Chadwick Boseman delivers the 2018 commencement address at Howard University.[/caption]
Award-winning actor and alumnus Chadwick Boseman delivered the Howard University 2018 commencement address.
“I stand here today knowing that my Howard University education prepared me to play Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and T’Challa,” said Boseman. “But what do you do when the principles and standards that were instilled in you at Howard close the doors in front of you? Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it.”
Boseman described career obstacles that, although difficult, eventually led him to his true calling.
“When you are deciding on next jobs, next steps, further education…you would rather find purpose than a job,” said Boseman. “Purpose crosses disciplines. It is the reason that you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIHZypMyQ2s-
Actor Chadwick Boseman Inspires Graduates at Howard University’s 2018 Commencement Ceremony [Video]
[caption id="attachment_29211" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Chadwick Boseman delivers the 2018 commencement address at Howard University.[/caption]
Award-winning actor and alumnus Chadwick Boseman delivered the Howard University 2018 commencement address.
“I stand here today knowing that my Howard University education prepared me to play Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and T’Challa,” said Boseman. “But what do you do when the principles and standards that were instilled in you at Howard close the doors in front of you? Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it.”
Boseman described career obstacles that, although difficult, eventually led him to his true calling.
“When you are deciding on next jobs, next steps, further education…you would rather find purpose than a job,” said Boseman. “Purpose crosses disciplines. It is the reason that you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIHZypMyQ2s
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49th Nashville Film Festival Kicks off With Steven Tyler’s Documentary + Announces Winners of Short Film Competition
[caption id="attachment_29208" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The President’s Visit,[/caption]
The 49th Annual Nashville Film Festival opened with the Steven Tyler’s documentary Steven Tyler: Out on a Limb, along with a bonus performance by Steven Tyler and The Loving Mary Band, and the first awards for short films competition winners, that include Academy Award eligibility.
Winners of the 2018 Nashville Film Festival jury prizes were announced at a ceremony last night where The President’s Visit, Weekends and ’63 Boycott became eligible for submission for the 2019 Academy Awards, as long as they otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements. Awards were announced by Festival’s Artistic Director, Brian Owens.
The winning films take home cash and prizes valued at over $35,000. Past winning films have included Academy Award-winner Bear Story and Academy Award-nominated Borrowed Time.
The Grand Jury Prize in the Narrative Shorts Competition was awarded to The President’s Visit, directed by Cyril Aris. The Prize for Best U.S. Narrative Short was given to Debris, directed by Julio O. Ramos, and the Prize for Best International Short was awarded to Icarus, directed by Nicolas Boucart. Honorable Mention for Best U.S. Short was given to Emergency, directed by Carey Williams. Honorable Mention for Best International Short went to Miss Wamba, directed by Estefania Cortés. Tom Doran was given a Special Jury Prize for his performance in Time Traveler and Shaquita Lopez was given a Special Jury Prize for her performance in Audition.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Short was awarded to the almost impressionistic, Weekends, directed by Trevor Jiminez. The animation jury presented Honorable Mention to Hybrids, directed by Florian Brauch, Kim Tailhades, Matthieu Pujol, Romain Thirion and Yohan Thireau.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short was given to ’63 Boycott, directed by Gordon Quinn. Tightly Wound, directed by Shelby Hadden, and While I Yet Live, directed by Maris Curran, were given Honorable Mentions.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Experimental Short went to director Douwe Dijkstra, for Green Screen Gringo. Honorable Mention was given to Strangers, directed by Eve Duhame and Julian Vallée.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best College Student Short went to Schoolyard Blues, directed by Maria Eriksson-Hecht. Lunch Time, directed by Alireza Ghasemi, was named Honorable Mention, while Luca Caruso-Moro was given a Special Jury Prize for Cinematography for Every Grain of Rice.
The Best Graveyard Shift Short Grand Jury Prize went to Socks on Fire: Uncle John and the Copper Headed Water Rattlers, directed by Bo MaGuire. Paralys, directed by John Boisen and Björn Fävremark, took home the Honorable Mention while a Special Jury Prize Unique and Important Storytelling was awarded to The Devil is in the Details, directed by Fabien Gorgeart.
In the Tennessee First category for films made in Tennessee and/or by Tennessee residents, the Grand Jury Prize for Best Tennessee Narrative Short was awarded to Hillary Bell’s Hunter. Clarksville, 1937, directed by Karen Bullis and Kathy Lee Heuston, was named Best Tennessee Documentary Short, and Pilots, directed by Jason Luckett, won Best Tennessee Student Short. The Order, directed by Chad Cunningham, was given an Honorable Mention, Best Tennessee Narrative Short and QWERTY, directed by John McAmis, took home the Special Jury Prize for Best Tennessee Animated Short.
The Young Filmmakers Grand Jury Prize was awarded to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Suburbia, directed by Alex Alford and Zak Denley. That prize comes with an offer of a $20,000 scholarship to Watkins College of Art, Design and Film.
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16 African Feature Films and Documentaries Projects Selected for 9th Durban FilmMart
[caption id="attachment_29193" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
9th Durban FilmMart : Zinder, The Seeds of Violence, (Niger) – Director: Aicha Macky. Producer: Clara Vuillermoz, Ousmane Samassekou,[/caption]
A total of 16 fiction feature films and documentaries projects from Africa have been selected to pitch at this year’s Durban FilmMart (DFM), which takes place from July 20 to 23, 2018 during the 39th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) (July 19 to 29 ).
A joint programme of the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit, the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the DIFF, the Durban FilmMart aims to showcase and increase awareness of African cinema through stimulating film production on the continent by encouraging collaborations amongst African filmmakers.
“We are thrilled to announce the 2018 DFM Official Project selection,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office. “These sixteen projects were carefully picked from over 130 applications and will join the DFM team in Durban to partake in a two-day preparatory workshop, followed by two days of public pitching, round tables, and individual meetings, where they will face industry professionals (Broadcasters, funds, festivals and distribution and production company representatives) to negotiate support for their projects.”
The eight documentaries and eight feature fictions this year have been selected from Egypt, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Libya, Niger and South Africa representing a dynamic range of work-in-progress and collaborations between the various countries and nationalities.
“This year’s selection profiles an eclectic mix of stories from across Africa, bringing some new talents to the Durban FilmMart that we are excited to present to attending industry professionals,” says Monty. “We would like to congratulate all the selected projects on their success and thank all directors and producers who took the time to apply with their projects.”
Durban FilmMart 2018 Official Project Selection
Fiction
Blood & Honey, (Egypt) – Producer: Mohamed Siam, Guillaume de Seille, Director: Mohamed Siam Insila kashaka, (South Africa) – Producer: Sibongile Nene, Director: Brian Khawula, Sibongile Nene, Country Nyanga / The Horn, (Zimbabwe) – Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya, Brett Michael Innes, Director: Brett Michael Innes Snake, (South Africa) – Producer: Paul Egan, Stanford Gibson and Mustapha Hendricks, Director: Meg Rickards Streams, (Tunisia) – Producer: Moufida Fedhila, Director: Mehdi Hmili Of Virtue, (South Africa) – Producer: David Horler, Director: Imran Hamdulay Plunderer, The, (Nigeria) Producer: Ikechukwu Omenaihe Director: Didi Cheeka Porta-Retrato, (Mozambique) – Producer: Aldino Languana, Osvaldo Lupini Bambamba, Director: Orlando Mabasso Jr.Documentaries
At Dawn, (Nigeria) – Producer / Director: Adeyemi Michael Cheese Girl, (South Africa) – Producer: Batana Vundla, Marion Isaacs, Director: Milisuthando Bongela Fitrah: To Be as God Created You, (South Africa) – Producer: Kelly Scott, Director: Richard Finn Gregory How to Steal a Country (And win it back.), (South Africa) – Producer: Zivia Desai, Rehad Desai, Director: Mark Kaplan, Rehad Desai Master’s Plan, The, (Cape Verde) – Producer: Hanne Phlypo, Director: Yuri Ceuninck Mother City, (South Africa) – Producer: Pearlie Joubert, Miki Redelinguys, Director: Pearlie Joubert, Miki Redelinguys Searching for Kikhia, (Libya) – Producer: Desert Power / Christina Carvalho, Director: Jihan Kikhia Zinder, The Seeds of Violence, (Niger) – Producer: Clara Vuillermoz, Ousmane Samassekou, Director: Aicha Macky
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Las Vegas Film Festival Reveals 2018 Shorts, Labs and College Shorts Showcases Lineup
The Las Vegas Film Festival followed up its impressive initial programming lineup with even more programming for the upcoming 11th edition of the festival – including shorts, labs and college shorts showcases. The 2018 Festival will take place June 6 to 10 at Brenden Theatres and Palms Casino Resort.
