Cinema Ritrovato 2017: the epic recovery

June 27, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

The epic found: projections last night involved, excited, and thrilled the audience in Piazza Maggiore in front of two absolute masterpieces: the Prologue de La Roue Abel Gance (1923), anticipation of the restoration carried out by the Foundation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé that we will see in full in 2019, and perhaps the most famous of the least popular films in cinema history, the battleship Potemkin the master Eisenstein (1925).

It is said that the epic, not only as a narrative way, but above all as an experience, belongs to the time before modernity: those traits of oneness, of wholeness, of poetry which constitute the essential features would be less with the crushing psychic urban life, contemporary, with the isolation of the individual would lose a sense of affiliation to a community.

And if this seems to be confirmed in our contemporary world, where everyone seems to pay attention only to the individual’s own smartphone, however there are (and would say – with a sigh of relief – thankfully) still times when you can gather in front of another screen, the “big” (in every sense) of film and breathe, tremble in his chair, clapping, standing up in front of the magnetic force of images that are sublime precisely because they make each viewer perceives the energetic power that exists outside of himself.

La Roue was previewed in all directions: in addition to acting as an introduction as the prologue of the complex material which constitutes the integral of the restoration corpus (for a total amount of vision 8:00 to 9:00 hours), the musical sound of yesterday night recovered the composition of Arthur Honegger that had not been staged since 1923. the orchestra of the philharmonic of the Bologna municipal Theater accompanied assembly kaleidoscopic filters of red, yellow, blue where unfolds a story of modernity, in which human and mechanical body collide railway accident, in which the tragic faces of women who flee from the rubble will make ghosts coming out of the smoke, only to find themselves permanently de-humanized in the doll with which the little Norma, was orphaned in the accident and taken under the protective wing of the mechanical Sisif, it reproduces, as in a disturbing game, the accident. The Wheel becomes a symbol of collective unity under which one finds these human emotions: tragedy (the wheel of the train that derailed), hope (Sisif is a little sister for her son) and the eternal randomness (as the tableau closing, the wheel, that of life, always runs).

But the event of the evening was undoubtedly the projection of the reference film of the Russian assembly teacher, introduced by a shiny Naum Kleiman, probably the world’s leading expert Eisenstein, founder of Eisenstein Center in Moscow where he was the director until the his dismissal in 2014 by the Putin government. And during the screening has presentificata what Benjamin called Erfahrung , the collective dimension, unique, according to the German philosopher, in order to be considered truly “experience.” We all watched in horror as the worms of rotten meat on the Potemkin, so visually similar to the sailors on either side of the dock looking to get away dall’agguato set for him by the officers. We participated intensely in the uprising and lamented the killing dell’ispiratore of minds. We watched with apprehension and indignation at the massacre of the Odessa staircase, where the attention to detail of the faces, bearers of true humanity, the alternates wildly convulsive movement of the crowd running away, the steps that you are open-air graveyard .

And in the end, when the hammering of syncopated music (composed in 1926 by Edmund Meisel) masterfully performed by the orchestra of Bologna and directed by Helmut Imig in a state of ecstasy dragged the public apprehension about the possible outbreak of a war by sea , here it is, the catharsis: silent scream of “Brothers!” melody relaxes, the red flag stands on the top and the audience bursts into applause pure and spontaneous release, which only the final standing ovation can match.

The power of moving images is also this: can talk, almost a century later, to an audience that needs time, perhaps more than ever, to narrate through a new collective epic.

— Beatrice Seligardi

(Source: ilcinemaritrovato.it)

Il Cinema Ritrovato

THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN IN POPULAR CULTURE: THE SCENE OF THE STEPS

June 27, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Hard to tell where the original film and begins by Paolo Villaggio travesty that, thanks to the comic film The second tragic Fantozzi (1976) , has made a cult film without the need for it to be seen.
The Battleship Potemkin tells the story of the revolt of the battleship Potemkin sailors of the ship and the subsequent tragic massacre in Odessa. The rebellion reached its most dramatic point in the city staircase scene where the soldiers shoot without mercy on the population, with no distinction between men, women and children. It ‘just that moment to have become iconic, not only for what he represented in film history, but above all for being reviewed by other filmmakers. The high rate of violence and tragedy of the scene, achieved thanks to a direction that does not let up and catapult the viewer into the story, has trained several directors who have not lost an opportunity to pay homage, or parodiarla, in their films.

It is not a coincidence that this is the scene that is made to recreate employed in The second tragic Fantozzi of Luciano Salce. The Fantozzi and colleagues, forced to see once again the Eisenstein film company to film club run by Professor Guidobaldo Riccardelli, driven by the same rebel Fantozzi, in his only moment of personal revenge, shouting proudly the most famous line fantozziana the saga “For me, the Battleship Kotiomkin is a crazy shit!”. Battleship Kotiomkin because in fact the original and Salce rights were granted it created a craft parody and was renamed the name of the film and also the director (who became Sergei M. Einstein). The punishment of the employees of Megaditta for having turned against the power and destroying the copy of the film is “Dantesque” says Fantozzi: recreate the sequence of the steps every Saturday afternoon until retirement age.

While in Italy The battleship has become popular for the irony that it is built around, and around the world, the Eisenstein film has often been lauded by major directors who saw in the Russian filmmaker a model to inspire them. In the film The Prisoner of Amsterdam (1940) by Alfred Hitchcock and I The Godfather (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola is cited the dramatic end of old woman on the steps, struck in the eye by a saber: the glasses are broken, the look of terror and the blood line of the face. This same scene is shot, with a more parodic intent, by Woody Allen, in two films: The Dictator of the Free State of Bananas (1971) and Love and War (1975). Even in the film dystopian Brazil Terry Gilliam (1985) is honored the staircase of Odessa, recovering the movements of the soldiers and the fatal descent of the wheelchair.

The most heartfelt tribute and poetic of the Odessa massacre is surely to Brian De Palma in the gangster film The Untouchables (1987) . In the middle of a shootout, in a wheelchair with a child she begins to roll down the stairs, while the mother desperate moans and the protagonist, played by Kevin Costner, try to save them, avoiding enemies’ bullets. The scene keeps the dramatic atmosphere of the Eisenstein film, but moves at a slower speed, playing more about the pathos and the fate of the child: able to save themselves? Shooting and taken to the extreme, the scene of De Palma was parodied in the movie demented Naked Gun 33 1/3 – The Final Insult (1994) by Peter Segal: wheelchairs become three, with flights hilarious babies at the end of staircase.

Even the latest cinema and mainstream became infected from The Battleship Potemkin : in Star Wars III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Anakin Skywalker, now turned to the dark side as Darth Vader, is going to carry out the massacre of young jedi, moving with a deployment of soldiers that resembles that of Soviet Odessa. The special boots leaves no doubt: the massacre in Odessa lives according to the futuristic vision and CGI George Lucas.

— Emanuela Vignudelli , Course of Higher Education Editor media and cross-media, courses Cineteca di Bologna

(Source: ilcinemaritrovato.it)

Il Cinema Ritrovato

Cinema Ritrovato 2017: ‘Battleship Potemkin’ and Edmund Meisel

June 27, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Cinema Ritrovato 2017: Battleship Potemkin and Edmund Meisel

“Consider soundtrack Meisel only in its musical component, it is to misunderstand its purpose. Of course, occasionally there is a musical theme, but this soundtrack can be described perfectly as a comment to the film and at the same time a component thereof, a headset symbolism that harmonizes rhythmically and emotionally with sequences of images that strengthens.”

In describing the soundtrack composed by Edmund Meisel ( Berlin: Symphony of a Great City, love the mountains ) for Battleship Potemkin , William Hunter captures the ultimate meaning of such a pioneering music that, even today, thanks to the surprising its complex essence and its incredible power. The same force with which the symphony of the warship most famous film breaks into a frame with a projection alive and pulsating Piazza Maggiore, live music by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna conducted by Timothy Brock. An experience that has become reality thanks to the synergy of film historians and commitment stock ranging from Russia to the United States, and Great Britain to Germany, which has the merit of having finally restored the original version of the masterpieceEisenstein and soundtrack Meisel.

It’s been 92 years since its first showing, however Battleship Potemkin is always able to renew the astonishment of those who attend to its staging. Freely inspired by an episode that led to the first Russian Revolution of 1905, the collective drama in five acts of Potemkin winds through the most classic forms – that of tragedy, making those stylistic innovations that decreed – rightly – his elevation to the subject of worship in smoky film clubs of the ’70s. Projections in which mounting of the sights of the Eisenstein film, although stripped of its soundtrack, was gutted in its fundamental components: the worms in the flesh to the wheelchair, to the eye of the mother.

Images – or cinepugni , which have helped to carve in the collective memory for a movie that even the most indifferent, have seen more or less directly: whether the fantozziana average man’s revenge or the lyricism of Ettore Scola We had so beloved . However, it is the theme of the movie, not a hero or a real protagonist, surprises even today with its raw vitality with the recovery of those fundamental values identified that, long ago, had been its another revolution. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

—- Federica Marcucci

(Sourced from Ilcinemaritrovato.it)

Feature Film

LOST IN PARIS opens July 7th in Los Angeles and June 16th in New York.

June 26, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Filmed in Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon’s signature whimsical style, LOST IN PARIS stars the filmmakers as a small-town Canadian librarian and a strangely seductive, oddly egotistical vagabond. When Fiona’s (Gordon) orderly life is disrupted by a letter of distress from her 88-year-old Aunt Martha (delightfully portrayed by Academy Award®-nominee Emmanuelle Riva) who is living in Paris, Fiona hops on the first plane she can and arrives only to discover that Martha has disappeared. In an avalanche of spectacular disasters, she encounters Dom (Abel), the affable, but annoying tramp who just won’t leave her alone. Replete with the amazing antics and intricately choreographed slapstick that has come to define Abel and Gordon’s work, LOST IN PARIS is a wondrously fun and hectic tale of peculiar people finding love while lost in the City of Lights.

(Source: Press material provided by Dina Makhlouf, Marina Bailey Film Publicity)

Palm Springs International Film Festival

2017 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL WINNERS

June 26, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Facing Mecca Receives Two Awards Including Best of the Festival;

The Head Vanishes, Dekalb Elementary Receive Top Jury Awards;

Red Light, Coin Operated, Kayayo and Lost Face Receive Audience Awards

PALM SPRINGS, CA (June 25, 2017) – The 2017 Palm Springs International ShortFest, the largest short film festival and only short film market in North America, announced its Festival award winners on Sunday, June 25, 2017. 338 short films screened throughout the Festival along with more than 4,200 filmmaker submissions available in the film market. More than $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards were awarded in 21 categories.

