Director Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga became the first Indian filmmakers to claim competitive Oscars after their short documentary The Elephant Whisperers won the Academy Award tonight.
Gonsalves gave thanks to “my motherland, India,” as she accepted the award.
The Elephant Whisperers revolves around Bomman and Belli, an Indigenous couple and their “large” family – orphaned elephant calves that they help raise in the Theppakadu Elephant camp within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in South India. Gonsalves spent five years following this human-elephant blended family for her Netflix documentary.
“I stand here today to speak for the sacred bond between us and our natural world,” Gonsalves said as she began her acceptance speech, “for the respect of Indigenous communities and empathy towards other living beings we share our space with, and finally, for coexistence.”
She added, “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing our film, highlighting Indigenous people and animals, to...
Gonsalves gave thanks to “my motherland, India,” as she accepted the award.
The Elephant Whisperers revolves around Bomman and Belli, an Indigenous couple and their “large” family – orphaned elephant calves that they help raise in the Theppakadu Elephant camp within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in South India. Gonsalves spent five years following this human-elephant blended family for her Netflix documentary.
“I stand here today to speak for the sacred bond between us and our natural world,” Gonsalves said as she began her acceptance speech, “for the respect of Indigenous communities and empathy towards other living beings we share our space with, and finally, for coexistence.”
She added, “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing our film, highlighting Indigenous people and animals, to...
- 3/13/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Elephant Whisperers,” the Indian film nominated in the Oscars’ documentary short film category, has received an outpouring of love globally with young fans sending their fan art and appreciation in hundreds of emails to the filmmakers.
The film follows a couple, Bomman and Bellie, who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu.
Director Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga, along with the film’s team in India and the U.S., have been receiving fan art depicting their love for the orphaned babies and the caring couple from the film. They have also received testimonials from many parents and some fans who sent video clips of their own animal companions watching the film at home.
Monga told Variety: “We always knew the film was special, but to see it have such immense impact, especially on young minds makes this whole experience even more meaningful.
The film follows a couple, Bomman and Bellie, who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu.
Director Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga, along with the film’s team in India and the U.S., have been receiving fan art depicting their love for the orphaned babies and the caring couple from the film. They have also received testimonials from many parents and some fans who sent video clips of their own animal companions watching the film at home.
Monga told Variety: “We always knew the film was special, but to see it have such immense impact, especially on young minds makes this whole experience even more meaningful.
- 3/2/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
What do you enjoy the most about the art of short films? How do you decide if a story should be a short film or feature length? How have streaming platforms impacted short films? What were the most difficult scenes to cut in order to keep your film under 40 minutes?
These were some of the secrets revealed by four of today’s top filmmakers when they joined Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with Film Shorts Oscar contenders: Nils Keller (“Almost Home”), Peter Baynton, Doug Blush (“The Elephant Whisperers”) and Sharon Liese (“The Flagmakers”). Watch our lively group discussion above and click on each name to view their solo chat.
“Coming from a student background, it’s just more common to do shorts,” says Keller. “You don’t have the money or you don’t get to choose. It was more natural to do a short.
These were some of the secrets revealed by four of today’s top filmmakers when they joined Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with Film Shorts Oscar contenders: Nils Keller (“Almost Home”), Peter Baynton, Doug Blush (“The Elephant Whisperers”) and Sharon Liese (“The Flagmakers”). Watch our lively group discussion above and click on each name to view their solo chat.
“Coming from a student background, it’s just more common to do shorts,” says Keller. “You don’t have the money or you don’t get to choose. It was more natural to do a short.
- 1/12/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
“The shortlist is this amazing validation, especially for Kartiki [Gonsalves],” says Doug Blush, who executive produced “The Elephant Whisperers” on Netflix. The film was directed by Gonsalves and is among just 15 movies selected for a potential Best Documentary Short nomination at the 95th Oscars. “She’s been working on this film for five years in a really remote, wild area in Southern India.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
The short doc follows Bomman and Bellie, a couple in South India who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other that tests the barrier between the human and the animal world.
See over 200 interviews with 2023 awards contenders
“Kartiki lives in the region where this preserve is,” Blush explains. “This is one of those unique parts of the world where they have a really well preserved area of incredible nature. There is...
The short doc follows Bomman and Bellie, a couple in South India who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other that tests the barrier between the human and the animal world.
See over 200 interviews with 2023 awards contenders
“Kartiki lives in the region where this preserve is,” Blush explains. “This is one of those unique parts of the world where they have a really well preserved area of incredible nature. There is...
- 1/12/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: First Run Features is promising “a robust awards campaign” for The Quiet Epidemic, after acquiring U.S. distribution rights to the documentary about Chronic Lyme and tick-borne disease.
The film directed by Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch will begin a one-week Oscar-qualifying run at the IFC Center in New York on December 2, followed by a nationwide rollout in early 2023.
According to CDC figures, almost half a million Americans become infected with Lyme disease each year. Of those infected, a subset of patients will develop chronic symptoms, but according to the film, the medical community has largely been reluctant to acknowledge the reality of long-term illness from Lyme disease.
“The Quiet Epidemic follows a young girl from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist both diagnosed with a disease said to not exist: Chronic Lyme disease,” a summary of the film notes. “Their search for answers lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate.
The film directed by Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch will begin a one-week Oscar-qualifying run at the IFC Center in New York on December 2, followed by a nationwide rollout in early 2023.
According to CDC figures, almost half a million Americans become infected with Lyme disease each year. Of those infected, a subset of patients will develop chronic symptoms, but according to the film, the medical community has largely been reluctant to acknowledge the reality of long-term illness from Lyme disease.
“The Quiet Epidemic follows a young girl from Brooklyn and a Duke University scientist both diagnosed with a disease said to not exist: Chronic Lyme disease,” a summary of the film notes. “Their search for answers lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate.
- 11/3/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Last Of The Winthrops explores powerful and stunning revelations as a woman reclaims her sense of self after taking an Ancestry DNA test. The directorial debut for co-directors Viviane G. Winthrop and Adam K. Singer will arrive on multiple digital platforms including iTunes/AppleTV and Amazon on November 11 worldwide following a limited theatrical release in Los Angeles beginning October 7.
