For the 19th year in a row,  the World Soundtrack Awards were announced during Film Fest Gent. The World Soundtrack Awards, one of the most imporant film music awards, place an emphasis on the oeuvres of special contributors to the world of film music. This year's winners are Nicholas Britell, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Lady Gaga, Frédéric Vercheval, Michael Abels, John Powell and Pierre Charles. Frédéric Devreese and Krzysztof Penderecki were both honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

After winning the Discovery of the Year Award in 2017, Nicholas Britell took home another award this year: he was named Best Film Composer of the Year by the World Soundtrack Academy for his soundtrack for 'If Beale Street Could Talk.'

The prize for Best Television Composer of the Year went to special guest and Emmy winner Hildur Guðnadóttir, who created the score for the popular HBO series 'Chernobyl'. Last year, Guðnadóttir was one of the Discovery of the Year nominees for 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado'. In the meantime, both Britell and Guðnadóttir have made a name for themselves worldwide with their scores for the HBO series 'Succession' and Todd Philips''Joker' respectively. 

The prize for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film was awarded to the track 'Shallow' from 'A Star is Born'. This composition was written by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson, and was performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

African-American composer Michael Abels was named Discovery of the Year for the score he created for Jordan Peele's 'Us'. The pair had already collaborated before on the film 'Get Out'.

In the category of Best Original Score for a Belgian Production, Belgian Frédéric Vercheval was awarded for his score for Olivier Masset-Depasse's 'Duelles'. The composer has already been nominated four times for the Magritte Award for Best Original Score for 'Diamant 13' (2009), 'Krach' (2010), 'Not My Type' (2014) and 'Melody' (2014).

Young American jazz pianist and composer Pierre Charles won the SABAM Award for the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer. The Public Choice Award went to John Powell for his music in Dean Deblois''How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'.

As previously announced, Krzysztof Penderecki was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Polish composer undoubtedly put his mark on film music history with his innovative and unconventional music. He collaborated with world famous composers such as Stanley Kubrick ('The Shining'), David Lynch ('Inland Empire', 'Twin Peaks'), Martin Scorsese ('Shutter Island') and William Friedkin ('The Exorcist').

Frédéric Devreese was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award. In light of his 90th birthday, Brussels Philharmonic honoured the father of Belgian film music. Devreese is known for his collaboration with André Delvaux on Palme D'or nominee 'L'oeuvre au noir', but also 'Du bout des lèvres' (Jean-Marie Degesves) and 'Les Noces Barbares' and 'Il Maëstro' (Marion Hansëm).

During the award ceremony, compositions were performed live by Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by maestro Dirk Brossé, with accompanying clips on the big screen. Guest of honour this year was Marco Beltrami, known for his horror scores including the 'Scream' franchise. He recently composed the music for box office hit 'A Quiet Place', nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Score, Netflix's 'Velvet Buzzsaw' and Oscar-winning National Geographic documentary 'Free Solo', for which he received an Emmy Award.

If you couldn't make it to the World Soundtrack Awards, there is still a possibility to enjoy the collaboration between Marco Beltrami and Brussels Philharmonic. Following our yearly tradition, a selection of our guest of honour's masterpieces were recorded with MotorMusic in Flagey's legendary Studio 4. The result is the album 'Marco Beltrami: Music for Film', featuring unique suites from 'Snowpiercer', 'World War Z' and 'A Quiet Place'.

Winners 19th World Soundtrack Awards

Best Film Composer of the Year
Nicholas Britell ('If Beale Street Could Talk', 'Vice')
Best TV Composer of the Year
Hildur Guðnadóttir (‘Chernobyl’, ‘Ófærð’)
Best Original Song written directly for a Film
'Shallow' ('A Star Is Born'). Music & lyrics by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson. Performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Discovery of the Year 2019
Michael Abels ('Us')
Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
‘Duelles’ (Frédéric Vercheval)
SABAM Award for the Most Original Composition By a Young International Composer
Pierre Charles
Public Choice Award
‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ (John Powell)

The 46th Film Fest Gent ran from 8 to 18 October in Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, Capitole and KASKcinema. The full programme can be found on www.filmfestival.be; all info on the WSA is available via www.worldsoundtrackawards.com.

41st edition, 13 - 19 October 2019
Palermo, Cinema De Seta | Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa

The winners of the 41st edition of the Golden Efebo
The jury composed of Yervant Gianikian (artist), Wilma Labate (director), Egle Palazzolo (president of the Research Center for Fiction and Cinema), Clara Sanchez (writer) and Alessio Vassallo (actor) assigns the Golden Efebo for the Best Film taken from a literary work at the film Once Upon a River by Haroula Rose with the following motivation: “A creativity that of the Roses, which naturally draws on generational experiences but which in the course of the film takes on mature values, lets us understand how to the film, as to his verse to the novel, young and old, have responded with moving conviction ".

