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MOR N I N G PR E SE N TAT ION S
FOCUS FEATURES 8:08am - 8:18am
Belfast
Kenneth Branagh (Writer/Director/Producer) Ciarán Hinds (Actor) Simon Chase (Re-Recording Mixer/ Sound Supervisor)
SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES 8:19am – 8:41am
Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro (Co-Writer/Director/Producer)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Jessica Chastain (Producer/Actor) Justin Raleigh (Prosthetics Designer) Linda Dowds (Makeup Department Head)
SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES/ ONYX COLLECTIVE/HULU 8:41am – 8:53am
Summer of Soul
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (Director/EP)
METRO GOLDWYN MAYER/ UNITED ARTISTS RELEASING 8:53am - 9:03am
Licorice Pizza
Adam Somner (Producer) Sara Murphy (Producer)
NEON & TOPIC STUDIOS 9:03am - 9:17am
Spencer
Pablo Larraín (Director/Producer) Kristen Stewart (Actor)
NEON & PARTICIPANT MEDIA 9:17am – 9:28am
Flee
Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Co-Writer/Director)
NEON 9:28pm – 9:39am
The Worst Person in the World
Joachim Trier (Co-Writer/Director/EP) Renate Reinsve (Actor)
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY 9:40am – 10:01am
Encanto
Byron Howard (Director) Yvett Merino (Producer) Germaine Franco (Composer)
West Side Story
Ariana DeBose (Actor) Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer)
SCHEDULE, FILMS & SPEAKERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
MORNING BREAK
Don't Look Up
Adam McKay (Writer/Director/Producer) Kevin Messick (Producer) Nicholas Britell (Composer)
The Hand of God
Paolo Sorrentino (Writer/Director/Producer) Filippo Scotti (Actor)
The Power of the Dog
Ari Wegner (Cinematographer) Kodi Smit-McPhee (Actor) Peter Sciberras (Editor)
SHOWTIME 10:47am – 10:59am
Attica
Stanley Nelson (Director/Producer) Traci A. Curry (Co-Director/Producer)
SIDESHOW & JANUS FILMS 10:59am – 11:17am
Drive My Car
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Co-Writer/Director) Hidetoshi Nishijima (Actor)
WARNER BROS. PICTURES 11:17am – 11:26am
King Richard
Reinaldo Marcus Green (Director) Zach Baylin (Writer) Aunjanue Ellis (Actor) Pamela Martin (Editor)
WARNER BROS. PICTURES & LEGENDARY PICTURES 11:26am – 11:40am
Dune
Denis Villeneuve (Co-Writer/Director/Producer) Mary Parent (Producer) Jacqueline West (Costume Designer) Donald Mowat (Makeup, Hair and Prosthetic Designer/Makeup Department Head) Patrice Vermette (Production Designer)
NETFLIX 10:12am - 10:47am
LUNCH BREAK
SCHEDULE, FILMS & SPEAKERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
A F T E R N O ON PR E SE N TAT ION S
AMAZON STUDIOS 12:11pm – 12:36pm
Being the Ricardos
Javier Bardem (Actor) J.K. Simmons (Actor)
Coming 2 America
Carla Farmer (Hair Department Head) Mike Marino (Special Effects Makeup) Stacey Morris (Hair Department Head)
APPLE ORIGINAL FILMS 12:36pm – 12:54pm
CODA
Siân Heder (Writer/Director) Daniel Durant (Actor) Emilia Jones (Actor) Troy Kotsur (Actor) Marlee Matlin (Actor)
MTV DOCUMENTARY FILMS 12:55pm – 1:05pm
Ascension
Jessica Kingdon (Director/Cinematographer/ Editor/Producer) Kira Simon-Kennedy (Producer) Nathan Truesdell (Producer/Cinematographer)
WARSAW FILM SCHOOL 1:05pm – 1:20pm
The Dress
Tadeusz Łysiak (Writer/Director) Anna Dzieduszycka (Actor)
SHORTS TV 1:20pm – 1:33pm
Boxballet
Anton Dyakov (Co-Writer/Director/ Production Designer)
SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS 1:33pm – 1:45pm
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
Pawo Choyning Dorji (Writer/Director) Sherab Dorji (Actor)
SCHEDULE, FILMS & SPEAKERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
April 9-10, 2022 PA R A M O U N T T H E AT R E , L O S A N G E L E S
S P E N D T W O D AY S W I T H T H E C R E AT O R S , W R I T E R S A N D TA L E N T FROM THE MOST ACCLAIMED SHOWS O N T L E V I S I O N T O D AY
