“Free Solo” cameraman and documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends has died. He was 46.
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, co-director of the Oscar-winning film, posted a tribute to her “wonderful friend” on Instagram Sunday.
“We have lost a wonderful friend and an important filmmaker,” wrote Vasarhelyi, whom he collaborated with on several films, including “Incorruptible,” “Little Troopers” and most recently “Free Solo,” which won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar earlier this year.
Also Read: Andre Previn, 4-Time Oscar-Winning Composer and Conductor, Dies at 89
“You touched so many lives,” she continued. “I know the pain you felt was profound, real and relentless. I know you suffered. I can only hope you have finally found some peace and justice as you so deserve it. I’m sorry it was this way. Our community lost an amazing person. I will always love and remember you Andy.”
His cause of death was not released Sunday.
Berends made several...
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, co-director of the Oscar-winning film, posted a tribute to her “wonderful friend” on Instagram Sunday.
“We have lost a wonderful friend and an important filmmaker,” wrote Vasarhelyi, whom he collaborated with on several films, including “Incorruptible,” “Little Troopers” and most recently “Free Solo,” which won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar earlier this year.
Also Read: Andre Previn, 4-Time Oscar-Winning Composer and Conductor, Dies at 89
“You touched so many lives,” she continued. “I know the pain you felt was profound, real and relentless. I know you suffered. I can only hope you have finally found some peace and justice as you so deserve it. I’m sorry it was this way. Our community lost an amazing person. I will always love and remember you Andy.”
His cause of death was not released Sunday.
Berends made several...
- 3/4/2019
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Andrew Berends, the director of five documentary films and most recently a cameraman on the Oscar-winning “Free Solo,” has died.
Berends spent his career making films that illuminated underreported aspects of various international conflicts, particularly in Africa. His 2012 film “Delta Boys” covered an evolving battle over the oil-rich regions of Nigeria. In 2015, his film “Madina’s Dream” highlighted the story of a young girl caught in the ongoing aftermath of the Sudanese civil war.
Prior to the premiere of “Madina’s Dream” at the SXSW Film Festival, Berends wrote to IndieWire: “I want the SXSW audience to be saddened and outraged by what’s happening in the Nuba Mountains. I want people to be uplifted by the magic of the region, and the spirit and beauty of girls like Madina. I want them to leave the theater with the awareness that the war is continuing with children under threat at this very moment.
Berends spent his career making films that illuminated underreported aspects of various international conflicts, particularly in Africa. His 2012 film “Delta Boys” covered an evolving battle over the oil-rich regions of Nigeria. In 2015, his film “Madina’s Dream” highlighted the story of a young girl caught in the ongoing aftermath of the Sudanese civil war.
Prior to the premiere of “Madina’s Dream” at the SXSW Film Festival, Berends wrote to IndieWire: “I want the SXSW audience to be saddened and outraged by what’s happening in the Nuba Mountains. I want people to be uplifted by the magic of the region, and the spirit and beauty of girls like Madina. I want them to leave the theater with the awareness that the war is continuing with children under threat at this very moment.
- 3/3/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Yay! My favorite film of 2015 was the big winner at the recently concluded Film Independent Spirit Awards taking home the best feature, director (Tom McCarthy), screenplay, and editing. It was previously announced that the film was the winner of the prestigious Robert Altman Award (ensemble) as well.
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
- 2/28/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Catholic Church sex abuse drama earned five awards on Saturday including best film in a great night for Participant Media that saw Film Independent voters slap the Academy in the face and hand its two male acting prizes to Beasts Of No Nation.
Open Road/Participant Media’s Spotlight also landed best director for Tom McCarthy at the 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards held in a tent on Santa Monica beach, as well as screenplay for Josh Singer and McCarthy, editing for Tom McArdle and the previously announced Robert Altman Award for best ensemble.
Voting members honoured Abraham Attah with best male lead and Idris Elba with best supporting male for their roles in Netflix/Participant Media/Red Crown’s child soldier drama Beasts Of No Nation.
