THE OVERNIGHTERS
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Compelling Drama “Diplomatie” (Diplomacy)
In late August 1944, the Allies were advancing on German-occupied Paris. General von Choltitz (Niels Arestrup) the military governor of Paris (a position he held less than three weeks before the events of the film begin) is given orders to destroy Paris and abandon the city. He enlists a French engineer named Jacques Lanvin (Jean-Marc Roulot) to develop a plan to destroy Paris. Lanvin proposes blowing up the city’s many bridges to cause the Seine to flood, which would destroy the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Opera. The remaining city monuments – including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Parliament – would be destroyed by explosives. Ironically, Choltitz points out to Lanvin that Paris is Hitler’s favorite city. “So why destroy it?” Lanvin asks. Choltitz responds, “Hitler wanted Berlin to be as beautiful as Paris, and bigger. Now, four years later, Berlin is in ruins, while Paris is as glorious as ever, see? It’s unbearable for him.”
Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling (André Dussollier) – who was born and raised in Paris – sneaks into Cholititz’s headquarters and tries to persuade him from destroying the city. Though Choltitz at first dismisses Nordling’s efforts as futile, by appealing to Choltitz’s better nature and his deep-seeded doubts that Germany can win Nordling begins to get through to Coltitz. However, Nordling soon learns that Coltitz fears for something greater than his own life if he does not fulfill the Fuhrer’s orders to destroy Paris are not fulfilled.
Diplomacy is adapted for the screen from the play by Cyril Gely and the film’s director, Volker Schlöndorff. The stage origins of Diplomacy are obvious – most of the narrative is a two-man show between Choltitz and Nordling, and both actors convey the intense emotion of the weight of history as the debate over the city’s future lies in the balance. Naturally, viewers know that Paris and its monuments remain until this day, but Schlöndorff (who has been directing films for more than half a century) focuses on the dramatic proceedings that led Paris to safety. Like most great play adaptations, the power of the film is in its dialogue. What the film adds that the play would lack on stage is the beautiful shots of Paris’ monuments and the evocative score composed by Jörg Lemberg.
What Diplomacy primarily offers is two great European actors (both Arestrup and Dussollier are three-time César Award winners) sparing in one of the most monumental decisions in modern European history. Anyone who has an appreciation for history or for effective dramatic acting will be enthralled by the performances by both men. Of course, if an 84 minute play adaptation based on historical events in German isn’t your thing, you might want to overlook Diplomacy. Despite its wartime setting there are no battles depicted – or any action, for that matter – nor any semblance of romance except for Nordling’s love for Paris. Yet all the ingredients for compelling drama are here – making Diplomacy an excellent film for both history and theater buffs.
Review Rating: 4 out of 5 : See it …… It’s Very Good
Diplomacy opens in New York City on Wednesday, October 15 and Los Angeles on Friday, November 7.
http://youtu.be/rO6jcH5khvE
Credits
Directed by Volker Schlöndorff
Written by Cyril Gély, Volker Schlöndorff,
based on the play by Cyril Gély
Cinematography Michel AmathieuCast
André Dussollier (Consul Raoul Nordling)
Niels Arestrup (General Dietrich von Choltitz)
Burghart Klaußner (Major Ebernach)
Robert Stadlober (Leutnant Bressensdorf)
Charlie Nelson (Concierge)
Jean-Marc Roulot (Jacques Lanvin)
Stefan Wilkening (Unteroffizier Mayer)
Thomas Arnold (Oberleutnant Hegger)
Lucas Prisor (SS-Officer, Obersturmführer)
Attila Borlan (SS-Officer)Film Info
2014
84 mins
Color
France/Germany
In French and German
DCP
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Rating: Not Rated
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DOC NYC Unveils Film Lineup; DO I SOUND GAY? Opens, THE YES MEN ARE REVOLTING Closes Fest
Do I Sound Gay?DOC NYC, announced the full line-up for its fifth edition, running November 13-20 at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village and Chelsea’s SVA Theatre and Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas in New York CIty. Representing a dramatic growth from last year’s edition, the 2014 festival will showcase 153 films and events, with over 200 documentary makers and special guests expected in person to present their films to New York City audiences.
The Yes Men Are RevoltingJoining the US premiere of Opening Night Film Do I Sound Gay? as a Gala presentation, is this year’s Closing Night Film, the US premiere of The Yes Men Are Revolting, directed by Laura Nix and The Yes Men. Both films made their debut in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Among the world premieres are the debuts of An Open Secret, an exposé about sexual abuse in Hollywood, by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil, West of Memphis); Still Dreaming, in which the residents of an actors’ retirement home perform Shakespeare, by Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller; and Almost There, a portrait of an outsider artist with a surprising past, by Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden.
In addition to an expanded Short List—DOC NYC’s selection of the best docs of the year—and the increase of the festival’s panel series, Doc-A-Thon, by two days, this year’s event debuts four new thematic programming strands: Fight the Power celebrates activism,Centerstage highlights performance, Jock Docs focuses on sports, and Docs Redux revisits classic films.
The following is a breakdown of programming by section:
GALAS
Opening Night: Do I Sound Gay?
Dir: David Thorpe, 2014, US Premiere
After a breakup with his boyfriend, journalist David Thorpe embarks on a hilarious and touching journey of self-discovery, confronting his anxiety about “sounding gay.” In person: David ThorpeClosing Night: The Yes Men Are Revolting
Dirs: Laura Nix, The Yes Men, 2014, US Premiere
A chronicle of the past five years of pranksters The Yes Men, the infamous activists known for duping the media with their impersonations of corporate shills and government stooges. In person: Laura Nix, The Yes MenSPECIAL EVENTS – Seven standout films coupled with high-profile conversations with the directors and special guests.
