HollyShorts Film Festival, the Oscar-qualifying celebration of short films, has announced the jury lineup for its 2023 edition.
The 18-person jury includes Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), Sam Worthington (“Avatar”), Zoey Deutch (“Not Okay”), Alexandra Shipp (“Barbie”), Josh Whitehouse (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Christina Chong (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), Nelu Handa (“Run the Burbs” showrunner) and Jaime Ray Newman (“Skin”). Variety international correspondent K.J. Yossman and Eric Kohn, executive editor and chief critic of IndieWire, will also serve on the jury.
Other industry professionals on the jury include Tom Berkeley and Ross White, whose film “An Irish Goodbye” won last year’s Oscar for best live-action short film; Aneil Kara, whose film “The Long Goodbye” won the Oscar in 2022; as well as short film Oscar nominees Pamela Ribon (“My Year of Dicks”) and Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby (“The Flying Sailor”). Two-time Oscar winner Joanna Quinn (“Affairs of...
The 18-person jury includes Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), Sam Worthington (“Avatar”), Zoey Deutch (“Not Okay”), Alexandra Shipp (“Barbie”), Josh Whitehouse (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Christina Chong (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), Nelu Handa (“Run the Burbs” showrunner) and Jaime Ray Newman (“Skin”). Variety international correspondent K.J. Yossman and Eric Kohn, executive editor and chief critic of IndieWire, will also serve on the jury.
Other industry professionals on the jury include Tom Berkeley and Ross White, whose film “An Irish Goodbye” won last year’s Oscar for best live-action short film; Aneil Kara, whose film “The Long Goodbye” won the Oscar in 2022; as well as short film Oscar nominees Pamela Ribon (“My Year of Dicks”) and Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby (“The Flying Sailor”). Two-time Oscar winner Joanna Quinn (“Affairs of...
- 8/2/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Even a Nobel Prize winner gets starstruck by Rihanna.
On Sunday night, women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai attended the 2023 Academy Awards, and during a red carpet interview she revealed her love for the “Diamond” singer.
Read More: Oscars 2023: Kaala Bhairava Wants To Collaborate With Rihanna On A New Version Of Nominated ‘Rrr’ Song ‘Naatu Naatu’
Asked who she is most excited to meet at the Oscars, she named Rihanna.
So Nobel laureate Malala says she’s excited to see and (possibly) meet Rihanna tonight. Only at the #oscars pic.twitter.com/AVGVpFZnw1
— Glenn Sumi (@glennsumi) March 12, 2023
Fans, of course, were quick to take joy in Malala’s love for Rihanna on social media.
Malala just said that she cannot wait to see Rihanna, Taste Girl Taste!#Oscars pic.twitter.com/VxCyGMrixp
— BadgalRodo (@badgalrodo) March 12, 2023
Even Malala is fan-girling over Rihanna. #Oscars
— Sheila Keenan (@shadwell123) March 12, 2023
Not even @Malala...
On Sunday night, women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai attended the 2023 Academy Awards, and during a red carpet interview she revealed her love for the “Diamond” singer.
Read More: Oscars 2023: Kaala Bhairava Wants To Collaborate With Rihanna On A New Version Of Nominated ‘Rrr’ Song ‘Naatu Naatu’
Asked who she is most excited to meet at the Oscars, she named Rihanna.
So Nobel laureate Malala says she’s excited to see and (possibly) meet Rihanna tonight. Only at the #oscars pic.twitter.com/AVGVpFZnw1
— Glenn Sumi (@glennsumi) March 12, 2023
Fans, of course, were quick to take joy in Malala’s love for Rihanna on social media.
Malala just said that she cannot wait to see Rihanna, Taste Girl Taste!#Oscars pic.twitter.com/VxCyGMrixp
— BadgalRodo (@badgalrodo) March 12, 2023
Even Malala is fan-girling over Rihanna. #Oscars
— Sheila Keenan (@shadwell123) March 12, 2023
Not even @Malala...
- 3/12/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
How long does a documentary need to be? Frederick Wiseman frequently goes long, and Oscar-winning “Oj: Made in America” ran nearly eight hours. Lately, with “Bill Russell: Legend” and “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker,” streamers have embraced the “two-part documentary” — a fancy term for what used to be called a miniseries. So, while there are no limits on how much longer docs can get, it’s refreshing to see a compelling subject covered in 40 minutes or less, and doubly rewarding to realize that four of the five packaged in ShortsTV’s “2023 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary” found audiences on their own merits, even without theatrical distribution.
The only one you can’t see for free is Jay Rosenblatt’s charming “How Do You Measure a Year?,” a 29-minute assembly of home-movie footage. Every year, Rosenblatt sat his daughter Ella down on her birthday and peppered her with questions,...
The only one you can’t see for free is Jay Rosenblatt’s charming “How Do You Measure a Year?,” a 29-minute assembly of home-movie footage. Every year, Rosenblatt sat his daughter Ella down on her birthday and peppered her with questions,...
- 3/11/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The second annual South Asian Excellence at the Oscars event took place on Thursday night, where stars gathered at Paramount Studios to honor nominees from the likes of Rrr, All That Breathes, The Elephant Whisperers and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The night was hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anjula Acharia, with co-chairs Malala Yousafzai, Mindy Kaling, Kumail Nanjiani, Kal Penn, Aziz Ansari, Bela Bajaria, Radhika Jones, Joseph Patel, Shruti Ganguly, and Anita Chatterjee.
