The 2015 DOC NYC announced its award-winners as well as news of record attendance. The Grand Jury Prize Winner in the Viewfinders Competition is Motley’s Law, directed by Nicole Horanyi, (pictured above) a portrait of Kimberley Motley, the only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts. The Grand Jury Prize Winner in the Metropolis Competition is HBO’s Class Divide, directed by Marc Levin, which takes a look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality through the microcosm of the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street.
Winners of the Grand Jury Prize in the Viewfinders and Metropolis competitions will receive a one-week theatrical, awards-qualifying run at the IFC Center in 2016. They will also receive a deliverables package provided by Technicolor-PostWorks New York.
Viewfinders Competition: The jury selected from among ten films in this section, chosen by the programmers for their distinct directorial visions.
Grand Jury Prize Winner: Motley’s Law, directed by Nicole Horanyi, is a portrait of Kimberley Motley, the only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts.
Jurors’ statement: “Motley’s Law brings the audience into the world of the fascinatingly brave Kimberley Motley. The film offers an unapologetic view of Motley’s practice. The excellent construction of the film exudes strong filmmaking qualities. A brave documentary film in every way.”
Special Mention: Newman directed by Jon Fox, in which a maverick inventor battles against the scientific establishment over a miraculous energy-producing machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUPVFo1BhY
Jurors’ statement: “A compelling character-driven film, Newman keeps at his heart a sense of passion and possibly madness. When there is so little left in this world to inspire wonder, this film inspired many questions for the jury and stayed with them.”
Films featured in the Viewfinders section: The Anthropologist, dirs. Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller & Jeremy Newberger; Barge, dir. Ben Powell; Bluespace, dir. Ian Cheney; A Good American, dir. Friedrich Moser; I Am Sun Mu, dir. Adam Sjöberg; A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers, dirs. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy & Geeta Gandbhir; Motley’s Law, dir. Nicole Horanyi; Newman, dir. Jon Fox; P.S. Jerusalem, dir. Danae Elon; The Sunshine Makers, dir. Cosmo Feilding Mellen.
Metropolis Competition: The jury selected from among ten films in this section, which showcases films that exemplify the diverse range of stories in New York City.
Grand Jury Prize Winner: HBO’s Class Divide, directed by Marc Levin, takes a look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality through the microcosm of the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street.
Jurors’ statement: “Class Divide is a timely encapsulation of so many of the vital social and political questions facing New York City today. The film gives its viewers an of-the-moment window into so many of the tensions which define life in New York City – race, class, socio-economic injustice, real estate, opportunity and the lack of it… It’s a quintessential New York film.”
Special Mention: Missing People, directed by David Shapiro, in which a New York City gallerist, haunted by the unsolved murder of her brother, becomes obsessed with a New Orleans painter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_DJ3BHfgD4
Jurors’ statement: “Missing People tackles the issues of human existence in a way that no other film in this category does.”
Films featured in the Metropolis section: Class Divide, dir. Marc Levin; Daddy Don’t Go, dir. Emily Abt; The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith, dir. Sara Fishko; Left on Purpose, dir. Justin Schein, co-dir. David Mehlman; The Lost Arcade, dir. Kurt Vincent; Miriam: Home Delivery, dir. Juliet Jordan; Missing People, dir. David Shapiro; OXD: One Extraordinary Day, dir. Craig Lowy; Tested, dir. Curtis Chin; Tree Man, dirs. Jon Reiner & Brad Rothschild.
Shorts Competition: All short films featured in the festival aside from the DOC NYC U section were eligible for this jury prize. The winning short film qualifies for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Grand Jury Prize Co-winner: Pink Boy, directed by Eric Rockey, is an intimate portrait of a gender-non-conforming child growing up in conservative, rural Florida.
https://vimeo.com/134578861
Jurors’ statement: “Creative and well-crafted, Pink Boy is a tender and heartfelt portrait of a transgender boy and his protective loving mother that stayed with this jury long after the film was over. The filmmakers clearly earned the trust of their subjects and managed to produce a film with editorial and emotional resonance.”
Grand Jury Prize Co-winner: The Surrender, directed by Steven Maing, focuses on a man who is indicted for allegedly jeopardizing national security.
Jurors’ statement: “This quietly powerful film documents Stephen Kim, a State Department intelligence analyst accused of espionage, in his last few days as a free man before facing a long prison sentence. The aggressive prosecution of leakers isn’t an easy story to tell. But, through beautiful imagery and intimate character moments, The Surrender builds to a gut-wrenching conclusion.”
Special Mentions: A Passion of Gold and Fire, directed by Sébastien Pins; The Bad Boy of Bowling, directed by Bryan Storkel; and German Shepherd, directed by Nils Bergendal.
DOC NYC U Competition: This new program featured the best short-form student work coming out of the city’s top documentary programs at New York University, Columbia University, The School of Visual Arts, and New York Film Academy. Their faculties chose the films and the festival provided a platform for their selections.
Best Film: Fairy Tales, directed by Rongfei Guo (New York University), is a profile of a rural working-class Chinese girl turned social media sensation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVNXqKix3Y
Jurors’ statement: “The jury recognizes this film for its unique character and story. Fairy Tales employs creative techniques, attention to detail, and a confidence in directorial style.”
Special Mentions: Alive and Kicking, directed by Lara-Ann de Wet (New York Film Academy); Last Days of Domino, directed by Yuqi Kang (School of Visual Arts).
SundanceNow Doc Club Audience Award: Features from both competitive sections were eligible for this award, based on audience balloting at the primary screening of each film.
Winner: Left on Purpose, directed by Justin Schein and co-directed by David Mehlman, begins as the portrait of the life of an antiwar radical but instead threatens to become about his suicide.Missing People (2015)
-
“Motley’s Law” “Class Divide” Wins Grand Jury Prizes at 2015 DOC NYC
The 2015 DOC NYC announced its award-winners as well as news of record attendance. The Grand Jury Prize Winner in the Viewfinders Competition is Motley’s Law, directed by Nicole Horanyi, (pictured above) a portrait of Kimberley Motley, the only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts. The Grand Jury Prize Winner in the Metropolis Competition is HBO’s Class Divide, directed by Marc Levin, which takes a look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality through the microcosm of the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street.
