Cambodia

Academy Doc Series Examines Cambodian People’s Hopes and Struggles

Beverly Hills, CA – “Born Sweet” and “Enemies of the People” will screen as the next installment in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 30th annual “Contemporary Documentaries” series on Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission to all screenings in the series is free.

Directed and produced by Cynthia Wade, “Born Sweet” follows Vinh, a 15-year-old boy as he contends with severe arsenic poisoning in a small Cambodian village, but uses karaoke to keep his spirit alive.

For Cambodian journalist Thet Sambath, who directed and produced “Enemies of the People” with Rob Lemkin, the terror his country endured under the Khmer Rouge struck close to home with the deaths of friends and family members.

Haunted by these losses, he has spent the intervening years bringing the brutal truth behind Cambodia’s history to light. Sambath and Lemkin will be present to take questions from the audience following the screening. (more…)

Le Grand Amou

Academy Brings Back the Laughter with Pierre Étaix

Étaix to Appear in Person

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a rare look at the films of French comedian Pierre Étaix in its latest installment of the Jack Oakie Celebration of Comedy in Film, on Wednesday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Hosted by film critic Leonard Maltin, “Pierre Étaix: The Laughter Returns” will feature Étaix in person followed by screenings of “Le Grand Amour” (“The Great Love,” 1969) and the Oscar®-winning short “Heureux Anniversaire” (Happy Anniversary, 1962) from new restorations.

Étaix is a clown, magician, illustrator and cabaret artist whose films recall the genius of Keaton, Chaplin and Lloyd. He worked with famed director Jacques Tati in various capacities on “Mon Oncle” (1958), then found an ideal collaborator for his own film projects in Jean-Claude Carrière. (more…)

Vanessa Redgrave

Academy to Salute Vanessa Redgrave in London

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will celebrate the career of Oscar®-winner Vanessa Redgrave with its first-ever European tribute to an actor, on Sunday, November 13, in London.

The event, hosted by David Hare, will include special guests Meryl Streep, Ralph Fiennes, Joely Richardson, James Earl Jones and Eileen Atkins. Past Academy President Sid Ganis will introduce the evening.

The salute will explore Redgrave’s dramatic range and exquisite skill. Hare has created three film sequences, each with its own narrative, showing the depth and array of characters that Redgrave has inhabited.

A member of the distinguished Redgrave acting family, Vanessa rose to prominence in 1961, playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Since then, she has made dozens of stage appearances and has appeared in more than 70 films. (more…)

Academy Awards

Academy Tackles State Of Nonfiction

The State of NonFiction

Beverly Hills, CA – Contemporary documentarians will explore the rapidly-changing landscape and increasing profile of documentary film making in “The Rise of Nonfiction Movies,” the latest installment of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ John Huston Lecture series, on Wednesday, October 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The evening will be moderated by R.J. Cutler, producer-director of “The September Issue” (2009) and producer of “The War Room” (1993).

While information may be spreading faster and distribution choices are evolving at a dizzying pace, non-fiction filmmakers continue to find cutting-edge solutions and storytelling forms to prove that truth is often better than fiction.

Despite the significant hurdles their producers and distributors often face, theatrical documentaries have gained a newfound popularity, in many cases because of their willingness to challenge the status quo and delve into the drama, humor and fascination of real life.  (more…)

Cuban Cinema To Be Celebrated at the Academy

Cuban Poster From The Academy

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present “A Celebration of Cuban Film” on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Hosted by Los Angeles Film Festival artistic director David Ansen, the program will feature film clips, an onstage discussion with visiting Cuban directors, and a screening of “Strawberry and Chocolate,” Cuba’s only Foreign Language Film award nominee to date.

Presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Film Festival’s Cuban Spotlight, the program will bring together contemporary Cuban directors including Gerardo Chijona Valdes (“Ticket to Paradise”), Fina Torres (“Habana Eva”), Fernando Perez (“Suite Habana”), and Estela Bravo (“Operation Peter Pan: Flying Back to Cuba”) for a conversation on the evolving motion picture industry and the challenges facing filmmakers in the island nation.

The discussion will be followed by a screening of “Strawberry and Chocolate,” which centers on a young gay artist’s attraction to and resulting friendship with a committed (and straight) communist. At the time of its release, the feature was praised by American reviewers, who were surprised by the sophisticated and frank treatment of politics and sexuality in a Cuban film.

Following the program, the Academy’s current exhibition, “Cuban Film Posters: From Havana to the World,” will be available for viewing in the Academy’s Grand Lobby Gallery. The exhibition presents 125 hand-silkscreened posters for Cuban-produced and international films, including “A Clockwork Orange,” “The Shining,” “The Bicycle Thief,” “Z,” “Strawberry and Chocolate” and “Fallen Gods.” Created by artists engaged by the Instituto Cubano de Arte e Industria Cinematograficos, the artworks have been donated to the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library.

Regular viewing hours for “Cuban Film Posters” in the Academy’s Grand Lobby Gallery, located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, noon to 6 p.m. The gallery will be closed for the Independence Day (July 2 and 3) holiday weekend. Admission is free.

Tickets to “A Celebration of Cuban Film” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, at the Academy box office (8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or by mail. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at the 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

“A Celebration of Cuban Film” is presented as part of “¡Si Cuba! SoCal,” a multi-venue Southern California festival celebrating Cuban culture through art, dance, film music and discussion.

For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Production Designers and Set Decorators:  It’s All About Collaboration

Beverly Hills, CA – The collaborative work process between production designers and set decorators will be explored in detail during the third installment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ series “Evolution or Revolution? Production Design in the 21st Century,” on Monday, May 9, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

“Production Design in the 21st Century” will be hosted by set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg (“Unstoppable,” “Public Enemies”), an Academy governor representing the Art Directors Branch.

Special guests for part three include production designer Jim Bissell with set decorator Jan Pascale (“Leatherheads,” “Good Night and Good Luck.”), set decorator Lauri Gaffin (“Iron Man,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”), production designer Alex McDowell with set decorator Anne Kuljian (“The Terminal,” “Minority Report”), production designer Jeannine Oppewall with set decorator Leslie Pope (“Seabiscuit,” “Catch Me If You Can”). The session will feature film clips and open discussion between the evening’s special guests and members of the audience. (more…)

Academy to Premiere 40th Anniversary Restoration of Foreign Language Film Winner “”The Garden of the Finzi-Continis”

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will premiere a restored print of “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary on Thursday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The evening will feature an onstage discussion with the film’s producer, Arthur Cohn, following the screening.

The 1971 winner of the Foreign Language Film Academy Award®, “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” chronicles the gradual disintegration of the Jewish community living in Ferrara, Italy, at the beginning of World War II. Oblivious to the threats surrounding them, the wealthy Finzi-Contini family ignores the Fascism closing in on their community by remaining within the walls of their luxurious garden. Ultimately, the walled garden is no shelter from Mussolini’s anti-Semitic decrees and the horrors of the Holocaust, and the Finzi-Continis’ inaction and isolation contribute to their downfall.

Adapted from Giorgio Bassani’s 1962 semiautobiographical novel, the film was one of acclaimed Italian director Vittorio De Sica’s final movies. It was shot almost entirely in soft focus, creating a dreamlike quality, and De Sica purposefully never shows the actual dimensions of the garden.

The film also earned an Academy Award nomination for Writing – Screenplay based on material from another medium (Ugo Pirro and Vittorio Bonicelli). (more…)

Beverly Hills, CA – The most memorable film images as seen through the eyes of production designers and set decorators will be explored in detail during the second installment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ series “Evolution or Revolution? Production Design in the 21st Century,” on Monday, May 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

“Production Design in the 21st Century” will be hosted by two of the Academy’s Art Directors branch governors, production designer Jim Bissell (“300,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”) and set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg (“Public Enemies,” “Transformers”).

