Writer-director Michal Vinik explores arranged marriages in the Israeli Ophir-nominated film, Valeria Is Getting Married (Valeria Mithatenet). The world and North American premieres come a few weeks before the Ophir Awards–aka the Israeli Oscars–take place in mid-September. The film has nominations in nine of the eighteen categories, including Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress, and Supporting Actor. Surprisingly, Dasha Tvoronovich is the only lead who did not receive an acting nomination. A Ukrainian bride, Christina (Lena Fraifeld),…
"Valeria Is Getting Married – Venice 2022"Tag: Venice International Film Festival
With the launch of Venice, Telluride and Toronto, awards season is officially upon us in the newest Oscars Watch column. I’m not attending Venice or Telluride but I will be on the ground during the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Judging by their pedigrees, a number of films have an opportunity to break out as a Best Picture contender. Nobody wants to enter the fest season with a highly anticipated film and end up turning…
"Oscars Watch: Awards Season Is Upon Us"
Three Minutes – A Lengthening draws on 16mm color film shot in 1938 by David Kurtz before Nazis invaded Nasielsk’s Jewish community in Poland. The short documentary (69 minutes) is based on Three Minutes in Poland: Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Family Film by Glenn Kurtz. Throw in the remastering and all the fun that comes along but the footage is truly impressive. We see it so many times throughout the film to…
"Three Minutes – A Lengthening – Venice/Telluride 2021"
The SXSW award-winning Topside made its world premiere during the 2020 Venice International Film Critics Week after not premiering in March. Many international film festivals have come to the rescue for the SXSW orphans still wanting an official world premiere with an audience. In this instance, it is Venice coming to the rescue for Topside. The feature debut from Celine Held and Logan George won a special jury award for directing at SXSW in March. …
"Venice 2020: Topside"
The 74th Venice International Film Festival lineup was announced on Thursday. From the Toronto International Film Festival, we learned that some films would play in Venice before screening at TIFF. The Venice International Film Festival runs August 30 – September 9, 2017. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: Downsizing, dir: Alexander Payne (Opening Night Film) Human Flow, dir: Ai Weiwei Mother!, dir: Darren Aronofsky Suburbicon, dir: George Clooney The Shape Of Water, dir: Guillermo del Toro L’Insulte, dir: Ziad…
"74th Venice International Film Festival Lineup Announced"