(MENAFN- Arab Times) LOS ANGELES Nov 14 (Agencies): Hollywood's A-listers gathered in Los Angeles for a film festival that may not be well known but nonetheless shines an early spotlight on awards season in particular the foreign Oscar race. The American Film Institute (AFI) festival which wound up Thursday has seen directors from Canada France and Belgium turning out to woo potential Oscars voters with latest films three months before the biggest show in Tinseltown.
'It is a festival in the capital of cinema and where can you find the most Academy members In Los Angeles' said Robert Thompson a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University in New York state. Bertrand Bonello director of France's candidate for foreign film Oscar said winning Hollywood's top prize 'takes a film even further in terms of economics and visibility.' Bonello presented 'Saint Laurent' Tuesday and Wednesday at the AFI festival along with actor Gaspard Ulliel who plays iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and actress-model Aymeline Valade who plays his muse Betty Catroux. 'People in the business tell me this is where you get the largest number of voters' in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which organizes the Oscars Valade told AFP. 'Even more than in the New York festivals' she added. Competing for the Oscars requires 'slightly more aggressive promotion where you meet not only journalists but also voters' added Bonello. Belgium's candidate film is 'Deux jours une nuit' ('Two Days One Night') by the Cannes-winning Dardenne brothers starring Marion Cotillard. It was also presented this week at the start of the festival that opened on Nov 6. Icons Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne also attended last weekend's Governors Awards where half of Hollywood turned out for an Academy-hosted evening honoring industry icons but also doubtless talking about awards season buzz. Canada's film 'Mommy' by wunderkind director Xavier Dolan was recognized with a screening at the landmark Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday. 'Il capitale umano' ('Human Capital') by Italy's Paolo Virzi chosen as Italy's candidate for the foreign film Oscar was also on the AFI festival program. 'The real lobbying campaign only starts when you get down to the last five' said Valade. Indeed it is still early in the race for Hollywood's top honors. This year a record 83 countries nominated films for the foreign Oscar race including four competing for the first time: Kosovo Malta Mauritania and Panama. 'Ye Ying' ('The Nightingale') by French director Philippe Muyl filmed in China in Mandarin and French with Chinese actors is Beijing's candidate this year. A shortlist of about 10 foreign films will be announced next month and cut down to the final five when nominations for all categories are announced on Jan 15. The Oscars are on Feb 22. The foreign film Oscar this year went to Italian Paolo Sorrentino's 'La Grande Bellezza' ('The Great Beauty'). Pop professor Thompson said that in the past few people saw foreign film Oscar nominees because they were only in a few theaters. But that has changed with technology and streaming distribution. 'Until recently these movies didn't get a lot of attention and people didn't have the opportunity to see them' he told AFP. 'Now if you live in a small town in Oklahoma you still can see these movies through video on demand the Internet Netflix etc' he said adding that the eventual foreign film Oscar winner could seriously cash in. The top prize 'has become more important because of the distribution opportunity ... even if only a small percentage of the audience sees the movie it can have a real economic impact' said Thompson. Also: LOS ANGELES: The fourth annual Napa Valley Film Festival has announced its complete line-up including opening night and gala screenings special events and celebrity tribute honorees. The five-day festival will showcase films in Napa Yountville St. Helena and Calistoga beginning Nov 12 with a screening of 'The Imitation Game' with director Morten Tyldum attending. Mike Binder's 'Black and White' 'Alex of Venice' 'Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me' will also be presented. The festival will present the BVisionary Award to Kevin Costner at the Celebrity Tribute Program and the Rising Star award to Jeremy Jordan who stars in 'The Last 5 Years' opposite Anna Kendrick. The program will take place on Nov 14 and will include video highlights and conversations with 'Access Hollywood's' Billy Bush. Shailene Woodley will receive Variety's Indie Impact Award at the 10 Producers to Watch event. Variety executive editor Steve Gaydos will also be holding a Contenders Conversation with Costner at the event. 'This year's lineup is particularly diverse including work by established directors alongside promising debuts by newly emerging talents' said artistic and executive director Marc Lhormer. 'We are so gratified to see how many directors writers producers and actors are planning on attending in support of their films. The interaction between artists and audience conversing about the films and enjoying wonderful food and wine is truly magical to behold.'
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