Introducing The Film Critics Circle of Australia’s Nominees & Winners For The Films Of 2021

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The Film Critics Circle of Australia is pleased to announce the nominations and winners for the films of 2021.

Due to circumstances, especially the difficulties raised by the Covid pandemic, the FCCA was unable to hold an event for the films of 2021. However, in line with the organisation’s aims to celebrate the excellence in Australian cinema, all Australian films released were viewed and voted on. The voting was extremely tight in the final rounds resulting in a dual award in the Best Director category.

Nominations and winners listed in alphabetical order:

Best Film

High Ground

Producers: David Jowsey, Maggie Miles, Witiyana Marika, Greer Simpkin, Stephen Maxwell Johnson

Nitram

Producers: Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell, Justin Kurzel, Shaun Grant

The Dry

Producers: Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson, Steve Hutensky, Rob Connolly, Eric Bana

 

Best Director

Robert Connolly, The Dry

Stephen Maxwell Johnson, High Ground

Justin Kurzel, Nitram

 

Best Screenplay

Chris Anastassiades, High Ground

Robert Connolly & Harry Cripps, The Dry

Shaun Grant, Nitram

 

Best Cinematography

Sam Chiplin, Penguin Bloom

Andrew Commis, High Ground

Stefan Duscio, The Dry

 

Best Actor

Eric Bana, The Dry

Caleb Landry Jones, Nitram

Jacob Junior Nayinggul, High Ground

 

Best Actress

Judy Davis, Nitram

Noni Hazlehurst, June Again

Naomi Watts, Penguin Bloom

 

Best Actress- Supporting Role

Essie Davis, Nitram

Claudia Karvan, June Again

Miranda Tapsell, The Dry

 

Best Actor Supporting Role

Anthony LaPaglia, Nitram

Sean Mununggurr, High Ground

Stephen Hunter, Ruby’s Choice

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Harriet Dixon-Smith of Nixco

Official Trailer & Release Date For “A Stitch In Time” Announced

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Hadden Motion Pictures has today released the official trailer for A STITCH IN TIME. From the executive producer of Ladies in Black and writer/director Sasha Hadden, and expertly shot by cinematographer Don McAlpine ACS ASC (The Dressmaker, Moulin Rouge!) A STITCH IN TIME is an ode to the power of community and friendships that come from the most unexpected places. The film is set to arrive in Australian cinemas nationally on February 17, 2022.

A STITCH IN TIME is a heart-warming story about former dressmaker Liebe (Maggie Blinco: The Nightingale, Crocodile Dundee), who reinvents herself after befriending young Chinese fashion designer Hamish (Hoa Xuande: Top of The Lake, Hungry Ghosts).

When Liebe’s partner Duncan (Little River Band’s Glenn Shorrock) loses his job singing at the local pub, Liebe throws herself into helping Duncan realise his dream to record an album.

Inspired by Hamish, Liebe decides to make clothes again to support Duncan financially, but quickly reignites a long-forgotten passion for her craft. With Duncan intent on shutting down her dreams, Liebe packs her bags and moves in with her best friend, Christine (television and theatre favourite Belinda Giblin), and her unsuspecting husband, Justin (John Gregg: Bodyline, To End All Wars), to reclaim her life and discover where she belongs.

Liebe’s touching story will remind audiences of all ages that it is never too late to follow your dreams.

‘A STITCH IN TIME’ WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS NATIONALLY ON FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Check out the trailer below:

Walt Disney Australia Release Schedule As Of February 2022…The Countdown Begins NOW

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2021 has been a tough year for the movie industry. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to drastically affect the world, the year’s biggest films were caught in the crossfire which resulted in a number of setbacks and cancellations brought upon by the pandemic. However, Walt Disney Australia has decided to put some of these skepticisms to rest, with the company revealing their Australian release schedule for all their films until 2023. Without further ado, check out Walt Disney Australia’s release schedule as of February 2022.

Paramount Pictures Celebrates the 50th Anniversary Of The Godfather With A Limited Theatrical Release

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In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s Academy Award®-winning* masterwork The Godfather, Paramount Pictures announced today that the film will have a limited theatrical release in Dolby Vision beginning February 25, 2022.  All three films in the epic trilogy have been meticulously restored under the direction of Coppola and will be made available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on March 23, 2022.

