Acclaimed filmmaker Nanfu Wang’s new docuseries, “Mind Over Murder,” will premiere June 20 at 10 p.m. Pt on HBO Max.
Produced by Vox Media Studios, the six-part show will explore the complicated nature of memory, as told through the 1985 Nebraska murder case featuring the “Beatrice Six.”
Wang — whose “Hooligan Sparrow” was shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature at the 2017 Oscars — will use the case to shed light on the fallibility of police confessions and how recovered memories can inadvertently induce false ones, which in tandem produce wrongful convictions. The docuseries will feature previously unavailable archival footage, including the original interrogation videos, as well as interviews with the family members of the victim and the Beatrice Six and former government officials involved in the case.
Also Read:
TheWrap-Up Podcast: Nanfu Wang and Megan Mylan On Their Powerful Oscar Shortlisted Documentaries
“Mind Over Murder” unravels the complex story of six people who were...
Produced by Vox Media Studios, the six-part show will explore the complicated nature of memory, as told through the 1985 Nebraska murder case featuring the “Beatrice Six.”
Wang — whose “Hooligan Sparrow” was shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature at the 2017 Oscars — will use the case to shed light on the fallibility of police confessions and how recovered memories can inadvertently induce false ones, which in tandem produce wrongful convictions. The docuseries will feature previously unavailable archival footage, including the original interrogation videos, as well as interviews with the family members of the victim and the Beatrice Six and former government officials involved in the case.
Also Read:
TheWrap-Up Podcast: Nanfu Wang and Megan Mylan On Their Powerful Oscar Shortlisted Documentaries
“Mind Over Murder” unravels the complex story of six people who were...
- 6/1/2022
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Wrap
Encanto, Raya And The Last Dragon, The Mitchells vs. The Machines among animated feature nominees.
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced its feature film land animated feature nominees with The Power Of The Dog, Dune, Belfast all in the running.
Netflix films led the way on three nods in the feature category for The Power Of The Dog, Don’t Look Up and tick, tick…Boom, while Amazon Studios’ Being The Riccardos was the surprise addition.The PGA nominations are a strong bellwether of a best picture Oscar nomination.
However while Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Tragedy Of Macbeth...
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced its feature film land animated feature nominees with The Power Of The Dog, Dune, Belfast all in the running.
Netflix films led the way on three nods in the feature category for The Power Of The Dog, Don’t Look Up and tick, tick…Boom, while Amazon Studios’ Being The Riccardos was the surprise addition.The PGA nominations are a strong bellwether of a best picture Oscar nomination.
However while Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Tragedy Of Macbeth...
- 1/27/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Predicting the winner of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar became a lot easier on December 21 when the academy announced the 15 films that made the shortlist. Those semi-finalists are culled from the 138 titles that qualified this year for consideration. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2022 Oscars predictions for Best Documentary Feature.)
To winnow these down to a manageable number, the academy adds newly eligible documentary feature to a virtual screening room available to all 500 plus members of the documentary branch. While all members are encouraged to watch as many of these as they can, one-fifth of the voters are assigned each title. In the new year, each branch member will submit a preferential ballot listing their top 15 choices.
All of these ballots were collated to determine the 15 semi-finalists. Branch members were encouraged to watch those films on this list that they haven’t seen yet before casting another preferential ballot on...
To winnow these down to a manageable number, the academy adds newly eligible documentary feature to a virtual screening room available to all 500 plus members of the documentary branch. While all members are encouraged to watch as many of these as they can, one-fifth of the voters are assigned each title. In the new year, each branch member will submit a preferential ballot listing their top 15 choices.
All of these ballots were collated to determine the 15 semi-finalists. Branch members were encouraged to watch those films on this list that they haven’t seen yet before casting another preferential ballot on...
- 1/24/2022
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
A total of 15 documentaries were shortlisted for a 2022 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature and the subjects documented in them range in topics all over the documentary spectrum. Five of those filmmakers joined our recent Meet the Experts panel, with subjects such as America’s most infamous prison riot, the rise of a young female singer who becomes one of the biggest stars on the planet, how a group of adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church use drama therapy to process their trauma, how a bunch of recreational divers pulled off an incredible rescue mission in Thailand and the stories of five families that have been displaced by a perilous civil war.
In our roundtable conversation, we hear what the directors behind these highlighted docs think about making the shortlist for this year’s Academy Awards. Gold Derby recently discussed this and more with Stanley Nelson...
In our roundtable conversation, we hear what the directors behind these highlighted docs think about making the shortlist for this year’s Academy Awards. Gold Derby recently discussed this and more with Stanley Nelson...
- 1/23/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
In finding a way to document the experiences of families displaced by the Syrian civil war for “Simple as Water,” Megan Mylan had to carefully thread a delicate needle. “We wanted to try and find a way to convey the scale of the mass migration and displacement that the Syrian war had reaped and do so in a way that feels organic to me, which is very intimate observational,” she tells Gold Derby during our recent Meet the Experts: Film Documentary panel (watch the exclusive video interview above). Those contrasts would end up informing all of how the film was structured. “I wanted to find a way for the film to be both large and intimate at the same time and get in all the different layers of what the experience of displacement and war is.”
“Simple as Water,” currently streaming on HBO Max, examines five families who are living...
“Simple as Water,” currently streaming on HBO Max, examines five families who are living...
- 1/23/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
The Oscars have announced that 276 feature films are eligible for this year’s Academy Awards, with nomination voting set to begin Thursday, Jan. 27 until Tuesday, Feb. 1.
Last year, the Academy extended the eligibility year until Feb. 28, 2021 due to the pandemic, which produced 366 eligible films, the largest number of submissions since 1970. With only 10 months in this period, 2022’s eligibility list is on par with previous submission years.
All of the presumed Oscar contenders are on the list including “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios), “Belfast” (Focus Features), “C’mon C’mon” (A24), “Candyman” (Universal Pictures), “Coda” (Apple Original Films), “Dune” (Warner Bros), “Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures), “House of Gucci” (MGM/United Artists Releasing), “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight Pictures), “Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics), “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix), “A Quiet Place Part II” (Paramount Pictures), “Spencer” (Neon/Topic Studios), “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (Sony Pictures) and “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios).
Some of...
Last year, the Academy extended the eligibility year until Feb. 28, 2021 due to the pandemic, which produced 366 eligible films, the largest number of submissions since 1970. With only 10 months in this period, 2022’s eligibility list is on par with previous submission years.
All of the presumed Oscar contenders are on the list including “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios), “Belfast” (Focus Features), “C’mon C’mon” (A24), “Candyman” (Universal Pictures), “Coda” (Apple Original Films), “Dune” (Warner Bros), “Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures), “House of Gucci” (MGM/United Artists Releasing), “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight Pictures), “Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics), “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix), “A Quiet Place Part II” (Paramount Pictures), “Spencer” (Neon/Topic Studios), “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (Sony Pictures) and “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios).
Some of...
