61st Annual Golden Reel Awards

The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) announced their 61st annual Golden Reel awards on February 16th, 2014 with giving away the top prizes to Captain Phillips, Gravity and the Great Gatsby in their respective categories. Last year, Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty ended up winning the Oscars while Life of Pi was the winner at the Golden Reel Awards. Let's see how it goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

FILM

BEST SOUND EDITING IN FEATURE FILM - DIALOGUE AND ADR: "Captain Phillips" (Columbia Pictures)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN FEATURE FILM - SOUND EFFECTS AND FOLEY: "Gravity" (Warner Bros.)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN FEATURE FILM - MUSIC: "The Great Gatsby" (Warner Bros.)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN FEATURE FILM - MUSIC, MUSICAL FEATURE: "Frozen (2013)"

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: SOUND EFFECTS, FOLEY, DIALOGUE & ADR IN AN ANIMATION FEATURE FILM: "Epic" (20th Century Fox)

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: DOCUMENTARIES - FEATURE FILM: "Dirty Wars" (IFC)

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: FEATURE FILM - FOREIGN LANGUAGE: "The Grandmasters" (The Weinstein Company)

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: FEATURE FILM - FOREIGN LANGUAGE: "The Past" (Sony Pictures Classics)

TELEVISION

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: TELEVISION ANIMATION: "Fairly Odd Parents" - "Dumbbell Curve" (Nickelodeon)

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY SHORT FORM: "North America: No Place to Hide" (Discovery Channel)

BEST SOUND & MUSIC EDITING: TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY LONG FORM: "Deadliest Catch" - The Final Battle (Discovery)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: SHORT FORM - MUSIC: "Game of Thrones" - "The Rains of Castamere" (HBO Entertainment)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: SHORT FORM - MUSIC, MUSICAL: "Peg + Cat: The Beethoven Problem" (PBS)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: SHORT FORM - DIALOGUE AND ADR: "Game of Thrones" - "The Rains of Castamere" (HBO Entertainment)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: SHORT FORM - SOUND EFFECTS AND FOLEY: "Breaking Bad" - "Felina" (AMC)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: LONG FORM - MUSIC, MUSICAL: "History of the Eagles: Part One" (Showtime)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: LONG FORM - DIALOGUE & ADR: "The Bridge" - Pilot (Shine America)

BEST SOUND EDITING IN TELEVISION: LONG FORM - SOUND EFFECTS AND FOLEY: "Sons of Anarchy" - "Salvage" (FX)

26th Annual USC Libraries Scripter Award

The University of South California (USC) announced the winner of 26th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award on February 8th, 2014 with giving away the prize to JOHN RIDLEY for 12 YEARS A SLAVE. This is a remarkable feat for Ridley and it's possible that he'll end up winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar on  March 2nd, just like Chris Terrio who won the USC Scripter award last year for Argo and also won the Adapted Screenplay Oscar. This win just works in Ridley's favor. But we might still get surprised at the Oscars.

Here is the list of  all the finalists:

Captain Phillips

Billy Ray, screenwriter;
Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty, authors of "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea."

Philomena

Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, screenwriters;
Martin Sixsmith, author of "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee."

The Spectacular Now

Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, screenwriters;
Tim Tharp, author of the novel of the same name.

WINNER: 12 Years a Slave

John Ridley, screenwriter;
Solomon Northup, author of "Twelve Years a Slave."

What Maisie Knew

Carroll Cartwright and Nancy Doyne, screenwriters, who adapted the novel by Henry James.

64th Annual ACE Eddie Awards

The American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced their 64th Eddie Awards on February 7th, 2013 with giving away the top prize to Christopher Rouse for CAPTAIN PHILLIPS in Dramatic category and Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten for AMERICAN HUSTLE in Comedy or Musical category. This has changed the Oscar race situation a little because everyone was expecting GRAVITY to win the Dramatic category award and subsequently win the Oscar as well.

Last year, William Goldenberg won the top prize and he also ended up winning the Oscar for Best Film Editing. Let's see what happens this time.

