And the Independent Spirit Awards have revealed the winners and it's looking a lot like the Academy Awards! "Birdman" beat "Boyhood" for the Best Feature trophy but Richard Linklater took away the Best Director award from Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu.
Is this a sign of what's going to happen at the Oscars tonight?
Stay tuned...
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners (Highlighted) And Nominees
Best Feature
(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Winner: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood
Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange
Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma
Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash
Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak
Best Director
Winner: Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Damien Chazelle
Whiplash
Ava DuVernay...
Is this a sign of what's going to happen at the Oscars tonight?
Stay tuned...
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners (Highlighted) And Nominees
Best Feature
(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Winner: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood
Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange
Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma
Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash
Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak
Best Director
Winner: Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Damien Chazelle
Whiplash
Ava DuVernay...
- 2/22/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Just one night before the Oscars take over town, stars flocked to the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards on the Santa Monica Beach on Saturday (February 21).
Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell joined forces for co-hosting duties and put on a fabulous show as actors and actresses including Scarlett Johansson, Ethan Hawke, Jessica Chastain, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto and Emma Stone turned up to lend their star power to the IFC airing ceremony.
As for this year's cream of the crop, Michael Keaton (Birdman), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) took home top honors in the lead and supporting acting categories.
Meanwhile, in what very well may be an indicator for what's to come tomorrow at the Academy Awards, "Birdman" was recognized as Best Feature while Richard Linklater nabbed Best Director accolades for "Boyhood".
Check out the full list of winners from the 2015 Spirit Awards below!
Best...
Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell joined forces for co-hosting duties and put on a fabulous show as actors and actresses including Scarlett Johansson, Ethan Hawke, Jessica Chastain, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto and Emma Stone turned up to lend their star power to the IFC airing ceremony.
As for this year's cream of the crop, Michael Keaton (Birdman), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) took home top honors in the lead and supporting acting categories.
Meanwhile, in what very well may be an indicator for what's to come tomorrow at the Academy Awards, "Birdman" was recognized as Best Feature while Richard Linklater nabbed Best Director accolades for "Boyhood".
Check out the full list of winners from the 2015 Spirit Awards below!
Best...
- 2/22/2015
- GossipCenter
Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell hosted the 30th Independent Spirit Awards from Los Angeles today (February 21).
Digital Spy rounds up all of the winners from this year's ceremony below:
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Winner!
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director
Damien Chazelle - Whiplash
Ava DuVernay - Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater - Boyhood - Winner!
David Zellner - Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Best Screenplay
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski - Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor - A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler - Winner!
Jim Jarmusch - Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias - Love is Strange
Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer.)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah
Dear White People
Director/Producer: Justin Simien
Producers: Effie T. Brown,...
Digital Spy rounds up all of the winners from this year's ceremony below:
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Winner!
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director
Damien Chazelle - Whiplash
Ava DuVernay - Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater - Boyhood - Winner!
David Zellner - Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Best Screenplay
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski - Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor - A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler - Winner!
Jim Jarmusch - Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias - Love is Strange
Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer.)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah
Dear White People
Director/Producer: Justin Simien
Producers: Effie T. Brown,...
- 2/22/2015
- Digital Spy
The 2015 Spirit Awards were handed out today and it was Birdman taking Best Feature and Best Actor (Michael Keaton) while Boyhood went home a double winner taking Best Director (Richard Linklater) and Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette). However, while that's the result for the two big guns that will be going head-to-head at tomorrow night's Oscars, Nightcrawler was also a double winner taking Best Screenplay and Best First Feature, both awarded to writer/director Dan Gilroy. Otherwise, no big surprises with Julianne Moore (Still Alice) taking Best Actress and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) taking Supporting Actor, Citizenfour took Best Documentary and Birdman scored a third win for Emmanuel Lubezki for Best Cinematography. Justin Simien (Dear White People) took home Best First Screenplay and, whoa!, Look!, Whiplash was also a double winner, with Tom Cross winning for Best Editing (well deserved!) and anticipated Oscar winner in the same category, Ida won Best Foreign Language Film.
- 2/22/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The 30th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards were presented Saturday from a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Check out the full list of winners below. Best Feature "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" - Winner "Boyhood" "Love is Strange" "Selma" "Whiplash" Best Director Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash" Ava DuVernay, "Selma" Alejandro G. Iñárritu, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" - Winner David Zellner, "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter" Best Screenplay Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, "Big Eyes" J.C. Chandor, "A Most Violent Year" Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler" - Winner Jim Jarmusch, "Only Lovers Left Alive" Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias, "Love is Strange" Best First Feature Ana Lily Amirpour, "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" Justin Simien, "Dear White People" Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler" - Winner Gillian Robespierre, "Obvious Child" Anja Marquardt, "She's Lost Control" Best First Screenplay Desiree Akhavan, "Appropriate Behavior" Sara Colangelo, "Little Accidents" Justin Lader,...
- 2/21/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
There are a handful more interviews (at least) on the way given that the film year doesn't end until the Oscars are handed out and other films are still playing -- so we'll keep updating this particular page as we did in previous years (linked below). Nathaniel leaves for Los Angeles for the Critics Choice awards mid week and Michael we'll join him at Sundance the following week. It's high season! Can you handle all of these things happening at once every day?
If you've missed any of our chats, they're listed below. It's one of the only perks of a life of movie blogging to be able to meet talented people and grill them about their gifts and work (albeit in a usually rushed way!). Hope you enjoy reading them!
The Actors
Joan Chen & Zhu Zhu (Marco Polo)
Carrie Coon (Gone Girl)
Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up)
Jason Clarke...
If you've missed any of our chats, they're listed below. It's one of the only perks of a life of movie blogging to be able to meet talented people and grill them about their gifts and work (albeit in a usually rushed way!). Hope you enjoy reading them!
The Actors
Joan Chen & Zhu Zhu (Marco Polo)
Carrie Coon (Gone Girl)
Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up)
Jason Clarke...
- 1/10/2015
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Question. What do The Skeleton Twins, The Better Angels and actor Miles Teller have in common? There’ll always be some head-scratcher surprises and snubs and the 2015 Indie Spirit award nominations are no different. It goes with the territory. As we tend to some wounds, we access those that were criminally overlooked in the key categories. Here is a glance at some of the shoulda, woulda and coulda.
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Falling below the 21 million mark set by the Indie Spirit folks, it is indeed an odd year when a major studio release figures among the fives noms. Considering that Ava DuVernay is an indie talent, I didn’t think her film would be part of the equation. That said, it was a given that Boyhood and the more deserving Birdman and Whiplash would all face off. In...
