Day 2 At The Conference In 19^th Dhaka International Film festival (16th Jan to 24th Jan).

By Bijaya Jena

The 19th Dhaka International Film Festival has a section dedicated to Women in the competition category. This year many filmmakers from abroad participated virtually on sessions for Women in Cinema. One of the topics for the 2nd day, 18th January was how social media is helping women to participate in filmmaking and film viewing.

Watch the video

Nisha Shrestha, an actor, filmmaker and festival director of Yala International Film Festival from Nepal was the one to present her keynote paper on the afore mentioned topic. Sadia Khalid (Editor of Show Time, Dhaka Tribune), filmmaker Shamim Akhtar (Bangladeshi filmmaker), Bijaya Jena (National award winning Indian filmmaker and actress), and Professor Kishwar Kamal (Chairperson of Dhaka International Film Festival) participated in the session.

Shrestha spoke about the Nepalese moviegoers and how lately 51% of the viewers constitute women. She elaborated how women were not depicted properly in films and the way Nepalese cinema suffered during the Mao movement for a decade during 1996 to 2006. She also touched upon the casting couch actresses face. Then she focused on the advent of smartphones and how things are improving. Older generations of women too are learning how to use technology and with the easy access of YouTube are making videos and short films themselves. She said how TikTok videos are getting popular and women are making their own videos.

Professor Kishwar Kamal explained that family support is very important for a woman’s achievement in this field of art. Shamim Akhter added that even during the Lumiere brothers and Salvador Dali’s time, women were in the forefront.

Bijaya Jena was previously on the jury in this section in 2018 and was a panel speaker in 2018 and 2019. She gave examples of Nati Binodini who defied the society to become a famous actress and earned the respect of the great saint Ramkrishna Paramhansa in 1880. But all of this wouldn’t have been possible without the patronage of a rich admirer. Creative women need the patronage of the state to achieve anything in the fields of art or cinema.

Jena went on to add how videos about storytelling and the technical aspect of filmmaking is helping young aspiring filmmakers, out of whom many are women. But we need the government’s patronage and allocation of funds dedicated for women. Quite recently, the Kerala government allocated 410,000 USD per annum for female filmmakers.

Festival Director, Ahmed Muztaba Zamal mentioned about the subsidy of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which has boosted the regional film industry. Jena continued that Karnataka is offering more subsidies to literature based films which thereby promotes literature. She mentioned the 2020 Afghani film - HAVA, MARYAM, AYESHA, which was given the top prize in Women’s section in Herat Women’s Film Festival, Afghanistan where she was a juror. This film was also promoted by Angelina Jolie on social media.Many low budget filmmakers are also promoting their films on social media  by creating memes and posting on tweeter,Instagram and TikTok . Like Dhaka International Film Festival, women’s film festivals funded by Culture Ministry by most countries are giving a platform for women’s voices to be heard on important issues in films as well as textual format

The pay-what-you-can festivals takes place February 18-28, 2021.  

Online Film Screenings & Interactive Workshops

Presented by Northwest Film Forum

The fourteenth Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival starts tomorrow and will last until January 25, 2021. This year, the festival is held online and can be followed via a digital platform, at the web address "kustendorf.online".

REGISTER

The festival starts tomorrow, 22.01. from 6 pm and it will be officially opened by the founder of the festival Emir Kusturica.

Young filmmakers and greats of world auteur film will be the focus of this year's Kustendorf as well. As part of the festival, as a special treat for all film art lovers, the talks of the festival's founder Emir Kusturica with all participants of the festival will be shown - with authors whose films are shown within the competition and the program "Contemporary Tendencies".

COMPETITION PROGRAM - The competition program of the 14th Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival will consist of twenty-two short films by domestic and foreign authors. Films by young directors from Poland, Belgium, Serbia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Denmark, Iran, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Uzbekistan and France will compete for the Golden, Silver and Bronze Egg festival awards.

The international jury consists of Alice Rohrwacher, award-winning Italian director, actor Miki Manojlovic and Bruno Tarrière, cameraman and sound designer from France. The "Vilko Filac" award for the best photograph will be given by the French director of photography, Michel Amathieu.

The selected films reflect the poeticism and diversity of the entire production and stand out for their style and authentic view of the world. The competition program of the 14th Kustendorf will consist of 18 feature films, 2 documentaries and 2 animated short films.

