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  • Ashland Independent Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Opens with HONEY BUDDIES

    [caption id="attachment_11777" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]HONEY BUDDIES by Alex Simmons Honey Buddies[/caption] The 2016 Ashland Independent Film Festival will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this April by paying tribute to the roots of independent film. AIFF will give special emphasis to the intersection of live performance and film, beginning with the opening night screening, and Pacific Northwest premiere of Honey Buddies. Filmed in Oregon, the Slamdance award-winning comedy stars Flula Borg as the relentlessly upbeat best man who convinces David Giuntoli (Grimm), after his fiancée dumps him at the altar, to take him on his Columbia River Gorge honeymoon, instead. Borg, an online musical sensation thanks to his YouTube music videos and his striking performance in the recent Pitch Perfect 2, will perform a live DJ set in the Ashland Armory following the screening. The mainstay of the festival continues to be a rich assortment of documentary and narrative feature films and shorts, including many regional and several national premieres. Magali Noel’s Addicted to Sheep, Nick Hartanto and Sam Roden’s Traveler (which will be accompanied to the festival by its subject, photographer Nicholas Syracuse) and AIFF 2015 Audience Choice award winner Alexandria Bombach’s short film How We Choose are U.S. premieres. Ten feature films that opened at Sundance in January are receiving their regional premieres at AIFF, including Werner Herzog’s essay film on the Internet’s effect on society, Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World; Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Uncle Howard, Cameraperson, NUTS!, Hooligan Sparrow, Trapped, and The Fits, along with Sonita and Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You. There are a number of films with regional connections, including two by rising Portland filmmaker Christopher LaMarca, whose films Boone and The Pearl (co-directed by Jessica Dimmock) just premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW)and True/False Film Festivals. Boone is a sensory and unsentimental meditation on the lives of three young goat farmers living off the land in the Little Applegate Valley near Jacksonville, Ore. The Pearl delves into the experiences of older transgender women in the Pacific Northwest. The film will be accompanied by the filmmakers and two of their most striking subjects from Oregon, Krystal and Jodi, two sisters who were formerly brothers, and unaware of each other’s gender fluidity. Bastards y Diablos, about two half-brothers who go on a journey of self-discovery to Colombia, involved a crew based mostly out of Medford, Ore., including producer and co-star Dillon Porter. For lovers of the “other” Ashland festival, there are two films that highlight Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death. Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, a theater performance inventively filmed by Rodrigo Prieto, is being touted as a visually spectacular adaptation, and will be accompanied by a Skype conversation with Taymor. Bill is a Monty Pythonesque tale of William Shakespeare’s “lost years”. In addition, a program of short films will feature current and former Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors, including Anthony Heald in The Stairs; and David DeSantos and Stephanie Beatriz in Closure. “It’s going to be an exciting and stimulating five days and nights,’ said Cathy Dombi, the festival’s executive director. “More than 50 visiting filmmakers and artists will attend the festival to engage in dialogues after screenings, with several artists accompanying their films with live music, art exhibits, and even virtual reality headgear for audiences to sample.” In his Ashland debut, Richard Herskowitz, the new director of programming, will honor two key indie film institutions by paying tribute to Kartemquin Films and Women Make Movies, organizations that have built an infrastructure for indie filmmakers working outside the mainstream. Kartemquin co-founder and artistic director Gordon Quinn will be joined by filmmakers Joanna Rudnick and Maria Finitzo for three screenings honoring Karteqmquin on its 50th anniversary. Accomplished documentarians Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar of New Day Films will screen three of their latest short films and join Quinn for a TalkBack panel on Activist Film Collectives. “Independent film’s social and cultural importance has been reaffirmed lately as Hollywood’s neglect of women’s and other minority voices has become painfully apparent,” said Herskowitz. This year, 24 of the 39 independent feature films are directed or co-directed by women, and the subject of one of the festival’s three “TalkBack” panel discussions will be Women Make Indie Movies, moderated by Women Make Movies’ executive director Debra Zimmerman. Zimmerman will also introduce her company’s acclaimed new release Sonita, winner of the Grand Jury and Audience Prize for international documentaries at Sundance. Sonita is about an Iranian teenager who creates an underground rap song to protest her family’s plan to sell her as a bride. This year’s Rogue Award will go to the esteemed directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Detropia, Jesus Camp, The Boys of Baraka), who will screen their latest documentary, Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, an homage to the 93-year-old American social activist and creator of the TV shows All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Maude. Barbara Hammer, the pioneering director of queer cinema, will receive the festival’s Pride Award, supported by the Equity Foundation, and will present her latest film, Welcome to this House, on the life and poetry of Elizabeth Bishop. Herskowitz is introducing a new section titled Beyond, devoted to films that challenge and reinvent storytelling conventions. A highlight of this section will be MA, the debut feature by dance world sensation Celia Rowlson-Hall, a transfixing, artfully wordless narrative in which Rowlson-Hall stars as a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. Rowlson-Hall was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine in 2014 and named one of 25 “new faces of independent film” in 2015 by Filmmaker Magazine. She is the winner of the festival’s first-ever Juice Award, given to an emerging female film director, with support from Tangerine Entertainment and the Faerie Godmother Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. Other Beyond titles include The Fits, collective:unconscious, and He Hated Pigeons. At the TalkBack panel titled Transmedia & Virtual Reality Platforms for New Documentaries, filmmaker Helen de Michiel will present her latest transmedia projects, Lunch Love Community and Berkeley vs. Big Soda. Brad Lichtenstein will demo his virtual reality project, Across the Line, on the effect of anti-abortion protests on health centers and patients. Google VR headsets will be available for sampling after the panel. Vicki Callahan, a USC professor and an authority on digital culture and media strategies for social change, will moderate the discussion. 2016 AIFF FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS FILM; DIRECTOR Addicted to Sheep; Magali Pettier Bastards y Diablos; A.D. Freese Bill; Richard Bracewell Birth of Saké, The; Erik Shirai Boone; Christopher LaMarca Cameraperson; Kirsten Johnson Chicago Maternity Center Story, The; Jerry Blumenthal, Suzanne Davenport, Sharon Karp, Gordon Quinn, Jennifer Rohrer collective:unconscious; Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker, Lauren Wolkstein Embers; Claire Carré Fits, The; Anna Rose Holmer Five Nights in Maine; Maris Curran Gesture and a Word; Dave Davidson He Hated Pigeons; Ingrid Veninger Honey Buddies; Alex Simmons Hooligan Sparrow; Nanfu Wang Hunky Dory; Michael Curtis Johnson In Pursuit of Silence; Patrick Shen In the Game; Maria Finitzo In Transit; Albert Maysles, Lynn True, Nelson Walker, Ben Wu, David Usui Light Beneath Their Feet; Valerie Weiss Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World; Werner Herzog Louder than Bombs; Joachim Trier MA; Celia Rowlson Hall Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise; Bob Hercules & Rita Coburn Whack Midsummer Night’s Dream; Julie Taymor Neptune; Derek Kimball Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady NUTS!; Penny Lane Pearl, The; Jessica Dimmock and Christopher LaMarca Secret Screening from Kartemquin Films; TBA Seventh Fire, The; Jack Pettibone Riccobono Sonita; Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami Three Hikers, The; Natalie Avital Trapped; Dawn Porter Traveler; Nick Hartanto and Sam Roden Uncle Howard; Aaron Brookner Voyagers Without Trace; Ian McCluskey Welcome to This House; Barbara Hammer Women He’s Undressed; Gillian Armstrong Short Film Programs After Hours Shorts Animated Worlds with Mark Shapiro Art Docs Ashland Actors On Screen CineSpace Family Shorts: Kid Pix Family Shorts: TweenScreen Locals Only 1: Family Friendly Locals Only 2: Woman to Man Short Stories Short Docs TalkBack Panel Discussions Activist Film Collectives: Kartemquin and New Day Films Women Make Indie Movies Transmedia and Virtual Reality Platforms for New Documentaries

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  • Women Texas Film Festival Announces Call For Entries For Fest’s Debut

    Women Texas Film Festival, Texas Theater, Dallas, Texas The Women Texas Film Festival announced a Call for Entries for the inaugural edition of the film festival which will take place at the Texas Theater in Dallas, Texas on August 19 to 21, 2016. Led by Executive Director Justina Walford, WTFF will screen films, television, and virtual reality projects that have women in at least one key creative role “behind the camera”: Writer, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, or Composer. WTFF will also organize a host of activities for the festival focused on the craft and artistry of filmmaking by women, including moderated Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, networking events, and a red carpet gala. A filmmaker and playwright, Walford, co-wrote and co-produced last year’s critically acclaimed film, THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE, which was shot in Dallas, Texas. Upon relocating to Dallas from New York City late last year, she discovered that the city, and in fact, the state did not have a film festival dedicated to screening and celebrating the work of female filmmakers in all forms (narrative features, feature length documentaries, shorts, experimental, television, and virtual reality, etc.). Walford said, “We saw a need to create another home for the work of female filmmakers, so the Women Texas Film Festival will be just that – a three-day fest to celebrate the work of women in that creative space, to give another opportunity to meet and network with other filmmakers and industry professionals here in the great production town of Dallas, Texas, and to offer something concrete for the many talented women behind the camera to point to each year.” For more info and to submit via Film Freeway

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  • Les Cowboys Featuring John C. Reilly to Open June 24th

    [caption id="attachment_11957" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]LES COWBOYS LES COWBOYS[/caption] LES COWBOYS directed by Thomas Bidegain, and starring Finnegan Oldfield, featuring John C. Reilly will be released theatrically on June 24th, opening in NY at Lincoln Plaza. The debut feature from celebrated French screenwriter Thomas Bidegain (DHEEPAN, RUST AND BONE, A PROPHET), LES COWBOYS is a haunting tale of a young woman’s disappearance—and a father’s all-consuming quest to bring her back to safety. Set amidst a sub-culture of Western enthusiasts in rural France, Alain (François Damiens) attends a cowboy fair with his wife (Agathe Dronne) and children—sixteen-year-old daughter, Kelly (Iliana Zabeth), and young son, Kid (Finnegan Oldfield). When Kelly disappears amidst the chaos of the festivities, Alain’s initial fear quickly turns to anger and disbelief as it becomes increasingly clear that his daughter has willingly abandoned her life to begin anew as a Muslim with her boyfriend. Convinced that she was coerced, Alain devotes what’s left of his broken existence to finding her, eventually bestowing the responsibility of the search onto his son. A fresh take on John Ford’s classic, THE SEARCHERS, the sixteen-year pursuit takes the two men across personal and international borders, becoming bigger than they could have ever imagined. Lensed by veteran cinematographer Arnaud Potier (5 TO 7, BREATHE, STOCKHOLM, PENNSYLVANIA), LES COWBOYS transports the classic iconography of the Western genre to striking contemporary landscapes—from the hillsides of France to the deserts of Pakistan. A long-time collaborator of filmmaker Jaques Audiard, Bidegain has established himself as one of France’s most talented and prolific screenwriters, penning the scripts for Audiard’s aforementioned RUST AND BONE, A PROPHET, and DHEEPAN. Bidegain also wrote Bertrand Bonello’s SAINT LAURENT, which went on to be the French Foreign Language Oscar submission for 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPdGgmXTZjo

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  • 20 Films to Compete for Golden Gate Awards at San Francisco International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_9418" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Demons, directed by Quebec director Philippe Lesage The Demons[/caption] The 2016 San Francisco International Film Festival taking place April 21 to May 5, announced the films in competition for the Golden Gate Awards (GGA). SFFS Executive Director Noah Cowan said “With more than a thousand new films from around the world hitting the major festival circuit each year, inevitably some great films get overlooked and some important voices go unheard. The Golden Gate Awards are here to celebrate these artists and their work, providing an additional chance for international exposure and recognition.” The GGA New Directors Prize winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000, the GGA Documentary Feature winner will receive $10,000 and the GGA Bay Area Documentary Feature winner will receive $5,000. 2016 GGA NEW DIRECTORS PRIZE (NARRATIVE FEATURE) COMPETITION As I Open My Eyes, Leyla Bouzid, Tunisia/France/Belgium Her family assumes that Farah, a high-achieving student in Tunis, will continue her studies, but she just wants to sing. When her mom hears that she’s performing politically provocative material with a group of male friends, a powerful story unfolds of female independence that stands in the face of conservative Muslim beliefs. The Demons, Philippe Lesage, Canada Documentary filmmaker Philippe Lesage’s narrative debut is an exquisitely observed portrait of a delicate 10-year-old Quebec boy grappling with the insecurities and confusion of impending adolescence. The fragility of innocence is foregrounded through minor humiliations and petty cruelties that unfold in pastel, sun-soaked locations. Infused with an unsettling air of ambiguity and dread that portends terrible crimes to follow, this restrained and coolly beautiful film is an unforgettable portrait a child forced to confront the dangers of growing up. From Afar, Lorenzo Vigas, Venezuela/Mexico When a middle-aged single man, who cruises his Caracas neighborhood for rough trade, takes a tough young boy into his home, a gritty exploration ensues as these two angry men negotiate a relationship that resides somewhere between lover and friend and a paternal father/son dynamic. Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Lorenzo Vigas’s debut feature is a tour-de-force exploration of a relationship’s darker side. Home Care, Slávek Horák, Czech Republic/Slovakia Dedicated home-care nurse Vlasta (Karlovy Vary winner Alena Mihulová) traipses around the south Moravia countryside on bus and foot tending to (and bantering with) patients too infirm or elderly to travel. When she herself is diagnosed with a serious illness, she turns to alternative therapies and the company of women healers. The Czech Republic’s Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film is a rueful, touching mix of realism, absurdity, irony and daring gallows humor. Mountain, Yaelle Kayam, Israel/Denmark Yaelle Kayam’s debut feature is strikingly shot against the tombstones of Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, where an Orthodox woman’s longing for her husband’s love sets in motion a transformational journey into a nocturnal world of pimps and prostitutes. A mesmerizing performance by Shani Klein keeps viewers riveted to a character study that is by turns tender and startling. Neither Heaven nor Earth, Clément Cogitore, France/Belgium In this suspenseful war film that uses fear of the dark to great effect, a French army contingent operating in Afghanistan is beset by mysterious disappearances. While Captain Antarès (Jérémie Renier) initially and understandably blames local villagers for the loss of his men, the real cause could be something supernatural, a force that implies the profound wrongness of these men being on soil that doesn’t belong to them. Thirst, Svetla Tsotsorkova, Bulgaria When water becomes scarce due to drought, a laundress living in rural southwest Bulgaria with her husband and son invites a dowser and his spirited daughter onto their property to search for hidden springs. Wonderfully atmospheric, the film gracefully depicts how the teenaged girl’s combative nature and the oppressive heat surrounding them all upset the family’s balance, for good and bad. Thithi, Raam Reddy, India/USA In a small South Indian village, a cantankerous centenarian keels over and dies, setting the stage for a capricious comedy of errors among three generations of dissimilar sons. Conflict, confusion, corruption and a series of ill-conceived actions all come to a head at the funeral celebration (the titular thithi). With its charming cast of non-professional actors — both human and ovine — director Raam Reddy’s feature film offers a playful portrait of intergenerational conflicts and differences. Very Big Shot, Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, Lebanon/Qatar Two brothers are bitten by the movie bug when they conceive an idea to smuggle drugs in empty film canisters in this often hilarious satire of politics and filmmaking. With an easily manipulated director on board, their controversial storyline involving forbidden love catches the eye of local authorities and their original plan takes a backseat to their cinematic ambitions. 2016 GOLDEN GATE AWARDS DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION Cameraperson, Kirsten Johnson, USA Simultaneously an astute observation of nonfiction filmmaking’s dilemmas, and a wonderfully creative autobiographical collage, Cameraperson is a must-see for all documentary enthusiasts. Acclaimed cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, who has lensed such acclaimed films as Citizenfour, Very Semi-Serious and Darfur Now, assembles moments from 25 years of location shoots — including a birthing clinic in Nigeria, a Bosnian farm, a detention center in Yemen and a boxing ring in Brooklyn — and stiches together an illuminating, emotional patchwork memoir. Dead Slow Ahead, Mauro Herce, Spain/France We are embedded on a massive cargo freighter as it chugs slowly across the vast Atlantic ocean in this haunting, meditative and expansively ambient film. Humanized by the melancholy of a hard-working crew as they struggle against the elements, Mauro Herce’s insightful and poetic cinematography emphasizes the smallness of human experience against the crushing and mighty mechanical grind of the ship, and the unknowable vastness of the open sea. haveababy, Amanda Micheli, USA Amanda Micheli’s stirring and suspenseful documentary follows several aspiring parents who desperately want to have a baby but are struggling with infertility and the high cost of treatments. They place themselves in the hands of Las Vegas doctor Gregory Sher and his annual contest offering a prize of a free round of in-vitro fertilization treatments — with no guarantee of pregnancy. A rollercoaster of hope and despair awaits them all. The Joneses, Moby Longinotto, USA/UK Filmmaker Moby Longinotto’s fascinating, thoroughly candid documentary invites audiences to pull up a chair at the never-dull family table in a Mississippi trailer park home. Everything is on the menu: dashed dreams, seething resentments, sexual awakenings and dollops of unconditional love. Overseeing all the tumult is unflappable, 73-year-old transgender matriarch Jheri Jones, whose dedicated ministrations keep her family going. National Bird, Sonia Kennebeck, USA Executive produced by Wim Wenders and Errol Morris, this elegant and chilling documentary provides a glimpse of what the US government doesn’t want you to know about drone warfare by focusing on three veterans whose service experience caused them to question the usage of drones in overseas combat. Notes on Blindness, Peter Middleton, James Spinney, UK/France A taped journal that theologian John Hull kept after the onset of blindness in 1980 forms the basis of this elegant and moving depiction of struggle and transcendence. Hull’s own voice provides the audio, though an actor plays the deceased writer, as he learns to negotiate his condition and endures a crisis of faith. Sublime sound design further enhances this evocative documentary, making manifest Hull’s discovery that the loss of one sense leads to the sharpening of others. NUTS!, Penny Lane, USA Penny Lane’s documentary — comprised of archival material, animated sequences and the occasional talking head — blooms into an incredible almanac of early 20th-century quackery and innovation as she focuses on JR Brinkley, an early broadcasting baron, direct-mail pioneer and an evangelical proponent of goat-testicle implants. An empire built on spurious claims and fear mongering seems unstoppable — until an obscure regional newspaper dares to question its foundations. The Return, Kelly Duane de la Vega, Katie Galloway, USA After California voters reversed the state’s Three Strikes law, thousands of inmates became suddenly eligible for resentencing and release. This provocative and touching documentary chronicles what happened next. Filmmakers Kelly Duane De la Vega and Katie Galloway (Better this World, SFIFF 2011) focus on the journeys of the newly free and their families, as well as the Stanford-based lawyers working on behalf of nonviolent offenders, illuminating the multifaceted struggle behind every transition from incarceration to freedom. Salero, Mike Plunkett, USA/Bolivia Moises Chambi Yucra and his family stand at the crossroads of time. For generations, they have has made a humble living harvesting salt from Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, but beneath Uyuni sit massive amounts of lithium, a mineral instrumental in powering smartphones and electric vehicles. With stunning cinematography that captures both the vibrancy and the solitude of the land and life, director Mike Plunkett captures the final days of an age-old way of life. Under the Sun, Vitaly Mansky, Russia/Latvia/Germany/Czech Republic/North Korea Shot with the permission and supervision of North Korean authorities, Russian director Vitaly Mansky’s film turns a propaganda effort into a deep-cover documentary about life inside one of the world’s most repressive nations. Its subjects — a young girl in Pyongyang and her family — rigorously stick to the ideological script, but by keeping the camera rolling between takes of their carefully staged “real life,” Mansky reveals the grinding gears of the totalitarian message machine. A Young Patriot, Du Haibin, China/USA/France Du Haibin’s insightful documentary captures five years in the life of a young Maoist zealot in northern China and provides an unforgettable portrait of China in transition. As the tumult of the country’s recent history unfolds, cracks in the armor of Zhao’s patriotism appear on multiple fronts. Communist Party corruption scandals, the rise of capitalism and the inhumane treatment of his family due to a reclamation project erode his bright optimism.

