Films

Another award-winning film from this year’s Sundance Film Festival is set for release in theaters. Jesse Moss’ documentary TheOvernighters which made its World Premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and received a “Special Jury Award for Intuitive Filmmaking” has been acquired by Drafthouse Films for release later this year. The New York Premiere is set to take place at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival.   The film chronicles the plight of desperate men as they chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields while a devoted Pastor risks everything to help them. 

 Filmmaker Jesse Moss spent 18 months in North Dakota as a one-man-documentary-crew intimately capturing extraordinary portraits of broken men and examining the tension between the moral imperative to “love thy neighbor,” and the response of one small town congregation and community when confronted by an influx of desperate strangers.

In the midst of the struggling economic climate of the United States, the oil business in small town Williston, North Dakota is booming. Thousands of desperate men and women are flocking to the region in search of work with little more than the clothes on their backs or the cars they arrived in. The great demand for housing has overwhelmed the community with many of those who have found employment without a place to live. Pastor Jay Reinke of Concordia Lutheran Church is under fire from the City Council, his community and the local newspapers for his heartfelt desire to open the church’s doors to allow the “overnighters” – as he calls them – to stay for a night, a week or sometimes even longer, sleeping on the floor, in the pews and in their cars in the Church parking lot. When the town learns that Reinke is housing men with criminal records, and a mounting controversy peaks within the pastor’s personal life, even his diehard quest for humanity can’t stop things from spiraling vastly out of control.

via comingsoon

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Check out the official poster and trailer for the Afghanistan war documentary, The Hornet’s Nest, directed by Christian Tureaud and David Salzberg, and scheduled to be released nationally in theaters on May 23rd, 2014.  Armed only with their cameras, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning conflict Journalist Mike Boettcher, and his son, Carlos, provide unprecedented access into the longest war in U.S. history. Mike and Carlos Boettcher are the only reporters devoted to full time coverage of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. They began their embed with U.S. forces in August 2008. 

The film is described as the story of an elite group of U.S. troops sent on a dangerous mission deep inside one of Afghanistan’s most hostile valleys, told through the narrative of Journalist Mike Boettcher, and his son, Carlos attempting to reconnect under unimaginable circumstances, who are assigned to cover the conflict for one of the United States’ major broadcast networks.

The Hornet’s Nest is a groundbreaking and immersive feature film, using unprecedented real footage to tell the story of an elite group of U.S. troops sent on a dangerous mission deep inside one of Afghanistan’s most hostile valleys.

The film culminates with what was planned as a single day strike turning into nine intense days of harrowing combat against an invisible, hostile enemy in the country’s complex terrain where no foreign troops have ever dared to go before. Two embedded journalists, a father and son, bravely followed the troops through the fiercest and most blood-soaked battlegrounds of the conflict. What resulted is an intensely raw feature film experience that will give audiences a deeply emotional and authentic view of the heroism at the center of this gripping story.

 http://youtu.be/qBt-GTfgLh4

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The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.  Built in 1895 by architect Pierre Cuypers, it is considered one of the world’s preeminent art museums. If you’ve visited Amsterdam, you’ve probably been to the Rijksmuseum, U.S. President Obama is scheduled to visit the Rijksmuseum this coming Monday, March 24, 2014. But if you live in Portland Oregon, the Northwest Film Center will screen the film THE NEW RIJKSMUSEUM, April 12 to 13, 2014 at Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium Portland Art Museum. The film follows the renovation of the museum that took ten long and expensive years and described as a messy, complicated story but one with a glorious ending.

