News

Magnolia Pictures and Participant have acquired North American rights to The Grab, Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s follow-up about an investigative journalist’s efforts to uncover the powers responsible for land grabs to control food and water resources.

The film premiered at TIFF last year and Magnolia and Participant will release theatrically and on demand on June 14.

The Grab is produced by Center for Investigative Reporting Studios & Rocklin|Faust, Nathan Halverson, Amanda Pike, Blye Pagon Faust, Nicole Rocklin, and Cowperthwaite, and presented by Impact Partners.

Executive producers are Dan Cogan, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Jenny Raskin, Maiken Baird, Nina and David Fialkow,...

Magnolia Pictures and Participant have partnered to jointly acquire North American rights to “The Grab,” a new documentary from “Blackfish” director Gabriela Cowperthwaite.

The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows journalists from The Center for Investigative Reporting as they work high-profile sources and utilize a cache of secret data to uncover the money and influence being used by countries, corporations and members of the uber-elite to control the planet’s most vital resources. Participant and Magnolia are positioning the film as a “high-stakes global thriller,” one that takes viewers from Arizona to Zambia as the moviemakers examine the food and water scarcity that’s resulting from this little-known power grab.

“We’re thrilled to reunite with our good friends at Participant and the great Gabriela Cowperthwaite who has, yet again, brought to light a nail biting, explosive, and essential story,” said Magnolia Pictures co-ceo’s Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley.

If “Women Talking” take home the Best Picture statuette at next year’s 95th Oscars, Frances McDormand would become only the second woman to win at least two Academy Awards trophies in the category. We say ”at least” because should the movie win the top prize, it would mean that fellow “Women Talking” producer Dede Gardner had earned her third.

In fact, Gardner has a pair of chances this year to add more Best Pic gold to her bio: “Women Talking” and “She Said.” Her previous triumphs in the category came in 2014 for “12 Years a Slave” and in 2017 for “Moonlight.”

See‘Women Talking’ women talk about taking down the patriarchy [Watch]

McDormand’s previous Best Picture producer victory came in 2021 for “Nomadland,” for which she also earned her third Best Actress award. Her other Oscar performing wins – also for Best Actress – came in 1997 for “Fargo” and in 2018 for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,...

An untitled documentary about Grammy-winning artist Lizzo is coming to HBO Max this fall, she announced at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront on Wednesday, while unveiling the first teaser of the film. The doc will follow the singer, songwriter, rapper, flutist and actor from her humble beginnings to her history-making career in music and culture, as she balances the challenges of stardom.

“Growing up I never dreamed I’d get to experience all of the things I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m just getting started,” Lizzo said in a statement. “I’m so excited I get to share and relive my journey with my fans and HBO Max. From ‘Cuz I Love You’ to my dramatic world tour, losing and gaining love, and creating my new album ‘Special,’ y’all get to see the amount of time, patience, blood, sweat and tears that went into this process.

It’s been a busy few months for Lizzo and there’s no sign of slowing down. The “Good As Hell” pop star is to be the subject of a documentary heading to HBO Max.

The doc is directed by Doug Pray, exec producer of HBO’s The Defiant Ones and director of Seattle grunge doc Hype! The film has been long in the works with Deadline teasing the series in December 2020.

Lizzo announced the project at Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront in New York.

Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront: Deadline’s Complete Coverage

The film will follow the star and explore her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments that shaped her hard-earned rise to fame, success, love and international stardom.

It comes after her Amazon series – where she signed a first-look deal in 2020 – Watch Out For The Big Grrrls launched in March and she hosted SNL.

HBO Max has lined up a documentary on music superstar Lizzo for the fall.

Currently untitled, the doc charts the Grammy winner’s rise to fame, and becoming an influential superstar.

“To get the chance to work with someone we have admired and adored for so long is a dream come true. Lizzo’s formidable talent has entertained and inspired millions, and we are ecstatic to help share her incredible journey,” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max, said in a statement.

Here’s the logline: “Every once in a while, an artist changes not only music, but culture as well. Lizzo has done both. This is the journey of a trailblazing superstar who has become the movement the world desperately needed just by being herself. The HBO Max documentary shares the inspirational story behind her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments...

Michael Sugar, best known for producing “Spotlight” and “13 Reasons Why,” is launching an office in Washington D.C., for his production company Sugar23.

