Sundance is about two weeks away and the first major acquisition has already occurred. Fox Searchlight has picked up Noah Baumbach's “Mistress America” which is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 24 in Park City, Utah.  “America” is the second collaboration between Baumbach and Greta Gerwig after 2012's critically acclaimed dramedy “Frances Ha.” Once again the duo co-wrote the screenplay, Baumbach directed and Gerwig stars.  She's joined ths time around by newcomer Lola Kirke and a relatively unknown cast.  

According to Searchlight, “America” focuses on Tracy (LKirke) a college freshman who is not having the exciting or cosmopolitan life she expected attending school in New York City. Things turn upside down when Brooke (Gerwig), her soon to be stepsister, takes her under her wing and she is “seduced by Brooke's alluringly mad schemes.”

In a release from the mini-major, Searchlight Presidents Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley remarked, “Noah's distinct cinematic voice and keen sense of humor are an ideal fit for what we do at Searchlight.  We are thrilled to be working with Noah and Greta and couldn't be more excited to be taking their new collaboration to audiences.”

This is the second Baumbach feature to find a home over the past five months.  “While We're Young,” which stars Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Amanda Seyfried and Adam Driver, was picked up by A24 following rave reviews at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival last September.  “Young” is currently scheduled for a March 27 release.

Searchlight currently has set a generic “2015” release date for “America,” but considering “Young's” late March opening a mid-summer or early Fall opening seems most likely.  The studio also has the thriller “True Story,” starring James Franco and Jonah Hill, debuting out of competition at Sundance this year.

Look for complete coverage of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, including a review of “Mistress America,” from Jan 22-30 on HitFix.

Bradley Cooper wants “movie actor” to be one of many business cards he carries in his wallet. In 2014, he showed off that ambition, shepherding “American Sniper” to the big screen as a producer and jumping to Broadway after developing his take on “Elephant Man.” Now, as many Renaissance men and women do, he”s looking to direct, with the stars are aligning for his debut.

Deadline reports that Cooper is in talks to helm 'Honeymoon With Harry,' a movie he was slated to to star in alongside his “Limitless” costar Robert De Niro. The plan is still to star, pulling double duty on a script by Dan Fogelman (“Crazy Stupid Love”). 

According to an earlier report from Deadline, “Honeymoon with Harry” is a James L. Brooks-esque drama that Cooper has been eager to push through the pipeline. The story focuses on “a formerly self-centered womanizing booze-hound who changed his ways when he met a girl and fell in love. He”s loathed by the girl”s dad, who recognizes himself in the young man. They get engaged anyway. When she dies tragically just before their wedding, the devastated groom heads off on their honeymoon to drown his sorrows and drink himself to death. Who does he meet but his almost father-in-law, who has come to spread his daughter”s ashes on her favorite beach.” Evidently, both Cooper and De Niro performed a reading of the script back in 2010.

This isn”t the first time Cooper has expressed interest in behind-the-camera work. A few years back, Cooper”s name cropped up as a writer on a long-gestating adaptation of Dan Simmons” novel “Hyperion.” Our own Drew McWeeny spoke to the actor about the project, but in the years since, there”s been little public motion on the film.

Cooper is currently a contender for Best Actor for his work in “American Sniper,” after earning two Oscar nominations for previous work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.” He”s reportedly circling a number of projects for his directorial debut, though “Honeymoon with Harry” looks likely.

But before all that? Cooper is reuniting with the cast of “Wet Hot American Summer” for Netflix”s just-announced limited series. The revival starts shooting this week and it”s pretty much the greatest news ever. Bradley, direct whatever the hell you want. You earned it.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910370126001

After landing with authority and already weathering a significant storm of controversy, Ava DuVernay's “Selma” has arrived nationwide. The film did pretty well in limited release, amassing over $2 million at around 20 venues since its Christmas Day limited bow. Now, a week shy of the Martin Luther King holiday, it lights out for more territories.

I'm not sure what else we can say about it around here. We're fans. We talked to star David Oyelowo and DuVernay. We've noted its coming up short with guild honors, which can be explained away in part due to a lack of screener distribution. This morning's BAFTA announcement, meanwhile, isn't as problematic at first blush as you might expect: voting began way back on Dec. 10 and there hasn't been a major media presence for the film in the UK since it isn't coming out there until next month. No excuses, just perspective. I expect it to do alright with the Academy, but time will tell.

Enough about dollars and cents and awards, however. We're very curious to hear what you thought of the film. So when and if you make it out to the theater this weekend to take a look, head on back here with your thoughts. And remember to vote in our poll!

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4911486471001

The Academy announced Friday that next week's Oscar nominations announcement will be a “two-part presentation” and that for the first time ever, nominees all 24 Oscar categories will be announced live on television.

“Into the Woods” star Chris Pine has been tapped to join AMPAS President Cheryl Boone Isaacs to present nominations in 13 categories including a chunk of craft categories and Best Picture at 5:38am. Before that, however, “Gravity” helmer and last year's Oscar-winner for Best Director, Alfonso Cuarón, will join “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams for the special early announcement of 11 categories, including the other crafts fields, shorts, documentary and animated feature, at 5:30am.

I applaud this in general, because it's nice to shine a broad light on every crevice of work the Academy celebrates. It almost feels like one step closer to a prime time reveal of the categories that could be pitched for ad buys and such, a step I find it curious the organization hasn't taken yet. But obviously tethering the announcement to the director of this year's most anticipated film is all about getting some more eyeballs on the product.

The global live stream of the announcement will be available Thursday, Jan. 15 at Oscars.org/Live.

The Georgia Film Critics Association 2014 awards nominations were par for the course, sure-things with a sprinkle of outliers. Voting for the winners followed suit, with Jake Gyllenhaal, emerging as a likelier and likelier Oscar contender, taking Best Actor and “Snowpiercer” costar Tilda Swinton earning praise for her villainous caricature. 

Though he lost out in the Best Actor category, “Selma” star David Oyelowo still managed to take home an award, picking up a win the GFCA”s Breakthrough category.

See the full list of winners below:

Best Picture
“Boyhood”

Best Director
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Actor
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Best Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton, “Snowpiercer”

Best Ensemble
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Best Original Screenplay
“Nightcrawler,” Dan Gilroy

Best Adapated Screenplay
“Gone Girl,” Gillian Flynn

Best Cinematography
“Birdman,” Emmanuel Lubezki

Best Production Design
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock

Best Original Score
“Interstellar,” Hans Zimmer

Best Original Song
“Glory,” John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith

Best Foreign Film
“Ida”

Breakthrough Award
David Oyelowo (“Default,” “Interstellar,” “A Most Violent Year,” “Nightingale,” “Selma”)

Best Animated Film
“The LEGO Movie”

Best Documentary
“Life Itself”

The Berlin International Film Festival announced early Friday morning that “Nobody Wants the Night,” the most recent work by Spanish director Isabel Coixet, will open the festival as well as play in the international competition. Previous fest kick-offs included “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The Grandmaster.” We”re sure “Nobody Wants the Night” is quite grand in its own right, even if it doesn”t flaunt it in the title.

Based on true events, “Nobody Wants the Night” follows Josephine Peary (Academy Award-winner Juliette Binoche), a “mature, proud, determined and naive woman” living in Greenland circa 1909 and in love with celebrated Arctic adventurer Robert Peary (Gabriel Byrne), “a man who prefers glory and ice to the comforts of an upper-class home.” Another woman, the “young but wise, brave and humble” Allaka (Academy Award-nominated Rinko Kikuchi), is in love with the same man… and pregnant with his child. As Coixet”s own summary of the film explains, “the relentless icy landscape both separates and draws these two women together during the long, tense wait for the man they both love in such different ways.”

Filming took place in Bulgaria, Norway and Spain. A behind-the-scenes video hidden in the depths of YouTube reveals a snowy on-location shoot, some elaborate sets, and the cast and Coixet in action:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkdZOp8ocjU]

“I”m very pleased that Nobody Wants the Night will open the 2015 Berlinale,” Dieter Kosslick, director of the Berlinale, said in a statement. “Isabel Coixet has created an impressive and perceptive portrait of two women in extreme circumstances. It will also be the first film to be screened in Dolby Atmos in our Berlinale Palast.”

Coixet is a Berlin Film Festival veteran, with six of her films nabbing real estate in various sections of past programmes. Past Berlinale work includes “My Life Without Me” (2003) and “Elegy” (2008) in Competition. Coixet was also a member of the festival”s International Jury in 2009. The director has been in head-down machine mode as of late: Coixet”s film “Learning to Drive” premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, while her psychological thriller “Another Me” played in competition at the 2013 Rome Film Festival.

Binoche also arrives with past Berlinale cred. In 1993, she earned the festival”s honorary Berlinale Camera award. In 1997, “The English Patient” won the Silver Berlin Bear at the fest. Her other Berlinale entires include John Boorman's “In My Country,” “Chocolat,” and “Camille Claudel 1915”

The 65th Berlinale will run from Feb. 5-15, 2015.

The most important thing to consider when looking at the 2015 BAFTA Awards nominations is that the voting process is actually (mostly) the opposite of the Academy Awards.  For the Best Film and acting categories, the entire membership can vote on the nominations and winners. Other honors, such as Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Director, Editing, Make-Up & Hair, Original Music, Production Design, Sound, and Special Visual Effects, are determined completely by their respective branches. That means, for the most part, that the BAFTA nominations are a reflection of broad support in the top five races. Keep that in mind.

The Oscars, on the other hand, are determined by branches first except for Best Picture. The final awards are then voted on by the entire membership except for a select number of categories. The BAFTAs are important because many see them as more in line with how the Academy membership votes than some of the large guilds like SAG (not that the acting powerhouse isn't important). Taking all that into account, this morning's BAFTA announcement featured a number of surprises that could also be reflected in Thursday's Oscar nominations.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” was always going to do well, but dominate?
Wes Anderson's critical and box office hit not only led the field with 11 nominations, but earned key Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and, in a major surprise, Best Actor honors for Ralph Fiennes. It's unlikely that Fiennes repeats his BAFTA nod with an Oscar one, but Editing (a branch vote) was the most telling. The Scott Rudin production could also land the most Oscar nods next week and an Anderson nod for Best Director isn't out of the question either.

Steve Carell falls to Supporting Actor
Speaking to an Oscar consultant right after the nominations were revealed, this was the first thing they noticed. Sony Classics' campaign for Carell has purposely been in lead and he earned a SAG nod in the equivalent category. Surprisingly, the BAFTA membership decided on their own that it was supporting. The Academy has also been known to put actors in categories their studios didn't prefer. Most notably, Kate Winslet in lead actress for “The Reader” in 2009. Could this be a sign of things to come?

“Nightcrawler's” support isn't a mirage
The Dan Gilroy drama earned four nominations including Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Original Screenplay, Editing and, the big one, Supporting Actress for Rene Russo. Don't be surprised if the stealth Oscar candidate knocks out an expected nominee on Thursday morning.

