An acute sense of instability will inform much of the content bought and sold on the MipTV floor, though the symptoms might manifest themselves beyond doom and gloom. Somewhat unsurprisingly, given an unrelenting remit of climate anxieties and global unrest, this tendency has left no genre untouched.
“Obviously the world in which we live is quite dramatic at the moment, and that has created an appetite for stories that offer solutions,” explains international distribution expert Beatrice Rossmanith. As head of global business for consulting firm Glance Ltd (formerly known as Tape Consultancy), Rossmanith monitors content across hundreds of channels in 45 territories worldwide. And lately she has noticed a pervasive trend.
“There’s obviously a thirst for truth nowadays,” Rossmanith says. “[And a thirst] to tackle modern anxieties by asking what more can we do?”
In the lifestyle space, celebrity profiles are increasingly linked to some sort of activism and political engagement – – while sports...
“Obviously the world in which we live is quite dramatic at the moment, and that has created an appetite for stories that offer solutions,” explains international distribution expert Beatrice Rossmanith. As head of global business for consulting firm Glance Ltd (formerly known as Tape Consultancy), Rossmanith monitors content across hundreds of channels in 45 territories worldwide. And lately she has noticed a pervasive trend.
“There’s obviously a thirst for truth nowadays,” Rossmanith says. “[And a thirst] to tackle modern anxieties by asking what more can we do?”
In the lifestyle space, celebrity profiles are increasingly linked to some sort of activism and political engagement – – while sports...
- 4/5/2024
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Gotham Award winner Dawn Porter (Luther: Never Too Much) will direct and produce a documentary about one of the most iconic, politically-charged partnerships in history: the remarkable, largely untold story of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. She’ll also produce through her Trilogy Films, alongside the Schultz Family Foundation.
Based on Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, a book by noted South African writer and scholar Jonny Steinberg, the film will explore the Mandelas’ profound bond and how their marriage was inextricably entangled with the struggle against apartheid. The film promises an intimate portrayal of Nelson and Winnie’s marriage, delving into their vehement and volatile connection from their early years to their mutual goal of dismantling apartheid. Their journey culminates in Nelson Mandela’s historic election as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie
The project marks the Schultz Family Foundation’s first...
Based on Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, a book by noted South African writer and scholar Jonny Steinberg, the film will explore the Mandelas’ profound bond and how their marriage was inextricably entangled with the struggle against apartheid. The film promises an intimate portrayal of Nelson and Winnie’s marriage, delving into their vehement and volatile connection from their early years to their mutual goal of dismantling apartheid. Their journey culminates in Nelson Mandela’s historic election as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie
The project marks the Schultz Family Foundation’s first...
- 2/13/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Mbongeni Ngema, a distinguished South African musician and creator of the musical “Sarafina!,” died on Wednesday in a car accident. He was 68.
“Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement to the Associated Press. It is understood that he was a passenger in the car.
A playwright, producer and composer, he is best known for creating the 1987 stage musical “Sarafina!,” which tells the tale of a student woman who sees her teacher sent to jail and inspires other to fight against the racial segregation system known as apartheid. In 1981, he also created “Woza Albert,” a satirical stage drama in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth as a black South African.
“Sarafina!,” with lyrics co-written by Hugh Masekela, first opened at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg with Leleti Khumalo in the title role.
“Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement to the Associated Press. It is understood that he was a passenger in the car.
A playwright, producer and composer, he is best known for creating the 1987 stage musical “Sarafina!,” which tells the tale of a student woman who sees her teacher sent to jail and inspires other to fight against the racial segregation system known as apartheid. In 1981, he also created “Woza Albert,” a satirical stage drama in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth as a black South African.
“Sarafina!,” with lyrics co-written by Hugh Masekela, first opened at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg with Leleti Khumalo in the title role.
- 12/28/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: South Africa’s Videovision Entertainment is heading to next week’s Mip Africa event with a new TV sales division.
The unit will bring a significant number of titles from South Africa, comprising over 100 feature films and more than 10,000 hours of television programs. Videovision is one the country’s oldest and most successful production houses.
Videovision’s CEO Anant Singh has secured a deal to represent e.tv’s daily soap House of Zwide, which the company produces. Other Videovision titles produced over the past four decades will also be included on the slate, with notable features include Sarafina!, starring Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg and Miriam Makeba; Cry, the Beloved Country starring James Earl Jones, Richard Harris and Vusi Kunene; Red Dust starring Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor and directed by Tom Hooper; and Yesterday, which received South Africa’s first Academy Award nomination.
See a trailer for the slate here.
The unit will bring a significant number of titles from South Africa, comprising over 100 feature films and more than 10,000 hours of television programs. Videovision is one the country’s oldest and most successful production houses.
Videovision’s CEO Anant Singh has secured a deal to represent e.tv’s daily soap House of Zwide, which the company produces. Other Videovision titles produced over the past four decades will also be included on the slate, with notable features include Sarafina!, starring Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg and Miriam Makeba; Cry, the Beloved Country starring James Earl Jones, Richard Harris and Vusi Kunene; Red Dust starring Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor and directed by Tom Hooper; and Yesterday, which received South Africa’s first Academy Award nomination.
See a trailer for the slate here.
- 9/1/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Honouring South Africa’s first black president and global icon on his birthday – here are interesting excerpts from his prison letters to family, fellow activists, government officials, academicians, and friends. Arrested in 1962 as South Africa’s apartheid regime intensified its brutal campaign against anti-apartheid activists, 44-year-old lawyer and African National Congress activist Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in the penitentiary. Extracted from Audible’s – The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela, these accounts provide an intimate portrait of his long walk to freedom.
Nelson Mandela became the world’s most famous prison graduate after receiving his Llb degree in Pretoria prison.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela earned his first degree, a BA, through Unisa in 1942. He studied through Unisa (University of South Africa) during his imprisonment on Robben Island and at Pollsmoor. Unisa awarded him an Llb in 1989 and an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1995.
“Dear Professor W J Hoston, I thank you for...
Nelson Mandela became the world’s most famous prison graduate after receiving his Llb degree in Pretoria prison.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela earned his first degree, a BA, through Unisa in 1942. He studied through Unisa (University of South Africa) during his imprisonment on Robben Island and at Pollsmoor. Unisa awarded him an Llb in 1989 and an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1995.
“Dear Professor W J Hoston, I thank you for...
