Angel Film Awards - Monaco International Film Festival

3rd - 6th December 2009

Press Release - Sunday, December 06, 2009

Last week I attended the Angel Film Awards in Monaco- a glamorous threeday extravaganza, where the films in competition promote, unusually, peace and love - a refreshing antidote to the usual violent and gratuitous fodder thrown at us from Hollywood.

Started seven years ago by Rosana Golden and Dean Bentley, specifically to showcase non-violent films, the Angel Film Awards may eschew violence but this is no hippy dippy affair, with chic and stylish post screening VIP champagne receptions at some of the best hotels and clubs in Monaco. Festival Producers Golden and Bentley personally select the 20-odd films that screen each year and are well aided in the screenplay awards by the dynamic London-based producer Daniella Gonella of DG Productions. Together they head an impressive Jury which this year included British composer and screenwriter Martin Kiszko, Italian actor Luciano de Luca, Hollywood Reporter film critic Natasha Senjanovic and the effervescent UK TV presenter, actress and model Konnie Huq, who also had the wonderful title of Dame of Honour and Master of Ceremonies.

The big winner this year - Best Feature Film - winning the coveted Angel Trophy was "CURVE OF EARTH"" (USA) - a provocative dark comedy set in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley and starring William Forsythe as a rock and roll photographer relegated to producing lurid erotic pictures of women, after years of drug and booze abuse. This may at first seem to contradict the values of the Angel Awards - however in a somewhat touching manner, Forsyth's character undergoes an amazing and repentant transformation in a performance, which earned him the Best Actor Award at the Festival. The film was also awarded Best Ensemble Cast and Forsyth and many of the actors attended the Festival adding much glitz to the event.

The Best Feature Award was closely contested by the South African offering "TORNADO AND THE KALAHARI HORSE WHISPERER""- the true story of an emotionally tormented horse and a damaged young man and his journey of self-discovery. The film did manage to pick up six awards - including Best Cinematography, Direction, Soundtrack, Script and the Humanitarian Angel Film Award.

Also based on true events, "THE TOMB ROBBERY PAPYRUS"", (Germany, UK, Spain) written and directed by Lily Rampenthal, picked up the Independent Spirit Award. Remarkable for its historical accuracy and unusual approach including Computer Generated Imagery, it tells the story of an archaeologist's quest for an ancient Egyptian royal tomb.

Other notable feature films included "MY AIR HOSTESS ROOMMATE"" (China) - a quirky romantic comedy which received two awards and from the same producer/director, Jiang Qingmin, "JUN-AI" (PURE LOVE), (Japan/CHINA) - a multi-award winning film and yet another true story - which was awarded the Peace Celebration Angel Film Award. Starring Keiko Kobayashi (who alsowrote the screenplay) and pop singer Yasutaka - this is a stirring love story set during Japan's wartime occupation of China. Also in the Feature Categories - "RELIABLE SYSTEM" a drama from Poland was awarded Best Actress (Alina Janowska) and Best Original Story and "WHAT IF" was awarded Best Documentary.

Short films showing at the festival were a wonderful melee of self- expression - ranging from the truly original to the downright weird and wacky.

"NOUS DEUX ENCORE" (Greece, Monaco, France, USA) picked up the Best Short Film Award. Directed by Heather Harlow and captured visually through countless photographs, it is a moving homage to the late Greek husband of a former French television journalist, Maxie Leoussis. which takes us into the soul of the love affair that changed her life forever, "BASKET BRONX"" (Spain/USA) mixed a little Zen philosophy, with basketball winning the Angel Peace Award in the process. Boy meets girl short "ENCOUNTER"" (Spain) grabbed us with two powerful performances picking up Best Actor and Best Actress awards for Alex Garcia and Mar del Hoyo. A gritty storyline about child marriage laws in the US earned Diane Namm Best Director Award for "THE SACRIFICE" (USA) and a uniquely original concept saw the visually stunning "TIME TRAVEL BOYFRIENDS" (UK) receive the Best Original Short Story for film-maker Josephine Halbert.

