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 November 21, 2008 DISPATCH FROM AMSTERDAM | IDFA Kicks Off: On Screen and In Person, Kasparov Lashes Out at Putin
"Russia is an authoritarian state," declared Garry Kasparov tonight in Amsterdam. A subject of director Masha Novikova's IDFA world premiere "In the Holy Fire of Revolution," former Russian chess champion Kasparov spoke at tonight's packed daily panel discussion. IDFA kicked off its signature "Talk of the Day" event at this year's fest in Amsterdam with verbal fireworks as Kasparov took to the stage to discuss his current passion - Russian politics and what he considers a crisis of the Russian state. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ]
DocSider: Recent Headlines
November 21, 2008 iW NEWS | "Young@Heart" Among Early IDA Award Winners
Winners for the International Documentary Association's 2008 IDA Documentary Awards competition were announced in several major categories ahead of the awards ceremony, to be held December 5th at the Directors Guild Theater in Los Angeles. For television, Ira Glass' "This American Life" won the Continuing Series Award for the second year in a row, while the Limited Series Award went to Denis Poncet, Jean Xavier De Lestrade and Remy Burkel's eight part series "Sin City Law." In the film categories, Stephen Walker's "Young@Heart" won the IDA/Alan Ett Music Documentary Award. The IDA/Pare Lorentz Award, in homage to the filmmaker's legacy, was given to David Novack's "Burning The Future: Coal in America," a look at the coal industry. Oliver Hodge's "Garbage Warrior" received a special mention in that category. Voting continues for the inaugural Audience Award, where all IDA members can vote for their favorite doc from a list of the year's nonfiction features. [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Honors ] November 17, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | Taking it all On: Ellen Kuras Directs "The Betrayal"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] November 13, 2008 REVIEW | Fan-dumb: Josh Koury's "We Are Wizards"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Full disclosure: I have never read any of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. I have never seen any of the blockbuster movies based on her series. That I plan to never do so is not entirely because of any perceived intellectual and emotional poverty of these books and movies--I know plenty of smart people who enjoy the Harry Potter stories, and there could be, at extremely generous moments, a certain side of me that would consider giving them a shot. But not as long as there are movies like "We Are Wizards," and not as long as there exist the Harry Potter-crazed subjects who comprise this painful documentary's meretricious survey of kitschy fandom. [ read more in Movies ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] November 6, 2008 HBO Scores Obama Doc
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Acquistions, Documentary, Lead Story ] iW NEWS | Magnolia Gets "Food, Inc"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Magnolia Pictures has acquired all U.S. rights to "Food, Inc," which debuted earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival and is on tap for the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Producer-director Robert Kenner and investigative authors Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollan's doc, from Participant Media and River Road Entertainment, exposes the U.S. food industry. The film was produced by Kenner and Elise Pearlstein, with Schlosser, Richard Pearce and Melissa Robledo serving as co-producers. Executive producers are Bill Pohlad, Robin Schorr, Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann. Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment, repping Participant and River Road, made the deal with Tom Quinn from Magnolia Pictures. Fortissimo Films is handling international sales. The film is set for a release in the first half of 2009. "Food, Inc. is a thought-provoking, beautifully crafted doc that not only addresses an issue of fundamental importance to many Americans, but tells them what they can do an individual to make a difference. It's an enthralling, empowering take on the subject," said Magnolia's Eamonn Bowles, in a statement. "There's nothing more elemental than what you eat and we think there's potentially a large audience for the film." [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] November 4, 2008iW NEWS | Sony Classics Has Got "Soul"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. The North American and Latin American rights to Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's "Soul Power" have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, details the 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974. "Zaire '74,' is a legendary musical festival which circumstances have conspired to conceal from a wider public," said Levy-Hinte in a statement. "In my quest to share the festival as broadly as possible, I could have no better partner than Sony Pictures Classics." Submarine Entertainment is repping the film and negotiated the deal with SPC which secured the rights over other companies actively vying for the film. Celluloid Dreams previously acquired the international rights. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] November 1, 2008 iW NEWS | MSNBC Deal for "Witch Hunt" Ahead of AFI Fest Debut
