Supple Magazine – Page 58 – Africa's Leading Film Festivals, Movies & Entertainment Portal

Watch the full movie ‘IN THE COLD’ on a YOUTUBE Channel : “IN THE COLD” – The Untold Story of Parental Neglect & Bullying That Will Leave You Speechless. Click link to watch https://youtu.be/eP7BQpGfy78 In a world where silence cuts deeper than words, IN THE COLD reveals the chilling journey of a Continue reading →

The 77th Festival de Cannes is open! : “You may not be aware of this, but you are about to enter a parallel universe called the Cannes Vortex.” Camille Cottin was already on stage at the Grand Théâtre Lumière when lights went on for this 77th edition of Continue reading →

IGUAZU WATERFALLS AND THE MOVIE BLACK PANTHER : The gorgeous Iguazu Falls, located at the Argentina-Brazil border. Coupled with the brilliance of Marvel Studios, the gigantic waterfall makes the place a worthy backdrop for such a grand superhero film Was the waterfall in Black Panther real? Footage for Continue reading →

ETHNIC BIGOTRY & XENOPHOBIA AGAINST THE IGBOS IN NIGERIA : *The crime of that tribe must be so great.* In 1966: Nearly 1,000,000 of them was massacred in the North as revenge killings for a coup that was plotted by a young man that bears their name but had never Continue reading →

CANON/EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022 FILM INDUSTRY WORKSHOP :

Two U.S. ‘YOUR BIG BREAK’ Finalists to Travel to New Zealand to Make Films with Barrie Osborne, Judged by Peter Jackson

Posted on January 23, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

100% Pure New Zealand’s Filmmaking Competition will Premiere Winning Film on IFC leading into 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 5, 2010

Los Angeles and Auckland, New Zealand (January 21, 2010) /PRNewswire/ — Academy Award®-winning producer Barrie Osborne (The Lord of the Rings) and a panel of judges named the five finalists in the 100% Pure New Zealand Presents Your Big Break short film competition today. American finalists Kristi Simkins from Auburn, Wash., and Aya Tanimora from Santa Monica, Calif., will now travel to Queenstown, New Zealand, where they will work with Osborne and world class post-production facility Park Road Post Production to shoot and direct their own short films capturing the essence of the world’s youngest country. Academy Award®-winning director Sir Peter Jackson will select the winning entry.

YOUR BIG BREAK

After Jackson personally views and judges the five finalists’ films, he will select one overall winner whose film will air on IFC just prior to the Spirit Awards live broadcast on March 5 at 8 p.m. Pacific/11 p.m. Eastern.

As if the opportunity to travel to Queenstown and work with the Academy Award-winning team responsible for The Lord of the Rings trilogy wasn’t enough, all finalists’ films will premiere in front of hundreds of the entertainment industry’s brightest at the 100% Pure New Zealand lounge at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards, of which 100% Pure New Zealand is a Principal Sponsor, and on the Your Big Break Web site, www.your-big-break.com.

“The diversity of excellent entries demonstrates the passion people have for New Zealand,” says Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler. “Many of the screenplays capture the spirit of New Zealand including the country’s extraordinary landscapes, people and culture; the judges had their work cut out for them selecting just four.”

Barrie Osborne, Producer of Lord of the Rings
Barrie Osborne (The Lord of the Rings)

While Osborne and a panel selected four of the finalists, Your Big Break site visitors voted for Aya Tanimura’s film as the “People’s Choice” finalist.

The other three finalists include Andrés Borghi from Buenos Aires, and Tim McLachlan and Rajneel Singh from Auckland, New Zealand.

“Putting the spotlight on emerging filmmakers is the essence of the Spirit Awards, and giving the “Your Big Break’ finalists the opportunity to present their work on IFC is a fantastic way to cultivate new filmmaking talent,” said Jennifer Caserta, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IFC.

All of the finalists are aspiring filmmakers who’ve dabbled in multiple aspects of the entertainment industry. The protagonist in Simkins’s film “Something Special” seeks to fulfill a promise with his trip to New Zealand, while the main character in fellow American Tanimura’s script “Sweet As,” uses her imagery of the world’s youngest country to impress. New Zealand native Singh’s submission “Blank Spaces,” plays off New Zealand’s pure, untouched and unmapped image, while his fellow Kiwi McLachlan’s entry “Mr. Whippy and the BMX Kid,” focuses on a young Maori boy’s conversation with an old man searching for renewal. Borghi’s screenplay for “Working Day” centers on New Zealand’s creation and aims to take advantage of his post production prowess.

“Many of the entries were stellar, but our five finalists’ films displayed a combination of humor, imagination and passion that brought New Zealand’s spirit to life,” says Osborne. “I’m looking forward to working with all of these talented individuals.”

The submission and voting period ran from December 9, 2009 until January 15, 2010 on www.your-big-break.com. More than 1,000 aspiring directors from around the globe entered a screenplay for a three-minute short film that captured the spirit of New Zealand and any supporting content they thought would aid their selection. The five finalists will produce their films in New Zealand in early February.

Useful Links:
Your Big Break website: www.your-big-break.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourBigBreak
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/YourBigBreakNZ
For inspiration: www.newzealand.com

For information about New Zealand’s extensive vacation options, log onto the 100% Pure New Zealand website at http://www.NewZealand.com.

For other media information, log on to http://www.media.newzealand.com. For high-resolution images, visit http://www.images.newzealand.com.

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS The Film Independent Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. Televised in millions of homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film to a wider audience.

