And the Nominees Are…?

2009 will be marked as the year of BAD to WORSE releases and one that would alter the way I look at films and made me adjust my approach to the appreciation of this art form.

The award season has officially kicked-off with the recent Spirit Award Nominations and the National Board of Review, and between them, only a handful of films are worth mentioning, while many others wouldn’t even have a chance in any other year.  Granted there are many films to choose from–as in the case of the upcoming Golden Globe nominations this coming Tuesday–but many of them unfortunately lack substance and aim at mainstream audiences who were simply looking for escapist entertainment.

On December 15th, the Hollywood Foreign Press will narrow down this year’s nominations from over 170 films in contention, and with so many categories they may have trouble filling in the slots due to lack of worthy films, performances and such.  But then again, it’s the Golden Globes and they have been known for having a much broader appeal to films of all kinds than it’s older brother; OSCAR!

Come Oscar nomination time, academy members may find themselves in a pickle as well, as they will have to broaden their spectrum; since beginning this year there will be no 5 Best Picture nominees, but rather 10.  This will certainly prove to be very difficult for those more intellectual members who seek good quality films.  It’s the second week in December and I can only come up with a quite small number of films worth considering and time is running out for Academy Award consideration–December 31st.  The truth of the matter is that there are only less than half a dozen films that I am interested in viewing before the year’s end, and that I think will perhaps be worth my while.  The quality of films have deteriorated immensely over the years and it’s a disappointing truth that I have been reluctant to accept.  Since I was 15, I have been a avid film fan and have always looked forward to going to the movies, but 2009 unfortunately marks the year that my outlook has finally met reality.

As a result, I have decided to broaden my spectrum by focusing on various forms of filmmaking independently, as opposed to a sum of it’s parts masterpiece, as has been tradition.  Some of these forms are: acting, cinematography, art direction, story, etc.  And by doing that I have managed to come up with a preliminary list of films that are good, but by no means brilliant or masterpieces.

Here are some of my favorite films this year to exemplify how few these are–in random order and please note that 3 of them are foreign:

Inglourious Basterds

Tokyo Sonata

Hurt Locker

Antichrist

Mancora

Looking forward to see:

Nine

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Lovely Bones

A Single Man

STAY TUNED FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF FILMS AND ARTISTS THAT MADE THE CUT IN MY YEARLY MOTION PICTURE AWARDS…

In the meantime, I make a plea to HOLLYWOOD to get out of this bad road it’s taken over the last few years and become more CREATIVE AND COME OUT WITH MORE QUALITY FILMS, AS IT WAS ONCE THE NORM!!!

Inglourious Basterds – One of this Year’s BEST FILMS!

As I have mentioned time after time this year, motion pictures have never been so disappointing as they have in 2009.

So, after searching so hard for those few little gems; I finally seem to have found with no doubt one of the Best Films of the year.  This very well done piece of work has been brought to us by Quentin Tarantino, one of the masters of modern-day U.S. film making, and whose work couldn’t have come at a better time.  The film is Inglourious Basterds.

In the first clip, Colonel Hans Lander (played brilliantly by Christoph Waltz) – aka “The Jew Hunter” – faces the French farmer Monsieur LaPadite (Denis Menochet) in his cottage and explains his twisted theory why Jews are like ‘rats’…which gives the viewer what they’re in for.  The film begins with a high degree of sophisticated style and maturity to the point that we find ourselves reading subtitles without losing any interest, as the suspense of what’s about to happen keeps the audience perked up.  By the time the film was over, we heard the characters speak English, French, Italian and German, and the one who did the most impressive job mastering all these languages was Christoph Waltz.

I was very impressed by the solid maturity, degree of  suspense, elegant and artistic shots and angles throughout the film that made it perhaps one of Tarantino’s most accomplished and serious work to date.  Of course there are hints of the director’s trademark throughout the film, and that is the over indulgence of music, which in most cases works, but in this one it become a bit distracting and out-of-place.  For example, the usage of  David Bowie’s awesome “Cat People” in a pivotal scene in which the soundtrack got in the way; similarly, Tarantino’s incredibly distracting casting choice of having Mike Meyers on playing a serious character that wasn’t very effective because it’s hard to take him seriously, as his normally a clown.  Also, having Brad Pitt on board was a bit unnecessary for the story I thought, but I understand why the choice,  as he’s a huge box office draw, as the film brought in some decent results in box office thanks to him.  The rest of the film’s casting on the other hand was impeccable,  starting with Christoph Waltz, who deserves an Oscar for his powerhouse performance!

