Organised by the Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals, and supported by Create HongKong and the Film Development Fund, the Asian Film Awards Academy (Academy or Afaa) has spearheaded efforts to promote Asian cinema around the world year-round. As part of the Asian Film Awards (Afa), its flagship event and the largest celebration of Asian cinema in the world, the Academy appoints an emerging Asian star every year as Youth Ambassador to act as the face of the awards and to take part in outreach activities. For the first time in its history, the Academy has appointed not one, but four celebrated Asian stars as the Youth Ambassadors of the 17th Afa: (in alphabetical order) Liu Kuan-Ting, Mario Maurer, Miyazawa Hio and Will Or.
Embodying numerous countries and cultures, Asia is a region that is rich in diversity, and that diversity has always been reflected in its films,...
Embodying numerous countries and cultures, Asia is a region that is rich in diversity, and that diversity has always been reflected in its films,...
- 12/28/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
The actor is known for Taiwan box office hit ‘Marry My Dead Body’.
Hsu Kuang-han, the star of Taiwan box office hit Marry My Dead Body, will next be seen in romantic drama 18x2 by acclaimed Japanese director Michihito Fujii.
The actor, also known as Greg Han, will play opposite Japanese actress Kaya Kiyohara in the romance, which is in post-production. A first look at the two actors in the film can be seen above.
It is produced by Taiwan’s Jumpboys Films and Japan’s Babel Label, founded by director Fujii.
Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in...
Hsu Kuang-han, the star of Taiwan box office hit Marry My Dead Body, will next be seen in romantic drama 18x2 by acclaimed Japanese director Michihito Fujii.
The actor, also known as Greg Han, will play opposite Japanese actress Kaya Kiyohara in the romance, which is in post-production. A first look at the two actors in the film can be seen above.
It is produced by Taiwan’s Jumpboys Films and Japan’s Babel Label, founded by director Fujii.
Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in...
- 10/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The actor is known for Taiwanese box office hit ‘Marry My Dead Body’.
Hsu Kuang-han, the star of Taiwanese box office hit Marry My Dead Body, will next be seen in romantic drama 18x2 by acclaimed Japanese director Michihito Fujii.
The actor, also known as Greg Han, will play opposite Japanese actress Kaya Kiyohara in the romance, which is in post-production.
It is produced by Taiwan’s Jumpboys Films and Japan’s Babel Label, founded by director Fujii.
Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in Japan in May 2024 and is launching sales at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm), which opens in Busan today.
Hsu Kuang-han, the star of Taiwanese box office hit Marry My Dead Body, will next be seen in romantic drama 18x2 by acclaimed Japanese director Michihito Fujii.
The actor, also known as Greg Han, will play opposite Japanese actress Kaya Kiyohara in the romance, which is in post-production.
It is produced by Taiwan’s Jumpboys Films and Japan’s Babel Label, founded by director Fujii.
Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in Japan in May 2024 and is launching sales at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm), which opens in Busan today.
- 10/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Four years ago, before Covid turned everything upside down, a new Asian masterpiece world premiered virtually unnoticed at the Toronto Film Festival. That film was “A Sun,” a multifaceted Taiwanese family saga from director Chung Mong-Hong that seemed to shift and evolve as it unfolded, challenging what audiences thought they knew about the characters. Tucked away in TIFF’s overcrowded (and under-promoted) Contemporary World Cinema section, the film easily slid under the radar.
Toronto programmers weren’t about to make the same mistake with “A Normal Family,” a film of similar force from South Korea, giving it a coveted Gala spot. Director Hur Jin-ho’s complex, complacency-shattering moral study boasts a heightened yet easily relatable premise, and strong potential to play well around the globe. Like “A Sun,” the movie comes roaring out of the gate with a shocker of an opening scene: An aggro jerk in a blood-red Maserati...
Toronto programmers weren’t about to make the same mistake with “A Normal Family,” a film of similar force from South Korea, giving it a coveted Gala spot. Director Hur Jin-ho’s complex, complacency-shattering moral study boasts a heightened yet easily relatable premise, and strong potential to play well around the globe. Like “A Sun,” the movie comes roaring out of the gate with a shocker of an opening scene: An aggro jerk in a blood-red Maserati...
- 9/15/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The drama about two sisters is from first-time feature director Sasha Chuk.
Hong Kong project Fly Me To The Moon won five awards at the closing of this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum.
The film will mark the feature directorial debut of Sasha Chuk and is produced by Hong Kong filmmaker Stanley Kwan, whose films as a director include Venice 2005 title Everlasting Regret, Cannes 2001 film Lan Yu and Berlin competition titles Center Stage, The Island Tales, Hold You Tight and Red Rose White Rose.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Fly Me To The Moon was among...
Hong Kong project Fly Me To The Moon won five awards at the closing of this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum.
The film will mark the feature directorial debut of Sasha Chuk and is produced by Hong Kong filmmaker Stanley Kwan, whose films as a director include Venice 2005 title Everlasting Regret, Cannes 2001 film Lan Yu and Berlin competition titles Center Stage, The Island Tales, Hold You Tight and Red Rose White Rose.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Fly Me To The Moon was among...
- 3/16/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The slate of offerings from Taiwan at this year’s European Film Market is a solid one, without a doubt. Among the 92 titles of films and projects, there are recent Golden Horse award-winning titles as well as new regional and international co-productions, both completed or works in-progress, in a diverse range of genres that come with promising premises, and a delegation of at least 10 sales companies that will present at the event in Berlin.
Such a strong line-up of films available for international sales can be understood as a snapshot of current state of Taiwan cinema. There’s an emergence of a generation of new talent who dare to challenge the status quo of filmmaking and storytelling, and the ambition to reach an audience beyond the self-governed island is loud and clear. This is especially true following the international attention that “A Sun” and “The Falls” had previously garnered, the...