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Acquistions, Documentary, Lead Story ] October 28, 2008 "Kassim," "Wire," "Stranded," "Waltz" and "Young" Compete for IDA Honors
The five feature film nominations were announced today for the International Documentary Association's 2008 IDA Documentary Awards competition. "Kassim The Dream," "Man On Wire," "Stranded: I Have Come From A Plane That Crashed On the Mountains," "Waltz With Bashir" and "Young @ Heart" will compete for the group's Distinguished Documentary Achievement nod. Winners will be feted on December 5th at the Directors Guild, in a ceremony hosted by Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. [ read more in Biz ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Awards Season, Awards Watch, Documentary, Lead Story ]  indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Dear Zachary" Director Kurt Kuenne
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] October 24, 2008 REVIEW | Running Wild: Christina Clausen's "The Universe of Keith Haring"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] The best compliment that can be paid "The Universe of Keith Haring," a straightforward, fast-moving documentary about the Pennsylvania phenom who made his way from New York City bohemia to the art world and transcended all to become one of the most recognizable names in popular graphics in the late 20th century, is that it is as inspiring at the level of a cinematic portrait as its subject was at the level of pure creation. As directed by newcomer Christina Clausen, the film looks to Haring as an artistic role model for his preternatural talent, of course, but also for his infectious lust for life that had him as committed to social activism and teaching children as to his latest painting. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] October 21, 2008iW NEWS | "Water" To Open DocSoup
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has announced that the 2008-09 Doc Soup series will open with the Canadian premiere of Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's Katrina doc "Trouble The Water." After the October 29, 2008 screening at the Bloor Cinema, Lessin and Deal will participate in a Q&A. Each month, from October 2008 to April 2009, Doc Soup showcases the latest in Canadian and international documentary cinema for Toronto audiences. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Events ] October 20, 2008iW NEWS | Snag Makes Paley Partnership
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. The Paley Center for Media (formerly known as Museum of Television & Radio) is deepening its relationship with SnagFilms. The union will give Snag a presence at the organization's DocFest and Paley's other events and initiatives and will also include outreach to the film community. Both sides emphasized that it would bolster the doc community by providing more outlets and opportunies for films and filmmakers. "As our organization continues to expand our role as a 'media connector', we are pleased to be able to help filmmakers better understand and become familiar with options for reaching ever larger audiences," said Paley president and CEO Pat Mitchell, in a statement. DISCLAIMER: SnagFilms is the owner of indieWIRE.[permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] October 19, 2008 REVIEW | Crash Landing: Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded: I Have Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] In his 1993 review of "Alive," a film based on the infamous 1972 true story of the survivors of a Uruguay rugby team that crashed in the Andes on their plane ride to a tournament, Roger Ebert wrote, "We care about the characters while we watch the movie. But at the end it all seems elusive. The movie characters complete their dreadful ordeal, but somehow, walking out, we feel the real Andes survivors would not quite recognize themselves." Ebert suggested that "Alive"'s problem was one of evocation: despite the attempt to impart what the survivors went through, their incredible physical endurance (72 days in freezing cold temperatures) and mental fortitude (being forced to eat the flesh of their dead comrades to continue living) couldn't even be approached, let alone translated to the screen. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] October 16, 2008iW NEWS | IDFA To Screen Geyrhalter's Top Ten
Austrian doc director Nikolaus Geyrhalter has compiled his "Top 10" to screen as a special programme at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). He chose films that "have impressed him and that have played a role in his own development." These include Ulrich Seidl's "Good News: von Kolporteuren, toten Hunden und anderen Wienern," "Koyaanisqatsi," by Godfrey Reggio, and Peter Mettler's "Gambling, Gods and LSD." One fiction film found its way into the Top 10, Terrence Malick's "The New World." A number of Geyrhalter's own films will also be shown alongside, including "Pripyat," "Our Daily Bread," and his latest, "7915km," which will screen in the Joris Ivens Competition. On November 23, 2008, Geyrhalter will be giving a masterclass in which he will discuss his Top 10 and his own work. IDFA takes place November 20-30, 2008, in Amsterdam. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] iW NEWS | European Film Awards Announce Doc Nods
