Tag Archives: Tribute

10th Asian Film Awards Welcome Dinner at Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macao Pakho Chau and Clara Lee Named as Rising Stars of Asia

March 16, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

(Macao, March 16, 2016) – The Asian Film Awards (AFA), organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), hosted a star-studded welcome dinner at Conrad Macao, Cotai Central tonight as a prelude to the gala awards event which will be held on Mar. 17, 2016. The event saw celebrities, sponsors and VIP guests came together to celebrate the film industry in Asia and enjoy an evening of celebration and entertainment.

Inaugurated in 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) celebrates excellence in Asian cinema through the annual presentation of awards to the many diverse talents and films that make up the dynamic film industries across the region. This year, the AFA is sponsored by Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macao and The Venetian® Macao, with Cotai Water Jet as the official ferry operator. The ceremony will be held on March 17, 2016 (Thursday) at The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Macao, one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in Greater China.

AFA is once again supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) along with the collaboration of various Macau organizations, including Macao Foundation, Macau Artistes Association, Suncity Group, Macau Group, MBL and Taipa Village who will jointly present “The 10th Asian Film Awards Welcome Dinner”, in order to welcome the honourable nominees, guests, co-organizers, partners, and industry representatives who will join us at this year’s Award Ceremony. Representatives of the three founding organizations of AFA, including Dr. Wilfred Wong Ying-wai,GBS,JP, President of AFA Academy and Hong Kong International Film Festival; Mr. KIM Dong-ho, Honorary Director of Busan International Film Festival; as well as Mr. Yasushi Shiina, Director General of TIFFCOM, also attended the welcome dinner to celebrate the spectacular event.

This year, Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) for the first time will partner with the acclaimed U.S. luxury jewellery brand ‘Hearts On Fire’ to present the Hearts On Fire-AFA Special Awards to recognize the achievements of outstanding legends and icons in the Asian film industry. Two Rising Star of Asia Awards will go to Hong Kong singer-cum-actor Pakho Chau and Korean actress Clara Lee. Receiving his first movie award, Pakho started as a teenager modeling for many luxury brands, and he made his debut as a singer back in 2007. Passionate about both music and writing songs, his talent and creativity have earned him numerous awards over the years, establishing him as one of the top singers in Hong Kong. Pakho made his screen debut in Love Is Elsewhere in 2008, and soon took up various challenging leading roles. His roles as a fervent young doctor in I Sell Love, a cheating husband in S for Sex, S for Secret, and a billionaire in Love Detective made a lasting impression on his audiences. 2015 was a breakthrough for him and he was highly acclaimed for his role as Elephant Man a cold-blooded killer in Guilty, and recently, he created a theme song for My Wife is a Superstar, singing the voice of the husband.

Meanwhile, Clara had starred in many TV drama series since 2005, and made her big-screen debut in Five Senses of Eros in 2009. A sexy icon, she also ranked second in Mode Lifestyle Magazine – 100 Most Beautiful Women In The World in 2014 and has been regarded as “the most beautiful Asian woman” since she was the only Asian star on the list. Her lively performance as a medical intern in the popular TV drama series Emergency Couple further strengthened her fan base. Clara also made a spectacular presence in Hong Kong by starring in her first action film Line Walker produced in Hong Kong, and Prince, in which she partnered with actors from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which will also be in theatres soon. The promising actress will serve as the hostess of the 10th Asian Film Awards Ceremony to be held on Thursday, March 17. With a great passion for acting, Pakho and Clara are thrilled to receive the honors and will strive to master every role with excellence.

For further information on Hearts On Fire-AFA Special Awards, please visit the official website: http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/

(Press release and photos courtesy of Asian Film Awards Academy)

#TCM

7th Consecutive #TCM Classic Film Festival Is Set

March 14, 2016 HollywoodGlee 4 Comments

For the seventh consecutive year, thousands of movie lovers from around the globe will descend upon Hollywood for the TCM Classic Film Festival. The 2016 festival is set to take place Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, 2016. 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.

TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne will once again serve as official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival, with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz introducing various events. The festival’s official hotel and central gathering point for the sixth consecutive year 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 and the Egyptian Theatre, as well as other Hollywood venues.

Description of the 2016 festival theme Moving Pictures:

The magic of movies isn’t just motion, it’s emotion. As we watch cinematic stories play out, they feel like our own. In 2016, the TCM Classic Film Festival explores MOVING PICTURES—the ones that bring us to tears, rouse us to action, inspire us, even project us to a higher plane. In the heart of historic Hollywood we’ll gather to share the big-time emotions of big screen stories, from coming-of-age pictures to terminal tearjerkers, from powerful sports dramas we feel in our bones to religious epics that elevate our spirits. These are the films that that set our love of cinema in motion.

Passes for the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival are on sale now. Fans are able to purchase them through the TCM Classic Film Festival website. As the number of passes available is limited, fans are encouraged to purchase their passes as soon as possible. www.tcm.com/festival

The “Spotlight” Festival Pass: $1,649 – Includes all privileges available to “Classic” and “Essential” passholders, priority entry to all screening events; plus entry to the exclusive opening-night party following the red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre; meet-and-greet events with TCM friends, including Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz; and a limited edition TCM Classic Film Festival poster.

The “Essential” Festival Pass: $749 – Includes all privileges available to “Classic” passholders, plus entry to the opening-night red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre and official TCM Classic Film Festival collectibles.

The “Classic” Festival Pass: $599 – Includes access to all film programs at festival venues Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1 (does not include admittance to the opening-night red-carpet gala screening at TCL Chinese Theatre or the opening-night party); access to all Club TCM events, panels and poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; an opening-night welcome reception at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; and the closing-night event. www.tcm.com

The “Palace” Festival Pass: $299 – Includes access to all screenings and events at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre (excluding the opening-night red-carpet gala) and the Egyptian Theatre Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1, as well as poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. www.tcm.com

(Press release courtesy of TCM Pressroom)

#TCM

All The President’s Men To Open 2016 #TCM Classic Film Festival

March 14, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

all_the_presidents_men_still — All the President’s Men (1976) Directed by Alan J. Pakula Shown from left: Robert Redford (as Bob Woodward), Dustin Hoffman (as Carl Bernstein)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will open the 7^th annual TCM Classic Film Festival on April 28^th with a 40^th Anniversary screening of the Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman political thriller All The President’s Men (1976). Investigative journalist Carl Bernstein, Oscar winning director/ screenwriter Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), along with Oscar Winning screenwriter Josh Singer (Spotlight), join the festivities for opening night’s 40^th Anniversary screening of All The President’s Men (1976)

The festival, set to take place April 28 – May 1 in Hollywood, will also include tributes to the following screen legends:

Renowned actor Burt Reynolds is set to participate in a sit-down interview about his life and career. In addition to the interview, Reynolds will be on-hand to introduce a screening of The Longest Yard (1974), for which he received a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actor. The interview will be taped Saturday, April 30 in front of a live audience of festival pass holders at The Ricardo Montalbán Theatre.

Director-writer Carl Reiner featuring a screening of Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) and an extended conversation

Actor Elliott Gould featuring screenings of his Golden Globe nominated performance in M*A*S*H (1970), The Long Goodbye (1973) and a conversation in Club TCM.

Beloved Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Angela Lansbury joins the festival with a screening and conversation of The Manchurian Candidate (1962), the combination satire and political thriller.

Oscar winning actress and singer Rita Moreno will introduce a 60^th anniversary screening of the cherished musical The King and I (1956).

Emmy nominee Billy Dee Williams will present a screening of Brian’s Song (1971), the true story of friendship between Chicago Bears’ player Gale Sayers (Williams) and Brian Piccolo (James Caan).

