Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Feature
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: “Over the Moon” continues to miss in a few key spots like art directors and could be that Oscar morning snub we aren’t anticipating, even with the love for Glen Keane pouring through the branch.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Feature
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: “Over the Moon” continues to miss in a few key spots like art directors and could be that Oscar morning snub we aren’t anticipating, even with the love for Glen Keane pouring through the branch.
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
“On-Gaku: Our Sound,” an oddball music comedy directed by Kenji Iwaisawa, upends all that is typical of Japanese animation. glutted with mind-bending sci-fi conundrums or elaborate time-slip-body-switching fantasies. But what fuels its easy breakout to western audiences are its bona fide rock references and characters as deadpan as any Aki Kaurismaki cast.
Signs of “On-Gaku” being the year’s biggest dark horse in anime fandom came in September 2019, when it beat “I Lost My Body” and “Children of the Sea” to win the Grand Prix at the Ottawa Animation Festival. It has since been picked up stateside by Gkids and should enjoy wide fest play following its presentation in the Contrechamps Competition section at the Annecy Animation Festival, which just awarded the film a prize for its music.
“On-Gaku,” which simply means “music” in Japanese, was adapted from a revised draft of the cult manga “Ongaku and Manga,” first self-published...
Signs of “On-Gaku” being the year’s biggest dark horse in anime fandom came in September 2019, when it beat “I Lost My Body” and “Children of the Sea” to win the Grand Prix at the Ottawa Animation Festival. It has since been picked up stateside by Gkids and should enjoy wide fest play following its presentation in the Contrechamps Competition section at the Annecy Animation Festival, which just awarded the film a prize for its music.
“On-Gaku,” which simply means “music” in Japanese, was adapted from a revised draft of the cult manga “Ongaku and Manga,” first self-published...
- 6/26/2020
- by Maggie Lee
- Variety Film + TV
“Dear God, please don’t erase that memory.”
History is full of examples of art and an artist’s motivation as the driving forces behind great works in any medium. However, it is rare to see the artist actually in motion, creating his work and to witness inspiration and creativity bringing something new to life. There are many famous examples, from the video footage of Jackson Pollock painting or Henri-Gorges Clouzot’s “The Mystery of Picasso” depicting the famous Spanish artist creating unique works of art. Whatever it is that drives these figures forward, whether we call it beauty, an inner voice or an artist’s spirit, it is a force which will not extinguish easily, and will also still be there in the works left behind.
In the case of Japanese musician and painter Hiroki Morimoto, better known under his stage name Goma, this drive is not only the foundation for his work,...
History is full of examples of art and an artist’s motivation as the driving forces behind great works in any medium. However, it is rare to see the artist actually in motion, creating his work and to witness inspiration and creativity bringing something new to life. There are many famous examples, from the video footage of Jackson Pollock painting or Henri-Gorges Clouzot’s “The Mystery of Picasso” depicting the famous Spanish artist creating unique works of art. Whatever it is that drives these figures forward, whether we call it beauty, an inner voice or an artist’s spirit, it is a force which will not extinguish easily, and will also still be there in the works left behind.
In the case of Japanese musician and painter Hiroki Morimoto, better known under his stage name Goma, this drive is not only the foundation for his work,...
- 8/5/2018
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Anand Gandhi’s debut feature Ship Of Theseus won the Best Artistic Contribution Award for its Director of Photography Pankaj Kumar at the Tokyo International Film Festival that concluded on 28th October 2012. The Grand Prix of the festival went to The Other Son a film directed by Lorraine Levy who also received the best director prize. The audience award went to Flashback Memories 3D directed by Tetsuaki Matsue. Here is the complete awards list and the statements of the winners and the Jury comments Read More...
- 10/30/2012
- Bollywood Trade
Having attempted something similar with 2009′s Live Tape, director Tetsuaki Matsue and singer-songwriter Kenta Maeno reteam for more of the same: Namely, a tour of various neighbourhoods in present day Tokyo to the sound of the latter’s intrepid vocals and guitar. Set over just one night, mere months on from the earthquake and resultant tsunami that shook Japan in March, 2011, Tokyo Drifter finds the nation’s capital city shadowed in mourning as the once dazzling neons and flashing television screens are smothered to preserve precious power.
