Jairus McLeary and Blanketfort Media’s The Work, winner of the 2017 SXSW Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary will be released in Fall 2017 by The Orchard.
Co-directed by Gethin Aldous, The Work is an immersive film shot entirely inside Folsom Prison where convicts and civilian volunteers run a one a kind social justice program. Offering a powerful and rare look past the cinder block walls, steel doors and dehumanizing tropes in our culture, The Work reveals a movement of change and redemption that transcends what we think of as rehabilitation.
Producers are Alice Henty, Jairus McLeary, Eon McLeary, Miles McLeary and Angela Sostre and executive producers are James McLeary, Rob Allbee and Aldous.
Jairus McLeary is a court videographer and filmmaker. The Work is his first documentary. He spent several years gaining the trust of the convicts and prison administration in order to film. Gethin Aldous directs motion capture for a major video gaming company. After his own experience at Folsom he joined forces with Jairus. This is his second documentary feature.
Films
-
SXSW Award Winning Documentary THE WORK to Be Released in The Fall
Jairus McLeary and Blanketfort Media’s The Work, winner of the 2017 SXSW Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary will be released in Fall 2017 by The Orchard.
Co-directed by Gethin Aldous, The Work is an immersive film shot entirely inside Folsom Prison where convicts and civilian volunteers run a one a kind social justice program. Offering a powerful and rare look past the cinder block walls, steel doors and dehumanizing tropes in our culture, The Work reveals a movement of change and redemption that transcends what we think of as rehabilitation.
Producers are Alice Henty, Jairus McLeary, Eon McLeary, Miles McLeary and Angela Sostre and executive producers are James McLeary, Rob Allbee and Aldous.
Jairus McLeary is a court videographer and filmmaker. The Work is his first documentary. He spent several years gaining the trust of the convicts and prison administration in order to film. Gethin Aldous directs motion capture for a major video gaming company. After his own experience at Folsom he joined forces with Jairus. This is his second documentary feature.
-
Australian Horror Film RED CHRISTMAS to Be Released in The US | Trailer
[caption id="attachment_21842" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Red Christmas[/caption]
The Australian horror film Red Christmas directed by veteran television director/producer Craig Anderson has been acquired by Artsploitation Films for release in the US.
The dark, violent and sickly twisted tale had its World Premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, its North American Premiere at Fantasia Festival and its European Premiere at London’s Frightfest.
The film stars (and was co-produced by) horror film acting legend, Dee Wallace (The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, E.T., Cujo, Critters, Halloween,The Lords of Salem) as the mother of a squabbling family, gathered together in a remote Outback estate on Christmas Eve. When a mysterious, deformed young man named Cletus appears at their door, things soon go from petty insults to bloody, imaginatively orchestrated violence as Wallace attempts to protect her family from the vengeful intruder. The film deliriously infuses comedy, dark family secrets with outlandish gore and adds the always controversial subject of abortion in its blood-stained mix.
The US premiere of the film and the initial festival run will be announced in the coming weeks while the limited theatrical run is scheduled for August and DVD/Blu-ray and VOD scheduled for October.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzgvI_mrH-M
-
Animated Polish Film PUSSY Wins Golden Horseman at Filmfest Dresden
[caption id="attachment_21838" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
“Cipka” (“Pussy”) from Renata Gąsiorowska[/caption]
The Polish director Renata Gąsiorowska scooped up several awards with her courageous and original animated film Pussy “Cipka” at the 29th Filmfest Dresden. A total of nine Golden Horsemen and four special prizes were awarded by the juries.
And here are the Prize-Winners of the 29th Filmfest Dresden 2017.
