The Asian World Film Festival (Awff) is delighted to announce the festival’s Main Competition and Short Film lineups; select, noteworthy screenings; special program highlights; and centerpiece film. Celebrating its 10th anniversary of showcasing Asian film from around the world, Awff will take place November 13-21, 2024, at The Culver Theater in Culver City, CA.
The nine-day festival will present narrative and documentary motion pictures and short films from 27 countries, including four that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 of the screenings will feature live Q&As with the filmmakers, talent, and crew.
Georges N. Chamchoum, Awff Executive Director, said, “We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year’s line-up with more than 60 narrative and documentary films. The Awff continues to open the window to the region of Asia as well to showcase AsianAmerican talent through our range of programs. I am amazed at...
The nine-day festival will present narrative and documentary motion pictures and short films from 27 countries, including four that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 of the screenings will feature live Q&As with the filmmakers, talent, and crew.
Georges N. Chamchoum, Awff Executive Director, said, “We are very grateful to the filmmakers around the world supporting this year’s line-up with more than 60 narrative and documentary films. The Awff continues to open the window to the region of Asia as well to showcase AsianAmerican talent through our range of programs. I am amazed at...
- 11/13/2024
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Fang Li couldn’t quite believe his ears when a fisherman shared the story behind what would become the Chinese filmmaker’s latest documentary, The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru.
The year was 2014 and Fang was on set in his role as a producer shooting the feature film The Continent — a Han Han-directed road-trip comedy-drama — and it was while heading out from the coast of eastern Zhejiang province towards Dongji Island that the fisherman told a tale that had, for seven decades, remained remarkably untold.
Fang heard of how on October 1, 1942 a Japanese military cargo ship laden with 1,816 British prisoners of war hidden in its hull was on its way from Hong Kong to Japan when it was torpedoed by the USS Grouper.
In the aftermath of the strike — and as the ship slowly sank — Japanese troops locked the POWs inside the cargo holds. But the POWs fought for their lives,...
The year was 2014 and Fang was on set in his role as a producer shooting the feature film The Continent — a Han Han-directed road-trip comedy-drama — and it was while heading out from the coast of eastern Zhejiang province towards Dongji Island that the fisherman told a tale that had, for seven decades, remained remarkably untold.
Fang heard of how on October 1, 1942 a Japanese military cargo ship laden with 1,816 British prisoners of war hidden in its hull was on its way from Hong Kong to Japan when it was torpedoed by the USS Grouper.
In the aftermath of the strike — and as the ship slowly sank — Japanese troops locked the POWs inside the cargo holds. But the POWs fought for their lives,...
- 11/5/2024
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru – rejected earlier this week as China’s official Oscars contender – recounts a terrible and forgotten tragedy. Director Fang Li explains why, 80 years on, the story still arouses fierce passions
A little-known tragedy from the second world war is the subject of a documentary that has been a surprise hit in China and is the country’s pick for two Academy Awards – although it has already been disqualified from one of the categories.
On Monday, it was revealed that The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, which had been selected by China as its entry for the best international feature prize at the Oscars, had been deemed ineligible. The competition’s rules state that a film in that category must have “a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track”.
A little-known tragedy from the second world war is the subject of a documentary that has been a surprise hit in China and is the country’s pick for two Academy Awards – although it has already been disqualified from one of the categories.
On Monday, it was revealed that The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, which had been selected by China as its entry for the best international feature prize at the Oscars, had been deemed ineligible. The competition’s rules state that a film in that category must have “a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track”.
- 11/1/2024
- by Amy Hawkins
- The Guardian - Film News
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.News Office Space.Some Hollywood insiders are blaming post-pandemic work-from-home policies—rather than rampant financialization and an overinvestment in stale intellectual-property tentpoles—for the industry’s recent decline.A coalition of human-rights groups have penned an open letter to Netflix demanding the renewal of its “Palestinian Stories” collection, which expired earlier this month after three years on the platform.Workers in RadicalMedia’s nonfiction division have launched a union drive, having collected an “overwhelming majority” of signature cards from the 65-person bargaining group. They plan to join the Writers Guild of America East.China will not have an Oscar entry this year, after the Academy deemed the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru (2023) ineligible for the Best Foreign Picture award,...
