• 2015 DOC NYC Complete Lineup; Secretary Hillary Clinton to Attend Closing Night World Premiere of ONCE AND FOR ALL

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    Once and For All, directed by Michael Epstein and Dyllan McGee 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

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  • 2015 Dubai International Film Festival Announces First Selection of Short Films in Muhr Competition

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    ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Lebanese Ely Dagher The 2015 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) Muhr Short Category will premiere 15 short films from the region’s best and brightest directors. The entrants that will be battling it out for this year’s prestigious ‘Muhr Awards’ include; the highly acclaimed animated short film ‘Waves ’98’ directed by Lebanese Ely Dagher, (pictured above) which won the Palme d’Or for Short Film at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film explores the filmmaker’s current relationship with his homeland, disillusioned with his life in the suburbs of segregated Beirut, Omar’s unusual discovery lures him into the depth of the city. Immersed into a world that is so close yet so isolated from his reality, he finds himself struggling to keep his attachments, his sense of home. The dramatic world premiere ‘The Wheel’, directed by Egyptian Menna Ekram, depicts the daily lives of a struggling couple working in a circus. The couple, Hayat and Ali, hopes that the start of a new routine, fraught with danger and reliant on an unwavering trust, might re-ignite what once got them together. Established theatre, film and television actress, Ibtissem Guerda, returns to the Festival with the world premiere of her captivating short ‘The Veil of Jealousy’. The short follows Amine, a young and devout Muslim, who is very much in love with his wife Enora. However, when Enora makes a new friend the mood changes as jealousy and doubt begin to manifest in Amine and he questions who it is that is hiding under the Burqa? Egyptian director Shady El-Hamus prepares to take audiences at DIFF on an emotional journey in the world premiere of ‘Fairuz’, a short-film centred around Yousef, played by Mohammad Bakri, a man in his mid-60’s struggling with the harsh realities of life. The film begins on the wedding day of his only child, Fairuz, where it is revealed that she plans to move abroad with her new husband. Distraught and unable to accept the news Yousef flees the wedding and undergoes an introspective journey through a series of unexpected events. World premiere ‘The Right Path’, from Lebanese directors Fouad Alaywan and Ovidio El Hout, follows in the footsteps of Zacharia and his family in a matter of life and death. Zacharia, a proud Lebanese Muslim prides himself on defending his country from extremists, but with his family’s safety at risk he must choose the right path to take in order to keep his family safe and defend his country. Director Alaeddin Abou Taleb is welcomed to DIFF with his world premiere, ‘Diaspora’, an uplifting story that conveys the life-changing transformation of one wheelchair-bound man. The story depicts the life of a man who spends many years wasting away in his apartment in downtown Tunisia, subsisting via social media, until one day everything changes. On this day, the man is surprised by a job advertisement that gives him the motivation to turn his life around. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is the encapsulating biopic by Syrian artist and filmmaker Ammar Al-Beik, which marks the short’s world premiere at DIFF 2015. The feature plays out a night in his life as professional photojournalist covering the ongoing war that rages in Aleppo. The film begins as Ammar and a former mistress, Marie, return home together to spend the night; here the film focuses on the emotions of the pair as their thoughts turn to more pressing matters. The 12th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will run from December 9 to 16, 2015.

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  • 20 New Films Added to Lineup for 2015 Virginia Film Festival incl. ‘PARADISE, FL,’ ‘KRISHA’

