“Fast & Furious” director Justin Lin and his Perfect Storm Entertainment production company have signed a multi-year, overall film and TV deal with Universal Pictures and Universal Studio Group, the studio announced Thursday. The announcement was made by Peter Cramer, president, Universal Pictures and Pearlena Igbokwe, president, Universal Television.
Under the new deal on the film side, Lin and Perfect Storm will have a first-look production agreement with the studio, which kicks off with Lin and Pse’s next film, “F9,” the ninth film in the “Fast & Furious” series.
On the TV side, the deal will cover Lin and Perfect Storm’s television activities for both internal and external networks, including NBCUniversal’s Peacock. Lin previously directed episodes of the NBC series “Community,” which is available on Peacock.
Also Read: Buzzfeed Sets First-Look Scripted TV Deal With Universal Television
“Justin has been an integral part of the Universal family for 15 years,...
Under the new deal on the film side, Lin and Perfect Storm will have a first-look production agreement with the studio, which kicks off with Lin and Pse’s next film, “F9,” the ninth film in the “Fast & Furious” series.
On the TV side, the deal will cover Lin and Perfect Storm’s television activities for both internal and external networks, including NBCUniversal’s Peacock. Lin previously directed episodes of the NBC series “Community,” which is available on Peacock.
Also Read: Buzzfeed Sets First-Look Scripted TV Deal With Universal Television
“Justin has been an integral part of the Universal family for 15 years,...
- 8/27/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
After helping successfully relaunch Universal’s The Fast & Furious franchise for the studio, Justin Lin and his Perfect Storm Entertainment banner are making the studio their official home. Lin has signed a very lucrative multi-year overall production deals for film and TV with Universal Pictures and Universal Studio Group. Lin, whose popular films have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, has spearheaded innovative projects in both film and TV, and has been a core member of the Fast & Furious franchise, helming five of the nine installments.
“Universal gave me my shot when they offered me the Fast franchise a decade and a half ago. Over the course of these years together, we’ve become a family and I’m thrilled to be coming home. While our relationship started with Fast, we have a lot more stories we want to share with audiences around the world. We love working with the...
“Universal gave me my shot when they offered me the Fast franchise a decade and a half ago. Over the course of these years together, we’ve become a family and I’m thrilled to be coming home. While our relationship started with Fast, we have a lot more stories we want to share with audiences around the world. We love working with the...
- 8/27/2020
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Combining time travel and a cruise ship has never been so hilarious. So describes this unique and magical “Same Boat” (directed by Chris Roberti and written by Roberti with Josh Itzkowitz), is a Chicago Premiere at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on April 2nd, 2019. Click here for tickets and details.
The very funny, warm and philosophical film presupposes a future in which time traveler assassins come back to save their world – which has been devastated by bad decisions in the past– through killing the evil people who will affect that devastation. When James (Chris Roberti) and his “intern” Mot (Julie Schonberg) are assigned the hit on Lilly (Tonya Glanz) while she is vacationing on a cruise ship, complications arise when James has feelings for his target. The whip-sharp comedy is full of authentic laughs derived from the plot and situations, plus the always weird vibe of a cruise ship.
The very funny, warm and philosophical film presupposes a future in which time traveler assassins come back to save their world – which has been devastated by bad decisions in the past– through killing the evil people who will affect that devastation. When James (Chris Roberti) and his “intern” Mot (Julie Schonberg) are assigned the hit on Lilly (Tonya Glanz) while she is vacationing on a cruise ship, complications arise when James has feelings for his target. The whip-sharp comedy is full of authentic laughs derived from the plot and situations, plus the always weird vibe of a cruise ship.
- 4/1/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
After the 2008 financial crisis, which started in the Us and sent shockwaves all over the world, the federal government pressed criminal charges for mortgage fraud against only one bank, Abacus Financial Savings. The documentary tells the story of the bank and its (judicial) struggle against the government.
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” screened at 7th Annual Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
Abacus is a family business based in New York’s Chinatown. It was founded in 1984 by Thomas Sung, a man who left a successful practice as a lawyer in order to create an institution designed to cater to the specific needs of its constituents – in this case immigrants with little banking experience and unique cultural and communal ways of doing business. Currently at his 80’s, Thomas still plays a significant role in the running of the bank, along with his three daughters.
In 2010, the managers at Abacus alerted the...
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” screened at 7th Annual Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
Abacus is a family business based in New York’s Chinatown. It was founded in 1984 by Thomas Sung, a man who left a successful practice as a lawyer in order to create an institution designed to cater to the specific needs of its constituents – in this case immigrants with little banking experience and unique cultural and communal ways of doing business. Currently at his 80’s, Thomas still plays a significant role in the running of the bank, along with his three daughters.
In 2010, the managers at Abacus alerted the...
- 4/1/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Justin Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment and Beijing Pu Luo Media Co. have announced plans to adapt acclaimed Chinese science-fiction writer Hao Jingfang’s short “The Pantheon,” her first story following the Hugo Award-winning novelette, “Folding Beijing”.
Hao Jingfang was awarded the prestigious science-fiction writing honor in 2016, becoming the first Chinese woman to win a Hugo Award. She was nominated for “Best Novelette” alongside distinguished authors including Stephen King. In recent years she has risen to prominence as one of the most accomplished Chinese sci-fi writers in the world.
“The Pantheon” is a timely and thought-provoking sci-fi mystery. Justin Lin will produce for Perfect Storm Entertainment along with Marc Carlis who will produce for Beijing Pu Luo Media Co. They plan to develop the story as an English-language feature.
“I’m very excited to be bringing this story to life and partnering with Beijing Pu Luo Media,” said Lin. “It...
Hao Jingfang was awarded the prestigious science-fiction writing honor in 2016, becoming the first Chinese woman to win a Hugo Award. She was nominated for “Best Novelette” alongside distinguished authors including Stephen King. In recent years she has risen to prominence as one of the most accomplished Chinese sci-fi writers in the world.
“The Pantheon” is a timely and thought-provoking sci-fi mystery. Justin Lin will produce for Perfect Storm Entertainment along with Marc Carlis who will produce for Beijing Pu Luo Media Co. They plan to develop the story as an English-language feature.
“I’m very excited to be bringing this story to life and partnering with Beijing Pu Luo Media,” said Lin. “It...
- 3/17/2019
- by Ina Karpinska
- AsianMoviePulse
Chicago – Chicago’s Kartemquin Films continues their winning streak, as director Bing Liu’s “Minding the Gap” scores an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. The 91st Academy Awards will take place on February 24th, 2019.
Alfonso Cuarón’s vital period picture from Mexico, “Roma,” was the favorite nominee, with 10 nods, but the excellent “Black Panther” – the first superhero film to score a Best Picture nomination – also was strong with seven nominations. There were no other major surprises in the Best Picture category, as many of the awards season favorites (including “The Favourite”) were recognized. Veteran filmmaker Spike Lee got his first Best Director nomination for “BlacKkKlansman” (also Best Picture nominee) and all three of the main actresses in “The Favourite” scored nominations.
