Film Festivals

First 15 Films Announced for Generation Kplus and 14plus at Berlin Film Fest

[caption id="attachment_19102" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Red Dog: True Blue[/caption] The first 15 feature films have already been selected for the 40th edition of Generation at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival, in the two competitions Kplus and 14plus. Exhibiting an impressive range of cinematic approaches, these productions tell the stories of young people on inner and outer journeys and capture a sense of longing for new and altered horizons. The complete program for Generation will be made public in mid-January. Michael Winterbottom is slated to open the program of Generation 14plus in the newly renovated Haus der Kulturen der Welt with a special screening of his vibrant music documentary On the Road. Shot in the characteristic hybrid style that has become the English director’s trademark, his newest outing follows the members of the band Wolf Alice on tour as they travel back and forth across their native Great Britain, where they have caused quite a stir in recent years. The film intimately portrays life on the road, in all its ecstasy and exhaustion. The connection between the musicians and their fans is palpable and there is a fine interplay between watching and listening amongst concert and film audiences. Generation 14plus Almost Heaven United Kingdom By Carol Salter World premiere Far from home, 17-year-old Ying Ling practices for her examination to become a mortician at one of China’s largest funeral homes. In addition to frequent qualms and farewell ceremonies, the everyday routine of this unusual occupation also serves up both humorous and life affirming moments. Carol Salter’s debut outing is an empathetic documentary portrait touching on fears, friendship and coming of age amidst ghosts and the dearly departed. Butterfly Kisses United Kingdom By Rafael Kapelinski World premiere Jake and his friends pass their time hanging out in the courtyards of their high-rise development or in pool halls, talking about girls, watching pornos and getting drunk. Jake is burdened by a dark secret that distances him more and more from the others and drives him into dangerous isolation. Rafael Kapelinski stages his debut film in contrasting black and white, moving in respectful proximity to his characters, brought to life vividly here by an ensemble cast of new discoveries and young talents (including Thomas Turgoose – This Is England, Generation 2007). Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau (Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves) Canada By Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie European premiere With epic scope and stunning polymorphism, the film follows a group of young people in Québec who resolve to form a revolutionary cell together in the aftermath of student protests. This unflinching work from Mathieu Denis (Corbo, Generation 2015) and Simon Lavoie employs its protagonists to play through what it might mean to instigate a revolution and devote one’s life to a cause in today’s world. Emo the Musical Australia By Neil Triffett International premiere The forbidden high school love between Ethan, the shy Emo kid with suicidal tendencies, and chipper Christian activist Trinity previously delighted Generation audiences as a short film in 2014. Director Neil Triffett is back with his heartbreakingly funny musical grotesque, now in feature-film length, and chock full of even more colourful characters to light up the big screen. Mulher do pai (A Woman and the Father) Brazil / Uruguay By Cristiane Oliveira International premiere After the death of her grandmother, 16-year-old Nalu is left to care for her father alone. Any hope of leaving her dismal village now seems to have receded far off into the distance. Cristiane Oliveira’s coming-of-age drama, a work of slowly paced cinema characterised by respectful intimacy and subtle physicality, paints the complex portrait of a relationship between an adolescent daughter and her blind father. My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea USA By Dash Shaw European premiere He’s not exactly popular, he’s got friend problems, he wants to make it big with the school paper and he goes by the name of his inventor, Dash. In the school basement, he discovers a secret that rocks the very foundations of his world. Graphic novelist Shaw hopes that his film will reach 15-year-old nerds who are just as crazy about drawings and paintings as he himself was at their age. This work of animation virtually spilling over with ingenuity (and featuring the voice-over talents of Jason Schwartzman, Maya Rudolph, Lena Dunham and Susan Sarandon) is sure to delight young viewers outside of this particular demographic as well. Krolewicz Olch (The Erlprince) Poland By Kuba Czekaj European premiere The action in The Erlprince builds and surges as dramatically as the ballad by Goethe from which it borrows its title. The boundaries between reality, desire and appearance are blurred in this futuristically tinged film about an extraordinarily gifted young man and his ambitious and wondrous mother. Expressed in a form as unconventional as the characters it portrays, the film oscillates between the poles of both science and nature and love and violence. Weirdos Canada By Bruce McDonald European premiere Just after the end of the Vietnam War and in the midst of the American bicentennial celebrations of 1976, runaway Kit and his girlfriend Alice hitchhike their way along the east coast of Canada. Bruce McDonald (The Tracey Fragments, Panorama 2007) has managed to create a coming-of-age film that shines equally as a road movie, one driven by a fantastic soundtrack composed of deep cuts from the era in question. A rebellious trip in black and white, in which all sense of certainty gets left by the wayside. Generation Kplus As duas Irenes (Two Irenes) Brazil By Fabio Meira World premiere In the shimmering heat of Brazil, 13-year-old Irene discovers a dark secret her father’s been hiding: he has another family and even another daughter with the same name. Irene embarks on a risky game that could blow up in her face at any moment. The languid summer atmosphere of Fabio Meira’s feature film debut can’t hide the fact that something is simmering right under the surface. Die Häschenschule – Jagd nach dem Goldenen Ei (Rabbit School – Guardians of the Golden Egg) Germany By Ute von Münchow-Pohl World premiere Scrappy city rabbit Max finds shelter in a hidden Easter bunny school after a misadventure with a model plane leaves him stranded far beyond the city limits. Here he encounters the keepers of the legendary Golden Egg, itself the coveted prize of scheming foxes. After an initial bout with boredom, the secret techniques of the Easter bunnies finally arouse Max’s curiosity. This lovingly drawn German animation film, based on the 1924 classic, is a pure delight buoyed by imagination and brisk pacing and graced with the voices of Senta Berger, Friedrich von Thun, Jule Böwe and Noah Levi. Primero enero (January) Argentina By Darío Mascambroni European premiere Primero enero is the directorial debut of Argentinian filmmaker Darío Mascambroni. 11-year-old Valentino’s life goes off the rails when his parents get divorced, challenging him to see the world from a different angle. In a tender and moving father-son story, the director takes his protagonists and his viewers out to the countryside, into a world of heightened sensitivity. Red Dog: True Blue Australia By Kriv Stenders European premiere Australian director Stenders delighted Generation audiences in 2011 with a legendary story about a very special dog. Now, at the centre of this sequel – which is also a prequel- the red canine is joined by 11-year-old Mick, who treasures his bond with his four-legged friend above all else. Destiny has brought the duo together on a farm in the Australian outback, where the two partake in mystical adventures and Mick encounters his first true love. With great humour and sensitivity, the film is a tale of growing up in a time of transformation. Richard the Stork Germany / Belgium / Luxemburg / Norway By Toby Genkel, Reza Memari World premiere Even though everybody else thinks he’s a sparrow – Richard himself holds tight to the conviction that he is in fact a stork. In this fast-paced adventure, Toby Genkel and Reza Memari tell the story of a bird who sets off self-confidently on a winter trip to Africa in a literal rite of passage that simultaneously serves as an empathetic tale about otherness and self-discovery. This German-international co-production provides spellbinding entertainment with its fantastic and fanciful fable showcasing top-shelf animation. Tesoros Mexico By María Novaro World premiere Siblings Dylan and Andrea set off with their new friends on a marvellous journey of discovery in search of long lost pirate loot. In refreshingly sunny images, María Novaro gets up close to her characters to tell a story of children confidently indulging their lust for life and curiosity. In a commune on Mexico’s Pacific coast, they are given space to go their own ways and together find something much more valuable than buried treasure. Shi Tou (Stonehead) People’s Republic of China By Xiang Zhao World premiere 10-year-old Shi Tou, the son of a migrant labourer, grows up alone with his grandmother. It’s so hard to tell right from wrong! Sharing a reward with a classmate or waiting until his father returns, obeying his teacher of protecting his friend – which one should he choose? With documental authenticity, Xiang Zhao paints a portrait of life in rural China and a society in which an entire generation has too often been left to grow up in the absence of their parents.
