Helen Mirren’s Stage Turn as the Queen Set For Broadcast to Cinemas
The production starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, titled The Audience, will have a worldwide audience June 13. The anticipated West End stage play centers on a series of the Queen’s weekly meetings with various prime ministers that have served her during her reign, including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron. 2006’s The Queen, directed by Stephen Frears and written by Peter Morgan opened the 2006 New York Film Festival. Morgan wrote the latest play, The Guardian reports.
Nelson Mandela Biopic Heads to Theaters
The film version of his autobiography, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom will head to theaters in North America, Australia and New Zealand courtesy of the The Weinstein Company. Producer Anant Singh began conversations with Mandela about a film based on his autobiography while he was still in prison and acquired the film rights to Mandela’s book at the time of its publication in 1996. Directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) the film was shot in South Africa starting in May of last year and continuing through mid-September. A theatrical release date is still pending.
Martin Scorsese To Honor Darren Aronofsky at Inaugural Festival
Scorsese will present the first John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema nod to Darren Aronofsky at the inaugural First Time Fest, taking place March 1 – 4 in New York City. Twelve films from first time filmmakers will screen at the festival, taking place at The Players Club in New York City. Opening night will feature Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides and Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse with both directors in attendance.
Full Frame Becomes Oscar Qualifier
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected Full Frame Documentary Film Festival as a qualifying festival in the Documentary Short Subject category. The winner of this year’s jury award for best documentary short at Full Frame, taking place April 4 – 7, will qualify for Oscar consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category.
Colin Farrell Receives Irish Honors
The Seven Psychopaths star received accolades from the Irish-American community in Los Angeles, receiving an Oscar Wilde award along with Lionsgate exec Michael Burns and make-up artist Michele Burke. Accepting his award, Farrell thanked his parents “who are rumored to have genetically made me Irish” and to the U.S. for the opportunities that it has given him. The Oscar Wilde awards are hosted by the non-profit U.S.-Ireland Alliance, BBC reports.
