The 2015 DOC NYC documentary festival, running November 12 to 19, will include over 200 films and events. Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in attendance for the Closing Night world premiere of AOL’s MAKERS’ Once and For All, directed by Michael Epstein and Dyllan McGee, about the 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference where then-First Lady Clinton gave a historic address on women’s rights.
Director Amy Berg will present her Janis Joplin portrait, Janis: Little Girl Blue, for the festival’s Centerpiece on November 15.
These two gala screenings join the previously announced Opening Night film Miss Sharon Jones!, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple.
27 films world premiering at the festival include The Anthropologist, profiling Margaret Mead and Susie Crate; Bluespace, an exploration of water on Earth and Mars; The Sunshine Makers, on psychedelic drug makers; Thank You For Your Service, on veterans coping with PTSD; and the first two episodes of Making a Murderer, a 10-part Netflix series about a high-stakes criminal case in America’s heartland.
Among the 15 U.S. premieres are The Fear of 13, on a prisoner’s gripping story; Frackman, on an Australian activist; Lucha Mexico, on Mexican wrestlers; Noma: My Perfect Storm, on the acclaimed Nordic restaurant; and Speed Sisters, on Arab women race car drivers.
DOC NYC will welcome over 200 filmmakers and special guests in attendance for Q&As after most screenings. Among the notable visitors expected to appear in person are filmmaker Martin Scorsese for Hitchcock/Truffaut; comedian Gilbert Gottfried for Can We Take a Joke?; poet Sonia Sanchez for BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez; actress Mary Louise Wilson for She’s the Best Thing In It; actor Omar Epps for Daddy Don’t Go; former NSA technical director Bill Binney for A Good American; avant-garde filmmaker and choreographer Yvonne Rainer for Feelings Are Facts: The Life of Yvonne Rainer; and renowned chefs Georges Perrier and Nicholas Elmi for King Georges.
The following is a breakdown of programming by section:
GALAS
Opening Night – MISS SHARON JONES!
Dir: Barbara Kopple, US Premiere
Two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple follows soul queen Sharon Jones in a year of adversity. In person: Barbara Kopple, subjects Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings
Centerpiece – JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE
Dir: Amy Berg, NYC Premiere
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil) profiles the rock legend Janis Joplin. FilmRise. In person: Amy Berg
Closing Night – ONCE AND FOR ALL
Dirs: Michael Epstein, Dyllan McGee, World Premiere
The story of the 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference, a watershed event in the global struggle for women’s rights. AOL’s MAKERS. In person: Michael Epstein, Dyllan McGee, subject Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
SPECIAL EVENTS
AN ART THAT NATURE MAKES: THE WORK OF ROSAMOND PURCELL
Dir: Molly Bernstein, World Premiere
Photographer Rosamond Purcell finds unexpected beauty in the overlooked, discarded and decayed. In person: Molly Bernstein, subject Rosamond Purcell. (Preceded by the short film A PASSION OF GOLD AND FIRE, dir: Sebastien Pins, on the retiring head of an apiary school.)
HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT
Dir: Kent Jones
Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and others discuss the influence of Hitchcock and Truffaut’s famous book. Cohen Media Group. In person: Kent Jones, subject Martin Scorsese
KEYNOTE: A CONVERSATION WITH JON ALPERT & SHEILA NEVINS
Filmmaker Jon Alpert and HBO Documentary Films head Sheila Nevins give a keynote conversation in conjunction with the world premiere of Alpert’s short film MARIELA CASTRO’S MARCH: CUBA’S LGBT REVOLUTION profiling the Cuban Congresswoman who is a tireless champion of LGBT rights in Cuba. HBO Documentary Films.
MAKING A MURDERER
Dirs: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos, World Premiere
A sneak peek at the first two episodes of a riveting ten-part true crime docu-series. Netflix. In person: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos
TROUBLEMAKERS: THE STORY OF LAND ART
Dir: James Crump
A group of NYC-based artists abandoned gallery spaces to embrace the expanse of the American Southwest. First Run Features. In person: James Crump, MOCA Director Philippe Vergne
+ A SURPRISE SCREENING OF A SOON-TO-BE-ANNOUNCED WORLD PREMIERE
VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION (distinct directorial visions)
THE ANTHROPOLOGIST
Dirs: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger, World Premiere
Parallel stories of two female anthropologists: trailblazer Margaret Mead and contemporary Susie Crate. In person: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger, subjects Mary Catherine Bateson, Susie Crate, Katie Yegorov-Crate
BARGE
Dir: Ben Powell, NYC Premiere
A portrait of characters working on a Mississippi barge headed to New Orleans. In person: Ben Powell
BLUESPACE
Dir: Ian Cheney, World Premiere
An expedition to two planets: Earth, with its rising seas, and Mars, with the promise of colonization. In person: Ian Cheney
A GOOD AMERICAN
Dir: Friedrich Moser, North American Premiere
A profile of Bill Binney, who went from a NSA insider to a critic of government surveillance. In person: Friedrich Moser, subjects Bill Binney, Kirk Wiebe, Tom Drake
I AM SUN MU
Dir: Adam Sjöberg, US Premiere
After defecting from North Korea, a former propaganda artist applies his craft to satirical political pop art. In person: Adam Sjöberg
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES: PEACEKEEPERS
Dirs: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Geeta Gandbhir, US Premiere
Three Bangladeshi policewomen serve with the UN peacekeeping mission in post-earthquake Haiti. In person: Geeta Gandbhir
MOTLEY’S LAW
Dir: Nicole Horanyi, NYC Premiere
The only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts, Kimberley Motley finds herself at a crossroads. In person: Nicole Horanyi, subject Kimberley Motley
NEWMAN
Dir: Jon Fox, NYC Premiere
A maverick inventor battles against the scientific establishment over a miraculous energy-producing machine. In person: Jon Fox
P.S. JERUSALEM
Dir: Danae Elon, US Premiere
Chronicling three years in Jerusalem with her family, Danae Elon uncovers the city’s tensions. In person: Danae Elon
THE SUNSHINE MAKERS
Dir: Cosmo Feilding-Mellen, World Premiere
