Category News

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Steven Okazaki’s short DAYS OF WAITING and Barbara Kopple’s feature AMERICAN DREAM will be screened as part of “Oscar’s Docs, Part Four: Academy Award-winning Documentaries 1988-1997” on Monday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

A TIME FOR BURNING, a 1967 Oscar-nominated documentary about the interactions between two segregated churches in Omaha, Nebraska, during the height of the civil rights movement, will be screened at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ “Monday Nights with Oscar” on Monday, October 20, at 8 p.m. at the Academy Theater in New York City.

“Makeup Artists and Hairstylists: A Forum on Contemporary Technique” is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ three-evening seminar series that will be held on Thursdays, October 16, 23, and 30, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. The seminar will offer a look at contemporary motion picture makeup and hairstyling techniques from the perspective of the practitioners themselves.

“Getting Perspective II: The Art and Science of 3D Motion Pictures” is the title of a presentation about the making of 3-D films and advances in stereoscopic motion picture technology that will be hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ Science and Technology Council member Rob Hummel on Friday, October 17, at 8 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Participants include filmmakers Eric Brevig, Bruce Hendricks, and some of the talent behind Jim Henson’s 1991 3-D film MUPPET*VISION 3-D.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

PRESS RELEASE:

Jason van Genderen’s Mankind Is No Island – a 3 ½ minute film that was shot entirely on a cell phone – took home the top $20,000 prize last night at Tropfest NY, the world’s largest short film festival.

Thousands of New Yorkers turned out for the free, outdoor event to see the world premieres of eight short films. The films, which can now be viewed online at www.youtube.com/tropfest, were selected from more than 100 submissions from around the world. They spanned the spectrum from comedy to drama, and all include this year’s Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) – "sunflower."

A panel of luminaries, including Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink), actress Radha Mitchell (High Art), and producers Christine Vachon (Far From Heaven) and Bruna Papandrea (MILK) selected the night’s best film live in front of the massive crowd - as well as the Best Actor and Actress prizes, which were sponsored by Nicole Kidman.

In addition to receiving a $20,000 cash prize, sponsored by Citi, van Genderen will receive a First Look Feature Film Deal from GreeneStreet Films, one of New York’s leading production and financing companies, and two round- trip tickets to Australia, courtesy of Qantas Airlines. Mankind Is No Island uses found signage on the streets of New York and Sydney to tell a touching story from the very heart of two cities and was shot entirely on a cell phone. The entire budget for the film was $57.

"We are thrilled about the turnout and the crowd’s response to this year’s films", said Tropfest founder and director John Polson (Hide and Seek, Swimfan). "Jason’s film really exemplifies what Tropfest is all about – original, unforgettable storytelling."

The top acting prizes were awarded to Barbara Singer for the film Mrs. Jones and Jonathan Harford for TheWildflower. The crowd also picked Mankind Is No Island as its favorite film, via an SMS vote at the end of the screenings.

Previously presented as Tropfest@Tribeca in association with the Tribeca Film Festival, Tropfest NY 2008 marks the first time the free public outdoor festival was presented independently by Tropfest and Polson. Tropfest originated at the well-known Tropicana Café in Sydney in 1993. Over the past fifteen years, it has evolved into the "Olympics of Short Film" and into an Australian cultural phenomenon with the festival screening live via satellite to over 150,000 people in eight cities across the continent.

Tropfest NY’s sponsors include: Brookfield Properties, Qantas, Macquarie, Deloitte, Citi, Daily News, YouTube and NYmag.com.

BY ANDRE SOARES. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

From the Toronto International Film Festival’s Film Reference Library Website:

THE FILM REFERENCE LIBRARY CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 6th ANNUAL HOME MOVIE DAY

The Film Reference Library invites the public to bring their home movies from August 20 to October 3 to the Film Reference Library for a free inspection and evaluation. These films will also be considered for part of the day’s curated programme. Cinematheque Ontario (Art Gallery of Ontario’s Jackman Hall, 317 Dundas St. West - McCaul Street entrance). Home Movie Day will run from noon to 5pm. Admission is free and anyone with or without films programmed as part of the screening is encouraged to attend Home Movie Day. Owners of films chosen for the programme will be contacted prior to the screening. For more information see Recent Editions under the Collections menu above.