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A N D T O R S V P P L E A S E V I S I T : CONTENDERSTELEVISION2022.DEADLINE.COM
ESSENTIAL
VIEWING Celebrating stellar storytelling with Deadline’s Contenders Film: The Nominees BY A N T O N I A B LY T H Welcome to Deadline’s Contenders Film: The
homes, but we’ve also found a brave new world in which we
Nominees. A one-stop-shop experience in which you’ll see a
screen conversations with talent who couldn’t have made it
smörgåsbord of amazing Oscar-nominated talent discussing
to the stage in person anyway due to their schedules. Now,
their top-tier projects. For this virtual event—part of our
we’re talking with them while they work on location, from
rapidly-expanding juggernaut Contenders series—we invite
their trailers on set, and from distant hotel rooms in far-flung
you to enjoy Q&A panels with the on-screen stars, creatives
corners of the world, time difference be damned. This time,
and craftspeople behind no less than 24 films.
we’ve got speakers beaming in from such places as Bhutan,
If we’ve found a little silver lining to this Covid situation,
Poland, Italy, Norway and Japan.
it’s that it inspired us to stream our Contenders events
It’s always been a tricky game of Tetris to get everyone in
since the earliest days of the pandemic. And we’ve not
town and on stage for Contenders, and these days the game
only reached a global audience in the comfort of their own
looks a little different.
If you recently tuned in to the Oscar nominations announcement, like us, you’ll have registered some definite
apocalyptic-level crises (Dune; Don’t Look Up). At Contenders Film: The Nominees you’ll see a slice of
surprises, such as Lady Gaga not making the running for
what these creators and craftspeople atop the industry have
House of Gucci, Leonardo DiCaprio missing out for Don’t Look
honed: tales that resonate, inspire, and even educate or
Up and Ruth Negga sadly being passed over for Passing. But
enlighten. For example, the triple-nominated documentary
out of those who did make the cut, we’ve curated a jam-
Flee shows us the brutal reality of a refugee facing seemingly
packed event.
insurmountable hardship. And its maker, Jonas Poher
Deadline’s Contenders Film provides voters with a quick-
Rasmussen delivers that message via animation, serving up
fire round of these nominees to help you discern and affirm
an exposé of societal prejudice in an unmissable manner,
your picks to win, while hopefully entertaining you at the same
thereby reaching a huge audience. Or there’s Adam McKay’s
time with the best the industry has on offer.
cutting satire Don’t Look Up, that rips into our ignorance
Following some of the toughest times the industry has
of climate change, our social media obsession, fake news,
ever seen—with Covid-driven shut-downs, stymied financing
dodgy politics and even the bizarre rule of Silicon Valley
and job losses—perhaps unsurprisingly, as we rise from
billionaires. Humor serves to sweeten the bitter pill, delivering
those ashes, stories that dominate this season are seemingly
a commentary that might actually push us all to take stock.
driven by truly essential human themes: real-life battles with
Undeniably, as ever, film remains a superpowered art
personal challenges (King Richard; Flee; The Hand of God;
form to not only delight and entertain, but also to inspire
Belfast; Spencer; The Eyes of Tammy Faye; Being the Ricardos);
change and vital reflection.
the need for connection and authenticity (The Power of the
So now, with AwardsLine’s Executive Editor Joe Utichi
Dog; CODA; Drive My Car; Nightmare Alley; Licorice Pizza;
leading the way as your emcee, we invite you to sit back,
West Side Story; Boxballet; The Dress), and our reaction to
relax and enjoy the show!