Read more
Interview: Paul Hildebrandt Talks About His Documentary FIGHT FOR SPACE

“If you have ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what is out there, this is the film for you.” Director Paul Hildebrandt puts into perspective the danger and detachment of America’s growing apathy for astronomy in his documentary Fight for Space. Though the Space Race inspired several generations to chase space and seek careers in science and technology, we’ve seen a steady decline in educational pursuit of space exploration in recent years. Fight for Space urges viewers to reawaken the sense of wonder and discovery and includes interviews with big names such as Bill Nye and Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell who share Hildebrandt’s vision for the future of the final frontier. We sat down with Paul, who’s love for astronomy, fascination with science fiction and concern for future generations galvanized this push to reinvest money and minds into space education. What was your main motivation for making the documentary? As an aspiring science fiction writer and soon-to-be father in 2012, I began to think of both how little the future seemed to be offering the next generation in terms of space flight. With the Space Shuttle just having been retired, and the Constellation program canceled, things were not looking up. I dropped the pen on trying to write a science fiction movie, believing that the Star Trek future would never exist until we figure out how to get out of low earth orbit. I had the idea to do a documentary on these issues as a way of bringing attention to them, and off we went. Have you always been interested in Astronomy or is it something you came to later in life? For as long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in space. Through both practical astronomy and science fiction. I’ve always wondered what could be out there. Why do you think we lost interest in space education? Interest in space education and space flight in general has had a bumpy road. In the 60s we were in a cold war with the Soviet Union and this spurred science education further than it had ever been before. Ever since then the focus has been mostly on earth bound problems which seem to resurface and repeat themselves constantly. Today space gets a few headlines and tv specials when NASA or SpaceX announces something, but we haven’t seen any of this come to be yet. To reignite interest in space we need to actually do something, not just talk about. Pulling back from the Moon and ending that program was I believe, a huge mistake and the ultimate answer to your question. How long did it take to shoot? Did you run into any challenges while making it? The film took about 4 years and change to make and it was incredibly challenging for me, both personally and professionally. NASA for example, did not want any part of the project because the question of “Why haven’t we gone back to the Moon?” Was too negative for their PR. I was given great help in finding footage and acquiring information but completely restricted from visiting any NASA facility or interviewing any NASA personnel officially. So a film that was originally going to be a film looking at how NASA was going to do all these great things in the future turned into more of a tragedy about why we stopped going and how messed up things are today. I learned a lot making this film and I’m excited to take these lessons into my next film, producing it quicker and more efficiently. Can you tell our readers why they should see Fight for Space and what you want the audience to take away from the film? Fight for Space is a film about the great things that we have done, and what we can do if we put our heads together and just do it. I’d like the audience to take away from this film all of the benefits that can be gained by doing space exploration and to see how badly it’s been messed up over the years. If you have ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what is out there, this is the film for you. Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary film makers and what did you learn while making Fight for Space? First, film making is collaborative, you can’t do everything yourself as much as you want to try. With that said it’s also important to follow your heart and make the film how you want to make it. Be expressive with your style of film making. I learned more making Fight for Space than I ever did in any film class or formal training. Trial and error in both film making, dealing with people both close and far, public relations, technical requirements, archival research, the list is endless. I think the greatest way to learn how to make a movie is to make one. You can’t be told how to do it. What’s next step for both you and the doc? For the doc, I hope to continue showing it around the country and various festivals and then finally get it on some streaming services so everyone can see it as soon as possible. As for me, after I wind down from this it’s off to make more documentaries, maybe about space, maybe not. Taking what I’ve learned and doing it better than I did last time, that’s what it’s about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e58zMy9kvuU
Read more
Julie Sokolow Talks WOMAN ON FIRE, Her Documentary on NYC’s First Openly Transgendered Firefighter

[caption id="attachment_18351" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Woman On Fire[/caption] In addition to the grueling physical and emotional strength it takes to be a firefighter, Brooke Guinan bore the weight of judgment and the weight of hormonal changes to carry out both her desire to be a firefighter and her destiny to transition from male to female. Woman On Fire documents the life and struggles Guinan went through to fulfill both sides of who she was meant to be. The documentary takes a powerful look at the path of transitioning your gender in an overwhelmingly macho profession. We interviewed the director Julie Sokolow to discuss the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of making the film and the message it gets across. This is such an important and moving topic, can you briefly describe what Women on Fire is about? Woman on Fire tells the story of Brooke Guinan, the first openly transgender firefighter in NYC. She’s also a third generation firefighter whose father and grandfather served in the FDNY. We follow Brooke as she emerges as a national role model – working against all odds to come out as transgender in an old-school, conservative workplace all while recruiting and training women and LGBTQ people for one of the most traditional jobs in the world. What was your main motivation for making the documentary? In 2014, an empowering photograph of Brooke went viral. She’s standing tall with her hands on her hips in a shirt that reads, “So Trans So What”. I thought, wow, she is the future. Her story sparked my imagination of a society in which we work peacefully alongside trans individuals in all sorts of professions. Brooke’s father George is a respected lieutenant with 35 years on the job. He’s also Republican, devoutly Christian, and very accepting of Brooke. To me, their relationship embodied the polarized political forces in America today. I wanted to explore that and celebrate Brooke’s unique life and family. How long did it take to shoot? Did you run into any challenges while making it? The film took about a year and a half to shoot. I was simultaneously editing while shooting towards the end. Brooke’s life was so dynamic, I didn’t want to leave anything out of the edit. She was busy working at FDNY headquarters and volunteering with the United Women Firefighters, all while buying a house with her partner Jim and considering marriage. So the film is all of these things – part family history, part love story, part expose. Can you tell our readers why they should see Woman on Fire and what you want the audience to take away from the film? You should see Woman on Fire because it is authentic, funny, sweet, and inspiring – just like Brooke. Brooke and I became great friends through the making of this film. I hope our friendship is contagious to audiences and people leave the theater with a sense of kindness for the trans people they encounter in their own lives. Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers?/What did you learn while making Woman on Fire? One of the coolest parts of making this film was getting really close with Brooke and her family. I would stay at their house for weeks at a time while filming. I know that’s not possible for every documentary, but I really liked the intimacy. It wasn’t just me filming for a couple of hours and then running back home to my own life. Brooke became part of my life and I became part of hers. I think that helped me tell a better story. So I guess the advice is to be immersed and invested in the stories you tell as best you can. What’s the next step for both you and the doc? Woman on Fire premieres at DOC NYC on November 15th, followed by an encore screening on November 17th. After that, we’ll play more festivals, tour around, and try to share Brooke’s story as much as we can. The story is a beacon of hope in these tough times so I can’t wait for people to be able to see it and get inspired by Brooke the way she inspired me.
