Documentary film editors are like crash test dummies, according to Alexis Johnson. You keep letting yourself crash, assuming the seatbelts will work, over and over again just to see what impact a scene is having on you.
“If I am going to harness a feeling, I have to feel it myself,” she said, recalling working on director Alex Gibney’s powerful 2021 documentary “The Forever Prisoner,” about the CIA’s interrogation treatment of prisoner Abu Zubaydah. In addition to the countless hours reworking scenes of waterboarding and other harsh treatments, Johnson edited a sequence that depicts the technique of playing high-decibel music to terrorize a prisoner. It was particularly grueling, as Johnson repeatedly subjected herself to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cacophonous “Give It Away” for hours while shaping the depiction of Zubaydah being tortured by the same song.
By the end of working on “The Forever Prisoner,” Johnson said, she...
“If I am going to harness a feeling, I have to feel it myself,” she said, recalling working on director Alex Gibney’s powerful 2021 documentary “The Forever Prisoner,” about the CIA’s interrogation treatment of prisoner Abu Zubaydah. In addition to the countless hours reworking scenes of waterboarding and other harsh treatments, Johnson edited a sequence that depicts the technique of playing high-decibel music to terrorize a prisoner. It was particularly grueling, as Johnson repeatedly subjected herself to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cacophonous “Give It Away” for hours while shaping the depiction of Zubaydah being tortured by the same song.
By the end of working on “The Forever Prisoner,” Johnson said, she...
- 6/12/2023
- by Tom Roston
- Indiewire
It’s a strange, scary world to be a child in right now. With so much anger and tension, seeing the youth and innocence of children might feel resentful, but it shows what has been lost. Capturing the world of children is what Oscar-nominated filmmaker James Longley sets out to do with his next documentary feature, “Angels Are Made Of Light.”
Read More: ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ Trailer: Hulu Adapts The True Story Of One Of Rap’s Biggest Groups In A New Series
Longley made his directorial debut in 2002 with “Gaza Strip,” a film that focused on a 13-year-old boy crossing the Gaza Strip, at a place where Palestinian children often go to throw stones.
Continue reading ‘Angels Are Made Of Light’ Trailer: James Longley Directs A Stunning, Stirring Look At Youth In Afghanistan at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ Trailer: Hulu Adapts The True Story Of One Of Rap’s Biggest Groups In A New Series
Longley made his directorial debut in 2002 with “Gaza Strip,” a film that focused on a 13-year-old boy crossing the Gaza Strip, at a place where Palestinian children often go to throw stones.
Continue reading ‘Angels Are Made Of Light’ Trailer: James Longley Directs A Stunning, Stirring Look At Youth In Afghanistan at The Playlist.
- 7/6/2019
- by Julia Teti
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Grasshopper Film has obtained the distribution rights to writer-director Paul Harrill’s, Light from Light, the ghost story drama that premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Planned for a theatrical release across the country this fall, the film stars Marin Ireland and Jim Gaffigan as two strangers who find solace in one another while investigating a mysterious incident.
Elisabeth Moss produced the pic with Sailor Bear, James M. Johnston, Toby Halbrooks as well as Ten Acre Films’ Kelly Williams and Ley Line Entertainment’s Tim Headington and Theresa Steele.
The synopsis: Following her lifelong interest in the paranormal, Sheila (Ireland) is asked to investigate a potential haunting at a Tennessee farmhouse. There she meets Richard (Gaffigan), a widower who thinks his recently departed wife may still be with him. The investigation that ensues — which eventually includes Shelia’s son, Owen and his classmate Lucy — forces them to reckon with...
Elisabeth Moss produced the pic with Sailor Bear, James M. Johnston, Toby Halbrooks as well as Ten Acre Films’ Kelly Williams and Ley Line Entertainment’s Tim Headington and Theresa Steele.
The synopsis: Following her lifelong interest in the paranormal, Sheila (Ireland) is asked to investigate a potential haunting at a Tennessee farmhouse. There she meets Richard (Gaffigan), a widower who thinks his recently departed wife may still be with him. The investigation that ensues — which eventually includes Shelia’s son, Owen and his classmate Lucy — forces them to reckon with...
- 7/2/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Bruce Dern’s “The Lears” and “Angels Are Made of Light” are acquired, Cold War drama “Stanley Cage” is launched and a documentary about Madonna’s early music career gets a release.
Acquisitions
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights from NeoClassics Films to “The Lears,” starring Bruce Dern in a modern-day interpretation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The film also stars Anthony Michael Hall, Sean Astin, Aly Michalka, Nic Bishop and Victoria Smurfit. Vertical is planning a day and date platform release on Feb. 15 in 10 markets.
Written and directed by Carl Bessai, “The Lears” premiered in 2017 at the Nashville Film Festival. Smurfit recently won the Irish Film & TV Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the film.
Dern portrays a world-renowned architect nearing retirement who summons his four dysfunctional children to a weekend family retreat...
Acquisitions
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights from NeoClassics Films to “The Lears,” starring Bruce Dern in a modern-day interpretation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The film also stars Anthony Michael Hall, Sean Astin, Aly Michalka, Nic Bishop and Victoria Smurfit. Vertical is planning a day and date platform release on Feb. 15 in 10 markets.
Written and directed by Carl Bessai, “The Lears” premiered in 2017 at the Nashville Film Festival. Smurfit recently won the Irish Film & TV Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the film.
Dern portrays a world-renowned architect nearing retirement who summons his four dysfunctional children to a weekend family retreat...
- 1/17/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
AFI Fest isn’t thought of as an acquisition festival, as most of its offerings are either world premieres about to enter awards season or high-profile selections from Cannes and Venice. Explore the program a bit, however, and you’ll discover any number of under-the-radar titles that have yet to find a home. That’s unsurprising, given how crowded the fall festival season has been, but dealmakers should seek out these worthy titles before it’s too late.
“Amateurs”
Gabriela Pichler’s debut as writer-director, the youth-in-revolt dramedy “Eat Sleep Die,” never got a theatrical release. That was a shame, and it’d be just as much of a disappointment if her follow-up met the same fate. Working from an appropriately zany premise — a small Swedish town attempts to woo a German superstore company into opening a new location via a promotional video — Pichler delivers clever scenarios and a surprising...
