PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD 2014

Philomena, by Stephen Frears

The European Film Academy's (EFA) People’s Choice Award enables film fans across Europe to elect their favourite film. Whereas the EFA invites Europe’s greatest film stars, directors, actors and actresses, to attend the annual European Film Awards, the People’s Choice Award sheds a spotlight on the audience's choice of films. 

The voting for this year’s award has started, with a chance to join winners and nominees for the awards ceremony in Riga!

Winners in the past have included films such as Pedro Almodóvar’s VOLVER, Roberto Benigni’s LA VITA E BELLA, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s AMÉLIE, Fatih Akin’s HEAD-ON, and Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. In 2013, the EFA People's Choice Award went to THE GILDED CAGE by Ruben Alves .

Film fans can cast their vote on the official website and possibly win a trip to the 27th European Film Awards on Saturday, 13 December 2014, in Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014.

Nominated films

BEAUTY AND THE BEASTLA BELLE ET LA BÊTE

DIRECTED BY: Christophe Gans
WRITTEN BY : Christophe Gans & Sandra Vo-Anh
MAIN CAST: Vincent Cassel, Lea Seydoux, André Dussolier

IDA
DIRECTED BY: Pawel Pawlikowski
WRITTEN BY: Pawel Pawlikowski & Rebecca Linkiewicz
MAIN CAST: Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, Dawid Ogrodnik, Jerzy Trela 

NYMPHOMANIAC
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Lars von Trier
MAIN CAST: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf

PHILOMENA (photo)
DIRECTED BY: Stephen Frears
WRITTEN BY: Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope
MAIN CAST: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark

THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED HUNDRAÅRINGEN SOM KLEV UT GENOM FÖNSTRET OCH FÖRSVANN

DIRECTED BY: Felix Herngren
WRITTEN BY: Felix Herngren (screenplay), Hans Ingemansson (screenplay), Jonas Jonasson (novel)
MAIN CAST: Robert Gustafsson, Mia Skäringer, Alan Ford

TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
MAIN CAST: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione

The winner of the EFA People’s Choice Award 2014 will be announced on stage during the European Film Awards Ceremony on 13 December in Riga.

BAFTA screenwriting resource

It's always fun to see who did or didn't win the best screenwriting awards - and 2011 had some cracking good scripts. But time spent on the Bafta site turned up another gem: BAFTA screenwriters On Screenwriting. Six leading screenwriters (Simon Beaufoy, Aline Brosh McKenna, Christopher Hampton CBE, Sir David Hare, Ronald Harwood CBE and Peter Morgan) with credits including "Atonement", "The Devil wears Prada", "Frost/Nixon" and "Slumdog Millionaire" give their opinion on the craft, the films they have written and their career so far.

Visit it here.

I can't knock the awards for "The King's Speech" (original) and "Social Network" (adapted). Try and find both and read them. An education in itself.

Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) to talk in London

"The themes of [The Social Network] are as old as storytelling itself: loyalty, friendship, power, money, envy, social status, jealousy. It’s a story that if Aeschylus were alive today, he’d have written; Shakespeare would have written; Paddy Chayefsky would have written. Fortunately for me, none of those people were available, so I got to write it."

Aaron Sorkin is the award-winning scriptwriter of "A Few Good Men" and "The West Wing". He'll be at a special screening of "The Social Network" in London on January 20. The Script Factory says a few seats might be available on the night. If you're in London, break legs to get one at The Script Factory.

British indie awards salute Michael Cain and Danel Day-Lewis

In an upbeat event, the British Independent Film Awards announced its 2009 winners on December 6 in London. Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, BIFA co-directors say: "No single film dominates the Awards this year, reminding us of the high quality and variety of talent on offer in the UK. And if we can be celebrating so much good work in a year that is said to be difficult, there is a lot to shout about."

"Moon", the film by Duncan Jones (who also picked up the best debut director award), was awarded the best British independent film. Best screenplay went to "In the Loop", by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche.

The screenplay award was very tight, as "In the Loop" was up against "An Education" (Nick Hornby), "Fish Tank" (Andrea Arnold), "Moon"(Nathan Parker) and "Nowhere Boy" (Matt Greenhalgh).

