Folks, a short list has emerged for Academy Award nominating consideration. Yes, we have AMPAS announcing that they’ve pared down the list of films hoping to be nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject rather considerably. There were initially far more entries vying for one of the five available slots, but not it’s just down to ten. Obviously, only half will be among the final five receiving spots in the Oscar race, though that’s pretty good odds, all things considered. This can be a hard category to figure out as I’ve mentioned in prior years, but I can at least try and set the stage for you a bit now. It’s the least I can do, right? As always, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this is one of the least seen categories at the Academy Awards, if not the absolute least seen.
- 10/27/2016
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
HBO may have been king at this year's Emmys but their awards dominance doesn't stop there. The network is looking to continue their hold on the Best Documentary Short category at the Oscars. The company has produced several previous winners in this category including "One Survivor Remembers" (1995), "King Gimp" (1999), "Smile Pinki" (2008) and last year's winner, "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1." This year, the paycaster has produced three of the five nominees including the frontrunner "Body Team 12." Below, let's take a closer look at that film and the other four nominees. -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions "Body Team 12" During the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, Garmai Sumo is the only female member of a body disposal team that is tasked with collecting the corpses of those who have succumbed to the disease. ...
- 2/25/2016
- Gold Derby
Another day, another new list emerges to show us what titles are in contention for certain Academy Awards. Yes, today we have AMPAS announcing that they’ve pared down the list of films hoping to be nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject rather considerably. There were initially 74 entries vying for one of the five available slots, but not it’s just down to ten. Obviously, only half will be among the final five receiving spots in the Oscar race, though that’s pretty good odds, all things considered. This can be a hard category to figure out, but I can at least try and set the stage for you a bit now… It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this is one of the least seen categories at the Academy Awards, if not the absolute least seen. Not only is it the red headed stepchild of the...
- 10/27/2015
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
HBO Documentary Films is looking to get back into the Oscar winner's circle this year with "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1." It is currently favored with 3/10 odds to win Sunday as Best Documentary Short. -Break- Updated: Experts' Oscars predictions in 24 categories The company has had a role in several of this category's past winners as either a production company or distributor including "One Survivor Remembers" (1995), "King Gimp" (1999), and "Smile Pinki" (2008). The fact that HBO Docs is also headed up by Sheila Nevins doesn't hurt either since she has won 27 individual Emmys, the most of any person in awards history. Can "Crisis Hotline" lead HBO back to Oscar glory? Below, let's take a closer look at each of the films nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject, all of which have earned their filmmakers their first Oscar nominations: "Crisis Hotline: Vete..."'...
- 2/21/2015
- Gold Derby
Sundance Institute, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, today announced a new project that will harness the power of independent film to create a global conversation about extreme hunger and poverty. The Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge will spur the production of documentary and narrative films – through a global open call for three-to-eight-minute submissions – that will celebrate imaginative solutions real people are creating to overcome the challenges of extreme hunger and poverty. The project supports Sundance Institute’s mission to empower independent storytellers and connect their work to communities around the world.
The Institute is working with Tongal.com to manage the online call for entries. Winning films will receive a $10,000 grant and travel to a premiere at a private event at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Users can submit through July 1, 2014. There is no fee to apply. More information can be found at www.sundance.org/anotheryou.
Five new films made with production grants to launch the project premiered earlier today at a private screening co-hosted with the Gates Foundation at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. These five films will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in ways that are as innovative and imaginative as the solutions people are putting into action every day. ”
The first five films for the Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge are:
After My Garden Grows
Director: Megan Mylan
India / Documentary
A young girl in rural India tills a small plot of land to feed her family and plant seeds of independence and financial freedom in her male dominated community.
Director Megan Mylan directed and produced the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki, which broadcast on HBO and the Sundance Channel. Her film, Lost Boys of Sudan, had a 70-city theatrical release and a national television broadcast on PBS's Pov.
Am I Going Too Fast?
Directors: Hank Willis Thomas, Christopher Myers
Kenya / Experimental Doc
Am I Going Too Fast? is a digital tapestry of the intersecting worlds and interactions of craftspeople, shopkeepers, and ordinary folks whose lives have been transformed by new technologies, cell phone banking, and micro-finance; threads that weave together to form a web of connection and possibility in contemporary Nairobi.
