Documentary

Inside Envision: Jennifer Arnold’s A Small Act

Presented by the IFP and UN, Envision is a daylong program dealing with the addressing of global issues through documentary. It takes place Saturday, July 10, and you can learn more here. Jennifer Arnold’s A Small Act is one of two features that will be screened at the event. As an impoverished boy in Kenya, Chris Mburu received the fortune of one person’s small donation. When WWII-survivor Hilde Back anonymously sponsored an African child’s education, Chris not only went through school but also became a Harvard-educated human rights lawyer for the UN, all unbeknownst to Hilde. So inspired, Chris and […]
by Mike Plante on Jul 8, 2010
AMICUS BRIEF FILED IN SUPPORT OF JOE BERLINGER

The following letter, drafted from materials provided by Donaldson and Callif, is an update on an amicus brief filed in support of filmmaker Joe Berlinger. If you’re not familiar with the situation regarding his film Crude and Chevron, please read the below and then this editorial by Robert Redford detailing the importance of this case. On June 23, 2010, the IFP joined thirteen other organizations and nine individuals in signing an amicus brief in support of filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who was ordered to turn over 600 hours of outtakes from his documentary Crude to petrochemical company Chevron Corporation. Chevron, threatened […]
by Scott Macaulay on Jul 6, 2010
SILVERDOCS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival (held June 21 to 27) announced its distinguished winners. Best Feature directors receive $5,000. Best US Feature: WO AI NI MOMMY (I LOVE YOU, MOMMY) directed by Stephanie Wang-Breal, which documents eight-year-old Chinese Fang Sui Yong and her adoption by a Jewish couple from Long Island who name her “Faith.” The film follows Faith and her parents’ twist-and-turn journey over a year and a half. Best World Feature: THE WOMAN WITH THE 5 ELEPHANTS directed by Vadim Jendreyko, which chronicles eighty-five-year-old Svetlana Geier who has dedicated her life to language. Considered the greatest translator of […]
by Jaimie Stettin on Jun 30, 2010
LA FILM FEST WINNERS

The LA Film Festival (held June 17-27) announced its winners. The prize for Best Narrative Feature went to Danish director Pernille Fischer Christensen for A Family. The Documentary Award went to J. Clay Tweel for his doc Make Believe. Christensen and Tweel both receive $50,000. L.A. Film Festival winners (descriptions provided by the festival): Narrative Award (for Best Narrative Feature): A Family (En Familie) directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen (Denmark). The conflict between love and duty plays out in this stunning, award-winning saga about a successful Danish family that faces agonizing choices when its charismatic patriarch falls ill. Documentary Award […]
by Jaimie Stettin on Jun 30, 2010
SUNDANCE ANNOUNCES 2010 DOCUMENTARY FILM FELLOWS

The Sundance Institute announced its 12 Documentary Film Fellows and their five projects in the seventh Documentary Edit and Story Laboratory. Taking place from June 19-27 at a resort in Sundance, Utah, this Lab supports visionary filmmakers and their projects. Fellows are selected from a pool of 60 active, Sundance-funded documentary projects. Lab Fellows are: Ra’anan Alexandrowicz (Directing Fellow), Michael Collins (Directing Fellow), Heather Courtney (Directing Fellow), Ramona Diaz (Directing Fellow), Ron Goldman (Editing Fellow), Kyle Henry (Editing Fellow), Stephen Maing (Directing Fellow), Leah Marino (Editing Fellow), Eric Daniel Metzgar (Editing Fellow), Jonathan Oppenheim (Editing Fellow), Trina Rodriquez (Editing Fellow), […]
by Jaimie Stettin on Jun 25, 2010
SUNDANCE DIRECTOR’S LAB DIARY: SAODAT ISMAILOVA

The Sundance Director’s Lab is currently wrapping at the Sundance Institute in Utah, and we have two filmmakers blogging about their experience. First up is Uzbekistan writer/director Saodat Ismailova, whose project, 40 Days of Silence, is described like this: “Four generations of women under one roof in Uzbekistan look to each other for comfort as they try to overcome their destinies.” Yesterday, June 19th, the director’s lab came to the end. When I look back at the past three weeks of my life it already seems like it was more than a year ago… I will simply divide the process […]
by Scott Macaulay on Jun 24, 2010
EXPLAINING THE PERILS OF NATURAL GAS

Josh Fox’s Gasland was a huge hit at Sundance and plays this week on HBO. Here’s a quick piece on Fox and the issues surrounding natural gas explored in his film.
by Scott Macaulay on Jun 22, 2010
“WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE” ON POV

The documentary portrait of legendary civil rights lawyer William Kunstler, William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, has its television premiere tomorrow night, June 22, on POV. The film is directed by Kunstler’s two daughters, Emily and Sarah, and here, a day after Father’s Day, are their thoughts on rediscovering their dad through film: POV: How has your views of your father changed over the years, and what is his legacy to you? Emily: I think that every child has a moment where he or she starts to understand his or her parents as human beings instead of as heroes. For Sarah […]
by Scott Macaulay on Jun 21, 2010
2010 BROOKLYN INT’L FILM FEST WINNERS

The Brooklyn International Film Festival (BiFF) has announced its 2010 winners. The 13th annual BiFF ran from June 4th- 13th at indieScreen in Williamsburg and at Brooklyn Heights Cinema. Winners were selected from over 101 film film premieres. A total of $50,000 in prizes and services were awarded to the winners. Here is the list of awards: GRAND CHAMELEON AWARD THE MINUTEMEN MOVIE by Corey Wascinski Best Narrative Feature GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY by Lawrence Michael Levine Best Documentary THE MINUTEMEN MOVIE by Corey Wascinski Best Narrative Short NAISSANCES by Anne Émond Best Animation SPUTNIK 5 by Susanna […]
by Jaimie Stettin on Jun 17, 2010
NEWFEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 22nd NewFest, New York’s LGBT Film Festival announced its winners over the weekend. Top winners include Xavier Dolan’s I Killed My Mother for Best Narrative Feature and The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls by Leanne Pooley for Best Documentary. The Festival took place June 3-13 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. List of winners Jury Awards: Best Narrative Short: “Curious Thing” by Alain Hain Best Documentary Short: (Tie) “At Night I Was Beautiful” by Steven Wilsey; “Last Address” by Ira Sachs Best Documentary Feature: “The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls” by Leanne Pooley Best Narrative Feature: “I Killed My Mother” by […]
by Jaimie Stettin on Jun 15, 2010

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