Sundance Film Festival Asia Unveils Short Film Competition Program, Panel Events and More – Film News in Brief
The Sundance Institute and G2Go Entertainment have revealed the short film competition finalists, a screenwriters intensive for Taiwanese filmmakers and panel events for the Sundance Film Festival: Asia in Taipei. The festival runs from Aug. 21 through Aug. 25.
The short film competition highlights the work of six Taiwanese filmmakers, whose movies will be screened at the festival. On opening night, one of the films will be awarded the jury prize for best short film presented by nonprofit organization Gold House.
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The six films for this year include “Addiction” directed by Tzu-Hsuan Peng; “Century Egg” directed by Charles Barratt; “Darling This Was Hard” directed by Min-Chun Hou; “MAMU” directed by Aephie Chen; “Side By Side” directed by Ching Wen and “Suo Jiang” directed by Chien-Yu Lin.
The screenwriters intensive is designed to be a showcase and accelerator for upcoming Taiwanese talent by providing creative guidance for emerging filmmakers who are working on a first or second film. Doug Wright (“Quills,” “I Am My Own Wife”), Nicole Perlman (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain Marvel”) and Tom Shu-yu Lin (“Winds of September,” “Zinnia Flower”) will advise and guide the program.
Panels at the festival include guest speakers including anime director Macoto Tezuka, Academy Award-winning sound designer Skip Lievsay, cinematographer Lawrence Sher and more.
Tickets for film screenings, short film programs and panels are on sale now at Sundance Film Festival: Asia’s website.
Director Robert Schwartzman to be Honored at the Maui Film Festival
The Nick Jonas-starring “The Good Half” director Robert Schwartzman will be honored at the Maui Film Festival, which will take place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului.
The festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will feature a screening of 13 feature films and 27 short films from Hawaii and around the world. Barry Rivers, founder and director of the festival, expressed his elation over its anniversary, saying it showcases “compassionate and transformative storytelling.”
“Maui Film Festival is excited to celebrate its 25th Anniversary, showcasing inspiring filmmaking in the service of compassionate and transformative storytelling. We are delighted to recognize our honoree, director Robert Schwartzman, who has made an exceptional contribution to cinema with his film, ‘The Good Half.’ Our slate is filled with compelling, entertaining, and magical stories that will bring together and inspire our Maui community, which has endured so much this past year in the aftermath of the wildfires,” he said.
Universal Pictures’ “The Good Half,” directed by Schwartzman and starring Jonas and Amazon-MGM Studios’ “My Old Ass” are some of the films to be screened at the festival.
Click here to purchase tickets and view the film schedule.
MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau Partners with Film Independent to Launch $10,000 Artist Development Fellowship
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization, announced the expansion of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau Fellowship—now providing a $10,000 grant to a filmmaker who identifies as American Muslim and is accepted into any of Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.
Previously, the MPAC Hollywood Bureau Fellowship focused on supporting American Muslim writers who participated in Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab, Episodic Lab, and Project Involve.
“Film Independent and MPAC have a long relationship and a shared commitment to nurturing talented filmmakers from the American Muslim community,” Josh Welsh, Film Independent president, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to build on this relationship with this expansion of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau Fellowship across all our Artist Development programs, encouraging American Muslim filmmakers across fiction and non-fiction – writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and executives – to consider applying to our programs.”
Film Independent fellows selected to participate in Artist Development and Global Media Makers programs are recognized worldwide for their artistry and for changing the cultural landscape through their work.
Additional information on applying for grants and awards, including the MPAC Hollywood Bureau Fellowship, can be found here.
Fran Drescher to be Honored with Backstage Vanguard Award from Society of Voice Arts and Sciences
The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences has revealed that Fran Drescher will be honored with the backstage vanguard award for visionary leadership in the arts. The celebration will take place Dec. 6 at the That’s Voiceover! Career Expo at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott.
The award is presented to individuals who drive innovative contributions in the voiceover industry. Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA and the lead of CBS sitcom “The Nanny,” is being awarded with the honor due to her advocacy for performers’ rights, specifically fostering the growth of the voice acting community.
Russell Bobbitt to Receive Humanitarian Award at MacGuffin Awards
The Property Masters Guild is awarding Russell Bobbitt, the property master behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the Hill Valley Humanitarian Award at the inaugural MacGuffin Awards. The ceremony will be held at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 14.
Bobbitt, who has been involved with charitable organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, LA Unified School District, Trilith Studios’ Black Male Initiative and more, will be recognized for his philanthropic efforts.
As a property master, Bobbitt has been in charge of creating plenty of cinematic superhero props, like Captain America’s shield and Thor’s hammer. His work has appeared in the “Iron Man” franchise, “Captain America: Civil War,” “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” “Ant-Man,” “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 & 3,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: End Game,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and more.
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