EMPTYING THE SKIES documentary, based on the New Yorker Magazine essay by best-selling novelist Jonathan Franzen, that exposes the rampant poaching of migratory songbirds in southern Europe, opens in NY at Cinema Village, as well as in Chicago on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, and on VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Songbird populations have been drastically declining for several decades, with a number of species facing imminent extinction. This poignant documentary explores the wonder of these tiny globe-spanning marvels, millions of which are unlawfully trapped and killed each year for large sums on the black market, and follows the intrepid squad of pan-European bird-lovers who risk their lives waging a secret war against poachers, to disrupt illegal trapping to free as many as possible.
Embedding filmmakers Douglas Kass and Roger Kass with their activist subjects, this year-long undertaking transports viewers right onto the front lines as poachers are confronted at critical migration pinch-points in Cyprus, France and Italy. A moving call to arms in the spirit of THE COVE, EMPTYING THE SKIES chronicles a devastating environmental tragedy and the valiant journey of those risking their lives to stop it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js6tM4ClJHk-
Songbird Documentary EMPTYING THE SKIES to Be Released on Earth Day
EMPTYING THE SKIES documentary, based on the New Yorker Magazine essay by best-selling novelist Jonathan Franzen, that exposes the rampant poaching of migratory songbirds in southern Europe, opens in NY at Cinema Village, as well as in Chicago on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, and on VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Songbird populations have been drastically declining for several decades, with a number of species facing imminent extinction. This poignant documentary explores the wonder of these tiny globe-spanning marvels, millions of which are unlawfully trapped and killed each year for large sums on the black market, and follows the intrepid squad of pan-European bird-lovers who risk their lives waging a secret war against poachers, to disrupt illegal trapping to free as many as possible.
Embedding filmmakers Douglas Kass and Roger Kass with their activist subjects, this year-long undertaking transports viewers right onto the front lines as poachers are confronted at critical migration pinch-points in Cyprus, France and Italy. A moving call to arms in the spirit of THE COVE, EMPTYING THE SKIES chronicles a devastating environmental tragedy and the valiant journey of those risking their lives to stop it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js6tM4ClJHk
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Official Trailer and Poster for THE D TRAIN Starring Jack Black
IFC Films has released the Official Trailer and Poster from the Sundance hit comedy starring Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambo. THE D TRAIN opens in US theaters on May 8th, 2015.
All his life, Dan Landsman (Jack Black) has never been the cool guy. That’s about to change – if he can convince Oliver Lawless (Marsden), the most popular guy from his high school who’s now the face of a national Banana Boat ad campaign, to show up with him to their class reunion. A man on a mission, Dan travels from Pittsburgh to LA and spins a web of lies to recruit Lawless. But he gets more than he bargains for as the unpredictable Lawless proceeds to take over his home, career, and entire life. Showcasing Jack Black and James Marsden’s most intoxicating performances to date, D TRAIN serves up the question: how far would you go to be popular? Co-starring Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PzB1Feeocw
STARRING: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Mike White, Kyle Bornheimer, Henry Zebrowski, Russell Posner and Jeffrey Tambor
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2015
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel
PRODUCED BY: Mike White, David Bernad, Jack Black, Priyanka Mattoo, Ben Latham-Jones, Barnaby Thompson
GENRE: Comedy
RUNNING TIME: 98 Minutes
MPAA RATING: R
DISTRIBUTOR: IFC Films
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Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Rapaport, Steve Buscemi Among Jurors for 2015 Tribeca Film Festival
The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), today announced its jurors – a diverse group of 34 industry leaders, including award-winning filmmakers, producers, acclaimed actors, authors and entrepreneurs. The jury will be divided among the seven competitive Festival categories. The winning films, filmmakers and actors in each category will be announced at the TFF Awards Night ceremony on April 23 at Spring Studios. The 2015 Festival runs from April 15 –26.
“The group of unique voices and perspectives that make up this year’s jury are sure to spark thoughtful discussion – and perhaps some friendly debate – around this year’s films,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.
The seven TFF juries will award $150,000 in cash and prizes. Announced earlier this year, eight of the winners will also receive a work of original art by an acclaimed artist as part of the Tribeca Film Festival Artists Awards program, sponsored by CHANEL. In addition to the Festival’s main competition juries, the five jurors for the third annual $25,000 Nora Ephron Prize, sponsored by Coach, recognizing a female writer or director, were also announced.
Following is a list of all 2015 Festival jurors and their respective categories.
World Competition Categories
The jurors for the 2015 World Narrative Competition, sponsored by AKA, are:
Paul Attanasio: Paul Attanasio is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and producer whose credits include Quiz Show, Donnie Brasco, The Good German, and House: MD.
Sophie Barthes: Sophie Barthes is a French-American director and screenwriter best known for her directorial feature film debut Cold Souls.
Whoopi Goldberg: One of an elite group of artists who have won an Academy, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Film and television credits include The Color Purple, Ghost, Sister Act, Boys on the Side, The Lion King,For Colored Girls, and The View on ABC. She made her directorial debut with the 2013 TFF selection Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley.
Dylan McDermott: Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee, Dylan McDermott currently stars in the CBS drama Stalker. Other projects he has starred in were American Horror Story, and the films Olympus Has Fallenand The Campaign.
Burr Steers: Burr Steers is a filmmaker best known for his writing and/or directing Igby Goes Down, 17 Again and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
The jurors for the 2015 World Documentary Competition, sponsored by Santander Bank, N.A., are:
Diego Bunuel: Diego Buñuel, the grandson of the legendary Spanish film director Luis Buñuel, is a Franco-American filmmaker and the new Head of Documentaries on Canal Plus since October 2014.
Tine Fischer: Tine Fischer is the founder and CEO of one of the leading international documentary film festivals CPH:DOX as well as the director and founder of CPH:LAB and CPH:FORUM.
David Gelb: David Gelb has directed a variety of both fiction and non-fiction projects, most notable the critically acclaimed documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Joshua Rothkopf: Joshua Rothkopf, film critic who is currently the Film Editor at Time Out New York.
Gloria Steinem: Gloria Steinem is a writer, lecturer, editor, feminist activist, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is the frequent media spokeswoman on issues of equality.
Emerging Competition Categories
The jurors for the 2015 Best New Narrative Director are:
Mark Boal: Mark Boal is a two-time Oscar winner for producing and writing Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker, and a two-time Oscar-nominee for producing and writing Best Picture nominee Zero Dark Thirty.
Minnie Driver: Minnie Driver is an accomplished recording artist and Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Emmy Award nominee who currently stars on NBC’s comedy, About a Boy.