meet the
moderators The Deadline staffers who’ll be guiding you through this this Contenders YOUR EMCEE JOE UTICHI EXECUTIVE AWARDS EDITOR Joe oversees Deadline’s awards coverage, including its dedicated print magazine for the Oscar and Emmy seasons, AwardsLine. He also edits Deadline’s special “Disruptors” edition for the Cannes Film Festival and serves as the emcee for its Contenders events. He has been aboard since 2012. Prior to joining, his work regularly appeared in his native UK—for outlets including The Sunday Times and The Guardian—and around the world. He has also worked extensively in film and television, producing EPK and production notes and working as a unit publicist. He is a member of BAFTA and has sat on multiple juries for the BAFTA Film Awards.
YOUR MO DERATO RS
PETE HAMMOND
ANTONIA BLYTH
MIKE FLEMING
AWARDS COLUMNIST/
SENIOR AWARDS EDITOR, AWARDSLINE
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, FILM
CHIEF FILM CRITIC
Mike joined Deadline in 2010 after
Pete, widely considered to be one of
and AwardsLine’s print magazines
working at Variety for 20 years as a
the pre-eminent awards analysts for
since 2014. A native Brit based in LA,
reporter, writer and columnist. He
both film and television, has for the
prior to joining she covered West Coast
was not only nationally recognized
past 11 years been Deadline's Awards
entertainment for ELLE.com, and her
as Variety's premiere film reporter
Columnist covering what is seemingly
work has been featured in The Guardian,
but also for his “Dish” and “The Buzz”
now the year-round Oscar and Emmy
UK Marie Claire and InStyle. She has
columns. Mike is known for his industry
seasons. He is also Deadline's Chief
written a New York Times bestselling
relationships and his ability to break
Film Critic, having previously reviewed
non-fiction book and regularly appears
news wherever it happens, including on
films for MovieLine, Boxoffice magazine,
on French television network TF1 as an
the ground at festivals like Sundance,
Backstage, Hollywood.com and Maxim,
entertainment expert
Cannes and Toronto. He also is an
as well as Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide
author: Doubleday published his
for which he was a contributing editor.
MATTHEW CAREY
book about The Three Stooges, From
In addition to writing, Pete is also host
DOCUMENTARY EDITOR, AWARDS
Amalgamated Morons to American
of both the KCET Cinema Series and
Icons, which ABC turned into a telepic
the weekly KCET television series, Must
Matthew Carey joined Deadline fulltime
executive produced by Mel Gibson.
See Movies. He previously held
in 2020, after a long association as a
One of Mike’s early jobs in journalism
producing positions at Entertainment
freelancer, to specialize in coverage of
was editor of the well-known Media
Tonight, Extra, Access Hollywood, The
the nonfiction film landscape. Matthew
Industry Newsletter (MIN). He then
Arsenio Hall Show, The Martin Short
is a writer and producer whose work has
joined New York Newsday as a
Show and AMC Networks and is the
appeared on CNN, CNN International
columnist, reviewer and entertainment
recipient of five Emmy nominations for
and CNN en Español. He has written
writer. During his career, he has written
writing. Pete is only the second journalist
extensively about documentary film
for numerous magazines including
to have received the Publicists Guild of
for CNN and CNN.com, Documentary
Playboy, Details, TV Guide and Esquire.
America’s Press Award twice, in 1996
magazine, NBCNews.com and TheWrap.
