By Maria Esteves - June 3, 2014

The 59th Annual 2014 Village Voice OBIE Awards (OBIES 2014) co-hosted by Award winning producer/actress Tamara Tunie, Spring Awakening, and Obie Award winner actor Hamish Linklater, The Crazy Ones, honoring theatrical excellence and achievements in Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway commenced Monday, May 19, 8:00 pm at the historical Webster Hall ballroom, New York City. A gala reception with live music by The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn preceded the awards.

The 2014 OBIES included a special performance by SYDNEY LUCAS from the new musical Fun Home. Lucas became the first in the history of the Obies to receive an award at age 10 for her performance. The OBIE Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Kelli O'Hara went to ESTELLE PARSONS. The OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence in a performance presented by Harvey Fierstein went to MARYLOUISE BURKE. The OBIE Award for Best New American Play presented by Harvey Fierstein went to BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS for Appropriate and An Octoroon. The OBIE Award for Best Playwriting presented by Harvey Fierstein went to WILL ENO for The Open House. The OBIE Awards for Best Performance presented by Andy Karl and Kelli O'Hara included JOHN EARL JELKS for Sunset Baby; JOHANNA DAY for Appropriate; MIA KATIGBAK for Awake and Sing; and LARRY PINE for public reading of unproduced screenplay Death of Walt Disney.

OBIE Chairman, Michael Feingold, Theater Mania columnist, welcomed and graciously thanked this year's OBIE Judges.

We are an online competition that funds writers and filmmakers, both short and long format.

We are unique, in that we ask writers to judge filmmakers and filmmakers to judge writers.

The  winning filmmaker, as chosen by the screenwriters, chooses one of the top 10 scripts to buy and shoot, and we fund it with the entry fees.

Songs of Redemption

The Domino Effect
 

The Domino Effect, Fugue for Cello, Trumpet and Landscape, and Songs of Redemption were chosen the best films of the 54th Krakow Film Festival. On Sunday, screenings of awarded films will be held in Małopolski Ogród Sztuki.

During tonight’s Closing Ceremony, the winners in the documentary, short film, music and national competitions were announced. Once again, the gala was hosted by a music journalist Piotr Metz.

24 jury members working in six panels as well as the student’s jury watched 98 animations, documentaries and feature films taking part in four competitions of the 54th Krakow Film Festival.

The jury chaired by Wojciech Staroń awarded a director duo: ElwiraNiewiera and Piotr Rosołowski for the film The Domino Effectwith Golden Horn—the  main prize in the International Documentary Competition. Silver Horn for the director of the best medium-length documentary went to Dan Wasserman for Do You Believe in Love? In the best feature-length documentary category, Silver Horn was granted to Talal Derki for Return to Homs.

Golden Dragon for the best film in the International Short Film Competition was awarded to Jerzy Kucia for Fugue for Cello, Trumpet and Landscape. Silver Dragon for the director of the best documentary went to Juliette Touin for the film The Big House. The Obvious Child directed by Stephen Irwing was chosen the best animated short film, while The Phone Call directed by Mat Kirkby won Silver Dragon for the best fiction film.

The jury chaired by Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz granted Amanda Sans and Miquel Galofré the GoldenHeynal award—the main prize in the DocFilmMusic competition—for the film Songs of Redemption. My Prairie Home directed by Chelsea McMullan received a special mention.

Jury of the National Competition, chaired by Jerzy Śladkowski, awarded Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski for the film The Domino Effect with Golden Hobby-Horse. Silver Hobby Horse for the director of the best documentary film went to Jan P. Matuszyński for Deep Love. Jury chose Hippos directed by Piotr Dumała the best animation, while Silver Hobby Horse for the best fiction film was awarded to Kacper Lisowski for Father’s Day.

The film Summer 2014 directed by Wojciech Sobczak received PRIX EFA 2014 for the best European film tantamount to nomination to the European Film Award in the short film category. Krakow Film Festival is the only film festival in Poland, which awards this distinction. All four winners of the International Short Film Competition, i.e. the laureate of Golden Dragon and the winners of Silver Dragons in documentary, animated, and fiction film categories, will have an easier way of receiving a nomination to Oscar in the short film category.

People’s Choise Award went to Sophia Turkiewicz for “Once My Mother”.

The 54th Krakow Film Festival was full of film events. Bogdan Dziworski, an outstanding Polish director, cinematographer and photographer, received Dragon of Dragons for lifetime achievement. Piotr Metz together with the members of Budka Suflera announced the beginning of works on a film project under a working title “Session.” The planned documentary, directed by Maciej Dejczer, will focus on the events from 10 years ago, when the group went to Los Angeles to record an album in the legendary Village Recorders studio. The premiere was announced for the 55th Krakow Film Festival.

As part of Industry Zone dedicated to film professionals present at the Festival, a number of film industry events took place—from pitchings, to panel discussions, to a master class. British documentaries were presented in the non-competitive section “Focus on the UK;” the filmmakers from Poland and Great Britain met at an industry conference. During Industry Party, this year’s laureate of the Dragon of Dragons award and the members of the Young Producers Section of the Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce (KIPA) appeared in the uncharacteristic role of DJs.

An extensive account from the Festival—FestivalTV, photo galleries, and Festival Paper archival editions—can be found on Krakow Film Festival page or on our Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/krakowfilmfest

The Festival is organized by Krakow Film Foundation in cooperation with Polish Filmmakers Association and Apollo-Film.

Awards Given for Best Live Action, Documentary, Animation Shorts

The Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended festival in the United States, announced today this year's ShortsFest Jury Award winners.

The 4th edition of Rio's International Uranium Film Festival has honored the year’s winners during an awarding ceremony at the Modern Art Museum Cinemateque. 13 “atomic” documentaries and movies from 11 countries - Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Turkey, UK, and Ukraine - received five Yellow Oscars and eight Special Recognitions. The International Uranium Film Festival Rio de Janeiro is dedicated to all films about nuclear power, uranium and radioactive risks, from Hiroshima to Fukushima. It is the "Atomic Cannes". 

This year the Uranium Film Festival's Yellow Oscar awards went to two films from Germany “Yellow Cake: The Dirt behind Uranium (short version)” by Joachim Tschirner and to “Final Picture” by Michael von Hohenberg. The in Brazil living Argentinian Filmmaker Roberto Fernandez received the Yellow Oscar for his short film “11:02 de 1945 Retratos de Nagasaki“ about atomic bomb survivers living in São Paulo. Bogna Kowalczyk from Poland received the Yellow Oscar for her animated short film “After All”, and “Fukushame. The Lost Japan” by Director Alessandro Tesei from Italy was the festival´s best feature documentary about Fukushima.

Special Recognitions went to:

"A2-B-C" by Director Ian Thomas Ash, Japan; “Eternal Tears” by Director Kseniya Simonova, Ukraine; “Fallout” by Director Lawrence Johnston, Australia; “The Nuclear Boy Scout” by Director Bindu Mathur, UK; “Inheritance” by Director Margaret Cox, UK; “Wake Up” by Director David Bradbury, Australia; “Nuclear Winter” by Directors: Megan Taite, Jefferson Tolentino, Erwin Bonifacio, Robert Mullally, Shane Donohue, Jack Travers e Eimhin McNamara (director supervisor), Ireland; “The Cloud Has Passed Over Us” (Üstümüzden Geçti Bulut) by Director Yaşar Arif Karagülle, Turkey.

About the Yellow Oscar 2014 winners:

CATEGORY ANIMATED FILM 

After All

Director Bogna Kowalczyk, Poland, 2013, 5 min, Animation, no dialogue - The story of an art perform ace when the vision of performer hardy miss match with the vision of an audience.

"After All is the best animated film of the Uranium Film Festival 2014. The film by Bogna Kowalczyk shows us through the metaphor striptease the hazards of radioactivity and nuclear power. The short film is produced digitally, a simple 2D vector animation and uses  few colors. The script here is more important than the technique of animation. The scene in which the stripper takes off her own skin, her flesh and her bones shocked. It is a mood for a few, but manages to reach the spectator and so it is the winner”, Leo Ribeiro, Brazilian Professor and animation Filmmaker.Trailer:

CATEGORY LATIN AMERICAN SHORT DOCUMENTARY  

11:02 de 1945 Retratos de Nagasaki

Director Roberto Fernández, Brazil/Argentina, 2014, 31 min, documentary, Japanese, Portuguese subtitles, World Premiere

It happened on August 9th in 1945. It is 11:02 o clock in the morning. The U.S.A dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki. Tens of thousands of civilians died a horror full death.Some survived. And some of these survivors - called Hibakusha - came to live in Brazil. Filmmaker Roberto Fernández tells their stories. The Argentinian filmmaker lives since 2007 in São Paulo, Brazil, in close relationship with the A-Bomb survivors. With the "Yellow Oscar" the Uranium Film Festival wants to honor Roberto Fernandez who dedicated his work for years to rescue the voice of the Hibakusha, the memory of the survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki in São Paulo, Brazil. It is an extremely difficult and sensible tasks. Because it is hard for the survivors to remember and to talk. It is hard and sorrowful to bring back the pain of the horrors experienced. Roberto was able to recover these memories in his films with delicacy and respect for the atomic bomb survivors, a valuable rescue. Trailer:

CATEGORY SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Yellow Cake. The Dirt Behind Uranium (short version)

Director Joachim Tschirner, Germany, 2010/2014, 35 min (Short version), documentary, English

A film about Germany‘s secret uranium mine „Wismut“ and the in the worlds first try to clean-up the toxic and radioactive legacy of an uranium mine. The Uranium Mining and the production of Yellow Cake is the first link in the chain of nuclear development. It has managed again and again to keep itself out of the public eye. A web of propaganda, disinformation and lies covers its sixty-five-year history. The third largest uranium mine in the world was located in the East German provinces of Saxony and Thuringia. Operating until the Reunification, it had the code name WISMUT - German for bismuth, though it supplied the Soviet Union exclusively with Yellow Cake. The film accompanies for several years the biggest clean-up operation in the history of uranium mining.