The hosts and other notable stars graced the red carpet for the big event, many of them dressed by famed South Asian designers Falguni Shane Peacock, and spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about being a part of the special night. Chopra Jonas, who hosted the inaugural event last year, called this year’s celebration bigger and better.
“Last year’s event came from like-minded people coming together and saying, ‘You know, we should have something...
The night was hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anjula Acharia, with co-chairs Malala Yousafzai, Mindy Kaling, Kumail Nanjiani, Kal Penn, Aziz Ansari, Bela Bajaria, Radhika Jones, Joseph Patel, Shruti Ganguly, and Anita Chatterjee.
The hosts and other notable stars graced the red carpet for the big event, many of them dressed by famed South Asian designers Falguni Shane Peacock, and spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about being a part of the special night. Chopra Jonas, who hosted the inaugural event last year, called this year’s celebration bigger and better.
“Last year’s event came from like-minded people coming together and saying, ‘You know, we should have something...
- 3/10/2023
- by Neha Joy
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Malala Yousafzai, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is one of the most remarkable young women in the world. Since the age of 11, she has been a tireless activist for girls to have access to a quality education. For daring to take this position in her native Pakistan, she was shot in the head in 2012, but she survived, recovered and has continued her fight, for which she was recognized in 2014, at the age of just 17, as the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
And now, she’s bringing her talents to Hollywood, generally — and, THR can exclusively report, to the Academy Awards, as well. “I will be there at the Oscars,” the executive producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary short Stranger at the Gate tells us. “I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear, so I am working with the stylist right now,...
And now, she’s bringing her talents to Hollywood, generally — and, THR can exclusively report, to the Academy Awards, as well. “I will be there at the Oscars,” the executive producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary short Stranger at the Gate tells us. “I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear, so I am working with the stylist right now,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Director Joshua Seftel and executive producer/Nobel Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai entered the Oscar race this January with the hard-hitting 29-minute short documentary “Stranger at the Gate,” which depicts the unlikely meeting between a Ptsd-afflicted, Islamaphobic former Marine and the members of an Indiana mosque (notably an Afghan refugee named Bibi Bahrami) that help diffuse his violent tendencies toward them.
“Stranger at the Gate” has enjoyed incredible acclaim and recognition on the film festival circuit over the past several months, but there was one major fan that left them a little bit speechless, as revealed in a recent DGA screening in Los Angeles between Malala and director Seftel, exclusive video of which you can watch above.
“We were at the [Oscar] nominees luncheon, and we came upon Steven Spielberg, as one does…he said, ‘I’ve seen your film three times now and I’ve cried in a different spot,” Malala said.
“Stranger at the Gate” has enjoyed incredible acclaim and recognition on the film festival circuit over the past several months, but there was one major fan that left them a little bit speechless, as revealed in a recent DGA screening in Los Angeles between Malala and director Seftel, exclusive video of which you can watch above.
“We were at the [Oscar] nominees luncheon, and we came upon Steven Spielberg, as one does…he said, ‘I’ve seen your film three times now and I’ve cried in a different spot,” Malala said.
- 3/3/2023
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
While working on his documentary series about The Secret Life of Muslims, Director Joshua Seftel came across a local news story about marine Richard “Mac” McKinney which he immediately knew he had to tell. His Oscar nominated short Stranger at the Gate tells an initially perturbing yet ultimately, incredibly inspiring tale of love overpowering hate. Mac, suffering from Ptsd after years of overseas tours in the marines, knew of no way to escape the trauma and hate he felt towards Muslims and made a decision to bomb the mosque in his local community. Whilst this might come across as a horrific starting point for a documentary, the story which unfolds is one of unflinching kindness, acceptance and hope. Seftel is an established filmmaker who has honed an open and warm approach to his participants, a most effective foundation for a filmmaker drawn to telling stories of injustices with a sensitive and tailored approach.
- 3/3/2023
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
When it comes to telling stories, most filmmakers prefer to let the material do the talking. That was the case for the six Oscar-nominated directors of doc shorts who gathered with TheWrap’s Executive Awards Editor, Steve Pond, as part of TheWrap’s 2022-2023 Awards Season Screening Series: Kartiki Gonsalves (“The Elephant Whisperers”), Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev (“Haulout”), Anne Alvergue (“The Martha Mitchell Effect”), Jay Rosenblatt (“How Do You Measure a Year?”) and Joshua Seftel (“Stranger at the Gate”).
For Gonsalves, whose film focuses on a couple from a small village in southern India who rescues an orphaned elephant, less was more. “I just wanted ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ to let viewers understand both the elephant and the human carers with very little, almost minimal outside interpretation,” she said. “I was really trying to focus on the dignity of both the elephants and the indigenous people who have literally lived...
For Gonsalves, whose film focuses on a couple from a small village in southern India who rescues an orphaned elephant, less was more. “I just wanted ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ to let viewers understand both the elephant and the human carers with very little, almost minimal outside interpretation,” she said. “I was really trying to focus on the dignity of both the elephants and the indigenous people who have literally lived...
- 2/27/2023
- by Libby Hill
- The Wrap
The Elephant Whisperers
Kartiki Gonsalves’ documentary debut, “The Elephant Whisperers,” released on Netflix, shines a spotlight on the ways in which climate change and human encroachment are rapidly destroying the habitats of Asian elephants. The film’s dire warning is subtly woven into a heartfelt narrative about forging family in unlikely places with elephant caretakers Bomman and Bellie at its core. The duo raise an orphaned elephant named Raghu, whom they’ve cared for since infancy, as well as another calf named Ammu. “[Bomman and Bellie] are still understanding the process of what the Oscars exactly are, but they’re just overwhelmed with messages and calls and really happy to share their lives with such a large audience,” Helmer Kartiki Gonsalves told Variety. “I don’t think they’ve ever had this kind of recognition before.”
