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AFI FEST 2009: THE LAST STATION, AFTER.LIFE

Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti in The Last Station

AFI FEST 2009, Sat., Nov. 7 at the Santa Monica Laemmle Theater 4 on 2nd Street in Santa Monica.
AFI FEST 2009 comes to a close with the following screenings:

Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station, which is set near the end of Leo Tolstoy’s life, has been getting lots of Oscar buzz for its stars: James McAvoy as Tolstoy’s assistant; Helen Mirren as Tolstoy’s wife; and Christopher Plummer as the verbose author of the never-ending War and Peace.
Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash’s Sweetgrass offers a look at sheepherding in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth mountain range. Apart from the sheep and the high peaks, there’s no connection to Brokeback Mountain.
Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar’s stop-motion [...]

AFI FEST 2009 Awards

AFI FEST 2009 Awards
AFI FEST 2009: Hollywood/Santa Monica, Oct. 30-Nov. 7, 2009
 

Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank focuses on a working-class teenager (Katie Jarvis) frustrated that her mother has found a new beau (Michael Fassbender); Javier Rebollo’s Woman Without Piano is a dramatic portrait of 24 hours in the life of a Madrid housewife (Carmen Machi); and Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani’s Ajami (above) chronicles the day-to-day, anything-but-routine lives of several denizens of a tough neighborhood in Jaffa, where Muslims, Jews, and Christians are sworn to live in bloody disharmony.
 
NEW LIGHTS COMPETITION AWARD WINNER

FISH TANK DIR: Andrea Arnold UK

WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO (LA MUJER SIN PIANO) DIR: Javier Rebollo Spain/France

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
AJAMI DIR: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani Israel/Germany

AFI FEST 2009 NEW LIGHTS [...]

AFI FEST 2009: A SINGLE MAN, THE SINGULARITY

Colin Firth, Julianne Moore in A Single Man (top); Steve Evets, Eric Cantona in Looking for Eric (bottom)

AFI FEST 2009 highlights on Thursday, Nov. 5:

Robert Barry Ptolemy’s The Singularity sounds fascinating: Futurist Ray Kurzweil discusses the just-around-the-corner impact of human technology, which has been growing exponentially. Imagine a world without death, hunger, disease. (Well, I’m assuming all those great things will happen if humans don’t self-destruct first. After all, all lab studies indicate that human imbecility is growing even faster than the species’ technological advances — talk about a scientific paradox; someone should come up with a documentary about that.)
Directed by Tom Ford, A Single Man stars Venice 2009 winner Colin Firth, who’ll quite likely receive an Oscar nod come [...]

AFI FEST 2009: THE ROAD, EASIER WITH PRACTICE

Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee in The Road (top); Brian Geraghty in Easier with Practice (bottom)

Tonight, Wed., Nov. 4, at AFI FEST 2009 in Hollywood:

The Road has been getting a lot of Oscar buzz for star Viggo Mortensen, director John Hillcoat, and for the film itself, a futuristic father-son adventure drama set in a post-apocalyptic world.
In Eduardo Coutinho’s documentary Moscow, the director of a theater group in Brazil’s third largest city sets out to stage a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters.
Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s Easier with Practice sounds like an unusual road movie, one in which a book author (Brian Geraghty) traveling with his brother (Kel O’Neill) becomes emotionally attached to a sexy voice on the phone. Could his brother have something [...]

Academy Awards $450,000 to US Film Festivals

True/False Film Fest

In case you think the Academy only hands out Oscars:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ Academy Foundation has awarded a total of $450,000 to 24 U.S. film festivals for the 2010 calendar year. Recipients range from Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the Ann Arbor Film Festival to the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival and the True/False Film Fest.
Two festivals, the Nashville Film Festival and the New Orleans Film Festival, are in the second year of a three-year grant worth $75,000. The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Virginia Film Festival are receiving the third and final annual installment of another [...]

Doha Tribeca Film Festival Awards 2009

Team Qatar by Liz Mermin (top); Hiam Abbass in Najwa Najjar’s Pomegranates and Myrrh (bottom)

Doha Tribeca Film Festival Executive Director Amanda Palmer and Robert De Niro handed out two audience awards, worth US$50,000 each, at the festival’s closing night gala on Nov. 1. Coincidentally, both winning films were directed by women.
British filmmaker Liz Mermin’s documentary Team Qatar, which chronicles the creation of that country’s first debate team, was awarded Best Festival Film, while Palestinian Najwa Najjar’s debut feature, Pomegranates and Myrrh (talk about a poetic title), was chosen the Best Arab Film.
Starring Hiam Abbass (who deserves a best actress Oscar nod for Lemon Tree), Pomegranates and Myrrh revolves around a Palestinian woman torn between being faithful to her [...]