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Falling below the 21 million mark set by the Indie Spirit folks, it is indeed an odd year when a major studio release figures among the fives noms. Considering that Ava DuVernay is an indie talent, I didn’t think her film would be part of the equation. That said, it was a given that Boyhood and the more deserving Birdman and Whiplash would all face off. In...
- 11/28/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
As the awards show season ramps up into full intensity, the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards just unveiled their list of hopefuls.
And not surprisingly, “Birdman” has received a whopping six mentions, followed closely behind by “Boyhood, “Selma” and “Nightcrawler,” each with five chances for glory.
Meanwhile, “Whiplash” and “Love is Strange” nabbed four nominations and “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” and “A Most Violent Year” scored three times.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards puts a budget cap of $20 million on movies, and therefore “Foxcatcher,” “Inherent Vice” and “Grand Budapest Hotel” were not up for consideration.
Slated to take place on February 21st in a tent on Santa Monica Beach, the 30th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards is going to be an exciting event.
And the nominees are:
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature
(Award given to the producer. Executive producers are not awarded.)
“Birdman (or The...
And not surprisingly, “Birdman” has received a whopping six mentions, followed closely behind by “Boyhood, “Selma” and “Nightcrawler,” each with five chances for glory.
Meanwhile, “Whiplash” and “Love is Strange” nabbed four nominations and “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” and “A Most Violent Year” scored three times.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards puts a budget cap of $20 million on movies, and therefore “Foxcatcher,” “Inherent Vice” and “Grand Budapest Hotel” were not up for consideration.
Slated to take place on February 21st in a tent on Santa Monica Beach, the 30th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards is going to be an exciting event.
And the nominees are:
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature
(Award given to the producer. Executive producers are not awarded.)
“Birdman (or The...
- 11/26/2014
- GossipCenter
Film Independent announced nominations for the 2015 Spirit Awards this morning.
Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hollywood, with actors Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna presenting the nominations. Watch Here.
Nominees for Best Feature included Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Love is Strange, Selma and Whiplash.
“As we celebrate 30 years of great independent film,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent, “this year’s nominees are an astonishingly strong group of films and filmmakers which demonstrate the uniqueness of vision we honor at this show.”
Inherent Vice was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts.
“Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is a testament to the...
Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hollywood, with actors Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna presenting the nominations. Watch Here.
Nominees for Best Feature included Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Love is Strange, Selma and Whiplash.
“As we celebrate 30 years of great independent film,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent, “this year’s nominees are an astonishingly strong group of films and filmmakers which demonstrate the uniqueness of vision we honor at this show.”
Inherent Vice was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts.
“Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is a testament to the...
- 11/25/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Alejandro G. Iñárritu's "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" received the most nods from the Independent Spirit Awards! Nominations were announced today, and "Birdman" got 6 noms including Best Feature, Director, Editing, Male Lead (Michael Keaton), Supporting Female (Emma Stone), and Supporting Male for Edward Norton.
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood," Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler," and Ava Duvernay's "Selma" each received 5 nominations.
We'll find out the winners on Saturday, February 21st.
Here's the full list of nominees for the
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature
(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood
Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange
Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma
Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash
Producers: Jason Blum,...
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood," Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler," and Ava Duvernay's "Selma" each received 5 nominations.
We'll find out the winners on Saturday, February 21st.
Here's the full list of nominees for the
2015 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature
(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood
Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange
Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma
Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash
Producers: Jason Blum,...
- 11/25/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The nominations for the 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.
Birdman leads with six nominations including Best Feature, as well as nods for stars Michael Keaton and Emma Stone and director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma have each received five nominations, which were announced by Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna in Hollywood.
The Best Female Lead category sees Marion Cotillard take on Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, Jenny Slate and Rinko Kikuchi. Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Lithgow, David Oyelowo, André Benjamin and Michael Keaton will battle it out in the Best Male Lead category.
The awards will be handed out on February 21, the day before the Oscars takes place.
The full 2015 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations:
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director
Damien Chazelle - Whiplash
Ava DuVernay - Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman or...
Birdman leads with six nominations including Best Feature, as well as nods for stars Michael Keaton and Emma Stone and director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma have each received five nominations, which were announced by Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna in Hollywood.
The Best Female Lead category sees Marion Cotillard take on Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, Jenny Slate and Rinko Kikuchi. Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Lithgow, David Oyelowo, André Benjamin and Michael Keaton will battle it out in the Best Male Lead category.
The awards will be handed out on February 21, the day before the Oscars takes place.
The full 2015 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations:
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director
Damien Chazelle - Whiplash
Ava DuVernay - Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu - Birdman or...
- 11/25/2014
- Digital Spy
Chris Mason Johnson's 1980s-set AIDS panic drama "Test" belongs loosely to a trio of recent films that capture the realities and rhythms of gay urban life without succumbing to the cliches that tend to plague queer cinema. Let's call it the New New Queer Cinema. These filmmakers want to tell stories, and their films are as much about a specific time and place as they are about depicting real, relatable erotic relationships between men. Johnson's second film as writer/director, the startlingly intelligent, visually mesmerizing "Test" sets the moody tale of brooding modern dancer Frankie (Scott Marlowe) against a backdrop of dread as quickly-escalating as the outbreak of the then-unknowable HIV virus. Off the dance floor, the film flirts with death and looming romance, while evoking the emptiness and fleeting fulfillment of one-night stands, and the spikes of self-loathing, endemic to being gay in the city. Onstage, the choreography,...
- 11/25/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Independent Spirit Awards have revealed the full list of contenders for their 2015 awards which celebrate the best in independent movies. The Michael Keaton-led "Birdman" leads the list with six nominations. "Boyhood," "Nightcrawler" and "Selma" are in a three-way fight for second with three nominations each.
Two awards have already been announced with the Robert Altman award given to Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" and a Special Distinction Award handed out to Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" which was ineligible for other awards due to its budget. Notable snubs include "The Imitation Game," "The Theory of Everything," "Wild," "St. Vincent," "Cake," "The Homesman," "Black or White" and major studio films like "Unbroken".
Other notable inclusions this year are "Whiplash,""Love is Strange," "A Most Violent Year," "The Immigrant," "Mommy," "Under the Skin," "Obvious Child," "Still Alice," "Force Majeure," "Only Lovers Left Alive," "Blue Ruin," "Ida," "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,...
