Fifty-one entries from 29 countries, along with 518 entries from students representing 105 U.S. colleges and universities, are in competition for the 2012 Student Academy Awards. The competition – now in its 39th year – will culminate in the awards presentation, on Saturday, June 9, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The presentation will include screenings of the winning films.

The Academy established the Student Academy Awards in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards and corresponding cash prizes may be presented in each of five categories: Alternative, Animation, Documentary, Narrative and Foreign Student Film.

Past Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 46 Oscar nominations and have won or shared eight awards. At the 84th Academy Awards earlier this year, 2011 Student Academy Award winners Hallvar Witzø and Max Zähle were nominated in the Live Action Short Film category for “Tuba Atlantic” and “Raju,” respectively. James Spione, a Student Academy Award winner in 1987, earned a nomination in the Documentary Short Subject category for “Incident in New Baghdad.”

A complete list of schools and countries represented in the competition is available at: http://www.oscars.org/awards/saa/entrants.html.

The 39th Annual Student Academy Awards ceremony on June 9 is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required. Tickets will be available starting May 1, online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail.

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2012 got off to a great start for Northern Irish director Terry George, when his short film ‘The Shore’ won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short. George now hopes to build on this momentum with the release of his new feature film ‘Whole Lotta Sole,’ premiering at the TriBeCa Film Festival (TFF) on Saturday April 21.

The film, which was also co-written by George, was shot on location in Ireland last spring, and attracted actors such as SAG winner Brendan Fraser (for 2004′s ‘Crash’) and IFTA winners Colm Meaney and Martin McCann (for 2001′s ‘How Harry Became a Tree’ and 2009′s Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne, respectively). Northern Ireland-born Foy Vance composed the film’s music, while Thomas Gallagher co-wrote the screenplay with George. As for the plot, the following is listed in the TFF Film Guide:

In a rowdy little corner of Belfast, hapless young father Jimbo tries to protect his family from the gangster he’s in debt to by robbing the local fish market… which turns out to be a front for the same gangster! On the run, Jimbo holes up in a local antique shop run by a long-lost man from his past. A colorful cast of character actors and a strong turn from Brendan Fraser light up this madcap Irish crime comedy from Terry George (Hotel Rwanda).

The film’s premiere at TFF presents a major festival coup for George, and an oddly poetic one at that. The festival was founded in response to the September 11 2001 terrorists attacks, while ‘Sole’ is an opportunity for George to expand upon what he did with ‘The Shore,’ which was to show to the world that Northern Ireland is not the war-torn place it once was, and that the people — as well as its creative offerings — have moved on.

Terms like ‘madcap’ and ‘crime comedy’ mark an extreme contrast to George’s last feature film set in Northern Ireland, 1993′s ‘In the Name of the Father’. For that film, which George again co-wrote, the country’s political situation weighed heavily on the characters, and its cultural resonance resulted in it being nominated for seven Academy Awards, four Golden Globes and a BAFTA.

Coupled with the success of ‘The Shore,’ it is clear that George has a long-standing successful reputation in critics’ circles, so all eyes will no doubt be on ‘Whole Lotta Sole’ when it makes its big-screen debut late next month. Screening details are as follow:

• Saturday April 21, 8:30pm, SVA Theater 2 Beatrice
• Sunday April 22, 3:00pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 7
• Wednesday April 25, 5:30pm, AMC Loews Village 7 – 3
• Saturday April 28, 3:45pm, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 8

Meanwhile, full details about the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs from April 18 – 29, can be found here. The festival is also active on both Facebook and Twitter.

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Among the big winners at last Sunday’s 84th Annual Academy Awards was Belfast-born director Terry George, whose short film ‘The Shore‘ won for Best Live Action Short Film.

George has previously been nominated twice at the Academy Awards, once in 1994 for Best Adapted Screenplay for ‘In The Name of the Father‘, and again in 2005 for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Hotel Rwanda‘. His win for The Shore, however, represents the culmination in a long labour of love which sought to depict Northern Ireland in a brand new light to the world.

The Shore stars Ciarán Hinds, Conleth Hill, Maggy Cronin and Kerry Condon, and centres around a man (played by Hinds) who returns to Northern Ireland after a long absence with his daughter (played by Condon) and forges a reconciliation with an old friend and an old lover (played by Hill and Cronin, respectively). The theme of reconciliation is an important one for George, who served as both writer and director on the project, with him stating in his acceptance speech:

Our little film was inspired by the people of Northern Ireland, Protestant and Catholic, who, after 30 years of war, sat down, negotiated a peace, and proved to the world that the Irish are great talkers. I want to dedicate this to them.

