Director Mahesh Pailoor has released the first trailer for his indie drama “Paper Flowers,” based on the story of 22-year-old Shalin Shah, whose battle with cancer garnered viral attention in 2015. The film will premiere June 20 at the Dances With Films Festival at the TLC Chinese Theater in Hollywood with two additional screenings taking place on June 26 at the London Indian Film Festival and the Birmingham Indian Film Festival.
The film stars Kapil Talwalkar (“Night Court”), Olivia Liang (“Kung Fu”), Karan Soni (“Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse,” “Deadpool”), and Tom Everett Scott (“That Thing You Do”). Asit Vyas serves as producer.
Watch the trailer below.
2024 HPA Awards Opens Submissions in Creative Categories
The Hollywood Professional Association has opened submissions for the 2024 HPA Awards, which take place Nov. 7 at the Wolf Theater in Hollywood. The annual ceremony honors creative and technical artistry within the global entertainment community.
Entries are accepted until July 26. Submissions are being accepted in the following competitive categories:
Outstanding Color Grading – Live Action Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Color Grading – Animated Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Color Grading – Live Action Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Color Grading – Animated Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Color Grading – Documentary
Outstanding Color Grading – Commercial
Outstanding Editing – Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Editing – Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (30 Minutes and Under)
Outstanding Editing – Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 minutes)
Outstanding Editing – Documentary
Outstanding Sound (Design, Editing, Mixing) – Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Sound (Design, Editing, Mixing) – Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature
Outstanding Sound (Design, Editing, Mixing) – Documentary
Outstanding Visual Effects – Live Action Feature
Outstanding Visual Effects – Animated Feature
Outstanding Visual Effects – Live Action Episode or Series Season
Outstanding Visual Effects – Animated Episode or Series Season
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects – Episode or Series Season
Outstanding Achievement in Restoration
A full list of rules and details can be found on the HPA Awards website.
The Art Directors Guild Sets Date for 29th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards
The Art Directors Guild’s 29th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards will take place Feb. 15, 2025, at the InterContinental in Downtown Los Angeles. The ADG Awards celebrate the creative work of their guild members in television, music videos, commercials and feature films.
“Once again it is our honor to celebrate the achievements of ADG Guild members from all four crafts at the 29th Annual ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards,” said incoming ADG president Dina Lipton, ADG Awards Producers Michael Allen Glover and Megan Elizabeth Bell in a joint statement. “We’re thrilled to see what this year’s projects have in store.”
See the timeline for the 2025 ADG Awards below.
Monday, Sept. 23, 2024: Submissions open for all Television, Feature Film, Commercial and Music Video categories
Monday, Oct. 28, 2024: Submissions close for all Television, Commercial and Music Video categories
Monday, Dec. 9, 2024: Submissions close for all Feature Film categories
Monday, Dec. 16, 2024: Online voting begins for all categories
Friday, Jan. 3, 2025: Online nominee voting ends for all categories (5 p.m. PT)
Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025: Nominations announced
Monday, Jan. 27, 2025: Online voting begins for winners in each category
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025: Final online voting closes (5 p.m. PT)
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025: Winners announced at the 29th Annual ADG Awards ceremony
Women in Animation World Summit Lineup Announced at Annecy
Women in Animation (WIA) has revealed its lineup for this year’s WIA World Summit at the Annecy International Animation Festival. The eighth annual WIA World Summit takes place June 10 at the Impérial Palace Hotel at the Salle de l’Europe featuring panels and focused conversations spotlighting key thought leaders filmmakers and executives discussing equity and justice for people of all genders, gender identities and presentations.
See the official program below.
SESSION 1 | 10 a.m. – “What Now?: Global Opportunities in Animation”
Animation continues to engage audiences and inspire creators worldwide despite significant changes happening behind the scenes. In this conversation Agnes Soyode-Johnson, CEO of Limitless Studio; Deepa Joshi, co-CEO of Incessant Rains Studio; Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation; and moderator Marta Balaga, Variety journalist, will reflect on the trends shaping the global animation industry today, the promising opportunities on the horizon, and the crucial role that women and nonbinary people can play in this ever-evolving industry.
SESSION 2 | 11 a.m. – “Harnessing New Business Models to Navigate Animation’s Future”
From traditional studios to emerging digital platforms, the animation industry is experiencing a transformation driven by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and global market dynamics, redefining how content is created, financed, distributed, and monetized. Join successful content creators and industry leaders including Vivienne Medrano, showrunner, writer, and creator of “Hazbin Hotel” and “Helluva Boss;” Yukiko Koike, CFO/managing director of Studio Chizu; Kate O’Connor, executive chair of Animation U.K.; Maya Penn, founder/CEO of Upenndo! Productions; and moderator Jinko Gotoh, Oscar-nominated producer (“Klaus”) and WIA vice president as they explore the industry’s evolving business models and how we can leverage these models to attain gender justice in animation.
SESSION 3 | 2:15 p.m. – “The Creative Impact of the Technology Revolution”
As technology rapidly evolves, its impact on the animation industry and gender justice extends beyond practical application. In this panel, Karen Troop, executive producer of Passion Games; Melanie Hoyes, director of inclusion of the British Film Institute; Rachel Appleton, senior director of Media & Entertainment Business Strategy at Autodesk; Janet Lewin, senior vice president of Lucasfilm Visual Effects/general manager of Industrial Light & Magic; and moderator Karen Dufilho, producer at House of K, will explore how technological advancements foster opportunities for creative collaboration and innovation while presenting challenges that require thoughtful solutions that support gender justice.
CLOSING FIRESIDE CHAT | 3:15 p.m. – “Fostering Community in the Animation Industry”
In times of adversity and uncertainty, a strong community is more important than ever. Join Julie Ann Crommett, WIA secretary & founder and CEO of Collective Moxie, and André Luís, co-founder and CEO of Trojan Horse was a Unicorn, as they share personal anecdotes and insights along with practical advice for nurturing and harnessing the power of a vibrant animation community. This conversation promises to ignite inspiration, spark connections, and remind us that we are never alone in building a more inclusive future.
