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The inaugural ceremony for the The 2024 Indie Awards was hosted at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles on Dec. 9. This annual event, which was hosted by Nic Novicki and presented by Slamdance Group, honors independent filmmaking.

“’The Indies’ is where distinctly independent US and Indigenous feature filmmakers and their films will be seen, heard, and properly recognized year after year in Hollywood,” said Indie Awards co-founder Paul Rachman. Indie Awards co-founder Ben Umstead added, “Such recognition is a powerful tool for change of the status quo, and embracing change equals the film industry at its best.”

Chloé Leriche won “Best Narrative Feature” and “The Native Viewpoint Award For Outstanding Indigenous Community Story Collaboration” for “Atikamekw Suns” as well as the “Outstanding Storytelling Craft” award alongside Natalie Lamoureux. Also for “Atikamekw Suns,” Giauco Bermudez won the “Outstanding Technical Achievement” honor.

This film is centered around the true story...

Steven Moffat, known for his work on ‘Doctor Who‘ and co-creating ‘Sherlock,’ recently shared his experiences and views at the Toronto International Film Festival.

With a Christmas special titled ‘Joy to the World‘ on the way, Moffat is set to become the writer with the most episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ under his belt, reaching fifty with this release.

Moffat humorously highlighted the unique aspect of ‘Doctor Who,’ where the lead can be replaced, unlike most other shows. This feature, he pointed out, adds a playful complexity within the community, especially among the actors who have previously played the role.

Each actor, including David Tennant, believes they are the quintessential Doctor, which Moffat finds both amusing and challenging.

During the festival, Moffat discussed the concept of storytelling through reboots, using ‘Doctor Who’s’ regenerations as a prime example. He believes all stories are essentially reboots, where new storytellers reimagine characters and plots in their unique ways.

With many annual awards ceremonies, even those that brand themselves celebrators of indie filmmaking, seemingly highlighting films that don’t necessarily need the boost, it’s refreshing when one truly highlights the indie spirit. Enter The Indie Awards, “an annual event dedicated to celebrating the spirit of truly independent filmmaking,” backed by Slamdance. Ahead of a ceremony taking place on December 9, 2024, at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles, they’ve now unveiled their nominees.

Among a few picking up multiple nominations are Ryan Martin Brown’s Free Time and Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, two stellar films we recently named among the best of 2024. Also nominated in the Best Narrative Feature section is Chloé Leriche’s Atikamekw Suns.

Co-founded by Ben Umstead, Paul Rachman, and Peter Baxter, the pool of films being considered could not have their premieres at some of the bigger “indie” festivals but...

Slamdance is celebrating the best indie films from 2024 with an inaugural awards ceremony aptly called The Indies. The Slamdance Film Festival announced Wednesday that its new annual ceremony will toast “the spirit of truly independent filmmaking” on December 9 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Actor/comedians Nic Novicki and Steve Way (“Ramy”) will host.

An interesting caveat, though: For films to be eligible at the ceremony, features must not have held their world premieres at Sundance, SXSW, or Tribeca. However, nominees must have played at one or more domestic film festivals over the last calendar year leading into the ceremony. The Indies also are staying domestic, with a focus on narrative and documentary features from filmmakers only in North America.

“Independent U.S. and Indigenous filmmakers feel neglected and abandoned,” said co-founder Paul Rachman in a press statement. “The current landscape for recognizing fresh voices in cinema has never...

Slamdance, the indie film festival established almost 30 years ago in response to the cultural monolith of Sundance, is unveiling its first ever awards show franchise.

“The Indies” will be an annual ceremony celebrating “the spirit of truly independent filmmaking,” according to organizers. The inaugural event is set for Dec. 9 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Comedian-actors Nic Novicki and Steve Way (“Ramy”) will host.

The Indies will focus on narrative and documentary features from filmmakers in North America. Eligible movies must have played at one or more domestic film festivals held over the calendar year. There’s an added guardrail to keep The Indies as cutting edge as possible: movies that set world premieres at Sundance, SXSW or Tribeca are not eligible for a trophy.

“The U.S. indie film sector is struggling, with only a handful of streamers and studios actively acquiring indie films — and it’s not enough.

The Casting Society (CSA) announced its 39th Annual Artios Awards winners in film, television, theatre, commercials, short form and short form series on Thursday night, honoring Oscar Best Picture nominees “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Past Lives” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (which beat out “Oppenheimer”) along with Academy Award animation frontrunner “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

In addition to the film victors, television winners included “The Bear,” “Succession.” “Reservation Dogs,” “The Last of Us” and “Beef,” while the theatre winners spotlighted “Leopoldstadt,” “Into the Woods,” “Downstate,” “Merrily We Roll Along” and “The Inheritance.”