“I am very proud of The Godfather, which certainly defined the first third of my creative life,” said Francis Ford Coppola.  “With this 50th anniversary tribute, I’m especially proud Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is included, as it captures Mario and my original vision in definitively concluding our epic trilogy. It’s also gratifying to celebrate this milestone with Paramount alongside the wonderful fans who’ve loved it for decades, younger generations who still find it relevant today, and those who will discover it for the first time.”

Coppola’s masterful film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Corleone family and the film trilogy is rightfully viewed as one of the greatest in cinematic history.  In preparation for the 50th anniversary of the first film’s original release on March 24, 1972, Paramount and Coppola’s production company American Zoetrope undertook a painstaking restoration of all three films over the course of three years.

Every effort was made to create the finest possible presentation for today’s audiences who can watch the films using technology that has advanced dramatically since 2007 when the last restoration was completed by eminent film historian and preservationist Robert Harris.  Using that work as a blueprint, the team spent thousands of hours to ensure that every frame was evaluated to create the most pristine presentation while remaining true to the original look and feel of the films.

“We felt privileged to restore these films and a little in awe every day we worked on them,” said Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, Paramount Archives.  “We were able to witness first-hand how the brilliant cinematography, score, production design, costume design, editing, performances, and, of course, screenwriting and direction became famously more than the sum of their parts.  It was our commitment to honor all of the filmmakers’ exceptional work.”

RESTORATION DETAILS

  • Over 300 cartons of film were scrutinized to find the best possible resolution for every frame of all three films.
  • Over 4,000 hours were spent repairing film stains, tears, and other anomalies in the negatives.
  • Over 1,000 hours were spent on rigorous color correction to ensure the high dynamic range tools were respectful of the original vision of Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis.
  • In addition to the 5.1 audio approved by Walter Murch in 2007, the original mono tracks on The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II have been restored.
  • All work was overseen by Coppola.

Newly restored and remastered in Dolby Vision, all three films in the landmark trilogy will be released together with HDR-10 on 4K Ultra HD Digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ for the first time ever.  The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set will include The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Coppola’s recently re-edited version of the final film, Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.  The disc set also includes legacy commentaries by Coppola.

In addition to the widely available 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD Limited Collector’s Edition will also be released in deluxe packaging and includes a hardcover coffee table book featuring stunning photographs, as well as portrait art prints on archival paper.  Both 4K Ultra HD sets include new bonus content including an introduction to The Godfather by Coppola, a featurette about the preservation process, photos by acclaimed photographer Steve Schapiro, home movie footage, and comparisons of the new restoration to earlier versions of the films.  A full list of new and legacy bonus content follows:

NEW BONUS CONTENT:

  • Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
  • Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather—Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.
  • Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro— In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film. Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production’s history.
  • The Godfather: Home Movies— An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather.  Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island’s Emerson Hill, this is the first time it’s been made available to the public.
  • Restoration Comparisons— Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.

LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:

  • The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t
  • Godfather World
  • Emulsional Rescue—Revealing The Godfather
  • …when the shooting stopped
  • The Godfather on the Red Carpet
  • Four Short Films on The Godfather
    • The Godfather The Godfather: Part II
    • Cannoli
    • Riffing on the Riffing
    • Clemenza
  • The Family Tree
  • Crime Organization Chart
  • Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album
  • 2008 Credits
  • Behind the Scenes
    • A Look Inside
    • On Location
    • Francis Ford Coppola’s Notebook
    • Music of The Godfather
      • Nino Rota
      • Carmine Coppola
    • Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting
    • Gordon Willis on Cinematography
    • Storyboards – The Godfather: Part II
    • Storyboards – The Godfather: Part III
    • The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971

LEGACY BONUS CONTENT (cont’d):

  • Additional Scenes
  • Galleries
  • Trailers
  • Acclaim & Response
  • Additional Material
  • The Filmmakers
  • The Godfather: Part III—newly remastered and restored versions of the original theatrical cut and Coppola’s 1991 cut (note: these are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Collections)

Newly restored and remastered versions of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will also be available together on Blu-ray™ with access to the new and legacy bonus content detailed above.

