Latest news with #Oscar-qualifying
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Spotlight on global stories, innovation and Oscar-worthy shorts at BISFF
The 15th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF), accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is now underway, featuring a blend of online and in-theatre screenings. Virtual viewings began on August 7, with in-person screenings scheduled from August 15 to 17, at venues across Bengaluru, namely, Suchitra Academy, Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut, RV University, and Curiouscity Science Centre. Festival director Anand Varadaraj says, 'This year promises to be bigger and better, with more films, diverse voices, and engaging sessions. We're excited to welcome audiences to experience the vibrant world of short films.' A look at what the fest has in store for film buffs: Conversations on cinema The event will also host engaging panels, including: Screens – Big, Small, Handheld with Arun Sagar, Kishore, Rajesh Nataranga, Sudha Rani, and Arun Mandala (Cinimage); Diversity in Moving Image Media with Vasudhendra, Mujeer Pasha, Medhini, and Poojita Prasad; Cinema Studies in India featuring Ashish Kulkarni, Umesh Kulkarni, Gaurav Trivedi, and Piyush Roy; and Film Distribution. A special talk by Maike Mia and Umesh Kulkarni will look at How Not to Enter European Film Festivals. Learning from the experts This year's line-up features a host of cinema-focused workshops for budding filmmakers — from the Selfie Workshop by editor Sri CrazyMindz, to Writing Micro Dramas with Abhishek Iyengar, World of Imagination in Animation by Kartik Mahajan, and a Direction Workshop with Tushar Hiranandani. Focus on transformation This year's theme is 'Transform'. 'It's a reflection of the massive changes we're seeing. The world is shifting rapidly, and so are we. We've evolved, too, in how we think, create, and connect. We are standing at the edge of something huge – AI is shaking things up, and it's not just about movies anymore. It's about how we live and work. I think to stay ahead – to be future-forward – we should adapt, evolve, and be open to totally new ways of doing things,' Anand shares. Students to take centre stage 'Students are playing a significant role in this year's festival, contributing their work and engaging in various sessions. Their involvement brings valuable energy and new voices to the conversation around short films,' says Anand. Films From Across The Globe 'BISFF receives over 3,000 film submissions each year. This year's Oscar-qualifying categories include International, Indian, and Animation Competition Sections, giving audiences a chance to see some of the most creative shorts from around the world,' adds Anand. We in the cinema industry are standing at the edge of something huge – AI is shaking things up. To stay ahead, cinema should adapt, evolve, and be open to totally new ways of doing things Anand Varadaraj, festival director India's Only Oscar-qualifying Fiction Film Festival BISFF is India's only Oscar-qualifying short film festival. 'As an Oscar-qualifying festival, the best films in our international and Indian sections are eligible for Oscar consideration. The Academy doesn't directly select short films; instead, it relies on accredited festivals to recommend entries. Our winners join a pool of films recommended globally, increasing their chances for an Academy Award nomination,' shares Anand, and adds, 'Last year's International Competition winner, I'm Not a Robot by Victoria Warmerdam went on to win the 2025 Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. '
NZ Herald
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Kiwi actor and producer Peter Winkelmann's low-budget film projects are challenging the titans of cinema
'[Esmail] was like, I made a noir film once. This one's better,' Winkelmann tells me, recalling the high praise. He's zooming in from his LA apartment, a place he didn't expect to be real when he moved there during the Covid pandemic. 'On that Uber ride over, I was sort of like, I hope this place I took a lease on exists. I didn't know anyone on the continent or any friends in America at all, let alone LA.' The Viridian Jewel was filmed in the Hollywood hills on a shoestring budget. Having now lived in the US for five years, Winkelmann knows a fair bit about how the brutal commercial studio system works. In a world full of failures, he's found success through the unlikely avenue of low-budget film-making and takes pride in challenging the status quo. 'One of the films I produced for $400 has been included in the official selection for LA Shorts, next to short films with budgets in excess of $100,000,' he says. 'It's a serious festival too: it's Oscar-qualifying and has previously hosted the work of people such as Gary Oldman, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola. A similar no-budget film I acted in won Best Picture at the San Pedro International Film Festival.' Winkelmann is a long way from his hometown of Taupō. His love of acting took him to the University of Auckland, then through two of the prestigious Stella Adler Studio and Academy of Acting outlets in the US, which boast alumni such as Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. 