George accepted the award with his co-producer – and daughter – Oorlagh, showing how much this film was a family affair. George shot the majority of The Shore in Killough, a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland, where many of the George family still reside and where George will be making a triumphant return later this week.

The film’s Academy Award success could not have been predicted when it made its initial premiere last April at the Belfast Film Festival, however, since then it has gone on to secure both an international distribution deal and cinema run, a television airing in the UK, and has even been made available for purchase on iTunes for just £1.49.

The success of the film will potentially result in a boom in tourism, but the main hope is that it will lead to an increase in activity for Northern Ireland’s film and television industry. Already this year, American cable dramas Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy have shot on location in the country, while the BBC’s upcoming crime drama The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson, has been confirmed to be shooting a significant part of its five-episode order in Belfast in the coming weeks.

All of this would have deemed unimaginable just a decade or so ago, when Northern Ireland was still in the throes of The Troubles. Yet, political advancements in the peace process and George’s own admitted fatigue with the ‘Hollywood’ way of making films all led to The Shore being made possible, and to a potential revision to the outside view of 21st century life in Northern Ireland.

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From the outset, one of the keys to the popularity of the character of Puss in Boots was the voice that came out of the outlaw hero: Antonio Banderas.

Director Chris Miller: “Puss in Boots is played by Antonio Banderas, or is Antonio Banderas played by Puss in Boots? I don’t know, sometimes it’s hard to tell the two of them apart. But one thing’s for sure, one could not exist without the other, because Antonio brings such passion to the role.

This tiny little creature should have, you would think, a squeaky voice — but out of his mouth comes this deep sound. There some real humor created in the juxtaposition of the two. Here’s this great actor with a massive voice, and he’s voicing this cute, furry animal. What I love about Antonio’s performance is when he takes himself the most seriously, and Puss is doing something truer to his nature, like chasing a point of light.”

Joe Aguilar comments, “I think the attraction to the character starts with Antonio. His performance is fun, charismatic, full of machismo, mystery and adventure. And then, you look at the cat, and then you hear that deep sound coming out of his mouth — you start cracking up and you want to know more.” Banderas himself says, “He’s such a great character. There are so many different colors that we’ve been discovering since I started giving him my voice in 2002.

He’s romantic and he’s an epic hero. He’s got a great heart. He’s got a sense of honor and loyalty — along with a little bit of something mischievous that I think just adds an edge that is interesting. The kids love that, too, that side of him. But when he started in the Shrek movies, we really didn’t know much about him. He was and still is a bit mysterious. For me, actually, the character is a dichotomy and that’s what makes him funny.”

Waxing somewhat philosophic, the actor looks at the larger things that the tiny cat stands for: “You know for me, Puss is not just a cat. It’s an honor and a privilege, in the very difficult times that we are living in, to have the capacity and the opportunity to make people laugh, all around the world. It’s a gift. For almost 10 years now, even from the beginning, Puss started having his own space, if you will, in the American pop culture and then, in the world.

I have seen the effects that the cat produces in other countries, too. Because I am from Spain, I have also the opportunity to do the character for a wider range of people, around 800 million people more, because I do the character in two versions of Spanish — one version goes to South and Central America, with its special idioms that they use for humor, and then I do a Castilian version for Spain.”

The performer shares a number of skills with his onscreen counterpart: Banderas can wield a sword (a skill he learned while portraying Zorro in two films), can hold his own on the dance floor (something he demonstrated on Broadway, as well as in movies), and he has more than proved himself able to portray the archetypal ‘Latin lover’ (in film after film after film): “I am taller, to be certain, but in many ways, Puss in Boots and I are very much alike.”

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With her nomination for The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep extended her record for having the most Academy Award nominations by any single actor. Her portrayal of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher earned her a place on the shortlist for the 17th time. However, Streep has won an Oscar on only two occasions, and her last victory took place 30 years ago at the 55th Academy Awards, when she was named Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice.