- 7/17/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
The award-winning actor on taking on the challenge of Medea, her love of cycling, and playing the long game in TV’s Slow Horses
Sophie Okonedo, 54, is one of our most extraordinary actors, now starring as Medea at @sohoplace theatre in London and giving a heart-flaying tour de force of a performance as Euripides’s tragic child-slayer. Her career on stage, screen and television reached new levels of conspicuous achievement in 2014 after winning a Tony for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun and she has been much feted ever since. She has played Cleopatra at the National, Winnie Mandela on television and will star in the third season of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed Slow Horses later this year.
How much do you see Medea as a mythical figure – or do you feel she possesses a modern psyche?
I try to place myself right in the centre – I...
Sophie Okonedo, 54, is one of our most extraordinary actors, now starring as Medea at @sohoplace theatre in London and giving a heart-flaying tour de force of a performance as Euripides’s tragic child-slayer. Her career on stage, screen and television reached new levels of conspicuous achievement in 2014 after winning a Tony for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun and she has been much feted ever since. She has played Cleopatra at the National, Winnie Mandela on television and will star in the third season of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed Slow Horses later this year.
How much do you see Medea as a mythical figure – or do you feel she possesses a modern psyche?
I try to place myself right in the centre – I...
- 3/12/2023
- by Kate Kellaway
- The Guardian - Film News
This piece originally appeared as part of Rolling Stone’s annual Hot List, in the July-August issue of the magazine.
At Afropunk’s 2019 New Year’s Eve festival in South Africa, DJ Moma was scheduled to play a 45-minute set following headliner Solange Knowles. He knew exactly what to do. The DJ, born Mohamed Hamad in Sudan and raised between Paris and Queens, had frequently traveled to South Africa, immersing himself in the country’s music scene. Roughly 20,000 fans were gathered at Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill, formerly the site of...
At Afropunk’s 2019 New Year’s Eve festival in South Africa, DJ Moma was scheduled to play a 45-minute set following headliner Solange Knowles. He knew exactly what to do. The DJ, born Mohamed Hamad in Sudan and raised between Paris and Queens, had frequently traveled to South Africa, immersing himself in the country’s music scene. Roughly 20,000 fans were gathered at Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill, formerly the site of...
- 7/2/2021
- by Mankaprr Conteh
- Rollingstone.com
The slightly political prison thriller “Escape From Pretoria” works best when onscreen action is focused on Daniel Radcliffe, playing real-life South African political prisoner Tim Jenkin, as he leads a crack team of white prisoners in breaking out of Pretoria Maximum Security Prison.
That’s not really a spoiler, since “Escape From Pretoria” is based on a real-life prison break that led to a decades-long international manhunt. Still, it’s hard to care about what happens to Jenkin and co-conspirators Stephen Lee and Denis Goldberg (Ian Hart), even if you do know how their story will end, and even though “Escape from Pretoria” does feature some well-paced and visually dynamic pre-breakout prep scenes.
Almost everything that’s enjoyable about “Escape From Pretoria” is a variation on stuff you’ve probably seen in superior prison movies, though Radcliffe’s haunted performance is exceptionally compelling. Jenkin and Lee’s politics never make...
That’s not really a spoiler, since “Escape From Pretoria” is based on a real-life prison break that led to a decades-long international manhunt. Still, it’s hard to care about what happens to Jenkin and co-conspirators Stephen Lee and Denis Goldberg (Ian Hart), even if you do know how their story will end, and even though “Escape from Pretoria” does feature some well-paced and visually dynamic pre-breakout prep scenes.
Almost everything that’s enjoyable about “Escape From Pretoria” is a variation on stuff you’ve probably seen in superior prison movies, though Radcliffe’s haunted performance is exceptionally compelling. Jenkin and Lee’s politics never make...
- 3/6/2020
- by Simon Abrams
- The Wrap
BAMcinématek is hosting a 10-film series exploring Japanese art and folklore post World War II called Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror starting this Friday, October 26th through November 1st. Also in today's Highlights: Dermot Mulroney joins the cast of Trick and an interview with Ted Welch and Chris Blake from All Light Will End.
Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror Screening Details: "From Friday, October 26 through Thursday, November 1, BAMcinématek presents Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror, a series of 10 films showcasing two strands of Japanese horror films that developed after World War II: kaiju monster movies and beautifully stylized ghost stories from Japanese folklore.
The series includes three classic kaiju films by director Ishirô Honda, beginning with the granddaddy of all nuclear warfare anxiety films, the original Godzilla (1954—Oct 26). The kaiju creature features continue with Mothra (1961—Oct 27), a psychedelic tale of a gigantic prehistoric and long dormant moth larvae...
Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror Screening Details: "From Friday, October 26 through Thursday, November 1, BAMcinématek presents Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror, a series of 10 films showcasing two strands of Japanese horror films that developed after World War II: kaiju monster movies and beautifully stylized ghost stories from Japanese folklore.
The series includes three classic kaiju films by director Ishirô Honda, beginning with the granddaddy of all nuclear warfare anxiety films, the original Godzilla (1954—Oct 26). The kaiju creature features continue with Mothra (1961—Oct 27), a psychedelic tale of a gigantic prehistoric and long dormant moth larvae...
- 10/23/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Actress Susan Anspach, best known for roles in landmark 1970s films like “Five Easy Pieces” and “Play It Again, Sam,” has died in Los Angeles. She was 75.
Her son, Caleb Goddard, announced the news on Thursday, telling the New York Times she died from coronary failure Monday.
Born in New York City in 1942,...
Her son, Caleb Goddard, announced the news on Thursday, telling the New York Times she died from coronary failure Monday.
Born in New York City in 1942,...
- 4/6/2018
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
When Van Met Winnie, it was nothing like Harry and Sally ... but CNN host Van Jones still got an unforgettable story out of it. We got the CNN host Monday at Lax as he was heading to Memphis to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. He also reflected on Winnie Mandela's death ... and the moment he, unexpectedly, came face-to-face with her. As we reported, Nelson Mandela's wife...
- 4/2/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Winnie Mandela, a South African anti-Apartheid activist and wife of former president Nelson Mandela, died in Johannesburg, South Africa. She was 81. “She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year,” Victor Dlamini, a spokesperson for the family said, according to the Guardian. “She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.” Though her image has been tarnished in recent years with tales of corruption and her own lavish lifestyle, Mandela had been called the “mother of the nation” for...
- 4/2/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
Winnie Mandela, South Africa's first black First Lady, has died at the age of 81. Winnie married Nelson Mandela in 1958, and was with him when he became President in 1994. They divorced though in 1996 ... while he was still in office. On her own, she was very active politically. She was once President of the African National Congress Women's League. Winnie had reportedly been very ill for years now, and was recently admitted to a hospital with a kidney infection.
