iTunes has released its list of the best-selling independent, documentary, and foreign films of 2017, most of which are unsurprising. “Manchester by the Sea,” “Moonlight,” and “The Big Sick” were watched the most overall, whereas subtitle-inclined users were fans of “Kedi,” “Raw,” and “The Salesman.”
Most of the surprises come on the nonfiction front: “Unacknowledged: An Exposé of the World’s Greatest Secret” takes the top spot, followed by “Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness.” All of them will be featured in a new room called Top Discoveries. Find the full list below.
Read More:‘The Big Sick’ Star Kumail Nanjiani’s New Reason to See ‘Last Jedi’ is a Sweet Story About Director Rian Johnson
Top-Selling Indies
“Manchester by the Sea” “Moonlight” “The Big Sick” “Lion” “Gifted” “Wind River” “Jackie” “The Lost City of Z” “Nocturnal Animals” “The Zookeeper’s Wife”
Top-Selling Documentaries in 2017
“Unacknowledged: An Exposé of the...
Most of the surprises come on the nonfiction front: “Unacknowledged: An Exposé of the World’s Greatest Secret” takes the top spot, followed by “Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness.” All of them will be featured in a new room called Top Discoveries. Find the full list below.
Read More:‘The Big Sick’ Star Kumail Nanjiani’s New Reason to See ‘Last Jedi’ is a Sweet Story About Director Rian Johnson
Top-Selling Indies
“Manchester by the Sea” “Moonlight” “The Big Sick” “Lion” “Gifted” “Wind River” “Jackie” “The Lost City of Z” “Nocturnal Animals” “The Zookeeper’s Wife”
Top-Selling Documentaries in 2017
“Unacknowledged: An Exposé of the...
- 12/13/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Alan Yang is riding a high after “Master of None,” the comedy he co-created with Aziz Ansari, was nominated for multiple Emmys again. But he has another reason to celebrate. Last week, audiences got to freak out over the music video he directed for Jay-z’s “Moonlight,” which features the sitcom “Friends” reimagined with an all-black cast.
Yang began directing with “Parks and Recreation,” where he first met Ansari. He also directed episodes for “The Good Place” and “Master of None” before Roc Nation contacted him to send a few pitches for “Moonlight,” his first ever music video.
“When Roc Nation came to me, they gave very loose parameters,” said Yang. “They said, ‘Maybe it could be funny, maybe it could be something comedy-based — but really come up with what you want to come up with.’ I think that’s really freeing. Of the ideas I pitched them, ‘Friends’ was my favorite idea.
Yang began directing with “Parks and Recreation,” where he first met Ansari. He also directed episodes for “The Good Place” and “Master of None” before Roc Nation contacted him to send a few pitches for “Moonlight,” his first ever music video.
“When Roc Nation came to me, they gave very loose parameters,” said Yang. “They said, ‘Maybe it could be funny, maybe it could be something comedy-based — but really come up with what you want to come up with.’ I think that’s really freeing. Of the ideas I pitched them, ‘Friends’ was my favorite idea.
- 8/11/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Strand also includes Clio Barnard’s Dark River and Brad’s Status with Ben Stiller.
Top brass at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) unveiled on Thursday the 12 films that comprise this year’s Platform programme.
The line-up opens with Armando Iannucci’s satire The Death Of Stalin (pictured), and includes Mike White’s Us comedy Brad’s Status starring Ben Stiller, and Clio Barnard’s UK selection Dark River.
Warwick Thornton’s Australian western Sweet Country closes the section. Every entry is a world premiere except Sweet Country and Xavier Legrand’s Custody, both of which premiere in Venice.
The films represent eight countries and will compete for the Platform Prize awarded by a jury comprising filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska and Wim Wenders.
This will mark the third year of Platform., designed to showcase “original voices in contemporary cinema.” Previous selections include this year’s best picture Oscar winner Moonlight, Lady Macbeth, Land Of...
Top brass at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) unveiled on Thursday the 12 films that comprise this year’s Platform programme.
The line-up opens with Armando Iannucci’s satire The Death Of Stalin (pictured), and includes Mike White’s Us comedy Brad’s Status starring Ben Stiller, and Clio Barnard’s UK selection Dark River.
Warwick Thornton’s Australian western Sweet Country closes the section. Every entry is a world premiere except Sweet Country and Xavier Legrand’s Custody, both of which premiere in Venice.
The films represent eight countries and will compete for the Platform Prize awarded by a jury comprising filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska and Wim Wenders.
This will mark the third year of Platform., designed to showcase “original voices in contemporary cinema.” Previous selections include this year’s best picture Oscar winner Moonlight, Lady Macbeth, Land Of...
- 8/3/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
No pressure or anything, but last year’s Toronto International Film Festival Platform section turned out a Best Picture winner.
Now in only its third year, the festival’s director-driven program aims to showcase original names in international cinema, and has steadily become one of the most exciting sections of the annual festival. Last year, it played home to such gems as “Moonlight,” “Jackie,” and “Lady MacBeth,” following its inaugural year, where it bowed titles like “High-Rise,” “Bang Gang,” and “Land of Mine.”
Read MoreTIFF Reveals First Slate of 2017 Titles, Including ‘The Shape of Water,’ ‘Downsizing,’ and ‘Call Me By Your Name’
This year promises to only further the mission of the section, thanks to 12 titles that speak to the breadth of modern cinema, and some of the rising stars it’s currently fostering. “Platform is the place to look for the distinct stamp of today’s most interesting directors as they establish their reputations,” said Cameron Bailey, Tiff’s Artistic Director, in a statement.
This year’s lineup hails from eight countries on five continents. The films will compete for the Platform Prize, to be awarded by a jury that includes award-winning filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska, and Wim Wenders.
Read MoreTIFF Announces Midnight Madness and Documentaries Slate, Including ‘The Disaster Artist,’ ‘Super Size Me’ Sequel, and More
The section will open with the world premiere of “The Death of Stalin,” from award-winning director-writer Armando Iannucci, which “follows the final days leading up to the Soviet dictator’s death.” “Sweet Country,” a period Western from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton, will close out the section.
Other highlights include Mike White’s Ben Stiller-starring “Brad’s Status” and Clio Barnard’s “Dark River,” along with Lisa Langseth’s “Euphoria,” starring Alicia Vikander and Eva Green as sisters on a mysterious trip.
“The films unveiled today embody our bold vision for the programme, and our ongoing commitment to showcase artistic and inventive directors that fearlessly push boundaries,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of Tiff. “The twelve titles exemplify bravery, dynamism and a unique voice in storytelling that we look for when curating the Platform programme.”
Below are the newest additions to the Tiff 2017 lineup, including the Platform program. Stay tuned for more programming announcements in the days to come.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7 – 17 in Toronto, Canada.
Platform
“Beast,” Michael Pearce, United Kingdom, World Premiere
“Brad’s Status,” Mike White, USA, World Premiere
“Custody,” Xavier Legrand, France, North American Premiere
“Dark River,” Clio Barnard, United Kingdom, World Premiere
“The Death of Stalin,” Armando Iannucci, France/United Kingdom/Belgium, World Premiere, Platform Opening Film
“Euphoria,” Lisa Langseth, Sweden/Germany, World Premiere
“If You Saw His Heart,” Joan Chemla, France, World Premiere
“Mademoiselle Paradis,” Barbara Albert, Austria/Germany, World Premiere
“Razzia,” Nabil Ayouch, France, World Premiere
“The Seen and Unseen,” Kamila Andini, Indonesia, World Premiere
“Sweet Country,” Warwick Thornton, Australia, North American Premiere, Platform Closing Film
“What Will People Say: (Hva vil folk si), Iram Haq, Norway/Germany/Sweden, World Premiere
Sign UpStay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Related stories'Euphoria' and 'Submergence' New Looks: Alicia Vikander is Ready to Conquer Film Festival SeasonTIFF's Platform Selection: How the Festival's Buzziest Slate is Pivoting After Launching 'Moonlight'Isabelle Huppert, Noomi Rapace, and Bodybuilders: 7 Must-See Summer Movies From the 2017 Locarno Film Festival...