Two awards have already been announced with the Robert Altman award given to Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" and a Special Distinction Award handed out to Bennett Miller's "Foxcatcher" which was ineligible for other awards due to its budget. Notable snubs include "The Imitation Game," "The Theory of Everything," "Wild," "St. Vincent," "Cake," "The Homesman," "Black or White" and major studio films like "Unbroken".
Other notable inclusions this year are "Whiplash,""Love is Strange," "A Most Violent Year," "The Immigrant," "Mommy," "Under the Skin," "Obvious Child," "Still Alice," "Force Majeure," "Only Lovers Left Alive," "Blue Ruin," "Ida," "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,...
- 11/25/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Birdman earned six nods and Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma five apiece as Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna unveiled the 2014 Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on November 25.Scroll down for full list of nominations
Birdman, Boyhood and Selma are in contention for best feature alongside Love Is Strange and Whiplash, which earned four nominations.
Richard Linklater and Alejandro G Iñárritu join Whiplash’s Damien Chazelle, Selma’s Ava DuVernay and David Zellner for Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter on the directors list.
Much-fancied Michael Keaton is nominated for his lead performance in Birdman and will compete against Nightcrawler’s Jake Gyllenhaal and Selma’s David Oyelowo, a late arrival to the awards banquet who has earned high praise in recent weeks for his role as Martin Luther King Jr.
The best actress category is populated by Julianne Moore for Still Alice — arguably the awards season front-runner in this race — as well as Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant, which...
Birdman, Boyhood and Selma are in contention for best feature alongside Love Is Strange and Whiplash, which earned four nominations.
Richard Linklater and Alejandro G Iñárritu join Whiplash’s Damien Chazelle, Selma’s Ava DuVernay and David Zellner for Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter on the directors list.
Much-fancied Michael Keaton is nominated for his lead performance in Birdman and will compete against Nightcrawler’s Jake Gyllenhaal and Selma’s David Oyelowo, a late arrival to the awards banquet who has earned high praise in recent weeks for his role as Martin Luther King Jr.
The best actress category is populated by Julianne Moore for Still Alice — arguably the awards season front-runner in this race — as well as Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant, which...
- 11/25/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Odd how a live announcement is beat by the complete rundown of all the awards from a major trade, but here are the complete nominations for the 3oth anniversary edition. Fox Searchlight’s 18 million bet proved to be a good one as Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) leads Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma by a busted up nose in the number of most nominations with six, while Linklater, Gilroy and DuVernay’s latest secured five noms a piece. Looking at the final five, we have a Best Feature category with a breakdown that resembles two parts Hollywood and three parts 4-5 million dollar indie range in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Selma being joined by Boyhood, Love is Strange, Whiplash. Here are the complete noms.
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director...
Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Love is Strange
Selma
Whiplash
Best Director...
- 11/25/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Tuesday morning, nominations were announced for the 30th annual Independent Spirit Awards. Nominees for Best Feature included "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," "Boyhood," "Love is Strange," "Selma" and "Whiplash." Films with multiple nominations that didn’t crack the Best Feature include "Obvious Child," "Dear White People," "Nightcrawler," and "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter." One film that’s notably missing (compared to our predictions): "The Imitation Game." Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Inherent Vice" earned the Robert Altman Award, which honors the film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. "Foxcatcher" earned a Special Distinction Award for "its uniqueness of vision, honesty of direction and screenwriting, superb acting and achievement on every level of filmmaking." Winners will be revealed at the annual pre-Oscar Santa Monica ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. See the full list of nominations below: Best Feature "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" "Boyhood" "Love is Strange" "Selma" "Whiplash" Best Director Damien Chazelle,...
- 11/25/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
The 2014 Independent Spirit Award nominations were just announced with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman leading the charge with six nominations followed by Boyhood, Nightcrawler and Selma with five each. Of those four films, Birdman, Boyhood and Selma were nominated for Best Feature, joined by Love is Strange and a personal favorite of 2014, Whiplash, both of which earned four nominations each. Also earning nominations were Dear White People, A Most Violent Year, Obvious Child and The Immigrant. The awards will be handed out on February 21, check out the complete list of nominees below. Best Feature Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Boyhood Love is Strange Selma Whiplash Best Director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash) Ava DuVernay (Selma) Alejandro G. Inarritu (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)) Richard Linklater (Boyhood) David Zellner (Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter) Best Screenplay Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (Big Eyes...
- 11/25/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The month of June is a good time to be gay. With an entire month devoted to Lgbt pride, the community is at its most visible in media and whether it’s Laverne Cox appearing on the cover of Time Magazine and inciting a much-needed conversation about trans issues, or Broadway Bares raising money for AIDS research on the back of, well, Broadway’s bare, broad shoulders, there’s a lot to be proud of. Cinema itself hasn’t quite caught up, for despite a much larger number of Lgbt films reaching the marketplace in some form (theatrical, VOD, home entertainment) they never seem to take full advantage of the surge of interest in gay topics that pride month, coupled with New York City’s Pride March, provide.
This time of the year is also a great moment to look back at the many advances made in the rights movement for Lgbt community.
This time of the year is also a great moment to look back at the many advances made in the rights movement for Lgbt community.
- 6/27/2014
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
One of this year's best indies Test is about a young understudy dancer in San Francisco. Though it's only made a teensy bit of money in a microscopic theatrical run (that's happening to more and more indies) at one point it climbed to the top 15 on iTunes' indie chart.
Test's dance troupe at rehearsal
It's a topic for another time perhaps but I wonder how far we are away from box office reports that include money from On Demand and iTunes now that so many films hit all three venues at once or in quick succession?
The following are unused excerpts (edited for length) from my Towleroad interview last week with Chris Mason Johnson the director. I thought they were well suited to you cinephile savvy musical-friendly nuts anyway. It's rare that we get such attentively filmed and beautiful dancing onscreen so I had to ask him about the...
Test's dance troupe at rehearsal
It's a topic for another time perhaps but I wonder how far we are away from box office reports that include money from On Demand and iTunes now that so many films hit all three venues at once or in quick succession?
The following are unused excerpts (edited for length) from my Towleroad interview last week with Chris Mason Johnson the director. I thought they were well suited to you cinephile savvy musical-friendly nuts anyway. It's rare that we get such attentively filmed and beautiful dancing onscreen so I had to ask him about the...
- 6/24/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Two movies you should see: a buzzy queer indie and a struggling would be blockbuster...