SHORTS
[O] (Director: Mario Radev) – A film that imitates nature in its manner of operation, depicting animated cycles in a world entirely based on sound frequency and vibration. After Her (Director: Laura Heberton) – A wayward teenage girl goes missing and her friend is haunted by her disappearance. An atmospheric sci-fi about first love and the lost girl. Counterfeit Kunko – In a city that houses millions, Smita discovers a strange prerequisite to renting a house in middle-class Mumbai. She would make an ideal tenant, except for one glaring flaw—she is an Indian woman without a husband. Emergency (Director: Joenique C. Rose) – Faced with an emergency situation, a group of young Black and Latino friends carefully weigh the pros and cons of calling the police. Footprint (Director: Laura Heberton) – FOOTPRINT is a purely observational meditation on how different people engage with the World Trade Center Memorial, exploring the ways we choose to commemorate tragedy in the age of technology, social media, and changing attitudes toward patriotism. Grandma’s House (Director: Savanah Joeckel) – Carol returns to a familiar position. Milk and Cookies (Director: Andrew Ramsay) – Grace is five. She wants milk and cookies. Everyday. Real bad. Nevada (Director: Emily Hoffman) – A young couple’s romantic weekend getaway is interrupted by a birth-control mishap in this stop-motion animated comedy. Painting with Joan (Director: Jack Robbins) – Are you curious about Minnesota’s #3 public-access painting show? Satellite Strangers (Director: James Bascara) – A strange cacophony. Symphony of a Sad Sea (Director: Carlos Morales) – Hugo, a Mexican child and victim of violence, flees his hometown with one single dream: crossing to the United States to meet his father and leave his past behind. The Blazing World (Director: Andrew Carlberg) – Margaret has been plagued with dreams of a strange world since she was a little girl. After a mysterious man with a map visits her one night, she decides to give in to the incessant calls of The Blazing World. THE PASSAGE (Director: Kitao Sakurai) – Phil, wide-eyed and mute, is on the run after escaping captivity. Three Course (Director: Noah Pitifer) – A server struggles with a three course meal. Thrifters (Director: Jake Pepito) – In the fiercely competitive world of second-hand chic, a loyal “thrifting duo” faces drama and challenges. We Summoned A Demon (Director: Chris McInroy) – They just wanted to be cool. Instead, they got a demon. Yule Tidings (Director: Charles Cantrell) – Trying to land their places in Hollywood royalty, two dudes prepare for their Christmas party. But when danger presents itself next door, they quickly get lured into a rabbit hole full of black magic and bunnies.COLLEGE SHORTS SHOWCASES
The Festival’s three college showcases feature a collection of short films produced by students from UNLV, CSN and NSC. The College Shorts Showcases will be held Wednesday, June 6 and will feature the following: UNLV Showcase: Programmed by Francisco Menendez, UNLV Professor and Artistic Director CSN Showcase: Programmed by John C. Aliano, CSN Program Director and Instructor NSC Showcase: Programmed by Adam Davis, NSC Assistant Professor and Interim Department ChairFESTIVAL LABS
Returning this year, for the fifth time, is a program that has become a community favorite, the Music Video Lab. Local filmmakers are given a $400 grant to produce a music video for a local band that premieres at the Festival. Participating bands this year include Paige Overton (Directors: Danny Chandia and Rachel Johnson), OLAN (Director: Engie Herrera), The American Weather (Director: Tony Clifford), Sonia Barcelona (Director: Savanah Joeckel), Cameron Calloway (Director: Brett Levner) and Indigo Kidd (Director: Zachary VanTilborg). The Music Video Lab screening will take place Sunday, June 10. Another favorite local program, the Young Cinema Lab, returns for a fourth year. Children are taught how to write a screenplay with the assistance of UNLV film students, who each receive a $300 grant. The Las Vegas Film Festival then helps the UNLV filmmakers bring the screenplay to life with a special screening event at the Festival, to be held Saturday, June 9. This year’s films include: Cat Ear Trio (Director: Patrick Gonzales; Screenwriter: Hayden Balino, age 9) Rise of the Carrots (Director: Diana Sheik Yosef; Screenwriter: Ava Trundle, age 10) The Doge (Director: Sam Rodriguez; Screenwriter: Constantine Holmes, age 7) The Four Square King (Director: Aaron Lockheart; Screenwriter: Aces Umlauf, age 9) The Game (Director: Blake Gilmore; Screenwriter: Kane Trundle, age 11) The Power Dangers (Director: Brandon Mowles: Screenwriter: Raffi, age 6) Trouble over Time (Director: Rose Nordberg; Screenwriter: Paige, age 10) Weird Things (Director: Shane Gallo; Screenwriters: Olivia Runco, age 7 and Xander Peachey, age 9)
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Sheffield Doc/Fest Alternate Realities Exhibition 2018 to Feature 27 Interactive and Immersive Projects
[caption id="attachment_29185" align="aligncenter" width="899"]
Vestige[/caption]
The 2018 Sheffield Doc/Fest Alternate Realities Exhibition, supported by Arts Council England, features 27 interactive and immersive projects; including 1 game, 1 augmented reality, 3 interactive documentaries, 3 installations, 9 virtual reality installations and 10 mobile VR projects; plus special events, talks and industry sessions. 2018 audiences will be treated to 9 World, 5 International, 6 European and 6 UK premieres, as well as 1 festival premiere.
Spread over two floors at Trafalgar Warehouse, the exhibition comprises a lower ground space entitled The World Unknown to You which will feature virtual and augmented reality, video games and digital installations that take the audience into the lives of others. The floor above entitled Better Known Truths, supported by the DDD60 project, is a communal space in which synchronous virtual reality shows will bring audiences together to experience 360º documentaries from around the world. Doc/Fest 2018 also features four Alternate Realities Special Live events: The Dark Room, The Incredible Playable Show, Reeps One: We Speak Live Music and DOUBLETHINK.
All Alternate Realities projects, except Special Live events, are competing across three award categories: the Virtual Reality award, Alternate Realities Interactive award and Audience Award. All award winners will be announced at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 12 June.
In addition to the Alternative Realities exhibition, The Alternate Realities Summit (supported by Arts Council England) is taking place on Sunday 10 June. The morning session will explore the theme of Portrayals, whilst the afternoon will focus on the topic of Union. Three keynote speakers taking part in the summit are: William Uricchio who leads the MiT open Doc lab, Ruthie Doyle from the Sundance Institute and Zahra Rasool, the lead of Al Jazeera’s Contrast VR team (based in Doha/Washington/NYC). Artists featured in Better Known Truths in the Alternate Realities Exhibition will examine how we reflect the culture, identity and history of a diverse selection of contributors within 360º documentary; while those in The World Unknown to You will debate how different types of interactive and immersive artists use different interfaces/media to bring us together to celebrate our collective humanity. Compared by Sharna Jackson (Arts & Digital Consultant) and Emma Cooper (Creative Digital Consultant).
The festival opens on Thursday June 7, the Alternate Realities exhibition will be open to audiences for the duration of the festival.
Alternate Realities Special Live events will take place on the following dates: June 8th: Reeps One: We Speak Live Music, June 9th: The Dark Room, June 11th: The Incredible Playable Show and June 8th/9th/10th/11th/12th: DOUBLETHINK.