- 1/20/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
In the past decade, the inclusion of streaming services in the documentary market has made it increasingly harder for smaller docus struggling with funding to break into the nonfiction feature Oscar race. But in spite of the deep pockets they are up against, a number of cash-strapped docs inevitably make it onto the shortlist every year. This year was no exception.
Jessica Beshir’s “Faya Dayi”, Camilla Nielsson’s “President” (Greenwich Entertainment) and Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas’ “Writing with Fire” (Music Box Films) are three films on this year’s feature doc shortlist that are up against competitors with multi-million-dollar campaign budgets being paid by media and tech conglomerates including Apple, Netflix, ViacomCBS, the Walt Disney Co. and WarnerMedia.
As the field narrows and lobbying and marketing takeover, it’s clear that money and brand recognition are key factors in the race for Oscar gold, which makes “Faya Dayi,...
Jessica Beshir’s “Faya Dayi”, Camilla Nielsson’s “President” (Greenwich Entertainment) and Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas’ “Writing with Fire” (Music Box Films) are three films on this year’s feature doc shortlist that are up against competitors with multi-million-dollar campaign budgets being paid by media and tech conglomerates including Apple, Netflix, ViacomCBS, the Walt Disney Co. and WarnerMedia.
As the field narrows and lobbying and marketing takeover, it’s clear that money and brand recognition are key factors in the race for Oscar gold, which makes “Faya Dayi,...
- 1/20/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Seven top documentary filmmakers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Academy Awards and guild contenders. Each person from these films is now on the Oscar shortlist. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Wednesday, January 19, at 6:00 p.m. Pt; 9:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our contributing editor Charles Bright and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series throughout January and February. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 awards contenders:
“Attica:” Traci Curry, Stanley Nelson
Synopsis: Shedding new light on the enduring violence and racism of the prison system,...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series throughout January and February. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 awards contenders:
“Attica:” Traci Curry, Stanley Nelson
Synopsis: Shedding new light on the enduring violence and racism of the prison system,...
- 1/12/2022
- by Chris Beachum and Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
The two Oscar frontrunners for Best Documentary Feature are safely through to the next round of voting.
Summer of Soul and Flee earned spots on the Oscar doc feature shortlist announced today, as Documentary Branch voters whittled the list of contending films from 138 qualifiers to 15 [see full lists below].
Flee, the Neon release directed by Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen, not only made the doc feature shortlist, but the shortlist for Best International Film as well, representing Denmark. That rare shortlist double was accomplished last Oscar season by the Romanian documentary Collective, and a year earlier by the North Macedonian film Honeyland (both Collective and Honeyland went on to score Oscar nominations in both categories). Flee remains in the running in a third Oscar category, Animated Feature.
Flee and Summer of Soul,...
Summer of Soul and Flee earned spots on the Oscar doc feature shortlist announced today, as Documentary Branch voters whittled the list of contending films from 138 qualifiers to 15 [see full lists below].
Flee, the Neon release directed by Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen, not only made the doc feature shortlist, but the shortlist for Best International Film as well, representing Denmark. That rare shortlist double was accomplished last Oscar season by the Romanian documentary Collective, and a year earlier by the North Macedonian film Honeyland (both Collective and Honeyland went on to score Oscar nominations in both categories). Flee remains in the running in a third Oscar category, Animated Feature.
Flee and Summer of Soul,...
- 12/21/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 94th Oscars ceremony.
The shortlist voting concluded on Dec. 15, and the remaining ones will move on to the official phase one voting. Nominations voting begins on Thursday, Jan. 27, and ends on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The official credits and nominees for all the films will be announced, with the rest of the Oscar nominations on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
Check out the list of the films and categories below:
Original Song
“So May We Start?” from “Annette” (Amazon Studios)
Ron Mael, Russell Mael (Sparks) “Down To Joy” from “Belfast” (Focus Features)
Van Morrison “Right Where I Belong” from “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road” (Screen Media Films)
Brian Wilson, Jim James “Automatic Woman” from “Bruised” (Netflix)
H.E.R. (other songwriters to be added) “Dream Girl” from “Cinderella” (Amazon Studios)
Idina Menzel, Laura Veltz “Beyond The Shore” from...
The shortlist voting concluded on Dec. 15, and the remaining ones will move on to the official phase one voting. Nominations voting begins on Thursday, Jan. 27, and ends on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The official credits and nominees for all the films will be announced, with the rest of the Oscar nominations on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
Check out the list of the films and categories below:
Original Song
“So May We Start?” from “Annette” (Amazon Studios)
Ron Mael, Russell Mael (Sparks) “Down To Joy” from “Belfast” (Focus Features)
Van Morrison “Right Where I Belong” from “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road” (Screen Media Films)
Brian Wilson, Jim James “Automatic Woman” from “Bruised” (Netflix)
H.E.R. (other songwriters to be added) “Dream Girl” from “Cinderella” (Amazon Studios)
Idina Menzel, Laura Veltz “Beyond The Shore” from...
- 12/21/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced the eight nominees for its 2022 Best Documentary award on Friday, December 10. The winner will be revealed at the 33rd Annual PGA Awards which will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022. The remaining Producers Guild Awards nominations, including those for the Oscar bellwether Best Picture, will be unveiled on Thursday, January 27, 2022. The eight documentary features in the running are:
Ascension
The First Wave
Flee
In The Same Breath
The Rescue
Simple As Water
Summer Of Soul
Writing With Fire
The PGA nomination is an important step on the path to Oscar glory. Five of the last six eventual Oscar champs for Best Documentary Feature were nominated first by the producers guild, including last year’s “My Octopus Teacher,” which took home both prizes. The PGA win was the film’s first major accolade after missing nominations from prestigious non-fiction bellwethers Cinema Eye Honors and the International Documentary Association.
Ascension
The First Wave
Flee
In The Same Breath
The Rescue
Simple As Water
Summer Of Soul
Writing With Fire
The PGA nomination is an important step on the path to Oscar glory. Five of the last six eventual Oscar champs for Best Documentary Feature were nominated first by the producers guild, including last year’s “My Octopus Teacher,” which took home both prizes. The PGA win was the film’s first major accolade after missing nominations from prestigious non-fiction bellwethers Cinema Eye Honors and the International Documentary Association.
- 12/12/2021
- by John Benutty
- Gold Derby
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has revealed eight 2022 Documentary Motion Picture nominees that will advance to the final round of voting for the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards. The nominees for the Documentary category are selected by the Documentary Nomination Jury, made up of at least fifty documentary producers who select between three and eight non-fiction motion-picture nominees. Some 8,000 PGA members will make their picks before the 33rd Annual Producers Guild of America Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
With the over-crowded documentary awards field, being seen is the first order. Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives deep-pocketed distributors like NatGeo an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded two of the eight PGA nominations: Thai cave thriller “The Rescue” and Covid diary “The First Wave.” HBO also landed two nominees, Nanfu Wang’s portrait of China during Covid,...
