China Syndrome[/caption]
Inspired by current affairs in Trump-era America, the 2018 Retrospective program of the Edinburgh International Film Festival is titled Time of the Signs: Chasing the American Zeitgeist. This year’s line-up will focus primarily on U.S. cinema from the 1980s through three strands which explore the evolution of American culture today: American Woman: Female Directors in American Cinema; American Exposé: The Media in Mainstream American Cinema; and The American Nightmare: Horror in Mainstream American Cinema. A special Retrospective LIVE! screening of the rarely-seen concert film, Monterey Pop, will also feature as part of Summerhall’s Southern Exposure Festival.
EIFF Senior Programmer, Niall Greig Fulton said: “In light of recent events on the other side of the Atlantic, Time of the Signs is designed to reflect important cultural issues in America today through the cinema of the country’s past.”
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2018 Edinburgh International Film Festival Unveils Donald Trump Inspired Retrospective Program Lineup
[caption id="attachment_27757" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] China Syndrome[/caption]
Inspired by current affairs in Trump-era America, the 2018 Retrospective program of the Edinburgh International Film Festival is titled Time of the Signs: Chasing the American Zeitgeist. This year’s line-up will focus primarily on U.S. cinema from the 1980s through three strands which explore the evolution of American culture today: American Woman: Female Directors in American Cinema; American Exposé: The Media in Mainstream American Cinema; and The American Nightmare: Horror in Mainstream American Cinema. A special Retrospective LIVE! screening of the rarely-seen concert film, Monterey Pop, will also feature as part of Summerhall’s Southern Exposure Festival.
EIFF Senior Programmer, Niall Greig Fulton said: “In light of recent events on the other side of the Atlantic, Time of the Signs is designed to reflect important cultural issues in America today through the cinema of the country’s past.”
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2018 Sarasota Film Festival Announces Lineup, ‘1985’ EIGHTH GRADE’ ‘THE RIDER’ and More…
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EIGHTH GRADE[/caption]
The 2018 Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) announced its full line-up, including its Centerpiece, Spotlight, Narrative Feature Competition, Independent Visions Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Narrative, Documentary, and Short Films. The Festival also announced its five SFF Focus Panels – Sports in Cinema, Environment, Science, and Sustainability, Women’s Comedic Voices, Redefining Manhood, and Musings on Musicians.
“In honor of our 20th anniversary, we have programmed a lineup that celebrates the past, present, and future of the Sarasota Film Festival that is sure to delight our dedicated and passionate audiences,” said Mark Famiglio, Chairman and President of the Sarasota Film Festival. “The selection includes a diverse group of narratives and voices that will create engaging conversations about today’s most important topics.”
In the Festival’s Centerpiece section is 1985, about a closeted gay man, unable to come out to his friends and family during the beginning of the AIDS crisis, staring Academy Award®-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, who will be attendance at the Festival. Also a Centerpiece selection is Bo Burnham’s feature film directorial debut, EIGHTH GRADE, a portrait of young teenagers discovering their identities online and in reality. Bo will be in attendance for a Q&A following the film’s screening during the Festival.
The Spotlight section will include narrative films Brett Haley’s HEARTS BEAT LOUD, Silas Howard’s A KID LIKE JAKE, Andrew Haigh’s LEAN ON PETE, Hannah Fidell’s THE LONG DUMB ROAD, Dominic Cooke’s ON CHESIL BEACH, Chloé Zhao’s THE RIDER, and Madeline Olnek’s WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY, and documentary films Eugene Jarecki’s THE KING, Ali Weinstein’s MERMAIDS, Barbara Kopple’s A MURDER IN MANSFIELD, and Morgan Neville’s WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
Each year the Sarasota Film Festival focuses on social issues to highlight throughout its program. The Sports in Cinema Focus returns this year, welcoming Ben and Orson Cummings and their film KILLER BEES, produced by Shaquille O’Neill. Other films in this focus include the Closing Day Film, Jason Kohn’s LOVE MEANS ZERO and Dana Adam Shapiro’s DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS.
In consideration of sustainability of communities and the planet, films in the SFF Environment, Science, and Sustainability Focus include Susan Kucera’s LIVING IN THE FUTURE’S PAST, Chad Freidrichs’ EXPERIMENTAL CITY, Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler, and Jeff Springer’s RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE, and Rory Kennedy’s ABOVE AND BEYOND: NASA’S JOURNEY TO TOMORROW.
In a groundbreaking year for women, the festival presents SFF Focus: Women’s Comedic Voices, a lineup featuring all female directors. Films in the category include Wendy McColm’s BIRDS WITHOUT FEATHERS, Bridey Elliott’s CLARA’S GHOST, Caroline Golum’s A FEAST OF MAN as well as LONG DUMB ROAD and WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY.
The films in the SFF Focus: Redefining Manhood, provide a glimpse at the questions regarding masculine identities, include Bing Liu’s MINDING THE GAP, as well as 1985, THE RIDER, and WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
The final SFF Focus: Musings on Musicians, presents an array of films exploring the relationships between music and film. Films in the category include Laura Parnes’ TOUR WITHOUT END, T.G. Herrington and Danny Clinch’s A TUBA TO CUBA, Derek Ahonen’s THE TRANSCENDENTS, Sophie Fiennes’ GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI, Jake Meginsky and Neil Young’s MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS, Scott Smith’s CHASING THE BLUES, Stephen Loveridge’s MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A, as well as THE KING and HEARTS BEAT LOUD.
The Narrative Feature Competition will showcase DON’T LEAVE HOME directed by Michael Tully, I AM NOT A WITCH, directed by Rungano Nyoni, MADELINE’S MADELINE, directed by Josephine Decker, THE QUEEN OF FEAR directed by Valeria Bertuccelli and Fabiana Tiscornia, THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN directed by Kamila Andini, SUPPORT THE GIRLS directed by Andrew Bujalski as well as CLARA’S GHOST.
The Documentary Feature Competition will include GENERATION WEALTH directed by Lauren Greenfield, GENESIS 2.0 directed by Christian Frei and Maxim Arbugaev, HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING directed by RaMell Ross, OF FATHERS AND SONS directed by Talal Derki, THE SENTENCE directed by Rudy Valdez, as well as DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS and MINDING THE GAP.
The Independent Visions Competition will feature BLACK MOTHER directed by Khalik Allah, LIFE AND NOTHING MORE directed by Antonio Méndez Esparza, MAISON DU BONHEUR directed by Sofia Bohdanowicz, NOTES ON APPEARANCE directed by Ricky D’Ambrose, as well as BIRDS WITHOUT FEATHERS, A FEAST OF MAN, MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS, and TOUR WITHOUT END.
The jury for the competition films will consist of the following individuals: producer Autumn Bailey-Ford, Emmy®-nominated writer and producer Mark Bailey, documentary filmmaker Orson Cummings, New York Magazine film critic David Edelstein, Factory 25 film distributor Matt Grady, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Director – New York Programs and Membership Patrick Harrison, film professor Del Jacobs, Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Penny Lane, actress Penelope Ann Miller, The Hollywood Reporter film writer Tatiana Siegel, founder and publisher of Women and Hollywood Melissa Silverstein, and Sarasota County Circuit court judge and filmmaker Charles Williams.
Narrative films include: ALL YOU CAN EAT BUDDHA directed by Ian Lagarde, AMERICAN ANIMALS directed by Bart Layton, AUGUST IN BERLIN directed by Becky Smith, BIKINI MOON directed by Milcho Manchevski, BLACK KITE directed by Tarique Qayumi, CAN HITLER HAPPEN HERE? directed by Saskia Rifkin, COLD SKIN directed by Xavier Gens, COME SUNDAY directed by Joshua Marston, DELENDA directed by Ralph Moffettone, DIMINUENDO directed by Adrian Stewart, EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA directed by Jim McKay, FIRST REFORMED directed by Paul Schrader, A FRENCHMAN IN FLORIDA directed by Dante Rhev, HOLIDAY directed by Isabella Eklof, LET THE SUNSHINE IN directed by Claire Denis, MAKTUB directed by Oded Raz, SANTA INOCENCIA directed by Maritxell Campos Olivé, SHELTER directed by Eran Riklis, TATTERDEMALION directed by Ramaa Mosley, TINKER directed by Sonny Mahrler, VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA directed by Daniel Stine, VIRUS TROPICAL directed by Santiago Caicedo, WE THE ANIMALS directed by Jeremiah Zagar, WHITE RABBIT directed by Daryl Wein, ZAMA directed by Lucrecia Martel, as well as CHASING THE BLUES and THE TRANSCENDENTS.
