Focus on Sustainability Film Festival, March 19

Focus on Sustainability Film Festival: Water

‘Planet in Focus with York University Present: Focus on Sustainability Film Festival’ – an annual event with its premiere theme on water!

This entertaining and educating experience features domestic and foreign documentaries, a panel discussion with filmmakers, activists and academics, as well as prizes provided by Mountain Equipment Co-op. Please join us on Monday, March 19th, 2012 in the York University Senate Chambers (NR940) from 10am to 5pm. Only 2$ for all day access.

The films include:

2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) – nominations

On Saturday night, the nominees were announced for the 7th Annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

Sara Bletcher's Otelo Burning led the field with thirteen nominations. In addition to Best Film, its nominations included Best Director, Actor (Jafta Mamabolo), Young/Promising Actor (Thomas Gumede and Sihle Xaba), Child Actor (Tsepang Mohlomi) and Film in an African Language.

Next with eleven nominations was Charlie Vundla's How To Steal 2 Million, followed by Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun's Adesuwa with ten. They were both nominated for Best Film and Best Director, as were the other major contenders Ties That Bind by Leila Djansi, Rugged Priest by Bob Nyanja, State Of Violence by Khalo Matabane, and Man On Ground by Akin Omotoso.

2012 Cánh diều vàng (Kite Awards for Vietnamese film) - winners

The Hội Điện ảnh Việt Nam (Vietnam Cinema Association) held the 10th Annual Cánh diều vàng (Golden Kite Awards) on Saturday night at the Friendship Palace in Hanoi.

Hữu Mười's Mùi cỏ cháy (The Scent of Burnt Grass) led the winners with four awards. The film about students who left school to fight American forces in 1972 won Best Feature Film as well as Best Screenwriting for poet Hoàng Nhuận Cầm, Best Cinematography and Best Music.

Charlie Nguyễn's Long ruồi (The Big Boss) picked up three awards including Best Director. It also won acting awards for Actor Thái Hòa and Supporting Actress Tina Tình.

Best Actress went to Quỳnh Hoa for the hip hop film Sài gòn Yo (Saigon Electric). Hiếu Hiền won Best Supporting Actor for Hotboy nổi loạn và câu chuyện về thằng Cười, cô gái điếm và con vịt (Lost in Paradise). The title literally translates as "Rebellious Hot Boy and the Story of Cười, the Prostitute and the Duck" and is sometimes shortened to Hot boy nổi loạn.

2012 Schweizer Filmpreis ‎(Swiss Film Awards) - winners

The Bundesamt für Kultur (Swiss Federal Office of Culture) and Schweizer Filmakademie (Swiss Film Academy) held their ceremony for their 15th Annual Schweizer Filmpreis ‎(Swiss Film Prizes) – known as the "Quartz" – Schweizer Filmpreis Quartz 2012 will be held in the KKL Luzern (Culture and Convention Centre).

The night's big winner was Rolando Colla's Summer Games. It won three awards for Best Fiction Film, Screenplay and Cinematography.

The films Der Verdingbub (The Foster Boy) by Markus Imboden and Eine wen iig, dr Dällebach Kari (Someone like me – Dällebach Kari) by Xavier Koller had led with six nominations each. Der Verdingbub won Best Actor (Max Hubacher) and Performance in a Supporting Role (Stefan Kurt). Eine wen iig, dr Dällebach Kari won the other acting award, Best Actress (Carla Juri).

Call for submissions: Mascara & Popcorn 2012

A call for submissions has been put out for the 3rd edition of Mascara & Popcorn Festival. The twice-yearly week-long festival spotlights genre and independent films but also includes music, fashion, visual arts and more.

Mascara & Popcorn is a cultural event dedicated to promoting independent film and multi-disciplinarian art thus allowing film makers and artists to exhibit their craft in an atmosphere that's appropriate and thought-provoking. Our goal is to expose our film makers to producers, our partners and organizations. Short film and features, panels, cocktails, thematic events, emerging artists, networking events and unique opportunities to participate in workshops, attend interactive lectures, and listen to colleagues share their knowledge.