It’s a startling sight, completely at odds with Tokyo’s flashy reputation and undiminished by the decidedly low-fi equipment used to record the duo’s musical journey through the darkened streets of Ginza and Shibuya. Opening with an announcement that reads ”Latest news on the tsunami situation…” (and followed by a gloomy shot of the Japanese flag that suddenly cuts to black...
It’s a startling sight, completely at odds with Tokyo’s flashy reputation and undiminished by the decidedly low-fi equipment used to record the duo’s musical journey through the darkened streets of Ginza and Shibuya. Opening with an announcement that reads ”Latest news on the tsunami situation…” (and followed by a gloomy shot of the Japanese flag that suddenly cuts to black...
- 6/25/2012
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Cannes is now over which means it’s time to move to Britain as the Edinburgh Film Festival kicks off!
We’ve just been sent the full line-up for the 2012 Edinburgh Film Festival which is now in it’s 66th year. We have our people (Jamie, Steven and Emma) on the ground at the event right now ready to catch as many films as they possible can throughout the next wee or two as we get to see 121 new features and 19 world premieres.
I’ll let the full press release below do the talking but let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments section below.
World Premieres:
Berberian Sound Studio Borrowed Time Day Of The Flowers Exit Elena Flying Blind Fred Future My Love Guinea Pigs Here, Then Leave It On The Track The Life And Times Of Paul The Psychic Octopus Life Just Is Mnl...
We’ve just been sent the full line-up for the 2012 Edinburgh Film Festival which is now in it’s 66th year. We have our people (Jamie, Steven and Emma) on the ground at the event right now ready to catch as many films as they possible can throughout the next wee or two as we get to see 121 new features and 19 world premieres.
I’ll let the full press release below do the talking but let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments section below.
World Premieres:
Berberian Sound Studio Borrowed Time Day Of The Flowers Exit Elena Flying Blind Fred Future My Love Guinea Pigs Here, Then Leave It On The Track The Life And Times Of Paul The Psychic Octopus Life Just Is Mnl...
- 5/30/2012
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The full programme for the 66th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), which runs from 20 June to 1 July, has been officially announced and will feature nineteen World premieres and thirteen International premieres.
The Festival will showcase one hundred and twenty-one new features from fifty-two countries, including eleven European premieres and seventy-six UK premieres in addition to the World and International premieres. Highlights include the World premieres of Richard Ledes’ Fred; Nathan Silver’s Exit Elena and Benjamin Pascoe’s Leave It On The Track and European premieres of Lu Sheng’s Here, There and Yang Jung-ho’s Mirage in the maiden New Perspectives section; and the International premiere of Benicio Del Toro, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, Elia Suleiman, Gaspar Noé, Juan Carlos Tabio and Laurent Cantet’s 7 Days In Havana and the European premiere of Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America in the Directors’ Showcase. In addition to the new features presented,...
The Festival will showcase one hundred and twenty-one new features from fifty-two countries, including eleven European premieres and seventy-six UK premieres in addition to the World and International premieres. Highlights include the World premieres of Richard Ledes’ Fred; Nathan Silver’s Exit Elena and Benjamin Pascoe’s Leave It On The Track and European premieres of Lu Sheng’s Here, There and Yang Jung-ho’s Mirage in the maiden New Perspectives section; and the International premiere of Benicio Del Toro, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, Elia Suleiman, Gaspar Noé, Juan Carlos Tabio and Laurent Cantet’s 7 Days In Havana and the European premiere of Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America in the Directors’ Showcase. In addition to the new features presented,...
- 5/30/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
At the Tokyo International Film Festival, now under way, the impact on Japan of the 3/11 Great East Japan Earthquake is front and center. Liza Foreman reports from Tokyo.In the documentary Fukushima Hula Girls, director Masaki Kobayashi gives an unusual perspective on the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan in March 2011. The film follows a displaced troupe of hula dancers who worked for a popular Hawaiian resort that was shut down in the wake of the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant explosion. Going some way to fill in the gaps on how the disaster impacted local lives, the documentary is one of a number of films playing at this week’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff, October 22-30) to focus on the tragedy. Tetsuaki Matsue’s ...
- 10/26/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Zipangu Fest, London
When it comes to off-the-scale weirdness, Japan comes out on top. And as the name suggests, it's that side of the nation's cinema this inaugural festival celebrates, with a menu of cult/indie/exploitation film, animation, and outsider documentary and other oddities. Where else will you find naked hippies on motorbikes (music doc Rock Tanjo: The Movement 70s); cartoons about lecherous carnival freaks (Midori: The Girl In The Freakshow); a transgender performer dressed as a giant bouquet of flowers (documentary Pyuupiru 2001-2008); and a kick-ass squad of mutant girls (er, Mutant Girl Squad). Indie movement leader Tetsuaki Matsue, meanwhile, introduces his amazing one-take street music documentary, Live Tape.