Documentary films include: 306 HOLLYWOOD directed by Elan Bogarin and Jonathan Bogarin, ANTONIO LOPEZ 1970: SEX FASHION & DISCO directed by James Crump, ASK THE SEXPERT directed by Vaishali Sinha, BISBEE ’17 directed by Robert Greene, CHEF FLYNN directed by Cameron Yates, CRACKING ACES: A WOMAN’S PLACE AT THE TABLE directed by H. James Gilmore, CRIME + PUNISHMENT directed by Stephen Maing, DISTANT CONSTELLATION directed by Shevaun Mizrahi, FATHER’S KINGDOM directed by Lenny Feinberg, FREEDOM FOR THE WOLF directed by Rupert Russell, THE GREAT FLIP-OFF directed by Dafna Yachin, HALF THE PICTURE directed by Amy Adrion, LA FLOR DE LA VIDA directed by Adriana Leoff and Claudia Abend, LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY AND A CASTLE directed by Gustavo Salmerón, MAYNARD directed by Sam Pollard, OLD DOG directed by Sally Rowe, ON HER SHOULDERS directed by Alexandria Bombach, THE PAIN OF OTHERS directed by Penny Lane, RBG directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, SISTERS directed by Justyna Tafel, THAT SUMMER directed by Göran Hugo Olsson, THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS directed by Tim Wardle as well as THE EXPERIMENTAL CITY, GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI, KILLER BEES, LIVING IN THE FUTURE’S PAST, MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A., RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE, and A TUBA TO CUBA.
As previously announced Golden Globe®-nominated and Independent Spirit Award®-nominated Eric Stoltz’s coming-of-age comedy CLASS RANK will be the Festival’s Opening Night film and Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy®-winning Rory Kennedy’s ABOVE AND BEYOND: NASA’S JOURNEY TO TOMORROW will serve as Closing Night film. The Festival will also be honoring renowned actor Steve Guttenberg and Academy Award®-nominated actress Virginia Madsen with Career Achievement Awards during the closing weekend.
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International Film Festival Rotterdam Audience Award Winner THE GUILTY to Kick Off 7th Edition Curaçao IFFR
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The Guilty[/caption]
For the seventh time, Willemstad will host Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam (CIFFR), from Wednesday April 11 through Sunday April 15, 2018. CIFFR presents the highlights of the most recent edition of IFFR, gripping new titles from other film festivals, and promising new work by filmmakers from the region, most importantly in its Yellow Robin Award Competition and the Caribbean Shorts Competition.
This year’s edition opens with Gustav Möller’s thrilling debut The Guilty, which won the Audience Award at IFFR 2018, and closes with Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin) with a wonderful role played by Annette Bening.
Yellow Robin Award Competition
For the sixth time, CIFFR presents the Yellow Robin Award Competition, in which five films by emerging filmmakers from the Caribbean and Latin America compete for the Yellow Robin Award. This year’s selections are Khalik Allah’s Black Mother (Jamaica, USA), Gustavo Ramos Perales’s El chata (Puerto Rico), Luis and Andrés Rodríguez’s Hijos de la sal (Venezuela), Vashti Anderson’s Moko Jumbie (Trinidad and Tobago, USA) and Álvaro Aponte-Centeno’s El silencio del viento (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, France). An international jury picks the winning film, which is guaranteed a spot in IFFR 2019’s Bright Future program and will also screen at Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico later in the year. The winning filmmaker receives a cash prize of $2,500 as well as $7,500 worth of training in the context of talent development in programs such as BoostNL or CineMart. The five nominees for the 6th Yellow Robin Award are: [caption id="attachment_27747" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
BLACK MOTHER[/caption]
BLACK MOTHER
Khalik ALLAH | Jamaica, USA | 2018 | English | n.s.
In his artistic documentary, filmmaker/photographer Khalik Allah (1985, US) gives Jamaicans the opportunity to share their dreams and wisdom, but also to talk about the harsh everyday reality. The self-taught photographer and filmmaker portrays contemporary Jamaicans in a particularly honest fashion. From young streetwalkers and streetwise rappers to Rastafarians, mothers, agricultural laborers and devout church girls.
EL CHATA (The Sparring Partner)
Gustavo RAMOS PERALES | Puerto Rico | 2018 | Spanish | e.s.
Director Ramos Perales (1980, Puerto Rico) took the scintillating boxing scene of Puerto Rico as the point of departure for his debut drama The Sparring Partner about second chances and perseverance. Convincing acting and action-packed fight scenes reveal that boxing seems to promise a better life for many Puerto Ricans, but even with great ambition and talent, there’s a constant pull to abandon the straight and narrow.
HIJOS DE LA SAL (Children of the Salt)
Luis and Andrés RODRÍGUEZ | Venezuela | 2018 | Spanish | e.s.
Hijos de la sal is the second feature film by brothers Luis and Andrés Rodríquez (1974, Venezuela). This luxuriant, absorbing family drama is set in the salt pans of Cumaragues, Venezuela where, after the death of their father, Evaristo, the lives of Enrique (13) and Maria (16) get a lot harder. Sound plays a major role in the film; the almost tangible presence of the wind, waves and music lend it a magic-realist edge.
MOKO JUMBIE
Vashti ANDERSON | 2017 | Trinidad & Tobago, USA | English | n.s.
A romantic drama about roots and tolerance by Trinidadian-American filmmaker Vashti Anderson. While visiting her aunt in Trinidad, young Englishwoman Asha meets mysterious neighbour Roger. This starts a romantic, magical search for identity and love. Intense debut film that delicately navigates taboos, superstition and spirituality.
EL SILENCIO DEL VIENTO (Silence of the Wind)
Álvaro APONTE-CENTENO | Puerto Rico, Dom. Republic, France | 2017 | Spanish | e.s.
In his debut film, Silence of the Wind, Álvaro Aponte-Centeno (1979, Puerto Rico) depicts a humane, yet no less dramatic side of the global immigration crisis. Together with his sister Carmen, Rafael is part of a human trafficking network that helps move fortune seekers to Puerto Rico. The country’s beautiful landscapes contrast markedly with the tragedies of human trafficking victims.
CIFFR
CIFFR launched in 2012 as a collaboration between the Curaçao-based Fundashon Bon Intenshon and International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Since then, the festival has served as a platform for young local film talent and has brought feature films, documentaries and short films from all over the world together in Curaçao. Festival Director Bero Beyer: “CIFFR offers a wonderful treat: five days of celebrating independent cinema on a beautiful island which has always been a meeting point for many different cultures. The voices represented at the festival range from those of internationally renowned filmmakers to those of emerging local artists, which results in a unique mix of different perspectives and tones. The selection for this seventh edition is as lively and diverse as ever and is sure to open up a world of daring and beautiful film to a wide audience.”Caribbean Shorts Competition
Last year CIFFR introduced the Caribbean Shorts Competition, which returns for its second installment this year. The program is the result of a region-wide collaboration. Six film festivals – in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and CIFFR itself – submitted a short film to enter the Caribbean Shorts Competition. The winning film will later screen at all these festivals.Program
Besides the competitions, the seventh edition of CIFFR presents a special program entitled Scenes of Senses that investigates the way film stimulates not just the eye, but our other senses too. There is also an extensive educational program as well as the recurring Music Call program featuring music documentaries. Among the twenty or so highlights from IFFR 2018 shown in Curaçao are The Insult by Ziad Doueiri, The Florida Project by Sean Baker and three films that competed in the Hivos Tiger Competition, including the Special Jury Award and HBF Audience Award winner The Reports on Sarah and Saleem by Muayad Alayan.
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FSLC Announces 5th Art of the Real Lineup, Opens with Premiere of ‘John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection’
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection The Film Society of Lincoln Center today announced the fifth edition of Art of the Real, an essential showcase for the most vital and innovative voices in nonfiction and hybrid filmmaking, taking place April 26 to May 6. The 2018 lineup features a host of brilliant new works and exciting artist spotlights, including one world premiere, eight North American premieres, and seven U.S. premieres, with many of the filmmakers in person.