Now in only its third year, the festival’s director-driven program aims to showcase original names in international cinema, and has steadily become one of the most exciting sections of the annual festival. Last year, it played home to such gems as “Moonlight,” “Jackie,” and “Lady MacBeth,” following its inaugural year, where it bowed titles like “High-Rise,” “Bang Gang,” and “Land of Mine.”
Read MoreTIFF Reveals First Slate of 2017 Titles, Including ‘The Shape of Water,’ ‘Downsizing,’ and ‘Call Me By Your Name’
This year promises to only further the mission of the section, thanks to 12 titles that speak to the breadth of modern cinema, and some of the rising stars it’s currently fostering. “Platform is the place to look for the distinct stamp of today’s most interesting directors as they establish their reputations,” said Cameron Bailey, Tiff’s Artistic Director, in a statement.
This year’s lineup hails from eight countries on five continents. The films will compete for the Platform Prize, to be awarded by a jury that includes award-winning filmmakers Chen Kaige, Malgorzata Szumowska, and Wim Wenders.
Read MoreTIFF Announces Midnight Madness and Documentaries Slate, Including ‘The Disaster Artist,’ ‘Super Size Me’ Sequel, and More
The section will open with the world premiere of “The Death of Stalin,” from award-winning director-writer Armando Iannucci, which “follows the final days leading up to the Soviet dictator’s death.” “Sweet Country,” a period Western from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton, will close out the section.
Other highlights include Mike White’s Ben Stiller-starring “Brad’s Status” and Clio Barnard’s “Dark River,” along with Lisa Langseth’s “Euphoria,” starring Alicia Vikander and Eva Green as sisters on a mysterious trip.
“The films unveiled today embody our bold vision for the programme, and our ongoing commitment to showcase artistic and inventive directors that fearlessly push boundaries,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of Tiff. “The twelve titles exemplify bravery, dynamism and a unique voice in storytelling that we look for when curating the Platform programme.”
Below are the newest additions to the Tiff 2017 lineup, including the Platform program. Stay tuned for more programming announcements in the days to come.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7 – 17 in Toronto, Canada.
Platform
“Beast,” Michael Pearce, United Kingdom, World Premiere
“Brad’s Status,” Mike White, USA, World Premiere
“Custody,” Xavier Legrand, France, North American Premiere
“Dark River,” Clio Barnard, United Kingdom, World Premiere
“The Death of Stalin,” Armando Iannucci, France/United Kingdom/Belgium, World Premiere, Platform Opening Film
“Euphoria,” Lisa Langseth, Sweden/Germany, World Premiere
“If You Saw His Heart,” Joan Chemla, France, World Premiere
“Mademoiselle Paradis,” Barbara Albert, Austria/Germany, World Premiere
“Razzia,” Nabil Ayouch, France, World Premiere
“The Seen and Unseen,” Kamila Andini, Indonesia, World Premiere
“Sweet Country,” Warwick Thornton, Australia, North American Premiere, Platform Closing Film
“What Will People Say: (Hva vil folk si), Iram Haq, Norway/Germany/Sweden, World Premiere
Sign UpStay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Related stories'Euphoria' and 'Submergence' New Looks: Alicia Vikander is Ready to Conquer Film Festival SeasonTIFF's Platform Selection: How the Festival's Buzziest Slate is Pivoting After Launching 'Moonlight'Isabelle Huppert, Noomi Rapace, and Bodybuilders: 7 Must-See Summer Movies From the 2017 Locarno Film Festival...
- 8/3/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
With Locarno and Venice’s recently announced competition line-ups, the last stand as far as 2017 festival circuit competition now sits with the soon to be revealed Platform Program at the Toronto International Film Festival, which will be the third annual lineup (last year, Tiff conjured premieres for Bonello’s Nocturama, Jenkins’ Moonlight, and Larrain’s Jackie here).
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
- 7/31/2017
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
“Beauty and the Beast” has won the top prize at this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards, beating out “Get Out,” “Logan,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “The Edge of Seventeen.” Emma Watson, Josh Gad and director Bill Condon accepted the award from Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn, who of course made a “La La Land”/”Moonlight” joke as they opened the envelope. To be eligible for the award, nominees were required to be totally rad and appeal to a youthful crowd whose tastes are both with-it and mature.
Read More: Watch the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards: Live Stream Online
Other movie winners included Watson, who was named Best Actor for her performance in “Beauty and the Beast.” This year’s ceremony marked the first time the acting awards weren’t divided by gender — the categories were simply Best Actor in a Movie, Best Actor in a Show,...
Read More: Watch the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards: Live Stream Online
Other movie winners included Watson, who was named Best Actor for her performance in “Beauty and the Beast.” This year’s ceremony marked the first time the acting awards weren’t divided by gender — the categories were simply Best Actor in a Movie, Best Actor in a Show,...
- 5/8/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
04.27.17: This list is now final. While I may in the future see additional films that were released in the awards year of 2016, no more films will be added to this list. (I may add links to reviews of films listed here.)
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
- 4/27/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
What exactly is it about 16mm that makes cinephiles swoon? Is it the vintage charm, the soft colors, the way the light seems to drip into every inch of the frame? Over at The Royal Ocean Film Society, filmmaker and self-proclaimed hipster Andrew Saladino waxes poetic about the glories of 16mm. “The grain is much more pronounced, the color is nice and dense, and the overall product has a genuine texture to it,” he says.
Read More: Lush New Video Essay Compares ‘Moonlight’ With the Masterworks of Wong Kar-Wai — Watch
But that’s not all: Using plenty of gorgeous footage from some of your favorite recent films, Saladino delves deeper into the appeal of his favorite format, which he calls the “perfect middle ground between the retro aesthetic charm” of 8mm and the more polished look of 35mm. He argues that 8mm has too much of a home movie feel,...
Read More: Lush New Video Essay Compares ‘Moonlight’ With the Masterworks of Wong Kar-Wai — Watch
But that’s not all: Using plenty of gorgeous footage from some of your favorite recent films, Saladino delves deeper into the appeal of his favorite format, which he calls the “perfect middle ground between the retro aesthetic charm” of 8mm and the more polished look of 35mm. He argues that 8mm has too much of a home movie feel,...
- 4/11/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
This weekend, strong holdover “T2 Trainspotting” outperformed Fox Searchlight disappointment “Wilson” at the specialty box office. Jazz documentary “I Called Him Morgan” is the bright spot among new specialty entries — at just one theater. This year, there are so many well-reviewed wide releases enjoying huge success with smart adults that the indies need a strong critical response to compete for moviegoers.
Opening
Wilson (Fox Searchlight) Metacritic: 50; Festivals include: Sundance 2017
$330,000 in 310 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $1,065
“Wilson” did not make a splash at Sundance, and even a top-flight specialized distributor like Fox Searchlight can’t transform a film with mediocre reviews into a success. It’s got a great pedigree — directed by Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins”), Daniel Clowes adapted it from his own graphic novel and its includes Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern. Searchlight went with a non-platform wider initial release of 330 theaters. For all that, however, the results...
