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82nd ACADEMY AWARDS nominations

MELBOURNE, Wednesday, 3 February 2010: The nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards have been announced and include some prestigious nods for Madman released products.

THE SECRET OF KELLS, an animated fable about 12 year old Brendan and his dangerous quest through a vividly animated world, has been nominated in the ‘Best Animated Film’ category. The film follows Brendan as he must face his greatest fears on a journey of creativity – to complete the ancient Book of Kells. THE SECRET OF KELLS is released on DVD, March 10th, 2010.

Nominated for ‘Best Documentary’, THE COVE exposes the devastating plight of the dolphin population of Taiji, Japan – where an annual harvest, shrouded in secrecy, kills thousands of dolphins each year within the confines of an ominous hidden cove in this ordinarily beautiful, historic fishing port. THE COVE generated much critical acclaim throughout its limited release run in cinemas in August 2009, and is available now on DVD.

In cinemas now, the razor-tongued political satire on Anglo-U.S. relations, IN THE LOOP received a nomination in the ‘Writing – Adapted Screenplay’ category. Starring Peter Capaldi and James Gandolfini, IN THE LOOP is planned for release on DVD and Blu-Ray in June, 2010.

Recently acquired by Madman and coming to cinemas in 2010, THE MESSENGER has been nominated in the ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’ and ‘Writing – Original Screenplay’ categories. THE MESSENGER stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson (in the role that earned him this year’s nomination for best supporting actor) follows the challenges of two U.S. Army officers, recently returned from Iraq, as they are tasked with delivering bad news to the families of fallen soldiers.

The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 7, 2010.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

 

THE SECRET OF KELLS – Available on DVD, March 10th, 2010 ($29.95rrp)

Adventure, action and danger await 12 year old Brendan who must conquer the Viking hordes and a Celtic serpent god to complete the legendary Book of Kells.
Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond his home’s walls into the enchanted forest where dangerous and mythical creatures live. Here he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious white wolf/girl, who will become his closest companion.

The Secret of Kells has already won a number of international awards including the audience awards at Annecy and the Edinburgh Film Festival – it is also the first animated feature to win Audience Award at Edinburgh.

“Absolutely luscious to behold.” Variety

THE COVE – Available Now ($34.95)

A smash hit with festival audiences worldwide, THE COVE tells the amazing true story of how an elite team of activists, film makers and free divers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. Their shocking discoveries about an annual harvest of dolphins for training and sale to aqua-parks worldwide were only the tip of the iceberg.

Whilst it has not yet quashed the controversial actions as yet, THE COVE’s uncompromising subject matter was every bit the catalyst the filmmakers had hoped for upon release, with the small town of Taiji forced to bear the brunt of a major wave of bad publicity and public outrage. The film has taken out awards across the world, including: Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival 2009; Audience Award, HotDocs Film Festival 2009; Best Documentary at the State Theatre, Sydney Film Festival 2009; Best Documentary at Satellite venues, Sydney Film Festival 2009.

“…when you’re mopping up your tears after THE COVE, you want this film to make a difference.” Mary Pols, TIME Australia.

IN THE LOOP – In Cinemas Now / Available on DVD & Blu-Ray, June 2010 ($TBC)

The U.S. President and U.K. Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing. Things are about to spin out of control…

Already a critical darling, IN THE LOOP’s biting satire has garnered a landslide of 4-star reviews across the country and has been official selection film festivals in Melbourne. Sydney, Canberra,

New Zealand and Sundance.

4 STARS “…a full-frontal assault on the funny bone… this is comedy with brains and bite.” Leigh Paatsch, DAILY TELEGRAPH.

THE MESSENGER – Coming soon to cinemas in 2010.

In his most powerful performance to date, Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband’s death, Will’s emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival.

 

Featuring tour-de-force performances from Foster, Harrelson and Morton, and a brilliant directorial debut by Oren Moverman, THE MESSENGER brings us into the inner lives of these outwardly steely heroes to reveal their fragility with compassion and dignity.

“Woody’s full-out emotional range here ranks as a career pinnacle” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

 

ABOUT MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

MADMAN is Australia’s leading independent home entertainment and theatrical distribution and rights management company. Madman proudly showcases the best in collectable and special interest genres including Australian film, world cinema, TV kids’ content and Japanese animation, (anime). Other rights management activities include online distribution, licensing for television as well as VOD, hotel and airline.

Put simply, Madman is mad for entertainment.

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