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Watch Chiwetel Ejiofor as Pastor Carlton Pearson in COME SUNDAY Trailer
Netflix has released the Trailer for Come Sunday, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, that premiered earlier this year at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The film is directed by Joshua Marston whose first film, Maria Full of Grace, won an Audience Award at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Come Sunday, also starring Martin Sheen, Jason Segel, Condola Rashad, Lakeith Stanfield and Danny Glover will launch on Netflix on April 13, 2018.
In the film, internationally-renowned pastor Carlton Pearson, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor – experiencing a crisis of faith – risks his church, family and future when he questions church doctrine and finds himself branded a modern-day heretic. Based on actual events.
Every Sunday, Bishop Carlton Pearson—evangelical megastar, brilliant orator, and television host with millions of followers—preaches the fundamentalist gospel to six thousand supplicants at his Higher Dimensions Church. He’s the pride and joy of his spiritual father, Oral Roberts, and the toast of Tulsa. One day, rattled by an uncle’s suicide and distraught by reports of the Rwandan Genocide, Pearson receives an epiphany. Suddenly it’s crystal clear—God loves all humankind; everyone is already saved, whether Christian or not; and there is no hell. But these ideas are heretical, violating sacrosanct doctrines.
The next Sunday, when Pearson unveils this theology of inclusion to his flock, shock waves sweep the enormous hall. Church leaders and members begin to defect in droves, and his empire topples. Based on the true story of a controversial and courageous man of God, Come Sunday elegantly and respectfully captures the authentic texture and tone of Pearson’s devout world, never resorting to hyperbole. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s tour-de-force performance embodies the effusive charisma and grounded humility of a character with everything to lose, yet even more to gain by heeding his convictions. Sundance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVQFWvm_fbU
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2018 Calgary Underground Film Festival to Open with AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN + Announces 15th Anniversary Lineup
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AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN[/caption]
Western Canada’s biggest genre festival, Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) returns for it’s 15th anniversary with its boldest and most eclectic lineup yet, with 43% of the festival’s feature films by female filmmakers. AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN starring Aubrey Plaza, Jemaine Clement, Emile Hirsch and Craig Robinson will open the festival on Monday, April 16. Director Jim Hosking in attendance.
“I remember the day we started this festival and our vision was to grow within our means, screen provocative, boundary-pushing independent film, build a solid community, and to really make sure we were creating a festival as fans, for fans,” said Co-Founder & Festival Director Brenda Lieberman.
With humble beginnings using fold-out chairs at The Venue (now called HiFi Club) attended by a few hundred fans over three-days; today, CUFF is a seven-day internationally-recognized festival presenting 55 films to nearly 7,000 attendees.
“I’m excited we’ve reached 15 years, continually growing, and achieving what we set out to do! I love this festival, and what we’ve become so far!”
The Calgary Underground Film Festival runs April 16 to 22, 2018 at Globe Cinema; and highlights of this year’s festival include:
The psychological thriller KNUCKLEBALL from local director Mike Peterson, and the international premiere of FREAKS & GEEKS: THE DOCUMENTARY from Alberta filmmaker Brent Hodge, just days after it premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Three more world premieres including THE SECRET POPO from CUFF alumnus Sean Pierce (MEATHEAD GOES HOGWILD); PAPER YEAR, the feature directorial debut from Canadian Rebecca Addelman, a prominent Hollywood screenwriter of the hit TV shows NEW GIRL and LOVE; and SLAVE TO THE GRIND, a documentary about grindcore from DIY filmmaker Doug Brown featuring the local band Wake.
The return of the FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL: VOLUME 8, a one-of-a-kind CUFF-favorite event that showcases footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters across the country. Curators Nick and Joe will be back at CUFF for the first time in four years.
Big hits fresh off their premieres on the film festival circuit including the French-thriller REVENGE (Dir. Coralie Fargeat), a documentary about the history of roller-dancing in Venice Beach ROLLER DREAMS (Dir. Kate Hickey), and Lynne Ramsay’s latest YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE will be presented alongside a retrospective of her past work.
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2018 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Tribeca TV and N.O.W. (New Online Work) Lineup
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Home[/caption]
The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival will debut highly anticipated TV shows and introduce audiences to online storytellers without boundaries in its Tribeca TV and N.O.W. (New Online Work) sections. The Tribeca TV line-up includes 18 shows made up of eight series premieres, three season premieres, one mid-season premiere, two feature documentaries and five indie pilots.
The 5th edition of N.O.W. includes 12 programs in the Episodic and Short Form Showcases, in addition to the Creators Market. N.O.W. will also present five The New York Times Op-Docs. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18-29.
This year’s Tribeca TV lineup includes world premieres of new series, including Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, from Executive Producer Jay-Z, based on the timely book of the same title; Sweetbitter, a coming-of-age series about a young woman working the restaurant industry in New York City and Cobra Kai, with Ralph Macchio reprising his iconic role from The Karate Kid franchise.
Two feature films exploring iconic television shows will World Premiere: Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary, looking at the fan favorite with a dedicated cult following, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow and Mr. SOUL!, which focuses on the groundbreaking show Soul!, which presented the breadth of black artistry and culture for the first time to nationwide audiences via the medium of television. National Geographic’s acclaimed Genius series returns to Tribeca with Genius: Picasso, starring Antonio Banderas, on the heels of the series’ world premiere at last year’s festival. The star-studded cast of HBO’s hit series Westworld, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden will be in attendance for the New York premiere of season two’s premiere episode. Tribeca TV also presents the best in new independent voices in episodic television with its Pilot Season section with five new unaffiliated projects.
“Tribeca TV has become a destination for some of the most highly anticipated and well-received shows on television,” said Cara Cusumano, Director of Programming at the Tribeca Film Festival. “While we continue that tradition with an exciting slate of new and returning series premieres, we also sought to pay homage to the rich cultural history of TV through two feature documentaries about groundbreaking shows of the past, and all-new episodes of a true-crime trailblazer.”
The N.O.W. Showcase features the latest work from 18 unique online creators who are using their platforms to tell original stories. In the Episodic Showcase the projects range from coming-of-age stories about gender non-conforming friends in Dinette, to Snugglr, a comedic series about a young Turkish woman who takes up the strange profession of cuddling with strangers for profit, to an animated series based on the Oscar®-nominated short film Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems. Some of the works in the Short Form Showcase include a documentary about the devastating water crisis in Flint, Michigan called Flint is a Place; a film set in the dystopian future wherein an aging fisherman in Vietnam discovers an android woman from his past called The Last Fisherman; and Crime Cutz, a hybrid documentary-music video all set to the music of the band Holy Ghost!
These online creators, as well as an additionally curated 15 participants – including, for the first time, VR and immersive filmmakers – are invited to take part in the Tribeca Creators Market – a private industry market that brings creators together with distributors, brands, and MCNs to pitch and discuss their latest work.
“We started Tribeca N.O.W. five years ago to recognize a truly unique brand of storytellers emerging from the online space,” said Liza Domnitz, Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film Festival. “Here were creators who found the Wild West landscape of the web the perfect playground for their hysterical, provocative and moving visions. Tribeca is proud to be a leader in recognizing these diverse filmmakers who, this year, have created vastly different work ranging from an episodic, dark comedy about addiction, to a visual extension of a popular podcast, to a serial version of a beloved Oscar®-nominated animated short film.”
