The World Premiere of Sheikh Jackson, written and directed by Amr Salama, will be the Closing Night film of the Special Presentation program of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Sheikh Jackson tells the story of a young imam and former Michael Jackson devotee who falls into a tailspin following the news of the King of Pop’s death.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Sheikh Jackson close the Special Presentations program and to welcome Amr Salama to TIFF for its World Premiere,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “With this film he has provided a deeply personal look at one man’s life through the lens of the passing of his larger-than-life hero. Film lovers can expect a tender and moving account of fandom and faith and their influence on the more intimate aspects of our lives.”
“I’m thrilled to have this film premiere at such a prestigious festival,” said Amr Salama, writer and director, Sheikh Jackson. “Though this film was a collaborative effort, it’s my most personal film to date. It’s about faith, identity, self-discovery and embracing one’s contradictions.” Sheikh Jackson is produced by Mohamed Hefzy and Hani Osama.
The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.Terry P.
VIMOOZ is for lovers of independent films + foreign film + documentary + film festivals. We love championing the little films.
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Michael Jackson-Themed SHEIKH JACKSON will Close Toronto Film Fest Special Presentation Program
The World Premiere of Sheikh Jackson, written and directed by Amr Salama, will be the Closing Night film of the Special Presentation program of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Sheikh Jackson tells the story of a young imam and former Michael Jackson devotee who falls into a tailspin following the news of the King of Pop’s death.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Sheikh Jackson close the Special Presentations program and to welcome Amr Salama to TIFF for its World Premiere,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “With this film he has provided a deeply personal look at one man’s life through the lens of the passing of his larger-than-life hero. Film lovers can expect a tender and moving account of fandom and faith and their influence on the more intimate aspects of our lives.”
“I’m thrilled to have this film premiere at such a prestigious festival,” said Amr Salama, writer and director, Sheikh Jackson. “Though this film was a collaborative effort, it’s my most personal film to date. It’s about faith, identity, self-discovery and embracing one’s contradictions.” Sheikh Jackson is produced by Mohamed Hefzy and Hani Osama.
The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.
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World Premiere of Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano’s C’EST LA VIE! to Close Toronto International Film Festival
The World Premiere of C’est la vie!, written and directed by award-winning filmmakers Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, will be the Closing Night Gala of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. The film starring Gilles Lellouche, Suzanne Clément, Eye Haïdara, and Jean-Pierre Bacri will screen at Roy Thomson Hall on September 16.
“We are proud to announce C’est la vie! as this year’s Closing Night film,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “The filmmakers have truly captured the love, laughter, and often chaos that goes into planning our most important milestones, giving audiences a unique point of view to what our lives could look like to people from the outside.”
“Nakache and Toledano make films that the whole world has embraced. We’re thrilled to welcome them back with their latest,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “This will be a terrific way for Toronto to close out the Festival.”
“We are excited to be back at TIFF to present C’est la vie! for the Closing Night film,” stated Nakache and Toledano. “We loved the experience we had at the Festival with Samba and are looking forward to meeting the audience again.”
C’est la vie! tells the story of Max, who has begun to grow tired after running his catering company for 30 years. While planning a large wedding for clients Pierre and Helena, a series of mishaps upends a very tight schedule, and every instant of happiness and emotion could veer into disaster and chaos. From the preparations to daybreak, we get a behind-the-scenes look at a wedding party through the eyes of the people working the event. They will all have to count on their one common quality: knowing how to throw a good party!
The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.
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Mohamed Diab’s CLASH, Egypt’s Street Protest Drama, to Open in Theaters August 25 | Trailer
Mohamed Diab’s CLASH, a film set entirely within the confines of a police van in Cairo, Egypt, two years after the Arab Spring, will get a release in the US beginning late August, 2017.
An official selection at Cannes, London, Cairo, and Palm Springs film festivals, among others, CLASH will open at New York’s Village East Cinema on Friday, August 25, 2017, before a national rollout during the fall.
Dramatizing the mass protests and political unrest after the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by the Egyptian army, CLASH takes viewers inside a society struggling with violent street protests – and in a state of chaotic breakdown.
Stuck together in a small moving cell, journalists, elderly men and women, teenagers, and demonstrators from opposing political, ideological and religious affiliations, are forced to work together in order to face police brutality and stifling heat.
Furthermore, as the general public grows increasingly angry and threatens to harm the police (and even those arrested by them, often mistaking diverse groups as a single enemy faction), it becomes pressing for them to find a way out. But can the detainees overcome their differences? Can Egypt build a new social order in the face of internal violence and the breakdown of its democratic institutions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmcXa2MaKw4
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Films by Angelina Jolie, George Clooney Among Gala + Special Presentation Films for Toronto Film Festival
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First They Killed My Father – Angelina Jolie[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival today unveiled the first round of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programs of the 42nd edition of the festival, taking place from September 7 to 17, 2017.
Of the 14 Galas and 33 Special Presentations, this first announcement includes 25 World Premieres, eight International Premieres, six North American Premieres and eight Canadian Premieres.
“Festival-goers from around the world can anticipate a remarkable lineup of extraordinary stories, voices and cinematic visions from emerging talent and some of our favorite masters,” said Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF. “Today’s announcement offers audiences a glimpse at this year’s rich and robust selection of films, including works from Canada, USA, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, India, Chile, Egypt and Cambodia.”
“Every year we set the stage for film lovers of all ages and cultural backgrounds to come together and embrace the universal power of cinema,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “As the Festival enters its fifth decade, we’ve challenged ourselves to adapt and build on our strengths, and we look forward to championing a new selection of films that will captivate and inspire global film audiences.”
GALAS 2017
Breathe Andy Serkis, United Kingdom World Premiere The Catcher Was A Spy Ben Lewin, USA World Premiere *Closing Night Film* C’est la vie! Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano, France World Premiere Darkest Hour Joe Wright, United Kingdom Canadian Premiere Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool Paul McGuigan, United Kingdom Canadian Premiere Kings Deniz Gamze Ergüven, France/Belgium World Premiere Long Time Running Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, Canada World Premiere Mary Shelley Haifaa Al Mansour, Ireland/United Kingdom/Luxembourg/USA World Premiere The Mountain Between Us Hany Abu-Assad, USA World Premiere Mudbound Dee Rees, USA International Premiere Stronger David Gordon Green, USA World Premiere Untitled Bryan Cranston/Kevin Hart Film Neil Burger, USA World Premiere The Wife Björn Runge, United Kingdom/Sweden World Premiere Woman Walks Ahead Susanna White, USA World PremiereSPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2017
Battle of the Sexes Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, USA International Premiere BPM (Beats Per Minute) Robin Campillo, France North American Premiere The Brawler Anurag Kashyap, India World Premiere The Breadwinner Nora Twomey, Canada/Ireland/Luxembourg World Premiere Call Me By Your Name Luca Guadagnino, Italy/France Canadian Premiere Catch the Wind Gaël Morel, France International Premiere The Children Act Richard Eyre, United Kingdom World Premiere The Current War Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, USA World Premiere Disobedience Sebastián Lelio, United Kingdom World Premiere Downsizing Alexander Payne, USA Canadian Premiere A Fantastic Woman Sebastián Lelio, Chile Canadian Premiere First They Killed My Father Angelina Jolie, Cambodia Canadian Premiere The Guardians Xavier Beauvois, France World Premiere Hostiles Scott Cooper, USA International Premiere The Hungry Bornila Chatterjee, India World Premiere I, Tonya Craig Gillespie, USA World Premiere *Special Presentations Opening Film* Lady Bird Greta Gerwig, USA International Premiere mother! Darren Aronofsky, USA North American Premiere Novitiate Maggie Betts, USA International Premiere Omerta Hansal Mehta, India World Premiere Plonger Mélanie Laurent, France World Premiere The Price of Success Teddy Lussi-Modeste, France International Premiere Professor Marston & the Wonder Women Angela Robinson, USA World Premiere The Rider Chloé Zhao, USA Canadian Premiere A Season in France Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, France World Premiere The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro, USA Canadian Premiere *Special Presentations Closing Film* Sheikh Jackson Amr Salama, Egypt World Premiere The Square Ruben Östlund, Sweden North American Premiere Submergence Wim Wenders, France/Germany/Spain World Premiere Suburbicon George Clooney, USA North American Premiere Thelma Joachim Trier, Norway/Sweden/France/Denmark International Premiere Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Martin McDonagh, USA North American Premiere Victoria and Abdul Stephen Frears, United Kingdom North American Premiere
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7 Feature Films to Compete at 2017 Venice International Film Critics’ Week
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Pin Cushion[/caption]
The 2017 Venice International Film Critics’ Week will screen a selection of seven debut films in competition and two special events out of competition, all presented in world premiere screenings. The Venice International Film Critics’ Week is an independent and parallel section organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) during the 74th Venice International Film Festival running August 30th to September 9th, 2017. The selection is curated by the General Delegate of the Venice Critics’ Week Giona A. Nazzaro together with the members of the selection committee Luigi Abiusi, Alberto Anile, Beatrice Fiorentino and Massimo Tria.