The move, announced on Wednesday, makes Sugar23 one of the first major L.A. production companies to anchor itself in the country’s capital and political center.

“We believe that D.C. is the epicenter for law, politics, philanthropy and global policy; stories naturally emerge from that epicenter, and so not having a viable footprint there is antithetical to our cause,” Sugar said.

Sugar is a Georgetown University alumnus. He won an Oscar for producing best picture winner “Spotlight,” along with Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin and Nicole Rocklin; and Peabody Awards for the television series “The Knick” and “Dickinson.” His other credits include “The Laundromat,” “Maniac,” “The Report” and “Worth.”

The company said the expansion comes as a natural next step for a company that brings many Washington,...

Project marks acclaimed director’s third feature.

Nicole Kassell, riding high after her work on Emmys contender Watchmen, is teaming up with Participant to direct Silver Seas, a feature about the Pulitzer Prize-winning female reporters who exposed slavery in the southeast Asian fishing industry.

AP journalists Esther Htusan, Robin McDowell, Margie Mason and Martha Mendoza became the first all-female team to win the Public Service Pulitzer Prize in 2016 after they uncovered abusive practices and modern-day slavery in fishing.

It is the same award won by The Boston Globe team in 2003 that inspired Participant’s Spotlight, which won the best picture...

It was a brutal process to get “Spotlight” made. The movie was dead at least three times before we shot it because of financing problems, studio problems, deadlines, actors’ availability and the time of year we could shoot. There were moments when Steve and I were just going at it. We’d have hilarious late-night correspondence. I’d ask him, “Whose side are you on?” and he’d respond, “Yours, but you don’t know it yet.”

The first time I met Steve, at a café in Beverly Hills, with “Spotlight” producers Blye Pagon Faust and Nicole Rocklin, I remember immediately feeling like this is a person who knows what he’s doing. He had such experience that was born in the trenches because he’d come up as a line producer. For Steve, it was always about putting it together. His attitude helped make the process easier in a business that is never easy.

Exclusive: It is a very real issue around the world, but few realize how bad it is: the political commodity of water and food in third-world countries and how a people either are fed or starve depending on what entity (government/corporate) is in control. Now, Focus Features is looking at this very issue: written by Daniel Kunka and bought for Smokehouse and Spotlight producers Blye Pagon Faust and Nicole Rocklin, the drama is inspired by a number of different stories, including a piece sourced by the Center for Investigative Reporting, to put together a narrative for what is tentatively titled (and aptly named) Trading In Starvation.

This is not the first time Smokehouse has tackled such commanding subject matter. They did so with the 2005 film Syriana (in which George Clooney also starred), which examined the politics of oil and the far-reaching socio-economic effects on a people who are used...

Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe jostled for the spotlight with Meryl Streep at the opening night of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

Fresh off his surprise turn as Super Mario at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics, Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe once again pulled the red carpet out from under the stars at the Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff).

Standing between cinematic legend Meryl Streep and Death Note actor Kenichi Matsuyama, Shinzo Abe kicked off the opening of the 29th edition of the festival by praising Streep for her portrayal of late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 2011’s The Iron Lady.

“’I have done battle every day of my life’, that’s a line I clearly remember from the film,” the conservative lawmaker told Streep.

Abe later wise-cracked, saying that he wanted to see the latest installment of the Godzilla series, but his wife Akie regretfully informed him that the...

French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Beineix to head jury for Tokyo competition section, which includes five world premieres.

French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Beineix will head the jury of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff), which has unveiled its 16-strong competition section, including five world premieres.

The jury also includes Spotlight producer Nicole Rocklin, Japanese director Hideyuki Hiayama, Italian actor Valerio Mastandrea and Hong Kong director Mabel Cheung.

World premieres in competition include Japanese director Kiki Suginos’ Snow Woman, Chris Kraus’ The Bloom Of Yesterday (Germany-Austria), Jun Roble Lana’s Die Beautiful (Philippines) and two films from China – Mei Feng’s Mr. No Problem and Roy Szeto’s Shed Skin Papa.

The competition section includes one other Japanese title – Daigo Matsui’s Japanese Girls Never Die (see full competition line-up below).