TRIBECA TV
Bobby Kennedy for President (Netflix) – World Premiere. Executive Producers: Laura Michalchyshyn, Dawn Porter, Gunnar Dedio, Nestan Behrans, Dave Sirulnick, Justin Wilkes, Jon Kamen. Acclaimed director Dawn Porter reveals anew what America gained and what it lost in the life, vision, politics, and hope of Bobby Kennedy. After the screening: A conversation with director Dawn Porter and Ambassador William vanden Heuvel. Screening: Wednesday, April 25, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre Cobra Kai (YouTube Red) – World Premiere Executive Producers: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, Susan Ekins, Will Smith, James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, Ralph Macchio, William Zabka. Epic adversaries return to the dojo in Cobra Kai, an all-new series in which Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their star-making roles (and rivalry) from the iconic film franchise, The Karate Kid. With Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Mary Mouser, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Courtney Henggeler. After the screening: A conversation with writers, directors, and executive producers Hayden Schlossberg, John Hurwitz, and Josh Heald and series stars and executive producers Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. Screening: Tuesday, April 24, 7:45 PM, SVA Theatre Drunk History (Comedy Central) – Season Five, Midseason Premiere Executive Producers: Derek Waters, Jeremy Konner, Will Ferrell, Owen Burke, Adam McKay. Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of actors and comedians, travels across the country to present the liquored-up narrative of our nation’s rich history. With Derek Waters, Jeremy Konner. After the screening: A conversation with co-creator, director, and host Derek Waters, co-creator and director Jeremy Konner, and other special guests. Each screening ticket provides access to two (2) complimentary drink tickets. Screening: Thursday, April 26, 8:30 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary, directed by Brent Hodge, produced by Aly Kelly, Matthew Galkin. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary Tribeca alum Brent Hodge examines the untold stories and pivotal moments from the making of one of the greatest “one-season wonders” ever produced—one that influenced pop culture far beyond the series’ short TV life. With Paul Feig, Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, James Franco. After the movie: A conversation with director Brent Hodge and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig. First Screening: Saturday, April 21, 8:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub; Genius: Picasso (National Geographic) – World Premiere Executive Producer: Ken Biller In its second season, Genius explores the Spanish expatriate Pablo Picasso’s devotion to his craft, his contribution to modern art, and his turbulent personal life. With Antonio Banderas, Alex Rich, Clémence Poésy, Samantha Colley, Poppy Delevingne, T.R. Knight, Seth Gabel. After the screening: A conversation with showrunner Ken Biller, executive producers Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo, and cast-members Antonio Banderas, Alex Rich, Clémence Poésy, Poppy Delevingne, and Samantha Colley. Screening: Friday, April 20, 8:30 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC Little Women (PBS) – North American Premiere Executive Producers: Colin Callender, Sophie Gardiner, Heidi Thomas, Lucy Richer, Rebecca Eaton. Set against the backdrop of a country divided, the story follows the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy on their journey from childhood to adulthood under the guidance of their mother Marmee. Little Women is a coming-of-age story that is as relevant and engaging today as it was on its original publication in 1868. With Emily Watson, Michael Gambon, Angela Lansbury, Maya Hawke, Annes Elwy, Kathryn Newton, Dylan Baker and Jona Hauer-King. After the screening: A conversation with Executive Producers Colin Callender and Rebecca Eaton along with cast-member Maya Hawke. Screening: Friday, April 27, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre Mr. SOUL!, directed by Melissa Haizlip, Samuel Pollard, written and produced by Melissa Haizlip. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which, under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. After the movie: A tribute to SOUL! hosted by Blair Underwood and featuring performances from Robert Glasper and more. First Screening: Sunday, April 22, 8:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub Picnic at Hanging Rock (Amazon Prime Video) – North American Premiere Executive Producers: Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis, Penny Win. A penetrating reimagining of the iconic, timeless Australian classic, Picnic at Hanging Rock plunges audiences into the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and their governess on Valentine’s Day, 1900. With Natalie Dormer, Lily Sullivan, Madeleine Madden, Samara Weaving, Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Inez Curro, Harrison Gilbertson, Ruby Rees. After the screening: A conversation with director Larysa Kondracki, executive producer Jo Porter and cast member Natalie Dormer. Screening: Saturday, April 28, 8:00 PM, SVA Theatre Phenoms (FOX, FOX Sports) – World Premiere Executive Producers: David Brooks, Mario Melchiot, Tony Sella. Chronicling the journey of the next great soccer players on their quests to represent their respective countries in the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, Phenoms allows fans and viewers to experience the personal lives of players through unprecedented behind-the-scenes access. After the screening: A conversation with Executive Producer David Brooks, Producer Arbi Pedrossian, Director Chris Perkel, and Editor Thomas Verette. Screening: Wednesday, April 25, 8:30 PM, SVA Theatre [caption id="attachment_27726" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story[/caption]
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (Paramount Network) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Michael Gasparro, Nick Sandow, Sybrina Fulton, Tracy Martin, Chachi Senior.
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story depicts the life and legacy of Trayvon Martin, presenting the definitive look at one of the most talked-about, controversial events of the last decade.
After the screening: A conversation with co-directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst, the parents of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, executive producers Mike Gasparro and Chachi Senior, and special guest.
Screening: Friday, April 20, 5:45 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC
The Staircase – International Premiere
Executive Producers: Matthieu Belghiti, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade.The true-crime phenomenon The Staircase returns with all-new chapters, as convicted murderer Michael Peterson faces his final trial.
After the screening: A conversation with creator and director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and producers Matthieu Belghiti and Allyson Luchak
Screening: Saturday, April 28, 6:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Sweetbitter (STARZ) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Stephanie Danler, Stuart Zicherman, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Sarah Esberg.
New to New York City, 22-year-old Tess is quickly intoxicated by the chaotic, adrenalized world of the upscale restaurant industry, where she tastes expensive wine, explores dive bars, and learns who she can trust. With Ella Purnell, Tom Sturridge, Caitlin FitzGerald, Paul Sparks, Evan Jonigkeit, Eden Epstein, Jasmine Matthews, Daniyar.
After the screening: A conversation with Sweetbitter creator, executive producer, and writer Stephanie Danler, showrunner Stuart Zicherman, and cast-members Ella Purnell, Caitlin FitzGerald, Tom Sturridge, and Paul Sparks.
Screening: Thursday, April 26, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Westworld (HBO) – Season Two, New York Premiere
Executive Producers: Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, J.J. Abrams, Athena Wickham, Roberto Patino, Richard Lewis, Ben Stephenson.
As a new chapter begins, Westworld continues on its dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. With Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson.
After the screening: a conversation with co-creators, showrunners, and directors Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and cast-members Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden.
Screening: Thursday, April 19, 8:30 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvhMHJfB5U8
PILOT SEASON
Screening Showcase: Monday, April 23, 6:45 PM, Cinépolis Chelsea Fabled (USA) – World Premiere Executive Producers: Evan Jonigkeit, Alex Gayner, Zosia Mamet. This anthology series reimagines classic fairy tales through the perspective of its female characters, whose overlapping stories take place in the same small town. With Zosia Mamet, Trace Lysette, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Paul Wesley, Norbert Butz. Nice (USA) – World Premiere Executive Producer: Naomi Ko. Teddy, a sarcastic-but-loveable 23-year-old, prides herself on being the black sheep of her conservative Korean-American family. But when her cancer returns—and she keeps it a secret—everything in her life takes on new meaning. With Naomi Ko, Sun Park, Kim Cooper, Parvesh Cheena, Nathan Yueh, Connor Gould. Tantalum (USA) – World Premiere Executive Producers: Clara Aranovich. Detroit-based tech mogul Colton stands on the edge of a bridge in the middle of the night, ready to jump to his death. But when a strange woman perched above him derails his plan, he finds he’s in for a bizarre, and increasingly violent, night. With Marcus Henderson, Susan Deming, Jeffery Waddell, Langston Fishburne. Oversharing (USA) – World Premiere Executive Producers: Katie Flynn, Terri Timely. When a new business venture fails, uptight Jenny is forced to start renting out her apartment online. But diving into the sharing economy proves not to be so easy for someone who never actually learned to “share.” With Beth Dover, Sarah Burns, David Danipour, Thomas Fowler. On the Spectrum (Israel) – World Premiere Executive Producers: Ron Eilon, Danna Stern, Koby Gal Raday, Dganit Atias Gigi. On the Spectrum follows three 20-something roommates, all on the autism spectrum, as they navigate the day-to-day concerns of work, friendship, and romance. With Neomi Levov, Niv Majar, Ben Yosipovich, Uri Gat, Avi Dangur, Tal Yakimov.N.O.W. SHOWCASE