"Good camera, impressive images, great sound and a current subject that is important for all countries with uranium mining operations and unsecured uranium mines like Brazil, USA, Portugal, Australia, Russia, India, Canada and many others. Right now people and environmental organizations for example in USA campaigning for the clean-up of the toxic and radioactive legacy of their uranium mines. And the short film “Yellow Cake: The dirt behind uranium” is a film they have to watch and will never forget. Because it shows the in the world first try to clean-up the deadly, toxic and radioactive legacy of the third biggest uranium mine in the world, the Wismut in East Germany, that produced in secrecy for dozens of years the Yellow Cake for Soviet Unions atomic bombs." Uranium Film Festival

Director‘s note - YELLOW CAKE is the result of a project, which began in 2002. The World Uranium Hearing took place more than a decade ago. The declaration of this hearing became the essential meaning of my film: “Radioactivity knows nothing of cultural differences or political boundaries. And in a mutated world poisoned by deadly radioactivity, it will no longer be of importance whether we separate our garbage, drive fewer cars, use phosphate free detergent, or plant a tree. Nor will it matter if we spend our time trying to save the elephants. Whatever action we would take at that point would be superfluous and devoid of meaning. That’s why the end of the atomic age must begin with the first link in the chain of nuclear production – The Uranium Mining.” During my research I have experienced that despite its explosive nature, uranium mining seldom makes it into public awareness. The film "Yellow Cake" is my reaction to this unacceptable situation. For me it was quite clear that unbiased, well researched information about uranium mining is absolutely necessary. http://www.yellowcake-derfilm.de/index.php?id=209

CATEGORY FEATURE DOCUMENTARY  

Fukushame. The Lost Japan

Director Alessandro Tesei, Italy, 2013, 64 min, documentary, Italian, English subtitles

A travel both into the “No Go Zone” of Fukushima and in Japanese people’s feelings and believes after the reaction to nuclear disaster. March 11, 2011: Japan was struck by one of the most violent earthquakes ever recorded then proceeded by a Tsunami. Waves exceeded every security barrier and damaged Fukushima’s Central Nuclear Power Plant provoking huge amounts of radioactive particles throughout Japan. A restricted area with a 20 km diameter, the No-Go Zone, was immediately evacuated and declared an off-limits territory. Seven months after the disaster photographer Alessandro Tesei succeeded in entering the forbidden area. Fukushame has gathered images from Tesei’s trip, numerous interviews of both common people and politicians and special contributions of scientific explanations of great significance. Trailer

“The documentary Fukushame is an excellent fresh journalistic coverage of the Fukushima accident. The Italian video reporter was one of the first foreigners to enter the forbidden area around the nuclear power plant and had access to an interview of former premier Naoto Kan. Fukushame explains in detail the nuclear accident, the melt down of the Fukushima reactor and shows that those responsible must be ashamed.” Uranium Film Festival

Director‘s note - I'm very proud to be in the official selection of this festival. I' d like to show people the madness of nuclear energy and the lie of its "civil use". I was one of the first western videomakers sneaked inside the forbidden area around the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant, only six months after accident. I remember the fear in my heart that became higher every time the geiger counter showed a radiation increase, and I remember the loneliness of the evacuated people and the dramatic situation of the families, splitted in different parts, due to the incapacity of the japanese government to find a solution. Now the situation is even worse, because years has passed and the memory of the people is weak. The government has reopened a huge section of the no go zone and with the lies of the decontamination process is forcing the people to came back there; most of them have only this choice, because they lose everything and have no money, so the disaster is still going on. We must talk continuously about that and don't forget the innocent victims of this dirty game, called nuclear energy.

Yellow Oscar 2014 Winner

CATEGORY MOVIE 

Final Picture

Director Michael von Hohenberg, Germany, 2013, 92 min, Fiction, German, English subtitles

Leading Actor Hubert Burczek, Sound designer Klaus Pfreundner

Atomic War! What will happen in a small town in the middle of Germany? People enter the bunkers. But there is space only for a few. The movie is a project by the “Jugendfilmprojekte Oberfranken”. It  was shot in original bunkers in the Bavarian region Oberfranken with many young people, shooting their first professional movie. 

“In the past century there have been produced very good movies about nuclear power and its risks”, says Uranium Film Festival director Norbert G. Suchanek. “For example the great movie The China Syndrome with the stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas. The China Syndrome was about the melt down of a nuclear power plant like Fukushima and was produced one year after the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster in 1978. Another successful atomic film was The Day After, produced in 1983, showing the terrible effects of a nuclear war. A movie that scared generations, but could not stop the construction of thousands of nuclear war heads in USA, China, Russia, UK, France, Pakistan, Israel or India. Nuclear war is still a real danger! But in the contrary nuclear fiction movies are very rare now in these days. For that we are glad that the Uranium Film Festival received Final Picture. A movie that follows the huge Hollywood footsteps of The Day After. Michael von Hohenberg directed a film team of dozens of young people and a few professionals. The result is simple a good movie about Nuclear War and what will happen in a Franconian village in central Germany. The Uranium Film Festival honors the Final Picture, his director, his film team, leading actor Hubert Burczek (photo) and sound designer Klaus Pfreundner with a Yellow Oscar. Final Picture is an example for other film schools and young film teams. http://www.jugendfilmprojekte.de/projekte/final-picture/index.php

Director‘s note - Final Picture is a movie, haunted in my head since years. I could not understand why human beings do need weapons like an atomic bomb. 2012 I started to write the screenplay to “Final Picture”. It was written in three weeks and the shooting was planed completely in four months. I collected 15.000 Euro. That had to be enough for the project. We shot our movie in nearly two weeks in original locations. Many people said “This is historic from cold war. Nobody wants to see a movie like this.”, but after the first screening they changed their mind. Also world politics changed since our shooting. Newspapers all over Europe titled “The world again is afraid of an atomic war”. Now the people say “This movie is food for thought about atomic bombs and what could happen.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION      

A2-B-C 

Director Ian Thomas Ash, Japan, 2013, 71 min, documentary, Japanese & English, English subtitles

The award-winning film A2-B-C is named for the different stages of growth of thyroid cells from harmless cysts to cancer. Many children in Fukushima were never evacuated after the nuclear meltdown on March 11, 2011. Now the number of Fukushima children found to have thyroid cysts and nodules is increasing. What will this mean for their future? „There is no way for us to escape from this fear.We're not only worried about external radiation exposure, but also about internal exposure. So we're testing all the food.“Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD9yGONdEUY

Marcia Gomes de Oliveira, executive director of the Uranium Film Festival, says: "A2-B-C  is an important message from the mothers from Fukushima to the world: the pains and worries about their children. The film draws our attention to the high rate of thyroid cancer in children living in regions contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear accident."  

"Ian Thomas helps the people, he makes eye witness reports. His heroes are the parents and children. A2BC is fantastic and gruesome at the same time.”Comment by Chernobyl Children

Director’s note - I didn’t come to Japan to make a film about Fukushima.  Japan is my home, and after the nuclear meltdown in 2011, I documented what was happening around me. ‘A2-B-C’ is about the lie that decontamination is possible and about the children living and going to school in areas contaminated with radiation. But if you leave the film thinking “oh, those poor people over there in that far away country”, you’ll be missing the point.  What happened in Fukushima affects all of us. It is not over.  And it could happen again. http://ianthomasash.blogspot.com.br

Eternal Tears 

Director Kseniya Simonova, Ukraine,  2011, 11min, Animation, no dialogue.

The film was created in sand animation technique as a tribute to those who died immediately or was dying a slow death for years or who today is seriously ill having received the radiation dose as a child. Chernobyl consequences, we see them today, the increasing number of cancer patients, especially among children in my country. These are the children of my peers, peers of Chernobyl catastrophe. Every event of our times and each event of the past should teach us: The main thing is to remember.  http://simonova.tv/en/blog/

Fallout

Director Lawrence Johnston, Producer Peter Kaufmann (Photo), Australia, 2013, 86 min, Documentary,  English

In 1959 Stanley Kramer and Hollywood landed in Australia to film ON THE BEACH, adapted from Nevil Shute’s novel written as a consequence of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The production was a media circus, the public thrilled at the sight of Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck, but it ended in acrimony for Shute and Kramer. Meanwhile the Eisenhower administration, fearing the impact of the reality of nuclear war on the American people, attempted to obstruct the film's production and discredit it on release. FALLOUT pays tribute to Shute's cautionary tale for the potential of nuclear disaster, and the galvanising impact of a terror to which we have now become strangely inured. FALLOUT not only reveals the untold story of ON THE BEACH but also explores the resonance of both the novel and the film in the post Fukushima age as Shute’s prophesy becomes eerily prescient once again... 

"Fallout is very interesting because of the history and because the film includes original material from Hollywood. The film stands out for addressing the nuclear issue from a different angle, through a book and a fiction film." Uranium Film Festival

Inheritance 

Director Margaret Cox, UK, 2013, 10 min, documentary, English

“Inheritance” tells the story of the British re-colonising of Africa, through Lonrho's resource wars, and the British involvement in the use of Depleted Uranium in the Iraq war.  The film focuses particular attention on the metaphorical and literal sickness caused by the radioactive legacy for example the use of Depleted Uranium by US and UK forces in the city of Fallujah, Iraq.

Director’s note - A collation of new material from Heathcote Williams' Anarcho- Pacifist poem "Royal Babylon: The Criminal Record of the British Monarchy,”  “Inheritance” profiles the complex web of British Royal finances, their dangerous sources, and their damaging consequences. Focusing on the use of Depleted Uranium, we wanted to add our voice to the protest against the use of chemical weapons, and support the call for accountability over continued Human Rights abuses, through environmental contamination.

The Nuclear Boy Scout

Director Bindu Mathur, UK, 2003, 24 min, documentary, English, Portuguese subtitles

A true story about the teenager David Hahn, who experimented in his home with radioactive materials. He found radioactive substances in Supermarkets and second-hand shops and tried to build a nuclear reactor. 

Director‘s note - I found the story of David Hahn in a magazine article in late 1990 and immediately became fascinated with their experiences and methods. I went to meet him and his family and tried to 'sell' the idea for British television. But only after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, the story of David and its easy access to radioactive materials became the subject of general interest. What if terrorists can - like David - get radioactive materials in their hands and build a „dirty nuclear bomb“? That's how I won the commission for Channel 4 in the UK in 2003.

I met David once before production and then spent 10 days filming with him. I was impressed by his intelligence, his creativity and intensity of their efforts. There was something exciting when I went with him to the market place to find radioactive elements, for example. But he was careless about the dangers. Later I learned that he had been diagnosed as schizophrenic, and for that unfortunately, his great intelligence and passion for science have never been grown in a university. Interesting is that the the son of David Bowie, filmmaker Duncan Jones, was influenced by „The Nuclear Boy Scout“ when he directed the 2011 produced French–American science fictiontechno-thriller„Source Code“ and created the character of a terrorist making „dirty bombs“.

"The Nuclear Boy Scout is an important warning about the eminent dangers of easy access of radioactive elements in our daily lives." Uranium Film Festival

Wake Up  

Director David Bradbury,  Australia, 2011, 12 min, documentary, English

Wake up is a must-see short movie about uranium mining in Australia. The film is presented by famous Australian actor Tony Barry (Photo). He was born in Queensland in 1941 and has performed in 56 feature films and 45 television series, across a four-decade career. 

"Everything you need to know about uranium mining in 12 minutes. Wake up is consistent and well done. It perfectly serves its purpose of alerting." Uranium Film Festival

The Cloud Has Passed Over Us (Üstümüzden Geçti Bulut)

Director Yaşar Arif Karagülle,Turkey, 2012, 15 min, Fiction, English subtitles

In April 1986 happened the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Radioactive clouds reached the north of Turkey. The young Cengiz, who comes back to the place that he was born, has to face his father's memory, his own past, and uncertain future in the wake of Chernobyl. Trailer:

"The Cloud Has Passed Over Us is a film of great sensibility to a problem that is not yet being realized to the general public. A nuclear accident is a universal and borderless problem", Marcia Gomes de Oliveira, Uranium Film Festival.

Nuclear Winter                   

Directors: Megan Taite, Jefferson Tolentino, Erwin Bonifacio, Robert Mullally, Shane Donohue, Jack Travers e Eimhin McNamara (director supervisor), Ireland, 2012, 5 min, Animation, no dialogue.http://www.pureproject.ie/what-we-do/pure-animation-movies/

“A ship dumps its cargo of nuclear waste in the Arctic, stirring something strange up from from the depths...” An animated film about the unnatural affects nuclear waste might have on our environment. A short film created by students (aged 14-17 years old): Megan Taite, Jefferson Tolentino, Erwin Bonifacio, Robert Mullally, Shane Donohue and Jack Travers during the PURE Animation Environmental Film School, which was hosted by Eimhin McNamara in Co-Operation with the PURE Project and took place in April, 2012, Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.

"Nuclear Winter is a nice animated film made by young students. As one of our tasks the Uranium Film Festival wants to stimulate the production of new films about nuclear issues and the involvement of young people. And Nuclear Winter is a good example for others to follow." Uranium Film Festival

ABOUTH THE YELLOW OSCAR

The best or most important films receive the festival's award, the "Yellow Oscar". 