“Amateurs”
Gabriela Pichler’s debut as writer-director, the youth-in-revolt dramedy “Eat Sleep Die,” never got a theatrical release. That was a shame, and it’d be just as much of a disappointment if her follow-up met the same fate. Working from an appropriately zany premise — a small Swedish town attempts to woo a German superstore company into opening a new location via a promotional video — Pichler delivers clever scenarios and a surprising...
- 11/19/2018
- by Michael Nordine, Eric Kohn and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The last festival on the fall calendar, AFI Fest, always offers a few late-breaking possible Oscar contenders — including opener “On the Basis of Sex” and closer “Mary, Queen of Scots” — as well as a strong World Cinema line-up packed with foreign-language Oscar submissions.
This year is no exception: Seven possible Best Foreign Language Film Oscar contenders are in the lineup of 28 titles from 27 countries, including Cannes prize-winners “Capernaum”, “Shoplifters” (Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, Magnolia), and “Dogman” (Italy’s Matteo Garrone, Magnolia), along with Cannes entry “The Wild Pear Tree”, Karlovy Vary Festival winner “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History as Barbarians” (Romania’s Radu Jude), and two Tiff titles from Spc, “Never Look Away” (Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) and “Sunset” (Hungary’s “Son of Saul” Oscar-winner László Nemes).
Also in the lineup are several strong festival titles not submitted by their countries for the Oscars,...
This year is no exception: Seven possible Best Foreign Language Film Oscar contenders are in the lineup of 28 titles from 27 countries, including Cannes prize-winners “Capernaum”, “Shoplifters” (Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, Magnolia), and “Dogman” (Italy’s Matteo Garrone, Magnolia), along with Cannes entry “The Wild Pear Tree”, Karlovy Vary Festival winner “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History as Barbarians” (Romania’s Radu Jude), and two Tiff titles from Spc, “Never Look Away” (Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) and “Sunset” (Hungary’s “Son of Saul” Oscar-winner László Nemes).
Also in the lineup are several strong festival titles not submitted by their countries for the Oscars,...
- 10/16/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The last festival on the fall calendar, AFI Fest, always offers a few late-breaking possible Oscar contenders — including opener “On the Basis of Sex” and closer “Mary, Queen of Scots” — as well as a strong World Cinema line-up packed with foreign-language Oscar submissions.
This year is no exception: Seven possible Best Foreign Language Film Oscar contenders are in the lineup of 28 titles from 27 countries, including Cannes prize-winners “Capernaum”, “Shoplifters” (Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, Magnolia), and “Dogman” (Italy’s Matteo Garrone, Magnolia), along with Cannes entry “The Wild Pear Tree”, Karlovy Vary Festival winner “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History as Barbarians” (Romania’s Radu Jude), and two Tiff titles from Spc, “Never Look Away” (Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) and “Sunset” (Hungary’s “Son of Saul” Oscar-winner László Nemes).
Also in the lineup are several strong festival titles not submitted by their countries for the Oscars,...
This year is no exception: Seven possible Best Foreign Language Film Oscar contenders are in the lineup of 28 titles from 27 countries, including Cannes prize-winners “Capernaum”, “Shoplifters” (Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, Magnolia), and “Dogman” (Italy’s Matteo Garrone, Magnolia), along with Cannes entry “The Wild Pear Tree”, Karlovy Vary Festival winner “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History as Barbarians” (Romania’s Radu Jude), and two Tiff titles from Spc, “Never Look Away” (Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) and “Sunset” (Hungary’s “Son of Saul” Oscar-winner László Nemes).
Also in the lineup are several strong festival titles not submitted by their countries for the Oscars,...
- 10/16/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
AFI Fest’s World Cinema section unveiled Tuesday includes seven films that have been officially submitted for the Foreign Language Film Oscar, from Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum and Matteo Garrone’s Dogman to Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s Never Look Away and the Cannes Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Directors in the slate include Jafar Panahi, Jia Zhang-ke, Hong Sang-soo, Olivier Assayas, Carlos Reygadas, László Nemes and Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
The lineup includes 28 titles from 27 countries. The fest runs November 8-15 and opens with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic On the Basis of Sex and closes with Josie Rourke’s Mary Queen of Scots. In the mix too are a host of gala presentations featuring Bird Box, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Widows, Green Book and Destroyer. The latter pic will be screened as part of a tribute to its star Nicole Kidman.
Here’s the full World...
The lineup includes 28 titles from 27 countries. The fest runs November 8-15 and opens with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic On the Basis of Sex and closes with Josie Rourke’s Mary Queen of Scots. In the mix too are a host of gala presentations featuring Bird Box, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Widows, Green Book and Destroyer. The latter pic will be screened as part of a tribute to its star Nicole Kidman.
Here’s the full World...
- 10/16/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Charles Ferguson’s “Watergate” will open the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival on Oct. 10 at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Alexis Bloom’s “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” will close the festival on Oct. 13 at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C., which will be the site for all films after opening night.
“Ghost Fleet,” directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron is the festival centerpiece on Oct. 12. The festival will host a special screening of “The Panama Papers,” directed by Alex Winter, on Oct. 13.
Ferguson won an Oscar for “Inside Job,” a 2010 film that examined the corruption at the root of the financial crisis. His new film was originally titled “Watergate — Or: How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President,” when it screened at Telluride on Aug. 31 in advance of a theatrical release on Oct. 12 and a Nov. 2 television bow on History.
Alexis Bloom’s “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” will close the festival on Oct. 13 at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C., which will be the site for all films after opening night.
“Ghost Fleet,” directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron is the festival centerpiece on Oct. 12. The festival will host a special screening of “The Panama Papers,” directed by Alex Winter, on Oct. 13.
Ferguson won an Oscar for “Inside Job,” a 2010 film that examined the corruption at the root of the financial crisis. His new film was originally titled “Watergate — Or: How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President,” when it screened at Telluride on Aug. 31 in advance of a theatrical release on Oct. 12 and a Nov. 2 television bow on History.
- 9/18/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
It's been over a decade since filmmaker James Longley released his Oscar-nominated documentary Iraq in Fragments (2006). For many years between then and now, he spent his time in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the area in and around the Daqiqi Balkhi School. There he observed classes and followed several of the school's students and faculty, all of whom were adjusting to life in the wake of Taliban terror and American military activity.