'There's a really awesome film industry in New Zealand, but for me, I'm someone who believes if you want to try master something, you go to the source.' It hasn't all been smooth sailing, particularly in his first few months trying to figure out the lay of the land. 'Naturally, everything was shut, so those first few months were extremely isolating. I also got Covid within those first few months, which was quite scary because there was so much uncertainty about it,' Winkelmann recalls. But a chance foray into low-budget filmmaking during strict pandemic conditions made Winkelmann realise the future looked bright for independent film-makers. 'The nature of the opportunities were pretty bizarre. It didn't look like what we perceived the film industry to be, because the situation had shifted so radically,' he says. His film Trolled, with a crew of about five and a budget of less than $20,000, won a bunch of awards and got distribution in the US. 'We constructed this spooky horror film where we were doing it like a live stream, meant to look like it was all filmed on different GoPros positioned around the room. 'There was a bunch of us tied to chairs being attacked by this scary guy, and we filmed it all in this experimental one-take where we were all improvising.' Peter Winkelmann's low-budget films have found success up against revered film-makers. Winkelmann credits the ad-hoc format to putting him out of his comfort zone, something that he believes helps creatives thrive and form a sense of community. 'The film industry was going through this massive radical shift from all of the pressure coming from all these external factors. 'I think putting myself in a position where there was external pressure motivated me to go the extra step and sort of lit a fire on my bum to really put myself out there.' It's also helped fuel a new fire for low-budget film-makers who want to buck the trend. 'Over the last five years, the whole industry has really started to shift. I think it started with Covid, but then we went from Covid straight into the strikes, AI being a big factor in those strikes,' Winkelmann says. 'This changed people's consumption habits. Movie theatres still haven't returned to the same, and there has been a massive contraction around streaming. But the streaming bubble has kind of popped. There's essentially been this arms race between all of these different streaming studios, and with all these different strategies, a big company ends up like swallowing all the other ones.' Curious about the trends, he did some research and theorised that there may be a link between the consumption of social media and the success of low-budget film-making. 'You can see it in the younger demographics already. I saw a stat that was like less than 20% of people under 20 even watch streaming channels anymore in America. It's all like social media content, TikTok and Instagram and so on. 'This probably gets into my opinion here, but I think the reason for this is because people relate to authenticity. Connecting to an individual and the abundance of hyper niche content that's specifically targeted at your interest, as opposed to these big mass appeal, outdated media styles, right? With smaller budget films, there's an opportunity for a new model of film-making to come around where there's like a more niche audience and more targeted films.' But success isn't the only thing Winkelmann and his team gain from their low-budget endeavours - there's also the personal gain. 'The most important thing in film-making is spirit, and we've got that in buckets in the independent scene.' he says. 'I think that there needs to be a push for community building around cinemas. I think every area of life at the moment, we need to push towards community.' Peter Wineklmann moved to Los Angeles during the height of the Covid pandemic. For Kiwis looking to enter the weird and wonderful world of independent film-making, Winkelmann says NZ's number eight wire mentality will bode well. 'Do it. Do it yourself and figure it out yourself. Give yourself like grace and explore because filmmaking is a trade. It's a skill, and it's something you just have to do, and every single time you do it you'll get better and better and better,' he says. 'There's no point trying to write the perfect project or set out to make the next Scorsese film on your first go. Ask questions, be curious, explore and just have fun making stuff.' Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald's entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke's Bay Today.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oscars: Mariska Hargitay's Jayne Mansfield Doc ‘My Mom Jayne' Has Qualified, Campaign to Come (Exclusive)