When Reginald Winthrop and his beautiful French-Canadian wife Claire had their “miracle child,” Viviane, they raised her as an heir to the historic Winthrop exceptionalism. “Reg” could follow the Winthrop heritage down a very prestigious path to the founders of America. However, after Reg’s passing, Viviane is compelled to take her own journey down that path and learn everything she can about the Winthrop lineage… until an Ancestry DNA result sends all her plans into upheaval.
Born in the 1580s, John Winthrop was one of the leading figures...
When Reginald Winthrop and his beautiful French-Canadian wife Claire had their “miracle child,” Viviane, they raised her as an heir to the historic Winthrop exceptionalism. “Reg” could follow the Winthrop heritage down a very prestigious path to the founders of America. However, after Reg’s passing, Viviane is compelled to take her own journey down that path and learn everything she can about the Winthrop lineage… until an Ancestry DNA result sends all her plans into upheaval.
Born in the 1580s, John Winthrop was one of the leading figures...
- 9/30/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on January 15th, 2020, reviewing the new film “Outside the Wire,” streaming on Netflix beginning January 15th, 2021.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Rock n Roll Fantasy Camps, founded by promoter David Fishof, have been around for 25 years. This associative “rock doc” in an exploration of what the camps are and do, answering the never-die dream question in every rock fan’s soul… can I be a rock n roll star, at least through the duration of the fantasy camp? A-list mentors like Roger Daltrey, Jeff Beck, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Nancy Wilson of Heart and other ancillary rockers like Judas Priest and other bands are featured, as well as the campers themselves.
“Rock Camp: The Movie” is available on virtual cinema – including Chicago at MusicBox.com – beginning January 15th. Featuring Roger Daltrey, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson, Jeff Beck and Alice Cooper.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Rock n Roll Fantasy Camps, founded by promoter David Fishof, have been around for 25 years. This associative “rock doc” in an exploration of what the camps are and do, answering the never-die dream question in every rock fan’s soul… can I be a rock n roll star, at least through the duration of the fantasy camp? A-list mentors like Roger Daltrey, Jeff Beck, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Nancy Wilson of Heart and other ancillary rockers like Judas Priest and other bands are featured, as well as the campers themselves.
“Rock Camp: The Movie” is available on virtual cinema – including Chicago at MusicBox.com – beginning January 15th. Featuring Roger Daltrey, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson, Jeff Beck and Alice Cooper.
- 1/18/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
A who’s who of some of the biggest rockstars of the Seventies and Eighties appear in the new trailer for Rock Camp, a documentary detailing a camp that has, for the past 25 years, given average Joes — err, those with a few thousand dollars to spare — the chance to learn and jam with rock stars.
“You would have a 15-year-old kid playing drums and a dentist on guitar,” Alice Cooper says in the clip. “If this band were a real band, it’d be the weirdest band ever, but cool.
“You would have a 15-year-old kid playing drums and a dentist on guitar,” Alice Cooper says in the clip. “If this band were a real band, it’d be the weirdest band ever, but cool.
- 12/29/2020
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
As we move closer to a world of telecommuting and online collaboration, film editors are jumping on the bandwagon. As a group they’ve been traditionally somewhat removed from the day-to-day moviemaking process, working in dark suites far from the set. But it’s one thing to work across town and quite another to work on a different continent.
Take Langdon Page, who has edited feature documentaries “Salinger” (2013), “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures” (2016) and this year’s “Inventing Tomorrow” from Chile, the South American country to which he relocated in 2011 for family reasons. (He did have to travel to Los Angeles to edit 2017’s “The Final Year,” about President Obama’s last year in office, because it was “politically sensitive.”)
“Between 2012 and now I’ve cut six documentaries remotely,” says Page, who received a grant from the Chilean government to start a production company. “At that point, the technology was...
Take Langdon Page, who has edited feature documentaries “Salinger” (2013), “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures” (2016) and this year’s “Inventing Tomorrow” from Chile, the South American country to which he relocated in 2011 for family reasons. (He did have to travel to Los Angeles to edit 2017’s “The Final Year,” about President Obama’s last year in office, because it was “politically sensitive.”)
“Between 2012 and now I’ve cut six documentaries remotely,” says Page, who received a grant from the Chilean government to start a production company. “At that point, the technology was...
- 4/4/2018
- by Daniel Zender
- Variety Film + TV
The FBI is looking into a number of cyberattacks against the Sundance Film Festival that started Saturday, a spokesperson for the festival confirmed to IndieWire. Hackers temporarily shut down the festival’s box office over the weekend.
“The FBI is reviewing the case,” a Sundance spokesperson told IndieWire in a statement. “At this point, we do not have any reason to believe the cyberattack was targeted towards a specific film. No artist or customer information was compromised.”
Filmmaker Laura Poitras confirmed to IndieWire that she referred a cybersecurity expert to the festival to help consult on how to protect against further hacks. The festival said the outage was about three hours and that there were subsequent attacks they were able to withstand. The Sundance box office did lose some ticket sales and had to refund customers.
The first attack came on the day of the Women’s March On Main,...
“The FBI is reviewing the case,” a Sundance spokesperson told IndieWire in a statement. “At this point, we do not have any reason to believe the cyberattack was targeted towards a specific film. No artist or customer information was compromised.”
Filmmaker Laura Poitras confirmed to IndieWire that she referred a cybersecurity expert to the festival to help consult on how to protect against further hacks. The festival said the outage was about three hours and that there were subsequent attacks they were able to withstand. The Sundance box office did lose some ticket sales and had to refund customers.
The first attack came on the day of the Women’s March On Main,...
- 1/23/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
[Editors Note: Project of the Month is presented in partnership with Blackmagic Design, one of the world's leading innovators and manufacturers of creative video technology.] For many Americans, suicide is an uneasy subject to discuss, whether it's about the trauma left in the wake of an attempt or the measures that can be taken to prevent them from happening. With her documentary "The S Word," director Lisa Klein is looking to change that. And she's not alone. Alongside veteran documentary editor Doug Blush and a group of experienced production staff, she's given the opportunity for survivors of suicide attempts and their families to tell their own stories. It's the first step in what they hope will lead to a more open national dialogue about care and prevention. Via email, we spoke with the "S Word" team (Klein, Blush and producer Kurt Norton) about the difficulties of filmmaking and where they hope this project takes them next. What's...
