F3PR: 2014 ABFF Hollywood Awards Nominees Announced

PRESS RELEASE

2014 ABFF HOLLYWOOD AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Festival introduces an online awards for
moviegoers to name the best in Black cinema

NEW YORK, NY, January 8, 2014 – Film Life, Inc., the organization that produces the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced the nominations for The ABFF Hollywood Awards -- an online platform created to recognize the work of persons of African descent in the motion picture industry and outstanding films portraying the Black experience. The awards will give fans a voice in naming the best movies and performances of the past year, exciting interest in Black cinema during Hollywood’s award season and Black History Month.

“Hollywood is an industry centered on gaining widespread interest and support of mass audiences yet the large majority of awards platforms are determined by small and relatively non diverse groups of industry insiders. This award will allow people from all walks of life a chance to participate in the process of celebrating good work”, said Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder/CEO of Film Life, Inc. The Awards and Festival are a part of the ABFF brand’s global initiative to promote the universal appeal of Black cinema by showcasing Black artists, stories and culture to a broader audience.

ABFF Hollywood Awards will be determined by popular vote of the general public; inclusive of the 90,000 plus American Black Film Festival alumni around the world. Voting will take place January 15 through January 22, at www.abffhollywoodawards.com. The winners will be revealed online February 19, during a five-minute “web show,” hosted by Chris Spencer (Executive Producer/Creator of BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood), that will feature him tracking down winners to present the Award trophy and capture their acceptance speech.

The nominees below were selected by a jury of film critics and entertainment editors from African American media outlets around the country. For consideration, films must have had U.S. theatrical release dates between January 1 and December 31, 2013, with a minimum two-week run in New York and Los Angeles, as well as have been directed by, written by, produced by or featuring in a leading role, a person(s) of African descent. Individuals (actors, directors, producers, and writers) must be of African descent.

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

• The Best Man Holiday (Universal Pictures) – produced by Sean Daniel and Malcolm D. Lee
• Fruitvale Station (The Weinstein Company) – produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker
• Lee Daniels' The Butler (The Weinstein Company) – produced by Pam Williams, Laura Ziskin, Lee Daniels, Buddy Patrick and Cassian Elwes
• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (The Weinstein Company) – produced by David M. Thompson and Anant Singh
• 12 Years A Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures) – produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan and Anthony Katagas

BEST ACTOR

• Morris Chestnut, The Best Man Holiday
• Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave
• Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
• Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station
• Forest Whitaker, Lee Daniels' The Butler

BEST ACTRESS

• Halle Berry, The Call
• Danai Gurira, Mother of George
• LisaGay Hamilton, Go for Sisters
• Nia Long, The Best Man Holiday
• Kerry Washington, Peeples

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
• Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lee Daniels' The Butler
• Terrence Howard, The Best Man Holiday
• Samuel L. Jackson, Oldboy
• David Oyelowo, Lee Daniels' The Butler

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Nicole Beharie, 42
• Naomie Harris, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
• Sanaa Lathan, The Best Man Holiday
• Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave
• Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station
• Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler

BEST DIRECTOR

• Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station
• Lee Daniels, Lee Daniels' The Butler
• Antoine Fuqua, The Best Man Holiday
• Spike Lee, Oldboy
• Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave

BEST SCREENPLAY

• The Best Man Holiday (written by: Malcolm D. Lee)
• Black Nativity (written by: Kasi Lemmons)
• Fruitvale Station (written by: Ryan Coogler)
• The Inevitable Defeat of Mister + Pete (written by: Michael Starrbury)
• 12 Years A Slave (written by: John Ridley)

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST

• Baggage Claim
• The Best Man Holiday
• Black Nativity
• Fast & Furious 6
• Lee Daniels' The Butler

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
• Chadwick Boseman, 42
• Skylan Brooks, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister + Pete
• Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station
• Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
for an artist (male or female) in recognition of their collective body of work for the year.

• Idris Elba (appeared in: Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim, Thor: The Dark World, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
• Kevin Hart (appeared in: Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, This Is The End, Grudge Match; produced: Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain)
• Dwayne Johnson (starred in: Snitch, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Pain & Gain, Fast & Furious 6)
• Tyler Perry (appeared in: Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas, wrote, directed and produced: Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor and Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas; produced: Peeples)
• Forest Whitaker (appeared in: Lee Daniels' The Butler, Black Nativity, Out of the Furnace; produced: Fruitvale Station)

STUDIO OF THE YEAR
for a motion picture studio in recognition of the distribution of quality films directed by, written by, produced by or featuring in a leading role, a person(s) of African descent.