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  • 72 Shorts Featuring Meryl Streep, Ethan Hawke, Natalie Portman on Lineup for Tribeca Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_11940" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Super Sex Super Sex[/caption] 72 short films, including an animation curated by Whoopi Goldberg have been selected to screen at the upcoming 2016 Tribeca Film Festival taking place April 13 to 24. A special evening of short films with a musical performance will serve as the Festival Hub film program opener on April 15 where Michael Rapaport will debut his short documentary Hard Lovin’ Woman which explores the sacrifices acclaimed actress, Juliette Lewis, makes to pursue her first love, music. The rock band, Juliette and the Licks, will perform following the screening. It will be preceded by the short on artist Bradley Theodore, Becoming: Bradley Theodore, directed by Matt Pizzano. Whoopi Goldberg, a friend of TFF since its inception 15 years ago who has served as a member of the esteemed jury for the Festival, also curates an animated shorts programs aptly titled Whoopi’s Shorts. Several TFF Alumni directors return as part of the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival short film program including Dan Krauss (Oscar Nominated for his last Tribeca Short The Death of Kevin Carter and winner of Tribeca Best Documentary for The Kill Team) premieres the short Extremis, André Øvredal (2010 mockumentary Trollhunter) brings The Tunnel and writer/director Neil LaBute (2013 feature film Some Velvet Morning and short BFF) this year brings his short The Mulberry Bush. This year’s selection features exceptional talent on both sides of the camera. Meryl Streep narrated the short documentary, Auschwitz. Danny DeVito directs his daughter Lucy in the short Curmudgeons produced by his son Jake. Matthew Modine, also a TFF Alumni, directs his daughter Ruby, Ed Asner, Kevin Nealon and Elizabeth Perkins in the short Super Sex. The short Starring Austin Pendleton directed by Gene Gallerano and David H. Holmes features Austin Pendleton, Meryl Streep, Olympia Dukakis, Ethan Hawke, and Natalie Portman. Sandra Oh stars in The Scarecrow, Michael Cera and Andrea Riseborough star in That Dog, and Zosia Mamet, Jane Krakowski and Steve Buscemi star in Mildred and The Dying Parlor. Director Patrick Osborne, who won the 2015 Oscar for Best Animated Short Feast, will make his Festival debut this year with his short Pearl. Recipients of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short Awards will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards® provided the film complies with the Academy rules. 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Program: Festival Hub Opening Night: Performance by Juliette Lewis and the Licks following the screening. Hard Lovin’ Woman, directed by Michael Rapaport. (USA) – World Premiere. In this heavy-hitting rock documentary, director Michael Rapaport explores the sacrifices acclaimed actress Juliette Lewis makes to pursue her first love, music. Bucking industry politics and critics, self doubt, and physical injury, Lewis leads us on a deeply personal journey through her own authentic, independent, and raw sonic world. Becoming: Bradley Theodore, directed by Matt Pizzano. (USA) – World Premiere. Two years ago, artist Bradley Theodore didn’t know how to paint; he was also suffering through the darkest moments of his life. This story is a testament to how one’s life can be turned around through sheer dedication to self-teaching and self-promotion. California Dreaming Tribeca becomes bi-coastal with their first program of stories about an L.A. kind of life. The Duke: Based on the Memoir “I’m The Duke” by J.P. Duke, directed by Max Barbakow, written by Derek J. Pastuszek and Andy Siara. (USA) – New York Premiere. Mired in a concussed haze, an ex-NFL linebacker struggles to adjust to life off the field on Super Bowl Sunday. The Board, directed by David Shane, written by Scott Organ, David Shane. (USA) – World Premiere. A socially-challenged high school kid tests his ultimate system for making a successful first-time call to his crush. The Chauffeur, directed and written by Brian Burton. (USA) – World Premiere. Donald is an artist. Donald is musician. Donald is an actor. But Donald lives in Los Angeles… so to everyone else, Donald is the chauffeur. Girl Band, directed and written by Kerry Furrh, Cailin Lowry, and Olivia Mitchell. (USA) – World Premiere. It’s a beautiful morning in the middle of fucking nowhere. Four best friends/bandmates are packed and ready to make their long-anticipated road-trip move to Los Angeles, but their hometown keeps getting in the way. That Dog, directed and written by Nick Thorburn. (USA) – US Premiere. A dark comedy of errors unfolds as two interloping idiots inadvertently wreak havoc on the lives of others. Super Sex, directed and written by Matthew Modine. (USA) – World Premiere. It’s always hard to find something for a dad (Ed Asner) who has everything. He says he just wants to be loved. So, his children (Kevin Nealon and Elizabeth Perkins) provide it in a way they never before imagined—Super Sex! First Impressions Looks are deceiving as we traverse the globe in search of the truth. Operator, directed by Ben Hakim, written by Lior Zalmanson. (Israel) – International Premiere. A single mom works as a human drone operator, killing people on a daily basis in order to make a living. How much of it all does she take home? In Hebrew with subtitles. One Good Pitch, directed by Parker Hill, written by Parker Hill and Evan Ari Kelman. (USA) – World Premiere. After some time apart, Andrew hopes that a game of catch will help him reconnect with his father. Winds of Furnace (Aire quemado), directed and written by Yamil Alberto Mojica Quintana. (Mexico) – World Premiere. In a half-urbanized community in the Mexican tropics, Santiago and his friends, Antonio and Miguel, are having a fun afternoon sharing jokes, pranks, and dreams as they straddle the boundary between childhood and adult life. In Spanish with subtitles. Balcony, directed and written by Toby Fell-Holden. (U.K.) – North American Premiere. In a neighborhood rife with racial tension, a local girl falls for a recent arrival who is the victim of prejudice and shame. In Dari, English with subtitles. Catch a Monster (Coger Un Monstruo), directed and written by Michael Y. Lei. (Bolivia, USA) – World Premiere. A lonely boy finds himself trapped in a dark fantasy come alive in the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. In Spanish with subtitles. Shok, directed and written by Jamie Donoughue. (Kosovo, U.K.) – New York Premiere. The friendship of two boys is tested to its limits as they battle for survival during the war in Kosovo. Based on true events. In Albanian, Serbian with subtitles. Learning Curve Poignant or profound life lessons are embodied in these shorts from here and abroad. Nkosi Coiffure, directed and written by Frederike Migom. (Belgium) – US Premiere. After fighting with her boyfriend on the street, in Brussels’ African neighbourhood, Eva escapes into a hair salon. The women in the salon initially support her, seeing a woman in distress. But, when they find out what the fight was about, opinions differ. In Flemish, French, Lingala with subtitles. Game Night, directed and written by Joel Fendelman. (USA) – World Premiere. When a lonely taxi driver happens upon a football field, he falls into a memory of his past. Ping Pong Coach (乒乓), directed by Yi Liu, written by Chieh Yang. (Taiwan R.O.C., USA) – World Premiere. Fifteen-year-old, Tsi-An has fallen in love with her ping pong coach, who happens to be her best friend’s father. She asks for private lessons with the hope of getting close to him. In Mandarin with subtitles. A Teachable Moment, directed and written by Jason Jeffrey. (Canada) – World Premiere. Henry lies at the side of the road, bleeding out from a gunshot wound. A young mother with a bizarre sense of what’s appropriate uses his final moments as a teachable lesson for her 6-year-old son. Pronouns, directed and written by Michael Paulucci. (USA) – New York Premiere. A teenager from Chicago decides to reveal their true identity during a spoken word performance. Semele, directed and written by Myrsini Aristidou. (Cyprus) – New York Premiere. A school note becomes just the right excuse for Semele to visit her father at his workplace. In Greek with subtitles. The Scarecrow, directed by Phillip Rhys, written by Phillip William Brock. (USA, England) – New York Premiere. A recently divorced man confronts the rocky shores of loneliness after spending a day with his adolescent son and an encounter with his ex-wife. New York Now Home-grown New York shorts rooted firmly in the present. A Subway Story, directed by Eugene Kolb. (USA) – World Premiere. Two people recount their first meeting on the New York City subway. Mildred and the Dying Parlor, directed by Alex Gayner, written by Ilan Ulmer. (USA) – World Premiere. Mildred’s parents run a dying parlor out of their home. Today’s client is not who she expects. You Can Go, directed by Christine Turner, written by Daniel Solé. (USA) – World Premiere. A high school administrator talks down a troubled student. The Mulberry Bush, directed and written by Neil LaBute. (USA) – World Premiere. Two men sit next to each other on an autumn day in Central Park. They make small talk about the weather and the joys of summer. When the conversation turns personal, however, it becomes clear that this is no random encounter, and they are headed toward a startling confrontation. Father’s Day, directed by Kiki Lambden Stout, written by Elizabeth Canavan. (USA) – World Premiere. A mother abandons her family on Father’s Day, forcing the family to come face-to-face with her devastating disease. Wannabe, directed and written by Matthew Manson. (USA) – World Premiere. NYC, 1991. During a time of tremendous racial strife, a neurotic Jewish boy must win over his crush by first impressing her skeptical Jamaican family. Curmudgeons, directed by Danny DeVito, written by Joshua Conkel. (USA) – World Premiere. A pair of senior citizens have a relationship that shocks both their families in this potty mouthed, but endearing, comedy. New York Then These documentary shorts include both human stories and New York’s past. Taylor and Ultra on the 60s, The Factory and Being a Warhol Superstar, directed by Brian Bayerl, written by Brian Bayerl and Michael Huter. (USA) – World Premiere. Warhol Superstar Ultra Violet (Isabelle Colin Dufresne) and Lower East Side Icon Taylor Mead (Poet/Actor/Artist) share their stories of Manhattan in the 1960s. Dead Ringer, directed by Alex Kliment, Michael Tucker, and Dana O’Keefe, written by Alex Kliment. (USA) – World Premiere. There are only four outdoor phone booths left in all of New York City—this is a late night conversation with one of them. Mulberry, directed and written by Paul Stone. (USA) – World Premiere. This cinematic portrait of Little Italy explores how a working class neighborhood of tenement buildings transformed into the third most expensive zip code in the United States. Part funny, part sad, the film investigates how gentrification and rent control are affecting the neighborhood’s long-term residents. The Carousel, directed and written by Jonathan Napolitano. (USA) – World Premiere. In the small town of Binghamton, New York there spins a 1925 carousel that once inspired Rod Serling and has since become a portal into the Twilight Zone. Starring Austin Pendleton, directed by Gene Gallerano and David H. Holmes. (USA) – World Premiere. The most famous actor you’ve never heard of; Austin Pendleton reflects on his life and craft while his A-list peers discuss his vast influence and what it means to be an original in a celebrity-obsessed world. Includes interviews with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, Olympia Dukakis, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Joe’s Violin, directed by Kahane Cooperman. (USA) – World Premiere. A 91-year-old Holocaust survivor donates his violin to an instrument drive, changing the life of a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the Bronx and unexpectedly, his own. Past Imperfect These documentary shorts address historical and timely issues with clarity, creativity and contemplation. We All We Got, directed and written by Carlos Javier Ortiz. (USA) – New York Premiere. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the country’s recent focus on youth violence, police brutality, and marginalized communities, We All We Got is an elegy of urban America, and an intimate portrait of the people affected by violence in Chicago. Auschwitz, directed by James Moll, written by Lorna Graham. (USA, Poland) – North American Premiere. Auschwitz is synonymous with the Holocaust, but it’s also a place on the map with a surprising history preceding World War II. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this short documentary tells the story of Auschwitz, from its construction to its infamy. Extremis, directed by Dan Krauss. (USA) – World Premiere. A purely observational non-fiction film that takes viewers into the ethically murky world of end-of-life decision making in a public hospital. I Was a Winner (Jag var en vinnare), directed by Jonas Odell, written by Jonas Odell and Richard Dinter. (Sweden) – International Premiere. Told through a mix of documentary interviews and animation, I Was a Winner shares three very different stories on the subject of computer game addiction. In Swedish with subtitles. We Are, directed by Joshua Shelov and Jay Bulger, written by Joshua Shelov. (USA) – World Premiere. We Are chronicles Penn State’s path from the 2011 scandal to the design of their new campus statue. Sculptor Jonathan Cramer drew inspiration for its creation from the 1948 PSU football team that overcame racial adversity with the mantra ‘We Are Penn State.’ Ocean Stories: Wyland, directed and written by Patrick Creadon and Greg Goggin. (USA) – World Premiere. Energetic, charismatic, and creative, Wyland is best known for his 100 life-size whale murals found on walls and buildings around the world. The extent of Wyland’s public artwork, his galleries, and his community service projects have made him one of the most recognized artists in the world. Pressure Points The weight of the world rests heavily on the shoulders of these international characters. Cherokee, directed and written by Jem Rankin. (Australia) – International Premiere. An uncooperative ex, an argumentative landlord, and a broken front door; Linda’s life is just peachy. Her daughter Shelley escapes their dreary reality through a fascination with Native Americans, but subconsciously assumes Linda’s anger. For Your Own Safety (Zu Ihrer eigenen Sicherheit), directed and written by Florian Heinzen-Ziob. (Germany) – World Premiere. Jonas works at the hand baggage screening at an airport. He is obsessed with preventing the next terrorist attack. But neither his colleagues, nor his boss appreciate his commitment… In German with subtitles. Jahar, directed by Henry Hayes, written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Henry Hayes. (USA) – World Premiere. In the days after the Boston Marathon bombing, a young man must come to terms with the fact that one of his friends is involved. Madam Black, directed by Ivan Barge, written by Matt Harris. (New Zealand) – New York Premiere. When a glamour photographer runs over a child’s pet, he’s forced to fabricate a story about its disappearance. Hold On (Houvast), directed by Charlotte Scott-Wilson, written by Charlotte Scott-Wilson and Marielot van der Slikke. (Netherlands) – World Premiere. A young cellist has to overcome her fears in order to keep her position in an orchestra. In Dutch with subtitles. Shooting an Elephant, directed by Juan Pablo Rothie, written by Alec Sokolow. (Venezuela, USA, U.K., Nepal) – New York Premiere. Adapted from George Orwell’s autobiography—a young British imperial policeman in Burma is given the no-win mission of handling a rogue work elephant, only to find that the role he is destined to play is that of public executioner. Rock and a Hard Place In this music-driven documentary shorts program we start out gently and ramp up to high-energy rock & roll. Northbound (Mot nord), directed and written by Jørn Nyseth Ranum. (Norway) – North American Premiere. This film shows the first attempt to bring skateboarding to the frozen sandy beaches in northern Norway. Join four of Norway’s best skaters in this poetic and playful encounter with the Arctic winter. In Norwegian with subtitles. Pearl, directed and written by Patrick Osborne. (USA) – World Premiere. Pearl follows a father and daughter on the road together; tracing his struggles to make it as a musician and parent, and her coming-of-age and musical journey to fulfillment. Homeland (Hemland), directed and written by Sara Broos. (Sweden) – North American Premiere. A young woman escapes the war in Syria and ends up in the forest in Sweden. Listening to music is a way for her to survive and bring her back, in dreams and memories, to her homeland. This is a film about the power of music and the meaning of the word homeland. In Arabic, English, Swedish with subtitles. Gift of Gab, directed and written by Michael Jacobs. (USA) – World Premiere. Gift of Gab is a portrait of iconic artist Timothy Parker, from the seminal hip hop group Blackalicious, whose battle with kidney disease ends up fuelling the creation of their first album in 10 years. Let’s Dance: Bowie Down Under, directed by Rubika Shah, written by Ed Gibbs and Rubika Shah. (U.K., Australia) – North American Premiere. The remarkable, forgotten story behind ‘Let’s Dance,’ David Bowie’s biggest hit record. Hard Lovin’ Woman, directed by Michael Rapaport. (USA) – World Premiere. In this heavy-hitting rock documentary, director Michael Rapaport explores the sacrifices acclaimed actress Juliette Lewis makes to pursue her first love, music. Bucking industry politics and critics, self doubt, and physical injury, Lewis leads us on a deeply personal journey through her own authentic, independent, and raw sonic world. Warped Speed We tip our hat to the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek with our very first sci-fi shorts program that will definitely beam you up. Curve, directed and written by Tim Egan. (Australia) – World Premiere. Clinging to a smooth, curved surface high above a sentient abyss, a girl tries to cover the few feet back to safety without losing purchase and falling to her death. The Tunnel (Tunnelen), directed and written by André Øvredal. (Norway) – World Premiere. In an overpopulated future, a family travels home from the beach in heavy traffic; between them and the gigantic city in which they live, is a tunnel with a horrifying purpose. In Norwegian with subtitles. The Last Journey of the Enigmatic Paul WR (Le Dernier voyage de l’énigmatique Paul WR), directed and written by Romain Quirot. (France) – World Premiere. The red moon threatens our existence on earth. Our only hope is the enigmatic Paul W.R., the most talented astronaut of his generation. But a few hours before the start of the Great Mission, Paul disappears. In French with subtitles. Never Happened, directed and written by Mark Slutsky. (Canada) – International Premiere. After a pair of colleagues have an affair on a business trip they decide it might be for the best if it just never happened. Future Boyfriend, directed by Ben Rock, written by A. Vincent Ularich. (USA) – World Premiere. Stuart and Kaylie are enjoying their third date until Stuart reveals a secret that threatens to derail their relationship. Is he telling the truth, or is it just science fiction? Reality +, directed and written by Coralie Fargeat. (France) – New York Premiere. The brain chip ‘Reality+’ acts on your sensory perceptions and allows you to see yourself with a perfect physique. All the people equipped with the chip can see your new appearance and you can see theirs. But, the chip is only active for 12h a day… In French with subtitles. Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival SPORTS SHORTS Skaters, ballers, and boxers populate this nonfiction program that celebrates the power of a great sports story. Porzingod, directed and written by Conor Byrne. (USA) – World Premiere. A prayer for the New York Knicks. Gonzo @ the Derby, directed by Michael D. Ratner. (USA) – World Premiere. In 1970, writer Hunter S. Thompson and illustrator Ralph Steadman covered the Kentucky Derby for Scanlan’s Monthly. The resulting article, ‘The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,’ marked the beginnings of gonzo journalism. Gonzo @ the Derby looks at the article and the lasting impact on media and sports journalism. The Boxer (El Púgil), directed and written by Angel Manuel Soto. (Puerto Rico) – World Premiere. El Púgil (The Boxer) narrates the rags to riches story of the super feather underdog Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta ‘El Púgil,’ a young Puerto Rican boxer from the slums of Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico and his ordeal to becoming World Champion. In Spanish with subtitles. A.C. Green: Iron Virgin, directed by Isaac Feder. (USA) – World Premiere. A.C. Green, Showtime Laker and reigning Iron Man of the NBA, doing the dirty work every night for 1,192 straight games—more consecutive games than any player in NBA history. But, it wasn’t just his durability that separated AC from his NBA brethren: he was a proud virgin, who was saving himself for marriage. The Best Last Best Plane Ride Ever, directed by James Blagden. (USA) – World Premiere. In October of 1986, the NY Mets beat the Houston Astros in the NLCS in one of the most dramatic series of the decade. This film recreates their post-game airplane celebration: three hours of unbridled chaos resulting in an airplane interior that was almost completely destroyed. Skateboarding’s First Wave, directed by Don Burgess, written by Ed Buhr. (USA) – New York Premiere. A look at the early days of skateboarding culture in Southern California, and the group of kids that would shape its role in media and society. 2 Fists Up, directed by Spike Lee. (USA) – World Premiere. An examination of how the Black Lives Matter movement sparked activism at the University of Missouri, its football team, and across the rest of The United States. Whoopi’s Shorts This animated shorts program, curated by Whoopi Goldberg, showcases imaginative storytelling and captivating craft from around the world. This program is suggested for those 14 and older. The Orchestra, directed by Mikey Hill, written by Mikey Hill & Jennifer Smith. (Australia) – New York Premiere. In a world filled with beautiful music, Vernon always seems to strike the wrong note. The Loneliest Stoplight, directed and written by Bill Plympton. (USA) – New York Premiere. The life and times of a neglected stoplight. Lucens, directed and written by Marcel Barelli. (Switzerland) – US Premiere. The story of the first 100%, made-in-Switzerland nuclear power plant… and also the last. In French with subtitles. Fear, directed by Dawn Dreyer, Andrea Love. (USA) – World Premiere. Dr. Zenglo Chen was four when his parents disappeared, victims of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Through Zenglo’s own words and exquisitely crafted hand drawn and stop motion animation, Fear considers the tension between fear and safety; faith and psychology; Chinese and American; and acceptance and healing. Violet, directed by Maurice Joyce, written by Mark Hodkinson. (Ireland) – New York Premiere. Violet is a cautionary tale of a young girl who despises her reflection. The Short Story of a Fox and a Mouse, directed and written by Camille Chaix, Hugo Jean, Juliette Jourdan, Marie Pillier, Kevin Roger. (France) – US Premiere. A lonesome fox hunts a mouse, when two owls interfere with the hunt, their relationship evolves. I am a Pencil (Je suis un Crayon), directed and written by Joe D’Arcy. (Australia, France, Denmark) – New York Premiere. Je suis un Crayon was inspired by the three million people who marched in support of unity, peace, and freedom of expression after the Charlie Hebdo massacre. The pencil (like the artist) has an innate drive to create and will always express, irrespective of whether it is granted permission. Shiny, directed and written by Daniel Cloud Campos, Spencer Susser. (USA) – New York Premiere. A damsel in distress gets undressed when a man from the Mid-West puts to rest a world that’s obsessed with the priceless, also known as the shiny.  