The award is a piece of art produced by Waste-Material-Artist Getúlio Damado, who lives and works in the famous artist quarter Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro.  In contrast to the "Hollywood Oscar", the International Uranium Film Festival Award is not of Gold. Getúlio Damado make his "Yellow Oscars" from waste material, that he finds in the streets of Santa Teresa. (Photo shows the "Final Picture" film team with the Yellow Oscar)

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL 

About one year before the Fukushima reactor exploded, the International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) was founded in 2010 in Santa Teresa, the famous artist quarter in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.  It is the first festival of its kind that addresses all nuclear and radioactive issues. The aim is to inform about nuclear power, uranium mining, nuclear weapons and the risks of radioactivity. Independent documentaries and movies are the best tool to bring that information to a diverse international public. And a festival is the best way to bring the films to the people! The horror of atomic bombs and those who suffered from them, and nuclear accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl should never be forgotten - nor repeated. Then the nuclear accident in Fukushima happened just two months before the first edition of the International Uranium Film Festival in May 2011 in Rio de Janeiro.

Uranium mining, fracking, nuclear accidents, atomic bomb factories, nuclear waste:  No matter if you are in favour or against the use of nuclear power, all people should be informed about the risks. The International Uranium Film Festivals creates a neutral space to throw light on all nuclear issues. It stimulates new productions, supports "nuclear" filmmaking and the discussion about the nuclear question in Brazil and worldwide. 

FESTIVAL TRAILER 2014

Produced by Leo Ribeiro,

Brazilian filmmaker of animated films,

with several award winning short films.

www.leoribeiroanima.blogspot.com

Trailer: 

International Uranium
Film Festival Rio de Janeiro
Rua Monte Alegre, 356 / 301
Rio de Janeiro / RJ
CEP 20240-194
Brasil

www.uraniumfilmfestival.org
info@uraniumfilmfestival.org

Download Festival Programm with film list

http://de.scribd.com/doc/222613160/4th-Rio-de-Janeiro-Uranium-Film-Festival-2014-Program-English

http://de.scribd.com/doc/223074157/Rio-de-Janeiro-Uranium-Film-Festival-Programacao-Maio-2014
http://de.scribd.com/marcia_

All award winners of the 30th Hamburg International ShortFilmFestival and the 16th Mo&Friese Children’s ShortFilmFestival Hamburg

The juries and the audiences have made their decisions. At the award ceremony at the Halle 5 of the festival centre Kolbenhof, the winners of the 30th Hamburg International Short Film Festival will be awarded. The main award, the Hamburg Short Film Award for the International Competition, goes to Joel Wanek’s ›Sun Song‹.

In spite of the wonderful summer weather luring people into the countryside and to the beaches, once again more than 15,000 viewers visited our events, braving the cool darkness of the cinemas in spite of the pleasant temperatures outside. Several screenings were sold out, and of course the open air events and our short film walkabout ›A Wall Is a Screen‹ profited from the balmy summer nights: All in all more than 1,300 visitors came to enjoy short films under the open sky.

The 16th Mo&Friese Children’s Short Film Festival with its 35 events saw a massive increase in the number of visitors, growing from 3,000 kids, adolescents and adults last year to 3,600 this year. We are delighted by this fantastic reception.

For the first time a youth jury selected an award winner for the youth programme FreeStyle. Rather than selecting a single award winner, the jury eventually decided to divide it equally between the two films ›No Man’s Land‹ and ›Exchange and Mart‹.

The festival in numbers: This year’s 6,000 entries mark another increase in the number of submissions. Likewise, the number of guests was the highest we have seen so far with 600 guests from Germany and abroad, including about 200 film makers. All this was made possible by about 120 team members presenting more than 120 events.

At the award ceremony, next year’s subject for the ›Three Minute Quickie‹ was announced as well. It’s: ›Based on a true story‹. We are looking forward to films of three minutes or less about the subject. The deadline is 1 April 2015.

Before we say goodbye to the enchantments of our festival, we are going to show the best of our International, German and NoBudget competition in three condensed programmes on Monday, 9 June, as well as the award winners at 7:15 at the Zeise cinema.

All award winning films and statements by the jury are to be found on the following pages. Photos of the honorees in our website’s press area after 10pm:
http://festival.shortfilm.com/en/partner-presse/service-downloads/press-fotos-and-designs/


International Competition
Jury: Sandro Aguilar, Barbara Engelbach, Joe Gerhardt, Anna-Karin Larsson, Paola Ruggeri

Hamburg Short Film Award (Jury Award of the International Competition, 3000 Euros)
Sun Song
Joel Wanek, USA 2013, 15:00 min, Experimental

Jury statement:
Beginning with a Sun Ra quote that says we should resist the forces that hold us back, ›Sun Song‹ by Joel Wanek invites us to slow down whilst still moving. By distilling the basics of cinema the filmmaker lets us follow the sunlight shaping the world on a moving bus. The motionless passengers flicker in and out of a timeless space, portrayed with a delicate touch and rhythm.


Liberté-Audience Award (1500 Euros), presented by Gauloises, given to a short film from the International or the German Competition
The Way
Max Ksjonda, Ukraine 2013, 21:06 min, Fiction



NoBudget Competition
Jury: Gunter Deller, Anna Gritz, Jorge López Navarrete

No Budget Jury Award (2000 Euros)
Dusty Stacks of Mom: The Poster Project
Jodie Mack, Great Britain 2013, 41:00 min, Experimental

Jury statement:
We decided to choose the position that presents best a filmmaking style that is challenging, current that speaks to the way that artists and filmmakers work today: Jodie Mack for her film ›Dusty Stacks of Mom: The Poster Projekt‹. Jodie convinced us with her innovative and vibrant filmmaking style: that brings together her personal history with a larger moment in recent history. Her obsessive exploration of her mothers poster distribution business uncovers abandoned memories that fluctuate between high and low culture, from postcards of Botticelli’s Venus, to Pink Floyd’s LP covers. The stop motion collage style manages to reimagine the medium of 16 mm film in a current and relevant manner destroying the old to make way for something new. All throughout the film its viewer is guided by an eccentric soundtrack of songs written and recorded for and occasionally sung live alongside the film.


NoBudget Audience Award ›Optimistic Vision‹ (1500 Euros)
Dot Matrix
Richard Tuohy, Australia 2013, 16:53 min, Experimental



German Competition
Jury: Anja Ellenberger, Omer Fast, Sabine Holtgreve

Jury Award (2000 Euros)
Seven Times a Day We Complain About Our Fate and at Night We Get up to Avoid Our Dreams
Germany 2014, 17:30 min, Experimental

Jury statement:
The film with the long title ›Seven Times a Day We Complain About Our Fate and at Night We Get up to Avoid Our Dreams‹ by Susann Maria Hempel is our winner of this year’s German Competition. Based on an interview with an individual who describes being abused, the film interweaves sound and image in a virtuosic and increasingly unsettling way. Using speech, song and animation, the film builds up a little cabinet of horrors in which memory is set loose.



Pilsner Urquell Hamburg Night
Jury: Anja Ellenberger, Omer Fast, Sabine Holtgreve

Jury Award of the Pilsner Urquell Hamburg Night (1500 Euros)
Timber Line
Lina Paulsen, Germany 2014, 19:45 min, Documentary

Jury statement:
The Pilsner Urquell Hamburg Night Prize is awarded to the film ›Timber Line‹ by Lina Paulsen. With modest means, the film tells a story of the Eilenrieder forest. A forest keeper describes an individual who has claimed this natural enclave in the middle of Hanover as his refuge. Eschewing psychological or moral judgments, the film opens up room for associations about urban and natural spaces and the question of individual will within ordered society.


Three Minute Quickie Competition: Topic ›Doping‹

Audience Award (1000 Euros), funded by the Hamburgische Kulturstiftung
Three Experts Turn up the Heat (Drei Experten drehen auf)
Volker Heymann, Germany 2013, 3:53 min, Fiction



ARTE-Short Film Award
Jury: Sabine Brantus-Lauffer, Barbara Häbe

ARTE-Short Film Award (up to 6000 Euros). Acquisition of screening rights and broadcast as part of ARTE’s short film programme.
Cut
Matthias Müller and Christoph Girardet, Germany 2013, 12:53 min, Experimental

Jury statement:
In this work, Matthias Müller and Christoph Girardet perfect their art form of found footage collages. Cut/Wound, ever returning states of pain and emotions. – The eternal human condition.



Youth programme FreiStil
Jury: Valentin Kleitmann, Alice Sawadski, Fritzi Weitzenegger, Marie Krahl, Eva Carlotta Schumacher

›Freischwimmer‹ (Jury award 1000 Euro, from age 14)
The award goes ex aequo to:
Ingenmandsland (Niemandsland)
Michael Graversen, Denmark 2013, 29:30 min, Documentary
Exchange and Mart
Martin Clark, Great Britain 2013, 15:00 min, Fiction

Jury statement:
After long discussions about the twelve films, we eventually agreed on two favourites. Since they are both very different, we decided to split the FreeStyle award. One of the winning films deals with the subject matter of sexual violence in a surprisingly effortless manner. The Scottish film ›Exchange and Mart‹ distinguishes itself by its love for detail and its outstanding actresses, costumes and camera work. The second winner is a documentary that follows young refugees and their hopes for asylum. The film impressed us by showing how several young people of our age deal with hopelessness and isolation. It allows us to look at their lives without invading their privacy. The filmmaker openly approaches his subject, showing his protagonists and their hope for a new home.


16th Mo&Friese Children’s ShortFilmFestival
These prizes are awarded by both children’s juries.

Mo-Award (Jury award, 1250 Euros, from age 9)
Vigia
Marcel Barelli, France/Switzerland 2013, 7:45 min, Animation

At first we would like to say, that we enjoyed each and everyone of the 24 films we have seen. We hope, you filmmakers will do a lot more films in the future.

Jury statement:
But the most inspiring one was a film that goes like this: Buzz, buzz! Prchrurr! Ohooho. ›Vigia‹ a film from France and Switzerland. It tells the story of a grandfather and his grandson, of bees, which once celebrated a party, and of farmers, who poison the nature with pesticides. We think that it’s important that as many kids and adults as possible have the chance to watch this film, because it shows us how humans do not only destroy the bugs, but with them the whole nature. Marcel Barelli sends this message in a very creative, sometimes very funny, sometimes distressing and always beautifully way – wrapped in a beautiful animation with a great soundtrack!


Special Mention:

Weekendfar
Johan Stahl Winthereik, Denmark 2013, 27:00 min, Fiction

Jury statement:
Because it is nearly impossible to give a prize to just one film, we would like to compliment on ›Weekendfar‹. The relationship between Sune and his chaotic Dad touched us, because it’s sad, but very realistic. The adventures of the three characters are so entertaining that we nearly fell out of our chairs and then again where thrilled by the story. So we want to give our great admirations to the director and also the pyrotechnitions and the actors!


Friese Award (Jury award, 1250 Euros, age 4 to8)
Ziazan
Derya D. Durmaz, Armenia 2014, 14:39 min, Fiction

Jury statement:
The Winner of this year’s Friese Award is the Armenian film ›Ziazan‹ by Derya D. Durmaz.
What we liked about this film is that people talk like they do in real life. Ziazan is a brave girl and she is smart. She tries to achieve her goals, even if she gets the chocolate only in a dream. But it's a nice dream and we also like chocolate.

Special Mention
Tzdafa
Maya Tiberman, Israel 2013, 7:20 min, Animation
Jury statement: The decision was tough for us, so we would like to give a commendation to the film ›Tzdafa‹ by Maya Tiberman. We like this film, because it tells its story in a nice way, we were able to follow it without any words. The boy did great things with his magic seashell and the film was technically well made.