Read more
Marc Levin Talks About His New Documentary RIKERS World Premiering at DOC NYC

[caption id="attachment_18346" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Ismael Nazario spent more than two years at Rikers. Credit: Mark Benjamin[/caption] In his latest documentary, Rikers, Marc Levin delves into one of the country’s most famous correctional facilities to put you face to face with those who faced time in one of the world most violent and notorious prisons. The documentary features personal stories of former prisoners from the late 70’s to present day, who vividly describe their experiences of the torture of solidarity confinement, what it’s like living in a cage with criminals and being at the mercy of the hands of the correctional officers, as well as the kind of life you face if you’re fortunate enough to leave.The documentary features about 12 testimonials of former prisoners from Rikers Island and how the prison managed to bring out violence in them that they never knew they were capable of. We interviewed Marc on his journey to get the word out on those who couldn’t get out. In a brief summary, could you tell us what the documentary is about? Rikers is about the experience of being incarcerated at Rikers Island, NYC’s largest jail that holds about 7,500 people on any given day. We gave former detainees who have been incarcerated there – some for months, some for years – the opportunity to describe what they experienced, direct to camera. [gallery type="rectangular" ids="18343,18344,18345,18346,18347,18348"] What was your motivation for making a documentary about Rikers? The film was an idea that Bill Moyers had, and he approached us with it. We’ve worked with Bill over decades, and he knew that we had a deep background making films about jails – where people are held awaiting trial – as well as prisons, where people are sent to serve their sentence. Like many of us, Bill had been reading the excellent investigative journalism about the abuses and corruption at Rikers Island, and it started him thinking that we really hadn’t heard directly from the people who have endured it. How long did this film take? Did you run into any roadblocks while making it? The film took about a year to make. What was the most challenging part of getting the film made? The biggest challenge was finding the right people to feature. We interviewed over 100 people and then narrowed it down to about a dozen who are in the documentary. The other major challenge was editing it into a composite narrative. We used very little B-roll or archival. As Bill Moyers said to us,“There is no production value greater than the human face.” What do you want the audience to take away from RIKERS? We have criminalized so many people that the word CRIMINAL has come to mean something subhuman and undeserving of any empathy or compassion. The people that you meet in Rikers are thoughtful, articulate, humble, spiritual human beings. They have families, and they have hope. Some were found guilty of the charges against them. Others endured Rikers and then they were cleared of the charges. None were spared the culture of violence that exists there. We need to think about that and what we want justice in New York, and in America, to look like. In a sentence or two tell our readers why they should see the film. We’ve had a very powerful reaction from audiences already, and I think it will move people. There seems to be a growing understanding that our criminal justice system needs real reform. This film is not just about “them,” it’s about us, who we are. You don’t have to travel to Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib to see torture. You can just go a few miles from the heart of Manhattan. Remember what Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote over a hundred years ago, “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. What did you learn while making Rikers and can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers? Many of these characters had other compelling stories about their early lives, their time in prison, and their struggles reentering society. It was very difficult to leave them on the editing room floor. But we wanted to focus exclusively on their experiences on Rikers Island. It sounds rather straightforward to edit together the stories of a dozen people so they tell a collective story, while also each offering their own unique perspective. But finding the right rhythm, pace, and structure is a lot trickier than it appears. The editing room is where it all comes together What’s next step for both you and the doc? After premiering at the DOC NYC film festival on Saturday, November 12th , Rikers will be broadcast on THIRTEEN/WNET in New York on November 15th at 10pm and again on the 20th at 10pm. We are in discussion for national television distribution, but in the meantime, it will be streaming at RIKERSfilm.org starting with the broadcast premiere. Already many organizations are hosting screenings of the film, and we hope it will continue to be used for education and a catalyst for change. Rikers had its world premiere at the DOC NYC 2016. For more information click here.