The awards were held in three-pronged ceremonies in Los Angeles (hosted by Niecy Nash-Betts), New York (hosted by Alex Edelman) and London (hosted by Samantha Morton). The award ceremonies hosted more than 1,500 attendees combined.

SEEArtios Awards: Presenters to include Rachel Brosnahan, David Oweloyo, Alfred Molina, James Marsden, Sarah Hyland…

At the Los Angeles ceremony,...

Exclusive: The Apple TV+ series Murderbot is rounding out its leading cast with Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride), Tattiawna Jones (Orphan Black: Echoes), Akshay Khanna (Polite Society) and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range). The quad will star opposite Alexander Skarsgård, who also executive produces.

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning book series The Murderbot Diaries, the 10-episode series Murderbot centers on a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable “clients.” Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

Wu plays ‘Pin-Lee,’ Jones plays ‘Arada,’ Khanna plays ‘Ratthi’ and Podemski plays ’Bharadwaj.’

The ensemble cast also includes Noma Dumezweni and David Dastmalchian.

The series hails from Paramount Television Studios. The Weitz Brothers will showrun, write, direct and...

Exclusive: David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) has been tapped to star opposite Alexander Skarsgård on Apple TV+’s new sci-fi series Murderbot from Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz.

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling book series The Murderbot Diaries, the 10-episode series is about a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable “clients.” Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

Dastmalchian plays Gurathin.

Hailing from Paramount Television Studios, the show has The Weitz Brothers set to showrun, write, direct, and produce under their Depth of Field banner. Additional EPs include Andrew Miano for Depth of Field, David S. Goyer and Keith Levine for Phantom Four, and Skarsgård. Martha Wells serves as consulting producer.

The Casting Society (CSA) has announced the film nominees for the 39th Artios Awards, presented by the Casting Society of America. “The Color Purple,” “Saltburn,” “Maestro,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Oppenheimer” are among the nominated films in big budget drama.

The awards honor casting directors’ contributions to film, television and theatre. Among the casting directors with multiple nominations are Avy Kaufman and Jessica Sherman. Also nominated are the casting directors behind “Barbie” and “The Iron Claw.”

The winners will be revealed on March 7, with celebrations being held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in New York City at the Edison Ballroom and in London, England.

As previously announced, Ava DuVernay is this year’s recipient of the Lynn Stalmaster Award Career Achievement.

The full list of nominees is below.

Feature Animation

“Elemental”

Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher, Kate Hansen-Birnbaum (Associate Casting Director)

“Leo”

Danielle Aufiero, Amber Horn...

Casting Society has made its 2024 callbacks. The group today revealed the film nominees for its 39th Artios Awards, which honor the contribution of casting professionals.

Vying in the Feature Big Budget – Drama category are The Color Purple, Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer and Saltburn. The Feature Big Budget – Comedy race will be among Air; Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Asteroid City, Cocaine Bear and Wonka.

Up for the Zeitgeist Award are Barbie, The Flash, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

See the full list below.

The combatants for Feature Studio or Independent – Drama are The Iron Claw, May December, Past Lives, Priscilla and Rustin. Battling for the Feature Studio or Independent – Comedy will be American Fiction, Bottoms, The Holdovers, Joy Ride and Theater Camp.

Last year’s top...

Casting Society (CSA) today announced the the film nominees for the 39th annual Artios Awards, which honor the contribution of casting directors in film, television and theater. The CSA previously announced the nominees for its television, theater, short film and short-form series categories on Oct. 24.

Among the nominees this year are Oscar frontrunners Air, American Fiction, Barbie, The Color Purple, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, May December, Oppenheimer, Past Lives and Rustin.

Netflix and Warner Bros. both lead the nominees with five nods apiece, followed by Amazon Studios with four noms.

Three casting directors were honored with three nods: Rich Delia, Adam Richards and Susan Shopmaker. Receiving two nominations each are Dylan Jury, Avy Kaufman, Meagan Lewis, Lisa Lobel, Melissa Morris, Kimberly Ostroy, Angela Peri, Laura Rosenthal, Jessica Sherman, Bernard Telsey and Debra Zane

The 39th annual Artios Awards will be handed out at three simultaneous galas...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expanding its membership.