Winners of the Grand Jury Prize in the Viewfinders and Metropolis competitions will receive a one-week theatrical, awards-qualifying run at the IFC Center in 2016. They will also receive a deliverables package provided by Technicolor-PostWorks New York.
Viewfinders Competition: The jury selected from among ten films in this section, chosen by the programmers for their distinct directorial visions.
Grand Jury Prize Winner: Motley’s Law, directed by Nicole Horanyi, is a portrait of Kimberley Motley, the only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts.
Jurors’ statement: “Motley’s Law brings the audience into the world of the fascinatingly brave Kimberley Motley. The film offers an unapologetic view of Motley’s practice. The excellent construction of the film exudes strong filmmaking qualities. A brave documentary film in every way.”
Special Mention: Newman directed by Jon Fox, in which a maverick inventor battles against the scientific establishment over a miraculous energy-producing machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUPVFo1BhY
Jurors’ statement: “A compelling character-driven film, Newman keeps at his heart a sense of passion and possibly madness. When there is so little left in this world to inspire wonder, this film inspired many questions for the jury and stayed with them.”
Films featured in the Viewfinders section: The Anthropologist, dirs. Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller & Jeremy Newberger; Barge, dir. Ben Powell; Bluespace, dir. Ian Cheney; A Good American, dir. Friedrich Moser; I Am Sun Mu, dir. Adam Sjöberg; A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers, dirs. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy & Geeta Gandbhir; Motley’s Law, dir. Nicole Horanyi; Newman, dir. Jon Fox; P.S. Jerusalem, dir. Danae Elon; The Sunshine Makers, dir. Cosmo Feilding Mellen.
Metropolis Competition: The jury selected from among ten films in this section, which showcases films that exemplify the diverse range of stories in New York City.
Grand Jury Prize Winner: HBO’s Class Divide, directed by Marc Levin, takes a look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality through the microcosm of the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street.
Jurors’ statement: “Class Divide is a timely encapsulation of so many of the vital social and political questions facing New York City today. The film gives its viewers an of-the-moment window into so many of the tensions which define life in New York City – race, class, socio-economic injustice, real estate, opportunity and the lack of it… It’s a quintessential New York film.”
Special Mention: Missing People, directed by David Shapiro, in which a New York City gallerist, haunted by the unsolved murder of her brother, becomes obsessed with a New Orleans painter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_DJ3BHfgD4
Jurors’ statement: “Missing People tackles the issues of human existence in a way that no other film in this category does.”
Films featured in the Metropolis section: Class Divide, dir. Marc Levin; Daddy Don’t Go, dir. Emily Abt; The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith, dir. Sara Fishko; Left on Purpose, dir. Justin Schein, co-dir. David Mehlman; The Lost Arcade, dir. Kurt Vincent; Miriam: Home Delivery, dir. Juliet Jordan; Missing People, dir. David Shapiro; OXD: One Extraordinary Day, dir. Craig Lowy; Tested, dir. Curtis Chin; Tree Man, dirs. Jon Reiner & Brad Rothschild.
Shorts Competition: All short films featured in the festival aside from the DOC NYC U section were eligible for this jury prize. The winning short film qualifies for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Grand Jury Prize Co-winner: Pink Boy, directed by Eric Rockey, is an intimate portrait of a gender-non-conforming child growing up in conservative, rural Florida.
https://vimeo.com/134578861
Jurors’ statement: “Creative and well-crafted, Pink Boy is a tender and heartfelt portrait of a transgender boy and his protective loving mother that stayed with this jury long after the film was over. The filmmakers clearly earned the trust of their subjects and managed to produce a film with editorial and emotional resonance.”
Grand Jury Prize Co-winner: The Surrender, directed by Steven Maing, focuses on a man who is indicted for allegedly jeopardizing national security.
Jurors’ statement: “This quietly powerful film documents Stephen Kim, a State Department intelligence analyst accused of espionage, in his last few days as a free man before facing a long prison sentence. The aggressive prosecution of leakers isn’t an easy story to tell. But, through beautiful imagery and intimate character moments, The Surrender builds to a gut-wrenching conclusion.”
Special Mentions: A Passion of Gold and Fire, directed by Sébastien Pins; The Bad Boy of Bowling, directed by Bryan Storkel; and German Shepherd, directed by Nils Bergendal.
DOC NYC U Competition: This new program featured the best short-form student work coming out of the city’s top documentary programs at New York University, Columbia University, The School of Visual Arts, and New York Film Academy. Their faculties chose the films and the festival provided a platform for their selections.
Best Film: Fairy Tales, directed by Rongfei Guo (New York University), is a profile of a rural working-class Chinese girl turned social media sensation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVNXqKix3Y
Jurors’ statement: “The jury recognizes this film for its unique character and story. Fairy Tales employs creative techniques, attention to detail, and a confidence in directorial style.”
Special Mentions: Alive and Kicking, directed by Lara-Ann de Wet (New York Film Academy); Last Days of Domino, directed by Yuqi Kang (School of Visual Arts).
SundanceNow Doc Club Audience Award: Features from both competitive sections were eligible for this award, based on audience balloting at the primary screening of each film.
Winner: Left on Purpose, directed by Justin Schein and co-directed by David Mehlman, begins as the portrait of the life of an antiwar radical but instead threatens to become about his suicide.
-
2015 DOC NYC Complete Lineup; Secretary Hillary Clinton to Attend Closing Night World Premiere of ONCE AND FOR ALL
The 2015 DOC NYC documentary festival, running November 12 to 19, will include over 200 films and events. Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in attendance for the Closing Night world premiere of AOL’s MAKERS’ Once and For All, directed by Michael Epstein and Dyllan McGee, about the 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference where then-First Lady Clinton gave a historic address on women’s rights.
Director Amy Berg will present her Janis Joplin portrait, Janis: Little Girl Blue, for the festival’s Centerpiece on November 15.
These two gala screenings join the previously announced Opening Night film Miss Sharon Jones!, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple.
27 films world premiering at the festival include The Anthropologist, profiling Margaret Mead and Susie Crate; Bluespace, an exploration of water on Earth and Mars; The Sunshine Makers, on psychedelic drug makers; Thank You For Your Service, on veterans coping with PTSD; and the first two episodes of Making a Murderer, a 10-part Netflix series about a high-stakes criminal case in America’s heartland.