The jury composed by Ludovico Caldarera (actor), Nicoletta Romeo (producer and co-director of the Trieste Film Festival) and Francesca Martinez Tagliavia (professor of Fine Arts Academy of Palermo) awards the Prize dedicated to the first and second works in Fuga (Fugue) by Agnieszka Smoczyńska “For her mature and concessions look, for the artistic partnership between the author and the protagonist - co-screenwriter Gabriela Muskala, for having built an emancipated female character especially in the current global context of the audiovisual industry crossed by struggles against gender inequality ”.
To the Canadian director Mike Hoolboom goes the New Languages ​​Award - City of Palermo "For its ability to dismantle every mechanical attribution of meaning and to probe the depths of human interiority. Mike Hoolboom manipulates archive material and symbolic fragments of the audiovisual culture making them flow with extraordinary intensity into the most intimate rivulet of their autobiographical vicissitudes to rediscover the material and bodily dimension of cinema, a place of contrasts, space, real and virtual, in which the viewer can imagine new forms of interpersonal connection ”.

The Special South Rotary Award goes to the Palermo actress Valentina D'Agostino, the Andes Prize - Cinema Donna - is awarded to Haroula Rose for the film Once Upon a River, while the Special Lions Award Vespers goes to Amanda Sthers for the film Holy Lands taken from his own book.
The 41st edition of Efebo d'Oro was organized by the Research Center for Fiction and Cinema, chaired by Egle Palazzolo and with the artistic direction of Giovanni Massa. Main Sponsor Banca Popolare Sant’Angelo. Created with the contribution of the Sicilian Region, Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment / Sicily Film Commission within the framework of the Contemporary Senses Program - Cinema and Audiovisual; City of Palermo - Department of Culture; Palermo Culture; Ars; Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa. With the support of the Institut Français Palermo; Goethe-Institut Palermo; Instituto Cervantes Palermo; National School of Cinema - Sicily Office; Andes Palermo; Lions; Rotary; Rotary of the Madonie; Ferribotte film.

At the Awards Ceremony of the 12th edition of CinEast (Central and Eastern European Film Festival in Luxembourg, 3-20 October 2019, www.cineast.lu), held at the Cinémathèque Luxembourg on Saturday 20 October, the International Jury awarded the Grand Prix to the film Oleg by Juris Kursietis (Latvia/Belgium/Lithuania/France) and the Special Jury Prize to the film Corpus Christi by Jan Komasa (Poland/France). The Critics’ Prize awarded by the Press Jury also went to the film Corpus Christi by Jan Komasa. The winner of the Audience Award is the film Honeyland by Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska (North Macedonia). The International Jury of CinEast 2019 was composed of the renowned French director and scriptwriter Jacques Doillon (President of the Jury), Italian festival programmer Renata Santoro (Venice Days), Romanian director Marius Olteanu, Luxembourgish director and producer Adolf El Assal and Luxembourgish actress Sophie Mousel. The Press Jury included the journalists France Clarinval (RTL), Marc Trappendreher (Lëtzebuerger Land) and Cristóbal Soage (Cineuropa). Go here for biographies and photos of the members of the juries.

Jacques Doillon commented the jury’s decision regarding the Grand Prix winner Oleg by Juris Kursietis as follows: “For its original and dynamic way of dealing with an important subject matter, namely modern slavery, staging an extraordinary situation and a strong male character immersed in an astonishing universe, the jury awards the Grand Prix of CinEast 2019 to the film Oleg by Latvian filmmaker Juris Kursietis.”

As regards the Special Jury Prize for Corpus Christi, the jury member Sophie Mousel said: "For the strength of its story and its main character, embodied by a talented young actor, powerfully depicting the conflicts related to society and faith, the Special Jury Prize goes to Jan Komasa's Corpus Christi.”

Marc Trappendreher commented the Press Jury’s verdict related to the Critics’ Prize for Corpus Christi with these words: “The Press Jury has chosen as the best film for the following reasons - the profoundly mastered form and precise images, the captivating performance of the main actor, the theme of faith and redemption, and the exploration of a situation that is rarely mentioned and not well known - the film Corpus Christi by Jan Komasa.”

The film Honeyland received the best results in the votes given by the audience and is, therefore, the winner of the Audience Award. Finally, the Audience Awards for the Best Short Films were awarded to: The Christmas Gift by Bogdan Muresan (fiction, Romania/France), Toomas Beneath The Valley Of The Wild Wolves by Chintis Lundgren (animation, Croatia/Estonia/France) and Dancing For You byKatarzyna Lesisz (documentary, Poland).

The ceremony was attended by the members of the International Jury and the Press Jury and was followed by the screening of the Closing film The Whistlers by Corneliu Porumboiu. The film Oleg that won the Grand Prix was repeated on Sunday 20 October at 8.30 pm at the Cinémathèque Luxembourg.

Details about films are available on the official website www.cineast.lu

CinEast on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

CinEast 2019 is organised by CinEast asbl in collaboration with Cinémathèque, Neimënster, the Kinepolis group and others. Main partners: The City of Luxembourg, Ministry of Culture of Luxembourg, Film Fund Luxembourg. Main sponsors: Docler Holding, Kulczyk Investments.

This year again the Alexandre Trauner ART/Film Festival was a great succsess. The closing ceremony was held on the 19^th of October, Saturday, in the Szolnok Gallery where the awards were given out in the presence of the film and media industry, Hungarian and international filmmakers and town officials.

The Czech period piece Golden Sting took home the award for best set design, while the Austrian-German drama, The Tobacconist and the Hungarian thriller, Valan were awarded with a shared 2^nd prize.  Besides the European Feature Film section – honouring the festival’s tradition - the jury selected winners in two more prestigious categories: Visualized Science and Young Directors: Short Feature and Animation.