International Competition
Golden Horseman Best Animation Film International Competition “Cipka” (“Pussy”) from Renata Gąsiorowska Social taboos should be discussed and confronted with a laugh. The jury had a lot of fun watching this peaceful connection between a woman and her body. For its original graphic style and its fluid animation technique. Golden Horseman Best Short Fiction International Competition “Painting with History in a Room Filled with People with Funny Names 3” from Korakrit Arunanondchai The jury was struck by the generous and chaotic power of a total work of art; or what we like to call “expanded cinema”. It is made by a fearless artist who has no time to waste on labels and other conventions. He has created an anarchic love poem in which he looks at all sides and elements of a complex society. Golden Horseman of the Audience International Competition “Home” from Daniel Mulloy (Kosovo/United Kingdom, 2016) Golden Horseman of the Youth Jury International Competition “Planemo” (Croatia 2016) from Veljka Popovic Unique images and powerful metaphors permit the audience to immerse themselves in the extraordinary situation of the protagonist. A key event leads to some grave changes in his relationship with his surroundings. This situation is filmically adapted through the atmospheric composition of innovative 3D animations and real footage.National Competition
Golden Horseman Best Animation Film National Competition “Ein Aus Weg” from Hannah Stragholz and Simon Steinhorst A colorful, expressive world of animation encounters a sound track from a unique everyday life. The combination of animation and documentary reportage develops into a form full of expression, which is both close and faraway to us at one and the same time. And equally moving. Golden Horseman Best Short Fiction National Competition “Ela – Szkice na pozegnanie” (“Ela – Sketches on a Departure”) from Oliver Adam Kusio This is the story of separation as a new beginning. A film about the desire to get away and the duty to remain. With the camera seeking answers just like the protagonists. Tender and haunting, existential in both large and small. It is a profound look into the future of a generation. A moving film full of meaning without being intrusive. Golden Horseman of the Audience National Competition “Gabi” from Michael Fetter Nathansky Golden Horseman of the Youth Jury National Competition “Un Etat D´Urgence” (“State of Emergency”) from Tarek Roehlinger (2016) With its gloomy and tense atmosphere, the film draws us into a world in which everyday actions have become and remain suspicious. Thanks to its topicality and the danger it engenders, it seems as though reality and fiction have become indistinguishable. A conflict arises among the characters between living freedom and defending freedom. Marked by tension, mistrust and skepticism, the film radiates an intensity for the audience that captures them and creates an unforgettable experience. Minister of Fine Arts Promotion Prize “Prima Noapte” (“First Night”) from Andrei Tănase A special moment in the life of a young man. Which he imagined would be different. And he overreacts in his helplessness. The director sensitively reveals the fragility of the male identity during the process of maturing, and casually casts a glance at a specific social milieu. A film authentic in the moment. A film that stays in mind. DEFA Promotion Prize Animation “zu zahm!” from Rebecca Blöcher Trapped in their roles. With expectations and stereotypes newly shuffled and exposed. The film leaves space for discovery.National and International Competition
Golden Horseman Best Sound Design “Eine Villa mit Pinien” Music: Ralf Hildenbeutel Sound: Michał Krajczok The impressionistic images in the film are complemented with a completely unique tonal language. With aural worlds created in a constant interplay doing so, that add a threatening dimension to the exuberant filmic canvas. The music plays a fundamental role, comparable to a protagonist, reaching into the story and advancing it structurally. Working on the utmost level and with extraordinary ingenuity, the composer and the sound designer of this film manage to build bridges between the various plot levels through the sound. ARTE Short Film Prize “Cipka” (“Pussy”) from Renata Gąsiorowska This creative and clever animated film, which focuses on first sexual desires in a courageous and nimble way, sweeps us away on a surprising journey of discovery to the deepest moments of intimacy. The confronting of one’s own gender here is characterized by so much humor and charm, that the film becomes irresistible. We congratulate the director and are looking forward to more creative pieces by him. Audience Award Regional Film Night “No one misses me!” from Erik LemkeSPECIAL MENTIONS
Special Mention Best Animation Film International Competition “A nyalintás nesze“ (“The Noise of Licking”) from Nadja Andrasev For its imaginative and original story, elegant style and careful pacing. Special Mention Animation Film in National Competition “Wegzaubern” from Betina Kuntzsch Special Mention Youth Jury International Competition “Empire of Evil” from Harald Hund The mockumentary “Empire of Evil” deals with the subject of one-sided Western reporting in a very authentic and humorous manner. With us asking ourselves at times what constitutes the truth. The everyday film footage is skillfully transformed with creative image editing and absurd ideas about the “threat to the West”. In this way, an entertaining, media-critical parody has resulted about our opinion of the Middle East. Special Mention Sound Design “Cipka” (“Pussy”) from Renata Gąsiorowska The timing in this story is excellent in terms of both the moving images and the music. Skillfully linked with gentle humor, this thoughtful film was worthy of a special mention from us. It is borne by the various equivocal sound levels, which never slip into the obscene. In this way, Volodymyr Antonic, Ewa Bogusz and Wiesław Nowak have provided a humorous and uninhibited sound track.
