News

Dutch royalty attend opening, which kicked off with Boudewijn Koole’s new feature; Bero Beyer hails Rotterdam diversity.

The 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) (Jan 27 - Feb 7) opened last night with an unlikely infusion of glamour in the shape of 44-year-old Queen Maxima.

The Queen, attending Iffr for the first time, was in the festival’s main venue, the Doelen, for the screening of opening film, Beyond Sleep. The film is directed Boudewijn Koole (Kauwboy) and based on Dutch novel Nooit meer slapen by W.F. Hermans.

“International Film Festival Rotterdam is about as old as I am,” new festival director Bero Beyer commented in his opening speech. “It has been here year after year, growing in size and impact…but we should not take either the festival nor the open environment for granted.

“All over the world, filmmakers we cherish and have welcomed here in the past are prohibited to show their work, restricted in their...

English-language adaptation of Dutch bestseller to open Iffr 2016.

Beyond Sleep, the latest feature from Dutch director Boudewijn Koole (Kauwboy), is to open the 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) on Jan 27.

The English-language film is based on Willem Frederik Hermans’ bestselling novel, Nooit meer slapen, and will world premiere on the opening night of Iffr.

Reinout Scholten van Aschat takes the lead role of ambitious geologist Alfred Issendorf, who goes in search of meteorites in the swampy north of Norway, hoping that the journey will cement his academic reputation by uncovering a significant scientific proof.

The young geologist is also trying to continue the work of his father, who died during a similar research trip, and he only finds redemption when he has reached the brink of insanity. The cast also includes Pål Sverre Hagen (Kon-Tiki).

Beyond Sleep is produced by Hanneke Niens and Hans de Wolf (Soof, Nena, Ventoux, Twin Sisters...

Dutch filmmaker Jan-Willem van Ewijk is developing a Us-set feature, Sleep, following a father and his teenage daughter as they travel through from the Mid-West to California.

Van Ewijk’s latest film, Atlantic, about a young Moroccan man who attempts to wind-surf to Europe, opens the Iffr Live programme this evening (Jan 24).

The director describes his new picture as a story of loss with a Sixth Sense twist, set against the backdrop of contemporary America and hinging round the country’s gun culture.

“It’s a trip the father always wanted to give his daughter for her birthday,” said Van Ewijk.

“During the day he shows her America but at night something strange happens. He leaves her and breaks into people’s homes to watch their children sleep.

“Guns and gun culture play a large role throughout their trip. They meet a lot of people with guns. Slowly the truth of the situation emerges.”

For now, van...

Dutch filmmaker Boudewijn Koole’s Kauwboy won the Golden Elephant for best film in the International Live-action Competition at this year’s International Children’s Film Festival of India (Icffi) which wrapped in Hyderabad on Nov 20.

French-Belgian film Ernest And Celestine, directed by Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner, was awarded the Golden Elephant in the International Animation Competition, while Russian film Chinti, by Natalia Mirzoyan, took the top award in the International Shorts Competition.

International Live Action Competition

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Feature

Kauwboy

Golden plaque for Second Best Live Action Feature

A Horse On The Balcony

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Director

Kaphal – Batul Mukhtiar

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Screenplay

Nono, The Zigzag Kid

A Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Feature (Children’s Jury)

A Horse On The Balcony

International Animation Competition

Golden Elephant for Best Animation Feature

Ernest Et Celestine

Golden plaque for Second Best Animation Feature...

Dutch filmmaker Boudewijn Koole’s Kauwboy won the Golden Elephant for best film in the International Live-action Competition at this year’s International Children’s Film Festival of India (Icffi) which wrapped in Hyderabad on Nov 20.

French-Belgian film Ernest And Celestine, directed by Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner, was awarded the Golden Elephant in the International Animation Competition, while Russian film Chinti, by Natalia Mirzoyan, took the top award in the International Shorts Competition.

