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  • Terry McMahon’s “Patrick’s Day” “Red Lines” Among Winners of 2014 Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards

    Actor Mo Dunford, Director Terry McMahon and Producer Tim Palmer of Patrick's Day at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Silvia Forni) (Photo by Silvia Forni)Actor Mo Dunford, Director Terry McMahon and Producer Tim Palmer of Patrick’s Day at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Silvia Forni) (Photo by Silvia Forni)

    The 15th annual Woodstock Film Festival which began Wednesday, Oct. 15, closed on Sunday, Oct. 19.  The Maverick Award for Best Feature Narrative at the festival was presented to Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon, and The Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary went to Red Lines, directed by Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs. Oscar-nominated director and writer Darren Aronofsky was among this year’s winner as recipient of the Honorary Maverick Award. Critically acclaimed for his work in films like Black Swan, The Wrestler, and The Fountain, Aronofsky was presented this award by Academy Award Winners Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), who he directed in his most recent films, Noah and previously in Requiem for a Dream.

    The first annual Fiercely Independent Award was presented to Mark Duplass, after the East Coast Premiere of his newest feature, Creep.  Also awarded at this year’s festival was the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography, which went to cinematographer Michael Lavelle of Patrick’s Day. 

     2014 Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards winners and recipients:

    The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Logan Hill and Melissa Leo to: 
    Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon

    http://youtu.be/VdmiKDmmZjo

     

    Honorable Mention was presented to Arwad, directed by Samer Najari and Dominique Chila

    The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Joe Berlinger, Amy Hobby and Barbara Kopple to:
    Red Lines, directed by Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs

    http://youtu.be/k4EeouZf0ts

    Honorable Mention was presented to Mentor, directed by Alix Lambert and A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, directed by Michael Lessac

    The Maverick Award for BEST ANIMATION was presented by jurors Signe Baumane and Patrick Smith to:
    My Kingdom, directed by Debra Solomon
    Honorable Mention was presented to The Dam Keeper, directed by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi

    The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT NARRATIVE was presented by Jonathan Gray, Leah Meyerhoff and Lori Singer to:
    Sunday, directed by Iva Gocheva
    Honorable Mention was presented to Nighthawks, directed by Jun Bung Lee

    The Diane Seligman Award for BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM was presented by jurors Isil Bagdadi and Terry Kinney to:
    So You’ve Grown Attached, directed by Kate Tsang
    Honorable Mention was presented to The Young Housefly, directed by Laurence Vannicelli

    The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Leon Gast, Emily Rothschild and Todd Wider to: 
    Our Course (Nasza Klatwa), directed by Tomasz Sliwinski

    The Haskell Wexler Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY was presented to:
    Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon with cinematography by Michael Lavelle

    James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Sabine Hoffman and Adam Blaustein Rejto to:
    Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon and edited by Emer Reynolds

    James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Sandra Christie, Jean Tsien and Sabine Hoffman to: 
    Killswitch, directed by Ali Akbarzadeh and edited by Prichard Smith

    ULTRA INDIE AWARD was presented by jurors Richard Abramowitz and Amy Gossels to:
    Uncertain Terms, directed by Nathan Silver
    Honorable Mention was presented to I Believe in Unicorns, directed by Leah Meyerhoff

    TANGERINE ENTERTAINMENT JUICE AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE FEATURE DIRECTOR was presented by juror Amy Hobby to:
    Caryn Waechter, director of The Sisterhood of Night

    FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AWARD was presented by Tom Quinn to: 
    Mark Duplass

    Jennifer Connelly, Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Simon Russell)Jennifer Connelly, Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Simon Russell)

    HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD was presented by Jennifer Connelly and Natalie Portman to:
    Darren Aronofsky

     

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  • Mohsen Mahkmalbaf’s “The President” Wins Gold Hugo For Best Film at Chicago International Film Festival

    The PresidentThe President

    Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Mahkmalbaf’s “The President” received the Gold Hugo for Best Film, the Festival’s highest honor, in the 50th Chicago International Film Festival Competitions. In this dark satire of power, dispossession and revenge from Iranian New Wave master Mohsen Makmalbaf (Kandahar), a dictator comes face to face with the people he previously subjugated. When a coup d’état overthrows a leader’s brutal rule and the rest of his family flees the country by plane, The President becomes a fugitive, along with his young grandson, and confronts, first-hand, the hardships and anger experienced by his own people.  The Silver Hugo, Special Jury Prize went to “Refugiado” directed by Diego Lerman.

    International Feature Film Competition

    Gold Hugo, Best Film: “The President” (Georgia, France, UK, Germany) Director: Mohsen Mahkmalbaf

    http://youtu.be/SbMOfJzqTtk

     

    Silver Hugo, Special Jury Prize: “Refugiado” (Argentina, Colombia, France, Poland, Germany) Director: Diego Lerman

    Silver Hugo, Best Director: “Timbuktu” (France, Mauritania) Director: Abderrahmane Sissako

    A beautifully crafted and devastating account of the takeover of Northern Mali by Islamic militants two years ago, Timbuktu tells a deeply humanist tale about a diverse group of citizens’ struggles in the face of adversity and intolerance. Like his previous cinematic gem Bamako, veteran filmmaker Sissako focuses on the inner fortitude of his characters, particularly the steadfast women, who, despite abuse and oppression, still sing in defiance.

    Silver Hugo, Best Actor: Anton Yelchin, “Rudderless” (USA)

    After a tragic shooting takes the life of his teenage son, a grieving father (Billy Crudup) discovers the boy’s demo tapes. When he musters the will to perform one, he forms a tight bond with a young musician (Anton Yelchin) and together, they form a rock band that revitalizes their lives—until a hidden secret is revealed. Actor William H. Macy (Fargo) delivers a poignant and inspirational drama about the power of love, forgiveness and redemption

    http://youtu.be/Xq6XgPSgzmA

     

    Silver Hugo, Best Actress: Geraldine Chaplin, “Sand Dollars” (Dominican Republic, Mexico)

    In a Dominican resort town, Noeli, a dark-skinned local, hooks up with international tourists in exchange for money, sharing the proceeds with her boyfriend. But Noeli’s longstanding romantic relationship with Anne, a wealthy lesbian woman (the extraordinary Chaplin) threatens to upend their lives. This deftly directed multi-character portrait, both tender and cynical, paints a sensitive and sophisticated picture of the collision between haves and have-nots.

    Silver Hugo, Best Cinematography: John Christian Rosenlund, “1001 Grams” (Norway)

    Anna, a scientist who specializes in weights and measures, lives a life of precision, rigidity and solitude. But when her father, a fellow scientist, suffers a heart attack, Anna’s world falls out of perfect alignment. Wry and winsome, this beautifully told and thoughtful human story—and Norway’s official submission for the Academy Awards—follows Anna on a journey from Norway to France and back, as she attempts to find the right balance in her life.

    Silver Hugo for Best Screenplay: Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz (co-writer and co-directors), “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Israel, France, Germany)

    Viviane wants a divorce from her ultra-orthodox spouse, Elisha, but Israeli law dictates only the husband may end a marriage—something Elisha is unwilling to grant. Undergoing a grueling, five-year legal process, Viviane is forced to contend with a religious court system that refuses to acknowledge her autonomy. Driven by Ronit Elkabetz’s extraordinary performance, this award-winning Israeli drama powerfully documents the injustices of a culture stubbornly committed to the oppression of women.

    http://youtu.be/U3UD5P75bCs

     

    Gold Plaque for Best Art Direction: Mauro Radaelli, “Human Capital” (Italy)

    Amores Perros, Italian-style: This slick tripartite drama recounts the same story from three different character’s perspectives, each one disclosing new revelations about the tragic incident at its core. Winner of Italy’s best film, writing, and acting awards, Human Capital combines excellent performances (from Italian luminaries Valeria Golino and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), with an incisive critique of the country’s culture of greed and the resulting low value put on human life.

    Gold Plaque for Best Costume Design: Pia Myrdal and Anne-Dorthe Eskildsen, “Speed Walking” (Denmark)

    Ava is desperate to find the man of her dreams.

    Gold Plaque Special Mention for Originality: “The Owners” (Kazakhstan) Director: Adilkhan Yerzhanov

    In this bizarre, darkly comic adventure set in the Wild Wild East of rural Kazakhstan, three orphaned siblings from the city try to reclaim their mother’s home in a far-flung village, only to encounter corruption, indifference, and cruelty at every turn. With outbursts of singing, dancing, violence and visually arresting tableaus, The Owners presents a lurid and shocking vision of injustice that is as idiosyncratic as it is alarming.

    The International Feature Film Competition Jury includes Kathleen Turner (USA), Margarethe von Trotta (Germany); Ferzan Ozpetek (Italy); Giora Bejach (Israel); and Parviz Shahbazi (Iran).

