Posted by Larry Gleeson

First-time Director, Bing Liu, popped into Santa Barbara this afternoon and participated in a Q & A hosted by Santa Barbara International Film Festival Program Director Michael Albright after a screening of Bing’s award-winning work, Minding the Gap.

Bing’s film is a documentary that tracks the lives of the individuals in his home-town of Rockford, Illinois who frequent a skateboard park as well as his own journey in coming to terms with life in a city marred by spousal abuse and outright flight after the community was dealt a strong economic blow from the 2008 financial crisis.

Utilizing a steady-cam, archival footage and some highly-polished cinematography, Bing strings together a fluid, self-reflexive narrative that is both emotionally rewarding and aesthetically appealing.

Minding the Gap premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and has garnered numerous awards this past year on the festival circuit including the Top Audience pick at the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition, Minding the Gap is short-listed for this year’s Oscar in the Documentary Film Category and is part of the SBIFF Documentary Spotlight Series featuring all fifteen short-listed films.

Until next time I’ll See you at the cinema!