According to a press release, the organization that hands out Oscars each year at the Academy Awards has extended invitations to join the Academy to 398 artists and executives who have made notable contributions to the motion picture industry.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.

Read More: The Academy Announces 2024 Oscars Date As Well As Submission Deadline

There are some big names and familiar faces among the invitees, including musicians Taylor Swift and David Byrne, and numerous actors, ranging from Selma Blair to Keke Palmer to “Elvis” Oscar nominee Austin Butler.

Those who accept will be only additions to Academy’s membership in 2023.

Vicky Krieps, Paul Mescal, Warner Bros Discovery head David Zaslav, Aftersun writer-director Charlotte Wells, She Said director Maria Schrader, and Kerry Condon are among 398 who have been invited to join the Academy.

Some 40% of the 2023 class identify as women, 34% belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 52% are from 50 countries and territories outside the United States. There are 76 Oscar nominees including 22 winners among the invitees.

Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership. Should they all accept, the total number of members...

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert, recent acting nominees Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, and Stephanie Hsu, and bold-face names for the extremely online like Taylor Swift, Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd), and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav were among the 398 people announced as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.

“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.

This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...

The Academy has invited 398 artists across cinematic disciplines to join its membership, including Taylor Swift, Keke Palmer and this year’s Best Supporting Actor winner Ke Huy Quan.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang.

Also scoring invitations are actors Selma Blair, Austin Butler, Ram Charan, Kerry Condon, Bill Hader, Nicholas Hoult, Stephanie Hsu, Noémie Merlant, Paul Mescal, Nt Rama Rao Jr. and Paul Reiser, directors Joseph Kosinski, Maria Schrader and Michael Showalter, writers Josh Friedman, Kazuo Ishiguro and Charlotte Wells.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” duo The Daniels (Credit: Getty Images)

Eight people were invited to join the Academy by multiple branches and must choose which...

Singer-songwriters Taylor Swift and David Byrne, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria, Everything Everywhere All at Once filmmakers Daniels (Kwan and Scheinert), Nobel Prize-winning writer Kazuo Ishiguro, former SXSW chief Janet Pierson, WME co-chairs Christian Muirhead and Richard Weitz, and actors including Selma Blair, Austin Butler, Bill Hader, Paul Mescal, Nicholas Hoult, Keke Palmer, Ke Huy Quan and Rrr stars Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. are among the 398 artists and executives from around the world who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year, the Oscar-dispensing organization announced Wednesday.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the names of its newest round of invitees, increasing the number of voting members past 10,000, should everyone accept.

With the addition of the 398 artists and executives that the Academy extended invitations to (totaling one more invite than last year), the Academy now boasts a membership that is 34 percent women, 18 percent from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities, and 20 percent from countries or territories outside of the United States. Though their invites have a rolling deadline, they must accept them and pay dues in order to vote for the Oscars and gain access to benefits like the Academy Screening Room.

Among the list of possible new members are, predictably, many of the filmmakers behind Best Picture winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” including Best Supporting Actor winner Ke Huy Quan, Best Supporting Actress nominee Stephanie Hsu, Best Film Editing winner Paul Rogers,...

It’s that time of year again — the break between Cannes and the fall festivals, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences makes its membership invitations. The Oscars group said today that it has extended offers to 398 artists and execs — one more than last year — who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.

The list includes actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, executives, artist reps, publicists and below-the-liners such as casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, production designers and sound pros.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”

As usual, the invitees include newly minted Oscar winners,...

One of the more revealing moments of the 2023 Spirit Awards on Saturday afternoon was the very warm standing ovation Sarah Polley and the cast of “Women Talking” received. The film was honored with the Robert Altman Award which is given to the director, cast and its casting director (in this case Polley’s brother John Buchan along with Jason Knight). But despite the film receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, the United Artists drama had someone faded this awards season outside of an embarrassing moment at last weekend’s SAG Awards where Mark Wahlberg referred to it as “Women Are Talking.” That being said, the reaction from the audience at the Spirits was a sign of genuine respect from Polley’s peers.

Continue reading USC Scripter Awards Win Gives ‘Women Talking’ The Spotlight at The Playlist.

Everything Everywhere All at Once won big at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards, taking home seven awards out of eight nominations. The only award it didn’t win was, interestingly enough, one it did win, as Ke Huy Quan beat Jamie Lee Curtis in the Best Supporting Performance category.