    New Directors Competition

    The Gold Hugo goes to “Underdog” (Sweden), a modern take on class conflict that keeps its focus on its believable characters instead of highlighting the melodrama inherent in its narrative. When a young Swedish woman named Dino begins working for a successful Norwegian man named Steffen, the consistently genuine performances and Ronnie Sandahl’s mature handling of difficult themes allow the film to resonate. It is a film that both addresses specific cultural issues and yet feels simultaneously universal through its honesty. Director: Ronnie Sandahl.

    The Silver Hugo goes to “Next to Her” (Israel), an accomplished portrait of sisterhood with striking performances conveying a difficult subject matter. Liron Ben-Shlush anchors the film with her stunning turn as Chelli, intimately capturing how responsibility can turn into codependency. Asaf Korman subtly portrays that the victims are not always who we think they are. Director: Asaf Korman.

    The New Directors Competition Jury includes Anna Croneman (Sweden); Izza Génini (Morocco); Wieland Speck (Germany); and Brian Tallerico (USA). The New Directors Competition is sponsored by Columbia College Chicago.

    The Roger Ebert Award
    The Roger Ebert Award will be presented annually to an emerging filmmaker whose film presents a fresh and uncompromising vision. Films competing in the Festival’s New Directors Competition are eligible for this award.

    The Roger Ebert Award goes to “La Tirisia” (Mexico), which instills empathy through its director’s strong sense of visual composition and handling of difficult themes. Setting his film in a surreal, sensual landscape in Oaxaca, Mexico, this subtle drama of two pregnant women transports viewers to a unique part of the world, but deals with universal human emotion at the same time. It’s the kind of unforgettable journey that only film can replicate. Director: Jorge Pérez Solano.

    Docufest Competition

    The Gold Hugo goes to “Echo of the Mountain” (Mexico). Through extremely intricate artistic works, a Huichol artist conveys the symbols and meanings of his own native culture—a traditional culture kept alive for thousands of years in the deep mountains of Mexico. Director Nicolás Echevarría follows artist Santos de la Torre for one year, as he elaborates his next mural. Rich aural and visual textures provide an intimate view of Santos and his world. Echevarría’s documentary conveys the hybrid complexity of the exchange between modern and traditional cultures still coexisting in our globalized present. Director: Nicolás Echevarría.

    The Docufest Competition Jury includes Luisela Alvaray (USA), Peter Berggren (USA) and Clayton Brown (USA). The Docufest Competition is sponsored by Columbia College Chicago

    OUT-Look Program/Q Hugo Award
    Chosen from the Festival’s OUT-Look program, the winners of this award exhibit new artistic perspectives on sexuality and identity.

    The Gold Q Hugo Film Award goes to “Xenia” (Greece) for confronting an unfriendly world with defiant gaiety. Director: Panos H. Koutras.

    The Silver Q Hugo Film Award goes to “Something Must Break” (Sweden), for telling a brave, modern story about characters whose relations to gender and sexuality are hard to categorize but are lived with passion and guts. The jury looks forward to the unfolding career of this exciting filmmaker who presented this tale in such an uncompromising way. Director: Ester Martin Bergsmark.

    The Q Hugo Film Award jury includes Mihai Chirilov (Romania), Nick Davis (USA), David Robinson (UK), and Brenda Webb (USA).


    The Founder’s Award
    The Founder’s Award is given to that one film or performance across all categories that captures the spirit of the Chicago International Film Festival for its unique and innovative approach to the art of the moving image. The 50th Chicago International Film Festival presented actor Michael Keaton with the Founder’s Award for his electrifying performance as an actor who hopes to revive his moribund career in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s daring comedy “Birdman.” “To pick a single film or performance from this year’s incredibly strong lineup of more than 150 films was difficult, but an eagerly anticipated challenge – they all exemplify the Festival’s spirit of innovation and discovery. And yet, Michael Keaton’s performance in ‘Birdman’ moved me deeply; it confirmed that Keaton is not only one of our greatest American actors, but one whose work will soon be reevaluated and further appreciated,” said Festival Founder and Artistic Director Michael Kutza.

    Chicago Award
    The Chicago Award, presented to a Chicago or Illinois artist for the best feature or short film, goes to “The Alley Cat,” directed by Marie Ullrich, an exceptionally innovative and refreshing first feature representing the auspicious and exciting start of a promising filmmaking career. Bold, gritty, and full of energy, Ullrich’s film is a prime example of first-rate low-budget filmmaking, serving as an intriguing announcement of a new voice.

    The Chicago Award jury includes Monica Long Ross (USA), Julian Antos (USA), and Malik Bader (USA).

    Short Film Competition: Live Action
    The Gold Hugo for Best Short Film goes to “Amazon” (Norway).  Marianne O. Ulrichsen’s “Amazon” finds its power in contrasting the small heartbreaks of childhood against the vast beauty of the Norwegian landscape. This coming of age story, involving shifting vulnerabilities and eventual connection between two young girls, pulses with life, buoyed by the human performances of its two young actors and the breathtaking cinematography of Annika Summerson. The lyrical short film captures and celebrates the undefined possibilities inherent in liminal spaces: those unscheduled afternoons, new meetings and open landscapes that lead to self-discovery. Director: Marianne O. Ulrichsen.

    The Silver Hugo for Live Action Short is awarded to “In August” (USA). Through its beautiful cinematography and sincere performances, “In August” exquisitely captures the moment between a little girl realizing her world is changing forever and the change itself—the sublime before the storm. Director: Jenna Hasse.

    The Gold Plaque for Best Student Short is awarded to “Skunk” (USA). Demonstrating instincts similar to early David Gordon Green or Debra Granik, “Skunk” masterfully teases the audience with the promise of a lazy summer day and the nightmare that other teens induce upon each other. The young actors’ nuanced performances wonderfully illustrate youthful humiliations via the conflicts of puberty—the bravado of boys who can’t yet control their bodies, and the retribution of a girl not interested in taking things lightly. Director: Annie Silverstein.

    The Gold Plaque for Narrative/Live Action Short goes to “Artun” (Iceland/Denmark), a pale yellow, Black Metal ode to that age when you feel like the dirtiest thing in the world because you’re still so clean. Director: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

    The Silver Plaque for Narrative/Live Action Short goes to “The Immaculates” (France). In this affecting document of tragedy, director Ronny Trocker weaves a quilt of 3D imagery, leading viewers through a disorienting landscape of retelling and remembrance. Director: Ronny Trocker.

    The Gold Plaque for Best Experimental Short goes to “Prehistoric Cabaret” (France). In this colonoscopic reverie, courtesy of the world’s most dangerous camera, we penetrate the cosmic mystery shrouded in secrets within the enigma at the very center of being (or at least through the center of our lovely hostess). Life IS a cabaret. Director: Bertrand Mandico.

    A Special Mention goes to “Washingtonia” (Greece). With humor and heart, “Washingtonia”  exists in the space between narrative and free association, offering an absurdist urban myth that is somehow recognizable, even as it eludes definition. Director: Konstantina Kotzamani.

    The Live Action Short Film Competition Jury includes Lindsay Bosch (USA), Susan Kerns (USA), and Spencer Parsons (USA).

    Short Film Competition: Documentary
    The Silver Hugo is awarded to “Love.Love.Love.” (Russia). Sandhya Daisy Sundaram’s “Love.Love.Love.” is a rotating treatise on the forms love takes in the lives of Russian women. In a beguiling series of deceptively compact tableaus, it evokes a universal hunt for romance and companionship from the dawn of birth to the twilight of old age.  We award “Love.Love.Love.” Best Documentary Short because, in rare form, it lives up to its title, and reflects invisible truths found in the combination of everyday moments. Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram.

    A Gold Plaque – Special Jury Prize goes to “Ghost Train” (Australia). “Ghost Train” paints a vivid portrait of a man who is drawn to a cabaret dancer at a local haunted house. As he deals with his wife with Alzheimer’s and faces his own death, he finds solace in her vivacity and energy in a house dedicated to death. Through found footage, stunning black and white cinematography and borrowing the style of bygone horror films, “Ghost Train” leads the audience on an exploration of life, death and legacy. Directors: James Fleming and Kelly Hucker.

    Special Mention to “A Paradise” (Cuba), a brief but compelling observation of a poor family in rural Cuba, and a discreet look into complex issues surrounding children living in poverty. Director: Jayisha Patel.

    The Documentary Short Film Competition Jury includes Jack C. Newell (USA), Brian Ashby (USA), Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa (USA).

    Short Film Competition: Animation
    The Silver Hugo for Best Animated Short Film goes to “Coda” (Ireland). “Coda”’s elegantly simple visuals, minimal lines and solid patches of color, describe an urban nighttime world of disconnection and insularity. Here, the moment of dying is seen as a chance for re-evaluating the individual’s relationship to humanity and life itself. The jury recognizes this film for the challenging depth of its themes, and for the spare but powerful aesthetic which presents those themes with lyrical complexity. Director: Alan Holly.

