The Lee Strasberg Film Festival has unveiled the award winners for its 2024 edition. This year’s event was hosted at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, marking the first time the festival took place in Los Angeles.
“My father always said the Institute was a place to invite talent in, and he would be proud of the rich and diverse storytelling on display,” said David Lee Strasberg, CEO and artistic director of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and son of the festival’s namesake.
Among those honored at the festival’s closing ceremony were “If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing” directed by Sadie Bones, which received the best feature film award, and “Our Males and Females” directed by Ahmad Alyaseer, which won best of the fest.
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Other award winners included “Nøkkelbarn” by Sindre Mangen Haram for best short film, “Our Males and Females” star Kamel El Basha for best actor, “The Fuse” for best cinematography and “My Only Enemy” for best editing.
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Wednesday, Nov. 13
Children’s Charity Variety to Honor Wanda Gierhart Fearing at Heart of Show Business Luncheon
Variety, the Children’s Charity of Southern California, has selected Wanda Gierhart Fearing as this year’s honoree for the Annual Heart of Show Business Luncheon. Gierhart Fearing serves as the global chief marketing and content officer at Cinemark.
Set to take place on Dec. 12 at at the Skirball Cultural Center, the event recognizes entertainment professionals who have both made vital industry contributions and embodied the spirit of philanthropy.
“Wanda’s remarkable achievements in the marketing sector and her dedication to mentorship and community service make her a perfect honoree for this year’s luncheon,” said Steve Bunnell – President of the Board of Directors, Variety of Southern California. “We look forward to celebrating her impact on the industry and the lives of children in our community.”
Mahershala Ali to Receive the Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity Honor from the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences
Two-time Academy Award winner actor Mahershala Ali will be honored with the Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity Honor at the 2024 Voice Art Awards, which will be held on Dec. 8 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Ali is known for his roles in “Moonlight,” “Green Book,” “True Detective,” and “Leave the World Behind.” He is an advocate for social justice, a supporter of criminal justice reform, and works with organizations like the International Rescue Committee to highlight the rights of refugees.
Rudy Gaskins, CEO of SOVAS, stated, “Mahershala Ali’s work and advocacy for marginalized communities align perfectly with the mission of the Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity Honor. He continues Muhammad Ali’s legacy, using his art, voice, and platform to inspire change. We’re honored to recognize his extraordinary contributions to entertainment and society.”
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Intimacy Coordinators Vote to Join SAG-AFTRA
Intimacy coordinators have voted to join SAG-AFTRA, the union announced on Tuesday. The vote is the latest step in a five-year effort to professionalize the role of intimacy coordinators, who serve as liaisons between performers and the production during filming of sex scenes.
The union did not reveal the number of intimacy coordinators who voted to join, but did say that the vote was unanimous. Fran Drescher, the union’s president, also alluded to the recent presidential election in her statement.
“In these sobering times with looming threats to environmental protections and women’s equality, it is refreshing to see the entertainment industry’s recognition of intimacy coordinators and their important contribution to productions and to performers in intimate scenes,” Drescher said. “We at SAG-AFTRA are proud to include this esteemed group of trained professionals as the newest to join our member body. May this continue to carve the path of elevated consideration for the feelings of safety for people and planet.”
The union filed a petition in September with the National Labor Relations Board to recognize intimacy coordinators as part of the union. With the vote now behind it, the union must negotiate the first contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which could provide for things like minimum rates and health and pension benefits.
There is no industrywide requirement to use intimacy coordinators, though the recent SAG-AFTRA contract does require producers to use “best efforts” to hire an IC for nudity and sex scenes.
‘The Activated Man’ Sets December Release Date
The supernatural thriller “The Activated Man” is premiering at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills on Dec. 13. The film, directed by Nicholas Gyeney, is one of Tony Todd’s last films as he died last Friday at the age of 69.
The cast of the movie includes Sean Young (“Blade Runner”), Kane Hodder, Andrew Keegan (“10 Things I Hate About You”), Vladimir Kulich (“Vikings”), Sab Shimono (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III”), Ivana Rojas (“This Fool”), and Scott Brown. Todd was known for his work in the horror franchise “Candyman.” On Saturday, Gyeney dedicated an Instagram post to the late star.
Watch the trailer below.
Monday, Nov. 11
Neon Sets December Release for Speculative Sci-Fi Doc ‘2073’
Neon has set a Dec. 27 release date and released the trailer for Asif Kapadia’s (“Amy”) “2073,” a speculative sci-fi documentary that serves as a warning for a potentially dismal reality that lurks 49 years in the future.
Per an official logline, the film takes place in the year “‘2073,’ and the worst fears of modern life have been realized. Surveillance drones fill the burnt orange skies and militarized police roam the wrecked streets, while survivors hide away underground, struggling to remember a free and hopeful existence. In this ingenious mixture of visionary science fiction and speculative nonfiction, Kapadia transports us to a future foreshadowed by the terrifying realities of our present moment. Samantha Morton (“In America”) plays a survivor besieged by nightmare visions of the past—a past that happens to be our present, visualized through contemporary footage interconnecting today’s global crises of authoritarianism, unchecked big tech, inequality and global climate change. ‘2073’ is an urgent, unshakable vision of a dystopic future that could very well be our own.”
Naomi Ackie (“Blink Twice”) also stars with a script from Kapadia and Tony Grisoni. The film is inspired by Chris Marker’s seminal sci-fi film “La Jetée,” which follows a time traveler who attempts to alter the past to save his dismal present.
Kapadia and George Chignell serve as producers for Lafcadia Productions. Executive producers include Tom Quinn and Dan O’Meara for Neon, Emily Thomas, Dana O’Keefe, Emily Selinger, Ollie Madden, Farhana Bhula and Nicole Stott for Concordia Studio, Chris King, Eric Sloss and John Sloss. Double Agent, Neon and Film4 executive produced and co-funded the film. Watch the trailer below.
Infinity Festival Unveils 2024 Monolith Award Honorees
Infinity Festival, a yearly gathering of industry leaders in entertainment and tech, has unveiled the honorees for the 2024 Monolith Awards, which celebrates individuals who push the limits of storytelling, immersive design and technical artistry.
“This year’s honorees represent the visionary spirit of Infinity Festival,” said founder and CEO Mark Lieber and chief creative officer Adam Newman in a joint statement. “We are thrilled to acknowledge their profound impact on both technology and entertainment, setting new standards for creativity, innovation and storytelling.”
Taking home the lifetime achievement award was Rob Legato, a three-time Oscar-winning VFX artist whose credits include “Titanic,” “Shutter Island” and the live-action adaptation of “The Lion King.” The polaris award, which honors tech companies on the cutting edge of innovation, went to Nvidia.
The sentinel award went to James Jensen for his work in immersive entertainment and the New Media fine art award went to Nancy Baker Cahill for her augmented reality film “Body Politic.” Marc Brickman received the Apollo lifetime achievement award for his extensive work in film and live event production.
