Netflix Acquires Latest Film From Ben Proudfoot

Congratulations to Sorcerers Safari alumnus Ben Proudfoot!

 

From the September 25th article "Netflix Acquires Latest Film From Ben Proudfoot, Final Documentary From Late Julia Reichert And More Short Docs With Oscar Potential" by Matthew Carey at Deadline:

Netflix has lined up a blockbuster slate of short documentaries heading into Oscar season, including the latest from two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot in collaboration with the Obamas’ production company.

The streamer announced four acquisitions today, beginning with The Turnaround, directed by Kyle Thrash and Proudfoot, a documentary that “tells the story of Philadelphia Phillies’ superfan Jon McCann, who helped inspire an unlikely 2023 standing ovation for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, which helped turn the team around after hitting a major roadblock.”  

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A post shared by Ben Proudfoot (@bgproudfoot)

 

 

 

Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for Best Short Documentary

Congratulations Ben!

 

From the March 11th article "Canadian Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for best short doc" in CBC News:

Halifax's Ben Proudfoot won his second career Academy Award on Sunday for co-directing the documentary short The Last Repair Shop, about volunteers who fix school-issued instruments in L.A. He hopes the win will 'help the millions of young people ... who just want to play music.'

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From the March 10th Instagram post by Ben Proudfoot:

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A post shared by Ben Proudfoot (@bgproudfoot)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magicians on Canada's Got Talent [Mar 21 premiere]

Learn more at the Canada's Got Talent website. 

From the March 7th media release "Canada’s Got Talent Reveals This Season’s Showstopping Acts, Premiering March 21 on Citytv" at Globe Newswire:

ALBERTA
ATSUSHI ONO – Magic Act, Calgary

BRITISH COLUMBIA
WILL STELFOX – Magic Act, Vancouver

MANITOBA
DEAN GUNNARSON – Stunt, Onanole

ONTARIO
CHRISTIAN MASCIA – Magic Act, Stoney Creek
RICHARD FORGET – Magic Act, Whitby

QUEBEC
JP PARENT – Magic Act, Montreal

YUKON TERRITORY
MAGIC BEN – Magic Act, Whitehorse

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Ben Proudfoot honoured by Premier Tim Houston

From the August 25th Facebook post by the Nova Scotia Government:

On August 24, Premier Tim Houston and fellow Nova Scotians honoured Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot at Neptune Theatre.  

Ben Proudfoot, from Halifax, is the 2022 Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Subject for his film The Queen of Basketball.  The public event included a red carpet, a screening of the documentary, and a Q&A moderator session with Screen Nova Scotia.

Watch The Queen of Basketball on YouTube at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPFkcoTfr7g&t=532s.

 

Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for Best Documentary Short

ICYMI, Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp alumnus Ben Proudfoot, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short on Sunday night!

Congratulations Ben!

 

From the March 27th article "Nova Scotia’s Ben Proudfoot Wins Oscar At Tonight’s 94th Academy Awards" at Nova Scotia Buzz:

Ben Proudfoot of Halifax, NS walked the 94th Academy Awards red carpet tonight and is walking out with an Oscar. Proudfoot was one of the favourites in his category for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for his latest work The Queen of Basketball.

Lusia (Lucy) Harris, although many have not heard of her, was one of the greatest woman basketball players. She won three national trophies and scored the first basket in women’s Olympic basketball at the 1976 Olympics. One of the most interesting facts about Lucy is she was drafted to the NBA and still not many people know of her.

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From the March 27th article "Oscar Win For ‘The Queen Of Basketball’ Cements Legacy Of Lucy Harris, Validating Support From EP’s Shaq, Steph Curry, Director Ben Proudfoot" by Matthew Carey at Deadline:

The Queen of Basketball, which documents Harris’s unsung accomplishment as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Director Ben Proudfoot accepted the award, which was presented – along with seven other categories – during the Oscar pre-show. His edited acceptance remarks were inserted into the live telecast. 

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Listen to Ben's Oscar acceptance speech in the March 28th upload on the WBB Clips YouTube Channel:

From the March 27th upload on the Etalk YouTube channel:

 

 

 

 

Ben Proudfoot's Oscar nomination

You may remember that Ben won International Brotherhood of Magicians' Youth Close-Up Magic Contest in 2007.  Congratulations on your Oscar nomination Ben!

From Bill VanGorder:
"... his Oscar nominated movie, it is free on Vimeo: 'A Concerto is a Conversation'."

From the April 23rd article "Trip to the Oscars a ray of sunshine for Canada's Ben Proudfoot after 'very dark year'" by Jackson Weaver at the CBC:

Ben Proudfoot's short documentary is headed to the Oscars, and so is he — in the midst of pandemic-related upheaval in the industry and a major shift in how award shows connect with their guests and audiences.

The Halifax director is nominated alongside co-director Kris Bowers for A Concerto is a Conversation, their 13-minute feature about Bowers's grandfather, Horace Bowers, and the discrimination he faced as he escaped the Jim Crow South.

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Nova Scotia's Ben Proudfoot wins best director

You may remember that Ben won International Brotherhood of Magicians' Youth Close-Up Magic Contest in 2007.  Congratulations Ben!

 

From the September 28th article "Ben Proudfoot wins best director for short film at Raindance Film Festival" by Susan Bradley in CBC News:

The short films reveal the passion, deep roots and tenaciousness of the artists. "They're our history, our culture, who we are," the 24-year-old said in an interview Monday from Bath, England.

Raindance is one of the largest, most influential independent film festivals in the world, operating in major cities including London, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Berlin.

Proudfoot, who founded Breakwater Studios Ltd. in Los Angeles in 2012, is a graduate of Citadel High School and an accomplished sleight-of-hand magician, winning Canadian and International championships.

​He turned his talents to filmmaking and attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles.

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