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    Paradise, FL The 2015 Virginia Film Festival have added more than 20 new films to the lineup.  The Festival, presented by the University of Virginia and the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts, will take place from November 5-8 at venues throughout Charlottesville.  The Festival also revealed that Alex Neustaedter, the young star of Ithaca, will join in a post-screening discussion that will include director Meg Ryan, actor Lois Robbins, and producer Janet Brenner. The 16-year-old Neustaedter portrays the lead role of Homer in this coming-of-age story about a small-town telegraph bicycle who delivers messages of love, hope, pain, and even death, to the good people of Ithaca, only to have one of those messages change his life forever. Brooklyn – The profoundly moving story of Ellis Lacey (Saorise Ronan), a young Irish immigrant woman torn between two countries as she leaves behind the comforts of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City, where the intoxication of new love is challenged by the realities of her past. Youth – Fred (Michael Caine), a retired orchestra conductor, is on holiday at a resort spa with his daughter and his film-director best friend Mick (Harvey Keitel), who is shooting what may be his final film there. As the two men face, and discuss, the twilight of their careers and lives, Fred receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip’s birthday. Krisha Krisha – Following a prolonged battle with addiction and self-destruction, Krisha returns to the family she abandoned for a holiday celebration, only to see old wounds reopened. Writer/director Trey Edward Shults recreates painful incidents from his past, and casts family members to give the film, expanded from an award-winning 2014 short film of the same name, to achieve a uniquely authentic feel. Paradise, FL – When his friend’s wife ends up in the hospital, a struggling gulf coast oyster fisherman moves in to care for the couple’s young kids, and finds himself fighting for a family he didn’t know he needed. (pictured above) Heart of a Dog – Selected for competition in this year’s Venice International Film Festival after its September premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson’s meditation on love and death is playful, lucid, and heartbreaking. Sparked by the death of her beloved terrier Lolabelle, Anderson draws on her childhood experiences and political beliefs, using her own compositions, 8 millimeter films from her family archive, and animation to help guide the journey of Lolabelle’s spirit. Lucifer – An angel falling from heaven to hell unexpectedly lands in a Mexican village where his presence affects the villagers in surprising ways. Lucifer is a mesmerizing, moving, and unique experiment in form, presented in director t Gust Van Den Berghe’s original format, Tondoscope, which features a lens he created for the film that allows it to be projected in a circular format. Embrace of the Serpent – This epic story, inspired by the journals of the first explorers of the Colombian Amazon, Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes, encompasses the first contact, encounter, approach, betrayal, and, in the end, life-changing friendship between an Amazonian shaman who is the last survivor of his people and two scientists who spend 40 years in the Amazon in search of a sacred plant to heal them.  

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  • ROMEO IS BLEEDING, GROUNDED Wins Audience Award at Milwaukee Film Festival

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    romeo-is-bleeding The 7th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival concluded its 15-day run and ballots were tallied to determine the winners of the 2015 Milwaukee Film Festival Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Awards. The winners are Romeo is Bleeding directed by Jason Zeldes (pictured above) for Feature Film, and Grounded (Au Sol) directed by Alexis Michali for Short Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjdh-TmRQCQ Romeo is Bleeding is about how an explosive adaptation of Romeo and Juliet allows poet/mentor/creative director Donté Clark to face the gang warfare and budget cuts that are plaguing his community. Grounded (Au Sol) , Alexis Michali Grounded (Au Sol) is a warm-hearted, tear jerking story about a distraught woman and a sympathetic airline employee who helps her circumvent rigid airport regulations for the sake of her daughter.

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  • Renaissance Hotels and Marriott Content Studio Announce Latest Original Film BUSINESS UNUSUAL

