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The Film Arcade to Release Sundance Hit, JAMES WHITE

The Film Arcade has acquired U.S. distribution rights to JAMES WHITE, the first feature film from Borderline Films writer/director Josh Mond, for Fall 2015 release. A coming-of-age story about a young New Yorker struggling to take control of his self-destructive behavior in the face of momentous family changes, JAMES WHITE stars Christopher Abbott, Cynthia Nixon and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it was one of the most critically acclaimed films of the entire festival and was the recipient of the “Best of Next” Audience Award. JAMES WHITE is a high profile acquisition for The Film Arcade and the distributor is planning a traditional theatrical release for the film this fall followed by an awards campaign highlighting the career-best performances by Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon. A confident and closely observed directorial debut by MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE producer Josh Mond, JAMES WHITE explores loss and the deep relationship between a mother and son. James White (Abbott) is a troubled twenty-something trying to stay afloat in a frenzied New York City. He retreats further into a hedonistic lifestyle, but his mother’s battle with a serious illness forces James to take control of his life. As the pressure mounts, James must find new reserves of strength or risk imploding completely. Shot on location in New York City with an intimate visual style, the film follows its lead into deep, affecting places while still maintaining its fragile humanity. The film marks the first lead film role for stage and screen actor Christopher Abbott, whose previous film and TV credits include HELLO, I MUST BE GOING, THE SLEEPWALKER and “Girls.” Best known for her role in “Sex and the City,” JAMES WHITE provides Cynthia Nixon with one of the most significant film roles of her career. Both actors topped Indiewire’s Sundance Criticwire poll for Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. JAMES WHITE is the latest feature film from Borderline Films, a New York City based production company which was formed in 2003 by Tisch film school alums Mond, Antonio Campos and Sean Durkin. Their notable film credits to date include AFTERSCHOOL, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE and SIMON KILLER. JAMES WHITE was produced by Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin and Melody C. Roscher. Starring alongside Abbott, Nixon and Mescudi are Makenzie Leigh, Ron Livingston and David Call. Josh Mond said “On behalf of the incredible cast and crew of JAMES WHITE, I’m heartened by the response and proud to team up with The Film Arcade on the theatrical release. The response at Sundance has been humbling and we look forward to continuing the journey with our distributor.” “Josh Mond has crafted a personal and powerful drama in his tour-de-force directorial debut,” said The Film Arcade’s Andy Bohn. “The brilliant performances by Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon will be among the year’s best and help make Josh’s film an extraordinary achievement that needs to be seen.” The Film Arcade negotiated the deal with UTA Independent Film Group.
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THE GRAND SEDUCTION and THE LUNCHBOX Win Toronto Intl FIlm Fest’s Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards

Don McKellar’s The Grand Seduction and Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox are winners of the 11th annual Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards. The Grand Seduction (pictured above) was named Best Canadian Film and The Lunchbox was selected as the Best International Film. Now in its 11th year, the annual Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards are decided by audiences across the country who vote for their favorite film shown at a Film Circuit screening. Film Circuit is Toronto International Film Festival’s national film outreach program. In 2014, guests travelled to communities across Canada to introduce their films and participate in 95 Q&A sessions. Guests included Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club), Don McKellar (The Grand Seduction), Sturla Gunnarsson (Monsoon), Jody Shapiro (Burt’s Buzz), Elizabeth Klinck (Arctic Defenders), Richie Mehta (Siddharth), Maxime Giroux (Felix and Meira), Katie Boland (Gerontophilia), Daniel Perlmutter (Big News From Grand Rock), and Peter Keleghan and Leah Pinsent (Big News From Grand Rock). The Grand Seduction follows the residents of a small Newfoundland fishing village who, in order to secure a vital factory contract, conspire to charm a big-city doctor into becoming the town’s full-time physician. This sparkling comedy from director Don McKellar (Last Night) and screenwriter Michael Dowse (Goon, The F Word) has screened in 63 Film Circuit communities and was seen by over 10,700 people. In The Lunchbox, a misdelivered lunchbox brings together two very different people — a neglected housewife (Nimrat Kaur) and a grumpy, solitary widower on the verge of retirement (Bollywood star Irrfan Khan) — in this funny and touching comedy-drama from first-time writer-director Ritesh Batra. The Lunchbox has screened in 80 Film Circuit communities and was seen by over 14,300 people.
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Isaiah Washington and ‘BLACKBIRD’ Cast Attend L.A. Screening

