Immediately following the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, NEON acquired Border, a troll love story directed by Ali Abbasi and based on a novel by the writer of Let the Right One In, for release in the US.
Border is the second feature from Iranian-born Danish director Abbasi. He co-scripted the film with Isabella Eklöf, in collaboration with novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
The film tells the story of a border guard (Eva Melander) who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humankind.Films
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Neon Acquires Ali Abbasi’s BORDER Following World Premiere In Cannes
Immediately following the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, NEON acquired Border, a troll love story directed by Ali Abbasi and based on a novel by the writer of Let the Right One In, for release in the US.
Border is the second feature from Iranian-born Danish director Abbasi. He co-scripted the film with Isabella Eklöf, in collaboration with novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
The film tells the story of a border guard (Eva Melander) who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humankind.
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Trevor Noah, Gretchen Carlson, Jason Aldean Among Subjects of New PBS DocuSeries BREAKING BIG
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Trevor Noah[/caption]
Breaking Big, a 12-episode documentary series, exploring the unexpected journey to success of some of the world’s most influential artists, innovators, political leaders, athletes, authors and entrepreneurs will premiere Friday, June 15, 2018, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.
Hosted by Carlos Watson, an Emmy(R) Award-winning journalist and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com, Breaking Big explores the twists and turns on the road to thriving careers for some notable figures in various fields. The series of 30-minute documentary films traces the unusual paths followed by 12 talented men and women – from country music superstar Jason Aldean and former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson to Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels and chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang – who overcame nearly insurmountable obstacles and long odds to reach and reimagine their own potential and, ultimately, to break big.
The series will include analysis from eminent social scientists, marketing experts, film critics, book editors and others to help viewers understand the risk-taking and bold moves these journeys require.
Breaking Big kicks off on June 15 with “Daily Show” star and comedian Trevor Noah as the first guest and subject. The 12 celebrities and influencers profiled in the series, in broadcast order, include:
Trevor Noah – Host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central
Eddie Huang – Chef and restaurateur, author of Fresh Off the Boat
Danai Gurira – Actress and Award Winning Playwright (Black Panther, Walking Dead)
Jason Aldean – Country music superstar
Ruth Zukerman – Co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel
Christian Siriano – Fashion designer
Roxane Gay – Author and cultural critic
Michael Strahan – Host of “Good Morning, America” and former NFL star
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand – U.S. Senator, New York
Lee Daniels – Academy Award-winning director, Precious and Fox series “Empire”
Gretchen Carlson – Former Fox News anchor and Miss America
Carmen Yulín Cruz – Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico
“PBS is known as the home for compelling stories that engage and inspire,” said Marie Nelson, Vice President of News and Independent Film for PBS. “We know audiences will love Breaking Big, a series that offers a compelling look at the many roads to success, pulling back the curtain on the public figures and entertainers we admire to reveal our shared humanity.”
“The paths leading up to a game-changing career are varied and rarely without setbacks and lucky breaks,” said Carlos Watson, the host of the series and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com. “The series will explore the various roads to and definitions of success, examine the qualities of people who have achieved mastery in their field and, we hope, serve as inspiration to the next generation hoping to ‘break big.'”
Photo Credit: Comedy Central
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Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Nadine Labaki’s CAPERNAUM for December Awards Release
Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum which is set to premiere next Thursday at Cannes Film Festival in competition, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in North America and Latin America. Capernaum marks a return to Cannes for the Lebanese filmmaker, whose two previous films, CARAMEL and Where Do We Go Now? (winner of the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival) premiered at the festival, and reunites Labaki with Sony Pictures Classics, which distributed Where Do We Go Now?.
Written by Labaki (Where Do We Go Now?), who also appears in the film, Capernaum tells the story of a child who rebels against the life imposed on him and launches a lawsuit against his parents.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with Sony Pictures Classics. Capernaum is very special to me, and with the passion Tom and Michael have for this film, I know this is the ideal partnership,” said Labaki.
Said Sony Pictures Classics, “Nadine Labaki is one of the world’s great filmmakers. Capernaum is an emotionally profound experience about the world we live in and promises to be a triumph in Cannes. Nadine Labaki’s moment as writer-director is here and now. It is thrilling to be working with her, as well as her producer Khaled Mouzanar, Vincent Maraval and Eva Diederix at Wild Bunch, and Roeg Sutherland and CAA.”
Sony Pictures Classics plans to open the film in December qualifying the movie for year-end awards consideration.