A real-life Breaking Bad for the psychedelic set about the unlikely duo at the heart of 1960s drug counterculture. In person: Cosmo Feilding Mellen
METROPOLIS COMPETITION (NYC stories)
CLASS DIVIDE
Dir: Marc Levin, NYC Premiere
A look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality at the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Marc Levin
DADDY DON’T GO
Dir: Emily Abt, World Premiere
Four diverse, disadvantaged NYC fathers struggle to beat the odds and defy the deadbeat dad stereotype. In person: Emily Abt, all subjects
THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W. EUGENE SMITH
Dir: Sara Fishko, NYC Premiere
In 1957-65, a former LIFE Magazine photojournalist captured legendary jazz musicians in a Sixth Avenue loft. In person: Sara Fishko
LEFT ON PURPOSE
Dir: Justin Schein, Co-Dir David Mehlman, NYC Premiere
What begins as a portrait of the life of an antiwar radical instead threatens to become an account of his suicide. In person: Justin Schein, David Mehlman
THE LOST ARCADE
Dir: Kurt Vincent, World Premiere
Gentrification threatens the last arcade in NYC, as well as the diverse community that calls it a second home. In person: Kurt Vincent
MIRIAM: HOME DELIVERY
Dir: Juliet Jordan, World Premiere
A profile of a NYC homebirth midwife and her diverse clientele. In person: Juliet Jordan, subject Miriam Schwarzschild
MISSING PEOPLE
Dir: David Shapiro, NYC Premiere
A NYC gallerist, haunted by the unsolved murder of her brother, becomes obsessed with a New Orleans painter. In person: David Shapiro
OXD: ONE EXTRAORDINARY DAY
Dir: Craig Lowy, World Premiere
Elizabeth Streb’s Brooklyn-based Extreme Action Company trains for a breathtaking spectacle in London. In person: Craig Lowy, subject Elizabeth Streb, dancers from the Streb Extreme Action Company
TESTED
Dir: Curtis Chin, World Premiere
Attending NYC’s elite public schools can set students up for the future, but first they have to get in. In person: Curtis Chin. (Preceded by the short film WHY WE STAY, dir: Crystal Kayiza, co-dirs: Pete Quandt, Leroy Farrell, on a South Bronx community fighting gentrification.)
TREE MAN
Dirs: Jon Reiner, Brad Rothschild, NYC Premiere
A Quebecois family man spends five weeks on the streets of NYC selling Christmas trees. In person: Jon Reiner, Brad Rothschild
AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES (a spectrum of domestic topics)
ABOVE AND BELOW
Dir: Nicolas Steiner, NYC Premiere
An exploration of outsiders who live in abandoned military bunkers and storm drains in the American West. Oscilloscope Laboratories. In person: Nicolas Steiner
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MICHELLE MAREN
Dirs: Michel Negroponte, Michelle Maren, US Premiere
An acclaimed filmmaker and his troubled subject craft a captivating portrait of a woman enslaved by past traumas. In person: Michel Negroponte, Michelle Maren
DEEP RUN
Dir: Hillevi Loven, NYC Premiere
Can an affable young transgender man live openly with his true love in the Bible Belt?
In person: Hillevi Loven, subject Cole Ray Davis
THE FEAR OF 13
Dir: David Sington, North American Premiere
A death row prisoner behind bars for more then 20 years reveals the shocking truth behind his case. In person: David Sington
LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS
Dir: Laurie Kahn, NYC Premiere
A look at the vast community around romance fiction, demonstrating why love stories are no trivial matter. In person: Laurie Kahn
A NEW HIGH
Dirs: Samuel Miron, Stephen Scott Scarpulla, NYC Premiere
A group of Seattle addicts attempt to climb Mount Rainier to conquer their demons. In person: Samuel Miron, Stephen Scott Scarpulla
SKY LINE
Dirs: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Jonny Leahan, World Premiere
Egos collide as a group of scientists and entrepreneurs attempt to realize a science-fiction fantasy. FilmBuff. In person: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Jonny Leahan
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Dir: Tom Donahue, World Premiere
The stories of several struggling veterans reveal the mental health crisis in the military. In person: Tom Donahue, subjects Kenneth Toone, Dr. Mark Russell, William Rodriguez, Phil Straub, General Loree Sutton, Jake Clark
WILHEMINA’S WAR
Dir: June Cross, World Premiere
An African-American grandmother in the deep South cares for her HIV+ family members. In person: June Cross. (Preceded by the short film OPEN YOUR EYES, dir: Irene Taylor Brodsky, on a blind elderly couple in Nepal.)
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES (a spectrum of global topics)
ALL RISE
Dirs: Jay Shapiro, Jeffrey Saunders, World Premiere
International law students face off in the world’s most prestigious simulated court competition, the Jessup. In person: Jay Shapiro, Jeffrey Saunders, subjects Areej Alragabi, Tomer Tregor
THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL
Dirs: Holly Morris, Anne Bogart, NYC Premiere
A profile of elderly women who subsist on their beloved but toxic land in Chernobyl’s radioactive exclusion zone. In person: Holly Morris
BOLSHOI BABYLON
Dirs: Nick Read, co-dir. Mark Franchetti, NYC Premiere
Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet weathers the fallout from the notorious 2013 acid attack on the company’s director Sergei Filin. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Nick Read, Mark Franchetti
KINGDOM OF SHADOWS
Dir: Bernardo Ruiz
A compelling investigation into the human costs of the Mexican drug war on both sides of the border. Participant Media. In person: Bernardo Ruiz
ON THE RIM OF THE SKY
Dir: Hongjie Xu, US Premiere
An isolated Chinese village school becomes a battleground between generations, ideologies and egos.
TOCANDO LA LUZ
Dir: Jennifer Redfearn, NYC Premiere
Three women, united by blindness and a desire for independence, pursue their dreams in modern Cuba. In person: Jennifer Redfearn. (Preceded by the short film THE 100 YEARS SHOW, dir: Alison Klayman, on Cuban-born NYC artist Carmen Herrera.)
BEHIND THE SCENES (on films and filmmaking)
CLAUDE LANZMANN: SPECTRES OF THE SHOAH
Dir: Adam Benzine, NYC Premiere
For the first time on camera, the 89-year-old auteur behind Shoah reflects on the challenges he faced to realize his vision. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Adam Benzine, subjects Richard Brody, Stuart Liebman. (Preceded by the short film DREAMING AGAINST THE WORLD, dirs: Timothy Sternberg, Francisco Bello, on Chinese artist Mu Xin.)
THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
Dir: Peter Flynn, World Premiere
A bittersweet ode to the vanishing craft of film projection and a celebration of the men and women in the booth. In person: Peter Flynn
HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY
Dir: Daniel Raim, North American Premiere
A love story and tribute to the unsung talents behind a staggering number of cinema classics. In person: Daniel Raim
RAIDERS!: THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE
Dirs: Jeremy Coon, Tim Skousen, NYC Premiere
Three pre-teens set out to pay tribute to their favorite film; it become an obsession lasting three decades. Drafthouse Films. In person: Jeremy Coon,Tim Skousen
REEL IN THE CLOSET
Dir: Stu Maddux, NYC Premiere
An excavation of the hidden history of LGBT lives through a treasure trove of rare home movies. In person: Stu Maddux. (Preceded by the short film ED & PAULINE, dirs: Christian Bruno, Natalija Vekic, on Pauline Kael and Ed Landberg’s art house cinema.)
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
Dir: Gillian Armstrong, NYC Premiere
In Hollywood’s golden age, costume designer Orry-Kelly thrived, but also kept secrets as a gay man. In person: subject Ann Roth
CENTERSTAGE (on performers)
CAN WE TAKE A JOKE?
Dir: Ted Balaker, World Premiere
A thought-provoking exploration of outrage culture through the lens of stand-up comedy.
In person: Ted Balaker, subjects Greg Lukianoff, Karith Foster, Gilbert Gottfried
FEELINGS ARE FACTS: THE LIFE OF YVONNE RAINER
Dir: Jack Walsh, NYC Premiere
A long-overdue portrait of iconoclast dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Yvonne Rainer. In person: Jack Walsh, subject Yvonne Rainer
THE RED UMBRELLA DIARIES
Dir: David Kornfield, NYC Premiere
Seven diverse sex workers tell their tales at NYC’s Joe’s Pub. In person: producer Audacia Ray
SHE’S THE BEST THING IN IT
Dir: Ron Nyswaner, NYC Premiere
Tony-winning character actor Mary Louise Wilson finds few opportunities on the stage, so turns to teaching. In person: Ron Nyswaner, subject Mary Louise Wilson
DOC EAT DOC (on food)
CITY OF GOLD
Dir: Laura Gabbert, NYC Premiere
This portrait of Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold reveals hidden culinary gems of Los Angeles. Sundance Selects. In person: Laura Gabbert, subject Jonathan Gold
FOR GRACE
Dirs: Kevin Pang, Mark Helenowski, NYC Premiere
Recognized with two Michelin stars, chef Curtis Duffy sets grand plans for his new Chicago restaurant, Grace. FilmBuff. In person: Kevin Pang
KING GEORGES
Dir: Erika Frankel
At Philadelphia’s famed French restaurant Le Bec Fin, chef Georges Perrier struggles to stay in business. In person: Erika Frankel, subjects Georges Perrier, Nicholas Elmi
THE MISSING INGREDIENT
Dir: Michael Sparaga, World Premiere
A portrait of two NY restaurants, exploring what it means to be an institution. In person: Michael Sparaga, subjects Charles Devigne, Michael Miele, Salvatore Doria
NOMA: MY PERFECT STORM
Dir: Pierre Deschamps, North American Premiere
When the Nordic restaurant Noma loses the title of the world’s best restaurant, its talented chef seeks redemption. Magnolia Pictures.
DOCS REDUX (a showcase of classic revivals)
GIMME SHELTER (1970)
Dirs: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
45th anniversary screening, in memory of Al Maysles. A portrait of the Rolling Stones becomes a disturbing record of a notorious concert.
HIGH ON CRACK STREET: LOST LIVES IN LOWELL (1995)
Dirs: Jon Alpert, Maryann DeLeo, Richard Farrell
20th anniversary screening. The documentary that inspired The Fighter focuses on three addicts. In person: Jon Alpert
SISTERS IN LAW (2005)
Dir: Kim Longinotto
10th anniversary screening. Two fierce and feisty women challenge tradition in Cameroon through their legal work. In person: Kim Longinotto
FIGHT THE POWER (on activists)
BADDDDD SONIA SANCHEZ
Dirs: Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, NYC Premiere
A crucial figure in the Black Arts Movement harnesses her gift for words to fuse art and activism over six decades. California Newsreel. In person: Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, subject Sonia Sanchez
THE C WORD
Dir: Meghan O’Hara, NYC Premiere
Oscar-nominated producer Megan O’Hara (Sicko) questions the establishment wisdom around cancer. In person: Meghan O’Hara
CIRCLE OF POISON
Dirs: Evan Mascagni, Shannon Post, World Premiere
A pointed exposé on the global trade in banned pesticides and their impact on health. In person: Evan Mascagni, Shannon Post
FRACKMAN
Dir: Richard Todd, Co-Dir Jonathon Stack, US Premiere
Funny and outspoken Aussie everyman Dayne Pratzky becomes an accidental activist against fracking. In person: Richard Todd, Jonathon Stack, subject Dayne Pratzky
THE INVADERS
Dir: Prichard Smith, World Premiere
Filling in a lost chapter of civil rights history, a look at the generation of radicals that emerged in Memphis in 1967. In person: Prichard Smith (Preceded by the short film EMORY DOUGLAS: THE ART OF THE BLACK PANTHERS, dirs: Dan Covert, Andre Andreev aka “Dress Code,” on art used as a revolutionary weapon.)
NO MÁS BÉBES
Dir: Renee Tajima-Peña, NYC Premiere
A young lawyer fights the medical establishment on behalf of Latina immigrants sterilized without their consent. In person: Renee Tajima-Peña
JOCK DOCS (on sports)
BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY
Dir: Jerome Thelia, NYC Premiere
A far-ranging exploration of the universal appeal of play as realized in the ubiquity and versatility of the ball. In person: Jerome Thélia. (Preceded by the short film THE BAD BOY OF BOWLING, dir: Bryan Storkel, on bowling sensation Peter Weber.)
