It was a huge night for ANORA, which after some early buzz that seemed to have faded, only to gain momentum over the past few weeks to take the throne at the 97th Academy Awards tonight in Los Angeles!

The Sean Baker Dramedy centering on a sex worker who is swept off her feet by the son of a Russian oligarch, took five of the six awards which it was up for including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. Baker, winning for the first time tonight, took to the podium to make a battle cry for brick and mortar cinemas, after more than 1,000 theatres had closed since the Pandemic. He made his case to Filmmakers to continue releasing films theatrically, before wishing his mother a Happy Birthday. His mother took him to the theatre for the first time when he was five-years-old.

Brady Corbet‘s THE BRUTALIST also did quite well, taking three Oscars including Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. Meanwhile, WICKED, DUNE: PART TWO and EMILIA PEREZ each took home two Oscars each.

Funnyman Conan O’Brien hosted the Awards for the first time ever at the ceremony which saw much humour, yet also took moments to remember the likes of the late Quincy Jones, and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman who had passed recently.

Complete list of winners below:

BEST PICTURE
WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

BEST ACTRESS
WINNER: Mikey Madison, Anora
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

BEST ACTOR
WINNER: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
WINNER: Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist
Volker Bertelmann, Conclave
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, Wicked
Clément Ducol and Camille, Emilia Pérez
Kris Bowers, The Wild Robot

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
WINNER: I’m Still Here, Brazil
The Girl With the Needle, Denmark
Emilia Pérez, France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Germany
Flow, Latvia

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: Lol Crawley, The Brutalist
Greig Fraser, Dune: Part Two
Paul Guilhaume, Emilia Pérez
Edward Lachman, Maria
Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT
WINNER: I’m Not a Robot
A Lien
Anuja
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked

BEST SOUND
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
WINNER: No Other Land
Black Box Diaries
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
WINNER: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
WINNER: “El Mal,” Emilia Pérez
“The Journey,” The Six Triple Eight
“Like a Bird,” Sing Sing
“Mi Camino,” Emilia Pérez
“Never Too Late,” Elton John: Never Too Late

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
WINNER: Wicked
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

BEST EDITING
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Dávid Jancsó, The Brutalist
Nick Emerson, Conclave
Juliette Welfling, Emilia Pérez
Myron Kerstein, Wicked

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
WINNER: The Substance
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
Wicked

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Peter Straughan, Conclave
Jay Cocks and James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, and Alex David, September 5
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
WINNER: Wicked
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
WINNER: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Beautiful Men
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
WINNER: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
WINNER: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Yura Borisov, Anora
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Following IMAX screenings of Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, the Academy Award–nominated French-Canadian filmmaker invites you into his creative process in adapting the conclusion of Frank Herbert’s epic saga for the screen.

Having reconciled profound and deeply relevant human themes with an intimate and layered narrative, Villeneuve will share insights into the cinematic craftsmanship and collaboration that led to this visionary artistic achievement.

Public tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 28 at 10AM on the TIFF website. 

It’s a monstrous opening for GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, taking a smashing $75 million from 3,861 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 55% on the Tomatometer and bests 2021’s GODZILLA vs. KONG by more than double, that one bowing with $31 million.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE finds itself in second with $15.5 million from 4,345 theatres for Sony Pictures, a two week total of $73.2 million.

Third spot goes to DUNE: PART TWO with $10.6 million, a total $251 million domestically, over five weeks for Warner Bros.

Fourth is KUNG FU PANDA 4 with $10 million, a four week run of $151 million for Universal Pictures.

IMMACULATE rounds this Top Five out with $3.2 million, a two week total $11 million for NEON/Elevation Pictures.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE fires in its debut with $42 million for Sony Pictures. Best opening in the franchise still goes to 2016’s female-led installment with $46 million, but this is close. It gets 47% on the Tomatometer.

DUNE: PART TWO lands in second with $16.9 million, taking its tally domestically to $232 million for Warner Bros.

In third is KUNG FU PANDA 4 with $15.9 million from, total $131 million for Universal Pictures, over three weekends.

IMACCULATE starting Sydney Sweeney, debuts in fourth with $5 million for Neon and Elevation Pictures, earning 73% on the Tomatometer.

In fifth is ARTHUR THE KING with $4.1 million for a two week tally of $14 million for Lionsgate.

It’s another smashing weekend for KUNG FU PANDA 4 which takes top spot again with $31.5 million from 4,067 theatres for Universal Pictures, bringing its total to $109.2 million.

DUNE: PART TWO takes $28 million from 3,847 theatres on week three for Warner Bros. Over three weekends, it has grossed $205 million.

Third is ARTHUR THE KING with $8 million from 3,003 theatres for Lionsgate. The Film starring Mark Wahlberg is playing only in the U.S., but manages a passing 64% on the Tomatometer.

IMAGINARY is in fourth with $5.3 million for Lionsgate/Cineplex Pictures, a total $18.8 million grossed over two weeks.

CABRINI rounds things out with $2.8 million for Angel Studios, bringing its two week run to $13 million.

