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Local film fests share in Oscar glory
Posted: Jan 25, 2008 in Culture, Movies, TV and Celebrities
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Heartland Film Festival had 10 Oscar nominations for films it has played. Indianapolis International Film Festival also had several, including "Mongol," one of the best foreign language nods.
Here's the release from Heartland:
Four (4) Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award-winning films have been honored with 10 Oscar nominations. These films include "Ratatouille," "The Kite Runner," "Enchanted" and "August Rush." Two Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Award winners have each been nominated for an award. They include "War/Dance," competing for Best Documentary, and "Lars and the Real Girl" competing for Best Original Screenplay.
The Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries around the world.
Additionally, Crystal Heart and Truly Moving Picture Award-winning films have been nominated for a total of four Spirit Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards (including a win by "Ratatouille" for Best Animated Feature Film) and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
OSCAR NOMINATIONS - total of 12 nominations Ratatouille (Truly Moving Picture Award) - Best Animated Feature, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score
War/Dance (2007 Crystal Heart Award) - Best Documentary
The Kite Runner (Truly Moving Picture Award) - Best Original Score
Enchanted (Truly Moving Picture Award) - THREE nominations in the Best Song category
August Rush (Truly Moving Picture Award) - Best Song
Lars and the Real Girl (2007 Crystal Heart Award) - Best Original Screenplay
That is great news!
I also caught that the Indiana-produced "American Teen" was apparently a big hit at Sundance and was picked up by Paramount Vantage. Hopefully it'll get some sort of decent release. It also got a glowing review on Ain't It Cool News, though that's not the greatest thing in the world since they're such shameless frontrunners that we wouldn't know if they were actually just saying that because they're probably just going with the pack.
On the subject of AICN, Harry Knowles made "Rambo" out to be the greatest thing since happy ending massages (Stallone has done some Q&As on his site and is gettin' chummy with Knowles). I saw "Rambo" this morning, and let me say...that I'll have a review for it up by Monday. It's common knowledge that if filmmakers want a good review for their film on AICN, invite one of their top guys to the set.
I used to be a regular reader of AICN, but it seems to have morphed into a business venture rather than an independent forum. Reviews appear to skew toward those films that buy advertising or grant access for interviews. Harry K. has become a part of the movie establishment he railed against, imho.