GAME FACE
Dir: Michiel Thomas, NYC Premiere
A transgender Mixed Martial Artist and a gay college basketball player struggle with living openly in the public eye. In person: Michiel Thomas
THE GREAT ALONE
Dir: Greg Kohs, NYC Premiere
Lance Mackey braves the Arctic wilderness for another chance at glory through the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In person: Greg Kohs, subjects Lance Mackey, sled dog Amp
THE LEGEND OF SWEE’ PEA
Dir: Benjamin May, World Premiere
NYC playground basketball legend Lloyd “Swee’ Pea” Daniels was a top college recruit until a drug bust. In person: Benjamin May
LUCHA MEXICO
Dirs: Alex Hammond, Ian Markiewicz, US Premiere
An entertaining look at Mexico’s Lucha Libre, where masked wrestlers wage a battle between good and evil. In person: Alex Hammond, Ian Markiewicz, subjects Shocker, Jon Strongman
SPEED SISTERS
Dir: Amber Fares, US Premiere
The Middle East’s first all-female Arab race car team overcomes checkpoints and expectations to become role models. In person: Amber Fares, subject Noor Daoud
MODERN FAMILY (on diverse relations)
ALWAYS TOGETHER
Dir: Eva Tomanová, US Premiere
A former computer scientist raises his family in the Czech countryside with no modern conveniences or schooling.
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Dir: Sharon Shattuck, NYC Premiere
The filmmaker seeks to understand how her parents remained together after her father transitioned to a woman. In person: Sharon Shattuck
GAYBY BABY
Dir: Maya Newell, NYC Premiere
This touching film reveals both the challenges of same-sex parenting and its commonalities with every family. In person: producer Charlotte Mars
THE MELTING FAMILY
Dir: Nicole Groton, World Premiere
This candidly personal film chronicles how one nuclear family grew through seven divorces and remarriages. In person: Nicole Groton
OLD FRIENDS
Dir: Peter Odabashian, World Premiere
An intimate reflection on friendship demonstrates the power of an intentional community. In person: Peter Odabashian, subjects Esther Cohen, Bruce Kitzmeyer, Anne Newman Bacal, Betty Odabashian
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
Dir: Hyuckjee Park, North American Premiere
Long-widowed from the husband they shared, two women continue to live together decades later.
SONIC CINEMA (on music)
13 MILLION VOICES
Dir: Janelle Gueits, NYC Premiere
Young Cubans and Cuban Americans forge ties against backdrop of Havana’s Peace Without Borders concert. In person: Janelle Gueits
HUSTLERS CONVENTION
Dir: Mike Todd
A rap cousin of Searching for Sugar Man, the film seeks the artist behind the 1973 album Hustlers Convention. In person: Mike Todd
I GO BACK HOME – JIMMY SCOTT
Dir: Yoon-ha Chang, World Premiere
The angelic-voiced jazz singer Jimmy Scott lived in obscurity for decades before making a comeback. In person: Yoon-ha Chang, subject Ralf Kemper
MAD TIGER
Dirs: Jonathan Yi, Michael Haertlein, World Premiere
Meet Peelander-Z and you might just start to believe the Japanese art-punk band’s claims of interstellar origins. In person: Jonathan Yi, Michael Haertlein, subjects Kengo Hioki (Yellow), Kotaro Tsukada (Red)
SYL JOHNSON: ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS
Dir: Rob Hatch-Miller, NYC Premiere
Soul singer Syl Johnson never achieved the success he longed for until hip hop opened up new opportunities. In person: Rob Hatch-Miller
THEORY OF OBSCURITY: A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS
Dir: Don Hardy, NYC Premiere
A profile of the band the Residents, who have maintained anonymity for 40 years behind giant eyeball masks. Film Movement. In person: Don Hardy
THE WILD LIFE (on animals)
THE CHAMPIONS
Dir: Darcy Dennett, NYC Premiere
An inspiring chronicle of the efforts to rescue and rehabilitate Michael Vick’s pit bulls. In person: Darcy Dennett
HARRY & SNOWMAN
Dir: Ron Davis, NYC Premiere
Dutch immigrant Harry deLeyer saves a horse from the glue factory and finds a show-jumping champion. In person: Ron Davis
HUNTWATCH
Dir: Brant Backlund, World Premiere
An activist crusades against the cruelty of seal hunting while bringing us closer to the delightful creatures. In person: Brant Backlund
TIGER TIGER
Dir: George Butler, NYC Premiere
One of the world’s top big cat biologists tracks tigers on the dangerous border of India and Bangladesh. In person: George Butler
SHORTS PROGRAMS (thematic collections of short documentaries)
SHORTS: CONCRETE KINGDOM
City life. Lenny and the Rat (dir: Jason Hutt); S – The Musical Shuttle (dirs: Alina Abouelenin, Benjamin Bergmann); Man Under (dir: Paul Stone); Mac Premo – stuffmaker (dir: Bas Berkhout); Super-Unit(s) (dir: Teresa Czepiec). In person: Paul Stone, Jason Hutt, Bas Berkhout, Alina Abouelenin, Benjamin Bergmann
SHORTS: EXPRESSIONS
Artists and their art. Sideshow of the Absurd (dirs: Tina DiFeliciantonio, Jane C. Wagner); Cindy Sherman: “Untitled Film Stills” (dir: Douglas Sloan); Colors of Life (dir: Goro Ushijima); Artspeak (dir: Bill Claps); Bernice (dir: Kristina Sorge). In person: Tina DiFeliciantonio, Jane C. Wagner, Douglas Sloan, Bill Claps
SHORTS: A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Stories for the whole family. Cone Phones (dir: Heidi Gelover); Little Hero (dirs: Marcus McDougald, Jennifer Medvin); Made of Clay (dir: Fayssal Bin Sahli); AlieNation (dir: Laura Lehmus); Curt (dir: Brendan Hearne); Teen Press (dir: T.C. Johnstone). In person: Heidi Gelover, Jennifer Medvin, Brendan Hearne, T.C. Johnstone
SHORTS: FROM THERE TO HERE
Experiences in the melting pot. Satellite Baby (dir: Jenny Schweitzer); Resident
Alien (dir: Naiara Eizaguirre-Paulos); The Absentees (dir: Tanya Daud); Not So Namaste (dirs: Rita Baghdadi, Jeremiah Hammerling); Marathon (dirs: Theo Rigby, Kate McLean); Going Back Home (dir: Tim O’Donnell); Looking at Time (dir: Brandon Lavoie). In person: Jenny Schweitzer, Rita Baghdadi, Jeremiah Hammerling, Theo Rigby, Kate McLean, Tim O’Donnell, Brandon Lavoie
SHORTS: LARGER THAN LIFE
Portraits of everyday characters. Tiger Hood (dir: Christopher André Marks); Pink Boy (dir: Eric Rockey); The Reinvention of Normal (dir: Liam Saint-Pierre); Dunk Tank Clowns (dir: Daniel McGuire); Rothman (dir: Nader Sadre); Heavy Fog Tonight (dir: Nathan Reich). In person: Christopher André Marks, Eric Rockey, Liam Saint-Pierre, Daniel McGuire, Nader Sadre, Nathan Reich
SHORTS: PASSPORT
