Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Documentary

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Beaches of Agnès, Agnès Varda
Veteran filmmaker Agnès Varda remembers her life’s beaches, sand dunes, sun rays, and more.

Burma VJ, Anders Østergaard
In 2007, thousands of monks took to the streets of Burma to protest the military government’s brutal anti-democratic policies.

Capitalism: A Love Story, Michael Moore
Wall Streeters and the free-market system are the targets in Michael Moore’s latest.

The Cove, Louie Psihoyos
Beautiful, intelligent dolphins are abused and slaughtered to provide entertainment and fodder for ugly, stupid people. The bloody cove of the title is located near Taijii, Japan, where the government does nothing to stop the slaughter.

Defamation, Yoav Shamir
Is anti-Semitism a reality or just a politically motivated excuse to justify Zionism? Or both?

Like other categories such as best foreign-language [...]

by Andre Soares | October 10, 2009   
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European Film Awards 2009: Best Documentary Nominations

The European Film Academy has announced the ten non-fiction features up for the 2009 Prix Arte for Best European Documentary.

The nominated documentaries are:

THE BEACHES OF AGNES (Les Plages d’Agnès)
Agnès Varda, France

BELOW SEA LEVEL, Gianfranco Rosi, Italy / USA

BURMA VJ, Anders Østergaard, Denmark

COOKING HISTORY (Ako Sa Varia Dejiny)
Peter Kerekes, Slovakia / Austria / Czech Republic

THE DAMNED OF THE SEA (Les Damnés de la Mer)
Jawad Rhalib, Belgium

DEFAMATION, Yoav Shamir, Denmark / Austria / Israel / USA

THE HEART OF JENIN (Das Herz von Jenin)
Leon Geller & Marcus Vetter, Germany

PIANOMANIA, Lilian Franck & Robert Cibis, Germany / Austria

THE SOUND OF INSECTS – RECORD OF A MUMMY
[...]

by Andre Soares | October 8, 2009   
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Sundance 2009

Jeff Daniels, Lou Taylor Pucci in The Dream of Romans (top); Emma Thompson, Carey Mulligan in An Education (bottom)

Perhaps it’s just my impression, but the 25th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, which runs from Jan. 15-25, 2009, in Park City, Utah, seems to be focused on more commercial fare. If so, that’s understandable considering that for the most part Sundance films have been flopping left and right at the US box office. That is, when they find distribution.
This year, there are quite a few films — many of which seem to be about romantic endeavors — featuring name talent: Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan in Shana Feste’s family drama The Greatest; Michael Cera as (a version of) himself [...]

by Andre Soares | December 3, 2008   
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Sundance 2009: World Cinema Documentary Competition

Sundance 2009: World Cinema Documentary Competition
 

Afghan Star (above) / Afghanistan and U.K. (Director: Havana Marking)
After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, "Pop Idol" has come to television in Afghanistan — and millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. This film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives to sing. North American premiere
Big River Man / U.S. (Director: John Maringouin)
An overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian world record-holding endurance swimmer resolves to brave the mighty Amazon — in nothing but a Speedo. World premiere
Burma VJ / Denmark (Director: Anders Oestergaard)
In September 2007, Burmese journalists risking life imprisonment to report from inside their sealed-off country are suddenly thrown onto the global stage as their pocket-camera images of [...]

by Deborah Arthur | December 3, 2008   
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