With “My Love Affair with Marriage,” animator Signe Baumane creates another dense personal narrative that expresses complicated concepts and ideas in images. Stuffed with irony, humor, Soviet history and musical numbers, her ambitious second feature (following 2014’s festival hit “Rocks In My Pockets”) boasts 30 singing and speaking characters (including a talking neuron that explains the biochemical processes of the brain) and about 200 non-speaking ones. Using hand-drawn characters animated against 3D hand-made sets and papier-mâché sculptures, it merges the origin story of an independent, artistic Soviet girl with an account of her biochemical processes at crucial moments in her life. A paean to gender equality and being yourself, the overall message is that we all want to love and be loved, but need to be accepted for the way we are.
Although inspired by Baumane’s life, the narrative unfolds as a roman à clef with invented names for real persons,...
Although inspired by Baumane’s life, the narrative unfolds as a roman à clef with invented names for real persons,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Sometimes life is so absurd in its pain and unfairness that a girl’s just gotta sing — or at least rewrite the songs she’s hearing. It takes a while for Zelma, the scrappy main character of the droll and vibrant My Love Affair With Marriage, to reach the point where she’s calling the musical shots, figuratively speaking. It’s an exhilarating and hard-won moment when she does.
At key moments throughout the animated feature, which takes her from age 7 through her 20s, she’s bombarded with the song stylings of three Mythology Sirens, harmonizing scolds who take different forms, depending on the circumstances. They reinforce Zelma’s self-doubt and castigate her whenever she breaks or questions the old-school rules of the boy-girl game, the ones that say women must be submissive — “a smart woman looks weak” — and that only marriage makes them whole.
Writer-director-animator Signe Baumane, who explored...
At key moments throughout the animated feature, which takes her from age 7 through her 20s, she’s bombarded with the song stylings of three Mythology Sirens, harmonizing scolds who take different forms, depending on the circumstances. They reinforce Zelma’s self-doubt and castigate her whenever she breaks or questions the old-school rules of the boy-girl game, the ones that say women must be submissive — “a smart woman looks weak” — and that only marriage makes them whole.
Writer-director-animator Signe Baumane, who explored...
- 10/11/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HO_00837_R (l-r.) Director Alexander Payne and actors Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph on the set of their film The Holdovers, a Focus Features release. Credit: Seacia Pavao / © 2023 Focus Features LLC
Cinema St. Louis (Csl) is thrilled to unveil the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (Sliff), set to captivate audiences from November 9th to 19th at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, Csl’s new forever home, as well as at multiple venues across the city including the Alamo Drafthouse, Webster University, Washington University and more.
Highlights of this year’s fest include:
Sliff’s Opening Night Party on 11/9 at the Hi-Pointe, where the fest will celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop in St. Louis, as explored through both film and music Signe Baumane on hand to accept this year’s Women in Film Award at a showing of her newest film, “My Love Affair with Marriage” on 11/11 La Passion de Dodin Bouffant...
Cinema St. Louis (Csl) is thrilled to unveil the 32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (Sliff), set to captivate audiences from November 9th to 19th at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, Csl’s new forever home, as well as at multiple venues across the city including the Alamo Drafthouse, Webster University, Washington University and more.
Highlights of this year’s fest include:
Sliff’s Opening Night Party on 11/9 at the Hi-Pointe, where the fest will celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop in St. Louis, as explored through both film and music Signe Baumane on hand to accept this year’s Women in Film Award at a showing of her newest film, “My Love Affair with Marriage” on 11/11 La Passion de Dodin Bouffant...
- 10/6/2023
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
During the Cannes Film Festival, 20 emerging producers from across Europe took part in European Film Promotion’s promotion and networking platform Producers on the Move. They had been selected by the 37 national film institutes that are members of Efp. Variety invited them to pitch their projects to our readers, which we present below.
Gentian Koçi, Albania
Project: “Cold Sun” (in development)
Director: Gentian Koçi
As he attempts to rebuild his life in his hometown after being freed from jail after serving a 25-year sentence for killing his wife, a man in his fifties falls in love with a woman in her forties and gradually realizes that this love is going to be his true prison.
Julie Esparbes, Belgium
Project: “The Dance of the Foxes”
Director: Valéry Carnoy
A coming-of-age story, about a 17-year-old boxer who, following an accident, will have to reinvent himself in a more sensitive way. Valéry Carnoy...
Gentian Koçi, Albania
Project: “Cold Sun” (in development)
Director: Gentian Koçi
As he attempts to rebuild his life in his hometown after being freed from jail after serving a 25-year sentence for killing his wife, a man in his fifties falls in love with a woman in her forties and gradually realizes that this love is going to be his true prison.
Julie Esparbes, Belgium
Project: “The Dance of the Foxes”
Director: Valéry Carnoy
A coming-of-age story, about a 17-year-old boxer who, following an accident, will have to reinvent himself in a more sensitive way. Valéry Carnoy...
- 5/30/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The European Film Academy (Efa) has unveiled 462 film professionals as new members in an announcement timed to coincide with Europe Day on May 9.
The new arrivals will be eligible to vote in the academy’s European Film Awards, the region’s equivalent to the Academy Awards, as well as contribute to its other initiatives across the year.
The Efa said a record number of professionals had accepted to join the organization this year, adding that 50% were female, 49%, were male, and 1% defined as non-binary.
The bigger intake comes amid a drive to revamp the academy which recently announced it would be moving the Efa ceremony to January in 2026, from its traditional December slot, to make it more relevant in the annual film awards season culminating with the Oscars.
The Efa currently now counts 4,600 members based in 52 countries.
The new members mainly hailed from Germany (68), France (38), Switzerland (37), Poland (36), Italy (33), Spain (24), UK (28) and...
The new arrivals will be eligible to vote in the academy’s European Film Awards, the region’s equivalent to the Academy Awards, as well as contribute to its other initiatives across the year.
The Efa said a record number of professionals had accepted to join the organization this year, adding that 50% were female, 49%, were male, and 1% defined as non-binary.
The bigger intake comes amid a drive to revamp the academy which recently announced it would be moving the Efa ceremony to January in 2026, from its traditional December slot, to make it more relevant in the annual film awards season culminating with the Oscars.
The Efa currently now counts 4,600 members based in 52 countries.
The new members mainly hailed from Germany (68), France (38), Switzerland (37), Poland (36), Italy (33), Spain (24), UK (28) and...
- 5/9/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Twenty emerging producers from across Europe have been selected to take part in European Film Promotion’s promotion and networking platform Producers on the Move before and during the Cannes Film Festival.
The producers who were selected for the program from nominations submitted by Efp’s member organizations are Gentian Koçi (Albania), David Bohun (Austria), Julie Esparbes (Belgium), Vanya Rainova (Bulgaria), Miljenka Čogelja (Croatia), Stelana Kliris (Cyprus), Alice Tabery (Czech Republic), Emile Hertling Péronard (Denmark), Emilia Haukka (Finland), Silvana Santamaria (Germany), Vicky Miha (Greece), Júlia Berkes (Hungary), Kathryn Kennedy (Ireland), Valon Bajgora (Kosovo), Dominiks Jarmakovičs (Latvia), Erik Glijnis (The Netherlands), Elisa Fernanda Pirir (Norway), Radu Stancu (Romania), Juraj Krasnohorský (Slovak Republic), and Julia Gebauer (Sweden).
They will take part in a tailor-made program to foster international co-productions, increase the exchange of experiences, and help create new professional networks. The pre-festival online program, which started yesterday and runs until May 4, includes 1:1 speed meetings,...
The producers who were selected for the program from nominations submitted by Efp’s member organizations are Gentian Koçi (Albania), David Bohun (Austria), Julie Esparbes (Belgium), Vanya Rainova (Bulgaria), Miljenka Čogelja (Croatia), Stelana Kliris (Cyprus), Alice Tabery (Czech Republic), Emile Hertling Péronard (Denmark), Emilia Haukka (Finland), Silvana Santamaria (Germany), Vicky Miha (Greece), Júlia Berkes (Hungary), Kathryn Kennedy (Ireland), Valon Bajgora (Kosovo), Dominiks Jarmakovičs (Latvia), Erik Glijnis (The Netherlands), Elisa Fernanda Pirir (Norway), Radu Stancu (Romania), Juraj Krasnohorský (Slovak Republic), and Julia Gebauer (Sweden).
They will take part in a tailor-made program to foster international co-productions, increase the exchange of experiences, and help create new professional networks. The pre-festival online program, which started yesterday and runs until May 4, includes 1:1 speed meetings,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
If there’s a single word to describe the latest film from Signe Baumane, it’s vibrancy. From the tactile sensation generated by the detailed stop-motion sets her hand drawn characters move through to the spark of synapses in its quirky biological explainations and the energetic musical interludes, it’s enjoyably spirited.
In this autobiographically-inflected tale, Baumane takes an offbeat approach to the life and loves of Zelma (voiced by Succession’s Dagmara Dominczyk), showing how her upbringing in Soviet-occupied Latvia shaped her perceptions of what it meant to be a woman in society before opening out into an exploration of her subsequent relationships.
Zelma’s story is punctuated by musical interludes from a chorus of “mythology sirens”, who pop up to offer less than helpful advice, including, “Good girls don’t run, being elegant is more fun” and “Submission is your ultimate power”. The upbeat nature of these interludes,...
In this autobiographically-inflected tale, Baumane takes an offbeat approach to the life and loves of Zelma (voiced by Succession’s Dagmara Dominczyk), showing how her upbringing in Soviet-occupied Latvia shaped her perceptions of what it meant to be a woman in society before opening out into an exploration of her subsequent relationships.
Zelma’s story is punctuated by musical interludes from a chorus of “mythology sirens”, who pop up to offer less than helpful advice, including, “Good girls don’t run, being elegant is more fun” and “Submission is your ultimate power”. The upbeat nature of these interludes,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Miami Film Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The festival, which runs from March 3 to March 12, includes 12 world premieres. The event will open with Ray Romano’s “Somewhere in Queens” and close with Stephen Frears’ “The Lost King.” The festival will screen a total of 140 films from more than 30 countries.
Director of programming Lauren Cohen said, “In our fourth decade of programming, we’re proud to continue bringing a diversity of top-quality films to increasingly sophisticated audiences.”
Four centerpiece presentations will take place during the festival, spotlighting key films with directors in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Included in that slate are Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier,” starring Kelvin Harrison, Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton and Minnie Driver; Benjamin Millepied’s “Carmen,” starring Melissa Barrera, Paul Mescal and Rossy De Palma; Dani de la Orden and Àlex Murull’s “The Final Game (42 Segundo)”; and Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok’s “Judy Blume Forever.
Director of programming Lauren Cohen said, “In our fourth decade of programming, we’re proud to continue bringing a diversity of top-quality films to increasingly sophisticated audiences.”
Four centerpiece presentations will take place during the festival, spotlighting key films with directors in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Included in that slate are Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier,” starring Kelvin Harrison, Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton and Minnie Driver; Benjamin Millepied’s “Carmen,” starring Melissa Barrera, Paul Mescal and Rossy De Palma; Dani de la Orden and Àlex Murull’s “The Final Game (42 Segundo)”; and Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok’s “Judy Blume Forever.
- 1/31/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Vicky Krieps was also a winner as best European actress for Corsage.
Ruben Ostlund’s class warfare comedy Triangle Of Sadness was the big winner at the 2022 European Film Awards (EFAs), which took place today (December 10) in Reykjavík.
Scroll down for winners
The class warfare comedy won best European film, director, screenwriter and actor, for Zlatko Burić.
Vicky Krieps was also a winner as best European actress for Corsage.
Mantas Kvedaravičius’ Mariupolis 2 won the European documentary prize, whilst Alain Ughetto’s No Dogs Or Italians Allowed picked up the animated feature award.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss,...
Ruben Ostlund’s class warfare comedy Triangle Of Sadness was the big winner at the 2022 European Film Awards (EFAs), which took place today (December 10) in Reykjavík.
Scroll down for winners
The class warfare comedy won best European film, director, screenwriter and actor, for Zlatko Burić.
Vicky Krieps was also a winner as best European actress for Corsage.
Mantas Kvedaravičius’ Mariupolis 2 won the European documentary prize, whilst Alain Ughetto’s No Dogs Or Italians Allowed picked up the animated feature award.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss,...
- 12/10/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
The Efa ceremony is taking place December 10 at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík.
The 2022 European Film Awards (EFAs) ceremony is taking place today (December 10) at 19.15 GMT in Reykjavík.
Scroll down for winners
Screen will be posting the winners on this page as they are announced during the live ceremony (refresh the page for latest updates). The ceremony kicks off at 19.15 GMT.
Ruben Ostlund’s class warfare comedy Triangle Of Sadness is among the five titles up for the European film award, and is also competing in the director, actor (for Zlatko Burić) and screenwriter (Ostlund) categories.
Lukas Dhont’s...
The 2022 European Film Awards (EFAs) ceremony is taking place today (December 10) at 19.15 GMT in Reykjavík.
Scroll down for winners
Screen will be posting the winners on this page as they are announced during the live ceremony (refresh the page for latest updates). The ceremony kicks off at 19.15 GMT.
Ruben Ostlund’s class warfare comedy Triangle Of Sadness is among the five titles up for the European film award, and is also competing in the director, actor (for Zlatko Burić) and screenwriter (Ostlund) categories.
Lukas Dhont’s...
- 12/10/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Georgia Oakley’s ‘Blue Jean’ won the audience award.
French cinema is this year the true winner at Seville European Film Festival (Seff), as France’s production companies are involved in the production of the eight main prizes at the Seville’s event which wrapped on Saturday.
Alice Diop’s first fiction feature Saint Omer adds Seville’s best feature award, the Golden Giraldillo to its brilliant career kicking off at Venice where it took the Silver Lion award.
The film has also been nomimated for France’s prestigiousLouis Delluc prize in both best feature and best debut categories and...
French cinema is this year the true winner at Seville European Film Festival (Seff), as France’s production companies are involved in the production of the eight main prizes at the Seville’s event which wrapped on Saturday.
Alice Diop’s first fiction feature Saint Omer adds Seville’s best feature award, the Golden Giraldillo to its brilliant career kicking off at Venice where it took the Silver Lion award.
