2nd AACTA Awards Winners

As expected -by me- The Sapphires won the most awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, bringing the tally to a total of 11 awards including the five previously announced. Believe that all honors are well-deserved as is good movie with a better story. To learn winners in all categories go here.

Winners are in *BLUE.

1/27/13
In the second year the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) celebrates Australian cinema -as a substitution of the previous Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards that run since 1958- we find expected nominations and some films that seem to be worth to watch.

Awards ceremony will be on January 30 at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, will be hosted by Russell Crowe and expect to see Geoffrey Rush (AACTA President), Cate Blanchett and many more. Ceremony will be broadcast live on Network Ten.

As expected crowd-pleaser The Sapphires leads with 12 nominations followed by Burning Man, Lore, Wish You Were Here and Mental each with 8 nominations. Here are the nominations for top film categories.

Best Film
Burning Man
Lore
*The Sapphires
Wish You Were Here

Best Direction
Jonathan Teplitzky for Burning Man
Cate Shortland for Lore
*Wayne Blair for The Sapphires
Kieran Darcy-Smith for Wish You Were Here

Best Lead Actress
Toni Collette in Mental
*Deborah Mailman in The Sapphires
Felicity Price in Wish You Were Here
Sarah Snook in Not Suitable For Children

Best Lead Actor
Joel Edgerton in Wish You Were Here
Matthew Goode in Burning Man
*Chirs O'Dowd in The Sapphires
Guy Pearce in 33 Postcards

To check nominees in all film plus television categories go here. International awards already have been announced and Silver Linings Playbook took almost all the awards if you wish to check the nominations as well as the award winners please go here.

2012 Autumn Movie Bits

Originally blog came to life because I wanted to recall the movies I have seen, especially those mainstream movies I watch and tend to forget about them because they did not impressed me. But for the last 7 years blog evolved into something more interesting (at least for me) and sometimes forget to register those mainstream films I have seen. That's how the seasonal "movie bits" post became sort of a blog tradition. A post that also shows my eclectic taste in movies, a taste that makes me watch almost "everything" is filmed in almost any genre.

Hope Springs by David Frankel, USA
I want to like all movies with Merryl Streep in the lead role, but sometimes it is not possible. This is one of the occasions as did not really enjoyed her performance in this movie that has been labeled as "comedy, drama, romance" and found that has not much comedy -even when there are some silly scenes with humor-, there are some awkward-to-see romance moments and mostly is a not-pleasant to watch drama. Believe that the biggest flaw movie has is the casting. Sigh.

Trouble with the Curve by Robert Lorenz, USA
No matter what the person does (like talking to an empty chair), I am Clint Eastwood fan.  I like the filmmaker for the great films he directs and also the actor in many films where he performs. Here he acts but gives the impression that in his old age he is being typecast as the old grumpy man, which he also plays here. Film tells the story of a father (Eastwood) and his daughter (Amy Adams) and is deeply based on the love of Baseball. Found film has not much wrong but is not out-of-the ordinary. It is watchable as an escape moment. Enjoy!

Resident Evil: Retribution by Paul W.S. Anderson, Germany and Canada
Yes, I have seen the Resident Evil movies as found them entertaining for an escape moment and who can resist seeing an action movie with a female character in lead? Not me, especially when the lead is Milla Jovovich. But the last installment was not enjoyable at all as perhaps is the movie that looks and feels more like a console game than a film for the big screen and when this happens is better to play the game than to watch a bad movie. So perhaps console game players will like film, but I did not. Sigh.

Liberal Arts by Josh Radnor, USA
Some positive buzz got me interested in watching this American indie, had low expectations and watched just hoping for an entertainment moment. But got bored quite fast as while story is not that bad, second film by Radnor clearly shows that he still has much more to learn about filmmaking, storytelling and directing. Biggest film flaw, doesn't easily engage audiences, but there are many more. Sigh.