- 10/30/2024
- MUBI
Filmmaker Payal Kapadia has addressed India’s decision to overlook her award-winning feature All We Imagine As Light, which had been hotly tipped for the best international feature film Oscar.
Speaking with Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda at Tokyo International Film Festival today, Kapadia said: “With this film, we got a lot already so I’m very satisfied with how the journey of the film has gone. It’s been really more than I expected at all so everything that comes its way is a bonus to me.”
She later commented how she “greatly admired” Kiran Rao, the director of Laapataa Ladies,...
Speaking with Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda at Tokyo International Film Festival today, Kapadia said: “With this film, we got a lot already so I’m very satisfied with how the journey of the film has gone. It’s been really more than I expected at all so everything that comes its way is a bonus to me.”
She later commented how she “greatly admired” Kiran Rao, the director of Laapataa Ladies,...
- 10/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Die Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hat den aus China für eine Nominierung in der Kategorie „Bester internationaler Film“ eingereichten Dokumentarfilm „The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” wegen eines zu geringen nicht-englischen Sprachanteils disqualifiziert.
„The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ wurde von der Academy aus dem Oscarrennen genommen (Credit: Shanghai Film Festival)
Erstmals seit mehr als 20 Jahren wird kein Film aus China die Chance haben, für die Oscarkategorie „Bester internationaler Film“ nominiert zu werden.
Presseberichten zufolge hat die Academy of Motion Picture Arts an Sciences Fang Lis für eine Nominierung in dieser Kategorie eingereichten Dokumentarfilm „The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ aufgrund des zu geringen nicht-englischen Sprachanteils disqualifiziert.
„The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ dokumentiert die Ereignisse während des Zweiten Weltkriegs, als das japanische Frachtschiff Lisbon Maru mit mehr als 700 japanischen Soldaten und 1.800 britischen Kriegsgefangenen an Bord von einem US-u-Boot torpediert wurde und sank. Nur knapp 400 englische Kriegsgefangene konnten gerettet werden.
„The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ wurde von der Academy aus dem Oscarrennen genommen (Credit: Shanghai Film Festival)
Erstmals seit mehr als 20 Jahren wird kein Film aus China die Chance haben, für die Oscarkategorie „Bester internationaler Film“ nominiert zu werden.
Presseberichten zufolge hat die Academy of Motion Picture Arts an Sciences Fang Lis für eine Nominierung in dieser Kategorie eingereichten Dokumentarfilm „The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ aufgrund des zu geringen nicht-englischen Sprachanteils disqualifiziert.
„The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru“ dokumentiert die Ereignisse während des Zweiten Weltkriegs, als das japanische Frachtschiff Lisbon Maru mit mehr als 700 japanischen Soldaten und 1.800 britischen Kriegsgefangenen an Bord von einem US-u-Boot torpediert wurde und sank. Nur knapp 400 englische Kriegsgefangene konnten gerettet werden.
- 10/29/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
China’s entry to the upcoming Oscars has been deemed ineligible, meaning the country will not compete for the best international feature film award for the first time in more than 20 years.
The country had submitted The Sinking Of The Lisbon Maru, a documentary directed by Fang Li, which chronicles a tragic incident in the Second World War.
However, as the film features interviews with British survivors and descendants of the victims, the amount of non-English dialogue proved insufficient for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas). Their rules state that international feature film submissions much have “a...
The country had submitted The Sinking Of The Lisbon Maru, a documentary directed by Fang Li, which chronicles a tragic incident in the Second World War.
However, as the film features interviews with British survivors and descendants of the victims, the amount of non-English dialogue proved insufficient for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas). Their rules state that international feature film submissions much have “a...
- 10/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
China will not be competing for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards this year. China’s submission to the 97th Academy Awards, the documentary “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru,” has been deemed ineligible by the Academy, and it’s too late to come up with a replacement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Best International Film category rules require that a film must have “a predominantly (more than 50 percent) non-English dialogue track” to be eligible, which “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” does not. And because the film was submitted shortly before the Oct. 2 submission deadline, there was no time for China to submit a new contender once the film was determined to be ineligible.
Though the film is not eligible in the Best International Feature category, it’s still eligible to compete for Best Documentary Feature.
“The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” tells the story of the titular World War II event,...