’Roma,’ Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Received 10 Oscar Nominations
Photo credit: Netflix
But it is the legendary Kartemquin Films that makes the news locally, as “Minding the Gap” is the...
Alfonso Cuarón’s vital period picture from Mexico, “Roma,” was the favorite nominee, with 10 nods, but the excellent “Black Panther” – the first superhero film to score a Best Picture nomination – also was strong with seven nominations. There were no other major surprises in the Best Picture category, as many of the awards season favorites (including “The Favourite”) were recognized. Veteran filmmaker Spike Lee got his first Best Director nomination for “BlacKkKlansman” (also Best Picture nominee) and all three of the main actresses in “The Favourite” scored nominations.
’Roma,’ Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Received 10 Oscar Nominations
Photo credit: Netflix
But it is the legendary Kartemquin Films that makes the news locally, as “Minding the Gap” is the...
- 1/22/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
When legendary “Hoop Dreams” filmmaker Steve James retires from making award-winning documentaries, he could almost certainly fall back on a career in stand-up, or at least hit the circuit as an awards show host. James was in rare comedic form at the 12th Annual Cinema Eye Honors Awards, held Thursday night at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, his energy livening up a somewhat sober crowd. He missed no opportunity to mention his Oscar-nominated film from last year, “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” which lost out to Bryan Fogel’s similarly titled “Icarus.”
“‘Icarus’, ‘Abacus,’ ‘Icarus,’ ‘Abacus,’ and then they gave it to ‘Icarus,'” said James. “So I missed it by a few letters. And it really dawned on me as I was sitting there that most people thought they were voting for ‘Abacus’ when they voted for ‘Icarus.'”
Dad jokes aside, it was a winning...
“‘Icarus’, ‘Abacus,’ ‘Icarus,’ ‘Abacus,’ and then they gave it to ‘Icarus,'” said James. “So I missed it by a few letters. And it really dawned on me as I was sitting there that most people thought they were voting for ‘Abacus’ when they voted for ‘Icarus.'”
Dad jokes aside, it was a winning...
- 1/11/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
At the 2018 Oscars, Frances McDormand, who won her second Best Actress Academy Award for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” asked all the female nominees to stand. Ten women will always be nominated by the academy: five for Best Actress and another five for Best Supporting Actress. Besides these other nine women, how many others were on their feet in the Dolby Theater?
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Only one category — Costume Design — had more women contending then men but the winner was a man: Mark Bridges (“Phantom Thread”), who also picked up the jet ski for the shortest acceptance speech.
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Only one category — Costume Design — had more women contending then men but the winner was a man: Mark Bridges (“Phantom Thread”), who also picked up the jet ski for the shortest acceptance speech.
- 1/1/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi‘s “Free Solo” leads the third annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards with six bids, including Best Documentary and Best Director. Also nabbing nominations in those two top categories is Bing Liu‘s “Minding the Gap,” which is also in the running for Best First Time Director, as well as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” “Dark Money,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” and “Three Identical Strangers.” In all 10 films were nominated for the top prize at these awards bestowed by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn. (Bfca). The other four are “Crime + Punishment,” “Hal,” “Rbg,” and “Wild Wild Country.”
Last year the Bfca nominated 16 films for this award, three of which –“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” “Faces Places,” and “Strong Island” — went on to contend at the Oscars. And in 2016 the Bfca shared its Best Documentary winner (“O.J.: Made in America”) with the Academy...
Last year the Bfca nominated 16 films for this award, three of which –“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” “Faces Places,” and “Strong Island” — went on to contend at the Oscars. And in 2016 the Bfca shared its Best Documentary winner (“O.J.: Made in America”) with the Academy...
- 10/16/2018
- by John Benutty
- Gold Derby
Steve James has never shied away from going big. From his 1994 breakthrough, the near-three-hour Hoop Dreams, through long-players like Stevie and The Interrupters, the filmmaker has never been afraid to blow well past documentary’s traditional 90-minute mark. Still, even for James, America to Me is ambitious. It’s his second dalliance with TV, after 2004’s The New Americans, spanning 10 hour-long episodes, which begin on Starz on Aug. 26. But it’s not just size that matters. It’s the scope, and the […]...
- 9/25/2018
- by Matt Prigge
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Steve James has never shied away from going big. From his 1994 breakthrough, the near-three-hour Hoop Dreams, through long-players like Stevie and The Interrupters, the filmmaker has never been afraid to blow well past documentary’s traditional 90-minute mark. Still, even for James, America to Me is ambitious. It’s his second dalliance with TV, after 2004’s The New Americans, spanning 10 hour-long episodes, which begin on Starz on Aug. 26. But it’s not just size that matters. It’s the scope, and the […]...
- 9/25/2018
- by Matt Prigge
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
For his captivating new documentary series, film-maker Steve James spent a year with students at Oak Park River Forest high
The acclaimed documentary film-maker Steve James has a gift for zeroing in on the microcosms and enclaves of American culture that speak more broadly to the country’s racial and socio-economic fault lines. In Hoop Dreams, ranked the greatest film of the 1990s by the late critic Roger Ebert, and James’s magnum opus, he spent five years following two aspiring basketball players from Chicago, yielding a sports-defying tale of life on the fringes of the American dream. In the Oscar-nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, he uses a small, family-owned bank – outrageously, the only one indicted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis – as a springboard to discuss Chineseimmigrants in the Us and the fundamental inequities of the justice system.
Related: Kartemquin: Chicago film-makers on 50 years of slam dunk documentaries
Continue reading.
The acclaimed documentary film-maker Steve James has a gift for zeroing in on the microcosms and enclaves of American culture that speak more broadly to the country’s racial and socio-economic fault lines. In Hoop Dreams, ranked the greatest film of the 1990s by the late critic Roger Ebert, and James’s magnum opus, he spent five years following two aspiring basketball players from Chicago, yielding a sports-defying tale of life on the fringes of the American dream. In the Oscar-nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, he uses a small, family-owned bank – outrageously, the only one indicted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis – as a springboard to discuss Chineseimmigrants in the Us and the fundamental inequities of the justice system.
Related: Kartemquin: Chicago film-makers on 50 years of slam dunk documentaries
Continue reading.
- 8/24/2018
- by Jake Nevins
- The Guardian - Film News
In January, episodes of the Steve James docuseries “America to Me” opened Sundance’s Indie Episodic section and represented the new program’s first major sale ($5 million). Now Starz has released a trailer for the 10-part look inside an affluent-yet-segregated Chicago public school.