Test
Chris Mason Johnson, a former dancer turned writer/director, really comes into his voice with his second feature. (He previously directed The New Twenty). Test is about a young dancer named Frankie (Scott Marlowe) in San Francisco in 1985 who, like most gay men at the time, fears he might have AIDS. He learns of a new test he could take to find out. The surprise of Test is that it's not really about AIDS despite the setting and time period so much as a slice of life drama about a young man struggling to face his fears and live his dream. Frankie is an understudy learning a dance he might never get to perform. And a young gay man beginning a life he might never get to live. Test is beautifully lensed for a...
Test
Chris Mason Johnson, a former dancer turned writer/director, really comes into his voice with his second feature. (He previously directed The New Twenty). Test is about a young dancer named Frankie (Scott Marlowe) in San Francisco in 1985 who, like most gay men at the time, fears he might have AIDS. He learns of a new test he could take to find out. The surprise of Test is that it's not really about AIDS despite the setting and time period so much as a slice of life drama about a young man struggling to face his fears and live his dream. Frankie is an understudy learning a dance he might never get to perform. And a young gay man beginning a life he might never get to live. Test is beautifully lensed for a...
- 6/15/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Six years after his debut feature, The New Twenty, writer-director Chris Mason Johnson returns with a film that's less polished but braver.
San Francisco, 1985: AIDS terror has everyone on edge, including Frankie (Scott Marlowe), a gay modern dancer who walks around with his Walkman at full blast — his attempt to drown out the fearful whispers he's hearing all around him (and inside his own head). Can you get it from sweat? Are those freckles or lesions on my back? Should I take the new blood test?
Some viewers may find him too quiet a character to carry an entire film, but when Frankie, an understudy in a small dance company, is given his chance to perform, he, and Test itself, come to life.
The dance sequences (mostly all-male) are riveti...
San Francisco, 1985: AIDS terror has everyone on edge, including Frankie (Scott Marlowe), a gay modern dancer who walks around with his Walkman at full blast — his attempt to drown out the fearful whispers he's hearing all around him (and inside his own head). Can you get it from sweat? Are those freckles or lesions on my back? Should I take the new blood test?
Some viewers may find him too quiet a character to carry an entire film, but when Frankie, an understudy in a small dance company, is given his chance to perform, he, and Test itself, come to life.
The dance sequences (mostly all-male) are riveti...
- 6/11/2014
- Village Voice
A few movies would venture into portraying the AIDs scare amongst the homosexual community of the 1980s.
In Chris Mason Johnson’s “Test,” rather than celebrating the death from AIDs, unlike many movies do, it showcased the community living in fear of the disease and the panics surrounding it.
The film is set around the free-spirited San Francisco of 1985 as it follows a young dancer in a modern dance company who must deal with the fear of disease, homophobia, effeminophobia during that period. And his ultimate escapism was through the music and dance.
The dance drama was on the film festival circuit for some time and won two grand jury prizes at Outfest.
Latino-Review had an exclusive phone interview with director Chris Mason Johnson last week. We discussed about the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s, homophobia, and the changes for gay cinema through the years.
“Test” is currently in theaters...
In Chris Mason Johnson’s “Test,” rather than celebrating the death from AIDs, unlike many movies do, it showcased the community living in fear of the disease and the panics surrounding it.
The film is set around the free-spirited San Francisco of 1985 as it follows a young dancer in a modern dance company who must deal with the fear of disease, homophobia, effeminophobia during that period. And his ultimate escapism was through the music and dance.
The dance drama was on the film festival circuit for some time and won two grand jury prizes at Outfest.
Latino-Review had an exclusive phone interview with director Chris Mason Johnson last week. We discussed about the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s, homophobia, and the changes for gay cinema through the years.
“Test” is currently in theaters...
- 6/10/2014
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
Set in free-spirited San Fransisco in 1985, "Test" is an award-winning portrayal of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that became the definitive issue in the gay community. In this exclusive clip, professional dancer Scott Marlowe stars in his on screen debut as troubled modern dancer named Frankie who channels his off-stage challenges into his performance. Written and directed by Chris Mason Johnson, "Test" was awarded top jury prize at Outfest 2013 and was selected to screen at prestigious festivals like NewFest, London BFI Film Festival and Seattle International Film Festival. The dance sequences, such as the one featured in this clip, were choreographed by acclaimed stage choreographer Sidra Bell. "Test" also stars Matthew Risch as a veteran dancer who's bad boy nature compliment's Frankie's innocence as the two performers develop a deeper and deeper relationship. "Test" has been released in select theaters and VOD, and will receive a New York/ Los Angeles release on June.
- 6/9/2014
- by Brandon Latham
- Indiewire
The top stories of the week from Toh!Awards:Things I Learned at the Dazzling AFI Tribute to Jane Fonda: "stay curious"Box Office:Arthouse Audit: "Restrepo" Sequel "Korengal" Tops Specialty Box Office; Kelly Reichardt's "Night Moves" Takes SecondJolie's "Maleficent" Leads Box Office Top Ten with Strong Femme Appeal, Diaz's "Other Woman" at $81 MillionFeatures:Happy 118th Birthday, Howard Hawks: Toh! Picks His 16 Must-See FilmsHas "Maleficent" Restored Angelina Jolie's Box Office Mojo?How Sony Imageworks Embraced Challenging Animation, Gritty Realism and Alien Mimics for "Edge of Tomorrow"Why "Test" Director Chris Mason Johnson Is One to Watch in the New Pantheon of Queer FilmmakersWho Should Play Edward Snowden in Oliver Stone's Upcoming Movie? (Poll)Festivals:Cannes Std Horror Hit "It Follows" Lands Distribution; Director Interview (Updated)Reviews:Cancel All Your Plans: This Summer Movie Weekend Offers a Diverse Slate of Must-Sees"Edge of Tomorrow" Review and Roundup: Cruise Fight...
- 6/7/2014
- by TOH!
- Thompson on Hollywood
Some Gentle People There: Johnson’s Sophomore Effort Recalls Place of Fear
Here’s an arresting point of intrigue into the miasma of historical reexaminations of the AIDS onslaught—the fear and trepidation associated with the initial development of the test used to detect infection. Would the government use it to quarantine, as a way to cordon off the diseased before they could spread the virus among others? Would it be information employers could get a hold of? The endless anxieties that resulted from something as simple as confirmation were boundless, and so, Chris Mason Johnson’s sophomore film, Test, manages to gain a unique perspective in this examination of knowing one’s status and the implementation of safe sex. Cineastes may compare its anxious final act to Agnes Varda’s New Wave classic, Cleo From 5 to 7, though Johnson’s film doesn’t quite grapple with its protagonist...
