• 2014 Cine Las Americas International Film Festival Unveils Films Selected to Screen in ‘Hecho en Tejas’ Program

    Chateles del campo (Country Kids)Chateles del campo (Country Kids)

    Following an announcement earlier this week of their official Opening/Closing night films, Cine Las Americas announced today the list of titles selected for participation in the Hecho en Tejas program at the 17th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, which runs April 22-27, 2014.

    For this year, the Hecho en Tejas program showcases 14 films representing work by filmmakers from around the state, including Austin, Arlington, Corinth, Edinburg, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and San Marcos. While some of these films are indeed made by upcoming talent, bringing diverse content and maturing, local voices that can reach universal audiences, the selection also includes the works of veteran filmmakers. As a whole, these films add to Cine Las America’s level of diversity and artistic excellence, and compliment the festival’s international lineup, which includes more than 140 films from over 30 different countries.

    “This year has been amazing for Texas films and filmmakers, and with 5 features and 9 shorts, our Hecho en Tejas program is bigger than ever! I think that audiences will be surprised by the level of diversity within this Hecho en Tejas lineup. Both in terms of places in Texas being represented, and Texas filmmakers traveling outside of the state to tell stories of local, national and international interest,” Jean Lauer, Programming Director, Cine Las Americas.

    Other sections of the festival also feature Texas-ties, including films in the Emergencia Youth Film Competition, the Cine Joven: Mundos Diferentes telenovela from Austin School of Film, and a retrospective of early Chicano films directed by San Antonio native, Efraín Gutiérrez. More details to come about these programs.

    About the ‘Hecho en Tejas’ program

    Cine Las Americas presents “Hecho en Tejas,” a series of films shot and/or produced in Texas, to showcase the wide variety of work being produced in the state by filmmakers with varied backgrounds. This year’s Hecho en Tejas film presentations will take place during the festival on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 at the Marchesa Hall and Theater, Austin Film Society’s new home for classic, independent and art house film programming. For a fifth consecutive year, Cine Las Americas is pleased to count on a partnership with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI), to present a jury award to the best “Hecho en Tejas” film.

    About the films

    Features

    Chateles del campo (Country Kids)
    Dir. Jason Outenreath Nicaragua/USA, Documentary, 2013

    CHATELES DEL CAMPO is a playful and deeply personal documentary about growing up in rural Nicaragua. Connecting educators, parents, and kids, the film explores crucial issues facing the country through the lighthearted tone of its youthful protagonists. Following the students and teachers of two rural elementary schools over the course of an academic year, school is revealed not just as a place of reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also a place to learn the responsibilities of adulthood that loom large over many children’s daily lives. CHATELES DEL CAMPO explores the space where the forces of education, environment, and childhood collide, and celebrates the fact that no matter the country, culture, or language, kids will be kids.

    LaDonna Harris: Indian 101
    Dir. Julianna Brannum USA/ New Zealand, Biographical Documentary, 2013

    The film is the first documentary about Native activist and national civil rights leader, LaDonna Harris. After moving from Walters, OK to Washington DC with her US Senator husband, Harris began an extensive and public life of Indian political and social activism. One of her first assignments was to educate the executive branch of the US government on the unique role of American Indian Tribes and their relationship with the federal government. This course was called “Indian 101” and was taught for over 35 years. The film explores her achievements, the personal struggles that led her to become a voice for Native peoples, and her contemporary work to reshape Indian Country in America and abroad.

    Las Marthas
     Dir. Cristina Ibarra USA/ Mexico, Documentary/History, 2013

    The annual debutante ball in Laredo, Texas is unlike any other. Part of the largest celebration of George Washington’s birthday in the world, a select group of mostly Mexican-American girls is chosen each year to dress in elaborate gowns representing iconic figures from America’s colonial history. Their goal: to recreate a party hosted by Martha Washington, but this time set along the US/Mexico border. A year in the making, each girl’s dress can weigh 100 lbs and cost up to $30,000 — nearly the median family income of Laredo. Las Marthas follows two of the girls — Laurita Garza Hovel and Rosario Reyes — as they prepare for this extraordinary rite of passage. The theatrical release of this film, which we are pleased to present, features footage and delves more into complexities not included in the broadcast version.


    Micha
    Dir. Eugene Martin USA, Drama/Coming of Age, 2013

    The death eight years ago of Micha’s Lebanese father left he and his Mexican mother destitute. When his mother dies suddenly, it leaves Micha no choice but to leave Mexico and seek work and a future in the United States. Micha attempts to navigate the northern route of migrant and service workers to build a life for himself in Texas. After staying on the streets in Brownsville and Dallas, Micha lands in the small town of Denton, Texas where he meets a homeless young woman, Penny, who helps him learn how to survive and find community. 

    Waiting for Sandoval
    Dir. David B. Carren USA, Thriller/Fantasy, 2014

    Daniel Ortiz lost the only thing that mattered to him when his fiancé was murdered in the jungles of Central America ten years ago. When he attends a stage play about that painful era, Daniel is suddenly pulled into the production itself, and finds himself trapped in a Central American prison the woman he loves. Will he save her? Will they get a second chance? Or will they die together in a place with no name or hope?

    Shorts

    Almost Crimes Dir. Diego Vega Peru/USA, Drama, 2013
    Ex-Votos     Dir. Ivete Lucas Mexico/USA, Drama, 2013
    Gift of Gab     Dir. Diego Rico USA, Comedy, 2013
    Hinojosa     Dir. Juan Pablo González USA/Mexico, Biographical Documentary, 2013
    La cuesta: Worlding a Sidewalk     Dir. Alvaro Torres, Daniel Perera Costa Rica/Guatemala/USA, Experimental Documentary, 2013
    Life of Giorgio     Dir. Sergio Carvajal-Leoni USA/Italy, Comedy, 2013
    La dama y el caballo     (The Horse Bride) Dir. Simon Quiroz USA, Drama/Fantasy, 2012
    The Good Kind     Dir. Ofelia Yanez USA, Drama/Coming of Age, 2013
    The Book of Joe     Dir. Mario Pena USA, Action/Sci-Fi, 2013

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  • 3 Filmmakers Win 2014 San Francisco Film Society Documentary Film Fund

    Street Fighting ManStreet Fighting Man

    The San Francisco Film Society today announced the three winners of the 2014 SFFS Documentary Film Fund awards totaling more than $75,000, which support feature-length documentaries in postproduction. The SFFS Documentary Film Fund was created to support singular nonfiction film work that is distinguished by compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach. Moby Longinotto’s The Joneses, Jason Zeldes’s Romeo Is Bleeding and Andrew James’s Street Fighting Man were each awarded significant funding that will help push them towards completion.