Above and Beyond
Dir: Roberta Grossman, 2014, NYC Premiere
Reveals the hidden history behind the creation of Israel’s air force. International Film Circuit, opens Jan. 30. In person: Producer Nancy SpielbergBack On Board: Greg Louganis
Dir: Cheryl Furjanic, 2014, NYC Premiere
This strikingly candid profile explores the triumphs and tragedies of Olympian Greg Louganis, considered by many the greatest diver of all time. In person: Cheryl Furjanic, film subject Greg LouganisBanksy Does New York
Dir: Chris Moukarbel, 2014, NYC Premiere
Last October, when infamous street artist Banksy revealed his New York City residency, he set off a daily scavenger hunt among curious fans, would-be art collectors and, of course, the police. HBO Documentary Films, broadcasts Nov. 17. In person: Chris MoukarbelEnquiring Minds: The Untold Story of the Man Behind the National Enquirer
Dir: Ric Burns, 2014, NYC Premiere
Serving up a sensational exposé in line with his juicy subject, acclaimed multiple-Emmy Award-winner Ric Burns uncovers the strange history of the National Enquirer and the tabloid’s legendary publisher, Generoso Pope Jr. In person: Ric BurnsI Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
Dirs: Dave LaMattina & Chad Walker, 2014, NYC Premiere
Sesame Street‘s Big Bird may be one of the world’s most recognizable characters, but far less familiar is Caroll Spinney, the man who has brought to life the yellow-feathered Muppet—as well as the irascible Oscar the Grouch—since 1969. In person: Dave LaMattina & Chad Walker, film subjects Caroll & Debra SpinneyAn Open Secret
Dir: Amy Berg, 2014, World Premiere
Every year, thousands of children swarm Hollywood in search of fame, but what they often find under the surface is a deep and disturbing underbelly of manipulation and abuse. In person: Amy BergSoul Boys of the Western World
Dir: George Hencken, 2014, NYC Premiere
Spandau Ballet, one of the bands that defined the 1980s, tell their own story, set against a backdrop of evocative period footage, including never-before-seen home movies. In person: George Hencken and all the band members from Spandau Ballet—their first time in New York since 1983!VIEWFINDERS – Juried Competition. Ten films notable for their distinct directorial visions.
Almost There
Dirs: Dan Rybicky & Aaron Wickenden, 2014, World Premiere
After the filmmakers meet octogenarian artist Peter Anton, they become enmeshed in his life, helping to stage an exhibition of his work.Cairo Drive
Dir: Sherief Elkatsha, 2013, NYC Premiere
Shot before, during and after the revolution, this entertaining film explores Cairo from the street level through the perspectives of its drivers.In Country
Dirs: Mike Attie & Meghan O’Hara, 2014, NYC Premiere
By now, the idea of Civil War re-enactment is familiar, but the subjects of this intriguing film relive the battles of a far more surprising conflict: Vietnam.Kasamayaki
Dir: Yuki Kokubo, 2014, World Premiere
Following the devastation of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Yuki visits her estranged parents in Kasama, Japan, a rural artist community, in the hopes of making sense of their past.The Life and Mind of Mark Defriest
Dir: Gabriel London, 2014, NYC Premiere
Sentenced to four years in prison in 1978, Mark DeFriest’s numerous escapes have kept him incarcerated for over three decades.Meet the Patels
Dirs: Geeta V. Patel & Ravi V. Patel, 2014, NYC Premiere
Nearing 30, first-generation Indian-American Ravi Patel breaks up with his secret, white girlfriend to seek the Indian woman of his parents’ dreams—who should also be named Patel, keeping with tradition. Sundance Selects, opens Mar. 14.Monsieur Le Président
Dir: Victoria Campbell, 2013, World Premiere
Volunteering in Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake, the filmmaker encounters Gaston, a charming voodoo priest who shows leadership during the emergency.No Control
Dir: Jessica Solce, 2014, World Premiere
A provocative exploration of the contentious issue of gun control through profiles of two men at opposite ends of the debate.Song From the Forest
Dir: Michael Obert, 2013, NYC Premiere
An American musicologist who abandoned modern civilization to join an African pygmy tribe brings his son to New York City. Film Collaborative, opens Spring 2015.The Wound and the Gift
Dir: Linda Hoaglund, 2014, US Premiere
All over the world, people save animals that were bred, abused or sold on the black market, with an impact on both rescuer and rescued.METROPOLIS – Juried Competition. Nine quintessentially New York stories.
Coming Home
Dir: Viko Nikci, 2014, North American Premiere
Finally released from prison, an innocent man attempts to repair his relationship with his daughter and to confront the man who committed the crime for which he was punished.The Hand That Feeds
Dirs: Rachel Lears & Robin Blotnick, 2014, NYC Premiere
An Upper East Side “Hot & Crusty” bakery serves as the unlikely setting for an old-fashioned David vs. Goliath story, as service workers demand better working conditions and wages.Homme Less
Dir: Thomas Wirthensohn, 2014, North American Premiere
From all outside appearances, Mark seems to have the glamorous New York City life that many would envy… but he harbors a secret.Penthouse North
Dir: Johanna St Michaels, 2014, NYC Premiere
In her heyday, Swedish bombshell Agneta ruled the world from her fabulous Central Park West apartment, but times—and her finances—have changed.Rubble Kings
Dir: Shan Nicholson, 2014, North American Premiere
Confronting a bankrupt, decaying city and the dashed hopes of the civil rights generation, African-American and Latino teenagers violently took over the streets of 1970s New York.
Rubble Kings screens with the short film The Chaperone (Fraser Munden & Neil Rathbone,14 min.). An action-packed, animated retelling of what happened when a drunken motorcycle gang invaded a 1970s school dance.The Seven Five
Dir: Tiller Russell, 2014, NYC Premiere
NYPD officer Michael Dowd was at the center of an infamous cop corruption scandal of the early 1990s.Some Kind of Spark
Dir: Ben Niles, 2014, World Premiere
Illustrating the transformative power not only of music, but of mentorship, this film is an uplifting look at Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program for inner-city youth.Stop
Dir: Spencer Wolff, 2014, World Premiere
After David Ourlicht was stopped and searched by the NYPD for no discernible reason, he filed a class-action suit against the City of New York, alleging racial profiling in the police department’s stop-and-frisk policy.Tough Love
Dir: Stephanie Wang-Breal, 2014, NYC Premiere
Having lost custody of their children to Child Protective Services, two parents in New York City and Seattle fight to win back the trust of the courts and reunite their families.AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES – Nine films present a virtual tour around the United States.