Among the 15 U.S. premieres are The Fear of 13, on a prisoner’s gripping story; Frackman, on an Australian activist; Lucha Mexico, on Mexican wrestlers; Noma: My Perfect Storm, on the acclaimed Nordic restaurant; and Speed Sisters, on Arab women race car drivers.
DOC NYC will welcome over 200 filmmakers and special guests in attendance for Q&As after most screenings. Among the notable visitors expected to appear in person are filmmaker Martin Scorsese for Hitchcock/Truffaut; comedian Gilbert Gottfried for Can We Take a Joke?; poet Sonia Sanchez for BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez; actress Mary Louise Wilson for She’s the Best Thing In It; actor Omar Epps for Daddy Don’t Go; former NSA technical director Bill Binney for A Good American; avant-garde filmmaker and choreographer Yvonne Rainer for Feelings Are Facts: The Life of Yvonne Rainer; and renowned chefs Georges Perrier and Nicholas Elmi for King Georges.
The following is a breakdown of programming by section:
GALAS
Opening Night – MISS SHARON JONES!
Dir: Barbara Kopple, US Premiere
Two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple follows soul queen Sharon Jones in a year of adversity. In person: Barbara Kopple, subjects Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings
Centerpiece – JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE
Dir: Amy Berg, NYC Premiere
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil) profiles the rock legend Janis Joplin. FilmRise. In person: Amy Berg
Closing Night – ONCE AND FOR ALL
Dirs: Michael Epstein, Dyllan McGee, World Premiere
The story of the 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference, a watershed event in the global struggle for women’s rights. AOL’s MAKERS. In person: Michael Epstein, Dyllan McGee, subject Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
SPECIAL EVENTS
AN ART THAT NATURE MAKES: THE WORK OF ROSAMOND PURCELL
Dir: Molly Bernstein, World Premiere
Photographer Rosamond Purcell finds unexpected beauty in the overlooked, discarded and decayed. In person: Molly Bernstein, subject Rosamond Purcell. (Preceded by the short film A PASSION OF GOLD AND FIRE, dir: Sebastien Pins, on the retiring head of an apiary school.)
HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT
Dir: Kent Jones
Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and others discuss the influence of Hitchcock and Truffaut’s famous book. Cohen Media Group. In person: Kent Jones, subject Martin Scorsese
KEYNOTE: A CONVERSATION WITH JON ALPERT & SHEILA NEVINS
Filmmaker Jon Alpert and HBO Documentary Films head Sheila Nevins give a keynote conversation in conjunction with the world premiere of Alpert’s short film MARIELA CASTRO’S MARCH: CUBA’S LGBT REVOLUTION profiling the Cuban Congresswoman who is a tireless champion of LGBT rights in Cuba. HBO Documentary Films.
MAKING A MURDERER
Dirs: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos, World Premiere
A sneak peek at the first two episodes of a riveting ten-part true crime docu-series. Netflix. In person: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos
TROUBLEMAKERS: THE STORY OF LAND ART
Dir: James Crump
A group of NYC-based artists abandoned gallery spaces to embrace the expanse of the American Southwest. First Run Features. In person: James Crump, MOCA Director Philippe Vergne
+ A SURPRISE SCREENING OF A SOON-TO-BE-ANNOUNCED WORLD PREMIERE
VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION (distinct directorial visions)
THE ANTHROPOLOGIST
Dirs: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger, World Premiere
Parallel stories of two female anthropologists: trailblazer Margaret Mead and contemporary Susie Crate. In person: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger, subjects Mary Catherine Bateson, Susie Crate, Katie Yegorov-Crate
BARGE
Dir: Ben Powell, NYC Premiere
A portrait of characters working on a Mississippi barge headed to New Orleans. In person: Ben Powell
BLUESPACE
Dir: Ian Cheney, World Premiere
An expedition to two planets: Earth, with its rising seas, and Mars, with the promise of colonization. In person: Ian Cheney
A GOOD AMERICAN
Dir: Friedrich Moser, North American Premiere
A profile of Bill Binney, who went from a NSA insider to a critic of government surveillance. In person: Friedrich Moser, subjects Bill Binney, Kirk Wiebe, Tom Drake
I AM SUN MU
Dir: Adam Sjöberg, US Premiere
After defecting from North Korea, a former propaganda artist applies his craft to satirical political pop art. In person: Adam Sjöberg
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES: PEACEKEEPERS
Dirs: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Geeta Gandbhir, US Premiere
Three Bangladeshi policewomen serve with the UN peacekeeping mission in post-earthquake Haiti. In person: Geeta Gandbhir
MOTLEY’S LAW
Dir: Nicole Horanyi, NYC Premiere
The only Western lawyer licensed to work in Afghanistan’s courts, Kimberley Motley finds herself at a crossroads. In person: Nicole Horanyi, subject Kimberley Motley
NEWMAN
Dir: Jon Fox, NYC Premiere
A maverick inventor battles against the scientific establishment over a miraculous energy-producing machine. In person: Jon Fox
P.S. JERUSALEM
Dir: Danae Elon, US Premiere
Chronicling three years in Jerusalem with her family, Danae Elon uncovers the city’s tensions. In person: Danae Elon
THE SUNSHINE MAKERS
Dir: Cosmo Feilding-Mellen, World Premiere
A real-life Breaking Bad for the psychedelic set about the unlikely duo at the heart of 1960s drug counterculture. In person: Cosmo Feilding Mellen
METROPOLIS COMPETITION (NYC stories)
CLASS DIVIDE
Dir: Marc Levin, NYC Premiere
A look at NYC’s gentrification and growing inequality at the Chelsea intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Marc Levin
DADDY DON’T GO
Dir: Emily Abt, World Premiere
Four diverse, disadvantaged NYC fathers struggle to beat the odds and defy the deadbeat dad stereotype. In person: Emily Abt, all subjects
THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W. EUGENE SMITH
Dir: Sara Fishko, NYC Premiere
In 1957-65, a former LIFE Magazine photojournalist captured legendary jazz musicians in a Sixth Avenue loft. In person: Sara Fishko
LEFT ON PURPOSE
Dir: Justin Schein, Co-Dir David Mehlman, NYC Premiere
What begins as a portrait of the life of an antiwar radical instead threatens to become an account of his suicide. In person: Justin Schein, David Mehlman
THE LOST ARCADE
Dir: Kurt Vincent, World Premiere
Gentrification threatens the last arcade in NYC, as well as the diverse community that calls it a second home. In person: Kurt Vincent
MIRIAM: HOME DELIVERY
Dir: Juliet Jordan, World Premiere
A profile of a NYC homebirth midwife and her diverse clientele. In person: Juliet Jordan, subject Miriam Schwarzschild
MISSING PEOPLE
Dir: David Shapiro, NYC Premiere
A NYC gallerist, haunted by the unsolved murder of her brother, becomes obsessed with a New Orleans painter. In person: David Shapiro
OXD: ONE EXTRAORDINARY DAY
Dir: Craig Lowy, World Premiere
Elizabeth Streb’s Brooklyn-based Extreme Action Company trains for a breathtaking spectacle in London. In person: Craig Lowy, subject Elizabeth Streb, dancers from the Streb Extreme Action Company
TESTED
Dir: Curtis Chin, World Premiere
Attending NYC’s elite public schools can set students up for the future, but first they have to get in. In person: Curtis Chin. (Preceded by the short film WHY WE STAY, dir: Crystal Kayiza, co-dirs: Pete Quandt, Leroy Farrell, on a South Bronx community fighting gentrification.)