The DC Comics and Marvel Comics illustrator Carmine Di Giandomenico designed the futuristic cinematic muse for the 32nd edition of the independent sidebar dedicated to debut feature films.
The 2017 Venice International Film Critics’ Week official selection includes:
COMPETITION
IL CRATERE | CRATER by Luca Bellino, Silvia Luzi (Italy) DRIFT by Helena Wittmann (Germany) LES GARÇONS SAUVAGES| THE WILD BOYS by Bertrand Mandico (France) KÖRFEZ | THE GULF by Emre Yeksan (Turkey, Germany, Greece) SARAH JOUE UN LOUP GAROU | SARAH PLAYS A WEREWOLF by Katharina Wyss (Switzerland, Germany) TEAM HURRICANE by Annika Berg (Denmark) TEMPORADA DE CAZA | HUNTING SEASON by Natalia Garagiola (Argentina, USA, Germany, France, Qatar)SPECIAL EVENTS – OUT OF COMPETITION
Opening Film PIN CUSHION by Deborah Haywood (United Kingdom) Closing Film VELENO | POISON – THE LAND OF FIRES by Diego Olivares (Italy)
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Fred Hammond and Felonious Munk Among Special Guests at Capital City Black Film Festival
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Fred Hammond[/caption]
Grammy-winning gospel music legend Fred Hammond; and comedian, actor, Felonious Munk are among the special guests appearing at this year’s Capital City Black Film Festival (CCBFF).
On Saturday, August, 19th at 4:00pm, CCBFF will present, “A Conversation with Fred Hammond,” including an extended trailer featuring never-before-seen footage of Hammond’s new film, “The Choir.” This is not the first move from stage to screen for the multi-talented artist; Hammond was Executive Producer of the 2005 film, “The Gospel,” starring Boris Kojo, Nona Gaye, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and Martha Munizzi. After the extended trailer screening of “The Choir,” film fans will engage in a talkback session with Hammond about his movie.
On Saturday, August, 19th at 8:00pm, the 5th Annual Capital City Black Film Festival Awards will be hosted by celebrated comedian Felonious Munk, whose standup is in demand across the country. This is the first Austin appearance for Munk, who has headlined legendary venues such as Second City, The Laugh Factory and the New York Comedy Club.
“To have artists of the caliber of Fred Hammond and Felonious Munk participate in this year’s festival is a tremendous honor,” said Winston G. Williams, Executive Director of the Capital City Black Film Festival. “This is the beauty of CCBFF: whether well known, like Fred and Felonious, or soon to be well known, like the filmmakers who attend, all are welcome as part of the CCBFF family.”
The 2017 Capital City Black Film Festival will take place Thursday, August 17th, through Sunday, August 20th, at the Austin Convention Center (4th Floor) in Austin, Texas.
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VIDEO: Watch The First 3 Minutes of Flying Lotus’ ‘Weird’ ‘Gross’ KUSO
Check out the first 3 minutes of Kuso, the ‘weird’ ‘gross’ movie that reportedly had audience members walking out of the theater, when it premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
Broadcasting through a makeshift network of discarded televisions, KUSO depicts the aftermath of Los Angeles’s worst earthquake nightmare. Viewers travel between screens and aftershocks into the twisted lives of the survived, experiencing a hallucination that is half-Cronenberg, half-Ren & Stimpy.
The debut film from acclaimed producer and rapper Flying Lotus, KUSO is a blistering, fever dream of filmmaking that uses music, special effects and animation to take a unique look at the dark history of America.
KUSO marks the feature directorial debut from Steve, the filmmaking alter-ego of Steve Ellison, better known as music producer, DJ and rapper Flying Lotus. Ellison’s name has become synonymous with creative innovation, having released five seminal studio albums, a slew of audio-visual marvels and, in the process, gaining two Grammy nominations including one for his work on Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”.
Produced by Eddie Alcazar, and featuring Hannibal Buress (NEIGHBORS, Broad City), Anders Holm (Workaholics, The Mindy Project), Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Eastbound and Down), and iconic Funk musician George Clinton, the film also includes an original score and musical collaborations with Aphex Twin and Akira Yamaoka.
The film is now playing in theaters in Los Angeles and on SHUDDER.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yodbDPX0DO0
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Mickey Lemle’s THE LAST DALAI LAMA? Takes a Fresh Look at the 14th Dalai Lama at 80 | Trailer
THE LAST DALAI LAMA? from filmmaker Mickey Lemle grants viewers intimate access to the Dalai Lama and those who have been touched by his vast influence from George W. Bush to the film’s accomplished composer, Philip Glass. The film will open at IFC Center in New York City on Friday, July 28.
THE LAST DALAI LAMA? takes a fresh look at what is truly important for the 14th Dalai Lama at 80: The ongoing confrontation between Tibetans and China; His Holiness’s influence in political and spiritual spheres; his work with educators and neuropsychologists; and his personal feelings on aging, dying and the question: Will there be a fifteenth Dalai Lama, or will he be the last Dalai Lama?
The film artfully weaves sequences from director Mickey Lemle’s groundbreaking film COMPASSION IN EXILE: The Story of The 14th Dalai Lama (1992), with contemporary footage including intimate interviews with His Holiness and follow up questions shot decades apart; accounts from The Dalai Lama’s family and close friends; and conversations with those he’s inspired since his exile from Tibet in 1959.
The Dalai Lama’s impact on the West has grown over the 25 years since Lemle’s earlier film. In THE LAST DALAI LAMA? we see teachers in British Columbia incorporating “Emotional Intelligence” and non-violent conflict resolution in grade school classes, and neuropsychologists and behavioral therapists who have begun using cutting edge technology to research how to overcome negative afflictive emotions like anger and hatred.