SUBMISSIONS: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, Call: 416-967-1517 to book an appointment

ACCEPTED FORMATS:: 8mm film, Super8mm film, 16mm film, video (video accepted if film original no longer exists or is not available)

PLEASE NOTE: Not all films will be accepted or programmed for reasons such as physical condition, content, length and/or quantity.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

PRESS RELEASE:

August 26, 2008 - Virtual Venues Network (VVN), a pioneering media company that produces high-definition, virtual concert experiences at clubs and theaters, has introduced an exciting new opportunity for independent filmmakers, music documentary producers and makers of alternative content. "Indie Roadshow" will provide an alternative to traditional theatrical presentations with a new, state-of the-art digital showcase environment offered to nightclubs and college music venues. The "Indie Roadshow" will be offered exclusively through the Virtual Venues Network beginning October 2008.

"This is an entirely new channel for independent distribution" says CEO Michael Horne, "In addition to the great concert footage that has been submitted for inclusion in our "Virtual Concert Experience" environment, we’ve received great documentaries and indie projects that are perfectly suited to the college and nightclub audience." The Indie Roadshow will feature pre-release exclusive screenings and stage DVD release events city to city, on tour, all year round.

The Virtual Venues web site is http://www.virtualvenuesnetwork.com/

VVN books high-definition music content onto nightclub stages, replicating the live concert and bringing national touring acts into smaller markets they would not reach on tour. VVN is currently outfitting nightclubs and college venues with projectors, their patented, ClubLyncTM digital players and installing life-size screens on-stage at each venue. They are currently coordinating a 60-city tour with "Hi-Def From Red Rocks featuring The String Cheese Incident." While The String Cheese Incident is no longer touring live, the three hour, twenty minute Virtual Concert Experience is reuniting fans in hometown venues across the country.

Visit www.virtualvenuesnetwork.com for programming info and upcoming Virtual Concert and Indie Roadshow screenings.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Turner Classic Movies‘ "Summer Under the Stars" series continues until Aug. 31. Throughout August, TCM has been dedicating each day to one star. The series is a great way to see how a performer evolved (or sometimes devolved) throughout the years (sometimes, decades) — say, how one actor’s technique became more naturalistic, or how, after years of success, one actress simply stopped bothering to act.

The remaining Summer Under the Stars subjects are Janet Leigh, Tony Curtis, Charlton Heston, Marlon Brando, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

In the early 1930s, Ann Dvorak was an up-and-coming Hollywood star. Real stardom, however, eluded her. Even so, Dvorak played opposite some of the most important names of the period — among them, Bette Davis, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Paul Muni — and worked with several top directors, including Mervyn LeRoy, Howard Hawks, and Michael Curtiz.

At the Alternative Film Guide, I’ve posted a lengthy q&a I did with Ann Dvorak collector/biographer Christina Rice.

Ann Dvorak q&a

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

PRESS RELEASE

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has awarded a $50,000 grant to underwrite the Telluride Film Festival’s Guest Director program. Slavoj Zizek, the Slovenian political philosopher and cultural critic, will preside as guest director of the Festival’s 35th show when it kicks off this week.

For more than two decades, Telluride has welcomed numerous prominent filmmakers and personalities as guest directors, including two-time Academy Award®-nominated writer-director Peter Bogdanovich, director J.P. Gorin, film curator and archivist Edith Kramer, Oscar®-winning documentarian Errol Morris, author Salman Rushdie, Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier.

The Academy’s cultural and educational wing – the Academy Foundation – annually grants more than $1 million to film scholars, cultural organizations and film festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad. It is also through the Foundation that the Academy presents a rich assortment of screenings and other public programs each year.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, September 2, is the deadline for filmmakers to submit their short subject and feature documentaries to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration for the 81st Academy Awards®.

Each completed entry form must be accompanied by supporting materials, including an English-language synopsis of the film, a list of film credits, filmographies of the director(s) and/or producer(s), 25 DVD copies of the film, and proof of a seven-day qualifying exhibition.

To be eligible, documentary features must have completed a seven-day commercial run in at least one theater in both Los Angeles County and in the Borough of Manhattan in New York, between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008.

Documentary short subjects must have completed a seven-day commercial run in a theater in either Los Angeles County or in the Borough of Manhattan in New York, between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008.