The delectable Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa.  This guy is an amazing and wonderful oozer of charisma, menace, and sociopathic charm.  From his first scene, in a farmhouse in France, to his last, Waltz is a riveting character and a sublime bit of casting.

Nevertheless, these are such small things that are typical of Tarantino that are almost insignificant, as the picture overall has some many good things going that outweigh these minor distractions.

Tarantino pulls out a strong, tension-filled WWII movie draped on an alternative universe full of  revenge and fantasy that is divided in three chapters which are more and more suspenseful as time progresses.  The plot revolves around a ”Jew Hunter”, a Jewish cinema owner, a Nazi hero infatuated with her, a British infiltration, and a film premiere where it all culminates brilliantly.  One forgets, with all the French, German, bit of Italian and English over 153 minutes, that you’re watching a Hollywood movie at all, if felt very European or a grown-up film by a master American Filmmaker like Robert Altman or something.  The Film is that GREAT!

I must warn you that the violence in the film is a bit extreme, but necessary to make the point Tarantino is trying to make.  It’s also not to be taken very seriously, as dark comedy is infused throughout in a very clever way.

I won’t tell you anymore about this awesome flick and will let you go find out the rest yourself.  Rush to the theater to go see it…and if you can’t find it playing near you anymore, stay tuned, as there will be a strong Oscar push come awards season and will be brought back to theaters nationwide.

MPAA Rating R- strong graphic violence, language, & brief sexuality

Release date 8/21/09

Time in minutes 153

Rating: 4 STARS

Check out the official Inglourious Basterds trailer after the jump…

Dinner and a Movie = A Classic Combination

When you think of dinner and a movie you may think of going out to dinner and then rushing to the theater to catch your favorite flick, right?

Well, Village Roadshow–an Australian media company with interests in cinema, theme parks, film production and distribution–is now introducing a new concept to the States that will make you look at the good old dinner and a movie idea as a true experience!  The Australian media company is calling their venture “Gold Class Cinemas”, which aims to deliver ‘first and gold class’ treatment to its clientele.

I first learned about this new chain when strolling around Old Pasadena and saw their sign and mark key reading coming soon.  And then earlier this week, there was an article on the local newspaper about the official new theater experience coming to town.  I agree with the Pasadena Star News about this potentially becoming the “next big thing in Old Pasadena”, as it has been sometime now since the One Colorado Laemmle Theaters left the district and a new concept like this was desperately needed!

‘Gold Class Cinemas‘ will be taking over the old Laemmle art house spot in the One Colorado structure and it’s scheduled to be completed in time for Christmas and should certainly boost business sales to the district this holiday season.

The six-screen luxury theater experience will be the first of its kind in Southern California and part of the Australian-based company’s roll out plan that includes existing sites in Washington State, Texas and Illinois.  Each screen will have a smaller number of seats to make the experience a bit more intimate and overall integrity in line with their luxury approach.

This is already a hugely popular concept in Australia and I think it should do well here in the States, but will it be popular among restaurants–which are many over 100 in Old Pasadena alone–and ultimately the consumer’s pockets?

Well, it provides with a convenient approach by having everything in one place…a server serving you, sipping a nice wine or glass of champagne in a reclining chair accompanied with your loved one, sounds good, doesn’t it?

It’s certainly a small luxurious approach to the experience of going out, especially when you add a blanket and a pillow to an already comfortable leather chair, at a prize tag of between $25 – $35 a pop–this does not include tax or tip.  It’s not so bad I think…It’s completely reasonable.  I am ready to impress my loved one with a special date…can I bring my own rare wine?

One think that I would be concerned is the noise level and the distraction factor when having people mingle, eating and servers running around with food…should be interesting to see how this plays out.

For more details visit “Gold Class Cinemas”

WATCH THE EXPERIENCE HERE:

Alice in Wonderland in the Eyes of Tim Burton

Due to the lack of good films out there this year, here are some cool images from Tim Burton/Johnny Depp’s latest collaboration: Alice in Wonderland, opening Spring 2010!

Based on these images the movie seems like it’s going to be a visual spectacle, as many of Burton’s fantastic films.

