AFI DOCS FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

June 16, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium With Honoree Laura Poitras

Spotlight Screening of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER at the Newseum and World Premiere of RECRUITING FOR JIHAD

Day Two of the AFI DOCS Forum

Washington, DC, Friday, June 16, 2017 — AFI DOCS presents a full schedule of Friday’s events that include the Charles Guggenheim Symposium celebrating Academy Award ^®-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras. The Symposium will include a conversation with Poitras and Director of Ford Foundation’s JustFilms Cara Mertes. The Newseum will host the Spotlight Screening of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER, and the extended international version of RECRUITING FOR JIHAD will have its world premiere. Also, the 2017 AFI DOCS Forum is in its second day at the Festival Hub in the District Architecture Center. These events and festival screenings further the mission of AFI DOCS: to bring filmmakers, our nation’s leaders and audiences together in the heart of Washington, DC.

WHO: Poitras, Mertes and AFI President & CEO Bob Gazzale

WHAT: GUGGENHEIM SYMPOSIUM

This year’s Symposium pays tribute to groundbreaking filmmaker Laura Poitras, with clips from her acclaimed works along with an in-depth discussion moderated by Director of Ford Foundation’s JustFilms Cara Mertes.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

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

WHO: Director Jon Shenk and ClimateWire’s Emily Holden

WHAT: AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER – SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

This timely sequel to Academy Award^®-winning documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006) takes up with former Vice President Al Gore and his efforts to educate the public — and those in power — about climate change and the crisis facing our planet.

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Screening begins

10:10 p.m. Panel with Shenk moderated by Holden

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

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 RECRUITING FOR JIHAD’S

EXTENDED INTERNATIONAL VERSION

8:45 p.m. RECRUITING FOR JIHAD at Landmark E Street Cinema Theatre 6. Journalist Adel Khan Farooq gains unparalleled and unsettling access into the shrouded world of jihadism. He shadows Norwegian Muslim Ubaydullah Hussain — a polarizing figure — as he recruits young converts aiming to travel to Syria and join ISIS. Farooq casually encounters soon-to-be jihadists as he documents this notorious but largely unknown world. Expected guests include directors Adel Khan Farooq and Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen.

AFI DOCS FORUM: DAY TWO

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Festival filmmakers and industry professionals will meet at the AFI DOCS Festival Hub at the District Architecture Center (DAC) for day two of the four-day AFI DOCS Forum. Open to all AFI DOCS passholders, each day of the Forum includes breakfast and lunch. Each day the Forum will explore a unique topic with keynote presentations, conversations, panel discussions and micro-meetings. Friday’s AFI DOCS Forum schedule, sponsored by Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will include:

10:00 a.m. Truth in Storytelling
How do we engage a post-truth society, with its fake news, hate speech and misleading narratives that further antagonism toward objective, fact-based sources for news and information? Public media journalists and independent documentary filmmakers participate in a conversation about reporting and nonfiction storytelling in a post-truth world.

11:30 a.m. Documentary Film in Service of a Civil Society

All locally owned and operated, public television stations help citizens and communities understand the issues they face at home and regionally, enabling them to develop solutions based on facts and rooted in community partnerships. As localism is seen increasingly as a way to bridge the widening partisan divide, representatives of public broadcasters from across the country discuss the role of public media in their communities and the expanding roles of journalism and documentary film in activating civic engagement and creating a more equitable society.

2:00 p.m. Documentary Case Study: GENTLEMEN OF VISION + Nine Network of Public Media (St. Louis, MO)

In 2015, St. Louis independent documentary filmmaker Frank Popper and St. Louis PBS affiliate Nine Network began production on a documentary about the nationally acclaimed, competitive high school step team Gentlemen of Vision (GOV). Following the team as they strived to win their national competitions, graduate from high school and overcome personal challenges, the documentary emerged from the Nine Network’s work on American Graduate, a national and local initiative to help young people succeed in school and in life — with the goal of increasing the graduation rate nationwide to 90% by the year 2020.

Photos and a recap from the day’s events will be made available for download in the pressroom at afidocspress.afi.com.

A LOOK BACK AT THURSDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, June 15, AFI DOCS kicked off the four-day AFI DOCS Forum at the District Architecture Center. Day one of the Forum included filmmaker conversations and presentations on diversity and inclusion in the documentary field. Thursday’s film programming included the Spotlight Screenings of MOSQUITO and THE REAGAN SHOW, followed by panel discussions at the Newseum. Mariska Hargitay joined directors Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir for a screening and Q&A of I AM EVIDENCE. TOUGH GUYS had its world premiere with producer Morgan Spurlock on Thursday at E Street Cinema.

OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS:

11:00 a.m. THE GROWN-UPS

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

In Maite Alberdi’s delightful, award-winning portrait, a group of middle-aged adults with Down syndrome attend culinary classes in Chile. The students navigate life, love and making the perfect pastries, while dreaming of living independently.

11:00 a.m. CHAVELA

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

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 director Daresha Kyi.

11:15 a.m. WAITING FOR THE SUN

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

China has the largest number of prisoners on death row worldwide. The children of the condemned face social stigma and few options. Enter Grandma Zheng, a former prison guard who, via her orphanage Sun Valley, provides housing, education and a second chance for a normal life.

11:30 a.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 2: GREAT LOVES

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

Featured films: BALANCÉ, CUCLI, HAVANA HOUSE, LADY EVA, LIFE, DEATH AND CHEERLEADING and THE TABLES. Expected guests include HAVANA HOUSE director Gaspar González, LADY EVA director Dean Hamer, LIFE, DEATH AND CHEERLEADING director Claire Tailyour and THE TABLES director Jon Bunning.

1:00 p.m. TROPHY

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

As man forces more animals to the edge of extinction, the search for how to save them has become only more complex. TROPHY is a dark journey into the global commodification of big game animals in Africa and the consequences that result. Expected guests include directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau.

1:30 p.m. NOWHERE TO HIDE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

A hospital worker films life in central Iraq’s “triangle of death” after American forces leave in 2011, capturing unforgettable images of his family’s survival and providing a brave view of a chaotic and brutal war zone. Expected guests include director Zaradasht Ahmed and producer Mette Cheng Munthe-Kaas.

1:30 p.m. NO MAN’S LAND

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

In 2016, a well-armed band of anti-government militants took control of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. NO MAN’S LAND is the riveting account of the siege that followed and its aftermath. Expected guests include director David Byars.

1:45 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 3: CLOSE TIES

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

Featured films: ALL GOOD THINGS, CLOSE TIES, EDITH+EDDIE and HOW THE AIR FEELS. Expected guests include EDITH + EDDIE director Laura Checkoway and HOW THE AIR FEELS director Khaula Malik.

2:15 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 7: WORLD VIEWS

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATER 6

Featured films: ELECTION, HOMELAND, MONUMENT I MONUMENTO, MY DAUGHTER NORA, PICKET LINE and THE PRICE OF CERTAINTY. Expected guests include THE PRICE OF CERTAINTY director Daniele Anastasion.

3:45 p.m. UNREST

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

When a mysterious illness robs newlywed and Harvard grad student Jennifer Brea of the life she dreamed of living, she reaches out to others grappling with a little-understood disease that primarily afflicts women.

4:00 p.m. GENTLEMEN OF VISION

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

Produced by St. Louis PBS affiliate Nine Network, GENTLEMEN OF VISION profiles the struggles and triumphs shared by a competitive high school step team and their determined coach as they prepare for a key competition. Expected guests include directors Jim Kirchherr and Frank Popper, and film subjects Amy Shaw and Marlon Wharton.

4:00 p.m. NEW CHEFS ON THE BLOCK

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

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 (Bon Appetit’s “Best New Restaurant in America” in 2014). Expected guests include director Dustin Harrison-Atlas, film subjects Frank Linn and Kate Diamond, and The Washington Post’s Tim Carman. Q&A moderated by The Washington Post’s Joe Yonan.

4:15 p.m. A GREEK WINTER

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

In the wake of the Greek debt crisis, a spirited brother and sister from Thessaloniki must face the impossible choice of keeping their small family business afloat or helping neighbors in need. Expected guests include director Ingeborg Jansen.

4:15 p.m. THE CAGE FIGHTER

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

In this unflinching and up-close portrait, a 40-year-old blue-collar dad is caught between his desire to make a comeback in mixed martial arts, and his family, who abhors his brutal hobby. Expected guests include sound engineer Frank Scheuring.

6:00 p.m. 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

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. Expected guests include director Hope Litoff and producer Beth Levison.

6:15 p.m. CITY OF GHOSTS

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

The latest film from Matthew Heineman (CARTEL LAND) is a harrowing and inspirational portrait of the men behind “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently,” a group of heroic citizen journalists who are courageously fighting to bring to light ISIS’ atrocities in their hometown. Expected guests include director Matthew Heineman and moderator Jason Dick from CQ Roll Call.

