The sci-fi epic Aniara has scooped four gongs, with a low yield for main contenders Roy Andersson and Mikael Håfström. In what has been called a lacklustre Swedish film year, the clearest beacon of light in 2019 was surely provided by Levan Akin in his heartfelt tale of a forbidden romance between two male dancers in the conservative Georgian dance community, And Then We Danced. It opened in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, became Sweden’s submission for the 92nd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film and has now been sold to nearly 40 territories. The co-production between Sweden’s Mathilde Dedye and Georgia’s Ketie Danelia, with additional co-production by Julien Féret, picked up the Guldbagge Awards for Best Film, Best Lead Actor (for Levan Gelbakhiani), Best Script (Akin) and Best Cinematography (Lisabi Fridell). Last week, it was awarded the Greta, the annual award handed out by the...
Best Supporting Actor Winner: Jk Simmons for Whiplash Robert Duvall for The Judge Ethan Hawke for Boyhood Edward Norton for Birdman Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher Achievement in Costume Design Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Milena Canonero Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges Into the Woods – Colleen Atwood Maleficent – Anna B Sheppard Mr Turner – Jacqueline Durran Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier Foxcatcher – Bill Corso, Dennis Liddiard Guardians of the Galaxy – Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White Best Foreign-Language Film Winner: Ida – Paweł Pawlikowski Tangerines – Zaza Urushadze Leviathan – Andrey Zvyagintsev Wild Tales – Damián Szifrón Timbuktu – Abderrahmane Sissako Best Live-Action Short Film Winner: The Phone Call – Mat Kirkby, James Lucas Aya – Oded Binnun, Mihal Brezis Boogaloo and Graham – Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney Butter Lamp – Wei Hu, Julien Féret Parvaneh – Talkhon Hamzavi, Stefan Eichenberger Best Documentary Short Subject Winner: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 – Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Dana Perry...
- 2/23/2015
- ComicBookMovie.com
A memorable 87th annual Academy Awards for Fox Searchlight saw Birdman claim best film, director and two other statuettes to tie with The Grand Budapest Hotel’s four-strong haul.
Boyhood, which entered the evening on six nominations and had been expected to push Birdman in several of the senior categories on Sunday night, won a sole best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette.
The film’s time in the Oscar ceremony spotlight will not be forgotten, however, as Arquette paid tribute to her “Boyhood family” and made an impassioned plea for wage equality that spread like wildfire across social media.
Eddie Redmayne from The Theory Of Everything prevailed in a tight best actor contest to deny Michael Keaton another success for Birdman. The popular victory had the British actor jumping with excitement on stage at the Dolby Theatre.
Julianne Moore finally converted her fifth Academy Award nomination into a win for her performance in Still Alice in what...
Boyhood, which entered the evening on six nominations and had been expected to push Birdman in several of the senior categories on Sunday night, won a sole best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette.
The film’s time in the Oscar ceremony spotlight will not be forgotten, however, as Arquette paid tribute to her “Boyhood family” and made an impassioned plea for wage equality that spread like wildfire across social media.
Eddie Redmayne from The Theory Of Everything prevailed in a tight best actor contest to deny Michael Keaton another success for Birdman. The popular victory had the British actor jumping with excitement on stage at the Dolby Theatre.
Julianne Moore finally converted her fifth Academy Award nomination into a win for her performance in Still Alice in what...
- 2/23/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Oscars are over and so here is the full list of winners from The 87th Oscars.
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
Costume Design
Milena Canonero – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Mark Bridges – Inherent Vice
Colleen Atwood – Into The Woods
Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive – Maleficent
Jacqueline Durran – Mr. Turner
Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher – Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
Guardians Of The Galaxy – Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White
Foreign Language Film
Ida – Poland; Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan – Russia; Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
Tangerines – Estonia; Directed by Zaza Urushadze
Timbuktu – Mauritania; Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
Wild Tales – Argentina; Directed by Damián Szifron
Short Film (Live Action)
Aya – Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Boogaloo And Graham – Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak...
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
Costume Design
Milena Canonero – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Mark Bridges – Inherent Vice
Colleen Atwood – Into The Woods
Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive – Maleficent
Jacqueline Durran – Mr. Turner
Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher – Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
Guardians Of The Galaxy – Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White
Foreign Language Film
Ida – Poland; Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan – Russia; Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
Tangerines – Estonia; Directed by Zaza Urushadze
Timbuktu – Mauritania; Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
Wild Tales – Argentina; Directed by Damián Szifron
Short Film (Live Action)
Aya – Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Boogaloo And Graham – Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak...
- 2/23/2015
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Oscar 2015 winners (photo: Chris Pratt during Oscar 2015 rehearsals) The complete list of Oscar 2015 winners and nominees can be found below. See also: Oscar 2015 presenters and performers. Now, a little Oscar 2015 trivia. If you know a bit about the history of the Academy Awards, you'll have noticed several little curiosities about this year's nominations. For instance, there are quite a few first-time nominees in the acting and directing categories. In fact, nine of the nominated actors and three of the nominated directors are Oscar newcomers. Here's the list in the acting categories: Eddie Redmayne. Michael Keaton. Steve Carell. Benedict Cumberbatch. Felicity Jones. Rosamund Pike. J.K. Simmons. Emma Stone. Patricia Arquette. The three directors are: Morten Tyldum. Richard Linklater. Wes Anderson. Oscar 2015 comebacks Oscar 2015 also marks the Academy Awards' "comeback" of several performers and directors last nominated years ago. Marion Cotillard and Reese Witherspoon won Best Actress Oscars for, respectively, Olivier Dahan...