On Thursday night in Los Angeles, RLJ Entertainment and Urban Movie Channel hosted a private screening of ‘BLACKBIRD,’ directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Academy Award winner Mo’Nique, Isaiah Washington and Julian Walker. Cast members in attendance were Isaiah Washington, Terrell Tilford, Lindsay Seim, Gary L. Grayand Kevin Allesee, all of who participated in a Q&A moderated by “Entertainment Tonight” host Kevin Frazier. Additional guests included ‘BLACKBIRD’ producers Keith Brown and Carol AnnShine, RLJ Entertainment SVP of Acquisitions Angela Northington, Blackbird author Larry Duplechan, actress Tatyana Ali, tv personality Karamo Brown and many more. ‘BLACKBIRD’ opens in select theaters on April 24. NEW YORK CITY AMC Empire 25 – 234 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY AMC Village 7 – 66 3rd Avenue, New York, NY ATLANTA AMC Phipps Plaza – 3500 Peachtree Rd, N.E., Atlanta, GA AMC Southlake Pavilion – 7065 Mt. Zion Circle, Morrow, GA WASHINGTON, DC City Cinemas Angelika Pop Up- 550 Penn Street, NE, Washington, DC ArcLight Bethesda – 7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD LOS ANGELES Cinemark 18 – 6081 Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA TCL Chinese Theatre – 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA AMC Town Center 8 – 201 E Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA SAN FRANCISCO AMC Metreon – 135 4th St Suite 3000, San Francisco, CA Cinemark Century 25 – 32100 Union Landing Blvd, Union City, CA Cinemark 20 Great Mall – 1010 Great Mall Dr., Milpitas, CA Visit www.blackbirdthemovie.com for theater locations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHe0ukjp0-M image: (l-r) ‘BLACKBIRD’ cast arrives at Culver Studios: Gary L. Gray, Terrell Tilford, Angela Northington (RLJ), Lindsay Seim, Keith Brown, Isaiah Washington, author Larry Duplechan, Jen Linck (RLJ), Linda Schortz (RLJ), Carol Ann Shine
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WHITE GOD and WALKING UNDER WATER Win Top Awards at 2015 Sarasota Film Festival

Kornel Mundruczo’s Cannes award-winning White God (pictured above) took home the Narrative Feature Jury prize at the 2015 Sarasota Film Festival.

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Charleston International Film Festival Moves to the Fall and to Charleston Music Hall

In its eighth year, Charleston International Film Festival (Charleston IFF) is moving its five-day celebration of film—typically held in April—to the fall with the 2015 Festival taking place November 4–8. The Festival is also changing venues, moving exclusively to Charleston Music Hall this year for its intimate feel and superior acoustics for film. Summer Peacher, Charleston IFF Co-Founder and President said, “We’re excited to build on the momentum created from last year’s Festival; these changes will help us do that. We couldn’t ask for a better venue and partner than Charleston Music Hall, and we plan on taking full advantage of everything fall in Charleston has to offer our local and out-of-area attendees.” The 2014 Festival showcased filmmakers representing 11 different countries. The 75 shorts, animations, features, and documentaries shown covered a diverse range of emotionally charged and socially important themes. As the Festival continues to grow in strength and popularity, 2015 is positioned to be Charleston IFF’s strongest event yet.
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Comedy “SPY” Starring Melissa McCarthy to Open 2015 Seattle International Film Festival

Spy, “the side-splitting, action-packed, globetrotting comedy from the mind of Paul Feig,” and starring Emmy-winning and Oscar®-nominated Melissa McCarthy, will be the Opening Night Film for the 41st annual Seattle International Film Festival on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A hilariously incisive send-up of the spy genre, Spy stars McCarthy as Susan Cooper, an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst who is the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. When her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham, spoofing the gritty roles that have made him famous) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer and prevent a global disaster.

