On A Knife Edge, from director Jeremy Williams, a documentary film five years in the making, follows Guy Dull Knife and his son, George, as George comes of age on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. The film will world premiere June 10 and June 15 at the 16th annual San Francisco Documentary Film Festival.
“On a Knife Edge” is a father-son story about Guy and George Dull Knife that unfolds over the course of George’s coming-of-age journey. Under his father’s guidance, George becomes an activist and organizer, and begins identifying with the role of traditional Lakota warrior, which he views as his family legacy. He commits himself to the fight for social justice, but struggles with adapting the old ways and his father’s expectations to the modern-day realities of growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Told largely through George’s eyes, the film offers a privileged glimpse into the youngest generation of the American Indian Movement, as well as George’s own evolving notions of Native identity, manhood, and duty.
His story is interwoven with animated sequences that depict five generations of family history, narrated by his father and based on paintings he has created to explore the continuum of their fight through the generations.
Films
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ON A KNIFE EDGE Coming of Age and Activism Doc on American Indian Young Man to World Premiere at SF DocFest
On A Knife Edge, from director Jeremy Williams, a documentary film five years in the making, follows Guy Dull Knife and his son, George, as George comes of age on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. The film will world premiere June 10 and June 15 at the 16th annual San Francisco Documentary Film Festival.
“On a Knife Edge” is a father-son story about Guy and George Dull Knife that unfolds over the course of George’s coming-of-age journey. Under his father’s guidance, George becomes an activist and organizer, and begins identifying with the role of traditional Lakota warrior, which he views as his family legacy. He commits himself to the fight for social justice, but struggles with adapting the old ways and his father’s expectations to the modern-day realities of growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Told largely through George’s eyes, the film offers a privileged glimpse into the youngest generation of the American Indian Movement, as well as George’s own evolving notions of Native identity, manhood, and duty.
His story is interwoven with animated sequences that depict five generations of family history, narrated by his father and based on paintings he has created to explore the continuum of their fight through the generations.
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Margaret Byrne’s Award-Winning Documentary RAISING BERTIE Opens June 9
RAISING BERTIE is a six-year portrait of three young African American men coming-of-age in North Carolina’s rural Bertie County. Like MOONLIGHT and BOYHOOD before it, the intimate portrayal of these young men interconnects narratives of family, youthful innocence, and isolation with the will to succeed in the face of formidable odds.
The feature-length documentary RAISING BERTIE, winner of Best Documentary Feature at Atlanta Docufest, is produced by Kartemquin Films and executive produced by Jermaine Cole aka rapper J. Cole.
This powerful vérité film delivers an authentic and tender portrait of the lives of three young boys – Reginald “Junior” Askew, David “Bud” Perry, and Davonte “Dada” Harrell – as they face a precarious coming of age in Bertie County, North Carolina.
Director Margaret Byrne brings audiences deep into the emotional lives of these young men as they try to find room for themselves in a place where life is dictated by a slow pace, opportunities are limited and tenuous family ties simultaneously offer comfort and heartache. Shot over the course of six years, RAISING BERTIE is an experience that asks us to see this world through their eyes: boys navigating between finishing high school and an elusive first job, as millions of young Americans similarly take their next step into an inherited idea of adulthood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1iNY7Fh3PA
Set in Bertie County, a rural African American-led community in Eastern North Carolina, Raising Bertie offers viewers an authentic and tender portrait of the lives of three young boys – Reginald “Junior” Askew, David “Bud” Perry, and Davonte “Dada” Harrell – as they face a precarious coming of age.
Rural minorities like the youth in Bertie represent some of the nation’s most vulnerable and least visible. Like many rural areas, Bertie County struggles with a dwindling economy, a declining population and a high school graduation rate below the state average. The Perdue chicken processing plant is Bertie’s last major employer, and the 27 prisons that lay within a 100 miles of Bertie cast a long shadow. Bertie County is predominately African American – its challenges compounded by generations of economic and educational discrimination and exclusion.
Bertie also is the home of Junior, Bud, and Dada, three engaging young men with difficult pasts attending high school at The Hive, an alternative school for at-risk boys. There, we meet Vivian Saunders, a passionate community activist from Bertie County. At The Hive a combination of respect, socio-emotional learning, and mentorship helps to put these young men’s lives on track. The Hive is a beautiful model of effective, supportive, and innovative interventions that help to improve opportunities and the quality of life for African-American boys and young men in Bertie.
