2011 BET Awards - nominees

The nominations for the 2011 BET Awards have been announced. The nominees for Best Movie are Death at a Funeral, For Colored Girls, Takers, The Book of Eli and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married, Too?

Nomations for Best Actress went to Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Regina King, Zoë Saldana and Kerry Washington. The Best Actor nominees were Laz Alonso, Chris Brown, Don Cheadle, Idris Elba and Jamie Foxx. The YoungStars Award nominees were Shenell Edmonds, Keke Palmer, Diggy Simmons, Jaden Smith and his sister Willow Smith.

The BET Awards are heavily weighted on the music side and Chris Brown led the field with six nominations, receiving nods for Best Male R&B Artist, Best Collaboration (twice), Video of the Year, Best Actor and Viewers' Choice categories. Next was Lil' Wayne with 5. Drake, Kanye West and Rihanna followed in a tie with four each. Other multiple nominees included Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Trey Songz, Marsha Ambrosius, Keri Hilson, Cee Lo Green and B.o.B.

The 2011 BET Awards take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 26 at 8pm EST and will air live. Kevin Hart will host.

2011 MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVAs) - nominees

Today the nominations for the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVAs) were announced. The hip-hop group Down with Webster, singer Fefe Dobson and R&B singer Shawn Desman led with four nominations apiece. Rapper JDiggz and crooner Danny Fernandes followed with three nominations each.

Double nominees include Arcade Fire, Abandon All Ships, Avril Lavigne, Drake, Justin Bieber and Metric. On the international front, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Eminem and Bruno Mars also each received two nominations.

The awards ceremony for the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards will take place on June 19 on Queen Street West at the MuchMusic building in Toronto. It will feature live performances by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Avril Lavigne, The Black Keys, and City and Colour, as well as American pop singer Selena Gomez. Wristbands to attend the event will be handed out on June 10.

16th Festivalissimo (Ibero-Latin-American Film), May 18-June 5

Tonight is kickoff for the 16e Festivalissimo, le festival de films ibéro-latino-américains de Montréal, the 16th Festivalissimo Festival for Ibero-Latin-American Film. The opening gala screening will be the Canadian premiere of the Chilean film La Vida de los Peces (The Life of Fish) by Matías Bize.

Festivalissimo will also be paying tribute to Matías Bize’s work by presenting a retrospective of two of his most important films: Sábado, una pelicula en tiempo real (2003) and En la cama (In Bed, 2005).

The festival presents about thirty feature films from 12 different countries of Latin-American, Spanish and Portuguese cultures over the next two-and-a-half weeks. They will also be introducing new events including free dance workshops at the Place Alexis Nihon and closing festivities in the park named Festivalissimo Fiesta Latina: three days of non-stop shows for the whole family at the Cabot Square, adjacent to Atwater metro.

The festival continues until June 5.

Toronto International Film Festival call for volunteers

The Toronto International Film Festival has put out their call for volunteers for their 2011 edition which runs from September 8 to 18.

TIFF is the largest public film festival in the world and is a not-for-profit orgranization, unlike many large American festivals. Its success is due in part to a large army of hundreds of dedicated volunteers that help to make the festival what it is. I myself have volunteered for them in the past. In fact there are many Toronto filmmakers who have volunteered for TIFF, such as Don McKellar.

Volunteers are required to attend an orientation session. For each shift that a volunteer takes, they receive a voucher which allows them to attend a screening during the festival itself or at TIFF Bell Lightbox when it is done. Not all of the shifts take place during the festival; you can sign up for volunteer shifts in the set-up and tear-down stages of the festival too.

Volunteers are invited to attend the staff party that takes place at the festival's end. The volunteers are always a fun and enthusiastic group of people. If you have the time, you will find it an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Roundtable Discussion with the Coen Brothers in Israel

This is video of a roundtable discussion which took place yesterday in Tel Aviv. The discussion lasts one hour and twenty-four minutes.

The brothers were awarded the Dan David Prize which is given to people who have made "an outstanding contribution to humanity." The Dan David Prize is worth $1 million, of which ten percent is donated to doctorate and post-doctorate student grants.

Previous winners include Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood, Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, Al Gore, Amos Oz, Tony Blair and Yo-Yo Ma.

The event was held at the Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel.

"Accept the Mystery" - A Symposium with the Coen Brothers, recipients of the Dan David Prize.