Here are the winners of winners of the 38th Independent Spirit Awards:

Movies:

Best Feature:

Bones and All

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Our Father, The Devil

Tár

Women Talking

Best Director:

Todd Field, Tár

Kogonada, After Yang

Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Sarah Polley, Women Talking

Halina Reijn, Bodies Bodies Bodies

Best First Feature:

Aftersun

Emily the Criminal

The Inspection

Murina

Palm Trees and Power Lines

Best Lead Performance:

Cate Blanchett, Tár

Dale Dickey, A Love Song

Mia Goth, Pearl

Regina Hall, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.

Paul Mescal, Aftersun

Aubrey Plaza, Emily the Criminal

Jeremy Pope,...

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” continued its awards sweep at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on its path to the Oscars next weekend. The multiverse-hopping adventure collected awards for best picture, directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, actors Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu, screenplay and editing.

“Thank you to everyone who makes crazy, weird independent movies,” Scheinert said.

Awards were handed out Saturday afternoon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif., and the show was streamed live on YouTube and Twitter.

First-time Spirit Awards host Hasan Minhaj opened the show saying, “Of all the awards shows, this is by far, one of them.”

Read More: Stephanie Hsu Shares The Special Gift Jamie Lee Curtis Gave The ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Cast At 2023 SAG Awards

Minhaj went hard on everything, from the entertainment trade website Deadline to the show’s lack of a broadcast partner.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards selected A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once as its Best Feature on Saturday to culminate its 38th edition, one of seven wins for the metaverse-set pic that solidifies its frontrunner status in one of the last major awards stops ahead of March 12’s Academy Awards.

Everything, which had a leading eight nominations coming into daytime ceremony on the beach at the Santa Monica Pier, also scored wins for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu in the awards’ inaugural gender-neutral performance categories across film and TV. The film also won for The Daniels’ directing and screenplay, and for Paul Rogers’ editing.

Related Story ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Continues Awards Season Victory March With Sweep At Indie Spirits Heading Into Oscars Related Story How To Watch Saturday's Film Independent Spirit Awards Online Related Story Oscar Week 2023 Parties & Events: The List Ke Huy Quan,...

Writer-director Sarah Polley and producer Dede Gardner joined Deadline’s Contenders Film: The Nominees to discuss Women Talking, their film that is nominated for a pair of Oscars, for Best Picture and Polley’s adapted screenplay.

The all-star cast includes Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and Ben Whishaw. Plan B Entertainment, MGM’s Orion Pictures and hear/say produced the pic, which was released by United Artists Releasing.

Related Story ‘Women Talking’: Read The Screenplay By Sarah Polley That Takes On Remaking “A Broken World” Related Story 'Creed III' Live Imax Premiere Event Tickets Go On Sale Related Story Amazon Praises Video As Key Driver Of Prime; 2022 Content Spend, Including Music, Hit 16.6 Billion

Women Talking follows the women of an isolated religious colony who reveal a shocking secret about the colony’s men: for years, the men have occasionally drugged the women and raped them.

Roger Deakins, a celebrated cinematographer known for his work with the Coen brothers, Martin Scorsese and more, will receive a career achievement award at the American Cinematheque’s second annual Tribute to the Crafts.

Deakins has garnered 15 Oscar nominations and two wins during his long career. Most recently, the director of photography received nominations from BAFTA and the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for Sam Mendes’ latest film “Empire of Light.” Deakins has also collaborated with such filmmakers as John Sayles, Denis Villeneuve and Agnieszka Holland over the years.

American Cinematheque’s invitation-only Tribute to the Crafts is set for Feb. 9 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The event is co-hosted by American Cinematheque Board members, producer Paula Wagner and Franklin Leonard, producer and founder-ceo of The Black List.

On Feb. 8, American Cinematheque will also host a double feature retrospective of the Deakins-lensed films “Fargo” (1996) and “The Man Who Wasn’t There...

With so much emphasis on Best Picture and acting races this Oscar season, get ready for some special attention to the crafts and artisans who made these movies possible.

American Cinematheque announced Monday its honorees for its second edition of Tribute to the Crafts, taking place on Thursday, February 9 at the Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Among the achievements being celebrated are such blockbuster films Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, in addition to indie sensations like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Rrr.

After a successful inaugural ceremony last year, once again it is the key goal of Tribute to the Crafts to honor those at the heart of filmmaking, and have exhibited extraordinary work behind the camera over the past year, according to the Cinematheque. The evening will celebrate individuals in 15 categories covering all aspects of filmmaking and...