ALTERNATE REALITIES SPECIAL EVENTS
Reeps One: We Speak Music Live (World premiere, UK, 2018, 75 mins, prod. Live Cinema UK / Get Involved) World class beatboxer and vocal artist Reeps One presents the world premiere of his new live show We Speak Music Live, which blends the latest technology, stunning visuals, and unbelievable vocal performances to explore the human voice and self-expression. Reeps One will take part in a Q&A after the screening to talk about the crossover between music, science and mental health with a neuroscientist. The Dark Room (UK, 2018, 60 mins, dir. John Robertson, prod. Charlotte Austin) Comedian John Robertson’s smash-hit live-action adventure game is coming to Sheffield for a one-off Doc/Fest special at Trafalgar Warehouse. Look out for bespoke documentary and Sheffield references, as you awake to find yourself in a Dark Room. Stuck inside with your fellow audience members you must work together to escape. You, the audience, must choose-your-own adventure and select an option. Will you: A) Find the light switch? B) Go North? C) Cry for help? The Incredible Playable Show (UK, 2018, 60 mins, dir. Alistair Aitcheson) An award-winning live video game show where you, the audience, take to the stage. Become human buttons, zap each other with barcode scanners, and play Pac-Man using inflatable toys. Or sit back, and watch your friends literally become cogs in a hilarious machine. Interactive ringmaster Alistair Aitcheson brings the madcap hilarity of his theatrical gaming mashup to Sheffield for a special performance at Doc/Fest. Referencing iconic Sheffield landmarks, themes from the Alternate Realities programme like memory and data and lampooning the documentary world in its own unique idiom. The Sheffield chapter of Incredible Playable can only be experienced as part of Doc/Fest’s Alternate Realities programme in Trafalgar Warehouse DOUBLETHINK (World premiere, UK, 2018, 15 mins, creators. Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, prod. Phantoscopic) Experience DOUBLETHINK and be faced with a binary decision: enter the container marked HATE or the one marked HOPE. But choose wisely, because you can’t experience both… DOUBLETHINK is an immersive video installation by renowned artists and filmmakers Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth), written by Stuart Evers and performed by George MacKay (Pride, Sunshine on the Leith). Created specifically for Sheffield Doc/Fest with support from Wellcome and in consultation with mental health researchers.THE INTERACTIVE AWARD & AUDIENCE AWARD – PROJECTS IN COMPETITION:
Belongings (UK premiere; USA, 2018, 20 mins, creator. John-Paul Marin, Matt Smith, Tea Uglow, Kirstin Sillitoe, prod. Megan Gibbon, Jonathan Richards, Installation) Experience an intimate interaction with displaced people and their stories of identity, resilience and hope. Cosmic Top Secret (UK premiere; Denmark / Australia, 2018, 60 mins, creator. Trine Laier, prod. Lise Saxtrup, Interactive Documentary) An autobiographical adventure game about a girl called T who wants to find out what her Dad did for the Danish Intelligence Service during the Cold War. Homo Machina (European premiere; France / Germany, 2018, 90 mins, creator. Marc Lustigman, Noam Roubah, Olivier Bonhomme , prod. Laura Fournier, Claire Léger, Interactive Documentary) Dive into a fantastic universe where the human body becomes a gigantic mechanised factory, inspired by Fritz Kahn’s medical illustrations. The Loss Levels (Festival premiere; UK, 2018, 4 mins, creator. Dan Hett, prod. Dan Hett, Game) A deeply personal yet playful story of loss based on the artist’s personal experience during the 2017 terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena. Sensible Data / Mixed Emotions (World premiere; Switzerland, 2018, 5 mins, creator. Martin Hertig, prod. Martin Hertig, Installation) Discover how the machine sees you and decide whether that re-informs how you see yourself. Terminal 3 (European premiere; USA / Pakistan, 2018, 12 mins, creator. Asad J. Malik, prod. Jill Klekas, Jake Sally, Nigel Tierney, Zeda Stone, Augmented Reality) Explore contemporary Muslim identities in the US through the lens of an airport interrogation. The Voice of the Unicorn (World premiere; Japan / UK, 2018, loop, creator. Richard Butchins, prod. Richard Butchins, Patrick Knill, Installation) A provocative exploration of the art of the non-verbal that challenges how we see and understand language, disability, art and alienation. Where is Home (UK premiere; Nigeria / Canada, 2017, 30 mins, creator. Ifeatu Nnaobi, prod. Ifeatu Nnaobi, Interactive Documentary) A journey through West Africa that asks the simple question What is home?, but reveals a complex range of thought provoking answers.THE VIRTUAL REALITY AWARD & AUDIENCE AWARD – PROJECTS IN COMPETITION:
The Day The World Changed (International premiere; USA / Japan, 10 mins, 2018, creator. Gabo Arora, Saschka Unseld, prod. Jennifer Tiexiera, Virtual Reality Installation) An intimate history and commemoration of the victims and survivors of atomic bombings and nuclear arms testing through first-hand testimonies. Face To Face (World premiere; USA, 2018, 45 mins, creator. Michelle Gabel, Michaela Holland, prod. Ivana Jiron, Virtual Reality Installation) (Festival Commission) A compelling installation based on the life of Michelle Fox, who wears a facial prosthetic due to a near fatal gun injury. A Sheffield Doc/Fest commission, supported by Arts Council England. Hold The World with David Attenborough (European premiere; UK, 2017, 90 mins, creator. Dan Smith, prod. John Cassy, Virtual Reality Installation) A unique one on one encounter with a digitally realised Sir David Attenborough, in which he teaches you how to examine remarkable specimens from the Natural History Museum’s collection. Is Anna OK? (UK premiere; UK, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Camila Ruz, prod. Tom Burton, Ben Curtis, Virtual Reality Installation) A true story of twins thrown apart by one night. Step into their shoes and a beautifully illustrated world, explore memories through objects, and uncover what happened from both perspectives. Inside a Mind at War (UK premiere; USA, 2017, 22 mins, creator. Sutu, prod. Jake Sally, Amy Rosner, Michelle Zauzig, Jackie Westfall, Virtual Reality Installation) Explore PTSD and the banal horrors of war through hand-drawn 3D illustrations of Scott England’s memories. Life in VR – California Coast (World premiere; UK, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Charlotte Jones, Tom Burton, Phil Stuart, prod. Kevin Jorge, David Bradshaw, Virtual Reality Installation) Experience life in the ocean from the microscopic to the truly gigantic and prepare to encounter the unexpected in an underwater world bursting with life. Manic VR (World premiere; Canada, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Kalina Bertin, Sandra Rodriguez, Fred Casia, prod. Sandra Rodriguez, Bob Moore, Nicolas S. Roy, Virtual Reality Installation) Uncover an extraordinary exploration into the exuberant, frightening, chaotic – but also beautiful – worlds of a bipolar imagination. Porton Down (World premiere; UK, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Don Webb, Callum Cooper, Sam Von Ehren, Anna Meller, prod. Constance Nuttall, Virtual Reality Installation) Relive the experiences of an ex-serviceman who unwittingly found himself in a bizarre, mind-altering military trial that changed the course of his life. Vestige (European premiere; UK / France / USA, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Aaron Bradbury, Paul Mowbray, prod. Paul Mowbray, Antoine Cayrol, Jill Klekas Basmajian, Virtual Reality Installation) Journey into the mind of Lisa as she remembers her lost love, Erik through a series of fragmented memories. Authentically Us: We’re Still Here (European premiere; USA, 2017, 3 mins, creator. Jesse Ayala, prod. Amy Seidenwurm, Anna Therese Day, Lauren Burmaster, Paula Cuneo, Mobile VR) Step into the life of Aiden ShortCould a Two-Spirit artist and historian in Boise, Idaho, struggling to preserve and revive his heritage in a race against time. Berlin Paris Terror (UK premiere; Germany, 2017, 20 mins, creator. Jürgen Brügger, Jörg Haaßengier, Astrid Schult, Ricarda Saleh, prod. Dorothee Pitz, Maik Bialk, Sophie Schulenburg, Mobile VR) Experience the memories of the first responders and surviving hostages of the major terrorist incidents in Germany and Paris. Every King Tide (International premiere; Australia, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Aaron Fa’Aoso, Craig Deeker, Greer Simpkin, prod. Greer Simpkin, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Mobile VR) Poruma island in the Torres Strait of Australia is slowly being swallowed by the sea, hear a first-person perspective of a community’s spirit & passion for the island they call home. Grenfell: Our Home (World premiere; UK, 2018, 20 mins, creator. Jonathan Rudd, prod. Nicki Chandris, Alessandra Bonomolo, Mobile VR) An experience that combines powerful interviews with beautiful animation to visualise the memories of home still held by the survivors of the Grenfell fire of 14 June 2017. Life After Hate: Meeting a Monster (International premiere; USA, 2017, 10 mins, creator. Gabriela Arp, prod. Gabriela Arp, Mobile VR) Witness Angela King relive the memories and motivations of the eight years she spent inside the white power movement and the path she took to get out. Sanctuaries of Silence (European premiere; USA, 2017, 8 mins, creator. Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Adam Loften, prod. Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Adam Loften, Mobile VR) A mindful and thought-provoking film that highlights the impact of noise pollution on a journey into Olympic National Park, one of the quietest places in North America. The Journey (World premiere; USA, Germany, Hong Kong, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Charlotte Windle Mikkelborg, prod. Toby Fricker, Tanya Turkovich, Mobile VR) Journey through childhood in three of the toughest environments on Earth. The Real Thing (International premiere; France, 2018, 16 mins, creator. Benoit Felici, Mathais Chelebourg, prod. Benjamin Landsberger, Mobile VR) Step into a copy of our world, exploring real-life stories inside China’s replicas of Paris, Venice and London. This Is Climate Change: Feast & Famine (International premiere; USA, Somalia, Brazil, Greenland, 2018, 18 mins, creator. Danfung Dennis, Eric Strauss, prod. Diana El-Osta, Catherine Yrisarri, Mobile VR) Confront our new reality of catastrophic weather events that are displacing communities and transforming landscapes with alarming speed. [caption id="attachment_29184" align="aligncenter" width="1350"]
Yemen’s Skies of Terror[/caption]
Yemen’s Skies of Terror (World premiere; Yemen, 2018, 6 mins, creator. Viktorija Mickute, Joi Lee, Zahra Rasool, prod. Viktorija Mickute, Joi Lee, Zahra Rasool, Zahra Rasool, Mobile VR)
Witness a rare glimpse of life inside Yemen and learn about the reality of childhood in a country that has suffered three years of devastating air raids falling from the skies.