Opening
Wilson (Fox Searchlight) Metacritic: 50; Festivals include: Sundance 2017
$330,000 in 310 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $1,065
“Wilson” did not make a splash at Sundance, and even a top-flight specialized distributor like Fox Searchlight can’t transform a film with mediocre reviews into a success. It’s got a great pedigree — directed by Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins”), Daniel Clowes adapted it from his own graphic novel and its includes Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern. Searchlight went with a non-platform wider initial release of 330 theaters. For all that, however, the results...
- 3/26/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
There's a legit reason as to why Nicole Kidman was clapping so strangely when cameras panned to her at the 89th Academy Awards last month.
During an interview on Australia's Kyle and Jackie O radio show on Thursday morning, the Lion star revealed that it was her 119 carats of Harry Winston jewels, which included a pear-shaped ring, that were responsible for her bizarre round of applause.
“It was really awkward," she admitted of her clapping. "I was like, 'I wanna clap, I don’t wanna not be clapping.' That’d be worse, right? Like, 'Why isn’t Nicole clapping?'"
Kidman further explained, "So therefore I’m clapping but it was really difficult because I had a huge ring on that was not mine -- but it was absolutely gorgeous -- and I was terrified of damaging it."
The 49-year-old...
During an interview on Australia's Kyle and Jackie O radio show on Thursday morning, the Lion star revealed that it was her 119 carats of Harry Winston jewels, which included a pear-shaped ring, that were responsible for her bizarre round of applause.
“It was really awkward," she admitted of her clapping. "I was like, 'I wanna clap, I don’t wanna not be clapping.' That’d be worse, right? Like, 'Why isn’t Nicole clapping?'"
Kidman further explained, "So therefore I’m clapping but it was really difficult because I had a huge ring on that was not mine -- but it was absolutely gorgeous -- and I was terrified of damaging it."
The 49-year-old...
- 3/9/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The week after the Oscars, most of the contenders are moving on to home viewing. It was a terrific season, but the market needs strong new entries to stem the box-office slide.
Neither of this week’s two most prominent releases — “Table 19” with a national Fox Searchlight break and “The Last Word” (Bleecker Street) — will bolster box office. It also doesn’t help that two highly-touted and well-reviewed wide release studio films, Fox’s “Logan” and Universal’s “Get Out,” are competing for many of the same viewers.
A series of smaller niche audience releases remain. And four this weekend are either Israeli or aimed at audiences interested in Jewish topics. Led by “Women in the Balcony” (Menemsha) they could see further life over the next several weeks.
Opening
Table 19 (Fox Searchlight) – Metacritic: 38
$1,575,000 in 868 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $1,815
Fox Searchlight opted to take this poorly-reviewed wedding...
Neither of this week’s two most prominent releases — “Table 19” with a national Fox Searchlight break and “The Last Word” (Bleecker Street) — will bolster box office. It also doesn’t help that two highly-touted and well-reviewed wide release studio films, Fox’s “Logan” and Universal’s “Get Out,” are competing for many of the same viewers.
A series of smaller niche audience releases remain. And four this weekend are either Israeli or aimed at audiences interested in Jewish topics. Led by “Women in the Balcony” (Menemsha) they could see further life over the next several weeks.
Opening
Table 19 (Fox Searchlight) – Metacritic: 38
$1,575,000 in 868 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $1,815
Fox Searchlight opted to take this poorly-reviewed wedding...
- 3/5/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney are a formidable comedy team across platforms — having reverse engineered the hit Broadway play “Oh, Hello” with their old-man Manhattanite characters from their web series. On Saturday, the pair will host Film Independent’s annual Spirit Awards, honoring the best in indie filmmaking, live from the beach in Santa Monica, California. TheWrap caught up with the pair to discuss their previous experiences in award show writers’ rooms, how they’ll one-up social media hawking late night hosts and the inevitable addressing of President Trump and the country’s political climate: Also Read: 'Jackie,' 'Moonlight,...
- 2/25/2017
- by Matt Donnelly
- The Wrap
Real-life best friends and serious funnymen Nick Kroll and John Mulaney are on deck to host the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards this Saturday afternoon on an actual beach in Santa Monica, mere hours before the Oscars unfold across town.
The Indie Spirits have frequently wrangled comedians to host their live show — last year, Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani gleefully shepherded a laugh-heavy show; in 2015, Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig hosted the ceremony — and Kroll and Mulaney should easily join the ranks of gut-busting hosts.
Read More: Independent Spirit Awards: Nick Kroll and John Mulaney Love Spending Every Waking Hour Together in New Promos
In a recent chat with the newly minted hosts, we asked what we should expect to see, and got nowhere; instead, Kroll and Mulaney clued us in to everything we shouldn’t expect to see.
1. “Oh, Hello” References
Kroll and Mulaney currently co-star in the hit Broadway comedy “Oh,...
The Indie Spirits have frequently wrangled comedians to host their live show — last year, Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani gleefully shepherded a laugh-heavy show; in 2015, Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig hosted the ceremony — and Kroll and Mulaney should easily join the ranks of gut-busting hosts.
Read More: Independent Spirit Awards: Nick Kroll and John Mulaney Love Spending Every Waking Hour Together in New Promos
In a recent chat with the newly minted hosts, we asked what we should expect to see, and got nowhere; instead, Kroll and Mulaney clued us in to everything we shouldn’t expect to see.
1. “Oh, Hello” References
Kroll and Mulaney currently co-star in the hit Broadway comedy “Oh,...
- 2/24/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Toronto International Film Festival organizers have today announced their 2017 lineup of programs and programmers, a new take on their lineup that speaks to their “renewed commitment to bold, discerning curation” and a “more tightly curated edition” of the festival.
The 2017 edition of the festival will feature 14 diverse programmes and a programming team of 22, complete with two new additions. This year, the festival will be retiring their Vanguard and City to City sections, which will reduce the overall number of films in the 2017 lineup by 20 percent. For 2017, the Tiff programs will include: Contemporary World Cinema, Discovery, Gala Presentations, Masters, Midnight Madness, Platform, Short Cuts, Special Presentations, Tiff Cinematheque, Tiff Docs, Tiff Kids, Tiff Next Wave and Wavelengths.
Read More: Tiff Programmer Colin Geddes Departing After 20 Years
The festival will continue with its lauded and fun In Conversation With… series and its Primetime lineup (focused on TV offerings), along with its...
The 2017 edition of the festival will feature 14 diverse programmes and a programming team of 22, complete with two new additions. This year, the festival will be retiring their Vanguard and City to City sections, which will reduce the overall number of films in the 2017 lineup by 20 percent. For 2017, the Tiff programs will include: Contemporary World Cinema, Discovery, Gala Presentations, Masters, Midnight Madness, Platform, Short Cuts, Special Presentations, Tiff Cinematheque, Tiff Docs, Tiff Kids, Tiff Next Wave and Wavelengths.
Read More: Tiff Programmer Colin Geddes Departing After 20 Years
The festival will continue with its lauded and fun In Conversation With… series and its Primetime lineup (focused on TV offerings), along with its...
- 2/23/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
City To City, Vanguard axed from 2017 edition.
With seven months to go before this year’s event, the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) hierarchy has unveiled a slimmed-down event while preserving its status as an awards season platform.