CONTEMPORARY TENDENCIES - In "Contemporary Tendencies" will be shown: the winner of the special jury award of the Venice Film Festival, Andrei Konchalovsky's film "Dear Comrades!" (Dear Comrades!), the film "Wendy" directed by Benh Zeitlin, the film "Miss Marx" by Susanna Nicchiarelli and the film "Stonebreaker” (Spaccapietre) by the duo of Gianluca and Massimiliano De Serio, as well as the last film by the famous director Kim Ki Duk "Dissolve", which will follow Emir Kusturica's conversation with Dinara Zhumagaliyeva, who produced this film and played the main role in it.

Within the program unit RETROSPECTIVE OF THE GIANTS, four episodes of the series "Once Upon a Time" by Emir Kusturica will be shown and a program dedicated to the American actress Faye Dunaway.

The Covid-19 epidemic has deprived us of the 2020 edition, so it's essential for us to invent new ways of doing.

That is why we are very pleased to announce the 43rd edition of the Festival, wich will take place from April 2 to 11, 2021.

SUBMISSIONS FOR 2021 ARE NOW OPEN!

The submissions for the fourth edition of Porto Femme - International Film Festival are open!

The Porto Femme team starts preparing the 2021 edition and launches the open-call for film submissions. The Festival is composed by 5 competitions, counting with the usual International, National, Student and XX Element competitions, and establishing the new Thematic Competition, which in its first edition explores the theme of 'Crises'. The festival competitions are open to all people who identify themselves as women, in addition to the XX Element Competition being open to mixed teams.

Submissions can be made on theFilmfreeway,Film Festival Life,Fest Home, Click for Festivals,WFCN, andMovibeta platforms. The regular deadline is from January 3rd to February 28th 2021, and the extended deadline until March 15th 2021. The regulation can be foundhere.

PORTO FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Based in Porto, this international film festival aims to be a space for the dissemination of women filmmakers, becoming a space for sharing different stories and perspectives, supporting the presence of people who identify themselves as women in the film industry.

The festival is composed of 5 competitions, among which the International, the National, the Student, the Thematic and the XX Element, where features and short films, documentaries, animations and experimental films are awarded. A film is also awarded the Women's Fights and Rights Award.

The National Competition has already included films by Portuguese directors such as Regina Pessoa, Catarina Mourão, Luísa Sequeira, Amarante Abramovici, Inês Oliveira, Leonor Noivo, Solveig Nordlund, Mariana Gaivão and Salomé Lamas. In addition to workshops, exhibitions and debates, the festival is also intended to be a space to pay tribute to women filmmakers who have marked, and continue to mark, Portuguese cinema, having already paid tribute to Monique Rutler, Margarida Cordeiro, Isabel Ruth and Fernanda Lapa.

The first three editions can be a prediction of the future of this Festival: the first edition had 363 films submitted from 42 countries; the second with 444 films from 62 different countries; and the third, in the midst of a pandemic, rose to 575 films submitted from 70 countries.

Porto Femme is a festival that aims to reflect the diversity of genres, themes and languages, with a varied program, always with the representativeness and the empowerment of women in mind!

The second annual French Riviera Film Festival culminated with a star-studded, COVID-conscious, virtual awards ceremony, held live from The Beverly Hills Hotel on September 19.

Highlight video from the event: 

 (Video Credit: Juan Gonzalez)

Each year, FRFF celebrates short film and short-form content from around the globe, featuring the works of filmmakers from more than 20 countries.This year, FRFF and PlayPlay.tv, a premier digital video streaming service for the performing arts, partnered to present the second annual installment of the festival. Due to the global health crisis, FRFF, which usually is held in Cannes during the time period of the famous film festival, was held online on September 18 and 19.  

The festival will follow the Festival de Cannes' lead and hold the event once again, in person, in May 2021 in the South of France. 2021 Submissions are now open on Film Freeway: https://filmfreeway.com/FrenchRivieraFilmFestival

SUBMIT with 15% off discount using FILMFEST15

“We look forward to returning to the Riviera next year to present our third annual festival,” comments festival co-founder Nicole Muj. “Our collaboration with The Beverly Hills Hotel was a huge success and we hope to continue this partnership, working together to promote the festival in both sister cities, Beverly Hills and Cannes.”

“We also plan to continue our partnership with PlayPlay.tv to hold our festival online simultaneously with our live event,” adds FRFF co-founder Gotham Chandna. “Film lovers who can’t be with us in Cannes, will  be able to enjoy our 2021 finalist films from anywhere around the globe.”