Don Hertzfeldt: Don Hertzfeldt is an Oscar-nominated American independent filmmaker whose animated films include It’s Such a Beautiful Day, The Meaning of Life, Rejected, and World of Tomorrow.
Cobie Smulders: Cobie is a Canadian actress better known for her roles as Robin Sherbatzky in How I Met Your Mother and Agent Maria Hill in the Avenger Series.
Joana Vicente: Joana Vicente is an award winning producer who has collaborated with filmmakers such as Jim Jarmush, Todd Solondz, Alex Gibney & Brian De Palma.
The jurors for the 2015 Best New Documentary Director are:
Rachel Boynton: Rachel Boynton is an award winning producer and director best known for the documentaries Our Brand is Crisis and Big Men.
Lola Kirke: Lola Kirke is a British-American actress known for her roles in Gone Girl, Mistress America, Free the Nipple, to name a few and soon to be seen in Fallen.
Will Patton: Will Patton is an American actor starring in over 60 feature films and best known for his roles in Remember the Titans, Armageddon, The Mothman Prophecies, and No Way Out.
Alison Pill: Alison Pill is a critically acclaimed film and stage actress who most recently starred in the Joon-ho Bong directed, Snowpiercer.
Michael Rapaport: Native New Yorker Michael Rapaport is an actor and director who has appeared in over 50 feature films including True Romance, Beautiful Girls, Mighty Aphrodite, and Higher Learning.
Short Film Competition Categories
The jurors for the 2015 Narrative Short Film Competition are:
Hank Azaria: Hank Azaria, a New York Native, best known for the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu, Chief Wiggins and many others on The Simpsons. He won a SAG Award for his break out role in The Birdcage.
Mamie Gummer: A Native New Yorker, Mamie Gummer is a film, television and stage actress featured inEvening, John Adams, Off the Map, and many more.
André Holland: André Holland stars in the hit Cinemax series, THE KNICK, and was most recently seen in theaters in the Oscar and Golden Globe nominated feature, SELMA.
Arian Moayed: Arian Moayed is a Tony nominated actor, Artistic Director of Waterwell, and a writer/director for film.
Sheila Nevins: Since 2004, Sheila Nevins has been president of HBO Documentary Films, responsible for overseeing the development and production of all documentaries for HBO, HBO2 and Cinemax.
Dan Silver: Dan Silver is the Senior Director of Development for ESPN FILMS and an Emmy winning producer of series such as 30 for 30 Shorts.
The jurors for the 2015 Documentary and Student Visionary Competitions are:
Steve Buscemi: Steve Buscemi is an American actor and director best known for his role in Boardwalk Empire, which garnered him a Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy nominations as well as directing many TV credits including The Sopranos and 30 Rock.
Debi Mazar: Debi Mazar, actress and native New Yorker made her film debut in Scorsese’s Goodfellas and is better known for her role as the hard charging publicist “Shauna” on HBO’s Entourage.
Katherine Oliver: Katherine Oliver is currently a principal at Bloomberg Associates; prior to this role she served as Commissioner of NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment from 2002-2013.
Theo Rossi: Theo Rossi is an actor, producer, and philanthropist best known for his portrayal of Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy.
Vanessa Williams: Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Vanessa is one of just a few artists to score #1 and Top 10 hits on various Billboard Album and Singles charts and her work in film, television, recordings, and the Broadway stage has been recognized by every major industry award.
Storyscapes presented in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin
The jurors for the 2015 The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Storyscapes Award are:
Andrew Golis: Andrew Golis, previously the Director of Digital and Senior Editor at FRONTLINE, is the founder & CEO of This.
Shari Frilot: Shari Frilot is the curator of New Frontier at Sundance and senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, focusing on American and World Cinema dramatic features, as well as films that push the boundaries of conventional storytelling
Charlie Phillips: Charlie Phillips is the Head of Documentaries at The Guardian.
Nora Ephron Prize
The jurors for the 2015 Nora Ephron Prize are:
Rachael Harris: Rachael Harris is a comedic actress hailing from The Groundlings. She has starred in many films, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Night at the Museum 3 and the independent filmNatural Selection, for which she received a Breakthrough Performance award.
Kevin Corrigan: Kevin Corrigan has been a prolific New York based actor in film and television dating back to when he was first cast in Goodfellas. In addition to his massive credits, Kevin has been a favorite of established and cutting-edged directors for over 25 years.
Katja Blichfeld: Katja Blichfeld is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker, WGA award-winning writer, and Emmy award-winning casting director known for the critically acclaimed series, High Maintenance, which has gained recognition as one of the best new series on the web.
Christine Lahti: Christine Lahti is a multiple-award-winning actress of film, television, and theater.
Talya Lavie: Talya Lavie is an Israeli director and screenwriter whose feature film Zero Motivation received the Nora Ephron Prize at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival as well as the Best Narrative Award.
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Russian film CHAGALL-MALEVICH US Release Date Set for June 2015
The Russian film CHAGALL-MALEVICH, directed by Alexander Mitta, will open at Cinema Village in New York on June 12 and at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills and at Town Center 5 in Encino, CA on June 19.
The artistic and political revolution of early 19th century Russia is mythologized in CHAGALL-MALEVICH, a magical period drama about the uneasy relationship between two artistic geniuses.
Inspired by the memoirs of Marc Chagall and those of his contemporaries, the film blends fact and folklore to evoke the return of the iconic Jewish artist (portrayed by Leonid Bichevin “Cargo 200”) to his childhood home of Vitebsk. Having left behind immense success in Paris, Chagall returns to the Russian empire in 1917 in hope to marry the love of his life Bella Rosenfeld (Kristina Schneidermann); he produces copious paintings and establishes the Academy of Modern Art. A rivalry develops with abstract painter Kazimir Malevich (Anatoliy Belyy), invited to teach at the art school. As Bella rekindles a childhood friendship with military Red Commissar Naum (Semyon Shkalikov), Chagall competes for the affections of his muse and future wife. As the October Revolution sweeps across Russia, historical events intrude on personal struggles and upend the quiet provincial life in Vitebsk.
Brimming with surrealistic imagery from the paintings of Chagall and Malevich (over 140 paintings were used in the film), this sumptuous melodrama marks veteran Russian filmmaker Alexander Mitta’s return after a decade-long hiatus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enaho11_x8Q
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Deadline Approaching for 2015 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition
[caption id="attachment_7829" align="alignnone" width="960"]
2014 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Winners[/caption]
The regular deadline to submit entries for the 2015 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. In November, as many as five $35,000 fellowships will be awarded to amateur screenwriters.