Media Contact:
Andrew Reynolds
Hill & Knowlton for Tourism New Zealand
949-223-2307
andrew.reynolds@hillandknowlton.com

James Cameron Faces His Ex-wife at the British BAFTA Awards

Posted on January 22, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

James Cameron and his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow are pitched against each other for the most coveted honours at the 2010 BAFTAAwards. I can bet you that Kathryn will upset James at the Bafta Awards and Oscars if the judges would be fair and square.

You do not need 3D glasses to see Bigelow’s American Iraqi war thriller The Hurt Locker, but you would be impressed by her guts and genius. She has already beaten her ex-husband when ‘The Hurt Locker’ won two Critics‘ Choice Awards‎ in the Best Director and Best Film categories. James took the awards at the 67th Golden Globe Awards, but he even confessed that he thought Kathryn would have beaten him to them. The truth is, he knows that her film deserves the awards and do not be surprised when she wins the Oscars for the Best Director and Best Film.

the-hurt_locker

The details of the 2010 Bafta are in the following Film Awards Nominations.

Avatar, An Education and The Hurt Locker have each received eight nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2010.

District 9 has seven nominations; Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air have six nominations apiece; and Coco Before Chanel, Nowhere Boy, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and Up each receive four nominations.

Avatar has been nominated in the categories Best Film, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Production Design, Sound and Special Visual Effects. James Cameron is nominated for Director. An Education has been nominated for Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design and Make Up & Hair. Lone Scherfig is nominated for Director, Alfred Molina for Supporting Actor and Carey Mulligan for Leading Actress.

The Hurt Locker is nominated for Best Film, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Sound and Special Visual Effects. Kathryn Bigelow is nominated for Director and Jeremy Renner for Leading Actor.

Completing the Best Film line up are Up in the Air and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, both of which are also nominated for Adapted Screenplay.

Up in the Air is also nominated for Editing as well as receiving three perfomance nominations: Leading Actor for George Clooney and Supporting Actress for both Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.

Up against George Clooney and Jeremy Renner in the Leading Actor category are: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart, Colin Firth for A Single Man and Andy Serkis for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. Crazy Heart and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll are also both nominated for Music.

Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique have been nominated for Leading Actress and Supporting Actress respectively for Precious.

District 9 has been nominated for Director for Neill Blomkamp, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, Sound and Special Visual Effects.

Inglourious Basterds has nominations for Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing and Production Design; Quentin Tarantino is nominated for Director and Christoph Waltz for Supporting Actor.

Audrey Tautou is nominated for her Leading Actress performance in Coco Before Chanel and the film has been nominated for Costume Design, Make Up & Hair and Film Not in the English Language.

Also nominated for Leading Actress are Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia and Saoirse Ronan for The Lovely Bones. Saoirse’s co-star Stanley Tucci is nominated for Supporting Actor, where he competes against Christian McKay for Me and Orson Welles and Alec Baldwin for It’s Complicated.

Nowhere Boy is nominated for Outstanding British Film and Anne-Marie Duff and Kristin Scott Thomas both receive Supporting Actress nominations. The film’s director Sam Taylor-Wood is nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Joining her in that category are: Eran Creevy, writer/director of Shifty; Stuart Hazeldine, writer/director of Exam; the directing and producing team of Mugabe and the White African (Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson, Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock and David Pearson); and Duncan Jones, director of Moon. Moon is also nominated for Outstanding British Film where it is joined by Fish Tank and In the Loop, which also has an Adapted Screenplay nomination.

Up has nominations for Animated Film, Original Screenplay, Music and Sound.

The Hangover and A Serious Man both receive nominations for Original Screenplay.

Nominated alongside Up for Animated Film are Coraline and Fantastic Mr Fox, which is also nominated for Music.

Broken Embraces, Let the Right One In, A Prophet and The White Ribbon are nominated in the Film Not in the English Language category alongside Coco Before Chanel.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus received nominations for Make Up & Hair and Production Design. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was nominated for Production Design and Special Visual Effects. Star Trek was nominated for Special Visual Effects and Sound.

The Road was nominated for Cinematography. Nine was nominated for Make Up & Hair, as was The Young Victoria, which also received a Costume Design nomination as did Bright Star and A Single Man.

The Short Animation nominations are The Happy Duckling, The Gruffalo, Mother of Many and the Short Film nominations are 14, I Do Air, Jade, Mixtape and Off Season.

The nominees for the Orange Rising Star Award, announced earlier this month, are Jesse Eisenberg, Nicholas Hoult, Carey Mulligan, Tahar Rahim and Kristen Stewart. This audience award is voted for by the British public and presented to an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 21 February at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

This is the thirteenth year of Orange’s sponsorship of the Film Awards.

Coverage on the BBC begins with a stand-alone red carpet show on BBC Three followed by the ceremony on BBC One.

Download this Press Release (139 KB)
Download the Full Nomination List (145 KB)

For further information please contact Freud Communications:

Jo.Fernihough@freud.com / 020 3003 6386
Vicky.Grayson@freud.com / 020 3003 6327

21 January 2010. Nominations are correct at the time of going to print

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The “Avatar” disaster: Thanks be to… trees?

Posted on January 21, 2010 by admin — 1 Comment ↓

~ By Adeleke Adeyemi

Hollywood’s Spectacle vs. Substance bipolar disorder seems to be working in favour of the former. A cinematic ‘point-weak-here-bang-pulpit’ moment is finally here and with a big bang: it is box office record-holder James Cameron’s latest film “Avatar.” Congruent with the spirit of the age is the fact that a clueless visual bravura is wooing audiences worldwide on the strength of dazzling landscapes and nature-loving blue creatures, with all but a slapdash, shallow sorry-gory plotline of a story running through it.

avatar_avt_jpg_595x325_crop_upscale_q85 The “Avatar” disaster: Thanks be to… trees?