    The SFFS Documentary Film Fund has an excellent track record for championing compelling films that have gone on to earn great acclaim. Previous DFF winners include Zachary Heinzerling’s Cutie and the Boxer, which won Sundance’s Directing Award for documentary, was distributed theatrically by RADiUS-TWC and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s American Promise, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and won the festival’s Special Jury Prize in the documentary category; and Shaul Schwarz’s Narco Cultura, which premiered to strong reviews at Sundance the same year.

    Since its launch in 2011, the SFFS Documentary Film Fund has distributed more than $300,000 to advance new work by filmmakers nationwide. Expected to grow in the coming years as further underwriting is secured, the 2014 Documentary Film Fund is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Jennifer Battat and the Jenerosity Foundation.

    The panelists who reviewed the 11 finalists’ submissions are Jennifer Battat, founder of the Jenerosity Foundation; Cristine Dewey, managing director of Ro*Co Films International; Athena Kalkopoulou, SFFS documentary program coordinator; documentary filmmaker Jesse Moss; Joanne Parsont, SFFS Director of Education; and Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of Filmmaker360. The jury noted that they were moved by the stories of individuals transcending their challenging circumstances and simultaneously uplifting their communities in profound and unique ways. Additionally they were impressed with the level of trust between the filmmakers and their subjects, which resulted in intimate and honest filmmaking.

    “We are thrilled to continue our tradition of supporting innovative documentary films that feature compelling stories told through a strong visual aesthetic,” said Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of Filmmaker360. “This round of winners has captivated us with their striking and charismatic characters, and we can’t wait to see the finished films and experience the unique and fascinating worlds their subjects inhabit. Our deepest thanks go to Jennifer Battat, whose generous support has been critical to the growing success of the Documentary Film Fund.”

    2014 DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND WINNERS

    The JonesesThe Joneses

    The Joneses
    Moby Longinotto, director and Aviva Wishnow, producer
    $30,627

    The Joneses is a portrait of Jheri, a 73-year-old transgender trailer park matriarch, who lives in bible belt Mississippi. Reconciled with her family after years of estrangement, and now living with two of her sons, Jheri embarks on a new path to reveal her true self to her grandchildren. Will their family bonds survive?  

    Moby Longinotto studied at England’s National Film School where his graduation film Make Me Proud screened at multiple festivals and won numerous awards. His subsequent work includes Bad Boy, a piece made for the BBC about a young man released from prison attempting to integrate back into society; and Smalltown Boy, which follows a 15-year-old boy, once kicked out of his foster home for being gay as he attempts to win the Carnival Queen crown. Longinotto has also directed and shot multiple non-scripted television series for BBC, Channel 4 and SwissTV.

    Romeo Is BleedingRomeo Is Bleeding

    Romeo Is Bleeding
    Jason Zeldes, director and Michael Klein, producer
    $22,500

    Donte Clark’s poetic voice was honed on the violent street corners of a struggling city. Yet rather than succumb to the pressures of Richmond, CA, Clark uses his artistic perspective to save his city from itself. For more information visit RomeoIsBleedingFilm.com.

    Jason Zeldes is an editor in LA’s documentary scene. The first feature film he edited, Twenty Feet From Stardom, premiered on opening night of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, continued on to a successful theatrical run, and won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Prior to that film, Zeldes spent years working with acclaimed filmmakers such as Patrick Creadon, Doug Blush and Kirby Dick, learning the documentary craft at its highest level, and earning credits on films like the Oscar-nominated Invisible War. Zeldes graduated from USC in 2009.

    Street Fighting Man
    Andrew James, director; Sara Archambault and Katie Tibaldi, producers
    $22,500

    In a new America where the promise of education, safety and shelter are in jeopardy, three Detroit men fight to build something lasting for themselves and future generations. For more information visit streetfightingmanthemovie.com. 

    Andrew James is the writer/director of Una Vida Mejor and the coproducer/codirector of the feature-length documentary Cleanflix. Una Vida Mejor has screened at festivals worldwide and was the recipient of the Special Jury Prize for artistic vision at the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival. Cleanflix had its world premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival before screening at more than 25 festivals around the world. Street Fighting Man was also selected for IFP’s 2012 Independent Film Week and the 2013 Hot Docs International Pitch Forum, and has received support from the Sundance’s Documentary Fund and Documentary Edit & Story Lab. 

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  • First 10 Films Revealed for 2014 Maryland Film Festival incl. Michael Tully’s PING PONG SUMMER

    Ping Pong SummerPing Pong Summer

    Maryland Film Festival has begun unveiling the lineup for its 16th annual festival, which will take place May 7-11, 2014, in downtown Baltimore and include approximately 50 feature films and 10 short-film programs from around the world. The first ten feature films announced for MFF 2014 include the area premieres of a number of highly anticipated independent, documentary, and international features, including Michael Tully’s star-studded, shot-in-Maryland Ping Pong Summer; Josephine Decker’s beautiful and provocative Thou Wast Mildand Lovely; Fernando Eimbcke’s poignant coming-of-age comedy Club Sandwich; and Stanley Nelson’s riveting civil-rights documentary Freedom Summer.

    Maryland Film Festival has distinguished itself as a creatively charged meeting place for filmmakers and audiences, offering all its U.S. feature films hosted by a filmmaker in a relaxed and competition-free environment. The festival is also known for its close relationship with legendary filmmaker John Waters, who selects and hosts a favorite film within each year’s festival. Building on record ticket sales and submissions over the last several years, the festival expanded to five days in 2013, and will again offer five days of programming in 2014, using seven screens in and around Baltimore’s Station North Arts and Entertainment District.

    Lineup announcements will continue over the next 2 weeks. The first ten titles announced for MFF 2014 are:

    CLUB SANDWICHCLUB SANDWICH

    CLUB SANDWICH (Fernando Eimbcke) Poignant drama, gentle comedy, and a hint of transgression mix brilliantly as we observe the coming of age of a 15-year-old teen vacationing with his single mother in a sleepy Mexican beachfront resort. From the director of Lake Tahoe and Duck Season.

