Out of all the studios announced to be working on Volume 2 of the animated anthology series, "Star Wars: Visions," it's Aardman Animation's involvement that's got me the most intrigued. The "Wallace & Gromit," "Shaun the Sheep," and "Chicken Run" stop-motion powerhouse's various idiosyncratic settings and toothy-mouthed characters aren't as far removed from the galaxy far, far away as you might imagine, either.
Speaking during the "Visions" panels at "Star Wars" Celebration 2023 in London, England (where members of the /Film crew are currently on the ground), the team behind Aardman's "Visions" short, title "I Am Your Mother," noted that stop-motion has a long history in "Star Wars." Indeed, the Industrial Light & Magic visual effects legend Phil Tippett famously used never-before-seen VFX to make the stop-motion tauntauns and At-ATs more convincing for the Hoth sequences in "The Empire Strikes Back." Magdalena Osinska, the director of "I Am Your Mother," referred to Aardman...
Speaking during the "Visions" panels at "Star Wars" Celebration 2023 in London, England (where members of the /Film crew are currently on the ground), the team behind Aardman's "Visions" short, title "I Am Your Mother," noted that stop-motion has a long history in "Star Wars." Indeed, the Industrial Light & Magic visual effects legend Phil Tippett famously used never-before-seen VFX to make the stop-motion tauntauns and At-ATs more convincing for the Hoth sequences in "The Empire Strikes Back." Magdalena Osinska, the director of "I Am Your Mother," referred to Aardman...
- 4/10/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
If you’ve been putting off watching the terrifically adventurous Brendan Fraser-led “The Mummy” again, now’s the time to prioritize it. The 1999 film is one of a bevy of movies leaving HBO Max in June, the full list of which you can read below.
Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”
If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.
Also Read:
Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022
June 9:
12 Strong, 2018
June 30:
2 Guns, 2013
20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)
All Dogs Go To Heaven,...
Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”
If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.
Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.
Also Read:
Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022
June 9:
12 Strong, 2018
June 30:
2 Guns, 2013
20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)
All Dogs Go To Heaven,...
- 6/3/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Aardman’s beloved characters Wallace and Gromit are returning in a new BBC and Netflix film and Ginger and Rocky from “Chicken Run” (2000) in a Netflix sequel.
With a box office gross of nearly $225 million, “Chicken Run” is the highest grossing stop-motion film of all time. The sequel, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has set up a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
The cast includes Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, David Bradley, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Nick Mohammed. Sam Fell (“Flushed Away”) directs...
With a box office gross of nearly $225 million, “Chicken Run” is the highest grossing stop-motion film of all time. The sequel, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has set up a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
The cast includes Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, David Bradley, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Nick Mohammed. Sam Fell (“Flushed Away”) directs...
- 1/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Fresh off the long-awaited arrival of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (a.k.a. the fabled Snyder Cut), HBO Max has no need to appease fandom culture in April 2021. But the streaming service is gonna do it anyway!
The most notable new release for HBO Max this month is the HBO series The Nevers. This show, created by Joss Whedon, is set in a 19th century steampunk London and finds a sizable portion of the population (predominantly women) having been “Touched” by mysterious paranormal powers. There’s an interesting bit of irony at play here, as HBO Max is following up the Snyder Cut with a show created by his original Justice League replacement. Or at least there could have been an interesting bit of irony here, if Whedon had not bowed out from the show and been enthusiastically left out of the marketing material by HBO.
Read more Movies...
The most notable new release for HBO Max this month is the HBO series The Nevers. This show, created by Joss Whedon, is set in a 19th century steampunk London and finds a sizable portion of the population (predominantly women) having been “Touched” by mysterious paranormal powers. There’s an interesting bit of irony at play here, as HBO Max is following up the Snyder Cut with a show created by his original Justice League replacement. Or at least there could have been an interesting bit of irony here, if Whedon had not bowed out from the show and been enthusiastically left out of the marketing material by HBO.
Read more Movies...
- 4/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Four acclaimed film animation directors will reveal details behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Wednesday, January 27, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our contributing editor Charles Bright and a group chat with Charles and all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“The Croods: A New Age” (DreamWorks): Joel Crawford
Crawford’s career has included “The Lego Movie 2,” “Trolls,” “Kung Fu Panda...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“The Croods: A New Age” (DreamWorks): Joel Crawford
Crawford’s career has included “The Lego Movie 2,” “Trolls,” “Kung Fu Panda...
- 1/20/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Evidence the sector is well-positioned to thrive in a post-pandemic, SVoD-driven market.
Producers dependent on UK independent distributors to finance their work and get it into cinemas have had a particularly anxious year. The pandemic has acclimatised audiences to watching films at home rather than in a cinema, and there have been major changes at some of the companies renowned for their commitment to the local film sector.
Zygi Kamasa has left Lionsgate UK, the company he co-founded as Redbus in 1997. Under Kamasa, Lionsgate UK was a staunch supporter of UK film, backing titles such as Bend It Like Beckham,...
Producers dependent on UK independent distributors to finance their work and get it into cinemas have had a particularly anxious year. The pandemic has acclimatised audiences to watching films at home rather than in a cinema, and there have been major changes at some of the companies renowned for their commitment to the local film sector.
Zygi Kamasa has left Lionsgate UK, the company he co-founded as Redbus in 1997. Under Kamasa, Lionsgate UK was a staunch supporter of UK film, backing titles such as Bend It Like Beckham,...
- 12/10/2020
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
‘Beats’ scores two prizes.
Armando Iannucci’s Charles Dickens adaptation The Personal History Of David Copperfield has picked up three awards from the nine British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) craft winners, announced today (November 15).
The Film4-backed title won best casting for Sarah Crowe, best costume design for Suzie Harman and Robert Worley, and best production design for Cristina Casali.
Both Crowe and Casali previously won their respective awards in 2017 for their work on Iannucci’s The Death Of Stalin.
David Copperfield led the nominations totals with 11 when they were announced last month; the remaining category winners will be revealed...
Armando Iannucci’s Charles Dickens adaptation The Personal History Of David Copperfield has picked up three awards from the nine British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) craft winners, announced today (November 15).
The Film4-backed title won best casting for Sarah Crowe, best costume design for Suzie Harman and Robert Worley, and best production design for Cristina Casali.
Both Crowe and Casali previously won their respective awards in 2017 for their work on Iannucci’s The Death Of Stalin.
David Copperfield led the nominations totals with 11 when they were announced last month; the remaining category winners will be revealed...
- 11/15/2019
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
Rooster Teeth launched Michael B. Jordan’s animated sci-fi mecha series gen:lock in January 2019, but HBO Max ended up snatching it up. The second season of the series will now premiere on WarnerMedia’s streaming service and they will have an exclusive 90-day run on HBO Max. After that, the series will be available on Rooster Teeth’s own subscription-streaming service.
