‘Nomadland’ Triumphs at Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards (EXCLUSIVE)

The quirky comedy French Exit, about several disconnected, somewhat lonely American souls who come together in unique ways in Paris, is funny, sad, bittersweet, surreal and altogether different. For star Michelle Pfeiffer, who has won some of the best reviews of her career after the New York Film Festival premiere, it was irresistible to play Frances, a widow and New York society gadfly dealing with her unusual relationship with her son (Lucas Hedges).

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom entered the awards race with impressive credentials. One of two films last year featuring the late Chadwick Boseman, George C. Wolfe’s Netflix film also reunites star Viola Davis with the work of playwright August Wilson, a winning combination that landed her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 2016’s Fences.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentEmmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affairs” (“The Things We Say, the Things We Do”) won best film at the 26th Lumieres Awards, which are prizes given by France-based members of the foreign press. The film weaves together a series of romantic tales with an ensemble cast including Camelia Jordana and Niels Schneider.This year, the ceremony became a televised event.

The Cannes Film Festival is continuing to weigh up a postponement of its traditional May kickoff until a date between late June and late July, organizers have told us.

EXCLUSIVE: Jane Austen’s novels have been adapted by Hollywood plenty. Amazon Studios and Di Novi Pictures have acquired for feature the Rachel Givney breakout novel, Jane in Love, that will make her a screen heroine. Denise Di Novi and Margaret French Isaac are producing. Elissa Down (Feel the Beat and The Black Balloon) is attached to direct.

Kitbag, which stars Joaquin Phoenix, is set to be released via Apple TV+.Kitbag, which Scott will direct and produce, will see Phoenix take on the role of French emperor and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

Ben Croll Speaking at a panel organized as part of UniFrance’s Rendezvous With French Cinema market on Tuesday, festival directors Vanja Kaludjercic of Rotterdam, Carlo Chatrian of Berlin, and Mickaël Marin of Annecy made clear that in order to survive this challenging moment their events needed to adapt.For one thing, they needed to separate their identities from a calendar constantly subject to upheaval.“Festivals aren’t a date anymore,” summarized panel moderator Michael Gubbins.

EXCLUSIVE: Dekanalog, a new theatrical and digital distribution company with an emphasis on presenting international titles for U.S. audiences, will launch in March with four films on its initial slate.

Ben Croll Franco-American critic and broadcaster Iris Brey has teamed with Paris-based sales/production outfit Totem Films to adapt her 2020 book “The Female Gaze: A Screen Revolution” as a nonfiction feature.A member of France’s 50/50 Collective and a lecturer at the University of California’s Paris campus, Brey will write and direct the upcoming film, weaving the central concern of her book – a long essay interrogating representations of female bodies and perspectives throughout film history

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAnne-Dominique Toussaint, a Belgian-born revered yet discreet film producer based in Paris, has uncovered and championed many promising filmmakers through her company Les Films des Tournelles.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItaly’s TorinoFilmLab, the international film and TV series incubator linked to the Torino Film Festival, is forging a French connection with an Alpine twist.The Torino lab, based in the Northern Italian city at the foothill of the Alps — and known in the indie community for supporting global talent and projects through a multitude of training and co-production programs — is teaming with the nearby Annecy Cinéma Italien fest to launch Alpi Film Lab, a

Clayton Davis The 2020 Gotham Awards made history, with all of this year’s best feature nominees directed by women for its 30th celebration. The annual event, which is typically held in early December, and is hosted by the Independent Filmmakers Project, moved its ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Society of Film Critics on Saturday named Nomadlandas its best picture of 2020. Nomadland's Chloe Zhao picked up a win for best director, while Frances McDormand won best actress for her performance in the drama film that explores the life of a nomad woman living in the American West.

Another precursor chimed in yesterday, with the National Society of Film Critics awarding their annual citations. This time around, they went for Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland in Best Picture, also giving Zhao the Best Director prize, while star Frances McDormand took home the Best Actress award.

Eli Countryman Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” led this year’s National Society of Film Critics awards, winning the top honors in four of the categories. The film won best picture and best cinematography, while Zhao was awarded best director and star Frances McDormand was named best actress.The 55th annual voting meeting took place Saturday, with results being shared to the organization’s Twitter account as each category was voted upon.

Variety’s awards team of Jazz Tangcay, Clayton Davis, Tim Gray and Jenelle Riley highlight artisans flying below the radar.Crank re-created a World War II battleship for the Tom Hanks-starring film. He captures the claustrophobia of life aboard the vessel in the living quarters of Hanks’ Capt.

Clayton Davis Following the Oscars race is a science, and while your gut-check can be your most valuable resource, data always support claims and provide an idea of where the season is headed. The Awards Circuit Winners Chart is where Variety keeps track of all the films and performances on the road to the Academy Awards.

Clayton Davis 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.

Rebecca Davis editorFormer NBA superstar Michael Jordan still doesn’t own the rights to his own name in China, but at least he’s just won a bit of pocket money heading into 2021.In the latest installment of Jordan’s years-long saga of trademark suits, a Shanghai court ruled Wednesday that a Chinese sportswear and shoe manufacturer that has used his name as its brand for decades did so without authorization and with the intention to “mislead” consumers.

Clayton Davis The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has announced their nominees for their 2020 EDA awards, with Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” leading with nine nominations including best film and director.