‘THE BROTHERS WARNER’ SCREENS AT 5TH ANNUAL BURBANK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND INDUSTRY ICONS TO BE HONORED

~ Warner Brothers 90th Anniversary Celebration Begins with ‘The Brothers Warner’ Special Screening at the Burbank International Film Festival’s Opening Night at Warner Brothers Studios ~

Los Angeles, CA (August 23rd, 2013) – The 5th Annual Burbank International Film Festival (www.burbankfilmfest.org), held September 4th – 8th in beautiful Downtown Burbank, will kick off this year’s film festivities with a prestigious opening night celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Warner Brothers, with a screening of the documentary film ‘The Brothers Warner’, written and directed by Cass Warner Sperling, granddaughter of Harry Warner.

Set on the back lot of Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, the evening will begin with celebrity guest arrivals and media drenched red carpet ahead of the screening of ‘The Brothers Warner’, an intimate and touching portrait of the four film pioneers who founded and ran Warner Brothers for over 50 years, followed by a star studded gala reception at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Downtown Burbank.  Guests will be treated to delicious food, handcrafted lagers and adding to the night’s festivities will be a special performance by Emmy award-winning writer and stand-up comedian Brian Kiley.

The following evening the festival is proud to host with co-sponsor LaFFest (www.laffest.com), a night of comedy, drama and new media at Universal Studios, which will include the theatrical premiere of the reality show ‘On Begley Street’ created by Ed Begley Jr.

Venue:                    Warner Brothers Studios (back lot)
Address:                 Gate 3 parking structure located at 4301W. Olive Avenue,
                                 Burbank  CA 91505.

Date:                       Wednesday 4th, September, 2013

Red Carpet:           6:30pm to 7:30pm

Event:                     ‘The Brothers Warner’ at Burbank International Film Festival
Screening:               7:30pm
Important:              Visitors must be on the list and bring legal photo ID with them to
                                  gain access on the Warner Brothers lot.

Special Guests Include: Masiela Lusha (‘George Lopez Show’), Judi Shekoni (‘Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II’), Katherine Castro (‘The Social Contract’).

In addition to over 70 independent films set to be screened in the five days of the Burbank International Film Festival, which showcases films from around the world in a variety of genres and also honors socially conscious filmmakers and entertainment professionals with awards for “Diversity” and “Awareness”. Many industry moguls will be honored with a prestigious award including, ‘Iron Man 3’ writer/director Shane Black (‘Lethal Weapon’), Academy award-winning director Brenda Chapman (‘Brave’), award-winning composer Marco Beltrami (‘World War Z’, ‘The Wolverine’), Conceptual Artist Neville Page (‘Oblivion’, ‘Avatar’) and Academy Award and Emmy-winning SFX make-up artist Michael Westmore (‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, ‘Deep Space Nine’), with more honorees being confirmed.  New to this year the Burbank International Film Festival added a “Faith-based” category as well as the “Los Angeles County Student Filmmakers Award” which will showcase young aspiring filmmakers from within the district. It is also one of the first festivals to capture the opening nights celebrations in 3D and be screened on the closing night with 3D glasses provided.
 
The festival will once again conclude with the Closing Night Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, with red carpet and cocktail reception with R.J Mitte (‘Breaking Bad’) and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (‘Prison Break’), at the stunning Castaway Restaurant in Burbank, hosted by NBC’s weathercaster and comedian Fritz Coleman, and wrap with an after party under-the-stars on Castaways beautiful outdoor patio.

For Festival Programming, Events, Tickets, or for more information visit www.BurbankFilmFest.org to support the festival as a volunteer, partner, or sponsor.

SOURCE EMRMedia (http://www.emrmedia.com/index.php)

LACMA AND THE ACADEMY CO-PRESENT A MAJOR U.S. EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTING THE PROLIFIC CAREER OF MEXICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER GABRIEL FIGUEROA

EXHIBITION: Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa—Art and Film

ON VIEW:      September 22, 2013– February 2, 2014

LOCATION:    Art of the Americas Building

TELEVISA FOUNDATION'S GABRIEL FIGUEROA PROJECT

PRESENTED IN THE U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME

(Los Angeles-August 29, 2013) The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Academy) are pleased to present Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa—Art and Film. The exhibition celebrates the achievements and legacy of Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa (1907-1997), a profoundly influential figure who built an enduring image of Mexico through his visual style.

Recognized as one of the most important cinematographers of the twentieth century, Figueroa collaborated with a vibrant community of international painters, photographers, and printmakers—including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Manuel Álvarez Bravo—as well as leading directors such as Emilio Fernández, John Ford, Luis Buñuel, and John Huston.

Deemed “the fourth muralist” by Diego Rivera, Figueroa forged a vision of Mexican identity and culture that resonated powerfully with Mexican and international audiences. Under the Mexican Sky features approximately 300 objects, including film sequences, paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, posters, and archival documents. Additional film, video, and photographic works by contemporary artists (including Rodrigo García, Melanie Smith and Rafael Ortega, Gonzalo Lebrija, and Juan Capistran and Mario Ybarra Jr.) reflect on Figueroa’s legacy.

Under the Mexican Sky is organized by the Televisa Foundation and is co-presented by LACMA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Academy). The Televisa Foundation oversees the Gabriel Figueroa archive and many elements of the exhibition are drawn from this comprehensive collection. Curated by Alfonso Morales, Curator of Televisa Foundation, the exhibition has traveled extensively throughout Mexico and France.

“Gabriel Figueroa was a key participant in Mexico’s cinematic, artistic, and literary circles throughout his long career. Under the Mexican Sky is the first time the Televisa Foundation’s Figueroa project will be presented in the United States.” comments Alfonso Morales.

"Under the Mexican Sky is a perfect example of how LACMA, an encyclopedic museum with an international scope, approaches the intersection of art and film," said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. "Gabriel Figueroa had a tremendous impact on the visual culture of Mexico. We are pleased to co-present this exhibition with The Academy and are grateful to the Televisa Foundation for their support."

“We are delighted to once again partner with LACMA in shining the spotlight on the life and career of a visionary filmmaker,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO.  “This exhibition invites visitors to discover Figueroa’s iconic works as well as his influence on global cinema.  It also provides a glimpse of what’s to come in 2017 when we open the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures next to the LACMA campus.”

At LACMA, the exhibition is co-curated by Britt Salvesen, Curator of the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department and the Prints and Drawings Department, and Rita Gonzalez, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, and will incorporate more works of art and an accompanying film series.