Hank Willis Thomas is the creator of Question Bridge: Black Male, a non-fiction new media project and recipient of a New Media Fellowship, New Media Fund grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and Aperture West Book Prize.
Co-Director Christopher Myers is an artist and writer best known for his books for young people, which have garnered Caldecott Honors and been shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Kombit
Directors: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman
Haiti / Documentary
Haiti's internally displaced people start a micro-garden movement to combat post-earthquake hunger and despair.
Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman produced and directed the feature documentary Remote Area Medical, which premiered at the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and was supported by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
The Masterchef
Director: Ritesh Batra
India / Narrative
Akhil, a young shoeshine boy, dreams of becoming a gourmet chef when he has a chance encounter with India's most popular TV cuisiner.
Director Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox will screen at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes 2013 and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for North America. Batra also won the Best Director prize at the Odessa International Film Festival.
Vezo
Director: Tod Lending
Africa, Madagascar / Documentary
A 9-year-old girl tells a tale about how her family and village came back from near starvation after their fishing village adopted sustainable fishing practices.
Director Tod Lending is an Academy Award-nominated and national Emmy-winning producer, director, and cinematographer whose work has aired nationally on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, Al Jazeera.
While on the subject of shorts, you can watch and vote for 15 Sundance shorts on You Tube right Here.
The Institute is working with Tongal.com to manage the online call for entries. Winning films will receive a $10,000 grant and travel to a premiere at a private event at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Users can submit through July 1, 2014. There is no fee to apply. More information can be found at www.sundance.org/anotheryou.
Five new films made with production grants to launch the project premiered earlier today at a private screening co-hosted with the Gates Foundation at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. These five films will become available to audiences online throughout the year via digital media platforms.
Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “With the support of the Gates Foundation, we are proud to launch this short film challenge and support filmmakers around the world in telling stories that inform and engage audiences in ways that are as innovative and imaginative as the solutions people are putting into action every day. ”
The first five films for the Sundance Institute Short Film Challenge are:
After My Garden Grows
Director: Megan Mylan
India / Documentary
A young girl in rural India tills a small plot of land to feed her family and plant seeds of independence and financial freedom in her male dominated community.
Director Megan Mylan directed and produced the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki, which broadcast on HBO and the Sundance Channel. Her film, Lost Boys of Sudan, had a 70-city theatrical release and a national television broadcast on PBS's Pov.
Am I Going Too Fast?
Directors: Hank Willis Thomas, Christopher Myers
Kenya / Experimental Doc
Am I Going Too Fast? is a digital tapestry of the intersecting worlds and interactions of craftspeople, shopkeepers, and ordinary folks whose lives have been transformed by new technologies, cell phone banking, and micro-finance; threads that weave together to form a web of connection and possibility in contemporary Nairobi.
Hank Willis Thomas is the creator of Question Bridge: Black Male, a non-fiction new media project and recipient of a New Media Fellowship, New Media Fund grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and Aperture West Book Prize.
Co-Director Christopher Myers is an artist and writer best known for his books for young people, which have garnered Caldecott Honors and been shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Kombit
Directors: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman
Haiti / Documentary
Haiti's internally displaced people start a micro-garden movement to combat post-earthquake hunger and despair.
Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman produced and directed the feature documentary Remote Area Medical, which premiered at the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and was supported by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
The Masterchef
Director: Ritesh Batra
India / Narrative
Akhil, a young shoeshine boy, dreams of becoming a gourmet chef when he has a chance encounter with India's most popular TV cuisiner.
Director Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox will screen at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes 2013 and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for North America. Batra also won the Best Director prize at the Odessa International Film Festival.
Vezo
Director: Tod Lending
Africa, Madagascar / Documentary
A 9-year-old girl tells a tale about how her family and village came back from near starvation after their fishing village adopted sustainable fishing practices.
Director Tod Lending is an Academy Award-nominated and national Emmy-winning producer, director, and cinematographer whose work has aired nationally on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, HBO, Al Jazeera.
While on the subject of shorts, you can watch and vote for 15 Sundance shorts on You Tube right Here.
