Written by Nic Wistreich | 08 March 2009 | in news - Awards

In the heat of Bollywoods' renewal, it is interesting to read of the Fespaco Film Awards In Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, where Ethiopian Haile Gerima has continued the film's awards success, nabbing the top African film prize, for his feature Teza. It tells of the disillusionment of a young Ethiopian who returns from his studies in Germany to question his beliefs amidst a country under the brutal rule of Haile Mariam Mengistu.

(from BBC online) At the end of the week-long Fespaco film awards in hot, dusty Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the BBC's James Copnall looks back at the films on show, and the delights and gripes of participants, at the event sometimes described as Africa's answer to the Oscars.

Teza, by the Ethiopian Haile Gerima, was an extremely popular winner of the Golden Yennenga Stallion - African film's top prize. A roar went around the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou when the prize was announced at the closing ceremony.

The film's main character, Anberber, heads to Germany to pursue his studies.

Written by Nic Wistreich | 22 February 2009 | in news - Awards

I've been searching around trying to find a feed of the Oscars. Finally find an unofficial one on Justin.tv and arrive just as Heath Ledger's name is announced. There's wet eyes all over the place and for once it seems genuine.

There's so much I would like to say about Slumdog Millionaire, but like all my thoughts relating to India since getting back in March last year, I've not been able to put them down. Other than the few bits I wrote here that ended up in the Goa Herald (and these pics), it's something I guess I'll express when the time is right. In the meantime it's tempting to just talk about the more easy (but rarely discussed) subject of the business issues around Slumdog.

I mean, forget Shane Meadow's Eurostar bankrolled Somers Town, the 'three muskateers' of director Boyle, writer Beufoy and exec producer (and Celador chair) Paul Smith have pulled off the remarkable whammy of taking a multi billion dollar entertainment franchise and its cash, and building an Oscar winner around it. For those, like me, who question how much sponsor funded movies will erode the quality of feature films, a bag of shiny awards makes a pretty strong argument about what is possible.

Tho it seems more likely that it's the film's combination of internationalism and hope in the face of poverty - which chimes with both the economic mood and Obama's 'new era of international dialogue and intelligence'  - than the film itself which is a little stereotyped and simplistic - and quite heavily criticised in India. Rumour has it Fox planned to send the film straight to video. Nevertheless, to see the country and her people again on the big screen, shot brilliantly, in a format that is accesible and entertaining to lots of people, and to know this is the Academy's film of the year does, ultimately, feel good and right. And Celedor backing or not, it's still a remarkable success for a film that was funded and produced by the UK yet never sets foot here.

Watching Resul Pookutty pick up one of India's five Oscars of the night (for Sound Mixing) just now was also rather special.

Written by Nic Wistreich | 12 January 2009 | in news - Awards

One of India's best loved film composers, AR Rahman, picked up the country's first Golden Globe, on a night which saw Danny Boyle's Mumbai-set Slumdog Millionaire take home four awards, including Best film, Best screenplay and Best director. In an evening of international success, Kate Winslett collected two acting awards, with Sally Hawkins and Tom Wilkinson completing the British grab, with Colin Farrell, Heath Ledger and Gabriel Byrne also winning with only three of the 14 film categories going to American films or talent (Pixar, Bruce Springsteen and Mickey Rourke).

Written by Administrator | 11 December 2008 | in news - Awards

A day after the Film Council declared 2007 the best year for British film exports since 1995, there's a bumper crop of nominations in the 2009 Golden Globes. From the BBC :

Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Emma Thompson and Dame Judi Dench are among the British actors to feature on this year's Golden Globe shortlist...

Danny Boyle, Stephen Daldry and Winslet's husband Sam Mendes swell the UK contingent further with three of the five nominations in the best director category.

Winners in full after the jump.

Written by Nic Wistreich | 01 December 2008 | in news - Awards

Picking up Best Film and Director at the BIFAs for his Mumbai set feature, Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle, who like many fell in love with the city, referred to the tragic events of the week : "It is weird to win this at the end of what's been a terrible week. The human spirit is dominant there. They will overcome, you can bet on it."

The film picked up three awards, and should boost the Oscar buzz already surrounding the film. In other wins, Man on a Wire received Best documnetary, Simon Ellis's feted Soft picked up Best Short, and Steve McQueen won the Douglas Hickox award for best British newcomer for Hunger, which won three prizes.

Written by Nic Wistreich | 28 October 2008 | in news - Awards

Steve McQueen's Bobby Sands biopic Hunger battles it out with Martin McDonagh's In Bruges, James Marsh's Man on A Wire, Danny Boyle's LFF closer Slumdog Millionaire and Shane Meadow's Somers Town in the nominations for the Best British Feature film at the 2008 BIFA Awards.

The films receiving the most nominations are Hunger and In Bruges tied with seven nominations each. Slumdog Millionaire follows with six, Shifty (pictured), one of the first from the Film London Microwave slate, receives five nominations, Somers Town, Son of Rambow and The Duchess hold four nominations each. Other films with multiple nominations are The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Happy-Go-Lucky both receiving three, and Man on Wire, The Daisy Chain, Eden Lake and The Escapist receiving two each.  There is an unprecedented number of twenty-three other nominated films throughout the categories.

The 11th awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 30 November at the Old Billingsgate Market in London and will be hosted by James Nesbitt.

Written by The Adders 2008 | 04 September 2008 | in news - Awards

Alex Campbell writes in about a promising new film festival and awards run by, and for, young people (which means people under 19, apparently):

"The Adders 2008 is the future for British film-making. It allows young film-makers work to be showcased to a wider audience and for industry professionals to get a taste of where the future of film-making will come from. Including live music performances and the presentation of the brand new Youth Academy Awards this will be a night like no other."

Written by Michelle Cox | 21 July 2008 | in news - Awards

Juried film fest is looking for innovative, creative, entertaining shorts that bridge the best of the online and offline worlds...

Show us what you've got!

Written by Nic Wistreich | 28 April 2008 | in news - Awards

A quick roundup of recent award winners 

We're pleased to hear that Alexander Snelling's debut feature Tantric Tourists, covered here recently, picked up the Best UK Debut at the East London Film Festival, where it had its Gala Premiere.  

Mike Rymer's 15k short Sick, dealing with mental illness, has picked up the Gold award at the 41st Houston Film Festival. Endorsed by the Samaritans, the film looks at anxiety and depression and was funded almost entirely by NHS charitable trusts after development at the Wales Screen Academy.

Meanwhile the winner of online community Filmaka 's web contest has been anounced as I Refuse to Forget by 21-year-old Nuru Rimington-Mkal. The tender tail of sensory memories of love won acclaim from Jury member Neil LaBute. Nuru will now, apparently, get to direct his own feature, funded by Filmmaka. Next year's contest, with the prize of getting a feature produced, has been announced with the theme of 'Behind Closed Doors'. 

Written by Bill Friend | 09 April 2008 | in news - Awards

The Raindance Film Festival is probably the UK's leading independent film festival, and is currently looking for submissions for 2008. Here's what they submitted to Netribution:

We want you to be a part of it! We are currently accepting submissions from ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

Have a fantastic short film? The next-big-thing-feature?

Represent your corner of the world and send us your work!

For our Film Festival Toolkit, email toolkit@raindance.co.uk for a quick and comprehensive look into Raindance!

For more information, feel free to contact us at 44-207 287 3833.