Original music score composed and performed by Philip Glass and Tibetan music phenom, Tenzin Choegyal.
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MACHINES, Rahul Jain Sundance Award Winning Debut Film, Sets U.S. Release Date | Trailer
Machines, the debut documentary film from director Rahul Jain, and winner of the Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival will be released in the U.S. beginning Wednesday, August 9, at New York’s Film Forum. The film is set to expand nationwide in September, 2017.
Returning to his childhood home of Sachin in India’s Gujarat state, Rahul Jain documents a striking visual paradox: intensely sensual images of colorful fabrics produced in a Dickensian factory in which men and children work tirelessly for a pittance, some barefoot. They are some of the 45 million workers that support the $40 billion Indian textile and garment industries.
Punctuating stunning Steadicam shots, where Mr. Jain’s camera takes viewers into dark, damp and sometimes fiery working spaces, are sparse and sharp testimonials from the workers describing their own experiences – as well as their failed efforts at improving working conditions. One man asks rhetorically: “But what is poverty anyway? Poverty is harassment, Sir.”
Uniquely combining ravishing visuals with social advocacy, Machines weaves a moving portrait of people toiling amid pulsating machines, bubbling vats of dye, and colorful, billowing cascades of textiles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkV-eeXrlUg
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Over 110 Narrative and Documentary Projects on 2017 IFP Week Feature Film Slate
The 2017 IFP Week feature film slate will feature over 110 narrative and documentary feature film projects in development from over 15 countries.
“This year’s feature film program doesn’t shy away from tackling the controversial and key issues of our time. Art often reflects the times we live in, and this slate certainly represents a multitude of points of view and perspectives on America today,” says IFP Executive Director Joana Vicente. “Through the lens of race, religious expression, disability, female empowerment, immigration, truth, political correctness, radical inclusion and disenfranchisement, our artists pull no punches sharing their stories, demanding attention for the visions they share. ”
IFP has played a vital role in launching the first and second features of now-established directors including Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), Robert Eggers (The Witch), Ciro Guerra (Embrace of the Serpent), David Lowery (A Ghost Story), Laura Poitras (CitizenFour), Dee Rees (Mudbound), Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated), and Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild). IFP via Filmmaker Magazine-produced “25 New Faces of Independent Film” were early champions of a litany of creative visionaries who have gone on to make their mark in the creative community and popular culture including Cam Archer, Antonio Campos, Ryan Coogler, Lena Dunham, Shana Feste, Cary Fukunaga, Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing, Patty Jenkins, Casey Neistat, Matt Porterfield, The Safdie Brothers, Sebastian Silva, and Craig Zobel.
On the narrative side, U.S. feature projects are helmed by 70% diverse creators; 45% are women.
Highlighted projects include:
The directorial debuts of singular actors Franka Potente (Run, Lola, Run), Clea DuVall (Better Call Saul), Colman Domingo (The Scottsboro Boys) as well as a new feature project produced by Elisabeth Moss (Handmaid’s Tale).
New work from Tahir Jetter (How to Tell You’re a Douchebag), Adam Pinney (The Arbalest), Clay Liford (Slash), and Meera Menon (Equity).
New talent supported by established producers include Jason Michael Berman (The Birth of a Nation), Marttise Hill & Julius Pryor (Cronies), James M. Johnston (A Ghost Story), Amy Lo (If Not Love), Seith Mann (The Breaks), Billy Mulligan (Yelling to the Sky), Sev Ohanian (Fruitvale Station), Pacho Velez (Manakamana), and Shin Yamaguchi (Enter The Void).
International features in development from over 15 countries include new work from producers Eilon Razkovsky (Zero Motivation), Cristina Gallego (Embrace of the Serpent), Gaston Pavlovich (Silence), Alice Braga (City of Gods) Luc Dery & Kim McCraw (Incendies), Sylvain Corbell (It’s Only The End of the World), Martin Katz (Cosmopolis), and Ryan Zacarias (Mediterranea).
On the documentary side, projects are helmed by 68% diverse creators; 55% are by women.
New projects from directors Lyric Cabral ((T)error), Elizabeth Lo (Hotel 22), Stephen Maing (High Tech, Low Life), Stig Björkman (Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words), Brett Story (The Prison in Twelve Landscapes), Martha Shane (After Tiller), Ian Cheney (The City Dark), Lynn True & Nelson Walker (In Transit), Pernille Rose Grønkjær (The Monastery), Cristina Ibarra (Las Marthas), Clayton Brown & Monica Ross (The Atom Smashers), Mike Day (The Islands and the Whales)
New projects supported by established producers Susan Bedusa (Kate Plays Christine), Shane Boris (All These Sleepless Nights), Chanelle Aponte Pearson (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty), and Femke Wolting (Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press) are featured in this year’s slate.
The 2017 IFP Week Film Slate is as follows :
NO BORDERS INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION MARKET
Presenting 41 narrative features ranging from an early-late financing stage (i.e. early development/production) to those nearing completion (i.e. in postproduction or at the rough cut stage), this section includes emerging and established filmmakers from the U.S. and 15 countries. African America directed by Mfundo Mkhize, written by Muzi Mthembu and Phumelele Mthembu, produced by Muzi Mthembu and Phumelele Mthembu, and executive produced by Betty Mthembu, Muzi Mthembu and Phumelele Mthembu. A cynical South African steals money from her workplace and leaves her fiancé to pursue her misguided dream of being a Broadway star in New York city, only to find that there is no place like home. (Drama) After Birth written and directed by Ben Nabors and produced by Brendan McHugh. A wealthy reclusive couple invites old friends to their rural estate where the prying house guests uncover a terrible secret about the couple’s sick baby. (Dramatic Thriller) Almost in Love written and directed by Leonardo Brzezicki, produced and executive produced by Rosa Violeta Bava and Martínez Rivero. A chaotic summer in Argentina and Brazil becomes a turning point in the lives of a heart-broken man and his teenage daughter. (Drama) Apacheria directed by Joey Grossfield, written by Andrew Reuland, and produced by Joey Grossfield and Andrew Reuland. 1896 New Mexico: an Apache reservation cop leads a posse of white ranchers on a manhunt for members of his own tribe. (Historical Fiction) Blanquita directed by Fernando Guzzoni and produced by Giancarlo Nasi. Blanca, a young Chilean mother, returns to her former foster home and is suddenly embroiled in a national abuse scandal, cast as the victim, key witness and executioner of a case that shakes the foundations of society. (Dramatic Thriller) Cantering written and directed by HIKARI and produced by Peter Maestrey, HIKARI, and Shin Yamaguchi. A naïve paraplegic artist submits her drawings to an adult comic magazine. Having no sexual experience, she initiates an unraveling adventure to get the job. (Drama) City on Fire directed by Colman Domingo, written by Corey Miller, and produced by Jason Michael Berman. City on Fire tells the incendiary true story of an escalating conflict between the city of Philadelphia and the radical group MOVE, which led to an armed siege in a residential neighborhood and one of the most shocking decisions ever made by a city against its citizens. (Based on a True Story) Clara Sola directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, written by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén and Maria-Camila Arias, produced by Cristina Gallego, Katrin Pors and Nima Yousefi, and executive produced by Peter Krupenin. A magical and moving coming-of-age about special Clara and her inner struggle to defend her womanhood in a remote mountain village in Colombia. (Drama) Close written and directed by Tahir Jetter and produced