The half-hour animated series is set in the near-future and focuses on a dystopia undergoing a new, technologically driven world war. Here’s the synopsis:
Fifty years in the future, gen:lock tells the story of an oppressive authoritarian force that threatens to conquer the world. A daring team is recruited to pilot a new form of devastating mecha, but they must be willing to sacrifice everything to save the world.
The second season will also see the return of Dakota Fanning, Maisie Williams, Golshifteh Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales...
The half-hour animated series is set in the near-future and focuses on a dystopia undergoing a new, technologically driven world war. Here’s the synopsis:
Fifty years in the future, gen:lock tells the story of an oppressive authoritarian force that threatens to conquer the world. A daring team is recruited to pilot a new form of devastating mecha, but they must be willing to sacrifice everything to save the world.
The second season will also see the return of Dakota Fanning, Maisie Williams, Golshifteh Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales...
- 10/25/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
No asteroids are hurtling toward Earth in “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” though a flying frozen pizza does softly slice the top off an elderly shopper’s hairdo: That’s roughly the level of quirky peril we’re talking about in the latest outing from Aardman Animations, and as usual, the British stop-motion masters cheerfully prove that benign needn’t mean bland. Arriving nearly five years after the Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie” successfully expanded the bucolic “Wallace and Gromit” spinoff to feature length, this baa-lated but baa-guiling sequel — if such puns make you wince, perhaps give the film a wide berth — returns Aardman to winningly offbeat form after last year’s adept but oddly anemic prehistoric adventure “Early Man.”
“Farmageddon” is the first feature-length sequel from an outfit that has experienced steadily diminishing commercial returns since “Chicken Run” raked in $225 million worldwide at the turn of the century.
“Farmageddon” is the first feature-length sequel from an outfit that has experienced steadily diminishing commercial returns since “Chicken Run” raked in $225 million worldwide at the turn of the century.
- 10/18/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
2000’s Chicken Run was a global smash for British stop motion geniuses Aardman Animations. The tale of a cocky, uh, cock and a flock of freedom hungry hens proved to be box office gold, grossing $225 million. Nearly two decades have passed since its release but in April 2018, Aardman announced that they were planning on making a Chicken Run 2.
This made sense, as their next film, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon hits cinemas this week and the studio has to be banking on it being a success. After all, 2018’s Early Man was positively received by critics yet inexplicably failed to make an impact with audiences, earning a paltry $54 million on a $50 million budget. Surely going back to their biggest hit and making a sequel is the kind of safe move the studio needs now, right?
Apparently so, as Will Becher, co-director at Aardman, has confirmed that Chicken Run 2 is now in production,...
This made sense, as their next film, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon hits cinemas this week and the studio has to be banking on it being a success. After all, 2018’s Early Man was positively received by critics yet inexplicably failed to make an impact with audiences, earning a paltry $54 million on a $50 million budget. Surely going back to their biggest hit and making a sequel is the kind of safe move the studio needs now, right?
Apparently so, as Will Becher, co-director at Aardman, has confirmed that Chicken Run 2 is now in production,...
- 10/16/2019
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
For a story about the ruthlessness of nature, it’s no surprise that “Primal” is built on scale. The newest animated series from prolific director Genndy Tartakovsky is, among other things, an exercise in size, matching palpable fear and danger to the physical space that the source of those feelings take up. Through the lens of two characters, a man and a dinosaur, “Primal” is a piece of elemental storytelling that finds some real emotional depth without either of its protagonists uttering a single word of dialogue.
In what eventually becomes a chronicle of an unconventional pairing, Tartakovsky and art director Scott Wills uses this latest hand-drawn TV effort to work inside familiar survival conventions and chip away at them from the inside. “Primal” is not an easy protagonist/sidekick tale, nor is it a glossy, sanitized Early Man friendship story. Spear (the man) and Fang (the tyrannosaur) are joined by a shared tangible tragedy,...
In what eventually becomes a chronicle of an unconventional pairing, Tartakovsky and art director Scott Wills uses this latest hand-drawn TV effort to work inside familiar survival conventions and chip away at them from the inside. “Primal” is not an easy protagonist/sidekick tale, nor is it a glossy, sanitized Early Man friendship story. Spear (the man) and Fang (the tyrannosaur) are joined by a shared tangible tragedy,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Aardman, the Oscar-winning animation studio behind “Chicken Run” and “Early Man,” has appointed Sean Clarke as its new managing director, replacing co-founder David Sproxton, who is stepping down after 43 years. Clarke has worked at the British studio for more than 20 years, including heading the international rights and marketing department for over a decade.
Sproxton and fellow co-founder Peter Lord announced last November that they would be transferring ownership of Aardman to its staff to ensure that the studio would retain its independence and to secure its creative and cultural legacy. At that time, Sproxton announced that he would stay on as managing director but would look for a successor and move into a consultancy role. He will sit on the studio’s board of trustees.
Sproxton said Clarke had “cut through very strong competition” to take his place. Clarke “has a deep understanding of the creative culture at Aardman – which...
Sproxton and fellow co-founder Peter Lord announced last November that they would be transferring ownership of Aardman to its staff to ensure that the studio would retain its independence and to secure its creative and cultural legacy. At that time, Sproxton announced that he would stay on as managing director but would look for a successor and move into a consultancy role. He will sit on the studio’s board of trustees.
Sproxton said Clarke had “cut through very strong competition” to take his place. Clarke “has a deep understanding of the creative culture at Aardman – which...
- 9/18/2019
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Asterix: The Secret Of The Magic Potion Photo: Courtesy of Eiff San Sebastian has announced it will present a selection of animated films for children at its 67th edition.
The films, which include Asterix: The Secret Of The Magic Potion and The Lego Movie 2 will include a number of screenings dubbed into Basque to make them accessible to a family audience.
The section, which is produced in collaboration with property developer Amenabar, has an international sweep and will also include Nick Park's prehistoric adventure Early Man, Danish adventure The Incredible Story Of The Giant Pair, Belgian/French co-production The Son Of Bookfoot and Icelandic/Belgian film Ploey, which was namd best film at the Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival (Norway).
The festival has also announced its Culinary Zinema section, with several of the screenings accompanied by themed dinners.
Now in its ninth year, the section is a mix of features shorts.
The films, which include Asterix: The Secret Of The Magic Potion and The Lego Movie 2 will include a number of screenings dubbed into Basque to make them accessible to a family audience.
The section, which is produced in collaboration with property developer Amenabar, has an international sweep and will also include Nick Park's prehistoric adventure Early Man, Danish adventure The Incredible Story Of The Giant Pair, Belgian/French co-production The Son Of Bookfoot and Icelandic/Belgian film Ploey, which was namd best film at the Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival (Norway).
The festival has also announced its Culinary Zinema section, with several of the screenings accompanied by themed dinners.
Now in its ninth year, the section is a mix of features shorts.