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    business-unusual Renaissance Hotels and Marriott’s Content Studio have partnered with Substance Over Hype to produce a new comedy short film, BUSINESS UNUSUAL. Business Unusual will have a global multiplatform release in early 2016, including a limited theatrical release. The 12-minute film, shot throughout Chicago and on location at the newly transformed Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, boasts an impressive cast including Yoshua Sudarso (“Power Rangers Dino Charge”), Jason Gerhardt (“General Hospital,” ABC’s “Mistresses”), Grant Bowler (“Defiance,” “True Blood,” and “Ugly Betty”), Tia Carrere (“Wayne’s World”) and Brian Poli-Dixon (artist, actor, and former NFL receiver). Featured cameos from Chicago natives include Ozzie Guillen (former White Sox player), The O’My’s (Chicago-based band) and the world’s best parkour athletes and dancers from Substance Over Hype. A custom soundtrack that features local Chicago artists including The O’My’s will also accompany the film. On the heels of “French Kiss” and “Two Bellmen,” Business Unusual, written and directed by Daniel Malakai Cabrera & Caine Sinclair, is the third original short film produced by the Marriott Content Studio. Business Unusual centers around two ad executives and former colleagues, having just arrived in Chicago to compete against each other in a pitch. A pompous character, Chip, delivers the first pitch and receives extremely positive feedback from the clients. Following Chip’s seemingly successful presentation, David, (a less seasoned entrepreneur) nervously begins to present his pitch– when the client is suddenly called away to an emergency and is asked if he can finish the next day. David agrees and returns to his hotel. As he is anxiously preparing to revamp his pitch, the Navigator (Renaissance Hotels’ local concierge) persuades him to join other guests for an evening of discovery through beverage, food and local music in the hotel’s bar. Here he has a chance platonic encounter with a kind, wise, and successful woman named Ella. David finds his groove and is inspired to create an exceptionally fun and clever campaign, focused on the use of a Rube Goldberg machine that ultimately lands him the account. The Rube Goldberg machine in the film was designed by “America’s Got Talent” quarterfinalist Steve Price.

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  • HOT SUGAR’S COLD WORLD Sets Release Date of November 6 | TRAILER

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    Hot Sugar’s Cold World Hot Sugar’s Cold World, a fly-on-the-wall look into the life of a modern-day Mozart, Nick Koenig (Hot Sugar) as he creates one-of-a-kind music made entirely out of sounds from the world around him, will open November 6, 2015 in theaters and iTunes with special live performances to follow across the US and Canada. Nick lives every young musician’s dream, but when his internet- famous girlfriend, (rapper Kitty) goes on tour and they split, he flies to Paris where he grew up, to move on with his life, while hunting for increasingly unique and exotic sounds to sample and turn into beats. Through his journey, Hot Sugar goes on some crazy adventures, meets some fascinating people and learns what it takes to survive as an artist. With appearances by former members of Das Racist, legendary filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, Only Lovers Left Alive), the world’s most renowned Astrophysicist, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (“Cosmos” on FOX) and comedian Martin Starr (HBO’s “Silicon Valley”) among a host of other musicians and personalities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V5CJaa5zLE Hot Sugar’s Cold World, an official selections of 2015 SXSW Film Festival and 2015 Hot Docs Film Festival, is directed by Adam Bhala Lough,  Executive Produced by David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jody Hill, and features Nick Koenig, Martin Starr, Kool AD, Heems, Dapwell, Kitty, Rachel Trachtenburg, Jim Jarmusch, Dr. Neil deGrasse, Tyson, Shelby Fero.

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  • TANGERINE, JAMES WHITE, ROOM, NASTY BABY Among 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival Official Selections

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    TANGERINE Sean Baker The 2015 Los Cabos International Film Festival announced the films chosen for its fourth edition’s Official Selection, which is composed of Competencia Los Cabos (Mexico, USA and Canada) and México Primero sections. Nine films are in competition for Competencia Los Cabos, where North American films appear side-by-side, films that are from or co-produced with Mexico, USA and/or Canada can participate; and six films are in competition for México Primero, focusing on Mexican films. The nine films in competition for Competencia Los Cabos: From Afar “Desde allá” by Lorenzo Vigas (Mexico/Venezuela). Tangerine by Sean Baker (USA) – Premiere in Mexico. (pictured above) Room by Lenny Abrahamson (Canada/Ireland) Chronic by Michel Franco (Mexico). James White by Josh Mond (USA) – Premiere in Latin America The Loved Ones “Les Êtres Chers” by Anne Émond (Canada) – Premiere in Mexico A Monster with a Thousand Heads “Un monstruo de mil cabezas” by Rodrigo Plá (Mexico/France). Nasty Baby by Sebastián Silva (USA/Chile) – Premiere in Mexico. Sleeping Giant by Andrew Cividino (Canada). The six competing films for México Primero are: Semana Santa by Alejandra Márquez. Sabrás qué hacer conmigo by Katina Medina Mora. Charity “La caridad” by Marcelino Islas. The Chosen Ones “Las elegidas” by David Pablos. I Promise You Anarchy “Te prometo anarquía” by Julio Hernández Cordón. Almacenados by Jack Zagha.