A curated selection of independent, online creators invited to showcase their latest work at public screenings as official Tribeca Film Festival selections and on TribecaFilm.com. Divided into two groups: Episodic and Short Form.EPISODIC
Premiere Screening: Thursday, April 19, 8:30 PM, Regal Battery Park Theater Cleaner Daze, created by Tess Sweet (USA) – Episode One (New York Premiere), Episode Two (World Premiere). Cleaner Daze, a dark comedy series about addiction, follows Jasmine, a newbie drug counselor, and her eccentric co-workers as they struggle to wrangle a misfit crew of teenage drug addicts. With Abigail Reno, Karin Babbitt, Tess Sweet, Kemi O’Connor. Tess Sweet is an award-winning writer and director, a recovering drug addict, and a lover of dark comedy. In 2011, Sweet graduated with an M.F.A. from the film and television directing program at the University of California at Los Angeles. Sweet now resides in the Bay Area, where she works as a freelance director and editor, serves as president of Loud and Clean, and runs programs for with at-risk youth. Dinette, created by Shaina Feinberg (USA) – World Premiere. The original series Dinette focuses on a group of female and gender non-conforming friends who come together for a commitment ceremony in the waning days of 2017. Shaina Feinberg leads the ensemble cast through a series of inter-connected vignettes riffing on wounded machismo and the patriarchy. Shaina Feinberg has directed and produced content for RIOT, Shatterbox and IFC’s Comedy Crib. Her debut as a writer and director, the award-winning feature The Babymooners, blurred the lines between documentary and fiction while examining gender stereotypes. In 2017, her short film Shiva, a hybrid of improvised comedy and actual grief, premiered at Tribeca. Senior Escort Service, her follow-up to Shiva, is a full-length movie that blends nonfiction and fiction. Driver Ed, created by Jacob A. Ware, Amanda Cowper (USA) – World Premiere. A guy decides to get his driver’s license to impress his NASCAR-loving girlfriend, but unexpected things happen on the open road. With Jacob A. Ware, Layla Khosh, Eddie Diaz, Becca Blackwell. Jacob A. Ware is an actor and writer, best known for playing Harold Selby on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. He is the head writer and host of the RYOT Studio show Screen Time; his television credits also include Law and Order: SVU, Shades of Blue, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Amanda Cowper is a New York City-based producer and director. As associate producer on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, Cowper produces all of the show’s field pieces. Home, created by Micah Sudduth, Keylee Sudduth (USA) – World Premiere. Pulling from the true life experiences of the filmmakers, Home mines the humor and heartbreak of growing into adulthood, leaving home, and balancing individual creative careers as a married couple in the millennial age. Micah Sudduth grew up in the woods of East Texas and survived years of homeschooling so that he could one day pursue his dream of a) being around people and b) making films. Keylee Sudduth is a Texan born and raised actor and filmmaker. In childhood, she always found herself better able to connect with others through theater. That has now grown into an unabashed passion for cinematic storytelling. Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems, created by Erick Oh (USA, Japan) – New York Premiere. Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems is a 2D animated series based on the world of The Dam Keeper, the beloved Oscar-nominated short film by Tonko House. The series shows how Pig remembers his father’s departure and having to step into the role of the dam keeper. Erick Oh is a Korean filmmaker and animator based in California, whose independent films have won awards at numerous film festivals. After receiving his B.F.A. from Seoul National University and his M.F.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles’s film program, Oh worked at Pixar Animation Studios as an animator, working on Academy Award®-winning films, including Inside Out and Finding Dory. [caption id="attachment_27728" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Snugglr[/caption]
Snugglr, created by Georgia Bernstein, Cemre Paksoy (USA) – World Premiere. Snugglr is an improvised comedy that follows a young Turkish girl, Cemre, who cuddles strangers, professionally as a last resort to make rent. She winds up fully dressed and in bed with all kinds of characters – including a high school student discovering her sexuality, a piano playing dad, and a twelve-year-old with lice, all of whom are looking for more than just a snuggle, in one weird way or another. In English, Turkish with English subtitles.
Georgia Bernstein is a filmmaker from Los Angeles. A recent graduate from Northwestern University, she’s living in Chicago where she created and directed a short film for Condé Nast and Indigenous Media based off her web series, Snugglr. Her first short film about modern neuroticism was an official selection in the 13th annual CineYouth Festival.
Cemre Paksoy is an actor and filmmaker living in Chicago. She recently adapted Snugglr, the web series, into a short film that can be seen on Condé Nast’s The Scene. She’s from Turkey where she windsurfs and pets dogs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-xJZ_Xh7_o
SHORT FORM
Premiere Screening: Thursday, April 19, 7:15 PM, Regal Battery Park Theater Crime Cutz, created by Ben Fries, Alden Nusser, with the music of Holy Ghost! (USA) – World Premiere. Crime Cutz is a documentary that profiles four New Yorkers to the soundtrack of Holy Ghost!’s Crime Cutz EP. Each subject is invited to interpret a song in their unique style, showcasing these individuals as both subject and collaborator, blurring the line between documentary and music video. With Brad Pawly, Caramia Lior, Lori Brizzi, Louis Orlando, Stuart Hodes, Elizabeth Hodes. Ben Fries is an award-winning director, producer, and composer from New York City. He has directed more than 20 music videos for bands, including Holy Ghost! and Danny Brown, and has composed music for films such as The Search for General Tso, The City Dark, and The Most Unknown. Alden Fitzpatrick Nusser is a native Manhattanite who got his start directing short documentaries for news outlets, including The New York Times, the New Yorker, and HBO. He is now developing several projects; among them is a samurai flick set in the tropics and a documentary-opera about a plastic surgery-obsessed grande-dame. Everything is Stories, created by Mike Martinez, Tyler Wray (USA) – World Premiere. Peter Stefan, owner of Graham Putnam & Mahoney funeral parlor in Worcester, Massachusetts, found himself thrust into the national spotlight in the spring of 2013 amid a damning controversy. With implications that still linger to this day, Stefan and his team faced the question of where to draw the line on who deserves a burial. Directed by Daniel Navetta. Everything is Stories was initially created as a podcast by Garrett Crowe, Mike Martinez, and Tyler Wray. It is now also a documentary series that explores unconventional narratives of the past and present to preserve the eccentric, the authentic, and the personal. The Last Fisherman, created by Shal Ngo (USA, Vietnam) – World Premiere. In a dystopian future, on the South China Sea, an aging fisherman discovers an android woman from his past. Shal Ngo is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker who seeks to bring the inner workings of the human brain to the big screen. After graduating from New York University in 2008, he began working in narrative, documentary, and commercial filmmaking. He is now in development on two projects: his debut feature, a sci-fi thriller about a sentient smart house, and a series of stop-motion documentaries about the psychology of mental health. Flint is a place, created by Zackary Canepari (USA) – World Premiere. This cross platform series about Flint, Michigan, document a specific moment within this American city in an intimate, character-driven way. What happens here happens in many other urban American cities. But in Flint, it happens all at once. It’s what makes Flint so important in the national conversation. Zackary Canepari is a documentary photographer and filmmaker. In 2010, he teamed with filmmaker Drea Cooper to make California is a Place, a short documentary series about California; their first feature documentary, T-Rex, about female boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, premiered at SXSW in March 2015 and was featured on PBS before the 2016 Olympics. 99 Names of God, created by Yumna Al-Arashi (UK) – World Premiere. Arab-American filmmaker Yumna Al-Arashi embraces the rhythmic rituals that have run alongside Islamic tradition throughout the centuries in this surreal and poetic short film. Piecing together old and new, Al-Rashi’s dream-like imagery breathes fresh air to a subject hardly seen in positive light. London-based artist Yumna Al-Arashi was born to a Yemeni father and Egyptian mother and raised in the United States. Her work confronts her own struggles of identity and belonging as both a woman and a Muslim. Her background in politics—she studied international politics at the New School—and journalism shines in her work, in which she focuses on humanitarian issues such as women’s rights and labor injustices. Under Her Skin, created by Rémy Bennett, Kelsey Bennett (USA) – World Premiere. Under Her Skin is an intimate character portrait of 71-year-old photographer Jane Rule Burdine which explores her work, personal struggles, and triumphs in the Mississippi Delta where she grapples with the beautiful yet harrowing complexities ingrained in the culture and landscape of the American Deep South. With Jane Rule Burdine. Rémy Bennett received her B.A. in acting from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Her film work includes Martin Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and she also runs Hurry Sundown Productions with her husband, Monroe Robertson, and sister, Kelsey Bennett. Kelsey Bennett is a New York City-based photographer and filmmaker who has shown work in her home city, as well as Los Angeles and London and has contributed to Interview magazine, Dazed, and Vice magazine.Tribeca N.O.W.: THE NEW YORK TIMES’ OP-DOCS