The ensemble cast also features Allison Janney (“The West Wing”) as Cooper’s agency chief and Rose Byrne (The Neighbors) as a Bulgarian assassin. Bobby Cannavale (Adult Beginners), Morena Baccarin (“Homeland”), Miranda Hart (“Call the Midwife”), and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson round out the incredible lineup. The film, which is from 20th Century Fox, will open nationwide on June 5, 2015.

Director Paul Feig is scheduled to attend the evening’s festivities. He will participate in a Q&A following the screening moderated by SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. Notes Carl, “Paul Feig has done the impossible and catapulted Melissa McCarthy to even funnier heights than her previous roles in The Heat and Bridesmaids. I actually need to see this hilarious film again – the first time I saw it, the audience was laughing so loud, I missed some of the lines! Witty, smart, and thrilling,Spy is destined to be one of the biggest hits of the summer – it’s the perfect movie to open the largest and best attended film festival in the country.”
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Maryland Film Festival Reveals Names of 10 More Films on 2015 Lineup

Maryland Film Festival revealed the names of ten more films on the the lineup for the upcoming 17th annual festival, which will take place May 6–10, 2015 in downtown Baltimore. Films include Charles Poekel’s Christmas, Again; Todd Rohal’s comedy Uncle Kent 2; and new documentary work from Bobcat Goldthwait, Amy Berg, and Alex Winter. The films include: THE AMINA PROFILE (Sophie Deraspe) Two women, Sandra in Montreal and Amina in Syria, meet online, and begin a flirtatious relationship that quickly turns serious. When Amina begins to blog as “A Gay Girl in Damascus,” she garners international attention as an outspoken representative of a marginalized community. Then Sandra hears that Amina has been kidnapped—and, in this fascinating documentary fueled by mystery, politics, and sexuality, she must examine how much about Amina she truly knows. BEATS OF THE ANTONOV (Hajooj Kuka) War reporter and documentary filmmaker Hajooj Kuka takes viewers into the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountain regions of South Sudan, where we meet displaced South Sudanese who live under the constant threat of bombardment from the Sudanese military via Antonov cargo planes. But defying familiar victim narratives, Kuka’s camera finds resilient people that summon strength and positivity from music, laughter, and a determination to maintain their culture against any odds. CALL ME LUCKY (Bobcat Goldthwait) Since the 1980s, Barry Crimmins has established himself as a comedian’s comedian, armed with a rapid-fire technique and a scathing political perspective aimed at shocking American audiences out of their complacency—even as he never quite gets the respect he deserves. Peers like Margaret Cho and Marc Maron join documentarian Bobcat Goldthwait in paying tribute to Crimmins’ many contributions to the comedy community and political activism over the decades. CHRISTMAS, AGAIN (Charles Poekel) Noel (Kentucker Audley) sells Christmas trees off a lot in New York, living a quiet and solitary life in the camper that anchors the site. As Christmas nears, a mysterious woman lands in Noel’s life, and tries to find a way into the closed-off, emotionally blocked world he’s constructed. Beautiful Super 16mm cinematography and unforgettable performances from Audley and Hannah Gross yield a moving character study of quiet, gentle humanism. DEEP WEB (Alex Winter) With Downloaded (MFF 2013), Alex Winter established himself as an expert at illuminating complex issues at the intersection of the internet and legality—and giving audiences intimate access to the personalities at the center of his story. Deep Web excitingly confirms that status, turning its lens on the online black market Silk Road, and digging deep into the still-unfolding story of Ross Ulbricht, the man accused of being the site’s creator and moderator, “Dread Pirate Roberts.” GOD BLESS THE CHILD (Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck) Four brothers spend a day on their own in Davis, California, with their thirteen year-old sister forced to look after them as best she can in the absence of their troubled and unreliable mother. This visually stunning experimental drama, which premiered at SXSW, turns an unflinching eye on the behavior of children in the absence of adults, with results at turns hilarious, awkward, poignant, and unnerving. PROPHET’S PREY (Amy Berg) The director of Deliver Us From Evil and West of Memphis takes us deep into another explosive story, that of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Exploring allegations of sexual abuse, family expulsions, forced marriages, and other horrors, this Sundance-premiered documentary paints an unforgettable portrait of conformity, fear, and oppression. TWO SHOTS FIRED (Martin Rejtman) Veteran Argentine filmmaker Martin Rejtman brings his unique deadpan sensibility to the story of a sixteen-year-old who finds a gun in his house. He shoots himself out of boredom—but, after a near-miss with death, finds that the major change in his life is an annoying whistle in his chest, sabotaging the music he makes with an amateur recorder quartet. A disloyal dog, a strange vacation, and a bizarre cast of characters add up to a quietly anarchic comedy that channels Aki Kaurismäki and Roy Andersson’s A Swedish Love Story as it refuses to play by conventional narrative rules. UNCLE KENT 2 (pictured above) (Todd Rohal) Kent Osborne, the mild-mannered animator whose mundane daily routines and love life fueled Joe Swanberg’s Uncle Kent, is desperate to make a sequel—an idea that excites precisely no one else. But when Swanberg gives Osborne his blessing to take the idea elsewhere, things takes a decidedly warped turn, as MFF favorite Todd Rohal takes over at the helm, steering the film deep into the realm of psychotronic dark comedy. WESTERN (Bill and Turner Ross) In the neighboring towns of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Mexico, a rugged cattleman and a populist mayor navigate changing times as the specters of cartel violence and xenophobia threaten harmonious cultural and economic exchanges between the U.S. and Mexico. Marked by muggy days and thunderous nights, this evocative and immersive documentary from the directors of 45365 and Tchoupitoulas delivers a thrilling mix of fascinating characters, riveting narrative, and extraordinary sensory detail.
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“La Tête haute” to Open 2015 Cannes Film Festival