Argo by Ben Affleck, USA
A good thriller/drama inspired by a true story as told by a newspaper article, which I strongly suggest you read as the article is truly fascinating. Maybe should remind you all that this film is not a documentary so takes many creative licenses outside the true facts, which obviously makes it a very enjoyable movie experience that wide audiences will enjoy. Film is as good as all the films Affleck has directed but has something different, thanks to playing an expressionless character his performance is quite good here. Surely film will get honors in current American award season. Watch it, you will like it. Enjoy!!!

Looper by Rian Johnson, USA and China
Perhaps the only thing that motivated me to see this film was Emily Blunt performs here. The Sci-Fi story is not that bad, but the crime and action part was not pleasant to watch, at least for me. Had no idea this was not a studio movie as the way it feels and looks is 100% Hollywood ordinary blockbuster film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt performance and looks are awful, but somehow Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt make film more watchable. Enjoy.

Arbitrage by Nicholas Jarecki, USA
Richard Gere not often plays villains, perhaps is because he is better performing light romance roles. Film story is not bad, neither is film storytelling style as a thriller, but how the drama was constructed could make some viewers to feel disappointed by film. Surely did it to me. Still imagine many viewers will like the movie even when I did not. Enjoy.

Magic Mike by Steven Soderbergh, USA
Not easy for me to find the reason-why Soderbergh decided to do this movie that definitively looks and feels very different to his previous films. The best "nice" word I can find to describe film is "cheesy" but not-nice words better describe this trashy B-film, especially for the truly awful actor's performances. If you skip it won't be missing much; me, I wish I did see it. Sigh.

The Vow by Michael Sucsy, USA, France, Australia, UK and Germany
I like romantic movies as much as anybody else, but it's been a while since I see one that impresses me and obviously this one is not the one. A bland, not engaging, no chemistry, no-good-acting, no-everything movie that find is below the standard of made-for-television movies, usually screen at the infamous LMN channel. Suggest to skip. Sigh.

Liz & Dick by Lloyd Kramer, USA
Talking about Lifetime channel made me recall this movie that critics' and many viewers strongly and loudly trashed. Watched for only one reason, wanted to hear Lindsay Lohan voice, period. So I had below low expectations. Then obviously Lohan doesn't look like Taylor, Bowler doesn't look like Burton and Lohan/Bowler chemistry is zero; but yes, I was surprised on how the story film tells made me recall the most famous "scandalous romance" as was told then in the news. So can tell that enjoyed movie more than what I could imagined.. The funniest thing was to read in twitter how many recorded film and had already watch it twice and more times. If Lohan was not being trashed by media as much as it is, I bet that many will dare to say that they enjoyed movie. But well, remember that this is not a big screen movie, is a TV movie and definitively should not have been considered as a anyone's "come back". Enjoy.

My Little Princess by Eva Ionesco, France
Ionesco's debut film was incredibly hard for me to watch for the story and for what is shown in the screen. Have no need to see, especially the images in this highly dysfunctional mother/daughter story. I can't believe what I am about to say, as is an Isabelle Huppert film, but I strongly suggest you skip this film. Refuse to rate this film.

Lawless by John Hillcoat, USA
It is an okay movie but was expecting a lot more from this film screened in competition at 2012 Cannes. Not really interested in the story film tells or the storytelling style the film has; but can't deny that there are some very-good performances that make film worth-watching. For those that love great cinema suggest to lower whatever expectations Cannes provoked in you, so you'll be able to enjoy the cast ensemble performances. Enjoy!!

Butter by Jim Field Smith, USA
Yep, watched this truly bad film with awful performances especially by Jennifer Garner. But who could resist watching the too-brief lesbian interest scene with Olivia Wilde and Ashley Greene? Not me. Film is truly not worth-watching, not even for that scene; instead watch scene in any of the many videos available in the net. Sigh.

Ethel by Rory Kennedy, USA
A documentary by Rory Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Ethel and Robert Kennedy, who wanted to tell the story of her mother and the father she never met as Bobby Kennedy died six months before she was born. Unbelievable to find that Rory Kennedy has directed 13 documentary films plus she has produced about 27; but then shouldn't be surprising as this very good and moving documentary documents the life of an unusual woman and while telling her story, also tells about her husband and well, a piece of America's history in quite turbulent times. With interviews with Ethel and Rory's siblings plus footage from the era, including Kennedy's home movies, film will take you into an unexpected surprising family story that surely will move you beyond whatever you can expect from a Kennedy's story. After all much has been told about John, but not that much about Robert, much less like in this very intimate portrait of his family. Suggest to watch, even if you are not a Kennedy's fan. Enjoy!!!