International Live Action Competition:

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Feature: Kauwboy

Golden plaque for Second Best Live Action Feature: A Horse On The Balcony

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Director: Kaphal – Batul Mukhtiar

Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Screenplay: Nono, The Zigzag Kid

A Golden Elephant for Best Live Action Feature (Children’s Jury): A Horse On The Balcony

International Animation Competition:

Golden Elephant for Best Animation Feature: Ernest Et Celestine

Golden plaque for Second Best Animation...

Batul Mukhtiar won the Golden Elephant trophy for Best Live Action Director for Kaphal in the Competition International Live Action section at the International Children’s Film Festival of India.

Tamaash or The Puppet by Satyanshu Singh and Devanshu Singh won the Golden Elephant trophy for Best Short, Children’s Jury. The film was competing in the International Shorts section.

Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Artwork and Arnab Chaudhuri’s Arjun won a Golden Elephant trophy for Best Animation Feature, Children’s Jury. Both films were competing in the International Animation competition section.

The 18th edition of the festival was held in Hyderabad from November 14 – 20, 2013.

Complete list of winners:

Competition Little Directors

Golden Elephant trophy for Best Little Director – Breaking The Silence by Siddhanth Joshi and Tamatar Chor by Pawanjot Singh.

Golden Plaque for Second Best Little Director – Ecole Mondiale World...

Doha’s youth festival to showcase Qatari filmmakers; unveils competition titles.

Films shot by Qatari nationals and those who call Qatar their home are to be showcased at the inaugural Ajyal Youth Film Festival (Nov 26-30), presented by the Doha Film Institute, in a Made in Qatar strand.

The programme will highglight the works of filmmakers across three segments.

The first will feature the works of winners from the Doha Film Institute’s 48-Hour online Family Film Challenge; the second from the 7-Day Filmmaking Challenge, both of which were open to filmmakers from across Qatar; and the third which will include the screening of Batal Wa Resalah (The Hero and the Message), from Al Rayyan Productions.

Ajyal festival director Fatma Al Remaihi said the Qatar strand would “honour the dedication, creativity and unique voice of our homegrown talent in front of a wide audience”.

She added that the festival is “dedicated to supporting local filmmakers and to...

The 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India has announced the competition lineup for 2013. Some of the well-known Indian films in competition are Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry [Read interview], Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya [Read interview] and Batul Mukhtiar’s Kaphal.

Organized by the Children’s Film Society of India, the biennial festival also known as The Golden Elephant will be held from November 14-20, 2013 in Hyderabad.

Competition Live Action

A Horse on the Balcony

Dir.: Hüseyin Tabak (Austria)

Tainá – an Amazon Legend

Dir.: Rosanne Svartman (Brazil)

Havanastation

Dir.: Ian Padrón (Cuba)

The Great Bird Chase

Dir.: Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)

Horizon Beautiful

Dir.: Stefan Jäger (Ethiopia, Switzerland)

Windstrom

Germany

Igor and the Cranes’ Journey

Dir.: Evgeny Ruman (Germany, Israel, Poland)

Fandry

Dir.: Nagraj Manjule (India)

Kaphal

Dir.: Batul Mukhtiar (India)

Good Fellows

Iran

7 Days of Himmawari and her Puppies

Dir.: Emiko Hiramatsu (Japan)

Mother,...

Youth In Revolt (and More): Cousins Channels Marker

It should be no question that Mark Cousins’ vast knowledge of film history is integral to his own filmmaking process, with his previously lauded endeavor, the epic 15 hour personal tour of cinematic lineage in The Story of Film: An Odyssey posing as a definitive screen history of uncomparable expansiveness. But his employment of film history is not just an implementation of influence. Rather, it is the subject he can not seem to tear himself from. This time around his focus falls on the cinematic depiction of youth in cinema, why they have become unfathomably integral to so many great works of art and how they continue to have our attention on the big screen. Like its predecessor, A Story of Children and Film takes us around the globe and through time to highlight cinematic greatness with the same brilliantly insightful wit,...