Deadlines and entry fees are as follows:
Regular deadline: April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT; entry fee US$55
Final deadline: May 1, at 11:59 p.m. PT; entry fee US$75
Online applications and complete rules are available at www.oscars.org/nicholl.
For the first time, current entrants also may purchase, for an additional $40, review comments from at least two Nicholl readers for each submitted script. For details, visit www.oscars.org/nicholl.
Since 1986, 137 Nicholl fellowships have been awarded. Past fellows include writer-director Nikole Beckwith, whose feature “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival; Pat Gilfillan, who wrote “Lila & Eve,” which also premiered at Sundance; Kurt Kuenne, who co-wrote and edited the documentary “Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard around the World,” which premiered at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival; and Robert Edwards, the writer and director of “When I Live My Life Over Again,” which will debut this month at the Tribeca Film Festival. In addition, “Dear Eleanor,” written by Nicholl fellows Cecilia Contreras and Amy Garcia, and “London Has Fallen,” co-written by Nicholl fellow Creighton Rothenberger, are slated to be released later this year.
Former Nicholl fellows currently working in television include Andrew Marlowe, who created and executive produces the series “Castle,” and Terri Miller, a writer and executive producer on the show. Rebecca Sonnenshine is a writer and producer on “The Vampire Diaries.” Annmarie Morais is a writer and story editor on the Syfy series “Killjoys.”
Other notable fellows include Doug Atchison (“Akeelah and the Bee”), Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12”), Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex), Susannah Grant (“Erin Brockovich”) and Ehren Kruger (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”).
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition is open to any individual who has not earned a total of more than $25,000 from the sale or option of screenplays or teleplays, or received fellowships or prizes of more than $25,000 that include a “first look” clause, an option or any other quid pro quo involving the writer’s work. To enter, writers must submit a completed application online, upload one PDF copy of their original screenplay in English, and pay the required entry fee before the regular deadline at 11:59 p.m. PT on April 10, or the final deadline at 11:59 p.m. PT on May 1.
Fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipients will each complete a new feature-length screenplay during the fellowship year.
Last year’s competition drew a record 7,511 submissions.
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Grindhouse-Style Feminist Thriller THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE on VOD May 1st
Gravitas Ventures will release John Stuart Wildman’s THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE on VOD, May 1st. The grindhouse-style feminist thriller will wrap up a successful year-long film festival run with an appearance at the Nashville Film Festival on Friday, April 16 as part of the fest’s Graveyard Shift lineup prior to the VOD date. The film is currently available for pre-order on iTunes.
Featuring a screenplay by Justina Walford and Wildman, the film stars Farah White, Melodie Sisk, Brina Palencia, Samrat Chakrabarti, and Michelle “Belladonna” Sinclair and was produced by White, Wildman, Walford and Adam Dietrich. THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE made its world premiere at last year’s Dallas International Film Festival.
THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE follows the fate of two brothers, Jacob and Kai, who, along with their friend Derek, go to a dance club to celebrate Kai’s birthday. After Derek convinces the other two to follow one of the dancers home, things take a tragic turn resulting in the young woman’s death.
However, that is simply the beginning of the nightmare for the young men, because her roommates (Getty, Lin and Crystal) aren’t just fellow dancers, they are also cannibals with a fierce sense of home and family – and a taste for men. After Kai quickly falls victim to Getty and Lin and is on his way to becoming the centerpiece of that evening’s meal, Derek tries to figure out how to escape while Jacob discovers his survival may hinge on the twisted desire and whims of Crystal, the beautiful and sociopathic “baby” of the family.
THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE marks the feature film directorial debut for Wildman, who is the Senior Publicist for the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The former Head of Press & Public Relations for the American Film Institute, as well as the PR Director for AFI FEST and the DALLAS International Film Festival, Wildman has headed the PR efforts for film festivals across the country and written for numerous film sites (Film Threat.com, Film Comment.com, etc.).
THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE was executive produced by Ruth Mutch (INFINITELY POLAR BEAR, LITTLE ACCIDENTS), and co-executive produced by Debbi Berlin. The film was shot and produced in Dallas, Texas.
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Montclair Film Festival Unveils 2015 Competition Lineups and Main Slate
The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced the festival’s inaugural competition lineups and main slate selections for the 4th annual Montclair Film Festival, May 1-10 in Montclair, NJ. This year’s festival features over 135 feature and short films, and for the first time will cover ten days, expanding from seven days in its first three years.
For the first time, the festival will feature filmmaking awards, competitions and audience awards, all of which will be presented on Saturday, May 9th at the MFF’s inaugural Filmmaker Awards ceremony. Competitive categories include the Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Future/Now, honoring emerging low-budget American independent filmmaking, and the New Jersey Films Competition, which honors a selected group of films made by New Jersey artists. Audience Awards will be given in the Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, World Cinema, and Short film categories.
The festival will also present two awards in honor of the late David Carr and Bruce Sinofsky, both Montclair residents. The David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking will honor a filmmaker, selected by the festival, who utilizes journalistic techniques to explore important contemporary subjects. In conjunction with the Carr family, this award is established by the festival in memory of David Carr and will be presented by Mr. Carr’s friend and colleague Brian Stelter (CNN’s Reliable Sources).
The Bruce Sinofsky Prize will be awarded to the winning film in the festival’s Documentary Feature competition, awarded by the festival’s Documentary Competition Jury. In conjunction with the Sinofsky family, this award is established by the festival in memory of Bruce Sinofsky and will be presented by Mr. Sinofsky’s long time friend and collaborator Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost I, II, and III). Both awards are established in perpetuity.
“We are deeply humbled to honor the memory of our friends David Carr and Bruce Sinofsky at the festival, and we look forward to welcoming the filmmaking community to Montclair,”said MFF founder and Chairman Bob Feinberg.
“This year’s program features films from around the world that address the diversity and sophistication of our audiences,”said MFF Executive Director Tom Hall. “We are incredibly proud to be able to bring this lineup of powerful, state of the art filmmaking to Montclair.”
Narrative Feature Competition
Fidelio: Alice’s Journey (Fidelio: L’Odyssée d’Alice), directed by Lucie Borleteau (France), The Fool (Durak), directed by Yury Bykov (Russia), Goodnight, Mommy (Ich Seh, Ich Seh), directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz (Germany), Heaven Knows What, directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie (USA),Margarita, With A Straw, directed by Shonali Bose (India), The Tribe (Plemya), directed by Miroslav Slaboshpitsky(Ukraine).