Here you go, courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes…I’ve enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter’s images the most!

Here is a teaser to this much anticipated film and the link to its official website:

Alice in Wonderland

The Cove – A Deep Secret Uncovered!

I recently went to see a film that shocked me to the core and I encourage everyone to go see it and discover a dark deep secret about Japan and its relationship with dolphins and how we can help to take action against this not well known evil practice.  The film is called: The Cove.

Synopsis: In a sleepy lagoon off the coast of Japan lies a shocking secret that a few desperate men will stop at nothing to keep hidden from the world. In Taiji, Japan, former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O’Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation “Flipper.” One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures must never be subjected to human captivity again. This mission has brought him to Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonders and mysteries of the sleek, playful dolphins and whales that swim off their coast. But in a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and “Keep Out” signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling and the consequences are so dangerous to human health that they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it. [Courtesy of IMDB]

The Cove is a spectacularly compelling documentary that goes far beyond than most films dare to go, so kudos for the audacity of the filmmakers, activists and high tech elements provided by supporters of this important cause of saving dolphins from tragedy.  The film takes a deep investigative role Mission Impossible style, trying to uncover a deep secret and hard to swallow truth about what happens in this little quite and an assuming town of Taiji, Japan.  From the beginning, when Ric O’Barry is seen wearing a surgical mask driving through the roads and streets of this town–who hates him and his philosophies–the viewer gets the impression of an Ethan Huntesque approach, by O’Berry traversing through the town incognito on a secret mission.

The ironic part of all of this is that O’Barry believes he’s partly to blame and with a reason, as he introduced the dolphin to this billion dollar business of exploiting this harmless and loving sea creature by his introduction of it to the hit TV show: Flipper. This same billion dollar industry is the one that pays as much as $150,000 per dolphin to be later taken to captivity for shows in aquariums and aquatic parks like Sea World, and these are the lucky dolphins that make the cut to be sold.  Most of those captured dolphins have a much bleaker future as they are brutally killed.  What most people aren’t allowed to see is what happens afterward, when the ones that didn’t make the cut are moved to this secret cove, a place of complete darkness ruled by merciless fishermen.  What’s most disconcerting about the whole story is the politics behind it, as there isn’t an organization that officially protects dolphins, the same way whales are protected.  For some reason dolphins were not included even though they belong to the whale family.  What’s worse is that Japan recruits countries in the Caribbean to get votes and support their cruelty to dolphins and to allow Japan do as they want again with whales, violation international conventions.  It’s legal to fish for dolphins in Japan, and the filmmakers estimate that 23,000 dolphins are “harvested” there annually, making Japan by far the largest fishing industry in the world, and the highest exporter and killer of dolphins. A quote from a resident of Taiji is simply mind boggling, as they believe the following: “we are just trying to get rid of them because they are a pest”, utterly shocking!

The film is ended beautifully with a great song by David Bowie “Heroes”, which plays over the closing credits, and with its lyrics about swimming like dolphins and the line “We can be heroes just for one day,” moved me and the people I was with to take part on this important cause. The song’s powerful lyrics act as great motivation for us humans to do something about this travesty and try to become some sort of heroes by saving this unique creature from extinction.  By the time the credits have rolled most of the audience was left deeply moved, wiping tears off our faces with something in mind that most of us shared; get together as one in this noble mission!

I urge everyone to go see this very important film, which deals with a REAL issue that needs to be addressed by all of us and governments around the world; furthermore, it covers a much bigger issue, that of the depletion, erosion and pollution of our oceans.  A fact addressed in the film claimed that: “in 40 years we will be out of fish from our oceans if we continue at the rate we are going”, this is devastating figure, and extremely selfish from our part, so we MUST take action and make a change NOW!

How can we do this?

The creators of this great film have not only created the traditional website for it, but have taken the whole issue a step further by creating a take action, take part website for everyone to go to and help make a positive change, so I encourage everyone to go check it out and do the right thing:

http://www.takepart.com/thecove/

Here are Five Things that we can all do to begin with NOW:

1. Write to our leaders and help get the word out in Japan
2. Learn more about dolphins in captivity
3. Choose the safest fish to eat
4. Help Save Japan’s Dolphins efforts on the frontlines
5. Support the filmmakers with donations

Jeremy Renner and The Hurt Locker!