“The renovation of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum went on for ten long, expensive years, so it is fitting that a documentary on this torturous (and often inadvertently hilarious) process should turn into not one but two feature-length movies. Spanish architects Antonio Cruz and Antonio Ortiz have designed an ingenious new entryway, but the Dutch Cyclists Union won’t tolerate reduced access for the 13,000 bicyclists who ride through the passageway daily. The museum’s magisterial director, Ronald de Leeuw, and his successor, the younger, scrappier Wim Pijbes, battle with curators, politicians, designers, city bureaucrats, and the public as the price of construction soars to $500 million. It’s a messy, complicated story, but fortunately, one with a glorious ending.”—Film Forum.

http://youtu.be/fk6R_UfBjmI

http://youtu.be/JRw8B9ch_yc

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James D. Cooper’s directorial debut LAMBERT & STAMP, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in North America, Australia and NZ, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia.  The film stars Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, and features Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and Terence Stamp.  LAMBERT & STAMP tells the story of Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, aspiring New Wave filmmakers from opposite sides of the tracks who set out to find a subject for their underground movie, leading them to discover, mentor and manage the iconic band that would become known as The Who.

In the crazy, chaotic gospel of chance that is LAMBERT & STAMP, aspiring filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert set out to find a subject for their underground movie, one that will reflect the way it feels to be young and dissatisfied in postwar London. This brilliant, but unlikely, partnership of two men from vastly different backgrounds was inspired by the burgeoning youth culture of the early 1960s. Lambert and Stamp searched for months and finally found in a band called the High Numbers a rebellious restlessness that was just what they were looking for. Abandoning their plans to make a film, they instead decided to mentor and manage this group, which evolved into the iconic band known as the Who. The result was rock ‘n’ roll history. Sundance Film Festival

“’Lambert & Stamp’ is the greatest untold story in rock. The movie captures a very unlikely partnership and the hailstorm of creativity that comes with it. Sony Pictures Classics is truly the ideal partner for distributing the film which I’ve been honored to make, and for the legacy with which I’ve been entrusted,” said James D. Cooper.

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The Alice Cooper documentary, SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER, will premiere at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and will be released in theaters nationwide beginning April 30.  SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER is the twisted tale of a teenage Dr. Jekyll whose rock ‘n’ roll Mr. Hyde almost kills him. It is the story of Vincent Furnier, a preacher’s son who struck fear into the hearts of parents as Alice Cooper, the ultimate rock star of the bizarre. From the advent of Alice as frontman for a group of Phoenix freaks in the ’60s to the hazy decadence of celebrity in the ’70s to his triumphant comeback as ’80s glam metal godfather, we will watch as Alice and Vincent battle for each other’s souls. Alice’s story is told not only by the man himself, but through exclusive interviews with members of the original Alice Cooper band, Elton John, Iggy Pop, John Lydon and Dee Snider.

SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER is the creation of Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn at Banger Films, producers of 2009 SXSW Audience Choice Winner, IRON MAIDEN: FLIGHT 666 and 2010 Grammy-nominated and Tribeca Audience Choice Winner, RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE, and much-lauded filmmaker Reginald Harkema, winner of the TIFF Special Jury Prize for his film “Monkey Warfare”.

Current list of U.S. theatrical and venue screenings, sorted by their original screening date.  Check your local listings for more information.

April 30:

Fairfax, VA – Angelika Mosaic
Dallas, TX – Angelika Film Dallas
Plano, TX – Angelika Film Plano
San Diego, CA – Gaslamp 15
Honolulu, HI – Ward Stadium 16
Sacramento, CA – Tower Theatre
La Mesa, CA – Grossmont Center 10
Rohnert Park, CA – Rohnert Park 16
Bakersfield, CA – Valley Plaza 16
New York, NY – Village East
Manville, NJ – Manville 12-Plex
Murrieta, CA – Cal Oaks 17
Cleveland, OH – Capitol Theatre
Cleveland, OH – Shaker Square Cinemas
Pittsburgh, PA – Southside Works Cinema
Peoria, AZ – Arrowhead Fountains 18
Oklahoma City, OK – Bricktown 16
Chandler, AZ – Chandler Fashion 20
Moreno Valley, CA – Moreno Valley 16
Denver, CO – Northfield 18
Phoenix, AZ – Scottsdale 101
Arlington, MA – Regent Theatre
Claremont, CA – Claremont 5
North Hollywood, CA – NoHo 7
Pasadena, CA – Playhouse 7
Amherst, NY – The Screening Room Inc.
Chestnut Hill, MA – Showcase SuperLux
Millbury, MA – Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux
Dedham, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Legacy Place
Bridgeport, CT – Showcase Cinemas Bridgeport
White Plains, NY – City Center 15: Cinema De Lux
Whitestone, NY – College Point Multiplex Cinemas
Edgewater, NJ – Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas
Farmingdale, NY – Farmingdale Multiplex Cinemas
Holtsville, NY – Island 16: Cinema De Lux
Lowell, MA – Showcase Cinemas Lowell
Foxboro, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Patriot Place
Providence, RI – Providence Place Cinemas 16
Springdale, OH – Springdale 18: Cinema De Lux
Warwick, RI – Showcase Cinemas Warwick
Randolph, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Randolph
Revere, MA – Showcase Cinema de Lux Revere
Elmsford, NY – Greenburgh Multiplex Cinemas
Yonkers, NY – Showcase Cinema de Lux Ridge Hill
Bonita Springs, FL – Prado Stadium 12

May 1:

San Francisco, CA – Balboa Theatre
Cincinnati, OH – Esquire Theatre
Columbus, OH – Gateway Film Center
Sparta, NJ – Digiplex Sparta
Mechanicsburg, PA – Digiplex Mechanicsburg
Camp Hill, PA – Digiplex Camp Hill
Williamsport, PA – Digiplex Williamsport
Bloomsburg, PA – Digiplex Bloomsburg
Selinsgrove, PA – Digiplex Selinsgrove
Reading, PA – Digiplex Fairgrounds
Solon, OH – Digiplex Solon Cinema 16
Surprise, AZ – Digiplex Surprise Pointe 14
Bloomfield, CT – Digiplex Bloomfield
Lisbon, CT – Digiplex Lisbon
Torrington, CT – Digiplex CINEROM Torrington
Temecula, CA – Digiplex Temecula Tower 10
Apple Valley, CA – Digiplex Apple Valley 14
Bonsall, CA – Digiplex River Village
Oceanside, CA – Digiplex Mission Marketplace 13
Poway, CA – Digiplex Poway 10
Westfield, NJ – Digiplex Rialto Westfield
San Rafael, CA – California Film Institute

May 2:

Phoenix, AZ – FilmBar

May 7:

Athens, OH – Athena Grand

May 13:

Tuscon, AZ – The Loft Cinema

May 19:

Bridgeport, CT – Bijou Theatre

http://youtu.be/65LiL6R9L3I 

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The documentary LAST HIJACK, which had its world premiere at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival and its North American premiere at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival, will be released in theaters and on VOD this summer by FilmBuff.  Directed by Tommy Pallotta (producer of “Waking Life” and “A Scanner Darkly”) and Femke Wolting, the film combines animation and documentary filmmaking to portray the powerful story of a Somali pirate as he hijacks ships off the coast of Africa while also struggling to become the father figure that his family needs.

LAST HIJACK takes an innovative hybrid approach to explore how one Somali pirate –Mohamed — came to live such a brutal and dangerous existence. Animated re-enactments exploring Mohamed’s memories, dreams and fears from his point of view are juxtaposed with raw footage from his everyday life in an original non-fiction narrative. Mohamed is one of Somalia’s most experienced pirates. But in his homeland, a failed state, Mohamed is just another middle-aged man trying to make ends meet. He must decide whether to risk everything for one last hijack.

“Mohamed’s is a journey that needed to be told,” directors Pallotta and Wolting said in a joint statement. “We always wanted to tell the story of piracy from the Somali perspective while also highlighting the realities of survival in a failed state. FilmBuff’s expertise and enthusiasm in the digital space makes them the ideal partner to bring this film to audiences everywhere and expose them to the little known truths behind piracy in the headlines.”

http://youtu.be/QsecToqvTZk

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