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HBO Sets Memorial Day Date for John McCain Documentary JOHN MCCAIN: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
HBO has set the debut date for and confirmed the title – John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls – of the previously announced documentary about Senator John Sidney McCain, III. Produced and directed by six-time Emmy(R) winner Peter Kunhardt, along with Emmy(R) winners George Kunhardt and Teddy Kunhardt, the film is described as an illuminating, exclusive profile of one of the most influential forces in modern American politics.
John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls will debut this Memorial Day, MONDAY, MAY 28 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO.
Following more than 31 years of public service, the six-term senior Arizona senator agreed to participate in the film shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer, providing unprecedented access to his daily life in Washington, D.C. and Sedona, Arizona. The film features interviews with family, friends, colleagues and leading political figures such as former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Mesmerized at 12 years old by Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Sen. McCain has used the book as a guide for his life. This sweeping account draws on his own voice, culled from original interviews, commentary and speeches, archival newsreel and television footage, and previously unseen home movies and photographs. Recounting everything from his years spent as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to running for president, the documentary paints an important portrait of an American maverick who has never lost courage and has kept his eye on America’s most important goals.
John McCain’s life is a story of triumph, defeat and resilience? – ?Six decades of, in his words, “imperfect service to my country,” in which the mistakes he made were redeemed by the risks he took and the sacrifices he made for the county he loves.
“I think all of us think about death, but I think more about life,” says Sen. McCain. “There are so many days in my life that are more than coincidental. That it has made me believe that I am here for a reason. I’ve been tested on a number of occasions. I haven’t always done the right thing. And I think I understand given my family’s history and given my experiences, the important thing is not to look back and figure out all the things I should have done? – ?and there’s lots of those? – ?but to look back with gratitude. You will never talk to anyone that is as fortunate as John McCain.”
McCain’s recent battle with brain cancer underscores the fighting spirit and resilience of this remarkable man, who continues to crusade for the causes he believes in, despite advancing health issues and daunting odds.
Kunhardt Films’ previous HBO credits include the recent “King in the Wilderness,” the Emmy(R) winner “Jim: The James Foley Story,” the PGA nominee “The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee,” “Becoming Warren Buffett,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Gloria: In Her Own Words” and the Emmy(R) winner “Teddy: In His Own Words.”
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Rooftop Films Unveils Feature Films, Short Films and Programs for the 22nd Summer Series – May and June
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2017 Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Grantee Ultraviolet will screen as part of “This is What We Mean by Short Films” .
Courtesy of filmmaker Marc Johnson.[/caption] This summer, Rooftop Films will present over 100 short films in 13 programs, with each program curated thematically. On Saturday, May 19th, Rooftop Films will kick off the 2018 Summer Series in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery with This Is What We Mean By Short Films, a selection of dynamic shorts from around the world, including Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grantee The Burden. Rooftop Films will present a dozen more carefully curated programs throughout the summer, each with a specific focus or theme. Highlights of the 22nd Summer Series include two nights of documentaries (including Rooftop’s signature New York Nonfiction program); Net Positive, a program of internet-related short films co-presented with The Mozilla Foundation; two evenings of short films about unlikely romances; selected shorts from the Sundance Film Festival; two programs of animated short films; and Come and Take It, a program short films by and about bold and uncategorizable women. “Rooftop Films has championed the short film from the start,” said Dan Nuxoll, Artistic Director of Rooftop Films, “and many of the filmmakers whose shorts we have