Here is the complete list of winners:

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC): Captain Phillips, Christopher Rouse, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL): American Hustle, Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Frozen, 
Jeff Draheim

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE):
 20 Feet from Stardom, Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION):
 The Assassination of President Kennedy, Chris A. Peterson

BEST EDITED HALF-HOUR SERIES FOR TELEVISION: The Office: “Finale”, David Rogers & Claire Scanlon

BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: Breaking Bad: “Felina”, Skip MacDonald A.C.E.

BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: Homeland: “Big Man in Tehran”, Terry Kelley, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION: Behind the Candelabra, 
Mary Ann Bernard

BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Tokyo, Nick Brigden

BEST STUDENT EDITING: Ambar Salinas, Video Symphony

28th Annual ASC Awards

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) announced the winners of the 28th Annual ASC Awards on February 1st, 2014 with giving away the top prize to EMMANUEL LUBEZKI for GRAVITY.

Last year, Roger Deakins won the ASC award for his photography work in Skyfall, but the Oscar for Best Cinematography went to Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi. Let's see what happens this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

FILM

THEATRICAL RELEASE: Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC for Gravity

SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski for Ida

TELEVISION

ONE-HOUR EPISODIC TELEVISION SERIES: Jonathan Freeman, ASC for Game of Thrones (“Valar Dohaeris”)

HALF-HOUR EPISODIC SERIES: Blake McClure for Drunk History (“Detroit”)

TELEVISION MOVIE/MINI SERIES: Jeremy Benning CSC for Killing Lincoln

66th Annual Directors Guild Awards

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced their 66th annual Guild Awards winners on January 25th, 2014 with giving away the top prize to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. This was predictable like anything as Cuaron has been most of the awards for his exceptional direction in Gravity and it is highly likely that he'll win the Oscar as well. The documentary category is messed up as compared to last year when Searching for Sugar Man won everything including the Oscar. This year, no one knows who'd be taking the Oscar home by I'd still bet on the Act of Killing. It deserves to win. Moreover, it deserves to be watched by the whole world. It's a haunting piece of work, one of the most terrifying documentaries I've ever seen.

Here is the complete list of wins:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:

ALFONSO CUARÓN
Gravity
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Cuarón’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Siegel (Arizona Unit)
First Assistant Directors: Josh Robertson, Stephen Hagen (Arizona Unit)
Second Assistant Director: Ben Howard
This is Cuarón’s first DGA Award.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary:

JEHANE NOUJAIM
The Square
Netflix, Participant Media, Noujaim Films, Maktube Productions, Worldview Entertainment, Roast Beef Productions
This is Noujaim’s second DGA Award and third nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for Startup.com in 2001 (together with Chris Hegedus) and was also nominated in this category in 2004 for Control Room.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series:

STEVEN SODERBERGH
Behind the Candelabra
(HBO)

Soderbergh’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Michael Polaire
First Assistant Director: Gregory Jacobs
Second Assistant Director: Jody Spilkoman
Second Second Assistant Director: Lynn Struiksma
This is Soderbergh’s first DGA Award and third nomination. He was previously nominated in 2000 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic. He is also the recipient of this year’s Robert B. Aldrich Service Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series:

VINCE GILLIGAN
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
(AMC)

Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Stewart A. Lyons
Assistant Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
First Assistant Director: Nina Jack
Second Assistant Directors: Anna Ramey, Louis Lanni
Second Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
Additional Second Assistant Director: Marcia Woske
This is Gilligan’s first DGA Award and second nomination. He was previously nominated in the Dramatic Series category for the “Face Off” episode of Breaking Bad in 2011.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series:

BETH McCARTHY-MILLER
30 Rock, “Hogcock!/Last Lunch”
(NBC)

McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt
First Assistant Director: Stephen Lee Davis
Second Assistant Director: Vanessa Hoffman
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bill Sell
Location Manager: Suk Yi Mar
This is McCarthy-Miller’s third DGA Award and tenth nomination. She was also nominated this year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer/U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken & The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Series:

DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Saturday Night Live with Host Justin Timberlake”
(NBC)

King’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Matt Yonks, Bob Caminiti
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
This is King’s first DGA Award and seventh nomination. He was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials:

GLENN WEISS
The 67th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)

Weiss’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider
This is Weiss’s fifth DGA Award and tenth nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for the 61st, 64th, 65th and 66th Annual Tony Awards. He was previously nominated in the same category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs: 