The film has also been nomimated for France’s prestigiousLouis Delluc prize in both best feature and best debut categories and...
- 11/13/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Signe Baumane’s second feature film, “My Love Affair With Marriage,” which saw its Spanish Premier at this week’s Seville European Film Festival, has been picked up by HBO Central Europe.
This builds on deals already secured in France with independent distributor Tamasa and upscale film-tv SVOD platform Filmin in Spain.
The animated feature centers on Zelma (Dagmara Domińczyk) confronting society’s expectations of her as she grows from being a girl into womanhood. Baumane mixes music, absurdism, and scientific explanation to concoct a story of female rebellion.
The film was written and directed by Signe Baumane and stars Dagmara Domińczyk, of “Succession” fame, Stephen Lang, Storm Large, and “Stranger Things” star, Matthew Modine.
It marks a bullish fall period of deals for Warsaw based New Europe Film Sales, with Variety also able to announce the sale of Blanquita to ASC for France.
“I’m very glad that the...
This builds on deals already secured in France with independent distributor Tamasa and upscale film-tv SVOD platform Filmin in Spain.
The animated feature centers on Zelma (Dagmara Domińczyk) confronting society’s expectations of her as she grows from being a girl into womanhood. Baumane mixes music, absurdism, and scientific explanation to concoct a story of female rebellion.
The film was written and directed by Signe Baumane and stars Dagmara Domińczyk, of “Succession” fame, Stephen Lang, Storm Large, and “Stranger Things” star, Matthew Modine.
It marks a bullish fall period of deals for Warsaw based New Europe Film Sales, with Variety also able to announce the sale of Blanquita to ASC for France.
“I’m very glad that the...
- 11/10/2022
- by Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
Emphasizing its consolidated position as an important bridge between European creators and cinemagoers, the Seville Festival is expanding its reach with an ambitious sidebar, Essential Voices, to bring together decisive European filmmakers for a discussion forum.
At the same time, the Seff continues strengthening its industrial heft with the announcement of Sevilla Cinema Lab, an initiative which, kicking-off in 2023, aims to promote high-level training for film professionals, as well as the development of film projects in international co-productions. It is supported by Spain’s Icaa film institute and Europe’s Next Generation Funds.
Juan Antonio Bayona and Álex de la Iglesia, two of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers, will take part in the Essential Voices section together with revered Russian director Alexandr Sokurov and two animation auteurs, France’s Michel Ocelot (“Kirikou and the Sorceress”) and Latvia’s Signe Baumane (“Rocks in My Pockets”).
In addition to the joint presence of two European emerging talents,...
At the same time, the Seff continues strengthening its industrial heft with the announcement of Sevilla Cinema Lab, an initiative which, kicking-off in 2023, aims to promote high-level training for film professionals, as well as the development of film projects in international co-productions. It is supported by Spain’s Icaa film institute and Europe’s Next Generation Funds.
Juan Antonio Bayona and Álex de la Iglesia, two of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers, will take part in the Essential Voices section together with revered Russian director Alexandr Sokurov and two animation auteurs, France’s Michel Ocelot (“Kirikou and the Sorceress”) and Latvia’s Signe Baumane (“Rocks in My Pockets”).
In addition to the joint presence of two European emerging talents,...
- 11/4/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Programme reconfigured to include non-Baltic directors heading Baltic co-productions.
The world premiere of Lithuanian feature The Poet will open the Baltic Competition at this year’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, which will screen 15 features from the region.
Directed by Giedrius Tamosevicius and Vytautas V. Landsbergis, The Poet is the one world premiere in the selection, alongside four international premieres.
Scroll down for the full list of Baltic Competition titles
It is a historical drama in which the titular writer becomes an intermediary between Soviet authorities and rebels, and must choose his allies and words carefully in order to survive.
The world premiere of Lithuanian feature The Poet will open the Baltic Competition at this year’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, which will screen 15 features from the region.
Directed by Giedrius Tamosevicius and Vytautas V. Landsbergis, The Poet is the one world premiere in the selection, alongside four international premieres.
Scroll down for the full list of Baltic Competition titles
It is a historical drama in which the titular writer becomes an intermediary between Soviet authorities and rebels, and must choose his allies and words carefully in order to survive.
- 10/25/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Marco Bellocchio is to receive the award for European innovative storytelling.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss and Mascha Halberstad’s Oink are among the eight additional titles that have been nominated for the upcoming European Film Awards, while the European Film Academy has also named Marco Bellocchio as the recipient of the award for European innovative storytelling.
The Good Boss premiered in San Sebastian in 2021, and stars Javier Bardem. The Spanish title was nominated for a record 20 Goya awards, winning six. It tells the story of the petty boss of an industrial scales factory, played by Bardem.
Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss and Mascha Halberstad’s Oink are among the eight additional titles that have been nominated for the upcoming European Film Awards, while the European Film Academy has also named Marco Bellocchio as the recipient of the award for European innovative storytelling.
The Good Boss premiered in San Sebastian in 2021, and stars Javier Bardem. The Spanish title was nominated for a record 20 Goya awards, winning six. It tells the story of the petty boss of an industrial scales factory, played by Bardem.
- 10/19/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio will be presented with the European Film Academy’s Award for European Innovative Storytelling for his miniseries “Exterior Night.” The director will be guest of honor at the 35th European Film Awards ceremony on Dec. 10 at Reykjavik.
In “Exterior Night,” Bellocchio returns to the case of the kidnapping and assassination of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades in 1978, a subject that he tackled in his feature film “Good Morning, Night,” for which he received the Fipresci Prize at the 2003 European Film Awards.
The academy has also revealed nominations in several categories for the awards.
European Comedy:
“Cop Secret” (:Leynilögga”), directed by Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Iceland)
“The Good Boss” (“El Buen Patrón”), directed by Fernando León De Aranoa (Spain)
“The Divide” (“La Fracture”), directed by Catherine Corsini (France)
European Animated Feature Film:
“Little Nicholas – Happy As Can Be” (“Le Petit Nicolas – Qu’est-ce...
In “Exterior Night,” Bellocchio returns to the case of the kidnapping and assassination of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades in 1978, a subject that he tackled in his feature film “Good Morning, Night,” for which he received the Fipresci Prize at the 2003 European Film Awards.
The academy has also revealed nominations in several categories for the awards.
European Comedy:
“Cop Secret” (:Leynilögga”), directed by Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Iceland)
“The Good Boss” (“El Buen Patrón”), directed by Fernando León De Aranoa (Spain)
“The Divide” (“La Fracture”), directed by Catherine Corsini (France)
European Animated Feature Film:
“Little Nicholas – Happy As Can Be” (“Le Petit Nicolas – Qu’est-ce...
- 10/19/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Tamasa Distribution has acquired a number of new films and classic titles, including works by Volker Schlondörff, Signe Baumane, Alain Cavalier and Jean-Louis Bertucelli.
The Paris-based distributor secured Schlondörff’s new documentary “The Forest Maker,” a portrait of Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo, who has found a way to grow trees in the most barren areas by activating the tree stumps and roots that have continued to live for decades. Known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, the method has secured the livelihood of thousands of farmers in Africa’s Sahel region, restoring not only soil but dignity and hope.
“My Love Affair With Marriage”
Tamasa also picked up Baumane’s award-wining animated film “My Love Affair With Marriage,” which premiered this year at the Tribeca Festival and won the jury prize at the Annecy Animation Festival. It follows Zelma, who is convinced from an early age that love would...
The Paris-based distributor secured Schlondörff’s new documentary “The Forest Maker,” a portrait of Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo, who has found a way to grow trees in the most barren areas by activating the tree stumps and roots that have continued to live for decades. Known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, the method has secured the livelihood of thousands of farmers in Africa’s Sahel region, restoring not only soil but dignity and hope.
“My Love Affair With Marriage”
Tamasa also picked up Baumane’s award-wining animated film “My Love Affair With Marriage,” which premiered this year at the Tribeca Festival and won the jury prize at the Annecy Animation Festival. It follows Zelma, who is convinced from an early age that love would...
- 10/17/2022
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Two MTV Documentary films vying for Academy Awards attention — Ondi Timoner’s “Last Flight Home” and Tanaz Eshaghian’s short “As Far as They Can Run” — garnered the top nonfiction honors at the 23rd annual Woodstock Film Festival.
“Last Flight Home,” about Timoner and her family’s last days with her father, won the best documentary prize, while “As Far as They Can Run,” about disabled children in rural Pakistan who have been deemed “useless” by their communities, took home the fest’s best short documentary award.
“Last Flight Home” premiered at Sundance earlier this year before opening the Telluride Film Festival in September. This year marked Timoner’s first time at the Woodstock fest.
“The greatest joy I have is sharing my work in person,” Timoner told Variety. “The reason I make films is to impact people and this film is doing that more than any other film I’ve made.
“Last Flight Home,” about Timoner and her family’s last days with her father, won the best documentary prize, while “As Far as They Can Run,” about disabled children in rural Pakistan who have been deemed “useless” by their communities, took home the fest’s best short documentary award.
“Last Flight Home” premiered at Sundance earlier this year before opening the Telluride Film Festival in September. This year marked Timoner’s first time at the Woodstock fest.
“The greatest joy I have is sharing my work in person,” Timoner told Variety. “The reason I make films is to impact people and this film is doing that more than any other film I’ve made.
- 10/2/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Tomasz Wasilewski’s “Fools” (Głupcy) has debuted its trailer ahead of its world premiere at Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Proxima Competition. World sales are being handled by Jan Naszewski’s New Europe Film Sales.
Wasilewski won the best script award for “United States of Love” at the Berlin Film Festival in 2016, and the East of West Award at Karlovy Vary in 2013 for “Floating Skyscrapers.”
“Fools” follows Marlena and Tomasz, hidden away from the world in a small seaside town, who have been in a happy relationship for many years. Their intricately woven everyday life slowly begins to unravel when, against Tomasz’s wishes, Marlena allows her sick son to move in with them. As the past comes back to them in full force they will have to redefine their love, choices and life.
Karlovy Vary’s Lenka Tyrpáková commented: “After the triumph of his previous film ‘United States of Love,...
Wasilewski won the best script award for “United States of Love” at the Berlin Film Festival in 2016, and the East of West Award at Karlovy Vary in 2013 for “Floating Skyscrapers.”
“Fools” follows Marlena and Tomasz, hidden away from the world in a small seaside town, who have been in a happy relationship for many years. Their intricately woven everyday life slowly begins to unravel when, against Tomasz’s wishes, Marlena allows her sick son to move in with them. As the past comes back to them in full force they will have to redefine their love, choices and life.
Karlovy Vary’s Lenka Tyrpáková commented: “After the triumph of his previous film ‘United States of Love,...
- 6/28/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
My Love Affair with Marriage Review — My Love Affair with Marriage (2022) Film Review from the 21st Annual Tribeca Film Festival, a movie written and directed by Signe Baumane, featuring the voices of Dagmara Dominczyk, Matthew Modine, Cameron Monaghan, Stephen Lang, Erica Schroeder, Emma Kenney, Tanya [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: My Love Affair With Marriage: An Independent Animated Marvel of Powerful Personal Introspection [Tribeca 2022]...
Continue reading: Film Review: My Love Affair With Marriage: An Independent Animated Marvel of Powerful Personal Introspection [Tribeca 2022]...
- 6/22/2022
- by Jacob Mouradian
- Film-Book
Alain Ughetto’s ‘Interdit aux chiens et aux italiens’ scoops two awards.
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre’s French-Luxembourgish 2D animation Little Nicholas – Happy As Can Be won the Cristal for a Feature Film at Annecy International Animation Festival, which held its awards on Saturday, June 18.
Produced by France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions, the film follows the adventures of a mischievous boy and his schoolmates, teacher and parents in 1960s Paris.
Scroll down for the full list of winners
The story is by Anne Goscinny, Michel Fessler and Massoubre, with Julien Maret leading the animation. France’s Charades is handling world sales,...
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre’s French-Luxembourgish 2D animation Little Nicholas – Happy As Can Be won the Cristal for a Feature Film at Annecy International Animation Festival, which held its awards on Saturday, June 18.
Produced by France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions, the film follows the adventures of a mischievous boy and his schoolmates, teacher and parents in 1960s Paris.
Scroll down for the full list of winners
The story is by Anne Goscinny, Michel Fessler and Massoubre, with Julien Maret leading the animation. France’s Charades is handling world sales,...
- 6/20/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Claudia Sainte-Luce’s “El reino de Dios” (“The Realm of God”) and “Carajita” by Silvina Schnicer and Ulises Porra took home the bulk of the prizes in their respective categories, the Mayahuel for best Mexican film and best Ibero-American film at the 37th Guadalajara Int’l Film Fest (Ficg), which wrapped June 18.
Festival highlights included a conversation, albeit by remote, between festival director Estrella Araiza and Guadalajara native Guillermo del Toro who talked about the making of his upcoming stop-motion animation feature, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” The film, set to bow on Netflix in December, was filmed with 20 animators in more than 60 sets in Canada and Guadalajara, Del Toro revealed.
Sainte-Luce’s coming-of-age drama about a young boy’s struggle with his faith as he’s about to take his first communion, which world premiered at the Berlinale’s Generation Kplus sidebar, also won Ficg’s Mezcal awards for best cinematography,...
Festival highlights included a conversation, albeit by remote, between festival director Estrella Araiza and Guadalajara native Guillermo del Toro who talked about the making of his upcoming stop-motion animation feature, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” The film, set to bow on Netflix in December, was filmed with 20 animators in more than 60 sets in Canada and Guadalajara, Del Toro revealed.
Sainte-Luce’s coming-of-age drama about a young boy’s struggle with his faith as he’s about to take his first communion, which world premiered at the Berlinale’s Generation Kplus sidebar, also won Ficg’s Mezcal awards for best cinematography,...
- 6/20/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Directors Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre take home the top prize for their animated film Little Nicholas–Happy as Can Be at the annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
Co-produced French/Luxembourg film takes place towards the end of the1950s in Paris, René Goscinny (voiced by Alain Chabat) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (voiced by Laurent Lafitte) invented the character Nicholas, a small boy and prankster with a smile on his face whose days are punctuated by games with his band of friends, fights, joking around, and learning. When the fictional character is invited into the workshop of his “dads,” the roles are reversed, and it’s the creators who recount their childhoods, their careers, and their friendship to Little Nicholas.
