Dustin Lance Black News

The Independent Film 2009 Spirit Awards were given out last night Saturday, February 21 in Los Angeles and The Wrestler was a big winner, nabbing Best Film and Best Actor for star Mickey Rourke. Other acting awards went to Melissa Leo for Best Actress for Frozen River, James Franco won best supporting actor for Milk, while Penelope Cruz snagged a best supporting win for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody Allen earned a Best Screenplay award for the film as well.

The Independent Film 2009 Spirit Awards were given out last night Saturday, February 21 in Los Angeles and The Wrestler was a big winner, nabbing Best Film and Best Actor for star Mickey Rourke.

Commemorating both a memorable movie moment and an inspiring real-life triumph, one of the shirt/suit/tie ensembles worn by Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Focus Features' Milk will be auctioned off to benefit both Variety - The Children's Charity of Southern California and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York City. The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation will host the online auction of costume designer Danny Glicker's specially created ensemble as seen in Gus Van Sant's Milk, which is nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Costume Design. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

The full list of winners for the British Academy of Film and Television arts were given out in London on February 8, 2009.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2009 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, and videogame writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.

Commemorating both a memorable movie moment and an inspiring real-life triumph, one of the shirt/suit/tie ensembles worn by Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Focus Features' Milk will be auctioned off to benefit both Variety - The Children's Charity of Southern California and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York City. The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation will host the online auction of costume designer Danny Glicker's specially created ensemble as seen in Gus Van Sant's Milk, which is nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Costume Design. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, 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 200 countries worldwide.

The full list of nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television arts was announced this morning. FROST/NIXON received 6 nominations and DOUBT 3 amongst other theatre-related nominees. The awards will be given out on February 8, 2009 in London.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the winners of the 14th annual Critics' Choice Awards at a star-studded ceremony earlier this evening at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and which aired live on VH1.

LA Times The Envelope reports that Woody Allen has received his 19th screenplay nomination from the Writers Guild of America Wednesday for his romantic comedy ' Vicky Cristina Barcelona.Allen, 73, has previously won the WGA award for original screenplay for 'Annie Hall,' 'Broadway Danny Rose,' 'Hannah and Her Sisters' and 'Crimes & Misdemeanors.'

Universal Pictures recorded its biggest year ever for the second year in a row with global theatrical grosses totaling $2.834 billion for 2008. Universal's domestic box-office tally of $1.12 billion outpaced the record it previously set in 2007, which was $1.099 billion.

'Milk' and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' were both nominated for eight Critics Choice Awards. Both were among the 10 films nominated for best picture. 'Milk,' was also nominated for lead actor Sean Penn, supporting co-stars James Franco and James Brolin and director Gus Van Sant. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' which opens Christmas Day, has Brad Pitt nominated for best actor, supporting nominations for Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson.

The International Press Academy has announced the nominees for the 13th Annual Satellite Awards. The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The awards, given by the Intl. Press Academy, will take place Dec. 14 at Century City's InterContinental Hotel.

Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant's Milk, starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn as gay rights icon Harvey Milk, had its Hollywood premiere at the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences building in Beverly Hills, California.

Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant's Milk, starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn as gay rights icon Harvey Milk, had its world premiere at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre (at 429 Castro Street) tonight. The evening benefited multiple charities supporting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth. Dinner and dancing followed at City Hall.