In fact, out of 79 major industry nominations (14 from BAFTA, 3 from the Emmys, 26 from the Hollywood Foreign Press, 5 from the Grammys, 13 from the Screen Actors Guild, 1 from the Tonys, and the aforementioned 17 from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences), Streep has managed to take home just 16 of those titles since her first Tony nomination in 1976. Considering her status as “the most critically acclaimed actress of the modern era,” this tally seems somewhat surprising.

Yet, 2012 could prove to be the year that Streep breaks her three-decade run of Oscar losses. Already this awards season, she has been the recipient of a Golden Globe, the Berlin International Film Festival’s Homage and Honorary Golden Bear, and – most notably – her first BAFTA in 31 years.

Streep’s one significant loss so far for The Iron Lady has been at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which took place on January 29 and saw her lose to Viola Davis, who won for The Help. Davis is likely to be Streep’s main competitor at the Academy Awards, in a category which also includes Glenn Close, Rooney Mara, and Michelle Williams, who cannot be counted out after her win for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at this year’s Golden Globes.

Still, it appears all but certain that the Academy Award’s Best Actress title will be a two-horse race between Davis and Streep. Counting in Streep’s favour is the fact that she both defeated Davis at the BAFTAs and broke her own 31-year gap between BAFTA wins, last winning in 1981 for The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

Counting against Streep is the fact that she was awarded by British voters for her role as a well-known British figure in a film shot entirely in Britain. The same acknowledgement by American voters cannot be counted upon after The Iron Lady failed to be nominated at the Academy Awards for any other category except Best Makeup.

The Help, meanwhile, is in the running for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress, with two nominations alone in the latter category. Also counting against Streep’s favour is the fact that the Screen Actors Guild Award, which Davis won, has proven to be the most indicative of who will be triumphant at the Academy Awards.

Taking the last decade as an example, here are a list of women who won the Screen Actors Guild Award and went on to win the Academy Award that same year:

• Natalie Portman (2010).
• Sandra Bullock (2009).
• Helen Mirren (2006).
• Reese Witherspoon (2005).
• Hilary Swank (2004).
• Charlize Theron (2003).

Streep, therefore, cannot count out Davis just yet, but she is certainly going into this year’s Oscar race with her strongest case for success in many years.

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The time is drawing ever closer to the big night in Hollywood, where American cinema’s finest come together to celebrate the past year’s cinematic achievements. Of the big categories, the run for the glory is in the Actress in a Leading Role. This year, it reflects an excellent variety of characters and experience. Here are the predictions.

Glenn Close for ‘Albert Nobbs’

For some, the nomination of veteran Glenn Close was a shocker; many saw Tilda Swinton as the rather sure nominee in the run-up to the nomination call. However, others had already acknowledged that the 64-year-old actress’ turn as a woman in disguise in 19th century Ireland could not be overlooked, and despite the movie’s low performance at the box office and general lack of reaction within the industry, she managed to secure a seat in the race; even if it’s a no-win seat.

Viola Davis for ‘The Help’

Through her performance as Aibileen Clark in the movie adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestseller The Help, Davis, age 46, has already garnered a great amount of acclaim, and despite another nominee’s impressive record of 17 Academy Award nominations, including two wins, Davis has the opportunity to be the second African American actress to take home the honor of Best Actress – a temptation the Academy will have a hard time overlooking.

This is not to say that the award would not have been earned; Davis has proved her worth outstandingly by taking home the SAG Award and the Critics’ Choice of 2011, and though honoring Davis for portraying a black maid “sends all kinds of regressive messages,” according to Slantmagazine.com, we also agree that it is the type of performance where no doubt can be sown – considering that she is only one of nine other African Americans to ever be nominated in the Academy’s 84th stretch. The time is just right for Davis.

Rooney Mara for ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’

Tilda Swinton fans were (also) thoroughly sore when 26-year-old newcomer Rooney Mara received the Academy’s blessing over the seasoned Swinton. Considered the outsider, Mara delivered an enigmatic performance as the title character in the American version of the first book in the Swedish Millennium series. The anti-social, troubled, but intuitive Lisbeth Salander was a tough job to follow after the book’s fan base connected with Swedish Noomi Rapace’s depiction. But to many’s delight, Mara rose to the occasion, receiving universal appraisal.

Whether she will win the trophy this coming Sunday or not — chances are slim. As much as the nomination is deserved, she is up against giants, and should instead kick back on the evening and enjoy her promising future.