- 2/22/2015
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
All the winners from Sunday’s 87th Academy Awards.
Show host Harris signs off with a chirpy, “Buenos noches!”
Sean Penn walks on. It’s time for the big one. Best film. Will it be Birdman or Boyhood? It’s Birdman! The movie ends the night tied with The Grand Budapest Hotel on four Oscars. Inarritu, referring to his pal Alfonso Cuaron who enjoyed success with Gravity at last year’s show, says, “Two Mexicans in a row. That’s suspicious, I guess.” Slightly more seriously, Agi also calls on his fellow Mexicans to help build a strong future for his beloved country. Wow, a good night for Birdman and a surprisingly barren one for Boyhood. Pirates indeed, Ethan Hawke, but glorious pirates.
And now Matthew McConaughey saunters on stage to announce best actress. Julianne Moore, five times a nominee at the Oscars is the favourite. Will she get it this time for Still Alice? Yes she’s got...
Show host Harris signs off with a chirpy, “Buenos noches!”
Sean Penn walks on. It’s time for the big one. Best film. Will it be Birdman or Boyhood? It’s Birdman! The movie ends the night tied with The Grand Budapest Hotel on four Oscars. Inarritu, referring to his pal Alfonso Cuaron who enjoyed success with Gravity at last year’s show, says, “Two Mexicans in a row. That’s suspicious, I guess.” Slightly more seriously, Agi also calls on his fellow Mexicans to help build a strong future for his beloved country. Wow, a good night for Birdman and a surprisingly barren one for Boyhood. Pirates indeed, Ethan Hawke, but glorious pirates.
And now Matthew McConaughey saunters on stage to announce best actress. Julianne Moore, five times a nominee at the Oscars is the favourite. Will she get it this time for Still Alice? Yes she’s got...
- 2/22/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
When the first Academy Awards were handed out on May 16, 1929, at an Academy banquet in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, movies had just begun to talk. The attendance was 270 and guest tickets cost $5. It was a long banquet, filled with speeches, but presentation of the statuettes was handled expeditiously by Academy President Douglas Fairbanks.
The suspense that now touches most of the world at Oscar time was not always a characteristic of the Awards presentation. That first year, the award recipients were announced to the public three months ahead of the ceremony.
Today, Oscar pundits and fans alike avidly watch the precursor and guild awards to ultimately make their predictions in the 24 categories. Academy members have cast their ballots, so now it’s our turn for our Oscar picks.
Need some help in that office Oscar pool or at the party you’re throwing at home? Wamg is here to help.
The suspense that now touches most of the world at Oscar time was not always a characteristic of the Awards presentation. That first year, the award recipients were announced to the public three months ahead of the ceremony.
Today, Oscar pundits and fans alike avidly watch the precursor and guild awards to ultimately make their predictions in the 24 categories. Academy members have cast their ballots, so now it’s our turn for our Oscar picks.
Need some help in that office Oscar pool or at the party you’re throwing at home? Wamg is here to help.
- 2/19/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
©A.M.P.A.S.
By Melissa Thompson, Gary Salem and Michelle McCue
Oscar Week 2015 has arrived. The week kicked off with the filmmakers of the Oscar nominated short films.
Actor Sean Astin hosted the Academy’s “Oscar Celebrates: Shorts” event on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Astin was a perfect choice. His short film Kangaroo Court was nominated for an Oscar back in 1995, and its quite obvious he has a passion for the genre.
He spoke about what it was like when he was nominated in that category and being excited about the possibility of winning (It was actually a tie between 2 shorts that year, and his film was not one of them). Said Astin wryly, “I told myself we probably came in 3rd.”
He was very engaging in Q&A panel and asked the perfect smart and brief questions to keep things moving along.
By Melissa Thompson, Gary Salem and Michelle McCue
Oscar Week 2015 has arrived. The week kicked off with the filmmakers of the Oscar nominated short films.
Actor Sean Astin hosted the Academy’s “Oscar Celebrates: Shorts” event on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Astin was a perfect choice. His short film Kangaroo Court was nominated for an Oscar back in 1995, and its quite obvious he has a passion for the genre.
He spoke about what it was like when he was nominated in that category and being excited about the possibility of winning (It was actually a tie between 2 shorts that year, and his film was not one of them). Said Astin wryly, “I told myself we probably came in 3rd.”
He was very engaging in Q&A panel and asked the perfect smart and brief questions to keep things moving along.
- 2/18/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With the Oscars just around the corner, it’s time to lay down my predictions for all 24 categories. While, as usual, most categories seem like a pretty solid lock, there’s always the possibility of a surprise or two, so let’s get right to it.
Best Animated Short Film
“The Bigger Picture” Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees
“The Dam Keeper” Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
“Me and My Moulton” Torill Kove
“A Single Life” Joris Oprins
Best Live Action Short Film
“Aya” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
“Boogaloo and Graham” Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak)” Hu Wei and Julien Féret
“Parvaneh” Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
“Joanna” Aneta Kopacz
“Our Curse” Tomasz Sliwinski...
Best Animated Short Film
“The Bigger Picture” Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees
“The Dam Keeper” Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
“Me and My Moulton” Torill Kove
“A Single Life” Joris Oprins
Best Live Action Short Film
“Aya” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
“Boogaloo and Graham” Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak)” Hu Wei and Julien Féret
“Parvaneh” Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
“Joanna” Aneta Kopacz
“Our Curse” Tomasz Sliwinski...