-
Tribeca 2017: Watch Trailer for I AM HEATH LEDGER Documentary
Here is the trailer for the documentary I Am Heath Ledger, released to coincide with the late actor’s 38th birthday. Ledger died from an accidental mixture of prescription drugs in 2008. The documentary directed by Derik Murray, and Adrian Buitenhuis will world premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 23, and released in theaters on May 3.
Following its cinema debut, Spike TV will show an edited version of the documentary on May 17.
The new feature-length documentary celebrating the life and work of the late actor Heath Ledger brings a new understanding of the man behind his public image. Ledger was one of the most gifted Hollywood talents in a generation, who appeared in a string of seminal films including the culturally defining “Brokeback Mountain,” and in “The Dark Knight,” for which he won a posthumous Academy Award®.
Heath Ledger was a versatile artist whose talents spanned a broad array of mediums, including a love for photography, music and directing. He often rejected the trappings of Hollywood, instead creating an environment for himself which fostered his own passions and those of his friends and family. “I Am Heath Ledger” illustrates Ledger’s artistic output through both clips of his iconic film performances, as well as through the images he captured as a photographer and videographer. Extravagant in gesture and in action, it was this energy and unshakable willingness to take risks that instilled such a deep love and affection in those people closest to him.
“I Am Heath Ledger” provides an intimate look at Heath through the lens of his own camera, with a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage, as he films and often performs in his own personal journey – extravagant in gesture and in action. Through these personal home movies, we get a rare glimpse into his true character – demonstrating his creative energy and unshakable willingness to take risks that instilled such an extraordinarily deep love and affection in the people that entered his life. From his earliest performances to his iconic Academy-Award(R) winning performance as The Joker in „The Dark Knight,” the film truly speaks to his profound talent as an actor. The documentary goes behind-the scenes of the shooting of „The Dark Knight,” as Heath morphed into the psychotic criminal-mastermind that will live in cinematic lore forever.
The film features interviews from those who knew Heath best, including close friends, family members, and industry peers, such as actors Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, and Emile Hirsch, directors Ang Lee and Catherine Hardwicke, musicians Ben Harper, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), N’fa, and Grace Woodroofe, and the Ledger family. „I Am Heath Ledger” recounts his fabled rise to the pinnacle of the Hollywood dream and the indelible mark he left. Not only did he cut a path for himself, but Heath often championed other talents and artists whose voices he thought deserved to be heard. The documentary also showcases his most memorable moments on screen from his beginnings in Australia to the heights of his Hollywood achievements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bbHxWwRzPY
-
Julie Perini Wins 2017 Oregon Media Arts Fellowship to Fund ‘The Story of Butch Lesbian Freedom Fighter rita bo brown’
Julie Perini has been selected by The Northwest Film Center, Oregon Arts Commission, and Portland Film Office as the winner of the 2017 Oregon Media Arts Fellowship (OMAF).
Julie Perini is a Portland-based media who works in experimental and documentary film and video, installations, and live events. Originally from Poughkeepie, NY, she has been exploring her immediate surroundings with cameras since age 15 when she discovered a VHS camcorder in her parent’s suburban home. Perini’s work often explores the areas between fact and fiction, the staged and improvised, and the personal and political, often in response to social movements happening locally and globally. Perini’s work has exhibited and screened internationally at such venues as the Centre Pompidou-Metz (France), Artists’ Television Access (San Francisco), Visible Evidence XX (Stockholm), The Horse Hospital (London), Cornell Cinema (Ithaca, NY), Microscope Gallery (New York City), among others. She has been awarded artist residencies at Yaddo, Signal Fire, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, and Djerassi Resident Artists Program and is currently employed as an Associate Professor in the School of Art + Design at Portland State University. She has received grants and fellowships in support of her work from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, The Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Oregon Arts Commission, and The Precipice Fund.
