The American Film Institute announces winners for the AFI Awards 2015

It’s once again time for AFI AWARDS, an annual celebration of outstanding achievements in the moving image arts that recognizes the year’s most culturally and artistically significant works of both film and television. And what a stellar year its been.

AFI AWARDS aren’t like other accolades about the art form — they acknowledge the importance of the collaborative nature of film and TV production.

As chosen by the jury, the 10 most outstanding movies and 10 most outstanding television programs of 2015 are:

Library of Congress announces 25 additions to the National Film Registry for 2015

2015 National Film Registry: Ghostbusters Gets the Call
Top Gun, L.A. Confidential and Edison’s Sneeze Among Film Additions

Acting Librarian of Congress David Mao announced today the annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be named to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. These films, which epitomize the diversity and richness of the nation’s cinematic heritage, have been identified as motion pictures that deserve to be preserved because of their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance.

"Selecting a film for the National Film Registry recognizes its importance to cinema and America’s cultural and artistic history," said Mao. "The registry is an invaluable way to advance public awareness of the richness, creativity and variety of our nation’s film heritage."

Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names to the National Film Registry 25 motion pictures that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. The films must be at least 10 years old. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with the distinguished members of the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) and Library film staff, as well as considering thousands of public nominations. The public is urged to nominate titles for next year’s registry at the NFPB’s website.

TIFF announces Canada’s Top Ten for 2015

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival expands with three-city simulcast and coast-to-coast screenings
Celebrated lineup includes works by Patricia Rozema, Guy Maddin, Philippe Falardeau, Alan Zweig, plus an onstage conversation with Kiefer Sutherland

TIFF salutes the country’s cinematic superstars tonight, revealing the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival lineup of the top 10 features, shorts and student shorts for 2015. Established in 2001, the festival celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and raises awareness of Canadian achievements in film. Running January 8 to 17, 2016 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, the 10-day event presents public screenings of the selected films accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, as well as special events, industry panels and free engagements. On January 16, Golden Globe–, Emmy- and Screen Actors Guild Award– winning Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland will take the stage for an intimate discussion about his fascinating career. The 1985 landmark film My American Cousin rounds out the lineup as the festival’s Canadian Open Vault selection.

TIFF announces 4th edition of All-Time Top Ten List of Canadian Films

TIFF today announces the results of its fourth Canada’s All-Time Top Ten List, an international poll of industry and academics‎ on the most memorable Canadian films. This is the fourth edition of TIFF’s All-Time Top Ten List; previous lists were released in 1984, 1993 and 2004.

“In our 40th year we are celebrating our national cinema by revisiting the list of top Canadian films, with help from our esteemed colleagues in the industry and academia,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO, TIFF. “It is encouraging to see new filmmakers and films establishing themselves on the list alongside the classics.”

Sturla Gunnarsson's Monsoon crowned Canada's Top Ten Film Festival People's Choice Award winner

For the first time in Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival history, audiences were invited to vote for their favourite feature film. Festivalgoers crowned Sturla Gunnarsson’s Monsoon the People’s Choice Award winner.

The award is announced as TIFF wraps up 10 days of celebrating the nation’s cinema. From January 2 to 11, Toronto audiences were presented with screenings of the top 10 features, shorts and student short films of the year, introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, along with free engagements and special events that included onstage conversations with actor Keanu Reeves, author Naomi Klein and filmmaker Avi Lewis. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracted the highest number of attendees to date.

Library of Congress names 25 new films for 2014 to National Film Registry

Cinematic Treasures Named to National Film Registry
Saving Private Ryan, Luxo Jr. and Rosemary’s Baby Among Film Additions

The horrors of war, the heroism of sacrifice, a vaudeville pioneer, the devil and a master of the macabre represent the diversity of an elite selection of films that have been recognized as cultural, historic or aesthetic cinematic treasures. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today the annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be named to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selection to the registry will help ensure that these films will be preserved for all time.

"The National Film Registry showcases the extraordinary diversity of America’s film heritage and the disparate strands making it so vibrant," said Billington. "By preserving these films, we protect a crucial element of American creativity, culture and history."

