Gems

South by Southwest 2025 Film & TV Festival Announces Jury Awards Highlighting Independent Gems and Bold New Voices

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Austin, Texas — The South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, renowned for celebrating the boldest new voices in cinema and television, has recently announced the jury awards for its 2025 lineup, a dynamic array of both critically acclaimed and revolutionary projects. Earning top honors in the narrative feature competition was Amy Wang’s “Slanted,” a provocative high school comedy that delves into the painful extremes a Chinese American teen undergoes to fit into a society predominantly influenced by Western beauty standards. Wang, who also penned the upcoming sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians,” challenges the conventional … Read more

Spike Lee Sets Sights on Unearthing Cinematic Gems as Jury President at Red Sea Film Festival

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Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee has brought his quest for fresh storytelling to Saudi Arabia, where he leads the jury at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Lee, known for his incisive and provocative films, is seeking standout narratives from a diverse selection of 16 features crafted by directors from the Arab world, Asia, and Africa. Upon his arrival in Jeddah, the Oscar-winning director expressed his enthusiasm for evaluating films without any preconceived notions about the filmmakers. He highlighted the rarity of encountering films in such an unbiased frame of mind, which … Read more

Almaty’s Eurasia Film Festival Concludes, Awards Grand Prix to International Cinematic Gems

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Almaty, Kazakhstan – The curtains closed on the 17th Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty, marking the end of the event with a grand award ceremony that recognized an array of talented filmmakers from across the globe. Held on November 30, the festival spotlighted standout contributions in the realm of cinema, culminating in a gala that celebrated the creative efforts of various actors, directors, and production teams. This year’s festival was particularly notable for its international flair, attracting participants from over 15 countries. Competitors vied for top honors in two primary programs: one focusing on … Read more

Calgary Film Festival 2024 Crowns its Victors: Over $60K Awarded, with Oscar Buzz for Canadian Gems!

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Calgary, Canada – The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced the winners of its 2024 awards, presenting over $60,000 in prizes to 12 distinguished films, with one receiving a significant opportunity for an Oscar nomination bypassing the usual theatrical requirements. Among the high-profile winners was the short film “The Assistant,” directed by Pierre Llanos, which captured the Short Film Grand Jury Prize. This award notably simplifies the path for an Academy Award nomination by exempting it from standard theatrical screening obligations. The festival’s top accolade for emerging Canadian talent was bestowed upon Matthew Rankin … Read more