THE FULL ALTERNATE REALITIES EXHIBITION LINE-UP – BY STRAND:
THE WORLD UNKNOWN TO YOU
Belongings (UK premiere; USA, 2018, 20 mins, creator. John-Paul Marin, Matt Smith, Tea Uglow, Kirstin Sillitoe, prod. Megan Gibbon, Jonathan Richards, Installation) Experience an intimate interaction with displaced people and their stories of identity, resilience and hope. Cosmic Top Secret (UK premiere; Denmark / Australia, 2018, 60 mins, creator. Trine Laier, prod. Lise Saxtrup, Interactive Documentary) An autobiographical adventure game about a girl called T who wants to find out what her Dad did for the Danish Intelligence during the Cold War. Face To Face (World premiere; USA, 2018, 45 mins, creator. Michelle Gabel, Michaela Holland, prod. Ivana Jiron, Virtual Reality Installation) (Festival Commission) A compelling installation based on the life of Michelle Fox, who wears a facial prosthetic due to a near fatal gun injury. A Sheffield Doc/Fest commission, supported by Arts Council England. Hold The World with David Attenborough (European premiere; UK, 2017, 90 mins, creator. Dan Smith, prod. John Cassy, Virtual Reality Installation) A unique one on one encounter with a digitally realised Sir David Attenborough, in which he teaches you how to examine remarkable specimens from the Natural History Museum’s collection. Homo Machina (European premiere; France / Germany, 2018, 90 mins, creator. Marc Lustigman, Noam Roubah, Olivier Bonhomme , prod. Laura Fournier, Claire Léger, Interactive Documentary) Dive into a fantastic universe where the human body becomes a gigantic mechanised factory, inspired by Fritz Kahn‚ Äôs medical illustrations. The Day The World Changed (International premiere; USA / Japan, 10 mins, 2018, creator. Gabo Arora, Saschka Unseld, prod. Jennifer Tiexiera, Virtual Reality Installation) An intimate history and commemoration of the victims and survivors of atomic bombings and nuclear arms testing through first-hand testimonies. Is Anna OK? (UK premiere; UK, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Camila Ruz, prod. Tom Burton, Ben Curtis, Virtual Reality Installation) A true story of twins thrown apart by one night. Step into their shoes and a beautifully illustrated world, explore memories through objects, and uncover what happened from both perspectives. Inside a Mind at War (UK premiere; USA, 2017, 22 mins, creator. Sutu, prod. Jake Sally, Amy Rosner, Michelle Zauzig, Jackie Westfall, Virtual Reality Installation) Explore PTSD and the banal horrors of war through hand-drawn 3D illustrations of Scott England’s memories. Life in VR – California Coast (World premiere; UK, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Charlotte Jones, Tom Burton, Phil Stuart, prod. Kevin Jorge, David Bradshaw, Virtual Reality Installation) Experience life in the ocean from the microscopic to the truly gigantic and prepare to encounter the unexpected in an underwater world bursting with life. The Loss Levels (Festival premiere; UK, 2018, 4 mins, creator. Dan Hett, prod. Dan Hett, Game) A deeply personal yet playful story of loss based on the artist’s personal experience during the 2017 terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena. Manic VR (World premiere; Canada, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Kalina Bertin, Sandra Rodriguez, Fred Casia, prod. Sandra Rodriguez, Bob Moore, Nicolas S. Roy, Virtual Reality Installation) Uncover an extraordinary exploration into the exuberant, frightening, chaotic – but also beautiful – worlds of a bipolar imagination. Porton Down (World premiere; UK, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Don Webb, Callum Cooper, Sam Von Ehren, Anna Meller, prod. Constance Nuttall, Virtual Reality Installation) Encounter the experiences of an ex-serviceman who unwittingly found himself in a bizarre, mind-altering military trial that changed the course of his life. Sensible Data / Mixed Emotions (World premiere; Switzerland, 2018, 5 mins, creator. Martin Hertig, prod. Martin Hertig, Installation) Discover how the machine sees you and decide whether that re-informs how you see yourself. Terminal 3 (European premiere; USA / Pakistan, 2018, 12 mins, creator. Asad J. Malik, prod. Jill Klekas, Jake Sally, Nigel Tierney, Zeda Stone, Augmented Reality) Explore contemporary Muslim identities in the US through the lens of an airport interrogation. Vestige (European premiere; UK / France / USA, 2018, 15 mins, creator. Aaron Bradbury, Paul Mowbray, prod. Paul Mowbray, Antoine Cayrol, Jill Klekas Basmajian, Virtual Reality Installation) Journey into the mind of Lisa as she remembers her lost love, Erik through a series of fragmented memories. The Voice of the Unicorn (World premiere; Japan / UK, 2018, loop, creator. Richard Butchins, prod. Richard Butchins, Patrick Knill, Installation) A provocative exploration of the art of the non-verbal that challenges how we see and understand language, disability, art and alienation. Where is Home (UK premiere; Nigeria / Canada, 2017, 30 mins, creator. Ifeatu Nnaobi, prod. Ifeatu Nnaobi, Interactive Documentary) A journey through West Africa that asks the simple question What is home?, but reveals a complex range of thought provoking answers.BETTER KNOWN TRUTHS
Authentically Us: We’re Still Here (European premiere; USA, 2017, 3 mins, creator. Jesse Ayala, prod. Amy Seidenwurm, Anna Therese Day, Lauren Burmaster, Paula Cuneo, Mobile VR) Step into the life of Aiden ShortCould a Two-Spirit artist and historian in Boise, Idaho, struggling to preserve and revive his heritage in a race against time. Berlin Paris Terror (UK premiere; Germany, 2017, 20 mins, creator. Jürgen Brügger, Jörg Haaßengier, Astrid Schult, Ricarda Saleh, prod. Dorothee Pitz, Maik Bialk, Sophie Schulenburg, Mobile VR) Experience the memories of the first responders and surviving hostages of the major terrorist incidents in Germany and Paris. Every King Tide (International premiere; Australia, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Aaron Fa’Aoso, Craig Deeker, Greer Simpkin, prod. Greer Simpkin, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Mobile VR) Poruma island in the Torres Strait of Australia is slowly being swallowed by the sea, hear a first-person perspective of a community’s spirit & passion for the island they call home. Grenfell: Our Home (World premiere; UK, 2018, 20 mins, creator. Jonathan Rudd, prod. Nicki Chandris, Alessandra Bonomolo, Mobile VR) An experience that combines powerful interviews with beautiful animation to visualise the memories of home still held by the survivors of the Grenfell fire of 14 June 2017. Life After Hate: Meeting a Monster (International premiere; USA, 2017, 10 mins, creator. Gabriela Arp, prod. Gabriela Arp, Mobile VR) Witness Angela King relive the memories and motivations of the eight years she spent inside the white power movement and the path she took to get out. Sanctuaries of Silence (European premiere; USA, 2017, 8 mins, creator. Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Adam Loften, prod. Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Adam Loften, Mobile VR) A mindful and thought-provoking film that highlights the impact of noise pollution on a journey into Olympic National Park, one of the quietest places in North America. The Journey (World premiere; USA, Germany, Hong Kong, 2018, 10 mins, creator. Charlotte Windle Mikkelborg, prod. Toby Fricker, Tanya Turkovich, Mobile VR) Journey through childhood in three of the toughest environments on Earth. The Real Thing (International premiere; France, 2018, 16 mins, creator. Benoit Felici, Mathais Chelebourg, prod. Benjamin Landsberger, Mobile VR) Step into a copy of our world, exploring real-life stories inside China’s replicas of Paris, Venice and London. This Is Climate Change: Feast & Famine (International premiere; USA, Somalia, Brazil, Greenland, 2018, 18 mins, creator. Danfung Dennis, Eric Strauss, prod. Diana El-Osta, Catherine Yrisarri, Mobile VR) Confront our new reality of catastrophic weather events that are displacing communities and transforming landscapes with alarming speed. Yemen’s Skies of Terror (World premiere; Yemen, 2018, 6 mins, creator. Viktorija Mickute, Joi Lee, Zahra Rasool, prod. Viktorija Mickute, Joi Lee, Zahra Rasool, Zahra Rasool, Mobile VR) Witness a rare glimpse of life inside Yemen and learn about the reality of childhood in a country that has suffered three years of devastating air raids falling from the skies