screened have gone on to create some of the most exciting independent feature films of the last twenty years. But though we are thrilled by the potential on display in the short films we will show this summer, we are equally excited by the magnificent things these filmmakers have already accomplished with these daring, perfectly constructed gems.” Every Summer Series event will include live musical performances and all ticketed screenings will have after-parties featuring Freixenet and signature drinks by Ketel One Family Made Vodka. Venues this year include Green-Wood Cemetery in Greenwood Heights, The William Vale in Williamsburg, The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Industry City and Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, MetroTech Commons in Downtown Brooklyn, New Design High School in the Lower East Side, and Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City.SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY SHORT FILMS: OPENING NIGHT Opening Night 2018! It’s a graveyard smash! The Burden (Min börda) (Niki Lindroth von Bahr – The Cutest Dog in the World (Julian Glander) – Irony (Amy Nicholson) – Julius Caesar Was Buried in a Pet Cemetery (Sam Green) – Milk and Cookies (Patrick Mulvey, Andrew Scott Ramsay) – Rebirth is Necessary (Jenn Nkiru) – So You Like the Neighborhood (Jean Pesce) – The Town I Live In (Matt Wolf, Guadalupe Rosales) – To the Dead (Mauricio Arango) – Ultraviolet (Marc Johnson) NO ESCAPE: UNCANNY MINDBENDERS The eternal return of our short film collection of eerie existential thrillers. Allen Anders – Live at the Comedy Castle (circa 1987) (Laura Moss, Tony Grayson) – Awasarn Sound Man (Death of the Soundman) (Sorayos Prapapan) – Find Fix Finish (Sylvain Cruiziat, Mila Zhluktenko) – Lance Lizardi (Xander Robin) – LaZercism (Shaka King) – Mwah (Nina Buxton) – Paco (Catalina Jordan Alvarez) – Rabbit’s Blood (Sarina Nihei) – The Tesla World Light (Tesla: lumière mondiale) (Matthew Rankin) DARK TOONS Twisted animated short films that walk you to the brink of the abyss… then push you over the edge. A Brief Spark Bookended by Darkness (Brent Green) – Born in a Void (Alex Grigg) – Call of Cuteness (Brenda Lien) – Glucose (Jeron Braxton) – JEOM (Kangmin Kim) – Negative Space (Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter) – Nachtstück (Nocturne) (Anne Breymann) – Paradise (Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels, Béla Zsigmond)- SOG (Jonathan Schwenk) – Solar Walk (Réka Bucsi) – Wednesday with Goddard (Nicolas Ménard, Manshen Lo) LOVE IS WEIRD: ROMANTIC SHORT FILMS A sweaty night of sweet loving in short film form. Dressed for Pleasure (Je fais où tu me dis) (Marie de Maricourt) – Ghosting the Party (Carlos Alberto Fernandez Lopez) – Gros Chagrin (Céline Devaux) – High Summer (Plein Été) (Josselin Facon) – Knockstrike (Rigol Genis, Anglada Pau, Torices Marc) – The Mangina Exit (Byron Brown) – My Cucumber Inside the Fridge (Austin Hamilton) – Oh Hey (Sean Pecknold) – Welcome to Bushwick (Henry Jinings) – Who’s the Daddy 你要熱烈地親親爹哋 (Wong Ping) LOVE IS SHORT (FILMS) Short films about hasty, lusty, slightly awkward encounters. The Climb (Michael Covino) – Dolls Don’t Cry (Toutes les poupées ne pleurent pas) (Frédérick Tremblay)- Garfield (Georgi Banks-Davies) – Ocean Swells (Sverre Matias Glenne) – Onion (Kandis Fay) – Perfectly Normal (Joris Debeij) – Wyrm (Christopher Winterbauer) DANGEROUS DOCUMENTARIES Short documentaries about people doing some crazy-ass shit. Graven Image (Sierra Pettengill) – Hypnodrom (Richard Wilhelmer) – The Last Honey Hunter (Ben Knight) – LOVE GOES THROUGH THE STOMACH (Neozoon) – Marfa (Greg McLeod, Myles McLeod) – My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes (Charlie Tyrell) – The Water Slide (Nathan Truesdell) NEW YORK NONFICTION Brooklyn It’s your city. Take a look. 3,000 Miles (三千哩) (Sean Wang, Breton Vivian – A Garbage Story (Olivier Bernier) – Brother K & The Uncut Truth (Billy Linker, Ben Carey)- Crosswalker (Paul Gale, Dustin Molina) Flatbush Misdemeanors (Kevin Iso, Dan Perlman) – I LIVED: Brooklyn – Deborah (Jonathan Nelson, Danielle Andersen) – Jonas Mekas: Always Beginning (Michael Sugarman) – Kayla in 1A (Travis Wood) – Libre (Anna Barsan, Iva Radivojevic) – Oh, What A Beautiful City (A City Symphony) (Lucy Walker) – The Road to Magnasanti (John Wilson) – Slice Thing (David Wanger)ADDITIONAL SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