With the over-crowded documentary awards field, being seen is the first order. Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives deep-pocketed distributors like NatGeo an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded two of the eight PGA nominations: Thai cave thriller “The Rescue” and Covid diary “The First Wave.” HBO also landed two nominees, Nanfu Wang’s portrait of China during Covid,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has revealed eight 2022 Documentary Motion Picture nominees that will advance to the final round of voting for the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards. The nominees for the Documentary category are selected by the Documentary Nomination Jury, made up of at least fifty documentary producers who select between three and eight non-fiction motion-picture nominees. Some 8,000 PGA members will make their picks before the 33rd Annual Producers Guild of America Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
With the over-crowded documentary awards field, being seen is the first order. Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives deep-pocketed distributors like NatGeo an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded two of the eight PGA nominations: Thai cave thriller “The Rescue” and Covid diary “The First Wave.” HBO also landed two nominees, Nanfu Wang’s portrait of China during Covid,...
With the over-crowded documentary awards field, being seen is the first order. Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives deep-pocketed distributors like NatGeo an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded two of the eight PGA nominations: Thai cave thriller “The Rescue” and Covid diary “The First Wave.” HBO also landed two nominees, Nanfu Wang’s portrait of China during Covid,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Ascension, The First Wave, In The Same Breath, Simple As Water, Writing With Fire also in contention.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Danish Oscar submission Flee, Questlove’s Summer Of Soul and The Rescue directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are among the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) documentary feature nominees announced on Friday (December 10).
Rounding out the line-up are Jessica Kingdon’s Ascension, Matthew Heineman’s The First Wave, Nanfu Wang’s In The Same Breath, Megan Mylan’s Simple As Water, and Writing With Fire from Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh.
Flee premiered in Sundance earlier...
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Danish Oscar submission Flee, Questlove’s Summer Of Soul and The Rescue directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are among the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) documentary feature nominees announced on Friday (December 10).
Rounding out the line-up are Jessica Kingdon’s Ascension, Matthew Heineman’s The First Wave, Nanfu Wang’s In The Same Breath, Megan Mylan’s Simple As Water, and Writing With Fire from Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh.
Flee premiered in Sundance earlier...
- 12/10/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
For director Megan Mylan’s Simple as Water, which follows far-flung Syrian refugees as they strive to maintain their familial bonds in the aftermath of war, the filmmaker said she relied on an exhaustive casting process that involved building trust with her subjects.
“We spent lots and lots of time identifying which families would want to participate, because that’s key for this observational style,” Mylan said during the HBO movie’s panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary, where she was joined by producer Robin Hessman and co-producer Hazem Obid. “They have to welcome us in, and they choose how many layers they reveal, so those relationships were really fundamental.”
“When we set out to figure out the casting, what would be the family’s vignettes and what were the layers of this experience that we wanted to include, it was an extensive pre-production of many, many conversations,” Mylan said.
“We spent lots and lots of time identifying which families would want to participate, because that’s key for this observational style,” Mylan said during the HBO movie’s panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary, where she was joined by producer Robin Hessman and co-producer Hazem Obid. “They have to welcome us in, and they choose how many layers they reveal, so those relationships were really fundamental.”
“When we set out to figure out the casting, what would be the family’s vignettes and what were the layers of this experience that we wanted to include, it was an extensive pre-production of many, many conversations,” Mylan said.
- 11/21/2021
- by Scott Huver
- Deadline Film + TV
Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season event, our virtual showcase of the year’s leading nonfiction, gets underway Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. Pt. This year’s lineup of 25 movies reflects the growing availability of documentary content across a variety of platforms: Showtime and HBO, streamers HBO Max, Netflix, Discovery+, Hulu, Amazon Studios, and Apple TV+, as well as theatrical distributors Neon, Focus Features, Searchlight Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics.
Click here to register and watch the livestream.
If Sunday’s Contenders event came with a soundtrack, it would be a chart topper for the ages. No fewer than four of the films in our panel lineup today throb to a musical beat: Summer of Soul recovers the long-forgotten Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 that welcomed incredible artists, from a teenage Stevie Wonder to Mahalia Jackson, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Fifth Dimension.
Click here to register and watch the livestream.
If Sunday’s Contenders event came with a soundtrack, it would be a chart topper for the ages. No fewer than four of the films in our panel lineup today throb to a musical beat: Summer of Soul recovers the long-forgotten Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 that welcomed incredible artists, from a teenage Stevie Wonder to Mahalia Jackson, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Fifth Dimension.
- 11/21/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Six of the most celebrated documentaries of 2021 reflect subjects that span the spectrum of fascinating subjects. They touch on a legendary filmmaker and conservationist, a broken police system in North America’s most populous city, an under-recognized civil rights leader, the stories of families displaced by a brutal civil war and one of the defining rock bands of the late 1960s. In a recent discussion, we got to hear what the filmmakers behind these docs thought about the current state of documentaries and some of their favorites in the genre. Gold Derby recently got to ask these questions with Dan Cogan (“Becoming Cousteau”), Elena Fortes (“A Cop Movie”), Betsy West and Julie Cohen (“My Name is Pauli Murray”), Megan Mylan (“Simple as Water”) and Julie Goldman (“The Velvet Underground”) during our recent Meet the Experts panel.
You can watch the film documentary group panel above with the people behind these five films.
You can watch the film documentary group panel above with the people behind these five films.
- 11/20/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Megan Mylan’s process of finding the five families to focus on for her documentary, “Simple as Water,” was an extremely arduous one. “We did a deep dive: Research, pre-production, almost a mini-grad school of trying to understand what are the through-lines, what are the commonalities of this family experience,” Mylan tells Gold Derby in our Meet the Experts: Film Documentary panel (watch the exclusive video interview above). This led to talking with hundreds of Syrians in countries all over the world and Mylan getting a very critical assist. “The way I worked is we had two Syrian co-producers who worked across storylines, but then each vignette had its own family and its own particular crew.”
“Simple as Water,” which is currently streaming on HBO Max, tells the story of five families who are living with the horrible effects of the Syrian civil war. One is a mother in...
“Simple as Water,” which is currently streaming on HBO Max, tells the story of five families who are living with the horrible effects of the Syrian civil war. One is a mother in...
- 11/20/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Watch our individual interviews with documentary creators being considered for the Oscar, guild and film critics’ awards: Dan Cogan (‘Becoming Cousteau’), Elena Fortes (‘A Cop Movie’), Betsy West and Julie Cohen (‘My Name is Pauli Murray’), Megan Mylan (‘Simple As Water’) and Julie Goldman (‘The Velvet Underground’). A fascinating group discussion follows, moderated by Gold Derby Contributing Editor Charles Bright.
- 11/17/2021
- by Tom O'Neil
- Gold Derby
Nearly two decades ago, Megan Mylan co-directed “Lost Boys of Sudan,” a memorable documentary chronicling hope and upheaval among seven young men who landed in the U.S. after surviving village massacres during that nation’s second civil war. (There has since been a third.) Enough has happened in the interval that Mylan’s new “Simple as Water” arrives in a very different climate, where such conflicts and their refugees are sociopolitical issues the world over.