I took the wife and kids to two of the Free events last weekend and we had a blast!

Cinema St. Louis’ Sliff/Kids, the First Annual St. Louis International Children’s Film Festival presented by Pnc Arts Alive continues this weekend.

Here are the Sliff/Kids Venues for the last weekend of the fest:

• Ronnies 20 Cine: 5320 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Attendees should go to the box office when they arrive at the theater to obtain complimentary tickets. • St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library Auditorium (screenings) and Creative Experience (camps): 1301 Olive St. downtown. • Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium: Forsyth Boulevard and Chaplin Drive (two blocks west of Skinker Boulevard). Parking is available in the lots between Skinker Boulevard and Chaplin Drive; no permits are required. And here is the line-up for the films show at Sliff/Kids this weekend. Did we mention that everything is Free??!!

Michael Sporn...

Sliff/Kids opens tonight! I’m planning on attending tonight’s show and tomorrow night’s as well. This should be a great, Free, event and hopefully will turn into an annual fest.

Did we mention everything is free!!!

Cinema St. Louis introduces Sliff/Kids, the First Annual St. Louis International Children’s Film Festival, presented by Pnc Arts Alive. With a half-dozen presenting partners, Csl will offer film programs, camps, and a workshop as part of Sliff/Kids, which is held from July 26-Aug. 4, 2013. A total of 14 film programs will be screened on the fest’s two weekends (July 26-28 and Aug. 2-4) at Webster University, the St. Louis Public Library, the Missouri History Museum, Washington University, Lindenwood University, and the Wildey Theatre. With the participation of both Lindenwood and Webster universities, filmmaking camps on live action and animation will be held at the St. Louis Public Library’s...

When I saw When I Saw You (Isa: The Match Factory) in Toronto, I wrote about its director Annemarie Jacir ♀, as a Woman to Watch. Jacir is part of a new wave of Arab filmmakers who have made a name on the international scene. She earned her Mfa in film at Columbia University in New York City. She lives in Jordan after being exiled from Israel, which opposed the politics in her films. Jacir was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Cinema and Variety's Rab Pack: The Arab New Wave.

The child (Mahmoud Asfa) who runs away from the refugee camp where he and his mother are placed in order to return home to find his (presumed dead) father was remarkable and carried much of the film. I am happy to hear he's exploring beyond the Middle Eastern lands. This is the first time a Jordanian actor has been nominated for the Young Artists Award in California. Mahmoud Asfa, from Irbid, is one of only five nominees, selected for his role in the award-winning Jordanian-Palestinian co-production When I Saw You (Lamma Shoftak) written and directed by Annemarie Jacir.

The Award Envelopes will be opened on Sunday, May 5, 2013 in the Empire Ballroom of the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel, Studio City, California. Congratulations Mahmoud Asfa and best of luck at the 34th Annual Awards!

Best Performance In An International Feature Film

Young Actor Nominees

Mahmoud Asfa Teo Gutierrez Romero Rick Lens Émilien Néron Antoine Olivier Pilon

"When I Saw You" ( لما شفتك ) "Infancia Clandestina" (Clandestine Childhood) "Kauwboy" (Jackdaw Boy) "Monsieur Lazhar" (Mister Lazhar) "Les Pee-Wee 3D"

Jordan Argentina Netherlands Canada Canada

The Young Artist Foundation together with The Social Relations of Knowledge Institute, Inc. congratulates all Nominees.

For a full list of nominees: Young Artist Awards

For more news follow When I Saw You Facebook Page...

Playing sort of like the female version of Steve McQueen’s Shame comes Dutch filmmaker Sacha Polak’s film debut, Hemel, a provocative and, more significantly, non-exploitative exploration of a young woman’s confused search for intimacy through (more often than not) hollow casual sexual encounters. A 2012 Berlin International Film Festival selection, Polak’s film also captures an emotionally potent performance from newcomer Hannah Hoekstra, creating a fascinating and realistic portrait of sexuality, a rare phenomenon even in the heterosexual realm.