Such a strong line-up of films available for international sales can be understood as a snapshot of current state of Taiwan cinema. There’s an emergence of a generation of new talent who dare to challenge the status quo of filmmaking and storytelling, and the ambition to reach an audience beyond the self-governed island is loud and clear. This is especially true following the international attention that “A Sun” and “The Falls” had previously garnered, the...
- 2/16/2023
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
TIFF Industry platform to feature a Taiwan Cinema booth for the first time.
Taiwan is to debut at Toronto’s TIFF Industry section with a hefty slate of 82 films and projects, including its submission for best international feature at the Oscars, Goddamned Asura.
The slate will be presented by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), which will also host the first Taiwan Cinema booth and push its position as a valuable co-production partner through attractive funding schemes.
Goddamned Asura will receive a market screening on September 11 with director Lou Yi-An in attendance of a post-screening networking event. International sales are...
Taiwan is to debut at Toronto’s TIFF Industry section with a hefty slate of 82 films and projects, including its submission for best international feature at the Oscars, Goddamned Asura.
The slate will be presented by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), which will also host the first Taiwan Cinema booth and push its position as a valuable co-production partner through attractive funding schemes.
Goddamned Asura will receive a market screening on September 11 with director Lou Yi-An in attendance of a post-screening networking event. International sales are...
- 9/9/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
An ambitious slate of more than 80 titles is featured in Taiwan’s debut at Toronto Film Festival’s TIFF Industry section this year, presenting a diverse mix of productions in various genres in a bid to showcase not just the island’s homegrown talent but also its potential as a co-production hub in the region.
“We want to emphasize our commitment in bringing Taiwan’s film and television works to the global stage, and at the same time, making Taiwan the best co-production partner in Asia,” says Izero Lee, CEO of Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), which presents the slate at the market sector of the Toronto Film Festival this year. Taicca is an independent agency set up by the Ministry of Culture and the cabinet (Executive Yuan) that has been actively promoting the island’s cultural and creative content globally.
“We are actively fostering relations with international companies, institutions,...
“We want to emphasize our commitment in bringing Taiwan’s film and television works to the global stage, and at the same time, making Taiwan the best co-production partner in Asia,” says Izero Lee, CEO of Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), which presents the slate at the market sector of the Toronto Film Festival this year. Taicca is an independent agency set up by the Ministry of Culture and the cabinet (Executive Yuan) that has been actively promoting the island’s cultural and creative content globally.
“We are actively fostering relations with international companies, institutions,...
- 9/8/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 8/30/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 8/25/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 8/22/2022
- by Ben Dalton¬Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 8/15/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
As I realized after having an interview with him a couple of weeks ago, before becoming famous as the protagonist of films like “A Sun” ,The Falls” and “Leave Me Alone” Chen Yi-wen also had a very interesting career as a director, which, stopped, though, in 2006 with just five titles. As such, I took it upon myself to check all of them, with “A Chance to Die”, a film ordered by Sino-Japanese producers, and the one with the lowest score on IMDb for some reason, being the first.
The intro is quite indicative of the rest of the movie, with violence, sex and rapid pace giving the tone, before we stumble upon a team of maverick criminals intruding on a drug deal in Taipei, stealing millons of cash and leaving two Japanese dead. While triad bosses become fret over the situation, and their inner antagonism becomes more and more intense,...
The intro is quite indicative of the rest of the movie, with violence, sex and rapid pace giving the tone, before we stumble upon a team of maverick criminals intruding on a drug deal in Taipei, stealing millons of cash and leaving two Japanese dead. While triad bosses become fret over the situation, and their inner antagonism becomes more and more intense,...
- 5/12/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Chen Yi-wen started his career as an actor, repeatedly cooperating with the late Edward Yang, before he decided to become a director himself. He continued with his two capacities until 2006, with the film “Tripping” being the last he directed to date. As an actor, he has repeatedly cooperated with Chung Mong-hong, netting the Best Leading Actor Award for “A Sun” in the 56th Golden Horse Awards. Five films he starred in were released in 2021, including “The Falls”, “Increasing Echo” and “Leave Me Alone”
On the occasion of the latter screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about his career and the way the industry has changed through the years, his collaborations with Edward Yang, Chung Mong-hong and Fan Yang-chung, streaming platforms and many other topics.
Leave Me Alone screened at Osaka Asian Film Festival
You have been in the movie industry since the 90s. Which are the...
On the occasion of the latter screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about his career and the way the industry has changed through the years, his collaborations with Edward Yang, Chung Mong-hong and Fan Yang-chung, streaming platforms and many other topics.
Leave Me Alone screened at Osaka Asian Film Festival
You have been in the movie industry since the 90s. Which are the...
- 4/21/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
When Taiwan auteur Chung Mong-hong’s acclaimed drama “A Sun” became a hit among film critics and film buffs from around the world after Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge named it the best film of 2020, it had reignited the hope and expectations of the island’s cinematic offerings. The buzz and excitement were seen as what could be the beginning of a comeback of Taiwanese cinema on the international stage.
Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. “A Sun,” and the director’s follow-up feature, “The Falls,” which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (“City of Sadness”) and Edward Yang...
Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. “A Sun,” and the director’s follow-up feature, “The Falls,” which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (“City of Sadness”) and Edward Yang...
- 2/12/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Chung Mong-hong is one of the most exciting voices coming out of Taiwanese cinema for years now. His work, either as a director in titles such “Godspeed” and “A Sun” or as producer in “The Great Buddha+” and “Classmates Minus” is a always a pleasure to watch, particularly for the way he manages to combine mainstream themes with an art-house approach and rich sociopolitical context. “The Falls” is not an exception.
“The Falls” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
Single mother Pin-Wen is a career woman working in a multinational company, while living with her teenage daughter, Xiao Jing. One day, however, things take a turn for the worse for her, as she is informed of a severe salary cut, and also that her daughter is forced to quarantine after a classmate tested positive for coronavirus. At the company’s request, Pin-Wen is also forced to stay at home,...