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  • Aardman Animations to Receive Award at San Francisco International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_11936" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Wallace-and-Gromit Wallace-and-Gromit[/caption] The pioneering studio Aardman will be presented with the Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award at the 59th San Francisco International Film Festival taking place April 21 to May 5, 2016. Co-founder and Creative Director Peter Lord will accept the award and participate in an in-depth onstage conversation about the work of the beloved animation studio on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. A screening featuring a selection of Aardman’s short films will provide audiences a chance to see key works from the studio’s rich catalogue. “We’ve been fans of the work of Aardman at the Festival for quite a while so it is a great thrill to be able to recognize them on their 40th anniversary,” said SFFS Director of Programming Rachel Rosen. “This program will be a great opportunity to perhaps discover some unheralded gems from the studio’s history and to be delighted again by favorite classics.” Established in 1997, the Persistence of Vision Award each year honors the achievement of a filmmaker or institution whose main body of work is outside the realm of narrative feature filmmaking, crafting documentaries, short films, television, animated, experimental or multiplatform work. Co-founded by Peter Lord and David Sproxton in the 1970s, Aardman has grown from the two friends’ kitchen-table experimentation to one of the world’s leading model animation studios, with 11 Oscar nominations and four wins. Creating animation that appeals to both adult and family audiences in work that ranges from documentary to madcap adventure, Aardman has produced a stream of stop-motion marvels from Creature Comforts to Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Along with directing and producing his own stellar work, Lord and Aardman have encouraged and nurtured the careers of many talented new directors. The studio recently debuted their latest short film, Special Delivery, via Google’s 360 film initiative “Spotlight Stories.” As a director, Peter Lord has been nominated for two Academy Awards and has been honored along with Sproxton with a Special BAFTA Award. He has helped create numerous series for television; music videos, including one for Nina Simone’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me”; and television commercials. With Nick Park, he co-directed Aardman’s first feature, Chicken Run, a critical and commercial success, and produced the studio’s first CGI feature, Flushed Away, in collaboration with DreamWorks. Lord also most recently directed Aardman’s stop-motion adventure on the high seas The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists with Sony Pictures Animation.