“Gabriel Figueroa’s cinematic work contributed to the construction of Mexican visual identity and is an important part of film and art history,” said Rita Gonzalez, exhibition co-curator. Britt Salvesen adds,  “Figueroa’s portrayal of pivotal cultural subjects, ranging from Mexican revolutionary soldiers to landscape motifs, created a visual lexicon for Mexico that has influenced today’s generation of artists and filmmakers.”
As an exhibition focusing on the art of cinematography, Under the Mexican Sky emphasizes the collaborative nature of movie-making and examines how a filmic vision intersects with other artistic media.

About the artist
Gabriel Figueroa’s prolific career in cinema spanned more than fifty years  during which time he worked as a studio portrait photographer, photojournalist, still photographer, lighting artist, camera operator, and cinematographer. His body of work exhibits his technical skill, careful handling of composition and lighting, and affinity for the aesthetics of artists. Distinguished directors such as John Ford, Luis Buñuel, and John Huston sought Figueroa to work with them, and many of his films were recognized at the premier international film festivals.

In total, Figueroa’s filmography consists of more than 200 films, including María Candelaria (1943), which won a prize for cinematography at the Cannes Film Festival; Macario (1960), the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in a Foreign Language; The Night of the Iguana (1964), which garnered an Academy Award nomination for best cinematography; Two Mules for Sister Sara (1969); Kelly’s Heroes (1969); and Under the Volcano (1983). Gabriel Figueroa’s achievements were recognized by colleagues in both Mexico and the United States: he was nominated to be an active member of The Academy in 1968; became president of the Academia Mexicana de Ciencias Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas de México in 1972; and received a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1995. Figueroa died in Mexico City in 1997 at the age of 90.

HOLLAND TAYLOR, MIREILLE ENOS, ALAN RUCK, BELLAMY YOUNG AND KATHY KINNEY JOIN BEST IN DRAG SHOW® 2013 AS CELEBRITY JUDGES

PATRICK RUSH TO RETURN AS HOST FOR 11TH ANNIVERSARY OF AID FOR AIDS FUNDRAISER

 

October 6, 2013

 
Los Angeles, August 29, 2013 – Best in Drag Show® – the outrageous and long-running annual fundraiser for Aid for AIDS– has announced that Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor (Two and A Half Men), Golden Globe nominee Mireille Enos (The Killing), Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Bellamy Young (Scandal), and Kathy Kinney (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) will be part of the celebrity judging panel for the show’s 11th anniversary.  Additional celebrity judges will be announced soon. Best in Drag Show® will be held on October 6, 2013 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Event co-founder Patrick Rush will return to host the show.  Jeffrey Drew, long-time lead star throughout the history of Best In Drag Show®, will once again direct, choreograph and helm the 2013 production.

“Behind the sparkles, spangles, and spandex is a great cause – providing housing and food for those who are devastated with HIV/AIDS and poverty,” says Terry Goddard II, Executive Director of Alliance for Housing and Healing.  Aid for AIDS is a vital program of Alliance for Housing and Healing.

The 2013 contestants include Sash Carl (Miss California: Beverly Center​),  D'Nez Westmoreland (Miss Michigan: Electra Caprice Riviera), Stephen Molinaro (Miss New Jersey: Vava Fanculo), Mike Cativo (Miss Puerto Rico: Mimi E), Dajuan Powns (Miss Washington DC: Ciera Lyon), and Aron Ross (Miss Wisconsin: Misty O'Portunity).

Best in Drag Show® was originally founded by Alexis Pittman with a small group of friends in his West Hollywood living room in 1989. Then called Battle for the Tiara, the event raised $400, collected from twenty people.  Due to its increasing popularity, the show was moved to subsequently larger venues and has grown into a large and highly-anticipated annual beauty pageant spoof that makes fun of itself, while keeping the focus on giving back to the community.  The current version has run since 2003, and has raised over $3 million for Aid for AIDS, in support of the work of the non-profit throughout Los Angeles County to prevent homelessness and hunger for men, women, children and families with HIV/AIDS.

To purchase tickets, visit: www.bestindragshow.org or call 323-344-4880

About Aid for AIDS
Aid for AIDS was founded in 1983 by a group of friends in the Hollywood gay community to provide at-home care for patients facing the end stages of the disease. Since then, AFA has become Los Angeles County’s premier, non-profit provider of direct financial assistance to those impoverished and disabled by HIV/AIDS.

To provide a robust continuum of care and meet the changing needs of the community, AFA merged with the Serra Project in 2009 to form the Alliance for Housing and Healing which works to prevent homelessness among persons living with HIV/AIDS.  Our mission is to provide the basic necessities of life to men, women, children, and families living with HIV/AIDS through a safety net of essential housing and direct supportive services because housing is healthcare. 92% of all revenue goes directly to client services.  More than 18,000 individuals have received assistance.

For more information visit www.alliancehh.org.

*** LA OPENING DAY ANNOUNCEMENT! *** Anchor Bay Films Presents "JAYNE MANSFIELD'S CAR"

Presents

"JAYNE MANSFIELD'S CAR"

 

WILL OPEN IN LOS ANGELES ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH AT THE SUNDANCE CINEMAS SUNSET 5

ADDITIONAL THEATRICAL RELEASE INFO:
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC LOEWS VILLAGE 7 (NEW YORK)
SEPTEMBER 13ND - AMC BARRETT COMMONS 24 (ATLANTA)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC GRAPEVINE MILLS (DALLAS)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC GULF POINTE (HOUSTON)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC ELMWOOD PALACE (NEW ORLEANS)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC BARTON CREEK SQUARE 14 (AUSTIN)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - CINEMAS PALME D'OR (PALM DESERT)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - AMC FESTIVAL PLAZA (MONTGOMERY)
SEPTEMBER 13TH - WEST THEATRE (CEDARTOWN)

The film features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick, Ray Stevenson, Katherine LaNasa, Frances O'Connor, Shawnee Smith, Ron White, John Patrick Amedori, Marshall Allman and Irma P. Hall. Jayne Mansfield's Car is produced by Alexander Rodnyansky and Geyer Kosinski. Executive producers are Sergei Bespalov, Mark C. Manuel, James D. Brubaker and Robert Teitel, and the film is a Media Talent Group, A.R. Films and Aldamisa Entertainment presentation.