    The Gold Plaque-Special Jury Prize goes to “Symphony No. 42” (Hungary). The jury was hypnotized by the associative links between the domestic and the natural, and by the portrayal of animal exploitation as a farce. These nihilistic allegories functioned both as a dystopia and as an indictment of contemporary human activity. Director: Réka Bucsi.

    The Silver Plaque is awarded to “Drifting” (USA), for its strange manipulation of time, and the notion of capturing the uncapturable, for no witness. A documented life critique. Director: Joel Benjamin.

    A Special Mention goes to “Man on the Chair” (South Korea), for its poetic pastel beauty and its willingness to be calm and powerful at the same time. Director: Jeong Dahee.

    The Animation Short Film Competition Jury includes Eric Patrick (USA), Timothy Brayton (USA), Chris Sullivan (USA).

    INTERCOM Competition
    One of the longest-running international competitions of its kind, INTERCOM honors a wide range of corporate-sponsored, educational and branded films.

    The Gold Hugo goes to “The Art of the Pit Stop” (Germany) from Kemper Kommunikation GmbH. Truly living up to the spirit of INTERCOM and appropriately titled, “The Art of the Pit Stop” is a simple, poetic film that addresses the branded video with the highest level of cinematic achievement.

    The INTERCOM Competition jury includes Dan Sutherland (USA), Susan Kerns (USA), and Ron Falzone (USA)

    Special Awards
    The 50th Chicago International Film Festival honored director Gina Prince-Bythewood with an Artistic Achievement Award and actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw with an Emerging Artist Award during the Festival’s 18th Annual Black Perspectives Tribute on October 10.

     

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  • The Motorcycle Diaries Director, Walter Salles, to be Honored at Rome Film Festival

    Walter Salles

    Walter Salles, award-winning Brazilian director, screenwriter, and producer; Berlinale Golden Bear and Golden Globe-winner for Central do Brasil (1998) will be honored with the Marc’Aurelio Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 9th Rome Film Festival taking place October 16 to 25, 2014.  Director of one of the most beloved films in recent years, The Motorcycle Diaries, awarded in Cannes and Oscar®-winner for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures. On the occasion of the award ceremony, Walter Salles will present the world premiere screening of his new film Jia Zhangke, un gars de Fenyang. Salles considers Jia Zhangke “the most important contemporary filmmaker”. Marie-Pierre Duhamel and Marco Müller will moderate the on stage conversation with Walter Salles and Jia Zhangke.

    “Jia Zhangke reminds us that film is still a place that can help us improve our understanding of the world that surrounds us”, Walter Salles stated. “He has become the most important film director of his generation for an increasing number of cinephiles. By way of his films, cinema can still be the quintessential ground for discovery and revelation. According to Jia Zhangke, film is a means of recording mutating memory while keeping track of something that won’t be there any longer. His films portray ordinary people that he defines as ‘power non-holders’. In the last scene of Sanxia Haoren (Still Life), a man is walking on a tightrope between two buildings scheduled to be demolished. Man in an unstable balance, obliged to relate to something bigger than himself, may well be the character in common among Jia Zhangke’s films. In moments like this, you become aware that his films are made of stuff transcending specific physical or human geography. His characters come from the Shanxi region. But the existential problems of his films don’t have borders. They involve all of us.”

    Walter Salles, director, writer and producer, was born on the 12th April 1956. After A grande arte (High Art) and two splendid films codirected with Daniela Thomas, won international acclaim in 1998 for Central do Brasil (Central Station), winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale and two Oscar® nominations. He next directed Abril despedaçado (Behind the Sun, 2001) and Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries, 2004). In 2005 he made his Hollywood debut with the horror film Dark Water. His 2008 film Linha de passe earned Sandra Corveloni the Best Actress award at Cannes. He directed On the Road in 2012, a very successful adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s book deemed “unfilmable”. As an executive producer he’s currently working on La patota directed by Santiago Mitre and Celestina by José Rivera, featuring Bill Pullman.

    FILMOGRAPHY

    1991 A grande arte (High Art) | 1996 Terra estrangeira (Foreign Land) | 1998 Central do Brasil (Central Station) | 1998 O primeiro dia (Midnight) | 2001 Abril despedaçado (Behind the Sun) | 2004 Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) | 2005 Dark Water | 2008 Linha de Passe | 2012 On the Road

    JIA ZHANGKE, UN GARS DE FENYANG / A GUY FROM FENYANG: JIA ZHANGKE
    by Walter Salles, Brazil, France, 2014, 100’

    With this film Jia Zhangke goes back to the location of all his films. He explores the genesis of his projects. He meets his leading actors, main collaborators, friends and “non-actors” who are the focus of his work. This is an affectionate portrait of Jia Zhangke’s memory that also originates a peculiar outlook on the role of cinema. The version presented in Rome is a work in progress.

    image via Flickr

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  • Vermont International Film Festival Announces 2014 Vermont Filmmakers’ Showcase Selections + Opening & Closing Night Films

    We Are The Best! We Are The Best!

    The 2014 Vermont International Film Festival, taking place for 10 days, October 24 to November 2 in downtown Burlington starts with a bang, Friday, October 24th with a screening of the Swedish film We Are The Best! Director Lukas Moodysson creates an invigorating portrait of teenage punk—that boisterous, rambunctious energy that’s re-fueled anew by each generation’s sense of righteous passion, impatient desire for independence and uneasy brew of angst, anger and ambition. We Are the Best! is a delightfully vivacious experience, brimming with infectious humanism, which perfectly captures the irrepressible spirit of youthful rebellion.

    20,000 Days on Earth20,000 Days on Earth

    The festival will wrap up with the closing night film, 20,000 Days on Earth on Saturday, November 1. 20,000 Days on Earth is a bold vision of one of music’s most mysterious and charismatic figures: Nick Cave. In their debut feature, directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard fuse drama and documentary by weaving a cinematically staged day in Cave’s life with never-before-seen cinéma vérité observations of his full creative cycle.

    The festival will celebrate Vermont filmmaking with the annual Vermont Filmmakers’ Showcase™.  The selected films will be screened at the Vermont International Film Festival and will be eligible for a range of awards.

    2014 Vermont Filmmakers’ Showcase Selected Films:

    Threshold
    Experimental Documentary/2014/21 min
    Director: Angus McCullough
    We are often lulled into ignorance about the forces at work all around us. Banal environments are dominated by philosophies and conventions, whether man-made or “natural.” Threshold exists exactly between the cultural and the natural to bring either side of that gateway into sharper focus.

    Green Mountain Dreamers
    Documentary/2014/29 min
    Director: Mt. Mansfield Media
    A heartwarming documentary about Boston Red Sox fans; these Vermonters redefine what it means to ‘B Strong’. Enjoy their stories of passion, perseverance, and pride, inspired by a team that never gives up.

    Loser’s Crown
    Fiction/2014/105 min
    Director: Colin Thompson
    A 30-year-old man in crisis goes home to Vermont (from Los Angeles) for Christmas and finally realizes that trying to be cool is an exhausting waste of time.

    Loser’s Crown
    Fiction/2014/105 min
    Director: Colin Thompson
    A 30-year-old man in crisis goes home to Vermont (from Los Angeles) for Christmas and finally realizes that trying to be cool is an exhausting waste of time.

    United We Ski
    Documentary/2013/35 min
    Director: Tyler Wilkinson-Ray
    United We Ski examines the importance of small ski areas to the sport of skiing and New England life. The film looks at the rise and decline of the region’s small ski areas and tells the story of three surviving areas in Vermont–Hardack, Cochran’s, and Northeast Slopes– which rely on community support, volunteerism, and Yankee ingenuity to provide affordable skiing to local families.

    We Are Small
    Fiction/2014/11 min
    Director: Jeremy MacKenzie
    When a little girl is shunned for being “too small” by other kids in the neighborhood who are making a snowman, she is inspired by her doll collection to prove that smallness has its strengths, too.

    All the Wonders
    Fiction/2013/8 min
    Director: Tim Joy
    A man who is on the brink of suicide is visited by a magical being who gives him a new perspective on life.

    Dark Legacy
    Fiction/ 2014/8 min
    Director: Daniel Sparling
    A young boy is pulled into a fight for his life with a dark spirit who transforms her victims into pigs before she eats them.

    11 Paper Place
    Animation/ 2014/ 7 min
    Director: Daniel Houghton
    11 Paper Place is a love story about two 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper that magically transform into paper people as they are spit out of a malfunctioning printer into a recycling bin.

    Do Not Disturb
    Fiction/2014/11 MIN
    Director: Matt Lennon
    A man spends the last night of his life alone in a hotel room. Things don’t go as smoothly as expected.

    Thaw
    Fiction/2014/10 min
    Director: Sheryl Glubok
    On a winter weekend getaway, a woman picks up a musician who ignites her creative passion.