James — whose features have earned him Oscar nominations in the documentary (“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”) and editing (“Hoop Dreams”) categories — spent a year embedded inside Oak Park and River Forest High School, a scenic institution with benevolent teachers, every amenity imaginable, and one disquieting drawback. White students’ test scores are climbing while black students’ have stagnated. While black staff members are desperate to address the chasm, the majority of the school’s board is white and unconcerned. Thus a rift emerges among the same academic leaders trying to reconcile that their charges refuse to commingle in the cafeteria, let alone on the cheerleading team.
Following its world premiere in Park City,...
James — whose features have earned him Oscar nominations in the documentary (“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”) and editing (“Hoop Dreams”) categories — spent a year embedded inside Oak Park and River Forest High School, a scenic institution with benevolent teachers, every amenity imaginable, and one disquieting drawback. White students’ test scores are climbing while black students’ have stagnated. While black staff members are desperate to address the chasm, the majority of the school’s board is white and unconcerned. Thus a rift emerges among the same academic leaders trying to reconcile that their charges refuse to commingle in the cafeteria, let alone on the cheerleading team.
Following its world premiere in Park City,...
- 6/29/2018
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
In today’s film news roundup, Billie Lourd joins high school drama “Booksmart,” Steve James gets an AFI honor, and the Yosemite climbing documentary “The Dawn Wall” gets distribution.
Casting
Billie Lourd has been cast opposite Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein in the high school drama “Booksmart,” directed by Olivia Wilde in her feature directorial debut.
The story follows Dever and Feldstein’s characters, who are academic superstars and best friends. The duo realizes that they should have worked less and played more and set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.
Producers are Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld, and Megan Ellison for Annapurna and Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, and Adam McKay for Gloria Sanchez. Filming is currently underway in Los Angeles.
Lourd is also returning for the eighth season of “American Horror Story” along with cast members Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Kathy Bates.
Casting
Billie Lourd has been cast opposite Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein in the high school drama “Booksmart,” directed by Olivia Wilde in her feature directorial debut.
The story follows Dever and Feldstein’s characters, who are academic superstars and best friends. The duo realizes that they should have worked less and played more and set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.
Producers are Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld, and Megan Ellison for Annapurna and Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, and Adam McKay for Gloria Sanchez. Filming is currently underway in Los Angeles.
Lourd is also returning for the eighth season of “American Horror Story” along with cast members Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Kathy Bates.
- 5/19/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – It was an amazing Oscar season in 2018 for Chicago-based Kartemquin Films. Two of the their documentary film productions, “Edith + Eddie” by director Laura Checkoway and “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” by Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Both films will be showcased at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago For more information, ticket purchasing, click here.
‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,’ Directed by Steve James
Photo credit: PBS Distribution
“Edith + Eddie” was nominated in the Documentary Short category at the 2018 Oscars, and involves an interracial couple who are age 96 and 95, threatened by a family feud that might tear them apart. “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is about a small bank in New York City’s Chinatown, who became a scapegoat during the 2008 financial and banking crisis, and was Oscar nominated for Documentary Feature.
‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,’ Directed by Steve James
Photo credit: PBS Distribution
“Edith + Eddie” was nominated in the Documentary Short category at the 2018 Oscars, and involves an interracial couple who are age 96 and 95, threatened by a family feud that might tear them apart. “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is about a small bank in New York City’s Chinatown, who became a scapegoat during the 2008 financial and banking crisis, and was Oscar nominated for Documentary Feature.
- 4/2/2018
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Ten women will always be nominated for Oscars: five for Best Actress and another five for Best Supporting Actress. At the 2018 Oscars, Frances McDormand, who won her second Best Actress Academy Award for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” asked all the female nominees to stand. As you can see from the video above, she asked rival acting nominee Meryl Streep (“The Post”) to lead the way and this 21-time Oscar nominee obliged. Besides the other eight actresses nominated, how many other women were on their feet in the Dolby theater?
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
- 3/5/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Shape Of Water wins four awards at 90th Academy Awards.
Fox Searchlight’s The Shape Of Water won best picture, best director for Guillermo del Toro, best score for Alexandre Desplat, and best production design for Paul D. Austerberry, Jeffrey A. Melvin, Shane Vieau.
Searchlight’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won best lead actress for Frances McDormand, and best supporting actor for Sam Rockwell.
Gary Oldman was named best lead actor for Focus Features’ Darkest Hour, while Allison Janney was named best supporting actress for I, Tonya, distributed in the Us by Neon and 30West.
Spc’s A Fantastic Woman...
Fox Searchlight’s The Shape Of Water won best picture, best director for Guillermo del Toro, best score for Alexandre Desplat, and best production design for Paul D. Austerberry, Jeffrey A. Melvin, Shane Vieau.
Searchlight’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won best lead actress for Frances McDormand, and best supporting actor for Sam Rockwell.
Gary Oldman was named best lead actor for Focus Features’ Darkest Hour, while Allison Janney was named best supporting actress for I, Tonya, distributed in the Us by Neon and 30West.
Spc’s A Fantastic Woman...
- 3/5/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Update: Winners are now indicated. I correctly guessed 15 out of the 24 categories, which is one of my better showings ever, I think.
Earlier:
Just under the wire!
I’ve now seen as many of the nominated films as I will be able to before tonight’s ceremony, and here finally are my educated guesses about who will take home each award — projected winners are Xed at the lefthand side. Keep in mind: those Xes don’t represent whom I think should win Oscars but whom I think will win, based on what little I can grasp about how the Academy thinks. I’ve also noted which nominees I think should win. Kindly note that this is not necessarily my take on who did the best performance/writing/FX/whatever of the year, but whom I think is best among the nominees.
The only films I have not yet seen are:...
Earlier:
Just under the wire!
I’ve now seen as many of the nominated films as I will be able to before tonight’s ceremony, and here finally are my educated guesses about who will take home each award — projected winners are Xed at the lefthand side. Keep in mind: those Xes don’t represent whom I think should win Oscars but whom I think will win, based on what little I can grasp about how the Academy thinks. I’ve also noted which nominees I think should win. Kindly note that this is not necessarily my take on who did the best performance/writing/FX/whatever of the year, but whom I think is best among the nominees.
The only films I have not yet seen are:...
- 3/5/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
For most of the awards season “Jane,” which profiles primatologist Jane Goodall, was the Oscar front-runner for Best Documentary Feature — until of course the Oscar nominations were announced. “Jane” didn’t even end up with a bid, so now the race is wide open. But based on our latest predictions leading up to Oscar weekend the race will have an unusual outcome: “Faces Places” gets leading odds of 8/15 to win, which would give director Agnes Varda a competitive Oscar the same year she won an honorary Oscar.