6:15 p.m. DINA

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

This tender story of overcoming obstacles and finding love follows a 49-year-old woman coping with autism and a fledgling romance with Scott, a Walmart door greeter. DINA garnered the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Expected guests include directors Antonio Santini and Daniel Sickles, as well as the film subjects Dina Buno and Scott Levin.

6:30 p.m. RUMBLE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

RUMBLE celebrates the unsung Native American and First Nation musicians who helped shape rock and roll in this rollicking and thoughtful film about the rarely acknowledged Indian role in the history of North American music. Featuring interviews with George Clinton, Martin Scorsese, Buffy Sainte-Marie and many more. Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include director Catherine Bainbridge and producers Ernest Webb and Tim Johnson.

6:30 p.m. THE GIRL DOWN LOCH ÄNZI

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

Juggling the awkwardness of adolescence and the magnetism of a local legend, a 12-year-old girl navigates life on a Swiss family farm and dreams of searching a gorge for the titular mythological girl.

8:15 p.m. DONKEYOTE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

Chico Pereira’s portrait of a 73-year-old Spaniard planning a quixotic trip to the U.S. to walk the Trail of Tears with his beloved dog and donkey shows how the journey can be even richer than the destination.

8:45 p.m. QUEST

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

Following a close-knit family in Philadelphia’s inner city as they face innumerable struggles from the 2008 election to today, QUEST 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 the film’s subjects, the Rainey family.

9:00 p.m. A SUITABLE GIRL

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

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.

9:15 p.m. FOR AHKEEM

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

Behind the racially charged headlines of Ferguson, MO, is 17-year-old Daje “Boonie” Shelton, a young woman from North St. Louis struggling to make it to graduation after an unexpected pregnancy. Expected guests include directors Jeremy S. Levine and Landon Van Soest.

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, 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.

**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.

(Source: Press materials provided by Gabrielle Flamand, AFI DOCS PR, 202.339.9598 or gabrielle@prcollaborative.com and Liza Ameen, American Film Institute, 323.856.7885 or LAmeen@AFI.com)

#AFIDOCS

AFI DOCS THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

June 15, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of MOSQUITO and THE REAGAN SHOW at the Newseum

Screening of I AM EVIDENCE with Mariska Hargitay and World Premiere of TOUGH GUYS

Day One of the AFI DOCS Forum

Washington, DC, Thursday, June 15, 2017 — AFI DOCS presents a full schedule of Thursday’s events including the Spotlight Screenings of MOSQUITO and THE REAGAN SHOW at the Newseum. Mariska Hargitay will join audiences for a Q&A of I AM EVIDENCE and TOUGH GUYS has its world premiere. The 2017 AFI DOCS Forum kicks off at the Festival Hub in the District Architecture Center. These events and festival screenings further the mission of AFI DOCS: to bring filmmakers, our nation’s leaders and audiences together in the heart of Washington, DC.

WHO: Director Su Rynard and film subjects including former CDC Director Thomas

Frieden, MD; MalariaWorld’s Bart Knols, PhD; and South Miami Mayor Philip

Stoddard, PhD.

WHAT: MOSQUITO – SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

MOSQUITO is an urgent exposé on humankind’s millennia-long war against one of the biggest threats to the survival of our species, and on the efforts of scientists to keep this deadly menace at bay.

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

WHEN: 6:30 PM

WHO: Director Sierra Pettengill

WHAT: THE REAGAN SHOW – SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

Ronald Reagan brought a host of Hollywood savvy to the White House, with his team making unprecedented use of staged moments to inform popular opinion. Whether riding horses or grappling with Gorbachev, his administration crafted the story.

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

WHEN: 8:45 PM

I AM EVIDENCE SCREENING WITH MARISKA HARGITAY

6:00 p.m. I AM EVIDENCE at Landmark E Street Cinema Theatre 3. Thousands of untested sexual assault evidence kits are languishing in storage facilities across the U.S. — and law enforcement inaction means serial perpetrators are at liberty to strike again. This urgent and eye-opening film investigates the backlog through the intertwined stories of four victims and those leading the fight for justice. Introduction and Q&A with producer Mariska Hargitay, directors Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir, and moderated by The Washington Post’s Monica Hesse.

WORLD PREMIERE OF TOUGH GUYS

8:30 p.m. TOUGH GUYS at Landmark E Street Cinema Theatre 1. Told through the colorful stories of scrappy brawlers and amateur promoters, TOUGH GUYS brings to life the birth of mixed martial arts competitions in 1980s Pittsburgh. Spotlight Screening. Expected guests include directors Henry Roosevelt and W.B. Zullo and producers Craig DiBiase, Morgan Spurlock and Rachel Traub.

AFI DOCS FORUM: DAY ONE

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Festival filmmakers and industry professionals will meet at the AFI DOCS Festival Hub at the District Architecture Center (DAC) for day one of the four-day AFI DOCS Forum. Open to all AFI DOCS passholders, each day of the Forum will include breakfast and lunch. Each day the Forum will explore a unique topic with keynote presentations, conversations, panel discussions and micro-meetings. Thursday’s Forum schedule will include:

10:00 a.m. Going to the Source: Documentary Funders Share Their Insights
Industry insiders discuss current funding priorities and new initiatives while exploring the ever-shifting documentary landscape and emerging trends in the funding world. Panelists include Dan Cogan, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Impact Partners; Melissa Fondakowski, Program and Development, The Redford Center; Sheila Leddy, Executive Director, The Fledgling Fund; Maida Brankman, Founder, Genuine Article Pictures; and Jax DeLuca, Media Arts Director, Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts.

11:30 a.m. Meet the Funders Meetings

Filmmakers connect with documentary funders in one-on-one, 15-minute micromeetings. Directors will sharpen their pitches, talk funding or get a focused critique of their work in progress trailer. Panelists include Pamela A. Aguilar, Senior Director of Programming and Development PBS; Maida Brankman, Founder of Genuine Article Pictures; Jax DeLuca, Media Arts Director at National Edowment for the Arts; Melissa Fondakowski, Program and Development at The Redford Center; Tamara Gould, Senior VP of National Productions and Strategic Partnerships at ITVS; Sheila Leddy, Executive Director of the Fledgling Fund; Wendy Llinas, Associate Director of Programming and Development PBS; Justine Nagan, Executive Producer at POV; and David Weinstein, Senior Program Officer at National Endowment for the Humanities.

2:00 p.m. Documentary: The Art of Canada

From the birth of motion pictures, Canada has been a driving force in documentary, and it’s easy to see why. Shot near Inukjuak, Quebec, Robert J. Flaherty’s 1922 film NANOOK OF THE NORTH is considered one of the world’s first documentaries — and it was Flaherty’s work that inspired John Grierson, father of the National Film Board, to coin the term “documentary.” So what’s up with our doc friends up north today? Find out as Hot Docs’ Shane Smith talks with the Canadian filmmakers featured in this year’s AFI DOCS.

A LOOK BACK AT WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

At the Newseum on Wednesday, June 14, AFI DOCS kicked off its 15th edition with the Opening Night Gala and East Coast Premiere screening of ICARUS, from director Bryan Fogel. A panel discussion with director Bryan Fogel was followed by a reception.

OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS:

11:45 a.m. THE GROWN-UPS

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

12:30 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 1: YOUTH CULTURE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

Featured films: EDUCATION, KOJO: A SHORT DOCUMENTARY, SHIVANI, “THE TALK” TRUE STORIES ABOUT THE BIRDS & THE BEES and WAITING FOR HASSANA. Expected guests include SHIVANI director Jamie Dobie and composer Jonathan Meiburg.

1:00 p.m. STEP

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA 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.

1:30 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 4: FRAMING THE IMAGE

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

Featured films: 116 CAMERAS, BETWEEN THE SAND, A FEW THINGS ABOUT ROBERT IRWIN, JOE BLAUSTEIN AND THE FLOOD OF FLORENCE, THE KODACHROME ELEGIES, THE MOVING CAMERA PROJET, TURTLES ARE ALWAYS HOME and WINTER’S WATCH. Expected guests include 116 CAMERAS director Davina Pardo, JOE BLAUSTEIN AND THE FLOOD OF FLORENCE director Alan Griswold and WINTER’S WATCH director Brian Bolster.

1:45 p.m. THE GIRL DOWN LOCH ÄNZI

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

Juggling the awkwardness of adolescence, the loneliness of rural life and the magnetism of a local legend, Alice Schmid’s hybrid doc follows 12-year-old Laura as she navigates life on a remote Swiss family farm. With humor and aplomb, Laura attempts to find a friend who can join her in searching a gorge for the titular mythological girl.

1:45 p.m. FOR AHKEEM

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

Behind the headlines of Ferguson, MO, is 17-year-old Daje “Boonie” Shelton, a young woman from nearby North St. Louis struggling to make it to graduation, a goal further complicated by an unexpected pregnancy. Intimate and affecting, this delicately told coming-of-age story underscores the complexities of race and class in America. Expected guests include directors Jeremy S. Levine and Landon Van Soest, and producer Iyabo Boyd.

2:45 p.m. THE WORK

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

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 Jarius McLeary, and producers Alice Henty and James McLeary.