    FIGHT CHURCHFIGHT CHURCH

    FIGHT CHURCH (Daniel Junge and Bryan Storkel) Christianity and the world of Mixed Martial Arts collide in this thought-provoking and expectation-challenging documentary from Academy Award Winner Daniel Junge and Bryan Storkel.

    Freedom SummerFreedom Summer

    FREEDOM SUMMER (Stanley Nelson) In the summer of 1964, a thousand civil-rights volunteers worked to combat segregation in Mississippi. Master documentarian Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders; Jonestown: The Life & Death of Peoples Temple; The Murder of Emmett Till) tells their story.

    Happy ChristmasHappy Christmas

    HAPPY CHRISTMAS (Joe Swanberg) Following his breakthrough hit Drinking Buddies, Joe Swanberg re-teams with star Anna Kendrick and cinematographer Ben Richardson (Beasts of the Southern Wild) for an insightful look at family and friendship centered around a Chicago Christmas. With Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, and Lena Dunham.

    KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER

    KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER (David Zellner) The Zellner brothers (Goliath, KID-THING) bring their unique mix of resonant drama and offbeat comedy to an expanded canvas, following a young Japanese woman who believes her worn VHS copy of Fargo contains instructions to recover that film’s buried treasure.

    PING PONG SUMMER (Michael Tully) The director of Septien returns with a sweet and hilarious love letter to summers spent in Ocean City, MD during the golden era of hip-hop, boasting a cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, and Robert Longstreet.

    THE STRANGE LITTLE CATTHE STRANGE LITTLE CAT

    THE STRANGE LITTLE CAT (Ramon Zürcher) This strikingly original film builds on Robert Bresson’s ideas of space and sound to create a moving-image sculpture inside a Berlin apartment during a family gathering. Notes of gentleness and tension merge to form a strange visual symphony.

    THOU WAST MILD AND LOVELYTHOU WAST MILD AND LOVELY

    THOU WAST MILD AND LOVELY (Josephine Decker) Following her Butter on the Latch, which premiered at MFF 2013, Josephine Decker further explores themes of budding romance and psychological terror against a backdrop of bucolic beauty. Fresh from its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).

    WHO TOOK JOHNNYWHO TOOK JOHNNY

    WHO TOOK JOHNNY (David Beilinson, Michael Galinsky, and Suki Hawley) When Johnny Gosch disappeared in 1982, his picture appeared on milk cartons, catapulting the issue of missing children into the public’s imagination. The team behind Horns and Halos and Battle for Brooklyn follows the search for answers over decades of stunning twists and turns, resulting in an unforgettable documentary experience that will have audiences questioning everything and everyone.

    WILD CANARIESWILD CANARIES

    WILD CANARIES (Lawrence Michael Levine) From the director of 2010’s Gabi on the Roof in July comes this captivating blend of comedy, romance, and mystery set in contemporary Brooklyn. The all-star indie cast includes Levine alongside Sophia Takal, Alia Shawkat, Annie Parisse, Jason Ritter, and Kevin Corrigan.

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  • LAST CALL(TERCERA LLAMADA) to Open and BAD HAIR (PELO MALO) to Close 17th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

     TERCERA LLAMADA (LAST CALL)TERCERA LLAMADA (LAST CALL)

    The 17th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, which runs April 22-27, 2014, will open with Francisco Franco’s TERCERA LLAMADA (LAST CALL), Winner of Audience Awards in Lima and Guadalajara, Best Editing at the Havana Film Festival and the award for the entire female cast at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in 2013. TERCERA LLAMADA stars Irene Azuela, Ricardo Blume, Anabel Ferreira, Kristyan Ferrer, Karina Gidi, Rebecca Jones, Fernando Luján, Jorge Poza, Cecilia Suárez, Mariana Treviño, and Silvia Pinal in her first film role in 20 years.

    PELO MALO (BAD HAIR) PELO MALO (BAD HAIR)

    Closing the festival is PELO MALO (BAD HAIR), directed by Mariana Rondón, PELO MALO, which has enjoyed great international success, including acclaimed premieres in Toronto and Cartagena, and the prestigious Concha de Oro award for best film at the 2013 San Sebastián International Film Festival.  

    The story of TERCERA LLAMADA is based on a play written by director Francisco Franco in which a theater group goes through a challenging process in trying to bring to stage the play Caligula for an international theater festival.The incredible cast of the film provide moments of great humor and drama, and the film offers subtle and fresh points of view on contemporary Mexican society. TERCERA LLAMADA is a Habanero Films release.

    In PELO MALO (BAD HAIR) from Venezuela, nine year old Junior is fed up with his “bad hair,” and wants to straighten it for his yearbook picture so he can look like a fashionable pop singer. This elicits a tidal wave of homophobic panic in his hard-working mother, who finds it increasingly difficult to tolerate Junior’s fixation with his looks. The film portrays contemporary life in Caracas from the perspective of regular citizens who try day by day to get ahead in their lives. PELO MALO is a FiGa Films release.

    ABOUT THE FILMS

    Tercera llamada (Last Call)
    A film by Francisco Franco
    Mexico, Comedy/Drama, 2013
    In Spanish with English subtitles

    Starring: Irene Azuela, Ricardo Blume, Anabel Ferreira, Kristyan Ferrer, Karina Gidi, Rebecca Jones, Fernando Luján, Jorge Poza, Cecilia Suárez, Mariana Treviño, and Silvia Pinal

    In one and a half months, a theater company will premiere “Caligula,” the play by Albert Camus. The neurotic director is constantly disagreeing with his cast. The diva is offended, the old actor cannot remember his lines, the producer is only sober when asleep, the assistant director believes the ghost of Pedro Infante appears in the theater, and the main actress is in panic. Will they be ready for Last Call?

    A Habanero Release

    http://youtu.be/w_fTLl6DYVs

    Pelo malo (Bad Hair)
    A film by Mariana Rondón
    Starrring: Samuel Lange, Samantha Castillo, Nelly Ramos
    Venezuela, Drama, 2013
    Spanish with English subtitles

    Junior is nine years old and has “bad hair.” He wants to straighten his hair for his yearbook picture so he can look like a fashionable pop singer. This elicits a tidal wave of homophobic panic in his hard-working mother, who finds it increasingly difficult to tolerate Junior’s fixation with his looks. The more he tries to look sharp to make his mother love him, the more she rejects him. Eventually, he is cornered, faced with a painful decision.