KUNG FU PANDA 4 debuts with a chop-kick with $55 million this weekend from 4,035 theatres for Universal Pictures! It dethrones DUNE: PART TWO, and also has the distinction of being the second highest debut for the Kung Fu Panda franchise, its best belonging to its first film in 2008. Above this, it gets a passing 69% on the Tomatometer.

Second is last week’s decisive champ DUNE: PART TWO, with a strong $44 million in its second weekend, taking it to $154.7 million for Warner Bros.

Third spot goes to the opening Horror, IMAGINARY with $9.3 million from 3,118 theatres for Universal Pictures. It gets 30% on the Tomatometer.

In fourth is CABRINI with $8 million from 2,840 theatres for Angel Studios. The faith-based Film explores the early immigrant experience for Italian-Americans. It gets 90% on the Tomatometer.

Fifth is BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE with $4.4 million for Paramount Pictures, taking it to $89.7 million ahead of its at-home release later this month.

DUNE: PART TWO opens to huge numbers this weekend, with a $75 million debut from 4,071 theatres for Warner Bros. The Denis Villeneuve-directed Blockbuster garners a stellar 95% on the Tomatometer from Critics. This his almost double its 2021 predecessor’s $41 million opening.

In second is two-week champ BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE with $7.9 million for Paramount Pictures, bringing it to $83 million over three weekends.

Third spot goes to THE CHOSEN: SEASON FOUR EPISODES 7-8, pulling in $4 million for Fathom Events.

ORDINARY ANGELS gets fourth with $3.1 million, a total $11.4 million over two weekends for Lionsgate.

Rounding things out is MADAME WEB with $2.6 million for Sony Pictures, bringing it to $39.7 million.

Quebec native and award-winning visionary director Denis Villeneuve brought the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two celebrations home to Montreal on February 28, 2024, delighting fans with an exclusive red-carpet screening event of the epic sci-fi adventure!

Hundreds of fans gathered in anticipation at the downtown Cineplex Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal for the Canadian stop of the global publicity tour for Dune: Part Two. Presented by Audi Canada and The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, the evening was a grandiose heartwarming homecoming for Denis as well as fellow filmmakers Producer Tanya Lapointe and Academy Award® Winning Production Designer Patrice Vermette.

The screening was introduced by one of Quebec’s top comedians and television personalities, Jay Du Temple. Jay and Denis thrilled audiences by awarding multiple trips to Hollywood as exclusive prizing to celebrate the night.

Beyond early access to watch the film in IMAX®, fans were treated to immersive photo moments, gift bags, and spice-infused takeaways courtesy of David’s Tea and Kanel.

Dune: Part Two hits theatres across Canada on March 1. Tickets are on sale now!

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto and Vancouver a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of DUNE: PART TWO.

Screenings take place as follows on February 28, 2024:

Toronto

7:30 PM

CPX Scotiabank

Vancouver

7:30 PM

Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver

SYNOPSIS:

The saga continues as award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve embarks on “Dune: Part Two,” the next chapter of Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel Dune, with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast. The film, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Academy Award-winning “Dune.”

The big-screen epic continues the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed bestseller Dune with returning and new stars, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka,” “Call Me by Your Name”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Malcolm & Marie,” “Euphoria”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”), Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Avengers: End Game,” “Milk”), Oscar nominee Austin Butler (“Elvis,” “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”), Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (“Black Widow,” “Little Women”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Thor: Love and Thunder”), Oscar winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter,” “Hairspray”), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences,” “Lady Bird”), Léa Seydoux (the “James Bond” franchise and “Crimes of the Future”), with Stellan Skarsgård (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”).

“Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts based on Herbert’s novel. The film is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick. The executive producers are Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as creative consultant.

Villeneuve is again collaborating with his “Dune” creatives: Oscar-winning director of photography Greig Fraser; Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette; Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker; Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert; Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is again on hand to create the score.

“Dune: Part Two” was filmed on location in Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Italy. The film is slated for a March 1, 2024 worldwide release from Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release DUNE: PART TWO only in theatres March 1, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Today we get a brand-new Canadian Trailer for DUNE: PART TWO, arriving in theatres this November.

The saga continues as award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve embarks on “Dune: Part Two,” the next chapter of Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel Dune, with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast. The film, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Academy Award-winning “Dune.”

The big-screen epic continues the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed bestseller Dune with returning and new stars, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka,” “Call Me by Your Name”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Malcolm & Marie,” “Euphoria”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”), Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Avengers: End Game,” “Milk”), Oscar nominee Austin Butler (“Elvis,” “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”), Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (“Black Widow,” “Little Women”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Thor: Love and Thunder”), Oscar winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter,” “Hairspray”), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences,” “Lady Bird”), Léa Seydoux (the “James Bond” franchise and “Crimes of the Future”), with Stellan Skarsgård (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”).

“Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts based on Herbert’s novel. The film is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick. The executive producers are Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as creative consultant.

Villeneuve is again collaborating with his “Dune” creatives: Oscar-winning director of photography Greig Fraser; Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette; Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker; Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert; Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is again on hand to create the score.

“Dune: Part Two” was filmed on location in Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Italy. The film is slated for a November 3, 2023 worldwide release from Warner Bros. Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)