The $5,500 Fellowship award will go towards funding The Gentleman Bank Robber: The Story of Butch Lesbian Freedom Fighter rita bo brown, a feature-length documentary that tells the story of bo brown, a white working-class butch from Klamath Falls, Oregon who was a member of the revolutionary George Jackson Brigade, an underground, militant revolutionary prison abolitionist group based in Seattle, Washington in the 1970s. As a member of the George Jackson Brigade, bo became known as “The Gentleman Bank Robber” for combing her butch style of dress with a polite way of demanding funds from bank tellers, one of the ways the Brigade funded its militant activities to protest military aggression, injustice, and exploitation.
The Oregon Media Arts Fellowship supports filmmakers who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the media arts. Jurors reviewed 42 submissions from applicants throughout the state, weighing artistic merit, the potential of the proposed activity to advance the artist’s work, and the feasibility of the projects proposed. The Fellowship is funded by the Oregon Arts Commission and the Portland Film Office and administered by Northwest Film.
The application deadline for the 2018 Oregon Media Arts Fellowships is January 1, 2018
-
Tribeca Film Festival Selects 5 Finalists for 2017 Tribeca Snapchat Shorts
The Tribeca Film Festival has selected five finalists for the 2017 Tribeca Snapchat Shorts. The five Shorts finalists will premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on Tuesday, April 25 at the Cinepolis Chelsea Theatre. Eva Longoria, Andy Cohen, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jason Biggs and Dillon Francis comprise the panel of jurors who will select the winner of this year’s program. The Tribeca Snapchat Shorts was created in an effort to discover visionary artists in the mobile space.
The finalists were chosen from hundreds of submissions, all under two minutes, and include: Annie Hubbard’s “Magic Show,” about a quick-witted magician; Jeff Ayars’ “The Notebook Snapstory,” a Ryan Gosling Notebook spoof; Doug Larlham and Sarah Albonesi’s “Puppy Love,” about a precocious dog who fears losing his owner’s affection; Anna Roisman’s “Owen Wilson Dates Himself,” an Owen Wilson parody; and Brannen Haderle, Alex Berry and Stanley Kalu’s “Live Colorfully,” about a father who transports from a mundane lifestyle to a world of color to connect with his son.
As part of the Tribeca Snapchat Shorts screening on Tuesday, April 25, five additional films will premiere that have been created specifically for the 2017 program from filmmakers, including Tribeca alumni. The filmmakers are: Matt Wolf (Teenage, 2011, The Marion Stokes Project, 2015), Natalia Leite (Bare, 2015), Boman Modine, (Merry Xmas – 2015), Parker Hill (One Good Pitch – 2016) and Dasha Battelle and Ani Acopian.
Following the screenings, the creators will participate in a conversation about storytelling on new platforms.
The 2017 Tribeca Snapchat Shorts five finalists through submissions include:
Live Colorfully, directed by Brannen Haderle, Alex Berry, Stanley Kalu.
A young father steps out of the comfort zone of his mundane lifestyle to further connect with his son.
Bios: Brannen Haderle: Born and raised in Los Angeles, USC Sophomore and an avid Snapchat enthusiast. Alex Berry: Brooklynite before it was trendy, USC Sophomore. Favorite movie: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Stanley Kalu: Born in Nigeria and raised all over Africa. USC Sophomore.
Snapchat: bhaddzzz
Magic Show, directed by Annie Hubbard.
The only attendee to Peter’s traditional magic show is preoccupied with her phone, and he must discover a way to get her attention.
Bio: Annie Hubbard is a director and editor currently working as a production coordinator with Notable Pictures.
Snapchat: anne-droid
The Notebook Snapstory, directed by Jeff Ayars.
A young woman spends a lazy Sunday with Ryan Gosling.
Bio: Jeff Ayars is one-half of the comedy duo Cannibal Milkshake, and he produces, directs and acts in projects around NYC.
Snapchat: JEFFAYARS
Puppy Love, directed by Doug Larlham, Sarah Albonesi.
From within his LA apartment, a precocious dog fears he is losing the affections of his owner to her new flame.
Bios: Doug and Sarah are longtime friends who only just decided to start creating stories together, and this is their first project as a team. Look forward to more to come from them.
Snapchat: dougcomedy
Owen Wilson Dates Himself, directed by Anna Roisman.
In this quaint romantic art film, Owen Wilson explores life with his one true love. But does that make them a perfect match?
Bio: Anna Roisman is a comedian/actress/creator in Brooklyn whose work has been featured on MTV, Just For Laughs, Funny Or Die, Elite Daily, Huffington Post, People, LA Times.