Critics are calling Jayne Mansfield's Car Thornton's best work as a writer/director since Slingblade. This story of fathers and sons, war and peace, and the turbulent time that changed America forever is set in a small Alabama town in 1969, as the death of a quirky clan's long-estranged wife and mother brings together two very different families for the funeral. But do the scars of the past hide differences that will tear them apart or expose truths that could lead to the most unexpected collisions of all?

Filled with humor and drama, Jayne Mansfield's Car offers a look at human foibles, searing memories and unshakeable family bonds.

Media Talent Group, A.R. Films and Aldamisa Entertainment Present a Geyer Kosinski/Alexander Rodnyansky Production:
Jayne Mansfield's Car. The film stars Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick, Ray Stevenson, Katherine LaNasa, Frances O'Connor, Shawnee Smith, Ron White, John Patrick Amedori, Marshall Allman and Irma P. Hall. The executive producers are Mark C. Manuel, Sergei Bespalov, James D. Brubaker and Robert Teitel. Jayne Mansfield's Car is produced by Alexander Rodnyansky and Geyer Kosinski, and written by Billy Bob Thornton & Tom Epperson. Directed by Billy Bob Thornton and distributed by Anchor Bay Films.

Distributor: Anchor Bay Films
Genre: Drama
Director: Billy Bob Thornton
Writer: Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Duvall, Kevin Bacon, John Hurt, Robert Patrick, Ray Stevenson, Kathryn LaNasa, Frances O'Connor, Shawnee Smith, Ron White, John Patrick Amedori, Marshall Allman and Irma P. Hall
Running Time: 122 Minutes

Release Date: September 13th, 2013

16th ANNUAL UNOFFICIAL GAY DAYS AT DISNEYLAND DISNEYLAND RESORT, ANAHEIM

October 4-6, 2013

 

SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE Glee’s Alex Newell and Dot Jones, Tabatha Coffey, Susan Egan, Bravo’s Newlyweds, Blair Late and Jeff Pedersen, and Miss Coco Peru

 

DJs RAY RHODES, ZACH MOOS AND KIMBERLY S. TO SPIN at the three signature parties.

The 2013 Gay Days at Disneyland are set to take place Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6. For its 16th year, the event is expected to attract more than 30,000 LGBT park-hoppers from California and all over the country.

Friday’s highlights include “An Intimate Conversation With Tabatha Coffey,” the third in our series of celebrity chats with 100% of proceeds going to the Point Foundation. Tickets are $20 and are available online and at the Gay Days Welcome Center in the Grand Californian Hotel.

The evening continues with WONDERLAND, a dance party with DJ Ray Rhodes (Tiger Heat, KBIG 104.), hosted by Los Angeles drag diva Momma. The event, which benefits the Point Foundation, runs from 9:30pm–1am at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. Tickets are $20 at the door. The Wonderland pre-party will include a sneak peek at the new ABC series, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

Saturday, October 5 will be Gay Day at Disneyland, which culminates with KINGDOM, the weekend’s signature dance party with music from renowned DJ Kimberly S and special performances by Alex Newell (Unique on the Fox hit Glee) and Susan Egan (star of Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast and Disney’s Hercules). KINGDOM will be held at the House of Blues Anaheim in Downtown Disney from 9pm–1:30am. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door.

Saturday will also feature An(other) Evening with Miss Coco Peru, in which Drag Queen/Monologist/World Savior, Miss Coco Peru, widely known for her hilarious star turns in the films trick and Girls Will Be Girls, will take the stage. In this intimate evening, Coco will tell stories about her life, sing some songs, and basically change lives.

Sunday, October 6 will be Gay Day at Disney's California Adventure and the return of the  Gay Days Anaheim pool party, PLUNGE! from noon until 4:00 p.m. at The Anabella Hotel. DJ Zach Moos will be spinning while Momma and her bathing beauties splash around in the pool.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

VIP ticket packages for all three parties are available now. VIP Gold tickets include access to an exclusive cocktail party with three-time Emmy nominee, Dot Marie Jones (Glee) and Blaire Late and Jeff Pedersen (The Newlyweds).

Both days in the parks will feature gatherings only available over Gay Days weekend, including scavenger hunts, a group photo, a lesbian ice cream social, group meet ups at varying attractions, and many more events targeted to families, youth, bears, couples and Mouseketeers of every ilk. There will also be a teen dance sponsored by The Trevor Project, the nation’s only 24 hour suicide prevention hotline for GLBT youth. A complete schedule is available at the Gay Days website www.GayDaysAnaheim.com

Other highlights of the weekend include a live broadcast of The Derek and Romaine Show, free gift bags at the Gay Days Welcome Center (located inside the Trillium Room of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel), film screenings, mixers, a party hosted by the Family Equality Council and more.

Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix-in" with the park’s other weekend guests, but gays and lesbians are encouraged to wear red shirts in order to identify each other and to show strong numbers. Official T-shirts are available at the official Gay Days at Disneyland website. Note: Gay Days Anaheim is NOT a Disney-sponsored event so Disney will not have any information regarding the "unofficial" happening.

Sponsors for the event include Delta Airlines, Undergear, Absolut Vodka, Howard Johnson Anaheim, The Anabella Hotel, Knott’s Berry Farm, Miller/ Coors, and the Anaheim/Orange Country Visitor and Convention Bureau. Media sponsors are Blade, Gay.com, Frontiers, PIX, Odyssey Hawaii, Rage, and EDGE.

For complete details, including discounted hotel rooms and park tickets, visit www.GayDaysAnaheim.com

SOURCE MPRM Communications

ACADEMY CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is continuing its sponsorship of the Telluride Film Festival with a series of special events including an exhibition highlighting the history of the festival at the Historic Sheridan Opera House.  Telluride, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, runs August 29 through September 2.

“The Telluride Film Festival is a showcase for great films and filmmakers, and over its 40 years has figured prominently in the careers of many Academy members,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO.  “We are excited to celebrate this milestone by preserving the Festival’s history and its far-reaching cultural influence.”

Telluride Film Festival recently donated all media and ephemera related to the Festival to the Academy for preservation and to avail future generations of its important place in film history.

“The Academy Celebrates the Show” is an installation featuring photographs, documents, video footage and other treasures from the Academy’s newly acquired Telluride Film Festival Special Collection.  A companion exhibit, “Alternate Telluride,” at the Backlot, will showcase a selection of letters from notable filmmakers who – for one reason or another – could not attend, making for a fascinating glimpse into Tellurides that might have been.