- 4/2/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Remember when Michelle Williams seemed to be a shoo-in for best supporting actress? Her performance in Kenneth Lonergan’s tragic drama “Manchester by the Sea” won the New York Film Critics Circle, which honored Williams for her small but mighty role.
That was just a month ago, but the final weeks of Oscar season have their own laws of relativity. Now the best supporting actress statue seems to be “Fences” star Viola Davis’ to lose, followed by Octavia Spencer of “Hidden Figures.”
Here’s how I see the breakdown of the race, by nominee.
Viola Davis
Williams might have stayed the Oscar frontrunner if Paramount hadn’t placed “Fences” Tony-winner Viola Davis in the Supporting Actress race instead of the more crowded Best Actress field. She kills it, and gives Williams serious competition. Both landed Critics Choice, Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Award nominations, and Davis took home the Critics Choice,...
That was just a month ago, but the final weeks of Oscar season have their own laws of relativity. Now the best supporting actress statue seems to be “Fences” star Viola Davis’ to lose, followed by Octavia Spencer of “Hidden Figures.”
Here’s how I see the breakdown of the race, by nominee.
Viola Davis
Williams might have stayed the Oscar frontrunner if Paramount hadn’t placed “Fences” Tony-winner Viola Davis in the Supporting Actress race instead of the more crowded Best Actress field. She kills it, and gives Williams serious competition. Both landed Critics Choice, Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Award nominations, and Davis took home the Critics Choice,...
- 2/8/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Remember when Michelle Williams seemed to be a shoo-in for best supporting actress? Her performance in Kenneth Lonergan’s tragic drama “Manchester by the Sea” won the New York Film Critics Circle, which honored Williams for her small but mighty role.
That was just a month ago, but the final weeks of Oscar season have their own laws of relativity. Now the best supporting actress statue seems to be “Fences” star Viola Davis’ to lose, followed by Octavia Spencer of “Hidden Figures.”
Here’s how I see the breakdown of the race, by nominee.
Viola Davis
Williams might have stayed the Oscar frontrunner if Paramount hadn’t placed “Fences” Tony-winner Viola Davis in the Supporting Actress race instead of the more crowded Best Actress field. She kills it, and gives Williams serious competition. Both landed Critics Choice, Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Award nominations, and Davis took home the Critics Choice,...
That was just a month ago, but the final weeks of Oscar season have their own laws of relativity. Now the best supporting actress statue seems to be “Fences” star Viola Davis’ to lose, followed by Octavia Spencer of “Hidden Figures.”
Here’s how I see the breakdown of the race, by nominee.
Viola Davis
Williams might have stayed the Oscar frontrunner if Paramount hadn’t placed “Fences” Tony-winner Viola Davis in the Supporting Actress race instead of the more crowded Best Actress field. She kills it, and gives Williams serious competition. Both landed Critics Choice, Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Award nominations, and Davis took home the Critics Choice,...
- 2/8/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Sundance is over and the prizes are won. People have dispersed to their homes and the realities that await them there.
This was a Sundance like no other I can remember, and I have attended every single one since 1986! The cold was extreme; and the political engagement and disgust was extreme. Not only did we have the Inauguration the first day, but the Women’s March the second day had probably 6,000 people marching and on that day the first of many deplorable executive orders (this one against women of the world and their control over their own bodies) began flying off the desk of our current president, who has continued to issue at least one every day, each one more despicable than the previous. Politics and women took center stage.
Chelsea Handler leads the women’s march in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The Sundance slant...
This was a Sundance like no other I can remember, and I have attended every single one since 1986! The cold was extreme; and the political engagement and disgust was extreme. Not only did we have the Inauguration the first day, but the Women’s March the second day had probably 6,000 people marching and on that day the first of many deplorable executive orders (this one against women of the world and their control over their own bodies) began flying off the desk of our current president, who has continued to issue at least one every day, each one more despicable than the previous. Politics and women took center stage.
Chelsea Handler leads the women’s march in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The Sundance slant...
- 2/8/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It’s difficult to truly capture a controversial subject in film. For a figure such as Winnie Madikizela Mandela, it may be impossible unless you ensure her perspective is included. This is a woman labeled terrorist by many countries, a wife who “tarnished” her heroic husband’s legacy. Yet the people of South Africa hail her as Nelson Mandela‘s equal—maybe greater. She was the on-the-ground leader of the African National Congress (Anc) when he and others were imprisoned or exiled, the one person who put her fist up in opposition without fear. She saw the carnage and violence first-hand and taught South Africans to match that level of brutality in order to survive. Outside the filter of her oppressors’ smear campaigns to criminalize her actions, Winnie was a general.
This duality between “Mother of the Nation” and “war criminal” is what interested director Pascale Lamche. What if she...
This duality between “Mother of the Nation” and “war criminal” is what interested director Pascale Lamche. What if she...
- 2/2/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
A raised fist, a raised voice, a raised consciousness. As the United States is reeling from a series of executive orders from the newly inaugurated president, Americans are wondering what they can do in protest but also to change policy.
“Madiba,” Bet’s biopic about Nelson Mandela could not have come at a better time. Premiering on February 1 in honor of Black History month, the three-part limited series examines the revolutionary who made it his life’s work to fight for the freedom and equality of all South Africans despite the efforts of those in power to maintain institutionalized segregation and discrimination.
Read More: Watch: Nelson Mandela’s Words Inspire Filmmakers to Create Global Digital Content
To encapsulate any person’s life within six hours is a challenge, but for one whose public works shaped so many lives, it’s nearly impossible to do it justice. “Madiba” makes a valiant effort,...
“Madiba,” Bet’s biopic about Nelson Mandela could not have come at a better time. Premiering on February 1 in honor of Black History month, the three-part limited series examines the revolutionary who made it his life’s work to fight for the freedom and equality of all South Africans despite the efforts of those in power to maintain institutionalized segregation and discrimination.
Read More: Watch: Nelson Mandela’s Words Inspire Filmmakers to Create Global Digital Content
To encapsulate any person’s life within six hours is a challenge, but for one whose public works shaped so many lives, it’s nearly impossible to do it justice. “Madiba” makes a valiant effort,...
- 2/1/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Change may be coming slowly to the entertainment industry, but at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a desire for diversity and inclusion amongst female filmmakers went beyond buzzwords.