Sarah Polley’s Women Talking features a large ensemble of accomplished and award-winning actresses, so it would not have been a surprise to see one (or several) take the stage Thursday at the Palm Springs Film Awards, where Polley was honored with a director of the year prize.

But instead it was Eric Idle, the Monty Python star, who presented Polley with her award. His appearance was especially profound for Polley as it provided a public reunion for the two co-stars from Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. “About 34 years ago, I was on the set of a movie in Rome and I said farewell to a little girl of 8 who starred in the movie,” Idle said. “We had all been scarred on this movie … going on nine months before we’d been able to escape.” Idle called some of the scenes “life-threatening.”

It has come to light...

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ (Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures © 2022 20th Century Studios)

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists* spread the wealth, awarding The Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Women Talking three wins each. The AWFJ Eda Awards recognize the best in films overall, as well as films driven by women.

“We are particularly proud that this year’s member-determined roster of nominees included a goodly number of female contenders in non-gender specific categories. and that we have female winners in those categories, as well, including Sarah Polley who receives the Eda Award for Best Director for the multi-nominated and awarded Women Talking,” said Jennifer Merin, President of the 95 members AWFJ. “We hope to see similar results at this year’s Oscars and various guild awards. as well as with other critics awards groups.”

In 2022, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists...

The AWFJ has announced the 2022 Eda Awards in 25 categories divided into three sections, the Best Of Awards, Female Focus Awards and Eda Special Mention Awards. Nominees in each category are determined by the Alliance of Women Film Journalists members who submit nominating ballots.

In it’s 16 annual year of awards season, the AWFJ gave The Banshees Of Inisherin four EDAs including top honors for Best Film, Best Original Screenplay for Martin McDonagh, Best Actor for Colin Farrell and Best supporting Actress for Kerry Condon (tied with Jamie Lee Curtis)

Everything Everywhere All At Once won three EDAs for Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis (tied with Kerry Condon), Best supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan and Best Editing for Paul Rogers

Women Talking garnered four EDAs for Best Director for Sarah Polley, Best adapted screenplay for Sarah Polley and Miriam Toews, Best Ensemble Cast...

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has announced the 2022 winners for its 16th season, with a three-way tie between “Banshees of Inisherin,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Women Talking” for most wins.

The films each won four awards, including best film for “The Banshees of Inisherin” and best director for Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”).

There were also numerous ties across categories including best cinematography, which went to Claudio Miranda for “Top Gun: Maverick” and Polly Morgan for “The Woman King.” Best supporting actress also saw a tie between Kerry Condon in “The Banshees of Inisherin” and Jamie Lee Curtis in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

“We are particularly proud that this year’s member-determined roster of nominees included a goodly number of female contenders in non-gender specific categories. And that we have female winners in those categories, as well, including Sarah Polley who receives the Eda Award for Best...

A version of this story about the “Women Talking” first appeared in the Guilds & Critics Awards / Documentaries issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.

“Women Talking,” author Miriam Toews’s 2018 novel, was inspired by a serial sexual assault case in Bolivia, where more than a hundred Mennonite women were tranquilized and raped by men in their secluded community. Hearing the gruesome real-life details, it’s easy to imagine the kind of true-crime sensation that the story might have made in lurid docuseries form.

But that was not what motivated actor-turned-director Sarah Polley (Away From Her) to helm this movie adaptation. “It’s not a film that’s detailing graphic sexual assault,” Polley said. “It’s about the impact on the women who have survived and how they want to move forward. It felt to me more like an epic story of hope, almost like a fable. The conversation in the film...

Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh in A24’s ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (Photo credit: Allyson Riggs)

Everything Everywhere All At Once tops the list of 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees, earning eight nominations including Best Feature, Best Director (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert), Best Lead Performance (Michelle Yeo), Best Breakthrough Performance (Stephanie Hsu), and two in the Best Supporting Performance category. Director Todd Field’s Tár, starring Cate Blanchett as a world-renowned composer whose life is falling apart, followed with seven nominations including ones for Field and Blanchett.

The 2023 awards will mark the first time Film Independent has switched the performance categories to gender-neutral. The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards also introduces a new category: Best Breakthrough Performance.

“We couldn’t be more honored to celebrate this year’s exciting film nominees,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “As the Film Independent Spirit Awards evolve with our changing industry,...