3:30 p.m. ACORN AND THE FIRESTORM

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

Filmmakers Reuben Atlas and Sam Pollard go behind the headlines and fake news reports to tell the story of the 2008 demise of ACORN. The longstanding community activist group was brought down by an undercover sting concocted by right-wing journalists impersonating a prostitute and her pimp. Expected guests include directors Reuben Atlas and Sam Pollard.

4:00 p.m. SHORTS PROGRAM 5: LABORS OF LOVE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

Featured films: FIRST POLE ON MARS, THE FORGER, HAND.LINE.COD., THE RABBIT HUNT and STYROFOAM. Expected guests include THE FORGER director Alexandra Garcia and THE RABBIT HUNT producer Maida Brankman.

4:00 p.m. RESURRECTING HASSAN

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

In Montreal, a family of blind street musicians cope with the death of their youngest member. As their lives begin to slowly fall apart, the family make a desperate attempt to overcome their tragedy by trying to find a way to bring their fallen kin back from the dead. Expected guests include director Carlo Guillermo Proto.

4:15 p.m. MUHI – GENERALLY TEMPORARY

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

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.

5:45 p.m. NO MAN’S LAND

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

In 2016, a well-armed band of anti-government militants led by the sons of renegade rancher Cliven Bundy took control of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in an act of defiance against the feds. NO MAN’S LAND is the riveting account of the siege that followed and its aftermath. Expected guests include director David Byars.

6:15 p.m. THE CAGE FIGHTER

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 1

In this unflinching and intimate portrait, Joe Carman, a blue-collar Washington state dad, can’t shake his compulsion to compete in mixed martial arts. The violence in the ring only serves to intensify the family drama, as Carman’s wife and four daughters try to come to grips with his brutal hobby. Expected guests include producer Andrea Meditch and sound engineer Frank Scheuring.

6:15 p.m. WAITING FOR THE SUN

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

6:30 p.m. MAMA COLONEL

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

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).

6:45 p.m. DONKEYOTE

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

The symbiotic relationship between man and animal is front and center in Chico Pereira’s portrait of a 73-year-old Spaniard and his two beloved companions, a dog and a donkey. As he attempts a quixotic plan to travel to the U.S. to walk with them along the Trail of Tears, DONKEYOTE shows how the journey can be even richer than the destination.

8:15 p.m. A GRAY STATE

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 6

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.

8:45 p.m. WHAT LIES UPSTREAM

LANDMARK E STREET CINEMA THEATRE 7

Cullen Hoback’s trip to his home state of West Virginia to find out why the drinking water in Charleston has developed a strange smell turns into an eye-opening investigation into the dismal state of our nation’s water supply and the broken regulatory system behind America’s epidemic of dirty water. Expected guests include director Cullen Hoback and producer John Ramos.

8:45 p.m. LA CHANA

AFI SILVER THEATRE 2

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.

9:00 p.m. A GREEK WINTER

AFI SILVER THEATRE 3

In the wake of the Greek debt crisis, a spirited family from Thessaloniki must face the impossible choice of keeping their small business afloat or helping neighbors in need. In chronicling interactions with customers, the film presents the human toll of financial strife with restraint and emotional resonance. Expected guests include director Ingeborg Jansen.

About the American Film Institute

About AFI DOCS

About AT&T

(Press materials provided by: Gabrielle Flamand, AFI DOCS PR, 202.339.9598 or gabrielle@prcollaborative.com, Liza Ameen, American Film Institute, 323.856.7885 or LAmeen@AFI.com)

#AFIDOCS

TODAY AT THE AFI DOCS FORUM

June 15, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Thursday, June 15, 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.

Day One of the AFI DOCS Forum includes a panel with Canadian filmmakers to discuss Canada’s role in creating the documentary form; and panels with short-documentary filmmakers and funders to discuss and support the model.

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.–11:15 a.m.
Going to the Source: Documentary Funders Share Their Insights
Industry insiders discuss current funding priorities and new initiatives while exploring the ever-shifting documentary landscape and emerging trends in the funding world.

Moderator: Kathryn Washington, Director of Television Content, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Participants:

Maida Brankman, Founder, Genuine Article Pictures
Dan Cogan, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Impact Partners
Jax DeLuca, Media Arts Director, Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts
Melissa Fondakowski, Program and Development, The Redford Center
Sheila Leddy, Executive Director, The Fledgling Fund
David Weinstein, Senior Program Officer, Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Meet the Funders Meetings
Filmmakers connect with documentary funders in one-on-one, 15-minute micromeetings. Sharpen your pitch, talk funding or get a focused critique of your work-inprogress trailer (five minutes or less). Space is full and spots on a waitlist may be available for AFI DOCS Filmmaker and Industry pass holders. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please email Lauren at Lselman@afi.com for more information.

Participants:

Pamela A. Aguilar, Senior Director of Programming and Development PBS, General Audience Programming
Maida Brankman, Founder, Genuine Article Pictures
Jax DeLuca, Media Arts Director, Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts
Melissa Fondakowski, Program and Development, The Redford Center
Tamara Gould, Senior Vice President, National Productions and Strategic Partnerships, Independent Television Service (ITVS)
Sheila Leddy, Executive Director, The Fledgling Fund
Eliza Licht, VP Content, Strategy & Engagement, Point of View (POV)
Wendy Llinas, Associate Director of Programming and Development PBS, News and Public Affairs
David Weinstein, Senior Program Officer, Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities

2:00 p.m.
Documentary: The Art of Canada
From the birth of motion pictures, Canada has been a driving force in documentary, and it’s easy to see why. Shot near Inukjuak, Quebec, Robert J. Flaherty’s 1922 film NANOOK OF THE NORTH is considered one of the world’s first documentaries — and it was Flaherty’s work that inspired John Grierson, father of the National Film Board, to coin the term “documentary.” So what’s up with our doc friends up north today? Find out as Hot Docs’ Shane Smith talks with the Canadian filmmakers featured in this year’s AFI DOCS.

Panelists:

Carlo Guillermo Proto, Producer & Cinematographer, RESURRECTING HASSAN
Su Rynard, Director, MOSQUITO
Steve Weslak, Editor, MOSQUITO

(Source: afi.com)

#AFI

American Film Institute Kicks Off 50th Anniversary at AFI Conservatory 2017 Commencement

June 12, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

A historic AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday, June 5, 2017, marked the 50th Anniversary of the Institute’s formation in 1967, with its honorees — the AFI Class of 2017, as well as Honorary Degree recipients Carol Burnett, Marshall Herskovitz (AFI Class of 1975) and Edward Zwick (AFI Class of 1975) — spanning the past, present and future of the art form.AFI began its commemoration of its golden milestone, which will unfold through 2019 — the 50th Anniversary of the Conservatory’s 1969 inaugural class. Activities and programs during that timeframe will continue AFI’s promise to educate today’s audiences and tomorrow’s artists.

In celebration of the Anniversary, AFI Founding Director George Stevens, Jr., joined AFI President Emerita Jean Picker Firstenberg and current AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale — bringing together all three presidents from AFI’s history. Joining them and the AFI Class of 2017 were Sir Howard Stringer, AFI Board of Trustees Chair, and Robert A. Daly, AFI Board of Directors Chair.

“Fifty years ago, Gregory Peck and I announced the creation of the American Film Institute, with high aspiration and great hopes,” said Stevens. “Its mission was to advance and elevate the art of film, and one central idea was to create a Center for Advanced Film Studies [known today as the AFI Conservatory], a bridge for young people from learning to make films to becoming professional filmmakers. You, the graduates of 2017, are a fulfillment of that dream.”

The Commencement honorees — including this year’s AFI Conservatory graduates, the world’s newest filmmakers — underscored the spirit of the anniversary, as 2017 also marks the 50th birthday of THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, and Herskovitz and Zwick are both prominent alumni of the Conservatory. A Doctorate of Fine Arts honoris causa was conferred upon Burnett by special guest Kristin Chenoweth, and Doctorates of Communication Arts honoris causa were conferred upon Herskovitz and Zwick by Firstenberg. All three Honorary Degree recipients shared words of wisdom with the Class of 2017. Chenoweth sang a refrain from Burnett’s trademark closing song, “I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together.”

Burnett began her comments with her trademark “Tarzan yell” and urged Fellows to “make great art,” while adding, “Nothing is impossible if you believe hard enough, and you work hard enough.”

Herskovitz and Zwick shared anecdotes from their longtime creative collaboration, which began at the AFI Conservatory, and which Herskovitz described as “an extraordinary partnership — and the longest living partnership in Hollywood today.”

“Leaving here you are not alone,” said Zwick, stressing the uniquely collaborative nature of the Conservatory program. “Your classmates will be there to serve as a living reminder of who you are and what you dream of.”

AFI Honorary Degree recipients Marshall Herskovitz, Carol Burnett and Edward Zwick

As heard in remarks throughout the event, the AFI Conservatory program has a deep history of propelling alumni to success and acclaim — including, most recently, Patty Jenkins (AFI Class of 2000), whose WONDER WOMAN had the biggest box-office opening for a female director ever.