Thirty-four percent of all films that screened at Sundance this year were directed by women – in years past, the average has hovered around 25 percent – and female filmmakers were prominent across all sections, with women debuting films in not just the competition sections, but also the forward-thinking Next section, the wild Midnight category (which played home to the long-gestating anthology “Xx,” featuring four shorts directed by women) and even the starry Premieres docket.
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Sundance Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
The rise of female-directed films was particularly felt at this year’s awards ceremony as two of the four juried competition directing awards went to women: “Beach Rats” helmer Eliza Hittman picked up the award in the U.
Thirty-four percent of all films that screened at Sundance this year were directed by women – in years past, the average has hovered around 25 percent – and female filmmakers were prominent across all sections, with women debuting films in not just the competition sections, but also the forward-thinking Next section, the wild Midnight category (which played home to the long-gestating anthology “Xx,” featuring four shorts directed by women) and even the starry Premieres docket.
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Sundance Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
The rise of female-directed films was particularly felt at this year’s awards ceremony as two of the four juried competition directing awards went to women: “Beach Rats” helmer Eliza Hittman picked up the award in the U.
- 1/30/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The 2017 Sundance Film Festival is coming to a close with tonight’s awards ceremony. While we’ll have our personal favorites coming early this week, the jury and audience have responded with theirs, topped by Macon Blair‘s I don’t feel at home in this world anymore., which will arrive on Netflix in late February, and the documentary Dina. Check out the full list of winners below see our complete coverage here.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Larry Wilmore to:
Dina / U.S.A. (Directors: Dan Sickles, Antonio Santini) — An eccentric suburban woman and a Walmart door-greeter navigate their evolving relationship in this unconventional love story.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Peter Dinklage to:
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Macon Blair) — When a depressed woman is burglarized, she...
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Larry Wilmore to:
Dina / U.S.A. (Directors: Dan Sickles, Antonio Santini) — An eccentric suburban woman and a Walmart door-greeter navigate their evolving relationship in this unconventional love story.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Peter Dinklage to:
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Macon Blair) — When a depressed woman is burglarized, she...
- 1/29/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
In 2004, filmmaker Pascale Lamche directed “Accused #1: Nelson Mandela,” a documentary about the untold story of the the Rivonia Trial which featured exclusive interviews with Nelson Mandela and all the surviving co-accused. Now, Lamche is revisiting the Mandelas in her latest documentary “Winnie,” which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The first look at the doc introduces audiences to Winnie Mandela, the wife of Nelson Mandela and misunderstood female political figure who, while her husband was in jail for 27 years, fought on the front line and took steps to inspire an uprising.
Per the documentary’s description, the film “pieces together and properly considers her life and contribution to the struggle to bring down Apartheid from the inside, with intimate insight from those who were closest to her and with testimony from the enemies who sought to extinguish her radical capacity to shake up the order of things.
The first look at the doc introduces audiences to Winnie Mandela, the wife of Nelson Mandela and misunderstood female political figure who, while her husband was in jail for 27 years, fought on the front line and took steps to inspire an uprising.
Per the documentary’s description, the film “pieces together and properly considers her life and contribution to the struggle to bring down Apartheid from the inside, with intimate insight from those who were closest to her and with testimony from the enemies who sought to extinguish her radical capacity to shake up the order of things.
- 1/24/2017
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
During its development, production or eventual distribution, what specific challenge of communication did, or will your film, face? How did you deal with it, or how are you planning to deal with it? The first time I mentioned I was making a film about Winnie Mandela, it happened to be to a novelist, in a bar in Amsterdam. He screwed up his face and said: “What? That murderer!” His response was echoed on numerous occasions around the world. Nelson Mandela was still perceived as a saint and his wife as the fallen woman, or worse. At the time, we were […]...
- 1/24/2017
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
After several fictional accounts of her life in film and TV, Winnie Mandela’s story will be central in a new documentary from director Pascale Lamche, which is scheduled to make its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next month.… Continue Reading →...
- 12/3/2016
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Chicago – The career of actress Naomie Harris has exploded, mostly due to a choice role of Moneypenny in the James Bond film series, beginning with 2012’s “Skyfall” and bookended in the recent “Spectre” (2015). But she also displays deep acting chops in the new film “Moonlight,” portraying a mother hopelessly lost in drug abuse.
The film features Harris as Paula, the mother of the main character Little/Chiron/Black – he has a different name in each of the three “chapters” of the film, and portrayed by different actors in each chapter as a child, teenager and adult. He is a unique soul from a desperately poor African American neighborhood in Miami, and knows that he is gay, but has that part of his life challenge at many levels, including his all-too-absent mother. The film also is the directorial debut of Barry Jenkins.
Naomie Harris as Paula in ‘Moonlight’
Photo credit: A...
The film features Harris as Paula, the mother of the main character Little/Chiron/Black – he has a different name in each of the three “chapters” of the film, and portrayed by different actors in each chapter as a child, teenager and adult. He is a unique soul from a desperately poor African American neighborhood in Miami, and knows that he is gay, but has that part of his life challenge at many levels, including his all-too-absent mother. The film also is the directorial debut of Barry Jenkins.
Naomie Harris as Paula in ‘Moonlight’
Photo credit: A...
- 11/14/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
There was one thing Naomie Harris never wanted to do. Although the classically trained British actress’ resume is enviably varied, complete with a two-film turn as James Bond’s ever-reliable right-hand gal Moneypenny, a recurring role in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and a lauded performance as Winnie Mandela in the 2013 biopic “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” Harris had long made it plain that there were roles she just wouldn’t take.
“I set out my career thinking that there were enough stereotypes about black women, so I wanted to make a difference in this arena,” Harris recently told IndieWire. “The only area where I have power is in the roles I choose, so I want to portray progressive images of women.”
Read More: ‘Moonlight’ Review: Barry Jenkins Delivers a Mesmerizing Look at Black Life in America
And that stance boiled down to one – very firm – no-go: “I drew the line at crack addiction.
“I set out my career thinking that there were enough stereotypes about black women, so I wanted to make a difference in this arena,” Harris recently told IndieWire. “The only area where I have power is in the roles I choose, so I want to portray progressive images of women.”
Read More: ‘Moonlight’ Review: Barry Jenkins Delivers a Mesmerizing Look at Black Life in America
And that stance boiled down to one – very firm – no-go: “I drew the line at crack addiction.