- 9/3/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Studiocanal has released a new trailer and poster for Aardman Animation’s Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon with an introduction to an alien.
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in trailers – Tom Holland makes Will Smith an offer he can’t refuse in new trailer for ‘Spies in Disguise’
The film hits UK cinemas October...
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in trailers – Tom Holland makes Will Smith an offer he can’t refuse in new trailer for ‘Spies in Disguise’
The film hits UK cinemas October...
- 7/3/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Nick Park, the creator of the Wallace and Gromit characters and films, has told THR that he has some ideas brewing for some new Wallace and Gromit projects. But while we have had movies in the past, Park is thinking something smaller in scale this time around. Here’s what he had to say about the upcoming project:
“I think having just reached (age) 60, you sort of start to think how much can I do, you know?” says Aardman director Park. “And I've got so many ideas, and feature films just take so long. So, I'm not saying 'no' but at the moment, a half hour seems far more attractive I must say.”
I had no idea that stop-motion clay took so long to shoot. Park’s last feature film, Early Man, took five years to complete! And a half-hour short would take around a year. Park went on to...
“I think having just reached (age) 60, you sort of start to think how much can I do, you know?” says Aardman director Park. “And I've got so many ideas, and feature films just take so long. So, I'm not saying 'no' but at the moment, a half hour seems far more attractive I must say.”
I had no idea that stop-motion clay took so long to shoot. Park’s last feature film, Early Man, took five years to complete! And a half-hour short would take around a year. Park went on to...
- 5/27/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
Nick Park loves going back to the world of Britain's beloved "Wallace and Gromit" franchise. The four-time Oscar-winning multi-hyphenate talent says he is working on expanding the universe.
The creator of the franchise says he is writing some more "Wallace and Gromit" stories.
"Wallace and Gromit are good old friends of mine and they are my family. I love to come back to them," Nick told over the phone.
"So, yes I do have more Wallace and Gromit ideas. And I am actually writing more Wallace and Gromit stories," added the animator, refusing to divulge more information about it.
Nick's cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his pet dog Gromit first found their way onto the silver screen with the short film "A Grand Day Out" in 1989. The first Wallace and Gromit feature-length movie were "The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit", which was released in 2005. The animated characters have become cultural icons in the UK.
The creator of the franchise says he is writing some more "Wallace and Gromit" stories.
"Wallace and Gromit are good old friends of mine and they are my family. I love to come back to them," Nick told over the phone.
"So, yes I do have more Wallace and Gromit ideas. And I am actually writing more Wallace and Gromit stories," added the animator, refusing to divulge more information about it.
Nick's cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his pet dog Gromit first found their way onto the silver screen with the short film "A Grand Day Out" in 1989. The first Wallace and Gromit feature-length movie were "The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit", which was released in 2005. The animated characters have become cultural icons in the UK.
- 5/10/2019
- GlamSham
Studiocanal has released a new trailer for Aardman Animation’s Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon with an introduction to an alien.
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in trailers – Final trailer for ‘Ugly Dolls’ welcomes you to the Institute of perfection
The film is released in the UK October 18th.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon...
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in trailers – Final trailer for ‘Ugly Dolls’ welcomes you to the Institute of perfection
The film is released in the UK October 18th.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon...
- 4/1/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Danny Perkins, the former Studiocanal UK boss, has lifted the lid on his new film first Elysian Film Group for the first time.
Perkins, speaking at the Intv conference in Israel, revealed that producer Kate Solomon has co-founded the company with and he has plans to produce television series in addition to feature films. Solomon will run the production side of the business, while Perkins will oversee the business side.
Solomon has produced titles including Green Zone, Entebbe and Legend. She has developed projects with the likes of Working Title and Film4 and worked with Paul Greengrass on United 93.
Perkins has plans to produce a musical, a family film and is also developing a handful of television series.
He announced he was leaving Studiocanal, where he ran the UK, last June.
During his tenure at the firm, Perkins oversaw UK distribution on box office hits including Paddington 1 & 2, Legend, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,...
Perkins, speaking at the Intv conference in Israel, revealed that producer Kate Solomon has co-founded the company with and he has plans to produce television series in addition to feature films. Solomon will run the production side of the business, while Perkins will oversee the business side.
Solomon has produced titles including Green Zone, Entebbe and Legend. She has developed projects with the likes of Working Title and Film4 and worked with Paul Greengrass on United 93.
Perkins has plans to produce a musical, a family film and is also developing a handful of television series.
He announced he was leaving Studiocanal, where he ran the UK, last June.
During his tenure at the firm, Perkins oversaw UK distribution on box office hits including Paddington 1 & 2, Legend, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,...
- 3/12/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In what could be the final release from 20th Century Fox before it becomes subsumed by Disney, “Alita: Battle Angel” was clearly the No. 1 film this weekend. It performed better than expected, with $41.7 million anticipated for the four-day weekend.
“Alita” bested the second weekend of “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” and two films that opened Wednesday, “Isn’t It Romantic” and “Happy Death Day 2U.” Along with “What Men Want,” also in its second week, they also represent the state of business at the moment — and the industry has much bigger concerns than which categories are shown live at next Sunday’s Oscars.
This will be a rock-bottom Presidents’ Day Weekend, with ticket sales down at least a third; in comparison to some years, it’s only half. One of those years was 2018, when “Black Panther” led to 31 million tickets sold. That was an extreme case, but the...
“Alita” bested the second weekend of “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” and two films that opened Wednesday, “Isn’t It Romantic” and “Happy Death Day 2U.” Along with “What Men Want,” also in its second week, they also represent the state of business at the moment — and the industry has much bigger concerns than which categories are shown live at next Sunday’s Oscars.
This will be a rock-bottom Presidents’ Day Weekend, with ticket sales down at least a third; in comparison to some years, it’s only half. One of those years was 2018, when “Black Panther” led to 31 million tickets sold. That was an extreme case, but the...
- 2/17/2019
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Daniel Kurland Feb 11, 2019
After the success of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, it's time distributors consider true wide releases for anime films not named Pokémon.
Anime’s presence in North America has evolved over the years, and we’ve come a long way from the days when “Japanimation” was just a morbid curiosity and guilty pleasure. The perceived fringe animation has grown into a genuinely enjoyable and thrilling source of content for Western audiences, and while anime has become much more popular with the mainstream over the past few years, the current content out there has hit new heights. Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the latest chapter in the ongoing Dragon Ball series, has made over $30 million domestically (with a global total of over $100 million), which makes it the third highest-grossing anime film of all-time in North America.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly has found very real success, but its numbers hold even...
After the success of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, it's time distributors consider true wide releases for anime films not named Pokémon.