The resulting feature, Angels Are Made of Light, is a luxuriant-to-a-fault portrait of a city that, if no longer regularly under siege, still bears very evident marks ...
The resulting feature, Angels Are Made of Light, is a luxuriant-to-a-fault portrait of a city that, if no longer regularly under siege, still bears very evident marks ...
- 9/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's been over a decade since filmmaker James Longley released his Oscar-nominated documentary Iraq in Fragments (2006). For many years between then and now, he spent his time in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the area in and around the Daqiqi Balkhi School. There he observed classes and followed several of the school's students and faculty, all of whom were adjusting to life in the wake of Taliban terror and American military activity.
The resulting feature, Angels Are Made of Light, is a luxuriant-to-a-fault portrait of a city that, if no longer regularly under siege, still bears very evident marks ...
The resulting feature, Angels Are Made of Light, is a luxuriant-to-a-fault portrait of a city that, if no longer regularly under siege, still bears very evident marks ...
- 9/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
In the 12 years since his Oscar-nominated documentary Iraq in Fragments, director James Longley has been in search of a suitable follow-up. A project on Iran fell through (with him being arrested there at one point), and eventually he turned to another victim of American invasion: Afghanistan. For three years toward the (official) end of the occupation, Longley and his crew observed different characters around Kabul. The center is the Daqiqi Balkhi school, and the children and teachers there. Angels Are Made of Light presents a vastly different perspective on modern Afghanistan than we usually see in documentaries, which are dominated by stories about soldiers fighting war or normal people caught up in it.
In contrast, Longley very deliberately leaves conflict in the background of the film, but otherwise creates a gentle atmosphere – peaceful in body if not in mind. Political and social unrest rears up throughout, particularly around the time of an election,...
In contrast, Longley very deliberately leaves conflict in the background of the film, but otherwise creates a gentle atmosphere – peaceful in body if not in mind. Political and social unrest rears up throughout, particularly around the time of an election,...
- 9/14/2018
- by Daniel Schindel
- The Film Stage
Early in James Longley’s “Angels Are Made of Light,” a clear-eyed and confrontational portrait of daily life in modern Afghanistan, a disembodied voice narrates an ancient story about an old man who wandered the streets with a lantern in broad daylight. When people questioned why he would do such a thing, the old man replied: “I am looking for a human being.” Versions of this vague parable exist in several cultures, but they’re bound by a shared truth: Seeing a person is not the same thing as recognizing his or her intrinsic value.
“Angels Are Made of Light” is a documentary shot with a lantern in broad daylight. It’s a film about the Afghan people that attempts to see them more closely than most Westerners are accustomed, and to restore a basic humanity that’s been overruled by a forever war that most locals have no interest in fighting.
“Angels Are Made of Light” is a documentary shot with a lantern in broad daylight. It’s a film about the Afghan people that attempts to see them more closely than most Westerners are accustomed, and to restore a basic humanity that’s been overruled by a forever war that most locals have no interest in fighting.
- 9/9/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Life strives to grow, and flourish, amid catastrophic ruins in “Angels Are Made of Light,” James Longley’s stirring and gorgeous documentary about young students and teachers trying to maintain hope in Kabul. As with his prior “Iraq in Fragments,” the director offers a multitude of despairing perspectives on this war-torn milieu, where poverty and war are constant impediments to happiness and progress. Driven by powerful confessional narration from various sources, the film should strike a resonant chord following its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.
While criticism of America’s military presence in Afghanistan is intermittently heard in conversation and on radio here, Longley’s approach is largely apolitical, insofar as his main focus is the day-to-day experience — and emotional and psychological state — of his pre-teen voices, all of whom attend the Daqiqi Balkhi School. Cheery Sohrab’s love of books and ambition to be at the top of...
While criticism of America’s military presence in Afghanistan is intermittently heard in conversation and on radio here, Longley’s approach is largely apolitical, insofar as his main focus is the day-to-day experience — and emotional and psychological state — of his pre-teen voices, all of whom attend the Daqiqi Balkhi School. Cheery Sohrab’s love of books and ambition to be at the top of...
- 9/5/2018
- by Nick Schager
- Variety Film + TV
Festival runs from August 31 - September 3.
The line-up for the 45th Telluride Film Festival (August 31 - September 3) has been announced.
It includes world premieres of David Lowery’s The Old Man & The Gun, Joel Edgerton’s Boy Erased, Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, Karyn Kusama’s Destroyer and Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.
It also features Venice titles First Man (Damien Chazelle), Peterloo (Mike Leigh) and Roma (Alfonso Cuarón).
All in all the festival will screen more than 60 features, shorts and films in revival programmes representing 22 countries. The roster includes artist tributes, on-stage conversations, panels, student and programmes.
The line-up for the 45th Telluride Film Festival (August 31 - September 3) has been announced.
It includes world premieres of David Lowery’s The Old Man & The Gun, Joel Edgerton’s Boy Erased, Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, Karyn Kusama’s Destroyer and Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.
It also features Venice titles First Man (Damien Chazelle), Peterloo (Mike Leigh) and Roma (Alfonso Cuarón).
All in all the festival will screen more than 60 features, shorts and films in revival programmes representing 22 countries. The roster includes artist tributes, on-stage conversations, panels, student and programmes.
- 8/30/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
While most fall film festivals are fairly evenly spaced out as to not step on each other’s toes, that’s not the case when it comes to Telluride Film Festival, which takes place during the first weekend of Venice Film Festival. As is the case every year, they’ve unveiled their lineup just before the festival kicks off, and it includes a number of major world premieres, including Destroyer, Boy Erased, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Front Runner, The Old Man & the Gun, as well as a handful of Venice premieres, including Roma, The Favourite, First Man, Non-Fiction, Peterloo, and, most-anticipated of all, Orson Welles’ The Other Side of the Wind.
Also in the lineup is a surprise film, Sebastián Silva’s Fistful of Dirt, which he discussed way back in 2009. “I won a big cash prize in Poland with The Maid. The money is to make...
Also in the lineup is a surprise film, Sebastián Silva’s Fistful of Dirt, which he discussed way back in 2009. “I won a big cash prize in Poland with The Maid. The money is to make...