Jurors: Thelma Adams (Critic), Eric Hynes (Reverse Shot), Stephen Whitty (Star Ledger, NJ.com)
Documentary Feature Competition
The Armor Of Light, directed by Abigail Disney (USA), Best Of Enemies, directed by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon (USA), Deep Web, directed by Alex Winter (USA), Listen To Me, Marlon, directed by Stevan Riley (UK),Peace Officer, directed by Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber (USA), The Russian Woodpecker, directed by Chad Gracia (USA).
Jurors: Logan Hill (Critic), Joe Neumaier (NY Daily News), Jordan Zakarian (Yahoo Movies)
Future/Now Competition
Edén, directed by Elise DuRant (USA, Mexico), God Bless The Child, directed by Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck (USA), Jackrabbit, directed by Carleton Ranney (USA), Lamb, directed by Ross Partridge (USA), Tears Of God, directed by Robert Hillyer Barnett (USA),Tired Moonlight, directed by Britni West (USA).
Jurors: Jeremy Boxer (Creative Director, Film & Video, Vimeo), Eric Kohn (Deputy Editor, Chief Film Critic, Indiewire), Dan Schoenbrun (Film Outreach Lead, Kickstarter)
New Jersey Films Competition
Christmas, Again, directed by Charles Poekel (USA), The One That Got Away directed by John Block (USA), Some Kind Of Spark, directed by Ben Niles (USA), Stinking Heaven, directed by Nathan Silver (USA), Sunshine Superman, directed by Marah Strauch (USA), Thought Crimes, directed by Erin Lee Car (USA).
Jurors: Georgette Gilmore (Baristanet), Christina Kotlar (Film Festival reViews), Lacey Schwartz (CEO, Truth Aid).
The 2015 Montclair Film Festival
Feature Films
5 FLIGHTS UP
Director: Richard Loncraine
Producers: Charlie Peters, Lori McCreary, Curtis Burch, Tracy Mercer
Cast: Michael Cristofer, Diane Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Cynthia Nixon, Claire van der Boom, Korey Jackson, Carrie Preston, Sterling Jerins, Josh Pais, Miriam Shor, Alysia Reiner
USA/92 Min
7 CHINESE BROTHERS
Director: Bob Byington
Producers: Molly Christie Benson, Seana Flanagan, Nancy Schafer
CAST: Jason Schwartzman, Olympia Dukakis, Tunde Adebimpe, Eleanore Pienta
USA/76 Min
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT
Director: Abigail Disney
Producers: Eva Anisko, Kathleen Hughes
USA/90 Min
BARGE
Director: Ben Powell
Producers: Ben Powell, Dave Schachter
USA/71 Min
BEST OF ENEMIES
Director: Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon
Producers: Caryn Capotosto, Julie Goldman
USA/88 Min
THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION
Director: Stanley Nelson
Producers: Laurens Grant
USA/116 Min
BOULEVARD
Director: Dito Montiel
Producers: Monica Aguirre Diez Barroso, Mia Chang, Jeffrey Gelber, Ryan Belenzon
Cast: Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Roberto Aguire, Bob Odenkirk, Giles Matthey, Eleonore Hendricks
USA/89 Min
BOY AND THE WORLD (O MENINO E O MUNDO)
Director: Alê Abreu
Producers: Tita Tessler, Fernanda Carvalho
Brazil/80 Min
CALL ME LUCKY
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Producers: Charlie Fonville, Clinton Trucks
Featuring: Barry Crimmins, David Cross, Margaret Cho, Steven Wright, Patton Oswalt
USA/107 Min
CEREMONY FOR THIS TIME (2015)
with CEREMONY FOR OUR TIME (1995)
Director: Daryl Ferrara
Producers: Rick Kitts, Whitney Kitts, Thomas Lupfer, Daryl Ferrara, Kate Forsatz
USA/58 Min
CHRISTMAS, AGAIN
Director: Charles Poekel
Producers: Charles Poekel
Cast: Kentucker Audley, Hannah Gross
USA/80 Min
CITY OF GOLD
Director: Laura Gabbert
Producers: Laura Gabbert, Holly Becker
USA/91 Min
DANNY SAYS
Director: Brendan Toller
Producers: Pamela Lubell
Featuring: Danny Fields, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Judy Collins, Jonathan Richman
USA/103 Min
DEEP WEB
Director: Alex Winter
Producers: Marc Schiller, Alex Winter, Glen Zipper
USA/90 Min
THE DINNER (I NOSTRI RAGAZZI)
Director: Ivano De Matteo
Producers: Caldecott Chubb, Marco Poccioni, Marco Valsania
Cast: Allessandro Gassman, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Luigi Lo Cascio, Babora Bobulova, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Jacopo Olmo Antinori
Italy/93 Min
(DIS)HONESTY – THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES
Director: Yael Melamede
Producers: Yael Melamede, Dan Ariely
USA/90 Min
DO I SOUND GAY?