2009 Fetish Film Festival Winners

Flemish filmmaker Erik Lamens‘ SM-rechter / SM Judge (above) was chosen the best narrative feature at the 2009 Fetish Film Festival, held in the northern German city of Kiel from Oct. 29-31.
Inspired by a true story, Lamens’ SM Judge tells the story of Belgian judge Koen Aurousseau, who, as per Flanders Today, "was accused of physical assault and incitement to prostitution" in 1997. Following his conviction, Aurousseau found himself mired in a deep emotional and financial hole; his only source of support was his wife, Magda, the person who’d initially asked him to get involved in S&M sex practices.
“I heard on TV the other day that this is ‘the most controversial film of the year,’ Lamens is quoted [...]

AFI FEST 2009: SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE, ABOUT ELLY, DOCTOR PARNASSUS

Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (top); A Lake by Philippe Grandrieux (middle); Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (bottom)

AFI FEST 2009 highlights, Nov. 2:

Daniel Raim’s documentary Something’s Gonna Live, which features interviews with several behind-the-scenes veterans, including Robert Boyle, Conrad Hall, and Haskell Wexler
Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which marks Heath Ledger’s last film appearance
Asghar Farhadi’s drama About Elly, winner of the Silver Bear for best director at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival
Andrea Arnold’s family drama Fish Tank, winner of the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
Bahman Ghobadi’s No One Knows About Persian Cats, about the obstacles faced by a couple of Iranian teenagers trying to form a rock band [...]

AFI FEST 2009: PRECIOUS, THE WHITE RIBBON, AJAMI

Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire by Lee Daniels (top); The White Ribbon by Michael Haneke (middle); Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi in Vincere by Marco Bellocchio (bottom)

Among the Sunday, Nov. 1, highlights at the AFI FEST 2009 at the Chinese Theater complex in Hollywood are:

Lu Chuan’s historical drama City of Life and Death, winner of the Golden Shell for best picture at the San Sebastian Film Festival
Claude Chabrol’s psychological mystery-drama Bellamy, his first collaboration with Gérard Depardieu
Lee Daniels‘ Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, a strong possibility for the Oscar 2010 best picture shortlist and the Sundance 2009 US Narrative Jury Prize winner
Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or winner and potential Oscar 2010 contender [...]

Charlotte Rampling, Shirin Neshat, David Morrissey: London 2009

Veteran actress and London Film Festival jury member Charlotte Rampling, the star of Night Porter, The Verdict, and Swimming Pool, arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Venice Film Festival 2009 best director winner Shirin Neshat arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

David Morrissey arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Dominic Cooper, Souleymane Cissé, Anjelica Huston: London 2009

Malinese filmmaker Souleymane Cissé and guest arrive for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. Cissé and actor John Hurt were given BFI Fellowships at the awards ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Actor and award presenter Dominic Cooper, one of the stars of Mamma Mia!, arrives at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony.

Academy Award winner and and London Film Festival jury chair Anjelica Huston arrives at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

John Hurt, Tahar Rahim, Yoav Shamir: London 2009

Tahar Rahim, the star of Jacques Audiard’s widely praised prison drama A Prophet, winner of the best picture award at the London Film Festival and a likely best foreign language film Oscar contender, arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

John Hurt and Ann Rees Meyers arrive for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. Hurt and filmmaker Souleymane Cissé were given BFI Fellowships at the awards ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Filmmaker Yoav Shamir, whose documentary Defamation won the London Film Festival’s top prize in that category, arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. Defamation [...]

Jodie Whittaker, Yaron Shani, Nick Broomfield: London 2009

Actress and award presenter Jodie Whittaker arrives at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Director Yaron Shani, whose Ajami (co-directed with Scandar Copti) won the Israeli Academy Award earlier this year, arrives for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Filmmaker and award presenter Nick Broomfield arrives at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Charlotte Rampling, Souleymane Cissé, Ridley Scott: London 2009

Malinese filmmaker and BFI Fellowship recipient Souleymane Cissé poses with his BFI Fellowship. Veteran actress and presenter Charlotte Rampling is standing next to him at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Mexican filmmaker and award presenter Alfonso Cuarón arrives at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Filmmaker Ridley Scott, best known for Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma & Louise, and Giannina Facio arrive for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Dominic Cooper, Jodie Whittaker, Tahar Rahim: London 2009

Screenwriter Jack Thorne, voted best British newcomer for The Scouting Book for Boys, poses with his award. Actors Dominic Cooper and Jodie Whittaker are standing next to him at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Documentary filmmaker Yoav Shamir poses with his Grierson Award for Best Documentary Defamation, an European Film Award nominee and a potential Oscar 2010 contender, at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Tahar Rahim, the star of Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet, poses with the Best Film award given to Audiard’s gritty prison drama. Academy Award winner and London Film [...]