Celebrating its 38th edition, the Film Independent Spirit Awards have unveiled their 2023 nominations, with the Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once leading the pack with eight nominations while Todd Field’s TÁR secured seven. Along with those two, rounding out the Best Feature nominations were Bones and All, Our Father, the Devil, and Women Talking. Elsewhere, some of our favorites of the year––including Aftersun, Murina, The African Desperate, The Cathedral, After Yang, All That Breathes, Saint Omer, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed––were recognized.

Check out the nominations below ahead of the March 4 ceremony.

Best Feature (Award given to the producer)

Bones and All

Producers: Timothée Chalamet, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Luca Guadagnino, David Kajganich, Lorenzo Mieli, Marco Morabito, Gabriele Moratti, Theresa Park, Peter Spears

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Producers: Daniel Kwan, Mike Larocca, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang

Our Father, the Devil

Producers: Ellie Foumbi,...

The Casting Society of America has made the first callbacks for the 37th annual Artios Awards. The group today revealed its nominees for television, theater, short films and shortform series.

Netflix leads with 11 noms, nearly double the haul for runners-up HBO and Hulu, which grabbed six apiece. Disney+ is next with four, followed Amazon Prime Video and Nickelodeon, which scooped three apiece. The winners will be feted during the CSA’s in-person trophy show on March 17 at the Beverly Hilton.

Vying in the Television Series – Drama category are The Boys, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mandalorian, Pose and This Is Us. Up for the Comedy Series prize are A Black Lady Sketch Show, Call My Agent, Pen15 and three series that wrapped their runs this year: The Kominsky Method, Shrill and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

The nominees for Television Pilot or First Season – Drama are Bridgerton, Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country, Perry Mason,...

Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to lead a limited series adaptation of author John Buchan's novel The 39 Steps, which was adapted by directing icon Alfred Hitchcock way back in 1935. The Cumberbatch-led series will reportedly update the story for modern day, with Netflix winning the rights to the project.

First published in 1915, author John Buchan's novel The 39 Steps follows adventurer Richard Hannay, who has just returned from South Africa. He quickly becomes thoroughly bored with London life, until he is accosted by a mysterious American, who warns him of an assassination plot that could completely destabilize the fragile political balance of Europe. Initially sceptical, Hannay nonetheless harbours the man, but one day returns home to find him murdered.

An obvious suspect, Hannay flees to his native Scotland, pursued by both the police and a cunning, ruthless enemy. With his life and the security of Britain in grave peril,...

It seems Netflix continues to be in the business of making new adaptations of books that were turned into classic thriller movies by Alfred Hitchcock. Last year saw the release of the disappointing new adaptation of “Rebecca,” and now, the streaming is developing a new adaptation of “The 39 Steps” as a limited series, with Benedict Cumberbatch starring.

Read More: ‘The Sons Of Sam’ Trailer: Netflix’s New True Crime Docuseries Goes Down a Rabbit Hole

Deadline has the scoop on Netflix adapting “The 39 Steps,” and updating John Buchan‘s 1915 novel to the modern era.

Continue reading Benedict Cumberbatch To Star In New Limited Series Adaptation Of ‘The 39 Steps’ For Netflix at The Playlist.

Benedict Cumberbatch is set to star in a limited series adaptation of author John Buchan’s novel The 39 Steps, which updates the story for the modern era. The book was previously adapted into a beloved movie by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. Netflix has scored the rights to the new series […]

The post Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in ‘The 39 Steps’ Limited Series for Netflix appeared first on /Film.

Netflix has announced The 39 Steps, a limited series that has Benedict Cumberbatch set to star. The project is an update of the classic thriller novel by John Buchan that had been turned into the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock. Directing The 39 Steps is Edward Berger, who previously teamed with Cumberbatch on the Showtime series Patrick Melrose, with The Revenant writer Mark…...

Netflix has ordered “The 39 Steps,” a limited series based on the 1915 John Buchan novel that will star Benedict Cumberbatch, with Edward Berger at the helm and Mark L. Smith writing.

The series will reunite Cumberbatch and Berger, who last worked together on Showtime’s 2018 mini-series “Patrick Melrose.” The at least six-hour series will be produced by Anonymous Content, Chapter One Pictures and SunnyMarch, the U.K.-based film and TV production company founded by Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland and Adam Selves.

“The 39 Steps” has already been adapted several times, most famously by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll. Buchan’s original spy thriller takes place just before the outset of World War I, centering on Richard Hannay, a man who comes into possession of a key to a global conspiracy and goes on the run.

Cumberbatch was most recently seen in “The Mauritanian,” and remains in the thick of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,...