Director: David Thorpe
Producers: Howard Gertler, David Thorpe
USA/77 Min
DREAM/KILLER
Director: Andrew Jenks
Producers: Chip Rosenbloom, Andrew Jenks, Dylan Ratigan
USA/106 Min
DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON
Director: Doug Tirola
Producers: John Battsek, Molly Thompson, Douglas Tirola, Susan Bedusa, Dirk Hoogstra
USA/94 Min
EDÉN
Director: Elise DuRant
Producers: José Leandro Córdova Lucas
Cast: Will Oldham, Diana Sedano, Paula María Landa Hartasánchez
USA, Mexico/95 Min
FIDELIO: ALICE’S ODYSSEY (FIDELIO, L’ODYSSÉE D’ALICE)
Director: Lucie Borleteau
Producers: Marine Arrighi de Casanova
Cast: Ariane Labed, Melvil Poupaud, Anders Danielsen Lie, Pascal Tagnati, Corneliu Dragomirescu, Jean-Louis Coulloc’h, Bogdan Zamfir
France/95 Min
THE FOOL (DURAK)
Director: Yury Bykov
Producers: Alexey Uchitel, Kira Saksaganskaya
Cast: Artem Bystrov, Nataliya Surkova, Boris Nevzorov, Kirill Polukhin, Darya Moroz, Yury Tsurilo, Irina Nizina, Alexander Korshunov
Russia/116 Min
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Director: Sharon Shattuck
Producers: Martha Shane, Sharon Shattuck
USA/75 Min
GIRLS SHOW
Director: David Krantz
Producers: Rebecca Atwood, Kyle Luker
USA/73 Min
GOD BLESS THE CHILD
Directors: Robert Machoian, Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck
Producers: Laura Heberton, Robert John Thomas
Cast: Harper Graham, Elias Graham, Arri Graham, Ezra Graham, Jonah Graham
USA/94 Min
GOODNIGHT MOMMY (ICH SEH, ICH SEH)
Directors: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Producer: Ulrich Seidl
CAST: Susanne Wuest, Lukas Scharz, Elias Scharz
Germany/100 Min
HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT
Director: Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie
Producers: Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard
Cast: Arielle Holmes, Caleb Landry Jones, Buddy Duress, Necro, Eleonore Hendricks
USA/95 Min
HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS
Director: Michael Showalter
Producers: Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker, Daniel Crown, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick, Kevin Mann
Cast: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Stephen Root, Jack Antonoff, Natasha Lyonne, Tyne Daly
USA/ 95 Min
HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY
Director: Scott Teems
Producer: Laura D. Smith
USA/95 Min
HOT TYPE: 150 YEARS OF THE NATION
Director: Barbara Kopple
Producers: Barbara Kopple, Suzanne Mitchell
USA/92 Min
HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO
Director: Alexandra Shiva
Producers: Bari Pearlman
USA/89 Min
HUNGRY HEARTS (Il bambino indaco)
Director: Saverio Costanzo
Producers: Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Mieli
Cast: Adam Driver, Alba Rohrwacher, Roberta Maxwell
Italy, USA/109 Min
I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
Director: Brett Haley
Producers: Rebecca Green, Laura D. Smith, and Brett Haley
Cast: Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott, Malin Akerman, June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, Mary Kay Place
USA/92 Min
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE
Director: Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg
Producers: Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg, Charles Miller
Featuring: Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Donnie Smith, Brian Tillman
USA/93 Min
IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER (L’HOMME QU’ON AIMAIT TROP)
Director: André Téchiné
Producers: Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier, Guillaume Canet
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Guillaume Canet, Adèle Haenel, Judith Chemla, Jean Corso
France/116 Min
JACKRABBIT
Director: Carleton Ranney
Producers: Destin Douglas, Rebecca Rose Perkins, Joe Stankus
Cast: Josh Caras, Ian Christopher Noel, Joslyn Jensen, Reed Birney
USA/100 Min
JIMMY’S HALL
Director: Ken Loach
Producer: Rebecca O’Brien
Cast: Barry Ward, Francis Magee, Aileen Henry, Simone Kirby, Stella McGirl, Sorcha Fox, Martin Lucey, Mikel Murfi
United Kingdom, Ireland, France/106 Min
THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (HAGANENET)
Director: Nadav Lapid
Producers: Talia Kleinhendler, Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Caroline Benjo
Cast: Sarit Larry, Avi Shnaidman, Lori Raz, Hamuchtar
Israel, France/120 Min
KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK
Director: Brett Morgen
Executive Producers: Frances Bean Cobain, David Byrnes, Lawrence Mestel, Sheila Nevins
Producers: Brett Morgen, Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Sara Bernstein
USA/132 Min
LAMB
Director: Ross Partridge
Producers: Mel Eslyn, Taylor Williams
Cast: Ross Partridge, Oona Laurence, Jess Weixler, Tom Bower, Scoot McNairy
USA/97 Min
THE LAST DIAMOND (LE DERNIER DIAMANT)
Director: Eric Barbier
Producers: Farid Lahouassa, Aïssa Djabri
Cast: Yvan Attal, Bérénice Bejo, Jean-François Stévenin, Antoine Basler, Jacques Spiesser
France, Belgium, Luxembourg/109 Min
LISTEN TO ME MARLON
Director: Stevan Riley
Producers: John Battsek, RJ Cutler, George Chignell
UK/102 Min
LOVE AND MERCY
Director: Bill Pohlad
Producers: Bill Pohlad, Claire Rudnick Polstein, John Wells
Cast: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
USA/120 Min
LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT (LES COMBETTANTS)
Director: Thomas Cailley
Producer: Pierre Guyard
Cast: Adèle Haenel, Kévin Azaïs, Antoine Laurent
France/98 Min
THE LOVE SONG OF R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER
Director: Sam Green
Producer: Sam Green
Live Score Performance by Yo La Tengo
USA/ 75 Min
MANGLEHORN
Director: David Gordon Green
Producers: Lisa Muskat, David Gordon Green, Derrick Tseng, Molly Conners, Christopher Woodrow
Cast: Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine, Chris Messina
USA/97 Min
MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW
Director: Shonali Bose
Producer: Gayatri Gulati
Cast: Kalki Koechlin
India/100 Min
MAVIS!
Director: Jessica Edwards
Producers: Jessica Edwards, Rachel Mills
Featuring: Mavis Staples
USA/ 85 Min
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rajon
Executive Producer: Nora Skinner
Producers: Jeremy Dawson, Dan Fogelman, Steven M. Rales
Cast: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Molly Shannon, Connie Britton, Nick Offerman
USA/ 104 Min
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
Director: Greg Whiteley
Producer: Adam Leibowitz
USA/86 Min
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (UNE NOUVELLE AMIE)
DIRECTOR: François Ozon
PRODUCER: Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer
CAST: Romain Duris, Anaïs Demoustier, Raphaël Personnaz
France/109 Min
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Director: John Block
Producers: John Block, Steve McCarthy
USA/70 Min
OUT IN THE NIGHT
Director: Blair Dorosh-Walther
Producers: Giovanna Chesler, Mridu Chandra, Yoruba Richen
USA/75 Min
PEACE OFFICER
Director: Scott Christopherson, Brad Barber
Producers: Scott Christopherson, Brad Barber, Dave Lawrence
USA/109 Min
PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS
Director: Jim Strouse
Producers: Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub
Cast: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Williams, Michael Chernus
USA/86 Min
THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER
Director: Chad Gracia
Producers: Mike Lerner, Ram Devineni
USA/82 Min
THE SANDWICH NAZI
Director: Lewis Bennett
Producers: Calum MacLeod, Lewis Bennett, Benjamin Taft
Canada/72 Min
SCENE OF THE CRIME (LE LIEU DU CRIME) (1986)
Director: André Téchiné
Producers: Alain Terzian
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Wadeck Stanczak, Nicolas Giraudi, Jean Bousquet, Philippe Landoulsi
France/90 Min
THE SECOND MOTHER (QUE HORAS ELA VOLTA?)