Here, the subjects are four families pried apart by Syria’s ongoing civil war, their optimism if not their determination ebbing in the face of bureaucratic and other hurdles to reunion. Portraying exiles stuck in a holding pattern over which they have little control, “Water” is perhaps inevitably not as engrossing as “Lost Boys,” which had the advantage of witnessing real change in its protagonists’ lives. But it’s still . HBO is giving the...
Here, the subjects are four families pried apart by Syria’s ongoing civil war, their optimism if not their determination ebbing in the face of bureaucratic and other hurdles to reunion. Portraying exiles stuck in a holding pattern over which they have little control, “Water” is perhaps inevitably not as engrossing as “Lost Boys,” which had the advantage of witnessing real change in its protagonists’ lives. But it’s still . HBO is giving the...
- 11/12/2021
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Six top documentarians will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Oscar and guild contenders. Each person from the documentaries will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Wednesday, November 17, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our contributing editor Charles Bright and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series of 17 panels in November and December. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 awards contenders:
“Becoming Cousteau”: Dan Cogan
Synopsis: A look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series of 17 panels in November and December. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 awards contenders:
“Becoming Cousteau”: Dan Cogan
Synopsis: A look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau.
- 11/9/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
The title “Simple as Water,” a five-part Syrian refugee documentary structured like an omnibus film, could just as well apply to filmmaker Megan Mylan’s spare and unassuming directing style. You can hardly see the scaffold of a documentary film at all. In fact, “Simple” unfolds more like a riveting neorealist drama, with no trace of the woman and her crew behind the camera, no talking heads, no filmmakerly intervention of any kind. Instead, five stories of refugees from Syria and of the people still living in its war-rattled grasp unspool with an unadorned melancholy, giving way to .
Academy Award–winning director Megan Mylan has spanned the globe before in search of a compelling story, whether to unsung corners of India (“Smile Pinki”) or Africa (“Lost Boys of the Sudan”). “Simple as Water” takes Mylan and her team to five countries: Turkey, Greece, Germany, Syria, and eventually the United States.
Academy Award–winning director Megan Mylan has spanned the globe before in search of a compelling story, whether to unsung corners of India (“Smile Pinki”) or Africa (“Lost Boys of the Sudan”). “Simple as Water” takes Mylan and her team to five countries: Turkey, Greece, Germany, Syria, and eventually the United States.
- 11/4/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: 1091 Pictures has scooped digital rights to actor Dante Basco’s (Hook) directorial debut, The Fabulous Filipino Brothers, with plans for a release across platforms on February 8, 2022.
Pic follows four brothers as their Fil-Am family prepares for the ultimate Filipino event: a wedding. It’s comprised of four vignettes, ranging in location from Northern California to The Philippiness, which feature everything from cockfights and adultery to romance, food and family.
Dante Basco and his brother Darion co-wrote the film, which made its world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival. Together, they star alongside their entire family, including brothers Derek and Dionysio, and sister Arianna, with Solenn Heussaff, Tirso Cruz III, Liza Lapira, Joe Jitsukawa and Joey Guilla rounding out the cast.
The film was produced in collaboration with LA-based management and production company, TheMachine. In celebration of its release, Dante Basco and his co-stars will soon be going on tour,...
Pic follows four brothers as their Fil-Am family prepares for the ultimate Filipino event: a wedding. It’s comprised of four vignettes, ranging in location from Northern California to The Philippiness, which feature everything from cockfights and adultery to romance, food and family.
Dante Basco and his brother Darion co-wrote the film, which made its world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival. Together, they star alongside their entire family, including brothers Derek and Dionysio, and sister Arianna, with Solenn Heussaff, Tirso Cruz III, Liza Lapira, Joe Jitsukawa and Joey Guilla rounding out the cast.
The film was produced in collaboration with LA-based management and production company, TheMachine. In celebration of its release, Dante Basco and his co-stars will soon be going on tour,...
- 10/29/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: HBO Documentary Films has acquired worldwide and streaming rights to Simple as Water, a new documentary from Oscar winner Megan Mylan, which will hit theaters in limited release later this year before debuting on HBO, subsequently becoming available for streaming on HBO Max.
Mylan’s film is a meditation on the elemental bonds between parent and child. It takes audiences into Syrian families’ quests for normalcy and through a whirlwind of obstacles—to building life anew—examining the impact of war, separation and displacement.
The project was filmed in Turkey, Greece, Germany, Syria and the U.S. over the course of five years. It came to fruition through the joint efforts of small crews scattered across the world; many of those involved behind the scenes are Syrian refugees, themselves.
“I think of Simple As Water as a family love story celebrating the elemental bonds between parent and child,...
Mylan’s film is a meditation on the elemental bonds between parent and child. It takes audiences into Syrian families’ quests for normalcy and through a whirlwind of obstacles—to building life anew—examining the impact of war, separation and displacement.
The project was filmed in Turkey, Greece, Germany, Syria and the U.S. over the course of five years. It came to fruition through the joint efforts of small crews scattered across the world; many of those involved behind the scenes are Syrian refugees, themselves.
“I think of Simple As Water as a family love story celebrating the elemental bonds between parent and child,...
- 10/7/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Much can be said about Megan Mylan’s latest documentary “Simple As Water.” Yet, as its title insinuates, the film succeeds in its calculated minimalism. Cataloging the plight of four Syrian families in the aftermath of war, Mylan’s heartfelt exploration of human strife infuses informative insight with harrowing revelations. Still, it maintains an acutely cinematic approach to its narrative, a feat that separates the film from most modern documentaries.
Continue reading ‘Simple As Water’: The Strength Of Family Endures In The Aftermath Of War [Tribeca Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Simple As Water’: The Strength Of Family Endures In The Aftermath Of War [Tribeca Review] at The Playlist.
- 6/21/2021
- by Jonathan Christian
- The Playlist
For many distributors and sales agents, the Tribeca Festival — which kicks off Wednesday — marks a major milestone: The first American festival in over a year offering an in-person venue to make deals for finished films. But the dealmaking will mirror the festival itself, which will offer in-person programming across the New York City’s five boroughs as well as a robust online component for out-of-towners.
The decentralized festival means that this year, Tribeca won’t be defined by making the daily trek to Manhattan to watch films and take meetings. New York-based agents and buyers say they’re looking forward to meeting in person and leveraging the long-awaited return of word-of-mouth buzz. But many in Los Angeles are still relying on Zoom and the festival’s online platform to do their work.
Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios, has three films at the festival, all for sale: the Vanessa Kirby-starring “Italian Studies,...
The decentralized festival means that this year, Tribeca won’t be defined by making the daily trek to Manhattan to watch films and take meetings. New York-based agents and buyers say they’re looking forward to meeting in person and leveraging the long-awaited return of word-of-mouth buzz. But many in Los Angeles are still relying on Zoom and the festival’s online platform to do their work.
Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios, has three films at the festival, all for sale: the Vanessa Kirby-starring “Italian Studies,...