- 2/18/2015
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
ShortsHD is once again bringing the wildly popular Oscar Nominated Short Film program (Live Action, Animation, and Documentary) to theaters everywhere.
The theatrical release of The Oscar Nominated Short Films has met enthusiastic audiences ever since its launch 10 years ago giving people around the world an opportunity to see the nominated films prior to the Oscar Awards ceremony on February 22.
Below are the Live Action nominees’ reactions to their nominations.
Live Action
Aya
Israel & France / 39 mins
Directors: Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun
Producers: Yael Abecassis, Hilel Rozman, Pablo Mehler
Co-writer: Tom Shoval
Production: Cassis Films (Israel), Divine Productions (France)
Two strangers unexpectedly meet at an airport. He mistakenly assumes her to be his assigned driver. She, enchanted by the random encounter, does not hurry to prove him wrong.
Boogaloo And Graham
UK / 14 mins
Director: Michael Lennox
Producer: Brian J. Falconer
Writer: Ronan Blaney
Jamesy and Malachy are over the moon...
The theatrical release of The Oscar Nominated Short Films has met enthusiastic audiences ever since its launch 10 years ago giving people around the world an opportunity to see the nominated films prior to the Oscar Awards ceremony on February 22.
Below are the Live Action nominees’ reactions to their nominations.
Live Action
Aya
Israel & France / 39 mins
Directors: Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun
Producers: Yael Abecassis, Hilel Rozman, Pablo Mehler
Co-writer: Tom Shoval
Production: Cassis Films (Israel), Divine Productions (France)
Two strangers unexpectedly meet at an airport. He mistakenly assumes her to be his assigned driver. She, enchanted by the random encounter, does not hurry to prove him wrong.
Boogaloo And Graham
UK / 14 mins
Director: Michael Lennox
Producer: Brian J. Falconer
Writer: Ronan Blaney
Jamesy and Malachy are over the moon...
- 2/14/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Of the five live action shorts nominated for an Academy Award this year, Chinese filmmaker Hu Wei’s “Butter Lamp” (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak) is the most unconventional cinematic statement. Shot in a single location and with an entire cast of non-professional actors, the film captures a fictional moment in time in the fast-changing lives of a real community. The events are scripted; the individuals recreating them are truly part of this world.
Nameless people from all walks of life within a Tibetan community take advantage of the rare opportunity to get their picture taken against an array of backgrounds that range from holy sites to the busy city streets. Through the interactions between the traveling photographer and the Tibetan nomads, we learn about the subtle but irreversible clash between their traditional lifestyle and the ravaging hunger of the modern world. The latter is eager to eradicate all that is considered obsolete.
Cell phones, a motorbike, and Western-style clothing are all signs of this voracious transformation that has no boundaries. Homogenizing all aspects of human life, even in remote areas of the planet, is eradicating ancient practices that contribute to our rich diversity.
Subtly and with a unique format, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker expresses his concern regarding this in his enthralling 15-minute short. Hu Wei is in Los Angeles partaking in all the Oscar-related events and met with us for a conversation about his unexpectedly successful work.
Aguilar: “Butter Lamp” feels like it exists in a place between documentary and fiction. Why did you opt for the latter? Was making it a non-fiction film a possibility you considered?
Hu Wei: Firs of all, there cannot be a documentary about these events or these stories because such practice of people taking photos against backgrounds like these doesn’t exist in Tibet. However, it’s very popular in Mainland China. Also, from the very beginning this film was always conceived as fiction. It cannot be a documentary. It has to be a narrative.
Aguilar: Was the entire cast made of non-professional actors?
Hu Wei: They were non-actors, but the scenes were rehearsed. This is my third short film and I’ve never worked with professional actors. I prefer to work with non-professionals because what I want to get across can only be express by these people.
Aguilar: Globalization seems to be changing the way these people live even if it’s subtle. Is this clash between tradition and modernity something that concerns you?
Hu Wei: What I wanted to express in the film is that there are already changes happening among the Tibetan people. You can see things like the motorbike or the cell phones that everyone uses. This is an ever-changing process in which people are changing by globalization and modernization happening around the world everyday. The Tibetan people are included in this process. Everyday is different than the one before, so what I wanted to do was to capture the current state, which might vanish very soon. I wanted to encompass all the changes that are happening right now in this 15-minute short film. That’s why I used the photographs as main element in the film.
Aguilar: How did you get involved with the Tibetan people and why did you feel photography had to be the central element in the film?
Hu Wei: For me a taking photograph is similar to how one preserves a mummy. Everything that happens in the film is vanishing, so maybe the things we see there, which existed when I was making the film, have already disappeared. What inspired me to create this film in the first place was my experience in university from 2004 to 2006. During these three years I visited Tibet three times, once each year.
When I was there the first time I visited this little village and there were about 20 Tibetan nomad families living there in this vast land. I lived there with one of these families, and I took photographs for them as well as for their neighbors and other families in the village. The following year when I returned to the same village there were only about 10 households left. I had brought back the photographs I took of them because I had promised to give them to them because they had never had their phonograph taken. Sadly, the family I had stayed with the first time was now gone as well as some of the other families. I was very upset.
Then, the third year when I went back to this village, there were only 3 households left. I was wondering were all those people went and I learned that they left because of a new Socialist countryside program, which offered free housing in new buildings for these nomad people to give up their traditional lifestyle. It was just like what happens in the film, when the chief of the village announces that there will be visitors in charge this new program. This is why these people are moving away from their villages and why these changes are taking place.
Aguilar: By getting their photographs taken are these people preserving their identity? Was this something you thought about while developing the film?
Hu Wei: After I finished university in China I went to France in 2008, and I was a foreign student there. During the years I lived in France I thought a lot about the issue of identity. Being there made me rethink this. I’m originally from China, but how much of my Chinese cultural tradition did I carry with me while I was there? I feel that when I was in France I was in an isolated island. I was neither French nor Chinese at that moment. This developed a certain anxiety regarding identity.
At the same time I thought about my experiences in Tibet. What these people feel is similar to what I was experiencing in France. While there, I went to an art exhibit in Paris and I saw a photograph from Michael Nash called Warsaw, 1946. I was really touched by it. What I studied in Paris was painting, installation art, and photography. Paintings and photographs are 2D mediums, and what I had studied in China was filmmaking, which is tridimensional. They are quite different mediums but I still found this photograph intriguing.
What really attracted me to this photograph was the attitude of this old lady, she is smiling, which reminded me of the optimistic people living in Tibet. Even if this woman just lost her home because of the war, she is taking a photograph against this artificial background. She is very optimistic.
Aguilar: In your film another interesting element is the clothing that the photographer puts on these people. Jackets, sunglasses, and other Western-style garments. But there is one young guy that refuses to take the photograph because he doesn’t want to change his clothes. Tell me about the significant of these elements.
Hu Wei: What this particular character was wearing is the traditional Tibetan clothing, but in fact many of the Tibetan youth don’t’ want to wear the traditional outfit anymore. They want to look like everyone else in the world. In the case of my character, his mother made the leather jacket he wears, and after she died he decided not to take it off, even if it’s pretty hot during that time.
Because other young people are no longer wearing traditional clothes, he is now the one who is different. At the end of the film he brings this butter lamp for the photographer to take to Potala Palace. It’s for the monks to burn in order to mourn his mother. But to me it’s not just about his mother, it’s also about mourning the culture and traditions that are dying and disappearing.
Aguilar: When the photographer is ready to leave, we see this unfinished bridge in the background. It’s a powerful image that shows us how rapidly the urban sprawl is advancing.
Hu Wei: This image is a metaphor. The bridge you see in the background wasn’t really there. It was done through VFX. The bridge we see is still in construction and it represents the road towards modernity. This town is on a plateau, which is about 5000 meters above sea level. The geographical location preserved their tradition for a long time, but today even a place as isolated as this is subjected to changes.
Aguilar: How did you get involved with the project Julien?
Julien Féret : We met in Paris when he was studying there. He told me he had this idea and I read the script. I thought it was a very particular project. It took us a long time to make it, although it didn't take us long to get the financing because we had the chance to be funded by the French National Center for Cinematography and a French TV Channel. It was very complicated to make it happen and to shoot out there in Tibet with the local people.
Aguilar: How was the process of finding the specific people you needed to tell such particular story?
Hu Wei: Before we started shooting we went to a lot of different locations and we met with many Tibetan nomads. We went around the households in the area asking people if they wanted to be part of the film. Of course, some did accept and others would say no. With the ones who were willing to participate we rehearsed for five days before shooting. Then we took one day off, and then we shot the film for five days.
Aguilar: Given that the film takes place in a single location why did you decide to shoot on location in Tibet? Could you have done it anywhere else?
Hu Wei: At the beginning Julien and other people suggested we should make the film in France. There are a lot of Tibetan people there who could make it happen, but the most important thing for me was the authenticity. I felt that I could only find people in this particular state of mind or situation in the actual place: Tibet. These are people who had never had their photograph taken, much less being filmed, and they have a unique attitude towards things. They were all really excited.
Aguilar: The Academy Award nomination might be the culminating point for “Butter Lamp,” but the film has had a long journey to get to this point.
Hu Wei: "Butter Lamp" was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, and from that point on it has been selected by over 300 film festivals. I'm very glad that I've been able to share this 15-minute short with people from different countries, backgrounds, and religions.
Aguilar: Tell me about your Oscar experience
Hu Wei: I was quite surprised because I feel like "Butter Lamp" is not your typical Oscar-nominated short film. I’m very happy we are nominated.
Aguilar: Your film has connected with an incredible amount of people during its festival run. Why do you think people have found it so appealing even if they don’t know anything about this part of the world?
Hu Wei: I created this film based on my own experience. For me it’s like looking into a mirror. When I look at these Tibetan people I also look at myself and how I've changed because of globalization and modernization. I also think about where these changes are leading us. Maybe other people felt the same way when watching it. The film also uses a quite unique format and that might also be part of why people where drawn to it.
Aguilar: What are you working on now, a feature film perhaps?
Hu Wei: Right now I'm writing a script for a feature and I'm working on another short film about one person living alone in a tropical forest. Throughout the whole film there is no dialogue. We are still deciding where we are going to shoot it.
Nameless people from all walks of life within a Tibetan community take advantage of the rare opportunity to get their picture taken against an array of backgrounds that range from holy sites to the busy city streets. Through the interactions between the traveling photographer and the Tibetan nomads, we learn about the subtle but irreversible clash between their traditional lifestyle and the ravaging hunger of the modern world. The latter is eager to eradicate all that is considered obsolete.
Cell phones, a motorbike, and Western-style clothing are all signs of this voracious transformation that has no boundaries. Homogenizing all aspects of human life, even in remote areas of the planet, is eradicating ancient practices that contribute to our rich diversity.
Subtly and with a unique format, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker expresses his concern regarding this in his enthralling 15-minute short. Hu Wei is in Los Angeles partaking in all the Oscar-related events and met with us for a conversation about his unexpectedly successful work.
Aguilar: “Butter Lamp” feels like it exists in a place between documentary and fiction. Why did you opt for the latter? Was making it a non-fiction film a possibility you considered?
Hu Wei: Firs of all, there cannot be a documentary about these events or these stories because such practice of people taking photos against backgrounds like these doesn’t exist in Tibet. However, it’s very popular in Mainland China. Also, from the very beginning this film was always conceived as fiction. It cannot be a documentary. It has to be a narrative.
Aguilar: Was the entire cast made of non-professional actors?
Hu Wei: They were non-actors, but the scenes were rehearsed. This is my third short film and I’ve never worked with professional actors. I prefer to work with non-professionals because what I want to get across can only be express by these people.
Aguilar: Globalization seems to be changing the way these people live even if it’s subtle. Is this clash between tradition and modernity something that concerns you?
Hu Wei: What I wanted to express in the film is that there are already changes happening among the Tibetan people. You can see things like the motorbike or the cell phones that everyone uses. This is an ever-changing process in which people are changing by globalization and modernization happening around the world everyday. The Tibetan people are included in this process. Everyday is different than the one before, so what I wanted to do was to capture the current state, which might vanish very soon. I wanted to encompass all the changes that are happening right now in this 15-minute short film. That’s why I used the photographs as main element in the film.
Aguilar: How did you get involved with the Tibetan people and why did you feel photography had to be the central element in the film?
Hu Wei: For me a taking photograph is similar to how one preserves a mummy. Everything that happens in the film is vanishing, so maybe the things we see there, which existed when I was making the film, have already disappeared. What inspired me to create this film in the first place was my experience in university from 2004 to 2006. During these three years I visited Tibet three times, once each year.
When I was there the first time I visited this little village and there were about 20 Tibetan nomad families living there in this vast land. I lived there with one of these families, and I took photographs for them as well as for their neighbors and other families in the village. The following year when I returned to the same village there were only about 10 households left. I had brought back the photographs I took of them because I had promised to give them to them because they had never had their phonograph taken. Sadly, the family I had stayed with the first time was now gone as well as some of the other families. I was very upset.
Then, the third year when I went back to this village, there were only 3 households left. I was wondering were all those people went and I learned that they left because of a new Socialist countryside program, which offered free housing in new buildings for these nomad people to give up their traditional lifestyle. It was just like what happens in the film, when the chief of the village announces that there will be visitors in charge this new program. This is why these people are moving away from their villages and why these changes are taking place.
Aguilar: By getting their photographs taken are these people preserving their identity? Was this something you thought about while developing the film?
Hu Wei: After I finished university in China I went to France in 2008, and I was a foreign student there. During the years I lived in France I thought a lot about the issue of identity. Being there made me rethink this. I’m originally from China, but how much of my Chinese cultural tradition did I carry with me while I was there? I feel that when I was in France I was in an isolated island. I was neither French nor Chinese at that moment. This developed a certain anxiety regarding identity.
At the same time I thought about my experiences in Tibet. What these people feel is similar to what I was experiencing in France. While there, I went to an art exhibit in Paris and I saw a photograph from Michael Nash called Warsaw, 1946. I was really touched by it. What I studied in Paris was painting, installation art, and photography. Paintings and photographs are 2D mediums, and what I had studied in China was filmmaking, which is tridimensional. They are quite different mediums but I still found this photograph intriguing.
What really attracted me to this photograph was the attitude of this old lady, she is smiling, which reminded me of the optimistic people living in Tibet. Even if this woman just lost her home because of the war, she is taking a photograph against this artificial background. She is very optimistic.
Aguilar: In your film another interesting element is the clothing that the photographer puts on these people. Jackets, sunglasses, and other Western-style garments. But there is one young guy that refuses to take the photograph because he doesn’t want to change his clothes. Tell me about the significant of these elements.
Hu Wei: What this particular character was wearing is the traditional Tibetan clothing, but in fact many of the Tibetan youth don’t’ want to wear the traditional outfit anymore. They want to look like everyone else in the world. In the case of my character, his mother made the leather jacket he wears, and after she died he decided not to take it off, even if it’s pretty hot during that time.
Because other young people are no longer wearing traditional clothes, he is now the one who is different. At the end of the film he brings this butter lamp for the photographer to take to Potala Palace. It’s for the monks to burn in order to mourn his mother. But to me it’s not just about his mother, it’s also about mourning the culture and traditions that are dying and disappearing.
Aguilar: When the photographer is ready to leave, we see this unfinished bridge in the background. It’s a powerful image that shows us how rapidly the urban sprawl is advancing.
Hu Wei: This image is a metaphor. The bridge you see in the background wasn’t really there. It was done through VFX. The bridge we see is still in construction and it represents the road towards modernity. This town is on a plateau, which is about 5000 meters above sea level. The geographical location preserved their tradition for a long time, but today even a place as isolated as this is subjected to changes.
Aguilar: How did you get involved with the project Julien?
Julien Féret : We met in Paris when he was studying there. He told me he had this idea and I read the script. I thought it was a very particular project. It took us a long time to make it, although it didn't take us long to get the financing because we had the chance to be funded by the French National Center for Cinematography and a French TV Channel. It was very complicated to make it happen and to shoot out there in Tibet with the local people.
Aguilar: How was the process of finding the specific people you needed to tell such particular story?
Hu Wei: Before we started shooting we went to a lot of different locations and we met with many Tibetan nomads. We went around the households in the area asking people if they wanted to be part of the film. Of course, some did accept and others would say no. With the ones who were willing to participate we rehearsed for five days before shooting. Then we took one day off, and then we shot the film for five days.
Aguilar: Given that the film takes place in a single location why did you decide to shoot on location in Tibet? Could you have done it anywhere else?
Hu Wei: At the beginning Julien and other people suggested we should make the film in France. There are a lot of Tibetan people there who could make it happen, but the most important thing for me was the authenticity. I felt that I could only find people in this particular state of mind or situation in the actual place: Tibet. These are people who had never had their photograph taken, much less being filmed, and they have a unique attitude towards things. They were all really excited.
Aguilar: The Academy Award nomination might be the culminating point for “Butter Lamp,” but the film has had a long journey to get to this point.
Hu Wei: "Butter Lamp" was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, and from that point on it has been selected by over 300 film festivals. I'm very glad that I've been able to share this 15-minute short with people from different countries, backgrounds, and religions.
Aguilar: Tell me about your Oscar experience
Hu Wei: I was quite surprised because I feel like "Butter Lamp" is not your typical Oscar-nominated short film. I’m very happy we are nominated.
Aguilar: Your film has connected with an incredible amount of people during its festival run. Why do you think people have found it so appealing even if they don’t know anything about this part of the world?
Hu Wei: I created this film based on my own experience. For me it’s like looking into a mirror. When I look at these Tibetan people I also look at myself and how I've changed because of globalization and modernization. I also think about where these changes are leading us. Maybe other people felt the same way when watching it. The film also uses a quite unique format and that might also be part of why people where drawn to it.
Aguilar: What are you working on now, a feature film perhaps?
Hu Wei: Right now I'm writing a script for a feature and I'm working on another short film about one person living alone in a tropical forest. Throughout the whole film there is no dialogue. We are still deciding where we are going to shoot it.
- 2/9/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
ShortsHD, the Short Movie Channel, and Magnolia Pictures are partnering to release 2015’s Oscar-nominated Short Films in a record 450+ theaters in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America on Friday, January 30. The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2015 will showcase the Live Action, Animation and Documentary short film nominees as three separate theatrical events. This will be the only theatrical screening for the films prior to the 87th Academy Awards on February 22. This year’s release includes the following nominated short films:
Live Action Short Film Nominees
Aya
Directors: Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Synopsis: A young woman waiting at an airport has an unexpected encounter with an arriving passenger.
Countries of origin: France, Israel
Trt: 39:50
Language: Hebrew, English
Boogaloo and Graham
Directors: Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
Synopsis: Jamesy and Malachy are presented with two baby chicks to raise by their soft-hearted father.
Country of origin: UK
Trt: 14:...
Live Action Short Film Nominees
Aya
Directors: Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Synopsis: A young woman waiting at an airport has an unexpected encounter with an arriving passenger.
Countries of origin: France, Israel
Trt: 39:50
Language: Hebrew, English
Boogaloo and Graham
Directors: Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
Synopsis: Jamesy and Malachy are presented with two baby chicks to raise by their soft-hearted father.
Country of origin: UK
Trt: 14:...
- 1/19/2015
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Seven Oscar nominations represent the diversity and richness of French cinema today, a genuine melting pot with a global vision and an amazing capacity to combine cultural influences and innovative style.
Marion Cotillard in the Best Actress category for her role in "Two Days, One Night" by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (Sundance Selects)
"Timbuktu" by Abderrahmane Sissako (Cohen Media Group) in the Best Foreign Film category representing Mauritania
"The Salt of the Earth" by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro SalgadoJuliano Ribeiro Salgado (Sony Pictures Classics) in the Best Documentary Category
Alexandre Desplat in the Best Score category for the films "The Imitation Game" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Song of the Sea" by Tom Moore (Gkids), a French minority co-production running for Best Animated Film
"The Butter Lamp" by Hu Wei and Julien Féret in the Best Short Film category
Congratulations to Unifrance and to its U.S. Representative, Adeline Monzier who coincidently also is in charge of U.S. In Progress, the twice yearly event held in Poland in November and Paris in June which awards U.S. Indies post-production services while introducing the filmmakers to European distributors, sales agents and festival programmers!
Marion Cotillard in the Best Actress category for her role in "Two Days, One Night" by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (Sundance Selects)
"Timbuktu" by Abderrahmane Sissako (Cohen Media Group) in the Best Foreign Film category representing Mauritania
"The Salt of the Earth" by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro SalgadoJuliano Ribeiro Salgado (Sony Pictures Classics) in the Best Documentary Category
Alexandre Desplat in the Best Score category for the films "The Imitation Game" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Song of the Sea" by Tom Moore (Gkids), a French minority co-production running for Best Animated Film
"The Butter Lamp" by Hu Wei and Julien Féret in the Best Short Film category
Congratulations to Unifrance and to its U.S. Representative, Adeline Monzier who coincidently also is in charge of U.S. In Progress, the twice yearly event held in Poland in November and Paris in June which awards U.S. Indies post-production services while introducing the filmmakers to European distributors, sales agents and festival programmers!
- 1/19/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It’s going to be another fabulous year at the Oscars, and this morning (January 15) the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled their nominees for the 87th Academy Awards.
All in all, there were no real surprises, with Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Eddie Redmayne, Michael Keaton and Benedict Cumberbatch all scoring nods for Best Actor. And predictably the Best Actress hopefuls include Felicity Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Rosamund Pike, Marion Cotillard and Julianne Moore (however, Jennifer Aniston missed out!).
As far as the Best Picture nominees, “Whiplash,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Selma,” “The Imitation Game,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Boyhood,” “Birdman,” and “American Sniper” are all in the running. The 87th Academy Awards will go live on February 22nd. And the nominees are…
Best Picture
Boyhood
The Imitation Game
Birdman
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whiplash
Selma
American Sniper
Best Actress
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Reese Witherspoon,...
All in all, there were no real surprises, with Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Eddie Redmayne, Michael Keaton and Benedict Cumberbatch all scoring nods for Best Actor. And predictably the Best Actress hopefuls include Felicity Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Rosamund Pike, Marion Cotillard and Julianne Moore (however, Jennifer Aniston missed out!).
As far as the Best Picture nominees, “Whiplash,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Selma,” “The Imitation Game,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Boyhood,” “Birdman,” and “American Sniper” are all in the running. The 87th Academy Awards will go live on February 22nd. And the nominees are…
Best Picture
Boyhood
The Imitation Game
Birdman
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whiplash
Selma
American Sniper
Best Actress
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Reese Witherspoon,...
- 1/15/2015
- GossipCenter
Good Morning Oscar fans! Today is nomination day!
Wamg was in the thick of nomination morning fever at the home of the Oscars – the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Prior to the announcement, A.M.P.A.S. and the show’s producing team, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, gave the press assembled in the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre a first look at the new Oscar promo featuring host Neil Patrick Harris, titled “Anything Can Happen,” and given what went down this morning, that’s certainly the case.
Let’s get right to the big shockers – No Lego Movie for Best Animated Feature or Life Itself in Best Documentary Feature.
Also missing among the presumed nominees were Ava DuVernay (Selma, directing), Clint Eastwood (American Sniper, directing), Jennifer Aniston (Cake, best actress), David Oyelowo (Selma, best actor), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler, best actor), Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, best actor), Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl,...
Wamg was in the thick of nomination morning fever at the home of the Oscars – the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Prior to the announcement, A.M.P.A.S. and the show’s producing team, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, gave the press assembled in the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre a first look at the new Oscar promo featuring host Neil Patrick Harris, titled “Anything Can Happen,” and given what went down this morning, that’s certainly the case.
Let’s get right to the big shockers – No Lego Movie for Best Animated Feature or Life Itself in Best Documentary Feature.
Also missing among the presumed nominees were Ava DuVernay (Selma, directing), Clint Eastwood (American Sniper, directing), Jennifer Aniston (Cake, best actress), David Oyelowo (Selma, best actor), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler, best actor), Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, best actor), Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl,...
- 1/15/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The nominations for the 87th Academy Awards are in! 2014 was packed full of lots of great movies, and all the films and actors that have been nominated are deserving of it.
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Alejandro Iñárritu’s Birdman and leading the pack and are tied with nine nominations. The Imitation Game comes in third with seven, followed by Richard Linklater’s Boyhood and Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, each with six. All five of these movies have received Best Picture nominations along with three other films — Selma, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.
Neil Patrick Harris is set to host The 87th Annual Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood and will air on ABC.
I'm pretty happy with the nominations this year, although I am a little disappointed that Guardians of the Galaxy...
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Alejandro Iñárritu’s Birdman and leading the pack and are tied with nine nominations. The Imitation Game comes in third with seven, followed by Richard Linklater’s Boyhood and Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, each with six. All five of these movies have received Best Picture nominations along with three other films — Selma, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.
Neil Patrick Harris is set to host The 87th Annual Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood and will air on ABC.
I'm pretty happy with the nominations this year, although I am a little disappointed that Guardians of the Galaxy...
- 1/15/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has just finished announcing their nominees for the 87th Annual Academy Awards, with Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel leading the way with nine nominations apiece, followed by The Imitation Game with eight. As usual, there were plenty of surprises to be found this morning, so let’s take a look at a few:
Selma ended up not making as grand a showing as many thought it would, nabbing only two nominations (Best Picture and Best Original Song). In a shocking turn of events, Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl has been snubbed from Best Adapted Screenplay after being the leader throughout awards season, making it a wide-open category. Bennett Miller made a completely surprising appearance in Best Director for Foxcatcher, while Steve Carell managed to squeeze into the incredibly crowded Best Actor category. Bradley Cooper has also managed to sneak into Best Actor for American Sniper.
Selma ended up not making as grand a showing as many thought it would, nabbing only two nominations (Best Picture and Best Original Song). In a shocking turn of events, Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl has been snubbed from Best Adapted Screenplay after being the leader throughout awards season, making it a wide-open category. Bennett Miller made a completely surprising appearance in Best Director for Foxcatcher, while Steve Carell managed to squeeze into the incredibly crowded Best Actor category. Bradley Cooper has also managed to sneak into Best Actor for American Sniper.
- 1/15/2015
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
Full list of nominations for the 87th Academy Awards.Oscars 2015The Grand Budapest Hotel, Birdman lead chargeTimothy Spall, David Oyelowo among shutoutsNominees reactionsBest Film nominees in detail
Comment: Jeremy Kay reflects on who’s in and outGALLERIES: Films / ActorsVIDEO: Nominations announcement2014 Nominations
(presented in 2015)Best motion picture of the year“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, Producers“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, Producers“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers“The Theory of Everything” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, ProducersPerformance by an actor in a leading roleSteve Carell in “[link...