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Tiffany Haddish and Brian Hooks Star in Relationship Comedy/Drama ALL BETWEEN US [Trailer]
All Between Us, is the new comedy/drama starring comic sensation Tiffany Haddish, Brian Hooks, and Darien Smith, that explores the relationship imperfections among family and friends in the most entertaining of ways. Jamie Jones’ filmmaking debut takes us on a wild roller-coaster ride over one fateful night that changes the lives of a crazy and flawed, but entirely relatable and endearing group of family and friends
Starring Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip, Keanu), Denyce Lawton (Castle, House of Payne), Brian Hooks (Fool’s Gold, 3 Strikes), Christian Levatino (The Last Godfather, LA Apocalypse), Jay Phillips (Semi-Pro, Dear John), Tabitha Brown (I Am Still Here, Caution to the Wind) and Esau McGraw (Idlewild, What My Husband Doesn’t Know), All Between Us will be available for the first time on DVD and Digital on June 5, 2018.
Clara (Denyce Lawton) and Ray (Brian Hooks) are newly engaged. As they gather family and friends together for a dinner party to make an announcement, what begins as a celebratory evening turns into disaster as secrets and skeletons surface. One night, one mistake, one dinner changes the lives of four people forever.
“It is truly an honor to be collaborating with such talented, like minded individuals. Darien Smith, Mike Mosley and Marvin Adams are an amazing team and looking forward to creating our next project together” says CEO and Founder of Samera Entertainment, Sharry Flaherty .
“ The cast of All About Us was amazing. We had such a great time on set and everyone got along with each other very well, even through those late AM hours the laughs just kept coming” says CEO and Founder of Lakeside Pictures LLC., Darien Smith .
“Now when Marvin and I sat down with the writer of All Between Us, Ev Duran and hashed out the concept, we all knew that we would need a great cast to pull off this film. So I reach out to my good friend Brian Hooks to see if he would come on board, which he did and along with him he brought Denyce Lawton , who is an amazing actress in this film by the way. Then the rest of the cast followed”
“We had everyone cast but the leads best friend, Meshawn, who’s character is sassy and very outspoken. We needed someone who could bring her to life”, Smith continues. “So I spoke with my childhood friend and director of All Between Us about the role and he made a call to Jay Phillips , who suggested we hire the amazingly talented and funny Tiffany Haddish . From the first moment she stepped on set, she was Meshawn and Meshawn was her. She was perfect, she was extremely great to work with, really down to earth and always on”.
Produced by Multi – Platinum Mike Mosley , the original motion picture soundtrack from All Between Us will also be released on June 5, coinciding with the film’s release. The All Between Us soundtrack will be available through Itunes – Lakeside Pictures / I produce Muzic / Ingrooves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0h7R8s-mtA
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Zoe Hopkins’ Family-Adventure Drama, ‘KAYAK TO KLEMTU’ Heads to Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film [Trailer]
Canadian Heiltsuk/Mohawk filmmaker Zoe Hopkins’ family adventure, ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ is a story about a grieving family who kayaks to the island of Klemtu, only to find that true adventure is with each other.
Directed by Zoe Hopkins (‘Mohawk Midnight Runners’) and co-written by Hopkins and Michael Sparaga (‘Servitude’), ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ follows 14-year-old Ella (Ta’kaiya Blaney) on her journey to fulfill her Uncle David’s (Evan Adams) dying wish – to kayak to the remote island of Klemtu and to stand and testify to protect their ancestral land from an oil pipeline. To honor her Uncle’s memory and fulfill his dying wish, Ella makes it her mission to kayak from Tai’Amin to Klemtu, where she can lay her Uncle to rest at his home and stand in his place to defend their beloved homeland waters. Ella’s strong, youthful self is prepared for the hardships of kayaking down the currents of the Inside Passage and braving the wildlife of B.C.’s stunning Great Bear Rainforest that will surround her. But, Ella’s biggest challenge will be with who accompanies her on the adventure – her other grouchy Uncle Don (Lorne Cardinal), her compulsive and recently widowed Aunt Cory (Sonja Bennett), and her Uncle Dave’s clumsy stepson, Alex (Jared Ager-Foster). On the family’s kayak trip, they will have to learn to navigate the waters, while searching for ways to cope with the loss of their loved one. Can the family work together to survive the beautiful but dangerous trip and still make it on time to save their indigenous homeland waters?
Produced by Sheryl Kotzer and Daniel Bekerman from Scythia Films, the leading Canadian service producer, ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ is about more than family, ethnic loyalties, and the loss of a loved one, but rather, a film deeply rooted in humanity, which spotlights the possible catastrophic effects that could occur on any part of our world’s coastlines and waterways.
‘Kayak to Klemtu’ had its world premiere on Oct. 20th at the 2017 TIFF Bell Lightbox. Since, the film has successfully competed in several film festivals, including Cine Las Americas, Powel River Film Festival, imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival (2017), receiving the Audience Choice Award, and Victoria Film Festival Canada (2008), where the film departed with the Festival Prize for Best Canadian First Feature.
TriCoast Worldwide CEOs, Strathford Hamilton and Marcy Levitas Hamilton will represent Hopkins’ ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for worldwide rights, excluding Canada.
‘Kayak to Klemtu’ stars several Canadian-native and award winning actors, including Evan Adams (‘Lost in the Barrens’, ‘Smoke Signals’), Jared Ager Foster (‘Horns’, ‘The X-Files’, ‘Proof’), Sonja Bennett (‘The Fog’, ‘Fido’, ‘Preggoland’), Lorne Cardinal (‘Corner Gas’ ‘Insomnia’, FX’s (‘Fargo’) and Ta’kaiya Blaney (‘Savage’, ‘Shi-Shi-Etko’).
https://vimeo.com/265839810
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B. Harrison Smith and Gunnar Hansen Team up for Star-Studded Hardcore Horror ‘DEATH HOUSE’ [Trailer]
Horror legends, director B. Harrison Smith (‘Camp Dread’, ‘XK: Elephant’s Graveyard’) and past writer Gunnar Hansen the “Famed Horror Star” for ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’, have teamed up for ‘Death House’, a hardcore horror film that follows two FBI agents, Toria Boon (Courtney Palm) and Jae Novak (Cody Longo), who are constantly plagued by bad luck. When the duo are assigned to work on an exclusive tour within a secret maximum-security prison, they observe that its inmates are organized by the nine levels of the prison, or by the intensity of their evil. Toria and Jac have experienced their fair share of evil, or at least they think, … until an EMP device detonates and sets off the prison’s power, trapping them inside the hell-filled prison, where the violent and evil monsters-like inmates are set free to roam and riot.