This year’s festival will include appearances by:

Eva Marie Saint – on hand to introduce a screening of the political comedy The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming (1966)
Director John Singleton – presenting a 25^th anniversary screening of his coming-of-age classic Boyz N The Hood (1991)
Actor Stacy Keach – discussing John Huston’s gritty look at the world of small-time boxing in Fat City (1972)
French actress Anna Karina – introducing Band of Outsiders (1964), Jean-Luc Godard’s riff on gangster films

The 2016 TCM Film Festival will also feature special live events including:

North American premiere of Holiday in Spain aka Scent of Mystery (1960) presented in “Smell-O-Vision” in a one-of-a-kind presentation at the Cinerama Dome
Opening night poolside screening at the Hollywood Roosevelt of master comedian Harold Lloyd’s biggest hit, The Freshman (1925), featuring DJ Thomas Golubić spinning a unique live music mix for the silent film

TCM is also pleased to announce the return of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures as an official festival partner as well as the co-host of the opening night screening and party. Returning once again as the festival’s exclusive founding partner, Delta Air Lines will serve as the official airline of the TCM Classic Film Festival. Additionally, DIRECTV, The Hollywood Reporter and Bonhams all return as official sponsors of the festival.

Complete bios for each of the artists appearing at the 2016 TCM Classic Film Festival can be found at filmfestival.tcm.com

(Press release courtesy of TCM Pressroom)

#SLOFilmFest, Uncategorized

Nosferatu To Open SLO Film Fest 22

March 12, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Nosferatu, the classic 1922 German Expressionism film will open San Luis Obispo’s 22nd Annual SLO Film Fest on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 8 PM at Cal Poly’s Spanos Theater. German composer and pianist, Markus Horn, has composed an original score to accompany the film. For tickets and for more information click here: SLO Film Fest 22 Tickets/Passes.

#Berlinale

A Touching Close to the Record-Setting #Berlinale 2016

February 22, 2016 HollywoodGlee 1 Comment

Berlinale-

Producer and Director Gianfranco Rosi accepts the 2016 Berlinale Golden Bear for Best Film: Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea). (Photo credit: Richard Hubner – Berlinale 2016)

On Saturday, the 66th Berlinale drew to a splendid close with the award ceremony. The event turned out to be a touching evening not least because of the Golden Bear awarded to Fuocoammare by Gianfranco Rosi. It reflected the political spirit that had been perceptible throughout the festival.

For eleven days the Berlinale demonstrated the creative power and diversity of cinema, as well as welcomed guests and the public at many panel discussions and talks on the seventh art. With 337,000 tickets sold a new attendance record in the 66-year history of the festival was achieved.

The 67th Berlin International Film Festival Berlin will be held from February 9 to 19, 2017. (Berlinale Press Office)

#Berlinale

The #Berlinale Camera Award

February 21, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Since 1986 the Berlin International Film Festival has presented the Berlinale Camera to film personalities or institutions to which it feels particularly indebted and wishes to express its thanks.

At the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, three personalities were awarded the Berlinale Camera: producer, cinema operator and film distributor Ben Barenholtz (USA); actor, director, writer and producer Tim Robbins (USA); and cinema operator Marlies Kirchner (Germany).

Ben Barenholtz

Born in Eastern Poland, now part of Ukraine, Ben Barenholtz became one of the most important figures in the American indie film scene. He immigrated to the US in 1947 and began his career as an assistant manager of the RKO Bushwick movie theatre in New York in 1959. From 1966 to 1968, he managed the Village Theater, which became an important venue for the counterculture and anti-Vietnam protests. It also featured many jazz giants of that period, such as Nina Simone and John Coltrane, as well as bands like The Who and Cream. In 1968, he opened the Elgin Cinema, which became a key venue for independent filmmakers and repertory cinema. It provided a home for the early film works by luminaries such as Jack Smith, Andy Warhol, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, and the revival of the Buster Keaton films. He invented the legendary “midnight movie” format, with the screening of El Topo (D: Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1970), which helped raise underground filmmaking to cult status. In 1972, Barenholtz founded the distribution company Libra Films, which released films such as Just Before Nightfall (D: Claude Chabrol, 1971), Cousin Cousine (D: Jean-Charles Tacchella, 1975) and Eraserhead (D: David Lynch, 1977). In 1984, he joined Circle Releasing as President, distributing such films as 36 Fillette (D: Catherine Breillat, 1988), Tales from Gimli Hospital (D: Guy Maddin, 1988), Thérèse (D: Alain Cavalier, 1986), and Blood Simple (1984), the Coen brothers’ first feature film.