Official Poster

The Hurt Locker, winner of the 2008 Venice Film Festival SIGNIS Grand Prize, is a riveting and suspenseful portrait of the elite members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad, soldiers who volunteer to challenge the odds and save lives in one of the worlds most dangerous jobs.

It’s another Iraq war movie, with danger, tension, explosions, but unlike many Hollywood big budgets like The Kingdom and others this film is directed more meticulously and its enhanced with great performances; including the bravura performance of Jeremy Renner, which I hope it’s remembered come award season.

Jeremy Renner first made an big impression on me when he played Jeffrey Dahmer in the film Dahmer, several years ago.  In this film, which portrays a war torn Iraq, Renner plays a bomb defusing technician whose job is so intense that every time he performs his duty of defusing bombs with maximum caution kept me and many in the theater biting our nails.  Ironically, Renner’s character is so cool, that he doesn’t really cares much about the dangers of every assignment and sees it as an adrenaline ride.

Kathryn Bigelow, the director of the film does a good job in presenting a grim portrait of Iraq, that includes: Iraqi people feeling uneasy about the US occupation and always keeping a suspicious eye on them, the role of the American solders trying to keep order and safety, bringing a bit of awareness of the insanity of these soldiers’ situation in this war more successfully than her big Big Hollywood peers.  Bigelow’s directorial style makes the film more vivid and realistic, as she uses a hand-held camera which follows the soldiers every move, adding tension to almost every scene and capturing unique moments of human behavior–as in the scene in the desert when they are snipping our the enemy.  The explosion scenes are a prime example of the realistic approach that the was going for, as she mentioned in a NPR interview recently.

This film is quite good, but the star making performance of Renner is even better!  Renner’s squad is comprised of Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty, who pass as very realistic soldiers based on their great acting abilities and their looks.  In addition to Renner there are also some other familiar faces that make unique cameos throughout the film, which include: Guy Pearce, David Morse and Ralph Fiennes, all of whom–despite of how small their parts may be–provide with great support to the main characters, as they make you forget that these men are all actors.

The Hurt Locker is a very well made film and a pretty good effort coming from Summit Entertainment, who has been managing to come up with creative and artistic little films like this, as well as big successful hits like Twilight.  So, I recommend this film for film fans to go see, as there isn’t much out there worth the time these days!

MPAA Rating: Rated  R – violence and pervasive language
Release Date: 7/10/09
Running Time: 131 minutes
Director:  Kathryn Bigelow
Studio: Summit Entertainment

What is Máncora???

El Peru’s one of most best-kept secrets for beaches and BIG surfing waves and a lot of sun is without doubt Máncora!

Máncora is the place to see and be seen along the Peruvian coast, where during the summer months foreigners flock to rub sunburned shoulders and enjoy on of Peru’s best sandy beaches, which stretches for several kilometers in the sunniest region of the country.   But getting there isn’t easy, as driving there can take up to 18 hours from Lima–the capital–or a couple of hours via plane.  Driving up to Máncora from Lima along the Panamericana Norte can be quite an experience, as one is traveling from the middle of the country to almost the northernmost part of this big nation that is actually bigger than it seems in most maps.  The country is quite arid along the coast and the Pan-American Highway takes one along the many deserted areas of Peru.

BUT, how do I know this or anything about Máncora and what’s the relevance of it to ICINE?  Well, it’s simple; a GREAT new film released in the United States recently called the same as this gem beach community: Máncora.

From the director of “La Mujer de Mi Hermano” (My Brothers Wife), and the writer of “Voces Inocentes” (Innocent Voices), Ricardo de Montreuil comes Máncora, a tender and pulsating road-trip drama that delicately traces the shifting emotional boundaries between three disconnected souls.  Máncora introduces us to Santiago, a 21-year old from Lima who is haunted by his father’s recent and unexpected suicide. Suffocating in the chill of a grey Lima winter, Santiago decides to take refuge in Máncora, a beach town in the north of the country where summer never ends.   Right before his departure, Santiago receives an unexpected visit from his stepsister Ximena, a vibrant, sexy Spanish photographer and her husband Iñigo, a brash art collector from New York.   The tranquility of their getaway is quickly shattered by a powerful act of boundary-crossing and betrayal, which threatens to transform their relationship forever and turn Máncora in to a paradise lost.

