2015 Oscar Nominations Announced - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

This morning, Thursday, January 15, 2015, the nominations for the 87th annual Academy Awards were announced by filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams, actor Chris Pine, and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs live from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.

This is a quickie posting for our readers.  We will post these again, but with complete credits including the names of individuals who received Oscar nods in categories like “Best Picture,” “Best Animated Feature Film,” and other feature film and short film categories.  But if you need that info now, please go here or http://oscar.go.com/nominees?cid=Noms_ampas

The 87th Academy Award Nominations for the 2015 Oscars:

Best Picture
"American Sniper"
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Whiplash"

Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Bennett Miller, "Foxcatcher"
Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Morten Tyldum, "The Imitation Game"

Best Actor
Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"
Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Michael Keaton, "BIrdman"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night"
Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"
Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, "The Judge"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Edward Norton, "Birdman"
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Laura Dern, "Wild"
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
Emma Stone, "Birdman"
Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"American Sniper" (Jason Hall)
"The Imitation Game" (Graham Moore)
"Inherent Vice" (Paul Thomas Anderson)
"The Theory of Everything" (Anthony McCarten)
"Whiplash" (Damien Chazelle)

Best Original Screenplay
"Birdman" (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo)
"Boyhood" (Richard Linklater)
"Foxcatcher" (E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman)
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Wes Anderson, Hugo Guiness)
"Nightcrawler" (Dan Gilroy)

Best Cinematography
"Birdman" (Emmanuel Lubezki)
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Robert D. Yeoman)
"Ida" (Ryszard Lenczweski; Lukasz Zal)
"Mr. Turner" (Dick Pope)
"Unbroken" (Roger Deakins)

Best Costume Design
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Milena Canonero)
"Inherent Vice" (Mark Bridges)
"Into the Woods" (Colleen Atwood)
"Mr. Turner" (Jacqueline Durran)
"Maleficent" (Anna B. Sheppard)

Best Film Editing
"American Sniper" (Joel Cox, Gary Roach)
"Boyhood" (Sandra Adair)
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Barney Pilling)
"The Imitation Game" (William Goldenberg)
"Whiplash" (Tom Cross)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
"Foxcatcher"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Guardians of the Galaxy"

Best Music (Original Score)
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Alexandre Desplat)
"The Imitation Game" (Alexandre Desplat)
"Interstellar" (Hans Zimmer)
"Mr. Turner" (Gary Yershon)
"The Theory of Everything" (Jóhann Jóhannsson)

Best Music (Original Song)
"Lost Stars" from "Begin Again"
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" from "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me"
"Everything is Awesome" from "The LEGO Movie"
"Glory" from "Selma"
"Grateful" from "Beyond the Lights"

Best Production Design
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (Adam Stockhausen; Anna Pinnock)
"The Imitation Game" (Maria Djurkovic; Tatiana Macdonald)
"Interstellar" (Nathan Crowley; Gary Fettis, Paul Healy)
"Into the Woods" (Dennis Gassner; Anna Pinnock)
"Mr. Turner" (Suzie Davies; Charlotte Watts)

Best Sound Editing
"American Sniper"
"Birdman"
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"
"Interstellar"
"Unbroken"

Best Sound Mixing
"American Sniper"
"Birdman"
"Interstellar"
"Unbroken"
"Whiplash"

Best Visual Effects
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
"Guardians of the Galaxy"
"Interstellar"
"X-Men: Days of Future Past"

Best Animated Feature Film
"Big Hero 6"
"The Boxtrolls"
"How to Train Your Dragon 2"
"Song of the Sea"
"The Tale of Princess Kaguya"

Best Foreign Language Film
"Wild Tales" (Damián Szifrón; Argentina)
"Tangerines" (Zaza Urushadze; Estonia)
"Timbuktu" (Abderrahmane Sissako; Mauritania)
"Ida" (Pawel Pawlikowski; Poland)
"Leviathan" (Andrey Zvyagintsev; Russia)

Best Documentary Feature
"CITIZENFOUR"
"Finding Vivian Mayer"
"Last Days in Vietnam"
"The Salt of the Earth"
"Virunga"

Best Documentary (Short Subject)
"Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1"
"Joanna"
"Our Curse"
"The Reaper"
"White Earth"

Best Short Film (Animated)
"The Bigger Picture"
"The Dam Keeper"
"Feast"
"Me and My Moulton"
"A Single Life"

Best Short Film (Live Action)
"Aya"
"Boogaloo and Graham"
"Butter Lamp"
"Parvaneh"
"The Phone Call"

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Chris Pine, J.J. Abrams Join 2015 Oscar Nominations News Conference

NOMINATIONS TO BE DELIVERED IN NEW TWO-PART PRESENTATION

CHRIS PINE AND ACADEMY PRESIDENT CHERYL BOONE ISAACS TO PRESENT NOMINATIONS IN 13 CATEGORIES INCLUDING BEST PICTURE

ALFONSO CUARÓN AND J.J. ABRAMS TO PRESENT SPECIAL EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT OF 11 CATEGORIES

GLOBAL LIVE STREAM AVAILABLE AT OSCARS.ORG/LIVE

Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced that actor Chris Pine, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, and directors Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams, on Thursday, January 15, 2015 will announce the nominations in all 24 Oscar categories at a special two-part live news conference at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. 

“Each of the three years we’ve produced the show, we have attempted to refresh elements of the process and the telecast,” said Zadan and Meron. “This year, we’re honored to start a new tradition that celebrates the contributions of all the nominees by announcing all 24 categories. We’re thrilled that a distinguished actor and two world-class film directors are part of the initial launch.”

At 5:30 a.m. PT, Cuarón and Abrams will announce the nominees in the following categories: Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Film Editing, Original Song, Production Design, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. 

At 5:38 a.m. PT, Pine and Boone Isaacs will take the stage to unveil the nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay and Best Picture. 

“We’re delighted to have Chris, Alfonso and J.J. participate in the excitement of Nominations morning, which, for the first time, will highlight nominees in all categories,” said Boone Isaacs.  “This new approach enables the Academy to further recognize excellence across our entire industry and underscore the full spectrum of the arts and sciences of motion pictures.”

“We’re thrilled to have such exceptional talents present the nominations in a completely new format that furthers our mission and honors all of the artists who make movies,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO.

