Steve James News

The third annual Celebrate Sundance Institute Los Angeles Benefit, celebrating artistry and visionary leadership in independent film. This year, the benefit will honor the life and work of beloved journalist and film critic Roger Ebert with the Vanguard Leadership Award in Memoriam, in recognition of his advocacy of independent cinema. The award will be presented by Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford and accepted by Ebert's wife, Chaz Ebert. Kerry Washington will present Ryan Coogler with the Vanguard Award, Presented by Tiffany & Co. Coogler is a director and alum of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station, was selected for Sundance Institute's Screenwriters Lab and went on to win both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

The third annual Celebrate Sundance Institute Los Angeles Benefit, celebrating artistry and visionary leadership in independent film. This year, the benefit will honor the life and work of beloved journalist and film critic Roger Ebert with the Vanguard Leadership Award in Memoriam, in recognition of his advocacy of independent cinema. The award will be presented by Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford and accepted by Ebert's wife, Chaz Ebert. Kerry Washington will present Ryan Coogler with the Vanguard Award, Presented by Tiffany & Co. Coogler is a director and alum of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station, was selected for Sundance Institute's Screenwriters Lab and went on to win both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Sundance Institute today announced filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) will be honored with theVanguard Award, presented by Tiffany & Co. Actress Kerry Washington will present the award to Coogler at the third annual 'Celebrate Sundance Institute' benefit on June 5, 2013 in Los Angeles. As previously announced, the benefit will also honor the life and work of beloved journalist and film critic Roger Ebert with the Vanguard Leadership Award in Memoriam, in recognition of his advocacy of independent cinema. The award will be presented by Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford and accepted by Ebert's wife, Chaz Ebert.

Musical Theatre West presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, which opened last night, February 16, and continues through March 3, 2013. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent. BroadwayWorld's Lily Lim was at the opening and brings you photos from the event below!

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, has announced the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West, is proud to announce the cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, previewing February 15, opening February 16 at 8pm, and continuing through March 3. Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera, Ovation Award winner for Musical Theatre West's Man of La Mancha) makes his Los Angeles-area directorial debut with this production. As with all Musical Theatre West productions, OKLAHOMA! is locally-produced in Long Beach with professional actors from Broadway, national tours, film and television, including the best in local talent.

GE and CINELAN today announced that viewing and voting for its $200,000 FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition is open (http://vimeo.com/focusforwardfilms/competition), with 95 semifinalists in the running for Audience Favorite. Five cash prizes, including the Grand Jury Prize of $100,000, will be awarded at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival by a jury that includes Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost), actress Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill), Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA), Sundance Film Festival Senior Programmer Caroline Libresco, José Padilha (Elite Squad), producer Floyd Webb (Daughters of the Dust), and Peter Wintonick (Manufacturing Consent). The finalists for the cash prizes will be announced and featured on the FOCUS FORWARD website (http://focusforwardfilms.com) on Wednesday, November 28.

The Sarasota Film Society (SFS) has announced the schedule of films for its 23rd Annual Cine-World Film Festival. SFS is continuing its tradition of exhibiting the best in world cinema with a wide range of quality films from all over the globe, including movies from the USA, Israel, Germany, Australia, South Korea, France, the United Kingdom, Chile, Brazil, and more.

From acclaimed director Steve James (Academy Award-nominated 'Hoop Dreams,' 'The Interrupters'), HEAD GAMES is a revealing documentary about the silent concussion crisis in American sports. Athletes from the professional to the youth levels share their personal struggles in dealing with the devastating and long-term effects of concussions, an epidemic fueled by the 'leave everything on the field' culture so prominent in American sport.

From acclaimed director Steve James (Academy Award-nominated 'Hoop Dreams,' 'The Interrupters'), HEAD GAMES is a revealing documentary about the silent concussion crisis in American sports. Athletes from the professional to the youth levels share their personal struggles in dealing with the devastating and long-term effects of concussions, an epidemic fueled by the 'leave everything on the field' culture so prominent in American sport.

Award-winning filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) tackles the hot-button issue of concussions in sports in a provocatice documentary, HEAD GAMES. The film has just released a new poster. Check it out below!

The Film Society of Lincoln Center's year-long countdown to the New York Film Festival's historic 50th edition continues this spring, offering the rare opportunity to view several undisputed classics of the big screen, many of which were introduced to the world at NYFF. These include breakthrough films from the 1990s by Zhang Yimou, Gus Van Sant, Jane Campion and more. A special appearance will be made by director/editor Steve James at the Hoop Dreams screening on Tuesday, June 5.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, held its annual honors yesterday, February 25, in Santa Monica. Hosted by Seth Rogan, the awards ceremony premiered later that night at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC.

The National Society of Film Critics on Saturday, January 7th, 2012, chose "Melancholia" as Best Picture of the Year 2011. Kristin Dunst was named best actress for her performance in Lars von Trier's film, and Brad Pitt was named best actor for his work in "Moneyball" and "The Tree of Life." Albert Brooks won best supporting actor for his appearance in "Drive," and Jessica Chastain was named best supporting actress for her work in three films: "The Tree of Life," "Take Shelter" and "The Help."

PBS announced today an expansive slate of programs profiling the rich history, culture and contributions of African-Americans. The programs air as part of PBS' celebration of Black History Month, February 2012.

A groundbreaking assemblage artist from Los Angeles, a photographer of rural Appalachia, and a documentary filmmaker from Chicago are among the 52 outstanding artists to receive 50 USA Fellowships from United States Artists (USA), the national grant-making and advocacy organization, which today awarded them unrestricted grants of $50,000 each. Since 2006, the USA Fellows program has named a total of 317 Fellows from 42 states, providing a total of $15 million directly into the hands of America's finest artists.

The 2012 Film Independent Spirit Award nominees have been announced, and the complete list is as follows:

The 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees have just been announced. Check out the full list below:

Mark Bazer is bringing 'The Interview Show' back to Union Hall in Brooklyn on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 8 p.m. (doors open 7:30 p.m.).