Snapchat: annaroserois
The 2017 Tribeca Snapchat Shorts from alumni filmmakers are:
The Future is Female, directed by Matt Wolf.
When online archivist Kelly Rakowski found a 1975 photograph of a woman wearing a t-shirt that says, “The Future is Female,” she shared it with her friend Rachel Berks, whose store Otherwild remade the shirt. The feminist slogan went viral and now twenty-five percent of the profits for the t-shirt goes to Planned Parenthood.
Bio: Matt Wolf’s feature docs include WILD COMBINATION about the avant-garde cellist and disco producer Arthur Russell, and TEENAGE about the birth of youth culture. His most recent short BAYARD & ME, about the civil rights leader Bayard Rustin premiered at Sundance.
Good Things Happen, directed by Boman Modine.
Sometimes there’s a delay on karma.
Bio: Boman Modine is a director and producer living in Los Angeles who has a new appreciation for Snapchat.
New Look, directed by Dasha Battelle,Ani Acopian.
In a doodle-filled world, a stylist struggles to meet the needs of her difficult client.
Bio: Dasha and Ani both went to Wesleyan, but not at the same time. They have both worked at Snapchat, but not together. Dasha likes to doodle and Ani likes to make films. Sometimes they do this at the same time, and together.
READY, directed by Parker Hill.
A girl struggles to decide what to wear for the big night.
Bio: Parker Hill is a New York based writer and director. 2017 marks her third consecutive year of having a short film at Tribeca Film Festival. Parker is currently an artist of choice with the Kevin Spacey Foundation for her upcoming short film Homing In.
Strangers, directed by Natalia Leite.
A study on first impressions.
Bio: Natalia Leite is a Brazilian-born writer, director, and actor most-known for her debut feature BARE, starring Dianna Agron, her latest feature M.F.A., and her series BE HERE NOWISH.
Since Snapchat’s launch in 2011, the app has consistently been one of the top apps on iOS and Android. Our community uses Snapchat every day to Snap with and watch Stories from family and friends, experience events from around the world and explore expertly-curated content from leading publishers.
-
Poster + Watch Official Trailer for Indie Film THE BOOK OF HENRY Starring Naomi Watts
The Book of Henry Colin Trevorrow more known for blockbusters like Jurassic World and Safety Not Guaranteed, is taking a detour and directing the upcoming indie film The Book of Henry starring Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts
-
Poster + Watch Trailer for French Actress Mélanie Laurent Award-Winning Environmental Documentary TOMORROW
Here is the poster and official trailer for Popular French actress Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds) and activist Cyril Dion’s César Award-winning environmentally-themed documentary Tomorrow (Demain). The documentary film which won the awards for Best Documentary Feature -César Awards 2016, and Best Documentary- COLCOA French Film Festival (Los Angeles), will open theatrically in San Francisco on April 14 and then in New York, Los Angeles and other markets on April 21 – to coincide with Earth Day celebrations on April 22.
In 2012, “Nature” published a study led by more than 20 researchers from the top scientific institutions in the world predicting that humankind could disappear between 2040 and 2100. It also said that it could be avoided by drastically changing our way of life and take appropriate measures.
Shortly after giving birth to her first child, French actress and director Mélanie Laurent became increasingly aware of the dangers and the state of urgency that her son will face in the future. Along with friend and activist Cyril Dion and their crew, she decided to travel the world in search of solutions that can help save the next generations. The result is Tomorrow, an inspiring documentary that presents concrete solutions implemented throughout the world by hundred of communities.
From the US to the UK and through Finland and India, together they traveled to 10 countries to visit permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects and community-owned renewable initiatives to highlight people making a difference in the fields of food, energy, finance, democracy, and education. Their common ideas and examples make Tomorrow one of the most essential and unexpectedly inspirational viewing experiences of our time.
-
Watch Exclusive Film Clip + Poster for Climate Change Documentary THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES
Here is the poster and exclusive video clip from the The Age of Consequences. Described as The Hurt Locker meets An Inconvenient Truth, the film investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration, and conflict through the lens of US national security and global stability.
The Age of Consequences directed by Jared P. Scott will be theatrically released in New York and Los Angeles and will be available digitally today, April 4, 2017. The film will also screen for NASA at the AmesResearch Center south of San Francisco on April 20th.