The two vulnerable agents frantically make their way through the wicked warren of evil, fighting for their lives. Smith captures the ultimate horror and chaos with the excellent combination of old-school styled gore with action-pack sequences, taking horror-lovers on an unnerving journey through the nine levels of evil within a dark prison full of relentless screams. As each level increases it becomes more dangerous than the last. Will the two agents be at the hands of the savage, barbaric, evil criminals or will they be lucky enough to escape the ‘Death House’ prison alive?
‘Death House’ was awarded the Festival Prize Winner for Audience Choice Award and Best Feature Film at the 2017 Central Florida Film Festival.
TriCoast Worldwide’s horror division, DarkCoast will represent Smith’s ‘Death House’ with a screening at this year’s 71st Cannes Film Festival from May 8th-19th, TriCoast Worldwide’s booth will be located at Riviera D3.
‘Death House’ stars iconic horror legends including Kane Hodder (‘Friday the 13th’), Dee Wallace (‘Zombie Killers’), Tony Todd (‘The Candyman’, ‘The Crow’, ‘Night of the Living Dead’), Barbara Crampton (‘Reanimator’) and Adrienne Barbeau (‘The Fog’). Alongside are the talented, Courtney Palm (‘Zombewavers’), Cody Longo (‘Piranha 3D’, ‘Nashville’), Michael Berryman (‘The Hills Have Eyes’), Bill Mosley (‘Devil’s Rejects’, ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’), Lindsay Hartley (series, ‘All My Children’, ‘The Challenger’), Sean Whalen (‘Lost’, ‘Men In Black’), Vernon Wells (‘Weird Science’), RA Mihailoff (‘Texas Chainsaw III’), Sid Haig (‘Devil’s Rejects’, ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’), Vincent Ward (‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Oceans Eleven’), Felissa Rose (‘Sleepaway Camp’, ‘Camp Dread’), Bill Oberst, Jr. (‘Scary or Die’) and Bernhard Forcher (‘Fury’).
https://vimeo.com/266558218
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Tricoast Worldwide To Release Zheng Hua’s Biopic ‘EVERYDAY HERO’ in August 2018 [Trailer]
TriCoast Worldwide will bring emerging Chinese filmmaker, Zheng Hua’s biopic, ‘Everyday Hero’ to US audiences in August 2018.
Produced / starring Sun Hong Tao, ‘Everyday Hero’ is a biopic exploring and honoring the true, inspiring story of Brother Guo Jian Nan, the selfless individual who left his occupation as Heavy Industries Group’s supervisor to dedicate his life as the new captain of the Poverty Alleviation Program in the developing Chinese LiTan Village, Yang Xi. As a cinematic sensation, ‘Everyday Hero’ guides viewers through Guo Jian Nan’s journey to develop infrastructure for an impoverished Chinese village. Within nearly two years, Guo Jian Nan is able to bring the LiTan Village back to life, overcoming poverty and achieving prosperity for a better reality. Along the way, he meets the heartwarming villagers of LiTan, embarking on an adventure of a lifetime that would change a village forever.
“We don’t write heroes for the profusion of poverty. We write a ‘brother’. Every one of us is eager to have such warmhearted brothers around,” said Sun Hong Tao.
https://vimeo.com/267348540
image via screen print..
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THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE to Close Cannes Film Festival, Following French Court Ruling
On Wednesday May 9, 2018, the French court dismissed the request by Paulo Branco and his production company Alfama Films Production to ban Terry Gilliam’s film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote from being screened during the Closing night of the Cannes Film Festival, on Saturday May 19, 2018.
In its press release hailing the ruling, the Cannes Film Festival stated, As such, Paulo Branco and his production company Alfama Films Production have, naturally, seen their claim for compensation from the Festival de Cannes thrown out, having openly denigrated the event in the press and on social media, asserting that its organizers had no right to select The Man Who Killed Don Quixote to be presented in Cannes.
The campaign of attempted intimidation orchestrated by Paulo Branco and his lawyer son have therefore proved fruitless. The urgent applications judge has, through this decision, confirmed that contrary to what the Brancos have continued to claim (among other slanderous attacks and lies), the Festival de Cannes has never placed itself above the law nor has it attempted to force through a decision.
The Festival de Cannes, which throughout the case has repeatedly expressed its loyalty and support for the creators, is pleased to see that justice will allow the presentation of this work, whose director surely deserves to see it finally presented to the public.
We are very pleased that this unique – and in some ways agonizing – work in the career of the great director Terry Gilliam will be unveiled for the first time to journalists, festival-goers and professionals from around the world, gathered together in the Grand Amphithéâtre Lumière.
Since Tuesday, cinema has regained its rights. The Festival is a unique forum for freedom of expression. It will remain so.
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Super Talented Boots Riley to Receive Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award
Writer/director/producer/musician/activist Boots Riley, an alumni of both the Sundance Labs and Film Festival, will be honored with the Sundance Institute’s annual Vanguard Award at its summer fundraiser, Sundance Institute At Sundown, on June 14, 2018 at The Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, just before the Los Angeles debut of his new film, Sorry to Bother You. Proceeds from the evening will help advance Sundance Institute’s mission and programs that discover, support and amplify risk-taking and exciting independent artists in film, theatre and new media.
Sorry to Bother You, which had its world premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is a genre-defying work, taking place in a modern day alternate reality version of Oakland, CA where telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre new universe. The film, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, Jermaine Fowler, Armie Hammer and Omari Hardwick was produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams, and will be released in theatres by Annapurna Pictures on July 6, 2018.
“Sorry to Bother You exemplifies Boots’ uncompromising and fearless independent vision,” said Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. “When he was a Fellow at our 2015 Directors Lab, his official bio noted that he had never won an award for artistic achievement, and we’re so pleased to change that with this celebration.”
Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award honors artists whose work and vision represents the highest, most breakthrough level of innovation, originality, and independent spirit that the Institute’s FFP program under Satter’s leadership has fostered in artists over its 30-year history. Past Vanguard Award recipients include Alejandro Gonzàlez Iñàrritu, Roger Ebert, Glenn Close, Dee Rees and Quentin Tarantino.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enH3xA4mYcY
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AFI DOCS 2018 Unveils Full Slate of 92 Films
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UNITED SKATES[/caption]
AFI DOCS has finally revealed its full slate of 92 films representing 22 countries for the 16th edition of the American Film Institute’s five-day documentary film festival in the nation’s capital. AFI DOCS 2018 runs June 13 to 17 in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of PERSONAL STATEMENT and will close with UNITED SKATES. ABOVE AND BEYOND: NASA’S JOURNEY TO TOMORROW screens as the Centerpiece Screening. Special Screenings include THE COLD BLUE, KINSHASA MAKAMBO, MR. SOUL! and WITKIN & WITKIN.