In the categories honouring the Best Screenplays, British writer and director Rick Friend picked up two awards for a couple of very different film scripts. Twenty years in the making, "NON POSSUMUS", the true story of a six-year old Jewish boy abducted by Pope Pius IX in 1858, was described by Daniella Gonella as one of the best screenplays ever entered for the Angel awards and won the Best Epic/Historical Screenplay. "STUCK", a satirical attack on materialism, adapted from Friend's stage play (Time Out London Critic's Choice) and in contrast only six weeks in the making, won Best Comedy Drama. Other winning screenplays included "STORMDANCER" by Katherine Huston & John A. Lange (Best Family Adventure Screenplay), "OPEN DIARIES" by Sasha Schriber (Best Factual Screenplay) and "GRIEF FROM MADAME BUTTERFLY" by Barry Leach (Best Black Comedy Screenplay).

The 2009 Angel Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award went to the rock poet and musician Donovan and life long muse and wife Linda. The Angel Film Awards, are growing in reputation as one of THE Independent Film Festivals!

2009 MEDIA PARTNERS "Al Ahram Al Arabi, Cultural Magazine" Egypt.

Representend at the AFA by Ms. Reem Azmy, Al Ahram Al Arabi - Journalist

SPECIAL AWARDS NOMINATION FROM MEDIA SPONSOR PAN -
ARABIAN AL AHRAM - AL ARABI IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ANGEL FILM AWARDS

Special Award from Al Ahram Al Arabi Pan-Arabian Newspaper -
To The Angel Film Awards - Dean & Rosana

Special Award from Al Ahram Al Arabi Pan-Arabian Newspaper -
To movie 'Jun-Ai' (Pure Love), Japan/China

Special Award from Al Ahram Al Arabi Pan-Arabian Newspaper -
To movie 'The Tomb Robbery Papyrus' German/UK Spain

2009 MEDIA PARTNERS

"The Hollywood Reporter" presented special edition for the AFA-MIFF.

Click to view article > Monday 23rd Dec,
Monaco fest: Peace, love, movies 'The Hollywood Reporter News International'

2009 TELEVISION BROADCASTING

The AFA Gala Awards Celebration Evening was filmed by RTL Television (soon online and YouTube)

2009 AFA AWARD WINNERS > FEATURE/SHORT/DOCUMENTARY FILM

https://angelfilmawards.com/2009program/winners.php

2009 SCREENPLAY WINNING CATEGORIES

https://angelfilmawards.com/2009program/winners_screenplay_writers.php

ANGEL FILM AWARDS - MONACO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009
The Princess Grace Theatre, Monte Carlo - Monaco

Monaco, Date as posted 10 November, 2009

Rosana Golden AFA Artistic & Festival Director & Dean Bentley Executive Producer are pleased to announce the following...the 7th edition The Angel Film Awards - Monaco International Film Festival to unspool on 3rd to 6th December 2009 at the Princess Grace Theatre, Monte Carlo - Monaco.

» Channel 4 UK "Blue Peter" Presenter KONNIE HUQ > Dame of Honour and Master Of Ceremony.

» President of Jury Actor, Producer Max Ryan (just landed main role "Sex In the City II" feature film).

» Jury Member: Martin KISZKO, award winning Composer, Screenwriter (UK).

» Jury Member: Natasha Senjanovic Film critic, The Hollywood Reporter.

» Jury Member: Elika Portnoy award winning Bostonian Producer, Actor.

» Jury Member: Carlos Leon, US award winning Actor (Tricks Of A Woman and upcoming feature Immigration Tango)

» Jury Member: Luciano de Luca international Actor (Rome, Italy).

"Building bridges of Understanding"

2009 AFA Festival Opener "PEACE CELEBRATION SCREENING" of "Jun-Ai" (TRUE LOVE), a JAPAN/CHINA Collaboration and AFA award-winning movie.

First released in Japan in August 2007 and in over 150 theaters in China in June 2008. Now is celebrating a nation-wide television presentation in China. In Dec 2007, the BBC World broadcasted at AFA Festival Monaco, showing clips of the movie Jun-Ai (True Love) on World Headline News. This is a time-defying movie that will continue to be shown in Japan and China now and in the future.

At this year's opening, members of the cast and crew from Japan & China will make their way to Monaco! Actress, Screen-writer and Producer, Ms. Keiko Kobayashi will be dressed in the traditional Kimono of Japan and will be joined by famous Chinese Director, Mr. Jiang Qinmin. A live performance by talented singer/actor Yasutaka 'YASU' Kawaguchi during the Awards Celebration will surprise us all. The Jun-Ai Team comes to Monaco once again with prayers for peace and hopes of showing Jun-Ai and spreading its message of peace to every country throughout the world!