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  • WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT: THE STORY OF LATIN BOOGALOO Sets Release Date of March 15 | TRAILER

    [caption id="attachment_11932" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT[/caption] Award-winning documentary WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT will be released on iTunes and VOD nationwide on March 15. Directed by Mathew Ramirez Warren, WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT tells the story of Latin boogaloo, a colorful expression of 1960s Latino soul, straight from the streets of New York City. From its origins to its recent resurgence, it’s the story of a sound that redefined a generation and was too funky to keep down. WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT explores this fascinating, though often overlooked, bridge in Latin music history, showcasing the musical style that was born in the barrios of NYC and would eventually spawn a generation of chart-topping music artists and a global music movement that is once again alive and well today. In the 1960s, a generation of musicians from East Harlem, the South Bronx and parts of Brooklyn fused Afro-Cuban music with R&B, jazz, funk and rock to create Latin boogaloo. It was a period of revolution and social awakening and young Latinos in search of their identity adopted Latin boogaloo as their soundtrack. Much of this music was released by Alegre, Cotique and Fania Records during the 1960s and 70s. But as salsa, a more traditional style of Latin music, grew in popularity by the 1970s, some say the Latin boogaloo was killed off, not by the fans, but by cultural and industry politics. By the 2000s, after decades of obscurity, the artists who made Latin boogaloo popular finally began to get the recognition they deserved, with the help of DJs and new bands such as DJ Turmix, The Boogaloo Assassins and Ray Lugo & the Boogaloo Destroyers, that pay tribute to the genre. The cast of musicians and their personal stories told in We Like it Like Thatare as vibrant and enduring as the unforgettable rhythms they created. Some of the notable artists include Joe Bataan, a former gang leader who spent several years in prison before starting a band and becoming known as the “King of Latin Soul” and continues to be one of the most popular and active Latin boogaloo luminaries working today; Ricardo Ray, a Juilliard trained piano player who along with his singer, Bobby Cruz, recorded the first known Latin boogaloo “Lookie, Lookie” and went on to enjoy international fame in Latin music; Johnny Colon, the influential multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader who was a key player in the boogaloo scene and behind the first major latin boogaloo hit, “Boogaloo Blues,” a controversial song at the time for its chorus “LSD’s got a hold on me;” Jimmy Sabater, the late singer and percussionist for the Joe Cuba Sextet who helped write “Bang Bang,” the first boogaloo song to break through as a national hit; Pete Rodriguez, the bandleader whose group created “I Like it Like That,” the biggest Latin boogaloo hit of the 1960s and a repeat chart topper when it was covered in the 1990s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c–UlUha8nY Additionally on March 11, “We Like It Like That: The Story of Latin Boogaloo Volume One” original motion picture soundtrack will be released digitally on Fania Records, featuring 14 classic latin boogaloo tracks from legendary music icons featured in the film such as Pete Rodriguez (“I Like It Like That”), Joe Bataan (“Ordinary Guy,” “Subway Joe”), Richie Ray (“Lookie Lookie”), Ray Barretto (“New York Soul”), Eddie Palmieri (“Azucar”), LeBron Brothers (“Summertime Blues”) and more.

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  • STRIKE A POSE, A Doc About Madonna’s TRUTH OR DARE Dancers to Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_11928" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]STRIKE A POSE STRIKE A POSE[/caption] Following the world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama section) STRIKE A POSE, a documentary about Madonna’s TRUTH OR DARE dancers, heads to Tribeca Film Festival for its North American premiere. In 1990, seven young male dancers – six gay, one straight – joined Madonna on her most controversial tour. On stage and in the iconic film Truth or Dare they showed the world how to express yourself. Now, 25 years later, they reveal the truth about life during and after the tour. Strike a Pose is a dramatic documentary about overcoming shame and finding the courage to be who you are. Wild, talented and barely twenty, the dancers set out on the trip of a lifetime. Their journey was captured in TRUTH OR DARE, one of the highest-grossing documentaries ever. As a self-proclaimed mother to her dancers Madonna used the film to take a stand on gay rights, freedom of expression and the fight against AIDS. Madonna’s flamboyant dancers became icons of sexual freedom. Although they were pivotal to Madonna’s message, the dancers weren’t living it. In fact, Gabriel wasn’t proud of being gay at all. After failing to persuade Madonna to cut out the kissing scene that would ‘out’ him to his family and friends, he filed a lawsuit against her. And Gabriel wasn’t the only one: Carlton – big, bold and the only dancer who was trusted to lift up the pop icon – was HIV-positive and almost collapsed under the secret that he was carrying on tour. A third dancer is still hiding an important part of himself and now finally wants to open up. For the first time they tell us how hard it has been to live the liberated life they were promoting on stage.

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  • 2016 Tribeca Film Festival announces Spotlight, Midnight, Special Screenings, Centerpiece, Work in Progress Films