Meryl Streep for ‘The Iron Lady’

The only true challenger to Viola Davis is the Oscar regular Meryl Streep. Regarded as one of the most talented and respected actresses of her time, Streep has been nominated five times in the last ten years, including this year’s mesmerizing turn as the former Prime Minister of the UK. But she has also walked away empty handed since 1983 – that’s 14 times the loser!

Even though 62-year-old Streep is an impressive woman, she is up against serious competition in Davis and the two of them are looking at a 50/50 shot. Whether she managed to push her stellar performance past the movie’s mixed reviews, we will only know on award night.

Michelle Williams for ‘My Week With Marylin’

Who could have predicted that one of the cast members of teen drama Dawson’s Creek would wind up one of contemporary cinema’s most revered talents? At age 31 and with three Oscar nominations under her belt so far, Williams is one of the darlings of this year’s nomination list; ahead of Close and Mara in the polls, but behind Davies and Streep.

In her portrayal of the screen siren, Williams managed to capture the sexy yet lonely air of Monroe, at a time in her life when she was newly wed and at the height of her career, yet desperate for intimacy and suffering a love/hate relationship with her iconic status. Still, Williams would be a shocking win, and for once, it looks like the young must step aside for the older generation.

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Documentary Channel (DOC) is proud to announce the acquisition of 2012 Academy Award nominee ”Incident in New Baghdad.”  A film by James Spione, ”Incident in New Baghdad” is an eye-opening look into the WikiLeaks video that rattled the world as recounted by a United States soldier who was there. The film will premiere on Documentary Channel Sunday, May 27th at 8p ET/PT.

This compelling documentary shines a spotlight on one of the most notorious incidents of the Iraq War – the July 2007 slaying of two Reuters journalists and a number of other civilians (some armed, many not) by U.S. attack helicopters – through the powerful testimony of an American infantryman whose life was forever changed by his experiences on the scene.

U.S. Army Specialist Ethan McCord bore witness to the devastating carnage, found and rescued two children caught in the crossfire, and soon turned against the war that he had enthusiastically joined only months before.  In April 2010, WikiLeaks released the stunning cockpit video of the incident, spurring McCord into speaking out about his role that day.  In”Incident in New Baghdad” the former soldier tells his story.

“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of this impactful Academy Award-nominated film,” said James Ackerman, President and CEO of Documentary Channel.  “Documentary film is a powerful medium that offers a window into some of the most important stories of our time.  Jim Spione and Ethan McCordhave courageously shed light on an astonishing event.  We congratulate Jim on this phenomenal nomination and are honored to bring ”Incident in New Baghdad” to our channel.”

“I am so pleased to be partnering with the Documentary Channel in bringing this story to the wide American audience it deserves,” said Mr. Spione.  “The on-the-ground reality of our wars is too often kept hidden from us—so I applaud the Documentary Channel’s courage in bringing Ethan McCord’s story to center stage.”

The 2012 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject will be presented on Sunday, February 26. ”Incident in New Baghdad” comes to Documentary Channel May 27th, 2012 at 8p ET/PT.

Documentary Channel is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267).

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Producer credits for 84th Academy Awards Best Picture nominee “The Tree of Life” have been determined by the Producers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The official nominees for the film are Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill.

Academy rules allow for no more than three producers to be nominated and to potentially receive Oscar statuettes. The executive committee called a meeting to determine if “The Tree of Life” represented a “rare and extraordinary circumstance,” as described by the rules, and if any additional producer would be eligible. The committee determined that Green, Pohlad, Gardner and Hill functioned as genuine producers of the film and would be cited in the nomination.

Producers for the eight other motion pictures nominated in the Best Picture category – “The Artist,” “The Descendants,” “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” “The Help,” “Hugo,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Moneyball” and “War Horse” – were announced on January 24 and remain unchanged.

In other Oscar ceremony news, the six actresses – Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig – from the hit comedy “Bridesmaids” will be presenters at the 84th Academy Awards, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced recently.

McCarthy received her first Oscar nomination this year for her supporting role in the film, and Wiig also became a first-time nominee for the film’s original screenplay.  All six will be making their first Oscar show appearances.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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The Lionsgate family of companies earned six Academy Award nominations from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences as Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’ earned a Best Actor nomination for Demian Bichir, Lionsgate’s ‘Warrior’ earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Nick Nolte, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Margin Call’ earned a Best Original Screenplay nomination, and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Albert Nobbs’ received three nominations for Glenn Close as Best Actress, Janet McTeer for Best Supporting Actress, and an Oscar nod for Best Makeup.