    The North Star
    Fiction/2013/5 min
    Director: Rob Koier
    Based on actual texts from fugitive slave memoirs transcribed in the 1830s, The North Star is a haunting recreation of a slave escaping from the South to New England.

    Give In
    Fiction/2014/10 min
    Director: Benjamin Savard
    A young woman struggling with anxiety sits down with a therapist after her self-destructive actions reach a boiling point.

    Past Tense
    Fiction/2013/91 min
    Director: Robert Fritz
    Elizabeth’s parents died in a car crash when she was 11 years old, and her visits to the cemetery, where she begins to do grave rubbings, open her eyes to the other gravestones and other past lives, and she starts to write their stories. Two important women in Elizabeth’s life, her therapist and her writing teacher, pull her in vastly different directions, especially when a spirit from one of her grave rubbings appears, asking for help.

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  • Woodstock Film Festival 2014 Film Lineup

    Two Men in Town Two Men in Town

    The 15th Annual “fiercely independent” Woodstock Film Festival runs Wednesday, October 15, through Sunday, October 19, with more than 150 films, panels, performances and special events. Screenings and events take place in the historic arts colony of Woodstock, NY, and the neighboring towns of Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Saugerties and Kingston, just two hours from New York City in the Hudson Valley Catskills. The festival was founded by filmmakers Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto.

    OPENING NIGHT FILM
    After a troubled youth and 18 years in prison, William Garnett is being released. With the help of an idealistic parole agent and his new-found Islamic faith, Garnett struggles to rebuild his life and overcome the violent impulses which possess him. However, Bill Agati, the Sheriff of the small New Mexico border county where Garnett is released, has other ideas. Convinced that Garnett is unredeemable and is a threat to the security of his county, Agati launches a campaign to return Garnett to prison for life.

    Two Men in Town stars Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Harvey Keitel, Brenda Blethyn, Luis Guzman, Dolores Héredia, Ellen Burstyn, Tim Guinee, Reg E. Cathey, and is directed by Rachid Bouchareb (Indigènes (Days of Glory)) and produced by Allen Bain (The Cake Eaters, Room, and Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story), both of whom have shown films at the Woodstock Film Festival in previous years.

    CLOSING NIGHT FILM
    The Better Angels, which takes its name from a line in Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, tells the story of Lincoln’s childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana, the hardships that shaped him and the tragedy that marked him forever. Using black and white cinematography to conjure an America where the land was raw, this film sheds new light on the formative years of the future president and the two women who molded him into one of the most revered men in American history.

    The film stars Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby), Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), Brit Marling (I Origins, Another Earth), and Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games, American Beauty), and was produced by Academy Award® Nominee Terrence Malick (Days of Heaven, Tree of Life), Nicolas Gonda, Jake DeVito and Charley Beil

    CENTERPIECE FILM
    Directed by Caryn Waechter, The Sisterhood of Night is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods. 

    The Sisterhood of Night stars Georgie Henley, Kara Hayward, Kal Penn, Laura Fraser, Willa Cuthrell, Olivia De Jonge, Jessica Hecht, and Neal Huff. 

    SPECIAL SCREENINGS
    Creep, directed by Patrick Brice, is a two-man story set in a remote mountain cabin in the woods. Joseph, expecting to die soon of an unstated illness, hires Aaron through an ad on Craigslist to document the end of his life as a legacy to his unborn son. Creep will be presented by actor, co-writer and co-producer Mark Duplass, who will lead a discussion following the screening.

    Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, directed by Chuck Workman, looks at the remarkable genius of Orson Welles on the eve of his centenary – the enigma of his career as a Hollywood star, a Hollywood director, and a crucially important independent filmmaker. Director Workman will be on hand for Q&A following the screening.

    The Fly Room, directed by Alexis Gambis, is a wondrous story that captures the mysterious inner world of a child’s imagination at the brink of scientific discovery. The film will be introduced by Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center and the Creative Director of Beyond Rubik’s Cube.

    Antarctica 3D: On the Edge, directed by Jon Bowermaster, witnesses the National Geographic explorer and his adventurous team travel along the frozen coastline by sea kayak, ice-worthy sailboat, and on foot to gain an up-close look and attempt to better understand just how the seventh continent is changing. Staying for a Q&A following the screening, filmmaker and WFF guest Jon Bowermaster will also be featured on the “Impact Filmmaking” panel.

    Just Before I Go, directed by Courteney Cox, follows Ted as he decides to end his mediocre life. Before doing so, he returns to his hometown to revisit the demons of his past: the cruel school teacher; the relentless bully; the girl who got away. Courteney Cox will take part in a Q&A following the screening, as well as being featured on the “Women in the Director’s Chair” panel to discuss her feature-length directorial debut.

    2014 NARRATIVE FEATURES

    Feature narratives include: All Relative, The American Side, Amira & Sam, Arwad, Before I Disappear, Bread and Butter, Creep, Eat with Me, The Fly Room, Friends and Romans, I Believe in Unicorns, Just Before I Go, The Last Time You Had Fun, Late Phases, Listening, Little Accidents, Mahjong and the West, The Man Who Saved the World, Patrick’s Day, The Red Robin, Runoff, Sacrifice, The Sisterhood of Night, Uncertain Terms, White Rabbit, WildLike, The Young Kieslowski

    2014 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

    Documentaries include: A Small Section of the World, A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, Angel Azul, Antarctica 3D: On the Edge, Down in Shadowland, East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem, Enquiring Minds: The Untold Story of the Man Behind the National Enquirer, The Hand That Feeds, How I Got Over, Killswitch, Limited Partnership, Little White Lie, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, Mentor, Pauly Shore Stands Alone, Playing With Parkinson’s, Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year On The Gay Rodeo, Red Lines, SlingShot, Stray Dog, Two Raging Grannies, Untitled Film On “World Citizen #1” Garry Davis, Why I’m Not on Facebook

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  • Julianne Moore in “Maps to the Stars” and John Lithgow in “Love is Strange” Bookends Lineup for Australia’s Canberra International Film Festival

    Maps to the StarsMaps to the Stars

    The Canberra International Film Festival opens on October 23 and goes until November 9, featuring 21 Australian Premieres and 20 documentaries. Opening Night film is Maps to the Stars starring Julianne Moore, and Closing Night’s Love is Strange is an ensemble romantic comedy about the fall out after a same sex marriage reveals society’s continued prejudices.

    The Dead LandsThe Dead Lands

    The Australian Premiere action epic Centerpiece film is The Dead Lands, the first film to showcase the ancient Maori martial art Mau rakau and comes to Canberra direct from its Toronto International Film Festival Premiere together with Producer Matthew Metcalfe who will participate in a CIFF Conversation about the film after its screening.

    David Cronenberg takes on the Hollywood he has been side-stepping throughout his career in Map To The Stars, this spooky, satirical indictment of the fame game.

    http://youtu.be/fwxmnyoofPs

    Julianne Moore serves a signature stunner of a performance as Havana Segrand, an insecure middleaged Hollywood actress becoming increasingly desperate and ruthless in her schemes to land the lead role in a remake of a film her mother had starred in. Her therapist, Dr. Weiss [John Cusack] is a TV psychologist and self-help guru who makes a mint off celebrity clients and his megastar teenage son whose career is booming as much as his ego and drug problems. Into the mix walks Agatha [Canberra’s own, Mia Wasikowska], a recovering pyromaniac who Havana has hired as an assistant based on a Twitter recommendation from Carrie Fisher, and her friend Jerome [Robert Pattinson] a struggling actor getting by as a limo driver. It’s a vacuous world of celebrity self-indulgence into which Cronenberg lets rip with biting satire and social commentary, and then twists it all with some supernatural thrills and mystery. It’s a Kardashian’s worst nightmare: outrageous, witty, unapologetically smart and seriously unsettling.

    Love Is StrangeLove Is Strange

    Uplifting with a slight sting in the laughter, the warm ensemble “Love Is Strange” is a timely reminder of how far we’ve come and the prejudices we still need to put to rest.

    http://youtu.be/XdfA5Ff5e78

    With the introduction of same sex marriage legislation, Ben and George [Lithgow and Molina], after 40 years together, have finally been able to tie the knot. But immediately after, George is fired from his teaching post in a religious school, forcing the couple to live separately, dossing in with friends, while they search for a more affordable home. Their unplanned separation and new living arrangements bring both calamity and camaraderie to their respective hosts, and both comedy and pathos to this delicately handled tale of togetherness. A fantastic ensemble cast offers charming insights to all sides of this scenario and Sachs’ expert direction of his own script allows them all to shine in a memorable madcap for the modern family.