Both the City To City and Vanguard strands are being retired, while several programmers will not return including, as recently announced, the popular Midnight Madness master of ceremonies Colin Geddes.
Total festival selections will drop by 20% amid a tacit acknowledgement by the leadership that historical levels had a tendency to overwhelm visitors, especially industry and working press. Based on last year’s level of 296 features, a 20% cut would mean a total selection of about 237.
This year’s festival will comprise 14 programmes and a programming team of 21 that contains two new recruits: Kiva Reardon, a programmer at the Miami Film Festival who previously worked at the Doha Film Institute in Qatar, will programme Africa and the Middle East; while curator...
With seven months to go before this year’s event, the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) hierarchy has unveiled a slimmed-down event while preserving its status as an awards season platform.
Both the City To City and Vanguard strands are being retired, while several programmers will not return including, as recently announced, the popular Midnight Madness master of ceremonies Colin Geddes.
Total festival selections will drop by 20% amid a tacit acknowledgement by the leadership that historical levels had a tendency to overwhelm visitors, especially industry and working press. Based on last year’s level of 296 features, a 20% cut would mean a total selection of about 237.
This year’s festival will comprise 14 programmes and a programming team of 21 that contains two new recruits: Kiva Reardon, a programmer at the Miami Film Festival who previously worked at the Doha Film Institute in Qatar, will programme Africa and the Middle East; while curator...
- 2/23/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
City To City, Vanguard axed from 2017 edition.
With seven months to go before this year’s event, the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) hierarchy has unveiled a slimmed-down event while preserving its status as an awards season platform.
Both the City To City and Vanguard strands are being retired, while several programmers will not return including, as recently announced, the popular Midnight Madness master of ceremonies Colin Geddes.
Total festival selections will drop by 20% amid a tacit acknowledgement by the leadership that historical levels had a tendency to overwhelm visitors, especially working press. Based on last year’s level of 397 films, a 20% cut would mean a total selection of about 318.
This year’s festival will comprise 14 programmes and a programming team of 21 that contains two new recruits: Kiva Reardon, a programmer at the Miami Film Festival who previously worked at the Doha Film Institute in Qatar, will programme Africa and the Middle East; while curator, producer and writer...
With seven months to go before this year’s event, the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) hierarchy has unveiled a slimmed-down event while preserving its status as an awards season platform.
Both the City To City and Vanguard strands are being retired, while several programmers will not return including, as recently announced, the popular Midnight Madness master of ceremonies Colin Geddes.
Total festival selections will drop by 20% amid a tacit acknowledgement by the leadership that historical levels had a tendency to overwhelm visitors, especially working press. Based on last year’s level of 397 films, a 20% cut would mean a total selection of about 318.
This year’s festival will comprise 14 programmes and a programming team of 21 that contains two new recruits: Kiva Reardon, a programmer at the Miami Film Festival who previously worked at the Doha Film Institute in Qatar, will programme Africa and the Middle East; while curator, producer and writer...
- 2/23/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
A simple listing, duplicated from the in cinemas Us and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Daily Digest emails (sign up here).
opening this week The Lego Batman Movie Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts (89th Academy Awards) Speed Sisters A United Kingdom Fifty Shades Darker I’m planning to see… John Wick: Chapter Two Oscar Nominated Animation Shorts (89th Academy Awards) Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts (89th Academy Awards)
2016’s films, ranked by maryann (still ongoing, now open to all readers)
2017’s films, ranked by maryann (subscribers only until the end of the year)
get all reviews since 1997 here
now in cinemas Allied Antarctica: Ice and Sky (aka Ice and the Sky) Arrival The Eagle Huntress Fences The Founder A Good American Hidden Figures I, Daniel Blake Jackie La La Land Lion Loving...
opening this week The Lego Batman Movie Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts (89th Academy Awards) Speed Sisters A United Kingdom Fifty Shades Darker I’m planning to see… John Wick: Chapter Two Oscar Nominated Animation Shorts (89th Academy Awards) Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts (89th Academy Awards)
2016’s films, ranked by maryann (still ongoing, now open to all readers)
2017’s films, ranked by maryann (subscribers only until the end of the year)
get all reviews since 1997 here
now in cinemas Allied Antarctica: Ice and Sky (aka Ice and the Sky) Arrival The Eagle Huntress Fences The Founder A Good American Hidden Figures I, Daniel Blake Jackie La La Land Lion Loving...
- 2/10/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney recently lit up the Broadway stage with their “Oh, Hello” production. Now, the duo is getting ready for their next gig: hosting the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
In a series of promos, shared by Vulture, Kroll and Mulaney are seen inviting viewers to watch the awards ceremony on February 25 on IFC.
“John and I are co-hosting this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards,” begins Kroll, with Mulaney adding, “Which is great because we love spending every f*cking waking hour together.”
The two are then seen in another promo, made on an “indie budget,” dancing to “library music,” while Mulaney tells viewers to picture “a baby-blue car parallel parking in real time.” Click here to see the video.
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
The Indie Spirit Awards celebrates the best of independent film and serve as...
In a series of promos, shared by Vulture, Kroll and Mulaney are seen inviting viewers to watch the awards ceremony on February 25 on IFC.
“John and I are co-hosting this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards,” begins Kroll, with Mulaney adding, “Which is great because we love spending every f*cking waking hour together.”
The two are then seen in another promo, made on an “indie budget,” dancing to “library music,” while Mulaney tells viewers to picture “a baby-blue car parallel parking in real time.” Click here to see the video.
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
The Indie Spirit Awards celebrates the best of independent film and serve as...
- 2/2/2017
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Busy month. As Januarys always are. Between the Oscar nominations, the Golden Globes, the SAG awards, the campaigns raging, and the world collapsing, it's been quite a month. In case your visits were spotty here are 15 highlights you might have missed...
What if Miranda Priestley styled the Vanity Fair covers?
8 Must Reads
Miss Orange County we pfinally started a Pfeiffer retrospective series. Have you been reading?
Interview: Denis Villeneuve the Oscar nominee talks about the shape of Arrival
Three Fittings: La La Land simplicity rules but the costume design isnt simplistic
Doc Corner Glenn on the Oscar nominated feature list
We Can't Wait our 17 most anticipated films of 2017
The Furniture tackled the tackiness of legendary bad movie The Oscar (1966)
Lunchtime Poll What cartoon should come with a trigger warning?
Film Bitch Awards I trust you've been following along?
Kissing Andrew Garfield would it make you feel better?
7 Most Discussed
Devil Wears Prada musical?...
What if Miranda Priestley styled the Vanity Fair covers?
8 Must Reads
Miss Orange County we pfinally started a Pfeiffer retrospective series. Have you been reading?
Interview: Denis Villeneuve the Oscar nominee talks about the shape of Arrival
Three Fittings: La La Land simplicity rules but the costume design isnt simplistic
Doc Corner Glenn on the Oscar nominated feature list
We Can't Wait our 17 most anticipated films of 2017
The Furniture tackled the tackiness of legendary bad movie The Oscar (1966)
Lunchtime Poll What cartoon should come with a trigger warning?
Film Bitch Awards I trust you've been following along?
Kissing Andrew Garfield would it make you feel better?
7 Most Discussed
Devil Wears Prada musical?...
- 2/1/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
GLAAD, the world’s Lgbtq media advocacy organization, announced the nominees for its 28th annual GLAAD Media Awards today. Taking a strong stand for inclusivity, only two films were nominated for Outstanding Film — Wide Release, both featuring non-white gay characters: “Moonlight” and “Star Trek Beyond.”