- 8/30/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
This year’s star-studded Telluride Film Festival is mere hours from kicking off in the mountains of Colorado, and as is the annual event’s tradition, it has just now revealed its enviable lineup. As usual, this year’s fest features a range of buzzy fall season movies, including many films also premiering in Venice and Toronto as well as others resurfacing from earlier in the year, just in time for awards season. Filmmakers in this year’s program range from Alfonso Cuarón to Karyn Kusama, Hirokazu Kore-eda to Jason Reitman, and many more. The festival will also honor Cuarón, Emma Stone, and Rithy Panh as part of their long-running tributes section.
Films premiering at this year’s Telluride include a number of features already expected to impact the awards race in a major way, from Cuarón’s “Roma” to David Lowery’s Robert Redford-starring “The Old Man & the Gun...
Films premiering at this year’s Telluride include a number of features already expected to impact the awards race in a major way, from Cuarón’s “Roma” to David Lowery’s Robert Redford-starring “The Old Man & the Gun...
- 8/30/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Friday, August 24
– The Camden International Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 14th edition, including opening-night selection “They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead.” Morgan Neville’s documentary on Orson Welles kicks off the fest, which takes place September 13–16 and concludes with the Us premiere of the sailing drama “Maiden.”
The full slate is comprised of 37 features, 43 shorts, one episodic series, and 20 virtual-reality and immersive experiences; half of the lineup was directed or co-directed by women. Other standouts include Kahlil Hudson and Alex Jablonski’s “Young Men and Fire,” Lana Wilson’s series “The Cure for Fear,” Jane Gillooly’s “Where the Pavement Ends,” “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes,” “What Is Democracy,” “The Truth About Killer Robots,” Locarno winner “Fausto,” and Karlovy Vary winners “Walden” and “Putin’s Witnesses.” Take a look at the full slate at https://pointsnorthinstitute.org.
Wednesday, August 22
– Today Sffilm announced...
– The Camden International Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 14th edition, including opening-night selection “They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead.” Morgan Neville’s documentary on Orson Welles kicks off the fest, which takes place September 13–16 and concludes with the Us premiere of the sailing drama “Maiden.”
The full slate is comprised of 37 features, 43 shorts, one episodic series, and 20 virtual-reality and immersive experiences; half of the lineup was directed or co-directed by women. Other standouts include Kahlil Hudson and Alex Jablonski’s “Young Men and Fire,” Lana Wilson’s series “The Cure for Fear,” Jane Gillooly’s “Where the Pavement Ends,” “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes,” “What Is Democracy,” “The Truth About Killer Robots,” Locarno winner “Fausto,” and Karlovy Vary winners “Walden” and “Putin’s Witnesses.” Take a look at the full slate at https://pointsnorthinstitute.org.
Wednesday, August 22
– Today Sffilm announced...
- 8/24/2018
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
Errol Morris’ look at Steve Bannon, Alexis Bloom’s dissection of Roger Ailes, and James Longley’s unflinching portrait of life in war-torn Afghanistan are just a few of the politically charged documentaries that will screen as part of this year’s New York Film Festival.
The annual gathering for cinephiles and Oscar hopefuls has unveiled the complete lineup for its Spotlight on Documentary section, and it’s filled with some of the biggest names in non-fiction filmmaking. These directors are turning their cameras not just on agitprop masters and geopolitical hotspots, they’re also highlighting artistic giants, social justice champions, and off-beat fashion photographers.
The festival, which is presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, appears to be leaning into the polarized present. The selections include “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes,” which is directed by Bloom, the filmmaker behind “Bright Lights;” “The Waldheim Waltz,” director...
The annual gathering for cinephiles and Oscar hopefuls has unveiled the complete lineup for its Spotlight on Documentary section, and it’s filled with some of the biggest names in non-fiction filmmaking. These directors are turning their cameras not just on agitprop masters and geopolitical hotspots, they’re also highlighting artistic giants, social justice champions, and off-beat fashion photographers.
The festival, which is presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, appears to be leaning into the polarized present. The selections include “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes,” which is directed by Bloom, the filmmaker behind “Bright Lights;” “The Waldheim Waltz,” director...
- 8/22/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The 2018 Toronto Film Festival has unveiled lineups for its key Tiff Docs and Midnight sidebars, which features a host of strong world premieres including for Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9, Alexis Bloom’s Roger Ailes pic Divide and Conquer and Rashida Jones’ Quincy in the documentary section and Shane Black’s The Predator and David Gordon Green’s Halloween in the genre pic lineup.
The fest, which kicks off its 43rd edition September 6, also revealed its classics sidebar Tiff Cinematheque and short films lineups Thursday. (See the full lists below.)
Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, which unveiled its first trailer today ahead of Tiff’s announcement and the pic’s September 21 theatrical release, will open the Tiff Docs sidebars, which also features the heart-stopping El Capitan free-climb docu Free Solo, Tom Donahue’s This Changes Everything and the closing film Searching for Ingmar Bergman.
Fox’s The Predator reboot, which hits big...
The fest, which kicks off its 43rd edition September 6, also revealed its classics sidebar Tiff Cinematheque and short films lineups Thursday. (See the full lists below.)
Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, which unveiled its first trailer today ahead of Tiff’s announcement and the pic’s September 21 theatrical release, will open the Tiff Docs sidebars, which also features the heart-stopping El Capitan free-climb docu Free Solo, Tom Donahue’s This Changes Everything and the closing film Searching for Ingmar Bergman.
Fox’s The Predator reboot, which hits big...
- 8/9/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Shane’s Black’s “The Predator,” David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” reboot and Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9” will all have world premieres at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
The titles were unveiled Thursday as part of the slates for the genre-centric Midnight Madness program and the Tiff Docs section.
“This year’s Midnight Madness slate promises another idiosyncratic confluence of established and emerging genre filmmakers,” said Peter Kuplowsky, Midnight Madness programmer. “To complement some of the buzziest provocations on the festival circuit, I have sought to curate an eccentric array of world premieres that demonstrate the dexterity of genre cinema as a canvas for both sublime satisfaction and stunning subversion. That includes the section’s two much-anticipated sequels, ‘The Predator’ and ‘Halloween,’ each of which boldly and brilliantly builds upon its mythic iconography to thrilling and surprising effect.”
Midnight Madness will open with the “The Predator” and...
The titles were unveiled Thursday as part of the slates for the genre-centric Midnight Madness program and the Tiff Docs section.
