Best Actress 2014: Judi Dench, Philomena

English export Steve Coogan first received wide exposure in Tropic Thunder and the Night at the Museum franchise, but initially built his reputation as a comic as well as writing, producing, and starring in TV series like I'm Alan Partridge (for which there is an upcoming film).  Lately, he has had an indie hit with The Trip, and just got solid reviews at Sundance for The Look of Love.  Along with Jeff Pope, they adapted Martin Sixsmith's biographical book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee about a gay man dying of AIDS (played by Coogan) searching for his Irish mother (Judi Dench), who was conned into giving him up for adoption and agreeing to never seek him out before joining a convent.  The crew includes cinematographer Robbie Ryan (Wuthering Heights, Fish Tank), production designer Alan MacDonald (The Queen, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), and costume designer Consolata Boyle (The Queen, The Iron Lady).  It doesn't hurt that the film was directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, Mrs. Henderson Presents, The Grifters, Dangerous Liaisons).  Having just wrapped filming in Ireland, London, and Maryland, the IMDb lists the film as a 2014 release.

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