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  • OLD?! Documentary on the Journey of Aging to Screen at Benefit for Ashland Independent Film Festival

     OLD?! Kathy Roselli Film Director Kathy Roselli will hold a benefit screening of OLD?!, a 55 minute documentary that explores the process of aging through personal, humorous, inspiring, and deeply touching stories from area residents in all stages of their lives. Seeking to pull audiences into a conversation about the process of aging, OLD?! encourages viewers to explore and experience their own journeys of growing old. Roselli, an Ashland, Oregon resident, drew on personal testimonials and insights from more than 70 Ashland area residents ages 10 days to 101 years, to make her film. The documentary has been featured at the Portland Film Festival; the SAFilm Fest (San Antonio, TX) ; the Real to Reel Film Festival (Kings Mountain, N.C), where it was recognized as Best Of Fest; and at IndieFEST (La Jolla, CA.) where it received an Award of Merit, Special Mention, Documentary Feature. Roselli, who discovered her passion for filmmaking later in life, began her journey as a director with the short documentary, Portrait of Isabelle, about a young girl suffering from Rhett Syndrome. Roselli met her subject while working as a pediatric physical therapist. Since her first film, Roselli has produced two other short documentaries, Free Voice ~ Free Spirit and Breath In Three Verses (AIFF13), which have also done well at film festivals. OLD?!, is Roselli’s first feature length documentary. She drew inspiration from her own desire to hear about aging from real people rather than experts. “Aging is something we all do,” she said. “Making this film helped me embrace the third stage of my life.” Roselli brings her film to the Varsity Theatre as a way to share the work with the many locals she interviewed, and also to support the non-profit Ashland Independent Film Festival. There will be a question and answer session with the director following the screening. “It’s the perfect documentary to draw in the community and see local people on screen sharing their stories,” said Cathy Dombi, Executive Director of the Ashland Independent Film Festival. “We are very appreciative that Kathy is supporting the creative work of independent film makers through her own creative explorations.” The benefit showing of OLD?! will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19th. Tickets are available at the Varsity Theatre Box Office, 166 N. Main St., Ashland, at the time of the event for $8. There will be no advance ticket sales.

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  • 15 Documentary Films to Compete at 28th IDFA; Fest to Open with A FAMILY AFFAIR