“After spending a week in and out of theaters, and talking with filmmakers and audiences, we close out the festival with such a strong sense of community,” said Festival Director Lili Rodriguez.

“Filmmakers are making movies about the changing world around them. I think our award winners showcase an understanding and compassion for people and it’s a great thing to see.”

The 2017 Palm Springs International ShortFest award winners are:

JURY AWARDS

Jury Awards and awards in the non-student and student competition categories were selected by ShortFest jury members David Ansen (film critic/PSIFF Lead Programmer), Lindsey Bahr (Associated Press), Kate Bosworth (actress/producer), Ian Durkin (Vimeo), Sam Lansky (Time Magazine) and Heidi Zwicker (Sundance).

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – Winner received $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. The winner of this award may be eligible to submit their film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar® consideration.

Facing Mecca (Switzerland), Jan-Eric Mack

Pensioner Roli comes to Fareed’s assistance when the Syrian refugee is faced with a bewildering forest of Swiss bureaucracy before he can bury his Muslim wife.

GRAND JURY AWARD – Winner received a $2,000 cash prize.

The Head Vanishes (France/Canada), Franck Dion

Jacqueline, no longer quite in her right mind, still goes on her annual summer trip. This year, she’s followed by some woman who claims to be her daughter.

PANAVISION BEST NORTH AMERICAN SHORT – The use of a camera package valued at $60,000 courtesy of Panavision.

Dekalb Elementary (USA), Reed Van Dyk

Inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia.

NON-STUDENT COMPETITION AWARDS

All first place winners in the non-student categories received a cash award of $2,000 and may be eligible to submit their film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar® consideration.

BEST AnimatED short

The Head Vanishes (France/Canada), Franck Dion

Jacqueline, no longer quite in her right mind, still goes on her annual summer trip. This year, she’s followed by some woman who claims to be her daughter.

BEST Live Action short over 15 minutes

Retouch (Iran), Kaveh Mazaheri

Maryam’s husband does weightlifting at home. When a weight falls on his throat and puts him near death, Maryam makes a decision.

BEST Live Action short 15 MINUTES AND UNDER

Great Choice (USA), Robin Comisar

A woman gets stuck in a Red Lobster commercial.

BEST Documentary short

Edith + Eddie (USA), Laura Checkoway

Ninety-something Edith and Eddie are America’s oldest interracial newlyweds, whose unusual and idyllic love story is disrupted by a family feud that threatens to tear them apart.

STUDENT COMPETITION AWARDS

FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD – Winner received a $2,000 cash prize.

Where You Found Refuge (France), Guillaume Legrand

After Didier finds his daughter living in a cult, he decides to bring her home by force.

Special Mention: Fry Day (USA), Laura Moss

An adolescent girl comes of age against the backdrop of serial killer Ted Bundy’s execution in 1989.

All first place winners in these categories received a $500 cash prize.

BEST STUDENT ANIMATION

Sog (Germany), Jonatan Schwenk

After a flood, the fish are stuck in trees, in danger of drying out. They scream sharply, disturbing the inhabitants of a nearby cave.

BEST STUDENT Live Action short over 15 minutes

Facing Mecca (Switzerland), Jan-Eric Mack

Pensioner Roli comes to Fareed’s assistance when the Syrian refugee is faced with a bewildering forest of Swiss bureaucracy before he can bury his Muslim wife.

BEST STUDENT Live Action short 15 MINUTES AND UNDER

Iron Hands (USA/China), Johnson Cheng

A 12-year old girl tries out for the traditionally all-boys’ Chinese youth Olympic weightlifting team. And makes an unlikely connection with the weightlifting gym’s reclusive groundskeeper.

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY short

Searching for Wives (Singapore), Zuki Juno Tobgye

Male migrant workers from South India living in Singapore send photos back home in the hope of finding suitable and willing marriage partners.

Special Jury Mention: I Made You, I Kill You (Romania/France), Alexandru Petru Badelita

In a remarkable cinematic diary, by turns touching and disturbing, Badelita looks back at his traumatic childhood growing up in rural Romania.

AUDIENCE AWARDS

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

Red Light (Bulgaria/Croatia), Toma Waszarow

A bus stops at a village’s only intersection, where the traffic light is stuck on red. The driver refuses to move forward

BEST ANIMATION SHORT

Coin Operated (USA), Nicholas Arioli

Seventy years pass in the life of one naïve explorer.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Kayayo (Norway), Mari Bakke Riise

Elementary-school-age Bamunu works as a kayayo (a living shopping cart) at the markets in Accra thousands of miles from her village.

SHORTFEST ONLINE AUDIENCE AWARD

Lost Face (Australia/Canada), Sean Meehan

Based on a classic story by Jack London set in mid-1800s Alaska, a man makes a deal with a native chief in hopes to save his life.

ADDITIONAL PRIZES

ALEXIS AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING STUDENT FILMMAKER – The Alexis Award is selected by the Festival’s programming team and was created in honor of Alexis Echavarria, whose talent as a budding filmmaker and gift for inspiring excellence among his fellow students were cut short suddenly in 2005 at age 16. The recipient received Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple.

Chebet (Kenya/USA), Tony Koros

A pregnant woman in the Kenyan highlands decides to take drastic action when she finds her husband passed out in front of their house yet again.

HP BRIDGING THE BORDERS AWARD PRESENTED BY CINEMA WITHOUT BORDERS – The award goes to a film that is most successful in bringing and connecting the people of our world closer together. The winner received an HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation valued at $3,000.

Pantheon (France), Ange-Régis Hounkpatin

Son of a Beninese immigrant, cut off from his roots, Solomon is about to donate his deceased father’s Voodoo costume to a museum when a young street-dancer reminds him of the ancestral soul.

YOUTH JURY AWARD – The winner received a $500 cash prize.

Everybody Else is Taken (New Zealand), Jessica Grace Smith

Meet Mika, a girl who refuses to let her gender define her place in one of the harshest environments on Earth-the play-ground.

About Palm Springs International ShortFest

Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA and BIFA as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, will take place in Palm Springs on June 20-26. Now in its 23^rd year, ShortFest will showcase 338 short films from 60 countries. The concurrent Short Film Market, the only one in North America, will feature a library of more than 4,200 films available to film buyers, industry and press. The ShortFest Forum programs are a four-day schedule of seminars, panel discussions, roundtables and master classes staged free of charge for attending filmmakers.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival will be held January 4-15, 2018 and the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala will be held January 2, 2018.

(Source: Press release provided by Nikki Croney, BWR)

28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival - After Party — PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: A general view of atmosphere at the after party for the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

#LAFilmFest

LA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

June 23, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

LA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

AND THANKS ITS GENEROUS SPONSORS

LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2017) – Today the LA Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, announced the winners of the 2017 Festival at the Awards Reception presided over by Festival Director Jennifer Cochis and Film Independent President Josh Welsh. The Festival’s juried awards include the U.S. Fiction Award, U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award presented by Aputure, World Fiction Award, Documentary Award, LA Muse Awards, and Nightfall Award, as well as the Short Fiction Award and the Short Documentary Award. Audience awards are presented for Fiction Feature Film, Documentary Feature Film, Short Film and Web Series. Festival Guest Director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl, Beatriz at Dinner) was awarded the Spirit of Independence Award at the event for his work advancing the cause of independent film and championing creative freedom. Film Independent President Josh Welsh also took the opportunity to thank the more than 60 generous sponsors, funders and media partners without whom the Festival would not be possible.

“This year the LA Film Festival stretched all across our city, from downtown to the beach,” said Festival Director Jennifer Cochis. “We’re so grateful to the film lovers who packed our theaters in support of our storytellers. Today we celebrate the winners of the LA Film Festival Awards!”

“Producing the LA Film Festival is a huge undertaking, with filmmakers from all across the globe, venues all across the city, and hundreds of volunteers helping us pull it off,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “We truly could not do it without the extremely generous support of our many sponsors.”

The U.S. Fiction Award went to Elizabeth Rohrbaugh and Daniel Powell for Becks, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. The U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award presented by Aputure went to cinematographers Christian Sorensen Hansen and Pete Ohs for Everything Beautiful is Far Away, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. Jury Members: Duncan Birmingham, Riley Stearns and Emily Ting.

The World Fiction Award went to Diego Ros for The Night Guard (El Vigilante), which made its North American Premiere at the Festival. Jury Members: Caroline Graham, Lincoln Jones and Javier Fuentes-León.

The Documentary Award went to Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp for Liyana, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. Jury Members: Katherine Fairfax-Wright, Paul Federbush and Matt Holzman.

The LA Muse Awards were given to two films, one fiction and one documentary. The LA Muse Documentary Award went to Mark Hayes for Skid Row Marathon, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. The LA Muse Fiction Award went to Savannah Bloch for And Then There Was Eve, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. Jury Members: Susan Burke, Juan Iglesias and Kimrie Lewis-Davis.

The Nightfall Award went to Amanda Evans for Serpent, which made its World Premiere at the Festival. Jury Members: Jimmy Tsai, Clarke Wolfe and Andrew Curry.

The Award for Short Fiction went to A Funeral for Lightning, directed by Emily Kai Bock. The Award for Short Documentary went to Black America Again, directed by Bradford Young. Jury Members: Kim Adelman, Jonni Cheatwood and Naomi Ladizinsky.

The Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film was given to Skid Row Marathon, directed by Mark Hayes.

The Audience Award for Fiction Feature Film went to The Keeping Hours, directed by Karen Moncrieff.

The Audience Award for Short Film went to Swim directed by Mari Walker. The Audience Award for Web Series went to High & Mighty, directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada.

Announced earlier were the winners of The Danny Elfman Project: Rabbit and Rogue competition:

13, Justine Quinones

The Bridge, Matt Eckholm

Dandelion, Catherine Fauteux

A Day for Manuel, JB Minerva

Gamelan, Cornelia Nicolăeasa

A Glory Sewn, Travis Dixon

Lakesong, Douglas Gibbens & Konstantina Mantelos

Natural Promotion, Sean Oliver

Urge, Pieter Coudyzer

Elfman offered free licenses of his Rabbit and Rogue album to filmmakers on indi.com as the catalyst and soundtracks to their short films. The winning films screened at the Festival. The jury was comprised of Gus Van Sant, McG, Rob Minkoff, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Paul Haggis and Suzanne Todd.