    Click here for full lineup

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  • Gary International Black Film Festival to Open This Weekend with African American Western “THEY DIE BY DAWN”

    they die by dawn

    The Fourth Annual Gary International Black Film Festival (GIBFF) taking place this weekend, October 17, 18 and 19, 2014, at Indiana University Northwest Bergland Auditorium, Savannah Hall, in Gary, Indiana, will offer what the festival calls “a powerful lineup of drama, documentary and short films.” The festival opens tonight with THEY DIE BY DAWN, a star-studded film based on the true life African American Cowboys of the old west.

    http://youtu.be/d7UXL8D7XSw

    Directed by Jeymes Samuel (aka The Bullits), THEY DIE BY DAWN features an all-star cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Michael K Williams, Nate Parker, Jesse Williams, Rosario Dawson, Isaiah Washington, Erykah Badu, Bokeem Woodbine and Harry Lennix, the film sets out to tell the story of a showdown between the real life characters in the Wild Black West.

     MY NAME IS GARYMY NAME IS GARY

    The festival will also feature the World Premiere of MY NAME IS GARY. This documentary is described by the festival as a loving and well balanced tribute to the people of Gary, IN produced and directed by French filmmakers Frederic Cousseau and Blandine Huk. The film features reflections and interviews with current and former Gary residents on the rise, decline and hope for the future of this once-proud steel town. Interviews with former Gary Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher, and others provide unique history of the city where black people rose to power.

    Christmas Wedding BabyChristmas Wedding Baby

    Saturday Night Spotlight film is the Midwest Premiere of Christmas Wedding Baby directed by Kiara Jones along with the stunning drama, Stay Cold: Stay Hungry, directed by award winning cinematographer Eric Branco. As part of the festival’s annual celebration that shines a light on the hometown, Gary Wirt alumni Antwon Tanner will be on hand to discuss and share his work in the provocative drama, CRU. A youth film showcase with films by young people and for young people will open the Saturday menu of films.

     http://youtu.be/kuPGZ-kjiks

     

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  • “INHERENT VICE” and “THE GAMBLER” Added to the Lineup for 2014 AFI FEST

    INHERENT VICEINHERENT VICE

    Warner Bros. Pictures’ INHERENT VICE and Paramount Pictures’ THE GAMBLER have been added to the lineup for the 2014 AFI FEST which will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, California. THE GAMBLER directed by Rupert Wyatt will have its World Premiere on Monday, November 10, 2014, and INHERENT VICE written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Paul Thomas Anderson, based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon will play on Saturday, November 8.

    In THE GAMBLER, Jim Bennett (Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker.  Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral.  Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award® winner Jessica Lange) in his wake.  He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future.  As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance. Produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff and David Winkler. Based upon the film written by James Toback with a screenplay by William Monahan. Directed by Rupert Wyatt.

    INHERENT VICE is the seventh feature from Academy Award® nominee Paul Thomas Anderson and the first ever film adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel; and stars Academy Award® nominees Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin and Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Academy Award® winners Reese Witherspoon and Benicio Del Toro, Martin Short, Jena Malone and Joanna Newsom, 

    When private eye Doc Sportello’s ex-old lady suddenly out of nowhere shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him a loony bin…well, easy for her to say.

    It’s the tail end of the psychedelic ‘60s and paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that “love” is another of those going around at the moment, like “trip” or “groovy,” that’s being way too overused—except that this one usually leads to trouble.

    With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity knows as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentist…Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp – all Thomas Pynchon.

    The film is produced by Anderson, together with Academy Award® nominees JoAnne Sellar and Daniel Lupi. 

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  • “THE OVERNIGHTERS” “LISTEN UP PHILIP” Among 2014 Official Selections of Los Cabos International Film Festival

    THE OVERNIGHTERS

    THE OVERNIGHTERS

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  • DOC NYC Unveils Film Lineup; DO I SOUND GAY? Opens, THE YES MEN ARE REVOLTING Closes Fest

    Do I Sound Gay?Do I Sound Gay?

    DOC NYC, announced the full line-up for its fifth edition, running November 13-20 at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village and Chelsea’s SVA Theatre and Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas in New York CIty. Representing a dramatic growth from last year’s edition, the 2014 festival will showcase 153 films and events, with over 200 documentary makers and special guests expected in person to present their films to New York City audiences.

    The Yes Men Are RevoltingThe Yes Men Are Revolting

    Joining the US premiere of Opening Night Film Do I Sound Gay? as a Gala presentation, is this year’s Closing Night Film, the US premiere of The Yes Men Are Revolting, directed by Laura Nix and The Yes Men. Both films made their debut in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

    Among the world premieres are the debuts of An Open Secret, an exposé about sexual abuse in Hollywood, by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil, West of Memphis); Still Dreaming, in which the residents of an actors’ retirement home perform Shakespeare, by Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller; and Almost There, a portrait of an outsider artist with a surprising past, by Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden.

    In addition to an expanded Short List—DOC NYC’s selection of the best docs of the year—and the increase of the festival’s panel series, Doc-A-Thon, by two days, this year’s event debuts four new thematic programming strands: Fight the Power celebrates activism,Centerstage highlights performance, Jock Docs focuses on sports, and Docs Redux revisits classic films.

    The following is a breakdown of programming by section:

    GALAS

    Opening Night: Do I Sound Gay?
    Dir: David Thorpe, 2014, US Premiere
    After a breakup with his boyfriend, journalist David Thorpe embarks on a hilarious and touching journey of self-discovery, confronting his anxiety about “sounding gay.” In person: David Thorpe

    Closing Night: The Yes Men Are Revolting
    Dirs: Laura Nix, The Yes Men, 2014, US Premiere
    A chronicle of the past five years of pranksters The Yes Men, the infamous activists known for duping the media with their impersonations of corporate shills and government stooges. In person: Laura Nix, The Yes Men

    SPECIAL EVENTS – Seven standout films coupled with high-profile conversations with the directors and special guests.

    Above and Beyond
    Dir: Roberta Grossman, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Reveals the hidden history behind the creation of Israel’s air force. International Film Circuit, opens Jan. 30. In person: Producer Nancy Spielberg

    Back On Board: Greg Louganis
    Dir: Cheryl Furjanic, 2014, NYC Premiere
    This strikingly candid profile explores the triumphs and tragedies of Olympian Greg Louganis, considered by many the greatest diver of all time. In person: Cheryl Furjanic, film subject Greg Louganis

    Banksy Does New York
    Dir: Chris Moukarbel, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Last October, when infamous street artist Banksy revealed his New York City residency, he set off a daily scavenger hunt among curious fans, would-be art collectors and, of course, the police. HBO Documentary Films, broadcasts Nov. 17. In person: Chris Moukarbel

    Enquiring Minds: The Untold Story of the Man Behind the National Enquirer
    Dir: Ric Burns, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Serving up a sensational exposé in line with his juicy subject, acclaimed multiple-Emmy Award-winner Ric Burns uncovers the strange history of the National Enquirer and the tabloid’s legendary publisher, Generoso Pope Jr. In person: Ric Burns

    I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
    Dirs: Dave LaMattina & Chad Walker, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Sesame Street‘s Big Bird may be one of the world’s most recognizable characters, but far less familiar is Caroll Spinney, the man who has brought to life the yellow-feathered Muppet—as well as the irascible Oscar the Grouch—since 1969. In person: Dave LaMattina & Chad Walker, film subjects Caroll & Debra Spinney

    An Open Secret
    Dir: Amy Berg, 2014, World Premiere
    Every year, thousands of children swarm Hollywood in search of fame, but what they often find under the surface is a deep and disturbing underbelly of manipulation and abuse. In person: Amy Berg

    Soul Boys of the Western World
    Dir: George Hencken, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Spandau Ballet, one of the bands that defined the 1980s, tell their own story, set against a backdrop of evocative period footage, including never-before-seen home movies. In person: George Hencken and all the band members from Spandau Ballet—their first time in New York since 1983!

    VIEWFINDERS – Juried Competition. Ten films notable for their distinct directorial visions.

    Almost There
    Dirs: Dan Rybicky & Aaron Wickenden, 2014, World Premiere
    After the filmmakers meet octogenarian artist Peter Anton, they become enmeshed in his life, helping to stage an exhibition of his work.

    Cairo Drive
    Dir: Sherief Elkatsha, 2013, NYC Premiere
    Shot before, during and after the revolution, this entertaining film explores Cairo from the street level through the perspectives of its drivers.

    In Country
    Dirs: Mike Attie & Meghan O’Hara, 2014, NYC Premiere
    By now, the idea of Civil War re-enactment is familiar, but the subjects of this intriguing film relive the battles of a far more surprising conflict: Vietnam.

    Kasamayaki
    Dir: Yuki Kokubo, 2014, World Premiere
    Following the devastation of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Yuki visits her estranged parents in Kasama, Japan, a rural artist community, in the hopes of making sense of their past.

    The Life and Mind of Mark Defriest
    Dir: Gabriel London, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Sentenced to four years in prison in 1978, Mark DeFriest’s numerous escapes have kept him incarcerated for over three decades.