HIGH FIVE! Competition
Short film competition for children under 14 years. Films running max. 5 minutes, produced solely fort his competition. Topic 2014: ›Dancing Dreams‹.
A total of 600 Euros is awarded – sponsored by GEOlino, presented by the Mo-Jury and the Friese-Jury.

1st Prize (300 Euros)
Dancing Heroes (Tanz der Helden)
Olivia and Onno Sawitzki, Josefine and Julie Gerdes, Germany 2014, 4:50 min, Fiction
Jury statement:
Our favourite film and therefore our no. one is ›Dancing Heroes‹ by Olivia and Onno Sawitzki and Josefine and Julie Gerdes. The story of the dancing superheroine is full of funny ideas. We especially liked the acting and the dancing. It’s simply fun to watch this film!

2nd Prize (200 Euros)
Pepe and Dörte
Paulikids, Germany 2014, 2:23 min, Animation
Jury statement:
Wow, we where impressed by the animated paperfigurines ›Pepe and Dörte‹, we ourselves would definitely not be able to build and animate characters like that. We liked the creative way the Paulikids used trash and we also liked the humour of the film.

3rd Prize (100 Euros)
2513
Hynek Voracek, Matous Hruby und Bruno Socolic, Czech Republic 2013, 3:14 min, Animation
Jury statement:
The Animation ›2513‹ by Hynek Voracek, Matous Hruby and Bruno Socolic is set in the future. And the future is a worst case scenario of what will happen if we don’t take care of the environment. We all think of the topic as an important one and also liked the way the fimmakers set it into motion as well as the great soundtrack.

For further information on the 30th International ShortFilmFestival Hamburg please contact: 
Tim Gallwitz, presse@shortfilm.com, +49-40/39 10 63 27, Friedensallee 7, D-22765 Hamburg; www.shortfilm.com / Please let us know if you do not wish to receive further press releases.

Dutch film REGRET! Wins Young Audience Award

Children Juries in 17 European Cities Elect Dutch Film by Dave Schram

More than 1,000 film fans across Europe participated in this year’s EFA Young Audience Award. The third edition of the European Film Academy’s initiative for 12-14-year-olds included screenings of the three nominated films in a total of 17 cities: 

Aalborg (Denmark), Barcelona (Spain), Belgrade (Serbia), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Erfurt (Germany), Izola (Slovenia), London (UK), Prizren (Kosovo), Riga (Latvia), Sofia (Bulgaria), Stockholm (Sweden), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tel Aviv (Israel), Valletta (Malta) and Wroclaw (Poland). Each of these cities brought into the project a distinct local taste, at the same time they were all connected throughout the day by web cameras and the kids acted as one big European jury. 
Having watched the three nominated films on Young Audience Film Day, 4 May, the young cinema-lovers across Europe had the opportunity to discuss the films before electing their favourite. The results were then reported live via video conference to Erfurt (Germany) where Polish actor Maciej Stuhr moderated the awards ceremony transmitted online as a live stream. The German jury speakers Emma and Elias presented the award to Dave Schram for his bullying drama REGRET! (Spijt!). The director thanked the audience and expressed his hope that the film may help to do something against bullying. 

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YOUNG AUDIENCE FILM DAY IMPRESSIONS

In its third year, this special initiative was realised with a network of the following nine partners: BFI British Film Institute, Centre for Educational Resources (Denmark), DokuFest (Kosovo), EducaTIFF (Romania), Film Center Serbia, Filmoteca de Catalunya (Spain), Georgian National Film Center, German Children’s Media Foundation GOLDEN SPARROW, Hungarian National Film Fund, Maltese Ministry for Tourism (Culture Directorate), National Film Centre of Latvia, New Horizons Association (Poland), Otok - Institute for the Development of Film Culture (Slovenia), Sofia International Film Festival (Bulgaria), Swedish Film Institute, Tel Aviv Cinematheque (Israel) and Visegrad Film Forum (Slovakia). 

The European Film Academy Young Audience Award is organised and presented by the European Film Academy and EFA Productions with the support of the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM). The national Young Audience Film Day events were organised with the support of the respective national partners. 

Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI) and Gucci today announced the 2014 grant recipients for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. The Fund provides production and finishing finances, along with year-round support and guidance to feature-length documentary films that highlight and humanize critical domestic and international social issues.

Nine projects have been selected from 560 submissions from more than 50 countries to receive a total of $150,000 in grants, to be administered by Tribeca Film Institute. Now in its seventh year, the Fund has supported 54 films and provided more than $910,000 in grants.

For the fourth year, the Kering Foundation has partnered with the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund to present the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award. The award provides grants to three exemplary film projects that the jury believes illuminate the courage, compassion, extraordinary strength of character, and contributions of women from around the world.

The grantees were selected by a jury comprised of: Claire Aguilar (Executive Content Advisor for Independent Television Service - ITVS); Actor and Producer Alec Baldwin; Producer & Director Ross Kauffman (E-TEAM, BORN INTO BROTHELS);Multiple Grammy® winning singer/songwriter and Partner in Get Lifted Film Co. John Legend and Alyse Nelson (President and CEO of Vital Voices).  In addition to funding, grantees will each receive year-round support from TFI, including one-on-one guidance and consultations to help each film to reach completion, enter the marketplace, and find broader audiences.

“Gucci and the Kering Foundation have continued year after year to support outstanding films that spark global conversation and inspire change, and this year is no different as we expand to support filmmakers in new geographic areas from Cambodia to New Zealand,” said Ryan Harrington, Vice President, Artist Programs at Tribeca Film Institute. “As a team, we are thrilled about the works selected this year and are confident they will have the same success that so many of the past film grantees have achieved. These films encourage viewers to re-examine relevant social issues that are happening both around the world and here in the United States. We are also very pleased to be supporting so many strong female filmmakers as part of this slate.”

“It was an honor for me to join the jury of the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and see the wonderful, inventive work of these talented filmmakers,” said John Legend, 2014 Jury Member. “I'm glad we could help bring their amazing stories to the world."

2014 Recipients of the Gucci Tribeca Film Fund

Films funded through the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund explore social issues across the globe through compelling and personal stories, including: a deep look at the horrible gang-rape and murder in Delhi in 2012; a race against the clock to restore precious hours of old film in Afghanistan; an inside look at solitary confinement and other powerful stories. The projects that will collectively receive $100,000 total in funding for the 2014 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund are:

• 3 ½ MINUTES, Directed and Produced by Marc Silver (2013 TFI New Media Fund Grantee for Who Is Dayani Cristal. 3 ½ Minutes dissects the shooting death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, the aftermath of this systemic tragedy and contradictions within the American criminal justice system.

• A FLICKERING TRUTH, Written, Produced and Directed by Pietra Brettkelly. A Flickering Truth unwraps the world of three dreamers living amongst the dust of Afghanistan's 100 years of war as they struggle to protect and restore 8,000 hours of fragile film.  What truths will emerge from the cloak of time?

• AFGHAN JUSTICE, Directed by Nicole N. Horanyi; Produced by Helle Faber. 38-year-old Kimberley Motley left her husband and three kids in the US in order to work as a defense lawyer in Kabul, Afghanistan. She is the only foreign lawyer, not to mention the only woman, who has a license to work in Afghan courts. Together with her Afghan assistant, Kimberley defends Western and Afghan clients accused of criminal actions.

• COLD RUSH, Directed by May Abdalla; Produced by Elhum Shakerifar. Cold Rush is set at the front line of the fast changing Arctic. As the UN decides how to divide up state sovereignty into the High North we travel into the lives of American entrepreneurs, Danish scientists and Russian priests who are investing in the thawing ice and the young island man who is trying to stop them. A timely documentary about the race for the last frontier.

• FREEDOM FIGHTERS, Directed by Jamie Meltzer; Produced by Kate McLean (2012 TFI New Media Fund Grantee for Immigrant Nation). There’s a new detective agency in Dallas, Texas, started by a group of exonerated men, with decades in prison served between them. They call themselves the Freedom Fighters, and they are looking to free innocent people still behind bars. Freedom Fighters explores their stories of wrongful imprisonment, their  struggles to start their lives over again as free men, and their quest to help  others who may be innocent.

• OUT OF MIND, Produced and Directed by Kristi Jacobson; Out of Mind investigates an invisible part of the American justice system: the use of isolation and segregation in US prisons, commonly known as solitary confinement. With unprecedented access inside a prison tackling the issue head on, the film explores this divisive issue through the experiences of those on both sides of the bars. 

2014 Recipients of the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award

The Spotlighting Women Documentary Award highlights the courage and strength of character of  women from around the world, including: six women in the middle east who are fighting for basic human rights and the story of Jyoti Singh and the documentation of the brutality of her gang-rape and murder in Delhi in 2012. The projects that will collectively receive $50,000 total in funding for the 2014 Spotlighting Women Documentary Award are:  

• AWAKENING, Directed by Gini Reticker; Produced by Beth Levinson, Aida ElKashef, Razan Ghalayini and Mohamed Siam Against the backdrop of the Arab uprisings, Awakening – a multimedia initiative anchored by a documentary film – tells the stories of five fearless women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who risk everything in their fight for human rights for all, despite flagrant efforts to silence them.

• INDIA’S DAUGHTER, Directed and Produced by Leslee Udwin.  This documentary pays tribute to the remarkable and inspiring short life of Jyoti Singh and documents the brutality of her gang-rape and murder in Delhi in 2012. It also examines the mindset of the perpetrators, and it sets these specifics against a wider in-depth exploration of why rape happens.

• THE STORM MAKERS, Written and Directed by Guillaume Suon; Produced by Rithy Panh and Julien Roumy. Filmmaker Guillaume Suon turns his cinematic lens on globalization and contemporary Cambodia.  

• Cristal for a Feature Film

  O menino e o mundo

• Jury Award

  Cheatin'

• Jury Distinction

  Giovanni no Shima

• Audience Award

  O menino e o mundo

• Cristal for a Short Film

  Man on the Chair

• Jury Award

  Patch

• "Jean-Luc Xiberras" Award for a First Film

  Hasta Santiago

• Jury Distinction

  Histoires de bus

• Jury Distinction

  La testa tra le nuvole

• Audience Award

  La Petite Casserole d'Anatole

• "Off-Limits" Award

  Corps étrangers

• Cristal for a TV Production

  En sortant de l'école "Tant de forêts"

• Cristal for a Commissioned Film

  Nepia "Tissue Animals"

• Jury Award for a TV Series

  Tumble Leaf "Kite"

• Jury Award for a TV Special

  Le Parfum de la carotte

• Jury Award

  Peau "Instant T"

• Cristal for a Graduation Film

  The Bigger Picture

• Jury Award

  An Adventurous Afternoon

• Jury Distinction

  The Age of Curious

• Festivals Connexion Award – Région Rhône-Alpes with Lumières Numériques

  Through the Hawthorn

• Junior Jury Award for a Graduation Film

  Interview

• Junior Jury Award for a Short Film

  Histoires de bus

• Fipresci Award

  Nul poisson où aller

• "Gan Foundation Aid for Distribution" for a Work in Progress Award

  Adama

• Sacem Award for Original Music

  Hasta Santiago

• "CANAL+ Creative Aid" Award for a Short Film

  Wonder

The 61st Sydney Film Festival’s prestigious awards were announced during the Closing Night Gala at the State Theatre tonight.

Before the awards were announced, NSW Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said, “Sydney Film Festival is a highlight of the city’s rich arts calendar and plays an important role in the local and national film industry. The New South Wales Government, through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, is proud to support another successful year for the Festival.”