La Tête haute, a film by French female director, Emmanuelle Bercot, will open the 68th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday May 13, 2015. La Tête haute tells the story of Malony, and his upbringing from six to eighteen years, as a children’s judge and social worker try to save him. It was filmed in the Nord-Pas de Calais, Rhône-Alpes and Paris area regions, with the participation of Catherine Deneuve, Benoît Magimel, Sara Forestier and Rod Paradot, who plays the main character. “The choice of this film may seem surprising, given the rules generally applied to the Festival de Cannes Opening Ceremony,” explains Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Event. “It is a clear reflection of our desire to see the Festival start with a different piece, which is both bold and moving. Emmanuelle Bercot’s film makes important statements about contemporary society, in keeping with modern cinema. It focusses on universal social issues, making it a perfect fit for the global audience at Cannes.” Emmanuelle Bercot is a film director, screenwriter and actress. She studied dance at Cours Florent before attending La Fémis film school. Her talent was discovered at the 1997 Festival de Cannes, where her short film, Les Vacances, received the Jury Prize. This was confirmed two years later with a second Cinéfondation Prize for La Puce, her final-year student film. In 2001, her first feature film, Clement (Clément), in which she plays the main character, made the Un Certain Regard Official Selection. Since then, she has directed several films, including On my Way (Elle s’en va) in 2014, in which Catherine Deneuve gave one of her best performances. Emmanuelle Bercot also co-wrote the script for Maïwenn’s Polis (Polisse), which earned her the main role in her latest film, Mon Roi. La Tête haute was written by Emmanuelle Bercot and Marcia Romano, with Guillaume Schiffman as director of photography. It is produced by Les Films du Kiosque, and co-produced by France 2 Cinéma, Wild Bunch, Rhône-Alpes Cinema and Pictanovo with the participation of Nord-Pas de Calais Region. It is sold by Elle Driver and distributed in France by Wild Bunch. The 68th edition of the Festival de Cannes will take place from 13 to 24 May 2015. The Jury of the Competition will be chaired by American directors Joel and Ethan Coen, the Un Certain Regard Jury by the Italian-American actress and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini, and the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury by Mauritian Film Director Abderrahmane Sissako
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French documentary about Art during the Holocaust, BECAUSE I WAS A PAINTER Sets US Release Date