This year Szolnok Film Festivals celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Throughout the 5 days of varied and rich programs visitors could attend 150 screenings. In the European Feature Film section 10 movies, whereas in the Visualized Science and Young Directors: Short Feature and Animation categories 92 films were in competition.

On the closing ceremony the festival organizers were celebrating two outstanding artists, Líviusz Gyulai and Marcell Jankovics, by giving them lifetime achievement awards for their contribution to Hungarian films and art. Marcell Jankovic is well known as an animation director, as well as illustrator and cultural historian, his books cover a widespread range of interests. The lifetime achievement award wasn’t only for the animation filmmaker, but the polyhistor himself. Líviusz Gyulai’s work is marked by a unique style, magisteral graphical knowledge and joyful, intelligent wit. The award honours a continuous and exeptionally lineal career.

ATAFF Press Office

The Chelsea Film Festival closed its 7th Annual Edition on Sunday, October 20 after having presented 100 Films from 21 countries at AMC Loews Theatre 34th St. The list of winners were announced by Jury Members Paul Haggis/Jury President, Celine Rattray and Wilson Morales on Sunday, October 20th at AMC Loews Theatre 34th St. at 9.30pm.  

BILCHED by Jeremy Cumpston

Grand Prix for Best Feature Film

\\\JURIED AWARDS///

Best Narrative Feature:

Lost Bayou directed by Brian C Miller Richard

Best Documentary Feature:

Ernie & Joe directed by Jenifer McShane

Best New Mexico Narrative Feature:

TheShort History of the Long Road directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy

Best New Mexico Documentary Feature:

Why Can't I Be Me? Around You directed by Harrod Blank and Sjoerd Dijk

Best International Narrative Short:

Utopia directed by Kosta Nikas

///

Best U.S. Narrative Short:

40 Minutes Over Maui directed by Josh Covitt and Michael Feld

Best Documentary Short (Tie):

Charon directed by Cullen Parr

Enforcement Hours directed by Paloma Martinez

Best New Mexico Narrative Short:

Taos directed by Stephen Billick

Best New Mexico Documentary Short:

Of The Sea directed by Jordyn Romero

Best Animation Short:

The Death, Dad & Son (La Mort, père & fils)

directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Denis Walgenwitz

Best Experimental Short:

Selfies directed by Claudius Gentinetta

\\\AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS///

Audience Choice Best Narrative Feature:

Yes, God, Yes directed by Karen Maine

Audience Choice Best Documentary Feature:

Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy directed by Elizabeth Carroll

///

Audience Choice Best Narrative Short:

The Neighbors' Window directed by Marshall Curry

Audience Choice Best Documentary Short:

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) directed by Carol Dysinger

TOP 50 FINALISTS

STAY TUNED FOR THE GRAND PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT AND GOOD LUCK!

MFF 21, 2019: Fernando Meirelles’ Masterclass

Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles took a master class on the fifth day of MAMI’s 21st Mumbai Film Festival. Best known for his globally acclaimed and award-winning films such as The Constant Gardener, City of God and Blindness, the director was speaking after the screening of his 2019 biographical comedy-drama titled The Two Popes, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce.

Festival Director Anupama Chopra presented the Excellence in Cinema Award (International) to Meirelles, who received a standing ovation from a mesmerised audience that had just been watching his latest masterpiece. Accepting the award, the film-maker said, “The festival is growing with each passing year, and is becoming a reference for the world. But I think that the world must get to see more Indian films. Your society is very self-sufficient with films, you guys make your own films and watch them yourselves. You should share your films!”  

Though Meirelles deals with delicate issues, he tries to instill hope in them as well. As most of his films showcase the harsh truths of the world, laced with empathy, Chopra opened the masterclass with a quote from The Two Popes, “The truth is vital, but without love, it is unbearable.” Does the director follow his process by design? To an extent, yes, he has been following his path for a while now. But today, the film-maker said, he has become a pessimist, and is not too hopeful about the future. “I tried to be hopeful. But due to this climate crisis our future is in danger. So, I like to make films that bring hope, but also inform and show parts of the world to the audiences and tell them where we are heading,” he explained. Given that his next project with Netflix addresses the issue of climate change, Meirelles is now obsessed with the burning issue of our times. “The more science you read; the more you will get scared. I have read too much!” exclaimed the filmmaker.

Having studied to be an architect, Meirelles draws a comparison between the two distinct, yet creative, worlds of architecture and cinema. For him, an architect and a director both have a vision that then needs to be translated into tangible work. Engineers and technicians help them beautify the process and bring their creative vision to life. “Architecture has made me sensitive to spaces and given me a sense of how to shoot, move actors on the set.”

Working on TV commercials was another steppingstone toward his film-making career. “Though I never saw myself fitting in the advertising world, having worked on thousands of commercials was the best schooling I could have had, early on in my career.”  This is when Meirelles learnt to use out of the box techniques, like flying cameras, crazy camera placements and last-minute improvisations. Now, more than ever, Meirelles trusts his intuition and instinct over anything else. That is how he knows what will work and what won’t work in a film or a scene. “Listening to my irrational side more than the rational one is more important for me now,” he said.

