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Yve Arellano shares a quote about sorrow amid marital woes. Pic credit: @yve_arellano/Instagram

Yve Arellano is getting support as her marital drama continues to play out on social media.

The news hit the blogs a few weeks ago that her husband Mohamed Abdelhamed was having an inappropriate relationship with two women he met online.

Screenshots of their conversation were plastered all over Instagram but it wasn’t until recently that Yve finally responded to the inappropriate text exchanges between Mohamed and the women.

90 Day Fiance viewers are not surprised at Mohamed’s behavior, as we saw plenty of red flags while their relationship played out on the show.

Mohamed made it no secret that he desperately wanted a green card and when he wanted to rush his wedding to Yve and she didn’t, he told her that he would find another sponsor.

The couple got into an...

Jacques Audiard, known for his superb thrillers, became the supreme purveyor of French outlier cinema, chronicling gritty immigrant experiences in an increasingly diverse nation with such films as The Prophet, Dheepan and even to some extent Rust and Bone, comes out with a slight, sexy romance film based on Adrian Tomine's graphic novels called Paris, 13th District. With its diverse cast and unusual setting, Audiard is upending the typical notion of romantic French film taking place in Paris. He also introduces us his new ingénue, Lucie Zhang, a 21 year old French actress of Chinese descent, giving a star making performance as...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Editor’s note: Todd Lieberman is the Oscar-nominated producer of The Fighter with credits including Beauty and the Beast, Wonder and The Muppets. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he contributes occasional guest columns for Deadline.

I’ll never forget the first time I attended the Oscars. The glitz, the glamour, the unparalleled show of all shows. Getting to experience the majestic beauty of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The stunning cocktail gowns and tuxes. To say I was intimidated would be an understatement as I had never been anywhere this stuffed with important and famous people. Rubbing elbows with movie stars and seeing the who’s who of Hollywood all in one place – I felt as if I’d reached the Hollywood mountaintop.

It was March 25, 1996, and yes I was at that glorious event,...

“Welcome to Siegheilkirchen” not only honors Manfred Deix, one of Austria’s most revered cartoonists and satirists, it also marks the country’s first ever animated feature film.

Unspooling in Gala Premieres at the Zurich Film Festival, the film follows a kid whose immense talent for drawing gives him an outlet for his discontent while growing up in a small conservative Austrian town, where Nazi sympathy is still very prevalent. Deix initially worked on the project as art director before his death in 2016.

For Marcus H. Rosenmüller, “Welcome to Siegheilkirchen” has been long in the making. It was the first animated film for the celebrated German filmmaker, who joined the project nearly a decade ago after producers Josef Aichholzer and Ernst Geyer convinced Deix of making a film based on his work and partly inspired by his life.

Development on the film took several years and the process became a learning experience for Rosenmüller,...

With Wolfwalkers, directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart looked to enter uncharted creative territory, while closing out an acclaimed ‘Irish Folklore Trilogy’ that kicked off over a decade ago.

Produced by small-but-mighty, Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, Moore’s previous features, The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014), each earned Oscar nominations. But it’s with Wolfwalkers that he appears to be on the cusp of a breakthrough win.

Marking his longtime collaborator Stewart’s directorial debut, the film distributed by Apple TV+ and Gkids is set in 1650, in the medieval, Irish town of Kilkenny. Its protagonist, Robyn, is an apprentice hunter, who journeys with her father from England to help take out a pack of wolves. Long confined by the Puritanical society in which she’s been raised, the girl experiences true freedom for the first time only when she befriends Mebh, a girl from a mysterious tribe,...

It’s exactly one week after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and her nerves having been frayed like a rodeo rope, Kacey Musgraves is today opting for some self-care. This is how she finds herself, raven tendrils piled carelessly atop her head, pale cheeks slightly flushed, in a floral and fetching Dolce & Gabbana swimsuit and up to her armpits in steaming hot water in a private session at Nashville’s Holiday Salon & Bathhouse (“Sweat Out Your Sins,” its bumper sticker beckons, with a cheekiness that could easily...

Exclusive: Salma Hayek’s Ventanarosa Productions has come on to develop Leslie’s Lehr’s book A Boob’s Life as a series for HBO Max, marking the first project they will develop under their new first-look deal with the company. A Boob’s Life is a half hour comedy about Leslie, a woman turning 40 and in crisis, whose life gets turned upside down when her boobs start talking to her, forcing her to look at herself in a completely different light. The show blows open the reality of life in a female body in a culture that is obsessed with breasts. The series will be based off Lehr’s book A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me—and You, which is being released on March 2 by Pegasus Books. Lehr will also serve as an executive producer.

Hayek will executive produce alongside Jose Tamez and Siobhan Flynn under their Ventanarosa Productions banner.

While Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart were co-directing a segment for Salma Hayek’s 2014 animated feature The Prophet, the pair decided to make a film to complete the Cartoon Saloon-produced “folklore trilogy,” which included 2009’s The Secret of Kells and 2014’s Song of the Sea, both of which were directed by Moore and Oscar-nominated.

“We came up with the seed of an idea, which was about empathy, about a hunter becoming the thing that [villagers] were hunting,” explains Moore, who is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, the Kilkenny, Ireland-based animation studio. They discussed Oliver Cromwell’...

While Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart were co-directing a segment for Salma Hayek’s 2014 animated feature The Prophet, the pair decided to make a film to complete the Cartoon Saloon-produced “folklore trilogy,” which included 2009’s The Secret of Kells and 2014’s Song of the Sea, both of which were directed by Moore and Oscar-nominated.

“We came up with the seed of an idea, which was about empathy, about a hunter becoming the thing that [villagers] were hunting,” explains Moore, who is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, the Kilkenny, Ireland-based animation studio. They discussed Oliver Cromwell’...

Four top film animation directors will reveal the secrets behind their crafts when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Thursday, December 17, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a group chat with Joyce and all of the animators together.

RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:

“Onward” (Disney Pixar): Dan Scanlon

Scanlon’s career has included such projects as “Monsters University,” “Tracy” and “Mater and...

STXfilms has decided to enter this unconventional awards season with a mighty and timely drama, “The Mauritanian,” formerly called “Prisoner 760,” from Scottish director Kevin Macdonald. The film will be released on Feb. 19, 2021, and could echo the same late-breaking awards success that past movies like “Million Dollar Baby” were able to execute. With an impressive cast that includes Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley, the inspiring true story could resonate with AMPAS voters, especially its large international membership.

“The Mauritanian” tells the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Rahim), who was held captive and tortured by the U.S. government in Guantanamo Bay detention camp for 10 years without a charge or trial. Losing faith, he finds hope in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Woodley), who face countless legal obstacles in their pursuit of justice.

I was able to view an unfinished version of the film,...

Exclusive: Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis is set as a lead alongside O’Shea Jackson Jr. in Swagger, Apple’s new basketball-themed drama series. The series is from NBA superstar Kevin Durant and his Thirty Five Ventures, Shots Fired co-creator Reggie Rock Bythewood, Imagine Television Studios and CBS TV Studios.

Written and directed by Bythewood, who also serves as showrunner, Swagger is inspired by Durant’s youth basketball experiences. It explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption. Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America.

Wallis will play Crystal, a young, top female basketball player.

Bythewood executive produces with Durant and Brian Grazer for Imagine TV, Rich Kleiman for Thirty Five Ventures and Samantha Corbin Miller.