Haulout
For their documentary debut, Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva spent 3½ months in close quarters with Russian scientist Maxim Chakilev,...
Kartiki Gonsalves’ documentary debut, “The Elephant Whisperers,” released on Netflix, shines a spotlight on the ways in which climate change and human encroachment are rapidly destroying the habitats of Asian elephants. The film’s dire warning is subtly woven into a heartfelt narrative about forging family in unlikely places with elephant caretakers Bomman and Bellie at its core. The duo raise an orphaned elephant named Raghu, whom they’ve cared for since infancy, as well as another calf named Ammu. “[Bomman and Bellie] are still understanding the process of what the Oscars exactly are, but they’re just overwhelmed with messages and calls and really happy to share their lives with such a large audience,” Helmer Kartiki Gonsalves told Variety. “I don’t think they’ve ever had this kind of recognition before.”
Haulout
For their documentary debut, Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva spent 3½ months in close quarters with Russian scientist Maxim Chakilev,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
Nominees for the 95th Academy Awards met at the awards body’s annual luncheon on Feb. 13 at the Beverly Hilton. The nominees took part in a class photo, during which DeVon Franklin, governor-at-large of the Academy, announced each nominee in an official roll call.
Sci-fi adventure “Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads this year’s field with 11 nominations. World War I epic “All Quiet on the Western Front” and dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” each received nine nods.
First-time Oscar nominees include Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser and Paul Mescal. Malala Yousafzai took part in the lunch as an executive producer for Joshua Seftel’s documentary short “Stranger at the Gate.”
Winners will be announced at the Oscars on March 12, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theater.
During the luncheon, several Oscar contenders posed for portraits, photographed by Variety’s Michael Buckner. See the images below.
Sci-fi adventure “Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads this year’s field with 11 nominations. World War I epic “All Quiet on the Western Front” and dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” each received nine nods.
First-time Oscar nominees include Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser and Paul Mescal. Malala Yousafzai took part in the lunch as an executive producer for Joshua Seftel’s documentary short “Stranger at the Gate.”
Winners will be announced at the Oscars on March 12, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theater.
During the luncheon, several Oscar contenders posed for portraits, photographed by Variety’s Michael Buckner. See the images below.
- 2/20/2023
- by Michael Buckner, Julia MacCary and Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
The title that saw Riz Ahmed stifle laughter, the press room crack up and Allison Williams murmur “no comment” at Oscar nominations last month hits theaters today as ShortsTV presents Oscar Nominated Short Films at circa 380 locations in 75 markets.
The program, three feature-length presentations of the five nominees for Live Action, Animated and Documentary short films, will expand to 500-600 screens by Academy Awards week. Exhibitors can play any or all of the trio. Some are splitting the doc shorts, at 160 minutes, in two. “We leave that up to theaters,” said ShortsTV founder-ceo Carter Pilcher. My Year Of Dicks is an animation entry.
ShortsTV has been releasing these theatrically for 18 years and they do pretty well, hitting 3.5 million in box office pre-Covid. That fell to 1.8 million in 2021 but Pilcher is hoping for a rebound, calling this year’s crop “absolutely some of the best and most audience-friendly films we’ve...
The program, three feature-length presentations of the five nominees for Live Action, Animated and Documentary short films, will expand to 500-600 screens by Academy Awards week. Exhibitors can play any or all of the trio. Some are splitting the doc shorts, at 160 minutes, in two. “We leave that up to theaters,” said ShortsTV founder-ceo Carter Pilcher. My Year Of Dicks is an animation entry.
ShortsTV has been releasing these theatrically for 18 years and they do pretty well, hitting 3.5 million in box office pre-Covid. That fell to 1.8 million in 2021 but Pilcher is hoping for a rebound, calling this year’s crop “absolutely some of the best and most audience-friendly films we’ve...
- 2/17/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
In the abysmal landscape of short film distribution, documentaries have had the easiest time translating to streaming and internet consumption. Often overlapping with hard-hitting video journalism, documentary shorts appeal to establishment news outlets like The New Yorker and The New York Times, and both outlets have funded numerous short documentaries over the last decade.
In its effort to earn industry clout by wracking up Oscar nominations, Netflix joined the fray, and its two nominations for Best Documentary Short this year are by far the most accessible.
This year’s nominees lean far lighter than in most years, which is somewhat surprising seeing as the terrible news just keeps piling up. Perhaps voters needed a little levity this year, or perhaps filmmakers themselves are seeking out more uplifting stories.
From saving baby elephants in India to a shocking tale of a changed perspective, the films in this category offer more than...
In its effort to earn industry clout by wracking up Oscar nominations, Netflix joined the fray, and its two nominations for Best Documentary Short this year are by far the most accessible.
This year’s nominees lean far lighter than in most years, which is somewhat surprising seeing as the terrible news just keeps piling up. Perhaps voters needed a little levity this year, or perhaps filmmakers themselves are seeking out more uplifting stories.
From saving baby elephants in India to a shocking tale of a changed perspective, the films in this category offer more than...
- 2/16/2023
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The annual Oscar nominees luncheon was back at the Beverly Hilton, and back just like the old days before the pandemic changed everything. But if the vibe and attendance at today’s lunch is any indication the Oscars themselves could be in for a very good night as the Academy seems bound and determined to bring the show back to its old self, and that means a more traditional kind of Oscar experience after the surreal pandemic-affected ceremony at Union Station in 2021, and last year’s Will Smith Slap edition. We can use a little comfort food from the Oscars and I just get the feeling, with Jimmy Kimmel back as host, it might be just what the doctor ordered for the Academy’s big night.