Similarly, in the Outstanding Film — Limited Release category, three films with non-white characters were nominated: Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden,” Jay Dockendorf’s “Naz & Maalik,” and Andrew Ahn’s “Spa Night” were nominated. Chris Kelly’s “Other People” and Joey Kuhn’s “Those People” round out the bunch.
Read More: Gay and Lesbian Critics Association Honor ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Jackie’ with Dorian Award Noms
“At a time when progress is at a critical juncture, it is imperative that Hollywood tell more Lgbtq stories that reflect the community’s rich diversity – and build understanding that brings all communities closer together,” said GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis. “This...
Similarly, in the Outstanding Film — Limited Release category, three films with non-white characters were nominated: Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden,” Jay Dockendorf’s “Naz & Maalik,” and Andrew Ahn’s “Spa Night” were nominated. Chris Kelly’s “Other People” and Joey Kuhn’s “Those People” round out the bunch.
Read More: Gay and Lesbian Critics Association Honor ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Jackie’ with Dorian Award Noms
“At a time when progress is at a critical juncture, it is imperative that Hollywood tell more Lgbtq stories that reflect the community’s rich diversity – and build understanding that brings all communities closer together,” said GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis. “This...
- 1/31/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Along with three new wide releases this weekend, it's the first weekend following the nominations for the 89th Academy Awards and several nominated features are improving their nationwide reach, some for a second time. Among the new releases Universal will premiere Amblin's A Dog's Purpose amid some controversy, Screen Gems has Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and Weinstein will debut Gold. Beyond that, a lot of attention will be on last weekend's #1 film, Split, and La La Land as it adds 1,271 theaters following its 14 Oscar nominations on Tuesday. At the top of the weekend chart we could see a bit of a tug-of-war as two Universal titles will compete for #1. First we have last weekend's champion, Split, which debuted with over $40 million and has shown good traction on IMDb in terms of page views compared to similar releases and in terms of user rating, which has hovered right around 7.6 ever since release.
- 1/26/2017
- by Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
If you love Oscars too much (*raises hands*) your head can get a little swimmy on Oscar nomination day, trying to parse it all. Particularly the numbers and the new statistics. This could take some time. But here are some non-subjective hierarchies and numbers and stats from the day.
We'll start with the easy one.
Most Nominations
La La Land (14) [tie] Moonlight and Arrival (8) [tie] Hacksaw Ridge and Lion and Manchester by the Sea (6) Fences (4) Hidden Figures and Jackie (3)
Note: Jackie marks the second year in a row wherein a "chilly" gorgeous movie about a complicated woman wins the distinction of "most nominated movie that isn't nominated for Best Picture" -- coincidence? Nope.
5 of past 6 years film w/ most noms that wasn't up for Best Pic was a chilly beauty about complex woman. Coincidence? I think not. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/fRFZXaflsb
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) January 24, 2017
Category with Most First Timers!
(excluding...
We'll start with the easy one.
Most Nominations
La La Land (14) [tie] Moonlight and Arrival (8) [tie] Hacksaw Ridge and Lion and Manchester by the Sea (6) Fences (4) Hidden Figures and Jackie (3)
Note: Jackie marks the second year in a row wherein a "chilly" gorgeous movie about a complicated woman wins the distinction of "most nominated movie that isn't nominated for Best Picture" -- coincidence? Nope.
5 of past 6 years film w/ most noms that wasn't up for Best Pic was a chilly beauty about complex woman. Coincidence? I think not. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/fRFZXaflsb
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) January 24, 2017
Category with Most First Timers!
(excluding...
- 1/25/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Awards season has reached peak frenzy.
The nominees for the 89th annual Academy Awards were announced live at 8:18 a.m. Et on Tuesday, Jan. 24 – and promptly after, the online reactions started flooding in.
Some of the morning’s biggest surprises included Michael Shannon earning a Best Supporting Actor nod for Nocturnal Animals and Viggo Mortensen with a Best Actor nomination for Captain Fantastic.
Fans who tuned into the livestream first thing in the morning immediately took to Twitter to express surprise at some of the morning’s biggest snubs, which included Finding Dory and Sing boxed out for Best...
The nominees for the 89th annual Academy Awards were announced live at 8:18 a.m. Et on Tuesday, Jan. 24 – and promptly after, the online reactions started flooding in.
Some of the morning’s biggest surprises included Michael Shannon earning a Best Supporting Actor nod for Nocturnal Animals and Viggo Mortensen with a Best Actor nomination for Captain Fantastic.
Fans who tuned into the livestream first thing in the morning immediately took to Twitter to express surprise at some of the morning’s biggest snubs, which included Finding Dory and Sing boxed out for Best...
- 1/24/2017
- by Maria Yagoda
- PEOPLE.com
And so it's come to this, the finale of the traditional Oscar-like categories in our own annual Film Bitch Awards. All the nominations have been announced in the first round ("special" non-Oscar related categories still to come). It's years like this when I wish You wish 5 were a much larger number in so many fields. There were seven leading ladies I really wanted to honor and six leading men but five does not equal six or seven. Alas. It's also strange when films you really love are denied any nominations in your own prizes. Such was the fate of one film from my top ten list (Embrace of the Serpent). Fences and Lion, two Oscar hopefuls I'm quite fond of, also look deceptively unloved with only two nominations each though with both Best Actor and Best Actress citations, Fences can't complain.
tfw when you realize you're nominated for a Film Bitch Award.
tfw when you realize you're nominated for a Film Bitch Award.
- 1/23/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Though my ears aren't as fine tuned as my eyes when it comes to the cinema, I take pleasure freely from every craft. The best films are the ones that try to engage all senses. (Well, not smell. They tried that with Smell-o-Vision and it didn't work out so well.)
So here are my choices for Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing and Editing, Best Original Song and a fifth category that's kind of "off-Oscar." The Film Bitch Awards have always had a Best Adapted / Combination / Song Score category for films where the original score is only part of the defining musical sensation and the rest comes from pre-existing material or songs that are woven into the sound mix. Films honored include in these various aural categories include The Handmaiden, Arrival, Moonlight, Lion, Jackie, La La Land, Sully, The Witch, Doctor Strange, Sing Street and more. Which movies did you love listening to this year?...
So here are my choices for Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing and Editing, Best Original Song and a fifth category that's kind of "off-Oscar." The Film Bitch Awards have always had a Best Adapted / Combination / Song Score category for films where the original score is only part of the defining musical sensation and the rest comes from pre-existing material or songs that are woven into the sound mix. Films honored include in these various aural categories include The Handmaiden, Arrival, Moonlight, Lion, Jackie, La La Land, Sully, The Witch, Doctor Strange, Sing Street and more. Which movies did you love listening to this year?...
- 1/22/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
‘Deadpool’ (Courtesy: 20th Century Fox)
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
The Oscars have never recognized a comic book film in the best picture category — but that could very easily change this year with Deadpool. The Tim Miller-directed and Ryan Reynolds-led Marvel movie was promoted to perfection, sustained hype, wowed critics, made a ton of money, and has been gaining steam throughout the entire awards season. Now, with mere days until Oscar nominations are announced, let’s see if this foul-mouthed fellow can surprise everyone and become the first superhero film to ever be nominated for best picture.
As far as precursor awards go, Deadpool has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards (best motion picture for a comedy/musical as well as lead actor for Reynolds), a DGA Award (for Miller), a PGA Award (for Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, and Reynolds), and a WGA Award (for Rhett Reese...
