Fiennes, Cronenberg to get Lifetime Achievement honors
Ralph Fiennes and David Cronenberg are to receive lifetime achievement awards at the London Film Festival, organizers said Tuesday.
Fiennes will receive a British Film Institute Fellowship in recognition of “a singular career” that has blended arthouse dramas and mainstream hits.
Fiennes — who plays evil Lord Voldemort in “Harry Potter” series — said he was “extremely honored and delighted” by the award.
Fiennes’ directorial debut, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus,” will screen during the Oct. 12-27 festival.
Cronenberg, the director of “Videodrome,” ”The Fly” and “Crash,” will receive the same honor in recognition of films “exploring the darker impulses and inner lives of his characters.”
Cronenberg said he was thrilled to be the first Canadian to receive the award.
“British cinema has been a potent inspiration for me, and to be associated with this particular group of filmmakers is tremendously exhilarating,” he said.
The pair are due to receive the prizes at the London Film Festival awards on Oct. 26.
Previous BFI fellows include “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle and actor John Hurt.
Organizers also announced a shortlist for the festival’s best film prize. The nine finalists, selected by artistic director Sandra Hebron, include French silent movie “The Artist”; Aleksandr Sokurov’s Venice Film festival winner “Faust”; British director Steve McQueen’s body- and soul-baring “Shame”; and Lynne Ramsay’s high school massacre drama “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”
Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” which stars George Clooney as a neglectful father of two daughters whose wife falls into a coma, is the only American film among the finalists.
The winner will be chosen by a panel that includes “Shakespeare in Love” director John Madden, actress Gillian Anderson and artist/director Sam Taylor Wood.
Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More