In 2021, Flee won top prize at the Annecy festival and then went on to grab three Oscar nominations, with one being for best animated film. Will Little Nicholas follow in the same path?...
Co-produced French/Luxembourg film takes place towards the end of the1950s in Paris, René Goscinny (voiced by Alain Chabat) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (voiced by Laurent Lafitte) invented the character Nicholas, a small boy and prankster with a smile on his face whose days are punctuated by games with his band of friends, fights, joking around, and learning. When the fictional character is invited into the workshop of his “dads,” the roles are reversed, and it’s the creators who recount their childhoods, their careers, and their friendship to Little Nicholas.
In 2021, Flee won top prize at the Annecy festival and then went on to grab three Oscar nominations, with one being for best animated film. Will Little Nicholas follow in the same path?...
- 6/19/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
“Little Nicholas – Happy As Can Be” scooped this year’s Annecy Animation Festival’s top Cristal Award for best feature, an award which can form a springboard for Oscar nomination, as was the case with “Flee” last year, or “I Want My Body” in 2019.
The biggest winners at Annecy this year, however, was the Festival itself, animation at large and, when it came to movie prizes, France in particular.
‘Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be’: Annecy Cristal, Best Feature
Directed by Benjamin Massoubre and Amandine Fredon, Annecy’s feature winner is classic French animated feature fare in artistic and industrial confection: 2D, based on a literary source – writer René Goscinny and illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé’s comic-strip, and featuring famed Gallic IP: Little Nicholas, France’s quintessential schoolboy, who here meets his makers, Goscinny and Sempé.
In industry terms, “Little Nicholas” is produced by Aton Soumache and producer of “The Little Prince,...
The biggest winners at Annecy this year, however, was the Festival itself, animation at large and, when it came to movie prizes, France in particular.
‘Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be’: Annecy Cristal, Best Feature
Directed by Benjamin Massoubre and Amandine Fredon, Annecy’s feature winner is classic French animated feature fare in artistic and industrial confection: 2D, based on a literary source – writer René Goscinny and illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé’s comic-strip, and featuring famed Gallic IP: Little Nicholas, France’s quintessential schoolboy, who here meets his makers, Goscinny and Sempé.
In industry terms, “Little Nicholas” is produced by Aton Soumache and producer of “The Little Prince,...
- 6/18/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
New York – After the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival Award Winners were named June 16th, the festival heads into its last weekend, which is the last opportunity to take advantage of
TRIBECAatHOME for viewing the fest selections.
The 2022 Tribeca Festival, presented by Crypto Platform Okx, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment.
The Year Between
Photo credit: TribecaFilm.com
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and actor Robert De Niro as a reactive strike back at the September 11th attack in 2001 on New York City and the nearby Tribeca neighborhood.The 2022 edition will show 110 feature films from 150 filmmakers across 40 countries, and will have screenings and awards for U.S. Narrative Films, World Narrative Films, Short Film Competition,...
TRIBECAatHOME for viewing the fest selections.
The 2022 Tribeca Festival, presented by Crypto Platform Okx, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment.
The Year Between
Photo credit: TribecaFilm.com
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and actor Robert De Niro as a reactive strike back at the September 11th attack in 2001 on New York City and the nearby Tribeca neighborhood.The 2022 edition will show 110 feature films from 150 filmmakers across 40 countries, and will have screenings and awards for U.S. Narrative Films, World Narrative Films, Short Film Competition,...
- 6/18/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Latvian director Signe Baumane delivers a unique, powerful follow-up to her first feature, 2014’s Rocks in My Pockets, an equally inventive animated film that looks at the way that women – and men – are often viewed and treated by society. It’s also a musical, and creatively broadcasts the things that people have been taught […]
The post Tribeca Festival 2022 Interview: Director Signe Baumane & Star Dagmara Domi?czyk on ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Tribeca Festival 2022 Interview: Director Signe Baumane & Star Dagmara Domi?czyk on ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/17/2022
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- ShockYa
Polish-born Dagmara Domińczyk, who stars in “Succession” as Karolina Novotney, the head of PR for Waystar Royco, embraces her Eastern European heritage in the upcoming animation “My Love Affair With Marriage.” Directed by Signe Baumane, also behind 2014’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” the film – inspired by Baumane’s turbulent past relationships – will premiere at Tribeca and Annecy.
New Europe Film Sales is handling sales at the Cannes Market, alongside Un Certain Regard title “Godland,” Berlinale premieres “Beautiful Beings” and “A Piece of Sky,” as well as two other animations, “The Peasants” and “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower.”
The actor, who voices main character Zelma, torn between traditional views on marriage, a women’s role and her own happiness, felt “an instant connection” with the Latvian animator.
“We understood each other. We both come from the Eastern Bloc – it’s something we have in our genes, in our DNA. For Signe,...
New Europe Film Sales is handling sales at the Cannes Market, alongside Un Certain Regard title “Godland,” Berlinale premieres “Beautiful Beings” and “A Piece of Sky,” as well as two other animations, “The Peasants” and “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower.”
The actor, who voices main character Zelma, torn between traditional views on marriage, a women’s role and her own happiness, felt “an instant connection” with the Latvian animator.
“We understood each other. We both come from the Eastern Bloc – it’s something we have in our genes, in our DNA. For Signe,...
- 5/24/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer with Anne-Katrin Titze (in Dôen) on Tessa Louise-Salomé’s The Wild One on Jack Garfein, narrated by Willem Dafoe: “He’s a creator of the Actors Studio in L.A. with Paul Newman and he was a mentor of Ben Gazzara and he is also a survivor of the Holocaust.”
In the first instalment with Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer we discuss the success of the 20th anniversary edition being back on the big screen and some of the selections of this year’s program.
Frédéric Boyer on Lior Ashkenazi in Moshe Rosenthal’s Karaoke: “He’s wonderful! He is typically a man, he plays the macho and it’s cool!” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari, Moshe Rosenthal, Del Kathryn Barton (Blaze with Simon Baker), Becky Hutner (Fashion Reimagined on Amy Powney’s Mother Of Pearl), Alexandre...
In the first instalment with Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer we discuss the success of the 20th anniversary edition being back on the big screen and some of the selections of this year’s program.
Frédéric Boyer on Lior Ashkenazi in Moshe Rosenthal’s Karaoke: “He’s wonderful! He is typically a man, he plays the macho and it’s cool!” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari, Moshe Rosenthal, Del Kathryn Barton (Blaze with Simon Baker), Becky Hutner (Fashion Reimagined on Amy Powney’s Mother Of Pearl), Alexandre...
- 5/5/2022
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Twenty titles have been selected for its main feature competitions.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled its main feature competition line-up for the upcoming 2022 edition (June 13-18).
Ten titles have been selected for official competition, including Eric Warin and Tahir Rana’s Charlotte which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. Based on the true story of the young Judeo-German artist Charlotte Salomon, the voice cast includes Kiera Knightley, Marion Cotillard, Sam Claflin and Helen McCrory.
Scroll down for the full list of titles
Other titles include Japanese filmmaker Shinya Kawastura’s The House Of The Lost...
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled its main feature competition line-up for the upcoming 2022 edition (June 13-18).
Ten titles have been selected for official competition, including Eric Warin and Tahir Rana’s Charlotte which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. Based on the true story of the young Judeo-German artist Charlotte Salomon, the voice cast includes Kiera Knightley, Marion Cotillard, Sam Claflin and Helen McCrory.
Scroll down for the full list of titles
Other titles include Japanese filmmaker Shinya Kawastura’s The House Of The Lost...
- 5/3/2022
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has signed My Love Affair With Marriage, Signe Baumane’s second feature animation which today was confirmed to premiere in Tribeca Film Festival’s competition program.
In the movie, from an early age, songs and fairytales convinced Zelma that Love would solve all her problems as long as she abided by societal expectations of how a girl should act. But as she grew older something didn’t seem right with the concept of love: the more she tried to conform, the more her body resisted.
New Europe previously sold Baumane’s debut, Rocks in My Pockets, which premiered in Karlovy Vary in 2014 and was screened at more than 160 festivals.
My Love Affair With Marriage is a Latvia, U.S. and Luxembourg co-production and was produced by Roberts Vinovskis at Locomotive Productions, Sturgis Warner and Signe Baumane at The Marriage Project...
In the movie, from an early age, songs and fairytales convinced Zelma that Love would solve all her problems as long as she abided by societal expectations of how a girl should act. But as she grew older something didn’t seem right with the concept of love: the more she tried to conform, the more her body resisted.
New Europe previously sold Baumane’s debut, Rocks in My Pockets, which premiered in Karlovy Vary in 2014 and was screened at more than 160 festivals.
My Love Affair With Marriage is a Latvia, U.S. and Luxembourg co-production and was produced by Roberts Vinovskis at Locomotive Productions, Sturgis Warner and Signe Baumane at The Marriage Project...
- 4/19/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Criterion Channel’s July 2021 Lineup Includes Wong Kar Wai, Neo-Noir, Art-House Animation & More
The July lineup at The Criterion Channel has been revealed, most notably featuring the new Wong Kar Wai restorations from the recent box set release, including As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, 2046, and his shorts Hua yang de nian hua and The Hand.
Also among the lineup is a series on neo-noir with Body Double, Manhunter, Thief, The Last Seduction, Cutter’s Way, Brick, Night Moves, The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, and more. The channel will also feature a spotlight on art-house animation with work by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more.
With Jodie Mack’s delightful The Grand Bizarre, the landmark doc Hoop Dreams, Orson Welles’ take on Othello, the recent Oscar entries Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time and You Will Die at Twenty, and much more,...
Also among the lineup is a series on neo-noir with Body Double, Manhunter, Thief, The Last Seduction, Cutter’s Way, Brick, Night Moves, The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, and more. The channel will also feature a spotlight on art-house animation with work by Marcell Jankovics, Satoshi Kon, Ari Folman, Don Hertzfeldt, Karel Zeman, and more.
With Jodie Mack’s delightful The Grand Bizarre, the landmark doc Hoop Dreams, Orson Welles’ take on Othello, the recent Oscar entries Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time and You Will Die at Twenty, and much more,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
“Pearl Diver” by Norway’s Margrethe Danielsen has swept Spain’s 16th Animayo Gran Canaria Festival awards, making off with the International Grand Jury Prize as well as plaudits for best student short film, stop motion and comedy for adults.
“Pearl Diver” follows three odd couples: a hedgehog that falls in love with a balloon, two oysters anxious to meet; and an Arctic couple drifting apart.
The stop-motion animated short was produced at Volda University College and has already won a string of awards worldwide. Aside from scooping a cash prize of €3,000 and a trophy, “Pearl Diver” qualifies to compete for the Academy Award’s short list of qualifying animated shorts.
Italy’s “Where Night Falls” by Francesco Filippini nabbed the best 3D, best comedy for all ages and best screenplay awards. The short revolves around a boy and his grandmother as they set off on a shamanic journey to discover their roots.
“Pearl Diver” follows three odd couples: a hedgehog that falls in love with a balloon, two oysters anxious to meet; and an Arctic couple drifting apart.
The stop-motion animated short was produced at Volda University College and has already won a string of awards worldwide. Aside from scooping a cash prize of €3,000 and a trophy, “Pearl Diver” qualifies to compete for the Academy Award’s short list of qualifying animated shorts.
Italy’s “Where Night Falls” by Francesco Filippini nabbed the best 3D, best comedy for all ages and best screenplay awards. The short revolves around a boy and his grandmother as they set off on a shamanic journey to discover their roots.
- 6/7/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Animayo Gran Canaria, Spain’s prominent Canary Islands-based animation festival, has expanded threefold as it divides its multiple activities into three sections: In-person over May 5-8; an avatar-based virtual event on May 13-15; and online from May 17 through October.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a blessing; it came as a shock at first but we found a creative solution,” said Damian Perea, founder-director of the festival, which also includes VFX and video gaming.
By deploying an avatar-based virtual event platform dubbed Roomkey (formerly Teooh) that enables professional and enterprise communities to sit and interact in the same digital space, Animayo Gran Canaria became the first animation festival in the world to go virtual last year. “We lured up to 45,000 participants in 2020 and expect to reach or surpass that tally in this edition,” Perea said. “Going virtual has been a blessing for mid-sized festivals as it has allowed us to expand...
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a blessing; it came as a shock at first but we found a creative solution,” said Damian Perea, founder-director of the festival, which also includes VFX and video gaming.
By deploying an avatar-based virtual event platform dubbed Roomkey (formerly Teooh) that enables professional and enterprise communities to sit and interact in the same digital space, Animayo Gran Canaria became the first animation festival in the world to go virtual last year. “We lured up to 45,000 participants in 2020 and expect to reach or surpass that tally in this edition,” Perea said. “Going virtual has been a blessing for mid-sized festivals as it has allowed us to expand...
