One of the few surprises of last season’s Academy Awards nominations announcement was the fact that the animated feature category made room for not one but two of the fringe indie titles doing battle with big guns like Disney and DreamWorks. Both films – “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico & Rita” – were distributed by little engine that could GKIDS. The studio has just announced the voice cast for the English language version of the film, which will release in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego on June 1. The stars include Marcia Gay Harden, Anjelica Huston and Matthew Modine. Further dates for the film will be set for Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis and other major and secondary markets throughout the summer.

I’ve added HD screencaptures of Marcia’s guest appearance on “Bent” – she played Jeffrey Tambor’s ex-wife on the first season’s fifth episode entitled “Mom”. All captures can be found in the gallery.

The theatrical trailer for “The Wine of Summer” has been released. Directed by Maria Matteoli, a frustrated actor travels to Spain in search of a playwright, a trip that unexpectedly binds him to a group of five previously unconnected people. Marcia Gay Harden plays a supporting role. You can watch the trailer in the video archive.

Better late than never to report, Marcia Gay Harden has been the 2012 recipient of the Phoenix Film Festival’s Copper Wing Tribute Award, the festival’s most-prestigious honor. “Marcia Gay Harden is a perfect honoree,” said Jason Carney, the festival’s director. “With her amazing performances in ‘Pollock,’ ‘Mystic River’ and so many other films, she was ideal.” A special screening of “If I Were You” was held and Marcia participated in a panel to talk about her career.

I got “Miller’s Crossing” right out of school. I had been training, and training for a while. I’d done undergraduate school in Texas and gone on to NYU. I said, “This is a huge movie to do right out of school.” And it was a quality movie, based in film noir, based in the history of literature, with the smartest boys you’ll ever hope to work with (the Coen brothers). It was a real spoiling experience for me, because it was so wonderful. From then on, I’ve worked, and I’m a steady, solid, working actress.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference is calling on Team Coco for help with its annual fundraiser. Comedian Conan O’Brien, known to his fans as “Coco,” will serve as guest auctioneer when the benefit gala takes place April 28 in Ojai. The auction will cap a star-studded program that includes a one-night-only performance of “Body and Soul: An OPC Cabaret,” described as “a musical and theatrical celebration of the mystery, magnificence and madness of living.” Oscar- and Tony-award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden will headline the cast. Also slated to appear are Zachary Quinto, Megan Mullally, Noah Wyle, Nick Offerman and Steven Weber. The 5:30 p.m. performance in Matilija Auditorium at 703 El Paseo Road will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by dinner, the live auction and an awards program at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall, 185 St. Thomas Drive.

Founded in the mid-1990s, the conference draws playwrights, actors and dramaturges to the Ojai Valley for an intensive schedule of closed-door workshops followed by readings for a ticket-buying public. It will take place Aug. 7-12. Tickets for the benefit performance are $90 per person. Tickets for the reading, dinner and auction are $225. You can visit ojaiplays.org for more information.