NEIL P. DeGROOT
72 Hours, “The Lost Coast”
(TNT)

This is Mr. DeGroot’s second DGA Award. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs in 2011 for “Episode 1115” of The Biggest Loser.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs:

AMY SCHATZ
An Apology to Elephants
(HBO)

This is Schatz’s fifth DGA Award and eighth nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs four times for A Child’s Garden of Poetry in 2011, Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now) “The Poetry Show” in 2008, 'Twas the Night in 2001 and Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales in 1999. She was also nominated an additional three times in this category for Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce in 2012, Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009 and Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials:

MARTIN de THURAH
Epoch Films

The Man Who Couldn't Slow Down, Hennessy VS – Droga5
First Assistant Director: Shawn Thomas

Human Race, Acura MDX 2014 – Mullen
First Assistant Director: Jey Wada
Second Assistant Director: Dillon Neaman
Second Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern
This is de Thurah’s first DGA Award.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Special Awards:

In a surprise announcement, DGA President Paris Barclay called former National Vice President Steven Soderbergh to the stage to accept the Robert B. Aldrich Award in honor of Soderbergh’s extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. Joined by former DGA President/current Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted and former DGA President Taylor Hackford, Barclay thanked Soderbergh for his devotion to the Guild, especially his work to protect and extend the creative rights of directors. Soderbergh, who was first elected to the National Board in 2001, served for nine years as National Vice President before stepping down last June. Soderbergh was also a founding member of the Guild’s Independent Directors Committee, a chair of the Eastern Directors Council, a member of the Western Directors Council, and he chaired DGA Honors three times. Soderbergh currently serves on the PAC Leadership Council and the DGA Foundation, and he is co-chair of the Guild’s Theatrical Creative Rights Committee, a position he has held since 2002.

The recipients of the Directors Guild of America Service and Achievement Awards for 2014 are:

• STEVEN SODERBERGH - Robert B. Aldrich Service Award (given in in recognition of extraordinary service to the Directors Guild of America and to its membership)


• SHONDA RHIMES & BETSY BEERS - DGA Diversity Award (given in recognition of commitment to diversity hiring and providing jobs and opportunities to women and minorities in DGA-covered categories)


• LEE BLAINE - Frank Capra Achievement Award (given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA)


• VINCENT DeDARIO - Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award (given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of their service to the industry and DGA)

18th Annual San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) announced their awards on December 11th, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to Her, written, directed and co-produced by Spike Jonze, whereas the Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. There are 2 most surprising wins, i.e. Oscar Isaac winning the Best Actor award and Drug War winning the Best Foreign Language Film award. I wouldn't call either of them unfair because every actor and filmmaker works hard and also I'd say it's very bold of SDFCS to choose different winners.

Last year, 6 SDFCS winners won the Oscars (you can view the previous year's winners here: 17th Annual San Diego Film Critics Society Awards). Let's see how many win this time!

Here is the complete list of winners along with the nominations:

BEST FILM:

• 12 YEARS A SLAVE


• GRAVITY


• WINNER: HER


• INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS


• SHORT TERM 12

BEST DIRECTOR:

• WINNER: Alfonso Cuarón (GRAVITY)


• Destin Cretton (SHORT TERM 12)


• Joel and Ethan Coen (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Spike Jonze (HER)


• Steve McQueen (12 YEARS A SLAVE)

BEST ACTRESS:

• Adèle Exarchopoulos (BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR)


• Brie Larson (SHORT TERM 12)


• WINNER: Cate Blanchett (BLUE JASMINE)


• Emma Thompson (SAVING MR. BANKS)


• Sandra Bullock (GRAVITY)

BEST ACTOR:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Joaquin Phoenix (HER)


• Matthew McConaughey (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)


• WINNER: Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Tom Hanks (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

• Elizabeth Banks (THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE)


• Jennifer Lawrence (AMERICAN HUSTLE)


• Lupita Nyong'o (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Sally Hawkins (BLUE JASMINE)


• WINNER: Shailene Woodley (THE SPECTACULAR NOW)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

• Daniel Bruhl (RUSH)


• James Gandolfini (ENOUGH SAID)


• WINNER: Jared Leto (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)


• Michael Fassbender (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Sam Rockwell (THE WAY, WAY BACK)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