Here’s an arresting point of intrigue into the miasma of historical reexaminations of the AIDS onslaught—the fear and trepidation associated with the initial development of the test used to detect infection. Would the government use it to quarantine, as a way to cordon off the diseased before they could spread the virus among others? Would it be information employers could get a hold of? The endless anxieties that resulted from something as simple as confirmation were boundless, and so, Chris Mason Johnson’s sophomore film, Test, manages to gain a unique perspective in this examination of knowing one’s status and the implementation of safe sex. Cineastes may compare its anxious final act to Agnes Varda’s New Wave classic, Cleo From 5 to 7, though Johnson’s film doesn’t quite grapple with its protagonist...
- 6/4/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Protagonist Pictures, Wide, Gaumont and TF1 International have concluded fresh deals in Germany with features from this year’s European Film Market.
Protagonist sold Rebecca Miller’s next feature film, the romantic comedy of manners Maggie’s Plan, starring Berlinale jury member Greta Gerwig and Julianne Moore, to Christian Meinke’s Mfa+ FilmDistribution.
Mfa+ previously released Frances Ha, with Gerwig in the title role, and will open Korean film-maker Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, which screened in the Berlinale’s Forum section, in German cinemas on 3 April.
Deals by French sales agents
French sales company Wide signed a deal with Neue Visionen for Vinko Bresan’s top-grossing Croatian comedy The Priest’s Children, while its documentary sales arm Wide House sold Kenneth Elvebakk’s Norwegian documentary Ballet Boys to Cmv Laservision.
Munich-based distributor Prokino picked up Danish film-maker Jonas Alexander Arnby’s coming-of-age horror film When Animals Dream from Gaumont, and Pro-Fun acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s [link...
Protagonist sold Rebecca Miller’s next feature film, the romantic comedy of manners Maggie’s Plan, starring Berlinale jury member Greta Gerwig and Julianne Moore, to Christian Meinke’s Mfa+ FilmDistribution.
Mfa+ previously released Frances Ha, with Gerwig in the title role, and will open Korean film-maker Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, which screened in the Berlinale’s Forum section, in German cinemas on 3 April.
Deals by French sales agents
French sales company Wide signed a deal with Neue Visionen for Vinko Bresan’s top-grossing Croatian comedy The Priest’s Children, while its documentary sales arm Wide House sold Kenneth Elvebakk’s Norwegian documentary Ballet Boys to Cmv Laservision.
Munich-based distributor Prokino picked up Danish film-maker Jonas Alexander Arnby’s coming-of-age horror film When Animals Dream from Gaumont, and Pro-Fun acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s [link...
- 2/24/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Protagonist Pictures, Wide, Gaumont and TF1 International have concluded fresh deals in Germany with features from this year’s European Film Market.
Protagonist sold Rebecca Miller’s next feature film, the romantic comedy of manners Maggie’s Plan, starring Berlinale jury member Greta Gerwig and Julianne Moore, to Christian Meinke’s Mfa+ FilmDistribution.
Mfa+ previously released Frances Ha, with Gerwig in the title role, and will open Korean film-maker Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, which screened in the Berlinale’s Forum section, in German cinemas on 3 April.
Deals by French sales agents
French sales company Wide signed a deal with Neue Visionen for Vinko Bresan’s top-grossing Croatian comedy The Priest’s Children, while its documentary sales arm Wide House sold Kenneth Elvebakk’s Norwegian documentary Ballet Boys to Cmv Laservision.
Munich-based distributor Prokino picked up Danish film-maker Jonas Alexander Arnby’s coming-of-age horror film When Animals Dream from Gaumont, and Pro-Fun acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s [link...
Protagonist sold Rebecca Miller’s next feature film, the romantic comedy of manners Maggie’s Plan, starring Berlinale jury member Greta Gerwig and Julianne Moore, to Christian Meinke’s Mfa+ FilmDistribution.
Mfa+ previously released Frances Ha, with Gerwig in the title role, and will open Korean film-maker Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, which screened in the Berlinale’s Forum section, in German cinemas on 3 April.
Deals by French sales agents
French sales company Wide signed a deal with Neue Visionen for Vinko Bresan’s top-grossing Croatian comedy The Priest’s Children, while its documentary sales arm Wide House sold Kenneth Elvebakk’s Norwegian documentary Ballet Boys to Cmv Laservision.
Munich-based distributor Prokino picked up Danish film-maker Jonas Alexander Arnby’s coming-of-age horror film When Animals Dream from Gaumont, and Pro-Fun acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s [link...
- 2/24/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: UK distributor acquires Panorama and Deutsches Kino titles.
Peccadillo Pictures has picked up UK rights to Perspektive Deutsches Kino title Der Samurai and Panorama entry Test.
Till Kleinert’s debut Der Samurai follows the story of a local police officer who is on the hunt for a mass murderer described as a wolf, who carries a samurai sword to carry out his killings in an isolated German village.
Peccadillo inked the deal with producers Schattenkante.
The UK Lgbt specialists have also acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s Panorama entry Test from Reel Suspects.
The drama charts a love story between two dancers in the early days of the AIDS crisis in 1980’s San Francisco.
Peccadillo Pictures has picked up UK rights to Perspektive Deutsches Kino title Der Samurai and Panorama entry Test.
Till Kleinert’s debut Der Samurai follows the story of a local police officer who is on the hunt for a mass murderer described as a wolf, who carries a samurai sword to carry out his killings in an isolated German village.
Peccadillo inked the deal with producers Schattenkante.
The UK Lgbt specialists have also acquired Chris Mason Johnson’s Panorama entry Test from Reel Suspects.
The drama charts a love story between two dancers in the early days of the AIDS crisis in 1980’s San Francisco.
- 2/9/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Deals done on the Panorama title [pictured] with the UK, France and Poland.
Panorama title Test by Chris Mason Johnson is heating up sales for Reel Suspects ahead of its European premiere.
Deals have been done with Peccadillo in the UK, Kmbo in France and Mayfly in Poland.
Test is based on the director’s own experiences as a professional dancer. It stars Scott Marlowe as a young dancer living in 1985 San Francisco.
The film won two prizes at Outfest; Wolfe and Variance will release in the Us on June 6.
Reel Suspects CEO Matteo Lovadina said: “Test has already proven its potential in Us festivals and we’re very happy to have sold it to some key territories already.
“Beyond the personal story, the film is a very sensitive historical representation of the early years of AIDS, a moment that touched all human beings. Additionally, the strong ’80s soundtrack and the specially choreographed dance sequences will attract...
Panorama title Test by Chris Mason Johnson is heating up sales for Reel Suspects ahead of its European premiere.