Cameron’s effort pales into frivolity beside the cocky real McCoy: “Pocahontas,” the 1995 animated musical loosely based on the life of Pocahontas, the Native American princess who, according to legend, saved the life of English colonist Captain John Smith. Captain Smith comes to the New World to find gold (unobtanium in “Avatar”, worth US $20 million per kilo ‘back home’) and fatten the coffers of the Queen of England.

John Smith comes to meet with the Native Americans… and encounters Pocahontas. She falls in love with the colonist despite her father’s protests. After many debates with her father, Smith, and herself, she decides that love conquers all. She intervenes on Smith’s behalf when he is to be executed by her father’s warriors. The Indian woman leads the white man into the grove; he learns the way of the people and becomes their saviour.

That haughty, simplistic plot proved impossible for Cameron to outdo. He tows its line religiously, only highly ingeniously. Alas, with “Pocahontas” off the prowl, hordes of climate-change-battered moviegoers could not keep from falling prey to “Avatar.” For one, there’s ample sweep and swoop of Sinbadesque bird-riding magic.

Not all that glitters is gold. But why does fool’s gold abound so? The US$350 movie has made more than US$1.3 billion at box offices worldwide, partly boosted by higher 3-D ticket prices.

The first-of-its-kind 3-D blockbuster is also a shameless flirt: the worship of nature, hints it, is here to replace religion. The movie is a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects. Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, summed it up in a headline: “Not much behind the images.” Apart from the do-I-wake-or-sleep motif of English poet John Keats, deployed as a transformational technique you may have encountered in Ted Dekker.

As the second highest-grossing movie ever, “Avatar” is challenging the record set by Cameron’s previous movie “Titanic.” It has been widely acclaimed and touted as a leading Oscar contender. Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, has praised it for what he calls its message of saving the environment from exploitation.

Not so fast, a number of critical voices are saying. Actively engaged on two major warfronts, and coupled with the prevailing climate of global terror, some American conservative bloggers have decried the film’s anti-militaristic message. Further, a growing group of people are saying the movie contains racist themes.

To many critics, the alien extravaganza is just “bland.” Cameron “tells the story without going deep into it, and ends up falling into sappiness,” said L’Osservatore Romano. Vatican Radio called it “rather harmless” but no heir to sci-fi masterpieces of a bygone age. Most significantly, much of the Vatican criticism was directed at the movie’s central theme of man vs. nature. L’Osservatore pinpoints how the film “gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature.” Says Vatican Radio, the film “cleverly [gives the nod to] all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium.”

“Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship,” the radio observed. The Roman Catholic leader Pope Benedict XVI’s has warned on the dangers of turning nature into a “new divinity.” The “green pope” has often spoken about the need to protect the environment, balanced by a warning against turning environmentalism into neo-paganism.

In a recent World Day of Peace message, the pontiff warned against any notions that equate human beings with other living things in the name of a “supposedly egalitarian vision.” He said such notions “open the way to a new pantheism tinged with neo-paganism, which would see the source of man’s salvation in nature alone, understood in purely naturalistic terms.”

As the pontiff explained, while many experience tranquillity and peace when coming into contact with nature, a correct relationship between man and the environment should not lead to “absolutising nature” or “considering it more important than the human person.”

“Avatar” is “[s]o much stupefying, enchanting technology, but few genuine emotions,” as L’Osservatore correctly observed. The plotline of aliens who live on a distant unspoiled planet and the humans who want to pillage their resources is a universal theme … reminiscent of past colonisations and wars. It is easy to relate to it because it is also trite. “Everything [has been] reduced to an overly simple anti-imperialistic and anti-militaristic parable.”

Countless blog posts, newspaper articles, tweets and YouTube videos have criticised the film. Some say it is “a fantasy about race told from the point of view of white people” and that it reinforces “the white Messiah fable.” Cameron insists his theme is about respecting others’ differences.

Anti-smoking lobbies have also stepped in to denounce its cigarette-puffing character (“Who’s got my g*damned cigarette!”) played by Sigourney Weaver, who came to fame as the remorseless heroine of the 1986 science-fiction horror classic “Alien”.

ESSENCE Black Women in Music: Honoring the Career & Accomplishments of MARY J. BLIGE

Posted on January 21, 2010 by admin — 1 Comment ↓

19 Jan 2010 18:51 Africa/Lagos

ESSENCE Presents a Special 40th Anniversary Commemorative Event During 2010 GRAMMY(R) Week

ESSENCE Black Women in Music: Honoring the Career & Accomplishments of MARY J. BLIGE

mary-j-blige-picture-1

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ — To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine, ESSENCE will host a reception honoring nine-time GRAMMY-winner Mary J. Blige during 2010 GRAMMY® Week. ESSENCE Black Women in Music is an invitation-only, red-carpet event taking place on Wednesday, January 27, to fete the career and accomplishments of Mary J. Blige as an influential artist, successful entrepreneur and passionate philanthropist.

“In honor of our 40th anniversary, ESSENCE is committed to celebrating both the achievements and promise of Black women like Mary J. Blige–who absolutely delights us with her creative gifts, and continues to inspire us through her extraordinary work as a businesswoman and humanitarian,” said ESSENCE president Michelle Ebanks. “We are excited to pay tribute to Mary J. Blige during GRAMMY week with this first-ever ESSENCE Black Women in Music award.”