The LA Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday, June 14 with the World Premiere of Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry and will close later today with the LA Premiere of Matt Spicer’s Ingrid Goes West. Special Screenings included Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled, Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller, Dave McCary’s Brigsby Bear and featured conversations with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein of Portlandia, Ava DuVernay, Amanda Marsalis, DeMane Davis, Kat Candler and Cheryl Dunye of Queen Sugar to list but a few of the events this year. The Festival also celebrated producer Nina Yang Bongiovi (Roxanne Roxanne, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Fruitvale Station, Dope) at the Women Who Lead Luncheon.

The Festival’s five competitions featured 37 World Premieres, 2 International Premieres and 9 North American Premieres. Across the competition categories 42% of the films are directed by women and 40% are directed by people of color.

Awards were given out in the following categories:

U.S. Fiction Award
Winner: Becks, directed by Elizabeth Rohrbaugh and Daniel Powell

Screenwriter: Elizabeth Rohrbaugh, Daniel Powell, Rebecca Drysdale

Producer: Alex Bach, Elizabeth Rohrbaugh, Daniel Powell
Cast: Lena Hall, Mena Suvari, Christine Lahti, Dan Fogler, Rebecca Drysdale, Hayley Kiyoko, Michael Zegen

Film Description: After a crushing breakup, an aimless singer-songwriter moves in with her ultra-Catholic mother and strikes up an unexpected friendship with the wife of an old nemesis. World Premiere

U.S. Fiction Cinematography Award presented by Aputure

Winner: Everything Beautiful is Far Away, cinematography by Christian Sorensen Hansen and Pete Ohs
Directors: Pete Ohs and Andrea Sisson

Country: USA

Screenwriter: Pete Ohs

Producer: Saul Germaine, Andrea Sisson, Pete Ohs
Cast: Julia Garner, Joseph Cross, C.S. Lee

Film Description: This arthouse science fiction fable is set on an isolated desert planet, where a man who is looking for parts to repair his robotic companion teams up with a young woman who is searching for an imaginary lake. World Premiere

Aputure is a company that believes creators should never have to compromise their vision because of a budget. Offering professional-grade equipment affordable to filmmakers everywhere, Aputure sells in over 100 countries offering filmmakers and photographers LED lights, monitors, microphones and lens adapters. In partnering with the LA Film Festival to present the Aputure Cinematography Award, they are awarding $4,000 in lighting equipment to the winning film’s director of photography.

The U.S. Fiction Jury awarded the following special mentions:

Special Mention for Breakout Performance: Auden Thornton of Beauty Mark

Country: USA

Director: Harris Doran

Screenwriter: Harris Doran

Producer: Harris Doran, Penny Edmiston, Gill Holland, Kiley Lane Parker, Bridget Berger, Corey Moosa

Cast: Auden Thornton, Catherine Curtin, Laura Bell Bundy, Jeff Kober, Madison Iseman, Deirdre Lovejoy

Film Description: Inspired by true events, when a poverty-stricken young mother and her three-year-old son are evicted, she turns to the only person she knows with any money – the man who abused her as a child. World Premiere

Special Mention for Directing: Bruce Thierry Cheung of Don’t Come Back from the Moon

Country: USA

Screenwriter: Bruce Thierry Cheung, Dean Bakopoulos

Producer: Jay Davis, Lauren Hoekstra

Cast: Jeffrey Wahlberg, Zackary Arthur, Alyssa Elle Steinacker, Cheyenne Haynes, James Franco, Rashida Jones

Film Description: The men of a small town on the edge of nowhere mysteriously disappear, one by one, leaving women and children behind to fend for themselves in a desolate and dreamlike world. World Premiere

****

World Fiction Award
Winner: The Night Guard (El Vigilante), directed by Diego Ros
Country: Mexico

Screenwriter: Diego Ros

Producer: Diego Ros
Cast: Leonardo Alonso, Ari Gallegos, Lilia Mendoza, Héctor Holten

Film Description: A security guard at a construction site learns about a crime that took place the night before and becomes entangled in a series of mysterious events that unravel over the course of a single night. North American Premiere

The World Fiction Jury awarded the following special mention:

Special Mention for Excellence in Storytelling: On the Beach at Night Alone (Bamui Hae-Byun-Eoseo Honja), directed by Hong Sangsoo

Country: South Korea

Screenwriter: Hong Sangsoo

Producer: Hong Sangsoo

Cast: Kim Minhee, Seo Younghwa, Kwon Haehyo, Jung Jaeyoung, Song Seonmi, Moon Sungkeun, Ahn Jaehong, Park Yeaju, Karl Feder, Mark Peranson, Bettina Steinbrügge

Film Description: Younghee is an actress who is stressed by a relationship with a married man in Korea. On the beach she wonders: Is he missing me, like I miss him? North American Premiere

****

Documentary Award

Winner: Liyana, directed by Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp
Country: Swaziland / USA / Qatar

Producer: Amanda Kopp, Aaron Kopp, Sakheni Dlamini, Daniel Junge, Davis Coombe
Featuring: Gcina Mhlophe

Film Description: The epic tale of a young Swazi girl on a dangerous quest to save her twin brothers is brought to life with captivating animation from the imaginations of five talented orphan children in Swaziland. World Premiere

****

LA Muse Fiction Award
Winner: And Then There Was Eve, directed by Savannah Bloch

Screenwriter: Savannah Bloch, Colette Freedman

Producer: Jen Prince, Jhennifer Webberley
Cast: Tania Nolan, Rachel Crowl, Mary Holland, Karan Soni, Anne Gee Byrd, John Kassir

Film Description: After the sudden disappearance of her husband, a woman enlists the help of his coworker to fill in the missing pieces. World Premiere

LA Muse Documentary Award
Winner: Skid Row Marathon, directed by Mark Hayes

Screenwriter: Mark Hayes

Producer: Gabriele Hayes, Doug Blush
Cast: Judge Craig Mitchell, Ben Shirley, Rafael Cabrera, Rebecca Hayes, David Askew

Film Description: On LA’s Skid Row, a criminal court judge organizes a running club comprised of homeless, recovering and paroled men and women who seek to rediscover their sense of self-worth and dignity. World Premiere

The LA Muse Jury awarded the following special mentions:

Special Mention for Acting: John Carroll Lynch of Anything

Country: USA

Director: Timothy McNeil

Screenwriter: Timothy McNeil

Producer: Louise Runge, Ofrit Peres, Micah Hauptman

Cast: John Carroll Lynch, Matt Bomer, Maura Tierney, Margot Bingham, Micah Hauptman

Film Description: After the death of his wife, a man moves from Mississippi to a run-down Hollywood apartment, where he meets someone new. World Premiere

Special Mention for Excellence in Storytelling: The Classic, directed by Billy McMillin

Country: USA

Screenwriter: Billy McMillin

Producer: Christopher Leggett, Rafael Marmor, Timm Oberwelland, Billy McMillin

Cast: Mario Ramirez, Joseph Silva, Sammy Hernandez, Stevie Williams, Javier Cid, Lorenzo Hernandez, Alfred Robledo

Film Description: Two predominantly Latino high schools square off annually in one of the oldest and most heated football rivalries in the country: the East LA Classic. It doesn’t get more American than this. World Premiere

****

Nightfall Award
Winner: Serpent, directed by Amanda Evans

Screenwriter: Amanda Evans

Producer: Greig Buckle
Cast: Sarah Dumont, Tom Ainsley

Film Description: When a young couple take a getaway aimed at reviving their romance, they find themselves trapped in a tent with a venomous snake and a backlog of secrets, and realize that only one of them can make it out alive. World Premiere

The Nightfall Jury awarded the following special mention:

Special Mention for Acting: Kate Nhung of The Housemaid

Country: USA/Vietnam

Director: Derek Nguyen

Screenwriter: Derek Nguyen

Producer: Timothy Linh Bui

Cast: Nhung Kate, Jean-Michel Richaud, Kim Xuan, Rosie Fellner, Phi Phung, Kien An

Film Description: After an orphaned Vietnamese girl is hired to be a housemaid at a haunted rubber plantation in 1953 French Indochina, she unexpectedly falls in love with the French landowner and awakens the vengeful ghost of his dead wife. North American Premiere

****

Award for Short Film
Winner: A Funeral for Lightning, directed by Emily Kai Bock. USA/Canada.
Film Description: Seven months pregnant and stuck in a sleepy corner of Tennessee, a young woman begins to question the promises made by her charismatic husband.

The Shorts Jury awarded the following special mentions:

Special Mention for Excellence in Storytelling: Balloonfest, directed by Nathan Truesdell. USA

Film Description: Cleveland attempts to overcome its nickname, “The Mistake by the Lake,” by launching a bunch of balloons.

****

Award for Documentary Short

Winner: Black America Again, directed by Bradford Young. USA
Film Description: Inspired by Common’s Black America Again, this portrait is a celebration of the beauty, strength, perseverance and spirit of the black community in these troubling times.

****

Audience Award for Fiction Feature Film

Winner: The Keeping Hours, directed by Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Jason Blum, John Miranda
Cast: Lee Pace, Carrie Coon, Sander Thomas, Amy Smart, Ana Ortiz, Ray Baker

Film Description: Years after the death of their son and their subsequent estrangement, a couple reunites under supernatural circumstances. World Premiere.

This award is given to the fiction feature audiences liked most as voted by a tabulated rating system. Select fiction feature-length films screening in the following sections were eligible for the Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature: U.S. Fiction, World Fiction, LA Muse, Nightfall and Premieres.

****

Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film
Winner: Skid Row Marathon, directed by Mark Hayes

Producers: Gabriele Hayes, Doug Blush

Featuring: Judge Craig Mitchell, Ben Shirley, Rafael Cabrera, Rebecca Hayes, David Askew

This award is given to the documentary feature audiences liked most as voted by a tabulated rating system. Select documentary feature-length films screening in the following sections were eligible for the Audience Award for Documentary Feature: Documentary LA Muse and Premieres.