Deals have been done with Peccadillo in the UK, Kmbo in France and Mayfly in Poland.
Test is based on the director’s own experiences as a professional dancer. It stars Scott Marlowe as a young dancer living in 1985 San Francisco.
The film won two prizes at Outfest; Wolfe and Variance will release in the Us on June 6.
Reel Suspects CEO Matteo Lovadina said: “Test has already proven its potential in Us festivals and we’re very happy to have sold it to some key territories already.
“Beyond the personal story, the film is a very sensitive historical representation of the early years of AIDS, a moment that touched all human beings. Additionally, the strong ’80s soundtrack and the specially choreographed dance sequences will attract...
- 2/7/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
A total of 24 world premieres are included in the Berlinale’s Panorama selection, which has added a number of Asian productions.
Some 36 films from 29 countries will feature in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 6-16), of which 24 will be world premieres.
Most recently invited are works from Norway, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Iran, Georgia, Greece, Hungary and Austria – with returning filmmakers Elfi Mikesch and Umut Dağ, who opened Panorama 2012 with Kuma, his directorial debut.
New titles include a number of Asian productions. In Ieji (Homeland) by Japan’s Nao Kubota, a farmer’s son, who first fled to the city, explores his home village in the Fukushima district, an area that is actually still a no-go zone following the disaster at the region’s nuclear power plant.
In the South Korean film Night Flight, LeeSong Hee-il presents a duel between two schoolmates. LeeSong previously showed the films No Regret and White Night in Panorama...
Some 36 films from 29 countries will feature in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 6-16), of which 24 will be world premieres.
Most recently invited are works from Norway, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Iran, Georgia, Greece, Hungary and Austria – with returning filmmakers Elfi Mikesch and Umut Dağ, who opened Panorama 2012 with Kuma, his directorial debut.
New titles include a number of Asian productions. In Ieji (Homeland) by Japan’s Nao Kubota, a farmer’s son, who first fled to the city, explores his home village in the Fukushima district, an area that is actually still a no-go zone following the disaster at the region’s nuclear power plant.
In the South Korean film Night Flight, LeeSong Hee-il presents a duel between two schoolmates. LeeSong previously showed the films No Regret and White Night in Panorama...
- 1/17/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 64th Berlin International Film Festival has announced the first set of screenings from the edition's Panorama section. 50 fictional and documentary films will be chosen to give the programme its distinctive profile between innovative mainstream and radical alternative. So far 19 films have been invited.
Fabio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, Tess Amorim in Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho (The Way he Looks) von/by Daniel Ribeiro
If You Don't, I Will (Sophie Fillières, France)
The Rice Bomber (Cho Li, Taiwan)
Ice Poison (Midi Z, Taiwan/Myanmar)
Calvary (John Michael McDonagh, Ireland/Great Britain)
The Way He Looks (Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil)
Is the Tall Man Happy? (Michel Gondry, France)
The Man of the Crowd (Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães, Brazil)
Papillio Buddha (Jayan Cherian, India/USA)
Quick Change (Eduardo Roy Jr., Philippines)
Stereo (Maximilian Erlenwein, Germany)
Test (Chris Mason Johnson, USA)
The Better Angels (A. J. Edwards, USA)
The Lamb (Kutluğ Ataman, Germany/Turkey...
Fabio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, Tess Amorim in Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho (The Way he Looks) von/by Daniel Ribeiro
If You Don't, I Will (Sophie Fillières, France)
The Rice Bomber (Cho Li, Taiwan)
Ice Poison (Midi Z, Taiwan/Myanmar)
Calvary (John Michael McDonagh, Ireland/Great Britain)
The Way He Looks (Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil)
Is the Tall Man Happy? (Michel Gondry, France)
The Man of the Crowd (Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães, Brazil)
Papillio Buddha (Jayan Cherian, India/USA)
Quick Change (Eduardo Roy Jr., Philippines)
Stereo (Maximilian Erlenwein, Germany)
Test (Chris Mason Johnson, USA)
The Better Angels (A. J. Edwards, USA)
The Lamb (Kutluğ Ataman, Germany/Turkey...
- 12/19/2013
- by Notebook
- MUBI
John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary and new films by Michel Gondry, Kutlug Ataman and Robert Lepage are to feature in the Berlinale’s Panorama strand, which will open with Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent.Scroll down for first batch of titles
A total of 50 features will be chosen for the Panorama section of the 2014 Berlinale (Feb 6-16), films that “provide insight on new directions in art house cinema”, and the first 19 have been announced. A total of 11 of those selected are world premieres.
The opening film will mark the international premiere of Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent, a look at the life of the French designer from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
The opening screening on Feb 7 will see Berlin’s flagship cinema, the Zoo Palast, re-inaugurated as a Berlinale venue after extensive renovations.
Also in the line-up are new films from Michel Gondry, Kutluğ...
A total of 50 features will be chosen for the Panorama section of the 2014 Berlinale (Feb 6-16), films that “provide insight on new directions in art house cinema”, and the first 19 have been announced. A total of 11 of those selected are world premieres.
The opening film will mark the international premiere of Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent, a look at the life of the French designer from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
The opening screening on Feb 7 will see Berlin’s flagship cinema, the Zoo Palast, re-inaugurated as a Berlinale venue after extensive renovations.
Also in the line-up are new films from Michel Gondry, Kutluğ...
- 12/19/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
In 1985, AIDS was believed by most of mainstream society to be a gay disease, even though no one knew exactly what caused it, how it was transmitted, how to prevent it or how to treat it. Chris Mason Johnson's Test excels in fully immersing itself into the fear and self-loathing perpetuated by all of the uncertainty festering within the gay community in San Francisco. Experienced via Frankie's (Scott Marlowe) perspective, something dark and menacing is always lingering on the horizon, leaving it difficult to surmise if AIDS or the rampant homophobia is the more sinister villain in this film. A professional dancer, Frankie is as paranoid about AIDS as most gay men in 1985. Even working among a troupe of gay men, Frankie is trained to dance like a real man -- in other words, attempt to pass as straight men while performing. Frankie's stress level escalates to dizzying proportions...
- 10/22/2013
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
It's that time of year again -- or what used to be that time of year. NewFest is here (September 6-11). Yes, the celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and what-have-you cinema is back for its 25th anniversary. The main venue will be the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, considered by some to be the best cinema in Manhattan, one that boasts a truly superior sound system.
(Anyone who ever attended NewFest when it was held at the New School with its second-rate visuals and third-rate resonance will rejoice.)