The Nominations Announcement is a live news conference where more than 400 media representatives from around the world will be gathered.  The event will be broadcasted and streamed live on www.oscars.org/live.

Nominations information for all categories will be distributed simultaneously to news media in attendance and via the official Oscars website, www.oscar.com.

Pine’s starring role as Kirk in the 2009 feature “Star Trek” propelled him to worldwide prominence.  He reprised the character in the sequel “Star Trek Into Darkness.”  Pine’s other feature credits include “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” “Horrible Bosses 2” and “Into the Woods.”  Pine will next be seen in “Z for Zachariah,” due out later this year, and “The Finest Hours,” due out in 2016.

Cuarón is an Academy Award®-winning filmmaker best known for his features “A Little Princess,” “Y Tu Mamá También,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Children of Men” and “Gravity.”  He most recently won Oscars® for directing and editing “Gravity” and received a Best Picture nomination as a producer on the film.  Cuarón also has earned an Original Screenplay nomination for “Y Tu Mamá También,” and Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay nominations for “Children of Men.”

Abrams is a director, screenwriter and producer whose credits include such feature films as “Mission: Impossible III,” “Star Trek,” “Super 8” and “Star Trek Into Darkness,” as well as such television series as “Lost,” “Fringe” and “Person of Interest.”  He won two Emmy® Awards in 2005 for directing and executive producing “Lost.”  Abrams is currently directing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” producing “Mission: Impossible 5,” and executive producing the series “Roadies” for Showtime and “Westworld” for HBO.

Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2014 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.  The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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"12 Years a Slave," "The Dirties" Lead Vancouver Critics Awards

The Vancouver Film Critics Association or Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) was apparently founded to represent Vancouver’s print, on-line, and broadcast media.  The group honors the best in Canadian and international filmmaking with the annual VFCC Awards.

In anticipation of the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards, here, is a look at the 2014 VFCC Award winners.

2014 Canadian Screen Awards (for the year in film 2013) – a complete list of winners follows:

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:

BEST FILM
12 Years a Slave

BEST ACTOR
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

BEST SCREENPLAY
Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Hunt

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Act of Killing

CANADIAN AWARDS:

BEST CANADIAN FILM
The Dirties

BEST ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM
Matt Johnson, The Dirties

BEST ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM
Sophie Desmarais, Sarah Prefers to Run

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM
Alexandre Landry, Gabrielle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM
Lise Roy, Tom at the Farm

BEST DIRECTOR OF A CANADIAN FILM
Jeff Barnaby, Rhymes for Young Ghouls

BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY
My Prairie Home

BEST FIRST FILM BY A CANADIAN DIRECTOR
The Dirties

BEST BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM
Down River

IAN CADDELL AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT
Al Sens

AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT
Corinne Lea

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"12 Years a Slave" Wins 2014 Oscar as "Best Picture of 2013"

Best motion picture of the year:

 “12 Years a Slave”
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, Producers WINNER

Nominees:

“American Hustle”
Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, Producers

“Captain Phillips”
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers

“Dallas Buyers Club”
Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers

“Gravity”
Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers

“Her”
Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers

“Nebraska”
Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, Producers

“Philomena”
Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

“The Wolf of Wall Street”
Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joey McFarland and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Producers

Alfonso Cuarón Wins 2014 "Best Directing" Oscar

Achievement in directing:

 “Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón WINNER

Nominees:
“American Hustle” David O. Russell
“Nebraska” Alexander Payne
“12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Martin Scorsese

"Gravity" Wins 2014 "Best Editing" Oscar

Achievement in film editing

“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger WINNER

Nominees:
“American Hustle” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
“Captain Phillips” Christopher Rouse
“Dallas Buyers Club” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa
“12 Years a Slave” Joe Walker

Utah Film Critics Choose "Gravity" as the Best Picture of 2013

The Utah Film Critics Association is an organization of cinema journalists affiliated with publications, broadcasting stations, and online media based in the state of Utah.  The group meets every December to votr on the Utah Film Critics Association Awards.

2013 Utah Film Critics Association Award winners:

Best Picture: "Gravity"
(Runner-up: "12 Years a Slave")

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity"
(Runner-up: Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave")

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis")

Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos, "Blue is the Warmest Color"
(Runner-up: [tie] Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine" and Sandra Bullock, "Gravity")

Best Supporting Actor: Bill Nighy, "About Time"
(Runner-up: Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave")

Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson, "Her"
(Runner-up: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle")

Best Adapted Screenplay: "Before Midnight"
(Runner-up: "12 Years a Slave")

Best Original Screenplay: "The World's End"
(Runner-up: "The Way, Way Back")

Best Cinematography: "Gravity"
(Runner-up: "Inside Llewyn Davis")

Best Animated Feature: "Frozen"
(Runner-up: [tie] "From Up on Poppy Hill" and "The Wind Rises")

Best Non-English Language Feature: "Blue is the Warmest Color"
(Runner-up: "The Past")

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Oklahoma Film Critics Love "Her" as Best of 2013

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) is the statewide group of professional film critics.  OFCC members are Oklahoma-based movie critics who write for print, broadcast and online outlets that publish or post reviews of current film releases.

The OFCC announced its 8th annual awards list in early January of 2014.

The OFCC 2013 Film Awards:

Best Film: "Her"

Top 10 Films:
“Her”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave
“Gravity”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Captain Philips”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“All Is Lost”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Prisoners”

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Best Animated Film: “Frozen”

Best Body of Work: Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Mud,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”)

Best Documentary: “The Act of Killing”

Best First Feature: “Fruitvale Station," Ryan Coogler

Best Foreign Language Film: “The Hunt”

Best Guilty Pleasure: “Iron Man 3”

Not-So-Obviously Worst Movie: “August: Osage County”

Obviously Worst Movie: “Grown Ups 2”

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, "Her"

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave”

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

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Houston Film Critics Name "12 Years a Slave" Their Best Picture of 2013

The Houston Film Critics Society was founded in 2007.  It is a not-for-profit organization of print, broadcast and Internet film critics based in the Greater Metropolitan Houston area.