Antonia has contributed to Deadline
and 2013.
meet the moderators CONTINUED
VALERIE COMPLEX
numerous parts of the industry, including
NANCY TARTAGLIONE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR/FILM WRITER
box office, for about a decade. Prior to
INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE EDITOR/
arriving at Deadline in the fall of 2011, where
SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
Valerie joined Deadline in September
he co-edited the site's sister publication
2021 from Gizmodo's genre news site
AwardsLine, Anthony covered the box
Nancy joined Deadline as International
io9 and a freelance writing career that
office beat for Indiewire's Thompson on
Editor in 2011. She covers the global film,
includes bylines at Variety, The Hollywood
Hollywood. He also co-produced Matt
television and media business, with a
Reporter, Collider, Conde Nast, Harper’s
Walsh's film A Better You.
particular focus on international box office and China; as well as various festivals
Bazaar and many others. A writer of graphic novels and screenplays and
MATT GROBAR
and awards shows. Based in Europe for
a lover of all things film, she is part of
ASSOCIATE EDITOR,
more than 25 years, Nancy is the former
Deadline's reviews team and is co-host
NIGHTS & WEEKENDS
Editor-in-Chief of Hollywood Wiretap, and for 10 years was French Correspondent/
of Deadline's New Hollywood podcast, where she will continue to amplify voices
Matt joined the editors’ desk in March 2021
Contributing Editor at ScreenDaily.com
from marginalized communities. She is
after five years as AwardsLine's Assistant
and Screen International. She also has
based in New York.
Editor. In that role, he contributed to the
worked for The New York Times as a
coverage and editing of the magazines
freelance editor for its DealBook blog.
RYAN FLEMING
throughout the year, focusing on artist
Earlier in her career, Nancy was the
ASSISTANT EDITOR, AWARDS
interviews revolving around awards season
European Media Correspondent for Inside.
and its big nights including the Oscars and
com and co-hosted Canal Plus’ film
Ryan joined Deadline in March 2021
Emmys. Matt also manages the Production
program "Bazar". Nancy also spent four
as Assistant Editor for AwardsLine. He
Value video series, which spotlights the
years as reporter and editor for Variety in
received his MFA in Studio Art at The
premier craft talent working in film and TV.
Paris and Los Angeles. Prior to that, she
City College of New York in 2019. He
He also is part of Deadline's festival studio
worked in the Paris office of 60 Minutes,
contributes to the awards coverage of
team at the likes of Sundance, Tribeca
and spent two years in the Features
animation and the craft side of film and
and Toronto. Before Deadline he worked
department of the International Herald
television. In his role as Assistant Editor,
at UTA, 8thDay Pictures and Infinity
Tribune. She lives in the south of France.
Ryan also contributes to the editing of
Management International. ANDREAS WISEMAN
Deadline's AwardsLine magazines and interviews contenders above and below
DOMINIC PATTEN
the line.
SENIOR EDITOR, LEGAL & TV CRITIC
ANTHONY D’ALESSANDRO
Dominic covers litigious Hollywood’s major
the international and U.S. film industries
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/
lawsuits and weighs in on the current
and is a regular fixture at major festivals
BOX OFFICE EDITOR
Golden Age of television with his video
and markets including Cannes, Berlin,
reviews and more. Before joining Deadline
Venice, Toronto and AFM. He is based
Anthony covers box office, breaking film
in 2012, he wrote for the New York Times,
in London but makes regular forays to
news, awards-season features and festival
Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, and
Los Angeles. Andreas spent eight years
news. His first job in the film industry was
the Toronto Globe and Mail. A frequent
covering the film industry at Screen
at Savoy Pictures' headquarters in New
guest on NPR, Fox News Channel, CNN,
International and held posts there
York where he worked in film distribution.
MSNBC and CBS, he also has been a
including Chief Reporter, News Editor and
In the summer of 1999, he was hired by
documentary director, TV producer,
Deputy Editor. He has broken hundreds
Variety and moved to Los Angeles, and
national news correspondent and a
of stories and has written extensively on
remained in the newsroom covering
newspaper editor.
harassment and diversity. He has also
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Andreas joined Deadline in 2018 covering
worked in film production.