Anime’s presence in North America has evolved over the years, and we’ve come a long way from the days when “Japanimation” was just a morbid curiosity and guilty pleasure. The perceived fringe animation has grown into a genuinely enjoyable and thrilling source of content for Western audiences, and while anime has become much more popular with the mainstream over the past few years, the current content out there has hit new heights. Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the latest chapter in the ongoing Dragon Ball series, has made over $30 million domestically (with a global total of over $100 million), which makes it the third highest-grossing anime film of all-time in North America.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly has found very real success, but its numbers hold even...
- 2/11/2019
- Den of Geek
‘Game of Thrones’ star Maisie Williams has signed up to star in Julius Berg’s UK thriller ‘The Owners’.
Based on Herrmann and Yves Huppen’s comic book, the film is set in rural England during the early 1990s, the story follows childhood friends Nathan and Terry who, inspired by an out-of-town sociopath, attempt to rob the elderly local doctor and his wife.
Williams will play Mary, the girlfriend of the leading character, Nathan. Mary thinks the plan is a bad idea but the boys go ahead with it anyway. Dr. Huggins, however, won’t go down easy, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
On Williams casting Berg said “I’m very proud that Maisie Williams is joining the cast of The Owners[…]Her already impressive experience will bring great force and vitality to her character and to the narrative of what promises to be a particularly intense thriller.
Based on Herrmann and Yves Huppen’s comic book, the film is set in rural England during the early 1990s, the story follows childhood friends Nathan and Terry who, inspired by an out-of-town sociopath, attempt to rob the elderly local doctor and his wife.
Williams will play Mary, the girlfriend of the leading character, Nathan. Mary thinks the plan is a bad idea but the boys go ahead with it anyway. Dr. Huggins, however, won’t go down easy, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
On Williams casting Berg said “I’m very proud that Maisie Williams is joining the cast of The Owners[…]Her already impressive experience will bring great force and vitality to her character and to the narrative of what promises to be a particularly intense thriller.
- 2/11/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams is coming on board the 1990s-set thriller “The Owners,” directed by Julius Berg from a screenplay by Berg and Matthieu Gompel.
“The Owners” is based on a comic book from the artist Herrmann and written by Yves H. The film is produced by Alain de la Mata at U.K.-based Bluelight, and executive produced by Xyz Films, which will handle North American sales with Versatile handling international at the European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival.
The film will shoot this spring in Kent, close to London, in an isolated Victorian mansion. The story takes place in rural England with two friends — broke and on the scrap heap at 20 — being spurred on by an out-of-town sociopath to rob the elderly local doctor and his wife. Williams will portray the girlfriend of one of the perpetrators who is dead set against the plan,...
“The Owners” is based on a comic book from the artist Herrmann and written by Yves H. The film is produced by Alain de la Mata at U.K.-based Bluelight, and executive produced by Xyz Films, which will handle North American sales with Versatile handling international at the European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival.
The film will shoot this spring in Kent, close to London, in an isolated Victorian mansion. The story takes place in rural England with two friends — broke and on the scrap heap at 20 — being spurred on by an out-of-town sociopath to rob the elderly local doctor and his wife. Williams will portray the girlfriend of one of the perpetrators who is dead set against the plan,...
- 2/8/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
“Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams has been cast in Julius Berg’s ’90s thriller “The Owners,” it was announced Friday.
Berg and Matthieu Gompel wrote the screenplay based on the comic book from artist Hermann Huppen and written by Yves H. Alain de la Mata at UK-based Bluelight is producing, while Xyz Films is executive producing.
Xyz is handling North American sales, while Versatile handles international sales at Berlin’s Efm. The film will shoot this spring.
Also Read: Maisie Williams Filmed Her Final 'Game of Thrones' Scene Solo: 'Arya's Always Bloody Alone'
“The Owners” is set in rural England in the early 1990s and follows Nathan and Terry, who are tracked down by an out-of-town sociopath names Gaz and forced to rob an elderly doctor and his wife.
Williams is best known for her role as Arya Stark in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Last year,...
Berg and Matthieu Gompel wrote the screenplay based on the comic book from artist Hermann Huppen and written by Yves H. Alain de la Mata at UK-based Bluelight is producing, while Xyz Films is executive producing.
Xyz is handling North American sales, while Versatile handles international sales at Berlin’s Efm. The film will shoot this spring.
Also Read: Maisie Williams Filmed Her Final 'Game of Thrones' Scene Solo: 'Arya's Always Bloody Alone'
“The Owners” is set in rural England in the early 1990s and follows Nathan and Terry, who are tracked down by an out-of-town sociopath names Gaz and forced to rob an elderly doctor and his wife.
Williams is best known for her role as Arya Stark in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Last year,...
- 2/8/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Winners of the 46th annual Annie Awards were revealed on Feb. 2, 2019 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” won all seven of its races including Best Studio Animated Feature. Its main Oscar rival for that award, ‘Incredibles 2,” took just 2 of its leading 11 bids. The Annies, which hand out awards in 32 categories, are presented by the Hollywood chapter of the International Animated Film Assn. Scroll down for the full list of winners (and complete roster of nominees).
In addition to the competitive awards, honorary Windsor McKay awards were presented honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation by director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano and, posthumously, to Frank Braxton, the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president. The Ub Iwerks Award was presented to Ton Roosendaal for developing Blender Open Source Animation Software while the...
In addition to the competitive awards, honorary Windsor McKay awards were presented honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation by director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano and, posthumously, to Frank Braxton, the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president. The Ub Iwerks Award was presented to Ton Roosendaal for developing Blender Open Source Animation Software while the...
- 2/3/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Next stop: Oscar. The world of animation bowed before Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse tonight at the 46th annual Annie Awards from UCLA’s Royce Hall. The teen-superhero pic from Sony Pictures Animation pummeled the competition, going 7-for-7 in its nominated categories including Best Animated Feature.
“Go break new ground, everybody,” producer Chris Miller said in accepting the night marquee prize. Added Peter Ramsey, one of the trio who also won the directing prize for Spider-Verse tonight: “We wanted to make a movie that made people feel special and powerful, that was kind of our mission.”
Phil Lord said the diversity of the night’s winners — including student winners — was a resounding message in his ears throughout the program. “The diversity of the projects and the diversity of characters, too,” the Spider-Verse producer/co-writer and co-writer said as the film’s soundtrack hit Sunflower serenaded Royce Hall one again on a...
“Go break new ground, everybody,” producer Chris Miller said in accepting the night marquee prize. Added Peter Ramsey, one of the trio who also won the directing prize for Spider-Verse tonight: “We wanted to make a movie that made people feel special and powerful, that was kind of our mission.”
Phil Lord said the diversity of the night’s winners — including student winners — was a resounding message in his ears throughout the program. “The diversity of the projects and the diversity of characters, too,” the Spider-Verse producer/co-writer and co-writer said as the film’s soundtrack hit Sunflower serenaded Royce Hall one again on a...