It’s not uncommon for an artist to win both competitive and honorary Oscars in their career, and it’s not unprecedented to win a competitive Oscar after you’ve won your honorary award: for instance, actor Paul Newman and composer Ennio Morricone have pulled off that feat. But it’s unusual to receive both awards in the same Oscar season. The 89-year-old...
It’s not uncommon for an artist to win both competitive and honorary Oscars in their career, and it’s not unprecedented to win a competitive Oscar after you’ve won your honorary award: for instance, actor Paul Newman and composer Ennio Morricone have pulled off that feat. But it’s unusual to receive both awards in the same Oscar season. The 89-year-old...
- 2/28/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Ever since changing the documentary landscape with “Hoop Dreams” in 1994, Steve James has introduced audiences to some of nonfiction film’s most memorable characters. On his latest film, “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” – James’ first Oscar nomination – the filmmaker invites the viewer to experience the story of an ordinary family up against powerful institutions through his subjects’ eyes and emotions. According to James, the only way to create this type of intimate character-driven film is for non-professional performers to be themselves when the camera starts to roll.
“A big part of what most narrative directors are doing with actors – if they are doing a more realistic kind of film – is they are trying to help the actor find something authentic in that character to play,” said James, when he was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “In a documentary it’s not that different, but what you are...
“A big part of what most narrative directors are doing with actors – if they are doing a more realistic kind of film – is they are trying to help the actor find something authentic in that character to play,” said James, when he was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “In a documentary it’s not that different, but what you are...
- 2/26/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
An Oscar nominee for his editing on 1994’s Hoop Dreams, Steve James has been nominated again this year for his documentary Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, about a family bank’s legal struggles.
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis involving epic fraud and no indictments, Abacus was a fiscally responsible bank that had weathered the storm with a default rate one-twentieth the national average. In 2010, Thomas Sung, founder and chairman of Abacus, was alerted by daughters Jill (Abacus’ president and CEO) and Vera (the bank’s director) about irregularities in the loan division. They rooted out the cause and...
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis involving epic fraud and no indictments, Abacus was a fiscally responsible bank that had weathered the storm with a default rate one-twentieth the national average. In 2010, Thomas Sung, founder and chairman of Abacus, was alerted by daughters Jill (Abacus’ president and CEO) and Vera (the bank’s director) about irregularities in the loan division. They rooted out the cause and...
- 2/25/2018
- by Jordan Riefe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The films are Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze.
Cinetic International has licensed three titles at the Efm to Scandinavian distributor NonStop – Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, which screened at the market on Friday.
Cinetic’s head of international Jason Ishikawa negotiated the deals with NonStop CEO Jakob Abrahamsson.
Blaze premiered in Sundance last month and earned the special jury acting prize for newcomer Ben Dickey as musician Blaze Foley. A Us deal is expected shortly.
Financial crisis documentary Abacus earned an Oscar nomination last month and has also sold to Dogwoof in the UK.
Costume designer Cecil Beaton documentary Love, Cecil premiered at Telluride and was released by StudioCanal in the UK and Germany.
Jason Ishikawa said of the deal, “NonStop Entertainment has been a great partner who is attracted...
Cinetic International has licensed three titles at the Efm to Scandinavian distributor NonStop – Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, which screened at the market on Friday.
Cinetic’s head of international Jason Ishikawa negotiated the deals with NonStop CEO Jakob Abrahamsson.
Blaze premiered in Sundance last month and earned the special jury acting prize for newcomer Ben Dickey as musician Blaze Foley. A Us deal is expected shortly.
Financial crisis documentary Abacus earned an Oscar nomination last month and has also sold to Dogwoof in the UK.
Costume designer Cecil Beaton documentary Love, Cecil premiered at Telluride and was released by StudioCanal in the UK and Germany.
Jason Ishikawa said of the deal, “NonStop Entertainment has been a great partner who is attracted...
- 2/19/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The films are Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze.
Cinetic International has licensed three titles at the Efm to Scandinavian distributor NonStop – Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, which screened at the market on Friday.
Cinetic’s head of international Jason Ishikawa negotiated the deals with NonStop CEO Jakob Abrahamsson.
Blaze premiered in Sundance last month and earned the special jury acting prize for newcomer Ben Dickey as musician Blaze Foley. A Us deal is expected shortly.
Financial crisis documentary Abacus earned an Oscar nomination last month and has also sold to Dogwoof in the UK.
Costume designer Cecil Beaton documentary Love, Cecil premiered at Telluride and was released by StudioCanal in the UK and Germany.
Jason Ishikawa said of the deal, “NonStop Entertainment has been a great partner who is attracted...
Cinetic International has licensed three titles at the Efm to Scandinavian distributor NonStop – Abacus: Small Enough To Jail by Steve James, Love Cecil by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and Ethan Hawke’s Blaze, which screened at the market on Friday.
Cinetic’s head of international Jason Ishikawa negotiated the deals with NonStop CEO Jakob Abrahamsson.
Blaze premiered in Sundance last month and earned the special jury acting prize for newcomer Ben Dickey as musician Blaze Foley. A Us deal is expected shortly.
Financial crisis documentary Abacus earned an Oscar nomination last month and has also sold to Dogwoof in the UK.
Costume designer Cecil Beaton documentary Love, Cecil premiered at Telluride and was released by StudioCanal in the UK and Germany.
Jason Ishikawa said of the deal, “NonStop Entertainment has been a great partner who is attracted...
- 2/19/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Every four years Oscar voting just happens to coincide with the Winter Olympics, and this year that could give an extra boost to Best Documentary Feature nominee “Icarus.” Directed by Bryan Fogel, “Icarus” sets out to document his personal exploration of steroid use in sports when he unintentionally stumbles upon a doping scandal involving Russian athletes during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. With Oscar voting taking place Feb. 20 through Feb. 27, and the Olympics concluding Feb. 25, “Icarus” could nab some extra votes for its timely subject matter.
Might the potential Olympics-sized boost be enough to push “Icarus” over the edge? The good news is that Best Documentary Feature is one of the few 2018 Oscar categories that has no obvious frontrunner. Many of the winners at precursor ceremonies like the PGA Awards (“Jane” won here), DGA Awards (“City of Ghosts”) and Ace Eddies (“Jane”) were snubbed at the Oscars, making this race a real-head scratcher.
Might the potential Olympics-sized boost be enough to push “Icarus” over the edge? The good news is that Best Documentary Feature is one of the few 2018 Oscar categories that has no obvious frontrunner. Many of the winners at precursor ceremonies like the PGA Awards (“Jane” won here), DGA Awards (“City of Ghosts”) and Ace Eddies (“Jane”) were snubbed at the Oscars, making this race a real-head scratcher.
- 2/7/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Winners of the 70th Directors Guild of America Awards were announced Saturday, February 3 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Pt in a non-televised ceremony hosted by Judd Apatow. Prizes were handed out for both film and television by A-list presenters and former DGA winners at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. These awards are voted on annually by members of the Directors Guild of America who work in film or television. Below, see the full list of 2018 DGA Awards winners, which are marked in gold.