The Age of Love
Dir: Steven Loring, 2014, NYC Premiere
An unprecedented speed-dating event for seniors serves as the backdrop for this alternately poignant and funny look at love among the 70+ set.All American High Revisited
Dir: Keva Rosenfeld, 2014, NYC Premiere
Thirty years after he profiled the senior class of a typical California high school, the filmmaker revisits several members of the class of 1984 to see how they turned out.Florence, Arizona
Dir: Andrea B. Scott, 2014, World Premiere
A resonant work of modern Americana, this film paints a rich and often humorous portrait of a cowboy town set in the heart of Arizona’s prison industry.Grazers: A Cooperative Story
Dirs: Lisa F. Jackson & Sarah Teale, 2014, World Premiere
With interest in farm-to-table food on the rise, a small band of upstate New York farmers sees an opportunity to hold on to their endangered farms by raising and selling grass-fed beef.Hotline
Dir: Tony Shaff, 2014
Even in our increasingly disconnected digital age, telephone hotlines continue to bring strangers together for a multiplicity of reasons. Gravitas, VOD Nov. 18.Little White Lie
Dir: Lacey Schwartz, 2014, NYC Premiere
Growing up in an upper-middle-class Jewish household, Lacey Schwartz knew she looked different from the rest of her family, but never suspected the truth.
Little White Lie screens with the short film Mirror Image (Danielle Schwartz, Israel, 11 min.). An attempt to establish the provenance of an Israeli family’s heirloom becomes a debate over language and history.Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine
Dir: Michele Josue, 2013, NYC Premiere
While the world remembers Matthew Shepard’s death at the hands of homophobic attackers, this poignant film celebrates his life.A Murder in the Park
Dirs: Shawn Rech & Brandon Kimber, 2014, World Premiere
A college journalism class’s re-examination of a murder case leads to the exoneration of an innocent man… or does it?Sex and Broadcasting, a film about WFMU
Dir: Tim K. Smith, 2014, World Premiere
A portrait of New Jersey’s WFMU, which has occupied a unique position as an independent, commercial-free, listener-supported radio station since its inception in the late 1950s.INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES – Eight films go globetrotting.
Every Last Child
Dir: Tom Roberts, 2014, World Premiere
After the Taliban bans polio vaccinations and spreads misinformation, Pakistan suffers devastating outbreaks of the disease, prompting strategic problem-solving from the World Health Organization.The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
Dir: Mami Sunada, 2013, NYC Premiere
Offering animation fans a rare look inside Japan’s Studio Ghibli, this fascinating film profiles its most famous creators, Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), and his friendly rival and business partner, Isao Takahata (Pom Poko). GKIDS, opens Nov. 28.Marmato
Dir: Mark Grieco, 2014, NYC Premiere
Exploring the intersection of economic development, environmental impact and globalization, this is an intimate and richly observed portrait of Marmato, a rural mining town threatened with destruction.Miss Tibet: Beauty in Exile
Dir: Norah Shapiro, 2014, World Premiere
A Tibetan teenager travels from Minneapolis to India to compete in a most unlikely beauty pageant.The Return
Dir: Adam Zucker, 2014
How does one claim an identity in a vacuum? Living in Poland, the four young women in this engaging film learned of their Jewish roots after growing up Catholic. Seventh Art Releasing.A Small Section of the World
Dir: Lesley Chilcott, 2014, NYC Premiere
In equal measures inspiring and endearing, this film spotlights a group of Costa Rican village women who form a coffee-growing collective—despite not knowing the first thing about growing coffee. FilmBuff, opens Dec. 5.
A Small Section of the World screens with the short film Santa Cruz del Islote (Luke Lorentzen, 19 min.). Inhabitants of a remote Colombian island paradise face an uncertain future in changing times.Vessel
Dir: Diana Whitten, 2014, NYC Premiere
Moved by the plight of desperate women in countries with restrictive reproductive rights, a Dutch physician uses laws governing international waters to bring much-needed abortion and contraceptive services on the high seas.When People Die They Sing Songs
Dir: Olga Lvoff, 2014, NYC Premiere
Under the watchful eyes of her dutiful daughter Sonia, Regina recalls the Yiddish and French songs of her youth through music therapy sessions following a stroke.
When People Die They Sing Songs screens with the short film The Lion’s Mouth Opens(Lucy Walker, 28 min.). A young woman is about to learn whether she has inherited her father’s incurable, terminal disease.CENTERSTAGE – New section! Four films put the spotlight on performance.
Capturing Grace
Dir: David Iverson, 2014, NYC Premiere
Recognizing that music and rhythmic activity can help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease achieve greater control of their mobility, two dancers from New York’s Mark Morris Dance Group lead a dance workshop.
Capturing Grace screens with the short film The Astronaut’s Secret (Zach Jankovic, 30 min.). After his 1996 mission in space, astronaut Rich Clifford and NASA kept a secret for 17 years.The Last Impresario
Dir: Gracie Otto, 2014, NYC Premiere
From The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, producer Michael White has helped bring enduring cultural touchstones to Broadway, London’s West End and the silver screen over the last four decades, but the bon vivant may be the most famous person you’ve never heard of. FilmBuff, opens Dec. 5.Still Dreaming
Dirs: Hank Rogerson & Jilann Spitzmiller, 2014, World Premiere
Located just outside of Manhattan, the Lillian Booth Actors Home provides a most resonant setting for the staging of a classic play in which nothing is what it seems.Us, Naked: Trixie & Monkey
Dir: Kirsten D’Andrea Hollander, 2014, World Premiere
A pair of acrobatic burlesque performers attempt to juggle art, love and financial stability in this perceptive portrait.JOCK DOCS – New section! Five films focused on sports and athletes.