James Seidman will serve...

Salma Hayek has signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max. As part of the pact, the actress, producer, director and Oscar nominee will first bring projects to the WarnerMedia-owned streaming service for potential development via her Ventanarosa production company. Jose Tamez, President of Ventanarosa, serves as her producing partner and Siobhan Flynn is their Head of Production & Development.

Tamez and Hayek have worked together for the past 20 years on films such as Frida, nominated for six Oscars including a lead actress nom for Hayek, Annie Award-nominated Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet and Beatriz at Dinner. Together, they produced the Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody Award-winning TV series Ugly Betty, as well as the TV movie In The Time Of The Butterflies.

“We are delighted to welcome the exceptionally multitalented powerhouse Salma Hayek and Ventanarosa into the HBO Max family,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max.

Salma Hayek and her production company, Ventanarosa, have signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max.

Under the deal, Hayek will bring projects to HBO Max first for potential development. Jose Tamez, president of Ventanarosa, will serve as her producing partner. Siobhan Flynn is the company’s head of production and development.

“We are thrilled to be joining HBO Max and Warner Media,” Hayek said. “Their team of passionate, talented and open-minded executives are a great support in our mission to make high quality global television that explores and celebrates diversity and inclusivity.”

Hayek is the founder and CEO of Ventanarosa. She is an Academy Award-nominated actress, getting the nod for best actress in 2003 for her role in “Frida.” She is also known for her roles in films like “Beatriz at Dinner,” “As Luck Would Have It,” and “Desperado.”

“Ventanarosa has a history of bringing the most lively and rich...

Salma Hayek is going into business with HBO Max.

The Oscar-nominated actress and producer has signed a two-year, first-look deal with the recently launched streaming platform from WarnerMedia. Under the deal, her company, Ventanarosa, will bring projects to HBO Max first for potential development.

Hayek's producing partner, José Tamez, is president of Ventanarosa. Siobhan Flynn is head of production and development at the company, whose projects include Frida, ABC's Ugly Betty and animated feature The Prophet. 

"We are delighted to welcome the exceptionally multitalented powerhouse Salma Hayek and Ventanarosa into the HBO Max family," said Sarah Aubrey, HBO ...

Cartoon Saloon’s hand-drawn “Wolfwalkers,” one of the most eagerly anticipated animated features of the year, from Oscar-nominated Irish director Tomm Moore (“Song of the Sea” and “The Secret of Kells”), was quick to set up its artists remotely to work from home when Covid-19 hit last month. In fact, the Kilkenny-based studio mobilized about three weeks before the lockdown. As a result, Moore’s folkloric adventure about two young girls saving the hunted wolf population of Kilkenny in the mid-1600s will make its fall release.

“We were almost done with the hand-drawn animation when we had to begin working from home,” said Moore, who co-directs the final entry in his Celtic trilogy with art director Ross Stewart. “The last clean up scenes were done in Luxembourg [at Studio 352 ] the week we were first working from home, and the Kilkenny team was down to a skeleton crew finishing SFX and clean up animation.

3B Productions, the French production outfit behind Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Venice opener “The Truth,” is developing the next films of Atiq Rahimi (“The Patience Stone”) and Karim Dridi (“Chouf”).

Rahimi, whose latest film “Notre-dame du Nil” will be world premiering at Toronto, is developing with Jean Brehat at 3B Productions and Ron Senkowski (“The Prophet”) the adaptation of “Les echelles du levan” (“Port of Calls”), a novel by French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf.

“I’ve always loved Amin Maalouf’s novels and I wanted to adapt one, so when Ron Senkowski proposed producing with him the adaptation of ‘Les echelles du levan,’ I didn’t hesitate,” said Brehat, adding that he thought of Rahimi to direct the film because he admires his books and the quality of the two films he’s helmed.

“Les échelles du levan” will reunite Rahimi with Golshifteh Farahani, who had starred in his 2012 film “The Patience Stone.

Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary) and Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey) will lead the ensemble cast in Urban Myth Film’s TV series reimagining of classic sci-fi tale War Of The Worlds.

Also starring will be Léa Drucker (Le Bureau Des Légendes), Natasha Little (Silent Witness), Daisy Edgar Jones (Cold Feet), Stéphane Caillard (Marseille), Adel Bencherif (The Prophet) and Guillaume Gouix (The Returned) with additional casting underway.

Agc Television has joined Canal+ and Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa, as a partner on the English-language series and will co-finance and co-distribute. The partnership marks the first major co-financing deal for Agc’s TV division and the firm will distribute to the North American market and co-distribute with StudioCanal in Latin America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. Fng Content Distribution will handle Europe and Africa (excluding French speaking territories). StudioCanal, as a shareholder of Urban Myth Films, helped put the production finance together.

Gabriel Byrne and Elizabeth McGovern have signed on for “War of the Worlds,” the upcoming adaptation of the H.G. Wells classic for Fox in Europe and Africa and Canal Plus in France. Stuart Ford’s Agc Television has also boarded the series as a finance and sales partner and will co-distribute internationally.

Byrne (“The Usual Suspects”) and McGovern (“The Wife”) will join an ensemble cast that includes Lea Drucker (“Le Bureau des Legendes”), Natasha Little (“Silent Witness”), Daisy Edgar Jones (“Cold Feet”), Stéphane Caillard (“Genius”), Adel Bencherif (“The Prophet”) and Guillaume Gouix (“The Returned”).

Studiocanal-backed producer Urban Myth Films is producing. The Fox and Canal Plus show will go up against another take on the alien invasion tale being produced by Mammoth Screen for British broadcaster ITV. That version stars Rafe Spall (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”) and Eleanor Tomlinson (“Poldark”).

The Urban Myth show sets the action in modern-day...

Hereditary star Gabriel Byrne and Downton Abbey actress Elizabeth McGovern will head the ensemble cast of War of the Worlds, a new television re-imagining of the H.G. Wells sci-fi classic, created by veteran British writer Howard Overman (Misfits, Atlantis).

Lea Drucker (Le Bureau des legendes), Natasha Little (Silent Witness), Daisy Edgar Jones (Cold Feet), Stephane Caillard (Genius), Adel Bencherif (The Prophet) and Guillaume Gouix (The Returned) have also signed on to star in the eight-part series, which Urban Myth Films is producing. Shooting on the series has already begun in the U.K. and France. Gilles Coulier (De Dag) and Richard Clark (Versailles) ...

In her first TV series role, Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), is joining ABC’s Black-ish as a recurring,

Wallis will play Kyra, Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) young cousin who comes to stay with the family for a while after her mom can’t take care of her. The episode will air in 2019.

Created and executive produced by Kenya Barris, Black-ish tells the story of the Johnsons — an affluent African-American family struggling to raise their kids in the largely white culture of well-to-do suburbia.

Black-ish stars Anthony Anderson as Dre, Ross as Rainbow, Yara Shahidi as Zoey, Marcus Scribner as Andre Jr., Miles Brown as Jack, Marsai Martin as Diane, Jenifer Lewis as Ruby, Laurence Fishburne as Pops, Peter Mackenzie as Mr. Stevens and Deon Cole as Charlie Telphy.

Wallis nabbed a Best Actress Oscar nomination at the age of 9 for her debut performance in 2012’s Beasts of the Southern Wild.