Charlotte Rampling, Anjelica Huston, John Hurt: London 2009

Veteran actresses Charlotte Rampling and Anjelica Huston attend a cocktail reception at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Filmmaker Yaron Shani poses with the Sutherland award for the film Ajami, voted the most original and imaginative first feature. Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón is standing next to him at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

John Hurt poses with his BFI Fellowship. Next to him are Jeremy Thomas (on his left) and Michael Caton-Jones (on his right) at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Anjelica Huston, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Thorne: London 2009

Academy Award winner and London Film Festival jury chair Anjelica Huston presents the Best Film award during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Screenwriter Jack Thorne poses with his Best British Newcomer award for the film The Scouting Book for Boys during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony at Inner Temple on October 28. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Veteran actress and award presenter Charlotte Rampling speaks at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Gay Documentary THIS AREA IS UNDER QUARANTINE Banned

Thunska Pansittivorakul’s Thai-made experimental documentary This Area Is Under Quarantine, which discusses the difficulties faced by both gays and Muslims in Thailand, has been banned by that country’s Ministry of Culture from showing at next month’s World Film Festival of Bangkok.
According to a report in the Bangkok Post, the problem has less to do with an outright ban of the film’s themes — which includes mention of the Tak Bai Incident of 2004, a case of police/army brutality that left nearly 100 Muslim protesters dead in the southern Thai province — than with labyrinthine new laws involving ratings committees and subcommittees that are supposed to classify films shown at special screenings or festivals.

On his [...]

London 2009: Gemma Arterton, Warwick Thornton, Eddie Marsan

Martin Compston, Producer Adrian Sturges, Gemma Arterton, Director J Blakeson, and Eddie Marsan arrive for the premiere of The Disappearance of Alice Creed, a psychological thriller in which Compston and Marsan are apparent kidnappers and Arterton their apparent victim, during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 24. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Director Warwick Thornton arrives for the premiere of the drama Samson & Delilah, the tale of two Aboriginal lovers in Central Australia that has been just nominated for the Australian Film Institute’s best film award, during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 24. (Photo by Samir [...]

London 2009: Gemma Arterton, Nick Park, Jacques Audiard

Gemma Arterton arrives for the premiere of J Blakeson’s The Disappearance of Alice Creed, in which two men (Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan) kidnap a woman (Arterton is the unlucky one) and tie her to a bed, during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 24. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Screenwriter Abdel Raouf Dafri and Director Jacques Audiard attend the photocall for the gritty prison drama A Prophet, winner of the London Film Festival’s best film prize and a strong contender for the 2010 best foreign language film Academy Award, during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Mayfair Hotel on October 24. (Photo [...]

London 2009: Gabourey Sidibe, JJ Feild, Veronica Echegui

Actress Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, a potential Oscar 2010 best actress contender, arrives at the premiere of Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 23. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Actor JJ Feild arrives at the premiere of Paul King’s Bunny and the Bull during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 23. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Actress Veronica Echegui arrives at the premiere of Bunny and the Bull. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

A view from the National Gallery during the London Moves Me Outdoor Screening as part of the Times BFI 53rd London [...]

London 2009: Jamie Doyle, Nichola Burley, Lindy Heymann

Jamie Doyle arrives for the premiere of Lindy Heymann’s Kicks, in which two women do whatever they can to get near their sports idol, during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Vue West End on October 22. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Nichola Burley at the premiere of Kicks (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Director Lindy Heymann arrives for the premiere of Kicks (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

A view from the National Gallery during the London Moves Me Outdoor Screening as part of the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival held at Trafalgar Square on October 22. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

AFI FEST 2009: Phone Sex Gets EASIER WITH PRACTICE

Brian Geraghty in Easier with Practice

Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s feature-film debut Easier with Practice, CineVegas Grand Jury Award winner and Best International Feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival, will screen at the AFI FEST 2009 on Wed., November 4, at 10 p.m.
Easier with Practice tells the story of a writer (Brian Geraghty of The Hurt Locker) who, in a desperate attempt to promote his still-unpublished novel, hits the road with his younger brother (Kel O’Neill) on a self-planned book tour. Things don’t go very well at first, but when out of the blue a sexy female voice calls the writer at his ordinary motel room — to ask what he’s wearing, no less — everything changes. The phoning couple [...]

Colin Firth to Be Honored in Santa Barbara

Colin Firth, Julianne Moore in A Single Man

Colin Firth, the star of Tom Ford’s A Single Man, will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Outstanding Performance of the Year Award at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre on Feb.13, 2010.
In A Single Man, the 49-year-old Firth plays a grieving, gay college professor in the Los Angeles of the early 1960s. His lover (Matthew Goode) has just died and he is seriously considering ending his own life. Also in the cast: Julianne Moore and Nicholas Hoult.
Earlier this year, Firth won the best actor prize at the Venice Film Festival, and is one of the strongest contenders to land a best actor Academy Award nomination come next February.
Among Colin Firth’s [...]

London 2009: Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore, Atom Egoyan

Actresses Amanda Seyfried and Julianne Moore pose with director Atom Egoyan and producer (and oftentimes director) Ivan Reitman as they attend the Chloe photocall during the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival at the Mayfair Hotel on October 22. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Julianne Moore (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

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