- 1/21/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The International Documentary Assn. had great success with DocuWeeks, a theatrical showplace for films that needed an L.A. run to qualify for Oscar consideration. -Insertgroups:14- Indeed, over the 16-year run of the series, 30 of the films presented went on to reap Oscar bids. And seven of them won including "Smile Pinki" (2008), "Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007) and "The Blood of Yingzhou District" (2006). However, the academy has introduced several new requirements that have caused the Ida to pull the plug. A documentary feature now must have a commerical run of at least one week in both L.A. and New York. And it must be reviewed by a film critic from at least one of the Los Angeles and New York Times. The Ida is still going to present new works, just in a different format with the introduction of an invitation-only screening series of 15 documentaries from September to January.
- 4/11/2013
- Gold Derby
Awards
The News & Documentary Emmy Award nominees--lots of them--were announced yesterday from the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, with PBS and HBO leading the charge, as usual. Among the multiple nominees, Rebecca Camissa's Which Way Home earned four, Irene Taylor Brodsky's The Final Inch took three, and Tulia, Texas (Dirs./Prods.: Cassandra Herrman, Kelly Whalen), Trouble The Water (Dirs./Prods.: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin), In a Dream (Dir.: Zeremiah Zagar), The Reckoning (Dir.: Pamela Yates), War/Dance (Dirs.:: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix Fine) and Smile Pinki (Dir.: Megan Mylan) each earned two ...
The News & Documentary Emmy Award nominees--lots of them--were announced yesterday from the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, with PBS and HBO leading the charge, as usual. Among the multiple nominees, Rebecca Camissa's Which Way Home earned four, Irene Taylor Brodsky's The Final Inch took three, and Tulia, Texas (Dirs./Prods.: Cassandra Herrman, Kelly Whalen), Trouble The Water (Dirs./Prods.: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin), In a Dream (Dir.: Zeremiah Zagar), The Reckoning (Dir.: Pamela Yates), War/Dance (Dirs.:: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix Fine) and Smile Pinki (Dir.: Megan Mylan) each earned two ...
- 7/16/2010
- by twhite
- International Documentary Association
2009 Oscar® Nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject: Rabbit a la Berlin. 2008 Oscar® Winner for Best Documentary Short Subject: Smile Pinki. 2008 Oscar® Nominee Best Documentary Feature: The Betrayal - Nerakhoon.
What do these films have in common? They all qualified for Oscar® contention through International Documentary Association's annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which helps to qualify outstanding new feature and short documentaries for Academy Award® consideration.
For 13 years DocuWeeks™ has helped shine the spotlight on great documentaries that may not have otherwise gotten a shot at winning an Oscar®. ...
What do these films have in common? They all qualified for Oscar® contention through International Documentary Association's annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which helps to qualify outstanding new feature and short documentaries for Academy Award® consideration.
For 13 years DocuWeeks™ has helped shine the spotlight on great documentaries that may not have otherwise gotten a shot at winning an Oscar®. ...
- 4/1/2010
- by IDA Editorial Staff
- International Documentary Association
Those wanting to see Oscar-winning documentary 'Smile Pinki', the touching story of an Indian village girl born with a cleft lip, can tune in to national broadcaster Doordarshan this Sunday.American filmmaker Megan Mylan's documentary, to be telecast at 9.30 p.m, is the heartwarming tale of Pinki, whose cleft lip made her a social outcast till her life changed after a meeting with a social worker.Pinki, who is from a remote village in eastern Uttar Pradesh, is a mascot for millions of children across the world who are waiting to smile.
- 11/10/2009
- Filmicafe
The 1st Mumbai International Children`s Film Festival (Micff) began here Saturday with a special screening of Megan Mylan`s Oscar winning documentary "Smile Pinki"."I am one of the jury members of Micff and it is wonderful to see my film getting screened as well," Megan told Ians.The special screening of "Smile Pinki" was attended by 350 students.Another film "Aansoo Bane Moti" which has been made by the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School where writer Amol Gupte teaches will also be screened at the festival."Our society typically slots the financially challenged for menial or vocational jobs. My interaction with the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School made me realize the immense talent they possess. They therefore must be given opportunities for careers that will exercise their latent talent. This...