Shivani Pandya Malhotra joins forces with Emirati filmmaker in marketing and consultancy venture.

Former Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) managing director Shivani Pandya Malhotra and Emirati director and producer Mohammed Saeed Harib have launched a new marketing and consultancy venture called NearEast Entertainment.

The company, which is based in Dubai, will offer strategic marketing services and consultancy, targeting the TV, music, film, arts and live events sectors throughout the Mena region.

One of its key focuses will be working with filmmakers from the region, to help them secure finance for their projects, establish connections with industry professionals from across the...

Facebook Watch’s latest bid to keep your attention for longer than it takes for a puppy to climb stairs is “Sacred Lies,” a dark and blunt adaptation of Stephanie Oakes’ Ya novel, which in turn is based on a Grimm fairy tale. But just in case “fairy tale” makes it seem like a romp, “Sacred Lies” — created by “True Blood’s” Raelle Tucker and produced by Blumhouse TV — immediately reminds its audience that Grimm fairy tales are, well, grim.

The first episode opens with our heroine — or is she? — Minnow Bly (Elena Kampouris) standing above a bruised body, blinking at surrounding cops, and raising her hands in the air, only to reveal that she has no hands at all.

From there, “Sacred Lies” essentially splits into two shows. One is a murder mystery that delves into Minnow’s childhood, which she spent in a cult run by “The Prophet...

Lionsgate has signed a first-look producing deal with Salma Hayek Pinault, along with her producing partner Jose “Pepe” Tamez.

Under the agreement, announced Thursday, Hayek and Tamez will produce feature films for Lionsgate under Hayek Pinault’s Ventanarosa Productions banner. Her production company will also explore feature film opportunities with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films venture.

Lionsgate said in the announcement that the collaboration is an extension of the studio’s longstanding relationship with Hayek, which includes the action comedy “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and Pantelion Films’ “How to Be a Latin Lover.” Lionsgate and Hayek Pinault are currently working on several feature projects in development and the company will also produce films for Hayek Pinault to star in.

“I’m very grateful to begin this new phase of my partnership with Lionsgate,” Hayek said. “They have built a tremendous rapport with mainstream and underserved audiences alike and their willingness to...

Lionsgate announced on Thursday that it has inked a first-look producing deal with Mexican-American actress and producer Salma Hayek-Pinault.

Under the deal, which includes Hayek-Pinault’s producing partner Jose “Pepe” Tamez, the pair will produce films for Lionsgate under the Ventanarosa Productions banner.

Lionsgate will also explore having Hayek-Pinault produce films for it’s Latin audience-focused production arm Pantelion Films, hoping to capitalize on her bankability in both Latin and American markets.

“Salma is an artist with a distinct and powerful voice whose projects resonate with audiences around the world, and we’re thrilled to partner with her and Jose on films that reflect their unique creative vision,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Joe Drake said in a statement.

Also Read: Salma Hayek Wonders: Why Did I Go 15 Years Between Lead Roles?

Hayek-Pinault actually starred in Pantelion’s surprise hit last year, “How to Be a Latin Lover,” which garnered $32 million in domestic box office and $62 million worldwide on a $10 million production budget.

“Salma is a major superstar who has shown that great film and television properties transcend language and cultural boundaries,” Pantelion Films CEO Paul Presburger said in a statement.

Some of Hayek-Pinault’s producing credits include “Frida” — which earned her an Oscar nomination — the animated film “The Prophet,” and Golden Globe-winning show “Ugly Betty.”

Lionsgate said they already have several projects in development with Hayek-Pinault, and that they also plan to produce films for her to star in.

Also Read: Salma Hayek Says She Rebuffed Harvey Weinstein's Sexual Advances Constantly With 'No'

“I’m very grateful to begin this new phase of my partnership with Lionsgate,” Hayek-Pinault said in a statement. “They have built a tremendous rapport with mainstream and underserved audiences alike and their willingness to push the envelope with films that reflect a bold and authentic creative vision fills me with great excitement. I couldn’t have found a better home.

“I look forward to the adventure of working with a team that makes me feel heard and respected and that celebrates diversity and the female point of view,” she added.

Read original story Salma Hayek Signs a First-Look Deal With Lionsgate At TheWrap...

“The Looming Tower” is built on a stacked deck. Adapted from Lawrence Wright’s non-fiction book, Hulu’s 10-part limited series examines how infighting between the FBI and CIA may have set the path for 9/11. So not only does every member of the audience know how things end for America, but anyone specifically familiar with John O’Neill’s life is all too aware of how his prophetic arc comes to a close.

That kind of prescience can kill a series. It’s far too tempting to overplay your hand (by say, repeatedly cutting to images of the World Trade Center) or underline your point in redundant dialogue or excessive speechifying. If it seems too good, or too dramatically convenient, to be true, the audience will think that it is — even with a true story like this one.

But the key to making this work in scripted television is simply...

Anton Yelchin was commemorated by his family and costars Sunday in a touching and heartfelt celebration of life at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

The actor, who died at the age of 27 in June 2016 after he was pinned by his own car at his Studio City, California, home, left an unforgettable impression on those who worked with him, such as Zoë Saldana, who starred alongside him in Star Trek.

“It is a bitter sweet moment, because we’re here for Anton, and he’s not here with us,” she said. “But, it alleviates my heart knowing that we’ll keep him alive.

This weekend brings a rare event as three very different specialty films face off nationally on between 800-900 theaters. Debuting “Southside With You” (Roadside Attractions) and “Hands of Stone” (Weinstein) go up against “Hell or High Water” (Lionsgate) in its third week.

The winner is “Hell or High Water,” which after this weekend’s success could wind up the year’s highest-grossing specialized release. “Southside With You” also scored high numbers, with “Hands of Stone” not up to its level.

Five Sundance releases are among this week’s new films, ranging from relatively wide opener “Southside” to Video on Demand entry “The Intervention.” As the Toronto Film Festival looms, the Park City event, despite offering half as many films, remains the biggest festival for acquisition titles.

Opening

“Southside With You” (Roadside Attractions) – Metacritic: 75; Festivals include: Sundance, San Francisco, Seattle 2016

$3,065,000 in 813 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $3,762

A strong initial result...

Studiocanal and Joann Sfar’s Autochenille Production are prepping an animated feature adaptation of Sfar’s own comic series, Petit Vampire. Sfar, whose credits include The Prophet, The Rabbi’s Cat and Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, will direct. Petit Vampire was first published in 1999. The film version will be an original story taking some elements from the first volume of the comic. The story is centered on the bored Little Vampire. He’s been 10 years old for 300 years and…...

Leeds Young Film festival | Essay film festival

Just in time for Easter, the largest family film event in the land is a pick-and-mix of trusted names and new work aimed at the over-fives, with animation to the fore. Disney’s Zootropolis opens proceedings, and there are workshops, masterclasses, free activities and previews involving Minecraft, Lego, Clangers, Bob The Builder and Adventure Time (a special first look that includes a new stop-motion episode). For older viewers there’s new anime such as Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-nominated When Marnie Was There, a Salma Hayek-produced version of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, plus live-action features old and new. And, at Leeds Town Hall, there are immersive screenings themed around The Shawshank Redemption (where you’re literally a captive audience) and Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (where you’re literally a kid in a candy store).

Continue reading...

In this special episode of Off The Shelf, Ryan and Brian take a look at the new DVD and Blu-ray releases for Tuesday, January 26th 2016.

Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.

Follow-Up Depatie-Freleng Supplements News Arrow Video: Cult Cinema sold out directly (Available from Amazon UK), BFI: Napoleon Criterion Collection: In A Lonely Place Disney: Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Blu-ray 4/5 Flicker Alley: Blu-ray Mod, film noirs John Carpenter Lost Themes II Kino: Tijuana Toads, Roland and Rattfink, Beware! The Blob, Eleni, Fuzz, Absolution, Masters of Cinema: April announcements tomorrow Olive Films: April titles Second Run: teaming up with Arrow Video Shout! Scream: Manhunter cover, MST3K Vol 2, NightHawks, I Saw What You Did / You’ll Like My Mother Thunderbean: Flip the Frog and Cubby Bear Twilight Time: New February titles available for pre-order on Wednesday February 3rd: Where The Sidewalk Ends, Cowboy, The Big Heat,...

Every week we dive into the cream of the crop when it comes to home releases, including Blu-ray and DVDs, as well as recommended deals of the week. Check out our rundown below and return every Tuesday for the best (or most interesting) films one can take home. Note that if you’re looking to support the site, every purchase you make through the links below helps us and is greatly appreciated.

Bridge of Spies (Steven Spielberg)

Tom Hanks has a cold, and he needs to save America. A natural follow-up to Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln in its immersion into nitpicky political discussion, Bridge of Spies also distinguishes itself with a wittier, frequently downright sarcastic screenplay (mostly courtesy, one imagines, of the Coen brothers), more agile camerawork (the ten-minute opening jaunt through Mark Rylance’s Brooklyn morning has been a justified source of attention), and a different kind of lead...

If the films of 2015 have a common denominator it’s the fearlessness with which filmmakers approached the medium and took it in new directions proving that innovation is still possible and that not everything, both in content and form, has been explored. From a comedy shot entirely on an iPhone starring transgender actresses, to a film in sign language designed to be screened without subtitles, to a stop-motion animated feature that emanates more humanity than most live-action efforts, to a new immersive vision of the Holocaust from an emerging auteur, or a Brazilian hand-drawn musical odyssey about the dangers of the modern world, all granted us experiences unlike anything we've previously seen.

It’s hard to tell how many films I watched this year but I’m sure they were many. From that vast pool of cinematic works the 30 films below are the ones that stood out the most and remained ingrained in my memory as rewarding, delightful, moving, and even harrowing accomplishments. There were also films that simply didn't connect as strongly with me as they did with other journalists and audiences, thus they don't appear here. This is after all, like all of them, a very personal and subjective list of the films I loved.

Even with such an extensive list there are still other great films that deserve to be mentioned such as "The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet," "Christmas, Again," "Mistress America," "Entertainment," "Felix and Meira," "Victoria," "Mustang," "The Wolfpack," "Xenia," Estonia's Oscar-nominated "Tangerines," "Buzzard," "The Salt of the Earth," "Guidance," "Cheatin'," "Black Souls,""The Mend," "Shaun The Sheep Movie," or "'71." One can only hope audiences will discover them and be compelled by their singular perspectives.

What were your favorite films of 2015?

Special Mention: "World of Tomorrow"

Don Hertzfeldt's thought-provoking and visionary Sundance-winning short "World of Tomorrow" is easily the best short film of the year, animated or otherwise. This 17-minute science fiction journey is a mind-bending study on the essence of humanity and how technology’s ferocious advances to know and control it all endanger our ability to notice what’s truly meaningful.

Read More: 'The 17th Annual Animation Show of Shows' is One of the Most Profound Cinematic Experiences of 2015

30. "It Follows"

The best horror film of the year proves that an intriguing premise embedded into an intelligently written screenplay can bring a refreshing point of view absent in most studio productions. Director David Robert Mitchell takes classic genre conventions and twists them into a terrifying tale with morally ambiguous undertones.

29. "The Gift"

Wearing multiple hats Joel Edgerton demonstrated his storytelling and acting talents in an unpredictable psychological thriller that’s as unassuming as it’s disconcerting. An old friend reappears in a married man’s life apparently seeking to rekindle their past bond, but soon enough his good intentions will unveil much more sinister motives that makes us question who the real villain is. A stunning and perversely brilliant film that thrives on its misguiding simplicity.

28. "Heaven Knows What"

An accomplishment both in technique and emotional power, “Heaven Knows What” is an eye-opening experience brimming with unflinching truth. From the streets to the screen, the unbelievable story of Arielle Holmes is a fascinating example of the rare occurrence when cinema and reality blend almost seamlessly.

Read More: 'Heaven Knows What' Directors Josh and Benny Safdie Are Addicted to the Truth

27. "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet"

Spearheaded by producer Salma Hayek, director Roger Allers and 8 of the world's most talented independent animators took Gibran's timeless poems and assembled a cinematic out-of-body experience that deconstructs our existential yearnings and translates them into mesmerizing animated wisdom.

Read More: Why 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet' is a Cinematic Out-Of-Body Experience Brimming with Animated Wisdom

Read More: Salma Hayek on 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet': 'His Poetry Talks About the Simple Things in Life That Unite Us All'

26. "James White"

This emotionally devastating character study put Josh Mond in the director’s chair for the first time and allowed Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon to delve into career-defining roles as a mother and a son struggling to accept each other’s shortcomings in the face of impending tragedy. Mond’s debut is an unforgettable portrait of unconditional love

25. "The Big Short"

The financial crisis and the white-collar criminals behind it are examined in an outrageously humorous and dynamically constructed adaptation of Michael Lewis's book. Director Adam McKay crafted his own visual language to paint a picture of capitalism in America that’s as brutally honest as it’s infuriating. His entire cast, in particular Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell, play along in this satirical exposé.

24. "The Second Mother"

Anna Muylaert’s crowd-pleasing, yet thematically complex gem delves into the intricacies of class in Brazilian society through the eyes of an endearing live-in maid. Regina Casé, in an Oscar-worthy performance, becomes Val, a diligent and humble housekeeper that has worked with the same wealthy family in Sao Paulo for many years and who only questions her role within this environment when her strange daughter comes to visit.

Read More: Anna Muylaert on Why the Protagonist of 'The Second Mother' is a Super Hero

23. "Kumiko The Treasure Hunter"

Losing grip on reality Kumiko, a solitary Japanese woman, leaves her monotonous and life and her adorable bunny Bunzo behind to search for the money Steve Buscemi’s character hides in the Cohen Brothers’ film “Fargo.” Knowing very little English and with no American contacts, she ventures in the Minnesotan wilderness. Armed with Rinko Kikuchi ’s outstanding performance, David Zellner and Nathan Zellner managed to create an endearing and poignant adventure at the intersection between fiction and reality.

22. "When Marnie Was There"

Notably current while still unequivocally timeless, Studio Ghibli’s latest film was confected with equal doses of heart-rending drama and life-affirming beauty. More than just a visually delightful tearjerker, "When Marnie Was There" is an animated lullaby that reassures our broken hearts will eventually heal- even from the most indomitable tricks of fate.