Related Story Movie Academy President Addresses Will Smith Oscar Slap: AMPAS Response “Inadequate” Related Story Oscar Nominees 2023: The Class Photo Related Story...
Related Story Movie Academy President Addresses Will Smith Oscar Slap: AMPAS Response “Inadequate” Related Story Oscar Nominees 2023: The Class Photo Related Story...
- 2/14/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Since Joshua Seftel started chronicling Mac McKinney for his short documentary, “Stranger at the Gate,” he’s gotten to see McKinney’s reactions to some of the more high profile incidents of violence against Muslims. Specifically, he recalled McKinney’s reaction to the tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand where a man shot up two mosques and killed over 50 people. “Mac, I remember, told me, ‘That was me.’ He was like, it could have been me. He sees his old self in these kinds of acts of hate,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent web chat (watch the exclusive video interview above).
While McKinney does see his old self when these kinds of incidents occur, he also views himself as a possible part of a solution. “He also, I think, sees himself as someone who could be a messenger, someone who could show them another way. That’s what I...
While McKinney does see his old self when these kinds of incidents occur, he also views himself as a possible part of a solution. “He also, I think, sees himself as someone who could be a messenger, someone who could show them another way. That’s what I...
- 2/8/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
We will update these predictions throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2023 Oscar picks. Final voting is March 2 through 7, 2023. The 95th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 12 and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.
See IndieWire’s previous Oscars Predictions for this category and more here.
The State of the Race
It’s a good time to pay attention to the Best Documentary Short category.
While the recent documentary boom has had its pros and cons, one exciting by-product has been that the contenders in this category have become more accessible than ever. Two of the films are available for free on YouTube, while another two are streaming on Netflix. Only “How Do You Measure a Year?” is still working on finding a simple way to watch it outside the Academy Screening Room (and the upcoming theatrical run...
See IndieWire’s previous Oscars Predictions for this category and more here.
The State of the Race
It’s a good time to pay attention to the Best Documentary Short category.
While the recent documentary boom has had its pros and cons, one exciting by-product has been that the contenders in this category have become more accessible than ever. Two of the films are available for free on YouTube, while another two are streaming on Netflix. Only “How Do You Measure a Year?” is still working on finding a simple way to watch it outside the Academy Screening Room (and the upcoming theatrical run...
- 2/6/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who in 2014, at just 17, became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, will attend the Oscar Nominees Luncheon — a pre-Oscars gathering organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to which all of the year’s Oscar nominees are invited along with a plus-one — on Feb. 13, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Yousafzai is an executive producer of Joshua Seftel’s Stranger at the Gate, a nominee for the best documentary short Oscar, and will attend as Seftel’s guest.
The film, which is being distributed by The New Yorker Studios, centers on Bibi Bahrami, an Afghan refugee in small-town Indiana who encountered a U.S. Marine who had planned to bomb her local mosque, at which point the story takes an unexpected turn.
Yousafzai joined Stranger at the Gate as an EP in early 2023 after being sent a copy of it to view.
Yousafzai is an executive producer of Joshua Seftel’s Stranger at the Gate, a nominee for the best documentary short Oscar, and will attend as Seftel’s guest.
The film, which is being distributed by The New Yorker Studios, centers on Bibi Bahrami, an Afghan refugee in small-town Indiana who encountered a U.S. Marine who had planned to bomb her local mosque, at which point the story takes an unexpected turn.
Yousafzai joined Stranger at the Gate as an EP in early 2023 after being sent a copy of it to view.
- 1/30/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (Photo Credit: Allyson Riggs / A24)
Nominees have been announced for the 95th Oscars and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences fell in line with most critics groups, awarding Everything Everywhere All At Once the most nominations with 11. The 2023 Academy Awards also recognized All Quiet on the Western Front with nine nominations, making it the eighth feature film to score nominations in both the Best Picture and Best International Feature categories.
The Banshees of Inisherin also picked up nine nominations, including the first-ever Oscar nominations for Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, and Kerry Condon. Elvis earned eight nominations, with Austin Butler picking up his first Oscar nomination for channeling the King of Rock and Roll.
The Fabelmans was nominated in seven categories, followed by Tar and Top Gun: Maverick with six.
The...
Nominees have been announced for the 95th Oscars and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences fell in line with most critics groups, awarding Everything Everywhere All At Once the most nominations with 11. The 2023 Academy Awards also recognized All Quiet on the Western Front with nine nominations, making it the eighth feature film to score nominations in both the Best Picture and Best International Feature categories.
The Banshees of Inisherin also picked up nine nominations, including the first-ever Oscar nominations for Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, and Kerry Condon. Elvis earned eight nominations, with Austin Butler picking up his first Oscar nomination for channeling the King of Rock and Roll.
The Fabelmans was nominated in seven categories, followed by Tar and Top Gun: Maverick with six.
The...
- 1/24/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has boarded the Oscar-shortlisted documentary short film “Stranger at the Gate” as executive producer.
The film, which charts the surprising change of heart of a Ptsd-suffering former U.S. Marine who set out to bomb a mosque but instead converted to Islam, was a prize winner at the 2022 Tribeca Festival.
“This film is a powerful true story of forgiveness and redemption,” Yousafzai said in a statement. “I hope the film challenges every viewer to question their assumptions and show kindness to everyone they meet.”