SFF CEO Leigh Small said, “Our Closing Night Gala marks the end of another successful 12-day Festival, and the seventh consecutive year of growth in attendance. This year we welcomed over 156,000 people to screenings, events and talks.”

SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, “From the unforgettable Opening Night film 20,000 Days on Earth and the star-studded premiere of David Michôd’s The Rover to the emotional standing ovation at Tender and the warmly received 2014 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep, this year’s Festival truly was one to remember.”

Out of a selection of 12 films in Official Competition, the Sydney Film Prize was awarded to Two Days, One Night directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

The inaugural Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary was awarded to the brave and confronting 35 Letters, directed and written by Janine Hosking. Special mention went to Tender directed by LynetteWallworth.

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films were also announced, with the Dendy Live Action Short Award going to I Want to Dance Better at Parties, directed and written by Matthew Bate and Gideon Obarzanek. The Yoram Gross Animation Award went to Phantom Limb, directed, written and produced by Alex Grigg. The Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director was awarded to Eddy Bell for Grey Bull.

The Event Cinema Australian Short Screenplay Award, also new this year, was awarded to Welcome to Iron Knob directed and written by Dave Wade. Special mention also went to Matt Durrant for his short film Pocket Money.

The Closing Night Gala also featured a sold-out screening of New Zealand vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. Filmmakers and stars Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clements and Jonathan Brugh were in attendance.

EDITOR’S NOTES:

The Sydney Film Prize

Out of a selection of 12 films in Official Competition, the Sydney Film Prize was awarded to Two Days, One Night directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

The Dardenne brothers have won the Palme d’Or twice: for Rosetta (1999) and The Child (2005). Two Days, One Night stars Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose, The Dark Knight Rises) as a woman who has one weekend to convince her colleagues to sacrifice their bonuses so she can keep her job.

“For its masterfully elegant storytelling, its dedication to a fiercely humanistic, super-realist worldview, its brave, essential commitment to community solidarity, and its celebration of a woman’s power and vitality, we are delighted to present the Sydney Film Prize to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes’ Two Days, One Night,” said Jury President Rachel Perkins.

Sydney Film Festival’s 2014 Official Competition Jury comprised Rachel Perkins as Jury President, filmmakers Khalo Matabane (South Africa) and Oh Jung-wan (South Korea), film critic and curator Shelly Kraicer (Canada) and Australian actress Rachael Blake.

“In Amsterdam, where we are for the release of Two Days, One Night, we have just learned that our film has been awarded the Official Competition prize at Sydney Film Festival. We are delighted and very honoured to receive this award, and would like to thank the jury, as well as our lead actress Marion Cotillard for her wonderful Sandra. In Australia, as everywhere else, solidarity is a value worth fighting for. Thank you,” said Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne were born and raised in Belgium. They started their filmmaking career by making social-activist documentaries, then later switching to fiction. Their 1999 feature Rosetta won the Palme d’Or and many other awards and helped change Belgian labour laws. Their other films include The Son (2002), the Palme d’Or-winning The Child (2005) and The Kid with a Bike (2011).

This year, the internationally recognised SFF Official Competition, now in its seventh year, awards a $61,000 cash prize in recognition of the most courageous, audacious and cutting-edge film from the 12 features selected.

The SFF Official Competition was established in 2008 and is endorsed by Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (the regulating organisation for international film festivals). 12 feature films are selected for Official Competition on the basis that they demonstrate ‘emotional power and resonance; are audacious, cutting-edge, courageous; and go beyond the usual treatment of the subject matter’.

Previous Sydney Film Festival Official Competition winners include: Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).

The selection of films in Competition for the SFF 2014 Sydney Film Prize were:

20,000 Days on Earth

UK | Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard | Screenwriters: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, Nick Cave | Producers: James Wilson, Dan Bowen | Distributor: Madman Entertainment

Black Coal, Thin Ice

China, Hong Kong | Director, Screenwriter: Diao Yinan | Producers: Qu Vivian, Wan Juan, Shen Yang, Zhang Dajun | Cast:  Liao Fan, Gwei Lun Mei, Wang Xuebing | World Sales: Fortissimo Films

Boyhood

USA | Director, Screenwriter: Richard Linklater | Producers: Cathleen Sutherland, Richard Linklater | Cast: Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater | Distributor: Universal Pictures International Australas

Fell

Australia | Director: Kasimir Burgess | Screenwriter: Natasha Pincus | Producers: John Maynard, Mary Minas | Cast: Matt Nable, Dan Henshall | Production Company: Felix Media

Fish & Cat

Iran | Director, Screenwriter: Shahram Mokri | Producer: Sepehr Seyfi | Cast: Babak Karimi, Saeed Ebrahimifar, Abed Abest | World Sales: Iranian Independents

The Kidnapping of Michel Houllebecq

France | Director, Screenwriter: Guillaume Nicloux | Producers: Sylvie Pialat, Marco Cherqui | Cast: Michel Houllebecq, Luc Schwarz, Mathieu Nicourt

Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter

USA | Director: David Zellner | Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner | Producers: Nathan Zellner, Cameron Lamb, Chris Ohlson, Andrew Banks, Jim Burke | Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, Kanako Higashi | Distributor: Palace Films

Locke

UK | Director, Screenwriter: Steven Knight | Producers: Paul Webster, Guy Heeley | Cast: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman | Distributor: Madman Entertainment

The Rover

Australia | Director, Screenwriter: David Michôd | Producers: Liz Watts, David Linde, David Michôd | Cast: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy | Distributor: Roadshow Films

Ruin

Australia | Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Michael Cody | Cast: Sang Malen, Ros Mony | Distributor: Madman Entertainment

Snowpiercer

South Korea | Director: Bong Joon-ho | Screenwriters: Bong Joon-ho, Kelly Masterson | Producers: Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun, Park Tae-jun, Robert Bernacchi, David Minkowski, Matthew Stillman | Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Ed Harris, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton | Distributor: Roadshow Films

Two Days, One Night

Belgium, France, Italy | Directors, Screenwriters: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne | Producers: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd | Cast: Marion Cotillard, Olivier Gourmet, Catherine Salée, Fabrizio Rongione | Distributor: Madman Entertainment

Each Jury Member and winner of the Sydney Film Prize for 2014 will receive an exquisite timepiece from our watch partner Philip Stein.

The Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary

For the first time, out of a selection of 10 finalists, the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary awarded a generous cash prize of $10,000 to acknowledge excellence in documentary production.  The winner of the Documentary Australia Foundation Award went to 35 Letters.

“The winning documentary is an inventive and deeply moving account of 31-year-old Melbourne writer Angelique Flowers, who is given only months to live, and the different ways in which she and her family face her impending death,” said DAF Award for Australian Documentary Jury Member Dr Mitzi Goldman.

“Unflinchingly, this film shows us Angelique’s desperate search for a way to die with dignity – one made all the more difficult by her parents opposing belief that she should die as God intended, and her sibling's determination to help her die as she chooses, even though it is against the law.  Dealing with difficult subject matter that is universal in its urgency and relevance, the film tells a very personal story in an artistic and honest style that delicately balances personal suffering with the larger ethical and moral questions posed by voluntary euthanasia. This is a brave and confronting attempt to bring a subject rarely discussed in Australia back into the public arena.”

“We’d also like to give special mention to the film Tender– a film that guides us through emotionally loaded territory without succumbing to mawkishness. The director Lynette Wallworth’s achievement in covering multiple personal stories during often heightened moments with both sensitivity and humour is singular and done with great skill. The film is authentic, powerful and ultimately, true to its title – Tender.”

Previous winners of the Australian Documentary prize at Sydney Film Festival include: Buckskin (2013), Killing Anna (2012), Life in Movement (2011) and The Snowman (2010). In 2009 the prize was shared between Contact and A Good Man (each film received a $10,000 cash prize).           

The 2014 Jury for the Documentary Australia Foundation Prize includes producer, comedian and presenter Andrew Denton, filmmaker Gabe Klinger, and award-winning documentarian and CEO of the Documentary Australia Foundation Dr Mitzi Goldman.

The selection of films in competition for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary Film were:

35 Letters

Australia | 2014 | 98 mins | In English | World Premiere

Director, Screenwriter: Janine Hosking | Producers: Janine Hosking, Carol Seeley | Production Company: iKandy Films

On Michelle Flowers’ 35th birthday she received a bundle of letters from her younger sister Angelique. This was no humdrum correspondence; rather they were birthday wishes full of charm and wit. The letters expressed Angelique’s love of nature, art and literature, and most of all her unique and joyful personality, despite suffering from a painful disease since her mid-teens. A year on, she’s in the last phases of terminal illness, and is struggling to find a peaceful way to die – not in

a hospice, but somewhere altogether more in tune with her spirit.

Janine Hosking’s innovative and moving film follows Angelique’s final months as she struggles to find grace in an inflexible health care system. Janine Hosking won a Walkley Award in 1997. Her films include Mademoiselle and the Doctor, My KhmerHeart, Ganja Queen, The Pageant and I’m Not Dead Yet (SFF 2011).

All This Mayhem

Australia | 2013 | 96 mins | In English

Director: Eddie Martin | Producers: George Pank, Eddie Martin, James Gay-Rees | Distributor: Entertainment One Australia

Black Panther Woman

Australia | 2014 | 52 mins | In English | World Premiere

Director, Producer: Rachel Perkins | Screenwriters: Rachel Perkins, Marlene Cummins | Distributor: SBS International

China’s 3Dreams

Australia | 2014 | 90 mins | In English and Mandarin with English subtitles | World Premiere

Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Nick Torrens | World Sales: TVF International

The Last Impresario

Australia | 2013 | 85 mins | In English | Australian Premiere

Director, Screenwriter: Gracie Otto | Producer: NicoleO’Donohue | Distributor: Umbrella Entertainment

Love Marriage In Kabul

Australia | 2013 | 84 mins | In English and Farsi with English subtitles | World Premiere

Director: Amin Palangi | Producer: Pat Fiske | Production Company: Bower Bird Films

Once My Mother

Australia | 2013 | 75 mins | In English, Polish and Ukrainian with English subtitles

Director, Screenwriter: Sophia Turkiewicz | Producer: Rod Freedman | Production Company: Change Focus Media

The Redfern Story

Australia | 2014 | 57 mins | In English | World Premiere

Director, Screenwriter: Darlene Johnson | Producers: Sue Milliken, Darlene Johnson | Production Company: Samson Productions Pty Ltd

Tender

Australia | 2013 | 73 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Lynette Wallworth | Producer: Kath Shelper | Production Company: Scarlett Pictures

A community centre in Port Kembla is the warm heart of this extraordinary documentary from artist-filmmaker Lynette Wallworth. Burials are not just an emotional trauma, but a financial struggle for cash-strapped locals. The centre’s committee decides to investigate other options, including running their own not-for-profit funeral business. As discussions on just how to proceed continue, the close knit group must deal with a terminal illness close to home. With stunning visuals and music from maverick maestros Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, this beautiful documentary speaks tenderly of love and death.

Lynette Wallworth is an Australian artist whose practice spans video installation, photography and film. Her work has been presented in the USA, UK, New Zealand, Melbourne and Sydney.

Ukraine is Not a Brothel

Australia, Ukraine | 2013 | 80 mins | In Ukrainian and Russian with English subtitles | Australian Premiere

Director: Kitty Green | Producers: Kitty Green, Jonathan auf der Heide, Michael Latham | World Sales: Cinephil

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Film

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films were also tonight, with the Dendy Live Action Short Award going to I Want to Dance Better at Parties, directed and written by Matthew Bate and Gideon Obarzanek; the Yoram Gross Animation Award went to Phantom Limb, directed, written and produced by Alex Grigg; and the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director was awarded to Eddy Bell for Grey Bull.