2013 Houston Film Critics Society winners (in bold) nominees:

Best Picture:
"All is Lost"
"American Hustle"
"Before Midnight"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Fruitvale Station"
"Gravity"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Nebraska"
"Saving Mr. Banks"
"12 Years a Slave" WINNER

Best Director:
Joel and Ethan Coen, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity" WINNER
Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"
Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"

Best Actor:
Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave" WINNER
Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"
Mads Mikkelsen, "The Hunt"
Robert Redford, "All is Lost"

Best Actress:
Sandra Bullock, "Gravity" WINNER
Judi Dench, "Philomena"
Brie Larson, "Short Term 12"
Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"
Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"

Best Supporting Actor:
Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
Michael Fassbender, "12 Years A Slave"
James Gandolfini, "Enough Said"
Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club" WINNER
Matthew McConaughey, "Mud"

Best Supporting Actress:
Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
Lupita Nyong’o, "12 Years A Slave" WINNER
Octavia Spencer, "Fruitvale Station"
June Squibb, "Nebraska"
Oprah Winfrey, "Lee Daniels’ The Butler"

Best Screenplay:
"American Hustle"
"Before Midnight"
"Her"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"12 Years A Slave" WINNER

Best Animated Film:
"The Croods"
"Despicable Me 2"
"Frozen" WINNER
"Monsters University"
"The Wind Rises"

Best Cinematography:
"All Is Lost
"Gravity" WINNER
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Prisoners"
"12 Years A Slave"

Best Documentary:
"The Act of Killing"
"Blackfish"
"Inequality for All"
"Stories We Tell"
"20 Feet from Stardom" WINNER

Best Foreign Language Film:
"Blue is the Warmest Color"
"The Grandmaster"
"The Hunt" WINNER
"Wadjda"
"The Wind Rises"

Best Original Score:
"Gravity" WINNER
"Her"
"Man of Steel"
"Saving Mr. Banks"
"12 Years a Slave"

Best Original Song:
"I See Fire” from "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"
"Let It Go” from "Frozen"
"The Moon Song” from "Her"
"Please Mr. Kennedy" from Inside Llewyn Davis" (Written by Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel & Ethan Coen; sung by Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver) WINNER
"Young and Beautiful" from "The Great Gatsby"

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2014 Cesar Award Nominations - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

First given out in 1975, the César Award is the national film award of France.  Some even think of the César Award as the French equivalent of the American Academy Awards (Oscars). The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, and the award ceremony is held in Paris each February.  The name of the award comes from the late sculptor César Baldaccini, and the trophies are actual sculptures of the artist.

The nominations for the 39th Cesar Awards were announced Friday, January 31, 2014.

The 39th Cesar Awards will be presented on Friday, February 28, 2014 in Paris, just two days before the Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.  Cesar-winning actor, Francois Cluzet (The Intouchables), will host the ceremony at the Chatelet Theater, with fellow Cesar-winner, Cecile de France (Hereafter), serving as mistress of ceremonies.

An honorary Cesar is traditionally handed out to a foreign actor for their body of work. Kevin Costner received the prize in 2013.  This year’s honoree is Scarlett Johansson.

The 2014 / 39th Cesar Award nominees (for the year in 2013) – complete list:

Best Film:
9 Month Stretch
Me, Myself and Mum
Stranger by the Lake
Jimmy P.
The Past
Venus in Fur
Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Director
Albert Dupontel for 9 Month Stretch
Guillaume Gallienne for Me, Myself and Mum
Alain Guiraudie for Stranger by the Lake
Arnaud Desplechin for Jimmy P.
Asghar Farhadi for The Past
Roman Polanski for Venus in Fur
Abdellatif Kechiche for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Foreign Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown, director Felix van Groeningen
Blancanieves, director Pablo Berger
Blue Jasmine, director Woody Allen
Dead Man Talking, director Patrick Ridremont
Django Unchained, director Quentin Tarantino
La Grande Bellezza, director Paolo Sorrentino
Gravity, director Alfonso Cuaron

Best Actress:
Fanny Ardant for Les Beaux Jours
Berenice Bejo for The Past
Catherine Deneuve for Elle S'En Va
Sara Forestier for Suzanne
Sandrine Kiberlain for 9 Month Stretch
Emmanuelle Seigner for Venus in Fur
Lea Seydoux for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Actor:
Mathieu Amalric for Venus in Fur
Michel Bouquet for Renoir
Albert Dupontel for 9 Month Stretch
Gergory Gadebois for Mon Ame Par Toi Guerie
Guillaume Gallienne for Me, Myself and Mum
Fabrice Luchini for Alceste a Bicyclette
Mads Mikkelsen for Michael Kohlhaas

Best Supporting Actress:
Marisa Borini for A Castle in Italy
Francoise Fabian for Me, Myself and Mum
Julie Gayet for Quai d'Orsay
Adele Haenel for Suzanne
Geraldine Pailhas for Young & Beautiful

Best Supporting Actor:
Neils Arestrup for Quai d'Orsay
Patrick Chesnais for Les Beaux Jours
Patrick d'Assumcao for Stranger by the Lake
Olivier Gourmet for Grand Central
Francois Damiens for Suzanne

Most Promising Actress (Newcomer):
Lou de Laage for Jappeloup
Pauline Etienne for La Religieuse
Adele Exarchopoulos for Blue Is the Warmest Color
Goshifteh Farahni for Syngue Sabour - Pierre de Patience
Marine Vacth for Young & Beautiful

Most Promising Actor (Newcomer):
Paul Bartel for Les Petits Princes
Pierre Deladonchamps for Stranger by the Lake
Paul Hamy for Suzanne
Vincent Macaigne for La Fille du 14 Juillet
Nemo Schiffman for Elle S'En Va

Best Original Screenplay:
Albert Dupontel for 9 Month Stretch
Philippe Le Guay for Alceste a Bicyclette
Alain Guiraudie for Stranger by the Lake
Asghar Farhadi for The Past
Katelle Quillevere and Mariette Desert for Suzanne

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Guillaume Gallienne for Me, Myself and Mum
Arnaud Desplechin for Jimmy P.
Antonin Baudry, Christophe Blain and Bertrand Tavernier for Quai d'Orsay
David Ives and Roman Polanski for Venus in Fur
Abdellatif Kechiche and Ghalya Lacroix for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Original Music:
Jorge Arriagada for Alceste a Bicyclette
Loik Dury and Christophe "Disco" Minck for Chinese Puzzle
Etienne Charry for L'Ecume des Jours
Martin Wheeler for Michael Kohlhaas
Alexandre Desplat for Venus in Fur