The Academy, which has been supporting the Festival for eleven years, is sponsoring the Festival’s signature Noon Seminars series and will also present the following special programs from its collections:

• A retrospective exhibition featuring 40 years of the Telluride Film Festival
• Clips depicting iconic filmmakers from the Academy’s Telluride Film Festival Special Collection will screen in advance of each festival film program
• Special screenings of Satyajit Ray’s “Mahanagar” (1963) and the 1948 short “Muscle Beach,” both preserved by the Academy Film Archive
• Photographic exhibit at the new Werner Herzog Theater includes photographs of Werner Herzog from the Academy’s collection.

“Telluride Film Festival has chosen the Academy as the guardian of its treasured collection so that these important media assets can serve future generations, education and research,” commented festival executive director, Julie Huntsinger.  “This special exhibition that AMPAS has curated is a wonderful glimpse into the Festival’s past 40 years. We are proud of our long-standing relationship and thank them for their enthusiasm in celebrating this exceptional year and for their generous and continued support.”

eONE Films PRESENTS Brian De Palma's "PASSION"

WILL OPEN ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH AT THE SUNDANCE SUNSET CINEMA IN LOS ANGELES

 

THE FILM IS ALSO AVAILABLE NOW ON-DEMAND

Brian De Palma returns to the sleek, sly, seductive territory of Dressed To Kill with an erotic corporate thriller fueled by sex, ambition, image, envy and the dark, murderous side of PASSION.

The film stars Rachel McAdams (Midnight In Paris, Sherlock Holmes, Mean Girls) and Noomi Rapace (Prometheus, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) as two rising female executives in a multinational corporation whose fierce competition to rise up the ranks is about to turn literally cut-throat.

As the maze-like story begins, Christine (McAdams) – a gorgeous, powerful executive at an international ad agency in Berlin -- is searching for a killer idea to impress her bosses, helped by her clever but naïve protégé Isabelle (Rapace). Isabelle admires Christine’s polish and devotion to her work and Christine feeds on Isabelle’s admiration. But when Isabelle comes up with a brilliant viral marketing idea that wows the client, it is Christine who gleefully takes the credit.

Thus begins what starts out as typical office back-stabbing – or “just business,” as Christine explains it -- yet soon turns into something ferocious and primal. As Christine and Isabelle jockey for power, a cat-and-mouse game of scheming – professional, sexual and ultimately homicidal -- erupts between the two women. But as they become more and more entangled in each other’s ambitions, desires and dreams, who will be the greater manipulator, and who will have the final revenge?

With his trademark mix of wit, melodrama and lush cinematic style, De Palma peels back the layers of a spiraling murder mystery that is as full of jet-black humor and villainous fun as it with doubts and suspense. For deep beneath the icy, cool veneer of modern life and work, De Palma playfully exposes a realm where the wildest passions rage.

“There’s no backstabbing here. It’s just business.”

Distributor: eONE Films
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Paul Anderson and Karoline Herfurth
Director: Brian De Palma
Running time: 98 minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: August 30th in New York and Los Angeles

14 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR 2013 ACADEMY AWARDS®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Scientific and Technical Awards Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that 14 scientific and technical achievements have been selected for further awards consideration.

The list is made public to allow individuals and companies with similar devices or claims of prior art the opportunity to submit achievements for review.

The deadline to submit additional entries is Tuesday, August 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

The committee has selected the following technologies for further consideration:

Neutral density filters that remove infrared contamination.
•Prompted by the submission of the Infrared Neutral Density (IR ND) Filter Technology (Tiffen Co.)

Untethered HD video assist devices.
•Prompted by the submission of Meridian (Boxx TV Ltd.)

Software tools for accelerated simulation and rendering of smoke, fire and explosions.
•Prompted by the submission of Plume (ILM) and Flux (DreamWorks Animation)

Physically based shading and lighting techniques for digital rendering.
•Prompted by the submission Efficient Physically Inspired Shading (Pixar Animation Studios)

Software tools for integrated sculpting and painting of digital models.
•Prompted by the submission of Mudbox (Autodesk) and ZBrush (Pixologic)

Pre-computation techniques for visibility and lighting in rendering applications.
•Prompted by the submission of Weta’s Spherical Harmonics Lighting (Weta Digital)

Compositing systems using per-pixel “deep” depth information.
•Prompted by the submission of Deep Compositing (Weta Digital)

Software frameworks for integrated and extensible VFX and animation applications.
•Prompted by the submission of Zeno (ILM)

Integrated software tools for performance capture, visualization and manipulation.
•Prompted by the submission of MotionBuilder (Autodesk)

Non-explosive car flipping devices.
•Prompted by the submission of the Pneumatic Car Flipper (Fxperts, Inc.)

Helicopter-based camera motion-control platforms.
•Prompted by the submission of Flying-Cam 3.0 SARAH (Flying-Cam)

Digital workflow specifications for managing color.
•Prompted by the submission of ASC CDL (D-Cinema Consulting)

After thorough investigations are conducted in each of the technology categories, the committee will meet in early December to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.

The 2013 Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented on Saturday, February 15, 2014.

Claims of prior art or similar technology must be submitted on the Academy’s website at www.oscars.org/awards/scitech/apply.html.  For further information, contact the Awards Administration Office at (310) 247-3000, ext. 1131, or via e-mail at scitech@oscars.org.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar® Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

"MOTHER OF GEORGE" WILL OPEN IN LOS ANGELES ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH AT THE LAEMMLE'S ROYAL THEATRE

ADDITIONAL THEATRICAL RELEASE INFO:

SEPTEMBER 13TH - ANGELIKA FILM CENTER (NEW YORK CITY)

 

SEPTEMBER 20TH - LANDMARK MIDTOWN ART CINEMA (ATLANTA)

SEPTEMBER 20TH - AMC EMPIRE 25 (NEW YORK CITY)

 

SEPTEMBER 27TH - SISKEL FILM CENTER (CHICAGO)

SEPTEMBER 27TH - LANDMARK (SEATTLE)

 

OCTOBER 4TH - LANDMARK KENDALL SQUARE CINEMA (BOSTON)

 

OCTOBER 18TH - LANDMARK E-STREET CINEMA (WASHINGTON D.C.)