We meet the twenty three year old Hemel (Hannah Hoekstra), which means Heaven, in the midst of a hook-up with a man she seems to have little in common with. Exchanging hostile observations supporting hostile gender stereotypes, their banter evolves into a discussion of women shaving pubic hair, which Hemel is opposed to but let’s herself be sheared anyhow. She equates a lack of hair with pre pubescence...

More than 2,700 members of the European Film Academy - filmmakers from across Europe - have voted for this year’s European Film Awards.

Amour, a highly decorated standout, follows Georges and Anne in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple's bond of love is severely tested. Awarded Best Film, Director, Actor, and Actress for 2012, it is one not to miss!

At the awards ceremony in Berlin the following awards were presented:

European Film 2012: Amour France / Germany / Austria, 127 min Written & directed by Michael Haneke produced by Margaret Menegoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka & Michael Katz European Director 2012: Michael Haneke for Amour European Actress 2012: Emmanuelle Riva in Amour European Actor 2012: Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour European Screenwriter 2012: Tobias Lindholm & Thomas Vinterberg for Jagten (The Hunt) Carlo Di Palma European Cinematographer Award 2012: Sean Bobbitt for Shame European Editor 2012: Joe Walker for Shame European Production Designer 2012: Maria Djurkovic for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy European Composer 2012: Alberto Iglesias for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy European Discovery 2012 – Prix Fipresci: Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole (The Netherlands) European Film Academy Documentary 2012: Hiver Nomade (Winter Nomads) by Manuel von Stürler (Switzerland) European Film Academy Animated Feature Film 2012: Alois Nebel by Tomáš Luňák (Czech Republic / Germany / Slovakia) European Film Academy Short Film 2012: Superman, Spiderman Or Batman by Tudor Giurgiu, Romania European Co-production Award 2012 - Prix Eurimages: Helena Danielsson, Sweden European Achievement In World Cinema 2012: Dame Helen Mirren, UK European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award: Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy The People'S Choice Award 2012: Hasta La Vista (Come As You Are) directed by da Geoffrey Enthoven The European Film Awards 2012 are presented by the European Film Academy e.V. and Efa Productions gGmbH with the support of the Maltese Ministry of Finance, Economy and Investment, the Malta Film Commission, Ffa German Federal Film Board, the German State Lottery Berlin, the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, the Media Programme of the EU, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Air Malta p.l.c., Arte, CinePostproduction, Egeda -filmotech.com, Film Corporation, Gls, Mfcc, Panalight Nexos Mediterranea and Zdf. Official Hair styling partner: Goldwell Official make-up partner: M-a-c...

The fifth edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival will hold retrospectives of Girish Kasaravalli and Jahnu Barua among others. Five of Kasaravalli’s films: Tabarana Kathe (1986), Kraurya (1996), Thaayi Saheba (1997), Dweepa (2003) and Hasina (2004)will be screened. While Barua’s Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (1987), Banani (1990), Firingoti (1992) and Hkhagoroloi Bohu Door(1995) will be screened.

Besides, three other sections are dedicated to Indian cinema. Chitrabharathi – Indian Cinema Competition, Kannada Cinema (competition and screening of films in other dialects in Karnataka) and 100 years of Indian Cinema (screening of 14 films).