Screening Time: Thursday, April 26, 5:30 PM, SVA Theatre The New York Times’ Op-Docs returns to Tribeca for year two of beautifully depicted short documentary stories, all told with Op-Docs signature expertise. Touching upon unforgettable historical events, to universally relatable family struggles, all the way to emotionally-charged, timely debates, this crop of online films is an impressive and uniquely diverse group. After the screening, please join us for a conversation with the filmmakers, moderated by The New York Times’ Op-Docs Executive Producer, Kathleen Lingo. The Blue Line, directed by Samantha Knowles (USA) – World Premiere. When a small town makes the controversial decision to paint a blue line in support of police on one of its busiest roads, an explosive division emerges between residents for and residents against the line. Birth Control Your Own Adventure, directed by Sindha Agha (USA). How the filmmaker’s birth control side effects made her four different people. Earthrise, directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee (USA) – World Premiere. The Apollo 8 astronauts recount their memories of capturing the first image of Earth from space in 1968 and evokes the awe of seeing Earth framed against the blackness of space. Also screening as a part of the Shorts Program: Home Sweet Home. The Happiest Guy in the World, directed by Lance Oppenheim (USA) – World Premiere. Mario Salcedo boarded his first cruise nearly twenty years ago — and hasn’t returned since. My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes, directed by Charlie Tyrell (Canada). Was my father’s leftover stuff the key to who he really was?Tribeca N.O.W. Creators Market
Time and Location: Wednesday, April 25, Tribeca Festival Hub Industry and independents will come together at the Tribeca Creators Market, an invite-only event where creators discuss their work with distributors, brands, and MCNs. The following online and VR/immersive filmmakers will participate in the Creators Market: Gabriela Arp is an independent filmmaker and virtual-reality director whose work focuses on reinterpreting memory and creating experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination. She was a Sundance Institute Knight Fellow in 2017 and was selected for the Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab program. ·Sydney, Australia native Lauren Augarten published her first play, Define You, at just 14 years old. She moved to the United States at 21 to study at David Mamet’s Atlantic Theater School, she created the digital series Same Same, based on her experience as a newly out queer woman in Brooklyn, New York. The series won the LGBT Category award at the LA New Media Film Festival, and was an official selection at Newfest. It has been featured in The Huffington Post, Washington Post and Buzzfeed, and was recently acquired for European distribution. Jesse (Jesus) Ayala is a creator specializing virtual-reality, social-impact storytelling. Ayala is the creative director and founder of Fovrth Studios and was selected for the Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab in 2017, as a creative fellow with Future of Storytelling for Good in 2016, and as a nominee at the Shorty Awards in 2018. Lindsay Branham is an Emmy®-nominated filmmaker and social scientist with an interest in art that inspires human connection in imaginative ways. Her work focuses on how investigative storytelling, combined with emerging technology, can foster behavior change in places of violent conflict or in settings of intractable human rights abuses. Misha Calvert is an award-winning actor and show creator, whose projects span film, television, and digital. Her acclaimed series, Tinder is the Night, is currently screening at festivals around the world. Baron Davis is a professional basketball player as well as an actor, filmmaker, and CEO and founder of No Label Productions. Alongside his 2-time NBA All-Star’s career, he produced the Emmy®-nominated documentary Crips & Bloods: Made In America, and directed the documentary film The Drew; No Excuse, Just Produce which aired on Showtime. Jenn Duong is a director and producer who works primarily in virtual reality. She has created a range of cutting-edge virtual-reality projects, ranging from short-form documentaries to music experiences. After rising to fame with her role on The Real World: Ex-plosion, Ari Fitz (Arielle Scott) created two YouTube Channels, Ari Fitz and TOMBOYISH. She posts videos on an array of subjects that touches upon her life, gender, sexuality, and fashion. She has garnered a strong following, with over 13 million views across both channels. Native New Yorker, Tatienne Hendricks-Tellefsen attended Atlantic Acting school and RADA. Recent Theater credits include: Measure for Measure, and Women by Chiara Atik. Hendricks-Tellefsen wrote, produced, and stars in Adult. Manon Lucy Mathews is an actress and alumnus of The Second City Conservatory in Hollywood, as well as The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. Bud Light tapped Manon to create original content for them and she has also worked with T-mobile, JBL Speakers, and Mastercard. She is now starring in the YouTube RED series Single by 30, as well as the Universal web series Off Script. Monique Moses has starred in and created content for Bustle, BrickTV, Comedy Central and IFC Comedy Cribs—including X Pat, the IFC series she wrote, and Sport Court, also on IFC, which was listed among Indiewire’s “10 Best Web Series of 2017.” Daniel Navetta is a multi-disciplinary creative artist. He founded the influential creative agency, APK.NYC. Channeling a wealth of experience as a musician and content creator, he has worked with a dynamic range of brands, agencies, networks, musicians, and artists. His work as a director and producer has earned him nods for multiple MTV awards, and a GRAMMY nomination. His films have also been exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art and the Brooklyn Museum. Landon Stahmer is an emerging writer, director, and producer from Nebraska. Stahmer created the popular horror web series Look-See, which is distributed by CryptTV, and has received over 20 million views. He has produced content for many digital distributors, including, most notably, AwesomenessTV; he also has projects in development at the studio level. Matt Steffanina is a world-renowned choreographer who has worked with countless artists, including Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, and Chris Brown. In 2016, he won The Amazing Race, a victory that transformed him into an international superstar. Steffanina is YouTube’s most-followed dancer in the world, with more than 10 million subscribers and more than a 1.5 billion views on his videos. Casey Stein & Bernard Zeiger Casey Stein (Holy Night Director/Co-Creator) is a Washington, D.C.-born, New York City-educated, and Brooklyn-based director. A lover of skateboarding, theater, and emerging technology, he has worked with the likes of the New York Times and 20th Century Fox. Bernard Zeiger (Holy Night Writer/Co-Creator) is an award-winning screenwriter and professional game designer. He studied film and economics at New York University and is now an associate writer at Kognito, a health simulation company. Jacob Wasserman is a writer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. Also participating in the Tribeca N.O.W. Creators Market are the N.O.W Showcase creators Tess Sweet, Shaina Feinberg, Georgia Bernstein & Cemre Paksoy, Keylee Sudduth & Micah Sudduth, Jacob A. Ware & Amanda Cowper, Yumna Al-Arashi, Ben Fries & Alden Nusser, Mike Martinez & Tyler Wray, Shal Ngo, Remy Bennett & Kelsey Bennett.
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Filmfest Dresden Unveils 30th Anniversary Lineup of 270 Short Films with Focus on ‘Europe’
[caption id="attachment_27720" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Athina Rachel Tsangari: The Capsule[/caption]
The 30th Filmfest Dresden, one of the most renowned and best-endowed short film festivals in Europe, running from April 17 to 22, 2018, unveiled this year’s anniversary program of 270 short films, as well as panel discussions and other events, enticing short film fans from across the world once more to the capital city of Saxony. One main focus this years is on “Europe”, bringing 30 years of European and the festival’s history together in several programs.
Each year, the festival centrepiece consists of the International and National Competitions: 69 short films from a total of 2,200 submissions are in the running this year for the ten “Golden Horsemen” and four special prizes. In the International Competition section, a total of 23 animation and 19 fictional films are going to be screened in seven programmes during the festival week. These include short films from 28 countries, with France and Canada leading the way here, as well as seven co-productions.
In addition to its Competition sections, the 30th Filmfest Dresden also has an extensive array of 27 special programs. For young audiences, there are five children and youth programs for differing age groups with the latest and most exciting short films from throughout the world. International short film entertainment under the open skies can again be enjoyed by all at the Festival Open-Air event on Dresden’s Neumarkt square. This is drawing the crowds on the festival weekend with a special program for the whole family.
* The Unfinished Adventure Named Europe
The great European dreams after the end of the Cold War are now being overshadowed by crises. And Europe is wrestling with its identity. These conflicts and confrontations, as well as the inner plurality of the European construct are also reflected in short film. In the three “A Path to Freedom”, “Border Regions” and “Europe Is Falling Apart” programs, which embrace both historic and current perspectives and are intended to explore the utopian as indeed the dystopian horizons here, Filmfest Dresden is looking back on 30 years of Europe. Among others, the themes include the euphoria in Germany immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the question about the geographic and formal-aesthetic borders of Europe, as well as the unvanquished nationalism in the fortress of Europe. The films in the “Focus Europe” program debunk their discourse as being “post-truth”, while providing thought-provoking impulses and posing questions: How can the political regression within the EU be brought to an end? And does the Europe project still have a chance?