“Selma's” snub isn't a joke
Everyone who has seen “Selma” from critic to moviegoers generally feels it's a major Oscar player. Unfortunately, this is now the third time a major organization has snubbed Ava DuVernay's drama following the SAG Awards in December and the PGA last week. Those organizations didn't receive screeners for “Selma,” but considering the number of key British talent involved, including stars David Oyelowo and Tom Wilkinson, it's a huge red flag for Paramount and the film's producers.

No Director nomination for “The Imitation Game”
“The Imitation Game” earned nine nominations, which put it just behind “Grand Budapest” (11), “Birdman” and “The Theory of Everything” (10 each). However, the fact that director Morten Tyldum didn't earn a nomination is curious. Considering that many expect the film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, the fact that he lost out to James Marsh (“Theory”), Wes Anderson (“Grand Budapest”) and newcomer Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”) is telling. If Tyldum comes up short with the DGA nods on Tuesday and without an Oscar nomination on Thursday, it will be hard to see “Imitation” pulling off an “Argo”-like upset to win it all.

Amy Adams might just be a red herring… or not
With word that Jennifer Aniston's performance in “Cake” didn't qualify for this year's nominations, many assumed Marion Cotillard would fill the fifth slot for her work in either “The Immigrant” or “Two Days, One Night” (a Foreign Language Film nominee). Instead, the “Big Eyes” star surprised to fill out the field. Tim Burton's biopic has received mostly mixed reviews, but perhaps it plays better on screener than anyone thought? Maybe it's Aniston who is really the Best Actress red herring…

“Mr. Turner” comes up almost empty
One of the biggest surprises was that “Mr. Turner's” four nominations were all in the below the line categories of Make Up & Hair, Cinematography, Production Design and Costume Design. Forget Mike Leigh or Timothy Spall being overlooked, the movie didn't even make the cut for Best British Film. Yikes.

“Pride” and “Paddington” find some local love
The critically acclaimed civil rights dramedy “Pride” didn't succeed at the box office stateside, but it was a comparable hit in the UK and BAFTA didn't forget, awarding it with three nods including Best British Film and a Supporting Actress nomination for Imelda Staunton. “Paddington,” on the other hand, has been a smash overseas taking in $47 million in the UK alone (comparably, “Interstellar” has earned just $31 million). The movie is also pretty much beloved by anyone who sees it and that affection led to two nods, Best British Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Other notable observations:

– “How To Train Your Dragon 2” didn't make the Animated Film cut while “Big Hero 6,” which hasn't even been released in the UK yet, did. Ouch.

– “Birdman,” “Boyhood” and “The Theory of Everything” pretty much earned what everyone expected them to. No bump in the road to Oscar here.

– “American Sniper's” Adapted Screenplay nomination is another sign a similar recognition is coming from the Academy.

– “Big Eyes” earned a Production Design nod over expected nominee “Into the Woods.” 

– Even with a largely British cast, “Unbroken” was completely snubbed.

What did you think of this year's BAFTA nominations, share your thoughts below.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the nominees for the 2015 BAFTA Awards early Friday morning. 

For complete analysis of this year's nominations and what they could mean for the upcoming Oscar nods click here.

The complete list of this year's BAFTA Awards nominees is as follows:

BEST FILM
“Birdman,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole
“Boyhood,” Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
“The Imitation Game,” Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman
“The Theory of Everything,” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
“”71,” Yann Demange, Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Gregory Burke
“The Imitation Game,” Morten Tyldum, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman, Graham Moore
“Paddington,” Paul King, David Heyman
“Pride,” Matthew Warchus, David Livingstone, Stephen Beresford
“The Theory of Everything,” James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten
“Under the Skin,” Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Nick Wechsler, Walter Campbell

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Elaine Constantine (Writer/Director), “Northern Soul”
Gregory Burke (Writer), Yann Demange (Director), “”71”
Hong Khaou (Writer/Director), “Lilting”
Paul Katis (Director/Producer), Andrew de Lotbinere (Producer), “Kajaki: The True Story”
Stephen Beresford (Writer), David Livingstone (Producer), “Pride”

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
“Ida,” Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska
“Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov
“The Lunchbox,” Ritesh Batra, Arun Rangachari, Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga
“Trash,” Stephen Daldry, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kris Thykier
“Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd

DOCUMENTARY
“20 Feet from Stardom,” Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Gil Friesen
“20,000 Days on Earth,” Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
“CITIZENFOUR,” Laura Poitras
“Finding Vivian Maier,” John Maloof, Charlie Siskel
“Virunga,” Orlando von Einsiedel, Joanna Natasegara

ANIMATED FILM
“Big Hero 6,” Don Hall, Chris Williams
“The Boxtrolls,” Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable
“The LEGO Movie,” Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

DIRECTOR
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
James Marsh, “The Theory of Everything”
Damien Chazelle, “Whiplash”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Birdman,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo
“Boyhood,” Richard Linklater
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wes Anderson
“Nightcrawler,” Dan Gilroy
“Whiplash,” Damien Chazelle

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“American Sniper,” Jason Hall
“Gone Girl,” Gillian Flynn
“The Imitation Game,” Graham Moore
“Paddington,” Paul King
“The Theory of Everything,” Anthony McCarten

LEADING ACTOR
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Ralph Fiennes, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

 LEADING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Big Eyes”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Steve Carrell, “Foxcatcher”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Imelda Staunton, “Pride”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Rene Russo, “Nightcrawler”

ORIGINAL MUSIC
“Birdman,” Antonio Sanchez
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Alexandre Desplat
“Interstellar,” Hans Zimmer
“The Theory of Everything,” Jóhann Jóhannsson
“Under the Skin,” Mica Levi

CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Birdman,” Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Robert Yeoman
“Ida,” Lukasz Zal, Ryzsard Lenczewski
“Interstellar,” Hoyte van Hoytema
“Mr. Turner,” Dick Pope

EDITING
Due to a tie in voting in this category, there are six nominations
“Birdman,” Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Barney Pilling
“The Imitation Game,” William Goldenberg
“Nightcrawler,” John Gilroy
“The Theory of Everything,” Jinx Godfrey
“Whiplash,” Tom Cross

PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Big Eyes,” Rick Heinrichs, Shane Vieau
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock
“The Imitation Game,” Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald
“Interstellar,” Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis
“Mr. Turner,” Suzie Davies, Charlotte Watts 

COSTUME DESIGN
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Milena Canonero
“The Imitation Game,” Sammy Sheldon Differ
“Into the Woods,” Colleen Atwood
“Mr. Turner,” Jacqueline Durran
“The Theory of Everything,” Steven Noble
 
MAKE UP & HAIR
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Frances Hannon
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White
“Into the Woods,” Peter Swords King, J. Roy Helland
“Mr. Turner,” Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener
“The Theory of Everything,” Jan Sewell

SOUND
“American Sniper,” Walt Martin, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman
“Birdman,” Thomas Varga, Martin Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak
“The Imitation Game,” John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen
“Whiplash,” Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, Daniel Barrett
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Nicolas Aithadi
“The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies,” Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White
“Interstellar,” Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley
“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Tim Crosbie, Cameron Waldbauer
 
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
“The Bigger Picture,” Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka
“Monkey Love Experiments,” Ainslie Henderson, Cam Fraser, Will Anderson
“My Dad,” Marcus Armitage

BRITISH SHORT FILM
“Boogaloo and Graham,” Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney
“Emotional Fusebox,” Michael Berliner, Rachel Tunnard
“The Karaman Line,” Campbell Beaton, Dawn King, Tiernan Hanby, Oscar Sharp
“Slap,” Islay Bell-Webb, Michelangelo Fano, Nick Rowland
“Three Brothers,” Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier, Stephanie Paeplow

THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Jack O'Connell
Margot Robbie
Miles Teller
Shailene Woodley

The 2015 BAFTA Awards will be handed out on Sunday, Feb. 8. Look for complete coverage on HitFix leading up to and during the show.

With 10 mentions, “Birdman” was far and away the top nominations hog with the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, but there were some twists along the way, too. “Only Lovers Left Alive” was popular with the group, while the female focus and special categories serve as a nice opportunity to shake things up.

Check out the full list of nominees below and the rest of the fun at The Circuit.

Best Film
“Birdman”
“Boyhood”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Only Lovers Left Alive”
“Selma”

Best Director
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Ava DuVernay, “Selma”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Jim Jarmusch, “Only Lovers Left Alive”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Actor
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”

Best Supporting Actor
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
J. K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Tilda Swinton, “Snowpiercer”

Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Inherent Vice”
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Nick Hornby and Cheryl Strayed, “Wild”

Best Original Screenplay
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Armando Bo, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, “Birdman”
Dick Pope, “Mr. Turner”
Hoyte van Hoytema, “Interstellar”

Best Editing
Sandra Adair, “Boyhood”
Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione, “Birdman”
Tom Cross, “Whiplash”

Best Film Music or Score
Alexandre Desplat, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “Gone Girl”
Antonio Sanchez, “Birdman”

Best Ensemble Cast (to casting director)
“Birdman”
“Boyhood”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Best Animated Film
“Big Hero 6”
“The LEGO Movie”
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”

Best Documentary
“CITIZENFOUR”
“Jodorowsky”s Dune”
“Life Itself”

Best Non-English Language Film
“Force Majeure”
“Ida”
“Two Days, One Night”

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director
Ava DuVernay, “Selma”
Jennifer Kent, “The Babadook”
Laura Poitras, “CITIZENFOUR”

Best Woman Screenwriter
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Jennifer Kent, “The Babadook”
Gillian Robespierre, “Obvious Child”

Best Breakthrough Performance
Essie Davis, “The Babadook”
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, “Belle”
Jenny Slate, “Obvious Child”

Best Female Action Star
Emily Blunt, “Edge of Tomorrow”
Scarlett Johansson, “Lucy”
Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”

Female Icon of the Year
Ava DuVernay
Angelina Jolie
Laura Poitras

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

Actress Defying Age and Ageism
Julianne Moore
Meryl Streep
Tilda Swinton

Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality or Seduction
Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris and Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, “Only Lovers Left Alive”
Scarlett Johansson, “Under the Skin”

Movie You Wanted to Love, but Just Couldn”t
“Foxcatcher”
“Inherent Vice”
“Unbroken”

Actress Most in Need of a New Agent
Jennifer Aniston, “Horrible Bosses 2”
Cameron Diaz, “Sex Tape”
Melissa McCarthy, “Tammy”

After “Birdman” led the Central Ohio Film Critics Association's list of nominees, it was “Selma” that proved the most popular effort of the bunch. The film won five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Whiplash,” meanwhile, each won a pair of honors.

Check out the nominees here, the full list of winners below and a whole lot more at The Circuit.