2012 Toronto Nepali Film Festival

3rd Toronto Nepali Film Festival

Toronto, ON: The Third Toronto Nepali Film Festival (TNFF) will be held on Saturday March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), 2012 in Toronto at Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Ave (at St. George Street).

The one-day festival will showcase nine extraordinary Nepali films from Canada, Nepal and the US. The program will start at 1:30 pm and end at 10:15 pm. The annual festival is organized with the goal of promoting Nepal’s rapidly emerging and vibrant independent filmmaking industry and adding a distinctive voice to Toronto’s cultural landscape.

TIFF's 2012 City to City programme will focus on Mumbai

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SETS ITS SIGHTS ON MUMBAI
FOR 2012 CITY TO CITY PROGRAMME

Mumbai — Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, announced today that the 2012 Festival's City to City programme will focus on Mumbai.

Past editions of City to City explored how filmmakers represented their urban landscape. This year we'll shift the scope of the programme to showcase filmmakers living and working in Mumbai, regardless of where their films are set," said Bailey, who is currently in Mumbai participating in FICCI FRAMES, the global media and entertainment convention. “There's been an exciting evolution recently that's seen local independent films emerge to contrast with Bollywood's dazzling commercial movies. Whether you call it Mumbai or Bombay, this city is a massive player in the global film world, and a place I've grown to love in all its diversity. Toronto audiences are in for a thrill this September.”

2012 South Australian Screen Awards - nominations

The Media Resource Centre, South Australia’s centre for screen culture development, has announced the nominations for the 13th Annual South Australian Screen Awards (SASA). The SASAs were originally for short films but since 2009 they have had a Best Feature Film category.

The nominees for Best Feature Film were Mike Green's Die for Real, Adam Carter's I Am Orpheus, Samuel Wright's 6 on the St, Sophie Hyde and Matthew Bate's Shut Up Little Man, and Terry Cleary's Yudum. 6 on the St picked up an additional nomination for Innovation in Digital Media.

The nomination leader, however, was Anthony Maras' The Palace with a total of seven. Maras himself was nominated in four of those – Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing. The Palace was the recent winner of Best Short Fiction Film and Best Screenplay in a Short Film at the inaugural Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.

2012 Edgy Women Festival, Mar 15–Apr 1

The 19th Annual Edgy Women Festival gets underway tonight. It begins with a free launch party starting at 8pm at the Royal Phoenix, 5788 St-Laurent. The evening will include the launch of a feminist zombie anthology, films, presentations and a dance party with DJ DYKE.

In addition to performances and shows, they will be hosting a conference at the Casa Del Popolo, workshops, an opportunity to meet the artists, and a late-night hockey game.

Edgy Women "explores the complexity of contemporary feminism, through fun, experimental, and community-building artistic events. Presented by Studio 303, Edgy Women has blossomed from a 4-day event into a full-blown international festival, featuring a plethora of neophyte and experienced artists in a diverse programme of cutting edge work which is both experimental AND entertaining. Through its performance series, artist talks, and professional workshops, Edgy Women creates a forum for cultural exchange through a thematic context, providing an excellent opportunity for audiences to experience content-driven artwork by women."

Call for submissions: aluCine Film Festival

The aluCine Toronto Latin Film & Media Arts Festival has put out a call for submissions for their 13th edition of the festival.

aluCine's mandate is to showcase excellence and innovation in contemporary independent short film/video and new media; to promote and nurture works made by emerging and established Latin artists living in Canada, Latin America, and the Diaspora; to provide a vital outlet to have their works disseminated to a broader public both nationally and internationally; to transcend pre-established notions of representation and to cross borders; aesthetically, ideologically and geographically with the screening of Canadian works in Latin America and elsewhere.

2012 Festival International du Film sur l’Art (FIFA), Mar 15–25

The 30th anniversary edition of the Festival International du Film sur l’Art (FIFA) or International Festival of Films on Art kicks off tonight with an invitation only screening of Lech Majewski’s The Mill and the Cross. The film stars Michael York, Charlotte Rampling and Rutger Hauer as the painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It tells the story of Bruegel's "The Way to Calvary" through a dozen of its characters come to life.

The festival continues over the next week-and-a-half with films about all the arts. It includes films about  painting, sculpture, animation, photography, design, architecture, fashion, film, literature, dance, theatre, opera, music and more.