TREE MAN
Dirs: Jon Reiner, Brad Rothschild, NYC Premiere
A Quebecois family man spends five weeks on the streets of NYC selling Christmas trees. In person: Jon Reiner, Brad Rothschild
AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES (a spectrum of domestic topics)
ABOVE AND BELOW
Dir: Nicolas Steiner, NYC Premiere
An exploration of outsiders who live in abandoned military bunkers and storm drains in the American West. Oscilloscope Laboratories. In person: Nicolas Steiner
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MICHELLE MAREN
Dirs: Michel Negroponte, Michelle Maren, US Premiere
An acclaimed filmmaker and his troubled subject craft a captivating portrait of a woman enslaved by past traumas. In person: Michel Negroponte, Michelle Maren
DEEP RUN
Dir: Hillevi Loven, NYC Premiere
Can an affable young transgender man live openly with his true love in the Bible Belt?
In person: Hillevi Loven, subject Cole Ray Davis
THE FEAR OF 13
Dir: David Sington, North American Premiere
A death row prisoner behind bars for more then 20 years reveals the shocking truth behind his case. In person: David Sington
LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS
Dir: Laurie Kahn, NYC Premiere
A look at the vast community around romance fiction, demonstrating why love stories are no trivial matter. In person: Laurie Kahn
A NEW HIGH
Dirs: Samuel Miron, Stephen Scott Scarpulla, NYC Premiere
A group of Seattle addicts attempt to climb Mount Rainier to conquer their demons. In person: Samuel Miron, Stephen Scott Scarpulla
SKY LINE
Dirs: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Jonny Leahan, World Premiere
Egos collide as a group of scientists and entrepreneurs attempt to realize a science-fiction fantasy. FilmBuff. In person: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Jonny Leahan
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Dir: Tom Donahue, World Premiere
The stories of several struggling veterans reveal the mental health crisis in the military. In person: Tom Donahue, subjects Kenneth Toone, Dr. Mark Russell, William Rodriguez, Phil Straub, General Loree Sutton, Jake Clark
WILHEMINA’S WAR
Dir: June Cross, World Premiere
An African-American grandmother in the deep South cares for her HIV+ family members. In person: June Cross. (Preceded by the short film OPEN YOUR EYES, dir: Irene Taylor Brodsky, on a blind elderly couple in Nepal.)
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES (a spectrum of global topics)
ALL RISE
Dirs: Jay Shapiro, Jeffrey Saunders, World Premiere
International law students face off in the world’s most prestigious simulated court competition, the Jessup. In person: Jay Shapiro, Jeffrey Saunders, subjects Areej Alragabi, Tomer Tregor
THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL
Dirs: Holly Morris, Anne Bogart, NYC Premiere
A profile of elderly women who subsist on their beloved but toxic land in Chernobyl’s radioactive exclusion zone. In person: Holly Morris
BOLSHOI BABYLON
Dirs: Nick Read, co-dir. Mark Franchetti, NYC Premiere
Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet weathers the fallout from the notorious 2013 acid attack on the company’s director Sergei Filin. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Nick Read, Mark Franchetti
KINGDOM OF SHADOWS
Dir: Bernardo Ruiz
A compelling investigation into the human costs of the Mexican drug war on both sides of the border. Participant Media. In person: Bernardo Ruiz
ON THE RIM OF THE SKY
Dir: Hongjie Xu, US Premiere
An isolated Chinese village school becomes a battleground between generations, ideologies and egos.
TOCANDO LA LUZ
Dir: Jennifer Redfearn, NYC Premiere
Three women, united by blindness and a desire for independence, pursue their dreams in modern Cuba. In person: Jennifer Redfearn. (Preceded by the short film THE 100 YEARS SHOW, dir: Alison Klayman, on Cuban-born NYC artist Carmen Herrera.)
BEHIND THE SCENES (on films and filmmaking)
CLAUDE LANZMANN: SPECTRES OF THE SHOAH
Dir: Adam Benzine, NYC Premiere
For the first time on camera, the 89-year-old auteur behind Shoah reflects on the challenges he faced to realize his vision. HBO Documentary Films. In person: Adam Benzine, subjects Richard Brody, Stuart Liebman. (Preceded by the short film DREAMING AGAINST THE WORLD, dirs: Timothy Sternberg, Francisco Bello, on Chinese artist Mu Xin.)
THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
Dir: Peter Flynn, World Premiere
A bittersweet ode to the vanishing craft of film projection and a celebration of the men and women in the booth. In person: Peter Flynn
HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY
Dir: Daniel Raim, North American Premiere
A love story and tribute to the unsung talents behind a staggering number of cinema classics. In person: Daniel Raim
RAIDERS!: THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE
Dirs: Jeremy Coon, Tim Skousen, NYC Premiere
Three pre-teens set out to pay tribute to their favorite film; it become an obsession lasting three decades. Drafthouse Films. In person: Jeremy Coon,Tim Skousen
REEL IN THE CLOSET
Dir: Stu Maddux, NYC Premiere
An excavation of the hidden history of LGBT lives through a treasure trove of rare home movies. In person: Stu Maddux. (Preceded by the short film ED & PAULINE, dirs: Christian Bruno, Natalija Vekic, on Pauline Kael and Ed Landberg’s art house cinema.)