“If this crop of short films reflects what is happening in our industry right now, and where we are headed, then these are very exciting times for Australian film,” said SFF Dendy Jury member Natasha Pincus. “Across the board, the craft of the films was superb. We found it very challenging to compare films of such varied genres and tastes and in the end, we focused on investigating how successful each individual film was in satisfying its own intent, assessing its level of achievement within the terms it set for itself.”

“We would like to wholeheartedly congratulate all of the filmmakers on their wonderful work. The Dendys are the pre-eminent awards competition for short film in Australia and there is a reason why all of you have been chosen to be a part of this competition. We encourage you not to despair if your film does not receive an award this year, and remember that it is far harder to be selected as a nominee than it is to be awarded a winner.” 

The 2014 Jury for the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Film was comprised of Australian filmmakers Michael Cody and Natasha Pincus, and Canadian filmmaker Richie Mehta.

‘We are really proud to support short filmmaking with this award,” said Nick Hayes, Icon Film Head of Theatrical Operations. “This year’s selection presents a very high standard and we don’t envy the jury who responsibility it was to choose. For us, supporting short film is an important part of ensuring we have a healthy feature-film industry in Australia, something we at Dendy are very proud of.”

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Film have been sponsored by Dendy Cinema for 26 years and these awards have launched and aided the careers of many great Australian filmmakers.

2014 is the 45th year SFF has featured a short-film competition. These ground breaking awards have kick started the careers of many prominent filmmakers, including Jane Campion, Phillip Noyce and Ivan Sen, who were all past competitors.

The 10 finalists for the 2014 Dendy Award for Australian Short Film were:

Grey Bull

Australia | 2013 | 15 mins | In English and Denka with English subtitles

Director, Screenwriter: Eddy Bell | Producer: Khoby Rowe | Cast: Dylan Watson, Mayik Deng, Akuein Kueth | Production Company: Victorian College of the Arts

A South Sudanese refugee happens upon a bull he believes is his spiritual totem. He decides to rescue it from the abattoir where he works. Once home, the animal begins to jeopardise the family's chance at fitting into their new life.

The iMom

Australia | 2013 | 14 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Ariel Martin | Cast: Matilda Brown, Marta Dusseldorp, Karl Beattie | Production Company: Filmgraphics Entertainment

I Want to Dance Better at Parties

Australia | 2013 | 29 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Matthew Bate, Gideon Obarzanek | Producer: Rebecca Summerton | Cast: Steven Rodgers, Elizabeth Nabben, Phillip Rose | Production Company: Closer Productions

In need of some form of human contact, a grieving man takes up dance classes with a young instructor. This hybrid film, based on co-director Gideon Oberzanke’s internationally successful stage production, fuses documentary, drama and dance.

Man

Australia | 2013 | 19 mins | In English

Director: Richard Hughes | Screenwriter, Producer: Dave Christison | Cast: Shane Connor, James Rolleston, Richard Sutherland | Production Company: The Woolshed Company

Showboy

Australia | 2013 | 15 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Samuel Leighton-Dore | Producer: Diana Burnett | Cast: Lucas Pittaway, Mal Kennard, Richie Finger | Production Company: BNZ Productions

Stuffed

Australia | 2013 | 22 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Warwick Young | Producers: Rachel Argall, Warwick Young | Cast: Travis Cotton, Anita Hegh, Jan Oxenbould | Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School

Welcome to Iron Knob

Australia | 2013 | 21 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Dave Wade | Producer: Alexandra Blue | Cast: Linda Cropper, Jessica Ryles, Chris Duncan | Production Company: Bluebird Productions

When a young boy accidentally shoots a stranger with his father’s gun, it is left to the nonchalant townsfolk of Iron Knob to cover it up as quickly as possible – then get back to whatever it was that they were doing before…

Crochet Noir

Australia | 2013 | 8 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Jessica Harris | Producer: Heamin Kwun | Cast: Ant Neate, Chess Julia Allan, Jacinta Stapleton | Production Company: Victorian College of the Arts

Phantom Limb

Australia, UK | 2013 | 5 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Alex Grigg | Cast: Clifford Hume, Sarah Jones | Production Company: Late Night Work Club

The Video Dating Tape of Desmondo Ray, aged 33 & ¾

Australia | 2013 | 4 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Steve Baker | Producers: Steve Baker, Laura Mustchin | Cast: Bill Waters | Production Company: Taxi Film Production

Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award

The inaugural Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award for 2014 was awarded to Welcome to Iron Knob, directed and written by Dave Wade. Special mention also went to Matt Durrant for his short film Pocket Money.

Sponsored by Event Cinemas, this award provides a $5000 cash prize for best short screenplay to one of the short fiction films selected for the SFF program. All Australian short films screening in the Festival were eligible.

“Event Cinemas is proud to present this new short screenplay award to Dave Wade for Welcome to Iron Knob, the story of a little mishap within an Australian bush community and the unique characters of the town who depict a rich array of Australian qualities in getting back to normal,” said Anthony Kierann, General Manager Event Cinemas George Street.

“Dave Wade is no stranger to screenplay nominations and has scored a gem with this short film. Event Cinemas acknowledges the original thoughts, ideas and character creations  that a writer pens to paper, that is then put into  the collective magic of the filmmaking process to present quintessential Australian Short films.  

“We would like to make special mention to Matt Durrant for his film Pocket Money. Event looks forward to seeing all of the Australian short-film finalists going on to future success both locally and into the international arena.”

The Australian short films eligible for the 2014 Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award were:

Crochet Noir Australia | 2013 | 8 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Jessica Harris | Cast: Ant Neate, Chess Julia Allan, Jacinta Stapleton

Embrace Australia | 2013 | 16 mins | In English

Director: George-Alex Nagle | Screenwriter:Huna Amweero

Grey Bull Australia | 2013 | 15 mins | In English and Denka with English subtitles

Director, Screenwriter: Eddy Bell | Cast: Dylan Watson, Mayik Deng, Akuein Kueth

The iMom Australia | 2013 | 14 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Ariel Martin | Cast: Matilda Brown, Marta Dusseldorp, Karl Beattie

I Want to Dance Better at Parties Australia | 2013 | 29 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Matthew Bate, Gideon Obarzanek | Cast: Steven Rodgers, Elizabeth Nabben, Phillip Rose

MAN Australia | 2013 | 19 mins | In English

Director: Richard Hughes | Screenwriter, Producer: Dave Christison | Cast: Shane Connor, James Rolleston, Richard Sutherland

Meeting Susan Australia | 2014 | 9 mins | In English

Director: Darius Devas | Cast: Alison Bell, Jan Friedl, David Patterson

Phantom Limb Australia, UK | 2013 | 5 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Alex Grigg | Cast: Clifford Hume, Sarah Jones

Pocket Money Australia | 2013 | 10 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Matt Durrant | Cast: Majdi Slaibi, Taha Saleh,Bill Kalaoun

Showboy Australia | 2013 | 15 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Samuel Leighton-Dore | Cast: Lucas Pittaway, Mal Kennard, Richie Finger

Stuffed Australia | 2013 | 22 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Warwick Young | Cast: Travis Cotton, Anita Hegh, Jan Oxenbould

The Video Dating Tape of Desmondo Ray, Aged 33 and ¾ Australia | 2013 | 4 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Steve Baker | Cast: Bill Waters

Welcome to Iron Knob Australia | 2013 | 21 mins | In English

Director, Screenwriter: Dave Wade | Cast: Linda Cropper, Jessica Ryles, Chris Duncan

ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.

The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au

Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).

The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.  

The JCC in Manhattan's Israel Film Center Festival highlighting the top new Israeli premieres opens tonight, June 12 at the DGA Theater with the NY premiere of the comedy Hunting Elephants which stars Sir Patrick Stewart as well as many of Israel's top actors, and is directed by Reshef Levi, who will introduce the film.  The Red Carpet Opening Night event will honor classic Israeli megastar Yehoram Gaon with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Israeli cinema. Gaon was one of the first stars to bring Israeli film to international recognition with hits like Kazablan - which will be included in the festival as a special rooftop screening, and Oscar-nominated Operation Thunderbolt directed by Menahem Golan. The award will be presented by the twice Academy Award nominated director Joseph Cedar, best known for his films: Footnote, Beaufort and Time of Favor.

Also to be honored at the festival is Lia van Leer, founder of the Jerusalem Film Festival and Cinematheque. Van Leer is an icon in the international cinema world and will be honored by industry peers at a dinner featuring a screening of Lia, a documentary about her life. Van Leer will be joined by the new director of the Jerusalem Film Festival, Noa Regev. 

The festival just announced the two selections from this year's line-up that will be available for streaming during the week of the festival, giving access to audiences outside NY. Operation Sunflower and Farewell Herr Schwarz will be available on  www.israelfilmcenterSTREAM.org, the leading streaming site for Israeli films in America. 

Among many guest filmmakers, the festival will host Shaanan Streett, lead singer of the international sensation hip-hop band "Hadag Nachash." Shaanan is the writer of the feature film Wonders, directed by acclaimed director Avi Nesher, and will take part in a conversation on the topic of the demise of secular culture in Jerusalem.

Closing night on June 19 will feature the award-winning film Magic Men by Guy Nativ and Erez Tadmor which stars Arab-Israeli actor Makram Khoury as a Holocaust survivor who returns to Greece with his estranged ultra-Orthodox son.

Other film highlights include premieres of Igor and The Cranes' Journey, a family friendly father-son story which will be presented on Father's Day, June 15. 

Screenings will take place throughout the week of June 12-19 at The JCC in Manhattan and in other select locations. 

Isaac Zablocki, Director of the Israel Film Center, says, "This year's selection play on an international standard and show once again that Israeli films have reached a universal level and are of interest beyond the Israeli market."

Tickets and more information are available at www.israelfilmcenter.org/festival    

The Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014 awards, presented by Jeremy Hardy, were announced this morning at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. The awards for 2014 announced today were: Special Jury Award, Sheffield Innovation Award, Sheffield Green Award, Sheffield Youth Jury Award, Sheffield Student Doc Award, Sheffield Short Doc Award, The Tim Hetherington Award and the first ever Peter Wintonick Award which celebrates activist filmmaking, in honour of the late Canadian documentary filmmaker and friend of the festival Peter Wintonick.

This year theInspiration Award was awarded to Laura Poitras. Poitras sent a message dedicating her award to Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Jacob Appelbaum, William Binney, Julian Assange and Sarah Harrison.

The Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014 award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Roger Graef. Accepting the award Roger said “it’s true that when we take people’s pictures, we capture their souls and that is a great responsibility” and paid tribute to “those souls who have been brave enough to let us capture them.” He continued: “the privilege of fifty years of working in this industry has been to share the private lives of a great many people.”

Roger also praised Sheffield Doc/Fest and the community spirit of the documentary festival, commenting that the loneliness that can come with documentary filmmaking is “mitigated by the chance to come to together at a festival like this.” He dedicated his award to CEO and Festival Director Heather Croall.

Special Jury Award

Sheffield Doc/Fest’s Special Jury prize was awarded to Attacking The Devil: Harold Evans and the Last Nazi War Crime (directors Jacqui Morris & David Morris, United Kingdon/Canada, 2014, 99mins) 

On behalf of the Special Jury Dawn Porter said: “We unanimously found this film to be an elegant examination of complex themes. We appreciated his film on all levels - it is a work approached with relevance and rigor, a historical film that feels contemporary and engaging, blossoms like a novel, and is surprising when least expected, epic in its scope, traversing decades and exploring big themes while revealing intimate details.” For the jury, Attacking the Devil is “a call to arms inviting us to examine our past as it celebrates and reminds us of the critical value of journalism.”