BECAUSE I WAS A PAINTER, a documentary film by Christophe Cognet, will be released in the US by Cinema Guild. BECAUSE I WAS A PAINTER, an official selection at the Jerusalem Film Festival and other international film festivals, will open at Lincoln Plaza in New York City on April 24. A national release will follow. In 1945, when the Allies liberated the concentration camps, they discovered thousands of secretly created artworks. These drawings, hidden from the Nazis, offer an unparalleled understanding of life in the camps. Featuring interviews with surviving artists, curators, as well as recently uncovered evidence, this fascinating documentary considers the ability of art to capture, reflect and survive under unimaginable conditions. BECAUSE I WAS A PAINTER explores a wide range of perspectives, from an artist who grapples with finding beauty in paintings of corpses to Treblinka survivor Samuel Willenberg who believes that the artworks can be nothing but inherently devoid of beauty. In addition to works intended as art, the film contemplates the role of alternative relics such as portraits of Romani victims killed by infamous Nazi physician Josef Mengele and paintings that were recreated years later because originals were lost or destroyed. The film looks at paintings, drawings, wash drawings, and sculptures held in collections in France, Germany, Israel, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium and Switzerland. While drifting among these fragments of clandestine images and the vestiges of the camps, BECAUSE I WAS A PAINTER undertakes a sensitive quest amid faces, bodies and landscapes to explore the notion of art—and its preservation—as an atavistic necessity. http://vimeo.com/116290914
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Paul Schrader to Receive Kanbar Award at 2015 San Francisco International Film Festival

Screenwriter and filmmaker Paul Schrader will be the recipient of the 2015 Kanbar Award for excellence in storytelling at the 58th San Francisco International Film Festival taking place April 23 to May 7, 2015, honoring his contributions to cinema. The award will be presented to Schrader at Film Society Awards Night, Monday April 27 at The Armory (1799 Mission Street).
Paul Schrader will also be honored at An Evening with Paul Schrader at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, Tuesday April 28, 6:30 pm. An onstage interview and a selection of clips from his notable screenwriting and directing career will be followed by a screening of Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985).

“This year we are altering the Kanbar Screenwriting Award to the Kanbar Storytelling Award to acknowledge that great writers now control a far more expansive part of the creative process,” said Noah Cowan, Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society. “No person better embodies how creativity flourishes from the base of the written word than Paul Schrader. Accomplished in multiple creative fields, not least as the director of the incomparable Mishima, he has demonstrated for more than forty years how great writing translates into great cinema.”

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters: Paul Schrader captures the many layers of Japanese author and right-wing political activist Yukio Mishima’s short, tumultuous life in this mesmerizing, unconventional biopic that blends, to stunning effect, a recreation of the writer’s final day, snippets of biography that explore his psychology and beautifully staged, luridly colored scenes of three key novels that further explicate his psyche.

Raised in a Calvinist household, Paul Schrader never watched a movie until he was in college, but made up for lost time by earning his M.A. at UCLA, becoming an American Film Institute Conservatory fellow in its inaugural 1969 class and becoming first a film critic and then screenwriter. Though the action thriller The Yakuza (1974), co-written with his brother Leonard, was his first produced screenplay, it was the script for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver(1976), written when he was 26 and inspired by his sense of isolation at a low point in his life, that was his breakthrough. The film won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or and was the first of several collaborations between Schrader and Scorsese, a list that includes Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Bringing Out the Dead (1999). Schrader made his directing debut in 1978 with Blue Collar, also co-written with his brother Leonard. As a writer/director, his films include Hardcore (1979),Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Light of Day (1987), Light Sleeper(1992), Touch (1997), Affliction (1997), Forever Mine (1999), The Walker(2007) and Dying of the Light (2014). His screenplays include Obsession(1976), Rolling Thunder (1977), American Gigolo (1980), The Mosquito Coast(1976), City Hall (1996) and The Jesuit (2015). Among his directing projects are Cat People (1982), Patty Hearst (1988), The Comfort of Strangers (1990),Auto Focus (2002), Adam Resurrected (2008) and The Canyons (2013).

Acknowledging the crucial role that storytelling plays in the creation of great art, the Kanbar Award for excellence in storytelling is made possible through the generosity of Maurice Kanbar, longtime member of the SFFS board of directors, film commissioner and philanthropist with a particular interest in supporting independent filmmakers. Kanbar is the creator of New York’s first multiplex theater and, most recently, Blue Angel Vodka.