- 4/27/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Tuppence Middleton, star of Fisherman’s Friends, Downton Abbey and Sense8, discusses some of her most memorable scenes.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Current War (2017)
Cinema Paradiso (1991)
Downton Abbey (2019)
Fisherman’s Friends (2019)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Rocks in My Pockets (2014)
My Life as a Courgette a.k.a. My Life as a Zucchini (2016)
13 Tzameti (2005)
13 (2010)
In Absentia (2000)
Eraserhead (1977)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Skeletons (2010)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Alien (1979)
Festen a.k.a. The Celebration (1998)
Abigail’s Party (1977)
Der Samurai (2014)
Under The Skin (2013)
Strasbourg 1518 (2020)
The Fall (2019)
The Wicker Man (1973)
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
I Live in Fear (1955)
Drunken Angel (1948)
Throne of Blood (1957)
High and Low (1963)
Godzilla (1954)
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Possession (1981)
G.I. Blues (1960)
King Creole (1958)
Léolo (1992)
Other Notable Items
War and Peace miniseries (2016)
Giuseppe Tornatore
The Crown TV series (2016- )
Masterpiece Theatre TV series (1971- )
Upstairs Downstairs TV series (1971-1975)
Monty Python’s Flying Circus...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Current War (2017)
Cinema Paradiso (1991)
Downton Abbey (2019)
Fisherman’s Friends (2019)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Rocks in My Pockets (2014)
My Life as a Courgette a.k.a. My Life as a Zucchini (2016)
13 Tzameti (2005)
13 (2010)
In Absentia (2000)
Eraserhead (1977)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Skeletons (2010)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Alien (1979)
Festen a.k.a. The Celebration (1998)
Abigail’s Party (1977)
Der Samurai (2014)
Under The Skin (2013)
Strasbourg 1518 (2020)
The Fall (2019)
The Wicker Man (1973)
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
I Live in Fear (1955)
Drunken Angel (1948)
Throne of Blood (1957)
High and Low (1963)
Godzilla (1954)
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Possession (1981)
G.I. Blues (1960)
King Creole (1958)
Léolo (1992)
Other Notable Items
War and Peace miniseries (2016)
Giuseppe Tornatore
The Crown TV series (2016- )
Masterpiece Theatre TV series (1971- )
Upstairs Downstairs TV series (1971-1975)
Monty Python’s Flying Circus...
- 7/28/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Netflix, China’s Alibaba and France have thrown their weight behind the Annecy Animation Festival, with the festival set to showcase an in progress reveal of the U.S. streaming giant’s “The Cupcake Show!” plus a look back at cult movie “Animal Crackers,” as well as six French productions in its Work in Progress section, Annecy’s single most important program strand.
Distributed by Alibaba Pictures Group, “New Gods: Nezha Reborn,” from Ji Zhao, follows on the highest grossing animated movie ever in a single territory, earning over $700 million in China.
French productions are led by the hugely awaited “The Summit of the Gods,” produced by Jean-Charles Ostorero and the most ambitious movie to date from Didier and Damien Brunner.
Also in the French Wip mix is “The Island,” the latest from Romania’s Anca Damian, who won Annecy’s top pirize with “Crilic: The Path to Beyond,” as...
Distributed by Alibaba Pictures Group, “New Gods: Nezha Reborn,” from Ji Zhao, follows on the highest grossing animated movie ever in a single territory, earning over $700 million in China.
French productions are led by the hugely awaited “The Summit of the Gods,” produced by Jean-Charles Ostorero and the most ambitious movie to date from Didier and Damien Brunner.
Also in the French Wip mix is “The Island,” the latest from Romania’s Anca Damian, who won Annecy’s top pirize with “Crilic: The Path to Beyond,” as...
- 5/20/2020
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The cult film VOD platform Spamflix has launched a new worldwide app, available now for mobile and smart TV compatible. Via the app users can browse, rent and stream from the full catalog, which includes a wide range of feature and short films from around the globe.
Visit spamflix.com/app.do for more information, or available directly on Google Play and the Apple Store.
Spamflix was founded in 2018 by Markus Duffner, a project manager at the Locarno Film Festival and Julia Duarte, former producer of São Paulo International Film Festival. Called ‘Netflix for Cult Film Fans’ by Geek Spin the bulk of Spamflix’s library consists of hard to find and lesser-seen genre titles, many of which garnered acclaim on the festival circuit only to land without significant distribution.
A treasure trove for cult film enthusiasts that has a specialty focus on black comedy and adult animation, the new...
Visit spamflix.com/app.do for more information, or available directly on Google Play and the Apple Store.
Spamflix was founded in 2018 by Markus Duffner, a project manager at the Locarno Film Festival and Julia Duarte, former producer of São Paulo International Film Festival. Called ‘Netflix for Cult Film Fans’ by Geek Spin the bulk of Spamflix’s library consists of hard to find and lesser-seen genre titles, many of which garnered acclaim on the festival circuit only to land without significant distribution.
A treasure trove for cult film enthusiasts that has a specialty focus on black comedy and adult animation, the new...
- 5/14/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
The festival, held in the French Alps, will have a timely ecological angle for the first time.
The Les Arcs Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its 11th edition, which will unfold in the French Alps Dec 14-21, with a timely ecological angle for the first time.
Artistic director Frédéric Boyer has selected 120 films, which will play across six sections, including the Competition, Playtime, Hauteur and Avant-Premieres sidebars. Some 22,000 public and professional attendees are expected to attend in line with 2018.
Dutch actor-turned-director Halina Reijn’s psychological thriller Instinct, Fyzal Boulifa’s UK tragic female friendship tale Lynn + Lucy and...
The Les Arcs Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its 11th edition, which will unfold in the French Alps Dec 14-21, with a timely ecological angle for the first time.
Artistic director Frédéric Boyer has selected 120 films, which will play across six sections, including the Competition, Playtime, Hauteur and Avant-Premieres sidebars. Some 22,000 public and professional attendees are expected to attend in line with 2018.
Dutch actor-turned-director Halina Reijn’s psychological thriller Instinct, Fyzal Boulifa’s UK tragic female friendship tale Lynn + Lucy and...
- 11/5/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its fall programming lineup for both Los Angeles and New York. A full event schedule and ticket information can be found here: www.oscars.org/fall-at-the-academy.
Schedule is as follows; participants listed will be in attendance (schedules permitting):
September
Edgar G. Ulmer’s “Detour” (1945) – September 17, 7:30 p.m.
Linwood Dunn Theater, Hollywood
With special guest Arianne Ulmer Cipes. Restored by the Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation in collaboration with Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique, the Museum of Modern Art and the Cinémathèque Française. Restoration funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.
Women in Indie Animation – September 21, 7 p.m.
Academy at Metrograph, New York City
With filmmakers Signe Baumane, Emily Hubley, Candy Kugel and Debra Solomon. Moderated by Oscar®-winning producer Peggy Stern.
“Food, Inc.” (2009) – September 24, 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills
With Oscar-nominated director Robert Kenner,...
Schedule is as follows; participants listed will be in attendance (schedules permitting):
September
Edgar G. Ulmer’s “Detour” (1945) – September 17, 7:30 p.m.
Linwood Dunn Theater, Hollywood
With special guest Arianne Ulmer Cipes. Restored by the Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation in collaboration with Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique, the Museum of Modern Art and the Cinémathèque Française. Restoration funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.
Women in Indie Animation – September 21, 7 p.m.
Academy at Metrograph, New York City
With filmmakers Signe Baumane, Emily Hubley, Candy Kugel and Debra Solomon. Moderated by Oscar®-winning producer Peggy Stern.
“Food, Inc.” (2009) – September 24, 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills
With Oscar-nominated director Robert Kenner,...
- 9/17/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Inspired by similar feminist film weeks in London and Berlin, the co-founders of Woman With a Movie Camera are bringing New York Feminist Film Week to the city’s Anthology Film Archives. Designed to illuminate cultural and cinematic approaches to feminism — intersectional, transnational and everything in between — the first annual Nyffw features a hearty slate of films directed by filmmakers both known and rising, but you don’t have to be in attendance to catch up on some of the most seminal screenings on their calendar.
Read More: Female Filmmakers Are ‘Grossly Underrepresented’ When It Comes to Directing Opportunities, New Study Finds
The inaugural Nyffw has divided its slate into a series of thoughtfully curated programs which tackle topics as wide-ranging as “Dismantling Islamophobia,” “Trans/Action” and “Bodies,” along with a special tribute to Barbara Hammer and an entire program dedicated to “feminist film genealogies.” Animation fans and those who...
Read More: Female Filmmakers Are ‘Grossly Underrepresented’ When It Comes to Directing Opportunities, New Study Finds
The inaugural Nyffw has divided its slate into a series of thoughtfully curated programs which tackle topics as wide-ranging as “Dismantling Islamophobia,” “Trans/Action” and “Bodies,” along with a special tribute to Barbara Hammer and an entire program dedicated to “feminist film genealogies.” Animation fans and those who...
- 3/6/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Rocks In My Pockets will screen Tuesday, September 29 at 7pm at Emerson Auditorium in the Institute for Health Education at St. Luke’s Hospital
In the new animated gem Rocks In My Pockets, Latvian-born artist and filmmaker Signe Baumane tells five fantastical tales based on the courageous women in her family and their battles with madness. With boundless imagination and a twisted sense of humor, she has created daring stories of art, romance, marriage, nature, business, and Eastern European upheaval-all in the fight for her own sanity. Employing a unique, beautifully textured combination of papier-mâché stop-motion and classic hand-drawn animation (with inspiration from Jan Svankmajer and Bill Plympton), Baumane has produced a poignant and often hilarious tale of mystery, mental health, redemption and survival.
The critics are praising Rocks In My Pockets
Simon Foster at Screen-Space wrote:
“….Baumane draws upon a rich history of European animation to propel Rocks in My Pockets,...
In the new animated gem Rocks In My Pockets, Latvian-born artist and filmmaker Signe Baumane tells five fantastical tales based on the courageous women in her family and their battles with madness. With boundless imagination and a twisted sense of humor, she has created daring stories of art, romance, marriage, nature, business, and Eastern European upheaval-all in the fight for her own sanity. Employing a unique, beautifully textured combination of papier-mâché stop-motion and classic hand-drawn animation (with inspiration from Jan Svankmajer and Bill Plympton), Baumane has produced a poignant and often hilarious tale of mystery, mental health, redemption and survival.
The critics are praising Rocks In My Pockets
Simon Foster at Screen-Space wrote:
“….Baumane draws upon a rich history of European animation to propel Rocks in My Pockets,...
- 9/25/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Competition titles revealed; exclusive first footage to screen from Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur and Disney’s Zootopia.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 15-20) is to spotlight the contribution of women to animation and their growing presence in the medium.
This year’s Honorary Cristal will be awarded to French director Florence Miailhe, whose unusual technique has been called “film painting”. She was first at Annecy in 2000 with Au premier dimanche d’aout, which won the Cear for Best Short Film, and won a special mention at Cannes in 2006 for her short Conte de quartier.
Sticking with the female focus, there will be films about maternity and sexuality, the female imagination and a strand titled The Future Is Woman.
Canadian filmmaker Janet Perlman, who secured an Oscar nomination with The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin (1981), will also be the subject of a special focus.
This year’s festival, overseen by artistic...
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 15-20) is to spotlight the contribution of women to animation and their growing presence in the medium.
This year’s Honorary Cristal will be awarded to French director Florence Miailhe, whose unusual technique has been called “film painting”. She was first at Annecy in 2000 with Au premier dimanche d’aout, which won the Cear for Best Short Film, and won a special mention at Cannes in 2006 for her short Conte de quartier.
Sticking with the female focus, there will be films about maternity and sexuality, the female imagination and a strand titled The Future Is Woman.
Canadian filmmaker Janet Perlman, who secured an Oscar nomination with The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin (1981), will also be the subject of a special focus.
This year’s festival, overseen by artistic...
- 4/29/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Ivan Ostrochovský’s boxer drama Goat (Koza) has been named Best Film at the 20th Vilnius International Film Festival.
The film, which had its world premiere in the Berlinale’s Panorama section in February, won the ¨New Europe - New Names¨ competition at the festival, which ran from March 19 to April 2.
The film, about a former Olympic boxer who goes on a punishing ‘tour’ to raise some fast cash, also took home the Cicae Art Cinema Award.
Goat (Koza), which won the works in progress prize at last year’s Karlovy Vary, is handled internationally by fledgling sales company Pluto Film.
The ¨New Europe - New Names¨ jury, which included Chilean director Cristián Jiménez, Israeli actress Hadas Yaron, and Romanian actor Vlad Ivanov, gave its award for Best Director to Ukraine’s Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy for The Tribe and its acting honours to Hungary’s Márton Kristóf (Afterlife) and Bulgaria’s Margita Gosheva (The Lesson).
Meanwhile, the Baltic...
The film, which had its world premiere in the Berlinale’s Panorama section in February, won the ¨New Europe - New Names¨ competition at the festival, which ran from March 19 to April 2.
The film, about a former Olympic boxer who goes on a punishing ‘tour’ to raise some fast cash, also took home the Cicae Art Cinema Award.
Goat (Koza), which won the works in progress prize at last year’s Karlovy Vary, is handled internationally by fledgling sales company Pluto Film.
The ¨New Europe - New Names¨ jury, which included Chilean director Cristián Jiménez, Israeli actress Hadas Yaron, and Romanian actor Vlad Ivanov, gave its award for Best Director to Ukraine’s Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy for The Tribe and its acting honours to Hungary’s Márton Kristóf (Afterlife) and Bulgaria’s Margita Gosheva (The Lesson).
Meanwhile, the Baltic...
- 4/7/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Poland-based sales outfit concludes number of deals on its slate.
Poland-based growing sales outfit New Europe Film Sales has concluded a number of deals ahead of Efm on its slate.
Bas Devos’ Violet, a Berlinale selection last year, has sold to Poland (Alter Ego) and Lithuania (Kaunas Ff).
Signe Baumane’s animated Rocks In My Pockets, a Us-Latvia production and Latvia’s submission to the Oscar race, has sold to Spain (Yowu Entertainment) with other deals being negotiated now.
Papusza by the late Polish director Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze has continued to sell well, adding deals to Denmark (51 Shadows), Sweden (Njutafilms), Spain (Pirámide) and Italy (Pfa).
Finally, New Europe has sold the vampire comedy Summer of Blood by Onur Tukel to Taiwan (MovieCloud).
Here at the Efm, New Europe’s slate also includes Dominga Sotomayor’s Forum title Mar, Miguel Llanso’s Crumbs and Eirik Svensson’s One Night in Oslo.
Poland-based growing sales outfit New Europe Film Sales has concluded a number of deals ahead of Efm on its slate.
Bas Devos’ Violet, a Berlinale selection last year, has sold to Poland (Alter Ego) and Lithuania (Kaunas Ff).
Signe Baumane’s animated Rocks In My Pockets, a Us-Latvia production and Latvia’s submission to the Oscar race, has sold to Spain (Yowu Entertainment) with other deals being negotiated now.
Papusza by the late Polish director Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze has continued to sell well, adding deals to Denmark (51 Shadows), Sweden (Njutafilms), Spain (Pirámide) and Italy (Pfa).