Prometheus by Ridley Scott, USA and UK
Can't believe never wrote about this movie that was entertaining for someone like me that hasn't seen any Alien movies and saw it just because Noomi Rapace was in movie. Had no idea that she is the lead, but hopefully she will refrain from doing any sequels as this is NOT the kind of movie she should be doing. Nevertheless film is okay for a sci-fi movie with many special effects that earn film to be shortlisted in the 2013 VFX Oscar category, but besides entertaining and some great visuals, there is not much to be said. Ah! that is why I forgot to write about movie. Enjoy.

I'm sure have forgotten many movies -should write at least the names to not forget them- but this is all for a season that has not ended yet; however, soon will be winter.

The Sapphires

Wayne Blair debut film is a very entertaining movie that looks and feels like old-fashion entertaining, when movies told good stories, had good production specs and were done with the purpose of entertaining audiences.

Co written by Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs, film is based on the award winning stage play by Briggs that tells about four Koori women who are discovered by an unlikely talent scout and form an all female singers group called The Sapphires that are hired to entertain troops in Vietnam during the war. The stage play was inspired by the true story of his mother and aunt.

Perhaps the best way to describe this movie is what some say about the play: "The Sapphires is not about the racist persecution of the 1960's. (...) Racist attitude were alive and well in Australia. There were limited work opportunities and that was one of the things that drove us to be entertainers." But the best description can be said with three words: "It's a celebration."

Indeed film shows us what is said in the above paragraph and perhaps racism is expanded beyond what the original play intend as film also makes parallels to 60's racism in America; but is not what movie is all about. Movie is about celebrating the life of four women that were briefly famous in the 60's and their story is told with great first-rate singing and choreography, some humor and not much drama.

This is an engaging, warm-hearten movie that sparkles energy and charm which surely will touch you while entertaining you; after watching you will have a great feel-good feeling that could uplift your moment, that is on top of singing along the great songs and dancing in your chair while watching.

Film was premiered in 2012 Cannes at the Midnight Screenings section and while traveling the fest circuit collected honors; but I believe that the festival circuit was a great promotion platform for a film that otherwise will have stayed in domestic Australia market to deprive us international viewers from a great old-fashion delightful mainstream movie.

I do recommend movie for one of those moments when you want to be entertained with a great mainstream movie that showcases great soul songs and will make you feel real-good.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

6th Annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards Winners

Was able to watch the ending of the awards ceremony and enjoy live the amazing concerts especially the one with Ryuichi Sakamoto performing a composition from Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor. Awards ceremonies like this one are centered in culture and is not an easy task as the Asian Pacific Screen Academy groups 70 countries/territories with very different cultures.

At the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, Australia , the ceremony gave Awards and High Commendations to films from ten countries and areas of Asia Pacific including Turkey, India, Indonesia, Iraqi-Kurdistan, Israel, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and Iraq.

These are the 2012 winners.

Best Feature Film: Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), Emin Alper, Turkey and Greece

Jury President statement: Beyond the Hill took us on a journey to hidden secrets within a family. It was a microcosm of what can happen in a more universal situation. The characters were truthful and complex, it told the story in an original and different way. Beyond the Hill dealt with our tendency to look on the outside for a solution when the real problems lie within.