- 2/3/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” topped Saturday’s Annie Awards, taking home seven zoetropes — one for each of its webslinger incarnations — including best animated feature. The Sony Pictures Animation film, which won in every category in which it was nominated, swung past Aardman Animations’ “Early Man,” Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” Fox Searchlight Pictures’ “Isle of Dogs” and Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” for that honor.
In addition to animated feature, “Spider-Verse” picked up trophies for direction; writing (Phil Lord and Rothman); character animation in an animated feature (David Han); character design (Shiyoon Kim); production design (Justin K. Thompson) and editorial.
Mamoru Hosoda’s “Mirai” was named best animated independent feature.
How the “Spider-Verse” Annie wins will affect its chances on Oscar night is unclear. The Academy changed its nominating procedures this year for the animated feature category, opening it up to any Academy member willing to join the nominating committee.
In addition to animated feature, “Spider-Verse” picked up trophies for direction; writing (Phil Lord and Rothman); character animation in an animated feature (David Han); character design (Shiyoon Kim); production design (Justin K. Thompson) and editorial.
Mamoru Hosoda’s “Mirai” was named best animated independent feature.
How the “Spider-Verse” Annie wins will affect its chances on Oscar night is unclear. The Academy changed its nominating procedures this year for the animated feature category, opening it up to any Academy member willing to join the nominating committee.
- 2/3/2019
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Figures also outlines UK production spend and box office numbers.
The BFI has released its annual figures for UK film and TV production spend and box office admissions.
The report shows the UK production sector is thriving but is hugely reliant on inward investment. It also paints a mixed picture for UK independent production, with box office share going up, but the number of low-budget titles produced falling dramatically.
Independent UK films
The data shows the market share of independently-produced local films at the UK box office was 11.7% in 2018, up from 9.5% on the previous year, the third highest level in...
The BFI has released its annual figures for UK film and TV production spend and box office admissions.
The report shows the UK production sector is thriving but is hugely reliant on inward investment. It also paints a mixed picture for UK independent production, with box office share going up, but the number of low-budget titles produced falling dramatically.
Independent UK films
The data shows the market share of independently-produced local films at the UK box office was 11.7% in 2018, up from 9.5% on the previous year, the third highest level in...
- 2/1/2019
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
by Nathaniel R
Our final Oscar predictions continue with Animated Feature. Though we've learned never to wholly trust consensus in this race (that shocking omission of The Lego Movie!) we're assuming that Spider-Verse, Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs and Ralph Breaks the Internet will be nominated. One spot is free.
In Ye Olden Times we'd assume that that would be it for the mainstream titles and we'd also get Early Man (animators love Aardman films) or Japan's Mirai in there. But under the new rules we have to assume that The Grinch is a strong possibility since it's a massive hit (#7 of the whole year). But will anyone really put it at #1 on their ballots with Incredibles 2 (even more successful and more beloved) right there for the taking? Ruben Brandt Collector is memorable and stands out from the foreign pack in aesthetics but a qualifying release only was a...
Our final Oscar predictions continue with Animated Feature. Though we've learned never to wholly trust consensus in this race (that shocking omission of The Lego Movie!) we're assuming that Spider-Verse, Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs and Ralph Breaks the Internet will be nominated. One spot is free.
In Ye Olden Times we'd assume that that would be it for the mainstream titles and we'd also get Early Man (animators love Aardman films) or Japan's Mirai in there. But under the new rules we have to assume that The Grinch is a strong possibility since it's a massive hit (#7 of the whole year). But will anyone really put it at #1 on their ballots with Incredibles 2 (even more successful and more beloved) right there for the taking? Ruben Brandt Collector is memorable and stands out from the foreign pack in aesthetics but a qualifying release only was a...
- 1/15/2019
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Although BAFTA’s 6,500 members vote on English-language pics from around the world – including Hollywood – for the annual film awards, the British academy often recognizes local talent in its choices. That was certainly evident in the strong showing of “The Favourite,” which led the pack with 12 nominations when they were unveiled early Wednesday in London.
But there were some notable omissions on the list. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” about British rock star Freddie Mercury, garnered seven nominations, but not one for best film. Emily Blunt didn’t make the cut for her performance in “Mary Poppins Returns,” which landed noms in the original music, production design and costume design categories. “Mary Queen of Scots” and “Stan & Ollie” also managed to receive only three nods apiece. And Steve McQueen’s heist movie, “Widows,” garnered only one, for Viola Davis as best actress.
Of the 20 acting nominations, six went to Brits, down from last year’s tally of eight.
But there were some notable omissions on the list. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” about British rock star Freddie Mercury, garnered seven nominations, but not one for best film. Emily Blunt didn’t make the cut for her performance in “Mary Poppins Returns,” which landed noms in the original music, production design and costume design categories. “Mary Queen of Scots” and “Stan & Ollie” also managed to receive only three nods apiece. And Steve McQueen’s heist movie, “Widows,” garnered only one, for Viola Davis as best actress.
Of the 20 acting nominations, six went to Brits, down from last year’s tally of eight.
- 1/9/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Celebrated animator Nick Park, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, talks about his latest animated feature Early Man; his home at U.K.-based Aardman Animations, whose founders recently transferred it into employee ownership; and what might be next for Wallace & Gromit in a new episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Behind the Screen podcast series.
Park is a respected veteran of the animation community and a four-time Oscar winner for the animated feature Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and animated shorts Creature Comforts, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. His latest film,...
Park is a respected veteran of the animation community and a four-time Oscar winner for the animated feature Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and animated shorts Creature Comforts, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. His latest film,...
Celebrated animator Nick Park, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, talks about his latest animated feature Early Man; his home at U.K.-based Aardman Animations, whose founders recently transferred it into employee ownership; and what might be next for Wallace & Gromit in a new episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Behind the Screen podcast series.
Park is a respected veteran of the animation community and a four-time Oscar winner for the animated feature Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and animated shorts Creature Comforts, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. His latest film,...
Park is a respected veteran of the animation community and a four-time Oscar winner for the animated feature Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and animated shorts Creature Comforts, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. His latest film,...
Miles Morales' city in Spider-Man: In the Spider-verse and Whoville in The Grinch are among the looks featured In the second of this two-part series examining the production design behind animated feature Oscar contenders. This portion also features Aardman's Early Man, Sony Pictures Classics' Ruben Brandt, Collector and Gkids' The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl. (Part one of the series can be found here).
Miles Morales' city in Spider-Man: In the Spider-verse and Whoville in The Grinch are among the looks featured In the second of this two-part series examining the production design behind animated feature Oscar contenders. This portion also features Aardman's Early Man, Sony Pictures Classics' Ruben Brandt, Collector and Gkids' The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl. (Part one of the series can be found here).
Final balloting begins for the 46th annual Annie Awards on Tuesday (Jan. 1) and runs for almost three weeks until Jan. 20. Prizes in 36 categories will be handed out on February 2, 2019, 10 days before the start of final voting for the Academy Awards.