- 12/23/2015
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Electric Sky has acquired international broadcast rights to Luke Korem’s documentary and will launch sales at Mipcom in October.
Lord Montagu offers what the filmmakers claim to be the inside story of one of Britain’s more controversial 20th century aristocrats, Lord Edward Montagu of Beaulieu.
Oliver Tobias narrates the film, which looks at Montagu’s entry into Parliament at the age of 22 and his imprisonment three years later in 1954 for “homosexual offences.”
The sole heir to a 7,000-acre English estate emerged from the scandal of “The Montagu Case” a year later and revived his fortunes when he turned his estate into a tourist attraction.
The film features commentary from Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of Devonshire, historian Sir Roy Strong, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and former F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
“Lord Montagu delves into a seemingly privileged, glamorous lifestyle, offering a glimpse into the world of the aristocracy that so many...
Lord Montagu offers what the filmmakers claim to be the inside story of one of Britain’s more controversial 20th century aristocrats, Lord Edward Montagu of Beaulieu.
Oliver Tobias narrates the film, which looks at Montagu’s entry into Parliament at the age of 22 and his imprisonment three years later in 1954 for “homosexual offences.”
The sole heir to a 7,000-acre English estate emerged from the scandal of “The Montagu Case” a year later and revived his fortunes when he turned his estate into a tourist attraction.
The film features commentary from Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of Devonshire, historian Sir Roy Strong, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and former F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
“Lord Montagu delves into a seemingly privileged, glamorous lifestyle, offering a glimpse into the world of the aristocracy that so many...
- 8/5/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Among the many things that Los Angeles-based Film Independent does, besides the high-profile Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, is provide crucial support to independent filmmakers. Every year a select few get chosen to participate in their Documentary Lab, which is designed to help them during the post-production phase on a film. In the past, participants have gone on to complete excellent work, among them Andrew Droz Palermo & Tracy Droz Tragos, whose "Rich Hill" won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, as well as Pj Raval ("Before You Know It"), Hilla Medalia’s ("Dancing in Jaffa"), Nicholas Wrathall ("Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia"), Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali Worrall ("Call Me Kuchu"), Laura Nix and Julia Meltzer ("The Light In Her Eyes") and Nicole Karsin ("We Women Warriors"). Among this year's mentors are editor Doug Blush ("20 Feet from Stardom"), Laura Gabbert...
- 3/17/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The seven-week 2014 Documentary Lab is designed to help filmmakers who are in post-production.
This year’s Lab Fellows are Esteban Arguello and Xuan Jiang, Jamie Sisley and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Suzanne Joe Kai, Robyn Symon, Nick Spark, Andrew James, Jonathan Matthews, and Jen Heck.
“We are delighted to kick off the fourth year of our Documentary Lab with such an talented group of filmmakers and esteemed mentors,” said Kelly Thomas, producer-in-residence and interim director of artist development.
Documentary filmmakers Doug Blush, Laura Gabbert, Caroline Libresco, Linda Goldstein-Knowlton, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen are this year’s Documentary Lab mentors.
This year’s Lab Fellows are Esteban Arguello and Xuan Jiang, Jamie Sisley and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Suzanne Joe Kai, Robyn Symon, Nick Spark, Andrew James, Jonathan Matthews, and Jen Heck.
“We are delighted to kick off the fourth year of our Documentary Lab with such an talented group of filmmakers and esteemed mentors,” said Kelly Thomas, producer-in-residence and interim director of artist development.
Documentary filmmakers Doug Blush, Laura Gabbert, Caroline Libresco, Linda Goldstein-Knowlton, Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen are this year’s Documentary Lab mentors.
- 3/17/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
First stop, the Annie Awards which honor excellence in the animated world. And the winners are:
Best Animated Feature:
Frozen, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production:
Chipotle Scarecrow, Chipotle Creative Department, Moonbot Studios
Best Animated Short Subject:
Get A Horse!,Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial:
Despicable Me 2, Cinemark - Universal Pictures
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children:
Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children.s Audience:
Adventure Time, Cartoon Network Studios
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production:
Futurama,20th Century Fox Television
Best Animated Video Game:
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
Best Student Film
Wedding Cake, Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, Viola Baier, Iris Frisch
Animated Effects in an Animated Production:
Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer, The Croods, DreamWorks Animation
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production:
Michael Balog,...
Best Animated Feature:
Frozen, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production:
Chipotle Scarecrow, Chipotle Creative Department, Moonbot Studios
Best Animated Short Subject:
Get A Horse!,Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial:
Despicable Me 2, Cinemark - Universal Pictures
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children:
Disney Sofia the First - Disney Television Animation
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children.s Audience:
Adventure Time, Cartoon Network Studios
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production:
Futurama,20th Century Fox Television
Best Animated Video Game:
The Last of Us, Naughty Dog
Best Student Film
Wedding Cake, Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, Viola Baier, Iris Frisch
Animated Effects in an Animated Production:
Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer, The Croods, DreamWorks Animation
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production:
Michael Balog,...
- 2/13/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Every guild and professional organisation in filmmaking has its awards ceremony and this weekend saw the turn of the American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards and the Art Directors Guild Excellence In Production Design bash. American Hustle, Captain Phillips and Frozen scored at the former, while Her and The Great Gatsby were among the winners at the latter.In a real example of spreading the love around, the editors picked Captain Phillips’ Christopher Rouse for dramatic feature, while Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten shared the Comedy Or Musical Feature gong for American Hustle. In the Animated category, Frozen’s Jeff Draheim won.Captain Phillips was shown even more love as the Ace gave director Paul Greengrass its Filmmaker Of The Year trophy, which was handed over by star Tom Hanks. 20 Feet From Stardom team Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber and Jason Zeldes took home the Documentary award.The art directors,...
- 2/9/2014
- EmpireOnline
Celebrating the unsung heroes in moviemaking, the Ace Eddie Awards took place in Beverly Hills on Friday (February 7).
Presenting the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) award was Leonardo DiCaprio, who handed over the trophy to Christopher Rouse for "Captain Phillips."
Honoring Paul Greengrass with the Filmmaker of the Year award was Tom Hanks, while Jonah Hill gave the Best Edited Documentary (Feature) prize to Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber, and Jason Zeldes.
Gearing up for an Awards season trouncing of the animated categories, "Frozen" and editor Jeff Draheim won the Best Edited Animated Feature Film prize. Check out the full list of winners below.