On why he agreed to work on The Two Popes and City of God, given that he had initially refused both projects, the film-maker said, “What drew me to The Two Popes is Pope Francis’ politics and not his religion. Like him, I also see the world as one and do not believe in nationalism--the new wave in the world. Additionally, I like movies that talk about issues that affect the world, and not just one country.”

Meirelles does not believe in telling the actors what to do in front of the camera. He likes to let them create with liberty. His process begins with understanding theirs and then working on those terms. “You have to play his/her game,” said the director, who successfully achieved the task of filming veteran actors Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, whose acting methodologies are strikingly different from each other. While Hopkins likes to be well-prepared months in advance and does not prefer on-set improvisations, Pryce is always game for impromptu changes to his lines. “It’s like blending Classical music with Jazz,” explained Meirelles.

Fernando follows this not just with the cast, but with the crew as well. On his decades-long association with his DOP César Charlone, the director said that he treats him almost like a co-director. “We know each other very well. We don’t have to talk much on the sets. Before starting work on any film, César and I sit together for two weeks and decide what we are going to do scene by scene. That is a good process for me.”

The masterclass concluded with the director explaining how he is working toward saving the planet both personally and professionally. While his farm in Brazil is now being converted into an agro-forest, his next project with Netflix will help him showcase the issue of climate change and the need for a change in our attitude to it, to the world. “I will keep trying and trying till the end,” he signed off.

BYRON BAY FILM FESTIVAL - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 2019 Byron Bay Film Festival (BBFF) came to a spectacular close tonight with the announcement of the winners of the BBFF Best Film Awards. Fest topper J aimee Skippon Volke hosted the evening with another stunning dress (quite a match with the spectacular dress from opening)
Compliments all the way from Paris to the designer

The event, now in its 13th Year, attracted entries from all over the globe.

BBFF Director J'aimee Skippon-Volke said: 

“Whilst our programme featured a number of the strongest Australian titles to be in the festival circuit of 2019/20, we have decided it is important to bring BBFF back to the roots that independent festivals were born from. It is for this reason our nominees are made from independent films that are not represented here in Australia by local distributors. This allows our awards to support these filmmakers as they continue on the festival circuit and bring more attention to the work they do.”

The winner of both Best Film and Best Documentary was the powerful and enlightening ‘In My Blood It Runs’ which offers a rare and compelling insight into the life of 10-year-old Arrente and Garrawa boy, Dujuan. The audience was moved to laughter, tears and horror as they watched Dujuan navigate his role as both a traditional healer; and child beholden to the Australian education system.

It is an exceptional film.

For more information see: https://inmyblooditruns.com

The Winner of Best Dramatic Feature was taken out by Australian filmmaker Josephine Mackerras who’s debut feature Alice addressed a host of ethically fraught questions around society’s relationship with prostitution.

After writing the film in English, Ms Mackerras decided she didn’t want to wait any longer for funding, or to deal with the restrictions of the Australian Film Industry. 

Ms Mackerras got the script translated into French, shot the majority of it in her own apartment using her own son and first-time actors - who gave an astounding performance - and delivered a finely tuned debut.

Alice previously took out the SXSW Grand Jury Prize.

To watch an interview with Josephine Mackerras click here.

The Winner of Best Experimental Film was ‘Continuum 01 – South in Self Exile’. The visual and sonic essay drew mixed responses from the audience, leaving very few people unmoved. 

Directed and produced by Byron Bay landscape artist Jack Bailey the film was described by some as, “Mesmerising, like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” whereas a vocal minority caused controversy amongst the otherwise appreciative audience. 

Mr Bailey said, “Poignant to my closing statement regarding the mediocracy of a homogenised society. I am glad through untampered natural imagery I was able to evoke such a primal and guttural reaction.”

The locals award for Best Byron Film went to Angus McDonald for Manus.

This short film shows the plight of refugees who have been detained on Manus Island in PNG by the Australian Government for the past six years.

Byron Bay Film Festival Director J'aimee Skippon-Volke said: “The Byron Film category is awarded to a film that encapsulates the spirit of our region and the strength of our local filmmaking talent. Human rights is an important issue to our community and Angus is an artist who uses his gift well in highlighting these issues.”

Brothers Jack and Peter Thompson also received an award honouring them for their work supporting and boosting the Australian Film Industry.

The announcement of the winners was followed by the Australian Premiere of The Cave - Tom Waller’s dramatisation of the rescue of the Wild Boars football team from Tham Luang Cave in northern Thailand.

Mr Waller himself was in attendance to introduce the film saying ”I’m really excited to be showing the film to an Australian audience here at the Byron Bay Film Festival. It was a remarkable story of ordinary people, who became heroes.”

And so, after an action-packed week, including films featuring everything from Shakespearean rifts to species extinction and the odd severed hand… the Byron Bay Film Festival draws to a close tomorrow.

People can still catch a number of films tomorrow including Manus, Why Can’t I Be Me? Around You and Yonlu. Plus, the encore screening at Pighouse Flicks of She is the Ocean at 3:30pm.

