Tag: Michael Yuchen Lei
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER: ANUJA – A powerful celebration of resilience and a moving testament to hope amidst adversity
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER: ANUJA – A powerful celebration of resilience and a moving testament to hope amidst adversityAs a writer and retired DP, I approach Adam J. Graves’ Anuja with an appreciation for the visual storytelling that beautifully unfolds in this poignant short film. Centered on the lives of nine-year-old Anuja and her sister Palak, the film offers an intimate glimpse into their existence within a garment factory’s unforgiving confines. The contrast…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER : FIRELINE stands out for its artistry and depth
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER : FIRELINE stands out for its artistry and depthAs a retired DP, I find myself drawn to films that excel in visual storytelling, and “Fireline” is a commendable example of this art form. This short film directed by Robin Takao D’Oench effectively immerses its audience in the harrowing experience of a wildfire, utilizing striking imagery and thoughtful cinematography that elevate its narrative. This…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – MOTHERLAND: A reminder of the resilience required to navigate cultural identity
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – MOTHERLAND: A reminder of the resilience required to navigate cultural identitySet against the fraught backdrop of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, Jasmin Mozaffari’s Motherland is a poignant exploration of identity and belonging. The film follows Babak (Behtash Fazlali), a young Iranian immigrant, as he embarks on a fateful trip to meet his fiancée Katie’s (Oriana Leman) parents in rural Iowa. What unfolds is a revealing…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Tense Dance Between Desire and Duty – DECK 5B
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Tense Dance Between Desire and Duty – DECK 5BAs a writer and retired DP, I find inspiration in the interplay of light, shadow, and emotion that can elevate a film’s narrative. Malin Ingrid Johansson’s short film DECK 5B beautifully embodies this synergy, capturing the profound struggle of a mother navigating the choppy waters between her desires and her responsibilities. The film centers on Mia (Alma…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A DP’s Perspective on IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A DP’s Perspective on IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPSIn the Garden of Tulips, directed by Julia Elihu, the audience is drawn into a narrative that beautifully weaves the complexities of a father-daughter relationship against the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq war. From the very first frame, I felt the weight of Caroline’s (Ava Lalezarzadeh) journey alongside her father (Iman Nazemzadeh). Their travels across the…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Cameraman’s Reflection on DOVECOTE
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Cameraman’s Reflection on DOVECOTE“Dovecote,” directed by Marco Perego, is a haunting exploration of prison life and personal transformation, beautifully captured through a lens that reflects both vulnerability and strength. Filmed in the unique setting of Giudecca’s working women’s prison, the visual storytelling elevates the emotional weight of the narrative, especially as we follow Zoe Saldaña’s character during her…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – HIS MOTHER is not just a thriller; it’s a poignant commentary on the struggles of parenting in a violent society
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – HIS MOTHER is not just a thriller; it’s a poignant commentary on the struggles of parenting in a violent societyMaia Scalia’s His Mother is a striking and emotionally charged short film that delves into the harrowing experience of a mother grappling with the unimaginable: her son’s violent intentions. Inspired by true events, this compelling narrative unfolds with urgency, as Julie (Bethany Anne Lind) races against time to intervene before tragedy strikes. Scalia’s direction captures…
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ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NEW ACQUISITIONS TO THE ACADEMY COLLECTION,NOW COMPRISING MORE THAN 52 MILLION ITEMS
Read More: ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NEW ACQUISITIONS TO THE ACADEMY COLLECTION,NOW COMPRISING MORE THAN 52 MILLION ITEMSNew acquisitions to the largest film-related collection in the world include the Studio Ghibli animation collection, featuring drawings by Hayao Miyazaki; Quentin Tarantino’s original handwritten script draft for Pulp Fiction (1994); objects from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022); costumes worn by Jamie Lee Curtis, Kurt Russell, Meryl Streep, and Joanne Woodward; personal collections of Curtis Hanson, Barbara Kopple,…
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ACADEMY ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF GOLD FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN
Read More: ACADEMY ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF GOLD FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMENRaha Amirfazli and Shadi Karamroudi have been selected as the recipients of the 2024 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women. Part of the Academy’s global talent development and inclusion work, the Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year program that combines support, personalized mentorship and access to once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities for emerging women filmmakers to further their pursuits…
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2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Cameraman’s Reflection on Dive
Read More: 2025 OSCAR CONTENDER – Through the Lens: A Cameraman’s Reflection on DiveAs a writer and retired DP, I felt deeply immersed in the act of storytelling through images when watching Aldo Iuliano’s Dive, which presented a unique canvas to paint with light and shadow. This short film resonates with a haunting beauty, capturing the fleeting moments of youth against the backdrop of an encroaching war—a theme…
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Miriam Margolyes Leads a Must-Watch Oscar Short A FRIEND OF DOROTHY — Now Streaming Free
For two weeks only, audiences around the world can watch…
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MAGID / ZAFAR, Reframing South Asian Masculinity on Screen
Winner at the British Independent Film Awards and nominated for a BAFTA, MAGID /…
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Two Standout Animated Shorts Go Head-to-Head for the 2026 Oscars®
As the Academy Award® race for Best Animated Short Film…