In the past, this deliciously raucous event has screened a mixed bag of semi-brilliant to much-less-so offerings, many you'll never ever get to see anywhere else on a "big" screen whether you reside in the Big Apple or in Idaho. On the plus side, watching a woefully dreadful movie with a roomful of knowing Glbtq cinephiles is often a hoot.
(Anyone who ever attended NewFest when it was held at the New School with its second-rate visuals and third-rate resonance will rejoice.)
In the past, this deliciously raucous event has screened a mixed bag of semi-brilliant to much-less-so offerings, many you'll never ever get to see anywhere else on a "big" screen whether you reside in the Big Apple or in Idaho. On the plus side, watching a woefully dreadful movie with a roomful of knowing Glbtq cinephiles is often a hoot.
- 8/26/2013
- by Brandon Judell
- www.culturecatch.com
Outfest has announced the award winners of its 31st Los Angeles Lgbt Film Festival. Chris Mason Johnson's "Test" and Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman's "Born This Way" led the juried prizes, taking the awards for best narrative and documentary feature, respectively. Bruno Barreto's "Reaching For The Moon" and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's "Bridegroom," meanwhile, took those prizes in the audience award categories. Read More: It Happened To Him: 'Bridegroom' Subject Shane Bitney Crone On Bringing His Tragic Story To The Screen The oldest continuously running film festival in Los Angeles ran from July 11th to July 21st, and closed last night with Darren Stein’s “G.B.F." Complete list of winners. Special Programming Awards Special Programming Award for Freedom Deepsouth, Directed by Lisa Biagiotti Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement Animals, Directed by Marçal Forés Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent Diego Ruiz,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
Outfest announced its 2013 competition winners on Sunday, wrapping up the Lgbt film festival's 31st year in Los Angeles. Two grand jury prizes deservedly went to Chris Mason Johnson's period film "Test," an HIV/AIDS-panic drama set in the modern dance world of 1980s San Francisco. The film received the award for Outstanding Screenwriting, sponsored by SXSW, and the grand jury's RADiUS-twc-sponsored award for Outstanding Us Dramatic Feature. Funded via Kickstarter, Johnson's superb film premiered earlier this year at Frameline. Smartly scripted and visually atmospheric, "Test" features a winsome performance by promising newcomer Scott Marlowe as an antisocial dancer who begins to feel pressure and paranoia within the company as HIV makes its way around the gay community. A dual best actor award went to both Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda, the male leads in Yen Tan's gay drama "Pit Stop." A prominent actress in lesbian film, Guinevere Turner...
- 7/22/2013
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Chris Mason Johnson won the jury prize for outstanding screenwriting and the movie he directed, "Test," was voted outstanding dramatic feature at OutFest Los Angeles, organizers announced Sunday. "Test" (photo above) is set in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1985, and focuses on a prestigious dance company dealing with the spread of HIV and its effects on the lives of its performers. Also read: Kirk Cameron's Religious Film 'Unstoppable' Banned by YouTube and Facebook "Born this Way," a a portrait of the underground gay and lesbian community in...
- 7/21/2013
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
Nanouk Leopold’s It’s All So Quiet won the Outfest 2013’s grand jury award for outstanding international dramatic feature on Sunday [21].
Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman’s Born This Way took the outstanding documentary feature prize while Guinevere Turner was named outstanding actress for Who’s Afraid Of Vagina Wolf? [Turner pictured, right] and Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda took the actor award for Pit Stop.
Chris Mason Johnson’s Test was named outstanding Us dramatic feature.
In the audience awards, Bruno Barreto’s Reaching For The Moon was name outstanding dramatic feature, while Linda Bloodworth-Thomason’s Bridegroom was named outstanding documentary feature.
Outfest ran from Jul 11-21 and closed on Sunday night with a screening of G.B.F. For full results visit the official website.
Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman’s Born This Way took the outstanding documentary feature prize while Guinevere Turner was named outstanding actress for Who’s Afraid Of Vagina Wolf? [Turner pictured, right] and Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda took the actor award for Pit Stop.
Chris Mason Johnson’s Test was named outstanding Us dramatic feature.
In the audience awards, Bruno Barreto’s Reaching For The Moon was name outstanding dramatic feature, while Linda Bloodworth-Thomason’s Bridegroom was named outstanding documentary feature.
Outfest ran from Jul 11-21 and closed on Sunday night with a screening of G.B.F. For full results visit the official website.
- 7/20/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The distributor has picked up four films from Frameline 37 – San Francisco International Lgbt Film Festival, which ended on Jun 30.
The haul includes North American rights to Bruno Barreto’s Reaching For The Moon, winner of Frameline’s Audience Award, Yen Tan’s Pit Stop [pictured] and Stephan Lacant’s Free Fall.
Wolfe took worldwide rights excluding the UK, France and Germany to Chris Mason Johnson’s Test.
“These are four of the best Lgbt movies of the year,” said Wolfe president Maria Lynn. “Reaching For The Moon is an exquisite English-language production depicting the Brazilian heyday of Pulitzer Prize-winning lesbian poet Elizabeth Bishop.
“Test is an astute and beautiful drama about a young modern dancer navigating gay life in San Francisco during the early days of the AIDS crisis [and] Free Fall has been called the German Brokeback for its deeply moving portrayal of a German policeman who unexpectedly begins to fall in love with a fellow male officer...
The haul includes North American rights to Bruno Barreto’s Reaching For The Moon, winner of Frameline’s Audience Award, Yen Tan’s Pit Stop [pictured] and Stephan Lacant’s Free Fall.
Wolfe took worldwide rights excluding the UK, France and Germany to Chris Mason Johnson’s Test.
“These are four of the best Lgbt movies of the year,” said Wolfe president Maria Lynn. “Reaching For The Moon is an exquisite English-language production depicting the Brazilian heyday of Pulitzer Prize-winning lesbian poet Elizabeth Bishop.
“Test is an astute and beautiful drama about a young modern dancer navigating gay life in San Francisco during the early days of the AIDS crisis [and] Free Fall has been called the German Brokeback for its deeply moving portrayal of a German policeman who unexpectedly begins to fall in love with a fellow male officer...
- 7/2/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Since 1985, Wolfe Releasing has been the largest exclusive distributor of Lgbt films. Its catalogue got even bigger this week at Frameline 37, San Francisco International Lgbt Film Festival, where Wolfe acquired the rights to four films. It acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Bruno Barreto's "Reaching For The Moon," Yen Tan's "Pit Stop," and Stephen Lacant's "Free Fall," as well as worldwide rights to Chris Mason Johnson's "Test." "Reaching For The Moon" tells the tale of the tumultuous yet romantic relationship between poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Ott) and architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Gloria Pires). In addition to the Audience Award at Frameline, it won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2013 Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival. Set in 1985, "Test" stars Scott Marlowe and Matthew Risch in a love story that coincides with the burgeoning AIDS epidemic. "Free Fall," also known as "Freier Fall,...