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
Dir: Gillian Armstrong, NYC Premiere
In Hollywood’s golden age, costume designer Orry-Kelly thrived, but also kept secrets as a gay man. In person: subject Ann Roth
CENTERSTAGE (on performers)
CAN WE TAKE A JOKE?
Dir: Ted Balaker, World Premiere
A thought-provoking exploration of outrage culture through the lens of stand-up comedy.
In person: Ted Balaker, subjects Greg Lukianoff, Karith Foster, Gilbert Gottfried
FEELINGS ARE FACTS: THE LIFE OF YVONNE RAINER
Dir: Jack Walsh, NYC Premiere
A long-overdue portrait of iconoclast dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Yvonne Rainer. In person: Jack Walsh, subject Yvonne Rainer
THE RED UMBRELLA DIARIES
Dir: David Kornfield, NYC Premiere
Seven diverse sex workers tell their tales at NYC’s Joe’s Pub. In person: producer Audacia Ray
SHE’S THE BEST THING IN IT
Dir: Ron Nyswaner, NYC Premiere
Tony-winning character actor Mary Louise Wilson finds few opportunities on the stage, so turns to teaching. In person: Ron Nyswaner, subject Mary Louise Wilson
DOC EAT DOC (on food)
CITY OF GOLD
Dir: Laura Gabbert, NYC Premiere
This portrait of Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold reveals hidden culinary gems of Los Angeles. Sundance Selects. In person: Laura Gabbert, subject Jonathan Gold
FOR GRACE
Dirs: Kevin Pang, Mark Helenowski, NYC Premiere
Recognized with two Michelin stars, chef Curtis Duffy sets grand plans for his new Chicago restaurant, Grace. FilmBuff. In person: Kevin Pang
KING GEORGES
Dir: Erika Frankel
At Philadelphia’s famed French restaurant Le Bec Fin, chef Georges Perrier struggles to stay in business. In person: Erika Frankel, subjects Georges Perrier, Nicholas Elmi
THE MISSING INGREDIENT
Dir: Michael Sparaga, World Premiere
A portrait of two NY restaurants, exploring what it means to be an institution. In person: Michael Sparaga, subjects Charles Devigne, Michael Miele, Salvatore Doria
NOMA: MY PERFECT STORM
Dir: Pierre Deschamps, North American Premiere
When the Nordic restaurant Noma loses the title of the world’s best restaurant, its talented chef seeks redemption. Magnolia Pictures.
DOCS REDUX (a showcase of classic revivals)
GIMME SHELTER (1970)
Dirs: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
45th anniversary screening, in memory of Al Maysles. A portrait of the Rolling Stones becomes a disturbing record of a notorious concert.
HIGH ON CRACK STREET: LOST LIVES IN LOWELL (1995)
Dirs: Jon Alpert, Maryann DeLeo, Richard Farrell
20th anniversary screening. The documentary that inspired The Fighter focuses on three addicts. In person: Jon Alpert
SISTERS IN LAW (2005)
Dir: Kim Longinotto
10th anniversary screening. Two fierce and feisty women challenge tradition in Cameroon through their legal work. In person: Kim Longinotto
FIGHT THE POWER (on activists)
BADDDDD SONIA SANCHEZ
Dirs: Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, NYC Premiere
A crucial figure in the Black Arts Movement harnesses her gift for words to fuse art and activism over six decades. California Newsreel. In person: Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, subject Sonia Sanchez
THE C WORD
Dir: Meghan O’Hara, NYC Premiere
Oscar-nominated producer Megan O’Hara (Sicko) questions the establishment wisdom around cancer. In person: Meghan O’Hara
CIRCLE OF POISON
Dirs: Evan Mascagni, Shannon Post, World Premiere
A pointed exposé on the global trade in banned pesticides and their impact on health. In person: Evan Mascagni, Shannon Post
FRACKMAN
Dir: Richard Todd, Co-Dir Jonathon Stack, US Premiere
Funny and outspoken Aussie everyman Dayne Pratzky becomes an accidental activist against fracking. In person: Richard Todd, Jonathon Stack, subject Dayne Pratzky
THE INVADERS
Dir: Prichard Smith, World Premiere
Filling in a lost chapter of civil rights history, a look at the generation of radicals that emerged in Memphis in 1967. In person: Prichard Smith (Preceded by the short film EMORY DOUGLAS: THE ART OF THE BLACK PANTHERS, dirs: Dan Covert, Andre Andreev aka “Dress Code,” on art used as a revolutionary weapon.)
NO MÁS BÉBES
Dir: Renee Tajima-Peña, NYC Premiere
A young lawyer fights the medical establishment on behalf of Latina immigrants sterilized without their consent. In person: Renee Tajima-Peña
JOCK DOCS (on sports)
BOUNCE: HOW THE BALL TAUGHT THE WORLD TO PLAY
Dir: Jerome Thelia, NYC Premiere
A far-ranging exploration of the universal appeal of play as realized in the ubiquity and versatility of the ball. In person: Jerome Thélia. (Preceded by the short film THE BAD BOY OF BOWLING, dir: Bryan Storkel, on bowling sensation Peter Weber.)
GAME FACE
Dir: Michiel Thomas, NYC Premiere
A transgender Mixed Martial Artist and a gay college basketball player struggle with living openly in the public eye. In person: Michiel Thomas
THE GREAT ALONE
Dir: Greg Kohs, NYC Premiere
Lance Mackey braves the Arctic wilderness for another chance at glory through the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In person: Greg Kohs, subjects Lance Mackey, sled dog Amp
THE LEGEND OF SWEE’ PEA
Dir: Benjamin May, World Premiere
NYC playground basketball legend Lloyd “Swee’ Pea” Daniels was a top college recruit until a drug bust. In person: Benjamin May
LUCHA MEXICO
Dirs: Alex Hammond, Ian Markiewicz, US Premiere
An entertaining look at Mexico’s Lucha Libre, where masked wrestlers wage a battle between good and evil. In person: Alex Hammond, Ian Markiewicz, subjects Shocker, Jon Strongman
SPEED SISTERS
Dir: Amber Fares, US Premiere
The Middle East’s first all-female Arab race car team overcomes checkpoints and expectations to become role models. In person: Amber Fares, subject Noor Daoud
MODERN FAMILY (on diverse relations)
ALWAYS TOGETHER
Dir: Eva Tomanová, US Premiere
A former computer scientist raises his family in the Czech countryside with no modern conveniences or schooling.