The film begins with a lovely poem excerpt from César Vallejo’s–a great Latin American writer/poet from El Peru– from Los Heraldos Negros (The black messengers), which as you will see in the film is Santiago‘s gift from his father.  And the excerpt reads…

Hay golpes en la vida tan fuertes . . . ¡Yo no se!
Golpes como del odio de Dios; como si ante ellos;
la resaca de todo lo sufrido se empozara en el alma
¡Yo no se!  …

The film is reminiscent of Y Tu Mama Tambien with fresh new faces to us–in reality these are very talented actors in their own countries and IberoAmerica—that takes us on a road trip searching fordiscovery.  The film has poetic undertones and raw look at life growing up and searching for what path one is to follow and its meaning and place in life.  Ricardo de Montreuil‘s collaboration with Angel Ibargurent and Juan Luis Nugent (writers of the film’s screenplay), and Leandro Filloy’s cinematography, along with the precise casting of the main characters,, makes Máncora work, as great quality film that deserves to be noticed!

During this time of mediocre to BAD films out there, little independent/foreign films like this are those that need to be discovered, enjoyed and tell others about, so I am doing my part.  I don’t want to provide with too much in depth information or details about it other than what’s been provided, but I assure you, you WON’T be disappointed!

It’s a universal story of discovery, growing up, going through difficult times–death, depression, etc.–love, friendship and family, with likeable characters in a very fresh new place to most of us Máncora, before now have you ever heard of it?

Now you know what it is, where it is and what this movie is all about…is playing in selected cities in the US, including Los Angeles’ Laemmle Theatres, which I highly recommend as an independent art house/boutique theatre group to support.

Go see it and tell everyone you know about this great film!

TWO THUMBS WAY UP FOR “UP”!!!

This Summer has been a very lackluster one for movies, take films like the new “Terminator” or “Angels & Demons” as a couple of examples of films that disappointed the audiences, critics and Hollywood studio executives.  BUT, there is some hope, as Animated Films seem to be taking over Hollywood in popularity and success.  One of those films is “UP”, which is this year’s “Wall-E”!

“UP” is the story of a young adventure spirited girl named Ellie and a boy named: Carl.  They both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America, but Ellie never gets to make that dream true together, but Carl manages to make it finally happen in her honor. Carl’s determination and believing in such a place–Lost Land--makes makes this dream possible, by making his beautiful house fly away with the help of a thousand balloons.  However, he gets a surprise on aboard, an 8 year old boy named Russell, who is trying to get an assisting the elderly badge, which he fully earns by the end of this story.  Together, they embark in an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain and a rare bird named Kevin!  The characters: Kevin, the main dog and their funny voices and Russell are a simply a joy!

Like “Wall-E”, “UP“, is a collaboration of Pixar and Disney, and as expected, it is touching, funny, moving, thrilling and a pleasure to watch!  The characters are very human and the story is universal, about the power of love, dreaming and believing and determination, and all the trials and tribulations of life.  But, it’s all done in a very entertaining and curious adventourous approach!
And what I love the most about Pixar is their cleverly and brilliantly executed animated shorts leading into the feature film; they are always a pleasure to watch.

This is a as a great family affair film, so take mom, dad, kids, grandparents…to see this great visual treat this Summer!

You will be entertained, delighted and moved, guaranteed!!!

For something “UP” is the best rated film to-date on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 98% rating, so this is a must SEE!

And the Award Goes To…?

Here is the List of Films that made a mark at this year’s Festival de Cannes!

And, if any of these films play in your city, please go see them…It looks like Lars von Trier film: Antichrist, received at least one award for Best Actress!

The official Jury of this 62nd Festival de Cannes, presided by Isabelle Huppert, revealed the Prize winners during the Closing Ceremonies on the evening of May 24th.