This year’s Crosscut Asia section is focusing on Indonesia, screening three films by Teddy Soeriaatmadja, along with works from Nia Dinata, Ifa Isfansyah, [link...

Just when it looked as though The Revenant was about to take home all of the biggest awards at the 88th Academy Awards, Spotlight managed to swoop in and claim the final and, arguably, most important prize of the night as it picked up Best Picture.  And since Spotlight thrived because of its huge ensemble of fine actors, each of whom delivered pitch perfect performances, it was a delight to see the stage not just filled with the film.s producers Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, and Michael Sugar, but with a variety of members of the cast and crew too. They each looked genuinely surprised to be up on stage with the Best Picture Oscar, and there was good reason for that.  Going into tonight.s ceremony the three favorites for the Best Picture Oscar were The Revenant, The Big Short, and Spotlight, which had been firmly...

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, handed out top honors to Spotlight, Beasts of No Nation and Room at this afternoon's 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards. Carol, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Krisha, The Look of Silence, Son of Saul and Tangerine also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Spotlight received the Robert Altman Award. In addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision, the Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent's year-round programs. The ceremony aired live today on IFC and a rebroadcast will air later this evening; please check your local listings for times. Clips from the ceremony will be available on...

Best motion picture of the year “Spotlight” Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, Producers Achievement in directing “The Revenant” Alejandro G. Iñárritu Performance by an actor...

The riveting true story of the dedicated investigative team that blew the lid off a monumental cover up, Spotlight is now available on Digital HD, and comes to Blu-ray combo pack, DVD and On Demand on February 23, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Directed by Academy Award nominee Tom McCarthy (Up, The Station Agent), this taut drama goes behind the scenes of one of the most notorious scandals in recent history as a small group of intrepid journalists take on a seemingly unbeatable opponent — and win. “A tour de force” (Variety), Spotlight on Blu-ray and DVD features an insightful “making-of” documentary and revealing conversations with the filmmakers.

“A masterpiece” according to Brian Truitt, USA Today, Spotlight is one of the most important and critically acclaimed films of the year, nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, the...

One of the best pictures of 2015 is an accurate and relevant movie about a truly difficult subject. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, John Slattery and Stanley Tucci lead an impressive ensemble; I don't think I've ever seen such a complicated story told with such clarity, and so entertainingly. Spotlight Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Universal Studios Home Entertainment 2015 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 129 min. / Street Date February 23, 2016 / 34.98 Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, Stanley Tucci, Paul Guilfoyle, Len Cariou, Jamey Sheridan. Cinematography Masanobu Takayanagi Film Editor Tom McArdle Original Music Howard Shore Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy Produced by Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar Directed by Tom McCarthy

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

They say that The Revenant and The Big Short have a leg up on this year's Oscars, but my vote still goes to Tom McCarthy's Spotlight,...

This story first appeared in a special awards season issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Veteran manager-producer Michael Sugar has been through the awards season circus with such clients as Steven Soderbergh and Richard Linklater, but this year the Anonymous Content partner is wearing a new hat: Oscar-nominated producer. Along with Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, Sugar produced Spotlight, Tom McCarthy's drama about the Boston Globe reporters who broke the story on the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. He spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the powerful reactions he's witnessed, the church's response and why

read more...

Oscar nominees Alicia Vikander, Sylvester Stallone and Sam Smith were among those who turned out for The Hollywood Reporter's annual Nominees Night party at Spago in Beverly Hills on Monday. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Warner Bros.' Sue Kroll, Spotlight director Tom McCarthy, The Revenant producer Mary Parent, Spotlight and Revenant producer Steve Golin, Spotlight producers Michael Sugar and Nicole Rocklin, Paramount vice chair Rob Moore, songwriter Diane Warren, What Happened, Miss Simone? director Liz Garbus, Charlie Kaufman, David Foster, Topher Grace and 13-time Oscar nominee and cinematographer Roger Deakins also joined numerous A-listers at the glittery affair held

read more...

More than 150 Oscar nominees came together at noon on Monday at the Beverly Hilton as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored this year’s Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon.