Best Sound:
Marc-Antoine Beldent, Loic Prian and Olivier Do Huu for Me, Myself and Mum
Philippe Grivel and Nathalie Vidal for Stranger by the Lake
Jean-Pierre Duret, Jean Mallet and Melissa Petitjean for Michael Kohlhaas
Lucien Balibar, Nadine Muse and Cyril Holtz for Venus in Fur
Jerome Chenevoy, Fabien Pochet and Jean-Paul Hurier for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Cinematography:
Thomas Hardmeier for The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
Claire Mathon for Stranger by the Lake
Jeanne Lapoirie for Michael Kohlhaas
Mark Ping Bing Lee for Renoir
Sofian el Fani for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Editing:
Christophe Pinel for9 Month Stretch
Valerie Deseine for Me, Myself and Mum
Jean-Christophe Hym for Stranger by the Lake
Juliette Welfling for The Past
Camille Toubkis, Albertine Lastera and Jean-Marie Langelle for Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Costume:
Florence Fontaine for L'Ecume des Jours
Madeline Fontaine for The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
Olivier Beriot for Me, Myself and Mum
Anina Diener for Michael Kohlhaas
Pascaline Chavanne for Renoir

Best Production Design (Décor):
Stephane Rozenbaum for L'Ecume des Jours
Aline Bonetto for The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
Sylive Olive for Me, Myself and Mum
Yan Arlaud for Michael Kohlhaas
Benoit Barouh for Renoir

Best Documentary:
Comment J'ai Deteste les Maths, director Olivier Peyon
Le Dernier des Injustes, director Claude Lanzmann
Il Etait une Foret, director Luc Jacquet
La Maison de la Raido, director Nicolas Philibert
Sur le Chemin de l'Ecole, director Pascal Plisson

Best First Film:
La Bataille de Solferino, director Justine Triet
La Cage Doree, director Ruben Alves
En Solitaire, director Christophe Offenstein
La Fille du 14 Julliet, director Antonin Peretjatko
Me, Myself and Mum, director Guillaume Gallienne

Best Short Film:
Avant Que de Tout Perdre, director Xavier Legrand
Bambi, director Sebastien Lifshitz
La Fugue, director Jean-Bernard Marlin
Les Lezards, director Vincent Mariette
Marseille la Nuit, director Marie Monge

Best Animated Feature Film:
Ayay de Yopougon, directors Marguerite Aboute and Clement Oubrerie
Loulou l'Incroyable Secret, director Eric Omond
My Mommy is in America and She Met Buffalo Bill, directors Marc Boreal and Thibaut Chatel

Best Animated Short Film:
Lettres de Femmes, director Augusto Zanovello
Mademoiselle Kiki et les Montparnos, director Amelie Harrault

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"Gravity" Lifts 2013 Central Ohio Film Critics Awards

The Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA) was founded in 2002 and is made up of film critics based in Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding areas.  Its membership currently consists of more than 25 print, radio, television, and new media critics.  Each January, COFCA votes on a number of awards, recognizing excellence in the film industry.

The 12th Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2013, were announced on January 2, 2014.

2013 Central Ohio Film Critics Awards:

Best Film 
   1. Gravity
   2. Her
   3. American Hustle
   4. Frances Ha
   5. The Wolf of Wall Street
   6. 12 Years a Slave
   7. Inside Llewyn Davis
   8. Before Midnight
   9. Upstream Color
  10. Nebraska

Best Director 
  • Alfonso Cuarón - (Gravity)
  • Runner-Up: Spike Jonze - (Her)

Best Actor
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor - (12 Years a Slave)
  • Runner-Up: Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle))
  • Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Short Term 12)

Best Supporting Actor
  • James Franco - (Spring Breakers)
  • Runner-Up: Jared Leto - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress
  • Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle)
  • Runner-Up: Lupita Nyong’o - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Ensemble
  • American Hustle
  • Runner-Up: The Wolf of Wall Street

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work):
  • Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, and The Wolf of Wall Street)
  • Runner-Up: Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

Breakthrough Film Artist
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)) - (for acting)
  • Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Don Jon, Short Term 12, and The Spectacular Now) - (for acting)

Best Cinematography
  • Emmanuel Lubezki - (Gravity)
  • Runner-Up: Hoyte Van Hoytema - (Her)

Best Adapted Screenplay
  • Terence Winter - (The Wolf of Wall Street)
  • Runner-Up: John Ridley - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Original Screenplay
  • Spike Jonze - (Her)
  • Runner-Up: Destin Daniel Cretton - (Short Term 12)

Best Score
  • Arcade Fire - (Her)
  • Runner-Up: Steven Price - (Gravity)

Best Documentary
  • The Act of Killing
  • Runner-Up: Stories We Tell

Best Foreign Language Film
  • The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
  • Runner-Up: Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)

Best Animated Film
  • The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
  • Runner-Up: Frozen

Best Overlooked Film
  • Short Term 12
  • Runner-Up: Mud

http://www.cofca.org/

-----------------------------------

"12 Years a Slave" Wins "Best Film" at 2014 BAFTAs - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

"12 Years a Slave" Wins "Best Film"

The British equivalent of the Oscars is the EE British Academy Film Awards (also known as the BAFTAs).  The 67th British Academy Film Awards took place on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.  The ceremony was hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD.

Gravity was the leading winner with 6 awards, including “Best Director” (Alfonso Cuarón) and “Best British Film” (a designation that was and still is controversial in some circles).  American Hustle won three prizes, including “Best Supporting Actress” for Jennifer Lawrence.

According to what I’ve read, the night wore on, and 12 Years a Slave was not winning in categories it was expected win (adapted screenplay, supporting actress, and even supporting actor).  Some thought that the film would not win any awards, but towards the end of the show, the film picked up the big wins.  First, there was “Best Actor” for Chiwetel Ejiofor.  Then, when it seemed like Gravity and maybe American Hustle would win “Best Film,” 12 Years a Slave escaped with the trophy (going to producers Anthony Katagas, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Steve McQueen.

In the non-competitive awards, director Peter Greenaway was honored with “Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema” and Helen Mirren won “The Fellowship,” the highest honor the Academy can bestow.