Sir Michael Caine and Daniel Day-Lewis both gave impassioned acceptance speeches for their respective acting awards.

For the full list of winners, visit BIFA.

British Independent Film Award nominees announced

British cinema has an unusual structure, with most of the industry working as service suppliers for the American studios, and a promising but fragile "independent" section. The British Independent Film Awards obviously showcase the latter, and feature a very strong line-up of nominees this year, which have just been announced:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

An Education
Fish Tank
In The Loop
Moon
Nowhere Boy

BEST DIRECTOR

Sponsored by The Creative Partnership
Andrea Arnold – Fish Tank
Armando Iannucci – In The Loop
Duncan Jones – Moon
Jane Campion – Bright Star
Lone Scherfig – An Education

BEST SCREENPLAY

Sponsored by BBC Films
An Education – Nick Hornby
Fish Tank – Andrea Arnold
In The Loop – Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Moon – Nathan Parker
Nowhere Boy – Matt Greenhalgh

70 members screened over 200 films to draw up the list of nominees. To get the complete list of nominees, visit Raindance.

The Italian Job screenwriter dies at 77

Troy Kennedy Martin, the British screenwriter whose credits include "The Italian Job", died of cancer on September 15 at age 77. Martin first started writing plays at the BBC in 1958, later creating "Storyboard". His most famous TV creation was Liverpool-based police drama "Z-Cars", which subsequently ran for 15 years.

His film credits include "The Italian Job", which starred Noel Coward and Michael Caine, "Kelly’s Heroes", "The Jerusalem File" and "Sweeney 2", from the TV series, "The Sweeney, created by his brother Ian Kennedy Martin". He also co-wrote the screenplay for "Red Heat" with director Walter Hill in 1988 and "Red Dust", directed by Tom Hooper, in 2004.

Kathyrn Bigelow and Mark Boal in London

Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" is picking up pretty breathless reviews. She'll be in London with her screenwriter Mark Boal to talk about it, courtesy of The Script Factory and The Screen on the Green.

A preview plus conversation with Kathryn Bigelow & screenwriter Mark Boal August 18
Screen on the Green
83 Upper Street
London N1 0NP

Details at The Script Factory.

Stephen Fry: UK TV writers "treated like dirt"

Celebrated British actor and writer Stephen Fry has spoken out against the British TV production system, claiming the writers are "treated like dirt". He particularly points to the fact that writers are generally dispossessed of their work when production starts. In a report in The Stage, he is quoted as saying, “Occasionally, if there’s a good relationship, a writer can come and visit the set, but their job - if they know anything about the etiquette of a set - is to sit very quietly in a corner and is certainly not to talk to an actor about anything but gossip and it is certainly not to talk about the part [they have written], because that undermines the relationship of the actor and director,” he said.

In addition to his high-profile acting, Fry has written for TV and is the writer of "Bright Young Things". For the full story, visit The Stage.

"Slumdog" and "In Bruges" pick up Bafta awards

With a remarkable seven out of eleven nominations, last night was definitely "Slumdog Millionaire"s night at the annual BAFTA award ceremony in London. The film won Best Film and six other awards: director for Danny Boyle, adapted screenplay, music, cinematography, editing and sound.

According to a report in Screen Daily, Boyle said it felt 'amazing' to win, adding that he wished to keep his links with India and was in talks about shooting a thriller in the country. Writer Simon Beaufoy said he believed the film had captured the imagination of the world. "It has come out at a time when we need a film about hope," he said.

The Best Original Screenplay went to Martin McDonagh's "In Bruges", another personal favourite. For the full list of awards and interviews with Boyle, Beaufoy and others, visit the Bafta site.

UPDATE: Martin McDonagh picked up the Best Script award for "In Bruges" at the Irish Film & Television Awards. The film itself won the best International award. "Hunger" picked up the Best Film award.

Gomorra sweeps European Film Awards

In a not totally unexpected move, the Italian Mafia drama "Gomorra" has won numerous prizes at the 21st European Film Awards. As this was very much a collaborative piece with intertwining tales, no less than six writers picked up the Best Screenwriter award for it, Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso and Roberto Savian."Gomorra" also picked up Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography.