“The Falls” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
Single mother Pin-Wen is a career woman working in a multinational company, while living with her teenage daughter, Xiao Jing. One day, however, things take a turn for the worse for her, as she is informed of a severe salary cut, and also that her daughter is forced to quarantine after a classmate tested positive for coronavirus. At the company’s request, Pin-Wen is also forced to stay at home,...
- 2/3/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
After going dark for the first time in more than half a century, the return of the Cannes Film Festival proves one major point: the event is still a significant launch pad when it comes to the International Feature Film Oscars. Indeed, of the 90-plus submissions recorded so far this year, nearly a quarter made their debut on the Croisette, be it in Competition, Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight or Critics’ Week. It’s perhaps to be expected—since the Academy first introduced the category in 1956, foreign-language auteur works have dominated more commercial fare—but the skew towards Cannes is telling. Other festivals have their place—notably Berlin and Venice, with Sundance emerging this year as an unexpected new contender—but, as a rough guide, Cannes has physically premiered six of the last 10 winners and presented last year’s victor, Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round (Denmark) under the umbrella of its virtual 2020 label.
- 12/10/2021
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
By Ksenia Isakova
One of the film’s other messages seems to be that life also is too complicated to live under the harsh light of moral purity (Patrick Brzeski in the interview with Chung Mong-Hong about his movie “A Sun” for The Hollywood Reporter).
As time goes by, little by little we might forget about lots of details about a particular movie: the intricacies of the story development, setting nuances, even the director’s name or a movie title. However, certain stable and repeated patterns such as Maggie Cheung’s cheongsams in Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love,” the impeccable and haunting sound effects of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Pulse”, or the vision of the serene yet frightening fields of “Memories of the Murder” by Bong Joon-ho, are probably there to stay with us in our memory for much longer. These are the elements of mise-en-scene, and as Bordwell and Thompson rightfully suggest,...
One of the film’s other messages seems to be that life also is too complicated to live under the harsh light of moral purity (Patrick Brzeski in the interview with Chung Mong-Hong about his movie “A Sun” for The Hollywood Reporter).
As time goes by, little by little we might forget about lots of details about a particular movie: the intricacies of the story development, setting nuances, even the director’s name or a movie title. However, certain stable and repeated patterns such as Maggie Cheung’s cheongsams in Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love,” the impeccable and haunting sound effects of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Pulse”, or the vision of the serene yet frightening fields of “Memories of the Murder” by Bong Joon-ho, are probably there to stay with us in our memory for much longer. These are the elements of mise-en-scene, and as Bordwell and Thompson rightfully suggest,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
by Nathaniel R
Alyssia Chia and Gingle Wang arrive for "The Falls" -- will we also see them at the Oscars?
Chung Mong-hong's mother/daughter drama The Falls, which revolves around Covid-19 and mental illness, and is Taiwan's submission to the Oscars this year took home the top prize at the 58th annual Golden Horse Awards. But it was no sweeper. Chung Mong-hong, who had previously dominated the Golden Horse Awards just two seasons ago with A Sun (which went on to make Oscar's international finalist list), lost best director. Overall the wealth was spread with all of the Best Film nominees taking home statues. Chang Chen's latest star vehicle The Soul (streaming on Netflix) picked up four of them, tying The Falls haul.
The complete list of winners and gifs and photos from the event are after the jump...
Alyssia Chia and Gingle Wang arrive for "The Falls" -- will we also see them at the Oscars?
Chung Mong-hong's mother/daughter drama The Falls, which revolves around Covid-19 and mental illness, and is Taiwan's submission to the Oscars this year took home the top prize at the 58th annual Golden Horse Awards. But it was no sweeper. Chung Mong-hong, who had previously dominated the Golden Horse Awards just two seasons ago with A Sun (which went on to make Oscar's international finalist list), lost best director. Overall the wealth was spread with all of the Best Film nominees taking home statues. Chang Chen's latest star vehicle The Soul (streaming on Netflix) picked up four of them, tying The Falls haul.
The complete list of winners and gifs and photos from the event are after the jump...
- 11/29/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
“The Falls,” Taiwan’s Oscar contender and a timely drama about the trauma of home quarantine, emerged as the unsurprising winner at the Golden Horse Film Awards in Taipei on Saturday.
And, in a bold decision that has the potential to enrage Mainland Chinese authorities, the prize for best documentary feature was awarded to “Revolution of Our Times.” The film chronicles the brutality of the political crackdown on the streets of Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020.
“The Falls,” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in September, tells the tale of a mother and daughter cooped up in an apartment during a quarantine. It is directed by Chung Mong-hong, who previously directed “Parking” and “A Sun.”
At the award ceremony “The Falls” earned four prizes, including best narrative feature, best original screenplay, best actress and best original score.
The Golden Horse Film Awards are in their 58th edition and for many...
And, in a bold decision that has the potential to enrage Mainland Chinese authorities, the prize for best documentary feature was awarded to “Revolution of Our Times.” The film chronicles the brutality of the political crackdown on the streets of Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020.
“The Falls,” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in September, tells the tale of a mother and daughter cooped up in an apartment during a quarantine. It is directed by Chung Mong-hong, who previously directed “Parking” and “A Sun.”
At the award ceremony “The Falls” earned four prizes, including best narrative feature, best original screenplay, best actress and best original score.
The Golden Horse Film Awards are in their 58th edition and for many...
- 11/28/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwan has come up with ambitious plans for the American Film Market this year by presenting a virtual pavilion headlined by award-winning titles and recent film festival favorites, in the hope of boosting the self-governed island’s visibility internationally as a production hub as well as a choice of location shootings.
The growing appeal of Asian content in recent years, whether it is films or TV series streaming on international platforms, has made it possible to further promote Taiwanese content abroad, says Alice Chang, deputy CEO of Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), an intermediary organization set up in 2019 supervised by the Ministry of Culture to promote the island’s content industries.
“The North American market is more and more interested in Asian works compared to the past. As long as the story could resonate with the audience, even though it’s local and Asian, it still could be seen and...