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
The Oscars have never recognized a comic book film in the best picture category — but that could very easily change this year with Deadpool. The Tim Miller-directed and Ryan Reynolds-led Marvel movie was promoted to perfection, sustained hype, wowed critics, made a ton of money, and has been gaining steam throughout the entire awards season. Now, with mere days until Oscar nominations are announced, let’s see if this foul-mouthed fellow can surprise everyone and become the first superhero film to ever be nominated for best picture.
As far as precursor awards go, Deadpool has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards (best motion picture for a comedy/musical as well as lead actor for Reynolds), a DGA Award (for Miller), a PGA Award (for Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, and Reynolds), and a WGA Award (for Rhett Reese...
- 1/16/2017
- by Carson Blackwelder
- Scott Feinberg
Though the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes don't share voters, La La Land's sweep at the latter -- winning the most prizes, literally ever, at the Globes-- suggests the kind of overall crowd-pleasing and respectability strength that means the Best Picture Oscar is already won. The only suspense is how many other statues will be keeping it company on Hollywood's High Holy Night in February. But the race for nominations, which we've always maintained is the most exciting part each year anyway, is still relatively heated. So the Best Picture Oscar chart has been updated (more charts to follow over the next couple of days). But in short yours truly in punditry believe that the race currently breaks down like so
Tier 1 - The Locks... La La Land, Moonlight, and Manchester by the Sea
Tier 2 - If There Were Still Only 5.... Arrival and Hell or High Water?
Tier...
Tier 1 - The Locks... La La Land, Moonlight, and Manchester by the Sea
Tier 2 - If There Were Still Only 5.... Arrival and Hell or High Water?
Tier...
- 1/11/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
World premieres include Fanny Ardant’s Stalin’s Couch [pictured], Elisabeth E. Schuch’s The Book Of Birdie, Erlingur Ottar Thoroddsen’s Rift, and Manuel Concha’s Blind Alley.
Goteborg Film Festival has announced its programme of nearly 450 films from 84 countries to screen during the festival’s 40th anniversary edition (Jan 27-Feb 6).
As reported earlier, the festival will kick off with Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland.
The eight films (all world premieres) competing for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film – with a prize of $110,500 (Sek 1m) — are as follows:
Tom Of Finland by Dome Karukoski (Finland/Sweden/Denmark/Germany/Us)Beyond Dreams by Rojda Sekersöz (Sweden)The Ex-wife by Katja Wik (Sweden)Heartstone by Gudmundur A. Gudmundsson (Iceland/Denmark)Sámi Blood by Amanda Kernell (Sweden/Denmark/Norway)Little Wing bySelma Vilhunen (Finland)The Man by Charlotte Sieling (Denmark)Handle With Care by Arild Andresen (Norway)
The Nordic documentary competition includes:
Citizen Schein by Maud Nycander, [link...
Goteborg Film Festival has announced its programme of nearly 450 films from 84 countries to screen during the festival’s 40th anniversary edition (Jan 27-Feb 6).
As reported earlier, the festival will kick off with Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland.
The eight films (all world premieres) competing for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film – with a prize of $110,500 (Sek 1m) — are as follows:
Tom Of Finland by Dome Karukoski (Finland/Sweden/Denmark/Germany/Us)Beyond Dreams by Rojda Sekersöz (Sweden)The Ex-wife by Katja Wik (Sweden)Heartstone by Gudmundur A. Gudmundsson (Iceland/Denmark)Sámi Blood by Amanda Kernell (Sweden/Denmark/Norway)Little Wing bySelma Vilhunen (Finland)The Man by Charlotte Sieling (Denmark)Handle With Care by Arild Andresen (Norway)
The Nordic documentary competition includes:
Citizen Schein by Maud Nycander, [link...
- 1/11/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
David Crow Jan 11, 2017
After beating out critical darlings like Jackie and Nocturnal Animals at the PGAs, Deadpool may just wind up with a Best Picture Oscar nod.
The superhero genre has come a long way in the 21st century. Once considered a trashy blockbuster oddity that was as dead as Bat-nipples 17 years ago, superhero movies are now the defining entertainment and escapism de jour of our times, just as the Western or musical was a half-century ago. If you need any better confirmation consider this: Deadpool, the movie that features Ryan Reynolds making dick jokes after breaking his foot on the metallic package of X-Man Colossus, is now nominated for the Daryl F Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures from the Producers Guild of America.
The PGA is not exactly a household name among casual moviegoers. Unlike the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s Oscars,...
After beating out critical darlings like Jackie and Nocturnal Animals at the PGAs, Deadpool may just wind up with a Best Picture Oscar nod.
The superhero genre has come a long way in the 21st century. Once considered a trashy blockbuster oddity that was as dead as Bat-nipples 17 years ago, superhero movies are now the defining entertainment and escapism de jour of our times, just as the Western or musical was a half-century ago. If you need any better confirmation consider this: Deadpool, the movie that features Ryan Reynolds making dick jokes after breaking his foot on the metallic package of X-Man Colossus, is now nominated for the Daryl F Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures from the Producers Guild of America.
The PGA is not exactly a household name among casual moviegoers. Unlike the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s Oscars,...
- 1/10/2017
- Den of Geek
We all experience drastically different film years. For simple logistical reasons, this Europe-based reviewer has yet been able to see Moonlight, Jackie, Silence, Fences, Lion, I Am Not Your Negro, 20th Century Women and – alas, our collective top film of year – Manchester by the Sea. Understandable, then, that my perception of 2016 at the cinemas wouldn’t quite align with that of my colleagues.
Based on the 281 films watched (yeah, this reviewer really gave 2016 its chances), it’s not been the most exciting year cinematically. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of good-great movies were released or screened at festivals these past 12 months – the final list-making proved just as difficult and arbitrary as always. But from the Spotlight-led Oscar season to an edition of Cannes that crowned I, Daniel Blake, accompanied by the overall weak turnout of Chinese-language cinema we’ve gone on about, there did seem to be a shorter supply of instant,...
Based on the 281 films watched (yeah, this reviewer really gave 2016 its chances), it’s not been the most exciting year cinematically. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of good-great movies were released or screened at festivals these past 12 months – the final list-making proved just as difficult and arbitrary as always. But from the Spotlight-led Oscar season to an edition of Cannes that crowned I, Daniel Blake, accompanied by the overall weak turnout of Chinese-language cinema we’ve gone on about, there did seem to be a shorter supply of instant,...
- 1/7/2017
- by Zhuo-Ning Su
- The Film Stage
The dominant conversation about film in 2016 was its impending end. Just about every sphere of the cinematic world from filmmakers to established critics to loudmouth pundits had a doomsday proclamation about film, conflating national anxiety and middling blockbusters with far-flung conclusions. With the year in the books, it’s pretty easy to disagree with them. And I say that even as I diverge with public opinion on some of the biggest films of the year – Jackie, La La Land, Moonlight, Manchester By the Sea, etc.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my favorite experiences with film this year were less my most-anticipated than the ones that defied easy description. They weren’t always my favorites but films like The Love Witch, Lemonade, Operation Avalanche, Kate Plays Christine, and Aferim! were welcome reminders of the myriad ways that film could feel strange and new – and in...
But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my favorite experiences with film this year were less my most-anticipated than the ones that defied easy description. They weren’t always my favorites but films like The Love Witch, Lemonade, Operation Avalanche, Kate Plays Christine, and Aferim! were welcome reminders of the myriad ways that film could feel strange and new – and in...