SUNDANCE SHORTS Highlights from Sundance 2018 include these wild, weird and wonderful short films. [O] (Mario Radev, Chiara Sgatti) – Emergency (Carey Williams) – The Fisherman (El pescador) (Ana A. Alpizar) Great Choice (Robin Comisar) – Volte (Monika Kotecka, Karolina Poryzal) – War Paint (Katrelle N. Kindred) -– More titles to be announced soon! COME AND TAKE IT Unbecoming short films by and about bold women. Call of the Wild (Neozoon) – Le Clitoris (Lori Malépart-Traversy) – Come & Take It (Ellen Spiro, PJ Raval) – Hair Wolf (Mariama Diallo) – Hercules (Lisa Duva) – Into My Life (Ivana Hucíková, Sarah Keeling, Grace Remington) – Normal Appearances (Penny Lane) – Slap Happy (Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli) ROOFTOP SHOTS: CLOSING NIGHT All good things must end before they begin again. Closing Night! A Night At The Garden (Marshall Curry) – The Fall of Lenin (Svitlana Shymko) – Fauve (Jérémy Comte) – How to Live with Regret (John Wilson) – I Was In Your Blood (Joseph Sackett) – Managed Retreat (Nathan Kensinger) – Mother’s Day (Elizabeth Lo, R.J. Lozada) – Ugly (Nikita Diakur)ADDITIONAL SHORT FILMS AND SHORT FILMS BEFORE FEATURES:
160 Characters (Victoria Mapplebeck) – Centauro (Nicolás Suárez) – Fire Mouth (Boca de Fogo) (Luciano Pérez Fernández) – Gokurōsama (ご苦労様) (Aurore Gal, Clémentine Frère, Yukiko Meignien, Anna Mertz, Robin Migliorelli, Romain Salvini) – Maude (Anna Margaret Hollyman) – Polonaise (Polonez) (Agnieszka Elbanowska) – Skybaby (Julian Glander) – Weekends (Trevor Jimenez) – Symphony of a Sad Sea (Carlos Morales Mancilla) – Wave (TJ O’Grady Peyton, Benjamin Clear)FEATURE FILM PROGRAMS FOR MAY AND JUNE
AMERICAN ANIMALS (Bart Layton) NANCY (Christina Choe) *NY Premiere *Filmmaker Christina Choe in attendance *Free Event *Recipient of the 2014 Rooftop Films and Eastern Effects Equipment Grant DAMSEL (David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) HEARTS BEAT LOUD (Brett Haley) WRESTLE (Suzannah Herbert, co-directed by Lauren Belfer) EXIT MUSIC (Cameron Mullenneaux) THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA (Michael Palmieri, Donal Mosher) EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA (Jim McKay) FAMILY (Laura Steinel) WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY (Madeleine Olnek)
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Felicity Jones, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Patrick Stewart, Freddie Highmore Cast in Animated Family Adventure DRAGON RIDER
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Felicity Jones[/caption]
Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Maze Runner, Love Actually), Patrick Stewart (Logan, Star Trek) and Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, “The Good Doctor”) will join Tomer Eshed’s Dragon Rider alongside Meera Syal (Doctor Strange), Sanjeev Bhaskar (Absolutely Anything) and Nonso Anozie (Cinderella). Based on Cornelia Funke’s bestselling novel of the same name, the animated family adventure will be produced by Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz and Oliver Berben together with the co-producers Cyborn and RiseFX along with the team of Lumatic. Timeless Films is handling worldwide sales.
Written by Johnny Smith (Gnomeo & Juliet), Dragon Rider trails an unlikely trio of heroes – young silver dragon Firedrake (Brodie-Sangster), Sorrel (Jones) the mountain brownie and a boy called Ben (Highmore) – as they embark on an epic adventure and battle against a vicious, dragon-killing machine called Nettlebrand (Stewart) to find the ‘Rim of Heaven’.
“Felicity, Thomas, Patrick, Freddie, Meera, Sanjeev and Nonso, are extraordinary actors whose unique voices will bring to life our wonderful animated characters. Director Tomer Eshed is creating an amazing visual world full of dragons and magical creatures and we’re delighted to be re-uniting with Constantin Film, a production and distribution powerhouse to deliver another hit animated, family film to buyers” said Timeless Films Chairman and CEO, Ralph Kamp.
Constantin Film CEO Martin Moszkowicz commented: “I am thrilled to see so many great artists joining Tomer Eshed and his creative team for the next outstanding animated family film event from Constantin Film.”
Timeless Films has already sealed a raft of deals worldwide on Dragon Rider and is continuing sales heading into Cannes. The film is due to be delivered Fall 2019.
Jones received a best actress Oscar® nomination for her work in The Theory of Everything and starred as Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and in Inferno opposite Tom Hanks. She most recently wrapped production on Mimi Leder’s On The Basis of Sex. She stars next in The Aeronauts for Amazon Studios and is attached to Universal’s upcoming Swan Lake adaptation.
Brodie-Sangster is best known for his role as Sam in Love Actually and his lead roles in hit films Nanny McPhee, The Maze Runner series, “Godless” US TV Series (Netflix) and “Game of Thrones” US Drama Series (HBO). He has previously leant his voice to “Thunderbirds Are Go” alongside Rosamund Pike and as Ferb Fletcher in Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb”.