The growing appeal of Asian content in recent years, whether it is films or TV series streaming on international platforms, has made it possible to further promote Taiwanese content abroad, says Alice Chang, deputy CEO of Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), an intermediary organization set up in 2019 supervised by the Ministry of Culture to promote the island’s content industries.
“The North American market is more and more interested in Asian works compared to the past. As long as the story could resonate with the audience, even though it’s local and Asian, it still could be seen and...
- 11/2/2021
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
The second of three blocks of the Asian Cinema Education International Journalism and Film Criticism Course focused on journalistic skills which are essential for film festivals organisers.
There are two ways to take part in the course:
in the full version, with registration, the participant gets the possibility of direct contact with tutors and consultation of own written work (registration ended on September 28);the webinars can also be watched without registration.
Participation in the course is free of charge. All webinars are conducted in English only – this is the working language of the whole course.
You can find the whole course here Festival skills – course info
Festivals play an important role in the life cycle of a film but are equally important for film critics. New talents find an audience there, like-minded people from different places meet. Not only is it a place for film critics and journalists to broaden their horizons,...
There are two ways to take part in the course:
in the full version, with registration, the participant gets the possibility of direct contact with tutors and consultation of own written work (registration ended on September 28);the webinars can also be watched without registration.
Participation in the course is free of charge. All webinars are conducted in English only – this is the working language of the whole course.
You can find the whole course here Festival skills – course info
Festivals play an important role in the life cycle of a film but are equally important for film critics. New talents find an audience there, like-minded people from different places meet. Not only is it a place for film critics and journalists to broaden their horizons,...
- 10/1/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
In the acclaimed director Chung Mong-Hong’s latest dramatic offering, “The Falls,” a high school student is forced to confront the wounds of a strained relationship with her mother when the two of them are forced to stay at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Auteur Tsai Ming-Liang, on the other hand, takes the audience on a time machine in short film “The Night,” sending them back to one night during the fall of 2019, when Hong Kong was in the midst of the worst political turmoil it has ever seen.
“The Falls” and “The Night” are the two offerings from Taiwan featured at this year’s Venice Film Festival. While “The Falls” is a dramatic feature from a director who has won the hearts of some of the world’s toughest film critics with drama “A Sun,” which was shortlists for the international film Oscar, “The Night” is an artistic...
“The Falls” and “The Night” are the two offerings from Taiwan featured at this year’s Venice Film Festival. While “The Falls” is a dramatic feature from a director who has won the hearts of some of the world’s toughest film critics with drama “A Sun,” which was shortlists for the international film Oscar, “The Night” is an artistic...
- 9/8/2021
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwanese filmmaker Chung Mong-hong is on a prolific streak. After having his previous feature A Sun submitted by Taiwan to the Oscars last year, and his latest film, The Falls, set to premiere in Venice’s Orizzonti section this week, the 56-year-old auteur is already at work on his next project — a revenge saga set in the 1950s in politically tumultuous Taipei.
The film will mark a break from the nuanced family melodrama that has characterized his recent work, Chung says. “It’s very violent and bloody,” he explains. “It will focus on the period of time when the Kuomintang government ...
The film will mark a break from the nuanced family melodrama that has characterized his recent work, Chung says. “It’s very violent and bloody,” he explains. “It will focus on the period of time when the Kuomintang government ...
Taiwanese filmmaker Chung Mong-hong is on a prolific streak. After having his previous feature A Sun submitted by Taiwan to the Oscars last year, and his latest film, The Falls, set to premiere in Venice’s Orizzonti section this week, the 56-year-old auteur is already at work on his next project — a revenge saga set in the 1950s in politically tumultuous Taipei.
The film will mark a break from the nuanced family melodrama that has characterized his recent work, Chung says. “It’s very violent and bloody,” he explains. “It will focus on the period of time when the Kuomintang government ...
The film will mark a break from the nuanced family melodrama that has characterized his recent work, Chung says. “It’s very violent and bloody,” he explains. “It will focus on the period of time when the Kuomintang government ...
Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong has been showered with acclaim in his native Taiwan, but his vivid, engrossing filmmaking continues to await its big breakthrough moment in the West.
The 55-year-old director’s work has twice been selected as Taiwan’s submission to the Oscars in the best international film category, first his psychological horror-thriller Soul in 2013, and last year the acclaimed, novelistic family drama A Sun.
A Sun also was nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious honors for Chinese-language cinema, and won six, including best feature, best director and the audience choice award. Netflix then acquired and discretely ...
The 55-year-old director’s work has twice been selected as Taiwan’s submission to the Oscars in the best international film category, first his psychological horror-thriller Soul in 2013, and last year the acclaimed, novelistic family drama A Sun.
A Sun also was nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious honors for Chinese-language cinema, and won six, including best feature, best director and the audience choice award. Netflix then acquired and discretely ...
Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong has been showered with acclaim in his native Taiwan, but his vivid, engrossing filmmaking continues to await its big breakthrough moment in the West.
The 55-year-old director’s work has twice been selected as Taiwan’s submission to the Oscars in the best international film category, first his psychological horror-thriller Soul in 2013, and last year the acclaimed, novelistic family drama A Sun.
A Sun also was nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious honors for Chinese-language cinema, and won six, including best feature, best director and the audience choice award. Netflix then acquired and discretely ...
The 55-year-old director’s work has twice been selected as Taiwan’s submission to the Oscars in the best international film category, first his psychological horror-thriller Soul in 2013, and last year the acclaimed, novelistic family drama A Sun.
A Sun also was nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards, the most prestigious honors for Chinese-language cinema, and won six, including best feature, best director and the audience choice award. Netflix then acquired and discretely ...
Romcom starring Greg Hsu and Zhang Ruonan grosses $65.1m, while Zhang Yimou’s spy thriller takes $37.7m in opening three days.