Read More: Review: Wondrous 'When Marnie Was There' is One of Ghibli's Most Profoundly Moving Works

21. "The Hateful Eight"

Sharp dialogue and the search for violent retribution are Tarantino staples, and in his latest Western the revered director channels these through a group of deceitful characters confined to a single location. Race relations are examined via the peculiar interactions of the murderous bunch - each with their ulterior motives and frightening reputation. With a magnificent score by Ennio Morricone, impeccable cinematography by Robert Richardson, and tonally perfect performances by the ensemble cast, in which Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kurt Russell are the highlights, “The Hateful Eight” is a highly entertaining addition to Tarantino's selective filmography.

20. "What We Do in the Shadows"

This masterful mockumentary capitalizes on the general public’s obsession with reality shows and the allure of vampirism and its promise of eternal life. Four ancient bloodsuckers share a house in Wellington, New Zealand and decide to let a crew film their day-to-day routines as vampires living in the modern world. What ensues are a series of intelligently written occurrences that transform every known convention about these creatures of the night into hysterical gags.

19. "The Revenant"

To say Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest is breathtaking would be an understatement. Emmanuel Lubezkii’s work is absolutely astonishing. No other film this year captured this much beauty in every single frame. The Mexican-born Oscar-winning director has reached a new level of artistry here. Leonardo DiCaprio, in one of the best performances of his career, plays Hugh Glass, a man who escapes death to take revenge on the man who killed his son.

18. "Inside Out"

Pixar ventured into the difficult task of decoding the complexity of the human psyche in one of their best features to date. Emotions take on humanoid form in the brain of a young girl adjusting to life in anew city. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust must work together to shape her blossoming personality. “Inside Out” also gifted us Bing Bong, who will go down as one of the most memorable animated characters to ever grace the screen.

17. "Ex Machina"

Artificial intelligence crosses the boundaries of mere functionality to become self-aware and to replicate the behaviors of mortals in Alex Garland “Ex Machina.” The provocative screenplay evolves into a fascinating and often unsettling dissection of what it means to be a human being and the seemingly godlike power that comes from creating technology that resembles such qualities. Alicia Vikander is riveting as Ava - a mysterious female A.I.

16. "The Diary of a Teenager Girl"

Bel Powley is this year’s acting revelation and Marielle Heller the woman behind this charming, uncompromising, and original coming of age film, is one of most exciting new directors to emerge in recent memory. Burgeoning female sexuality is treated without moral judgment or shame, and it’s instead embraced in an empowering manner that overflows with truthfulness and charisma. Both Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård are outstanding in substantial supporting roles.

15. "Taxi"

Despite being banned from filmmaking by the Iranian government, Jafar Panahi continues to bravely expose the political and social problems of his home country with films shot in secrecy. “Taxi” takes the director through the streets of Tehran as he picks up an array of passengers with distinct concerns, beliefs, and opinions on the Islamic nation’s current situation: a young girl trying to make a “distributable” film, a guy who considers selling pirated films a cultural campaign, or a pair of elderly women whose fate depends on the survival of a couple fish. Though scripted, each encounter exudes honesty.

14. "The Duke of Burgundy"

Intoxicatingly atmospheric and full of evocative imagery, Peter Strickland’s follow up to his similarly unusual debut “Berberian Sound Studio” looks at the psychology of sexual desires with a seductive gaze. The line dividing power and submission is blurred and interchangeable between two lovers whose turbulent relationship is juxtaposed with the nature of butterflies. Eroticism derived from degradation and punishment is elegantly approached that suggest more than it explicitly shows.

13. "Phoenix"

The final sequence in this new collaboration between writer/director Christian Petzold and actress Nina Hoss is one of the best conclusions ever written. It’s subtle, yet strikingly revelatory. Departing from a Hitchcockian mistaken identity plot from the point of view of a concentration camp survivor, Petzold delves into Germany’s post war sentiments of guilt and the beginning of the long road to rebuild a superficially and morally shattered nation. “Phoenix” is also a love story coated in betrayal and the harsh realization that, when tested, even the strongest bond can be destroyed. Hoss gives an awards-deserving, restrained and perfectly nuanced performance.

Read More: Christian Petzold's 'Phoenix' is a Deeply Moving Film About Survivors Rebuilding Their Lives

12. "Timbuktu"

Today, perhaps more than ever, a film like Abderrahmane Sissako’s spellbinding “Timbuktu” is imperative. Capturing some of the most beautiful African landscapes ever seen on film and delicately arranging his stories to create a tapestry of human experiences, Sissako’s latest doesn’t abide by any political or religious dogma. Instead, his vision preaches openness and denounces the terrifying absurdity of the world according to extremist.

Read More: Promoting Tolerance: Abderrahmane Sissako on 'Timbuktu' and a Different Kind of Islam

11. "The Voices"

Playing Jerry, the most charming serial killer you’ll ever meet, Ryan Reynolds gives the best performance of his career in Marjane Satrapi’s wonderfully insane horror comedy. Adding to his already outstanding work as the lovable, if unstable young man, Reynolds also voices both of his character's opinionated pets. Stay tuned after the film for one of the most ridiculous credit sequences ever.

Read More: Too Insane To Ignore: Marjane Satrapi On Her Fascinating Sundance Horror-Comedy 'The Voices'

10. "Güeros"

Using one of the most cosmopolitan and complex cities in the world as his canvas, Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios delivered an audaciously original story that delves into many unique aspects of Mexican society wrapped up into a road trip adventure that helps two estrange brothers reconnect.

It’s a revitalizing work, and one of the best Mexican films of the last decade.

Read More: In 'Güeros' Dir. Alonso Ruizpalacios Rediscovered Mexico City Via a Unique Road Trip

9. "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"

Read More: How Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Used Determinación to Go From a Small Town to Nyu to Sundance

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Sundance champion is a tonally nuanced and visually inventive work that ingeniously beguiles you to fall in love with every instant of its strangely imaginative magic. This tragicomedy invokes tropes from a familiar realm and deconstructs or tailors them to the uniquely poignant circumstances of it's characters. It's nothing short of a cinephile's dream come true.

Read More: This is the Review That Tells You Why 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' is a Cinephile's Dream Come True

8. "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence"

Constructed of gorgeously understated vignettes, which guide us through the grandeur of life by methodically focusing on the smallest but most resonant instants of it, "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" by Swedish writer/director Roy Andersson won the Golden Lion at last’s year’s Venice Film Festival. Delving into a wide range of quotidian dilemmas via darkly comedic exploits, this episodic tour de force is as insightful as it’s blissfully entertaining and distinctively stylized.

Read More: 7 Reasons Why Roy Andersson's Latest Film is a Must-See Philosophical Wonder

7. "Tangerine"

Sean Baker's riotous and perfectly acted latest film shot on an iPhone “Tangerine” centers on Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), two transgender sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard who struggle to get by while dealing with heartbreak, revenge, and their dreams.

Baker captured an unseen side of Los Angeles through the eyes of two equally underrepresented characters who get a chance to showcase their comedic brilliance.

Read More: How Sean Baker Used Beautiful Accidents and New Talent to Deliver one of the Best Films of the Year

6. "The Look of Silence"

For “The Look of Silence,” the indispensable companion piece to "The Act of Killing," director Joshua Oppenheimer focused on the survivors, specifically on a brave family that persevered through the immeasurable pain that quietly permeates Indonesian society even half a century after the genocide. The subjects here are often quiet and contemplative, but their anguish transcends even when words fail to describe their tumultuous sentiments.