9-Man
Dir: Ursula Liang, 2014
A variant of volleyball developed by Chinese immigrants to America as both an athletic pastime and a social outlet in a time of widespread anti-Chinese sentiment, discrimination and segregation, now serves to unite young men with their culture.Althea
Dir: Rex Miller, 2014, World Premiere
In the 1950s, long before Arthur Ashe or Venus and Serena Williams, Althea Gibson was the first African-American tennis player to win Grand Slam tournaments.Hardy
Dir: Natasha Verma, 2014, NYC Premiere
Although Brooklyn’s Heather “The Heat” Hardy has only been boxing for a few years, she’s a world champion in the making—but first she has to be given the chance to prove herself in a sport that has been slow to open its doors to female athletes.Opposite Field
Dir: Jay Shapiro, 2014, World Premiere
In its nearly 70-year history, the Little League World Series has never hosted a team from Africa. The Ugandan team hopes to change that.Top Spin
Dirs: Sara Newens & Mina T. Son, 2014, World Premiere
Three driven teenage athletes attempt to go for Olympic gold in the perpetually popular but underappreciated game of table tennis.FIGHT THE POWER – New section! Six films celebrate the power of activism.
Brothers of the Black List
Dir: Sean Gallagher, 2014, NYC Premiere
In the fall of 1992, despite efforts to recruit minority students, SUNY Oneonta set off a firestorm of controversy that led to the longest litigated civil-rights case in US history.Disruption
Dir: Pamela Yates, 2013, NYC Premiere
Recognizing the persistence of income inequality in South America, a group of activist economists join together to offer an alternative path to eliminating poverty.Divide in Concord
Dir: Kris Kaczor, 2014, NYC Premiere
A feisty octogenarian, concerned about the environmental impact of our disposable culture, is on a mission to ban the local sale of plastic bottled water, facing off against her celebrity publicist-turned-pundit nemesis.Limited Partnership
Dir: Thomas G. Miller, 2014, NYC Premiere
A poignant portrait of four decades of devotion despite overwhelming odds, this film follows a transnational LGBT couple’s immigration battle.She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
Dir: Mary Dore, 2014, NYC Premiere
Through a treasure trove of archival material and profiles of several outspoken pioneers of the women’s movement, we revisit the remarkable eruption of activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s that signaled the arrival of modern feminism. International Film Circuit, opens Dec. 5.Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa
Dir: Abby Ginzberg, 2014, NYC Premiere
At the height of apartheid, noted South African activist, author and attorney Albie Sachs was driven into exile, yet still faced threats to his life that cost him dearly.SONIC CINEMA – Six films explore music and musicians.
Béla Fleck: How to Write a Banjo Concerto
Dirs: Béla Fleck and Sascha Paladino, 2014, NYC Premiere
Commissioned to create a first-of-its-kind concerto for the banjo and an 80-piece symphony orchestra, virtuoso musician Béla Fleck faces an intensely personal challenge of collaboration and composition. Argot Pictures, opens Winter 2015.Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock & Roll
Dir: John Pirozzi, 2014, NYC Premiere
A fascinating exploration of history as reflected through a nation’s popular culture, this film excavates Cambodia’s lost era of American-inflected music. Argot Pictures, opens Spring 2015.Heaven Adores You
Dir: Nickolas Rossi, 2014, NYC Premiere
An artful tribute to the too-soon departed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith.Jingle Bell Rocks!
Dir: Mitchell Kezin, 2013, NYC Premiere
An entertaining quest to locate the top twelve strangest holiday songs you’re likely to ever hear, from “Santa Claus Was a Black Man” to “Christmas in Vietnam.”
Oscilloscope Laboratories.Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-1990)
Dir: Scott Crawford, 2014, US Premiere
An exploration of the development and evolution of the Washington, DC punk scene, and how it shaped independent music and popular culture in the decade that followed.Songs for Alexis
Dir: Elvira Lind, 2014, NYC Premiere
Eighteen-year-old hopeless romantic Ryan, a young transgender man, writes songs about his sixteen-year-old girlfriend Alexis as the couple navigates a long distance relationship between Long Island and San Francisco.DOCS REDUX – New section! Revisit seven past nonfiction favorites, including several films by this year’s DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute recipients.
The Chair
Filmmakers: Drew Associates, 1962
This classic follows the attorney Louis Nizer as he attempts to save prisoner Paul Crump from the electric chair.David
Filmmakers: DA Pennebaker & William Ray, 1961
Rare 35mm screening of Drew Associates’ portrait of a jazz trumpeter struggling through drug rehab.High School
Dir: Frederick Wiseman, 1968
Wiseman’s classic look at an urban Philadelphia high school, capturing interactions between students, teachers, parents and administrators.Hoop Dreams
Dir: Steve James, 1994
Twentieth anniversary restoration. Two Chicago teens are followed over their four years of high school as they aspire to use their basketball skills to create better futures for their families.Kings Of Pastry
Dirs: Chris Hegedus & DA Pennebaker, 2009
Sixteen French pastry chefs put their reputations at stake in a prestigious competition.Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Dirs: Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky, 2004
Tenth anniversary. The members of the heavy metal band go through group therapy to save not only the band, but themselves.Salesman
Dirs: Albert Maysles, David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin, 1968
This breakthrough documentary follows door-to-door Bible salesmen as they ply their trade from Boston to Chicago to Miami.MIDNIGHT DOCS – Three films worth staying up late to see.
Haunters
Dir: Anthony Morrison, 2014, World Premiere
A Michigan family-run business sets out to create the scariest haunted house in the state.Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere
Dir: Dave Jannetta, 2014, NYC Premiere
Imagine a This American Life episode devoted to a real-world Twin Peaks, and you might approximate the stranger-than-fiction story of small-town Chadron, Nebraska.Sex(Ed)
Dir: Brenda Goodman, 2014, NYC Premiere
Revisit the health class of your awkward teenage years in this fun survey of sexual education films. First Run Features, VOD/DVD Feb. 3.SHORTS PROGRAMS – Six thematic groupings of the best in short nonfiction filmmaking. DOC NYC is now an Academy Awards®-qualifying festival, with this year’s winning short film qualifying for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category.