Director: Anna Muylaert
Producers: Fabiano Gullane, Caio Gullane, Debora Ivanov, Anna Muylaert
Cast: Regina Casé, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila, Karine Teles, Lourenço Mutarelli
Brazil/110 Min
SEX AND BROADCASTING
Director: Tim K. Smith
Producers: Caitlin Mae Burke, Tim K. Smith
USA/78 Min
SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Director: Leslye Headland
Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Sidney Kimmel
Cast: Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Amanda Peet, Jason Mantzoukas, Natasha Lyonne, Jason Sudeikis
USA/101 Min
SLOW WEST
Director: John Maclean
Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Conor McCaughan, Rachel Gardner
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius, Rory McCann
United Kingdom, New Zealand/84 Min
SOME KIND OF SPARK
Director: Ben Niles
Producer: Ben Niles
USA/90 Min
STINKING HEAVEN
Director: Nathan Silver
Producer: Rachel Wolther
Cast: Hannah Gross, Deragh Campbell, Keith Poulson, Eléonore Hendricks, Tallie Medel, Henri Douvry, Jason Giampietro, Jason Grisell, Eileen Kearney, Larry Novak
USA/70 Min
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN
Director: Marah Strauch
Producers: Eric Bruggemann, Marah Strauch, Lars Loge
USA/101 Min
TEARS OF GOD
Director: Robert Hillyer Barnett
Producers: Diamando Proimos
CAST: Kate Lyn Sheil, Samuel T. Herring, Lindsay Burdge, Kira Pearson, Audrey Speicher, Amara Gyulai, Michael Crabtree
USA/67 Min
(T)ERROR
Directors: Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe
Producers: Christopher St. John, Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe
USA/83 Min
THOUGHT CRIMES
Director: Erin Lee Carr
Producers: Andrew Rossi
USA/81 Min
TIME OUT OF MIND
Director: Oren Moverman
Producers: Richard Gere, Lawrence Inglee, Caroline Kaplan, Edward Walson, Miranda Bailey, Bill Pohlad
Cast: Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Jena Malone, Steve Buscemi
USA/117 Min
TIRED MOONLIGHT
Director: Britni West
Producers: Britni West
Cast: Liz Randall, Paul Dickinson,Hillary Berg, Rainleigh Vick, Alex Karpovsky, Charles Smith, Nick Stockton
USA/76 Min
TOP SPIN
Director: Mina T. Son, Sara Newens
Producers: Mina T. Son, Sara Newens
USA/81 Min
THE TRIBE (PLEMYA)
Director: Miroslav Slaboshpitsky
Producers: Miroslav Slaboshpitsky
Cast: Grigoriy Fesenko, Yana Novikova, Rosa Babiy, Alexander Dsiadevich
Ukraine/130 Min
UNEXPECTED
Director: Kris Swanberg
Producer: Andrea Roa
Starring: Cobie Smulders, Gail Bean, Anders Holm, Elizabeth McGovern
USA/ 85 Min
VERY SEMI-SERIOUS
Director: Leah Wolchok
Producers: Davina Pardo, Leah Wolchok
USA/79 Min
WELCOME TO LEITH
Directors: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker
Producers: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker, Jenner Furst, Joey Carey, Joshua Woltermann
USA/86 Min
WESTERN
Director: Bill Ross, Turner Ross
Producers: Michael Gottwald
USA/93 Min
WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE ?
Director: Liz Garbus
Producers: Amy Hobby, Liz Garbus, Justin Wilkes, Jayson Jackson, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del Deo
USA/104 Min
WIND ON THE MOON
Director: Yi Seung-jun
Producer: Min-chul Kim
South Korea/100 Min
X+Y
Director: Morgan Matthews
Producers: Laura Hastings-Smith, David M. Thompson, Ed Rubin
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins
UK/111 Min
SHORT FILMS
A.D. 1163, THE END OF CHIVALRY
Director: Jake Mahaffy
US/New Zealand/3 Min
ADJUST-A-DREAM
Director: Jonathan Wysocki
USA/6 Min
THE ANNIVERSARY
Director: Henry Chaisson
USA/8 Min
BLACK CARD
Director: Pete Chatmon
USA/14 Min
CAST IN INDIA
Director: Natasha Raheja
USA/26 Min
THE CHARITY STRIPE
Director: Aaron Hodgins Davis
USA/17 Min
CINDY SHERMAN: “UNTITLED FILM STILLS”
Director: Douglas Sloan
USA/4 Min
COACH
Director: Ben Adler
France/14 Min
COMIC BOOK HEAVEN
Director: E.J. McLeavey-Fisher
USA/12 Min
CROOKED CANDY
Director: Andrew Rodgers
USA/6 Min
DANIEL IN THE LION’S DENS
Director: Joseph Robert Redl
USA/14 Min
DOWN IN FLAMES: THE TRUE STORT OF TONY “VOLCANO” VALENCI
Director: William J. Stribling
USA/29 Min
THE EMISSARY
Director: Rudy Dobrev
USA /13 Min
EXIT ROAD
Director: Yuri Alves
USA/13 Min
FALLING TO PIECES
Directors: Chris Connolly, Vivian Connolly
USA/18 Min
THE FACE OF UKRAINE: CASTING OKSANA BAIUL
Director: Kitty Green
Ukraine/Australia/7 Min
GEORGE AND THE VACCUMM
Director: Chadd Harbold
USA/6 Min
GONE IN THE DARK
Director: Steven Moreno
USA/16 Min
JUSTINE
Director: Eric Shahinian
USA/6 Min
LATTER-GAY SAINTS
Director: Brittany Knotts
USA/20 Min
THE MANY SAD FATES OF MR. TOLEDANO
Director: Joshua Seftel
USA/25 Min
MESHING
Director: John Kim
USA/8 Min
THE MISADVENTURES OF LANDON
Director: Jon Milano
USA/17 Min
MUCK
Director: Bruce Smolanoff
USA/14 Min
MYRNA THE MONSTER
Director: Ian Samuels
USA/14 Min
NUGGET
Director: Sarah Salovaara
USA/10 Min
PILL
Director: Amelia Arnold
USA/21 Min
PRE- PRE SCHOOL
Director: Troy Hall
USA/Canada/8 Min
ROOTLESS
Director: Xue Yu
China/ 26 Min
SATURDAY
Director: Mike Forshaw
UK/15 Min
SPEARHUNTER
Directors: Adam Roffman, Luke Poling
USA/14 Min
SPECIAL FEATURES
Director: James N. Kienitz Wilkins
USA/12 Min
TILL DARK
Director: Quinn Shephard
USA/12 Min
UNMAPPABLE
Director: Diane Hodson, Jasmine Luoma
USA/ 23 Min
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Josh Braun to Receive 2015 Advocate Award at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Josh Braun, co-president of Submarine Entertainment will be presented with the 2015 Advocate Award at the upcoming Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Full Frame’s Director, Deirdre Haj, presents the Full Frame Advocate Award in recognition of individuals who have supported the documentary medium and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Braun will receive this honor at the festival’s Awards Barbecue on Sunday, April 12.