- 11/7/2009
- Filmicafe
The 1st Mumbai International Children's Film Festival (Micff) began here Saturday with a special screening of Megan Mylan's Oscar winning documentary 'Smile Pinki'.'I am one of the jury members of Micff and it is wonderful to see my film getting screened as well,' Megan told Ians.The special screening of 'Smile Pinki' was attended by 350 students.Another film 'Aansoo Bane Moti' which has been made by the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School where writer Amol Gupte teaches will also be screened at the festival.'Our society typically slots the financially challenged for menial or vocational jobs. My interaction with the children of Pali Chimbai Municipal School and Santa Cruz School made me realize the immense talent they possess. They therefore must be given opportunities for careers that will exercise their latent talent. This film is the result of their effort,...
- 11/7/2009
- Filmicafe
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, yeah, unless you're still suffering through Philosophy 101. But if someone makes a brilliant documentary short and no one watches it -- does it have any impact? Even if it won the 2009 Oscar? When the movie is Smile Pinki, and it has such potential for changing the lives of many children around the globe, that's just not good enough for Brian Mullaney, the co-founder of The Smile Train, an American philanthropist who refuses to rest on his laurels. When Smile Pinki, the story of two Indian children with cleft palates whose lives were changed thanks to Mullaney's charity, won the Academy Award it was a great moment -- and the impoverished Pinki came to America to...
- 9/11/2009
- by Thelma Adams
- Huffington Post
Steven Okazaki’s Oscar®-nominated documentary short The Conscience of Nhem En is profoundly distressing for reminding that Hannah Arendt’s conception of the “banality of evil” is as global a phenomenon as it is a human one and no less a threat in the machinations of warfare today as yesterday. Our’s is the constant task to remember and resist such inhumanity. Arendt’s understanding of the complicity that supports man’s officious inhumanity to man aligns with filmmaker Okazaki’s thematic concerns with the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. When he and I spoke on the occasion of his Emmy®-award winning White Light, Black Rain, Okazaki expressed his upset with a historicity that excludes the testimonials of survivors of horrific events; an exclusion he deemed “disturbing” if not “racist.” Such exclusions avoid the fascinating and tragic human story and—for his part—talking about survivors and allowing...
- 7/8/2009
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
Yesterday came the yearly announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as it extended 134 invitations to several artists and executives "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures" read the press release. Of course all of them can decline, but I wouldn't necessarily expect that to happen as all who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2009 to the Academy's roster of voting members. "These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," said Academy President Sid Ganis. "It's this kind of talent and creativity that make up the Academy, and I welcome each of them to our ranks." The list follows below and reading around the best analysis I saw of it came from Nathaniel Rogers at The Film Experience who, among other things, pointed out the addition of longtime Darren Aronofsky's...
- 7/1/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued invitations to 134 members of the film community to join the group. There were a maximum of 166 open slots to fill this year, but the various branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them.
Hugh Jackman, who hosted the most recent Oscar show, has been invited to join. So have Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, James Franco and Michelle Williams. The list even includes a number of comic performers like Michael Cera, Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd.
Voting membership in the organization has held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.
"These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," Academy president Sid Ganis. Said. "It's...
Hugh Jackman, who hosted the most recent Oscar show, has been invited to join. So have Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, James Franco and Michelle Williams. The list even includes a number of comic performers like Michael Cera, Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd.
Voting membership in the organization has held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.
"These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," Academy president Sid Ganis. Said. "It's...
- 6/30/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New & Notable: Smile Pinki (7Pm HBO) Proving it’s not TV, it’s HBO is far more than a simple marketing slogan comes this uplifting Oscar®-winning doc that highlights two wide-eyed protagonists born with cleft lips in one of the poorest regions of rural India and follows them on a journey from isolation to acceptance. Chowder (8Pm Cartoon Network) Why [...]...