- 6/9/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The Tribeca Film Festival announced programming today for its N.O.W. (New Online Works) section, an inspired array of established and emerging creators who are pushing the boundaries of online storytelling.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Set to Open With ‘Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ Premiere Event at Radio City Music Hall
Top-lining the section is the premiere of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock,” a documentary from the Oscar-nominated team of Josh Fox and James Spione and Executive Producer Shailene Woodley. The project is a collaboration with indigenous filmmaker Myron Dewey about the Native-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere “Monster Madness,” a series of several character shorts; and Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the Festival.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Set to Open With ‘Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ Premiere Event at Radio City Music Hall
Top-lining the section is the premiere of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock,” a documentary from the Oscar-nominated team of Josh Fox and James Spione and Executive Producer Shailene Woodley. The project is a collaboration with indigenous filmmaker Myron Dewey about the Native-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Eli Roth’s Crypt TV will premiere “Monster Madness,” a series of several character shorts; and Op-Docs, The New York Times’ award-winning forum for short, opinionated documentaries, will screen three films at the Festival.
Read More: Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
- 3/24/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Ritesh Batra
Ritesh Batra’s The Masterchef was among the 5 short films that were screened at a private screening co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the Sundance Film Festival . The screening was organised to launch the ‘Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge’ project.
All the 5 short films were made with production grants from the Sundance Institute and will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
‘Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge’ is a short film competition that aims to harness the power of independent film to create a global conversation about extreme hunger and poverty. Its first edition will take place in 2015.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said in a statement, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in...
Ritesh Batra’s The Masterchef was among the 5 short films that were screened at a private screening co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the Sundance Film Festival . The screening was organised to launch the ‘Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge’ project.
All the 5 short films were made with production grants from the Sundance Institute and will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
‘Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge’ is a short film competition that aims to harness the power of independent film to create a global conversation about extreme hunger and poverty. Its first edition will take place in 2015.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said in a statement, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in...
- 1/23/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Sundance Institute, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, today announced a new project that will harness the power of independent film to create a global conversation about extreme hunger and poverty. The Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge will spur the production of documentary and narrative films – through a global open call for three-to-eight-minute submissions – that will celebrate imaginative solutions real people are creating to overcome the challenges of extreme hunger and poverty. The project supports Sundance Institute’s mission to empower independent storytellers and connect their work to communities around the world.
The Institute is working with Tongal.com to manage the online call for entries. Winning films will receive a $10,000 grant and travel to a premiere at a private event at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Users can submit through July 1, 2014. There is no fee to apply. More information can be found at www.sundance.org/anotheryou.
Five new films made with production grants to launch the project premiered earlier today at a private screening co-hosted with the Gates Foundation at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. These five films will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in ways that are as innovative and imaginative as the solutions people are putting into action every day. ”
The first five films for the Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge are:
After My Garden Grows
Director: Megan Mylan
India / Documentary
A young girl in rural India tills a small plot of land to feed her family and plant seeds of independence and financial freedom in her male dominated community.
Director Megan Mylan directed and produced the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki, which broadcast on HBO and the Sundance Channel. Her film, Lost Boys of Sudan, had a 70-city theatrical release and a national television broadcast on PBS's Pov.
Am I Going Too Fast?
Directors: Hank Willis Thomas, Christopher Myers
Kenya / Experimental Doc
Am I Going Too Fast? is a digital tapestry of the intersecting worlds and interactions of craftspeople, shopkeepers, and ordinary folks whose lives have been transformed by new technologies, cell phone banking, and micro-finance; threads that weave together to form a web of connection and possibility in contemporary Nairobi.
Hank Willis Thomas is the creator of Question Bridge: Black Male, a non-fiction new media project and recipient of a New Media Fellowship, New Media Fund grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and Aperture West Book Prize.
Co-Director Christopher Myers is an artist and writer best known for his books for young people, which have garnered Caldecott Honors and been shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Kombit
Directors: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman
Haiti / Documentary
Haiti's internally displaced people start a micro-garden movement to combat post-earthquake hunger and despair.
Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman produced and directed the feature documentary Remote Area Medical, which premiered at the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and was supported by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
The Masterchef
Director: Ritesh Batra
India / Narrative
Akhil, a young shoeshine boy, dreams of becoming a gourmet chef when he has a chance encounter with India's most popular TV cuisiner.
Director Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox will screen at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes 2013 and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for North America. Batra also won the Best Director prize at the Odessa International Film Festival.
Vezo
Director: Tod Lending
Africa, Madagascar / Documentary
A 9-year-old girl tells a tale about how her family and village came back from near starvation after their fishing village adopted sustainable fishing practices.
Director Tod Lending is an Academy Award-nominated and national Emmy-winning producer, director, and cinematographer whose work has aired nationally on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, Al Jazeera.
While on the subject of shorts, you can watch and vote for 15 Sundance shorts on You Tube right Here.
The Institute is working with Tongal.com to manage the online call for entries. Winning films will receive a $10,000 grant and travel to a premiere at a private event at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Users can submit through July 1, 2014. There is no fee to apply. More information can be found at www.sundance.org/anotheryou.
Five new films made with production grants to launch the project premiered earlier today at a private screening co-hosted with the Gates Foundation at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. These five films will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in ways that are as innovative and imaginative as the solutions people are putting into action every day. ”
The first five films for the Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge are:
After My Garden Grows
Director: Megan Mylan
India / Documentary
A young girl in rural India tills a small plot of land to feed her family and plant seeds of independence and financial freedom in her male dominated community.
Director Megan Mylan directed and produced the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki, which broadcast on HBO and the Sundance Channel. Her film, Lost Boys of Sudan, had a 70-city theatrical release and a national television broadcast on PBS's Pov.
Am I Going Too Fast?
Directors: Hank Willis Thomas, Christopher Myers
Kenya / Experimental Doc
Am I Going Too Fast? is a digital tapestry of the intersecting worlds and interactions of craftspeople, shopkeepers, and ordinary folks whose lives have been transformed by new technologies, cell phone banking, and micro-finance; threads that weave together to form a web of connection and possibility in contemporary Nairobi.
Hank Willis Thomas is the creator of Question Bridge: Black Male, a non-fiction new media project and recipient of a New Media Fellowship, New Media Fund grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and Aperture West Book Prize.
Co-Director Christopher Myers is an artist and writer best known for his books for young people, which have garnered Caldecott Honors and been shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Kombit
Directors: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman
Haiti / Documentary
Haiti's internally displaced people start a micro-garden movement to combat post-earthquake hunger and despair.
Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman produced and directed the feature documentary Remote Area Medical, which premiered at the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and was supported by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
The Masterchef
Director: Ritesh Batra
India / Narrative
Akhil, a young shoeshine boy, dreams of becoming a gourmet chef when he has a chance encounter with India's most popular TV cuisiner.
Director Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox will screen at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes 2013 and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for North America. Batra also won the Best Director prize at the Odessa International Film Festival.