Finally, New Europe has sold the vampire comedy Summer of Blood by Onur Tukel to Taiwan (MovieCloud).
Here at the Efm, New Europe’s slate also includes Dominga Sotomayor’s Forum title Mar, Miguel Llanso’s Crumbs and Eirik Svensson’s One Night in Oslo.
- 2/10/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
2015 will see two new Pixar animated features come to theaters and win over audiences worldwide. But while this year looks like it’s going to be a profitable one for the studio behind films that have become pillars of computer animation, 2014 was a quiet year for them. As a result, other studios like WB and “The Lego Movie” or Dreamworks and the second installment in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series had much less competition during most of the year.
Another great side effect of this Pixar-less year was the attention given to much smaller features with inventive stories and handcrafted visual artistry. Among these, traditional animation soared with the release of new films from acclaimed animators like Bill Plympton, Cartoon Saloon's Tomm Moore, and Studio Ghibli’s Isao Takahata, as well as Signe Baumane’s mind-bending feature debut. There were also 3D animated alternatives from two pairs of French filmmakers, Hélène Giraud & Thomas Szabo and Stéphane Berla & Mathias Malzieu.
From the 20 films competing to be nominated as Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards, only 6 were created using 2D animation and only one, Laika’s “The Boxtrolls,” represented the stop-motion technique. But despite being outnumbered by works done solely using digital tools, these films prove that intimate storytelling and laborious work can certainly be more rewarding than following the industry’s conventions.
Since these films and their creators often don’t have the resources that major studios do for promotion, several of them might have slipped through the cracks. However, they are worthy of as much, or even more praise as any big budget animated feature released last year. Here is a list of 8 of them that deserve a wider audience. Many of them are visual wonders that challenge our imagination in heartwarming, intelligent, and even provocative ways. Furthermore, two of them managed to become Academy Award nominees against the odds.
"Cheatin'"
Dir: Bill Plympton
Country: U.S.
Language: English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bill Plympton Studios
Where to Watch? Plympton's latest screened at numerous festivals around the world during 2013- 2014 and it had a one-week theatrical run in Los Angeles back in August. For information on future screenings and a possible Blu-ray/DVD release visit the film's official site Here or follow the director on Facebook and on Twitter @plymptoons
"Giovanni's Island"
Dir: Mizuho Nishikubo
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese/Russian
U.S Distribution: Gkids
PC: Production I.G.
Where to Watch? After playing at several festivals the film received a one-week qualifying run in Los Angeles last November. For future information on a broader theatrical or home entertainment release visit Gkids or Production I.G.
"Henry & Me"
Dir: Barrett Esposito
Country: U.S.
Language: English
U.S Distribution: Henry & Me Productions
PC: Reveal Animation Studios
Where to Watch? Following a short NYC theatrical run in August, the film became available on DVD and digital platforms on September 30, 2014.
"Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart"
Dir: Stéphane Berla & Mathias Malzieu
Country: France/Belgium
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Shout! Factory
Isa: EuropaCorp
Where to Watch? The film opened theatrically in select cities on September 24, 2014. It's now available on Blu-Ray/DVD and digital platforms.
"Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants"
Dir: Hélène Giraud & Thomas Szabo
Country: France/Belgium
Language: No Dialogue
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Futurikon
Where to Watch? The film had its qualifying one-week theatrical run in December. For a future opportunities to see the film check the official site Here.
"Rocks in My Pockets"
Dir: Signe Baumane
Country: Latvia
Language: English/Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Where to Watch? Although the film opened back in August, there are still a few theatrical engagements coming up. Find them Here. It will also be released on DVD/Digital Download on January 29, 2015 via the film's official site.
"Song of the Sea" - Academy Award Nominee
Dir: Tomm Moore
Country: Ireland/Luxembourg/Belgium/France/Denmark
Language: English/ Scottish Gaelic
U.S Distribution: Gkids
Isa: WestEnd Films
Where to Watch? Currently playing in Los Angeles, NYC, and Toronto and expanding to more U.S. cities in upcoming weeks. For exact dates visit Here.
"The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" - Academy Award Nominee
Dir: Isao Takahata
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: Gkids
Isa: Wild Bunch
Where to Watch? Currently playing in several theaters around the country. For exact locations and dates visit Here . The film will be released on Blu-Ray/DVD on February 17, 2015.
Another great side effect of this Pixar-less year was the attention given to much smaller features with inventive stories and handcrafted visual artistry. Among these, traditional animation soared with the release of new films from acclaimed animators like Bill Plympton, Cartoon Saloon's Tomm Moore, and Studio Ghibli’s Isao Takahata, as well as Signe Baumane’s mind-bending feature debut. There were also 3D animated alternatives from two pairs of French filmmakers, Hélène Giraud & Thomas Szabo and Stéphane Berla & Mathias Malzieu.
From the 20 films competing to be nominated as Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards, only 6 were created using 2D animation and only one, Laika’s “The Boxtrolls,” represented the stop-motion technique. But despite being outnumbered by works done solely using digital tools, these films prove that intimate storytelling and laborious work can certainly be more rewarding than following the industry’s conventions.
Since these films and their creators often don’t have the resources that major studios do for promotion, several of them might have slipped through the cracks. However, they are worthy of as much, or even more praise as any big budget animated feature released last year. Here is a list of 8 of them that deserve a wider audience. Many of them are visual wonders that challenge our imagination in heartwarming, intelligent, and even provocative ways. Furthermore, two of them managed to become Academy Award nominees against the odds.
"Cheatin'"
Dir: Bill Plympton
Country: U.S.
Language: English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bill Plympton Studios
Where to Watch? Plympton's latest screened at numerous festivals around the world during 2013- 2014 and it had a one-week theatrical run in Los Angeles back in August. For information on future screenings and a possible Blu-ray/DVD release visit the film's official site Here or follow the director on Facebook and on Twitter @plymptoons
"Giovanni's Island"
Dir: Mizuho Nishikubo
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese/Russian
U.S Distribution: Gkids
PC: Production I.G.
Where to Watch? After playing at several festivals the film received a one-week qualifying run in Los Angeles last November. For future information on a broader theatrical or home entertainment release visit Gkids or Production I.G.
"Henry & Me"
Dir: Barrett Esposito
Country: U.S.
Language: English
U.S Distribution: Henry & Me Productions
PC: Reveal Animation Studios
Where to Watch? Following a short NYC theatrical run in August, the film became available on DVD and digital platforms on September 30, 2014.
"Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart"
Dir: Stéphane Berla & Mathias Malzieu
Country: France/Belgium
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Shout! Factory
Isa: EuropaCorp
Where to Watch? The film opened theatrically in select cities on September 24, 2014. It's now available on Blu-Ray/DVD and digital platforms.
"Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants"
Dir: Hélène Giraud & Thomas Szabo
Country: France/Belgium
Language: No Dialogue
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Futurikon
Where to Watch? The film had its qualifying one-week theatrical run in December. For a future opportunities to see the film check the official site Here.
"Rocks in My Pockets"
Dir: Signe Baumane
Country: Latvia
Language: English/Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Where to Watch? Although the film opened back in August, there are still a few theatrical engagements coming up. Find them Here. It will also be released on DVD/Digital Download on January 29, 2015 via the film's official site.
"Song of the Sea" - Academy Award Nominee
Dir: Tomm Moore
Country: Ireland/Luxembourg/Belgium/France/Denmark
Language: English/ Scottish Gaelic
U.S Distribution: Gkids
Isa: WestEnd Films
Where to Watch? Currently playing in Los Angeles, NYC, and Toronto and expanding to more U.S. cities in upcoming weeks. For exact dates visit Here.
"The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" - Academy Award Nominee
Dir: Isao Takahata
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: Gkids
Isa: Wild Bunch
Where to Watch? Currently playing in several theaters around the country. For exact locations and dates visit Here . The film will be released on Blu-Ray/DVD on February 17, 2015.
- 1/18/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Those who follow our content know that the Best Foreign Language Film race is one of the ones we follow closely, if not the closest. Tomorrow morning the five nominees for the Academy Award in this category will be announced bringing the months long journey to an end. The real climax will happen once the winner is announced in February, but for the five lucky finalists, a nomination is already a miraculous feat. It has been a long road in which many factors besides the quality of the films come into play.
The first few submissions were announced in mid-August and from that point on dozens of countries selected a film to participate. That’s the first cut. Each film had to compete against all the other eligible films released in their respective country that year. In some cases the competition might be slight, but in territories with a sizable film industry the selection process is not as clear-cut.
Once the submission deadline arrived, a total of 83 nations had submitted an entry - a record number. Several entries came from countries submitting for the first time. Out of those 83 films I personally managed to watch a little over 60 via festivals, screenings, and screeners. I was able to chat with about 30 of the films’ directors and learn about their personal stories and how differently they each approach the filmmaking process. Every year this is really a lesson on artistic diversity, industry development, and political and social sensitivities from across the globe. It’s truly amazing.
There were many great and memorable films among the entries I was able to watch and I hope all of them get distributions deals eventually. However, as with everything, we all have our favorites. The 12 films listed below are some of the best cinematic works I witness in the past year overall, not only among those in a foreign language. Several of them are among my ten favorite films of the year and others are included in my longer year-end list. “Timbuktu,” “Gett,” “White God,” and hopefully “Tangerines” will be among my 2015 favorites.
It has been a great year for World Cinema. Go out there and see these films. They are all incredible works of art each in its own right.
Read More: Carlos Aguilar's Top 60 Films of 2014
Read More: 83 Submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film will screen at Sundance 2015 in the Spotlight section later this month. It will open theatrically on February 20, 2015. "Wild Tales" will also be the Miami International Film Festival's Opening Night Film on March 6, 2015.
Read More: Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Wild Tales"
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (opened Dec. 24, 2014) and L.A. (Opened January 9, 2015)
Read More: The Dardenne Brothers on "Trow Days, One Night" and Marion Cotillard
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens Friday January 23, in L.A. and NYC
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film doesn't a U.S. distribution deal yet. Hopefully the attention given by both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards will change that soon.
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Where to Watch? As part of the Spotlight section the film will screen at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The theatrical release is scheduled for March 27, 2015.
Read More: Kornel Mundruczo on "White God"
Israel
"Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens in L.A. and NYC on February 13, 2015
Read More: Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz on "Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amalem"
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film still has a few theatrical engagements around the country, which can be found on the distributor's site. It will also be released on DVD and digital platforms on January 29, 2015.
Read More: Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Rocks in My Pockets"
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens in NYC January 28, 2015 and in L.A. January 30, 2015
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Where to Watch? Available on Blu-ray/DVD and digital platforms. It's also available for instant streaming for Netflix subscribers.
Read More: Pawel Pawlikowski on "Ida"
Read More: Review - "Ida"
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (Opened Dec. 25, 2014) and L.A. (Opened Dec. 31, 2014)
Read More: Andrey Zvyagintsev on "Leviathan"
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Where to Watch? Still playing in select theaters around the country. It will be released on Blu-ray/DVD and digital platforms on February 10, 2015.
Read More: Ruben Östlund and Johannes Kuhnke on "Force Majeure"
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (Opened Dec. 19, 2014). The film opens in select theaters around the country on January 16, 2015 and in L.A. on January 23, 2015.
The first few submissions were announced in mid-August and from that point on dozens of countries selected a film to participate. That’s the first cut. Each film had to compete against all the other eligible films released in their respective country that year. In some cases the competition might be slight, but in territories with a sizable film industry the selection process is not as clear-cut.
Once the submission deadline arrived, a total of 83 nations had submitted an entry - a record number. Several entries came from countries submitting for the first time. Out of those 83 films I personally managed to watch a little over 60 via festivals, screenings, and screeners. I was able to chat with about 30 of the films’ directors and learn about their personal stories and how differently they each approach the filmmaking process. Every year this is really a lesson on artistic diversity, industry development, and political and social sensitivities from across the globe. It’s truly amazing.
There were many great and memorable films among the entries I was able to watch and I hope all of them get distributions deals eventually. However, as with everything, we all have our favorites. The 12 films listed below are some of the best cinematic works I witness in the past year overall, not only among those in a foreign language. Several of them are among my ten favorite films of the year and others are included in my longer year-end list. “Timbuktu,” “Gett,” “White God,” and hopefully “Tangerines” will be among my 2015 favorites.
It has been a great year for World Cinema. Go out there and see these films. They are all incredible works of art each in its own right.
Read More: Carlos Aguilar's Top 60 Films of 2014
Read More: 83 Submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film will screen at Sundance 2015 in the Spotlight section later this month. It will open theatrically on February 20, 2015. "Wild Tales" will also be the Miami International Film Festival's Opening Night Film on March 6, 2015.
Read More: Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Wild Tales"
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (opened Dec. 24, 2014) and L.A. (Opened January 9, 2015)
Read More: The Dardenne Brothers on "Trow Days, One Night" and Marion Cotillard
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens Friday January 23, in L.A. and NYC
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film doesn't a U.S. distribution deal yet. Hopefully the attention given by both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards will change that soon.
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Where to Watch? As part of the Spotlight section the film will screen at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The theatrical release is scheduled for March 27, 2015.
Read More: Kornel Mundruczo on "White God"
Israel
"Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens in L.A. and NYC on February 13, 2015
Read More: Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz on "Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amalem"
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Where to Watch? The film still has a few theatrical engagements around the country, which can be found on the distributor's site. It will also be released on DVD and digital platforms on January 29, 2015.
Read More: Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Rocks in My Pockets"
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Where to Watch? Opens in NYC January 28, 2015 and in L.A. January 30, 2015
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Where to Watch? Available on Blu-ray/DVD and digital platforms. It's also available for instant streaming for Netflix subscribers.
Read More: Pawel Pawlikowski on "Ida"
Read More: Review - "Ida"
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (Opened Dec. 25, 2014) and L.A. (Opened Dec. 31, 2014)
Read More: Andrey Zvyagintsev on "Leviathan"
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Where to Watch? Still playing in select theaters around the country. It will be released on Blu-ray/DVD and digital platforms on February 10, 2015.
Read More: Ruben Östlund and Johannes Kuhnke on "Force Majeure"
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Where to Watch? Currently playing in NYC (Opened Dec. 19, 2014). The film opens in select theaters around the country on January 16, 2015 and in L.A. on January 23, 2015.