****

Audience Award for Short Film
Winner: Swim, directed by Mari Walker

Country: USA
Film Description: As summer draws to a close, a young trans girl finds freedom in a secret midnight swim.

This award is given to the short film audiences liked most as voted by a tabulated rating system. Short films screening in the Shorts Programs or before feature films in the Festival were eligible for the Audience Award for Short Film.

****

Audience Award for Web-series
Winner: High & Mighty, directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada

Country: USA

Description: Perpetually stoned, drunk, and unemployed, Chelo Chavez is an unlikely superhero.

This award is given to the web-series audiences liked most as voted by a tabulated rating system.

In closing out the 2017 edition, the Festival also thanks the many sponsors whose support makes the program possible including Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Venue the ArcLight Cinemas. Platinum Sponsors are Alfa Romeo, American Airlines, EFilm | Company 3, HBO and Marker’s Mark. Supporter Level Sponsors are Classic Party Rentals, Directors Guild of America, Dolby, Focus Features, Kona Productions, Showtime Documentary Films and Smartsource Rentals.

Generous support has also been provided by Affiliate Level Sponsors ATK Audiotek, designer8*, The Culver Studios, IFC, Konsonant Music, Kraft-Engel Management, Ovation TV, SAGindie, Snapsound and Twentieth Century Fox Film. Other sponsors include BMI, ESPN Films, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Ketchum, Twin Cities Film Fest, USA Network and Writers Guild of America, West.

Additional support is provided by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Time Warner Foundation, Lisa Argyros/Argyros Family Foundation, Jason Delane Lee and Yvonne Huff Lee | Lagralane Group, UCLA Latin American Institute, Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, Employees Community Fund of Boeing California and the Members of Film Independent’s annual giving group, Arts Circle.

The Festival also thanks official industry resource IMDbPro, official card Citi, official beer Golden Road Brewing and official water, Essentia Water.

Alfa Romeo

Since its foundation in Milan, Italy, in 1910, Alfa Romeo continues to design and craft some of the most stunning and premium vehicles in automotive history, all while building on a racing heritage that includes some of the most talented and storied drivers and victories. www.alfaromeousa.com

American Airlines

American is committed to the community in Los Angeles through local partnerships and community projects and, as the preferred airline of the entertainment industry, has formed an advisory council of influencers from leading entertainment corporations to shape future decisions. American offers up to 225 flights per day from LAX to 70 destinations worldwide.

EFILM | CO3

Post facilities EFilm | Company 3, part of Deluxe’s creative group of companies, are known for creative color artistry, pioneering technology and global reach. Recent features include blockbusters Beauty & the Beast and Wonder Woman and indies such as The Bachelors, The Book of Henry, A Crooked Somebody and Out of State.

HBO

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO^® and Cinemax^® – to approximately 134 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand^® and Cinemax On Demand^®, as well as HBO GO^®and MAX GO^®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOW^®, the network’s internet-only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

Maker’s Mark

Maker’s Mark® is one of the finest Kentucky Bourbons with a soft, smooth flavor stemming from the use of red winter wheat. Today, Maker’s Mark® makes its bourbon the same way its founder, Bill Samuels, Sr., did over 60 years ago, in small batches by craftsmen who hand-dip each bottle.

Essentia Water

We’re here to put a flag in the ground and tell the world that a better you starts with a better water. Supercharged ionized alkaline water, Essentia delivers peak rehydration performance. It’s about drinking up more of life and doing all the things that make you extraordinary. #EssentiaNation

Golden Road

Founded in 2011 by beer enthusiast Meg Gill, Golden Road Brewing has since become Los Angeles’ largest craft brewer and is available throughout major markets in the US. Golden Road offers a wide variety of beers created by combining old world brewing standards with California lifestyle inspired innovation and ingredients.

Thank you to WireImage, the Official Photographer of the LA Film Festival. Please visit wireimage.com, the official source for photos.

Additional thanks to media partners Backstage, Deadline Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter, KCRW 89.9FM, KPFK 90.7FM, LA Metro, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Confidential, Martin Outdoor Media, MovieMaker Magazine, OUTFRONT Media, Time Out Los Angeles, Univision/KLVE, Variety, Variety 411, WireImage and TheWrap.

(Source: Press release provided by Gladys Santos, Ginsburg/Libby)

*Featured photo from You Get Me, directed by Brent Bonacorso

television

SYDNEY CLOSES WITH A SURREAL SPLASH

June 23, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT CLOSING NIGHT GALA

The 64^th Sydney Film Festival awarded On Body and Soul, directed by Ildikó Enyedi, the prestigious 10th anniversary Sydney Film Prize, out of a selection of 12 Official Competition films.

The $60,000 cash prize for ‘audacious, cutting-edge and courageous’ film was awarded to Enyedi at the Festival’s Closing Night Gala awards ceremony and event at the State Theatre, ahead of the Australian premiere screening of Bong Joon-ho’s Okja.

Accepting the award, Enyedi said, “It was such an amazingly strong competition. It’s marvellous that such a film can move so many people, it gives me so much hope in cinema and in human communication.”

Sydney filmmakers Sascha Ettinger Epstein and Claire Haywood were awarded the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary’s $10,000 cash prize for The Pink House, about the last brothel in old mining town Kalgoorlie.

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films saw the $7000 cash prize for the Dendy Live Action Short Award going to Adele, directed by Mirene Igwabi. Sunday Emerson Gullifer was Highly Commended for her short film Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. And Daniel Agdag’s animation Lost Property Office took out both the $7000 Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director and the $5000 Yoram Gross Animation Award.

The Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award, a $5,000 prize for the best short screenwriting, was awarded to Michael Cusack, the writer and director of stop motion animation After All. And the writers of Screenability short film The Milky Pop Kid, Johanna Garvin and Emily Dash, were Highly Commended.

The $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award, bestowed by Create NSW to a trail-blazing NSW-based screen practitioner, went to Indigenous Australian actor, director and writer Leah Purcell.

Chris Freeland announced he will step down as Sydney Film Festival Chair while remaining on the Board. Freeland, a Partner of Baker McKenzie and a member of its Asia Pacific Regional Council, chaired the organisation for eight years. He led an era of expansion as well as industry and public popularity, seeing attendances almost double.

Festival Board Director Deanne Weir was welcomed to the position of Chair. Weir has over 25 years’ experience in media and communications and is Foxtel’s Managing Director, Content Aggregation and Wholesale. She is also a renowned television producer and philanthropist whose passion is to support the advancement of women in the community.

Sydney Film Festival CEO Leigh Small said, “This year again, the Festival exceeded previous attendance figures – a continuing ten-year trend. There was an average of 72% capacity across all sessions with almost 185,000 attendances. This result marks a fitting end to Chris Freeland’s eight year tenure during which the number of people attending the Sydney Film Festival almost doubled.”

Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said: “2017 has been a significant year for film and filmmakers. As the world looks for ways to understand and interpret the momentous events and challenges facing humanity, filmmakers across the globe have risen to the challenge.

“From refugees and the horrors of war, to the state of the world’s oceans, this program of films – screened to Australian audiences for the first time at the 64^th Sydney Film Festival – has provided an opportunity to debate and discuss some of the most pressing and contentious issues of our time.

“With a spotlight on questions of equality in race, sexuality, wealth, accessibility, and many other global conversations, these 12 days have provided a wealth of stories from diverse viewpoints and a moment in time to take stock of who, what and where we are today.

“I congratulate all the winners and all of the finalists, as well as the hundreds of filmmakers who have joined us at the Festival to present their ideas and opinions in films, talks and discussions,” he said.

THE SYDNEY FILM PRIZE

On awarding the Sydney Film Prize to Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi’s On Body and Soul, Jury President Margaret Pomeranz said:

“Over the past 12 days we’ve experienced a most extraordinary cinematic journey curated by Sydney Film Festival.

“We’ve seen films about women struggling to find a space for themselves in a world that seems to want to keep them in their place; there have been films about transgressions, from youthful murder to child abuse.

“We’ve seen films about the many faces of sexual desire; we’ve been invited into worlds of wonder we have never experienced and we’ve been exposed to the ugly side of ourselves, through racism, poverty, cruelty and displacement. And we’ve also been invited into the world of human compassion.

“And that element of compassion is very present in the film we’ve chosen to award the Sydney Film Prize. It’s a film that shows us that even in this divided world we are capable of sharing the same dreams, that amongst the ugliness of a slaughterhouse, kindness, gentleness can be found,” she said.

“So the Sydney Film Prize goes to the graceful, measured and ever so compassionate On Body and Soul from Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi.”

Winner of the Berlinale Golden Bear, On Body and Soul is Enyedi’s visually ravishing return to filmmaking after an 18-year break. The film is about the unconventional romance between two co-workers who discover that each night they have exactly the same dreams.

The Festival jury was comprised of Australian film critic Margaret Pomeranz, critically acclaimed Nepali director Deepak Rauniyar, former senior film executive of South Korean powerhouse CJ Entertainment Kini Kim, independent Asian-Canadian animator Ann Marie Fleming, and Australian film producer Rosemary Blight of smash-hit The Sapphires and acclaimed television series Cleverman.

Previous winners include: Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015); Two Days, One Night (2014); Only God Forgives (2013); Alps (2012); A Separation (2011); Heartbeats (2010); Bronson (2009); and Hunger (2008).

The competition is endorsed by FIAPF, the regulating body for international film festivals, and is judged by a jury of five international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals.

THE DOCUMENTARY AUSTRALIA FOUNDATION AWARD FOR AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY

The Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary was awarded to The Pink House from filmmakers Sascha Ettinger Epstein and Claire Haywood. The Jury comprising award-winning Asian-American filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz, CEO of the Documentary Australia Foundation Dr Mitzi Goldman and Australian based Iranian filmmaker Amin Palangi in a joint statement said:

“Amongst ten noteworthy films, one film enthralled us with its blend of nuanced characters and narrative depth.

“In classic cinema verite fashion, the filmmaker introduces us to two singular women who give her unfettered access to their constantly changing lives, revealing a profound trust between filmmaker and subject that renders this film deeply personal and intimate.

“Through the unflinching gaze of her lens, this filmmaker immerses us in a world that, in less disciplined hands, could very well have been voyeuristic. Instead we are treated to a film that is handled with affection and grace.”

“We the Jury give the Australian documentary prize to Sasha Ettinger Epstein and Claire Haywood for The Pink House.”

2017 marks the fourth year the prize has been supported by the Foundation.