High Commendation: Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time), Jong-bin Yun, Korea

UNESCO Award: Seediq Bale (Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale), Wei Te-sheng, Taiwan

Screen International Jury Grand Prizes
Director Anurag Kashyap for Gangs of Wasseypur, India
Actress Cho Min-soo in Pieta, Kim Ki-duk, Korea
High Commendation: Writer Joseph Cedar for Hearat Shulayim (Footnote), Joseph Cedar, Israel

Achievement in Directing: Brillante Mendoza for Sinapupunan (Thy Womb), Philippines
High Commendation: Cheng Er for Bian jing feng yun (Lethal Hostage), China

Best Performance by an Actress: Nora Aunor in Sinapupunan (Thy Womb), Brillante Mendoza, Philippines
High Commendation: Darya Ekamasova in Жила-была одна баба Zila bila odna baba (Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman), Andrey Smirnov, Russia

Best Performance by an Actor: Choi Min-sik in Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time), Jong-bin Yun, Korea
High Commendation: Lior Ashkenazi in Hearat shulayim (Footnote), Joseph Cedar, Israel

Achievement in Cinematography: Touraj Aslani for Fasle Kargadan (Rhino Season), Bahman Ghobadi, Iraqi-Kurdistan and Turkey

Best Screenplay: Reis Çelik for Lal gece (Night of Silence), Reis Çelik, Turkey

Best Documentary Feature Film: In My Mother's Arms, Atea Al Daradji and Mohamed Al Daradji, Iraq, UK and Netherlands
High Commendation: Planet of Snail, Yi Seung-jun, Korea, Japan and Finland

Best Animation Feature Film: Momo e no tegami (A Letter to Momo), Hiroyuki Okiura, Japan
Best Children's Feature Film: Launt Bercemin (The Mirror Never Lies), Kamila Andini, Indonesia

The Best Film award went to Emin Alper's debut film that was premiered at the Forum section of the 2012 Berlinale where won a Special Mention in the Best First Feature category and has been collecting more honors while travelling the fest circuit. But the best news for me is Rhino Season winning a cinematography award as somehow confirms that film has to have great visual images.

6th Annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominations

As stated by organizers, an unprecedented total of 264 films were entered in this year's competition and 34 films from 18 Asia Pacific countries/areas were honored with a nomination.

The following are the nominated films.

Best Feature Film
Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time), Jong-bin Yun, Korea
Khers (Bear), Khosro Masoumi, Iran
Орда Orda (The Horde), Andrei Proshkin, Russia
Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), Emin Alper, Turkey and Greece
Wu Xia (Dragon), Peter Chan, Hong Kong and China

Best Animated Feature Film
Happy Feet Two, George Miller, Gary Eck and David Peers, Australia and USA
Kokurikozaka Kara (From Up on Poppy Hill), Goro Miyazaki, Japan
Momo e no tegami (A Letter to Momo), Hiroyuki Okiura, Japan
Nijiiro Hotaru (Rainbow Fireflies), Kōnosuke Uda, Japan
Ookamikodomo no Ame to Yuki (Wolf Children), Mamoru Hosoda, Japan

Best Children's Feature film
Australia Sheli (My Australia), Ami Drozd, Poland and Israel
Gattu, Rajan Khosa, India
Kiseki (I Wish), Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan
Launt Bercemin (The Mirror Never Lies), Kamila Andini, Indonesia
Orchim Lerega (Off White Lies), Maya Kening, Israel

Achievement in Directing
Anurag Kashyap for Gangs of Wasseypur, India
Brillante Mendoza for Sinapupunan (Thy Womb), Philippines
Cheng Er for Bian jing feng yun (Lethal Hostage), China
Khosro Masoumi for Khers (Bear), Iran
Reis Çelik for Lal gece (Night of Silence), Turkey

Best Performance by an Actress
Cho Min-soo in Pieta, Kim Ki-duk, Korea
Darya Ekamasova in Жила-была одна баба Zila bila odna baba (Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman), Andrey Smirnov, Russia
Humaima Malick in Bol, Shoaib Mansoor, Pakistan
Nora Aunor in Sinapupunan (Thy Womb), Brillante Mendoza, Philippines
Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture, Milan Luthria, India

Best Performance by an Actor
Choi Min-sik in Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time), Jong-bin Yun, Korea
Lior Ashkenazi in Hearat shulayim (Footnote), Joseph Cedar, Israel
Manoj Bajpayee in Gangs of Wasseypur, Anurag Kashyap, India
Tamer Levent in Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), Emin Alper, Turkey and Greece
Wu Tianming in Fei Yue Lao Ren Yuan (Full Circle), Zhang Yang China