The Special Jury also gave honourable mention to Night Will Fall (dir. Andre Singer, United Kingdom/Unites States/Israel, 2014, 75mins), which Dawn praised saying, “This intellectually bracing film reveals the power of documentary and why it matters. It challenges us to never take anything for granted. With skill and grace this film is a remarkable achievement reminding of the need to never forget.”

The Special Jury:

Mark Cousins - Filmmaker, UK
Eugene Hernandez - Film Society of Lincoln Center, USA
Kate Kinninmont - MBE, Chief Executive of Women in Film & TV, UK
Karolina Lidin - Film Consultant, Denmark
Dawn Porter - Director / Producer, USA

Nominated Films
All This Mayhem
Attacking The Devil: Harold Evans and the Last Nazi War Crime
The Case Against 8
Concerning Violence
In the Shadow of War
Last Days in Vietnam
Life Itself
Night Will Fall
Non Fiction Diary
The Overnighters
Regarding Susan Sontag

Sheffield Innovation Award

The Sheffield Innovation Award was awarded to A Short History of the Highrise (Dir. Katerina Cizek, Canada/United States, 2013, 17mins)

Speaking on behalf of the jury of international film and interactive media industry experts, filmmaker Laurence Topham commented that the jury had unanimously agreed “all of the work in this category demonstrated quality and innovation – it was a strong field combining risk-taking, strong storytelling and interactivity across multiple platforms.”

One of a few such awards in the documentary world, the Innovation Award recognises cutting edge documentary practise, rewarding the project that exhibits originality in approach to form, storytelling and delivery. Laurence praised the director Katerina Cizek, saying “Cizek demonstrates a clear understanding of audience in an adaptable and accessible platform where imagination, exploration and participation/engagement is effortless.  This emotionally intelligent film connects the user to its people and stories and enables the user to find their place within it and is a perfect balance of technical innovation and compelling storytelling.”

Accepting the award, Katerina said it was “an honour to accept the innovation award from the most innovative documentary film festival in the world.” She dedicated her award to Peter Wintonick, who she described as “a dear friend and huge inspiration to so many of us in terms of understanding and thinking through how documentary can be innovative and how it can change the world.” She said, “This one’s for you Peter.”

Jury:

Kamal Ackarie - Curator / Producer, Germany
Daisy Asquith - Filmmaker, UK
Christilla Huillard Kaan - Radio France, France
Kim Streets - Museums Sheffield, UK
Laurence Topham - Filmmaker, UK

Nominated Films
Burn Out
Choose Your Own Documentary
Iranorama
Killing Kennedy
Last Hijack Interactive
The Measure of All Things
Offshore
 A Short History of the Highrise

Sheffield Youth Jury Award

The Sheffield Youth Jury Award was awarded to The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (Dir. Brian Knappenberger, United States, 2014, 105mins)

Speaking on behalf of the Youth Jury of six exceptional young documentary lovers chosen from hundreds of applicants, Rachel Watts said "the film that we have chosen this year stood out for its contemporary relevance. It deals with an issue that we feel will resonate with young people around the world. It is a story that needs sharing, and one that has the potential to inspire change and debate.”

The Youth Jury also gave a special mention to Happiness (Dir. Thomas Balmès, France/Finland, 2013, 76mins) and thanked Hussain Currimbhoy and Sheffield Doc/fest for the “unique and life-changing” experience of sitting on a festival jury.

Jury:
Lucy Edmondson
Nyasha Mangera-Lakew
Felix Renshaw
Chris Small
Christian Villarba
Rachel Watts

Nominated Films
Happiness

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz
The School of Babel
Sepideh
Web Junkie

Sheffield Green Award

The Sheffield Green Award was awarded to Unearthed (Dir. Jolynn Minnaar, South Africa, 2014, 90mins)

Spokesperson for the jury, Jillian Creasy (Sheffield Green Party) commented “as a jury of ranging disciplines (only two of us are filmmakers), we arrived at our decision from very different angles. But we were in no doubt of the frontrunner.”

She continued, “We chose the winning film for three reasons: We felt the film imparted an important message; It was well told, and in such a way that engages audiences not necessarily involved with or educated in the issues it addresses. And thirdly…of all the messages across all the films nominated, we felt this one to be the timeliest, because there is still opportunity to do something about it. For that reason, we’d like it to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.”

Accepting her award Jolynn Minnaar said “I dedicate this award to filmmakers out there who are telling stories that matter. No matter how hard it is, keep going – it is worth it, I promise!”

Jury:

Joe Berlinger - Filmmaker, USA
Jillian Creasy - Sheffield Green Party Councillor, UK
Ben Jackson - Now Then Magazine, UK
Claire O'Neill - Co-founder, A Greener Festival, UK
Roger Ross Williams - Filmmaker, USA

Nominated Films
Beaverland
A Dangerous Game
Ecocide - Voices from Paradise 
The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came To Eden 
Goodbye Gauley Mountain: An Ecosexual Love Story
Last Call
Unearthed

Student Doc Award

The Sheffield Student Doc Award was awarded to Our Curse (Dir. Tomasz Sliwinski, Poland, 2013, 28mins)

Sponsored by London Film Academy, the Student Doc Award recognises the student films of today and the great filmmakers of tomorrow. On behalf of the jury, Cherie Frederico said “we all agreed, watching the films you wouldn’t have known they were student productions, the standard was so high.”

Dr. Clifford Shaw, who has attended all 21 editions of the festival said “I found this quite a remarkable film with a very special quality.” The film’s message, he said, was ultimately that “life, despite it’s problems, still has something to offer.”

Jury:

David Brindley - Channel 4, UK
Cherie Frederico - Filmmaker, UK
Pawel Kloc - Filmmaker, Poland
Anna MacDonald - London Film Academy, UK
Dr Clifford Shaw - Cineaste, UK

Nominated Films
Hello Stranger
Honey on Wounds
I
Love Me Tender
Our Curse
Perpetual Ed
Rebel Menopause
 

Short Award

The Sheffield Short Doc Award, sponsored by the London Short Film Festival, was awarded toAmanda F***ing Palmer on the Rocks (Dir. Ondi Timoner, United States, 2014, 18mins)

Speaking on behalf of the jury, Philip Ilson (London Short Film Festival) commented “Amanda Palmer has succeeded in music through an amazing talent coupled with a 'fuck you' attitude to gain a legion of dedicated fans across the world who love her independence and bloody mindedness. Ondi Timoner's documentary brilliantly captures Palmer's unique take on the world by being as high energy and as hyper as Palmer herself. Timoner is clearly a fan, but this is not just a fan film, but also a perfect introduction to a unique performer.”

Jury:

Sheila Curran Bernard - Producer, USA
Avi Grewal - Nowness, UK
Briony Hanson - British Council, UK
Philip Illson - LSFF Director, UK
Andy Samsom - Aeon Film, UK

Nominated Films
3 Acres in Detroit
Adrift
AMANDA F---ING PALMER ON THE ROCKS
The Claustrum
David Hockney IN THE NOW (in six minutes)
Inside the Mind of Colin Furze
The Last Days of Peter Bergmann
The Lion's Mouth Opens
Michael S., re-collected
OBEY THE ARTIST
RUSSELL BRANDS THE BIRD
Still Can't Hear Her Mouth
Unlocking the Truth
Wandering Rocks
When Loud Music Turned Deadly 
Where Are You Coming From?
Winter
Xenos
 

Tim Hetherington Award

The Tim Hetherington Award was awarded to Profession: Documentarist (Directors: Shirin Barghnavard, Firouzeh Khosrovani, Farhnaz Sharifi, Mina Keshavarz, Sepideh Abtahi, Sahar Salahshoor and Nahid Rezaei, Iran, 2014, 80mins)

Presented by Tim’s mother Judith Hetherington and Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof), the award celebrates the life and legacy of photojournalist and humanitarian Tim Hetherington, whose objectives as a filmmaker were to highlight the plight of people so often ignored by the world and mainstream media.

Accepting the award Sharin Barghnavard declared it an honour “to accept this precious award from Tim’s mother” and remembered Tim’s legacy as someone who “dedicated his own life to pass beyond the borders.”

The Wintonick Award

The first ever Peter Wintonick Award, celebrating activist filmmaking, was awarded to Vessel (Dir. Diana Whitten, United States, 2014, 88mins)

 
Presenting the award, Martin Rosenbaum read a message from Peter Wintonick’s daughter Mira who said of Peter, though “he often wore a sceptical gaze, he was an optimist at heart” and that she was very happy to see the award go to “a filmmaker who embodies his activist spirit.”

Sheffield Doc/Fest Audience Award

The Audience Award will be announced on Monday 16th June 2014.

Now in it’s eighth year, the Sheffield Doc/Fest Audience Award gives Sheffield's public audience and delegates the chance to honour their favourite film of the festival.

Seesheffdocfest.com for details

The nominees for the television, online and radio 2014 Rose d’Or were announced today by EUROVISION, organisers of the prestigious international entertainment programme awards.

The winners will be decided at the 53rd Rose d’Or Awards ceremony which will be held in Berlin on 17 September. The Rose d’Or Awards define the gold standard of excellence and achievement in television, online and radio entertainment programme making.

Nearly 400 programmes from more than 100 broadcasters and production companies from all over the world were submitted for this year’s Rose d’Or Awards, breaking the record set last year following its successful relaunch by EUROVISION, operated by the European Broadcasting Union.

There are six categories for television and online video – Arts, Factual & Reality Entertainment, Game Show, Comedy, Sitcom, and Entertainment, and three new categories covering radio – Comedy, Entertainment, and Reality & Factual Entertainment.

“The response from radio has been immensely enthusiastic. We are excited to have identified nine finalists whose entries showcase language and creativity to the highest standards, with an injection of national culture,” said Christian Vogg, head of radio.

The juries are made up of separate judging panels for each category and include professionals renowned for their knowledge and experience within the media world.

Three finalists have been selected for each of the categories:

LIST OF NOMINEES FOR TELEVISION

Arts

• Inside the Mind of Leonardo – BSkyB (United Kingdom)
• Music, Maestro – RTP (Portugal)
• Peter & The Wolf/Pierre et le Loup – Camera Lucida Productions (France)

Reality & Factual Entertainment

• Gogglebox – Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
• Married at First Sight – Snowman Productions (Denmark)
• The Kamaras Love You – Eyeworks (The Netherlands)

Game Show

• Extraordinary Masters (original title 'Die Deutschen Meister') – Brainpool TV GmbH (Germany)
• Pointless (UK), Episode 1 (Series 9) – Endemol International BV (The Netherlands)
• The Common Denominator – Armoza Formats (Israel)

Comedy

• In Laughing Memory: Cath Luyten – deMensen (Belgium)
• Through the Keyhole – ITV (United Kingdom)
• Little Mom – Dori Medi Group (Israel)

Sitcom

• Please Like Me – Please Like Me Pty Ltd (Australia)
• Toast of London – Channel 4/Objective Productions (United Kingdom)
• Yonderland – BSkyB (United Kingdom)

Entertainment

• A League of their Own – BSkyB (United Kingdom)
• Circus Halli Galli – ProSiebensat1 TV Deutschland GmbH (Germany)
• The Graham Norton Show – BBC (United Kingdom)

LIST OF NOMINEES FOR RADIO

Radio Comedy

• Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang Ups – BBC (United Kingdom)
• Bridget Christie Minds The Gap – BBC (United Kingdom)
• Jeremy Hardy speaks to the nation – Pozzitive Television Ltd (United Kingdom)

Radio Reality & Factual Entertainment

• The Futurologist – Swedish Radio (Sweden)
• Verdi Operatales in Short, Aida – MTVA (Hungary)
• A Longer Road to the Battlefield, Chapter 6: Tampere – Balgarsko Nationalno Radio (Bulgaria)

Radio Entertainment

• A Night of Emotions – YLE (Finland)
• 3FM Serious Request – NPO (The Netherlands)
• 'De Profundis' Music and Spirituality – IBA (Israel)

“The variety and volume of countries and producers has been outstanding,” says EUROVISION director Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser. “They show us loud and clear that the quantity and quality of entertainment programming across all platforms is continuing to thrive.”