    [caption id="attachment_11922" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Elvis & Nixon, Elvis & Nixon,[/caption] The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival also announced the feature films in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Screening sections. Also announced was the Centerpiece film and Works In Progress screenings. The 15th edition of TFF will take place from April 13 to April 24, 2016, in New York City. The Spotlight section features 36 films, consisting of 18 narratives and 18 documentaries. 25 films in the selection will have their world premiere at the Festival. The opening night Spotlight film is the world premiere of Bill Purple’s drama The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea starring Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Biel, and Maisie Williams. The Midnight section will open with the World Premiere of the highly anticipated horror anthology, Holidays, from some of today’s most visionary genre filmmakers. Midnight is comprised of six world premieres. The section features the best in genre cinema, encompassing a diverse range of thriller, horror, comedy, and action films. The Centerpiece film for this year’s Festival is the world premiere of the historical comedy Elvis & Nixon, directed by Liza Johnson and starring Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon. The complete film selections for the Spotlight, Midnight, Centerpiece, and Special Screenings sections are as follows: CENTERPIECE Elvis & Nixon, directed by Liza Johnson, written by Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal, and Cary Elwes. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. In 1970, a few days before Christmas, Elvis Presley showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President himself. Elvis & Nixon, starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey respectively, imagines the comical details of this outlandish historical encounter. Featuring supporting performances from Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, Evan Peters, and Sky Ferreira. An Amazon Studios/Bleecker Street release. SPOTLIGHT This year’s Spotlight is a family affair, with many films examining families large and small, natural and adopted, stable and struggling. The family of an elderly man, seeking an assisted suicide, rally around him in Youth in Oregon, while the once tight-knit families of Little Boxes and Family Fang try to recapture their intimacy after unexpected change. Fathers and sons clash in Phenom and Wolves, while the mothers and daughters of All We Had and The Meddler lean on each other when everything else seems to be falling apart. One family is threatened by the New York City legal system in Custody, while a new family is forged between lost souls in section opener The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Having once formed their own makeshift family on the road, the dancers of Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour reunite for Strike a Pose and point to another theme of the section that emerges strongly in the documentary selections: the power of the arts and the journey of the artist. Whether it’s visual artists like Banksy and Chris Burden or the dancers of Reset and Strike a Pose; the comedians of The Last Laugh and Pistol Shrimps or the Asian-American rappers fighting for respect in Bad Rap; many films in this year’s selection highlight the versatile power of the arts to affect individuals and culture itself in myriad ways, perhaps none more strongly than Midsummer in Newtown, a resonant testament to the power of art to heal a community after tragedy. Opening Film The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, directed by Bill Purple, written by Robbie Pickering & Bill Purple. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Henry (Jason Sudeikis) and Penny (Jessica Biel) are a New Orleans couple very much in love, until tragedy strikes and Henry is forced to rebuild. Quite literally, it turns out. After he befriends a tough street teen (Maisie Williams), he helps her construct the raft she’ll use to sail across the Atlantic in search of her long lost father. With Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Biel, Maisie Williams, Orlando Jones, Mary Steenburgen, and Paul Reiser. All We Had, directed by Katie Holmes, written by Josh Boone & Jill Killington. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Ruthie continually makes the best of her mother Rita’s hard luck. When their attempt at settling in a new town hits a stumbling block, even Ruthie struggles to keep it together. Based on Annie Weatherwax’s 2014 novel, Katie Holmes’s feature directorial debut is an enriching coming-of-age drama about a resilient mother and daughter who find strength in each other. With Stefania Owen, Katie Holmes, Luke Wilson, Richard Kind, Mark Consuelos, Judy Greer, and Eve Lindley. Bad Rap, directed and written by Salima Koroma. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Bad Rap follows the lives and careers of four Asian-American rappers trying to break into a world that often treats them as outsiders. Sharing dynamic live performance footage and revealing interviews, these artists will make the most skeptical critics into believers. With humor and insight, the film paints a portrait of artistic passion in the face of an unsung struggle. With Jonathan “Dumbfoundead” Park, Nora “Awkwafina” Lum, David “Rekstizzy” Lee, and Richard “Lyricks” Lee. The Banksy Job, directed and written by Ian Roderick Gray and Dylan Harvey. (U.K.) – World Premiere, Documentary. Simultaneously hilarious, wild, and bizarre The Banksy Job further illuminates the crazy world of street art and the peculiar relationships between the artists—in particular, Banksy and the artist known as AK47. An art world, mystery caper, The Banksy Job adds another whacky layer to the Banksy story that can’t be missed. Burden, directed by Timothy Marrinan and Richard Dewey. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Illustrated with performance, private videos, and recollections from those who knew him, this detailed and innovative documentary looks at the life of the always provocative artist Chris Burden, whose work consistently challenged ideas about the limits and nature of modern art, from his notorious performances in the 1970s to his later assemblages, installations, kinetic and static sculptures, and scientific models. Check It, directed by Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Fed up with being abused and harassed on the brutal inner-city streets of Washington D.C., a group of gay and trans teens form a gang to fight back. This raw and intimate portrait follows four Check It members as they struggle to find a way out of gang life through an unlikely avenue: fashion. Command and Control, directed by Robert Kenner, written by Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. A high-stakes documentary thriller, Command and Control—based on Eric Schlosser’s 2013 book of the same name—explores the “human error” that led to an explosion at the Titan II nuclear site just outside Little Rock, Arkansas towards the end of the Cold War, and probes how mutually assured destruction might actually mean self-annihilation. Courted (L’Hermine), directed and written by Christian Vincent. (France) – North American Premiere, Narrative. When a feared judge of the French court, Xavier Racine (Fabrice Luchini), encounters a French-Danish juror, Ditte Lorensen-Coteret (Sidse Babett Knudsen), at a murder trial, their shared past is slowly uncovered. Understated and engaging, director Christian Vincent (Four Stars, Haute Cuisine) lets two narratives unfold, playing with notions of how we present ourselves and how we wish to be perceived. In French with subtitles. Custody, directed and written by James Lapine. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Legal and intimate family dynamics dovetail in Custody. Starring Viola Davis as an embattled family court judge with a fraught marriage of her own; Hayden Panettiere as a recent law-school grad flung into a custody case; and Catalina Sandino Moreno as the single mother at the center of the case who risks losing her two children over an ill-timed argument. With Tony Shalhoub, Raul Esparza, Dan Fogler, and Ellen Burstyn. Don’t Think Twice, directed by Mike Birbiglia. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Mike Birbiglia’s true-to-life second feature is set in the world of New York improv comedy, where the members of a tight-knit troupe are thrown into disarray when one of their ranks lands a coveted spot on a top TV show. Produced by Ira Glass and co-starring Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard and Mike Birbiglia. Team Foxcatcher, directed by Jon Greenhalgh. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Jon Greenhalgh’s Team Foxcatcher chronicles the paranoid, downward spiral of millionaire John E. DuPont that led to the tragic murder of olympic wrestler David Schultz. Never-before-seen home videos shot during Schultz’s time at Foxcatcher Farms shed light on the disturbing events and serve as a poignant memoir to the legacy of the champion wrestler, husband, and father. A Netflix release. Enlighten Us: The Rise and Fall of James Arthur Ray, directed by Jenny Carchman. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. The self-help industry is worth $11 billion dollars a year; it captivates those seeking happiness, release from suffering, and those longing for a path and a leader to follow. James Arthur Ray, for many, was that sort of leader. But when a sweat lodge ceremony goes horribly wrong, we learn from Ray and some of his followers that their spiritual path was fraught with danger and perhaps even greater suffering. The Family Fang, directed by Jason Bateman, written by David Lindsay-Abaire. (USA) – US Premiere, Narrative. Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman are Annie and Baxter Fang, children of celebrated performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett). When the elder Fangs go missing under mysterious circumstances, the siblings are forced to unpack long-dormant and unresolved issues from their unorthodox childhoods as they search for their parents, in Bateman’s caustically funny and deeply felt sophomore feature. With Jason Butler Harner and Kathryn Hahn. A Starz release. A Hologram for the King, directed and written by Tom Tykwer. (USA, Germany) – World Premiere, Narrative. In Tom Tykwer’s wryly comic adaptation of Dave Eggers’ novel, Tom Hanks stars as a struggling American businessman who travels to Saudi Arabia to sell a new technology to the King, only to be challenged by endless Middle Eastern bureaucracy, a perpetually absent monarch, and a suspicious growth on his back. With Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Whishaw, and Tom Skerritt. A Roadside Attractions release. Hunt for the Wilderpeople, directed and written by Taika Waititi. (New Zealand) – New York Premiere, Narrative. A spunky orphan and his gruff guardian are forced to flee after a series of misunderstandings send them both into the wilderness as mismatched fugitives. Starring Sam Neill and featuring a hysterically funny performance from newcomer Julian Dennison, director Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, and the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok) has crafted a truly touching adventure-comedy. An Orchard release. A Kind of Murder, directed by Andy Goddard, written by Susan Boyd. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. The Blunderer, written by Carol author Patricia Highsmith, gets a classic film noir treatment in A Kind of Murder, a ’60s-set Hitchcockian thriller that explores how we judge culpability in the death of another. Starring Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, and Vincent Kartheiser. The Last Laugh, directed by Ferne Pearlstein, written by Robert Edwards and Ferne Pearlstein. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. When is comedy not funny? Some would argue, when it’s about the Holocaust. Through interviews and performances featuring people on either side of the issue—including Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Louis C.K., Joan Rivers, Chris Rock, and Abe Foxman—as well as a portrait of a resilient survivor, The Last Laugh offers an intelligent and hilarious survey of what is and is not off-limits in comedy, from the Holocaust and beyond. Lavender, directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly, written by Ed Gass-Donnelly and Colin Frizzel. (Canada) – World Premiere, Narrative. Abbie Cornish, Dermot Mulroney, and Justin Long star in this hallucinatory thriller about Jane, a photographer who suffers severe memory loss following a horrific car accident. Putting her life at risk, as well as those of her husband and daughter, she must piece together and confront the traumatic past that is haunting her. Life, Animated, directed by Roger Ross Williams, written by Roger Ross Williams and David Teague. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams tells the remarkable story of an autistic young man, unable to speak for much of his childhood, who regained his ability to communicate through a life-long commitment to Disney animated movies. Life, Animated is a moving illustration of the power of love and understanding to fix those things in life that appear irreparable. An Orchard release. Little Boxes, directed by Rob Meyer, written by Annie J Howell. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. It’s the summer before 6th grade, and Clark is the new-in-town biracial kid in a sea of white. Discovering that to be cool he needs to act ‘more black,’ he fumbles to meet expectations as rifts are exposed in his tight-knit family, his parents also striving to adjust. This poignant comedy about understanding identity is the second feature from TFF alumnus Rob Meyer. Executive Produced by Cary Fukunaga. With Melanie Lynskey, Nelsan Ellis, Armani Jackson, Oona Laurence, Janeane Garofalo, and Christine Taylor. Magnus, directed by Benjamin Ree, written by Linn-Jeanethe Kyed and Benjamin Ree. (Norway) – World Premiere, Documentary. Carlsen is known as the ‘Mozart of Chess’ because, unlike many chess grandmasters, he possesses innate ability, an unbelievable memory, and unrivaled creativity. Memorized moves and calculated probability can only carry a chess player so far; Magnus exploits this weakness in his opponents on his way to becoming the World Chess Champion. In English, Norwegian with subtitles. The Meddler, directed and written by Lorene Scafaria. (USA) – US Premiere, Narrative. Susan Sarandon delivers a magnetic performance as the doting, mother supreme Marnie Minervini, who crosses coasts to drop into the life of her screenwriter daughter Lori (Rose Byrne). Loosely autobiographical, Lorene Scafaria’s heartfelt comedy offers a wryly scripted defense of a woman struggling to cope with familial loss. Co-starring J.K. Simmons, Cecily Strong, Jerrod Carmichael, and Jason Ritter. A Sony Pictures Classic release. Midsummer in Newtown, directed by Lloyd Kramer. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Midsummer in Newtown is a testament to the transformative force of artistic expression to pierce through the shadow cast down by trauma. From auditions to opening night, we witness the children of Sandy Hook Elementary find their voice, build their self-confidence, and ultimately shine in a rock-pop version of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Mr. Church, directed by Bruce Beresford, written by Susan McMartin. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. When a dying mother hires a talented cook (Eddie Murphy) to help take care of her young daughter, a lifelong friendship blooms. A tender coming-of-age family drama directed by the Oscar-nominated, Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy). With Britt Robertson, Xavier Samuel, Natascha McElhone, Lucy Fry My Blind Brother, directed and written by Sophie Goodhart. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. In Sophie Goodhart’s utterly original romantic comedy, Robbie (Adam Scott) is a champion blind athlete and local sports hero whose brother Bill (Nick Kroll) is always overlooked, even though he runs every marathon by his side. When both fall for the same lady (Jenny Slate), Bill must decide if he will put himself second again, or finally stand up to his blind brother. With Zoe Kazan, Charlie Hewson, Maryann Nagel, and Greg Violand. My Scientology Movie, directed by John Dower, written by John Dower and Louis Theroux. (U.K.) – International Premiere, Documentary. BBC journalist Louis Theroux joins forces with director John Dower to explore the elusive Church of Scientology. With the help of a former high-ranking Scientologist, Theroux sets out to understand the furtive goings-on of the Church, armed with his irreverent humor and biting irony. National Bird, directed by Sonia Kennebeck. (USA) – International Premiere, Documentary. Sonia Kennebeck takes on the controversial tactic of drone warfare, and demands accountability through the personal accounts—recollections, traumas, and responses—of three American military veterans whose lives have been shaken by the roles they played in this controversial method of attack. Executive produced by Wim Wenders and Errol Morris. In Dari, English with subtitles. The Phenom, directed and written by Noah Buschel. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. When major-league rookie pitcher Hopper Gibson (Johnny Simmons) chokes on the mound, he’s sidelined to the minor leagues and prescribed sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist (Paul Giamatti). In the process, long-dormant conflicts with his overbearing father (Ethan Hawke) are brought to light. The Phenom is a captivating psychological study of an individual caught up in the expectations of the big-league sports machine. Pistol Shrimps, directed and written by Brent Hodge. (USA, Canada) – World Premiere, Documentary. Sometimes girls just wanna have fun… and ball. Brent Hodge (A Brony Tale, TFF 2014) and Morgan Spurlock (Mansome, TFF 2012) introduce us to an eclectic group of women who play in an LA recreational basketball league, focusing on the Pistol Shrimps, a rag-tag group of actresses (including Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation), comedians, musicians, and mothers who brought nationwide attention to the league that could. Reset (Relève), directed and written by Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai. (France) – International Premiere, Documentary. Stunningly gorgeous and delicate in both subject and treatment, Reset depicts renowned choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied (also known for choreographing the dance sequences in Black Swan) as he attempts to rejuvenate the Paris Opera Ballet in his new position as director. With appearances by composer Nico Muhly, Opera alumna Aurélie Dupont, and designer Iris van Herpen, Reset is a delightfully aesthetic affair. In French with subtitles. Shadow World, directed by Johan Grimonprez. (USA, Belgium, Denmark) – World Premiere, Documentary. In this eye-popping montage of archival and news footage and interviews, Johan Grimonprez exposes the shadow world of the global arms trade, where corruption, lies, and greed drive covert relationships between politicians, industry executives, military and intelligence officials, and arms dealers. Their aim: to perpetuate war in order to generate more profit, no matter what the human cost. In Arabic, English, Spanish with subtitles. Strike a Pose, directed and written by Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan. (Netherlands) – North American Premiere, Documentary. To the fans, they were the unforgettably talented men who supported the career of one of the world’s most beloved and controversial music artists: Madonna. Behind the scenes they were an impressionable group of young dancers whose lives were forever changed by her influence. Strike a Pose reunites the men 25 years later, providing the chance to learn about the emotional truth behind the glamorous facade. Vincent N Roxxy, directed and written by Gary Michael Schultz. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Vincent (Emile Hirsch) is a small town loner, and Roxxy (Zoë Kravitz) a rebellious punk rocker. When they find themselves on the run from the same dangerous criminals, their feelings for one another deepen, despite their dangerous circumstances. Soon, the star-crossed lovers discover violence is never far behind them, in Gary Michael Schultz’s alternately romantic and brutal drama. With Emory Cohen, Zoey Deutch, Jason Mitchell, Scott Mescudi. Win!, directed and written by Justin Webster. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. With inside access to the players, decision makers, and supporters who were central to the formation of New York City Football Club and its historic inaugural season, Win! offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a Major League Soccer team from the ground up, in the country’s most competitive sports market. In English, Spanish with subtitles. Wolves, directed and written by Bart Freundlich. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Anthony Keller (Taylor John Smith), star of his NYC high school basketball team, is riding his way to Cornell on a sports scholarship. He can only maintain his popular jock facade for so long, as his troubled father Lee (Michael Shannon) has a gambling addiction that threatens to derail his dreams both on and off the court. Bart Freundlich’s powerfully directed drama co-stars Carla Gugino. Youth In Oregon, directed by Joel David Moore, written by Andrew Eisen. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Frank Langella, Billy Crudup, Christina Applegate, Mary Kay Place, and Josh Lucas star in this dramedy about an ailing man travelling to Oregon to be legally euthanized. Langella is superb, capturing the frustration, resolution, and desperation that swirl around so profound a decision. Actor-turned-director Joel David Moore creates a powerful affirmation on the search that finds value in the life you have. MIDNIGHT Always a thrill for the late night crowd, Tribeca Film Festival’s Midnight section features the best in horror, comedy, action, and camp. Opening Film Holidays, directed by Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer, Nicholas McCarthy, Gary Shore, Sarah Adina Smith, Anthony Scott Burns, Kevin Smith, Scott Stewart, and Adam Egypt Mortimer, written by Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer, Nicholas McCarthy, Gary Shore, Sarah Adina Smith, Anthony Scott Burns, Kevin Smith, and Scott Stewart. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Get in the holiday spirit with this horror anthology from some of today’s most visionary genre auteurs. From a very unholy Easter Bunny to a particularly macabre Valentine’s Day gift, Holidays is a full calendar year of festive stories, bringing out the most twisted and subversive sides of each seasonal celebration. With Seth Green, Clare Grant, Ruth Bradley, Sophie Traub, Jocelin Donahue, Harley, Morenstein, Lorenza Izzo, and Andrew Bowen. In the Virtual Arcade, the Festival is exhibiting Holidays: Christmas VR, which is tied to Christmas, a part of the Holidays anthology feature. Fear, Inc., directed by Vincent Masciale, written by Luke Barnett. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. In this referential horror-comedy thriller, horror junkie Joe Foster gets to live out his ultimate scary movie fantasy courtesy of Fear Inc., a company that specializes in giving you the fright of your life. But as lines blur between what is and is not part of the game, Joe’s dream comes true begins to look more like a nightmare. With Lucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, Chris Marquette, Stephanie Drake, Mark Moses, and Abigail Breslin. Here Alone, directed by Rod Blackhurst, written by David Ebeltoft. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. A virus has ravaged human civilization, leaving two groups of survivors: those who have managed to avoid infection, and those driven to madness, violence, and an insatiable bloodlust. Living deep in the woods, Ann, Chris, and Olivia are forced to fend off the infected while foraging for supplies. But when a supply expedition goes terribly awry, one among their number must make a terrible choice. With Lucy Walters, Gina Piersanti, Adam David Thompson, and Shane West. King Cobra, directed and written by Justin Kelly. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. This ripped-from-the-headlines drama covers the early rise of gay porn headliner Sean Paul Lockhart (Garrett Clayton), aka Brent Corrigan, before his falling out with the producer (Christian Slater) who made him famous. When Sean decides he’d be better off a free agent, a cash-strapped pair of rival producers (James Franco and Keegan Allen) aim to cash in by any means possible. With Alicia Silverstone and Molly Ringwald Rebirth, directed and written by Karl Mueller. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Adam Goldberg, Pat Healy, Harry Hamlin and Nicky Whelan star as members of a mysterious self-help group (possibly a cult). Fran Kranz plays their newest recruit. Rebirth simultaneously satirizes the buddy comedy and embraces the thriller format, resulting in a film that is at one moment hilarious and at the next, deeply disturbing. A Netflix release Tiger Raid, directed by Simon Dixon, written by Simon Dixon, Mick Donnellan, Gareth Coulam Evans. (U.K.) – World Premiere, Narrative. Two mercenaries in Iraq speed through the dead of night, on their way to execute a covert mission. But as they near their objective, past misdeeds come violently to the surface, in this action-packed two-hander. With Sofia Boutella, Brian Gleeson, Damien Molony Special Event [caption id="attachment_11923" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]I'll Sleep When I'm Dead I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead[/caption] I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, directed by Justin Krook. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. From producers Matthew Weaver, Matt Colon, Happy Walters and David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi, TFF 2011) is an energetic, heart-pumping documentary about one of the most eminent DJs working today: Steve Aoki. In the lead-up to Aoki’s biggest show of his career, the doc examines the driving force behind his passion: Rocky Aoki, daredevil showman, Benihana founder, and Steve’s absent father. Following the film, there will be a conversation and performance with Steve Aoki at The Beacon Theatre. Special Screenings Don’t Look Down, directed by Daniel Gordon. (U.K.) – World Premiere, Documentary. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, daredevil entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson made an audacious attempt to cross the Atlantic and Pacific in the world’s largest hot air balloon. Don’t Look Down is a personal revelation; a dramatic tale of survival and drive. Branson recounts his experience with uncanny vividity, and reveals how baiting death forever changed him. Everybody Knows…Elizabeth Murray, directed by Kristi Zea. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. This tribute to the dynamic artist Elizabeth Murray, an intrinsic figure in New York’s contemporary art landscape from the 1970s until the early 2000s, highlights her struggle to balance personal and family ambition with artistic drive in a male-dominated art world. It also addresses her later battle with cancer, at the peak of her career. Screening in partnership with the Whitney Museum of American Art where the film will screen. The Man Who Knew Infinity, directed by Matthew Brown, written by Matthew Brown and Robert Kanigel. (U.K.) – New York Premiere, Narrative. In 1913, a self-taught mathematics prodigy Ramanujan (Dev Patel) traveled from his home in India to Trinity College in Cambridge to study with the esteemed professor GH Hardy (Jeremy Irons). Hardy fights for Ramanujan to be recognized as the two struggle with prejudice, illness, and culture on the road to perfecting the theorems that changed the course of history of math. In English, Tamil with subtitles. An IFC Films release. Following the screening there will be an in depth conversation with Dev Patel and the film’s creators. Presented in association with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation/Tribeca Film Institute partnership, this Special Screening Event is co-sponsored by Bira 91. Geezer, directed and written by Lee Kirk. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Perry (Billie Joe Armstrong) is a happily married father of two living a comfortable but sedate life in the suburbs. On the occasion of his 40th birthday, he seeks to revisit his former life as the lead singer in a popular punk band though his middle-aged reality quickly (and hilariously) clashes with the indulgences of his youth. With Fred Armisen, Selma Blair, Judy Greer and Chris Messina. With a special live performance from Billie Joe Armstrong following the film. Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back, directed and written by Maura Axelrod. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. An art world upstart, provocative and elusive artist Maurizio Cattelan made his career on playful and subversive works that send up the artistic establishment, until a retrospective at the Guggenheim in 2011 finally solidified his place in the contemporary art canon. Axelrod’s equally playful profile leaves no stone unturned in trying to figure out: who is Maurizio Cattelan? In English, Italian with subtitles. Screening in partnership with the Guggenheim Museum where the film will screen. Pelé: Birth of a Legend, directed and written by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. From the slums of Brazil to center stage at the world’s biggest sporting event, Pelé’s rise to become the youngest-ever World Cup winner, at the age of 17, was nothing short of a miracle. Full of laughs, life lessons, and heart, this inspiring biopic is perfect for introducing a new generation to the greatest soccer player of all time. With Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Seu Jorge, Colm Meaney. An IFC Films release. Followed by a conversation with Pelé. SHOT! the Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock, directed by Barnaby Clay. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Legendary music photographer Mick Rock is best known for his iconic photographs of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, and countless others. In a documentary as rock-n-roll as its subject, Mick Rock guides us through his psychedelic, shambolic first-hand experiences as the visual record-keeper of these myths and legends. With a special live music tribute following the screening. The Show of Shows: 100 Years of Vaudeville, Circuses and Carnivals, directed by Benedikt Erlingsson. (U.K., Iceland) – North American Premiere, Documentary. Benedikt Erlingsson brings us a world of imagination with a compendium of wonderful unseen archival footage of circus performers, cabaret acts, and fairground attractions. The films are set to a haunting electronic score composed by members of Sigur Rós in collaboration with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson. Screening in partnership with MoMA PS1 where the film will screen inside the VW Dome. Work In Progress Ghostheads, directed and written by Brendan Mertens. (Canada, USA) – Work-In-Progress, Documentary. Join us for a special sneak preview screening of Brendan Mertens’ documentary exploring the many faces of Ghostbusters fandom and celebrating 30 years of one of cinema’s most iconic franchises. Featuring interviews with Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Sigourney Weaver, and Paul Feig. Untitled Bill Nye Documentary, directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg. (USA) – Work-In-Progress, Documentary. When it raised over $800,000 on Kickstarter, The Untitled Bill Nye Documentary broke the fundraising site’s records and instantly became one of the most anticipated upcoming documentaries. Join the filmmakers and the titular Science Guy as they preview exclusive scenes from their upcoming doc and discuss their process, collaboration, and fundraising strategy.  