Youth Enlight Pictures’ romantic comedy My Love and Zhang Yimou’s spy thriller Cliff Walkers were the clear winners at the China box office over the May Day holiday weekend (April 30-May 2), although the romcom easily took pole position despite weak reviews.
A remake of hit South Korean romantic drama On Your Wedding Day (2018), My Love grossed $65.1m over the three-day weekend, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Directed by Han Tian, the film stars Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu,...
Youth Enlight Pictures’ romantic comedy My Love and Zhang Yimou’s spy thriller Cliff Walkers were the clear winners at the China box office over the May Day holiday weekend (April 30-May 2), although the romcom easily took pole position despite weak reviews.
A remake of hit South Korean romantic drama On Your Wedding Day (2018), My Love grossed $65.1m over the three-day weekend, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Directed by Han Tian, the film stars Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu,...
- 5/3/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
For the past two years, the Academy Award for international feature has been a foregone conclusion. With both “Parasite,” and “Roma,” the overriding question was which other categories they might take, and in a history-making achievement now wistfully recalled by many as “the last good thing to happen before lockdown,” “Parasite” took both the international and best picture awards last year.
This time, none of the international feature nominees snagged a best picture nod, but that doesn’t mean there’s no frontrunner. Denmark’s “Another Round,” a beautiful, bittersweet film about a gang of schoolteachers boozily self-medicating through their midlife crises, is the clear favorite, especially after its pleasant-surprise directing nomination for Thomas Vinterberg. For the past 40 years, also getting a director nod has all but guaranteed the international Oscar win, and boosted by the popularity of star Mads Mikkelsen giving one of his best performances, Denmark’s fourth...
This time, none of the international feature nominees snagged a best picture nod, but that doesn’t mean there’s no frontrunner. Denmark’s “Another Round,” a beautiful, bittersweet film about a gang of schoolteachers boozily self-medicating through their midlife crises, is the clear favorite, especially after its pleasant-surprise directing nomination for Thomas Vinterberg. For the past 40 years, also getting a director nod has all but guaranteed the international Oscar win, and boosted by the popularity of star Mads Mikkelsen giving one of his best performances, Denmark’s fourth...
- 4/1/2021
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
After years of pining for Hollywood accolades, China has more to celebrate about the Academy’s nominations this year than it has in nearly a decade. But its own politics have prevented its media and many of its citizens from rejoicing.
While Beijing’s submission, the propagandistic volleyball drama “Leap,” fell flat, Taiwan’s “A Sun” was shortlisted for Best International Feature Film and Hong Kong’s “Better Days” unexpectedly nabbed one of five nominations. Meanwhile, the Sino-u.S. co-production “Over the Moon” is competing for best animated feature, and even nominations for “Mulan” in costuming and visual effects could be spun as a sort of indirect win for Chinese culture. Towering above all are these are the six historic nominations for China-born Chloe Zhao and her film “Nomadland” for best director, picture, actress, adapted screenplay, cinematography and film editing.
But Zhao’s reputation has become a political hot button issue due to a short,...
While Beijing’s submission, the propagandistic volleyball drama “Leap,” fell flat, Taiwan’s “A Sun” was shortlisted for Best International Feature Film and Hong Kong’s “Better Days” unexpectedly nabbed one of five nominations. Meanwhile, the Sino-u.S. co-production “Over the Moon” is competing for best animated feature, and even nominations for “Mulan” in costuming and visual effects could be spun as a sort of indirect win for Chinese culture. Towering above all are these are the six historic nominations for China-born Chloe Zhao and her film “Nomadland” for best director, picture, actress, adapted screenplay, cinematography and film editing.
But Zhao’s reputation has become a political hot button issue due to a short,...
- 3/18/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwanese fingers will be crossed on Monday as wrenching family drama film “A Sun” hopes to secure the territory’s first foreign Oscar nomination since 2000, when Lee Ang’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was a winner in the category and became a global commercial success.
Directed by Chung Mong-hong “A Sun” is a powerful and dark tale of disaffected youth that raises questions about parental and individual responsibility. And it is somewhat at odds with Taiwan’s cinematic image as a land of colorful fantasy, urban slackers and martial arts.
But that dissonance, and the film’s critical acclaim, are all good from the point of view of Taicca, the newish government-backed agency whose role it is to help develop and promote the Taiwanese creative sector.
“Taiwan is the freest country in Asia, our creators can create whatever we want. That is today’s situation,” says Ting Hsiao-Ching, chairperson of Taicca.
Directed by Chung Mong-hong “A Sun” is a powerful and dark tale of disaffected youth that raises questions about parental and individual responsibility. And it is somewhat at odds with Taiwan’s cinematic image as a land of colorful fantasy, urban slackers and martial arts.
But that dissonance, and the film’s critical acclaim, are all good from the point of view of Taicca, the newish government-backed agency whose role it is to help develop and promote the Taiwanese creative sector.
“Taiwan is the freest country in Asia, our creators can create whatever we want. That is today’s situation,” says Ting Hsiao-Ching, chairperson of Taicca.
- 3/14/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Last February, just before the pandemic upended virtually everything about how the film industry operates, “Parasite” made history at the Academy Awards. The ingenious South Korean thriller became the first international film to “overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles” and win best picture, as director Bong Joon Ho phrased it at the podium.
But that was just one of the many barriers to “Parasite’s” potential success. Asia — which has produced some of the world’s most gifted directors — has had a particularly difficult time being recognized with the Academy. Hard to believe, but when Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was nominated for best picture in 2000, it had been a full 45 years since an Asian film had won Oscar’s foreign language prize (that film was “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto”).
European movies do fine in what’s now known as the “international feature” category — especially those from the four “Figs” markets,...
But that was just one of the many barriers to “Parasite’s” potential success. Asia — which has produced some of the world’s most gifted directors — has had a particularly difficult time being recognized with the Academy. Hard to believe, but when Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was nominated for best picture in 2000, it had been a full 45 years since an Asian film had won Oscar’s foreign language prize (that film was “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto”).