The pair were popular winners and their triumph offered perhaps some redemption after the Academy triggered the #OscarsSoWhite backlash when it omitted them – and other non-white actors – from its Oscar...
Open Road/Participant Media’s Spotlight also landed best director for Tom McCarthy at the 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards held in a tent on Santa Monica beach, as well as screenplay for Josh Singer and McCarthy, editing for Tom McArdle and the previously announced Robert Altman Award for best ensemble.
Voting members honoured Abraham Attah with best male lead and Idris Elba with best supporting male for their roles in Netflix/Participant Media/Red Crown’s child soldier drama Beasts Of No Nation.
The pair were popular winners and their triumph offered perhaps some redemption after the Academy triggered the #OscarsSoWhite backlash when it omitted them – and other non-white actors – from its Oscar...
- 2/27/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
- 11/24/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Todd Haynes' "Carol" is shaping up to be the movie to beat this awards season. Based on Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt, the romantic drama stars Cate Blanchett as an older, married woman who is developing some strong feelings towards a seasonal shopgirl played by Rooney Mara. And the actresses may have to prepare their acceptance speeches! "Carol" leads the pack of nominees for the 31st Independent Spirit Awards!
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
- 11/24/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
In its 31st year, the Film Independent Spirt Awards showcase the best that modest (and, occasionally, lower budget) filmmaking has to offer annually. This year, it’s little surprise the the stellar Carol is leading the pack with six nominations, while Spotlight and Beasts of No Nation are close behind with five each. On the actual smaller scale of productions, the iPhone-shot drama Tangerine picked up a heft four nominations, a film that, alongside Anomalisa and the aforementioned titles, rounds out their Best Feature category.
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
- 11/24/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 2015 Woodstock “Fiercely Independent” Film Festival celebrated its Sweet 16, and came to a close on October 4.
The awards went to:
Best Feature Narrative: "Oliver’s Deal" directed by Barney Elliott
Honorable Mention: "It Had to be You" directed by Sasha Gordon.
Best Feature Documentary: "Incorruptible" directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.
Honorable Mention: "The Babushkas of Chernobyl" directed by Holly Morris, co-directed by Anne Bogart.
Best Animation: "The Five Minute Museum" directed by Paul Bush.
Honorable Mention: "Religatio" directed by Jaime Giraldo.
Best Short Narrative: "Stanhope" directed by Solvan "Slick" Naim.
Honorable Mention: "Welcome" (Bienvenidos) directed by Javier Fesser.
Best Short Student Short Film: "Against the Night" directed by Stefan Kubicki.
Best Short Documentary: "All About Amy" directed by Samuel Centore.
Honorable Mention: "Naneek" directed by Neal Steeno.
The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography: "Bob and the Trees" directed by Diego Ongaro with cinematography by Chris Teague and Danny Vecchione.
James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Narrative: "Oliver’s Deal" directed by Barney Elliott and edited by J.L. Romeu and Roberto Benavides.
Honorable Mention: "Touched With Fire" directed by Paul Dalio and edited by Paul Dalio and Lee Percy.
James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Documentary: "The Babushkas of Chernobyl" directed by Holly Morris and edited by Michael Taylor, Richard Howard, and Mary Manhardt
Honorable Mention: "I Will Not Be Silenced" directed by Judy Rymer and edited by Paul Hamilton.
Ultra Indie Award: "Lamb" directed by Ross Partridge.
Honorable Mention: "Bob and the Trees" directed by Diego Ongaro.
The World Cinema Award: "Meet Me in Venice" directed by Eddy Terstall.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Roberta Petzoldt ("Meet Me in Venice").
Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award for Best Female Feature Director: Linda-Maria Birbeck director of "There Should be Rules."
Carpe Diem Award Andretta Award for Best Film: "Waffle Street" directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms.