Take a trip around the world. Boxeadora (dir: Meg Smaker); Worlds on Edge (dirs: Thiago B. Mendonça, Renata Jardim); End of the World (dir: Monika Pawluczuk); Hyena Boys (dir: Tarryn Crossman). In person: Meg Smaker, Thiago B. Mendonça, Monika Pawluczuk, Tarryn Crossman
SHORTS: POINTS OF VIEW
Tales of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Clock of the Long Now (dirs: Jimmy Goldblum, Adam Weber); The Typist (dir: Kristine Stolakis); German Shepherd (dir: Nils Bergendal); The 414s (dir: Michael T. Vollmann); Back (dirs: Jenna Belhumeur,
Elena Boffetta); I Was Here First (dirs: Katherin Machalek, Adam Golub); The Surrender (dir: Stephen Maing). In person: Jimmy Goldblum, Adam Weber, Kristine Stolakis, Jenna Belhumeur, Elena Boffetta, Katherin Machalek, Adam Golub, Stephen Maing
SHORT: PUSHING THE BOUNDS
True innovation. What Lies Beneath the Sky (dir: Vladimir de Fontenay); Morgan Green Shaves Her Head Backwards (dir: Morgan Green); María 95 (dir: Josh Polon); Zone Blanche (dir: Gaëlle Cintré); Confessions (dir: Paul Erskine); Le Mur et l’Eau (dir: Alice Fargier). In person: Vladimir de Fontenay, Morgan Green, Josh Polon, Gaëlle Cintré, Paul ErskineFilm Festivals
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2015 Dubai International Film Festival Announces First Selection of Short Films in Muhr Competition
The 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) Muhr Short Category will premiere 15 short films from the region’s best and brightest directors. The entrants that will be battling it out for this year’s prestigious ‘Muhr Awards’ include; the highly acclaimed animated short film ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Lebanese Ely Dagher, (pictured above) which won the Palme d’Or for Short Film at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film explores the filmmaker’s current relationship with his homeland, disillusioned with his life in the suburbs of segregated Beirut, Omar’s unusual discovery lures him into the depth of the city. Immersed into a world that is so close yet so isolated from his reality, he finds himself struggling to keep his attachments, his sense of home.
The dramatic world premiere ‘The Wheel’, directed by Egyptian Menna Ekram, depicts the daily lives of a struggling couple working in a circus. The couple, Hayat and Ali, hopes that the start of a new routine, fraught with danger and reliant on an unwavering trust, might re-ignite what once got them together.
Established theatre, film and television actress, Ibtissem Guerda, returns to the Festival with the world premiere of her captivating short ‘The Veil of Jealousy’. The short follows Amine, a young and devout Muslim, who is very much in love with his wife Enora. However, when Enora makes a new friend the mood changes as jealousy and doubt begin to manifest in Amine and he questions who it is that is hiding under the Burqa?
Egyptian director Shady El-Hamus prepares to take audiences at DIFF on an emotional journey in the world premiere of ‘Fairuz’, a short-film centred around Yousef, played by Mohammad Bakri, a man in his mid-60’s struggling with the harsh realities of life. The film begins on the wedding day of his only child, Fairuz, where it is revealed that she plans to move abroad with her new husband. Distraught and unable to accept the news Yousef flees the wedding and undergoes an introspective journey through a series of unexpected events.
World premiere ‘The Right Path’, from Lebanese directors Fouad Alaywan and Ovidio El Hout, follows in the footsteps of Zacharia and his family in a matter of life and death. Zacharia, a proud Lebanese Muslim prides himself on defending his country from extremists, but with his family’s safety at risk he must choose the right path to take in order to keep his family safe and defend his country.
Director Alaeddin Abou Taleb is welcomed to DIFF with his world premiere, ‘Diaspora’, an uplifting story that conveys the life-changing transformation of one wheelchair-bound man. The story depicts the life of a man who spends many years wasting away in his apartment in downtown Tunisia, subsisting via social media, until one day everything changes. On this day, the man is surprised by a job advertisement that gives him the motivation to turn his life around.
‘Kaleidoscope’ is the encapsulating biopic by Syrian artist and filmmaker Ammar Al-Beik, which marks the short’s world premiere at DIFF 2015. The feature plays out a night in his life as professional photojournalist covering the ongoing war that rages in Aleppo. The film begins as Ammar and a former mistress, Marie, return home together to spend the night; here the film focuses on the emotions of the pair as their thoughts turn to more pressing matters.
The 12th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will run from December 9 to 16, 2015.
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20 New Films Added to Lineup for 2015 Virginia Film Festival incl. ‘PARADISE, FL,’ ‘KRISHA’
The 2015 Virginia Film Festival have added more than 20 new films to the lineup. The Festival, presented by the University of Virginia and the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts, will take place from November 5-8 at venues throughout Charlottesville. The Festival also revealed that Alex Neustaedter, the young star of Ithaca, will join in a post-screening discussion that will include director Meg Ryan, actor Lois Robbins, and producer Janet Brenner. The 16-year-old Neustaedter portrays the lead role of Homer in this coming-of-age story about a small-town telegraph bicycle who delivers messages of love, hope, pain, and even death, to the good people of Ithaca, only to have one of those messages change his life forever.
Brooklyn – The profoundly moving story of Ellis Lacey (Saorise Ronan), a young Irish immigrant woman torn between two countries as she leaves behind the comforts of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City, where the intoxication of new love is challenged by the realities of her past.
Youth – Fred (Michael Caine), a retired orchestra conductor, is on holiday at a resort spa with his daughter and his film-director best friend Mick (Harvey Keitel), who is shooting what may be his final film there. As the two men face, and discuss, the twilight of their careers and lives, Fred receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip’s birthday.