The European Film Academy have announced the nominations for European Film Academy Documentary 2008 - Prix Arte. The ten nominees are Nino Kirtadze's "Durakovo - Le Village Des Fous," Carlos Saura's "Fados," Thomas Heise's "Kinder. Wie Die Zeit Vergeht," Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov's "Le Mere," Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains," Pavel Koteck and Miroslav Janek's "Citizen Havel," Arto Halonen's "Shadow of the Holy Book," Helena Trestikova's "Rene" and Klaartje Quirijns' "The Dictator Hunter." This year's documentary jury will now convene in Berlin to screen the nominated films and decide on the winner. The winner will be presented at the 21st European Film Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 6 December, in Copenhagen. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Honors ] October 14, 2008 REVIEW | Electoral High School: Caroline Suh's "Frontrunners"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] This year's race comes down to a clear choice between vitality and experience. On the one hand, you have a young outsider running on a ticket of change; on the other, an older, more experienced candidate who nonetheless wants to "raise the bar." The former is accused of being all style and no substance, but balances this with an experienced running mate. The latter occasionally seems too intense, but has cleverly joined forces with a likable female vice-presidential candidate who might help soften his image. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] October 8, 2008iW NEWS | Academy Announces Doc Short Shortlist
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that the field of Documentary Short Subject entries for the 81st Academy Awards has been narrowed to eight films, of which three to five will earn Oscar nominations. The eight films are: "The Conscience of Nhem En," "David McCullough: Painting with Words," "Downstream," "The Final Inch," "Smile Pinki," "Tongzhi in Love," "Viva La Causa," and "The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Honors ] iW NEWS | "Episode 3" To Open IDFA
Renzo Martens' "Episode 3" will have its world premiere on November 20, 2008, as the opening film of the 21st International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Dutch artist Martens' film details how suppliers of African export product themselves hardly profit at all from the huge amounts of money made from their poverty. The festival's programmers said that questions examined in the film coincide with a "striking" amount of films at IDFA that deal with Africa and its perceptions in the West. The film, included in the IDFA First Appearance Competition, was pitched as a project at the FORUM in 2007. Martens' first film, "Episode 1," screened at IDFA in 2004. During the ten days of the festival, more than 300 documentaries will be shown, alongside daily debates. The entire film selection will be revealed on October 15, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] October 2, 2008iW NEWS | "Chelsea," "Kassim" To Open DocFest
The 7th annual Documentary Film Festival (DocFest) has announced its programming, screening 60 films over three weeks. The opening night films will be Abel Ferrera's "Chelsea on the Rocks," a history of Manhattan's The Chelsea Hotel, and Kief Davidson's "Kassim the Dream," the story of World Champion Boxer Kassim "The Dream" Ouma. The fest will close with Nina Davenport's "Operation Filmmaker." Other films include Jeruschka White and Caryn Capotosto's "Come on Down! Come on Down! The Road to the Price is Right," Melody Gilbert's "Disconnected," Liz Welch Tirrell's "The Long Haul," B. Douglas Robbins' "Debate Team," and Kristy Guevera-Flanagan's "Going on 13." The festival runs October 17-30 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco and October 31-November 6, at the Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] October 1, 2008 REVIEW | Jesus Fish in a Barrel: Larry Charles's "Religulous"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Bill Maher has had quite a run. Fourteen years have passed since "Politically Incorrect" saved him from Shannon Tweed vehicles and endless stand-up. A Washington meets Hollywood twist on the McLaughlin Group, "PI" proved surprisingly durable for Comedy Central before losing steam (and some bite) on ABC. After ill-timed (if courageous) comments led to the show's cancellation, Maher moved right along to "Real Time" on HBO (tweaking the format by losing the left-right debate and giving more time to Maher's emboldened commentary), where his notoriety, and wonky-smug shtick, hasn't waned. [ read more in Movies ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] September 29, 2008iW NEWS | Sundance Channel Goes To "Prison"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Marc Evans's "Prison My Whole Life" has been acquired by Sundance Channel. The film follows William Francome's investigation into the arrest of Mumia Abu Jamal, famed death-row prisoner and award-winning Black Panther journalist. The film will premiere on Sundance Channel on Monday, December 8th. The deal was negotiated by Christian Vesper, Sundance Channel Senior Vice President Acquisitions, Program Planning and Scheduling, on behalf of Sundance Channel, and Micah Green of CAA, on behalf of the filmmakers. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] September 26, 2008 Youssou NDour Doc Coming to America; Oscilloscope Gets U.S. Rights