But, when budget shorgalls lead the Board of Education to close The Hive, Junior, Bud, and Dada must return to Bertie High School and a system that once failed them.
This raw and starkly poetic Kartemquin vérité documentary weaves the young men’s stories together as they navigate school, unemployment, violence, first love, fatherhood, and estrangement from family members and mentors, all while trying to define their identities.
Intimate access depicts an honest portrayal of the boys’ perspectives and the caring adults in the community who understand what it means to take care of their own. The film is an in-depth look at issues facing many of rural America’s youth of color and what happens in the everyday lives of young people caught in the complex interplay of generational poverty, economic isolation, and educational inequity. Raising Bertie is an experience that asks us to see this world through their eyes and incites recognition and understanding of lives and communities too often ignored.
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Coming Soon: The Orchard to Release Archie Borders’ UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER Starring Matt Walsh, Judith Godrèche
Director Archie Borders’ forthcoming film Under The Eiffel Tower has quickly been acquired by The Orchard for release. Written by Borders and David Henry, the film stars Emmy-nominee Matt Walsh (Veep), Cesar Award-winner Judith Godrèche (L’auberge espagnole), Ary Abittan (Qu’est-ce qu-on a fait au bon Dieu), David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer), Gary Cole (Talladega Nights), Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist) and Michaela Watkins (Casual). Godrèche is producing, along with Michael Fitzer, Stacey Parks and Erin Roark. Executive producers are Paul Davidson, Danielle DiGIacomo and Brad Navin. Currently prepping for a July production start in France, The Orchard is targeting a 2018 release for the film.
A bourbon salesman (Walsh) fighting off 50, unexpectedly proposes and is rejected by his best friend’s 24-year-old daughter under the Eiffel Tower. The soul crushing event sparks a wine-fueled ‘coming of middle age’ jaunt across the French countryside, a surprising friendship with a local footballer (Eggold) and sparks romantic possibilities with a beautiful and independent French woman (Godrèche).
“Under The Eiffel Tower represents the perfect combination of France, wine and a stellar ensemble cast,” said Paul Davidson, The Orchard’s EVP, Film and Television. “We are thrilled to be working with Archie, Judith, Matt, Stacey and the rest of the team to bring this endearing comedy to audiences.”
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GOOD TIME Starring Robert Pattinson to World Premiere at Cannes Film Festival, in Theaters on August 11 | Trailer
A24 will release Good Time starring Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Buddy Duress and Barkhad Abdi, on August 11, 2017. The film, from Josh & Benny Safdie, will make its World Premiere as a Competition title at this year’s 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival.
Following the mind-bending Heaven Knows What, celebrated filmmakers Josh and Ben Safdie return to the mean streets of New York City with Good Time, a hypnotic crime thriller that explores with bracing immediacy the tragic sway of family and fate.
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Constantine Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city’s underworld in an increasingly desperate—and dangerous—attempt to get his brother out of jail. Over the course of one adrenalized night, Constantine finds himself on a mad descent into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing their lives hang in the balance.
Anchored by a career-defining performance from Robert Pattinson, Good Time is a psychotic symphony of propulsive intensity crafted by two of the most exciting young directors working today. Josh and Ben Safdie’s transcendent vision is an intoxicating portrait of desperation and destruction that will not be soon forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyGCxHZ_Ko
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Civil Rights Doc THE FREEDOM TO MARRY will be Released Digitally on June 6th
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THE FREEDOM TO MARRY[/caption]
THE FREEDOM TO MARRY, the untold story of how same-sex marriage became law of the land, will be released digitally on June 6th via Ro*Co Films in the U.S. and Canada.
THE FREEDOM TO MARRY follows Evan Wolfson, the architect of the marriage movement, attorney Mary Bonauto, and their team through their decades long battle, culminating in a dramatic fight at the United States Supreme Court. More than the saga of one of the most importnant civil rights stories of our time, this is an inspiring tale of how a real change occurs, even against the biggest odds.
Directed by veteran doc filmmaker Eddie Rosenstein, produced by Jenni Olson & Amie Segal. After a successful national theatrical run this spring, THE FREEDOM TO MARRY will now be available digitally in June, timed to national LGBT pride celebrations this summer.
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Amanda Kernell’s Award Winning Drama SAMI BLOOD (SAMEBLOD) Sets June 2 Release Date
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Sameblod – Sami Blood by Amanda Kernell[/caption]
Following premieres at TIFF, Venice, Sundance, Berlin and many others, Amanda Kernell’s striking drama SAMI BLOOD will open at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York on June 2, 2017 via Synergetic Distribution. Additional cities nationwide will open in the weeks following.