Members of the Academy’s Documentary Branch will determine the nominees for both the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories.

Additional information about the documentary awards may be obtained by contacting Assistant Awards Coordinator Michelle Ayala at (310) 247-3000, ext. 117; via e-mail at mayala@oscars.org; or by visiting http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/rules.

The 81st Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

At the 80th Academy Awards, FREEHELD and TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE won in the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories, respectively.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

A week of rock ‘n roll films will be presented at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Calif., beginning August 28. Among those are Jonathan Demme’s NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD, Richard Lester’s A HARD DAY’S NIGHT, and the Los Angeles premiere of PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE (above), directed by Steven Sebring.

Rock ‘n roll screening schedule

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Press Release:

The JOURNAL OF SHORT FILM released Volume 12 (Summer 2008) today. The JSF is a quarterly DVD that, to date, has published over 130 filmmakers from 12 countries. Volume 12 is another example of the JSF’s genre-leaping collections of the world’s best short films.

The Journal was thrilled to have Steven Bognar serve as a guest editor on Volume 12. Most recently, Steven’s feature documentary A LION IN THE HOUSE (along with Julia Reichert) made waves in 2006, landed on many top ten lists, and continues to tour the world. (Visit http://www.lioninthehouse.com)

Volume 12 also benefited from another great relationship: that between the JSF and the Media That Matters Film Festival. Three of the documentaries on Vol. 12 come from the ranks of its winners. Every year, Media That Matters showcases the best short films on social issues and, online and in communities around the world, connects activism to film. (Visit http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org)

But Vol. 12 has more than just documentaries, of course. Half of the films are narratives, several are experimental, and at least one includes a stop-motion animated piece of bread “following his heart.” As always, some of the films are major festival winners, and some are ones you won’t see anywhere else. Here is the complete list:

1. DRAKE – Christoph Rainer (2006, 5:00) “Visually striking, appealingly radical, and painfully recognisable!”–Ronald Simons, Rotterdam Film Festival 2. SUNBEAM HUNTER – Jonathan Schwartz (2006, 3:00) From 33 1/3 Series (an album of eleven ‘in-camera’ 16mm films), with the sound following, echoing. 3. THE SECOND LINE – John Magary (2007, 20:00) After MacArthur’s savings are stolen from his FEMA trailer, he and his cousin Natt take work gutting a house. 4. GARBAGE DREAMS – Mai Iskander (2007, 8:00) Media That Matters presents: Egypt’s resident garbage recyclers, the Zaballeen are struggling as Cairo modernizes its waste disposal system. 5. MAN – Myna Joseph (2007, 15:00) Maggie and her sister form an unusual bond during an encounter with a young man. 6. HOMESLICE – Dan Olsen (2007, 10:30) BE YOURSELF! ALL OF THE TIME! 7. REVIEW – Jenny Perlin (2004, 2:25) This silent animated film connects a daily experience of tragic news with a subsequent escape into cinematic entertainment. 8. ON THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT – Adam Keker (2008, 6:00) This top-secret government file is to be viewed only in the event of the President’s death by assassination. 9. A VERY SMALL TRILOGY OF LONELINESS – Bogdan George Apetri (2006, 7:00) Three vignettes look upon the same moment in time. A single moment, three people, the same feeling. 10. A GIRL LIKE ME – Kiri Davis (2006, 7:00) Media That Matters presents: Color is more than skin deep for young African-American women struggling to define themselves. 11. SOMETHING OTHER THAN OTHER – Jerry A. Henry and Andrea J. Chia (2005, 7:00) Media That Matters presents: Jerry and Andrea have endured their share of discrimination and have higher hopes for their newborn son. 12. ANNIE LLOYD – Cecelia Condit (2008, 17:45) A daughter’s intimate portrayal of the creativity and wisdom of old age.

The Journal continues to have a free and open submissions process. Submissions should be sent to The JSF, PO Box 8217, Columbus, OH 43201, USA. The Journal remains ad-free and committed to independent and underrepresented work.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Two Wayne Wang double features will be screened on Wednesday/Thursday, August 16–17, at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Calif.

The four features are A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS, winner of the best film award at the 2007 San Sebastian Film Festival; its companion piece, PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA; a "new cut" of DIM SUM (1985), and the director’s cut of THE CHINESE BOX (1997).