Previous recipients of the Advocate Award are Jim Goodmon and Michael Goodmon, Triangle, philanthropists and developers; Molly Thompson, President of A&E IndieFilms; and longtime Full Frame advisor Wyndham Robertson.
Braun is the co-president of Submarine, a hybrid sales and production company which he and his twin brother, Dan, formed in 2001. Recent films sold by Submarine include the Oscar®-winning documentariesCitizenfour, 20 Feet from Stardom, Searching for Sugar Man, and Man on Wire. Other titles includeSunshine Superman, The Wolfpack, Dior and I, Best of Enemies, 3 ½ Minutes, Battered Bastards of Baseball, The Unknown Known, Finding Vivian Maier, Blackfish, Dirty Wars, Queen of Versailles, Tabloid,Page One: Inside the New York Times, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Bill Cunningham New York, Food, Inc.,Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Valentino: The Last Emperor, and many others. Braun has executive produced numerous documentaries including The Unknown Known, Patrolman P, Seamless, Gramercy Park Hotel, Cat Dancers, Billionaire, Easy Riders Raging Bulls, Kill Your Idols, Page One: Inside the New York Times, and Ivory Tower.
“When one thinks of an advocate for documentary film, many professionals come to mind, but the tireless sales agent rarely comes first,” said Full Frame Director Deirdre Haj. “Josh is a genius at promoting documentaries that have become household names, award winners and game changers. He is in many ways responsible for the popularity the genre enjoys. For this we honor him with this year’s Advocate Award.”
Braun is committed to finding films that instill in him a passionate response. He states, “I tell the younger guys in our office, the starting point is that you love it, and it excites you. If that is true then it is likely that other people will feel the same way. Some films are obvious, you know they will play well, but others…you have to go with your instincts.”
Laura Poitras, director of Citizenfour, said, “I am deeply grateful to Josh and his work on Citizenfour. He was able to navigate our complex distribution plans and keep everything under the radar. We asked him to break many rules, which he did gracefully. He is a great advocate for cinema and filmmakers.”
“Braun is an expert advisor of documentary filmmakers, advocating for their work and fairly representing them so they enjoy commercial success,” said Haj.
“Some of these films anyone could have sold,” Braun added. “It is the films where how we intervened mattered, that is where I derive the most satisfaction.”
The 18th Annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will be held April 9-12, 2015, in Durham, N.C., with Duke University as the presenting sponsor.
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CAT SHOW and AMERICA RECYCLED Win Top Awards at American Documentary Film Festival
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CAT SHOW[/caption]
The 4th annual edition of The American Documentary Film Festival (AMDocs) called it a wrap on Monday, March 30, 2015, with its signature Closing Night Mystery Screening and Film Festival Awards Presentation. Director Peter Bogdanovich was the recipient of the 2015 Filmmaker Who Makes a Difference Award, Dr. Ronni Sanlo (the subject of the film, LETTER TO ANITA) was the recipient of the 2015 Rozene Supple Humanitarian Award, and the film,SPARTANS, was the recipient of the 2015 Robert Drew Verite Award.
Three film projects were awarded American Documentary Film Fund Grants this year, including POW WOW, PERSONHOOD, and THE TROUBLE WITH RAY. Each year, The American Documentary Film Fund provides up to $50,000 in grants to independent American filmmakers. Applicants must provide detailed story outlines and budgets for their works in progress or new projects. Filmmakers screen a five (5) minute preview of their film projects before an industry panel of judges and take part in a ten minute Q&A about their projects.
This year’s Film Awards were also announced as follows: 2015 Best Foreign Feature Documentary: CAT SHOW (U.K./Australia), 2015 Best Foreign Short Documentary: HONEY ON WOUNDS (Romania),2015 Best Animated Short(s): DEATH & THE MAIDEN (Israel/Germany) and THE LOST MARINER(Netherlands/Canada), 2015 Best American Feature Documentary: AMERICA RECYCLED, and 2015 Best American Short Documentary: SEEING THE FULL SOUNDING.
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THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT Sets July 17th Release Date
THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, based on the real-life research of Dr. Zimbardo, on the psychology of imprisonment, will open in theaters via IFC Films on July 17th.
It is the summer of 1971. Dr. Philip Zimbardo launches a study on the psychology of imprisonment. Twenty-four male undergraduates are randomly assigned to be either a guard or a prisoner. Set in a simulated jail, the project unfolds. The participants rapidly embody their roles—the guards become power-hungry and sadistic, while the prisoners, subject to degradation, strategize as underdogs. It soon becomes clear that, as Zimbardo and team monitor the escalation of action through surveillance cameras, they are not fully aware of how they, too, have become part of the experiment.
Based on the real-life research of Dr. Zimbardo (who was a consultant on the film), THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT is a dramatic period piece that remains relevant over 40 years later. Along with an impressive cast, including Billy Crudup as Zimbardo, Kyle Patrick Alvarez (C.O.G., 2013 Sundance Film Festival) delivers an intense, visceral film about the role of power that plays to both chilling and exhilarating effect.
Features an excellent roster of young talent, including Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Olivia Thirlby, Michael Anganaro, Logan Miller, Thomas Mann, Keir Gilchrist, Johnny Simmons, Moises Arias, Jack Kilmer, Chris Sheffield, Ki Hong Lee, and James Frechville, to name a few.
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Comedian Tig Notaro Documentary Kicks Off Film Lineup for 2015 Hot Docs
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Comedian Tig Notaro Documentary TIG[/caption]
210 documentaries from 44 countries will be featured at the upcoming 22nd edition of Hot Docs, taking place April 23 to May 3, 2015. The Festival will opens with the international premiere of directors Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York’s TIG (USA, 2014, 95 min), described as a testament to comedian Tig Notaro’s defiant spirit and incredible humor in the face of adversity.
This year’s Scotiabank Big Ideas Series will welcome such notable subjects as: Grammy-nominated comedian Tig Notaro (TIG); charismatic former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Danny Williams, subject of (DANNY); director Alex Winter, WIRED senior writer Andy Greenberg and the parents of subject Ross Ulbricht (DEEP WEB); Ex-Fugee Pras Michel (SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT); and Olympic Gold Medal–winning hockey player Charline Labonté, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean and American college football player Conner Mertens (OUT TO WIN).