• Lionsgate/Codeblack/Summit Entertainment (Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas, Peeples, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister + Pete)
• Twentieth Century/Fox Searchlight Pictures (12 Years A Slave, Baggage Claim, Black Nativity)
• Universal Pictures (Fast & Furious 6, The Best Man Holiday , Riddick)
• The Weinstein Company (Lee Daniels' The Butler, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Fruitvale Station, Scary Movie 5)

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality films by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that Black content creators and artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the film and television industry. Today it serves as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The 18 annual ABFF will take place in New York City, June 19-22, 2014. Festival passes and tickets are on sale now. For more information visit www.abff.com.

ABOUT FILM LIFE

Film Life, Inc. is a multifaceted entertainment company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 2001 by Jeff Friday its current CEO. While best known for creating the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the company’s operations center on developing and licensing innovative content across all forms of media and providing strategic advisory services to a wide range of corporations in the entertainment and consumer product industries. Its scope of consulting services includes event management, film marketing and distribution, educational program development, talent procurement, and video production.

The Movie Report #745, November 29, 2013

#745, November 29, 2013

MOVIES:

• Black Nativity
  
• Homefront
  
• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
  
• Oldboy
  

AFI Fest presented by Audi 2013 Reviews

• B for Boy
  
• The Congress
  
• The Fake
  
• Half of a Yellow Sun
  
• her
  
• Inside Llewyn Davis
  
• The Invisible Woman
  
• Lone Survivor
  
• The Lunchbox
  
• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
  
• Nebraska
  
• Out of the Furnace
  
• The Past (Le Passé)
  
• Philomena
  
• We Are the Best! (Vi Är Bäst!)
  
• The Wind Rises
  

F3PR: The Coca-Cola Company & The Weinstein Company Collaborate to Share Nelson Mandela's Life Story with College Students Nationwide

PRESS RELEASE

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
COLLABORATE TO SHARE
NELSON MANDELA'S LIFE STORY
WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS NATIONWIDE

College tour will promote
civic engagement and servant leadership

ATLANTA, Nov. 13, 2013 - The Coca-Cola Company is teaming up with The Weinstein Company, a multimedia production and distribution company, to share exclusive free screenings of the soon-to-be released film, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, with college students in eight cities nationwide. The eight-city tour is designed to promote principles of fairness, civic engagement and servant leadership as advocated by former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is based on South African President Nelson Mandela's autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country's once segregated society. Idris Elba (Prometheus) stars as Nelson Mandela and Naomie Harris (Skyfall) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) directing and produced by Anant Singh and Distant Horizon. The film is opening in New York and Los Angeles on November 29th and nationwide on Christmas Day.

"We share Mr. Mandela's passion for inclusion and equitable treatment of all people," said Lisa M. Borders, Vice President of Global Community Affairs for The Coca-Cola Company. "Nelson Mandela's courageous leadership in the face of systemic oppression, his compassionate action for community and personal sacrifice in the face of extreme adversity offer insights into challenges still faced today. His fight against Apartheid serves as an example of one person's ability to mitigate and even rectify injustice and disenfranchisement. We believe this film provides teachable moments of inspiration for our next generation of leaders." The nationwide college tour will kick-off in New York City on November 13 with the film's lead actor and actress, Idris Elba (Nelson Mandela), Naomie Harris (Winnie Mandela) in attendance. The tour heads to Los Angeles, CA on Nov. 18 and Washington DC, on Nov. 20. Screenings in other cities will be announced later.

"I'm thrilled that Coca-Cola is going to enable thousands of college students to see Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and learn about the life-story of Nelson Mandela," said Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company. "They are helping a new generation of leaders be inspired by our greatest. Coca-Cola is one of the largest brands in the world and I salute them for taking a leadership role."

This partnership is led by Victoria Parker, Senior Vice President of Theatrical Productions and Corporate Affairs on behalf of The Weinstein Company.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

Please check out my main Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom site.

Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom movie poster here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom score here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom soundtrack here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom book here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom audiobook here.

In (brief) conversation with... Justin Chadwick & Alex Heffes, on Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

A special screening was held for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the long aborning-film version of South African President Nelson Mandela's autobiography, at AFI Fest presented by Audi yesterday, Sunday, November 10. The film's director, Justin Chadwick, and composer, Alex Heffes, took some time before the screening to briefly chat about the film and working in South Africa.