    A FiGa Films Release

    http://youtu.be/mIN-DuZ416k

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  • Toni Collette, Christine Lahti, Jeff Goldblum, Whoopi Goldberg Among Jurors Announced for 2014 Tribeca Film Festival

     Toni Collette, Christine Lahti, Jeff Goldblum, Whoopi Goldberg Among Juror Announced for 2014 Tribeca Film Festival

     The 2014 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), today announced its jurors – a diverse group of 33 industry leaders, including award-winning filmmakers, writers, producers, acclaimed actors, respected journalists 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 24. The 2014 Festival runs from April 16 –27.

    “The diverse group of voices that make up this year’s jury will make for very interesting deliberations,” 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, 8 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 three jurors for the second annual $25,000 Nora Ephron Prize, recognizing a female writer or director, were also announced.

    The 2014 TFF Juror Welcome Lunch will be presented for the first time by Condé Nast.  Later this year the media leader will relocate to its new global headquarters at 1 World Trade Center where it will play a prominent role in the resurgence of Lower Manhattan.

    Following is a list of all 2014 Festival jurors and their respective categories.

    World Competition Categories

    The jurors for the 2014 World Narrative Competition are:

    Lake Bell:  Independent Spirit Award-nominated triple threat whose recent film, In A World…, she directed, wrote, and starred in. Other acting credits include Black Rock, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, and the soon-to-be released Million Dollar Arm, The Coup, and Man Up.

    Steve Conrad: Screenwriter and director whose writing credits include The Weather Man, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and the soon to be released The Business Trip. He directed and wrote The Promotion and the upcoming film, Belushi.   

    Bart Freundlich: Director, screenwriter, and producer whose credits include The Rebound, Trust the Man, Catch That Kid, World Traveler, his feature-film debut and Sundance hit, The Myth of Fingerprints, and numerous episodes of Showtime’s Californication.

    Catherine Hardwicke: Director best known for the blockbuster hit Twilight. Her critically-acclaimed debut feature Thirteen received the Director’s Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, two Golden Globe nominations, and an Independent Spirit Award. Additional directing credits include Red Riding Hood and Lords of Dogtown.

    Ben Younger:  Independent Spirit Award-winning screenwriter and director whose credits include Boiler Room, Prime, and the soon-to-be released, Bleed for This.

    The jurors for the 2014 World Documentary Competition are:

    David Edelstein: Movie critic of New York Magazine, NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and CBS Sunday Morning. He guest hosted for Turner Classic Movies in 2011 and 2013. He has written for Slate, The New York Times, and Vanity Fair.

    Nick Fraser: London-based journalist, independent television producer, and program editor. He is currently Commissioning Editor of Storyville, the BBC’s long-running and award-winning series of international documentaries.

    Andrea Meditch: Founding president of Back Allie Films whose executive producing credits include Academy Award®-winning Man on Wire, Academy Award®-nominated Encounters at the End of the World, Grizzly Man, and Buck.

    Jenni Wolfson: Executive Director of Chicken & Egg Pictures, which supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose diverse voices and dynamic storytelling have the power to catalyze change, at home and around the globe.

    Marina Zenovich: Director and producer whose films have screened at Tribeca, Cannes, Sundance, New York, and Toronto Film Festivals. Credits include NAACP Image Award-winning Richard Pryor: Omit The Logic, Emmy Award-winning Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, and Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out.

    Emerging Competition Categories

    The jurors for the 2014 Best New Narrative Director are:

    Jeff Goldblum: Renowned Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated actor and director. Film credits include Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Igby Goes Down, Adam Resurrected, Nashville, and Death Wish. He starred on television in Law and Order: Criminal Intent and appeared on Broadway in The Pillowman.

    Nadine Labaki: Lebanese filmmaker and actress named to Variety’s 2008 list of “10 Directors to Watch” for her first feature film Caramel, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won numerous prestigious awards. Her second feature film, Where Do We Go Now?, debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, won a Special Mention from the Cannes Film Festival, and received the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

    Dorothy Lyman: Emmy Award-winning actress best known for her roles as the dynamic “Opal Gardner” on ABC’s All My Children and “Naomi Harper” onMama’s Family. Film credits include acting in Ruby in Paradise, I Love Trouble, Blow, and The Departed, as well as directing The Northern Kingdom and Split Ends.

    Adepero Oduye: Independent Spirit and NAACP Image Award-nominated actress. Credits include Pariah, Twelve Years a Slave, and the 2012 television adaptation of Steel Magnolias with Alfre Woodard. She debuted on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of The Trip to Bountiful with Cicely Tyson.

    Mickey Sumner: Actress whose film credits include Noah Baumbach’s critically-acclaimed Frances Ha, 2014 SXSW Film Festival selection, The Mend, recently shot indie, The End of the Tour, directed by James Ponsoldt, festival award-winner Missed Connections, Girl Most Likely, and CBGB. She’s had recurring television roles in Low Winter Sun and The Borgias.

    The jurors for the 2014 Best New Documentary Director are:

    Rebecca Cammisa: Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated documentary film director, producer, and cinematographer. Credits include Sister Helen, Which Way Home, and God is the Bigger Elvis.

    Heather Graham: Independent Spirit Award-nominated actress for her breakout role in Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy. Additional credits includeSwingers, Boogie Nights,  Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Hangover 1 & 3, and At Any Price.

    Nate Parker: Actor honored as one of Variety’s 2012 “10 Actors to Watch” and Sundance fellowship recipient for his screenplay for the Nat Turner biopic, Birth of a Nation. Film credits include The Great Debaters, Arbitrage, Red Hook Summer, The Secret Life of Bees, Red Tails, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, and Non-Stop.

    Doug Pray: Emmy Award-winning feature documentary film director focusing on American subcultures and maverick individuals. Work includes Art & Copy, Surfwise, Big Rig, Infamy, Scratch, Hype!, and the upcoming Levitated Mass.

    Michael Stuhlbarg: Golden Globe Award-nominated and Independent Spirit Award-winning actor best known for his role in Boardwalk Empire, which won him two SAG Awards. Film credits include A Serious Man, Blue Jasmine, Lincoln, Hitchcock, and Hugo; television credits include Damages and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; theatrical credits include The Invention of Love, Cabaret, and The Pillowman, for which he received a Tony Award Nomination and Drama Desk Award.

     Alfonso Arau: Award-winning Mexican character actor and prominent filmmaker of the Latino community in Hollywood. He made his American debut in The Wild Bunch and achieved international acclaim for directing Like Water for Chocolate, one of the most successful foreign-language films ever released in the U.S.