Read More: 12 Things Joshua Oppenheimer Wants You to Know About 'The Look of Silence'

5. "Anomalisa"

In "Anomalisa," a delicately melancholic observation on loneliness and the flawed human condition, acclaimed writer-director Charlie Kaufman and co-director Duke Johnson use stop-motion animation to tell a story of small proportions and big ideas. These existential observations include our fears, failures, insecurities and our desperate need to be loved by someone who can look pass our conspicuous scars.

Read More: Human at the Seams: Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson Make Yearning Tangible in 'Anomalisa'

4. "The Tribe"

“The Tribe,” by Ukrainian debutant Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, is a film that communicates with its audience in a non-verbal manner. There are no subtitles or any other way to know exactly what the characters on screen are saying, but that’s never an issue for it to powerfully make its message heard. It’s the purest form of cinema because it can be shown anywhere in the world without modification, and the devastating result would be the same.

Read More: Interviewing Yana Novikova, Star of 'The Tribe,' Was a One-of-a-Kind Experience

3. "Boy and the World"

Alê Abreu’s “Boy and the World” is unequivocally the best animated film of the year. Drawn with the finest ends of an artist's heartstrings and painted with the colorful essence of undefeatable hope, Abreu’s utterly lyrical, visually captivating, musically driven, and extraordinarily sophisticated treasure is the animated equivalent of a childhood dream that thrives on sweet innocence and the pure ability to see the world truthfully for its dazzling beauty and its man-made dangers. As it continues to spellbind the globe with its unconventional artistry and thought-provoking observations, an Oscar nomination would be a more than deserved crown jewel.

Read More:Review: Why Alê Abreu's Sublime 'Boy and the World' is the Best Animated Film of the Year

Read More: How "Boy and the World" Director Alê Abreu Handcrafted His Heartfelt & Dazzling Animated Masterpiece

2. "Carol"

Exquisitely photographed and fueled by the two best performances of the year, Todd Haynes “Carol” depicts an ethereal and ravishing romance that’s sure to take your breath away. Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett play two women from opposite worlds that meet serendipitously and fall madly in love for each other in a time yet unwilling to accept them. Carol (Blanchett) is a wealthy mother and wife whose desires are used against her threatening to stripped her of what she loves the most. On the other hand Therese (Mara) is a working class girl discovering herself and who finds the strength to follow her true instincts in Carol. Heartbreak has rarely been portrayed with such a delicate touch, thoughtfulness, and sincerity. Beneath the glossy Christmas-tinted frames is a story as universal as it is particular in which a single pleading look disarms you. Few films will make you feel such tangible and pure yearning to connect with another soul as Haynes masterwork does.

1. "Son of Saul"

First-time director László Nemes decided to look at the terrifying apparatus behind the Holocaust from the perspective of the Sonderkommando, a group of men whose experience was exponentially more harrowing than that of the average victim. Nemes focuses on a particular man, Saul (Géza Röhrig), a fictional character created from the limited information available on this special group and the filmmaker’s artistic sensibilities.“Son of Saul” is not only the best film of the year, but also the most ambitious debut in ages. Both conceptually and visually, the dynamic, yet organically contemplative vision of one man’s ordeal as he walks through the gates the hell is the work of a master auteur.

Read More: 12 Things Director László Nemes and Star Géza Röhrig Want You to Know About 'Son of Saul'...

The last few days of 2015 are spent in reflection about the year that's just wrapping up and in anticipation of the year just ahead, at least for me, and since we had our ten best list last week, this week it's time for the runners-up, the fifteen films that also filled out our year. As always, I look at this list and I think it would make a perfectly spiffy top ten if that's how things had shaken out, which is to say that the only real purpose of any of these lists is to remind you of more of the experiences that were worth having in a theater. There are plenty of good films that aren't on either of my lists this year. That doesn't mean I didn't like them or they're not good. It just means that these films meant more to me for some reason. For now,...

'The Peanuts Movie': 2016 Best Original Score Oscar contender along with 111 other titles. Oscar 2016: Best Original Score contenders range from 'Mad Max: Fury Road' to 'The Peanuts Movie' Earlier this month (Dec. '15), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made public the list of 112 film scores eligible for the 2016 Oscar in the Best Original Score category. As found in the Academy's press release, “a Reminder List of works submitted in the Original Score category will be made available with a nominations ballot to all members of the Music Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award.” The release adds that “to be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must...

Probst, the president and founder of Berlin’s Efm, received the Women’s International Film & Television Showcase’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Hayek the Animation Award 2015 for producing The Prophet.

Other honourees announced earlier this month in the 2015 Wifts included:

Romola Garai for the Barbara Tipple Best Actress Award;

White God’s Hungarian producers Viktoria Petrányi and Eszter Gyárfás for The Otilia Animal Advocacy Award;

Maggie Rodford, UK, for The Music Award; and

Mai Masri, Palestine, for The Jury Award in recognition of 3000 Nights.

For the full list of winners click here.

Salma Hayek produced the animated film "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet" and also voices one of its characters. As she explains during our recent webcam chat (watch below), "I don't have an agenda for [audiences] to take anything specific out of it. Everybody takes something different, and this is what I'm most proud of," But even though the story inspires different people in different ways, "My main hope is that you become compassionate not because there are sad things in the movie that are going to make you feel sorry for someone, but because it makes you ponder those things that connect us all." -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions "The Prophet" is based on Kahlil Gibran's 1923 book of prose poems on life, death, love and everything in-between. It's not a traditional narrative, so Hayek had the idea of creating ...'...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 112 scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 88th Academy Awards.

The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title:

“Adult Beginners,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer

“The Age of Adaline,” Rob Simonsen, composer

“Altered Minds,” Edmund Choi, composer

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer

“Anomalisa,” Carter Burwell, composer

“Ant-Man,” Christophe Beck, composer

“Beasts of No Nation,” Dan Romer, composer

“The Big Short,” Nicholas Britell, composer

“Black Mass,” Tom Holkenborg, composer

“Bridge of Spies,” Thomas Newman, composer

“Brooklyn,” Michael Brook, composer

“Burnt,” Rob Simonsen, composer

“By the Sea,” Gabriel Yared, composer

“Carol,” Carter Burwell, composer

“Cartel Land,” H. Scott Salinas and Jackson Greenberg, composers

“Chi-Raq,” Terence Blanchard, composer

“Cinderella,” Patrick Doyle, composer

“Coming Home,” Qigang Chen, composer

“Concussion,...

A total of 16 films were submitted for consideration in the Best Animated Feature category at the 88th Oscars. After being absent from the race last year, powerhouse Pixar returns with two films, “Inside Out” and "The Good Dinosaur," of which the former is the clear front-runner. Stop-motion animation is represented by two contenders, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s critical hit “Anomalisa” and the equally celebrated, though less contemplative, “Shaun the Sheep Movie” from Oscar-winning Aardman. Of the other major studios the only serious film in competition is Blue Sky’s “The Peanuts Movie.” CG animated films such as “Minions,” “Home,” “Hotel Transylvania 2,” "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," performed well at the box-office but will likely fail to break in.

Thankfully the Academy has been very good at noticing, while not yet awarding, the work of independent artists working in the animation medium. Since 2010, when Gkids garnered its first nomination for Tomm Moore’s gorgeous “The Secret of Kells,” the New York-based distributor‘s films have been present among the five nominees every year. Last year two masterworks from their impeccable repertoire were included, Moore’s “Song of the Sea” and Isao Takahata’s “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” leaving out Warner’s “The Lego Movie,” which was considered a lock for most of the season. This year Gkids has three films vying for recognition, all of which received Annie nominations in the Best Independent Animated Feature category, but there also a few other internationally produced, independently made, traditionally animated works on the list that deserve the attention.

There is no doubt that some of the most unconventional and stunning animated films come from outside the mechanized mainstream, and we hope this year, once again, some of them make it to the Dolby Theater so that such exposure helps them reach a larger global audience.

Note: The only 2D-animated feature not included here is “Regular Show: The Movie,” which, despite having a limited release as most independent films, is an American production by a major studio

"The Boy and the Beast"

Dir.Mamoru Hosoda

Having worked in some of the most beloved anime series of all time before transitioning into greater artistic heights with singular animated features such as “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” “Summer Wars,” and “Wolf Children,” Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most important figures in Japanese animation today and his work has a loyal following around the world. “The Boy and the Beast,” his most recent film, is a martial arts saga ruled by its very own mythology, yet grounded on universal thematic elements. Following his mother’s death, Ren runs away from home and accidentally finds his way into Jutengai, an alternate reality inhabited by beasts. Reluctantly, young Ren is taken in by Kumatetsu, a bear-like brute desperate to train a disciple in order to be selected as the realm’s new leader. Despite countless arguments and numerous rough patches, a profound bond that transcends the divide between their worlds forms between the two lonely fighters. Fantastical creatures, epic battles, and amusing banter, spice up an endearing story that analyzes parent-children relationship from a highly inventive vantage point.

"Boy and the World"

Dir. Alê Abreu

Read More:Review: Why Alê Abreu's Sublime 'Boy and the World' is the Best Animated Film of the Year

The most awarded animated feature to open in U.S. theaters this year is a Brazilian wonder that ditches dialogue entirely for a storytelling approach that’s purely visual, whimsical, and even heartbreaking. Through the eyes of a playful young boy searching for his father, Alê Abreu’s musical odyssey conveys sophisticated notions about social justice, the voracious appetite of capitalism, and the yoke of oppression. Color pencils, pastels, watercolors, cut outs, and multiple other techniques are blended with an eclectic soundtrack molding a fascinating and gorgeous cinematic experience. Abreu’s animated masterpiece should certainly become the first Latin American animated feature to be nominated in the category (while “Chico and Rita” is set in Cuba, it's actually a European production helmed by Spanish filmmakers), as it would be an unforgivable mistake if the Academy fails to acknowledge dazzlingly craftsmanship on display.

Read More: How "Boy and the World" Director Alê Abreu Handcrafted His Heartfelt & Dazzling Animated Masterpiece

"Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet"

Dir. Roger Allers

Read More: Why 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet' is a Cinematic Out-Of-Body Experience Brimming with Animated Wisdom

Realizing her long-awaited passion project, Mexican-born star Salma Hayek produced this mesmerizing reimagining of Lebanese poet Kahil Gibran’s timeless classic with the help of some of the most important names currently working in the medium. Hayek, who also voices one of the lead characters, recruited Roger Allers, the man behind Disney’s “The Lion King,” to craft a linear canvas upon which eight artists could weave in their visual interpretations of Gibran’s poems on specific subjects. Acclaimed animators such as Tomm Moore, Bill Plympton, Nina Paley, and Joan C. Gratz , had complete freedom, both regarding technique and storytelling, to create these breathtaking and distinct segments. Aller’s frame narrative follows Mustafa (voiced by Liam Neeson ), a wise poet, as he is being escorted out of town by the repressive Ottoman authorities that consider his writings and paintings as subversive materials that threaten their tyrannical grip. While each individual vignette offers a lyrical rendition of Gibran’s universal lessons, Moore’s “On Love” is an awe-inspiring standout. “Hypnosis,” the tune written and performed by Damien Rice, is also in contention for the Best Original Song Academy Award.

Read More: Salma Hayek on 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet': 'His Poetry Talks About the Simple Things in Life That Unite Us All'

"The Laws of the Universe - Part 0"

Dir. Isamu Imakake

Eleven Arts, a small distributor dedicated to bringing Asian cinema stateside, has entered the Best Animated Feature race with an action-packed contender that will appeal to anime fans fond of intricate plots. Directed by Isamu Imakake, this Japanese sci-fi film centers on five high school friends who are forced to become heroes when they discover an alien conspiracy that endangers the Earth and life as we know it. Teen drama collides with intergalactic standoffs in an exciting and large-scale adventure. It’s luminously stylized character design and the epically orchestrated action sequences elevate the film beyond the conventions and aesthetics associated with anime series produced for TV. Imakake’s previous efforts, "The Mystical Laws” and “The Laws of Eternity," also dealt with adult-oriented and otherworldly duels between powerful evildoers and courageous youths.

"Moomins on the Riviera"

Dir. Xavier Picard

Read More: Review: In 'Moomins on the Riviera' the Beloved Finnish Icons Remain Timeless and Wise

Created in the 1940s by author and illustrator Tove Jansson, these Finnish superstars have an incredibly devout following across Europe and Asia, and though they are still not household names this side of the Atlantic, their humble wisdom cuts across geographical boundaries with ease once one gives in to their charm. In their first big screen appearance in over a decade, the Moomins decide to leave the comfort of rural life in the valley for the extravagant pleasure of the Côte d'Azur. Soon after their arrival, the roundish and unpretentious family realizes that opulence and material wealth are far from what they consider happiness. Elegantly drawn to resemble a nostalgic storybook and drenched in pastel hues, Xavier Picards take on the beloved characters is sure to add new fans to the Moomin legion and to satisfy those that throughout the decades have been enchanted by their innocent humor and surprisingly philosophical observations on the things that really matters.

"When Marnie Was There"

Dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Read More: Review: Wondrous 'When Marnie Was There' is One of Ghibli's Most Profoundly Moving Works

Following Miyazaki’s “The Wind Rises” and Takahata’s “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” another Ghibli gem (and as of now their final one) of much more intimate qualities was released to eager U.S. audiences this spring. Hiromasa Yonebayashi's adaption of Joan G. Robinson’s 1967 switches England for a Hokkaido but preserves the moving bond between the protagonist and what seems to be a vision from another time intact. Introvert Anna (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld in the English-language dub) is a young girl that struggles to connect with her foster mother, thus feels alienated. When Anna meets Marnie, a gracious blond girl, while exploring the marshes that surround the town, a secret friendship quickly develops. As their individual histories are slowly revealed through expertly paced twists, it becomes apparent that their initial encounter was not merely serendipitous. Magical realism, instead of more fantastic elements as in most of Ghibli’s films, dictates the narrative, while the artistry that is expected from the legendary studio is as captivating as usual and never disappoints. The way Yonebayashi channels the original material to create a delicate coming-of-age story that accepts its characters flaws and troubling emotional journeys without simplifying them is truly remarkable. Priscilla Ahn’s heartbreaking ballad “Fine on the Outside” is also in the running for the Best Original Song Oscar.

From shorts to features hailing fro all over the world, 2015 was yet another banner year in the world of animation. To help dive deeper in the process behind some of the best offerings, we have a one-hour THR roundtable featuring Pete Docter (Inside Out), Charlie Kaufman (Anomalisa), Richard Starzak (Shaun the Sheep Movie), Steve Martino (The Peanuts Movie), Roger Allers (The Prophet), and Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur).