The winners will be announced at an evening celebration to be held at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin, on 17 September.

To attend the Rose d’Or, register online. 

RIP Bingham Ray

The Galway Film Fleadh 2014, which takes place this year from Tuesday, 8th July to Sunday, 13th July, has just announced the nominees for this year’s Bingham Ray New Talent Award. The nominees include rising stars in the areas of production, acting and directing. The winner of the 2014 Bingham Ray New Talent Award will be announced at the closing night awards ceremony, which takes place in the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, 13th July. This year’s nominees are:

• Producer, Anne Marie Naughton for The Canal
• Actor, Moe Dunford for Patrick’s Day
• Director, Niall Heery for Gold
• Actor, Tara Breathnach for A Nightingale Falling
• Actor, Dara Devaney for An Bronntanas

Patrick’s Day

Patrick’s Day follows the story of Patrick (Moe Dunford), a warm-hearted twenty six year old virgin schizophrenic, who falls in love with a soon-to- be redundant, alcoholic air-hostess, Karen. Maura, who is Patrick’s obsessive mother, has a need to control her son which blinds her to the reality that sometimes the only thing more damaging than hate is ill-advised love. A provocative love story about the right to intimacy for everyone, Patrick’s Day suggests that when it comes to love, we can all go a little crazy. Directed by Terry McMahon (Charlie Casanova).

The Canal

The Canal tells the story of David Williams and his wife Alice, who move into a picturesque period house by the canal, along with their small child Billy. The story develops when David begins to suspect that his wife is having an affair, and also starts to have nightmarish visions of an evil presence he believes lives in his home. An original Irish ghost story directed by Ivan Kavanagh (Tin Can Man), The Canal is a shocking journey into the unknown.

Gold

Gold is a ‘feel good’ offbeat comedy written and directed by IFTA-winning Niall Heery (Small Engine Repair). The story centres around a wandering loner, Ray (played by David Wilmot) who tries to track down his estranged ex-partner (Kerry Condon) and teenage daughter played by Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), so that his dying father can get to see his grand-daughter one last time. The comedy quickly develops when Ray realizes that his daughter and her mother have built a new life with former P.E teacher (James Nesbitt).

A Nightingale Falling

The film, based on the novel of the same title by PJ Curtis, is a historical drama set against the backdrop of a turbulent, war-torn Ireland in the early 1920s. It is a story of a household and its inhabitants caught in the crucible of the merciless politics, cruelties and hardships of the period. It is also a story of love, and the dark secrets that lead to broken hearts. Starring Tara Breathnach, Muireann Bird and Gerard McCarthy, it was filmed entirely on location in Co. Offaly. The Ulster Orchestra recorded the soundtrack for the feature length film in Belfast – joining a small a handful of film scores to be recorded entirely in Ireland.

An Bronntanas

The closing film at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, An Bronntanas (The Gift) is a contemporary thriller set against the background of a local independent lifeboat crew working off the coast of Connemara. With a cast that includes Dara Devaney, John Finn (Cold Case, Catch Me If You Can), Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish and Charlotte Bradley, An Bronntanas is a film not to be missed at this year’s Fleadh. An Bronntanas, directed by Tom Collins (Kings) is the first ‘Celtic Noir’ thriller of its kind as Gaeilge

The 2014 Galway Film Fleadh is not to be missed, as it promises to be an unforgettable event in the Irish social and film industry calendar.For further details and information, log onto http://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com,

The 61st Sydney Film Festival wrapped on Sunday 15 June with the Australian Premiere of New Zealand vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. The gala evening featured an introduction from filmmaker funny-men and stars Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement and closed with an unforgettable erotic vampire dance from fellow cast member Jonathan Brugh.

The Foxtel Movies Audience Awards, SFF’s people’s choice awards, were today announced. Winner of the Foxtel Movies Audience Award for best narrative feature went to Winter Sleep directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The Foxtel Movies Audience Award for best documentary went to Love Marriage in Kabul directed by Amin Palangi.

“From the unforgettable Opening Night film 20,000 Days on Earth and the star-studded premiere of David Michôd’s The Rover to the emotional standing ovation at Tender and the warmly received 2014 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep, this year’s Festival truly was one to remember,” SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley.

“This year’s Festival marked the seventh consecutive year of growth in attendance,” said SFF CEO Leigh Small. “Over 12 days from 4-15 June, we welcomed over 156,000 people to screenings, events and talks across Sydney.”

This year, SFF screened in even more venues including the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Art Gallery of NSW and, new in 2014, the Skyline Drive-In Blacktown.

SFF also expanded its presence at the FestivalHub at Town Hall, presenting a packed program of talks, exhibitions, performances and over 25 free events both downstairs at Lower Town Hall and upstairs in the beautiful Treasury Room.

The Hub also presented a series of intimate portraits by Hugh Hamilton entitled Rosebud and iconic American Eames furniture in the largest and most comprehensive display of furniture pieces ever to be exhibited in Australia from the Herman Miller Collection, presented by Living Edge.

“Sydney Film Festival is a highlight of the city’s rich arts calendar and plays an important role in the local and national film industry,” said NSW Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant. “The New South Wales Government, through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, is proud to support another successful year for the Festival.”

CEO of Screen Australia, Graeme Mason said “The festival once again presented Sydney with a wonderful celebration of film, on and off the screen.  It was particularly great to see local support of Australian film, with well attended screenings and sold-out workshops.”

All up, SFF presented over 300 sessions across 12 days of the Festival, including 192 films from 48 countries in 57 languages, 15 World Premieres, 122 Australian Premieres and 6 International Premieres.

Six films from this year’s SFF will premiere in Newcastle this weekend when the Travelling Film Festival brings Gabrielle, Rockthe Casbah, Boyhood, Human Capital, Once My MotherandLocketo Tower cinemas from Friday 20 – Sunday 22 June.

What: Travelling Film Festival 

When: 20-22 June 2014

Where: Tower Cinemas, 183-185 King Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 PH: (02) 4926 2233

Special Guest Event: 5pm Sunday 22 June: ‘Filmmaker Q&A’ with Once My Mother director Sophia Turkiewicz

Full program details and ticketing information can be found at:

http://www.sff.org.au/public/travelling-film-festival/tff-locations/newcastle/

FOR EDITORS:

The Foxtel Movies Audience Awards are SFF’s people’s choice awards, and reflect the most popular films at the Festival. After each screening, audience members are invited to rate the film via our web, app and SMS-based voting systems. Two audience awards are presented: one for best narrative feature and one for best documentary.

Other 2014 SFF Award winners include:

Out of a selection of 12 films in Official Competition, the Sydney Film Prize was awarded to Two Days, One Night directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

The inaugural Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary was awarded to the brave and confronting 35 Letters, directed and written by Janine Hosking. Special mention went to Tender directed by Lynette Wallworth.

The Dendy Live Action Short Award went to I Want to Dance Better at Parties, directed and written by Matthew Bate and Gideon Obarzanek. The Yoram Gross Animation Award went to Phantom Limb, directed, written and produced by Alex Grigg. The Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director was awarded to Eddy Bell for Grey Bull.

The Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award, also new this year, was awarded to Welcome to Iron Knob, directed and written by Dave Wade. Special mention went to Matt Durrant for his short film Pocket Money.

ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.

The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au

Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $61,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).

The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.  

The 27th Connecticut LGBT Film Festival concluded a successful nine-day run on June 7, with dual screenings in downtown Hartford at Spotlight Cinemas and the Wadsworth Atheneum that included special appearances by film writer/directors and actors. Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra delivered welcoming remarks prior to the international premiere of Queen of Amsterdam. The other closing night film, Tru Love, took the top spot as the Audience Award winner for Best Feature Film. Audience awards are based on the ballots that the audience completes after each screening.

“Our audience has never failed to recognize the power of dramatic arts and the poetic vision captured in these films," said Co-Director Laura Williams. "The exceptionally high audience ratings of this year's films really cements for the Festival Committee how important our job is to deliver up cinematic art and the star power behind it."

Here is the lineup of award-winning films:

Best Feature - Audience Award
Winner –Tru Love
Runner Up – The Way He Looks (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Special Mention – Boy Meets Girl

Best Documentary - Audience Award
Winner – To Be Takei
Runner Up – Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Special Mention – A Self Made Man

Best Short - Jury Award
Winner – A Last Farewell
Runner Up – She Said, She Said

Special Mention – Summer Vacation

Directors Award
Eric Schaeffer (Boy Meets Girl)

Tru Love transcends age, orientation and gender with dramatic brilliance, as a poetic tale weaving a complex triangulation between three women, whose simple truths are revealed, and depths of their relationships tested as each seeks love and companionship from the other. A Brazilian film, The Way He Looks (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho) is a feature-length version of last year's crowd-pleasing, award-winning short film I Don't Want To Go Back Alone. Directed by Daniel Ribeiro, it’s a sweet story about a blind high school student who falls in love with the new boy in his class. Set in a quiet Kentucky community that is starting to embrace change, Boy Meets Girl is a tender coming of age story that follows the lives of two friends and explores the bisexual orientation of a transgender woman as her friendships blossom into love affairs.

In the Best Documentary category, the Audience Award went to To Be Takei. At times funny but often serious, it focuses on Star Trek star George Takei’s life as a survivor of the Japanese-American internment camps, his struggle with Hollywood stereotyping of Asian actors, and his newfound fame as a Facebook sensation, with comic relief provided by his husband Brad. Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia is a retrospective documentary of the legendary and sometimes scandalous author Gore Vidal. A Self Made Man paints an intimate portrait of one of Connecticut's most well known transgender youth advocates, Tony Ferraiolo.

The Jury Award for Best Short Film went to the film A Last Farewell, which tells the story of an aging father who finds it difficult to reconcile with his daughter who assisted in the suicide of his partner after a long and difficult illness. The audience was uplifted by the high fashion and dramatic interludes of She Said, She Said, starring Melissa Tomei and Elodie Bouchez, who showed that breaking up can be fun to do.  In Summer Vacation, an Israeli family’s vacation is interrupted by the sudden return of a former lover whose affections are slowly rediscovered.

This year’s Directors Award went to Eric Schaeffer, the creative force behind Boy Meets Girl."The Directors Award is intended to recognize a director whose vision brought something new and special to the film festival, and Eric Schaeffer's film, as well as his Q&A via Skype, created a sensation that had audience members abuzz throughout the entire festival,” said Co-Director Shane Engstrom.

Out Film CT, which organizes the festival, is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to presenting outstanding LGBT cinema and other theatrical events throughout the year, culminating in the nine-day Connecticut LGBT Film Festival. Connecticut's longest-running film festival holds a special place in our state’s cultural landscape, bringing the community together to introduce, celebrate and rediscover the ideas and values that make the LGBT community unique. Out Film CT also presents the EROS Film Festival each fall and the First Thursdays Cinema series, with screenings at Cinestudio on the first Thursday of the month. The series will resume July 3 at 7:30 p.m. with the comic film Birthday Cake. www.outfilmct.org