Best Film
“Selma”

Top 10
1. “Selma”
2. “Whiplash”
3. “Snowpiercer”
4. “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
5. “Nightcrawler”
6. “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
7. “The Imitation Game”
8. “Boyhood”
9. “A Most Violent Year”
10. “Gone Girl”

Best Director
Ava DuVernay, “Selma” (Runner-up: Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”)

Best Actor
David Oyelowo, “Selma” (Runners-up: Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler” and Michael Keaton, “Birdman”)

Best Actress
Essie Davis, “The Babadook” (Runner-up: Scarlett Johansson, “Under the Skin”)

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash” (Runners-up: Josh Brolin, “Inherent Vice” and Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”)

Best Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton, “Snowpiercer” (Runner-up: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Graham Moore, “The Imitation Game” (Runner-up: Bong Joonho and Kelly Masterson, “Snowpiercer”)

Best Original Screenplay
Paul Webb, “Selma” (Runner-up: Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”)

Best Cinematography
Robert Yeoman, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Runner-up: Daniel Landin, “Under the Skin”)

Best Film Editing
Tom Cross, “Whiplash” (Runner-up: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione, “Birdman”)

Best Score
Alexandre Desplat, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Runner-up: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “Gone Girl”)

Best Documentary
“Finding Vivian Maier” (Runner-up: “CITIZENFOUR”)

Best Foreign Language Film
“We Are the Best!” (Runner-up: “Ida”)

Best Animated Film
“The LEGO Movie” (Runner-up: “Big Hero 6”)

Best Ensemble
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Runners-up “Birdman” and “Foxcatcher”)

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Enemy” and “Nightcrawler” (Runner-up: Tilda Swinton, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Only Lovers Left Alive,” “Snowpiercer” and “The Zero Theorem”)

Breakthrough Film Artist
Ava DuVernay, “Selma” [for directing] (Runner-up: Jennifer Kent, “The Babadook” [for directing and screenwriting])

Best Overlooked Film
“The Babadook” (Runner-up: “Edge of Tomorrow”)

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910322978001

There will be a ton of superstars in the audience of the Beverly Hilton for the Golden Globes on Sunday, but you won't see a lot of them taking home any hardware. In fact, most of them are presenting or expected to go home empty handed. This year's frontrunners will likely end up making the HFPA look classier than their sometimes eyebrow-raising picks in previous years. The problem for NBC is that most of them aren't “buzzworthy” movie or TV stars. Luckily, however, the Globes still have Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on board for one last hosting gig, and you never know what's going to happen once the alcohol starts flowing.

Of course, this is the group that picked “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” as Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical and Jacqueline Bisset for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Telvision last year, and Madonna's “Masterpiece” as Best Original Song – Motion Picture three years ago. For every two or three steps the HFPA takes forward, they still manage to take one back in a category or two (especially on the TV side). Still, the unspoken mantra of the group remains “pick the winners we're expected to pick,” so when there is a close call (especially on the movie side), they are likely voting for what they think everyone wants them to vote for.

There is still a lot of drama ready to unfold at the Beverly Hilton, however. Will Amy Adams win in the same category two years in a row? Can “Selma” come out of nowhere to surprise for Best Motion Picture – Drama? Is Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical really “Birdman's” to loose or will the HFPA succumb to the box office success of “Into the Woods?” Will the HFPA end up snubbing both “Orange is the New Black” and “Transparent?” We'll find out Sunday night.

In the meantime, check out our insider predictions of who will win what at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in the embedded story gallery below.

Agree? Disagree? Think there's an upset out there? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910322978001

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has a long history of dubious categorizations when it comes to their “comedy or musical” categories. There are really two examples: dramedies that straddle the line enough that placing them in the comedy category makes sense to enough people and dramas about musicians that happen to narratively feature live performances, so they become “musicals.”

Well, actually there's a rare third category, which are the handful of designations that objectively seem outrageous. Thankfully they're few and far between.

It's a double edged sword, though. On one hand, these placements can sometimes make room for deserving contenders that can't otherwise break through in the drama fields. On the other, often there are films that have no business in the race but end up slurping up slots that ought to go to fantastic comedies on the fringe.

It's a time-honored tradition to complain about these choices. However, the good news is the HFPA seems to be making an internal concerted effort to clean up its image where stuff like this and being shills, etc., is concerned. We'll see.

For now, click through the gallery below for 12 examples of dubious comedy/musical categorizations. I'm sure you have your own ideas, too, so offer them up in the comments section.

And be sure to watch the drunken speeches at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4911571952001

LOS ANGELES – With the deadline for voting looming and with phase two of the Oscar season – where Academy-targeted events have been disallowed – on the horizon, the “Boyhood” crew celebrated the film's DVD/Blu-ray release Wednesday night at a swanky Chateau Marmont soiree.

Richard Linklater, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Ellar Coltrane, among others, worked the room at the outdoor party – which was hosted by Diane Keaton, Frank Marshall, Jack Black, Julie Delpy, Jon Hamm and Sean Daniel – over a four-hour stretch. Champagne flowed, smoked salmon was passed around on little cucumber slices, the usual, as a bevy of rank-and-file Academy members mingled about. And it's a nice bit of timing. With Oscar campaign hands being tied for phase two as noted, an event like this is about as close to the cut-off as you can get. Today is the last day of voting for nominations.

I ended up finding an empty table and just posting up to observe at some point. Hawke eventually came around and took a seat, knackered from all the press and campaign stops (he had just come back from New York's National Board of Review gala Tuesday). He also has “Predestination” releasing imminently and he's coming off a full year of Chekhov, Brecht and Shakespeare on stage, though he's eager to find the time for another theater stint. The guy is restless.

Naturally, the question on everyone's lips at the party was, “Can 'Boyhood' pull off a Best Picture win?” It's one that's been in the ether since the film's June release. I went from doubting the film's chances at getting nominated to thinking it could take the whole enchilada in the space of a week. It became de rigueur to stump for its little-engine-that-could prospects not long after, and now, most would call it the frontrunner.

An IFC Films release being the frontrunner to win Best Picture at the Oscars. That in and of itself is fascinating and heartwarming (even if, if you're asking me, my bet is “The Imitation Game” pulls it out). It's a fabulous culmination for Linklater, and an interesting case study in how an artist like that gets locked into a certain perspective by the gradual build. Would “Boyhood” be in such a dominant awards position if not for “Bernie” bringing the director back into the circuit fold and “Before Midnight” adding tons of fuel to the fire? I have no doubt it would have been the critically acclaimed and laureled film it is, but it's just interesting to note, again, timing.

And it is time, by the way. “Birdman” may be my favorite film of the year, but you'll have no complaints from me seeing Richard Linklater clutching a Best Director Oscar, which I believe is his destiny with this film. Modern American cinema owes a lot to this guy and the artists he's inspired, I have no doubt they will be key to the creative infrastructure of this business for years to come.

“Boyhood” is now available on DVD/Blu-ray.

The Sundance Film Festival announced today that it will hold a series of panels titled the “Art of Film Weekend” which will take place Jan. 29-31. This new initiative should create more buzz worthy moments during a period when the Festival is traditionally winding down. The slate will kick off with a conversation between Festival founder Robert Redford and George Lucas that will be streamed online at Sundance.org.

In a release, Festival Director John Cooper noted, “Exploring cinema, body and soul, Art of Film Weekend will take aspiring filmmakers and film-loving audiences behind the scenes to see the creative, collaborative spirit of artists at every stage of the independent filmmaking process that is so core to our Festival.”

A full rundown of the panels are as follows:

Power of Story: Visions of Independence – Kicking off Art of Film Weekend, join Robert Redford and George Lucas-two iconic filmmakers who epitomize the spirit of independence in American cinema-in conversation with critic Leonard Maltin. Distinctive as storytellers, their pioneering visions have also yielded innovative enterprises and institutions that cultivate creativity and imagination, advance technology, and push the realm of possibility. This will be live streamed on sundance.org.

Art of the Score: A Performance and Discussion with Harry Gregson-Williams – We explore the artists” approach to film music with renowned composer Harry Gregson-Williams (the Shrek series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Town, Man on Fire, Kingdom of Heaven, Spy Game and Blackhat), who shares his creative process from that first spark of a musical conception through the delivery of a final score. With film excerpts and a live performance, including electric violinist Hugh Marsh, we explore the indispensable role music plays in cinema.

A New Language in Filmmaking: Virtual Reality – Over a century has passed since the advent of film, allowing filmmakers to continuously hone, craft, and form the language of cinema, as well as pass those teachings on to a new crop of filmmakers. Virtual reality, on the other hand, has only recently emerged, and with it, a completely new language and approach to storytelling. Learn from the top directors working in this medium as they take you through their journey of failure and success in virtual reality storytelling. Join Chris Milk (director, An Evolution of Verse, Sound and Vision, Wilderness Downtown), Rose Troche (director, Perspective, The L Word), Saschka Unseld (director, The Blue Umbrella, story consultant to Oculus), and Glen Keane (animator, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Duet).

Design Inspiration – Where does the visual design of a film begin, and how does it contribute to the overall art of cinematic storytelling? Through an illuminating conversation that integrates handpicked visual and filmic references, discover the creative processes of three talented individuals (and frequent collaborators of Spike Jonze) known for their stunning artistic sensibilities: cinematographer Lance Acord (God”s Pocket, Where the Wild Things Are, Lost in Translation); production designer K.K. Barrett (Her, Human Nature, Marie Antoinette, Being John Malkovich); and costume designer Casey Storm (Her, Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation).

Cutting Class: An Editor”s Guide to Storytelling – Spend an unforgettable afternoon with award-winning editor Sarah Flack (The Limey, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette) as she leads an in-depth session about her editing process, examining everything from the construction and evolution of scenes to the nuances of storytelling from an editor”s perspective. Flack will shed light on the unique relationship between director and editor, referencing her collaborations with Sofia Coppola, Sam Mendes, and Steven Soderbergh.

The Doc Art Mix Tape – Perhaps more than any other cinema form, documentary is all too often discussed more in terms of content rather than its craft. But through its artful construction, distinctive storytelling styles, memorable characters, and groundbreaking aesthetics, non-fiction film has given us remarkable and lasting cinematic moments. Join us for a personal journey through documentary guided by Sam Green (The Weather Underground, Utopia in Four Movements) and Ross McElwee (Sherman”s March, Time Indefinite, Bright Leaves), who unearth the rare and special moments that illustrate the remarkable range of the form.

For more information on the panels and to buy tickets, visit sundance.org/festival.

This is the second year for the Makeup and Hairstylists Guild joining the awards game, and they've been a welcome addition to the circuit. They spread their nods thin across a number of categories, but it's a good window into what this branch digs, for sure.

This year, the only two films on the Academy's bake-off list of finalists that didn't garner any recognition were “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and “Noah.” Meaning “Foxcatcher,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Maleficent” and “The Theory of Everything” were each represented in one form or another.