AFI Class of 2017 representative ByongHoon Jo, a graduating AFI Cinematographer, also spoke at the event.

Burnett, Herskovitz and Zwick join an esteemed group of past Honorary Degree recipients, including Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Kathryn Bigelow, Mel Brooks, Anne V. Coates, Clint Eastwood, Roger Ebert, Nora Ephron, James Earl Jones, Lawrence Kasdan, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, John Lasseter, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Robert Towne, Quentin Tarantino, Cicely Tyson, Haskell Wexler and John Williams.

Pictured above: AFI Board of Directors Chair Robert A. Daly; AFI President & CEO Bob Gazzale; AFI President Emerita Jean Picker Firstenberg; AFI Founding Director George Stevens, Jr.; AFI Board of Trustees Chair Sir Howard Stringer

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(Source: blog.afi.com)

#AFI

AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute to Diane Keaton Gathers American Film’s Finest

June 12, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Actor, director, writer and icon Diane Keaton was honored with the American Film Institute’s 45th AFI Life Achievement Award on Thursday, June 8, in an evening filled with laughter, stories, song and surprises at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.The televised special, AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: A TRIBUTE TO DIANE KEATON, will air on TNT June 15 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT), followed by an encore presentation on sister network Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on July 31 during a night of programming dedicated to her career.

Keaton’s Tribute brought to the stage seven previous AFI Life Achievement Award honorees as performers and presenters for this historic event: Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Steve Martin, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Sidney Poitier. Additional presenters who paid tribute to Keaton included Lisa Kudrow, Rachel McAdams, Martin Short, Sarah Silverman, Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon and surprise guest Woody Allen.

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Among the artists who gathered to celebrate Keaton were Candice Bergen, James L. Brooks, Jerry Bruckheimer, Richard Donner, Illeana Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Diane English, Andy Garcia, Vince Gilligan, Patty Jenkins (AFI Class of 2000), Carol Kane, Andie MacDowell, Nancy Meyers, Meg Ryan, Carole Bayer Sager, Jane Seymour, Steve Tyrell, Jacki Weaver and Dianne Wiest.

The evening began with a special onstage commemoration of AFI’s 50th Anniversary by AFI Founding Director George Stevens, Jr., and AFI founding Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Hollywood icon Sidney Poitier. “‘Film, without the American contribution, is unimaginable,’” said Stevens, quoting the words of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., founding AFI Board of Trustees member. “That truth, and the belief of the founding Trustees and the importance of the motion picture, inspired an American Film Institute that would advance and elevate the art of film in the United States.”

Acclaimed cinematographer and AFI Conservatory Class of 1972 alumnus Frederick Elmes (BLUE VELVET, THE NIGHT OF) was awarded the 2017 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal for his commitment to excellence in film and television.

Steve Martin and Martin Short opened the Tribute to Diane Keaton with a hilarious musical roast of the actress and her body of work. The evening’s additional highlights included clips spanning her career and touching remarks and anecdotes from guests and presenters, with an emphasis on feminist spirit and empowerment.

The evening concluded with a surprise and rare appearance by Woody Allen, who presented the AFI Life Achievement Award to Keaton.

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“The minute I met her, she was a great, great inspiration to me. Much of what I’ve accomplished in my life, I owe for sure to her,” Allen said. “This is a woman who is great at everything she does — actress, writer, photographer, director.”

Accepting the prestigious honor, Keaton concluded the evening by singing a rendition of “Seems Like Old Times,” the love theme from ANNIE HALL.

Building upon the evening’s theme of celebrating female artistry, the inaugural Audi Fellowship for Women, which will support the entire two-year AFI Conservatory enrollment for one promising female director, was spotlighted earlier at the event. Audi, an enduring supporter of the motion picture arts, and of AFI for over 14 years, is now investing in the future of our dynamic community by expanding opportunities for female storytellers. Natalie Camou, in attendance at the event, received the first-ever Fellowship, and will begin her journey as a Directing Fellow at the AFI Conservatory in August 2017.

A special moment was also taken to recognize AFI Conservatory alumna Patty Jenkins, whose WONDER WOMAN this past weekend garnered the biggest box-office opening ever for a female director.

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(Source: blog.afi.com)

#SIFF

AWARD WINNERS AT THE 43RD SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

June 11, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

At the End of the Tunnel wins Golden Space Needle Audience Awards for Best Film and Best Director

Grand Jury Prizes go to Sami Blood, The Winter, Boundaries, Lane 1974, and Becoming Who I Was

Best Documentary goes to Dolores Lene

Cecilia Sparrok of Sami Blood wins Best Actress David Johns of I, Daniel Blake wins Best Actor

SEATTLE — June 11, 2017 — The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), the largest and most highly attended film festival in the United States, today announced the winners of the 2017 Golden Space Needle Audience and Competition Awards. The awards were presented at a ceremony and breakfast held at the Space Needle. The 25-day Festival, which began May 18, featured 400 films representing 80 countries, including 36 World premieres (14 features, 22 shorts), 34 North American premieres (22 features, 12 shorts), 20 US Premieres (11 features, 9 shorts), and 750 Festival screenings and events. Additionally, SIFF brought in more than 350 filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals as guests of the Festival.

Interim Artistic Director Beth Barrett said, “This year at SIFF, we celebrated extraordinary cinema from 80 countries over a marathon 25 days bringing to our audiences more than 750 screenings and events and introducing them to over 350 filmmakers and industry guests. Executive Director Sarah Wilke and I were thrilled to present Anjelica Huston with the Festival’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Acting before screening the World Premiere of her newest film Trouble, as well as welcoming Sam Elliott back to the the Festival for a special screening of his film, The Hero. We had an incredible lineup of local films, and our documentary film selection continues to be among the best in the country. We also launched a new program, the SIFF New Works-in-Progress Forum, where we screened two narrative and two documentary features in the midst of their creative process to the Seattle audience of industry and festival attendees, as well as continuing our exploration of the intersections between cinema and VR/360.”
The Best of SIFF lineup will be announced later today and SIFF’s five cinema screens will resume daily cinema service with Best of SIFF titles and other outstanding cinematic experiences beginning Friday, June 16.

SIFF 2017 GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AUDIENCE AWARDS

SIFF celebrates its films and filmmakers with the Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. Selected by Festival audiences, awards are given in six categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Short Film. This year, over 82,000 ballots were submitted.
GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST FILM
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, directed by Rodrigo Grande (Spain/Argentina 2016)

First runner-up: KING’S CHOICE, directed by Erik Poppe (Norway 2016)
Second runner-up: I, DANIEL BLAKE, directed by Ken Loach (United Kingdom/France/Belgium 2016)
Third runner-up: PATTI CAKE$, directed by Geremy Jasper (USA 2017)
Fourth runner-up: LANE 1974, directed by SJ Chiro (USA 2017)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST DOCUMENTARY
DOLORES, directed by Peter Bratt (USA 2017)

First runner-up: CHASING CORAL, directed by Jeff Orlowski (USA 2017)
Second runner-up: STEP, directed by Amanda Lipitz (USA 2017)
Third runner-up: CITY OF GHOSTS, directed by Matthew Heineman (USA 2017)
Fourth runner-up: DIRTBAG: THE LEGEND OF FRED BECKEY, directed by Dave O’Leske (USA 2017)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST DIRECTOR
Rodrigo Grande, AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (Spain/Argentina 2016)

First runner-up: Justin Chon, GOOK (USA 2017)
Second runner-up: Philippe van Leeuw, IN SYRIA (Lebanon/France/Belgium 2017)
Third runner-up: Mani Haghighi, A DRAGON ARRIVES! (Iran 2016)
Fourth runner-up: Hirokazu Kore-eda, AFTER THE STORM (Japan 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST ACTOR
David Johns, I, DANIEL BLAKE (United Kingdom/France/Belgium 2016)

First runner-up: Leonardo Sbaraglia, AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (Spain/Argentina 2016)
Second runner-up: Timothy Spall, THE JOURNEY (United Kingdom 2016)
Third runner-up: Fares Fares, THE NILE HILTON INCIDENT (Sweden/Denmark/Germany 2017)
Fourth runner-up: Bogusław Linda, AFTERIMAGE (Poland 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST ACTRESS
Lene Cecilia Sparrok, SAMI BLOOD (SAMEBLOD) (Sweden/Norway/Denmark 2016)

First runner-up: Elina Vaska, MELLOW MUD (Latvia 2016)
Second runner-up: Danielle MacDonald, PATTI CAKE$ (USA 2017)
Third runner-up: Sophia Mitri-Schloss, LANE 1974 (USA 2017)
Fourth runner-up: Simone Baker, GOOK (USA 2017)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD – BEST SHORT FILM
DEFEND THE SACRED, directed by Kyle Bell (USA 2016)

First runner-up: LITTLE POTATO, directed by Wes Hurley, Nathan M. Miller (USA 2017)
Second runner-up: THE GENEVA CONVENTION, directed by Benoit Martin (France 2016)
Third runner-up: FLUFFY, directed by Lee Filipovski (Serbia/Montenegro/Canada 2016)
Fourth runner-up: THE CLEANSING HOUR, directed by Damien LeVeck (USA 2016)

LENA SHARPE AWARD FOR PERSISTENCE OF VISION
Presented by Women in Film Seattle
Amanda Lipitz, STEP (USA 2017)

This award is given to the female director’s film that receives the most votes in public balloting at the Festival. Lena Sharpe was co-founder and managing director of Seattle’s Festival of Films by Women Directors and a KCTS-TV associate who died in a plane crash while on assignment. As a tribute to her efforts in bringing the work of women filmmakers to prominence, SIFF created this special award and asked Women in Film Seattle to bestow it.