Comment: Jeremy Kay reflects on who’s in and outGALLERIES: Films / ActorsVIDEO: Nominations announcement2014 Nominations
(presented in 2015)Best motion picture of the year“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, Producers“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, Producers“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers“The Theory of Everything” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, ProducersPerformance by an actor in a leading roleSteve Carell in “[link...
- 1/15/2015
- ScreenDaily
After months of speculation and predictions, the nominees for the 2015 Academy Awards are here! Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel lead in nominations -- both receiving nine -- while American Sniper surprises with six nominations, leaving Selma being recognized in only two main categories.
As expected, Boyhood took six nominations and The Imitation Game landed a whopping eight. Meanwhile, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash and Foxcatcher all have five nominations each.
During a live announcement by Chris Pine, Academy president Cheryl Boone and directors Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams on Wednesday, the potential winners were revealed to the public.
Video: The Best and Worst Dressed at the 2014 Oscars
Getty Images
Check out the complete list of nominees, below:
Best motion picture of the year
• American Sniper
• Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
• Boyhood
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• The Imitation Game
• Selma
• The Theory of Everything
• Whiplash
Performance by an actor in a leading role
• Steve Carell in [link...
As expected, Boyhood took six nominations and The Imitation Game landed a whopping eight. Meanwhile, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash and Foxcatcher all have five nominations each.
During a live announcement by Chris Pine, Academy president Cheryl Boone and directors Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams on Wednesday, the potential winners were revealed to the public.
Video: The Best and Worst Dressed at the 2014 Oscars
Getty Images
Check out the complete list of nominees, below:
Best motion picture of the year
• American Sniper
• Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
• Boyhood
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• The Imitation Game
• Selma
• The Theory of Everything
• Whiplash
Performance by an actor in a leading role
• Steve Carell in [link...
- 1/15/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards. One hundred forty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)
“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)
“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)
“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)
“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)
“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)
“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)
“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson,...
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)
“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)
“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)
“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)
“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)
“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)
“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)
“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson,...
- 11/20/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy has whittled down 141 submissions to a shortlist of ten films in the running for the 87th Academy Awards.
The films in alphabetical order by title are:
Aya, dirs Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis;
Baghdad Messi, dir Sahim Omar Kalifa, pdr Kobe Van Steenberghe;
Boogaloo And Graham, dir Michael Lennox, wr Ronan Blaney;
Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak), Hu Wei, director, pdr Julien Féret;
Carry On, dir Yatao Li;
My Father’s Truck, dir Maurício Osaki;
Parvaneh, dir Talkhon Hamzavi, pdr Stefan Eichenberger;
The Phone Call, dir Mat Kirkby, dir wr James Lucas;
Slr, dir Stephen Fingleton, pdr Matthew James Wilkinson;
Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol), dirs Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon.
The Academy’s short films and feature animation branch reviewing committee viewed all the eligible entries.
The branch will now select three to five nominees following a series of screenings in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The...
The films in alphabetical order by title are:
Aya, dirs Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis;
Baghdad Messi, dir Sahim Omar Kalifa, pdr Kobe Van Steenberghe;
Boogaloo And Graham, dir Michael Lennox, wr Ronan Blaney;
Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak), Hu Wei, director, pdr Julien Féret;
Carry On, dir Yatao Li;
My Father’s Truck, dir Maurício Osaki;
Parvaneh, dir Talkhon Hamzavi, pdr Stefan Eichenberger;
The Phone Call, dir Mat Kirkby, dir wr James Lucas;
Slr, dir Stephen Fingleton, pdr Matthew James Wilkinson;
Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol), dirs Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon.
The Academy’s short films and feature animation branch reviewing committee viewed all the eligible entries.
The branch will now select three to five nominees following a series of screenings in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The...
- 11/20/2014
- ScreenDaily
The Academy has announced the 10 live-action short films that have advanced in this year's Oscar race. Five nominees will be announced along with all other categories on Jan. 15, 2015. Potential nominees come from across the globe, qualifying with either a short theatrical run or acceptance in a competitive festival. 141 pictures had originally qualified in the category. Recent winners include familiar names like Terry George, Martin McDonagh, and Andrea Arnold. A full list of the nominees below: “Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films) “Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions) “Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit) “Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions) “Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology) “My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes) “Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director,...
- 11/20/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies: “Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films) “Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions) “Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit) “Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions) “Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology) “My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes) “Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts) “The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films) “Slr,” Stephen Fingleton, director, and Matthew James Wilkinson, producer (Stigma Films) “Summer Vacation (Chofesh Gadol),” Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon, directors (GREENproductions)The Academy’s Short Films and Feature...
- 11/20/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Los Angeles, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 87th Academy Awards®. One hundred forty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)
“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)
“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)
“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)
“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)
“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)
“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)
“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton,...
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Aya,” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, directors (Chasis Films)
“Baghdad Messi,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Kobe Van Steenberghe, producer (a team productions)
“Boogaloo and Graham,” Michael Lennox, director, and Ronan Blaney, writer (Out of Orbit)
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak),” Hu Wei, director, and Julien Féret, producer (Ama Productions)
“Carry On,” Yatao Li, director (Rochester Institute of Technology)
“My Father’s Truck,” Maurício Osaki, director (Lupi Filmes)
“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, director, and Stefan Eichenberger, producer (Zurich University of Arts)
“The Phone Call,” Mat Kirkby, director, and James Lucas, writer (Rsa Films)
“Slr,” Stephen Fingleton,...
- 11/20/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
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