Meanwhile, “Guardians of the Galaxy” led with the most mentions at three, while “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Interstellar” and “Into the Woods” each got a pair.

As previously announced, Oscar-winning make-up artist Rick Baker and Emmy-nominated hair stylist Kathryn Blondell will receive the Guild's Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Check out the full list of nominees below, and remember to follow along at The Circuit.

Winners will be announced at the 2015 Makeup and Hairstylists Guild Awards will be held on Feb. 15.

FEATURE LENGTH MOTION PICTURE (FEATURE FILMS)

Best Contemporary Makeup

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
Make-Up Artists: Allan Apone, Nicole Sortillon and Lisa Rocco (Petition)

“Gone Girl”
Make-Up Artists: Kate Biscoe and Gigi Williams

“Guardians of the Galaxy”
Make-Up Artist: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou

“Interstellar”
Make-Up Artists: Luisa Abel and Jay Wejebe

“Nightcrawler”
Make-Up Artists: Donald Mowat and Malanie Romero

Best Period and/or Character Makeup

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Make-Up Artists: Ve Neill, Nikoletta Skarlatos and Conor McCullagh (Petition)

“Into the Woods”
Make-Up Artist: Peter Swords King

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Make-Up Artists: Frances Hannon and Julie Dartnell

“The Theory of Everything”
Make-Up Artists: Jan Sewell and Lesley Smith

“Unbroken”
Make-Up Artists: Toni G. and Nik Dorning

Best Special Effects Makeup

“Foxcatcher”
Make-Up Artists: Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard

“Guardians of the Galaxy”
Make-Up Artist: David White

“Into the Woods” (Meryl Streep Witch Prosthetics)
Make-Up Artists: J. Roy Helland (Personal) and Matthew Smith (Prosthetics)

“Maleficent”
Make-Up Artists: Rick Baker, Toni G. and Arjen Tuiten (Petition)

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
Make-Up Artist: Gino Acevedos

Best Contemporary Hairstyling

“Birdman”
Hair Stylists: Jerry Popolis and Kat Drazen

“Guardians of the Galaxy”
Hair Stylist: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou

“Interstellar”
Hair Stylists: Patricia Dehaney and Jose L. Zamora

“St. Vincent”
Hair Stylist: Suzy Mazzarese-Allison

“Winter's Tale”
Hair Stylists: Alan D'Angerio and Jasen Sica

Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling

“Get on Up”
Hair Stylists: Carla Farmer and Shannon Bakeman

“Into the Woods”
Hair Stylists: Peter Swords King and J. Roy Helland

“Selma”
Hair Stylists: Melissa Forney and Pierce Austin

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Hair Stylists: Frances Hannon and Julie Dartnell

“The Theory of Everything”
Hair Stylists: Jan Sewell and Agnes Legere

(TV awards on the next page.)

TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA SERIES

Best Contemporary Makeup (TIE)

“Dancing with the Stars”
Make-Up Artists: Zena Shteysel, Angela Moos and Patti Ramsey Bortoli (Petition)

“House of Cards”
Make-Up Artists: Tricia Sawyer and Vasilios Tanis

“Orange is the New Black”
Make-Up Artists: Michal Bigger and Karen Reuter

“Sons of Anarchy”
Make-Up Artists: Tracey Anderson, Michelle Garbin and Sabine Roller Taylor (Petition)

“True Detective”
Make-Up Artists: Felicity Bowring and Linda Dowds

“The Walking Dead”
Make-Up Artists: Essie Cha, Mayumi Murakami and Chauntelle Langston (Petition)

Best Period and/or Character Makeup

“Boardwalk Empire”
Make-Up Artists: Michele Paris and Joe Farulla

“Downton Abbey”
Make-Up Artists: Magi Vaughan and Erika Ökvist

“Key & Peele”
Make-Up Artists: Scott Wheeler and Suzanne Diaz

“Mad Men”
Make-Up Artists: Lana Horochowski and Ron Pipes

“Masters of Sex – Season 2”
Make-Up Artist: Jean A. Black

Best Special Makeup Effects

“Boardwalk Empire”
Make-Up Artists: Michele Paris and Joe Farulla

“Grimm”
Make-Up Artists: Barney Burman and Michael Smithson

“Sleepy Hollow”
Make-Up Artists: Leo Corey Castellano and Mark Nieman

“Sons of Anarchy”
Make-Up Artists: Tracey Anderson, Carlton Coleman and Margie Kaklamanos (Petition)

“The Walking Dead”
Make-Up Artists: Greg Nicotero and Jake Garber

Best Contemporary Hairstyling

“Dancing with the Stars”
Hair Stylists: Mary Guerrero, Kimi Messina and Jennifer Guerrero-Mazursky (Petition)

“House of Cards”
Hair Stylists: Sean Flanigan and Shunika Terry

“Orange is the New Black”
Hair Stylists: Angel De Angelis and Valerie Velez

“Pretty Little Liars”
Hair Stylists: Kim M. Ferry and Shari Perry

“The Voice”
Hair Stylists: Shawn Finch, Jerilynn Stephens and Cheryl Marks (Petition)

Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling

“Downton Abbey”
Hair Stylists: Magi Vaughan and Adam James Phillips

“Key & Peele”
Hair Stylists: Amanda Mofield and Raissa Patton

“Mad Men”
Hair Stylists: Theraesa Rivers and Arturo Rojas

“Masters of Sex – Season 2”
Hair Stylists: Kathrine Gordon, Darlene Brumfield and Candy Neal (Petition)

“True Detective”
Hair Stylists: Anne Morgan, Rita Parillo and Melizah Anguiano

TELEVISION MINI-SERIES or MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION (M.O.W)

Best Contemporary Makeup

“Fargo”
Make-Up Artists: Gail Kennedy and Joanne Preece

“Reckless”
Make-Up Artists: Jeanne Van Phue, Gigi Collins and Ashleigh Chavis (Petition)

“Sherlock”
Make-Up Artists: Claire Pritchard-Jones and Sarah Astley-Hughes

Best Period and/or Character Makeup

“American Horror Story: Freak Show”
Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash and Kim Ayers

“Fargo”
Make-Up Artists: Chris Glimsdale and Keith Sayer

“Houdini”
Make-Up Artist: Gregor Eckstein

“Olive Kitteridge”
Make-Up Artists: Christien Tinsley, Gerald Quist and Liz Bernstrom (Petition)

“The Normal Heart”
Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash and Sherri Laurence

Best Special Makeup Effects

“American Horror Story: Freak Show”
Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash, Michael Mekash and Christopher Nelson (Petition)

“Fargo”
Make-Up Artists: Gail Kennedy, David Trainor and Gunther Schetterer (Petition)

“Houdini”
Make-Up Artist: Gregor Eckstein

“Olive Kitteridge”
Make-Up Artists: Christien Tinsley, Gerald Quist and Hiroshi Yada (Petition)

“The Knick”
Make-Up Artist: Justin Raleigh

Best Contemporary Hairstyling

“Fargo”
Hair Stylists: Gail Kennedy and Joanne Preece

“Reckless”
Hair Stylists: Jeanne Van Phue and Gigi Collins

“Sherlock”
Hair Stylists: Claire Pritchard-Jones and Sarah Astley-Hughes

Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling

“American Horror Story: Freak Show”
Hair Stylists: Monte C. Haught and Michelle Ceglia

“Houdini”
Hair Stylist: Gregor Eckstein

“Olive Kitteridge”
Hair Stylist: Cydney Cornell

“The Knick”
Hair Stylists: Jerry Decarlo and Rose Chatterton

“The Normal Heart”
Hair Stylists: Chris Clark and Joe Whitmeyer

COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS

Best Makeup

2015 Audi A8
Make-Up Artists: Deborah Rutherford and Don Rutherford

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” Promo
Make-Up Artist: Kerry Herta

DIRECTV
Make-Up Artists: Scott Stoddard and Michael Ornelaz

“Handy” by 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Makeup Artist: Sean James Cummins

“One Direction”
Make-Up Artists: David Abbott and Shawn Blair

Best Hairstylist

Dodge Commercial
Hair Stylists: Judd Minter and Connie Kallos

Progressive Commercial
Hair Stylist: Dian Bethune Coble

THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (LIVE STAGE)

Best Makeup

“Così fan tutte”
Make-Up Artists: Vanessa Dionne, Rheanne Garcia and Mario Duran (Petition)

“Kinky Boots”
Make-Up Artist: Sarah B. Wolfe

“La traviata”
Make-Up Artists: Darren K. Jinks and Brandi Strona

Best Hairstyling

“Così fan tutte”
Hair Stylists: Vanessa Dionne, Cassandra Russek and Rheanne Garcia (Petition)

“La traviata”
Hair Stylists: Darren K. Jinks and Linda Cardenas

“Motown The Musical,” National Tour
Hair Stylist: Brandon Bolton

“Madama Butterfly”
Hair Stylist: Gerd M. Mairandres

“Show Boat”
Hair Stylist: Gerd M. Mairandres

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910294022001

A self-acknowledged “showcase for Academy Award frontrunners,” the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is often overlooked for the actual films that earn it festival status. An amalgamation of international discoveries and “merica”s circuit highlights, the SBIFF curates a week of best-of-the-best to pair with their star-praising. The 2015 edition offers another expansive selection, bookended by two films that aren”t on any radars just yet.

SBIFF will open with “Desert Dancer,” producer Richard Raymond”s directorial debut. Starring Reece Ritchie and Frieda Pinto, the drama follows a group of friends who wave off the harsh political climate of Iran”s 2009 presidential election in favor of forming a dance team, picking up moves from Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev thanks to the magic of YouTube.

The festival will close with “McFarland, USA,” starring  Kevin Costner and Maria Bello. Telling the 1987 true story of a Latino high school”s underdog cross-country team, “McFarland” is the latest film from “Whale Rider” director Niki Caro. Is it possible to have enough inspirational sports movies that make even the jockiest men shed a tear? No.

Other SBIFF world premieres include comedian Matt Walsh”s improvised film “A Better You,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall”s documentary “Generosity of Eye,” and “Uncanny,” an A.I. sci-fi starring Mark Webber, Lucy Griffiths, David Clayton Rogers, and Rainn Wilson.

As is tradition, SBIFF”s programmed films are joined by a number of tributes. Joining the previously announced Virtuosos Awards, Montecito Award, and Modern Master Award are a new series of accolades inspired by Variety”s Artisans series. the Artisans Awards will go to Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, “Gone Girl”  (Score), Dion Beeb, “Into the Woods” (Cinematography), Sandra Adair, “Boyhood” (Editing), Bill Corso & Kathrine Gordon, “Foxcatcher” (Hair & Makeup), Suzie Davies, “Mr. Turner” (Production Design), Sean Patterson/ Tegan & Sara, “Everything is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie” (Song), Richard King & Mark Weingarten, “Interstellar” (Sound Mixing & Editing), Joe Letteri, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” & “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies” (VFX).