“This year’s Midnight Madness slate promises another idiosyncratic confluence of established and emerging genre filmmakers,” said Peter Kuplowsky, Midnight Madness programmer. “To complement some of the buzziest provocations on the festival circuit, I have sought to curate an eccentric array of world premieres that demonstrate the dexterity of genre cinema as a canvas for both sublime satisfaction and stunning subversion. That includes the section’s two much-anticipated sequels, ‘The Predator’ and ‘Halloween,’ each of which boldly and brilliantly builds upon its mythic iconography to thrilling and surprising effect.”
Midnight Madness will open with the “The Predator” and...
- 8/9/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Two of the Toronto International Film Festival’s signature programs have today unveiled their full slates, including both the genre-bending Midnight Madness program and the wide-ranging Tiff Docs section. Both slates will play home to highly anticipated world premieres, including David Gordon Green’s new spin on the “Halloween” mythos, Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9,” Rashida Jones and Alan Hicks’ Quincy Jones doc, “Quincy,” and many more.
“This year’s Midnight Madness slate promises another idiosyncratic confluence of established and emerging genre filmmakers,” said Peter Kuplowsky, Midnight Madness Programmer, in an official statement. “To complement some of the buzziest provocations on the festival circuit, I have sought to curate an eccentric array of World Premieres that demonstrate the dexterity of genre cinema as a canvas for both sublime satisfaction and stunning subversion. That includes the section’s two much-anticipated sequels, ‘The Predator’ and ‘Halloween,’ each of which boldly and brilliantly...
“This year’s Midnight Madness slate promises another idiosyncratic confluence of established and emerging genre filmmakers,” said Peter Kuplowsky, Midnight Madness Programmer, in an official statement. “To complement some of the buzziest provocations on the festival circuit, I have sought to curate an eccentric array of World Premieres that demonstrate the dexterity of genre cinema as a canvas for both sublime satisfaction and stunning subversion. That includes the section’s two much-anticipated sequels, ‘The Predator’ and ‘Halloween,’ each of which boldly and brilliantly...
- 8/9/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Tiff Midnight Madness to feature first Indian entry, The Man Who Feels No Pain, and Peter Strickland’s In Fabric.
The world premiere of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9 exploring life in the United States under president Trump will open Tiff Docs at the Toronto International Film Festival, while David Gordon Green’s Halloween and Shane Black’s The Predator receive their world premeres in Midnight Madness.
Midnight Madness
The 10 Midnight Madness selections include the world premieres of Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, about a cursed dress, and the first Indian film ever to screen in the section, Vasan Bala’s...
The world premiere of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9 exploring life in the United States under president Trump will open Tiff Docs at the Toronto International Film Festival, while David Gordon Green’s Halloween and Shane Black’s The Predator receive their world premeres in Midnight Madness.
Midnight Madness
The 10 Midnight Madness selections include the world premieres of Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, about a cursed dress, and the first Indian film ever to screen in the section, Vasan Bala’s...
- 8/9/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Cinema Eye has named 10 filmmakers and 20 films that have been voted as the top achievements in documentary filmmaking during the past 10 years. Founded in 2007 to “recognize and honor exemplary craft and innovation in nonfiction film,” Cinema Eye polled 110 members of the documentary community to determine the winning films and filmmakers just as the organization kicks off its tenth year.
Read More: Behind the Scenes of Cinema Eye’s Secret Field Trip for Nominees
Among the films chosen are Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing,” Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning “Citizenfour” and Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Poitras and Oppenheimer were both also named to the list of the top documentary filmmakers, joining Alex Gibney, Werner Herzog and Frederick Wiseman, who recently won an honorary Oscar and will be saluted at the annual Governors Awards on November 12.
“It’s fantastic that he is being recognized by the Academy for a...
Read More: Behind the Scenes of Cinema Eye’s Secret Field Trip for Nominees
Among the films chosen are Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing,” Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning “Citizenfour” and Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Poitras and Oppenheimer were both also named to the list of the top documentary filmmakers, joining Alex Gibney, Werner Herzog and Frederick Wiseman, who recently won an honorary Oscar and will be saluted at the annual Governors Awards on November 12.
“It’s fantastic that he is being recognized by the Academy for a...
- 9/21/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
opinion from the man who, after all, made the picture." That's Orson Welles in an excerpt from a 58-page memo he wrote in 1957 to Edward Muhl, head of Universal Pictures. Jonathan Rosenbaum introduces an excerpt. Also in today's roundup: Reno Lauro on Terrence Malick, James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) on Joshua Oppenheimer's The Look of Silence, Fernando F. Croce on John Cassavetes's Shadows, John Marks on Ava DuVernay's Selma and Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, Daft Punk in the movies—and the day we might see Jerry Lewis's The Day the Clown Cried. » - David Hudson...
- 8/7/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
opinion from the man who, after all, made the picture." That's Orson Welles in an excerpt from a 58-page memo he wrote in 1957 to Edward Muhl, head of Universal Pictures. Jonathan Rosenbaum introduces an excerpt. Also in today's roundup: Reno Lauro on Terrence Malick, James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) on Joshua Oppenheimer's The Look of Silence, Fernando F. Croce on John Cassavetes's Shadows, John Marks on Ava DuVernay's Selma and Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, Daft Punk in the movies—and the day we might see Jerry Lewis's The Day the Clown Cried. » - David Hudson...
- 8/7/2015
- Keyframe
Academy Awards didn't even consider for the 15 list of noms, but the Gothams didn't forget The Oath, Laura Poitras' doc about a pair of folks close to Osama bin Laden that was distributed by Zeitgeist films and will most probably be compensated by the Cinema Eye Awards right before Sundance in January. Other Noms: 12th & Delaware Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, directors/producers (HBO Documentary Films) Inside Job Charles Ferguson, director; Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs, producers (Sony Pictures Classics) Public Speaking Martin Scorsese, director; Martin Scorsese, Graydon Carter, Margaret Bodde, Fran Lebowitz, producers (HBO Documentary Films) Sweetgrass Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash, directors; Ilisa Barbash, producer (Cinema Guild) Previous Winners 2009: Robert Kenner's Food, Inc. 2008: Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's Trouble the Water 2007: Michael Moore's Sicko 2006: James Longley's Iraq in Fragments ...