Barenholtz began his involvement in film production with the Coen brothers, serving as executive producer on Raising Arizona (1987), Miller’s Crossing (1990), and Barton Fink (1991), which swept the three top prizes at the Cannes film festival. He went on to produce many successful films, such as Georgia (D: Ulu Grosbard, 1995) and Requiem for a Dream (D: Darren Aronofsky, 2000). In 2008, he was invited to join the Jury for the Best First Feature Award at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival. He made his directorial debut, Music Inn, about the famous music venue, in 2005, which was followed by Wakaliwood: The Documentary (2012), shot entirely in Kampala, Uganda.

Ben Barenholtz was awarded the Berlinale Camera on Friday, February 12, 2016 in the cinema at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, with the Coen brothers in attendance. A Q&A moderated by Michael Barker followed a screening of the work-in-progress documentary Perseverance, which was produced by Polish Television, and deals with Barenholtz’s life.
The Berlinale Camera award to Ben Barenholtz kicked off a new tradition of honouring an outstanding producer with the prestigious award each year as part of the European Film Market.

Tim Robbins

American Tim Robbins has been a successful working actor, director, writer and producer in Hollywood for almost 40 years. He won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Mystic River (D: Clint Eastwood, 2003), and a Best Actor Award at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Robert Altman’s The Player (1992). His additional acting credits include such films as Bull Durham (D: Ron Shelton, 1988), Robert Altman’s Short Cuts (1993), The Shawshank Redemption (D: Frank Darabont, 1994), The Hudsucker Proxy (D: Joel & Ethan Coen, 1994), Isabel Coixet’s The Secret Life of Words (2005) and Fernando León de Aranoa’s A Perfect Day (2015.)

Robbins wrote and directed the 1992 political satire, Bob Roberts, and the 1999 film, Cradle Will Rock, which earned a nomination for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and won two Gran Angular Awards – Best Film and Best Director – at the Sitges Film Festival (Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya.) The death row drama, Dead Man Walking, won several prizes at the 1996 Berlin International Film Festival, including a Silver Bear for lead actor Sean Penn, and went on to earn four Academy Award nominations, with Susan Sarandon winning for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Robbins attended the Berlinale once again in 2013 as a member of the International Jury.

In addition to his work on film, Robbins is founder of The Actors’ Gang, a theatre ensemble based in Los Angeles where he has served for over 30 years as Artistic Director. The Gang has been touring throughout the US and internationally with productions of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, George Orwell’s “1984”, “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine” and “Embedded”.
Additionally, the Actors’ Gang Prison Project works to help California prison inmates rehabilitate themselves through the arts, with acting members of the Gang, including Robbins, working with inmates in several California Prisons. To date more than 500 inmates have participated in The Prison Project, which recently received the endorsement of the California Department of Corrections and the U.S. Justice Department.
In 2014, Robbins was honored with the National Guild for Community Arts Education Leadership Award, recognizing his innovative and socially conscious work as a film and theater artist, his passionate commitment to equity and social justice, as well as his steadfast advocacy and support for arts education. The Guild noted that “The Prison Project at The Actors’ Gang is an inspiring, national model for our field which demonstrates the power of arts participation to unlock human potential and creativity, heal, and transform lives.”