Check out the full list of announced films on the next page.

WORLD PREMIERES 

“A Better You,” USA
Directed by Matt Walsh
Cast: Brian Huskey, Morgan Walsh, Horatio Sanz, Andrew Daly, Rob Huebel, and Matt Walsh
A self-published hypnotherapist with a bad toupee is on the verge of losing his family and career when he realizes he must fix his own life before helping others.

“Banana,” Italy
Directed by Andrea Jublin
Featuring: Ascanio Balbo, Anna Bonaiuto, and Giorgio Colangeli 
An Italian comedy about a naïve, but charming young boy who goes to great lengths to win a girl's love.

“Breach,” USA
Directed by Jonny Zwick
This chilling documentary explores the illegal and unethical practices by Iceland's whaling industry, including the hunting of the endangered finback whale. 

“Caffeinated,” USA
Directed by Hanh Nguyen and Vishal Solanki
Featuring: Doug Welsh, Geoff Watts, Peter Giuliano, and Sunalini Menon 
While exploring the people and the passion that drive the coffee industry, this energizing documentary tells the story of coffee from the moment the coffee cherry is picked to the moment the alluring aroma permeates the air. 

“Day Release (Tercer Grado),” Spain
Directed by Geoffrey Cowper
Cast: Jesús Lloveras, Sara Casasnovas, Frank Feys, Miko Jarry, Javier Beltran, and Ferran Lahoz
Setting out to make peace with his estranged brother, a man on his first day of parole witnesses the armed robbery of a security van. 

“Energizing Our World,” Costa Rica/Netherlands/Spain/USA
Directed by Susan Sember
This dynamic documentary engages audiences on a global platform  highlighting  environmental, architectural, water, energy and agricultural issues and exploring solutions.

“Eila, Rampe and Baby Girl (Eila, Rampe Ja Likka),” Finland 
Directed by Taru Mäkelä
Cast: Heidi Herala, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Emmi Parviainen, and Riku Niemine
In this zany comedy, a poet becomes overwhelmed by the antics of her eccentric parents and tiresome boyfriend as she becomes attracted to the translator of her poems.

“Fair Chase,” USA
Directed by Alex Cullen and Emma Tammi
Top distance runners from around the world team up to test the evolutionary theory that running was the first human weapon, key to our species survival.

“Far From Home,” USA/Argentina/Canada/Italy/Uganda
Directed by Galen Knowles
Featuring: Brolin Mawejje, Rob Kingwill, and Travis Rice    
Brolin Mawejje, a native Ugandan who moved to the United States at age 11, wants to make history in the 2018 Winter Olympics as the first snowboarder to represent an African country. 

“Generosity of Eye,” USA
Directed by Brad Hall 
Featuring: Geoffrey Canada, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and William Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus discovers how her father connected his love of art and his passion for justice in a single act of generosity.

“Heartworn Highways Revisited,” USA
Directed by Wayne Price    
Directly inspired by HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS (1976), this documentary captures a new community of folk singer-songwriters whose work is heavily influenced by the artists represented in the original film. 

“It”s a Wild Life,” USA
Directed by Kennan Ward
Featuring: Feynner Arias
This picturesque snapshot of the Northern California coast captures the beauty of Big Sur through its magnificent wildlife and the stories of a long-term caretaker of the land.

“Jean-Michel Cousteau”s Secret Ocean 3D,” USA
Directed by Jean-Michel Cousteau
Featuring: Jean-Michel Cousteau and Holly Lohuis 
With nearly 70 years of ocean exploration experience, Jean-Michel Cousteau reveals the secret world of the sea in this sensational 3D documentary. 

“Kansas: Miracles Out of Nowhere,” USA
Directed by Charles Randazzo
This celebration of the 40th anniversary of the American rock group Kansas tells their story through commentary from original members, concert footage, and interviews with notable fans. 

“Like Air,” USA
Directed by Jake Viramontez
Featuring: Kathryn McCormick, Alyssa Gaines, Kayla Sameski, and Montserrat Roberts
On their journey to a national championship, three high school competitive dancers discover their personal identities through dance and the life it breathes into their souls.

“La Noche Del Ratón (The Night of the Rat),” Spain
Directed by David R. Losada
Cast: Miriam Cabeza, Unai García, Mikel Martínez, and Alfonso Torregrosa
In this dark and suspenseful Spanish thriller, a seemingly normal gas station becomes intensely dangerous for a young couple on a twilight drive through the countryside. 

“Now en Español,” USA
Directed by Andrea Meller
Pulling back the curtain on one of Hollywood's lesser-known communities, this documentary follows the lives and careers of the Latina voice-over actresses who dub Desperate Housewives into Spanish. 

“The Penguin Counters,” USA/Antarctica/Argentina
Directed by Harriet Gordon and Peter Getzels
Featuring: Ron Naveen
This documentary follows field biologists in Antarctica who count penguins to track the impact of climate change on their population and to learn how to conserve the region.

“Sins of a Father,” USA/France/UK
Directed by Andrew Piddington
Cast: Alan Bates, Lambert Wilson, and David Oakes 
This three-generational drama explores the moral ambiguity of war and the complex nature of heroism, betrayal, and father-son relationships after a dark family secret is revealed. 

“Tiger, Tiger” – World Premiere
Directed by George Butler 
Tiger Tiger follows Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, renowned big cat conservationist, as he travels deep into the primordial landscape of the Sundarbans – a tidal mangrove forest spanning the India-Bangladesh border. Known as one of the most dangerous places on Earth, the Sundarbans is the domain of what may be the largest, wildest remaining tiger population.

“Truth About Lies,” USA 
Directed by Phil Allocco
Cast: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable 
Thirty-something Gilby is unemployed, living with his mother, and recently dumped. In this sharp comedy, Gilby weaves a ridiculous web of lies to get his life back on track. 

“Uncanny,” USA
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler
Cast: Mark Webber, Lucy Griffiths, David Clayton Rogers, and Rainn Wilson
As a tech reporter and a roboticist begin a relationship, the roboticist's latest creation, the world's first “perfect” artificial intelligence, begins to exhibit startling and unnerving behavior. 

“The Year We Thought About Love,” USA
Directed by Ellen Brodsky
This heartening documentary follows the nation's longest-running LGBTQ youth theater troupe for a year as it creates an original production on the theme of love.

U.S. PREMIERES

“10% My Child,” Israel
Directed by Uri Bar-on
Cast: Gur Bentwich, Vered Feldman, Yali Friedman, Udi Persi
In this engrossing Israeli drama of blended families, to be with Franny's mom, new boyfriend Nico has to win 8-year-old Franny's heart. 

“12 Citizens,” China
Directed by Xu Ang
Cast: He Bing, Han Tongsheng, Wang Gang
In a remake of 12 ANGRY MEN, a prosecutor summons people to sit on a jury in a mock trial for a murder case, only to find the truth is not as obvious as it seems.

“Aces (Os Fenómenos),” Spain
Directed by Alfonso Zarauza
Cast: Luis Tosar, Lola Dueñas 
A woman attempts to reinvent her life after her partner disappears. She moves back in with her mother and finds herself in a man's world when she joins a construction crew. 

“Agave is Life,” Mexico/USA
Directed by David O. Brown and Meredith L. Dreiss
This colorful film explores the history of the agave plant in the cultures of Mexico and the Southwest through the lens of archaeological, ethnographic, and modern-day vignettes. 

“All Cats Are Grey (Tous Les Chats Sont Gris),” Belgium
Directed by Savina Dellicour
Cast: Manon Capelle, Bouli Lanners, Anne Coesens, and Dune de Braconier
A private detective is approached by his estranged teenage daughter when she seeks his professional help in finding her biological father. 

“Amor, etc.,” Argentina
Directed by Gladys Lizarazu
Cast: Maruja Bustamante, Maria Canale, and Edgardo Castro
After moving into their first home, Lisa becomes obsessed with the home's mysterious previous owner, while her boyfriend is overwhelmed by unruly neighbors. 

“Attention, A Life in Extremes, “Austria
Directed by Sascha Köllnreitner
Cast: Guillaume Néry, Halvor Angvik, and Gerhard Gulewicz
Why would anyone dive under the ocean without oxygen, cycle across America with little sleep, or fly from cliffs wearing a webbed suit? This film shows three extraordinary athletes who do just that.

“Bang Bang Baby,” Canada
Directed by Jeffrey St. Jules
Cast: Jane Levy, Justin Chatwin, Peter Stormare, and David Reale
A small town teenager in the 1960s believes her dreams of becoming a famous singer will come true when her rock star idol gets stranded in town. But a leak in a nearby chemical plant that is believed to be causing mass mutations threatens to turn her dream into a nightmare.

“Barbarians (Vavari),” Serbia/Montenegro/Slovenia
Directed by Ivan Iki?
Cast: Željko Markovi?, Nenad Petrovi?, Jasna Djuri?i?, Mirko Vlahovi?, and Marina Vodeni?ar
Set in Serbia in 2008, this film follows a troubled teenager who must find a remedy to his temper, his strained family life, and the suffocating pressure of his ongoing parole. 

“Beatles,” Norway
Directed by Peter Flinth
Cast: Louis Williams, Håvard Jackwitz, Ole Nicolai Myrvold Jørgensen, Halvor Tangen Schultz
In the midst of Beatlemania, four Norwegian teens take on the identities of the Fab Four and attempt to live the rock 'n' roll lifestyle in this charming coming-of-age story.

“Bonobo,” UK
Directed by Matthew Hammett Knott
Cast: James Norton, Tessa Peake-Jones, Josie Lawrence
A mother tries to retrieve her bohemian daughter from a hippie commune that bases its way of life on the behavior of the bonobo ape, an animal that engages in recreational sex. 

“Carmen”s Karma (El Karma de Carmen),” Argentina
Directed by Rodolfo Durán
Cast: Laura Azcurra, Manuel Callau, and Ana María Castel
Unhappy with her life yet unwilling to change, Carmen is content to spend the rest of her life on her own, until an unexpected surprise forces her to put that mindset into perspective.

“Cerro Torre: A Snowball's Chance in Hell,” Argentina/Austria/UK/USA
Directed by Thomas Dirnhofer
Featuring: David Lama, Peter Ortner, Jim Bridwell, Toni Ponholzer, and Markus Pucher
Set against the backdrop of breathtaking Patagonia, David Lama, climbing”s wunderkind, sets out to climb the infamous south-east face of Cerro Torre, a mountain once said to be the most difficult in the world.

“The Chambermaid (Das Zimmermädchen Lynn),” Germany
Directed by Ingo Haeb
Cast: Vicky Krieps, Lena Lauzemis, Steffen Münster, Christian Aumer, Christine Schorn 
In this original take on fetishism and intimacy, a shy hotel maid breaks out of her shell after a chance encounter with a dominatrix.