The official trailer: 

The previously announced 2020 award recipients are:  https://frenchrivierafilmfestival.com/winners-2020/

FRFF also held a virtual Women Filmmakers Showcase to start off the festival on September 18. The panel was moderated by Women Documentary Filmmakers founder Sue Vicory, and featured panelists filmmaker/photographer/author Francesca Andre, filmmaker Eeva Mägi and writer/entrepreneur/filmmaker Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest.  

To watch the panel, please visit: https://frenchrivierafilmfestival.com/wfs2020/

The festival culminated with a special, virtual gala awards ceremony, on September 19, streamed live from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.  EverTalk TV’s Jezlan Moyet hosted the event, along with presenters Tony Potts and Shalini Vadhera Potts and Emmy-winning actor Vincent DePaul, with special musical performances by DJ Gotta, Marina V. and Grammy winner Paulina Aguirre. Best Actress winner Yasmine Al Massri, Best Director winner Brandt Andersen and Lifetime Achievement recipient E! founder Larry Namer were also in attendance.

To watch the awards ceremony, please visit: https://frenchrivierafilmfestival.com/awards2020

RMINÉ provided special couture fabric face masks for participants to wear during the event.  Event partners included Beverly Hills Hotel, Bel-Air Fine Art,  Chateau de Berne, filmfestivals.com, Indie Entertainment Magazine and  Weed Cellars. VIP gift bag sponsors included CelebLuxury, Davines, DiFiore New York, Miraj Eyewear, Minnieology, My Little Mascara Club, Nestl Bedding, Pink Mahoghany, Ready Set Jet, RMINÉ,  Rosepops™, Shhh!... It's a Secret! and Sleepphones.

French Riviera Film Festival first launched in 2019 during the time period of the Cannes Film Festival. FRFF recognizes and celebrates short-form content created for film, television, Web and all digital platforms. Each year, FRFF invites filmmakers from around the world to participate in the two-day, by invitation only event that includes screenings, panels, VIP receptions and a gala closing awards ceremony. Attendees and participants include filmmakers, industry executives, celebrities, media and influencers. FRFF is co-produced by Gotham Chandna, president, Cloud 21 PR International  and Nicole Goesseringer Muj, president, Kultura PR International.

Oscar®-qualifying film festival will be all virtual April 6–11, 2021

With the health and safety of audiences and filmmakers of greatest importance, Aspen Film announces that its 30th Annual Aspen Shortsfest 2021 will be presented online for the second year in a row. This year’s festival is scheduled for April 6-11, 2021. Like last year, by presenting the festival virtually, Aspen Film is able to preserve the Oscar®-qualifying festival in a unique and innovative way. 

Aspen Film Executive Director Susan Wrubel states, “Last spring, COVID-19 hit the Roaring Fork Valley just prior to our 2020 festival. Our incredible team quickly shifted gears and completely re-worked the festival onto a virtual platform in a matter of days.  By making it available online, we attracted audiences and film fans from all over the country with our first foray into the virtual world.” Wrubel continues, “Thankfully, this year we have more time to take the online festival to the next level. Plus, we’ve been doing a great deal of virtual programming since the pandemic hit and are anxious to use that experience to bolster Shortsfest 2021’s offerings, including some online and interactive events.”

Nearly 3,000 films were submitted for this year’s festival. Led by Shortfest Program Director Jason Anderson, the prescreening and the programming teams have been reviewing submissions with plans to announce the full lineup of selections for this year’s program in early March.

The online festival experience will have limited screening windows for each Shorts Program, just like the traditional festival. Viewers will be able to choose from a variety of ticket and pass options, based on how many programs they wish to watch. Access will be limited to viewers in the United States and short films will only be screened within curated programs, rather than individually. More information about tickets and passes – including pricing and when they will be available for purchase – will be announced in the coming weeks. Aspen Film members will have first priority. More information about membership and the festival is available online at www.AspenFilm.org.

We are pleased to present the full programme of TV Drama Vision 2021!

This year’s programme comprise our honorary guest, multiple award winning Danish director and screenwriter Susanne Bier. We present high end sessions with a spotlight on the future of the scripted television industry with keynote speakers including Guy Bisson, Walter Iuzzolino and Johanna Koljonen. HBO will be outlining their plans for original content in Europe, Nordic broadcasters and streamers will present their plans and series to come, and as always an extensive selection of new and upcoming series from the Nordics along with European highlights, the annual Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, and much more!

The TV Drama Vision conference will broadcast live, presenting an online stage programme and interactive meeting opportunities.

Check out the full TV Drama Vision programme and schedule here

The accreditation closes January 31 12.00 (CET), register here

5th Indian World Film Festival-2021   

Entries Open: Feature Films, Shorts films, Animation, Documentaries & Music Videos.  

Submission deadline: 20 Feb 2021   

To submit entry visit: 

http://miniboxoffice.com/indianworldfilmfestival 

https://filmfreeway.com/IndianWorldFilmFestival 

For Participation Email: IWFF@miniboxoffice.com  

MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL : MARCH 5-14

Includes Oscar Winners & Nominees Fernando Trueba, Agnieszka Holland, Majid Majidi;

 Actor Javier Cámara to Receive a Precious Gem Award at U.S. Premiere of Colombia’s Entry

Extending its status as a bellwether for the Oscars, Miami Dade College’s (MDC) renowned Miami Film Festival announced today its shortlist of International Feature Film submissions that will screen during its flagship ten-day fest, to be held from March 5-14, 2021. The 38^th annual Festival will be a hybrid event, with both virtual and in-theater presentations.

This year’s Festival will present films from previous Academy Award winners and nominees, including Fernando Trueba, Agnieszka Holland and Majid Majidi as part of its list of 2021 Oscar contenders. El Olvido Que Seremos (Memories of My Father), Colombia’s submission, spotlights the real-life story of Dr. Héctor Abad Gómez, a medical doctor and human rights activist who worked to revolutionize access to health care in that country before his death in 1987. The film is directed by Oscar winner Trueba (Belle Époque), one of the most popular filmmakers in the history of Miami Film Festival, who won the Audience Award in 2001 and was given a major tribute for its 30^th anniversary.

For his powerful performance in bringing a national hero to life, the 2021 Festival will present a Precious Gem Award to the star of El Olvido Que Seremos, actor Javier Cámara, prior to the film’s U.S. premiere. The Precious Gem Award is the Festival’s signature award honoring the most special stars of the art form, one-of-a-kind artists whose contributions to cinema are lasting and unforgettable. Cámara’s outstanding career accomplishments include a Goya Award for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed and numerous additional Goya-nominated and European Film Award-nominated performances, acclaimed performances in HBO’s The Young Pope and Netflix’s Narcos, and unforgettable creations in three films by Pedro Almodovar, Talk to Her, Bad Education and I’m So Excited.

In addition to Colombia, the 2021 Miami Film Festival will present six additional Best International Feature Film Oscar contenders from other countries including:

§ Bosnia and Herzegovina: Quo Vadis, Aida? is a stirring account of one of the most infamous genocides in modern history, as seen through the eyes of a United Nations translator, Aida (Jasna Djuricic), who shelters her family and community in a UN camp when the Bosnian Serbian army takes over their small town of Srebrenica in 1995. Written and directed by Jasmila Zbanic, the film has already earned top awards at the Jerusalem Film Festival, Les Arcs European Film Festival and others.

§ Czech Republic: Charlatan is a historical drama about the real-life Jan Mikolasek, a gifted natural health care practitioner whose unorthodox methods come under unwelcome scrutiny in the totalitarian 1950s. Directed by three-time Oscar nominee Agnieszka Holland from a screenplay by Marek Epstein, the film has garnered award nominations at the Berlin International Film Festival, European Film Awards and Camerimage.

§ Dominican Republic: A State of Madness (Mis 500 Locos) is set in 1953 during the dictatorship of Trujillo. The new director of a mental institution must calm the negative press following the escape of a group of patients. Directed by Leticia Tonos based on a book by Antonio Zaglul, and starring Jane Santos, Luis José Germán and Pavel Marcano.

§ Germany: And Tomorrow the Entire World follows Luisa (Malia Emde), a law student from an upper-class family, who joins an Antifa-style movement to oppose to the modern rise of the political right in Germany. A semi-autobiographical political drama written, produced and directed by Julia von Heinz, the film won the Silver Hugo for Best Ensemble at the Chicago International Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Lion for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.

§ Greece: Apples is a timely science fiction story about a worldwide pandemic that causes sudden, total and irrevocable amnesia. Middle-aged Aris finds himself enrolled in a recovery program designed to help unclaimed patients build new identities. Written, produced and directed by Christos Nikou, the film has won numerous international prizes, including the New Waves Award for Best Film at the Seville European Film Festival.

§ Iran: Sun Children spotlights 12-year-old Ali (Roohollah Zamani) and his three friends who work hard to survive and support their families before a miraculous turn of events finds Ali entrusted to find hidden treasure underground. Written, produced and directed by Majid Majidi, the drama has already chalked up six wins including Best Film at the Fajr Film Festival and the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice Film Festival.