Art + Design
Ways of seeing and interacting with the world, ranging from interior design and fonts to artisanal craftwork and custom yarmulkes.Life + Death
An exploration of beginnings and endings, including the healing power of music, the recording of life’s major moments and the ethics of euthanasia.Lost + Found
Unexpected discoveries and hidden histories, from secret presidential recordings and the lost payphones of NYC, to fancy cats and the world’s longest yard sale.Parts + Labor
A series of shorts about making a living, offering portraits of workers and their work—selling pickles, raising buffalo, stuffing animals, cobbling, and casting manhole covers.Point + Shoot
Views through the photographic lens, focusing on blind creators, unconventional beauty, Warhol history, and war photography.Show + Tell
Kids offer their perspectives on NYC snow days, middle-school heavy metal, dog shows, and North Dakota’s oil boom.SHORT LIST – Our newly expanded section offers our picks for awards-season contenders. Last year, nine of our ten selections made that other short list.
The Case Against 8
Dirs: Ben Cotner & Ryan White, 2014
Following the fight for marriage equality all the way to the Supreme Court, as former legal foes, progressive David Boies and ultra-conservative Ted Olson, join forces. HBO Documentary Films.CITIZENFOUR
Dir: Laura Poitras, 2014
A real-life thriller chronicling how Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies.
RADiUS/Participant Media/HBO Documentary Films, opens Oct 24.E-Team
Dirs: Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman, 2014
A look at the dangerous but life-affirming work performed by the Human Rights Watch Emergency Team, or E-Team, a compelling group of intrepid investigators willing to enter hostile territories to document crimes against humanity that might otherwise go unreported. Netflix.Finding Vivian Maier
Dirs: John Maloof & Charlie Siskel, 2013
When Vivian Maier died in 2009 at age 83, she left behind more than 100,000 negatives of her street photography—images that she’d scarcely shared with anyone. Sundance Selects.The Great Invisible
Dir: Margaret Brown, 2014
An examination of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its impact on fishermen, oilmen and survivors. RADiUS/Participant Media, opens Oct. 29.Happy Valley
Dir: Amir Bar-Lev, 2014
An exploration of the Penn State scandal, focusing on hero worship and the court of public opinion, and their impact on everyday people caught in their wake. Music Box Films, opens Nov. 19.Keep On Keepin’ On
Dir: Alan Hicks, 2014
Celebrating mentorship as much as music, this inspirational and poignant film explores the common bonds between a 92-year-old jazz legend and his 23-year-old protégé. RADiUS.Last Days in Vietnam
Dir: Rory Kennedy, 2014
In the final weeks of the Vietnam War, with the invasion of Saigon imminent, the White House ordered the evacuation of U.S. citizens—but their South Vietnamese allies flooded onto embassy grounds seeking help. American Experience Films/PBS.Life Itself
Dir: Steve James, 2014
Acclaimed filmmaker Steve James pays tribute to the late Roger Ebert and to the love of movies. Magnolia Pictures.Merchants of Doubt
Dir: Robert Kenner, 2014
The director of Food, Inc reveals how corporations affect what we think, exploring the shadow world of experts who stake claims contrary to scientific consensus. Sony Pictures Classics/Participant Media, opens March 6.The Overnighters
Dir: Jesse Moss, 2014
Pastor Jay Reinke offers newcomers seeking employment the chance to sleep in his church, setting off a controversy within his small North Dakota town and his congregation. Drafthouse Films.Red Army
Dir: Gabe Polsky, 2014
This emotional look at the Soviet hockey team blends politics, sports and human drama. Sony Pictures Classics, opens Jan. 23.Rich Hill
Dirs: Tracy Droz Tragos & Andrew Droz Palermo, 2014
With roots in the eponymous, impoverished Missouri town, filmmaker cousins bring a sensitive touch to this richly observed and sublimely shot portrait of three boys. The Orchard.The Salt of the Earth
Dirs: Wim Wenders & Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, 2014
An insider and outsider’s perspective on photographer Sebastiao Salgado and the nature preserve Instituto Terra. Sony Pictures Classics, opens Apr. 3.Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Dir: Nick Broomfield, 2014
In one of his finest films, Nick Broomfield digs into a true crime story of a Los Angeles serial killer that raises larger questions about gender, race and class inequalities. HBO Documentary Films, 2015 broadcast.DOC-A-THON – Newly expanded from four to six days, DOC NYC’s panel and masterclass series for both emerging and established filmmakers offers 24 events, organized by daily themes. All Doc-A-Thon panels take place at the IFC Center.
For the First-Time Filmmaker
Thursday, Nov. 13
Essential information for new filmmakers, with panels on “Mapping Out Your Film,” “Funding,” “Post-Production,” and “Distribution & Outreach.”All About the Short
Friday, Nov. 14
A focus on short-form storytelling, with panels on “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Short Filmmaking But Were Afraid To Ask,” “Who’s Buying Doc Shorts,” “Shorter Forms for Ever Shorter Attention Spans,” and “Nonfiction Shorts & the Festival Audience.”Shoot Your Doc
Monday, Nov. 17
A series of masterclasses exploring production, including “Cinematography,” “Producing,” “Music Rights,” and “Casting for Nonfiction.”Finish Your Doc
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Masterclasses offering critical advice for post-production, including “Editing,” “How to Produce an Award-Winning Archival Documentary,” “Sound Design,” and “Graphics & Animation.”Fund Your Doc
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Learn who is funding nonfiction and what they’re looking for, with panels on “Lessons on Creative Funding & Audience Building,” “Social-Action Filmmaking,” Pitch Workshop,” and “The ‘Documatrix’ of HBO,” a conversation with HBO Documentary Films’ Sheila Nevins.Reach Your Audience
Thursday, Nov. 20
Panels illuminating the importance of audience engagement, including “Social-Media Workshop,” “How to Maximize Digital Distribution,” “Documentaries are Narrative,” and “Making a Living as a Documentary Filmmaker.”
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Philadelphia Film Festival Screenings Beginning to Sell out and Add New Films
The GuestThe 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival, which begins this week on Thursday, October 16 and continues through Sunday, October 26, have added new films to the event line-up. The Festival will add a midnight screening of Sundance hit The Guest to this year’s Graveyard Shift film category. Advance tickets have sold out for the Festival’s Opening Night Film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Centerpiece film, The Imitation Game. The October 23rd film screening of Imperial Dreams is also sold out with tickets still remaining for the October 22nd film screening.