 

NOVEMBER 22ND - LANDMARK RITZ AT THE BOURSE (PHILADELPHIA)

**2013 Sundance Film Festival Winner**

U.S. Dramatic Cinematography Award

 

MOTHER OF GEORGE is a poetic and moving second feature by Andrew Dosunmu (RESTLESS CITY), starring Danai Gurira (Michonne from AMC's The Walking Dead, THE VISITOR). Featuring stunning work by acclaimed cinematographer Bradford Young (AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS), the film premiered to critical acclaim at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and will make it's New York premiere at the BAM Cinemafest before opening theatrically in mid-September.

After the joyous wedding between Adenike (Gurira) and Ayodele (Isaach De Bankolé, WHITE MATERIAL, NIGHT ON EARTH), a Nigerian couple living in Brooklyn, marital complications arise out of their inability to conceive a child. The problem devastates their family and defies cultural expectations, leading Adenike to make a shocking decision that could either save her family or destroy it. Dosunmu captures the nuances of this unique and fascinating culture by creating a beautiful, vibrant, and moving portrait of a couple whose joys and struggles are at once intimate and universal. The film also stars Yaya Decosta Alafia (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT) and Tony Okungbowa (The Ellen DeGeneres Show).

The film was written by Darci Picoult, and produced by Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy of Parts & Labor (COLD WEATHER, BEGINNERS, AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS) and Matt Parker & Carly Hugo (RESTLESS CITY, HIGHER GROUND) along with Picoult, Chris Maybach, Saemi Kim and Okungbowa. Executive producers on the film are: Saerom Kim of Maybach Film Productions; Ron Simons of SimonSays Entertainment; Jerry Tankersley, Laura Bernieri & Joseph Sorrentino of Fried Alligator Films and Rhea Scott & Fady Salamé.

Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Genre: Drama

Director: Andrew Dosunmu

Writer: Darci Picoult

Starring: Danai Gurira, Isaach De Bankole, Yaya DaCosta Alafia, Tony Okungbowa, Bukky Ajayi, Angelique Kidjo

Running Time: 107 Minutes
Release Date: September 13, 2013 (NY) /September 20, 2013 (LA)

THE ACADEMY CELEBRATES SATYAJIT RAY RESTORATIONS WITH SCREENING OF THE APU TRILOGY

19 FILMS PRESERVED BY THE ACADEMY FILM ARCHIVE TO BE PRESENTED IN LOS ANGELES, LONDON AND VIENNA

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in celebration of the restoration of 19 Satyajit Ray films by the Academy Film Archive, will present new prints of the prolific filmmaker’s renowned early work known as The Apu Trilogy.  The two-evening screening series kicks off with a double feature of 1955’s “Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road)” and 1956’s “Aparajito (The Unvanquished)” on Friday, September 6, at 7 p.m., and concludes with 1959’s “Apur Sansar (The World of Apu)” on Monday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m., at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Special guests for Monday’s program include actress Sharmila Tagore, who made her film debut in “Apur Sansar,” and Dilip Basu, founding director of the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Center Collection at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The Academy has also partnered with the British Film Institute (BFI), the American Cinematheque and the Austrian Film Museum to screen prints from the Academy Film Archive’s collection.

In London, the BFI Southbank will present “Satyajit Ray” from August 14 through October 5.

More on the BFI Southbank series
In Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, in partnership with the Academy, will present “Unlocking the Golden Fortress: Satyajit Ray Restored,” from September 12 through October 21, featuring all 19 of the Ray films that the Academy Film Archive has restored to date.

More on the American Cinematheque screenings
In Vienna, the Austrian Film Museum will present “Satyajit Ray: Early Works” from December 4 through January 8, 2014.

More on the Austrian Film Museum
More than 100 screenings will take place between the Academy’s screenings and its partners’ during the months-long celebration.

In 1992, after a career spanning more than three decades, Ray received an Honorary Award (an Oscar® statuette) from the Academy “in recognition of his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures, and of his profound humanitarian outlook, which has had an indelible influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world.”

The Apu Trilogy was restored by the Satyajit Ray Preservation Project through a collaboration of the Academy Film Archive, the Merchant and Ivory Foundation, and The Film Foundation.

Tickets for each evening of The Apu Trilogy are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail. Doors open one hour before each screening. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Ticketed seating is unreserved. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

LIONSGATE AND REPUBLIC RECORDS ANNOUNCE THAT COLDPLAY WILL RELEASE FIRST TRACK TITLED "ATLAS" FROM "THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE" SOUNDTRACK ON AUGUST 26

 

Deal Marks First Time the Multi-Grammy® Winning Band will Record for a Motion Picture

NEW YORK and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 9, 2013 -- Multiplatinum recording artist Coldplay will release the first track from the official soundtrack album for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, it was announced today by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Republic Records, marking the first time Coldplay has ever recorded an original song for a motion picture. The song, titled "Atlas," is scheduled to be available via iTunes and all digital retailers on August 26, 2013.  Republic Records is again teaming up with Lionsgate to release the soundtrack in advance of Lionsgate distributing the film on screens worldwide on November 22, 2013.

"I have great respect and admiration for Coldplay, and we are thrilled with how well they have connected to the themes and ideas within the film," said filmmaker Francis Lawrence. "Their unwavering passion and excitement for the project elevated the collaboration even further, and we can't wait to share this music with audiences around the world."

"We are so honored that Coldplay, one of the iconic rock bands of our generation, will perform the first song out on the new soundtrack," said Tracy McKnight, Lionsgate's Head of Film Music. "Knowing that Chris Martin is a fan of the books makes this even more meaningful.  The Coldplay single underscores the stature of recording artists we've assembled for this powerful soundtrack."

Monte Lipman, Chairman & CEO of Republic Records, stated, "The creative alliance between Coldplay and The Hunger Games franchise will create a level of excitement and anticipation of epic proportions."

Coldplay is one of the top recording artists of recent times, selling over 60 million records worldwide and winning seven Grammy Awards and five MTV Video Awards, among other honors.  They are signed to Parlophone, the legendary label known for The Beatles, Radiohead, Queen, David Guetta and more.

The first installment of The Hunger Games was the 13th highest-grossing North American release of all time on its way to grossing nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office.

This is the first in a series of highly anticipated announcements of the new artists to be revealed in the coming weeks.

The first Hunger Games partnership between Republic Records and Lionsgate yielded the Grammy Award-winning, chart-dominating The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond executive produced by T Bone Burnett.