- 11/30/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Filmmaker James Longley (the excellent Iraq in Fragments) is in Iran working on his new documentary film, which includes coverage of the current disputed election. He's been blogging at Doug Block's D-Word doc forum, and over the weekend posted an amazing series of bulletins about the election, which include his thoughts on what it means for Iranian politics and then a gripping description of his being detained while his translator was beaten. A.J. Schnack has collected these posts in a single blog entry here. From one of the earlier posts: If this outcome is allowed to stand, we now have a situation where tens of millions of Iranians will be going through the next four years believing that the president was installed by force in a coup...
- 6/15/2009
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
All in all, it made me really question what I am doing in this country. It has become impossible to work as a journalist without the risk of physical violence from the government.
Filmmaker James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) was in Iran working on his new film when the fallout from that country's contested election began this weekend. In a series of postings on the documentary forum DWord, which Aj Schnack has excerpted at All these wonderful things, Longley recounts the situation on the ground, climaxing with his account of being detained by riot police while his translator was severely beaten and then sworn to silence. Read the full thing at the link.
...
Filmmaker James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) was in Iran working on his new film when the fallout from that country's contested election began this weekend. In a series of postings on the documentary forum DWord, which Aj Schnack has excerpted at All these wonderful things, Longley recounts the situation on the ground, climaxing with his account of being detained by riot police while his translator was severely beaten and then sworn to silence. Read the full thing at the link.
...
- 6/15/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
During the first week of March, a delegation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, led by president Sid Ganis, traveled to Iran to meet with filmmakers at the invitation of Iran's House of Cinema. The group -- Ganis along with Annette Bening and Alfre Woodard, writer-directors Frank Pierson and Phil Robinson, producers William Horberg and Tom Pollock, the Academy's director of exhibitions and special events Ellen Harrington and documentarian James Longley, who already was in Iran working on a project -- met with their counterparts for a series of seminars, screenings and Q&As in Tehran and took time for excursions to Shiraz and Esfahan.
Just as the cultural exchange was beginning, though, it was thrust into the international spotlight when Javad Shamaqdari, the art and cinema adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, issued a statement, demanding an apology from the Hollywood contingent for "for insults and accusations...
Just as the cultural exchange was beginning, though, it was thrust into the international spotlight when Javad Shamaqdari, the art and cinema adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, issued a statement, demanding an apology from the Hollywood contingent for "for insults and accusations...
- 3/15/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences kicks off Part 2 of its 27th annual "Contemporary Documentaries" screening series with James Longley's "Sari's Mother" and Michael Moore's "Sicko" at 7 p.m. March 25 at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.
A showcase for both feature-length and short documentaries drawn from among films considered for the 2007 Academy Awards, the program, for which admission is free, runs through June.
The schedule includes:
March 25: Longley's "Sari's Mother" and Moore's "Sicko"
April 1: Jon Blair's "Ochberg's Orphans" and Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen's "The Rape of Europa"
April 15: Theordore Braun's "Darfur Now" and Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern's "The Devil Came on Horseback"
April 29: Neil Leifer's "Portraits of a Lady" and Peter Raymon'ts "A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman"
May 13: Richard E. Robbins' "Operation Homecoming: Writing the...
A showcase for both feature-length and short documentaries drawn from among films considered for the 2007 Academy Awards, the program, for which admission is free, runs through June.
The schedule includes:
March 25: Longley's "Sari's Mother" and Moore's "Sicko"
April 1: Jon Blair's "Ochberg's Orphans" and Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen's "The Rape of Europa"
April 15: Theordore Braun's "Darfur Now" and Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern's "The Devil Came on Horseback"
April 29: Neil Leifer's "Portraits of a Lady" and Peter Raymon'ts "A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman"
May 13: Richard E. Robbins' "Operation Homecoming: Writing the...
NEW YORK -- The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund awarded grants to a record 25 projects in development and production, including Kirby Dick's look at anti-gay legislation, The Glass Closet, and the animated story of Allen Ginsberg's Howl from helmers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.
Other notable projects and filmmakers include The Prime Minister, the Shah, the Ayatollah and I, an autobiographical film from I am a Sex Addict director Caveh Zahedi, and the untitled Iran project from Oscar nominee James Longley (Iraq in Fragments), the story of the country told from a child's perspective.
More than $600,000 was awarded to the projects, chosen from more than 300 applications from 20 countries. The final selection from 13 countries (including India, Chile, Pakistan and Kenya) was made by a jury of film and human rights professionals, overseen by program director Cara Mertes.
The films reflect a wide cross-cultural mix of mostly political subject matter. Control Room and Startup.com director Jehane Noujaim's Egypt: We See You looks at the country's pro-democracy movement from the perspective of three female journalists.
Other notable projects and filmmakers include The Prime Minister, the Shah, the Ayatollah and I, an autobiographical film from I am a Sex Addict director Caveh Zahedi, and the untitled Iran project from Oscar nominee James Longley (Iraq in Fragments), the story of the country told from a child's perspective.
More than $600,000 was awarded to the projects, chosen from more than 300 applications from 20 countries. The final selection from 13 countries (including India, Chile, Pakistan and Kenya) was made by a jury of film and human rights professionals, overseen by program director Cara Mertes.
The films reflect a wide cross-cultural mix of mostly political subject matter. Control Room and Startup.com director Jehane Noujaim's Egypt: We See You looks at the country's pro-democracy movement from the perspective of three female journalists.
COLOGNE, Germany -- Cinema for Peace, the nonprofit group that holds a star-packed gala every year during the Berlin International Film Festival, will this year present the inaugural International Human Rights Film Award.
The 2007 prize, which comes with a €5,000 ($6,510) cash award, will go to Echo of War, the Chechen peace group portrayed in Eric Bergkraut's documentary "Coca: The Dove From Chechnya" (2005).
The prize, presented together with Amnesty International's initiative Movies That Matter, will be awarded at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin Feb. 12.
"Coca: The Dove From Chechnya" will be screened on Feb. 11 in Berlin as part of the Movies That Matter presentation. Also screening will be James Longley's Oscar-nominated documentary "Iraq in Fragments" and "Bamako" from Abderrahmane Sissako, which looks at a case brought against the IMF and the World Bank by a group of citizens from Mali.
The 2007 prize, which comes with a €5,000 ($6,510) cash award, will go to Echo of War, the Chechen peace group portrayed in Eric Bergkraut's documentary "Coca: The Dove From Chechnya" (2005).