Stewart is best known for his roles as Professor Xavier in the X-Men films and Captain Picard in seven seasons of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. He has previously leant his voice in TBS’ “American Dad!”.
Highmore received a best actor Golden Globe nomination for his work in ABC’s “The Good Doctor” and has starred in Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and “Bates Motel”.
Syal received a BAFTA® nomination for her work in “The Kumars at No. 42” and has appeared in countless film and television projects including Paddington 2, “Riviera”, “Doctor Strange” and “Doctor Who”. She most recently wrapped production on Disney’s Patrick.
Bhaskar received a BAFTA® nomination, A Peabody and Two International EMMYs for “The Kumars At No 42”, a series he created, wrote and starred in and has appeared in Paddington 2, Arthur Christmas and Absolutely Anything opposite Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale.
Anozie has appeared in Liam Neeson starrer The Grey, Cinderella and Conan the Barbarian and is currently in production on Disney’s long-awaited Artemis Fowl opposite Judi Dench.
Timeless Films most recently distributed Monster Family and Rock Dog from Academy Award® winning writer/director Ash Brannon. Previous titles have included Dennis Gansel’s Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver, which Warner Brothers released in Germany over the Easter Weekend.
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Magnolia Pictures Acquires LOVE, GILDA, Documentary on Comedian Gilda Radner, for a 2018 Release
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Love, Gilda[/caption]
Magnolia Pictures has acquired the documentary, Love, Gilda, director Lisa D’Apolito’s touching tribute to comedic trailblazer Gilda Radner and her enduring cultural impact for a planned 2018 theatrical release.
Love, Gilda, which world premiered as the Opening Night Selection of the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, uses rare personal recordings and journal entries to tell Radner’s story in her own voice. Along with interviews from those closest to her, including her brother Michael Radner and Saturday Night Live alumni Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Alan Zweibel, Laraine Newman and Martin Short, Gilda’s writings are read by modern-day comedians inspired by her including Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Cecily Strong.
Love, Gilda opens a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of beloved performer Gilda Radner, whose greatest role was sharing her story. Working with the Radner estate, D’Apolito unearthed a collection of diaries and personal audio and videotapes documenting her childhood, her comedy career, her relationships and ultimately, her struggles with cancer. This never-before-seen-or-heard footage and journal entries form the narrative spine of the documentary, allowing Gilda to tell her own story – through laughter and sometimes tears.
“Love, Gilda is a beautiful tribute to an incandescent spirit,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Lisa D’Apolito has crafted an incredibly moving, inspirational look at a groundbreaking comedian.”
“I am honored that Love, Gilda has been acquired by such a prestigious company as Magnolia Pictures,” said D’Apolito. “I am excited by their passion and commitment to bringing Gilda’s story to the public and I am happy the film has a home along with some of my favorite films past and present.”
Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, Love, Gilda is produced by D’Apolito, Bronwyn Berry, Meryl Goldsmith, and James Tumminia. Executive producers are Edie Baskin, Christopher Clements, Amy Entelis, Julie Goldman, Meryl Goldsmith, Carolyn Hepburn, Courtney Sexton, Alan Zweibel, and Robin Zweibel. Associate producers are Griffin Lichtenson and Nina Guzman.
CNN Films, which began collaboration with D’Apolito more than a year ago, retains North American broadcast rights to the film.
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See New Trailer + Poster for Islamist Terrorism Documentary PATH OF BLOOD
Here is the first trailer and official poster for Jonathan Hacker ‘s Path of Blood which depicts Islamist terrorism as it has never been seen before. The documentary is drawn from a hoard of jihadi home-movie footage that was captured by Saudi security services.
A powerful and sometimes shocking cinematic experience, Path of Blood reveals how brainwashed youths, fuelled by idealism and the misguided pursuit of adventure, can descend into madness and carnage. The raw, unvarnished footage, to which the filmmakers negotiated exclusive access, captures young thrill-seekers at a jihadi “boot camp” deep in the Saudi desert, having signed on to overthrow the Saudi government. They plot to detonate car bombs in downtown Riyadh, become embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse with government forces and, as their plans unravel, resort to ever more brutal tactics.
Path of Blood will open theatrically on Friday, July 13 at the IFC CENTER in New York and Friday, July 20 at the LAEMMLE MUSIC HALL in Los Angeles with a national release to follow.