The Angel Film Awards' organizers are partners with the Jun-Ai (True Love) Foundation, a fund created to build schools using a portion of proceeds from screenings of Jun-Ai & donations from around the world. The Jun-Ai Foundation has so far built the "Kibo (Hope) Elementary School" and "Jun-Ai Kindergarten" in a farming village near the city of Taizan, China. This exchange between people rather than governments has helped to build bridges of understanding and overcome the wounds of a more than 65 year-old war.

AFA FESTIVAL PARTIES...

GALA FILM OPENING PARTY RECEPTION - 3rd Dec IN THE HONOR OF CHINA

The Gala Opening Party Reception to be held at world famous HERMITAGE HOTEL Monte Carlo, sponsored by Chinese Film Production Company in the Honour of World Premiere Chinese Film "MY AIRHOSSTESS ROOMMATE" romantic comedy, all cast/ crew attending.

FRIDAY NIGHT MEDIA FILM NETWORKING PARTY IN THE HONOR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Friday Gala Screening in the honour of South African Movie "TORNADO AND THE KALAHARI HORSE WHISPER" followed by media film networking party to be held at Monte Carlo's hottest lounge location sponsored by AQUAVISION Wildlife Film Makers South Africa & Angel Film Awards, London, cast/crew attending.

Gala Awards Night Celebration 'LONG VIVE LE CAMERA' > rock n' roll evening party strictly VIP pass holders only - private access - Monte Carlo Bay Hotel Resort sponsored by 'Long Vive Le Camera' US For Movie World Premiere 'Curve Of Earth' starring William Forsythe, ALL CAST/CREW ATTENDING.

Screenings and awards celebration takes place inside historic turn of century Princess Grace Theatre, Monte Carlo. The event will be attended by an amazing line up of seasoned industry professionals and distinguished guest.

2009 MEDIA PARTNERS

"The Hollywood Reporter" running special issue 20th November on the AFA-MIFF.
"Al Ahram Cultural Magazine", Egypt for entire Middle East.

2009 TELEVISION BROADCASTING

The entire Festival will be filmed for Television Broadcast. There will be the usual press core and also a special press call and interview session for film directors and talent.

RTL Television filming The AFA Gala Awards Celebration Evening, Sat 5th Dec and the 3 day festival.
Programs include Exclusive-Special - Exclusive Weekend - Exclusive Daily VOX: Prominent, also on N-TV: Fifth Avenue, Deluxe & RTL: Punkt 6, 9, 12

Nice Matin - France, OK Magazine, UK special press.

Rainstorm Entertainment Beverly Hills filming festival content for film release, focusing on the screenplay writers and holding interviews with members of cast and crew members of officially selected films.

» The AFA - MIFF has access to 150,000 film industry members worldwide.

» The AFA Introducing 2009 Partner Sponsor ProductionHUB

Production HUB are happy to announce partnership with the Angel Film Awards in helping promote what is sure to be an amazing event.

ProductionHUB.com is the global online resource and industry directory for film, television, video, live event and digital media production. With over 2.7 million user sessions and 20 million page views in 2008, this vertical B2B and industry portal has become the world's largest and most active production community search site for production products, equipment, services and industry professionals.

Donovan rock-poet, US actor William Forsythe confirmed to attend a amazing line up of talent & directors, screen-writers, attending film screenings and net working film parties.

Attending actors/talent and socialites shall be announced prior to festival, the daily festival program shortly visible on all official sites.

The Angel Film Awards is well-established as an Independent Art House Cinema Event, where numerous winners have gained major global distribution deals and is highly respected within the entertainment industry.

This is the only Awards Festival in the world that strives for quality entertainment focusing on non-violent film.

From the Oscars to the Palm D'Or, we now have 'THE ANGEL FILM AWARDS', delivering a new altruism celebrating non-violent films. Since its creation in 2003, the Festival has received immense media attention throughout the world, creating a glamorous, prestigious and important International Film Festival for new art form in terms of non-violent, family quality entertainment.

Screening and awards take place at the Princess Grace Theatre, Monaco. The event will be attended by an amazing line-up of seasoned industry professionals and distinguished guests. We shall 'reveal' the nominations along with festival itinerary once everyone has been finalized. This will be available and can be viewed on the festival website before after 15 November.

Join the glitzy the most elegant of independent festival circuit of likeminded personalities from around the globe...for true and fruitful festival experience...not forgetting the essential message of peace, light, harmony, cultural unity!

The AFA - MIFF is Non-Profit making independent - peace promoting festival