Full list of the winners:

Best Film - In My Blood It Runs, Maya Newell

Best Dramatic Feature Film - Alice, Josephine Mackerras

Best Short Film – Nero, Jan-David Bolt

Best Documentary Film – In My Blood It Runs, Maya Newell

Best Experimental Film - Continuum 01 - South in South Exile, Jack Bailey

Best Surf Film – She is the Ocean, Inessa Blokhina 

Honourable Mention (Surf Film Category) - Pacifico, Andreas Geipel and Christian Gibson

Best Animation – Hurlevent, Frederick Doazan 

Rob Stewart Environmental Film Award - Kifaru, David Hambridge

Best Cinematography – Kofi and Lartey, Sasha Rainbow

Young Australian Filmmaker of The Year – Appetite, Claudia Bailey 

Best Music Documentary - Out Deh – The Youth of Jamaica, Louis Josek

Best Byron Film - MANUS, Angus McDonald

Best Cinematic VR Experience – The Leap – Inside Architect Dorte Mandrup’s Mind

Best Interactive VR Experience – The Holy City, Occupied VR.

Honourable mention (VR Experience) - Gloomy Eyes, Fernando Maldonado, Jorge Teraso

Best Music Video – Pub Talk, Jake Taylor

Best Screenplay – Fear Sum, James Mayon 

The winner of the Best Screenplay Award, James Mayon, will walk away with a $1500 cash prize.

The winning films really epitomised the essence of the Byron Bay Film Festival. We exist so important films like this can be seen and filmmakers can continue to do their inspiring work.

Dear Friends, 

Like you, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival values access to the arts and arts education for all. While we're known primarily for our Festival in January, SBIFF also offers a slate of free educational programming on a year-round basis. Our education programs focus on some of the most underserved throughout Santa Barbara County. It's the support of our community that allows us to offer these programs—and continually improve and expand them—year after year. 

SBIFF's Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film is the annual fundraiser held in support of these educational programs. 

This year's gala will be honoring legendary director Martin Scorsese at the Ritz Carlton Bacara on November 14th, 2019. We invite you to join us, along with some very special guests, to celebrate the achievements of Martin Scorsese and would be honored if you'd consider attending the event. Please see the announcement below for more information on the Kirk Douglas Award gala.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about SBIFF's education programs, please feel free to call or email me directly. 

Benjamin Goedert
Development Director
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
 

This year’s IFFAM Project Market (IPM) is taking place December 6^th– 8^th, 2019. Providing a platform for a blend of top-level talents and rising stars from around the globe, to showcase feature film projects and encourage international collaboration. 14 Project Market entries will be vying for four cash awards; while the program will also include two Work-in-Progress Presentations.

Thrills and chills throughout the selection

Projects include supernatural revenge thriller Nocebo from Irish director Lorcan Finnegan, who’s Vivarium was in Cannes Critic’s Week this year; as well as The Day and Night of Brahma, a new family drama by South African director Sheetal Magan, whose short Paraya was presented in Cannes Directors Fortnight, and Uk Kei屋企, a journey of self-discovery by Portuguese director Leonor Teles, the youngest director ever to have won the Golden Bear for best short at the Berlinale in 2016.

Renowned for his unique vision, Japanese director Satoshi Miki (It’s Me, It’s Me, Adrift in Tokyo) is among the selection, with his whimsical fantasy, The Convenience Store. Filipino director Dodo Dayao of the critically acclaimed Violator will take us into realms of dark terror with his cosmic horror Dear Wormwood.

The mishap-filled, road-trip comedy Escape to Oz from Sam Voutas (King of Peking, Red Light Revolution) is a highlight, as is Simon Yin’s horror-comedy, Dead Packet, involving a plethora of ghosts and exorcism. Other highly anticipated projects include folk horror Drum Wave by Japanese-Australian director Natalie Erika James, crime thriller Perspectives 三人成虎 directed by MAO Weiqing 毛渭清, coming-of-age drama Everybody Leaves from Filipino director Phyllis Grae Grande. Hailing from the Spanish-language world, director Geoffrey Cowper’s psychological horror Welcome is on the list as is fantasy drama Blue Mountain, the feature debut of Chilean director Joy Penroz. Maxim Bessmertny’s crime-thriller about a detective solving mysteries, Investigator Mendonza, and The Fortune Tower 幸運閣, a comedy drama from Harriet, Wong Teng Teng 黃婷婷, are the two projects stemming from Macao. This year’s projects include a number of incredibly exciting genre talents. 

Work-in-Progress showcase

Last year, IFFAM Industry Hub introduced its well-received program WIP Presentation. The WIP selections this year features Dutch director Jim Taihuttu’s Indonesian wartime drama The East as well as Yakuza Princess, an action thriller from director Vicente Amorim.

With more than 50% of the projects evincing Asian subject matter, 13 among the total 16 projects are genre films: 9 selected by IPM, and one each from international genre market partners, Blood Window (Argentina), FIRST Financing Forum (China), Frontières (Canada) and Sitges (Spain). The other 3 projects are arthouse titles.

The IFFAM Project Market organizes both the pitching event and the project meetings. A tailor-made meeting agenda will be created for each selected project, pre-planned specifically for the 16 projects to meet with interested potential co-producers, financers, sales agents and distributors. The 14 projects participating as Project Market entries will be vying for 4 Cash Awards: Best Project Award, Best Co-Production Award, Creative Excellence Award and Macao Spirit Award. The three person jury - Mr. Eric Khoo, Film Director (Singapore), Mr. Matthijs Wouter Knol, Berlinale EFM Director (Germany), and Mr. Shozo Ichiyama, Producer/ CEO of Kino International (Japan) - will meet with the 14 projects to determine the Award Winners over the course of project meetings from December 7^th to 8^th, 2019.