This year’s Oscar frontrunner, “Incredibles 2,” leads with 11 nominations. The four other films that we are predicting to reap Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature are also well-represented at these precursor prizes. “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” the sequel to the 2013 Annie winner “Wreck-It-Ralph,” is second with 10 bids. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which is winning with the regional critics, has a lucky seven nominations. Wes Anderson‘s critically acclaimed “Isle of Dogs” reaped four while the Japanese import “Mirai” by acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda is up for two.
The first four of these films contend for Best Studio Animated Feature as does Aardman Animations “Early Man,” which has seven bids in all.
This year’s Oscar frontrunner, “Incredibles 2,” leads with 11 nominations. The four other films that we are predicting to reap Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature are also well-represented at these precursor prizes. “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” the sequel to the 2013 Annie winner “Wreck-It-Ralph,” is second with 10 bids. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which is winning with the regional critics, has a lucky seven nominations. Wes Anderson‘s critically acclaimed “Isle of Dogs” reaped four while the Japanese import “Mirai” by acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda is up for two.
The first four of these films contend for Best Studio Animated Feature as does Aardman Animations “Early Man,” which has seven bids in all.
- 12/31/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
New movies from Sally Potter, Sarah Gavron and Hong Khaou were among the BFI’s top ten Film Fund recipients in 2018. Potter’s untitled drama, starring Javier Bardem, Elle Fanning, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock and Laura Linney, received the year’s biggest production grant of £1.1M. Scroll down for the top ten.
In 2017, the BFI — the UK’s lead organization for film — awarded seven movies £1M or more from its Film Fund. This year, Potter’s feature was the only one to cross the £1M mark. Other leading recipients in 2018 included Liam Neeson starrer Normal People and Keira Knightley pic Misbehaviour.
There is a healthy gender balance to the top ten awards this year with five male and five female directors in the mix. Two are feature debuts. Of course, different films will receive different amounts of money from different BFI funding strands, but this list gives a snapshot of...
In 2017, the BFI — the UK’s lead organization for film — awarded seven movies £1M or more from its Film Fund. This year, Potter’s feature was the only one to cross the £1M mark. Other leading recipients in 2018 included Liam Neeson starrer Normal People and Keira Knightley pic Misbehaviour.
There is a healthy gender balance to the top ten awards this year with five male and five female directors in the mix. Two are feature debuts. Of course, different films will receive different amounts of money from different BFI funding strands, but this list gives a snapshot of...
- 12/21/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony led the way with a spectacular Spider-Man caper, while the terrifying Annihilation reimagined alien invasion and Avengers: Infinity War delivered a shock to rock the cosmos
More of the best culture from 2018
There has never been a better time to be a fan of comic-book movies. Marvel seems to be incapable of putting a foot wrong – three of its movies make this list – while there are undoubted signs of life at 20th Century Fox, Sony and DC, whose Aquaman narrowly failed to make my Top 10.
There are also encouraging indications that mainstream science fiction is slowly veering away from the meat-headed bombast of the Michael Bay Transformers movies. Animated fantasies have rarely reached such heights of quality, with Aardman’s Early Man and Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs also narrowly missing out on making this list. Apologies, too, to the excellent Paddington 2, Upgrade and Teen Titans Go!
More of the best culture from 2018
There has never been a better time to be a fan of comic-book movies. Marvel seems to be incapable of putting a foot wrong – three of its movies make this list – while there are undoubted signs of life at 20th Century Fox, Sony and DC, whose Aquaman narrowly failed to make my Top 10.
There are also encouraging indications that mainstream science fiction is slowly veering away from the meat-headed bombast of the Michael Bay Transformers movies. Animated fantasies have rarely reached such heights of quality, with Aardman’s Early Man and Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs also narrowly missing out on making this list. Apologies, too, to the excellent Paddington 2, Upgrade and Teen Titans Go!
- 12/20/2018
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Pawel Pawlikowski’s “”Cold War” swept the European Film Academy Awards on Saturday, winning five of its bids: Best Picture, Director, Actress (Joanna Kulig), Screenplay and Film Editing. This Polish picture contended for the top prize against three other films that are also entered in this year’s Oscar race for Foreign-Language Film — Sweden’s “Border,” Poland’s “Cold War,” Italy’s “Dogman” and Belgium’s “Girl.” The fifth nominee was “Happy as Lazzaro,” which is also from Italy.
Winners of the 31st edition of these awards were decided by the 3,000 plus members of the academy, drawn from all parts of Europe. Scroll down to see all the winners (and nominees).
Last year Ruben Ostlund‘s satire “The Square” swept the EFAs with six wins including both Best Picture and Best Comedy. Ostlund claimed both the writing and directing awards for his savage satire set in the high stakes art...
Winners of the 31st edition of these awards were decided by the 3,000 plus members of the academy, drawn from all parts of Europe. Scroll down to see all the winners (and nominees).
Last year Ruben Ostlund‘s satire “The Square” swept the EFAs with six wins including both Best Picture and Best Comedy. Ostlund claimed both the writing and directing awards for his savage satire set in the high stakes art...
- 12/16/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Cold War” was the big winner at the European Film Awards, picking up the prizes for Best European Film, Actress (Joanna Kulig), Director, and Screenwriter (both Paweł Pawlikowski). Best actor went to Marcello Fonte of “Dogman,” while Armando Iannucci’s “The Death of Stalin” was named Best European Comedy.
“Cold War” also led all films with five nominations, continuing a strong year for the black-and-white drama — Pawlikowski, whose “Ida” won the Foreign-Language Oscar, also took home Best Director laurels from Cannes.
Ali Abbasi’s “Border” and Alice Rohrwacher’s “Happy as Lazzaro” left the ceremony empty-handed despite picking up four nominations apiece.
The full list of winners:
Best European Film
“Border,” Ali Abbasi
“Cold War,” Pawel Pawlikowski
“Dogman,” Matteo Garrone
“Girl,” Lukas Dhont
“Happy as Lazzaro,” Alice Rorhwacher
European Comedy
“C’est La Vie,” Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
“Diamantino,” Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt
“The Death of Stalin,” Armando Iannucci
European Director
Ali Abbasi,...
“Cold War” also led all films with five nominations, continuing a strong year for the black-and-white drama — Pawlikowski, whose “Ida” won the Foreign-Language Oscar, also took home Best Director laurels from Cannes.
Ali Abbasi’s “Border” and Alice Rohrwacher’s “Happy as Lazzaro” left the ceremony empty-handed despite picking up four nominations apiece.
The full list of winners:
Best European Film
“Border,” Ali Abbasi
“Cold War,” Pawel Pawlikowski
“Dogman,” Matteo Garrone
“Girl,” Lukas Dhont
“Happy as Lazzaro,” Alice Rorhwacher
European Comedy
“C’est La Vie,” Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
“Diamantino,” Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt
“The Death of Stalin,” Armando Iannucci
European Director
Ali Abbasi,...
- 12/15/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
A four-time Oscar winner best known for the Wallace and Gromit stop-motion series, Nick Park has an abiding affection for his own iconic creations, often contemplating what the next chapter might be, when it comes to the eccentric inventor and his anthropomorphic dog. At the same time, Park is an artist of diverse interests, who knows when it’s time to turn the page. Winning Best Animated Feature with 2005’s The Curse of the Were-Rabbit—which saw the pair digging into a curious mystery involving garden sabotage—Park saw the opportunity to try something new with his next feature, Early Man, introducing a whole new group of characters and a compelling prehistoric world, which stemmed from an idea he’d contemplated for years.
Set at the dawn of time, Aardman Animations’ latest follows Dug, a prehistoric man who unites with his tribe to combat a threat from Lord Nooth, the...
Set at the dawn of time, Aardman Animations’ latest follows Dug, a prehistoric man who unites with his tribe to combat a threat from Lord Nooth, the...
- 12/11/2018
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The earworm song “It’s a Small World” may be a Disneyland staple, but stop motion moviemaking gives other meanings to the phrase. That’s not just a description of the doll-sized cavemen that stomp through “Early Man” by Aardman Animation’s Nick Park, or the miniature canines populating Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” — when you look at the select cadre of people who make stop-motion puppets seem alive, you realize that yes, it’s a small world indeed.
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
- 12/11/2018
- by Ellen Wolff
- Variety Film + TV
Studiocanal has released the first look Aardman Animation’s ‘Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and it’s gone all ‘Close Encounters’ on us.
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in the trailers – “Long Live the King” a new trailer for ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ is unleashed
The film has a UK release of October...
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’ continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, which grossed $106 million worldwide and Nick Park’s prehistoric comedy adventure, ‘Early Man’. Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in Autumn 2019.
Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is Directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, Written by Jon Brown and Mark Burton, Produced by Paul Kewley with Executive Producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park and David Sproxton.
Also in the trailers – “Long Live the King” a new trailer for ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ is unleashed
The film has a UK release of October...
- 12/11/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Golden Globe nominations were announced on Thursday morning, December 6, and just as interesting as the films and performances that were nominated are some of the top contenders that didn’t make the cut. Scroll down for some of the most noteworthy omissions, and check out the complete list of nominations here.
Among the biggest disappointments was the significant under-performance of the Neil Armstrong biographical drama “First Man.” It earned noms for Best Supporting Actress (Claire Foy) and Best Score (Justin Hurwitz), but Ryan Gosling was lost in space for his leading performance, Damien Chazelle was left out for his directing, and the movie was absent from Best Film Drama.
SEEGolden Globes 2019: Full list of nominations
However, “First Man” did better than “Widows,” which was entirely shut out. The film was helmed by Steve McQueen (director of Golden Globe winner “12 Years a Slave”) and stars Viola Davis (Golden...
Among the biggest disappointments was the significant under-performance of the Neil Armstrong biographical drama “First Man.” It earned noms for Best Supporting Actress (Claire Foy) and Best Score (Justin Hurwitz), but Ryan Gosling was lost in space for his leading performance, Damien Chazelle was left out for his directing, and the movie was absent from Best Film Drama.
SEEGolden Globes 2019: Full list of nominations
However, “First Man” did better than “Widows,” which was entirely shut out. The film was helmed by Steve McQueen (director of Golden Globe winner “12 Years a Slave”) and stars Viola Davis (Golden...
- 12/6/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
by Nathaniel R
The Annie Award nominations have been released with Disney totally and utterly dominant: Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet lead with 11 and 10 nominations respectively and even when the prizes don't involve animated films (such as with animated effects or animation work in live-action features) the nominations still lean heavily toward a Disney majority.
But all is not lost for non-Disney contenders hoping to win something at the Annies or to score one of those five coveted Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars. Into the Spider-Verse, Isle of Dogs, and Early Man have to be taken seriously as Oscar threats and though foreign animated productions never fare all that well at the very American-centric Annie Awards, Oscar is a different story and both Japan's Mirai and Hungary's Ruben Brandt Collector, scored two nominations with the animation guild. They were already looking like the two most likely foreign...
The Annie Award nominations have been released with Disney totally and utterly dominant: Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet lead with 11 and 10 nominations respectively and even when the prizes don't involve animated films (such as with animated effects or animation work in live-action features) the nominations still lean heavily toward a Disney majority.
But all is not lost for non-Disney contenders hoping to win something at the Annies or to score one of those five coveted Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars. Into the Spider-Verse, Isle of Dogs, and Early Man have to be taken seriously as Oscar threats and though foreign animated productions never fare all that well at the very American-centric Annie Awards, Oscar is a different story and both Japan's Mirai and Hungary's Ruben Brandt Collector, scored two nominations with the animation guild. They were already looking like the two most likely foreign...
- 12/4/2018
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The 46th annual Annie Award nominations were announced this morning and a five very familiar titles led the way. “Incredibles 2” earned 11 nods, “Ralph Breaks The Internet” took 10 nominations, “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” and “Early Man” both earned seven nods, “Mary Poppins Returns” surprised with five and “Isle of Dogs” coughed up four. Even though “Poppins” features extensive animated sequences, this amount of love was slightly unexpected.
Continue reading ‘Incredibles 2,’ ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Top 2018 Annie Awards Nominations at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Incredibles 2,’ ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Top 2018 Annie Awards Nominations at The Playlist.
- 12/3/2018
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Nominations for the 46th annual Annie Awards were announced on Dec. 3, 2018 and winners will be revealed on Feb. 2, 2018 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” which is the frontrunner at the Oscars, leads with 11 nominations while Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is right behind with 10. The Annie Awards cover 32 categories and are presented by the Hollywood chapter of the International Animated Film Association. Scroll down to see the full list of nominations.
In addition to the competitive awards, honorary Windsor McKay awards will be presented honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation by director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano and, posthumously, to Frank Braxton, the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president. The Ub Iwerks Award will be presented to Ton Roosendaal for developing Blender Open Source Animation Software while the June Foray...
In addition to the competitive awards, honorary Windsor McKay awards will be presented honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation by director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano and, posthumously, to Frank Braxton, the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president. The Ub Iwerks Award will be presented to Ton Roosendaal for developing Blender Open Source Animation Software while the June Foray...
- 12/3/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
This year’s Oscar frontrunner, “Incredibles 2,” leads the roster of contenders at the 46th annual Annie Awards with 11 nominations. The four other films that we are predicting to reap Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature are also well-represented at these precursor prizes, which will be presented on Feb. 2, 10 days before the start of final voting for the Academy Awards.
“Ralph Breaks the Internet,” the sequel to the 2013 Annie winner “Wreck-It-Ralph,” is second with 10 bids. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which just won over the New York Film Critics Circle, has a lucky seven nominations. Wes Anderson‘s critically acclaimed “Isle of Dogs” reaped four while the Japanese import “Mirai” by acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda is up for two.