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Documentary on Nigerian School Girls in the Year After Their May 2017 Release from Captivity, To Debut This Fall on HBO
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the release of 82 of the 276 Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped in 2014 from a school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria, and hidden in the vast Sambisa forest for three years, by Boko Haram, a violent Islamic insurgent movement.
This fall, HBO Documentary Films will present the revealing film Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram, telling the story of the girls’ time in captivity and following their lives over the past year.
Granted exclusive access to the freed girls, who upon their release last year were taken to a secret government safe house in the capitol of Abuja, the film shows how the young women are adapting to life after their traumatic imprisonment and how the Nigerian government is handling their re-entry into society.
Following a global social media campaign with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, featuring global celebrities such as Michelle Obama, huge pressure was brought to bear on the Nigerian Government to get the girls back. Four years later, more than 100 of the girls have been freed. Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram chronicles reunions with family members they have not seen since they were kidnapped, as well as their process of coming to terms with what has happened to them.
The kidnapped girls, known as “The Chibok Girls,” are required to live in a protected environment, where contact with the outside world is severely limited, although they are provided with education and counselling. As the film documents, they eventually progress to a residential, government-funded program at the American University of Nigeria.
Their fate could not be more different than that of thousands of other Nigerian women and girls who have fallen prey to Boko Haram and are known as the “Forgotten Girls”. In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, which has been the site of numerous attacks by Boko Haram and remains extremely volatile, some of the “Forgotten Girls” share deeply disturbing stories of their abduction and treatment at the hands of the terrorist group? – ?and eventual escape from captivity.
Their troubles haven’t ended with their escape from the Sambisa forest, however. With female suicide bombers having killed scores of people in the city, they are often treated with suspicion because of their connection to Boko Haram. “Forgotten Girls” enjoy none of the privileges afforded “The Chibok Girls.” Many live hand-to-mouth in the slums and refugee camps, abandoned by the Nigerian state, but are determined to tell their stories and move forward with their lives, despite the obstacles.
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THE DOCTOR FROM INDIA, Fascinating Story of Holistic Health Pioneer Dr. Vasant Lad, Opens June 1 in NY [Trailer]
From acclaimed director Jeremy Frindel (One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das) comes The Doctor From India, a meditative and immersive portrait of the life and work of Dr. Vasant Lad, the holistic health pioneer who first brought the ancient medical practice of Ayurveda from India to the west in the late 1970s. A Zeitgeist Films release in association with Kino Lorber, the film will have a week-long theatrical release at The Quad in New York starting June 1. Dr. Lad will be making a rare trip to New York City and will make appearances for Q&As after screenings on opening weekend at The Quad. He will also be at a special presentation and talk for the film on Saturday, June 2 at 4:00 p.m. at Symphony Space.
Integrating his gifts as both a healer and a mystic, Dr. Lad has dedicated his life to sharing what is considered the oldest healthcare system on earth in the complex medical landscape of the United States. This is the beautiful and inspiring story of a man who has for decades been quietly at the center of a revolutionary movement to change the way we care for our bodies and our spirits. With an elegant musical score by Rachel Grimes, The Doctor From India features appearances by Deepak Chopra, Robert Svoboda, David Frawley, and Claudia Welch.
Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science still in practice. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda translates roughly to “The Science of Life.” Ayurveda is the art of daily living in harmony with the laws of nature. Working through entirely natural means to maintain the health of a healthy person, and to heal the disease of an unhealthy person. Ayurveda is not a passive therapy but rather asks each individual to take responsibility for his or her own health through their diet, relationships and activities, and to take simple actions towards prevention, self-healing and growth towards fulfillment.
Vasant Lad is considered one of the preeminent Ayurvedic practitioners and teachers in the world. In 1984, he founded the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, the first Ayurveda school in the U.S. He has written numerous books, including Ayurveda: The Science of Self Healing considered a classic in the field and one of the most widely read books on Ayurveda. He is currently based in both Albuquerque, New Mexico and Pune, India.
Jeremy Frindel (Director/Producer/Editor) is the founder of Substratum Films, specializing in cinematic portraiture exploring the resilience and majesty of the human spirit. In 2013 Jeremy released his first feature film, One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das. Distributed by Zeitgeist Films, the film screened theatrically across the U.S., and won the Best Documentary prize at the Maui, Dharamsala and Gold Coast Film Festivals among others. Jeremy is in post-production now on his next project Spacefox, a feature documentary following the reinvention of Marty Friedman from lead guitarist in Megadeth to one of the most famous TV comedians in Japan. The Doctor From India is his second feature release.
