It’s shaping up as an award-winning summer time for actress-producer Lucy Liu.
On Saturday night time Liu obtained the Rising to the Problem Award on the Bentonville Movie Competition in Arkansas, an honor that “acknowledges artists who champion storytelling that breaks obstacles and broadens illustration.”
It wasn’t her solely award of the night time. Her new drama Rosemead, directed by Eric Lin, gained Greatest Narrative on the 11th version of the competition chaired by Geena Davis. Liu produced the movie and stars as “Irene,” a Chinese language immigrant who concurrently faces a private well being disaster and the alarming descent of her son into schizophrenia.
“Rosemead captures the terrifying realities of motherhood in our up to date period,” wrote the jury, comprised of filmmaker Marie Jamora (visitor creative director of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Ladies) and filmmaker Bomani J. Story (The Offended Black Woman and Her Monster). “When tradition, society, and healthcare break down, how can a mom defend her personal baby? With a powerhouse efficiency from the customarily underused Lucy Liu, you perceive each alternative she makes. Director Eric Lin sparks actual world conversations concerning the society we’re residing in by means of an intimate, unflinching movie based mostly on true occasions within the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what nice cinema can do.”
Scroll for the total checklist of awards.
Actress-producer Lucy Liu
Monica Schipper/Getty Pictures for IMDb
Talking with Deadline simply earlier than the ceremony started, Liu referred to as the Rising to the Problem Award “very significant as a result of it’s one thing that’s about variety and about bringing tales to the forefront. Figuring out that this explicit story [Rosemead] is all about that’s precisely related and so it’s aligned in one of the best ways potential.”
The movie premiered earlier this month at Tribeca Competition. Deadline’s Damon Clever praised Lin and screenwriter Marilyn Fu, writing in his evaluate that they afford Liu “the headspace she must ship a efficiency of quiet energy, promoting us on the desperation that drives Irene to the boundaries of her at all times practical-minded sanity.”
In August, Liu will obtain the Profession Achievement Award on the Locarno Movie Competition in Switzerland, the place Rosemead will maintain its worldwide premiere.
Unbiased Lens/Cuomo-Cole Productions
At Saturday night time’s Bentonville Movie Competition Awards ceremony, The Librarians gained Greatest Documentary. The movie directed by Kim A Snyder and government produced by Sarah Jessica Parker examines makes an attempt by librarians in Florida and Texas and elsewhere to fight guide banning efforts, whereas concurrently dealing with unhinged assaults from proper wing zealots accusing them of grooming kids.
“This extraordinary movie is highly effective, well timed and wanted,” wrote the jury comprised of director-producer Kathryn Everett (founding father of 5D Studios), James Faust (creative director, Dallas Worldwide Movie Competition), and producer-actor Pallavi Sastry (co-director of programming, iSAFF). “It enrages and saddens, with not a second missed. The storytelling doesn’t discriminate in its protection, making its factors completely, in a scary, chilling and vital exploration. These librarians are heroes.”
Courtesy of Briarcliff Leisure
The inaugural Homegrown Award went to Sovereign, a drama directed by Christian Swegal and produced by Nick Moceri that was partly filmed in close by Fayetteville.
“Underneath the visionary path of Christian Swegal, this daring story is elevated by a solid whose performances carry depth and authenticity to each scene,” wrote jurors Joshua Dahlman (program director of shorts & MN options, Twin Cities Movie Competition); producer Nicole Shipley (co-founder and CEO of Protected Area Footage Basis), and Claire Taylor (chief program officer, SeriesFest). “Sovereign bravely opens a window right into a aspect of American tradition that’s typically troublesome to debate. The movie invitations viewers to confront advanced realities with honesty and compassion, sparking vital conversations that linger lengthy after the credit roll.”
In an announcement, BFF chair Geena Davis mentioned, “These awards mirror the fervour and drive of storytellers, whose work will proceed to broaden views and interact audiences all year long. We congratulate our BFF award winners and we’re so grateful to each filmmaker right here for his or her contributions to the success of this yr’s BFF!”
That is the total checklist of winners and particular jury mentions:
Greatest Narrative
Jury: Marie Jamora (Director; Visitor Inventive Director of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Ladies), Bomani J. Story (Director, The Offended Black Woman and Her Monster)
Greatest Narrative: ROSEMEAD
(Director, Eric Lin; Author, Marilyn Fu; Producers, Mynette Louie, Andrew Corkin, Lucy Liu)
Jury Assertion: “Rosemead” captures the terrifying realities of motherhood in our up to date period. When tradition, society, and healthcare break down, how can a mom defend her personal baby? With a powerhouse efficiency from the customarily underused Lucy Liu, you perceive each alternative she makes. Director Eric Lin sparks actual world conversations concerning the society we’re residing in by means of an intimate, unflinching movie based mostly on true occasions within the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what nice cinema can do.