2014 / 67th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) winners (for the year in film, 2013):

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

Best British Film: Gravity

Best Debut By a British Writer, Director or Producer: Kieran Evans

Best Original Screenplay: American Hustle

Best Adapted Screenplay: Philomena

Best Film Not In The English Language: The Great Beauty

Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Best Original Film Score: Gravity

Best Cinematography: Gravity

Best Editing: Rush

Best Sound: Gravity

Best Animated Film: Frozen

Best Visual Effects: Gravity

Best Makeup and Hair: American Hustle

Best Production Design: The Great Gatsby

Best Costumes: The Great Gatsby

Best Short Film: Room 8

Best Animated Short: Sleeping With The Fishes

BAFTA Rising Star Award: Will Poulter

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 2014: Peter Greenaway

The Fellowship:  Helen Mirren

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Nevada Film Critics Choose "12 Years a Slave"

The Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS) is apparently a society of film critics who reside in Nevada and produce film reviews for print, broadcast, radio, and online.

The Nevada Film Critics Society's 2013 Awards for Achievement in Film:

Best Film - 12 Years A Slave

Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress - Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Best Youth Performance - Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief)

Best Director - Alfonso Cauron (Gravity)

Best Ensemble Cast - August: Osage County

Best Animated Movie – Frozen

Best Production Design - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Best Cinematography - Gravity

Best Visual Effects – Gravity

--------------------------------------------


http://nevadafilmcriticssociety.org/

Oscar Nominees Luncheon is Today

Oscar® Nominees to be Honored at Academy Luncheon

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — More than 150 Oscar® nominees will come together at noon on Monday, February 10, at the Beverly Hilton when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors this year’s Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon.

Among the Lead Actor and Actress nominees, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey and Meryl Streep are expected to attend the pre-Oscars® event. Supporting Actor and Actress nominees Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong'o, Julia Roberts and June Squibb also will join in the celebratory lunch.

All five nominees in the Directing category, Alfonso Cuarón, Steve McQueen, Alexander Payne, David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese, are expected to attend as well.

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

"Gravity" Wins Top American Society of Cinematographers Prize

by Amos Semien

The American Society of Cinematographers held its annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for Outstanding Achievement on Saturday, February 1, 2014.  The 28th Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for Outstanding Achievement ceremony took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland.  Awards were given out in five competitive categories.  The big award was the ASC Award for “Feature Film,” which went to Emmanuel Lubezki for his work on director Alfonso Cuaron’s film, Gravity.  This was Lubezki’s third ASC win for feature film, and his fourth overall nomination.

The 2014 / 28th Annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards (for the year in film and television 2013):

FEATURE FILM:
Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC for Gravity

TELEVISION MOVIE/MINISERIES:
Jeremy Benning, CSC for National Geographic Channel’s Killing Lincoln

TELEVISION EPISODIC SERIES (ONE HOUR):
Jonathan Freeman, ASC for HBO’s Game of Thrones (“Valar Dohaeris”)

TELEVISION EPISODIC SERIES (HALF HOUR):
Blake McClure for Comedy Central’s Drunk History (“Detroit”)

Career Achievement in Television Award: Richard Rawlings Jr. (previously announced)

ASC Bud Stone Award of Distinction: Beverly Wood

International Achievement Award: Eduardo Serra, AFC, ASC (previously announced)

Board of Governors Award: John Wells (previously announced)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dean Cundey, ASC (previously announced)

Spotlight Award: Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski for Ida

---

Press release for The American Society of Cinematographers’ official website:

GRAVITY Earns Top Honors from Cinematographers;

KILLING LINCOLN, GAME OF THRONES and DRUNK HISTORY Win in TV Categories; IDA Takes Spotlight Award

LOS ANGELES, February 1, 2014 – Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC; Jeremy Benning, CSC; Jonathan Freeman, ASC, Blake McClure, Lukasz Zal, and Ryszard Lenczewski earned top honors in the five competitive categories at the 28th Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for Outstanding Achievement. The ceremony was held here tonight at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. Lubezki won the ASC Award in the feature film competition for Gravity. Benning won the TV movie/miniseries award for Killing Lincoln. Freeman took home top honors in the one-hour episodic television category for Game of Thrones, and McClure was the recipient of the half-hour episodic series award for Drunk History. Zal and Lenczewski won the ASC Spotlight Award for Ida.

The ASC Award for best feature was presented by Caleb Deschanel, ASC. Lubezki has won the organization’s top prize twice for The Tree of Life (2012) and Children of Men (2007), and was also nominated for Sleepy Hollow (2000).

The other nominees in the feature film category were Sean Bobbitt, BSC for 12 Years a Slave, Barry Ackroyd, BSC for Captain Phillips, Philippe Le Sourd for The Grandmaster, Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC for Inside Llewyn Davis, Phedon Papamichael, ASC for Nebraska, and Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC for Prisoners.

Debbie Allen presented the Television Movie/Miniseries Award to first-time ASC nominee Benning for National Geographic Channel’s Killing Lincoln.

Also nominated in the Television Movie/Miniseries category were David Luther for Starz Network’s The White Queen (“War at First Hand”), and Ashley Rowe, BSC for Starz Network’s Dancing on the Edge (Episode 1.1).

Actress Niecy Nash presented the Outstanding Achievement Award in the one-hour episodic television category to Freeman for his work on “Valar Dohaeris,” the third season premiere episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones. This is the fourth statue for Freeman who previously won for Boardwalk Empire (2012, 2011) and Homeland Security (2005). He has also earned nominations for another Boardwalk Empire episode (2011), as well as Taken (2003), Strange Justice (2000) and Prince Street (1998).

The other nominees in the one-hour television series category were Steven Bernstein, ASC for Starz Network’s Magic City (“The Sins of the Father”), David Franco for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (“Erlkönig”), Pierre Gill, CSC for Showtime’s The Borgias (“The Purge”), David Greene, CSC for The CW’s Beauty and the Beast (“Tough Love”), Anette Haellmigk for HBO’s Game of Thrones (“Kissed by Fire”), Kramer Morgenthau, ASC for Fox’s Sleepy Hollow (Pilot), and Ousama Rawi, BSC, CSC for NBC’s Dracula (“The Blood Is the Life”).

Cheryl Ladd presented the half-hour episodic television category award to McClure, also a first-time ASC nominee, for the “Detroit” episode of Comedy Central’s Drunk History.