    Meet the Patels
    Dirs: Geeta V. Patel & Ravi V. Patel, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Nearing 30, first-generation Indian-American Ravi Patel breaks up with his secret, white girlfriend to seek the Indian woman of his parents’ dreams—who should also be named Patel, keeping with tradition. Sundance Selects, opens Mar. 14.

    Monsieur Le Président
    Dir: Victoria Campbell, 2013, World Premiere
    Volunteering in Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake, the filmmaker encounters Gaston, a charming voodoo priest who shows leadership during the emergency.

    No Control
    Dir: Jessica Solce, 2014, World Premiere
    A provocative exploration of the contentious issue of gun control through profiles of two men at opposite ends of the debate.

    Song From the Forest
    Dir: Michael Obert, 2013, NYC Premiere
    An American musicologist who abandoned modern civilization to join an African pygmy tribe brings his son to New York City. Film Collaborative, opens Spring 2015.

    The Wound and the Gift
    Dir: Linda Hoaglund, 2014, US Premiere
    All over the world, people save animals that were bred, abused or sold on the black market, with an impact on both rescuer and rescued.

    METROPOLIS – Juried Competition. Nine quintessentially New York stories.

    Coming Home
    Dir: Viko Nikci, 2014, North American Premiere
    Finally released from prison, an innocent man attempts to repair his relationship with his daughter and to confront the man who committed the crime for which he was punished.

    The Hand That Feeds
    Dirs: Rachel Lears & Robin Blotnick, 2014, NYC Premiere
    An Upper East Side “Hot & Crusty” bakery serves as the unlikely setting for an old-fashioned David vs. Goliath story, as service workers demand better working conditions and wages.

    Homme Less
    Dir: Thomas Wirthensohn, 2014, North American Premiere
    From all outside appearances, Mark seems to have the glamorous New York City life that many would envy… but he harbors a secret.

    Penthouse North
    Dir: Johanna St Michaels, 2014, NYC Premiere
    In her heyday, Swedish bombshell Agneta ruled the world from her fabulous Central Park West apartment, but times—and her finances—have changed.

    Rubble Kings
    Dir: Shan Nicholson, 2014, North American Premiere
    Confronting a bankrupt, decaying city and the dashed hopes of the civil rights generation, African-American and Latino teenagers violently took over the streets of 1970s New York.
    Rubble Kings screens with the short film The Chaperone (Fraser Munden & Neil Rathbone,14 min.). An action-packed, animated retelling of what happened when a drunken motorcycle gang invaded a 1970s school dance.

    The Seven Five
    Dir: Tiller Russell, 2014, NYC Premiere
    NYPD officer Michael Dowd was at the center of an infamous cop corruption scandal of the early 1990s.

    Some Kind of Spark
    Dir: Ben Niles, 2014, World Premiere
    Illustrating the transformative power not only of music, but of mentorship, this film is an uplifting look at Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program for inner-city youth.

    Stop
    Dir: Spencer Wolff, 2014, World Premiere
    After David Ourlicht was stopped and searched by the NYPD for no discernible reason, he filed a class-action suit against the City of New York, alleging racial profiling in the police department’s stop-and-frisk policy.

    Tough Love
    Dir: Stephanie Wang-Breal, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Having lost custody of their children to Child Protective Services, two parents in New York City and Seattle fight to win back the trust of the courts and reunite their families.

    AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES – Nine films present a virtual tour around the United States.

    The Age of Love
    Dir: Steven Loring, 2014, NYC Premiere
    An unprecedented speed-dating event for seniors serves as the backdrop for this alternately poignant and funny look at love among the 70+ set.

    All American High Revisited
    Dir: Keva Rosenfeld, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Thirty years after he profiled the senior class of a typical California high school, the filmmaker revisits several members of the class of 1984 to see how they turned out.

    Florence, Arizona
    Dir: Andrea B. Scott, 2014, World Premiere
    A resonant work of modern Americana, this film paints a rich and often humorous portrait of a cowboy town set in the heart of Arizona’s prison industry.

    Grazers: A Cooperative Story
    Dirs: Lisa F. Jackson & Sarah Teale, 2014, World Premiere
    With interest in farm-to-table food on the rise, a small band of upstate New York farmers sees an opportunity to hold on to their endangered farms by raising and selling grass-fed beef.

    Hotline
    Dir: Tony Shaff, 2014
    Even in our increasingly disconnected digital age, telephone hotlines continue to bring strangers together for a multiplicity of reasons. Gravitas, VOD Nov. 18.

    Little White Lie
    Dir: Lacey Schwartz, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Growing up in an upper-middle-class Jewish household, Lacey Schwartz knew she looked different from the rest of her family, but never suspected the truth.
    Little White Lie screens with the short film Mirror Image (Danielle Schwartz, Israel, 11 min.). An attempt to establish the provenance of an Israeli family’s heirloom becomes a debate over language and history.

    Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine
    Dir: Michele Josue, 2013, NYC Premiere
    While the world remembers Matthew Shepard’s death at the hands of homophobic attackers, this poignant film celebrates his life.

    A Murder in the Park
    Dirs: Shawn Rech & Brandon Kimber, 2014, World Premiere
    A college journalism class’s re-examination of a murder case leads to the exoneration of an innocent man… or does it?

    Sex and Broadcasting, a film about WFMU
    Dir: Tim K. Smith, 2014, World Premiere
    A portrait of New Jersey’s WFMU, which has occupied a unique position as an independent, commercial-free, listener-supported radio station since its inception in the late 1950s.

    INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES – Eight films go globetrotting.

    Every Last Child
    Dir: Tom Roberts, 2014, World Premiere
    After the Taliban bans polio vaccinations and spreads misinformation, Pakistan suffers devastating outbreaks of the disease, prompting strategic problem-solving from the World Health Organization.

    The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
    Dir: Mami Sunada, 2013, NYC Premiere
    Offering animation fans a rare look inside Japan’s Studio Ghibli, this fascinating film profiles its most famous creators, Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), and his friendly rival and business partner, Isao Takahata (Pom Poko). GKIDS, opens Nov. 28.

    Marmato
    Dir: Mark Grieco, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Exploring the intersection of economic development, environmental impact and globalization, this is an intimate and richly observed portrait of Marmato, a rural mining town threatened with destruction.

    Miss Tibet: Beauty in Exile
    Dir: Norah Shapiro, 2014, World Premiere
    A Tibetan teenager travels from Minneapolis to India to compete in a most unlikely beauty pageant.

    The Return
    Dir: Adam Zucker, 2014
    How does one claim an identity in a vacuum? Living in Poland, the four young women in this engaging film learned of their Jewish roots after growing up Catholic. Seventh Art Releasing.

    A Small Section of the World
    Dir: Lesley Chilcott, 2014, NYC Premiere
    In equal measures inspiring and endearing, this film spotlights a group of Costa Rican village women who form a coffee-growing collective—despite not knowing the first thing about growing coffee. FilmBuff, opens Dec. 5.
    A Small Section of the World screens with the short film Santa Cruz del Islote (Luke Lorentzen, 19 min.). Inhabitants of a remote Colombian island paradise face an uncertain future in changing times.

    Vessel
    Dir: Diana Whitten, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Moved by the plight of desperate women in countries with restrictive reproductive rights, a Dutch physician uses laws governing international waters to bring much-needed abortion and contraceptive services on the high seas.

    When People Die They Sing Songs
    Dir: Olga Lvoff, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Under the watchful eyes of her dutiful daughter Sonia, Regina recalls the Yiddish and French songs of her youth through music therapy sessions following a stroke.
    When People Die They Sing Songs screens with the short film The Lion’s Mouth Opens(Lucy Walker, 28 min.). A young woman is about to learn whether she has inherited her father’s incurable, terminal disease.

    CENTERSTAGE – New section! Four films put the spotlight on performance.

    Capturing Grace
    Dir: David Iverson, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Recognizing that music and rhythmic activity can help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease achieve greater control of their mobility, two dancers from New York’s Mark Morris Dance Group lead a dance workshop.
    Capturing Grace screens with the short film The Astronaut’s Secret (Zach Jankovic, 30 min.). After his 1996 mission in space, astronaut Rich Clifford and NASA kept a secret for 17 years.

    The Last Impresario
    Dir: Gracie Otto, 2014, NYC Premiere
    From The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, producer Michael White has helped bring enduring cultural touchstones to Broadway, London’s West End and the silver screen over the last four decades, but the bon vivant may be the most famous person you’ve never heard of. FilmBuff, opens Dec. 5.

    Still Dreaming
    Dirs: Hank Rogerson & Jilann Spitzmiller, 2014, World Premiere
    Located just outside of Manhattan, the Lillian Booth Actors Home provides a most resonant setting for the staging of a classic play in which nothing is what it seems.

