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Cobie Smulders, Alia Shawkat, Clea DuVall, Natasha Lyonne, Ben Schwartz.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance was presented by Jon Hamm to: Craig Robinson in Morris from America / U.S.A., Germany (Director and screenwriter: Chad Hartigan) — Thirteen-year-old Morris, a hip-hop loving American, moves to Heidelberg, Germany, with his father. In this completely foreign land, he falls in love with a local girl, befriends his German tutor-turned-confidant, and attempts to navigate the unique trials and tribulations of adolescence. Cast: Markees Christmas, Craig Robinson, Carla Juri, Lina Keller, Jakub Gierszał, Levin Henning.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Debut Feature was presented by Asif Kapadia to: Heidi Brandenburg and Mathew Orzel for their film When Two Worlds Collide / Peru (Directors: Heidi Brandenburg, Mathew Orzel) — An indigenous leader resists the environmental ruin of Amazonian lands by big business. As he is forced into exile and faces 20 years in prison, his quest reveals conflicting visions that shape the fate of the Amazon and the climate future of our world.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography was presented by Mila Aung Thwain to: Director and cinematographer Pieter-Jan De Pue for his film The Land of the Enlightened / Belgium (Director: Pieter-Jan De Pue) — A group of Kuchi children in Afghanistan dig out old Soviet mines and sell the explosives to child workers in a lapis lazuli mine. When not dreaming of an Afghanistan after the American withdrawal, Gholam Nasir and his gang control the mountains where caravans are smuggling the blue gemstones.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing was presented by Asif Kapadia to: Mako Kamitsuna and John Maringouin for We Are X / United Kingdom, U.S.A., Japan (Director: Stephen Kijak) — As glam rock’s most flamboyant survivors, X Japan ignited a musical revolution in Japan during the late ’80s with their melodic metal. Twenty years after their tragic dissolution, X Japan’s leader, Yoshiki, battles with physical and spiritual demons alongside prejudices of the West to bring their music to the world.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting was presented by Fernanda Solórzano to: Vicky Hernandéz and Manolo Cruz in Between Sea and Land / Colombia (Director: Carlos del Castillo, Screenwriter: Manolo Cruz) — Alberto, who suffers from an illness that binds him into a body that doesn’t obey him, lives with his loving mom, who dedicates her life to him. His sickness impedes him from achieving his greatest dream of knowing the sea, despite one being located just across the street. Cast: Manolo Cruz, Vicky Hernandéz, Viviana Serna, Jorge Cao, Mile Vergara, Javier Sáenz.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Screenwriting was presented by Randall Poster to: Ana Katz and Inés Bortagaray in Mi Amiga del Parque / Argentina, Uruguay (Director: Ana Katz, Screenwriters: Ana Katz, Inés Bortagaray) — Running away from a bar without paying the bill is just the first adventure for Liz (mother to newborn Nicanor) and Rosa (supposed mother to newborn Clarisa). This budding friendship between nursing mothers starts with the promise of liberation but soon ends up being a dangerous business. Cast: Julieta Zylberberg, Ana Katz, Maricel Álvarez, Mirella Pascual, Malena Figó, Daniel Hendler.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Unique Vision and Design was presented by Fernanda Solórzano to: Agnieszka Smoczyńska for The Lure / Poland (Director: Agnieszka Smoczynska, Screenwriter: Robert Bolesto) — Two mermaid sisters, who end up performing at a nightclub, face cruel and bloody choices when one of them falls in love with a beautiful young man. Cast: Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszanska, Jakub Gierszal, Kinga Preis, Andrzej Konopka, Zygmunt Malanowicz.
The following awards were presented at separate ceremonies at the Festival:
SHORT FILM AWARDS:
Jury prizes and honorable mentions in short filmmaking were presented at a ceremony in Park City, Utah on January 27. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to:Thunder Road / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jim Cummings). The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to: The Procedure / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Calvin Lee Reeder). The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to: Maman(s) / France (Director and screenwriter: Maïmouna Doucouré ). The Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction was presented to: Bacon & God’s Wrath / Canada (Director: Sol Friedman). The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to: Edmond / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Nina Gantz). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance was presented to: Grace Glowicki for her performance in Her Friend Adam. A Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction was presented to: Peacock / Czech Republic (Director: Ondřej Hudeček, Screenwriters: Jan Smutny, Ondřej Hudeček).
The Short Film jurors were star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s Key & Peele, Keegan-Michael Key; development executive at Amazon Studios, Gina Kwon; and chief film critic for MTV, Amy Nicholson. The Short Film program is presented by YouTube.
GLOBAL FILMMAKING AWARDS:
The winning directors and projects of the 2016 Sundance Institute Global Filmmaking Awards in recognition and support of emerging independent filmmakers from around the world, are:
August (Cuba) / Writer-Director: Armando Capo
In August 1994, Carlos comes of age during the Cuban Raft Exodus. He loses his first love, his friends leave the country, he discovers sex, and for the first time feels afraid about his future.
Insha’ Allah (India) / Writer-Director: Geetu Mohandas
11 year old Mullakoya, tired of living in the shadow of the colorful, magical-realist folklore that surrounds his missing older brother, sets off on a treacherous journey from the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea to the Indian mainland to search for him.
Sicilian Ghost Story (Italy) / Writer-Directors: Antonio Piazza, Fabio Grassadonia
When a local Mafia don’s son is kidnapped, a young Sicilian girl refuses to accept the sudden disappearance of the boy she loves. Based on real life events at the height of the Mafia’s reign in Palermo, Sicilian Ghost Story is a striking and unique look at the power that love has to survive in the darkest of worlds.
The Treasure (Morocco) / Writer-Director: Abdellah Taia
Janine, a French woman born in Morocco, accompanied by her building manager, Mohamed, set out on an adventure in search of a hidden treasure in the mountains of Atlas. The journey into her past becomes an exploration of post-colonial identity in Morocco.
SLOAN SCIENCE IN FILM AWARDS:
The 2016 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, presented to an outstanding feature film about science or technology, was presented to Embrace of the Serpent directed by Ciro Guerra. The film received a $20,000 cash award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | AMAZON STUDIOS PRODUCERS AWARDS:
The recipients of the the 2016 Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Awards are Sara Murphy and Adele Romanski, producers of Morris From America and Julie Goldman, executive producer of Weiner and Life, Animated. Through the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program and Documentary Film Program, the awards grant money to emerging producers of films at the Sundance Film Festival. The award recognizes bold vision and a commitment to continuing work as a creative producer in the independent space.
8 PM Saturday night, February 6th, 2016, at the historic Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California, Elizabeth Banks (“Love & Mercy,” ), Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina,”“The Danish Girl.” ), Joel Edgerton (“Black Mass,” ), Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” & “Youth,” ), O’Shea Jackson, Jr. ( “Straight Outta Compton,” ), Geza Rohrig (“Son of Saul.” ), and Jacob Tremblay (“Room” ) will be honored as recipients for the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festivals’ 2016 Virtuosos Award. The Virtuosos Award recognizes performers who have distinguished themselves with breakthrough film performances in the past year.
Past recipients of the award include Ellar Coltrane, Rosamund Pike, Jared Leto, David Oyelowo, Eddie Redmayne, Rooney Mara, Brie Larson and Marion Cotillard. This year’s talented and diverse honorees are being recognized for their overall career as well as for their breakout year. To get your tickets visit sbiff.org
Don’t miss this! We’re three days away from the opening of the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Here’s an insider’s guide as Santa Barbara Mayor, Helene Schneider, kicks off #SBIFF 2016 Press Conference at Hotel Santa Barbara, local artist, Barbara Boros of Barbara Boros Art and Design, unveils the 2016 official poster while Executive Director Roger Durling provides a run-down of this year’s 31st edition of the festival. Tune in and afterwards check out the links below.
Helpful links to make your experience at the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival one to remember:
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has announced April 28 – May 1, 2016 for the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival, marking the seventh annual gathering of legendary stars, award-winning filmmakers and classic movie fans from around the globe. The theme for the four-day event will explore Moving Pictures, the movies that bring us to tears, rouse us to action and inspire us, even projecting us to a higher plane. Passes on sale here.
HollywoodGlee with iconic TV and Film legend, Angie Dickinson, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, on March 25th, 2015, during the TCM Classic Film Festival’s “Meet & Greet.”
I attended last year and can attest that the magic of movies isn’t just motion, it’s emotion. The way we take what we see on the screen and make it our own. TCM Classic Film Festival was a terrific way to see magnificent, emotionally moving films, meet like-minded cinema lovers, make new friends and commiserate with legendary screen icons. Looking forward to seeing you there this year!
In Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday, February 11, 2016 five Oscar-nominated directors will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s (SBIFF) 2016 Outstanding Directors of the Year award.: Lenny Abrahamson, ROOM; Alejandro G. Iñárritu,THE REVENANT; Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT; Adam McKay, THE BIG SHORT; and George Miller, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. They will each be celebrated individually for their films. The individual honors will be followed by a joint conversation between the directors about their craft and on the landscape of modern day filmmaking. The ceremony will take place at the historic Arlington Theatre. The evening is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. Click here for passes, ticket sales and/or more information.
The Outstanding Directors of the Year award is given to directors not afraid to explore boundaries and push the envelope in the cinematic world. They have a vision for the picture they want to present and then do so, with an expertise that happens to be both gracious and bold. Past recipients include Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH), Richard Linklater (BOYHOOD), Bennett Miller (FOXCATCHER), Laura Poitras (CITIZENFOUR), Morten Tyldum (THE IMITATION GAME), David O. Russell (AMERICAN HUSTLE), Kathryn Bigelow (THE HURT LOCKER), and Danny Boyle (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE).
SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling says, “These directors have each made their mark on the film canon and have solidified their standing as some of the best directors of our time. The fact that these films come on the heels of already illustrious and established careers makes this honor even more special.”
“The Directors Panel” completes this year’s panel line-up. SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a “who’s who” in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar® contenders. The Panels are highly informative with wonderful interaction. Here’s an overview of the SBIFF 2016 panels:
The panel series begins on Saturday, February 6thwith the “Movers and Shakers,” (Producers Panel), bringing together the industry’s most prolific producers to talk about current projects, hopes for the future of filmmaking, and insights into the creative process. Moderated by Los Angeles Times film writer Glenn Whipp.
That same day proceeds with “It Starts With the Script” (Screenwriters Panel), bringing together top writers to discuss their craft. The panel will be moderated by indieWIRE’s Anne Thompson.
On Saturday February 13, with Creative Forces: Women in the Business(Women’s Panel), moderated by Madelyn Hammond, President, Madelyn Hammond & Assoc., and Former Chief Marketing Officer for Variety. The Women’s Panel is sponsored by Brooks Institute.
All panels take place at the Lobero Theatre, located at 33 E Canon Perdido St., in Santa Barbara.
This looks to be one of the better panel line-ups in recent years and coupled with the tributes, schedule of moving pictures and activities, the 2016 SBIFF is one to see. For a complete look at the line-up click here.
If air travel is required for your attendance, Alaska Airlines, the official airline for the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is offering 10% discounts on airfare between Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or Burbank, California and any of Alaska Airlines departure cities (excluding Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and Prudhoe Bay) from February 2nd through February 16th, 2016. Book by February 16, 2016. Click here. Discounts are automatically applied. Restrictions apply. See site for details. Stay tuned for more recent developments and for the latest updates!