Best Edited Feature Film- Dramatic
"Captain Phillips" Christopher Rouse
Best Edited Feature Film- Comedy Or Musical
"American Hustle" Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten
Best Edited Animated Feature Film
"Frozen" Jeff Draheim
Best Edited Documentary- Feature
"20 Feet From Stardom" Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes
Best Edited...
Presenting the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) award was Leonardo DiCaprio, who handed over the trophy to Christopher Rouse for "Captain Phillips."
Honoring Paul Greengrass with the Filmmaker of the Year award was Tom Hanks, while Jonah Hill gave the Best Edited Documentary (Feature) prize to Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber, and Jason Zeldes.
Gearing up for an Awards season trouncing of the animated categories, "Frozen" and editor Jeff Draheim won the Best Edited Animated Feature Film prize. Check out the full list of winners below.
Best Edited Feature Film- Dramatic
"Captain Phillips" Christopher Rouse
Best Edited Feature Film- Comedy Or Musical
"American Hustle" Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten
Best Edited Animated Feature Film
"Frozen" Jeff Draheim
Best Edited Documentary- Feature
"20 Feet From Stardom" Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes
Best Edited...
- 2/8/2014
- GossipCenter
‘Captain Phillips’ (edited by Christopher Rouse, A.C.E.) and ‘American Hustle’ (edited by Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.) won Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) and Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy/Musical) respectively at the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards tonight where trophies were handed out in ten (10) categories of film, television and documentaries. The black-tie ceremony was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel with over 1,000 in attendance to celebrate the year?s best editing. ?Frozen? (edited by Jeff Draheim) won Best Edited Animated Feature Film and ?20 Feet From Stardom? (edited by Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes) won Best Edited Documentary (Feature). Television winners included ‘The Office Finale’ (edited by David Rogers & Claire Scanlon) for Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television, ‘Breaking Bad’ Felina (edited by Skip MacDonald, A.C.E.) for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial television,...
- 2/8/2014
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
In a mildly interesting turn of events, if below-the-line categories at the Oscars are your thing, occurred last night as Captain Phillips was named the Best Edited Feature Drama by the American Cinema Editors (Ace) at the 2014 Eddie Awards while American Hustle won in the comedy category. Now this doesn't mean anything in the Best Picture race at the Oscars as we're still looking at a battle between 12 Years a Slave and Gravity there, but this does make the Editing race a little more interesting. In the animated category it was Frozen taking the win and 20 Feet from Stardom won for Best Documentary Editing. I've listed the winners below, highlighted in bold red text and updated the Oscar Overture with the wins for American Hustle and Captain Phillips. Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic): 12 Years a Slave - Joe Walker Captain Phillips - Chris Rouse, A.C.E. Gravity - Alfonso Cuar?...
- 2/8/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
© Linda Treydte / Tilt Photo
Captain Phillips (edited by Christopher Rouse, A.C.E.) and American Hustle (edited by Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.) won Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) and Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy/Musical) respectively at the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards Friday evening where trophies were handed out in ten (10) categories of film, television and documentaries.
The black-tie ceremony was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel with over 1,000 in attendance to celebrate the year’s best editing.
Frozen (edited by Jeff Draheim) won Best Edited Animated Feature Film and 20 Feet From Stardom (edited by Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes) won Best Edited Documentary (Feature).
June Squibb and Will Forte flank Best Animated Feature winner, Jeff Draheim (‘Frozen’). © Linda Treydte / Tilt Photo
Television winners included ”The Office – Finale” (edited by David Rogers & Claire Scanlon) for Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television,...
Captain Phillips (edited by Christopher Rouse, A.C.E.) and American Hustle (edited by Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.) won Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) and Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy/Musical) respectively at the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards Friday evening where trophies were handed out in ten (10) categories of film, television and documentaries.
The black-tie ceremony was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel with over 1,000 in attendance to celebrate the year’s best editing.
Frozen (edited by Jeff Draheim) won Best Edited Animated Feature Film and 20 Feet From Stardom (edited by Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes) won Best Edited Documentary (Feature).
June Squibb and Will Forte flank Best Animated Feature winner, Jeff Draheim (‘Frozen’). © Linda Treydte / Tilt Photo
Television winners included ”The Office – Finale” (edited by David Rogers & Claire Scanlon) for Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television,...
- 2/8/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
At the 64th annual American Cinema Editors Awards for outstanding editing on Friday night, four Oscar contenders took home the coveted Eddie, which often presages Oscar wins. The editors handed out trophies in ten categories of film, television and documentaries. “Captain Phillips” (edited by Christopher Rouse, A.C.E.) beat out "Gravity" for Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic), while “American Hustle” (edited by Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.) won Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy/Musical). Oscar frontrunners “Frozen” (edited by Jeff Draheim) took Best Edited Animated Feature Film and “20 Feet From Stardom” (edited by Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes) took Best Edited Documentary (Feature) respectively. Which leaves the Oscar race as murky as ever. Only the PGA offers all nine Oscar Best Picture nominees in one category. The Guilds split things up. Television winners included ”The...
- 2/8/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Best Edited Feature Drama Captain Philips, Christopher Rouse Best Edited Feature Comedy/Musical American Hustle Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten Best Edited Animated Feature Frozen, Jeff Draheim...
- 2/8/2014
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
The American Cinema Editors (Ace) unveiled their nominees on January 10 ahead of the 64th annual Ace Eddie Awards show on February 7 in Los Angeles.
Final Ballots will be mailed on January 13 and voting ends on January 29.
Next week Ace will announce the Golden Eddie Filmmaker Of The Year honouree and two career achievement honorees.
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years A Slave – Joe Walker
Captain Phillips – Chris Rouse
Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
Her – Eric Zumbrunnen and Jeff Buchanan
Saving Mr. Banks — MarkLivolsi
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
American Hustle – Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
August: Osage County – Stephen Mirrione
Inside Llewyn Davis – Roderick Jaynes
Nebraska – Kevin Tent
The Wolf Of Wall Street – Thelma Schoonmaker
Best Edited Animated Feature Film:
Despicable Me 2 – Gregory Perler
Frozen – Jeff Draheim
Monsters University – Greg Snyder
Best Edited Documentary (Feature):
20 Feet From Stardom – Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber and Jason Zeldes
Blackfish – Eli Despres
Tim...