After last year's successful launch, the Marché International du film sur l'Art (International Market of Films on Art, or MIFA) returns with representatives from countries including France, United States and Spain. MIFA takes place from Wednesday, March 21 to Saturday, March 24. Activities include training, pitch sessions, master classes, roundtables and conferences.

Time Out Hong Kong's list of top 100 Hong Kong films

To commemorate Hong Kong's 100 years of cinema and their 100th issue, Time Out Hong Kong's film editor Edmund Lee and his team of critics have assembled a list of their top 100 films (though really 102 since a couple of choices are two-part films).

It's very pleasing to see the Wong Kar-wai gem 花樣年華 (In the Mood for Love) at the number one position atop the list. It is a lovely and subtle masterpiece that has influenced many other filmmakers.

Rounding out the top ten are Ann Hui's 投奔怒海 (Boat People), John Woo's 英雄本色 (A Better Tomorrow), Li Han-hsiang's 梁山伯與祝英台 (The Love Eterne), Wong Kar-wai's 阿飛正傳 (Days of Being Wild), Ang Lee's 臥虎藏龍 (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Cecile Tang Shu-shuen's 董夫人 (The Arch), Michael Hui's 半斤八両 (The Private Eyes), Johnnie To's 黑社會：以和為貴 (Election 2), and Johnny Mak's Long Arm of the Law 省港旗兵.

2012 New Ideas Festival, Mar 14–Apr 1

The 24th AnnualNew Ideas Festival
March 14 – April 1, 2012

Founded in 1989 by Molly Thom and Kerri MacDonald, Alumnae Theatre Company’s festival of new works provides playwrights, directors, actors and technicians with the opportunity to develop never-before-produced short scripts.

The New Ideas Festival is a juried, three-week annual festival of new writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre, with a different lineup of short plays each week, and a staged reading (+ Talkback) on Saturdays at noon. This year, a Sunday matinée performance has been added each week, in addition to the existing Saturday matinée. Each play in the weekly program (Wednesday – Sunday) now receives 6 performances, and the readings have one each.

New Ideas is unusual among festivals, in that the scripts are read “blind” by a committee, which does not learn the writers’ identities until the plays have been selected. This year, 122 submissions were received - from all over Canada, about 20% from the U.S., and one from the U.K.

Free Screening of Jennifer Baichwal's Payback [UPDATED]

Innis College at the University of Toronto will be hosting a special advance screening of Jennifer Baichwal's latest documentary Payback, based on Margaret Atwood's Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth.

The screening will take place Thursday, March 15 at 6pm, and will be attended by Jennifer Baichwal. She will conduct a Q&A after the screening.

To attend the screening, you must RSVP to the email address given below.

If you miss this screening, the film opens the following day on March 16. Both Jennifer Baichwal and Margaret Atwood will be at the 6:30pm screening on Friday and Saturday at the Varsity Theatre (55 Bloor Street West at Bay Street) and will hold a Q&A session afterwards.

Cameron Bailey named Artistic Director of TIFF

CAMERON BAILEY RECEIVES NEW TITLE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Title change reflects ongoing efforts to fully integrate TIFF’s programming activities and initiatives

Toronto – Piers Handling today announced that Cameron Bailey, formerly titled Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival® will receive a new title, Artistic Director, Toronto International Film Festival. Handling’s title remains unchanged as Director and CEO of TIFF.

“Today’s announcement is part of our ongoing efforts to become a fully integrated year-round film institution,” said Handling. “While Cameron’s responsibilities remain unchanged, I believe that his new title will support our efforts to streamline and integrate our programming across all divisions within the organization.”

2012 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards – nominations

Music and Film in Motion (MFM) have announced the nominees for their 9th Annual Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards. MFM is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to foster and promote the development of the music and film industries in Northern Ontario.

In the film categories, John Alden Milne's The Standoff
 and Darlene Naponse's Every Emotion Costs

 led with three nominations each. Both were nominated for Film of the Year and Director of the Year. The Standoff
 picked up its third nomination for Editing while Every Emotion Costs

 received its additional nod for Screenwriting.