Achievement in Cinematography
Charin Pengpanich for Bunohan (Bunohan: Return to Murder), Dain Said, Malaysia
Chin Ting-Chang for Seediq Bale (Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale), Te-Sheng Wei, Taiwan
Jake Pollock and Lai Yiu-fai for Wu Xia, Peter Chan, Hong Kong and China
Touraj Aslani for Fasle Kargadan (Rhino Season), Bahman Ghobadi, Iraqi-Kurdistan and Turkey
Yury Raysky for Орда Orda (The Horde), Andrei Proshkin, Russia

Best Screenplay
Cheng Er for Bian jing feng yun (Lethal Hostage), Cheng Er, China
Chris Martinez for Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank), Marlon Rivera, Philippines
Emin Alper for Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill), Emin Alper, Turkey and Greece
Reis Çelik for Lal gece (Night of Silence), Reis Çelik, Turkey
Shoaib Mansoor for Bol, Shoaib Mansoor, Pakistan

Best Documentary Feature Film
Hamesh Matzlemot Shvurot (Five Broken Cameras), Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi, Israel, Palestine and France
In My Mother's Arms, Atea Al Daradji and Mohamed Al Daradji, Iraq, UK and Netherlands
Negeri di Bawah Kabut (The Land Beneath the Fog), Shalahuddin Siregar, Indonesia and Germany
Planet of Snail, Yi Seung-jun, Korea, Japan and Finland
Shiton Hachok (The Law in These Parts), Ra'anan Alexandrowicz, Israel, USA and Germany

My first impression from those films I was not aware is that the one that really called my attention is the story of a female convict on death row with her last wish to tell her story to the media in Shoaib Mansoor's Bol. Also because of trailer and photos know that epic Andrei Proshkin's Orda (photo) has some breathtaking visuals.

A six-member International Jury headed by acclaimed Australian producer Jan Chapman will determine the winner of Best Feature Film as well as winners of the five major craft awards, the Screen International Jury Grand Prize and the UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film. APSA Academy members will determine the winners in the Best Children’s, Documentary and Animated Feature Film categories.

All winners in the sixth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Friday November 23 in Brisbane, Australia.

The Long Hot Summer Movie Bits

My summer was hot, too hot. I'm talking about the weather as many movies I saw were not hot at all. I'm glad this season is about to be over so my favorite season of the year will come next. I'm an Autumn person, because the weather as well as for the movies and all the cinema industry events.

Bonsai by Cristián Jiménez, Chile, Argentina, Portugal and France
Wanted to like movie at least as much as Ilusiones Opticas but I did not. At first couldn't figure out why but believe was because the narrative as movie as a movie is not that bad. Imagine many could like it but not me. Sigh.

Dark Shadows by Tim Burton, USA
While watching wondered if Burton saw what he did, I don't think so. One of the worst movies I have ever seen and the story idea was good, but the end result was awful. Sorry to see Johnny Depp involved with such a bad movie. Sigh.

Chelovek s kino-apparatom (Man With A Movie Camera) by Dziga Vertov, USSR, 1929
Wanted to love this silent film as many have enjoyed the ahead of its time documentary. Started watching in awe but too soon it became the same, something different was being shown but it was the same. Still agree that its ahead of its time, but after a while was too much to endure. Maybe it was the music of the version I saw (there are several music versions) so I muted sound but the visuals did not improved. Saw it complete but watching was hard until the end even when is just 8 minutes more than an hour. But is a classic and one film that everyone should see, maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. Enjoy.

Skoonheid (Beauty) by Oliver Hermanus, South Africa, Germany and France
Came with great credentials but I was not prepared to see a film that look and felt old, very old. I do admit that what happens here still exists today all over the world and never ends well for anyone. There are many homophobic married men that are homosexuals and this is just one story. Never before have seen man-to-man rape, was very unpleasant to watch as much as it is with any kind of rape. I did not enjoyed this film. Sigh.