- 7/2/2013
- by Julia Selinger
- Indiewire
The world premiere of Tomer Almagor’s 9 Full Moons at the Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) on Thursday [6] is expected to be among the highlights of Premieres Week.
Amy Seimetz, Bret Roberts, Donal Logue, Harry Dean Stanton and Dale Dickey are among the cast on the love story [pictured] set against the hipster music scene of southern California. Medialuna handles international sales and the producers expect to announce a Us deal in due course.
Fourteen out of the festival’s 62 world, North American and Us premieres screen in Premieres Week along with 38 other entries from the 272-strong selection.
World premieres include the comedy Clutter starring Carol Kane, AIDS drama Test from director Chris Mason Johnson and Riley Morton’s marijuana documentary Evergreen: The Road To Legalization In Washington.
The North American premiere of The Bling Ring, Sofia Coppola’s recent Un Certain Regard opening night film in Cannes, will close Siff on Sunday [9]. Festival top brass will announce...
Amy Seimetz, Bret Roberts, Donal Logue, Harry Dean Stanton and Dale Dickey are among the cast on the love story [pictured] set against the hipster music scene of southern California. Medialuna handles international sales and the producers expect to announce a Us deal in due course.
Fourteen out of the festival’s 62 world, North American and Us premieres screen in Premieres Week along with 38 other entries from the 272-strong selection.
World premieres include the comedy Clutter starring Carol Kane, AIDS drama Test from director Chris Mason Johnson and Riley Morton’s marijuana documentary Evergreen: The Road To Legalization In Washington.
The North American premiere of The Bling Ring, Sofia Coppola’s recent Un Certain Regard opening night film in Cannes, will close Siff on Sunday [9]. Festival top brass will announce...
- 6/6/2013
- ScreenDaily
Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. "Test" Tweetable Logline: Dance like a man. San Francisco. 1985. Elevator Pitch: Test is a poignant, powerful story of friendship and hope in a time of crisis, set in the San Francisco modern dance scene of 1985 in the early years of the AIDS epidemic: when headlines threatened a gay quarantine, when nobody knew for certain how the disease spread, when dancers were afraid to touch each other because they might get it from sweat... Production Team: Writer/Director: Chris Mason Johnson Producers: Chris Martin, Chris Mason Johnson Co-Producer: Laura Heberton Executive Producers: Jenni Olson, Ian Reinhard, Nelson Gonzalez Cinematographer: Daniel Marks Editor: Adam Raponi About the...
- 10/2/2012
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Los Angeles (August 18, 2010) . Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the 12 screenwriters and film projects selected for its 11th annual Screenwriters Lab, sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West. Taking place in Los Angeles from August 12 until September 16, the Screenwriters Lab is an intensive six-week program designed to help writers improve their craft, and take their current scripts to the next level in a nurturing, yet challenging creative environment. Screenwriter and producer Meg LeFauve resumes duties as this year.s Lab Instructor, and Lab Mentors and Guest Speakers include Nicole Holofcener (Please Give), Erin Cressida Wilson (Chloe), José Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries), Josh Olson (A History of Violence), and Kay Schaber-Wolf (WGAw).
.Our Labs have always attracted a high level of talent from different backgrounds and disciplines, and this year is no exception,. said Director of Talent Development Josh Welsh.
.Our Labs have always attracted a high level of talent from different backgrounds and disciplines, and this year is no exception,. said Director of Talent Development Josh Welsh.
- 8/18/2010
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Film Independent has chosen twelve screenwriters to participate in its six-week Screenwriters Lab, which runs through Sept. 16.
Producer/writer Meg LeFauve is this year’s lab instructor, and mentors and guest speakers include Nicole Holofcener, Erin Cressida Wilson, Jose Rivera, Josh Olson and Kay Schaber-Wolf.
The 2010 Screenwriters Lab participants and their projects are:
"County Line," Tina Mabry, Morgan R. Stiff
"Dandekar Finds Home," Leena Pendharkar
"Hey, Hey Johnny," Nicolas Citton
"In From the Cold," Dominika Waclawiak
"Look for the Light," Topaz Adizes
"Skirt," Chris Mason Johnson, Kate Stayman-London
"The Stones," Ana Lily Amirpour
"Things We've Made," Trevin Matcek
"Working Man," Robert Jury
"Xanadu," Susan Austin...
Producer/writer Meg LeFauve is this year’s lab instructor, and mentors and guest speakers include Nicole Holofcener, Erin Cressida Wilson, Jose Rivera, Josh Olson and Kay Schaber-Wolf.
The 2010 Screenwriters Lab participants and their projects are:
"County Line," Tina Mabry, Morgan R. Stiff
"Dandekar Finds Home," Leena Pendharkar
"Hey, Hey Johnny," Nicolas Citton
"In From the Cold," Dominika Waclawiak
"Look for the Light," Topaz Adizes
"Skirt," Chris Mason Johnson, Kate Stayman-London
"The Stones," Ana Lily Amirpour
"Things We've Made," Trevin Matcek
"Working Man," Robert Jury
"Xanadu," Susan Austin...
- 8/18/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Allison Strong, Union City, N.J.I remember my first print audition like it was yesterday: I was 11 and thought I was so cool for leaving class early to go into the city. I wore my favorite outfit: a cute orange tank top with a sparkly new pair of jeans from Kids R'Us. I would have to walk into the studio alone because the odds of finding parking in Manhattan were about as good as the odds for winning the Mega Millions jackpot. Terrified, I walked in to see the tan, blue-eyed model I envied from the Limited Too catalogs waiting on line. She had a huge color portfolio, an agent logo on her résumé, and all the confidence in the world. I had one black-and-white headshot, no agent logo, and, suddenly, a lot of doubt. I never felt more uncomfortable in my body than in that moment. No matter...
- 6/4/2010
- backstage.com
Chris Mason Johnson’s “The New Twenty” follows five New Yorkers - some gay, some straight - as they navigate shifting relationships on the cusp of turning 30. The film screened at a wide range of festivals, including Outfest, where it won the best actress award for Nicole Bilderback, and the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, where it won best first feature. indieWIRE spoke to Johnson about the film, which is being …...
- 3/19/2009
- indieWIRE - People
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