Other notable wins include "Hunger" (European Discovery) and "La graine et le mulet" (European Film Academy Critics Award). For the full list of winners, visit the European Film Academy.

British Independent Film Award winners

The much anticipated 11th BIFA awards ceremony took place on Sunday 30 November in London, hosted by James Nesbitt. The tone was upbeat, which is hardly suprising as it has been great year for British film. Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance and the BIFA's says "The nominated films and film-makers and winners prove that filmmaking is alive and well in the U.K." Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, BIFA co-directors said: “It’s been another stellar year for independent film in Britain. The diverse range of films nominated showcases an astounding lineup of talent both new and established that demands to be celebrated.”

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, the major funding partner of the BIFAs says: "This year's BIFA nominations and award winners really highlight the range of talent working in the UK with powerful, ground-breaking and imaginative films coming from filmmakers with diverse voices."

All this would be irritating if there weren't some truth to it. The range and quality of the films is impressive this year. Here are the 2008 winners.

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Slumdog Millionaire


BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire


BEST SCREENPLAY
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges (personal favourite!)

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Steve McQueen – Hunger


BEST ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas


BEST ACTOR
++Michael Fassbender – Hunger


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Alexis Zegerman – Happy-Go-Lucky

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Eddie Marsan – Happy-Go-Lucky


MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire


BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
The Escapist


RAINDANCE AWARD
Zebra Crossings

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt – Hunger

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Man on Wire


BEST BRITISH SHORT
Soft

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Waltz with Bashir

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution to British Film)
David Thewlis

THE VARIETY AWARD
Michael Sheen

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Joe Dunton

For further details, visit Raindance.

Mamma Mia now biggest ever UK movie at UK box-office

With box-office reaching £66,995,244 (€84,758,880 or $104,590,000), "Mamma Mia!" is the second highest-grossing film of all time in the UK behind Titanic and the biggest ever UK movie at the UK box office. The celebration of Abba was directed by Phylida Lloyd on a script by Catherine Johnson.

Quoted by Screen International, David Kosse, president of Universal Pictures International said, "We think it still has some life in it. The sing-along version has been a great success and will continue to give it a bump, and we now have Christmas party bookings coming in from across the UK. One driver is the multiple viewings with people going back to see it again and again. It really is happening on a scale that we haven't seen before."

It's easy to knock this film, but both it and the underlying stage play touch a very deep chord in audiences worldwide. The inherent silliness is not a problem, as from having seen it, one can only salute the power of Abba's songs. Like the music it is based on, "Mamma Mia!" will not win any creative awards. It doesn't have to; it connects with the audience in a way most other films can only vaguely dream of.

William Friedkin masterclass in London

You might have to move fast on this one. William Friedkin is the writer/director/producer of landmark films such as "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist", both of which redefined their genres and provoked considerable outrage at the time. Since then, he has also produced "Cruising" and "To Live and Die in L.A." and is now active in TV and opera.

In an event organised by The Script Factory, he will be interviewed live by Mark Kermode following a screening of "The French Connection" on October 21 at 8pm at the Screen on the Green in Islington, London. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from Screen on The Green box office on 08700 664777.

IRA flick in life rights issue

An interesting case for writers is about to hit the screen. "50 Dead Men Walking" is based on the autobiography of Martin McGartland, an RUC mole that infiltrated the IRA during Northern Ireland's "troubles" in the eighties. Yet McGartland recently claimed that his portrayal "misrepresents his life" as it shows him taking part in bombings and torture and is reserving his right to have the film withdrawn.

Of particular note is the fact that he told the magazine Screen International, "I definitely have a case in terms of infringement of my moral rights not only in the UK but all around the world. If my solicitor tells me it damages my reputation I will seek an injunction to see that the film is pulled and the DVD doesn’t seen the light of day."

The producers recently said of the film that "although inspired by the contents [of the book], it is not a representation of Mr McGartland's life". It is worth noting that they acquired the rights to the book and that McGartland was also given the option of having the main character's name changed, which he apparently declined. Not having read the agreement between him and the producers HandMade Films/Future Films, it is impossible to come to an opinion about this issue. But it does show the complexity of portraying real people on the screen, and the need to nail down any legal issues before production. By the same token, it shows the danger of undertaking a writing project without some sort of agreement with the subject of a biography and/or its authors.