    Whoopi Goldberg: One of an elite group of artists who have won an Academy, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award. Film and television credits includeThe 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.

    Christine Lahti: An Emmy, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning actress and director of film, television, and theater.

    Sheila Nevins: President, HBO Documentary Films. She has been responsible for overseeing the development and production of more than 1,000 documentaries for HBO, HBO2, and Cinemax. As an executive producer or producer, she has received 26 Primetime Emmy® Awards, 31 News and Documentary Emmys®, and 37 George Foster Peabody Awards. During her tenure, HBO’s critically-acclaimed documentaries have gone on to win 23 Academy Awards®.

    Paul Wesley: Actor currently starring in the CW’s Vampire Diaries. Made his directorial debut with the episode “Resident Evil.” He co-produced and co-starred in the feature film Before I Disappear, which premiered in competition at the SXSW Film Festival. Film credits include Shot in the Heart, Peaceful Warrior, Baytown Outlaws, Roll Bounce, and the forthcoming Sam & Amira. Television credits include Fallen, Everwood, American Dreams, 8 Simple Rules, and 24.

    Lindsay Burdge: Actress, producer, and casting director who has starred in films screened at Tribeca, Sundance, and SXSW Film Festivals. Credits include A Teacher and First Winter as well as the soon-to-be-released The Midnight Swim and Some Beasts.

    Toni Collette: Australian Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress. Best known for her performances in Muriel’s Wedding, The Sixth Sense, for which she received an Academy Award nomination, About A Boy, The Hours, Little Miss Sunshine, the acclaimed Showtime series The United States of Tara,The Way, Way Back, and Enough Said. She is currently co-starring in The Realistic Joneses on Broadway and will next appear in the upcoming films Lucky Them and A Long Way Down.

    Regina Dugan: Vice President of Engineering at Google named Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business 1000” and CNN’s “Top 10 Thinkers.” She leads the Advanced Technology and Projects group charged with breakthrough innovations in mobile computing and accelerating the development of promising technologies to market.

    Simon Kilmurry: Twelve time Emmy Award and three time George Foster Peabody Award-winning executive producer of POV, the long-running PBS showcase of independent documentaries. Serves as chief executive of American Documentary, POV’s non-profit parent organization.

    Anton Yelchin: Critically-acclaimed actor with performances in Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, The Beaver, and Charlie Bartlett. He was honored for his starring role in Like Crazy with the “Artist to Watch” Award at the 2011 Aspen Film Festival and the “Hollywood Spotlight Award” at the 2011 Hollywood Film Festival. Upcoming films include Only Lovers Left Alive, Cymbeline, Rudderless, and 5 to 7, which will premiere at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.

    Paola Antonelli: Senior Curator of Architecture and Design at MoMA whose work investigates design’s influence on everyday experience. Appointed to direct a new research and development initiative in 2012 and named one of the top 100 most powerful people in the world of art by Art Review.

    Kira Pollack: Director of Photography at TIME Magazine and executive producer of Red Border Films, TIME’s new documentary film project. Named Photo Editor of the Year at the 2011 Lucie Awards and spearheaded TIME’s Emmy Award-winning Beyond 9/11 project.

    Caspar Sonnen: Curator and festival organizer working in the still largely undefined spaces between cinema, digital storytelling, and interactive art. He started the new media program IDFA DocLab at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam as well as co-founded the Open Air Film Festival Amsterdam.

    Delia Ephron: Best-selling author, screenwriter, journalist, and playwright. Film credits include Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Michael, and Hanging Up. She has written numerous novels, non-fiction essays, humor books, and a hit play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, in collaboration with her sister Nora Ephron.

    Natasha Lyonne:  Successful on stage and screen, Natasha Lyonne continues to display her creative versatility and talent after more than two decades in the industry. She will soon return as “Nicky Nichols” in Orange Is The New Black, the popular Netflix drama series.

    Gary Ross: Four-time Oscar nominated writer and director whose credits include The Hunger Games, Big, Pleasantville, and Seabiscuit. His first book,Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind, an illustrated children’s fantasy, was released last year.

    Short Film Competition Categories

    The jurors for the 2014 Narrative Short Film Competition are:

    The jurors for the 2014 Documentary and Student Visionary Award Competitions are:

    Storyscapes

    The jurors for the 2014 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Award for transmedia are:

    Nora Ephron Prize

    The jurors for the 2014 Nora Ephron Prize are:

    ·Delia Ephron: Best-selling author, screenwriter, journalist, and playwright. Film credits include Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Michael, and Hanging Up. She has written numerous novels, non-fiction essays, humor books, and a hit play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, in collaboration with her sister Nora Ephron.

    Natasha Lyonne:  Successful on stage and screen, Natasha Lyonne continues to display her creative versatility and talent after more than two decades in the industry. She will soon return as “Nicky Nichols” in Orange Is The New Black, the popular Netflix drama series.

    Gary Ross: Four-time Oscar nominated writer and director whose credits include The Hunger Games, Big, Pleasantville, and Seabiscuit. His first book,Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind, an illustrated children’s fantasy, was released last year.

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  • “The House That Jack Built” Leads Winners and Awards of 2014 Phoenix Film Festival

    The House That Jack Built directed by Henry Barrial The House That Jack Built directed by Henry Barrial

    The House That Jack Built directed by Henry Barrial is the big winner of the 2014 Phoenix Film Festival, winning the awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Henry Barrial, and Best Screenplay posthumously went to Joseph Vasquez. According to the filmmakers, The House That Jack Built took nearly 20-years to complete. The script was written by Joseph Vasquez, whose life was cut short in 1995 when he died of AIDS after an extended struggle with severe Bi-polar disorder, a story documented in Entertainment Weekly.  

    in the film, Jack Maldonado is an ambitious young Latino man who, fueled by misguided nostalgia, buys a small apartment building in the Bronx and moves his boisterous family into the apartments to live rent-free. His parents, Carlos and Martha, sister Nadia, brother Richie and his wife Rosa, Grandmother / Abuela and cousins Hector and Manny, all under one roof. Tension builds quickly as Jack imposes his views on everyone around him, including his fiancée, Lily. All the while, he hides the fact that his corner store is a front for selling marijuana, but soon has to deal with new unwanted competitive forces. It’s only a matter of time before Jack’s family and ‘business’ lives collide in tragic fashion

    http://youtu.be/9ID7C6jBpC8

     

    The Joe Show, a documentary about America’s most controversial Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, and his ringmaster’s approach to media, politics and law enforcement, directed by Randy Murray won the award for Best Documentary.  The Cox Audience Award went to Life Inside Out directed by Jill D’Agnenica. The film tells the parallel stories of Laura, a devoted mother of three teenage boys, and her youngest son Shane, the family misfit. When Laura stumbles upon her long forgotten guitar, the former passion of her youthful life, and Shane begins to discover musical gifts of his own, their lives change in complex and unpredictable ways.