Particular Jury Point out for Directorial Imaginative and prescient: COLOR BOOK
(Director/Author, David Fortune; Producers, Kiah Clingman, Kristen Uno, Autumn Bailey-Ford)
Jury Assertion: David Fortune’s “Coloration E-book” makes daring selections by means of kind and material. In a stripped down story of a father simply attempting to get his son to a baseball sport, the movie reveals profound themes concerning the world we dwell in with a constant command of gorgeous visuals, performances, and crisp storytelling. Fortune’s imaginative and prescient speaks by means of a assured hand like he’s executed this many occasions earlier than.
Particular Jury Point out for Ensemble Forged: ADULT CHILDREN
(Director/Producer, Wealthy Newey; Author/Producer, Annika Marks; Producers, Angie Gaffney, Thomas Sadoski)
Jury Assertion: In these occasions, the world must snort, and “Grownup Kids” dispenses the chuckles effortlessly by means of its excellent ensemble taking part in a maladjusted household colliding again collectively. The movie speaks to a generational stuntedness that makes us notice that we’re all faking it as grown ups.
Greatest Documentary
Jury: Kathryn Everett (Director/Producer; Founding father of 5D Studios), James Faust (Inventive Director, Dallas Worldwide Movie Competition), Pallavi Sastry (Producer/Actor; Co-Director of Programming, iSAFF)
Greatest Documentary: THE LIBRARIANS
(Director/Producer, Kim A. Snyder; Producers, Janique L. Robillard, Maria Cuomo Cole, Jana Edelbaum)
Jury Assertion: This extraordinary movie is highly effective, well timed and wanted. It enrages and saddens, with not a second missed. The storytelling doesn’t discriminate in its protection, making its factors completely, in a scary, chilling and vital exploration. These librarians are heroes.
Particular Jury Point out (Documentary): HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
(Director/Producer, Sam Feder; Producers, Amy Scholder, Paula Mendoza)
Jury Assertion: “Heightened Scrutiny” is a movie that humanizes a problem that’s turn out to be more and more political, making it a narrative about individuals. A quintessential instance of journalistic storytelling, the Jury discovered it uplifting, coronary heart centered, factual, human and vital. It superbly contextualizes the struggle on trans individuals and the undue stress and scrutiny they face simply to be themselves.
Greatest Homegrown
Jury: Joshua Dahlman (Program Director of Shorts & MN Options, Twin Cities Movie Competition), Nicole Shipley (Producer; Co-founder and CEO of Protected Area Footage Basis), Claire Taylor (Chief Program Officer, SeriesFest)
Greatest Homegrown: SOVEREIGN
(Director/Author, Christian Swegal; Producer, Nick Moceri)
Jury Assertion: Underneath the visionary path of Christian Swegal, this daring story is elevated by a solid whose performances carry depth and authenticity to each scene. “Sovereign“bravely opens a window right into a aspect of American tradition that’s typically troublesome to debate. The movie invitations viewers to confront advanced realities with honesty and compassion, sparking vital conversations that linger lengthy after the credit roll.
Particular Jury Point out (Homegrown): BEYOND THE ASHES: AN ADAPTIVE TRAIL STORY
(Administrators/Producers, Brock Wagner, Tim Johnson; Producers, Jason Williams, Uriah Nazario, Bianca Montoya, Brian Carlson, John Hunter)
Jury Assertion: For its highly effective storytelling that uplifts under-recognized voices and celebrates resilience. The movie additionally shines a light-weight on Northwest Arkansas as a rising hub for inclusion and accessibility.
Greatest Episodic
Jury: Joshua Dahlman (Program Director of Shorts & MN Options, Twin Cities Movie Competition), Nicole Shipley (Producer; Co-founder and CEO of Protected Area Footage Basis), Claire Taylor (Chief Program Officer, SeriesFest) (similar as Homegrown)
Greatest Episodic: BORN 2 LOSE (Director, Carlos Cardona)
Jury Assertion: This pilot excels in capturing intimate moments with authenticity and nuance, showcasing distinctive filmmaking craft. It creates a world that’s dramatic, compelling, and rock and roll to the core—a universe we need to see extra of. “Born 2 Lose” is clearly only the start of what guarantees to be a exceptional journey for this gifted crew. We eagerly sit up for what’s subsequent, each on display and behind the digicam.
Greatest Brief Movie
Jury: Anne Alvergue (Editor/Director, The Martha Mitchell Impact), Michelle Krusiec (Author/Director/Actor; Nian), Toks Olagundoye (Actor, Frasier)
Greatest Brief Movie: LOVIN’ HER (Director, day)
Jury Assertion: A haunting quick with deeply felt performances that achieved excellence in interweaving singular moments right into a narrative that stayed with us all after the movie was over.
Particular Jury Point out (Brief Movie): VIEW FROM THE FLOOR (Administrators, Megan Griffiths, Mindie Lind) Particular Jury Point out (Brief Movie): TENDER THOUGHTS (Director, Anndi Jinelle Liggett)