SIFF 2017 COMPETITION AWARDS

SIFF confers five juried competition awards: SIFF Official Competition, Ibero-American Competition, New Directors Competition, New American Cinema Competition (FIPRESCI Prize), and Documentary Competition. The winners in each juried competition receives $5,000 in cash.

SIFF 2017 OFFICIAL COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
SAMI BLOOD (SAMEBLOD) (d: Amanda Kernell, Sweden/Norway/Denmark 2016)
JURY STATEMENT: After viewing this excellent selection of eight outstanding, diverse films from eight different countries, we faced the challenging task of choosing a winner. For its beautifully nuanced and spare portrayal of the struggle to discover who you are, both because of and in spite of where you are from, featuring a stunning and expressive central performance and lush cinematography of a rarely seen culture, we present the Grand Jury Prize to Sami Blood.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
MY HAPPY FAMILY (d: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Gross, Georgia/Germany/France 2017)
JURY STATEMENT: For their deft handling of a large ensemble cast, for their approach to a subversively feminist story within a patriarchal culture, and for their ability to capture emotional chaos with depth, grace, and resonance, we present a Special Jury Mention for Excellence in Direction to Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross for My Happy Family.
The SIFF Official Competition is juried by a team of international industry members, and are selected by SIFF programmers for their cinematic excellence. The SIFF Official Competition Jury members were Leslie Vuchot (The Festival Agency), Susan Wloszczyna (RogerEbert.com) and Megan Griffiths (director, Lucky Them, Nightstalker).

2017 Entries:
7 Minutes (d. Michele Placido, Italy/France/Switzerland 2016, North American Premiere)
Bad Influence (d: Claudia Huaiquimilla, Chile 2016)
Beach Rats (d: Eliza Hittman, USA 2017)
Have A Nice Day (d: LIU Jian, China/Hong Kong 2017, North American Premiere)
Hedi (d: Mohamed Ben Attia, Tunisia/Belgium/France/Qatar/UAE 2016)
My Happy Family (d: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Gross, Georgia/Germany/France 2017)
Sami Blood (Sameblod) (d: Amanda Kernell, Sweden/Norway/Denmark 2016)
Zoology (d: Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Russia/France/Germany 2016)

SIFF 2017 IBERO-AMERICAN COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
THE WINTER (EL INVIERNO) (d: Emiliano Torres, Argentina/France 2016)
JURY STATEMENT: A complex and multi-layered first feature that bends the Western genre to create a remarkable film that is as much about the relationship between two men, as it is about Man’s relationship to the landscape.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
DEVIL’S FREEDOM (LA LIBERTAD DEL DIABLO) (d: Everardo González, Mexico 2017)
JURY STATEMENT: A timely and urgent film on the ongoing Mexican drug war, that presents the many faces of violence without presenting any actual faces.

The SIFF Ibero-American Competition aims to highlight the strength, creativity, and influence of storytelling in the region. The Ibero-American Competition is for films having their Seattle premiere during the Festival and without US distribution. The SIFF Ibero-American Competition Jury members were Ivan Trujillo (Guadalajara Film Festival), Florangela Davila (Crosscut), and Carlos Gutierrez (Cinema Tropical).

2017 Entries:
Chameleon (d: Jorge Riquelme Serrano, Chile 2016, North American Premiere)
Devil’s Freedom (La Libertad Del Diablo) (d: Everardo González, Mexico 2017, US Premiere)
May God Save Us (d: Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Spain 2016)
Pendular (d: Julia Murat, Brazil/Argentina/France 2017)
Santa & Andres (d: Carlos Lechuga, Cuba/Colombia/France 2016)
Two Irenes (d: Fabio Meira, Brazil 2017, North American Premiere)
The Winter (El Invierno) (d: Emiliano Torres, Argentina/France 2016)
Woodpeckers (d: José María Cabral, Dominican Republic 2017)

SIFF 2017 NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
BOUNDARIES (PAYS) (d: Chloé Robichaud, Canada (Québec) 2016)
JURY STATEMENT: For its fully-fleshed portrayal of women and the dilemmas of their public and private lives and its absurdist feel for political process, we award the Grand Jury Prize to the French–Canadian film Boundaries.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
THE INLAND ROAD (d: Jackie Van Beek, New Zealand 2017)
JURY STATEMENT: We also single out Gloria Popata for her arresting debut as a troubled native New Zealander in the film The Inland Road.

Festival programmers select 10 films remarkable for their original concept, striking style, and overall excellence. To be eligible, a film must be a director’s first or second feature and without US distribution at the time of selection. The SIFF New Directors Jury members were James Shapiro (NEON/Drafthouse Films), Ella Taylor (NPR), and Gerren Crochet (The Gersh Agency).

2017 Entries:
Anishoara (d: Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu, Germany 2016)
Boundaries (Pays) (d: Chloé Robichaud, Canada (Québec) 2016)
Diamond Island (d: Davy Chou, France 2016)
The Inland Road (d: Jackie Van Beek, New Zealand 2017, North American Premiere)
I Was A Dreamer (d: Michele Vannucci, Italy 2016, North American Premiere)
Kati Kati (d: Mbithi Masya, Kenya 2016)
The Man (d: Charlotte Sieling, Denmark 2017)
Paris Prestige (d: Hamé Bourokba, Ekoué Labitey, France 2016)
Quit Staring at My Plate (d: Hana Jušić, Croatia 2016)
Struggle for Life (d: Antonin Peretjatko, Belgium 2016)

SIFF 2017 NEW AMERICAN CINEMA COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
LANE 1974 (d: SJ Chiro, USA 2017)
JURY STATEMENT: A tough-minded, but tender look at the underside of 1970s counterculture life.

Festival programmers select eight films without US distribution at the time of selection that are sure to delight audiences looking to explore the exciting vanguard of New American Cinema to compete for the FIPRESCI Award for Best New American Film. The SIFF New American Cinema Jury members were Beat Glur (Swiss Film Critics Association), Nachum Mochiach (Habama), and Gerald Peary (Boston University Cinematheque).

2017 Entries:

American Folk (d: David Heinz, USA 2017)

Columbus (d: Kogonada, USA 2017)

Dara Ju (d: Anthony Onah, USA/Nigeria 2017)

The Feels (d: Jenée Lamarque, USA 2017, World Premiere)

In The Radiant City (d: Rachel Lambert, USA 2016)
The Landing (d: Mark Dodson, David Dodson, USA 2016)

Lane 1974 (d: SJ Chiro, USA 2017)

Say You Will (d: Nick Naveda, USA 2017, World Premiere)

SIFF 2017 DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
BECOMING WHO I WAS (d: Chang-Yong Moon, Jin Jeon, South Korea 2016)
JURY STATEMENT: We admired the filmmaker’s skill and commitment to capturing the relationship between the two subjects in this artfully crafted documentary. For a film that beautifully tells the story of a truly incredible emotional and spiritual journey, the jury awards the grand prize for documentary filmmaking to Becoming Who I Was.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
WHAT LIES UPSTREAM (d: Cullen Hoback, USA 2017)
JURY STATEMENT: For filmmaker Cullen Hoback’s journalistic integrity in revealing the unseemly collusion between public servants and lobbyists that lead to the poisoning of West Virginia’s water supply, we give a special jury mention to What Lies Upstream.

Unscripted and uncut, the world is a resource of unexpected, informative, and altogether exciting storytelling. Documentary filmmakers have for years brought untold stories to life and introduced us to a vast number of fascinating topics we may never have known existed. The SIFF Documentary Jury members were Kathy McDonald (Documentary Magazine), Ryland Aldrich (producer, L.A. Times, Folk Hero & Funny Guy), and Shane Smith (Hot Docs).

