Academy Museum to Present John Waters Exhibit – Film News in Brief

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will present John Waters: The Pope of Trash, an expedition dedicated to the filmmakers’s contributions to cinema.

John Waters: The Pope of Trash reveals details of how Waters’ films have redefined independent cinema, including “Pink Flamingos,” “Female Trouble,” “Desperate Living,” “Hairspray,” “Serial Mom” and “A Dirty Shame.”

“Known for pushing the boundaries of ‘good taste,’ Waters has created a canon of high shock-value, high-entertainment movies that have cemented his position as one of the most revered independent auteurs in the history of American movies,” said co-curators Jenny He and Dara Jaffe in a statement. “A massive inspiration to other artists who rebelled against the mainstream, Waters’ renegade films are replete with muses and themes derived from obsession and celebrity culture. They lovingly draw inspiration from Herschell Gordon Lewis, Russ Meyer, Andy Warhol and Ingmar Bergman alike, and are also tributes to his hometown of Baltimore.”

John Waters: The Pope of Trash will run from Sept. 17 to Aug. 4.

‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ First Looks Revealed

Lionsgate has shared first look images of the film adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” In the film, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school, relying on her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy that they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets.

The film also stars Benny Safdie and is written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, based on the book by Blume, and produced by Gracie Films’ James L. Brooks, alongside Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume, Amy Lorraine Brooks, Aldric La’auli Porter and executive produced by Jonathan McCoy.

The film is set to open in theaters April 28.

Baz Luhrmann to Receive the 2023 Harold Lloyd Award at 2023 Lumiere Awards

The Advanced Imaging Society will present Baz Lurhrmann with its annual Harold Lloyd Award for filmmaking. The “Elvis” filmmaker will be honored during the 13th annual Lumiere Awards luncheon on Feb. 10 at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

“Whether creating turn of the century Paris in ‘Moulin Rouge!’ or the jazz era in ‘The Great Gatsby,’ Baz Luhrmann and his films have become cinematic touchstones for entire eras with their totally identifiable style, signature bold colors, vivid motion and inventive camera work,” Society president Jim Chabin said in a statement. “With ‘Elvis,’ Baz has again enthralled millions of fans with a deeply intimate and compassionate portrayal of one of our most important and beloved cultural figures, set against the back-drop of a turbulent period of change in 20th century America.”

The Harold Lloyd Lumiere Award is presented annually to directors who have marshaled technology in their storytelling. Previous recipients include Denis Villeneuve, Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Jon Favreau, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Victoria Alonso, James Cameron and James Mangold.

Shochiku Sets Theatrical Release for ‘Last Film Show’ in Japan

Shochiku has acquired Pan Nalin’s “Last Film Show,” which is set to premiere Jan. 20 in theaters in Japan.

“We fell in love with this beautiful and inspiring story instantly,” Reiko Hakui, head of acquisition at Shochiku, said in a statemnt. “This film is not only a love letter to cinema, but also full of love towards family, friends and the pure innocence of following your dream without doubt. We are honored to introduce this wonderful gem from India to the Japanese audience.”

“Last in Show” is among the 15 films shortlisted for the 95th Academy Awards international feature film category. The coming-of-age film is represented in international markets by France’s Orange Studio, which has sold the feature to Italy (Medusa), South Korea (Entermode Corp), Germany and Austria (NeueVisionen), Spain (Karma Films), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Russia/CIS (Capella), Cineplex (Taiwan), Czech Republic (Slovakia Bohemia Motion Picture), Israel (Red Cape / Nachson) and Turkey (Filmarti). Samuel Goldwyn Films is the U.S. distributor.

The film is produced by Dheer Momaya, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Pan Nalin in co-production with France’s Virginie Lacombe and Eric Dupont.

American Cinematheque Announces 2nd Annual Tribute to the Crafts Honorees

The American Cinematheque announced the honorees for the 2nd annual Tribute to the Crafts, which will take place Feb. 9 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The event will be co-hosted by producers and American Cinematheque Board Members Stephanie Allain and Paula Wagner.

Tribute to The Crafts will honor those who are at the very heart of filmmaking, and have exhibited extraordinary work behind the camera, over the past year. The evening will celebrate individuals in fifteen categories covering all aspects of filmmaking and will showcase clips from each of their respective films. The honorees were selected by a jury of cinephiles, film historians and journalists from outlets across the country.

The Tribute to the Crafts honorees are listed below:

Feature Film

Documentary

Sponsors and event partners include Astek, The Balvenie, Cast & Crew, First Entertainment Credit Union, Formosa Group, The MBS Group and National Geographic Documentary Films. The event is being produced by Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante, Madelyn Hammond and Associates. Sponsorship is managed by Diane Salerno, Six Degrees Global. Event production will be handled by Gina Wade Creative.