“Life’s Good Film” Applauded, Recognized at International Film Festivals

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LG Electronics (LG) is proud to announce that the LG and Jackson Tisi co-produced Life’s Good Film took the prize for this month’s Best Documentary Short at the Indie Short Fest, one of eight recognitions at major film festivals around the world.

Life’s Good Film Honored by Film Festivals

Celebrating the unique perspectives and voices of a younger generation, LG’s uplifting film was also awarded as the Best Documentary Short by Dreamachine International Film Festival and honored by the Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift. Life’s Good Film was nominated as a finalist in the short documentary category at the New York International Film Awards as well as second-finalist at the San Francisco Indie Short Festival. With the film festival industry just now getting back on its feet after a devastating 2020-2021, Life’s Good Film will be screened at the Arpa International Film Festival and the Oregon Documentary Film Festival as the award year comes to a close.

The Life’s Good Film is the touching, heart-felt culmination of the Life’s Good Film Project, which saw 531 amateur filmmakers from 33 countries share their creative interpretations of LG’s Life’s Good message. A part of LG’s 2021 Life’s Good campaign, the project put the spotlight on the diversity of the world’s peoples, cultures, and nature while simultaneously communicating the humanity and hope that unites us all.

Weaving together many of the stunning submissions sent in, director Jackson Tisi and LG collaborated to create a visually beautiful and emotionally uplifting 20-minute work of art. The award-winning short generated considerable interest online with over 240 million impressions and more than 77 million total views of related posts across social media.

“Being recognized by the respected international film festival community next to Jackson is something we never expected nor imagined,” said Lee Jung-suk, head of LG’s Global Marketing Center. “Jackson is a master and was incredibly effective in delivering the message Life’s Good through the voices of tomorrow’s leaders. LG thanks Jackson for his peerless direction and for helping us to shape such an inspiring story.”

The Life’s Good Film is available to view on the LG Global YouTube channel and Instagram.

About LG Electronics Inc.

LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG’s four companies – Home Appliance & Air Solution, Home Entertainment, Vehicle component Solutions and Business Solutions – combined for global sales of over USD 56 billion in 2020. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, service robots, automotive components and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names world over. Visit www.LGnewsroom.com for the latest news.

About Jackson Tisi

At 25 years old, Jackson Tisi has made a name for himself as a young filmmaker. Jackson’s work spans music videos, commercials, and documentaries. His short films and music videos have won numerous awards including Vimeo Staff picks, Atlantic Selects, and multiple film festival nominations. His film, LEON, won him gold at the Young Directors Award in Cannes, France last year. He was also admitted into the latest class of Young Guns by the One Club for Creativity. He is currently working on developing longer form projects.

Source : LG Electronics

This article was sourced from a media release sent by PR Newswire

The Official Trailer And Release Date Announced For “Here Out West”

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Mind Blowing Films has today announced the release date for, HERE OUT WEST. Written by eight talented Western Sydney writers (Nisrine Amine, Bina Bhattacharya, Matias Bolla, Claire Cao, Arka Das, Dee Dogan, Vonne Patiag, Tien Tran) and directed by some of Australia’s top female directors Lucy Gaffy (Amazing Grace), Fadia Abboud (Les Norton), Leah Purcell (The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson), Ana Kokkinos (Head On) and Julie Kalceff (First Day), the poignant drama about family and place is set to arrive in Australian cinemas nationally on February 3, 2022.

Nancy (Genevieve Lemon) visits her daughter in hospital who has just given birth. Tagging along is her 8-year-old Lebanese neighbour, Amirah (Mia-Lore Bayeh), who she is babysitting. It is a bittersweet meeting for Nancy, as her new grandchild is about to be taken away, her mother being deemed unfit by the authorities to keep her. In an act of desperation, Nancy makes the decision to steal the baby, fleeing from the hospital with Amirah by her side. Not long after their audacious escape, a pedestrian is involved in a hit and run. Three young men step in to help, unsure if he’ll survive the night. Across eight distinct yet interconnected stories, Nancy’s spontaneous flight sets off a chain of events that brings together complete strangers over the course of one dramatic day.