by Billy Mulligan and Tommy Oliver. A strong-willed, but emotionally unstable woman spirals out of control when her feelings for a new coworker are not reciprocated. (Thriller) The Competition written and directed by Shelagh McLeod and produced by Jessica Adams and Sean Buckley. One old man with one last dream battles his family, ill health – and time – to win a golden ticket for the trip of a lifetime. (Family) D-Days written and directed by Tamika Guishard, produced by Marttise Hill and Julius Pryor, and executive produced by Seith Mann. Three foster siblings from East New York struggle to forgive their birth-mothers – while healing from invisible wounds inflicted by PTSD, addiction & leukemia – through African rhythms. (Coming of Age) Death on the Streets directed by Johan Carlsen, written by Johan Carlsen and Micah Magee, and produced by Micah Magee. Unemployed Kenneth leaves his family and rural Indiana hometown and takes to the road in search of work and self-validation. (Drama) Deliver Us from Evil written and directed by Agnieszka Lukasiak and produced by Peter Krupenin. Interactive camp goes out of hand when students experience intolerance and discrimination in a WW2 exercise. (Drama) Home written and directed by Franka Potente and produced by Maximilian Leo. Home is the story of someone willing to take on the full consequences of his gruesome past – no matter what it costs… (Drama) Josephine written and directed by Beth de Araújo. An obedient eight-year-old girl unintentionally witnesses a rape in a park. Unraveling with fear and paranoia, her violent outbursts put her family and classmates in jeopardy. (Dramatic Thriller) King of the Earth written and directed by Kevan Tucker. A young boy in the Reconstruction Era must stop his father, who has been possessed by a violent supernatural force that is pushing him to restore the former social order of the South. (Thriller) Layne written and directed by Clea DuVall and produced by Sev Ohanian. When a grief-stricken woman catches a young thief in the act of stealing her car, they form the unlikeliest of friendships through home improvement and grand theft auto. (Drama) Leventhal directed by Adam Sanderson, written by Adam Sanderson and Dina Sanderson, and produced by Yochanan Kredo and Eilon Ratzkovsky. A New York copywriter tries to figure out how guilty he is in ruining an ex colleague’s life. (Drama) Light from Light (working title) written and directed by Paul Harrill and produced by James M. Johnston and Elisabeth Moss. In East Tennessee, a single mom and amateur ghost hunter must enlist her teenage son to investigate a grieving widower’s farmhouse. (Drama) Little written and directed by Logan George and Celine Held and produced by Kara Durrett. Beneath New York City, a five-year-old girl lives in the tunnels with her heroin addicted mother. After a police-mandated eviction, they are forced to flee topside and face the world above, threatening their future as mother and daughter. (Drama) Lolly directed and produced by John Barker. The somewhat true story of the selftitled King of Sleaze, Lolly Jackson, who struggled against his animal nature to find love and having failed chose notoriety instead. (Based on a True Story) A Mall and the Night written and directed by Erin Vassilopolous. In a dying mall, a Sleepy’s employee sets out to reexamine her marriage and becomes embroiled in a heist of the mall jewelry store. (Drama) The Man Who Sold His Skin directed by Kaouther Ben Hania and produced by Habib Attia and Nadim Cheikhrouha. What would happen if a renowned artist proposed to a refugee to become his own artwork to solve his paper problems? (Drama) Mickey and the Bear written and directed by Annabelle Attanasio and produced by Lizzie Shapiro and Taylor Shung. In rural Montana, teenager Mickey Peck must break out of her oppressive relationship with her unstable, veteran father in order to forge her own independent identity as a woman. (Coming of Age) Miss Juneteenth written and directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples and produced by James M. Johnston and Neil Creque Williams. A former beauty queen turned hardworking single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the pageant, hoping to keep her from repeating the same mistakes in life that she did. (Drama) My Salinger Year written and directed by Philippe Falardeau, produced by Luc Déry and Kim McCraw. A young aspiring writer lands a day-job at J.D. Salinger’s literary agency: will her dreams be choked by the industry, or will she find inspiration? (Drama) Nieves written and directed by Alejandra Marquez, produced by Nicolas Celis and Eduardo Donjuan. Nieves, 17, comes back to Mexico to meet her biological mother and little sister. New wounds appear and destiny threatens to be reshaped. (Drama) A Nightmare Wakes written and directed by Nora Unkel, produced by Devin Shepherd, and executive produced by Cory McCrum and DJ Dodd. A Nightmare Wakes is a psychological thriller about the torrid love affair between Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley as Mary writes her famous book, Frankenstein. (Dramatic Thriller) Nudes written and directed by Stephen Cone. A famous photographer moves back to her small South Carolina town and promptly launches a nude series, providing a much-needed jolt to the sleepy community and causing uneasy ripples in her estranged family. (Drama) Quetzal (The Feathered Snake) written and directed by Alejandro Sugich, produced by Gaston Pavlovich, Alejandro Sugich and Kjartan Thor Thordarson, and executive produced by Gaston Pavlovich and Kjartan Thor Thordarson. Viking Baldur Helgason’s ship wrecked, and with a small raft made of wood and rope, he managed to find land. A group of natives find him unconscious on the shore and take him to their leader. It was the year 392 AC. (Historical Fiction) Punch City directed by Bruce Smolanoff, written by Emilie McDonald and Bruce Smolanoff, and produced by Emilie McDonald, Matt Grady, and Bruce Smolanoff. Mel, living with her autistic brother and pill-popping mother, escapes nightly to perform underground comedy, driven by her dream to perform on The Tonight Show. (Drama) The Room directed by Christian Volckman, written by Eric Forestier and Christian Volckman, and produced by Yaël Fogiel, Laetitia Gonzalez and Reginald de Guillebon. The Room follows a young couple who move deep into the New Hampshire woods to escape the stress of the big city. When they discover a mysterious room that fulfills every wish, their lives will be forever changed. (Supernatural) Rustic Oracle written and directed by Sonia Bonspille Boileau and produced by Jason Brennan. Eight-year-old Ivy embarks on a desperate road trip with her mother in the hopes of finding her older sister Heather who has mysteriously gone missing from their Mohawk community. (Drama) Selah and the Spades written and directed by Tayarisha Poe, produced by Lauren McBride, and executive produced by Terence Nance. Once upon a time, 17-year-old Selah’s desire for power and security led her to form her school’s most merciless faction: The Spades. (Drama) So Long, Farewell written and directed by Adam Pinney. An exploration, physically and metaphysically, into the lives of several people involved in a series of revenge killings in a small Georgia town. (Drama) Social Justice Warrior directed by Brett Weiner and written by Emma Fletcher and Brett Weiner. A privileged white college sophomore clashes with her history professor and throws her university into chaos when she attempts to ban offensive language on campus. (Dark Comedy) The Sound of Animals Fighting written and directed by Sibs Shongwe-La Mer and produced by Neil Brandt and Laura Colucci. When two brothers from Johannesburg are accused of a friend’s death, they escape both the law and their demons by skipping the country and hiding out in a fog of hedonism in the megatropolis of Sao Paulo. (Crime Thriller) Sticks & Stones directed by Martin Skovbjerg, written by Christian Gamst Miller- Harris, produced by Eva Jakobsen, and executive produced by Mikkel Jersin and Katrin Pors. Simon arrives in Vesterby from Copenhagen, ready to start the 10th grade. He is an outsider in a brand new place and alone, until he meets Bjarke – Vesterby’s 15-year-old alpha male. The two teens start challenging each other in intimate and transgressive actions whilst creating their graduation project for school. (Coming of Age) The Texas High School Regional Theater Festival Murders written and directed by Clay Liford and produced by Steve Berger and Brock Williams. After witnessing a murder at a prestigious theater festival, a teacher and her star pupil must decide what to do in order to still win. (Comedy) Turquoise written and directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky and produced by Sylvain Corbeil and Ryan Zacarias. Following the tragic death of his older brother, 13 year-old Antoine and his family retreat to a seaside town to grieve. When Antoine falls quietly in love with an enigmatic older girl, obsessive feelings of paranoia and jealousy are aroused in the boy’s mother. (Dramatic Thriller) The Witchdoctor’s Apprentice directed by Meera Menon, written by Amy Tofte and produced by Reena Dutt and Pacho Velez. Nicole Maxwell’s true quest to discover a legendary fertility plant used by tribes of the Amazon rain forest, in the process learning more about herself in the jungle around her. (Based on a True Story)IFP NARRATIVE LABS