From the filmmaking team behind You’re Next and the first two segments of the V/H/S trilogy, The Guest is a brilliant, John Carpenter-esque thriller/comedy about a small-town family whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious man shows up at their doorstep claiming to be an army buddy of their deceased son. The screening of The Guest will take place on Friday, October 17th at 11:59pm at the Ritz Bourse Theater with writer Simon Barrett in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
http://youtu.be/-psayRM1XqU
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WATCH Trailer for Health Care Documentary REMOTE AREA MEDICAL
Cinedigm has released the trailer for the documentary REMOTE AREA MEDICAL directed by Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman which opens in NY on November 28th and nationwide on December 5th. The film was shot during a three-day clinic held at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway where, some of the country’s sickest individuals finally received health care. Their extraordinary stories create a lasting impression about the state of modern health care in America.
During the U.S. debate about healthcare reform, the media—reporters and news crews and filmmakers— failed to put a human face on what it means to not have access to healthcare. REMOTE AREA MEDICAL fills that gap—it is a film about people, not policy. Focusing on a single three-day clinic held in the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL affords us an insider’s perspective on the ebb and flow of the event—from the tense 3:30 a.m. ticket distribution that determines who gets seen to the routine check-ups that take dramatic turns for the worse, to the risky means to which some patients resort for pain relief. We meet a doctor who also drives an 18-wheeler, a denture maker who moonlights as a jeweler, and the organization’s founder, Stan Brock, who first imagined Remote Area Medical while living as a cowboy in the Amazon rainforest, hundreds of miles from the nearest doctor. But it is the extraordinary stories of the patients, desperate for medical attention, that create a lasting impression about the state of modern health care in America.
http://youtu.be/l71S9goU37A
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“GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM” “THE SPECIAL NEED” Win Top Awards at Hamptons International Film Festival
GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEMGETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM, directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz won The Golden Starfish Narrative Feature Award at the 2014 Hamptons International Film Festival. The Golden Starfish Award for Best Documentary was awarded to THE SPECIAL NEED directed by Carlo Zoratti. The best documentary Short Film goes to THE QUEEN (La Reina), directed by Manuel Abramovich.
The Narrative Jury awarded a special jury prize for Outstanding Performance by an actress in a film to Ronit Elkabetz in GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM. The jury also gave a Most Promising Performance By A Newcomer to Jacob Lofland in LITTLE ACCIDENTS and Evocative Cinematography to Arnaud Potier for BREATHE. The jury has awarded the short film TZNIUT, directed by David Formentin, an award for raising awareness of a socially relevant issue.
The documentary jury awarded a special prize to Tamara Erde for her achievement in Visionary Filmmaking for THIS IS MY LAND. The jury also awarded a Special Mention For Artistic Merit to Pavol Pekarčík, Ivan Ostrochovský and Peter Kerekes for their film VELVET TERRORISTS. The short film ONCE UPON A TREE was given an award for Artistic Merit for director Marleen van de Werf.
Joel Schumacher was in attendance joined by actor Keifer Sutherland and People Magazine’s Editorial Director Jess Cagle and presented with a Lifetime AchievementAward in Directing. Hilary Swank was presented with Variety’s Creative Impact in Acting Award Presented by Montblanc.
The Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award has been awarded to LITTLE ACCIDENTS directed by Sara Colangelo. This award honors an outstanding female narrative filmmaker.
Prior to the Festival, E-TEAM, directed by Ross Kauffman, Katy Chevigny, was awarded the 2014 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution, presented in partnership with REACT to FILM. This includes being a part of REACT to FILM’s “Influencer Series” in spring 2014 at a high profile cultural organization, as well as the opportunity to be featured across REACT to FILM’s College Action Network, comprised of over 40 campuses nationwide.
VIRUNGA, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel, has been awarded The Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for social justice. This award is given to a film that most exhibits the values of peace, equality and global justice.
The Wouter Barendrecht Pioneering Vision Award, which recognizes an emerging filmmaker who is a creative risk taker and is fearlessly dedicated to their craft, was presented to THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY’s Peter Strickland.
Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award is presented to a film that raises public awareness about contemporary social issues, including the moral and ethical treatment and the rights of animals as well as environmental protection. This year the award has been presented to VIRUNGA, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel.
Also previously announced was the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize which was awarded to THE IMITATION GAME, by Morten Tyldum.