European movies do fine in what’s now known as the “international feature” category — especially those from the four “Figs” markets,...
- 3/9/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The 15 shortlisted films vying to become one of the five Best International Feature nominees at the 2021 Academy Awards are a surprising and creatively engaging bunch. Their stories often are drenched in history — much of it tragic and disturbing — and turbulent social and political currents course through any number of them. Just four of the 15 were directed by familiar names so, for the most part, the filmmakers behind these works are in the early stages of their careers, which can only create optimism and excitement about what these up-and-comers will do in the future.
Oscar nominations will be revealed on March 15.
I’ve now seen all of the contenders and must say that it was, for the most part, stimulating to encounter so many fresh voices from some often little-heard-from realms of the cinematic world. Fewer than half of the semi-finalists come from countries typically thought of as regularly representing the cinematic front-rank — France,...
Oscar nominations will be revealed on March 15.
I’ve now seen all of the contenders and must say that it was, for the most part, stimulating to encounter so many fresh voices from some often little-heard-from realms of the cinematic world. Fewer than half of the semi-finalists come from countries typically thought of as regularly representing the cinematic front-rank — France,...
- 3/8/2021
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar ballots will be in the hands of AMPAS voters on March 5, and they’ll have until March 10 to turn them in. All the predicting, theorizing and prognosticating have led to this crucial six-day period when the nearly 10,000 Academy members make their choices among the year’s achievements. As we head into this critical period, in a year defined by a global pandemic that has changed the way we look at cinema, we’re still reminded that movies are well worth celebrating.
Streamers provided access to some of the best films of 2020. This year, no matter what AMPAS ends up selecting as its nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards, most films will be widely available for consumers to watch before the ceremony. Cinema continues to evolve, and we can’t stop what’s coming. As with any true cinephile, my choices for what touched me from this extended eligibility are personally mine.
Streamers provided access to some of the best films of 2020. This year, no matter what AMPAS ends up selecting as its nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards, most films will be widely available for consumers to watch before the ceremony. Cinema continues to evolve, and we can’t stop what’s coming. As with any true cinephile, my choices for what touched me from this extended eligibility are personally mine.
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Production Design
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: The Art Directors Guild gave momentum to “Mulan,” “Promising Young Woman” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” in the production design race. The usual suspects such as “Mank, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Production Design
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: The Art Directors Guild gave momentum to “Mulan,” “Promising Young Woman” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” in the production design race. The usual suspects such as “Mank, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and...
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Film Editing
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: 50,000 feet out, “Sound of Metal” could go the way of Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” (2013), which won editing and sound mixing, after surprising wins at BAFTA and other guilds. “The Trial of the Chicago 7...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Film Editing
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: 50,000 feet out, “Sound of Metal” could go the way of Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” (2013), which won editing and sound mixing, after surprising wins at BAFTA and other guilds. “The Trial of the Chicago 7...
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Every family has its good child and its bad child or its “problem” child. How this family of four fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride and yet finds its way forward had me so anxious that I could barely sit still. And yet, as I persevered, so did they. The festivals, awards, and honors ‘A Sun’ by Chung Mong-Hong has accrued are worth every minute of its 2 hours 36 minutes.
Continue reading on SydneysBuzz The Blog »...
Continue reading on SydneysBuzz The Blog »...
- 3/3/2021
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Hollywood has always adapted to world changes, and Oscar campaigning this year has effectively adjusted to Covid. But one part of the awards season is missed more than the others: seeing a contender on the big screen.
Studios have delayed several big-scale films, including “Dune” and “West Side Story,” until later in 2021. So “small” movies are dominating the season, but even they are feeling the effects.
The sound design of “Minari” and “Sound of Metal,” the cinematography of “Nomadland” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” the production design of “One Night in Miami” and “The Father,” to name just a few, are admirable on the small-screen, but the nuances would be even more effective in a theater.
Academy members with younger children may have watched “Soul” or “Wolfwalkers” or “Onward” already many, many times on Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus. “Judas and the Black Messiah” can be streamed on HBO Max,...
Studios have delayed several big-scale films, including “Dune” and “West Side Story,” until later in 2021. So “small” movies are dominating the season, but even they are feeling the effects.
The sound design of “Minari” and “Sound of Metal,” the cinematography of “Nomadland” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” the production design of “One Night in Miami” and “The Father,” to name just a few, are admirable on the small-screen, but the nuances would be even more effective in a theater.
Academy members with younger children may have watched “Soul” or “Wolfwalkers” or “Onward” already many, many times on Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus. “Judas and the Black Messiah” can be streamed on HBO Max,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The film medium, all too often, is boxed or labeled into specific genres, and when it comes time for awards, that’s the only place voters deem “appropriate” for recognition. This includes documentaries, international and animated features, as well big-budget blockbusters that only find distinction in sound and visual effects, or comedies in a rare instance of the screenplay and a supporting acting nomination.
We’ve seen an eclectic and vibrant selection of films unveiled in this unconventional year. While milestone recognitions look to be on the horizon, all awards voters still have work to do in getting a more dynamic number of films recognized in other key categories. We’ve seen AMPAS take an important step in the right direction with HBO’s “Welcome to Chechnya,” which made the shortlists for both documentary and visual effects. Like last year’s “Honeyland,” which was nominated for both international and documentary feature,...
We’ve seen an eclectic and vibrant selection of films unveiled in this unconventional year. While milestone recognitions look to be on the horizon, all awards voters still have work to do in getting a more dynamic number of films recognized in other key categories. We’ve seen AMPAS take an important step in the right direction with HBO’s “Welcome to Chechnya,” which made the shortlists for both documentary and visual effects. Like last year’s “Honeyland,” which was nominated for both international and documentary feature,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Films and television projects from Taiwan that garnered more attention on the global stage in recent years have given creators a confidence boost. But greater effort is necessary to sustain an international market for the island’s creative output in the long-run, according to local industry players.