    Us, Naked: Trixie & Monkey
    Dir: Kirsten D’Andrea Hollander, 2014, World Premiere
    A pair of acrobatic burlesque performers attempt to juggle art, love and financial stability in this perceptive portrait.

    JOCK DOCS – New section! Five films focused on sports and athletes.

    9-Man
    Dir: Ursula Liang, 2014
    A variant of volleyball developed by Chinese immigrants to America as both an athletic pastime and a social outlet in a time of widespread anti-Chinese sentiment, discrimination and segregation, now serves to unite young men with their culture.

    Althea
    Dir: Rex Miller, 2014, World Premiere
    In the 1950s, long before Arthur Ashe or Venus and Serena Williams, Althea Gibson was the first African-American tennis player to win Grand Slam tournaments.

    Hardy
    Dir: Natasha Verma, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Although Brooklyn’s Heather “The Heat” Hardy has only been boxing for a few years, she’s a world champion in the making—but first she has to be given the chance to prove herself in a sport that has been slow to open its doors to female athletes.

    Opposite Field
    Dir: Jay Shapiro, 2014, World Premiere
    In its nearly 70-year history, the Little League World Series has never hosted a team from Africa. The Ugandan team hopes to change that.

    Top Spin
    Dirs: Sara Newens & Mina T. Son, 2014, World Premiere
    Three driven teenage athletes attempt to go for Olympic gold in the perpetually popular but underappreciated game of table tennis.

    FIGHT THE POWER – New section! Six films celebrate the power of activism.

    Brothers of the Black List
    Dir: Sean Gallagher, 2014, NYC Premiere
    In the fall of 1992, despite efforts to recruit minority students, SUNY Oneonta set off a firestorm of controversy that led to the longest litigated civil-rights case in US history.

    Disruption
    Dir: Pamela Yates, 2013, NYC Premiere
    Recognizing the persistence of income inequality in South America, a group of activist economists join together to offer an alternative path to eliminating poverty.

    Divide in Concord
    Dir: Kris Kaczor, 2014, NYC Premiere
    A feisty octogenarian, concerned about the environmental impact of our disposable culture, is on a mission to ban the local sale of plastic bottled water, facing off against her celebrity publicist-turned-pundit nemesis.

    Limited Partnership
    Dir: Thomas G. Miller, 2014, NYC Premiere
    A poignant portrait of four decades of devotion despite overwhelming odds, this film follows a transnational LGBT couple’s immigration battle.

    She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
    Dir: Mary Dore, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Through a treasure trove of archival material and profiles of several outspoken pioneers of the women’s movement, we revisit the remarkable eruption of activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s that signaled the arrival of modern feminism. International Film Circuit, opens Dec. 5.

    Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa
    Dir: Abby Ginzberg, 2014, NYC Premiere
    At the height of apartheid, noted South African activist, author and attorney Albie Sachs was driven into exile, yet still faced threats to his life that cost him dearly.

    SONIC CINEMA – Six films explore music and musicians.

    Béla Fleck: How to Write a Banjo Concerto
    Dirs: Béla Fleck and Sascha Paladino, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Commissioned to create a first-of-its-kind concerto for the banjo and an 80-piece symphony orchestra, virtuoso musician Béla Fleck faces an intensely personal challenge of collaboration and composition. Argot Pictures, opens Winter 2015.

    Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock & Roll
    Dir: John Pirozzi, 2014, NYC Premiere
    A fascinating exploration of history as reflected through a nation’s popular culture, this film excavates Cambodia’s lost era of American-inflected music. Argot Pictures, opens Spring 2015.

    Heaven Adores You
    Dir: Nickolas Rossi, 2014, NYC Premiere
    An artful tribute to the too-soon departed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith.

    Jingle Bell Rocks!
    Dir: Mitchell Kezin, 2013, NYC Premiere
    An entertaining quest to locate the top twelve strangest holiday songs you’re likely to ever hear, from “Santa Claus Was a Black Man” to “Christmas in Vietnam.” 
    Oscilloscope Laboratories.

    Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-1990)
    Dir: Scott Crawford, 2014, US Premiere
    An exploration of the development and evolution of the Washington, DC punk scene, and how it shaped independent music and popular culture in the decade that followed.

    Songs for Alexis
    Dir: Elvira Lind, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Eighteen-year-old hopeless romantic Ryan, a young transgender man, writes songs about his sixteen-year-old girlfriend Alexis as the couple navigates a long distance relationship between Long Island and San Francisco.

    DOCS REDUX – New section! Revisit seven past nonfiction favorites, including several films by this year’s DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute recipients.

    The Chair
    Filmmakers: Drew Associates, 1962
    This classic follows the attorney Louis Nizer as he attempts to save prisoner Paul Crump from the electric chair.

    David 
    Filmmakers: DA Pennebaker & William Ray, 1961
    Rare 35mm screening of Drew Associates’ portrait of a jazz trumpeter struggling through drug rehab.

    High School
    Dir: Frederick Wiseman, 1968
    Wiseman’s classic look at an urban Philadelphia high school, capturing interactions between students, teachers, parents and administrators.

    Hoop Dreams
    Dir: Steve James, 1994
    Twentieth anniversary restoration. Two Chicago teens are followed over their four years of high school as they aspire to use their basketball skills to create better futures for their families.

    Kings Of Pastry
    Dirs: Chris Hegedus & DA Pennebaker, 2009
    Sixteen French pastry chefs put their reputations at stake in a prestigious competition.

    Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
    Dirs: Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky, 2004
    Tenth anniversary. The members of the heavy metal band go through group therapy to save not only the band, but themselves.

    Salesman
    Dirs: Albert Maysles, David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin, 1968
    This breakthrough documentary follows door-to-door Bible salesmen as they ply their trade from Boston to Chicago to Miami.

    MIDNIGHT DOCS – Three films worth staying up late to see.
     
    Haunters
    Dir: Anthony Morrison, 2014, World Premiere
    A Michigan family-run business sets out to create the scariest haunted house in the state.

    Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere
    Dir: Dave Jannetta, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Imagine a This American Life episode devoted to a real-world Twin Peaks, and you might approximate the stranger-than-fiction story of small-town Chadron, Nebraska.

    Sex(Ed)
    Dir: Brenda Goodman, 2014, NYC Premiere
    Revisit the health class of your awkward teenage years in this fun survey of sexual education films. First Run Features, VOD/DVD Feb. 3.

    SHORTS PROGRAMS – Six thematic groupings of the best in short nonfiction filmmaking. DOC NYC is now an Academy Awards®-qualifying festival, with this year’s winning short film qualifying for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category.

    Art + Design
    Ways of seeing and interacting with the world, ranging from interior design and fonts to artisanal craftwork and custom yarmulkes.

    Life + Death
    An exploration of beginnings and endings, including the healing power of music, the recording of life’s major moments and the ethics of euthanasia.

    Lost + Found
    Unexpected discoveries and hidden histories, from secret presidential recordings and the lost payphones of NYC, to fancy cats and the world’s longest yard sale.

    Parts + Labor
    A series of shorts about making a living, offering portraits of workers and their work—selling pickles, raising buffalo, stuffing animals, cobbling, and casting manhole covers.

    Point + Shoot
    Views through the photographic lens, focusing on blind creators, unconventional beauty, Warhol history, and war photography.

    Show + Tell
    Kids offer their perspectives on NYC snow days, middle-school heavy metal, dog shows, and North Dakota’s oil boom.

    SHORT LIST – Our newly expanded section offers our picks for awards-season contenders. Last year, nine of our ten selections made that other short list.

    The Case Against 8
    Dirs: Ben Cotner & Ryan White, 2014
    Following the fight for marriage equality all the way to the Supreme Court, as former legal foes, progressive David Boies and ultra-conservative Ted Olson, join forces. HBO Documentary Films.

    CITIZENFOUR
    Dir: Laura Poitras, 2014
    A real-life thriller chronicling how Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies.
    RADiUS/Participant Media/HBO Documentary Films, opens Oct 24.

    E-Team
    Dirs: Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman, 2014
    A look at the dangerous but life-affirming work performed by the Human Rights Watch Emergency Team, or E-Team, a compelling group of intrepid investigators willing to enter hostile territories to document crimes against humanity that might otherwise go unreported. Netflix.

    Finding Vivian Maier
    Dirs: John Maloof & Charlie Siskel, 2013
    When Vivian Maier died in 2009 at age 83, she left behind more than 100,000 negatives of her street photography—images that she’d scarcely shared with anyone. Sundance Selects.

    The Great Invisible
    Dir: Margaret Brown, 2014
    An examination of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its impact on fishermen, oilmen and survivors. RADiUS/Participant Media, opens Oct. 29.

    Happy Valley
    Dir: Amir Bar-Lev, 2014
    An exploration of the Penn State scandal, focusing on hero worship and the court of public opinion, and their impact on everyday people caught in their wake. Music Box Films, opens Nov. 19.