- 1/5/2017
- by Michael Snydel
- The Film Stage
Film Independent has announced the co-hosts for the 2017 Independent Spirit Awards, taking place Saturday, February 25. This year’s celebration of indie features will be emceed by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney.
“From film to television to Broadway, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney have been almost everywhere – and now their world domination will be complete when they host the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “We couldn’t think of two smarter, funnier people to host our show, and look forward to having them on the beach on Saturday, February 25.”
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
Kroll is best known for his critically acclaimed Comedy Central series “Kroll Show,” as well as his roles in “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “My Blind Brother” and “Date Night,” among others. He currently stars in “Loving,” which is nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards,...
“From film to television to Broadway, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney have been almost everywhere – and now their world domination will be complete when they host the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “We couldn’t think of two smarter, funnier people to host our show, and look forward to having them on the beach on Saturday, February 25.”
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
Kroll is best known for his critically acclaimed Comedy Central series “Kroll Show,” as well as his roles in “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “My Blind Brother” and “Date Night,” among others. He currently stars in “Loving,” which is nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards,...
- 1/3/2017
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Ignore any suggestion that 2016 was not a fantastic year for cinema. Moments linger (the campfire dance in American Honey, the final encounter in Certain Women, the Tracy Letts–Logan Lerman debate in Indignation, the first ten minutes of High-Rise, both “Camelot”-soundtracked sequences in Jackie, any scene that featured Ralph Fiennes in A Bigger Splash) and performances resonate (everyone in Moonlight, Emma Stone in La La Land, Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters).
Choosing ten favorites and five honorable mentions is nasty business; I wish I could have included Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply, a ridiculously underrated film that does not deserve to be remembered as a flop. But it just missed the cut. (Also, I was unable to see Silence in time for end-of-year consideration.) What these fifteen films have in common is the ability to surprise, confound, and delight in equal measure. Let’s see 2017 top that.
Honorable...
Choosing ten favorites and five honorable mentions is nasty business; I wish I could have included Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply, a ridiculously underrated film that does not deserve to be remembered as a flop. But it just missed the cut. (Also, I was unable to see Silence in time for end-of-year consideration.) What these fifteen films have in common is the ability to surprise, confound, and delight in equal measure. Let’s see 2017 top that.
Honorable...
- 1/2/2017
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
Nice to see Sing Street get some attention. The 2016 Central Ohio Film Critics Association awards nominees are: Best Film -Arrival -Hacksaw Ridge -Hell or High Water -Jackie...
- 1/1/2017
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
Best Picture Of The Year: 13th (Netflix) Arrival (Paramount) Elle (Sony Pictures Classics) The Handmaiden (Amazon Studios/Magnolia Pictures) Hell Or High Water (CBS Films) Jackie (Fox Searchlight) La La Land...
- 12/21/2016
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
The end of the year brings countless “best of” lists from critics all across the country. Our own Eric Kohn has already weighed in on the year’s best films with his personal Top 16 list (topped by “Moonlight” and “Jackie”), while over 200 critics took our IndieWire Critics Poll to determine the 50 best movies of 2016. The critics have spoken aplenty, but now it’s your turn.
Read More: The Best of 2016: IndieWire’s Year in Review Bible
Now through Wednesday, December 28 at 10am Et, we’re asking our readers to tell us which film and television show they loved most this year. Answers will be tallied up and our definitive readers “best of” list will revealed on Friday, December 30. To submit your picks, enter the registration form below. Please note your name and email address is required and will be added to the IndieWire newsletter group. You’re welcome to...
Read More: The Best of 2016: IndieWire’s Year in Review Bible
Now through Wednesday, December 28 at 10am Et, we’re asking our readers to tell us which film and television show they loved most this year. Answers will be tallied up and our definitive readers “best of” list will revealed on Friday, December 30. To submit your picks, enter the registration form below. Please note your name and email address is required and will be added to the IndieWire newsletter group. You’re welcome to...
- 12/21/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Sefca just announced its awards, as follows: Top Ten Films 1. Moonlight 2. Manchester by the Sea 3. La La Land 4. Hell or High Water 5. Loving 6. Arrival 7. (Tie) Fences and Jackie 8. Nocturnal Animals...
- 12/19/2016
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
The 2016 movie season is coming to a pretty spectacular end this month with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, La La Land, Jackie and Manchester by the Sea all playing in theaters at the same time. They joined a long list of stellar films to hit multiplexes this year that includes Hell or High Water, Moonlight, Deadpool, Loving, 20th Century Women and Arrival. Many have argued that all the creative energy in the industry has moved to television, but this year proved that wasn't quite the case.
Now we...
Now we...
- 12/16/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Moonlight fan poster by Tony StellaMoonlight, Deadpool, Mel Gibson, Trolls: a portrait of mainstream cinema in 2016 in the form of the eclectic list of nominees for the 2017 Golden Globes.Speaking of awards, the European Film Awards were announced over the weekend, with Germany's Toni Erdmann deservedly winning in the film, direction, actor, actress, and screenwriter categories. A moment of pride: our film, The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki, took home the Discovery award.An even more handsome list of films can be found at Film Comment's best released and unreleased films of the year. The poll is discussed in the magazine's latest podcast.The First Look series, a January festival at New York's Museum of the Moving Image, has always been on the cutting edge of film programming, and the 2017 First Look lineup looks very strong indeed, including a video game (!), Hirokazu Kore-eda's After the Storm,...
- 12/14/2016
- MUBI
Academy brass on Tuesday announced the roster of songs and scores that will advance to the nominations stage for the 89th Academy Awards.
The original songs include Audition (The Fools Who Dream) from La La Land, Can’t Stop The Feeling from Trolls, I See A Victory from Hidden Figures and I’m Still Here from Miss Sharon Jones!
Score contenders include La La Land, Lion, Moonlight, The Bfg, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Jungle Book and Jackie.
All voting members of the music branch will receive a reminder list during the nominations stage of works submitted in the categories and a compilation of the song clips and scores. Members will vote for both categories in the order of their preference for up to five titles.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive...
The original songs include Audition (The Fools Who Dream) from La La Land, Can’t Stop The Feeling from Trolls, I See A Victory from Hidden Figures and I’m Still Here from Miss Sharon Jones!
Score contenders include La La Land, Lion, Moonlight, The Bfg, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Jungle Book and Jackie.
All voting members of the music branch will receive a reminder list during the nominations stage of works submitted in the categories and a compilation of the song clips and scores. Members will vote for both categories in the order of their preference for up to five titles.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive...
- 12/13/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Here are the lists of 2017 Golden Globe nominations announced this morning by film and distributors: Nominations By Motion Picture La La Land 7 Moonlight 6 Manchester By The Sea 5 Florence Foster Jenkins 4 Lion 4 Hacksaw Ridge 3 Hell or High Water 3 Nocturnal Animals 3 20th Century Women 2 Arrival 2 Deadpool 2 Elle 2 Fences 2 Hidden Figures 2 Moana 2 Loving 2 Sing 2 Captain Fantastic 1 Divines 1 The Edge of Seventeen 1 Gold 1 Jackie 1 Kubo And The Two Strings 1 The…...
- 12/12/2016
- Deadline
What did you see this weekend? I've had the neverending winter cold so I've been totally out of it. Hope you've been enjoying more films than I! This weekend contained a spectacular debut for La La Land which grossed nearly a million in only five theaters. To put it in context that's about twice what Moonlight and Cafe Society were able to accomplish in their similar sized opening weekends which were considered quite strong at the time. It's about four-to-six times what other art house darlings of the year (like The Lobster, Jackie, Love & Friendship, A Bigger Splash) were able to manage in similar sized openings. Most of those films proved to have a ceiling around $9-12 million at the Us box office but La La Land seems sure to cross over to mainstream success.