Krisha – Following a prolonged battle with addiction and self-destruction, Krisha returns to the family she abandoned for a holiday celebration, only to see old wounds reopened. Writer/director Trey Edward Shults recreates painful incidents from his past, and casts family members to give the film, expanded from an award-winning 2014 short film of the same name, to achieve a uniquely authentic feel.
Paradise, FL – When his friend’s wife ends up in the hospital, a struggling gulf coast oyster fisherman moves in to care for the couple’s young kids, and finds himself fighting for a family he didn’t know he needed. (pictured above)
Heart of a Dog – Selected for competition in this year’s Venice International Film Festival after its September premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson’s meditation on love and death is playful, lucid, and heartbreaking. Sparked by the death of her beloved terrier Lolabelle, Anderson draws on her childhood experiences and political beliefs, using her own compositions, 8 millimeter films from her family archive, and animation to help guide the journey of Lolabelle’s spirit.
Lucifer – An angel falling from heaven to hell unexpectedly lands in a Mexican village where his presence affects the villagers in surprising ways. Lucifer is a mesmerizing, moving, and unique experiment in form, presented in director t Gust Van Den Berghe’s original format, Tondoscope, which features a lens he created for the film that allows it to be projected in a circular format.
Embrace of the Serpent – This epic story, inspired by the journals of the first explorers of the Colombian Amazon, Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes, encompasses the first contact, encounter, approach, betrayal, and, in the end, life-changing friendship between an Amazonian shaman who is the last survivor of his people and two scientists who spend 40 years in the Amazon in search of a sacred plant to heal them.
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ROMEO IS BLEEDING, GROUNDED Wins Audience Award at Milwaukee Film Festival
The 7th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival concluded its 15-day run and ballots were tallied to determine the winners of the 2015 Milwaukee Film Festival Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Awards. The winners are Romeo is Bleeding directed by Jason Zeldes (pictured above) for Feature Film, and Grounded (Au Sol) directed by Alexis Michali for Short Film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjdh-TmRQCQ
Romeo is Bleeding is about how an explosive adaptation of Romeo and Juliet allows poet/mentor/creative director Donté Clark to face the gang warfare and budget cuts that are plaguing his community.
Grounded (Au Sol) is a warm-hearted, tear jerking story about a distraught woman and a sympathetic airline employee who helps her circumvent rigid airport regulations for the sake of her daughter.
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TANGERINE, JAMES WHITE, ROOM, NASTY BABY Among 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival Official Selections
The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival announced the films chosen for its fourth edition’s Official Selection, which is composed of Competencia Los Cabos (Mexico, USA and Canada) and México Primero sections. Nine films are in competition for Competencia Los Cabos, where North American films appear side-by-side, films that are from or co-produced with Mexico, USA and/or Canada can participate; and six films are in competition for México Primero, focusing on Mexican films.
The nine films in competition for Competencia Los Cabos:
From Afar “Desde allá” by Lorenzo Vigas (Mexico/Venezuela).
Tangerine by Sean Baker (USA) – Premiere in Mexico. (pictured above)
Room by Lenny Abrahamson (Canada/Ireland)
Chronic by Michel Franco (Mexico).
James White by Josh Mond (USA) – Premiere in Latin America
The Loved Ones “Les Êtres Chers” by Anne Émond (Canada) – Premiere in Mexico
A Monster with a Thousand Heads “Un monstruo de mil cabezas” by Rodrigo Plá (Mexico/France).
Nasty Baby by Sebastián Silva (USA/Chile) – Premiere in Mexico.
Sleeping Giant by Andrew Cividino (Canada).
The six competing films for México Primero are:
Semana Santa by Alejandra Márquez.
Sabrás qué hacer conmigo by Katina Medina Mora.
Charity “La caridad” by Marcelino Islas.
The Chosen Ones “Las elegidas” by David Pablos.
I Promise You Anarchy “Te prometo anarquía” by Julio Hernández Cordón.
Almacenados by Jack Zagha.
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2015 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards, RAMS, and MISSING PEOPLE Win Top Awards
The 2015 Hamptons International Film Festival announced their award winners, and RAMS, directed by Grimur Hákonarson won The HIFF Award for Best Narrative Feature. RAMS is Iceland’s official selection for the Academy Awards. MISSING PEOPLE, directed by David Shapiro, received the HIFF Award for Best Documentary Feature. OVER, directed by Jörn Threlfall, and LAST DAY OF FREEDOM, directed by Dee Hibbert-Jones, Nomi Talisman, received the HIFF Awards for Best Narrative Short Film and for Best Documentary Short Film, respectively.
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT, directed by Ciro Guerra, received the Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature and PATRIOT, directed by Eva Riley, received Honorable Mention for Narrative Short Film. CHUCK NORRIS VS. COMMUNISM, directed by Ilinca Calugareanu, received the Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature.
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015 WINNERS:
HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature sponsored by The Wall Street Journal
Rams, directed by Grimur Hákonarson
Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature
Embrace of the Serpent, directed by Ciro Guerra
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature sponsored by ID Films
Missing People, directed by David Shapiro
Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature
Chuck Norris Vs. Communism, directed by Ilinca Calugareanu
HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Short Film sponsored by The Wall Street Journal
Over, directed by Jörn Threlfall
Honorable Mention for Narrative Short Film
Patriot, directed by Eva Riley
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Film sponsored by ID Films
Last Day of Freedom, directed by Dee Hibbert-Jones, Nomi Talisman
Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel
Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award
Suffragette, directed by Sarah Gavron
Suffolk County Film Commission Next Exposure Grant
When I Live My Life Over Again, directed by Robert Edwards
The 2015 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution
The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel
The Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award: Dedicated to Those Who Suffer
in Silence
The Champions, directed by Darcy Dennett
2015 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH
Christopher Abbott, James White
Emory Cohen, Brooklyn
Thomas Mann, The Preppie Connection
Bel Powley, A Royal Night Out
Rebecca Ferguson, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Jason Mitchell, Straight Outta Compton
Maika Monroe, It Follows
Keith Stanfield, Straight Outta Compton
Tessa Thompson, Selma
Jessie T. Usher, Independence Day: Resurgence
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MEDITERRANEA by Jonas Carpignano to Open Stockholm Film Festival | TRAILER
Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano is the opening film of this year’s Stockholm Film Festival. The film will also participate in the prestigious Stockholm XXVI Competition, competing for the Bronze Horse.