Previous winners include: In the Shadow of the Hill (2016); Only the Dead (2015); 35 Letters (2014); Buckskin (2013); Killing Anna (2012); Life in Movement (2011); and The Snowman (2010). In 2009 the inaugural prize was shared between Contact and A Good Man, and each film received a $10,000 cash prize.

The 10 finalists for the 2017 Sydney Film Festival Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary are listed HERE.

THE DENDY AWARDS FOR AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILMS

The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films were awarded to Mirene Igwabi for Adele (Dendy Live Action Short Award), Sunday Emerson Gullifer for Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow (Highly Commended), and Daniel Agdag for Lost Property Office (Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director and Yoram Gross Animation Award). The Jury comprised Canadian filmmaker Kirsten Carthew, former Vice President of Paramount Pictures Mike Selwyn, and Australian film producer Kath Shelper. In a joint statement, the Jury said:

“This year’s Jury was particularly excited by the exceptional talent that continues to emerge from Australia’s animation sector.

“We were captivated by the original and diverse stories and variety of animation techniques presented in both the Dendy Awards and in the rest of the Festival.

“Lost Property Office stood out for its direction, storytelling and exquisite visuals that could only have been realised through animation, which was the perfect choice of medium to tell this story.”

The Festival’s short-film competition is now in the 48^th year; and has been sponsored by Dendy Cinemas for 29 years. Winners of the Best Live Action Short Film award and the Yoram Gross Animation award, sponsored by Yoram Gross Films, are Academy Award-eligible, opening new pathways for many Australian filmmakers.

These ground-breaking awards have kick-started the careers of many prominent filmmakers, with past competitors Warwick Thornton, Ariel Kleiman, Cate Shortland, Jane Campion, Phillip Noyce and Ivan Sen among Dendy Awards alumni.

The 10 finalists for the 2017 Dendy Award for Australian Short Film are listed HERE.

EVENT CINEMAS AUSTRALIAN SHORT SCREENPLAY AWARD

A jury comprising Canadian filmmaker Kirsten Carthew, former Vice President of Paramount Pictures Mike Selwyn, and Australian film producer Kath Shelper awarded the Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award to Michael Cusack, the writer and director of stop motion animation After All. Highly Commended the writers of Screenability short film The Milky Pop Kid, Johanna Garvin and Emily Dash.

Sponsored by Event Cinemas, Anthony Kierann, Area General Manager, Event Cinemas said:

“Event Cinemas is proud to once again sponsor The Event Cinema’s Australian Short Screenplay award. Events acknowledges and supports the idea, concept and vision of a short film as penned by the writers in this exciting category.

“To be able to participate and support an outstanding written script by an Australian at this iconic film festival, we hope to encourage and support the writer towards inspiring development and achievements in the film landscape. We applaud all the short films within the category as stand out short films from the writers.”

The Australian short films eligible for the 2017 Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award are listed HERE.

Winners of all Sydney Film Festival awards are presented with the Festival’s signature mesmeric swirl award, designed and handmade in Sydney by Festival partners Dinosaur Designs.

The UNESCO Sydney City Of Film Award

The $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award, bestowed by Create NSW to a trail-blazing NSW-based screen practitioner, went to Indigenous Australian actor, director and writer Leah Purcell.

ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

From Wednesday 7 June to Sunday 18 June 2017, the 64^th Sydney Film Festival offers Sydneysiders another exciting season of cinema amidst a whirlwind of premieres, red-carpet openings, in-depth discussions, international guests and more.

Sydney Film Festival also presents an Official Competition of 12 films that vie for the Sydney Film Prize, a highly respected honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners: Aquarius (2016); Arabian Nights (2015); Two Days, One Night (2014); Only God Forgives (2013); Alps (2012); A Separation (2011); Heartbeats (2010); Bronson (2009); and Hunger (2008).

The Festival takes place across Greater Sydney: at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, Dendy Newtown, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Randwick Ritz, Casula Powerhouse, the Festival Hub at Sydney Town Hall and SFF Outdoor Screen in Pitt Street Mall.

The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit: www.sff.org.au.

The 64^th Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic Partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.

(Source: Media release provided by image.net)

#AFIDOCS

Audience Award Winners at AFI DOCS 2017

June 19, 2017 HollywoodGlee 1 Comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES
AFI DOCS 2017 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

Best Feature Goes to STEP
Best Short Goes to FISH STORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — JUNE 19, 2017, WASHINGTON, DC — The American Film Institute has announced the AFI DOCS 2017 Audience Award winners, concluding the five-day festival in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD. This year’s Audience Award for Best Feature went to STEP, directed by Amanda Lipitz. This year’s Audience Award for Best Short went to FISH STORY, directed by Charlie Lyne.

With 112 films from 28 countries, this year’s AFI DOCS presented films and discussions on topics ranging from the environment and sports to politics and art, along with profiles of extraordinary individuals. Among the attendees were filmmakers and notables including Trish Adlesic and Mariska Hargitay (I AM EVIDENCE), Matthew Heineman (CITY OF GHOSTS), Michael Pack (THE FALL OF NEWT GINGRICH), Laura Poitras (AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium honoree), Samuel Pollard (ACORN AND THE FIRESTORM), Morgan Spurlock (NO MAN’S LAND, TOUGH GUYS), as well as scientist Bill Nye (BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY) and Owner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis.

This year’s festival was one of spirited audience engagement — with discussion and examination of issues led by some of the nation’s top journalists: ABC News’ Political Director Rick Klein; Climatewire’s Emily Holden and Scott Waldman; CQ Roll Call Deputy Editor Jason Dick; FRONTLINE Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath; Governing Magazine’s Mattie Quinn; NPR podcast “Invisibilia” hosts Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin, and “Dispatches” podcast host Morgan Givens; NPR’s “The Big Listen” host Lauren Ober; PBS NewsHour correspondent John Yang; The Undefeated’s Culture Writer Soraya Nadia McDonald and Senior Writer Clinton Yates; Variety’s Senior Editor Ted Johnson; and The Washington Post’s Chief Film Critic Ann Hornaday, Food and Dining Editor Joe Yonan, Opinion Writer Alyssa Rosenberg, National Reporter Wesley Lowery and Style Writer Monica Hesse.

Presented in collaboration with NBCUniversal, the third edition of the AFI DOCS Impact Lab provided participating filmmakers with professional development in preparation for advancing their causes and meetings with policy leaders and advocates.

As part of AFI DOCS 2017, AFI and The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands invited select filmmakers and public policy experts to a roundtable to explore ways documentary film can impact worldwide efforts on behalf of women and girls. The conversation allowed NGO leaders and government officials to interact with content creators to discuss new ways to strengthen narratives that advocate for women and girls.

Six films with AFI Conservatory alumni credits were included in this year’s festival: 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE, ATOMIC HOMEFRONT, BRIMSTONE & GLORY, CHAVELA, TAKE EVERY WAVE: THE LIFE OF LAIRD HAMILTON and WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME”.

MORE ABOUT THE AUDIENCE AWARD-WINNING FILMS:

STEP
Meet the “Lethal Ladies,” the amazing step dance team from the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. Amanda Lipitz’s inspiring portrait will have you cheering as the Ladies attempt to finish first in the city’s dance competition and to become the first women in their families to go to college.

FISH STORY
FISH STORY investigates a mysterious gathering rumored to have taken place in 1980s Wales, at which an unlikely group of people with one thing in common came together.

AT&T is the presenting sponsor of AFI DOCS 2017. American Airlines returned as the official airline of AFI. Official Sponsors included the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NBCUniversal and VIZIO. Major Sponsors included the CrossCurrents Foundation; CuriosityStream; DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment; Embassy of Canada; Embrey Family Foundation; IMDbPro; Maryland Film Office; Participant Media; and Yorktel.

About the American Film Institute
Celebrating its golden milestone, the American Film Institute began its mission on June 5, 1967 — to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. Established by Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidential mandate in the White House Rose Garden, AFI is America’s promise to educate today’s audiences and tomorrow’s artists. The Institute was anchored by a foundation of luminaries from the film community including Gregory Peck as Chair, Sidney Poitier as Vice Chair, George Stevens, Jr., as Director and CEO with board members Francis Ford Coppola, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and Jack Valenti.

In 1969, AFI opened the Center for Advanced Film Studies, now called the AFI Conservatory, an elite MFA program whose inaugural class included Terrence Malik, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. The program’s acclaimed film and television alumni include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Julie Dash, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, David Lynch and Robert Richardson, among others.

In addition to the AFI Conservatory, AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding movies and TV series of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, and youtube.com/AFI.

About AFI DOCS
AFI DOCS is the American Film Institute’s annual documentary festival in Washington, DC. Presenting the year’s best documentaries, AFI DOCS is the only festival in the U.S. dedicated to screenings and events that connect audiences, filmmakers and policy leaders in the heart of our nation’s government. The AFI DOCS advisory board includes Ken Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Chris Hegedus, Werner Herzog, Barbara Kopple, Spike Lee, Errol Morris, Stanley Nelson, D A Pennebaker, Agnès Varda and Frederick Wiseman. Now in its 15th year, the festival will be held June 14–18, 2017, in landmark Washington, DC, venues and at the historic AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. Visit AFI.com/AFIDOCS and connect on twitter.com/AFIDOCS, facebook.com/AFIDOCS, youtube.com/AFI and instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We offer the nation’s best data network* and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.** We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.

AT&T Products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and YouTube at youtube.com/att.

*Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q3+Q4 2016 across 121 markets.

**Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.

(Sources: Gabrielle Flamand, AFI DOCS PR, gabrielle@prcollaborative.com or Liza Ameen, American Film Institute, lameen@AFI.com.)

#AFIDOCS

June 17, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI DOCS WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of DOLORES and WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME” at the Newseum, and the World Premieres of ATOMIC HOMEFRONT and SAVING BRINTON

Screening of BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY with Bill Nye in Person

Closing Night Screening of YEAR OF THE SCAB From Director John Dorsey

Washington, DC, Saturday, June 17, 2017 — Weekend highlights include the Spotlight Screenings of DOLORES and WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME” at the Newseum, and the world premiere of ATOMIC HOMEFRONT (directed by AFI Directing Workshop for Women alumna Rebecca Cammisa, appearing in person). Bill Nye joins audiences for the screening of BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY. AFI DOCS concludes the 2017 festival with the Closing Night Screening of YEAR OF THE SCAB, followed by a panel discussion with director John Dorsey.