Michael Dequina: This being your second film telling an African story, what is the appeal of African stories for you?

Justin Chadwick: Well, I'm interested in good stories wherever they're from. I have to say I have fallen in love with Africa. I had a fantastic experience in Kenya [making 2010's The First Grader]--beautiful country, great people. And in South Africa, there's an energy there, there is a definite energy. And it's, as you know, a very complicated history. It's a challenge working in that respect, but it's an exciting experience.

MD: I imagine part of that energy comes from still being a fairly new country, fairly recently with the end of Apartheid.

JC: It's come a long way, and it's still got a long way to go. For whole sections of the film, we were working as much as we could in and with real communities and adding people on both sides of the camera from those communities. We wanted a crowd to come from the community that we were representing and the people that we were representing. So there is a certain energy that comes from that, from people that are living and breathing the struggle today.

MD: How was it working in the South African film industry, which is rapidly emerging as a global production ground?

JC: It's a fantastic place to work. You have got great talent on both sides of the camera--fantastic actors and great, great technicians. The sound guys, for example, on Mandela are people I want to my next movie with wherever I am in the world. There is a real excellence there. And there's so many great stories, so many wonderful stories in that country--the country itself, in terms of how barren the country is, the landscape; the people. It was exciting to be there with a big size film. And the film is an independent movie; it's an independent African movie, made by Africans. Idris [Elba] and I and Naomie [Harris] are kind of like honorary South Africans; the rest of the people in the movie and involved in the movie were South African. So it's a credit to them.

MD: So do you know where in the world your next movie will be?

JC: No, not yet. [laughs] I'm out to promote this and to do what I can to get this out there. It's a tough business to have an independent movie placed in the multiplexes. You know what it's like.

MD: Let's hope this will help get that next journey and story made.

JC: I hope so; I hope so.

Michael Dequina: How did you first get involved with Mandela?

Alex Heffes: I had scored a movie for Justin a couple of years ago--

MD: The First Grader.

AH: Yes! It was a wonderful experience working with Justin. He talked to me about [Mandela] quite a long time ago since it was a long time in the making, and like all good things, they take time, and finally we're there.

MD: Now that you've scored two African stories, what's the appeal as a composer to work on African stories?

AH: It's funny because just by coincidence one of the first films that people really knew me from is The Last King of Scotland.

MD: Make that three African stories, then.

AH: [laughs] Yeah! I've always loved Africa, and I love African music, for all my life I have. So it's coincidental I think, or maybe it's fate just pushing me in this direction; I don't know, so it's a happy coincidence.

MD: Was there any special research into the music for Mandela?

AH: I did go to South Africa, and I worked with the wonderful talent there--the vocalists, percussionists, so it was all really inspiring to be there. And then we went to Abbey Road in London and combined it with the orchestra, so having the best of both worlds is what we wanted and what we got.

MD: And there's a separate score soundtrack album coming out?

AH: Yes, from Decca/Universal.

MD: What's coming up next for you?

AH: Well, there's a couple of things; I'm just trying to make a decision at the moment. I don't want to say because I have to decide. [laughs]

MD: We know how that goes. But more stuff coming, from different parts of the world.

AH: Yeah, exactly.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starring Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, and Terry Pheto, and directed by Justin Chadwick opens in the United States from The Weinstein Company in American cinemas on Friday, November 29.

Please check out my main Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom site, featuring more photos from the AFI Fest presented by Audi special screening of the film.

Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom movie poster here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom score here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom soundtrack here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom book here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom audiobook here.

(Special thanks to Justin Chadwick, Alex Heffes, AFI Fest presented by Audi, and The Weinstein Company)

Review: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - The Films of Idris Elba

The new, ongoing work-in-progress section on Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is now open at The Films of Idris Elba site, featuring my big review-like write-up on the film. Many more updates are to come at the Mandela sub-site, so please do check in there regularly.

Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom movie poster here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom score here.
Buy the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom soundtrack here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom book here.
Buy Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom audiobook here.

F3PR: Jaguar Cars to Become Title Sponsor of the 2013 BAFTA LA Jaguar Britannia Awards

PRESS RELEASE

JAGUAR CARS TO BECOME TITLE SPONSOR OF THE
BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND
TELEVISION ARTS LOS ANGELES'
2013 BAFTA LA JAGUAR BRITANNIA AWARDS®

Fast growing British luxury brand Jaguar
continues to elevate its presence
in global entertainment industry

BAFTA LA JAGUAR BRITANNIA AWARDS®
to honor some of the world's
leading entertainment personalities

Jaguar to feature the all new
F-TYPE sports car at Awards Ceremony

MAHWAH, N.J., Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Jaguar Cars announced today that they will elevate their presence in Hollywood by joining with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA LA) as the official 2013 title sponsor of the BAFTA LA JAGUAR BRITANNIA AWARDS®. The Jaguar Britannia Awards®, taking place November 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, celebrates the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution to excellence in the international entertainment industry. Honors are given for excellence in film, directing and comedy, as well as for worldwide contribution to entertainment and for use of the moving image for humanitarian causes.

The 2013 Jaguar Britannia Awards® will be hosted by award winning actor and comedian, Rob Brydon. BAFTA LA will honor Sir Ben Kingsley with the "Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment"; George Clooney with the "Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film"; Kathryn Bigelow with the "John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing"; Idris Elba with the "Britannia Humanitarian Award"; Sacha Baron Cohen with the "Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy"; and Benedict Cumberbatch with the "Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year."

"This partnership with BAFTA LA and Jaguar aims to highlight the increasing appreciation for British innovation in everything from the entertainment and fashion worlds to luxury goods and automobiles," said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. "We look forward to partnering with BAFTA LA to promote British excellence in the entertainment industry on both sides of the Atlantic and to celebrate the tremendous talent of the evening's remarkable honorees."

Jaguar will be showcasing its presence at the Jaguar Britannia Awards through several activations taking place throughout the famed Beverly Hilton's grounds. The brand's own star of the night will be the recently launched 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE, a return to the company's heart: a two-seat, convertible sports car and a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years. A series of F-TYPE cars including, in true British fashion, several which are to be Union Jack emblazoned, will be on display. Assuring the evening's honorees arrive in style, sleek Jaguar XJ sedans will chauffeur them to the event.

The awards are presented annually at a gala dinner where peers and colleagues celebrate the work and accomplishments of distinguished honorees. Proceeds from the gala ceremony support BAFTA Los Angeles' on-going education, scholarship, community outreach and archival projects. The awards will air on national TV on Sunday, November 10, 2013 on BBC America.

About Jaguar

Jaguar is a premier manufacturer of luxury sedans and sports cars offering unparalleled design with tremendous performance. The company's vision throughout its storied history has been simple: To produce beautiful, fast cars that are desired the world over. Jaguar strives to provide a world class ownership experience to every owner. Today's Jaguar lineup consists of the XJ luxury sedan, XF sports sedan, the XK Coupe and Convertible sports cars and the two-seater F-TYPE. Jaguar designs, engineers and manufactures exclusively in the United Kingdom, at the Castle Bromwich manufacturing plant in the British Midlands. Jaguar is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information visit the official Jaguar website at http://www.jaguarusa.com.

Facebook: interactivejaguar

Twitter: @interactivejag

Information about Jaguar North America products is available to consumers at www.jaguarusa.com

About Jaguar Land Rover

• The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover
• Jaguar Land Rover employs 25 000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world
• Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the UK
• In the 2012/13 fiscal year, Jaguar Land Rover has reported revenues of $23.8 billion, up 17% year on year ($20.4 billion last year)
• Jaguar Land Rover has test facilities across the USA in the following states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.
• Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA and Canada. Jaguar Land Rover has offices in the following locations: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.
• Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outlets in the USA

About BAFTA Los Angeles

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles is the only Anglo-American professional organization founded to promote and advance original work in film, television and interactive media. BAFTA Los Angeles serves as the bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities, and provides exclusive access to screenings, Q&As with creative talent, produces seminars with leading UK film and television executives and the Heritage Archive, featuring broadcast-quality interviews with distinguished British members of the film and television industries, giving life to the preservation of the UK film industry for future generations.

Maintaining a long tradition of recognizing the finest filmmaking and television talent, BAFTA Los Angeles hosts a series of events, including the prestigious Britannia Awards, the Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties in January and September and the annual Garden Party.

A commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of the Academy’s charitable remit. BAFTA Los Angeles hosts the Student Film Awards and has an active Scholarship Program offering financial support and mentorship to UK students studying in the U.S. The Academy created The Inner City Cinema, a screening program providing free screenings of theatrical films to inner city areas not served by theatres. The success of Inner City Cinema has led to further free screening programs extended to multiple inner city parks through the Academy’s work with both the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks After Dark) and The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (Teen Summer Camps).

For more information on the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, visit www.baftala.org.