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Dir: Sharon Shattuck, NYC Premiere
The filmmaker seeks to understand how her parents remained together after her father transitioned to a woman. In person: Sharon Shattuck
GAYBY BABY
Dir: Maya Newell, NYC Premiere
This touching film reveals both the challenges of same-sex parenting and its commonalities with every family. In person: producer Charlotte Mars
THE MELTING FAMILY
Dir: Nicole Groton, World Premiere
This candidly personal film chronicles how one nuclear family grew through seven divorces and remarriages. In person: Nicole Groton
OLD FRIENDS
Dir: Peter Odabashian, World Premiere
An intimate reflection on friendship demonstrates the power of an intentional community. In person: Peter Odabashian, subjects Esther Cohen, Bruce Kitzmeyer, Anne Newman Bacal, Betty Odabashian
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
Dir: Hyuckjee Park, North American Premiere
Long-widowed from the husband they shared, two women continue to live together decades later.
SONIC CINEMA (on music)
13 MILLION VOICES
Dir: Janelle Gueits, NYC Premiere
Young Cubans and Cuban Americans forge ties against backdrop of Havana’s Peace Without Borders concert. In person: Janelle Gueits
HUSTLERS CONVENTION
Dir: Mike Todd
A rap cousin of Searching for Sugar Man, the film seeks the artist behind the 1973 album Hustlers Convention. In person: Mike Todd
I GO BACK HOME – JIMMY SCOTT
Dir: Yoon-ha Chang, World Premiere
The angelic-voiced jazz singer Jimmy Scott lived in obscurity for decades before making a comeback. In person: Yoon-ha Chang, subject Ralf Kemper
MAD TIGER
Dirs: Jonathan Yi, Michael Haertlein, World Premiere
Meet Peelander-Z and you might just start to believe the Japanese art-punk band’s claims of interstellar origins. In person: Jonathan Yi, Michael Haertlein, subjects Kengo Hioki (Yellow), Kotaro Tsukada (Red)
SYL JOHNSON: ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS
Dir: Rob Hatch-Miller, NYC Premiere
Soul singer Syl Johnson never achieved the success he longed for until hip hop opened up new opportunities. In person: Rob Hatch-Miller
THEORY OF OBSCURITY: A FILM ABOUT THE RESIDENTS
Dir: Don Hardy, NYC Premiere
A profile of the band the Residents, who have maintained anonymity for 40 years behind giant eyeball masks. Film Movement. In person: Don Hardy
THE WILD LIFE (on animals)
THE CHAMPIONS
Dir: Darcy Dennett, NYC Premiere
An inspiring chronicle of the efforts to rescue and rehabilitate Michael Vick’s pit bulls. In person: Darcy Dennett
HARRY & SNOWMAN
Dir: Ron Davis, NYC Premiere
Dutch immigrant Harry deLeyer saves a horse from the glue factory and finds a show-jumping champion. In person: Ron Davis
HUNTWATCH
Dir: Brant Backlund, World Premiere
An activist crusades against the cruelty of seal hunting while bringing us closer to the delightful creatures. In person: Brant Backlund
TIGER TIGER
Dir: George Butler, NYC Premiere
One of the world’s top big cat biologists tracks tigers on the dangerous border of India and Bangladesh. In person: George Butler
SHORTS PROGRAMS (thematic collections of short documentaries)
SHORTS: CONCRETE KINGDOM
City life. Lenny and the Rat (dir: Jason Hutt); S – The Musical Shuttle (dirs: Alina Abouelenin, Benjamin Bergmann); Man Under (dir: Paul Stone); Mac Premo – stuffmaker (dir: Bas Berkhout); Super-Unit(s) (dir: Teresa Czepiec). In person: Paul Stone, Jason Hutt, Bas Berkhout, Alina Abouelenin, Benjamin Bergmann
SHORTS: EXPRESSIONS
Artists and their art. Sideshow of the Absurd (dirs: Tina DiFeliciantonio, Jane C. Wagner); Cindy Sherman: “Untitled Film Stills” (dir: Douglas Sloan); Colors of Life (dir: Goro Ushijima); Artspeak (dir: Bill Claps); Bernice (dir: Kristina Sorge). In person: Tina DiFeliciantonio, Jane C. Wagner, Douglas Sloan, Bill Claps
SHORTS: A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Stories for the whole family. Cone Phones (dir: Heidi Gelover); Little Hero (dirs: Marcus McDougald, Jennifer Medvin); Made of Clay (dir: Fayssal Bin Sahli); AlieNation (dir: Laura Lehmus); Curt (dir: Brendan Hearne); Teen Press (dir: T.C. Johnstone). In person: Heidi Gelover, Jennifer Medvin, Brendan Hearne, T.C. Johnstone
SHORTS: FROM THERE TO HERE
Experiences in the melting pot. Satellite Baby (dir: Jenny Schweitzer); Resident
Alien (dir: Naiara Eizaguirre-Paulos); The Absentees (dir: Tanya Daud); Not So Namaste (dirs: Rita Baghdadi, Jeremiah Hammerling); Marathon (dirs: Theo Rigby, Kate McLean); Going Back Home (dir: Tim O’Donnell); Looking at Time (dir: Brandon Lavoie). In person: Jenny Schweitzer, Rita Baghdadi, Jeremiah Hammerling, Theo Rigby, Kate McLean, Tim O’Donnell, Brandon Lavoie
SHORTS: LARGER THAN LIFE
Portraits of everyday characters. Tiger Hood (dir: Christopher André Marks); Pink Boy (dir: Eric Rockey); The Reinvention of Normal (dir: Liam Saint-Pierre); Dunk Tank Clowns (dir: Daniel McGuire); Rothman (dir: Nader Sadre); Heavy Fog Tonight (dir: Nathan Reich). In person: Christopher André Marks, Eric Rockey, Liam Saint-Pierre, Daniel McGuire, Nader Sadre, Nathan Reich
SHORTS: PASSPORT
Take a trip around the world. Boxeadora (dir: Meg Smaker); Worlds on Edge (dirs: Thiago B. Mendonça, Renata Jardim); End of the World (dir: Monika Pawluczuk); Hyena Boys (dir: Tarryn Crossman). In person: Meg Smaker, Thiago B. Mendonça, Monika Pawluczuk, Tarryn Crossman
SHORTS: POINTS OF VIEW
Tales of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Clock of the Long Now (dirs: Jimmy Goldblum, Adam Weber); The Typist (dir: Kristine Stolakis); German Shepherd (dir: Nils Bergendal); The 414s (dir: Michael T. Vollmann); Back (dirs: Jenna Belhumeur,
Elena Boffetta); I Was Here First (dirs: Katherin Machalek, Adam Golub); The Surrender (dir: Stephen Maing). In person: Jimmy Goldblum, Adam Weber, Kristine Stolakis, Jenna Belhumeur, Elena Boffetta, Katherin Machalek, Adam Golub, Stephen Maing