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Press Release:

Film Screenings, Panel Discussions, and Networking Highlight Six-Day Event

www.independentfilmweek.com

New York, NY (August 5, 2008) – IFP announced today that IFP alumnus Kevin Smith (Clerks), filmmaker and activist Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism), and SnagFilms.com CEO Rick Allen will headline public events during the 30th Annual Independent Film Week, September 14-19. For the first time, Independent Film Week will be held at Chelsea’s Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.).

Formerly known as the IFP Market, Independent Film Week is the leading forum in the U.S. dedicated to discovering, showcasing, and supporting new independent film projects and talent. The six-day event consists of: the Independent Filmmaker Conference; free screenings of films by IFP alumni and emerging short filmmakers; and the Project Forum, a showcase for over 150 works-in-progress. It is presented by IFP, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers.

Smith will kick off the daily "Conversations With" series during the Independent Filmmaker Conference on September 14th with a discussion on making a first feature. His classic 1994 debut feature, Clerks, got its start as a work-in-progress at IFP in 1993. His new film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks and is scheduled for release by The Weinstein Company on Halloween. Greenwald will discuss the power of film to spur social change on September 18th, while Allen, who recently launched SnagFilms.com with AOL Vice-Chairman Ted Leonsis and AOL founder Steve Case, will explore the future of film distribution on September 17th.

In addition to the "Conversations With" series, the conference showcases a range of panels on the art and business of independent film. Each day’s panels are structured around a specific theme: Making Your First Feature, Filmmaking 2.0, The Global Marketplace, Alternative Distribution, The Truth About Non-Fiction, and Film and Philanthropy. The full schedule of panels can be found at www.filmmakerconference.com.

For the second year, in partnership with Rooftop Films, Independent Film Week will also showcase two free public screenings of films by IFP alumni. New this year is NextGenNYC, a short film showcase featuring the work of City University of New York (CUNY) graduates.

Screenings include:

* Trinidad (86 min.) directed by PJ Raval and Jay Hodges, alumni of IFP’s 2006 Independent Filmmaker Lab. Premiering at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival in June, the documentary provides a fascinating look at Trinidad, Colorado’s transformation from Wild West outpost to "sex change capital of the world. (September 16th, 8:30pm, Hudson River Park, 10th Avenue between 14th and 15th. FREE and open to the public.)

* IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Lab "Sneak Preview" Showcase (120 min.) – Be the first to see previews of films poised to make it big on the festival circuit in the coming year. This screening features excerpts from the 20 works-in-progress – both documentaries and narratives – which participated in the IFP’s Labs, a mentorship program for works-in-progress. Previous IFP Lab films already garnering awards on the film festival circuit include this year’s Slamdance Grand Jury Prize Winner The New Parade and GenArt Grand Jury Prize Winner Half-Life. (September 17th, 8:30pm, Hudson River Park, 10th Avenue between 14th and 15th. FREE and open to the public.)

* IFP’s NextGenNYC Short Film Showcases (90 min. each) - Documentary and narrative short films by CUNY graduates. NextGenNYC is a new program initiated by IFP and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting and is designed to provide a spotlight on New York City’s emerging talent from four colleges within the City University, including: Brooklyn College, City College of New York, the College of Staten Island and Hunter College. (Narrative Showcase, September 16th, 1:30pm, Chelsea Cinemas, 260 West 23rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues; Documentary Showcase, September 17th, 2pm, Chelsea Cinemas) There is complimentary access with a ticket or pass to the Independent Filmmaker Conference.

The full schedule of film screenings open to the public during Independent Film Week can be found at: www.independentfilmweek.com.

"The annual state of the union on independent film began 30 years ago with IFP’s founding event, now known as Independent Film Week," says Michelle Byrd, Executive Director of IFP. "Since then we’ve expanded our mandate to give the public a greater opportunity to experience the films we nurture through our programs and meet the innovators who are shaping the future of independent film."

Tickets and passes for IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Conference range from $20 for single events to a variety of passes ranging from $70 per day to $320 for the week including all 35 panels, workshops and case studies. Tickets can be purchased at www.filmmakerconference.com.