Directed by Joshua Seftel, “Stranger at the Gate” is distributed by The New Yorker as part of the magazine’s New Yorker Documentary series.
The film tells the true story of U.S. Marine Richard “Mac” McKinney. Suffering from Ptsd, McKinney decides to bomb the mosque in his hometown of Muncie, Ind. When he arrives at the mosque to gather more information for his plan,...
The film, which charts the surprising change of heart of a Ptsd-suffering former U.S. Marine who set out to bomb a mosque but instead converted to Islam, was a prize winner at the 2022 Tribeca Festival.
“This film is a powerful true story of forgiveness and redemption,” Yousafzai said in a statement. “I hope the film challenges every viewer to question their assumptions and show kindness to everyone they meet.”
Directed by Joshua Seftel, “Stranger at the Gate” is distributed by The New Yorker as part of the magazine’s New Yorker Documentary series.
The film tells the true story of U.S. Marine Richard “Mac” McKinney. Suffering from Ptsd, McKinney decides to bomb the mosque in his hometown of Muncie, Ind. When he arrives at the mosque to gather more information for his plan,...
- 1/13/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
38 at the Garden (HBO) HBO’s 38 at the Garden.
38 at the Garden chronicles the meteoric rise of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin during the 2012 basketball season of “Linsanity,” when he wowed audiences and teammates alike by scoring 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.
Anastasia (MTV Documentary Films)
Russian activist Anastasia Shevchenko grieves for her young adult daughter, from whom she was forcibly separated and who died while Shevchenko was under house arrest for speaking out against the government.
Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison (MTV Documentary Films)
The short tells the story of playwright Liza Jessie Peterson, whose play The Peculiar Patriot was shut down mid-performance at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
As Far as They Can Run (MTV Documentary Films)
The latest from Emmy-nominated Iranian American documentarian Tanaz Eshaghian, As Far as They...
38 at the Garden (HBO) HBO’s 38 at the Garden.
38 at the Garden chronicles the meteoric rise of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin during the 2012 basketball season of “Linsanity,” when he wowed audiences and teammates alike by scoring 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.
Anastasia (MTV Documentary Films)
Russian activist Anastasia Shevchenko grieves for her young adult daughter, from whom she was forcibly separated and who died while Shevchenko was under house arrest for speaking out against the government.
Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison (MTV Documentary Films)
The short tells the story of playwright Liza Jessie Peterson, whose play The Peculiar Patriot was shut down mid-performance at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
As Far as They Can Run (MTV Documentary Films)
The latest from Emmy-nominated Iranian American documentarian Tanaz Eshaghian, As Far as They...
- 12/7/2022
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bibi Bahrami in the Muncie Islamic Centre Photo: Karl Schroder
Have you ever wondered how short films make their way to the Oscars? There are literally thousands of them made every year and the process begins when they are submitted to festivals. if they are successful in being selected by one of those with Oscar-qualifying status, and if they then successfully compete with other such films, they have a chance of making it onto the shortlist. This makes two things possible. It can help new filmmakers break into the big time, and it can – especially in the Documentary Short category – help to draw public attention to subjects of real importance.
Richard 'Mac' McKinney Photo: Karl Schroder
Making good headway in this process is Joshua Seftel’s short documentary Stranger At The Gate, which will shortly be available to watch worldwide courtesy of the New Yorker. It’s the extraordinary story...
Have you ever wondered how short films make their way to the Oscars? There are literally thousands of them made every year and the process begins when they are submitted to festivals. if they are successful in being selected by one of those with Oscar-qualifying status, and if they then successfully compete with other such films, they have a chance of making it onto the shortlist. This makes two things possible. It can help new filmmakers break into the big time, and it can – especially in the Documentary Short category – help to draw public attention to subjects of real importance.
Richard 'Mac' McKinney Photo: Karl Schroder
Making good headway in this process is Joshua Seftel’s short documentary Stranger At The Gate, which will shortly be available to watch worldwide courtesy of the New Yorker. It’s the extraordinary story...
- 9/14/2022
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Victor Gabriel’s “Hallelujah,” Seemab Gul’s “Mulaqat/Sandstorm” and Joseph Pierce’s “Scale” have won the top awards at the 2022 HollyShorts Film Festival, which presented its prizes on Saturday afternoon in Hollywood — thus qualifying for this year’s Academy Awards.
“Hallelujah” won the Grand Prix for the festival’s best short, “Mulaqat/Sandstorm” took the honors as the best live-action short and “Scale” won for animation. HollyShorts is an Oscar-qualifying festival for the short-film categories, and the winners of those three awards are automatically entered in the Oscar race.
The award to “Hallelujah” was presented via video by this year’s Oscar winners for Best Live Action Short, “The Long Goodbye” filmmakers Riz Ahmed and Aniel Karia. The Oscar winners for the 2018 live-action short “Skin,” Jamie Ray Newman and Guy Nattiv, presented the awards to “Mulaqat/Sandstorm” and best-director winner Carlos Segundo (“Sideral”), respectively.
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“Hallelujah” won the Grand Prix for the festival’s best short, “Mulaqat/Sandstorm” took the honors as the best live-action short and “Scale” won for animation. HollyShorts is an Oscar-qualifying festival for the short-film categories, and the winners of those three awards are automatically entered in the Oscar race.
The award to “Hallelujah” was presented via video by this year’s Oscar winners for Best Live Action Short, “The Long Goodbye” filmmakers Riz Ahmed and Aniel Karia. The Oscar winners for the 2018 live-action short “Skin,” Jamie Ray Newman and Guy Nattiv, presented the awards to “Mulaqat/Sandstorm” and best-director winner Carlos Segundo (“Sideral”), respectively.
