Review an Oscar-nominated film and you could win courtesy of Cinema Nouveau

‘OSCAR BUZZ’ HOTS UP WITH 2015 OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT

Watch an Oscar-nominated film. Post your review. Win great prizes with Cinema Nouveau…

Six nominations for American Sniper. Nine nominations for Birdman. Six for Boyhood. Two for Selma. Nine for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Eight for The Imitation Game. Five for The Theory of Everything. Five for Whiplash.

(American Sniper)

What were your 2015 Oscar nomination predictions for Best Picture but, more importantly, which films do you think will walk away with the golden statues come Oscar night on Sunday, 22 February? Cinema Nouveau is lining up the Oscar-nominated films over the next two months for your viewing pleasure, and we want to know what you think of each film.

(The Grand Budapest Hotel) 

“We’ve all read the critics’ reviews of these films. But, what we are looking for is your review of the Oscar-nominated films – to display in our cinemas, on the big screen and posted on our social media platforms, for the South African movie-loving community to see, share and comment on,” says Lola Gallant, Brand Manager of Cinema Nouveau at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

(Whiplash)

According to the experts and movie critics, ‘awards season’ for the best of the best in the movie industry for 2014 is still wide open, but the excitement is mounting. The Golden Globes’ winners were announced amid much fanfare from Beverly Hills on 11 January. The red carpet for the Baftas is currently being brushed up for those awards on 08 February and, with the 2015 Oscar nominations just in, the golden statues are being polished for the 87^th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, from Hollywood on 22 February.

(Birdman)

Who do you think is going to lay their hands on those coveted Oscar statues? Were the winning films, directors, actors, actresses, directors, producers, composers and so on, worthy recipients of the industry’s highest honour, in your view?

As the countdown begins, Cinema Nouveau wants you to join in this year’s ‘Oscar Buzz’.  Watch any of the Oscar-nominated films in the Best Picture and other categories, post your short, sharp and pithy review on Facebook or Twitter – using the hashtag #OscarBuzz – and you could be in line to win some great weekly prizes: 35 in total over the seven-week period. The competition runs from this Friday, 16 January till 09 March 2015.

Apart from the weekly prizes - the winning review block-mounted and displayed in the foyers of the four Cinema Nouveau complexes in Johannesburg (Rosebank Mall), Pretoria (Brooklyn Mall), Durban (Gateway) and Cape Town (V&A Waterfront) – one lucky person will be the recipient of the grand prize: the Cinema Nouveau Reviewer of 2015.

The winner of this prestigious title will be selected by the Ster-Kinekor marketing team based on the best Oscar-nominated movie review posted on Facebook or Twitter using #OscarBuzz. The prize is a much sought after Ster-Kinekor Movie Premiere Card that entitles the winner for free films at any Cinema Nouveau or Ster-Kinekor cinema for one year! The Cinema Nouveau Reviewer of 2015 will also be a special guest at pre-release screenings of select titles and premiers hosted by South Africa’s leading cinema chain.

Says Gallant: “South Africans love the movies, and they love watching their favourite actors doing what they do best on the big screen. As the 2015 Oscar season officially kicks off today with this year’s Academy Award nominations, we are inviting everyone to join in the excitement and anticipation that is the Oscars, by watching these great films and sharing their views on them.

“Of the Best Picture nominations, two released during 2014, one is currently on circuit, while the remaining five nominated films will be released over the next two months. This is a true reflection that we have access to the best commercial and art-house films, and that the only way to appreciate them fully is to watch them on our big screens at Cinema Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor,” comments Gallant.

Oscar Nominees announced today, 15 January 2015:

Eight films have been nominated for Best Picture, offering local movie-lovers a feast of the best of the best on the big screen at Cinema Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor. They are:

American Sniper – releases on 20 February 2015

Birdman – released on 09 January 2015

Boyhood – released in 2014

Selma – releases on 06 February 2015

The Grand Budapest Hotel – released in 2014

The Imitation Game – releases on 23 January 2015

The Theory of Everything – releases on 27 February 2015

Whiplash – releases on 20 February 2015

“As we start the countdown to the 87^th Academy Awards ceremony, we invite you to watch the best of film in the best environment – the comfort of one of our cinemas. Join in the ‘Oscar Buzz’ by posting your review. We would love to know what you think of each of the nominated films, and who you think is taking an Oscar home this year,” concludes Gallant.