McClure’s fellow nominees in the half-hour TV category were Peter Levy, ACS, ASC for Showtime’s House of Lies (“The Runner Stumbles”), and Matthew J. Lloyd, CSC for Amazon’s Alpha House (Pilot).

John Bailey, ASC revealed that Zal and Lenczewski earned the ASC’s inaugural Spotlight Award for Ida. The award was created by the organization to recognize outstanding cinematography in features and documentaries typically screened at film festivals, internationally or in limited theatrical release. ASC members submitted entries for consideration which went before a Blue Ribbon panel that chose the nominees. All active members voted on the winner. Also nominated for the Spotlight Award was Mark Lee Ping Bing for Renoir, and Camille Cottagnoud for Winter Nomads.

Acclaimed filmmaker John Carpenter presented the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award to Dean Cundey, ASC. Cundey first attracted widespread attention when he teamed with Carpenter on Halloween (1978). The two filmmakers went on to collaborate on The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing, Halloween II and III, and Big Trouble in Little China. Cundey’s work on Robert Zemeckis’ landmark, live-action film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), garnered him both Oscar and BAFTA nominations. Cundey’s credits include the Back to the Future trilogy, Romancing the Stone, Death Becomes Her, Hook, Apollo 13, Jurassic Park, What Women Want, Garfield, The Holiday, The Spy Next Door, Jack and Jill, Crazy Kind of Love, and the upcoming releases Walking with the Enemy and Carry Me Home.

The ASC International Award was presented to Eduardo Serra, AFC, ASC by director Edward Zwick. Serra earned his first Academy Award® nomination for Iain Softley’s The Wings of the Dove (1997), which also netted him a BAFTA Award. In 2004, he received Oscar and BAFTA nominations for Peter Webber’s Girl with the Pearl Earring. His work on such films as Jude, Map of the Human Heart, What Dreams May Come and Funny Bones is highly acclaimed. Serra has over 50 features to his credit, including A Promise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2, Blood Diamond, Beyond the Sea, Unbreakable, and The Widow of Saint-Pierre, among others.

The Career Achievement in Television Award was presented to Richard Rawlings, Jr., ASC, by John C. Flinn III, ASC and Michael O’Shea, ASC. Rawlings’ first TV series as a director of photography was in 1978 on Charlie’s Angels. He went on to shoot such memorable series as Matt Houston, Stingray, L.A. Law, Boston Public, Gilmore Girls and Desperate Housewives, among others. He earned Emmy nominations for the series Ohara (1987), Paradise (1988), Reasonable Doubts (1991), and the television movie Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (1995).

The ASC Bud Stone Award of Distinction was given to Beverly Wood, EVP of Technical Services and Client Relations for EFILM, a Deluxe Digital Studios company. The award is presented to an Associate ASC Member who has demonstrated extraordinary service to the society and/or has made a significant contribution to the motion picture industry. In 2012, the organization bestowed the honor to Milt Shefter, owner of Miljoy Ent. Inc., and a motion picture industry consultant on the preservation of moving images, recorded sound and high intrinsic value objects.

Last year, Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC won the ASC feature award for Skyfall.

END of press release

http://www.theasc.com/

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"12 Years a Slave" Named "Film of the Year" by London Critics' Circle

by Amos Semien

The London Film Critics’ Circle is part of a larger organization, The Critics’ Circle, which makes an annual award for Services to the Arts.  This circle is comprised of the five sections:  dance, drama, film, music, and visual arts.

The Critics’ Circle Film Section held its annual awards on Sunday night, February 2, 2014 at the May Fair Hotel.  The 34th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards featured sponsorship by The May Fair, Beluga, Novikov, Cameo, Audi, Innerplace and Publicity Media.

The big winner at the ceremony was 12 Years a Slave, which won awards for “Film of the Year,” “Actor of the Year” (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and “Supporting Actress of the Year” (Lupita Nyong'o).  The film's director, Steve McQueenc was on hand to collect the awards.

The Selfish Giant won two awards, “British Film of the Year” and “Young British Performer of the Year” (Conner Chapman).  Actor John Hurt introduced Gary Oldman who was presented with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film.

Full list of winners 2014 / 34th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards (for the year in film 2013):

Film of the Year: 12 Years a Slave

Foreign-language Film of the Year: Blue Is the Warmest Colour

Documentary of the Year: The Act of Killing

British Film of the Year: The Selfish Giant

Director of the Year: Alfonso Cuarón - Gravity

Screenwriter of the Year: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen - Inside Llewyn Davis

Actor of the Year: Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave

Actress of the Year: Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine

Supporting Actor of the Year: Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips

Supporting Actress of the Year: Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave

British Actor of the Year: James McAvoy - Filth / Trance / Welcome to the Punch

British Actress of the Year: Judi Dench - Philomena

Young British Performer of the Year: Conner Chapman - The Selfish Giant

Breakthrough British Filmmaker: Jon S Baird - Filth

Technical Achievement Award: Gravity - Tim Webber, special effects

Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film: Gary Oldman


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http://www.criticscircle.org.uk/

Alfonso Cuarón Wins Directors Guild Top Prize for "Gravity"

by Amos Semien

The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2013 were announced Saturday, January 25, 2014 during the 66th Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Alfonso Cuarón won the DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Gravity.  Historically the DGA Awards are a good predictor of the five directors who will receive Oscar nominations.  Four of the five directors who received Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film nominations this year also received best director Oscar nominations, and Cuarón was one of the Oscar nom recipients.