As per tradition, all five of this year’s nominees for Best Film Director — Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) — received special medallions and gave speeches at the podium. Four of these five nominees also contend at the Oscars for Best Director, where McDonagh was...
As per tradition, all five of this year’s nominees for Best Film Director — Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) — received special medallions and gave speeches at the podium. Four of these five nominees also contend at the Oscars for Best Director, where McDonagh was...
- 2/4/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Documentarian Matthew Heineman is the front-runner to win his second Directors Guild Award in three years thanks to his tense film “City of Ghosts.” That’s according to the combined predictions of more than 1,200 users who have entered their picks at Gold Derby in advance of the DGA ceremony on Saturday night, February 3. But for Heineman to win again he’ll have to get past a few legendary filmmakers: Steve James (“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”), Errol Morris (“Wormwood”) and Ken Burns (“The Vietnam War”).
Heineman previously won Best Documentary Director for “Cartel Land” (2015), in which he explored the tension between drug cartels, Mexican groups fighting back against cartel violence and border patrol agents monitoring the crossing between Mexico and the United States. Heineman’s latest film is also about a group resisting violence in their homeland: “City of Ghosts” profiles the Syrian citizen journalists who make up the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.
Heineman previously won Best Documentary Director for “Cartel Land” (2015), in which he explored the tension between drug cartels, Mexican groups fighting back against cartel violence and border patrol agents monitoring the crossing between Mexico and the United States. Heineman’s latest film is also about a group resisting violence in their homeland: “City of Ghosts” profiles the Syrian citizen journalists who make up the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.
- 2/2/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Winners of the 70th annual Directors Guild of America Awards will be revealed on Feb. 3 in a ceremony hosted by Judd Apatow at the Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Prizes will be doled out in three film and eight television categories as listed below.
Unlike other show biz awards ceremonies, the DGA fetes each of the five nominees for Best Feature Film Director, bringing them onstage for a presentation and acceptance speech. This year’s contenders for this important precursor to the Oscar are Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”). All but McDonagh vie at the Academy Awards as well; he was snubbed in favor of Paul Thomas Anderson (“Phantom Thread”).
Peele also vies in the competitive First-Time Feature category, along with Geremy Jasper (“Patti Cake$”), WIlliam Oldroyd (“Lady...
Unlike other show biz awards ceremonies, the DGA fetes each of the five nominees for Best Feature Film Director, bringing them onstage for a presentation and acceptance speech. This year’s contenders for this important precursor to the Oscar are Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”). All but McDonagh vie at the Academy Awards as well; he was snubbed in favor of Paul Thomas Anderson (“Phantom Thread”).
Peele also vies in the competitive First-Time Feature category, along with Geremy Jasper (“Patti Cake$”), WIlliam Oldroyd (“Lady...
- 2/2/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Jane,” Brett Morgen’s popular documentary about primatologist Jane Goodall, was so lauded and applauded that most Oscar experts predicted that it would land an Oscar nomination, if not win. Instead, it never made the cut.
This happens with the Academy documentary branch. While its voter ranks have expanded by more than 50 percent in the last three years, from 204 to 320 members, it’s still a relatively insular group with strong ideas about what makes a great documentary. They tend to be slow to recognize innovation. They long frowned on dramatic re-enactments, strong personalities, and rousing scores, overlooking early Michael Moore entry “Roger and Me” and Errol Morris’ “The Thin Blue Line,” finally rewarding them with Oscars for anti-gun screed “Bowling for Columbine” and the Robert McNamara profile “The Fog of War,” respectively.
Moore returned to the Oscar fray for “Sicko,” but Morris was never nominated again. The doc branch nominated...
This happens with the Academy documentary branch. While its voter ranks have expanded by more than 50 percent in the last three years, from 204 to 320 members, it’s still a relatively insular group with strong ideas about what makes a great documentary. They tend to be slow to recognize innovation. They long frowned on dramatic re-enactments, strong personalities, and rousing scores, overlooking early Michael Moore entry “Roger and Me” and Errol Morris’ “The Thin Blue Line,” finally rewarding them with Oscars for anti-gun screed “Bowling for Columbine” and the Robert McNamara profile “The Fog of War,” respectively.
Moore returned to the Oscar fray for “Sicko,” but Morris was never nominated again. The doc branch nominated...
- 2/2/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
When the 2018 Oscar nominations were announced, the documentary “Jane” about the life of British primatologist Jane Goodall was skunked in the race for Best Documentary Feature. This was one of the year’s biggest snubs as Gold Derby had been predicting that this feature from director Brett Morgen would Win the Oscar. Perhaps the fact that Goodall’s busy schedule kept her away from Oscar campaigning had a negative impact on voters? Whatever the case, this year’s crop of documentary nominees is equally deserving, but what will win between “Faces Places,” “Last Men in Aleppo,” “Icarus,” “Strong Island” and “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”?
As of this writing, “Faces Places” has the best odds to prevail at 2/5, according to our combined Oscar predictions. This French doc directed by Agnes Varda and Jr follows the duo as they travel around painting portraits of the individuals they meet along the journey.
As of this writing, “Faces Places” has the best odds to prevail at 2/5, according to our combined Oscar predictions. This French doc directed by Agnes Varda and Jr follows the duo as they travel around painting portraits of the individuals they meet along the journey.
- 2/1/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Steve James — the acclaimed documentary filmmaker behind Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters and current Oscar nominee Abacus: Small Enough to Jail — didn't need much of a travel budget for his latest project, America to Me.
James, who's lived in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park for over 30 years, usually requires $2.50 for the Cta Green Line into the city at least, but in 2015 he found a worthy subject within walking distance.
The director, along with three close collaborators dubbed "segment directors" in the credits — Bing Liu, Rebecca Parrish and Kevin Shaw — followed 12 diverse teenagers through ...
James, who's lived in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park for over 30 years, usually requires $2.50 for the Cta Green Line into the city at least, but in 2015 he found a worthy subject within walking distance.
The director, along with three close collaborators dubbed "segment directors" in the credits — Bing Liu, Rebecca Parrish and Kevin Shaw — followed 12 diverse teenagers through ...
- 1/30/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Steve James had a helluva 24 hours. On Monday morning, the director’s first-ever docuseries “America To Me” was picked up by Starz. That night, his series kicked off the first-ever Sundance Episodic screening, and the next morning — as the fourth and fifth episodes were about to commence in Park City — James received his first-ever Oscar nomination for “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.”
“This has been a pretty good two days at the Sundance Film Festival,” James said, after being introduced and congratulated by Participant Media’s Diane Weyermann. James wiped his face as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, and then things got started.