Complete line up:

Retrospective

Chan-Wook Park (South Korea)

1. J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (Chan-Wook Park/110/2000/South Korea)

2. Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (Chan-Wook Park/129/2002/South Korea)

3. Old boy (Chan-Wook Park/120/2003/South Korea)

4. Lady Vengeance (Chan-Wook Park/112/2005/South Korea)

5. Thirst (Chan-Wook Park/133/2009/South Korea)

Fatih Akin (Germany)

1. Short Sharp Shock (Fatih Akin/100/1998/Germany)

2. In July (Fatih Akin/99/2000/Germany)

3. Solino (Fatih Akin/124/2002/Germany)

4. Head On (Fatih Akin/121/2004/Germany/Turkey...

“Kauwboy,” the Netherlands’ official Oscar entry and recent winner of the European Film Awards Fipresci prize, finds similarity in another 2012 Foreign-Language submission, Ursula Meier’s “Sister,” and last year’s enigmatic Cannes Grand Jury winner from the Dardenne brothers, “Kid with a Bike.” Each film centers on a neglected boy, with a sensitive eye to the fundamentally loving yet insufficiently responsible adults around him. All three films are anchored by striking performances from their young leads. Thomas Doret and Kacey Mottet Klein in “Kid with a Bike” and “Sister,” respectively, show a naturalism and lack of self-consciousness that many adult actors would envy. Rick Lens in “Kauwboy” is equally fine. Lens plays Jojo, a mop-haired pre-adolescent living with his father in a green Dutch suburb. We know that Jojo is at home by himself often, with his burly, taciturn father coming...

Michael Haneke's "Amour" topped the 25th European Film Awards taking home the Best Film, Director, Actor (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and actress (Emmanuelle Riva). Check out the complete list of winners below:

European Film 2012:

Amour

France / Germany / Austria, 127 min

Written & directed by Michael Haneke

produced by Margaret Menegoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka & Michael Katz

European Director 2012:

Michael Haneke for Amour

European Actress 2012:

Emmanuelle Riva in Amour

European Actor 2012:

Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour

European Screenwriter 2012:

Tobias Lindholm & Thomas Vinterberg for Jagten (The Hunt)

Carlo Di Palma European Cinematographer Award 2012:

Sean Bobbitt for Shame

European Editor 2012:

Joe Walker for Shame

European Production Designer 2012:

Maria Djurkovic for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

European Composer 2012:

Alberto Iglesias for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

European Discovery 2012 . Prix Fipresci:

Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole (The Netherlands)

European Film Academy Documentary 2012:

Hiver Nomade (Winter Nomads) by Manuel von Stürler (Switzerland...

Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or winner “Amour” swept the 25th European Film Awards winning the best film, best director, best actor (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and best actress (Emmanuelle Riva).

Here is the complete list of winners:-

European Film 2012:

Amour

France / Germany / Austria, 127 min

Written & directed by Michael Haneke

European Director 2012:

Michael Haneke for Amour

European Actress 2012:

Emmanuelle Riva in Amour

European Actor 2012:

Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour

European Screenwriter 2012:

Tobias Lindholm & Thomas Vinterberg for Jagten (The Hunt)

Carlo Di Palma European Cinematographer Award 2012:

Sean Bobbitt for Shame

European Editor 2012:

Joe Walker for Shame

European Production Designer 2012:

Maria Djurkovic for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

European Composer 2012:

Alberto Iglesias for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

European Discovery 2012 – Prix Fipresci:

Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole (The Netherlands)

European Film Academy Documentary 2012:

Hiver Nomade (Winter Nomads) by Manuel von Stürler (Switzerland)

European Film Academy Animated Feature...

Best European Film Amour (Love) Austria/France/Germany, 127 min Written & directed by Michael Haneke Produced by Margaret Menegoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka & Michael Katz Barbara Germany, 105 min Written & directed by Christian Petzold Produced by Florian Koerner von Gustorf & Michael Weber Cesare Deve Morire (Caesar Must Die) Italy, 76 min Directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani Written by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, in collaboration with Fabio Cavalli Produced by Grazia Volpi Intouchables (Untouchable) France, 108 min Written & directed by Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano Produced by Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou & Laurent Zeitoun Jagten (The Hunt) Denmark, 111 min Directed by Thomas Vinterberg Written by Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm Produced by Morten Kaufmann & Sisse Graum Jørgensen Shame UK, 96 min Directed by Steve McQueen Written by Steve McQueen & Abi Morgan Produced by Iain Canning & Emile Sherman European Director 2012: Nuri Bilge Ceylan for B?R Zamanlar Anadolu’Da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) Michael Haneke for Amour...