    Complete list of awards and winners of the 2014 Phoenix Film Festival.

    International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Fest Awards

    Best Sci-Fi  Short – The Developer
    Best Sci-Fi Feature – S.O.S: Save Our Skins
    Best Horror Short – The Carriage or Dracula and My Mother
    Best Horror Feature – Billy Club

    Short Film Awards

    Best Grade/High School Short – As Always
    College – Til Death
    Arizona – Long Way
    Best Arizona Short Documentary – For the Love of Dogs
    Short Documentary – Eugene
    Animated – Estefan
    Live Action – Ice

    World Cinema Awards

    World Cinema Short – Mr. Invisible
    World Cinema Documentary – The Aryans
    World Cinema Director – Petr Nikolaev, Godfather’s Story
    World Cinema Best Picture – When I Saw You
    World Cinema Audience Award Winner – The Aryans

    Foundation Awards

    Arizona Filmmakers of the Year – Josh Kasselman and Stephanie Lucas
    Volunteer of the Year – Marty Freetage

    Feature Film Awards

    Dan Harkins Breakthrough Filmmaker Award – Eddie Jemison and Sean Richardson – King of Herrings
    Special Achievement in Acting – Elias Koteas, Jake Squared
    Best Ensemble – Teddy Bears
    Best Director – Henry Barrial – The House That Jack Built
    Best Screenplay –  Joseph Vasquez – The House That Jack Built
    Best Documentary – The Joe Show
    Best Picture – The House That Jack Built
    Cox Audience Award – Life Inside Out 

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  • Sonoma International Film Festival Announce 2014 Award Winners; “Brahmin Bulls” Starring Mary Steenburgen Wins Best American Independent Feature

     Brahmin BullsBrahmin Bulls

    The Sonoma International Film Festival’s 17th edition which ran April 2 to 6, 2014, came to a close Sunday night and bestowed awards on the winning films and filmmakers. Brahmin Bulls directed by Mahesh Pailoor and starring Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha and Michael Lerner won the award for Best American Independent Feature. In the film, a disillusioned architect and his distant father come together after many years, but when a woman from the past resurfaces, old wounds threaten to break their new-found relationship.

    FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS:

    Best American Independent Feature: Brahmin Bulls
    Directed by Mahesh Pailoor

    A disillusioned architect and his distant father come together after many years, but when a woman from the past resurfaces, old wounds threaten to break their new-found relationship. The film stars Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha and Michael Lerner.

    Jury notes: Universal recognition of the father-son relationship told through the specificity of a cultural lens.

    Best World Feature: Siddharth, directed by Richie Metha

    After sending away his 12-year-old son Siddharth for work, Mahendra (a chain-wallah who fixes broken zippers on the streets) is relieved his financial burdens will be alleviated. But when Siddharth fails to return home, Mahendra learns he may have been taken by child-traffickers. With little resources and no connections, he travels across India with the hope that whatever force arbitrarily took his child away will return him unharmed.

    Jury notes: Tremendous heart and humanity in a quickly changing time… classic storytelling with a fresh perspective.

    Honorable Mention: Everything Is Fine Here, directed by Pourya Azarbayjani

    An engaged girl is gang raped in a desert area of Teheran. In a strict conservative society the crime of the assailants is the catastrophe of the victim. Overwhelmed by rumors her life turns into a nightmare.

    Jury notes: A courageous approach to narrative storytelling.

    Best Documentary Feature: The Human Experiment, directed by Donald Hardy, Jr.

    Narrated and executive-produced by Oscar winner Sean Penn, the film documents how thousands of untested chemicals are in our products, our homes and in us. The film follows a band of unlikely activists who are fighting back. Ranging from a conservative businessman to a teenage radical, they are staking their lives on this battle to protect our health. They go head-to-head with the powerful and well-funded chemical industry to uncover a system that’s been hidden from consumers, where science is for sale and million-dollar PR campaigns keep dangerous products on the shelves.

    Jury notes: An important story that needed to be told, and equally entertaining.

    Best Narrative Short: Door God, directed by Yulin Liu

    On Chinese New Year, a little girl learns reality is not what it seems as she discovers how betrayal can be done out of love. A seven-year-old girl, Lingli, has been waiting two years for her mother to come home. When her family finally puts up the Door God on Chinese New Year, her mother finally returns, but brings irreversible change to Lingli and her family.

    Jury notes: A moving tale of a small girl and her father learning to exist following the mother’s abandonment… a story of hope and stoicism.

    Best Documentary Short: Happy Hands, directed by Honey Lauren

    In 1975 Saigonm, actress Tippi Hedren gave her time and heart on the South China Sea, bravely helping Vietnamese refugees and eventually becoming a fixture in the camp known as Hope Village. There, Miss Hedren personally conceived and provided the means for twenty of the first refugees to establish themselves as manicurists. Together, they brought beauty to the masses, and established a new industry that became a Vietnamese American Dream for a people whose language has no word to describe it.

    Jury notes: A revealing introduction of how South Vietnamese immigrants earned a living and gained a sense of self via an unlikely route — nail salons.

    AUDIENCE FAVORITE WINNERS

    The Stolman Audience Award of $1,000 for Best American Independent Feature:
    The Fourth Noble Truth, directed by Gary T. McDonald

    After being convicted of road rage, a playboy movie star is sentenced to individual mediation lessons with an enlightened Buddhist teacher.

    A³ Audience Award of $1000 for Best Documentary: Taking My Parents to Burning Man, directed by Joel Ashton McCarthy and Bryant H. Boesen

    Burning Man is a arts festival in the Nevada desert that is notorious for dust, destruction, and debauchery. Needless to say, it’s not your average place for a family vacation…that is until Bry decides to rip his parents from their day to day office jobs and throw them into an adventure of a lifetime.