Final Ballots will be mailed on January 13 and voting ends on January 29.
Next week Ace will announce the Golden Eddie Filmmaker Of The Year honouree and two career achievement honorees.
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years A Slave – Joe Walker
Captain Phillips – Chris Rouse
Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
Her – Eric Zumbrunnen and Jeff Buchanan
Saving Mr. Banks — MarkLivolsi
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
American Hustle – Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
August: Osage County – Stephen Mirrione
Inside Llewyn Davis – Roderick Jaynes
Nebraska – Kevin Tent
The Wolf Of Wall Street – Thelma Schoonmaker
Best Edited Animated Feature Film:
Despicable Me 2 – Gregory Perler
Frozen – Jeff Draheim
Monsters University – Greg Snyder
Best Edited Documentary (Feature):
20 Feet From Stardom – Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber and Jason Zeldes
Blackfish – Eli Despres
Tim...
- 1/10/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The American Cinema Editors (Ace) revealed the nominations for their 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards for all categories including film, television, and documentaries. We'll find out the winners on Feb. 7 with the Ace Eddie Awards annual ceremony to be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Here's your full list of nominees of the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards:
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years a Slave
Joe Walker
Captain Phillips
Chris Rouse, A.C.E.
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger
Her
Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E. & Jeff Buchanan
Saving Mr. Banks
Mark Livolsi, A.C.E.
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
American Hustle
Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.
August: Osage County
Stephen Mirrione, A.C.E.
Inside Llewyn Davis
Roderick Jaynes
Nebraska
Kevin Tent, A.C.E.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Thelma Schoonmaker, A.C.E.
Best Edited...
Here's your full list of nominees of the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards:
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years a Slave
Joe Walker
Captain Phillips
Chris Rouse, A.C.E.
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger
Her
Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E. & Jeff Buchanan
Saving Mr. Banks
Mark Livolsi, A.C.E.
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
American Hustle
Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.
August: Osage County
Stephen Mirrione, A.C.E.
Inside Llewyn Davis
Roderick Jaynes
Nebraska
Kevin Tent, A.C.E.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Thelma Schoonmaker, A.C.E.
Best Edited...
- 1/10/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
American Cinema Editors (Ace) today announced nominations for the 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing in ten categories of film, television and documentaries. Winners will be revealed during Ace’s annual black-tie awards ceremony on Friday, February 7, 2014 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The Ace Eddie Awards is considered an integral precursor to the Oscars. No film has won Best Picture at the Oscars without also having received at least a Best Editing nomination since Ordinary People in 1981. Since the Ace membership boasts a very high crossover within its membership of Academy members, it represents a very accurate bellwether for the eventual Oscar outcome.
The Ace Eddie Award nominees are listed below.
Nominees For 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years a Slave
Joe Walker
Captain Phillips
Chris Rouse, A.C.E.
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger
Her
Eric Zumbrunnen,...
The Ace Eddie Awards is considered an integral precursor to the Oscars. No film has won Best Picture at the Oscars without also having received at least a Best Editing nomination since Ordinary People in 1981. Since the Ace membership boasts a very high crossover within its membership of Academy members, it represents a very accurate bellwether for the eventual Oscar outcome.
The Ace Eddie Award nominees are listed below.
Nominees For 64th Annual Ace Eddie Awards
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic):
12 Years a Slave
Joe Walker
Captain Phillips
Chris Rouse, A.C.E.
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger
Her
Eric Zumbrunnen,...
- 1/10/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Spike Jonze's Her may be competing at the Golden Globes on Sunday as a comedy, but as far as the American Cinema Editors (Ace) are concerned it's a drama as the org announced the nominees for the 2014 Ace Eddie Awards this morning in three categories. Last year these nominations were announced before the Oscars, giving little reason to look at them and add to the speculation as to which films would eventually be nominated for Best Editing at the Oscars. Looking over the list, I must say I'm surprised to see Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill's work on Rush didn't make the cut, instead replaced by Mark Livolski's Saving Mr. Banks. I guess editing in all those flashbacks was looked at as impressive. Otherwise, while I haven't touched my Best Film Editing predictions since first posting them, four of my top five were nominated by the Ace...
- 1/10/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
12 Years A Slave, American Hustle and Breaking Bad are among the nominees in the drama, comedy/musical and one-hour commercial TV categories for the 64th Ace Eddie Awards. The American Cinema Editors revealed their nominees today. Here’s the full list of finalists, with the winners to be revealed in a ceremony February 7 at the Beverly Hilton: Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic): 12 Years a Slave Joe Walker Captain Phillips Chris Rouse, A.C.E. Gravity Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger Her Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E. & Jeff Buchanan Saving Mr. Banks Mark Livolsi, A.C.E. Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical): American Hustle Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E. August: Osage County Stephen Mirrione, A.C.E. Inside Llewyn Davis Roderick Jaynes Nebraska Kevin Tent, A.C.E. The Wolf of Wall Street Thelma Schoonmaker, A.C.E. Best Edited Animated...
- 1/10/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Film Independent has announced its chosen filmmakers for the 2013 Documentary Lab, an eight-week program designed to assist burgeoning directors currently in post-production.This year’s Lab Mentors include documentary filmmakers Doug Blush (editor, “The Invisible War”), Laura Gabbert (“No Impact Man”) and Jeff Malmberg (“Marwencol"). “There is so much great work being done by documentary filmmakers right now, and it’s exciting to see the projects coming out of our Lab being celebrated at festivals and beyond,” stated Jennifer Kushner, Film Independent’s Director of Artist Development. “We’re thrilled to welcome the new group of filmmakers, and look forward to seeing their films develop in the program.”Previous Documentary Lab projects include: Hila Medalia’s “Dancing in Jaffa,” Nicholas Wrathall’s “Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia” and Nicole Karsin’s “We Women Warriors,” among others. The chosen fellows and their films are: Title:...
- 3/20/2013
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
VI Issue II
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
The Invisible War written and directed by Kirby Dick
The Invisible War is a documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem— the film claims that today a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. The filmmakers’ state that the Department of Defense estimates there were 22,800 violent sex crimes in the military in 2011, that 20% of all active‐duty female soldiers are sexually assaulted and that female soldiers aged 18 to 21 account for more than half of the victims.
Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of rape victims, The Invisible War suggests a systemic cover-up of military sex crimes by the military. The film chronicles women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice within and outside the military and features interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long history, and suggests what can be done to bring about much-needed change.
Oscar and Emmy nominated director Kirby Dick (Outrage, This Film Is Not Yet Rated), found the inspiration for The Invisible War from a 2007 Salon.com article about women serving in Iraq entitled “The Private War of Women Soldiers,” by Columbia University journalism professor Helen Benedict. When Dick and Emmy-nominated producing partner Amy Ziering (Outrage) read Benedict's piece, they were astounded by the prevalence of sexual assault in the military.
This film is beautifully made, shot, directed and produced. It is one of the strongest films of the year. It shows that rape and other sexually based harassment seems to be wide spread in our military and that the military is unwilling to adjust its culture to effect the necessary change to provide a safe work environment for all of its members. The filmmakers make excellent choices in terms of who they interview, whose stories they tell. This is a strong advocacy film that can make a difference and start pushing the civilians who control our military to demand to make the necessary changes to protect the men and women who serve from each other. Frankly, it has to have a zero tolerance for any kind of harassment. With the striking of “don’t ask, don’t tell” the armed services are on their way to addressing this. The film was short listed for the documentary feature Academy Award.
Credits:
Director/Writer: Kirby Dick
Producers: Amy Ziering, Tanner King Barklow
Cinematography: Thaddeus Wadleigh, Kirsten Johnson
Music Supervisor: Dondi Bastone, Gary Calamar/Go
Editor, Associate Producer: Doug Blush
Executive Producer for Itvs: Sally Jo Fifer Cinedigm and Docurama Films
Revolution Reykjavík a short film by Isold Uggadottir
Gudfinna, a successful 58-year old mid-level employee of the Icelandic bank Landsbankinn, finds herself a victim of the economic failure, not only losing her job, but her lifesavings as well. Proud and independent, she struggles to shield her dire circumstances from her family members and friends. But as tensions in Icelandic society grow, so does her inner turmoil. She finds that she cannot deal with her increasingly desperate financial concerns and her ideas of self-worth. Slowly, Gudfinna, much like the Icelandic economy, finds herself metamorphosed into the utterly helpless being she never could have foreseen becoming.
Revolution Reykjavík is one of the outstanding short films of the 2011/12 year. One of the few works to screen at both New Directors and Telluride and dozens of other festivals, it is evident that Isold Uggadottir, while not yet a known name as a director, is tremendously talented. Watching Gudfinna fall apart is deeply moving. Her inner struggles are evident by the nuanced direction of a subtle performance. The film is nicely shot, edited and at 19 minutes it becomes a metaphor for the 2008 Icelandic banking disaster that wiped out tens of thousands of Icelanders and three of the major banks. It caused thousands of people to lose their jobs and created a political crisis for the country. Few portfolio works try for nuanced and subtle performances but are in-your-face testosterone fueled action works. This film is a keeper.
Director/ Writer’s Bio:
Isold Uggadottir is an Icelandic writer/director. Her four short films have been invited to over 120 international film festivals, including Telluride, Sundance and New Directors/New Films hosted by Lincoln Center & MoMA. Two of her films (Clean and Committed) have been honored with Icelandic Academy Awards for Best Short Film in 2010 and 2011, while Revolution Reykjavík and Family Reunion received nominations in 2012 and 2006. Additionally, Isold has received multiple international awards, most recently in Spain and Greece.
Isold holds an Mfa in writing and directing from Columbia University in New York, where she was honored with the Adrienne Shelly Award for Best Female Director. Screen International named her “one of the rising stars of Icelandic film.”
Credits:
Written and Directed: Isold Uggadottir
Producers: Snorri Thórisson, Isold Uggadottir
Director of Photography: Óskar Thór Axelsson
Editor: Isold Uggadottir
Academy announces 11 short films shortlisted for the Short Film Nomination
Because of a voting tie the Academy short listed 11 dramatic/fiction short films instead of 10. Culled from 125 submitted films, it is perhaps the best group of films entered in the last 30 years. These films range from a thesis work from Columbia’s University’s graduate film program to When You Find Me, directed by Bryce Howard, filmmaker Ron Howard’s 31 year old daughter, to the Danish 61 year old director Anders Walther with short film Oscar winner (and nominee) producer Tivi Magnusson for 9 Meter.
Following screenings in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in December, Branch members will select three to five nominees from among the 11 semi-finalists. It will be challenging for the committees to find the five best in this really impressive group of films. It is an embarrassment of solid filmmaking from a global group of filmmakers. Please note: I have not seen two of the short listed films and I am relying on others for their synopses to be accurate.
Below is an alphabetical listing of the short listed films, the key filmmakers, the country of production and a link to a clip. Take a look and make up your own mind:
A Fábrica (The Factory), Aly Muritiba, director (Grafo Audiovisual)
“An inmate convinces his mother to take a risk smuggling a cell phone for him into the penitentiary.
Length: 15 min.
Language: Portuguese
Country: Brazil
“Asad,” Bryan Buckley, director, and Mino Jarjoura, producer (Hungry Man)
A Somali boy must choose either the life of a pirate or that of a fisherman
Length: 17 min.
Language: Somali with English subtitles.
Country: USA
“Buzkashi Boys,” Sam French, director, and Ariel Nasr, producer (Afghan Film Project)
Two young boys dream of a better life. One is without parents and the other the father wants him to follow into his blacksmithing.
Length: 30 min.
Language: Pashto
Country: Afghanistan, USA Production
“Curfew,” Shawn Christensen, director (Fuzzy Logic Pictures)
A suicidal New Yorker, Richie’s attempt to end his life is interrupted by a call from his estranged sister asking him to babysit his niece for the evening.
Length: 20 min
Language: English
Country: USA
“Death of a Shadow” (Dood van een Schaduw),” Tom Van Avermaet, director, and Ellen De Waele, producer(Serendipity Films)
This highly produced sci-fi fantasy work is about a dead Wwi soldier stuck in the limbo between life and death who has to collect shadows to regain a second chance at life.
Length: 20 min.
Language: German
Country: Belgium
“Henry,” Yan England, director (Yan England) Henry, a concert pianist, has his life thrown into turmoil the day the love of his life mysteriously disappears. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 21 min.