IFFAM Project Market 2019 Selection List

   Blue Mountain, director: Joy Penroz, producer: Sylvain Grain

   The Convenience Store, director: Satoshi Miki, producer: Emi Ueyama

   The Day and Night of Brahma, director: Sheetal Magan , producer: Sheetal Magan

   Dead Packet, director: Simon Yin, producer: Gary Lee

   Dear Wormwood, director: Dodo Dayao, producers: Bianca Balbuena, Bradley Liew, Patti Lapus

   Drum Wave, director: Natalie Erika James, producers: Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw

   Escape to Oz, director: Sam Voutas, producers: Jane Zheng鄭菁, Melanie Ansley

   Everybody Leaves, director: Phyllis Grae Grande, producer: Alemberg Ang蔡怡銘

   The Fortune Tower 幸運閣, director: Harriet, Wong Teng Teng 黃婷婷, producer: Cynthia Mo黃詠仙

   Investigator Mendonza, director: Maxim Bessmertny, producers: Jeff Tang Hon Hung 鄧漢雄, Jorge Cordeiro dos Santos

   Nocebo, director: Lorcan Finnegan, producers: Brunella Cocchiglia, Emily Leo

   Perspectives三人成虎, director: MAO Weiqing毛渭清, producer: SONG Jia宋甲

   Uk Kei屋企, director: Leonor Teles, producer: Filipa Reis

   Welcome, director: Geoffrey Cowper, producers: Cayetano Casas, Norbert Llaràs

IFFAM WIP Presentation 2019 Selection List

   The East, director: Jim Taihuttu, producers: Benoit Roland, Sander Verdonk, Shanty Harmayn Hofman

   Yakuza Princess, director: Vicente Amorim, producer: L.G. Tubaldini Jr.

The 9th edition of US in Progress Wrocław will be held from the 6th till the 8th of November as a part of 10th American Film Festival. US in Progress aims to facilitate professional networking among European and Polish film professionals and independent filmmakers from the United States. 

The 2019 US in Progress Wrocław partners provide in-kind awards of post-production service packages of combined value amounting to $50,000 for American Projects. The partners are leading Polish sound and image studios:

• Coloroffon (http://coloroffonfilm.pl/index.php/o-nas/) offers color grading up to the value of $10 000 (Nucoda FilmMaster or DaVinci Resolve) including processes of conforming and export 
• Fixafilm (http://www.fixafilm.pl/en/) offers digital post-production services up to the value of $10 000 (excluding 35 mm processing/scan). The services include conforming, color grading, grain/noise management, finishing, mastering, simple VFX, DCP and other file based masters 
• Orka Studio (http://www.orkafilm.pl/about/) offers digital post-production services up to the value of $10 000 (excluding 35 mm processing/scan) including conforming, color grading, or finishing, mastering, simple SFX, DCP and sound post-production services excluding final mix room rental. Project consultations on each level of post-production. Possibility of building great European network and connections with creative teams 
• Platige Image (https://www.platige.com) offers a $10 000 voucher valid until December 2020 that can be put towards any of the services offered by the company and provides artistic and expert support during the production and post-production process  
• Soundflower Studio (http://www.polishcomposer.com/) offers audio post-production services or soundtrack composed by Maciej Zieliński – each service worth $10 000 

Other awards include an acquisition offer from Ale kino+ and a free pass to Cannes Producers' Network next year and a round trip ticket up to the cost of $1000 USD for post-production in Poland sponsored by New Horizons Association.

The programme seeks to foster a climate of mutual exchange and networking between American and European producers. Round-table on Transcontinental Co-Production will take place on Friday, 8th of November and will be moderated by Dana Pohl (Polish Producers Alliance). American film professionals invited to participate are as follows: 

• Andrew Hevia is a Cuban American filmmaker from Miami. He co-produced the Academy Award winning film Moonlight for director Barry Jenkins and  his feature documentary Leave the Bus through the Broken Window, that world premiered at SXSW. 
• Jay Van Hoy is a co-founder of Parts & Labor. The directors whose films were produced by Parts & Labor include David Lowery, Robert Eggers or Mike Mills. Latest production is Robert Eggers’ second feature, The Lighthouse.
• Zach Nutman is the Director of Development at Animal Kingdom, the New York-based production company behind It Follows, Paterson, Short Term 12. Prior to that, Zach worked on the acquisitions team at Neon, the indie-studio behind I, Tonya. 
• Monique Walton  is a producer behind the short film SKUNK (written & directed by Annie Silverstein) which won first prize at 2014 Cannes - Cinéfondation. Monique has also produced Bull (directed by Annie Silverstein), which premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard.
• Stephanie Wilcox is an LA-based producer and the head of production & development for Rumble Films. Most recently she produced Małgorzata Szumowska’s The Other Lamb. Other film credits to date include Nightcrawler, Whiplash and Drive, among others.
• Adam Kersh is a publicist in the indie film sphere, has experience in launching films at Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, TIFF and Venice. He has worked with Sean Baker (The Florida Project), David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) or Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture). Co-founder of Brigade Marketing.