    Audience Award of $1000 for Best World Feature: Butterfly’s Dream, directed by Yilmaz Erdogan

    In a small Turkish town, two young tuberculous poets try to survive while publishing their poems. As they both fall in love, their life would never be the same.

     via sonomaportal

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  • RADiUS-TWC to Work with Duplass Brothers on a “CREEP” Trilogy; Sets Release Date for “THE ONE I LOVE”

     CREEPCREEP

    RADiUS-TWC, a division of the Weinstein Company will partner with the Duplass Brothers and Blumhouse Productions on a CREEP trilogy after the film’s ‘highly praised and fear inducing” SXSW premiere.  CREEP stars Mark Duplass (SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED) who co-wrote the film with Patrick Brice, making his directorial debut. Produced by Jason Blum (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE PURGE, INSIDIOUS and SINISTER franchises) and Duplass, CREEP is a unique two-man psychological thriller that upends expectations at every turn.  

    The One I LoveThe One I Love

    RADiUS is also distributing Duplass’ THE ONE I LOVE which the company acquired out of Sundance and plans to release on August 15.

    Synopsis is as follows: “Looking for work, Aaron (Brice) comes across a cryptic online ad: $1,000 for the day. Filming service. Discretion is appreciated.”

    Low on cash and full of naiveté he drives to a cabin in a remote mountain town where he meets Josef (Duplass), his cinematic subject for the day. Josef is sincere and the project seems heartfelt, so Aaron begins to film. But as the day goes on, it becomes clear that Josef may not be who he says.

    RADiUS, who acquired worldwide rights to the trilogy, is planning to release CREEP later this year.

    According to RADiUS co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego: “We jumped at the opportunity to work with Mark again and Jason’s involvement was icing on the cake.   CREEP is wry and unnerving with a shock ending that one has come to expect from Blumhouse.  The film played through the roof at SXSW and it was abundantly clear that audiences have a huge appetite for these characters.”

    Mark Duplass echoes the sentiment: “I’m a huge fan of the renegade tactics of Blumhouse and RADiUS, and I couldn’t be more psyched to partner with them on this utterly insane new franchise.”

    Jason Blum goes on to say:  “Mark and Patrick made a smart, fresh and terrifying film and we are excited to partner with RADiUS-TWC on sharing it with audiences while we continue to expand the CREEP world.”

     

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  • VIDEO | Poster and Watch Trailer for Jon Favreau’s Chef Starring Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson

    chef movie-poster

    Check out the first poster and trailer for CHEF written and directed by John Favreau and released in theaters on May 9, 2014.  Favreau wrote, directed and stars in the comedy film that also features Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo,Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr. Favreau plays Carl, a chef who loses his job and decides to launch a food truck business, while attempting to reunite his estranged family. 

    If you want to catch the film before then, Chef, which had its World Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, also screens as part of the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival and is the opening night film of the Montclair Film Festival.

    http://youtu.be/mLuixZwiIdU

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  • Indie Pop Band ‘of Montreal’ Documentary “THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL” Acquired by Oscilloscope Laboratories for Late 2014 Release

     Jason Miller’s THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL

    Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired worldwide rights to Jason Miller’s THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL, described as an intimate, enlightening portrait of the endlessly versatile indie pop band of Montreal. The film, which is currently in post-production and is set to bow later this year, is the result of a passionate fanbase that brought the project to life through a successful Kickstarter campaign that resulted in nearly $100,000 in pledges.

    THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL is a personal, accessible look at an artist – frontman Kevin Barnes – whose pursuit to make transcendent music at all costs drives him to value art over human relationships. As he struggles with all of those around him, family and bandmates alike, he’s forced to reconsider the future of the band, begging the question – is this really worth it?

    About the acquisition, O-scope’s Dan Berger and David Laub said, “As fans of of Montreal, we have been excited by this project since we first became aware of it via Kickstarter. We were exceptionally pleased when THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL turned out to be an incredibly well-made, relatable film and are extremely excited to come on board at this early stage to unleash it upon the masses.”

    Filmmaker Jason Miller said, “I’m not sure if they actually liked the whole film, or just the scene with Kevin Barnes’ penis flapping around, but either way, I’m thrilled to release my first film with the infamous Oscilloscope Laboratories!”

    of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes said, “It is difficult for me to be totally objective about the documentary, but I feel that it is a fairly unflinching and honest portrait of my life in music over the last twenty years.”

    ‘THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL’ was produced and edited by Jason Miller and Andrew Napier (producer of the 2013 Academy Award®-winning short film ‘Curfew’), executive produced by Matt Lunsford and Seth Hubbard of Polyvinyl Records and is a production of Shrine. 

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  • Ashland Independent Film Festival Announces 2014 Award Winners; ‘The Case Against 8’ Sweeps Awards for Best Documentary

    The Case Against 8The Case Against 8 The  Ashland Independent Film Festival  announced the 2014 juried and audience award winning films at an Awards Celebration gala at the Historic Ashland Armory.  The festival’s opening night film, The Case Against 8, directed by Ben Cotner and Ryan White, took home the Les Blank Award for Best Feature Length Documentary, given by the festival’s jurors, as well the Rogue Creamery Audience Award for Best Documentary, voted on by the audience. The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the historic case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The filmmakers and two of the plaintiffs attended the festival and participated in a lively Q&A with audiences following the screening of the film. 2014 Audience Award Winners Obvious Child won the Varsity Audience Award for Best Feature. Brooklyn Farmer received the Audience Award for Best Short Film: Documentary and Young Americans took home the Audience Award for Best Short Film: Narrative. The Audience Family Choice Award went to Macropolis. 2014 Juried Award Winners Hank and Asha, directed by James E. Duff received the festival’s jury award for Best Narrative Feature film. Bluebird received an Honorable Mention in the category. New for AIFF14, the jury award for Best Editing: Feature Length Documentary went to Marmato, directed by Mark Grieco. Bluebird won jury prize for Best Acting Ensemble, with Hank and Asha receiving an honorable mention.Before I Disappear received the Gerald Hirschfeld A.S.C. Award for Best Cinematography and Drunktown’s Finest received an Honorable Mention. Hirschfeld was the 2007 A.S.C President’s Award Honoree and Director of Photography for films such as Young Frankenstein and My Favorite Year. Best Short Documentary went to Rougarouing. The juried award for Best Short Film went to Yearbook.Verbatim received an Honorable Mention in the Best Short Film category. The 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to two-time Academy Award® winning Director Barbara Kopple. Kopple received an Oscar® in 1977 for Harlan County USA, which screened at the Festival, and again in 1991 for American Dream. Kopple’s many award-winning films include Shut Up and Sing; Woodstock: Now and Then; and Wild Man Blues. Kopple’s latest documentary, Running from Crazy, also screened at the Festival.  The film examines the personal journey of writer, model and actress Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, as she strives for a greater understanding of her complex family history. Earlier in the week, the AIFF presented a 2014 Rogue Award to Ty Burrell. Ty has appeared in blockbuster hits such as Black Hawk Down (2001), Dawn of the Dead (2004), and The Incredible Hulk (2008) and is the voice of Mr. Peabody in the upcoming Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Most know him as the funniest father on television, Phil Dunphy. But Ashland audiences got to know the man behind Phil, the Emmy Award® winning performer who grew up in Ashland, during A Conversation with Ty Burrell held on Saturday, April 5 at the Historic Ashland Armory. Ty and his childhood friend, Miles Inada, Professor of Art and Emerging Media at Southern Oregon University, engaged in an insightful and thoroughly entertaining discussion. Putting the spotlight on a filmmaker making a unique contribution to independent film, the AIFF presented Mark Monroe with a 2014 Rogue Award.  Monroe is the writing talent behind the Academy Award® winning film The Cove and the eye-opening Chasing Ice (AIFF12). Monroe was presented with his Rogue Award after the screening of his most recent film, Mission Blue.  Mission Blue is about legendary oceanographer, marine biologist, and environmentalist Sylvia Earle and her campaign to create a global network of protected marine sanctuaries. Monroe was also featured on the filmmaker TalkBack panel, Not the Same Old Story, examining the critical role of writing for documentary films.