    Keep On Keepin’ On
    Dir: Alan Hicks, 2014
    Celebrating mentorship as much as music, this inspirational and poignant film explores the common bonds between a 92-year-old jazz legend and his 23-year-old protégé. RADiUS.

    Last Days in Vietnam
    Dir: Rory Kennedy, 2014
    In the final weeks of the Vietnam War, with the invasion of Saigon imminent, the White House ordered the evacuation of U.S. citizens—but their South Vietnamese allies flooded onto embassy grounds seeking help. American Experience Films/PBS.

    Life Itself
    Dir: Steve James, 2014
    Acclaimed filmmaker Steve James pays tribute to the late Roger Ebert and to the love of movies. Magnolia Pictures.

    Merchants of Doubt
    Dir: Robert Kenner, 2014
    The director of Food, Inc reveals how corporations affect what we think, exploring the shadow world of experts who stake claims contrary to scientific consensus. Sony Pictures Classics/Participant Media, opens March 6.

    The Overnighters
    Dir: Jesse Moss, 2014
    Pastor Jay Reinke offers newcomers seeking employment the chance to sleep in his church, setting off a controversy within his small North Dakota town and his congregation. Drafthouse Films.

    Red Army
    Dir: Gabe Polsky, 2014
    This emotional look at the Soviet hockey team blends politics, sports and human drama. Sony Pictures Classics, opens Jan. 23.

    Rich Hill
    Dirs: Tracy Droz Tragos & Andrew Droz Palermo, 2014
    With roots in the eponymous, impoverished Missouri town, filmmaker cousins bring a sensitive touch to this richly observed and sublimely shot portrait of three boys. The Orchard.

    The Salt of the Earth
    Dirs: Wim Wenders & Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, 2014
    An insider and outsider’s perspective on photographer Sebastiao Salgado and the nature preserve Instituto Terra. Sony Pictures Classics, opens Apr. 3.

    Tales of the Grim Sleeper
    Dir: Nick Broomfield, 2014
    In one of his finest films, Nick Broomfield digs into a true crime story of a Los Angeles serial killer that raises larger questions about gender, race and class inequalities. HBO Documentary Films, 2015 broadcast.

    DOC-A-THON – Newly expanded from four to six days, DOC NYC’s panel and masterclass series for both emerging and established filmmakers offers 24 events, organized by daily themes. All Doc-A-Thon panels take place at the IFC Center.

    For the First-Time Filmmaker
    Thursday, Nov. 13
    Essential information for new filmmakers, with panels on “Mapping Out Your Film,” “Funding,” “Post-Production,” and “Distribution & Outreach.”

    All About the Short
    Friday, Nov. 14
    A focus on short-form storytelling, with panels on “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Short Filmmaking But Were Afraid To Ask,” “Who’s Buying Doc Shorts,” “Shorter Forms for Ever Shorter Attention Spans,” and “Nonfiction Shorts & the Festival Audience.”

    Shoot Your Doc
    Monday, Nov. 17
    A series of masterclasses exploring production, including “Cinematography,” “Producing,” “Music Rights,” and “Casting for Nonfiction.”

    Finish Your Doc
    Tuesday, Nov. 18
    Masterclasses offering critical advice for post-production, including “Editing,” “How to Produce an Award-Winning Archival Documentary,” “Sound Design,” and “Graphics & Animation.”

    Fund Your Doc
    Wednesday, Nov. 19
    Learn who is funding nonfiction and what they’re looking for, with panels on “Lessons on Creative Funding & Audience Building,” “Social-Action Filmmaking,” Pitch Workshop,” and “The ‘Documatrix’ of HBO,” a conversation with HBO Documentary Films’ Sheila Nevins.

    Reach Your Audience
    Thursday, Nov. 20
    Panels illuminating the importance of audience engagement, including “Social-Media Workshop,” “How to Maximize Digital Distribution,” “Documentaries are Narrative,” and “Making a Living as a Documentary Filmmaker.”

    Read more

  • Philadelphia Film Festival Screenings Beginning to Sell out and Add New Films

    The GuestThe Guest

    The 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival, which begins this week on Thursday, October 16 and continues through Sunday, October 26, have added new films to the event line-up.  The Festival will add a midnight screening of Sundance hit The Guest to this year’s Graveyard Shift film category.  Advance tickets have sold out for the Festival’s Opening Night Film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Centerpiece film, The Imitation Game. The October 23rd film screening of Imperial Dreams is also sold out with tickets still remaining for the October 22nd film screening. 

    From the filmmaking team behind You’re Next and the first two segments of the V/H/S trilogy, The Guest is a brilliant, John Carpenter-esque thriller/comedy about a small-town family whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious man shows up at their doorstep claiming to be an army buddy of their deceased son. The screening of The Guest will take place on Friday, October 17th at 11:59pm at the Ritz Bourse Theater with writer Simon Barrett in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

     http://youtu.be/-psayRM1XqU

    Read more

  • “GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM” “THE SPECIAL NEED” Win Top Awards at Hamptons International Film Festival

    GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEMGETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM

    GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM, directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz won The Golden Starfish Narrative Feature Award at the 2014 Hamptons International Film Festival. The Golden Starfish Award for Best Documentary was awarded to THE SPECIAL NEED directed by Carlo Zoratti. The best documentary Short Film goes to THE QUEEN (La Reina), directed by Manuel Abramovich.

    The Narrative Jury awarded a special jury prize for Outstanding Performance by an actress in a film to Ronit Elkabetz in GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM. The jury also gave a Most Promising Performance By A Newcomer to Jacob Lofland in LITTLE ACCIDENTS and Evocative Cinematography to Arnaud Potier for BREATHE. The jury has awarded the short film TZNIUT, directed by David Formentin, an award for raising awareness of a socially relevant issue.

    The documentary jury awarded a special prize to Tamara Erde for her achievement in Visionary Filmmaking for THIS IS MY LAND. The jury also awarded a Special Mention For Artistic Merit to Pavol Pekarčík, Ivan Ostrochovský and Peter Kerekes for their film VELVET TERRORISTS. The short film ONCE UPON A TREE was given an award for Artistic Merit for director Marleen van de Werf.

    Joel Schumacher was in attendance joined by actor Keifer Sutherland and People Magazine’s Editorial Director Jess Cagle and presented with a Lifetime AchievementAward in Directing. Hilary Swank was presented with Variety’s Creative Impact in Acting Award Presented by Montblanc.

    The Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award has been awarded to LITTLE ACCIDENTS directed by Sara Colangelo. This award honors an outstanding female narrative filmmaker.

    Prior to the Festival, E-TEAM, directed by Ross Kauffman, Katy Chevigny, was awarded the 2014 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution, presented in partnership with REACT to FILM. This includes being a part of REACT to FILM’s “Influencer Series” in spring 2014 at a high profile cultural organization, as well as the opportunity to be featured across REACT to FILM’s College Action Network, comprised of over 40 campuses nationwide.

    VIRUNGA, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel, has been awarded The Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for social justice. This award is given to a film that most exhibits the values of peace, equality and global justice.

    The Wouter Barendrecht Pioneering Vision Award, which recognizes an emerging filmmaker who is a creative risk taker and is fearlessly dedicated to their craft, was presented to THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY’s Peter Strickland.

    Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award is presented to a film that raises public awareness about contemporary social issues, including the moral and ethical treatment and the rights of animals as well as environmental protection. This year the award has been presented to VIRUNGA, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel.

    Also previously announced was the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize which was awarded to THE IMITATION GAME, by Morten Tyldum.

    HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS:

    The Wall Street Journal GSA Narrative Feature Winner
    Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz

    The GSA Documentary Feature Winner presented by A&E Indie
    The Special Need, directed by Carlo Zoratti

    GSA Award for Best Documentary Short Film
    The Queen, directed by Manuel Abramovich

    GSA Narrative Short
    Tzniut, directed by David Formentin

    The Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
    Virunga, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel

    The Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award
    Little Accidents, directed by Sara Colangelo

    Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award
    Virunga, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel

    The Wouter Barendrecht Award
    Duke Of Burgundy, directed by Peter Strickland

    Suffolk County Next Exposure Award
    Gabriel, directed by Lou Howe

    The 2014 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution, presented in partnership with REACT to FILM
    E-Team, directed by Ross Kauffman, Katy Chevigny

    The 2014 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
    The Imitation Game, directed by Morten Tyldum

    2014 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH
    Kaitlyn Dever, Laggies
    Eve Hewson, This Must Be The Place
    Dakota Johnson, 21 Jump Street
    Lola Kirke, Gone Girl
    Zoe Kravitz, X-Men: First Class
    Caleb Landry Jones, Low Down
    Jack O’Connell, Skins
    Tye Sheridan, The Tree of Life
    Jenny Slate, Obvious Child
    Miles Teller, Whiplash

    Read more

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