- 6/3/2009
- by theTVaddict
- The TV Addict
If you could use some good news -- and who couldn’t? -- then you’ll want to see “Smile Pinki,” this year’s Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short debuting tonight on HBO at 7pm Eastern. It’s all good news, of the simple, honest, hardworking, getting-things-accomplished, helping-people-who-need-it type. Social worker Pankaj travels around rural India passing out flyers for the extraordinary service provided by the G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital in the city of Banaras: free surgery -- completely free -- for children born with cleft lips and palates, a common birth defect, and one easily repaired, but beyond the reach of the very poor (who, ironically, are more prone to have children with clefts, which may be caused by prenatal malnutrition -- some of the children we see here have multiple clefts, far more disfiguring problems than I was even previously aware of). Megan Mylan (Lost...
- 6/3/2009
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Some might remember earlier this year when ComingSoon.net talked to a couple of the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated animated and live action shorts, and others might be aware that neither of our favorites won in their respective categories. Around the same time, we were offered an interview with Megan ( Lost Boys of Sudan ) Mylan, director of one of the four Oscar-nominated doc shorts "Smile Pinki." Instead of potentially jinxing another one, we decided to hold off, and sure enough, "Smile Pinki" won! For the short film, which will be airing on HBO starting on June 3, Mylan took her crew to India to follow two poor Indian kids with disfiguring cleft palates who, through the graces of the non-profit organization The Smile Train were able to get free...
- 5/29/2009
- Comingsoon.net
It was Slumdog Millionaire all the way at the Oscar Awards Ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre L.A. on Sunday night but amidst all the 'Slumdog' mania was one more Indian based saga Smile Pinki that won the hearts of the Oscars' jury members. The film, directed by American filmmaker Megan Mylan, won the Best Short Documentary Award at the Oscars. Smile Pinki is a tale of a poor Indian village girl who has been left out from the social circle because of her cleft. How her life changes for the good after undergoing a lip surgery forms the crux of the film. The young protagonist Pinki was present at the gala event along with her father and post the event, the father-daughter duo were seen grinning from ear to ear. Must say..this Pinki did smile at the Oscars...
- 2/24/2009
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
It’s been a night of glitz and glamour. But none of the winners thanked Movie-Moron. Here are the 2009 Oscars video highlights.
Now this is how you start a show. What an incredible performance by Hugh Jackman, as he sings and dances his way through all the nominees for Best Picture -
Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix. I don’t know how many people around the world knew what the hell this was about. But for the rest of us, hilarious -
Will Smith slips up and drops in the phrase “Boom goes the dynamite” referencing this YouTube phenomena. Why not. Brilliant.
Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor, and the award is collected by his family -
Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader. Her speech? 15% too sickly, about average for the evening -
Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke to Best Actor, disappointing movie fans around the world. To be fair though,...
Now this is how you start a show. What an incredible performance by Hugh Jackman, as he sings and dances his way through all the nominees for Best Picture -
Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix. I don’t know how many people around the world knew what the hell this was about. But for the rest of us, hilarious -
Will Smith slips up and drops in the phrase “Boom goes the dynamite” referencing this YouTube phenomena. Why not. Brilliant.
Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor, and the award is collected by his family -
Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader. Her speech? 15% too sickly, about average for the evening -
Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke to Best Actor, disappointing movie fans around the world. To be fair though,...
- 2/23/2009
- by Sheridan Passell
- Movie-moron.com
List Source: Variety
Okay, so another year and now it's the final show of the awards season. I don't know why but I'm not that enthuastic about the Oscars this year. Maybe it was last year's underwhelming show or maybe it's because The Dark Knight isn't nominated this year, probably both, but never-the-less the show is done and I want to put up the post of how the show went. Time for the ultimate post-oscar show breakdown...
<!--break-->
Best Motion Picture Of The Year
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
"Milk" (Focus Features)
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
Winner: "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
Best Picture was a major disappointment. Less said about The Dark Knight - the better. For me, Milk is the most deserving of best picture this year. It's issues are more relevant and more original than all films on the list this year.
Okay, so another year and now it's the final show of the awards season. I don't know why but I'm not that enthuastic about the Oscars this year. Maybe it was last year's underwhelming show or maybe it's because The Dark Knight isn't nominated this year, probably both, but never-the-less the show is done and I want to put up the post of how the show went. Time for the ultimate post-oscar show breakdown...