- 1/14/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
How would you program this year's newest, most interesting films into double features with movies of the past you saw in 2014?
Looking back over the year at what films moved and impressed us, it is clear that watching old films is a crucial part of making new films meaningful. Thus, the annual tradition of our end of year poll, which calls upon our writers to pick both a new and an old film: they were challenged to choose a new film they saw in 2014—in theatres or at a festival—and creatively pair it with an old film they also saw in 2014 to create a unique double feature.
All the contributors were given the option to write some text explaining their 2014 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch...
Looking back over the year at what films moved and impressed us, it is clear that watching old films is a crucial part of making new films meaningful. Thus, the annual tradition of our end of year poll, which calls upon our writers to pick both a new and an old film: they were challenged to choose a new film they saw in 2014—in theatres or at a festival—and creatively pair it with an old film they also saw in 2014 to create a unique double feature.
All the contributors were given the option to write some text explaining their 2014 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch...
- 1/5/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
Tim here. Year-end listmaking mania tends to skip right by animation, with only a glance in the direction of a solitary film that doesn’t tend to reveal much imagination on the part of the listmakers (probably, if you are a critic in 2014, your favorite animated feature was The Lego Movie, unless it was The Lego Movie. But I hear some folks really liked The Lego Movie). The Annie Awards do what they can, but they’re weirdly over-politicized.
All of which is to say, it’s the perfect time, before 2015 has a chance to warm up, to throw a little more light on animated film in the year that was than just rubber-stamping a Best Animated Feature award and moving on. May I present to you this unranked list of
Six Great Vocal Performances from 2014
Alison Brie as “Princess Unikitty”, The Lego Movie
Yes, the exact same Lego Movie...
All of which is to say, it’s the perfect time, before 2015 has a chance to warm up, to throw a little more light on animated film in the year that was than just rubber-stamping a Best Animated Feature award and moving on. May I present to you this unranked list of
Six Great Vocal Performances from 2014
Alison Brie as “Princess Unikitty”, The Lego Movie
Yes, the exact same Lego Movie...
- 1/3/2015
- by Tim Brayton
- FilmExperience
Yes, that’s a six and a zero. It’s not a typo. While excessive might be the first adjective that comes to mind when looking at a year-end list with 60 films, it was the only way that I was able to highlight all the great works that I was able to watch this year. Even with such an extensive best-of countdown I was forced to leave at least another dozen great films. In 2014 I watched around 300 theatrically released films, and about 130 more between unreleased films from the festival circuit, the Oscar Foreign Language Submissions, and new films I watched as a screener for a couple festivals. Taking all these into consideration, a Top 60 list did not seem like an outrageous feat.
There were many other films that I did in fact watch but didn’t make the list, such as “Wild,” “Interstellar,” “The Imitation Game,” “Unbroken,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Big Hero 6,” “Big Eyes,” "A Most Violent Year" and “Into the Woods.” Although none of these ended up among my favorites, many of them served as vehicles for the cast to deliver outstanding performances or showcased great cinematography and VFX. I mention this to clarify that their omission was a conscious decision.
Evidently, there were several acclaimed films I did not manage to watch, which could have made a difference. These include films like "Love is Strange," “Maps to the Stars,” “Stray Dogs,” “Top Five,” and “Rosewater.”
The films on this list include films that had a regular release in 2014, films that some consider to be 2013 films but which got a full release in 2014, and films that had a one-week qualifying run in 2014 but which will officially open in 2015. Other amazing films that I saw at festivals, but which did not have a theatrical release of any form this year will be included in next year’s list. Examples of these include “The Tribe,” “Timbuktu,” “The Voices” “Gueros,” “Viktoria,” and “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.”
Like with all lists, this is a very personal selection of films that connected with me on different levels. Some choices might be strange, others expected, but all of them speak to what I find interesting or great about cinema. I hope that with this list you can find titles you haven’t hear of or others you might have forgotten about. It has been such a terrific year for films. Here is hoping for 2015 to be even more inspiring.
Feel free to share with us what your favorite films of 2014 were in the comments section.
Honorary Mention for Favorite TV Series: "Over the Garden Wall"
In Patrick McHale’s enchanting Cartoon Network miniseries, “Over the Garden Wall,” brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and adorable Greg (Collin Dean) travel through the Unknown, a magical forest filled with peculiar characters. Blending a classic fable look with witty humor and catchy songs for a fantastically refreshing 2D cartoon, the show is rapidly - and deservingly - becoming a fan favorite. Once you see little Greg performing the sweet tune Potatoes and Molasses, it will all make sense.
Top 60 Films Of 2014
60. "Happy Christmas"
Anna Kendrick is an irresponsible, yet charming, young woman in Joe Swanberg’s holiday-infused family dramedy. “Happy Christmas” is small in scope but big in subtle amusement. Baby Jude Swanberg steals every scene.
59."Mood Indigo"
Whimsical, ingenious, and uniquely confected, Michel Gondry’s adaption of Boris Vian’s novel stars Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris. His latest romantic fantasy is heartwarming visual candy.
Review "Mood Indigo"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tautou
58. "Lilting"
A cross-cultural connection in the aftermath of tragedy is at the center of Hong Khaou’s touching debut. Through great performances and ethereal cinematography the filmmaker reassures us love is the only language that matters.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Hong Khaou
57. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
With an intelligent and fun screenplay, this new entry in the Marvel universe showed us that - despite all the badassery he is capable of - all that Steve Rogers wants is his best friend back.
Review "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
56. "Oculus"
Mike Flanagan doesn’t resort to excessive gore or a monumental story to instill fear. Instead, he uses the effective mechanics of his story to turn a room with an old mirror, a camera, and a pair of youngsters into a terrifying space.
55. "Rich Hill"
Looking at a segment of the American population from a uniquely compassionate and insightful perspective, “Rich Hill” cherishes the humanity of its subject rather than patronizing them.
54. "The Notebook"
The brutality of war is observed through the eyes of a pair of twin brothers who decide to detach themselves from any emotional connection in order to survive. Unflinching and powerful, “The Notebook” is part dark fairytale and part historical drama.
Review "The Notebook"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with János Szász
53. "Blue Ruin"
This gritty and unpredictable thriller follows a man whose thirst for revenge becomes his death sentence. Macon Blair’s character goes from passively hiding in the shadows to becoming a ruthless rookie assassin. Tension is the name of the game here.
52. "The Book of Life"
The ancient Mexican celebration of Day of the Death comes to life in this vibrant and surprisingly authentic animated feature from Jorge Gutierrez and producer Guillermo del Toro. It’s a colorful and intricately designed vision of beloved tradition.
51. "The German Doctor" (Wakolda)
Lucia Puenzo’s captivating mystery focuses on infamous Nazi physician Josef Mengele, as he tries to test his disturbing practices on family while hiding in the Argentine countryside. Elegantly executed and definitely unsettling
Review "The German Doctor"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Lucia Puenzo
Sydney Levine's Case Study on "The German Doctor"
50. "Still Alice"
Lost, confused, but still fighting to preserve her individuality while facing the imminent effects of Alzheimer’s disease, Alice refuses to give up. Julianne Moor is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking.
49. "American Sniper"
Eastwood’s best film in a long time packs thrilling combat sequences as it looks at post-9/11 American patriotism via a simple man turned murder weapon. Bradley Cooper delivers the best performance of his career.
48. "The Lego Movie "
Pop culture has never been as hilarious and witty as in this uniquely animated story about individuality, the nature of heroism, and the power of a child’s imagination. With cameos galore and jokes aplenty, everything is indeed awesome.
47. "Manuscripts Don't Burn "
Mohammad Rasoulof’s fearless cinematic statement denouncing the Iranian regime is an incredible testament to the power of film as a cultural weapon against injustice. Not only is the film politically relevant, but also an all-around gripping thriller.
Review "Manuscripts Don't Burn"
46. "Guardians of the Galaxy "
This summer Marvel outdid itself with the truly enjoyable first installment of its newest franchise. Charismatic Chris Pratt as Star Lord, a more than memorable soundtrack, and an eclectic group of sidekicks made this the smartest summer hit.
45. "In Bloom"
Set in Tbilisi, Georgia, this unique coming-of-age tale is a riveting hidden gem that sports mesmerizing performances from its young cast. The filmmakers find evocative, everyday beauty in the hardships of life in a war-torn country.
Review "In Bloom"
44. "Goodbye to Language"
Godard’s use of 3D in this highly experimental work produces a physical reaction on the viewer that proves how alive the auteur’s vision still is. He is as cryptic, curious, innovative, unapologetic, and brilliant as he was over 50 years ago.
43. "Mistaken for Strangers"
Tom Berninger’s personal documentary is not a film about The National, but about a man trying to find his own path while reconnecting with his older brother – who happens to be a rock star. Fun, heartfelt, and honest.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tom and Matt Berninger
42. "Manakamana"
Simple on the surface but hauntingly poetic, this documentary focuses on a series of people as they travel up to a sacred shrine in Nepal. Their faces speak in silences, laughter, and visible sadness, which form a language far more stirring than ephemeral words.
41. "Whiplash"
J.K. Simmons is a nightmarish instructor in Damien Chazelle’s fascinating debut about a young drummer by obsessive passion. The final sequence is an astonishing showstopper that sports marvelous, flawless editing
40. "The Overnighters"
What starts as the story about a Good Samaritan helping those in need despite criticisms, turns into an examination of a conflicted man. Faith, lies, regret and the judgmental eyes of an entire community will become his agonizing cross to bear.
39. "Rocks in My Pockets"
Latvian artist Signe Baumane uses 2D animation to work through her insecurities, her relationships with her estrange family, and depression. Craft and substance merge to construct an absorbing personal statement that is unexpectedly relatable.
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Rocks in My Pockets"
38. "The Missing Picture"
To reconstruct his family’s past, and by extension that of his homeland under the Khmer Rouge, director Rithy Panh uses clay figurines and evocative narration in the absence of images from the time. One of the most original documentaries ever made.
Review "The Missing Picture"
37. "Snowpiercer"
Art house sensibilities imbedded into a powerful post-apocalyptic tale from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho gave us a superbly sophisticated actioner. Chris Evans delivers a different, but equally great heroic performance. However, Tilda Swinton takes the prize here.
36. "Life Itself"
Roger Ebert’s love for life and movies was endless. Despite major health issues near the end, his spirits and voice were never weakened. Steve James intimate documentary captures both the man and the critic in a lovely manner.
35. "Gone Girl"
Fincher’s latest focuses on a media circus fueled by a couple’s despicable lies and the public’s voyeuristic desire to find a villain and a victim. While Ben Affleck is good here, the film thrives on Rosamund Pike’s wickedly clever role.
34. "Two Days, One Night"
Only the Dardenne brothers can transform seemingly banal situations into compelling narratives that question the morality of their characters. In their latest masterful effort Marion Cotillard’s talent shines as she balances desperation, pride, and hope.
33. "Foxcatcher"
Driven by a trifecta of great performances, Bennett Miller’s drama shows a disturbed man in search of recognition and validation by any means necessary. Channing Tatum deserves more praise for his nuanced work here.
32. "Omar"
At once timeless and decisively current, Hany Abu-Asad’s Shakespearean crime drama deals with Israeli-Palestinian relations from a humanistic point of view. The political issues that serve as context become more urgent when seen through the characters’ struggles.
Review "Omar"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Hany Abu-Assad
31. "Mr. Turner"
The awe-inspiring cinematography and Timothy Spall’s grumpy, yet endearing portrayal of one of Britain’s most revered painters make of “Mr. Turner” another successful addition to Mike Leigh’s near-perfect track record.
30. "Nymphomaniac"
Blasphemous, explicit, and cerebral as most of Lars von Trier’s works, this two-part recollection of the anecdotes takes us into the tortured mind of a sex addict. There is no sugarcoating or redemption to be found here, only a skillful provocateur who loves to revel in the playful bleakness of it all.
Review "Nymphomaniac Vol. 1"
Review "Nymphomaniac Vol. 2"
29. "Gloria"
A middle-aged woman takes control of her life in this excellent Chilean dramedy. The title character, played by the lovely Paulina Garcia, wants to find love once again and to live without restrains. As she dances the night away we are certain that, despite the hardships, she will.
Review "Gloria"
Sydney Levine's interview with Sebastian Lelio and Paulina Garcia
28. "The Babadook"
A vicious boogieman terrorizes a mother and her son in this Australian horror masterpiece. Like with the best films in the genre, is what you don’t see that’s the most disturbing. Dir. Jennifer Kent uses creepy guttural sounds, shadows, and a malevolent children’s book to psychologically inflict fear.
27. "Ernest & Celestine"
Delightfully crafted to look like a collection of gorgeous moving watercolors, this French animated feature based on Gabrielle Vincent’s books is a visual treat and reminds us of the innocent fables from yesteryear.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Benjamin Renner
26. "Hide Your Smiling Faces"
Two brothers growing up in a small town are confronted with the notion of death and the complexities of the adult world in this remarkably done debut by Daniel Patrick Carbone. An absolute must-see that deserves a wider audience.
Review "Hide Your Smiling Faces"
25. "Stranger by the Lake"
In Alain Guiraudie’s beachside mystery, a murderous romance hides underneath warm weather and desire. This provocative, darkly comedic and splendidly acted slow-burner shows that danger is sometimes the most lethal aphrodisiac.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Alain Guiraudie
24. "Heli"
Amat Escalante’s brave and brutally honest depiction of Mexico’s violent present is unquestionably a difficult cinematic experience. However, the filmmaker is capable of finding resilient hope in the midst of overwhelming despair.
Review "Heli"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Amat Escalante
23. "CitizenFour"
Few embellishments are needed when you have such a shocking and important story told not from an outsider’s perspective, but from its source. Fiction falls short in comparison to the truths and secrets encompassed in Laura Poitras account of the Edward Snowden case.