Various venues, Tue to 28 Nov
ID Fest, Derby
What makes a person English? What makes a person a person? Are English people people? These and other questions might be answered at this new festival exploring identity (exclusively English identity...
When it comes to off-the-scale weirdness, Japan comes out on top. And as the name suggests, it's that side of the nation's cinema this inaugural festival celebrates, with a menu of cult/indie/exploitation film, animation, and outsider documentary and other oddities. Where else will you find naked hippies on motorbikes (music doc Rock Tanjo: The Movement 70s); cartoons about lecherous carnival freaks (Midori: The Girl In The Freakshow); a transgender performer dressed as a giant bouquet of flowers (documentary Pyuupiru 2001-2008); and a kick-ass squad of mutant girls (er, Mutant Girl Squad). Indie movement leader Tetsuaki Matsue, meanwhile, introduces his amazing one-take street music documentary, Live Tape.
Various venues, Tue to 28 Nov
ID Fest, Derby
What makes a person English? What makes a person a person? Are English people people? These and other questions might be answered at this new festival exploring identity (exclusively English identity...
- 11/20/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now.]
When I think of concert films I tend to think of them as static. Even if the filmmaker is following a band on tour things tend to progress from one stage show to the next. If the music is great then it can be electrifying, but concert films still present a real challenge to a director. How can people playing music on stage carry an entire feature film? Some have found that magic formula, namely my favorites like Chris Blum's film of Tom Waits's 1988 American tour "Big Time", Laurie Anderson's groundbreaking "Home of the Brave" and that little piece of Toronto punk rock history "The Last Pogo" shot at the city's Horseshoe Tavern. I was lucky enough to recently add to my list of favorite concert films when I got a chance to see Tetsuaki Matsue's "Live Tape", the winner of the top prize in the...
When I think of concert films I tend to think of them as static. Even if the filmmaker is following a band on tour things tend to progress from one stage show to the next. If the music is great then it can be electrifying, but concert films still present a real challenge to a director. How can people playing music on stage carry an entire feature film? Some have found that magic formula, namely my favorites like Chris Blum's film of Tom Waits's 1988 American tour "Big Time", Laurie Anderson's groundbreaking "Home of the Brave" and that little piece of Toronto punk rock history "The Last Pogo" shot at the city's Horseshoe Tavern. I was lucky enough to recently add to my list of favorite concert films when I got a chance to see Tetsuaki Matsue's "Live Tape", the winner of the top prize in the...
- 7/21/2010
- Screen Anarchy
[The New York Asian Film Festival has wrapped, but here's one last interview for the stack.]
Director Tetsuaki Matsue has 5 films to his credit and is already making a name for himself with thought-provoking and insightful documentaries. His recent productions Annyong Yumika (my review here) and Live Tape both played at the New York Asian Film Festival. Mr. Matsue was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about his work, his drive to continue making documentaries, and how the news is lying to you.
Could you give our readers an idea of how Annyong Yumika came about?
The documentary deals with an actress, Yumika Hayashi, who was very active in Japan in the Pink Film world as well as adult films. She passed away on June 26th of 2005 and in her lifetime she starred in over 500 films.
So after her death there was a book that was compiled about her life called Actress: Yumika Hayashi, and I participated in the editing of this book.
Director Tetsuaki Matsue has 5 films to his credit and is already making a name for himself with thought-provoking and insightful documentaries. His recent productions Annyong Yumika (my review here) and Live Tape both played at the New York Asian Film Festival. Mr. Matsue was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about his work, his drive to continue making documentaries, and how the news is lying to you.
Could you give our readers an idea of how Annyong Yumika came about?
The documentary deals with an actress, Yumika Hayashi, who was very active in Japan in the Pink Film world as well as adult films. She passed away on June 26th of 2005 and in her lifetime she starred in over 500 films.
So after her death there was a book that was compiled about her life called Actress: Yumika Hayashi, and I participated in the editing of this book.
- 7/9/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Annyong Yumika will be screening at the Walter Reade Theater on Wednesday June 30, at 5:45Pm. The director, Tetsuaki Matsue will be in attendance. Head over the the Nyaff site for tickets and directions.