ESSENCE Black Women in Music honoree Mary J. Blige is profiled in the February issue of ESSENCE magazine–on newsstands now–as part of an exclusive “GRAMMY Insider” editorial package. A multi-faceted entertainer, mogul and philanthropist, with a career spanning 15 years–including nine GRAMMY awards, eight multi-platinum records, and over 40 million albums sold–Blige just released her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear. Her range as an entertainer also includes star turns as an actor–most recently in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself, 30 Rock, and Entourage. As an entrepreneur, she is the co-owner of the successful beauty line, Carol’s Daughter, and manages her own music, TV and film company, Matriarch Entertainment. In addition to these creative and business ventures, Mary is dedicated to giving back through her non-profit organization FFAWN (Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now), which is dedicated to inspiring women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their fullest potential.

Lincoln is the sponsor of ESSENCE Black Women in Music, with cocktails provided by Belvedere.

About Essence Communications Inc.:

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 40 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a brand reach of over 8 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.

Source: Essence Communications Inc.

CONTACT: Dana Baxter, +1-212-522-1634, dbaxter@essence.com, or Sheila
Harris, +1-212-522-1089, sharris@essence.com, both of ESSENCE

Web Site: http://www.essence.com/

PUNCTURED HOPE Establishes Itself as the Hollywood Avant Garde in this Awards Season

Posted on January 20, 2010 by admin — 3 Comments ↓

PHPoster 20 Jan 2010 00:59 Africa/Lagos

PUNCTURED HOPE Establishes Itself as the Hollywood Avant Garde in this Awards Season

TORONTO, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Yesterday, at Toronto Pictures’ headquarters, the company’s President Bruno Pischiutta and Vice President Daria Trifu have announced the production of three upcoming feature films: A PARTY GIRL FOR THE RAT PACK – from the original novel “Breaking My Silence” by Jane McCormick – (US $3.5 M; filming in Brazil & USA; June 2010), scripted and directed by Bruno Pischiutta, produced by Daria Trifu; GLICINE – Wisteria (US $6.1 M; filming in Romania; September 2010) and THE SEPIA PORTRAIT (US $12 M; filming in Brazil & China; March 2011), written and directed by Pischiutta and produced by Trifu.

Toronto Pictures’ film PUNCTURED HOPE has recently been nominated by the Political Film Society (Hollywood) as Best Film Expose & Best Film on Human Rights of 2009. PUNCTURED HOPE has screened in Los Angeles since November 2009. PUNCTURED HOPE has certainly established itself as the Hollywood avant garde in this Awards Season. Each screening of the film has constituted an event. Viewers’ reaction has created a grassroots movement that identifies with Bruno Pischiutta’s CAUSE. Future event screenings will follow the film as it opens commercially in New York City starting in June.

The audience at PUNCTURED HOPE’s screenings included members of Amnesty International, of the Green Party, of Women in Film (WIF), of Films4Change, of Veterans for Peace and film professionals. Together with the general public present, they all have chosen to join the movement behind the film and Pischiutta’s CAUSE.
Toronto Pictures is trading on the OTC in the USA and plans are in motion to transfer the company on the London Stock Exchange in the coming months.
This year alone, the company is releasing commercially PUNCTURED HOPE and THE COMOEDIA: ENGLISH VERSION.

Brazilian producer and Los Angeles resident, Marcelo Brito, is in negotiations with Toronto Pictures to become an executive producer of the next two films alongside Bruno Pischiutta and Daria Trifu.

About PUNCTURED HOPE:

Official Selection at the Montreal World Film Festival (2009); Nominated by The Political Film Society in two categories – Best Expose and Best Film on Human Rights of 2009; and Qualified (2009) for consideration for Academy Awards(R) 2010 as ‘Best Picture’. PUNCTURED HOPE is the first main stream feature film (USD 5.8 M, Hollywood standard, 35 mm, 91 min., English Language, Color, NR) that is based on an African story interpreted by an all African cast of professional actors and shot in Africa under the direction of visionary Maestro Bruno Pischiutta. PUNCTURED HOPE is inspired by the true life story of an African Trokosi slave who manages to escape. Trokosi is one of the widest spread forms of women slavery that exists today in the world.

Film Review: http://monilazo.blogspot.com/2010/01/movie-commentary-punctured-hope.html

Human Rights Examiner Article: http://www.examiner.com/x-10438-Human-Rights-Examiner~y2009m12d24-Punctured-Ho pe-true-story-Academy-Award-contender-opens-in-LA
Political Film Society Review: http://www.polfilms.com/puncturedhope.html

Film Video Clips: www.youtube.com/TorontoPictures

About Maestro Bruno Pischiutta:

Born in Udine, Italy in 1947, Bruno Pischiutta began his film career in the late 1960s as an actor in films by Francesco Rosi, Nanni Loy and Billy Wilder. In 1975 he founded the Centro Iniziative di Azione Culturale in Rome. Pischiutta graduated from the Institute of Dramatic Art, Trieste, Italy (1966); he is a Dr. of Philosophy graduated from the University of Trieste, Italy (1971) and International Academician appointed by Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia, Italy (1981). Pischiutta has been awarded: Critics Award at Venice Film Festival (1970), Premio Simpatia (1976), Belle Arti Di Roma (1976), New York Film Festival (1981 & 1986), Bahamas One World Film Festival (2003). Pischiutta has been nominated by The Political Film Society (2009). Maestro Pischiutta is also a published writer of two books (‘The Comoedia’ 1980; ‘E va bene parliamo di cinema’ 1982) and of recognized courses for filmmakers (directing, writing, editing and acting) in Italy. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with COMPAGNE NUDE, and he moved to Canada in 1983. His other films include ULTIMO INCONTRO A VENEZIA (1977), ISOLA MECCANICA (1978), THE COMOEDIA (1981), BOUNTY HUNTERS (1985), LIFE’S CHARADE (1987), MAYBE (2003) and PUNCTURED HOPE (2009). Additionally, he wrote, directed, produced, executive produced and edited other feature films, TV shows and documentaries widely screened in cinemas and broadcast throughout Italy and other European countries to date. Bruno Pischiutta is the Founder, President and C.E.O. of Toronto Pictures and Chairman of the Toronto Pictures Film Academy of Ghana.