- 10/21/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The modern Eve Moneypenny and star of forthcoming Le Carré adaptation Our Kind of Traitor on female directors, posh actors and why theatre’s not for her
“Oh gosh, someone’s had an accident there,” says actor Naomie Harris, sounding concerned. She’s in a car en route to the Dior show at Paris fashion week; such invitations have tumbled in since she played Winnie Mandela in 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and updated Eve Moneypenny in the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Harris, 39, began acting professionally aged nine, and after university (Cambridge) and drama school (Bristol Old Vic) she was cast by Danny Boyle in the dystopian 28 Days Later. Her new movie is Our Kind of Traitor, an adaptation of the John le Carré novel, in which she and Ewan McGregor are an ordinary couple caught up with the Russian mafia while on holiday in Marrakech.
Is going...
“Oh gosh, someone’s had an accident there,” says actor Naomie Harris, sounding concerned. She’s in a car en route to the Dior show at Paris fashion week; such invitations have tumbled in since she played Winnie Mandela in 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and updated Eve Moneypenny in the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Harris, 39, began acting professionally aged nine, and after university (Cambridge) and drama school (Bristol Old Vic) she was cast by Danny Boyle in the dystopian 28 Days Later. Her new movie is Our Kind of Traitor, an adaptation of the John le Carré novel, in which she and Ewan McGregor are an ordinary couple caught up with the Russian mafia while on holiday in Marrakech.
Is going...
- 5/1/2016
- by Interview by Tim Lewis
- The Guardian - Film News
The modern Eve Moneypenny and star of forthcoming Le Carré adaptation Our Kind of Traitor on female directors, posh actors and why theatre’s not for her
“Oh gosh, someone’s had an accident there,” says actor Naomie Harris, sounding concerned. She’s in a car en route to the Dior show at Paris fashion week; such invitations have tumbled in since she played Winnie Mandela in 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and updated Eve Moneypenny in the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Harris, 39, began acting professionally aged nine, and after university (Cambridge) and drama school (Bristol Old Vic) she was cast by Danny Boyle in the dystopian 28 Days Later. Her new movie is Our Kind of Traitor, an adaptation of the John le Carré novel, in which she and Ewan McGregor are an ordinary couple caught up with the Russian mafia while on holiday in Marrakech.
Is going...
“Oh gosh, someone’s had an accident there,” says actor Naomie Harris, sounding concerned. She’s in a car en route to the Dior show at Paris fashion week; such invitations have tumbled in since she played Winnie Mandela in 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and updated Eve Moneypenny in the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Harris, 39, began acting professionally aged nine, and after university (Cambridge) and drama school (Bristol Old Vic) she was cast by Danny Boyle in the dystopian 28 Days Later. Her new movie is Our Kind of Traitor, an adaptation of the John le Carré novel, in which she and Ewan McGregor are an ordinary couple caught up with the Russian mafia while on holiday in Marrakech.
Is going...
- 5/1/2016
- by Interview by Tim Lewis
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Wme has signed actress Naomie Harris. In Skyfall, she shot and nearly killed James Bond and became Moneypenny, a role she reprises in the upcoming Spectre. Harris played Winnie Mandela in Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom. She just wrapped Our Kind Of Traitor, playing the female lead opposite Ewan McGregor, and Jungle Book: Origins for Warner Bros. Harris continues to be repped by Untitled, Melanie Cook and Jamie Afifi of Ziffren Brittenham, and Angharad Wood in…...
- 8/26/2015
- Deadline
Nelson Mandela's grandson is behind bars ... accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in a restaurant bathroom. 24-year-old Mbuso Mandela appeared in a Johannesburg court Monday and will remain in custody at least until another hearing on Friday. A spokesman for the victim's family told the Daily Sun ... the incident happened on August 7, when Mandela followed the girl into the restroom and "grabbed her and raped her inside one of the toilets." The Sun also...
- 8/19/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Projects range from a film about centenarians to documentaries about renowned hunger striker Bobby Sands, Winnie Mandela, Ratko Mladic and Madonna’s backing dancers.Scroll down for full list of projects
Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) has unveiled the 50 titles that will be presented at its international co-finance and production market, the Idfa Forum (Nov 24-26).
At the market, filmmakers and producers will present their documentary projects to commissioning editors from international television stations and other financiers with the aim of completing finance for their documentary projects.
A total of 50 projects have been selected for the upcoming Idfa Forum, including new projects by Heddy Honigmann, Janus Metz and Vitaly Mansky.
The Idfa 2014 programme contains 17 documentaries that were presented as projects at previous editions of the Idfa Forum.
Projects selected for this year’s Idfa Forum will be pitched in a variety of settings: the central pitches in the main auditorium of the Compagnietheater, the round table...
Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) has unveiled the 50 titles that will be presented at its international co-finance and production market, the Idfa Forum (Nov 24-26).
At the market, filmmakers and producers will present their documentary projects to commissioning editors from international television stations and other financiers with the aim of completing finance for their documentary projects.
A total of 50 projects have been selected for the upcoming Idfa Forum, including new projects by Heddy Honigmann, Janus Metz and Vitaly Mansky.
The Idfa 2014 programme contains 17 documentaries that were presented as projects at previous editions of the Idfa Forum.
Projects selected for this year’s Idfa Forum will be pitched in a variety of settings: the central pitches in the main auditorium of the Compagnietheater, the round table...
- 10/14/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Jake Gyllenhaal won’t be going into the ring alone for his upcoming boxing drama Southpaw, as last week, Naomie Harris and Beau Knapp both joined the Antoine Fuqua-directed film, which was penned by Sons of Anarchy writer creator Kurt Sutter.
Southpaw centers on a troubled fighter with dreams of becoming a welterweight champion, whose personal life crumbles even as his career soars. Harris will play Angela, a social worker who works with Gyllenhaal’s character and his daughter. With roles as Moneypenny in Skyfall and Winnie Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom under her belt, Harris’ star is rising fast with no signs of slowing down. That Harris has boarded the project likely means that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, previously in talks for the same role, has dropped out of talks.
For his part, Knapp, who had a major role in The Signal earlier this year,...
Southpaw centers on a troubled fighter with dreams of becoming a welterweight champion, whose personal life crumbles even as his career soars. Harris will play Angela, a social worker who works with Gyllenhaal’s character and his daughter. With roles as Moneypenny in Skyfall and Winnie Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom under her belt, Harris’ star is rising fast with no signs of slowing down. That Harris has boarded the project likely means that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, previously in talks for the same role, has dropped out of talks.
For his part, Knapp, who had a major role in The Signal earlier this year,...