2014 / The 66th Annual DGA Awards (for the year in film 2013):

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:

ALFONSO CUARÓN
Gravity
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Cuarón’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: David Siegel (Arizona Unit)
•First Assistant Directors: Josh Robertson, Stephen Hagen (Arizona Unit)
•Second Assistant Director: Ben Howard

This is Mr. Cuarón’s first DGA Award.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary:

JEHANE NOUJAIM
The Square
Netflix, Participant Media, Noujaim Films, Maktube Productions, Worldview Entertainment, Roast Beef Productions

This is Ms. Noujaim’s second DGA Award and third nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for Startup.com in 2001 (together with Chris Hegedus) and was also nominated in this category in 2004 for Control Room.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series:

STEVEN SODERBERGH
Behind the Candelabra
(HBO)

Mr. Soderbergh’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Michael Polaire
•First Assistant Director: Gregory Jacobs
•Second Assistant Director: Jody Spilkoman
•Second Second Assistant Director: Lynn Struiksma

This is Mr. Soderbergh’s first DGA Award and third nomination. He was previously nominated in 2000 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic. He is also the recipient of this year’s Robert B. Aldrich Service Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series:

VINCE GILLIGAN
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
(AMC)

Mr. Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Stewart A. Lyons
•Assistant Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
•First Assistant Director: Nina Jack
•Second Assistant Directors: Anna Ramey, Louis Lanni
•Second Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
•Additional Second Assistant Director: Marcia Woske

This is Mr. Gilligan’s first DGA Award and second nomination. He was previously nominated in the Dramatic Series category for the “Face Off” episode of Breaking Bad in 2011.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series:

BETH McCARTHY-MILLER
30 Rock, “Hogcock!/Last Lunch”
(NBC)

Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt
•First Assistant Director: Stephen Lee Davis
•Second Assistant Director: Vanessa Hoffman
•Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bill Sell
•Location Manager: Suk Yi Mar

This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s third DGA Award and tenth nomination. She was also nominated this year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer/U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken & The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Series:

DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Saturday Night Live with Host Justin Timberlake”
(NBC)

Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Matt Yonks, Bob Caminiti
•Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly

This is Mr. King’s first DGA Award and seventh nomination. He was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials:

GLENN WEISS
The 67th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)

Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
•Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider

This is Mr. Weiss’s fifth DGA Award and tenth nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for the 61st, 64th, 65th and 66th Annual Tony Awards. He was previously nominated in the same category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs:

NEIL P. DeGROOT
72 Hours, “The Lost Coast”
(TNT)

This is Mr. DeGroot’s second DGA Award. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs in 2011 for “Episode 1115” of The Biggest Loser.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs:

AMY SCHATZ
An Apology to Elephants
(HBO)

This is Ms. Schatz’s fifth DGA Award and eighth nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs four times for A Child’s Garden of Poetry in 2011, Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now) “The Poetry Show” in 2008, 'Twas the Night in 2001 and Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales in 1999. She was also nominated an additional three times in this category for Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce in 2012, Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009 and Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials:

MARTIN de THURAH
Epoch Films

“The Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down, Hennessy VS – Droga5”
• First Assistant Director: Shawn Thomas

“Human Race, Acura MDX 2014 – Mullen”
•First Assistant Director: Jey Wada
•Second Assistant Director: Dillon Neaman
•Second Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern

This is Mr. de Thurah’s first DGA Award.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Special Awards:

In a surprise announcement, DGA President Paris Barclay called former National Vice President Steven Soderbergh to the stage to accept the Robert B. Aldrich Award in honor of Soderbergh’s extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. Joined by former DGA President/current Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted and former DGA President Taylor Hackford, Barclay thanked Soderbergh for his devotion to the Guild, especially his work to protect and extend the creative rights of directors. Soderbergh, who was first elected to the National Board in 2001, served for nine years as National Vice President before stepping down last June. Soderbergh was also a founding member of the Guild’s Independent Directors Committee, a chair of the Eastern Directors Council, a member of the Western Directors Council, and he chaired DGA Honors three times. Soderbergh currently serves on the PAC Leadership Council and the DGA Foundation, and he is co-chair of the Guild’s Theatrical Creative Rights Committee, a position he has held since 2002.

The recipients of the Directors Guild of America Service and Achievement Awards for 2014 are:

Robert B. Aldrich Service Award: STEVEN SODERBERGH

Given in in recognition of extraordinary service to the Directors Guild of America and to its membership.

DGA Diversity Award: SHONDA RHIMES & BETSY BEERS

Given in recognition of commitment to diversity hiring and providing jobs and opportunities to women and minorities in DGA-covered categories.

Frank Capra Achievement Award: LEE BLAINE

Given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA.

Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award: VINCENT DeDARIO

Given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of their service to the industry and DGA.

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The 67th Annual DGA Awards will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

http://www.dga.org/awards/annual.aspx

THE END

2014 Producers Guild Awards: "12 Years a Slave" and "Gravity" Tie

by Amos Semien

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) describes itself as “the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.”  Film fans know the organization because of its annual PGA Awards.

Oscar prognosticators have viewed the PGA Awards as the most reliable predictor of the eventual “Best Picture” Oscar winner.  Over the last 24 years, the Academy and PGA winner for “Best Picture” have matched 17 times, and they have matched the last 6 times in a row (including last year for best picture Oscar winner, Argo).

There won’t be a seventh year in a row.  You see, it is unlikely that there will be a tie for the best picture Oscar, and last night at the 25th Annual PGA Awards, there was a tie for the first time in the awards’ 25-year history.  Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity and Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave shared the group’s prize for best picture, “The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures.”

Alfonso Cuaron and David Heyman for Gravity and Steve McQueen, Brad Pitt and the Plan B team for 12 Years a Slave accepted the award.

So this supposedly means an up-in-the-air race for the best picture Oscar.  If you go by the SAG Awards, actors favor David O. Russell’s American Hustle, and, as a group, actors apparently make up 20 percent of the Oscar vote – making them the dominant voting block.  Critics have loved 12 Years a Slave, and Gravity is clearly aspiring to win more than just some tech and visual effects Oscar.

The winners of the 25th Annual Producers Guild Awards (also known as the 2014 Producers Guild Awards) were announced Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the 2014 Producers Guild Awards ceremony, which was in the Dolby Theater at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

2014 / 25th Annual Producers Guild Awards (for the year 2013) – Full list of winners:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: (TIE)
• "Gravity" (Warner Bros. Pictures) Producers: Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman
• "12 Years a Slave" (Fox Searchlight Pictures);  Producers: Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
"Frozen" (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures); Producer: Peter Del Vecho

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
"We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks" (Focus Features);  Producers: Alexis Bloom, Alex Gibney, Marc Shmuger

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
"Breaking Bad" (AMC); Producers: Melissa Bernstein, Sam Catlin, Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Mark Johnson, Stewart Lyons, Michelle MacLaren, George Mastras, Diane Mercer, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:
"Modern Family" (ABC); Producers: Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Ben Karlin, Elaine Ko, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Jeffrey Morton, Dan O’Shannon, Jeffrey Richman, Chris Smirnoff, Brad Walsh, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:
"Behind the Candelabra" (HBO); Producers: Susan Ekins, Gregory Jacobs, Michael Polaire, Jerry Weintraub