AFI DOCS 2018 PROGRAM
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING
PERSONAL STATEMENT: DIRS Juliane Dressner and Edwin Martinez. USA. Karoline, Enoch and Christine are Brooklyn high school seniors who just want to go to college, but like so many public-school students throughout the country, their schools don’t have enough college guidance support. Refusing to give up, they decide to work as college counselors in their schools, becoming the very resource they don’t have themselves. World Premiere.CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING
UNITED SKATES: DIRS Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown. USA. Roller-skating has played a critical role in modern African-American culture, with rinks serving as both a haven of community and of artistic expression, and a flashpoint in the civil rights movement. UNITED SKATES chronicles the fight to save these rinks, and the souls of communities nationwide.CENTERPIECE SCREENING
ABOVE AND BEYOND: NASA’S JOURNEY TO TOMORROW: DIR Rory Kennedy. USA. Rory Kennedy tells the stories of the women and men behind the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s decades-long exploration of our solar system, our universe and our planet, in this enlightening film that celebrates NASA’s triumphs, mourns its tragedies and affirms the importance of its mission both in space and on Earth.SPECIAL SCREENINGS
THE COLD BLUE: DIR Erik Nelson. USA. In 1943, legendary Hollywood director William Wyler crafted MEMPHIS BELLE, a celebrated tribute to the titular WWII bomber. Using footage shot by Wyler from the National Archives, director Erik Nelson has made a new film, featuring gripping narration from some of the last surviving B-17 pilots. A meditation on youth, war and stunning bravery. World Premiere. KINSHASA MAKAMBO: DIR Dieudo Hamadi. DRC, France, Germany. Amid the backdrop of seemingly the neverending political and social unrest that hangs over the Democratic Republic of Congo, three young activists take to the streets with their fellow countrymen to overthrow their country’s President and help enact much needed change in their politically beleaguered country. East Coast Premiere. MR. SOUL!: DIRS Sam Pollard and Melissa Haizlip. USA. An in-depth look at the late 1960s WNET public television series SOUL! and its producer Ellis Haizlip. The series was among the first to provide expanded images of African Americans on television, shifting the gaze from inner-city poverty and violence to the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. WITKIN + WITKIN: DIR Trisha Ziff. Mexico. The artwork of septuagenarian twins Joel-Peter and Jerome Witkin transcends genres and traditional form. WITKIN & WITKIN explores the brothers’ complicated relationship with one another, and examines depths and divisions in their work. Joel-Peter’s stunning photography and Jerome’s powerful figurative paintings distinctly capture the human condition, reflecting differing emotional and intellectual approaches. U.S. Premiere.FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS
209 RUE SAINT-MAUR, PARIS 10ÈME – THE NEIGHBOURS: DIR Ruth Zylberman. France. After selecting a building at random in a Jewish neighborhood in Paris, French director Ruth Zylberman meticulously reconstructed its community of inhabitants during the German occupation. What results is the spellbinding 209 RUE SAINT-MAUR, an experimental historiography that tells the emotional story of lives uprooted and destroyed under the Nazis. U.S. Premiere. ALONE IN THE GAME: DIRS Natalie Metzger and Michael Rohrbaugh. USA. Outdated ideas and outright prejudice have made competitive sports one of the gay rights movement’s final frontiers. ALONE IN THE GAME reveals how a new generation of queer and transgender athletes are scoring victories on and off the field by standing up for their rights — including the right to compete. World Premiere. AMÉRICA: DIRS Erick Stoll and Chase Whiteside. USA. At the heart of this film is 93-year-old matriarch América. When an accidental fall lands her son in jail for neglect, her three freewheeling grandsons must reunite to get their father out of prison and their grandmother out of bed. What emerges is an unforgettable and tender tale of familial love. AMERICA TO ME: DIR Steve James. USA. In this first episode of his excellent miniseries, Steve James returns to the subjects that have marked his career — class, race, and how the two affect social and economic mobility. James follows students at a public high school in suburban Chicago that is considered the gold standard of diversity, yet on the ground, he discovers a different story. BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY: DIR Dava Whisenant. USA. Steve Young is obsessed with industrial musicals, the often bizarre and hilarious productions commissioned by companies to celebrate their products at corporate conventions. Follow him as he investigates this odd aspect of midcentury corporate culture, while continuing his search for gems like “Diesel Dazzle” and “The Bathrooms Are Coming!” BISBEE ’17: DIR Robert Greene. USA. Bisbee, Arizona, an old copper-mining town on the Mexican border, finally reckons with its darkest day: the deportation of 1,200 immigrant miners left to die in the middle of the desert in 1917. Filmmaker Robert Greene captures the city’s residents as they commemorate this tragic event by staging a reenactment on its 100th anniversary. BLOWIN’ UP: DIR Stephanie Wang-Breal. USA. A New York City courtroom recommends a unique and compassionate intervention option to young women charged with prostitution: submit to free counseling sessions designed by a mentoring program to get you off the street, and your record will be expunged. Are they ready to make that change? CENTRAL AIRPORT THF: DIR Karim Aïnouz. Germany, France, Brazil. A decade after ceasing operations, Berlin’s historic Tempelhof Airport has found a second life serving a new group of arrivals and departures: refugees now seeking asylum in Germany. CENTRAL AIRPORT THF looks at the absurdity of life for migrants making the most of the long layover. CHARM CITY: DIR Marilyn Ness. USA. On the streets of Baltimore, the murder rate is approaching an all-time high, and distrust of the police reaches a fever pitch. With neighborhoods in peril, residents attempt to diffuse the violence through cooperative efforts helmed by community leaders, compassionate law-enforcement officers and a progressive young city councilman. COMBAT OBSCURA: DIR Miles Lagoze. USA. Miles Lagoze was deployed as a combat photographer in Afghanistan, making videos for official Marine Corps recruitment purposes. Compiled of outtakes from those videos, this disturbingly raw portrait of the conflict in Afghanistan exposes the gulf between the war we’re meant to see and the war as it really is. East Coast Premiere. CRIME + PUNISHMENT: DIR Stephen Maing. USA. In 2015, a group of 12 whistleblower cops sued the NYPD for using illegal quotas despite a 2010 statewide ban on the practice. A blood-boiling investigation into a corrupt organization, CRIME + PUNISHMENT follows these officers as they face retaliation for attempting to resist against racist practices. DARK MONEY: DIR Kimberly Reed. USA. A portrait of democracy under fire, DARK MONEY pulls back the curtain on big money in national politics. Revealing how right-wing giants like the Koch brothers hide behind super PACs to do their bidding — in the forms of corporate-funded smear campaigns and dangerous legislation — this film is as timely as it is eye-opening. THE DISTANT BARKING OF DOGS: DIR Simon Lereng Wilmont. Denmark, Finland, Sweden. Taking an observational approach, this masterful film follows 10-year-old Oleg and his grandmother as they cope with life mere miles from the frontline of the war in Ukraine, showing how children navigate the trauma of conflict, while still seeing the world with naiveté and wonder. DON’T BE NICE: DIR Max Powers. USA. Following a diverse team of slam poets as they mine their feelings and personal experiences about race, sexuality, gender and popular culture to craft poems for national competition, DON’T BE NICE demonstrates how collaboration and communication between artists can allow them to better understand who they are and what they want to say. U.S. Premiere. FOR THE BIRDS: DIR Richard Miron. USA. In Richard Miron’s surprising and empathetic film, we follow a woman named Kathy who lives with 200 pet birds. What starts as a story about Kathy’s battle with local animal advocacy groups slowly transforms into an intimate drama about the toll of Kathy’s bird-hoarding — on her marriage and mental health. North American Premiere. FOSTER: DIR Mark Jonathan Harris. USA. Oscar® winners Mark Jonathan Harris and Deborah Oppenheimer (INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS: STORIES OF THE KINDERTRANSPORT) roam courtrooms, foster homes, juvenile halls and the streets of Los Angeles to tell the moving human stories behind the largest county child protection agency in the United States. World Premiere. THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA: DIRS Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher. USA. A tiny Arkansas town is home to a popular live-action Passion Play — and a tightknit gay community centered around a lively drag bar. A touching, upbeat look at an enlightened town that maintains a peaceful coexistence of two seemingly divergent groups through tolerance, love and inclusion. GURRUMUL: DIR Paul Williams. Australia. With the release of his debut album, blind indigenous Australian musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu became an unlikely star in both his homeland and in the larger world music scene. But as Gurrumul’s fame grew, the balance between his culture’s way of life and a career in music proved tricky to maintain. U.S. Premiere. HAL: DIR Amy Scott. USA. Surveying the works of iconoclastic filmmaker Hal Ashby (HAROLD AND MAUDE, THE LAST DETAIL, COMING