A yearlong mentorship program supporting 10 U.S. first-features in post-production through completion, marketing and distribution. American Thief directed by Miguel Silveira, written by Melissa Hernandez, Miguel Silveira, Michel Stolnicki, and executive produced by Charles Martinez. A teen hacker seeking revenge for his father’s murder is caught by the darker elements of the deep web. (Thriller) Cubby directed by Mark Blane and Ben Mankoff, written by Mark Blane, produced by Carolina GImenez, and executive produced by David France. A depressed and unfocused Brooklyn babysitter finds self-discipline and his artistic calling in the arms of a male dominatrix who appears thanks to a psychedelic cupcake.(Coming of Age) Dead Pigs written and directed by Cathy Yan, produced by Clarissa Zhang and Jane Zheng, and executive produced by Jia Zhangke. A bumbling pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a sensitive busboy, an ambitious expat architect and a disenchanted rich girl converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs float down the river towards a rapidly modernizing Shanghai. Based on true events. (Drama) The Garden Left Behind directed by Flavio Alves. written by John Rotondo, and produced by Kristen Lovell and Roy Wol. A Mexican trans woman struggles to build a life for herself as an undocumented immigrant in New York City. (Drama) Gepetto written and directed by Z Behl, produced by Carlos Zozaya, and executive produced by Emilia Mello. A disgruntled female carpenter paints her entire body with wood grain, transforming herself into Pinocchio, a wildly destructive creature, who wreaks havoc on the town. (Adventure) Jinn written and directed by Nijla Mu’min and produced by Avril Speaks. A shape-shifting, pepperoni-loving, black teenage Instagram celebrity converts to Islam. Here’s what happens. (Coming of Age) Jules of Light and Dark written and directed by Daniel Laabs and produced by Liz Cardenas Franke, Daniel Laabs, Judd Myers, Cameron Nelson, Russell Sheaffer, and Jeff Walker. A Texas-set chronicle of a young woman’s relationship with her girlfriend, Jules, and the man who saved them from a near fatal car wreck. (Drama) Kids Go Free to Fun Fun Time written and directed by Ben Hicks and produced by Rene Jermal. A young couple is moving from country to country in search of adventure and purpose. Until an incident forces them to come to terms with the relationship problems they’ve had for years. (Drama) Nancy written and directed by Christina Choe, produced by Amy Lo, Michelle Cameron, and Andrea Riseborough, and executive produced by Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Mynette Louie, and Rachel Song. A psychological thriller about an invisible woman desperate to be seen, who blurs the line between truth and fiction. (Dramatic Thriller) The Third Wife written and directed by Ash Mayfair and produced by Ngoc Tran Thi Bich. 19th century rural Vietnam, 14-year-old May is ready to become the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Little does she know that her hidden desires will take her by surprise and force her to make a choice between living in safety and being free. (Drama)SPOTLIGHT ON DOCUMENTARIES
Presenting 50 documentary features ranging from an early financing stage (i.e. early development/production) to those nearing completion (i.e. in postproduction or at the rough cut stage), this section includes emerging and established filmmakers in non-fiction. 100 Million Views directed by Itamar Rose; written by Itamar Rose, Noam Pinchas, and Tal Barda; and produced by Noam Pinchas and Tal Barda. Itamar Rose, a failed YouTuber, sets out to uncover the secret of virality and discovers the untold truths about YouTube and the viral world. Advocate (working title) directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche, written by Rachel Leah Jones, and produced by Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaiche, and Paul Cadieux. In the quest for justice, Israeli human rights lawyer Lea Tsemel isn’t afraid to get her own hands dirty. The Angola Project: Detroit (working title) directed by Jeremy Xido, written by Jeremy Xido and Igor Dobricic, and produced by Amanda Burr, Sigrid Dyekjaer, and Susanne Guggenberger. A film about traveling the world in an attempt to understand who you are and where you’re from. And returning home to find it in ruins. The Bellingcat Method directed and written by Hans Pool and produced by Femke Wolting. Online collective Bellingcat investigates the net 24/7 for true information to make people accountable for their deeds. Bellingcat’s main source: open data from smart phones. Busy Inside directed by Olga Lvoff, produced by Victor Ilyuhkin, and executive produced by Alexandra Shiva. Karen, a therapist, treats those with Dissociative Identity Disorder — a multiple personality condition she also has. She and her patients seek to be themselves. Charlotte So Far directed by Douglas Tirola, written by Douglas Tirola and Charlotte Tirola, and produced by Susan Bedusa. A teenage girl explores the intricacies of maintaining friendships in the age of social media, all while trying to determine who she really is. A Cops and Robbers Story directed by Ilinca Calugareanu, produced by Mara Adina, and executive produced by John Battsek. Growing up in Queens in the 70s, Corey Pegues played Cops and Robbers like all the other kids but he never expected to become both. Crime + Punishment directed by Stephen Maing, produced by Stephen Maing and Ross Tuttle, and executive produced by Laura Poitras. Amidst a landmark lawsuit over illegal policing quotas, Crime + Punishment intimately observes the real lives and struggles of a group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and the young minorities they are pressured to arrest and summons in New York City. Crip Camp directed and written by Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham and produced by Jim LeBrecht, Nicole Newnham, and Sara Bolder. The improbable story of the revolution sparked in a radical summer camp for disabled teens in the 1970’s. Not overcoming. Becoming. Dawnland directed by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, produced by Adam Mazo and N. Bruce Duthu, and executive produced by Beth Murphy and Heather Rae. A story of stolen children and cultural survival: inside the first truth and reconciliation commission for Native Americans. Down a Dark Stairwell directed by Ursula Liang and produced by Chanelle Aponte Pearson and Rajal Pitroda. When a Chinese-American police officer kills an unarmed black man, it sets off a firestorm of emotion pitting two marginalized communities against one another in a virulent fight for justice. The Drum Also Waltzes: In Search of Max Roach directed and produced by Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro. The Drum Also Waltzesexplores the life of percussionist, composer Max Roach—his surprising musical legacy, cultural activism, and times of struggle and creative triumph. The Emoji Project directed by Martha Shane and Ian Cheney, and produced by Martha Shane, Ian Cheney, and Jennifer Lee. The Emoji Project explores the complex, conflict-prone, and often hilarious world of the designers, lovers, and arbiters of emoji, our world’s newest pictorial language. The Evidence of Things Not