Dave vs. Death
 rounded out the Film of the Year category. David Lickley and Rob Gagne's Wildfires! A 4D Firefighting Adventure
 filled out the Director category and was the only other multiple nominee for film with a second nomination for Editing.

Call for submissions: Just For Laughs/NYTVF Sitcom Pitch Competition

JUST FOR LAUGHS AND THE NYTVF PARTNER FOR SITCOM PITCH COMPETITION

“From Set to Screen” Initiative Targeting Comedy Performers

Five Finalists to Pitch Live during Just for Laughs Comedy Conference; One Winner will be Invited as Official Artist to the 8^th Annual New York Television Festival

[NEW YORK, NY, March 12, 2012] – Just for Laughs and the NYTVF today announced a unique partnered initiative seeking original sitcom pitches from comedy performers. The competition is specifically seeking series that are based on or inspired by stories, sketches or characters that have been developed and honed by live performance. Five finalists will be invited to pitch their sitcom concepts live during an event at the Just for Laughs Comedy Conference (www.hahaha.com/conference) in Montreal, July 26 - 28, 2012, during the 30^th Anniversary of the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival. One winner and their sitcom will be selected for exclusive showcase opportunities and participation at the 8^th Annual New York Television Festival, scheduled for October 22 – 27, 2012, in Lower Manhattan.

The inaugural Soily Awards announces nominees

With the recent Golden Raspberry Award nominations announcement, there were some complaints about the nominees and the selection process. As a result, the film and entertainment website Movieline has launched a rival bad-movie-award called the Soily Awards. Their intent is to include movies that are high-minded yet fail.

The nominees for Worst Picture of 2011 were Abduction, Conan the Barbarian, Green Lantern, The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Abduction also picked up a Bad Acting nomination for Taylor Lautner, who was also "recognized" for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part I. Transformers: Dark of the Moon received an additional nomination in Bad Directing for Michael Bay.

Arthur and Your Highness picked up the most mentions with three each. Arthur received nods for Bad Acting (Russell Brand, Helen Mirren) and the Shart Prize. Your Highness was mentioned for Bad Directing (David Gordon Green, also with The Sitter), Bad Acting (Natalie Portman, also with No Strings Attached and Thor) and the Shart Prize.

2012 Constellation Awards - nominees

Nominations were announced this weekend at Toronto ComiCon for the 6th Annual Constellation Awards. The Constellation Awards are presented annually to the actors, producers, and technical teams behind the best science fiction film and television productions of the year, with a focus on Canadian contributions to the genre.

Superheroes dominated the film categories with Thor in the lead with four nominations. Captain America: The First Avenger and X-Men: First Class followed with three nominations each. All three were nominated for Best Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series of 2011 as well as Best Male Performance (Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and James McAvoy, respectively).

Rounding out the field for Best Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series were Another Earth, Cowboys & Aliens, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (also with three nominations) and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Andy Serkis received a Best Male Performance nomination for his motion-capture work in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

2012 Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis (Luxembourg Film Awards) – winners

The Discovery Zone, Luxembourg City Film Festival came to a close this weekend with a presentation of the 5th biannual Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis – or Luxembourg Film Awards – at the Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains (though the Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis were last staged in 2009). The event was hosted by Gabriel Boisanté and attended by 800 representatives of the local industry.

Taking the top prize of Best Luxembourg Film was writer/director Beryl Koltz' Hot Hot Hot in her fiction feature debut. Set at a sauna, Hot Hot Hot is an English-language comedy that stars Rob Stanley and Joanna Scanlan (trailer below).

Having been made with Belgium and France, Olivier Masset-Depasse's drama Illégal won Best Co-Production. It tells the story of a young Russian woman Tania who lives illegally in Belgium with her young son and her subsequent arrest.

The winner for Best Documentary was High Low by Jean-Louis Schuller and Sam Blair. Schuller also won Best Technical Contribution for his work as a cinematographer.

Toronto Fashion Week, March 12-16

Just as the weather has turned very spring-like, the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) begins its newly renamed World MasterCard Fashion Week at David Pecaut Square.

It kicks off tonight with a private reception before launching into shows starting with KORHANI—Home Fashion Rug Runway. In addition to the many runway shows, they will be having other events including an open house exhibit at the Textile Museum of Canada and a Fashion Film Festival.