Chairperson: Dr. Orly Lubin
Participants: Joel and Ethan Coen - Dr. Shmulik Duvdevani - Ms. Dana Ivgy - Mr. Danny Lerner - Dr. Raya Morag

56th Annual Obie Awards - winners

Tonight was the night for the 56th Village Voice Obie Awards which took place at Webster Hall in the East Village (125 East 11th Street). The ceremony was hosted by David Hyde Pierce and S. Epatha Merkerson. The presenters for the evening were Alec Baldwin, Andrew Rannells, Arian Moayed, Jim Parsons, John Larroquette, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mamie Gummer, Margaret Colin, Nina Arianda, Patina Miller, Robert Sean Leonard and Rose Hemingway.

The winner of Best New American Play was the professional wrestling comedy The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz. Directing Awards went to Austin Pendleton (Three Sisters), Roger Rees and Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher) and Leigh Silverman (In the Wake and Go Back to Where You Are).

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the Spanish-language theatre company Repertorio Español and its Artistic Director Rene Buch.

Founded by Jerry Tallmer in 1956, the Obie Awards are given annually to honour Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions.

7th Annual Montreal Israel Film Festival, May 14-23

Tonight is the opening night of the 7th Annual Montreal Israel Film Festival. Over the next ten days, the festival presents 18 films divided evenly between documentary and fiction. It gets going with a gala screening of Precious Life, a documentary about an Israeli doctor who works to save the life of a Palestinian baby without an immune system. The film's subject Dr. Raz Somech will be in attendance.

Films screened during the festival include A Film Unfinished, The Matchmaker, Land of Genesis and This is Sodom. Other guests in attendance are director Eran Riklis who will present his film The Human Resources Manager and his wife Dina Riklis' film Three Mothers, and Tomer Heymann who will present his films Bridge Over the Wadi and I Shot My Love.

Unlike the Toronto Jewish Film Festival currently taking place in that city, the Montreal Israel Film Festival features films in and by filmmakers from Israel specifically. The success of this Montreal festival led the organizers to launch a companion Israel film festival in Toronto that takes place annually in the fall.

Films are in Hebrew with English subtitles. The 7th Annual Montreal Israel Film Festival continues to May 23rd.

Music review: Tafelmusik with Stefano Montanari - Italianissimo!

Mozart: Symphony no. 13 in F Major, K. 112

Jommelli: Ciaccona

Cambini: Sinfonia concertante for 2 violins and orchestra in F Major

Sammartini: Symphony in G Minor

Durante: Concerto in A Major for strings,“La Pazzia”

Boccherini: Symphony no. 3 in D Major

Last year, violinist and conductor Stefano Montanari joined Tafelmusik for a concert of Italian Baroque music including Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons that thrilled the audience with its hair-raising excitement, virtuosity and musicality. It was disappointing then to learn that an injury would prevent him from playing the violin this time around. But fortunately he made his return anyway as conductor for the final Tafelmusik program of the season.

Italianissimo! focused on lesser known late Baroque/early Classical Italian music but actually began with an early Mozart symphony. Nonetheless, that was an appropriate choice because it was written while he was visiting Italy. Right from the outset, the highly charismatic Montanari electrified the listeners with his dynamic and flamboyant conducting style that was like a period music version of the late great maestro Carlos Kleiber.

2011 Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF), May 12-14

While Montreal hosts the year end screenings of Concordia's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Toronto does likewise with the Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF) which also runs from May 12-14.

The Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF) is the annual showcase for new filmmakers completing their final year at the School of Image Arts' Film Production Program. Since its inception, RUFF has hosted sold-out shows and has consistently been a harbinger of talent in Canada's film industry.

The 2011 festival takes place at the historic Royal Cinema (608 College Street West) from May 12 – 14 in Toronto. Doors open at 6:30pm, show begins at 7:00pm.

http://imagearts.ryerson.ca/ruff/

38th Festival des films de Concordia, May 12-14

Tonight marks the opening of the 38th edition of the Festival des films de Concordia (Concordia Student Film Festival). Concordia's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema is recognized as one of Canada's outstanding film schools where many of Quebec's best talents received their training.

The festival takes place this year at the National Film Board of Canada's Cinérobothèque, 1564 Rue Saint-Denis. The opening party will be at 11pm held in a loft, 3674b Saint-Laurent (between Prince-Arthur and des Pins) – beers will be sold on location. The closing party will take place on Saturday starting at 11:30pm at the KOKO BAR – 8 Sherbrooke Ouest (near St-Laurent).

On Saturday afternoon from 1:30-3pm, they will be hosting a discussion The future of short films in Quebec/Le futur du court métrage au Québec avec invités spéciaux. Entry is free to all.

