Sunday, March 11----- One of Miami’s most glamorous cultural events of the year, the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) reached its zenith with its Gala Awards Night, presenting awards to films in three competition categories: Documentary Features, Ibero-American Dramatic Features, and World Dramatic Features. Jurors in the three categories, along with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), awarded prizes to films in competition during the 2007 Festival. The ceremonies ...

Saturday, March 3---Minnie Driver slowly removed her sunglasses at the Cinequest press conference, and quietly said, “I don’t want to force my bloodshot eyes on you.” She had worked until 3:30 a.m. before traveling to San Jose to receive the Maverick Spirit Award at an event scheduled later in the afternoon. “I’m really happy to be here. Exhausted but happy,” stated the London-born actor.When asked if she considered herself a maverick, Driver thoughtfully replied, “I don’t lie i...

Friday, March 2---Christine Vachon can now add “Cinequest Maverick” to honors ranging from the Frameline Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lesbian and Gay Media in 1994, Producer of the Year from the National Board of Review in 2003 and New York MoMA retrospective honoree in 2005. Her films have garnered Independent Spirit Awards and Oscars in numerous categories. Following a rollicking interview with Jens Hussey, Cinequest Director of Public Relations,...

 Wednesday, February 28----Coming on the eve of the Academy Awards, which honors the BEST in film of the past year, the Golden Raspberry Awards go to the other extreme.....singling out the worst films and performances of 2006. Affectionately known as the Razzies, the ceremonies, now in their 27th year, were held on Oscar eve at Hollywood's Ivar Theater.The night's big winner was the unintentionally hilarious who-dunnit  BASIC INSTINCT 2, acknowledged as the year's Worst Fim, Wor...

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Monday, February 26-----With all eyes turning southward to the warmest spot in these United States for the opening weekend of the Miami International Film Festival (why suffer? come on down.....) this Friday, the Festival has announced the juries who will determine the Festival Awards in its three competition categories. The three competition categories include: World Cinema, Ibero-American Dramatic Features (films from Spain, Latin and South America) and the World and Ibero-American Documentary...

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Monday, February 26-----While readers can turn to almost any newspaper, internet site or media outlet to get the results of the 79th Academy Awards (it is, after all, watched by over a billion people worldwide), this story will focus on what were, at least for me, the surprises of the evening….actually the surprises that kept the evening lively and unpredictable.   Among the night's biggest surprises:BEST PICTURE: While the choice of THE DEPARTED is certainly worthy (certainly compared t...

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 were presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Marty Scorcese is the big winner of the nigt with 4 Oscars for The Departed: Best film; best directing, editing and screenplay.             Performance by an actor in a leading role >Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland” (Fox Searchlight)    &...

Saturday, February 24----LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and HALF NELSON, two films that had their premieres at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, were the big winners at the Spirit Awards, the annual awards event honoring independent filmmakers, producers and acting talents, sponsored by film organization Film Independent. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, which may just pull a Best Film Oscar out of its hat tomorrow night, was recognized for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (for vet...

Wednesday, February 21----In the run-up to the Independent Spirit Awards (Saturday) and the Academy Awards (Sunday), the industry's big weekend, a number of crafts and guilds announced their award winners. The 57th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, presented by the American Cinema Editors, held last  Sunday evening at the Beverly Hills Hotel, honored a number of films, most of which are also in the running for Oscars.In an unusual occurence, there was a tie for Best Edited Feature Film between BABEL...

 Wednesday, February 21----At the American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement Awards, held Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, the top award for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film was won by Emmanuel Lubezki for his stellar work on the futuristic thriller CHILDREN OF MEN. Lubezki, who is also nominated for an Oscar for the film, won top honors at the BAFTA Awards last week in the same category.Comedian Tim Allen presented the award to Lubezki.  He thanked the film...

On Sunday, February 25, the world will watch in baited breath to see if one of their cinematic favorites walks away with the industry's highest honor – the Oscar.  Every year presents its fair share of surprises, triumphs, heartaches and snubs.  What makes this Academy Award ceremony particularly exciting is the monumental year of quality films that it represents.   2006 was a sensational year at the movies, highlighted by an unprecedented number of fine roles for women.  With so much...

Sunday, February 18-----The audience has decided.....the Panorama Audience Award, sponsored by “radioeins” of RBB, Berlin-Brandenburg’s public radio and television broadcasting station, and Berlin’s city magazine “tip” in collaboration with the Berlinale’s Panorama section – goes to the film BLINDSIGHT (Lucy Walker, Great Britain). The documentary tells the extraordinary story of a group of blind mountain climbers, who use their remaining senses to allow them to literally soar t...

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Saturday, February 17------In a surprise twist, a Chinese film has won the Berlinale Golden Bear, the Berlin Film Festival's highest honor. TUYA'S MARRIAGE by Chinese director Wang Quan'an won the Festival's top prize, which was announced with other awards at the Festival's closing  ceremony this evening. The film, the story of a woman living in rural northwestern Mongolia and facing pressure to abandon her life as a shepherd, did not figure on most critics' predictio...

International Film Festivals in AsiaPumelo International Film Festival(PIFF) ( http://www.pumelo.com ) is screening 60 award winning films out of 265 films entered from 42 countries. There is a competition for the best film based purely on audience choice & they also award prizes for best director, best cinematography, best music score, best short, best documentary, best actor, best actress, etc. The films screened at the Pumelo International Film Festival are selected by a jury comprising o...

Wednesday, February 14---The Brits were back as big winners (on their home turf) of the BAFTA Awards, more formally referred to as the Orange British Academy Film Awards. The Best Film honors went to THE QUEEN, as did the Best Actress nod to Helen Mirren (dust off that bookshelf for your Oscar, Mrs. Hackford), with the Best British Film prize going to THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, and its lead actor Forrest Whitaker for his portrayal of Uganda strongman Idi Amin. Other Brits who shined include Best...