Intensely relevant and reflective of our times, HERE OUT WEST, is a groundbreaking film that reframes the Australian story.

HERE OUT WEST’ WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS NATIONALLY ON FEBRUARY 3, 2022

The Trailer For 20th Century Studios’ “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” Has Just Dropped

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20th Century Studios has released the trailer and still images for “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” which will open in Australian cinemas on MAY 26, 2022.

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series. The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong.

“The Bob’s Burger’s Movie” showcases voice talent which includes Kristen Schaal, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Kline, and David Wain. The film’s director is Bernard Derriman and its co-director is Loren Bouchard. The screenplay is by Loren Bouchard & Nora Smith. The producers are Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith and Janelle Momary.

Check out the trailer below:

SOME HAPPY DAY Hits Classic Cinemas Next Month

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Some Happy Day is an independent feature film and a homage to St Kilda. It’s made with, and in, the community where the story is set. 
Some Happy Day follows Tina, a homeless woman in desperate search of a better life, who meets Frances, a social worker with troubles of her own. Over a single day, their lives interweave, revealing unsettling connections that lead to change and redemption.
On World Day of Social Justice (Sun 20 Feb 2022), Some Happy Day will have its Melbourne premiere with a fundraiser for Sacred Heart Mission at Classic Cinemas as well as additional screenings on Mon 21 Feb 2022 and Wed 23 Feb 2022.
Some Happy Day is inspired by writer and director Catherine Hill’s 20-year experience working with rough sleepers.
“Every day I witnessed the strength, resilience, struggles, and stories of people who have found themselves homeless, sleeping at the beach, in the park, under a stairwell, or in a squat,” said Hill.
Some Happy Day was filmed in partnership with a range of local St Kilda groups and organisations. Many of the actors have lived experiences of surviving without a home and other cast and crew work in social services.
The role of Tina was written for Peta Brady. She is not only a renowned Australian actor across theatre and television, but also works part-time as a drug and alcohol worker at The Salvation Army Needle and Syringe Program in St Kilda. 
Sacred Heart Mission and the Salvation Army Statewide Crisis Centre supported Some Happy Day by providing in-kind assistance and access to different locations. 
Cathy Humphrey, CEO for Sacred Heart Mission said Some Happy Day provides a realistic impression that contextualises homelessness, its impact on people, and the importance of trauma-informed practice, which is central to ending homelessness. 
“It’s fantastic that Sacred Heart Mission is part of Some Happy Day’s Melbourne premiere and I hope it starts some important conversations about how to make a difference,” said Humphrey.
It is estimated that on any given night in Australia approximately 116,000 people will be homeless – 1 in every 200 Australians. Last year, over 420 homeless people died on Australia’s streets. The average life expectancy of rough sleepers is around 50 years of age, almost 30 years lower than housed populations.  
Some Happy Day has been accepted into 6 international film festivals and Catherine Hill was nominated for Best Direction of a Feature Film (Under $1M) by the Australian Directors Guild. 
Some Happy Day is also available to corporate businesses, community organisations, educational institutions, local councils, and government agencies. The film aims to change perceptions of homelessness, raise awareness and celebrate hope and relationships.
“A sensitive, gritty portrayal of the shadows we all carry and the courage it takes to find our way through.” – Tim Costello AO
 
“Profoundly moving. Some Happy Day lays bare the underbelly of Australian lives rarely seen. It is brave and real and will have you in tears. A triumph of filmmaking. Tender, uplifting and bravely honest.” – Nikki Gemmell, author, and journalist
 
“An unflinching and articulate story that works not only as a deeply poignant drama, but as an unapologetic statement against the devastation wrought by Australia’s widening wealth gap … Some Happy Day is a story of connection, perseverance, and community.” – James Fletcher, Filmink
____________________________________________________________
Some Happy Day
Dates: Sun 20 Feb, Mon 21 Feb and Wed 23 Feb 2022
Time: 6.30pm (74 mins)
Venue: Classic Cinemas, 9 Gordon Street, Elsternwick 
Tickets: $13.50 – $30 plus booking fee
Classification: MA15+
Bookings: classiccinemas.com.au or (03) 9524 7900
Information: somehappydayfilm.com