Competition nominations of 30 FILMFEST DRESDEN
International Competition
(OO), Seo-ro Oh (South Korea) AABA / GRANDFATHER, Amar Kaushik (India) AFTER SCHOOL KNIFE FIGHT, Caroline Poggi (France) AMOR, Isabel Lamberti (Netherlands) APRES LE VOLCAN / AFTER THE VOLCANO, Léo Favier (France) AURORE, Mael Le Mée (France) COPA-LOCA, Christos Massalas (Greece) COUP DE GRÂCE, Salomé Lamas (Portugal) DAS GAVETAS NASCEM SONS / THE SOUNDS FROM THE DRAWERS, Vitor Hugo (Portugal) DEER BOY, Katarzyna Gondek (Belgium/Croatia/Poland) HAVE HEART, Will Anderson (United Kingdom) HOT TEA, Marcel Tigchelaar (Netherlands) HYPERTRAIN, Fela Bellotto/Etienne Kompis (Switzerland) KÖTELÉK / BOND, Judit Wunder (Hungary) KUCKUCK / CUCKOO, Aline Höchli (Switzerland) LA SOUPE / THE SOUP, Nicos Synnos (Cyprus) LANCUSZKI / CHAINLETS, Alicja Blaszczynska (Poland) LE TEMPS QU’IL FAUT / AS LONG AS IT TAKES, Abeille Tard (Canada) LES HOMMES-POISSONS / THE DEEP ONES, Guillaume Chevalier (France) LUPUS, Carlos Gomez Salamanca (Colombia/France) MARFA, Greg & Myles McLeod (United Kingdom) MIN BÖRDA / THE BURDEN, Niki Lindroth von Bahr (Sweden) MR. ANXIETY GOES ON A DATE , 4inaroom (Moldova/Romania) MUTEUM, Aggie Pak Yee Lee (Estonia) NEGATIVE SPACE, Max Porter/Ru Kuwahata (France) NOS DÉSIRS / THE WAY WE LOVE, Raphaël Lefèvre (France) PANTHEON, Ange-Régis Hounkpatin (France) PAUL EST LA / PAUL IS HERE, Valentina Maurel (Belgium) PŘÁTELSKÉ SETKÁNÍ NAD SPORTEM / FRIENDLY SPORT MEETING, Adam Koloman Rybanský (Czech Republic) RABBIT’S BLOOD, Sarina Nihei (Japan/United Kingdom) RETOUCH, Kaveh Mazaheri (Iran) RUPTURE, Yassmina Karajah (Canada/Jordan) SCRATCHY, Marv Newland (Canada) SREČNO, ORLO! / GOOD LUCK, ORLO!, Sara Kern (Austria/Croatia/Slovenia) TESLA: LUMIÈRE MONDIALE / THE TESLA WORLD LIGHT , Matthew Rankin (Canada) THE ABSENCE OF EDDY TABLE, Rune Spaans (Norway) VEUILLEZ NE PAS TENTER D’OUVRIR LES PORTES / SEE THE SHADOWS STRAIGHTEN, Baptiste Martin-Bonnaire (France) YAL VA KOOPAL / MANED & MACHO, Shiva Sadegh Asadi (Iran) YOM CHOL / ANOTHER DAY, Daniel Pakes (Israel) теория заката / THE THEORY OF SUNSET, Roman Sokolov (Russia) מכתב אהבה לבחור שהמצאתי / A LOVE LETTER TO THE ONE I MADE UP, Rachel Gutgarts (Israel)National Competition
AND THE MOON STANDS STILL, Yulia Ruditskaya ATTAK, Ruben Meier CHUCKWALLA, Korinna Krauss DAS SATANISCHE DICKICHT – DREI, Willy Hans ENDLING, Alex Schaad ENTSCHULDIGUNG, ICH SUCHE DEN TISCHTENNISRAUM UND MEINE FREUNDIN, Bernhard Wenger HALMASPIEL, Betina Kuntzsch IMPERIAL VALLEY (CULTIVATED RUN-OFF), Lukas Marxt JOY, Abini Gold KOSMOS Maa, Jakob Mäsel LIEBE, Oliver Adam Kusio LINK, Robert Löbel LOVE ME, FEAR ME, Veronica Solomon MASCARPONE, Jonas Riemer MEGATRICK, Anne Isensee MINDEN RENDBEN, Borbála Nagy NACH DEM FEST, Hannes Schilling NACHTSTÜCK, Anne Breymann NEKO NO HI / ねこ の ひ,Jon Frickey NIKOTYNA, Ewa Wikiel NOSTALGIC LOVE, Joscha Bongard NOT MY TYPE, Gerd Gockell NY _ THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF SPACE, Michał Banisch RÄUBER & GENDARM, Florian Maubach SOG, Jonatan Schwenk THE TRAIN, THE FOREST, Patrick Buhr U MEĐUVREMENU, Mate Ugrin
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Watch First Trailer for Neo-Noir Thriller UNDER THE SILVER LAKE Starring Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough
The first trailer is here for Under the Silver Lake, the contemporary neo-noir thriller from writer-director David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), starring Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, and Topher Grace. The film will be released in theaters on June 22, 2018.
From the dazzling imagination that brought you It Follows comes a delirious neo-noir fever dream about one man’s search for the truth behind the mysterious crimes, murders, and disappearances in his East L.A. neighborhood.
Sam (Andrew Garfield) is a disenchanted 33-year-old who discovers a mysterious woman, Sarah (Riley Keough), frolicking in his apartment’s swimming pool. When she vanishes, Sam embarks on a surreal quest across Los Angeles to decode the secret behind her disappearance, leading him into the murkiest depths of mystery, scandal, and conspiracy in the City of Angels.
From writer-director David Robert Mitchell comes a sprawling, playful and unexpected mystery-comedy detective thriller about the Dream Factory and its denizens—dog killers, aspiring actors, glitter-pop groups, nightlife personalities, It girls, memorabilia hoarders, masked seductresses, homeless gurus, reclusive songwriters, sex workers, wealthy socialites, topless neighbors, and the shadowy billionaires floating above (and underneath) it all. Mining a noir tradition extending from Kiss Me Deadly and The Long Goodbye to Chinatown and Mulholland Drive, Mitchell uses the topography of Los Angeles as a backdrop for a deeper exploration into the hidden meaning and secret codes buried within the things we love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgUesU1pz4
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Edward Norton Produced ONE OCTOBER, Chronicling Clay Pigeon’s NY Street Interviews Sets Release Date | Trailer
One October, the documentary chronicling radio host Clay Pigeon as he talks to a diverse cross-section of people throughout New York city, exploring a microcosm of themes and issues including race, religion, economics, politics and culture, will be released nationally starting Friday, May 11.
Filmed entirely in October of 2008, a time when gentrification is rapidly displacing the working and middle classes, Wall Street is plummeting, and then-Senator Barack Obama is making his first presidential bid, One October is a lyrical time capsule that captures the heart and spirit of New York. When seen from our current vantage point, the film foreshadows the roiling political upheaval spreading across the country today in 2018. Directed by Rachel Shuman and executive produced by three-time Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton (“Primal Fear,” “American History X” and “Birdman”), this captivating feature documentary, which had its World Premiere at the 2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, chronicles intrepid radio host Clay Pigeon as he talks to a beautifully diverse cross-section of people throughout the city, exploring a microcosm of themes and issues including race, religion, economics, politics and culture. With today’s news filled with ratings-hungry, sensationalist headlines and political pundits yelling over one another, Pigeon is quite the antithesis with his man-on-the-street style interviews, offering an authentic, warm-hearted and more humanitarian approach to journalism.
Maysles Cinema in Harlem, NYC, where several of the scenes in the documentary were filmed, will host a week-long theatrical release of One October, screening along with the short documentary THE MONOLITH, directed by Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr., about pioneering NYC artist Gwyneth Leech, starting Friday, May 11. One October will also be released nationally on VOD on May 11 via Passion River Films on iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Microsoft XBOX and other digital platforms. The film will also screen nationwide in select cities.
One October begins with Pigeon, a radio host from WFMU in Jersey City, NJ, who takes to the streets of New York City to talk to everyday citizens about their lives, their dreams and their relationships in the face of uncertain change in a transforming city. As part of what he calls a “radio experiment,” this transplanted Iowan roams the streets bearing a handheld recorder and a kindly probing nature: “Has he popped the question?” “When is the last time you’ve had a regular roof over your head?” “Do you love America?” These revealing interviews are woven between vivid scenes of New York’s eccentric byways, which together reveal a city—and a nation—at a crossroads.
During his neighborhood rambles, Pigeon meets people like Kristin, an optimistic young woman who has just arrived from the Midwest; Mark, a union construction worker still dusty from his workday and deeply in debt; Nicole, a transgender woman looking for an accepting community; and Stacie, a single mother in Harlem worried about gentrification.
