HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL HONORS "NANNY MCPHEE" AS A "MOVING PICTURE"

 

According to Heartland Film Festival®, the magical story of “Nanny McPhee” will entertain and move audiences of all ages. That is exactly why Heartland is honoring the Universal Pictures’ film with its prestigious Truly Moving Picture Award. The family comedy about a magical nanny who attempts to tame the wild household of Cedric Brown and his seven naughty children unfolds nationwide on January 27.

 

"We at Heartland found 'Nanny McPhee' to be both a delightful comedy and a wonderfully engaging fairy tale with a great message for kids and adults," said Jeffrey L. Sparks, president of the Heartland Film Festival. "We hope audiences everywhere will show their support for this Truly Moving Picture and its message of the beauty of goodness."

 

“Nanny McPhee” follows “Glory Road” as the second film in 2006 to receive Heartland’s Truly Moving Picture Award. Thirty-nine films (39) have been honored with the Truly Moving Picture Award since the award’s inception in 2000. Heartland created the Truly Moving Picture Award as a way to honor theatrically-released films that inspire and enrich lives. Submissions are received directly from studios and producers for consideration. Since the industry decides a film’s success based on the opening weekend box office, Heartland encourages audiences to attend a Truly Moving Picture on its first weekend.

 

Emma Thompson, whose first screenplay won the 1995 Oscar® for “Sense and Sensibility,” returns to screenwriting with “Nanny McPhee,” a motion picture adaptation of the “Nurse Matilda” books by Christianna Brand. Thompson, the only person to have won Oscars® for both acting and writing, also plays the title role in “Nanny McPhee,” opposite Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald and—in her first role for the big screen in two decades—Angela Lansbury.

 

In this dark and witty fable, Thompson portrays a person of unsettling appearance and magical powers who enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown (Firth) and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children, led by the oldest boy Simon (“Love Actually's” Thomas Sangster), have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies and are certain that they will have no trouble with this one. But as Nanny McPhee takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. 

 

Her influence also extends to the family's deeper problems, including Mr. Brown's sudden and seemingly inexplicable attempts to find a new wife; an announcement by the domineering Aunt Adelaide (Lansbury) that she intends to take one of the children away; and the sad and secret longings of their scullery maid, Evangeline (Macdonald). As the children's behavior begins to change, Nanny McPhee's arresting face and frame appear to change as well, creating even more questions about this mysterious stranger whom the children and their father have come to love.

 

“Nanny McPhee” is directed by Kirk Jones (writer/director of “Waking Ned Devine”) and produced by Lindsay Doran (“Sense and Sensibility,” ‘Dead Again”) and Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. 

 

Heartland Film Festival, a non-profit organization, was established in 1991 to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. Each October, Heartland screens Truly Moving Pictures from around the world, ranging from dramas to documentaries to animation. Heartland awards more than $100,000 in cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival's top entries, including a $50,000 grand prize for best dramatic feature. The Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners for the best student films and the Crystal Heart Award winners share the remaining money. The Crystal Heart Award cash prizes are given in honor of Max Simon by his parents, Melvin and Bren Simon, through the Max Simon Charitable Foundation. In 14 years, Heartland has awarded more than $1.4 million to support filmmakers in their quest to create Truly Moving Pictures.

 

 

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