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- 8/21/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
New York – The 21st Tribeca Film Festival announced their Jury Prizes for 2022 on June 16th. Best U.S. Narrative was rewarded to “Good Girl Jane,” an adolescent story of young love, written/directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz. Best International Narrative goes to “January” and Best Documentary is “The Cave of Adullam.”
“January” is a Lativian/Lithuanian/Polish production concerning an aspiring filmmaker searching for “sides” in the backdrop of Latvian independence, directed by Viesturs Kairiss. “The Cave of Adullam” (USA) regards raising boys under the auspice of martial arts, and it’s directed by Laura Checkoway.
Best U.S. Narrative Feature for 2022 is ‘Good Girl Jane,’ directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival
Awards were distributed in the following feature film competition categories – U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, New Narrative Director, and the Nora Ephron Prize, honoring a woman writer or director. Awards were also given...
“January” is a Lativian/Lithuanian/Polish production concerning an aspiring filmmaker searching for “sides” in the backdrop of Latvian independence, directed by Viesturs Kairiss. “The Cave of Adullam” (USA) regards raising boys under the auspice of martial arts, and it’s directed by Laura Checkoway.
Best U.S. Narrative Feature for 2022 is ‘Good Girl Jane,’ directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival
Awards were distributed in the following feature film competition categories – U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, New Narrative Director, and the Nora Ephron Prize, honoring a woman writer or director. Awards were also given...
- 6/17/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Tribeca Film Festival wrapped up its competition Thursday by announcing awards for “Good Girl Jane,” “January (Janvaris)” and “The Cave of Adullam,” among other films.
Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’ “Good Girl Jane,” about a lonely, bullied high schooler lured into the hard-partying scene by a charming bad boy, took home the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Its star, Rain Spencer (“The Summer I Turned Pretty) also picked up the award for Best Performance in a U.S. narrative film.
The top prize for international narrative feature went to Latvian coming-of-age drama “January (Janvaris),” written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss. The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who tries to figure out who he is amidst the struggle for Latvian independence.
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‘Tíu’ Film Review: Icelandic Band Of Men and Monsters’ Documentary Is an Intimate Gem
Best Documentary Feature was awarded to “The Cave of Adullam,” Laura Checkoway’s portrait of sensei Jason Wilson,...
Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’ “Good Girl Jane,” about a lonely, bullied high schooler lured into the hard-partying scene by a charming bad boy, took home the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Its star, Rain Spencer (“The Summer I Turned Pretty) also picked up the award for Best Performance in a U.S. narrative film.
The top prize for international narrative feature went to Latvian coming-of-age drama “January (Janvaris),” written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss. The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who tries to figure out who he is amidst the struggle for Latvian independence.
Also Read:
‘Tíu’ Film Review: Icelandic Band Of Men and Monsters’ Documentary Is an Intimate Gem
Best Documentary Feature was awarded to “The Cave of Adullam,” Laura Checkoway’s portrait of sensei Jason Wilson,...
- 6/16/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Beloved New York City actors, singers, choreographers, musicians, television, and late-night hosts have come together to produce a video rendition of Billy Joel's “New York State of Mind” to encourage the city’s recovery from the pandemic.
The effort was conceived of and produced by NYCNext, a passionate group of New Yorkers from all disciplines and industries who have joined together to help inspire New Yorkers, with a particular focus on the arts community.
The full video can be found by visiting www.NYCNext.org.
The “New York State of Mind” video features an array of artists from multiple disciplines and industries – including Zeshan B., Sara Bareilles, Mario Cantone, Victoria Clark, Cautious Clay, Andy Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Jerry Dixon, Chloe Flower, Billy Joel’s daughter and singer-songwriter Alexa Ray Joel, Joseph Joubert, Tom Kitt, The Klezmatics, Lachanze, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brian Newman, Kelli O’Hara, Joan Osborne, Peppermint,...
The effort was conceived of and produced by NYCNext, a passionate group of New Yorkers from all disciplines and industries who have joined together to help inspire New Yorkers, with a particular focus on the arts community.
The full video can be found by visiting www.NYCNext.org.
The “New York State of Mind” video features an array of artists from multiple disciplines and industries – including Zeshan B., Sara Bareilles, Mario Cantone, Victoria Clark, Cautious Clay, Andy Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Jerry Dixon, Chloe Flower, Billy Joel’s daughter and singer-songwriter Alexa Ray Joel, Joseph Joubert, Tom Kitt, The Klezmatics, Lachanze, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brian Newman, Kelli O’Hara, Joan Osborne, Peppermint,...
- 8/18/2021
- Look to the Stars
Stephen Colbert, Sara Bareilles, Idina Menzel and more band together to sing Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” in a new video that serves as a tribute to the Big Apple amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the New York Times, Joel gave permission to volunteer organization NYCNext to use his 1976 song, with documentary filmmaker Joshua Seftel crafting a video with the artists involved singing lines from the track at many New York City landmarks.
“This was another moment where New York could really use a song that...
According to the New York Times, Joel gave permission to volunteer organization NYCNext to use his 1976 song, with documentary filmmaker Joshua Seftel crafting a video with the artists involved singing lines from the track at many New York City landmarks.
“This was another moment where New York could really use a song that...