From Left to Right:

Seated: Adam Benzine, Paul Massey, Michael Standish, Chris Jenkins, Randy Thom, Jason Smith, Josh Cooley, Maryann Brandon, Richard Williams, Patrick Vollrath, Ed Lachman, Mary Parent, David Acord, Anders Langland, Henry Hughes, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Tom Yellin

First Row: Rosa Tran, Jacqueline West, Ed Guiney, Evgeny Afineevsky, Matthew Shumway, Amy Hobby, Jonas Rivera, Gregg Rudloff, Signe Byrge Sorensen, Love Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Courtney Marsh, Nomi Talisman, Mark Ruffalo, Diane Warren, Paco Delgado, Bryan Cranston, Jistin Wilkes, Blye Pagon Faust, Roger Guyett, Basil Khalil, Drew Kunin, Sian Grigg, Andrea Berloff,

Second Row:Adam Stockhausen, Tom McArdle, Keith Redmon, Damian Martin, Ale Abreu, Matthew Heineman, Matt Damon, Bernhard Henrich, Cameron Waldbauer, Alan Robert Murray,...

Folks, we have a new frontrunner in Best Picture. Over the weekend, the 27th annual Producers Guild Awards were given out and The Big Short pulled the upset, taking the illustrious Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. The Producers Guild of America (or PGA) are the best guild when it comes to forecasting Oscar, so the odds now favor the Academy Awards citing The Big Short in Picture, as opposed to Spotlight, the previous frontrunner. It’s a bit of a surprise, but perhaps one we should have seen coming, frankly. The more you think about it, the more sense it makes. Basically, if you go by PGA history, the winner here is what wins with Oscar. You can make the case even that not only has The Big Short now locked this up, but Amy has done the same in Best Documentary Feature and...

Leave it to the Brits! The BAFTA nominations were announced and they gave us a slightly different look at the awards season! For instance, Tom McCarthy's "Spotlight," the leading Oscar contender in the U.S. just received 3 noms including Best Film, Supporting Actor for Mark Ruffalo and Original Screenplay. No Director nomination for McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies," a handsomely-produced period piece led the pack along with Todd Haynes' "Carol," another handsomely-produced period piece. Both films garnered nine nominations each including Best Picture. "Bridge of Spies" and "Carol" will duke it out with "Spotlight," Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's "The Revenant" (eight nominations), and Adam McKay's "The Big Short" (five nominations) for the Best Picture trophy.

So where's "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" you ask? They're relegated to the technical categories. Apparently, sequels, no matter how great they are, can't compete with originals.

On Friday the nominations for the Ee British Academy Film Awards in 2016 were revealed. The BAFTAs will be announced on Sunday, February 14 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. The ceremony will be hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD, with the ceremony being rebroadcast on BBC America.

Bridge of Spies and Carol each receive nine nominations. The Revenant is nominated in eight categories. Mad Max: Fury Road has seven nominations. Brooklyn and The Martian are each nominated six times. The Big Short, The Danish Girl and Ex Machina receive five nominations. Star Wars: The Force Awakens receives four nominations.

Bridge of Spies is nominated in the following categories: Best Film, Director for Steven Spielberg, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design and Sound. Mark Rylance is nominated for Supporting Actor.

Carol is nominated for Best Film, Director for Todd Haynes,...

Nominations for the 69th annual British Academy Film Awards arrived early this morning and in welcome news, the proceedings were topped by Todd Haynes’ Carol and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (both of which made our top 50 of the year), with 9 nominations each. Not far behind was The Revenant, which was nominated in eight categories. while Mad Max: Fury Road has seven nominations.

Following that, Brooklyn and The Martian are each nominated six times. The Big Short, The Danish Girl and Ex Machina received five nominations with Alicia Vikander picking up two acting nominations. A little film called Star Wars: The Force Awakens also managed to rack up four nominations.

Check out the full list below ahead of a ceremony on February 14th.

2015 Nominations

(presented in 2016)

Best Film

The Big Short Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt

Bridge Of Spies Kristie Macosko Krieger, Marc Platt, Steven Spielberg

Carol Elizabeth Karlsen,...

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has just announced there nominations and there’s quite a lot to process, so let’s start from the top. Steven Spielberg’s Cold War drama Bridge of Spies and Todd Haynes’ gorgeous relationship drama Carol have tied for the lead with nine nominations apiece, with both films receiving nominations for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay (in their respective categories). Not far behind is Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s revenge epic The Revenant with eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Editing.