After years of experimenting with TV screenings, Sundance unveiled its inaugural lineup of independent TV pilots, short-form series, and premieres on Tuesday. Programmed in groups with two-to-four series per screening, the Episodic Section ran in its entirety in two locations on Tuesday. Attendees could see...
“This has been a pretty good two days at the Sundance Film Festival,” James said, after being introduced and congratulated by Participant Media’s Diane Weyermann. James wiped his face as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, and then things got started.
After years of experimenting with TV screenings, Sundance unveiled its inaugural lineup of independent TV pilots, short-form series, and premieres on Tuesday. Programmed in groups with two-to-four series per screening, the Episodic Section ran in its entirety in two locations on Tuesday. Attendees could see...
- 1/24/2018
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Specialty distributor Fox Searchlight had a good day on Oscar nominations morning. (Disney take note.) Big hauls for “The Shape of Water” (13) and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (7) added up to a winning total of 20. With both films competitive in the big categories, Searchlight is in the pole position to be the big winner at the Academy Awards on March 4.
Arguably the big surprise today was Focus Features with 14 Oscar slots, as “Phantom Thread” scored an unexpected six nominations, including Best Picture and Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director, on top of the Winston Churchill biopic “The Darkest Hour” landing six nods including Best Picture — a shock as it did not earn a PGA nomination. “Victoria & Abdul” also added two craft nominations.
Netflix earned eight Oscar nominations, a record for the streaming service, with narrative feature “Mudbound” nabbing four, two Best Documentary features (“Icarus” and “Strong Island”) and one...
Arguably the big surprise today was Focus Features with 14 Oscar slots, as “Phantom Thread” scored an unexpected six nominations, including Best Picture and Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director, on top of the Winston Churchill biopic “The Darkest Hour” landing six nods including Best Picture — a shock as it did not earn a PGA nomination. “Victoria & Abdul” also added two craft nominations.
Netflix earned eight Oscar nominations, a record for the streaming service, with narrative feature “Mudbound” nabbing four, two Best Documentary features (“Icarus” and “Strong Island”) and one...
- 1/23/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
The nominations for the 90th Academy awards were announced today, and Guillermo Del Toro‘s ‘The Shape of Water‘ seems to be continuing it’s awards show streak with 13 Oscar nominations in total. ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri‘ follows with 9 total nominations, and the third most nominated film with ‘Dunkirk‘ landing 7 total nominations, including Christopher Nolan‘s first Best Director nomination.
The big takeaway from all of these Oscar nominations is that it seems to be the year of the genre picture at this year’s awards, as the three most nominated films are essentially that. Along with ‘The Shape of Water‘, ‘Three Billboards‘ and ‘Dunkirk‘, ‘Call Me By Your Name‘, ‘Darkest Hour‘, ‘Get Out‘, ‘Lady Bird‘, ‘Phantom Thread‘ and ‘The Post‘ round out all of the films that received best picture nods this year. The directing category features four first-time nominees this year, with Paul Thomas Anderson being the...
The big takeaway from all of these Oscar nominations is that it seems to be the year of the genre picture at this year’s awards, as the three most nominated films are essentially that. Along with ‘The Shape of Water‘, ‘Three Billboards‘ and ‘Dunkirk‘, ‘Call Me By Your Name‘, ‘Darkest Hour‘, ‘Get Out‘, ‘Lady Bird‘, ‘Phantom Thread‘ and ‘The Post‘ round out all of the films that received best picture nods this year. The directing category features four first-time nominees this year, with Paul Thomas Anderson being the...
- 1/23/2018
- by Taylor Salan
- Age of the Nerd
Countdown to the Oscars and the Biggest show in Hollywood happened Tuesday morning as the nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced from AMPAS headquarters at the Samuel Goldwyn theater.
This year’s most nominated film, The Shape of Water, is the tenth film in Oscar history to earn thirteen nominations. The current record of fourteen nominations is held by three films, All about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016). Dunkirk received eight nods, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri seven nominations, Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread saw 6 nominations each, with Lady Bird and Blade Runner 2049 each earning five nods.
Actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish and actor-director Andy Serkis, joined by
Academy President John Bailey, announced the 90th Academy Awards nominations today.
Haddish and Serkis announced the nominees in 11 categories at 5:22 a.m. Pt, with pre-taped category introductions by Academy members Priyanka Chopra, Rosario Dawson, Gal Gadot, Salma Hayek, Michelle Rodriguez,...
This year’s most nominated film, The Shape of Water, is the tenth film in Oscar history to earn thirteen nominations. The current record of fourteen nominations is held by three films, All about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016). Dunkirk received eight nods, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri seven nominations, Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread saw 6 nominations each, with Lady Bird and Blade Runner 2049 each earning five nods.
Actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish and actor-director Andy Serkis, joined by
Academy President John Bailey, announced the 90th Academy Awards nominations today.
Haddish and Serkis announced the nominees in 11 categories at 5:22 a.m. Pt, with pre-taped category introductions by Academy members Priyanka Chopra, Rosario Dawson, Gal Gadot, Salma Hayek, Michelle Rodriguez,...
- 1/23/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Acclaimed filmmaker Steve James has built his reputation primarily on the strength of Chicago-oriented documentaries, among them Hoop Dreams (1994), The Interrupters (2011) and Life Itself (2014). But he finds himself in the Oscar race this year with a story that took him from the Second City to the first. In Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, he explored the case of Abacus Federal Savings, a bank catering to New York's Chinese immigrant community that became the only U.S…...
- 1/4/2018
- Deadline
Healing from past trauma, film preservation, Isis, libraries, chimps, rats, and cats — these were just a few of the subjects and stories that this year’s documentary offerings brought us. With 2017 wrapping up, we’ve selected 21 features in the field that left us most impressed, so check out our list below and, in the comments, let us know your favorites.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Steve James)
Steve James’ filmography has long been about finding entry into larger conversations through intimate portraits. The director’s landmark debut, Hoop Dreams, and latter-day efforts like 2014’s monument to critic Roger Ebert, Life Itself, don’t have much in common on the surface, but they both use their central characters to tell larger stories about big picture topics like structural dysfunction and the purpose of film criticism. That double purpose is the quiet genius of James’ latest documentary, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Steve James)
Steve James’ filmography has long been about finding entry into larger conversations through intimate portraits. The director’s landmark debut, Hoop Dreams, and latter-day efforts like 2014’s monument to critic Roger Ebert, Life Itself, don’t have much in common on the surface, but they both use their central characters to tell larger stories about big picture topics like structural dysfunction and the purpose of film criticism. That double purpose is the quiet genius of James’ latest documentary, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.
- 12/19/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
“Lady Bird” won big at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards last night, taking home Best Picture, Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Laurie Metcalf), and Most Promising Filmmaker (Greta Gerwig) from the Windy City. “Call Me by Your Name” had a strong showing as well, picking up prizes for Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet, who also won Most Promising Performer) and Best Supporting Screenplay.