<!--break-->
Best Motion Picture Of The Year
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
"Milk" (Focus Features)
"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
Winner: "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
Best Picture was a major disappointment. Less said about The Dark Knight - the better. For me, Milk is the most deserving of best picture this year. It's issues are more relevant and more original than all films on the list this year.
- 2/23/2009
- by admin
Fox Searchlight Pictures' "Slumdog Millionaire" has almost completely swept the Oscars® with awards including Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Picture and both original song and score music categories. Other notable wins included: - Sean Penn who took home the Best Actor award, his second after 2004's "Mystic River."- Heath Ledger for his astounding performance in Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Dark Knight"- Kate Winslet - Once again for her work in "The Reader" after a two Golden Globe's earned for "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader"- Penelope Cruz - In Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" comedy As announced, here are the winners (noted in bold) of the 2009 Academy Awards which were announced on Sunday, February 22nd. Performance by an actor in a leading role Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films) Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features) Brad Pitt in...
- 2/23/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, the late Heath Ledger and movie sensation Slumdog Millionaire were the big winners at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood.
Penn scooped the Best Actor prize for his role as assassinated gay official Harvey Milk in Milk; ahead of hot favourite Mickey Rourke.
The actor used his acceptance speech to criticise those who outlawed gay marriage in California and call for equal rights.
He said, "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns. I did not expect this. I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.
"For those of you who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban on gay marriage to reflect on their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes.
"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
He also found time to pay tribute to Barack Obama and Mickey Rourke, adding, "I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president. Mickey Rourke rises again, and he is my brother."
Winslet was named Best Actress for her portrayal of a Nazi guard in The Reader; sixth time lucky for the star who had been a losing nominee five times before.
After catching her breath onstage, the British actress said, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't made a version of this speech before. I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this was a shampoo bottle. Well it's not a shampoo bottle now."
She went on to dedicate her award to her family and The Reader producers Sir Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died in 2008.
A stunned Cruz took the Best Supporting Actress award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and warned the crowd, "Has anybody ever fainted here? I might be the first one," before accepting her award with speeches in English and her native Spanish.
Ledger's Best Supporting Actor award for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight brought Hollywood's A-list to their feet, as his father, mother and sister took to the stage to collect the statuette on his behalf and pay him a touching tribute.
But the night was dominated by British movie Slumdog Millionaire, which scooped eight of the ten awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for filmmaker Danny Boyle, who bounded onstage and impersonated Winnie the Pooh character Tigger before accepting his award.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman was an impressive first-time Oscars host and entertainted guests at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre with a string of song and dance numbers, including duets with Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Animated Feature Film - Wall-e
Best Animated Short Film - La Maison en Petit Cubes
Achievement in Art Direction - Donald Graham Burt and Victor J. Zolfo (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Achievement in Costume Design - Michael O'Connor (The Duchess)
Achievement in Makeup - Greg Cannom (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Cinematography - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Live Action Short Film - Jochen Alexander Freydank Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Documentary Feature - James Marsh, Simon Chinn (Man on Wire)
Best Documentary Short Subject - Megan Mylan (Smile Pinki)
Achievement in Visual Effects - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
Achievement in Sound Editing - Richard King (The Dark Knight)
Achievement in Sound Mixing - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement in Film Editing - Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire)
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award - Jerry Lewis
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) - A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) - A.R. Rahman, Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Foreign Language Film - Departures (Japan)
Achievement in Directing - Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire.
Penn scooped the Best Actor prize for his role as assassinated gay official Harvey Milk in Milk; ahead of hot favourite Mickey Rourke.
The actor used his acceptance speech to criticise those who outlawed gay marriage in California and call for equal rights.
He said, "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns. I did not expect this. I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.
"For those of you who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban on gay marriage to reflect on their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes.
"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
He also found time to pay tribute to Barack Obama and Mickey Rourke, adding, "I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president. Mickey Rourke rises again, and he is my brother."
Winslet was named Best Actress for her portrayal of a Nazi guard in The Reader; sixth time lucky for the star who had been a losing nominee five times before.
After catching her breath onstage, the British actress said, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't made a version of this speech before. I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this was a shampoo bottle. Well it's not a shampoo bottle now."