About Pischiutta’s CAUSE:

“We want that the rights of women and children are respected. We want to fight intellectual pollution, stupidity, racism and discrimination. We want to show that nonviolent films can be commercially viable and it can help to make a better world. We want to win the fight against ignorance and bigotry. We want to use film as an artistic weapon to improve the lifestyle and mentality of the viewers, to make their life better and to make them think in a positive way about major social problems that anguish our world today.
Our CAUSE is driven by high ideals and it is more important than anyone of us.
It is a new world; it is time for a new morality! It is time to put the important things first. We are working for our CAUSE through the medium of film because we are filmmakers. Film is our way to express ourselves and we are aware that our films will live after us: they will become our legacy.” – Bruno Pischiutta

About Daria Trifu:

Born in Brasov, Romania in 1981, Daria Trifu began her film career in the year 2000, few months after moving to Canada, as a graduate of Bruno Pischiutta’s exclusive Film Acting Courses in Toronto. Trifu has studied Fine Arts since grade 5 in Europe and she graduated in 2000 with honors from the Central Technical School – Fine Arts Program in Canada. In Romania, she held private exhibitions of her paintings ever since the early age of 15 and her artwork was commissioned by prestige hotels in the mountain resort of Poiana Brasov. In her youth, Trifu, a prodigy child, excelled in sports such as tennis and sky when she won numerous competitions; she traveled the world both with her family and on her own with a National Choir attending International Festivals. Today, Trifu oversees the organization of Toronto Pictures’ attendance to all major film markets such as The American Film Market, Cannes, Montreal, etc. and in 2003 she was a speaker on the “Peacefulfish & Variety Presents Global Film Finance” panel in Cannes. Trifu is the Assistant Director of the feature film MAYBE (2003); Producer & Executive Producer of the documentary BRUNO PISCHIUTTA: FILM DIRECTOR (2009) and Producer & Executive Producer of the feature film PUNCTURED HOPE (2009). She will make her acting debut in the leading female role in the feature film GLICINE (Wisteria) to be shot in Romania in 2010. Daria Trifu is the Founder, President and C.E.O. of Adhara Properties and Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of “Daria!” Magazine. She is also Vice President and C.O.O. of Toronto Pictures and President of the Toronto Pictures Film Academy of Ghana. Daria Trifu is the role model for the actual generation of Romanian girls. She is one of the youngest and most powerful film executives in the world.

About Toronto Pictures:

Targeting a global audience, Toronto Pictures explores different cultures and addresses controversial issues of our time in dramatic format. Toronto Pictures develops, produces and releases Hollywood standard, 35 mm feature films that provoke thought not violence.

Official Website: www.torontopictures.com
Source: Toronto Pictures Inc.
CONTACT: Toronto Pictures, Inc., (647) 296-3459, corporate@filmail.com

‘Tyler’s Wood’ Released, But Tiger Woods is Roaring Back to PGA ‎

Posted on January 18, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

The release of ‘Tyler’s Wood’ is making headlines, and Tiger Woods will not give up the PGA Tour. The sex scandal left him disgraced. He lost his million dollar endorsements, but the good news is Tiger Woods is roaring back to PGA golf tour‎!

ADAM-EVE-VIDEO

Here is the news release on the adult film, Adam & Eve Pictures’ ‘Tyler’s Wood’ Available Now on Video-on-Demand!

18 Jan 2010 16:47 Africa/Lagos

Adam & Eve Pictures’ ‘Tyler’s Wood’ Available Now on Video-on-Demand!

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Adam & Eve Pictures, fresh from winning 13 awards (including Best Feature for the big budget epic “The 8th Day”) at the AVN Awards, is pleased to reveal the highly anticipated adult feature, “Tyler’s Wood,” is exclusively available for viewing now on video-on-demand through adamandeveondemand .com and aeod.com.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100118/LA39199)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061017/LATU090LOGO)

Directed by David Lord, and featuring adult film stars Tyler Knight and Kayden Kross (as the long-suffering wife of a world renowned golfer) “Tyler’s Wood” is the first tongue-in-cheek golf flick of its kind to be released. The DVD is available for pre-order on adameve .com, and hits the streets Tuesday, January 26!

“It was a pleasure working with Tyler again,” says Lord. “Not only is he a good friend, but he’s a great performer.”

“We shot the entire movie eight weeks ago,” says Meredith Christopher, Executive Producer for Adam & Eve Pictures. “For us to go from concept to production to delivery in two months … and with the quality we have … is an incredible feat.”

This fun, sexy romp, features five scandalous scenes focusing on golf legend “Tyler” and his multiple mistresses, giving audiences a chance to see Adam & Eve’s interpretation of events in explicit, X-rated detail! “Tyler’s Wood” is over two hours long, and also features Andi Anderson, Capri Cavali, Richelle Ryan and more.