Read more
Director Michael Galinsky Talks About ALL THE RAGE ( SAVED BY DR. SARNO)

[caption id="attachment_18275" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] All the Rage ( Saved by Dr. Sarno)[/caption] In a world where instant gratification and quick fixes are king, alternative approaches to healing are commonly dismissed. Director Michael Galinsky explores the world of psychosomatic pain in All the Rage ( Saved by Dr. Sarno) by documenting both the teachings of Dr. Sarno as well as the Galinsky’s own experiences of applying Dr. Sarno’s theories to his immobilizing back pain. The documentary boasts big names whose lives have been changed by Dr. Sarno, like Howard Stern and Larry David, and is a refreshing angle on a medical innovation. Rather than relying on the more clinical approach of talking heads and client confessions, watching the director himself go on this journey gives a point of view that isn’t often shown in medical documentaries and is a key factor in successfully persuading the audience on something that could be a very hard sell. All the Rage ( Saved by Dr. Sarno) is world premiering at the DOC NYC 2016. We interviewed Director Michael Galinsky to give us more insight on All the Rage. Can you briefly tell the readers what All the Rage is about? All The Rage began as a film about Dr. John Sarno and his mind body approach to back pain. We came to the story because of a personal connection to it. Michael’s father read Dr. Sarno’s book “Healing Back Pain” in the 80’s and healed from years of chronic whiplash pain. Later Michael’s brother went to see Dr. Sarno when he had such bad hand problems that he could not type or drive. Michael read the book at that point and banished his own recurrent back pain for a decade. When it came roaring back and he was slammed to the floor in incredible pain, he went to see Dr Sarno as well, and thus began a 12 year odyssey to make this film. Over the course of filming it became an increasingly personal story. What was your main motivation for making the documentary? We at Rumur knew that Dr. Sarno had a powerful story that needed to be told. We have made four other feature docs about characters who are fighting for what they believe in against great odds. We originally tried making this film as a verite documentary, but quickly found it difficult. In fact, it ended up getting put on hold for many years because we couldn’t raise any funding and we weren’t convinced that we knew how to make it. When Michael’s back problems flared up again in 2011, we were more determined than ever to finish the film. The good news was that the culture had shifted dramatically in the time that the project was on hold. People were much more open to the idea that many health problems had a psychosomatic connection. That made it much more exciting to work on it. That process has only ramped up over the last 5 years. Being that psychosomatic pain is so often dismissed, were you at all reluctant to make a film about it? We weren’t reluctant to make, but we did find it hard to fund, and hard to conceptualize. The idea that pain has a psychosomatic basis was widely dismissed as unscientific a dozen years ago. Both doctors and patients found it hard to wrap their minds around the idea that back pain might have an emotional cause. Because of that reality, we needed to be very deliberate about how we told the story. Now the idea is much more accepted and there is a flood of research supporting this idea. How long did it take to shoot? Did you run into any challenges while making it? In our first 3 years of trying to get the film off the ground, we shot only 6 hours of tape. By contrast we shot nearly 300 hours on another doc that we were working on at the same time. The first challenge was funding. We applied for dozens of grants, many of them multiple times, but the ideas at the heart of the film didn’t connect. While Dr. Sarno’s ideas are controversial with the mainstream, he does have a large and dedicated following thanks to the success of his best-selling books on back pain. Hundreds of people have said his books changed their lives. That way, we were able to raise funding via kickstarter once we restarted the film. At that point, the only way we could think of a film was in terms of direct cinema. We had no interest in doing talking head interviews. At the same time, there wasn’t much action we could follow. Dr. Sarno would not introduce us to patients and we couldn’t find anyone to follow, so we were kind of stuck. Eventually, we made it more personal as we went along, using Michael’s story as a way to give the audience a character to relate to. We were thenable to make use of the footage we had shot and we ended up interviewing a number of people because it was a complex story that needed many voices. Can you tell our readers why they should see All the Rage and what you want the audience to take away from the film? All The Rage won’t provide people with an easy answer to their problems, but it will give them a way to view their lives, and their emotions, in a more open way that should put them on a pathway towards healing. We were very conscious of making a film that honors Dr. Sarno’s legacy without making a film that was just for people who are already fans of his work. We also didn’t want to make a film that was essentially his book in a shortened form, but instead a film that would inspire people to do their own work in coming to understand the ideas. Almost everyone we have shown the film to so far has asked, “Can I show this to my brother/father/friend”. Most people have also said, “This will help so many people!” Last week we saw that a well know comedian cancelled a show due to back pain. We sent him a link that night and in the morning we got a message that said, “Fabulous Film!, Finish it! I’ll promote it!” That same day we heard from another comedian who had just read the book and echoed the sentiments above. The goal was to make a film that drove home the idea that our minds and bodies are intimately connected. I think we accomplished that. What would you say to nonbelievers in psychosomatic pain? How can a friend or family member convince a nonbeliever with chronic pain to get this kind of help? As Dr. Sarno points out, you can’t convince anyone of anything. For this reason, we tried to make a film that wouldn’t feel like we were trying to convince them. However we did want to show, to illustrate that connection. By the end of the film it can’t be ignored. Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers?What did you learn while making All the Rage? Making films takes time. There’s always a way around no. This morning on the way to NY we ran into a friend who works at the airport. We met her when she inquired about our camera bag last year. Turned out that she was interested in film. A couple of weeks later she started to shoot a documentary about a transgender co-worker who was becoming a major advocate for transgender rights. We started to help her shoot and conceptualize the film. There’s been a learning curve there for sure, but she showed us something she shot earlier this week just before the election. It’s going to be a several year shoot and she is coming to understand what needs to get shot and what she can let go. It was awesome to see how much she’s learned- which leads to you learn by doing! What’s next step for both you and the doc? We hope that the film changes the conversation about health care. We have a half dozen films in the fire- but we know we are going to spend the next year getting this film out. All the Rage World Premiered at DOC NYC 2016 and will screen again on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 9:45 PM at the IFC Center. For tickets and more information click here.
Read more
Director Madeleine Gavin Discusses Her New Film CITY OF JOY Premiering at DOC NYC

[caption id="attachment_18245" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] City of Joy[/caption] In what might be one of the most important and uplifting documentaries premiering at DOC NYC, City of Joy follows a community for women survivors of violence in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The documentary displays how these women triumph over abuse and join forces to revolutionize their community. The doc is equally stirring as it is inspirational, and encourages a catalyst for change at every turn. As a fantastic reassurance of what women can do when the work together, this is one documentary not to be missed. We sat down with the director Madeleine Gavin, to tell us more about this film. Can you tell us what City of joy is all about? City of Joy takes place in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an area often referred to as “the worst place in the world to be a woman.” The film follows the first class of women who enter a leadership center in Bukavu, in Eastern DRC for a 9-month leadership training. It also focuses on the founders of this center, three activists who imagined this revolutionary place where women who have suffered horrific rape and abuse can learn to lead others and work toward changing their country, in spite of all they have endured. What was your motivation for making a documentary about women survivors of violence in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? When did you first become aware of these women? What motivated me