What may come as a surprise to some is that Adam McKay’s comedy-drama about the 2008 financial crisis did rather well. It may have only received five nominations, but they were all major nods: Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), and Best Editing. Meanwhile, the film that has...

facebook

twitter

google+

Carol, The Revenant, Bridge Of Spies, Spotlight and more lead the charge at the 2016 BAFTAs...

The annual BAFTA film awards roll around again on February 14th, with Stephen Fry once again hosting. And it was Fry and Gugu Mbatha-Raw who read out the nominations for this year's gongs nice and early in London today.

Without further ado, here's what's up for said prizes in a few weeks' time.

Best Film

The Big Short Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt

Bridge Of Spies Kristie Macosko Krieger, Marc Platt, Steven Spielberg

Carol Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley

The Revenant Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Arnon Milchan, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon

Spotlight Steve Golin, Blye Pagon Faust, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar

Outstanding British Film

45 Years Andrew Haigh, Tristan Goligher

Amy Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees

Brooklyn John Crowley, Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Nick Hornby

The Danish Girl Tom Hooper, Tim Bevan,...

Full list of BAFTA nominations; watch the announcement here…BAFTAs 2016:Bridge Of Spies, Carol lead with nine nominations

Suffragette, Spectre, Joy among shutoutsNominees’ reactions

Fox tops distributor nominationsScreen Stars of Tomorrow nominated

Comment: shining a spotlight on British Film

In-depth: Best Film nominees

Galleries: Best Film; Actors

BAFTA chair Anne Morrison was joined by Stephen Fry and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Concussion) to announce the nominations for the Ee British Academy Film Awards in London this morning

The awards will take place on Feb 14 and will be held for the tenth year at London’s Royal Opera House.

2015 Nominations

(presented in 2016)Best FilmThe Big Short Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad PittBridge Of Spies Kristie Macosko Krieger, Marc Platt, Steven SpielbergCarol Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen WoolleyThe Revenant Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Arnon Milchan, Mary Parent, Keith RedmonSpotlight Steve Golin, Blye Pagon Faust, Nicole Rocklin, Michael SugarOutstanding British Film45 Years Andrew Haigh, Tristan GoligherAmy...

Award nominee The Big Short

The Producers' Guild of America yesterday revealed its shortlist for the most impressive efforts in production over the past year. In the live action category, these are The Big Short (Brad Pitt & Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner); Bridge Of Spies (Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger); Brooklyn (Finola Dwyer & Amanda Posey); Ex Machina (tbc); Mad Max: Fury Road (Doug Mitchell & George Miller); The Martian (Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam); The Revenant (Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon); Sicario (Basil Iwanyk, Edward L. McDonnell, Molly Smith); Spotlight (Michael Sugar & Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagon Faust); and Straight Outta Compton (Ice Cube & Matt Alvarez, F. Gary Gray, Dr. Dre, Scott Bernstein).

In the animated film category, the nominees are Anomalisa (Rosa Tran, Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman); The Good Dinosaur (Denise Ream); [film id=27361]Inside...

The Big Short

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture, long-form television, digital series, sports programs and additional television nominations for the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards.

The categories include: The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television; Outstanding Sports Program; and Outstanding Digital Series. The feature documentary film category and other television category nominations were previously announced by the PGA in late 2015.

All 2016 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. This year, the Producers Guild will present special honors to Jim Gianopulos (Milestone Award), Shonda Rhimes (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), David Heyman (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), The Hunting Ground (Stanley Kramer...

The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominations for its 27th annual Producers Guild Awards! 10 films are vying for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. And sorry "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Carol," you did not make the cut :sad

The PGA Awards winners will be announced on January 23. Here's the complete list of nominees of the 27th annual Producers Guild Awards:

Theatrical Motion Picture nominees

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

The Big Short

Producers: Brad Pitt & Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

Bridge of Spies

Producers: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger

Brooklyn

Producers: Finola Dwyer & Amanda Posey

Ex Machina

This film is in the process of being vetted for producer eligibility

Mad Max: Fury Road

Producers: Doug Mitchell & George Miller

The Martian

Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam

The Revenant

Producers: Arnon Milchan,...

The Producers Guild of America announced on Tuesday its slate of nominees for the best films of 2015, and once again, this awards season is proving divisive, based on the eclectic mix of movies recognized by the guild -- and those that were surprisingly snubbed.