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Acquistions, Documentary ] September 24, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell" Director Matt Wolf
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Queer Cinema ] September 19, 2008iW NEWS | Oscilloscope Makes Oct. 31st Date for "Dear Zachary"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Oscilloscope Pictures has acquired North American rights to Kurt Kuenne's "Dear Zachary." The Slamdance Film Festival debut, which also screened at SXSW, is described as "a uniquely intense and personal documentary," in the form of a letter to the filmmaker's father, "about the murder of [the filmmaker's] oldest friend and the unbelievable legal and emotional madness that ensued." It is the first film under the MSNBC Films banner and recently qualified for Oscar consideration after screening at IDA's DocuWeek last month. Josh Braun of Submarine repped the filmmaker and negotiated the deal with David Fenkel for Oscilloscope. The film is set for theatrical debut in NYC on October 31st. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] September 18, 2008  Talking "Fixer"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. "Release" director Ian Olds (center) talks with film subject Christian Parenti (left) and discussion moderator (and filmmaker) Rory Kennedy (right) at Wednesday's Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund reception at the Cherry Lane Theater in Manhattan. The story of Parenti and an Afghan translator who is kidnapped offered a distinct look at journalism and the situation in Afghanistan. Initially setting out to make a film about war journalists, Olds was drawn into the tragic story of the Afghan 'fixer' who was working with Parenti. He has completed a cut of the film and is currently wrapping up the movie. Thanking Tribeca and Gucci for the grant, Olds added that the support "allows filmmakers to take the kinds of risks that all good work requires."[ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, NYC Parties & Events 2008 ]  Berends Back in NYC
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. "I am so grateful to be here, I am little bit numb," filmmaker Andrew Berends told documentary film insiders on Wednesday night in New York City one week after returning to the United States. Bernends was detained in Nigeria while making "Delta Boys," a new film about the Niger Delta. Accepting his grant from the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, he recalled being embedded with U.S. soldiers in Iraq four years ago. The troops would frequently say, "This is bullshit, we shouldnt even be here," Berends recalled. "Tonight," Berends told the Manhattan crowd, "I want to say, this is awesome. I shouldn't even be here." Continuing he quipped, "Along with Gucci and Tribeca I want to thank the government of Nigeria for deporting me because if they didn't I would have missed this party." Berends noted that he had already sent his footage back to the U.S., adamantly adding, "They can't stop us from doing what we do. We are going to finish 'Delta Boys' and its gonna be great." The New York Times recently spoke with Berends and editor/co-producer Aaron Soffin about Berends experience and release from Nigeria. Pictured: Andrew Berends (right) with filmmaker Heidi Ewing (left) and HBO's Sara Bernstein.[ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, NYC Parties & Events 2008 ] September 17, 2008IW NEWS | "World" To Open Fall "Stranger Than Fiction" Series
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. "Stranger Than Fiction," the weekly documentary film series at New York's IFC Center programmed by Thom Powers, will launch its eighth season on September 23, 2008 with a sneak preview of Dan Stone's "At The Edge of the World." "World" is one of three STF titles playing as sneak previews following their world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival. The others are Richard Parry's "Blood Trail" (on October 14) and Keven McAlester's "The Dungeon Masters" (on November 11). The STF fall season takes place at the IFC Center every Tuesday night at 8 pm for ten weeks, through November 25. For a season schedule, please visit this website. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Events ]  REVIEW | Unanswerable Questions: Koji Masutani's "Virtual JFK"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] An inevitable byproduct of the study of history is the "What if?" game, the second-guessing of key events and decisions in light of the disasters that followed. One of the great American "What if?"s of the twentieth century is of course born from the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the cutting short of the promise of Camelot and all the youthful hope it embodied. Of course, Kennedy came to embody much of that youthful hope once he was immortalized by untimely death, and the romanticization of his presidency by the public in the last four decades has often had less to do with what he actually did in office than what he symbolizes as a lasting pop culture icon. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Reviews ] September 9, 2008 REVIEW | Troubling the Water: Irena Salina's "Flow"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] To the long and ever growing list of pressing environmental concerns we can add the global water crisis. Despite its indispensability for human survival, water hasn't gained traction as a political issue (at least not in America), and so filmmaker Irena Salina interjects "Flow" into the conversation as a corrective; she wants her film to do for the world water crisis what "An Inconvenient Truth" did for climate change. While the facts revealed in the documentary, as conveyed in interviews with numerous activists and scientists, are not exactly stunning revelations -- or maybe at this point I'm just unsurprised by tales of apathetic governments or corporate greed trumping concerns for public welfare -- it manages to bring to light an issue which merits more attention but often gets lost amidst headline-grabbers like global warming and oil shortages. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Reviews ] September 8, 2008iW NEWS | Finneran Joining Sundance Doc Program
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Silverdocs festival director Patricia Finneran is leaving the festival and heading to New York City to join the Sundance Institute as the organization's new senior consultant for the Documentary Film Program. She will rep the program internationally and work on the Institute's Sundance Doc Fund and the Skoll Foundation's Stories of Change: Social Entrepreneurship in Focus Through Documentary. Finneran told indieWIRE today that she will start at Sundance in November and plans to build a new business aimed at developing and distributing, "media that promotes social engagement, with an emphasis on partnering with both non-profits and corporate marketing campaigns to reach audiences across multiple platforms." More details should be announced soon. She is replacing Bruni Burres, long-time Executive Director of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, who will be moving to a full time position as at the International Center for Transitional Justice. Finneran, who joined Silverdocs in 2003, previously served as artistic director for the IFP Market. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Industry Moves ] September 7, 2008iW NEWS | Celluloid Dreams Gets "Soul"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Celluloid Dreams has snapped up all international rights Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's documentary "Soul Power." Submarine Entertainment is repping the film and negotiated the deal with Celluloid at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film documents the 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974 that featured BB King and James Brown, among others. "We are delighted to represent this crowd pleasing document of an extraordinary moment in musical history," said Celluloid Dreams' Hengameh Panahi in a statement. Celluloid noted that they already has offers in major territories and is expecting to close deals later this week. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Toronto ] August 28, 2008 DISPATCH FROM DENVER | Filmmakers Descend Upon DNC: Schnack's "Convention" Unites Top Doc Directors; Hickenlooper Shoots "Mayor"; Norton Tracks Obama
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] August 27, 2008iW NEWS | "Blindness" and "Summerhood" Bookend 28th Atlantic Film Festival
Canadian/Brazilian co-production "Blindness" by Don McKellar will open the 28th Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, NS September 11, ushering in the 10-day festival featuring 254 films. Also screening among AFF's eleven galas is local filmmaker Michael Melski's debut "Growing Up," Atom Egoyan's "Adoration," Jennifer Chambers Lynch's "Surveillance" and Cannes 2008 favorite "Une Conte de Noel" by Arnaud Desplechin. "The Book Lady," a documentary about Dolly Parton's campaign for children's literacy from Natasha Ryan and Brad Horvath is also on tap. Favorites making the festival cirucit rounds including "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" and "Otto: Or, Up with Dead People" are also on tap for this year's edition. Closing out the Atlantic Film Festival will be the Canadian premiere of "Summerhood" by Halifax filmmaker, Jacob Medjuck about a "pivotal summer" in the life of a nine year-old boy, including narration by John Cusack. "We are proud of the calibre of films, music, and industry sessions that we are bringing to Atlantic Canada in this, our biggest year yet," commented AFF executive director Gregor Ash in a statement. "The