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program:
"SportsCenter" (ESPN)

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program:
"Sesame Street" (PBS)

The Award for Outstanding Digital Series:
"Wired: What’s Inside"

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television:
"Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" (CNN);  Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition Television:
"The Voice" (NBC); Producers: Stijn Bakkers, Mark Burnett, John de Mol, Chad Hines, Lee Metzger, Audrey Morrissey, Jim Roush, Kyra Thompson, Nicolle Yaron, Mike Yurchuk, Amanda Zucker

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment and Talk Television:
"The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central); Producers: Meredith Bennett, Stephen T. Colbert, Richard Dahm, Paul Dinello, Barry Julien, Matt Lappin, Emily Lazar, Tanya Michnevich Bracco, Tom Purcell, Jon Stewart

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Broadcast Film Critics Name "12 Years a Slave" Best Picture of 2013

by Amos Semien

The Broadcast Film Critics Association named 12 Years a Slave the “Best Picture” of 2013 at the 19th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, which the BFCA presents.  Director Steve McQueen’s film also claimed “Best Supporting Actress” for Lupita Nyong’o and “Best Adapted Screenplay” for John Ridley.

Gravity led the 19th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards with seven wins, including “Best Director” for Alfonso Cuarón and “Best Actress in An Action Movie” for Sandra Bullock.  This is a record for the most Critics’ Choice Movie Award wins ever, previously held by Inception (2010) and Avatar (2009), which both had six wins.

American Hustle won four awards, including “Best Acting Ensemble” and “Best Actress in a Comedy” for Amy Adams.  Dallas Buyers Club received two major acting awards, “Best Actor” to Matthew McConaughey and “Best Supporting Actor” to Jared Leto.

The winners of the 19th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards were announced at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards ceremony on Thursday, January 16, 2014 from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.  The show was broadcast live on The CW Network.  Aisha Tyler hosted the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards ceremony. Tyler currently serves as the new host of the critically acclaimed improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” on The CW Network and is also currently a co-host of Emmy-nominated show “The Talk.”

WINNERS OF THE 2014 / 19th ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (for the year in film 2013):

Best Picture – “12 Years a Slave”

Best Actor – Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Actress – Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Best Supporting Actor – Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Young Actor/Actress – Adele Exarchopoulos, “Blue Is The Warmest Color”

Best Acting Ensemble – “American Hustle”

Best Director – Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”

Best Original Screenplay – Spike Jonze, “Her”

Best Adapted Screenplay – John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Cinematography – Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”

Best Art Direction – Catherine Martin (Production Designer), Beverley Dunn (Set Decorator), “The Great Gatsby”

Best Editing – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, “Gravity”

Best Costume Design – Catherine Martin, “The Great Gatsby”

Best Hair & Makeup – “American Hustle”

Best Visual Effects – “Gravity”

Best Animated Feature – “Frozen”

Best Action Movie – “Lone Survivor”

Best Actor in an Action Movie – Mark Wahlberg, “Lone Survivor”

Best Actress in an Action Movie – Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”

Best Comedy – “American Hustle”

Best Actor in a Comedy – Leonardo DiCaprio, “Wolf of Wall Street”

Best Actress in a Comedy – Amy Adams, “American Hustle”

Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie – “Gravity”

Best Foreign Language Film – “Blue Is the Warmest Color”

Best Documentary Feature – “20 Feet From Stardom”

Best Song – “Let It Go” Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Frozen”

Best Score – Steven Price, “Gravity”

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"Gravity" Goes Nationwide - Again on January 17 2014

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Award-Winning Drama “Gravity” Returning to Wide Release on January 17

The acclaimed Alfonso Cuarón-directed worldwide hit, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, will be on more than 900 screens nationwide 

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following months of overwhelming critical and audience acclaim and numerous year-end awards, Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing Alfonso Cuarón’s cinematic achievement “Gravity” back to big screens nationwide. The film, which stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, will be re-released on more than 900 screens on January 17, 2014, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Originally released on October 4, 2013, “Gravity” instantly became a favorite of both critics and audiences. It has since become one of the most honored films of the year, most recently bringing a Golden Globe Award for Best Director to Alfonso Cuarón. The film has also received 11 BAFTA Award nominations and 10 Critics’ Choice Award nominations, both including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (Bullock)*. It has also won Best Picture awards from several prestigious critics organizations, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and has been included on 395 critics’ and critics groups’ top ten lists, as well as being named one of the AFI’s ten best films of the year. It was also announced as the year’s best reviewed film by the website Rotten Tomatoes.

In addition, the talents behind the film have been recognized by their peers, with a Directors Guild of America Award nomination for Cuarón; a Producers Guild of America Award nomination for David Heyman and Cuarón; a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Bullock; a American Society of Cinematographers Award nomination for Emmanuel Lubezki; an Art Directors Guild Award nomination for Andy Nicholson; and an American Cinema Editors’ Eddie Award nomination for Cuarón and Mark Sanger*.

“Gravity” has also been a smash hit at the box office, earning more than $670 million worldwide and counting, with most moviegoers opting to view it in 3D.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “We are thrilled by the many accolades for ‘Gravity,’ which have generated renewed word-of-mouth and interest in seeing the film, whether for the first time or to experience it again. We wanted to give audiences everywhere another opportunity to see it the way it was meant to be seen—on the big screen.”

Academy Award® winners Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) and George Clooney (“Syriana”) star in “Gravity,” a heart-pounding thriller that pulls you into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. The film was directed by Oscar® nominee Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”).

Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

“Gravity” was written by Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón, and produced by Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” films). Chris deFaria, Nikki Penny and Stephen Jones served as executive producers. The behind-the-scenes team included multiple Oscar®-nominated director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki (“Children of Men,” “The New World”); production designer Andy Nicholson (art director “Alice in Wonderland”); editors Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger (VFX editor “Children of Men”); and costume designer Jany Temime (the “Harry Potter” films). The visual effects were handled by Oscar®-nominated visual effects supervisor Tim Webber (“The Dark Knight”). The music was composed by Steven Price (“Attack the Block”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Esperanto Filmoj/Heyday Films Production, an Alfonso Cuarón Film, “Gravity.” Released in 3D and 2D and IMAX®, the film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company. This film has been rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

gravitymovie.com