SHORT: PUSHING THE BOUNDS
True innovation. What Lies Beneath the Sky (dir: Vladimir de Fontenay); Morgan Green Shaves Her Head Backwards (dir: Morgan Green); María 95 (dir: Josh Polon); Zone Blanche (dir: Gaëlle Cintré); Confessions (dir: Paul Erskine); Le Mur et l’Eau (dir: Alice Fargier). In person: Vladimir de Fontenay, Morgan Green, Josh Polon, Gaëlle Cintré, Paul Erskine
-
2015 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards, RAMS, and MISSING PEOPLE Win Top Awards
The 2015 Hamptons International Film Festival announced their award winners, and RAMS, directed by Grimur Hákonarson won The HIFF Award for Best Narrative Feature. RAMS is Iceland’s official selection for the Academy Awards. MISSING PEOPLE, directed by David Shapiro, received the HIFF Award for Best Documentary Feature. OVER, directed by Jörn Threlfall, and LAST DAY OF FREEDOM, directed by Dee Hibbert-Jones, Nomi Talisman, received the HIFF Awards for Best Narrative Short Film and for Best Documentary Short Film, respectively.
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT, directed by Ciro Guerra, received the Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature and PATRIOT, directed by Eva Riley, received Honorable Mention for Narrative Short Film. CHUCK NORRIS VS. COMMUNISM, directed by Ilinca Calugareanu, received the Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature.
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015 WINNERS:
HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature sponsored by The Wall Street Journal
Rams, directed by Grimur Hákonarson
Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature
Embrace of the Serpent, directed by Ciro Guerra
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature sponsored by ID Films
Missing People, directed by David Shapiro
Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature
Chuck Norris Vs. Communism, directed by Ilinca Calugareanu
HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Short Film sponsored by The Wall Street Journal
Over, directed by Jörn Threlfall
Honorable Mention for Narrative Short Film
Patriot, directed by Eva Riley
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Film sponsored by ID Films
Last Day of Freedom, directed by Dee Hibbert-Jones, Nomi Talisman
Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel
Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award
Suffragette, directed by Sarah Gavron
Suffolk County Film Commission Next Exposure Grant
When I Live My Life Over Again, directed by Robert Edwards
The 2015 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution
The Uncondemned, directed by Michele Mitchell, Nick Louvel
The Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award: Dedicated to Those Who Suffer
in Silence
The Champions, directed by Darcy Dennett
2015 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH
Christopher Abbott, James White
Emory Cohen, Brooklyn
Thomas Mann, The Preppie Connection
Bel Powley, A Royal Night Out
Rebecca Ferguson, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Jason Mitchell, Straight Outta Compton
Maika Monroe, It Follows
Keith Stanfield, Straight Outta Compton
Tessa Thompson, Selma
Jessie T. Usher, Independence Day: Resurgence
-
24 Feature Films Selected for 26th New Orleans Film Festival Competition Lineup
The 26th New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), taking place October 14 to 22, 2015, revealed the 24 feature films selected for competition: eight films in the Narrative Films in Competition category, seven films in the Documentary Films in Competition category and nine films in the Louisiana Features category.
NARRATIVE FEATURES (IN COMPETITION)
“Cover Me” (dir. Garrett Bradley | USA | 2015 | 60 min. | Louisiana Premiere) A young musician grapples with isolation in a changing landscape as it permeates her romantic relationships and artistic career. This film is the result of a remarkable artistic collaboration between director Bradley and avant-garde artist Tameka Norris, who plays the leading role in the picture. (Also in competition as a Louisiana Feature.)
“Cowards Do It Slow” (dir. Sean Loftus & Michael Padraic Scahill | USA | 2015 | 99 min. | World Premiere) A love letter to American films of the 1970s and late-night bar culture, “Cowards Do It Slow” looks into the funny, dark heart of an aspiring country singer, a Kentucky boy trying to take his career to the next level as he drunkenly stumbles through the Chicago nightlife and holds on to the spoils that come with it.
“Driving While Black” (dir. Paul Sapiano | USA | 2015 | 94 min. | Louisiana Premiere) A dark comedy about racial profiling, “Driving While Black” follows Dimitri (played by Dominique Purdy, who also co-wrote the script), who delivers pizzas for a living in Los Angeles. But as a young black man, he is faced with more than his fair share of unnecessary attention from the cops.
“Embers” (dir. Claire Carré | USA, Poland | 2015 | 86 min. | Southern Premiere) After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory. Five interwoven stories explore how we might learn, love and communicate in a future that has no past.
“French Dirty” (dir. Wade Allain-Marcus & Jesse Allain-Marcus | USA | 2015 | 72 min. | Southern Premiere)
Against the skyline of Los Angeles, Vincent ruminates on his parents’ failed marriage, his own arrested development and the choice he must make to become a better man.
“It Had To Be You” (dir. Sasha Gordon | USA, Italy | 2015 | 83 min. | Louisiana premiere) Surprised by a sudden proposal and subsequent ultimatum from her boyfriend, Sonia has three days to decide which path her life will take. A whimsical romantic comedy that’s raunchy and yet gentle, “It Had To Be You” explores the choices women face today, while satirizing cultural expectations of gender and romance.