festival this year continues its tradition of being a unique cultural event in the country that showcases the vast talent of Atlantic Canada while bringing films from across the country and world to Halifax." For more information on the Atlantic Film Festival, visit their website. [Brian Brooks]] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] iW NEWS | Fortissimo Acquires "Food"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Fortissimo Films has announced its acquisition of the documentary feature "Food, Inc.," which will have its world premiere at next week's Toronto International Film Festival. Produced and directed by Robert Kenner, the Participant Media-River Road Entertainment presentation draws upon Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollan's investigation into "the growth of big business and the ways in which it has impacted upon how and what we eat." The deal, for worldwide rights excluding North America, was brokered between Fortissimo's Senior Vice President, Sales and Acquisitions Winnie Lau, Participant Media's Executive Vice President, Business Affairs Jeff Ivers and River Road's Head of Business Affairs Deborah Zipser. "We are very pleased to be involved with a film which deals with such important subject matter with the intelligence it requires and clearly demonstrates the gravity of the situation the global community is facing," said Lau in a statement. "And we are of course excited to be working with such a talented and experienced group of filmmakers." [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] August 25, 2008 DISPATCH FROM DENVER | Doc Talk As Democrats Open '08 Presidential Convention
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 4 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] August 21, 2008 REVIEW | The Rising: Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's "Trouble the Water"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] "I'm showing the world that we had a world before the storm," says Kimberly Rivers Roberts, a.k.a. Black Kold Madina, on August 28, 2005, the day preceding Hurricane Katrina's devastating touch down in New Orleans. Kimberly is poor, black, and, unlike the majority of the city's wealthier white citizens, unable to "afford the luxury" of transportation that could take her out of what will prove to be a very vulnerable Dodge. Armed with a newly purchased camcorder, she records and narrates her preparations for the storm as well as the ongoing life of her Ninth Ward community, including neighbors' defying boasts in the face of reports warning residents to evacuate their homes due to the impending category-five hurricane. [ read more in Movies ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Reviews ] iW NEWS | Financial Town Hall Kicks off "I.O.U.S.A" Release Tonight
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. iW NEWS | Financial Town Hall Kicks off "I.O.U.S.A" Tonight Hundreds of American movie theaters will become local town halls tonight (Thursday, August 21st) as part of a special event kicking off the theatrical release of "Wordplay" director Patrick Creadon's latest doc, "I.O.U.S.A." Warren Buffet will be among the panelists participating in a 45-minute panel discussion that will air following a screening of the film in nearly 400 theaters. "I think this is a really interesting model with tons of potential for special interest docs," noted distributor Roadside Attractions co-president Eric D'Arbeloff on Wednesday from Ohio, where the town hall event set to take place. It is being delivered via satellite to chain theaters via NCM's digital broadcast network and Fathom Events. "I.O.U.S.A." opens on 18 screens this Friday. For more information, visit the Fathom Events website. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] August 20, 2008iW NEWS | Icarus Offering "Bird's Nest" Doc Online
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Capitalizing on the high profile awareness of the 29th Summer Olympics in Bejing, Icarus Films is showcasing -- exclusively via Amazon Unbox -- Christoph Schaub and Michael Schindhelm's "Bird's Nest: Herzog & de Meuron in China." The doc looks at architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron's building of Bejing's distinctive National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. Available for a limited time through the end of the Games, the film is priced for both sale and rental. Company president Jonathan Miller developed the strategy while in conversations with Amazon aimed at securing a swift released timed to the Olympics. While he is open to other online opportunites for the film, after the Olympics, the film will continue on its traditional release plan, including theatrical books, nontheatrical sales, and a DVD release next year, including a new architecture line for the company. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] August 17, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Trouble the Water" Co-directors Tia Lessin and Carl Deal
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ] August 13, 2008 Tribeca Institute Selects Seven for Gucci Doc Fund