“Children of the Arctic,” Switzerland
Directed by Nick Brandestini
At the Arctic edge of America, five Native Alaskan teenagers strive to be both modern American kids and the inheritors of an endangered whaling culture.

“Confession,” South Korea
Directed by Do-yun Lee
Cast: Sung Ji, Ji-hoon Ju, and Kwang-soo Lee
A staged robbery that results in an accidental death tests the loyalty and morality of three lifelong friends in this South Korean action thriller. 

“Cruel,” France
Directed by Eric Cherrière
Cast: Jean-Jacques Lelté, Magali Moreau, and Maurice Poli
Haunted by memories of his mother and plagued by his mundane life, Pierre is only satisfied once he murders someone. This beautiful film explores the psyche of a serial killer. 

“Cure – The Life of Another, “Switzerland/Croatia/Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Directed by Andrea Staka
Cast: Sylvie Marinkovic, Lucia Radulovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Marija Skaricic, Leon Lucev, and Franjo Dijak
A teenager adopts the identity of her best friend after an obsessive, sexually charged game leads to a fatal fall.

“Desert Dancer” UK
Directed by Richard Raymond
Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.

“Energized (Macht Energie),” Austria
Directed by Hubert Canaval
This eye-opening documentary explores the impacts our ever-increasing energy consumption, the shocking inner workings of the energy industry, and the possibility of achieving true “clean energy.” 

“Five Days to Dance,” Spain
Directed by Pepe Andreu, Rafa Molés 
Two completely different choreographers, one Dutch and one Spanish, must transform a group of high school students into polished dancers ready for the stage in just five days. 

“Happy Times (Tiempos Felices),” Mexico
Directed by Luis Javier M. Henaine
Cast: Luis Arrieta, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Humberto Busto, Iván Arana, Miguel Rodarte, and Bárbara de Regil
In this quirky romantic comedy, Max, unable to break up with his girlfriend, hires an agency that specializes in ending relationships. 

“Harvest (Vendange),” France 
Directed by Paul Lacoste
A documentary of the wine production process in one of the oldest wine-making regions of France and the tremendous impact it has on both the harvesters and the community.

“Heartbeat,” Canada
Directed by Andrea Dorfman
Cast: Tanya Davis, Stephanie Clattenburg, Stewart Legere, Kristin Langille, Glen Matthews, and Jackie Torrens 
After her boyfriend leaves town, Justine picks up her neglected guitar and begins a journey that gets her heart beating for the first time in years.

“Hip Hop-eration,” New Zealand
Directed by Bryn Evans
This film follows a troupe of courageous, yet cheeky, senior citizens on an extraordinary quest to perform at the World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas.

“I Am Femen (Je Suis Femen),” Switzerland
Directed by Alain Margot
Featuring: Anna Hutsol, Alexandra “Sasha” Schevchenko, Oxana Shachko, Inna Shevchenko
This powerful, poignant documentary follows Ukrainian activist Oksana Shachko and shows the controversial efforts of the feminist group “Femen” in their fight for freedom of speech. 

“I Hate the Dawn (Man Az Sepideye Sobh Bizaram),” Iran
Directed by Ali Karim
Cast: Babak Karimi, Amir Azizi, Mohammad Ahmadi, and Hossein Eskandari
An independent filmmaker persuades his assistant, Amir, to reveal a troublesome script he has been working on. As the script's plot unfolds, a secret of Amir's is revealed. 

“In the Sands of Babylon,” Iraq/Netherlands/United Arab Emirates/UK
Directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji
Cast: Samer Qahtan, Ameer Jabarah, and Hasan Bkheet
Set against the backdrop of a 1991 Iraq torn between Saddam's Regime and the American intervention, an Iraqi soldier embarks on a dangerous journey home after he escapes from Kuwait. 

“Insecure (Qui Vive),” France
Directed by Marianne Tardieu
Cast: Reda Kateb, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Rashid Debbouze
A small-town security guard, working his way through nursing school, struggles with personal insecuriities as he attempts to improve his lifestyle in this empathetic and fresh drama. 

“The Judgement (Sadilishteto), “Bulgaria
Directed by Stephan Komandarev
Cast: Assen Blatechki, Miki Manojlovic, Ovanes Torosyan, and Ina Nikolova
After the recent death of his wife, a man faces the difficult decision of working with a gangster who smuggles illegal immigrants across the Turkish border to provide for his son. 

“Kill Me Three Times,” Australia
Directed by Kriv Stenders
Cast: Simon Pegg, Sullivan Stapleton, Teresa Palmer, Callan Mulvey, Luke Hemsworth, and Bryan Brown
This raucous and rowdy neo-noir with an excellent ensemble cast portrays a quaint Australian surfing town taken over by degenerate activities including blackmail, murder, and scamming. 

“The Land of Many Palaces,” China
Directed by Adam James Smith and Song Ting 
An intimate look at the Chinese government's attempt to populate the country's brand new metropolis by relocating rural farmers to the inner city.

“Last Stop,” Israel
Directed by Julie Shiles
A gripping documentary revealing the chaotic labyrinth that is central station of Tel Aviv, where refugees, illegal immigrants, and impoverished people attempt to both survive and situate themselves in Israeli society. 

“Life According to Ohad,” Israel
Directed by Eri Daniel Erlich
This earnest documentary joins Ohad, an Animal Rights activist, on his journey of committed Activism and in his attempts to patch things up with his family. 

“Mad as Hell,” USA
Directed by Andrew Napier
Cenk Uygur transforms from an unknown talk show host on a local public access television station to an Internet sensation when he begins an online news show.

“Mafia and Red Tomatoes (La Nostra Terra),” Italy
Directed by Giulio Manfredonia
Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Sergio Rubini, Iaia Forte, and Maria Rosaria Russo
A makeshift cooperative of impassioned farmers attempts to revitalize a farm which had been under the control of a Mafia boss.

“Memories on Stone (Bîranînen Li Ser Kevirî),” Germany/Iraq/Qatar
Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki
Cast: Hussein Hassan, Nazmi Kirik, Shima Molaei, Suat Usta, and Salah Sheikh Ahmadi
This tragicomedy portrays the struggles of a filmmaker and his crew attempting to shoot a film chronicling the al Anfal Kurdish genocide in a tense post-war Kurdistan. 

“Monument to Michael Jackson (Spomenik Majklu Dzeksonu),” Croatia/Germany/ Republic of Macedonia/Serbia
Directed by Darko Lungulov
Cast: Natasa Tapuskovic, Ljubomir Bandovic, and Boris Milivojevic
In a desperate attempt to save his crumbling marriage and to bring life back into his community, a man plans to replace an old communist monument with a statue of the King of Pop. 

“The Naked Screen (La Pantalla Desnuda),” Nicaragua
Directed by Florence Jaugey
Cast: Paola Baldion, Óscar Sinela, and Salvador Espinoza 
A young couples' world is turned upside down when a private and intimate video is anonymously posted online and rapidly goes viral within their community.

“Natural Resistance,” France/Italy
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter
Four Italian vineyard proprietors passionately attempt to produce all-natural wines in spite of pressures from market and governmental forces. 

“Ochentasiete (Eighty Seven),” Ecuador/Argentina/Germany
Directed by Daniel Andrade and Anahí Hoeneisen
Cast: Andres Alvarez, Nicolás Andrade, Francisco Perez, Michel Noher, and Estefano Bajak
After fleeing fifteen years ago, Pablo returns to his hometown, ready to confront his demons and remember a summer with his friends where one incident changed his life forever.

“Partner with the Enemy,” Israel 
Directed by Duki Dror and Chen Shelach
Two women, one Israeli and one Palestinian, attempt to forge and sustain a business partnership across ideological and geographical divides. 

“Preggoland,” Canada
Directed by Jacob Tierney
Cast: Sonja Bennett, Danny Trejo, Laura Harris, James Caan, and Paul Campbell
Ruth, a 35 year-old living the life of a teenager, lies to her family by announcing she is pregnant after becoming alienated by her friends who have already become parents.

“Sacred Sperm,” Israel
Directed by Ori Gruder
Featuring: Israel Itzkovich, Rabi Shmuel Stern, and Yeshurun Verner
A sensitive and serious-minded examination of one of the most important prohibitions in the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community.

“Second Chance,” Taiwan
Directed by Wen-yen Kung 
Cast: Shang-yi Wen, P.J. Huang, Angel Yao, and Jason Wang
In this Taiwanese action flick, a drunk, washed-up billiards champion must return to the world he left behind to care for his niece and clear his debts. 

“Songs She Wrote About People She Knows,” Canada
Directed by Kris Elgstrand
Cast: Arabella Bushnell, Brad Dryborough, and Ross Smith 
An emotionally repressed woman alienates friends when she begins singing songs she wrote about them, but she inspires her boss to reignite his dream of becoming a rock star.

“Soof,” Netherlands
Directed by Antoinette Beumer
Cast: Lies Visschedijk, Fedja van Huêt, and Daniel Karaty 
As Soof nears her 40th birthday, she begins to question if there is more to life than her husband, three children, and small catering business. 

“Spirit of Akasha,” Australia
Directed by Andrew Kidman
A film that reaffirms the ethos of soul and spirit in the present day context, proving its values still have an enduring impact on us all through the surfing lifestyle.

“They Have Escaped (He Ovat Paenneet),” Finland/Netherlands
Directed by JP Valkeapää
Cast: Teppo Manner, Roosa Söderholm, Pelle Heikkilä, and Petteri Pennilä
This powerful and honest portrait of two teenage misfits who run away from their halfway house reveals the failures of society that led them to be labeled as “troublemakers.”

“The Way Out (Ceska Ven),” Czech Republic/France
Directed by Petr Václav
Cast: Klaudia Dudová, David Ištok, Natálie Hlavá?ová, Mária Ferencová-Zajacová, and Milan Cifra
A young gypsy woman searching for work, attempting to led a normal life and provide for her family, but is faced with extreme prejudice in this sobering exposé of the societal effects of stereotyping. 

“Wet Bum,” Canada
Directed by Lindsay MacKay
Cast: Julia Sarah Stone, Craig Arnold, Diana Leblanc, Jenna Nye, Jamie Johnston, Leah Pinsent, and Kenneth Welsh
An awkward teenage outcast befriends two aged residents of the retirement home in which she works in this charismatic coming of age story.

“Wild Australia,” 
Produced by Susanne Lummer, Ashley Hoppin
A cinematic four part journey across the continent that reveals not only the beauty of the land, but also the amazing wildlife that makes Australia a heaven for animal lovers. 
 
“Young Tiger,” France
Directed by Cyprien Vial
Cast: Harmandeep Palminder, Élisabeth Lando, and Vikram Sharma
17-year old Many has lived in France for two years and leads the life of a typical teenager, but his responsibility to financially support his parents that remained in India push him into unprecedented danger. 