The first four of these films contend for Best Studio Animated Feature as does Aardman Animations “Early Man,” which has seven bids in all. “Mirai” is up for Best Independent Animated Feature as are “Ce Magnifique Gateau!
“Ralph Breaks the Internet,” the sequel to the 2013 Annie winner “Wreck-It-Ralph,” is second with 10 bids. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which just won over the New York Film Critics Circle, has a lucky seven nominations. Wes Anderson‘s critically acclaimed “Isle of Dogs” reaped four while the Japanese import “Mirai” by acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda is up for two.
The first four of these films contend for Best Studio Animated Feature as does Aardman Animations “Early Man,” which has seven bids in all. “Mirai” is up for Best Independent Animated Feature as are “Ce Magnifique Gateau!
- 12/3/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Pixar’s Oscar-frontrunner “Incredibles 2” led the pack for Asifa-Hollywood’s 46th Annie Awards (February 2nd at UCLA’s Royce Hall) with 11 nominations, followed by Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” with 10.
Tied for third was Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and Aardman’s “Early Man” with seven. This gives an Oscar boost to “Spider-Verse” and its innovative Miles Morales origin story.
The biggest surprises were in the shorts competition, with Pixar’s Oscar frontrunner, “Bao,” getting shut out along with DreamWorks’ two contenders, “Bilby” and “Bird Karma.”
Joining “Incredibles 2,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Into the Spider-Verse,” and “Early Man” for animated feature is Wes Anderson’s stop-motion “Isle of Dogs.” Competing in the indie race are GKids’ “Mirai” and “Mfkz,” Sony Classics’ “Ruben Brandt, Collector,” Shout! Studio’s “Tito and the Birds,” and “Ce Magnifique Gâteau!”
“Incredibles 2” also picked up nominations for effects, character animation,...
Tied for third was Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and Aardman’s “Early Man” with seven. This gives an Oscar boost to “Spider-Verse” and its innovative Miles Morales origin story.
The biggest surprises were in the shorts competition, with Pixar’s Oscar frontrunner, “Bao,” getting shut out along with DreamWorks’ two contenders, “Bilby” and “Bird Karma.”
Joining “Incredibles 2,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Into the Spider-Verse,” and “Early Man” for animated feature is Wes Anderson’s stop-motion “Isle of Dogs.” Competing in the indie race are GKids’ “Mirai” and “Mfkz,” Sony Classics’ “Ruben Brandt, Collector,” Shout! Studio’s “Tito and the Birds,” and “Ce Magnifique Gâteau!”
“Incredibles 2” also picked up nominations for effects, character animation,...
- 12/3/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” and Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” topped the 46th annual Annie Awards nominations with 11 and 10, respectively. All told, the Walt Disney Company, which owns Pixar, snapped up a total of 42 nominations among a wide array of film and TV projects.
Joining “Incredibles 2” and “Ralph” in the contest for best animated feature are Aardman Animations’ “Early Man,” Wes Anderson’s stop-motion “Isle of Dogs” and Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
In addition to its bid for animated feature, “Incredibles 2” picked up nominations for director (Brad Bird), animated effects, character animation, character design, music, voice acting (Holly Hunter); writing (Bird), editorial and two for storyboarding.
Additional nominations for “Ralph” include director (Rich Moore and Phil Johnston); animated effects, character animation, character design, music, storyboarding, voice acting (Sarah Silverman), writing (Johnston and Pamela Ribon) and editorial.
In addition to Bird, Moore and Johnston,...
Joining “Incredibles 2” and “Ralph” in the contest for best animated feature are Aardman Animations’ “Early Man,” Wes Anderson’s stop-motion “Isle of Dogs” and Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
In addition to its bid for animated feature, “Incredibles 2” picked up nominations for director (Brad Bird), animated effects, character animation, character design, music, voice acting (Holly Hunter); writing (Bird), editorial and two for storyboarding.
Additional nominations for “Ralph” include director (Rich Moore and Phil Johnston); animated effects, character animation, character design, music, storyboarding, voice acting (Sarah Silverman), writing (Johnston and Pamela Ribon) and editorial.
In addition to Bird, Moore and Johnston,...
- 12/3/2018
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
Pre-existing franchises and IP rule the 46th annual Annie Awards nomination list. To no surprise, the Mouse House has a huge presence on with Pixar’s Incredibles 2 and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Ralph Breaks the Internet scoring numerous nods while Sony’s buzzy visual wonder Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is swinging into the competition.
Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are vying for the top prize of Best Animated Feature along with Early Man and Isle of Dogs.
The Winsor McCay Award will also be presented to three recipients: Academy Award-winning director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston; Frank Braxton (posthumously), the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president; and casting director, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano.
Last year, Pixar’s Coco cleaned up at the Annie Awards. The Day of the Dead-themed feature went 11-for-13 in its nominated categories including Best Animated Feature.
Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are vying for the top prize of Best Animated Feature along with Early Man and Isle of Dogs.
The Winsor McCay Award will also be presented to three recipients: Academy Award-winning director, animator and art director Ralph Eggleston; Frank Braxton (posthumously), the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president; and casting director, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano.
Last year, Pixar’s Coco cleaned up at the Annie Awards. The Day of the Dead-themed feature went 11-for-13 in its nominated categories including Best Animated Feature.
- 12/3/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Two sequels from Disney/Pixar, “Incredibles 2” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” led all films in nominations for the 46th Annual Annie Awards, the top prizes given out in the field of animation.
In nominations announced on Monday morning by Asifa-Hollywood, Brad Bird’s “Incredibles 2,” a Pixar Animation Studios film, landed 11 nominations, including Best Animated Feature, Best Directing in an Animated Feature Production and Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production. Phil Johnston and Rich Moore’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” from Walt Disney Animation Studios, received 10 nominations.
Aardman Animation’s “Early Man” and Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” each received seven nominations, while Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” received four.
Also Read: 'Incredibles 2' Film Review: Pixar's Superhero Family Is Back, Baby - and What a Baby
“Mary Poppins Returns,” a live-action film that features an extended sequence of hand-drawn animation,...
In nominations announced on Monday morning by Asifa-Hollywood, Brad Bird’s “Incredibles 2,” a Pixar Animation Studios film, landed 11 nominations, including Best Animated Feature, Best Directing in an Animated Feature Production and Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production. Phil Johnston and Rich Moore’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” from Walt Disney Animation Studios, received 10 nominations.
Aardman Animation’s “Early Man” and Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” each received seven nominations, while Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” received four.
Also Read: 'Incredibles 2' Film Review: Pixar's Superhero Family Is Back, Baby - and What a Baby
“Mary Poppins Returns,” a live-action film that features an extended sequence of hand-drawn animation,...
- 12/3/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
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