The Best International Film category rules require that a film must have “a predominantly (more than 50 percent) non-English dialogue track” to be eligible, which “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” does not. And because the film was submitted shortly before the Oct. 2 submission deadline, there was no time for China to submit a new contender once the film was determined to be ineligible.
Though the film is not eligible in the Best International Feature category, it’s still eligible to compete for Best Documentary Feature.
“The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” tells the story of the titular World War II event,...
- 10/28/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
China’s submission for the Oscars Best International Feature Film race this year, the World War II documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, has been ruled ineligible by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
We’re hearing that the film, the first documentary ever submitted by China for International Feature, did not meet the Academy’s submission requirement that more than 50% of the film’s dialogue track (as well as the completed film) be in a language or languages other than English.
Because it was discovered that threshold wasn’t met after the Academy’s October 2 deadline for submissions in the category, China can’t re-submit another film for consideration.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru still can be considered in the Documentary Feature category. The Oscar shortlists in both International Feature and Documentary Feature categories, along with eight others, will be revealed December 17.
Directed by Fang Li,...
We’re hearing that the film, the first documentary ever submitted by China for International Feature, did not meet the Academy’s submission requirement that more than 50% of the film’s dialogue track (as well as the completed film) be in a language or languages other than English.
Because it was discovered that threshold wasn’t met after the Academy’s October 2 deadline for submissions in the category, China can’t re-submit another film for consideration.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru still can be considered in the Documentary Feature category. The Oscar shortlists in both International Feature and Documentary Feature categories, along with eight others, will be revealed December 17.
Directed by Fang Li,...
- 10/28/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary feature that China submitted as its entry for the best international feature Oscar competition, has been deemed ineligible for that award, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirms to THR that the film failed to meet their minimum language requirement for the award — a film must have “a predominantly (more than 50 percent) non-English dialogue track” to be eligible, per Academy rules — and that because Lisbon Maru was submitted just before the Oct. 2 submission deadline, it was too late, once this issue was discovered, for China to submit a different film.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, which was directed by Fang Li, recounts the story of the titular “ship of death,” a cargo liner that was requisitioned by the Japanese Army during World War II. On Oct. 1, 1942, the ship was being used to transport...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirms to THR that the film failed to meet their minimum language requirement for the award — a film must have “a predominantly (more than 50 percent) non-English dialogue track” to be eligible, per Academy rules — and that because Lisbon Maru was submitted just before the Oct. 2 submission deadline, it was too late, once this issue was discovered, for China to submit a different film.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, which was directed by Fang Li, recounts the story of the titular “ship of death,” a cargo liner that was requisitioned by the Japanese Army during World War II. On Oct. 1, 1942, the ship was being used to transport...
- 10/28/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Academy members who are voting in the Best International Feature Film category have been given 85 different films to consider, according to emails sent to voters on Friday and obtained by TheWrap.
The 85 films make up the smallest field in the category in nine years. Last year saw 88 qualifying films, after the total number of eligible films had topped 90 in five of the previous six years. The record was 93, set in 2000.
In late September, all prospective voters in the category received emails inviting them to vote in the international category and telling them that those who opted in would receive emails with their assigned viewing on Friday, Nov. 1. But those emails came a week early, going to prospective voters on Friday afternoon, Oct. 25, and separating the members into seven separate groups.
Each group was given a list of 12 or 13 films to view, either in the Academy’s members-only screening platform devoted...
The 85 films make up the smallest field in the category in nine years. Last year saw 88 qualifying films, after the total number of eligible films had topped 90 in five of the previous six years. The record was 93, set in 2000.
In late September, all prospective voters in the category received emails inviting them to vote in the international category and telling them that those who opted in would receive emails with their assigned viewing on Friday, Nov. 1. But those emails came a week early, going to prospective voters on Friday afternoon, Oct. 25, and separating the members into seven separate groups.
Each group was given a list of 12 or 13 films to view, either in the Academy’s members-only screening platform devoted...
- 10/28/2024
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees for Best International Feature is made difficult by the three-step process that begins after the October 2, 2024 deadline for countries to submit entries. To be part of the selection process for this category, which was called Best Foreign Language Film before 2020, requires a great deal of dedication. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best International Feature.)
In the days following the deadline for submissions, the academy determines each film’s eligibility. Then the several hundred academy members who serve on the International Feature screening committee are divided into groups and required to watch all their submissions over a six-week period that ends in early December. Their top 15 vote-getters will make it to the next round. That list of semi-finalists will be revealed on December 17, 2024.
These 15 films will be made available to the entire academy membership who can cast ballots for the final...
In the days following the deadline for submissions, the academy determines each film’s eligibility. Then the several hundred academy members who serve on the International Feature screening committee are divided into groups and required to watch all their submissions over a six-week period that ends in early December. Their top 15 vote-getters will make it to the next round. That list of semi-finalists will be revealed on December 17, 2024.
These 15 films will be made available to the entire academy membership who can cast ballots for the final...
- 10/10/2024
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
A Chinese documentary film about a World War II incident is bringing international attention to an act of bravery by Chinese fishermen. “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” recounts how local fishermen rescued hundreds of British soldiers after their transport ship was sunk by an American submarine near China in 1942.
The film tells the story through interviews, archival footage, and animation. It describes how the Lisbon Maru, carrying British prisoners of war to Japan, was torpedoed off China’s coast. Over 800 British troops lost their lives, but around 380 survived thanks to help from Chinese civilians. Although facing danger themselves, local fishermen risked their lives to save soldiers from the sinking vessel. They also protected the survivors from Japanese forces.
This lesser-known event from World War II highlights compassion during a time of global conflict. By focusing on the heroism of the fishermen, the documentary underscores themes of international cooperation and altruism in difficult situations.
The film tells the story through interviews, archival footage, and animation. It describes how the Lisbon Maru, carrying British prisoners of war to Japan, was torpedoed off China’s coast. Over 800 British troops lost their lives, but around 380 survived thanks to help from Chinese civilians. Although facing danger themselves, local fishermen risked their lives to save soldiers from the sinking vessel. They also protected the survivors from Japanese forces.
This lesser-known event from World War II highlights compassion during a time of global conflict. By focusing on the heroism of the fishermen, the documentary underscores themes of international cooperation and altruism in difficult situations.
- 9/30/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
China has picked World War II documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru as its submission for the Oscars’ best international feature film category.
Directed by Fang Li, the film’s selection is the first documentary that the country has picked as its representative at the Academy Awards.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was the opening film of the Shanghai International Film Festival, held in June.
Using live interviews, historical footage and animated reconstructions, the documentary focuses on a WWII event in 1942 when a Japanese transport ship named The Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy. Onboard the vessel were British prisoners-of-war and over 800 British troops perished during the incident. Around 380 British prisoners-of-war were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen.
For the Oscars, China has historically selected films that are able to drum up nationalistic pride, and The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru continues this trend. The film highlights...
Directed by Fang Li, the film’s selection is the first documentary that the country has picked as its representative at the Academy Awards.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was the opening film of the Shanghai International Film Festival, held in June.
Using live interviews, historical footage and animated reconstructions, the documentary focuses on a WWII event in 1942 when a Japanese transport ship named The Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy. Onboard the vessel were British prisoners-of-war and over 800 British troops perished during the incident. Around 380 British prisoners-of-war were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen.
For the Oscars, China has historically selected films that are able to drum up nationalistic pride, and The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru continues this trend. The film highlights...
- 9/30/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
Entries for the 2025 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2, 2024.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to...
The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2, 2024.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to...
- 9/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
China has selected The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a World War II documentary by director Fang Li, as its representative at the 97th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category. The pick marks the first time since China began sending titles to the Oscars in 1979 that it has put forward a documentary, but the choice also continues a trend of China picking movies that stir nationalistic sentiments at home.
The movie, which was the opening film of the Shanghai International Film Festival in June, resurrects a relatively obscure episode from 1942 during WWII, when an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship — The Lisbon Maru — was torpedoed by the U.S. navy. The vessel was being used to transport prisoners of war at the time, and over 800 British troops died as the ship went down, either from drowning or Japanese gunfire. Nearly 380 other British POWs were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen,...
The movie, which was the opening film of the Shanghai International Film Festival in June, resurrects a relatively obscure episode from 1942 during WWII, when an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship — The Lisbon Maru — was torpedoed by the U.S. navy. The vessel was being used to transport prisoners of war at the time, and over 800 British troops died as the ship went down, either from drowning or Japanese gunfire. Nearly 380 other British POWs were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen,...
- 9/30/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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