Vezo
Director: Tod Lending
Africa, Madagascar / Documentary
A 9-year-old girl tells a tale about how her family and village came back from near starvation after their fishing village adopted sustainable fishing practices.
Director Tod Lending is an Academy Award-nominated and national Emmy-winning producer, director, and cinematographer whose work has aired nationally on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, Al Jazeera.
While on the subject of shorts, you can watch and vote for 15 Sundance shorts on You Tube right Here.
- 1/21/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Scheduled to screen at the New York African Diaspora International Film Festival (Adiff), which runs from November 29 to December 15, 2013, is a new feature documentary titled RAÇA (Race), from Brazilian filmmaker Joel Zito Araújo and American Megan Mylan, which tackles racial inequality in Brazil, via the lives of three black Brazilians: Paulo Paim, the only black senator of the republic; Netinho Paula, singer and TV presenter, and Tiny dos Santos, Maroon activist and granddaughter of slaves. The filmmakers followed these 3 people for a few years - people who they consider are on...
- 11/5/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Award-winning documentarians Steve James, Roger Ross Williams, Megan Mylan and Naomi Boak have all created original short films for "Living With Alzheimers," an ambitious multi-platform, multi-media project designed to raise awareness about the disease. Created by bestselling author and Alzheimer's expert David Shenk in partnership with Cure Alzheimers Fund, "Living With Alzheimers" is funded by MetLife Foundation, which also funded the PBS film "The Forgetting," inspired by Shenk's 2001 book of the same name about Alzheimer's disease. Shenk commissioned the filmmakers and asked them to make short films about the subject. "I wanted to inspire them to make the films that they wanted to make," Shenk told Indiewire. "I said 'don't do this unless you feel it's going to be a meaningful piece of work.'" The films are: A Place Called Pluto, by Academy-Award®-nominated director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) De ‘mem’bunce (The Rememberance), by Academy-Award®-winner Roger.
- 9/9/2013
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Our readers who speak Portuguese can chime in on this... I used Google to translate the information and this is what I gather... A new feature documentary titled RAÇA (Race), from Brazilian filmmaker Joel Zito Araújo and American Megan Mylan, tackles racial inequality in Brazil, via the lives of three black Brazilians: Paulo Paim, the only black senator of the republic; Netinho Paula, singer and TV presenter, and Tiny dos Santos, Maroon activist and granddaughter of slaves. The filmmakers followed these 3 people for a number of years - people they consider are on the frontlines of the country's race debate/divide - in an effort to bring something unique to the public in...
- 4/18/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Those wanting to see Oscar-winning documentary 'Smile Pinki', the touching story of an Indian village girl born with a cleft lip, can tune in to national broadcaster Doordarshan this Sunday.American filmmaker Megan Mylan's documentary, to be telecast at 9.30 p.m, is the heartwarming tale of Pinki, whose cleft lip made her a social outcast till her life changed after a meeting with a social worker.Pinki, who is from a remote village in eastern Uttar Pradesh, is a mascot for millions of children across the world who are waiting to smile.
- 11/10/2009
- Filmicafe
The 1st Mumbai International Children`s Film Festival (Micff) began here Saturday with a special screening of Megan Mylan`s Oscar winning documentary "Smile Pinki"."I am one of the jury members of Micff and it is wonderful to see my film getting screened as well," Megan told Ians.The special screening of "Smile Pinki" was attended by 350 students.Another film "Aansoo Bane Moti" which has been made by the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School where writer Amol Gupte teaches will also be screened at the festival."Our society typically slots the financially challenged for menial or vocational jobs. My interaction with the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School made me realize the immense talent they possess. They therefore must be given opportunities for careers that will exercise their latent talent. This...
- 11/7/2009
- Filmicafe
The 1st Mumbai International Children's Film Festival (Micff) began here Saturday with a special screening of Megan Mylan's Oscar winning documentary 'Smile Pinki'.'I am one of the jury members of Micff and it is wonderful to see my film getting screened as well,' Megan told Ians.The special screening of 'Smile Pinki' was attended by 350 students.Another film 'Aansoo Bane Moti' which has been made by the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School where writer Amol Gupte teaches will also be screened at the festival.'Our society typically slots the financially challenged for menial or vocational jobs. My interaction with the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School made me realize the immense talent they possess. They therefore must be given opportunities for careers that will exercise their latent talent. This film is the result of their effort,...
- 11/7/2009
- Filmicafe
Steven Okazaki’s Oscar®-nominated documentary short The Conscience of Nhem En is profoundly distressing for reminding that Hannah Arendt’s conception of the “banality of evil” is as global a phenomenon as it is a human one and no less a threat in the machinations of warfare today as yesterday. Our’s is the constant task to remember and resist such inhumanity. Arendt’s understanding of the complicity that supports man’s officious inhumanity to man aligns with filmmaker Okazaki’s thematic concerns with the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. When he and I spoke on the occasion of his Emmy®-award winning White Light, Black Rain, Okazaki expressed his upset with a historicity that excludes the testimonials of survivors of horrific events; an exclusion he deemed “disturbing” if not “racist.” Such exclusions avoid the fascinating and tragic human story and—for his part—talking about survivors and allowing...
- 7/8/2009
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
Yesterday came the yearly announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as it extended 134 invitations to several artists and executives "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures" read the press release. Of course all of them can decline, but I wouldn't necessarily expect that to happen as all who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2009 to the Academy's roster of voting members. "These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," said Academy President Sid Ganis. "It's this kind of talent and creativity that make up the Academy, and I welcome each of them to our ranks." The list follows below and reading around the best analysis I saw of it came from Nathaniel Rogers at The Film Experience who, among other things, pointed out the addition of longtime Darren Aronofsky's...
- 7/1/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued invitations to 134 members of the film community to join the group. There were a maximum of 166 open slots to fill this year, but the various branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them.
Hugh Jackman, who hosted the most recent Oscar show, has been invited to join. So have Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, James Franco and Michelle Williams. The list even includes a number of comic performers like Michael Cera, Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd.
Voting membership in the organization has held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.
"These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," Academy president Sid Ganis. Said. "It's...
Hugh Jackman, who hosted the most recent Oscar show, has been invited to join. So have Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, James Franco and Michelle Williams. The list even includes a number of comic performers like Michael Cera, Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd.
Voting membership in the organization has held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.
"These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," Academy president Sid Ganis. Said. "It's...
- 6/30/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you could use some good news -- and who couldn’t? -- then you’ll want to see “Smile Pinki,” this year’s Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short debuting tonight on HBO at 7pm Eastern. It’s all good news, of the simple, honest, hardworking, getting-things-accomplished, helping-people-who-need-it type. Social worker Pankaj travels around rural India passing out flyers for the extraordinary service provided by the G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital in the city of Banaras: free surgery -- completely free -- for children born with cleft lips and palates, a common birth defect, and one easily repaired, but beyond the reach of the very poor (who, ironically, are more prone to have children with clefts, which may be caused by prenatal malnutrition -- some of the children we see here have multiple clefts, far more disfiguring problems than I was even previously aware of). Megan Mylan (Lost...