“Zombie: The Resurrection of Tim Zom,” Netherlands
Directed by Billy Pols
Featuring: Tim Zom
The intriguing story of Tim Zom (AKA Zombie), who breaks free from a dark, criminal life by falling in love, embracing the streets, and redefining himself as one of Europe”s most distinguished Skateboarders.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

INDEPENDENT FEATURES
Competition

A Better You, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Matt Walsh
Cast: Brian Huskey, Morgan Walsh, Horatio Sanz, Andrew Daly, Rob Huebel, and Matt Walsh

Bang Bang Baby, Canada – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Jeffrey St. Jules
Cast: Jane Levy, Justin Chatwin, Peter Stormare, and David Reale

Heartbeat, Canada – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Andrea Dorfman
Cast: Tanya Davis, Stephanie Clattenburg, Stewart Legere, Kristin Langille, Glen Matthews, and Jackie Torrens 

Kill Me Three Times, Australia – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Kriv Stenders
Cast: Simon Pegg, Sullivan Stapleton, Teresa Palmer, Callan Mulvey, Luke Hemsworth, and Bryan Brown
 
Preggoland, Canada – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Jacob Tierney
Cast: Sonja Bennett, Danny Trejo, Laura Harris, James Caan, and Paul Campbell

Sins of a Father, USA/France/UK – World Premiere
Directed by Andrew Piddington
Cast: Alan Bates, Lambert Wilson, and David Oakes 

The Truth About Lies, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Phil Allocco
Cast: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable 

Uncanny, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler
Cast: Mark Webber, Lucy Griffiths, David Clayton Rogers, and Rainn Wilson

Wet Bum, Directed by Lindsay MacKay – U.S. Premiere
Cast: Julia Sarah Stone, Craig Arnold, Diana Leblanc, Jenna Nye, Jamie Johnston, Leah Pinsent, and Kenneth Welsh

INTERNATIONAL FEATURES 
Competition

12 Citizens, China – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Xu Ang
Cast: He Bing, Han Tongsheng, Wang Gang

All Cats Are Grey (Tous Les Chats Sont Gris), Belgium – U.S. Premiere Directed by Savina Dellicour
Cast: Manon Capelle, Bouli Lanners, Anne Coesens, and Dune de Braconier

The Chambermaid (Das Zimmermädchen Lynn), Germany – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Ingo Haeb
Cast: Vicky Krieps, Lena Lauzemis, Steffen Münster, Christian Aumer, and Christine Schorn 

Confession, South Korea – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Do-yun Lee
Cast: Sung Ji, Ji-hoon Ju, and Kwang-soo Lee

Directed by Do-yun Lee
Cast: Sung Ji, Ji-hoon Ju, and Kwang-soo Lee

Cruel, France – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Eric Cherrière
Cast: Jean-Jacques Lelté, Magali Moreau, and Maurice Poli

I Hate the Dawn (Man Az Sepideye Sobh Bizaram), Iran – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Ali Karim
Cast: Babak Karimi, Amir Azizi, Mohammad Ahmadi, and Hossein Eskandari

In the Sands of Babylon, Iraq/Netherlands/United Arab Emirates/UK – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji
Cast: Samer Qahtan, Ameer Jabarah, and Hasan Bkheet

Insecure, (Qui Vive), France – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Marianne Tardieu
Cast: Reda Kateb, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Rashid Debbouze

Memories on Stone, (Bîranînen Li Ser Kevirî), Germany/Iraq/Qatar – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki
Cast: Hussein Hassan, Nazmi Kirik, Shima Molaei, Suat Usta, and Salah Sheikh Ahmadi

Young Tiger, France – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Cyprien Vial
Cast: Harmandeep Palminder, Élisabeth Lando, and Vikram Sharma

EASTERN BLOC FEATURES
Competition 

Barbarians (Vavari), Serbia/Montenegro/Slovenia – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Ivan Iki?
Cast: Željko Markovi?, Nenad Petrovi?, Jasna Djuri?i?, Mirko Vlahovi?, and Marina Vodeni?ar

Cure – The Life of Another, Switzerland/Croatia/Bosnia and Herzegovina – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Andrea Staka
Cast: Sylvie Marinkovic, Lucia Radulovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Marija Skaricic, Leon Lucev, and Franjo Dijak

The Judgement, (Sadilishteto), Bulgaria – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Stephan Komandarev
Cast: Assen Blatechki, Miki Manojlovic, Ovanes Torosyan, and Ina Nikolova

Kebab & Horoscope, Poland
Directed by Grzegorz Jaroszuk
Cast: Bart?omiej Topa, Piotr ?urawski, Tomek Schuchardt, Justyna Wasilewska, Barbara Kurzaj, Andrzej Zieli?ski, Dorota Kolak, and Janusz Micha?owski

Monument to Michael Jackson (Spomenik Majklu Dzeksonu), Croatia/Germany/ Republic of Macedonia/Serbia – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Darko Lungulov
Cast: Natasa Tapuskovic, Ljubomir Bandovic, and Boris Milivojevic

The Way Out (Ceska Ven), Czech Republic/France – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Petr Václav
Cast: Klaudia Dudová, David Ištok, Natálie Hlavá?ová, Mária Ferencová-Zajacová, and Milan Cifra

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES 
Competition 

Caffeinated, USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Hanh Nguyen and Vishal Solanki
Featuring: Doug Welsh, Geoff Watts, Peter Giuliano, and Sunalini Menon 

Children of the Arctic, Switzerland – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Nick Brandestini

Harvest (Vendange), France 
Directed by Paul Lacoste

Heartworn Highways Revisited, USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Wayne Price    

Hip Hop-eration, New Zealand – U.S Premiere
Directed by Bryn Evans

Now en Español, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Andrea Meller

Partners With the Enemy, Israel – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Duki Dror and Chen Shelach

Far From Home, USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Galen Knowles

The Land of Many Palaces, China
Directed by Adam James Smith and Song Ting 

SPANISH/LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA
Competition

Aces (Os Fenómenos), Spain
Directed by Alfonso Zarauza

Amor, etc., Argentina
Directed by Gladys Lizarazu

Boss, Anatomy of a Crime, The (El Patrón, Radiografía de un Crimen), Argentina, Venezuela 
Directed by Sebastián Schindel

Carmen”s Karma (El Karma de Carmen), Argentina – World 
Directed by Rodolfo Durán
Cast: Laura Azcurra, Manuel Callau, and Ana María Castel

El Cordero, Chile
Directed by Juan Francisco Olea

Day Release (Tercer Grado), Spain 
Directed by Geoffrey Cowper

The Incident (El Incidente), Mexico 
Directed by Isaac Ezban

The Naked Screen, Nicaragua
Directed by Florence Jaugey

Eighty Seven (Ochentasiete), Ecuador, Argentina, Germany
Directed by Daniel Andrade, Anahí Hoeneisen

Happy Times (Tiempos Felices), Mexico 
Directed by Luis Javier M. Henaine

FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA SOCIAL JUSTICE
Competition
“A Snake Energized (Macht Energie),” Austria – U.S. Premiere  
Directed by Hubert Canaval

“Do I Sound Gay?,” USA
Directed by David Thorpe 

“I Am Femen (Je Suis Femen),” Switzerland
Directed by Alain Margot

“The Land of Many Palaces,” China
Directed by Adam James Smith and Song Ting 

“Mad as Hell,” USA – US
Directed by Andrew Napier

“Natural Resistance,” France/Italy – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter

“Tiger, Tiger” – World Premiere
Directed by George Butler 

“Life According to Ohad,” Israel – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Eri Daniel Erlich
The Year We Thought About Love, USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Ellen Brodsky

NON-COMPETITION FILMS

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

“Black Coal, Thin Ice,” China
Directed by Yi”nan Diao
Cast: Fan Liao, Lun Mei Gwei, Xuebing Wang

“Citizenfour,” Germany/USA
Directed by Laura Poitras
Featuring: Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Jacob Appelbaum

“Clouds of Sils Maria,” France/USA
Directed by Olivier Assayas
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Lars Eidinger

“Force Majeure (Turist),” Sweden
Directed by Ruben Östlund
Cast: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren

“Keep On Keepin” On,” USA 
Directed by Alan Hicks
Featuring: Clark Terry, Justin Kauflin, Gwen Terry, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Phyllis Kauflin

“Leviathan,” Russian Federation
Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
Cast: Alexey Serebryakov, Roman Madyanov, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Elena Lyadova, Sergey Pokhodaev

“Life Itself,” USA 
Directed by Steve James 
Featuring Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel

“Maps to the Stars,” Canada/Germany
Directed by David Cronenberg
Cast: Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams

“Nightingale,” USA
Directed by Elliott Lester
Cast: David Oyelowo

“Tangerines,” Estonia
Directed by Zaza Urushadze
Cast: Lembit Ulfsak, Elmo Nüganen, Mikheil Meskhi, Giorgi Nakashidze, Raivo Trass

“Theeb,” United Arab Emirates/Qatar/Jordan/UK
Directed by Naji Abu Nowar
Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat and Jack Fox

“Timbuktu,” France/Mauritania
Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
Cast: Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki, Abel Jafri

“Wild Tales,” Argentina/Spain
Directed by Damián Szifrón
Cast: Ricardo Darin, Oscar Martinez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Erica Rivas, Rita Cortese, Julieta Zylberberg, Dario Grandinetti

“Haemoo,” South Korea
Directed by Sung-bo Shim 
Cast: Yoon-seok Kim, Ye-ri Han, and Yu-chun Park

NORDIC

“Beatles,” Norway – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Peter Flinth
Cast: Louis Williams, Håvard Jackwitz, Ole Nicolai Myrvold Jørgensen, Halvor Tangen Schultz

“Eila, Rampe and Baby Girl (Eila, Rampe Ja Likka),” Finland – World Premiere  
Directed by Taru Mäkelä
Cast: Heidi Herala, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Emmi Parviainen, and Riku Niemine

“Force Majeure (Turist),” Sweden
Directed by Ruben Östlund
Cast: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren

“The Grump (Mielensäpahoittaja),” Finland 
Directed by Dome Karukoski
Cast: Antti Litja, Petra Frey, Mari Perankoski, Iikka Forss

“Itsi Bitsi,” Denmark, Croatia, Sweden
Directed by Ole Christian Madsen
Cast: Joachim Fjelstrup, Marie Tourell Søderberg, Christian Gade Bjerrum, Johannes Nymark, Jakob Randrup, Ola Rapace, Anette Støvelbæk, Julia Ragnarsson, and Thure Lindhardt

“Life in a Fishbowl (Vonarstræti),” Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Sweden
Directed by Baldvin Zophoníasson
Cast: Hera Hilmar, Thorsteinn Bachmann, and Thor Kristjansson 