“Encanto” Movie Review: Plenty Of Flash & Staying Power But No Staying Power

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With the success of “Moana” and growing need/interest in diversity in their princess line/history, Disney has been trying to pass the cultural test with all possible flying colors by adapting every kind of hero and heroine for their animated feature films. With “Moana,” and “Raya and the last dragon,” it’s clear Disney is trying to put their own iconic magical spin on every possible fairy tale they can weave with new rising stars and storytellers to pave the way for future profits and programming. “Encanto” is a Columbian fantasy tale, scored through the genius musical mind of Lynn-Manual Miranda, who had already delivered substantial musical success for Disney with his work in “Moana” and “Mary Poppins Returns.” One always hopes lightning strikes more than once so let’s see if Disney has conjured up the right kind of magic once again.

In a humble village in Columbia, the centerpiece of the town (and the story) is the Madrigals family: a family blessed with a magical house that is not only alive and vibrantly energetic but also grants each new family member as they come of age with their own, unique mystical power. From super strength, weather manipulation, and shape-shifting, there’s something extra special about every member of the Madrigals family…except for Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). She’s the only one who never received a mystical gift and it has left her feeling disconnected and ignored by her magical-powered relatives. However, when a mysterious danger threatens to eliminate the magic from the Madrigals forever, Mirabel must find out what is causing the magic to disappear and save her family’s gifts before they are lost for all eternity.

The subject of family is no stranger to Disney’s usual go-to story focuses. Certain cultures and families have a greater emphasis on the importance of family and that is no different here. However, the strange thing about “Encanto” is that for as fantastical and family-focused as it is, the film seems to mix its signals on presenting family; often coming off sadder and head scratching than anything whimsical. Almost every plot twist, line of dialog, and the musical number has to revolve around why family is so important and how dedicated this particular family is to one another. And yet, Mirabel not only receives no magical gift she gets shunned and ignored by her family members simply because she is different from them; even from the figurehead of the family.

The prejudice towards Mirabel not only feels hurtful but also unnecessarily aggressive, even if that is the point/source of conflict for the character. The whole plot circles the looming threat of everyone losing their powers and that level of jeopardy feels a bit lacking when everyone is being an obnoxious pill towards Mirabel just because she’s different; even to the point you WANT them to end up powerless so they can see what Mirabel has been going through. The movie kinda spins its wheels around this central plot and doesn’t really leave room for much else outside of enjoying Miradna’s signature soundtrack works of art. The songs range from catchy to forgettable. They are well presented and beautifully packaged, but again, they all dance around the same issue with little variation, and even the tune pitches don’t change enough for me to say I can remember more than one song off top of my head after seeing it.

The catchiest song actually deals with the character of Bruno (voiced by John Leguizamo) who is treated even worse than Mirabel, and the more you find out the worse you feel for this character. I felt bad for him more so than anyone else in the rest of the family. Among all the beautiful colors, stunning visuals, and bouncing tunes; the film seems to mishandle its own message and sends conflicting morals about family connections that were handled far more elegantly and meaningfully in Pixar’s “Coco” then they were here. Even with a Disney film having an expected happily ever after, the cast never becomes likable or memorable enough to feel like the lessons have been learned or expressed in the right way; to us or the cast.

Overall, “Encanto” has a lot to like but not as much to love if you ask me. There’s plenty of flash and colorful music but no staying power, not during the film and certainly not after it. The message about the power of families feels disjointed and poorly arranged in a way that it contradicts itself and ends up painting the Madrigals as glorified jerks rather than a whimsical family to emulate and idolize. Once you get behind it all, there’s not much going on and at the end, the answers all seem so obvious you’re wondering why it took so long to learn the clear-cut message. But hey, at least it’s got great music.

I give “Encanto” 2 stars out of 4 stars.

Marvel Studios Debuts Teaser Trailer & New Poster For “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness”

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Marvel Studios just debuted the teaser trailer and poster for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”—a thrilling ride through the Multiverse with Doctor Strange, his trusted friend Wong and Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. 

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” opens in Australian cinemas on May 5, 2022. Check out the trailer below: