Illuminative to Launch Inaugural Indigenous House at Sundance Film Festival – Film News in Brief

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Illuminative, the Native woman-led social justice organization, has announced the launch of the Indigenous House at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The Indigenous House will open its doors on Main Street in Park City, Utah, where it will spotlight the creativity of Native peoples, unveil new research on Native voices in media and provide a space for community members and allies to explore issues that impact Native peoples.

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“We are beyond thrilled to open the doors to the Indigenous House for the very first time at Sundance Film Festival,” Crystal Echo Hawk, founder and executive director of Illuminative, said in a statement. “Storytelling is a powerful force for change, and we’ve seen firsthand how impactful Native representation is. The entertainment industry has always been one of the biggest perpetrators of our erasure, but Native peoples have flipped the script and are breaking barriers and making incredible strides in representation. The Indigenous House is a celebration of the contributions made by Native creatives, artists, filmmakers, and the creativity, beauty, and strength of Native peoples.

From Jan. 21-22, the Indigenous House will host various events, dinners and panel discussions to immerse attendees in Native culture and celebrate its impact on pop culture and in society. The Sundance Film Festival will take place Jan. 19-29.

Critics Choice Association Announces 2023 Critics Choice Award Presenters

The Critics Choice Awards has announced the presenters at the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler.

Michelle Pfeiffer will honor Jeff Bridges with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Kate Hudson will present the SeeHer Award to Janelle Monáe. Additional presenters include Benjamin Bratt, Quinta Brunson, Cedric the Entertainer, Misha Collins, Claire Danes, Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Eve Hewson, Jude Hill, Tyler Hoechlin, Sharon Horgan, Sarah Hyland, Troy Kotsur, Diego Luna, Natasha Lyonne, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Anya Taylor-Joy, Miles Teller, Elizabeth Tulloch, Kerry Washington and Jeremy Allen White.

The 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on The CW from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Jan. 15 from 7-10 p.m. ET.

British Film Designers Guild Announces Nominees for 12th BFDG Production Design Awards

The British Film Designers Guild has announced the finalist nominees in 11 of the 14 categories for its 12th BFDG Production Design Awards.

The BFDG’s awards, which will take place on Feb. 18 at The Londoner, celebrate the art departments across film, TV and commercials. The final vote opens Jan. 6 and closes on Jan. 29.

Below are the recently announced BFDG nominees:

Peter Lamont Award – Spotlighting New Talent

Matilda Beard – Junior Draughtsperson

Rachel Neill – Art Department Assistant

Katie Mazurek – Junior Draughtsperson

Best Production Design – Commercial

B&Q “Flip” – PD: Dan Betteridge, AD: Kate McConnell

PlayStation “Mr Malcolm” – PD: Pirra, AD: Nadejda Pachova, SD: Neil Floyd

Riot Games “Wild Rift” – PD: Dan Betteridge, AD: Kate McConnell, Stylist: Anna Lynch Robinson

Best Production Design – Short Film

Fireworks – PD: Jamie Lapsley, AD: Felix Coles

Dream Big – PD: May Davies, AD: Kitty Lower, SD: May Davies

Caretaker – PD: Olavo Abrantes, SD: Paola Kossakowska

Best Production Design – Light Entertainment TV Programme

“Atlanta” S3 – PD: Jonathan Paul Green, SAD: Caroline Story, SD: Sophie Coombes

“Man Vs Bee” – PD: Carly Reddin, SAD: Nigel Evans, SD: Janeeta Panesar

“The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” – PD: Beth Mickle, SAD: David Scott, SAD: Alan Hook, SD: Rosemary Brandenburg

Best Production Design – Independent TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie or Limited Series

“Killing Eve” S4 – PD: Lucienne Suren, SAD: Philip Barber, SD: Mike Britton

“Life After Life” – PD: Suzie Davies, SAD: Antony Cartlidge, SD: Charlotte Dirickx

“La Voix Humaine” – PD: Peter Francis, SD: Charlotte Dirickx

Best Production Design – International TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie or Limited Series

“Andor” – PD: Luke Hull, SAD: Toby Britton, SD: Rebecca Alleway

“House of the Dragon” – PD: Jim Clay, SAD: Dominic Masters, SD: Claire Richards

“Wednesday”- PD: Mark Scruton, SAD: Adrian Curelea, SD: Rob Hepburn, SD: David Morison

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Period

“Cyrano” – PD: Sarah Greenwood, SAD: Elaine Kusmishko (UK), SAD: Gianpaolo Rifino (IT), SD: Katie Spencer

“The Banshees Of Inisherin” – PD: Mark Tildesley, SAD: Paul Ghirardani, SD: Michael Standish

“The Outfit” – PD: Gemma Jackson, SAD: Richard Selway, SD: Tonja Schurmann

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Contemporary

“All the Old Knives” – PD: Marcus Rowland, SAD: Grant Bailey, SD: Jude Farr

“Don’t Make Me Go” – PD: Felicity Abbott, SAD: Ross McGarva, SD: Daniel Birt

“The Son” – PD: Simon Bowles. SAD: Caroline Story, SD: Mickaela Trodden

Best Production Design – International Feature Film – Period

“Empire of Light” – PD: Mark Tildesley, SAD: Adam O’Neill, SD: Kamlan Man, SD: Véronique Melery