- 6/3/2009
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Some might remember earlier this year when ComingSoon.net talked to a couple of the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated animated and live action shorts, and others might be aware that neither of our favorites won in their respective categories. Around the same time, we were offered an interview with Megan ( Lost Boys of Sudan ) Mylan, director of one of the four Oscar-nominated doc shorts "Smile Pinki." Instead of potentially jinxing another one, we decided to hold off, and sure enough, "Smile Pinki" won! For the short film, which will be airing on HBO starting on June 3, Mylan took her crew to India to follow two poor Indian kids with disfiguring cleft palates who, through the graces of the non-profit organization The Smile Train were able to get free...
- 5/29/2009
- Comingsoon.net
It was Slumdog Millionaire all the way at the Oscar Awards Ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre L.A. on Sunday night but amidst all the 'Slumdog' mania was one more Indian based saga Smile Pinki that won the hearts of the Oscars' jury members. The film, directed by American filmmaker Megan Mylan, won the Best Short Documentary Award at the Oscars. Smile Pinki is a tale of a poor Indian village girl who has been left out from the social circle because of her cleft. How her life changes for the good after undergoing a lip surgery forms the crux of the film. The young protagonist Pinki was present at the gala event along with her father and post the event, the father-daughter duo were seen grinning from ear to ear. Must say..this Pinki did smile at the Oscars...
- 2/24/2009
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
It’s been a night of glitz and glamour. But none of the winners thanked Movie-Moron. Here are the 2009 Oscars video highlights.
Now this is how you start a show. What an incredible performance by Hugh Jackman, as he sings and dances his way through all the nominees for Best Picture -
Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix. I don’t know how many people around the world knew what the hell this was about. But for the rest of us, hilarious -
Will Smith slips up and drops in the phrase “Boom goes the dynamite” referencing this YouTube phenomena. Why not. Brilliant.
Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor, and the award is collected by his family -
Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader. Her speech? 15% too sickly, about average for the evening -
Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke to Best Actor, disappointing movie fans around the world. To be fair though,...
Now this is how you start a show. What an incredible performance by Hugh Jackman, as he sings and dances his way through all the nominees for Best Picture -
Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix. I don’t know how many people around the world knew what the hell this was about. But for the rest of us, hilarious -
Will Smith slips up and drops in the phrase “Boom goes the dynamite” referencing this YouTube phenomena. Why not. Brilliant.
Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor, and the award is collected by his family -
Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader. Her speech? 15% too sickly, about average for the evening -
Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke to Best Actor, disappointing movie fans around the world. To be fair though,...
- 2/23/2009
- by Sheridan Passell
- Movie-moron.com
List Source: Variety
Okay, so another year and now it's the final show of the awards season. I don't know why but I'm not that enthuastic about the Oscars this year. Maybe it was last year's underwhelming show or maybe it's because The Dark Knight isn't nominated this year, probably both, but never-the-less the show is done and I want to put up the post of how the show went. Time for the ultimate post-oscar show breakdown...
<!--break-->
Best Motion Picture Of The Year
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
"Milk" (Focus Features)
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
Winner: "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
Best Picture was a major disappointment. Less said about The Dark Knight - the better. For me, Milk is the most deserving of best picture this year. It's issues are more relevant and more original than all films on the list this year.
Okay, so another year and now it's the final show of the awards season. I don't know why but I'm not that enthuastic about the Oscars this year. Maybe it was last year's underwhelming show or maybe it's because The Dark Knight isn't nominated this year, probably both, but never-the-less the show is done and I want to put up the post of how the show went. Time for the ultimate post-oscar show breakdown...
<!--break-->
Best Motion Picture Of The Year
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
"Milk" (Focus Features)
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
Winner: "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
Best Picture was a major disappointment. Less said about The Dark Knight - the better. For me, Milk is the most deserving of best picture this year. It's issues are more relevant and more original than all films on the list this year.
- 2/23/2009
- by admin
Fox Searchlight Pictures' "Slumdog Millionaire" has almost completely swept the Oscars® with awards including Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Picture and both original song and score music categories. Other notable wins included: - Sean Penn who took home the Best Actor award, his second after 2004's "Mystic River."- Heath Ledger for his astounding performance in Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Dark Knight"- Kate Winslet - Once again for her work in "The Reader" after a two Golden Globe's earned for "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader"- Penelope Cruz - In Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" comedy As announced, here are the winners (noted in bold) of the 2009 Academy Awards which were announced on Sunday, February 22nd. Performance by an actor in a leading role Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films) Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features) Brad Pitt in...
- 2/23/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, the late Heath Ledger and movie sensation Slumdog Millionaire were the big winners at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood.
Penn scooped the Best Actor prize for his role as assassinated gay official Harvey Milk in Milk; ahead of hot favourite Mickey Rourke.
The actor used his acceptance speech to criticise those who outlawed gay marriage in California and call for equal rights.
He said, "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns. I did not expect this. I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.
"For those of you who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban on gay marriage to reflect on their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes.
"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
He also found time to pay tribute to Barack Obama and Mickey Rourke, adding, "I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president. Mickey Rourke rises again, and he is my brother."
Winslet was named Best Actress for her portrayal of a Nazi guard in The Reader; sixth time lucky for the star who had been a losing nominee five times before.
After catching her breath onstage, the British actress said, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't made a version of this speech before. I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this was a shampoo bottle. Well it's not a shampoo bottle now."
She went on to dedicate her award to her family and The Reader producers Sir Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died in 2008.
A stunned Cruz took the Best Supporting Actress award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and warned the crowd, "Has anybody ever fainted here? I might be the first one," before accepting her award with speeches in English and her native Spanish.
Ledger's Best Supporting Actor award for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight brought Hollywood's A-list to their feet, as his father, mother and sister took to the stage to collect the statuette on his behalf and pay him a touching tribute.
But the night was dominated by British movie Slumdog Millionaire, which scooped eight of the ten awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for filmmaker Danny Boyle, who bounded onstage and impersonated Winnie the Pooh character Tigger before accepting his award.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman was an impressive first-time Oscars host and entertainted guests at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre with a string of song and dance numbers, including duets with Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Animated Feature Film - Wall-e
Best Animated Short Film - La Maison en Petit Cubes
Achievement in Art Direction - Donald Graham Burt and Victor J. Zolfo (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Achievement in Costume Design - Michael O'Connor (The Duchess)
Achievement in Makeup - Greg Cannom (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Cinematography - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Live Action Short Film - Jochen Alexander Freydank Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Documentary Feature - James Marsh, Simon Chinn (Man on Wire)
Best Documentary Short Subject - Megan Mylan (Smile Pinki)
Achievement in Visual Effects - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
Achievement in Sound Editing - Richard King (The Dark Knight)
Achievement in Sound Mixing - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement in Film Editing - Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire)
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award - Jerry Lewis
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) - A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) - A.R. Rahman, Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Foreign Language Film - Departures (Japan)
Achievement in Directing - Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire.