Mediterranea, starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy och Aisha, is the story of two young men leaving their home country Burkina Faso to make the dangerous trip over the Mediterranean to Italy. Carpignano’s feature film debut is a touching portrayal of African migrants in Italy, building upon his previous short films A Chjàna (2012) and Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The film is connected to this year’s Spotlight theme Migration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A
“I’ve always loved Stockholm, both the city and the festival, so it is a great honor to have been selected as the opening film of the festival. This film is five years in the making, and there were moments when we didn’t know if it would ever get finished. The fact that it’s out there, and that it can play on a stage as big as that of the Stockholm Film Festival is surreal and humbling,” says Jonas Carpignano, director of Mediterranea.
Jonas Carpignano visited Stockholm Film Festival 2014, competing in Stockholm XXV Short Film Competition with his short film Young Lions of Gypsy (2014).
The 26th Stockholm International Film Festival will take place November 11 to 22, 2015
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Gripping Thriller REMEMBER Starring Christopher Plummer Added to Lineup for Chicago International Film Festival | TRAILER
Remember directed by Atom Egoyan, has been added to the lineup for the 51st Chicago International Film Festival and will screen on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. Remember is described as “a gripping thriller in which the darkest chapter of the 20th century collides with a contemporary mission of revenge.”
Remember tells the story of Zev Guttman (Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer), a 90-year-old struggling with memory loss who is living out his final years in a serene retirement home. A week following the death of his beloved wife Ruth, he suddenly gets a mysterious package from his close friend Max (Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau), containing a stack of money and a letter detailing a shocking plan. Both Zev and Max were prisoners in Auschwitz, and the same sadistic guard was responsible for the death of both their families-a guard who, immediately after the war, escaped Germany and has been living in the U.S. ever since under an assumed identity. Max is wheelchair-bound but in full command of his mental faculties; with his guidance, Zev will embark on a cross-continental road-trip to bring justice once and for all to the man who destroyed both their lives.
Academy Award® nominated director Atom Egoyan creates a thrillingly fast-paced revenge story that, in a highly original and deeply intimate way, deals with the aftermath of one of the most deplorable and significant events in recent history. With an incredible lead performance from Christopher Plummer as the frail but unstoppable Zev, Remember manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats while giving them something to think about long after the film is over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFxXCoprNqc
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2015 Stockholm International Film Festival Selects 18 Films for Short Film Competition

The 2015 Stockholm International Film Festival released the list of short films that are selected for this year’s Short Film Competition, competing for the Aluminium Horse award.
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9th Other Israel Film Festival Unveils Complete Lineup + Trailers, Incl. ARAB MOVIE, DÉGRADÉ, JERUSALEM BOXING CLUB
The 9th Other Israel Film Festival to run from November 5 to 12, 2015 at the JCC Manhattan on 76th St and Amsterdam Ave, as well as at Cinema Village and other locations in NYC, announced its complete line-up of feature and short films.
Censored Voices, recently recognized with the award for Best Documentary at the Ophir Awards (Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Awards), was previously announced as the festival’s opening night film, with acclaimed documentary Women in Sink closing the festival on November 12. Following screenings at the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, Dégradé, directed by twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, (pictured above) will also have a Special Feature screening on closing night, marking the film’s New York premiere.
“From the candid conversations of Arab/Israeli women in a Haifa beauty shop, to the refugee crisis in Tel Aviv and the hopeful business collaboration of an Israeli and a Palestinian woman, this year’s slate ranges from provocative genre films to surprising documentaries and everything in between.” commented festival founder Carol Zabar. “These extraordinary films reveal the fullest spectrum of Israeli and Palestinian life and culture and will spark a frank, vital dialog.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niHNZya86Jo
The complete line-up for this year’s festival includes:
ARAB MOVIE
New York Premiere
Dir. Eyal Sagui Bizawe & Sara Tsifroni
(60 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew & Arabic w/ English subtitles)
A nostalgic look back at that old Friday afternoon ritual, when Israeli families of all backgrounds would gather to watch the week’s “Egyptian Movie” on Israel’s official TV station. Arab Movie takes us back to that fleeting moment when Israelis shared the same cultural heroes as everyone else in the Middle East, even as it raises disturbing questions about their relationship to their neighbors across the border.
CENSORED VOICES
East Coast Premiere
Dir. Mor Lushi
(84 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew & English w/ English subtitles)
One week after the Six Day War, a group of soldiers, led by renowned author Amos Oz, recorded intimate conversations with fellow soldiers returning from war. In these recordings, the men wrestled with their fears, taking an honest look at the moment Israel turned occupier. These recordings, censored by the Israeli army until now, are played back to the men 50 years later, revealing their confessions for the first time. Censored Voices opens in theaters on November 20, via Music Box Films
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh0Z1VfYPcE
COLLIDING DREAMS
Special Sneak Preview
Dir. Oren Rudavsky & Joseph Dorman
(135 min, Documentary, US, English, Hebrew, Arabic w/English subtitles)
A feature-length exploration of one of the most influential, controversial, and urgently relevant political ideologies of the modern era. With origins in Europe in the late 19th century, Zionism was born out of the Jewish confrontation with modernity and persecution. Yet early on, Zionism faced opposition from Palestine’s Arab inhabitants, who saw it depriving them of their own national rights in a land they had inhabited for centuries. Now, amid unceasing religious conflict and tragic bloodshed, it is more crucial than ever for Americans to better understand the meaning, history and future of the movement.
Colliding Dreams will open in New York at Lincoln Plaza in January 2016.
DÉGRADÉ
NEW YORK PREMIERE
Dir. Tarzan & Arab Nasser
83 min, Narrative, France / Palestine, Arabic w/English subtitles
In this Cannes film festival favorite, we take a look into the lives of a diverse group of women visiting a beauty salon on a hot summer’s day in the Gaza Strip. A bride-to-be, a pregnant woman, a bitter divorcée, a devout woman and a pill-popping addict all meet for some leisure time and pampering. But all is disrupted when a gang war erupts between Hamas and a local group, right in front of the salon, trapping the woman and raising the temperature and anxiety. Starring Hiam Abbass, Maisa Abdelhadi, and Manal Award.