“One of the most exciting things for me in setting off on a new project is the discovery and immersion into a world,” said director Jeremy Frindel. “It was highly intriguing for me to explore the synthesis of deep listening and intuition with medical care. Very quickly it became clear that this would not be a film that focused too heavily on Ayurveda though. What was most exciting to me was the quality of presence that Dr. Lad brought to his patients and students. The way he transformed a room and opened people’s hearts, and the profound healing power within that.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh8zXbb_ce0
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Jonathan Olshefski’s Award-Winning Documentary ‘QUEST’ to Open 31st Season of PBS series POV [Trailer]
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Quest[/caption]
QUEST, Jonathan Olshefski’s award-winning documentary – a decade in the making – that reveals an intimate portrait of a black family in North Philadelphia, will have its national television debut on PBS series POV on June 18 at 10 PM opening the historic 31st Season of the longest-running independent documentary series on American television.
For his debut documentary, QUEST, director Jonathan Olshefski spent nearly a decade chronicling the daily triumphs and tragedies of the Raineys, a working class African-American family in North Philadelphia.
The vérité film opens with a shot inside the family’s modest North Philly row home. PJ, who wants to follow in the musical footsteps of her Dad, is drumming on the windowsill. It’s election season in 2009 and while frying bacon for breakfast Mom Christine’a is telling the story of how someone in the neighborhood yelled out, “Vote for McCain!” “You know he didn’t say that around the polls,” she adds. Chris, on the phone with a friend, asks, “You vote for Obama? We know where you live at.” In the next scene, Chris is returning from the polls, and in another phone conversation he happily reports, “There was a line for the first time in umpteen years down here.”
Thanks in part to the massive black voter turnout, Barack Obama became the first African-American President of the United States and served two terms. QUEST was filmed during the “Yes We Can” years and the Rainey family is a living, breathing example of the audacity of hope the 44th president spoke of.
The award-winning independent film offers an intimate portrait of a black American family not often seen. Both Chris and Christine’a have children from previous relationships and we witness the committed couple and parents make their union official with a simple church ceremony. “In our minds we were already married you know. Just being together throughout the years and knowing that we both wanted the same things in life…,” Chris says as his wife lovingly braids his hair.
“We were both tired of the BS and the crap, that’s for sure. Anytime you turn around you see couples going through arguments, people cheating on each other, just doing each other wrong. And both of us have been down that road so many times in our past lives, that when we actually did hook up and get together and start talking to each other, we came to the equal conclusion that it’s not worth it, you know. You just need one person to love.”
Another tender scene shows Chris taking PJ to school on a tandem bike. “I’ll be here when you get out,” he says as he drops her off.
The viewer also witnesses tough moments like Christine’a comforting her older son William, who is diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor at the same time he is expecting his first child, and the visibly scarred Christine’a discussing her own brush with death in a fire.
Because the neighborhood where the Rainey’s live is riddled with violence, PJ has a 6 p.m. curfew. “A lot of people say their neighborhoods are tough but North Philly is definitely a tough neighborhood. PJ, you know, has a curfew. She has to be in at a reasonable time, she’s rebellious about it but doesn’t disobey me,” Chris says.
Chris is an attentive father and he tries to shield his daughter from harm. So it’s heartbreaking when we learn that PJ (at age 13), was struck by a stray bullet and nearly killed while walking home from the basketball court. As a result of the shooting, she loses and eye and undergoes surgery for a prosthetic eye.
“Like she’s blaming herself for getting shot. I’m blaming myself ya mean be out here,” Chris says breaking down. “When I see my child bleeding from her face saying I’m sorry for getting shot, what do you say to that?”
QUEST follows the Raineys as they face odds that would cripple and tear apart another family, but they overcome each obstacle together with grace and dignity. The Raineys’ story is a quest for survival, equal opportunity, and a testament of the resilience of the human spirit.