“They Have Escaped (He Ovat Paenneet),” Finland/Netherlands – U.S. Premiere
Directed by JP Valkeapää
Cast: Teppo Manner, Roosa Söderholm, Pelle Heikkilä, and Petteri Pennilä

PAN ASIA

“12 Citizens,” China
Directed by Xu Ang
Cast: He Bing, Han Tongsheng, Wang Gang

“A Hard Day,” South Korea
Directed by Seong-hun Kim
Cast: Sun-kyun Lee, Jin-woong Chi

“Black Coal, Thin Ice,” China
Directed by Yi”nan Diao
Cast: Fan Liao, Lun Mei Gwei, Xuebing Wang

“Cart,” South Korea 
Directed by Ji-young Boo
Cast: Jung-ah Yum, Jeong-hee Moon, Young-ae Kim, Gang-woo Kim, Jung-min Hwang, Woo-hee Chun, D.O.
Confesstion – U.S. Premiere

“Haemoo,” South Korea
Directed by Sung-bo Shim 
Cast: Yoon-seok Kim, Ye-ri Han, and Yu-chun Park

“Margarita, with a Straw,” India 
Directed by Shonali Bose
Cast: Kalki Koechlin, Revathy, Sayani Gupta, William Moseley, and Hussain Dalal

“Partners in Crime,” Taiwan
Directed by Jung-chi Change
Cast: Chien-ho Wu, Yu-kai Deng, Kai-yuan Cheng, Ai-ning Yao, Sunny Hung, Chen-ling Wen

“Second Chance,” Taiwan – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Wen-yen Kung 
Cast: Shang-yi Wen, P.J. Huang, Angel Yao, and Jason Wang

“Tokyo Fiancée,” Belgium/Canada/France
Directed by Stefan Liberski
Cast: Pauline Etienne, Taichi Inoue, Julie Lebreton, and Alice De Lencquesaing 

KOLNOA

“10% My Child,” Israel – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Uri Bar-on
Cast: Gur Bentwich, Vered Feldman, Yali Friedman, Udi Persi

“Almost Friends,” Israel 
Directed by Nitzan Ofir 

“The Farewell Party,” Israel 
Directed by Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit 
Cast: Ze'ev Revach, Levana Finkelstein, Aliza Rozen, Ilan Dar, and Rafi Tavor

“Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Israel/Germany/France
Directed by Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz
Featuring: Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Menashe Noy, Sasson Gabay

“Last Stop,” Israel – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Julie Shiles

“Partners With the Enemy,” Israel – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Duki Dror and Chen Shelach

“Sacred Sperm,” Israel – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Ori Gruder
Featuring: Israel Itzkovich, Rabi Shmuel Stern, Yeshurun Verner

“Villa Touma,” Israel 
Directed by Suha Arraf
Cast: Nisreen Faour, Ula Tabari, Cherien Dabis, and Maria Zreik 

“The Unwelcoming,” Israel
Directed by Robby Elmaliah
Cast: Kmimish Uzan

SCREEN CUISINE

“Agave is Life,” Mexico/USA – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by David O. Brown and Meredith L. Dreiss

“Caffeinated, “USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Hanh Nguyen and Vishal Solanki

“Deli Man,” USA
Directed by Erik Greenberg Anjou
Featuring: Ziggy Gruber 

“Harvest (Vendange),” France – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Paul Lacoste

“Life According to Ohad,” Israel – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Eri Daniel Erlich

“Mafia and Red Tomatoes, (La Nostra Terra), “Italy – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Giulio Manfredonia
Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Sergio Rubini, Iaia Forte, and Maria Rosaria Russo

“Natural Resistance,” France/Italy – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter

“Soof,” Netherlands –  – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Antoinette Beumer
Cast: Lies Visschedijk, Fedja van Huêt, and Daniel Karaty

THE WORLD LAUGHS 

“Banana,” Italy – World Premiere
Directed by Andrea Jublin
Featuring: Ascanio Balbo, Anna Bonaiuto, and Giorgio Colangeli 

“Bonobo, “UK – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Matthew Hammett Knott
Cast: James Norton, Tessa Peake-Jones, Josie Lawrence

“The Farewell Party,” Israel 
Directed by Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit 
Cast: Ze'ev Revach, Levana Finkelstein, Aliza Rozen, Ilan Dar, and Rafi Tavor

“The Grump (Mielensäpahoittaja),” Finland 
Directed by Dome Karukoski
Cast: Antti Litja, Petra Frey, Mari Perankoski, Iikka Forss

“Kebab & Horoscope,” Poland
Directed by Grzegorz Jaroszuk
Cast: Bart?omiej Topa, Piotr ?urawski, Tomek Schuchardt, Justyna Wasilewska, Barbara Kurzaj, Andrzej Zieli?ski, Dorota Kolak, and Janusz Micha?owski

“Love, Rosie,” UK/Germany
Directed by Christian Ditter 
Cast: Lily Collins and Sam Clafin

“Mafia and Red Tomatoes (La Nostra Terra),” Italy – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Giulio Manfredonia
Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Sergio Rubini, Iaia Forte, and Maria Rosaria Russo

“Monument to Michael Jackson (Spomenik Majklu Dzeksonu),” Croatia/Germany/ Republic of Macedonia/Serbia
Directed by Darko Lungulov
Cast: Natasa Tapuskovic, Ljubomir Bandovic, and Boris Milivojevic

“The Truth About Lies,” USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Phil Allocco
Cast: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable

CINEMATIC OVERTURES

“A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake,” Bosnia and Herzegovina/France/Ireland/Rwanda/Serbia/ South Africa/USA 
Directed by Michael Lessac
Featuring: Quanita Adams, Nick Boraine, and Andrew Buckland 

“Bang Bang Baby,” Canada 
Directed by Jeffrey St. Jules
Cast: Jane Levy, Justin Chatwin, Peter Stormare, and David Reale

“Five Days to Dance, Spain” – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Pepe Andreu, Rafa Molés 

“Hip Hop-eration,” New Zealand – U.S Premiere
Directed by Bryn Evans

“The Last Five Years,” USA 
Directed by Richard LaGravenese
Cast: Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan

“Like Air,” USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Jake Viramontez
Featuring: Kathryn McCormick, Alyssa Gaines, Kayla Sameski, and Montserrat Roberts

“Songs She Wrote About People She Knows,” Canada – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Kris Elgstrand
Cast: Arabella Bushnell, Brad Dryborough, and Ross Smith

“The Year We Thought About Love, “USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Ellen Brodsky

TO THE MAXXX

“Attention, A Life in Extremes,” Austria – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Sascha Köllnreitner
Cast: Guillaume Néry, Halvor Angvik, and Gerhard Gulewicz

“Cerro Torre: A Snowball's Chance in Hell,” Argentina/Austria/UK/USA – U.S. Premiere 
Directed by Thomas Dirnhofer
Featuring: David Lama, Peter Ortner, Jim Bridwell, Toni Ponholzer, and Markus Pucher

“Fair Chase,” USA – World Premiere
Directed by Alex Cullen and Emma Tammi

“Far From Home,” USA/Argentina/Canada/Italy/Uganda – World Premiere 
Directed by Galen Knowles
Featuring: Brolin Mawejje, Rob Kingwill, and Travis Rice

“Spirit of Akasha” – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Andrew Kidman

“Sunshine Superman,” USA, Norway, UK
Directed by Marah Strauch
Featuring: Jean Boenish, Carl Boenish

“What the Sea Gives Me,” USA
Directed by Pierce Kavanagh

“Zombie: The Resurrection of Tim Zom,” Netherlands – U.S. Premiere
Directed by Billy Pols
Featuring: Tim Zom

REEL NATURE

“Gardeners of Eden,” USA, Kenya
Directed by Austin Peck and Anneliese Vandenberg

“It”s a Wild Life,” USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Kennan Ward
Featuring: Feynner Arias

“Jean-Michel Cousteau”s Secret Ocean 3D,” USA – World Premiere 
Directed by Jean-Michel Cousteau
Featuring: Jean-Michel Cousteau and Holly Lohuis

“The Penguin Counters,” USA/Antarctica/Argentina – World 
Directed by Harriet Gordon and Peter Getzels
Featuring: Ron Naveen

“Swains Island” – One of the Last Jewels of the Planet
Directed by Jim Knowlton
Featuring: Jean-Michel Cousteau

“Tiger, Tiger” – World Premiere
Directed by George Butler 

“Wild Australia” – U.S. Premiere
Produced by Susanne Lummer, Ashley Hoppin

APPLEBOX

“Big Hero 6,” USA 
Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams

I'm super bummed that this year I can't make it to the USC Scripter Awards (alas, I'll be in Santa Barbara for Michael Keaton's tribute, which I just can't miss). They are my favorite event of the year, typically, a swanky little gathering in the Doheny Library on the USC campus that always brings back grad school memories. Sigh. Wait, there's news to tell you here…

The Scripters recognize adapted screenplays and the source material that inspires them. It's always a fun little addition to the adapted screenplay race every year, and unique in the celebration of the authors whose works launch some of the awards season's most notable players.

This year's finalists are:

– Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl,” based on the novel)

– Andrew Hodges and Graham Moore (“The Imitation Game,” based on the book “Alan Turing: The Enigma”)

– Thomas Pynchon and Paul Thomas Anderson (“Inherent Vice,” based on the novel)

– Jane Hawking and Anthony McCarten (“The Theory of Everything,” based on the book “Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen”)

– Cheryl Strayed and Nick Hornby (“Wild,” based on the memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail)

Winners will be announced at the 27th annual Scripter Awards on Jan. 31.

After 2011″s “Bullhead” earned a Best Foreign Language Academy Award nomination, Matthias Schoenaerts could have become a James Bond villain and called it a day. Instead, the muscle-laden Belgian actor has challenged type-casting by sticking to promising films and name costars. Schoenaerts” next project is destined for an awards frenzy: He”s set to join current Best Actor contender Eddie Redmayne in “The Danish Girl.”

Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper follows up “Les Misérables” with the culled-from-real-life story, dramatizing the life of Danish painter Einar Wegener, who became one of the first men to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Lucinda Coxon (“Crimson Peak”) wrote “The Danish Girl,” based on a novel by David Ebershoff. Redmayne signed on to play Wegener last April. 

Deadline”s original report is unclear about who Schoenaerts will play in “The Danish Girl,” though his mere inclusion bumps up the film”s prestiguous cast, which includes Alicia Vikander (“Anna Karenina”) and Amber Heard (“The Rum Diary”). And he”ll have a solid year before “The Danish Girl” hits theaters, next appearing in Thomas Vinterberg”s “Far from the Madding Crowd” and the thriller “Close Protection” opposite Diane Kruger.

That all said, I still wouldn”t mind seeing Matthias Schoenaerts in a Bond movie.