The album hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 on its release with sales over 175,000, making it the first soundtrack to top the chart since November 2009.  It was the best-selling soundtrack of 2012, the fastest selling soundtrack ever at iTunes, and was certified gold by the RIAA shortly after its release. The album earned a Golden Globe Award nomination and three Grammy Award nominations, and its first single, Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound" featuring The Civil Wars, won the 2013 Grammy Award for "Best Song Written for Visual Media".

ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson).  Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has sold over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Black Sabbath, Colbie Caillat,  Enrique Iglesias, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Gotye, Kelly Rowland, Owl City, Of Monsters & Men among many others.

It is comprised of innovative imprints and digital business ventures including Brushfire (Jack Johnson, G. Love), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), Lava Records (Jessie J, Lorde), Loma Vista (Soundgarden, Damian Marley), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), NBC's The Voice (Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery), Republic Nashville (The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, The Eli Young Band), XO (The Weeknd), among others.

ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 28 shows on 20 networks spanning its production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication successes Tyler Perry's House of Payne, its spinoff Meet the Browns and The Wendy Williams Show as well as the new series Orange Is The New Black.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Now You See Me, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Tyler Perry's Temptation, Warm Bodies, Texas Chainsaw 3D, The Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, The Cabin in the Woods and Arbitrage.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

30 MINUTE MUSICALS Presents: HOOK The 30 Minute Musical (yes Steven Speilberg’s Peter Pan film)!

Starring

Tom Lenk as Peter Pan

&

Daisy Eagan as Tinkerbell

Directed by Brooke Seguin

 

August 10 at 9:30pm

 

August 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25th at 8:00pm
 

After versions of Showgirls, Jurassic Park, Top Gun, Ghostbusters, Teen Witch, Home Alone, Roadhouse and Independence Day, 30 Minute Musicals is back with their 9th original musical work parodying the Steven Spielberg classic, HOOK.

30 Minute Musicals takes your favorite classic films and gives them a musical treatment that highlights all of your favorite moments while leading you down a hysterical path of nostalgia.

With special celebrity guests Tom Lenk (Buffy, Argo, Whedon’s ‘Much Ado’) as Peter Pan and Daisy Eagan (Tony winner for ‘Secret Garden’) as Tinkerbell.

When:
August 10 at 9:30pm
&
August 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25th at 8:00pm

Where:
Third Street Theatre
8140 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Starring: Tom Lenk as Peter Pan, Daisy Eagan, Derek Carter, Taylor Coffman, Natalie Cook, Tom Detrinis, Julianne Dowler, Tamara Fernandez, Ryan Garcia, Evan Gaustead, Darren Giglio, Hannah Johnson, Randy Kelley, Elaine Loh, Constance Lopez, Gianna Masi, Todd Masterson, Dylan Rourke, Samantha Scanlan, and Brooke Seguin

Ticket prices are $12 in advance. Get tickets here: http://30mmhook.bpt.me/ .

David Alfaro Siqueiros: Muralist For The Future! August 10th Event at MOLAA is a MUST ATTEND EVENT!

David Alfaro Siqueiros, Muralist For The Future, is as relevant today as he was during his lifetime. Widely known to be the most controversial and political of the three titans responsible for the "Mexican Mural Renaissance" (The other two being Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera.), Siqueiros was an outspoken, workers' leader.

He fought in the Mexican Revolution, battled against fascists in Spain, was wrongly imprisoned and even had a hand in the assassination attempt of Leon Trotsky! Unfortunately, those very philosophies and forms of activism have both kept Siqueiros in much controversy and far from receiving his rightful attention.

David Alfaro Siqueiros saw art in the future! As a great artist and phenomenal inventor, Siqueiros made substantial contributions to American Art. Case in point: Did you know Jackson Pollock was a David Siqueiros disciple? He was. Siqueiros discovered, by way of experimenting with pyroxilin paint, a technique he termed as "The Controlled Accident" and which is precisely the foundation of Abstract Expressionism! And, this is not even the beginning!

Siqueiros was a pioneer in the use of photography. He studied profusely until he achieved the illusion of depth. The ideas and superheroes we see today (think Disney, Marvel Comics, DC) are based on Siquerios' super proletarian heroes (as learned by his very students).  He created art for billboards with the sole intent to make "art a part of every man, woman, and child."

David Alfaro Siqueiros is an Artist whose time as come; and, considering the state of affairs that we find ourselves in, David Alfaro Siqueiros is an Artist whose time is NOW!  In fact, this Saturday, August 10, 8:00pm, there is to be an Outdoor Multimedia Presentation by Gregorio Luke held at the MOLAA.

In this, their 12th Season, the life and works of Siqueiros with be discussed in the context of who he was, what he represented, and what makes him a man for today.

The "IN" Show interviewed Gregorio Luke on both Siqueiros and MOLAA's August 10th event. Luke, an internationally renowned expert on Mexican and Latin American art and culture, is eagerly looking forward to share the nuances that made up the enigma of Siqueiros. Additionally, there is to be some exciting information disclosed regarding a newly uncovered Siqueiros piece.

Siqueiros was a man for the people. He fought against indignity, inequality and the sufferings of the working man. As Gregorio Luke shared in the interview, all are invited to attend this show dedicated to the Muralist For The Future!

If you are interested in art, politics, and life, then come to the Museum of Latin American Art this Saturday, August 10 at 8pm. It wouldn't be a show without you.

INVITATION

DAVID ALFARO SIQUEIROS
Muralist for the future
Saturday, August 10, 8:00pm
at the Museum of Latin American Art
"Murals Under The Stars"

Event Schedule
6:00pm
Galleries and MOLAA Store open

6:30pm
Doors open to event, mercado (market) and food court

8:00pm
Presentation begins
(All images are projected life-size on a 1,800 square foot wall!)

Event Parking
Limited parking for this event is on a first come, first served basis in the MOLAA lot.
There is also off-site parking available at Franklin Middle School on 6th and Cerritos.
Security escorts to Franklin parking lot are available upon request.

Individual Tickets
Preferred: Members $25 /Non-Members $30
General: Members$15/ Non-Members $20
Students: $10
To Purchase Tickets, Please Click Here.