Fjellet (The Mountain) by Ole Giæver, Norway
The location was absolutely stunning and film had great visuals but fast, very fast I stopped enjoying the sights as this grieving story became truly annoying. Film tells about a couple of women, lesbians, trying to save their relationship while one of them (the biological mother) can't overcome the death of their child. Everything in this film is underestimated and maybe in the hands of a female director film could have been better, at least to help bring more credibility to these two women drama. Film is quite short, 13 minutes more than one hour, but felt like it was three or more hours Sigh.

The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan, USA
Not impressed at all. Batman has so little time in the screen that doesn't seem like a Batman movie which is similar to the Dark Knight; but unfortunately is NOT the Dark Knight as no one can do what Heath Ledger did in that movie. Marion Cotillard is here and I hardly notice her. Wanted my money back. Sigh.

I had not much luck with those movies but my luck was better with several documentaries.

First Love by Claire Gorman, Australia and USA
A true surprise very enjoyable to watch with a great story about three teenage girls that are in love, not with boys but with surfing. Narrative is so well constructed that makes documentary look and feel more like a movie, a very entertaining movie. Highly recommend watching film and definitively is must be seen for women that enjoy surfing. Enjoy!!!

Senna by Asif Kapadia, UK
Another surprise as yes I know who Ayrton Senna is, no I'm no motor-racing fan (even do once, only once I drove a Formula One) and no, knew nothing about Senna's life. A very emotional roller-coaster tale that shows us a very interesting human being. Very hard to believe that a car-racing driver story could be that much entertaining and so highly emotional but documentary has excellent tech specs and a most impressive storyteller and filmmaker. Bravo. Must be seen. Enjoy!!!

Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present by Matthew Akers and Jeff Dupre, USA
Very interesting documentary mainly because the story it tells. Documents the Serbian performance artist as she prepares for a retrospective of her work (we see old footage of some of her work) at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, but also takes us into the most amazing, compelling performance she does for 3 months every day. I love Art as much as I love movies, but not much a fan of performance art; still this amazing artist has changed my mind, I fell in love with performing art. Bravo. I strongly suggest you experience this film. Big Enjoy!!!

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom by Lucy Walker, UK
Lucy Walker makes impressive documentaries but this short documentary is more than impressive as is really beautiful to watch but at the same time awfully hard to watch and you can't help but shred tears while and after watching. For me was a very emotional experience. Tells a story about survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan's recent tsunami and how they find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. Suggest you watch it, but maybe you have to be prepared for a strong emotional ride. Enjoy!!!

Vito by Jeffrey Schwarz, USA
Another surprise as documentary is very well constructed while the story is compelling. Tells the story of Vito Russo, founding father of USA gay liberation movement, vociferous AIDS activist in the 1980s and none the less, the author of the quite famous and the most iconic guide to gay and lesbian cinema history, The Celluloid Closet. I knew him for his work but his life story is very compelling and touching thanks to the great storyteller and filmmaker. I believe that even if you're not interested in the genre films, the story in this documentary could interest you as after all is part of the history of the United States of America, and in a way, that's exactly how I believe is portrayed in the documentary. Find this documentary many times more interesting than The Times of Harvey Milk documentary and yes, also than the film, Milk. Enjoy!!!

Surely I'm forgetting some movies but as you can suspect, where not interesting enough for me to like or dislike them.

5th Annual Asia Pacific Screen Award Winners

Last night (i.e. very early morning for me) the Academy had their award ceremony that you can watch here.  The following are the winners.

Best Feature Film: جدایی نادر از سیمین Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (Nader and Simin, A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran

Jury Grand Prize: Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey

Achievement in Directing: Nuri Bilge Ceylan for Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), Turkey
Best Performance by Actress: Nadezha Markina in Elena by Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia
Best Peformance by Actor: Wang Baoqiang for Hello! Shu Xian Sheng (Mr. Tree) by Jie Han, China

Best Children’s Feature Film: Buta by Ilgar Najaf, Azerbaijan
Best Animated Feature Film: Madangeul naon amtak (Leafie) by Oh Seonyun, Korea
Best Documentary Feature Film: Jag Var Värd 50 Lamm (I Was Worth 50 Sheep) by Nima Sarvestani, Sweden, Japan and USA

Best Screeplay: Denis Osokin for Ovsyanki (Silent Souls) by Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia
Achievement in Cinematography Award: Gökhan Tiryaki for Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey

UNESCO Award: Ivan Sen for Toomelah, Australia
FIAPF Award: Zhang Yimou

To check the announcement go here and to check nominees plus winners in all categories go here.