WHO: Director Peter Bratt

WHAT: DOLORES – SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

This film honors activist Dolores Huerta — who fought alongside Cesar Chavez to advance labor and civil rights causes beginning in the 1960s — as she reflects on the accomplishments and sacrifices of her passionate career.

WHERE: Newseum, Annenberg Theater, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC

WHEN: Saturday, June 17 6:15 p.m. Screening followed by Panel with director Peter Bratt moderated by Variety’s Ted Johnson

WHO: Director Rudi Dolezal

WHAT: WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME” – SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

An intimate portrait of Whitney Houston through those who were closest to her. This illuminating tale of a pop diva and her tragic trajectory tells the singer’s story from supremely talented teenage gospel singer in her New Jersey church to chart-topping, iconic American chanteuse.

WHERE: Newseum, Annenberg Theater, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,DC

WHEN: Saturday, June 17 9:00 p.m. Screening followed by a panel discussion with director Rudi Dolezal moderated by The Undefeated’s Soraya McDonald.

Tickets for select screenings are still available. Order online at AFI.com/AFIDOCS. Same day tickets must be purchased in-person at festival venues: Landmark E Street Cinema, the Newseum and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.

WORLD PREMIERE OF SAVING BRINTON

Saturday, June 17 at 4:15 p.m. SAVING BRINTON at the AFI Silver Theatre 2. In his position as small-town Iowa historian and collector, Michael Zahs lucked into the acquisition of one of the rarest collections of turn-of-the-century cinema. Now turning his obsession into purpose, Zahs sets out to restore and exhibit his treasure trove of newsreels, home movies and lost films. Expected guests include directors Tommy Haines, John Richard and Andrew Sherburne, film subject Michael Zahs, producers JT Haines and Trish McDonald, The Library of Congress’ George Willeman and Film Professor Kathy Fuller Seeley.

WORLD PREMIERE OF ATOMIC HOMEFRONT

Saturday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m. ATOMIC HOMEFRONT at Landmark E Street Cinema Theater 1. A major metropolitan area in the United States lies dangerously close to a large landfill containing radioactive waste — and an escalating underground fire. As concerned citizens attempt to halt a potential catastrophe, they discover that they may be running out of time to save their homes, health and lives. Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include director Rebecca Cammisa. Q&A moderated by Governing Magazine’s Mattie Quinn.

BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY SCREENING WITH BILL NYE

Sunday, June 18 at 5:45 p.m. BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY at Landmark E Street Cinema Theater 1. The beloved TV personality finds himself in the fight of his life as he goes up against those seeking to debunk and diminish the scientific principles that he’s spent his entire career teaching. In an age where science is constantly under attack, can Bill Nye help save the day? Expected guests include directors David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg, and film subject Bill Nye. Q&A moderated by Climatewire’s Scott Waldman.

YEAR OF THE SCAB CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING

Sunday, June 18, 7:00 PM followed by a panel discussion with director John Dorsey at the Newseum, Annenberg Theater, 555 Pennsylvania AVE NW, Washington, DC

In September 1987, for the first time in U.S. history, replacement football players took the field amidst a union strike. Seen as a second chance for these “scab” players, the ’87 season became a memorable one for the Washington Redskins. A don’t miss opportunity to see up front and personal the trials and tribulations of the key persons involved.

AFI DOCS FORUM: DAYS THREE AND DAY FOUR

Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Festival filmmakers and industry professionals will meet at the AFI DOCS Festival Hub and the Newseum, for the final two days of the AFI DOCS Forum. Each day the Forum explores a unique topic with keynote presentations, conversations, panel discussions, VR demonstrations and micro-meetings. Saturday and Sunday’s AFI DOCS Forum schedule includes:

Saturday, June 17, 10:00 a.m.: Short Order: Making and Distributing Rapid Response Short Docs

Short doesn’t always mean fast in documentary filmmaking, but there are major advantages to making and distributing short docs on a speedy timeline. This panel of makers and funders addresses a faster approach to shorts, outlines available opportunities for support and explores key partnerships vital to working in this mode. Panelists include Brandon Kramer (THE MESSY TRUTH), Kate Mclean (GUT HACK, BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY) and Laura Poitras (RISK). Moderated by Loira Limbal, Vice President, Firelight Media.

Saturday, June 17, 1:00 p.m.: In With the New: The Latest Trends in Documentary Distribution
Staying current with the latest distribution trends is critical to filmmakers’ success in reaching audiences and generating revenue. This panel of industry experts and new players in the distribution space examines the current state of documentary distribution and explains the evolving relationship between theatrical, broadcast and online platforms. Panelist include Dan O’Meara, Vice President, Special Projects & Documentary, NEON, and Michael Tuckman, Founder, mTuckman Media. Moderated by Andrea Meditch (THE CAGE FIGHTER).

Saturday, June 17, 3:00 p.m.: VR Exhibition at the Newseum
Immerse yourself in the latest and best in virtual reality (VR) by experiencing our curated selection of amazing and wide-ranging VR documentaries. VR experiences include: AFTER SOLITARY, CHASING CORAL: THE VR EXPERIENCE, MELTING ICE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S THE PROTECTORS: WALK IN THE RANGER’S SHOES, OPERATION ASPEN, THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE, UNDER THE CANOPY, UNDERWORLD and WE WHO REMAIN.

Saturday, June 17, 4:30 p.m.: No More: How VR is Having Real-World Impact at the Newseum
With lightning speed, VR has emerged as a viable storytelling platform and a major force in documentary. Driving VR’s rise is its huge promise for building stronger empathy in audiences and connecting people to powerful, real-world stories and social issues. This panel will explore how filmmakers and organizations are using VR to change hearts and minds. Panelists include Cassandra Herrman and Lauren Mucciolo, lead artists (AFTER SOLITARY); Imraan Ismail, lead artist (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICS THE PROTECTORS: WALK IN THE RANGER’S SHOES); Hunter Holcombe, Executive Producer, AJ+; and Will Villota, Vice President of Brand, Conservation International. Moderated by Mitch Gelman, Chief Technology Officer, Newseum.

Sunday, June 18, 12:30 p.m.: Moving the Needle: How Programs for Filmmakers Are Making a Difference in Gender Parity

Talk is cheap, but these organizations are making a difference by putting major support and resources behind women-centered initiatives that are giving women filmmakers real opportunities to bolster their own careers, as well as transform the broader documentary landscape. Panelists include Claire Aguilar, Director Programming & Policy, International Documentary Association; Lynn Hughes, Co-Chair, Women’s Impact Network, Producers Guild of America; Terry Lawler, Executive Director, New York Women in Film & Video; and Christa Scharfenberg, Head of Studio, Glassbreaker Films, Center for Investigative Reporting. Moderated by Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director, Women Make Movies.

Sunday, June 18, 2:00 p.m.: Hear Me Now: The Art of Nonfiction Podcasting
This special session illuminates the process of creating nonfiction podcasts. In part one, panelists, including podcasters and NPR, discuss the unique challenges of podcasting. In part two, Hanna Rosin and Alix Spiegel, two of the hosts of the hugely popular NPR podcast “Invisibilia,” present a case study from their new season. Panelists include Morgan Givens, Host, “Dispatches;” Steve Nelson, Director of Programming, NPR; Christa Scharfenberg, Head of Studio, Center for Investigative Reporting; “Invisibilia’s” Hanna Rosin, Liana Simonds and Alix Spiegal. Moderated by “The Big Listen’s” host Lauren Ober.

Sunday, June 18, 4:00 p.m.: Talking Pictures with Ann Hornaday

In her latest book “Talking Pictures,” The Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday guides us through the craft of movie-making, explaining how to watch and evaluate every piece of the process. The book reveals how many of the same skills and techniques used to create fiction works are also used in documentaries. Join Hornaday at the Festival Hub as she talks pictures and signs copies of her new book.
A LOOK BACK AT FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

The Charles Guggenheim Symposium paid tribute to groundbreaking filmmaker Laura Poitras. The Symposium included an in-depth conversation with Poitras along with clips from her acclaimed works, which include this year’s Julian Assange doc RISK, her Academy Award^®-winning Edward Snowden portrait CITIZENFOUR (2014), THE OATH (2010), MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY (2006) and FLAG WARS (2003).

The four-day AFI DOCS Forum wrapped its second day Friday in the nation’s capital. Friday’s Forum focused on the role of truth in storytelling, within a “post-truth” world. The media’s purpose to educate the public and the expanding roles of journalism and documentary film were also highlighted.
Photos and a recap from the day’s events will be made available for download in the pressroom at afidocspress.afi.com.

OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS:

11:00 a.m. ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7

American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Marcelo Gomes recounts a lifelong dedication to his art while sharing stories from his personal life. The film is an intimate portrait of a man at the top of his game, who knows that his body can only withstand the rigors of the profession for so long. Expected guests include directors James Pellerito and David Barba.

11:00 a.m. AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

Hailed as “a real-life HOUSE OF CARDS” and a “non-fiction political thriller,” Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla’s AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN provides an up-close look at the birth of India’s Common Man Party and the rise of its populist leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who boldly challenges government corruption. Expected guests include director Vinay Shukla.
11:15 a.m. SCHOOL LIFE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7

For nearly five decades, eccentric and brilliant couple Amanda and John have nurtured legions of students through Headfort, Ireland’s last boarding prep school. Progressive pedagogy plays out in a rambling, old-school institution as beloved by its pupils as by the aging couple contemplating a future away from this place of deep roots.

11:15 a.m. 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

In December 2008, Ruth Litoff took her own life and left behind a legacy of art, love and tragedy. Years later, her sister Hope undertakes a mission to understand Ruth’s illness and her desire to end her life. 32 PILLS documents Hope’s painful journey and serves as a poignant tribute to her beloved sister. Expected guests include producer Beth Levison.
12:00 p.m. MUHI – GENERALLY TEMPORARY

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1

MUHI tells the story of a young boy from Gaza, separated from his family, whose very existence depends on the loving care he receives from an Israeli hospital. This deeply affecting film makes a compelling case against the border walls that divide families and communities. Expected guests include directors Rina Castelnuovo-Hollander and Tamir Elterman.