In the chat, they discuss the painstakingly detailed process behind each of their films, with Starzak noting his process. “I blindly said I wanted to make a modern-day silent movie [with Shaun the Sheep],” he says. “And even my producers said, ‘I think that’s crazy. I don’t think it’s going to work.’ And to be honest, I didn’t think it was going to work either. I didn’t fully believe it was going to work. That was the sort of fear that I like.

Best Song Oscar 2016 contender 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' with Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. 74 entries in contention for 2016 Best Song Academy Award 'Tis the season for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to announce the semi-finalists – in some instances, the semi-semi-finalists – for the Academy Awards. Today, the Academy released the list of songs eligible for the 2016 Best Song – or rather, Best Original Song – Oscar. There are 74 contenders, with titles ranging from “Happy” and “I'll See You in My Dreams” to “Hypnosis” and “Bhoomiyilenghanumundo.” Curiously, apart from the inevitable animated and/or kiddie flicks (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Anomalisa, Pan, Shaun the Sheep Movie, Home, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water, etc.) most of this year's contenders are songs from smaller movies and Bollywood/South Asian releases. Exceptions include Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades of Grey, Ryan Coogler's Creed, Kenneth Branagh's...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 74 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 88th Academy Awards.

The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:

“Happy” from “Altered Minds”

“Home” from “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”

“None Of Them Are You” from “Anomalisa”

“Stem To The Rose” from “Becoming Bulletproof”

“The Mystery Of Your Gift” from “Boychoir”

“I Run” from “Chi-Raq”

“Pray 4 My City” from “Chi-Raq”

“Sit Down For This” from “Chi-Raq”

“Strong” from “Cinderella”

“So Long” from “Concussion”

“Fighting Stronger” from “Creed”

“Grip” from “Creed”

“Waiting For My Moment” from “Creed”

“Don’t Look Down” from “Danny Collins”

“Hey Baby Doll” from “Danny Collins”

“Dreamsong” from “The Diary of a Teenage Girl...

The International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood, has announced the nominations for the 43rd Annual Annie Awards and "Inside Out" and "The Good Dinosaur," both Pixar movies, led the pack! "Inside Out" received fourteen nominations while "The Good Dinosaur" got nine.

My pick of the year for best animated feature is "Inside Out" but I love Charlie Kaufman's "Anomalisa" as well which picked five noms.

We'll find out the winners of the Annie Awards on February 6th!

Here is the full list of nominees in all categories of the 43rd Annie Awards:

Best Animated Feature

Anomalisa

Paramount Pictures

Inside Out

Pixar Animation Studios

Shaun the Sheep The Movie

Aardman Animations

The Good Dinosaur

Pixar Animation Studios

The Peanuts Movie

Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation

Best Animated Special Production

Elf: Buddy.s Musical Christmas

Warner Bros. Animation

He Named Me Malala

Parkes-MacDonald / Little Door

I Am A Witness

Moonbot...

The International Animated Film Society, Asifa-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 43rd Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation.

The Annie Awards cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent (new this year), Special Productions, Commercials, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards.

This year’s Best Animated Feature nominations include: Anomalisa (Paramount Pictures), Inside Out (Pixar Animation Studios), Shaun the Sheep The Movie (Aardman Animations), The Good Dinosaur (Pixar Animation Studios), and The Peanuts Movie (Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation).

“This year we introduced an important new category – Best Feature-Independent,” says Asifa-Hollywood President, Jerry Beck. “We will now recognize not only features in wide release, but also the independent animators, international studios, anime and special productions that might not otherwise get the attention they deserve. Adds Frank Gladstone, Asifa-Hollywood’s Executive Director,...

This story first appeared in a special awards season issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. For Salma Hayek, the Oscar-nominated star of 2002's Frida, the idea of creating an animated movie around The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran's famous collection of philosophical poems, was a project — however improbable it might have seemed at first — that was somehow inevitable. As Hayek, who was born in Mexico, tells it, she was about 6 years old when she first saw a copy of the book belonging to her maternal grandfather, who was Lebanese, like Gibran himself. As a teenager, she picked up

read more...

2015 has seen its share of innovative stand-alone animated features ranging from the surrealist grotesqueries of Bill Plimpton’s Cheatin’ to the technicolor pop psychology representations of Inside Out, but there’s perhaps no larger regular supplier of idiosyncratic animation than the work released through distribution imprint Gkids. In 2015 alone, they’ve been responsible for the releases of both highly anticipated animation fare like Studio Ghibli swan song When Marnie Was There, along with culturally varied projects like The Prophet and Zarafa.

The Boy and the World is the next release to get excited about for fans of eccentric animated features. Originally released in 2013 in creator Alê Abreu’s home country of Brazil as “O Menino E O Mundo,” The Boy and the World is a vividly abstract story of a young boy who chases after his father through a kaleidoscopic world of suffocating industrialism, painterly landscapes, and impressionistic dreamscapes. This week,...

Sixteen animated features have been submitted for consideration for the Best Animated Feature category at the upcoming 88th Academy Awards in February.

Only five of these films will be nominated for the category with those nominations to be announced in January. The sixteen potential qualifiers are:

"Anomalisa," "The Boy And The Beast," "Boy And The World," "The Good Dinosaur," "Home," "Hotel Transylvania 2," "Inside Out," "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet," "The Laws Of The Universe – Part 0," "Minions," "Moomins On The Riviera," "The Peanuts Movie," "Regular Show: The Movie," "Shaun The Sheep Movie," "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water," "When Marnie Was There".

Pixar's "Inside Out" and Charlie Kaufman's "Anomalisa" both seem like automatic shoe-ins. The other three spots though are up for grabs.

Source: Stuff...

Sixteen features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 88th Academy Awards.

The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:

“Anomalisa”

“The Boy and the Beast”

“Boy and the World”

“The Good Dinosaur”

“Home”

“Hotel Transylvania 2”

“Inside Out”

“Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet”

“The Laws of the Universe – Part 0”

“Minions”

“Moomins on the Riviera”

“The Peanuts Movie”

“Regular Show: The Movie”

“Shaun the Sheep Movie”

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water”

“When Marnie Was There”

Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process. At least eight eligible animated features must be theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated. In any...

This year's animated features—there will be five nominees, given that sixteen are deemed eligible for Oscar consideration—run the gamut from R-rated stop-motion adult drama "Anomalisa," from Oscar-winning scribe Charlie Kaufman and co-director Duke Johnson, which Paramount surprisingly picked up out of Toronto, and Pixar frontrunner "Inside Out," which debuted in Cannes and is so popular that many wonder if it could land Best Picture, Directing or Original Screenplay slots. Pixar has won more Oscars than any other studio, collecting a gold statue five of the last eight years, and could have two nominees this year. The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:“Anomalisa”“The Boy and the Beast”“Boy and the World”“The Good Dinosaur”“Home”“Hotel Transylvania 2”“Inside Out”“Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet”“The Laws of the Universe - Part 0”“Minions”“Moomins on the Riviera”“The Peanuts Movie”“Regular Show: The Movie”“Shaun the Sheep Movie”“The SpongeBob.

Sixteen features have been submitted for consideration in the animated feature category for the 88th Academy Awards. Check out the trailers for all the submitted features: Anomalisa The Boy and...