Language: English
Country: Canadian
“Kiruna-Kigali,” Goran Kapetanovic, director (Hepp Film Ab)
This tour‐de‐force Swedish short begins in a mist of frost and snow. A woman is driving to the hospital in Kiruna, the northernmost city of Sweden. Under the scorching sunlight of Kigali, Rwanda,another woman is being carried to the hospital on a stretcher. The two single mothers‐to‐be are on the verge of giving birth to a baby are thousands of miles apart, but share the same fear of entering the unknown world of motherhood. I think this is the film to beat.
Length: 15 min.
Language: Swedish/ Kinyarwanda
Country: Swedish/Rwanda
“The Night Shift Belongs to the Stars,” Silvia Bizio and Paola Porrini Bisson, producers (Oh! Pen LLC)
The story of Matteo (Enrico Lo Verso), a passionate mountain climber, and Sonia (Nastassja Kinski), a married woman, also in love with mountain, as they set out to climb a peak on the Dolomites, in Trentino, Italy. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 24 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
“9 meter,” Anders Walther, director, and Tivi Magnusson, producer (M & M Productions A/S)
A boy tries to set a new record in the long jump as his mother fights her illness. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 18 min.
Language: Danish
Country: Danish
“Salar,” Nicholas Greene, director, and Julie Buck, producer (Nicholas Greene)
In an isolated Bolivian village, on the edge of the vast Uyuni salt flats, two lives collide. This powerful film is my favorite of the 11 short listed films.
Length: 18 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
“When you find me,” Ron Howard, executive producer, and Bryce Dallas Howard, director (Freestyle Production Company)
This Cannon sponsored film looks at the story of two sisters whose childhood bond is tested by a tragedy that they were too young to understand at the time.
Length: 29 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
"Poster Girl," produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the "Best" Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series "Carrier,” a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
_______________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited. All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
The Invisible War written and directed by Kirby Dick
The Invisible War is a documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem— the film claims that today a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. The filmmakers’ state that the Department of Defense estimates there were 22,800 violent sex crimes in the military in 2011, that 20% of all active‐duty female soldiers are sexually assaulted and that female soldiers aged 18 to 21 account for more than half of the victims.
Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of rape victims, The Invisible War suggests a systemic cover-up of military sex crimes by the military. The film chronicles women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice within and outside the military and features interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long history, and suggests what can be done to bring about much-needed change.
Oscar and Emmy nominated director Kirby Dick (Outrage, This Film Is Not Yet Rated), found the inspiration for The Invisible War from a 2007 Salon.com article about women serving in Iraq entitled “The Private War of Women Soldiers,” by Columbia University journalism professor Helen Benedict. When Dick and Emmy-nominated producing partner Amy Ziering (Outrage) read Benedict's piece, they were astounded by the prevalence of sexual assault in the military.
This film is beautifully made, shot, directed and produced. It is one of the strongest films of the year. It shows that rape and other sexually based harassment seems to be wide spread in our military and that the military is unwilling to adjust its culture to effect the necessary change to provide a safe work environment for all of its members. The filmmakers make excellent choices in terms of who they interview, whose stories they tell. This is a strong advocacy film that can make a difference and start pushing the civilians who control our military to demand to make the necessary changes to protect the men and women who serve from each other. Frankly, it has to have a zero tolerance for any kind of harassment. With the striking of “don’t ask, don’t tell” the armed services are on their way to addressing this. The film was short listed for the documentary feature Academy Award.
Credits:
Director/Writer: Kirby Dick
Producers: Amy Ziering, Tanner King Barklow
Cinematography: Thaddeus Wadleigh, Kirsten Johnson
Music Supervisor: Dondi Bastone, Gary Calamar/Go
Editor, Associate Producer: Doug Blush
Executive Producer for Itvs: Sally Jo Fifer Cinedigm and Docurama Films
Revolution Reykjavík a short film by Isold Uggadottir
Gudfinna, a successful 58-year old mid-level employee of the Icelandic bank Landsbankinn, finds herself a victim of the economic failure, not only losing her job, but her lifesavings as well. Proud and independent, she struggles to shield her dire circumstances from her family members and friends. But as tensions in Icelandic society grow, so does her inner turmoil. She finds that she cannot deal with her increasingly desperate financial concerns and her ideas of self-worth. Slowly, Gudfinna, much like the Icelandic economy, finds herself metamorphosed into the utterly helpless being she never could have foreseen becoming.
Revolution Reykjavík is one of the outstanding short films of the 2011/12 year. One of the few works to screen at both New Directors and Telluride and dozens of other festivals, it is evident that Isold Uggadottir, while not yet a known name as a director, is tremendously talented. Watching Gudfinna fall apart is deeply moving. Her inner struggles are evident by the nuanced direction of a subtle performance. The film is nicely shot, edited and at 19 minutes it becomes a metaphor for the 2008 Icelandic banking disaster that wiped out tens of thousands of Icelanders and three of the major banks. It caused thousands of people to lose their jobs and created a political crisis for the country. Few portfolio works try for nuanced and subtle performances but are in-your-face testosterone fueled action works. This film is a keeper.
Director/ Writer’s Bio:
Isold Uggadottir is an Icelandic writer/director. Her four short films have been invited to over 120 international film festivals, including Telluride, Sundance and New Directors/New Films hosted by Lincoln Center & MoMA. Two of her films (Clean and Committed) have been honored with Icelandic Academy Awards for Best Short Film in 2010 and 2011, while Revolution Reykjavík and Family Reunion received nominations in 2012 and 2006. Additionally, Isold has received multiple international awards, most recently in Spain and Greece.
Isold holds an Mfa in writing and directing from Columbia University in New York, where she was honored with the Adrienne Shelly Award for Best Female Director. Screen International named her “one of the rising stars of Icelandic film.”
Credits:
Written and Directed: Isold Uggadottir
Producers: Snorri Thórisson, Isold Uggadottir
Director of Photography: Óskar Thór Axelsson
Editor: Isold Uggadottir
Academy announces 11 short films shortlisted for the Short Film Nomination
Because of a voting tie the Academy short listed 11 dramatic/fiction short films instead of 10. Culled from 125 submitted films, it is perhaps the best group of films entered in the last 30 years. These films range from a thesis work from Columbia’s University’s graduate film program to When You Find Me, directed by Bryce Howard, filmmaker Ron Howard’s 31 year old daughter, to the Danish 61 year old director Anders Walther with short film Oscar winner (and nominee) producer Tivi Magnusson for 9 Meter.