Set in 1930s Sweden during the pre-Nazi Eugenics movement, SAMI BLOOD (SAMEBLOD) follows Elle, a young indigenous Lapland girl made to feel like an inferior species when she’s subjected to indoctrination and race biology in a Swedish boarding school. Elle escapes, and in doing so is estranged from her sister, her family and her culture. The film is a unique and intimate perspective on the history of the Sami people, and tells a story of oppression that resonates across borders and generations.
SAMI BLOOD features a breakthrough performance from its young lead actress Lene Cecilia Sparrok, who has never acted before and is Sami herself. She stars in the film alongside her sister Mia Sparrok. The film is the debut feature from writer/director Amanda Kernell, who based the narrative off of her own grandmother’s life.
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Award Winning Film RADIO DREAMS on U.S. Immigrants’ Story of Upstart Radio Station Sets Release Date
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Radio Dreams[/caption]
Radio Dreams, winner of the 45th Rotterdam International Film Festival’s Tiger Award, is the newest feature film from Iranian-British director Babak Jalali (Frontier Blues).
Radio Dreams creates the bizarre yet very real world of PARS-FM – a Farsi-language radio station broadcasting from the heart of San Francisco. The story unfolds over a single day as the station’s program manager, Hamid – a brilliant, misunderstood Iranian writer (played by the “Iranian Bob Dylan” Mohsen Namjoo) – prepares for a triumphant broadcast – a live performance pairing Metallica and Kabul Dreams, Afghanistan’s first rock band. Meanwhile, Hamid must juggle a dysfunctional mix of on-air talent, station managers, and performers while fending off the owner’s plans to wrest control of the station.
Radio Dreams brings to life the sometimes bizarre experience of immigrants pursuing dreams in the U.S.A. with the perfect mixture of honesty, art, and socio-political topicality served up in an ingenious, offbeat transmission.
“Honest, funny, and visionary – Radio Dreams is a truly unique gem and we are beyond excited to bring it to audiences this Spring,” said Hannah Campbell, Vice President, Matson Films. “Director Babak Jalali has masterfully created an authentic yet curious world inhabited by spellbinding characters who provide much-needed insight into the sometimes surreal experiences of American immigrants. Radio Dreams is all at once a poignant art film, tragicomic hero’s journey, and immeasurably topical socio-political dialogue. The intrigue is simply undeniable.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7s54sFwM3Q
Film distribution company Matson Films has set a U.S. theatrical release for the acclaimed feature film Radio Dreams.
SAN FRANCISCO
Opens in San Francisco this Friday, May 19
at The Roxie
NEW YORK
Opens in New York City on Friday, June 2
at Village East Cinema (City Cinemas)
LOS ANGELES / SO. CAL.
Opens in the Los Angeles area on Friday, June 9
at Laemmle’s Ahrya Fine Arts (Beverly Hills)
at Laemmle’s Town Center (Encino)
and at Edwards Westpark 8 (Irvine)
WASHINGTON, DC
It will open in Washington, DC on Friday, June 16
at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market
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Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Russian Film LOVELESS
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Loveless[/caption]
The Russian language film Loveless directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev which is set to premiere In Competition at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics.
InLoveless, Zhenya and Boris are going through a vicious divorce marked by resentment, frustration and recriminations. Already embarking on new lives, each with a new partner, they are impatient to start again, to turn the page – even if it means threatening to abandon their 12-year-old son Alyosha. Until, after witnessing one of their fights, Alyosha disappears.
“I am very pleased to be working with the excellent team at Sony Pictures Classics again; they were sensitive and inspired in their tremendous efforts on Leviathan, and I look forward to our new collaboration,” stated Andrey Zvyagintsev.
Said Alexander Rodnyansky “Michael Barker, Tom Bernard, and the outstanding team at SPC, are the gold standard of American distribution for our films. We are thrilled to be working with them once again.”
Sony Pictures Classics and Zvyagintsev previously worked together on Leviathan, winner of Best Screenplay at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Best Foreign Language Film at the 2015 Golden Globes and was Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Loveless also marks the third partnership between Zvyagintsev and producer Alexander Rodnyansky.