Look for “Tyler’s Wood” at http://www.adamandeve.com/news. For more information on Adam & Eve or Adam & Eve Pictures, please contact Adam & Eve Director of Public Relations Katy Zvolerin at 919.644.8100 x 3121 or katy@adameve.com.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100118/LA39199
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061017/LATU090LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Adam & Eve

CONTACT: Katy Zvolerin, Adam & Eve Director of Public Relations,
+1-919-644-8100, ext. 3121, katy@adameve.com

Web Site: http://www.adamandeve.com/news

Stars Defy Rains for Golden Moments @ 67th Golden Globe Awards

Posted on January 18, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

You would think the stars were coming for a new musical video of Rihanna’s Umbrella as many of them came with their umbrellas in the rainfall and walking carefully on the drenched red carpet, but the damp weather could not diminish the bright lights of the golden moments at the 67th Golden Globe Awards seen by millions of people in more than 160 countries worldwide.

Meryl Streep won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for “Julie & Julia”.
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The phenomenal Avatar repeated history for James Cameron at the Golden Globe Awards winning the highly coveted awards for the best picture and best director as he did with his classic Titanic 12 years ago. He beat his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow‘s war thriller on Iraq The Hurt Locker and four other nominated films.

“‘Avatar’ asks us to see that everything is connected, all human beings to each other, and us to the Earth. And if you have to go four and a half light years to another, made-up planet to appreciate this miracle of the world that we have right here, well, you know what, that’s the wonder of cinema right there, that’s the magic,” Cameron said.

The following is the complete list of winners.
Best Motion Picture – Drama
“Avatar”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
“The Hangover”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Robert Downey Jr., “Sherlock Holmes”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo’Nique, “Precious”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Up”

Best Foreign Language Film
“The White Ribbon”

Best Director – Motion Picture
James Cameron, “Avatar”

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air”

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Michael Giacchino, “Up”

Best Original Song — Motion Picture
“The Weary Kind,” “Crazy Heart”

Best Television Series – Drama
“Mad Men”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”

Best Television Series – Comedy
“Glee”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette, “United States of Tara”

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
“Grey Gardens”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Chloe Sevigny, “Big Love”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
John Lithgow, “Dexter”

‘THE BET HONORS’ Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Sean “Diddy” Combs

Posted on January 17, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

Whitney Houston 17 Jan 2010 07:52 Africa/Lagos

‘THE BET HONORS’ Proved What Extraordinary Looks Like by Recognizing Leading Luminaries

The Third Annual Event Celebrated the Accomplishments of Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Dr. Ruth Simmons, and Dr. Keith Black THE BET HONORS Premieres on Monday, February 1, at 9:00 p.m.*

NEW YORK, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ — With the help of the entertainment industry’s finest, BET Networks honored distinguished African Americans performing at exceptional levels in their fields by presenting the third annual BET HONORS. Hosted by the beautiful and talented actress Gabrielle Union, this phenomenal show will premiere during Black History Month, on Monday, February 1 at 9:00 p.m.*

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

The 2010 honorees included legendary songstress Whitney Houston (Entertainment), multi-faceted entertainer Queen Latifah (Media), respected business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs (Entrepreneur), accomplished educator Dr. Ruth Simmons (Education), and world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black (Public Service). Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, India.Arie, ELEW and others will pay tribute to these phenomenal stars with riveting performances.

BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee and the Honorable Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington, D.C. welcomed the audience. Both Lee and Mayor Fenty called out to viewers and audience members alike to support relief efforts for those who were affected by the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti. Lee also referenced BET’s own initiatives as part of the worldwide effort to aid Haiti.

“Before this disaster, BET Networks, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, was set to donate thirty thousand dollars every month for a year to an organization that has dedicated itself to working towards a brighter future for the African American community,” said Lee in her remarks. “In light of the devastation in Haiti, BET plans to donate the first grant to immediate emergency relief in Haiti.”

Following Lee’s remarks, Stevie Wonder, Trey Songz and India.Arie delivered a soulful rendition of the “Wake Up Everybody” in memory of the recent passing of soul-man extraordinaire, Teddy Pendergrass and his message of hope and commitment to the community.

Queen Latifah, this year’s recipient of the BET Honor for Media, was presented with her award by the talented and always hilarious Taraji P. Henson, while R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan performed soul-stirring interpretations of “Unforgettable” and “Rock Steady.” Next, the powerhouse legend Patti Labelle performed “If Only You Knew.” Actor and comedian Chris Tucker then introduced the Public Service award honoree, neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black, who was treated to an extraordinary performance of “Can’t Imagine Love Without You” by the iconic Stevie Wonder accompanied by Take 6.

Hip-hop pioneer Andre Harrell presented his longtime friend Sean “Diddy” Combs with the Entrepreneur BET Honor. 2009 BET HONORS recipient Mary J. Blige performed a medley of her greatest hits “Love No Limit,” “I Love You,” and “Be Happy,” as a personal tribute to her mentor and friend. During his heartfelt acceptance speech, Diddy attributed his success to his mother’s tireless work ethic, also giving credit to the hip-hop community.

BET Networks also paid tribute to Dr. Ruth Simmons (Public Service), who was presented with her award by veteran actress Victoria Rowell. It was followed by the moving performance by India.Arie, who was accompanied by pianist ELEW (Eric Lewis), with songs “Beautiful Flower” and “Someday We’ll All Be Free.”

Lastly, Whitney Houston was on her feet for a surprise soul-rousing performance by one of her favorite artists, gospel great Kim Burrell singing “I Believe In You and Me.” And if that wasn’t enough, Jennifer Hudson brought the crowd to its feet singing Houston’s chart-topping “I Will Always Love You,” as she was presented with The BET Honor for Entertainment by Ne-Yo.