Spanning the period 1913-2004, the films named to the registry include Hollywood classics, documentaries, silent movies, student films, independent and experimental motion pictures. This year’s selections bring the number of films in the registry to 650, which is a small fraction of the Library’s vast moving-image collection of 1.3 million items.

10th anniversary Black List scripts announced

The Black List was compiled from the suggestions of over 250 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of his or her favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2014 and will not have begun principal photography during this calendar year.

This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the Black List.

All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein.

American Film Institute announces 2014 AFI Awards for film & television

It’s that time of year again. AFI is honoring the most outstanding films and television programs of the year with AFI AWARDS. The non-competitive AFI AWARDS acknowledge the collaborative nature of film and TV production, bringing the community’s creative teams together in a unique celebration of their work.

This year’s list includes 10 television programs and, for the first time in AFI AWARDS history, 11 motion pictures. The 2014 honorees deemed by AFI’s Jury to be culturally and artistically representative of the year’s most significant achievements are:

Canada’s Top Ten Films announced

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival presents screenings, filmmaker Q&As, free events, and onstage discussions with celebrated Canadians Keanu Reeves, Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis and Sandra Oh

TIFF toasted the nation’s cinematic trailblazers tonight, announcing the top 10 feature, short film and student film selections for the 14th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival. Established by TIFF in 2001, the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and raises awareness of Canadian achievements in film. The 10-day festival runs January 2 to 11, 2015 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto and presents public screenings of the selected films accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, as well as special events and free engagements. On January 10, the festival welcomes Canadian author and activist Naomi Klein and filmmaker Avi Lewis for an onstage conversation and a sneak peek at This Changes Everything, the upcoming documentary inspired by Klein’s new book. The one and only Keanu Reeves will close the festival, taking the stage on January 11 for an intimate discussion about his iconic career. The festival’s tour across Canada includes stops in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal; Vancouver’s The Cinematheque will host a special onstage conversation with star of the big and small screen Sandra Oh.

Film Comment announces 2013 Best of Year lists

Film Comment’s annual end-of-the-year survey of film critics, journalists, film section editors, and past and present contributors was released today with Joel & Ethan Coen’s INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE and Richard Linklater’s BEFORE MIDNIGHT taking the top spots among films released in 2013. Among films that made appearances at film festivals or special screenings worldwide, but haven’t been picked up for stateside distribution as of yet, Philippe Garrel’s JEALOUSY, Tsai Ming-liang’s STRAY DOGS and Joaquim Pinto’s WHAT NOW? REMIND ME received the top rankings.

2013 Black List of top unproduced screenplays

Franklin Leonard revealed his annual Black List today over Twitter, listing the top unproduced screenplays as voted on by over 250 film executives.

72 scripts were on the list which was topped by Andrew Sodroski’s Holland, Michigan which received mentions from 46 voters. The screenplay tells the story of a woman who suspects her husband is cheating on her.

American Film Institute announces AFI Awards 2013 official selections

The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2013 – 10 outstanding films and 10 outstanding television programs deemed culturally and artistically representative of the year's most significant achievements in the art of the moving image.

An almanac documenting works of excellence that mark a moment in time, AFI AWARDS is also the only national honor for the community's creative ensembles as a whole, acknowledging the collaborative nature of the art form. Honorees are selected based on works which best advance the art of the moving image, enhance the rich cultural heritage of America's art form, inspire audiences and artists alike, and/or make a mark on American society.

TIFF reveals Canada's Top Ten Films of 2013

Star-studded festival includes film screenings, filmmaker Q&As and special onstage conversations with Denis Villeneuve, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Greyson

TORONTO – Tonight TIFF kicked off its celebration of the best in Canadian film with the announcement of the feature and short film selections for the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival. The 10-day festival runs January 3 to 12, 2014 at TIFF Bell Lightbox and features public screenings of the selected films, accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers. On January 5, the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival welcomes Academy Award-nominees Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal to TIFF Bell Lightbox to discuss their recent collaborations. The festival will conclude on January 12 with an onstage conversation between Canadian filmmaker John Greyson and Toronto International Film Festival Artistic Director Cameron Bailey. These announcements were made at an industry event in Toronto hosted by Steve Patterson (CBC’s The Debaters). Established in 2001, the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival celebrates excellence in Canadian cinema and raises global awareness of Canadian achievements in film.