My Mom Jayne, Mariska Hargitay's documentary about her late mom Jayne Mansfield, which dropped on HBO on June 27, became the talk of the town in recent days as people caught up with it over the July 4 weekend. And Hargitay's film directorial debut is likely to remain a topic of conversation over the coming months because, The Hollywood Reporter can report, it received an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run the week before it hit cable — quietly screening at the Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood from June 20-26, and thereby meeting the Academy's documentary feature Oscar eligibility requirement of a one-week run in at least one of several major cities — and Hargitay and Co. are committed to giving it a real grassroots push this awards season. The Academy's 693-member documentary branch, which solely determines the best documentary feature Oscar shortlist and nominees, has, in recent years, demonstrated an aversion to films by and/or about celebrities. Indeed, it infamously declined to even shortlist well-received docs about Robert Downey Sr. (Sr.), Anthony Bourdain (Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain), Val Kilmer (Val), Alexander McQueen (McQueen), Quincy Jones (Quincy) and Aretha Franklin (Amazing Grace), and opted to shortlist but not nominate widely admired docs about Fred Rogers (Won't You Be My Neighbor?), Roger Ebert (Life Itself), Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry), Jon Batiste (American Symphony), Michael J. Fox (Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie), Jane Goodall (Jane) and David Bowie (Moonage Daydream). More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Severance' Leads TCA Awards Nominations "I Love You. Send Bitcoin." Inside the Billion-Dollar Celebrity Impersonation Scam 'Wednesday' Season 2 Trailer Teases Jenna Ortega Attempting to Save Emma Myers or "Die Trying" However, a strong argument can and will be made that My Mom Jayne is not, in fact, just another 'celeb doc,' but rather something more akin to Sarah Polley's acclaimed 2012 doc directorial debut Stories We Tell, in which the filmmaker methodically revealed secrets that she had been keeping about her family. (That film was ultimately Oscar-shortlisted.) Indeed, Hargitay's film — which had its world premiere at May's Cannes Film Festival and its U.S. premiere at June's Tribeca Festival, and is currently at 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with the New York Times hailing it as 'an exceptional family tale' — chronicles not only Mansfield's brief but colorful life and career, but also the way that her 1967 death in a car crash impacted Mansfield's children, three of whom — including Hargitay — were also in the vehicle at the time but survived. In the film, Hargitay, who was just 3 years old at the time of the accident, movingly discusses how she spent the nearly 60 years since then juggling grief, resentment and secrets — including a big secret about herself that she shares publicly for the first time late in the film — before finding healing through the process of making My Mom Jayne. Hargitay told me on Tuesday, 'The messages I have received both directly and through social media since we released My Mom Jayne have been extraordinary. It has been beautiful to see how the story has not only resonated with people, but how many have been moved to engage with their own families' stories in a new way. I am excited to keep sharing this film and deeply grateful that so many have joined me in remembering — and discovering — my mom in this way.' HBO, in a statement to THR, added, 'We're incredibly proud of the film and heartened by the extraordinary audience reception. We continue efforts to raise awareness for this remarkable film.' A fun fact to keep in mind this awards season: Both Mansfield and Hargitay were awarded Golden Globes — Mansfield won most promising newcomer in 1957 for The Girl Can't Help It and Hargitay won best actress in a TV drama in 2005 for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — but Mansfield never received an Oscar nomination. Rather poetically, this film about her could bring Hargitay one. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Time Business News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Joseph Neibich: The Renaissance Man of Comedy, Film, and Storytelling
Joseph Neibich — also known as Joseph Nybyk — is a true multi-hyphenate in the world of entertainment. Actor, director, producer, comedian, and writer, Neibich was recently named 2025 Best Comedian by Tucson Weekly , a recognition that highlights both his comedic brilliance and his enduring impact on the Southwest's performance scene. On March 28 and 29, fans can catch Neibich live at Laffs Comedy Caffé, where he'll be performing alongside headliner Pauly Casillas. As a house emcee at Laffs, Neibich is no stranger to the stage — he's also held similar roles at Laugh Factory and Stand Up Scottsdale, where he's fine-tuned his comedic craft. A Gilbert native, Neibich's academic path took him from the University of Arizona to Sewanee: The University of the South, where he studied political theory and prelaw. But it was the pull of performance — not politics — that ultimately won him over. He entered the world of stand-up in 2000 and never looked back, performing everywhere from clubs and colleges to cruise ships and corporate events. Early in his journey, Neibich worked the door at the iconic Comedy Store in Hollywood, a proving ground for legends like Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Richard Pryor. 