The Global Film Village

ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT SCREENS with small red carpet, BIG STARS

// June 22nd, 2010 // Comments Off // Film Festivals

by Marla Lewin

The World Premiere of “One Lucky Elephant” at the L.A. Film Festival attracted  Lily Tomlin, Academy Award-director, Kathryn Bigelow and actress Persia White (“Girlfriends”), who saw the film and stayed for a special panel discussion hosted by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that focused on the plight of elephants and other wild animals in captivity.  Moderated by NY Times journalist and author Charles Siebert, the panel featured the film’s director Lisa Leeman and writer / producer Cristina Colissimo, Laura Balding (wife of Flora’s ‘father’, David Balding, featured in the film). Also their were scientist Dr. Toni Frohoff (behavioral and wildlife biologist and author of Dolphin Mysteries: Unlocking the Secrets of Communication), Dr. Lorin Lindner (clinical psychologist and author of Post-Traumatic Stress and Elephants in Captivity, and Ron Kagan (director, Detroit Zoo, one of the first zoos to close their elephant exhibit, relocating their elephants to sanctuaries).

The panel proved  as thought-provoking as the film.   Lisa Leeman stated “The film is about people as much as it is about animals” referring to the plight of David Balding finding the right place for Flora upon her retirement.  David’s wife, Laura eloquently explained, “while our love for these animals is genuine, we must really take responsibility when caring for them.”  Moved by Laura’s statement, Dr. Toni Frohoff turned to Laura Balding and said “Accountability is a testament to human ability” which resulted in  applause.

Perry Chen, a 10-year-old film critic who gave the film 4 out of 5 Starfish asked- “why are people so ignorant about animals feelings?

“One Lucky Elephant” screens again at the L.A. film Festival on Friday, June 25, at 5pm and Saturday, June 26, at 1:45 p.m, both at the Regal Cinemas.  Log onto www.oneluckyelephant.com for more information.

Hurt Locker Triumphs at BAFTA Awards

// February 21st, 2010 // Comments Off // Awards

2010 BAFTA Awards Winners photo (c) BAFTA

by Marla Lewin

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards for 2010 (BAFTA) were announced tonight at London’s Royal Opera House. In his first formal act as President of BAFTA, Prince William presented Vanessa Redgrave with a British Academy Fellowship. HRH Prince William succeeds Lord Attenborough in the position. David Parfitt, Chair of BAFTA, said: “The Academy has had a long association with the Royal Family and we are absolutely delighted that HRH Prince William has agreed to become our President”.

The Hurt Locker won six BAFTA Awards this year including Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. A Single Man actor Colin Firth won the Leading Actor and Carrey Mulligan in An Education won the leading Actress award. Avatar wins Production Design and Special Visual Effects. The Supporting Actor and Actress awards went to Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds and Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire. Kristen Stewart won the Orange Rising Star Award.

Complete list and Videos of the winners after the jump

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OSCAR NOMINEES TO BE HONORED AT ACADEMY LUNCHEON

// February 12th, 2010 // Comments Off // Awards

Monday is the the annual Academy Awards Luncheon and the Academy reports that nearly 3/4 of the actors nominated will attend along with all of the directors. From the Leading Actor and Actress categories, Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner, Sandra Bullock, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe and Meryl Streep are expected to attend. Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick, Woody Harrelson and Christoph Waltz will represent the Supporting Actress and Actor categories. Many of  those planning to attend have just been to the 25th Santa Barabara International Film Festival where they were honored.

Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Kathryn Bigelow wins DGA Feature Film Award for The Hurt Locker

// January 31st, 2010 // Comments Off // Awards

by Marla Lewin

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the DGA’s highest honor in its 61 year history. James Cameron  will just have to be content with having the two highest grossing films in history and the knowledge that his good friend and former wife has finally gotten the recognition that she deserves. He basically said that on the Jay Leno show last week.

Bigelow and Cameron are still widely considered the frontrunners for the Academy Award for Best Director. Avatar and Cameron won the top awards at the Golden Globes, where it was named Best Film Drama and he won the Director award. Most other critics awards have gone to The Hurt Locker, which has also won more of the crucial Hollywood guild awards. The DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally served as a near-perfect barometer for the Academy Award for Best Director. Only six times since the DGA Award’s inception in 1948 has the winner not gone on to receive the Academy Award for Best Director.

The other award winners are: (more…)

AFI Awards Luncheon Honors 2009 Nominees

// January 15th, 2010 // Comments Off // Industry Event

The American Film Institute held its annual awards luncheon today in Los Angeles. The tenth annual event remained an honoree-only affair, with no press and no public in attendance. For each of the honored films and television programs, Hewlett-Packard, the event sponsor creates a scholarship to the world-renowned AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles.

Because 2009 marked the 50^th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST, AFI acknowledged this landmark by offering the event’s final word to Eva Marie Saint, who shared stories about the making of the film and raised a glass to the work of artists today. (more…)

DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

// January 7th, 2010 // Comments Off // Industry Event

Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2009.

The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

Kathryn Bigelow The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)

James Cameron Avatar (Twentieth Century Fox)

Lee Daniels Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire (Lionsgate)

Jason Reitman Up In The Air (Paramount Pictures)

Quentin Tarantino Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures)

“The DGA Award is especially meaningful to directors because it is decided solely by their peers – the men and women who have been in the same trenches and know exactly what goes into the crafting of a unique motion picture,” said Hackford.  “The five nominees for this year have each expressed an indelible vision that transported audiences to vivid vistas of cinematic art.  My heartiest congratulations to all of the nominees”, said Taylor Hackford. (more…)