Seen directed by Ja’Tovia Gary and produced by Gina Duncan. The filmmaker embarks on an intimate and nonconventional journey to explore her most foundational relationships as well as the pivotal events that shape her identity. The Fight directed and written by Violeta Ayala and produced by Dan Fallshaw, Violeta Ayala, and Redelia Shaw. What happens when people with disabilities in Bolivia have to fight for their survival? Game Girls directed by Alina Skrzeszewska and produced by Jean-Laurent Csinidis and Meike Martens. Can the love between two women survive Los Angeles’ skid row? Glass Under My Skin directed and written by Moara Passoni and produced by Moara Passoni and Mariana Lima. Glass under my Skin is a road trip through the mind of Beatriz (19), a woman struggling to overcome anorexia. The Great Experiment directed and produced by Eric Daniel Metzgar and Stephen Maing. A cinematic mosaic of the “great experiment” of American democracy as it teeters on a precipice during one of our most tumultuous and defining years. The Hottest August directed by Brett Story, produced by Brett Story and Danielle Varga, and executive produced by Maida Brankman. A film about climate change, disguised as a portrait of collective anxiety. How to Have an American Baby directed by Leslie Tai and produced by Leslie Tai and Jillian Schultz. How to Have an American Baby is a kaleidoscopic voyage behind the closed doors of the booming Chinese birth tourism industry in Los Angeles. Hunting for Hedonia directed by Pernille Rose Grønkjær, written by Lone Frank, and produced by Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær. What if electrodes inserted in the brain could alter your mind and change pain into pleasure? The Infiltrators directed and produced by Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera and executive produced by Daniel Chalfen. When two young immigrant-activists get detained by Border Patrol, on purpose, their mission to expose the abuses inside a detention center becomes much more complex and dangerous than they imagined… Joyce Carol Oates: I’ll Take You There directed by Stig Björkman, written by Stig Björkman and Stina Gardell, produced by Stina Gardell and Cynthia Kane. Joyce Carol Oates, iconic writer, takes us on a journey through landscapes, histories and mythologies, celebrating the power of language and imagination. The Jump directed by Giedre Zickyte and produced by Daniel Chalfen. When a renowned cold-war asylum seeker dramatically makes it to the US, his dream of freedom is complicated by an immigrant’s reality. Leftover Women directed by Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia and produced by Hilla Medalia, Shosh Shlam, and Jürgen Kleinig. Single women in their mid-20’s, living in China’s big cities are deemed “Leftover Women” by society. This is their grueling quest to find “Mr. Right.” Life Crime directed by NC Heikin and produced by NC Heikin, Su Kim, and Redelia Shaw. Criminal injustice as seen through the eyes of a brilliant musician and convicted murderer. Love Gilda directed and written by Lisa D’Apolito and produced by Lisa D’Apolito and James Tummina. The story of how one beloved comedienne found her humor in the midst of the unfunniest thing to ever happen to her. Madame Tran’s Last Battle directed and produced by Kate Taverna and Alan Adelson, written by Alan Adelson, and executive produced by Abigail Disney and Gini Reticker. Madame Tran is suing twenty-six American manufacturers of Agent Orange, seeking accountability for the devastation it has wrought on the Vietnamese people and their environment. Midnight Family directed by Luke Lorentzen, produced by Kellen Quinn, and executive produced by Daniela Alatorre and Elena Fortes. In Mexico City, 16-year-old Juan Ochoa struggles to legitimize his family’s unlicensed ambulance business as corrupt police in the neighborhood begin to target this cutthroat industry. Missing in Brooks County directed and written by Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss; produced by Lisa Molomot, Jeff Bemiss, and Jacob Bricca; and executive produced by Abigail Disney and Gini Reticker. In a small town in Texas, the border wall has already arrived. The Mountain and The Magic City directed by Bridget Besaw and Ben Severance, produced by Ben Severance, and executive produced by Bridget Besaw. An intimate portrait of neighbors forced to confront the issues dividing America today when a controversial national park comes to town. My Fugitive directed and written by Nina Gilden Seavey and produced by Nina Gilden Seavey, Cheryl Thompson, and Linda Morgenstern. We are all being watched. What if our actions are interpreted through a political lens that ensnares us in an unyielding net? Welcome to My Fugitive. NIGHT/vision (working title) directed by Eva Weber and produced by Nicole Stott. A love song and eulogy to London – a city irrevocably changing – through the eyes of those who inhabit, work, and travel through the urban night. Out in the Cold directed by Alison Millar, produced by Rachel Hooper, and executive produced by Sam Collyns. A secret birth; a newborn baby found dead in a park. How did young mother Ashley Ard become Alaska’s most hated woman, now facing prison for murder? The Poetry of Cowboys directed by Mike Day and produced by Charlotte Cook. A tale of the American west and a nation at a crossroads. The Poetry of Cowboys takes us on an unexpected journey busting myths and stereotypes. A Prince from Outer Space: Zeki Muren directed by Beyza Boyacioglu and produced by Beyza Boyacioglu, Steve Holmgren, and Selin Murat. Before Bowie, there was Zeki! The film unpacks the legend of Turkey’s greatest popstar and queer icon while contemplating on the power of star mythology and fandom. The Prophet directed and written by Ilan Rubin Fields and produced by Naomi Levari and Saar Yogev. Life and times of American Rabbi Meir Kahane: Activist turned terrorist turned politician turned martyr, and the mainstream revival of his extreme ideas in Israel. Queen of the Battling Butterfly Brigade directed by Daniel Hymanson, produced by Kellen Quinn, and executive produced by Josh Penn and Noah Stahl. A film about evolution, ecstasy, and finding the infinite in the infinitesimal. The Rashomon Effect directed by Lyric Cabral and produced by Lyric Cabral and Jessica Devaney. What happened when unarmed Black teen Michael Brown was fatally shot by White police officer Darren Wilson? The government has one truth, eyewitnesses have many. Reentry (Working Title) directed by Jennifer Redfearn and produced by Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger. When a mother goes to prison for addiction, her family does time too. The Roar of a Lion Cub directed by Martina Radwan, produced by Martina Radwan and Amanda Spain, and executive produced by Jonathan Gray. Three Mongolian street kids nearly become the “bad kids” society expects them to be, when an outsider offers them a second chance. Silicon Valley Project directed by David Carr-Brown, produced by Christoph Jorg, and executive produced by Erin Griffin. An investigation into Silicon Valley’s imperial ambitions, and the underlying political project that is transforming our lives, and defining our future. Stray directed by Elizabeth Lo and produced by Elizabeth Lo and Shane Boris. Stray enters the world of Turkish dogs and the oftentimes marginalized people around them who together face a nation in a profound state of flux. Theater of Conflict (working title) directed and produced by Lynn True and Nelson Walker. A United Nations media producer goes rogue in the Congo and launches an unorthodox art project aimed at provoking urgent reflection on conflict and peacekeeping. Time for Ilhan directed by Norah Shapiro; produced by Chris Newberry, Jennifer Steinman, and Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, and executive produced by Annie Sundberg. Ilhan Omar, a young, refugee mother-of-three, takes on two formidable opponents as she campaigns to become the first Somali Muslim woman elected to State Legislature. Untamed directed by Simon Wood. Facing his approaching death, Poet Ian McCallum, spends his last days retracing his former lives as wilderness guide, Jungian analyst, psychiatrist, divorcee, international sports star, homesick schoolboy and young child in rural Zambia. Spanning seven decades, weaving through an archival journey that