2017 Entries:

Becoming Who I Was (d: Chang-Yong Moon, Jin Jeon, South Korea 2016, US Premiere)

Close Relations (d: Vitaly Mansky, Germany/Latvia/Estonia/Ukraine 2016, US Premiere)

The Farthest (d: Emer Reynolds, Ireland 2017)

Ghost Hunting (d: Raed Andoni, Palestine/France/Switzerland 2016, US Premiere)

The Reagan Show (d: Pacho Velez, Sierra Pattengill, USA 2017)

Roberto Bolle ― The Art Of Dance (d: Francesca Pedroni, Italy 2016, North American Premiere)

Those Who Remain (d: Eliane Raheb, Lebanon/UAE 2016, North American Premiere)

What Lies Upstream (d: Cullen Hoback, USA 2017)

Winnie (d: Pascale Lamche, France/Netherlands/South Africa 2017)

SIFF 2017 FUTUREWAVE AND YOUTH JURY AWARDS

SIFF presents FutureWave Shorts during ShortsFest Weekend. These inspiring original short films represent some of the best short filmmaking from around the world. In addition SIFF presents films throughout the Festival curated for youth in our Films4Families and FutureWave feature programs.

YOUTH JURY AWARD FOR BEST FUTUREWAVE FEATURE
PATTI CAKE$ (USA 2017), directed by Geremy Jasper
JURY STATEMENT: For the unique, compelling characters and incredible music in this story of transformation.

YOUTH JURY AWARD FOR BEST FILMS4FAMILIES FEATURE
SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS (United Kingdom 2016), directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
JURY STATEMENT: For its relatable story and characters, production design that captured the essence of an era, and combination of action, humor, and mystery.

FUTUREWAVE SHORTS WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE)
The winner will be awarded a $1000 cash prize presented by Amazon.com
BATTLES (BATAILLES) (Canada (Quebec) 2016), directed by Karen Pinette Fontaine
JURY STATEMENT: For its richly composed visuals and poetic journey of self that takes the viewer from a hollow party atmosphere to a seemingly empty space that becomes filled with the narrator’s culture that is thriving within her.

FUTUREWAVE SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
FAMILY SHADOWS (USA 2016), directed by Laura Malatos
FUTUREWAVE SHORTS PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
The winners each will be awarded a $1250 partial scholarship to the 2017 Prodigy Camp.
THE PETITION (USA, 2016), directed by Riley Goodwin and Kibiriti Majuto

SIFF 2017 SHORT FILM JURY AWARDS

All short films shown at the Festival are eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and Jury Award Shorts Competition. Jurors will choose winners in the Live Action, Animation, and Documentary categories. Each jury winner will receive $2,500 and winners in each of the three categories may also qualify to enter their respective films in the Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

LIVE ACTION

GRAND JURY PRIZE
WOMEN&WINE (KVINNER&CAVA) (Norway, 2017), directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrøm
JURY STATEMENT: For its honest depiction of friendship that, over a short period of time, authentically runs the spectrum from silly and beautiful to awkward and heartbreaking, we give the Jury Award for Best Live Action Short to Women&Wine, directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrøm.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
NOTHING EVER REALLY ENDS (INGENTING TAR NOENSINNE SLUTT) (Norway, 2017), directed by Jakob Rørvik
JURY STATEMENT: For its exceptional craftsmanship in all areas of the filmmaking process we decided that Nothing Ever Really Ends could not go unmentioned. From the writing and directing to the editing and acting this film unfolds effortlessly. And all in the service of an incredibly entertaining and relatable story.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
FANNY (Norway, 2017), directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
JURY STATEMENT: We’d also like to recognize a filmmaker who impressed us with an intimate and frank film about sexuality and loneliness. For his unique vision, heartbreaking honesty, and nuanced direction in the film Fanny, we’d like to award Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel a special jury award for emerging director.

DOCUMENTARY

GRAND JURY PRIZE
REFUGEE (USA, 2016), directed by Joyce Chen and Emily Moore
JURY STATEMENT: For many refugees, getting to the United States is only the first step of a decades-long journey. Refugee is the moving and powerful story of a mother of five, Aicha Diop, whose journey to obtain asylum encapsulates the hope of life in America, as well as its harsh political realities.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
WAITING FOR HASSANA (Nigeria, 2017), directed by Ifunanya Maduka
JURY STATEMENT: By bringing to light one young girl’s traumatic experience, this important documentary gives a voice to all 276 teenage girls whose lives were violently interrupted by Boko Haram in 2014. This film is a necessary reminder that an issue doesn’t vanish when its hashtag stops trending.

ANIMATION

GRAND JURY PRIZE
PUSSY (CIPKA) (Poland, 2016), directed by Renata Gasiorowska
JURY STATEMENT: A witty and whimsical animated short about a girl and her body, Pussy quickly takes the audience on a wild ride through female sex positivity.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
THE HEAD VANISHES (France, 2016), directed by Franck Dion
JURY STATEMENT: Through its beautiful animation and unique perspective, The Head Vanishes poignantly captures the exceptional challenges, the hopeful glimmers, the peaceful moments, and the continual struggles of dealing with a mentally ill parent.

SHORT FILM JURIES FOR SIFF 2017

LIVE ACTION: Ina Pira (Vimeo), Lacey Leavitt (producer, Laggies, Safety Not Guaranteed) and Tony Fulgham (commercial director and independent filmmaker)

DOCUMENTARY AND ANIMATION: Anna Sampers (Milwaukee FIlm), Nancy Chang (Reel Grrls) and David Chen (Slashfilm)

SIFF 2017 360/VIRTUAL REALITY COMPETITION
SIFF 360/VR AWARD
Sponsored by Pixvana
WE WHO REMAIN (USA, 2017) by Emblematic Group / Trevor Snapp and Sam Wolson
JURY STATEMENT: We are pleased to present the SIFF 360/VR Award, sponsored by Pixvana, to We Who Remain, a film that intimately brings the viewer inside the heart of a forgotten conflict in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Fusing elegant storytelling with sharp technical skill, the film weaves together narratives from a student, rebel soldier, journalist, and mother who have chosen to remain and relentlessly struggle to bring peace back to their land.
SIFF is proud to be awarding this new cutting edge work and providing the winner with a $500 prize and the opportunity for the awarded film to be distributed globally through Pixvana’s SPIN Studio platform. The SIFF 360/VR Award jury is comprised of Julia Fryett, Kate Becker, and Sarah Wilke.
SIFF 2017 CHINA STARS AWARDS

The Seattle International Film Festival is pleased to have presented the following awards at the China Stars Award Ceremony on Friday, June 9th at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

CHINA STARS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Qin Yi (The Beautiful Kokonor Lake)

CHINA STARS EMERGING TALENT
Liang Dong (The Door)

CHINA STARS EMERGING ACTOR
Yi Li Ha Mu. M (The Beautiful Kokonor Lake)

SIFF 2017 CATALYST SCREENPLAY COMPETITION

The Catalyst Screenplay Competition is a platform aimed at offering up-and-coming writers the opportunity to gain industry exposure through SIFF. This year, the Finalist and Grand Prize scripts were juried by script supervisor Emily Zulauf (Inside Out) and producer Brent Stiefel (Obvious Child). The winning script, The Tiger & the Protected, received a live read by SAG-AFTRA actors on Saturday, June 10.

Grand Prize Winner

The Tiger & the Protected by Jeff Scott

Finalists

I Can Change by Amy Lowe Starbin

Keeper of the Cup by Larry Shulruff

This Close by Marc Messenger

Semi-Finalists

Beasts Undiscovered by Jeremy Dehn and Catherine Dale

Catherine’s Cross by Millie West

Ladies by Natalie Nicole Dressel

A Promise Kept by Linda Sunshine

Until the End of the Ninth by Beth Bollinger

The Zuckermans by Ethan Mermelstein

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

SIFF 2017 started off with the smart and romantic comedy The Big Sick, with director Michael Showalter, actor/co-writer Kumail Nanjiani and co-writer Emily V. Gordon in attendance. Halfway through the 25 day festival, we welcomed the dynamic duo of director Gillian Robespierre and actor Jenny Slate for their second feature Landline as the Centerpiece Gala, along with newcomer actor Abby Quinn. The Festival closed out with the North American Premiere of Raoul Peck’s new feature The Young Karl Marx.

The stunning Anjelica Huston arrived in Seattle to accept the Festival’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Acting along with an on-stage interview with Variety’s Jenelle Riley, before screening the World Premiere of her newest film Trouble with director Theresa Rebeck also in attendance. SIFF welcomed back the iconic Sam Elliott for “An Afternoon with Sam Elliott,” where Sam chatted with TIME Magazine’s Sam Lansky before screening The Hero. Qin Yi was presented with the China Stars Lifetime Achievement Award at the China Stars Award Presentation. Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena brought their new hit comedy The Little Hours and helped SIFF-goers party on into the night at one of our Saturday Night Parties. The first ever all-female crew feature film Band-Aid was a delight with writer/director/star Zoe Lister-Jones. Conversations were sparked after the brave Matthew Heineman discussed the making of his new documentary City of Ghosts.

In between films, forums, and parties, SIFF-goers were able to connect at this year’s brand new SIFF Lounge, presented by Vulcan Productions. The SIFF Lounge featured twelve 360/VR films and celebrated the pivotal direction filmmaking is taking with the SIFF 360/VR Award given to We Who Remain. The inaugural New Works-in-Progress Forum sparked a new format of conversation between filmmakers, audience, and industry with two narrative and two documentary features in the midst of their creative process. The China Stars program celebrated international cinema with awards to both legendary filmmakers and up-and-coming talent.