There are two strains of sadness running through director Tetsuaki Matsue's love song to a late friend: first is the obvious vacancy left in the lives of pornstar Yumika Hayashi's friends after her death at 35 in 2005. Colleagues and lovers wander in and out of the documentary (and some just hang around) reminiscing about the abrupt loss of a friend. The second, and I think most important bit of melancholy is that in spite of how many friends, lovers, and admirers she left behind, this prolific idol (she appeared in nearly 400 productions) left only a vague impression in her wake. She was seen and she was known but she was unknowable.
Consider the movie at the center of the documentary,...
There are two strains of sadness running through director Tetsuaki Matsue's love song to a late friend: first is the obvious vacancy left in the lives of pornstar Yumika Hayashi's friends after her death at 35 in 2005. Colleagues and lovers wander in and out of the documentary (and some just hang around) reminiscing about the abrupt loss of a friend. The second, and I think most important bit of melancholy is that in spite of how many friends, lovers, and admirers she left behind, this prolific idol (she appeared in nearly 400 productions) left only a vague impression in her wake. She was seen and she was known but she was unknowable.
Consider the movie at the center of the documentary,...
- 6/28/2010
- Screen Anarchy
The Toronto-based Shinsedai Festival got off to a roaring start in 2009 and though it hardly seems like a year has passed the first block of titles has already been announced for the 2010 edition.
Once again curated by Chris MaGee and Jasper Sharp, the festival will present the finest in Japanese independent film from the past year. And here's the initial announcement:
Since our inaugural year in 2009 so many great films have come out of Japan. Shinsedai Cinema Festival co-programmers Jasper Sharp (Midnight Eye) and Chris MaGee (Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow)have spent the past eight months watching as many of these films as humanly possible so that they can bring the best independent, and in many cases under-appreciated, Japanese films to movie audiences here in Toronto. From July 22nd to July 25th, 2010 the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre will be hosting this celebration of Japanese film, and while Sharp and MaGee are...
Once again curated by Chris MaGee and Jasper Sharp, the festival will present the finest in Japanese independent film from the past year. And here's the initial announcement:
Since our inaugural year in 2009 so many great films have come out of Japan. Shinsedai Cinema Festival co-programmers Jasper Sharp (Midnight Eye) and Chris MaGee (Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow)have spent the past eight months watching as many of these films as humanly possible so that they can bring the best independent, and in many cases under-appreciated, Japanese films to movie audiences here in Toronto. From July 22nd to July 25th, 2010 the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre will be hosting this celebration of Japanese film, and while Sharp and MaGee are...
- 5/25/2010
- Screen Anarchy
And the winner for film I most want to see is Gô Shibata's Doman Senman which I hear is incredibly weird. This is the same guy who did the serial killer with cerebral palsy flick Late Bloomer (Osoi Hito).
Other notable films include Merantau, the world premier of Alien vs Ninja, Mutant Girls Squad and Hitoshi Matsumoto's Symbol which I'm also dying to see.
The festival runs from June 25th to July 8th, and you can hit the Nyaff website right here.
Full lineup after the break.
Official Opening Night Film
IP Man 2 (Hong Kong, 2010, North American Premiere) - Sammo Hung and Donnie
Yen throw down in this lavish martial arts flick that blew the Hong Kong box
office wide open and beat Iron Man 2 like a redheaded stepchild.
***The movie's star and action choreographer, Sammo Hung, will be present.
Centerpiece Presentation
Confessions (Japan, 2010, International Premiere) -...
Other notable films include Merantau, the world premier of Alien vs Ninja, Mutant Girls Squad and Hitoshi Matsumoto's Symbol which I'm also dying to see.
The festival runs from June 25th to July 8th, and you can hit the Nyaff website right here.
Full lineup after the break.
Official Opening Night Film
IP Man 2 (Hong Kong, 2010, North American Premiere) - Sammo Hung and Donnie
Yen throw down in this lavish martial arts flick that blew the Hong Kong box
office wide open and beat Iron Man 2 like a redheaded stepchild.
***The movie's star and action choreographer, Sammo Hung, will be present.
Centerpiece Presentation
Confessions (Japan, 2010, International Premiere) -...
- 5/21/2010
- QuietEarth.us
This year Subway Cinema is announcing the lineup for the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival split up by country of origin; and conveniently for us, Japan is first up. The list includes two world premieres, two international premieres, five North American premieres, and an impressive list of guests.