The prize, presented together with Amnesty International's initiative Movies That Matter, will be awarded at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin Feb. 12.
"Coca: The Dove From Chechnya" will be screened on Feb. 11 in Berlin as part of the Movies That Matter presentation. Also screening will be James Longley's Oscar-nominated documentary "Iraq in Fragments" and "Bamako" from Abderrahmane Sissako, which looks at a case brought against the IMF and the World Bank by a group of citizens from Mali.
Five first-time nominees drew DGA documentary nominations Tuesday, while the Hungry Man and MJZ production companies each figured in a pair of the guild awards' noms for commercials.
Nominated for outstanding directorial achievement in documentary for 2006 were: Amy Berg, "Deliver Us From Evil" (Lionsgate Films); Michael Glawogger, "Workingman's Death" (Lotus Films, Quinte Film); James Longley, "Iraq in Fragments" (Typecast Pictures/HBO Documentary Films); Arunas Matelis, "Before Flying Back to the Earth" (Studio Nominum); and Jean-Henri Meunier, "Ici Najac, a Vous la Terre" (Little Bear).
"At its best, documentary filmmaking elevates the disparate elements of lives and events into a narrative that is both compelling and insightful," DGA president Michael Apted said. "It takes a skilled director to achieve this feat, and this year's five nominees exemplify that devotion and storytelling expertise."
Apted also praised the commercial nominees.
"It takes great skill to tell a compelling story in under 30-60 seconds," he said. "These five commercial directors have mastered the format, using their talent, craft and imagination to provide us with some of the most innovative filmmaking out there today."
The Hungry Man nominees included Bryan Buckley for "Animal", a commercial for client American Express, and "More Mayo" and "Manthem" for Burger King, along with David Gray for "Transvestite" and "Mugger" for the Tribeca Film Festival, "Jesus Throws" for Full Tilt Poker and "Born" for Ebay.
Nominated for outstanding directorial achievement in documentary for 2006 were: Amy Berg, "Deliver Us From Evil" (Lionsgate Films); Michael Glawogger, "Workingman's Death" (Lotus Films, Quinte Film); James Longley, "Iraq in Fragments" (Typecast Pictures/HBO Documentary Films); Arunas Matelis, "Before Flying Back to the Earth" (Studio Nominum); and Jean-Henri Meunier, "Ici Najac, a Vous la Terre" (Little Bear).
"At its best, documentary filmmaking elevates the disparate elements of lives and events into a narrative that is both compelling and insightful," DGA president Michael Apted said. "It takes a skilled director to achieve this feat, and this year's five nominees exemplify that devotion and storytelling expertise."
Apted also praised the commercial nominees.
"It takes great skill to tell a compelling story in under 30-60 seconds," he said. "These five commercial directors have mastered the format, using their talent, craft and imagination to provide us with some of the most innovative filmmaking out there today."
The Hungry Man nominees included Bryan Buckley for "Animal", a commercial for client American Express, and "More Mayo" and "Manthem" for Burger King, along with David Gray for "Transvestite" and "Mugger" for the Tribeca Film Festival, "Jesus Throws" for Full Tilt Poker and "Born" for Ebay.
- 1/16/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With a farewell tip of the hat to Robert Altman and a special commendation for Clint Eastwood, the American Film Institute completed its review of 2006 on Wednesday by highlighting what it calls the AFI's Moments of Significance.
Casting the spotlight on eight developments that had an impact on the worlds of TV and film, the list leads off with Clint Eastwood, dubbed "a national treasure," citing the fact that he completed two films, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima that "not only complement one another, but they resonate together to create one of the great motion picture experiences of the new century." The AFI also hailed Eastwood's team of collaborators -- including producers Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, writer Paul Haggis, cinematographer Tom Stern, editor Joel Cox, production designer Henry Bumstead and casting director Phyllis Huffman -- for providing "an epic reminder that the American viewpoint is not the only human perspective."
Letters also was included among the AFI's choices of the top 10 movies of the year, which were announced this month.
The new list concluded by eulogizing Altman, who died Nov. 20. It called him "a true maverick of American film. His body of work -- both in film and television -- reflects an exceptional diversity in genre, but always with his indelible signature. From overlapping dialogue to the epic ensemble pieces filled with actors who revered him, Altman's style continues to inspire artists and audiences alike."
The other developments cited by the AFI include:
The documentary speaks to the world. Citing Davis Guggenheim's An Inconvenient Truth, which examined global warming; James Longley's Iraq in Fragments, one of a number of docus that took on the war in Iraq; and Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke, an epic take on Hurricane Katrina's effects on New Orleans.
Casting the spotlight on eight developments that had an impact on the worlds of TV and film, the list leads off with Clint Eastwood, dubbed "a national treasure," citing the fact that he completed two films, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima that "not only complement one another, but they resonate together to create one of the great motion picture experiences of the new century." The AFI also hailed Eastwood's team of collaborators -- including producers Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, writer Paul Haggis, cinematographer Tom Stern, editor Joel Cox, production designer Henry Bumstead and casting director Phyllis Huffman -- for providing "an epic reminder that the American viewpoint is not the only human perspective."
Letters also was included among the AFI's choices of the top 10 movies of the year, which were announced this month.
The new list concluded by eulogizing Altman, who died Nov. 20. It called him "a true maverick of American film. His body of work -- both in film and television -- reflects an exceptional diversity in genre, but always with his indelible signature. From overlapping dialogue to the epic ensemble pieces filled with actors who revered him, Altman's style continues to inspire artists and audiences alike."
The other developments cited by the AFI include:
The documentary speaks to the world. Citing Davis Guggenheim's An Inconvenient Truth, which examined global warming; James Longley's Iraq in Fragments, one of a number of docus that took on the war in Iraq; and Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke, an epic take on Hurricane Katrina's effects on New Orleans.