1:15 p.m. LA LIBERTAD DEL DIABLO

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7

In only a decade, Mexico’s drug wars have left more than 100,000 dead and 30,000 missing. Everardo González’s haunting documentary goes beyond the headlines to give a human face to the conflict. The masked testimonies of both victims and perpetrators offer a powerful and chilling reminder of the systemic violence that has infiltrated Mexican society. Expected guests include director Everardo González.

1:30 p.m. CINE SAO PAULO
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
Once a grand movie palace, the Cine Sao Paulo in Brazil is now crumbled into ruin. Enter Dom Chico, whose father once owned the theater, as he attempts to restore it to its former glory. The film is a love letter to both the movies and the dreamers who love them. Expected guests include director Ricardo Martensen.

1:45 p.m. THE FORCE
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
This compelling exposé focuses on the Oakland Police Department as they undergo efforts to reform an agency riven by years of corruption and criminal activity. This troubling and timely portrait of a police force in crisis won the Best Director Prize at Sundance. Expected guests include director Peter Nicks.

1:45 p.m. LEANING INTO THE WIND – ANDY GOLDSWORTHY
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
Thomas Riedelsheimer’s documentary RIVERS AND TIDES (2001) became a box office smash, delighting audiences with its profile of iconoclastic British artist Andy Goldsworthy. In LEANING INTO THE WIND, Goldsworthy continues his quest to create ephemeral, transformative works of art in unlikely places around the globe.

2:30 p.m. LOOK TO THE RIGHT: A CONVERSATION WITH ANN HORNADAY AND MICHAEL PACK

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1

In recent years, conservative documentaries have achieved impressive reach with audiences despite being largely absent from the festival, art-house and TV circuits. Filmmaker Michael Pack (THE FALL OF NEWT GINGRICH) discusses how these films connect with viewers, their impact on politics and the connection between production values and policy.
3:30 p.m. LA CHANA
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
Winner of the Audience Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, LA CHANA celebrates the incomparable talent and spirit of Spain’s greatest gypsy flamenco dancer as she reflects on her storied past while preparing for a return to the stage in her 70s. Expected guests include director Lucija Stojevic.

3:45 p.m. STRONG ISLAND
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
In 1992, Yance Ford’s brother William was shot to death when he confronted a white mechanic about a car repair. The all-white grand jury chose not to bring charges. In this searing, deeply moving and personal journey, Ford confronts the truths about what happened and examines the gaping hole that William’s death left in the family. Expected guests include director Yance Ford. Q&A moderated by The Washington Post’s Wesley Lowery.

4:15 p.m. MAMA COLONEL
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
In a country still recovering from the scars of war, the headstrong Colonel Honorine Munyole leads a special police unit in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo — with the mission to serve and protect the women and children of her country when no one else will. Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include director Dieudo Hamadi and film subject Colonel Honorine (schedules permitting).

4:30 p.m. DINA
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1
The titular heroine of this delightful portrait follows a 49-year-old woman who copes with autism while beginning a fledgling romance with Scott, a Walmart door greeter. This tender story of overcoming obstacles and finding love won the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Expected guests include directors Antonio Santini and Daniel Sickles, and film subjects Dina Buno and Scott Levin.
6:00 p.m. DRIES
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
Style icon Iris Apfel calls him a treasure, yet few outside fashion circles know Belgian designer Dries Van Noten’s name. Director Reiner Holzemer’s visually sumptuous portrait provides behind-the-scenes access to the designer’s stunning sartorial creations, his artistic process and his private world. Expected guests include director Reiner Holzemer.

6:30 p.m. THE WORK
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
A moving story of redemption and renewal unfolds in this remarkable vérité film that follows a group of “outsiders” into California’s Folsom Prison to join inmates in an intense four-day therapy session. THE WORK garnered the top documentary prize at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. Expected guests include director Jairus McLeary and producer Alice Henty.

6:30 p.m. NOBODY SPEAK: TRIALS OF THE FREE PRESS
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
When online gossip rag Gawker published a sex tape involving Hulk Hogan, the former wrestler sued, but who was the mysterious billionaire bankrolling his legal fees? Using this salacious trial as just one example, NOBODY SPEAK is a cautionary tale about the dangers of the super-rich controlling the message and the media. Expected guests include director Brian Knappenberger. Moderated by The Washington Post’s Alyssa Rosenberg.

7:00 p.m. CITY OF GHOSTS
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
From Matthew Heineman, the Academy Award^®-nominated director of CARTEL LAND, comes this harrowing tale of courage under fire that follows the men behind “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently,” a group of heroic citizen journalists who are fiercely determined to bring to light ISIS’ atrocities in their home city of Raqqa, Syria. Expected guests include director Matthew Heineman.

8:30 p.m. STRAD STYLE
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
A chance social media encounter leads a Stradivarius-obsessed, amateur violinmaker living in rural Ohio to mount the seemingly impossible task of crafting an exact replica of one of the classical music world’s most famous violins, Guarneri’s Il Cannone, in time for a famed European virtuoso’s upcoming tour. Expected guests include director Stefan Avalos.

9:00 p.m. CHAVELA
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
The dramatic, soulful interpretations of Mexican lesbian singer Chavela Vargas paved the way for women seeking equality in a traditionally male world. A renowned nightclub performer reduced to alcoholic impoverishment, Vargas made a triumphant comeback in her 70s that secured her reputation as an artist of uncompromising passion and independence. Expected guests include directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi.

9:00 p.m. A GRAY STATE
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
In 2010, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran turned filmmaker David Crowley began crowdfunding a large-scale action film forewarning of a future America gone police state. As chronicled here via his obsessive video journaling, he became a rising star among fringe right-wing groups over the next five years, all the while spiraling toward a violent, tragic and inexplicable end. Expected guests include director Erik Nelson.
9:30 p.m. BRIMSTONE & GLORY
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1
BRIMSTONE & GLORY offers a front row seat to the National Pyrotechnic Festival in Tultepec, Mexico. With stunning cinematography, dynamic music and little dialogue, this film captures the city’s celebration of the patron saint of fireworks and lets viewers experience sparkle, chaos, flames and brimstone in all their glory. Expected guests include director Viktor Jakovleski and producer Kellen Quinn.
Preceded by short film: RIDERS OF THE WELL OF DEATH

9:30 p.m. SPETTACOLO
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
For the past 50 years, the residents of a tiny hilltop hamlet in Tuscany have come together each summer to mount an original play about their own lives in the town’s medieval piazza. From the filmmakers of MARWENCOL (2010), SPETTACOLO is a delightful portrait of small-town Italian life.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS:

11:15 a.m. SPETTACOLO
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
For the past 50 years, the residents of a tiny hilltop hamlet in Tuscany have come together each summer to mount an original play about their own lives in the town’s medieval piazza. From the filmmakers of MARWENCOL (2010), SPETTACOLO is a delightful portrait of small-town Italian life.

11:30 a.m. STRAD STYLE
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
A chance social media encounter leads a Stradivarius-obsessed, amateur violinmaker living in rural Ohio to mount the seemingly impossible task of crafting an exact replica of one of the classical music world’s most famous violins, Guarneri’s Il Cannone, in time for a famed European virtuoso’s upcoming tour. Expected guests include director Stefan Avalos.

11:30 a.m. A SUITABLE GIRL
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
Tradition, modernity and gender roles converge in this honest portrait of three young women in India as they — and their parents — contemplate their marriage prospects, careers and future happiness. Expected guests include directors Smriti Mundhra and Sarita Khurana.

11:30 a.m. DRIES
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
Style icon Iris Apfel calls him a treasure, yet few outside fashion circles know Belgian designer Dries Van Noten’s name. This artful portrait provides behind-the-scenes access to the designer’s stunning sartorial creations. Expected guests include director Reiner Holzemer.

12:00 p.m. THE FARTHEST
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THATER 1
An iconic space mission gets a cinematic treatment worthy of its impact. Through the most perilous points of the solar system and beyond, this chronicle of NASA’s Voyager program provides an awe-inspiring view of an unparalleled human achievement. Expected guests include director Emer Reynolds. Q&A moderated by Dr. Matthew Shindell, Planetary Science and Exploration Curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

1:45 p.m. TAKE EVERY WAVE: THE LIFE OF LAIRD HAMILTON
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
TAKE EVERY WAVE tells the incredible story of big-wave surfing pioneer Laird Hamilton. Filmmaker Rory Kennedy juxtaposes a wealth of archival footage along with a breathtaking view of Hamilton’s current surfing adventures off the island of Kauai.
1:45 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 6: THE UNEXPECTED
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
Featured films: BALLOONFEST, FISH STORY, THE FORESHORE, GORAN THE CAMEL MAN, GUT HACK, THE HANGING, and LONG TERM PARKING. Expected guests include FISH STORY director Charlie Lyne, GUT HACK director Kate McLean, and THE HANGING director Geoffrey Feinberg.
2:00 p.m. THE OPPOSITION
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
In this riveting David-and-Goliath tale, a community of native Papua New Guineans battle developers who try to claim their homeland for a seaside tourist resort. Expected guests include director Hollie Fifer.

2:00 p.m. STILL TOMORROW
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
A farmer born with cerebral palsy, Yu Xinhua has been called China’s Emily Dickinson. Her frankly sexual poem “Crossing Half of China to Sleep With You” became an overnight sensation. Although fame brought her financial independence, Yu struggles to obtain a divorce while yearning for true love.

2:30 p.m. STEP
AFI SILVER THEATRE 1
Meet the “Lethal Ladies,” the amazing step dance team from the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. Amanda Lipitz’s inspiring portrait will have you cheering as the Ladies attempt to finish first in the city’s dance competition and to become the first women in their families to go to college. Expected guests include film subjects Coach G and Paula Dofat.

3:00 p.m. QUEST
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1
QUEST follows the Raineys, a close-knit, North Philadelphia family as they face innumerable struggles from the 2008 election to today. The film is a powerful and deeply moving portrait that shows how much can change — and how much can remain the same — over the course of eight years. Expected guests include director Jon Olshefski, and film subjects The Rainey Family.

4:00 p.m. NEW CHEFS ON THE BLOCK
AFI SILVER THEATER 2
Opening a new restaurant is not for the faint of heart. Time, money, stress, repeat. Two DC-area chefs put everything on the line to open two very different establishments — Frank Linn’s Frankly…Pizza! and Aaron Silverman’s Rose’s Luxury. Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include director Dustin Harrison-Atlas and film subjects Tim Carman of The Washington Post, Frank Linn and Kate Diamond.