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS:
The Wall Street Journal GSA Narrative Feature Winner
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi ElkabetzThe GSA Documentary Feature Winner presented by A&E Indie
The Special Need, directed by Carlo ZorattiGSA Award for Best Documentary Short Film
The Queen, directed by Manuel AbramovichGSA Narrative Short
Tzniut, directed by David FormentinThe Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
Virunga, directed by Orlando Von EinsiedelThe Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award
Little Accidents, directed by Sara ColangeloZelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award
Virunga, directed by Orlando Von EinsiedelThe Wouter Barendrecht Award
Duke Of Burgundy, directed by Peter StricklandSuffolk County Next Exposure Award
Gabriel, directed by Lou HoweThe 2014 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution, presented in partnership with REACT to FILM
E-Team, directed by Ross Kauffman, Katy ChevignyThe 2014 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
The Imitation Game, directed by Morten Tyldum2014 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH
Kaitlyn Dever, Laggies
Eve Hewson, This Must Be The Place
Dakota Johnson, 21 Jump Street
Lola Kirke, Gone Girl
Zoe Kravitz, X-Men: First Class
Caleb Landry Jones, Low Down
Jack O’Connell, Skins
Tye Sheridan, The Tree of Life
Jenny Slate, Obvious Child
Miles Teller, Whiplash
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83 Countries In Competition For 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards®. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić, director;
Cuba, “Conducta,” Ernesto Daranas Serrano, director;
Czech Republic, “Fair Play,” Andrea Sedláčková, director;
Denmark, “Sorrow and Joy,” Nils Malmros, director;
Dominican Republic, “Cristo Rey,” Leticia Tonos, director;
Ecuador, “Silence in Dreamland,” Tito Molina, director;
Egypt, “Factory Girl,” Mohamed Khan, director;
Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze, director;
Ethiopia, “Difret,” Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, director;
Finland, “Concrete Night,” Pirjo Honkasalo, director;
France, “Saint Laurent,” Bertrand Bonello, director;
Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili, director;
Germany, “Beloved Sisters,” Dominik Graf, director;
Greece, “Little England,” Pantelis Voulgaris, director;
Hong Kong, “The Golden Era,” Ann Hui, director;
Hungary, “White God,” Kornél Mundruczó, director;
Iceland, “Life in a Fishbowl,” Baldvin Zophoníasson, director;
India, “Liar’s Dice,” Geetu Mohandas, director;
Indonesia, “Soekarno,” Hanung Bramantyo, director;
Iran, “Today,” Reza Mirkarimi, director;
Iraq, “Mardan,” Batin Ghobadi, director;
Ireland, “The Gift,” Tom Collins, director;
Israel, “Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz, directors;
Italy, “Human Capital,” Paolo Virzì, director;
Japan, “The Light Shines Only There,” Mipo O, director;
Kosovo, “Three Windows and a Hanging,” Isa Qosja, director;
Kyrgyzstan, “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, director;
Latvia, “Rocks in My Pockets,” Signe Baumane, director;
Lebanon, “Ghadi,” Amin Dora, director;
Lithuania, “The Gambler,” Ignas Jonynas, director;
Luxembourg, “Never Die Young,” Pol Cruchten, director;
Macedonia, “To the Hilt,” Stole Popov, director;
Malta, “Simshar,” Rebecca Cremona, director;
Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako, director;
Mexico, “Cantinflas,” Sebastián del Amo, director;
Moldova, “The Unsaved,” Igor Cobileanski, director;
Montenegro, “The Kids from the Marx and Engels Street,” Nikola Vukčević, director;
Morocco, “The Red Moon,” Hassan Benjelloun, director;
Nepal, “Jhola,” Yadav Kumar Bhattarai, director;
Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest, director;
New Zealand, “The Dead Lands,” Toa Fraser, director;
Norway, “1001 Grams,” Bent Hamer, director;
Pakistan, “Dukhtar,” Afia Nathaniel, director;
Palestine, “Eyes of a Thief,” Najwa Najjar, director;
Panama, “Invasion,” Abner Benaim, director;
Peru, “The Gospel of the Flesh,” Eduardo Mendoza, director;
Philippines, “Norte, the End of History,” Lav Diaz, director;
Poland, “Ida,” Paweł Pawlikowski, director;
Portugal, “What Now? Remind Me,” Joaquim Pinto, director;
Romania, “The Japanese Dog,” Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, director;
Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director;
Serbia, “See You in Montevideo,” Dragan Bjelogrlić, director;
Singapore, “Sayang Disayang,” Sanif Olek, director;
Slovakia, “A Step into the Dark,” Miloslav Luther, director;
Slovenia, “Seduce Me,” Marko Šantić, director;
South Africa, “Elelwani,” Ntshavheni Wa Luruli, director;
South Korea, “Haemoo,” Shim Sung-bo, director;
Spain, “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” David Trueba, director;
Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Östlund, director;
Switzerland, “The Circle,” Stefan Haupt, director;
Taiwan, “Ice Poison,” Midi Z, director;
Thailand, “The Teacher’s Diary,” Nithiwat Tharathorn, director;
Turkey, “Winter Sleep,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director;
Ukraine, “The Guide,” Oles Sanin, director;
United Kingdom, “Little Happiness,” Nihat Seven, director;
Uruguay, “Mr. Kaplan,” Álvaro Brechner, director;
Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo, director.The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
The Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy Stars in Indie Movie ST. VINCENT
I will see just about any movie that stars Bill Murray not only because he’s one of my all-time favorite actors, but also because Murray has a tendency to pick great projects to star in. The new indie movie St. Vincent has received a lot of praise in the lead-up to its release based on Murray’s performance, and it’s all warranted. Though Murray has spent the last decade mostly starring in little-seen indie films and Wes Anderson movies, St. Vincent will remind general audiences just how great of an actor he is.
Vin (Bill Murray) is a Brooklyn-born, politically incorrect man on the cusp of seventy with a thick New York accent. He smokes and drinks too much, gambles with money he doesn’t have, eats all bad food, and has a weekly appointment with a Daka (Naomi Watts with a comically thick accent), a stripper/prostitute who is pregnant with a baby that may or may not be Vin’s. On the surface he seems to be little more than a nasty drunk who is looking to put himself into a grave as soon as possible. He wakes up from a drunken stupor to find out that single mother Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) and her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher) have moved next door. Though their initial meeting is less than cordial, Vin inadvertently ends up the precocious boy’s after-school babysitter. Oliver and Vin bond as the old man teaches Oliver his wicked ways, but he also reveals his softer side to the kid, like when he makes his weekly visits to a nursing home.
One of the great revelations of the film is McCarthy, who (for once) isn’t playing “Melissa McCarthy” in this film. McCarthy has been typecast in her big screen roles since her breakthrough performance in 2011’s Bridesmaids, and I am sure she had to pass up yet another Identity Thief/The Heat/Tammy type comedy to this movie. Her character in this film is a supporting one, but there is a lot of depth to Maggie. As Vin points out, she’s woefully unprepared to be a mother since she never questions where Vin takes her son or how they spend their time together. She is also miserable from how her ex-husband treated her and defines her life by letting everyone know how miserable she is (including Oliver’s teacher, a priest played by the hilarious Chris O’Dowd).
Of course, the real star here is Murray, who can make an audience laugh by the way he walks around in a bank. While his character is purely a stock one (the “cranky old man with a heart of gold” type), what makes St. Vincent unique is that it isn’t one of those movies where Vin is a bad person who is miraculously changed by the presence of Oliver in his life. Vin always was a good person, just one who doesn’t feel the need to broadcast his good deeds – in other words, he does kind things because he wants to, not because he wants other people to know (shocking concept, right?). An interesting contrast between Oliver’s two “parental” figures in the film that isn’t really explored is how Vin plays his cards close to the vest (more than once he expresses that other characters don’t really know him) while Maggie broadcasts her misery to the world. Nobody’s perfect, and St. Vincent has no intention to present its characters in any other way.