Hot Docs announce DocX, a new program that celebrates innovative documentary storytelling through new technologies and original experiences, will feature a one-night-only participatory live performance of Katerina Cizek’s HIGHRISE: UNIVERSE WITHIN, LIVE. Festival audiences will also have the opportunity to experience the DocX Virtual Reality Showcase, a free exhibit at the Isabel Bader Theatre, available to view from Friday, April 24 to Friday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition to the opening night international premiere of Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York’s TIG, a testament to comedian Tig Notaro’s defiant spirit and incredible humour in the face of adversity, other notable films in the Special Presentations program include: Andreas Koefoed’s THE ARMS DROP, which follows a British arms dealer’s hunt for the MI5 agent who betrayed him; Violeta Ayala’s THE BOLIVIAN CASE, a sensational exposé about three teenage girls caught smuggling cocaine; Jessica Edwards’ MAVIS!, a powerful film rich with songs and stories from music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples; Nick Berardini’s TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE, an investigative look at the allegedly non-lethal TASER gun; Matthias Bittner’s WAR OF LIES, a riveting account about the effects of misinformation about weapons of mass destruction; and Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross’ WESTERN, a subtle portrait of the ever-growing divide between two towns straddling the US-Mexico border.
In the competitive Canadian Spectrum program, notable films include: Charles Wilkinson’s HAIDA GWAII: ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, a look at a sustainable and healing community at risk from a proposed oil tanker route; Shelly Saywell’s LOWDOWN TRACKS, which tells the stories of five transient musicians on Toronto’s streets; Su Rynard’s THE MESSENGER, which highlights ever-worsening environmental devastation through the alarming disappearance of songbirds; Rama Rau’s NO PLACE TO HIDE: THE REHTAEH PARSONS STORY, an alarming account of the effects of cyber-bullying; and André-Line Beauparlant’s PINOCCHIO, a deeply personal portrait of the struggle to trust someone who feels no obligation to the truth.
In the competitive International Spectrum program, notable films include: Malin Andersson’s BLOOD SISTERS, the story of twin sisters bound by trauma; Karen Guthrie’s THE CLOSER WE GET, a sharply focused snapshot of strained family dynamics; Ramyata Limbu, Amy Benson and Scott Squire’s DRAWING THE TIGER, a powerful portrait of a studious daughter carrying her family’s hopes for a brighter future; and Ross Sutherland’s STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK-UP, a poetic and humourous meditation on memory and loss.
In the World Showcase program, notable films include: Yael Melamede’s (DIS)HONESTY—THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, a fascinating and insightful study on honesty; Monika Pawluczuk’s END OF THE WORLD, a revealing look at personal struggles as the Mayan doomsday prophecy looms in the night; Maya Newell’s GAYBY BABY, a moving and honest film about the lives of children of same-sex parents; Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber’s PEACE OFFICER, a timely investigation of the controversies behind recent police shootings and the militarization of American law enforcement; and Gillian Laub’s SOUTHERN RITES, a complex look at race relations and the true pace of progress in America.
The Made In India program includes: Spandan Banerjee’s ENGLISH INDIA, a look at a country coming to terms with its own identity as it shakes off the weight of its colonial past; Parvez Sharma’s A SINNER IN MECCA, a fascinating personal essay on a gay Muslim’s inner-most struggles, and Anuj Adlakha and Farha Alam’s THE SUPERSTARS OF KOTI, a coming-of-age tale about three boys united as “chosen ones.”
The Next program includes: Luke Meyer’s BREAKING A MONSTER, a behind-the-scenes look at the tension between being a kid amidst the overwhelming demands of the music industry machine; and David Shapiro’s MISSING PEOPLE, an engrossing examination of the effects of violence on the psyche.
The Nightvision program includes: Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel’s FINDERS KEEPERS, a stranger-than-fiction tale of a human foot inadvertently bought at an auction; and Rodney Ascher’s THE NIGHTMARE, a real-life horror film about the mysterious phenomenon of sleep paralysis.
The Show Me the Funny program includes: Howie Mandel, Reed Grinsell and Steve Sunshine’s COMMITTED, an inspiring look at the hard road to success; and Bao Nguyen’s LIVE FROM NEW YORK!, the story of SNL’s enduring brand of television magic as told by the show’s countless alumni.
The Screen on Screen program includes: Florian Heinzen-Ziob and Georg Heinzen’s ORIGINAL COPY, a delightful ode to Mumbai’s last one-of-a-kind film poster painter; Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen’s RAIDERS!, the story of two friends painstakingly remaking Raiders of the Lost Ark; and Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti’s A WOMAN LIKE ME, a funny and moving documentary-drama hybrid about the filmmaker’s tumultuous journey with terminal cancer.
The Redux program will highlight six films that deserve another outing on the big screen.
Additionally, Hot Docs will present two retrospective programs: Focus On Carole Laganière, a mid-career retrospective of the filmmaker’s work; and the Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective, honouring the influential work of Chilean documentary filmmaker Patricio Guzmán.
Also a premier documentary conference and market, Hot Docs will be welcoming over 2,000 industry delegates who will partake in a wide array of industry events and services, including conferences sessions, receptions and parties, Hot Docs Deal Maker, The Doc Shop and the Hot Docs Forum, April 29 and 30.
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24 DAYS, Based on True events of Kidnapping of a Jewish Man in Paris, Sets US Release Date
24 DAYS, winner of the Lia Award at the 2014 Jerusalem Film Festival and winner of the Audience Award at the 2014 Boston Jewish Film Festival, will open at the Quad Cinema in New York and at the Laemmle Music Hall in Los Angeles, as well as other cities on April 24th. The film will also be available through iTunes on the same day.
Directed and produced by Alexandre Arcady, and based on a memoir written by the victim’s mother, the film chronicles the agonizing 24 days during which Ilan Halimi, a young Jewish cell-phone salesman, was held captive in Paris by a group of African and North African immigrants later known as the “Gang of Barbarians,” while his desperate family was subjected to blackmail. The events of Ilan Halimi’s kidnapping and murder sent shock waves through France and brought into focus the dangerous wave of anti-Semitism that is sweeping through France, a country that is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community.
Friday January 20, 2006, 23-year old Ilan Halimi, targeted solely because he was Jewish, was kidnapped and taken to an apartment in the Bagneux neighborhood of Paris. There, he was held captive and tortured for three weeks before being dumped in a woodlot by his captors. Found motionless and naked by the railroad tracks at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, he wouldn’t survive his ordeal.
In this film, Ruth Halimi, Ilan’s mother, revisits those 24 nightmarish days. 24 days in which she and her ex-husband Didier received nearly 700 calls, ransom demands that never ceased to change, insults, threats, photos of their tortured son… 24 days of anguish for a family waiting in silence and fear, hoping the Police could save their son.
But Police Headquarters didn’t know who was responsible for his kidnapping. No one recognized in time the anti-Semitic hatred of his abductors, or that Ilan would lose his life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4xo2pYRdI&feature=youtu.be