The island’s lower production costs and constant supply of creative talent, who are able to tell stories freely across all spectrum of genres, could attract international players to invest and collaborate with local partners. That in turn can create content that will appeal to a wider audience and help the projects travel, Taiwan biz insiders say.
The fact that Chung Mong-hong’s acclaimed feature “A Sun” landed on the Academy Awards shortlist has not only raised overseas audiences’ curiosity over the content from the self-governed island, say industry insiders, but they also hope that the international fame will come with financing and collaboration opportunities with foreign partners.
The island’s lower production costs and constant supply of creative talent, who are able to tell stories freely across all spectrum of genres, could attract international players to invest and collaborate with local partners. That in turn can create content that will appeal to a wider audience and help the projects travel, Taiwan biz insiders say.
The fact that Chung Mong-hong’s acclaimed feature “A Sun” landed on the Academy Awards shortlist has not only raised overseas audiences’ curiosity over the content from the self-governed island, say industry insiders, but they also hope that the international fame will come with financing and collaboration opportunities with foreign partners.
- 3/2/2021
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Considering the political issues that torment the whole Sinophone world, and the ways all these countries (even this term is under consideration) are connected and clashing at the same time, coming up with a title and which films to include in that list is at least as difficult as winnowing the films in the list.
Despite all the turmoil, however, films of utmost quality continue to come out from this region, if even the “Hollywood of the East” (aka Hong Kong) is definitely not in the place it used to be during the 90s, with the fact that Chinese “Better Days” and Taiwanese “A Sun” are shortlisted for the Oscar for Foreign Movie, highlighting the fact in the most eloquent fashion.
In an effort to select some of the best Sinophone movies of the decade (2011-2020), we came up with 50 we felt were the ones that truly stand out in terms of quality,...
Despite all the turmoil, however, films of utmost quality continue to come out from this region, if even the “Hollywood of the East” (aka Hong Kong) is definitely not in the place it used to be during the 90s, with the fact that Chinese “Better Days” and Taiwanese “A Sun” are shortlisted for the Oscar for Foreign Movie, highlighting the fact in the most eloquent fashion.
In an effort to select some of the best Sinophone movies of the decade (2011-2020), we came up with 50 we felt were the ones that truly stand out in terms of quality,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Next time someone asks what’s good on Netflix, you might want to point them to this winner that’s been lurking there since January 2020. A victor at the Golden Horse Awards and now shortlisted for the International Feature Film Oscar, A Sun is a bold, involving tale of crime, punishment, tragedy and healing — all within a seemingly ordinary family of four in Taiwan.
The trouble, and the film, starts when a teenager known as A-ho (Wu Chien-Ho), storms into a restaurant with Radish, who’s wielding a machete. A-ho, we later learn, thinks they are going to scare a boy called Oden, but Radish goes one step further and slices Oden’s hand off, catapulting it into a pan of hot, fresh soup. It’s clear that this film means business. But while the opening has the violence and flourish of a gangster movie, writer-director Chung Mong-hong (Parking) takes...
The trouble, and the film, starts when a teenager known as A-ho (Wu Chien-Ho), storms into a restaurant with Radish, who’s wielding a machete. A-ho, we later learn, thinks they are going to scare a boy called Oden, but Radish goes one step further and slices Oden’s hand off, catapulting it into a pan of hot, fresh soup. It’s clear that this film means business. But while the opening has the violence and flourish of a gangster movie, writer-director Chung Mong-hong (Parking) takes...
- 2/15/2021
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
Cinema The film was India's official entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy awards. Tnm StaffMalayalam film Jallikattu, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, is out of the 2021 Oscar race. Jallikattu was India's official entry to the Oscars under the Best International Feature Film category, but has now failed to make it to the longer short list of 15 films in the same category. Feature films from 93 countries were eligible under this category. The films that have made it to the longer shortlist include: Quo Vadis, Aida? from Bosnia and Herzegovina The Mole Agent from Chile Charlatan from the Czech Republic Another Round from Denmark Two of us from France La Llorana from Gautemala Better Days from Hong Kong Sun Children from Iran Night of the Kings from Ivory Coast I'm No Longer Here from Mexico Hope from Norway Collective from Romania Dear Comrades from Russia A Sun...
- 2/10/2021
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees for Best International Feature is made difficult by the three-step process that begins after the December 1 deadline for countries to submit entries. To be part of the selection process for this category, which was called Best Foreign Language Film before 2020, requires a great deal of dedication. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2021 Oscar predictions for Best International Feature.)
First, the several hundred academy members of the International Feature screening committee are divided into groups and required to watch a number of the submissions over a two-month period that ends in early February. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top 15 vote-getters make it to the next round. This list of semi-finalists will be revealed on February 9, 2021.
Those 15 films will be available to the entire academy membership who can cast ballots for the final five nominees provided they attest to having watched all the entries.
First, the several hundred academy members of the International Feature screening committee are divided into groups and required to watch a number of the submissions over a two-month period that ends in early February. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top 15 vote-getters make it to the next round. This list of semi-finalists will be revealed on February 9, 2021.
Those 15 films will be available to the entire academy membership who can cast ballots for the final five nominees provided they attest to having watched all the entries.
- 2/9/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
This year’s nine Oscar shortlists are voted on by five branches of the Academy — Music, Documentary, Animation and Shorts, VFX, and Makeup and Hairstyling — as well as the intrepid members from all over the world who were willing and able to watch online a minimum of a dozen qualifying international features. Reading the tea leaves of these shortlists reveals some strengths and weaknesses heading into the final round of voting for the final five nominations to be announced on March 15.
To state the obvious, voters made their selection from a wide range of smaller-scale movies, given that many of the studio blockbusters, from Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” were pushed back due to the pandemic. Clearly, while stuck at home, many Academy voters were watching Netflix. That’s a huge advantage for “step one” on the road to an Oscar nomination: getting your movie seen.