- 8/11/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Exclusive: The Antoine Fuqua-directed drama penned by Sons Of Anarchy‘s Kurt Sutter has added Naomie Harris to its cast. The British Skyfall actress last year earned kudos for playing Winnie Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom for The Weinstein Co., which is also producing boxing drama Southpaw. Story tracks a welterweight champ (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose career soars as his personal life falls apart. Harris will play Angela, a social worker who works with Gyllenhaal’s character and his daughter. She recently wrapped filming on director Susanna White’s Our Kind Of Traitor opposite Ewan McGregor and returns to the 007 franchise […]...
- 8/8/2014
- Deadline
To mark the release of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom on 28th April, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
Inspired by the autobiography of the same name, Long Walk To Freedom stars Idris Elba (Luther, The Wire) in the title role and Naomie Harris (Skyfall) as Winnie Mandela, and was directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl).
The film tells the story of a seemingly ordinary young Nelson Mandela, who grew up in the rural village of Qunu and was initiated in the way of his Xhosa tribe before moving on to study law and practice his trade in the country’s capital of Johannesburg.
The political fervor that Mandela was famous for came later, and was driven by the atrocities of the apartheid regime of the time – notably the infamous Sharpeville township massacre of 1960. After leading the military arm of the Anc in a...
Inspired by the autobiography of the same name, Long Walk To Freedom stars Idris Elba (Luther, The Wire) in the title role and Naomie Harris (Skyfall) as Winnie Mandela, and was directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl).
The film tells the story of a seemingly ordinary young Nelson Mandela, who grew up in the rural village of Qunu and was initiated in the way of his Xhosa tribe before moving on to study law and practice his trade in the country’s capital of Johannesburg.
The political fervor that Mandela was famous for came later, and was driven by the atrocities of the apartheid regime of the time – notably the infamous Sharpeville township massacre of 1960. After leading the military arm of the Anc in a...
- 4/28/2014
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
An Oscar winner, a major Oscar nominee, two more pieces of Oscar bait, and a few movies that never got anywhere near Oscar. Welcome to What to Watch. We don’t play favorites. Oh, wait, yes we do. You should definitely rent or buy the titles on this first page. The second page is more optional.
Frozen
Photo credit: Disney
“Frozen”
The best Disney movie since “The Lion King” (Disney, not Pixar), “Frozen” gets the lavish Mouse House treatment. There’s no better studio for family releases and they’re not about to slack on one of the biggest moneymakers of their existence. We are Just getting started with “Frozen”. You know how “Beauty & The Beast” and “The Lion King” became industries unto themselves? Spawning Broadway musicals, theme park rides, new shows, straight-to-dvd sequels, etc.? “Frozen” will end up the same way. If you have a kid, you won’t...
Frozen
Photo credit: Disney
“Frozen”
The best Disney movie since “The Lion King” (Disney, not Pixar), “Frozen” gets the lavish Mouse House treatment. There’s no better studio for family releases and they’re not about to slack on one of the biggest moneymakers of their existence. We are Just getting started with “Frozen”. You know how “Beauty & The Beast” and “The Lion King” became industries unto themselves? Spawning Broadway musicals, theme park rides, new shows, straight-to-dvd sequels, etc.? “Frozen” will end up the same way. If you have a kid, you won’t...
- 3/18/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Though the epic drama about the life of anti-Apartheid activist and politician didn't make into the Oscar mix in the way some might have thought, "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom" is still worth a watch to understand the struggles and victories of a man who made history in South Africa. And with the leader passing away in December, perhaps now more than ever is the time for those unfamiliar with his legacy to start learning about where it all again. And Justin Chadwick's "Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom" might be a good place to start with Idris Elba leading the film that takes viewers from his early life, through his coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country's once segregated society. And tomorrow, the film arrives on DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack and we've got a few copies to give away to some lucky readers.
- 3/17/2014
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
The opening shot to this fascinating documentary shows an unassuming man playing a card game, accompanied by a voiceover. The setting itself feels theatrical, as though subsequent events are a new fictional-feature spin on the release of one of the world’s most iconic statesmen, Nelson Mandela, and the end of Apartheid in South Africa. We soon learn that this is French-Algerian businessman and international diplomat Jean-Yves Ollivier, known as ‘Monsieur Jacques’. He’s real and has quite a story to tell, doing so in an unanticipated fashion.
This well-kept ‘secret weapon’ behind Mandela’s release is supported by on-camera confirmation from a ‘star-studded cast’, including Winnie Mandela (Anc activist and Mandela’s ex), Thabo Mbeki (former President of South Africa) and even Pik Botha (former Minister of Foreign Affairs for South Africa at the time), plus other heads of state, generals, diplomats, master spies, etc. The film skilfully uses...
This well-kept ‘secret weapon’ behind Mandela’s release is supported by on-camera confirmation from a ‘star-studded cast’, including Winnie Mandela (Anc activist and Mandela’s ex), Thabo Mbeki (former President of South Africa) and even Pik Botha (former Minister of Foreign Affairs for South Africa at the time), plus other heads of state, generals, diplomats, master spies, etc. The film skilfully uses...
- 3/13/2014
- by Lisa Giles-Keddie
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Johannesburg, Feb 25: Late South African President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Monday dissociated herself with an upcoming movie about her life, Xinhua reported.
The movie "Winnie Mandela", which portrays the personal and political life of the activist and ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, is scheduled to be released in South Africa's theaters, according to the country's National Film and Video Foundation (Nfvf).
Mandela said that she had approached the movie producers to voice her concern but it fell on deaf ears.
"In my life's struggle I have seen and heard.
The movie "Winnie Mandela", which portrays the personal and political life of the activist and ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, is scheduled to be released in South Africa's theaters, according to the country's National Film and Video Foundation (Nfvf).
Mandela said that she had approached the movie producers to voice her concern but it fell on deaf ears.
"In my life's struggle I have seen and heard.
- 2/24/2014
- by Smith Cox
- RealBollywood.com
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards went off without a hitch earlier this evening (February 22) with "12 Years a Slave" continuing to make waves snagging the biggest prize of the night.
Before her film won Outstanding Motion Picture, the gorgeous Lupita Nyong'o added another piece of hardware to her already impressive collection taking home a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, while Kerry Washington snagged up her second Image Award with a win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. Kerry's show "Scandal" also won Outstanding Drama Series.
In addition, the hilarious Kevin Hart took home Entertainer of the Year, while Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela with a touching speech and musical dedication.
"He was everything we have all have heard and more. He was humble and he was unscathed by any kind of bitterness after all that we know he's been through," Winfrey said.