5th Annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominations

Today APSA announced the nominations for this year awards, with a total of 37 films from 19 countries and areas. Here are the nominations for some categories. It’s noted that the films with most nominations –four each- are A Separation and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, as we know both are Iran and Turkey submissions to Oscar plus both are by two of my most favorite directors.

Best Feature Film
Band Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planners), Maneesh Sharma, India
Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye), Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran
Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey
Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran
Rang zidan fei (Let the Bullets Fly), Jiang Wen, China and Hong Kong

Achievement in Directing
Asghar Farhadi for Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), Iran
Nuri Bilge Ceylan for Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), Turkey
Mohammad Rasoulof for Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye), Iran
Jiang Wen for Rang zidan fei (Let the Bullets Fly), China and Hong Kong
Na Hong-jin for Hwanghae (The Yellow Sea), South Korea

Best Performance by an Actress
Judy Davis in The Eye of the Storm, Fred Schepisi, Australia
Nahed El Sebai in Cairo 678, Mohamed Diab, Egypt
Nadezhda Markina in Elena, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia
Shayesteh Irani in Ayenhaye Rooberoo (Facing Mirrors), Negar Azarbayjani, Iran
Leyla Zareh in Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye), Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran

Best Performance by an Actor
Peyman Moadi in Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran
Wang Baoqiang in Hello! Shu Xian Sheng (Mr Tree), Jie Han, China
Sasson Gabay in Boker Tov Adon Fidelman (Restoration), Yossi Madmoni, Israel
Fa’afiaula Sagote in O le Tulafale (The Orator), Tusi Tamasese,New Zealand and Samoa
Daniel Connors for Toomelah, Ivan Sen, Australia

To check nominees in all categories go press release or here. Award ceremony will be on November 24 at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and will be streamed live at the official site here.

The King’s Speech

Extremely well-crafted film by Tom Hooper that will satisfy you beyond any expectations you might have after the so-much buzz that has generated in this award season. As story is character driven extraordinary performances are a must and you have no idea how great performances are not only by Colin Firth but also by Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and I should include performances by supporting cast like Derek Jacobi and Jennifer Ehle among others.

As probably we all know film tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. In my opinion film took some creative licenses to make film very entertaining, so much than after characters were introduced and story starts to develop film becomes mesmerizing; you can take away your eyes from the screen as you don’t want to miss a second from what’s happening. Very well-done movie with an excellent script from David Seidler, who had to wait 30 years to be able to write script as the Queen Mother gave her authorization to do it only after her death, according to what I read.

So film tells the story of the Duke of York who reluctantly assumes the throne; everyone –except his father- thinks that he’s unfit to be king due to his stammer that makes him unable to speak fluidly; as radio was recently commercially released, kings were not anymore only required to do public speaking but also do radio broadcasts, especially the Christmas speech instituted by his father. So after many failed attempts to help him speak without stuttering, he finally ends in the office of Lionel Logue, the man that will help him to speak more fluidly and deliver the radio speeches, especially the much important ones during WWII. It’s a compelling, uplifting and remarkable story that is hard to understand the reason why King George VI “disappeared” from history (against well-know figures of the same era) as well as why with or without proper authorization this story was not told before.

As a film is spectacular with the highest production values and great costumes plus care to details to successfully recreate those not-so-long-ago days; special mention to director Tom Hooper that is very hard to believe that this movie is only his big screen second feature film, as he has work mainly on TV

This is a film that I consider suited for general audiences who enjoy very satisfying movies that will entertain with a great-to-watch story, excellent production values and unforgettable performances.

There are many films that I watch only once, but I know that I will revisit film many times as I really liked story and magnificent performance by Colin Firth that now I know more than ever deserves the highest honor at Oscar, even when I still believe that last year the Oscar belonged to him too.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch Trailer @MOC