Variety will continue its multi-year partnership with the Miami Film Festival through Variety’s 93rd Academy Awards International Feature Shortlist Roundtable. The virtual panel will feature the director, writer or producer of the Oscars shortlisted International Feature Films and be moderated by Variety’s Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. The Roundtable will be hosted by Variety’s Streaming Room on Friday, March 5, the Festival’s opening day and the first day of Oscar nomination voting. The event is free to attend, with registration required for access.

“We are honored to present these powerful films from seven countries around the world that are contending for the 2021 Academy Awards,” said Miami Film Festival Executive Director Jaie Laplante. “They join contenders that were laureled at our 2020 edition and season, including our Knight MARIMBAS Award winner La Llorona from Guatemala, as well as Argentina’s The Sleepwalkers, Chile’s The Mole Agent, Ivory Coast’s Night of the Kings, Uruguay’s Aleli and Venezuela’s Once Upon a Time in Venezuela.”

For more information on the festival, visit miamifilmfestival.com.

About Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival

Miami Film Festival is an international film event that serves as a major film showcase for world cinema. Considered the preeminent film festival for highlighting Ibero-American cinema in the U.S, Miami Film Festival has become renowned for championing films made by the South Florida community, first-time feature filmmakers, and International Feature Film submissions to the Academy Awards. The annual Festival, produced and presented by Miami Dade College, attracts more than 60,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. Since 1984, the Festival has screened over 2,500 films from more than 75 countries and given out more than $2 million USD in cash awards to filmmakers and distributors. Miami Film Festival is the oldest major festival housed in a university or college and also operates a year-round art cinema, Tower Theater Miami and Miami Film Festival GEMS in October. For more information, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).

SPRINGBOARD 2021: BRAVE NEW WORLDS ONLINE FEBRUARY 6 & 7

Hosted by the Victoria Film Festival, SpringBoard is a two-day industry event that takes a deep dive into the future of cinema. This year, the event will be held online and is open to creators from any region.

DAY ONE (all times in PT) 
9:30am Keynote Panel: The Future of Distribution
11:00am Panel: Inclusion Matters
2:00pm Keynote Presentation: Making Successful Documentaries: Right Time, Right Place
3:00pm Panel: What We Are Looking For

DAY TWO
Get three one-on-one meetings with industry execuvites from AMC, CBC Films, eOne, Netflix, and more. 
 

Panelists include

• Tom Alexander, Director, Theatrical Releasing, Mongrel Media
• Arianna Bocco, President, IFC Films
• Pauline Couture, Co-CEO, BlockFilm
• Alex Garcia, EVP, Creative Affairs, Legendary Pictures
• Alexandra Raffe, Producer, Sheep Crossing
• Rudy Buttignol, CEO, Knowledge Network
• Marsha Greene, Writer/Showrunner (Mary Kills People)
• Gloria Kim, Writer/Director/Producer (Queen of the Morning Calm)
• Broadus Mattison, Executive Board Member, UBCP/ACTRA
• Charles Officer, Writer/Director/Producer (Akilla’s Escape)
• Jennifer Podemski, Writer/Director/Producer/Founder, The Shine Network

• APTN | Kerry Moraes-Sugiyama, Assoc. Manager, Programming – Western Region
• Bell Media | Tory Jennings, Director, Programming, Premium SVOD
• CBC | Mehernaz Lentin, Senior Director, CBC Films
• Corus | Kathleen Meek, Manager, Original Content, Drama and Factual
• eONE | Tecca Crosby, Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs
• Knowledge Network | Patrice Ramsay, Co-ordinator of Independent Production
• National Film Board | Teri Snelgrove, Producer, BC & Yukon Studio
• Netflix | TBA
• Creative BC | Mathew Parry, Program Analyst, Development
• Telefilm Canada | Lauren Davis, Regional Feature Film Executive

• AMC | Harold Gronenthal, Executive Vice President
• APTN | Kerry Moraes-Sugiyama, Assoc. Manager, Programming – Western Region
• Bell Media | Tory Jennings, Director, Programming, Premium SVOD
• CBC | Mehernaz Lentin, Senior Director, CBC Films
• Corus | Kathleen Meek, Manager, Original Content, Drama and Factual
• eONE | Tecca Crosby, Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs
• Knowledge Network | Patrice Ramsay, Co-ordinator of Independent Production
• National Film Board | Teri Snelgrove, Producer, BC & Yukon Studio
• Netflix | TBA
• Creative BC | Mathew Parry, Program Analyst, Development
• Telefilm Canada | Lauren Davis, Regional Feature Film Executive

• IFFR 2021: 1 February – 7 February 2021 | 2 June – 6 June 2021
• Opening night: Riders of Justice: 1 February
• IFFR Pro screenings (P&I): 1 February – 5 February 2021
• IFFR Pro Days (Including CineMart): 1 February – 5 February 2021
• Tiger Competition press conferences: 1 February – 4 February, daily at 15:30 (CET)
• Big Talks: 1 February – 7 February
• IFFR Daily Talks: 2 February – 7 February, Daily at 11:00 (CET)
• Rotterdam Lab: 25 January - 5 February 2021
• IFFR Immersive: 1 February – 5 February 2021
• IFFR Pro Awards Ceremony: Friday 5 February 2021

IFFR Awards Ceremony: Sunday 7 February 2021

by Quendrith Johnosn, Los Angeles Correspondent

BORAT and its subsesquent "Movefilm" made quite a splash with the Rudy Giuliani moment. Ironically Mr. Giuliani's "hair dye" press conference was even more impactful on the controversial President's attorney. That being said, The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor Cohen with an Outstanding Performer Award this April. It's an acknowledgement of his stunning career, which began as parody and literally ended up as part of the political dialogue in a deeply divided US.

Here's the official announcement of the award, including details for the upcoming SBIFF event.

SANTA BARBARA, CA: Sacha Baron Cohen will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 36th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Baron Cohen will be honored on Wednesday, April 7 for his critically acclaimed work in both Aaron Sorkin’s THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 from Netflix and BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM from Amazon Studios.  

“In 2020, Mr. Cohen twice was able to capture our interest, our imagination as well as the zeitgeist.  His work in both films is timely, urgent and nuanced,” noted SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling. 

It’s an honor to be recognized and to stand in the company of such incredible past recipients,” said Baron Cohen. “I’m very grateful to Roger, SBIFF and everyone who believes that cinema, whether drama or satire, can shine a light on injustice and bigotry and even provide a laugh or two along the way.”

[Photo credit: Russell James for SBIFF]

An Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and Golden Globe-winning actor, Sacha Baron Cohen is unmatched in his skills as a multi-hyphenate actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of iconic characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, Admiral General Aladeen, and Erran Morrad. Baron Cohen has also starred in Adam McKay's TALLEDEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, Martin Scorsese's HUGO, Tom Hooper's LES MISÉRABLES, and Tim Burton’s SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.

Most recently, Baron Cohen starred in two politically driven and emotionally resonate films. Among a brilliant ensemble of actors in Aaron Sorkin's THE TRIAL OF CHICAGO 7, Baron Cohen shines as real-life yippie activist Abbie Hoffman. Critics hailed his performance noting he is "savvy and soulfully aware of his urgency" and that he "brought deep resonance" with his performance as Hoffman. Similarly, Baron Cohen returned as his iconic character, “Borat,” in the global hit satire BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which he produced and co-wrote, and according to The New York Times' AO Scott was "the best film of the year." Additional critics declared Baron Cohen is “a brave comic genius, a new-age Peter Sellers" and "a master.”

The Outstanding Performers of the Year Award recognizes select individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional performances in film this past year. Past recipients of the award include Adam Driver, Rami Malek, Margot Robbie and Allison Janney, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan, Steve Carell, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, James Franco, Colin Firth, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron.

The 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place March 31st through April 10th, 2021. More information as well as Festival passes and tickets, will be available in the coming weeks at www.sbiff.org.

This is the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

 The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 35 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.

In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.

Visit www.sbiff.org.

# # #

17-28 MARCH

The 35th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival will be presented online, giving audiences across the UK a chance to enjoy a dynamic and thought-provoking programme of the best new LGBTIQ+ cinema from around the world.

Over the 12 days, watch feature films and short films on BFI Player at any time - with closed captioning and audio description available for English-language films - as well as introductions and Q&As.

Audiences worldwide can also tune in to free BFI Flare Screen Talks as well as Five Films for Freedom, presented in partnership with The British Council.

BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival revealed plans for the 35th edition of the festival from 17 to 28 March 2021. In the most accessible and inclusive version of the festival to UK-wide audiences yet, film fans will be given an opportunity to connect for a new BFI Flare experience, enjoying a digital offer of screenings and events across the 12 days of the festival.