moves backwards in time, reflecting on landscape and memories, we seek out the ancient wild origins of the human psyche. Untitled Devil Project directed by Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher and produced by Charlotte Cook. A town becomes a microcosm for the complexities and contradictions of society’s divides. Evangelical Christians and Drag Queens alike dismantle stereotypes to explore the meaning of belief. Watermelon Thump Queen directed and produced by Farihah Zaman and Jeff Reichert. In the “toughest town in Texas”, a high stakes election plays out as seven high school girls compete to become the next Watermelon Thump Queen. We Believe In Dinosaurs directed by Clayton Brown and Monica Ross; written by Monica Ross; produced by Clayton Brown, Monica Ross, and Amy Ellison; and executive produced by Morgan Spurlock and Jeremy Chilnick. Creationists build a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark to convince us all that the Earth is only 6,000 years old. The Youth directed and produced by Eunice Lau and Arthur Nazaryan. A father seeks to understand why his son is accused of terrorism after an FBI sting operation puts him in prison. “The Youth” follows the lives of Somali-Americans in Minnesota as they struggle against Islamophobia in contemporary America.IFP DOCUMENTARY LABS
A year-long mentorship program supporting 10 U.S. first-feature documentaries in post-production through completion, marketing and distribution. The Area directed by David Schalliol and produced by David Schalliol, Brian Ashby, and Yana Kunichoff. On the South Side of Chicago, an activist and a former gang member negotiate the meaning of community as a rail yard engulfs their neighborhood. Baato directed by Lucas Millard and Kate Stryker and produced by Lucas Millard. Deep in the Himalayan mountains the first road is coming, and this new highway to China will forever change Nepali village life. ¡Las Sandinistas! directed and written by Jenny Murray and produced by Jenny Murray and Sarah Winshall. ¡Las Sandinistas! uncovers the disappearing stories of women who shattered barriers to lead combat and social reform during Nicaragua’s 1979 Sandinista Revolution. Leave The Bus Through The Broken Window directed by Andrew Hevia. A broken-hearted filmmaker navigates an unfamiliar city, an international art fair and his own emotional turmoil in this dark, playful and unexpectedly comedic documentary. Personal Statement directed by Juliane Dressner and Edwin Martinez and produced by Juliane Dressner and Beth Levison. Three Brooklyn public school seniors overcome considerable challenges to get themselves and their classmates to college. A Photographic Memory directed by Rachel Seed, produced by Rachel Seed and Danielle Varga, and and executive produced by Maida Brankman. A daughter attempts to piece together a portrait of her mother, a woman she never knew, through their shared passion for photography. Shadow of His Wings directed by Lucas Habte and produced by Lucas Habte, Isidore Bethel, and Tigist Schmidt. In Addis Ababa, a young filmmaker falls in love with an Ethiopian man who flees homophobic death threats to become France’s first Ethiopian LGBT refugee. Shirkers directed and produced by Sandi Tan and executive produced by Jessica Levin. In 1992, a mysterious American shot Singapore’s first indie… then stole the footage! 20 years later, the reels are found in New Orleans: What now? TransMilitary directed by Gabriel Silverman, written and produced by Jamie Coughlin, and executive produced by Fiona Dawson. With transgender service in the U.S. military banned, four transgender troops risk discharge by fighting to attain the freedom they so fiercely protect. We Are Not Princesses directed by Bridgette Auger and Itab Azzam and produced by Itab Azzam and Hal Scardino. Antigone, the ancient Greek heroine, ignites the spirits of a group of Syrian women living in Beirut’s refugee camps.
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IFP Announces 2017 IFP Week Series Lineup of Over 35 Projects
The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) today announced over 35 television, digital, web and app-based series to be presented at the 39th annual IFP Week, taking place September 17 to 21, 2017 in Brooklyn.
The slate for IFP’s Project Forum includes both scripted and non-fiction series (limited, mini and full-season series) in all formats and genres. Presented projects include series from veteran and new creators, with 70% of works at the scripted/early development stage and 30% with independently shot pilots. Of the series featured, 51% are made by women and overall, 74% of the series are made by diverse creative teams. IFP’s Project Forum is the United States’ only international co-production market featuring stories for all platforms.
“Our serialized content slate this year is both provocative and political,” says IFP Executive Director Joana Vicente. “In this changing technological and artistic landscape, it is imperative to become more platform agnostic as an organization. While we’ve always helped those with bold, controversial and risk-taking stories to tell, we are particularly focused this year on giving voice to those artists no matter what medium the message takes.”
The 2017 IFP Week Serialized Content slate is as follows:
SCRIPTED LONG-FORM SERIES
America 1979 written and produced by Lila Yomtoob. Each season, this anthology series follows a different household or community through a different year, re-telling contemporary American history through the eyes of its people. (Historical Fiction) Angry Black Women written, produced and executive produced by HaJ Chenzira-Pinnock and Dahéli Hall. The journey of two Angry Black Women tired of being labeled as ‘Angry Black Women’ living in a world that makes them angry. (Comedy) Barker Street Boys written by Perry Janes. Three boys in Detroit, Michigan, find a body–and a mystery–in a locally foreclosed house. (Drama) Birds of Paradise written and directed by Lauren Fritz. In the near future, a rental agency specializes in the unusual task of providing professional “stand ins” to assume the identities of loved ones in their client’s life. (Dark Comedy) Camp Abercorn written by Jeffrey Simon and Meg Grgurich, produced by Jeffrey Simon, Meg Grgurich and Matthew Andrews, directed and executive produced by Jeffrey Simon. When a national discrimination case rains down on the Compass Guides of America, the staff of Camp Abercorn find themselves divided. Will the bonds of brotherhood be enough to keep this motley family from falling apart? (Coming of Age) The Commons written, directed and executive produced by Laura E. Davis. In a world without disease, an agent for the Sustainability Program—which enforces compulsory suicide at age 65—wrestles with her role after the system begins to show cracks. (Drama/Sci-Fi) Country of the Blind written by Keir Politz. The violent death of a listener thrusts a talk radio personality deep into a dangerous conspiracy that threatens his family, and leads him to confront a force of evil that far exceeds his wildest fantasies. (Thriller) Demons written by Juliet Lashinsky-Revene. Demons chronicles the true story of the couple that set off the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s, one of the biggest witch hunts in world history. (Based on a True Story) Fortune Bay written and executive produced by Robin Hayes and Tiphanie Yanique. In the Virgin Islands, the social position of Captain Owen Arthur Bradshaw and his multiracial family are impacted by intrigue and events in American history. (Drama) The Gentrifiers written by Philip Aceto, Du’Bois A’Keen and Jared Goodman, produced, executive produced and directed by Jared Goodman. The Gentrifiers follows the ups and downs of five intersecting characters living and working in a rapidly changing urban neighborhood. (Dark Comedy) Giving Up written, directed and produced by Kris Lefcoe, executive produced by Kris Lefcoe and David Wain. A sad comedy about a New York couple facing their own deadline to either ‘make it’ or give up their dreams. (Dark Comedy) The Mission written by Benedict Moran and Marie-Marguerite Sabongui, produced by Chris Agoston and Marie-Marguerite Sabongui. An idealistic Canadian diplomat tries to make a difference but must first navigate the eccentric characters and impossible clusterfuck that make up international diplomacy. (Comedy) The Nation written, directed and produced by Jon Kauffman. The real story behind the first Native American casino and the unlikely tribe that carved this billion-dollar kingdom out of a swamp. (Drama) Rollers written and produced by Isaiah Smallman. Rollers follows the hilarious and painful journey of Rufus and Brian Paisley, the co-owners of a well-loved, but struggling roller skating rink slash concert venue. (Comedy) Same Sex written, directed and executive produced by Sophie Webb, produced by Amelia Roper and Sophie Webb. A down on her luck and lonely heterosexual woman tries to become a lesbian in a desperate attempt to find a place for herself in the world. (Dark Comedy) Winterovers written by Nilanjana Bose-Ciupinska and Jakub Ciupinski, produced by Jakub Ciupinski. In the dark polar night of an Antarctic winter, a group of scientists inhabiting a remote research station discover a perplexing anomaly in a nearby lake, setting in motion series of events that upend their lives and notion of reality. (Sci-Fi)SCRIPTED SHORT FORM SERIES
