2020 Film Critics Awards

Been wondering if this post makes sense when everything about film awards is so upside down when what critics are reviewing will not be seen by audiences in theaters and what film critics do not like to review, mainly anything streaming, is what for the first time EVER audiences are watching not in the thousands but in the millions.  So, I'm afraid critics will honor with their awards films that we have no -or very little- idea of its existence.

But trying to make something positive out of all the sea of negativity, here is the post that will be a work in progress until the last critics group announces their winners which usually happens by early February but now probably will be early April as some groups seems decided to follow the Oscars schedule instead of the regular calendar year.

Continue reading »

77th Venice Film Festival Award Winners

Most talk about what many agree,  festival deserves big kudos for daring to gather people in cinemas and events like press conferences and hopefully Not spreading the virus ... sigh. But when considering cinema only, undoubtedly was a "strange" festival as yes, in a regular year many of those participating in official and collateral sections would not have had the chance at all. As a consequence there where actors on Venice that are well-known for their B-movies rather that for great cinema participation. Sigh.

But well, these are special times and most of all, uncertain times so let's be positive and congratulate organizers for this festival and let's hope that next year festival will go back more to be what it deserves to be.

Post will be in progress until after tonight's Awards Ceremony at 7:00pm local time.

Continue reading »

93rd Academy Awards International Feature Film Submissions

Update: Saturday, December 26th, 2020. Usually like to wait until AMPAS releases official dispatch about whatever they are doing regarding all they do and specially about the International Feature Film Submissions but, this year there is a profound silence which I find absolutedly annoying as there are clear signs the International committee is working and not announcing publicly but only to industry press. So I'm doing something I do not really like, sharing info from industry articles.

First, most sources agree the International Feature voting committee will publish a list sometime in January 2021, not clear if will be a submitted or accepted films list. So, we have to wait a few weeks to learn what's going on with the long list. By-the-way most film journalists call the above 90 submissions "unexpected" as it's done in a pandemic year. For me it's not a surprise as films submitted are mainly produced last year when there was NO pandemic; probably will be 2022 Oscars when submissions could go way down the 90's record. Will share that seems Cambodia sent film but will not make it official until film is accepted by AMPAS; with this entry there are 92 countries with submissions.

Continue reading »

34th Teddy Awards Award Winners

This edition top award winner goes to Futur Drei by Faraz Shariat, Jury Award to Rizi by Tsai Ming-Lang, documentary award to Si c’était de l’amour by Patric China and Best Short Film to Playback. Ensayo de una Despedida by Agustina Comedi.  Futur Drei also won the Readers' Award and Welcome to Chechnya by David France the Activist Award.

Continue reading »

70th Berlin Film Festival Award Winners

Yes, this year's festival was different, as a summary let me share enthusiasm does not compensate for lack of substance and even do there were some really great films, most were not.  After checking what was going on for a couple of days, gave up and stopped trying to get exciting about a film festival that used to be one of the three greatest in the world. Sigh.

In any case, there were exceptions but none as remarkable as the press conference for the documentary Hillary which strongly suggest you watch if you haven't seen it yet.  It's amazing how an educated person can clearly state thoughts and go to the point, especially when you compare him/her to actors, directors and filmmakers (lol).  Seriously, Hillary Clinton clearly and straight forwardly said very interesting things and doc became must be seen for me, immediately.

Continue reading »

92nd Academy Awards Winners

Now I live across land and a pond to where the Oscars take place so IF wanted to watch show LIVE had to wake up at 1:00am and do not sleep from then on.  My purpose was to do exactly that even when had to miss the red carpet.  That's exactly what I did and gee, I'm so glad was able to do it as Cinema History was written and was able to watch it live!

Much is already written about the irrelevance of the show as did little to honor films and much to honor music -in films-; believe show was more like a music magazine for adults, which is not bad as there are too many shows and awards shows with music to celebrate youth (who are the one that purchase music the most!).  Nevertheless music/songs clips montage was quite emotional for me as recognized almost all films with only hearing the first notes ... and then came the first true surprise: Eminem!  It was kind of weird but yes, it worked as it's always nice to be moved by music to afterwards get shocked by music! (lol)

Continue reading »

70th Berlin Film Festival Lineup

Yes, I am (or was?) a huge fan of this festival and highly enjoyed Dieter Kosslick's black humor and many of his official selections during the many years he was the festival's director.  This is the first festival without Dieter Kosslick and under the Executive Direction of Mariette Rissenbeek and the Artistic Direction of Carlo Chatrian.  My first spontaneous reaction is that festival looks and feels different as Competition lineup (which always is the main festival event) seems different perhaps less festival particular and more like other festivals.