- 8/15/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The idea for Secret Life of Muslims was thought of several years ago but funding was difficult to find for the producers. Then as Donald Trump began running for president in 2016, funding picked up and the series aired a week before the election. The Emmy- and Peabody-nominated show that has been covered by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Vox and CBS Sunday Morning, now has a second season. And the team behind the series has been going around the U.S. with several of the castmembers to educate and discuss the stories shown.
Director and series creator, Joshua Seftel, told The Hollywood ...
Director and series creator, Joshua Seftel, told The Hollywood ...
- 7/26/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The International Documentary Association has announced its initial round of nominees for the 2017 Ida Documentary Awards, including special mentions and nods for limited series, curated series, episodic series, and more. Nominees for Best Feature and Best Short, and awards for creative recognition, will be announced on November 1. The Ida will honor director Marcel Mettelsiefen’s “Watani: My Homeland” with the Pare Lorentz Award. Also receiving a special mention in the category is Joe Berlinger’s “Intent to Destroy.”
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
- 10/16/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Vox has released the new episode of its nonfiction web series “The Secret Life of Muslims,” titled “Dear Hollywood: stop portraying Muslims as terrorists.” In the new installment, Iranian-American author and commentator Reza Aslan, “Glee” actor Iqbal Theba and other prominent Muslims sound off on the problems of Hollywood’s portrayal of the group.
Read More: Mike Ott & Nathan Silver Blur the Line Between Fiction and Reality in ‘Actor Martinez’ — Trailer
“I loved the 1980s, when Chuck Norris used to kill swaths of my people with a machine-gun in some brown bouillabaisse of a country. It was awesome to watch,” says reporter Wajahat Ali at the beginning of the clip. This new episode also features comedian Omar Regan, who claims that “Muslims are always terrorists!” on the big screen.
Comedian Maz Jobrani, author of “I’m Not a Terrorist, but I’ve Played One on TV,” says how much he...
Read More: Mike Ott & Nathan Silver Blur the Line Between Fiction and Reality in ‘Actor Martinez’ — Trailer
“I loved the 1980s, when Chuck Norris used to kill swaths of my people with a machine-gun in some brown bouillabaisse of a country. It was awesome to watch,” says reporter Wajahat Ali at the beginning of the clip. This new episode also features comedian Omar Regan, who claims that “Muslims are always terrorists!” on the big screen.
Comedian Maz Jobrani, author of “I’m Not a Terrorist, but I’ve Played One on TV,” says how much he...
- 2/24/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
In the wake of the election, “The Secret Life of Muslims” is a new digital series that uses humor and empathy to confront Islamophobia. The series was created by Executive Producer Joshua Seftel, an Emmy-winning filmmaker (“War, Inc.,” “Queer Eye,”… Continue Reading →...
- 12/2/2016
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Read More: SXSW Exclusive: Austin Is Cool In Clip From 'Petting Zoo' The BendFilm Festival, an annual celebration of independent film, has announced the winners of 11 award categories from this year's outing. The film "Petting Zoo," directed by Micah Magee, which also played at the Berlin International Film Festival, was awarded the Best in Show Award as well as an award for Best Narrative Feature. The full list of award recipients is as follows: Best in Show - "Petting Zoo," directed by Micah Magee Best Directing - "Birth of Sake," directed by Eric Shirai Best Narrative Feature - "Petting Zoo," directed by Micah Magee Best Documentary Feature - "Birth of Sake," directed by Eric Shirai Best Narrative Short - "Hole," directed by Martin Edralin Best Documentary Short - "The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano," directed by Joshua Seftel Best Student Short - "Take With Water," directed by Tara.
- 10/12/2015
- by Ryan Anielski
- Indiewire
These days, it seems that no pop culture sensation is complete without commentary from a senior citizen, so filmmaker Joshua Seftel had his 76-year-old mother weigh in on Miley Cyrus’ performance at the Vma’s, as well as “turkey,” er, twerking. “She kept doing all of these suggestive moves,” Pat Seftel observed. “What was it called? Um, some kind of with a T. Turkey? Or twerky? Or twerking. Is that what it is?” Also read: Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ Smashes One Direction’s Vevo Record See? She’s hip to the times. So what is twerking in the eyes of...
- 9/11/2013
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
Adult kids moving back in with mom may get a bum rap, but there are at least two mothers who don't mind: Gloria Campano and Pat Seftel.
Campano is not only actor Bradley Cooper's mom, but his roommate as well. After the death of Bradley Cooper's father, the two moved in together for support.
“My family is very close and my dad dying was brutal for all of us,” Cooper told Details magazine in its May 2013 issue. “It was a schism and its aftershock has not stopped. And we need each other. So here we are.”
New York film director Joshua Seftel spoke with his mother Pat for their web series, "My Mom On Movies," about the star and his mom's living arrangement. Pat is so in favor of the set up, she wouldn't mind having her son move back in with her. She even has an itinerary...
Campano is not only actor Bradley Cooper's mom, but his roommate as well. After the death of Bradley Cooper's father, the two moved in together for support.
“My family is very close and my dad dying was brutal for all of us,” Cooper told Details magazine in its May 2013 issue. “It was a schism and its aftershock has not stopped. And we need each other. So here we are.”
New York film director Joshua Seftel spoke with his mother Pat for their web series, "My Mom On Movies," about the star and his mom's living arrangement. Pat is so in favor of the set up, she wouldn't mind having her son move back in with her. She even has an itinerary...
- 5/9/2013
- by Anthonia Akitunde
- Huffington Post
How would you like to meet a leech specialist who is searching for a rare leech that lives only in the backsides of hippos? Or a scientist that plays in a rock band called "Harry and the Potters"? How about an engineer who is an All-American pole-vaulter and Free Runner? Thanks to Nova's new web-only series The Secret Life of Scientists, you can meet all these fascinating people and more. Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Secret Life of Scientists will highlight a total of 32 scientists and engineers over the next two years. Series producer Joshua Seftel had this to say about creating the series: "I was making a film about cancer research a few years ago and I was meeting these scientists, these researchers who were incredible. They were Noble Prize winners and making great breakthroughs in their fields. And I thought, 'why don't I know anything about these people?...
- 9/16/2009
- by Jenni Powell
- Tubefilter.com
Our friends over at USC got in touch to let us know that they've added quite a few more guests to this event, so we're re-posting this with updated details.
Those eager to catch Fangoria Blood Drive alum Paul Solet's Grace have a chance to do so for Free, provided they live close enough to see it at USC.
On June 12th (Tomorrow!), the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Alumni Screening Series will present Grace at 7pm, University Park Campus, Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre/Frank Sinatra Hall.
In an unforgettable emotional and psychological journey into terror, a young woman is forced to make the ultimate motherly sacrifice.
The School of Cinematic Arts and Anchor Bay Entertainment invite you and a guest to a special preview screening of Grace, followed by a Q&A with writer/director Paul Solet and composer Austin Wintory.
Free admission. Open to all.
About Grace
Love.
Those eager to catch Fangoria Blood Drive alum Paul Solet's Grace have a chance to do so for Free, provided they live close enough to see it at USC.
On June 12th (Tomorrow!), the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Alumni Screening Series will present Grace at 7pm, University Park Campus, Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre/Frank Sinatra Hall.
In an unforgettable emotional and psychological journey into terror, a young woman is forced to make the ultimate motherly sacrifice.
The School of Cinematic Arts and Anchor Bay Entertainment invite you and a guest to a special preview screening of Grace, followed by a Q&A with writer/director Paul Solet and composer Austin Wintory.
Free admission. Open to all.
About Grace
Love.
- 6/11/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
Los Angeles, CA) - First Look Studios proudly announces the DVD release of War, Inc., a raw look at the truth behind the corporatizing of war. In the midst of the political sparring surrounding the 2008 presidential election and the sea of disinformation created by the campaigns, War, Inc. provides a fresh perspective of recent current events. Co-written by John Cusack, Jeremy Pikser and Mark Leyner, and directed by Joshua Seftel, War, Inc. is a satire inspired by the influence of multinational corporations over the United States’ international affairs. Written and produced to take a poignant political stance, the film has enlisted the support of highly respected politicians, entertainers and tastemakers such as Rachel Maddow, Tim Robbins, Gore [...]...
- 9/30/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
By Neil Pedley
It's a battle of filmmaking titans this week, the kind of event that comes around once in a lifetime . Steven Spielberg and Uwe Boll will duke it out at the multiplexes. (Forgive us, but that might've been our only opportunity to ever get to put those two names in the same sentence.)
"The Children of Huang Shi"
Set during the Japanese occupation of China during the 1930s, this sweeping historical epic comes from Roger Spottiswoode, the director behind both "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" and the narrative remake of "Shake Hands with the Devil." The first official co-production between Australia and China, the film tells the true story of Australian nurse (Radha Mitchell), who with the aid of a British journalist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), escorts 60 orphaned children 700 miles through the Liu Pan Shan Mountains to evade Japanese secret police. "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" co-stars Michelle Yeoh...
It's a battle of filmmaking titans this week, the kind of event that comes around once in a lifetime . Steven Spielberg and Uwe Boll will duke it out at the multiplexes. (Forgive us, but that might've been our only opportunity to ever get to put those two names in the same sentence.)
"The Children of Huang Shi"
Set during the Japanese occupation of China during the 1930s, this sweeping historical epic comes from Roger Spottiswoode, the director behind both "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" and the narrative remake of "Shake Hands with the Devil." The first official co-production between Australia and China, the film tells the true story of Australian nurse (Radha Mitchell), who with the aid of a British journalist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), escorts 60 orphaned children 700 miles through the Liu Pan Shan Mountains to evade Japanese secret police. "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" co-stars Michelle Yeoh...
- 5/19/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
- John Cusack’s latest film, War, Inc., is rife with political commentary on corporate greed, unregulated military privatization, and the bewildering Us “democratization” of the Middle East. It is such a terrifying look into a possible near future that thankfully its creators have made it a comedy. Tanks roam the landscape advertising Popeye’s Chicken to impoverished civilians before blowing them up. The former Vice President, played by Dan Aykroyd, rules Turaqistan as CEO of the private security force Tamerlane (whose logo is twin sister to the red and white Haliburton). It’s hilarious, as long as you’re not a Neo-Conservative.Although this is director Joshua Seftel’s first narrative feature, he is a veteran of politically ambitious documentary filmmaking. His feature documentary Taking On The Kennedys as well as his Emmy nominated Lost and Found gave him a stepping off point for the fiction of War Inc.
- 5/4/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
John Cusack will team up with Hilary Duff and Marisa Tomei to play the titular hitman in the dark comedy Brand Hauser. The political satire co-written by Cusack with Mark Leyner and Bulworth scribe Jeremy Pikser tells the story of an assassin who gets in way over his head when he's hired to kill a key player in the oil industry. Cusack will co-produce the project with Grace Loh through his New Crime Productions company along with Millennium's Danny Lerner and Les Weldon. Joshua Seftel is on board to direct the film, which is scheduled to begin production this month in Bulgaria.
- 10/19/2006
- IMDbPro News
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