Follow the ‘Oscar Buzz’ with Cinema Nouveau on Facebook – Cinema Nouveau or on Twitter @nouveaubuzz. Join the conversation and post your reviews using #OscarBuzz.  

For booking information, download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry smart phone to download the latest updates and news, and to book tickets from your handset. Visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za orsterkinekor.mobi. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For information and queries, call Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437).

The full list of 2015 Oscar nominees can be found at: http://oscar.go.com/nominees.

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

All the info you need for the European Film Festival coming to Cinema Nouveau

RETURN OF THE POPULAR EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL AT CINEMA NOUVEAU THEATRES IN MAY

Love has many faces as films explore ‘Beyond Love’ as the festival theme

Love has many faces, sometimes unexpected, sometimes challenging. As the Beyond Love theme suggests, the European Film Festival (#EuroFilmFestSA) explores some of them with the screening of ten internationally-acclaimed films, representing the best of European cinema but never before screened to South African audiences.

The European Film Festival (EUFF) will be shown exclusively at Cinema Nouveau theatres and runs from 09 – 18 May 2014, in partnership with 10 European cultural agencies and embassies based in South Africa.  All the featured films are the recipients of numerous awards and accolades at international film festivals and competitions, including the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. They are the latest productions from the most exciting and talented film directors in Europe at the moment, and a true reflection of European cinematographic creativity and diversity.

“The theme of Love serves as an interesting starting point for a European film selection. This contemporary selection of films allows us to experience tales beyond the cliché and ‘national’ narrative, to offer challenging, entertaining and compelling images of love, desire and the current state of Europe,’ says Darryl Els, EUFF 2014 festival director.

Lola Gallant, brand manager of Cinema Nouveau, is delighted that this exciting festival is making an appearance again. “We pride ourselves on providing a platform to screen the best foreign language fare, and the ten films lined up for the EUFF in May are a must-see. We are privileged to offer these films that would otherwise not be available in South Africa, at our cinemas, and are grateful to all the partners involved in putting this festival together.”

The list of films to be screened during the European Film Festival 2014 include:

·         Paradise: Love (Austria) - Cannes Film Festival 2012 – Official Competition,

·         The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium) - Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominated, 2014,

·         The Hunt (Denmark) - Cannes Film Festival 2012 – Official Competition Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominated, 2014,

·         Stranger by the Lake (France) - Cannes Film Festival 2013 – Best Director Award, Un Certain Regard section,

·         Barbara (Germany) - Berlin International Film Festival 2012, Best Director Award,

·         The Great Beauty (Italy) - Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014,

·         Tabu (Portugal) - Berlin International Film Festival 2012 – Official Competition,

·         Child’s Pose (Romania) - Berlin International Film Festival 2013, Golden Bear (Best Film),

·         Living is Easy with Eyes Closed (Spain) - San Sebastian International Film Festival - Official Competition, and

·         Le Week-End (United Kingdom) - Toronto International Film Festival.

This special treat for movie-lovers is hosted exclusively by Cinema Nouveau nationwide, with the ten-day screening programme taking place concurrently in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria from 09 – 18 May. Bookings open on 15 April and special festival ticket rates will apply to make these foreign language films accessible to a wide audience.

The festival also features an outreach screening programme and a competition that gives ticket-holders the chance to win a trip for two to France, courtesy of Air France and Atout France (French tourism agency). All the details regarding the festival schedule, bookings and the competition mechanics can be found on the Cinema Nouveau website from 15 April: www.cinemanouveau.co.za.

The European Film Festival is co-ordinated by the French Institute of South Africa and organised in partnership with the European Union and eight other European cultural agencies or embassies in South Africa: the British Council, the Camões Institute, the Goethe Institut, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Flemish government delegation and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Spain.

For booking information on the 2014 EUFF, visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi, or call our Ticketline on 082 16789. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz.  You can also download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry handset for updates, news and to book from your mobile.