to want to make this film began a few years before this leadership center, City of Joy (from which the film gets its title) opened. At the time, I was creating web pieces that tracked some of the work Eve Ensler (author of The Vagina Monologues) and V-Day (the movement she founded) were doing to end violence against women and girls around the world. I remember the first piece I did about the Democratic Republic of Congo. I had known about the genocide in Rwanda but, at the time had only a vague knowledge of the DRC and the violence occurring there since the mid 1990’s. As I began to learn more about was going on, the torture, the devastation to women’s families, to their communities, their children, their bodies, I was shaken to the core. Having a young daughter myself, it was impossible to imagine how these women could envision a life with meaning after being through what they had or witnessing their children go through such atrocities. And yet there was a resilience and insistence on hope in these women that was palpable. To say that it was awe-inspiring is really an understatement but it was this awe I felt in the face of the incomprehensible strength of these women that initially motivated me to want to make this film. Once City of Joy opened and we began shooting and following the first class of women there, my commitment to this project became even stronger. I knew of Co-Founder Eve Ensler’s work and her dedication to ending violence against women but getting to know Co-Founder Christine Schuler-Deschryver and seeing the work of Co-Founder Dr. Denis Mukwege, left an indelible mark on me. Risking their own personal safety, the founders of City of Joy – as well as many others who teach and work there – have a fierce devotion to the women of Congo and to the country they dearly love. I felt I needed to tell the story of this devotion, this dedication to hope in a world where so much hopelessness surrounded them. How long did it take to film and what did you find to be most challenging part of making it? We shot on and off for a little over four years. There were many challenges in the making of this film. There were times when, because of the logistics of shooting in Congo and issues related to access and security, I had to reimagine what I had wanted to shoot, mid-shoot. This was often difficult because material I dearly wanted might become impossible to shoot. But one of the most challenging things overall I would say was trying to find the balance between the devastation of what these women had suffered and the incredible force of hope and joy that they embodied. I didn’t want audiences to go numb in the watching of this film and to shut down and stop listening. So I grappled a lot with the shifting tones. In the shooting, there was of course wrenching, heart-breaking emotion. But there was also a huge amount of humor, irreverence and joy. It was really important to me that audiences experienced the powerful and often incomprehensible array of emotions I myself experienced in Congo. In a sentence or two, tell our readers why they should see the City of Joy. I think audiences should see City of Joy because there is so much they can learn from the individuals in it and because our worlds are connected and we need to take action to care about others the way these women care about each other. I myself feel like I learned a lot about the meaning of the word “joy” from the women of Congo, a very important word that the graduates of City of Joy are taking along with their courage and strength, into their work in villages all over Congo. It is an incredibly important topic, particularly now. I think people will get a lot out of your message. What specifically do you want the audience to take away from City of Joy? I hope that audiences will be moved by the individuals in this film, by their strength, their courage and their dedication to each other and to changing their country. I also hope people will be outraged by what the women have suffered and that they will begin to understand how connected our world is, that we can’t separate corporate greed from violence in villages that we could never even find on a map. I really hope people will leave the theatre with the belief that change is possible and that we all have a huge role in that. If these women at City of Joy can move beyond experiences that would paralyze many, then I really hope audiences will actively join their fight. Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary film makers? What did you learn while making the film? I learned so much from the people in the film, first and foremost. But in terms of filmmaking itself, I definitely learned to be even more flexible with narrative, sometimes intentionally and sometimes out of necessity. I really wanted this film to have its own particular style of story-telling, to be an experience for an audience rather than information. I grappled a lot with this and, whether I was fully successful or not, I learned an enormous amount about pushing boundaries of narrative. Regarding tips for others, I would only say that trying to be true to the specificity of what you want to explore in a film is so important. Being open to criticism and new ideas is equally important. Doing something that goes against the central core of your film, however, is often worth fighting against. Of course trying to figure out the sweet spot of where that line falls can be difficult but is also key. What’s next step for both you and the doc? City of Joy is the first film I have directed. Before this I have worked primarily as an editor in both documentary and narrative. I love both forms and tend to go back and forth between them. Right now I am working with Rebecca Cammisa (WHICH WAY HOME) on her new film for HBO about radioactive waste that was illegally dumped in downtown St. Louis. I am also developing a new project that I hope to direct. City of Joy premieres tonight at 7:00 PM at SVA Theatre For more information and to buy tickets click here.
Read more
Director Ryan Jones Talks Aboout SCOTT’S PIZZA TOURS, a Documentary You’ll Want To Devour

[caption id="attachment_18236" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Scott’s Pizza Tours[/caption] After what some might call a post-apocalyptic week, Scott’s Pizza Tours might just be the documentary to remind you that you can have fun again. The documentary follows the life of Scott Wiener, pizza enthusiast and New York’s slice-spirit guide, letting you in on the secrets of New York’s unparalleled pies. We interviewed director Ryan Jones to tell us more about the film and why this is the doc you’ll be craving. Scott’s Pizza Tours makes its world premiere at 2016 DOC NYC. This isn’t what one might call a tradition subject for a documentary, when did you first become aware of Scott Wiener and what was your motivation to choose him as your subject? I had known Scott for a few years through my wife, but I hadn’t had the chance to go on his pizza tour. I knew the depth of his knowledge, and his personality, so I had mentioned to my co-director, Shawn Willis, the idea of doing a doc about Scott, but it was kind of on the back-burner. Then I went on a tour and I was blown away. I called Shawn from the tour and said, “We need to do this movie immediately.” He is a true showman on the tour, and I knew that would translate on-screen. Plus, he’s talking about the most popular food in the world! We felt that it was a great combination of food doc and personal profile of this quirky pizza lover who has taken his passion and turned it into a successful business. What do you hope the audience takes away from seeing Scott’s Pizza Tours? We hope that the audience comes away with a better idea of the history and science of this food that everyone loves so much, but more importantly, we hope that Scott’s story inspires people to see what can be created from their own passions. In a brief summary, can you tell our readers why they should see this documentary? This is a movie about pizza, and Scott Weiner, a really lovely human being, who wants to tell you all about it. There are no skeletons in the closet, no dark secret life; it’s just a funny, uplifting story, and it’s the perfect escape from the post-election depression we’re all feeling. That is an excellent sales point! So what’s next for you and the doc? We’ve just re-cut the movie into a short, so we’re re-submitting to some other festivals that passed on the movie before. Next, we’re hoping to do a documentary about the rise and fall of Gawker. Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers? The great thing about making a documentary is that you don’t have to have all the best gear, a huge production team, or a bunch of industry connections. All you need is a good story well told. Production quality can be forgiven, and the film will find its way to the public, so long as you tell an engaging story. So my advice is to just go for it. Don’t wait for the stars to align; just start shooting by any means necessary. Did you run into any roadblocks trying to get Scott’s Pizza Tours made? Our only roadblock was trying to hold a camera with one hand and eat a slice of pizza with the other.
Scott’s Pizza Tours makes its world premiere on Friday, November 11 at 5:30pm at IFC Center and screens again on November 14th at 12:45. You can get more information and buy tickets here.
