Dear New York - we are two months into 2015 and let us take a moment and wish you HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

If you are in a mood to check out interesting films that aren’t part of the Hollywood machine then look no further than the Film Society of Lincoln Center and it’s 15th edition of Film Comment magazine’s essential, eclectic festival, which will take place February 20 – March 5, 2015.

Each year, the annual festival’s selections are full of discoveries— of the coming soon and the never-coming-back, the rare and the rediscovered, the unclassifiable and the underrated, hand-picked by the magazine’s editors after scouring the international festival circuit of the past year.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com, follow @filmlinc on Twitter and download the FREE Film Society app, now available for iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices.

Gina Prince Bythewood

Director, Beyond The Lights.

Great musical artist - Common

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_(rapper)

myNewYorkeye--what's in it for you--is on our annual road trip to Hollywood!

Good news for talented people especially around on of my favourite directors Gina Prince-Bythewood !

She is one of the most gifted screenwriters - directors working today and her newest film BEYOND THE LIGHTS which stars the stunning and gifted Gugu Mbatha-Raw along side Nate Parker, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover is a must see if you haven't seen it and if you have, a must see again!

I love the fact that the song “Grateful" has been nominated and that singer, songwriter and actress Rita Ora will perform the Oscar®-nominated song “Grateful” at the 87th Oscars.

That bit of news was shared by the show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and unless you live under a very big rock, you know that the Oscars, will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The fun will air on Sunday, February 22, on ABC.

"International recording artist, Rita Ora, will make her Oscar stage debut this year. The mixture of her incredible voice and glamour makes a perfect combination for our show" says Zadan and Meron.

“Grateful,” written by Diane Warren for the film “Beyond the Lights,” is nominated for Original Song.

This marks Warren’s seventh Oscar nomination in the category. The four other nominated songs are “Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie,” “Glory” from “Selma,” “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me” and “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again.”

Ora dominated the U.K. charts with her first and certified platinum album “Ora” (2012), which included the number one singles "R.I.P.," "How We Do (Party)" and "Hot Right Now." Currently featured on the smash single "Black Widow," with fellow superstar Iggy Azalea, Ora is readying her second full-length album, to be released this spring. She will appear in a number of upcoming films, including the highly anticipated “50 Shades of Grey” and Jake Gyllenhaal's “Southpaw” to be released in July.

To keep on the music tip - musical artists Common and John Legend will perform their Oscar®-nominated song “Glory."

“Common and John Legend are artists who have always lifted our spirits and made us think,” said Zadan and Meron. “The Oscar stage is that much more profound because of their presence and we welcome them.”

“Glory,” written by John Stephens (a.k.a. John Legend) and Lonnie Lynn (a.k.a. Common) for the film “Selma,” is nominated for Original Song. The four other nominated songs are “Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie,” “Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights,” “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me” and “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again.”

Common won a Grammy® in 2002 for Best R&B Song for “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop),” and in 2007 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Southside,” with Kanye West. His many acting credits include the films “American Gangster,” “Wanted,” “Date Night” and “Selma,” in which he plays the role of Civil Rights leader James Bevel.

Legend is a nine time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter. His critically acclaimed debut album, “Get Lifted,”scored multiple Grammy Awards in 2006, including Best R&B Album, Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The follow up was the platinum-selling “Once Again,” which garnered a Best Male R&B Performance nod. Legend’s most recent highly acclaimed fourth studio album, “Love in the Future,” scored two Grammy nominations and features his break out hit, “All of Me,” which is his highest selling and charting song to date and also earned a 2015 Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.