Legendary actor, Nick Nolte, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his heart wrenching performance in ‘Warrior’, the inspirational action/drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (‘Miracle’). The film also stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as brothers facing the fight of a lifetime.

Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’, from filmmaker Chris Weitz, received a nomination for Best Actor for Demian Bichir. The film is a poignant, multi-generational story about a father’s love and everything a parent will sacrifice to build a better life for his child.

‘Margin Call’ is a Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions film that was released in theaters with its VOD premiere. The taut financial industry thriller, which stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, and Zachary Quinto, struck a resonant chord in the popular zeitgeist and is considered a game-changer in the world of release strategies after its success in each of its release formats. Writer-director, J.C. Chandor, was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for his film.

“We are thrilled that the Academy has acknowledged these four incredible films within the Lionsgate family,” said Co-Chairs of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, adding, “Congratulations to the filmmakers.  We are incredibly proud of the respective teams at Lionsgate, Summit, and Roadside who made this happen.”

Glenn Close received a Best Actress nod for her performance as the titular character in ‘Albert Nobbs’, a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19^th-century Ireland.  Janet McTeer was also acknowledged for her performance in the Best Supporting Actress category, with the film’s makeup also receiving a nomination.

“We couldn’t be prouder of ‘Albert Nobbs’ or happier that it was recognized by the Academy with its three well-deserved honors,” said Roadside Attractions co-presidents, Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, continuing, “We were thrilled to collaborate with Lionsgate on the timely ‘Margin Call’, which clearly resonated with Academy voters like it did with theatrical and VOD audiences.”

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Nine films will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 84th Academy Awards. Sixty-three films had originally qualified in the category.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

• Belgium, “Bullhead,” Michael R. Roskam, director;
• Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar,” Philippe Falardeau, director;
• Denmark, “Superclásico,” Ole Christian Madsen, director;
• Germany, “Pina,” Wim Wenders, director;
• Iran, “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi, director;
• Israel, “Footnote,” Joseph Cedar, director;
• Morocco, “Omar Killed Me,” Roschdy Zem, director;
• Poland, “In Darkness,” Agnieszka Holland, director;
• Taiwan, “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” Wei Te-sheng, director.

Foreign Language Film nominations for 2011 are again being determined in two phases.

The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 63 eligible films between mid-October and January 13. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.

The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles. They will spend Friday, January 20, through Sunday, January 22, viewing three films each day and then casting their ballots.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Oscar.com, the official online home of the 84th Academy Awards, is launching its award-winning Oscar Digital Experience today with a first look at Billy Crystal’s return to Oscar’s stage. One of America’s most beloved funny men, Billy starts the official countdown to the show talking about what the Oscars mean to him and setting the stage for weeks of extensive coverage on Oscar.com.

The site kicks off with an interactive timeline and Oscar’s official Blog, which will feature daily content including red carpet fashion trends from stylists and tips from master chefs and lifestyle experts on hosting the best Oscar viewing party. Oscar Buzz, the site’s social media page, will track real-time comments from fans using #Oscars and #OscarBuzz.

On Oscar Sunday, February 26, Oscar.com will have live cameras strategically placed everywhere from the red carpet to backstage, and even the Governors Ball, providing the ultimate insiders view before, during and after the show. The cameras will broadcast online, as well as on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

“Last year our team set the bar high in terms of interactive second screen experiences,” said Karin Gilford, senior vice president Digital Media, ABC.com. ”This year we are taking the best of what we learned and are building on it. Beginning today we’ll take visitors on an unparalleled journey all the way through Oscar Sunday.”

“Oscar.com is for the movie fan in all of us,” said Christina Kounelias, chief marketing officer, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ”The site not only allows us to share the latest Oscar news, but also connects fans everywhere with 84 years of unforgettable Academy moments.”

Straight from the Academy’s photo and video archives, Oscar.com presents “Oscar History,” an interactive timeline that includes:

• Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American to win the Oscar for Best Actor for Lilies Of The Field.
• Elizabeth Taylor with her Oscar for Best Actress in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
• Muhammad Ali surprises Sylvester Stallone with an onstage sparring session the night Rocky wins Best Picture.
• Tom Hanks takes home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Philadelphia.
• Matt Damon and Ben Affleck charm audiences the night they win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay forGood Will Hunting.
• Hobbits, Hobbits Everywhere. Peter Jackson is accompanied on stage by cast and crew members of The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King when he accepts the Academy Award for Best Picture.