The European Film Academy and Fipresci have announced the five nominations for this year’s Discovery Award / Prix Fipresci and making the cut we find Angelina Nikonova’s outstanding Twilight Portrait (Venice and Tiff in 2011 – pic above) which will measure itself against Mads Matthiesen’s Teddy Bear (Sundance 2012 – read review), Boudewijn Koole’s Kauwboy and Jan Speckenbach’s Reported Missing (2012′s Berlin Film Fest) and Rufus Norris’ Broken (Critics’ Week opener in Cannes this year – see our coverage). The 25th European Film Awards will take place in Malta on 1 December 2012. Since this specific award has existed, previous winners include some worthy winners in 1997′s Bruno Dumont (La vie de Jésus), 2003′s Andrei Zvyagintsev (The Return), 2008′s Steve McQueen (Hunger), 2009′s Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga), 2010′s Samuel Maoz (Lebanon) and last year, 2011′s Hans Van Nuffel (Oxygen).

10 Timer Til Paradis (Teddy Bear)

Denmark, 92 min

Directed by: Mads Matthiesen

Written by: Mads Matthiesen...

The European Film Academy has nominated five films for the European Discovery 2012 Award. The Efa bestows the award on a young, up-and-coming director with a first feature-length film. The awards will be given on December 1st. This years nominees include: "10 Timer Til Paradis (Teddy Bear)" Denmark, 92 min Directed By: Mads Matthiesen Written By: Mads Matthiesen & Martin Pieter Zandvliet Produced By: Morten Kjems Juhl "Broken" UK, 90 min Directed By: Rufus Norris Written By: Mark O’Rowe Produced By: Dixie Linder, Tally Garner, Nick Marston & Bill Kenwright "Kauwboy" The Netherlands, 81 min Directed By: Boudewijn Koole Written By: Boudewijn Koole & Jolein Laarman Produced By: Jan van der Zanden & Wilant Boekelman "Portret V Sumerkhak (Twilight Portrait)" Russia, 105 min Directed By: Angelina Nikonova Written By: Angelina Nikonova &...

For the first time in Academy Award history, 71 countries are vying for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The submissions for 2012 include director Michael Haneke’s Amour, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival; France’s global box office sensation The Intouchables; and Nairobi Half Life, the first film ever submitted by Kenya. Check out the full list below:

Afghanistan: The Patience Stone, Atiq Rahimi, director

Albania: Pharmakon, Joni Shanaj, director

Algeria: Zabana!, Said Ould Khelifa, director

Argentina: Clandestine Childhood, Benjamín Ávila, director

Armenia: If Only Everyone, Natalia Belyauskene, director

Australia: Lore, Cate Shortland, director

Austria: Amour,...

The Oscar season is almost upon us, and the submissions list is in for the Best Foreign Language Film category, featuring a record 71 entries, including the first submission from Kenya.

Last year, Iran’s Asghar Farhadi came away with the top prize for his acclaimed film, A Separation, and the year before, it was Denmark’s Susanne Bier with her In a Better World.

This year, there are already a handful of strong contenders amongst the pack, most notably Michael Haneke’s Amour, for Austria, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes; Olivier Nakache’s and Éric Toledano’s The Intouchables, for France, which has been breaking records at the global box office; Pablo Larráin’s No, for Chile, which also came away from Cannes with an award in hand; Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta, for South Korea, which took four awards at Venice, including (controversially) the Golden Lion; and...