Sponsors of Independent Film Week include: Premiere sponsors Eastman Kodak Company and HBO; and Gold Sponsors A&E IndieFilms, Panasonic, and SAGIndie.

About IFP Founded as a satellite program of the 1979 New York Film Festival, the nonprofit IFP has evolved into the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers, and also the premier advocate for them. Since its start, IFP has supported the production of 7,000 films and provided resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers–voices that otherwise might not have been heard. IFP believes that independent films enrich the universal language of cinema, seeding the global culture with new ideas, kindling awareness, and fostering activism. The organization has fostered early work by leading filmmakers including Charles Burnett, Edward Burns, Jim Jarmusch, Barbara Kopple, Michael Moore, Mira Nair and Kevin Smith. For more information: www.ifp.org.

About Independent Film Week While the Independent Filmmaker Conference and special screenings are open to the general public, the centerpiece of Independent Film Week is the "Project Forum," a showcase for over 150 new works in development. The Forum is divided into three sections: Emerging Narrative, for writers and writer/directors seeking producers; No Borders International Co-Production Market, for experienced producers seeking financing partners; and Spotlight on Documentaries, for projects in production and post-production that are currently seeking financing partners and festival invitations. IFP expects to arrange more than 2,000 one-on-one pitch meetings between filmmakers and executives from production companies, distributors, exhibitors, broadcasters, and film festivals. For information: www.independentfilmweek.com.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the submission deadline for the 2008 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards is Thursday, July 31. A completed online entry form must be submitted to the Academy by 5 p.m. PT.

The Academy recognizes scientific and technical achievement on three levels: Technical Achievement Award (a certificate), Scientific and Engineering Award (a plaque), and the Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette).

The 2008 Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills.

Interested individuals and companies that did not receive the initial mailing may submit applications online at http://scitech.oscars.org.

Further information may be obtained at the Web site or by contacting Miller’s office at (310) 247-3000, ext. 130, or via e-mail at scitech@oscars.org.

Oscar 2009: Academy Mails Entry Forms for Foreign Language Films

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Two of the Boys Shorts (DGA 1, 11:00 am), Benjamin M. Piety’s poetic THE LONELY LIGHTS. THE COLOR OF LEMONS and Benedict Campbell’s understated but quite moving LLOYD NECK are particularly worth watching. The screenings will be followed by a discussion with the shorts’ directors.

Also on Saturday, A Conversation With Donna Deitch (DGA 2, Noon), moderated by Kimberly Peirce (Deitch is the director of the 1986 lesbian romantic drama DESERT HEARTS), and Adrian Shergold’s CLAPHAM JUNCTION DGA 1, 4:00 pm), which stars James Wilby and Rupert Graves.

More info at the Outfest website.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Press Release from the Screen Actors Guild:

Submissions for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® nominations open Monday, July 14, and continue until 5 p.m. (PST), Wednesday, Oct. 29, it was announced today by SAG Awards® Committee Chair Yale Summers.

Submissions can be accepted online at www.sagawards.org or submission forms can be obtained by calling the Screen Actors Guild Awards office at (323) 549-6707.

The Screen Actors Guild Award—The Actor®—is presented for outstanding performances in motion pictures and primetime television. Actors may submit their own performances from 2008 for consideration in categories of the actor’s choosing. With the actor’s permission, producers, studios/networks, agents, managers, or publicists may also submit performances for consideration. Nominations for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

Of the top industry honors presented to performers, only the Screen Actors Guild Awards are selected entirely by actors’ peers. Recipients of the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced at ceremonies on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, simulcast from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT.

The nominees for performances in 2008, including the distinctive ensemble awards and the year-old stunt ensemble honors, will be chosen by two separate film and television nominating panels, each comprised of 2,100 SAG members from across the United States, randomly selected each April. Nomination voting closes on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Final SAG Awards ballots will be mailed Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2008, to all eligible voting members of Screen Actors Guild, to be returned by Friday, Jan. 23, to the Guild’s election firm, where results will be sealed until they are opened onstage at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Categories for submission are as follows:

Theatrical Motion Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Motion Picture

Primetime Broadcast and Cable Television Programs
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Stunt Ensemble Honors (recipients to be announced from the SAG Awards® red carpet on Sunday, Jan. 25).
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