Other highlights of the show included Trey Songz and Stevie Wonder’s medley of each other’s hits, “That Girl” and “Invented Sex,” as well as Ryan Leslie performing his latest single “I Choose You.” Maxwell also performed “Fist Full of Tears” and “Forgive Me.”

Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, and Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials, BET Networks are executive producers, along with John Cossette of John Cossette Productions.

The official BET HONORS after party was presented by AMBI® Skincare, a beauty brand committed to empowerment, education and providing women of color with skincare solutions for flawless, even toned skin. The star-studded event will take place in Washington, DC’s renowned Ronald Regan Building & International Trade Center and will be transformed into an AMBI® Brand oasis in which honorees, celebrity guests and the media will unwind and enjoy the evening’s entertainment in the AMBI® Brand’s ‘Flawless Beauty Lounge.’ “As a brand dedicated to empowering and supporting women of color, we are proud to partner with BET HONORS to pay tribute to the accomplished honorees who are an inspiration to us all,” says Denna Singleton, AMBI® Brand Product Director.

For more information on THE BET HONORS, visit www.bet.com/bethonors.

*All times ET/PT

About the 2010 BET Honorees

WHITNEY HOUSTON – Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom that will quite simply never be eclipsed in the modern era, with over 170 million combined album, singles and videos sold worldwide during her career with Arista Records. She is a singer’s singer who has influenced countless other vocalists, both female and male. Music historians cite Whitney’s record-setting achievements: the only artist to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits; the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at #1; and the only artist with seven consecutive multi-platinum albums. Her current album “I Look To You” debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts when it was released this past August and to date has sold 2 million copies worldwide. In February, Whitney will commence her long-awaited Nothing But Love World Tour 2010, with dates starting in Soeul, Korea and moving on to Japan, Australia and Europe.

QUEEN LATIFAH – Queen Latifah is Grammy® Award-winning musician, television and film actress, label president, author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, Queen Latifah has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. On January 4, 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Miramax’s Chicago as well as a Golden Globe and SAG Award win for her heart wrenching role in Life Support.

SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS – Sean “Diddy” Combs is a mogul in every sense of the word. As a top record executive, performer, TV/Film producer, writer, arranger, clothing designer, and actor, he’s mastered what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Winning three Grammy® Awards, a Council of Fashion Designers of America Award as well as a FiFi Award for Fragrance of The Year are just a few of his stellar accomplishments. At the helm of Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide, Mr. Combs oversees Bad Boy Records; the clothing lines Sean John and Sean by Sean Combs, a movie production company, a fragrance line, and is also co-owner and brand builder for Ciroc vodka.

RUTH SIMMONS – Ruth J. Simmons was sworn in as the 18th president of Brown University, an Ivy League school, on July 3, 2001. She also holds an appointment as a professor of comparative literature and of Africana Studies at Brown. Dr. Simmons graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans and completed her Ph.D. in Romance languages and literatures at Harvard. She served in various administrative roles at the University of Southern California, Princeton University, and Spelman College before becoming president of Smith College, the largest women’s college in the United States.

KEITH BLACK – Dr. Keith L. Black serves as Chairman and professor of the Department of Neurosurgery, Director of Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, and Director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Brain Tumor Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. An internationally-renowned neurosurgeon and scientist, Dr. Black joined Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July 1997, and prior to that served on the University of California, Los Angeles faculty for 10 years where he was Professor of Neurosurgery. Since 1987, he has performed more than 5,000 operations for resection of brain tumors, and has a unique ability to combine cutting-edge research and an extremely busy surgical practice.

About the Host

GABRIELLE UNION – Gabrielle Union is an award winning actress, successful model and has been praised by Oprah Winfrey for being a noted activist on violence against women. She landed her first major role opposite Kirsten Dunst in the teen hit Bring It On in 2001. Since then, she has catapulted her career to the next level: starring in blockbuster films Bad Boys II, opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Deliver Us From Eva in 2003, opposite LL Cool J, the Tyler Perry film Daddy’s Girls and the Christmas film The Perfect Holiday to name a few. Union has appeared in countless TV shows including her current role in ABC’s hit series, FlashForward.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Lyntina Townsend, +1-202-608-2745, Lyntina.townsend@bet.net, or
Voncella McIntosh, +1-310-481-3732, Voncella.mcintosh@bet.net, both of BET
Networks

Web Site: http://www.bet.com/

Kathryn Bigelow is Best Director @ The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards

Posted on January 16, 2010 by admin

49Bigelow

One of the most accomplished American female film directors, Kathryn Bigelow was named Best Director at the highly acclaimed Critics Choice Awards and her war film on Iraq, The Hurt Locker was named the Best Picture.

16 Jan 2010 08:15 Africa/Lagos

The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards
‘Avatar’ Wins Big With Record 6 Awards, ‘Inglourious Basterds’ Takes Home 3 Awards ‘The Hurt Locker’ Takes Best Picture and Best Director Jeff Bridges Wins Best Actor for His Work in ‘Crazy Heart’, Lead Actress Award Is a Tie Between Meryl Streep for ‘Julie & Julia’ and Sandra Bullock for ‘The Blind Side’ Winners Announced at Gala Awards Ceremony Broadcast Live on VH1 Watch the Show’s Best Moments Online Now at CriticsChoice.VH1.com.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ — The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the winners of the 15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards earlier this evening. The star-studded ceremony was hosted by Kristin Chenoweth at the Hollywood Palladium and aired live on VH1. The Hurt Locker was named the year’s Best Picture and Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director honors.

sandra-bullock-meryl-streep-kissing
Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock did more than share a best actress award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards — they shared a little tongue, too!
Photo Credit: The fablife

Avatar was another big winner with a record six Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Action Movie, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Cinematography for Mauro Fiore, Best Art Direction for Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, and Best Editing for Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron. Jeff Bridges was honored with the award for Best Actor for his role in Crazy Heart, while Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) tied in the lead actress category.