22. "Force Majeure"
Gender roles are questioned with humorous but poignant observations on marriage and societal expectations in this Swedish hit from Ruben Östlund. Laugh-out-loud moments galore and an unforgettable “man cry” sequence are the result of a catastrophic controlled avalanche.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Ruben Östlund and Johannes Kuhnke
21. "The Guest"
Adam Wingard’s perversely comedic stunner about a devilishly deceiving visitor was by far one of the most outrageously fun films I saw this year. It’s a masterwork of madness. I can’t wait to see what Wingard, writer Simon Barrett, and star Dan Stevens do next.
20. "Obvious Child"
Jenny Slate’s Donna Stern is navigating adulthood through laughter. Her standup performances are unfiltered, moving, and often hilariously distasteful, but always sincere. Slate and director Gillian Robespierre are a match made in comedy heaven.
Review "Obvious Child"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Gillian Robespierre and Jenny Slate
19. "Inherent Vice"
There are numerous wacky characters and subplots in Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaption of Thomas Pynchon novel, but the real magic happens when Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin are together on screen. “Motto panukeiku!” is all I have to say.
18. "Starred Up"
Jack O’Connell’s award-deserving performance packs raw energy, ferocious anger, and tragic vulnerability. Violence and respect are the only useful currencies in this potent prison drama that’s as thrilling as it’s emotionally devastating.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with David Mackenzie
17. "Listen Up Philip"
Brimming with originality and uncompromising humor, Alex Ross Perry’s look at the writing craft is pure brilliance. Jason Schwartzman stars as an obnoxious, self-centered young author. He is as utterly amusing and revels in his character’s hilarious arrogance.
16. "Boyhood"
Thanks to Richard Linklater’s perseverance we were able to experience an incredible and incomparable cinematic journey. Filled with small, but affecting moments of sorrow and joy, a child’s life - and that of those around him - literally unfolds on screen somewhere between reality and fiction.
15. "Selma"
Avoiding all the dreaded biopic clichés, director Ava DuVernay created a powerful historical drama that couldn’t be more opportune. Among a star-studded cast, David Oyelowo delivers a knockout performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
14. "Under the Skin"
Life on earth as seen by a seductive alien is simultaneously frightening and revelatory in Jonathan Glazer’s dazzling sci-fi character study. Scarlett Johansson is superb as a creature intrigued by the virtues and shortcomings of human nature.
Review "Under the Skin"
13. "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Everything we love about Wes Anderson and much more is included in this stylized beauty of a film. Ralph Fiennes is an irreverent, classy, womanizer that gets into trouble with an array of quirky villains played by a topnotch cast. From its score to the production design, this is Anderson at his best.
12. "The Boxtrolls"
Laika’s craftsmanship reached a new level of delightful greatness with this darkly comedic period piece. Their brand of stop-motion animation is impeccable. Each character is meticulously created with a wonderful physicality that no other medium can provide.
Review "The Boxtrolls"
11. "Leviathan"
Andrey Zvyagintsev’s masterpiece dissects the complexity of Russian society through a family drama that is as intimate as it is monumental in the themes it explores. Religion, government, and betrayal are all monsters haunting a righteous man at the mercy or their powers.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Andrey Zvyagintsev
10. "Only Lovers Left Alive"
Between desolated Detroit and a moody Marrakesh, Jim Jarmusch's darkly comedic film delivers an incredibly original tale about familiar bloodsuckers. Permeated in groovy rock and roll music, vintage wardrobe, blissful production design, and an otherworldly atmosphere, “Only Lovers Left Alive” reclaims vampires as graceful, complex, and cultured beings, rather than the vehicle for teenage fantasies
Review "Only Lovers Left Alive"
9. "Nightcrawler"
Brutally unapologetic about the bloodthirsty practices of today’s media, Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut is a fantastic vehicle for Jake Gyllenhaal to deliver a performance unlike anything he’s done before. Outrageously insightful, Gilroy’s writing is a perverse delight that is at once analytical and utterly entertaining.
8. "Birdman"
While definitely hilarious, Inarritu’s latest work offers sharp observations on the nature of art and artists. This is a giant leap into new territory for the acclaimed Mexican filmmaker. His undeniable talent directing actors is what elevates his work from just a brilliant idea to a work that thrives on touching human vulnerability. Added to this, Emanuel Lubeski’s work in the cinematography department is a visual treat.
7. "Wild Tales"
This insanely inventive collection of deranged stories questions violence and revenge from a comedic angle. Besides being a complete riot that packs in uproarious humor, Damian Szifron’s film demonstrates his ability to create a cohesive film out of diverse vignettes united by the dark side of human nature. From start to finish, “Wild Tales” is truly a savagely fun trip.
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Wild Tales"
6. "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya"
Studio Ghibli’s co-founder Isao Takahata demonstrates once more that his work is as spectacular as anything else the studio has created. His brand of handcrafted animation is of a uniquely exquisite kind that flows on the screen like streams of vibrant beauty. ‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” is perhaps his most striking work
5. "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"
This black and white, Persian-language vampire film is a revelation. Style and story elegantly arranged to be poetic and ethereal throughout. Undoubtedly the most dazzling feature debut of the year. Ana Lily Amirpour has a unique vision forged out of her fascination with genre films, music, and other peculiar interests, all of which blend into a delightful cocktail of beauty, danger, and pure originality.
4. "Winter Sleep"
Nuri Bilge Ceylan defines what being an auteur means every times he is behind the camera. Palme d’Or or not, “Winter Sleep” is the only film over 3 hours that has kept me fully engaged for every second of it. Every line of dialogue is as thought provoking as the next without being pretentious. He finds the fibers of human behavior and stretches them to their limit in every single scene. Absolutely mesmerizing
Review "Winter Sleep"
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Winter Sleep" from Cannes
3. "Mommy"
The tenderly violent love between a mother and a son make for an intoxicating tour de force. Xavier Dolan plays with aspect ratios, music, evocative cinematography and raw, maddening emotions to produce one of the most heartbreaking and intense experiences I’ve ever had watching a film. I was in a complete state of exhilaration until the very last, perfect, frame.
2. "Ida"
There is not a single miscalculation in Pawel Pawlikowski’s immaculate post-Holocaust drama. Each frame is a stunning work of sheer perfection. Flawless cinematography, riveting performances by both leading actresses, and a story that is subtle on the surface but carries intense undertones about spirituality and the consequences of guilt, make of “Ida” a masterwork to be cherished for years to come
Review "Ida"
Sydney Levine's interview with Pawel Pawlikowski
1. "Song of the Sea"
I'm certain some people will think me crazy for choosing this film as my favorite of the year, but witnessing Tomm Moore’s gorgeous and ethereal craftsmanship was an unforgettable experience. What he was able to achieve here, both in technique and emotional poignancy, is absolutely outstanding. "Song of the Sea" is one of the most blissfully beautiful animated films ever made. It is a gem beaming with awe-inspiring, heartwarming magic. It will be a long time before animation reaches this level of mesmerizing artistry again.
Review "Song of the Sea"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tomm Moore...
There were many other films that I did in fact watch but didn’t make the list, such as “Wild,” “Interstellar,” “The Imitation Game,” “Unbroken,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Big Hero 6,” “Big Eyes,” "A Most Violent Year" and “Into the Woods.” Although none of these ended up among my favorites, many of them served as vehicles for the cast to deliver outstanding performances or showcased great cinematography and VFX. I mention this to clarify that their omission was a conscious decision.
Evidently, there were several acclaimed films I did not manage to watch, which could have made a difference. These include films like "Love is Strange," “Maps to the Stars,” “Stray Dogs,” “Top Five,” and “Rosewater.”
The films on this list include films that had a regular release in 2014, films that some consider to be 2013 films but which got a full release in 2014, and films that had a one-week qualifying run in 2014 but which will officially open in 2015. Other amazing films that I saw at festivals, but which did not have a theatrical release of any form this year will be included in next year’s list. Examples of these include “The Tribe,” “Timbuktu,” “The Voices” “Gueros,” “Viktoria,” and “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.”
Like with all lists, this is a very personal selection of films that connected with me on different levels. Some choices might be strange, others expected, but all of them speak to what I find interesting or great about cinema. I hope that with this list you can find titles you haven’t hear of or others you might have forgotten about. It has been such a terrific year for films. Here is hoping for 2015 to be even more inspiring.
Feel free to share with us what your favorite films of 2014 were in the comments section.
Honorary Mention for Favorite TV Series: "Over the Garden Wall"
In Patrick McHale’s enchanting Cartoon Network miniseries, “Over the Garden Wall,” brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and adorable Greg (Collin Dean) travel through the Unknown, a magical forest filled with peculiar characters. Blending a classic fable look with witty humor and catchy songs for a fantastically refreshing 2D cartoon, the show is rapidly - and deservingly - becoming a fan favorite. Once you see little Greg performing the sweet tune Potatoes and Molasses, it will all make sense.
Top 60 Films Of 2014
60. "Happy Christmas"
Anna Kendrick is an irresponsible, yet charming, young woman in Joe Swanberg’s holiday-infused family dramedy. “Happy Christmas” is small in scope but big in subtle amusement. Baby Jude Swanberg steals every scene.
59."Mood Indigo"
Whimsical, ingenious, and uniquely confected, Michel Gondry’s adaption of Boris Vian’s novel stars Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris. His latest romantic fantasy is heartwarming visual candy.
Review "Mood Indigo"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tautou
58. "Lilting"
A cross-cultural connection in the aftermath of tragedy is at the center of Hong Khaou’s touching debut. Through great performances and ethereal cinematography the filmmaker reassures us love is the only language that matters.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Hong Khaou
57. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
With an intelligent and fun screenplay, this new entry in the Marvel universe showed us that - despite all the badassery he is capable of - all that Steve Rogers wants is his best friend back.
Review "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
56. "Oculus"
Mike Flanagan doesn’t resort to excessive gore or a monumental story to instill fear. Instead, he uses the effective mechanics of his story to turn a room with an old mirror, a camera, and a pair of youngsters into a terrifying space.
55. "Rich Hill"
Looking at a segment of the American population from a uniquely compassionate and insightful perspective, “Rich Hill” cherishes the humanity of its subject rather than patronizing them.
54. "The Notebook"
The brutality of war is observed through the eyes of a pair of twin brothers who decide to detach themselves from any emotional connection in order to survive. Unflinching and powerful, “The Notebook” is part dark fairytale and part historical drama.
Review "The Notebook"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with János Szász
53. "Blue Ruin"
This gritty and unpredictable thriller follows a man whose thirst for revenge becomes his death sentence. Macon Blair’s character goes from passively hiding in the shadows to becoming a ruthless rookie assassin. Tension is the name of the game here.
52. "The Book of Life"
The ancient Mexican celebration of Day of the Death comes to life in this vibrant and surprisingly authentic animated feature from Jorge Gutierrez and producer Guillermo del Toro. It’s a colorful and intricately designed vision of beloved tradition.
51. "The German Doctor" (Wakolda)
Lucia Puenzo’s captivating mystery focuses on infamous Nazi physician Josef Mengele, as he tries to test his disturbing practices on family while hiding in the Argentine countryside. Elegantly executed and definitely unsettling
Review "The German Doctor"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Lucia Puenzo
Sydney Levine's Case Study on "The German Doctor"
50. "Still Alice"
Lost, confused, but still fighting to preserve her individuality while facing the imminent effects of Alzheimer’s disease, Alice refuses to give up. Julianne Moor is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking.
49. "American Sniper"
Eastwood’s best film in a long time packs thrilling combat sequences as it looks at post-9/11 American patriotism via a simple man turned murder weapon. Bradley Cooper delivers the best performance of his career.
48. "The Lego Movie "
Pop culture has never been as hilarious and witty as in this uniquely animated story about individuality, the nature of heroism, and the power of a child’s imagination. With cameos galore and jokes aplenty, everything is indeed awesome.
47. "Manuscripts Don't Burn "
Mohammad Rasoulof’s fearless cinematic statement denouncing the Iranian regime is an incredible testament to the power of film as a cultural weapon against injustice. Not only is the film politically relevant, but also an all-around gripping thriller.
Review "Manuscripts Don't Burn"
46. "Guardians of the Galaxy "
This summer Marvel outdid itself with the truly enjoyable first installment of its newest franchise. Charismatic Chris Pratt as Star Lord, a more than memorable soundtrack, and an eclectic group of sidekicks made this the smartest summer hit.
45. "In Bloom"
Set in Tbilisi, Georgia, this unique coming-of-age tale is a riveting hidden gem that sports mesmerizing performances from its young cast. The filmmakers find evocative, everyday beauty in the hardships of life in a war-torn country.
Review "In Bloom"
44. "Goodbye to Language"
Godard’s use of 3D in this highly experimental work produces a physical reaction on the viewer that proves how alive the auteur’s vision still is. He is as cryptic, curious, innovative, unapologetic, and brilliant as he was over 50 years ago.
43. "Mistaken for Strangers"
Tom Berninger’s personal documentary is not a film about The National, but about a man trying to find his own path while reconnecting with his older brother – who happens to be a rock star. Fun, heartfelt, and honest.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tom and Matt Berninger
42. "Manakamana"
Simple on the surface but hauntingly poetic, this documentary focuses on a series of people as they travel up to a sacred shrine in Nepal. Their faces speak in silences, laughter, and visible sadness, which form a language far more stirring than ephemeral words.
41. "Whiplash"
J.K. Simmons is a nightmarish instructor in Damien Chazelle’s fascinating debut about a young drummer by obsessive passion. The final sequence is an astonishing showstopper that sports marvelous, flawless editing
40. "The Overnighters"
What starts as the story about a Good Samaritan helping those in need despite criticisms, turns into an examination of a conflicted man. Faith, lies, regret and the judgmental eyes of an entire community will become his agonizing cross to bear.
39. "Rocks in My Pockets"
Latvian artist Signe Baumane uses 2D animation to work through her insecurities, her relationships with her estrange family, and depression. Craft and substance merge to construct an absorbing personal statement that is unexpectedly relatable.
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Rocks in My Pockets"
38. "The Missing Picture"
To reconstruct his family’s past, and by extension that of his homeland under the Khmer Rouge, director Rithy Panh uses clay figurines and evocative narration in the absence of images from the time. One of the most original documentaries ever made.
Review "The Missing Picture"
37. "Snowpiercer"
Art house sensibilities imbedded into a powerful post-apocalyptic tale from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho gave us a superbly sophisticated actioner. Chris Evans delivers a different, but equally great heroic performance. However, Tilda Swinton takes the prize here.