The festival will be held at Lincoln Center from June 25 - July 8 with some co-presented screenings at Japan Society from July 1 - 4.
A few of the films listed are being presented with the overlapping Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film (July 1 - July 16) which will feature 20 Japanese titles including Isshin Inudo’s “Zero Focus” remake.
Here’s the list of Japanese movies at Nyaff:
8000 Miles (2009, North American Premiere, Dir. Yu Irie in attendance)
8000 Miles 2: Girl Rappers (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yu Irie in attendance)
Alien vs. Ninja (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba, actor Masanori Mimoto in attendence)
Annyong Yumika (2009, North American Premiere,...
The festival will be held at Lincoln Center from June 25 - July 8 with some co-presented screenings at Japan Society from July 1 - 4.
A few of the films listed are being presented with the overlapping Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film (July 1 - July 16) which will feature 20 Japanese titles including Isshin Inudo’s “Zero Focus” remake.
Here’s the list of Japanese movies at Nyaff:
8000 Miles (2009, North American Premiere, Dir. Yu Irie in attendance)
8000 Miles 2: Girl Rappers (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yu Irie in attendance)
Alien vs. Ninja (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba, actor Masanori Mimoto in attendence)
Annyong Yumika (2009, North American Premiere,...
- 5/20/2010
- Nippon Cinema
I am not nearly foolish enough to compete with a Grady Hendrix penned news release so I'm just going to copy and paste:
Like Vandals storming the gates of Rome, the New York Asian Film Festival rampages through the Film Society's Walter Reade Theater June 25 - July 8, unleashing an orgy of the latest and greatest pop masterpieces Asian cinema has to offer. For nine years, the Nyaff has been North America's leading festival of popular Asian cinema but now it's teamed up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center to also become North America's fanciest!
America's art-house theaters normally show an anemic sliver of what Asian cinema has to offer but the Nyaff's 2010 line-up is a brawny slab of 35 blockbusters and break-out hits that audiences in Thailand, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan actually buy tickets to watch.
The full line-up will be announced in May, but this year's festival will have three major events,...
Like Vandals storming the gates of Rome, the New York Asian Film Festival rampages through the Film Society's Walter Reade Theater June 25 - July 8, unleashing an orgy of the latest and greatest pop masterpieces Asian cinema has to offer. For nine years, the Nyaff has been North America's leading festival of popular Asian cinema but now it's teamed up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center to also become North America's fanciest!
America's art-house theaters normally show an anemic sliver of what Asian cinema has to offer but the Nyaff's 2010 line-up is a brawny slab of 35 blockbusters and break-out hits that audiences in Thailand, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan actually buy tickets to watch.
The full line-up will be announced in May, but this year's festival will have three major events,...
- 4/20/2010
- Screen Anarchy
[Our thanks go out to Chris MaGee and Marc Saint-Cyr at the Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow for sharing their coverage of the 2010 Nippon Connection Film Festival.]
When I think of concert films I tend to think of them as static. Even if the filmmaker is following a band on tour things tend to progress from one stage show to the next. If the music is great then it can be electrifying, but concert films still present a real challenge to a director. How can people playing music on stage carry an entire feature film? Some have found that magic formula, namely my favorites like Chris Blum's film of Tom Waits's 1988 American tour "Big Time", Laurie Anderson's groundbreaking "Home of the Brave" and that little piece of Toronto punk rock history "The Last Pogo" shot at the city's Horseshoe Tavern. I was lucky enough to recently add to my list of favorite concert films when I got a chance to see Tetsuaki Matsue's "Live Tape", the winner of the top prize in the...
When I think of concert films I tend to think of them as static. Even if the filmmaker is following a band on tour things tend to progress from one stage show to the next. If the music is great then it can be electrifying, but concert films still present a real challenge to a director. How can people playing music on stage carry an entire feature film? Some have found that magic formula, namely my favorites like Chris Blum's film of Tom Waits's 1988 American tour "Big Time", Laurie Anderson's groundbreaking "Home of the Brave" and that little piece of Toronto punk rock history "The Last Pogo" shot at the city's Horseshoe Tavern. I was lucky enough to recently add to my list of favorite concert films when I got a chance to see Tetsuaki Matsue's "Live Tape", the winner of the top prize in the...
- 4/15/2010
- Screen Anarchy
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