Previous recipients of the Kanbar Award are Stephen Gaghan (2014), Eric Roth (2013), David Webb Peoples (2012), Frank Pierson (2011), James Schamus (2010), James Toback (2009), Robert Towne (2008), Peter Morgan (2007), Jean-Claude Carrière (2006) and Paul Haggis (2005).
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Rapper & “Fast & Furious” Actor, Ludacris, to Perform at Opening Night of 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

Rapper/actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges will perform at the opening night of the 14th Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday, April 15, at the Beacon Theatre. The concert will follow the world premiere of the documentary Live From New York!, which explores 40 years of American politics, tragedy and popular culture through the comedic lens of SNL, directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by JL Pomeroy and Tom Broecker. The Tribeca Film Festival runs April 15 to April 26, 2015. “Appearing on “Saturday Night Live”– both as a host and a musical guest –were some of the most thrilling moments of my career,” said Ludacris. “I’m excited to be a part of this premiere and the Tribeca Film Festival Opening Night. As a storyteller through music and acting, it is especially meaningful for me to participate in an event that is centered on spotlighting great stories.” Ludacris, a multitalented recording artist and acclaimed actor, has sold more than 15 million albums domestically, thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My Chick Bad.” All of these records were accompanied by ingenious videos that demonstrated Bridges’ far-reaching imagination, and his willingness to stretch the boundaries of what rap videos should look and feel like. He recently released his 8th studio album, Ludaversal and starred in Furious 7, the seventh installment in the global box-office hit franchise. His other feature film credits include Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious 6; Fast Five; 2 Fast 2 Furious; Garry Marshall’s ensemble comedy New Year’s Eve; and Ivan Reitman’s romantic comedy, No Strings Attached, opposite Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, and he has given acclaimed performances in film, (Crash, Hustle & Flow), and television, (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=3saskvQKfx0
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KINGS OF NOWHERE and (T)ERROR Win Top Prize at 2015 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