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Sony Pictures Classics to Release Stanley Tucci’s FINAL PORTRAIT
Stanley Tucci’s FINAL PORTRAIT which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in the U.S. Written and directed by Tucci, FINAL PORTRAIT stars Geoffrey Rush, Armie Hammer, Clémence Poésy, Tony Shalhoub and Sylvie Testud.
FINAL PORTRAIT is the story of the touching and offbeat friendship between American writer and art-lover James Lord and Alberto Giacometti, as seen through Lord’s eyes and revealing unique insight into the beauty, frustration, profundity and sometimes the chaos of the artistic process. Set in 1964, while on a short trip to Paris, Lord is asked by his friend, Giacometti, to sit for a portrait. The process, promises Giacometti, will take only a few days and so Lord agrees — ultimately wondering “how much longer can it go on like this?”
“Giacometti’s work and life and Lord’s poignant memoir have fascinated me for years. To finally bring my adaptation to the screen with this extraordinary cast and crew has been indeed a pleasure and to have Sony Classics distributing is a great honor,” said Tucci.
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Yoshinari Nishikori’s Award-Winning Period Action-Drama TATARA SAMURAI Sets June 2nd Release Date
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Tatara Samurai[/caption]
Following a successful film festival circuit, Eleven Arts will release Yoshinari Nishikori’s award-winning period action-drama Tatara Samurai in the U.S. The film is set to be released in theaters on June 2nd.
Tatara Samurai is the latest feature from visionary director Yoshinari Nishikori, whose films, Konshin and Railways were box office smashes in their native Japan. His latest historic epic stars Sho Aoyagi (Yakuza Apocalypse), pop star Naoki Kobayashi, Akira (Legend Of The Fist), Tomoko Tabata, and Anna Ishii.
Gosuke (Aoyagi), a young villager in Sengoku Period Japan, is trained to be a blacksmith, but forced to become a warrior. After joining the Oda Army to protect his hometown of Tatara, he begins to question whether swords are a viable defense against the new technology of firearms – but soon discovers that his skill as a blacksmith might very well be the most powerful weapon he has to protect his home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxnmlU5FAMM
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THE SKYJACKER’S TALE, Documentary Opens in NY on June 30
THE SKYJACKER’S TALE from award-winning Canadian filmmaker Jamie Kastner gives unprecedented access to one of the top five most wanted US fugitives in Cuba. The documentary film, an official selection of 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, will open in New York on Friday, June 30th at the Village East with a national release to follow.
Ishmael Muslim Ali (formerly LaBeet) is the American convicted of murdering eight people on a Rockefeller-owned golf course in the US Virgin Islands. After years of trying to get his conviction overturned, he took matters into his own hands and hijacked an American Airlines plane full of passengers to Cuba on New Years Eve 1984, and got away with it. Until now.
Thirty years on the FBI’s most wanted list and against the backdrop of his looming extradition to serve eight consecutive life sentences in the US, the film recounts the hijacking that got him here, re-examines his original trial and reveals a gross miscarriage of justice. In a story that is more relevant than ever with racially charged police brutality and injustice constantly in the headlines, THE SKYJACKER’S TALE captures LaBeet / Ali’s first interview since the hijacking and includes never before seen footage.
Is he a heartless criminal or a victim? The audience must decide. But what emerges is a picture of American government and law enforcement attitudes and actions toward their own population that are shockingly similar to the headlines of today.
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Watch Trailer for Documentary ‘Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS’
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS chronicle Syria’s descent into the unbridled chaos that allowed the rise of the Islamic State, better known as ISIS. Pulling from nearly 1,000 hours of stunningly visceral footage – from that of a family living under ISIS control that finally fled to Turkey, to Kurdish fighters in Sinjar and Shia militias in Iraq and even to al-Qaidaaffiliated fighters in and around Aleppo and Raqqa – Junger and Quested cover the ISIS catastrophe from multiple angles and feature interviews with top experts from around the world. Consequently, the filmmakers, who previously collaborated on a trio of films about the war in Afghanistan (“Restrepo,” “The Last Patrol” and “Which Way is the Front Line From Here”), capture the Syrian war’s harrowing carnage, political and social consequences, and, most important, its human toll, while painting an alarming picture of the west’s role in the creation of ISIS.
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and best-selling author Sebastian Junger and his Emmy-winning filmmaking partner, Nick Quested, will be released theatrically in NY and LA, and air globally on National Geographic in 171 countries and 45 languages on Sunday, June 11 at 9/8c.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7XzmDaIIDY