Penn scooped the Best Actor prize for his role as assassinated gay official Harvey Milk in Milk; ahead of hot favourite Mickey Rourke.
The actor used his acceptance speech to criticise those who outlawed gay marriage in California and call for equal rights.
He said, "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns. I did not expect this. I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.
"For those of you who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban on gay marriage to reflect on their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes.
"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
He also found time to pay tribute to Barack Obama and Mickey Rourke, adding, "I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president. Mickey Rourke rises again, and he is my brother."
Winslet was named Best Actress for her portrayal of a Nazi guard in The Reader; sixth time lucky for the star who had been a losing nominee five times before.
After catching her breath onstage, the British actress said, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't made a version of this speech before. I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this was a shampoo bottle. Well it's not a shampoo bottle now."
She went on to dedicate her award to her family and The Reader producers Sir Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died in 2008.
A stunned Cruz took the Best Supporting Actress award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and warned the crowd, "Has anybody ever fainted here? I might be the first one," before accepting her award with speeches in English and her native Spanish.
Ledger's Best Supporting Actor award for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight brought Hollywood's A-list to their feet, as his father, mother and sister took to the stage to collect the statuette on his behalf and pay him a touching tribute.
But the night was dominated by British movie Slumdog Millionaire, which scooped eight of the ten awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for filmmaker Danny Boyle, who bounded onstage and impersonated Winnie the Pooh character Tigger before accepting his award.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman was an impressive first-time Oscars host and entertainted guests at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre with a string of song and dance numbers, including duets with Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Animated Feature Film - Wall-e
Best Animated Short Film - La Maison en Petit Cubes
Achievement in Art Direction - Donald Graham Burt and Victor J. Zolfo (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Achievement in Costume Design - Michael O'Connor (The Duchess)
Achievement in Makeup - Greg Cannom (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Cinematography - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Live Action Short Film - Jochen Alexander Freydank Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Documentary Feature - James Marsh, Simon Chinn (Man on Wire)
Best Documentary Short Subject - Megan Mylan (Smile Pinki)
Achievement in Visual Effects - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
Achievement in Sound Editing - Richard King (The Dark Knight)
Achievement in Sound Mixing - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement in Film Editing - Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire)
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award - Jerry Lewis
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) - A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) - A.R. Rahman, Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Foreign Language Film - Departures (Japan)
Achievement in Directing - Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire.
- 2/23/2009
- WENN
Kate Winslet emerged the victorious winner of the Best Actress category for the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
Sean Penn won for Best Actor for "Milk," and "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Best Picture, with its director, Danny Boyle winning the Best Director trophy.
The tally?
.Slumdog Millionaire. . 8 wins
.The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. . 3 wins
.Milk. . 2 wins
.The Dark Knight. . 2 wins
I scored 20 out of 24, based on my Oscars predictions.
The night.s biggest upset? Japan's "Departures" winning over Israel.s Best Foreign Language frontrunner, .Waltz With Bashir..
Here's the complete list of winners! And check out my Oscar minute-by-minute, play-by-play account below!
Complete Winners Of The 81St Annual Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz . .Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black . .Milk.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy . .Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Animated...
Sean Penn won for Best Actor for "Milk," and "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Best Picture, with its director, Danny Boyle winning the Best Director trophy.
The tally?
.Slumdog Millionaire. . 8 wins
.The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. . 3 wins
.Milk. . 2 wins
.The Dark Knight. . 2 wins
I scored 20 out of 24, based on my Oscars predictions.
The night.s biggest upset? Japan's "Departures" winning over Israel.s Best Foreign Language frontrunner, .Waltz With Bashir..
Here's the complete list of winners! And check out my Oscar minute-by-minute, play-by-play account below!
Complete Winners Of The 81St Annual Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz . .Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black . .Milk.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy . .Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Animated...
- 2/23/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Did your favorite movies and stars win? Read on to find out! Performance by an actor in a leading role: Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features) Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight) Performance by an actor in a supporting role: Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features) Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax) Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.) Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) Performance by an actress in a leading role: Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics) Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal) Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics) Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax) Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company) Performance by an actress in a...
- 2/23/2009
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Looks like I predicted all the winners yesterday, except for “Best Foreign Language.” Maybe I should have seen one of those before guessing in that category. What did you think? Did they get it right? Who should have won? Post below!
Here are the winners from one of the best Academy Awards ceremonies I can remember:
Best Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader
Achievement in directing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher
Frost/Nixon,...
Here are the winners from one of the best Academy Awards ceremonies I can remember:
Best Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader
Achievement in directing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher
Frost/Nixon,...
- 2/23/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
5:31 pm Hugh Jackman's opening performance, a bit hawkish, corny-ish, but kinda fun, I enjoy the "Benjamin Button" bit, okay, per our report earlier, Anne Hathaway's "supposed to be" surprised performance.
5:35 pm Hathaway still performing, kinda funny with the peace sign ala Nixon.
5:36 pm Hathaway done, now "The Reader" techno performance
5:37 pm "The Wrestler" to I'm Wolverine...funny
Standing ovation...
I like the "faux intimate" setting
5:42 pm I like the Best Supporting Actress montage
Aw...a gallery of real-life past Best Supporting Actress winners...
Tilda Swinton is very regal...so is Miss Eva Marie Sainte...Viola Davis is fighting back tears...ooooh Miss Anjelica Huston for Penelope Cruz, I'm kinda liking this homage nominations presenters thingie...
Whoopi talking about Amy Adams, and being a nun...bless you Amy indeed! Goldie Hawn talking about Taraji P. Henson...Tilda Swinton honoring Marisa Tomei...
And The Oscar...
5:35 pm Hathaway still performing, kinda funny with the peace sign ala Nixon.
5:36 pm Hathaway done, now "The Reader" techno performance
5:37 pm "The Wrestler" to I'm Wolverine...funny
Standing ovation...
I like the "faux intimate" setting
5:42 pm I like the Best Supporting Actress montage
Aw...a gallery of real-life past Best Supporting Actress winners...
Tilda Swinton is very regal...so is Miss Eva Marie Sainte...Viola Davis is fighting back tears...ooooh Miss Anjelica Huston for Penelope Cruz, I'm kinda liking this homage nominations presenters thingie...
Whoopi talking about Amy Adams, and being a nun...bless you Amy indeed! Goldie Hawn talking about Taraji P. Henson...Tilda Swinton honoring Marisa Tomei...
And The Oscar...
- 2/23/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
In the poor rural village of Mirzapur, India, a 6-year-old girl spent her days sitting in the corner of her house ashamed because of her mouth. "People stared and teased all the time," she told People in her native Indian dialect through a translator. "They would call me 'hothkati' – meaning cut lip or the girl with the cut lip. I was never known by my real name," she said. But her name was Pinki Sonkar. Pinki, now 8, is the unlikely star of Smile Pinki, a 39-minute documentary that chronicles her story from being hopelessly unhappy to being helped by plastic surgeon Dr.
- 2/22/2009
- by Paul Chi
- PEOPLE.com
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