Time will say if my first impression is real or just my reaction to change.  Change does not come only at top levels as almost all sections have new heads.  So, no doubt the festival has gone a major overhaul.  Hope finds its own and different to the other 2 major film festivals niche as if not, will risk to go outside the major 3 and film festivals will have only 2 major participants until another grows to become the third one.

Continue reading »

25th Prix Lumières Winners

Updating post with winners. Les Misérables leads with three (3) awards followed closely by Portrait of a Lady on Fire with two (2).

The ceremony was broadcasted for the first time on Canal + and Isabelle Huppert was the ceremony president and Isabelle Giordano was the mistress of the ceremony.

Costa-Gavras had an special award for his contribution to worldwide cinema and Roberto Benigni was also honored.  There was a special celebration of the 25-years anniversary milestone with Vanessa Benelli Mosell playing a compilation of different films soundtracks.

Continue reading »

26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Winners

Yesterday the largest group of Academy voters announced their winners at a gala in the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and cinema history was made! 

Parasite won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a motion picture award and became the first non-English film to win the category! Yes, this win furthers the possibility of film making a very serious run to become the first non-English-language film to ever win the best picture Oscar.

As has been told, there is no biggest honor than peers recognizing the work of other peers and when actors recognize Parasite actors, when most film critics and industry groups didn't even consider them, is outstanding.  Besides actors performances were truly exceptional and undoubtedly helped the audience to submerge with them into story spiral; so, it's absolutely great that actors recognize other actors acting in a language that is NOT English.

Continue reading »

#Oscars2020 LIVE nominations

Continue reading »

25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards Winners

Last night was the awards show which was aired on The CW Network and was hosted by Taye Diggs.

Big winner of the night is Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood with four awards, 1917 followed closely behind with 3 awards.

Keegan-Michael Key delivered a special tribute to Eddie Murphy, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Kristen Bell received the #SeeHer Award for portraying strong female characters while promoting women on screen and off.

Winners are in *BLUE. To check all winners -films and television- at official site go here.

Continue reading »

2020 BAFTA Awards Nominations

A few minutes ago the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announced the nominations for the current awards edition honoring films released during 2019 and undoubtedly these are the first nominations that could give us a better predictor to Oscars nominations as are selected by the industry and not the press.

The nominations were announced by BAFTA Chief Executive Amanda Berry along Ella Balinska and Asa Butterfield at BAFTA Piccadilly in London and at post end is the video with the announcement.

Continue reading »

77th Annual Golden Globe Awards Winners

A few minutes ago the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) had their televised press conference where Dakota Fanning, Tim Allen, and Susan Kelechi Watson announced the nominations for the 2020 edition of these infamous awards that always generate controversy because what is drama and what is comedy but always give TV audiences with a great show -many times more entertaining than the Oscars show- and this year's show has to be hilarious as Ricky Gervais will host again (his fifth time) the ceremony on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 8:00pm ET broadcast live from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on NBC and many TV stations around the world.  Great!

As was previously announced this edition Golden Globe Ambassadors are Dylan and Paris Brosnan, sons of Pierce Brosnan and will honor Tom Hanks with the Cecil B. deMille Award and Ellen DeGeneres with the newly created Carol Burnett Award.

Making awards history, Netflix secured its first-ever Golden Globes best picture nominations for not one but four of its films, The Irishman, Marriage Story, The Two Popes, and Dolemite is My Name plus landed a total of 17 nominations, more than double that of its nearest rival.

Continue reading »

#Oscars2020 International Feature Film Shortlist

Yes, I'm back after traveling in such a busy time for cinema crowded awards season but it's impossible to say NO to Paris in Christmas and la Cité de la Lumière was even more luisant.  Did followed the news so was aware of the shortlists announced on December 16 and here is the one that always has our attention now with 10 films instead of 9.

This edition AMPAS accepted ninety-one films which in the Phase I of the voting the International Feature Film Committee will view all and vote by secret ballot.  The group's top seven choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy's International Feature Film Award Executive Committee, constitutes the shortlist of ten films.

Continue reading »

70th Annual EDDIE Award Nominations

A few minutes ago the American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced the awards that recognize outstanding editing in eleven categories of film, television and documentaries.

For the first time in ACE's 70-year history, three foreign language films are among the nominees including The Farewell, I Lost My Body and Parasite, despite there not being a specific category for films predominantly in a foreign language.

Winners will be revealed during ACE's annual ceremony on Friday, January 17 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, ceremony is presided by ACE President, Stephen Rivkin.

These are the nominees.

Continue reading »