Writer/director Theodore Melfi has never directed a feature before (he’s directed short films and producers several indie films, but none of this size), and parts of his inexperience show in how mainstream the film is – in a lot of ways it’s Murray’s most mainstream role since his Lost in Translation breakthrough. However, that’s not completely a knock against the film. Is St. Vincent melodramatic? Absolutely. Is it predictable? No question. It might not be a completely original story and the film might not be particularly unique that doesn’t mean it’s not a really enjoyable movie.
Review Rating: 4 out of 5 : See it …… It’s Very Good
http://youtu.be/r5BVn-eyAxA
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Written by: Theodore Melfi
Cast: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts,Chris O’Dowd, Terrence Howard
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FOXCATCHER to Close AFI FEST 2014
FOXCATCHER, directed by Academy Award® nominee Bennett Miller and starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller, will be the Closing Night Gala of AFI FEST on Thursday, November 13 at the Dolby Theatre®.
FOXCATCHER tells the story of Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Tatum), who sees a way out from the shadow of his more celebrated wrestling brother Dave (Ruffalo) and a life of poverty when he is summoned by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont (Carell) to move onto his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Desperate to gain the respect of his disapproving mother, du Pont begins “coaching” a world-class athletic team and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle and erodes the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Fueled by du Pont’s mercurial personality, increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen. Based on actual events, FOXCATCHER, directed by Bennett Miller, is a gripping and profoundly American story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty, and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth.
”Bennett Miller and the film’s incredible cast are going to close the festival and our last night at the iconic Dolby Theatre with an enthralling psychological drama that is one of the highlights of American independent filmmaking this year,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director, AFI FEST.
AFI FEST will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA, at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. As previously announced, the Opening Night Gala will be the world premiere of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (DIR J.C. Chandor) on Thursday, November 6 and Sophia Loren will be honored with a special Tribute on Wednesday, November 12.
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Documentary MONK WITH A CAMERA: The Life and Journey of Nicholas Vreeland Sets Release Dates
MONK WITH A CAMERA: The Life and Journey of Nicholas Vreeland, the latest documentary by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara (Chris & Don: A Love Story), will open on November 21 at The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in New York City, and the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles on December 12, and expanding to other national markets in the following weeks.
Nicholas (Nicky) Vreeland, the grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk in 1972. He moved to India, cut his ties with his pleasure-filled world, and began living in a monastery with no running water or electricity. There, he would spend the next 14 years studying to become a monk.
Featuring up-close conversations with actor Richard Gere, his Holiness the Dalai Llama, and Vreeland’s Buddhist teacher Khylongla Rinpoche, among many others, MONK WITH A CAMERA gracefully chronicles Nicky Vreeland’s cultural and spiritual journey, as well as his lifelong (and often conflicting) relationship with photography.
Trained early on by famed American photographer Irving Penn, Nicky Vreeland developed a sophisticated aesthetic and was on a path to become a world-class photographer himself. But once a monk, he abandoned his cameras to focus on his studies and devote himself to a monastic life.
Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, Nicky went back to photography in part to help rebuild the monastery after the 2008 economic crisis left them without much-needed financial assistance. Recently, the Dalai Lama appointed Nicky as Abbot of the monastery, making him the first Westerner in Tibetan Buddhist history to attain such a highly regarded position. MONK WITH A CAMERA: The Life and Journey of Nicholas Vreeland chronicles Nicky’s journey from playboy to monk to artist.
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SUPREMACY Starring Danny Glover, to Open 2014 African Diaspora International Film Festival
The racially charged psychological thriller, Supremacy, starring Joe Anderson (Across the Universe) and Danny Glover will open the 2014 African Diaspora International Film Festival in New York City on Friday, November 28, 2014. Supremacy, which made its world premiere in June 2014 at the LA Film Festival, also stars Dawn Olivieri, Derek Luke, Evan Ross, Lela Rochon, Robin Bobeau, and Anson Mount.
Supremacy follows a high-ranking white supremacist (Anderson) who murders a cop and hides out with his accomplice by taking a black family hostage. Glover plays the patriarch of the house, an ex-con who must rely on his wits and understanding of the supremacist’s racist mind to keep his family safe.
http://youtu.be/4mkj4oJorNM
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“Xenia” “Tie and Red Nail” “52 Tuesdays” Honored as Best LGBT Films of the Year at Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
XeniaThe Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival presented its first awards dedicated to gay-themed cinema – the Felix Awards. The winners, selected from 43 films in this year’s Festival do Rio that in some way represent LGBT culture, were named as: Best Fiction Film: Xenia, directed by Panos H. Koutras (Greece/ Françe/ Belgium, 2014); Best Documentary: Tie and Red Nail (De Gravata e Unha Vermelha), directed by Miriam Chnaiderman (Brasil, 2014) and Special Jury Prize: 52 Tuesdays, directed by Sophie Hyde (Australia, 2014).
Xenia, an official selection in Un Certain Regard section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is a coming of age film that tells the story of two brothers, Dany and Ody, as they journey across Greece, prompted by the death of their mother to go in search of the father they have never known.
Tie and Red NailThe documentary Tie and Red Nail, creates a vertigo from the ways that each one finds of respecting themselves in the construction of their own body. Dudu Bertholini, who defines himself as genderfucker with his kaftans, guides us towards infinite possibilities of existence. The interviewees in the movies include Rogéria, Ney Matogrosso, Laertes, Bayard, Leticia Lanz, Johnny Luxo, Walério Araújo, Mel (Banda Uó) and many others.
52 TuesdaysIn 52 Tuesdays, which won the Directing Award, World Cinema Dramatic at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, sixteen-year-old Billie is blindsided by the news that her mother is planning to transition from female to male and that, during this time, Billie will live at her father’s house. Billie and her mother have always been extremely close, so the two make an agreement they will meet every Tuesday during their year apart. As her mother transitions and becomes less emotionally available, Billie covertly explores her own identity and sexuality with two older schoolmates, testing the limits of her own power, desire, and independence.