Exclusive: Netflix has landed The 39 Steps, a limited series star vehicle for Benedict Cumberbatch. Edward Berger, who previously teamed with Cumberbatch on Patrick Melrose, will direct and The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith will write the series. It’s an update of the classic thriller novel by John Buchan that was famously turned into the 1935 film classic by Alfred Hitchcock.

Anonymous Content, Chapter One Pictures and SunnyMarch are producing. I’m told there will be six or more hourlong episodes, most likely to shoot next year in Europe when schedules clear. Netflix moved most aggressively and committed to make the series when Anonymous Content took the package to the marketplace in late February.

Cumberbatch most recently starred in The Mauritanian and will next be seen starring in the Cold War thriller The Courier. Berger is coming off directing episodes and serving as EP on the superb Showtime limited series Your Honor with Bryan Cranston,...

Netflix has greenlit a limited series based on the classic thriller The 39 Steps, with Benedict Cumberbatch set to play the lead role.

The Doctor Strange star will play a man who becomes an unwitting part of a vast global conspiracy. The series is based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan, which was the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie.

The series will reunite Cumberbatch and Edward Berger, who worked together on Showtime’s Patrick Melrose (both earned Emmy nominations for the show). Berger will direct The 39 Steps, and Mark L. Smith (The Midnight Sky, The Revenant) will write. Anonymous Content,...

Netflix has greenlit a limited series based on the classic thriller The 39 Steps, with Benedict Cumberbatch set to play the lead role.

The Doctor Strange star will play a man who becomes an unwitting part of a vast global conspiracy. The series is based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan, which was the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie.

The series will reunite Cumberbatch and Edward Berger, who worked together on Showtime’s Patrick Melrose (both earned Emmy nominations for the show). Berger will direct The 39 Steps, and Mark L. Smith (The Midnight Sky, The Revenant) will write. Anonymous Content,...

The comedian plays a teacher who takes a job at a Nazi-sympathising Bexhill school on the cusp of the second world war

Eddie Izzard, comedy genius and heroic campaigner for the European cause, is bizarrely miscast in a deadpan-serious acting role for this weird, strained, second world war spy melodrama inspired by a stranger-than-fiction true story. The transgender star switches back here to what Izzard has playfully called “boy mode” for a boy’s-own-story in the style of John Buchan or Erskine Childers, or maybe one of Michael Palin’s Ripping Yarns, though with the jokes and comic self-awareness systematically removed. It’s a muddled, unrelaxed tale from Izzard as co-writer and co-producer, whose dramatic gears keep slipping, and which is never entirely sure where our sympathies should lie.

Related: Eddie Izzard: 'I'm just trying to create a space for myself'...

Today is a good day because Benedict Cumberbatch has secured another paycheck. The Sherlock actor is slated to star in a limited series, The 39 Steps, inspired by John Buchan’s novel of the same name, our sister site Deadline reports. Alfred Hitchcock previously adapted the book into a 1935 film.

The updated series, which doesn’t have a network attached yet, is described as a “provocative, action-packed conspiracy thriller” that “updates the classic novel for our times,” per the official description. It will center on Richard Hannay, an ordinary man who unwittingly becomes a pawn in a far-reaching global conspiracy to...

Exclusive: Benedict Cumberbatch will star in the Anonymous Content limited series update of the classic thriller The 39 Steps. Series is created by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith and directed by Edward Berger. Berger teamed previously with Cumberbatch on Patrick Melrose, and was a director and executive producer of the just completed Showtime limited series Your Honor.

Anonymous Content takes the limited series to networks and streaming platforms immediately.

Anonymous Content, Chapter One Pictures and SunnyMarch are producing the limited series inspired by John Buchan’s novel, which was turned into the 1935 film classic by Alfred Hitchcock. Cumberbatch is set to star, Berger to direct, and the scripts are by Smith who most recently scripted the George Clooney-directed The Midnight Sky.

The 39 Steps is a provocative, action-packed conspiracy thriller series that updates the classic novel for our times. An ordinary man, Richard Hannay, becomes an unwitting pawn in a vast,...

Netflix and HBO have emerged with the most nominations for television, theater and short form series at the 36th Annual Artios Awards, which were announced by the Casting Society of America (Csa) on Friday.

Streaming giant Netflix led with 12 nominations overall, and HBO followed with eight, while Hulu received six and Amazon Prime Video received four. Several casting directors such as Alexa L. Fogel, David Rubin, Victoria Thomas and Robert J. Ulrich landed multiple nominations for their work across shows.