Special guests for part two include production designers William Creber (“The Poseidon Adventure,” 1972; “Planet of the Apes,” 1968), Lilly Kilvert (“Valkyrie,” “The Last Samurai”) and Alex McDowell (“Watchmen,” “Fight Club”) as well as set decorator Beth Rubino (“It’s Complicated,” “American Gangster”).

The panel will give examples of unforgettable instances when dramatic design surged to the forefront of the storytelling process. The session will feature film clips and open discussion between the evening’s special guests and members of the audience.

The schedule for subsequent sessions is as follows, with all participants subject to availability:

May 9 Set Decoration and the Design Collaboration. Production designers and set decorators discuss their collaborative process.

* Jim Bissell, production designer, and Jan Pascale, set decorator (“Leatherheads,” “Good Night, and Good Luck.”)
* Lauri Gaffin, set decorator (“Iron Man,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”)
* Lilly Kilvert, production designer (“Valkyrie,” “The Last Samurai”)
* Alex McDowell, production designer, and Anne Kuljian, set decorator (“The Terminal,” “Minority Report”)
* Jeannine Oppewall, production designer, and Jay Hart, set decorator (“Pleasantville,” “L.A. Confidential”)
* Victor J. Zolfo, set decorator (“The Social Network,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (more…)

Academy Doc Series Explores Illegal Immigration from Both Sides of the Fence

Beverly Hills, CA – “The Fence” and “Which Way Home” will screen as the next installment in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 29th annual “Contemporary Documentaries” series on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission to all screenings in the series is free.

In October 2006, the U.S. government decided to build a 700-mile fence along its Mexican border. Three years and $3.1 billion later, “The Fence” director Rory Kennedy investigates the impact of the project and how its stated goals – stopping illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and terrorism – have given way to unforeseen consequences. Kennedy also produced the film with Liz Garbus and Keven McAlester. She will be present to take questions from the audience following the screening.

“Which Way Home” profiles two young boys, Kevin and Fito, who are among the countless children who leave their homes in Central America and attempt to enter the United States illegally in search of a better life. Directed and produced by Rebecca Cammisa, the film earned an Academy Award® nomination for Documentary Feature. (more…)

Production Designers Draw the Lines Between Live Action and Animation

Beverly Hills, CA – The differences between production design for animation and live action will be explored in detail during the first installment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ series “Evolution or Revolution? Production Design in the 21st Century,” on Monday, April 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

“Production Design in the 21st Century” will be hosted by two of the Academy’s Art Directors Branch governors, production designer Jim Bissell (“300,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”) and set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg (“Unstoppable,” “Public Enemies”).

Special guests for the first evening will be production designers Kathy Altieri (“How to Train Your Dragon,” “Over the Hedge”), Scott Chambliss (“Salt,” “Star Trek”), Harley Jessup (“Ratatouille,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and Lilly Kilvert (“Valkyrie,” “The Last Samurai”), as well as set decorator Karen O’Hara (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”).

The session will feature film clips and open discussion between the evening’s special guests and members of the audience.

The schedule for subsequent sessions is as follows, with all participants subject to availability:

May 2 – Memorable Images: Production Designers and Set Decorators Choose Their Favorites.

Production designers can create powerful images that embed themselves into the collective cultural consciousness.  The panel will give examples of those unforgettable instances when dramatic design surges from a support role to the forefront of the storytelling process.
William Creber, production designer (“The Poseidon Adventure,” 1972; “Planet of the Apes,” 1968)
Jack Fisk, production designer (“There Will Be Blood,” “The New World”)
Alex McDowell, production designer (“Watchmen,” “Fight Club”)
Beth Rubino, set decorator (“It’s Complicated,” “American Gangster”) (more…)