2018 SXSW Film Festival announces Feature Films, Opening Night title

The SXSW Film Festival announced the feature lineup and opening night selection for the 25th edition of the Film Festival, running March 9-18, 2018 in Austin, Texas. While more titles will surely be announced, what is known for now is that there are a 132 features confirmed with the lineup currently including 44 films from first-time filmmakers, 86 World Premieres, 11 North American Premieres and 5 U.S. Premieres.  SXSW selected these titles from 2,458 feature-length film submissions, with…

"2018 SXSW Film Festival announces Feature Films, Opening Night title"

2018 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners

The awards ceremony was held tonight for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.  The winners follow. 2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Simon Chin to: Kailash / U.S.A. (Director: Derek Doneen, Producers: Davis Guggenheim, Sarah Anthony) — As a young man, Kailash Satyarthi promised himself that he would end child slavery in his lifetime. In the decades since, he has rescued more than eighty thousand children and built a…

"2018 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners"

Sundance 2018: Gunpowder & Sky Acquires Hearts Beat Loud

Gunpowder & Sky announced the acquisition of North American rights to Brett Haley’s new film, Hearts Beat Loud, premiering this week at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in the Premieres program.  Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) previously acquired the international rights. The press release follows: PARK CITY, UT – January 24, 2018 – Gunpowder & Sky, the global content studio, announced today that it has acquired the North American rights to Sundance veteran Brett Haley’s (I’ll…

"Sundance 2018: Gunpowder & Sky Acquires Hearts Beat Loud"

The Top Unreleased Films of 2017

As is the case every year, there’s a number of films premiering during the festival circuit but don’t see a release until the following year.  In some instances, this could be because of how long it takes to acquire a distributor. If some of these films had gotten an official theatrical release, make no mistake that they’d have found a spot in my top 20 films of the year and maybe even the top ten.…

"The Top Unreleased Films of 2017"

The Long-Overdue Solzy Awards for Film in 2015

I never got around to posting The Solzy Awards in 2015 as I was dealing with a lot of shit at the time, mostly coming out as transgender while living under the roof of my in-denial parents.  As 2017 comes to a close, I decided that I should finally get around to posting the awards.  Better late than never, am I right? I didn’t see Star Wars: The Force Awakens under the best of circumstances–major…

"The Long-Overdue Solzy Awards for Film in 2015"

Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle: 2017 CIFCC Awards Winners

The 26 film critics and voting members of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle completed their final ballots in 21 categories for their second annual CIFCC Awards. Leading all films with four awards is Get Out from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, including three awards for Jordan Peele and his many hats. A24’s Lady Bird from director Greta Gerwig follows with three wins, including Best Independent Film. Fifteen different films were award winners. In two special award categories, the Trailblazer…

"Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle: 2017 CIFCC Awards Winners"

The Solzy Awards for 2017

In selecting The Solzy Awards for 2017 in Film, some of the categories were so competitive in which they forced a tie because I wasn’t able to select just one. Rather than select just a top ten, I decided to go for twenty in choosing the Solzy Awards for 2017.  I saw over 250 films this year so limiting my list to just a top ten didn’t seem right because there’s a solid ten films…

"The Solzy Awards for 2017"

Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle: 2017 CIFCC Awards Nominations

Capping off their second year as a recognized awards-voting body, the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, a group which I helped found and participate as a proud member, has announced their nominees for the second annual CIFCC Awards.  The 26 voting members completed ballots with the goal of three final nominees in 21 categories.  They will commence a final round of voting ending on December 29, 2017 with winners announced on December 30, 2017. Leading all films…

"Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle: 2017 CIFCC Awards Nominations"

Oscars: Visual Effects Shortlist Announced for Academy Awards

As we get inch closer to the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlist of ten films that remain running in the Visual Effects category for the 90th Academy Awards to be held this March.   Alien: Covenant Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Kong: Skull Island Okja The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets War for…

"Oscars: Visual Effects Shortlist Announced for Academy Awards"

Oscars: A Fantastic Woman makes Foreign Language shortlist

A Fantastic Woman, starring actress Daniela Vega, was among nine films that advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the Oscars.  The nine films were narrowed down from 92 submissions. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Chile, “A Fantastic Woman,” Sebastián Lelio, director Germany, “In the Fade,” Fatih Akin, director Hungary, “On Body and Soul,” Ildikó Enyedi, director Israel, “Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz, director Lebanon, “The Insult,”…

"Oscars: A Fantastic Woman makes Foreign Language shortlist"