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  • Orlando Magic Documentary This Magic Moment Opens Lineup for Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival.

    [caption id="attachment_11920" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]This Magic Moment, This Magic Moment,[/caption] The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival announced the feature film lineup for the 10th annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. The tenth annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will open on April 14 with a Gala screening and world premiere of the documentary This Magic Moment chronicling the 1990s Orlando Magic dynasty headlined by superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Seven feature films will screen as part of the Festival, the premiere outlet to showcase independent films that focus on sports and competition. The film will premiere on ESPN that night with live simulcast from the Tribeca red carpet, with special guests including Shaquille O’Neal. Jeff and Michael Zimbalest return to the Tribeca Film Festival with the World Premiere of their inspiring biopic Pele: Birth of a Legend, about Pele’s rise from the slums of Brazil to become the youngest ever World Cup winner at the age of 17 (Pele will be in attendance). Other films explore a new soccer franchise in New York, a famous chess player, a Native American girls highschool lacrosse team, and an LA recreational basketball league, made up of actresses, comedians, musicians, and mothers. Gala: This Magic Moment, co-directed by Erin Leyden and Gentry Kirby. (USA) – World Premiere. Documentary. In the mid-1990s, Orlando was the epicenter of excitement in the NBA. The young franchise, led by mega-stars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, beat Michael Jordan and the mighty Bulls en route to the 1995 NBA Finals. They lost to the Rockets that year but it was clear this team from Orlando was a dynasty in the making. But the Magic’s moment on top was never fully realized – a classic “what-could-have-been” story, where success came fast and big and then ‘poof’, the magic was gone. Feature films: El Clásico, directed by Halkawt Mustafa, written by Anders Fagerholt and Halkawt Mustafa. (Norway, Iraqi Kurdistan Region) – North American Premiere Keepers of the Game, directed by Judd Ehrlich. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary Magnus, directed by Benjamin Ree, written by Linn-Jeanethe Kyed and Benjamin Ree. (Norway) – World Premiere, Documentary. My Blind Brother, directed and written by Sophie Goodhart. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Pelé: Birth of a Legend, directed and written by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Pistol Shrimps, directed and written by Brent Hodge. (USA, Canada) – World Premiere, Documentary. Win!, directed and written by Justin Webster. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. All of this year’s Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival films will screen throughout the day as ‘Sports Saturday’ on Saturday, April 23 at Regal Battery Park Stadium 11. The films will also screen throughout the Festival, prior to this date.

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  • Eye in the Sky Starring Helen Mirren Kicks Off Lineup for Gasparilla International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_11912" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]Eye in the Sky Eye in the Sky[/caption] The 2016 Gasparilla International Film Festival today unveiled the 10th year Anniversary edition film lineup. Opening the festival is Eye in the Sky directed by Gavin Hood and starring Helen Mirren; and closing night film is Everybody Wants Some directed by Richard Linklater. OPENING NIGHT FILM (NARRATIVE): Eye in the Sky (UK): Complications arise when a lieutenant general and a colonel order a drone missile strike to take out a group of terrorists in Nairobi, Kenya. Cast: Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul. Director Gavin Hood scheduled to attend. CLOSING NIGHT FILM (NARRATIVE): Everybody Wants Some (USA): A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Director & Screenwriter Richard Linklater NARRATIVE FEATURES: Precious Cargo (World Premiere): After a botched heist, Eddie, a murderous crime boss, hunts down the seductive thief Karen, who failed him. In order to win back Eddie’s trust, Karen recruits her ex-lover and premier thief Jack. Starring Bruce Willis, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Claire Forlani. Directed by Max Adams. Ma Ma (SPAIN. USA Premiere): A woman recently diagnosed with cancer forms an unexpected bond with a soccer scout (Luis Tosar) whose wife has been gravely injured in a car accident. Cast: Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. Directed by Julio Medem. Love and Friendship (FRA/NETHERLANDS. Florida Premiere): In the 18th century, the seductive and manipulative Lady Susan uses devious tactics to win the heart of the eligible Reginald De Courcy. Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny. Directed by Chloe Sevigny. The Daughter (AUS. Florida Premiere): In an unnamed, present-day logging town that has seen better times, Henry Neilson, a well-to-do mill owner, announces to his employees that the economy has forced him to close. Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto, Odessa Young and Sam Neill. Directed by Simon Stone. The Debt (USA. Florida Premiere): A hedge fund honcho puts through the deal of a lifetime: the redemption of a billion-dollar debt owed by the Peruvian government to its citizens. The quick buck soon turns into a nightmare. Cast: Stephen Dorff, Alberto Ammann, Carlos Bardem, and David Strathairn. Directed by: Barney Elliott. The Adderall Diaries (USA. Florida Premiere): Thriller based on a “true-crime memoir” book of the same name by Stephen Elliott, based on the Hans Reiser murder case. Cast: James Franco, Ed Harris and Amber Heard. Written and directed by Pamela Romanowsky. One More Time (USA. Florida Premiere): Beautiful aspiring rock star Jude is stuck in a rut—relegated to recording commercial jingles and lost in a series of one night stands. Cast: Amber Heard, Kelli Garner and Christopher Walker. Director Robert Edwards scheduled to attend. A Beautiful Now (USA. Florida Premiere): As a beautiful dancer balances reality and fantasy, she asks her friends to help her figure out the passions and relationships that have shaped her identity. Cast: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Collette Wolfe. Directed by Daniela Amavia. Puerto Ricans in Paris (USA. Florida Premiere): Two Puerto Rican NYPD detectives head to Paris to track down a stolen handbag. Cast: Luiz Guzman, Rosie Perez, Rosario Dawson. Directed by Ian Edelman. DOCUMENTARIES: Hano! A Century in the Bleachers (Florida Premiere): Meet Arnold Hano, 93, legendary sportswriter and social activist. Baseball fan, war veteran and storyteller emeritus: few have lived and chronicled the American experience as extensively. Director Jon Leonoudakis scheduled to attend. SMART (Florida Premiere): Groundbreaking feature-length documentary about a group of highly trained, adrenaline-fueled professionals who risk life and limb to rescue animals. They’re Los Angeles’ Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team! Director Justin Zimmerman scheduled to attend. Hair I Go Again (World Premiere): Facing a mid-life crossroads, two longtime friends risk everything as they set out to fulfill their dreams of achieving rock & roll stardom. Director Steve McClure scheduled to attend. No Greater Love (Florida Premiere): U.S. Army Chaplain Justin Roberts goes on missions with the legendary NO SLACK battalion in Afghanistan in 2010-2011 armed with only a camera. Director Justin Roberts scheduled to attend. CUBAN SIDEBAR: Films focusing on Cuba Craving Cuba (World Premiere): A Cuban-American woman seeks to understand her true identity. Directed by Zuzy Martin Lynch and Rick Lynch. The Forbidden Shore (World Premiere): The amazing diversity of contemporary Cuban music is gorgeously explored in Ron Chapman’s third documentary feature. Chapman captures the full gamut of what’s happening now in Cuba, both the most exciting artists and the distinct musical scenes they move in. Director Ron Chapman scheduled to attend. Havana Motor Club (Florida Premiere): Reforms have offered opportunity in Cuba, but the children of the Revolution are unsure of the best route forward. For a half-dozen drag racers, this means last-minute changes to their beloved American muscle cars as they prepare for the first sanctioned race in Cuba since 1960. Director Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt scheduled to attend. FLORIDA FOCUS: World premiere of independent films made in Florida Waiting on Mary: A struggling actor, traumatized by a brutal divorce, assumes the personality of a colonial character he played at a failed amusement park as a way of retreating from his pain. Directed by Corey Horton. Bear With Us: A modern farce about a guy who attempts to propose to his girlfriend in the most romantic way possible, but his plan falls apart when a ravenous bear stumbles on their charming cabin in the woods. Directed by William J. Stribling. Dooder And the Lighthouse: Dooder Parker is eighty-six and full of life. When the historic lighthouse in his hometown becomes doomed to fall into the Gulf, his recounting of local history evolves into a reflection on his love for his wife. Stories intertwine to paint a portrait of a vanishing way of life. Directed by Clayton and Lisa Long. In addition to feature length films, GIFF will present over 70 short films. Short film blocks include: “LOL”: Comedic short films “Films on a Mission”: Short films focusing on a specific cause “Thrill Ride”: Thriller, action, and horror short films “Love is In the Air”: Romantic short films “ Films in Motion”: Short films related to music “Save the Drama”: Drama short films “Films 101”: College made short films “High School Film Showcase”: GIFF’s high school filmmaking competition Sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union

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  • WATCH Video Clips from Black & White Indie Drama I FALL DOWN

    [caption id="attachment_11904" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]I Fall Down I Fall Down[/caption] The ultra low-budget indie feature film I Fall Down is now available on iTunes in North America and Ireland. The Prairie Gothic drama was shot over two and a half years around Edmonton, Alberta. Writer/Director Christopher White harkens back to the tragic silent monster movies from cinema’s golden age, like The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “In those films, the ‘monsters’ are nothing more than mistreated, unloved freaks,” he explains. “It’s not just the imagery that I borrowed, its their humanity and the audience’s empathy for these outcasts”. He credits the black-and-white reversal film for defining the tone and mood of the picture. “There’s a grit to the image, it pops, fizzles and it isn’t perfect. You get changing shades of grey which mirror the characters’ conflicts and relationships.” Starring Emma Houghton and Tom Antoni, I Fall Down tells the story of Annessa (Houghton), a lonely teenage girl with a troubled past, hoping to leave her life behind. After a failed suicide attempt she meets Charlie (Antoni), a disfigured, child-like man who lives alone in a woodland shack. Although their mutual loneliness draws them together, their lives begin spiralling out of control when confronted by an intolerant world and Charlie’s own violent, primal nature. The film debuted at the 2015 Macabre Faire Film Festival (Hauppauge, NY) followed by the inaugural Censured in Canada Film Festival (Toronto, ON). Critics have hailed it as a “modern Gothic story” and “an adult fairy tale”, praising Houghton for her captivating performance. She earned a Best Actress nomination at the 2014 Rosie Awards Gala alongside five other nominations for the picture, including Best Cinematography (David Baron) and Best Dramatic Production. https://youtu.be/wYdUpJ2yjTg   https://youtu.be/kGmKl0XvXok   https://youtu.be/ZgNbWZFLjsg   https://youtu.be/ulnMS7ZCTno   https://youtu.be/PXd7sDEDIFE

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