She went on to dedicate her award to her family and The Reader producers Sir Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died in 2008.
A stunned Cruz took the Best Supporting Actress award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and warned the crowd, "Has anybody ever fainted here? I might be the first one," before accepting her award with speeches in English and her native Spanish.
Ledger's Best Supporting Actor award for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight brought Hollywood's A-list to their feet, as his father, mother and sister took to the stage to collect the statuette on his behalf and pay him a touching tribute.
But the night was dominated by British movie Slumdog Millionaire, which scooped eight of the ten awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for filmmaker Danny Boyle, who bounded onstage and impersonated Winnie the Pooh character Tigger before accepting his award.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman was an impressive first-time Oscars host and entertainted guests at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre with a string of song and dance numbers, including duets with Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Animated Feature Film - Wall-e
Best Animated Short Film - La Maison en Petit Cubes
Achievement in Art Direction - Donald Graham Burt and Victor J. Zolfo (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Achievement in Costume Design - Michael O'Connor (The Duchess)
Achievement in Makeup - Greg Cannom (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Cinematography - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Live Action Short Film - Jochen Alexander Freydank Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Documentary Feature - James Marsh, Simon Chinn (Man on Wire)
Best Documentary Short Subject - Megan Mylan (Smile Pinki)
Achievement in Visual Effects - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
Achievement in Sound Editing - Richard King (The Dark Knight)
Achievement in Sound Mixing - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement in Film Editing - Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire)
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award - Jerry Lewis
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) - A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) - A.R. Rahman, Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Foreign Language Film - Departures (Japan)
Achievement in Directing - Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire.
- 2/23/2009
- WENN
Photo: AMPAS There are several places you can get the 2009 Oscar winners on RopeofSilicon including my live blog and our official Oscar history pages, but if you weren't able to find your way to those pages here are the winners once again along with win tallies at the bottom. Best motion picture of the year Slumdog Millionaire Performance by an actor in a leading role Sean Penn (Milk) Performance by an actor in a supporting role Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) Performance by an actress in a leading role Kate Winslet (The Reader) Performance by an actress in a supporting role Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Best animated feature film of the year Wall-e Best Documentary Short Subject Smile Pinki Best Short Film (Animated) La Maison de Petits Cubes Best Short Film (Live Action) Spielzeugland (Toyland) Achievement in art direction The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Achievement in cinematography Slumdog Millionaire,...
- 2/23/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire Sound Editing: The Dark Knight Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Documentary Short Subject: Smile Pinki Documentary Feature: Man on Wire Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight Live Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland) Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Costume Design: The Duchess Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Animated Short Film: La Maison en Petits Cubes Animated Feature Film: Wall-e Adapted Screenplay: Simon...
- 2/23/2009
- E! Online
Did your favorite movies and stars win? Read on to find out! Performance by an actor in a leading role: Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features) Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight) Performance by an actor in a supporting role: Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features) Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax) Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.) Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) Performance by an actress in a leading role: Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics) Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal) Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics) Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax) Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company) Performance by an actress in a...
- 2/23/2009
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Looks like I predicted all the winners yesterday, except for “Best Foreign Language.” Maybe I should have seen one of those before guessing in that category. What did you think? Did they get it right? Who should have won? Post below!
Here are the winners from one of the best Academy Awards ceremonies I can remember:
Best Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader
Achievement in directing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher
Frost/Nixon,...
Here are the winners from one of the best Academy Awards ceremonies I can remember:
Best Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader
Achievement in directing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher
Frost/Nixon,...
- 2/23/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
5:31 pm Hugh Jackman's opening performance, a bit hawkish, corny-ish, but kinda fun, I enjoy the "Benjamin Button" bit, okay, per our report earlier, Anne Hathaway's "supposed to be" surprised performance.
5:35 pm Hathaway still performing, kinda funny with the peace sign ala Nixon.
5:36 pm Hathaway done, now "The Reader" techno performance
5:37 pm "The Wrestler" to I'm Wolverine...funny
Standing ovation...
I like the "faux intimate" setting
5:42 pm I like the Best Supporting Actress montage
Aw...a gallery of real-life past Best Supporting Actress winners...
