Here’s this week’s Friday roundup of news briefs. As always, keep sending the news to Playback!

Awards

The Las Vegas Film Festival has chosen U.K.-based actor Rory J. Saper to receive its 2013 Indi-icon award. He is receiving it for his starring role in the Alberta-lensed Canadian feature film Rufus, produced by Lonely Boy Productions. The film is to be released later in July by Entertainment One.

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival, held in the Greater Toronto Area with an ancillary event in Montreal, announced the recipients of its awards July 6. The IC Savings Award went to Frank D’Angelo’s Real Gangsters (pictured) while the the People’s Choice Award went to Paolo Genovese’s Una Famiglia Perfetta. Meanwhile, the inaugural Best Short Film Award, sponsored by ICFF with a cash prize of $1,000, went to Alessandro Marinaro’s Buongiorno Signor Bellavista (Good morning Mr. Bellavista). An honourable mention was bestowed on Silvio Soldini’s Cosa Voglio di Piu.

The Angela Baldassarre Award for Best Film went to Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio. The film will receive a Canadian release by Films We Like.

Finally, the organizers of the Canadian Videogame Awards (CVAs) have announced that the 2014 edition will be held in Toronto. It’ll be the first time in the event will be held outside Vancouver. Next year will be its fifth edition.