The Csa previously announced the three honorees for the 2021 event, with the Actors Fund receiving the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award and the Hoyt Bowers Award going to Robi Reed and Tara Rubin, the first time two casting directors will be honored for this award. The feature films submission opened January 6 and nominations will be announced in March.

The Artios Awards honor the contribution of casting directors in more than 20 categories across film,...

The Casting Society of America on Friday unveiled nominations for its 36th annual Artios Awards in the categories of television, theater, short film and short-form series. The noms for the casting honors come ahead of a planned virtual winners ceremony April 15.

The Csa opened its feature film submission period Thursday; noms in those categories will be announced in March.

On the TV side, Netflix leads all networks today with 12 nominations, followed by rival HBO with eight and Hulu with four. Among the nominees include Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin, who scored mentions for HBO’s Big Little Lies and Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere. Victoria Thomas earned four noms, for Apple’s The Morning Show and HBO’s Insecure, Watchmen and A Black Lady Sketch Show.

In theater, Jim Carnahan, Karyn Casl and Tara Rubin were among the casting director with multiple noms. Rubin, along with Robi Reed,...

The Casting Society of America (Csa) announced the television and theatre nominations for the 36th Artios Awards, honoring the contributions of casting directors to the arts. The winners will be announced on Thursday, April 15, 2021 in a virtual ceremony, the first-ever for the organization.

Netflix again outstripped its competitors, with 12 Artios Award nominations, followed by HBO with eight, Hulu with six, four for Amazon Prime Video, and three for the now-defunct Quibi.

The Csa previously shared three honorees for this year’s Artios Awards. The Hoyt Bowers Award will recognize Robi Reed and Tara Rubin, the first time two recipients will be honored with the award and the Actors Fund will receive the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award.

The feature films submission opened January 7 and nominations will be announced in March.

The television nominations are listed below:

Television Pilot and First Season – Comedy

“The Great” (Hulu) — Rose Wicksteed

“Modern Love” (Amazon Prime Video) — Laura Rosenthal,...

Guy Maddin on Stump The Guesser: “Kharms had so many ideas and we wanted them all …”

A standout decision by the Currents programming team for the 58th New York Film Festival, is to show Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson’s mysterious fairground short, Stump The Guesser, starring Adam Brooks, with There Are Not Thirty-Six Ways Of Showing A Man Getting On A Horse, Nicolás Zukerfeld’s tribute to Raoul Walsh. On the afternoon of the Autumnal Equinox, Guy Maddin joined me for a lively and in-depth e-mail exchange conversation, which touched on the costumes by Greg Blagoev (”Winnipeg's Mayakovsky!”), Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, Robert Donat questioning Mr. Memory, and John Buchan (1st Baron Tweedsmuir), Ludwig Tieck, Thomas Mann's The Holy Sinner, Bertrand Tavernier and Pursued, Soviet absurdist Daniil Kharms, and the evolution of Stump The Guesser, starting with the Ensemble Musikfabrik in Cologne.

The Guesser...

Tim George Jan 15, 2018

With James Bond returning to our screens in 2019, what's the challenge ahead for Daniel Craig's final 007 movie?

After a year and change of silence, we now have a release date for Bond 25 (8th November, 2019, probably a week or two earlier in the UK) and a James Bond (Saint Blue Eyes himself, Daniel Craig). It will be a while before we start to get more details like a director or a cast. But as with all movies, before all those pieces can be in place, there must be a story - which is where the challenge begins.

After the less-than-stellar response to Spectre, the James Bond franchise is back in familiar territory: having its relevance questioned. A cursory look through critical notices and fan consensus picks out the return to formula, the lack of character development and the bungled attempt to jump on the ‘shared universe’ trend.

Children messing about in boats is not enough for this adaptation, which injects an adult espionage twist more Famous Five than Arthur Ransome

Arthur Ransome’s wholesome prewar classic of children’s literature is all about fresh-faced girls and boys sailing dinghies around the Lake District with no health-and-safety nonsense about flotation jackets. The 1930 novel is now given a good-natured, if self-conscious period adaptation that grafts on a new grownup plotline of treachery and derring-do, probably closer to Enid Blyton’s Famous Five or John Buchan.

It is as if the children’s innocent fantasy world of pirates and adventurers isn’t enough. The action must be ramped up. They have to get real baddies to vanquish, but this new and implausible line in melodrama is taken at the same pace and treated the same way as the children’s innocuous high-jinks. There is even a frankly bizarre and not...