The Intouchables

A record 71 countries, including first-time entrant Kenya, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards®. In May, Michael Haneke.s Amour (Love) won the Palme d.Or at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and was shown this past weekend at the 50th New York Film Festival. However the film I was happiest to see make the list below is from France – The Intouchables from directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Check out our review Here.

In the Academy’s rules, only one picture will be accepted from each country. Plus the Academy Statuette (Oscar) will be awarded to the motion picture and accepted by the director on behalf of the picture.s creative talents. Ultimately five foreign language motion pictures are nominated for this award.

Director/writer Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation from Iran won the Oscar for the Best...

Update: The official list has been revealed and the total is a record 71 movies. I have updated the list directly below or you can check it out here. The original article follows. I have been tracking the Oscar Foreign Language submissions again this year, as I have for the past several years, and it looks like we finally have a full field as I expect we will be seeing an official press release from the Academy some time this week. This year we have five more submissions already over last year as the total has now reached 68 submissions compared to last year's 63. This, despite, Iran boycotting the Oscars this year due to the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked so much controversy as of late. To reach the total of 68 films I have just finished adding 16 more titles to the list from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina,...

I have been tracking the Oscar Foreign Language submissions again this year, as I have for the past several years, and it looks like we finally have a full field as I expect we will be seeing an official press release from the Academy some time this week. This year we have five more submissions already over last year as the total has now reached 68 submissions compared to last year's 63. This, despite, Iran boycotting the Oscars this year due to the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked so much controversy as of late. To reach the total of 68 films I have just finished adding 16 more titles to the list from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, China, Georgia, Greenland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Uruguay. To siphon out front-runners is never easy in this category, though there are a few that stick out immediately.

Indian Oscar entry Anurag Basu’s “Barfi” will have to compete with 64 films from around the world. Barfi’s chance will be sealed on January 24th 2013 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees.

The deadline for submission of entries for the foreign language category got over yesterday on October 1st.

63 countries had sent their entries for the category last year.

Iran, the winner of last year (A separation) decided not to send an entry this year in protest of a youtube film that ridiculed the prophet.

The final list of submissions is yet to be announced by the academy.

Also Read: Who Selected “Barfi” for Oscars? and Where does “Barfi” stand in the Oscar race?

Here is the complete list of announced submissions:-

Afghanistan – The Patience Stone, directed by Atiq Rahimi (Persian) Albania – Pharmakon, directed by Joni Shanaj (Albania) Algeria – Zabana!, directed by Saïd Ould Khelifa (Arabic,...

You think it’s too early for this? Trust me, it’s not and that’s exactly why we’re here today to start our little chat about the official foreign language submissions for Oscar.

Nothing to be surprised about, after all – these titles are already familiar to you, mostly because of their success in some Film Festivals. Check out the rest of this report to see the list of announced submissions.

As you’re about to see, quite interesting list of movies from all over the world. Unfortunately we don’t have trailers and official synopsis part for every single film, but I’m sure we’ll soon have more material to share with you.

In the mean time, we will inform you that Kim Ki-duk‘s movie, Pieta, which won Golden Lion statue for best movie at the Venice Film Festival this year, has been submitted by South...

14th Mumbai Film Festival (Mff) announced its complete lineup today in a press conference. Mff will be held from October 18th to 25th at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Ncpa) and Inox, Nariman Point, Liberty Cinemas, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Andheri and Cinemax Sion as the satellite venues. Click here to watch trailers and highlights from the festival.

Here is the complete list of films to be screened during the festival (October 18-25)

International Competition for the First Feature Films of Directors

1. From Tuesday To Tuesday (De Martes A Martes)

Dir.: Gustavo Fernandez Triviño (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 111′)

2. The Last Elvis (El Último Elvis)

Dir.: Armando Bo (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 91′)

3. The Sapphires

Dir.: Wayne Blair (Australia / 2012 / Col. / 103′)

4. The Wall (Die Wand)

Dir.: Julian Pölsler (Austria-Germany / 2012 / Col. / 108′)

5. Teddy Bear (10 timer til Paradis)

Dir.: Mads Matthiesen (Denmark / 2012 / Col. / 93′)

6. Augustine

Dir.: Alice Winccour (France / 2012 / Col.