The 2015 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award winners were announced on Sunday afternoon at the festival’s annual Awards Barbecue. The top prize, Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award was won by Kings of Nowhere (pictured above), directed by Betzabé Garcia, and (T)ERROR, directed by Lyric R. Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe. One of the nation’s premier documentary film festivals, Full Frame is celebrating its 18th annual festival. Full Frame is a qualifying event for consideration for nominations for both the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject and The Producers Guild of America Awards. The 19th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will take place April 7–10, 2016. 2015 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award Winners
The Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award Sponsored by the Reva and David Logan Foundation
The Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award was presented to Kings of Nowhere, directed by Betzabé Garcia, and (T)ERROR, directed by Lyric R. Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe. Thanks to the generosity of the Reva and David Logan Foundation, each film will receive the full award amount of $10,000. In the poetically and patiently photographed Kings of Nowhere, a handful of residents stay their ground after a flood leaves their Mexican village semi-submerged. In (T)ERROR, FBI informant “Shariff” grants filmmakers unprecedented access as he engages in a counterterrorism sting against a white Muslim man, illuminating the controversial methods employed in the government’s war on terror. The Jury, Marilyn Ness, Sam Pollard, and Bernardo Ruiz, stated, “We are very pleased to honor two important films deserving of greater attention on an international stage, both of which speak to the heart of documentary storytelling in unique and compelling ways. With remarkably assured direction, especially from a first-time filmmaker, Kings of Nowhere delivers artful and thoughtfully paced storytelling. ThoughKings of Nowhere on its face appears to be a local story, in fact it speaks to universal themes confronting humanity worldwide: people abandoned by their governments, facing unimaginable violence, and enduring neglect. Kings of Nowhere represents its characters with dignity and depth and it does so at the highest levels of our craft. But we also wanted to acknowledge the different ways in which films can take risks. With exceptional access, the two filmmakers of (T)ERROR took great personal risks to highlight an urgent issue in the United States while navigating complex journalistic and ethical terrain.”
The Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short Provided by Drs. Andrew and Barbra Rothschild
The Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short was given to Last Day of Freedom, directed by Nomi Talisman and Dee Hibbert-Jones. Beautiful animation accompanies poignant testimony in this haunting short about a man who discovers his brother has committed a serious crime. The Jury, J. Christian Jensen, Yael Melamede, and Nicole Triche, stated, “This film demonstrates and reminds us of the simple power and intimacy of the human voice. It interweaves different visual styles of animation and engages the audience fully in an increasingly fraught tale that ultimately presents the supreme cost of doing the right thing.”
Full Frame Audience Award – Feature Sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
How to Dance in Ohio, directed by Alexandra Shiva, received the Full Frame Audience Award Feature. Three young women on the autism spectrum attempt to navigate social rules and the impending challenges of adulthood as they prepare for their first formal dance.
Full Frame Audience Award – Short
The Full Frame Audience Award Short was given to Giovanni and the Water Ballet, directed by Astrid Bussink. In this film, Giovanni dreams of becoming the first boy to compete in the Dutch synchronized swimming championship. With the support of his girlfriend, Kim, can he pass one final exam?
The Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award Provided by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
The Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award was presented to Last Day of Freedom, directed by Nomi Talisman and Dee Hibbert-Jones. Beautiful animation accompanies poignant testimony in this haunting short about a man who discovers his brother has committed a serious crime. This award honors a documentary artist whose work is a potential catalyst for education and change. Representatives from the Center for Documentary Studies juried the prize: Randy Benson, Morgan Capps, Wesley Hogan, Katie Hyde, Lynn McKnight, Dan Partridge, Teka Selman, Brooke Darrah Shuman, and April Walton.
The Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award Provided by the Charles E. Guggenheim Family
Tocando la Luz (Touch the Light), directed by Jennifer Redfearn, received the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award. In this quietly arresting film, three blind women in Havana, Cuba, share their heartbreaks and hopes, and navigate their profound desire for independence. Provided by the Charles E. Guggenheim family, this prize honors a first-time documentary feature director. Matthew Hamachek, Bari Pearlman, and Maxim Pozdorovkin participated on the Jury.
Full Frame Inspiration Award Sponsored by the Hartley Film Foundation
The Full Frame Inspiration Award was awarded to The Storm Makers, directed by Guillaume Suon. This film is a heartbreaking exposé of Cambodia’s human trafficking system, revealed through the stories of two guiltless “recruiters” and a young woman who was sold into slavery and escaped. This award is presented to the film that best exemplifies the value and relevance of world religions and spirituality. Ross Kauffman, Sarah Masters, and Ryan White participated on the Jury.
Full Frame President’s Award Sponsored by Duke University
The Farewell, directed by Alejandro Alonso, was given the Full Frame President’s Award. Long retired from the local mine, Pablo Fabelo spends his days smoking cigars, playing cards, and quietly reminiscing in this languid, lushly photographed short. Representatives on behalf of the President’s Office of Duke University juried the prize.
The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights Sponsored by the Julian Price Family Foundation in memory of Melanie Taylor
The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights was awarded to Peace Officer, directed by Brad Barber and Scott Christopherson. After a former sheriff sees his son-in-law killed in a controversial police standoff, he dives into an obsessive investigation of the militarization of American law enforcement. Provided by the Julian Price Family Foundation, this award is presented to a film that addresses a significant human rights issue in the United States. Representatives from the Kathleen Bryan Edwards family juried the prize: Anne Arwood, Laura Edwards, Clay Farland, Margaret Griffin, and Pricey Harrison.
The Nicholas School Environmental Award Sponsored by the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University
Good Things Await, directed by Phie Ambo, received the Nicholas School Environmental Award. In this film, an aging farmer runs a biodynamic farm in the Danish countryside, prioritizing spiritual methods over contemporary standards. Will new regulations threaten his way of life? Overburden, directed by Chad A. Stevens, received an Honorable Mention from the Nicholas School Environmental Award Jury. In this film, an environmentalist and a former pro-coal activist in the heart of Appalachia join forces to protect their home from the industry that’s divided their community for decades. The Nicholas School Environmental Award honors the film that best depicts the conflict between our drive to improve living standards through development and modernization, and the imperative to preserve both the natural environment that sustains us and the heritages that define us. Daniel Junge, Sam Cullman, and Farihah Zaman participated on the Jury.
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