'Every single one of us would have paid for the job,' he recalls. Being surrounded by comedy giants like Joe Rogan and Chelsea Handler inspired him to commit fully to the craft. His early material was drawn from his time bartending at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he rubbed elbows with A-listers like Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Bono, and Michael Jordan. His brushes with fame now form the core of his storytelling-rich sets. 'I talk about it for a good 10 minutes… the antics of the rich and famous and being a young bartender trying to make it in Hollywood,' he says. Today, Neibich's comedy includes reflections on aging, changing priorities, and life after late-night parties — 'I used to love to party. Now I love coffee shops,' he jokes. His passion for storytelling began early, watching The Tonight Show with his father and dreaming of being like Johnny Carson. But growing up in Gilbert, Arizona, he didn't see a clear path to that dream. 'You work for the city, maybe go into politics,' he said of the environment he grew up in. Still, a trip to New York City and some college theater changed everything — and he knew he belonged in the arts. Neibich's talents extend beyond stand-up. In 2025, he wrote and starred in 'Feeling Blessed', a short film that was submitted to HollyShorts and the Rhode Island International Film Festival, both Oscar-qualifying events. He also created 'Lights Off', which will screen at the Arizona International Film Festival on April 8. Beyond his own work, he uplifts others through his Faith in Film International Film Festival, happening May 17 at The Screening Room. It's a platform for faith-based films and emerging talent. 'Hopefully, it helps them get noticed, and they make bigger and better movies,' he says. Neibich's Hollywood journey began with a small but meaningful role in Jerry Maguire , which bolstered his confidence and launched a flurry of calls to agents. After moving to Los Angeles in 1997, he joined the marketing team at Paramount Pictures and later worked at Landmark Entertainment, collaborating with legends like James Cameron and Michael Jackson. Whether working behind the scenes in production or captivating crowds on stage, Neibich remains committed to the art of storytelling. 'I can't imagine spending my 20s and early 30s doing anything else,' he says. To learn more about Joseph Neibich and his work, visit TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oscar access for La. Film Prize Winner, new partnership
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL, KMSS)— The ultimate prize for filmmakers is now within reach thanks to a new partnership between the Fort Worth Film Commission and the Louisiana Film Prize. More KTAL NEWS NOW With this partnership, the winning short film of the 2025 Louisiana Film Prize Fest will receive a trip to Fort Worth for a limited theatrical release, complete with a red carpet premiere and celebratory after party. 'The Louisiana Film Prize has always been about connecting filmmakers with amazing industry mentorship and real, tangible opportunities,' said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of the Film Prize and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. 'This partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission represents a major leap forward. We're not just celebrating independent film—we're creating real access to the industry's biggest stage.' Tarrant County in Fort Worth was designated as an Oscar-qualifying region by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the 98th Academy Awards season. What used to be a process that was costly, time-consuming, and difficult to navigate, has now been made easy for filmmakers. Now the grand prize winner of Film Prize will also have the ability to host an Oscar-qualifying screening in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Film Commissioner, Taylor Hardy, said, 'We've been blown away by the global interest in screening in Fort Worth as a path toward Oscar eligibility.' 'We're excited to partner with a powerhouse like the Louisiana Film Prize to provide more opportunities while connecting with talented and inspiring filmmakers.' Louisiana Film Prize winner Josh Munds shares his journey to filmmaking Louisiana Film Prize 2026 is still open for submissions and will be held during Prize Fest, October 16–19, in downtown Shreveport. For more information, visit Filmmakers with completed short film projects interested in pursuing Oscar qualifications can now apply for a Premiere Package at *Please note: Eligibility for Academy Award® consideration is determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is subject to change based on its official rules and guidelines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