Read more
EXCLUSIVE: Spotlighting THE LURE With Exclusive Clip and Interview with Tomas Leach

[caption id="attachment_18212" align="aligncenter" width="691"] The Lure[/caption] Though stories of treasure hunts are often reserved for the fiction genre, director Tomas Leach is captivating audiences by documenting the hunt for eccentric millionaire Forrest Fenn’s buried treasure in The Lure. Fenn was an art dealer who in 2010 decided to bury his fortune in the Rocky Mountains, leaving only a cryptic poem as a treasure map. The Lure follows dedicated treasure seekers on their expedition to find the fortune as well as documenting the history of the hunt and interviewing Forrest himself about his motivations and the effects the hunt has had on his life. In addition to the sense of adventure so rarely found in real life, the doc’s scenery throughout the tranquil and transcendent Rocky’s make the audience feel that the true reward can be found in your surroundings. The Lure will be making it’s world premiere at DOC NYC. VIMOOZ was fortunate enough to get an exclusive first clip as well as interview Tomas Leach himself. When did you first become aware of Forrest Fenn and the treasure hunt? I read a small article about Forrest and his treasure and it sparked something inside me that got me excited to find out more. There’s something mysterious and magical about a hidden treasure that sets the mind racing. Once I started to research more and spent time with the searchers, I realized the story had a depth and cinematic beauty to it that I really wanted to make a film about. [caption id="attachment_18216" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Tomas Leach Shooting THE LURE[/caption] Now that you’ve done the documentary. Do you know where the treasure is? As soon as I flew out there, I knew that even starting to think of where the treasure is would lead to me lost in the Rockies, with a massive beard and a gleam in my eye. How long did it take to shoot and what was the hardest part about making it? We made several trips to film over 2 years and then took another year to edit and finish the film. Every film has challenges and this was no different. From a practical viewpoint, the Rockies are vast and untamed. And in terms of the story, I wanted to weave together multiple narratives and make it a richer film than just a wacky treasure chase. Can you tell our readers why they should see The Lure and what you want the audience to take away from the film? I think the film taps into something universal and magical about people searching. Whether it’s for gold, happiness, great stories or whatever it may be, we are all on the search for something to make us feel more complete. The Lure is an entertaining and I hope touching tale about that and more, all set in a visually powerful and mysterious part of the world. The feeling of magic definitely looms throughout the film! Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary film makers? What did you learn while making In No Great Hurry? The most important thing for me is always to fall completely into the story. Don’t make something you don’t want to live and breathe for years. Get people around you that you trust and get feedback even on the early idea. And don’t forget that film is a visual medium. If you can’t communicate through images, it’s failing. What’s next step for both you and the doc? I have a few feature doc ideas that I developing at the moment, but I’ve also written a narrative feature that I’d like to make next year. As for The Lure, I’m excited to get it in front of audiences at the world premiere this weekend and stay tuned for next steps!
The Lure will World Premiere at DOC NYC on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at 7:45 PM at Cinepolis Chelsea and screens again on Tuesday November 15, 2016, 3:00 PM at the IFC Center. Click here for tickets and additional information!
Read more
2016 Fantastic Arcade Titles Lineup on 2nd Wave of Programming for Fantastic Fest

The 2016 Fantastic Arcade announced the complete list of titles for its annual free showcase of independent games, now in its seventh year, and held in conjunction with Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest, the world’s largest genre film festival. Confirmed guest speakers in attendance include artist/animator, Downwell creator Ojiro Fumoto, and Proteus and Forest of Sleep co-creator Ed Key. The 2016 Fantastic Arcade Showcase selection: Armagad (Nathalie Lawhead) Get to know 2016 Spotlight Developer Nathalie Lawhead through Armagad, her ever-mutating suite of minigames. “It’s what the Internet does to people.” Burrito Galaxy 65 (SwackSoft softWorks workShop) The “Cool-talking, Neat Moving, Slap Everything” main-event that was only hinted at with 2014’s Burrito Galaxy 64. This is a fully-polished, playful first-person explorer filled with delicious *swack*. Cryptark (Alientrap) Cryptark is a 2D sci-fi roguelike shooter where you take on the role of a heavily-armed privateer seeking to earn government contracts by boarding deadly alien space-hulks. Daily Motions (Jenny Jiao Hsia) Daily Motions is a collection of lightning-fast games about morning mundanities-turned-slapstick. From Jenny Jiao Hsia, the artist behind last year’s Fantastic Arcade selection Beglitched. DUSKERS (Misfit’s Attic) Pilot drones into derelict spaceships to find the means to survive and piece together how the universe became a giant graveyard. Emerald (Denis Novojilov) Somewhere between a game world and a music-creation tool, Emerald stands on the vanguard of a new wave of interactive art. Far from Noise (George Bachelor) From the creator of Hot Date, Far from Noise is a conversation… on the edge of a cliff. Into (Animal Phase) From the creator of Alone in the Woods, Into is a short surreal journey through yourself. Islands (Carl Burton) A surreal trip through the mundane by artist and animator Carl Burton. Reveal the hidden ecosystems of ten unusual islands. Unlock an atmospheric experience while exploring strange yet familiar scenes. Little Bug (Bela Messex) Little Bug is a story about a little girl lost in a surreal world between life and death. Play as both the girl and her powerful firefly at the same time, harnessing their telekinetic connection to fly and break through obstacles. Mu Cartographer (Titouan Millet) A contemplative game experience that combines colorful sandbox toy and experimental treasure hunt. Manipulate abstract tools to modify the topography and colors of an alien landscape. The Norwood Suite (Greg Heffernan) You arrive at the old Norwood Hotel, hoping to drop off a demo to the DJ playing in the hotel basement. Soon you find yourself thrust in the middle of a curious, memorable night of adventure, intrigue, and the surreal. OASES (Armel Gibson, Dziff, Calum Bowen) A final, psychedelic prop-plane ride for a long-lost hero. Oik OS Book I (David Kanaga, E.Wolff) From cult-hit Proteus co-creator David Kanaga, Oik OS Book I is the very first (we’re fairly certain) interactive dog-opera. PIKUNIKU (Arnaud DE BOCK/REMIE FORCADELL) Rebuild a community by helping the Worry People confront their fears in this absurd puzzle-exploration game that takes place in a strange, playful environment. Sacramento (Delphine Fourneau) Sacramento is a game about capturing fleeting memories before they fade. Drift aimlessly across time and space, and enjoy the quiet while it lasts, as life will soon resume its course. Soft Body (Zeke Virant) Soft Body is a meditative action game where you control two beautiful, gooey snakes at the same time, painting the world with their bodies. Star Surveyor (Slimefriend) Star Surveyor is a charming platforming exploration game about discovering a foreign planet and quietly observing its alien flora and fauna. Thoth (Jeppe Carlsen) Thoth is a challenging twin-stick shooter with minimalistic, colorful graphics combined with intense, paranoia-inducing audio that makes for an exciting mix of art and arcade. West of Loathing (Asymmetric) From the creators of classic net sensation Kingdom of Loathing, West of Loathing is a single-player adventure RPG set in the Wild West. As in previous years, Fantastic Arcade will be home to some of the most exciting and unconventional live tournaments of any games festival. This year, the festival will be bringing the following tournament games to you, simultaneously broadcast on the Venus Patrol Twitch channel: Downwell, with creator Ojiro “Moppin” Fumoto in attendance, ARENA GODS, returning by popular demand, NESpectre, head-to-head glitch wars on NES hardware with full audience participation via mobile phone, Multibowl, Bennett Foddy and Alec Thomson’s new classic-game multi-mixer, with its featured tournament culminating in a final showdown at this year’s Starcade closing event, and A secret premiere tournament that may very well go down in Fantastic Arcade history. Every day of Fantastic Arcade will be filled with panels led by the creators of this year’s selected games as well as special guests, with confirmed appearances by Everything’s David OReilly, Forest of Sleep and Proteus’s Ed Key, Downwell’s Ojiro Fumoto, Hollow Ponds- featuring members of the team behind Fantastic Arcade 2013 favorite Hohokum and many more. Fantastic Arcade will also be presenting some of the most exciting VR experiences in development. Come celebrate the opening day of Fantastic Arcade with live DJ sets and games, including an exclusive peek into Kokoromi’s PlayStation VR game Superhypercube at Empire Control Room, September 26th, 9pm-1am. On September 29th in the Highball, check out PlayStation VR titles set to premiere in October as well as a selection of cutting-edge titles for multple VR Platforms curated by Juegos Rancheros and the Austin VR Meetup group.