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Funding & Support, Lead Story ] August 11, 2008iW NEWS | "Allah Made" For Truly Indie
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Truly Indie has announced that it will handle the U.S. theatrical release of Andrea Kalin's documentary, "Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert." The film looks at three American Muslim comedians, Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, and Preacher Mosswho, who take "a no holds barred approach" to humor about being Muslim in America. The deal was negotiated by Alex Kronemer from Unity Television with Truly Indie Executive Director Kelly Sanders and Head of Business and Legal Affairs Jason Janego. Truly Indie will release the film in October. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | Balcony To Release "Devil Back To Hell"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Balcony Releasing has announced its acquisition of the U.S. distribution of Abigail Disney and Gini Reticker's doc "Pray The Devil Back To Hell." The film, which was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, tells the story of a small band of Liberian women who came together in the midst of a horrific civil war and successfully (and peacefully) took on the Charles Taylor regime. This Fork Films produced the film in association with Wide Angle 13/WNET. Balcony will release the film this fall. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] August 6, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Beautiful Losers" Director Aaron Rose
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] August 5, 2008 DIY Deal: Sidetrack Aligns With Nike For "Beautiful Losers" Theatrical Release
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Funding & Support, Lead Story, Trends ] iW NEWS | Somerset Acquires "Article VI"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Somerset Films has acquired North American theatrical and DVD rights to Bryan Hall and Jack Donaldson's political documentary "Article VI: Faith, Politics, America." The film examines the overwhelmingly divisive role of religion in American politics. Somerset is planning to release the film just prior to the presidential elections, with September openings in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and expanding to up to 400 screens in approximately 200 markets through November. The deal was negotiated between Somerset president Dean C. Hale, and Hall and Donaldson for Wiley Rhodes Productions and Living Biography Media. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | "Who Does She Think" For Artistic License
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Artistic License Films has acquired theatrical rights to director Pamela Tanner Boll's documentary "Who Does She Think She Is?" The film looks at the "mothering-versus-working choice" faced particularly by American women artists. Artistic License will open the film in October at The Angelika in New York, and an as-yet-undetermined theatre in Los Angeles. The deal was negotiated by Sande Zeig for Artistic License Films and Pamela Tanner Boll on behalf of Mystic Artists, Ltd. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]  indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" Director Steven Sebring
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] August 4, 2008 DISPATCH FROM MICHIGAN | Michael Moore's Peeps Have Their Turn in the Spotlight at Traverse City
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 4 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] August 1, 2008iW NEWS | Hot Docs Announces Partnerships for "Soup"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Hot Docs has announced that it will partner with the Calgary International Film Festival and the Whistler Film Festival to launch its "Doc Soup" screening series in Calgary and Vancouver this fall. "We're thrilled to have these dynamic partners helping us to cultivate wider Canadian audiences for documentaries," says Chris McDonald, Executive Director of Hot Docs, in a statement. "Both festivals have developed loyal followings and we're certain that they'll embrace Doc Soup as Toronto audiences have done." Films selected for Doc Soup in Calgary and Vancouver will be premieres in those markets and guest directors will also be present at select screenings. Films will be programmed by Sean Farnel, Hot Docs' Director of Programming, and his team, in consultation with the Calgary International Film Festival and the Whistler Film Festival. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Industry Moves ] July 31, 2008iW NEWS | "Milton Glaser" For Arthouse