SUNDANCE AWARD WINNING FILM “BLOOD BROTHER” GETS MULTI LAYERED DISTRIBUTION

 

TUGG, INC., ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS, MONGREL MEDIA AND CINEDIGM PARTNER TO RELEASE SUNDANCE AUDIENCE AWARD/GRAND JURY PRIZE DOCUMENTARY ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS IN NORTH AMERICA

 

PROCEEDS FROM THE RELEASE WILL GO TO SUPPORT THE WORK AT THE ORPHANAGE IN INDIA AND OTHER HIV/AIDS INITIATIVES

Los Angeles, CA   August 6, 2013 Director Steve Hoover announced today that his Sundance Award winning film, BLOOD BROTHER, has been picked up for distribution. Hoover, along with his producing partner Danny Yourd, recently closed deals for theatrical, broadcast and digital exhibitions in North America.

“We are excited about this partnership,” states director Hoover. “Each of the players bring something significantly unique to the table and are important in reaching the widest audiences possible.”

BLOOD BROTHER is an intimate portrait of Rocky Braat, an American graphic designer who stumbled upon an HIV orphanage in India and left all that he had to create family with the kids.  Though he never set out to be a humanitarian, his dedication proves genuine in this moving film from Rocky's best friend, director Steve Hoover.

"I made BLOOD BROTHER simply to tell the story of my good friend," says Hoover. "When he told me he was moving to India, it didn’t make sense to me, at least not right away. I was inspired to tell his story because I know him.  I know he isn’t a saint or a miracle worker, but every day he fights his own nature and the forces arrayed against him, and I think that maybe this story could inspire others, as well."

BLOOD BROTHER television broadcast rights have been acquired by ITVS for Independent Lens. Cinedigm has the rights for DVD and digital distribution.  And Mongrel Media will release the film in theaters in Canada. Proceeds from the film have been designated to support the orphanage and Rocky’s work in Tamil Nadu.

“We look forward to sharing Rocky’s powerful story with everyone,” adds producer Yourd.  “And we are hopeful that the film can provide the support needed for Rocky’s work with the children.”

All distribution deals were negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers by Kevin Iwashina and Abby Davis of Preferred Content, and Liesl Copland and Deborah McIntosh of WME Global.

BLOOD BROTHER had its world premiere at Sundance 2013, where it won the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. It will be released in theaters in October 2013 and will have its television premiere on Independent Lens/PBS in January 2014.



http://www.bloodbrotherfilm.com/

FIRE IN THE BLOOD An intricate tale of “medicine, monopoly and malice!” | Opening September 2013

A new release from International Film Circuit, the distributor of the The Waiting Room, Emmy-winner Where Soldiers Come From, Peabody-winner My Perestroika, The Devil Came on Horseback and the Academy Award-nominated film Darwin's Nightmare

FIRE IN THE BLOOD is the shocking exposé of how pharmaceutical companies use patent law and international trade agreements to keep profits unconscionably high, at the expense of peoples' lives. This powerful and timely film shows the urgency of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, life-saving generic medicines, a message made all the more relevant amidst the ongoing debates over affordable healthcare in the United States.

OPENING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

IFC CENTER - NEW YORK CITY

 

OPENING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

LAEMMLE'S MUSIC HALL - LOS ANGELES

http://fireintheblood.com  

★★★★

CRITIC’S CHOICE

 "A shocking documentary about how big Western pharmaceutical companies blocked access to low-cost anti-AIDS drugs, causing a holocaust of 10 million deaths.”
- Kate Muir, THE TIMES OF LONDON

“Brilliant. A real-life David and Goliath story. An amazing documentary.”
- Zoe Ball, BBC RADIO

"Extremely moving. Powerful.
 A shocking account of international trade terrorism.”
- David Rooney, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"Utterly absorbing and impossible to forget.”
- Jeremy Aspinall, BBC RADIO TIMES

“The one film that I’d put to the top of your must-see list. 
 You will be moved and enraged. A beautiful film to watch."
- Tom Roston, PBS DOC SOUP

 

Synopsis: An intricate tale of “medicine, monopoly and malice”, FIRE IN THE BLOOD tells the story of how Western pharmaceutical companies and governments aggressively blocked access to affordable AIDS drugs for the countries of Africa and the global south in the years after 1996 - causing 10 million or more unnecessary deaths. It is also the inspiring story of the improbable group of people who decided to fight back.

Shot on four continents and including contributions from global figures such as President Bill Clinton, Bishop Desmond Tutu and economist Joseph Stiglitz, FIRE IN THE BLOOD is the never-before-told true story of the remarkable coalition which came together to stop 'the Crime of the Century' and save millions of lives.

As the film makes clear, this story is by no means over. With dramatic past victories having given way to serious setbacks engineered far from public view, the real fight for access to life-saving medicine is really just beginning.

About Filmmaker DYLAN MOHAN GRAY - Director/Producer/Writer/Editor
Born of Punjabi-Irish parentage and trained as a historian, Dylan Mohan Gray has worked in various capacities on feature films in over two dozen countries worldwide, in close collaboration with numerous acclaimed directors including Fatih Akin, Peter Greenaway, Paul Greengrass, Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair.

Dylan completed university studies in History and Film at Dartmouth College (US), as well as at the University of Vienna and the Budapest University of Economics. He holds graduate degrees in History from the Central European University and the University of the State of New York, with a research focus on historiography and geographic dimensions of identity.

He was also a resident in Film at Canada’s renowned Banff Centre for the Arts, and has a special interest in political stories with significant international and historical components, often involving complex ethical conflicts.

Dylan founded the production company Sparkwater India in 2005. He lives and works in Mumbai (Bombay) and Fire in the Blood is his first feature-length film as writer/director.

About International Film Circuit
International Film Circuit (InFC) was founded by Wendy Lidell in 1987 to bring quality international cinema to American audiences through innovative distribution strategies. For 26 years, the company has successfully launched critically acclaimed documentaries that have garnered countless awards, including two Academy Award nominees, two Peabody Award winners and half a dozen Emmy Award winners.

Official Film Website & Distributor Site:
 http://fireintheblood.com
 http://www.internationalfilmcircuit.com/fireintheblood/index.html

Samantha Buck's Award-Winning Documentary: BEST KEPT SECRET

Opens at Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Los Angeles
Friday, September 6
 

Opens at IFC Center in New York City
Friday, September 6

In the award-winning new documentary Best Kept Secret, a Newark, NJ teacher struggles to prepare her students with autism to survive in the brutal world that awaits them once they graduate. The film is directed by filmmaker and actor Samantha Buck (21 BELOW, Law & Order: Criminal Intent).

