15th edition of Film Comment magazine’s essential, eclectic festival from February 20 – March 5, 2015

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.

BEYOND THE LIGHTS goes to the OSCARS

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

SOCIAL MEDIA Information

Host - Neil Patrick Harris: http://twitter.com/ActuallyNPH

Oscars Producers

Neil Meron: http://twitter.com/neilmeron

Craig Zadan: http://twitter.com/craigzadan

Hashtags

#Oscars

Academy - 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAcademy

Twitter: http://twitter.com/theacademy

Instagram: http://instagram.com/theacademy

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/oscars

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Oscars

MYNEWYORKEYE - SAG AWARDS 2015! RED CARPET!

In Hollywood, when the red carpet is rolled out, the press line becomes packed with journalists and photographers from all over the world!

The screams and howls of “look here” and “who are you wearing?” is echoed for a solid hour as the glitterati makes their way from their limo to the events’ door.

This past Sunday the 2015 SAG Awards® rolled out the carpet: 17,100 square feet of it to be exact. It was edged by 12,000 feet of hedges and 300 fans in a three-row, six-foot high bleachers cheered the celeb arrivals.

The temperature, in Los Angeles that day was a balmy 80 degrees.

On the red carpet snippets of conversations, by nominees, presenter and attendees alike focused on the value of “staying”—staying in the game and more importantly, staying true to yourself.

“Acting is my passion.  I’m lucky.”—Matt McGorry, (John Bennett, a prison guard in a relationship with Daya from “Orange Is The New Black”).

“Every day that I go to work is a great day because I get to work with people that I care about and learn from.”—Dascha Polanco (Dayanara “Daya” Diaz, an inmate in a relationship with a prison.)

“It’s been a rewarding experience on many levels. I am also very proud to represent a community (transgendered) in a positive light.”—Laverne Cox (Sophia Burset, an inmate and transsexual woman).

“Passion must be the thing that propels you …. don’t let the no be your mantra….if someone says ‘no’ to you, say ‘yes’ to yourself.”—Catherine Curtin (plays Wanda Bell, a prison corrections officer.)

Get into the spirit of giving!

The SAG Awards® Ceremony Auction, the final auction in the online series benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation begins  at sagawards.org/auction.

The SAG Awards Ceremony Auction offers movie and television fans the chance to win autographed collectibles signed by many of this year’s nominated actors and casts, including an original wardrobe piece worn by Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything,” a one-of-a-kind “Birdman” action figure signed by Michael Keaton, a collectible “The Grand Budapest Hotel” hardcover book signed by Wes Anderson, Netflix swag packages and more. Also up for bid are set visits to “E! News," "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," as well as premium items and unique experiences provided by the networks, studios, and SAG Awards sponsors.

The auction ends on February 2 at 9 p.m. (ET) / 6 p.m. (PT) at sagawards.org/auction.