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Arthouse Films announced that it has acquired the Worldwide rights to the Wendy Key's documentary, "Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight." Glaser was best known for co-founding New York Magazine and for his iconic poster designs. "We are thrilled to work with the filmmakers on this release," said Arthouse Films' Lily Bright and David Koh in a joint statement. "Milton Glaser's designs are recognizable worldwide and now audiences will have a chance to see the wit, intelligence and generosity of the man behind the iconic work." Arthouse Films plans a theatrical release next year followed by a DVD release on its label. Arthouse Films will also distribute through its output deals with Mongrel Media in Canada, Revolver Entertainment in the UK, Madman Entertainment in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and Apple's iTunes. The deal was negotiated by David Koh and Lilly Bright, on behalf of Arthouse Films and Curiously Bright Entertainment, along with film producer Leon Falk and Wendy Keys, on behalf of the Producers and Checkerboard Films. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]  REVIEW | Sweatin' to the Oldies: Darryl Roberts's "America the Beautiful"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Opening with "vintage" black-and-white footage of women from the Fifties huffing and puffing through antiquated exercise routines, set to Bruce Channel's "Hey, Baby," the ostensible investigative documentary "America the Beautiful" establishes its de-facto glibness within seconds. Throughout the course of the film, further video montages will be set to such ferociously on-topic chestnuts as Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy," Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People," and Letters to Cleo's "I Wanna Be a Supermodel," ironically backing images of primped, preening girls or magazine model cut-outs. Director Darryl Roberts's mode of address is so hackneyed and juvenile, and the editing strategies and muddy non-aesthetic so predictable, that one has to try and look beyond the surface of things to find any value here; after all, that's what Roberts himself has attempted to do in making it. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Reviews ] July 30, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Stealing America: Vote By Vote" Director Dorothy Fadiman
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ]  DOC COLUMN | Theatrical Docs Down, But Not Out
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in Biz ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Trends ] July 27, 2008 DISPATCH FROM THE U.K. | In Year 3, BRITDOC Asks Int'l Audiences, "Why So Serious?"
In three years, BRITDOC has transformed from noble experiment (inclusive documentary conference based at a legendary university) to unquestionable success. Set over three days on the Keble College campus in Oxford, UK, the conference (founded and organized by the Channel 4 Documentary Foundation) has become a necessary launch pad for both completed and in-progress nonfiction filmmaking. The 2008 edition will be known for its combination of large audiences (early estimates are at 900 attendees), inspiring discoveries, and unconventionally beautiful English weather. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, On The Scene ] July 25, 2008iW NEWS | "Wild Combination" Scores Plexifilm Pact
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Worldwide rights to Matt Wolf's "Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell," which debuted earlier this year at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival, have been acquired by Plexifilm. A documentary about the late musician and disco producer Russell, the film will open theatrically at IFC Center on September 26th and concurrently at the ICA in London. Plexifilm's Gary Hustwit negotiated the deal with Sheri Levine and Michael Thornton of Forward Entertainment. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]  indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Bustin' Down the Door" Director Jeremy Gosch
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ] July 23, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "American Teen" Director Nanette Burnstein
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. [ read more in People ] [ 13 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] iW NEWS | Cinelan Partners With Telegraph, BritDoc
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Cinelan, publisher of three-minute, non-fiction films, and telegraph.co.uk, the online arm of the Telegraph Media Group, have announced a partnership for online syndication of Cinelan films. "The Telegraph shares Cinelan's belief that online video is best showcased in context and will show Cinelan films both as stand-alone features and embedded within stories as companion video" said James Flint, General Manager of Telegraph TV in a statement. "Content of the quality of Cinelan films is hard to come by and we're excited to include them as part of our expanding video strategy." Cinelan also announced today that a selection of its three-minute stories will play before each of the 16 feature films screening at the 2008 BritDoc Festival, which runs July 23-25, 2008 in Oxford. Cinelan, which plans to distribute its films via digital cinemas, television, Internet and mobile partners, is also in talks with UK broadcaster Channel 4 regarding and output deal via its "3 Minute Wonders" series, and will distribute through UK theatrical partner, Picturehouse Cinemas. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] July 22, 2008 REVIEW | Walking in the Air: James Marsh's "Man on Wire"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] A blow-by-blo |