“The Northman” – PD: Craig Lathrop, SAD: Paul Ghirardani, SD: Niamh Coulter

“Persuasion” – PD: John-Paul Kelly, SAD: Keith Slote, SD: Faye Brothers

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Contemporary

“Morbius” – PD: Stefania Cella, SAD: Nigel Evans, SD: Tina Jones

“The Invitation” – PD: Felicity Abbott, SAD: Alistair Kay, SD: Clare Keyte, SD: Zsuzsanna Sipos

“Thirteen Lives” – PD: Molly Hughes, SAD: Brandt Gordon, SD: Emma Rudkin

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Fantasy

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” – PD: Stuart Craig, PD: Neil Lamont, SAD: Al Bullock, SD: Anna Pinnock

“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” – PD: Christian Huband, PD: David Hindle, SAD: Sam Leake (Senior Art Director), SD: Anna Lynch-Robinson

“The Batman” – PD: James Chinlund, SAD: Grant Armstrong, SD: Lee Sandales

Tom Cruise to Present Jerry Bruckheimer with the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ Filmmaker Award

Tom Cruise will present Jerry Bruckheimer with the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ Filmmaker Award on Feb. 26.

Cruise and Bruckheimer’s working relationship dates back more than three decades, to the original “Top Gun,” the highest-grossing film of 1986.

“Tom Cruise is the perfect presenter as we honor Jerry Bruckheimer and his incredible contributions to the world of film and television,” said MPSE President Mark A. Lanza. “We are thrilled to host these two screen legends as we celebrate the Golden Reel Awards’ Platinum Anniversary.”

Tom Cruise’s appearance is one of many special features planned for this year’s Golden Reel Awards. For the first time in three years the awards ceremony will be held live and at a new venue, the historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Patton Oswalt has been named as the host for the night.

Danny Elfman to Be Honored at Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s 2023 Gala Celebration

Danny Elfman will be honored by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at its 2023 Gala Celebration on Feb. 4 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

“LACO is absolutely delighted to honor Danny Elfman,” executive director Ben Cadwallader said in a statement. “Many of LACO’s current and former artists have worked closely with him in recording sessions and live concerts over the past three decades of his illustrious career. At the gala we will also announce some exciting news about a very special upcoming project involving Danny and the Orchestra.”

The composer and musician has collaborated with such directors as Tim Burton, Sam Raimi, Noah Baumbach, Gus Van Sant, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee, Rob Minkoff, Guillermo del Toro, Brian De Palma, James Ponsoldt and David O’ Russell. In addition to the tribute to Elfman, a suite in three movements arranged by Elfman will be performed at the celebration. Other performers include violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martínez.

Gale Anne Hurd to Receive Visual Effects Society Lifetime Achievement Award

The Visual Effects Society has named producer-screenwriter Gale Anne Hurd as the recipient of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Gale Anne Hurd is one of the most respected and influential film and television producers of our generation,” VES chair Lisa Cooke said in a statement. “By focusing on daring material, championing technological innovations and being the consummate hands-on collaborator, she has carved out a leading position in the previously male-dominated world of the blockbuster, and become a recognized creator of iconic cultural touchstones. Gale is a driving force in our global industry and an exemplary role model, and we are very honored to bestow her with the VES Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Hurd worked on such films as “Aliens,” “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” “Armageddon,” “The Ghost and the Darkness,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “The Terminator.” She served as an executive producer on AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” along with its spinoff series “Fear the Walking Dead.” Additional credits in television include “Talking Dead,” “Tales of the Walking Dead,” “Lore” “Falling Water” and “Hunters.”

Hurd was presented the David O. Selznick Award for achievement in motion pictures by the Producers Guild, has been inducted into the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame and received a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The award will be presented at the 21st Annual VES Awards on Feb. 15 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Damien Chazelle To Receive AIS Gene Kelly Visionary Award At 13th Lumiere Awards

The Advanced Imaging Society announced that director and producer Damien Chazelle will be honored with the annual Gene Kelly Visionary Award at the 2023 AIS Lumiere Awards. Chazelle will join fellow previously announced honorees James Cameron and Jon Landau (Voices For the Earth Award) at the 13th annual awards luncheon event on Feb. 10 at The Beverly Hills Hotel.  The inaugural Gene Kelly Visionary Award went to writer and director Guillermo Del Toro in 2022. Kelly’s widow and biographer Patricia Ward Kelly will present the award to Chazelle.

“Damien Chazelle, like Gene Kelly, is an American original whose films burst with unbounded wit, intelligence and style, which he aptly demonstrates as he retells Hollywood’s earliest days as it moved from silent films to talkies in his latest work, ‘Babylon,’” said Jim Chabin, president of AIS. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to honor him this year.”

Ritesh Rajan and Sydney Park Join Selina Ringel in Indie ‘You, Me & Her,’ Directed by Dan Levy Dagerman

Selina Ringel, Ritesh Rajan and Sydney Park have wrapped production on director Dan Levy Dagerman’s third feature film, “You, Me & Her.”

Loosely based on real events, is a story about a Latinx woman trying to rekindle her marriage on her first trip since having a baby and finds herself completely infatuated by a beautiful young woman that makes her question her own sexuality. The film also stars Roberto Aguire, Marianna Burelli, as well as Graham Sibley and Anna Campbell.

Ringel penned the script, written in Spanglish, and is producing alongside Dagerman of Two Hands Productions, Fernando Lebrija and Pablo Lebrija of Irreversible Pictures and Cameron Fife of June Street Productions.  Executive producers are Hiren C. Surti, Cameron Motola, Shriram Kasinathan, Alfredo & Deborah Ringel and Archana Misra.

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