Designers showing this season include Chloe comme Parris, Soia & Kyo, Lundström, Lucian Matis, Bustle, Melissa Nepton, Joe Fresh, Rudsak, OPPIO, Pink Tartan, 2011 Mercedes-Benz Start Up Recipient MARTIN LIM, David Dixon, KORHANI Home Rug Runway Show, Dare to Wear Love, Caitlin Powers, Cara Cheung, Ashtiani, Sanya Khan, and Travis Taddeo. In addition, Holt Renfrew will showcase Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Dennis Merrotto, Mackage, Line, Smythe, Twenty Cluny, and Judith & Charles.

2012 Soirée des Jutra (Jutra Awards for Quebec film) - winners

Tonight, the ceremony for the 14th Annual Soirée des Jutra (Jutra Awards night) for Quebec cinema took place at the Théâtre St-Denis, Montréal. The evening was hosted by Yves Pelletier and Sylvie Moreau.

Unsurprisingly, Philippe Falardeau's Oscar-nominated drama Monsieur Lazhar picked up the most awards with seven. It had led the nominations with nine. In addition to Best Film, it won for Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Sophie Nélisse), Supporting Actor (Émilien Néron), Sound and Music. Furthermore, the production company micro_scope picked up the award for Film having the Most Success Outside Quebec with Denis Villeneuve's Jutra winner from last year Incendies.

Café de flore was next with three wins despite the fact it wasn't nominated for Best Film. It won for Best Actress (Vanessa Paradis), Cinematography and Art Direction. Unlike the Genie Awards where Sophie Nélisse was the only Canadian acting award-winner, Paradis was the lone foreign winner for the acting Jutras.

Much-loved Gilbert Sicotte won the Best Actor award and received a standing ovation. It was his first Jutra win despite a four-decade acting career dating back to Montréal blues in 1972.

2012 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) - winners

The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) presented the 6th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs, also known as the Golden Horns) over the last two nights at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. Friday saw the presentation of the non-fiction categories and Saturday featured the fiction winners.

The film Black Butterflies led the film side with six wins including Best Feature Film which came with a prize of R50 000. The Dutch/German/South African co-production about the poet Ingrid Jonker also won for Cinematography, Production Design, Music, Costume Design and Make-Up/Hair. It had led the field with nine nominations.

Unfortunately, its star Carice van Houten was not eligible for Best Actress because she is Dutch and not South African. As there were only one other actress submitted for consideration, the NFVF chose not to have a Best Actress category this year. They wrote, "This is a far from desirable situation, and the panel urge writers and production companies to bear in mind that as an industry we need be telling more stories that provide a platform for the luminous female thespian talent our country has to offer."

Free screenings of Waste Land at the new Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

The newly renovated Bloor Hot Docs Cinema will be having its official grand opening on Wednesday, March 14 with invited guests being given an advance screening of a film premiering at this year’s Hot Docs Festival. But for everyone else, they will have an opportunity to screen Lucy Walker's Academy Award-nominated documentary Waste Land on both Monday and Tuesday night.

Tickets are free and are available for pick-up this weekend from noon – 5 p.m. at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema box office (506 Bloor St. W). Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability (limited to two tickets per person).

The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema's scheduled public programming, featuring recent critically acclaimed films, themed documentary programs, and weekly showcases, will commence on Friday, March 16. Learn more at www.bloorcinema.com.

Film review: Friends with Kids

Writer/Director: Jennifer Westfeldt
Producer: Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland, Joshua Astrachan, Jake Kasdan, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt
Cast: Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns
Raunchy Indie Comedy
1 hours, 47 minutes

Jennifer Westfeldt first gained acclaim with her role as the titular character in Kissing Jessica Stein which she co-wrote with her co-star Heather Juergensen. Next, she wrote and starred in Ira and Abby, which also explored the world of relationships. With Friends with Kids, she completes a relationship trilogy by performing quadruple duty as writer, director, producer and star of the film and acquits herself admirably.

It might appear at first that Friends with Kids is yet another in the same vein as last year's interchangeable comedies No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits. Even the titles share some similarity, but instead of sex without commitment it would deal with raising a child without commitment.