Aeris directed by Lukas Huffman, produced by Amy Zhang. Teenage female snowboarders fight for a spot on the Olympic team and struggle to define themselves within a male dominated sport. (Drama) Anamnesis written, directed and produced by Alex Calleros and Michael Tucker. A group of strangers realize they’re able to share each other’s dreams. To understand why, they’ll have to find each other in the real world. (Sci-Fi) Brazen written by Emilie Valentin, directed by Sarah Saidan, produced by Priscilla Bertin, Arnaud Colinart and Judith Nora. Whoever they were and wherever they came from, those Brazen ladies were out to tear down prejudice. (Animation) Campfire Poetry directed by Guilherme Araujo, Jon Boutin, Neely Goniodsky, Alicja Jasina and Tess Martin, produced and executive produced by Max Rothman. A collection of animated short films, dance videos, photographs, paintings, and immersive virtual reality experiences based on poems from the early 20th century and prior. (Animation) Caught in the Web written and directed by Stian Hafstad. Set inside the Internet, Caught in the Web is a behind-the-screens comedy that explores the inner workings of the world wide web. (Comedy) Cleaner Daze written by Daniel Gambelin and Tess Sweet, produced by Daniel Gambelin and Cheryl Isaacson, directed and executive produced by Tess Sweet. A newbie drug rehab counselor struggles to wrangle a misfit crew of teenage drug addicts while secretly battling her own addiction. (Dark Comedy) NowQuest written and directed by New Media Ltd, executive produced by Davey Spens. Two teenagers traveling the universe for 10,000 years must sober up and negotiate humanity’s fate. (Sci-Fi) Trip written and directed by Nick Borenstein, produced by Brady Leifer. When a family road trip goes awry, the Greenblatt’s start to unravel, as seen through each of their differing perspectives. (Dark Comedy) Utilities Not Included written, produced and executive produced by Jessica Mazza, Robert Moxley and Brian Petersen, directed by Jessica Mazza. Two jaded Brooklyn hipsters lease their spare room at double the rate to a clingy Midwestern girl whose personality creates havoc to the household dynamic. (Comedy)NON-FICTION LONG FORM SERIES
Cumari: Rainforest to Table directed and produced by Patricia FInneran. Latin America’s chefs pair traditional Amazonian food with urban haute cuisine; culinary fusion meets cultural healing in a truly unique gastronomic adventure. Finding the Werewolf directed by Georgina Gonzalez and Rodrigo Iturralde and produced by Alejandro Duran. A real-life werewolf faces the challenges of being different and empowers others, including his fellow millions of immigrants in the U.S. during the Trump era. Frameworks directed by Charlie Hoxie and executive produced by Aziz Isham and BRIC TV. A city is a sum of its stories. Happy Jail directed by Michele Josue, produced by Carlo Velayo, and executive produced by Arleen McGlade, Linda Karn, and Liam McNiff. Amidst a brutal drug war, ex-convict Marco Toral struggles to keep the Philippines’ most famous jail from falling apart. Mother America directed by Erik Shirai and produced by Masako Tsumura. A documentary series that explores the social fabric of America through the lens of five mothers as they navigate the varied and extreme circumstances that life has thrown at them. Selfies directed and written by Gregory Scott Williams, Jr.; produced by Gregory Scott Williams, Jr. and Seith Mann; and executive produced by Seith Mann, Gregory Scott Williams, Jr., and Germaine Williams, PhD. Using their social media content as a foundation, Selfies constructs portraits of disparate teens from different countries in search of common experiences, challenges and triumphs.NON-FICTION SHORT FORM SERIES
Exposed directed by Dara Kell, produced by Dara Kell and Julie Trébault, and executive produced by Julie Trébault. Exposed tells the stories of artists forced into exile because of their work. Life in America brings adventure and alienation, disappointment and new directions. Fanwei directed by Jessica Kingdon and produced by Kira Simon-Kennedy. An observational trilogy about the global effects of production, consumerism, and waste in China. I Lived: Brooklyn directed by Jonathan Nelson, written by Danielle Andersen, produced by Jonathan Nelson and Danielle Andersen, and executive produced by Jonathan Nelson. In short-form, character-driven episodes, long-time Brooklyn residents offer personal insights and uncommon access into their rapidly changing neighborhoods. Manimal directed and written by Maral Satari and produced by Cecilia Delgado. Similar in style to animal documentaries, Manimal studies how modern man behaves in his natural habitat: the city. Tea Time with Alex directed by Alex Hopkins and Brent Edwards, produced by Alex Hopkins, and executive produced by Alysse Campbell. Tea Time with Alex is our response to HB2, meant to educate on transgender topics with a dash of sass. Though based in NC, it was in Seattle that Alex was first harassed in a bathroom. Trans discrimination is worldwide. Let’s solve it over tea! Waking Dream directed by Theo Rigby and produced by Rebekah Fergusson. Young. Undocumented. Future Unknown. With immigration enforcement on the rise, five young undocumented people with a tenuous protection from deportation strive for their dreams. image via Facebook
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World Premiere of NICO, 1988 Starring Trine Dyrholm to Open Orizzonti Section of Venice International Film Festival
The world premiere of Nico, 1988 directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli, and starring Trine Dyrholm (Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival in 2016) will be the opening film of the Orizzonti section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival.
Set between Paris, Prague, Nuremberg, Manchester, the Polish countryside and the Roman seaside, Nico, 1988 is a road-movie dedicated to the last years of Christa Päffgen, known by her stage name “Nico”. One of Warhol’s muses, the singer of the Velvet Underground and a woman of legendary beauty, Nico lived a second life after the story known to all, when she began her career as a solo artist. Her music is among the most original of the Seventies and Eighties, and has influenced much of the musical production that followed. The “priestess of darkness”, as she was called, found her true calling after age forty, when she shook off the weight of her beauty and rebuilt her relationship with her only forgotten son. Nico, 1988 is the story of Nico’s last tour with the band that accompanied her around Europe in the Eighties. It is the story of a rebirth, an artist, a mother, the woman beyond the icon.
The director Susanna Nicchiarelli explains: “This is the story of Nico after Nico. People usually talk about her only in relation to the men she was with when she was young: Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, Alain Delon, Iggy Pop. I once read in an interview that “at age 34 Nico was finished”. That’s not true. After her experience with the Velvet Underground, Nico became a great musician. I wanted to tell the story of her journey from a different point of view and focusing on the loss of consensus and the change in her image that both gave her back her freedom”.