"50 Dead Men Walking" was written and directed by Kari Skogland and will premiere at the Toronto International Film festival on September 10.

"Doctor Who" scripts picks up Hugo award

"Blink", an episode of the rejuvenated BBC series "Doctor Who", received a Hugo Award on August 9 last, in the section for Best Dramatic Presentation Short Form (in this case a TV episode). The Hugo Awards are awards for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. They were first awarded in 1953, and then every year since 1955. The awards are run by and voted on by fans and are billed as the "biggest award in fandom". They are awarded each year at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon).

"Blink" was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Hettie MacDonald. Moffat has written extensively for TV, including "Coupling", "Doctor Who" and "Jekyll". Moffat won this category for the past two years - with "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances" and "The Girl in the Fireplace". He is currently working on an adaptation of the Belgian comic strip hero "Tintin".

"Blink" is in the third series of "Doctor Who".

British films hit $3 billion mark in 2007

Although there are serious concerns about future productions, last year was a good year for British movies. According to figures released by the UK Film Council, British films raked in $3 billion last year, an increase of 50% over the previous year.

Film such as "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "The Golden Compass" and "The Bourne Supremacy" helped British take 29% of the domestic box office, 16% in Europe and 12% in the US.

These successes are of course driven by the major (US) studios. The Council also points to the success of "Control" and "This is England" as examples of more specifically British film-making (although Anton Corbijn is in fact a Dutchman). Films to look forward to include new Bond and Potter movies as well as "Brideshead Revisited".

UK's Screenwriter Magazine becomes 12 Point.com

Screenwriter Magazine, perhaps the leading screenwriting magazine in Europe (with France's la Gazette des Scénaristes) is entering the digital age as TwelvePoint.com. From July 1, the magazine has become an online site and is (alas) no longer being printed. The new site will include the articles produced by Screenwriter, as well as all the bells and whistles you would expect of a website. This includes tips and an "ask the agent" section for subscribers as well as the inevitable forum.

If you move fast, you can pick up a free 10-day subscription. Check the site here.

Iron Maiden singer scripts movie for Cannes

According to a report in the BBC, Bruce Dickinson (singer with the metal band Iron Maiden) will unveil a film at this year's Cannes festival. "Chemical Wedding" will star Simon Callow as Professor Haddo, the reincarnation of British occultist Aleister Crowley, once described as Britain's most evil man. Julian Doyle, who directed the video for the band's 1988 single 'Can I Play with Madness', co-wrote the script with Dickinson and is directing. The reaction from test screenings are that it is very much in the vein of the Hammer Horror films.

Julian Doyle, for those that read the small print on DVDs, has also worked as an editor and/or second unit director on "The Life of Brian", "Brazil" and "The Wind in the Willows". Sounds promising.

Terry George premiere and masterclass in Belfast

Oscar-nominated writer and director (and who has excelled in both roles) Terry George will premiere his new film "Reservation Road" at the 8th Belfast Film Festival and will also run one of the masterclasses at the event. George is best known for "In the Name of the Father" and "Hotel Rwanda". His masterclass on April 11 will "examine the similarities and differences in writing for TV, Film and the internet, the art of characterization and the subjects of plot, structure and dialogue". He will also take part in a Q&A session after his film's projection.

For more details, visit the Belfast Film Festival site.

Award-winning writers to speak at Screenwiters festival

Britain's Screenwriters Festival will be held this year July 1-3 in Cheltenham. The guest speaker line up so far includes Christopher Hampton, Oscar winning writer of 'Dangerous Liaisons' and the 2008 Oscar-nominated 'Atonement', and Kay Mellor producer and BAFTA award winning writer of such well known series' such as 'Band of Gold', 'Playing the Field', 'Fat Friends' and 'The Chase'.

The programme for the 2008 Festival will be up on the website on Friday 14th March 2008. The festival also has a pitch contest. See the details on their website.