Read more
Fantastic Fest to Close with COLOSSAL Starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis

[caption id="attachment_16738" align="alignnone" width="1000"] COLOSSAL, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis[/caption] Closing out Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest festival is the triumphant return of Fantastic Fest’s Karaoke King Nacho Vigalondo with his kaiju monster mash-up COLOSSAL, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis. In more final wave of film programming announcements, Fantastic Fest welcomes fellow festival alumni and Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA for his first ever live re-score. Eighteen months in the making, RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN is a mammoth live re-scoring of the Shaw Brothers classic. Featuring over 40+ tracks culled from RZA’s monumental catalog, instrumentals, beats, samples and vocals amplify Lau Kar-leung’s narrative and Gordon Liu’s iconic performance. “I am thrilled to be welcoming so many first-time directors to our weird festival family this year,” said Fantastic Fest founder Tim League. “But as counterpoint, I am equally excited to be closing it down with veterans Nacho and RZA. In 2016, we’re going out with an epic bang.” Fantastic Fest embraces its more physical side with a series of violent smashers that are guaranteed to leave heads spinning and jaws rattled. All 6’ 5” of our favorite chemical engineer will be in attendance as Dolph Lundgren promises to pummel Austin and demons alike with DON’T KILL IT. Paul Schrader will be making a very special appearance in the second half of the festival to share and discuss his wild exploration of the criminal underground, DOG EAT DOG. Indonesia is gloriously represented with HEADSHOT, the latest from the Mo Brothers and THE RAID / THE RAID 2’s Iko Uwais in what is guaranteed to be the most violent film of the year, and Hong Kong comes correct with the legendary Sammo Hung choreographing the action in Benny Chan’s wuxia western, CALL OF HEROES. “There was so much that we loved this year, it’s wonderful to finally be able to share the full slate. We watched over 800 films and getting it down to 80 proved nearly impossible,” said Fantastic Fest Head of Programming, Evrim Ersoy, “But we’re here and we can’t wait to see people watch these brilliant delights with shock and awe in equal measure.” TV takes center stage with two of the season’s most hotly anticipated shows gracing the big screen. The man, the myth, The Bruce Campbell will be in attendance battling the Necronomicon once more and bringing new episodes of ASH VS EVIL DEAD with him. Campbell will also be sitting with critic/film historian Leonard Maltin for an exclusive dialog spanning his entire career. HBO joins the Fantastic Fest fray with an exclusive screening of the first episode of its highly anticipated new drama series, WESTWORLD. Inspired by Michael Crichton’s ‘73 sci fi classic, this supremely contemporary rendering is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. WESTWORLD will be accompanied by a complimentary, classic western meal for all guests courtesy of HBO. Artfully prepared by the Alamo Drafthouse culinary team, the meal will draw its influence and ingredients from the frontier era and its expansive environment. Western meals aren’t the only munchies inspiring programming as three of the festival’s most high profile gross-outs are first timers. Morgan Spurlock marks his Fantastic Fest debut with his uber-disgusting dissection of the most loathsome rodent in his doc RATS. Spurlock will be in attendance to talk about the vicious vermin and their endless conquest to take over the world. Another stomach-churning debut is Puke and Explode, a gala event of competitive eating dedicated to both gastro excess and grotesque edibles as contestants devour the most mortifying morsels imaginable. And in the grand tradition of festival favorite 100 BEST KILLS, Fantastic Fest vets Zack Carlson and Laird Jimenez deliver 100 BEST KILLS: 100 WORST BIRTHS, a dazzling array of the most nauseating, disturbing, inhuman and downright vomitous births in cinematic history. From sci-fi cesareans to martial arts miscarriages to horror hysterectomies, they will permanently sterilize viewers with 80 minutes of no-holes-barred babyrage. Mondo will be driving movie fans crazy with a creative cornucopia of limited-edition collectibles at Fantastic Fest for the first time. The roll call of film tie-ins include super-exclusives for RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, and product signing sessions with Don Coscarelli and the cast of PHANTASM: REMASTERED and André Øvredal with THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE. During Fantastic Fest, Mondo is also hosting Italian composer extraordinaire Fabio Frizzi as he performs THE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT, his all-new live re-score of Lucio Fulci’s shocker in a supremely gothic church with jaw-dropping acoustics. The full lineup of newly announced film titles for Fantastic Fest 2016. A MONSTER CALLS United States, 2016 Texas Premiere, 108 min Director – J. A. Bayona Twelve year old Conor, dealing with his mother’s illness, unexpectedly summons a most unlikely ally – a 40-foot-high Monster. AGE OF SHADOWS South Korea, 2016 US Premiere, 140 min Director – KIM Jee-woon Korea, during the Japanese occupation. Police Chief Lee Jung-Chool is hunting members of the resistance under strict orders from the Japanese overlords. However, a chance encounter with Jung Chae-San will have him questioning his loyalties… ANOTHER WOLFCOP Canada, 2016 World Premiere, 82 min Director – Lowell Dean Alcoholic werewolf cop Lou Garou springs into action when an eccentric businessman with evil intentions seduces Woodhaven’s residents with a new brewery and hockey team in this outrageous horror-comedy sequel. ASH VS EVIL DEAD United States, 2016 Special Screening, 60 min Director – Rick Jacobson, episode 1 Director – Tony Tilse, episode 2 “Ash vs Evil Dead,” a 10-episode half-hour series, is the long-awaited follow-up to the classic horror film The Evil Dead. ASURA US Premiere, 136 min South Korea, 2016 Director – Sung-soo KIM Corrupt police detective Han protects Mayor Park’s interests while he saves up to pay for his wife’s terminal cancer treatment. When intimidation of a witness goes wrong, they’re all thrown into a violent storm. [caption id="attachment_16127" align="alignnone" width="1000"] THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE[/caption] THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE United Kingdom, 2016 U.S. Premiere, 99 min Director – André Øvredal When a mysterious body turns up at a crime scene, the local sheriff turns to the coroner and his son to find the cause of death. BAD BLACK Uganda, 2016 World Premiere, 65 min Director – Nabwana IGG A mild-mannered doctor is trained in the art of ass-kicking commando vengeance by a no-nonsense ghetto kid named Wesley Snipes (!). This is only one of the many delirious action-packed stories that converge in this exuberant DIY extravaganza from the home of “da best of da best movies”: WAKALIWOOD, UGANDA!!! BOYKA:UNDISPUTED United States, 2016 World Premiere, 90 min Director – Todor Chapkanov Escaped from prison and longing for a legitimate life, Yuri Boyka must choose between a shot at the glory he has trained for and the demands of his conscience after tragedy strikes in the ring. BUGS