On Nominations morning, January 24, Oscar.com welcomes back Internet personality Shira Lazar who will kick off the first video installment of “Oscar Buzz” by covering reactions from the social media world. “My Oscar Picks” will also go live. This interactive play-along game offers fans a chance to test their Oscar prediction skills. On Oscar Sunday, users will have the opportunity to play along during the telecast and predict category winners ahead of the opening of the envelopes.

On January 29, “Oscar Buzz” kicks off “Oscar Talks,” a four-part video series focusing on the Actor, Actress, Directing and Best Pictures categories.

Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger returns on February 1 to Oscar.com with “Nominated…with Dave Karger.” The 10-episode series will provide the ultimate film buff’s analysis of the Best Picture race.

It’s all glamour and glitz beginning February 11. “Best Dressed” launches with Rachel Smith, host of On The Red Carpet, doing interviews with stylists, makeup artists and hair stylists, as well as covering live events, and of course, offering post show analysis of Oscar Night fashion.

The 84th Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

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Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately-owned spirits company, declared recently that 2012 will be its most innovative year since the creation of BACARDI rum in 1862.

Throughout the year, Bacardi will host one-of-a-kind birthday parties, launch special promotions featuring 100 years of ground-breaking advertising, introduce a  $2,000 limited-edition decanter of rare BACARDI rum, offer travel retail exclusives and commemorative gifts, and much more for consumers to come together and share in the excitement.

“The passion and entrepreneurial spirit shown by my great-great grandfather in  Santiago de Cuba a century and a half ago gave birth to exceptional rum that would change the spirits industry forever,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, Bacardi Limited Chairman and fifth-generation Bacardi family member.

“These qualities remain key to our phenomenal success and position today as the world’s favorite and most awarded rum brand, with more than 400 awards to date.” Bacardi was founded in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, when Don Facundo Bacardi Massopurchased a small distillery.

After years of experimenting, Bacardi revolutionized the spirits industry by adding steps never before used in rum-making. He selected high quality blackstrap sugarcane molasses, isolated a special strain of yeast (still used today), filtered, mellowed his rums in American white oak barrels, and then blended them to create the perfect taste.

The smooth, light-bodied spirit he created, as opposed to the harsh “fire water” of the time, was BACARDI – the world’s first premium rum and the first mixable rum – helping usher in a cocktail culture that thrives today. The artful Maestros de Ron (Master Blenders) continue to follow the same exacting standards set forth by Don Facundo. “For the past 150 years, Bacardi—as a family, Company and brand—has brought people together through legendary parties and great-tasting cocktails.

Visit any bar, club or restaurant almost anywhere in the world, and the impact Bacardi has made on the spirits industry is crystal-clear,” said Seamus McBride, Bacardi Limited President and Chief Executive Officer.

“It’s incredible to see how a one-brand company founded 150 years ago has grown into the third-largest spirits company in the world with an enviable portfolio of iconic spirits including GREY GOOSE vodka, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky, MARTINI vermouth, ERISTOFF vodka and CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila.”

Parties, Parties, Parties! BACARDI 150th birthday parties around the world will feature award-winning musical talent, top celebrities and other movers and shakers who, alongside consumers, will wish BACARDI happy birthday. Germany hosts the first BACARDI 150th party on  January 28, followed by Canada starting February 1, and the United States, Europe,  Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East  starting February 4.

On February 4, Rolling Stone magazine will honor BACARDI in Indianapolis the day before “the big game,” the most anticipated American football game in the U.S., with a “super” birthday party. In addition, Bacardi is thrilled to be partnering with celebrities and trendsetters in cities around the world who will throw their own events to wish BACARDI rum happy birthday.

Guests will celebrate with legendary BACARDI rum cocktails, some created more than 100 years ago, that continue to be among the most popular cocktails in the world – including the Original BACARDI Cuba Libre, the world’s favorite cocktail with more than six million enjoyed every day; the Original BACARDI Daiquiri; the Authentic BACARDI Mojito; and the BACARDI Pina Colada. Since its creation, BACARDI rum has been enjoyed in more than 365 billion cocktails.