Upcoming key deadlines and events leading to the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are:

Monday, July 14, 2008
Submissions Open

Friday, September 19, 2008
Deadline for Nominating Committee Members to Make Address Changes

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Media Nomination Announcement & Telecast Credential Applications Open
Publicists Nomination Announcement Credential Applications Open

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Submissions Close (Due at SAG by 5 pm, PT)

Friday, October 31, 2008
Media Nomination Announcement & Telecast Credential Applications Close
Publicists Nomination Announcement Credential Applications Close

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Nominations Ballots Mailed

Monday December 15, 2008
Deadline for Paying November 2008 Dues and/or Changing Address with SAG to be Eligible for Final Balloting

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Nomination Ballots Due at the Elections Firm by 12 Noon PT

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Nominations Announced at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Records Pulled for Final Balloting

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Publicists Telecast Credential Applications Open

Friday, December 26, 2008
Final Ballots Mailed to Members

Monday, January 5, 2009
Publicists Telecast Credential Applications Close

Friday, January 23, 2009
Final Ballots Due at the Elections Firm by 12 Noon PT

Sunday, January 25, 2009
15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2008 winners

Keith Waterfield interviews filmmaker Rodger Grossman, whose feature-film debut, WHAT WE DO IS SECRET chronicles the short — but dramatic — life of The Germs‘ frontman Darby Crash, who killed himself at the age of 22.

WHAT WE DO IS SECRET was screened at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival, and is scheduled to open in select cities in the United States in August 2008.

WHAT WE DO IS SECRET review

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

Martin Scorsese’s 2002 Best Picture nominee GANGS OF NEW YORK is the next feature in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ "Great To Be Nominated" series. The gripping period drama will be screened on Monday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscar-nominated animated short DAS RAD will be screened prior to the feature.

Passes for part five of "Great To Be Nominated" are $30 for the general public and $25 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Including GANGS OF NEW YORK, there are seven films remaining in the series. A $5 discount is available for those who wish to renew their passes from parts one, two, three or four of the series. Individual tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Passes and tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Curtain time for all features is 7:30 p.m., and pre-show elements will begin at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

A film series dedicated to the actor, "William Holden: A Different Kind of Hero," is currently taking place at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City. The series runs until July 15.

Among the series’ upcoming films are Sam Peckinpah’s violent THE WILD BUNCH (1969); what is probably Holden’s best film and performance, Sidney Lumet’s over-the-top anti-television drama NETWORK (1976), in which Holden plays a disillusioned TV executive; and George Seaton’s undeservedly forgotten THE COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR (1962), an espionage drama in which Holden capably plays the title character — though the film belongs to Lilli Palmer’s spy-with-a-conscience.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

The 12th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival, North America’s premier genre film festival, began on July 3 and continues until July 23 in Montreal.

Among the screening films are BAD BIOLOGY, about a sexually (highly) dysfunctional couple; MACHINE GIRL, in which an avenging young woman replaces her chopped-off hand with a machine gun; and Dario Argento’s MOTHER OF TEARS.

Keith Waterfield has a lengthy article on the Fantasia Film Festival selections.

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

IFP, the "oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers" in the US, announced that the 18th Annual Gotham Awards ceremony will take place at the Gotham Awards’ new home, Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, on Tuesday, December 2.

Submissions are currently being accepted in five of the six competitive categories: Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Actor, Breakthrough Director, and Best Ensemble Cast. Applications are available at http://gotham.ifp.org. The deadline for submissions is 5pm EST on Monday, September 22, 2008.

The Gotham Awards nominations will be announced on October 20.

Among the winners at the 2007 Gotham awards were Sean Penn’s INTO THE WILD, Michael Moore’s SICKO, and Ellen Page (for JUNO).

BY ANDRE SOARES, LOS ANGELES, USA (CINEMA MINIMA)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has resolved a trademark lawsuit against the public Italian television broadcaster RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana). The lawsuit, concerning RAI’s broadcast of several Italian-language "Oscar" award programs, was filed in 2005 in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.

Last Friday, terms of the settlement were read into the Court record, but were not publicly disclosed. According to an attorney for the Academy, that organization continues to maintain exclusive right to use the name "Oscar" for awards shows.

Other Academy lawsuits against RAI are still underway in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.