Christoph Waltz was honored with the Best Supporting Actor award for his work in Inglourious Basterds, the film that was also honored for Best Acting Ensemble and Best Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino. Best Supporting Actress honors went to Mo’Nique for Precious and Best Young Actor/Actress went to Saoirse Ronan for The Lovely Bones. Up won Best Animated Feature and Best Comedy went to The Hangover.

Renowned actor and philanthropist Kevin Bacon was honored with the third annual Joel Siegel Award presented by Meryl Streep. The BFCA created this award to honor those in the film community whose actions demonstrate that the greatest value of celebrity is the ability to do good work for others. This special award pays homage to beloved “Good Morning America” film critic and BFCA member Joel Siegel, who passed away in 2007.

The 15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards

15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards also included a special tribute to American film director and producer John Hughes, who passed away in August, 2009. In honor of Hughes’ life and cinematic achievements, John Krasinski and Amy Poehler presented a poignant tribute followed by a musical performance from Death Cab For Cutie who played “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack.

Nominees in attendance included: Kathryn Bigelow, Ryan Bingham, Neill Blomkamp, Emily Blunt, Jeff Bridges, T-Bone Burnette, Sandra Bullock, James Cameron, Bradley Cooper, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Lee Daniels, Peter Doctor, Vera Farmiga, Tom Ford, Morgan Freeman, Heather Graham, Woody Harrelson, Jae Head, Ed Helms, Nick Hornby, Anna Kendrick, Diane Kruger, Bailey Madison, Paul McCartney, Christian McKay, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Mo’Nique, Julianne Moore, Carey Mulligan, Kenny Ortega, Jason Reitman, Jeremy Renner, Saoirse Ronan, Eli Roth, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Tucci, and Christoph Waltz.

Presenters at the gala included: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Emily Blunt, Cedric the Entertainer, Bradley Cooper, Rob Corddry, Abbie Cornish, Claire Danes, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Vera Farmiga, Heather Graham, Ed Helms, Samuel L. Jackson, Ken Jeong, Adam Lambert, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tobey Maguire, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler, Craig Robinson, Zoe Saldana, Susan Sarandon, Sarah Silverman, and Meryl Streep.

The show featured Nick Jonas & The Administration as this year’s house band.

The 240 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest film critics’ organization in the United States and Canada, representing television, radio and online critics, selected nominees in each of 25 categories. The awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Eligible films were released in 2009. The accounting firm of Gregory A. Mogab tallied the written ballots. Historically, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.

To watch the best moments, acceptance speeches, red carpet interviews and a complete list of winners visit The Critics Choice Awards.

The 15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards is sponsored by Walmart and WHEAT THINS.

The 15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards is executive produced by Bob Bain, Joey Berlin, Jesse Ignjatovic and Lee Rolontz. Paul Flattery serves as producer and Kelly Brock as co-producer.

WINNERS OF THE 15TH ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE
“The Hurt Locker”

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges – “Crazy Heart”

BEST ACTRESS
Meryl Streep – “Julie & Julia” AND Sandra Bullock – “The Blind Side”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mo’Nique – “Precious”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Saoirse Ronan – “The Lovely Bones”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
“Inglourious Basterds”

BEST DIRECTING
Kathryn Bigelow – “The Hurt Locker”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner – “Up in the Air”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Mauro Fiore – “Avatar”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg – “Avatar”

BEST EDITING
Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron – “Avatar”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Sandy Powell – “The Young Victoria”

BEST MAKE-UP
“District 9”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Avatar”

BEST SOUND
“Avatar”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Up”

BEST ACTION MOVIE
“Avatar”

BEST COMEDY
“The Hangover”

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“Grey Gardens”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Broken Embraces”

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“The Cove”

BEST SONG
“The Weary Kind” (Theme from Crazy Heart) – Ryan Bingham and T-Bone
Burnett

BEST SCORE
Michael Giancchio – “Up”

JOEL SIEGEL AWARD
Kevin Bacon

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Andy Gelb, andy@slate-pr.com, or Stephanie Samson,
stephanie@slate-pr.com, both of Slate PR, +1-310-556-0444, for VH1

Web Site: http://criticschoice.vh1.com/

Win An all-expense-paid Trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood

Posted on January 13, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓

About the challenge
Create a video short that completes the phrase “Democracy is…”
The Prize
• An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood.
• Gala screenings of the winning videos in Hollywood, New York and Washington
• Exposure to filmmakers and the U.S. film and television industry.
• Meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society.
The Timeline
• SUBMISSION DEADLINE – MIDNIGHT GMT JANUARY 31, 2010.
• Challenge semifinalists will be selected on or about March 31, 2010.
• An independent jury will narrow down the semifinalists to 21 finalists on or about May 15, 2010.
• The general public will vote online for the winning videos May 15 – June 15, 2010.
• Seven winners – one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central Asia, East Asia/Pacific and one anonymous winner – will be announced in mid-June 2010.
• The six publicly identified winners, one from each of the six geographic regions, will travel to the United States to claim their prize in the fall of 2010.
The Details
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Videos can be any style: fiction or documentary, animated or live action.
• Videos must be no longer than three minutes.
• Videos must be in English or have English subtitles.
• Contestants may enter anonymously, but anonymous winners cannot collect the grand prize.
• See contest site for a complete list of rules, www.videochallenge.america.gov.