Before her film won Outstanding Motion Picture, the gorgeous Lupita Nyong'o added another piece of hardware to her already impressive collection taking home a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, while Kerry Washington snagged up her second Image Award with a win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. Kerry's show "Scandal" also won Outstanding Drama Series.
In addition, the hilarious Kevin Hart took home Entertainer of the Year, while Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela with a touching speech and musical dedication.
"He was everything we have all have heard and more. He was humble and he was unscathed by any kind of bitterness after all that we know he's been through," Winfrey said.
- 2/23/2014
- GossipCenter
Washington, Feb 23: Nelson Mandela's daughters will be attending the Academy Awards to see U2 perform the Oscar-nominated song 'Ordinary Love' from 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom', a movie based on their father's autobiography.
His daughters, Zindzi and Zenani, said in a statement that the invitation to the Oscars is especially meaningful to them because of how much their father loved watching movies, Deadline.com reported.
The duo added that 'Ordinary Love' was inspired by the beautiful letters their father and mother, Winnie Mandela, exchanged while he was imprisoned at Robben Island. (Ani)...
His daughters, Zindzi and Zenani, said in a statement that the invitation to the Oscars is especially meaningful to them because of how much their father loved watching movies, Deadline.com reported.
The duo added that 'Ordinary Love' was inspired by the beautiful letters their father and mother, Winnie Mandela, exchanged while he was imprisoned at Robben Island. (Ani)...
- 2/23/2014
- by Machan Kumar
- RealBollywood.com
The 45th NAACP Image Awards were presented Saturday night (Feb. 22), with names like Kevin Hart, Kerry Washington, "12 Years a Slave" director Steve McQueen and Lupita Nyong'o being honored.
The Image Awards pay tribute to the best in film, TV, writing, music and literature. Take a look at the full list of winners below.
Winners are in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Kevin Hart
Film
Outstanding Motion Picture
"12 Years A Slave" "Fruitvale Station""Lee Daniels' The Butler""Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom""The Best Man Holiday"
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Chadwick Boseman - "42"Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett - "Black Nativity"Halle Berry - "The Call"Jennifer Hudson - "Winnie Mandela"Kerry Washington - "Tyler Perry Presents Peeples"Nicole Beharie...
The Image Awards pay tribute to the best in film, TV, writing, music and literature. Take a look at the full list of winners below.
Winners are in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Kevin Hart
Film
Outstanding Motion Picture
"12 Years A Slave" "Fruitvale Station""Lee Daniels' The Butler""Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom""The Best Man Holiday"
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Chadwick Boseman - "42"Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett - "Black Nativity"Halle Berry - "The Call"Jennifer Hudson - "Winnie Mandela"Kerry Washington - "Tyler Perry Presents Peeples"Nicole Beharie...
- 2/23/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Rome -- Iconic Irish rock band U2 will be honored by the Los Angeles-Italia Film, Fashion and Art Festival, adding to an already star-studded guest list at the event, which gets underway Sunday in Los Angeles. The nine-year-old festival, which mostly focuses on the achievements of Italian and Italian-American filmmakers and entertainers, said it would pay homage to the group for its song "Ordinary Love," part of the soundtrack for the Nelson Mandela biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Actress Naomie Harris, who played Winnie Mandela in the film, will present the award. Photos: 38 Years
read more...
read more...
- 2/20/2014
- by Eric J. Lyman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
She made headlines over her excellent performance as Winnie Mandela in the bio-pic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," but now Naomie Harris admits becoming the wife of revolutionary politician was more difficult than she expected.
In the Winter 2014 issue of Fault magazine, the "Skyfall" beauty opened up about her initial reaction to the film and shared struggles she faced while prepping for the role.
Check out GossipCenter's recap of Miss Harris' interview below. For more, be sure to visit Fault!
On "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom":
"I worked with Justin, our director, on a small film called 'The First Grader' and we shot it in Kenya and there were only five of us who flew over from England to make the film. We shot it in a rural community in the middle of nowhere in Kenya at a very poor school. I actually pretended to be a...
In the Winter 2014 issue of Fault magazine, the "Skyfall" beauty opened up about her initial reaction to the film and shared struggles she faced while prepping for the role.
Check out GossipCenter's recap of Miss Harris' interview below. For more, be sure to visit Fault!
On "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom":
"I worked with Justin, our director, on a small film called 'The First Grader' and we shot it in Kenya and there were only five of us who flew over from England to make the film. We shot it in a rural community in the middle of nowhere in Kenya at a very poor school. I actually pretended to be a...
- 2/14/2014
- GossipCenter
U2. 75th Anniversary Academy Awards/©A.M.P.A.S.
World-renowned rock band U2 will perform their Oscar-nominated song, “Ordinary Love” for a global audience at the Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. U2’s exclusive Oscar show performance will be the first time the band will perform the song live.
“Ordinary Love” was written by the group for Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and is nominated for Original Song. The film is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick directing.
The three other nominated songs are “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.
World-renowned rock band U2 will perform their Oscar-nominated song, “Ordinary Love” for a global audience at the Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. U2’s exclusive Oscar show performance will be the first time the band will perform the song live.
“Ordinary Love” was written by the group for Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and is nominated for Original Song. The film is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick directing.
The three other nominated songs are “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.
- 2/12/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom director Justin Chadwick talks to Nfts students about ‘authenticity’
Director Justin Chadwick has given a masterclass about his latest feature film, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, to first year students at the National Film and Television School (Nfts).
Based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, it chronicles his early life including 27 years in prison for his role as leader of the Black resistance movement the Anc, before becoming South Africa’s President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society.
Speaking in conversation with Nfts head of documentary Dick Fontaine, Justin Chadwick said he’d tried to make the film as ‘authentic’ and true to life as possible: “Mandela’s life spanned almost 100 years of South African history and the impact of apartheid on South Africans is still being felt. I wanted the film to be real. This is present history.”
That core principle is the reason why he lived in South...
Director Justin Chadwick has given a masterclass about his latest feature film, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, to first year students at the National Film and Television School (Nfts).
Based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, it chronicles his early life including 27 years in prison for his role as leader of the Black resistance movement the Anc, before becoming South Africa’s President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society.
Speaking in conversation with Nfts head of documentary Dick Fontaine, Justin Chadwick said he’d tried to make the film as ‘authentic’ and true to life as possible: “Mandela’s life spanned almost 100 years of South African history and the impact of apartheid on South Africans is still being felt. I wanted the film to be real. This is present history.”
That core principle is the reason why he lived in South...