THE FILMS BELFAST
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE
SUMMER OF SOUL
LICORICE PIZZA
SPENCER
FOCUS FEATURES
Belfast In his most personal film to date, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast tells the story of a fictional 9-yearold version of himself growing up during the Troubles in late ’60s Northern Ireland. Shot in black and white, the film is the coming-of-age story of Buddy (Jude Hill) as his happy carefree life is turned upside down by uncertainty and violence. SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Nightmare Alley Guillermo del Toro wrote and directed this neo-noir psychological thriller based on William Lindsay Graham’s 1946 novel of the same name. Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) takes a job as a carny after arriving in an unknown town. His charm and ambition lead him to become a successful mentalist before ultimately getting himself into more trouble than he can handle. The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe and Richard Jenkins. The Eyes of Tammy Faye Jessica Chastain stars as Tammy Faye Bakker in this biographical drama directed by Michael Showalter. The film tracks the rise and fall of Tammy Faye’s
televangelist career as she and her husband Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) go from creating the PTL network to Jim being arrested on felony charges of accounting fraud.
being each other’s first loves. Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper and Benny Safdie costar in the film. NEON AND TOPIC STUDIOS
Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson directed this documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The legendary festival lasted for six week and celebrated African American music and culture, with amazing performers like Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Gladys Knight. The film features restored footage that was taken at the event but has never seen the light of day until now.
Spencer This Pablo Larraín-directed reimagining of a Royal Christmas at Sandringham takes us into the mind of a lonely and disturbed Princess Diana as she tries to navigate the “house rules” during the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles. Written by Steven Knight (Locke) and starring Kristen Stewart as Diana, the film's action is punctuated by Diana’s anxiety attacks and imaginings of illfated queens from the past. The film also stars Jack Farthing, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and Sean Harris.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
NEON & PARTICIPANT
ONYX COLLECTIVE/SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES/HULU
PICTURES/UNITED ARTISTS RELEASING
Licorice Pizza Paul Thomas Anderson wrote and directed this coming-of-age comedy about the whirlwind romance of Alana Kane (Alana Haim) and Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman). The story follows Alana and Gary as they navigate the prospects of growing up, having careers, and
Flee Jonas Poher Rasmussen directed and co-wrote this documentary with Amin, the subject of the film. As Amin is about to marry his husband, he decides to share a traumatic story about his hidden past. Recreated in animation, Amin shares the harrowing story of his perilous escape from his home country as a refugee.
FLEE
NEON
The Worst Person in the World Directed and co-written by Joachim Trier, this Norwegian romantic comedy-drama is the third film in Trier’s “Oslo Trilogy”. The story follows Julie (Renate Reinsve) during four years of her life as she struggles to discover who she is and what she really wants in her career and love life. The film was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best International Feature Film category for this Oscar season. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Encanto Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, and co-directed by Charise Castro Smith, this Disney musical animated film features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The story follows Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) living with her magically gifted family in an encanto. She starts to notice cracks forming in the house and goes on a quest to fix the magic, without the aid of any special gifts herself. West Side Story Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film is the second feature-
length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name. In Manhattan’s West Side, two street gangs fight for control of the neighborhood. Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Ariana DeBose), two people on opposite sides, fall in love, and attempt to find happiness with each other amidst the conflict. NETFLIX
Don’t Look Up Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star in this science fiction black comedy written, produced and directed by Adam McKay. Dr. Randall Mindy (DiCaprio) and Dr. Kate Dibiasky (Lawrence) are two low-level astronomers tasked with warning the world of an approaching comet that will destroy the earth. The film features an all-star ensemble cast including Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep. The Hand of God Returning to his hometown of Naples, writer-director Paolo Sorrentino tells a personal story of his youth and the loss of his parents in Netflix’s Italian
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
drama, The Hand of God. Taking place in Naples during ’80s, the film follows the young Fabietto Schisa (Filippo Scotti) whose tumultuous life is filled with unexpected highs and lows. The Power of the Dog Benedict Cumberbatch stars as wealthy Montana rancher Phil Burbank in Jane Campion’s adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel The Power of the Dog. Phil runs a ranch with his brother George (Jesse Plemons), whose decision to marry Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and raise her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) causes turmoil between the brothers as Phil torments the mother and son. SHOWTIME
Attica Written and directed by Stanley Nelson, this documentary details the events of the 1971 Attica Prison Riot, the bloodiest prison riot in United States history. By using the violent five-day standoff between inmates, mostly Black and Latino, and law enforcement, Nelson highlights the ongoing struggle and need for prison reform that hasn’t happened in the past 50 years.