Following screenings in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in December, Branch members will select three to five nominees from among the 11 semi-finalists. It will be challenging for the committees to find the five best in this really impressive group of films. It is an embarrassment of solid filmmaking from a global group of filmmakers. Please note: I have not seen two of the short listed films and I am relying on others for their synopses to be accurate.
Below is an alphabetical listing of the short listed films, the key filmmakers, the country of production and a link to a clip. Take a look and make up your own mind:
A Fábrica (The Factory), Aly Muritiba, director (Grafo Audiovisual)
“An inmate convinces his mother to take a risk smuggling a cell phone for him into the penitentiary.
Length: 15 min.
Language: Portuguese
Country: Brazil
“Asad,” Bryan Buckley, director, and Mino Jarjoura, producer (Hungry Man)
A Somali boy must choose either the life of a pirate or that of a fisherman
Length: 17 min.
Language: Somali with English subtitles.
Country: USA
“Buzkashi Boys,” Sam French, director, and Ariel Nasr, producer (Afghan Film Project)
Two young boys dream of a better life. One is without parents and the other the father wants him to follow into his blacksmithing.
Length: 30 min.
Language: Pashto
Country: Afghanistan, USA Production
“Curfew,” Shawn Christensen, director (Fuzzy Logic Pictures)
A suicidal New Yorker, Richie’s attempt to end his life is interrupted by a call from his estranged sister asking him to babysit his niece for the evening.
Length: 20 min
Language: English
Country: USA
“Death of a Shadow” (Dood van een Schaduw),” Tom Van Avermaet, director, and Ellen De Waele, producer(Serendipity Films)
This highly produced sci-fi fantasy work is about a dead Wwi soldier stuck in the limbo between life and death who has to collect shadows to regain a second chance at life.
Length: 20 min.
Language: German
Country: Belgium
“Henry,” Yan England, director (Yan England) Henry, a concert pianist, has his life thrown into turmoil the day the love of his life mysteriously disappears. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 21 min.
Language: English
Country: Canadian
“Kiruna-Kigali,” Goran Kapetanovic, director (Hepp Film Ab)
This tour‐de‐force Swedish short begins in a mist of frost and snow. A woman is driving to the hospital in Kiruna, the northernmost city of Sweden. Under the scorching sunlight of Kigali, Rwanda,another woman is being carried to the hospital on a stretcher. The two single mothers‐to‐be are on the verge of giving birth to a baby are thousands of miles apart, but share the same fear of entering the unknown world of motherhood. I think this is the film to beat.
Length: 15 min.
Language: Swedish/ Kinyarwanda
Country: Swedish/Rwanda
“The Night Shift Belongs to the Stars,” Silvia Bizio and Paola Porrini Bisson, producers (Oh! Pen LLC)
The story of Matteo (Enrico Lo Verso), a passionate mountain climber, and Sonia (Nastassja Kinski), a married woman, also in love with mountain, as they set out to climb a peak on the Dolomites, in Trentino, Italy. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 24 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
“9 meter,” Anders Walther, director, and Tivi Magnusson, producer (M & M Productions A/S)
A boy tries to set a new record in the long jump as his mother fights her illness. (Confession, I have not seen this film.)
Length: 18 min.
Language: Danish
Country: Danish
“Salar,” Nicholas Greene, director, and Julie Buck, producer (Nicholas Greene)
In an isolated Bolivian village, on the edge of the vast Uyuni salt flats, two lives collide. This powerful film is my favorite of the 11 short listed films.
Length: 18 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
“When you find me,” Ron Howard, executive producer, and Bryce Dallas Howard, director (Freestyle Production Company)
This Cannon sponsored film looks at the story of two sisters whose childhood bond is tested by a tragedy that they were too young to understand at the time.
Length: 29 min.
Language: English
Country: USA
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
"Poster Girl," produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the "Best" Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series "Carrier,” a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
_______________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited. All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 12/20/2012
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
Title: Of Two Minds Directors: Doug Blush and Lisa Klein An enormously empathetic documentary that highlights the diversity and range of experience within the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, “Of Two Minds” roots down into the stigma attached to mental illness, in a very human, relatable manner. Co-directors Doug Blush and Lisa Klein put an authentic human face on the disease, elucidating its physical and mental tolls without coming across as overly didactic or reductive. This is a movie swollen with natural feeling, and one in which any viewer of uplifting nonfiction can find welcome catharsis. More than an estimated five million Americans are living with bipolar disorder, and with it the [ Read More ]...
- 8/25/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Film Independent, the organization which produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards, has announced the ten filmmakers chosen for this year's Documentary Lab program. The Documentary Lab is a seven-week program in which up-and-coming documentary filmmakers with works-in-progress are advised and given feedback by established documentary filmmakers and producers. This year's Lab Mentors include "No Impact Man" director Laura Gabbert, "The Invisible War" producer Doug Blush, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" prodcuer Eddie Schmidt, and Sundance Film Festival Senior Programmer Caroline Libresco. The ten filmmakers and their projects chosen for this year's lab are: "American Revolutionary," Grace Lee A 96-year-old revolutionary philosopher in Detroit offers a voice of hope and a program of action for transforming her city, the United States and the world. "Billy Mize...
- 3/15/2012
- by Aaron Bogert
- Indiewire
After watching Anat Baron’s new documentary, ‘Beer Wars,’ you are sure to want a cold one. An expert of the business and former general manager of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Baron has an insider’s mindset when it comes to the world of alcoholic beverages and the corporate environment that surrounds them. Her film not only covers the big corporations of the beer industry, Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors, it sets its sights on the little guys, the companies that are struggling to survive in a market that is completely swamped. And, what’s more, she does so with a confident eye for filmmaking that makes ‘Beer Wars’ every bit as entertaining as it is eye-opening.
Baron utilizes several different techniques to get her points across, but none of them feel forced. She incorporates talking heads, found footage and even animation to express her ideas to the audience, and it all...
Baron utilizes several different techniques to get her points across, but none of them feel forced. She incorporates talking heads, found footage and even animation to express her ideas to the audience, and it all...
- 9/25/2009
- by Kirk
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.