36. "Life Itself"
Roger Ebert’s love for life and movies was endless. Despite major health issues near the end, his spirits and voice were never weakened. Steve James intimate documentary captures both the man and the critic in a lovely manner.
35. "Gone Girl"
Fincher’s latest focuses on a media circus fueled by a couple’s despicable lies and the public’s voyeuristic desire to find a villain and a victim. While Ben Affleck is good here, the film thrives on Rosamund Pike’s wickedly clever role.
34. "Two Days, One Night"
Only the Dardenne brothers can transform seemingly banal situations into compelling narratives that question the morality of their characters. In their latest masterful effort Marion Cotillard’s talent shines as she balances desperation, pride, and hope.
33. "Foxcatcher"
Driven by a trifecta of great performances, Bennett Miller’s drama shows a disturbed man in search of recognition and validation by any means necessary. Channing Tatum deserves more praise for his nuanced work here.
32. "Omar"
At once timeless and decisively current, Hany Abu-Asad’s Shakespearean crime drama deals with Israeli-Palestinian relations from a humanistic point of view. The political issues that serve as context become more urgent when seen through the characters’ struggles.
Review "Omar"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Hany Abu-Assad
31. "Mr. Turner"
The awe-inspiring cinematography and Timothy Spall’s grumpy, yet endearing portrayal of one of Britain’s most revered painters make of “Mr. Turner” another successful addition to Mike Leigh’s near-perfect track record.
30. "Nymphomaniac"
Blasphemous, explicit, and cerebral as most of Lars von Trier’s works, this two-part recollection of the anecdotes takes us into the tortured mind of a sex addict. There is no sugarcoating or redemption to be found here, only a skillful provocateur who loves to revel in the playful bleakness of it all.
Review "Nymphomaniac Vol. 1"
Review "Nymphomaniac Vol. 2"
29. "Gloria"
A middle-aged woman takes control of her life in this excellent Chilean dramedy. The title character, played by the lovely Paulina Garcia, wants to find love once again and to live without restrains. As she dances the night away we are certain that, despite the hardships, she will.
Review "Gloria"
Sydney Levine's interview with Sebastian Lelio and Paulina Garcia
28. "The Babadook"
A vicious boogieman terrorizes a mother and her son in this Australian horror masterpiece. Like with the best films in the genre, is what you don’t see that’s the most disturbing. Dir. Jennifer Kent uses creepy guttural sounds, shadows, and a malevolent children’s book to psychologically inflict fear.
27. "Ernest & Celestine"
Delightfully crafted to look like a collection of gorgeous moving watercolors, this French animated feature based on Gabrielle Vincent’s books is a visual treat and reminds us of the innocent fables from yesteryear.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Benjamin Renner
26. "Hide Your Smiling Faces"
Two brothers growing up in a small town are confronted with the notion of death and the complexities of the adult world in this remarkably done debut by Daniel Patrick Carbone. An absolute must-see that deserves a wider audience.
Review "Hide Your Smiling Faces"
25. "Stranger by the Lake"
In Alain Guiraudie’s beachside mystery, a murderous romance hides underneath warm weather and desire. This provocative, darkly comedic and splendidly acted slow-burner shows that danger is sometimes the most lethal aphrodisiac.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Alain Guiraudie
24. "Heli"
Amat Escalante’s brave and brutally honest depiction of Mexico’s violent present is unquestionably a difficult cinematic experience. However, the filmmaker is capable of finding resilient hope in the midst of overwhelming despair.
Review "Heli"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Amat Escalante
23. "CitizenFour"
Few embellishments are needed when you have such a shocking and important story told not from an outsider’s perspective, but from its source. Fiction falls short in comparison to the truths and secrets encompassed in Laura Poitras account of the Edward Snowden case.
22. "Force Majeure"
Gender roles are questioned with humorous but poignant observations on marriage and societal expectations in this Swedish hit from Ruben Östlund. Laugh-out-loud moments galore and an unforgettable “man cry” sequence are the result of a catastrophic controlled avalanche.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Ruben Östlund and Johannes Kuhnke
21. "The Guest"
Adam Wingard’s perversely comedic stunner about a devilishly deceiving visitor was by far one of the most outrageously fun films I saw this year. It’s a masterwork of madness. I can’t wait to see what Wingard, writer Simon Barrett, and star Dan Stevens do next.
20. "Obvious Child"
Jenny Slate’s Donna Stern is navigating adulthood through laughter. Her standup performances are unfiltered, moving, and often hilariously distasteful, but always sincere. Slate and director Gillian Robespierre are a match made in comedy heaven.
Review "Obvious Child"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Gillian Robespierre and Jenny Slate
19. "Inherent Vice"
There are numerous wacky characters and subplots in Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaption of Thomas Pynchon novel, but the real magic happens when Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin are together on screen. “Motto panukeiku!” is all I have to say.
18. "Starred Up"
Jack O’Connell’s award-deserving performance packs raw energy, ferocious anger, and tragic vulnerability. Violence and respect are the only useful currencies in this potent prison drama that’s as thrilling as it’s emotionally devastating.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with David Mackenzie
17. "Listen Up Philip"
Brimming with originality and uncompromising humor, Alex Ross Perry’s look at the writing craft is pure brilliance. Jason Schwartzman stars as an obnoxious, self-centered young author. He is as utterly amusing and revels in his character’s hilarious arrogance.
16. "Boyhood"
Thanks to Richard Linklater’s perseverance we were able to experience an incredible and incomparable cinematic journey. Filled with small, but affecting moments of sorrow and joy, a child’s life - and that of those around him - literally unfolds on screen somewhere between reality and fiction.
15. "Selma"
Avoiding all the dreaded biopic clichés, director Ava DuVernay created a powerful historical drama that couldn’t be more opportune. Among a star-studded cast, David Oyelowo delivers a knockout performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
14. "Under the Skin"
Life on earth as seen by a seductive alien is simultaneously frightening and revelatory in Jonathan Glazer’s dazzling sci-fi character study. Scarlett Johansson is superb as a creature intrigued by the virtues and shortcomings of human nature.
Review "Under the Skin"
13. "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Everything we love about Wes Anderson and much more is included in this stylized beauty of a film. Ralph Fiennes is an irreverent, classy, womanizer that gets into trouble with an array of quirky villains played by a topnotch cast. From its score to the production design, this is Anderson at his best.
12. "The Boxtrolls"
Laika’s craftsmanship reached a new level of delightful greatness with this darkly comedic period piece. Their brand of stop-motion animation is impeccable. Each character is meticulously created with a wonderful physicality that no other medium can provide.
Review "The Boxtrolls"
11. "Leviathan"
Andrey Zvyagintsev’s masterpiece dissects the complexity of Russian society through a family drama that is as intimate as it is monumental in the themes it explores. Religion, government, and betrayal are all monsters haunting a righteous man at the mercy or their powers.
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Andrey Zvyagintsev
10. "Only Lovers Left Alive"
Between desolated Detroit and a moody Marrakesh, Jim Jarmusch's darkly comedic film delivers an incredibly original tale about familiar bloodsuckers. Permeated in groovy rock and roll music, vintage wardrobe, blissful production design, and an otherworldly atmosphere, “Only Lovers Left Alive” reclaims vampires as graceful, complex, and cultured beings, rather than the vehicle for teenage fantasies
Review "Only Lovers Left Alive"
9. "Nightcrawler"
Brutally unapologetic about the bloodthirsty practices of today’s media, Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut is a fantastic vehicle for Jake Gyllenhaal to deliver a performance unlike anything he’s done before. Outrageously insightful, Gilroy’s writing is a perverse delight that is at once analytical and utterly entertaining.
8. "Birdman"
While definitely hilarious, Inarritu’s latest work offers sharp observations on the nature of art and artists. This is a giant leap into new territory for the acclaimed Mexican filmmaker. His undeniable talent directing actors is what elevates his work from just a brilliant idea to a work that thrives on touching human vulnerability. Added to this, Emanuel Lubeski’s work in the cinematography department is a visual treat.
7. "Wild Tales"
This insanely inventive collection of deranged stories questions violence and revenge from a comedic angle. Besides being a complete riot that packs in uproarious humor, Damian Szifron’s film demonstrates his ability to create a cohesive film out of diverse vignettes united by the dark side of human nature. From start to finish, “Wild Tales” is truly a savagely fun trip.
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Wild Tales"
6. "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya"
Studio Ghibli’s co-founder Isao Takahata demonstrates once more that his work is as spectacular as anything else the studio has created. His brand of handcrafted animation is of a uniquely exquisite kind that flows on the screen like streams of vibrant beauty. ‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” is perhaps his most striking work
5. "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"
This black and white, Persian-language vampire film is a revelation. Style and story elegantly arranged to be poetic and ethereal throughout. Undoubtedly the most dazzling feature debut of the year. Ana Lily Amirpour has a unique vision forged out of her fascination with genre films, music, and other peculiar interests, all of which blend into a delightful cocktail of beauty, danger, and pure originality.
4. "Winter Sleep"
Nuri Bilge Ceylan defines what being an auteur means every times he is behind the camera. Palme d’Or or not, “Winter Sleep” is the only film over 3 hours that has kept me fully engaged for every second of it. Every line of dialogue is as thought provoking as the next without being pretentious. He finds the fibers of human behavior and stretches them to their limit in every single scene. Absolutely mesmerizing
Review "Winter Sleep"
Sydney Levine's Feature Piece on "Winter Sleep" from Cannes
3. "Mommy"
The tenderly violent love between a mother and a son make for an intoxicating tour de force. Xavier Dolan plays with aspect ratios, music, evocative cinematography and raw, maddening emotions to produce one of the most heartbreaking and intense experiences I’ve ever had watching a film. I was in a complete state of exhilaration until the very last, perfect, frame.
2. "Ida"
There is not a single miscalculation in Pawel Pawlikowski’s immaculate post-Holocaust drama. Each frame is a stunning work of sheer perfection. Flawless cinematography, riveting performances by both leading actresses, and a story that is subtle on the surface but carries intense undertones about spirituality and the consequences of guilt, make of “Ida” a masterwork to be cherished for years to come
Review "Ida"
Sydney Levine's interview with Pawel Pawlikowski
1. "Song of the Sea"
I'm certain some people will think me crazy for choosing this film as my favorite of the year, but witnessing Tomm Moore’s gorgeous and ethereal craftsmanship was an unforgettable experience. What he was able to achieve here, both in technique and emotional poignancy, is absolutely outstanding. "Song of the Sea" is one of the most blissfully beautiful animated films ever made. It is a gem beaming with awe-inspiring, heartwarming magic. It will be a long time before animation reaches this level of mesmerizing artistry again.
Review "Song of the Sea"
Carlos Aguilar's interview with Tomm Moore...
- 1/1/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Paramount's "Selma" from director Ava Duvernay is picking up steam this awards season. The Martin Luther King drama has been announced to be the opening night movie of the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. The festival will close on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of "Boychoir" from director Francois Girard. David Oyelowo, who plays the beloved King in "Selma," is also being honored at the fest with Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor.
Here's the complete press release which includes the list of Easter European movies in a program titled Eastern Promises:
Palm Springs, CA (December 16, 2014) . The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will launch on Friday, January 2 with the opening night screening of the GoldenGlobe nominated Selma directed by Ava Duvernay. The Festival will wrap on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of Boychoir directed by François Girard. New this year, the festival will focus on...
Here's the complete press release which includes the list of Easter European movies in a program titled Eastern Promises:
Palm Springs, CA (December 16, 2014) . The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will launch on Friday, January 2 with the opening night screening of the GoldenGlobe nominated Selma directed by Ava Duvernay. The Festival will wrap on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of Boychoir directed by François Girard. New this year, the festival will focus on...
- 12/17/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Selma and Boychoir will bookend the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff), set to run from January 2-12.
For the first time, the festival will focus on 20 films from Eastern Europe in the strand called Eastern Promises.
The 20 films in Eastern Promises are:
Afterlife (Virág Zomborácz, Hungary);
Corn Island (George Ovashvili, Georgia);
Cowboys (Tomislav Mršić, Croatia);
Fair Play (Andrea Sedláčková, Czech Republic-Slovakia-Germany)
Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland);
In The Crosswind (Martti Helde, Estonia);
The Guide (Oles Sanin, Ukraine);
The Japanese Dog (Tudor Christian Jurgiu, Romania);
Kebab & Horoscope (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Grzegorz Jaroszuk, Poland);
The Lesson (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Bulgaria-Greece);
Mirage (Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary-Slovakia);
No One’s Child (Vuk Ršumović, Serbia-Croatia);
The Reaper (Zvonimir Juric, Croatia-Slovenia);
Rocks In My Pockets (Signe Baumane, Latvia);
See You In Montevideo (Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia);
Tangerines (Zaza Urushadze, Estonia);
These Are The Rules (Ognjen Svilicic, Croatia-France-Serbia);
Three Windows And A Hanging (Isa Qosja, Kosovo);
The...
For the first time, the festival will focus on 20 films from Eastern Europe in the strand called Eastern Promises.
The 20 films in Eastern Promises are:
Afterlife (Virág Zomborácz, Hungary);
Corn Island (George Ovashvili, Georgia);
Cowboys (Tomislav Mršić, Croatia);
Fair Play (Andrea Sedláčková, Czech Republic-Slovakia-Germany)
Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland);
In The Crosswind (Martti Helde, Estonia);
The Guide (Oles Sanin, Ukraine);
The Japanese Dog (Tudor Christian Jurgiu, Romania);
Kebab & Horoscope (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Grzegorz Jaroszuk, Poland);
The Lesson (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Bulgaria-Greece);
Mirage (Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary-Slovakia);
No One’s Child (Vuk Ršumović, Serbia-Croatia);
The Reaper (Zvonimir Juric, Croatia-Slovenia);
Rocks In My Pockets (Signe Baumane, Latvia);
See You In Montevideo (Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia);
Tangerines (Zaza Urushadze, Estonia);
These Are The Rules (Ognjen Svilicic, Croatia-France-Serbia);
Three Windows And A Hanging (Isa Qosja, Kosovo);
The...
- 12/16/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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