- 12/27/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Quick Links Iraq In Fragments An Inconvenient Truth God Grew Tired of Us The International Documentary Assn (a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of nonfiction film and video makers throughout the United States and the world, and who also publish a monthly mag) choose James Longley's Iraq In Fragments as the best feature-length documentary of the year. The other final noms in the same category were Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, Deliver Us From Evil, Showbusiness: A Season to Remember and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Other winners were: Best short documentary: Marcelo Bukin - Angel's Fire (Fuego de Angel) Pare Lorentz Award (recognizing a documentary filmmaker who represents both an activist spirit and a lyrical vision): Davis Guggenheim's An Inconvenient Truth Courage Under Fire Award: Andrew Berends - The Blood of My Brother The Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award:
- 12/10/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
James Longley's Iraq in Fragments was named the best feature-length
documentary of the year at the International Documentary Assn.'s
Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards on Friday night.
Iraq, which is also on the short-list of documentary Oscar documentary contenders, looks at the impact that the war in Iraq has had on the Iraqi people.
The other nominated features were Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, Deliver Us from Evil, Showbusiness: A Season to Remember and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.
Marcelo Bukin's Angel's Fire (Fuego de Angel) was named best
short documentary at the IDA's gala, at the DGA Theatre in West Hollywood.
Davis Guggenheim's An Inconvenient Truth was honored with the Pare Lorentz Award, recognizing a documentary filmmaker who represents both an activist spirit and a lyrical vision.
Andrew Berends received the Courage Under Fire Award for The Blood of My Brother.
Scholar and critic Dr. Patricia Aufderheide was honored with the IDA
Preservation & Scholarship Award. The Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award went to Christopher Quinn for God Grew Tired of Us, while Carrie Lozano claimed the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Achievement Award for Reporter Zero.
PBS' American Experience series captured the IDA Award for a
Continuing Series, while the prize for Limited Series went to Off to War,
which aired on the Discovery Times Channel.
documentary of the year at the International Documentary Assn.'s
Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards on Friday night.
Iraq, which is also on the short-list of documentary Oscar documentary contenders, looks at the impact that the war in Iraq has had on the Iraqi people.
The other nominated features were Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, Deliver Us from Evil, Showbusiness: A Season to Remember and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.
Marcelo Bukin's Angel's Fire (Fuego de Angel) was named best
short documentary at the IDA's gala, at the DGA Theatre in West Hollywood.
Davis Guggenheim's An Inconvenient Truth was honored with the Pare Lorentz Award, recognizing a documentary filmmaker who represents both an activist spirit and a lyrical vision.
Andrew Berends received the Courage Under Fire Award for The Blood of My Brother.
Scholar and critic Dr. Patricia Aufderheide was honored with the IDA
Preservation & Scholarship Award. The Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award went to Christopher Quinn for God Grew Tired of Us, while Carrie Lozano claimed the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Achievement Award for Reporter Zero.
PBS' American Experience series captured the IDA Award for a
Continuing Series, while the prize for Limited Series went to Off to War,
which aired on the Discovery Times Channel.
- 12/9/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- THINKFilm has not only got a winner on its hands â. but may we dare say - its got the sort of potential that might see it cross into the mainstream golden evening of the award season â. yep the Oscars might not look unattainable as I had first predicted. Given out last night, the Independent Film Project awards were prety much a Half Nelson tribute type of affair - winning in the breakthrough actor, director and picture categories with its closest rival being Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrituâ.s Babel which picked up 2 awards. Note: Rinko Kikuchi (the naked Jap) from Babel and the (always play the same role twice) young Shareeka Epps shared the same award. Filmmaker Amy Bergâ.s Deliver Us from Evil - a doc that unfortunately in my area spent very little time in theatres around my neighborhood lost out to the little seen Iraq in Fragments by James Longley.
- 11/30/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
CHICAGO -- The Iranian film Fireworks Wednesday (Chahar Shanbe Souri) on Sunday won the Gold Hugo, the top prize at the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival. The film, a story of infidelity and social hierarchy in contemporary Iran, was directed by Asghar Farhadi. In the documentary category, a U.S./Iraq entry, Iran in Fragments, won the Gold Hugo. Directed by James Longley, the film explores the diverse regions of Iraq and the often contradictory views of its diverse population. A French/Algerian co-production, Days of Glory (Indigenes) won a Silver Hugo as a special jury prize. Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, the World War II saga explores the allegiance of the North Africans who fought for the country that colonized them. The festival, which kicked off Oct. 5 with a gala premiere of Stranger Than Fiction, continues through Thursday, culminating with a closing-night screening of the British film Venus.
- 10/15/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CHICAGO -- The Iranian film Fireworks Wednesday (Chahar Shanbe Souri) on Sunday won the Gold Hugo, the top prize at the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival. The film, a story of infidelity and social hierarchy in contemporary Iran, was directed by Asghar Farhadi. In the documentary category, a U.S./Iraq entry, Iran in Fragments, won the Gold Hugo. Directed by James Longley, the film explores the diverse regions of Iraq and the often contradictory views of its diverse population. A French/Algerian co-production, Days of Glory (Indigenes) won a Silver Hugo as a special jury prize. Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, the World War II saga explores the allegiance of the North Africans who fought for the country that colonized them. The festival, which kicked off Oct. 5 with a gala premiere of Stranger Than Fiction, continues through Thursday, culminating with a closing-night screening of the British film Venus.
- 10/15/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Twenty-four features and documentaries from 19 countries will be showcased at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival from Jun. 8 to 22 at New York's Walter Reade Theater. The Nestor Almendros Prize for courage in filmmaking will be presented to James Longley, director of Iraq in Fragments, which won three Sundance Film Festival awards in January Other highlights include a screening of Zach Niles and Banker White's docu The Refugee All Stars, which chronicles Sierra Leonean musicians who form a band at a refugee camp. The fest, now in its 17th edition, is presented by Human Rights Watch and the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
- 5/10/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- This year Ioncinema.com is covering the 2006 edition of the Sundance Film Festival Live from Park City, Utah. We’ll be on hand to cover the festival, and while we won’t be able to cover everything from A to Z: here is a comprehensive beforehand look at the selections in each of the festival’s sections. (Note: To access individual preview pages, simply click on the links below) January 19th to the 28th, 2006Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 19, 2006'); Docu Competition"American Blackout," Ian Inaba's assessment of the career of U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and the purported suppression of the black vote historically and in the 2004 election in Florida and Ohio. "Crossing Arizona," Joseph Mathew's mosaic of human stories enmeshed in Arizona's illegal immigration crisis. "God Grew Tired of Us," Christopher Quinn and Tom Walker's account of the culture shock that hits four Sudanese
- 1/17/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
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