Also worth noting: A great weekend for the musical form in general since Moana stayed up top.
Also worth noting: A great weekend for the musical form in general since Moana stayed up top.
- 12/12/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
La La Land sat atop the Specialty box office chart with the year's best per theater average (read more about that here). Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the Lionsgate release opened in five locations averaging $171K, outpacing the year's previous PTA star Moonlight, which had an average of over $100K in its debut weekend in October. Fox Searchlight's Jackie sparkled in its second weekend with a 21 theater expansion grossing $495K, while both TWC's Lion and Amazon…...
- 12/11/2016
- Deadline
“Manchester by the Sea” is one of the year’s most acclaimed films, and it isn’t just critics praising it. Bennett Miller (“Capote,” “Foxcatcher”) has written about Kenneth Lonergan’s follow-up to “Margaret” for Variety’s Directors on Directors series, calling it “the kind of work that makes me, as a filmmaker, want to continue. It’s inspiring.”
Read More: AFI’s Top 10 Films and TV Shows of 2016: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘The Night Of’ and More Make the Cut
“The film itself feels conscious, as if you’re inside and under the influence of a mind, and though never identified, the character of the film is for me as significant as the story itself,” he continues. “You feel it. The steadfast attention that admits the complexities and oddities of real life, the mundanity, the absurdity, the humor, moments that would otherwise be dismissed as pedestrian begin to add up to something epic.
Read More: AFI’s Top 10 Films and TV Shows of 2016: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘The Night Of’ and More Make the Cut
“The film itself feels conscious, as if you’re inside and under the influence of a mind, and though never identified, the character of the film is for me as significant as the story itself,” he continues. “You feel it. The steadfast attention that admits the complexities and oddities of real life, the mundanity, the absurdity, the humor, moments that would otherwise be dismissed as pedestrian begin to add up to something epic.
- 12/8/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Saturday Am Update: DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment's Office Christmas Party topped the Friday box office with an estimated $6.6 million, heading toward what is expected to be a $17+ million three-day opening. At this point it is looking like that won't be enough for a first place finish as Disney's Moana is expected to bring in around $18+ million after an estimated $4.1 million Friday. Elsewhere, Focus' expansion of Nocturnal Animals into 1,262 theaters (+1,135) brought in an estimated $1.1 million and is heading toward what looks like a $3.6 million weekend. For EuropaCorp's Miss Sloane things aren't quite as rosy as the film expanded into 1,648 theaters this weekend and is looking at a three-day right around $1.9 million after an estimated $660,000 on Friday. Manchester by the Sea, however, is doing a little better than expected, bringing in an estimated $912,250 on Friday, heading toward a $3+ million weekend from just 367 theaters. And speaking of performing, Lionsgate's La La Land...
- 12/8/2016
- by Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
"City of stars, there's so much that I can't see..." It's here! One of the annual must-see best of the year lists is actually a video countdown made by my colleague David Ehrlich (follow him @davidehrlich). He counts down his 25 best films of the year in a video edited together with footage and music from each of the films. This is such an entertaining way to count down the best cinema of 2016, and it always makes me want to watch each one of these (even the ones I've seen before). There's so many great films on Ehrlich's list this year - from Jackie to La La Land to The Fits to Moonlight, and yes, even Swiss Army Man is superb. Enjoy. Video embedded directly from Vimeo. Description: "A video countdown of the best films of 2016." Created by film critic/writer David Ehrlich (follow him on Twitter @davidehrlich). His pick of...
- 12/6/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
David Crow Dec 5, 2016
The Academy has announced the shortlist of contenders for its VFX category at the Oscars. Civil War and Batman are on there...
With the Oscars only a few months away, the race to the golden prizes that entails has begun. But while early frontrunners in the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences’ Best Picture category include the likes of La La Land, Jackie, Moonlight, and Fences, the Visual Effects category is going to be much more friendly to genre fare and those who love it.
Among the films appearing on the shortlist of contenders are Arrival, Captain America: Civil War, Batman B Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Doctor Strange, Deadpool, The Jungle Book, and Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. You can see the whole list below:
Alice Through The Looking Glass
Arrival
The Bfg
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Captain America: Civil War...
The Academy has announced the shortlist of contenders for its VFX category at the Oscars. Civil War and Batman are on there...
With the Oscars only a few months away, the race to the golden prizes that entails has begun. But while early frontrunners in the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences’ Best Picture category include the likes of La La Land, Jackie, Moonlight, and Fences, the Visual Effects category is going to be much more friendly to genre fare and those who love it.
Among the films appearing on the shortlist of contenders are Arrival, Captain America: Civil War, Batman B Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Doctor Strange, Deadpool, The Jungle Book, and Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. You can see the whole list below:
Alice Through The Looking Glass
Arrival
The Bfg
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Captain America: Civil War...
- 12/2/2016
- Den of Geek
1. La La Land 2. Manchester by the Sea 3. Moonlight 4. Fences 5. Silence 6. Jackie 7. Sully 8. Loving 9. Hell or High Water 10. Birth of a Nation (thanks Kevin Mezentsev)
The post Peter Travers’ Top 10 Movies...
The post Peter Travers’ Top 10 Movies...
- 12/2/2016
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
November's most fun exercize was a ranking of the "1 and done" actors and actresses who've won Oscars in their only competition, and updating the Oscar charts for 2016, too. The key awards events were the Indie Spirits which Moonlight and American Honey led with six nominations apiece and the Gothams which went big for Moonlight and also loved all over Isabelle Huppert. Here are 16 key posts from the month in case you missed any of them.
8 Favorites
• Best Young Performers - which child stars and teen actors deserve kudos?
• Happy Anniversary to the Pfeiffer-Kelleys - a couple for 23 years now
• Tree of Life Revisited - with a live orchestra no less
• Noirvember: Kiss Me Deadly - a "thriller of tomorrow" that still packs a punch
• "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" -Judy & Barbra's classic duet
• The Furniture: Hell or High Water - I always see the movie in new ways...
8 Favorites
• Best Young Performers - which child stars and teen actors deserve kudos?
• Happy Anniversary to the Pfeiffer-Kelleys - a couple for 23 years now
• Tree of Life Revisited - with a live orchestra no less
• Noirvember: Kiss Me Deadly - a "thriller of tomorrow" that still packs a punch
• "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" -Judy & Barbra's classic duet
• The Furniture: Hell or High Water - I always see the movie in new ways...
- 11/30/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The National Board of Review, the only non-industry and non-journalist/critic group of note that passes out awards each year have announced their winners. They are notoriously secretive and hard to predict apart from three things: their eternal love for Clint Eastwood (even when no one else is loving him as with titles like Hereafter) so we knew Sully would be on their list; their recency bias (they love December releases historically more than Oscar); and their magical not-at-all suspicious divvying up of prizes to make sure each studio must purchases a table at their banquet.
Their top winner this year were Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea which won four awards and Moonlight which won two. No other film took multiple prizes though some received a prize plus a citation on one of their top five / top ten lists. Notable Oscar hopefuls that received no mentions whatsover: Jackie,...
Their top winner this year were Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea which won four awards and Moonlight which won two. No other film took multiple prizes though some received a prize plus a citation on one of their top five / top ten lists. Notable Oscar hopefuls that received no mentions whatsover: Jackie,...
- 11/29/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
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