About SIFF

Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 150,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 400 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, repertory, classic, and revival film showings 365 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 13,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

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

#AFI

Congratulations to AFI Conservatory Alumna Patty Jenkins

June 9, 2017 HollywoodGlee 1 Comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Screen Shot 2017-06-09 at 2.26.32 PM — Director Patty Jenkins

Director Patty Jenkins’ WONDER WOMAN opened to critical and commercial acclaim as the biggest box-office opening for a female director ever. The American Film Institute congratulates Jenkins, an alumna of the AFI Conservatory Directing Class of 2000, on the success and global impact of WONDER WOMAN.

Before WONDER WOMAN, Jenkins wrote and directed the feature film MONSTER (2003), starring Charlize Theron. MONSTER was named Best First Feature by the 2004 Film Independent Spirit Awards and was an AFI AWARDS 2003 Official Selection. Theron received the Academy Award^® for Best Actress. In 2004, AFI presented Jenkins with the 14th annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.

Jenkins is among the women directors from AFI whose work in film includes ARRIVAL, AMERICAN HONEY and the upcoming MUDBOUND, and in television includes HOMELAND, I LOVE DICK, INSECURE, THE LEFTOVERS and UNREAL.

AFI is committed to addressing gender diversity in the industry: nearly half of the AFI Conservatory’s Directing Fellows are women. AFI’s pioneering program AFI Directing Workshop for Women has been putting more female filmmakers to work for more than 40 years.

#AFI, #AFIDOCS

The AFI DOCS Interview: THE WORK Director Jairus McLeary

June 9, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

A moving story of redemption and renewal unfolds in THE WORK, a 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.The film screens at AFI DOCS on Thursday, June 15, and Saturday, June 17. AFI spoke with Jairus McLeary about the film, which he co-directed with Gethin Aldous.

AFI: What inspired you to tell this story?

JM: I was one of the first civilian volunteers to be invited to the first four-day event inside Folsom. My own father invited me and although I trusted him implicitly, the weight of what I didn’t know about the inside of a maximum prison made me say no. It wasn’t until the third time he asked me that I said yes. I was floored, and that feeling never went away no matter how many times I went back. I’d done things like this before but never in a similar setting or with people so utterly committed to blunt honesty. For the convicts who lived there, that commitment was sometimes a matter of life and death.

AFI: How did you find the subject(s) in your film?

JM: For the three civilian volunteers that were chosen as subjects, we used word of mouth. It’s the same way any volunteer from the streets comes to one of the four-day events for the first time. my brothers I each picked a few men from our lives who were interested in doing this work and who we thought might be ready and we narrowed that selection down until we reached Charles, Brian and Chris. For the men inside, many of them knew us from over the years and the Inside Circle Foundation knew us and trusted that we were sincere and committed, so Rob Allbee [ex-prisoner and co-founder of the program] acted as a go-between. He was what’s called a brown-cardholder, which means the prison administration allows him and a handful of other men from the Foundation to participate in the convict’s weekly meetings.

Rob and my father began to speak to the shot-callers of all the major gangs that participate in the group on our behalf so that we could start to put a shooting strategy together. These men are the top of the hierarchical political system inside and set the tone for the rest of the prison population on the yard. After we had their trust, they vouched for us with the other inmates we didn’t know as well. Only then did we begin to approach the prison administration with a concrete plan.

the-work-f70890

Chaplain Dennis Merino, also a founding member, worked inside the prison for years and he began to approach people within the CDCR past and present, to help us craft a proposal of our intentions so that we could then gain access to the warden. With his consent and trust earned from years of positive results with the convicts who had participated in the Program, we were able to begin to negotiate the conditions of the shoot with the proper department within the prison. With permission out of the way could set our shoot dates and concentrate on what the convicts felt comfortable with in the room on the day. They handpicked first-timers and facilitators among themselves who felt comfortable divulging personal information about themselves and doing their therapy work under shooting conditions.

AFI: What was an obstacle you faced while making the film?

JM: The entire crew needed to attend at least one four-day event and get a layout of the location, get to know the men in blue themselves and most importantly do some of their own personal work to gain a sensitivity that would not disturb the very thing we were hoping to capture. Only afterwards, would they give us their trust and consent.

For my brothers and I, being able to reach this point with a film with these kinds of variables has been the largest undertaking of our lives. But I think the biggest success is that the men who started and continue to participate in this program somehow trusted us with their efforts and allowed us to represent what they’ve accomplished in this way. That we were somehow able to work together as a family over 10 years on this project from start to finish and come through it without killing one another and no matter the pressures involved we were able to keep our relationships intact. At each point when it was truly needed, talented, motivated people stepped up who were willing to add their talent to this project that we were somehow able to keep in motion.

AFI: What do you want audiences to walk away with after screening your film?

JM: It’s my hope that the viewer will grasp the the risks that the convicts who participate in this kind of group therapy are taking to change. The work they do together in their circles could have life or death consequences out on the yard. That’s how important this work is to them. But those who stick with the program to do this work by bring in other participants and the numbers are growing. Over time the number of convicts on the yard doing this work has grown a that such that it’s had a positive net effect on the entire yard as the rate of violent incidences decrease. Change the environment and you change the system. and continued successful program participation could be very influential with parole boards. It could mean the difference between freedom and life imprisonment – whether they are released or not.

AFI: Why is DC a valuable location to screen your film?

JM: Going beyond how massive this opportunity is and how amazing AFI is as a platform for our film, DC is the heart of where policy is made. It allows us the potential to gain access and exposure for the Inside Circle Foundation and for the men who keep it going. The film is about people helping one another improve by going to their darkest places together as a group. We hope that the tools these men are using inside Folsom and San Quentin will be able gain traction and spread to other prisons. America leads the world in the number of incarcerated citizens and at this point, anything that works can help that massive problem. We’re hoping to assist the program in getting the funding and support from policymakers it needs to start quantifying and tracking their rates of success with the men in the form of hard numbers with the overall goal of increasing the amount of prisons the foundation operates in.

AFI: Why are documentary films important today?

JM: Documentaries allow us to immerse ourselves in the stories of others. They can take us to places we’ve never been and they allow us to access the truth in the experiences of others. In that way, it becomes a shared experience and has the potential to generate a range of emotions; from empathy to outrage. Not only do we learn about people, places or things we didn’t have a clue about before, as we know more about them and our reactions allow us to learn more about ourselves in relation to these things outside of ourselves and our experience. Both of these are motivating forces that have the ability to galvanize people to social discourse or action and effect change. That’s what documentaries have the power to do and that goes beyond entertainment. When I look at what’s happing in the media landscape today with the rising obfuscation of truth in this country, both empathy and outrage are sorely needed.

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Palm Springs International Shortfest Announces Line-Up

June 9, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

ShortFest to Showcase Shorts Featuring Edward Asner, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Helena Bonham Carter, Carrie Coon, Idris Elba, Rick Fox, Toby Jones, Tatiana Maslany, Ian McKellen, Matthew Modine, Sam Rockwell, Kate Winslet, Robin Wright and More!

Additional Speakers from AMPAS, Anonymous Content, CAA, Cartoon Network, FX Networks, ICM Partners, NASA, Preferred Content, Seed&Spark, UTA, Vimeo and More!

Palm Springs, CA (June 9, 2017) – Now in its 23^rd year, Palm Springs International ShortFest will showcase 338 films including 46 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 42 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres. The selection of films for screening and competition features star-studded casts and award-winning films from 60 countries around the world. There are 55 curated programs, which will screen June 20-26, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. More than 4,200 of the festival submissions will be available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view. The complete line-up is available at www.psfilmfest.org.

“Each year, the quality of films we watch for ShortFest keeps getting stronger,” said Festival Director Lili Rodriguez. “It makes our job of narrowing down the final selection that much harder, but also incredibly rewarding. There are so many unique and strong voices and we’re really proud to champion these films at the festival.”

This year’s star-studded shorts feature Academy Award^® winners and nominees, as well as film and television stars including Summer Phoenix in Across My Land (USA/France); Thomas Lennon and Lennon Parham in All Exchanges Final (USA); Tatiana Maslany in Apart From Everything (Canada); The Dark of Night (USA) directed by Robin Wright and starring Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell; Sir Ian McKellen in Edmund the Magnificent (UK); Toby Jones in The Entertainer (UK); Julian Sands in The Escape (UK); Idris Elba in Five by Five (UK); Rick Fox in Game (USA); Carrie Coon in Great Choice (USA); Kate Winslet in The Lost Letter (Ireland); Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale in Martha Monster (Australia); Valerie Harper in My Mom and the Girl (USA); Helena Bonham Carter in Poles Apart (UK); Show Business (USA) directed by Clark Duke; and Super Sex directed by Matthew Modine and starring Kevin Nealon, Edward Asner, Elizabeth Perkins and Efren Ramirez.