Unexpected honorees included "Ex Machina" and "Sicario," two films released earlier this year to critical acclaim, but which have been absent from most awards season chatter until now. Other populist fare represented on the PGA's nomination slate included the hit "Straight Outta Compton," as well as apocalyptic flick "Mad Max: Fury Road," which is proving itself a strong contender to muscle its way into a Best Picture Oscar nomination as it continues to snatch statuettes and nominations.

As with most awards, there were bound to be some glaring omissions, but the biggest one of all may be "Carol," which failed to earn one of the PGA's 10 Best Film slots,...

Denis Villeneuve’s cartel thriller Sicario received timely awards attention in The Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) theatrical motion picture nominations on Tuesday while Carol and Star Wars: The Force Awakens failed to make the cut.

The PGA’s motion picture selections are a strong harbinger of the likely spread of best picture Oscar nominations announced on January 14 and as expected the likes of Spotlight, The Revenant and The Martian are in the mix.

However the omission of two largely fancied films will dampen spirits among their campaign teams and casts serious doubt on their Academy Awards prospects given the significant constituency of Academy voters who are producers.

In the last decade, eight winners of the PGA’s Darryl F Zanuck Award have gone on to claim the best picture Oscar including Birdman last year. While films that miss out on PGA nods can earn Academy Award nominations, historically their chances of winning the Oscar are very...

Denis Villeneuve’s cartel thriller has earned timely awards attention from the Producers Guild Of America alongside heavyweights Spotlight, The Revenant and The Martian, while The Force Awakens fails to make the cut.

The PGA’s motion picture nods are a strong harbinger of Oscar nominations, which come out on January 14. The Guild on Tuesday also unveiled nominations in long-form television, digital series, sports programmes and additional television categories for the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards set to take place on January 23 in Los Angeles.

For the full list of Tuesday’s nominations click here. The feature documentary film category and other television category nominations were announced by the PGA in late 2015.

The PGA will present special honours to Fox chief Jim Gianopulos (Milestone Award), Shonda Rhimes (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), David Heyman (David O Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), The Hunting Ground (Stanley Kramer Award) and Industrial Light & Magic (Visionary Vanguard Award).

Theatrical...

Spotlight director Tom McCarthy, star Brian d'Arcy James, screenwriter Josh Singer Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Tom McCarthy's astutely paced newsroom thriller stars Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Brian d'Arcy James as The Boston Globe Spotlight team, with Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Billy Crudup, Stanley Tucci, Len Cariou, Neal Huff, Jamey Sheridan, Michael Cyril Creighton and Jimmy LeBlanc. Spotlight is edited rigorously by longtime collaborator Tom McArdle (The Station Agent, The Visitor and Win Win), while Josh Singer wrote the script. Wendy Chuck, Alexander Payne's costume designer for Nebraska, The Descendants, Sideways, About Schmidt and Election, was added to the mix.

Liev Schreiber as Marty Baron: "You have someone with an objective eye ..."

McCarthy told me of the role producers Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust played, what motivated Marty Baron, and dressing for Spotlight at the dinner organised by Peggy Siegal.

The opening scene of Spotlight sets the tone.

Spotlight screenwriter Josh Singer at Circo Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Tom McCarthy's Spotlight has Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Brian d'Arcy James and Liev Schreiber team together to investigate allegations of child abuse committed by Catholic priests. Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Len Cariou, Neal Huff, Jamey Sheridan, Michael Cyril Creighton and Jimmy LeBlanc round out the terrific ensemble, with the voice of Richard Jenkins as Richard Sipe.

Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams

At the Spotlight dinner hosted by Bobby Cannavale, Laura Linney, Kelli O’Hara and Christian Borle with Candice Bergen attending, screenwriter Josh Singer praised his producers Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, costume designer Wendy Chuck and production designer Stephen H. Carter. Unlike the team behind Alan J. Pakula's All The President's Men, which had Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's book as a primary source, the Spotlight team had to do the research themselves.