WINNING FILMS & PERFORMANCES

Palme d’Or
DAS WEISSE BAND (The White Ribbon) directed by Michael HANEKE

Grand Prix
UN PROPHÈTE (A Prophet) directed by Jacques AUDIARD

Lifetime achievement award for his work and his exceptional contribution to the history of cinema

Alain RESNAIS

Best Director
Brillante MENDOZA for KINATAY

Jury Prize
FISH TANK directed by Andrea ARNOLD

BAK-JWI (Thirst) directed by PARK Chan-Wook

Best Performance for an Actor
Christoph WALTZ in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS directed by Quentin TARANTINO

Best Performance by an Actress
Charlotte GAINSBOURG in ANTICHRIST directed by Lars von TRIER

Best Screenplay

MEI Feng for CHUN FENG CHEN ZUI DE YE WAN (Spring Fever) directed by LOU Ye

CAMERA D’OR
SAMSON AND DELILAH directed by Warwick THORNTON (presented at Un Certain Regard)

Caméra d’Or – Special Distinction
AJAMI directed by Scandar COPTI, Yaron SHANI (presented at Quinzaine des Réalisateurs)

UN CERTAIN REGARD

Prix Un Certain Regard – Fondation Groupama Gan pour le Cinéma

KYNODONTAS (Dogtooth) by Yorgos LANTHIMOS

Jury Prize

POLITIST, ADJECTIV (Police, Adjective) by Corneliu PORUMBOIU.

Special Prize Un Certain Regard 2009

KASI AZ GORBEHAYE IRANI KHABAR NADAREH (No One Knows About Persian Cats) by Bahman GHOBADI

LE PÈRE DE MES ENFANTS (Father of My Children) by Mia HANSEN-LØVE

For a complete list visit: http://www.festival-cannes.fr/

THE RETURN OF THE AUTEURS AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL DE CANNES!

Lars von Trier Film “Antichrist” makes some BIG waves at Cannes!

As the Reuters reports: “Danish director Lars von Trier elicited derisive laughter, gasps of disbelief, a smattering of applause and loud boos on Sunday as the credits rolled on his drama “Antichrist” at the Cannes film festival.”

The film, starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a couple seeking to overcome the grief of losing their only child, has quickly become the most talked-about at this year’s festival, which ends on May 24.

Lars von Trier is no newbie to Cannes spotlight, controversy and final imprint, as he has won the top prize, the Palme d’Or in 2000 for “Dancer in the Dark”, the Grand Prix Award for “Breaking the Waves” in 1996, a Technical Award for his 1984 film “Element of a Crime” and “Antichrist” could certainly trail behind with some accolades this year!

“Antichrist” brief synopsis:

A grieving couple retreat to ’Eden’, their isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse…Check out the surreal trailer below:

Lars von Trier is not the only GREAT filmmaker appearing this year with some new work generating a lot of buzz, others include: Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, Jane Campion’s Bright Star, Ken Loach’s Looking for Eric, Pedro Almodovar’s Los Abrazos Rotos, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart, Terry Gelliam’s follow-up to the Brother’s Grim, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and legendary French director Alan Resnais’ Wild Grass to name a few!

IT’S AN IMPRESSIVE YEAR and here is the impressive line-up of films showcasing at the Festival de Cannes:

2009 FESTIVAL DE CANNES FILMS

• À L’ORIGINE (IN THE BEGINNING) directed by Xavier GIANNOLI
• ANTICHRIST directed by Lars VON TRIER
• BAK-JWI (THIRST) directed by PARK Chan-Wook
• BRIGHT STAR directed by Jane CAMPION
• CHUN FENG CHEN ZUI DE YE WAN (Spring Fever) directed by LOU Ye
• DAS WEISSE BAND (THE WHITE RIBBON) directed by Michael HANEKE
• ENTER THE VOID directed by Gaspar NOÉ
• FISH TANK directed by Andrea ARNOLD
• INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS directed by Quentin TARANTINO
• KINATAY directed by Brillante MENDOZA
• LES HERBES FOLLES (WILD GRASS) directed by Alain RESNAIS
• LOOKING FOR ERIC directed by Ken LOACH
• LOS ABRAZOS ROTOS (BROKEN EMBRACES) directed by Pedro ALMODÓVAR
• MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO directed by Isabel COIXET
• TAKING WOODSTOCK directed by Ang LEE
• THE TIME THAT REMAINS directed by Elia SULEIMAN
• UN PROPHÈTE (A PROPHET) directed by Jacques AUDIARD
• VENGEANCE directed by Johnnie TO
• VINCERE directed by Marco BELLOCCHIO
• VISAGE (FACE) directed by TSAI Ming-Liang

• L’ÉPINE DANS LE COEUR (The thorn in the heart) directed by Michel GONDRY

• THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS directed by Terry GILLIAM

Stay tuned for final announcement on award winning films this Sunday, May 24th, and for upcoming release dates for any of these films in the your city!