Fiercely Independent Award was presented by Atom Egoyan to Guy Maddin
Honorary Maverick Award was presented by Guy Maddin to Atom Egoyan.
For more information about the Woodstock Film Festival: http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
The awards went to:
Best Feature Narrative: "Oliver’s Deal" directed by Barney Elliott
Honorable Mention: "It Had to be You" directed by Sasha Gordon.
Best Feature Documentary: "Incorruptible" directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.
Honorable Mention: "The Babushkas of Chernobyl" directed by Holly Morris, co-directed by Anne Bogart.
Best Animation: "The Five Minute Museum" directed by Paul Bush.
Honorable Mention: "Religatio" directed by Jaime Giraldo.
Best Short Narrative: "Stanhope" directed by Solvan "Slick" Naim.
Honorable Mention: "Welcome" (Bienvenidos) directed by Javier Fesser.
Best Short Student Short Film: "Against the Night" directed by Stefan Kubicki.
Best Short Documentary: "All About Amy" directed by Samuel Centore.
Honorable Mention: "Naneek" directed by Neal Steeno.
The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography: "Bob and the Trees" directed by Diego Ongaro with cinematography by Chris Teague and Danny Vecchione.
James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Narrative: "Oliver’s Deal" directed by Barney Elliott and edited by J.L. Romeu and Roberto Benavides.
Honorable Mention: "Touched With Fire" directed by Paul Dalio and edited by Paul Dalio and Lee Percy.
James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Documentary: "The Babushkas of Chernobyl" directed by Holly Morris and edited by Michael Taylor, Richard Howard, and Mary Manhardt
Honorable Mention: "I Will Not Be Silenced" directed by Judy Rymer and edited by Paul Hamilton.
Ultra Indie Award: "Lamb" directed by Ross Partridge.
Honorable Mention: "Bob and the Trees" directed by Diego Ongaro.
The World Cinema Award: "Meet Me in Venice" directed by Eddy Terstall.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Roberta Petzoldt ("Meet Me in Venice").
Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award for Best Female Feature Director: Linda-Maria Birbeck director of "There Should be Rules."
Carpe Diem Award Andretta Award for Best Film: "Waffle Street" directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms.
Fiercely Independent Award was presented by Atom Egoyan to Guy Maddin
Honorary Maverick Award was presented by Guy Maddin to Atom Egoyan.
For more information about the Woodstock Film Festival: http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
- 10/6/2015
- by Susan Kouguell
- Sydney's Buzz
Read More: 16th Woodstock Film Festival Reveals Full Slate, Including Centerpiece 'The Walk' The Maverick Awards Ceremony was held on Sunday, October 4, marking the end of the 16th Woodstock Film Festival. The festival is held each year in and around Kingston, NY and hosts panels, concerts, events, parties and screenings of independent films. The festival gave awards to films across a broad range of categories, including a Best Feature winner in the narrative and documentary categories. The award winners are as follows:Best Feature Documentary Incorruptible, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Best Animation The Five Minute Musuem, directed by Paul Bush Best Short Narrative Stanhope, directed by Solvan "Slick" Naim Best Student Short FilmAGAINST Night, directed by Stefan Kubicki Best Short DocumentaryALL About Amy, directed by Samuel Centore The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography Bob And The Trees, directed by Diego Ongaro, with...
- 10/5/2015
- by Wil Barlow
- Indiewire
Another election approaches. Early indications suggest that once again a candidate may ascend to the White House in history-making fashion. And of course there are those on the political outskirts who murmur that our current president will never relinquish power. Before you dismiss that as racist paranoia, let us remember how often lefties indulged in the same dictatorial predictions when George W. Bush was poised to leave office. It was ludicrous then (Dubya couldn’t get out of D.C. fast enough) as it is now. So then it is interesting to watch Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s new documentary "Incorruptible" about the 2012 elections in the west African nation of Senegal. Despite the...
- 6/18/2015
- by Brandon Wilson
- ShadowAndAct
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