Anurag Basu’s Barfi to compete with Michael Haneke’s “Amour” and Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta”

Anurag Basu’s “Barfi” might have lured the selectors at home but it’s unlikely to have an easy ride ahead. Basu will have to compete against the veterans like Michael Haneke who took home a second Palme d’Or at Cannes this year for his “Amour” (Official Austrian Entry). Closer home in Asia, Korean Master Kim Ki-duk will also pose an equal threat to the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Barfi. Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta” clinched the Golden Lion at Venice this year.

“Barfi” was declared official Oscar entry from India on Saturday night by the Film Federation of India. Other Indian films which were in race included Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar, Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani, Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur Parts I and II,...

Last year, 63 countries submitted their films for consideration for the annual Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language category. This year, 28 countries have made their presence known, and one of them is my homeland, the Philippines, submitting "Bwakaw" (pictured above) for consideration.

The Academy will provide a full list of eligible submissions by October, and out of the list, nine finalists will be chosen then shortlisted with the final five nominees to be announced on January 24, 2013.

Here's the list for the announced submissions, so far...

Australia - Lore, directed by Cate Shortland (German)

Austria - Amore, directed by Michael Haneke (French)

Azerbaijan - Buta, directed by Ilgar Najaf (Azeri)

Belgium - Our Children, directed by Joachim Lafosse (French)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Children of Sarajevo, directed by Aida Begic (Bosnian)

Bulgaria - Sneakers, directed by Valeri Yordanov (Bulgarian)

Cambodia - Lost Loves, directed by Chhay Bora (Khmer)

Canada - War Witch, directed...

The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the world’s leading film festivals and most reputable media events. 2012 marks the first year Sound On Sight was present to attend. Merle has been posting her recaps while the rest of us have been paying close attention to the films receiving the most buzz.

Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978. With 274,000 tickets sold and 487,000 admissions it is considered the largest publicly-attended film festival worldwide. Up to 400 films are shown in several sections, but only a select twenty compete for the awards called the Golden and Silver Bears. This year the Italian film Caesar Must Die took home the Berlin International Film Festival’s top honour as best film. The film is set in Rome’s high-security Rebibbia prison and centres on the rehearsal, staging, and performing of Shakespeare’s...

Berlinale is, on the whole, a quieter festival than your really “big” outings — Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, even Nyff or Venice — but my interest is nevertheless piqued by this year’s winners, a list which comes to us from IndieWIRE. The top prize, that being the Golden Bear, went to Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (pictured above) for Caesar Must Die, their “documentary about criminals performing Shakespeare.” Adopt Films will be giving that a United States release later this year; reviews make me think it’s worth some of this early hype, thankfully.

Otherwise Bence Fliegauf‘s Just the Wind was bestowed with a Silver Bear for the Grand Jury Prize, while Barbara brought home a Silver Bear, Best Director for Christian Petzold. As with the main victors, the rest of the selections are far more devoid of “names” (and could more easily be considered esoteric) than any of the winners you...

Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die has won the Golden Bear at this year's Berlinale. The other awards, presented by Mike Leigh and his International Jury (Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa):

The first Silver Bear, the Jury Grand Prix, goes to Bence Fliegauf's Just the Wind. (Last year, this prize went to a Hungarian as well, to Béla Tarr for The Turin Horse.)

Silver Bear for Best Director: Christian Petzold for Barbara.

Silver Bear for Best Actress: Rachel Mwanza for her performance in War Witch.

Silver Bear for Best Actor: Mikkel Følsgaard for A Royal Affair.

The Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution goes to Director of Photography Lutz Reitemeier for his work on White Deer Plain.

Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg for A Royal Affair.

The Alfred Bauer Award...