Last night, the 25th annual Gotham Awards held their ceremony in New York City and made an early claim to setting the precursor tone. As often the first group to not only put out nominations but announce their winners, they more or less can establish very early frontrunners when the titles in contention are already Oscar hopefuls. That’s the case this year, as films like Carol, Grandma, I’ll See You in My Dreams, Love & Mercy, Room, and Spotlight were already Academy Award players. Spotlight turned out to be the main victor last night, winning in every category it was nominated in, so if you believe in momentum, the early momentum decidedly favors it, with other precursors still to come this week, and even later on today. The big winner, of course, was Spotlight, as the movie took Best Feature, Best Screenplay for Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, as...

The first of the year’s award ceremonies — a full month before 2015 even ends — Gotham Independent Film Awards were held last night. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Tom McCarthy‘s journalism drama Spotlight picked up top honors of Best Feature (as well as Screenplay, and the pre-determined Ensemble award).

While Carol unfortunately came up empty-handed, The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Bel Powley surprised with Best Actress and Paul Dano took home Best Actor for Love & Mercy. Also featuring Tangerine‘s Mya Taylor as Best Breakthrough Actor, check out the full list of winners below in red.

Best Feature

Carol

Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)

Heaven Knows What

Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard,...

Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Scroll down for full list of nominations

Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.

Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.

Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...

Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.

Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.

Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.

Magnolia Pictures earned...

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.

Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.

“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”

Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...

Tom McCarthy, the fantastic director who gave us the thought-provoking "Spotlight," is going to be honored at the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival. He will join Johnny Depp (Desert Palm Achievement Award Actor for "Black Mass"), Brie Larson (Breakthrough Performance Award for the amazing "Room"), Saoirse Ronan (I love her in "Brooklyn" and she is set to receive the International Star Award), and Cate Blanchett (Desert Palm Achievement Award Actress for the twofer "Carol" and "Truth"). I will be live at the red carpet and will give you the very latest! For now, here's the complete press release regarding Tom McCarthy:

Palm Springs, CA (November 24, 2015) . The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will present Spotlight director Tom McCarthy with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award at its annual Awards Gala. Past recipients of the Sonny Bono Visionary Award include filmmakers Tom Hooper, Danny Boyle, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater and Michel Hazanavicius.

The Boston Globe’s investigative unit called “Spotlight,” uncovered an unspeakable scandal that rocked the Catholic Church. The team of journalists spent nearly a year investigating on how members of the church tried to protect certain members of the clergy after allegedly accused of sexual abuse. And they discover a much larger scandal during the process.

“Spotlight” is a dramatic film about those Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists that starred Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Scheiber and Stanley Tucci. It is directed by Thomas McCarthy.

Latino-Review had an exclusive phone interview with writer Josh Singer for bringing this fascinating story to the big screen.

“Spotlight” is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Read the interview transcript below.

Latino-Review: Tell me why you were attracted to this film called, “Spotlight.”

Josh Singer: I just finished writing “The Fifth Estate.” I very much enjoyed writing about journalists. I had more to say though.

Spotlight, the feature film account of how The Boston Globe broke a major series of stories about the Catholic Church’s child sex abuse scandal that encompassed “not just Boston, it’s the whole country, the whole world” as one character puts it, figured prominently at Deadline’s The Contenders event Saturday. Director and co-writer Tom McCarthy, co-writer Josh Singer and producers Michael Sugar, Steve Golin and Nicole Rocklin were on hand for the discussion and screening…...

Kicking off the onslaught of awards this year, as always, is the Gotham Independent Film Awards, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Usually a strong slate highlighting some of the year’s most overlooked films, 2015 is no different as The Diary of a Teenage Girl leads the pack with four nominations. Close behind is Carol and Tangerine with three each overall.

Other players in the category of Best Feature include Spotlight and Heaven Knows What, while some of my other favorite films of the year, including Listen to Me Marlon, The Mend, James White, Results, and Mistress America, were recognized. With a ceremony set for November 30, check out the full list below thanks to Variety.

Best Feature

Carol

Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey,...

eOne has licensed a large swathe of the world on its Catholic Church abuse drama including a multi-territory deal with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa).

The studio will distribute in Latin America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe excluding former Yugoslavia, as well as Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Israel and India.

Elsewhere eOne closed deals in Italy (Bim), Portugal (Lusomundo), former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Baltic States (Estonian Theatrical Distribution), South Africa (Times Media), Hong Kong (Golden Scene), Indonesia (Queen), Singapore (Shaw), South Korea (Activers), Taiwan (Caichang), Thailand (Sahamongkol) and Airlines (Eim).

eOne will directly distribute in the UK, Canada, Spain, Benelux and Australia/New Zealand, while Open Road plans a wide Us release.