Awards
WINNER – Truer Than Fiction Award at the 2018 Independent Spirit Awards WINNER – Outstanding Achievement in Editing at the 2018 Cinema Eye Honors WINNER – Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award | Full Frame Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights | Full Frame Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | Dallas International Film Festival WINNER – Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | RiverRun International Film Festival WINNER – Les Blank Award: Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | Ashland Independent Film Festival WINNER – People’s Voice Award | Fist Up Film Festival WINNER – Audience Award | Camden International Film Festival WINNER – Best Documentary Feature | Baltimore International Black Film Festival WINNER – Best U.S. Documentary | Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Documentary Jury Award | Milwaukee Film Festival WINNER – Silver Gateway Award for Second Best Film | Mumbai Film Festival WINNER – Critic’s Choice Award | Key West Film Festival
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LANDING UP Starring Late E’dena Hines’ (Morgan Freeman’s granddaughter), Sets Release Date [Trailer]
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Landing Up[/caption]
Landing Up, the award-nominated film from director Dani Tenenbaum, starring Ben Rappaport and featuring the last on-screen performance of Morgan Freeman’s late granddaughter, E’dena Hines, is headed for release on DVD, digital and video-on-demand (VOD), on May 15, 2018. The dramatic and edgy story features two female friends living on the streets of New York and their troubled world changes when one finds love. It also stars Dov Tiefenbach (“Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, “Homeland”), Theodora (Woolley) Miranne (“The Blacklist: Redemption,” “Blue Bloods”), and Jay DeYonker (“Royally,” “Puerto Ricans in Paris”).
Just one month after principal photography wrapped, the film’s co-star, E’dena Hines, was murdered by her boyfriend on the streets of New York. The story made national headlines. LANDING UP is Hines’ last on-screen performance. The film’s tragic circumstances have been a challenging aspect of bringing the film to light.
Because of this violent act, and because the film tackles homelessness, the filmmakers felt it was paramount to give their audience a call to action. For the World Premiere, they raised awareness by partnering with the non-profit organizations Midnight Mission, which offers paths to self-sufficiency to men, women and children who have lost direction, and LA Family Housing, which helps people transition out of homelessness and poverty.
Producer and star Stacey Maltin says, “E’dena was an incredible and loving human being who illuminated any room she entered. She had so much talent and this energy that was so raw and magnetic. She really gave herself over to playing Cece and it’s reflected in her performance. We miss her every day and wish she could have seen what she created with us. I considered her my friend and losing her impacted all of us very deeply.”
Director Dani Tenenbaum adds, “It’s a sad coincidence that our film’s release date is so close to the trial of E’dena’s murder. We are hoping that this project, and E’dena’s incredible performance in it, can be a bright spot amidst this tragic real-life situation. We are doing everything in our power to pay tribute to her on-screen performance, which shows her dynamic abilities. Her contributions to ‘Landing Up’ were invaluable, and we are honoring the positive impact she had on the people around her. Our hearts go out to her family.”
Landing Up had its World Premiere as an Official Selection in Competition Features at Dances With Films in June 2017 in Hollywood. The East Coast Premiere was held later that month as an Official Selection of the Soho International Film Festival in New York City where it was nominated for Best Actress and Best Feature. Family and friends of the much beloved Hines were in attendance at both screenings, including Morgan Freeman, producer Lori McCreary and the mother of Hines, Deena Adair.
Maltin explains, “The film exists in two worlds: Chrissie’s life on the street and her romantic life with David. Chrissie’s life on the street is gritty and dangerous, but when Chrissie meets David, her world explodes into color. He’s everything she always wanted and the film jumps in tone and style to almost a romantic comedy feel. Her life is so far outside his realm of comprehension that he never suspects her secret.”
Tenenbaum adds, “Our aim was to present the idea that you wouldn’t even know that someone is living on the streets, as it is something that many people intentionally and successfully hide. Chrissie’s carefully crafted lies lead her to very real feelings of love for David, which cause extreme and disturbing behavior. The real question we are asking is: Can you ever really know someone?”
The next projects from Tenenbaum and Maltin include “Linked,” a dramedy series exploring how a group of seemingly fragmented people are connected through sex, loneliness, and transaction; and “Head,” a feature film about a gay millennial on the brink of full-time adulthood and dismayed to see all of his friends pairing up instead of getting off. The short film version of “Head” was chosen for a curated screening of the Best of NewFest 2016, and is currently streaming on REVRY TV, “the best in queerated entertainment.” Other projects from Bold Compass Films include Maltin’s short “Stronger Together,” which Shoreline Entertainment just acquired for worldwide rights. Tenenbaum has been at the forefront of virtual reality filming and is working on the VR short, “Funeral 2.0.”
Synopsis: Chrissie (Stacey Maltin) is young, wild, and living on the streets. She and her best friend Cece (E’dena Hines) use their youth and good looks to their advantage, playing a con game with strangers to put a roof over their heads, while all the time fantasizing about having enough money to score their dream apartment. When Chrissie meets David (Ben Rappaport), a funny, genuine guy who works his way into her heart, she falls for him and must decide whether to confess the real circumstances of her life or continue her carefully crafted lie at all costs.
https://vimeo.com/215222736