JERUSALEM BOXING CLUB
United States Premiere
Dir. Helen Yanovsky
(65 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew, Russian, & Arabic w/ English subtitles)
The Jerusalem Boxing Club, which operates out of a bomb shelter in Jerusalem’s Katamon neighborhood, is a meeting point for teens from all around the city. For many of these young people, the desire to excel and to win is nourished by the tough training and boundless love of Gershon Luxemburg, the club’s manager and trainer, for whom boxing is not just another sport, but a way of life.
Jerusalem Boxing Club was supported by the Other Israel Film Fund.
JERUZALEM
New York Premiere
Dir. Doron & Yoav Paz
(81 min, Narrative, Israel, English)
A horror film that takes us to Jerusalem, where two vacationing American teenagers decide to follow a mysterious archaeologist to the Old City. Their party is cut short when Jerusalem’s ancient gate to hell is opened, releasing a biblical apocalypse. Trapped between the city’s walls, the three travelers must survive long enough to find a way out, as the fury of hell is unleashed upon them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIwfN-4hZ4
MUSSA
New York Premiere
Dir. Anat Goren
(65 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew, Amharic, Arabic, & English w/ English subtitles)
A moving documentary that tells the story of Mussa, a 12-year-old African refugee living in one of Tel Aviv’s worst neighborhoods. Every day, Mussa is bussed to an upscale private school, where he silently navigates a privileged world, connecting with friends but refusing to speak. When Mussa’s mother is threatened with deportation, Mussa is left devastated, compelled to leave his father and friends behind.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8bIFoMXKjM
ORIENTED
Dir. Jake Witzenfeld
(81 min, Documentary, UK, Hebrew, Arabic, & English w/ English subtitles)
The story of three gay Palestinian friends confronting their national and sexual identity in Tel Aviv. Khader is a “darling” from a prominent Muslim family living with David, his Jewish boyfriend. Fadi is an ardent Palestinian nationalist, in love with a Zionist. Naim yearns to confront his family with the truth about his sexuality. Determined to make a change, the three best friends form a group to fight for gender and national equality.
https://vimeo.com/129449012
PARTNER WITH THE ENEMY
New York Premiere
Dir. Duki Dror, Chen Shelach
(56 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew, Arabic, & English w/ English subtitles)
In the midst of an ever-fraught political landscape, two women, one Israeli and one Palestinian, attempt the seemingly impossible: to build a business together. Fighting against anti-normalization currents and a male-dominated industry, the two combine forces to create a logistics company which helps Palestinian businessmen navigate the Israeli occupation. But while they help their clients, the divisions between the two threaten to tear their partnership apart. Can the bond between them overcome the impossible? Partner With The Enemy was supported by the Other Israel Film Fund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NxuiYisaLw
ROCK IN THE RED ZONE
New York Premiere
Dir. Laura Bialis
(90 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew w/ English subtitles)
An intimate portrayal of life on the edge in the war-torn city of Sderot. Known for its prolific rock scene that revolutionized Israeli music, Sderot has been the target of ongoing rocket fire from the Gaza Strip for the past thirteen years. Through the personal lives of Sderot’s diverse musicians and a personal love story, this film chronicles the town’s enduring spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48_4dAOWa7U
TEACHING IGNORANCE
United States Premiere
Dir. Tamara Erde
(52 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew & Arabic w/ English subtitles)
This powerful film follows several Israeli and Palestinian teachers and asks: How do the Palestinian and Israeli (Arab and Jewish) education systems teach the history of their peoples and the other? Through observing these teachers’ exchanges and confrontations with students, as well as their debates with the official curriculum, viewers are granted an intimate glimpse into the profound effects that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict transmits to the next generation.
https://vimeo.com/72800391
THE VOICE OF PEACE – THE DREAM OF ABIE NATHAN
United States Premiere
Dir. Eric Friedler
(90 min, Documentary, Germany, English, Hebrew w/English subtitles)
A radical dreamer and a rebellious visionary, the Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan was the man behind “The Voice of Peace,” a pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship off the coast of Tel Aviv. During the 70’s, the station had more than 20 million enthusiastic listeners from all over the Middle East. This fascinating documentary follows Nathan’s humanitarian work over 4 decades, combining rarely-seen archival footage with interviews with former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Yoko Ono, Sir Michael Caine and other world-renowned individuals who believed in Nathan’s vision of a more peaceful Middle East.
WOMEN IN SINK
New York City Premiere
Dir. Iris Zaki
(36 min, Documentary, Israel, Hebrew w/ English subtitles)
At “Fifi’s”, a hair salon in the heart of Haifa’s Arab community, Iris Zaki installs a mini film set over the washbasin. While she washes their hair, Zaki speaks candidly and freely with the salon’s Arab and Jewish clients, who share their views on politics, history, and love. What emerges from these conversations is an honest and nuanced portrait of contemporary Israel. Women In Sink was supported by the Other Israel Film Fund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9lHX_l4DJ8
New Voices – Short Film Selection
THE ARREST (Dir. Yair Agmon, 10 min, Narrative)
BOYS OF NITZANA (Dir. Tamir Elterman, 9 min, Documentary)
DIRTY BUSINESS (Dir. Vadim Dumesh, 15 min, Documentary)
TILL DAY’S END) (Dir. Amitai Ashkenazi, 19 min, Narrative)
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Animated Film ANOMALISA by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson Added to Chicago International Film Festival
The animated film Anomalisa directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson has been added to the lineup for the 51st Chicago International Film Festival. The film will screen on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.
A beautifully tender and absurdly humorous dreamscape, from the brilliant minds of Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York) and Duke Johnson (“Community” episode, Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas), this stop-motion animation wonder features the vocal cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis and a stirring strings-based score by Carter Burwell. The darkly comedic and surreal stop-motion journey of a man’s long night of the soul, Anomalisa confirms Charlie Kaufman’s place amongst the most important of American filmmakers, and announces Duke Johnson as a major creative force.
Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?,” is a man crippled by the mundanity of his life. On a business trip to Cincinnati, where he’s scheduled to speak at a convention of customer service professionals, he checks into the Fregoli Hotel. There, he is amazed to discover a possible escape from his desperation in the form of an unassuming Akron baked goods sales rep, Lisa, who may or may not be the love of his life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYbKJfls6WM

15 films will compete in the feature-length documentary competition of the upcoming