4:15 p.m. SAVING BRINTON
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA 7
In his position as small-town Iowa historian and collector, Michael Zahs lucked into the acquisition of one of the rarest collections of turn-of-the-century cinema. Now turning his obsession into purpose, Zahs sets out to restore and exhibit his treasure trove of newsreels, home movies and lost films. Expected guests include directors Tommy Haines, John Richard, and Andrew Sherburne and film subject Michael Zahs.
4:30 p.m. ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
In this intimate portrait of an extraordinary talent, American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Marcelo Gomes is at the top of his game, but knows that his body can only withstand the rigors of the profession for so long. Expected guests include directors James Pellerito and David Barba.

4:45 p.m. THE PARIS OPERA
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
Documenting a season at the Paris Opera — a period set against terror attacks, ballet corps mutiny and a bull preparing for its stage debut — this portrait captures the majesty and chaos of a grand artistic institution.

6:30 p.m. SCHOOL LIFE
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
For nearly five decades, eccentric and brilliant couple Amanda and John have nurtured legions of students through Headfort, Ireland’s last boarding prep school. They contemplate a future away from this rambling and beloved place of deep roots.

6:45 p.m. EL MAR LA MAR
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
A poetic and enigmatic work, EL MAR LA MAR captures life and death at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing, pondering the terrain and the stories of the Sonoran Desert to understand the objects and lives left behind. Expected guests include director J.P. Sniadecki.

6:45 p.m. CINE SAO PAULO
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
Once a grand movie palace, the Cine Sao Paulo in Brazil is now crumbled into ruin. Enter Dom Chico, whose father once owned the theater, as he attempts to restore it to its former glory. Expected guests include director Ricardo Martensen.

7:30 p.m. STRONG ISLAND
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6
Yance Ford’s searing, deeply moving and personal journey explores the circumstances surrounding his brother William’s 1992 Long Island death by a white mechanic and the deep wounds caused by the incident’s aftermath. Expected guests include director Yance Ford.

8:30 p.m. LEANING INTO THE WIND – ANDY GOLDSWORTHY
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 1
Director Thomas Riedelsheimer reconnects with artist Andy Goldsworthy, subject of his popular documentary RIVERS AND TIDES (2001), who continues his quest to create ephemeral, transformative works of art in unlikely places around the globe.

9:00 p.m. LA LIBERTAD DEL DIABLO
LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 7
Victims and perpetrators of drug violence in Mexico offer chilling testimonies in this stunning documentary. Their masked recollections are a powerful reminder of the systemic violence that has infiltrated Mexican society. Expected guests include director Everardo González.

9:00 p.m. BRIMSTONE & GLORY
AFI SILVER THEATRE 2
Bold, booming and beautiful, BRIMSTONE & GLORY transports viewers to Tultepec, Mexico — the country’s pyrotechnic capital — which honors the patron saint of fireworks in an eye-popping annual festival. Expected guests include director Viktor Jakovleski and producer Kellen Quinn.
Preceded by short film: RIDERS OF THE WELL OF DEATH

9:15 p.m. ATOMIC HOMEFRONT
AFI SILVER THEATRE 3
A large landfill containing both radioactive waste and an underground fire is threatening homes, health and lives in one of our major metropolitan areas. Can a group of concerned citizens prevent a potential catastrophe? Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include director Rebecca Cammisa.

In addition to the AFI Conservatory, AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding movies and TV series of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.

About AFI DOCS
AFI DOCS is the American Film Institute’s annual documentary festival in Washington, DC. Presenting the year’s best documentaries, AFI DOCS is the only festival in the U.S. dedicated to screenings and events that connect audiences, filmmakers and policy leaders in the heart of our nation’s government. The AFI DOCS advisory board includes Ken Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Chris Hegedus, Werner Herzog, Rory Kennedy, Barbara Kopple, Spike Lee, Errol Morris, Stanley Nelson, D A Pennebaker, Agnès Varda and Frederick Wiseman. Now in its 15th year, the festival will be held June 14–18, 2017, in landmark Washington, DC, venues and at the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD. Visit AFI.com/AFIDOCS and connect on twitter.com/AFIDOCS, facebook.com/AFIDOCS, youtube.com/AFI and instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We offer the nation’s best data network* and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.** We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.
AT&T Products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and YouTube at youtube.com/att.

© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
*Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q3+Q4 2016 across 121 markets.

(Source: Press materials provided by Gabrielle Flamand, AFI DOCS PR, gabrielle@prcollaborative.comand Liza Ameen, American Film Institute, LAmeen@AFI.com)

#AFIDOCS

TODAY AT THE AFI DOCS FORUM

June 17, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Saturday, June 17

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., AFI DOCS Festival Hub at the District Architecture Center (DAC), 421 7th St. NW in Washington, DC.

3:00 p.m. Special VR Program at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Washington, DC.

Day Three of the AFI DOCS Forum includes panels on making and distributing short docs on a speedy timeline; VR Exhibition to view the best and latest in virtual reality; and a special VR program at the Newseum on how VR emerged as a powerful storytelling platform in documentary filmmaking.

The Forum will present a variety of networking and professional development events for filmmakers, industry professionals and those with a passion for nonfiction storytelling. Open to all AFI DOCS passholders, each day of the Forum will include breakfast and lunch.

Today’s full schedule is as follows:

9:30 a.m.
Morning Refreshments

10:00 a.m.
Short Order: Making and Distributing Rapid Response Short Docs
Short doesn’t always mean fast in documentary filmmaking, but there are major advantages to making and distributing short docs on a speedy timeline. This panel of makers and funders addresses a faster approach to shorts, outlines available opportunities for support and explores key partnerships vital to working in this mode.

Moderator:

Loira Limbal, Vice President, Firelight Media

Panelists:

Gaspar Gonzalez, Director, HAVANA HOUSE
Brandon Kramer, Director THE MESSY TRUTH
Kate McLean, Director GUT HACK, Producer BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY
Laura Poitras, Co-Creator & Executive Producer, Field of Vision; Director RISK

11:30 a.m.
VR Exhibition
View a curated selection of the latest and best in virtual reality (VR).

1:00 p.m.
In With the New: The Latest Trends in Documentary Distribution
Staying current with the latest distribution trends is critical to filmmakers’ success in reaching audiences and generating revenue. This panel of industry experts and new players in the distribution space examines the current state of documentary distribution and explains the evolving relationship between theatrical, broadcast and online platforms.

Moderator:

Andrea Meditch, Executive Producer, THE CAGE FIGHTER

Panelists:

Dan O’Meara, Vice President, Special Projects & Documentary, NEON
Michael Tuckman, Founder, mTuckman Media
Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director, Women Make Movies

SPECIAL VR PROGRAM AT THE NEWSEUM
Open to all AFI DOCS Passholders
Use the Newseum’s C Street Entrance at the back of the building.

3:00 p.m.
VR EXHIBITION

4:30 p.m.
Virtual No More: How VR Is Having Real-World Impact
Hosted by the Newseum at the Knight TV Studio, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001.

With lightning speed, VR has emerged as a viable storytelling platform and a major force in documentary. Driving VR’s rise is its huge promise for building stronger empathy in audiences and connecting people to powerful, real-world stories and social issues. This panel will explore how filmmakers and organizations are using VR to change hearts and minds.

Moderator: Mitch Gelman, Chief Technology Officer, Newseum

Panelists:

Cassandra Herrman, Lead Artist AFTER SOLITARY
Hunter Holcombe, Executive Producer, AJ+
Imraan Ismail, Lead Artist NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S THE PROTECTORS: WALK IN THE RANGER’S SHOES
Lauren Mucciolo, Lead Artist, AFTER SOLITARY
Jennifer Shoemaker, Senior Director of Visual Storytelling, Conservation International (Source: afi.com)

HollywoodGlee

Monthly Archives: June 2017

Cinema Ritrovato 2017: the epic recovery

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THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN IN POPULAR CULTURE: THE SCENE OF THE STEPS

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Cinema Ritrovato 2017: ‘Battleship Potemkin’ and Edmund Meisel

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LOST IN PARIS opens July 7th in Los Angeles and June 16th in New York.

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2017 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL WINNERS

“After spending a week in and out of theaters, and talking with filmmakers and audiences, we close out the festival with such a strong sense of community,” said Festival Director Lili Rodriguez.

“Filmmakers are making movies about the changing world around them. I think our award winners showcase an understanding and compassion for people and it’s a great thing to see.”

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LA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

LA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

AND THANKS ITS GENEROUS SPONSORS

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SYDNEY CLOSES WITH A SURREAL SPLASH

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT CLOSING NIGHT GALA

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Audience Award Winners at AFI DOCS 2017

THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES
AFI DOCS 2017 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

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AFI DOCS WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of DOLORES and WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME” at the Newseum, and the World Premieres of ATOMIC HOMEFRONT and SAVING BRINTON

Screening of BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY with Bill Nye in Person

Closing Night Screening of YEAR OF THE SCAB From Director John Dorsey

WORLD PREMIERE OF SAVING BRINTON

WORLD PREMIERE OF ATOMIC HOMEFRONT

BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY SCREENING WITH BILL NYE

YEAR OF THE SCAB CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING

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TODAY AT THE AFI DOCS FORUM

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Film Review and Marketing

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“After spending a week in and out of theaters, and talking with filmmakers and audiences, we close out the festival with such a strong sense of community,” said Festival Director Lili Rodriguez.

“Filmmakers are making movies about the changing world around them. I think our award winners showcase an understanding and compassion for people and it’s a great thing to see.”

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LA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

AND THANKS ITS GENEROUS SPONSORS

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SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT CLOSING NIGHT GALA

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THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES AFI DOCS 2017 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

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AFI DOCS WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of DOLORES and WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME” at the Newseum, and the World Premieres of ATOMIC HOMEFRONT and SAVING BRINTON

Screening of BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY with Bill Nye in Person

Closing Night Screening of YEAR OF THE SCAB From Director John Dorsey

WORLD PREMIERE OF SAVING BRINTON

WORLD PREMIERE OF ATOMIC HOMEFRONT

BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY SCREENING WITH BILL NYE

YEAR OF THE SCAB CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING

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Film Review and Marketing

THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES
AFI DOCS 2017 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS