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  • Director Wong Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese celebrate the upcoming release of MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS ‘THE GRANDMASTER’ | Trailer

    Director Won Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese celebrate the upcoming release of MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS 'THE GRANDMASTER'Director Won Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese celebrate the upcoming release of MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS ‘THE GRANDMASTER’

    Filmmaking legends Wong Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese met in New York yesterday to celebrate the upcoming release of Wong’s kung fu epic THE GRANDMASTER. The Weinstein Company, who is releasing the film theatrically, recently announced that Scorsese is lending his name in presentation of the picture, deeming it MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS ‘THE GRANDMASTER.’ The film, which stars internationally beloved actors Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, and Chang Chen and is executive produced by Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison, will open in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto on August 23rd and nationwide on August 30th.

    Filmed over the course of 22 months in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, the actors underwent several years of rigorous and extremely challenging kung fu training for their roles in the film. Years of research before production and a virtual battalion of martial arts trainers on set ensured that THE GRANDMASTER portrays both the Chinese martial arts and the world of the martial artists with unprecedented authenticity, with fight scenes choreographed by renowned action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping (THE MATRIX, KILL BILL, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.)

    Said Scorsese: “Wong Kar Wai has turned martial arts into a modern dance. Every movement hit with precision, every emotion drenched with underlying honor. THE GRANDMASTER, arranged with both elegance and fury, left me mesmerized.”

    “Marty has always been a great inspiration,” said Wong Kar Wai. “We are so thankful for his support of the film.”

    Commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein: “Marty Scorsese’s reaction to THE GRANDMASTER couldn’t have been more enthusiastic. When Marty champions a film, nothing is better; it is the ultimate seal of approval. I look forward to audiences seeing this wildly entertaining and artistic film.”

    http://youtu.be/Zl8dzRLr3Mg

    via Weinstein Co.

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  • REVIEW: LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER

    Lee Daniels’ The Butler 

    By now, you’ve likely heard all about LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, the story of an African-American man who served on the White House staff through eight administrations. In the film Forest Whitaker stars as Cecil Gaines, who is loosely based off actual White House butler Eugene Allen. Of course, don’t be fooled by the marketing – reading the Washington Post article the film was initially based on, shows that the film is fictionalized to a great degree. Because of that, in some ways The Butler is like a real-life version of Forest Gump, though by no means do I mean to compare the obviously completely different protagonists (to be like Forest Gump, Cecil would have had to do something like stop the Cuban Missile Crisis by misplacing JFK’s silverware).

    Whereas the real-life Eugene was born in Virginia, Cecil is a child of cotton fields in the Deep South. After a horrific childhood tragedy he slowly grows into his role as a servant and constantly impresses the right people until he is hired by the White House. However, his service to white presidents in the racially turbulent 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s puts him at odds with his eldest son Louis (David Oyelowo), and while we witness Cecil’s humorous encounters with numerous presidents we also witness his rocky relationship with Louis, who gradually becomes involved in the Civil Rights Movement.

    If you go to see the The Butler to see caricatures of former presidents, be prepared – their appearances are limited to glorified cameos that are often played for laughs. The idea seems to be to show the presidents at their worst, so you see Eisenhower (a miscast Robin Williams) cowering over his decision to enforce Brown v. Board of Ed, Lyndon Johnson (Liev Schreiber) on the toilet, Nixon (an even more miscast John Cusack) pandering for votes and drunkenly insisting he’ll never resign, and Ronald Reagan (Alan Rickman) trying to hide things from Nancy (Jane Fonda). Only John F. Kennedy (James Marsden) gets off without looking ridiculous, partially because Marsden plays him straighter than the other presidential actors and partially because, well, I’m sure you know how Hollywood feels about the Kennedys. I mean, you’d think a White House butler would’ve seen a mistress or two running around Kennedy’s office, right? As for Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, they get a pass via a montage that zooms through late 70s/early 80s American history, which, inexplicably, ends with a lengthy shot of Princess Diana. This leads to a major all-serious tonal shift in the last half hour of the film that is far removed from Eugene Allen’s actual life.

    Aside from the presidents, the film does have an impressive cast beyond the always great Whitaker. Oyelowo’s Louis is a great foil for Cecil, even if the Louis character is entirely fictional. I was also surprised by how good Cuba Gooding Jr. is as Cecil’s fellow butler Carter. Considering the last film I saw Gooding in was opposite Dolph Lundgren in the direct-to-video One in the Chamber, his funny performance here could put his career back on track. Another surprise is Oprah Winfrey, who plays Cecil’s oft-drunk wife Gloria. She’s a better actress than I expected, but most of her lines are delivered as sassy quips, even the lines of her dialogue that aren’t supposed to be sassy quips. She also curiously seems to age at half the rate that Cecil ages. Still, the shame of that is that there about a half-dozen far more proficient middle-aged African-American actresses who deserved the role over her and could have done something more than a two-dimensional sassy wife.

    In that sense, the engaging father/son story and the more comedic upstairs/downstairs presidential comedy seem like two completely different movies. While the drawing card is obviously the presidents, it’s the far weaker part of the film. Surprisingly, it’s the fictional story of Cecil and Louis that is the most moving. It makes me wonder if the real-life Eugene Allen’s story would’ve been better told as a documentary. Director Lee Daniels went from directing films with small scope like Shadowboxer, Precious, and The Paperboy to The Butler, and I think that explains why the film’s weaker parts are the ones that meant to be more “epic” in scope. I believed in the scenes of Louis facing harsh racism as an activist. I did not believe the scenes of Cusack’s goofy Nixon handing campaign buttons to the butler staff. I’d think screenwriter Danny Strong, who wrote HBO political movies Recount and Game Change, would have had a better handle on the political material.

    Lee Daniels’ The Butler

    Despite the August release date, The Butler is the most obvious Weinstein Company Oscar bait since The King’s Speech. While being Oscar bait isn’t necessarily a bad thing (The King’s Speech alone is evidence of that), I figure you’ve seen enough Oscar bait movies to know how thick The Butler lays it on. It’s a very good movie, but it misses the “great” mark by trying to be too goofy and too preachy at the same time.

    Film Review Rating 3 out of 5 : See it … It’s Good

    http://youtu.be/9uBXH_DLxsU

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  • New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday August 9

    Lovelace, Jug Face, I Give It a Year, Prince Avalanche, Blood, In a World..., Off Label

    Sometimes a good movie is hard to find. This is the first in a weekly feature here at VIMOOZ covering the most notable releases of non-mainstream films. Though some of these films are in such limited release they might not be playing in your area, it’s a good idea to write down any titles that interest you that you might be able to catch later on VOD or other streaming services.

    LOVELACE

    LOVELACELOVELACE
    Directors: Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman
    Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Juno Temple, Adrian Brody
    Though it’s impossible to verify the figures, there’s little doubt the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat is one of the most profitable — not to mention influential — films of all time. Its star, Linda Lovelace, became a pornographic icon. Lovelace tells the story of the titular star (portrayed by Amanda Seyfried)and her troubled life behind the scenes, particularly her relationships with her abusive husband (Peter Sarsgaard). It premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews

    JUG FACE

    JUG FACEJUG FACE
    Director: Chad Crawford Kinkle
    Starring: Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Bridgers, Kaitlin Cullum
    Though it’s already available on VOD, this horror movie out of the Slamdance Film Festival will get a limited release beginning this weekend. Though because of the scares, you might want to watch it in the privacy of your old home. Ada (Lauren Ashley Carter) is a pregnant girl who lives in a backwoods cult community who discovers she might be the next one sacrificed in a bizarre community ritual.

    I GIVE IT A YEAR

    I Give It A YearI Give It A Year

    Director: Dan Mazer
    Starring: Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Anna Faris and Simon Baker
    Already a hit across the pond, I Give It a Year is a British comedy about an eccentric newlywed couple who everyone thinks won’t last. Being that I’ve known a few couples who fall into that category I imagine that this can only get messy.

    PRINCE AVALANCHE

    PRINCE AVALANCHEPRINCE AVALANCHE

    Director: David Gordon Green
    Starring: Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch
    Though David Gordon Green’s most recent directing credits include The Sitter, Your Highness, and Pineapple Express, don’t forget that he began his career directing indie dramas like George Washington and All the Real Girls. Despite Paul Rudd starring in this it falls in the latter category. Rudd and Emile Hirsch star as polar opposites who are working together to work on a highway after a wildfire. I saw it at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and enjoyed it for its contemplative nature.

    BLOOD

    BloodBlood
    Director: Nick Murphy
    Starring: Paul Bettany, Stephen Graham, Mark Strong, Brian Cox
    Another British film finally getting its U.S. release, Blood is a thriller about two brothers (Paul Bettany and Stephen Graham) who are corrupt policemen assigned to investigate a crime that they themselves committed.

    IN A WORLD…

    IN A WORLD...IN A WORLD…
    Director: Lake Bell
    Starring: Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, Demetri Martin, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, Rob Corddry, Nick Offerman
    Ever notice how you hardly ever hear a female voice narrating movie trailers? I mean, most of us are aware that there are only a handful of people who do those voiceovers, but none of them are female. Carol (Lake Bell) is a vocal coach who decides that she will go where no female voice has gone before. In a World… has since received positive reviews and received a screenwriting award at the Sundance Film Festival for Lake Bell, who I guess wasn’t satisfied with just acting, producing and directing.

    OFF LABEL (Documentary)

    Off LabelOff Label
    Directors: Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri
    I think it’s obvious that Americans are whole are over-medicated. Off Label delves into the lives of eight Americans whose lives are basically defined by the pills they take daily as it explores the tightening hold pharmaceutical companies hold on the United States.

    ZIPPER: CONEY ISLAND’S LAST WILD RIDE (Documentary)

    ZIPPERZIPPER

    Director: Amy Nicholson
    When exactly does “city improvement” cross the line to “culture destruction?” ZIPPER takes a look at New York City’s push to “revitalize” the Coney Island amusement area by pushing out independently owned carnival games and restaurants in favor of chain restaurants and entertainment complexes. This documentary focuses on the fate of a popular carnival ride and how it’s fate parallels the fate of Coney Island as a whole. ZIPPER runs at New York’s IFC Center through August 13.

    OTHER NOTABLE WEEKEND INDIE, FOREIGN & DOCUMENTARY RELEASES:
    Ashley
    Whensday
    Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story
    Chennai Express

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  • REVIEW: WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL

    “A time when a vacation meant a trip to the Catskills”

    when-comedy-went-to-school-1

    And with it you were assured to see a show. Now whether or not it was to your liking was no guarantee. Moments afte ther decline of Vaudeville and Burlesque there existed a huge void in American activities and passtime; what once ensured entertainment was now old news, yet the audience remained. 75 miles NW of New York lie a region called the Catskills, still til this day, a place of hotels, rooming houses, and more. As it remains very popular today, there was a time when the Catskills were the end all be all in vacation options. Tourists from all over frequented this area in search of opportunity; to relax, to engage, to mingle, and more.

    when-comedy-went-to-school-2

    For a batch of young men and women who set their sites on being apart of something special, a thriving industry, these travelers were the perfect tool and conduit to their success. “When comedy went so school” it was practiced, studied; For legends like Jerry Lewis, Sid Ceasar, Jackie Mason, Jerry Stiller and Dick Gregory the hotels and resorts of the Catskills were a place to earn a good days pay while ironing out the kinks in their stage performance. Comedy. which once was slap stick or somewhat dramatic was now centered around being downright hilarious (thats if u got lucky). At the time these novice performers used the Catskills for exactly what it was worth: good meals, good scenery, good company, and beyond all else, good money., and practice.

    Taking center stage at bingo halls, theaters, restaurants, anywhere else that the promoters dictated these ambitious inpiduals kick the door down to a new age. In this film, Director Ron Frank and host Robert Klein provide a tutorial, which chronicles the history of comedy and its marriage to the Catskills. Where stars were made, or saved; where people enjoyed their effort encouraged their development and criticized their missing of the mark

    when-comedy-went-to-school

    “A boot camp….Basic training for a generation plus of our most gifted comics”

    The Rodney Dangerfields, Gabe Cohens of the world all got their feet wet. Before becoming household names the Larry Kings and David Brenners went to school with comedy, for comedy. Laced with creative biblical references, interestingly substantiated by interpretations, or manipulation for that matter. Get to understand this treatise on the beginnings of Comedy. From the tumbler to the stand up expert, entertainment in the Catskills evolved, and from that evolutuion was born a new genre- COMEDY

    http://youtu.be/Rwr-U1z1F60

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  • Ellen DeGeneres to Return as Host of Oscar

    Ellen DeGeneres

    The Academy announced today that Ellen DeGeneres will return to host the Oscars® for a second time. DeGeneres hosted the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, for which she received a Primetime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.”  The Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on OscarSunday, March 2, 2014, on the ABC Television Network.

    “We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars,” said Zadan and Meron. “As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are.”

    “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say – the third time’s the charm,” said DeGeneres.

    “I agreed with Craig and Neil immediately that Ellen is the ideal host for this year’s show,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President. “We’re looking forward to an entertaining, engaging and fun show.”

    “Ellen is talented, wonderfully spontaneous, and knows how to entertain a worldwide audience,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO. “She’s a big fan of the Oscars; we’re huge fans of hers. It’s a perfect match.”

    “It is an honor to welcome back Ellen DeGeneres as the host of the biggest entertainment celebration of the year,” said Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group. “She is the consummate entertainer, equally beloved by her peers in the industry, movie fans and television viewers. We very much look forward to having her back on ABC for Oscar Sunday.”

    http://youtu.be/whgVLNC5KSY

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  • 15 Indie Films to Get a Digital Release in August and September via Sundance Institute’s Artist Services Program

    ALL SHE CANALL SHE CAN

    15 independent films will get a digital release this Fall via the Sundance Institute’s Artist Services program. Upcoming releases include AN AFRICAN ELECTION, HOT HOUSE, MADE IN L.A., ROMÁNTICO, SO MUCH SO FAST, and TV JUNKIE. Feature films include ED’S NEXT MOVE, ALL SHE CAN, GYPSY DAVY, and L.I.E. Films will roll out between August 13 and September 17.

    SING ME THE SONG THAT SAYS I LOVE YOU: A CONCERT FOR KATE MCGARRIGLE, will make its digital premiere September 17. The film is described as a stirring tribute to renowned Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle and features her well known musical family – children Rufus and Martha Wainwright, older sisters Anna and Jane – and talented friends including Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Jimmy Fallon, and Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons) in a concert recorded at New York City’s Town Hall in May 2011. Directed by Lian Lunson, the film made its world premiere at Sundance London in 2012 and had a theatrical run earlier this summer.

    TROUBLESOME CREEK: A MIDWESTERN won both the Grand Jury Prize: Documentary and the Audience Award: Documentary at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. MADE IN L.A. won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story-Long Form in 2008. TV JUNKIE was the Documentary Special Jury Prize winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

    Titles will be available on a variety of platforms, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video,Microsoft Xbox, Sony Entertainment Network, SundanceNOW, VUDU and YouTube.

    TITLES AVAILABLE AUGUST 13

    AN AFRICAN ELECTION (Director: Jarreth Merz) — An African Election is a suspenseful political drama about the 2008 presidential elections in Ghana, West Africa, with unexpected twists and turns, yet always personal through the eyes of director Jarreth Merz. (2011 Sundance Film Festival)

    ED’S NEXT MOVE (Director: John C. Walsh) — Eddie, a young Wisconsin scientist, moves to New York’s East Village and, as he struggles to navigate his strange new urban world, begins an awkward, halting courtship of a violinist in an alternative band. (1996 Sundance Film Festival)

    HOT HOUSE (Director: Shimon Dotan) — Granted extraordinary access to the highest-security institutions in Israel, filmmaker Shimon Dotan uncovers a startling truth: Israeli prisons have become a breeding ground for the next generation of Palestinian leaders and a hotbed for terrorist plots. (2007 Sundance Film Festival)

    NO LOANS TODAY (Director: Lisanne Skyler) — Filmed in the aftermath of the 1992 riots, No Loans Today intimately portrays daily life in the African-American community of South Central Los Angeles through the lens of its key financial institution, the ABC Loan Co., a 25-year-old pawnshop and check-cashing outlet. (1995 Sundance Film Festival)

    SO MUCH SO FAST (Directors: Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan) — Remarkable events are set in motion when Stephen Heywood, 29, discovers he has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and his brother becomes obsessed with finding a cure. The film is a cliffhanger of romance and cutting-edge science by Academy Award nominees Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan.
    (2006 Sundance Film Festival)

    TROUBLESOME CREEK: A MIDWESTERN (Directors: Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan) — Troublesome Creek is the acclaimed story of the Jordan family’s gamble to save their Iowa farm. From fighting the Crooked Creek Gang in 1867, to fighting off the bank today. The film is an Academy Award-nominated cliffhanger about history, humor and the unsettling of America. (1996 Sundance Film Festival)

    TV JUNKIE (Directors: Michael Cain) — This Sundance Film Festival award-winning film is a striking video diary of Rick Kirkham, a 48-year old television journalist who at first appears to be living a charmed life, but all is not as it seems. (2006 Sundance Film Festival)

    TITLE AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 3

    VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN (Director: Andrés Wood) — The extraordinary story of iconic poet, musician and folksinger Violeta Parra, whose songs have become hymns for Chileans and Latin Americans alike. Director Andres Wood (Machuca) traces the intensity and explosive vitality of her life, from humble origins to international fame, her defense of indigenous cultures and devotion to her art. (2012 Sundance Film Festival)

    TITLE AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 17

    ALL SHE CAN (Director: Amy Wendel) — Luz Garcia wants something different than the few options available after high school in her forgotten Texas town. Her college dreams rest on a powerlifting competition. When family troubles, money struggles, and fear get in the way, she must find a different kind of strength to keep her dream alive. (2011 Sundance Film Festival)

    GYPSY DAVY (Director: Rachel Leah Jones) — When a blonde Californian with Alabama roots becomes a Flamenco guitarist in Andalucían boots, what happens along the way and behind the scenes?GYPSY DAVY tells the story of David Jones, stage name “David Serva,” from the perspective of his five women and five children—one of whom is the director. (2012 Sundance Film Festival)

    L.I.E (Director: Michael Cuesta) — A 15-year-old Long Island boy loses everything and everyone he knows, soon becoming involved in a relationship with a much older man. (2001 Sundance Film Festival)

    MADE IN L.A. (Director: Almudena Carracedo) — Emmy Award-winning film Made in L.A. tells the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants struggling to survive in Los Angeles sweatshops who, determined to win basic labor protections, embark on a three-year odyssey that will transform their lives forever. (2006 Sundance Documentary Film Grant)

    PUTIN’S KISS (Director: Lise Birk Pedersen) — Putin’s Kiss is a 2012 Danish documentary film, directed by Lise Birk Pedersen, dealing with Russian youth activist Masha Drokova and her experiences with the youth organization Nashi. (2012 Sundance Film Festival)

    ROMÁNTICO (Director: Mark Becker) — Romantico is a documentary portrait of Mexican musician Carmelo Muniz, who returns home to his young daughters after years playing the San Francisco taqueria circuit. Their reunion is bittersweet, as once Carmelo arrives in his hometown, he finds himself confronted with the million reasons he left years ago. At the age of 60, another border crossing begins to seem absurd, but Carmelo has not given up. (2005 Sundance Film Festival)

    SING ME THE SONG THAT SAYS I LOVE YOU: A CONCERT FOR KATE MCGARRIGLE (Director: Lian Lunson) — Rufus and Martha Wainwright pay tribute to their mother, the late Kate McGarrigle, in a concert filmed in New York City. Through song and story the film looks at how her children have to terms with her loss. (2012 Sundance London)

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  • Cheryl Boone Isaacs Elected Academy President

    cheryl boone isaacs

    Cheryl Boone Isaacs was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday night (July 30) by the organization’s Board of Governors.

    Boone Isaacs, who is beginning her 21st year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch, served as Academy first vice president during the past year. She also produced the 2012 Governors Awards. Boone Isaacs succeeds Hawk Koch, who served a one-year term as president.

    In addition, John Lasseter was elected first vice president; Jeffrey Kurland and Leonard Engelman were elected to vice president posts; Dick Cook was elected treasurer; and Phil Robinson was elected secretary.

    These will be the first officer stints for Engelman, Kurland and Cook.  Lasseter previously served one-year terms as treasurer (2011-2012) and secretary (2009-2010). Robinson served as vice president during the past year, his fourth consecutive term in that office (2009-2013).

    Boone Isaacs currently heads CBI Enterprises, Inc., where she has consulted on such films as “The Call,” “The Artist,” “The King’s Speech,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “Spider-Man 2” and “Tupac: Resurrection.”Boone Isaacs previously served as president of theatrical marketing for New Line Cinema, where she oversaw numerous box office successes, including “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “Rush Hour.” Prior to joining New Line in 1997, Boone Isaacs was executive vice president of worldwide publicity for Paramount Pictures, where she orchestrated publicity campaigns for the Best Picture winners “Forrest Gump” and “Braveheart.”

    Academy board members may serve up to three consecutive three-year terms, while officers serve one-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive years in any one office.

    [via press release]

     

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  • REVIEW: Jerry Lewis, Jerry Stiller, Robert Klein in WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL

    when-comedy-went-to-school

    I’ve always had a deep respect for standup comedians, which I regard as one of the toughest gigs in all of entertainment. However, standup comedy as we know is a relatively modern form of entertainment, and the origin of how it grew from vaudeville can be pinpointed to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, where dozens of the greatest comedians of all time developed their acts.

    WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL, a documentary about the influence the Catskills vacation region had on Jewish comedians, explores what exactly made the area such an enclave for future funnymen (and women). Narrated by Robert Klein, comedian and former Catskills busboy, and featuring interviews with Jerry Lewis, Jerry Stiller, Sid Caesar, Jackie Mason, and other comedy icons, along with plenty of vintage clips of Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, and Rodney Dangerfield, When Comedy Went to School is full of laughs as it tells the story of how modern standup comedy developed among Jewish vacationers.

    The height of the “Borscht Belt” experience lasted for a very brief time — roughly between the end of the vaudeville era and the rise of television and cheap air travel. But those three decades gave birth to so much of what we think about modern comedy. In that sense, your enjoyment of When Comedy Went to School will totally depend on how interested you are in the history of comedy. If standup comedy isn’t your thing – especially if older comedians don’t make you laugh – you probably won’t enjoy it. However, if you still crack up at Mel Brooks or Woody Allen comedies (and if you don’t you’re not friend of mine), you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this documentary.

    It also delves in the special relationship Jewish entertainers have with comedy and how the Catskills served as an almost Jewish-only summer paradise where entertainers felt comfortable working on their craft away from their homes in New York City. Like Klein, many of the comedians actually started as busboys and waiters and learned that they could earn more tips by injecting comedy into their interactions with guests. Early in the documentary Jerry Lewis calls it a “laboratory,” and it’s hard to find a more appropriate analogy for what role the Catskills scene did for all those great comedians and the development of standup comedy overall.

    At only 76 minutes, the documentary flies by. However, in the last twenty minutes I would’ve loved to have seen more vintage clips of the comedians rather than the focus on the decline of the Catskills as a vacation destination. I understand why directors Ron Frank and Mevlut Akkaya went in that direction (especially since I’m sure the vintage clips didn’t come free), but I know I could’ve watched hours of clips of comedians cracking their best jokes.

    Film Review Rating 3 out of 5 : See it … It’s Good

    WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL opens in NYC at IFC Center on July 31, Long Island on August 2, and Los Angeles on August 16.

    http://youtu.be/Rwr-U1z1F60

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  • Actress Nicole Kidman Honored by Cinema for Peace Foundation

    Nicole Kidman at Cinema For Peace Berlin 2013

    The Cinema for Peace Foundation honored UN Women, the United Nations organization tasked to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality and its Goodwill Ambassador, Academy-Award winning actress Nicole Kidman, in Berlin earlier this month. Nicole Kidman received a special honorary award for her long-term social engagement for women’s rights together with UN Women Acting Head Lakshmi Puri.

    Nicole Kidman said in her acceptance speech: “I have learned much about the horrific scope of violence against women around the world and seen its devastating impact. When I first learned that one in three women and girls experience violence in their lifetime, I was utterly shocked. Much of my work for UN Women has been since dedicated to this issue.”

    Other guests at the event included German actresses Veronica Ferres, Martina Gedeck and Katja Riemann, human rights advocates such as the ambassador of the European Council, Bianca Jagger, and the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda.

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  • The Academy to Honor Filmmaker Les Blank in New York

    Les Blank

    Les Blank, the award-winning American director, producer and cinematographer who died in April will be honored by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a “New York salute.” The commemoration to honor Blank, ‘known for his portraits of American musicians and his unique ability to capture culture through film’, will kick off at the Academy Theater on July 30, with screenings of restored 16mm film prints from the Academy Film Archive.

    The Academy is partnering with the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAMcinématek and Museum of the Moving Image in Queens on August 1 and August 2 for screenings to further honor Blank’s work. A concluding program at UnionDocs on August 4 will feature a restored print of Blank’s classic work Burden of Dreams as well as a 16mm print of Stoney Knows How (directed by Pacho Lane with cinematography from Les Blank) . The programs will be hosted and attended by Academy Film Archive preservationist Mark Toscano and Harrod Blank, the son of Les Blank.

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  • 163 New Films Selected for Project Forum at 2013 Independent Film Week

    2013 Independent Film Week

    163 new films in development have been selected for the Project Forum at 2013 Independent Film Week taking place September 15-19, 2013 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Through the Project Forum, creatives connect with the financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling that can help them complete their latest works and connect with audiences.

    Featured works at the 2013 Independent Film Week include filmmakers and content creators from a variety of backgrounds and experience. From Academy Award® winners Louie Psihoyos (THE COVE) and Cynthia Wade (FREEHELD) to web-series innovators such as Mesh Flinders (LONELYGIRL 5) and Thom Woodley (THE BURG).

    RBC’s Emerging Storytellers

    Always Shine directed by Sophia Takal, written by Lawrence Michael Levine, produced by Kim Sherman and John Baker. Two best friends, Anna and Beth, take a weekend trip that turns deadly when Anna’s repressed jealousy and insecurities begin to surface. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Awesome Asian Bad Guys directed by Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco, written by Milton Liu, produced by Patrick Epino, Stephen Dypiangco, Milton Liu and Diana Williams, executive produced by Phil Yu, cinematography by Nasar Abich, edited by Soham Mehta. Two offbeat filmmakers must assemble a volatile group of Asian bad guy actors to take down LA’s most nefarious mobster. (Comedy)

    Blues Run the Game directed and written by Alexander Jablonski. Out of jail and working on a cattle ranch, a recovering drug addict battles to solve a murder that no one will admit took place. (Mystery/Crime Thriller)

    Claude is Waiting directed and written by Chris Mason Wells, produced by Jason Klorfein, Brendan McFadden and Rachel Wolther. A comic epic of self-delusion, crippling neurosis, intellectual posturing, and emotional devastation — a jagged and ragged portrait of the artist as a young mess. It’s a comedy? (Comedy)

    Doubles with Slight Pepper directed and written by Ian Harnarine, produced by Christina Piovesan and Karina Rotenstein. A young Trinidadian street-vendor must travel to New York and decide if he will save his estranged father’s life. (Coming of Age)

    Everything Beautiful is Far Away directed and written by Pete Ohs and Andrea Sisson, produced by Sarah Schutzki and Albert Uria, cinematography by Pete Ohs and Nandan Rao, edited by Pete Ohs and Andrea Sisson. A dystopian fable about a man, his robot girlfriend, and a beguiling young woman who all traverse a desert planet hoping to find a better life. (Sci-Fi)

    Faith directed and written by Eli Daughdrill, produced by Mike S Ryan. After the tragic and untimely death of his son, a deeply religious man confronts God, his community, and himself as he tries to understand his new reality. (Drama)

    Frail directed and written by Matthew Petock, produced by Daniel Carbone and Zachary Shedd. Over the course of a cold winter day, nineteen year-old Vanessa plots a petty theft that she hopes will lead to a better life for her and her young daughter -– but piece by piece, her plan unravels. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Free the Town directed and written by Nikyatu Jusu, produced by Nikkia Moulterie and Vincho Nchogu, cinematography by Daniel Patterson. A Native virgin, a Brooklyn teen, and a European filmmaker collide in the midst of witch-hunting hysteria in Freetown, Sierra Leone. These three disparate lives build towards a deadly climax. (Dramatic Thriller)

    The God of Rain and Thunder directed and written by Mesh Flinders, produced by Neda Armian. When the girl he loves is kicked out of his father’s commune, 15-year-old Indra goes to public high school to get her back. (Coming of Age)

    The Highway Kind directed and written by J. Todd Walker. Two loners running from different wars meet on the American road. The farther they travel together, the closer they come to finding their ways home. (Drama)

    I Like You Like You directed and written by Jac Schaeffer. Convinced that technology is the reason she’s still single, a woman searches for her grade school crush without any help from the Internet. (Romantic Comedy)

    Just the Three of Us directed, written and produced by Angela Tucker. Regina and Hank, a couple in their early 70s, have lost the spark in their marriage. They decide to take a radical step to spice things up: What about a threesome? (Dark Comedy)

    Little Sister directed and written by Zach Clark, produced by Daryl Pittman and Melodie Sisk, cinematography by Daryl Pittman, edited by Zach Clark. A young nun returns to the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina to visit her estranged parents and older brother, who was injured in the Iraq war. (Comedy)

    Loners Together directed and written by Carlen Altman. A 29-year-old girl, obsessed with staying wrinkle-free at any cost, shares an eccentric, isolated life with her carefree mother in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where they live surrounded by a menagerie of pills and pets. (Dark Comedy)

    Lucky Grandma directed by Sasie Sealy, written by Angela Cheng and Sasie Sealy, produced by Krista Parris and Cara Marcous. A chain-smoking, gambling Chinese grandma ends up on the wrong side of luck… and the law. (Dark Comedy)

    Nancy directed and written by Christina Choe, produced by Gerry Kim. Nancy, a 40-year-old serial imposter lives at home with her abusive, elderly mother. Desperate for love, she creates a fake blog and catfishes a lover, until her hoaxes grow to epic and tragic consequences. (Drama)

    Raker directed by Andrew Rossi, written by Kate Novack and Andrew Rossi, produced by Josh Braun. A law student recruited to spy on a group of hacktivist classmates discovers that his professor is watching him to protect her own dark secret. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Scape Goat directed, written and produced by Thom Woodley. A strange, anonymous performance artist in a goat costume turns the lives of several Brooklyn hipsters upside down. (Drama)

    Shale directed and written by Jed Cowley. A submissive 70-year-old housewife makes the terrifying decision to leave her domineering husband after 50 years of marriage, and faces the consequences that follow. (Drama)

    Slash directed and written by Clay Liford, produced by Brock Williams. A teen’s online erotic fiction leads him to discover truths about his own sexuality when his newfound notoriety forces him out into the real world. (Coming of Age)

    Spare directed and written by Kevan Tucker. When a struggling model discovers that she has a more successful doppelganger, she kidnaps her and begins using her for spare parts. (Horror)

    The Strange Ones directed and written by Christopher Radcliff and Lauren Wolkstein, written by Christopher Radcliff. A boy is found wandering alone on a rural highway. As his story is revealed, a deeper mystery emerges – one founded on lies, half-truths, and secrets. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Varenya directed and written by Shripriya Mahesh, produced by Dev Benegal. Varenya, a South Indian Hindu priest accepts a young apprentice, and is forced to question the doctrines of his religion. (Drama)

    We the Animals directed by Jeremiah Zagar, written by Dan Kitrosser and Jeremiah Zagar, produced by Jeremy Yaches. Three wild young boys come of age as their parents desperately try to navigate a marriage complicated by lust, joy, poverty, and madness. (Coming of Age)

    Independent Filmmaker Labs

    Documentary Labs:

    Approaching the Elephant directed by Amanda Wilder and produced by Jay Craven. One year in the lives of a group of children at a newly opened ‘free school,’ where classes are voluntary and rules created by all-school democratic vote.

    Bringing Tibet Home directed by Tenzin Tsetan Choklay and produced by Tenzing Rigdol. A Tibetan artist smuggles 20 tonnes of native Tibetan soil from Tibet to India for an art project to bring Tibet closer to its people in exile–literally.

    Do I Sound Gay? Directed by David Thorpe, produced by Howard Gertler and Jenny Raskin, and executive produced by Dan Cogan. Determined to overcome his shame about “sounding gay,” director David Thorpe embarks on a hilarious, poignant, taboo-shattering exploration of the phenomenon of the “gay voice.”

    Evolution of a Criminal directed by Darius Clark Monroe, produced by Darius Clark Monroe and Jen Gatien, and executive produced by Spike Lee. Ten years after robbing a Bank of America, filmmaker Darius Monroe returns home to examine how his actions affected the lives of family, friends…and victims.

    Farmer Veteran directed by Jeremy Lange and Alix Blair and produced by D.L. Anderson. Adrift after years of combat, a wounded U.S. veteran begins farming to cultivate new meaning in a life after war.

    In Country directed by Mike Attie and Meghan O’Hara and produced by Mike Attie, Meghan O’Hara, Daniel Chalfen, and Jim Butterworth. As a platoon of veterans recreates the Vietnam War in the woods of Oregon, surreal layers of fantasy and reality unearth America’s complicated relationship with war.

    Kasamayaki (Made in Kasama) directed and produced by Yuki Kokubo. Shaken by the tsunami and nuclear disasters, a grown daughter returns to a rural Japanese artist community to reconnect with her estranged parents.

    The Life & Mind of Mark DeFriest directed by Gabriel London, produced by Daniel Chalfen, and executive produced by Jim Butterworth. When a legendary escape artist comes up for parole after 30 years behind bars, a chance for freedom must be weighed against his infamous past.

    Mateo directed by Aaron Naar and produced by Benjamin Dohrmann. Mateo follows America’s most notorious troubadour on his misadventures to Cuba.

    Roots and Webs directed by Sara Dosa and produced by Josh Penn. Amid the frontier world of Oregon’s mushroom-hunting camps, two soldiers discover a new family in the woods, helping them to heal the wounds of war.

    Narrative Labs:

    AWOL directed by Deb Shoval, written by Karolina Waclawiak and Deb Shoval, produced by Jessica Caldwell, cinematography by Gal Deren. Days before deployment to Afghanistan, Joey, 19, returns home to Pennsylvania with plans to go AWOL with her married older lover Rayna and Rayna’s kids. (Drama)

    Below Dreams directed, written, and produced by Garrett Bradley, edited by Carlos Marques-Marcet and Garrett Bradley, cinematography by Milena Pastreich and Brian C. Miller Richard. Three 26-year-olds struggle to find themselves in the shifting streets of New Orleans. (Drama)

    Beneath the Harvest Sky directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, produced by Kavita Pullapilly, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, executive produced by Allison Jones, cinematography by Steven Calitri, edited by Aron Gaudet. Two small town teens end up in a world of trouble as they get caught up in the illegal drug trade between Maine and Canada. (Drama)

    Dig Two Graves directed and written by Hunter Adams, produced by Claire Connelly, PJ Fishwick and Hunter Adams, cinematography by Eric Maddison, edited by Scott Hanson. As a young girl takes desperate measures to save her broken family, she becomes entangled in a deadly quest for revenge. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Dukhtar directed and written by Afia Nathaniel, produced by Cordelia Stephens, Khalid Ali and Afia Nathaniel, executive produced by Muhammad Nadeem Nawaz, cinematography and editing by Armughan Hassan. A mother pulls off a daring escape to save her daughter from a child marriage. A relentless hunt begins for them. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Gabriel directed and written by Lou Howe, produced by Ben Howe and Luca Borghese, cinematography by Wyatt Garfield, edited by Jane Rizzo. A teenager’s obsessive search for his childhood girlfriend becomes increasingly frantic, and puts himself and everyone around him in danger. (Drama)

    Homemakers directed and written by Colin Healey, produced by Dave Schachter, Ella Hatamian and Colin Healey, cinematography by Ben Powell, edited by Dave Schachter.A rootless young singer with a penchant for destruction must reconcile her domestic fantasies as she attempts to restore her late grandfather’s abandoned Pittsburgh home. (Comedy)

    Kick Me directed, written, and edited by Gary Huggins, produced by Betsy Gran, cinematography by Michael Wilson. When a meek guidance counselor accidentally crosses a deadly criminal warlord, he must take to his feet in this urban-nightmare action-comedy. (Comedy)

    Something, Anything directed and written by Paul Harrill, produced by Ashley Maynor, executive produced by Dee Bagwell Haslam and Ross Bagwell, Sr., cinematography by Kunitaro Ohi, edited by Jennifer Lilly. A would-be suburban mom’s life is upended in this movie about change and that which can be felt but not seen. (Drama)

    Stay Then Go directed and written by Shelli Ainsworth, produced by Geoffrey Sass and Christine Walker, cinematography by Alan Canant, edited by Bo Hakala.Marian Baird is a wife, mother and event planner extraordinaire. When confronted with an unlikely incident that turns her life upside down, she is forced to choose whether or not to abandon the life she’s carefully created for herself and her family. (Drama)

    No Borders International Co-Production Market

    #PostModem directed by Lucas Leyva and Jilian Mayer, produced by Brett Potter and Jon David Kane, written by by Lucas Leyva and Jilian Mayer. #PostModem is a comedic, satirical sci-fi pop musical about a young girl who frees a futuristic Miami on the verge of the singularity. (Musical)

    Americana directed by Zachary Shedd, produced by Daniel Carbone and Matthew Petock. The brother of a murdered actress suspects that his sister’s death was meant to serve the box office returns on her last film. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Bab El Gehenom (The Gateway to Hell) directed by Oded Ruskin, produced by Saar Yogev and Naomi Levari. A routine military navigation drill in the desert turns into a nightmare as the soil of a demolished Bedouin village comes to life. (Supernatural Thriller)

    The Beach House directed by Jeff Brown, produced by Sophia Lin, Matthew Yeager, and Jeff Brown, written by Jeff Brown. A romantic getaway for two high school sweethearts turns into a struggle for survival when unexpected guests exhibit signs of a mysterious transformative affliction. (Horror)

    Beastdirected by Michael Pearce, produced by Kristian Brodie. When they kissed, a darkness opened within her… (Drama)

    Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea directed, and produced by Emre Akay, written by Emre Akay and Deniz Cuylan. Turkey, 1956. A small American base monitors Russian activity in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, a young Turkish Lieutenant falls desperately for the American Major’s wife. (Historical Fiction)

    The Cavanaughs produced by Julie Lynn and Julien Farve. When an Evangelical mother suddenly falls in love with a woman, rejects motherhood and disavows her beliefs, her devout teenage son Luke is thrown into chaos, forcing him to forge new meaning from the ruins of love, family and faith. (Drama)

    Curse the Darkness produced by Daniel Noah, Josh Waller, and Elijah Wood, written by Brandon Williams. A political activist advocating for workers’ rights in Miami discovers a corrupt plantation owner using Haitian toxins to turn illegal immigrants into zombie-like slaves. (Horror)

    Dance for Me directed by Pia Marais, produced by Trish Lake and Dan Lake, written by Roger Monk. In the Afrikaans society of South Africa, a woman finds the lines between revenge, justice and love are blurred when she finally entraps her mother’s attacker. (Drama)

    The Detective directed by Peter Andrikidis, produced by Sarah Boote and Michael Robertson, written by Roger Joyce. An Australian cop arrives in Afghanistan to investigate the death of a former colleague – his only ally is an Afghani policewoman and together they find his friend was caught up in the intrigue involving a village massacre. (Drama)

    Dos Mujeres Y Una Vaca (Two Women and a Cow) written and directed by Efraín Bahamón, produced by José Antonio “Chepe” Calderón Gómez, executive produced by Alberto Amaya. Two illiterate women begin a journey to find someone that can read them a letter. Trapped in the war, they struggle to find their way back. (Drama)

    The Edible Woman written and directed by Francine Zuckerman, produced by Judy Holm, Francine Zuckerman, and Michael McNamara. Marian is about to get married; it’s all she ever wanted. But when a free-spirited man comes into her life, Marian’s careful plans are upset. (Drama)

    The Fire Dance written and directed by Rama Burshtein, produced by Assaf Amir. What happens to a woman when she falls deeply under the spiritual influence of a wise, honest, charismatic man? And what if this man isn’t her husband, and she and him belong to the biggest Hassidic group in New York? (Drama)

    The Fixer directed by Ian Olds, produced by Caroline von Kuhn, written by Paul Felten and Ian Olds. An exiled Afghan journalist working in Northern California investigates the dark and morally complex backwoods of a seemingly peaceful bohemian community. (Drama)

    The Innocent written and directed by Matthew Thompson, produced by Christine Alderson. John, a convicted murderer, takes a young girl hostage and escapes from prison, determined to prove his innocence. A powerful psychological thriller that keeps you guessing. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Into the Light written and directed by Rowland Jobson, produced by Alastair Clark. A young mentally and physically scarred man, racked with guilt, is led to the truth behind his fractured dreams and nightmares on London’s unforgiving streets. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Ivan Lendl Never Learnt to Volley directed by Justin Kurzel, produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, written by Jed Kurzel. When a fatal accident of an opponent rocks the Moscow junior tennis circuit, 13-year-old Alexander and his father, Dimitri, begin a desperate journey across Europe to keep their dreams alive. (Based on a True Story)

    Jätten (The Giant) written and directed by Johannes Nyholm; produced by Maria Dahlin and Morten Kjems Juhl; executive produced by Peter Hyldahl, Mimmi Spång, and Rebecka Lafrenz.Rikard, autistic and severely deformed, and haunted by the loss of his mother, escapes into an imaginary world where he is a 50-meter tall giant. (Drama)

    Kashmir (working title) written, directed, and produced by Ashvin Kumar. Ten year old Noor’s father ‘disappeared’ after the Indian army arrested him in war-torn Kashmir, but when she goes looking for him, she stumbles upon mass-graves that implicate the Indian army. When her story makes national news, she herself is arrested and made to ‘disappear’.(Coming of Age)

    King Jack written and directed by Felix Thompson, produced by Gabrielle Nadig. When shouldered with the responsibility of watching his younger cousin for the weekend, a delinquent 15 year-old finds himself stumbling towards maturity while struggling against the neighborhood bully in their small town. (Drama)

    Love After Love directed by Russell Harbaugh, produced by Michael Prall, written by Eric Mendelsohn and Russell Harbaugh. In the tradition of Woody Allen and John Cassavetes, Love After Love is the sad, funny, romantic account of a mother and two grown sons as they struggle in the wake of a father’s death. (Drama)

    The Love Songs of Nathan Swirsky written and directed by Peter Goldsmid; produced by Margaret Goldsmid and Peter Goldsmid. In 1951 Johannesburg, a shy white boy befriends an albino youth and, inspired by a flamboyant new pharmacist, rebels against his formidable, racist mother. (Coming of Age)

    Manchild written and directed by Ryan Koo, produced by Chip Hourihan. A talented basketball player gets nationally ranked & must choose between schools, coaches, & faiths – all at the age of 13. (Drama)

    Mimi & Me produced by Blake Corbet and Marly Reed, written by Marly Reed, executive produced by Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny. Teenage misfit Em Dash and her gambling-addicted Grandma Mimi must become con-artists to save their family home from bikers in small town Vancouver Island. (Comedy)

    Nervous Translation written and directed by Shireen Seno, produced by John Torres. Eight year-old Yael, shy to a fault, lives in her own private world. One day she finds out about a pen that can translate the thoughts and feelings of nervous people. (Drama)

    Nowhere Road written and directed by Lea Nakonechny, produced by Christine Falco and Simon Nakonechny. An outlaw father’s shadow. A mother who’s in over her head. A brother and sister risking it all in an 18-wheeler bound for the border. (Drama)

    Out of Range directed by Alexandra Roxo, produced by Kelly Williams and Jonathan Duffy, written by Devon Kirkpatrick and Alexandra Roxo. A neurotic gallery girl, forced to leave her posh NYC life and move to Texas for work, hitches a ride with a free-spirited college friend across the country. (Comedy)

    Papaw Easy directed by Martha Stephens, produced by Brett Potter, written by Karrie Crouse and Martha Stephens. Under the watch of his vain, ‘Modern Christian’ uncle, a shy boy forges an unlikely partnership with a foul-mouthed, down and out playboy. (Drama)

    Paramour directed by Phil Abraham, produced by Amy Rapp, written by Jordan Katz, executive produced by Meredith Vieira and Paul Brett. Paramour is a dramatic thriller, inspired by a true story, about a married German heiress who falls for a charming Swiss businessman with unforeseen motives. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Pardon My Downfall directed by David Zellner, produced by Chris Ohlson and Nathan Zellner, written by David Zellner and Nathan Zellner. Pardon My Downfall tells the story of The Jibcutters, a country-western band as infamous for their debauchery as their musical talents, as they try to recapture their previous magic on one final tour through the American South. (Drama)

    Saturn written and directed by Elan Gamaker, produced by Bridget Pickering. A domestic worker must protect two children from the spirit of their dead brother, out to wreak revenge on their father by capturing their souls. (Supernatural Thriller)

    The Sky is Blue like an Orange directed by Caveh Zahedi, produced by Mike Ryan, written by Arnold Barkus. A reclusive middle-aged artist falls in love with a young coffee shop waitress who pretends to reciprocate his affections in order to steal his artwork. (Based on a True Story)

    Solidarity directed by Rungano Nyoni, produced by Juliette Grandmont. A fire breaks out in a large compound in the centre of Lusaka. The very next day, its residents continue their lives as if nothing happened. (Dark Comedy)

    Solitaire King written and directed by Bassam Jarbawi, produced by Shrihari Sathe. Unable to relive past basketball glory, or attain the girl of his future, Solitaire King follows a hallucinating Ziad, an ex political prisoner determined to become the champion he believes is expected of him. (Drama)

    Soller’s Point written and directed by Matt Porterfield; produced by Ryan Zacarias, Jordan Mintzer, and Steve Holmgren; executive produced by Dan Carey. Serving parole on detention in his father’s house, an ex-offender finds the adjustment to society and the workforce more difficult than the confines of home. (Drama)

    Taminex directed by Anya Meksin, produced by Kristie Lutz , written by William Gerrard and Anya Meksin, executive produced by Lawrence Mattis, and cinematography by Ian Bloom. During a pandemic, a sheltered young woman must venture into the city’s most dangerous district to procure the drug that can save her boyfriend’s life. (Thriller)

    Torchbearer directed by Charles Officer, produced by Paul Barkin, written by David Bradley Halls. A forensic-geologist risks his life to seek closure for the family of a cold-case murder victim, in a desperate attempt to atone for his own personal tragedy. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Torus directed by Michael Axelgaard, produced by Michael Axelgaard and Matthew Holt. When a physics experiment creates a tear between parallel universes, a bereaved boy sets out to find a world where his mother is still alive. (Science Fiction)

    Tramontane directed by Vatche Boulghourjian, produced by Spencer Kiernan and Caroline Oliveira. Rabih, a young blind man, searches for a record of his own birth after discovering that his identity card is a forgery. He travels across Lebanon and gradually descends into a Kafkaesque encounter with a nation unable to retell his or its own past. (Drama)

    Tree of Crows directed, produced, and written by Stephen Abbott. Among the ruins of post-apocalyptic South Africa lives Cain, a violently desperate man who suppresses his murderous past—until he falls for an alluring traveler. (Thriller)

    Twelve Hundred and Ninety Six Hits directed by Moon Molson, produced by Daniella Kahane and Diana Ossana, written by Mark Poirier and Bill U’ren. A character driven comedy about a seventeen year-old SKA obsessed boy whose entire life changes the day he accidentally steals a sheet of acid. (Comedy)

    The Witch of New Canaan Woode written and directed by Robert Eggers, produced by Jodi Redmond. A devout Christian family starts a small farm at the edge of a wood in early New England, only to be torn apart and driven to madness by an evil witch. (Drama)

    Spotlight on Documentaries

    Am I Don Quixote? Written, directed, and produced by Jimmy Ferguson. When a legendary circus star faces a broken marriage and career, he embarks on a fantastical quest to rediscover himself as the fabled knight Don Quixote.

    The Autobiography of Michelle Maren directed by Michel Negroponte and Michelle Maren, written by Michel Negroponte, and produced by Michel Negroponte and Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness. The story of an abused child, who became a runaway, a beauty queen and a porn star in the 80’s. Today, barricaded in her apartment and impaired by multiple mental disorders, she attempts to reconcile with the past.

    Ballet 422 (New York City Ballet Documentary) directed by Jody Lee Lipes and produced by Ellen Bar and Anna Rose Holmer. From first rehearsal to world premiere, Ballet 422 takes us backstage at New York City Ballet as emerging choreographer Justin Peck crafts a new work.

    BE•HOLD directed by Richard Kroehling and produced by Sirad Balducci and Janet Kirchheimer. A performance film of Holocaust poetry. Poets, survivors, and actors perform poems from the Shoah to the present. A marriage of cinema and poetry.

    Brick directed by Jessica Dimmock and Christopher LaMarca and produced by KateBrickwitnesses the loss and extraordinary risk experienced by five fathers and grandfathers finding courage to live as transgendered women within the Pacific Northwest’s hyper-masculine culture.

    Brillo Box (3¢ off) directed and produced by Lisanne Skyler. In 1969, my parents bought a Warhol Brillo Box for $1,000. In 2010, it fetched $3,000,000. This is the story of what happened in between.

    Children of the Inquisition written, directed and produced by Joseph Lovett. From medieval tortures, to the present, Children of the Inquisition follows descendants of the Iberian Inquisitions, as they unravel their complex—often buried—Jewish identity.

    Cocaine Prison directed by Violeta Ayala and produced by Daniel Fallshaw, Cedric Bonin, and Alexandra Daly. From inside one of Bolivia’s notorious prisons, a cocaine worker, a drug mule, and his little sister reveal the country’s complex relationship with cocaine.

    The Cure written and directed by Bernadette Wegenstein and produced by Bernadette Wegenstein and Jon Reiss. The Cure interweaves the intimate stories of a surgeon and her patients with the history, mythology, and current treatment battles in the breast cancer industry.

    Dark Money written, directed, and produced by Kimberly Reed. After the Citizens United verdict, 501c4 dark money fuels corrupt politics across America, but one election cycle in Montana clarifies complex problems and offers solutions.

    The Destruction of Memory directed by Tim Slade and produced by Joanna Buggy. Based on the acclaimed book, The Destruction of Memory is a vital, urgent exploration of the purposeful destruction of the built heritage, language, and culture of one people by another, and the disintegration of memory and identity that results.

    Dinosaur 13 directed and produced by Todd Miller. The true tale of one of the greatest discoveries in history.

    Elephant in the Room directed by Lucia Small and Ed Pincus and produced by Lucia Small, Ed Pincus, and Mary Kerr. Two filmmakers of different generations turn the camera on each other to explore friendship, legacy, loss, and living with terminal illness.

    Evaporating Borders directed by Iva Radivojevic, produced by Landon Van Soest and Leandros Savvides, and executive produced by Laura Poitras. A visual essay about political migrants in Cyprus that explores the meaning of displacement and search for identity.

    Flickering Time Bomb written, directed, and produced by Pietra Bretkelly. What is a country without a past? As Afghanistan teeters on an unpredictable future, Flickering Time Bombunwraps the world of three dreamers and 8,000 hours of film covered by the dust of 100 years of war. What surprises will emerge from the cloak of time?

    Freedom Fighters directed by Jamie Meltzer and produced by David Alvarado and Kate McLean. There’s a new detective agency in Dallas, Texas, started by a group of exonerated men who have all spent decades in prison.

    The Girl Who Knew Too Much directed by Amy Benson and Ramyata Limbu, produced by Amy Benson and Scott Squire, and executive produced by Karol Martesko-Fenster. A bold girl with a golden opportunity takes her own life and reveals South Asia’s newest epidemic.

    The Good, Bad, and Deadly: China, U.S. and their Relationship written and directed by Vanessa Hope, produced by Vanessa Hope and Ted Hope, and executive produced by Geralyn Dreyfous. Courageous blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest to NYU highlights U.S. democratic dysfunction, U.S.-China relations, and the “Wild West” way China runs.

    Good Men, Bad Men, and a Few Rowdy Ladies directed by Andrea Scott, produced by Andrea Scott and Dev Brand, and executive produced by Julie Goldman and David Menschel. Florence, Arizona is a cowboy town with a prison problem. In the historic Wild West, what does a culture of incarceration do to a place and its people?

    The Hand That Feeds written and directed by Robin Blotnick and Rachel Lears and produced by Robin Blotnick, Rachel Lears, and Patricia Benabe. A scrappy crew of undocumented immigrant workers face long odds and the threat of deportation when they take on a well-known New York restaurant chain.

    The Heist directed by Louie Psihoyos, written by Mark Monroe, and produced by Fisher Stevens and Olivia Ahnemann. An unlikely team of activists comes together to give threatened species a voice and stop a mass extinction.

    How to Become an Extreme Action Hero directed by Catherine Gund and produced by Catherine Gund and Tanya Selvaratnam. Hero harnesses the forces of action architect and provocateur Elizabeth Streb – colliding her life and work, testifying to the power and necessity of art.

    In the Middle directed by Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo and produced by Filippo Piscopo. The collision of two epic crises unfolds in small-town Italy, hit by a ferocious economic downturn when African migrants fleeing the Arab revolutions arrive by the thousands, demanding work and visas.

    In the Shadow of the Dream directed by Asa Mader and produced by Christoph Jorg and Corinne Weber. A portrait of Clarence B. Jones, one of Martin Luther King’s trusted allies, comes out of the shadows of civil rights history to tell his tale.

    In Your Voice, In Your Heart directed by Edward Lovelace and James Hall and produced by Lucas Ochoa. In February 2005, musician Edwyn Collins suffered a serious stroke. Unable to move and barely able to speak, his spectacular recovery back to center stage is both courageous and life affirming.

    Island Soldier written and directed by Nathan Fitch and produced by Nathan Fitch and Jeremy Levine. A character-driven documentary about the service of Micronesians in the U.S. military–service that occurs at very high rates per capita.

    The Joneses directed by Moby Longinotto, produced by Aviva Wishnow, and executive produced by Caroline Spry and Peter Day. A portrait of Jheri, a73-year-old transgender trailer park matriarch, and her sons in Bible Belt Mississippi. Recently reunited, will new revelations tear this family apart?

    Journey Story directed by Keren Shayo and produced by Osnat Trabelsi, Galit Cahlon, Hilla Medalia, and Neta Zwebner-Zaibert. Timnit, 20, escaped Eritrea in 2011 and disappeared on her way to Israel. We follow the search for her and reveal the secret Torture Housecamps ran by Bedouins in Sinai.

    Letters from Baghdad directed by Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbühl, produced by Zeva Oelbaum, and executive produced by Thelma Schoonmaker and Denise Benmosche. More famous in her day than colleague Lawrence of Arabia, Gertrude Bell created a country, a king, and a museum in Baghdad. Who was she?

    Long Year Begin directed by David Osit, written by David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, and produced by David Osit, Malika Zouhali-Worrall, and Caleb Heller. A science fiction documentary that examines humanity’s perpetual quest for preservation, and the consequences of choosing what we lose and what we save.

    Make Me Normal directed by Mitch McCabe and produced by Jeff Kusama-Hinte. Are we medicalizing “Normal?” 30% of Americans are diagnosed with a mental disorder and 20% are on psychiatric drugs. What’s led to our new “Disorder Culture?” And what happened to “normal?”

    Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw directed and produced by Rick Goldsmith. The rise from broken home to superstardom of “the female Michael Jordan” and her subsequent roller-coaster battle with mental illness.

    Mudflow directed by Cynthia Wade and Sasha Friedlander and produced by Sasha Friedlander and Vanessa Bergonzoli. Villagers in East Java, Indonesia, living with the results of fracking gone terribly wrong, seek justice from the corporate powers responsible for this man-made disaster.

    The Other Man: F.W. de Klerk and End of Apartheid in South Africa directed by Nicolas Rossier and produced by Nicolas Rossier, Naashon Zalk, and Tami Woronoff. F.W. de Klerk was the last apartheid president of South Africa. In less than four years he went from being Mandela’s jailor to his second deputy vice president. The Other Man is the definitive film on de Klerk’s political journey and legacy.

    Out of Mind directed and produced by Kristi Jacobson and executive produced by David Menschel.� Out of Mind is a compelling journey into the most invisible corners of the American justice system, prompting us to confront what happens behind the locked door and how it impacts us all.

    The Overnighters directed by Jesse Moss and produced by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. Moths to a flame, broken, desperate men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor risks everything to help them.

    Run and Gun directed by Marshall Curry and produced by Marshall Curry and Matthew VanDyke. A young Baltimorean with a gun in one hand and a camera in the other sets off to become a rebel fighter in the Libyan revolution.

    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda directed by Stephen Schible and produced by Stephen Schible, Eric Nyari, and Amy Lo. Intimate portrait of one of the foremost composers of our era; from iconic star of techno-pop during Japan’s economic boom to leading anti-nuclear activist, post-Fukushima.

    Science Fiction Land directed and produced by Judd Ehrlich and executive produced by Nancy Schafer. The stranger than science fiction story of the theme park that changed the world but was never built.

    She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry directed by Mary Dore and produced by Mary Dore and Nancy Kennedy. Protesters, poets, and shameless hussies! These women fought for their rights, and made a revolution.

    Shield and Spear directed by Petter Ringbom and produced by Petter Ringbom and Alysa Nahmias. An artist paints a caricature of South African president Jacob Zuma that provokes a lawsuit, death threats, and massive street protests.

    A Slippery Slope directed and produced by Yael Melamede and executive produced by Dan Ariely. A Slippery Slope is an exploration of the architecture of dishonesty. How can human beings lie, cheat, steal and still sleep at night?

    Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa directed and produced by Abby Ginzberg and written by Rick Goldsmith. Albie Sachs, maimed in a car bomb attack, becomes a leading spokesperson for democracy and reconciliation in the new South Africa and then the world.

    Tough Love directed by Stephanie Wang-Breal and produced by Stephanie Wang-Breal, Kristi Jacobson, Carrie Weprin, Ursula Liang, and Evan Briggs. Fighting to reunite with their children,Tough Love follows the lives of two parents in their emotional and trying journey through the child welfare system.

    Trapped written, directed, and executive produced by Dawn Porter. In the abortion wars, the fight for the hearts, minds, and bodies of black women may be a decisive factor in America’s fight over the right to choose.

    Untitled Chris Burden Documentary directed by Timothy Marrinan and Richard Dewey. A probing portrait of the man who risked his life in the name of art.

    Untitled Transgender Youth Documentary directed by Eric Juhola and produced by Eric Juhola, Randy Stulberg, and Jeremy Stulberg. The film follows a landmark transgender rights case in Colorado, where a 6-year-old transgender girl is banned from the girls bathroom at her elementary school.

    The Visual Crash directed by Yael Hersonski and produced by Itay Ken-tor. Unseen footage of the Gaza flotilla raid exposes the gap between reality and the media.

    Walking Thunder: The Last Stand of the African Elephant directed and produced by Marie Wilkinson and Cyril Christo and executive produced by Lori Cheatle and Wendy Blackstone. A family’s journey over the course of a decade, witnessing and documenting awe-inspiring stories and breathtaking images of East Africa’s people and wildlife, focusing on the iconic elephant.

    The Yes Men Are Revolting directed by Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno, and Carl Deal; produced by Laura Nix; and executive produced by Adam McKay and Alan Hayling. Notorious activists the Yes Men are on a gonzo mission to save the planet, one stunning hoax after another… but this time, it’s personal.

    Trans Atlantic Partners

    18% Gray directed by Viktor Chouchkov, produced by Borislav Chouchkov, written by Borislav Chouchkov, Viktor Chouchkov and Zachary Karabashliev. After his wife leaves him, a failed photographer stumbles upon a bag of marijuana, and determined to sell it, sets off to a wild trip that may lead him to the truth about his lost love and ultimately to himself. (Drama)

    Afraid of the Dark produced by Magnus Ramsdalen. David is terrified of the dark. His therapist sends him to the North to go through exposure, but David quickly finds there’s a reason for his fear. (Horror)

    Berlin Balagan produced by Sol Bondy, written by Rolf Basedow. Jewish spring breakers in post-war Berlin. (Drama)

    Break a Leg directed by Francisco Padilla, produced by Germán Méndez. Two unemployed Mexican actors want to make it big in Hollywood but end up on the run in Texas from a real life mob boss. (Comedy)

    Chained Melody written and directed by David Gleeson, produced by Nathalie Lichtenthaeler. A washed-up concert pianist finds redemption when he takes the only job on offer – teaching music to the inmates of a maximum-security prison. (Drama)

    Cold Hands produced by Carole Sheridan. A fast-paced and exciting thriller that follows the story of Donnie Miller, a young husband and father whose extremely comfortable life in a small, remote Canadian town is suddenly wrecked by his past. (Drama)

    Covet directed by Karen Lam, produced by Karen Wong. A young woman begins an adulterous affair with a rich man, unaware that he may be involved in the disappearance of her relative. (Drama)

    Crush Season produced by Daniel Bekerman. A vineyard worker embarking on a new life in Canada fights to restore a community’s trust after a vindictive landowner tries to engineer his deportation to the country and past he has risked everything to escape. (Drama)

    Cunningham produced by Kelly Gilpatrick. A 3D cinematic event about legendary American choreographer, Merce Cunningham, orchestrated through his dances. (Documentary- Experimental/Non-Traditional)

    Dead and Buried directed by William Phillips, produced by Paula Devonshire. On an isolated farm, an intellectually disabled man struggles against a ghost who threatens to unearth a horrible secret from his past. (Supernatural Thriller)

    Family Remains directed by Gaby Dellal, produced by Ailish McElmeel, written by Eoin O’Connor, executive produced by John Pinckard and Paul Donovan. Three American siblings are forced to fulfill their mother’s dying wish to have her ashes scattered in her home country – Ireland. (Comedy)

    Get Happy written and directed by Jordan Christianson, produced by Lauren Grant and Lori Lozinski. Get Diploma, Get Girl, Get Job, Get Happy! (Comedy)

    A Good Girl directed by Sean Garrity, produced by Marc Almon, written by Jonathan Williams. A thirty-something inventor tries to hold onto his youth by dating a free-willed eighteen-year-old, but it becomes an obsession that threatens his destiny with another woman. (Comedy)

    Hungry For Love directed by Justin Ambrosino, produced by Soojin Chung. One lonely night, two depressed over-eaters make a suicide pact to eat until they have a heart attack. (Romantic Comedy)

    League of Monster Slayers produced by Leonard Farlinger. Two orphaned children and their nanny battle an onslaught of monsters and confront a demon building a portal to a darker more evil nether world. (Drama)

    Likho. Don’t Wake the Devil directed by Mitja Okorn, produced by Marcin Wierzchoslawski. A young boy discovers a dark family secret in the hostile world, full of imaginary monsters, created by his oppressive father. (Horror)

    Man With Van written and directed by Ed Blythe, written by James Windeler, produced by Shrihari Sathe. An upright electrician bumbles into arson to provide for his daughter, until a lethal accident pits him against his best friend and their sociopathic boss. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Nearly Dead directed by Christian Schwochow, produced by Katja Kuhlmann and Sebastian Storm. When Sarah realizes that her never-ending nightmares are reflections of a true murder, she enters the kingdom of the dead to find the killer. (Mystery/Crime Thriller)

    Phantom Limbs written and directed by Michael Sladek, produced by Joseph Krings, Paul Schnee, Michael Sladek, and Mark Steele. Set in rural Nebraska, Phantom Limbs is an elegiac tale about two young sisters overcoming years of chronic abandonment by embarking on separate, precarious paths that force them to reconcile their shared history in ways they never expected. (Drama)

    Record Breaking written and directed by Craig Abell-Champion, produced by T.R. Boyce, Jr. A British woman afflicted by long interval narcolepsy wakes from a world record breaking long coma with an irrepressible need to have a child. (Drama)

    The Silver produced by Paul Pope. In a tale of redemption the life-or-death stakes of a perilous murder investigation reawakens the spirit of the beautiful but emotionally damaged Detective Vivien Ellis. (Dramatic Thriller)

    Slightly Sane produced by Gaurav Dhingra. In 1947, the end of British colonial rule creates two nations by partitioning one motherland into; India and Pakistan. People have the freedom to choose their country. All people, even those in mental asylums. (Drama)

    The Tale directed, produced, and written by Jennifer Fox, executive produced by Oren Moverman and Jack Lechner. Based on a true story, “The Tale” chronicles a woman’s journey to unravel the mystery of her first sexual relationship during the summer of 1973. (Drama)

    Untitled Ryan Silbert Project, produced by Ryan Silbert.

    Umrika written and directed by Prashant Nair, produced by Alan McAlex and Mathias Schwerbrock. To save his mother from heartbreak, a young Indian village boy invents letters from his missing brother in America, all the while searching for him. (Drama)

    Vacationship produced by Yanick Létourneau, written by Cynthia Knight. A romantic comedy about love, sex, freedom and “vacationships” – relationships on vacation. No commitment. No long term prospects. No consequences. Or so the theory goes. (Romantic Comedy)

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  • “THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL” “FREEDOM FIGHTERS” “TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR” Win 2013 SFFS Documentary Film Fund award

    THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYLTHE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL

    Anne Bogart and Holly Morris’ THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL, Jamie Meltzer’s FREEDOM FIGHTERS and Jimmy Goldblum and Adam Weber’s TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR are the winners of the 2013 San Francisco Film Society SFFS Documentary Film Fund award. The awards totaling $100,000 support feature-length documentaries in postproduction.

    Previous DFF winners include Shaul Schwarz’s NARCO CULTURA, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s AMERICAN PROMISE, which also premiered at Sundance and won the festival’s Special Jury Prize in the documentary category; and Zachary Heinzerling’s CUTIE AND THE BOXER, which won Sundance’s Directing Award for documentary, has played at film festivals worldwide and will be distributed theatrically by Radius-TWC.

    2013 DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND WINNERS

    THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL — $40,000
    Anne Bogart and Holly Morris, co-director/producers
    As Fukushima smolders, and the world grapples with a dangerous energy era, an unlikely human story emerges from Chernobyl to inform the debate. TheBabushkas of Chernobyl is the story of an extraordinary group of women who live in Chernobyl’s post-nuclear disaster “Dead Zone.” For more than 25 years they have survived — and even, oddly, thrived — on some of the most contaminated land on earth. For more information visit thebabushkasofchernobyl.com.

    Anne Bogart is a Los Angeles-based writer and documentary director/producer. For the past 12 years she has directed and produced numerous episodes for the Globe Trekker travel series. For 15 years she worked in Paris and London as a staff writer for Women’s Wear Daily and a freelance writer for numerous American magazines including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. While in Europe, Bogart also produced and directed documentary and entertainment programming for a variety of French and U.K. broadcasters.

    Holly Morris is the writer/director/creator of the award-winning eight-part PBS documentary series about extraordinary women around the world, Adventure Divas, and author of the book Adventure Divas: Searching the Globe for a New Kind of Heroine. Her award-winning story A Country of Women — on which The Babushkas of Chernobyl is based — was originally published in MOREmagazine, won Meredith’s “Editorial Excellence Award,” is featured in Best Travel Literature: 2013, and was republished in London’s Daily Telegraph andThe Week.

    FREEDOM FIGHTERS — $20,000
    Jamie Meltzer, director

    FREEDOM FIGHTERSFREEDOM FIGHTERS

    There’s a new detective agency in Dallas, Texas, started by a group of exonerated men who have all spent decades in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. They call themselves the Freedom Fighters, and they’ve recently started working their first cases. For more information visit freedomfightersfilm.com.

    Jamie Meltzer’s feature documentary films have been broadcast nationally on PBS and have screened at numerous film festivals worldwide. They include Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story (Independent Lens, 2003), Welcome to Nollywood (PBS Broadcast, 2007), La Caminata (2009), and Informant, which won four best documentary/grand jury awards at film festivals in 2012 and is being released in theaters nationwide by Music Box Films. Meltzer teaches in the MFA Program in Documentary Film and Video at Stanford University.

    TOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR — $40,000
    Jimmy Goldblum and Adam Weber, co-director/producers

    TOMORROW WE DISAPPEARTOMORROW WE DISAPPEAR

    When their homes are illegally sold to real estate developers, the magicians, acrobats and puppeteers of Delhi’s Kathputli colony must unite — or splinter apart forever.

    Jimmy Goldblum is a Brooklyn-based writer, director, and interactive producer. In 2008 he won an Emmy for “New Approaches to Documentary” for Live Hope Love, a project he produced for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Goldblum’s projects have won Emmy, FWA, Webby, and SXSW awards and have earned coverage from the New York Times, Wired magazine,USA Today, and CNN.

    Adam Weber is currently editing Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?, Michel Gondry’s animated documentary about Noam Chomsky. He was the editor of Kanye West’s interactive film Cruel Winter, and assistant editor on Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.

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