Tilda Swinton is very regal...so is Miss Eva Marie Sainte...Viola Davis is fighting back tears...ooooh Miss Anjelica Huston for Penelope Cruz, I'm kinda liking this homage nominations presenters thingie...
Whoopi talking about Amy Adams, and being a nun...bless you Amy indeed! Goldie Hawn talking about Taraji P. Henson...Tilda Swinton honoring Marisa Tomei...
And The Oscar...
5:35 pm Hathaway still performing, kinda funny with the peace sign ala Nixon.
5:36 pm Hathaway done, now "The Reader" techno performance
5:37 pm "The Wrestler" to I'm Wolverine...funny
Standing ovation...
I like the "faux intimate" setting
5:42 pm I like the Best Supporting Actress montage
Aw...a gallery of real-life past Best Supporting Actress winners...
Tilda Swinton is very regal...so is Miss Eva Marie Sainte...Viola Davis is fighting back tears...ooooh Miss Anjelica Huston for Penelope Cruz, I'm kinda liking this homage nominations presenters thingie...
Whoopi talking about Amy Adams, and being a nun...bless you Amy indeed! Goldie Hawn talking about Taraji P. Henson...Tilda Swinton honoring Marisa Tomei...
And The Oscar...
- 2/23/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Slumdog Millionaire capped its winning season at this year's Academy Awards by taking home eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Director.
- 2/22/2009
- IMDb News
In the poor rural village of Mirzapur, India, a 6-year-old girl spent her days sitting in the corner of her house ashamed because of her mouth. "People stared and teased all the time," she told People in her native Indian dialect through a translator. "They would call me 'hothkati' – meaning cut lip or the girl with the cut lip. I was never known by my real name," she said. But her name was Pinki Sonkar. Pinki, now 8, is the unlikely star of Smile Pinki, a 39-minute documentary that chronicles her story from being hopelessly unhappy to being helped by plastic surgeon Dr.
- 2/22/2009
- by Paul Chi
- PEOPLE.com
"Slumdog Millionaire," a rags-to-riches tale both on screen and off, was named best picture at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. The indie movie that fought an uphill battle to worldwide recogntion took home eight awards, including best director honors for filmmaker Danny Boyle.
Accepting the award, surrounded by the movie's cast and crew, many of whom had flown in from India for the awards, producer Christian Colson said, "together we have been on an extraordinary journey." Noting that the film had no stars, he cited a script that engendered "mad love...
Accepting the award, surrounded by the movie's cast and crew, many of whom had flown in from India for the awards, producer Christian Colson said, "together we have been on an extraordinary journey." Noting that the film had no stars, he cited a script that engendered "mad love...
- 2/22/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here for the 2009 Academy Award winners! This year I opted not to break down every category and discuss the merits of each individual nominee. Mostly because it takes a ridiculous amount of time, but also because there doesn’t seem to be as much excitement as in previous years. Maybe it’s the fact that the populist picks of the year (Dark Knight, for example) were snubbed in the major categories and replaced with little seen films like The Reader. Or maybe because many of the categories are foregone conclusions.
Either way, I wanted to post my favorites/predictions and hopefully get some discussion going on what you think will win and why. I’m posting my picks here, but included the full list of nominations below.
Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire - It’s clearly the favorite going into the ballot counting having swept every major awards ceremony leading up to the Oscars.
Either way, I wanted to post my favorites/predictions and hopefully get some discussion going on what you think will win and why. I’m posting my picks here, but included the full list of nominations below.
Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire - It’s clearly the favorite going into the ballot counting having swept every major awards ceremony leading up to the Oscars.
- 2/21/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Nominations for the 81st Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning at Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) in Beverly Hills by Sid Ganis and Forest Whitaker. Paramount Pictures' "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" edged ahead of competitors in the number of awards nominated for this years offering of films with a total of thirteen nominations. These included, among others Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Other contenders in the Best Picture category included Focus Features’ “Milk,” Universal’s “Frost/Nixon,” the Weinstein Co.’s “The Reader” and Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire.” "Aint nothin' but a thang" - Robert Downey Jr. secured an Oscar® nomination for his hilarious supporting role in Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder." As announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, here are the nominees: Performance by an actor in a leading role Richard Jenkins...
- 1/22/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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