- 2/4/2014
- ScreenDaily
For the 20th annual Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue, the magazine celebrates a year of spectacular film with a group of distinguished actors. The cover, a three-panel foldout by Vanity Fair contributing photographer Annie Leibovitz, who also shot the first ever Hollywood Issue cover, in 1995, features Oscar nominees Julia Roberts (August: Osage County), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), and Lupita Nyong?o (12 Years a Slave), as well as Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), George Clooney (Gravity), Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station), Naomie Harris (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), Brie Larson (Short Term 12), Chadwick Boseman (42), Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Léa Seydoux (Blue Is the Warmest Color). Julia Roberts is an industry veteran who makes a splash with her Oscar-nominated performance in John Wells’s August: Osage County. Though Roberts has been on the cover of Vanity Fair five times, this...
- 2/3/2014
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
‘Alone Yet Not Alone’ Best Song Oscar 2014 nomination revoked: Nod for obscure song from equally obscure Christian movie had left many scratching their heads (photo: Kelly Greyson in ‘Alone Yet Not Alone’) Last night, January 28, 2014, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors voted to revoke the Best Original Song Oscar nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone,” from the movie of the same name, and with music by Bruce Broughton and lyrics by Dennis Spiegel. According to the Academy’s press release, the decision to disqualify “Alone Yet Not Alone” "was prompted by the discovery that Broughton, a former Governor and current Music Branch executive committee member, had emailed members of the branch to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period." Following the announcement of the 2014 Academy Award nominations, several publications raised concerns about the legitimacy of the nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone...
- 1/30/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
From D Films, Sneak Peek director Darrell Roodt's dramatic feature "Winnie", coming to home entertainment February 4, 2014, starring Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard, Elias Koteas and Wendy Crewson:
"...this intimate, in-depth and unbiased film takes the audience on a remarkable journey of understanding 'Winnie Mandela', exploring both her personal and political life.
"Through her fierce determination and dauntless courage, Winnie Mandela survived her husband's imprisonment, continuous harassment by the security police, banishment to a small 'Free State' town, betrayal by friends and allies, and more than a year in solitary confinement - all the while keeping the name of 'Nelson Mandela' alive.
"A sensitive and balanced portrayal, the film nevertheless thoroughly investigates and honestly examines the controversies that dogged Winnie Mandela in recent years..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Winnie"...
"...this intimate, in-depth and unbiased film takes the audience on a remarkable journey of understanding 'Winnie Mandela', exploring both her personal and political life.
"Through her fierce determination and dauntless courage, Winnie Mandela survived her husband's imprisonment, continuous harassment by the security police, banishment to a small 'Free State' town, betrayal by friends and allies, and more than a year in solitary confinement - all the while keeping the name of 'Nelson Mandela' alive.
"A sensitive and balanced portrayal, the film nevertheless thoroughly investigates and honestly examines the controversies that dogged Winnie Mandela in recent years..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Winnie"...
- 1/23/2014
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Directed by: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris
Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2013
Plot: The story of Nelson (Elba) and Winnie Mandela’s (Harris) revolution against apartheid in South Africa.
Who’S It For? Those who can manage biopics where the performers are stronger than the story itself. This film would also be useful to certain viewers as a concise introduction to Nelson Mandela.
Read our exclusive interview with ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ director Justin Chadwick
Overall
The life of Nelson Mandela, one that represents the incredible potential of a human being, is a story that could easily devolve to cinematic canonization. In the latest film about his world-changing accomplishments, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, he not does receive such a treatment, as his purely human characteristics are not lost to unjust over-protection. However, it is his story itself...
Directed by: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris
Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2013
Plot: The story of Nelson (Elba) and Winnie Mandela’s (Harris) revolution against apartheid in South Africa.
Who’S It For? Those who can manage biopics where the performers are stronger than the story itself. This film would also be useful to certain viewers as a concise introduction to Nelson Mandela.
Read our exclusive interview with ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ director Justin Chadwick
Overall
The life of Nelson Mandela, one that represents the incredible potential of a human being, is a story that could easily devolve to cinematic canonization. In the latest film about his world-changing accomplishments, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, he not does receive such a treatment, as his purely human characteristics are not lost to unjust over-protection. However, it is his story itself...
- 1/13/2014
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Adding their picks to the awards season deluge, the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards unveiled the official list of nominees.
Not surprisingly, “The Butler” will compete in categories including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress and Writing.
Meanwhile, Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” is up for Outstanding Drama Series, and Ms. Washington herself received a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock gushed, “This has been an incredible year from the artistic community, with phenomenal contributions across the board from the music, television, motion picture, and literature genres that have the power and impact to drive social change.”
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards will go live on Friday, February 21st.
And the nominees are:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"House of Lies" (Showtime)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in...
Not surprisingly, “The Butler” will compete in categories including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress and Writing.
Meanwhile, Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” is up for Outstanding Drama Series, and Ms. Washington herself received a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock gushed, “This has been an incredible year from the artistic community, with phenomenal contributions across the board from the music, television, motion picture, and literature genres that have the power and impact to drive social change.”
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards will go live on Friday, February 21st.
And the nominees are:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"House of Lies" (Showtime)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in...
- 1/10/2014
- GossipCenter
Naomie Harris has taken part in a new photoshoot for Fault magazine.
The actress appears in the publication's winter 2013-14 issue, which is based around the theme of 'Other', including Harris in a monochrome style.
Harris spoke in depth about how she got into character when playing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in the biopic Long Walk To Freedom, opposite Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela.
She said: "I did a lot of research to find Winnie. She is such a polarising character. Some people say that she is Mother Africa and that she is a saint and then other people completely demonise her as a fraudster, as a murderer and as a terrorist.
"So you have these completely opposing views about who she is. To meet in the middle and find a cohesive character for all of that was a real challenge."
Speaking about meeting Winnie Mandela, she said: "I thought that...
The actress appears in the publication's winter 2013-14 issue, which is based around the theme of 'Other', including Harris in a monochrome style.
Harris spoke in depth about how she got into character when playing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in the biopic Long Walk To Freedom, opposite Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela.
She said: "I did a lot of research to find Winnie. She is such a polarising character. Some people say that she is Mother Africa and that she is a saint and then other people completely demonise her as a fraudster, as a murderer and as a terrorist.
"So you have these completely opposing views about who she is. To meet in the middle and find a cohesive character for all of that was a real challenge."
Speaking about meeting Winnie Mandela, she said: "I thought that...
- 1/10/2014
- Digital Spy
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