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  • Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Announces 2014 Award Winners; “Evolution of a Criminal” Wins Grand Jury Award

    Evolution of A CriminalEvolution of A Criminal

    The 2014 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival award winners were announced this afternoon at the festival’s annual Awards Barbecue. The Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award was presented to Evolution of a Criminal, directed by Darius Clark Monroe. Ten years after robbing a bank as teenager, filmmaker Darius Clark Monroe returns home and turns the camera on himself — to tell the story of what happened and look at the fallout from his actions.

    Jury members Shola Lynch, Robb Moss, and Christine O’Malley stated: “For its mix of autobiographical storytelling and inventive use of recreations, for its ability to disrupt what has become a familiar narrative, we award the Grand Jury Award to Evolution of a Criminal.”

    White EarthWhite Earth

    The Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short was given to White Earth, directed by J. Christian Jensen. Against the backdrop of an ethereal North Dakota winter, three children and their immigrant mother describe scenes of isolation and exertion — the impact of the oil boom to their everyday lives.

    Jury members Brian McGinn, Rick Prelinger, and Toby Shimin stated: “Short filmmaking is the art of working within the constraints of limited resources. For its elegant images of an environmentally precarious practice, its enigmatic and often surprising characters, and its vivid depiction of a place undergoing rapid transition, we recognize White Earth with the Jury Award for Best Short.”

    The Hand That FeedsThe Hand That Feeds

    The Hand That Feeds, directed by Rachel Lears and Robin Blotnick, received the Full Frame Audience Award for Feature. The film, a moving story of a bitter labor dispute, follows a group of New York City restaurant workers who stand up for their rights, despite the threat of job loss and deportation.

    http://youtu.be/Hs2KiBiPU6w

    The Silly Bastard Next to the Bed, directed by Scott Calonico, received the Full Frame Audience Award Short. The film is a humorous retelling of how JFK handled a scandal over some pricey bedroom furniture during the last summer of his presidency.

    The Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award was given to Evolution of a Criminal, directed by Darius Clark Monroe. Provided by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, this award honors a documentary artist whose work is a potential catalyst for education and change. Representatives from the Center for Documentary Studies juried the prize: Randy Benson, Wesley Hogan, Katie Hyde, Lynn McKnight, Dan Partridge, Elena Rue, Teka Selman, and April Walton.

    Return to HomsReturn to Homs

    Return to Homs, directed by Talal Derki, was awarded the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award. The film takes viewers to the frontlines of the Syrian Civil War as two friends who are determined to defend their city abandon peaceful resistance and take up arms, heading straight for the heart of the warzone. Provided by the Charles E. Guggenheim family, this prize honors a first-time documentary feature director. Zak Piper, Roger Ross Williams, and Martha Shane juried this award.

    The OvernightersThe Overnighters

    The Overnighters, directed by Jesse Moss, received the Full Frame Inspiration Award. The film deals with a pastor in an oil boomtown who opens his doors to desperate and disillusioned jobseekers, and the unintended consequences that result from his good intentioned actions. Sponsored by the Hartley Film Foundation, this award is presented to the film that best exemplifies the value and relevance of world religions and spirituality. Sarah Masters, Jason Osder, and Dawn Porter juried this award.

    Santa Cruz del IsloteSanta Cruz del Islote

    The Full Frame President’s Award was presented to Santa Cruz del Islote, directed by Luke Lorentzen. The film is about the remote island of Santa Cruz del Islote, one of the most densely populated on the planet, where a community struggles to main its way of life as resources and opportunities dwindle. Sponsored by Duke University, representatives on behalf of the President’s Office juried the prize.

    Private ViolencePrivate Violence

    Private Violence, directed by Cynthia Hill, won the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights. This urgent and inspiring film confronts the question, “Why didn’t you leave?” through two women’s complex stories of survival, while exploring the way we talk about and deal with domestic violence as a society. Provided by the Julian Price Foundation, this award is presented to a film that addresses a significant human rights issue in the United States. Representatives from the Kathleen Bryan Edwards family juried the prize: Anne Arwood, Laura Edwards, Clay Farland, Margaret Griffin, and Pricey Harrison.

    The Great InvisibleThe Great Invisible

    The Nicholas School Environmental Award was presented to The Great Invisible, directed by Margaret Brown. The film is a chilling investigation of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, told through the stories of people still experiencing its after effects — from oil executives to Gulf Coast residents — long after the media moved on. The Nicholas School Environmental Award honors the film that best depicts the conflict between our drive to improve living standards through development and modernization, and the imperative to preserve both the natural environment that sustains us and the heritages that define us. Representatives from the Nicholas School of the Environment juried the prize: Lisa Campbell, Erin Espelie, Cindy Horn, Rebecca Patton, and Tom Rankin.

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