Pigeon’s encounters interweave with observational passages that poignantly reveal urbanist and author Jane Jacobs’s (The Death and Life of Great American Cities) idea of the “ballet of the good city sidewalk”: rollerskaters wind their way through Central Park, city dwellers seek blessings for a motley group of pets on St. Francis Day, observant Jews toss breadcrumbs into the Hudson River on Rosh Hashanah, and Muslims mark the end of their Ramadan fast with Eid al-Fitr prayers and expressions of forgiveness. Amid these celebrations of daily life we see the shifting landscape of the city: big-box stores and mega-chains rapidly replace independent businesses, giant glass buildings are erected where flea markets once stood, and luxury condos loom over small brick tenements.
Nuanced, cinematic and often humorous, One October charts the chasm between one’s desires and one’s means, explores the urgent need to conserve the old amid the glorification of the new, and affirms the notion that a varied streetscape is essential to the health of a dynamic metropolis.
https://vimeo.com/260800683
“I wanted to make a film in response to the homogenization and hypergentrification of neighborhoods in New York City and chose to set it in October 2008, a tumultuous moment when the housing market collapse was becoming a worldwide economic crisis and much of the country was swept up in Obama’s presidential campaign,” said One October director Rachel Shuman. “In retrospect, almost exactly a decade later now, I am releasing the film in another period of change in our country, and I hope that it will present a story of diversity and resiliency that unites people.”
Edward Norton is an environmental, social and civic activist who has substantially contributed to the development of the cultural and civic life of the city. When asked why he wanted to become involved in this film, Norton stated, “Like E.B. White’s classic ‘Here is New York,’ One October captures the complexity of our culture at a moment in time and distills the zeitgeist of optimism and hope surrounding the election of Barack Obama. Viewed today, it’s especially poignant and inspiring.”
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9 Indie Filmmakers with 6 Documentary Films Selected for Film Independent’s 2018 Documentary Lab
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Unapologetic[/caption]
Nine filmmakers and six projects have been selected for Film Independent’s 2018 Documentary Lab, an intensive five-week program designed to help filmmakers who are currently in post-production on their feature-length documentary films.
This year’s projects span the globe – from a film about undocumented youth in the US, to an indigenous family in the Andes standing up to one of the largest gold producers in the world, to an unexpected environmental film about invisible elves, the free market and the surprising power of belief told through an Icelandic grandmother’s quest to save a threatened landscape.
“We’re delighted to welcome this talented group of filmmakers who will be joining us for the eighth year of the Documentary Lab from diverse regions across the US and as far away as Egypt,” said Jennifer Kushner, Director of Artist Development. “Through mentorship, career development and a lively collaborative work environment, the Lab provides support to filmmakers as they work to bring these meaningful nonfiction stories to audiences.”
Through a series of meetings and workshops, the Documentary Lab provides creative feedback and story notes to participating filmmakers, while helping them strategize for the completion, distribution and marketing of their films.
Additionally, the program serves to advance the careers of its Fellows by making introductions to film professionals who can advise on both the craft and business of documentary filmmaking. Lab Fellows attend multiple guest speaker and workshopping sessions with established documentary directors, institutional funders, legal professionals, festival programmers and distributors, and each is paired with an experienced Creative Advisor who provides one-on-one support and insight as the Fellows ready their projects for release.
This year’s Documentary Lab Advisors and Guest Speakers include Ramona S. Diaz (Motherland), Greg Finton (Editor, A River Runs Through It, Dazed and Confused), Amy Halpin of the International Documentary Association, Alexandra Johnes (The Square), Senain Kheshgi of Majority Film, Jeff Malmberg (Spettacolo, Marwencol), Marjan Safinia (But You Speak Such Good English), Chris Shellen (Spettacolo, Marwencol) and Rahdi Taylor of Concordia Films (Blue Note).
Notable past Documentary Lab projects include Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palmero’s Rich Hill; Marah Strauch’s Sunshine Superman; Sarita Khurana and Smriti Mundhra’s A Suitable Girl; Dustin Nakao Haider, Daniel Dewes and Derek Doneen’s Shot in the Dark; and Bing Liu and Diane Quon’s Minding the Gap, winner of the 2018 US Documentary Competition Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking at Sundance.
Film Independent Artist Development promotes unique independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work through its Filmmaker Labs (Directing, Documentary, Episodic, Producing and Screenwriting), Grants Program which awards over $800K annually to filmmakers, the Fast Track finance market, Fiscal Sponsorship and Project Involve, celebrating 25 years of mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers and working toward an inclusive industry.
The 2018 Documentary Lab projects and Fellows are:
Title: I am a Script Girl
Director/Producer: Mina Nabil
Logline: I Am a Script Girl is an up close and personal examination of the life, challenges and career of the unstoppable Sylvette Baudrot who at 89-years old recounts her journey from Egypt to Paris where she became a trusted confidant to the great auteurs of 20th century cinema.
Title: Pathways
Director: Florencia Krochik
Logline: Pathways tells the stories of six “DACA-mented” & undocumented youth and the struggles they face pursuing higher education. The film weaves together their captivating stories and explores the crippled US immigration policies that have led to the hardships they and their families face.
Title: Sage Country
Director: Yuri Chicovsky
Producer: Lauren Blair
Logline: A Colorado sheep rancher who inherits a beloved piece of land and way of life must come to terms with his legacy and his life’s dream.
Title: The Seer and the Unseen
Director/Producer: Sara Dosa
Producer: Shane Boris
Logline: The Seer and the Unseen is an unexpected environmental film about invisible elves, the free market and the surprising power of belief told through an Icelandic grandmother’s quest to save a threatened landscape – and the beloved home her family has lived in for generations.
Title: Unapologetic
Director: Ashley O’Shay
Logline: After two Black Chicagoans are murdered by the police, young Black citizens begin challenging the city’s corrupt policies while redefining the meaning of community organizing. Unapologetic goes behind the veil with two Black, queer women, providing an intimate peek into the personal lives that sustain a movement.
Title: Untitled Claudia Sparrow Documentary
Director: Claudia Sparrow
Producer: Ryan Schwartz
Logline: An indigenous family from the Andes stands up to one of the largest gold producers in the world defending their right to live off their land and protect natural resources from devastating corporate greed.
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Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival to Present Two Q&As with ‘Men Don’t Cry’ Actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović
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Emir Hadžihafizbegović[/caption]
Legendary actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović will participate in two Q&As at the upcoming 2018 Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF), following screenings of his two films Men Don’t Cry and The Frog. On Friday, April 13, Hadžihafizbegović joins director Alen Drljević for a Q&A following the 9:30pm screening of Men Don’t Cry. On Saturday, April 14, Hadžihafizbegović joins renowned producer Ademir Kenović and emerging director Elmir Jukić for a Q&A following the 6:00PM screening of their film The Frog. Both events take place at SVA Theatre in New York City.
Emir Hadžihafizbegović is a Bosnian film, theater, and television actor. Emir has appeared and been in more than 80 roles in theater and on TV spanning a 30 year career. Mr Hadžihafizbegović was born in the Bosnian city of Tuzla in 1961. He received his diploma in acting at the Academy of Arts in Sarajevo in 1986. He was awarded the Golden Arena for best actor at the Pula Film Festival and Best Actor Award at the Durban International Film Festival. Hadžihafizbegović was also the Minister of Culture and Sport in Sarajevo Canton. Hadžihafizbegović is twice nominated for the BHFF 2018 Jury Award for Best Acting Performance, for his roles in The Frog and Men Don’t Cry.
Drljević’s Men Don’t Cry, starring Hadžihafizbegović, is an unflinching look at one of the most troubling consequences of the war: the long-term psychological trauma of war veterans, and the social stigma placed on their wounded masculinity. Based on the true story of former soldiers from all ethnic sides coming together to participate in drama workshops and share their war traumas with one another, Hadžihafizbegović leads a stellar cast of regional actors who all give powerhouse performances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dgSSQGJSe4
The Frog, starring Hadžihafizbegović and directed by Jukić, is an intensely emotional portrayal of an encounter between several men in a barber shop, where unresolved family issues and war wounds bubble up to the surface. With a tour de force performance by Hadžihafizbegović, Frog is an insightful study of PTSD, masculinity, as well as the social hardships facing Bosnia’s present.
https://vimeo.com/232259400