That means every second of every day more than 200 BACARDI cocktails are being served and enjoyed around the world! Consumer Promotions By visiting the BACARDI Facebook page, with more than two million fans, consumers of legal drinking age in select markets can vie for BACARDI 150th birthday party tickets and BACARDI party kits filled with all ingredients to host their own unforgettable gathering.

In select markets, consumers will also be able to win or purchase commemorative BACARDI glassware, specialty packs and apparel featuring vintage brand advertisements and/or designs by artists of Cuban heritage. Limited-Edition Product To honor 150 years of Bacardi rum-making expertise and craftsmanship, eight Maestros de Ron, all Bacardi family members, have combined their extraordinary talents to create a very special, limited-edition BACARDI rum — Ron BACARDI de Maestros de Ron, Vintage, MMXII.

A blend of the finest rums laid to rest in oak barrels over the last 20 years and finished in 60-year old Cognac barrels, the vintage blend is presented in a hand-blown 500ml crystal decanter housed in a leather case and retails for US$2,000. Truly limited, only 400 decanters are available for purchase at select international airports and premium retail establishments around the world. Additional Bacardi 150th activities include:

• Airport Displays: At San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, a unique display of ten-foot-tall 3-D BACARDI bats will take up residence in February. Puerto Rico is home to the largest BACARDI rum distillery. BACARDI 150th exhibitions will also be featured at Miami International Airport and other select international airports.
• Birthday Cruise: Celebrity Cruises will mark the occasion with a February 4 party aboard the Celebrity Summit as it departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Global Cocktail Competition: BACARDI will shake things up this year with a special edition of its Legacy Cocktail Competition, drawing mixologists from more than 25 countries to the finals in Puerto Rico on February 20.
• Corporate Responsibility: In the proud and long-standing Bacardi tradition of giving back, nearly 6,000 employees will engage for an entire month in corporate responsibility and philanthropic activities.  Bacardi also looks to the future with a sustainability initiative that raises the standard for the production and sale of premium spirits.
• National Geographic Channel’s “Ultimate Factories”: On February 11 at 8pm ET, “Ultimate Factories” will take U.S. viewers to the home of BACARDI rum in Puerto Rico to show how family tradition and technology meet. The program is slated to air internationally in the “Megafactories” series beginning in March, so be sure to check local television listings for times.
• Canada – Mar. 17
• Italy – Mar. 18
• Australia & New Zealand – Mar. 27
• UK & Latin America – Mar. 29
• Southeast Asia – Apr. 5
• Spain & Portugal – May 28
• Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Finland & Benelux – May 31
• Turkey – June 1
• Russia, Baltics, France, Romania & Greece – June 5
• Germany – June 21

The article Bacardi Parties Hard to Celebrate 150th Anniversary in 2012 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Eddie Murphy, who was announced as the official presenter of the Oscar in 2012, resigned his position on Wednesday November 9th. Murphy left one day after Brett Ratner, a producer for the awards show, quit after using offensive terms in a press conference for his latest  comedy, Tower Heist, which also features Eddie Murphy.

In a press release on Wednesday, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Tom Sherak, released an understanding and charismatic statement about Murphy’s departure by saying: “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well.”

Murphy also justified his actions and publicly stated that: “First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,.”

“I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job,” Eddie added.

The problem first occurred during a session of questions and answers in the press conference of Ratner’s new movie. When the producer was asked about rehearsal sessions, he replied: “rehearsing is for fags,” the L.A. Times reported.

As if that were not enough, in one of his previous appearances, Ratner had the audacity to report having sexual intercourse with the model Olivia Munn. Although he later apologized and confessed to have lied, the statement hit the public causing a polemic shock.

Ratner publicly apologized for his actions and word choices, but groups of gay rights advocates and a few members of the Academy that are also responsible for organizing the Oscars, found his usage of the expression “fag’’ inexcusable.

The producer gave his letter of resignation on the morning of Tuesday. Academy President Tom Sherak accepted Ratner’s letter of resignation and further added: “He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself’. Billy Crystal has officially been selected to substitute Eddy Murphy and will host the 2012 Oscars.

Crystal, who has hosted the award eighth times tweeted, “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show,” Brian Grazer was chosen to replace Brett Ratner and to be the official producer of the ceremony.

The 84th annual Academy Awards ceremony will be held on February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The article Oscar 2012: Out with the Eddie and In with the Billy appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.