FYC: "Flee" for Best Picture

by Matt St Clair

Flee, now playing in limited release, is transcendent. The animated memoir could break records by competing in three Feature categories: Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, and, because it’s the Danish submission, Best International Feature. Both Collective and Honeyland recently made history recently by competing in the latter two categories simultaneously, but no film has found itself in contention for all three. Flee might accomplish this historic feat, but it should go even further by also being nominated for Best Picture.

A nomination would allow the glass ceiling for documentaries to finally break. In the ceremony’s soon-to-be 94-year history, no documentary has ever competed in the top category...

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HollyShorts Pt. 3 Final Films and the Oscar-Qualifying Winners

By Ben Miller

The virtual HollyShorts Film Festival is at an end.  Showcasing the newest and best films under 40 minutes, I was able to watch dozens of great short films across a myriad of categories.  Here are my thoughs on ten more films as well the festival winners...

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Denmark names three Oscar finalists including "Flee"

by Nathaniel R

As we've long noted for the rest of the online world that doesn't pay super close attention to this category even if they'll dutifully share press release, Denmark is currently Oscar's favourite country (statistically speaking). In the past 12 years they've been nominated six times, won twice, and also made the finals twice more without actually snagging the nomination. That's the best run of any country in quite a long while in this category. They're the defending champion since the brilliant boozy Another Round took the gold at the 93rd Oscars. It's rare for countries to win this category in consecutive years but Denmark could given their hot streak. They've actually done that once before (1987 & 1988 with Babette's Feast and Pelle the Conqueror). Here are their three finalists for submission this time around...

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Over and Overs: “WALL•E” and My Son

Team Experience occasionally sounds off on super rewatchable films that hold a special place in their lives

By Ben Miller

As a parent, I have hoped to find common interests with my two children.  While my neurotypical daughter is outgoing and gregarious, my son is on the autism spectrum and does not relate as well.  His communication skills are limited and his specific interests are topic based, like dinosaurs and planets. In an effort to find a common love, I attempted many different activities.  While my love of baseball has yet to translate towards any athletic inclinations on is part, I was able to truly bond with my son through the magic of film, and that film was WALL•E...

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Streaming Roulette, July: No 7 Cherry Lane, Tomorrow War, Summer of Soul

Yes it's time for another round of streaming roulette where we point out a handful or two of titles that are streaming and just for fun, freeze frame them at totally random places in the scroll bar. Whatever comes up we share. Let's start with streaming premieres...

When I looked out into the crowd, I was overtaken with joy. I just saw so many black people. They were rejoicing.

SUMMER OF SOUL (Hulu)
We've already shared two thumbs up reviews: Murtada's from a long time ago at Sundance 2020 before the world stopped for COVID-19 and Glenn's Take when it reappeared this year. The story behind its making seems so incredible. How was all this footage just sitting here all this time and most people not knowing anything about this concert?

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