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    A Family Affair, Tom Fassaert 15 films will compete in the feature-length documentary competition of the upcoming 28th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), which takes place in Amsterdam from November 18 to 29, 2015. The 28th IDFA opens on 18 November with A Family Affair by Dutch director Tom Fassaert. In A Family Affair, Fassaert explores the delicate history of his own family, which is marked by conflict. This personal journey takes him through four generations, and becomes complicated when his grandmother makes an unexpected confession. A Family Affair competes in both IDFA’s feature-length documentary and Dutch documentary competitions. Bolshoi Babylon by Nick Read (Russia / UK) A revealing look behind the scenes of the world-famous Russian Bolshoi Theatre, where a constant struggle between ambition, love of art and nepotism is played out. Carolina’s World by Mariana Viñoles (Uruguay) An affectionate portrait of 20-year-old Caro, who has Down’s syndrome. Sitting at her mother’s kitchen table, she talks openly about her life. Clear Years by Frédéric Guillaume (Belgium) An intimate, candid account of a man watching through his camera lens as his family falls apart. Don Juan by Jerzy Sladkowski (Sweden / Finland) A funny, painful portrait of 22-year-old Oleg, whose mother Marina is trying to free him from his lethargic state. A Family Affair by Tom Fassaert (the Netherlands) Hoping to gain insight into his family history, Tom Fassaert heads to South Africa to visit his grandmother Marianne. But Marianne has something else in mind. Natural Disorder by Christian Sønderby Jepsen (Denmark) Jacob, who has cerebral palsy, will never lead a normal life. But who defines what is normal? In a play, he defends his right to exist as an abnormal person. Next Stop: Utopia by Apostolos Karakasis (Greece / Germany / France) Greek workers take over their abandoned workplace. Their movement becomes a beacon of solidarity – but how long can they keep going? Patient by Jorge Caballero (Colombia) While Nubia fights and fears for the life of her terminally ill daughter, we are given a bewildering insight into the absurd bureaucracy of the health system in Colombia. The Road by Zanbo Zhang (China) The construction of a gigantic motorway in China brings three parties into opposition with one another: the local population, the construction company and the labourers. Snow Monkey by George Gittoes (Australia) A collage of joy and brutality in Afghanistan. Local gang members take acting roles in a Pashtun film directed by an open-minded Australian. Sonita by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami (Iran / Germany) Illegally living in Tehran, 18-year old Afghani refugee Sonita dreams of being a rapper in this exciting document of her search for her own life path through life. A Strange Love Affair with Ego by Ester Gould (the Netherlands) Her admiration for the self-assurance of her sister Rowan prompts the filmmaker to explore our narcissistic society – with shocking results. Thru You Princess by Ido Haar (Israel) A virtual musical encounter between a cappella singer Princess Shaw from New Orleans and Israeli composer-producer Kutiman leads to an internet hit. Thy Father’s Chair by Antonio Tibaldi and Alex Lora (Italy / USA) Ageing Orthodox Jewish twins Abraham and Shraga have to look on as a clean-up team gets to grips with their polluted home in Brooklyn. Ukrainian Sheriffs by Roman Bondarchuk (Ukraine / Latvia / Germany) Tragi-comic portrait of a pair of sheriffs in a remote Ukrainian village where – alongside various simmering situations – political developments are also a threat to order.

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  • FLOWERS, Spain’s Oscar Entry, to Be Released in US | TRAILER

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    flowers-loreak FLOWERS (Loreak), Spain’s submission for 2015 Foreign Language Film Oscar category for the 88th Academy Awards, will be released in the US, later this Fall 2015, via Music Box Films. The film opens at New York’s Paris Theater on Oct. 30, followed by Los Angeles on Nov. 27. Directed by Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga, Flowers is the story of three women, three lives altered by the mere presence of bouquets of flowers.  Ane’s life takes a turn when a bouquet of flowers is delivered to her house every week. Always at the same time and always anonymously. Lourdes and Tere’s lives are also affected by some mysterious flowers. A stranger leaves a weekly bouquet in memory of someone important in their lives. This Flowers that will make feelings blossom inside them that had seemed long forgotten… But in the end, they are nothing more than flowers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L33oXnK75w

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  • 2015 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards, RAMS, and MISSING PEOPLE Win Top Awards

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    RAMS, Director: Grímur Hákonarson 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

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  • MEDITERRANEA by Jonas Carpignano to Open Stockholm Film Festival | TRAILER

    Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano is the opening film of this year’s Stockholm Film Festival. The film will also participate in the prestigious Stockholm XXVI Competition, competing for the Bronze Horse. Mediterranea, starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy och Aisha, is the story of two young men leaving their home country Burkina Faso to make the dangerous trip over the Mediterranean to Italy. Carpignano’s feature film debut is a touching portrayal of African migrants in Italy, building upon his previous short films A Chjàna (2012) and Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The film is connected to this year’s Spotlight theme Migration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALVBbde_A “I’ve always loved Stockholm, both the city and the festival, so it is a great honor to have been selected as the opening film of the festival. This film is five years in the making, and there were moments when we didn’t know if it would ever get finished. The fact that it’s out there, and that it can play on a stage as big as that of the Stockholm Film Festival is surreal and humbling,” says Jonas Carpignano, director of Mediterranea. Jonas Carpignano visited Stockholm Film Festival 2014, competing in Stockholm XXV Short Film Competition with his short film Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The 26th Stockholm International Film Festival will take place November 11 to 22, 2015

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