3rd Bi-Annual Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival, May 12-15

Tonight, the Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival launches its third bi-annual edition. It opens with a gala screening of Adventures of  Power with director and actor Ari Gold in attendance. Unfortunately, actress Shoshannah Stern had also been scheduled to attend but will not be able to make it. They hope to have her join the opening via technological means.

Other screenings include I'm Deaf and I Didn't Know by Igor Ochronwicz, Alexander Genievsky's The Gift, and See What I'm Saying by Hilari Scarl. All of the films are presented with English subtitles as necessary for the sign language. Various additional events are scheduled for Friday and Sunday.

All of the screenings take place at Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave., one block south of St. George and Bloor St. W. The Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival continues to May 15.

http://tidfaf.ca/

2nd Annual Toronto Russian Film Festival, May 12-15

After a successful inaugural year, the Toronto Russian Film Festival returns with its program of Russian and Russian-language post-Soviet cinema. The festival co-presented the Israeli movie Lenin in October yesterday at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, and kicks off officially tonight with an Invitation-only reception at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Over the next several days, the Toronto Russian Film Festival presents 10 feature films, animated films and documentaries that showcase the Russian storytelling style. They will present a Student Film Competition with films from Toronto and Russian film schools that is free for all to attend.

Highlights of this year's festival include the North American premiere of  Дом Солнца (The House Of Sun) by Гариком Сукачевым (Garik Sukachyov), the Canadian-Russian co-production Первый Русский (The First Russian) by Владимир Левин (Vladimir Levin) and Москва, я люблю тебя (Moscow, I Love You) by Алла Cурикова (Alla Surikova).

Visiting filmmakers include Сукачевым (Sukachyov), Левин (Levin), Cурикова (Surikova), Мария Яцкова (Mariya Yatskova) of Мисс ГУЛАГ (Miss GULAG), and Феликс Михайлов (Felix Mikhailov) of Весельчаки (Jolly Fellows).

4th Annual National Movie Awards - winners

Tonight the 4th Annual L’Oreal Paris National Movie Awards took place at Wembley Arena in London in a ceremony was hosted by Christine Bleakley. These are a British cinema awards presentation where the winners are chosen by popular vote.

The winner of Best Drama was the already much-feted The King's Speech. It out-polled fellow nominees 127 Hours, Black Swan, The Social Network and True Grit. The King’s Speech also won a Special Recognition Award and Performance of the Year for star Colin Firth. Unfortunately, Firth couldn't attend due to work on his next project, so he had his onscreen daughters in the film accept on his behalf.

Co-star Geoffrey Rush was on hand to join director Tom Hooper in accepting the prize for Best Drama. He also accepted the Screen Icon Award on behalf of his Pirates of the Carribean co-star Johnny Depp.

The Best Comedy award went to the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost sci-fi parody Paul. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 won Best Fantasy while its sequel Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was named the Must See Movie of the Summer.

2011 Worldwide Short Film Festival - complete program

One of the highlights of Toronto's spring film festival season held a press conference to launch their 2011 edition. The 17th Worldwide Short Film Festival announced its full slate of programming which consists of 275 short films from 36 countries grouped into 33 programs.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival is the largest short film festival in North America and is an official accrediting festival for the Genie Awards and the Academy Awards. It is also perhaps the most fun of all the festivals too. The staff and filmmakers are youthful and enthusiastic. They have a terrific industry component called the Symposium. They will be rolling out the Short Bus again this year too - the traveling bus that allows passersby the opportunity to enter and watch some shorts at their leisure.

They have also extended the deadline for the Screenplay Giveaway to May 16 at 6pm.

The 17th Worldwide Short Film Festival takes place May 31 to June 5.

Juste pour Rire 2011 (Just For Laughs) programming announced

A press conference took place today to announce the programming for the 29th edition of the Juste pour Rire (Just For Laughs) Comedy Festival.

This year, Galas will take place at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts, and will be hosted by stars such as homegrown Canadian talent Russell Peters, The Late, Late Show’s Craig Ferguson, Modern Family’s Emmy-winning Eric Stonestreet and The Daily Show’s John Oliver.

Previously announced shows include Jimmy Carr’s Laughter Therapy and Danny Bhoy’s Wanderlust. Louis C.K. will attend to perform and to receive the Just for Laughs Comedy Person of the Year Award.

This year, the English-language portion has expanded from a week to three weeks, from July 11 to 31. The 29th Just For Laughs Comedy Festival runs from July 5th to 31st.