• Aaron Guzikowski (PRISONERS)


• Joel and Ethan Coen (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Nicole Holofcener (ENOUGH SAID)


• WINNER: Spike Jonze (HER)


• Woody Allen (BLUE JASMINE)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

• Billy Ray (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)


• Destin Cretton (SHORT TERM 12)


• John Ridley (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• WINNER: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke (BEFORE MIDNIGHT)


• Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (THE SPECTACULAR NOW)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

• BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR


• WINNER: DRUG WAR


• NO


• THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN


• THE HUNT

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

• 20 FEET FROM STARDOM


• BLACKFISH


• LET THE FIRE BURN


• STORIES WE TELL


• WINNER: THE ACT OF KILLING

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

• Bruno Delbonnel (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Emmanuel Lubezki (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Emmanuel Lubezki (TO THE WONDER)


• Roger Deakins (PRISONERS)


• Simon Duggan (THE GREAT GATSBY)

BEST ANIMATED FILM:

• DESPICABLE ME 2


• FROZEN


• GET A HORSE


• THE CROODS


• WINNER: THE WIND RISES

BEST EDITING:

• Alan Edward Ball (THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE)


• Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Christopher Rouse (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)


• Eric Zumbrunnen, Jeff Buchanan (HER)


• Joe Walker (12 YEARS A SLAVE)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

• Adam Stockhausen (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Andy Nicholson (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy (THE GREAT GATSBY)


• K.K. Barrett (HER)


• Michael Corenblith (SAVING MR. BANKS)

BEST SCORE:

• WINNER: Arcade Fire, HER


• Bjorn Eriksson (BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN)


• Hans Zimmer (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Hans Zimmer (RUSH)


• Steven Price (GRAVITY)

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE:

• 12 YEARS A SLAVE


• WINNER: AMERICAN HUSTLE


• PRISONERS


• SHORT TERM 12


• THE WAY, WAY BACK

34th Annual Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) announced their awards on December 8th, 2013 with giving away the Best Picture award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who won the Best Director award making 12 Years a Slave the biggest winner of the night, also winning Best Actor and coming on 2nd place in Best Supporting Actress category. It's almost like what happened at the Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards.

The amazing things that happened are:

1) Enough Said won its first critics awards but the most important one is Best Supporting Actor for James Gandolfini. He was a great actor. Would never forget his Tony Soprano.
2) The Wolf of the Wall Street is a runner-up in 5 categories including the big 3, i.e. Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. This is a good sign for the Wolf and it might win something in future.
3) Emmanuel Lubezki's win for his cinematography in Gravity. Brilliant, exceptional piece of photography. He deserves every award.

Last year, only 2 BSFC winners won the Oscar, i.e. Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor and Amour for Best Foreign Language Film, whereas only 3 runner-ups won the respective Oscars, i.e. Christoph Waltz for Best Supporting Actor, William Goldenberg for Best Editing and Claudio Miranda for Best Cinematography. Let's see what happens this year!

Here is the complete list of winners along with runner-ups:

Best Picture:

• Winner: 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Director:

• Winner: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)


• Runner-up: Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Actor:

• Winner: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)


• Runner-up: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Actress:

• Winner: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)


• Runner-up: Judi Dench (Philomena)

Best Supporting Actor:

• Winner: James Gandolfini (Enough Said)


• Runner-up (tie): Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress:

• Winner: June Squibb (Nebraska)


• Runner-up: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Best Screenplay:

• Winner: Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said)


• Runner-up: Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Cinematography:

• Winner: Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity)


• Runner-up: Philippe Le Sourd (The Grandmaster)

Best Documentary:

• Winner: The Act of Killing


• Runner-up: Blackfish

Best Foreign Language Film: 

• Winner: Wadjda (Saudi Arabia)


• Runner-up: Blue Is the Warmest Color (France)

Best Animated Film:

• Winner: The Wind Rises


• Runner-up: Frozen

Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer):

• Winner: Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill (Rush)


• Runner-up: Thelma Schoonmaker (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy):

• Winner: Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)


• Runner-up: Josh Oppenheimer (Act Of Killing)

Best Use of Music in a Film:

• Winner: Inside Llewyn Davis


• Runner-up: Nebraska