WEST SIDE STORY
ENCANTO
THE HAND OF GOD
DON'T LOOK UP
ATTICA
THE POWER OF THE DOG
KING RICHARD
DRIVE MY CAR
DUNE
SIDESHOW AND JANUS FILMS
Drive My Car Based on the short story by Haruki Murakami and cowritten and directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, this Japanese drama follows Yûsuke Kafuku (Nishijima Hidetoshi), a stage actor who takes a road trip to find meaning after his wife passes away. This film was an official selection at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it won three awards, and is Japan’s entry for Best International Feature Film.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
King Richard Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, the father and coach of Venus and Serena Williams, in this biographical film written by Zach Baylin and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. Based on the true story of Richard Williams, King Richard tells the story of a driven father who, along with his wife Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis), raised and coaches two of the most gifted and succesful tennis players of all time.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES
Dune Director Denis Villeneuve takes on the epic science fiction story of Dune in the latest adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel. Taking place in the distant future, the Atreides family accepts the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, commonly referred to as “Dune”, where the desert is mined for a valuable resource known as “spice”. A betrayal sends Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his
COMING 2 AMERICA
BEING THE RICARDOS
CODA
mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), on a treacherous journey to find the native people of Arrakis, the Fremen, for safety. AMAZON STUDIOS
Being the Ricardos This biographical drama, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, explores the relationship between Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) during their time as the stars of I Love Lucy. The story takes place over one week of production of the show as the
couple encounters difficulties in both their personal and professional lives.
Hall, Shari Headley and James Earl Jones, who were all in the original back in 1988.
Coming 2 America Directed by Craig Brewer, this film takes place 30 years after the events of the last film. Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) must travel back to New York City to find his illegitimate son Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler) in the hopes of keeping his home country of Zamunda safe from the despotic General Izzi (Wesley Snipes). The film also stars Arsenio
APPLE ORIGINAL FILMS
CODA Following its Sundance premiere, Apple snapped this up for a record $25 million-plus. Adapted by writer and director Sian Heder from a 2014 French film, it follows teenager Ruby (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member in her deaf family—a CODA, or child of deaf adults. Busy translating for her parents
(Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and working on the family’s fishing boat, Emilia finds herself torn between her own dreams and her obligations. MTV DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Ascension Jessica Kingdon directed and produced this documentary film about the pursuit of the “Chinese Dream”. She gives an analysis of how capitalism in the communist state has thrived by examining the experiences of social classes in China. Although the film focuses on China, Kingdon gives a broader view of how capitalism has created a world where productivity and innovation are the priority.
ASCENSION
THE DRESS
LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM
BOXBALLET
WARSAW FILM SCHOOL
The Dress Directed by Tadeusz Łysiak, this Polish live-action short film stars Anna Dzieduszycka as Julka, a woman of short stature working as maid in a rundown motel in rural Poland. As she deals with a life of loneliness, repeated visits from an interesting truck driver give her hope for the future. SHORTS TV
Boxballet Written and directed by Anton Dyakov, this Russian animated short follows the relationship of Olya, a delicate ballerina, and Evgeny, a surly boxer. Although their worlds couldn’t be more different, they attempt
to overcome their external differences as they experience the same philosophical problem—“to be and to seem.” SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom Pawo Choyning Dorji makes his feature directorial debut in this Bhutanese drama film. The story follows Ugyen (Sherab Dorji), a schoolteacher with dreams of being a musician, as he is sent to teach in the remote town of Lunana in northern Bhutan. Ugyen finds himself cut off from the modern world and learns to appreciate what is around him. This is Bhutan’s first Oscarnominated film.
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