Thomas McCarthy directs the drama from a screenplay by Josh Singer about the Boston Globe investigative team’s reporting into the Catholic Church abuse scandal.

Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci and John Slattery star.

Anonymous Content’s Steve Golin and Michael Sugar and Rocklin...

• Guy Pearce and Dominic West have signed on for Genius, joining Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Linney. Michael Grandage is directing the film, marking his feature debut. John Logan adapted A. Scott Berg’s book for the screen. Pearce will play F. Scott Fitzgerald, while West will portray Ernest Hemingway. The film will relay the true, complicated relationship between novelist Thomas Wolfe (Law) and his editor, Max Perkins (Firth). Kidman will play Aline Bernstein, with Linney as Louise Perkins. Genius comes as the third collaboration between Grandage, producing partner James Bierman, and John Logan. Filming kicks off...

Principal photography begins today on Academy Award&#174-nominee Thomas McCarthy's riveting drama Spotlight, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci. Written by Thomas McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight is a co-production of Anonymous Content and Rocklin/Faust, financed by Participant Media, and will be distributed by Open Road Films in the U.S. and by Entertainment One internationally.

Joining the cast are John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, Billy Crudup and Jamey Sheridan. Spotlight will shoot in Boston for one week and then head to Toronto where filming will continue until the end of November.

Thomas McCarthy received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay Up, won a BAFTA award for the script of The Station Agent which he also directed and was named best director at the Independent Spirit Awards for The Visitor.

In 2001, the Boston Globe began an investigation that would rock the city and shock the world.

Frank Whaley (Ray Donovan, The Blacklist) has been cast in The Outskirts, an indie comedy from director Peter Hutchings. Eden Sher, Victoria Justice, Ashley Richards, Katie Chang, Peyton List, Avan Jogia and Will Peltz star in the high school-set pic about two best friends (Justice and Sher) who set out to hatch the ultimate social coup on their nemesis. Whaley will play Herb, the father to Justice’s Jodi and a charmingly out-of-touch postal worker who agrees to start dating once his daughter takes charge of her own life. TV and film vet Whaley recently shot Paramount’s live-action/CG hybrid Monster Trucks and write and directed indie feature Like Sunday, Like Rain starring Leighton Meester, Debra Messing, and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. He’s repped by Apa.

Screen Gems thriller The Perfect Guy has added Holt McCallany to its cast, led by Sanaa Lathan as a woman...

Participant Media’s Catholic Church abuse story has taken a big leap forward now that Open Road, Anonymous Content and eOne Films International and a top-tier cast have come on board.

Tom McCarthy will direct Spotlight, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation into the Church’s cover-up of paedophile priests.

Mark Ruffalo, Aaron Eckhart, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci will star alongside Michael Keaton, whose career could be about to get a second wind with the upcoming Venice world premiere of Birdman.

Spotlight is scheduled to shoot in Boston and Toronto this autumn. eOne Films International handles sales and will distribute directly in the UK, Canada, Spain, Benelux and Australia/New Zealand.

Anonymous Content head Steve Golin produces with Michael Sugar, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Faust.

Participant Media’s Jonathan King and founder Jeff Skoll serve as executive producers.

Exclusive: Open Road is teaming with Participant Media, eOne, and Anonymous Content on Spotlight, a drama that Tom McCarthy will direct about the Boston Globe investigation into pedophile priests and a shameful cover-up in the Catholic Church that allowed them to prey on children for years. Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton, Aaron Eckhart, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci will star. It’s shaping up to be a big movie, with Anonymous Content producing, Open Road releasing domestic and eOne selling international. McCarthy helmed The Visitor and scripted the animated film Up, and the script is by The West Wing‘s Josh Singer and McCarthy.

The title refers to the Spotlight Team of Boston Globe reporters and editors that uncovered an unimaginable citywide conspiracy to cover up clergy child abuse. That investigative team included then-Globe editor Marty Baron (Schreiber) and Spotlight Team editor Walter “Robby” Robinson (Keaton). Reporters Michael Rezendes...