The day will be complimented by presentations of Polish projescts, production incentives, co-production possibilities and one-on-one meetings. Thanks to all the partners supporting Polish-American cooperation in the film industry.

To learn more or contact US in Progress team please email: aff@snh.org.pl or check www.usinprogress.com

Dear friend of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival,

We have the honor to invite you to the annual Awards Ceremony of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival, which will take place on Wednesday 13 November 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in ECOSOC Chamber from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The winners will be announced during the event, and they will have a chance to present their work and say a few words to the audience. They are very excited!

For the past eleven years, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have invited youth filmmakers from around the world to submit short videos that explore the topics of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia. In 2019, PLURAL+ received a record number of entries—more than 1,200 videos from 68+ countries—a clear sign that young people are hungry for opportunities to have their voices heard, especially on the challenges facing our world today.

Please register at your earliest convenience here: https://pluralplus.unaoc.org/rsvp/. 
 
Feel free to also contact Mr. Thibault Chareton (thibaultc@unops.org) or Ms. Rahma Gamil Soliman (rsoliman@iom.int) with any questions.

Sincerely,
The PLURAL+ team

Alternative film winner Georden West prior to the 46th Annual Student Academy Awards® on Thursday, October 17, in Beverly Hills.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tonight honored its student winners from colleges and universities around the world at the 46th Student Academy Awards ceremony, held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards were announced and presented by filmmakers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Melina Matsoukas, Gregory Nava and Rory Kennedy!

The 2019 Student Academy Award winners are:

Alternative/Experimental (Domestic and International Film Schools)
Gold: Georden West, “Patron Saint,” Emerson College

Animation (Domestic Film Schools)

Animation film winners Emre Okten, Daria Kashcheeva, Kalee McCollaum and Aviv Mano
Gold: Kalee McCollaum, “Grendel,” Brigham Young University
Silver: Aviv Mano, “Game Changer,” Ringling College of Art and Design
Bronze: Emre Okten, “Two,” University of Southern California

Animation (International Film Schools)
Gold: Daria Kashcheeva, “Daughter,” Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)

Documentary (Domestic Film Schools)
Gold: Princess Garrett, “Sankofa,” Villanova University
Silver: Abby Lieberman and Joshua Lucas, “Something To Say,” Columbia University
Bronze: Eva Rendle, “All That Remains,” University of California, Berkeley

Documentary (International Film Schools)
Gold: Yifan Sun, “Family2,” The Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz

Narrative (Domestic Film Schools)
Gold: Asher Jelinsky, “Miller & Son,” American Film Institute
Silver: Hao Zheng, “The Chef,” American Film Institute
Bronze: Omer Ben-Shachar, “Tree #3,” American Film Institute

Narrative (International Film Schools)
Gold: Zoel Aeschbacher, “Bonobo,” ECAL
Silver: Rikke Gregersen, “Dog Eat Dog,” Westerdals Kristiania University College
Bronze: Charlie Manton, “November 1st,” National Film and Television School

See the full livestream here. 

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient Geena Davis, Honorary Award recipient Lina Wertmüller, Honorary Award recipient David Lynch, and Honorary Award recipient Wes Studi at the 2019 Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom on Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Hollywood, CA.

Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.

In honor of the 11th Annual Governors Awards, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented last night (10/27) Honorary Awards (Oscar® statuettes) to actor Wes Studi, director Lina Wertmüller, director David Lynch and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to actor Geena Davis. 
 

IFFI 50, XII: Rajinikanth to be Icon of Golden Jubilee

Union (Central Government) Information & Broadcasting Minister, Prakash Javadekar, announced on November 02 that, “In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, during the past several decades, I am happy to announce that the award for the ‘Icon of the Golden Jubilee of IFFI 2019’ is being conferred on cine-star Shri. S. RajiniKanth”, said Javadekar.

Carpenter-turned-porter-turned-bus conductor-turned-superstar, the story of S. Rajanikanth is no less dramatic than a movie script. He was born on December 12, 1950, in a Marathi-speaking family of Karnataka. His real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. Before he got a start in films, he did odd jobs to make a living. He worked as a bus conductor for Karnataka State Transport Corporation in Bangalore (Now Bengaluru). It was during this period that he nurtured his love for acting, by performing in plays.

Rajinikanth, often called Rajini or Thalaivar (commander/president/chairman) got his break in films when he played a small role in the Kannada film, Katha Sangama, directed by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal. He then played a cancer patient in the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachander. The lead actor of the film was KamalHaasan, who became one of his closest friends. He was noticed by the industry and public alike, and he never looked back.

In a long and eventful career, Rajinikanth has acted in over 170 films, in many languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali. He also had a starring role in the Hollywood production, Blood Stone (1988). His fans know him as a stylish actor, with some pet mannersims.

The Government of India has honoured him with the civilian titles of Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Padma Vibhushan (2016). At the 45th. International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the "Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year".