WINNER - Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature  Independent Film Festival Boston (2013)

 

NAMED A "BEST OF THE FEST"  AFI Docs in Washington, DC (2013)

"Entertaining beyond expectations."  - Norm Schrager, Meet in the Lobby

Synopsis: At JFK High School, located in the midst of a run-down area in Newark, New Jersey, the nation’s 10th poorest city, administrators answer the phone by saying, “You’ve reached John F. Kennedy High School, Newark’s Best Kept Secret.” And indeed, it is. JFK is a public school for all types of students with special education needs, ranging from those on the autism spectrum to those with multiple disabilities. Janet Mino has taught her class of young autistic men for four years. When they all graduate in the spring of 2012, they will leave the security of the public school system forever. Best Kept Secret follows Ms. Mino and her students over the year and a half before graduation. The clock is ticking to find them a place in the adult world – a job or rare placement in a recreational center - so they do not end up where their predecessors have, sitting at home, institutionalized, or on the streets.

Best Kept Secret has received support from advocates (including New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, who is featured in the film and recently introduced legislation in Congress inspired by the film) who are concerned about the social and public policy implications when autistic kids "age out". It's an issue families, teachers/school systems and government officials are dealing with in communities across the nation. Newark Mayor Cory Booker recently visited the school and met the film subjects and filmmakers.

Filmmaker Statement by Director Samantha Buck:
 The first question I get about Best Kept Secret is usually, "What is your personal relationship to autism?" Until making this film, I always thought the answer was, "None." What I learned is that we are all connected to it. Autism is part of who we are as a society. Across the country young adults who turn 21 are pushed out of the school system. They often end up with nowhere to go; they simply disappear from productive society. This is what educators call "Falling off the cliff."

 While I was on the festival circuit with my last feature documentary I saw many films about young children with autism. These films were moving and important, but they only spoke of a limited population - predominately White and financially stable. But what happens to children with autism who grow up in less fortunate circumstances? I began to research public schools in inner city areas all over and the best kind of accident of fate brought me to JFK and Janet Mino - a force of nature who changed my life. She has been a constant reminder to have faith, value every member of society, and believe in people’s potential.

While Best Kept Secret may not help all of our boys, I hope it will pave the road for better options for the young men and women who come after them. I want the same thing for the young people depicted in this film as I want for any young person, a chance at a good quality of life and a bright future.
 
About the Filmmakers:
Director Samantha Buck’s directorial debut 21 BELOW earned critical acclaim and has aired on Channel 4 in the U.K. and YES in Israel. It was an official selection at Hot Docs in Toronto, AFI/Discovery SilverDOCS, Sheffield Doc Fest, Newport International Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Helsinki’s Docpoint, and the Woodstock Film Festival. As an actress she played one of Vincent D'Onofrio's partners on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and opposite David Wain on Stella. Other credits include: Third Watch, David Milch’s Big Apple, Golden Boy, Blue Bloods, Six Degrees and Z Rock, and Sex and the City. Film credits include Searching for Paradise, Wirey Spindell, 24-Hour Woman and Gayby.  She can be seen in the upcoming films What Maise Knew and Hellbenders. Samantha is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She currently attends Columbia University MFA Film program for directing.

Producer Danielle DiGiacomo is the Manager of Video Distribution at The Orchard, a pioneering, 15-year old independent music and video distribution company operating in more than 20 global markets. Previously, she worked as the Community Manager at IFP, the nation’s oldest and largest membership organization for independent filmmakers and as Head of Documentary Acquisitions for IndiePix Films. She associate Produced two documentary features, Jennifer Venditti’s BILLY THE KID (Best Documentary Feature, L.A. Film Festival 2007, South by Southwest 2007), Samantha Buck’s 21 BELOW, and Andrew Semans’ fiction feature NANCY PLEASE, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in April 2012. DiGiacomo was one of 6 producers selected to attend the 2011 Sundance Institute’s Creative Producing Lab, where she was the Mark Silverman Honoree.

Official film website: http://bestkeptsecretfilm.com/

Credits:
 Director: Samantha Buck
 Producer: Danielle DiGiacomo
 Executive Producers: Scott Mosier, Daniella Kahane, Mark Nordlicht, Paul M. Bernon, Sean Q. Curran and Jason Weissman
 Director of Photography: Nara Garber
 Editor: Francisco Bello
 Writer/Co-Producer: Zeke Farrow

ELLEN DEGENERES RETURNS TO HOST THE OSCARS®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Television icon Ellen DeGeneres will return to host the Oscars® for a second time, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, on the ABC Television Network.

"We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars," said Zadan and Meron. "As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. There are few stars today who have Ellen's gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are."

"I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say - the third time's the charm," said DeGeneres.

"I agreed with Craig and Neil immediately that Ellen is the ideal host for this year's show," said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President. "We're looking forward to an entertaining, engaging and fun show."

"Ellen is talented, wonderfully spontaneous, and knows how to entertain a worldwide audience," said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO. "She's a big fan of the Oscars; we're huge fans of hers. It's a perfect match."

"It is an honor to welcome back Ellen DeGeneres as the host of the biggest entertainment celebration of the year," said Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group. "She is the consummate entertainer, equally beloved by her peers in the industry, movie fans and television viewers. We very much look forward to having her back on ABC for Oscar Sunday."

DeGeneres hosted the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, for which she received a Primetime Emmy® nomination for "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program."

DeGeneres has made a home for herself in daytime with her hit syndicated talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which has earned a total of 45 Daytime Emmys during its 10 seasons.

DeGeneres' began her career as an emcee at a local comedy club in her hometown of New Orleans. Her acting career in television included roles in several successful sitcoms before being offered a part on "These Friends of Mine" by ABC. After the first season, the show was renamed "Ellen." Running from 1994 to 1998, the show garnered record ratings, with DeGeneres receiving Emmy nominations each season in the Best Actress category. In 1997, DeGeneres was the recipient of the coveted Peabody Award as well as earning an Emmy for writing the critically acclaimed "Puppy Episode" when her character came out as a gay woman to a record 46 million viewers.

DeGeneres has also been successful in her feature film work. DeGeneres scored unprecedented popular and critical response to her character, Dory, the fish with extreme short-term memory, in the blockbuster Pixar animated feature "Finding Nemo." DeGeneres recently announced the highly anticipated sequel to "Finding Nemo," Disney-Pixar's "Finding Dory," currently scheduled to be released in November 2015.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar® Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.