Christopher Dunkirk was named Best Director for his work on “Dunkirk,” with Willem Dafoe of “The Florida Project” winning yet another Best Supporting Actor laurel and Jordan Peele being honored with Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.” Full list of winners below.
Read More:2017 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Wins Both Best Picture and Best Actor
Best Picture
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director
Guillermo Del Toro...
Christopher Dunkirk was named Best Director for his work on “Dunkirk,” with Willem Dafoe of “The Florida Project” winning yet another Best Supporting Actor laurel and Jordan Peele being honored with Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.” Full list of winners below.
Read More:2017 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Wins Both Best Picture and Best Actor
Best Picture
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director
Guillermo Del Toro...
- 12/13/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Chicago – The eclectic coming-of-age love story, “Call Me By Your Name” topped the nominations list with eight for the 2017 Chicago Film Critics Association (Cfca) Film Awards, to be announced on Wednesday, December 13th. Director Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of Andre Aciman’s novel garnered nods for Best Picture, Guadagnino for Best Director, and acting noms for Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg and Timothee Chalamet.
The rest of the field for Best Picture has a variety of genres and themes. Christopher Nolan’s epic “Dunkirk” shares the stage with Greta Gerwig’s intent autobiographical “Lady Bird,” Guillermo Del Toro’s magical “The Shape of Water” and the strange-but-heralded “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” The symbolic horror of “Get Out” got first time director Jordan Peele a nomination (joining first timer Greta Gerwig), the late Harry Dean Stanton was recognized for Best Actor in “Lucky,” and Willem Dafoe got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for “The Florida Project.
The rest of the field for Best Picture has a variety of genres and themes. Christopher Nolan’s epic “Dunkirk” shares the stage with Greta Gerwig’s intent autobiographical “Lady Bird,” Guillermo Del Toro’s magical “The Shape of Water” and the strange-but-heralded “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” The symbolic horror of “Get Out” got first time director Jordan Peele a nomination (joining first timer Greta Gerwig), the late Harry Dean Stanton was recognized for Best Actor in “Lucky,” and Willem Dafoe got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for “The Florida Project.
- 12/11/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chris here, with more Oscar bake off lists. Today we have the 15 films advancing in the Documentary Feature race, many of which we have covered here at The Film Experience in Glenn's column Doc Corner. The eventual lineup could include two recent Honorary Oscar winners: Frederick Wiseman (Ex Libris: New York Public Library) and Agnès Varda (Faces Places, with Jr), neither of who had ever been nominated in the category. Al Gore could be returning to the Oscars, as the follow-up to winning climate change doc An Inconvenient Truth has also advanced. Take a look at the rest of the list:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Chasing Coral City of Ghosts Ex Libris: New York Public Library Faces Places Human Flow Icarus An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Jane La 92 Last Man in Aleppo Long Strage Trip One of Us Strong Island Unrest
Some beloved players that missed the lineup include Kedi,...
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Chasing Coral City of Ghosts Ex Libris: New York Public Library Faces Places Human Flow Icarus An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Jane La 92 Last Man in Aleppo Long Strage Trip One of Us Strong Island Unrest
Some beloved players that missed the lineup include Kedi,...
- 12/8/2017
- by Chris Feil
- FilmExperience
Jane Goodall with Jane director Brett Morgen Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Abacus: Small Enough To Jail, directed by Steve James; Jeff Orlowski's Chasing Coral; Matthew Heineman's City Of Ghosts; Frederick Wiseman's Ex Libris: New York Public Library; Agnès Varda and Jr's Faces Places; Ai Weiwei's Human Flow; Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk's An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power; Brett Morgen's Jane; Daniel Lindsay and Tj Martin's La 92; Firas Fayyad and Steen Johannessen's Last Men In Aleppo; Amir Bar-Lev's Long Strange Trip; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's One Of Us; Yance Ford's Strong Island, and Jennifer Brea's Unrest are another step closer to garnering a Best Documentary Oscar nomination.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting on the 170 submitted titles. Documentary Branch members will now select...
Abacus: Small Enough To Jail, directed by Steve James; Jeff Orlowski's Chasing Coral; Matthew Heineman's City Of Ghosts; Frederick Wiseman's Ex Libris: New York Public Library; Agnès Varda and Jr's Faces Places; Ai Weiwei's Human Flow; Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk's An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power; Brett Morgen's Jane; Daniel Lindsay and Tj Martin's La 92; Firas Fayyad and Steen Johannessen's Last Men In Aleppo; Amir Bar-Lev's Long Strange Trip; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's One Of Us; Yance Ford's Strong Island, and Jennifer Brea's Unrest are another step closer to garnering a Best Documentary Oscar nomination.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting on the 170 submitted titles. Documentary Branch members will now select...
- 12/8/2017
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 90th Academy Awards®. One hundred seventy films were originally submitted in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, Mitten Media, Motto Pictures, Kartemquin Educational Films and Wgbh/Frontline.
Director Steve James
A small financial institution called Abacus becomes the only company criminally indicted in the wake of the United States’ 2008 mortgage crisis.
Chasing Coral, Exposure Labs in partnership with The Ocean Agency & View Into the Blue in association with Argent Pictures & The Kendeda Fund. Directed by Jeff Orlowski
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, Mitten Media, Motto Pictures, Kartemquin Educational Films and Wgbh/Frontline.
Director Steve James
A small financial institution called Abacus becomes the only company criminally indicted in the wake of the United States’ 2008 mortgage crisis.
Chasing Coral, Exposure Labs in partnership with The Ocean Agency & View Into the Blue in association with Argent Pictures & The Kendeda Fund. Directed by Jeff Orlowski
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.
- 12/8/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ documentary branch has advanced 15 films out of 170 submissions to vie for the final five Documentary Feature nominations.
As expected, Brett Morgan’s “Jane,” Agnes Varda and Jr’s “Faces Places,” two Syria non-fiction features, “Last Men in Aleppo” and “City of Ghosts,” two social action environmental documentaries, “An Inconvenient Sequel” and “Chasing Coral,” and timely Russian doping expose “Icarus” made the shortlist.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature
Netflix landed four films, including “Chasing Coral,” “Icarus,” “One of Us” and transgender filmmaker’s Yance Ford’s black lives matter documentary “Strong Island.” Amazon delivered Grateful Dead movie “Long Strange Trip,” which qualified even at four hours long, as well as “City of Ghosts” and Ai Weiwei’s immigration feature “Human Flow,” which was backed by Participant Media along with Paramount’s “An Inconvenient Sequel.”
Four features were directed or co-directed by women,...