2012 National Film Registry selection of 25 films for preservation

The Matrix, A League of Their Own, A Christmas Story, Uncle Tom’s Cabin among registry additions

The excitement of national football; the first black star of an American feature-length film; the visionary battle between man and machine; and an award-winning actress born yesterday are part of a kaleidoscope of cinematic moments captured on film and tapped for preservation. The Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named 25 motion pictures that have been selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. These cinematic treasures represent important cultural, artistic and historic achievements in filmmaking.

"Established by Congress in 1989, the National Film Registry spotlights the importance of preserving America’s unparalleled film heritage," said Billington. "These films are not selected as the ‘best’ American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring importance to American culture. They reflect who we are as a people and as a nation."

AARP's 10 Best Movies for Grownups in 2012

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has released their 12th annual list of 10 Best Movies for Grownups.

As one might expect, some of the choices featured older characters and actors with stories that reflected the realities of the older generation, such as Amour, Quartet and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. However, some of the choices were simply good movies that featured few if any older characters – Argo, The Sessions, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty.

Last year's 10 Best list included eventual Best Picture Oscar-winner The Artist.

The Black List – top unproduced screenplays of 2012

The Black List was compiled from the suggestions over 290 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2012 and will not have completed principal photography during this calendar year.

This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the Black List.

All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2012 affiliations.

Film Comment lists of best films of 2012

“HOLY MOTORS,” “THE MASTER” AND “MOONRISE KINGDOM” ARE 1-2-3 FOR FILMS RELEASED DURING THE YEAR

“OUR CHILDREN,” “MEMORIES LOOK AT ME” AND “FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED” TOP THE FILMS WITHOUT U.S. DISTRIBUTION LIST

Film Comment’s annual end-of-the-year survey of film critics, journalists, film section editors, and past and present contributors was released today with Leos Carax’s HOLY MOTORS, Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER and Wes Andreson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM taking the top spots among films released in 2012. Among films that made appearances at film festivals or special screenings worldwide, but haven’t been picked up for stateside distribution as of yet, Joachim Lafosse’s OUR CHILDREN, Song Fang’s MEMORIES LOOK AT ME and Alan Berliner’s FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED received the top rankings.

282 Feature Films in Contention for 2012 Best Picture Oscar

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Two hundred eighty-two feature films are eligible for the 2012 Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

To be eligible for 85th Academy Awards consideration, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, December 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days.

Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.

American Film Institute's top ten of 2012

The American Film Institute has released its annual list of the top ten movies and television programs of the year.

Included in the top movies list are current awards season darlings such as Argo, Lincoln, Les Misérables, Silver Linings Playbook and Zero Dark Thirty. It is interesting to see the inclusion of Les Misérables because it's primarily a British production and AFI only selects American titles for its lists.

But notable omissions include the Paul Thomas Anderson film The Master and Flight by Robert Zemeckis. There are also no animated films or documentaries, even though it was a strong year for both.

Time Magazine's top ten Best and Worst films of 2012

Time Magazine has published its list of top 10 best and worst films of the year. Topping the list of best films was Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner Amour. This is a sensible and unsurprising choice as it has won numerous other awards since its triumph at Cannes. The top ten selection was made by Richard Corliss.

The number one worst film, however, has proven controversial. Taking the top spot for worst film of 2012 was Cloud Atlas, the adaptation of the David Mitchell novel by Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski.

I personally had issues with it, not least of which was the yellow-face casting and acting. Sure, many actors cross races in the movie, but none in a main role in the story as Jim Sturgess does as a Korean. Nonetheless, it has good intentions, I suppose. But it has other flaws as well as strengths. I didn't find it confusing as many did, but I did find it muddled.