2017 ShortFest Film Line-up

ShortFest jurors include: 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). Over $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards, will be given out in 21 categories to this year’s short films in competition. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner will receive the use of a camera package valued at $60,000. First place winners in five categories will automatically become eligible for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS^®) for a possible Academy Award^® nomination. Over the course of 22 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award^® nominations. Winners will be announced on Sunday, June 25 at a Closing Night screening and reception.

In addition to ShortFest’s award-winning short films, each year the Festival also welcomes a long guest list of filmmakers and industry attendees for the ShortFest Forums of panels and roundtables. Other prominent industry figures from AMPAS^®, Anonymous Content, CAA, Cartoon Network, FX Networks, ICM Partners, NASA, Preferred Content, Seed&Spark, UTA, Vimeo and other organizations will participate in three days of ShortFest Forums covering a wide range of emerging trends and new practices in the global film community.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

11:00 a.m. The Real Deal About Virtual Reality – The future is already here. As virtual reality comes into its own as a new frontier for exploring emotion, narrative and character in thrilling new ways, hear from these experts on the latest trends, tech and storytelling applications in VR, and find out how you can get involved in this unique platform for short films.

Guests: Ian Forester, VRPlayhouse; James Kaelan, WeVR; Sasha Samochina, NASA

Moderator: Rich DeMuro, KTLA

12:30 p.m. Composing for Film (Roundtable) – When you are weary of watching endless cuts of your film, with its ability to change the emotional impact, music can make you fall in love with your film all over again… IF you get the right composer. Using multiple examples, composer and Professor Peter Neff will teach you how to collaborate with composers to make your vision come to life on screen.

2:00 p.m. Funding, Funding, Funding . . . – How do you build your audience, crowdfund, attract a financier, or find a way to get your film off the ground? The industry’s leading experts are here to discuss the realities of independent producing, fundraising and getting your project made. Our panel of experts will walk you through the basics and give you the tools you need to get started.

Guests: Emily Best, Seed&Spark; Natalie Difford, Cinereach; Peter Van Steemburg, ICM Partners; Hailey Wierengo, United Talent Agency

3:30 p.m. Episodic and the Small Screen – We live in a new golden age of television. With more content than ever being produced for the small screen, and opportunities for both established auteurs and fresh voices. In these uncertain times for film, how can you break into the episodic medium?

Guests: Barbara Crawford, FX Networks; Katie Krentz, Cartoon Network; Kim Sherman, Stage 13; Caleb Ward, SeriesFest

Moderator: Katherine Tulich, HFPA/RogerEbert.com

Friday, June 23, 2017

11:00 a.m. Short Film Festival Strategy (Roundtable) – So, you have a film and are ready to hit the festival circuit. What festivals do you hit? Do you send a cover letter? Should you put your film online? Come find out from our festival insiders.

Guests: Kimberley Browning, Hollywood Shorts; Eileen Chiao, USC School of Cinematic Arts; Nancy Collet, Collet Cinema; Paul Sloop, Cleveland Film Fest

12:30 p.m. How to Pitch Like a Pro (Workshop) – Do you have an idea you’re ready to pitch? Then you need to know how. Our industry panel will show you the ropes, and share stories on the do’s and don’ts of making your pitch. Perfect training for anyone signed up for Saturday’s speed pitching roundtable. Don’t miss this workshop.

Guests: Emily Best, Seed&Spark; Nick Ogiony, CAA; Peter Trinh, ICM

Moderator: Liz Marion, Palm Springs ShortFest

2:00 p.m. All About the Docs – After all these years, short-form documentary filmmaking is still a thriving art form and tool for change and justice. The right length and topic in skilled hands can be just as transformative as a feature length or televised counterpart. Learn the ins and outs of short-form documentary filmmaking, and how to get your work seen by those who need to see it.

Guests: Hussain Currimbhoy, Sundance Film Festival; Abby Davis, Preferred Content; Raegan Hodge, CARE; Tom Oyer, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; AJ Schnack, Bonfire Films of America
Moderator: Jeremy Kay, Screen International

3:30 p.m. In Conversation with . . . Kate Bosworth – Moderated by Gregg Kilday from The Hollywood Reporter, join us in conversation with actress/producer Kate Bosworth and get some insight into navigating a hyphenated career path and making the move from the spotlight to behind the camera with her new production company Make Pictures Productions.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

10:00 a.m. Speed Pitching – Have a feature script up your sleeve? If you’re ready to venture out into the world, our collection of industry professionals – agents, studio executives, financiers, producers and filmmakers – are ready to meet with you one-on-one. You pitch. They respond. After 10 minutes it’s musical chairs.

Guests: Emily Best, Speed&Spark; Kimberly Browning, Hollywood Shorts; Abby Davis, Preferred Content; Adam Galen, Preferred Content; Kate Hurwitz, Cinetic Media; Matthew Lessall, Lessall Casting; Nick Ogiony, CAA; Linda Olszewski, Shorts HD; Morgan O’Neil, Southland Productions; Michael Polish, Director, The Astronaut Farmer; Luke Rivett, Anonymous Content; Peter Trinh, ICM; Peter Van Steemburg, ICM Partners

12:30 p.m. Meet the Programmers – Navigating the festival circuit can be challenging, but with a cool head and a strategic plan, you can maximize your film’s visibility, make amazing connections and drive your filmmaking career forward. A group of programmers from top U.S. festivals will provide candid insights into the programming process, deciding which festivals are best for your project, and making sure you make the most of your festival experience.

Guests: Sarah Harris, Denver Film Festival, Dallas Intl. Film Festival, Seattle Intl. Film Festival; Adam Piron, Sundance Institute; Amanda Salazar, San Francisco Intl. Film Festival; Paul Sloop, Cleveland Film Festival

Moderator: Sudeep Sharma

2:00 p.m. Meet the Press – Who is behind film and festival reviews? Learn from industry pros about how to catch the attention of the top writers and get your films reviewed.

Guests: Jeremy Kay, Screen International; Malina Saval, Variety; Anne Thompson, Indiewire

Moderator: Lili Rodriguez, Festival Director

3:30 p.m. Short Film Postpartum – So you’ve made a short, or maybe a few, and perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to play the festival circuit. What happens next? And where do you go from here? Learn about the many paths your short can take beyond film festival screenings and how to make the most of your audience and future opportunities from a panel of experienced industry experts here to help keep the dream alive.

Guests:Jeff Deutchman, NEON; Ian Durkin, Vimeo; Kate Hurwitz, Cinetic; Linda Olszewski, Shorts HD

Moderator: Malina Saval, Variety

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.

For more information and tickets, call (760) 778-8979 or visit the website: www.psfilmfest.org.

(Source: Press release provided by Nikki Croney)

#SIFF

Anjelica Huston Honored at the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival

June 8, 2017 HollywoodGlee Leave a comment

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Last night, the 43^rd Seattle International Film Festival honored Anjelica Huston with the Career Achievement in Acting Award, followed by the world premiere of her newest film, Trouble, written and directed by Theresa Rebeck.

Anjelica_1 — Anjelica Huston receives the Career Achievement in Acting Award at the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival.

Wilke_1 — (l-r) SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett, SIFF Executive Director Sarah Wilke, director Theresa Rebeck, Anjelica Huston and Jim Parrack attend the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival.

Anjelica_2 — Jim Parrack and Anjelica Huston attend the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival.

Jim Parrack and Anjelica Huston attend the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival.

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

HollywoodGlee

Monthly Archives: June 2017

AFI DOCS FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium With Honoree Laura Poitras

Spotlight Screening of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER at the Newseum and World Premiere of RECRUITING FOR JIHAD

Day Two of the AFI DOCS Forum

WORLD PREMIERE OF RECRUITING FOR JIHAD’S

EXTENDED INTERNATIONAL VERSION

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AFI DOCS THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of MOSQUITO and THE REAGAN SHOW at the Newseum

Screening of I AM EVIDENCE with Mariska Hargitay and World Premiere of TOUGH GUYS

Day One of the AFI DOCS Forum

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TODAY AT THE AFI DOCS FORUM

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American Film Institute Kicks Off 50th Anniversary at AFI Conservatory 2017 Commencement

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AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute to Diane Keaton Gathers American Film’s Finest

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AWARD WINNERS AT THE 43RD SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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Congratulations to AFI Conservatory Alumna Patty Jenkins

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The AFI DOCS Interview: THE WORK Director Jairus McLeary

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Palm Springs International Shortfest Announces Line-Up

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Anjelica Huston Honored at the 43rd Seattle International Film Festival

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Film Review and Marketing

AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium With Honoree Laura Poitras

Spotlight Screening of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER at the Newseum and World Premiere of RECRUITING FOR JIHAD

Day Two of the AFI DOCS Forum

WORLD PREMIERE OF RECRUITING FOR JIHAD’S

EXTENDED INTERNATIONAL VERSION

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Programming Includes Spotlight Screenings of MOSQUITO and THE REAGAN SHOW at the Newseum

Screening of I AM EVIDENCE with Mariska Hargitay and World Premiere of TOUGH GUYS

Day One of the AFI DOCS Forum

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Film Review and Marketing