The Berlinale Camera was awarded to Tim Robbins on Saturday, February 13, 2016 in the Kino International cinema, with Catalan director Isabel Coixet giving the honorific speech and German actor Louis Klamroth presenting. The award ceremony was followed by a screening of Dead Man Walking (1995).

Marlies Kirchner

Cinema operator Marlies Kirchner has been dedicated to film for more than 40 years. She first worked for distributor Neue Filmkunst at Cannes, before becoming co-owner of the arthouse Theatiner Filmkunst in Munich. She initially ran it together with her husband, Walter Kirchner, before becoming sole operator in 1975. The cinema, in a listed building, opened in 1957 with the Italian comedy Cops and Robbers starring Totò and, over the years, has become a Munich institution and mecca for movie devotees. The cinema has always presented a programme of high-quality films. From films banned in the Nazi era to avant-garde films, and European auteur cinema, usually shown in their original language with subtitles, the repertory offers Munich’s moviegoers a diverse and sophisticated selection of films. The distribution arm, Neue Filmkunst, supplements that with discoveries from film festivals. The film theatre’s contribution to keeping art films alive and Marlies Kirchner’s endeavours in sustaining high quality cinema in the Bavarian state capital have been honoured several times with the city’s prize for cinemas (“Kinoprogrammpreis”), most recently in 2015. The Munich film festival also dedicated its 1999 homage to her.

Marlies Kirchner was awarded the Berlinale Camera on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at the Berlinale Lunch Club.

The Trophy

The Berlinale Camera has been awarded since 1986. Until 2003, it was donated by Berlin-based jeweller David Goldberg. From 2004 through 2013, Georg Hornemann Objects, a Dusseldorf-based atelier, sponsored the trophy, which goldsmith Hornemann redesigned for the Berlinale in 2008: Modelled on a real camera, the Berlinale Camera now has 128 finely crafted components. Many of these silver and titanium parts, such as the swivel head and tripod, are movable. (Berlinale Press Office)

#Berlinale

WRAPPING UP ANOTHER DAZZLING BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

February 19, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

There was no shortage of highlights at the 2016 Berlinale. First up was a glamorous kick-off with the opening film Hail, Caesar! attended by directors Joel and Ethan Coen, along with stars George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum and Alden Ehrenreich. That was followed by the gala premieres of film greats and, not least of all, the award of an Honorary Golden Bear for his life’s work to legendary German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus.

Festival Director Dieter Kosslick, left, and the awardee Michael Ballhaus in the Berlinale Palast. (Photo Credit: Ali Ghandtschi © Berlinale 2016)

There were standing ovations for jury president Meryl Streep who – with jurors Lars Eidinger, Nick James, Brigitte Lacombe, Clive Owen, Alba Rohrwacher and Małgorzata Szumowska – will award the Berlinale’s main prizes.

Star guests on this year’s red carpet included Pernilla August, Susanne Bier, Daniel Brühl, Daniel Burman, Nick Cannon, Don Cheadle, Isabel Coixet, John Cusack, Gérard Depardieu, Doris Dörrie, Kirsten Dunst, Trine Dyrholm, Colin Firth, Greta Gerwig, Alex Gibney, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Hiddleston, Isabelle Huppert, Julia Jentsch, Nick Jonas, Hugh Laurie, Denis Lavant, Jude Law, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Dominik Moll, Julianne Moore, Cynthia Nixon, Guy Pearce, Michael Peña, Tim Robbins, Gianfranco Rosi, James Schamus, Michael Shannon, Alexander Skarsgård, André Téchiné, Emma Thompson, Thomas Vinterberg, Wayne Wang and many more.

This year, the Berlinale could look proudly on a host of activities aimed at refugees. In cooperation with the BBZ Beratungs- und Betreuungszentrum für junge Flüchtlinge und Migranten (support centre for young refugees and migrants), 18 refugees had the opportunity to visit and observe various areas behind the scenes in the festival offices. With the participation of 953 people, the “sponsored cinema visit” project organised with Berlin’s non-profit refugee aid organisations was also a success. And for the first time in Berlinale history, the festival specifically urged visitors to make a donation, with 25,000 euros collected so far.

And the Berlinale once again lived up to its reputation as the largest audience festivals around. As of yesterday evening (Thursday, Feb 18), visitors to the Berlinale had bought 310,000 tickets.

Sunday, February 21, 2016 is Berlinale Publikumstag, another special treat for the public. Many of the festival films from various sections will be screened again at Berlinale venues.

The third year of the Berlinale Open House and Berlinale Lounge Nights at the Audi Berlinale Lounge drew crowds as well. About 7,200 visitors attended the 30 events.

The European Film Market was another success of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. There was a notable increase over last year in the number of participants – in both the market and the individual initiatives – for the international trade fair at the Berlinale, which was held at the Martin Gropius Bau and the new Gropius Park, along with the Marriott Hotel. Exhibitors and buyers enjoyed great interest, a lively exchange and plenty of deal-making. There was also an extremely good response to the new platforms “Drama Series Days”, “EFM Startups”, “EFM Asia” and the “EFM Producers Hub”. Altogether, this year’sEFM marked a good start to the year, providing strong momentum for the industry.

With the Award Ceremony at 7 pm on Saturday, Feb 20, the 66th Berlin International Film Festival draws to a spectacular close. The winners of the Golden and Silver Bears and the Audi Short Film Award, as well as the Best First Feature Award will be announced at the festive gala. Directly after the ceremony there will be a screening of a winning film.

Anke Engelke will host the event, which will be broadcast live by ZDF/3sat at 7 pm. The Award Ceremony will also be available via live stream at www.berlinale.de. (Berlinale Press Office)

#Berlinale

Half Time: A Brilliant #Berlinale 2016

February 17, 2016 HollywoodGlee 1 Comment

After getting off to a brilliant start with the opening film Hail, Caesar! – with directors Joel & Ethan Coen as well as actors George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum and Alden Ehrenreich in attendance – the spectacular list of stars continues: Pernilla August, Susanne Bier, Daniel Brühl, Daniel Burman, Isabel Coixet, Doris Dörrie, Kirsten Dunst, Colin Firth, Greta Gerwig, Brendan Gleeson, Isabelle Huppert, Julia Jentsch, Denis Lavant, Jude Law, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Julianne Moore, Cynthia Nixon, Guy Pearce, Michael Peña, Tim Robbins, Gianfranco Rosi, James Schamus, Michael Shannon, Alexander Skarsgård, André Téchiné, Emma Thompson, Wayne Wang, and many more, have all put in appearances during the first half of this year’s Berlinale.There were standing ovations for Jury President Meryl Streep who – with her co-jurors Lars Eidinger, Nick James, Brigitte Lacombe, Clive Owen, Alba Rohrwacher and Małgorzata Szumowska – will award the Berlinale’s main prizes on February 20.

And so far the turnout of visitors at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival has been tremendous. At half time, almost 250,000 tickets have been sold.

“Once more the Berlinale is proving to be a huge crowd-puller. We are very pleased that thousands of people from Berlin and around the globe have again joined us to take a cinematic voyage of discovery,” says Festival Director Dieter Kosslick.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM) is also heading for success in 2016. This international platform for trading in film rights and audio-visual content has again registered a rising number of visitors and exhibitors. (Berlinale Press Office)

In an exclusive from Variety, The Weinstein Company opted out of this year’s European Film Market citing production delays in its upcoming Hands of Stone, starring Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barkin, Edgar Ramirez, Ruben Blades and John Turturro. Click here for the full story.

#SBIFF

2016 #SBIFF Draws To A Close

February 14, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Last night the 31st edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) drew to a close at the historic Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara. Festival Director Roger Durling welcomed and expressed his gratitude to the festival’s Board of Directors and to everyone who came out and supported the 200+ films and all the filmmakers from around the world. And, without missing a beat, Durling demonstrated his appreciation for the 700+ volunteers who provide additional support to his staff during the eleven day cinema celebration saying, “We couldn’t do it without the support of our volunteers…I salute you.”

(Photo Credit: William Conlin, YDL Digital Film)

The closing night film, Marguerite, started with a subtitles glitch. After a restart and a technical adjustment the film ran in its entirety and proved to be a crowd pleaser.

Next weekend several popular festival films are screened for the public free of charge at the scenic Riviera Theatre as part of the festival’s 3rd Weekend. Admission to the 3rd Weekend is on a first come first served basis. Here is a listing of films showing:

CLICK THE MOVIE TITLE FOR FILM INFO

Fri Feb 19 – 5:00 PM – Talion – Winner of the Nueva Vision Award for Spanish/Latin American Cinema
Fri Feb 19 – 7:30 PM – Mammal – Winner of the Panavision Independent Spirit Award
Fri Feb 19 – 9:30 PM – Award Winning Shorts (Graffiti, Lebanon Wins the World Cup, The Orchestra)

Sat Feb 20 – 11:00 AM – Vita Activa: The Spirit of Hannah Arendt – Winner of the Best Documentary Award
Sat Feb 20 – 2:00 PM – Viva – Winner of the ADL Stand-up Award
Sat Feb 20 – 5:00 PM – Ville-Marie – Winner of the Best International Film Award
Sat Feb 20 – 7:30 PM – The Culpable – Winner of the Audience Choice Award
Sat Feb 20 – 9:30 PM – Crossing Bhutan

Sun Feb 21 – 11:00 AM – 10 Billion: What’s on Your Plate? – Winner of the Social Justice Award
Sun Feb 21 – 2:00 PM – TBD
Sun Feb 21 – 5:00 PM – Harold and Lilian: A Hollywood Love Story
Sun Feb 21 – 7:30 PM – Bad Seeds

In addition, the festival is actively engaged throughout the year with its weekly Showcase Series and additional screenings with Q & A’s through Cinema Society and the SBIFF Wave Festivals. One of the tenants to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is giving back to the community and showcasing the art of film through it’s various outreach programming including its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, National Film Studies Program, AppleBox Family Films, and its educational seminars.

Patrons of the AppleBox Family Films at the Arlington Theater, on February 6th, 2016. (Photo credit: Larry Gleeson)

Keep in mind, it’s only 364 days until the 2017 Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s 32nd edition. Until then….I’ll see you at the movies!

(Source: Santa Barbara International Film Festival)

#SBIFF

#SBIFF 2016 Awards Announcement

February 13, 2016 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

31_SBIFF

This morning, February 13th, 2016, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), announced the 31st edition’s award winners at their annual Awards Breakfast. Following is the list of award winners:

BRUCE CORWIN AWARD – BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
GRAFFITI
Directed by Lluís Quílez

BRUCE CORWIN AWARD – BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
THE ORCHESTRA
Directed by Mikey Hill

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM AWARD
LEBANON WINS THE WORLD CUP
Directed by Tony El Khoury and Anthony Lappé

NUEVA VISION AWARD FOR SPANISH/LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA
TALIÓN
Directed by Martín Tuta

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
VITA ACTIVA: THE SPIRIT OF HANNAH ARENDT
Directed by Ada Ushpiz

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARD
VILLE-MARIE
Directed by Guy Édoin

PANAVISION SPIRIT AWARD FOR INDEPENDENT CINEMA
MAMMAL
Directed by Rebecca Daly

SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM
10 BILLION: WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?
Directed by Valentin Thurn

THE ADL STAND UP AWARD
SPONSORED BY SANTA BARBARA/TRI-COUNTIES ADL
VIVA
Directed by Paddy Breathnach

THE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
SPONSORED BY THE SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
THE CULPABLE
Directed by Gerd Schneider