To state the obvious, voters made their selection from a wide range of smaller-scale movies, given that many of the studio blockbusters, from Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” were pushed back due to the pandemic. Clearly, while stuck at home, many Academy voters were watching Netflix. That’s a huge advantage for “step one” on the road to an Oscar nomination: getting your movie seen.
- 2/9/2021
- by Anne Thompson and Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
This year’s nine Oscar shortlists are voted on by five branches of the Academy — Music, Documentary, Animation and Shorts, VFX, and Makeup and Hairstyling — as well as the intrepid members from all over the world who were willing and able to watch online a minimum of a dozen qualifying international features. Reading the tea leaves of these shortlists reveals some strengths and weaknesses heading into the final round of voting for the final five nominations to be announced on March 15.
To state the obvious, voters made their selection from a wide range of smaller-scale movies, given that many of the studio blockbusters, from Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” were pushed back due to the pandemic. Clearly, while stuck at home, many Academy voters were watching Netflix. That’s a huge advantage for “step one” on the road to an Oscar nomination: getting your movie seen.
To state the obvious, voters made their selection from a wide range of smaller-scale movies, given that many of the studio blockbusters, from Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” were pushed back due to the pandemic. Clearly, while stuck at home, many Academy voters were watching Netflix. That’s a huge advantage for “step one” on the road to an Oscar nomination: getting your movie seen.
- 2/9/2021
- by Anne Thompson and Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The shortlist for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film is long on expected contenders, from Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round to Andrei Konchalovsky’s Dear Comrades! The Academy’s expanded 15-strong list unveiled Tuesday has essentially made for few snubs while also noting a group of films from far and wide that highlight the power of cinema in all its forms and provenance.
Also on the shortlist, culled from submissions representing 93 countries, are notably two documentaries: The Mole Agent out of Chile and Alexander Nanau’s Collective from Romania.
Beyond those, there are some familiar faces including Agnieszka Holland with Charlatan; but there are a number of newcomers as well. First-time feature director Filippo Meneghetti just last week got nominated for a Golden Globe for France’s Two of Us, as did Guatemala’s Jayro Bustamante with La Llorona. There is also heat on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Quo Vadis,...
Also on the shortlist, culled from submissions representing 93 countries, are notably two documentaries: The Mole Agent out of Chile and Alexander Nanau’s Collective from Romania.
Beyond those, there are some familiar faces including Agnieszka Holland with Charlatan; but there are a number of newcomers as well. First-time feature director Filippo Meneghetti just last week got nominated for a Golden Globe for France’s Two of Us, as did Guatemala’s Jayro Bustamante with La Llorona. There is also heat on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Quo Vadis,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The academy released the 2021 Oscars shortlists in nine categories on Tuesday, February 9. The hopefuls in a wide range of races found out if they are remain in contention for the 93rd annual Academy Awards. Among these are the marquee categories for Best International Feature Film (which was pared down to 10 films from the 93 submitted) and Best Documentary Feature (which went from 238 to 15).
Both music awards – Best Original Song and Best Original Score — were winnowed down to just 15 contenders from upwards of 100 submissions apiece. The Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Visual Effects races as well as the three awards for shorts – animated, documentary and live-action — were culled from dozens of entries to 10 apiece.
Documentary Feature
Two hundred and thirty-eight films were eligible for consideration; there are 15 on the shortlist. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees. The films, listed in alphabetical order by title,...
Both music awards – Best Original Song and Best Original Score — were winnowed down to just 15 contenders from upwards of 100 submissions apiece. The Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Visual Effects races as well as the three awards for shorts – animated, documentary and live-action — were culled from dozens of entries to 10 apiece.
Documentary Feature
Two hundred and thirty-eight films were eligible for consideration; there are 15 on the shortlist. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees. The films, listed in alphabetical order by title,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists for nine categories for the upcoming Oscars. The categories and number of films include documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (10), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (10), live action short film (10) and visual effects (10).
The shortlist voting concluded on Feb. 5, and the remaining will move on to the official phase one voting, which will take place on March 5-9. The Oscar nominations will be announced on March 15, with the show scheduled to take place on April 25.
The full lists are below with snubs and surprises:
Documentary Feature
Fifteen films will advance in the documentary feature category out of 238 films eligible films. Members of the documentary branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
“76 Days” (MTV Documentary Films) – directed by Weixi Chen, Hao Wu, Anonymous “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios) – directed by Lisa Cortes,...
The shortlist voting concluded on Feb. 5, and the remaining will move on to the official phase one voting, which will take place on March 5-9. The Oscar nominations will be announced on March 15, with the show scheduled to take place on April 25.
The full lists are below with snubs and surprises:
Documentary Feature
Fifteen films will advance in the documentary feature category out of 238 films eligible films. Members of the documentary branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
“76 Days” (MTV Documentary Films) – directed by Weixi Chen, Hao Wu, Anonymous “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios) – directed by Lisa Cortes,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Oscar shortlists are out in nine categories including International Film, Documentary Feature, Music Score and Song, Makeup & Hairstyling, Visual Effects and Shorts. These are the first indicator of strength in the race for the 93rd Annual Academy Awards and, though the lists contain few real surprises, is especially good news for those films that are mentioned more than once.
Leading the pack with three mentions apiece are Netflix’s holiday film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, David Fincher’s Mank and Disney’s Mulan.
Films receiving two mentions each are The Little Things, One Night in Miami, Birds of Prey, The Life Ahead, The Midnight Sky, Minari, Soul, The One and Only Ivan, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Tenet. Also doubling up in both the Documentary Feature and International Feature Film categories...
Leading the pack with three mentions apiece are Netflix’s holiday film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, David Fincher’s Mank and Disney’s Mulan.
Films receiving two mentions each are The Little Things, One Night in Miami, Birds of Prey, The Life Ahead, The Midnight Sky, Minari, Soul, The One and Only Ivan, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Tenet. Also doubling up in both the Documentary Feature and International Feature Film categories...
- 2/9/2021
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
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