Beverly Hills, CA – Oscar-winning writer David Seidler will deliver the keynote address at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 26th annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting presentation on Thursday, November 3, at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.
Seidler became a first-time Academy Award® nominee and winner with his original screenplay for the 2010 Best Picture winner THE KING’S SPEECH. He is currently working on THE LADY WHO WENT TOO FAR and GAMES OF 1940. The Academy annually awards up to five Nicholl fellowships of $30,000 each.
This year’s recipients are:
Chris Bessounian & Tianna Langham, Los Angeles, Calif., “Guns and Saris”
Dion Cook, Altus, Okla., “Cutter”
John MacInnes, Los Angeles, Calif., “Outside the Wire”
Matthew Murphy, Culver City, Calif., “Unicorn”
Abel Vang & Burlee Vang, Fresno, Calif., “The Tiger’s Child”
Including this year’s winners, 123 fellowships have been awarded since the program’s inception in 1985. Fellowship recipients are each expected to complete a feature-length screenplay during their fellowship year. The Academy acquires no rights to the works of the Nicholl fellows and does not involve itself commercially in any way with their completed scripts.
Academy Award® Best Picture Winner THE KING’S SPEECH Is Now The Family Event Of The Year
The Weinstein Company Implements Youth Education Initiative
As THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 Is Now In Theaters Nationwide
New York, NY, April 2011 – Geoffrey Canada endorses THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13, which opened nationwide this past weekend. Canada, president of Harlem Children’s Zone, went on record at the time of the MPAA hearing for Academy Award® Best Picture winner THE KING’S SPEECH, in support of making the film accessible to a broader and younger audience. Last week he spoke out about the benefits of the new release of the film. Canada, is the first major educator to publicly support THE KING’S SPEECH.
Canada said: “I feel that if young people can see the King of England struggle and ultimately overcome his personal challenges, it will help open them up to the rewards of hard work and persistence. I believe the film’s uplifting message and teachable moments far outweigh its minor use of vulgarities.”
The Weinstein Company (TWC) released THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13, the family-friendly version of its Academy Award-winning historical drama about King George VI, on 1,000 screens nationwide on April 1st. It’s the only version available in theatres.
In conjunction with the film’s release, TWC has collaborated with Young Minds Inspired (YMI) to provide a free education program for parents and educators. The program is designed to challenge students to examine the influences in their lives and encourage critical thinking using primary sources, in order to strengthen communication skills.
Canada added: “I know firsthand that the arts can teach children lasting lessons about life and have an immensely positive influence on how they develop into adults.”
Academy Award® winning director Tom Hooper responded: “The film tells a story that touches on so many issues related to childhood. There has already been an overwhelming response from children in the UK, who have positively connected to King George VI’s courageous and inspiring story. We are all very grateful to now have the opportunity to bring THE KING’S SPEECH to a family audience in the US.”
One of the year’s most celebrated, successful and beloved films, THE KING’S SPEECH was honored at the 83rd Academy Awards® with Oscars® for Best Picture, producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin; Best Director, helmer Tom Hooper; Best Actor, Colin Firth; and Best Original Screenplay, David Seidler.
To learn more about THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 education initiative go to: www.kingsspeech.com
ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, most recently Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; Derek Cianfrance’s Academy Award®-nominated BLUE VALENTINE; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut, THE COMPANY MEN. Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE;I’M NOT THERE;THE GREAT DEBATERS;VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA;THE READER;THE ROAD;HALLOWEEN;THE PAT TILLMAN STORY;PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; and 2011 Golden Globe® Best Foreign Language Film nominee THE CONCERT. Upcoming releases include MIRAL, SPY KIDS 4, SCREAM 4, APOLLO 18, DIRTY GIRL, SUBMARINE, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, THE DETAILS, CORIOLANUS, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and SO UNDERCOVER. Recently wrapping is I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. Currently in production is COGAN’S TRADE.
TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® Award-winning hit reality series “Project Runway,” and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.” The company is producing two “Project Runway” spinoffs, “Project Runway: Masters” and “Project Runway: Accessories,” which are expected to debut in 2011. The company currently has 15 series in different stages of development, including: “Mob Wives,” a reality series for VH1; “Marco Polo,” a scripted historical series about the great explorer; “The Nanny Diaries,” based on the hit book; and “The Mad Ones,” adapted from the Mafia novel of the same name.
H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth Enjoys Private Screening of Academy Award®Nominated Film About Her Father, King George VI
New York, NY, February 4, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) is honored to learn that Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth, has enjoyed a private screening of THE KING’S SPEECH, as reported by Duncan Larcombe, Royal Editor, in today’s edition of The Sun. The film, directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler, tells the story of Her Majesty’s father, King George VI, as he struggles to overcome a crippling speech impediment while grappling with his sudden, unexpected ascension to throne and the mounting danger of Nazi Germany. THE KING’S SPEECH stars Colin Firth as King George VI, Geoffrey Rush as the King’s speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
THE KING’S SPEECH has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture; Best Director; Best Original Screenplay; Best Actor in a Leading Role (Firth); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Rush); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Bonham Carter); Best Cinematography; Best Editing; Best Art Direction; Best Original Score; Best Costume Design; and Best Sound Mixing. It is one of the year’s most honored films, with accolades including: SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Firth); the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of a Theatrical Motion Picture (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin); the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film (Hooper); and the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama (Firth).
THE KING’S SPEECH has been seen and admired by many notable public figures, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, who hosted a private screening at his home over the Christmas holidays; Prince Andrew; Lord and Lady William Astor; Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill; and Edwina Sandys, the granddaughter of Winston Churchill (portrayed in the film by Timothy Spall).
Screenwriter David Seidler said, “To learn Her Majesty has seen the film, and was moved, in turn moves and humbles me greatly. When, thirty years ago, the Queen Mother asked me to wait and not tell this story during her lifetime, because the memory of these events was still too painful, I realized the depths of the emotions involved. Now this story has been written and filmed with a great deal of love, admiration, and respect for Her Majesty’s father. That Her Majesty has responded favorably to this, is wonderfully gratifying.”
Said Harvey Weinstein, TWC co-Chairman and executive producer of THE KING’S SPEECH, “On behalf of the director Tom Hooper; the producers, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin; Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and our entire ensemble cast: we are deeply honored and humbled by Her Majesty’s appreciation of the film. It was a labor of love for all of us and this is high praise, indeed.”