Denmark, 2016 Regional Premiere, 74 min Director – Andreas Johnsen Two researchers search the globe for the best flavors the insect world has to offer in an attempt to make this inevitable future food source more palatable to wimpy Westerners. CALL OF HEROES Hong Kong, 2016 North American Premiere, 120 min Director – Benny Chan During China’s Warlord era, in the village of Pucheng, a sheriff and his ragtag band of men must make sure the cruel general Cal’s son Shaolin faces justice in this brilliant blend of wuxia and westerns! CHINYUKI Japan, 2016 North American Premiere, 100 min Director – Yudai Yamaguchi Yudai Yamaguchi’s Chinyuki is one of those rare films where its own subtitle tells you everything you need to know about the movie: A journey to the West with farts. COLOSSAL Canada, 2016 US Premiere, 110 min Director – Nacho Vigalondo Fantastic Fest favorite Nacho Vigalondo (TIMECRIMES) wrings an extraordinarily potent allegory for personal responsibility and emotional toxicity in this witty and absorbing drama about an alcoholic (Anne Hathaway) who discovers an improbable connection between herself and a giant monster ravaging South Korea. DON’T KILL IT United States, 2016 North American Premiere , 93 min Director – Mike Mendez An ancient demon is unleashed in a Mississippi town and the only people who can stop it are FBI agent Evelyn Pierce and grizzled, cynical demon hunter Jebediah Woodley. FASHIONISTA United States, 2016 World Premiere, 108 min Director – Simon Rumley April and Eric own a clothing store together and are happily in love. April will have to rely on her fashion obsession for survival when everything unexpectedly crumbles after Eric makes a single destructive mistake. HEADSHOT Indonesia, 2016 US Premiere, 117 min Director – Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto The bone-crunching, soul-crushing, face-breaking story of an amnesiac young man named Ishmael, the doctor named Rika who cares for him and the bad men who all need to die in a maelstrom of sweet violence. HENTAI KAMEN 2: The Abnormal Crisis Japan, 2016 Texas Premiere, 118 min Director – Yuichi Fukuda At the request of his girlfriend Aiko, Kyosuke Shikijo agrees to retire Hentai Kamen. But when a new threat starts stealing panties, who will the people of Tokyo call on? THE INVISIBLE GUEST Spain, 2017 US Premiere, 106 min Director – Oriol Paulo A wealthy businessman wakes up in a locked hotel room with the body of his dead lover next to him in Orio Paulo’ latest. THE LURE Poland, 2015 Texas Premiere, 93 min Director – Agnieszka Smocynska Two young mermaids get caught up in the world of a Warsaw nightclub as they navigate human life and love in this Polish musical. [caption id="attachment_16739" align="alignnone" width="1000"] MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA[/caption] MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA United States, 2016 U.S. Premiere, 74 min Director – Dash Shaw Jason Schwartzman voices a young, hopeful writer who jumps into action during a disaster in this dazzling and hilarious animated adventure from famed graphic novelist Dash Shaw. RATS United States, 2016 Austin Premiere, 84 min Director – Morgan Spurlock Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary shows us the world of the rat, from the garbage of NYC to the dining plates of Vietnam to a Karni Mata Temple of worship in India. RE: BORN Japan, 2016 North American Premiere, 115 min Director – Yûji Shimomura Tak Sakaguchi is a seemingly untouchable super soldier who must return to the life he left behind when a former colleague threatens his fragile world. RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN Hong Kong, 1978 Special Screening, 115 min Director – Chia-Liang Liu What happens when one of the most influential hip hop artists descends on one of the most influential martial arts movies? There’s only one way to find out. SCIENCE FICTION VOLUME ONE : THE OSIRIS CHILD Australia, 2017 World Premiere, 95 min Director – Shane Abbess A far-future military contractor – and moderately shitty father – must race to save his daughter when his employer’s negligence puts her in the path of a rampaging alien race. THE TRUTH BENEATH South Korea, 2016 International Premiere, 108 min Director – LEE Kyoung-mi When a politician’s teenage daughter goes missing, a desperate mother takes it upon herself to uncover the truth in this startling Korean thriller. WESTWORLD United States, 2016 Special Screening, 60 min Director – Jonathan Nolan A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
Read more
Watch TRAILER for Basketball Doc MANCHILD: THE SCHEA COTTON STORY

[caption id="attachment_14133" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story[/caption] Check out the trailer for the documentary film Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story, about a Los Angeles basketball legend by the name of Schea Cotton, described as “the Lebron before Lebron”. Manchild will World Premiere at the upcoming 2016 LA Film Festival. In Manchild, directed by Eric “Ptah” Herbert, Baron Davis, Tyson Chandler, Elton Brand, Paul Pierce, Randy Moss and others share their tales about Cotton. Schea Cotton is the subject of one of the biggest mysteries in basketball’s history. Described as “the Lebron before Lebron,” Inglewood-native Cotton dominated the likes of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and was one of the most highly touted high school athletes of a pre-social media era. Yet he never made it to the NBA. What happened? NBA players, journalists, coaches and Cotton’s family recount with an almost pained nostalgia Cotton’s unmatched prowess as a player and the out-of-bounds emotions behind his story. First-time director Eric “Ptah” Herbert delivers a cautionary tale about the harsh reality of unfulfilled expectations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S05f_MF2Dx0
Read more
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI is Closing Night Film of GI Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_14126" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI[/caption] The gripping true story 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI will be honored as the closing night film at this year’s GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 29th. Three of the real-life heroes upon whose story the film is based-John “Tig” Tiegen, Mark “Oz” Geist and Kris “Tanto” Paronto- will attend the red carpet screening, along with one of the stars of the film, actor Dominic Fumusa (“Nurse Jackie”). 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI tells the incredible true story of six elite ex-military operators who saved the lives of more than 25 Americans against overwhelming odds at a U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya. Directed by Michael Bay, the film stars John Krasinski (TV’s “The Office”), James Badge Dale (World War Z), Dominic Fumusa (TV’s “Nurse Jackie”) and Pablo Schreiber (TV’s “Orange is the New Black”), and is based on the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff with the members of the Annex Security Team. 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI is available now on Digital HD and arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on June 7th. Described as “Sundance for the Troops,” the GI Film Festival preserves the stories of veterans through film, television, training and special events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CJBuUwd0Os
Read more