In the new millennium, his films include:

Bulandi

Baba

Chandramukhi

Sivaji

Kathanayakudu

Enthiran

Ra.One

Kochadaiiyaan

Kabali

Kaala

2.0

 
 
Sam Mendes' WWI epic received seven awards, when 'Joker' only received three (including best actor)
 

See the list of winners below

Best Film
'1917'
 
François Duhamel/Universal Pictures
1917 (WINNER)
The Irishman
Joker
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

Leading Actress
Renée Zellweger in 'Judy'
 
Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renée Zellweger, Judy (WINNER)

Leading Actor
Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker'
 
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Leonardo Dicaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (WINNER)
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Director
1917, Sam Mendes (WINNER)
 
 
1917, Sam Mendes (WINNER)
The Irishman, Martin Scorsese
Joker, Todd Phillips
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino
Parasite, Bong Joon-ho

Casting
'Joker'
 
Joker, Shayna Markowitz (WINNER)
Marriage Story, Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Victoria Thomas
The Personal History of David Copperfield, Sarah Crowe
The Two Popes, Nina Gold

Rising Star
Micheal Ward
 
Credit: Dave Benett/WireImage
Awkwafina
Jack Lowden
Kaitlyn Dever
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Micheal Ward (WINNER)

Film Not in the English Language
'Parasite'
 
Courtesy of NEON CJ Entertainment
The Farewell
For Sama
Pain and Glory
Parasite (WINNER)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Special Visual Effects
'1917'
 
François Duhamel/Universal Pictures
1917, Greg Butler, Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuohy (WINNER)
Avengers: Endgame, Dan Deleeuw, Dan Sudick
The Irishman, Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, Pablo Helman
The Lion King, Andrew R. Jones, Robert Legato, Elliot Newman, Adam Valdez
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan, Dominic Tuohy

Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt
 
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (WINNER)

Original Screenplay
'Parasite'
 
Booksmart, Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
Knives Out, Rian Johnson
Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino
Parasite, Han Jin-won, Bong Joon-ho (WINNER)

Documentary
'For Sama'
 
American Factory
Apollo 11
Diego Maradona
For Sama (WINNER)
The Great Hack

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
'Bait'
 
Bait, Mark Jenkin (Writer/Director), Kate Byers, Linn Waite (Producers) (WINNER)
For Sama, Waad Al-Kateab (Director/Producer), Edward Watts (Director)
Maiden, Alex Holmes (Director)
Only You, Harry Wootliff (Writer/Director)
Retablo, Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (Writer/Director)*

Adapted Screenplay
'Jojo Rabbit'
 
 
The Irishman, Steven Zaillian
Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi (WINNER)
Joker, Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
Little Women, Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes, Anthony Mccarten

Supporting Actress
Laura Dern
 
Laura Dern, Marriage Story (WINNER)
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Margot Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Cinematography
'1917'
 
1917, Roger Deakins (WINNER)
The Irishman, Rodrigo Prieto
Joker, Lawrence Sher
Le Mans ’66, Phedon Papamichael
The Lighthouse, Jarin Blaschke

Editing
'Ford v Ferrari'
 
Le Mans ’66, Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker (WINNER)
The Irishman, Thelma Schoonmaker
Jojo Rabbit, Tom Eagles
Joker, Jeff Groth
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Fred Raskin

Costume Design
'Little Women'
 
The Irishman, Christopher Peterson, Sandy Powell
Jojo Rabbit, Mayes C. Rubeo
Judy, Jany Temime
Little Women, Jacqueline Durran (WINNER)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Arianne Phillips

Production Design
'1917'
 
1917, Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales (WINNER)
The Irishman, Bob Shaw, Regina Graves
Jojo Rabbit, Ra Vincent, Nora Sopková
Joker, Mark Friedberg, Kris Moran
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh

Sound
'1917'
 
1917, Scott Millan, Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson (WINNER)
Joker, Tod Maitland, Alan Robert Murray, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic
Le Mans ’66, David Giammarco, Paul Massey, Steven A. Morrow, Donald Sylvester
Rocketman, Matthew Collinge, John Hayes, Mike Prestwood Smith, Danny Sheehan
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher
Scarabosio, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood

Original Score
'Joker'
 
1917, Thomas Newman
Jojo Rabbit, Michael Giacchino
Joker, Hildur Gudnadóttir (WINNER)
Little Women, Alexandre Desplat
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams

British Short Film
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl), Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva (WINNER)

Azaar, Myriam Raja, Nathanael Baring
Goldfish, Hector Dockrill, Harri Kamalanathan, Benedict Turnbull, Laura Dockrill
Kamali, Sasha Rainbow, Rosalind Croad
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl), Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva (WINNER)
The Trap, Lena Headey, Anthony Fitzgerald

British Short Animation
Grandad Was a Romantic, Maryam Mohajer (WINNER)

In Her Boots, Kathrin Steinbacher
The Magic Boat, Naaman Azhari, Lilia Laurel

Makeup and Hair
'Bombshell'
 
Hilary Bronwyn Gayle
1917, Naomi Donne
Bombshell, Vivian Baker, Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan (WINNER)
Joker, Kay Georgiou, Nicki Ledermann
Judy, Jeremy Woodhead
Rocketman, Lizzie Yianni Georgiou

Animated Film
'Klaus'
 
 
Frozen 2
Klaus. -WINNER
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Toy Story 4

Outstanding British Film
'1917'
 
1917 (WINNER)
Bait
For Sama
Rocketman
Sorry We Missed You
The Two Popes