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Perhaps it was NASA’s announcement just a few days short of the debut – a pure coincidence according to the space agency – that its scientists had discovered evidence that water still flows in Mars’s valleys. It could have been also Ridley Scott’s direction, who at 77 and after a few misfires, seems to have found the rhythm of films such as Alien and Thelma and Louise, or the presence of Matt Damon, in the lead of the film as a modern day Robinson Crusoe who takes us on a journey into outer and also into his inner space.

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The Helsinki International Film Festival was back for its 28th edition this year with its usual, whimsical subtitle “Love and Anarchy”. With 190 films on 12 screens from September 17 to the 27, the 11-day festival attracted over 62,000 visitors last year and saw record numbers of international guests this year.

Things have been rough for Sony Pictures recently. As rival studios celebrated a summer of records, Sony’s major offers were titles like Aloha and Pixels.

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Andrea Bocelli, in town to tape a special concert of his upcoming new album, stopped by the HFPA to talk about the record. Simply titled “Cinema” it's a tribute to the music of film featuring new arrangement of songs from such classics as Golden Globe-winners Cinema Paradiso and Gladiator.

Are you fan of the Fack Ju Gohte franchise? If you are not a German moviegoer, probably not. This weekend, however, the second movie in this comedy series was the big news at the box office, collecting an additional $16 million to a total take of $43,000 after 11 days in release in two territories, Germany and Hungary.

It was a banner year for HBO, a breakthrough moment for Game of Thrones and a long-delayed victory for Jon Hamm. But, above all, the 67th Primetime Emmys, handed out last night, September 20, in Los Angeles, was a landmark moment for women, especially African American women, so often underrepresented or typecast on TV (and movies).

Director Lenny Abrahamson’s Room won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival. The independent film starring Brie Larson as a woman raising a son while both are kept captive in a small room has now gathered enough steam to be considered a serious contender in the upcoming award season, following on the footsteps of 12 Years a Slave, Slumdog Millionaire, American Beauty and The King’s Speech that emerged from the same victory as frontrunners and, ultimately, major triumphs.