As expected, Brett Morgan’s “Jane,” Agnes Varda and Jr’s “Faces Places,” two Syria non-fiction features, “Last Men in Aleppo” and “City of Ghosts,” two social action environmental documentaries, “An Inconvenient Sequel” and “Chasing Coral,” and timely Russian doping expose “Icarus” made the shortlist.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature
Netflix landed four films, including “Chasing Coral,” “Icarus,” “One of Us” and transgender filmmaker’s Yance Ford’s black lives matter documentary “Strong Island.” Amazon delivered Grateful Dead movie “Long Strange Trip,” which qualified even at four hours long, as well as “City of Ghosts” and Ai Weiwei’s immigration feature “Human Flow,” which was backed by Participant Media along with Paramount’s “An Inconvenient Sequel.”
Four features were directed or co-directed by women,...
- 12/8/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ documentary branch has advanced 15 films out of 170 submissions to vie for the final five Documentary Feature nominations.
As expected, Brett Morgan’s “Jane,” Agnes Varda and Jr’s “Faces Places,” two Syria non-fiction features, “Last Men in Aleppo” and “City of Ghosts,” two social action environmental documentaries, “An Inconvenient Sequel” and “Chasing Coral,” and timely Russian doping expose “Icarus” made the shortlist.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature
Netflix landed four films, including “Chasing Coral,” “Icarus,” “One of Us” and transgender filmmaker’s Yance Ford’s black lives matter documentary “Strong Island.” Amazon delivered Grateful Dead movie “Long Strange Trip,” which qualified even at four hours long, as well as “City of Ghosts” and Ai Weiwei’s immigration feature “Human Flow,” which was backed by Participant Media along with Paramount’s “An Inconvenient Sequel.”
Four features were directed or co-directed by women,...
As expected, Brett Morgan’s “Jane,” Agnes Varda and Jr’s “Faces Places,” two Syria non-fiction features, “Last Men in Aleppo” and “City of Ghosts,” two social action environmental documentaries, “An Inconvenient Sequel” and “Chasing Coral,” and timely Russian doping expose “Icarus” made the shortlist.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature
Netflix landed four films, including “Chasing Coral,” “Icarus,” “One of Us” and transgender filmmaker’s Yance Ford’s black lives matter documentary “Strong Island.” Amazon delivered Grateful Dead movie “Long Strange Trip,” which qualified even at four hours long, as well as “City of Ghosts” and Ai Weiwei’s immigration feature “Human Flow,” which was backed by Participant Media along with Paramount’s “An Inconvenient Sequel.”
Four features were directed or co-directed by women,...
- 12/8/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has narrowed the field for the Documentary Feature Oscar to 15 vying for five nomination slots. Among them are a sequel to a previous Oscar winner, a bracing look back at the 1992 Los Angeles riots and a topical look at Russia’s Olympic doping scandal. Here is the list: The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies: Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Mitten Media, Motto Pictures…...
- 12/8/2017
- Deadline
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday the 15 films in the documentary feature category that will advance in the voting process for the 90th Academy Awards
A whopping 170 films were originally submitted in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
Mitten Media, Motto Pictures, Kartemquin Educational Films and Wgbh/Frontline
Chasing Coral
Exposure Labs in partnership with The Ocean Agency & View Into the Blue in association with Argent Pictures & The Kendeda Fund
<a...
A whopping 170 films were originally submitted in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
Mitten Media, Motto Pictures, Kartemquin Educational Films and Wgbh/Frontline
Chasing Coral
Exposure Labs in partnership with The Ocean Agency & View Into the Blue in association with Argent Pictures & The Kendeda Fund
<a...
- 12/8/2017
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” Mitten Media, Motto Pictures, Kartemquin Educational Films and Wgbh/Frontline “Chasing Coral,” Exposure Labs in partnership with The Ocean Agency & View Into the Blue in...
- 12/8/2017
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
When Jennifer Brea began documenting the symptoms of her mysterious illness on her phone, it wasn’t because she set out to make a film. It was because the documentarian, who wound up including the footage in “Unrest,” about her own struggle and the international community struggling with M.E. (a.k.a. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), wanted a way to capture her experiences.
The Harvard PhD student normally would have written about her experience, but the disease zapped all the energy from her body.
“My whole life I had been a writer, so normally I would have picked up a pen and started journaling. I’ve kept journals my whole life, but I reached a point where I was so limited in terms of my cognitive exertion that if I would write a sentence or two of an email I would pass out for the next four hours,” she explained...
The Harvard PhD student normally would have written about her experience, but the disease zapped all the energy from her body.
“My whole life I had been a writer, so normally I would have picked up a pen and started journaling. I’ve kept journals my whole life, but I reached a point where I was so limited in terms of my cognitive exertion that if I would write a sentence or two of an email I would pass out for the next four hours,” she explained...
- 12/7/2017
- by Jean Bentley
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
- 12/4/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The 2017-18 awards season is in full swing after a handful of major announcements were made this week, including end-of-the-year picks from the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the Gotham Awards. With so many critics groups, guilds and organizations set to make announcements over the next three months, IndieWire is putting together a guide to make all the awards season madness a little bit clearer.
Below you’ll find all of the films walking away with top honors this awards season. The guide will prove handy in determining which films are breaking out ahead of the pack with the most overall wins this awards season. The information will be updated with each new announcement made during the 2017-18 awards season.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions
Be sure to check out our full list of Oscar predictions right here, along with our full awards season calendar.
Below you’ll find all of the films walking away with top honors this awards season. The guide will prove handy in determining which films are breaking out ahead of the pack with the most overall wins this awards season. The information will be updated with each new announcement made during the 2017-18 awards season.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions
Be sure to check out our full list of Oscar predictions right here, along with our full awards season calendar.
- 12/1/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
By the time directors Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin had finished editing “La 92,” their documentary about the riots in Los Angeles following the 1992 verdict in the Rodney King trial, they’d amassed 1,700 hours of footage. The film gleans from news footage, personal videos, and other sources for a 114-minute film comprised completely of archival footage — no talking heads.
“In a perfect world, we would have had two years to make this, and we had nine months,” Lindsay said following a screening of the film at the International Documentary Association’s annual screening series.
Read More:Steve James Says ‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail’ Was a Purposefully Intimate Look at the 2008 Financial Crisis
Editing a film made up of such upsetting, violent imagery did take a toll, but Lindsay and Martin both said they knew what they were getting into when they signed on to direct the project — and besides, nothing...
“In a perfect world, we would have had two years to make this, and we had nine months,” Lindsay said following a screening of the film at the International Documentary Association’s annual screening series.
Read More:Steve James Says ‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail’ Was a Purposefully Intimate Look at the 2008 Financial Crisis
Editing a film made up of such upsetting, violent imagery did take a toll, but Lindsay and Martin both said they knew what they were getting into when they signed on to direct the project — and besides, nothing...
- 11/30/2017
- by Jean Bentley
- Indiewire
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