“Jackie Boy” (dir. Cody Campanale | Canada | 2015 | 87 min. | World Premiere) This gritty character drama centers on Jack, a self-destructive womanizer who substitutes his emotional insecurities with drinks, drugs and one-night stands. It’s only when he meets fiery, spirited Jasmine that he decides to change his ways. Little does he know she has something different in mind.
“Jason and Shirley” (dir. Stephen Winter | USA | 2015 | 79 min. | Louisiana Premiere) (pictured in main image above) “Jason and Shirley” imagines what went on behind the scenes during the filming of the landmark 1967 documentary “Portrait of Jason,” as Jason Holliday regales filmmaker Shirley Clarke with stories of racism, homophobia, abuse and prostitution in pre-Stonewall New York City.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES (IN COMPETITION)
“Deal With It” (dir. Shamira Raphaëla | The Netherlands | 2014 | 58 min. | Southern Premiere) In this intimate family portrait, we enter the chaotic and colorful world of director Shamira Raphaëla’s loved ones: her drug-addicted father, Pempy, and her brother, Andy, who is following in his father’s footsteps. “Deal With It” is a raw and personal film about destructive family patterns and unconditional love.
“Hotel Nueva Isla” (dir. Irene Gutierrez | Spain, Cuba | 2014 | 71 min. | Louisiana Premiere) Despite the building’s imminent collapse, the last inhabitant of a once luxurious hotel in Old Havana refuses to leave: he remains convinced that treasures—hidden by the hotel’s original owners—lie waiting within its walls. The film is a meditation on a country that exists in a state of permanent resistance.
“Missing People” (dir. David Shapiro | USA | 2015 | 81 min. | Louisiana Premiere) This tense, nonfiction mystery unfurls around Martina Batan, the director of a prominent New York City gallery who investigates her brother’s long unsolved murder, while obsessively collecting and researching the violent work and life of Roy Ferdinand, a self-taught artist from New Orleans.
“Portrait of a Lone Farmer” (dir. Jide Tom Akinleminu | Germany, Nigeria, Denmark | 2013 | 76 min. | Louisiana Premiere) When filmmaker Jide Tom Akinleminu returns to his father’s chicken farm in Nigeria, his initial intention is to create a film about his parents’ marriage. But life, as is often the case, has other plans.
“Scrum” (dir. Poppy Stockell | Australia | 2015 | 54 min. | Southern Premiere) In the lead up to the 2014 Bingham Cup, the lives of a self-assured Canadian jock, a chubby Irish backpacker and a stoic Japanese outsider change when they vie for a position on the Sydney Convicts, the world’s premiere, gay rugby team.
“The Seventh Fire” (dir. Jack Pettibone Riccobono | USA | 2015 | 78 min. | Louisiana Premiere)
Terrence Malick presents this haunting and visually arresting nonfiction film about the gang crisis on Indian reservations, through the stories of a Native American gang leader recently sentenced to prison for a fifth time, and his 17-year-old protege.
“Touch the Light (Tocando La Luz)” (dir. Jennifer Redfearn | Cuba, USA | 2015 | 72 min. | Southern Premiere) In this intimate, character-driven film from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jennifer Redfearn, three blind women from Havana, confront their heartbreaks and hopes, and navigate their profound desire for independence.
LOUISIANA FEATURES (IN COMPETITION)
“Consequence” (dir. Jonathan Nguyen & Ashley George | USA | 2015 | 81 min. | World Premiere) The lives of three college coeds are shaken after a weekend camping trip results in the accidental death of a fellow student. Instead of reporting the accident, they decide to conceal the student’s death, a decision that seems logical at first, but slowly begins to eat away at their friendship—and their sanity.
“Delta Justice: The Islenos Trappers War” (dir. David DuBos | USA | 2015 | 48 min. | World Premiere) “Delta Justice” gives a true account of St. Bernard Parish’s violent fight over land rights in the mid-1920s. The film sheds new light on an important, yet little-known part of Louisiana’s history.
“Dog Man” (dir. Richie Adams | USA | 2015 | 57 min. | World Premiere) “Dog Man” recounts the life story of world-renowned trainer Dick Russell, who worked with an estimated 30,000 dogs through his basic obedience class in South Louisiana and introduced the pivotal training technique of Large Field Socialization to North America.
“Forgive and Forget” (dir. Aaron Abdin | USA | 2015 | 101 min. | World Premiere) Brian believes that he has a loving wife, brothers and grandmother but, after a tragic accident claims the life of one of his brothers, the entire family collapses into a mass of secrets, lies and emotional turmoil. Brian is led down a road of discovery, which forces him to choose between holding onto the past or striding towards the future.
“The King of New Orleans” (dir. Allen Frederic | USA | 2015 | 83 min. | Louisiana Premiere) In pre-Katrina New Orleans, Larry Shirt is an aging taxi driver whose fares include the city’s hustlers, tourists, socialites, musicians, housekeepers, weirdos and reporters, as well as an aimless student, with whom he shares a special bond.
“Love Me True” (dir. Kirby Voss | USA | 2015 | 85 min. | World Premiere) A debilitating fetish for blond-haired women constantly thwarts any chance that Eric has for happiness, until a hairless man named Stanley enters his apartment and claims to be the reincarnation of Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky.
“The Mourning Hills” (dir. R. Todd Campbell | USA | 2014 | 81 min. | New Orleans Premiere) Mattie and Kate are sisters. They’re also orphans. Their mother died in a tragic accident, while their father took his own life in the beautiful and terrifying wilderness known as “The Mourning Hills.” When Mattie convinces Kate to run away with her, they decide to head for the very place where their father made them orphans.
“The Phantasmagorical Clarence John Laughlin” (dir. Gene Fredericks | USA | 2015 | 88 min. | North American Premiere) This documentary explores the enigmatic life of New Orleans native Clarence John Laughlin, considered the father of American Surrealist photography and often described as “Edgar Allan Poe with a camera.” The film includes the only known video footage of this unique individual, taken in 1977.
“Yazoo Revisited: Integration and Segregation in a Deep Southern Town” (dir. David Rae Morris | USA | 2015 | 84 min. | Louisiana Premiere)
This film examines the history of race relations and the 1970 integration of the public schools in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Featuring interviews with local citizens of many ages and backgrounds, “Yazoo Revisited” paints a fascinating picture of the triumphs and failures of the Civil Rights Era.