Through unflinching case-study analysis, distinguished admirals, generals and military veterans take us beyond the headlines of the conflict in Syria, the social unrest of the Arab Spring, the rise of radicalized groups like ISIS, and the European refugee crisis – and lay bare how climate change stressors interact with societal tensions, sparking conflict.
Whether a long-term vulnerability or sudden shock, the film unpacks how water and food shortages, drought, extreme weather, and sea-level rise function as ‘accelerants of instability’ and ‘catalysts for conflict’ in volatile regions of the world.
These Pentagon insiders make the compelling case that if we go on with business as usual, the consequences of climate change – waves of refugees, failed states, terrorism – will continue to grow in scale and frequency, with grave implications for peace and security in the 21st century.
The film’s unnerving assessment is by no means reason for fatalism – but instead a call to action to rethink how we use and produce energy.
As in any military defense and security strategy, time is our most precious resource.
-
‘8 BORDERS, 8 DAYS’ and ‘SWEETHEART DEAL’ Win True Productions + SIFF Documentary Filmmakers Grants
[caption id="attachment_21780" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Sham, Yaman and Lulu in Lesbos, Greece, September 2015 (Amanda Bailly) (8 BORDERS, 8 DAYS – Amanda Bailly)[/caption]
Amanda Bailly’s film 8 BORDERS, 8 DAYS and co-directors Elisa Levine and Gabriel Miller’s film SWEETHEART DEAL have been awarded filmmaking grants in the 2016 True Productions + SIFF $50,000 Documentary Filmmakers Grant program.
True Productions founder Dwayne Clark, and his wife Terese Clark, have generously pledged to underwrite an annual $50,0000 grant for three years, this being the second year. “We are committed to producing true stories and both these documentaries touch our hearts. Both my wife and I are children of immigrants and we understand the plight of the immigrant. But we are especially touched by those seeking refuge from violence. In addition, when it comes to the topic of heroin addiction, we see Seattle and nearby communities struggling with solutions. We hope by supporting SWEETHEART DEAL, that we can keep the problem top of mind and perhaps spark more conversations around prevention,” said Dwayne Clark.
“I am so grateful to True Productions + SIFF for investing in the story of this single Syrian mother and her children, who had no other option but to travel in a raft across the sea with smugglers,” director Amanda Bailly said. “It is through human stories like this one that I hope our country can understand what it means to close our doors to the millions of people in need of refuge.”
8 BORDERS, 8 DAYS is the story of one woman’s personal revolution in the context of one of the greatest human rights crises of our time. The film weaves between the intimate story of a fierce single mother of two from Syria, and an immersive experience of their eight-day journey to safety.
Elisa Levine and Gabriel Miller’s film SWEETHEART DEAL, produced by Peggy Case, follows the lives of four women whose lives are ruled by heroin, and there is no help in sight – except from a ponytailed eccentric living in a Winnebago parked on Seattle’s notorious Aurora Avenue.
“When Mary Ellen Mark and Martin Bell made STREETWISE back in 1984, they chose Seattle because it was considered America’s most livable city. They wanted to show that if the issue of homeless kids could be a problem in wholesome Seattle, it had to be a problem everywhere. The same holds true today for heroin addiction,” director Elisa Levine said. “This incredible support from True Productions + SIFF comes at a crucial point in our post-production process. We so look forward to sharing SWEETHEART DEAL with SIFF audiences when it is completed.”
“Continuing with our second consecutive year, we are thrilled to have selected two powerful documentaries for the True Productions + SIFF Documentary Filmmaking Grant,” said Interim Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “8 BORDERS, 8 DAYS and SWEETHEART DEAL have tackled the issues of immigration and heroin addiction with such grace and thoughtfulness, and thanks to the dedication of Dwayne and Teresa Clark and True Productions, both films will be equipped with the necessary tools for launching into the festival and exhibition world.”
-
Sundance Award Winning Documentary LAST MEN IN ALEPPO to Be Released in U.S. | Trailer
[caption id="attachment_19914" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Last Men in Aleppo[/caption]
The award-winning documentary film Last Men in Aleppo, directed by Feras Fayyad and Steen Johannesen will be released in the U.S. by Grasshopper Film.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Documentary Grand Jury Prize, then went on to screen as the Opening Night selection of CPH:DOX where it won the DOX:AWARD.