HOME), director Amy Scott identifies how Ashby’s brilliant and seminal works helped define both the New Hollywood of the 1970s and the American experience for a decade. HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING: DIR RaMell Ross. USA. Winner of a Special Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, RaMell Ross’ assured feature debut is a lyrical look at the lives of two young African-American men born and raised in Alabama’s Hale County, the community that surrounds them and the paths they follow throughout the years. HAPPY WINTER: DIR Giovanni Totaro. Italy. The escapism of being on holiday gets a fascinating twist in Giovanni Totaro’s shrewdly observant HAPPY WINTER. Mondello beach in Palermo, Italy, is a seemingly pleasant circus of bronzed vacationers milling about. But behind the happy goings-on is a different story of collective denial about the looming economic crisis. U.S. Premiere. HESBURGH: DIR Patrick Creadon. USA. He counseled presidents and popes, served on corporate boards and infuriated Richard Nixon. He was one of the only friends to whom Ann Landers turned for advice. During his 35 years as president of the University of Notre Dame, Theodore Hesburgh became one of the most influential and inspiring people of the 20th century. World Premiere. INTO THE OKAVANGO: DIR Neil Gelinas. USA. National Geographic photographer Neil Gelinas makes his directorial debut with INTO THE OKAVANGO. This visually stunning film follows three passionate individuals as they embark on a four-month journey along the titular river — witnessing Africa’s animal and bird population in visceral, jaw-dropping close-up — to discover why the Okavango Delta is rapidly drying up. INVENTING TOMORROW: DIR Laura Nix. USA. Laura Nix’s inspiring film follows high school students from around the world, many of whom hail from dangerously polluted countries, as they tackle daunting environmental issues affecting their communities. Watch as the teens then bring their ingeniously proposed solutions to “the science fair of science fairs” — the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. IT WILL BE CHAOS: DIRS Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo. USA. Follow an Eritrean man and a Syrian family on dual quests for freedom amid the refugee crisis in the eastern Mediterranean. Tension mounts as they battle the rough seas, harsh conditions and red tape standing in their way. Will they make it to a new life in Europe? THE LIBERATION: DIRS Christoph Green and Brendan Canty. USA. Therapy sessions, cooking lessons and raw personal stories provide the drama in THE LIBERATION, DC-based filmmakers Christoph Green and Brendan Canty’s story of the formerly incarcerated men and women struggling to get through DC Central Kitchen’s 14-week culinary training program. Can they make it and turn their lives around? East Coast Premiere. LOVE, GILDA: DIR Lisa D’Apolito. USA. Lisa D’Apolito’s moving documentary LOVE, GILDA looks back at the exuberant life and courageous death of Gilda Radner, the first female superstar of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Using an abundance of archival photos and clips, along with confessional narration by Radner, the film paints a loving portrait of her short but spectacularly eventful life. MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.: DIR Stephen Loveridge. UK. Drawn from 22 years’ worth of personal video footage, MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is an intimate look at the life of rapper, songwriter and activist M.I.A., from her childhood in war-torn Sri Lanka, to her eventual rise to international stardom as one of the most thought-provoking artists working in music today. MCQUEEN: DIRS Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui. UK. This intimate profile offers unparalleled access to one of the fashion industry’s brightest stars, Alexander McQueen. Brilliant, bold and informed by a British punk aesthetic, the designer was known for his exquisite and strikingly original clothes and his legendary runway shows — theatrical spectacles influenced by contemporary art, theater and photography. MINDING THE GAP: DIR Bing Liu. USA. First-time filmmaker Bing Liu turns the camera on himself, his family members and his skateboarder friends in this deeply moving depiction of three young men in a small Midwestern town grappling with issues of class, race and learning to overcome the cycles of family violence. A MURDER IN MANSFIELD: DIR Barbara Kopple. USA. Two-time Oscar® winner Barbara Kopple takes on true crime, revisiting a horrific 1989 domestic murder in Ohio. Collier Boyle was 12 when his father killed and buried his wife under the flooring of a remote countryside home. Now an adult, Collier returns to Mansfield to face the lingering impact of his mother’s murder. ON HER SHOULDERS: DIR Alexandria Bombach. USA. Filmmaker Alexandria Bombach follows Nadia Murad, a young Yazidi woman who gained international attention after escaping captivity by the Islamic State. Forgoing sensationalism, Bombach’s award-winning film offers a fresh perspective on Nadia’s new life as a human rights activist raising awareness for her people and their plight. OVER THE LIMIT: DIR Marta Prus. Poland, Germany, Finland. As the 2016 Summer Olympics loom, Russian gymnast Margarita Mamun prepares to represent her country at this historic event. But the path to the Olympics is not an easy one in this unflinching portrait of an athlete straining to retain her humanity while going for gold. U.S. Premiere. PICK OF THE LITTER: DIRS Dana Nachman and Don Hardy. USA. Shortly after birth, five Labrador puppies enter the intensive two-year training program at California’s Guide Dogs for the Blind. Here, only the best pups will make the cut to protect and serve blind partners, while others will have to change careers for good. THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING: DIR Nathaniel Kahn. USA. An examination of the contemporary art market through the eyes of artists, dealers and collectors, THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING is the latest work from Oscar® nominee Nathaniel Kahn. Illuminating complex dynamics between artistic intention and consumer behavior, the film begs the question: What value do we place on the priceless? THE PROVIDERS: DIRS Anna Moot-Levin and Laura Green. USA. THE PROVIDERS follows three “country doctors” — health care providers working for a small network of clinics in northern New Mexico — as they confront the challenges of keeping those in their poor and opioid-plagued communities safe. As the film movingly shows each doctor’s day-to-day responsibilities, a complex portrait emerges of small-town America. SHIRKERS: DIR Sandi Tan. USA. In 1992, Sandi Tan shot a film in Singapore with her friends and her American mentor, Georges. As the film neared completion, Georges disappeared with the footage, leaving Sandi heartbroken. Twenty years later, the footage is discovered, and the strange mystery of Georges begins to unravel. THE SILENCE OF OTHERS: DIRS Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar. USA, Spain. A quest for justice by those who suffered under the repressive regime of General Francisco Franco is at the heart of this powerful and provocative film. Those who were tortured or had family members murdered are demanding the truth be told to the Spanish people, and the remaining perpetrators put on trial. U.S. Premiere. STUDIO 54: DIR Matt Tyrnauer. USA. An Icarus tale unfolds to a disco beat in STUDIO 54, an intimate peek behind the velvet ropes, where mirror balls twinkled over Liza Minelli, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol in Matt Tyrnauer’s illuminating history of the rise and fall of the legendary New York nightclub. THIS ONE’S FOR THE LADIES: DIR Gene Graham. USA. Diving inside an unexpected subculture of Newark, THIS ONE’S FOR THE LADIES follows a group of women who throw weekly underground male exotic dance parties. Exploring sexual identity and the meaning of community, the film is a unique portrait of the black experience in 21st-century America. TRANSMILITARY: DIRS Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Dawson. USA. Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Dawson make their stirring feature debut with TRANSMILITARY, following four individuals who come out as transgender to top officials at the Pentagon — a brave move that puts their military careers in jeopardy, and shows a struggle for equality that is more relevant than ever. TRE MAISON DASAN: DIR Denali Tiller. USA. With a parent in prison, three Rhode Island boys tackle adult realities few of their peers can even imagine. Unfettered access to three troubled but promising young lives produces an unforgettable perspective on the multigenerational consequences of U.S. incarceration, where one out of 14 kids has a parent with a prison history. UNDER THE WIRE: DIR Chris Martin. UK. In 2012, acclaimed journalist Marie Colvin illegally crossed the Syrian border to cover the country’s civil war. She became one of the only voices reporting on the atrocities being committed against the Syrian people. With breathtaking footage, UNDER THE WIRE profiles one woman’s drive to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. International Premiere. UNITED WE FAN: DIR Michael Sparaga. Canada. UNITED WE FAN follows the ingenious save-our-show campaigns that have been spurred by passionate television uber-fans throughout the decades. From STAR TREK to CAGNEY AND LACEY and CHUCK — plus many more — this delightful doc highlights the grassroots efforts needed to save beloved TV shows. U.S. Premiere. YOURS IN SISTERHOOD: DIR Irene Lusztig. USA. More than four decades after the birth of Ms. Magazine, director Irene Lusztig combs the publication’s archives and pairs some of the most memorable letters, many never published, with contemporary readers to comment on just how far we’ve come — and what we still have to accomplish.