After five years of war in Syria, the remaining citizens of Aleppo are getting ready for a siege. From September 2015 to the fall of 2016, the filmmakers follow the volunteers from The White Helmets as they experience the daily life of death and struggle in the streets of the city. They fight for sanity in a place where war has become the norm.
Khalid, Subhi and Mahmoud are among the first to enter the destroyed buildings, scouring through the rubble in search of bodies and signs of life. They now live more or less under siege and constant bombings, together with the remaining 350,000 civilians in Aleppo. They all struggle with the same dilemma: Should they flee and bring their families to safety, or should they stay and fight for their city?
“For six years, I witnessed the ugliest of human brutality; secret prisons, destroyed cities and streets littered with human remains,” said director Feras Fiyyad, “I wanted to find a glimmer of hope and humanity under all this hell. War brings out the worst in human beings, but it also brings out the best in us. The White Helmets are indeed a living example of that, and their voices deserve to be heard.”
“’Last Men in Aleppo’ is bold, courageous, immersive filmmaking,” commented Ryan Krivoshey. “By embedding us among these extraordinary individuals, allowing us to experience their reality, it illuminates in a way that I haven’t seen before a conflict that is reshaping our world. We’re honored to be working with director Feras Fayyad and co-director Steen Johannesen on the release of this film.”
Grasshopper plans to release the film theatrically in May, followed by a non-theatrical and VOD release. The film will have an exclusive New York run starting May 3rd at the Metrograph and May 18 th at Laemmle’s Music Hall in Los Angeles with a nationwide rollout thereafter. The film has also been acquired for US broadcast by POV which will air the film later in the year.
Grasshopper Film is a new distribution company dedicated to the release of acclaimed and award-winning independent cinema. Upcoming releases include Bertrand Bonello’s “Nocturama,” Michael Almereyda’s “Escapes,” Andrew Rossi’s “Bronx Gothic” and Oliver Laxe’s Cannes Critics Week winner “Mimosas.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT6IagQ7xos
-
Bette Gordon’s Psychological Thriller THE DROWNING Starring Julia Stiles, to Open in Theaters on May 10th | Trailer
[caption id="attachment_21751" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Drowning[/caption]
Bette Gordon’s psychological thriller, The Drowning, based on Border Crossing, the controversial novel about violence in children by noted Booker Prize-winning author Pat Barker will open in theaters on May 10th, 2017.
The Drowning, starring Julia Stiles, Josh Charles, Avan Jogia, Tracie Thoms and Leo Fitzpatrick, is the story of a forensic psychologist who is haunted by his expert witness testimony that sent a young boy to prison for a chilling murder. When the boy later reappears in his life, he is drawn into a destructive, soul-searching reinvestigation of the case. An erotic thriller with no let up in tension, The Drowning celebrates the genre with electrifying performances. Complex, riveting and unafraid to tread deep, murky psychological waters, this is a story of shifting identities that will keep you guessing until the very end.
The Drowning premiered at the most recent Woodstock Film Festival and went on to screen at film festivals around the world including Warsaw, Sao Paulo, Napa Valley and Savannah. The Drowning marks Gordon’s second collaboration with producer Jamin O’Brien and Paladin which also released her film Handsome Harry featuring Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn and Campbell Scott in 2010.
A pioneer in American Independent Cinema, Bette Gordon is known for her bold explorations of themes related to sexuality, violence and power including her feature length debut from her own original screenplay, Variety (1984), a beautifully seductive film about voyeurism and pornography, that Film Comment calls “a unique feminist thought experiment that doubles as a love letter to Fear City-era New York.” Luminous Motion (2000) was produced by Ted Hope and Anthony Bregman and stars Deborah Kara Unger in a breathtaking performance. Gordon’s film Handsome Harry premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival (2009) and was released theatrically by Paladin to rave reviews. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, Campbell Scott, Jamey Sheridan. The film critic John Powers has said, “Gordon’s willingness to explore dangerous territory puts her miles ahead of most filmmakers.” Gordon is a film professor at Columbia University.
The Drowning was adapted for the screen by Stephen Molton and House of Cards showrunner Frank Pugliese, and is being released by Paladin and Electric Entertainment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waqa7wbTpMM